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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:38 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:38 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10511-0.txt b/10511-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0382b9f --- /dev/null +++ b/10511-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13026 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10511 *** + +A ROGUE BY COMPULSION + +An Affair of the Secret Service + +By VICTOR BRIDGES + +With Frontispiece By JOHN H. CASSEL + +1915 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "A CURTAIN AT THE END OF THE ROOM WAS DRAWN SLOWLY +ASIDE, AND THERE, STANDING IN THE GAP, I SAW THE SLIM FIGURE OF A +GIRL." + +Chapter X. + +Drawn by John H. Cassel.] + + + + +TO + +THAT BEST OF FRIENDS + +HUGHES MASSIE + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + II. A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + III. A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + IV. ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + V. AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + VI. THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + VII. A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + VIII. RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + IX. THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + X. MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + XI. BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + XII. A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + XIII. REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + XIV. A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + XV. A HUMAN "CATCH" + + XVI. CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + XVII. THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + +XVIII. A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + XIX. LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + XX. APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + XXI. SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + XXII. THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + +XXIII. IN THE NICK OF TIME + + XXIV. EXONERATED + + XXV. A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + +Most of the really important things in life--such as love and +death--happen unexpectedly. I know that my escape from Dartmoor did. + +We had just left the quarries--eighteen of us, all dressed in that +depressing costume which King George provides for his less elusive +subjects--and we were shambling sullenly back along the gloomy road +which leads through the plantation to the prison. The time was about +four o'clock on a dull March afternoon. + +In the roadway, on either side of us, tramped an armed warder, his +carbine in his hand, his eyes travelling with dull suspicion up and +down the gang. Fifteen yards away, parallel with our route, the sombre +figure of one of the civil guards kept pace with us through the trees. +We were a cheery party! + +Suddenly, without any warning, one of the warders turned faint. He +dropped his carbine, and putting his hand to his head, stumbled +heavily against the low wall that separated us from the wood. The +clatter of his weapon, falling in the road, naturally brought all +eyes round in that direction, and seeing what had happened the whole +eighteen of us instinctively halted. + +The gruff voice of the other warder broke out at once, above the +shuffling of feet: + +"What are you stopping for? Get on there in front." + +From the corner of my eye I caught sight of the civil guard hurrying +towards the prostrate figure by the wall; and then, just as the +whole gang lurched forward again, the thing happened with beautiful +abruptness. + +A broad, squat figure shot out suddenly from the head of the column, +and, literally hurling itself over the wall, landed with a crash +amongst the thick undergrowth. There was a second shout from the +warder, followed almost instantly by a hoarse command to halt, as the +civil guard jerked his carbine to his shoulder. + +The fugitive paid about as much attention to the order as a tiger +would to a dog whistle. He was off again in an instant, bent almost +double, and bursting through the tangled bushes with amazing +swiftness. + +Bang! + +The charge of buckshot whistled after him, spattering viciously +through the twigs, and several of the bolder spirits in the gang at +once raised a half-hearted cry of "Murder!" + +"Stop that!" bawled the warder angrily, and to enforce his words he +quickened his steps so as to bring him in touch with the offenders. + +As he did so, I suddenly perceived with extraordinary clearness that I +should never again get quite such a good chance to escape. The other +men were momentarily between me and the warder, while the civil guard, +his carbine empty, was plunging through the trees in pursuit of his +wounded quarry. + +It was no time for hesitation, and in any case hesitation is not one +of my besetting sins. I recollect taking one long, deep breath: then +the next thing I remember is catching my toe on the top of the +wall and coming the most unholy purler in the very centre of an +exceptionally well armoured blackberry bush. + +This blunder probably saved my life: it certainly accounted for my +escape. The warder who evidently had more nerve than I gave him credit +for, must have fired at me from where he was, right between the heads +of the other convicts. It was only my abrupt disappearance from the +top of the wall that saved me from being filled up with lead. As +it was, the charge whistled over me just as I fell, and a devilish +unpleasant noise it made too. + +I didn't wait for him to reload. I was out of that bush and off up the +hill in rather less time than it takes to read these words. Where I +was going I scarcely thought; my one idea was to put as big a distance +as possible between myself and the carbine before its owner could ram +home a second cartridge. + +As I ran, twisting in and out between the trees, and keeping my head +as low as possible, I could hear behind me a hoarse uproar from my +fellow-convicts, who by this time were evidently getting out of hand. +No sound could have pleased me better. The more boisterous the good +fellows became the less chance would the remaining warder have of +worrying about me. As for the civil guard--well, it seemed probable +that his time was already pretty fully engaged. + +My chief danger lay in the chance that there might be other warders in +the immediate neighbourhood. If so, they would doubtless have heard +the firing and have come running up at the first alarm. I looked back +over my shoulder as I reached the top of the plantation, which was +about a hundred yards from the road, but so far as I could see there +was no one as yet on my track. + +My one chance lay in reaching the main wood that borders the Tavistock +road before the mounted guard could come up. Between this and the +plantation stretched a long bare slope of hillside, perhaps two +hundred yards across, with scarcely enough cover on it to hide a +rabbit. It was not exactly an inviting prospect, but still the place +had to be crossed, and there was nothing to be gained by looking at +it. So setting my teeth I jumped out from under the shelter of the +trees, and started off as fast as I could pelt for the opposite side. + +I had got about half-way over when there came a sudden shout away to +the right. Turning my head as I ran, I saw through the thin mist a +figure in knickerbockers and a Norfolk jacket vaulting over the low +gate that separated the moor from the road. + +I suppose he was a tourist, for he had a small knapsack fastened to +his back and he was carrying a stick in his hand. + +"Tally-ho!" he yelled, brandishing the latter, and then without +hesitation he came charging across the open with the obvious intention +of cutting me off from the wood. + +For the first time in three years I laughed. It was not a pretty +laugh, and if my new friend had heard it, his ardour in the chase +might perhaps have been a trifle cooled. As it was he came on with +undiminished zest, apparently quite confident in his ability to tackle +me single-handed. + +We met about ten yards this side of the nearest trees. + +He rushed in on me with another "whoop," and I saw then that he was a +big, powerful, red-faced fellow of a rather coarse sporting type--the +kind of brute I've always had a peculiar dislike for. + +"Down you go!" he shouted, and suiting the action to the word, he +swung back his stick and lashed out savagely at my head. + +I didn't go down. Instead of that I stepped swiftly in, and striking +up his arm with my left hand, I let him have my right bang on the +point of the chin. Worlds of concentrated bitterness were behind it, +and he went over backwards as if he had been struck by a coal-hammer. + +It did me a lot of good, that punch. It seemed to restore my +self-respect in a way that nothing else could have done. You must have +been a convict yourself, shouted at and ordered about like a dog for +three weary years, to appreciate the full pleasure of being able once +more to punch a man in the jaw. + +At the moment, however, I had no time to analyze my feelings. Almost +before the red-faced gentleman's shoulders had struck the ground I had +reached the railing which bounded the wood, and putting one hand on +the top bar had vaulted over into its inviting gloom. + +Then, just for an instant, I stopped, and, like Lot's wife, cast one +hasty glance behind me. Except for the motionless form of my late +adversary, who appeared to be studying the sky, the stretch of moor +that I had just crossed was still comfortingly empty. So far no +pursuing warder had even emerged from the plantation. With a sigh of +relief I turned round again and plunged forward into the thickest part +of the tangled brake ahead. + +It would have been difficult to find a better temporary hiding-place +than the one I had reached. Thick with trees and undergrowth, which +sprouted up from between enormous fissures and piles of granite rock, +it stretched away for the best part of a mile and a half parallel with +the main road. I knew that even in daylight the warders would find it +no easy matter to track me down: at this time in the afternoon, with +dusk coming rapidly on, the task would be an almost impossible one. + +Besides, it was starting to rain. All the afternoon a thick cloud had +been hanging over North Hessary, and now, as scratched and panting I +forced my way on into the ever-increasing gloom, a fine drizzle began +to descend through the trees. I knew what that meant. In half an hour +everything would probably be blotted out in a wet grey mist, and, +except for posting guards all round the wood, my pursuers would be +compelled to abandon the search until next morning. It was the first +time that I had ever felt an affection for the Dartmoor climate. + +Guessing rather than judging my way, I stumbled steadily forward until +I reached what I imagined must be about the centre of the wood. By +this time I was wet through to the skin. The thin parti-coloured +"slop" that I was wearing was quite useless for keeping out the rain, +a remark that applied with almost equal force to my prison-made +breeches and gaiters. Apart from the discomfort, however, I was not +much disturbed. I have never been an easy victim to chills, and three +years in Princetown had done nothing to soften a naturally tough +constitution. + +Still there was no sense in getting more soaked than was necessary, so +I began to hunt around for some sort of temporary shelter. I found it +at last in the shape of a huge block of granite, half hidden by the +brambles and stunted trees which had grown up round it. Parting the +undergrowth and crawling carefully in, I discovered at the base a kind +of hollow crevice just long enough to lie down in at full length. + +I can't say it was exactly comfortable, but penal servitude has at +least the merit of saving one from being over-luxurious. Besides, I +was much too interested in watching the steady thickening of the mist +outside to worry myself about trifles. With a swiftness which would +have been incredible to any one who didn't know the Moor, the damp +clammy vapour was settling down, blotting out everything in its grey +haze. Except for the dripping brambles immediately outside I could +soon see absolutely nothing; beyond that it was like staring into a +blanket. + +I lay there quite motionless, listening very intently for any sound of +my pursuers. Only the persistent drip, drip of the rain, however, and +the occasional rustle of a bird, broke the silence. If there were any +warders about they were evidently still some way from my hiding-place, +but the odds were that they had postponed searching the wood until the +fog lifted. + +For the first time since my leap from the wall I found myself with +sufficient leisure to review the situation. It struck me that only a +very hardened optimist could describe it as hopeful. I had made my +bolt almost instinctively, without stopping to think what chances I +had of getting away. That these were meagre in the extreme was now +becoming painfully clear to me. Even if I managed to slip out of +my present hiding-place into the still larger woods of the Walkham +Valley, the odds were all in favour of my ultimate capture. No escaped +prisoner had ever yet succeeded in retaining his liberty for more than +a few days, and where so many gentlemen of experience had tried +and failed it seemed distressingly unlikely that I should be more +fortunate. + +I began to wonder what had happened to Cairns, the man whose dash from +the ranks had been responsible for my own effort. I knew him to be one +of the most resourceful blackguards in the prison, and, provided the +civil guard's first shot had failed to stop him, it was quite likely +that he too had evaded capture. I hoped so with all my heart: it would +distract quite a lot of attention from my own humble affairs. + +If he was still at liberty, I couldn't help feeling enviously how much +better his chances of escape were than mine. In order to get away from +the Moor it was plainly necessary to possess oneself of both food and +clothes, and I could think of no other way of doing so except stealing +them from some lonely farm. At anything of this sort I was likely to +prove a sorry bungler compared with such an artist as Cairns. He was +one of the most accomplished cracksmen in England, and feats which +seemed impossible to me would probably be the merest child's play to +him. + +Still it was no good worrying over what couldn't be helped. My first +job was to get safely into the Walkham woods; after that it would be +quite time enough to think about turning burglar. + +I sat up and looked out into the mist. Things were as bad as ever, and +quite suddenly it struck me with considerable force that by lying low +in this fashion I was making a most unholy idiot of myself. Here I was +growing cold and stiff, and wasting what was probably the best chance +I should ever have of reaching Walkhampton. In fact I was playing +right into the hands of the warders. + +With an impatient exclamation I jumped to my feet. The only question +was, could I find my way out of the wood, and if I did, how on earth +was I to strike the right line over North Hessary? It was quite on the +cards I might wander back into Princetown under the happy impression +that I was going in exactly the opposite direction. + +For a moment I hesitated; then I made up my mind to risk it. After all +the fog was as bad for the warders as it was for me, and even if I +failed to reach the Walkham Valley I should probably find some other +equally good shelter before it lifted. In either case I should have +the big advantage of having changed my hiding-place. + +Buttoning up my slop, I advanced carefully through the dripping +brambles. One could see rather less than nothing, but so far as I +could remember the main Tavistock road was on my right-hand side. +This would leave North Hessary away to the left; so turning in that +direction I set my teeth and took my first step forward into the +darkness. + +I don't suppose you have ever tried walking through a wood in a fog, +but you can take my word for it that a less enjoyable form of exercise +doesn't exist. I have often wondered since how on earth I managed to +escape a sprained ankle or a broken neck, for carefully as I groped my +way forward it was quite impossible to avoid all the numerous crevices +and overhanging boughs which beset my path. + +I must have blundered into about fourteen holes and knocked my head +against at least an equal number of branches, before the trees at last +began to thin and the darkness lighten sufficiently to let me see +where I was placing my feet. I knew that by this time I must be +getting precious near the boundary of the wood, outside which the +warders were now doubtless posted at frequent intervals. So I stopped +where I was and sat down quietly on a rock for a few minutes to +recover my breath, for I had been pretty badly shaken and winded by my +numerous tumbles. + +As soon as I felt better I got up again, and taking very particular +care where I was treading, advanced on tiptoe with a delicacy that +Agag might have envied. I had taken about a dozen steps when all of a +sudden the railings loomed up in front of me through the mist. + +I put my hand on the top bar, and then paused for a moment listening +breathlessly for any sound of danger. Except for the faint patter +of the rain, however, everything was as silent as the dead. Very +carefully I raised myself on the bottom rail, lifted my legs over, one +after the other, and then dropped lightly down on to the grass beyond. + +As I did so a man rose up suddenly from the ground like a black +shadow, and hurling himself on me before I could move, clutched me +round the waist. + +"Got yer!" he roared. Then at the top of his voice--"Here he is! Help! +Help!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + +I was taken so utterly by surprise that nothing except sheer strength +saved me from going over. As it was I staggered back a couple of +paces, fetching up against the railings with a bang that nearly +knocked the breath out of me. By a stroke of luck I must have crushed +my opponent's hand against one of the bars, for with a cry of pain he +momentarily slackened his grip. + +That was all I wanted. Wrenching my left arm free, I brought up my +elbow under his chin with a wicked jolt; and then, before he could +recover, I smashed home a short right-arm punch that must have landed +somewhere in the neighbourhood of his third waistcoat button. Anyhow +it did the business all right. With a quaint noise, like the gurgle of +a half-empty bath, he promptly released me from his embrace, and sank +down on to the grass almost as swiftly and silently as he had arisen. + +I doubt if a more perfectly timed blow has ever been delivered, but +unfortunately I had no chance of studying its effects. Through the fog +I could hear the sound of footsteps--quick heavy footsteps hurrying +towards me from either direction. For one second I thought of +scrambling back over the railings and taking to the wood again. Then +suddenly a kind of mischievous exhilaration at the danger gripped hold +of me, and jumping over the prostrate figure on the ground I bolted +forwards into the mist. The warders, who must have been quite close, +evidently heard me, for from both sides came hoarse shouts of "There +he goes!" "Look out there!" and other well-meant pieces of advice. + +It was a funny sort of sensation dodging through the fog, feeling that +at any moment one might blunder up against the muzzle of a loaded +carbine. The only guide I had as to my direction was the slope of the +ground. I knew that as long as I kept on going uphill I was more or +less on the right track, for the big granite-strewn bulk of North +Hessary lay right in front of me, and I had to cross it to get to the +Walkham Valley. + +On I went, the ground rising higher and higher, until at last the +wet slippery grass began to give way to a broken waste of rocks and +heather. I had reached the top, and although I could see nothing on +account of the mist, I knew that right below me lay the woods, with +only about a mile of steeply sloping hillside separating me from their +agreeable privacy. + +Despite the cold and the wet and the fact that I was getting devilish +hungry, my spirits somehow began to rise. Good luck always acts on me +as a sort of tonic, and so far I had certainly been amazingly lucky. I +felt that if only the rain would clear up now and give me a chance of +getting dry, Fate would have treated me as handsomely as an escaped +murderer had any right to expect. + +Making my way carefully across the plateau, for the ground was stiff +with small holes and gullies and I had no wish to sprain my ankle, I +began the descent of the opposite side. The mist here was a good deal +thinner, but night was coming on so rapidly that as far as seeing +where I was going was concerned I was very little better off than I +had been on the top of the hill. + +Below me, away to the right, a blurred glimmer of light just made +itself visible. This I took to be Merivale village, on the Tavistock +road; and not being anxious to trespass upon its simple hospitality, I +sheered off slightly in the opposite direction. At last, after about +twenty minutes' scrambling, I began to hear a faint trickle of running +water, and a few more steps brought me to the bank of the Walkham. + +I stood there for a little while in the darkness, feeling a kind of +tired elation at my achievement. My chances of escape might still be +pretty thin, but I had at least reached a temporary shelter. For five +miles away to my left stretched the pleasantly fertile valley, and +until I chose to come out of it all the warders on Dartmoor might hunt +themselves black in the face without finding me. + +I can't say exactly how much farther I tramped that evening. When one +is stumbling along at night through an exceedingly ill-kept wood in a +state of hunger, dampness, and exhaustion, one's judgment of distance +is apt to lose some of its finer accuracy. I imagine, however, that I +must have covered at least three more miles before my desire to lie +down and sleep became too poignant to be any longer resisted. + +I hunted about in the darkness until I discovered a small patch of +fairly dry grass which had been more or less protected from the rain +by an overhanging rock. I might perhaps have done better, but I was +too tired to bother. I just dropped peacefully down where I stood, and +in spite of my bruises and my soaked clothes I don't think I had been +two minutes on the ground before I was fast asleep. + + * * * * * + +Tommy Morrison always used to say that only unintelligent people +woke up feeling really well. If he was right I must have been in a +singularly brilliant mood when I again opened my eyes. + +It was still fairly dark, with the raw, sour darkness of an early +March morning, and all round me the invisible drip of the trees was as +persistent as ever. Very slowly and shakily I scrambled to my feet. My +head ached savagely, I was chilled to the core, and every part of +my body felt as if it had been trampled on by a powerful and rather +ill-tempered mule. + +I was hungry too--Lord, how hungry I was! Breakfast in the prison is +not exactly an appetizing meal, but at that moment the memory of its +thin gruel and greasy cocoa and bread seemed to me beautiful beyond +words. + +I looked round rather forlornly. As an unpromising field for foraging +in, a Dartmoor wood on a dark March morning takes a lot of beating. +It is true that there was plenty of water--the whole ground and air +reeked with it--but water, even in unlimited quantities, is a poor +basis for prolonged exertion. + +There was nothing else to be got, however, so I had to make the best +of it. I lay down full length beside a small spring which gurgled +along the ground at my feet, and with the aid of my hands lapped up +about a pint and a half. When I had finished, apart from the ache in +my limbs I felt distinctly better. + +The question was what to do next. Hungry or not, it would be madness +to leave the shelter of the woods until evening, for not only would +the warders be all over the place, but by this time everyone who lived +in the neighbourhood would have been warned of my escape. My best +chance seemed to lie in stopping where I was as long as daylight +lasted, and then staking everything on a successful burglary. + +It was not a cheerful prospect, and before the morning was much older +it seemed less cheerful still. If you can imagine what it feels +like to spend hour after hour crouching in the heart of a wood in a +pitiless drizzle of rain, you will be able to get some idea of what I +went through. If I had only had a pipe and some baccy, things would +have been more tolerable; as it was there was nothing to do but to sit +and shiver and grind my teeth and think about George. + +I thought quite a lot about George. I seemed to see his face as he +read the news of my escape, and I could picture the feverish way in +which he would turn to each edition of the paper to find out whether I +had been recaptured. Then I began to imagine our meeting, and George's +expression when he realized who it was. The idea was so pleasing that +it almost made me forget my present misery. + +It must have been about midday when I decided on a move. In a way I +suppose it was a rash thing to do, but I had got so cursedly cramped +and cold again that I felt if I didn't take some exercise I should +never last out the day. Even as it was, my legs had lost practically +all feeling, and for the first few steps I took I was staggering about +like a drunkard. + +Keeping to the thickest part of the wood, I made my way slowly +forward; my idea being to reach the top of the valley and then lie low +again until nightfall. My progress was not exactly rapid, for after +creeping a yard or two at a time I would crouch down and listen +carefully for any sounds of danger. I had covered perhaps a mile in +this spasmodic fashion when a gradual improvement in the light ahead +told me that I was approaching open ground. A few steps farther, and +through a gap in the trees a red roof suddenly came into view, with a +couple of chimney-pots smoking away cheerfully in the rain. + +It gave me a bit of a start, for I had not expected to run into +civilization quite so soon as this. I stopped where I was and did +a little bit of rapid thinking. Where there's a house there must +necessarily be some way of getting at it, and the only way I could +think of in this case was a private drive up the hill into the main +Devonport road. If there was such a drive the house was no doubt a +private residence and a fairly large one at that. + +With infinite precaution I began to creep forward again. Between the +trunks of the trees I could catch glimpses of a stout wood paling +about six feet high which apparently ran the whole length of the +grounds, separating them from the wood. On the other side of this +fence I could hear, as I drew nearer, a kind of splashing noise, and +every now and then the sound of somebody moving about and whistling. + +The last few yards consisted of a strip of open grass marked by deep +cart-ruts. Across this I crawled on my hands and knees, and getting +right up against the fence began very carefully to search around for +a peep-hole. At last I found a tiny gap between two of the boards. It +was the merest chink, but by gluing my eye to it I was just able to +see through. + +I was looking into a square gravel-covered yard, in the centre of +which a man in blue overalls was cleaning the mud off a small +motor car. He was evidently the owner, for he was a prosperous, +genial-looking person of the retired Major type, and he was lightening +his somewhat damp task by puffing away steadily at a pipe. I watched +him with a kind of bitter jealousy. I had no idea who he was, but +for the moment I hated him fiercely. Why should he be able to potter +around in that comfortable self-satisfied fashion, while I, Neil +Lyndon, starved, soaked, and hunted like a wild beast, was crouching +desperately outside his palings? + +It was a natural enough emotion, but I was in too critical a position +to waste time in asking myself questions. I realized that if burglary +had to be done, here was the right spot. By going farther I should +only be running myself into unnecessary risk, and probably without +finding a house any more suitable to my purpose. + +I squinted sideways through the hole, trying to master the geography +of the place. On the left was a high bank of laurels, and just at the +corner I could see the curve of the drive, turning away up the hill. +On the other side of the yard was a small garage, built against the +wall, while directly facing me was the back of the house. + +I was just digesting these details, when a sudden sigh from the +gentleman in the yard attracted my attention. He had apparently had +enough of cleaning the car, for laying down the cloth he had been +using, he stepped back and began to contemplate his handiwork. + +It was not much to boast about, but it seemed to be good enough for +him. At all events he came forward again, and taking off the brake, +proceeded very slowly to push the car back towards the garage. At +the entrance he stopped for a moment, and going inside brought out a +bicycle which he leaned against the wall. Then he laboriously shoved +the car into its appointed place, put back the bicycle, and standing +in the doorway started to take off his overalls. + +I need hardly say I watched him with absorbed interest. The sight of +the bicycle had sent a little thrill of excitement tingling down my +back, for it opened up possibilities in the way of escape that five +minutes before had seemed wildly out of reach. If I could only steal +the machine and the overalls as well, I should at least stand a good +chance of getting clear away from the Moor before I was starved or +captured. In addition to that I should be richer by a costume which +would completely cover up the tasteful but rather pronounced pattern +of my clothes. + +My heart beat faster with excitement as with my eye pressed tight to +the peep-hole I followed every movement of my unconscious quarry. +Whistling cheerfully to himself, he stripped off the dark blue cotton +trousers and oil-stained jacket that he was wearing and hung them on a +nail just inside the door. Then he gave a last look round, presumably +to satisfy himself that everything was in order, and shutting the door +with a bang, turned the key in the lock. + +I naturally thought he was going to stuff that desirable object into +his pocket, but as it happened he did nothing of the kind. With a +throb of half-incredulous delight I saw that he was standing on +tiptoe, inserting it into some small hiding-place just under the edge +of the iron roof. + +I didn't wait for further information. At any moment someone might +have come blundering round the corner of the paling, and I felt that I +had tempted Fate quite enough already. So, abandoning my peep-hole, +I turned round, and with infinite care crawled back across the grass +into the shelter of the trees. + +Once there, however, I rolled over on the ground and metaphorically +hugged myself. The situation may not appear to have warranted such +excessive rapture, but when a man is practically hopeless even the +wildest of possible chances comes to him like music and sunshine. +Forgetting my hunger and my wet clothes in my excitement, I lay there +thinking out my plan of action. I could do nothing, of course, until +it was dark: in fact it would be really better to wait till the +household had gone to bed, for several of the back windows looked +right out on the garage. Then, provided I could climb the paling and +get out the bicycle without being spotted, I had only to push it up +the drive to find myself on the Devonport road. + +With this comforting reflection I settled myself down to wait. It was +at least four hours from darkness, with another four to be added to +that before I dared make a move. Looking back now, I sometimes wonder +how I managed to stick it out. Long before dusk my legs and arms +had begun to ache again with a dull throbbing sort of pain that got +steadily worse, while the chill of my wet clothes seemed to eat into +my bones. Once or twice I got up and crawled a few yards backwards and +forwards, but the little additional warmth this performance gave me +did not last long. I dared not indulge in any more violent exercise +for fear that there might be warders about in the wood. + +What really saved me, I think, was the rain stopping. It came to an +end quite suddenly, in the usual Dartmoor fashion, and within half an +hour most of the mist had cleared off too. I knew enough of the local +weather signs to be pretty certain that we were in for a fine night; +and sure enough, half an hour after the sun had set a large moon was +shining down from a practically cloudless sky. + +From where I was lying I could, by raising my head, just see the +two top windows of the house. About ten, as near as I could judge, +somebody lit a candle in one of these rooms, and then coming to the +window drew down the blind. I waited patiently till I saw this dull +glimmer of light disappear, then, with a not unpleasant throb of +excitement, I crawled out from my hiding-place and recrossed the grass +to my former point of observation. Very gingerly I lifted myself up +and peered over the top of the paling. The yard was in shadow, and so +far as I could see the back door and all the various outbuildings were +locked up for the night. + +Under ordinary circumstances I could have cleared that blessed paling +in about thirty seconds, but in my present state of exhaustion it +proved to be no easy matter. However, with a mighty effort I at last +succeeded in getting my right elbow on the top, and from that point I +managed to scramble up and hoist myself over. Then, keeping a watchful +eye on the windows, I advanced towards the garage. + +I found the key first shot. It was resting on a little ledge under the +roof, and a thrill of joy went through me as my fingers closed over +it. I pushed it into the keyhole, and very carefully I turned the +lock. + +It was quite dark inside, but I could just see the outline of the +overalls hanging on the nail. I unhooked them, and placing the coat on +the ground I drew on the oily trousers over my convict breeches +and stockings. I could tell by the feel that they covered me up +completely. + +As I picked up the coat something rattled in one of the side pockets. +I put my hand in and pulled out a box of wax matches, which despite +the dampness of the garment still seemed dry enough to strike. For a +moment I hesitated, wondering whether I dared to light one. It was +dangerous, especially if there happened to be a window looking out +towards the house, but on the other hand I badly wanted a little +illumination to see what I was doing. + +I decided to risk it, and closing the door, struck one against the +wall. It flared up, and shading it with my hand I cast a hasty glance +round the garage. The bicycle was leaning against a shelf just beyond +me, and on a nail above it I saw an old disreputable-looking cap. I +pounced on it joyfully, for it was the one thing I needed to complete +my disguise. Then, wheeling the bicycle past the car, I blew out the +match and reopened the door. + +Stepping as noiselessly as possible on the gravel, I pushed the bike +across the yard. There was a large patch of moonlight between me and +the end of the drive, and I went through it with a horrible feeling +in the small of my back that at any moment someone might fling up +a window and bawl out, "Stop thief!" Nothing of the kind occurred, +however, and with a vast sense of thankfulness I gained the shelter of +the laurels. + +The only thing that worried me was the thought that there might be a +lodge at the top. If so I was by no means out of the wood. Even the +most guileless of lodge-keepers would be bound to think it rather +curious that I should be creeping out at this time of night +accompanied by his master's bicycle. + +Keeping one hand against the bushes to guide me, and pushing the +machine with the other, I groped my way slowly up the winding path. As +I came cautiously round the last corner I saw with a sigh of relief +that my fears were groundless. A few yards ahead of me in the +moonlight was a plain white gate, and beyond that the road. + +I opened the gate with deliberate care, and closed it in similar +fashion behind me. Then for a moment I stopped. I was badly out of +breath, partly from weakness and partly from excitement, so laying the +machine against the bank I leaned back beside it. + +Everything was quite still. On each side of me the broad, white, +moonlit roadway stretched away into the night, flanked by a row of +telegraph poles which stood out like gaunt sentries. It was curious +to think that they had probably put in a busy day's work, carrying +messages about me. + +There was a lamp on the front bracket, and as soon as I felt a little +better I took out my matches and proceeded to light it. Then, wheeling +my bike out into the roadway, I turned in the direction of Devonport +and mounted. I felt a bit shaky at first, for, apart from the fact +that I was worn out and pretty near starving, I had not been on a +machine for over three years. However, after wobbling wildly from side +to side, I managed to get the thing going, and pedalled off down the +centre of the road as steadily as my half-numbed senses would allow. + +For perhaps a quarter of a mile the ground kept fairly level, then, +breasting a slight rise, I found myself at the top of a hill. I shoved +on the brake and went slowly round the first corner, where I got an +unexpected surprise. From this point the road ran straight away down +through a small village, across a bridge over the river, and up a +short steep slope on the farther side. + +I took in the situation at a glance, and, releasing my brake, I let +the old bike have her head. It certainly wouldn't suit me to have to +dismount in the village and walk up the opposite slope, and I was much +too exhausted to do anything else unless I could take it in a rush. + +Down I went, the machine flying noiselessly along and gathering pace +every yard. I had nearly reached the bottom and was just getting ready +to pedal, when all of a sudden, I caught sight of something that +almost paralyzed me. Right ahead, in the centre of the village square, +stood a prison warder. His back was towards me and I could see the +moonlight gleaming on the barrel of his carbine. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + +I was going so fast that everything seemed to happen simultaneously. +I had one blurred vision of him spinning round and yelling to me to +stop: then the next moment I had flashed past him and was racing +across the bridge. + +Whether he recognized me for certain I can't say. I think not, or he +would probably have fired sooner than he did: as it was, my rush had +carried me three quarters of the way up the opposite hill before he +could make up his mind to risk a shot. + +Bang went his carbine, and at the same instant, with a second loud +report, the tire of my back wheel abruptly collapsed. It was a good +shot if he had aimed for it, and what's more it came unpleasantly +near doing the trick. The old bike swerved violently, but with a wild +wrench I just succeeded in righting her. For a second I heard him +shouting and running behind me, and then, working like a maniac, I +bumped up the rest of the slope, and disappeared over the protecting +dip at the top. + +Of my progress for the next mile or so I have only the most +confused recollection. It was like one of those ghastly things that +occasionally happen to one in a nightmare. I just remember pedalling +blindly along, with the back wheel grinding and jolting beneath me +and the moonlit road rising and falling ahead. It must have been more +instinct than anything else that kept me going, for I was in the last +stages of hunger and weariness, and most of the time I scarcely knew +what I was doing. + +At last, after wobbling feebly up a long slope, I found I had reached +the extreme edge of the Moor. Right below me the road dropped down for +several hundred feet into a broad level expanse of fields and woods. +Six or seven miles away the lights of Plymouth and Devonport threw up +a yellow glare into the sky, and beyond that again I could just see +the glint of the moonlight shining on the sea. + +It was no good stopping, for I knew that in an hour or so the mounted +warders would be again on my track. So clapping on both brakes, I +started off down the long descent, being careful not to let the +machine get away with me as it had done on the previous hill. + +At the bottom, which I somehow reached in safety, I found a sign-post +with two hands, one marked Plymouth and the other Devonport. I took +the latter road, why I can hardly say, and summoning up my almost +spent energies I pedalled off shakily between its high hedges. + +How I got as far as I did remains a mystery to me to this day. I fell +off twice from sheer weakness, but on each occasion I managed to drag +myself back into the saddle again, and it was not until my third +tumble, that I decided I could go no farther. + +I was in a dark stretch of road bounded on each side by thick +plantations. It was a good place to lie up in, but unfortunately there +was another and more pressing problem in front of me. Half delirious +as I was, I realized that unless I could find something to eat that +night my career as an escaped convict was pretty near its end. + +I picked myself up, and with a great effort managed to drag the +bicycle to the side of the road. Then, clutching the rail that bounded +the plantation, I began to stagger slowly forward along the slightly +raised path. I think I had a sort of vague notion that there might be +something to eat round the next corner. + +I had progressed in this fashion for perhaps forty yards, when quite +unexpectedly both the trees and the railings came to an end. I +remained swaying and half incredulous for a moment: then I began to +realize that I was standing in front of an open gate looking up an +exceedingly ill-kept drive. At the end of this drive was a house, and +the moonlight shining full on the front of it showed me that the whole +place had about as forlorn and neglected an appearance as an inhabited +building could very well possess. That it was inhabited there could be +no doubt, for in the small glass square above the hall door I could +see a feeble glimmer of light. + +No one could have called it an inviting-looking place, but then I +wasn't exactly waiting for invitations where a chance of food was +concerned. I just slipped in at the gate, and keeping well in the +shadow of the bushes that bounded the drive, I crept slowly and +unsteadily forward until I reached a point opposite the front door. I +crouched there for a moment, peering up at the house. Except for that +flickering gas jet there was no sign of life anywhere; all the windows +were shuttered or else in complete darkness. + +At first I had a wild idea of ringing the bell and pretending to be +a starving tramp. Then I remembered that my description had no doubt +been circulated all round the neighbourhood, and that if there was +any one in the place they would probably recognize me at once as the +missing convict. This choked me off, for though as a rule I have no +objection to a slight scuffle, I felt that in my present condition the +average housemaid could knock me over with the flick of a duster. + +The only alternative scheme that suggested itself to my numbed mind +was to commit another burglary. There was a path running down the side +of the house, which apparently led round to the back, and it struck +me that if I followed this I might possibly come across an unfastened +window. Anyhow, it was no good waiting about till I collapsed from +exhaustion, so, getting on my feet, I slunk along the laurels as far +as the end of the drive, and then crept across in the shadow of an +overhanging tree. + +I made my way slowly down the path, keeping one hand against the wall, +and came out into a small square yard, paved with cobbles, where I +found myself looking up at the back of the house. There was a door +in the middle with two windows on either side of it, and above these +several other rooms--all apparently in complete darkness. + +I was beginning to feel horribly like fainting, but by sheer +will-power I managed to pull myself together. Going up to the nearest +window I peered through the pane. I could see the dim outline of a +table with some plates on it just inside, and putting my hand against +the bottom sash I gave it a gentle push. It yielded instantly, sliding +up several inches with a wheezy rattle that brought my heart into my +mouth. + +For a moment or two I waited, listening intently for any sound of +movement within the house. Then, as nothing happened, I carefully +raised the sash a little higher, and poked my head in through the +empty window-frame. + +It was the kitchen all right: there could be no doubt about that. A +strong smell of stale cooking pervaded the warm darkness, and that +musty odour brought tears of joy into my eyes. I took one long +luxurious sniff, and then with a last effort I hoisted myself up and +scrambled in over the low sill. + +As my feet touched the floor there was a sharp click. A blinding flash +of light shot out from the darkness, striking me full in the face, and +at the same instant a voice remarked quietly but firmly: "Put up your +hands." + +I put them up. + +There was a short pause: then from the other end of the room a man in +a dressing-gown advanced slowly to the table in the centre. He was +holding a small electric torch in one hand and a revolver in the +other. He laid down the former with the light still pointing straight +at my face. + +"If you attempt to move," he remarked pleasantly, "I shall blow your +brains out." + +With this he walked to the side of the room, struck a match against +the wall, and reaching up turned on the gas. + +I was much too dazed to do anything, even if I had had the chance. I +just stood there with my hands up, rocking slightly from side to side, +and wondering how long it would be before I tumbled over. + +My captor remained for a moment under the light, peering at me in +silence. He seemed to be a man of about sixty--a thin, frail man +with white hair and a sharp, deeply lined face. He wore gold-rimmed +pince-nez, behind which a pair of hard grey eyes gleamed at me in +malicious amusement. + +At last he took a step forward, still holding the revolver in his +hand. + +"A stranger!" he observed. "Dear me--what a disappointment! I hope Mr. +Latimer is not ill?" + +I had no idea what he was talking about, but his voice sounded very +far away. + +"If you keep me standing like this much longer," I managed to jerk +out, "I shall most certainly faint." + +I saw him raise his eyebrows in a sort of half-mocking smile. + +"Indeed," he said, "I thought--" + +What he thought I never heard, for the whole room suddenly went dim, +and with a quick lurch the floor seemed to get up and spin round +beneath my feet. I suppose I must have pitched forward, for the last +thing I remember is clutching wildly but vainly at the corner of the +kitchen table. + + * * * * * + +My first sensation on coming round was a burning feeling in my lips +and throat. Then I suddenly realized that my mouth was full of brandy, +and with a surprised gulp I swallowed it down and opened my eyes. + +I was lying back in a low chair with a cushion under my head. Standing +in front of me was the gentleman in the dressing-gown, only instead of +a revolver he now held an empty wine-glass in his hand. When he saw +that I was recovering he stepped back and placed it on the table. +There was a short pause. + +"Well, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "and how are you feeling now?" + +A hasty glance down showed me that the jacket of my overalls had been +unbuttoned at the neck, exposing the soaked and mud-stained prison +clothes beneath. I saw that the game was up, but for the moment I was +too exhausted to care. + +My captor leaned against the end of the table watching me closely. + +"Are you feeling any better?" he repeated. + +I made a feeble attempt to raise myself in the chair. "I don't know," +I said weakly; "I'm feeling devilish hungry." + +He stepped forward at once, his lined face breaking into something +like a smile. + +"Don't sit up. Lie quite still where you are, and I will get you +something to eat. Have you had any food today?" + +I shook my head. "Only rain-water," I said. + +"You had better start with some bread and milk, then. You have been +starving too long to eat a big meal straight away." + +Crossing the room, he pushed open a door which apparently led into the +larder, and then paused for a moment on the threshold. + +"You needn't try to escape," he added, turning back to me. "I am not +going to send for the police." + +"I don't care what you do," I whispered, "as long as you hurry up with +some grub." + +Lying there in the sort of semi-stupor that comes from utter +exhaustion, I listened to him moving about in the larder apparently +getting things ready. For the moment all thoughts of danger or +recapture had ceased to disturb me. Even the unexpected fashion +in which I was being treated did not strike me as particularly +interesting or surprising: my whole being was steeped in a sense of +approaching food. + +I saw him re-enter the room, carrying a saucepan, which he placed on +a small stove alongside the fireplace. There was the scratching of a +match followed by the pop of a gas-ring, and half-closing my eyes I +lay back in serene and silent contentment. + +I was aroused by the chink of a spoon, and the splash of something +liquid being poured out. Then I saw my host coming towards me, +carrying a large steaming china bowl in his hand. + +"Here you are," he said. "Do you think you can manage to feed +yourself?" + +I didn't trouble to answer. I just seized the cup and spoon, and the +next moment I was wolfing down a huge mouthful of warm bread and milk +that seemed to me the most perfect thing I had ever tasted. It was +followed rapidly by another and another, all equally beautiful. + +My host stood by watching me with a sort of half-amused interest. + +"I shouldn't eat it quite so fast," he observed. "It will do you more +good if you take it slowly." + +The first few spoonfuls had already partly deadened my worst pangs, +so following his advice I slackened down the pace to a somewhat more +normal level. Even then I emptied the bowl in what I think must +have been a record time, and with a deep sigh I handed it to him to +replenish. + +I was feeling better--distinctly better. The food, the rest in the +chair, and the comparative warmth of the room were all doing me good +in their various ways, and for the first time I was beginning to +realize clearly where I was and what had happened. + +I suppose my host noticed the change, for he looked at me in an +approving fashion as he gave me my second helping. + +"There you are," he said in that curious dry voice of his. "Eat that +up, and then we'll have a little conversation. Meanwhile--" he paused +and looked round--"well, if you have no objection I think I will shut +that window. I daresay you have had enough fresh air for today." + +I nodded--my mouth was too full for any more elaborate reply--and +crossing the room he closed the sash and pulled down the blind. + +"That's better," he observed, gently rubbing his hands together; "now +we are more comfortable and more private. By the way, I don't think I +have introduced myself yet. My name is McMurtrie--Doctor McMurtrie." + +"I am charmed to meet you," I said, swallowing down a large chunk of +bread. + +He nodded his head, smiling. "The pleasure is a mutual one, Mr. +Lyndon--quite a mutual one." + +The words were simple and smooth enough in themselves, but somehow or +other the tone in which they were uttered was not altogether to my +taste. It seemed to carry with it the faint suggestion of a cat +purring over a mouse. Still I was hardly in a position to be too +fastidious, so I accepted his compliment, and went on calmly with my +bread and milk. + +With the same rather catlike smile Dr. McMurtrie drew up a chair +and sat down opposite to me. He kept his right hand in his pocket, +presumably on the revolver. + +"And now," he said, "perhaps you have sufficiently recovered to be +able to tell me a little about yourself. At present my knowledge of +your adventures is confined to the account of your escape in this +morning's _Daily Mail_." + +I slowly finished the last spoonful of my second helping, and placed +the cup beside me on the floor. It was a clumsy device to gain time, +for now that the full consciousness of my surroundings had returned to +me, I was beginning to think that Dr. McMurtrie's methods of receiving +an escaped convict were, to say the least, a trifle unusual. Was his +apparent friendliness merely a blind, or did it hide some still deeper +purpose, of which at present I knew nothing? + +He must have guessed my thoughts, for leaning back in his chair he +remarked half-mockingly: "Come, Mr. Lyndon, it doesn't pay to be too +suspicious. If it will relieve your mind, I can assure you I have no +immediate intention of turning policeman, even for the magnificent sum +of--how much is it--five pounds, I believe? On mere business grounds I +think it would be underrating your market value." + +The slight but distinct change in his voice in the last remark +invested it with a special significance. I felt a sudden conviction +that for some reason of his own Dr. McMurtrie did not intend to give +me up--at all events for the present. + +"I will tell you anything you want to know with pleasure," I said. +"Where did the _Daily Mail_ leave off?" + +He laughed curtly, and thrusting the other hand into his pocket pulled +out a silver cigarette-case. + +"If I remember rightly," he said, "you had just taken advantage of the +fog to commit a brutal and quite unprovoked assault upon a warder." He +held out the case. + +"But try one of these before you start," he added. "They are a special +brand from St. Petersburg, and I think you will enjoy them. There +is nothing like a little abstinence to make one appreciate a good +tobacco." + +With a shaking hand I pressed the spring. It was three years since I +had smoked my last cigarette--a cigarette handed me by the inspector +in that stuffy little room below the dock, where I was waiting to be +sentenced to death. + +If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget my sensations as I +struck the match which my host handed me and took in that first +fragrant mouthful. It was so delicious that for a moment I remained +motionless from sheer pleasure; then lying back again in my chair with +a little gasp I drew another great cloud of smoke deep down into my +lungs. + +The doctor waited, watching me with a kind of cynical amusement. + +"Don't hurry yourself, Mr. Lyndon," he observed, "pray don't hurry +yourself. It is a pleasure to witness such appreciation." + +I took him at his word, and for perhaps a couple of minutes we sat +there in silence while the blue wreaths of smoke slowly mounted +and circled round us. Then at last, with a delightful feeling of +half-drugged contentment, I sat up and began my story. + +I told it him quite simply--making no attempt to conceal or exaggerate +anything. I described how the idea of making a bolt had come suddenly +into my mind, and how I had acted on it without reflection or +hesitation. Step by step I went quietly through my adventures, from +the time when the fog had rolled down to the moment when, half +fainting with hunger and exhaustion, I had climbed in through his +kitchen window. + +Leaning on the arm of his chair, he listened to me in silence. As far +as any movement or change of expression was concerned a statue could +scarcely have betrayed less interest, but all the time the steady +gleam of his eyes never shifted from my face. + +When I had finished he remained there for several seconds in the same +attitude. Then at last he gave a short mirthless laugh. + +"It must be pleasant to be as strong as you are," he said. "I should +have been dead long ago." + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I don't exactly feel like going to a +dance," I answered. + +He got up and walked slowly as far as the window, where he turned +round and stood staring at me thoughtfully. At last he appeared to +make up his mind. + +"You had better go to bed," he said, "and we will talk things over in +the morning. You are not fit for anything more tonight." + +"No, I'm not," I admitted frankly; "but before I go to bed I should +like to feel a little more certain where I'm going to wake up." + +There was a faint sound outside and I saw him raise his head. It was +the distant but unmistakable hum of a motor, drawing nearer and nearer +every moment. For a few seconds we both stood there listening: then +with a sudden shock I realized that the car had reached the house and +was turning in at the drive. + +Weak as I was I sprang from my chair, scarcely feeling the thrill of +pain that ran through me at the effort. + +"By God!" I cried fiercely, "you've sold me!" + +He whipped out the revolver, pointing it full at my face. + +"Sit down, you fool," he said. "It's not the police." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + +Whatever my intentions may have been--and they were pretty venomous +when I jumped up--the revolver was really an unnecessary precaution. +Directly I was on my feet I went as giddy as a kite, and it was only +by clutching the chair that I saved myself from toppling over. I was +evidently in a worse way than I imagined. + +Lowering his weapon the doctor repeated his order. + +"Sit down, man, sit down. No one means you any harm here." + +"Who is it in the car?" I demanded, fighting hard against the accursed +feeling of faintness that was again stealing through me. + +"They are friends of mine. They have nothing to do with the police. +You will see in a minute." + +I sat down, more from necessity than by choice, and as I did so I +heard the car draw up outside the back door. + +Crossing to the window the doctor threw up the sash. + +"Savaroff!" he called out. + +There came an answer in a man's voice which I was unable to catch. + +"Come in here," went on McMurtrie. "Don't bother about the car." He +turned back to me. "Drink this," he added, pouring out some more +brandy into the wine-glass. I gulped it down and lay back again in my +chair, tingling all through. + +He took my wrist and felt my pulse for a moment. "I know you are +feeling bad," he said, "but we'll get your wet clothes off and put you +to bed in a minute. You will be a different man in the morning." + +"That will be very convenient," I observed faintly. + +There was a noise of footsteps outside, the handle of the door turned, +and a man--a huge bear of a man in a long Astrachan coat--strode +heavily into the room. He was followed by a girl whose face was almost +hidden behind a partly-turned-back motor veil. When they caught sight +of me they both stopped abruptly. + +"Who's this?" demanded the man. + +Dr. McMurtrie made a graceful gesture towards me with his hand. +"Allow me," he said, "to introduce you. Monsieur and Mademoiselle +Savaroff--our distinguished and much-sought-after friend Mr. Neil +Lyndon." + +The big man gave a violent start, and with a little exclamation the +girl stepped forward, turning back her veil. I saw then that she was +remarkably handsome, in a dark, rather sullen-looking sort of way. + +"You will excuse my getting up," I said weakly. "It doesn't seem to +agree with me." + +"Mr. Lyndon," explained the doctor, "is fatigued. I was just proposing +that he should go to bed when I heard the car." + +"How in the name of Satan did he get here?" demanded the other man, +still staring at me in obvious amazement. + +"He came in through the window with the intention of borrowing a +little food. I had happened to see him in the garden, and being under +the natural impression that he was--er--well, another friend of ours, +I ventured to detain him." + +Savaroff gave a short laugh. "But it's incredible," he muttered. + +The girl was watching me curiously. "Poor man," she exclaimed, "he +must be starving!" + +"My dear Sonia," said McMurtrie, "you reflect upon my hospitality. Mr. +Lyndon has been faring sumptuously on bread and milk." + +"But he looks so wet and ill." + +"He is wet and ill," rejoined the doctor agreeably. "That is just the +reason why I am going to ask you to heat some water and light a fire +in the spare bedroom. We don't want to disturb Mrs. Weston at this +time of night. I suppose the bed is made up?" + +Sonia nodded. "I think so. I'll go up and see anyhow." + +With a last glance at me she left the room, and Savaroff, taking off +his coat, threw it across the back of a chair. Then he came up to +where I was sitting. + +"You don't look much like your pictures, my friend," he said, +unwinding the scarf that he was wearing round his neck. + +"Under the circumstances," I replied, "that's just as well." + +He laughed again, showing a set of strong white teeth. "Yes, yes. +But the clothes and the short hair--eh? They would take a lot of +explaining away. It was fortunate for you you chose this house--very +fortunate. You find yourself amongst friends here." + +I nodded. + +I didn't like the man--there was too great a suggestion of the bully +about him, but for all that I preferred him to McMurtrie. + +It was the latter who interrupted. "Come, Savaroff, you take Mr. +Lyndon's other arm and we'll help him upstairs. It is quite time he +got out of those wet things." + +With their joint assistance I hoisted myself out of the chair and, +leaning heavily on the pair of them, hobbled across to the door. Every +step I took sent a thrill of pain through me, for I was as stiff and +sore as though I had been beaten all over with a walking-stick. The +stairs were a bit of a job too, but they managed to get me up somehow +or other, and I found myself in a large sparsely furnished hall lit by +one ill-burning gas jet. There was a door half open on the left, and +through the vacant space I could see the flicker of a freshly lighted +fire. + +They helped me inside, where we found the girl Sonia standing beside a +long yellow bath-tub which she had set out on a blanket. + +"I thought Mr. Lyndon might like a hot bath," she said. "It won't take +very long to warm up the water." + +"Like it!" I echoed gratefully; and then, finding no other words to +express my emotions, I sank down in an easy chair which had been +pushed in front of the fire. + +I think the brandy that McMurtrie had given me must have gone to my +head, or perhaps it was merely the sudden sense of warmth and comfort +coming on top of my utter fatigue. Anyhow I know I fell gradually into +a sort of blissful trance, in which things happened to me very much as +they do in a dream. + +I have a dim recollection of being helped to pull off my soaked and +filthy clothes, and later on of lying back with indescribable felicity +in a heavenly tub of hot water. + +Then I was in bed and somebody was rubbing me, rubbing me all over +with some warm pungent stuff that seemed to take away the pain in my +limbs and leave me just a tingling mass of drowsy contentment. + +After that--well, after that I suppose I fell asleep. + + * * * * * + +I base this last idea upon the fact that the next thing I remember is +hearing some one say in a rather subdued voice: "Don't wake him up. +Let him sleep as long as he likes--it's the best thing for him." + +Whereupon, as was only natural, I promptly opened my eyes. + +Dr. McMurtrie and the dark girl were standing by my bedside, looking +down at me. + +I blinked at them for a moment, wondering in my half-awake state where +the devil I had got to. Then suddenly it all came back to me. + +"Well," said the doctor smoothly, "and how is the patient today?" + +I stretched myself with some care. I was still pretty stiff, and my +throat felt as if some one had been scraping it with sand-paper, but +all the same I knew that I was better--much better. + +"I don't think there's any serious damage," I said hoarsely. "How long +have I been asleep?" + +He looked at his watch. "As far as I remember, you went to sleep +in your bath soon after midnight. It's now four o'clock in the +afternoon." + +I started up in bed. "Four o'clock!" I exclaimed. "Good Lord! I must +get up--I--" + +He laid his hand on my shoulder. "Don't be foolish, my friend," he +said. "You will get up when you are fit to get up. At the present +moment you are going to have something to eat." He turned to the girl. +"What are you thinking of giving him?" he asked. + +"There are plenty of eggs," she said, "and there's some of that fish +we had for breakfast." She answered curtly, almost rudely, looking at +me while she spoke. Her manner gave me the impression that for some +reason or other she and McMurtrie were not exactly on the best of +terms. + +If that was so, he himself betrayed no sign of it. "Either will do +excellently," he said in his usual suave way, "or perhaps our +young friend could manage both. I believe the Dartmoor air is most +stimulating." + +"I shall be vastly grateful for anything," I said, addressing the +girl. "Whatever is the least trouble to cook." + +She nodded and left the room without further remark--McMurtrie looking +after her with what seemed like a faint gleam of malicious amusement. + +"I have brought you yesterday's _Daily Mail_," he said; "I thought it +would amuse you to read the description of your escape. It is quite +entertaining; and besides that there is a masterly little summary of +your distinguished career prior to its unfortunate interruption." He +laid the paper on the bed. "First of all, though," he added, "I will +just look you over. I couldn't find much the matter with you last +night, but we may as well make certain." + +He made a short examination of my throat, and then, after feeling my +pulse, tapped me vigorously all over the chest. + +"Well," he said finally, "you have been through enough to kill two +ordinary men, but except for giving you a slight cold in the head it +seems to have done you good." + +I sat up in bed. "Dr. McMurtrie," I said bluntly, "what does all this +mean? Who are you, and why are you hiding me from the police?" + +He looked down on me, with that curious baffling smile of his. "A +natural and healthy curiosity, Mr. Lyndon," he said drily. "I hope +to satisfy it after you have had something to eat. Till then--" he +shrugged his shoulders--"well, I think you will find the _Daily Mail_ +excellent company." + +He left the room, closing the door behind him, and for a moment I +lay there with an uncomfortable sense of being tangled up in some +exceedingly mysterious adventure. Even such unusual people as Dr. +McMurtrie and his friends do not as a rule take in and shelter escaped +convicts purely out of kindness of heart. There must be a strong +motive for them to run such a risk in my case, but what that motive +could possibly be was a matter which left me utterly puzzled. So far +as I could remember I had never seen any of the three before in my +life. + +I glanced round the room. It was a big airy apartment, with ugly +old-fashioned furniture, and two windows, both of which looked out in +the same direction. The pictures on the wall included an oleograph +portrait of the late King Edward in the costume of an Admiral, a large +engraving of Mr. Landseer's inevitable stag, and several coloured and +illuminated texts. One of the latter struck me as being topical if a +little inaccurate. It ran as follows: + +THE WICKED +FLEE +WHEN NO MAN +PURSUETH + +Over the mantelpiece was a mirror in a mahogany frame. I gazed at it +idly for a second, and then a sudden impulse seized me to get up and +see what I looked like. I turned back the clothes and crawled out of +bed. I felt shaky when I stood up, but my legs seemed to bear me all +right, and very carefully I made my way across to the fireplace. + +The first glance I took in the mirror gave me a shock that nearly +knocked me over. A cropped head and three days' growth of beard will +make an extraordinary difference in any one, but I would never +have believed they could have transformed me into quite such an +unholy-looking ruffian as the one I saw staring back at me out of the +glass. If I had ever been conceited about my personal appearance, that +moment would have cured me for good. + +Satisfied with a fairly brief inspection I returned to the bed, and +arranging the pillow so as to fit the small of my back, picked up the +_Daily Mail_. I happened to open it at the centre page, and the big +heavily leaded headlines caught my eyes straight away. + +ESCAPE OF NEIL LYNDON +FAMOUS PRISONER BREAKS OUT OF DARTMOOR +SENSATIONAL CASE RECALLED + +With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I settled down to read. + +_From our own Correspondent. +Princetown_. + +Neil Lyndon, perhaps the most famous convict at present serving his +sentence, succeeded yesterday in escaping from Princetown. At the +moment of writing he is still at large. + +He formed one of a band of prisoners who were returning from the +quarries late in the afternoon. As the men reached the road which +leads through the plantation to the main gate of the prison, one of +the warders in charge was overcome by an attack of faintness. In the +ensuing confusion, a convict of the name of Cairns, who was walking +at the head of the gang, made a sudden bolt for freedom. He was +immediately challenged and fired at by the Civil Guard. + +The shot took partial effect, but failed for the moment to stop the +runaway, who succeeded in scrambling off into the wood. He was pursued +by the Civil Guard, and it was at that moment that Lyndon, who was in +the rear of the gang, also made a dash for liberty. + +He seems to have jumped the low wall which bounds the plantation, +and although fired at in turn by another of the warders, apparently +escaped injury. + +Running up the hill through the trees, he reached the open slope of +moor on the farther side which divides the plantation from the main +wood. While he was crossing this he was seen from the roadway by +that well-known horse-dealer and pigeon-shot, Mr. Alfred Smith of +Shepherd's Bush, who happened to be on a walking tour in the district. + +Mr. Smith, with characteristic sportsmanship, made a plucky attempt +to stop him; but Lyndon, who had picked up a heavy stick in the +plantation, dealt him a terrific blow on the head that temporarily +stunned him. He then jumped the railings and took refuge in the wood. + +The pursuing warders came up a few minutes later, but by this time a +heavy mist was beginning to settle down over the moor, rendering +the prospect of a successful search more than doubtful. The warders +therefore surrounded the wood with the idea of preventing Lyndon's +escape. + +Taking advantage of the fog, however, the latter succeeded in slipping +out on the opposite side. He was heard climbing the railings by +Assistant-warder Conway, who immediately gave the alarm and closed +with the fugitive. The other warders came running up, but just before +they could reach the scene of the struggle Lyndon managed to +free himself by means of a brutal kick, and darting into the fog +disappeared from sight. + +It is thought that he has made his way over North Hessary and is lying +up in the Walkham Woods. In any case it is practically certain that he +will not be at liberty much longer. It is impossible for him to get +food except by stealing it from a cottage or farm, and directly he +shows himself he is bound to be recaptured. + +Considerable excitement prevails in the district, where all the +inhabitants are keenly on the alert. + +THE MARKS MURDER +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + +The escape of Neil Lyndon recalls one of the most famous crimes of +modern days. + +On the third of October four years ago, as most of our readers will +remember, a gentleman named Mr. Seton Marks was found brutally +murdered in his luxurious flat on the Chelsea Embankment. It was +thought at first that the crime was the work of burglars, for Mr. +Marks's rooms contained many art treasures of considerable value. A +further examination, however, revealed the fact that nothing had been +tampered with, and the next day the whole country was startled and +amazed to learn that Neil Lyndon had been arrested on suspicion. + +At the trial it was proved beyond question that the accused was the +last person in the company of the murdered man. He had gone round to +Mr. Marks's flat at four o'clock in the afternoon, and had apparently +been admitted by the owner. Two hours later Mr. Marks's servant +returning to the flat was horrified to find his master's dead body +lying in the sitting-room. Death had been inflicted by means of a +heavy blow on the back of the head, but the state of the dead man's +face showed that he had been brutally mishandled before being killed. + +The accused, while maintaining his innocence of the murder, did not +deny either his visit to the flat, or the fact that he had inflicted +the other injuries on the deceased. He declined to state the cause of +their quarrel, but the defending counsel produced a witness in the +person of Miss Joyce Aylmer, a young girl of sixteen, who was able to +throw some light on the matter. + +Miss Aylmer, a young lady of considerable beauty, stated that for +about a year she had been working as an art student in Chelsea, and +used occasionally to sit to artists for the head. On the afternoon +before the murder she had had a professional engagement of this kind +with Mr. Marks. There had been a visitor in the flat when she arrived, +but he had left as soon as she came in. Subsequently, according to her +statement, the deceased had acted towards her in an outrageous and +disgraceful manner. She had escaped from his flat with difficulty, and +had subsequently informed Mr. Lyndon of what had taken place. + +In his re-examination, the accused admitted that it was on account +of Miss Aylmer's statement he had visited the flat. Up till then, he +declared, he had had no quarrel with the deceased. + +This statement, however, was directly contradicted by Lyndon's +partner, Mr. George Marwood. Giving his evidence with extreme +reluctance, Mr. Marwood stated that for some time bad blood had +undoubtedly existed between Mr. Marks and the accused. He added that +in his own hearing on two separate occasions the latter had threatened +to kill the deceased. + +Pressed still further, he admitted meeting Mr. Lyndon in Chelsea +on the night of the murder, when the latter had to all intents and +purposes acknowledged his guilt. + +On the evidence there could naturally be only one verdict, and Lyndon +was found guilty and sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Owen. + +A tremendous agitation in favour of his reprieve broke out at once. +Apart from the peculiar circumstances under which the crime was +committed, it was urged that Mr. Lyndon's services to the country as +an inventor should be taken into consideration. Within twenty-four +hours over a million people had signed a petition in his favour, and +the following day His Majesty was pleased to commute the sentence to +one of penal servitude for life. + +There is little doubt, however, that Lyndon would have been released +at the end of ten or twelve years. + +THE ESCAPED CONVICT'S CAREER + +Neil Lyndon is the only son of the well-known explorer Colonel Grant +Lyndon, who perished on the Upper Amazon some fifteen years ago. He +was educated at Haileybury, and Oriel College, Oxford, where he took +the highest honours in chemistry and mathematics. Coming down, he +entered into partnership with his cousin Mr. George Marwood, and +between them the two young inventors met with early and remarkable +success. Their greatest achievement was of course the construction of +the Lyndon-Marwood automatic torpedo, which was taken up four years +ago, after exhaustive tests, by the British Government. + +Lyndon is a man of exceptionally powerful physique. He successfully +represented Oxford as a heavy-weight boxer in his last term, and the +following year was runner up in the Amateur Championship. He is also a +fine long-distance swimmer, and a well-known single-handed yachtsman. + +Mr. George Marwood, whose painful position in connection with the +trial aroused considerable sympathy, has carried on the business alone +since his partner's conviction. Quite recently, as our readers will +recall, he was the victim of a remarkable outrage at his offices in +Victoria Street. While he was working there by himself late at night, +a couple of masked men broke into the building, bound and gagged him, +and proceeded to ransack the safe. It is said that they secured plans +and documents of considerable value, but owing to the non-arrest of +the thieves the exact details have never come to light. + +So ended the _Daily Mail_. + +I finished reading, and taking a long breath, laid down the paper. Up +till then I had heard nothing about the news contained in the last +paragraph, and it sent my memory back at once to the big well-lighted +room in Victoria Street where George and I had spent so many hours +together. I wondered what the valuable "plans and documents" might +be which the thieves were supposed to have secured. In my day we had +always been pretty careful about what we left at the office, and +any really important plans--such as those of the Lyndon-Marwood +torpedo--were invariably kept at the safe deposit across the street. + +From George and the office my thoughts drifted away over the whole +of that crowded time referred to in the paper. Brief and bald as the +narrative was, it brought up before me a dozen vivid memories, which +jostled each other simultaneously in my mind. I saw again poor little +Joyce's tear-stained face, and remembered the shuddering relief with +which she had clung to me as she sobbed out her story. I could recall +the cold rage in which I had set out for Marks's flat, and that first +savage blow of mine that sent him reeling and crashing into one of his +own cabinets. + +Then I was in court again, and George was giving his evidence--the +lying evidence that had been meant to send me to the gallows. +I remembered the cleverly assumed reluctance with which he had +apparently allowed his statements to be dragged from him, and my blood +rose hot in my throat as I thought of his treachery. + +Above all I seemed to see the fat red face of Mr. Justice Owen, with +the ridiculous little three-cornered black cap above it. He had been +very cut up about sentencing me to death, had poor old Owen, and I +could almost hear the broken tones in which he had faltered out the +words: + +"... taken from the place where you now stand to the place whence you +came--hanged by the neck until your body be dead--and may God have +mercy on your soul." + +At this cheerful point in my reminiscences I was suddenly interrupted +by a sharp knock at the door. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + +With a big effort I pulled myself together. "Come in," I called out. + +The door opened, and the girl, Sonia, entered the room. She was +carrying a tray, which she set down on the top of the chest of +drawers. + +"I don't know the least how to thank you for all this," I said. + +She turned round and looked at me curiously from under her dark +eyebrows. + +"For all what?" she asked. + +"This," I repeated, waving my hand towards the tray, "and the hot bath +last night, and incidentally my life. If it hadn't been for you and +Dr. McMurtrie I think my 'career,' as the _Daily Mail_ calls it, would +be pretty well finished by now." + +She stood where she was, her hand on her hip, her eyes fixed on my +face. + +"Do you know why we are helping you?" she asked. + +I shook my head. "I haven't the faintest notion," I answered frankly. +"It certainly can't be on account of the charm of my appearance. I've +just been looking at myself in the glass." + +She shrugged her shoulders half impatiently. "What does a man's +appearance matter? You can't expect to break out of Dartmoor in a +frock-coat." + +"No," I replied gravely; "there must always be a certain lack of +dignity about such a proceeding. Still, when one looks like--well, +like an escaped murderer, it's all the more surprising that one should +be so hospitably received." + +She picked up the tray again, and brought it to my bedside. + +"Oh!" she said; "I shouldn't build too much upon our hospitality if I +were you." + +I took the tray from her hands. "I would build upon yours to any +extent," I said; "but I am under no illusion whatever about Dr. +McMurtrie's disinterestedness. He and your father--it is your father, +isn't it?--are coming up to explain matters as soon as I have had +something to eat." + +She stood silent for a moment, her brows knitted in a frown. + +"They mean you no harm," she said at last, "as long as you will do +what they want." Then she paused. "Did you murder that man Marks?" she +asked abruptly. + +I swallowed down my first mouthful of fish. "No," I said; "I only +knocked him about a bit. He wasn't worth murdering." + +She stared at me as if she was trying to read my thoughts. + +"Is that true?" she said. + +"Well," I replied, "he was alive enough when I left him, judging from +his language." + +"Then why did your partner--Mr. Marwood--why did he say that you had +done it?" + +"That," I said softly, "is a little question which George and I have +got to discuss together some day." + +She walked to the door and then turned. + +"If a man I had trusted and worked with behaved like that to me," she +said slowly, "I should kill him." + +I nodded my approval of the sentiment. "I daresay it will come to +that," I said; "the only thing is one gets rather tired of being +sentenced to death." + +She gave me another long, curious glance out of those dark brown eyes +of hers, and then going out, closed the door behind her. + +For an exceedingly busy and agreeable quarter of an hour I occupied +myself with the contents of the tray. There was some very nicely +grilled whiting, a really fresh boiled egg, a jar of honey, and a +large plate of brown bread and butter cut in sturdy slices. Best of +all, on the edge of the tray were a couple of McMurtrie's cigarettes. +Whether he or Sonia was responsible for this last attention I could +not say. I hoped it was Sonia: somehow or other I did not want to be +too much indebted to Dr. McMurtrie. + +I finished my meal--finished it in the most complete sense of the +phrase--and then, putting down my tray on the floor, reverently +lighted up. I found that my first essay in smoking on the previous +evening had in no way dulled the freshness of my enjoyment, and for +a few minutes I was content to lie there pleasantly indifferent to +everything except the flavour of the tobacco. + +Then my mind began to work. Sonia's questions had once again started a +train of thought which ever since the trial had been running through +my brain with maddening persistence. If I had not killed Marks, who +had? How often had I asked myself that during the past three years, +and how often had I abandoned the problem in utter weariness! +Sometimes, indeed, I had been almost tempted to think the jury must +have been right--that I must have struck the brute on the back of the +head without realizing in my anger what I was doing. Then, when I +remembered how I had left him crouching against the wall, spitting out +curses at me through his cut and bleeding lips, I knew that the idea +was nonsense. The wound which they found in his head must have killed +him instantly. No man who had received a blow like that would ever +speak or move again. + +The one thing I felt certain of was that in some mysterious way or +other George was mixed up in the business. It was incredible that +he could have acted as he did at the trial unless he had had some +stronger reason than mere dislike for me. That he did dislike me I +knew well, but my six years' association with him had taught me that +he would never allow any personal motive to interfere with a chance of +making money. By sending me to the gallows or into penal servitude +he was practically ruining himself, for with all his acuteness and +business knowledge he was quite deficient in any sort of inventive +power. And yet he had not hesitated to do it, and to do it by a piece +of lying sufficiently cold-blooded and deliberate to make Judas pale +with envy. + +If there had been any apparent chance of his being able to rob me by +the proceeding, I could have understood it. But my business interests +as far as past inventions went were safe in the hands of my lawyers, +and although I had told him a certain amount about the new explosive +which I had been working at, it was quite impossible for him to turn +it to any practical use. + +No, George must have had some other reason for perjuring his +unpleasant soul, and the only one I could think of was that he had +purposely turned the case against me in order to shield the real +murderer. He had been fairly well acquainted with the dead man, I +knew--their tastes indeed ran on somewhat similar lines--and it was +just possible that he was aware who had committed the crime. + +The thought filled me, as it always had filled me, with a bitter fury. +Again and again in my cell I had fancied myself escaping from the +prison and choking the truth out of my cousin's throat with my +fingers, and now that the first part of this picture had come true, I +vowed silently to myself that nothing should stop the remainder from +following it. Whatever McMurtrie might propose, I would see George +once again face to face, even if death or recapture was the price I +had to pay. + +I had just arrived at this conclusion when I heard the sound of +footsteps in the passage outside. Then the handle of the door turned, +and McMurtrie appeared on the threshold with Savaroff looming up +behind him. There was a moment's silence, while the doctor stood there +smiling down on me as blandly as ever. + +"May we come in?" he inquired. "We are not interrupting your tea, I +hope." + +"No, I have done tea, thank you," I said, with a gesture towards the +tray. + +Why it was so, I can't say, but McMurtrie's politeness always filled +me with a feeling of repulsion. There was something curiously sinister +about it. + +He stepped forward into the room, followed by Savaroff, who closed the +door behind him. The latter then lounged across and sat down on the +window-sill, McMurtrie remaining standing by my bedside. + +"You have read the _Mail_, I see," he said, picking up the paper. "I +hope you admired the size of the headlines." + +"It's the type of compliment," I replied, "that I have had rather too +much of." + +Savaroff broke out into a short gruff laugh. "Our friend," he said, +"is modest--so modest. He does not thirst for more fame. He would +retire into private life if they would let him." + +He chuckled to himself, as though enjoying the subtlety of his own +humour. Unlike his daughter, he spoke English with a distinctly +foreign accent. + +"Ah, yes," said Dr. McMurtrie amiably; "but then, Mr. Lyndon is one of +those people that we can't afford to spare. Talents such as his are +intended for use." He took off his glasses and began to polish them +thoughtfully. "One might almost say that he held them in trust--in +trust for Providence." + +There was a short silence. + +"And is it on account of my talents that you have been kind enough to +shelter me?" I asked bluntly. + +The doctor readjusted his pince-nez, and seated himself with some +deliberation on the foot of the bed. + +"The instinct to assist a hunted fellow-creature," he observed, "is +almost universal." Then he paused. "I take it, Mr. Lyndon, that you +are not particularly anxious to rejoin your friends in Princetown?" + +I shook my head. "Not if there is a more pleasant alternative." + +Savaroff grunted. "No alternative is likely to be more unpleasant for +you," he said harshly. + +The touch of bullying in his tone put my back up at once. "Indeed!" I +said: "I can imagine several." + +McMurtrie's smooth voice intervened. "But ours, Mr. Lyndon, is one +which I think will make a very special appeal to you. How would you +like to keep your freedom and at the same time take up your scientific +work again?" + +I looked at him closely. For once there was no trace of mockery in his +eyes. + +"I should like it very much indeed, if it was possible," I answered. + +McMurtrie leaned forward a little. "It is possible," he said quietly. + +There was a short pause. Savaroff pulled out a cigar, bit off the end, +and spat it into the fireplace. Then he reached sideways to the chest +of drawers for a match. + +"Explain to him," he said, jerking his head towards me. + +McMurtrie glanced at him--it seemed to me a shade impatiently. Then he +turned back to me. + +"For some time before Mr. Marks's unfortunate death," he said slowly, +"you had been experimenting with a new explosive." + +I nodded my head. I had no idea how he had got his information, for as +far as I was aware George was the only person who had any knowledge of +my secret. + +"And I believe you were just on the point of success when you were +arrested?" + +"Theoretically I was," I said. "These matters don't always work out +quite so well when you put them to a practical test." + +"Still, you yourself were quite satisfied with the prospects?" + +I nodded again. + +"And unless I am wrong, this new explosive will be immensely more +powerful than anything now in use?" + +"Immensely," I repeated; "in fact, there would be no practical +comparison between them." + +"Can you give me any idea as to its strength?" + +I hesitated. "According to my calculations," I said slowly, "it ought +to prove at least twenty times as powerful as gun-cotton." + +Savaroff uttered a hoarse exclamation and sat upright in his seat. + +"Are you speaking the truth?" he asked roughly. + +I stared him full in the face, and then without answering turned back +to McMurtrie. + +The latter made a gesture with his hand. "Leave the matter to me, +Savaroff," he said sharply. "I understand Mr. Lyndon better than you +do." Then addressing me: "Supposing you had all the things that you +required, how long would it take you to manufacture some of this +powder--or whatever it is?" + +"It's difficult to say," I answered. "Perhaps a week; perhaps a couple +of months. I could make the actual stuff at once provided I had the +materials, but it's a question of doing it in such a way that one can +handle it safely for practical purposes. I was experimenting on that +very point at the time of my arrest." + +McMurtrie nodded his head slowly. "You have been candid with us," +he said, "and now I will be equally candid with you. My friend M. +Savaroff and myself are very largely interested in the manufacture +of high explosives. The appearance of an invention like yours on the +market would be a very serious matter indeed for us. On the other +hand, if we had control of it, we should, I imagine, be in a position +to dictate our own terms." + +"You certainly would," I said; "there is no question about that. My +explosive would be no more expensive to manufacture than cordite." + +"So you see when some exceedingly convenient chance brought you in +through our kitchen window it naturally occurred to me to invite you +to stay and discuss the matter. You happen to be in a position in +which you could be useful to us, and I think that we, on the other +hand, might be of some assistance to you." + +He leant back and watched me with that cold smile of his. + +"What do you say, Mr. Lyndon?" he added. + +I did some rapid but necessary thinking. It was quite true that the +new explosive would knock the bottom out of the present methods of +manufacture, and McMurtrie's interests in the matter might well be +large enough to make him run the risk of helping me. There seemed no +reason to doubt that he was speaking the truth--and yet, somehow or +other I mistrusted him--mistrusted him from my soul. + +"How did you know about my experiments?" I asked quietly. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "There are such things as trade secrets. It +is necessary for a business man to keep in touch with anything that +may threaten his interests." + +I hesitated a second. "What is it that you propose--exactly?" I +inquired. + +I saw--or thought I saw--the faintest possible gleam of satisfaction +steal into his eyes. + +"I propose that you should finish your experiments as soon as +possible, make some of this explosive, and hand the actual stuff +and the full secret of its manufacture over to us. In return I will +guarantee you your freedom, and let you have a quarter interest in all +profits we make out of your invention." + +He brought out these somewhat startling terms as coolly as though it +were an every-day custom of his to do business with escaped convicts. +I bent down from the bed, and under cover of picking up my second +cigarette from the tray, secured a few useful moments for considering +the situation. + +"I have no objection to the bargain," I said slowly, helping myself to +a match off the table; "the only question is whether it is possible to +carry it out. My experiments aren't the kind that can be conducted +in a back bedroom. I should want a large shed of some kind, and the +farther away it was from any houses the better. There is always the +chance of blowing oneself up at this sort of business, and in that +case an explosive like mine would probably wreck everything within a +couple of miles." + +"You shall work under any conditions you please," said McMurtrie +amiably. "If it suits you we will fix you up a hut and some sheds down +on the Thames marshes, and you can live there till the experiments are +finished." + +"But I should be recognized," I objected. "I am bound to be +recognized. I am fairly well known as it is, and with my picture and +description placarded all over England, I shouldn't stand a dog's +chance. However lonely a place it was, some one would be bound to see +me and give me away sooner or later." + +McMurtrie shook his head. "You may be seen," he said, "but there is no +reason why you should be recognized." + +I paused in the act of lighting my cigarette. "What do you mean?" I +asked with some curiosity. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," said McMurtrie, courteously, "as a scientist +yourself you don't imagine that it's beyond the art of an intelligent +surgeon to cope with a little difficulty like that?" + +"But in what way?" I objected. "A disguise? Any one can see through a +disguise except in novels." + +The doctor smiled. "I am not suggesting a wig and a pair of +spectacles," he observed. "It is rather too late in the world's +history for that sort of thing." Then he stopped and studied me for an +instant attentively. "In a fortnight, and practically without hurting +you," he added, "I can make you as safe from the police as if you were +dead and buried." + +I sat up in bed. "Under the circumstances," I said, "you'll excuse my +being a little inquisitive." + +"Oh, there is no secret about it. Any surgeon could do it. I have +only to alter the shape of your nose a trifle, and make your forehead +rather higher and wider. A stain of some sort will do the rest." + +"Yes," I said; "but what about the first part of the programme?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. "Child's play," he answered. "Merely a +question of paraffin injections and the X-rays." + +He spoke with such careless confidence that for once it was impossible +to doubt his sincerity. + +I lay back again and drew in a large exulting lungful of cigarette +smoke. I had suddenly realized that if McMurtrie's offer was genuine, +and he could really do what he promised, there were no longer any +difficulties in the way of my getting at George. The idea of meeting +him, and perhaps even speaking to him, without his being able to +recognize me filled me with a wicked satisfaction that no words can do +justice to. + +I don't think I betrayed my emotion, however, for McMurtrie's keen +eyes were on me, and I was not in the least anxious to take him into +my confidence. I blew out the smoke in a grey cloud, and then, raising +myself on my elbow carefully flicked the ash off my cigarette. + +"How am I to know that you will keep your promise?" I asked. + +Savaroff made an angry movement, but before he could speak, McMurtrie +had broken in. + +"You forget what an embarrassing position we shall be putting +ourselves in, Mr. Lyndon," he said with perfect good temper. +"Shielding a runaway convict is an indictable offence--to say nothing +of altering his appearance. As for the money"--he made a little +gesture of contempt--"well, do you think it would pay us to cheat you? +There is always the chance that a gentleman who can invent things like +this explosive and the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo may have other equally +satisfactory notions." + +"Very well," I said quietly. "I will accept the offer on one +condition--that I can have a week in London before beginning work." + +With an oath Savaroff started up from the window-sill. + +"Gott in Himmel! and who are you to make terms?" he exclaimed roughly. +"Why, we have only to send you back to the prison and you will be +flogged like a dog!" + +"In which distressing event," I observed, "you would not get your +explosive." + +"My dear Savaroff," interrupted McMurtrie, soothingly, "there is +no need to threaten Mr. Lyndon. I am sure that he appreciates the +situation." Then he turned to me. "I suppose you have some reason for +making this condition?" + +Silently in my heart I invoked the shade of Ananias. + +"If you had been in Dartmoor three years," I said, with a rather +well-forced laugh, "you would find several excellent reasons for +wanting a week in London." + +My acting must have been good, for I could have sworn I saw a faint +expression of relieved contempt flicker across McMurtrie's face. + +"I see. A little holiday--a brief taste of the pleasures of liberty! +Well, that seems to me a very natural and reasonable request. What do +you think, Savaroff?" + +That gentleman contented himself with a singularly ungracious grunt. + +"I don't think there would be much risk about it," I said boldly. "If +you can change my appearance as completely as you say you can, no one +would be the least likely to recognize me. After three years of that +dog's life up there I can't settle down in a hut on the Thames marshes +without having a few days' fun first. I should be very careful what +I did naturally. I have had quite enough of the prison to appreciate +being outside." + +McMurtrie nodded. "Very well," he said slowly. "I see no objection to +your having your 'few days' fun' in London if you want them. It would +be safer perhaps to get you away from this house as soon as possible. +I should think three weeks would be quite enough for our purposes +here--and I daresay it will take us a month to fix up a satisfactory +place for you to work in." Then he paused. "Of course if you go to +town," he added, "you will have to stay at some address we shall +arrange for, and you will have to be ready to start work directly we +tell you to." + +"Naturally," I said; "I only want--" + +I was saved from finishing my falsehood by a sudden sound from +outside--the sound of a swing gate banging against its post. For a +moment I had a horrible feeling that it might be the police. + +Savaroff jumped up and looked out of the window. Then with a little +guttural exclamation he turned back to McMurtrie. + +"Hoffman!" he muttered, apparently in some surprise. + +Who Mr. Hoffman might be I had not the faintest notion, but the +mention of the name brought the doctor to his feet at once. I think +he was rather annoyed with Savaroff for being unnecessarily +communicative. When he spoke, however, it was with his usual perfect +composure. + +"Well, we will leave you at peace now, Mr. Lyndon. I should try to go +to sleep again for a little while if I were you. I will come up later +and see whether you would like some supper." He stopped and looked +round the room. "Is there anything else you want that you haven't +got?" + +"If you could advance me a box of cigarettes," I said, "it shall be +the first charge on the new explosive." + +He nodded, smiling. "I will send Sonia up with it," he answered. Then, +following Savaroff, he went out into the passage, carefully closing +the door after him. + +Left alone, I lay back on the pillow in a frame of mind which I +believe novelists describe as "chaotic." I had expected something +rather unusual from my interview with McMurtrie, but these proposals +of his could hardly be classed under such a mild heading as that. For +sheer unexpectedness they about took the biscuit. + +I had read in books of a man's appearance being altered so completely +that even his best friends failed to recognize him, but it had never +occurred to me that such a thing could be done in real life--let alone +in the simple fashion outlined by the doctor. Of course, if he was +speaking the truth, there seemed no reason why his plan, fantastic as +it might sound, should not turn out perfectly successful. A private +hut on the Thames marshes was about the last place in which you would +look for an escaped Dartmoor convict, especially when he had vanished +into thin air within a few miles of Devonport. + +What worried me most in the matter was my apparent good luck in having +fallen on my feet in this amazing fashion. There is a limit to one's +belief in coincidences, and the extraordinary combination of chances +suggested by McMurtrie's smooth explanations was just a little too +stiff for me to swallow. I felt sure that he was lying in some +important particulars--but precisely which they were I was unable to +guess for certain. + +That he wanted the secret of the new explosive, and wanted it badly, +there could be no doubt, but neither he nor Savaroff in the least +suggested to me a successful manufacturer of cordite or anything +else. They seemed to me to belong to a much more interesting if less +conventional type, and I couldn't help wondering what on earth such +a curious trio as they and Sonia could be doing tucked away in an +ill-furnished, deserted-looking country house in a corner of South +Devon. + +However it was no good worrying, for as far as I was concerned it was +painfully clear that there was no alternative. If I declined their +offer and refused to let McMurtrie carve my face about, they had only +to turn me out, and in a few hours I should probably be back in my +cell with the cheerful prospect of chains, a flogging, and six months' +semi-starvation in front of me. + +Anything was better than that--even the wildest of plunges in the +dark. Indeed I am not at all sure that the mystery that surrounded +McMurtrie's offer did not lend it a certain charm in my eyes. My life +had been so infernally dull for the last three years that the prospect +of a little excitement, even of an unpleasant kind, was by no means +wholly disagreeable. + +At least I had my week's "fun" in London to look forward to, and the +thought of that alone would have been quite enough to make me go +through with anything. I had lied to McMurtrie about my object, +but the falsehood, such as it was, did not sit very heavily on my +conscience. The precise meaning of "fun" is purely a matter of +opinion, and I was as much entitled to my definition as he was to his. +After all, if a convicted murderer can't be a little careless about +the exact truth, who the devil can? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + +McMurtrie had left me under the impression that he meant to start work +on my face the next day, but as it turned out the impression was a +mistaken one. Both the paraffin wax and the X-ray outfit had to be +procured from London, and according to Sonia it was to see about these +that her father went off to town early the following morning. She told +me this when she brought me up my breakfast, just after I had heard +the car drive away from the house. + +"Well, I suppose I had better get up too," I said. "I can't stop in +bed and be waited on by you." + +"You've got to," she replied curtly, "unless you would rather I sent +up Mrs. Weston." + +"Who's Mrs. Weston?" I inquired. + +Sonia placed the tray on my bed. "She's our housekeeper. She's deaf +and dumb." + +"There are worse things," I observed, "in a housekeeper." Then I sat +up and pulled my breakfast towards me. "Of course I would much rather +you looked after me. I was only thinking of the trouble I'm giving +you." + +"Oh, it's not much trouble," she said; then after a little pause she +added, in a rather curious voice: "Anyway I shouldn't mind if it was." + +"But I am feeling perfectly fit this morning," I persisted. "I might +just as well get up if your father would lend me some kit. I don't +think I could squeeze into McMurtrie's." + +She shook her head. "The doctor says you are to stop where you are. +He is coming up to see you." Then she hesitated. "One of the prison +warders called here last night to warn us that you were probably +hiding in the neighbourhood." + +"That was kind," I said, "if a little belated. Had they found the +bicycle?" + +"No," she answered, "and they are not likely to. My father went out +and brought it in the night you arrived. It's buried in the back +garden." + +There was another short silence, and then she seated herself on the +foot of the bed. "Tell me," she said, "this girl--Joyce Aylmer--do you +love her?" + +The question came out so unexpectedly that it took me by utter +surprise. I stopped in the middle of conveying a piece of bacon to my +mouth and laid it down again on the plate. + +"Why, Joyce is only a child," I said; "at least she was when I went to +prison. We were all in love with her in a sort of way. Her father had +been an artist in Chelsea before he died, and we looked on her as +a kind of general trust. She used to run in and out of the various +studios just as she pleased. That was the reason I was so furious with +Marks. It was impossible to believe that a man who wasn't an absolute +fiend could--" I pulled up short in some slight embarrassment. + +"But she is not a child now," remarked Sonia calmly. "According to the +paper she must be nineteen." + +"Yes," I said, "I suppose people grow older even when I'm in prison." + +"And she loves you--she must love you. Do you think any woman could +help loving a man who had done what you did for her?" + +"Oh, I expect she has forgotten all about me long ago," I said with +a sudden bitterness. "People who go to prison can't expect to be +remembered--except by the police." + +I had spoken recklessly, and even while the words were on my tongue a +vision of Joyce's honest blue eyes rose reproachfully in my mind. I +remembered the terrible heartbroken little note which she had sent me +after the trial, and then her other letter which I had received in +Dartmoor--almost more pitiful in its brave attempt to keep hope and +interest alive in my heart. + +Sonia leaned forward, her hands clasped in her lap. + +"I thought," she said slowly, "I thought that perhaps you wanted to go +to London in order to meet her." + +I shook my head. "I am not quite so selfish as that. I have brought +her enough trouble and unhappiness already." + +"Then it is your cousin that you mean to see," she said softly--"this +man, Marwood, who sent you to the prison." + +For a second I was silent. It had suddenly occurred to me that in +asking these questions Sonia might be acting under the instructions of +McMurtrie or her father. + +She saw my hesitation and evidently guessed the cause. + +"Oh, you needn't think I shall repeat what you tell me," she broke +out almost scornfully. "The doctor and my father are quite capable of +taking care of themselves. They don't want me to act as their spy." + +There was a genuine ring of dislike in her voice as she mentioned +their names which made me believe that she was speaking the truth. + +"Well," I said frankly, "I was thinking of looking up George just to +see how he has been getting on in my absence. But apart from that I +have every intention of playing straight with McMurtrie. It seems to +me to be my only chance." + +A bell tinkled faintly somewhere away in the house, and Sonia got up +off the bed. + +"It _is_ your only chance," she said quietly, "but it may be a better +one than you imagine." + +And with this encouraging if somewhat obscure remark she went out and +left me to my thoughts. + +McMurtrie came up about an hour later. Suave and courteous as ever, +he knocked at my door before entering the room, and wished me good +morning in the friendliest of fashions. + +"I have brought you another _Daily Mail_--yesterday's," he said, +throwing the paper down on the bed. "It contains the second instalment +of your adventures." Then he paused and looked at me with that curious +smile that seemed to begin and end with his lips. "Well," he added, +"and how are the stiffness and the sore throat this morning?" + +"Gone," I said, "both of them. I have no excuse for stopping in bed +except lack of clothes." + +He nodded and sat down on the window-sill. "I daresay we can find a +way out of that difficulty. My friend Savaroff would, I am sure, be +delighted to lend you some garments to go on with. You seem to be much +of a size." + +"Well, I should be delighted to accept them," I said. "Even the joy of +being in a real bed again begins to wear off after two days." + +"I am afraid you can't expect very much liberty while you are our +guest," he said, leaning back against the window. "It would be too +dangerous for you to go outside the house, even at night time. I +expect Sonia told you about our visitor yesterday." + +"Yes," I said; "I should like to have heard the interview." + +"It was quite interesting. From what he told me I should say that few +prisoners have been more missed than you are. It appears that there +are over seventy warders hunting about the neighbourhood, to say +nothing of volunteers." + +"I seem to be giving a lot of trouble," I said sadly. + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Not to us. I am only sorry that +we can't offer you a more entertaining visit." He opened his case and +helped himself to a cigarette. "On the whole, however, I daresay you +won't find the time drag so very much. There will be the business +of altering your appearance--I hope to start on that the day after +tomorrow--and then I want you to make me out a full list of everything +you will need in connection with your experiments. It would be best +perhaps to have a drawing of the actual shed--just as you would like +it fitted up. You might start on this right away." + +"Certainly," I said. "I shall be glad to have something to do." + +"And I don't suppose you will mind much if we can't arrange anything +very luxurious for you in the way of living accommodation. We shall +have to choose as lonely a place as possible, and it will probably +involve your feeding chiefly on tinned food, and roughing it a bit +generally. It won't be for very long." + +"I shan't mind in the least," I said. "Anything will be comfortable +after Princetown. As long as you can fix me up with what I want for my +work I shan't grumble about the rest." + +He nodded again in a satisfied manner. "By the way," he said, "I +suppose you never wore a beard or a moustache before you went to +prison?" + +"Only once in some amateur theatricals," I answered "and then the +moustache came off." + +"They will make a great difference in your appearance by themselves," +he went on, looking at me critically. "I wonder how long they will +take to grow." + +I passed my hand up my face, which was already covered with a thick +stubble about half an inch in length. "At the present rate of +progress," I said, "I should think about a week." + +McMurtrie smiled. "Another fortnight on top of that will be nearer the +mark, I expect," he said, getting up from the bed. "That will just fit +in with our arrangements. In three weeks we ought to be able to fix +you up with what you want, and by that time there won't be quite so +much excitement about your escape. The _Daily Mail_ will have become +tired of you, even if the police haven't." He stopped to flick the ash +off his cigarette. "Of course you will have to be extremely careful +when you are in London. I shall change your appearance so that it +will be quite impossible for any one to recognize you, but there will +always be the danger of somebody remembering your voice." + +"I can disguise that to a certain extent," I said. "Besides, it's not +likely that I shall run across any one I know well. I only want to +amuse myself for two or three evenings, and the West End's a large +place as far as amusement goes." Then I paused. "If you really thought +it was too risky," I added carelessly, "I would give up the idea." + +It was a bold stroke--but it met with the success that it deserved. +Any lingering doubts McMurtrie may have had about my intentions were +apparently dispersed. + +"I think you will work all the better for a short holiday," he said; +"and I am sure you are sensible enough to keep out of any trouble." + +He walked to the door, and stood for a moment with his hand on the +knob. "I will send you up the clothes and some paper and ink," he +added. "Then you can get up or write in bed--just as you like." + +After three years of granite quarrying--broken only by a short spell +of sewing mailsacks--the thought of getting back to a more congenial +form of work was a decidedly pleasant one. During the half-hour that +elapsed before Sonia came up with my things, I lay in bed, busily +pondering over various points in connection with my approaching task. +I had often done the same in the long solitary hours in my cell, and +worked out innumerable figures and details in connection with it on my +prison slate. Most of them, however, I had only retained vaguely in my +head, for it is one of the intelligent rules of our cheerful convict +system to allow no prisoner to make permanent notes of anything that +might be of possible service to him after his release. + +There seemed, therefore, every prospect that I should be fully +occupied for some time to come. Indeed, it was not until I had dressed +myself in Savaroff's clothes (they fitted me excellently) and sat down +at the table with a pen and a pile of foolscap in front of me, that I +realized what a lengthy task I had taken on. + +All my rough notes--those invaluable notes and calculations that I +had spent eighteen months over--were packed away in my safe at the +Victoria Street office. I had not bothered about them at the time, for +when you are being tried for your life other matters are apt to assume +a certain degree of unimportance. Besides, although I had told George +of their existence, I knew very well that, being jotted down in a +private cypher, no one except myself would be able to make head or +tail of what they were about. + +Still they would naturally have been of immense help to me now if I +could have got hold of them. Clear as the main details were in my +mind, I saw I should have to go over a good bit of old ground before +I could make out the exact list of my requirements which McMurtrie +needed. + +All that afternoon and the whole of the following day I stuck steadily +to my task. I had little to interrupt me, for with the exception +of Sonia who brought me up my meals, and the old deaf-and-dumb +housekeeper who came to do my room about midday, I saw or heard +nobody. McMurtrie did not appear again, and Savaroff, as I knew, was +away in London. + +I took an hour off in the evening for the purpose of studying the +_Daily Mail_, which proved to be quite as entertaining as the previous +issue. There were two and a half columns about me altogether, the +first consisting of a powerful if slightly inaccurate description of +how I had stolen the bicycle, and the remainder dealing with various +features of my crime and my escape. It was headed: + +STILL AT LARGE +NEIL LYNDON'S FIGHT FOR LIBERTY + +and I settled myself down to read with a feeling of enjoyment that +would doubtless have gratified Lord Northcliffe had he been fortunate +enough to know about it. + +"Neil Lyndon," it began, "whose daring escape from Princetown was +fully described in yesterday's _Daily Mail_, has so far successfully +baffled his pursuers. Not only is he still at liberty, but having +possessed himself of a bicycle and a change of clothes by means of an +amazingly audacious burglary, it is quite possible that he has managed +to get clear away from the immediate neighbourhood." + +This opening paragraph was followed by a full and vivid description of +my raid on the bicycle house. It appeared that the machine which I +had borrowed was the property of a certain Major Hammond, who, when +interviewed by the representative of the _Mail_, expressed himself of +the opinion that I was a dangerous character and that I ought to be +recaptured without delay. + +The narrative then shifted to my dramatic appearance on the bicycle, +as witnessed by the surprised eyes of Assistant-warder Marshfield. +According to that gentleman I had flashed past him at a terrific +speed, hurling a handful of gravel in his face, which had temporarily +blinded him. With amazing pluck and presence of mind he had recovered +himself in time to puncture my back wheel, a feat of marksmanship +which, as the _Daily Mail_ observed, was "highly creditable under the +circumstances." + +From that point it seemed that all traces of me had ceased. Both I and +the bicycle had vanished into space as completely as Elijah and his +fiery chariot, and not all the united brains of Carmelite House +appeared able to suggest a wholly satisfactory solution. + +"Lyndon," said the _Mail_, "may have succeeded in reaching Plymouth on +the stolen machine, and there obtained the food and shelter of which +by that time he must have been sorely in need. On the other hand it +is possible that, starved, frozen, and most likely wounded, he is +crouching in some remote coppice, grimly determined to perish rather +than to surrender himself to the warders." + +It was "possible," certainly, but as a guess at the truth that was +about all that could be said for it. + +The thing that pleased me most in the whole paper, however, was the +interview with George in the third column. It was quite short--only a +six-line paragraph headed "Mr. Marwood and the Escape," but brief as +it was, it filled me with a rich delight. + +"Interviewed by our Special Correspondent at his residence on the +Chelsea Embankment, Mr. George Marwood was reluctant to express any +opinion on the escape. 'The whole thing,' he said, 'is naturally +extremely distasteful to me. I can only hope that the unhappy man may +be recaptured before he succumbs to exposure, and before he has the +chance to commit any further acts of robbery and violence.'" + +In regard to the last sentiment I had not the faintest doubt that +George was speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart. As long as +I was at liberty his days and nights would be consumed by an acute and +painful anxiety. He was no doubt haunted by the idea that I had broken +prison largely for the purpose of renewing our old acquaintance, and +the thought that I might possibly succeed in my object must have been +an extremely uncomfortable one. I laughed softly to myself as I sat +and pictured his misgivings. It cheered me to think that whatever +happened later he would be left in this gnawing suspense for at least +another three weeks. After that I might perhaps see my way to relieve +it. + +There were other people, I reflected, who must have read the _Mail_ +with an equally deep if rather different interest. I tried to fancy +how the news of my escape had affected Joyce. For all my cynical +outburst in the morning, I knew well that no truer or more honest +little heart ever beat in a girl's breast, and that the uncertainty +about my fate must even now be causing her the utmost distress. + +Then there was Tommy Morrison. Somehow or other I didn't think Tommy +would be quite as anxious as Joyce. I could almost see him slapping +his leg and laughing that great laugh of his, as he read about my +theft of the bicycle and my wild dash down the hill past the warder. +He was a great believer in me, was Tommy--and I felt sure that nothing +but the news of my recapture would shake his faith in my ability to +survive. + +It was good to know that, whatever the rest of the world might be +thinking, these two at least would be following my escape with a +passionate hope that I should pull through. + +Just about six o'clock in the evening of the next day Savaroff +returned. I heard the car drive up to the house, and then came the +sound of voices and footsteps, followed by the banging of a door. +After that there was silence for perhaps twenty minutes while my two +hosts were presumably talking together in one of the rooms below. +Whether Sonia was with them or not I could not tell. + +At last I heard some one mounting the stairs, and a moment later +McMurtrie's figure framed itself in the doorway. + +"I'm afraid I am interrupting your work," he said, standing on the +threshold and looking down at the sheets of foolscap which littered +the table in front of me. + +"Not a bit," I returned cheerfully. "I've just finished"; and I began +to gather up the fruits of my two-days' toil into something like +order. + +He shut the door and came across to where I was sitting. "Do you mean +you have made out the full list of what you want?" he asked, picking +up one of the sheets and running his eye rapidly over the notes and +calculations. + +"I have done it all in the rough," I replied, "except the drawing of +the shed. That will only take an hour or so." + +"Excellent," he exclaimed. "I can see there won't be much time wasted +when we once get to work." Then he laid down the paper. "Tomorrow +morning I propose trying the first of our little operations. Savaroff +has brought me the things I needed, and I think we can finish the +whole business in a couple of days." + +"What part of me are you going to start on?" I inquired with some +interest. + +"I think I shall alter the shape of your nose first," he said. "It's +practically a painless operation--just one injection of hot paraffin +wax under the skin. After that you have only to keep quiet for a +couple of hours so that the wax can set in the right shape." + +"What about the X-ray treatment?" I asked. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "That's perfectly simple too. Merely a +matter of covering up everything except the part that we want exposed. +One uses a specially prepared sort of lead sheeting. There is +absolutely no danger or difficulty about it." + +I thought at first that he might be purposely minimizing both +operations in order to put me at my ease, but as it turned out he was +telling me nothing except the literal truth. + +At half-past ten the next morning he came up to my room with Sonia in +attendance, the latter carrying a Primus stove and a small black bag. + +At his own suggestion I had stayed in bed, and from between the sheets +I viewed their entrance not without a certain whimsical feeling of +regret. When one has had a nose of a particular shape for the best +part of thirty years it is rather a wrench to feel that one is +abandoning it for a stranger. I passed my fingers down it almost +affectionately. + +McMurtrie, who appeared to be in the best of spirits, wished me +good-morning in that silkily polite manner of his which I was getting +to dislike more and more. Sonia said nothing. She simply put the +things down on the table by my bedside, and then stood there with +the air of sullen hostility which she seemed generally to wear in +McMurtrie's presence. + +"I feel rather like a gladiator," I said. "Morituri te salutant!" + +McMurtrie, who had taken a shallow blue saucepan out of the bag and +was filling it with hot water, looked up with a smile. + +"It will be all over in a minute," he said, reassuringly. "The only +trouble is keeping the wax liquid while one is actually injecting it. +One has to stand it in boiling water until the last second." + +He put the saucepan on the stove, and then produced out of the bag +a little china-clay cup, which he stood in the water. Into this he +dropped a small lump of transparent wax. + +We waited for a minute until the latter melted, McMurtrie filling up +the time by carefully sponging the bridge of my nose with some liquid +antiseptic. Then, picking up what seemed like an ordinary hypodermic +syringe, he warmed it carefully by holding it close to the Primus. + +"Now," he said; "all you have to do is to keep perfectly still. You +will just feel the prick of the needle and the smart of the hot wax, +but it won't really hurt. If you move you will probably spoil the +operation." + +"Go ahead," I answered encouragingly. + +He dipped the syringe in the cup, and then with a quick movement of +his hand brought it across my face. I felt a sharp stab, followed +instantly by a stinging sensation all along the bridge of the nose. +McMurtrie dropped the syringe at once, and taking the skin between his +fingers began to pinch and mould it with swift, deft touches into the +required shape. I lay as motionless as possible, hoping that things +were prospering. + +It seemed to me a long time before the job was finished, though I +daresay it was in reality only a matter of forty-five seconds. I +know I felt vastly relieved when, with a quick intake of his breath, +McMurtrie suddenly sat back and began to contemplate his work. + +"Well?" I inquired anxiously. + +He nodded his head, with every appearance of satisfaction. + +"I think we can call it a complete success," he said. Then he stepped +back and looked at me critically from a couple of paces away. "What do +you think, Sonia?" he asked. + +"I suppose it's what you wanted," she said, in a rather grudging, +ungracious sort of fashion. + +"If you won't think me vain," I observed, "I should like to have a +look at myself in the glass." + +McMurtrie walked to the fireplace and unhooked the small mirror which +hung above the mantelpiece. + +"I would rather you waited for a couple of days if you don't mind," he +said. "You know what you used to look like better than any one else, +and it will be a good test if you see yourself quite suddenly when +the whole thing is finished. I will borrow this--and keep you out of +temptation." + +"Just as you like," I returned. "It will at least give me time to +train myself for the shock." + +Quick and easy as the first operation had been, the second proved +equally simple. The only apparatus it involved was an ordinary X-ray +machine, with a large glass globe attached to it, which McMurtrie +brought up the next morning and arranged carefully by my bedside. On +his pressing down a switch, which he did for my benefit, the whole +interior of this globe became flooded with those curious lambent +violet rays, which have altered so many of our previous notions on the +subject of light and its power. + +McMurtrie placed me in position, and then producing a large sheet of +finely-beaten-out lead, proceeded to bend and twist it into a sort of +weird-looking helmet. When I put this on it covered my head and face +almost completely, leaving only an inch of hair along the forehead and +perhaps a little more over each temple exposed to the light. + +Thus equipped, I sat for perhaps an hour in the full glare of the +machine. It was dull work, and as McMurtrie made no attempt to enliven +it by conversation I was not sorry when he eventually flicked off the +switch, and relieved me of my headgear. + +I had expected my hair to tumble out in a lump, but as a matter of +fact it was over two days in accomplishing the task. There was no +discomfort about the process: it just came off gradually all along +my forehead, leaving a smooth bare line which I could feel with my +fingers. As soon as it was all gone, McMurtrie proceeded to decorate +me with some kind of stain that he had specially prepared for my +face and neck--a composition which according to him would remain +practically unaffected either by washing or exposure. It smelt +damnably in the pot, but directly it was rubbed in this slight +drawback disappeared. + +I was naturally anxious to see what result all these attentions had +had upon my personal appearance, but McMurtrie insisted on my waiting +until my hair and beard had grown to something like a tolerable +length. I can well remember the little thrill of excitement that +ran through me when, on the fourth day after my first operation, he +brought me back the looking-glass. + +"I think we might introduce you to yourself today," he said, smiling. +"Of course another fortnight will make a considerable difference +still, but even now you will be able to get a good idea of what you +will look like. I am curious to hear your opinion." + +He handed me the glass, and the next moment, with an involuntary cry +of amazement, I was staring at my reflection. + +Instead of my usual features I saw a rough-looking, bearded man of +about forty-five, with an aquiline nose, a high forehead, and a dark +sunburned skin. It was the face of a complete stranger: at the +best that of a hard-bitten war correspondent or explorer; at the +worst--well, I don't know what it mightn't have been at the worst. + +I stared and stared in a kind of incredulous fascination, until +McMurtrie's voice abruptly recalled me to my surroundings. + +"Well, Mr. Neil Lyndon," he said, "do you recognize yourself?" + +I laid down the glass. + +"Don't call me that," I replied quietly. "Neil Lyndon is dead." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + +One would hardly expect an escaped murderer to complain of being +dull--especially when the whole country is still ringing with the +story of his disappearance. Yet I must confess that, when I had once +got used to the strangeness of my position, the next two weeks dragged +intolerably. + +I was accustomed to confinement, but in the prison at all events I had +had plenty of hard work and exercise, while here, cooped up entirely +in one room, I was able to do nothing but pace restlessly up and +down most of the day like a caged bear. I had finished my lists and +drawings for McMurtrie, and my only resources were two or three +sensational novels which Sonia brought me back one day after a visit +to Plymouth. I cannot say I found them very entertaining. I had been +rather too deeply into life in that line myself to have much use for +the second-hand imaginings of other people. + +Of the doctor and Savaroff I saw comparatively little. Both of them +were away from the house a good deal of the time, often returning in +the car late at night, and then sitting up talking till some unholy +hour in the morning. I used to lie awake in bed, and listen to the +dull rumble of their voices in the room below. + +That there was something mysterious going on which I knew nothing +about I became more convinced every day, but what it could be I was +unable to guess. Once or twice I tried to sound Sonia on the matter, +but although she would talk freely about my own affairs, on any point +connected with herself or the curious household to which she belonged +she maintained an obstinate silence. + +The girl puzzled me strangely. At times it almost seemed as though she +were being forced against her will to take part in some business that +she thoroughly disliked; but then the obvious way in which the two +men trusted her scarcely bore out this idea. She showed no particular +affection for her father, and it was plain that she detested +McMurtrie, yet there was evidently some bond between them strong +enough to keep all three together. + +To me she behaved from the first with a sort of sullen friendliness. +She would come and sit in my room, and with her chin resting on her +hand and her big dark eyes fixed on mine, she would ask me questions +about myself or listen to the stories I told her of the prison. Once, +when I had been describing some peculiarly mean little persecution +which one of the warders (who objected on principle to what he called +"gen'lemen lags") had amused himself by practising on me, she had +jumped up and with a quick, almost savage gesture, laid her hand on my +arm. + +"Never mind," she said; "it's over now, and you shall make them pay +for what they have done to you. We can promise you that at least," and +she laughed with a curious bitterness I failed to understand. + +Of the mysterious Mr. Hoffman, who had turned up at the house on the +second day after my arrival, I saw or heard nothing more. I asked +Sonia about him one day, but she only replied curtly that he was a +business friend of the doctor's, and with this meagre information I +had to remain content. + +The point that I felt perhaps most inquisitive about was whom +McMurtrie could have mistaken me for when I had crawled in through the +kitchen window. I had a distinct recollection of his having mentioned +some name just before I had collapsed, but it had gone out of my head +and for the life of me I couldn't recall it. You know the maddening +way a name will hang about the tip of one's tongue, just avoiding +every effort at recapture. + +Apart from my talks with Sonia, my chief entertainment was reading the +_Daily Mail_. Not a day passed but some one seemed to discover a fresh +clue to my hiding-place. I was seen and recognized at Manchester, +Yarmouth, London, and Edinburgh; while one gentleman wrote to inform +the editor he had trustworthy information I was actually in St. +Petersburg, having been engaged by the Russian Government to effect +certain improvements in their torpedo service. All this was quite +pleasing, for, in addition to showing me that the police were still +utterly at sea as to my whereabouts, I knew that each fresh report +would help to keep George in an acute state of nervous tension. + +Just as my imprisonment was becoming almost unbearably irksome, the +end arrived with an unexpected abruptness. I was sitting at the window +one morning smoking an after-breakfast pipe--a pipe which Sonia had +brought me back from Plymouth at the same time as the books--when I +heard a loud ring at the front door-bell, followed by a couple of +sharp knocks. Despite my three years' absence from worldly affairs, I +recognized the unmistakable touch of a telegraph-boy. + +Since it was hardly likely that the wire was for me, I continued to +smoke with undisturbed serenity. Perhaps ten minutes passed, and I +was just wondering whether the message had anything to do with the +arrangements which McMurtrie was making on my behalf, when a door +slammed and I heard someone coming up the stairs. I knew from the +sound that it was the doctor himself. + +He entered the room, and looked round with his usual suave smile. To +all outward appearance he was as composed as ever, but I had a curious +presentiment that something unexpected had happened. However, I +thought it best to show no sign of any such impression. + +"Good-morning," I said, knocking out my pipe and stuffing it away in +my pocket--or rather Savaroff's pocket. "A grand day, isn't it!" + +"Beautiful," he answered genially--"quite beautiful." Then he walked +across and sat down on the end of the bed. "As a matter of fact, I +came up to see whether you felt like taking advantage of it." + +"Do you mean that it's safe for me to go out?" I asked with some +eagerness. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "It's as safe as it ever will be; but I +meant rather more than that." + +There was a pause. + +"Yes?" I said encouragingly. + +"I meant that our preparations are going on so well, that as far as I +can see there is nothing to be gained by keeping you here any longer. +I have just had a wire to say that the cottage and shed we have been +arranging for near Tilbury are practically finished. If you want your +week in London I think you had better go up this afternoon." + +His proposal took me so completely by surprise that for a moment I +hardly knew what to say. Somehow or other, I had a suspicion that he +was keeping something back. I knew that he had intended me to stay +where I was for at least another three days, and he was not the sort +of man to change his plans without an uncommonly good reason. + +Still, the last thing I wanted was to let him think that I in any way +doubted his good faith, so pulling myself together, I forced a really +creditable laugh. + +"Right you are," I said. "It's rather short notice, but I'm game to +start any time. The only thing is, what am I to do about clothes?" + +"You can keep those you're wearing to go up in," he answered. "When +you get to London you must buy yourself an outfit. Get what you want +at different shops and pay for them in cash. I will advance you fifty +pounds, which ought to be enough to last you the week." + +"One can do quite a lot of dressing and dissipation on fifty pounds," +I replied cheerfully. "Where am I going to stay?" + +He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here's the +address," he said. "It's a lodging-house near Victoria Station, kept +by a sister of Mrs. Weston. You will find it comfortable and quiet, +and you needn't worry about the landlady having any suspicions. I have +told her that you have just come back from abroad and that you want +to be in London for several days on business. You will pass under the +name of Nicholson--James Nicholson." + +He handed me the envelope, and I read the address. + +Mrs. Oldbury, + +3, Edith Terrace, + +S.W. + +_Nr. Victoria Station_. + +"Very well," I said, getting up from my seat; "I understand I am to +stop with Mrs. Oldbury and amuse myself spending the fifty pounds +until I hear from you." + +He nodded. "Directly things are ready we shall let you know. Till then +you are free to do as you like." He opened a small leather case and +handed me a bundle of bank-notes. "Here is the money," he added with a +smile. "You see, we trust you absolutely. If you choose to make a bolt +to America, there will be nothing to stop you." + +It was said with such apparent frankness that it ought to have carried +conviction; but as a matter of fact it did nothing of the kind. I felt +certain that it would not be McMurtrie's fault if he failed to keep +himself informed about my movements while I was in London. Too much +trustfulness in human nature did not seem likely to be one of his +besetting weaknesses. + +However, I pocketed the notes cheerfully enough; indeed the mere touch +of them in my hand gave me a pleasant feeling of confidence. It is +always nice to handle money in comparative bulk, but being absolutely +without it for thirty-six months invests the operation with a peculiar +charm. + +"You had better be ready to start from here about half-past one," said +McMurtrie. "Savaroff will take you into Plymouth in the car, and there +is a fast train up at two-five. It gets you into London just before +seven." + +"Good!" I said. "That will give me time to buy what I want when I +arrive. It would spoil my dinner if I had to shop afterwards." + +McMurtrie, who had crossed to the door, looked back at me with a sort +of half-envious, half-contemptuous smile. + +"You are a curious fellow, Lyndon," he said. "At times you might be a +boy of twenty." + +"Well, I am only twenty-nine," I protested; "and one can't always +remember that one's an escaped murderer." + +I was sitting on the window-sill when I made the last remark; but as +soon as he had gone I jumped to my feet and began to pace restlessly +up and down the room. Now that the moment of my release was really at +hand, a fierce excitement had gripped hold of me. Although I had +had plenty of time to get used to my new position, the amazing +possibilities of it had never seemed to come fully home to me +till that minute. I suddenly realized that I was stepping into an +experience such as probably no other human being had ever tasted. I +was like a man coming back from the dead, safe against recognition, +and with all the record of my past life scarred and burnt into my +memory. + +I walked to the glass and once again stared long and closely at my +reflection. There could be no question about the completeness of my +disguise. Between Neil Lyndon as the world had known him, and the +grim, bearded, sunburned face that looked back at me out of the +mirror, there was a difference sufficiently remarkable to worry the +recording angel. People's wits may be sharpened both by fear and +affection, but I felt that unless I betrayed myself deliberately, not +even those who knew me best, such as George or Tommy, would have the +remotest suspicion of my real identity. Anyhow, I intended to put my +opinion to the test before very many hours had passed. + +I was pondering over this agreeable prospect, and still inspecting +myself in the glass, when I heard a soft knock at the door. I opened +it, and found Sonia standing outside. She was holding a bag in her +hand--a good-sized Gladstone that had evidently seen some hard work +in its time, and she came into the room and shut the door behind her +before speaking. + +"Well," she said, in her curious, half-sullen way, "are you pleased +you are going to London?" + +"Why, yes," I said; "I'm pleased enough." + +As a matter of fact the word "pleased" seemed rather too simple to sum +up my emotions altogether adequately. + +She placed the bag on the floor and sat down on the bed. Then, leaning +her face against the bottom rail, she stared up at me for a moment +without speaking. + +"What did the doctor tell you?" she asked at last. + +"He told me I could go up to London by the two-five," I said. + +"Is that all?" + +"Dr. McMurtrie," I reminded her, "is never recklessly communicative." +Then I paused. "Still I should like to know the reason for the change +of programme," I added. + +She raised her head and glanced half nervously, half defiantly at the +door. + +"We are going to give up this house tomorrow--that's the reason," she +said, speaking low and rather quickly. "Our work here is finished, and +it will be best for us to leave as soon as possible." + +"I wish," I said regretfully, "that I inspired just a little more +confidence." + +Sonia hesitated. Then she sat up, and with a characteristic gesture of +hers pushed back her hair from her forehead. + +"Come here," she said slowly; "come quite close to me." + +I walked towards her, wondering at the sudden change in her voice. +As I approached she straightened her arms out each side of her, and +half-closing her eyes, raised her face to mine. + +"Kiss me," she said, almost in a whisper; "kiss my lips." + +I could hardly have declined such an invitation even if I had wished +to, but as a matter of fact I felt no such prompting. It was over +three years since I had kissed anybody, and with her eyes half-closed +and her breast softly rising and falling, Sonia looked decidedly +attractive. I bent down till my mouth was almost touching hers. Then +with a little sigh she put her arms round my neck, and slowly and +deliberately our lips met. + +It was at this exceedingly inopportune moment that Savaroff's guttural +voice came grating up the stairs from the hall below. + +"Sonia!" he shouted--"Sonia! Where are you? I want you." + +She quietly disengaged her arms, and drawing back, paused for a moment +with her hands on my shoulders. + +"Now you understand," she said, looking straight into my eyes. "They +are nothing to me, my father and the doctor--I hate them both. It +is you I am thinking of--you only." She leaned forward and swiftly, +almost fiercely again kissed my mouth. "When the time comes," she +whispered-- + +"Sonia! Sonia!" Once more Savaroff's voice rose impatiently from the +hall. + +In a moment Sonia had crossed the room. I had one rapid vision of +her looking back at me--her lips parted her dark eyes shining +passionately, and then the door closed and I was alone. + +I sat down on the bed and took a long breath. There was a time when an +unexpected incident of this sort would merely have left me in a state +of comfortable optimism, but a prolonged residence in Dartmoor had +evidently shaken my nerve. + +I soon collected myself, however, and lighting a cigarette with some +care, got up and walked to the open window. If Sonia was really in +love with me--and there seemed to be rather sound evidence that she +was--I had apparently, succeeded in making a highly useful ally. This +may appear to have been rather a cold-blooded way of regarding the +matter, but to tell the truth the whole thing had taken me so utterly +by surprise that I could scarcely realize as yet that I had been +personally concerned in it. I had kissed her certainly--under +the circumstances I could hardly have done otherwise--but of any +deliberate attempt to make her fond of me I was beautifully and +entirely innocent, it had never struck me that an escaped murderer +with an artificial and rather forbidding countenance was in danger of +inspiring affection, especially in a girl whose manner had always +been slightly suggestive of a merely sullen tolerance. Still, having +succeeded in doing so, I felt no qualms in making the best of the +situation. I needed friends rather badly, especially friends who had +an intimate working acquaintance with the eminent firm of Messrs. +McMurtrie and Savaroff. If the not wholly disagreeable task of +returning Sonia's proffered affection was all that was necessary, I +felt that it would be flying in the face of Providence to decline such +an opportunity. I was not the least in love with her--except by a very +generous interpretation of the word, but I did not think that this +unfortunate fact would seriously disturb my conscience. A life +sentence for what you haven't done is apt to rob one's sense of honour +of some of its more delicate points. + +With a pleasant feeling that things were working for the best, I +got up again; and hoisting the Gladstone bag on to the bed began to +collect the books, the tooth-brush, and the few other articles which +made up my present earthly possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + +That journey of mine to London stands out in my memory with +extraordinary vividness. I don't think I shall ever forget the +smallest and most unimportant detail of it. The truth is, I suppose, +that my whole mind and senses were in an acutely impressionable state +after lying fallow, as they practically had, for over three years. +Besides, the sheer pleasure of being out in the world again seemed to +invest everything with an amazing interest and wonder. + +It was just half-past one when Savaroff brought the car round to the +front door. I was standing in the hall talking to McMurtrie, who had +decided not to accompany us into Plymouth. Of Sonia I had seen nothing +since our unfortunately interrupted interview in the morning. + +"Well," said the doctor, as with a grinding of brakes the car pulled +up outside, "we can look on this as the real beginning of our little +enterprise." + +I picked up my Gladstone. "Let's hope," I said, "that the end will be +equally satisfactory." + +McMurtrie nodded. "I fancy," he said, "that we need have no +apprehensions. Providence is with us, Mr. Lyndon--Providence or some +equally effective power." + +There was a note of irony in his voice which left one in no doubt as +to his own private opinion of our guiding agency. + +I stepped out into the drive carrying my bag. Savaroff, who was +sitting in the driving seat of the car, turned half round towards me. + +"Put it on the floor at the back under the rug," he said. "You will +sit in front with me." + +He spoke in his usual surly fashion, but by this time I had become +accustomed to it. So contenting myself with a genial observation to +the effect that I should be charmed, I tucked the bag away out of +sight and clambered up beside him into the left-hand seat. McMurtrie +stood in the doorway, that mirthless smile of his fixed upon his lips. + +"Good-bye," I said; "we shall meet at Tilbury, I suppose--if not +before?" + +He nodded. "At Tilbury certainly. Au revoir, Mr. Nicholson." + +And with this last reminder of my future identity echoing in my ears, +we slid off down the drive. + +All the way into Plymouth Savaroff maintained a grumpy silence. He was +naturally a taciturn sort of person, and I think, besides that, he had +taken a strong dislike to me from the night we had first seen each +other. If this were so I had certainly not done much to modify it. I +felt that the man was naturally a bully, and it always pleases and +amuses me to be disliked by bullies. Indeed, if I had had no other +reason for responding to Sonia's proffered affection I should have +done so just because Savaroff was her father. + +My companion's sulks, however, in no way interfered with my enjoyment +of the drive. It was a perfect day on which to regain one's liberty. +The sun shone down from a blue sky flecked here and there with fleecy +white clouds, and on each side of the road the hedges and trees were +just beginning to break into an almost shrill green. The very air +seemed to be filled with a delicious sense of freedom and adventure. + +As we got nearer to Plymouth I found a fresh source of interest and +pleasure in the people that we passed walking along the road or +driving in traps and cars. After my long surfeit of warders and +convicts the mere sight of ordinarily-dressed human beings laughing +and talking filled me with the most intense satisfaction. On several +occasions I had a feeling that I should like to jump out of the car +and join some group of cheerful-looking strangers who turned to watch +us flash past. This feeling became doubly intense when we actually +entered Plymouth, where the streets seemed to be almost inconveniently +crowded with an extraordinary number of attractive-looking girls. + +I was afforded no opportunity, however, for indulging in any such +pleasant interlude. We drove straight through the town at a rapid +pace, avoiding the main thoroughfares as much as possible, and not +slackening until we pulled up outside Millbay station. We left the car +in charge of a tired-looking loafer who was standing in the gutter, +and taking out my bag, I followed Savaroff into the booking office. + +"You had better wait there," he muttered, pointing to the corner. "I +will get the ticket." + +I followed his suggestion, and while he took his place in the small +queue in front of the window I amused myself watching my fellow +passengers hurrying up and down the platform. They looked peaceful +enough, but I couldn't help picturing what a splendid disturbance +there would be if it suddenly came out that Neil Lyndon was somewhere +on the premises. The last time I had been in this station was on my +way up to Princetown two and a half years before. + +At last Savaroff emerged from the throng with my ticket in his hand. + +"I have taken you a first-class," he said rather grudgingly. "You will +probably have the carriage to yourself. It is better so." + +I nodded. "I shouldn't like to infect any of these good people with +homicidal mania," I said cheerfully. + +He looked at me rather suspiciously--I think he always had a sort of +vague feeling that I was laughing at him--and then without further +remark led the way out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had given me a sovereign and some loose silver for immediate +expenses, and I stopped at the bookstall to buy myself some papers. I +selected a _Mail_, a _Sportsman, Punch_, and the _Saturday Review_. I +lingered over the business because it seemed to annoy Savaroff: indeed +it was not until he had twice jogged my elbow that I made my final +selection. Then, grasping my bag, I marched up the platform behind +him, coming to a halt outside an empty first-class carriage. + +"This will do," he said, and finding no sound reason for contradicting +him I stepped in and put my bag upon the rack. + +"Good-bye, Savaroff," I said cheerfully. "I shall have the pleasure of +seeing you too at Tilbury, I suppose?" + +He closed the door, and thrust his head in through the open window. + +"You will," he said in his guttural voice; "and let me give you a +little word of advice, my friend. We have treated you well--eh, but if +you think you can in any way break your agreement with us you make a +very bad mistake." + +I took out my cigarette case. "My dear Savaroff," I said coldly, "why +on earth should I want to break my agreement with you? It is the only +possible chance I have of a new start." + +He looked at me closely, and then nodded his head. "It is well. So +long as you remember we are not people to be played with, no harm will +come to you." + +He let this off with such a dramatic air that I very nearly burst out +laughing. + +"I shan't forget it," I said gravely. "I've got a very good memory." + +There was a shrill whistle from the engine, followed by a warning +shout of "Stand back there, please; stand back, sir!" I had a last +glimpse of Savaroff's unpleasant face, as he hurriedly withdrew his +head, and then with a slight jerk the train began to move slowly out +of the station. + +I didn't open my papers at once. For some time I just sat where I was +in the corner and stared out contentedly over the passing landscape. +There is nothing like prison to broaden one's ideas about pleasure. Up +till the time of my trial I had never looked on a railway journey as a +particularly fascinating experience; now it seemed to me to be +simply chock-full of delightful sensations. The very names of the +stations--Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth--filled me with a sort of +curious pleasure: they were part of the world that I had once belonged +to--the gay, free, jolly world of work and laughter that I had thought +lost to me for ever. I felt so absurdly contented that for a little +while I almost forgot about George. + +The only stop we made was at Exeter. There were not many people on the +platform, and I had just decided that I was not going to be disturbed, +when suddenly a fussy-looking little old gentleman emerged from the +booking office, followed by a porter carrying his bag. They came +straight for my carriage. + +The old gentleman reached it first, and puckering up his face, peered +in at me through the window. Apparently the inspection was a success. + +"This will do," he observed. "Leave my bag on the seat, and go and see +that my portmanteau is safely in the van. Then if you come back here I +will give you threepence for your trouble." + +Dazzled by the prospect, the porter hurried off on his errand, and +with a little grunt the old gentleman began to hoist himself in +through the door. I put out my hand to assist him. + +"Thank you, sir, thank you," he remarked breathlessly. "I am extremely +obliged to you, sir." + +Then, gathering up his bag, he shuffled along the carriage, and +settled himself down in the opposite corner. + +I was quite pleased with the prospect of a fellow passenger, +unexciting as this particular one promised to be. I have either read +or heard it stated that when people first come out of prison they feel +so shy and so lost that their chief object is to avoid any sort of +society at all. I can only say that in my case this was certainly not +true. I wanted to talk to every one: I felt as if whole volumes +of conversation had been accumulating inside me during the long +speechless months of my imprisonment. + +It was the old gentleman, however, who first broke our silence. +Lowering his copy of the _Times_, he looked up at me over the top of +his gold-rimmed spectacles. + +"I wonder, sir," he said, "whether you would object to having that +window closed; I am extremely susceptible to draughts." + +"Why, of course not," I replied cheerfully, and suiting my action to +my words I jerked up the sash. + +This prompt attention to his wishes evidently pleased him; for he +thanked me civilly, and then, after a short pause, added some becoming +reflection on the subject of the English spring. + +It was not exactly an inspiring opening, but I made the most of it. +Without appearing intrusive I managed to keep the conversation going, +and in a few minutes we were in the middle of a brisk meteorological +discussion of the most approved pattern. + +"I daresay you find these sudden changes especially trying," commented +my companion. Then, with a sort of apology in his voice, he added: +"One can hardly help seeing that you have been accustomed to a warmer +climate." + +I smiled. "I have been out of England," I said, "for some time"; and +if this was not true in the letter, I don't think that even George +Washington could have found much fault with it in the spirit. + +"Indeed, sir, indeed," said the old gentleman. "I envy you, sir. I +only wish my own duties permitted me to winter entirely abroad." + +"It has its advantages," I admitted, "but in some ways I am quite +pleased to be back again." + +My companion nodded his head. "For one thing," he said, "one gets +terribly behindhand with English news. I find that even the best of +the foreign papers are painfully ill-informed." + +A sudden mischievous thought came into my head. "I have hardly seen a +paper of any kind for a fortnight!" I said. "Is there any particular +news? The last interesting thing I saw was about that young fellow's +escape from Dartmoor--that young inventor--what was his name?--who was +in for murder." + +The old gentleman looked up sharply. "Ah! Lyndon," he said, "Neil +Lyndon you mean. He is still at large." + +"From what I read of the case," I went on carelessly, "it seems rather +difficult to help sympathizing with him--to a certain extent. The +man he murdered doesn't appear to have been any great loss to the +community." + +My companion opened his mouth as if to speak, and then hesitated. +"Well, as a matter of fact I am scarcely in a position to discuss the +subject," he said courteously. "Perhaps, sir, you are unaware who I +am?" + +He asked the question with a slight touch of self-conscious dignity, +which showed me that in his own opinion at all events he was a person +of considerable importance. I looked at him again more carefully. +There seemed to be something familiar about his face, but beyond that +I was utterly at sea. + +"The fact is, I have been so much abroad," I began apologetically-- + +He cut me short by producing a little silver case from his pocket and +handing me one of his cards. + +"Permit me, sir," he said indulgently. + +I took it and read the following inscription: + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. +_The Reform Club_. + +I remembered him at once. He was a fairly well known politician--an +old-fashioned member of the Liberal Party, with whose name I had been +more or less acquainted all my life. I had never actually met him in +the old days, but I had seen one or two photographs and caricatures +of him, and this no doubt explained my vague recollection of his +features. + +For just a moment I remained silent, struggling against a strong +impulse to laugh. There was something delightfully humorous in the +thought of my sitting in a first-class carriage exchanging cheerful +confidences with a distinguished politician, while Scotland Yard and +the Home Office were racking their brains over my disappearance. It +seemed such a pity I couldn't hand him back a card of my own just for +the fun of watching his face while he read it. + +MR. NEIL LYNDON +_Late of His Majesty's Prison_, +_Princetown_. + +Collecting myself with an effort, I covered my apparent confusion with +a slight bow. + +"It was very stupid of me not to have recognized you from your +pictures," I said. + +This compliment evidently pleased the old boy, for he beamed at me in +the most gracious fashion. + +"You see now, sir," he said, "why it would be quite impossible for me +to discuss the matter in question." + +I bowed again. I didn't see in the least, but he spoke as if the point +was so obvious that I thought it better to let the subject drop. I +could only imagine that he must be holding some official position, the +importance of which he probably overrated. + +We drifted off into the discussion of one or two other topics; +settling down eventually to our respective newspapers. I can't say I +followed mine with any keen attention. My brain was too much occupied +with my own affairs to allow me to take in very much of what I read. I +just noticed that we were engaged in a rather heated discussion +with Germany over the future of Servia, and that a well-meaning but +short-sighted Anarchist had made an unsuccessful effort to shoot the +President of the American Steel Trust. + +Of my own affairs I could find no mention, beyond a brief statement to +the effect that I was still at liberty. There was not even the usual +letter from somebody claiming to have discovered my hiding-place, and +for the first time since my escape I began to feel a little neglected. +It was evident that as a news topic I was losing something of my first +freshness. + +The last bit of the journey from Maidenhead onwards seemed to take us +an unconscionably long time. A kind of fierce restlessness had begun +to get hold of me as we drew nearer to London, and I watched the +fields and houses flying past with an impatience I could hardly +control. + +We rushed through Hanwell and Acton, and then suddenly the huge bulk +of Wormwood Scrubbs Prison loomed up in the growing dusk away to +the right of the line. It was there that I had served my +"separates"--those first ghastly six months of solitary confinement +which make even Princetown or Portland a welcome and agreeable change. + +At the sight of that poisonous place all the old bitterness welled up +in me afresh. For a moment even my freedom seemed to have lost its +sweetness, and I sat there with my hands clenched and black resentment +in my heart, staring out of those grim unlovely walls. It was lucky +for George that he was not with me in the carriage just then, for +I think I should have wrung his neck without troubling about any +explanations. + +I was awakened from these pleasant reflections by a sudden blare of +light and noise on each side of the train. I sat up abruptly, with +a sort of guilty feeling that I had been on the verge of betraying +myself, and letting down the window, found that we were steaming +slowly into Paddington Station. In the farther corner of the carriage +my distinguished friend Sir George Frinton was beginning to collect +his belongings. + +I just had time to pull myself together when the train stopped, and +out of the waiting line of porters a man stepped forward and flung +open the carriage door. He was about to possess himself of my fellow +passenger's bag when the latter waved him aside. + +"You can attend to this gentleman," he said. "My own servant is +somewhere on the platform." Then turning to me, he added courteously: +"I wish you good-day, sir. I am pleased to have made your +acquaintance. I trust that we shall have the mutual pleasure of +meeting again." + +I shook hands with him gravely. "I hope we shall," I replied. "It will +be a distinction that I shall vastly appreciate." + +And of all unconscious prophecies that were ever launched, I fancy +this one was about the most accurate. + +Preceded by the porter carrying my bag, I crossed the platform and +stepped into a waiting taxi. + +"Where to, sir?" inquired the man. + +I had a sudden wild impulse to say: "Drive me to George," but I +checked it just in time. + +"You had better drive me slowly along Oxford Street," I said. "I want +to stop at one or two shops." + +The man started the engine and, climbing back into his seat, set off +with a jerk up the slope. I lay back in the corner, and took in a +long, deep, exulting breath. I was in London--in London at last--and +if those words don't convey to you the kind of savage satisfaction +that filled my soul you must be as deficient in imagination as a +prison governor. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + +My shopping took me quite a little while. There were a lot of things +I wanted to get, and I saw no reason for hurrying--especially as +McMurtrie was paying for the taxi. I stopped at Selfridge's and laid +in a small but nicely chosen supply of shirts, socks, collars, and +other undergarments, and then, drifting slowly on, picked up at +intervals some cigars, a couple of pairs of boots, and a presentable +Homburg hat. + +The question of a suit of clothes was the only problem that offered +any real difficulties. Apart from the fact that Savaroff's suit was by +no means in its first youth, I had a strong objection to wearing his +infernal things a moment longer than I could help. I was determined to +have a decently cut suit as soon as possible, but I knew that it would +be a week at least before any West End tailor would finish the job. In +the meantime I wanted something to go on with, and in my extremity I +suddenly remembered a place in Wardour Street where four or five years +before I had once hired a costume for a Covent Garden ball. + +I told the man to drive me there, and much to my relief found the +shop still in existence. There was no difficulty about getting what I +wanted. The proprietor had a large selection of what he called "West +End Misfits," amongst which were several tweeds and blue serge suits +big enough even for my somewhat unreasonable proportions. I chose the +two that fitted me best, and then bought a second-hand suit-case to +pack them away in. + +I had spent about fifteen pounds, which seemed to me as much as a +fifty-pound capitalist had any right to squander on necessities. I +therefore returned to the taxi and, arranging my parcels on the +front seat, instructed the man to drive me down to the address that +McMurtrie had given me. + +Pimlico was a part of London that I had not patronized extensively in +the days of my freedom, and I was rather in the dark about the precise +situation of Edith Terrace. The taxi-man, however, seemed to suffer +under no such handicap. He drove me straight to Victoria, and then, +taking the road to the left of the station, turned off into a +neighbourhood of dreary-looking streets and squares, all bearing a +dismal aspect of having seen better days. + +Edith Terrace was, if anything, slightly more depressing than the +rest. It consisted of a double row of gaunt, untidy houses, from which +most of the original stucco had long since peeled away. Quiet enough +it certainly was, for along its whole length we passed only one man, +who was standing under a street lamp, lighting a cigarette. He looked +up as we went by, and for just one instant I had a clear view of his +face. Except for a scar on the cheek he was curiously like one of the +warders at Princetown, and for that reason I suppose this otherwise +trifling incident fixed itself in my mind. It is funny on what queer +chances one's fate sometimes hangs. + +We pulled up at Number 3 and, mounting some not very recently cleaned +steps, I gave a brisk tug at a dilapidated bell-handle. After a minute +I heard the sound of shuffling footsteps; then the door opened and a +funny-looking little old woman stood blinking and peering at me from +the threshold. + +"How do you do?" I said cheerfully. "Are you Mrs. Oldbury?" + +She gave a kind of spasmodic jerk, that may have been intended for a +curtsey. + +"Yes, sir," she said. "I'm Mrs. Oldbury; and you'd be the gentleman +I'm expectin'--Dr. McMurtrie's gentleman?" + +This seemed an accurate if not altogether flattering description of +me, so I nodded my head. + +"That's right," I said. "I'm Mr. Nicholson." Then, as the heavily +laden taxi-man staggered up the steps, I added: "And these are my +belongings." + +With another bob she turned round, and leading the way into the house +opened a door on the right-hand side of the passage. + +"This will be your sitting-room, sir," she said, turning up the gas. +"It's a nice hairy room, and I give it a proper cleaning out this +morning." + +I looked round, and saw that I was in a typical "ground-floor front," +with the usual cheap lace curtains, hideous wall paper, and slightly +stuffy smell. At the back of the room, away from the window, were two +folding doors. + +My landlady shuffled across and pushed one of them open. "And this +is the bedroom, sir. It's what you might call 'andy--and quiet too. +You'll find that a nice comfortable bed, sir. It's the one my late +'usband died in." + +"It sounds restful," I said. Then walking to the doorway I paid off +the taxi-man, who had deposited his numerous burdens and was waiting +patiently for his fare. + +As soon as he had gone, Mrs. Oldbury, who had meanwhile occupied +herself in pulling down the blinds and drawing the curtains, inquired +whether I should like anything to eat. + +"I don't think I'll trouble you," I said. "I have got to go out in any +case." + +"Oh, it's no trouble, sir--no trouble at all. I can put you on a nice +little bit o' steak as easy as anything if you 'appen to fancy it." + +I shook my head. A few weeks ago "a nice little bit o' steak" would +have seemed like Heaven to me, but since then I had become more +luxurious. I was determined that my first dinner in London should be +worthy of the occasion. Besides, I had other business to attend to. + +"No, thanks," I said firmly. "I don't want anything except some hot +water and a latchkey, if you have such a thing to spare. I don't know +what time you go to bed here, but I may be a little late getting +back." + +She fumbled in her pocket and produced a purse, from which she +extricated the required article. + +"I'm not gen'rally in bed--not much before midnight, sir," she said. +"If you should be later per'aps you'd be kind enough to turn out the +gas in the 'all. I'll send you up some 'ot water by the girl." + +She went off, closing the door behind her; and picking up my parcels +and bags I carried them into the bedroom and started to unpack. I +decided that the blue suit was most in keeping with my mood, so I laid +this out on the bed together with a complete change of underclothes. I +was eyeing the latter with some satisfaction, when there came a knock +at the door, and in answer to my summons the "girl" entered with the +hot water. She was the typical lodging-house drudge, a poor little +object of about sixteen, with a dirty face and her hair twisted up in +a knot at the back of her head. + +"If yer please, sir," she said, with a sniff, "Mrs. Oldbury wants ter +know if yer'll be likin' a barf in the mornin'." + +"You can tell Mrs. Oldbury that the answer is yes," I said gravely. +Then I paused. "What's your name?" I asked. + +She sniffed again, and looked at me with round, wondering eyes. +"Gertie, sir. Gertie 'Uggins." + +I felt in my pocket and found a couple of half-crowns. + +"Take these, Gertie," I said, "and go and have a damned good dinner +the first chance you get." + +She clasped the money in her grubby little hand. + +"Thank you, sir," she murmured awkwardly. + +"You needn't thank me, Gertie," I said; "it was a purely selfish +action. There are some emotions which have to be shared before they +can be properly appreciated. My dinner tonight happens to be one of +them." + +She shifted from one leg to the other. "Yes, sir," she said. Then with +a little giggle she turned and scuttled out of the room. + +I washed and dressed myself slowly, revelling in the sensation of +being once more in clean garments of my own. I was determined not to +spoil my evening by allowing any bitter or unpleasant thoughts to +disturb me until I had dined; after that, I reflected, it would be +quite time enough to map out my dealings with George. + +Lighting a cigarette I left the house, and set off at a leisurely pace +along Edith Terrace. It was my intention to walk to Victoria, and then +take a taxi from there to whatever restaurant I decided to dine at. +The latter question was not a point to be determined lightly, and as I +strolled along I debated pleasantly in my mind the attractions of two +or three of my old haunts. + +By the time I reached Victoria I had decided in favour of +Gaultier's--if Gaultier's was still in existence. It was a place that, +in my time at all events, had been chiefly frequented by artists and +foreigners, but the food, of its kind, was as good there as anywhere +in London. + +I beckoned to a passing taxi, and waving his arm in response the +driver swerved across the street and drew up at the kerb. + +"Where to, guv'nor?" he inquired. + +I gave him the direction, and then turned to open the door. As I did +so I noticed a man standing on the pavement close beside me looking +vacantly across the street. For an instant I wondered where I had seen +him before; then quite suddenly I remembered. He was the man we +had passed in Edith Terrace, lighting a cigarette under the street +lamp--the man who had reminded me of one of the prison warders. I knew +I was not mistaken because I could see the scar on his face. + +With a sudden vague sense of uneasiness I got into the taxi and shut +the door. The gentleman on the pavement paid no attention to me at +all. He continued to stand there staring aimlessly at the traffic, +until we had jerked forward and turned off round the corner of +Victoria Street. + +All the same the incident had left a kind of uncomfortable feeling +behind it. I suppose an escaped convict is naturally inclined to be +suspicious, and somehow or other I couldn't shake off the impression +that I was being watched and followed. If so, I had not much doubt +whom I was indebted to for the honour. It had never seemed to me +likely that McMurtrie would leave me entirely to my own sweet devices +while I was in London--not, at all events, until he had satisfied +himself that I had been speaking the truth about my intentions. + +Still, even if my suspicions were right, there seemed no reason for +being seriously worried. The gentleman on the pavement might have +overheard me give the address to the driver, but that after all was +exactly what I should have liked him to hear. Dinner at Gaultier's +sounded a most natural preliminary to an evening's dissipation, and +unless I was being actually followed to the restaurant I had nothing +to fear. It was quite possible that my friend with the scar was only +anxious to discover whether I was really setting out for the West End. + +All the same I determined to be devilish careful about my future +movements. If McMurtrie wanted a report he should have it, but I would +take particular pains to see that it contained nothing which would in +any way disturb his belief in me. + +We pulled up at Gaultier's, and I saw with a sort of sentimental +pleasure that, outside at all events, it had not altered in the least +during my three years' exile. There was the same discreet-looking +little window, the same big electric light over the door, and, unless +I was much mistaken, the same uniformed porter standing on the mat. + +When I entered I found M. Gaultier himself, as fat and bland as ever, +presiding over the scene. He came forward, bowing low after his usual +custom, and motioned me towards a vacant table in the corner. I felt +an absurd inclination to slap him on the back and ask him how he had +been getting on in my absence. + +It seemed highly improbable that he would remember my voice, but, as +I had no intention of running any unnecessary risks, I was careful to +alter it a little when I spoke to him. + +"Good-evening," I began; "are you M. Gaultier?" + +He bowed and beamed. + +"Well, M. Gaultier," I said, "I want a good dinner--a quite +exceptionally good dinner. I have been waiting for it for some time." + +He regarded me keenly, with a mixture of sympathy and professional +interest. + +"Monsieur is hungry?" he inquired. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "is both hungry and greedy. You have full scope +for your art." + +He straightened himself, and for an inspired moment gazed at the +ceiling. Then he slapped his forehead. + +"Monsieur," he said, "with your permission I go to consult the chef." + +"Go," I replied. "And Heaven attend your council." + +He hurried off, and I beckoned to the head waiter. + +"Fetch me," I said, "a Virginian cigarette and a sherry and bitters." + +A true gourmet would probably shudder at such a first course, but +it must be remembered that for three years my taste had had no +opportunity of becoming over-trained. Besides, in matters of this sort +I always act on the principle that it's better to enjoy oneself than +to be artistically correct. + +Lying back in my chair I looked out over the little restaurant with a +sensation of beautiful complacency. The soft rose-shaded lamps threw a +warm glamour over everything, and through the delicate blue spirals of +my cigarette I could just see the laughing face of a charmingly pretty +girl who was dining with an elderly man at the opposite table. I +glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was close on eight--the +hour when the cell lights at Princetown are turned out, and another +dragging night of horror and darkness begins. Slowly and luxuriously I +sipped my sherry and bitters. + +I was aroused from my reverie by the approach of M. Gaultier, who +carried a menu in his hand. + +He handed me the card with another bow, and then stepped back as +though to watch the result. This was the dinner: + +Clear soup. + +Grilled salmon. + +Lamb. New potatoes. + +Woodcock. + +Pêche Melba. + +Marrow on Toast. + +I read it through, enjoying each separate word, and then, with a faint +sigh, handed it back to him. + +"Heaven," I said, "was undoubtedly at the conference." + +M. Gaultier picked up a wine list from the table. "And what will +Monsieur drink?" he inquired reverently. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "has perfect faith in your judgment. He will +drink everything you choose to give him." + +Half an hour later I again lay back in my chair, and lapped in a +superb contentment gently murmured to myself those two delightful +lines of Sydney Smith's-- + +"Serenely calm, the epicure may say: +Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today." + +I sipped my Turkish coffee, lighted the fragrant Cabana which M. +Gaultier had selected for me, and debated cheerfully with myself what +I should do next. I had had so many unpleasant evenings since my trial +that I was determined that this one at all events should be a complete +success. + +My first impulse of course was to visit George. There was something +very engaging in the thought of being ushered into his presence by a +respectable butler, and making my excuses for having called at such +an unreasonable hour. I pictured to myself how he would look as +I gradually dropped my assumed voice, and very slowly the almost +incredible truth began to dawn on him. + +So charming was the idea that it was only with some reluctance I was +able to abandon it. I didn't want to waste George: he had to last me +at least three days, and I felt that if I went down there now, warmed +and exhilarated with wine and food, I should be almost certain to give +myself away. I had no intention of doing that until the last possible +moment. I still had a sort of faint irrational hope that by watching +George without betraying my identity, I might discover something which +would throw a little light on his behaviour to me. + +But if I didn't go to Cheyne Walk, what was I to do? I put the +question to myself as I slowly lifted the glass of old brandy which +the waiter had set down in front of me, and before the fine spirit +touched my lips the answer had flashed into my mind. I would go and +see Tommy! + +It was the perfect solution of the difficulty; and as I put down the +glass again I laughed softly in sheer happiness. The prospect of +interviewing Tommy without his recognizing me was only a degree less +attractive than the thought of a similar experience with George. I +knew that the mere sight of his velvet coat and his dear old burly +carcase would fill me with the most delightful emotions--emotions +which now, amongst all my one-time friends, he and perhaps poor little +Joyce would alone have the power to provoke. The others seemed to me +as dead as the past to which they belonged. + +One thing I was determined on, and that was that I wouldn't give away +my secret. It would be difficult not to, for there were naturally a +hundred things I wanted to say to Tommy; but, however much I might be +tempted, I was resolved to play the game. It was not the thought of my +promise to McMurtrie (that sat very easily on my conscience), but the +possibility of getting Tommy himself into trouble. I knew that for me +he would run any risk in the world with the utmost cheerfulness, but +I had no intention of letting him do it. He had done more than enough +for me at the time of the trial. + +I called for the waiter and paid my bill. It seemed absurdly cheap +for such a delightful evening, and I said as much to M. Gaultier, who +insisted on accompanying me to the door. He received the remark with a +protesting gesture of his hands. + +"Most people," he said, "feed. Monsieur eats. To such we do not +wish to overcharge. It is a pleasure to provide a dinner which is +appreciated." + +The porter outside volunteered to call me a taxi, and while he was +engaged in that operation I had a sharp look up and down the street +to see whether my friend with the scar was hanging about anywhere. I +could discern no sign of him, but all the same, when the taxi came up, +I took the precaution of directing the man in a fairly audible voice +to drive me to the Pavilion, in Piccadilly Circus. It was not until +we were within a few yards of that instructive institution that I +whistled through the tube and told him to take me on to Chelsea. + +I knew Tommy was in the same studio, for Joyce had told me so in her +second letter. It was one of a fairly new block of four or five at the +bottom of Beaufort Street, about half a mile along the embankment +from George's house. All the way down I was debating with myself what +excuse I could offer for calling at such a late hour, and finally +I decided that the best thing would be to pretend that I was a +travelling American artist who had seen and admired some of Tommy's +work. Under such circumstances it would be difficult for the latter +not to ask me in for a short chat. + +I stopped the cab in the King's Road, and getting out, had another +good look round to see that I was not being followed. Satisfied on +this point, I lighted a second cigar and started off down Beaufort +Street. + +The stretch of embankment at the bottom seemed to have altered very +little since I had last seen it. One or two of the older houses had +been done up, but Florence Court, the block of studios in which Tommy +lived, was exactly as I remembered it. The front door was open, after +the usual casual fashion that prevails in Chelsea, and I walked into +the square stone hall, which was lighted by a flickering gas jet. + +There was a board on the right, containing the addresses of the +various tenants. Opposite No. 3 I saw the name of Mr. T.G. Morrison, +and with a slight quickening of the pulse I advanced along the +corridor to Tommy's door. + +As I reached it I saw that there was a card tied to the knocker. I +knew that this was a favourite trick of Tommy's when he was away, and +with a sharp sense of disappointment I bent down to read what was +written on it. With some difficulty, for the light was damnable, I +made out the following words, roughly scribbled in pencil: + +"Out of Town. Please leave any telegrams or urgent letters at No. 4. +T.M." + +I dropped the card and stood wondering what to do. If Tommy had some +pal living next door, as seemed probable from his notice, the latter +would most likely know what time he was expected to return. For a +moment I hesitated: then retracing my steps, I walked back into the +hall and glanced at the board to see who might be the tenant of No. 4. + +To my surprise I found it was a woman--a "Miss Vivien." + +At first I thought I must be wrong, for women had always been the one +agreeable feature of life for which Tommy had no manner of use. There +it was, however, as plain as a pikestaff, and with a feeling of lively +interest I turned back towards the flat. Whoever Miss Vivien might +be, I was determined to have a look at her. I felt that the girl whom +Tommy would leave in charge of his more important correspondence must +be distinctly worth looking at. + +I rang the bell, and after a short wait the door was opened by a +little maid about the size and age of Gertie 'Uggins, dressed in a cap +and a print frock. + +"Is Miss Vivien in?" I asked boldly. + +She shook her head. "Miss Vivien's out. 'Ave you got an appointment?" + +"No," I said. "I only want to know where Mr. Morrison is, and when +he's coming back. There's a notice on his door asking that any letters +or telegrams should be left here, so I thought Miss Vivien might +know." + +She looked me up and down, with a faint air of suspicion. + +"'E's away in 'is boat," she said shortly. "'E won't be back not till +Thursday." + +So Tommy still kept up his sailing! This at least was news, and news +which had a rather special interest for me. I wondered whether the +"boat" was the same little seven-tonner, the _Betty_, in which we +had spent so many cheerful hours together off the Crouch and the +Blackwater. + +"Thanks," I said; and then after a moment's pause I added, "I suppose +if I addressed a letter here it would be forwarded?" + +"I s'pose so," she admitted a little grudgingly. + +There seemed to be nothing more to say, so bidding the damsel +good-night, I walked off down the passage and out on to the +embankment. If I had drawn a blank as far as seeing Tommy was +concerned, my evening had not been altogether fruitless. I felt vastly +curious as to who Miss Vivien might be. Somehow or other I couldn't +picture Tommy with a woman in his life. In the old days, partly from +shyness and partly, I think, because they honestly bored him, he had +always avoided girls with a determination that at times bordered +on rudeness. And yet, unless all the signs were misleading, it was +evident that he and his next-door neighbour were on fairly intimate +terms. The most probable explanation seemed to me that she was some +elderly lady artist who darned his socks for him, and shed tears +in secret over the state of his wardrobe. There was a magnificent +uncouthness about Tommy which would appeal irresistibly to a certain +type of motherly woman. + +I strolled up the embankment in the direction of Chelsea Bridge, +smiling to myself over the idea. Whether it was right or not, it +presented such a pleasing picture that I had walked several hundred +yards before I quite woke up to my surroundings. Then with a sudden +start I realized that I was quite close to George's house. + +It was a big red-brick affair, standing back from the embankment +facing the river. As I came opposite I could see that there was a +light on the first floor, in the room which I knew George used as a +study. I stopped for a minute, leaning back against the low wall and +staring up at the window. + +I wondered what my cousin was doing. Perhaps he was sitting there, +looking through the evening paper in the vain hope of finding news +of my capture. I could almost see the lines on his forehead and the +nervous, jerky way in which he would be biting his fingers--a trick of +his that had always annoyed me intensely. He would bite harder than +ever if he only knew that I was standing outside in the darkness not +more than twenty yards away from him! + +I waited for a little while in the hope that he might come to the +window, but this luxury was denied me. + +"Good-night, George," I said softly; "we'll meet in the morning," and +then, with a last affectionate look at the lighted blind, I continued +my way along the embankment. + +I was not sure which turning I ought to take for Edith Terrace, but an +obliging policeman who was on duty outside the Tate Gallery put me on +the right track. There was something delicately pleasing to my sense +of humour in appealing to a constable, and altogether it was in a +most contented frame of mind that I inserted my latch-key into Mrs. +Oldbury's door and let myself into the house. My first day's holiday +seemed to me to have been quite a success. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + +I woke next morning at seven, or perhaps I should say I was awakened +by Gertie 'Uggins, who to judge from the noise was apparently engaged +in wrecking the sitting-room. I looked at my watch, and then halloed +to her through the door. The tumult ceased, and a head, elaborately +festooned with curl-papers, was inserted into the room. + +"Yer want yer barf?" it asked. + +"I do, Gertrude," I said; "and after that I want my breakfast. I have +a lot to do today." + +The head withdrew itself, tittering; and a moment later I heard a +shrill voice calling down the kitchen stairs. + +"Grahnd floor wants 'is 'ot water quick." + +Within about five minutes the ground floor's wish was gratified, Mrs. +Oldbury herself arriving with a large steaming can which she placed +inside a hip bath. She asked me in a mournful voice whether I thought +I could eat some eggs and bacon, and having received a favourable +reply left me to my toilet. + +It was about a quarter to eight when I sat down to breakfast. +Considering that for three years I had been obliged to rise +at painfully unseasonable hours, this may appear to have been +unnecessarily energetic, but as a matter of fact I was not acting +without good reasons. + +To start with, it was my purpose to spend a pleasant morning with +George. I wanted to be outside his house so that I could see his face +when he came out. I felt sure that as long as I was at liberty he +would be looking worried and depressed, and I had no wish to postpone +my enjoyment of such a congenial spectacle. + +Then, provided that I could restrain myself from breaking his head, I +intended to follow him to Victoria Street or wherever else he happened +to go. Beyond this I had no plan at the moment, but at the back of my +mind there was a curious irrational feeling that sooner or later I +should stumble across some explanation of the mystery of Marks' death. + +I knew that as a rule George didn't start for business until +nine-thirty or ten. I was anxious to get out of the house as soon as +possible, however, just in case I was correct in my idea that the +gentleman with the scar was keeping a kindly eye on my movements. In +that case I thought that by departing before half-past eight I should +be almost certain to forestall him. If, as I believed, he was under +the impression that I had been indulging in a night's dissipation, it +was unlikely that he would credit me with sufficient energy to get +up before ten or eleven. As to waiting for George--well, I had no +objection to that. It was a nice sunny morning, and I could buy a +paper and sit on one of the embankment seats. + +This, indeed, was exactly what I did. I slipped out of the house as +unobtrusively as possible, and, stopping at a little newspaper and +tobacco shop round the first corner, invested in a _Telegraph_ and a +_Sportsman_. Then, after making sure that I was not being followed, I +set off for the embankment. + +Some of the seats were already occupied by gentlemen and ladies who +had apparently been using them in preference to an hotel, but as luck +would have it the one opposite George's house was empty. I seated +myself in the corner, and after cutting and lighting a cigar with the +care that such an excellent brand deserved, I prepared to beguile my +wait by reading the _D.T_. + +Nothing particularly thrilling seemed to have been happening in the +world, but I can't say I felt any sense of disappointment. Just at +present my own life afforded me all the excitement my system needed. +The only important item of news that I could find was a rather +offensive speech by the German Chancellor with reference to the +dispute with England. It was a surprising utterance for a statesman in +his position, and the _Telegraph_ had improved the occasion by writing +one of its longest and stateliest leaders on provocative politicians. + +I had just finished reading this effort when George appeared. He came +out of the front door and down the steps of his house, dressed as +usual in a well-fitting frock-coat and tall hat, such as he had always +affected in the old days. I stared at him with a sort of hungry +satisfaction. He looked pale and harassed, and he carried his head +bent forward like a man whose mind was unpleasantly preoccupied. It +warmed my heart to see him. + +When he had gone some little way along the pavement, I got up from my +seat and began to keep pace with him on the other side of the roadway. +It was easy work, for he walked slowly, and stared at the ground as +though fully taken up with his own thoughts. I was not the least +frightened of his recognizing me, but as a matter of fact he never +even looked across in my direction. + +We marched along in this fashion as far as Vauxhall Bridge Road, where +George turned up to the left in the direction of Victoria Street. +I walked on a bit, so as to allow him to get about a hundred yards +ahead, and then coming back followed in his track. As he drew nearer +to the station I began to close up the gap, and all the way along +Victoria Street I was only about ten yards behind him. It was +tantalizing work, for he was just the right distance for a running +kick. + +The offices of our firm, which I had originally chosen myself, are on +the first floor, close to the Army and Navy Stores. George turned in +at the doorway and went straight up, and for a moment I stood in the +entrance, contemplating the big brass plate with "Lyndon and Marwood" +on it, and wondering what to do next. It seemed odd to think of all +that had happened since I had last climbed those stairs. + +Exactly across the road was a restaurant. It was new since my time, +but I could see that there was a table in the window on the first +floor, which must command a fair view of the houses opposite, so I +determined to adopt it as a temporary scouting ground. I walked over +and pushed open the swinging doors. Inside was a sleepy-looking waiter +in his shirt-sleeves engaged in the leisurely pursuit of rolling up +napkins. + +"Good-morning," I said; "can I have some coffee and something to eat +upstairs?" + +He regarded me for a moment with a rather startled air, and then +pulled himself together. + +"Yes, saire. Too early for lunch, saire. 'Am-an'-eggs, saire?" + +I nodded. I had had eggs and bacon for breakfast, and on the excellent +principle of not mixing one's drinks, 'am an'-eggs sounded a most +happy suggestion. + +"Very well," I said; "and I wonder if you could let me have such a +thing as a sheet of paper, and a pen and ink? I want to write a letter +afterwards." + +This, I regret to say, was not strictly true, but it seemed to offer +an ingenious excuse for occupying the table for some time without +arousing too much curiosity. + +The waiter expressed himself as being in a position to gratify me, and +leaving him hastily donning his coat I marched up the staircase to the +room above. + +When I sat down at the table in the window I found that my +expectations were quite correct. I was looking right across into the +main room of our offices, and I could see a couple of clerks working +away at their desks quite clearly enough to distinguish their faces. +They were both strangers to me, but I was not surprised at this. I +always thought that George had probably sacked most of the old staff, +if they had not given him notice on their own account. Of my cousin +himself I could see nothing. He was doubtless either in his own +sanctum, or in the big inner room where I used to work with Watson, my +assistant. + +It was of course impossible to eat much of the generous dish of +'am-an'-eggs which the waiter brought me up, but I dallied over it as +long as possible, and managed to swallow a cup of rather indifferent +coffee. Then I smoked another cigar, and when the things were cleared +away and the writing materials had arrived, I made a pretence of +beginning my letter. + +All this time, of course, I was keeping a strict watch across the +street. Nothing interesting seemed to happen, and I was just beginning +to think that I was wasting my time in a rather hopeless fashion when +suddenly I saw George come out of his private office into the main +room opposite, wearing his hat and carrying an umbrella. He spoke to +one of the clerks as though giving him some parting instructions, and +went out, shutting the door behind him. + +I jumped to my feet, and hurrying down the stairs, demanded my bill +from the rather surprised waiter. Considering that I had been sitting +upstairs for over an hour and a half, I suppose my haste did appear a +trifle unreasonable; anyway he took so long making out the bill that +at last I threw down five shillings and left him at the process. + +Even so, I was only just in time. As I came out into the street George +emerged from the doorway opposite. He looked less depressed than +before and much more like his usual sleek self, and the sight of him +in these apparently recovered spirits whipped up my resentment again +to all its old bitterness. + +He set off at a brisk pace in the direction of the Houses of +Parliament, and crossing the street I took up a tactful position in +his rear. In this order we proceeded along Whitehall, across Trafalgar +Square, and up Charing Cross Road into Coventry Street. Here George +stopped for a moment to buy himself a carnation--he had always had a +taste for buttonholes--and then resuming our progress, we crossed the +Circus, and started off down Piccadilly. + +By this time what is known I believe as "the lust of the chase" had +fairly got hold of me. More strongly than ever I had the feeling that +something interesting was going to happen, and when George turned up +Bond Street I quickened my steps so as to bring me back to my old if +rather tempting position close behind him. + +Quite suddenly in the very narrowest part of the pavement he came to a +stop, and entered a doorway next to a tobacconist's shop. In a +couple of strides I had reached the spot, just in time to see him +disappearing up a winding flight of stone stairs. + +There were two little brass plates at the side of the door, and I +turned to them eagerly to see whom he might be honouring with a visit. +One was inscribed "Dr. Rich. Jones, M.D.," and the other "Mlle. +Vivien." + +The moment I read the last name something curiously familiar about it +suddenly struck me. Then in a flash I remembered the pencilled notice +on Tommy's door, and the obliging "Miss Vivien" who was willing to +receive his telegrams. + +The coincidence was a startling one, but I was too anxious to discover +what George was doing to waste much time pondering over it. Stepping +forward to the foot of the stairs, I peered cautiously up. I could see +by his hand, which was resting on the banisters, that he had passed +the floor above, where the doctor lived, and was half way up the next +flight. Whoever Mlle. Vivien might be, she certainly represented +George's destination. + +I retreated to the door, wondering what was the best thing to do. +My previous effort in Victoria Street had been so successful that +I instinctively glanced across the street to see whether there was +another convenient restaurant from which I could repeat my tactics. +There wasn't a restaurant but there was something else which was +even better, and that was a small and very respectable-looking +public-house. + +If I had to wait, a whisky-and-soda seemed a much more agreeable thing +to beguile the time with than a third helping of ham and eggs, so +crossing the road with a light heart, I pushed open a door marked +"Saloon Bar." I found myself in a square, comfortably fitted apartment +where a genial-looking gentleman was dispensing drinks to a couple of +chauffeurs. + +Along the back of the bar ran a big fitted looking-glass, sloped at +an angle which enabled it to reflect the opposite side of the street. +This was most convenient, for I could stand at the counter with my +back to the window, and yet keep my eye all the time upon the doorway +from which George would appear. + +"Good-morning, sir: what can I get you?" inquired the landlord +pleasantly. + +"I'll have a whisky-and-soda, thanks," I said. + +As he turned round to get it a sudden happy idea flashed into my mind. +I waited until he had placed the glass on the bar and was pouring out +the soda, and then inquired carelessly: + +"You don't happen to know any one of the name of Vivien about here, I +suppose?" + +He looked up at once. "Vivien!" he repeated; "well, there's a Mamzelle +Vivien across the road. D'you mean her?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know," I said; then, with a coolness +which would have done credit to Ananias, I added: "A friend of mine +has picked up a little bag or something with 'Vivien, Bond Street,' on +it. He asked me to see if I could find the owner." + +The landlord nodded his head with interest. "That'll be her, I expect. +Mamzelle Vivien the palmist--just across the way." + +"Oh, she's a palmist, is she?" I exclaimed. The thought of George +consulting a palmist was decidedly entertaining. Perhaps he wanted to +find out whether I was likely to wring his neck. + +With a side glance at the chauffeurs, the landlord leaned a little +towards me and slightly lowered his voice. "Well, that's what she +calls 'erself," he observed. "Palmist and Clairvoyante; and a smart +bit o' goods she is too." + +"But I thought the police had stopped that sort of thing," I said. + +The landlord shook his head. "The police don't interfere with her. +She don't advertise or anything like that, and I reckon she has some +pretty useful friends. You'd be surprised if I was to tell you some o' +the people I seen going in there--Cabinet Ministers and Bishops." + +"It sounds like the Athenaeum Club," I said. "Do you know what she +charges?" + +"No," he replied; "something pretty stiff I guess. With folks like +that it's a case of make 'ay while the sun shines." + +He was called off at this point to attend to another customer, leaving +me to ponder over the information he had given me. I felt that somehow +or other I must make Mademoiselle Vivien's acquaintance. A beautiful +palmist, for whom George deserted his business at eleven in the +morning, was just the sort of person who might prove extremely +interesting to me. Besides, the fact that her name was the same as +that of the lady who lived next door to Tommy lent an additional spur +to my curiosity. It might be a mere coincidence, but if so it was a +sufficiently odd one to merit a little further investigation. + +I drank up my whisky, and after waiting a minute or two, ordered +another. I had just got this and was taking my first sip, when quite +suddenly I saw in the mirror the reflection of George emerging from +the doorway opposite. + +I didn't stop to finish my drink. I put down the tumbler, and nodding +to the landlord walked straight out into the street. The pavement was +thronged with the usual midday crowd, but pushing my way through I +dodged across the road and reached the opposite side-walk just in +time to see George stepping into a taxi a few yards farther down the +street. + +I was not close enough to overhear the directions which he gave to the +driver, but unless his habits had changed considerably the chances +were that he was off to lunch at his club. Anyhow I felt pretty +certain that I could pick up his trail again later on at the office if +I wanted to. For the moment I had other plans; it was my intention +to follow George's example and pay a short call upon "Mademoiselle +Vivien." + +I walked back, and throwing away the end of my cigar, entered the +doorway again and started off up the stairs. I imagined that by going +as an ordinary client I should find no difficulty in getting admitted, +but if I did I was fully prepared to bribe or bluff, or adopt any +method that might be necessary to achieve my purpose. I would not +leave until I had at least seen the gifted object of George's midday +rambles. + +I reached the second landing, where I was faced by a green door with a +quaintly carved electric bell in the shape of an Egyptian girl's head, +a red stone in the centre of the forehead forming what appeared to be +the button. Anyhow I pressed it and waited, and a moment later the +door swung silently open. A small but very alert page-boy who looked +like an Italian was standing on the mat. + +"Is Mademoiselle at home?" I inquired. + +He looked me up and down sharply. "Have you an appointment, sir?" + +"No," I said, "but will you be good enough to ask whether I can +see her? My name is Mr. James Nicholson. I wish to consult her +professionally." + +"If you will step in here, sir, I will inquire. Mademoiselle very +seldom sees any one without an appointment." + +He opened a door on the right and ushered me into a small +sitting-room, the chief furniture of which appeared to be a couch, one +or two magnificent bowls of growing tulips and hyacinths, and an oak +shelf which ran the whole length of the room and was crowded with +books. + +While the boy was away I amused myself by examining the titles. There +were a number of volumes on palmistry and on various branches of +occultism, interspersed with several books of poetry and such unlikely +works as _My Prison Life_, by Jabez Balfour, and Melville Lee's +well-known _History of Police_. + +It gave me rather an uncanny feeling for the moment to be confronted +by the two latter, and I was just wondering whether a Bond Street +palmist's cliéntèle made such works of reference necessary, when the +door opened and the page-boy reappeared. + +"If you will kindly come this way, sir, Mademoiselle will see you," he +announced. + +I followed him down the passage and into another room hung with heavy +curtains that completely shut out the daylight. A small rose-coloured +lamp burning away steadily in the corner threw a warm glow over +everything, and lit up the low table of green stone in the centre, on +which rested a large crystal ball in a metal frame. Except for two +curiously carved chairs, there was no other furniture in the room. + +Closing the door noiselessly behind him, the boy went out again. I +stood there for a little while looking about me; then pulling up +a chair I was just sitting down when a slight sound attracted my +attention. A moment later a curtain at the end of the room was drawn +slowly aside, and there, standing in the gap, I saw the slim figure of +a girl, dressed in a kind of long dark Eastern tunic. + +I jumped to my feet, and as I did so an exclamation of amazement broke +involuntarily from my lips. For an instant I remained quite still, +clutching the back of the chair and staring like a man in a trance. +Unless I was mad the girl in front of me was Joyce. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + +It was the unexpectedness of the thing that threw me off my guard. +With a savage effort I recovered myself almost at once, but it was too +late to be of any use. At the sound of my voice all the colour had +left Joyce's face. Her hands went up to her breast, and with a low cry +she stepped forward and then stood there white and swaying, gazing at +me with wide-open, half-incredulous eyes. + +"My God!" she whispered; "it's you--Neil!" + +I think she would have fallen, but I came to her side, and putting my +arm round her shoulders gently forced her into one of the chairs. Then +I knelt in front of her and took her hands in mine. I saw it was no +good trying to deceive her. + +"I didn't know," I said simply; "I followed George here." + +"What have they done to you?" she moaned. "What have they done to you, +my Neil? And your hands--oh, your poor dear hands!" + +She burst out crying, and bending down pressed her face against my +fingers. + +"Don't, Joyce," I said, a little roughly. "For God's sake don't do +that." + +Half unconsciously I pulled away my hands, which three years in +Dartmoor had certainly done nothing to improve. + +My abrupt action seemed to bring Joyce to herself. She left off +sobbing, and with a sudden hurried glance round the room jumped up +from her chair. + +"I must speak to Jack--now at once," she whispered. "He mustn't let +any one else into the flat." + +She stopped for a moment to dry her eyes, which were still wet with +tears, and then walking quickly to the door disappeared into the +passage. She was only gone for a few seconds. I just had time to get +to my feet when she came back into the room, and shutting the door +behind her, turned the key in the lock. Then with a little gasp +she leaned against the wall. For the first time I realized what an +amazingly beautiful girl she had grown into. + +"Neil, Neil," she said, stretching out her hands; "is it really you!" + +I came across, and taking her in my arms very gently kissed her +forehead. + +"My little Joyce," I said. "My dear, brave little Joyce." + +She buried her face in my coat, and I felt her hand moving up and down +my sleeve. + +"Oh," she sobbed, "if I had only known where to find you before! Ever +since you escaped I have been hoping and longing that you would come +to me." Then she half pushed me back, and gazed up into my face with +her blue, tear-stained eyes. "Where have you been? What have they done +to you? Oh, tell me--tell me, Neil. It's breaking my heart to see you +so different." + +For a moment I hesitated. I would have given much if I could have +undone the work of the last few minutes, for even to be revenged on +George I would not willingly have brought my wretched troubles and +dangers into Joyce's life. Now that I had done so, however, there +seemed to be no other course except to tell her the truth. It was +impossible to leave her in her present agony of bewilderment and +doubt. + +Pulling up one of the chairs I sat down, drawing her on to my knee. + +"If I had known it was you, Joyce," I said, "I should have let George +go to the devil before I followed him here." + +"But why?" she asked. "Where should you go to if you didn't come to +me?" + +"Oh, my poor Joyce," I said bitterly; "haven't I brought enough +troubles and horrors into your life already?" + +She interrupted me with a low, passionate cry. "_You_ talk like +that! You, who have lost everything for my wretched sake! Can't you +understand that every day and night since you went to prison I've +loathed and hated myself for ever telling you anything about it? If +I'd dreamed what was going to happen I'd have let Marks--" + +I stopped her by crushing her in my arms, and for a little while she +remained there sobbing bitterly, her cheek resting on my shoulder. For +a moment or two I didn't feel exactly like talking myself. + +Indeed it was Joyce who spoke first. Raising her head she wiped away +her tears, and then sitting up gazed long and searchingly into my +face. + +"There is nothing of you left," she said, "nothing except your +eyes--your dear, splendid eyes. I think I should have known you by +those even if you hadn't spoken." Then, taking my hands again and +pressing them to her, she added passionately: "Oh, tell me what it +means, Neil. Tell me everything that's happened to you from the moment +you got away." + +"Very well," I said recklessly: "I shall be dragging you into all +sorts of dangers, and I shall be breaking my oath to McMurtrie, but +after all that's just the sort of thing one would expect from an +escaped convict." + +Step by step, from the moment when I had jumped over the wall into the +plantation, I told her the whole astounding story. She listened to me +in silence, her face alone betraying the feverish interest with which +she was following every word. When I came to the part about Sonia +kissing me (I told her everything just as it had happened) her hands +tightened a little on mine, but except for that one movement she +remained absolutely still. + +It was not until I had finished speaking that she made her first +comment. After I stopped she sat on for a moment just as she was; and +then quite suddenly her face lighted up, and with a little low laugh +that was half a sob she leaned forward and slid her arm round my neck. + +"Tommy was right," she whispered. "He said you'd do something +wonderful. I knew it too, but oh, Neil dear, I've suffered tortures +wondering where you were and what had happened." + +Then, sitting up again and pushing back her hair, she began to ask me +questions. + +"These people--Dr. McMurtrie and the others--do you believe their +story?" + +"No," I said bluntly. "I am quite certain they were lying to me." + +"Why should they have helped you, then?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea," I admitted. "I am only quite sure that +neither McMurtrie nor Savaroff are what they pretend to be. Besides, +you remember the hints that Sonia gave me." + +"Ah, Sonia!" Joyce looked down and played with one of the buttons of +my coat. "Is she--is she very pretty?" she asked. + +"She seems likely to be very useful," I said. Then, stroking Joyce's +soft curly hair, which had become all tousled against my shoulder, I +added: "But I'm answering questions when all the time I'm dying to ask +them. There are a hundred things you've got to tell me. What are you +doing here? Why do you call yourself Miss Vivien? Are you really +living next door to Tommy? And George--how on earth do you come to be +mixed up with George?" + +"I'll tell you everything," she said, "only I must know all about you +first. Why were you following George? You don't mean to let him know +who you are? Oh, Neil, Neil, promise me that you won't do that." + +"Joyce," I said slowly, "I want to find out who killed Seton Marks. I +don't suppose there is the least chance of my doing so, and if I can't +I most certainly mean to wring George's neck. That was chiefly what I +broke out of prison for." + +"Yes, yes," she said feverishly, "but there _is_ a chance. You'll +understand when I've explained." She put her hands to her forehead. +"Oh, I hardly know where to begin." + +"Begin anywhere," I said. "Tell me why you're pretending to be a +palmist." + +She got up from my knee and, walking slowly to the table, seated +herself on the end. + +"I wanted money," she said; "and I wanted to meet one or two people +who might be useful about you." + +"But I left eight hundred pounds for you with Tommy," I exclaimed. +"You got that?" + +She nodded. "It's in the bank now. I have been keeping it in case +anything happened. You don't suppose I was going to spend it? How +could I have helped you then even when I got the chance?" + +"But, my dear Joyce," I protested, "the money was for you. And you +couldn't have helped me with it in any case. I had plenty more waiting +for me when my sentence was out." + +"When your sentence was out," repeated Joyce fiercely. "Do you think +I was going to let you stop in prison till then!" She checked herself +with an effort. "I had better tell you everything from the beginning," +she said. "I couldn't write any more to you, because I was only +allowed to send the two letters, and I knew both of them would be read +by somebody." + +She paused a moment. + +"I went away after the trial. I was very ill, and Tommy took me to a +little place called Looe, down in Cornwall. We stayed there nearly six +months. When I came back I took the flat next to him and called myself +Miss Vivien. I had made up my mind then what I was going to do. You +see there were only two possible ways in which I could help you. One +was to find out who killed Marks, and the other was to get you out of +prison--anyhow. Of course, after the trial, it seemed madness to think +about the first, but then I just had three things to go on. I knew +that you were innocent, I knew that for some reason of his own George +had lied about you, and I knew that there had been some one else in +the flat the day of the murder." + +"The man who was with Marks when you arrived," I said. "But you saw +him go away, and there was nothing to connect him with the murder, +except the fact that he didn't turn up at the trial. Sexton himself +had to admit that in his speech." + +"There was his face," said Joyce quietly. "It was a dreadful face. It +looked as if all the goodness had been burned out of it." + +"There are about five hundred gentlemen like that in Princetown," +I said, "including several of the warders. Did they ever find out +anything about him?" + +Joyce shook her head. "Mr. Sexton did everything he could, but it was +quite useless. Whoever he was, the man never came forward, and you +see there was no one except me who even knew what he was like. It was +partly that which first gave me the idea of becoming a palmist. I +thought that up here in the West End I was more likely to come across +him than anywhere else. And then there were other people I meant to +meet--men in the Government who might be able to get your sentence +shortened. I knew I was beautiful, and with some men you can do +anything if you're beautiful, and--and you don't care." + +"Joyce!" I cried, "for God's sake don't tell me--" + +"No," she broke in passionately: "there's nothing to tell you. But if +the chance had come I'd have sold myself a thousand times over to get +you out of prison. The only man I've met who could do anything has +been Lord Lammersfield, and he...." She paused, then with a little +break in her voice she added: "Well, I think Lord Lammersfield is +rather like Tommy in some ways." + +"I suppose there are still one or two white men about," I said. + +"Lord Lammersfield used to be at the Home Office once, so of course +his influence would count for a great deal. Well, he did all that was +possible for me, but about six months ago he told me that there was no +chance of your being let out for another three years. It was then that +I made up my mind to get to know George." + +I thrust my hand in my pocket and pulled out my cigarette case. +"You--you've got rather thorough ideas about friendship, Joyce," I +said, a little unsteadily. "Can I smoke?" + +She picked up a box of matches from the table, and coming across +seated herself on the arm of my chair. + +"Have I?" she said simply. "Well, you taught me them." + +She struck a match and held it to my cigarette. + +"How did you manage it?" I asked. + +"Oh, it was easy enough. I asked Lord Lammersfield to bring him here +one day. You know what George is like; he would never refuse to do +anything a Cabinet Minister suggested. Of course he had no idea who I +was until he arrived." + +"It must have been quite a pleasant surprise for him," I said grimly. +"Did he recognize you at once?" + +Joyce shook her head. "He had only seen me at the trial, and I had my +hair down then. Besides, two years make a lot of difference." + +"They've made a lot of difference in you," I said. "They've turned you +from a pretty child into a beautiful woman." + +With a little low, contented laugh Joyce again laid her head on my +shoulder. "I think," she said, "that that's the only one of George's +opinions I'd like you to share." + +There was a moment's silence. Then I gently twisted one of her loose +curls round my finger. + +"My poor Joyce," I said, "you seem to have been wading in some +remarkably unpleasant waters for my sake." + +She shivered slightly. "Oh, it was hateful in a way, but I didn't +care. I knew George was hiding something that might help to get you +out of prison, and what did my feelings matter compared with that! +Besides--" she smiled mockingly--"for all his cleverness and his +wickedness George is a fool--just the usual vain fool that most men +are about women. It's been easy enough to manage him." + +"He knows who you are now, of course?" I said. + +She nodded. "I told him. He would have been almost certain to find +out, and then he would probably have been suspicious. As it is he +thinks our meeting was just pure chance." + +"But surely," I objected, "he must have guessed you were on my side?" + +She gave a short, bitter laugh. "Yes," she said, "he guessed that all +right. It's what he calls 'a sacred bond between us.' There are times, +you know, when George is almost funny." + +"There are times," I said, "when he must make Judas Iscariot feel +sick." + +"I sometimes wonder why I haven't killed him," she went on slowly. "I +think I should have if he had ever tried to kiss me. As it is--" +she laughed again in the same way--"as it is we are becoming great +friends. He is taking me out to dinner at the Savoy tonight." + +"But if he doesn't try to make love to you--" I began. + +"Oh!" she said, with a little shrug of her shoulders, "that's coming. +At present he imagines that he is being clever and diplomatic. Also +there's a business side to the matter." + +"Yes," I said; "there would be with George." + +"He's horribly frightened of you. Of course he tries to hide it from +me, but I can see that ever since you escaped from prison he has been +living in a state of absolute terror. His one idea at present is a +frantic hope that you will be recaptured. That's partly where I come +in." + +"You?" I repeated. + +"Yes. He thinks that sooner or later, when you want help, you will +probably write and tell me where you are." + +"And then you are to pass the good news on to him?" + +She nodded. "He says that if I let him know at once, he will arrange +to get you safely out of the country." + +I lay back in the chair and laughed out loud. + +Joyce, who was still sitting on the arm, looked down happily into my +face. "Oh," she said, "I love to hear you laugh again." Then, slipping +her hand into mine, she went on: "I suppose he means to arrange it so +that it will look as if you had been caught by accident while he was +trying to help you." + +"I expect so," I said. "I should be out of the way again then, and you +would be so overcome by gratitude--Oh, yes, there's quite a Georgian +touch about it." + +The sharp tinkle of an electric bell broke in on our conversation. +Joyce jumped up from the chair, and for a moment both remained +listening while "Jack" answered the door. + +"I know who it is," whispered Joyce. "It's old Lady Mortimer. She had +an appointment for one o'clock." + +"But what have you arranged to do?" I asked. "There's no reason you +should put all your people off. I can go away for the time, or stop in +another room, or something." + +"No, no; it's all right," whispered Joyce. "I'll tell you in a +minute." + +She waited until we heard the front door shut, and then coming back to +me sat down again on my knee. + +"I told Jack," she said, "not to let any one into the flat till three +o'clock. I have an appointment then I ought to keep, but that still +gives us nearly two hours. I will send Jack across to Stewart's to +fetch us some lunch, and we'll have it in here. What would you like, +my Neil?" + +"Anything but eggs and bacon," I said, getting out another cigarette. + +She jumped up with a laugh, and, after striking me a match, went out +into the passage, leaving the door open. I heard her call the page-boy +and give him some instructions, and then she came back into the room, +her eyes dancing with happiness and excitement. + +"Isn't this splendid!" she exclaimed. "Only this morning I was utterly +miserable wondering if you were dead, and here we are having lunch +together just like the old days in Chelsea." + +"Except for your hair, Joyce," I said. "Don't you remember how it was +always getting in your eyes?" + +"Oh, that!" she cried; "that's easily altered." + +She put up her hands, and hastily pulled out two or three hairpins. +Then she shook her head, and in a moment a bronze mane was rippling +down over her shoulders exactly as it used to in the old days. + +"I wish I could do something like that," I said ruefully. "I'm afraid +my changes are more permanent." + +Joyce came up and thrust her arm into mine. "My poor dear," she said, +pressing it to her. "Never mind; you look splendid as you are." + +"Won't your boy think there's something odd in our lunching together +like this?" I asked. "He seems a pretty acute sort of youth." + +"Jack?" she said. "Oh, Jack's all right. He was a model in Chelsea. I +took him away from his uncle, who used to beat him with a poker. He +doesn't know anything about you, but if he did he would die for you +cheerfully. He's by way of being rather grateful to me." + +"You always inspired devotion, Joyce," I said, smiling. "Do you +remember how Tommy and I used to squabble as to which of us should +eventually adopt you?" + +She nodded, almost gravely; then with a sudden change back to her +former manner, she made a step towards the inner room, pulling me +after her. + +"Come along," she said. "We'll lunch in there. It's more cheerful than +this, and anyway I want to see you in the daylight." + +I followed her in through the curtains, and found myself in a small, +narrow room with a window which looked out on the back of Burlington +Arcade. A couple of chairs, a black oak gate-legged table, and a +little green sofa made up the furniture. + +Joyce took me to the window, and still holding my arm, made a second +and even longer inspection of McMurtrie's handiwork. + +"It's wonderful, Neil," she said at last. "You look fifteen years +older and absolutely different. No one could possibly recognize you +except by the way you speak." + +"I've been practising that," I said, altering my voice. "I shouldn't +have given myself away if you hadn't taken me by surprise." + +She smiled again happily. "It's so good to feel that you're safe, even +if it's only for a few days." Then, letting go my arm, she crossed to +the sofa. "Come and sit down," she went on. "We've got to decide all +sorts of things, and we shan't have too much time." + +"I've told you my plans, Joyce," I said, "such as they are. I mean to +go through with this business of McMurtrie's, though I'm sure there's +something crooked at the bottom of it. As for the rest--" I shrugged +my shoulders and sat down on the sofa beside her; "well, I've got the +sort of hand one has to play alone." + +Joyce looked at me quietly and steadily. + +"Neil," she said; "do you remember that you once called me the most +pig-headed infant in Chelsea?" + +"Did I?" I said. "That was rather rude." + +"It was rather right," she answered calmly; "and I haven't changed, +Neil. If you think Tommy and I are going to let you play this hand +alone, as you call it, you are utterly and absolutely wrong." + +"Do you know what the penalties are for helping an escaped convict?" I +asked. + +She laughed contemptuously. "Listen, Neil. For three years Tommy and I +have had no other idea except to get you out of prison. Is it likely +we should leave you now?" + +"But what can you do, Joyce?" I objected. "You'll only be running +yourselves into danger, and--" + +"Oh, Neil dear," she interrupted; "it's no good arguing about it. We +mean to help you, and you'll have to let us." + +"But suppose I refuse?" I said. + +"Then as soon as Tommy comes back tomorrow I shall tell him everything +that you've told me. I know your address at Pimlico, and I know just +about where your hut will be down the Thames. If you think Tommy will +rest for a minute till he's found you, you must have forgotten a lot +about him in the last three years." + +She spoke with a kind of indignant energy, and there was an obstinate +look in her blue eyes, which showed me plainly that it would be waste +of time trying to reason with her. + +I reflected quickly. Perhaps after all it would be best for me to see +Tommy myself. He at least would appreciate the danger of dragging +Joyce into the business, and between us we might be able to persuade +her that I was right. + +"Well, what are your ideas, Joyce?" I said. "Except for keeping my eye +on George I had no particular plan until I heard from McMurtrie." + +Joyce laid her hand on my sleeve. "Tomorrow," she said, "you must go +and see Tommy. He is coming back by the midday train, and he will get +to the flat about two o'clock. Tell him everything that you have told +me. I shan't be able to get away from here till the evening, but I +shall be free then, and we three will talk the whole thing over. I +shan't make any more appointments here after tomorrow." + +"Very well," I said reluctantly. "I will go and look up Tommy, but +I can't see that it will do any good. I am only making you and him +liable to eighteen months' hard labour." She was going to speak, but +I went on. "Don't you see, Joyce dear, there are only two possible +courses open to me? I can either wait and carry out my agreement with +McMurtrie, or I can go down to Chelsea and force the truth about +Marks's death out of George--if he really knows it. Dragging you two +into my wretched affairs won't alter them at all." + +"Yes, it will," she said obstinately. "There are lots of ways in which +we can help you. Suppose these people turn out wrong, for instance; +they might even mean to give you up to the police as soon as they've +got your secret. And then there's George. If he does know anything +about the murder I'm the only person who is the least likely to find +it out. Why--" + +A discreet knock at the outer door interrupted her, and she got up +from the sofa. + +"That's Jack with the lunch," she said. "Come along, Neil dear. We +won't argue about it any more now. Let's forget everything for an +hour,--just be happy together as if we were back in Chelsea." + +She held out her hands to me, her lips smiling, her blue eyes just on +the verge of tears. I drew her towards me and gently stroked her hair, +as I used to do in the old days in Chelsea when she had come to me +with some of her childish troubles. I felt an utter brute to think +that I could ever have doubted her loyalty, even for an instant. + +How long we kept the luckless Jack waiting on the mat I can't say, +but at last Joyce detached herself, and crossing the room, opened the +door. Jack came in carrying a basket in one hand and a table-cloth in +the other. If he felt any surprise at finding Joyce with her hair down +he certainly didn't betray it. + +"I got what I could, Mademoiselle," he observed, putting down his +burdens. "Oyster patties, galatine, cheese-cakes, and a bottle of +champagne. I hope that will please Mademoiselle?" + +"It sounds distinctly pleasing, Jack," said Joyce gravely. "But then +you always do just what I want." + +The boy flushed with pleasure, and began to lay the table without even +so much as bestowing a glance on me. It was easy enough to see that he +adored his young mistress--adored her far beyond questioning any of +her actions. + +All through lunch--and an excellent lunch it was too--Joyce and I were +ridiculously happy. Somehow or other we seemed to drop straight back +into our former jolly relations, and for the time I almost forgot that +they had ever been interrupted. In spite of all she had been through +since, Joyce, at the bottom of her heart, was just the same as she had +been in the old days--impulsive, joyous, and utterly unaffected. All +her bitterness and sadness seemed to slip away with her grown-up +manner; and catching her infectious happiness, I too laughed and joked +and talked as cheerfully and unconcernedly as though we were in truth +back in Chelsea with no hideous shadow hanging over our lives. I even +found myself telling her stories about the prison, and making fun of +one of the chaplain's sermons on the beauties of justice. At the time +I remembered it had filled me with nothing but a morose fury. + +It was the little clock on the mantlepiece striking a quarter to three +which brought us back to the realities of the present. + +"I must go, Joyce," I said reluctantly, "or I shall be running into +some of your Duchesses." + +She nodded. "And I've got to do my hair by three, and turn myself back +from Joyce into Mademoiselle Vivien--if I can. Oh, Neil, Neil; it's a +funny, mad world, isn't it!" She lifted up my hand and moved it softly +backwards and forwards against her lips. Then, suddenly jumping up, +she went into the next room, and came back with my hat and stick. + +"Here are your dear things," she said; "and I shall see you tomorrow +evening at Tommy's. I shan't leave him a note--somebody might open it; +I shall just let you go and find him yourself. Oh, I should love to be +there when he realizes who it is." + +"I know just what he'll do," I said. "He'll stare at me for a minute; +then he'll say quite quietly, 'Well, I'm damned,' and go and pour +himself out a whisky." + +She laughed gaily. "Yes, yes," she said. "That's exactly what will +happen." Then with a little change in her voice she added: "And you +will be careful, won't you, Neil? I know you're quite safe; no one +can possibly recognize you; but I'm frightened all the same--horribly +frightened. Isn't it silly of me?" + +I kissed her tenderly. "My Joyce," I said, "I think you have got the +bravest heart in the whole world." + +And with this true if rather inadequate remark I left her. + +I had plenty to think about during my walk back to Victoria. Exactly +what result the sharing of my secret with Tommy and Joyce would have, +it was difficult to forecast, but it opened up a disquieting field of +possibilities. Rather than get either of them into trouble I would +cheerfully have thrown myself in front of the next motor bus, but if +such an extreme course could be avoided I certainly had no wish to +end my life in that or any other abrupt fashion until I had had the +satisfaction of a few minutes' quiet conversation with George. + +I blamed myself to a certain extent for having given way to Joyce. +Still, I knew her well enough to be sure that if I had persisted in +my refusal she would have stuck to her intention of trying to help me +against my will. That would only have made matters more dangerous for +all of us, so on the whole it was perhaps best that I should go and +see Tommy. I had not the fainest doubt he would be anxious enough to +help me himself if I would let him, but he would at least see the +necessity for keeping Joyce out of the affair. We ought to be able to +manage her between us, though when I remembered the obstinate look in +her eyes I realized that it wouldn't be exactly a simple matter. + +I stopped at a book-shop just outside Victoria, which I had noticed on +the previous evening. I wanted to order a copy of a book dealing +with a certain branch of high explosives that I had forgotten to ask +McMurtrie for, and when I had done that I took the opportunity of +buying a couple of novels by Wells which had been published since I +went to prison. Wells was a luxury which the prison library didn't run +to. + +With these tucked under my arm, and still pondering over the +unexpected results of my chase after George, I continued my walk to +Edith Terrace. As I reached the house and thrust my key into the +lock the door suddenly opened from the inside, and I found myself +confronted by the apparently rather embarrassed figure of Miss Gertie +'Uggins. + +"I 'eard you a-comin'," she observed, rubbing one hand down her leg, +"so I opened the door like." + +"That was very charming of you, Gertrude," I said gravely. + +She tittered, and then began to retreat slowly backwards down the +passage. "There's a letter for you in the sittin'-room. Come by the +post after you'd gorn. Yer want some tea?" + +"I don't mind a cup," I said. "I've been eating and drinking all day; +it seems a pity to give it up now." + +"I'll mike yer one," she remarked, nodding her head. "Mrs. Oldbury's +gorn out shoppin'." + +She disappeared down the kitchen stairs, and opening the door of my +room I discovered the letter she had referred to stuck up on the +mantelpiece. I took it down with some curiosity. It was addressed to +James Nicholson, Esq., and stamped with the Strand postmark. I did not +recognize the writing, but common-sense told me that it could only be +from McMurtrie or one of his crowd. + +When I opened the envelope I found that it contained a half-sheet +of note-paper, with the following words written in a sloping, +foreign-looking hand: + +"You will receive either a message or a visitor at five o'clock +tomorrow afternoon. Kindly make it convenient to be at home at that +hour." + +That was all. There was no signature and no address, and it struck +me that as an example of polite letter-writing it certainly left +something to be desired. Still, the message was clear enough, which +was the chief point, so, folding it up, I thrust it back into the +envelope and put it away in my pocket. After all, one can't expect a +really graceful literary style from a High Explosives Syndicate. + +I wondered whether the note meant that the preparations which were +being made for me at Tilbury were finally completed. McMurtrie had +promised me a week in Town, and so far I had only had two days; still +I was hardly in a position to kick if he asked me to go down earlier. +Anyhow I should know the next day, so there seemed no use in worrying +myself about it unnecessarily. + +It was my intention to spend a quiet interval reading one of my books, +before going out somewhere to get some dinner. In pursuance of this +plan I exchanged my boots for a pair of slippers and settled myself +down comfortably in the only easy-chair in the room. In about ten +minutes' time, faithful to her word, Gertie 'Uggins brought me up +an excellent cup of tea, and stimulated by this and the combined +intelligence and amorousness of Mr. Wells's hero, I succeeded in +passing two or three very agreeable hours. + +At seven o'clock I roused myself rather reluctantly, put on my boots +again, and indulged in the luxury of a wash and a clean collar. Then, +after ringing the bell and informing Mrs. Oldbury that I should be out +to dinner, I left the house with the pleasantly vague intention of +wandering up West until I found some really attractive restaurant. + +It was a beautiful evening, more like June than the end of April; and +with a cigarette alight, I strolled slowly along Victoria Street, my +mind busy over the various problems with which Providence had seen fit +to surround me. I had got nearly as far as the Stores, when a sudden +impulse took me to cross over and walk past our offices. A taxi was +coming up the road, so I waited for a moment on the pavement until +it had passed. The back part of the vehicle was open, and as it came +opposite to me, the light from one of the big electric standards fell +clear on the face of the man inside. He was sitting bolt upright, +looking straight out ahead, but in spite of his opera hat and his +evening dress I recognized him at once. It was the man with the +scar--the man I had imagined to be tracking me on the previous +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + +I have never been slow to act in moments of sudden emergency, and in +rather less than a second I had made up my mind. The mere idea +of stalking one's own shadower was a distinctly attractive one; +surrounded as I was by a baffling sense of mystery and danger I jumped +at the chance with an almost reckless enthusiasm. + +Coming up behind was another taxi--an empty one, the driver leaning +back in his seat puffing lazily at a pipe. I stepped out into the road +and signalled to him to pull up. + +"Follow that taxi in front," I said quickly. "If you keep it in sight +till it stops I'll give you five shillings for yourself." + +All the languor disappeared from the driver's face. Hastily knocking +out his pipe, he stuffed it into his pocket, and the next moment we +were bowling up Victoria Street hard on the track of our quarry. + +I sat back in the seat, filled with a pleasant exhilaration. Of course +it was just possible that I was making a fool of myself--that the +gentleman in front was as innocent of having spied on my movements as +the Bishop of London. Still if that were the case there could be no +harm in following him, while if he were really one of McMurtrie's +friends a closer acquaintance with his methods of spending the evening +seemed eminently desirable. + +Half way along Whitehall my driver quickened his pace until we were +only a few yards behind the other taxi. I was just going to caution +him not to get too near, when I realized that unless we hung on as +close as possible we should probably lose it in the traffic at the +corner of the Strand. The soundness of this reasoning was apparent a +moment later, when we only just succeeded in following it across the +Square before a policeman's hand peremptorily barred the way. + +Past the Garrick Theatre, across Long Acre, and up Charing Cross Road +the chase continued with unabated vigour. At the Palace the other +driver turned off sharp to the left, and running a little way along +Old Compton Street came to a halt outside Parelli's, the well-known +restaurant. As he began to slow down I picked up the speaking tube and +instructed my man to go straight past on the other side of the street, +an order which he promptly obeyed without changing his pace. I didn't +make the mistake of looking round. I just sat still in my seat until +we had covered another thirty yards or so, and then gave the signal to +stop. + +The driver, who seemed to have entered thoroughly into the spirit of +the affair, at once clambered out of his seat and came round as though +to open the door. + +"Gent's standin' on the pavement payin' 'is fare, sir," he observed in +a hoarse whisper. "Thought ye might like to know before ye gets out." + +"Thanks," I said; "I'll take the chance of lighting a cigarette." + +I was about to suit the action to the word, when with a sudden +exclamation the man again interrupted me. + +"There's another gent just come up in a taxi, sir--proper toff too +from 'is looks. 'E's shakin' 'ands with our bloke." + +"Is he an old man?" I asked quickly--"an old man with glasses?" + +"'E don't look very old, but 'e's got a glass right enough--leastways +one o' them bow-winder things in 'is eye." He paused. "They've gone +inside now, Guv'nor; they won't spot ye if you want to 'op it." + +He opened the door, and stepping out on to the pavement I handed him +half a sovereign, which I was holding in readiness. + +He touched his cap. "Thank ye, sir. Thank ye very much." Then, +fumbling in his pocket, he produced a rather dirty and crumpled card. +"I don't rightly know what the game is, Guv'nor," he went on in a +lowered tone, "but if you should 'appen to want to call on me for +evidence any time, Martyn's Garridge, Walham Green, 'll always find +me. Ye only need to ask for Dick 'Arris. They all knows me round +there." + +I accepted the card, and having assured Mr. Harris that in the event +of my needing his testimony I would certainly look him up, I lit +my delayed cigarette and started to stroll back towards Parelli's. +Whoever my original friend and his pal with the eyeglass might be, I +was anxious to give them a few minutes' law before thrusting myself +upon their society. I had known Parelli's well in the old days, and +remembering the numerous looking-glasses which decorated its walls, I +thought it probable that I should be able to find some obscure seat, +from which I could obtain a view of their table without being too +conspicuous myself. Still, it seemed advisable to give them time to +settle down to dinner first, so, stopping at a newspaper shop at the +corner, I spun out another minute or two in buying myself a copy of +_La Vie Parisienne_ and the latest edition of the _Pall Mall_. With +these under my arm and a pleasant little tingle of excitement in my +heart I walked up to the door of the restaurant, which a uniformed +porter immediately swung open. + +I found myself in a brightly lit passage, inhabited by a couple of +waiters, one of whom came forward to take my hat and stick. The other +pushed back the glass door which led into the restaurant, and then +stood there bowing politely and waiting for me to pass. + +I stopped for a moment on the threshold, and cast a swift glance round +the room. It was a large, low-ceilinged apartment, broken up by square +pillars, but as luck would have it I spotted my two men at the very +first attempt. They were sitting at a table in one of the farther +corners, and they seemed to be so interested in each other's company +that neither of them had even looked up at my entrance. + +I didn't wait for them to do it either. Quickly and unobtrusively I +walked to the corner table on the left of the floor, and sat down with +my back towards them. I was facing a large mirror which reflected the +other side of the room with admirable clearness. + +A waiter handed me the menu, and after I had ordered a light dinner I +spread out _La Vie Parisienne_ on the table, and bending over it made +a pretence of admiring its drawings. As a matter of fact I kept my +entire attention focused on the looking-glass. + +I could only see the back of the man with the scar, but the face of +his companion, who was sitting sideways on, was very plainly +visible. It was a striking-looking face, too. He seemed to be about +thirty-five--a tall, clean-shaven, powerfully built man, with bright +blue eyes and a chin like the toe of a boot. His hair was prematurely +grey, and this, together with the monocle that he was wearing, gave +him a curious air of distinction. He looked like a cross between a +successful barrister and a retired prize-fighter. + +I watched him with considerable interest. If he was another of +McMurtrie's mysterious circle, I certainly preferred him to any of the +ones I had previously come across. His face, though strong and hard, +had none of Savaroff's brutality in it, and he was quite lacking in +that air of sinister malevolence that seemed to hang about the doctor. + +As far as I could see, most of the talking was being done by the man +with the scar. He also appeared to be the host, for I saw him pick +up the wine list, and after consulting his companion's taste give a +carefully selected order to the waiter. Then my own dinner began to +arrive, and putting aside _La Vie_, I propped up the _Pall Mall_ in +front of me and started to attack the soup. + +All through the meal I divided my attention between the paper and the +looking-glass. I was careful how I made use of the latter, for the +waiter was hovering about most of the time, and I didn't want him +to think that I was spying on some of the other customers. So quite +genuinely I waded through the news, keeping on glancing in the mirror +over the top of the paper from time to time just to see how things +were progressing behind me. + +That my two friends were getting along together very well was evident +not only from their faces but from the sounds of laughter which at +intervals came floating down the room. Indeed, so animated was their +conversation, that although I had begun my dinner later, I had +finished some little time before they had. I had no intention of +leaving first, however, so ordering myself some coffee, I sat back in +my chair, and with the aid of a cigar, continued my study of the _Pall +Mall_. + +I was in the middle of a spirited article on the German trouble, +headed "What Does the Kaiser Mean?" when glancing in the mirror I saw +a waiter advance to the table behind me, carrying a bottle of port +in a basket, with a care that suggested some exceptional vintage. He +poured out a couple of glasses, and then placing it reverently on the +table, withdrew from the scene. + +I watched both men take a sip, and saw them set down their glasses +with a thoroughly satisfied air. Then the man with the scar made a +sudden remark to the other, who, turning his head, looked away over +his shoulder into the restaurant. His attention could only have been +withdrawn from the table for a couple of seconds at the most, but in +that fraction of time something happened which set my heart beating +rapidly in a kind of cold and tense excitement. + +So swiftly, that if I had not been looking straight in the mirror I +should have missed seeing it, the man with the scar brought his hand +down over his companion's glass. Unless my eyes were playing me a +trick, I distinctly saw him empty something into the wine. + +There are rare occasions in life when one acts instinctively in the +right way before one's mind has had time to reason matters out. It was +so with me now. Without stopping to think, I whipped out a pencil from +my pocket, and snatched away a piece of white paper from underneath +the small dish of candied fruit in front of me. Spreading it out on +the table I hastily scribbled the following words: + +"Don't drink your wine. The man with you has just put something into +it." + +I folded this up, and beckoned to one of the waiters who was standing +by the door. He came forward at once. + +"Do you want to earn half a sovereign?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir," he answered, without the faintest air of surprise. + +"Listen to me, then," I said, "and whatever you do don't look round. +In the farther corner behind us there's a gentleman with an eyeglass +dining with another man. Go up the centre of the room and give him +this note. If he asks you who it's from, say some one handed it you in +the hall and told you to deliver it. Then go and get my bill and bring +it me here." + +The waiter bowed, and taking the note departed on his errand, as +casually as though I had instructed him to fetch me a liqueur. All the +time I had been speaking I had kept a watchful eye on the mirror, +and as far as I could tell neither of the two men had noticed our +conversation. They were talking and laughing, the man I had sent the +message to lightly fingering the stem of his wine-glass, and blowing +thin spirals of cigarette smoke into the air. Even as I looked he +raised the glass, and for one harrowing second I thought I was too +late. Then, like a messenger from the gods, the waiter suddenly +appeared from behind one of the pillars and handed him my note on a +small silver tray. + +He took it casually with his left hand; at the same time setting down +his wine-glass on the table. I saw him make an excuse to his host, and +then open it and read it. I don't know exactly what I had expected +him to do next, but the result was certainly surprising. Instead of +showing any amazement or even questioning the waiter, he made some +laughing remark to his companion, and putting his hand in his pocket +pulled out a small leather case from which he extracted a card. + +Bending over the table he wrote two or three words in pencil, and +handed it to the waiter. As he did so the edge of his sleeve just +caught the wine-glass. I saw the other man start up and stretch out +his hand, but he was too late to save it. Over it went, breaking into +pieces against one of the plates, and spilling the wine all across the +table-cloth. + +It was done so neatly that I could almost have sworn it was an +accident. Indeed the exclamation of annoyance with which the culprit +greeted his handiwork sounded so perfectly genuine that if I hadn't +known what was in the note I should have been completely deceived. +I saw the waiter step forward and dab hurriedly at the stain with a +napkin, while the author of the damage, coolly pulling up another +glass, helped himself to a fresh supply from the bottle. A more +beautifully carried out little bit of acting it has never been my good +luck to witness. + +If the man with the scar suspected anything (which I don't think he +did) he was at least intelligent enough to keep the fact to himself. +He laughed heartily over the contretemps, and taking out his +cigar-case offered his companion a choice of the contents. I saw the +latter shake his head, raising his half-finished cigarette as much as +to indicate his preference for that branch of smoking. It struck me, +however, that his refusal was possibly dictated by other motives. + +Full of curiosity as I was, I thought it better at this point not to +tempt Fate any further. At any moment the man with the scar might look +round, and although I was some distance away, it was quite likely that +if he did he would recognize my reflection in the mirror. I was doubly +anxious now to avoid any such mischance, so, picking up _La Vie_, I +opened its immoral but conveniently spacious pages, and from behind +their shelter waited for my bill. + +It was not long in coming. Impassive as ever, the waiter reappeared +with his little silver tray, which this time contained a white slip +folded across in the usual fashion. As I took it up I felt something +inside, and opening it I discovered a small visiting card with the +following inscription: + +MR. BRUCE LATIMER +145 _Jermyn Street, W_. + +Scribbled across the top in pencil were the following words: + +"Thanks. I shall be still more grateful if you will look me up at the +above address." + +Quickly and unobtrusively I tucked it away in my waistcoat pocket, +and glancing at the total of the bill, which came to about fifteen +shillings, put down a couple of my few remaining sovereigns. It pays +to be a little extravagant when you have been well served. + +A swift inspection of the mirror showed me that neither of the +occupants of the end table was looking in my direction, so taking +my chance I rose quickly to my feet and stepped forward behind the +shelter of the nearest pillar. Here I was met by another waiter who +handed me my hat and stick, while his impassive colleague, pocketing +the two pounds, advanced to the door and opened it before me with a +polite bow. I felt rather like the hero of a melodrama making his exit +after the big scene. + +Once in the street, the full realization of what I had just been +through came to me with a sort of curious shock. It seemed an almost +incredible thing that a man should make an attempt to drug or poison +another in a public restaurant, but, unless I was going off my head, +that was what had actually occurred. Of course I might possibly have +been mistaken in what I saw in the glass, but the readiness with which +Mr. Latimer (somehow the name seemed vaguely familiar to me) had +accepted my hint rather knocked that theory on the head. It showed +that he, at all events, had not regarded such a contingency as being +the least bit incredible. + +I began to try and puzzle out in my mind what bearings this amazing +incident could have on my own affairs. I was not even sure as yet +whether the man with the scar had been really spying on my movements +or whether my seeing him twice on the night of my arrival in Town +had been purely a matter of coincidence. If he was a friend of +McMurtrie's, it seemed to stand to reason that' Mr. Bruce Latimer +was not. Even in such a weird sort of syndicate as I had apparently +stumbled against it was hardly probable that the directors would +attempt to poison each other in West End restaurants. + +The question was should I accept the invitation pencilled across the +card? I was anxious enough in all conscience to find out something +definite about McMurtrie and his friends, but I certainly had no wish +to mix myself up with any mysterious business in which I was not quite +sure that they were concerned. For the time being my own affairs +provided me with all the interest and excitement that I needed. +Besides, even if the man with the scar was one of the gang, and had +really tried to poison or drug his companion, I was scarcely in a +position to offer the latter my assistance. Apart altogether from +the fact that I had given my promise to the doctor, it was obviously +impossible for me to explain to a complete stranger how I came to be +mixed up with the matter. An escaped convict, however excellent his +intentions may be, is bound to be rather handicapped in his choice of +action. + +With my mind busy over these problems I pursued my way home, only +stopping at a small pub opposite Victoria to buy myself a syphon of +soda and a bottle of drinkable whisky. With these under my arm (it's +extraordinary how penal servitude relieves one of any false pride) I +continued my journey, reaching the house just as Big Ben was booming +out the stroke of half-past nine. + +It seemed a bit early to turn in, but I had had such a varied and +emotional day that the prospect of a good night's rest rather appealed +to me. So, after mixing myself a stiff peg, I undressed and got into +bed, soothing my harassed mind with another chapter or two of H.G. +Wells before attempting to go to sleep. So successful was this +prescription that when I did drop off it was into a deep, dreamless +slumber which was only broken by the appearance of Gertie 'Uggins with +a cup of tea at eight o'clock the next morning. + +Soundly and long as I had slept I didn't hurry about getting up. +According to Joyce, Tommy would not be back until somewhere about two, +and I had had so many grisly mornings of turning out at five o'clock +after a night of sleepless horror that the mere fact of being able to +lie in bed between clean sheets was still something of a novelty and +a pleasure. Lie in bed I accordingly did, and, in the process +of consuming several cigarettes, continued to ponder over the +extraordinary events of the previous evening. + +When I did roll out, it was to enjoy another nice hot bath and an +excellent breakfast. After that I occupied myself for some time by +running over the various notes and calculations which I had made while +I was with McMurtrie, just in case I found it necessary to start the +practical side of my work earlier than I expected. Everything seemed +right, and savagely anxious as I was to stay in town till I could find +some clue to the mystery of George's treachery, I felt also an intense +eagerness to get to grips with my new invention. I was positively +hungry for a little work. The utter idleness, from any intelligent +point of view, of my three years in prison, had been almost the +hardest part of it to bear. + +At about a quarter to two I left the house, and making my way down on +to the embankment set off for Chelsea. It was a delightful day, warm +and sunny as July; and this, combined with the fact that I was on my +way to see Tommy, lifted me into a most cheerful frame of mind. Indeed +I actually caught myself whistling--a habit which I don't think I had +indulged in since my eventful visit to Mr. Marks. + +I looked up at George's house as I passed, but except for a black cat +sunning herself on the top of the gatepost there was no sign of life +about the place. My thoughts went back to Joyce, and I wondered how +the dinner party at the Savoy had gone off. I could almost see George +sitting at one side of the table with that insufferable air of +gallantry and self-satisfaction that he always assumed in the presence +of a pretty girl. Poor, brave little Joyce! If the pluck and loyalty +of one's friends counted for anything, I was certainly as well off as +any one in London. + +As I drew near Florence Mansions I felt a sort of absurd inclination +to chuckle out loud. Much as I disliked the thought of dragging Tommy +into my tangled affairs, the prospect of springing such a gorgeous +surprise on him filled me with a mischievous delight. Up till now, +except for my arrest and sentence, I had never seen anything upset his +superb self-possession in the slightest degree. + +A glance at the board in the hall as I turned in showed me that he +had arrived. I marched along the passage till I came to his flat, and +lifting the knocker gave a couple of sharp raps. There was a short +pause; then I heard the sound of footsteps, and a moment later Tommy +himself opened the door. + +He was wearing the same dressing-gown that I remembered three years +ago, and at the sight of his untidy hair and his dear old badly-shaved +face I as nearly as possible gave the show away. Pulling myself +together with an effort, however, I made him a polite bow. + +"Mr. Morrison?" I inquired in my best assumed voice. + +"That's me all right," said Tommy. + +"My name's Nicholson," I said. "I am an artist. I was asked to look +you up by a friend of yours--Delacour of Paris." + +I had mentioned a man for whose work I knew Tommy entertained a +profound respect. + +"Oh, come in," he cried, swinging open the door and gripping my hand; +"come in, old chap. Delighted to see you. The place is in a hell of a +mess, but you won't mind that. I've only just got back from sailing." + +He dragged me into the studio, which was in the same state of +picturesque confusion as when I had last seen it, and pulling up a +large easy-chair thrust me down into its capacious depths. + +"I'm awfully glad I was in," he went on. "I wouldn't have missed you +for the world. How's old Delacour? I haven't seen him for ages. I +never get over to Paris these days." + +"Delacour's all right," I answered--"at least, as far as I know." + +Tommy walked across the room to a corner cupboard. "You'll have a +drink, won't you?" he asked; "there's whisky and brandy, and Grand +Marnier, and I've got a bottle of port somewhere if you'd care for a +glass." + +There was a short pause. Then in my natural voice I remarked quietly +and distinctly: "You were always a drunken old blackguard, Tommy." + +The effect was immense. For a moment Tommy remained perfectly still, +his mouth open, his eyes almost starting out of his head. Then quite +suddenly he sat down heavily on the couch, clutching a bottle of +whisky in one hand and a tumbler in the other. + +"Well, I'm damned!" he whispered. + +"Never mind, Tommy," I said cheerfully; "you'll be in the very best +society." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + +For perhaps a second Tommy remained motionless; then sitting up he +removed the cork, and poured himself out about a quarter of a tumbler +of neat spirit. He drained this off at a gulp, and put down both the +glass and the bottle. + +"God deliver us!" he observed; "is it really you?" + +I nodded. "What's left of me, Tommy." + +He jumped to his feet, and the next moment he was crushing my hands +with a grip that would have broken some people's fingers. "You old +ruffian!" he muttered; "I always said you'd do something like this. +Lord alive, it's good to see you, though!" Then, pulling me up out of +the chair, he caught me by the shoulders and stared incredulously +into my face. "But what the devil's happened? What have you done to +yourself?" + +"I know what I'm going to do to myself," I replied. "I am going to +get outside some of that drink you were talking about--if there's any +left." + +With something between a laugh and a choke he let me go, and crossing +to the couch picked up the whisky and splashed out a generous tot into +the glass. + +"Here you are--and I'm hanged if I don't have another one myself. I +believe I could drink the whole bottle without turning a hair." + +"I'm quite sure you could, Tommy," I said, "unless you've +deteriorated." + +We raised our tumblers and clinked them together with a force that +cracked mine from the rim to the bottom. I drained off the contents, +however, before they could escape, and flung the broken glass into the +fireplace. + +"It would have been blasphemous to drink out of it again in any case," +I said. + +With a big, happy laugh Tommy followed my example. Then he came up +again and caught me by the arm, as though to make sure that I was +still there. + +"Neil, old son," he said, "I'm so glad to see you that I shall start +wrecking the blessed studio in a minute. For God's sake tell me what +it all means." + +"Sit down, then," I said; "sit down and give me a chance. It's--it's a +hell of a yarn, Tommy." + +He laughed again, and letting go my arm threw himself back into the +easy-chair. + +"It would be," he said. + +I always have a feeling that I can talk better when I am on my feet, +and so, while Tommy sat there puffing out great clouds of smoke from a +huge cherry-wood pipe, I paced slowly up and down the room giving +him my story. Like Joyce, he listened to me without saying a word or +interrupting me in any way. I told him everything that had happened +from the moment when I had escaped from prison to the time when I had +given my promise that I would come and look him up. + +"I couldn't help it, Tommy," I finished. "I didn't want to drag you +in, but you know what Joyce is when she has once made up her mind +about anything. I thought the only way was to come and see you. +Between us--" + +I got no further, for with a sudden exclamation--it sounded more like +a growl than anything else--Tommy had risen from his chair. + +"And do you mean to tell me that, if it hadn't been for Joyce, you +wouldn't have come! By Gad, Neil, if I wasn't so glad to see you +I'd--I'd--" Words failed him, and gripping hold of my hands again he +wrung them with a force that made me wince. + +Then, suddenly dropping them, he started to stride about the room. +"Lord, what a yarn!" he exclaimed. "What a hell of a yarn!" + +"Well, I told you it was," I said, nursing my crushed fingers. + +"I knew something had happened. I knew at least that you weren't going +to be taken alive; but this--" He stopped short in front of me and +once more gazed incredulously into my face. "I wouldn't know you from +the Angel Gabriel!" he added. + +"Except that he's clean shaven," I said. Then I paused. "Look here, +Tommy," I went on seriously, "what are we going to do about Joyce? I'm +all right, you see. There's nothing to prevent me clearing out of the +country directly I've finished with McMurtrie. If I choose to go and +break George's neck, that's my own business. I am not going to have +you and Joyce mixed up in the affair." + +Tommy sat down on the edge of the table. "My dear chap," he said +slowly, "do you understand anything about Joyce at all? Do you realize +that ever since the trial she has had only one idea in her mind--to +get you out of prison? She has lived for nothing else the last three +years. All this palmistry business was entirely on your account. She +wanted to make money and get to know people who could help her, and +she's done it--done it in the most astounding way. When she found it +was too soon for your sentence to be altered she even made up some +mad plan of taking a cottage near the prison and bribing one of the +warders with that eight hundred pounds you left her. It was all I +could do to put her off by telling her that you would probably be shot +trying to get away. Is it likely she'll chuck the whole thing up now, +just when there's really a chance of helping you?" + +"But there isn't a chance," I objected. "If we couldn't find out the +truth at the trial it's not likely we shall now--unless I choke it out +of George. Besides, it's quite possible that even he doesn't know who +really killed Marks. He may only have lied about me for some reason of +his own." + +Tommy nodded impatiently. "That's likely enough, but it's all my eye +to say we can't help you. There are a hundred ways in which you'll +want friends. To start with, all this business of McMurtrie's, or +whatever his name is, sounds devilish queer to me. I don't believe his +yarn any more than you do. There's something shady about it, you can +be certain. When are you supposed to start work?" + +I looked at the clock. "I shall know in about an hour," I said. "I +forgot to tell you that when I came back from Joyce's yesterday I +found a note--I suppose from them--saying that I should have a message +or a visitor at five o'clock today, and would I be good enough to be +home at that time. At least it wasn't put quite so politely." Then I +paused. "Good Lord!" I exclaimed, "that reminds me. I haven't told you +the most amazing part of the whole yarn." I put my hand in my pocket +and pulled out the card which had been sent me in the restaurant. +"Have you ever heard of a man called Bruce Latimer?" I asked. + +To my amazement Tommy nodded his head. "Bruce Latimer," he repeated. +"Yes, I know _a_ Bruce Latimer?--lives in Jermyn Street. What's he got +to do with it?" + +"You know him!" I almost shouted. + +"Yes, slightly. He belongs to the Athenians. He used to do a lot of +sailing at one time, but I haven't seen him down there this year." + +"Who is he? What is he?" I demanded eagerly. + +"Well, I don't know exactly. He's in some Government office, I +believe, but he's not the sort of chap who ever talks about his own +affairs. Where on earth did you come across him?" + +As quickly as possible I told Tommy the story of my visit to +Parelli's, and showed him the card which Latimer had sent me by the +waiter. He took it out of my hand, looking at me with a sort of +half-sceptical amazement. + +"You're not joking?" he said. "This is Gospel truth you're telling +me?" + +I nodded. "Humour's a bit out of my line nowadays, Tommy," I answered. +"The Dartmoor climate doesn't seem to suit it." + +"But--but--" he stared for a moment at the card without speaking. +"Well, this beats everything," he exclaimed. "What in God's name can +Bruce Latimer have to do with your crowd?" + +"That," I remarked, "is exactly what I want to find out." + +"Find out!" repeated Tommy. "We'll find out right enough. Do you think +he guessed who it was that sent the note?" + +"Most likely he did," I said. "I was the nearest person, but in any +case he only saw my back. You can't recognize a man from his back." + +Tommy took two or three steps up and down the studio. "_You_ mustn't +go and see him," he said at last--"that's quite certain. You can't +afford to mix yourself up in a business of this sort." + +"No," I said reluctantly, "but all the same I should very much like to +know what's at the bottom of it." + +"Suppose I take it on, then?" suggested Tommy. + +"What could you say?" I asked. + +"I should tell him that it was a friend of mine--an artist who was +going abroad the next day--who had seen it happen, and that he'd given +me the card and asked me to explain. It's just possible Latimer would +take me into his confidence. He would either have to do that or else +pretend that the whole thing was a joke." + +"I'm quite sure there was no joke about it," I said. "Whether the chap +with the scar belongs to McMurtrie's crowd or not, I'm as certain as I +am that I'm standing here that he drugged that wine. He may not have +meant to murder Latimer, but it looks uncommon fishy." + +"It looks even fishier than you think," answered Tommy. "I'd forgotten +for the moment, when you asked about him, but I remember now that some +fellow at the Athenians once told me that Latimer was supposed to be a +secret-service man of some kind." + +"A secret-service man!" I repeated incredulously. "I didn't know we +went in for such luxuries in this country except in novels. Do you +believe it?" + +"I didn't pay much attention at the time--I thought it was probably +all rot--but this business--" He stopped, and thrusting his hands into +his pockets, again paced slowly up and down the room. + +I gave a thoughtful whistle. "By Jove, Tommy!" I said; "if that's a +fact and the gentleman with the scar is really one of our crowd, I +seem to have dropped in for a rather promising time--don't I! I knew +I was up against the police, but it's a sort of cheerful surprise to +find that I'm taking on the secret service as well." + +Tommy pulled up short. "Look here, Neil!" he said. "I don't like it; +I'm hanged if I do. There's some rotten dirty work going on somewhere; +that's as plain as a pikestaff. I believe these people are simply +using you as a cats-paw. All they want is to get hold of the secret of +this new explosive of yours; then as likely as not they'll hand you +over to the police, or else...." he paused. "Well, you've seen the sort +of crowd they are. It may be all rot about Latimer being in the secret +service, but there's no doubt they tried to poison or drug him last +night. Men who will go as far as that wouldn't stick at getting rid of +you if it happened to suit their book." + +I nodded. "That's all true enough, Tommy," I said; "but what am I to +do? I took the bargain on, and I've no choice now except to go through +with it. I can't walk up to a policeman and say I think Dr. McMurtrie +is a dangerous person engaged on some sort of illegal enterprise." + +Tommy came up, and laid his hand on my shoulder. "Drop it, Neil; chuck +the whole thing and go to America. Joyce has got that eight hundred +pounds of yours; and I can easily let you have another two or three. +In six months' time you'll be able to make as much money as you +choose. You've had three years of hell; what's the good of running +any risks that you can avoid? If there's the least faintest chance +of getting at the truth, you can be certain I'll do it. Don't go and +smash up all the rest of your life over this cursed business. What +does it matter if all the fools in England think you killed Marks? +He deserved to be killed anyway--the swine! Leave them to think, and +clear off to some country where you can start fresh and fair again. It +doesn't matter the least where you go to, you're bound to come to the +top." + +It was about the longest speech I had ever heard Tommy make, and +certainly the most eloquent. For a moment indeed I was almost tempted +to take his advice. Then the thought of George and all the complicated +suffering that I had been through rose up like a wall across my mind. + +"No," I said firmly; "I'm damned if I'll go. I'll see this out if it +means the end of everything." + +As I spoke there came a sharp "ting" from the clock on the +mantelpiece, and looking up I saw that it was half-past four. "By Gad, +Tommy," I added, "I must go from here, though. I've got to be back +at Edith Terrace by five o'clock, or I shall miss this mysterious +visitor." + +"You're coming back here afterwards?" he asked. + +I nodded. "If I can. I haven't the least notion how long they'll keep +me, but I told Joyce I would come round and let you know what had +happened." + +"Good," said Tommy. "Don't be longer than you can help. I'll get in +something to eat, and we'll all have supper together--you and I and +Joyce, and then we can have a good jaw afterwards. There are still +tons of things I want to know about." + +He thrust his arm through mine and walked with me to the door of the +flat. + +"By the way, Thomas," I said, "I suppose the police aren't watching +your place, just on the off-chance of my rolling up. They must +remember you were rather a particular pal of mine." + +"I don't think so," he answered. "They may have had a man on when you +first escaped, but if so he must have got fed up with the job by now. +Don't you worry in any case. Your guardian angel wouldn't recognize +you in that get up--let alone a policeman." + +"If there's any justice," I said, "my guardian angel got the sack +three years ago." + +With this irreverent remark, I shook his hand, and walking down the +passage passed out on to the embankment. + +Having a good two miles to cover and only five-and-twenty minutes to +do it in, it struck me that driving would be the most agreeable method +of getting home. I hesitated for a moment between a taxi and a +motor bus, deciding in favour of the latter chiefly from motives of +sentiment. I had not been on one since my arrest, and besides that +the idea of travelling along the streets in open view of the British +public rather appealed to me. Since my interview with Tommy I was +beginning to feel the most encouraging confidence in McMurtrie's +handiwork. + +So, turning up Beaufort Street, I jumped on to a "Red Victoria" at +the corner, and making my way upstairs, sat down on one of the front +seats. It was the first time I had been down the King's Road by +daylight, and the sight of all the old familiar landmarks was as +refreshing as rain in the desert. Twice I caught a glimpse of some one +whom I had known in the old days--one man was Murgatroyd, the black +and white artist, and the other Doctor O'Hara, the good-natured Irish +medico who had once set a broken finger for me. The latter was coming +out of his house as we passed, and I felt a mischievous longing to +jump off the bus and introduce myself to him, just to see what he +would do. + +At the corner of Sloane Square I had an unexpected and rather dramatic +reminder of my celebrity. As we emerged from the King's Road a +procession of five or six sandwich-men suddenly appeared from the +direction of Symons Street, shuffling dejectedly along at intervals +of a few yards. They were carrying double boards, on which, boldly +printed in red-and-black letters, stared the following announcement: + +MADAME TUSSAUD'S + +MARYLEBONE ROAD + +NEIL +LYNDON + +A LIFELIKE PORTRAIT + +I gazed down at them with a sort of fascinated interest. Somehow +or other it seemed rather like reading one's own tombstone, and I +couldn't help wondering whether I was in the main hall or whether I +had been dignified with an eligible site in the Chamber of Horrors. If +it hadn't been for my appointment I should most certainly have taken a +cab straight up to Marylebone Road in order to find out. + +Promising myself that treat on the morrow, I stuck to my seat, and at +ten minutes to five by the station clock we drew up outside Victoria. +I got off and walked briskly along to Edith Terrace. Turning the +corner of the street, I observed the figure of Miss Gertie 'Uggins +leaning against the front railings, apparently engaged in conversation +with an errand boy on the other side of the road. As soon as she +recognized me she dived down the area steps, reappearing at the front +door just as I reached the house. + +"I was watchin' for yer," she remarked in a hoarse whisper. "There's +summun wants to see yer in there." She jerked her thumb towards the +sitting-room. "It's a lidy," she added. + +"A lady!" I said. "What sort of a lady?" + +"Ow! A reel lidy. She's got a lovely 'at." + +"Is she young and dark and rather nice to look at?" I asked. + +Gertie nodded. "That's 'er. She wouldn't give no nime, but that's 'er +right enough." + +I didn't wait to ask any more questions, but putting down my hat on +the hall table, I walked up to the sitting-room and tapped lightly on +the door. + +"Come in," called out a voice. + +I turned the handle, and the next moment I was face to face with +Sonia. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + +She had risen from the sofa as I entered and was standing in the +centre of the room. The neatly cut, close-fitting dress that she was +wearing suited her dark beauty to perfection and showed off the +lines of her lithe, slender figure. She gave me a curious momentary +impression of some sort of graceful wild animal. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed softly. "I am glad you weren't late. I have to go +away quite soon." + +I took the hand she held out to me. "My dear Sonia," I said, "why +didn't you let me know that you were going to be the visitor?" + +"I didn't know myself," she answered. "The doctor meant to come, but +he was called away unexpectedly this afternoon, so he sent me instead. +I have got a letter for you from him." She let go my fingers gently, +and picking up her bag which was lying on the table, opened it and +took out an envelope. + +"Shall I read it now?" I asked. + +She nodded. + +I slit up the flap and pulled out a folded sheet of foolscap from +inside. It was in McMurtrie's handwriting, but there was no date and +no address. + + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"All the necessary arrangements have now been made with regard to your +workshop at Tilbury. It is situated on the marshes close to the river, +three miles east of the town and a mile to the west of Cunnock Creek. +You can reach it either by the main road which runs half a mile +inland, or by walking along the saltings under the sea-wall. + +"You cannot mistake the place, as it is an absolutely isolated +building, consisting of a small cabin or hut, with a large shed +attached for your work. It is not luxurious, but we have at least +fitted up the interior of your living-room as comfortably as possible, +and you will find in the shed everything that you specified in your +list as being necessary for your experiments. + +"I should be glad if you would arrange to go down there and start work +the day after tomorrow. There is a train from Fenchurch Street to +Tilbury at 11.45 in the morning, and if you will catch that I will +see that there is a trap to meet you at the station and drive you out +along the road as near to the place as it is possible to get. This +hardly gives you the full week in London which you wished for, but +circumstances have arisen that make it of great importance to us to +be able to place your invention on the market as quickly as possible. +From your own point of view the sooner the work is done the sooner you +will be in possession of funds, and so able to make any use of your +liberty you choose. + +"Sonia has the keys of the building, and will give them you with this +letter. + +"While you are working at the hut, it will be better, I think, if you +stay entirely on the premises. I believe you will find everything +you want in the way of food and cooking materials, and you will, of +course, take down your own personal belongings with you. In the event +of anything you really need having been forgotten, you can always walk +into Tilbury, but I should strongly advise you not to do so, except +in a case of absolute necessity. Apart from any danger of your being +recognized, we are extremely anxious that no one connected with the +powder trade should have the least idea that experiments are being +conducted with regard to a new explosive. A large part of the +immediate value of your invention will consist in its coming on the +market as an absolute surprise. + +"I have been unexpectedly called away for a few days, but directly I +return I shall come down to Tilbury and see you. Should you wish to +communicate with me in the interval, you can do so by writing or +wiring to me at the Hotel Russell, London, W.C. + +"I hope that you have enjoyed your well-earned if rather long-delayed +holiday. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +I finished reading and slowly refolded the letter. + +"You know what this is about, of course, Sonia?" I said. + +She nodded again. "They want you to go down there at once. You must do +it; you must do everything you are told just at present." + +"I ought to be able to manage that," I said grimly. "I've had plenty +of practice the last three years." + +With a swift, silent movement she came up to me and put her hands on +my arm. "You must trust me," she said, speaking in that low passionate +voice of hers. "You know that I love you; you know that I am only +waiting for the right time to act. When it comes I will give you a +chance such as few men have had--a chance that will mean wealth and +freedom and--and--love." She breathed out the last word almost in a +whisper, and then, raising her hands to my shoulders, drew down my +face and pressed her lips to mine. + +I have no dislike to being kissed by a beautiful woman; indeed, on +the previous occasion when Sonia had so honoured me I had distinctly +enjoyed the experience. This time, however, I felt a trifle +uncomfortable. I had a kind of unpleasant sensation that somehow or +other I was not quite playing the game. + +Still, as I have said elsewhere, an escaped convict cannot afford to +be too nice in his emotions, so I returned her kiss with the same +readiness and warmth as I had done before. Then, straightening myself, +I unlaced her arms from my neck, and looked down smilingly into those +strange dark eyes that were turned up to mine. + +"I'm a poor sort of host," I said, "but you see I am a little out of +training. Won't you have some tea or anything, Sonia?" + +"No, no," she answered quickly. "I don't want anything. I must go in a +minute; I have to meet my father with the car." Then, taking my hand +between hers, she added: "Tell me what you have been doing yourself. +Have you seen your cousin--the man who lied about you at the trial? I +have been afraid about him; I have been afraid that you would kill him +and perhaps be found out." + +"There's no hurry about it," I said. "It's rather pleasant to have +something to look forward to." + +"But you have seen him?" + +I nodded. "I had the pleasure of walking behind him for a couple of +miles yesterday. He looks a little worried, but quite well otherwise." + +She laughed softly. "Ah, you can afford to let him wait. And the girl, +Joyce? Have you seen her?" + +She asked the question quite dispassionately, and yet in some curious +way I had a sudden vague feeling of menace and danger. Anyhow, I lied +as readily and instinctively as Ananias. + +"No," I said. "George is the only part of my past that interests me +now." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible expression of satisfaction +flicker across her face, but if so it was gone immediately. + +"Sonia," I said, "there is a question I want to ask you. Am I +developing nerves, or have I really been watched and followed since I +came to London?" + +She looked at me steadily. "What makes you think so?" she asked. + +"Well," I said, "it may be only my imagination, but I have an idea +that a gentleman with a scar on his face has been taking a rather +affectionate interest in my movements." + +For a moment she hesitated; then with a rather scornful little laugh +she shrugged her shoulders. "I told them it was unnecessary!" she +said. + +I crushed down the exclamation that nearly rose to my lips. So the man +with the scar _was_ one of McMurtrie's emissaries, after all, and his +dealings with Mr. Bruce Latimer most certainly did concern me. The +feeling that I was entangled in some unknown network of evil and +mystery came back to me with redoubled force. + +"I hope the report was satisfactory," I said lightly. + +Sonia nodded. "They only wanted to make certain that you had gone to +Edith Terrace. I don't think you were followed after the first night." + +"No," I said, "I don't think I was." Precisely how much the boot had +been on the opposite foot it seemed unnecessary to add. + +Sonia walked to the table and again opened her bag. "I mustn't stay +any longer--now," she said. "I have to meet the car at six o'clock. +Here are the keys." She took them out and came across to where I was +standing. + +"Good-bye, Sonia," I said, taking her hands in mine. + +"No, no," she whispered; "don't say that: I hate the word. Listen, +Neil. I am coming to you again, down there, when we shall be +alone--you and I together. I don't know when it will be, but soon--ah, +just as soon as I can. I can't help you, not in the way I mean to, +until you have finished your work, but I will come to you, and--and...." +Her voice failed, and lowering her head she buried her face in my +coat. I bent down, and in a moment her lips met mine in another long, +passionate kiss. It was hard to see how I could have acted otherwise, +but all the same I didn't feel exactly proud of myself. + +Indeed, it was in a state of very mixed emotions that I came back into +the house after we had walked together as far as the corner of the +street. The mere fact of my having found out for certain that the man +with the scar was an agent of McMurtrie's was enough in itself to give +me food for pretty considerable thought. Any suspicions I may have had +as to the genuineness of the doctor's story were now amply confirmed. +I was not intimately acquainted with the working methods of the High +Explosives Trade, but it seemed highly improbable that they could +involve the drugging or poisoning of Government officials in public +restaurants. As Tommy had forcibly expressed it, there was some +"damned shady work" going on somewhere or other, and for all Sonia's +comforting assurances concerning my own eventual prosperity, I felt +that I was mixed up in about as sinister a mystery as even an escaped +murderer could very well have dropped into. + +The thought of Sonia brought me back to the question of our relations. +I could hardly doubt now that she loved me with all the force of her +strange, sullen, passionate nature, and that for my sake she was +preparing to take some pretty reckless step. What this was remained to +be seen, but that it amounted to a practical betrayal of her father +and McMurtrie seemed fairly obvious from the way in which she had +spoken. From the point of view of my own interests, it was an amazing +stroke of luck that she should have fallen in love with me, and yet +somehow or other I felt distinctly uncomfortable about it. I seemed +to be taking an unfair advantage of her, though how on earth I was to +avoid doing so was a question which I was quite unable to solve. I +certainly couldn't afford to quarrel with her, and she was hardly the +sort of girl to accept anything in the nature of a disappointment to +her affections in exactly a philosophic frame of mind. + +I was still pondering over this rather delicate problem, when there +came a knock at the door, and in answer to my summons Gertie 'Uggins +inserted her head. + +"The lidy's gorn?" she observed, looking inquiringly round the room. + +I nodded. "There is no deception, Gertrude," I said. "You can search +the coal-scuttle if you like." + +She wriggled the rest of her body in round the doorway. "Mrs. Oldbury +sent me up to ask if you'd be wantin' dinner." + +"No," I said; "I am going out." + +Gertie nodded thoughtfully. "Taikin' 'er, I s'pose?" + +"To be quite exact," I said, "I am dining with another lady." + +There was a short pause. Then, with an air of some embarrassment +Gertie broke the silence. '"Ere," she said: "you know that five bob +you give me?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, I ain't spendin' it on no dinner--see. I'm goin' to buy a 'at +wiv it--a 'at like 'ers: d'yer mind?" + +"I do mind," I said severely. "That money was intended for your +inside, Gertie, not your outside. You have your dinner, and I'll buy +you a new hat myself." + +She clasped her hands together. "Ow!" she cried. "Yer mean it? Yer +reely mean it?" + +"I never joke," I said, "on sacred subjects." + +Then to my dismay she suddenly began to cry. "You ain't 'alf--'alf bin +good to me," she jerked out. "No one ain't never bin good to me like +you. I'd--I'd do anyfink for you." + +"In that case," I said, "you may give me my hat--and cheer up." + +She obeyed both commands, and then, still sniffing, valiantly marched +to the front door and opened it for me to go out. + +"Goo'-night, sir," she said. + +"Good-night, Gertrude," I replied; and leaving her standing on the +step I set off down the street. Whatever else prison might have done +for me, it certainly seemed to have given me a capacity for making +friends. + +I reached Florence Court at about a quarter to seven, keeping a +sharp lookout along the embankment as I approached for any sign of +a loitering detective. Except for one aged gentleman, however, who +seemed to be wholly occupied in spitting in the Thames, the stretch in +front of the studios was absolutely deserted. Glancing at the board +in the hall as I entered, I saw that "Mr. Morrison" and "Miss Vivien" +were both "in"--a statement which in Tommy's case was confirmed a +moment later by his swift appearance at the door in answer to my +knock. + +"Mr. Morrison, I believe?" I said. + +He seized me by the arm and dragged me inside. + +"This is fine. I never thought you'd be back as quick as this. Are +things all right?" + +"I should hardly go as far as that," I said. "But we seem to be +getting along quite nicely." + +He nodded. "Good! I just want a wash, and then we'll go right in to +Joyce's place. We are going to have supper there, and you can tell us +all about it while we're feeding." + +He splashed out some water into a basin in the corner of the studio, +and made his ablutions with a swiftness that reminded me of some of my +own toilets in the grey twilight of a Dartmoor dawn. Tommy was never a +man who wasted much trouble over the accessories of life. + +"Come along," he said, flinging down the towel on the sofa. "Joyce +will be dying to hear what's happened!" + +I turned towards the hall, but he suddenly put his hand on my shoulder +and pulled me back. + +"Not that way. We've a private road now--runs along the back of the +studios." + +He crossed the room, and opened a door which led out into a narrow +stone passage roofed in by glass. + +I followed him along this till we came to another door, on which Tommy +tapped twice with his knuckles. In a moment we heard a key turn and +Joyce was standing on the threshold. When she saw who it was she gave +a little cry of welcome and held out both her hands. + +"But how nice!" she exclaimed. "I never thought you'd be here so +soon." + +We had each taken a hand, and talking and laughing at the same time, +she pulled us in after her and shut the door. + +"At last!" she cried softly; "at last!" And for a second or two we all +three stood there just gripping each other's hands and not saying a +word. It certainly was rather a good feeling. + +Tommy was the first to break the silence. "Damn it," he said huskily, +"if Neil didn't look so exactly like a brigand chief I believe I +should blubber. Eh, Joyce--how do you feel?" + +"I feel all right," said Joyce. "And he doesn't look a bit like a +brigand chief. He looks splendid." She stood back and surveyed me with +a sort of tender proprietorship. + +"I suppose we shall get used to it," remarked Tommy. "It nearly gave +me heart disease to begin with." Then, going and locking the side +door, he added cheerfully, "I vote we have supper at once. I've had +nothing except whisky since I came off the boat." + +"Well, there's heaps to eat," said Joyce. "I've been out marketing in +the King's Road." + +"What have you got?" demanded Tommy hungrily. + +Joyce ticked them off with her fingers. "There's a cold chicken and +salad, some stuffed olives--those are for you, Neil, you always used +to like them--a piece of Stilton cheese and a couple of bottles of +champagne. They're all in the kitchen, so come along both of you and +help me get them." + +"Where's the faithful Clara?" asked Tommy. + +"I've sent her out for the evening. I didn't want any one to be here +except just us three." + +We all trooped into Joyce's tiny kitchen and proceeded to carry back +our supper into the studio, where we set it out on the table in the +centre. We were so ridiculously happy that for some little time our +conversation was inclined to be a trifle incoherent: indeed, it was +not until we had settled down round the table and Tommy had knocked +the head off the first bottle of champagne with the back of his knife +that we in any way got back to our real environment. + +It was Joyce who brought about the change. "I keep on feeling I shall +wake up in a minute," she said, "and find out that it's all a dream." + +"Put it off as long as possible," said Tommy gravely. "It would be +rotten for Neil to find himself back in Dartmoor before he'd finished +his champagne." + +"I don't know when I shall get any more as it is," I said. "I've got +to start work the day after tomorrow." + +There was a short pause: Joyce pushed away her plate and leaned +forward, her eyes fixed on mine; while Tommy stretched out his arm and +filled up my glass. + +"Go on," he said. "What's happened?" + +In as few words as possible I told them about my interview with Sonia, +and showed them the letter which she had brought me from McMurtrie. +They both read it--Joyce first and then Tommy, the latter tossing it +back with a grunt that was more eloquent than any possible comment. + +"It's too polite," he said. "It's too damn' polite altogether. You can +see they're up to some mischief." + +"I am afraid they are, Tommy," I said; "and it strikes me that it must +be fairly useful mischief if we're right about Mr. Bruce Latimer. By +the way, does Joyce know?" + +Tommy nodded. "She's right up to date: I've told her everything. The +question is, how much has that affair got to do with us? It's quite +possible, if they're the sort of scoundrels they seem to be, that they +might be up against the Secret Service in some way quite apart from +their dealings with you." + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed, "I never thought of that. One's +inclined to get a bit egotistical when one's an escaped murderer." + +"It was Joyce's idea," admitted Tommy modestly, "but it's quite likely +there's something in it. Of course we've no proof at present one +way or the other. What do you think this girl--what's her +name--Sonia--means to do?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Goodness knows," I said. "It looks as if +there was a chance of making a big immediate profit on my invention, +and that she intended me to scoop it in instead of her father and +McMurtrie. I can't think of anything else." + +Tommy pulled up a fresh plate and helped himself to some cheese. + +"She must be pretty keen on you," he observed. + +"Well, you needn't rub it in, Tommy," I said. "I feel quite enough of +a cad as it is." + +"You're not," interrupted Joyce indignantly. "If she really loves you, +of course she wants to help you whether you love her or not." + +"Still, she'll expect a _quid pro quo_," persisted Tommy. + +"Then it isn't love," returned Joyce scornfully, "and in that case +there's no need to bother about her." + +This seemed a most logical point of view, and I determined to adopt it +for the future if my conscience would allow me. + +"What about your invention?" asked Tommy. "How long will it take you +to work it out?" + +"Well, as a matter of fact," I said, "it is worked out--as much as any +invention can be without being put to a practical test. I was just on +that when the smash came. I had actually made some of the powder and +proved its power, but I'd never tried it on what one might call a +working basis. If they've given me all the things I want, I don't see +any reason why I shouldn't fix it up in two or three days. There's +no real difficulty in its manufacture. I wasn't too definite with +McMurtrie. I thought it best to give myself a little margin." + +Tommy nodded. "You've handled the whole thing splendidly up till +now," he said. "I rather think it's the ticklish part that's coming, +though." Then he paused. "Look here!" he added suddenly. "I've got a +great notion. Why shouldn't we run down tomorrow in the _Betty_ and +have a squint at this place of yours? There's nothing like taking a +few soundings when you're not too sure about things." + +I drew in a deep breath. "I'd love to, Tommy," I said, "but it's +rather asking for trouble, isn't it? Suppose there was still someone +about there? If McMurtrie had the faintest idea I'd given away the +show--" + +"He won't," interrupted Tommy; "he can't. We'll take precious good +care of that. Listen here: I've got the whole thing mapped out in my +mind. The _Betty's_ at Leigh, where I laid her up yesterday. I had a +seven-horse-power Kelvin engine put in her last year, so we can get +up, whatever the wind is--I know the tide will be about right. Well, +my idea is that we three go down to Leigh tomorrow morning and take +her up to this place Cunnock Creek, or somewhere near. Then if it's +all serene you can land and have a look round; if there seems to be +any one about we can just push off again. Joyce and I won't show up at +all, anyway: we'll stop on board and let you do the scouting." + +"Yes, yes," exclaimed Joyce, her eyes shining eagerly. "Let's go. It +can't do any harm, and you might find out all sorts of useful things." + +"Besides," added Tommy, "it would be the deuce of a day, and it's a +long time since any of us had a good day, eh, Joyce?" + +"Three years," said Joyce quietly. + +That decided me. "Right you are," I said. "You're--you're something +like pals, you two." + +We clinched the arrangement with a grip, and then Joyce, jumping up +from the table, crossed the room to a small writing-desk. "I've got a +time-table somewhere here," she said, "so we can look out the train +right away." + +"It's all right," said Tommy. "I know 'em backwards. We'll catch the +nine-five from Fenchurch Street. It's low water at eight-thirty, so +that will get us in about the right time. We can leave the _Betty_ at +Tilbury or Gravesend afterwards, and come back by train from there. +We'll be home for dinner or supper or something." + +Joyce nodded. "That will just do," she said. "I am going out again +with George in the evening. Oh, I haven't told either of you about +last night--have I?" + +I shook my head. "No," I said, "but in any case I wish you'd drop that +part of it, Joyce dear. I hate to think of you dining with George: it +offends my sense of decency." + +She took an envelope out of the desk and came back to her place at the +table. "I mean to drop it quite soon," she said calmly, "but I must +go tomorrow. George is on the point of being rather interesting." She +paused a moment. "He told me last night that he was expecting to get a +cheque for twelve thousand pounds." + +"Twelve thousand pounds!" I echoed in astonishment. + +"Where the Devil's he going to get it from?" demanded Tommy. + +"That," said Joyce, "is exactly what I mean to find out. You see +George is at present under the impression that if he can convince me +he is speaking the truth I am coming away with him for a yachting +cruise in the Mediterranean. Well, tomorrow I am going to be +convinced--and it will have to be done very thoroughly." + +Tommy gave a long whistle. "I wonder what dog's trick he's up to now. +He can't be getting the money straight: I know they've done nothing +there the last year." + +"It would be interesting to find out," I admitted. "All the same, +Joyce, I don't see why you should do all the dirty work of the firm." + +"It's my job for the minute," said Joyce cheerfully, "and none of the +firm's work is dirty to me." + +She came across, and opening my coat, slipped the envelope which she +had taken out of her desk into my inner pocket. "I got those out of +the bank today," she said--"twenty five-pound notes. You had better +take them before we forget: you're sure to want some money." + +Then, before I could speak, she picked up the second bottle of +champagne that Tommy had just opened, and filled up all three glasses. + +"I like your description of us as the firm," she said; "don't you, +Tommy? Let's all drink a health to it!" + +Tommy jumped to his feet and held up his glass. "The Firm!" he cried. +"And may all the fools who sent Neil to prison live to learn their +idiocy!" + +I followed his example. "The Firm!" I cried, "and may everyone in +trouble have pals like you!" + +Joyce thrust her arm through mine and rested her head against my +shoulder. "The Firm!" she said softly. Then, with a little break in +her voice, she added in a whisper: "And you don't really want Sonia, +do you, Neil?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A HUMAN "CATCH" + + +It's not often that the weather in England is really appropriate +to one's mood, but the sunshine that was streaming down into Edith +Terrace as I banged the front door at half-past eight the next morning +seemed to fit in exactly with my state of mind. I felt as cheerful as +a schoolboy out for a holiday. Apart altogether from the knowledge +that I was going to spend a whole delightful day with Tommy and Joyce, +the mere idea of getting on the water again was enough in itself to +put me into the best of spirits. + +I stopped for a moment at the flower-stall outside Victoria Station to +buy Joyce a bunch of violets--she had always been fond of violets--and +then calling up a taxi instructed the man to drive me to Fenchurch +Street. + +I found Tommy and Joyce waiting for me on the platform. The former +looked superbly disreputable in a very old and rather dirty grey +flannel suit, while Joyce, who was wearing a white serge skirt with +a kind of green knitted coat, seemed beautifully in keeping with the +sunshine outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy. "We were just getting the jim-jams about +you. Thought you'd eloped with Sonia or something." + +I shook my head. "I never elope before midday," I said. "I haven't the +necessary stamina." + +I offered Joyce the bunch, which she took with a smile, giving my hand +a little squeeze by way of gratitude. "You dear!" she said. "Fancy +your remembering that." + +"Well, come along," said Tommy. "This is the train all right; I've got +the tickets and some papers." + +He opened the door of a first-class carriage just behind us, and we +all three climbed in. "We shall have it to ourselves," he added. +"No one ever travels first on this line except the Port of London +officials, and they don't get up till the afternoon." + +We settled ourselves down, Tommy on one side and Joyce and I on the +other, and a minute later the train steamed slowly out of the station. +Joyce slipped her hand into mine, and we sat there looking out of the +window over the sea of grey roofs and smoking chimney-stacks which +make up the dreary landscape of East London. + +"Have a paper?" asked Tommy, holding out the _Daily Mail_. + +"No, thanks, Tommy," I said. "I'm quite happy as I am. You can tell us +the news if there is any." + +He opened the sheet and ran his eye down the centre page. "There's +nothing much in it," he said, "bar this German business. No one seems +to know what's going to happen about that. I wonder what the Kaiser +thinks he's playing at. He can't be such a fool as to want to fight +half Europe." + +"How is the Navy these days?" I asked. "One doesn't worry about +trifles like that in Dartmoor." + +"Oh, we're all right," replied Tommy cheerfully. "The Germans haven't +got a torpedo to touch yours yet, and we're still a long way ahead of +'em in ships. We could wipe them off the sea in a week if they came +out to fight." + +"Well, that's comforting," I said. "I don't want them sailing up the +Thames till I've finished. I've no use for a stray shell in my line of +business." + +"I tell you what I'm going to do, Neil," said Tommy. "I was thinking +it over in bed last night after you'd gone. If there is any possible +sort of anchorage for a boat in this Cunnock Creek I shall leave the +_Betty_ there. It's only a mile from your place, and then either Joyce +or I can come down and see you without running the risk of being +spotted by your charming pals. Besides, at a pinch it might be +precious handy for you. If things got too hot on shore you could +always slip away by water. It's not as if you were dependent on the +tides. Now I've had this little engine put in her she'll paddle off +any old time--provided you can get the blessed thing to start." + +"You're a brick, Tommy," I said gratefully. "There's nothing I'd like +better. But as for you and Joyce coming down--" + +"Of course we shall come down," interrupted Joyce. "I shall come just +as soon as I can. Who do you think is going to look after you and do +your cooking?" + +"Good Lord, Joyce!" I said. "I'm in much too tight a corner to worry +about luxuries." + +"That's no reason why you should be uncomfortable," said Joyce calmly. +"I shan't come near you in the day, while you're working. I shall stay +on the _Betty_ and cook dinner for you in the evening, and then as +soon as it's dark you can shut up the place and slip across to the +creek. Oh, it will be great fun--won't it, Tommy?" + +Tommy laughed. "I think so," he said; "but I suppose there are people +in the world who might hold a different opinion." Then he turned to +me. "It's all right, Neil. We'll give you two or three clear days to +see how the land lies and shove along with your work. Joyce has got to +find out where George is getting that cheque from, and I mean to look +up Latimer and sound him about his dinner at Parelli's. You'll be +quite glad to see either of us by that time." + +"Glad!" I echoed. "I shall be so delighted, I shall probably blow +myself up. It's you two I'm thinking of. The more I see of this job +the more certain I am there's something queer about it, and if there's +going to be any trouble down there I don't want you and Joyce dragged +into it." + +"We shan't want much dragging," returned Tommy. "As far as the firm's +business goes we're all three in the same boat. We settled that last +night." + +"So there's nothing more to be said," added Joyce complacently. + +I looked from one to the other. Then I laughed and shrugged my +shoulders. "No," I said, "I suppose there isn't." + +Through the interminable slums of Plaistow and East Ham we drew out in +the squalid region of Barking Creek, and I looked down on the mud and +the dirty brown water with a curious feeling of satisfaction. It was +like meeting an old friend again after a long separation. The lower +Thames, with its wharves, its warehouses, and its never-ceasing +traffic, had always had a strange fascination for me; and in the old +days, when I wanted to come to Town from Leigh or Port Victoria, I had +frequently sailed my little six-tonner, the _Penguin_, right up as far +as the Tower Bridge. I could remember now the utter amazement with +which George had always regarded this proceeding. + +"Are you feeling pretty strong this morning?" asked Tommy, breaking a +long silence. "The _Betty's_ lying out in the Ray, and the only way of +getting at her will be to tramp across the mud. There's no water for +another four hours. We shall have to take turns carrying Joyce." + +"You won't," said Joyce. "I shall take off my shoes and stockings and +tramp too. I suppose you've got some soap on board." + +"You'll shock Leigh terribly if you do," said Tommy. "It's a beautiful +respectable place nowadays--all villas and trams and picture +palaces--rather like a bit of Upper Tooting." + +"It doesn't matter," said Joyce. "I've got very nice feet and ankles, +and I'm sure it's much less immoral than being carried in turns. Don't +you think so, Neil?" + +"Certainly," I said gravely. "No properly-brought-up girl would +hesitate for a moment." + +We argued over the matter at some length: Tommy maintaining that he +was the only one of the three who knew anything about the minds of +really respectable people--a contention which Joyce and I indignantly +disputed. As far as I can remember, we were still discussing the point +when the train ran into Leigh station and pulled up at the platform. + +"Here you are," said Tommy, handing me a basket. "You freeze on to +this; it's our lunch. I want to get a couple more cans of paraffin +before we go on board. There is some, but it's just as well to be on +the safe side." + +We left the station, and walking a few yards down the hill, pulled up +at a large wooden building which bore the dignified title of "Marine +and Yachting Stores." Here Tommy invested in the paraffin and one or +two other trifles he needed, and then turning off down some slippery +stone steps, we came out on the beach. Before us stretched a long bare +sweep of mud and sand, while out beyond lay the Ray Channel, with a +number of small boats and fishing-smacks anchored along its narrow +course. + +"There's the _Betty_," said Tommy, pointing to a smart-looking little +clinker-built craft away at the end of the line. "I've had her painted +since you saw her last." + +"And from what I remember, Tommy," I said, "she wanted it--badly." + +Joyce seated herself on a baulk of timber and began composedly to take +off her shoes and stockings. "How deep does one sink in?" she asked. +"I don't want to get this skirt dirtier than I can help." + +"You'll be all right if you hold it well up," said Tommy, "unless we +happen to strike a quicksand." + +"Well, you must go first," said Joyce, "then if we do, Neil and I can +step on you." + +Tommy chuckled, and sitting down on the bank imitated Joyce's example, +rolling his trousers up over the knee. I followed suit, and then, +gathering up our various belongings, we started off gingerly across +the mud. + +Tommy led the way, his shoes slung over his shoulder, and a tin of +paraffin in each hand. He evidently knew the lie of the land, for he +picked out the firmest patches with remarkable dexterity, keeping +on looking back to make sure that Joyce and I were following in his +footsteps. It was nasty, sloppy walking at the best, however, for +every step one took one went in with a squelch right up to the ankle, +and I think we had all had pretty well enough by the time we reached +the boat. Poor Joyce, indeed, was so exhausted that she had to sit +down on the lunch basket, while Tommy and I, by means of wading out +into the channel, managed to get hold of the dinghy. + +Our first job on getting aboard was to wash off the mud. We sat in a +row along the deck with our feet over the side; Tommy flatly refusing +to allow us any farther until we were all properly cleaned. Then, +while Joyce was drying herself and putting on her shoes and stockings, +he and I went down into the cabin and routed out a bottle of whisky +and a siphon of soda from somewhere under the floor. + +"What we want," he observed, "is a good stiff peg all round"; and the +motion being carried unanimously as far as Joyce and I were concerned, +three good stiff pegs were accordingly despatched. + +"That's better," said Tommy with a sigh. "Now we're on the safe side. +There's many a good yachtsman died of cold through neglecting these +simple precautions." Then jumping up and looking round he added +cheerfully: "We shall be able to sail the whole way up; the wind's +dead east and likely to stay there." + +"I suppose you'll take her out on the engine," I said. "This is a nice +useful ditch, but there doesn't seem to be much water in it for fancy +work." + +Tommy nodded. "You go and get in the anchor," he said, "and I'll see +if I can persuade her to start. She'll probably break my arm, but +that's a detail." + +He opened a locker at the back of the well, and squatted down in front +of it, while I climbed along the deck to the bows and proceeded +to hand in several fathoms of wet and slimy chain. I had scarcely +concluded this unpleasant operation, when with a sudden loud hum the +engine began working, and the next moment we were slowly throbbing our +way forwards down the centre of the channel. + +The Ray runs right down to Southend Pier, but there are several narrow +openings out of it connecting with the river. Through one of these +Tommy steered his course, bringing us into the main stream a few +hundred yards down from where we had been lying. Then, turning her +round, he handed the tiller over to Joyce, and clambered up alongside +of me on to the roof of the cabin. + +"Come on, Neil," he said. "I've had enough of this penny steamer +business. Let's get out the sails and shove along like gentlemen." + +The _Betty's_ rig was not a complicated one. It consisted of a +mainsail, a jib, and a spinnaker, and in a very few minutes we had set +all three of them and were bowling merrily upstream with the dinghy +bobbing and dipping behind us. Tommy jumped down and switched off the +engine, while Joyce, resigning the tiller to me, climbed up and seated +herself on the boom of the mainsail. She had taken off her hat, and +her hair gleamed in the sunshine like copper in the firelight. + +I don't think we did much talking for the first few miles: at least I +know I didn't. There is no feeling in the way of freedom quite so fine +as scudding along in a small ship with a good breeze behind you; and +after being cooped up for three years in a prison cell I drank in the +sensation like a man who has been almost dying of thirst might gulp +down his first draught of water. The mere tug of the tiller beneath my +hand filled me with a kind of fierce delight, while the splash of +the water as it rippled past the sides of the boat seemed to me the +bravest and sweetest music I had ever heard. + +I think Joyce and Tommy realized something of what I was feeling, for +neither of them made any real attempt at conversation. Now and then +the latter would jump up to haul in or let out the main sheet a +little, and once or twice he pointed out some slight alteration which +had been recently made in the buoying of the river. Joyce sat quite +still for the most part, either smiling happily at me, or else +watching the occasional ships and barges that we passed, most of which +were just beginning to get under way. + +We had rounded Canvey Island and left Hole Haven some little distance +behind us, when Tommy, who was leaning over the side staring out +ahead, suddenly turned back to me. + +"There's someone coming round the point in a deuce of a hurry," he +remarked. "Steam launch from the look of it. Better give 'em a wide +berth, or we'll have their wash aboard." + +I bent down and took a quick glance under the spinnaker boom. A couple +of hundred yards ahead a long, white, vicious-looking craft was racing +swiftly towards us, throwing up a wave on either side of her bows that +spread out fanwise across the river. + +I shoved down the helm, and swung the _Betty_ a little off her course +so as to give them plenty of room to go by. They came on without +slackening speed in the least, and passed us at a pace which I +estimated roughly to be about sixteen knots an hour. I caught a +momentary glimpse of a square-shouldered man with a close-trimmed +auburn beard crouching in the stern, and then the next moment a wave +broke right against our bows, drenching all three of us in a cloud of +flying spray. + +Tommy swore vigorously. "That's the kind of river-hog who ought to be +choked," he said. "If I--" + +He was interrupted by a sudden exclamation from Joyce. She had jumped +up laughing when the spray swept over her, and now, holding on to the +rigging, she was pointing excitedly to something just ahead of us. + +"Quick, Tommy!" she said. "There's a man in the water--drowning. +They've swamped his boat." + +In a flash Tommy had leaped to the side. "Keep her going," he shouted +to me. "We're heading straight for him." Then scrambing aft he grabbed +hold of the tow rope and swiftly hauled the dinghy alongside. + +"I'll pick him up, Tommy," I said quietly. "You look after the boat: +you know her better than I do." + +He nodded, and calling to Joyce to take over the tiller sprang up on +to the deck ready to lower the sails. I cast off the painter, all but +one turn, and handing the end to Joyce, told her to let it go as soon +as I shouted. Then, pulling the dinghy right up against the side of +the boat, I waited my chance and dropped down into her. + +I was just getting out the sculls, when a sudden shout from Tommy of +"There he is!" made me look hurriedly round. About twenty yards away a +man was splashing feebly in the water, making vain efforts to reach an +oar that was floating close beside him. + +"Let her go, Joyce!" I yelled, and the next moment I was tugging +furiously across the intervening space with the loose tow rope +trailing behind me. + +I was only just in time. Almost exactly as I reached the man he +suddenly gave up struggling, and with a faint gurgling sort of cry +disappeared beneath the water. I leaned out of the boat, and plunging +my arm in up to the shoulder, clutched him by the collar. + +"No, you don't, Bertie," I said cheerfully. "Not this journey." + +It's a ticklish business dragging a half-drowned man into a dinghy +without upsetting it, but by getting him down aft, I at last managed +to hoist him up over the gunwale. He came in like some great wet fish, +and I flopped him down in the stern sheets. Then with a deep breath I +sat down myself. I was feeling a bit pumped. + +For a moment or two my "catch" lay where he was, blowing, gasping, +grunting, and spitting out mouthfuls of dirty water. He was a little +weazened man of middle age, with a short grizzled beard. Except for +a pair of fairly new sea-boots, he was dressed in old nondescript +clothes which could not have taken much harm even from the Thames mud. +Indeed, on the whole, I should think their recent immersion had done +them good. + +"Well," I said encouragingly, "how do you feel?" + +With a big effort he raised himself on his elbow. "Right enough, +guv'nor," he gasped, "right enough." Then, sinking back again, he +added feebly: "If you see them oars o' mine, you might pick 'em up." + +There was a practical touch about this that rather appealed to me. I +sat up, and, looking round, discovered the _Betty_ about forty yards +away. Tommy had got the sails down and set the engine going, and he +was already turning her round to come back and pick us up. I waved my +hand to him--a greeting which he returned with a triumphant hail. + +Standing up, I inspected the surrounding water for any sign of my +guest's belongings. I immediately discovered both oars, which were +drifting upstream quite close to one another and only a few yards +away; but except for them there was no sign of wreckage. His boat and +everything else in it had vanished as completely as a submarine. + +I salvaged the oars, however, and had just got them safely on board, +when the _Betty_ came throbbing up, and circled neatly round us. +Tommy, who was steering, promptly shut down the engine to its slowest +pace, and reaching up I grabbed hold of Joyce's hand, which she held +out to me, and pulled the dinghy alongside. + +"Very nice, Tommy," I said. "Lipton couldn't have done it better." + +"How's the poor man?" asked Joyce, looking down pityingly at my +prostrate passenger. + +At the sound of her voice the latter roused himself from his recumbent +position, and made a shaky effort to sit up straight. + +"He'll be all right when he's got a little whisky inside him," I said. +"Come on, Tommy; you catch hold, and I'll pass him over." + +I stooped down, and, taking him round the waist, lifted him right up +over the gunwale of the _Betty_, where Tommy received him rather like +a man accepting a sack of coals. Then, catching hold of the tow rope, +I jumped up myself, and made the dinghy fast to a convenient cleat. + +Tommy dumped down his burden on one of the well seats. + +"You've had a precious narrow squeak, my friend," he observed +pleasantly. + +The man nodded. "If you hadn't 'a come along as you did, sir, I'd 'ave +bin dead by now--dead as a dog-fish." Then turning round he shook his +gnarled fist over the _Betty's_ stern in the direction of the vanished +launch. "Sunk me wi' their blarsted wash," he quavered; "that's what +they done." + +"Well, accidents will happen," I said; "but they were certainly going +much too fast." + +"Accidents!" he repeated bitterly; "this warn't no accident. They done +it a purpose--the dirty Dutchmen." + +"Sunk you deliberately!" exclaimed Tommy. "What on earth makes you +think that?" + +A kind of half-cunning, half-cautious look came into our visitor's +face. + +"Mebbe I knows too much to please 'em," he muttered, shaking his head. +"Mebbe they'd be glad to see old Luke Gow under the water." + +I thought for a moment that the shock of the accident had made him +silly, but before I could speak Joyce came out of the cabin carrying +half a tumbler of neat whisky. + +"You get that down your neck," said Tommy, "and you'll feel like a +two-year-old." + +I don't know if whisky is really the correct antidote for Thames +water, but at all events our guest accepted the glass and shifted its +contents without a quiver. As soon as he had finished Tommy took him +by the arm and helped him to his feet. + +"Now come along into the cabin," he said, "and I'll see if I can fix +you up with some dry kit." Then turning to me he added: "You might get +the sails up again while we're dressing, Neil; it's a pity to waste +any of this breeze." + +I nodded, and resigning the tiller to Joyce, climbed up on to the +deck, and proceeded to reset both the mainsail and the spinnaker, +which were lying in splendid confusion along the top of the cabin. +I had just concluded this operation when Tommy and our visitor +reappeared--the latter looking rather comic in a grey jersey, a pair +of white flannel trousers, and an old dark blue cricketing blazer and +cap. + +"I've been telling our friend Mr. Gow that he's got to sue these +chaps," said Tommy. "He knows who they are: they're a couple of +Germans who've got a bungalow on Sheppey, close to that little creek +we used to put in at." + +"You make 'em pay," continued Tommy. "They haven't a leg to stand on, +rushing past like that. They as near as possible swamped us." + +Mr. Gow cast a critical eye round the _Betty_. "Ay! and you'd take a +deal o' swampin,' mister. She's a fine manly little ship, an' that's a +fact." Then he paused. "It's hard on a man to lose his boat," he added +quietly; "specially when 'is livin' depends on 'er." + +"What do you do?" I asked. "What's your job?" + +Mr. Gow hesitated for a moment. "Well, in a manner o' speakin', I +haven't got what you might call no reg'lar perfession, sir. I just +picks up what I can outer the river like. I rows folks out to their +boats round Tilbury way, and at times I does a bit of eel fishing--or +maybe in summer there's a job lookin' arter the yachts at Leigh and +Southend. It all comes the same to me, sir." + +"Do you know Cunnock Creek?" asked Tommy. + +"Cunnock Crick!" repeated Mr. Gow. "Why, I should think I did, sir. My +cottage don't lie more than a mile from Cunnock Crick. Is that where +you're makin' for?" + +Tommy nodded. "We were thinking of putting in there," he said. "Is +there enough water?" + +"Plenty o' water, sir--leastways there will be by the time we get up. +It runs a bit dry at low tide, but there's always a matter o' three to +four feet in the middle o' the channel." + +This was excellent news, for the _Betty_ with her centre-board up only +drew about three feet six, so except at the very lowest point the +creek would always be navigable. + +"Is it a safe place to leave a boat for the night with no one on +board?" inquired Tommy. + +Mr. Gow shook his head. "I wouldn't go as far as that, sir. None o' +the reg'lar boatmen or fishermen wouldn't touch 'er, but they're a +thievin' lot o' rascals, some o' them Tilbury folk. If they happened +to come across 'er, as like as not they'd strip 'er gear, to say +nothin' of the fittings." Then he paused. "But if you was thinkin' o' +layin' 'er up there for the night, I'd see no one got monkeyin' around +with 'er. I'd sleep aboard meself." + +"Well, that's a bright notion," said Tommy, turning to me. "What do +you think, Neil?" + +"I think it's quite sound," I answered. "Besides, he can help me look +after her for the next two or three days. I shall be too busy to get +over to the creek much myself." Then putting my hand in my pocket +I pulled out Joyce's envelope, and carefully extracted one of the +five-pound notes from inside. "Look here, Mr. Gow!" I added, "we'll +strike a bargain. If you'll stay with the _Betty_ for a day or so, +I'll give you this fiver to buy or hire another boat with until you +can get your compensation out of our German friends. I shall be living +close by, but I shan't have time to keep my eye on her properly." + +Mr. Gow accepted the proposal and the note with alacrity. "I'm sure +I'm very much obliged to you, sir," he said gratefully. "I'll just run +up to my cottage when we land to get some dry clothes, and then I'll +come straight back and take 'er over. She won't come to no harm, not +with Luke Gow on board; you can reckon on that, sir." + +He touched his cap, and climbing up out of the well, made his way +forward, as though to signalize the fact that he was adopting the +profession of our paid hand. + +"I'm so glad," said Joyce quietly. "I shan't feel half so nervous now +I know you'll have someone with you." + +Tommy nodded. "It's a good egg," he observed. "I think old whiskers +is by way of being rather grateful." Then he paused. "But what swine +those German beggars must be not to have stopped! They must have seen +what had happened." + +"I wonder what he meant by hinting that they'd done it purposely," I +said. + +Tommy laughed. "I don't know. I asked him in the cabin, but he +wouldn't say any more. I think he was only talking through his hat." + +"I'm not so sure," I said doubtfully. "He seemed to have some idea at +the back of his mind. I shall sound him about it later on." + +With the wind holding good and a strong tide running, the _Betty_ +scudded along at such a satisfactory pace that by half-past twelve +we were already within sight of Gravesend Reach. There is no more +desolate-looking bit of the river than the stretch which immediately +precedes that crowded fairway. It is bounded on each side by a low sea +wall, behind which a dreary expanse of marsh and salting spreads away +into the far distance. Here and there the level monotony is broken by +a solitary hut or a disused fishing hulk, but except for the passing +traffic and the cloud of gulls perpetually wheeling and screaming +overhead there is little sign of life or movement. + +"You see them two or three stakes stickin' up in the water?" remarked +Mr. Gow suddenly, pointing away towards the right-hand bank. + +I nodded. + +"Well, you keep 'em in line with that little clump o' trees be'ind, +an' you'll just fetch the crick nicely." + +He and Tommy went forward to take in the spinnaker, while, following +the marks he had indicated, I brought the _Betty_ round towards her +destination. Approaching the shore I saw that the entrance to the +creek was a narrow channel between two mud-flats, both of which were +presumably covered at high tide. I called to Joyce to wind up the +centre-board to its fullest extent, and then, steering very carefully, +edged my way in along this drain, while Mr. Gow leaned over to leeward +diligently heaving the lead. + +"Plenty o' water," he kept on calling out encouragingly. "Keep 'er +goin', sir, keep 'er goin'. Inside that beacon, now up with 'er a bit. +That's good!" + +He discarded the lead and hurried to the anchor. I swung her round +head to wind, Tommy let down the mainsail, and the next moment we +brought up with a grace and neatness that would almost have satisfied +a Solent skipper. + +We were in the very centre of a little muddy creek with high banks +on either side of it. There was no other boat within sight; indeed, +although we were within three miles of Tilbury, anything more desolate +than our surroundings it would be difficult to imagine. + +Mr. Gow assisted us to furl the sails and put things straight +generally, and then coming aft addressed himself to me. + +"I don't know what time you gen'lemen might be thinkin' o' leavin'; +but if you could put me ashore now I could be back inside of the +hour." + +"Right you are," I said. "I'll do that straight away." + +We both got into the dinghy, and in a few strokes I pulled him to the +bank, where he stepped out on to the mud. Then he straightened himself +and touched his cap. + +"I haven't never thanked you properly yet, sir, for what you done," he +observed. "You saved my life, and Luke Gow ain't the sort o' man to +forget a thing like that." + +I backed the boat off into the stream. "Well, if you'll save our +property from the Tilbury gentlemen," I said, "we'll call it quits." + +When I got back to the ship I found Tommy and Joyce making +preparations for lunch. + +"We thought you'd like something before you pushed off," said Tommy. +"One can scout better on a full tummy." + +"You needn't apologize for feeding me," I replied cheerfully. "I've a +lot of lost time to make up in the eating line." + +It was a merry meal, that little banquet of ours in the _Betty's_ +cabin. The morning's sail had given us a first-rate appetite, and in +spite of the somewhat unsettled state of our affairs we were all three +in the best of spirits. Indeed, I think the unknown dangers that +surrounded us acted as a sort of stimulant to our sense of pleasure. +When you are sitting over a powder mine it is best to enjoy every +pleasant moment as keenly as possible. You never know when you may get +another. + +At last I decided that it was time for me to start. + +"I tell you what I think I'll do, Tommy," I said. "I'll see if there's +any way along outside the sea-wall. I could get right up to the place +then without being spotted, if there should happen to be any one +there." + +Tommy nodded. "That's the idea," he said. "And look here: I brought +this along for you. I don't suppose you'll want it, but it's a useful +sort of thing to have on the premises." + +He pulled out a small pocket revolver, loaded in each chamber, and +handed it over to me. + +I accepted it rather doubtfully. "Thanks, Tommy," I said, "but I +expect I should do a lot more damage with my fists." + +"Oh, please take it, Neil," said Joyce simply. + +"Very well," I answered, and stuffing it into my side pocket, I +buttoned up my coat. "Now, Tommy," I said; "if you'll put me ashore +we'll start work." + +It was about a hundred yards to the mouth of the creek, and with the +tide running hard against us it was quite a stiff little pull. Tommy, +however, insisted on taking me the whole way down, just to see whether +there was any chance of getting along outside the sea-wall. We landed +at the extreme point, and jumping out on to the mud, I picked my way +carefully round the corner and stared up the long desolate stretch +of river frontage. The tide was still some way out, and although the +going was not exactly suited to patent-leather boots, it was evidently +quite possible for any one who was not too particular. + +I turned round and signalled to Tommy that I was all right; then, +keeping in as close as I could to the sea-wall, I set off on my +journey. It was slow walking, for every now and then I had to climb up +the slope to get out of the way of some hopelessly soft patch of mud. +On one of these occasions, when I had covered about three-quarters of +a mile, I peered cautiously over the top of the bank. Some little +way ahead of me, right out in the middle of the marsh, I saw what I +imagined to be my goal. It was a tiny brick building with a large +wooden shed alongside, the latter appearing considerably the newer and +more sound of the two. + +I was inspecting it with the natural interest that one takes in one's +future country house, when quite suddenly I saw the door of the +building opening. A moment later a man stepped out on to the grass, +and looked quickly round as though to make certain that there was no +one watching. Although the distance was about three hundred yards I +recognized him at once. + +It was my friend of the restaurant--Mr. Bruce Latimer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + +The discovery was a beautifully unexpected one, but I was getting used +to surprises by this time. I bobbed down at once behind the sea-wall, +and crouched there for a moment wondering what was the best thing to +do. After what I had found out it seemed hardly probable that Latimer +could be there in the capacity of McMurtrie's caretaker; but if not, +how on earth had he hit upon the place, and what was he doing prowling +about inside it? + +Raising myself up again with extreme care I had another look through +the grass. Latimer had left the building and was stooping down +in front of the door of the shed, his attention being obviously +concentrated on the lock. I was rather a long way off, but as far as I +could see he appeared to be trying to slip back the bolt with the aid +of a piece of wire. + +I think that decided me. However dangerous it might be to show myself, +it seemed still more risky to allow some one of whose motives I was +at present completely ignorant to inspect my future workshop. Almost +before I realized what I was doing I had slipped over the bank and +dropped down on to the marsh. + +The slight noise I made must have reached Latimer's ears, for he +wheeled round with amazing promptness. At the same instant his right +hand travelled swiftly into the side pocket of his coat--a gesture +which I found sufficiently illuminating in view of what I was carrying +myself in a similar place. When he saw how far off I was he seemed +to hesitate for a moment; then pulling out a case he coolly and +deliberately lit himself a cigarette, and after taking a quick glance +round started to stroll slowly towards me. I noticed that he still +kept his hand in his side pocket. + +My mind was working pretty rapidly as we approached each other. What +would happen seemed to me to depend chiefly upon whether Latimer had +seen me in the restaurant, and had guessed that it was I who had sent +him the message. If not, it struck me that he must be wondering rather +badly who I was and what connection I had with the hut. + +When we were still twenty yards apart he pulled up and waited for me, +smoking his cigarette with every appearance of tranquil enjoyment. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," he said in a pleasant, lazy voice, "but I +wonder if you could tell me who this building belongs to?" + +I came to a halt right in front of him. "Well," I replied boldly, +"until I saw you coming out of the door just now I was under the +impression that I was the legal tenant." + +He smiled, and taking off his hat made me a slight bow. + +"I must really beg your pardon," he said. "I was trespassing +shamelessly. The fact of the matter is that I am acting on behalf of +the District Surveyor, and finding the door open and being unable to +get any answer, I took the liberty of looking inside." + +If ever in my life I felt confident that a man was telling me a lie it +was at that moment, but my belief was certainly due to no fault of Mr. +Latimer's. He spoke with a coolness and an apparent candour that would +have done credit to a Cabinet Minister. + +"The District Surveyor!" I repeated. "And what does that distinguished +person want with me?" + +Mr. Latimer made a gesture towards the hut with his disengaged hand. +"It's nothing of any real importance," he said, "but you appear to +have been making some slight alterations here. This wooden building--" + +"It's only a temporary structure," I interrupted. + +He nodded. "Quite so. Still there are certain bye-laws which we have +to see attended to. The Surveyor happened to notice it the other day +when he was passing, and he asked me to find out the exact purpose it +was intended for. We are bound to make some restrictions about wooden +buildings on account of the extra chance of their catching fire." + +The idea of the District Surveyor being seriously perturbed over the +possibility of my being roasted alive struck me as rather improbable, +but I was careful not to give any impression of doubting the +statement. + +"As a matter of fact," I said, "there is no chance of a tragedy +of that sort. I have taken the place to make a few experiments +in connection with photography. The stuff I am using is quite +uninflammable." + +All the time I was speaking I was watching him carefully to see if +I could detect the least sign of his recognizing me. For any such +indication, however, we might have been utter strangers. + +He accepted my falsehood as politely as I had received his. + +"Well, in that case," he said, with a smile, "there is really no need +for me to bother you any further. I will tell the Surveyor that you +are a strictly law-abiding citizen. Meanwhile"--he stepped back and +again raised his hat--"let me apologize once more for having broken +into your place." + +Whether there was any deliberate irony in his remark I was unable to +guess; his manner at all events gave no hint of it. + +"You needn't apologize," I returned artlessly. "It was my own fault +for leaving the door open." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible quiver at the corner of his +lips, but if so it was gone again at once. + +"Yes," he said gravely. "You will find it safer to keep the place +locked up. Good-day, sir." + +"Good-day," I replied, and turning deliberately away from him I +sauntered off towards the hut. + +I did not look round until I had reached the door; and even then I +made a pretence of dropping my keys and stooping to pick them up. The +precaution, however, seemed a little superfluous. Mr. Latimer was some +thirty or forty yards away, walking inland across the marsh in the +direction of Tilbury. I couldn't help wondering whether he had noticed +the mast of the _Betty_, which was just visible in the distance, +sticking up demurely above the bank of the creek. + +I stepped inside the hut--it was really little more than a hut--and +closed the door. The first impression I received was one of being back +in my prison cell. The only light in the place filtered in through a +tiny and very dirty window, which looked out in the direction that +Latimer had taken. For the rest, as soon as my eyes were used to the +gloom, I made out a camp bed with blankets on it, a small wooden table +and chair, a jug and basin, and in the farther corner of the room a +miscellaneous collection of cooking and eating utensils. There was +also a large wooden box which I imagined to contain food. + +I took in all this practically at a glance, for my mind was still too +occupied with my late visitor to trouble much about anything else. + +I sat down on the bed and tried to think out the situation clearly. +There could be no doubt that Latimer had been spying on the place, +if such an unpleasant word could be applied to a gentleman who was +supposed to be in Government service. The question was, what did he +suspect? I had pretty good evidence that he was up against McMurtrie +and the others in some shape or other, and presumably it was on +account of my connection with them that I had been favoured with his +attentions. Still, this didn't seem to make the situation any the more +cheerful for me. If Latimer was really a secret-service man, as some +one had told Tommy, it stood to reason that I must be assisting in +some particularly shady and dangerous sort of enterprise. I had no +special objection to this from the moral point of view, but on the +other hand I certainly didn't want to throw away my hardly-won liberty +before I had had the satisfaction of settling accounts with George. + +I debated with myself whether it would be best to let McMurtrie know +that the place was being watched. To a certain extent his interests in +the matter seemed to be identical with mine, but my mistrust of him +was still strong enough to make me hesitate. Beyond his bare word and +that of Sonia I had no proof as yet that he intended to play straight +with me. + +One thing appeared certain, and that was that Latimer had failed to +recognize me as the man who had sent him the warning at Parelli's. In +a way this gave me an advantage, but it was a forlorn enough sort of +advantage in view of the unknown dangers by which I was surrounded. + +I got up off the bed, feeling anything but comfortable, and going to +the door had another look round. Latimer had disappeared behind the +thin belt of trees that fringed the Tilbury road, and so far as I +could see there was no one else about. Getting out my keys, I walked +along to the shed and opened the door. + +If my living accommodation was a trifle crude, McMurtrie had certainly +made up for it here. He had evidently carried out my instructions +with the most minute care and an absolute disregard for expense. Lead +tanks, sinks, chemicals, an adequate water supply in the shape of +a pump--everything I had asked for seemed to have been provided. I +looked round the large, clean, well-lighted place with a sensation of +intense satisfaction. The mere sight of all these preparations made me +ache to begin work, for I was consumed with the impatience that any +inventor would feel who had been compelled to leave a big discovery on +the very verge of completion. + +Coming out, I closed the door again, and carefully turned the key +behind me. Then walking back to the hut I locked that up as well. I +hadn't the faintest belief in Latimer's story about finding the place +open, and apart from making things safe I certainly didn't want to +leave any traces of my surprise visit. From what I knew of McMurtrie +I felt sure that he had left somebody in charge, and that in all +probability Latimer had merely taken advantage of their temporary +absence. + +After a last glance all round, to make sure that the coast was still +clear, I walked rapidly down to the sea-wall and scrambled up on to +the top. The tide had risen a bit, but there was just room to get +along, so jumping down I set off on my return journey. + +There was something very cheering and reassuring in the sight of the +_Betty_ riding easily at her anchor, as I made my way round the mouth +of the creek. Tommy and Joyce were both on deck: the former in his +shirt-sleeves, swabbing down his new paint with a wet mop. Directly +he saw me he abandoned the job to Joyce, and with a wave of his hand +proceeded to get out the dinghy. A minute later he was pulling for the +shore. + +"All serene?" he inquired calmly, as he ran the boat up to where I was +standing. + +"Yes," I said. "We needn't hurry; there's no one chasing me." Then +pushing her off the mud I jumped in. "I'll tell you the news," I +added, "when we get on board." + +We headed off for the _Betty_, and as we came alongside and I handed +up the painter to Joyce, I felt rather like the raven must have +done when he returned to the Ark. As far as peace and security were +concerned, my outside world seemed to be almost as unsatisfactory as +his. + +"How have you got on?" demanded Joyce eagerly. + +I climbed up on to the deck. + +"I've had quite an interesting time," I said. Then I paused and looked +round the boat. "Is Mr. Gow back?" I inquired. + +Tommy shook his head. "Not yet. I expect he's blueing some of that +fiver in anticipation." + +"Come and sit down, then," I said, "and I'll tell you all about it." + +They both seated themselves beside me on the edge of the well, and +in as few words as possible I let them have the full story of my +adventures. At the first mention of Latimer's name Tommy indulged in a +low whistle, but except for that non-committal comment they listened +to me in silence. + +Joyce was the first to speak when I had finished. + +"It's hateful, isn't it?" she said. "I feel as if we were fighting in +the dark." + +"That's just what we are doing," answered Tommy, "but we're letting in +a bit of light by degrees though." Then he turned to me. "McMurtrie's +got some game on, evidently, and this chap Latimer's dropped on it. +That was why they tried to put him out of the way." + +"Yes," I said, "and if Latimer is really in the secret service, it +must be a precious queer sort of game too." + +Tommy nodded. "I wonder if they're anarchists," he said, after a +short pause. "Perhaps they want your powder to blow up the Houses of +Parliament or the Law Courts with." + +I laughed shortly. "No," I said. "Whatever McMurtrie's after, it's +nothing so useful and unselfish as that. If I thought it was I +shouldn't worry." + +"Well, there's only one thing to do," observed Tommy, after a pause, +"and that's to go and look up Latimer, as I suggested. You're sure he +didn't recognize you?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sure of nothing about him," I replied, +"except that he's a superb liar." + +"We must risk it anyhow," said Tommy. "He's the only person who knows +anything of what's going on, and he evidently wants to find out who +sent him that note, or he wouldn't have answered it as he did. He'll +have to give me some sort of explanation if I go and see him. I +shall rub it into him that my supposed pal is a perfectly sensible, +unimaginative sort of chap--and anyway people don't invent a yarn like +that." + +"Look!" interrupted Joyce suddenly. "Isn't that Mr. Gow coming along +by those trees?" + +She pointed away down the creek, and following her direction I saw the +figure of our trusty retainer trudging back towards the ship, with a +bundle over his shoulder. He had exchanged Tommy's picturesque outfit +for some garments of his own, more in keeping with his new and +dignified position. + +"I'll pick him up," I said; "but what are we going to do about getting +back? We had better not try Tilbury, or we may run into Latimer; it +would put the hat on everything if he saw us together." + +Tommy consulted his watch. "It's just half-past three now," he said. +"I vote we run across to Gravesend and catch the train there. Old +Whiskers can bring the boat back here after we've gone--if he's still +sober." + +"Of course he's sober," said Joyce; "look at the beautiful way he's +walking." + +I should hardly have applied quite such a complimentary adjective to +Mr. Gow's gait myself, but all the same Joyce's diagnosis proved to +be quite correct. Mr. Gow was sober--most undoubtedly and creditably +sober. I rowed to the bank, and brought him on board, and when we told +him of our plans he expressed himself as being perfectly competent to +manage the return journey single-handed. + +"You leave 'er to me," he remarked consolingly. "I shan't want no +help--not to bring 'er in here. Some people don't hold with being +alone in a boat, but that ain't Luke Gow's way." + +He went forward to get up the anchor, while Tommy and I occupied +ourselves with the exciting sport of trying to start the engine. It +went off at last with its usual vicious kick, and a few minutes later +we were throbbing our way out of the creek into the main river. + +The tide was right at its highest, and down the centre of the fairway +straggled a long procession of big hooting steamers, sluggish +brown-sailed barges, and small heavily-burdened tugs, puffing out +their usual trails of black smoke. One felt rather like a terrier +trying to cross Piccadilly, but by waiting for our chance we dodged +through without disaster, and pulled up in a comparatively tranquil +spot off the Gravesend landing-stage. + +Tommy signalled to one of the boatmen who were hanging about the steps +waiting for stray passengers. + +"This chap will take us off," he said, turning to Mr. Gow. "You push +straight back while the engine's running; she usually stops when we've +got about as far as this." + +"And I'll come over to the creek some time tomorrow," I added; though +in my present circumstances a confident prophecy of any kind seemed a +trifle rash. + +We went ashore and stood for a moment on the stage watching the +_Betty_ thread her course back through the traffic. Mr. Gow seemed +to handle her with perfect confidence, and relieved on this point we +turned round and set off for the station. + +We found ourselves in luck's way. An unusually obliging train was due +to start in ten minutes' time, and as before we managed to secure an +empty compartment. + +"I tell you what I want you to do when we get back to town, Joyce," I +said. "I want you to help me buy a hat." + +"What's the matter with the one you're wearing?" demanded Tommy. "It +just suits your savage style of beauty." + +"Oh, this new one isn't for me," I explained. "It's for a lady--a lady +friend, as we say." + +"I didn't know you had any," said Joyce, "except me and Sonia." + +I smiled arrogantly. "You underrate my attractions," I replied. +"Haven't I told you about Miss Gertie 'Uggins?" Then I proceeded to +sketch in Gertrude as well as I could, finishing up with the story of +her spirited determination to spend the five shillings I had given her +on a really fashionable head-dress. + +Tommy slapped his leg and chuckled. "I believe any woman would starve +herself to death for something new to wear," he remarked. + +"Of course she would," said Joyce with spirit--"any decent woman." +Then she turned to me. "I think it's sweet, Neil; I shall give her a +new hat myself, just because she loves you." + +Tommy laughed again. "You'll find that an expensive hobby to keep up, +Joyce," he said. "You'll have to start a bonnet-shop." + +All the way back to town we talked and joked in much the same strain, +as cheerfully as though none of us had a care in the world. If there +had been a stranger in the carriage listening to us, he would, I +think, have found it impossible to believe that I was Neil Lyndon, +the much-wanted convict, and that Tommy and Joyce were engaged in the +criminal pursuit of helping me avoid the police. No doubt, as I said +before, the very danger and excitement of our position accounted to +some extent for our high spirits, but in my case they were due even +more to a natural reaction from the misery of the last three years. +Ever since I had met Tommy and Joyce again I seemed to have been +shedding flakes off the crust of bitterness and hatred which had built +itself up round my soul. + +Even my feelings towards George were slowly becoming less murderous. +I was still as determined as ever to get at the truth of his amazing +treachery if I could; but the savage loathing that I had previously +cherished for him was gradually giving place to a more healthy +sensation of contempt. I felt now that, whatever his motives may have +been, there would be far more satisfaction in kicking him than in +killing him. Besides, the former process was one that under favourable +circumstances could be repeated indefinitely. + +"You're spending the evening with me, Neil, of course," observed +Tommy, as we drew into Charing Cross. + +I nodded. "We'll take a taxi and buy the hat somewhere, and then drop +Joyce at Chelsea. After that I am open to any dissipation." + +"Only keep away from the Savoy," said Joyce. "I am making my great +surrender there, and it would hamper me to have you and Tommy about." + +We promised to respect her privacy, and then, getting out of the +train, which had drawn up in the station, we hailed a taxi and climbed +quickly into it. Charing Cross is the last place to dawdle in if you +have any objection to being recognized. + +"Shall we be able to write to you?" asked Joyce. "I shall want to tell +you about George, and Tommy will want to let you know how he gets on +with Latimer. Of course I'm coming down to the boat in a day or two; +but all sorts of things may happen before then." + +I thought rapidly for a moment. "Write to me at the Tilbury +post-office," I said. "Only don't make a mistake and address the +letter to Neil Lyndon. Too much excitement isn't good for a Government +official." + +Tommy laughed. "It's just the sort of damn silly thing I should +probably have done," he said. "Can't you imagine the postmaster's face +when he read the envelope? I should like to paint it as a Christmas +supplement to the _Graphic_." + +"Where did you tell the man to stop, Joyce?" I asked. + +"Holland's," said Joyce. "I am going to buy Gertie a really splendid +hat--something with birds and flowers on it. I am sure I know just +what she'll think beautiful. I suppose I had better tell them to send +it round to you at Edith Terrace. You won't want to carry it about +London." + +"Not unless Tommy likes to wear it," I said. "I think I'm disguised +enough as it is." + +We pulled up outside Mr. Holland's imposing shop-front, and Joyce, +who was sitting next the door, got up from her seat. Then she leaned +forward and kissed me. + +"Good-bye, Neil," she said. "I shall come down on Tuesday and go +straight to the _Betty_, unless I hear anything special from you +before then." She paused. "And oh, dear Neil," she added, "you will be +careful, won't you? If anything was to happen now, I believe I should +kill George and jump into the Thames." + +"In that case," I said, "I shall be discretion itself. I couldn't +allow George anything like so charming an end; it would be quite +wasted on him." + +Joyce smiled happily and, opening the door, jumped out on to the +pavement. "You keep the taxi on," she said. "I shall take a bus home. +I can't be hurried over buying a hat--even if it's for Gertie. Where +shall I tell the man to go to?" + +"Better say the Studio," answered Tommy. "We both want a wash and a +drink before we start dissipating." + +For an escaped murderer and his guilty accessory, I am afraid that our +dissipation proved to be rather a colourless affair. Tommy had always +had simple tastes in the way of amusement, and even if it had been +safe for us to parade the West End in each other's company, I +certainly had no wish to waste my time over a theatre or anything of +that sort. I found that real life supplied me with all the drama I +needed just at present. + +What we actually did was to dine quietly in a little out-of-the-way +restaurant just off Sloane Square, and then play billiards for the +remainder of the evening in a room above a neighbouring tavern. We had +several most exciting games. In old days I had been able to beat +Tommy easily, but owing to a regrettable oversight on the part of the +Government there is no table at Princetown, and in consequence I was +rather short of practice. + +Afterwards Tommy walked with me as far as Victoria, where we discussed +such arrangements for the future as we were in a position to make. + +"I'll write to you, anyway, Neil," he said, "as soon as I've tackled +Latimer; and I'll probably come down with Joyce on Tuesday. If you +want me any time before, send me a wire." + +I nodded. "You'll be more useful to me in London, Tommy," I said. +"All the threads of the business are up here. McMurtrie--Latimer-- +George"--I paused--"I'd give something to know what those three do +between them," I added regretfully. + +Tommy gripped my hand. "It's all right, old son," he said. "I'm not +much of a believer in inspirations and all that sort of rot, but +somehow or other I'm dead certain we're going to win out. I've had a +feeling like that ever since the trial--and so has Joyce." + +"Thanks, Tommy," I said briefly. "You'd give a jellyfish a +backbone--you two." + +And with a last squeeze of the hand I left him standing there, and set +off across the station for Edith Terrace. + +It was close on midnight when I got back, and every one in the house +seemed to have gone to bed. The light had been put out in the hall, +but the door of my sitting-room was partly open, and a small jet of +gas was flickering away over the fireplace. I turned this up and, +looking round, discovered a large box with Holland's label on it, +a note, and a half-sheet of paper--all decorating the table in the +centre of the room. + +I examined the half-sheet of paper first. It contained several dirty +thumb-marks and the following message, roughly scrawled in pencil: + +"sir the lady with the hat cum for you about for aclock i told her as +you was out and she rote this leter gerty." + +Hastily picking up the envelope, I slit open the flap, and pulled out +the "leter" from inside. It covered two sides, and was written in +Sonia's curious, sloping, foreign-looking hand. + +"I have to go away with my father until the end of next week. By that +time, if you have succeeded with your invention, there will be nothing +to stop our plans. I would have explained everything to you today if +you had been here. As it is, _on no account give your secret to any +one_ until I have seen you. I shall come down to Tilbury either on +Friday or Saturday, and within a few hours we can be utterly beyond +the reach of any further danger or difficulties. Until then, my +lover--SONIA." + +I read it through twice, and then slowly folding it up, thrust it back +into the envelope. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that I'm going to have quite an interesting +house-party." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + + +I gave Gertie her hat next morning when she brought me up my +breakfast. It was a gorgeous thing--rather the shape of a dustman's +helmet, with a large scarlet bird nestling on one side of it, +sheltered by some heavy undergrowth. Gertie's face, as I pulled it out +of the box, was a study in about eight different emotions. + +"Oo--er," she gasped faintly. "That ain't never for me." + +"Yes, it is, Gertrude," I said. "It was specially chosen for you by a +lady of unimpeachable taste." + +I held it out to her, and she accepted it with shaking hands, like a +newly-made peeress receiving her tiara. + +"My Gawd," she whispered reverently; "ain't it just a dream!" + +To be perfectly honest, it seemed to me more in the nature of a +nightmare, but wild horses wouldn't have dragged any such hostile +criticism out of me. + +"I think it will suit you very nicely, Gertie," I said. "It's got just +that dash of colour which Edith Terrace wants." + +"Yer reely mean it?" she asked eagerly. "Yer reely think I'll look orl +right in it? 'Course it do seem a bit funny like with this 'ere frock, +but I got a green velveteen wot belonged to Mrs. Oldbury's niece. It +won't 'alf go with that." + +"It won't indeed," I agreed heartily. Then, looking up from my eggs +and bacon, I added: "By the way, Gertie, I've never thanked you for +your letter. I had no idea you could, write so well." + +"Go on!" said Gertie doubtfully; "you're gettin' at me now." + +"No, I'm not," I answered. "It was a very nice letter. It said just +what you wanted to say and nothing more. That's the whole art of good +letter-writing." Then a sudden idea struck me. "Look here, Gertie," I +went on, "will you undertake a little job for me if I explain it to +you?" + +She nodded. "Oo--rather. I'd do any think for you." + +"Well, it's something I may want you to do for me after I've left." + +Her face fell. "You ain't goin' away from 'ere--not for good?" + +"Not entirely for good," I said. "I hope to do a certain amount of +harm to at least one person before I come back." I paused. "It's just +possible," I continued, "that after I've gone somebody may come to +the house and ask questions about me--how I spent my time while I was +here, and that sort of thing. If they should happen to ask you, I want +you to tell them that I used to stay in bed most of the day and go to +the theatre in the evening. Do you mind telling a lie for me?" + +Gertie looked at me in obvious amazement. "I _don't_ think," she +observed. "Wotjer taike me for--a Sunday-school teacher?" + +"No, Gertie," I said gravely; "no girl with your taste in hats could +possibly be a Sunday-school teacher." Then pushing away my plate and +lighting a cigarette, I added: "I'll leave you a stamped addressed +envelope and a telegraph form. You can send me the wire first to say +if any one has called, and then write me a line afterwards by post +telling me what they were like and what they said." + +"I can do that orl right," she answered eagerly. "If they talks to +Mrs. Oldbury I'll listen at the keyhole." + +I nodded. "It's a practice that the best moralists condemn," I said, +"but after all, the recording angel does it." Then getting up from +the table, I added: "You might tell Mrs. Oldbury I should like to see +her." + +When that good lady arrived I acquainted her with the fact that I +intended to leave her house in about two hours' time. Any resentment +which she might have felt over this slightly abrupt departure was +promptly smoothed away by my offer to take on the rooms for at least +another fortnight. I did this partly with the object of leaving a +pleasant impression behind me, and partly because I had a vague idea +that it might come in handy to have some sort of headquarters in +London where I was known and recognized as Mr. James Nicholson. + +Having settled up this piece of business I sat down and wrote to +McMurtrie. It was a task which required a certain amount of care and +delicacy, but after two trial essays I succeeded in turning out the +following letter, which seemed to me about to meet the situation. + +"DEAR DR. McMURTRIE: + +"As you have probably heard, I received your letter yesterday, and I +am making arrangements to go down to Tilbury tomorrow by the 11.45. + +"Of course in a way I am sorry to leave London--it's extraordinary +what a capacity for pleasure a prolonged residence in the country +gives one--but at the same time I quite agree with you that business +must come first. + +"I shall start work directly I get down, and if all the things I asked +for in my list have been provided, I don't think it will be long +before I have some satisfactory news for you. Unless I see you or hear +from you before then I will write to the Hotel Russell directly there +is anything definite to communicate. + +"Meanwhile please give my kind regards to your amiable friend and +colleague, and also remember me to his charming daughter. + +"Believe me, + +"Yours sincerely, + +"JAMES NICHOLSON." + +With its combined touch of seriousness and flippancy, this appeared to +me exactly the sort of letter that McMurtrie would expect me to write. +I couldn't resist putting in the bit about his "amiable" friend, for +the recollection of Savaroff's manner towards me still rankled gently +in my memory. Besides I had a notion it would rather amuse McMurtrie, +whose more artistic mind must have been frequently distressed by his +colleague's blustering surliness. + +I could think of nothing else which required my immediate attention, +so going into my bedroom I proceeded to pack up my belongings. I put +in everything I possessed with the exception of Savaroff's discarded +garments, for although I was keeping on the rooms I had no very robust +faith in my prospects of ever returning to them. Then, ringing the +bell, I despatched Gertrude to fetch me a taxi, while I settled up my +bill with Mrs. Oldbury. + +"An' seem' you've taken on the rooms, sir," observed that lady, "I +'opes it's to be a case of 'say orrivar an' not good-bye.'" + +"I hope it is, Mrs. Oldbury," I replied. "I shall come back if I +possibly can, but one never knows what may happen in life." + +She shook her head sombrely. "Ah, you're right there, sir. An' curious +enough that's the very identical remark my late 'usband was ser fond +o' makin'. I remember 'is sayin' it to me the very night before 'e was +knocked down by a bus. Knocked down in Westminister 'e was, and runned +over the body by both 'ind wheels. 'E never got over it--not as you +might say reely got over it. If ever 'e ate cheese after that it +always give 'im a pain in 'is stomick." + +An apropos remark about "come wheel come woe" flashed into my mind, +but before I could frame it in properly sympathetic language, a taxi +drew up at the door with Gertie 'Uggins installed in state alongside +the driver. + +Both she and Mrs. Oldbury stood on the step, and waved farewell to me +as I drove down the street. I was quite sorry to leave them. I felt +that they both liked me in their respective ways, and my present list +of amiably disposed acquaintances was so small that I objected to +curtailing it by the most humble member. + +All the way to Tilbury I occupied myself with the hackneyed but +engrossing pursuit of pondering over my affairs. Apart from my own +private interest in the matter, which after all was a fairly poignant +one, the mysterious adventure in which I was involved filled me with +a profound curiosity. Latimer's dramatic re-entry on to the scene had +thrown an even more sinister complexion over the whole business than +it boasted before, and, like a man struggling with a jig-saw problem, +I tried vainly to fit together the various pieces into some sort of +possible solution. + +I was still engaged in this interesting occupation when the train ran +into Tilbury station. Without waiting for a porter I collected my +various belongings, and stepped out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had told me in his letter that he would arrange for some +one to meet me; and looking round I caught sight of a burly red-faced +gentleman in a tight jacket and a battered straw hat, sullenly eyeing +the various passengers who had alighted. I walked straight up to him. + +"Are you waiting for me--Mr. James Nicholson?" I asked. + +He looked me up and down in a kind of familiar fashion that distinctly +failed to appeal to me. + +"That's right," he said. Then as a sort of afterthought he added, "I +gotter trap outside." + +"Have you?" I said. "I've got a couple of bags inside, so you'd better +come and catch hold of one of them." + +His unpleasantly red face grew even redder, and for a moment he seemed +to meditate some spirited answer. Then apparently he thought better of +it, and slouching after me up the platform, possessed himself of the +larger and heavier of my two bags, which I had carefully left for him. + +The trap proved to be a ramshackle affair with an ill-kept but +powerful-looking horse between the shafts. I climbed up, and as I took +my seat I observed to my companion that I wished first of all to call +at the post-office. + +"I dunno nothin' 'bout that," he grunted, flicking his whip. "My +orders was to drive you to Warren's Copse." + +"I don't care in the least what your orders were," I answered. "You +can either go to the post-office or else you can go to the Devil. +There are plenty of other traps in Tilbury." + +He was evidently unused to this crisp style of dialogue, for after +glaring at me for a moment in a sort of apoplectic amazement he jerked +his horse round and proceeded slowly down the street. + +"'Ave it yer own way," he muttered. + +"I intend to," I said cheerfully. + +We pulled up at the post-office, a large red-brick building in the +main street, and leaving my disgruntled friend sitting in the trap, +I jumped out and pushed open the swing door. Except for an +intelligent-looking clerk behind the counter the place was empty. + +"Good-morning," I said. "I wonder if you could help me out of a slight +difficulty about my letters?" + +"What sort of a difficulty?" he inquired civilly. + +"Well, for the next week or two," I said, "I shall be living in a +little hut on the marshes about two miles to the east from here, and +quite close to the sea-wall. I am making a few chemical experiments in +connection with photography" (a most useful lie this), "and I've told +my friends to write or send telegrams here--to the post-office. I +wondered, if anything should come for me, whether you had a special +messenger or any one who could bring it over. I would be delighted to +pay him his proper fee and give him something extra for his trouble. +My name is Nicholson--Mr. James Nicholson." + +The man hesitated for a moment. "I don't think there will be any +difficulty about that--not if you leave written instructions. I shall +have to ask the postmaster when he comes in, but I'm pretty certain it +will be all right." + +I thanked him, and after writing out exactly what I wanted done, I +returned to my friend in the trap, who, to judge from his expression, +did not appear to have benefited appreciably from my little lesson in +patience and politeness. Under the circumstances I decided to extend +it. + +"I am going across the street to get some things I want," I observed. +"You can wait here." + +He made an unpleasant sound in his throat, which I think he intended +for an ironical laugh. "Wot you want's a bus," he remarked; "a bus an' +a bell an' a ruddy conductor." + +I came quite close and looked up into his face, smiling. "What you +want," I said quietly, "is a damned good thrashing, and if I have any +more of your insolence I'll pull you down out of the trap and give you +one." + +I think something in my voice must have told him I was speaking the +literal truth, for although his mouth opened convulsively it closed +again without any audible response. + +I strolled serenely across the road to where I saw an "Off-Licence." +I had acted in an indiscreet fashion, but whatever happened I was +determined to put up with no further rudeness from anybody. I had had +all the discourtesy I required during my three years in Princetown. + +My purchases at the Off-Licence consisted of three bottles of whisky +and two more of some rather obscure brand of champagne. It was +possible, of course, that McMurtrie's ideas of catering included such +luxuries, but there seemed no reason for running any unnecessary risk. +As a prospective host it was clearly my duty to take every reasonable +precaution. + +Armed with my spoils I returned to the trap, and stored them away +carefully beneath the seat. Then I climbed up alongside the driver. + +"Now you can go to Warren's Copse," I said; and without making any +reply the tomato-faced gentleman jerked round his horse's head, and +back we went up the street. + +I can't say it was exactly an hilarious drive. I felt cheerful enough +myself, but my companion maintained a depressed and lowering silence, +broken only by an occasional inward grunt, or a muttered curse at +the horse. It struck me as curious and not a little sinister that +McMurtrie should be employing such an uncouth ruffian, but I supposed +that he had some sound reason for his choice. I couldn't imagine +McMurtrie doing anything without a fairly sound reason. + +Within about ten minutes of leaving the town, we came out on to the +main road that bounded the landward side of the marshes. I caught +sight of my future home looking very small and desolate against the +long stretch of sea-wall, and far in the distance I could just discern +the mast of the _Betty_ still tapering up above the bank of the creek. +It was comforting to know that so far at all events Mr. Gow had +neither sunk her nor pawned her. + +Warren's Copse proved to be the small clump of trees that I had +noticed on the previous day, and my driver pulled up there and jerked +the butt of his whip in the direction of the hut. + +"There y'are," he said. "We can't get no nearer than this." + +There was a good distance to walk across the marsh, and for a moment I +wondered whether to insist upon his getting out and carrying one of +my bags, I decided, however, that I had had quite enough of the surly +brute's company, so jumping down, I took out my belongings, and told +him that he was at liberty to depart. + +He drove off without a word, but he had not gone more than about +thirty yards when he suddenly turned in his seat and called out a +parting observation. + +"I ain't afraid o' you--you--'ulkin' bully!" he shouted; "an' don't +you think it neither." + +Then, whipping up the horse, he broke into a smart canter, and +disappeared round a bend in the road. + +When I had done laughing, I shoved a bottle into each side pocket, and +stowed away the other three in the emptier of my two bags. The latter +were no light weight to lug along, and by the time I had covered the +half-mile of marsh that separated me from the hut I had come to the +conclusion that the profession of a railway porter was one that I +should never adopt as a private hobby. + +As soon as I unlocked the door, I saw that I had not been far wrong in +my guess about a caretaker on the previous afternoon. Some one, at all +events, had been there in the interval, for the pile of cooking and +eating utensils were now arranged on a rough shelf at the back, while +the box which I had noticed had been unpacked and its contents set out +on the kitchen table. + +I glanced over them with some interest. There were packets of tea and +sugar, several loaves of bread, and a number of gaily-coloured tins, +containing such luxuries as corned beef, condensed milk, tongue, +potted meat, and golden syrup. Except for the tea, however, there +seemed to be a regrettable dearth of liquid refreshments, and I +mentally thanked Providence for my happy inspiration with regard to +the Off-Licence. + +I pottered about a bit, unpacking my own belongings, and putting +things straight generally. As I seemed likely to be spending some time +in the place, I thought I might as well make everything as comfortable +and tidy as possible to start with; and, thanks to my combined +experience of small boats and prison cells, I flatter myself I made +rather a good job of it. + +By the time I had finished I was feeling distinctly hungry. I opened +one of the tongues, and with the additional aid of bread and whisky +made a simple but satisfying lunch. Then I sat down on the bed and +treated myself to a pipe before going across to the shed to start +work. Smoking in business hours is one of those agreeable luxuries +which an inventor of high explosives finds it healthier to deny +himself. + +I could see no sign of any one about when I went outside. Except for +a few gulls, which were wheeling backwards and forwards over the +sea-wall, I seemed to have the whole stretch of marsh and saltings +entirely to myself. Some people, I suppose, would have found the +prospect a depressing one, but I was very far from sharing any such +opinion. I like marsh scenery, and for the present at all events I +was fully able to appreciate the charms which sages of all times are +reported to have discovered in solitude. + +I shall never forget the feeling of satisfaction with which I +closed the door of the shed behind me and looked round its clean, +well-lighted interior. A careful examination soon showed me that +McMurtrie's share in the work had been done as thoroughly and +conscientiously as I had imagined from my brief inspection on the +previous day. Everything I had asked for was lying there in readiness, +and, much as I disliked and mistrusted the doctor, it was not without +a genuine sensation of gratitude that I hung up my coat and proceeded +to set to work. + +Briefly speaking, my new discovery was an improvement on the famous C. +powder, invented by Lemartre. It was derived from the aromatic series +of nitrates (which that great scientist always insisted to be the +correct basis for stable and powerful explosives), but it owed its +enormously increased force to a fresh constituent, the introduction +of which was entirely my own idea. I had been working at it for about +nine months before my arrest, and after several disappointing failures +I had just succeeded in achieving what I believed to be my object, +when my experiments had been so unkindly interrupted. + +Still, all that remained now was comparatively clear sailing. I had +merely to follow out my former process, and I had taken care to order +the various ingredients in as fully prepared a state as possible for +immediate use. I had also taken care to include one or two other +articles, which as a matter of fact had nothing on earth to do with +the business in hand. It was just as well, I felt, to obscure matters +a trifle, in case any inquiring mind might attempt to investigate my +secret. + +For hour after hour I worked on, sorting out my various chemicals, and +preparing such methods of treatment as were necessary in each case. I +was so interested in my task that I paid no attention at all to the +time, until with something of a shock I suddenly realized that the +light was beginning to fail. Looking at my watch I found that it was +nearly half-past seven. + +There was still a certain amount to do before I could knock off, so, +stopping for a moment to mix myself a well-earned whisky-and-water, I +switched on the two electric head-lights which McMurtrie had provided +as a means of illumination. With the aid of these I continued my +labours for perhaps another hour and a half, at the end of which +time I began to feel that a little rest and refreshment would be an +agreeable variation in the programme. + +After making sure that everything was safe, I turned out the lights, +and locking up the door, walked back to the hut. I was just entering, +when it suddenly struck me that instead of dining in solitary state +off tongue and bread, I might just as well stroll over to the _Betty_ +and take my evening repast in the engaging company of Mr. Gow. + +No sooner had this excellent idea entered my head than I decided to +put it into practice. The moon was out, and there appeared to be +enough light to see my way by the old route along the river shore, +so, walking down to the sea-wall, I climbed over, and set off in the +direction of the creek. + +It was tricky sort of work, with fine possibilities of spraining +one's ankle about it, but by dint of "going delicately," like Agag, I +managed to reach the end of my journey without disaster. As I rounded +the bend I saw the _Betty_ lying out in mid-stream, bathed in a most +becoming flood of moonlight. A closer observation showed me the head +and shoulders of Mr. Gow protruding from the fo'c's'le hatch. + +He responded to my hail by scrambling up on deck and lowering himself +into the dinghy, which with a few vigorous jerks he brought to the +shore. + +"I've come to have supper with you, Mr. Gow," I observed. "Have you +got anything to eat?" + +He touched his cap and nodded. "I says to meself it must be you, sir, +d'rectly I heard you comin' round the crick. There ain't much comp'ny +'bout here at night-time." + +"Nor in the daytime either," I added, pushing the boat off from the +bank. + +"And that's a fact, sir," he remarked, settling down to the oars. +"There was one gent round here this morning askin' his way, but except +for him we bin remarkable quiet." + +"What sort of a gent?" I demanded with interest. + +"Smallish, 'e was, sir, an' very civil spoken. Wanted to get to +Tilbury." + +"Did he ask who the boat belonged to, by any chance?" + +Mr. Gow reflected for a moment. "Now you come to mention it, sir, I +b'lieve 'e did. Not as I should have told 'im anything, even if I'd +known. I don't hold with answerin' questions." + +"You're quite right, Mr. Gow," I observed, catching hold of the +stern of the _Betty_. "It's a habit that gets people into a lot of +trouble--especially in the Law Courts." + +We clambered on board, and while my companion made the dinghy fast, +I went down into the cabin, and proceeded to rout out the lockers in +search of provisions. I discovered a slab of pressed beef, and some +rather stale bread and cheese, which I set out on the table, wondering +to myself, as I did so, whether the inquisitive stranger of the +morning was in any way connected with my affairs. It couldn't have +been Latimer, for that gentleman was very far from being "smallish," a +remark which applied equally well to our mutual friend with the scar. +I was still pondering over the question when I heard Mr. Gow drop down +into the fo'c's'le, and summoned him through the connecting door to +come and join the feast. + +He accepted my invitation with some embarrassment, as became a "paid +hand," but a bottle of Bass soon put him at his ease. We began by +discussing various nautical topics, such as the relative merits of a +centre-board or a keel for small boats, and whether whisky or beer was +really the better drink when one was tired and wet through. It was not +until we had finished our meal and were sitting outside enjoying our +pipes that I broached the question that was at the back of my mind. + +"Look here, Gow," I said abruptly, "were you speaking seriously when +you suggested that launch ran you down on purpose?" + +His face darkened, and then a curious look of slow cunning stole into +it. + +"Mebbe they did, and mebbe they didn't," he answered. "Anyway, I +reckon they wouldn't have bin altogether sorry to see me at the bottom +o' the river." + +"But why?" I persisted. "What on earth have you been doing to them?" + +Mr. Gow was silent for a moment. "'Tis like this, sir," he said at +last. "Bein' about the river all times o' the day an' night, I see +things as other people misses--things as per'aps it ain't too healthy +to see." + +"Well, what have you seen our pals doing?" I inquired. + +"I don't say I seen 'em doin' nothin'--nothin' against the law, so to +speak." He looked round cautiously. "All the same, sir," he added, +lowering his voice, "it's my belief as they ain't livin' up there on +Sheppey for no good purpose. Artists they calls 'emselves, but to my +way o' thinking they're a sight more interested in forts an' ships an' +suchlike than they are in pickchers and paintin'." + +I looked at him steadily for a moment. There was no doubt that the man +was in earnest. + +"You think they're spies?" I said quietly. + +He nodded his head. "That's it, sir. Spies--that's what they are; a +couple o' dirty Dutch spies--damn 'em." + +"Why don't you tell the police or the naval people?" I asked. + +He laughed grimly. "They'd pay a lot of heed to the likes o' me, +wouldn't they? You can lay them two fellers have got it all squared up +fine and proper. Come to look into it, an' you'd find they was artists +right enough; no, there wouldn't be no doubt about that. As like as +not I'd get two years 'ard for perjurin' and blackmail." + +To a certain extent I was in a position to sympathize with this point +of view. + +"Well, we must keep an eye on them ourselves," I said, "that's all. +We can't have German spies running up and down the Thames as if they +owned the blessed place." I got up and knocked out my pipe. "The first +thing to do," I added, "is to summons them for sinking your boat. If +they _are_ spies, they'll pay up without a murmur, especially if they +really tried to do it on purpose." + +Mr. Gow nodded his head again, with a kind of vicious obstinacy. "They +done it a-purpose all right," he repeated. "They seen me watching of +'em, and they knows that dead men tell no tales." + +There scarcely seemed to me to be enough evidence for the certainty +with which he cherished this opinion; but the mere possibility of its +being a fact was sufficiently disturbing. Goodness knows, I didn't +want to mix myself up in any further troubles, and yet, if these men +were really German spies, and, in addition to that, sufficiently +desperate to attempt a cold-blooded murder in order to cover up their +traces, I had apparently let myself in for it with a vengeance. + +Of course, if I liked, I could abandon Mr. Gow to pursue his claim +without any assistance; but that was a solution which somehow or other +failed to appeal to me. In a sense he had become my retainer; and +we Lyndons are not given to deserting our retainers under any +circumstances. At least, I shouldn't exactly have liked to face my +father in another world with this particular weakness against my +record. + +Altogether it was in a far from serene state of mind that I climbed +down into the dinghy, and allowed Mr. Gow to row me back to the bank. + +"Will you be over tomorrow, sir?" he asked, as he stood up in the boat +ready to push off. + +"I don't think so, I shall be rather busy the next two or three +days." Then I paused a moment. "Keep your eyes open generally, Mr. +Gow," I added; "and if any more gentlemen who have lost their way to +Tilbury come and ask you the name of the _Betty's_ owner, tell them +she belongs to the Bishop of London." + +He touched his cap quite gravely. "Yessir," he said. "Good-night, +sir." + +"Good-night, Mr. Gow," I replied, and scrambling up the bank, I set +off on my return journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + +It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the +rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and +exhaustion. Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark +brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have +taken for finely ground coffee. It was not coffee, however; it was the +fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that +any human being has ever accomplished. Unless I was wrong--utterly and +hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to +blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next +week. + +I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle +slowly through my fingers. The stuff was quite safe to handle; that +was one of its beauties. I could have put a lighted match to it or +thrown it on the fire without the faintest risk; the only possible +method of releasing its appalling power being the explosion of a few +grains of gunpowder or dynamite in its immediate vicinity. I had no +intention of allowing that interesting event to occur until I had made +certain necessary preparations. + +I was still contemplating my handiwork with a sort of fatigued pride, +when a sudden sound outside attracted my attention. Getting up and +looking through the shed window, I discovered a telegraph-boy standing +by the hut, apparently engaged in hunting for the bell. + +"All right, sonny," I called out. "Bring it along here." + +I walked to the door, and the next minute I was being handed an +envelope addressed to me at the Tilbury Post-Office in Joyce's +handwriting. + +"It came the last post yesterday," explained the lad. "We couldn't let +you have it until this morning because there wasn't any one to send." + +"Well, sit down a moment, Charles," I said; "and I'll just see if +there's any answer." + +He seated himself on the bench, staring round at everything with +obvious interest. With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I slit open +the envelope and pulled out its contents. + + +"CHELSEA, + +"_Monday._ + +"DEAREST JAMES, + +"It looks rather nice written--doesn't it! I am coming down tomorrow +by the train which gets into Tilbury at 2.15. I shall walk across to +the _Betty_ and sit there peacefully till you turn up. Whatever stage +the work is at, don't be later than 7.30. I shall have supper ready by +then--and it will be a supper worth eating. My poor darling, you must +be simply starved. I've lots to tell you, James, but it will keep till +tomorrow. + +"With all my love, + +"JOYCE." + +I read this through (it was so like Joyce I could almost fancy I heard +her speaking), and then I turned to the telegraph-boy, who was still +occupied in taking stock of his surroundings. + +"There's no answer, thank you, Charles," I said. "How much do I owe +you?" + +He pulled himself together abruptly. "It will be two shillings, the +post-office fee, sir." + +"Well, there it is," I said; "and there's another shilling for +yourself." + +He jumped up and pocketed the coins with an expression of gratitude. +Then he paused irresolutely. "Beg pardon, sir," he observed, "but +ain't you a gentleman who makes things?" + +I laughed. "We most of us do that, Charles," I said, "if they're only +mistakes." + +He looked round the shed with an expression of slight awe. "Can you +make fireworks?" he asked. + +I glanced instinctively at the little heap of powder. "Of a kind," I +admitted modestly. "Why?" + +He gave an envious sigh. "I only wondered if it was hard, sir. I'd +rather be able to make fireworks than do anything." + +"It's not very hard," I said consolingly. "You go on bringing my +letters and telegrams for me like a good boy directly they arrive, and +before I leave here I'll show you how to do it. Only you mustn't talk +about it to anybody, or I shall have everyone asking me the same +thing." + +His face brightened, and stammering out his thanks and his +determination to keep the bargain a profound secret, he reluctantly +took his departure. I felt that in future, whatever happened, I +was pretty certain to get anything which turned up for me at the +post-office without undue delay. + +For the next half-hour or so I amused myself by constructing a kind of +amateur magazine outside the hut in which to store my precious powder. +It was safe enough in a way above ground, as I have already mentioned, +but with inquisitive strangers like Mr. Latimer prowling around, I +certainly didn't mean to leave a grain of it about while I was absent +from the shed. I packed it all away in a waterproof iron box, which I +had specially ordered for the purpose, and buried it in the hole that +I had dug outside. Then I covered the latter over with a couple of +pieces of turf, and carefully removed all traces of my handiwork. + +It was not until I had finished this little job that I suddenly +realized how tired I was. For the last four days I had scarcely +stirred outside the shed, and I don't suppose I had averaged more than +three hours' sleep a night the whole time. The excitement and interest +of my work had kept me going, and now that it was over I found that I +was almost dropping with fatigue. + +I locked up the place, and walking across to the hut, opened myself +one of the bottles of champagne which I had so thoughtfully purchased +at the Off-Licence. It was not exactly a vintage wine, but I was in no +mood to be over-critical, and I drank off a couple of glasses with the +utmost appreciation. Then I lay down on the bed, and in less than five +minutes I was sleeping like a log. + +I woke up at exactly half-past four. However tired I am, a few hours' +sleep always puts me right again, and by the time I had had a wash and +changed into a clean shirt, I felt as fresh as a daisy. + +I decided to walk straight over to the _Betty_. I knew that by this +time Joyce would be on board, and as there was nothing else to be done +in the shed, I thought I might just as well join her now as later. I +had been too busy to miss any one very much the last four days, but +now that the strain was over I felt curiously hungry to see her again. +Besides, I was longing to hear what news she had brought about Tommy +and George. + +With a view to contributing some modest item towards the supper +programme, I shoved the other bottle of champagne into my pocket, and +then lighting a cigar, locked up the place, and set off for the creek +by my usual route. The tide was very high, and on several occasions I +had to scramble up and make my way along the sea-wall in full view +of the marsh and the roadway. Fortunately, however, there seemed, +as usual, to be no one about, and I reached the mouth of the creek +without much fear of having been watched or followed. + +The _Betty_ was there all right, but I could see no sign of any one on +board. I walked up the creek until I was exactly opposite where she +was lying, and then putting my hands to my lips I gave her a gentle +hail. + +In an instant Joyce's head appeared out of the cabin, and the next +moment she was on deck waving me a joyous welcome with the frying-pan. + +"Oh, it's you!" she cried. "How lovely! Half a second, and I'll come +over and fetch you." + +"Where's Mr. Gow?" I called out. + +"He's gone home. I sent him off for a holiday. There's no one on board +but me." + +She scrambled aft, and unshipping the dinghy, came sculling towards me +across the intervening water. She was wearing a white jersey, and with +her arms bare and her hair shining in the sunlight, she made a picture +that only a blind man would have failed to find inspiring. + +She brought up right against the bank where I was standing, and +leaning over, caught hold of the grass. + +"Jump," she said. "I'll hang on." + +I jumped, and the next moment I was beside her in the boat, and we +were hugging each other as cheerfully and naturally as two children. + +"You dear, to come so soon!" she said. "I wasn't expecting you for +ages." + +I kissed her again, and then, picking up the oars, pushed off from the +bank. "Joyce," I said, "I've done it! I've made enough of the blessed +stuff to blow up half Tilbury." + +She clapped her hands joyfully. "How splendid! I knew you would. Have +you tried it?" + +I shook my head. "Not yet," I said. "We'll do it early tomorrow +morning, before any one's about." Then, digging in my scull to avoid a +desolate-looking beacon, I added anxiously: "What about Tommy? Is he +coming?" + +Joyce nodded. "He'll be down tomorrow. I've got a letter for you from +him. He saw Mr. Latimer last night." + +"Did he!" said I. "Things are moving with a vengeance. What about the +gentle George?" + +Joyce laughed softly. "Oh," she said; "I've such lots to tell you, I +hardly know where to start." + +I ran the boat alongside the _Betty_, and we both climbed on board. + +"Suppose we start by having some tea," I suggested. "I'm dying for a +cup." + +"You poor dear," said Joyce. "Of course you shall have one. You can +read what Tommy says while I'm getting it ready." + +She fetched the letter out of the cabin, and sitting in the well I +proceeded to decipher the three foolscap pages of hieroglyphics which +Tommy is pleased to describe as his handwriting. As far as I could +make out they ran as follows: + +"MY DEAR NEIL, + +"I suppose I oughtn't to begin like that, in case somebody else got +hold of the letter. It doesn't matter really, however, because Joyce +is bringing it down, and you can tear the damn thing up as soon as +you've read it. + +"Well, I've seen Latimer. I wrote to him directly I got back, reminded +him who I was, and told him I wanted to have a chat with him about +some very special private business. He asked me to come round to his +rooms in Jermyn Street last night at ten o'clock, and I was there till +pretty near midnight. + +"I thought I was bound to find out something, but good Lord, Neil, it +came off in a way I'd never dared hope for. Practically speaking, I've +got to the bottom of the whole business--at least so far as Latimer's +concerned. You see he either had to explain or else tell me to go to +the devil, and as he thought I was a perfectly safe sort of chap to be +honest with, he decided to make a clean breast of it. + +"To start with, it's very much what we suspected. Latimer _is_ a +Secret Service man, and that's how he comes to be mixed up in the job. +It seems that some little while ago the Admiralty or one of the other +Government departments got it into their heads that there were a +number of Germans over in England spying out the land in view of a +possible row over this Servian business. Latimer was told off amongst +others to look into the matter. He had been sniffing around for some +weeks without much luck, when more or less by chance he dropped across +the track of those two very identical beauties who ran down Gow's boat +in the Thames last Friday. + +"Somehow or other they must have got wind of the fact that he was +after them, and they evidently made up their minds to get rid of him. +They seem to have set about it rather neatly. The man with the scar, +who is either one of them or else in with them, introduced himself to +Latimer as a member of the French Secret Service. He pretended that +he had some special information about the case in hand, and although +Latimer was a bit suspicious, he agreed to dine at Parelli's and hear +what the fellow had to say. + +"Well, you know the rest of that little incident. If it hadn't been +for you there's not the faintest doubt that Latimer would have +copped it all right, and I can tell you he's by way of being rather +particularly grateful. I was specially instructed to send you a +message to that effect next time I was writing. + +"What the connection is between your crowd and these Germans I can't +exactly make out. Of course if you're right in your idea about the +chap with the scar spying on you in London it's perfectly obvious +they're working together in some way. At the same time I'm quite sure +that Latimer knows nothing about it. The reason he came down to look +at the hut on Friday was because a report about it had been sent to +him by one of his men--he has two fellows working under him--and he +thought it might have something to do with the Germans. He described +the way you had caught him quite frankly, and told me how he'd had to +invent a lie about the Surveyor in order to get out of it. + +"Exactly what he means to do next I don't know. He has got some plan +on, and I've a notion he wants me to help him--at least he sounded +me pretty plainly last night as to whether I'd be game to lend him a +hand. I need hardly tell you I jumped at the idea. It seems to me our +only possible chance of finding out anything. I am to see him or hear +from him tomorrow, and directly I know what's in the wind I'll either +write to you or come and look you up. + +"Joyce will tell you all about George and McMurtrie. If they aren't +both up to some kind of particularly dirty mischief I'll eat my whole +wardrobe. We must talk it over thoroughly when we meet. + +"I'm longing to see you again, and hear all about the work and what's +been going on down there. + +"So long, old son, + +"Yours as ever, + +"TOMMY." + +I was just making out the last words, when Joyce emerged from the +cabin, carrying some tea on a tray. + +"Here you are, Neil," she said. "I have cut you only two slices of +bread and butter, because I don't want you to spoil your supper. +There's cold pheasant and peas and new potatoes." + +I pulled out the bottle of champagne from my pocket. "If they're as +new as this wine," I observed, "they ought to be delicious." + +Joyce accepted my contribution, and after reading the label, placed it +carefully on the floor of the well. "Sarcon et fils," she repeated. "I +always thought they made vinegar." + +"Perhaps they do," I replied. "We shall know when we drink it." + +Joyce laughed, and sitting down beside me, poured me out a cup of tea. +"You've read Tommy's letter," she said. "What do you think about it?" + +I took a long drink. "From the little I've seen of Mr. Bruce Latimer," +I said, "I should put him down as being one of the most accomplished +liars in England." I paused. "At the same time," I added, "I think +he's a fine fellow. I like his face." + +Joyce nodded her head. "But you don't believe his story?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "It may be true," I said. "Tommy seems +to think so anyhow. If it is, things are a bit simpler than I +imagined--that's all." + +"And if it isn't?" said Joyce. + +"Ah!" said I, "if it isn't--" + +I left the sentence unfinished, and helped myself to a second bit of +bread and butter. + +There was a short silence. + +"Tell me about George, Joyce," I went on. "What are these particular +dark doings that Tommy's hinting about?" + +Joyce leaned forward with her chin on her hands, her blue eyes fixed +on mine. + +"Neil," she said slowly, "I've found out something at last--something +I thought I was never going to. I know who the man was in Marks's +rooms on the day that he was murdered." + +I was so surprised that I gulped down a mouthful of nearly boiling +tea. + +"I wish you'd break these things more gently, Joyce," I said. "Who was +it?" + +"It was Dr. McMurtrie." + +I put down the teacup and stared at her in the blankest amazement. + +"Dr. McMurtrie!" I repeated incredulously. + +She nodded. "Listen, and I'll tell you exactly how it all happened. I +dined with George, as you know, at the Savoy on Friday, and we went +into the whole business of my going away with him. He has got that +twelve thousand pounds, Neil; there's no doubt about it. He showed me +the entry in his pass-book and the acknowledgment from the bank, and +he even offered to write me a cheque for a couple of hundred right +away, to buy clothes with for the trip." + +"From what I remember of George," I said, "he must be desperately in +love with you." + +Joyce gave a little shiver of disgust. "Of course I let him think I +was giving way. I wanted to find out where the money had come from, +but try as I would, I couldn't get him to tell me. That makes me feel +so certain there's something wrong about it. In the end I arranged to +dine with him again tomorrow night, when I said I'd give him my final +answer. On Saturday morning, however, I changed my mind, and wrote him +a note to say I'd come Thursday instead. I didn't mean to tie myself +to be back tomorrow, in case you wanted me here." + +She paused. + +"I had to go up Victoria Street, so I thought I'd leave the letter at +his office. I'd just got there, and I was standing outside the door +opening my bag, when a man came down the steps. I looked up as he +passed, and--oh Neil!--it was all I could do to stop myself from +screaming. I knew him at once; I knew his cold wicked face just as +well as if it had been only three days instead of three years. It was +the man I'd seen in Marks's rooms on the afternoon of the murder." + +She stopped again, and took a deep breath. + +"I was horribly excited, and yet at the same time I felt quite cool. I +let him get about ten yards away down the street, and then I started +off after him. He walked as far as the Stores. Then he called an empty +taxi that was coming past, and I heard him tell the driver to go to +the Hotel Russell. I thought about how you'd followed the man with the +scar, and I made up my mind I'd do the same thing. I had to wait for +several seconds before another taxi came by, but directly it did +I jumped in and told the man to drive me to the corner of Russell +Square. + +"I got there just as the other taxi was drawing up in front of the +hotel. A porter came forward and opened the door, and I saw the man +get out and go up the steps. I waited for one moment, and then I +walked along to the entrance myself. The porter was still standing +there, so I went straight up to him and asked him quite simply what +the name of the gentleman was who had just gone inside. He sort of +hesitated, and then he said to me: 'That gentleman, Miss?--that's Dr. +McMurtrie.'" + +Once more she paused, and, pushing away the tray, I lit myself a +cigar. "It's lucky you've had some practice in surprises," I observed. + +Joyce nodded. "Of course I was absolutely flabbergasted, but I don't +think I showed anything. I sort of rummaged in my bag for a minute +till I'd recovered; then I gave the man half a crown and asked him if +he knew how long Dr. McMurtrie was staying. I think he was in doubt as +to whether I was a female detective or a lady reporter; anyhow he took +the money and said he was very sorry he didn't know, but that if I +wanted an interview at any time he had no doubt it might be arranged. +I thanked him, and said it didn't matter for the moment, and there I +thought it best to leave things. You see I knew that whether McMurtrie +stayed on at the Russell or not you were bound to see him again, and +there was nothing to be gained by asking questions which the porter +would probably repeat to him. It would only have helped to put him on +his guard--wouldn't it?" + +"My dear Joyce," I said, "I think you did splendidly. Sherlock Holmes +couldn't have done better." I got up and walked to the end of the +cockpit. "But good Lord!" I added, "this does complicate matters. +You're absolutely certain it was McMurtrie you saw at Marks's flat?" + +"Absolutely," repeated Joyce with emphasis. "I should remember his +face if I lived to be a hundred." + +I clenched my fists in a sudden spasm of anger. "There's some damned +villainy underneath all this, Joyce," I said. "If McMurtrie was there +that afternoon the odds are that he knows who committed the murder." + +"He did it himself," said Joyce calmly. "I'm as sure of it as I am +that I'm sitting here." + +"But why?" I demanded--"why? Who on earth _was_ Marks? Nobody in +Chelsea seemed to know anything about him, and nothing came out at the +trial. Why should any one have wanted to kill him except me?" + +Joyce shook her head. "I don't know," she said stubbornly; "but I'm +quite certain it was McMurtrie. I feel it inside me." + +"And in any case," I continued, "what the devil is he doing messing +about with George? I'm the only connecting-link between them, and he +can't possibly mean to betray me--at all events, until he's got the +secret of the powder. He knows George would give me up tomorrow." + +Joyce made a gesture of perplexity. "I know," she said. "It's an +absolute mystery to me too. I've been puzzling and puzzling over it +till my head aches, and I can't see any sort of explanation at all." + +"The only thing that's quite plain," I said, "is the fact that +McMurtrie and Savaroff have been lying to me from the start. They are +no more powder-merchants than you are. They want to get hold of my +invention for some reason--to make money out of it, I suppose--and +then they're prepared to clear out and leave me to George and the +police. At least, that's what it's beginning to look like." + +"Well, anyhow," said Joyce, "you're not tied to them any longer by +your promise." + +"No," I said; "it takes two to keep a bargain. Besides," I added +rather bitterly, "I can afford the privilege of breaking my word. It's +only what you'd expect from a convict." + +Joyce got up, and coming to where I was sitting, slipped her arm +through mine and softly stroked my hand. "Don't, Neil," she said. +"I hate you to say anything that isn't fine and generous. It's like +hearing music out of tune." + +I drew her to me, and half closing her eyes, she laid her cheek +against mine. We remained silent for a moment or two, and then, giving +her a little hug, I sat up and took hold of her hands. + +"Look here, Joyce," I said, "we won't just bother about anything for +the rest of the day. We'll be cheerful and jolly and foolish, like we +were on Friday. God knows how all this infernal tangle is going to pan +out, but we may as well snatch one evening's happiness out of it while +we've got the chance." + +Joyce kissed me, and then jumping lightly from the seat, pulled me +up with her. "We will," she said. "After all, we've got a boat and a +lovely evening and a cold pheasant and a bottle of champagne--what +more can any one want?" + +"Well," I said, "it may sound greedy, but as a matter of fact I want +some of those peas and new potatoes you were talking about just now." + +She let go my hands, and opening one of the lockers, took out a large +basin with a couple of bags in it. "There you are," she laughed. "You +can skin them and shell them while I wash up the tea-things and lay +the table. It's a man's duty to do the dangerous work." + +Joyce had always had the gift of scattering a kind of infectious +gaiety around her, and that night she seemed to be in her most +bewitching and delightful mood. I think she made up her mind to try +and wipe out from my memory for the time being all thoughts of +the somewhat harassed state of existence in which it had pleased +Providence to land me. If so, she succeeded admirably. + +We cooked the supper between us. I boiled the peas and potatoes, and +then, when we had done the first course, Joyce got up and made a +brilliantly successful French omelette out of some fresh eggs which +she had brought down for that inspired purpose. + +It was very charming in the little low-ceilinged cabin, with the lamp +swinging overhead and no sound outside but the soft lapping of the +tide upon the sides of the boat. We lay and talked for some time after +we had finished, while I smoked a cigar, and Joyce, stretched out +luxuriously on the other bunk, indulged in a couple of cigarettes. + +"We won't wash up," I said. "I'll just shove everything through into +the fo'c's'le, and we'll leave them there for Mr. Gow. A certain +amount of exercise will be good for him after his holiday." + +"Do," said Joyce sleepily. "And then come and sit over here, Neil. I +want to stroke your hair." + +I cleared away the things, and shutting up the table, which worked on +a hinge, spread out my own cushions on the floor alongside of +Joyce's bunk. The latter was just low enough to let me rest my head +comfortably on her shoulder. + +How long we lay like that I really don't know. My whole body and mind +were steeped in a strange, delightful sense of peace and contentment, +and I began to realize, I think for the first time, how utterly +necessary and dear to me Joyce had become. I slid my arm underneath +her--she lay close up against me, her hair, which she had loosened +from its fastenings, half covering us both in its soft beauty. + +The lamp flickered and died down, but we didn't trouble to relight it. +Outside the night grew darker and darker, and through the open hatch +we could just see a solitary star shining down on us from between two +banks of cloud. Cool and sweet, a faint breeze drifted in from the +silent marshes. + +Then, quite suddenly, it seemed to me, a strange madness and music +filled the night for both of us. I only knew that Joyce was in my arms +and that we were kissing each other with fierce, unheeding passion. +There were tears on her cheeks--little sweet, salt tears of love and +happiness that felt all wet against my lips. + +It was only a moment--just one brief moment of unutterable beauty--and +then I remembered. With a groan I half raised myself in the darkness. + +"I must go, Joyce," I whispered. "I can't stay here. I daren't." + +She slipped her soft bare arms round my neck, and drew my face down to +hers. + +"Don't go," she whispered back. "Not if you don't want to. What does +it matter? I am all yours, Neil, anyway." + +For a moment I felt her warm fragrant breath upon my face, and her +heart beating quickly against mine. Then, with an effort--a big +effort--I tore myself away. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "it would only make things worse. Oh, my dear +sweet Joyce, I want you like the night wants the dawn, but we can't +cheat life. Suppose we fail--suppose there's only death or prison in +front of me. It will be hard enough now, but if--" + +I broke off, and with a little sob Joyce sat up and felt for my hand. + +"You're right, darling," she said; "but oh, my dear, my dear!" She +lifted up my hand and passed it softly backwards and forwards across +her eyes. Then, with a little laugh that had tears close behind it, +she added: "Do you know, my Neil, I'm conceited enough to think you're +rather wonderful." + +I bent down and kissed her with infinite tenderness. + +"I am, Joyce," I said. "Exactly how wonderful you'll never know." + +Then I lifted her up in my arms, and we went out of the cabin into the +cool darkness of the night. + +"I'll row myself ashore," I said, "and leave the dinghy on the beach. +I shall be back about four o'clock, if that's not too early for you. +We ought to get our explosion over before there's any one about." + +Joyce nodded. "I don't mind how early you come. The sooner the +better." + +"Try and get some sleep," I added; "you'll be tired out tomorrow if +you don't." + +"I'll try," said Joyce simply; "but I don't think I shall. I'm not +even sure I want to." + +I kissed her once more, and slipping down into the dinghy, pulled off +for the shore. Everything around was dark and silent--the faint splash +of my oars alone breaking the utter stillness. Landing at my usual +spot, more by luck than judgment, I tugged the boat up out of reach of +the tide, and then, turning round, waved good-night to the _Betty_. + +It was too dark to see anything, but I think Joyce sent me back my +message. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + +The eastern sky was just flushing into light when I got back to +the creek at four o'clock. It was a beautiful morning--cool and +still--with the sweet freshness of early dawn in the air, and the +promise of a long unclouded day of spring sunshine. + +I tugged the dinghy down to the water, and pushed off for the _Betty_, +which looked strangely small and unreal lying there in the dim, +mysterious twilight. The sound I made as I drew near must have reached +Joyce's ears. She was up on deck in a moment, fully dressed, and with +her hair twisted into a long bronze plait that hung down some way +below her waist. She looked as fresh and fair as the dawn itself. + +"Beautifully punctual," she called out over the side. "I knew you +would be, so I started getting breakfast." + +I caught hold of the gunwale and scrambled on board. + +"It's like living at the Savoy," I said. "Breakfast was a luxury that +had never entered my head." + +"Well, it's going to now," she returned, "unless you're in too great a +hurry to start. It's all ready in the cabin." + +"We can spare ten minutes certainly," I said. "Experiments should +always be made on a full body." + +I tied up the dinghy and followed her inside, where the table was +decorated with bread and butter and the remnants of the cold pheasant, +while a kettle hissed away cheerfully on the Primus. + +"I don't believe you've been to bed at all, Joyce," I said. "And yet +you look as if you'd just slipped out of Paradise by accident." + +She laughed, and putting her hand in my side-pocket, took out my +handkerchief to lift off the kettle with. + +"I didn't want to sleep," she said. "I was too happy, and too +miserable. It's the widest-awake mixture I ever tried." Then, picking +up the teapot, she added curiously: "Where's the powder? I expected to +see you arrive with a large keg over your shoulder." + +I sat down at the table and produced a couple of glass flasks, tightly +corked. + +"Here you are," I said. "This is ordinary gunpowder, and this other +one's my stuff. It looks harmless enough, doesn't it?" + +Joyce took both flasks and examined them with interest. "You've not +brought very much of it," she said. "I was hoping we were going to +have a really big blow-up." + +"It will be big enough," I returned consolingly, "unless I've made a +mistake." + +"Where are you going to do it?" she asked. + +"Somewhere at the back of Canvey Island," I said. "There's no one to +wake up there except the sea-gulls, and we can be out of sight round +the corner before it explodes. I've got about twenty feet of fuse, +which will give us at least a quarter of an hour to get away in." + +"What fun!" exclaimed Joyce. "I feel just like an anarchist or +something; and it's lovely to know that one's launching a new +invention. We ought to have kept that bottle of champagne to christen +it with." + +"Yes," I said regretfully; "it was the real christening brand too." + +There was a short silence. "I've thought of a name for it," cried +Joyce suddenly. "The powder, I mean. We'll call it Lyndonite. It +sounds like something that goes off with a bang, doesn't it?" + +I laughed. "It would probably suggest that to the prison authorities," +I said. "Anyhow, Lyndonite it shall be." + +We finished breakfast, and going up on deck I proceeded to haul in the +anchor, while Joyce stowed away the crockery and provisions below. For +once in a way the engine started without much difficulty, and as the +tide was running out fast it didn't take us very long to reach the +mouth of the creek. + +Once outside, I set a course down stream as close to the northern +shore as I dared go. Except for a rusty-looking steam tramp we had the +whole river to ourselves, not even a solitary barge breaking the +long stretch of grey water. One by one the old landmarks--Mucking +Lighthouse, the Thames Cattle Wharf, and Hole Haven--were left behind, +and at last the entrance to the creek that runs round behind Canvey +Island came into sight. + +One would never accuse it of being a cheerful, bustling sort of place +at the best of times, but at five o'clock in the morning it seemed the +very picture of uninhabited desolation. A better locality in which +to enjoy a little quiet practice with new explosives it would be +difficult to imagine. + +I navigated the _Betty_ in rather gingerly, for it was over three +years since I had visited the spot. Joyce kept on sounding diligently +with the lead either side of the boat, and at last we brought up in +about one and a half fathom, just comfortably out of sight of the main +stream. + +"This will do nicely," I said. "We'll turn her round first, and then +I'll row into the bank and fix things up under that tree over there. +We can be back in the river before anything happens." + +"Can't we stop and watch?" asked Joyce. "I should love to see it go +off." + +I shook my head. "Unless I've made a mistake," I said, "it will be +much healthier round the corner. We'll come back and see what's +happened afterwards." + +By the aid of some delicate manoeuvring I brought the _Betty_ round, +and then getting into the dinghy pulled myself ashore. + +It was quite unnecessary for my experiment to make any complicated +preparations. All I had to do was to dig a hole in the bank with a +trowel that I had brought for the purpose, empty my stuff into that, +and tip in the gunpowder on top. When I had finished I covered the +whole thing over with earth, leaving a clear passage for the fuse, and +then lighting the end of the latter, jumped back into the boat and +pulled off rapidly for the _Betty_. + +We didn't waste any time dawdling about. Joyce seized the painter as +I climbed on board, and hurrying to the tiller I started off down the +creek as fast as we could go, taking very particular pains not to run +aground. + +We had reached the mouth, and I was swinging her round into the main +river, when a sudden rumbling roar disturbed the peacefulness of +the dawn. Joyce, who was staring out over the stern, gave a little +startled cry, and glancing hastily back I was just in time to see a +disintegrated-looking tree soaring gaily up into the air in the midst +of a huge column of dust and smoke. The next moment a rain of falling +fragments of earth and wood came splashing down into the water--a few +stray pieces actually reaching the _Betty_, which rocked vigorously as +a minature tidal wave swept after us up the creek. + +I put down my helm and brought her round so as to face the stricken +field. + +"We seem to have done it, Joyce," I observed with some contentment. + +She gave a little gasping sort of laugh. "It was splendid!" she said. +"But, oh, Neil, what appalling stuff it must be! It's blown up half +Canvey Island!" + +"Never mind," I said cheerfully. "There are plenty of other islands +left. Let's get into the dinghy and see what the damage really amounts +to. I fancy it's fairly useful." + +We anchored the _Betty_, and then pulled up the creek towards the +scene of the explosion, where a gaping aperture in the bank was +plainly visible. As we drew near I saw that it extended, roughly +speaking, in a half-circle of perhaps twenty yards diameter. The whole +of this, which had previously been a solid bank of grass and earth, +was now nothing but a muddy pool. Of the unfortunate tree which had +marked the site there was not a vestige remaining. + +I regarded it all from the boat with the complacent pride of a +successful inventor. "It's even better than I expected, Joyce," I +said. "If one can do this with three-quarters of a pound, just fancy +the effect of a couple of hundredweight. It would shift half London." + +Joyce nodded. "They'll be more anxious than ever to get hold of it, +when they know," she said. "What are you going to do? Write and tell +McMurtrie that you've succeeded?" + +"I haven't quite decided," I answered. "I shall wait till tomorrow or +the next day, anyhow. I want to hear what Sonia has got to say first." +Then, backing away the boat, I added: "We'd better get out of this +as soon as we can. It's just possible some one may have heard the +explosion and come pushing along to find out what's the matter. People +are so horribly inquisitive." + +Joyce laughed. "It would be rather awkward, wouldn't it? We couldn't +very well say it was an earthquake. It looks too neat and tidy." + +Fortunately for us, if there was any one in the neighbourhood who +had heard the noise, they were either too lazy or too incurious to +investigate the cause. We got back on board the _Betty_ and took her +out into the main stream without seeing a sign of any one except +ourselves. The hull of the steam tramp was just visible in the far +distance, but except for that the river was still pleasantly deserted. + +"What shall we do now, Joyce?" I asked. "It seems to me that this is +an occasion which distinctly requires celebrating." + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Let's go for a long sail," she suggested, +"and then put in at Southend and have asparagus for lunch." + +I looked at her with affectionate approval. "You always have beautiful +ideas," I said. Then a sudden inspiration seized me. "I've got it!" I +cried. "What do you say to running down to Sheppey and paying a call +on our German pals?" + +Joyce's blue eyes sparkled. "It would be lovely," she said, with a +deep breath; "but dare we risk it?" + +"There's no risk," I rejoined. "When I said 'pay a call,' I didn't +mean it quite literally. My idea was to cruise along the coast and +just find out exactly where their precious bungalow is, and what they +do with that launch of theirs when they're not swamping inquisitive +boatmen. It's the sort of information that might turn out useful." + +Joyce nodded. "We'll go," she said briefly. "What about the tide?" + +"Oh, the tide doesn't matter," I replied. "It will be dead out by the +time we get to Southend; but we only draw about three foot six, and +we can cut across through the Jenkin Swatch. There's water enough off +Sheppey to float a battleship." + +It was the work of a few minutes to pull in the anchor and haul up +the sails, which filled immediately to a slight breeze that had +just sprung up from the west. Leaving a still peaceful, if somewhat +mutilated, Canvey Island behind us, we started off down the river, +gliding along with an agreeable smoothness that fitted in very nicely +with my state of mind. + +Indeed I don't think I had ever felt anything so nearly approaching +complete serenity since my escape from Dartmoor. It is true that +the tangle in which I was involved, appeared more threatening and +complicated than ever, but one gets so used to sitting on a powder +mine that the situation was gradually ceasing to distress me. + +At all events I had made my explosive, and that was one great step +towards a solution of some sort. If McMurtrie was prepared to play the +game with me I should in a few days be in what the newspapers call "a +position of comparative affluence," while if his intentions were less +straightforward I should at least have some definite idea as to where +I was. Sonia's promised disclosures were a guarantee of that. + +But apart from these considerations the mere fact of having Joyce +sitting beside me in the boat while we bowled along cheerfully through +the water was quite enough in itself to account for my new-found +happiness. One realizes some things in life with curious abruptness, +and I knew now how deeply and passionately I loved her. I suppose I +had always done so really, but she had been little more than a child +in the old Chelsea days, and the sort of brotherly tenderness and +pride I had had for her must have blinded me to the truth. + +Anyhow it was out now; out beyond any question of doubt or argument. +She was as necessary and dear to me as the stars are to the night, and +it seemed ridiculously impossible to contemplate any sort of existence +without her. Not that I wasted much energy attempting the feat; the +present was sufficiently charming to occupy my entire time. + +We passed Leigh and Southend, the former with its fleet of +fishing-smacks and the latter with its long unlovely pier, and then +nosed our way delicately into the Jenkin Swatch, that convenient ditch +which runs right across the mouth of the Thames. The sun was now high +in the sky, and one could see signs of activity on the various barges +that were hanging about the neighbourhood waiting for the tide. + +I pointed away past the Nore Lightship towards a bit of rising ground +on the low-lying Sheppey coast. + +"That's about where our pals are hanging out," I said. "There's +a little deep-water creek there, which Tommy and I used to use +sometimes, and according to Mr. Gow their bungalow is close by." + +Joyce peered out under her hand across the intervening water. "It's a +nice situation," she observed, "for artists." + +I laughed. "Yes," I said. "They are so close to Sheerness and +Shoeburyness, and other places of beauty. I expect they've done quite +a lot of quiet sketching." + +We reached the end of the Swatch, and leaving Queenborough, with its +grim collection of battleships and coal hulks, to starboard, we stood +out to sea along the coastline. It was a fairly long sail to the place +which I had pointed out to Joyce, but with a light breeze behind her +the _Betty_ danced along so gaily that we covered the distance in a +surprisingly short time. + +As we drew near, Joyce got out Tommy's field-glasses from the cabin, +and kneeling up on the seat in the well, focused them carefully on the +spot. + +"There's the entrance to the creek all right," she said, "but I don't +see any sign of a bungalow anywhere." She moved the glasses slowly +from side to side. "Oh, yes," she exclaimed suddenly, "I've got it +now--right up on the cliff there, away to the left. One can only just +see the roof, though, and it seems some way from the creek." + +She resigned the glasses to me, and took over the tiller, while I had +a turn at examining the coast. + +I soon made out the roof of the bungalow, which, as Joyce had said, +was the only part visible. It stood in a very lonely position, high +up on a piece of rising ground, and half hidden from the sea by what +seemed like a thick privet hedge. To judge by the smoke which I could +just discern rising from its solitary chimney, it looked as if the +occupants were addicted to the excellent habit of early rising. + +There was no other sign of them to be seen, however, and if the launch +was lying anywhere about, it was at all events invisible from the sea. +I refreshed my memory with a long, careful scrutiny of the entrance to +the creek, and then handing the glasses back to Joyce I again assumed +control of the boat. + +"Well," I observed, "we haven't wasted the morning. We know where +their bungalow door is, anyway." + +Joyce nodded. "It may come in very handy," she said, "in case you ever +want to pay them a surprise call." + +Exactly how soon that contingency was going to occur we neither of us +guessed or imagined! + +We reached the Nore Lightship, and waving a courteous greeting to a +patient-looking gentleman who was spitting over the side, commenced +our long beat back in the direction of Southend. It was slow work, for +the tide was only just beginning to turn, and the wind, such as there +was of it, was dead in our faces. However, I don't think either Joyce +or I found the time hang heavily on our hands. If one can't be happy +with the sun and the sea and the person one loves best in the world, +it seems to me that one must be unreasonably difficult to please. + +We fetched up off Southend Pier at just about eleven o'clock. A +hoarse-voiced person in a blue jersey, who was leaning over the end, +pointed us out some moorings that we were at liberty to pick up, and +then watched us critically while I stowed away the sails and locked up +everything in the boat which it was possible to steal. I had been to +Southend before in the old days. + +These simple precautions concluded, Joyce and I got in the dinghy +and rowed to the steps. We were met by the gentleman in blue, who +considerately offered to keep his eye on the boat for us while I "and +the lady" enjoyed what he called "a run round the town." I accepted +his proposal, and having agreed with his statement that it was "a nice +morning for a sail," set off with Joyce along the mile of pier that +separated us from the shore. + +I don't know that our adventures for the next two or three hours call +for any detailed description. We wandered leisurely and cheerfully +through the town, buying each other one or two trifles in the way of +presents, and then adjourned for lunch to a large and rather dazzling +hotel that dominated the sea front. It was a new effort on the part +of Southend since my time, but, as Joyce said, it "looked the sort of +place where one was likely to get asparagus." + +Its appearance did not belie it. At a corner table in the window, +looking out over the sea, we disposed of what the waiter described as +"two double portions" of that agreeable vegetable, together with an +excellent steak and a bottle of sound if slightly too sweet burgundy. +Then over a couple of cigarettes we discussed our immediate plans. + +"I think I'd better catch the three-thirty back," said Joyce. "I've +got one or two things I want to do before I meet George, and in any +case you mustn't stay here too long or you'll miss the tide." + +"That doesn't really matter," I said. "Only I suppose I ought to get +back just in case Tommy has turned up. I can't leave him sitting on a +mud-flat all night." + +Joyce laughed. "He'd probably be a little peevish in the morning. Men +are so unreasonable." + +I leaned across the table and took her hand. "When are you coming down +again?" I asked. "Tomorrow?" + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Tomorrow or the next day. It all depends +if I see a chance of getting anything more out of George. I'll write +to you or send you a wire, dear, anyhow." + +I nodded. "All right," I said; "and look here, Joyce; you may as well +come straight to the hut next time. It's not the least likely there'll +be any one there except me, and if there was you could easily pretend +you wanted to ask the way to Tilbury. You see, if Gow wasn't about, +you would have to pull the dinghy all the way down the bank before you +got on board the _Betty_, and that's a nice, muddy, shin-scraping sort +of job at the best of times." + +"Very well," said Joyce. Then squeezing my hand a little tighter she +added: "And my own Neil, you _will_ be careful, won't you? I always +seem to be asking you that, but, oh my dear, if you knew how horribly +frightened I am of anything happening to you. It will be worse than +ever now, after last night. I don't seem to feel it when I'm actually +with you--I suppose I'm too happy--but when I'm away from you it's +just like some ghastly horrible sword hanging over our heads all the +time. Neil darling, as soon as you get this money from McMurtrie--if +you do get it--can't we just give up the whole thing and go away and +be happy together?" + +I lifted her hand and pressed the inside of it against my lips. + +"Joyce," I said, "think what it means. It's just funking life--just +giving it up because the odds seem too heavy against us. I shouldn't +have minded killing Marks in the least. I should be rather proud of +it. If I had, we would go away together tomorrow, and I should never +worry my head as to what any one in the world was saying or thinking +about me." I paused. "But I didn't kill him," I added slowly, "and +that just makes all the difference." + +Joyce's blue eyes were very near tears, but they looked back steadily +and bravely into mine. + +"Yes, yes," she said. "I didn't really mean it, Neil. I was just weak +for the moment--that's all. Right down in my heart I want everything +for you; I could never be contented with less. I want the whole world +to know how they've wronged you; I want you to be famous and powerful +and splendid, and I want the people who've abused you to come and +smirk and grovel to you, and say that they knew all the time that you +were innocent." She stopped and took a deep breath. "And they shall, +Neil. I'm as certain of it as if I saw it happening. I seem to know +inside me that we're on the very point of finding out the truth." + +I don't think my worst enemy would accuse me of being superstitious, +but there was a ring of conviction in Joyce's voice which somehow or +other affected me curiously. + +"I believe you're right," I said. "I've got something of that sort of +feeling too. Perhaps it's infectious." Then, letting go her hand, to +spare the feelings of the waiter who had just come into the room, I +sat back in my chair and ordered the bill. + +We didn't talk much on our way to the station. I think we were both +feeling rather depressed at the prospect of doing without each other +for at least twenty-four hours, and in any case the trams and motors +and jostling crowd of holiday-makers who filled the main street would +have rendered any connected conversation rather a difficult art. + +A good many people favoured Joyce with glances of admiration, +especially a spruce-looking young constable who officially held up the +traffic to allow us to cross the road. He paid no attention at all to +me, but I consoled myself with the reflection that he was missing an +excellent chance of promotion. + +At the station I put Joyce into a first-class carriage, kissed her +affectionately under the disapproving eye of an old lady in the +opposite corner, and then stood on the platform until the train +steamed slowly out of the station. + +I turned away at last, feeling quite unpleasantly alone. It's no good +worrying about what can't be altered, however, so, lighting a cigar, I +strolled back philosophically to the hotel, where I treated myself to +the luxury of a hot bath before rejoining the boat. + +It must have been pretty nearly half-past four by the time I reached +the pier-head. My friend with the hoarse voice and the blue jersey was +still hanging around, looking rather thirsty and exhausted after his +strenuous day's work of watching over the dinghy. I gave him half a +crown for his trouble, and followed by his benediction pulled off for +the _Betty_. + +The wind had gone round a bit to the south, and as the tide was still +coming in I decided to sail up to the creek in preference to using the +engine. The confounded throb of the latter always got on my nerves, +and apart from that I felt that the mere fact of having to handle the +sails would keep my mind lightly but healthily occupied. Unless I was +mistaken, a little light healthy occupation was exactly what my mind +needed. + +As occasionally happens on exceptionally fine days in late spring, the +perfect clearness of the afternoon was gradually beginning to give +place to a sort of fine haze. It was not thick enough, however, to +bother me in any way, and under a jib and mainsail the _Betty_ swished +along at such a satisfactory pace that I was in sight of Gravesend +Reach before either the light or the tide had time to fail me. + +I thought I knew the entrance to the creek well enough by now to run +her in under sail, though it was a job that required a certain amount +of cautious handling. Anyhow I decided to risk it, and, heading for +the shore, steered her up the narrow channel, which I had been careful +to take the bearings of at low water. + +I was so engrossed in this feat of navigation that I took no notice +of anything else, until a voice from the bank abruptly attracted my +attention. I looked up with a start, nearly running myself aground, +and there on the bank I saw a gesticulating figure, which I +immediately recognized as that of Tommy. I shouted a greeting back, +and swinging the _Betty_ round, brought up in almost the identical +place where we had anchored on the previous night. + +Tommy, who had hurried down to the edge of the water, gave me a second +hail. + +"Buck up, old son!" he called out. "There's something doing." + +A suggestion of haste from Tommy argued a crisis of such urgency +that I didn't waste any time asking questions. I just threw over the +anchor, and tumbling into the dinghy sculled ashore as quickly as I +could. + +"Sorry I kept you waiting, Tommy," I said, as he jumped into the boat. +"Been here long?" + +"About three hours," he returned. "I was beginning to wonder if you +were dead." + +I shook my head. "I'm not fit to die yet," I replied. "What's the +matter?" + +He looked at his watch. "Well, the chief matter is the time. Do you +think I can get to Sheppey by half-past nine?" + +I paused in my rowing. "Sheppey!" I repeated. "Why damn it, Tommy, +I've just come back from Sheppey." + +It was Tommy's turn to look surprised. "The devil you have!" he +exclaimed. "What took you there?" + +"To be exact," I said, "it was the _Betty_"; and then in as few words +as possible I proceeded to acquaint him with the morning's doings. I +was just finishing as we came alongside. + +"Well, that's fine about the powder," he said, scrambling on board. +"Where's Gow?" + +"Joyce sent him off for a holiday," I answered, "and he hasn't come +back yet." Then hitching up the dinghy I added curiously: "What's up, +Tommy? Let's have it." + +"It's Latimer," he said. "I told you I was expecting to hear from him. +He sent me a message round early this morning, and I've promised him +I'll be in the creek under the German's bungalow by half-past nine. I +must get there somehow." + +"Oh, we'll get there all right," I returned cheerfully, "What's the +game?" + +"I think he's having a squint round," said Tommy. "Anyhow I know he's +there on his own and depending on me to pick him up." + +"But what made him ask you?" I demanded. + +"He knew I had a boat, and I fancy he's working this particular racket +without any official help. As far as I can make out, he wants to be +quite certain what these fellows are up to before he strikes. You +don't get much sympathy in the Secret Service if you happen to make a +mistake." + +"Well, it's no good wasting time talking," I said. "If we want to be +there by half-past nine we must push off at once." + +"But what about you?" exclaimed Tommy. "You can't come! He's seen you, +you know, at the hut." + +"What does it matter?" I objected. "If he didn't recognize me as the +chap who sent him the note at Parelli's, we can easily fake up some +explanation. Tell him I'm a new member of the Athenians, and that you +happened to run across me and brought me down to help work the boat. +There's no reason one shouldn't be a yachtsman and a photographer +too." + +I spoke lightly, but as a matter of fact I was some way from +trusting Tommy's judgment implicitly with regard to Latimer's +straightforwardness about the restaurant incident, and also about +his visit to the hut. All the same, I was quite determined to go to +Sheppey. Things had come to a point now when there was nothing to be +gained by over-caution. Either Latimer had recognized me or else he +hadn't. In the first event, he knew already that Tommy had been trying +to deceive him, and that the mythical artist person was none other +than myself. If that were so, I felt it was best to take the bull by +the horns, and try to find out exactly what part he suspected me of +playing. I had at least saved his life, and although we live in an +ungrateful world, he seemed bound to be more or less prejudiced in my +favour. + +Apart from these considerations, Tommy would certainly want some help +in working the _Betty_. He knew his job well enough, but with a haze +on the river and the twilight drawing in rapidly, the mouth of the +Thames is no place for single-handed sailing--especially when you're +in a hurry. + +Tommy evidently recognized this, for he raised no further objections. + +"Very well," he said, with a rather reckless laugh. "We're gambling a +bit, but that's the fault of the cards. Up with the anchor, Neil, and +let's get a move on her." + +I hauled in the chain, and then jumped up to attend to the sails, +which I had just let down loosely on deck, in my hurry to put off in +the dinghy. After a couple of unsuccessful efforts and two or three +very successful oaths, Tommy persuaded the engine to start, and we +throbbed off slowly down the creek--now quite a respectable estuary of +tidal water. + +I sat back in the well with a laugh. "I never expected a second trip +tonight," I said. "I'm beginning to feel rather like the captain of a +penny steamer." + +Tommy, who was combining the important duties of steering and lighting +a pipe, looked up from his labours. + +"The Lyndon-Morrison Line!" he observed. "Tilbury to Sheppey twice +daily. Passengers are requested not to speak to the man at the wheel." + +"I think, Tommy," I said, "that we must make an exception in the case +of Mr. Latimer." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + +A Chinese proverb informs us that "there are three hundred and +forty-six subjects for elegant conversation," but during the trip down +I think that Tommy and I confined ourselves almost exclusively to two. +One was Mr. Bruce Latimer, and the other was Joyce's amazing discovery +about McMurtrie and Marks. + +Concerning the latter Tommy was just as astonished and baffled as I +was. + +"I'm blessed if I know what to think about it, Neil," he admitted. "If +it was any one else but Joyce, I should say she'd made a mistake. What +on earth could McMurtrie have had to do with that Jew beast?" + +"Joyce seems to think he had quite a lot to do with him," I said. + +Tommy nodded. "I know. She's made up her mind he did the job all +right; but, hang it all, one doesn't go and murder people without any +conceivable reason." + +"I can conceive plenty of excellent reasons for murdering Marks," I +said impartially. "I should hardly think they would have appealed to +McMurtrie, though. The chief thing that makes me suspicious about him +is the fact of his knowing George and hiding it from me all this +time. I suppose that was how he got hold of his information about the +powder. George was almost the only person who knew of it." + +"I always thought the whole business was a devilish odd one," growled +Tommy; "but the more one finds out about it the queerer it seems to +get. These people of yours--McMurtrie and Savaroff--are weird enough +customers on their own, but when it comes to their being mixed up with +both George _and_ Marks ..." he paused. "It will turn out next that +Latimer's in it too," he added half-mockingly. + +"I shouldn't wonder," I said. "I can't swallow everything he told you, +Tommy. It leaves too much unexplained. You see, I'm pretty certain +that the chap who tried to do him in is one of McMurtrie's crowd, and +in that case--" + +"In that case," interrupted Tommy, with a short laugh, "we ought to +have rather an interesting evening. Seems to me, Neil, we're what you +might call burning our boats this journey." + +The old compunction I had felt at first against dragging Tommy and +Joyce into my affairs suddenly came back to me with renewed force. + +"I'm a selfish brute, Thomas," I said ruefully. "I think the best +thing I could do really would be to drop overboard. The Lord knows +what trouble I shall land you in before I've finished." + +"You'll land me into the trouble of telling you not to talk rot in a +minute," he returned. Then, standing up and peering out ahead over +the long dim expanse of water, dotted here and there with patches of +blurred light, he added cheerfully: "You take her over now, Neil, +We're right at the end of the Yantlet, and after this morning you +ought to know the rest of the way better than I do." + +He resigned the tiller to me, and pulling out his watch, held it up to +the binnacle lamp. + +"Close on a quarter to nine," he said. "We shall just do it nicely if +the engine doesn't stop." + +"I hope so," I said. "I should hate to keep a Government official +waiting." + +We crossed the broad entrance into Queenborough Harbour, where the dim +bulk of a couple of battleships loomed up vaguely through the haze. +It was a strange, exhilarating sensation, throbbing along in the +semi-darkness, with all sorts of unknown possibilities waiting for +us ahead. More than ever I felt what Joyce had described in the +morning--a sort of curious inward conviction that we were at last on +the point of finding out the truth. + +"We'd better slacken down a bit when we get near," said Tommy. +"Latimer specially told me to bring her in as quietly as I could." + +I nodded. "Right you are," I said. "I wasn't going to hurry, anyhow. +It's a tricky place, and I don't want to smash up any more islands. +One a day is quite enough." + +I slowed down the engine to about four knots an hour, and at this +dignified pace we proceeded along the coast, keeping a watchful eye +for the entrance to the creek. At last a vague outline of rising +ground showed us that we were in the right neighbourhood, and bringing +the _Betty_ round, I headed her in very delicately towards the shore. +It was distressingly dark, from a helmsman's point of view, but Tommy, +who had gone up into the bows, handed me back instructions, and +by dint of infinite care we succeeded in making the opening with +surprising accuracy. + +The creek was quite small, with a steep bank one side perhaps fifteen +feet high, and what looked like a stretch of mud or saltings on the +other. Its natural beauties, however, if it had any, were rather +obscured by the darkness. + +"What shall we do now, Tommy?" I asked in a subdued voice. "Turn her +round?" + +He came back to the well. "Yes," he said, "turn her round, and then +I'll cut out the engine and throttle her down. She'll make a certain +amount of row, but we can't help that. I daren't stop her; or she +might never start again." + +We carried out our manoeuvre successfully, and then dropped over the +anchor to keep us in position. I seated myself on the roof of the +cabin, and pulling out a pipe, commenced to fill it. + +"I wonder how long the interval is," I said. "I suppose spying is a +sort of job you can't fix an exact time-limit to." + +Tommy looked at his watch again. "It's just on a quarter to ten now. +He told me not to wait after half-past." + +I stuffed down the baccy with my thumb, and felt in my pocket for a +match. + +"It seems to me--" I began. + +The interesting remark I was about to make was never uttered. From the +high ground away to the left came the sudden crack of a revolver shot +that rang out with startling viciousness on the night air. It was +followed almost instantly by a second. + +Tommy and I leaped up together, inspired simultaneously by the same +idea. Being half way there, however, I easily reached the painter +first. + +"All right," I cried, "I'll pick him up. You haul in and have her +ready to start." + +I don't know exactly what the record is for getting off in a dinghy in +the dark, but I think I hold it with something to spare. I was away +from the ship and sculling furiously for the shore in about the same +time that it has taken to write this particular sentence. + +I pulled straight for the direction in which I had heard the shots. +It was the steepest part of the cliff, but under the circumstances it +seemed the most likely spot at which my services would be required. +People are apt to take a short cut when revolver bullets are chasing +about the neighbourhood. + +I stopped rowing a few yards from the shore, and swinging the boat +round, stared up through the gloom. There was just light enough to +make out the top of the cliff, which appeared to be covered by a thick +growth of gorse several feet in height. I backed away a stroke or two, +and as I did so, there came a sudden snapping, rustling sound from +up above, and the next instant the figure of a man broke through the +bushes. + +He peered down eagerly at the water. + +"That you, Morrison?" he called out in a low, distinct voice, which I +recognized at once. + +"Yes," I answered briefly. It struck me as being no time for elaborate +explanations. + +Mr. Latimer was evidently of the same opinion. Without any further +remark, he stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, and jumping well +out into the air, came down with a beautiful splash about a dozen +yards from the boat. + +He rose to the surface at once, and I was alongside of him a moment +later. + +"It's all right," I said, as he clutched hold of the stern. +"Morrison's in the _Betty_; I'm lending him a hand." + +I caught his arm to help him in, and as I did so he gave a little +sharp exclamation of pain. + +"Hullo!" I said, shifting my grip. "What's the matter?" + +With an effort he hoisted himself up into the boat. + +"Nothing much, thanks," he answered in that curious composed voice of +his. "I think one of our friends made a luckier shot than he deserved +to. It's only my left arm, though." + +I seized the sculls, and began to pull off quickly for the _Betty_. + +"We'll look at it in a second," I said. "Are they after you?" + +He laughed. "Yes, some little way after. I took the precaution of +starting in the other direction and then doubling back. It worked +excellently." + +He spoke in the same rather amused drawl as he had done at the hut, +and there was no hint of hurry or excitement in his manner. I could +just see, however, that he was dressed in rough, common-looking +clothes, and that he was no longer wearing an eye-glass. If he had had +a cap, he had evidently parted with it during his dive into the sea. + +A few strokes brought us to the _Betty_, where Tommy was leaning over +the side ready to receive us. + +"All right?" he inquired coolly, as we scrambled on board. + +"Nothing serious," replied Latimer. "Thanks to you and--and this +gentleman." + +"They've winged him, Tommy," I said. "Can you take her out while I +have a squint at the damage?" + +Tommy's answer was to thrust in the clutch of the engine, and with an +abrupt jerk we started off down the creek. As we did so there came a +sudden hail from the shore. + +"Boat ahoy! What boat's that?" + +It was a deep, rather dictatorial sort of voice, with the faintest +possible touch of a foreign accent about it. + +Latimer replied at once in a cheerful, good-natured bawl, amazingly +different from his ordinary tone: + +"Private launch, _Vanity_, Southend; and who the hell are you?" + +Whether the vigour of the reply upset our questioner or not, I can't +say. Anyhow he returned no answer, and leaving him to think what he +pleased, we continued our way out into the main stream. + +"Come into the cabin and let's have a look at you," I said to Latimer. +"You must get those wet things off, anyhow." + +He followed me inside, where I took down the small hanging lamp and +placed it on the table. Then very carefully I helped him strip off his +coat, bringing to light a grey flannel shirt, the left sleeve of which +was soaked in blood. + +I took out my knife, and ripped it up from the cuff to the shoulder. +The wound was about a couple of inches above the elbow, a small clean +puncture right through from side to side. It was bleeding a bit, but +one could see at a glance that the bullet had just missed the bone. + +"You're lucky," I said. "Another quarter of an inch, and that arm +would have been precious little use to you for the next two months. +Does it hurt much?" + +He shook his head. "Not the least," he replied carelessly. "I hardly +knew I was hit until you grabbed hold of me." + +I tied my handkerchief round as tightly as possible just above the +place, and then going to the locker hauled out our spare fancy costume +which had previously done duty for Mr. Gow. + +"You get these on first," I said, "and then I'll fix you up properly." + +I thrust my head out through the cabin door to see how things were +going, and found that we were already clear of the creek and heading +back towards Queenborough. Tommy, who was sitting at the tiller +puffing away peacefully at a pipe, removed the latter article from his +mouth. + +"Where are we going to, my pretty maid?" he inquired. + +"I don't know," I said; "I'll ask the passenger as soon as I've +finished doctoring him." + +I returned to the cabin, where Mr. Latimer, who had stripped off +his wet garments, was attempting to dry himself with a dishcloth. I +managed to find him a towel, and then, as soon as he had struggled +into a pair of flannel trousers and a vest, I set about the job of +tying up his arm. An old shirt of Tommy's served me as a bandage, and +although I don't profess to be an expert, I knew enough about first +aid to make a fairly serviceable job of it. Anyhow Mr. Latimer +expressed himself as being completely satisfied. + +"You'd better have a drink now," I said. "That's part of the +treatment." + +I mixed him a stiff peg, which he consumed without protest; and then, +after he had inserted himself carefully into a jersey and coat, we +both went outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy genially. "How do you feel now?" + +Our visitor sat down on one of the side seats in the cockpit, and +contemplated us both with his pleasant smile. + +"I feel extremely obliged to you, Morrison," he said. "You have a way +of keeping your engagements that I find most satisfactory." + +Tommy laughed. "I had a bit of luck," he returned. "If I hadn't picked +up our pal here I doubt if I should have got down in time after all. +By the way, there's no need to introduce you. You've met each other +before at the hut, haven't you?" + +Latimer, who was just lighting a cigar which I had offered him, paused +for a moment in the operation. + +"Yes," he said quietly. "We have met each other before. But I should +rather like to be introduced, all the same." + +Something in his manner struck me as being a trifle odd, but if Tommy +noticed it he certainly didn't betray the fact. + +"Well, you shall be," he answered cheerfully. "This is Mr. James +Nicholson." + +Latimer finished lighting his cigar, blew out the match, and dropped +it carefully over the side. + +"Indeed," he said. "It only shows how extremely inaccurate one's +reasoning powers can be." + +There was a short but rather pregnant pause. Then Tommy leaned +forward. + +"What do you mean?" he asked, in that peculiarly gentle voice which he +keeps for the most unhealthy occasions. + +Latimer's face remained beautifully impassive. "I was under the +mistaken impression," he answered slowly, "that I owed my life to Mr. +Neil Lyndon." + +For perhaps three seconds none of us spoke; then I broke the silence +with a short laugh. + +"We are up against it, Thomas," I observed. + +Tommy looked backwards and forwards from one to the other of us. + +"What shall we do?" he said quietly. "Throw him in the river?" + +"It would be rather extravagant," I objected, "after we've just pulled +him out." + +Latimer smiled. "I am not sure I don't deserve it. I have lied to you, +Morrison, all through in the most disgraceful manner." Then he paused. +"Still it _would_ be extravagant," he added. "I think I can convince +you of that before we get to Queenborough." + +Tommy throttled down the engine to about its lowest running point. + +"Look here, Latimer," he said. "We're not going to Queenborough, or +anywhere else, until we've got the truth out of you. You understand +that, of course. You've put yourself in our power deliberately, and +you must have some reason. One doesn't cut one's throat for fun." + +He spoke in his usual pleasant fashion, but there was a grim +seriousness behind it which no one could pretend to misunderstand. +Latimer, at all events, made no attempt to. He merely nodded his head +approvingly. + +"You're quite right," he said. "I had made up my mind you should hear +some of the truth tonight in any case; that was the chief reason why +I asked you to come and pick me up. When I saw you had brought Mr. +Lyndon with you, I determined to tell you everything. It's the +simplest and best way, after all." + +He stopped for a moment, and we all three sat there in silence, while +the _Betty_ slowly throbbed her way forward, splashing off the black +water from either bow. Then Latimer began to speak again quite +quietly. + +"I _am_ in the Secret Service," he said; "but you can forget the rest +of what I told you the other night, Morrison. I am after bigger game +than a couple of German spies--though they come into it right enough. +I am on the track of three friends of Mr. Lyndon's, who just now are +as badly wanted in Whitehall as they probably are in hell." + +I leaned back with a certain curious thrill of satisfaction. + +"I thought so," I said softly. + +He glanced at me with his keen blue eyes, and the light of the lamp +shining on his face showed up its square dogged lines of strength and +purpose. It was a fine face--the face of a man without weakness and +without fear. + +"It's nearly twelve months ago now," he continued, "that we first +began to realize at headquarters that there was something queer going +on. There's always a certain amount of spying in every country--the +sort of quiet, semi-official kind that doesn't do any one a ha'porth +of practical harm. Now and then, of course, somebody gets dropped on, +and there's a fuss in the papers, but nobody really bothers much about +it. This was different, however. Two or three times things happened +that did matter very much indeed. They were the sort of things that +showed us pretty plainly we were up against something entirely +new--some kind of organized affair that had nothing on earth to do +with the usual casual spying. + +"Well, I made up my mind to get to the bottom of it. Casement, who is +nominally the head of our department, gave me an absolutely free hand, +and I set to work in my own way quite independently of the police. It +was six months before I got hold of a clue. Then some designs--some +valuable battleship designs--disappeared from Devonport Dockyard. It +was a queer case, but there were one or two things about it which made +me pretty sure it was the work of the same gang, and that for the +time, at all events, they were somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +"I needn't bother you now with all the details of how I actually ran +them to earth. It wasn't an easy job. They weren't the sort of people +who left any spare bits of evidence lying around, and by the time I +found out where they were living it was just too late." He turned to +me. "Otherwise, Mr. Lyndon, I think we might possibly have had the +pleasure of meeting earlier." + +A sudden forgotten recollection of my first interview with McMurtrie +flashed vividly into my mind. + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed. "What a fool I am! I knew I'd heard your name +somewhere before." + +Latimer nodded. "Yes," he said. "I daresay I had begun to arouse a +certain amount of interest in the household by the time you arrived." +He paused. "By the way, I am still quite in the dark as to how you +actually got in with them. Had they managed to send you a message into +the prison?" + +"No," I said. "I'm equally in the dark as to how you've found out who +I am, but you seem to know so much already, you may as well have the +truth. It was chance; just pure chance and a bicycle. I hadn't the +remotest notion who lived in the house. I was trying to steal some +food." + +Latimer nodded again. "It was a chance that a man like McMurtrie +wasn't likely to waste. I don't know yet how you're paying him for his +help, but I should imagine it's a fairly stiff price. However, we'll +come back to that afterwards. + +"I was just too late, as I told you, to interrupt your pleasant little +house-party. I managed to find out, however, that some of you had gone +to London, and I followed at once. It was then, I think, that the +doctor decided it was time to take the gloves off. + +"So far, although I'd been on their heels for weeks, I hadn't set eyes +on any of the gang personally. All the same, I had a pretty good idea +of what McMurtrie and Savaroff were like to look at, and I fancy they +probably guessed as much. Anyhow, as you know, it was the third +member of the brotherhood--a gentleman who, I believe, calls himself +Hoffman--who was entrusted with the job of putting me out of the way." + +A faint mocking smile flickered for a moment round his lips. + +"That was where the doctor made his first slip. It never pays to +underestimate your enemy. Hoffman certainly had a good story, and +he told it well, but after thirteen years in the Secret Service I +shouldn't trust the Archbishop of Canterbury till I'd proved his +credentials. I agreed to dine at Parelli's, but I took the precaution +of having two of my own men there as well--one in the restaurant +and one outside in the street. I had given them instructions that, +whatever happened, they were to keep Hoffman shadowed till further +orders. + +"Well, you know how things turned out almost as well as I do. I was +vastly obliged to you for sending me that note, but as a matter of +fact I hadn't the least intention of drinking the wine. Indeed, I +turned away purposely to give Hoffman the chance to doctor it. What +did beat me altogether was who you were. I naturally couldn't place +you at all. I saw that you recognized one of us when you came in, and +that you were watching our table pretty attentively in the glass. I +had a horrible suspicion for a moment that you were a Scotland Yard +man, and were going to bungle the whole business by arresting Hoffman. +That was why I sent you my card; I knew if you were at the Yard you'd +recognize my name." + +"I severed my connection with the police some time ago," I said drily. +"What happened after dinner? I've been longing to know ever since." + +"I got rid of Hoffman at the door, and from the time he left the +restaurant my men never lost him again. They shadowed him to his +lodgings--he was living in a side street near Victoria--and for the +next two days I got a detailed report of everything he did. It was +quite interesting reading. Amongst other things it included paying a +morning visit to the hut you're living in at present, Mr. Lyndon, and +going on from there to spend the afternoon calling on some friends at +Sheppey." + +I laughed gently, and turned to Tommy. "Amazingly simple," I said, +"when you know how it's done." + +Tommy nodded. "I've got all that part, but I'm still utterly at sea +about how he dropped on to you." + +"That was simpler still," answered Latimer. "One of my men told me +that the hut was empty for the time, so I came down to have a look +at it." He turned to me. "Of course I recognized you at once as the +obliging stranger of the restaurant. That didn't put me much farther +on the road, but when Morrison rolled up with his delightfully +ingenious yarn, he gave me just the clue I was looking for. I knew +his story was all a lie because I'd seen you since. Well, a man +like Morrison doesn't butt into this sort of business without a +particularly good reason, and it didn't take me very long to guess +what his reason was. You see I remembered him chiefly in connection +with your trial. I knew he was your greatest friend; I knew you had +escaped from Dartmoor and disappeared somewhere in the neighbourhood +of McMurtrie's place, and putting two and two together there was only +one conclusion I could possibly come to." + +"My appearance must have taken a little getting over," I suggested. + +Latimer shrugged his shoulders. "Apart from your features you exactly +fitted the bill, and I had learned enough about McMurtrie's past +performances not to let that worry me. What I couldn't make out was +why he should have run the risk of helping you. Of course you might +have offered him a large sum of money--if you had it put away +somewhere--but in that case there seemed no reason why you should be +hanging about in a hut on the Thames marshes." + +"Why didn't you tell the police?" asked Tommy. + +"The police!" Latimer's voice was full of pleasant irony. "My dear +Morrison, we don't drag the police into this sort of business; our +great object is to keep them out of it. Mr. Lyndon's affairs had +nothing to do with me officially apart from his being mixed up with +McMurtrie. Besides, my private sympathies were entirely with him. Not +only had he tried to save my life at Parelli's, but ever since the +trial I have always been under the impression he was fully entitled to +slaughter Mr.--Mr.--whatever the scoundrel's name was." + +I acknowledged the remark with a slight bow. "Thank you," I said. "As +a matter of sober fact I didn't kill him, but I shouldn't be the least +sorry for it if I had." + +Latimer looked at me for a moment straight in the eyes. + +"We've treated you beautifully as a nation," he said slowly. "It's an +impertinence on my part to expect you to help us." + +I laughed. "Go on," I said. "Let's get it straightened out anyhow." + +"Well, the straightening out must be largely done by you. As far as +I'm concerned the rest of the story can be told very quickly. For +various reasons I got to the conclusion that in some way or other the +two gentlemen on Sheppey had a good deal to do with the matter. My men +had been making a few inquiries about them, and from what we'd learned +I was strongly inclined to think they were a couple of German naval +officers over here on leave. If that was so, the fact that they were +in communication with Hoffman made it pretty plain where McMurtrie was +finding his market. My men had told me they were generally away on the +mainland in the evening, and I made up my mind I'd have a look at the +place the first chance I got. I asked Morrison to come down and pick +me up in his boat for two reasons--partly because I wanted to keep in +touch with you both, and partly because I thought it might come in +handy to have a second line of retreat." + +"It _was_ rather convenient, as things turned out," interposed Tommy. + +"Very," admitted Latimer drily. "They got back to the garden just as I +had opened one of the windows, and shot at me from behind the hedge. +If it hadn't been for the light they must have picked me off." + +He stopped, and standing up in the well, looked round. By this time we +were again just off the entrance to Queenborough, and the thick haze +that had obscured everything earlier in the evening was rapidly +thinning away. A watery moon showed up the various warships at +anchor--dim grey formless shapes, marked by blurred lights. + +"What do you say?" he asked, turning to Tommy. "Shall we run in here +and pick up some moorings? Before we go any further I want to hear +Lyndon's part of the story, and then we all three shall know exactly +where we are. After that you can throw me in the sea, or--or--well, I +think there are several possible alternatives." + +"We'll find out anyhow," said Tommy. + +He turned the _Betty_ towards the shore, and we worked our way +carefully into the harbour. We ran on past the anchored vessels, until +we were right opposite the Queenborough jetty, where we discovered +some unoccupied moorings which we promptly adopted. It was a snug +berth, and a fairly isolated one--a rakish-looking little gunboat +being our nearest neighbour. + +In this pleasant atmosphere of law and order I proceeded to narrate as +briefly and quickly as possible the main facts about my escape and its +results. I felt that we had gone too far now to keep anything back. +Latimer had boldly placed his own cards face upwards on the table, and +short of sending him to the fishes, there seemed to be nothing else +to do except to follow his example. As he himself had said, we should +then at least know exactly how we stood with regard to each other. + +He listened to me for the most part in silence, but the few +interruptions that he did make showed the almost fierce attention with +which he was following my story. I don't think his eyes ever left my +face from the first word to the last. + +When I had finished he sat on for perhaps a minute without speaking. +Then very deliberately he leaned across and held out his hand. + +We exchanged grips, and for once in my life I found a man whose +fingers seemed as strong as my own. + +"I don't know whether that makes you an accessory after the fact," +I said. "I believe it's about eighteen months for being civil to an +escaped convict." + +He let go my hand, and getting up from his seat leaned back against +the door of the cabin facing us both. + +"You may be an escaped convict, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "but if +you choose I believe you can do more for England than any man alive." + +There was a short pause. + +"It seems to me," interrupted Tommy, "that England is a little bit in +Neil's debt already." + +"That doesn't matter," I observed generously. "Let's hear what Mr. +Latimer has got to say." I turned to him. "Who are McMurtrie and +Savaroff?" I asked, "and what the devil's the meaning of it all?" + +"The meaning is plain enough to a certain point," he answered. "I +haven't the least doubt that they intend to sell the secret of your +powder to Germany, just as they've sold their other information. If I +knew for certain it was only that, I should act, and act at once." + +He stopped. + +"Well?" I said. + +"I believe there's something more behind it--something we've got to +find out before we strike. For the last two months Germany has taken +a tone towards us diplomatically that can only have one explanation. +They mean to get their way or fight, and if it comes to a fight +they're under the impression they're going to beat us." + +"And you really believe McMurtrie and Savaroff are responsible for +their optimism?" I asked a little incredulously. + +Latimer nodded. "Dr. McMurtrie," he said in his quiet drawl, "is the +most dangerous man in Europe. He is partly English and partly Russian +by birth. At one time he used to be court physician at St. Petersburg. +Savaroff is a German Pole--his real name is Vassiloff. Between them +they were largely responsible for the early disasters in the Japanese +war." + +For a moment no one spoke. Then Tommy leaned forward. "I say, +Latimer," he exclaimed, "is this serious history?" + +"The Russian Government," replied Latimer, "are most certainly under +that impression." + +"But if they know about it," I objected, "how is it that McMurtrie and +Savaroff aren't in Siberia? I've never heard that the Russians are +particularly tender-hearted where traitors are concerned." + +Latimer indulged in that peculiarly dry smile of his. "If the +Government had got hold of them I think their destination would have +been a much warmer one than Siberia. As it was they disappeared just +in time. There was a gang of them--four or five at the least--and all +men of position and influence. They must have made an enormous amount +of money out of the Japs. In the end one of them rounded on the +others--at least that's what appears to have happened. Anyhow +McMurtrie and Savaroff skipped, and skipped in such a hurry that they +seem to have left most of their savings behind them. I suppose that's +what made them start business again in England." + +"You're absolutely sure they're the same pair?" asked Tommy. + +"Absolutely. I've got their full description from the Russian police. +It tallies in every way--even to Savaroff's daughter. There _is_ a +girl with them, I believe?" + +"Yes," I said. "There's a girl." Then I paused for a moment. "Look +here, Latimer," I went on. "What is it you want me to do? I'll help +you in any way I can. When I made my bargain with McMurtrie I hadn't +a notion what his real game was. I don't in the least want to buy my +freedom by selling England to Germany. The only thing I flatly and +utterly refuse to do is to serve out the rest of my sentence. If it's +bound to come out who I am, you must give me your word I shall have +a reasonable warning. I don't much mind dying--especially if I can +arrange for ten minutes with George first--but quite candidly I'd see +England wiped off the map before I'd go back to Dartmoor." + +Latimer made a slight gesture with his hands. "You've saved my life, +once at all events," he said. "It may seem a trifle to you, but it's a +matter of quite considerable importance to me. I don't think you need +worry about going back to Dartmoor--not as long as the Secret Service +is in existence." + +"Well, what is it you want me to do?" I asked again. + +He was silent for a moment or two, as though arranging his ideas. Then +he began to speak very slowly and deliberately. + +"I want you to go on as if nothing had happened. Write to McMurtrie +the first thing tomorrow morning and tell him that you've made the +powder. He is sure to come down to the hut at once. You can show him +that it's genuine, but on no account let him have any of it to take +away. Tell him that you will only hand over the secret on receipt of +a written agreement, and make him see that you're absolutely serious. +Meanwhile let me know everything that happens as soon as you possibly +can. Telegraph to me at 145 Jermyn Street. You can send in the +messages to Tilbury by the man who's looking after your boat. Use some +quick simple cypher--suppose we say the alphabet backwards, Z for A +and so on. Have you got plenty of money?" + +I nodded. "I should like to have some sort of notion what you're going +to do," I said. "It would be much more inspiriting than working in the +dark." + +"It depends entirely on the next two days. I shall go back to London +tonight and find out if either of my men has got hold of any fresh +information. Then I shall put the whole thing in front of Casement. If +he agrees with me I shall wait till the last possible moment before +striking. We've enough evidence about the Devonport case to arrest +McMurtrie and Savaroff straight away, but I feel it would be madness +while there's a chance of getting to the bottom of this business. +Perhaps you understand now why I've risked everything tonight. We're +playing for high stakes, Mr. Lyndon, and you--" he paused--"well, I'm +inclined to think that you've the ace of trumps." + +I stood up and faced him. "I hope so," I said. "I'm rather tired of +being taken for the Knave." + +"Isn't there a job for me?" asked Tommy pathetically. "I'm open for +anything, especially if it wants a bit of physical violence." + +"There will probably be a demand for that a little later on," said +Latimer in his quiet drawl. "At present I want you to come back with +me to London. I shall find plenty for you to do there, Morrison. The +fewer people that are mixed up in this affair the better." He turned +to me. "You can take the boat back to Tilbury alone if we go ashore +here?" + +I nodded, and he once more held out his hand. + +"We shall meet again soon," he said--"very soon I think. Have you ever +read Longfellow?" + +It was such a surprising question that I couldn't help smiling. + +"Not recently," I said. "I haven't been in the mood for poetry the +last two or three years." + +He held my hand and his blue eyes looked steadily into mine. + +"Ah," he said. "I don't want to be too optimistic, but there's a verse +in Longfellow which I think you might like." He paused again. "It has +something to do with the Mills of God," he added slowly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + +One's feelings are queer things. Personally I never have the least +notion how a particular situation will affect me until I happen to +find myself in it. + +I should have thought, for instance, that Latimer's revelations would +have left me in a state of vast excitement, but as a matter of fact +I don't think I ever felt cooler in my life. I believe every other +emotion was swallowed up in the relief of finding out something +definite at last. + +I know anyhow that that was my chief sensation as I rowed the dinghy +towards the wet slimy causeway, lit by its solitary lamp. There was a +boat train to town in the early hours of the morning which Latimer had +suggested that he and Tommy should catch, and it certainly seemed a +safer plan than coming back to Tilbury with me. + +When I had parted from them, under the sleepy eye of a +depressed-looking night watchman, I returned to the _Betty_ and +proceeded to let go my moorings. I then ran up the sails, and gliding +gently past the warships and a big incoming steamer, floated out into +the broad peaceful darkness of the Thames estuary. I was in no hurry, +and now that the mist had cleared away it was a perfect night for +drifting comfortably up river with the tide. + +The dawn was just beginning to break by the time I reached my old +anchorage in the creek. In spite of my long and slightly strenuous +day, I didn't feel particularly tired, so after stowing away the sails +and tidying up things generally, I sat down in the cabin and began to +compose my letter to McMurtrie. + +I started off by telling him that I had completed my invention some +days earlier than I expected to, and then gave him a brief but +dramatic description of the success which had attended my first +experiment. I am afraid I was a trifle inaccurate with regard to +details, but the precise truth is a luxury that very few of us can +afford to indulge in. I certainly couldn't. When I had finished I +addressed the envelope to the Hotel Russell, and then, turning into +one of the bunks, soon dropped off into a well-deserved sleep. + +I don't know whether it was Nature that aroused me, or whether it was +Mr. Gow. Anyway I woke up with the distinct impression that somebody +was hailing the boat, and thrusting my head up through the hatch I +discovered my faithful retainer standing on the bank. + +He greeted me with a slightly apologetic air when I put off to fetch +him. + +"Good-mornin', sir. I hope I done right stoppin' ashore, sir. The +young lady told me I wouldn't be wanted not till this mornin'." + +"The young lady was quite correct," I said. "You weren't." Then as we +pushed off for the _Betty_ I added: "But I'm glad you've come back +in good time today. I want you to go in and post a letter for me at +Tilbury as soon as we've had some breakfast. You might get a newspaper +for me at the same time." + +"Talkin' o' noos, sir," observed Mr. Gow with sudden interest, +"'ave you heard tell about the back o' Canvey Island bein' blown up +yesterday mornin'?" + +"Blown up!" I repeated as we ran alongside. "Who on earth did that?" + +Mr. Gow shook his head as he clambered on board after me. "No one +don't seem to know," he remarked. "'Twere done arly in the mornin', +they reckon. There's some as says 'tis the suffrinjettes, but to my +way o' thinkin' sir; it's more like to have somethin' to do with them +blarsted Dutchmen as sunk my boat." + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed, "I wonder if it had. They seem to be +mischievous devils." + +Mr. Gow nodded emphatically. "They are, sir, and that's a fact. 'Tis +time somebody took a quiet look round that house o' theirs, some day +when they ain't there." + +How very nearly this desirable object had been achieved on the +previous evening I thought it unnecessary to mention, but I was hugely +relieved to learn that so far there was no suspicion as to who was +really responsible for the damage to the creek. Apart from the +inconvenience which it would have entailed, to be arrested for blowing +up a bit of mud in a Thames backwater would have been a sad come-down +for a convicted murderer! + +As soon as he had provided me with some breakfast, Mr. Gow departed +for Tilbury with my letter to McMurtrie in his pocket. He was away for +a couple of hours, returning with a copy of the _Daily Mail_ and the +information that there were no letters for me at the post-office. + +I handed him over the _Betty_, with instructions not to desert her +until he was relieved by either Tommy or Joyce or me, and then set off +for the hut by my usual route. It was less than thirty hours since +I had left it, but so many interesting things had happened in the +interval it seemed more like three weeks. + +For any one entangled in such a variety of perils as I appeared to be, +I spent a surprisingly peaceful day. Not a soul came near the place, +and except for reading the _Mail_ and indulging in a certain amount of +hard thinking, I enjoyed the luxury of doing absolutely nothing. After +the exertion and excitements of the previous twenty-four hours, this +lull was exactly what I needed. It gave me time to take stock of my +position in the light of Latimer's amazing revelations--a process +which on the whole I found fairly satisfactory. If the likelihood of +proving my innocence still seemed a trifle remote, I had at least +penetrated some of the mystery which surrounded Dr. McMurtrie and his +friends, and more and more it was becoming obvious to me that the +two problems were closely connected. Anyhow I turned into bed in +an optimistic mood, and with the stimulating feeling that in all +probability I had a pleasantly eventful day in front of me. + +It certainly opened in the most promising fashion. I woke up at eight, +and was making a light breakfast off a tin of sardines and some +incredibly stale bread, when through the little window that looked out +towards the Tilbury road I suddenly spotted my youthful friend from +the post-office approaching across the marsh. I opened the door, and +he came up with a respectful grin of recognition. + +"Letter for you, sir," he observed, "come this morning, sir." + +He handed me an envelope addressed in Joyce's writing, and stood by +while I read it, thoughtfully scratching his head with the peak of +his cap. It was only a short note, but beautifully characteristic of +Joyce. + +"MY OWN NEIL,-- + +"I'm coming down to see you tomorrow afternoon. I've got several +things to tell you, but the chief reason is because I want to kiss +you and be kissed by you. Everything else seems rather unimportant +compared with that. + +"JOYCE." + +"Any answer, sir?" inquired the boy, when he saw I had finished +reading. + +"Yes, Charles," I said; "there is an answer, but I'm afraid I can't +send it by post. Wait a minute, though," I added, as he began to put +on his cap, "I want you to send off a wire for me if you will. It will +take a minute or two to write." + +I went into the hut, and hastily scribbled a telegram to Latimer, +telling him that I had written to McMurtrie, but that otherwise there +was nothing to report. I copied this out carefully in the simple +cypher we had agreed on, and handed it to the boy, together with five +shillings. + +"You can keep the change," I said, "and buy fireworks with it. I've +been too busy to make any yet." + +He gurgled out some expressions of gratitude and took his departure, +while I renewed my attack upon the sardines and bread. + +Fortified by this simple cheer, I devoted the remainder of the morning +to tidying up my shed. I felt that I was living in such uncertain +times that it would be just as well to remove all possible traces of +the work I had been engaged on, and by midday the place looked almost +as tidy as when I had first entered it. + +I then treated myself to a cigar and began to keep a look-out for +Joyce. She had not said in her letter what time she would arrive, but +I knew that there were a couple of trains early in the afternoon, and +I remembered that I had told her to come straight to the hut. + +It must have been getting on for two when I suddenly caught sight of +a motor car with a solitary occupant coming quickly along the Tilbury +road. It pulled up as it reached the straggling plantation opposite +the hut, and a minute later a girl appeared from between the trees, +and started to walk towards me across the marsh. + +I was a little surprised, for I didn't know that Joyce included motor +driving amongst her other accomplishments, and she had certainly never +mentioned to me that there was any chance of her coming down in a +car. Then, a moment later, the truth suddenly hit me with paralysing +abruptness. It was not Joyce at all; it was Sonia. + +I don't know why the discovery should have given me such a shock, for +in a way I had been expecting her to turn up any time. Still a shock +it undoubtedly did give me, and for a second or so I stood there +staring stupidly at her like a man who has suddenly lost the use of +his limbs. Then, pulling myself together, I turned away from the +window and strode to the door. + +She came up to me swiftly and eagerly, moving with that strange lissom +grace that always reminded me of some untamed animal. Her hurried walk +across the marsh had brought a faint tinge of colour into the usual +ivory clearness of her skin, and her dark eyes were alive with +excitement. + +I held out my hands to welcome her. "I was beginning to think you'd +forgotten the address, Sonia," I said. + +With that curious little deep laugh of hers she pulled my arms round +her, and for several seconds we remained standing in this friendly +if a trifle informal attitude. Then, perceiving no reasonable +alternative, I bent down and kissed her. + +"Ah!" she whispered. "At last! At last!" + +Deserted as the marsh was, it seemed rather public for this type of +dialogue, so drawing her inside the hut I closed the door. + +She looked round at everything with rapid, eager interest. "I have +heard all about the powder," she said. "It's quite true, isn't it? You +have done what you hoped to do?" + +I nodded. "I've blown up about twenty yards of Canvey Island with a +few ounces of it," I said. "That seems good enough for a start." + +She laughed again with a sort of fierce satisfaction. "You have done +something more than that. You have given me just the power I needed to +help you." She came up and with a quick impulsive gesture laid her two +hands on my arm. "Neil, Neil, my lover! In a few hours from now you +can have everything you want in the world. Everything, Neil--money, +freedom, love--" She broke off, panting slightly with her own +vehemence, and then drawing my face down to hers, kissed me again on +the lips. + +I suppose I ought to have felt rather ashamed of myself, but I think +I was too interested in what she was going to say to worry much about +anything else. + +"Tell me, Sonia," I said. "What am I to do? Can I trust your father +and McMurtrie?" + +She let go my arm, and stepping back sat down on the edge of the small +table which I had been using as a writing-desk. + +"Trust them!" she repeated half scornfully. "Yes, you can trust them +if you want to go on being cheated and robbed. Can't you see--can't +you guess the way they have been lying to you?" + +"Of course I can," I said coolly; "but when one's between the Devil +and Dartmoor, I prefer the Devil every time. I don't enjoy being +cheated, but it's much more pleasant than being starved or flogged." + +She leaned forward, holding the edge of the table with her hands. +"There's no need for either. As I've told you, in a few hours from +now we can be away from England with money enough to last us for our +lives. Do you know what your invention is worth? Do you know what use +they mean to make of it?" + +"I imagine they hope to sell it," I answered. "It wouldn't be +difficult to find a customer." + +"Difficult!" She lowered her voice to a quick eager whisper. "They +have got a customer. The best customer in Europe. A customer that will +pay anything in the world for such a secret as yours." + +I gazed at her with a carefully assumed expression of amazement and +dawning intelligence. + +"Good Lord, Sonia!" I said slowly; "do you mean--?" + +She made an impatient movement with her hands. "Listen! I am going to +tell you everything. What's the good of you and I beating about +the bush?" She paused. "We are spies," she said quite simply, +"professional spies. Of course it sounds absurd and impossible to +you--an Englishman--but all the same it's the truth. You don't know +what sort of man Dr. McMurtrie is." + +"I appear to be learning," I observed. + +"He has been a friend of my father's for years. They were in Russia +together at one time--and then Paris, Vienna--oh, everywhere. It has +always been the same; in each country they have found out things that +other Governments have been willing to pay for. At least, the doctor +has. The rest of us, my father, myself, Hoffman"--she shrugged her +shoulders--"we are his puppets, his tools. Everything we have done has +been planned and arranged by him." + +There was a short silence. + +"How long have you been here?" I asked. "What brought you to England?" + +"We have been here just over three years," she answered slowly. "There +was a man in London that Dr. McMurtrie and my father wanted to find. +Eight years ago he betrayed them in St. Petersburg." + +A sudden idea--so wild as to be almost incredible--flashed into my +mind. + +I moistened my lips. "Who was he?" I asked steadily. + +She shook her head. "I don't know his name. I only know that he is +dead. I think Dr. McMurtrie would kill any one who betrayed him--if he +could." + +I crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. I felt +strangely excited. + +"And after that," I said quietly, "I suppose the doctor thought he +might as well stop here and do a little business?" + +"I think it was suggested to him from Berlin. He had sent them all +sorts of information when we were in Paris, and, of course, as things +are now, they were still more anxious to get hold of anything about +the English army or navy." She paused. "What they specially wanted +were the plans of the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo." + +"Yes," I said. "I dare say they did. A lot of people have wanted them, +but unfortunately they're not for sale." + +Sonia laughed softly. "The exact price we paid for them," she said, +"was twelve thousand pounds." + +I sat up with a jerk. This time my surprise was utterly genuine. + +"You bought them!" I said incredulously. "Bought them from some one in +the Admiralty?" + +Again Sonia shook her head. "Don't you remember what you read in the +_Daily Mail_ about the robbery at your offices in Victoria Street?" + +I stared at her for a second, and then suddenly the real truth dawned +on me. + +"So George sold them to you?" I said. + +She nodded. "Ever since you went to prison the business has been going +to pieces. He wanted money badly--very badly indeed. Dr. McMurtrie +found this out. He found out too that there was a copy of the plans +in the office, and--well, you can guess the rest. The burglary, of +course, was arranged between them. It was meant to cover your cousin +in case the Government found out that the Germans had got hold of the +plans." + +"And have they found out?" I asked. + +Again Sonia shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say. The doctor and my +father never tell me anything that they can keep to themselves. Most +of what I know I have picked up from listening to them and putting +things together in my own head afterwards. I am useful to them, and to +a certain point they trust me; but only so far. They know I hate them +both." + +She made the statement with a detached bitterness that spoke volumes +for its sincerity. + +I felt too that she was telling me the truth about George. A man who +could lie as he did at the trial was quite capable of betraying his +country or anything else. Still, the infernal impudence and treachery +of his selling my beautiful torpedo to the Germans filled me with a +furious anger such as I had not felt since I crouched, dripping and +hunted, in the Walkham woods. + +I looked up at Sonia, who was leaning forward and watching me with +those curious half-sullen, half-passionate eyes of hers. + +"Why did George tell those lies about me at the trial?" I asked. + +"I don't know for certain; I think he wanted to get rid of you, so +that he could steal your invention. Of course he saw how valuable it +was. You had told him about the notes, and I think he felt that if +you were safely out of the way he would be able to make use of them +himself." + +"He must have been painfully disappointed," I said. "They were all +jotted down in a private cypher. No one else could possibly have +understood them." + +She nodded. "I know. He offered to sell them to us. He suggested that +the Germans might be willing to pay a good sum down for them on the +chance of being able to make them out." + +Angry as I was, I couldn't help laughing. It was so exactly like +George to try and make the best of a bad speculation. + +"I can hardly see the doctor doing business on those lines," I said. + +"It was too late in any case," she answered calmly. "Just after he +made the offer you escaped from prison." There was another pause. "And +what were you all doing down in that God-forsaken part of the world?" +I demanded. + +The question was a little superfluous as far as I was concerned, but I +felt that Sonia would be expecting it. + +"Oh, we weren't there for pleasure," she said curtly. "We wanted to be +near Devonport, and at the same time we wanted a place that was quite +quiet and out-of-the-way. Hoffman found the house for us, and we took +it furnished for six months." + +"It was an extraordinary stroke of luck," I said, "that I should have +come blundering in as I did." + +Sonia laughed venomously. "It was the sort of thing that would happen +to the doctor. The Devil looks after his friends." + +"As a matter of fact," I objected, "I was thinking more of myself." + +Sonia took no notice of my interruption. "Why, it meant everything +to him," she went on eagerly. "It practically gave him the power to +dictate his own terms to the Germans. You see, he knew something about +their plans. He knew--at least he could guess--that the moment war +was declared they meant to make a surprise attack on all the big +dockyards--just like the Japs did at Port Arthur. Well, think of the +difference an explosive as powerful as yours would make! Why, it would +put England absolutely at their mercy. They could blow up Portsmouth, +Sheerness, and Devonport before any one really knew that the war had +started." + +She spoke rapidly, almost feverishly, leaning forward and gripping the +edge of the table, till the skin showed white on her knuckles. I think +I was equally excited, but I tried not to show it. + +"Yes," I said; "it sounds a promising notion." + +"Promising!" she echoed. "Well, it was promising enough for the +Germans to offer us anything we wanted the moment we could give them +the secret. Now perhaps you can understand why we were so hospitable +and obliging to you." + +"And you believe McMurtrie never meant to keep his word to me?" I +asked. + +She laughed again scornfully. "If you knew him as well as I do, you +wouldn't need to ask that. He would simply have disappeared with the +money and left you to rot or starve." + +I took out my case, and having given Sonia a cigarette, lit one +myself. + +"It's an unpleasant choice," I said, "but I gather there's a possible +alternative." + +She lighted her own cigarette and threw away the match. Her dark eyes +were alight with excitement. + +"Listen," she said. "All the Germans want is the secret. Do you +suppose they care in the least whom they get it from? You have only +got to prove to them that you can do what you say, and they will pay +you the money just as readily as they would the doctor." + +There was a magnificent simplicity about the idea that for a moment +almost took my breath away. + +"How could I get in touch with them?" I asked. + +She leaned forward again, and lowered her voice almost to a whisper. + +"I can take you now--now right away--to the two men who are in charge +of the whole business. I know that they have an absolutely free hand +to make the best terms they can." + +"Who are they?" I demanded, with an eagerness I made no attempt to +hide. + +"Their names are Seeker and von Brünig, and they're living in a small +bungalow on Sheppey. They are supposed to be artists. As a matter of +fact, von Brünig is a captain in the Germany Navy. I don't know who +the other man is; I think he has been sent over specially about the +powder." + +Her statement fitted in so exactly with what I had already found out +from Latimer and Gow, that I hadn't the remotest doubt she was telling +me the literal truth. Of its importance--its vital importance to +England--there could be no question. I felt my heart beating quickly +with excitement, but the obvious necessity for fixing on some scheme +of immediate action kept my brain cool and clear. The first thing was +to gain a moment or two to think in. + +"You realize what all this means, Sonia?" I said. "You're quite +prepared to throw over your father and McMurtrie? You know how the +doctor deals with people who betray him--when he gets the chance?" + +"I am not afraid of them," she answered defiantly. "They are nothing +to me; I hate them both--and Hoffman too. It's you I want. You are the +only man I ever have wanted." She paused, and I saw her breast rising +and falling rapidly with the stress of her emotion. "We will go away +together--somewhere the other side of the world--America, Buenos +Ayres--oh, what does it matter where?--there are plenty of places! +What does anything matter so long as we love each other!" + +She half rose to her feet, but I jumped up first. + +"One moment, Sonia," I said. "Let me think." + +Thrusting my hands in my pockets, I strode across the room, and +pulling up in front of the little window, stared out across the marsh. +As I did so, I felt as if some one had suddenly placed a large handful +of crushed ice inside my waistcoat. About two hundred yards away, +strolling cheerfully and unconcernedly towards the hut, was the +charming but painfully inopportune figure of Joyce. + +It was a most unpleasant second. In my excitement at listening to +Sonia's revelations, I had clean forgotten for the time that Joyce was +coming, and now it was too late for the recollection to be of much +practical use. Except for an earthquake, or the sudden arrival of the +end of the world, nothing could stop her from reaching the hut in +another five minutes. + +I stood quite still, racking my brains as to what was the best thing +to do. It was no use trying to signal to her from the window, for +Sonia would be certain to see me; while if I made some excuse for +going outside, Joyce would probably call out to me before I had time +to warn her. My only hope seemed to lie in the chance of her hearing +us talking as she came up to the door, in which case she would know at +once that there was some one there and go straight on to the _Betty_. + +I had just reached this conclusion when a queer sound behind me made +me spin round as if I had been struck. Sonia, who had risen to her +feet, was standing and facing me; her whole attitude suggestive of +a highly-annoyed tigress. I don't think I have ever seen such a +malevolent expression on any human being's face in my life. For an +instance we stood staring at each other without speaking, and then +quite suddenly I realized what was the matter. + +Clutched tight in her right hand was a letter--a letter which I +recognized immediately as the one I had received from Joyce that +morning. Like a fool I must have left it lying on the desk, and while +I was looking out of the window she had evidently picked it up and +read it. + +I hadn't much time, however, for self-reproaches. + +"So, you have been lying to me all through," she broke out bitterly. +"This girl is your mistress; and all the time you have simply been +using me to help yourself. Oh, I see it all now. I see why you were so +anxious to come to London. While I have been working and scheming for +you, you and she ..." Her voice failed from very fury, and tearing the +letter in pieces, she flung them on the ground at my feet. + +I suppose I attempted some sort of reply, for she broke out again more +savagely than ever. + +"She _is_ your mistress! Do you dare to deny it, with that letter +staring me in the face? Coming down to 'kiss you and be kissed by +you,' is she? Well, she's used to that, at all events!" Her voice +choked again, and with her hands clenched she made a quick step +forward in my direction. + +Then quite suddenly I saw her whole expression change. The anger in +her eyes gave place to a gleam of recognition, and the next moment her +lips parted in a peculiarly malicious smile. She was looking past me +through the open window. + +"Ah!" she said. "So that's why you were standing there! You didn't +expect me to be here when she arrived, did you?" With a mocking laugh +she turned to the doorway. "Never mind," she added viciously: "you +will be able to introduce us." + +Even if I had tried to prevent her it would have been too late. With a +swift movement she flung back the door, and stepped forward across the +threshold. + +Joyce was standing about fifteen yards away, facing the hut. She had +evidently just heard the sound of Sonia's voice, and had pulled up +abruptly, as I expected she would. Directly the door opened, she +turned as if to continue her walk. + +Sonia laughed again. "Please don't go away," she said. + +There was a moment's pause, and then I too advanced to the door. I saw +that there was nothing else for it except the truth. + +"Joyce," I said, "this is Sonia. She has just read your letter, which +I left lying on the desk." + +It must have been a bewildering situation even to such a quick-witted +person as Joyce, but all the same one would never have guessed the +fact from her manner. For perhaps a second she stood still, looking +from one to the other of us; then, with that sudden engaging smile of +hers, she came forward and held out her hand to Sonia. + +"I am so glad to meet you," she said simply. "Neil has told me how +good you have been to him." + +Sonia remained quite motionless. She had drawn herself up to her full +height, and she stared at Joyce with a cool hatred she made no attempt +to conceal. + +"Yes," she said; "I have no doubt he told you that. He will have a lot +more to tell you as soon as I've gone. You will have plenty to talk +about when you're not kissing." With a low, cruel little laugh she +stepped forward. "Make the most of him while you've got him," she +added. "It won't be for long." + +As the last word left her lips, she suddenly raised the glove she was +holding in her hand, and struck Joyce fiercely across the face. + +In one stride I was up with them--God knows what I meant to do--but, +thrusting out her arm, Joyce motioned me back. + +"It's all right, Neil dear," she said. "I should have done exactly the +same." + +For a moment we all three remained just as we were, and then without a +word Sonia turned on her heel and walked off rapidly in the direction +of the Tilbury road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + + +"What have we done, Neil?" + +Joyce put the question with a calmness that was truly delightful. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that we've torn it badly." Then, with a +last look at Sonia's retreating figure, I added: "Come inside, and +I'll try to explain." + +We entered the hut, where the floor was still strewn with the +fragments of Joyce's letter. She seated herself on the edge of the bed +and waited patiently while I took a couple of turns up and down the +room. + +"Joyce," I said, "I deserve kicking. I'm not sure I haven't messed up +the whole business." + +"Tell me," she said quietly. "I know about Latimer already; I saw +Tommy at the flat this morning." + +"Well, that simplifies things," I said; and without wasting any +further time in self-reproaches, I plunged straight into the story of +Sonia's surprise visit and its abrupt and spirited ending. + +"How I could have been such an ass I don't know," I finished ruefully. +"I must have put the letter down on the table after I'd done reading +it, and there I suppose it was sitting the whole time." + +Joyce, who had listened to me without interrupting, nodded her head. +"It was just one of those things that had got to happen," she said +philosophically. "It's no good worrying now. The thing is, what are we +to do about it?" + +I thought for a moment. + +"We must let Latimer know at once," I said. "I'll write out what Sonia +told me--just the main facts, and you must take the letter straight up +to London, and find him as soon as you can. I shall stop here, as he +asked me to." + +Joyce's face looked a little troubled. + +"What do you think Sonia will do?" she asked. + +"Goodness knows!" I said. "She seemed to have some particularly +unpleasant intention at the back of her mind; but I don't quite see +what it is." + +"She won't care what she does," said Joyce. "I know exactly how she +feels. Suppose she were to go to the police?" + +"She could hardly do that," I objected. "She'd be incriminating +herself." + +"But suppose she does," persisted Joyce. "Suppose they come and arrest +you here; Latimer won't be able to help you then." + +"I can't go back now, Joyce," I said seriously. "I can't get out of +it just because it might be dangerous to me. After all, it's England +they're scheming against." + +"And what if it is?" she returned indignantly. "A nice way England's +treated you!" + +I came over to the bed and took her hands in mine. + +"Come, Joyce," I said, "you don't really mean that. I want +encouraging, not depressing. All my natural instincts are to look +after myself and let England go to the devil." + +Half laughing and half crying, she jumped up and threw her arms round +me. + +"No, no, no," she said. "I want you to do the right thing always; but +oh, Neil, I'm so frightened of losing you. I just can't do without you +now." + +"Well," I said, "I'm hanged if I can do without you, so we're in the +same boat." + +I kissed her twice, and then, sitting down at the table, made a brief +summary of what I had learned from Sonia. Latimer so far knew nothing +of my relations with the latter, so I was compelled to explain how +badly I had behaved in order to account for her visit. I then gave +him a short description of the painful way in which the interview had +terminated, and added the information that I was waiting on at the hut +in the expectation of a visit from McMurtrie. + +"You can explain things more fully to him, Joyce," I said. "It's no +good trying to keep anything back now; we've gone too far. The great +thing is to get that letter to him as soon as you possibly can. Tommy +will probably know where he is." + +She nodded. "I shall find him all right." She slipped the envelope +inside her dress, and glanced at the watch she was wearing on her +wrist. "There are several things I wanted to tell you," she added, +"but they none of them matter for the moment. If I go at once, I can +just catch the three-thirty." + +"I'll come as far as the road with you," I said. "I daren't leave the +hut for long, in case McMurtrie turns up." + +We went outside and had a good look round. Sonia had long since +disappeared, and the place wore its usual aspect of utter desolation. +I took the precaution of locking the door, however, and then at a +sharp pace we set off together across the marsh. + +"Tell me about George," I said. "How are you getting on with the +elopement plan?" + +Joyce smiled. "I think George is growing a little impatient. He wants +to get away as soon as possible." + +"Yes," I said; "I have no doubt the Mediterranean sounds attractive +to him. There's a pretty stiff penalty attached to selling Government +secrets if you happen to be found out. Besides, I expect he's still +worrying a lot about me." + +Joyce nodded. "He told me last night that I was the only thing that +was keeping him in London. You see I can't quite make up my mind +whether I love him well enough to come away." + +"That's unfortunate for George," I said. "Latimer will probably act at +once as soon as he gets that letter, and directly he does I mean to go +straight to Cheyne Walk, unless I'm dead or in prison." + +Joyce took my arm. "Neil," she said, "whatever happens you mustn't be +arrested. If you think there's any chance of it you must go on board +the _Betty_ and take her somewhere down the river. You can let me know +at the flat where you are. Promise me you will, Neil. You see if the +police once got hold of you, even Latimer mightn't be able to do +anything." + +For a moment I hesitated. So far I had told Joyce nothing of the wild +suspicion about Marks's identity which Sonia's revelations had put +into my head. I didn't want to rouse hopes in her which might turn out +quite baseless. Besides, even if I were really on the right track, and +Marks was the man who had betrayed the gang in St. Petersburg, it was +quite another thing to prove that they were responsible for splitting +his skull. I had nothing to support the idea beyond Joyce's bare +word that she had seen McMurtrie in the flat on the afternoon of the +murder. Sonia's testimony might have been useful, but after today I +could hardly picture her in the witness-box giving evidence on my +behalf. + +On the whole, therefore, I thought it best for the present to keep +the matter to myself. I promised, however, that in the event of my +observing anything in the nature of a policeman stealthily approaching +the hut I would at once seek sanctuary on the _Betty_--an assurance +which might have sounded worthless to some people, but certainly +seemed to comfort Joyce. + +Anyhow she said good-bye to me with her usual cheerfulness and pluck, +and we parted after a last affectionate kiss in full view of the open +marsh. Then I returned to the hut suffering from that novel and highly +unpleasant sense of loneliness that Joyce's departures had begun to +awake in me. + +I don't think there is anything much more trying to one's nerves than +having to sit and wait for some critical event which may happen at any +moment. I have had a good deal of practice at waiting in my life, but +I never remember the hours dragging so desperately slowly as they did +the remainder of that afternoon. + +A dozen times I went over what Latimer and Sonia had told me, putting +together their different stories in my mind and trying to think if +there was any point I had overlooked. I could see none. The mere way +in which they had corroborated each other was enough to make me feel +sure that they were both speaking the truth. Besides, everything that +had happened from the moment I had crept in through the kitchen window +at McMurtrie's house pointed to the same conclusion. + +I may appear stupid not to have seen through the doctor earlier, but +after all a gang of professional spies is hardly the sort of thing one +expects to run up against in a Devonshire village. A few years ago, +indeed, I should have laughed at the idea of their existence anywhere +outside the pages of a shilling shocker, but my three years in +Dartmoor had led me to take a rather more generous view of what life +can throw up in the way of scoundrels. + +Whether they had killed Marks or not, I had little doubt now that they +were wholly responsible for the attempt to murder Latimer. Though I +had good evidence that when it came to the point the two gentlemen +on Sheppey didn't stick at trifles, I could hardly fancy a couple of +German Naval officers deliberately countenancing such methods. If they +had, they certainly deserved the worst fate that even Mr. Gow could +wish them. + +Somehow or other my private interest in the affair seemed to have been +temporarily forced into the background. I felt I was probably doing +the best thing I could for myself in throwing in my lot with Latimer, +but in any case his enthusiasm had got hold of me, and at all risks I +was determined to stick to my side of the bargain. I knew that in her +heart Joyce would have hated me to do otherwise. + +My chief danger, as she had instantly seen, was the chance of Sonia +betraying me to the police. The latter, who knew nothing of the part I +was playing as a sort of unpaid bottle-washer to the Secret +Service, would at once jump at the chance of arresting an escaped +convict--especially such a well-advertised one as myself. However +improbable Sonia's story might sound, they would at least be certain +to take the trouble to investigate it. + +On the other hand, of course Sonia might not go to the police at all, +and even if she did, it was quite possible that Latimer would strike +first and so give me the chance of clearing out. + +Anyhow, forewarned as I was, I felt it would be an uncommonly bright +policeman who succeeded in arresting me. In the day-time, so long as I +kept a good look out, anything like a surprise attack was impossible, +and after that night I made up my mind that I would sleep on the +_Betty_. The only thing was, I should most certainly have to deprive +myself of the luxury of a skipper. Useful as he was at taking letters +into Tilbury, it would be decidedly embarrassing to have him on board +if I happened to arrive in a hurry on the beach with two perspiring +detectives in hot pursuit. + +At six o'clock, as there was still no sign of a visitor, I decided to +walk over to the _Betty_ and tell Mr. Gow that he could treat himself +to another holiday. It would only take me about half an hour, and in +case McMurtrie turned up while I was away I could leave a message on +the door to the effect that I should be back before seven. + +I did this, pinning it up carefully with a drawing-tack and then after +making sure that everything was secure I started off for the creek. + +I found Mr. Gow in his usual restful attitude, his head and shoulders +sticking up out of the fo'c's'le hatch, and a large pipe protruding +from his mouth. With the instincts of a true retainer he promptly +removed the latter as soon as he heard my hail, and hoisting himself +up on deck put off in the dinghy. + +"I'm not coming aboard," I said. "I only walked over to tell you that +you can have a couple of days ashore. We shan't be using the boat till +Saturday or Sunday." + +He thanked me and touched his cap (I could see he was beginning to +think it was rather a soft job he had stumbled into), and then, with +the air of some one breaking unpleasant tidings, he added: "Do you +happen to know, sir, as we're clean out o' petrol?" + +I didn't happen to know it, but under the circumstances it was +information I was glad to acquire. + +"Can you get me some--soon?" I asked. + +He nodded. "I'll bring along a couple o' cans in the mornin', sir, and +leave 'em aboard." + +"Any news?" I asked. + +"Well, sir, I seed the Dutchmen's launch goin' down this +arternoon--travellin' proper they was too, same as when they swamped +me. I suppose you ain't bin able to do nothin' about that matter not +yet, sir?" + +"I'm looking into it, Mr. Gow," I said. "I have a friend helping me, +and between us I think we shall be able to get some satisfaction out +of them. I shall probably have more to tell you on Saturday." + +With this answer he seemed quite content. "Well, I'll just run back +aboard and get my bag, sir," he observed. "I reckon I'd better pull +the dinghy up on top o' the bank when I done with her. If any o' them +Tilbury folk should 'appen to come along they won't see 'er then--not +among the long grass." + +It was a sensible suggestion on the face of it, but in view of the +fact that I might find it necessary to embark rather abruptly, I +couldn't afford to risk any unnecessary delays. + +"Don't bother about that tonight, Gow," I said. "Just drag her above +high-water mark. It's quite possible I may be using her in the +morning." + +Having thus provided for my retreat in the case of an emergency, I +returned to the hut by the usual route along the sea-front. I took the +precaution of putting up my head and inspecting the place carefully +before climbing over the sea-wall, but I might as well have saved +myself the trouble. The marsh was quite deserted, and when I reached +the hut I found my little notice still pinned to the door, and no +trace of any one having paid me a visit in my absence. + +I remained in the same state of splendid isolation for the rest of the +evening. There was no difficulty about keeping watch, for as soon as +the sun went down a large obliging moon appeared in the sky, lighting +up the marsh and the Tilbury road almost as clearly as if it were +day-time. I could have seen a rabbit a hundred yards off, let alone +anything as big and obvious as a Scotland Yard detective. + +At about one in the morning I turned in for a couple of hours' rest. +I felt that if Sonia had gone straight to the authorities they would +have acted before this, while if she was sleeping on her wrath there +was no reason I shouldn't do the same. I had given up any expectation +of McMurtrie until the next morning. + +I woke at half-past three, and resumed my vigil in the pure cool +twilight of early dawn. I watched the sun rise over the river, and +gradually climb up into a sky of pale blue and lemon that gave promise +of another radiantly fine day. There was scarcely a breath of wind +stirring, and everything was so deliciously quiet and peaceful that it +almost seemed as if the events of the last three years were merely the +memory of some particularly vivid nightmare. + +"Almost," I say, for as a matter of fact I was never for a moment +under any such pleasant delusion. If I had been, I should have had +an early awakening, for at eight o'clock, just as I was thinking of +routing out something in the nature of breakfast, I saw a little black +dot advancing along the Tilbury road, which soon resolved itself into +the figure of my faithful Charles. + +He struck off across the marsh and came up to the hut, where I was +standing at the door waiting for him. + +"Two telegrams and a letter for you, sir," he said, producing them +from his bag. "They came this morning, sir." + +With an assumption of leisurely indifference that I was very far from +feeling, I took them out of his hand. The letter was addressed in +McMurtrie's writing, but I put it aside for a moment in favour of the +two wires. The first was from Joyce. + +"Saw L. late yesterday evening. He will act today. Agrees with my +suggestion about the _Betty_ if necessary. J." + +I thrust it into my pocket and opened the other. + +"A copper come last nite and ask for you. He see Misses O." + +For an instant I stared at this cryptic message in bewilderment; then +suddenly the recollection of my final instructions to Gertie 'Uggins +rushed into my mind. + +So Sonia _had_ gone to the police, or had at least contrived to send +them a message which served the same purpose. Their visit to Edith +Terrace was probably explained by the fact that she had given them +both addresses so as better to establish the truth of her story. +Anyhow the murder was out, and with a new and not unpleasant thrill +of excitement I crushed up Gertie's wire in my hand and tore open +McMurtrie's letter. + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"I have been away on business and have only just received your letter, +otherwise I should have come to see you this afternoon. In the first +place allow me to congratulate you most heartily on your success, of +which personally I was never in any doubt. + +"For the moment I have left the Hotel Russell, and am staying with +some friends in Sheppey. I shall run up the river in their launch +early tomorrow morning, as I believe there is a small creek close to +the hut where we can put in. + +"Please have a specimen of the powder ready, and if it is possible I +should like you to arrange for an actual demonstration, as I shall +have a friend with me who is already considerably interested in our +little company, and would be prepared to put up further capital if +convinced of the merits of your invention. + +"You can expect us about high water, between half-past nine and ten. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +As I read the signature McMurtrie's smiling mask-like face seemed +suddenly to rise up in front of me, and all my old instincts of +distrust and repulsion came to keep it company. So he was at the +bungalow, and in little over an hour he would be here--he and the +mysterious friend who was "already considerably interested in +our little company." I smiled grimly at the phrase; it was so +characteristic of the doctor; though when he wrote it he could little +have guessed how thoroughly I should be able to appreciate it. + +He was also equally ignorant of the complications introduced into +the affair by Sonia. Unless I had been altogether misled by Gertie's +message, it was probable that the police were even now on their way to +arrest me, just as McMurtrie's launch was most likely setting out from +the little creek under the bungalow. There seemed every prospect of my +having a busy and interesting morning. + +At this point in my reflections I looked up, and found Charles eyeing +me with an air of respectful patience. I took some money out of my +pocket, and selecting a ten-shilling piece placed it in his grubby but +not unwilling palm. + +"You are a most useful boy, Charles," I said, "and you can keep the +change as usual." + +He pocketed the coin with a gratified stammer. + +"You ain't 'ad time to make no fireworks yourself, sir?" he hazarded, +after a short pause. + +"Not yet," I replied; "but it looks as if I should today." + +He brightened up still further at the news, and observing that he +hoped there would be some letters to bring the next morning departed +on his return journey. + +I went back into the hut and shut the door. Now that matters were +so rapidly approaching a climax, I felt curiously cheerful and +light-hearted. I suppose it was a reaction from the strain and +hard work of the previous week, but anyhow the thought that in all +probability the police were hard on my track didn't seem to worry me +in the least. The only point was whether they would reach the hut +before McMurtrie did. I hoped not, for I was looking forward to an +interview with the doctor, but it certainly seemed as well to take +every precaution. + +I started by unearthing the box of powder from outside, and filling up +my flask from it. Then, when I had covered it over again, I collected +all the papers which I had not burned on the previous day, and stored +them away in my inside pockets. Finally I opened a tinned tongue, and +aided by the dry remains of my last loaf, made a healthy if not very +exciting breakfast. I never believe in conducting violent exertions on +an empty tummy. + +All this time, I need hardly say, I was keeping an uncommonly sharp +look-out over the marsh. The most likely way in which any one who +didn't wish to be seen would attempt to approach the hut was along the +Tilbury road, and it was towards the last clump of trees, behind which +Sonia had left her car the previous day, that I directed my chief +attention. + +Three-quarters of an hour passed, and I was just beginning to think +that McMurtrie would be the winner after all, when I suddenly caught +sight of something dark slinking across the exposed part of the road +beyond the plantation. Standing very still, I watched carefully from +the window. I have excellent eyesight, and I soon made out that there +were three separate figures all stooping low and moving with extreme +caution towards the shelter of the trees. + +A sudden and irresistible desire to laugh seized hold of me; there +was something so intensely funny about the strategic pains they were +taking, when all the while they might just as well have advanced +boldly across the open marsh. Still it was hardly the time to linger +over the comic side of the affair, so retiring from the window, I +threw a last quick glance round the hut to make quite sure that I had +left nothing I wanted behind. Then walking to the door I opened it and +stepped quietly outside. + +I decided that it was impossible to reach the sea-wall without being +seen, so I made no attempt to do so. I just set off in the direction +of the creek, strolling along in the easy, unhurried fashion of a man +taking a morning constitutional. + +I had not gone more than ten yards, when from the corner of my eye I +saw three figures break simultaneously out of the plantation. They no +longer made any pretence about their purpose. One of them cut straight +down towards the hut, a second came running directly after me, while +the third started off as rapidly as possible along the road, so as to +head me off if I attempted to escape inland. + +Any further strategy on my part appeared to be out of place. I grasped +the position in one hurried glance, and then, buttoning my coat and +ramming down my cap, openly and frankly took to my heels. I heard the +gentlemen behind shout out something which sounded like a request that +I should stop, but I was too occupied to pay much attention. The marsh +was infested with small drains, and one had to keep one's eyes glued +on the ground immediately ahead to avoid coming an unholy purler. That +was the only thing I was afraid of, as I was in excellent condition, +and I have always been a very fair runner. + +When I had covered about a couple of hundred yards I looked back over +my shoulder. I expected to find that I had widened the gap, but to my +dismay I discovered that my immediate pursuer had distinctly gained on +me. I could just see that he was a tall, active-looking fellow in a +policeman's uniform, with a long raking stride that was carrying him +over the ground in the most unpleasant fashion. Unless he fell over a +drain and broke his silly neck it seemed highly probable that he would +arrive at the creek almost as soon as I did. + +As I ran I prayed fervently in my heart that Mr. Gow had followed +my instructions and left the dinghy within easy reach of the water. +Otherwise I was in a tight place, for though I could swim to the +_Betty_ all right, it would be impossible to take her out of the creek +in a dead calm and with no petrol aboard for the engine. I should be +compelled to stand at bay until a breeze got up, repelling boarders +with the boat-hook! + +Just before I reached the sea-wall I looked round a second time. My +pursuer was now only about thirty yards distant, but it was evident +that his efforts had begun to tell on him. He again shouted out some +breathless advice to the effect that it would be "best" for me to +surrender, but without waiting to argue the point I scrambled up the +bank and cast a hurried, anxious glance round for the dinghy. + +Any doubts I might have had about Mr. Gow's trustworthiness were +instantly dispelled. The boat was lying on the mud only a few yards +out of reach of the tide. With a gasp of thankfulness I leaped on +to the saltings, and clearing the distance in about three strides, +clutched hold of the gunwale and began to drag it towards the water. + +Just as I reached that desirable element the figure of my pursuer +appeared above the bank. I gave a last savage wrench, but my foot +slipped in the treacherous mud, and I as nearly as possible stumbled +to my knees. That final tug, however, had done the trick. The boat was +floating, and with a wild effort I scrambled in, and seizing an oar, +shoved off furiously from the shore. + +I was only just in time. Jumping from the sea-wall, the policeman +fairly hurled himself across the intervening space, and without a +moment's hesitation plunged into the creek after me. I shortened my +oar, and as he made a grab for the stern I suddenly lunged forward +with all the force I could command. The blade took him fair and square +in the wind, and with a loud observation that sounded like "Ouch!" he +sat down abruptly in the water. Before he could recover himself I was +ten yards from the shore, sculling vigorously for the centre of the +stream. + +I made no attempt to reach the _Betty_. There was still a dead calm, +and by going on board I should merely have been shutting myself up in +a prison from which there was no escape. My best plan seemed to be to +make for the open river, when I might either pick up McMurtrie and his +launch, or else row across to the opposite shore. + +I accordingly headed for the mouth of the creek, while my pursuer, who +by this time had sufficiently recovered to stagger to his feet, waded +dismally back to the shore. Here he was joined by his two companions, +who had evidently been following the chase with praiseworthy +determination. + +For a moment I saw them all three consulting together, and then my +friend the policeman started hastily throwing off his clothes with the +apparent intention of swimming across the river, while the other two +came running along the bank after me. They were both in plain clothes, +but the unmistakable stamp of a Scotland Yard detective was clearly +imprinted on each of them. + +They soon caught me up, and hurrying on ahead reached the mouth of the +creek, while I was still some twenty yards short of it. I was just +wondering what on earth they hoped to do, when, looking over my +shoulder, I saw one of them scramble up the sea-wall, and begin to +shout and wave his arms as if he had suddenly gone mad. + +A few savage pulls brought me up level, and then turning in my seat I +discovered the cause of his excitement. Some way out in the stream was +a small coast-guard cutter with three men on board, two of whom were +at the oars. They had evidently grasped that there was something +serious the matter, for they had brought their boat round and were +already heading in towards the shore. + +My position began to look a trifle unhealthy. I was out of practice +for sculling, and if the coast-guards chose to interfere it was +obviously only a question of a few minutes before they would succeed +in rowing me down. For a moment I had some idea of going ashore on +the opposite bank, and again trusting to my heels. Then I saw that my +friend the policeman, who could apparently swim as well as he could +run, was already half way across the creek, and would be on my track +long before I could get the necessary start. On the whole it seemed +best to stick to the water, so digging in my sculls I pulled out into +the main stream. + +As I rounded the sea-wall I could hear the man who was standing on +top bawling out my name to the coast-guards, and hurling them frantic +injunctions to cut me off. I cast one swift glance up and down the +river, and as I did so I nearly gave a shout of excitement. A couple +of hundred yards away, but coming up at a tremendous pace, was a large +white petrol launch, which I recognized immediately as the one that +had swamped Mr. Gow. + +Whether the coast-guards saw her too I really can't say. I doubt if +they did, for by this time they had evidently realized who I was, and +their whole attention was fixed on preventing my escape. They were +rowing towards me with tremendous energy, the officer in charge +half standing up in the stern and encouraging them to still fiercer +efforts. + +Putting every ounce I could into my stroke, I set off down stream. It +was just a question as to whether I could clear them, and I doubt if +any winner of the Diamond Sculls could have shoved that dinghy along +much faster than I did for the next few seconds. Nearer and nearer we +drew to each other, and for one instant I thought that I had done the +trick. Then from the corner of my eye I saw the cutter fairly leap +forward through the water, and the next moment, with a jolt that +almost flung me out of the seat, she bumped alongside. + +Dropping his oar, one of the men leaned over and grabbed hold of my +gunwale. + +"No go, Mister," he observed breathlessly. "You got to come along with +us." + +The words had hardly left his lips when with a wild shout the officer +in charge leaped to his feet. + +"Look out, there!" he yelled. "Port, you fools! Port your helm!" + +I swung round, and got a momentary glimpse of a sharp white prow with +a great fan of water curling away each side of it, and then, before I +could move, there came a jarring, grinding crash, mixed with a fierce +volley of shouts and oaths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN THE NICK OF TIME + + +My impressions of what happened next are a trifle involved. Something +hit me violently in the side, almost knocking me silly, while at the +same moment the boat seemed to disappear from beneath me, and I was +flying head first into the water. I struck out instinctively as I +fell, and came to the surface almost at once. I just remember a +blurred vision of floating wreckage, with something white rising up in +front of me. Then a rope came hurtling through the air, and caught me +full in the face. I clutched at it wildly, and the next thing I knew I +was being dragged violently through the water and hauled in over the +side of the launch. + +It was all over so quickly that for a moment I scarcely realized what +had happened. I just lay where I was, gasping for breath, and spitting +out a large mouthful of the Thames which I had unintentionally +appropriated. Above the throbbing of the engine and the swish of the +screw I could still hear a confused medley of shouts and curses. + +With an effort I sat up and looked about me. We had already changed +our course, and were swinging round in a half-circle, preparatory to +heading back down stream. The smashed remains of the two boats were +bobbing about behind us, and in the midst of them I could make out the +figures of the coast-guards, clinging affectionately to various bits +of wreckage. + +Besides myself, there were three other men in the launch. Dr. +McMurtrie was sitting on the seat just opposite, pouring out the +contents of a flask into a small metal cup. Against the cabin door +leaned Savaroff, eyeing me with his usual expression of hostile +mistrust. The third passenger was the man with the auburn beard, whom +I had seen in the launch on the day I picked up Mr. Gow. He was busy +with the tiller, and for the moment was paying scant attention to any +of us. + +McMurtrie got up with the cup in his hand and came across to where I +was sitting. + +"Drink this," he said. + +"This," proved to be some excellent old brandy, which I tossed off +with no little gratitude. It was exactly what I wanted to pull me +together. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked. + +I felt myself carefully before replying. "I'm all right now," I said. +"I got rather a crack in the ribs, but I don't think anything's gone." + +"We seem to have arrived just in time to prevent your arrest," he +said quietly. "Perhaps you will be good enough to explain what has +happened? At present we are rather in the dark." + +He spoke with his usual suavity, but there was a veiled menace in his +voice which it was impossible to overlook. Savaroff scowled at me more +truculently than ever. It was obvious that both of them were entirely +ignorant of Sonia's part in the affair, and suspected me of some +extraordinary bit of clumsiness. I prepared myself for some heavy +lying. + +"I know precious little more about it than you do," I said coolly. "I +was getting things ready for you this morning, when I happened to look +out of the window, and saw three men crawling towards the hut on their +hands and knees. As one of them was wearing a policeman's uniform, I +thought I had better cut and run. Well, I cut and ran. I made for the +creek because I thought you might be there. You weren't; but there was +a dinghy on the shore, which I suppose belonged to a small yacht +that was anchored out in the channel. Anyhow, I took the liberty of +borrowing it. I meant to row out into the river, and try to pick you +up before they could get hold of a boat and follow me. If it hadn't +been for these infernal coast-guards, I'd have managed it all right. I +don't think they really had anything to do with the business, but they +just happened to be passing, and of course when the police shouted to +them they cut in at once." I paused. "And that's the whole story," I +finished, "as far as I know anything about it." + +They had all three listened to me with eager attention. Even the man +with the auburn beard had kept on looking away from his steering to +favour me with quick glances out of his hard blue eyes. I think I came +through the combined scrutiny with some credit. + +McMurtrie was the first to break the ensuing silence. + +"Have you any idea how you have betrayed yourself? You can speak quite +freely. Our friend Mr. von Brünig knows the position." + +I thought it best to take the offensive. "I haven't betrayed myself," +I said angrily. "Somebody must have done it for me. I've not left the +hut since I came down except for an occasional breath of air." + +"But earlier--when you were in London?" he persisted. + +I shook my head. "I have been down here a week. You don't imagine the +police would have waited as long as that." + +I knew I was putting them in a difficulty, for by this time they +must be all aware that Latimer was still on their track, and it was +obviously conceivable that my attempted arrest might be due in some +way to my connection with them; anyhow I saw that even Savaroff was +beginning to regard me a shade less suspiciously. + +"Have you brought any of the powder with you?" asked McMurtrie. + +It struck me instantly that if I said yes, I should be putting myself +absolutely in their power. + +"I hadn't time to get any," I answered regretfully. "I had buried it +outside the hut, and they came on me so suddenly there was no chance +of digging it up. Now I have once done it, however, I can make some +more very quickly." + +It was the flattest lie I have ever told; but I managed to get it off +with surprising ease. It is astonishing what rapid strides one can +make in the art of perjury with a very little practice. + +Savaroff gave a grunt of disappointment, and McMurtrie turned to von +Brünig, who was frowning thoughtfully, and made some almost inaudible +remark in German. The latter answered at some length, but he kept his +voice so low that, with my rather sketchy knowledge of that unpleasant +language, it was impossible for me to overhear what he was saying. +Besides, he evidently didn't intend me to, and I had no wish to +spoil the good impression I had apparently made by any appearance of +eavesdropping. + +It seemed to me that my course lay pretty straight in front of me. +Latimer had all the information now he was likely to get, and I knew +from Joyce's wire that he intended to act immediately. In addition to +this, the running down of the cutter would be known to Scotland Yard +as soon as ever the men who had been sent to arrest me could get to a +telephone, and the river-police and coast-guards everywhere would be +warned to keep a sharp look-out for von Brünig's launch. In an hour or +two at the most something was bound to happen, and the way in which I +could make myself most useful seemed to be in delaying the break-up +and escape of the party as long as possible. If I had to be arrested, +I was determined that the others should be roped in as well. + +I had just arrived at this point in my meditations when McMurtrie and +von Brünig came to an end of their muttered conversation. + +The former turned back to me. "You probably understand, Mr. Lyndon, +that this unfortunate affair with the police alters our plans +entirely. At present I am quite unable to see how they have found you +out, unless you have betrayed yourself by some piece of unintentional +carelessness. Anyhow, the fact remains that they know where you are, +and that very probably they will be able to trace this launch." + +Savaroff nodded. "As likely as not we shall have a shot across our +bows when we get to Sheerness," he growled. + +McMurtrie, as usual, took no notice of his interruption. "There is +only one thing to do," he said. "Mr. von Brünig, who, as I have +already told you, is interested in our syndicate, has offered to put +his country house in Germany at our service. We must cross over to +Holland before the police have time to interfere." + +"Do you mean now, at once?" I asked, with a sudden inward feeling of +dismay. + +McMurtrie nodded. "We have to pick up a couple of friends at Sheppey +first. After that we can run straight across to The Hague." + +The proposal was so obviously sensible that, without arousing his +suspicion, I could see no way for the moment of raising any objection. +The great thing was to keep the "syndicate" together, and to delay our +departure until Latimer had had time to scoop the lot of us. Could +anything provide him with a more favourable opportunity than the +collection of the whole crowd in that remote bungalow at Sheppey? It +was surely there if anywhere he would strike first, and I hoped, +very feelingly, that he would not be too long about it. My powers +of postponing our voyage to Holland appeared to have a distinct +time-limit. + +"There seems nothing else to do," I said. "I am sorry to have been +the cause of changing all our plans; but the whole thing is as much a +mystery to me as it is to you. However the police got on to my track, +it wasn't through any carelessness of mine. I am no more anxious to go +back to Dartmoor now than I was six weeks ago." + +This last observation at least was true; and I can only hope the +recording angel jotted it down as a slight set-off against the +opposite column. + +Savaroff removed his bulky form from in front of the cabin door, and +crossing the well, sat down beside the others. They began to talk +again in German; but as before I could only catch the merest scraps of +their conversation. Once I heard Sonia's name mentioned by McMurtrie, +and I just caught Savaroff's muttered reply to the effect that she was +all right where she was, and could follow us to Germany later. As far +as I could judge, they none of them had the remotest suspicion that +she was in any way connected with the crisis. + +All this while we had been throbbing along down stream at a terrific +pace, keeping well to the centre of the river, and giving such small +vessels as we passed a reasonably wide berth. If there was any trouble +coming to us it seemed most likely to materialize in the neighbourhood +of Southend or Sheerness, which were the two places to which the +police would be almost certain to send a description of the launch +as soon as they could get to a telephone. As we reached the first +danger-zone, I noticed von Brünig beginning to cast rather anxious +glances towards the shore. No one seemed to pay any attention to us, +however, and without slackening speed, we swept out into the broad +highway of the Thames estuary. + +There were several torpedo-boats lying off Sheerness, but these also +remained utterly indifferent to our presence. Apparently the police +had been too occupied in rescuing their coast-guard allies from a +watery grave to reach a telephone in time, and we passed along down +the coast unsuspected and unchallenged. + +Whatever von Brünig's weak points might be, he could certainly steer +a motor-boat to perfection. He turned into the little creek under the +bungalow at a pace which I certainly wouldn't have cared to attempt +even in my wildest mood, and brought up in almost the identical spot +where we had anchored the _Betty_ on the historic night of Latimer's +rescue. + +We had a small collapsible Berthon boat on board, just big enough to +hold four at a pinch. I watched Savaroff getting it ready, wondering +grimly whether there was any chance of their leaving me on the launch +with only one member of the party as a companion. It would have suited +me excellently, though it might have been a little inconvenient for my +prospective guardian. + +McMurtrie, however, promptly shattered this agreeable possibility by +inviting me to take a seat in the boat. I think he believed I had told +him the truth, but he evidently had no intention of letting me out of +his sight again until I had actually handed him over the secret of the +powder. + +We landed at the foot of a little winding path, and dragged our boat +out of the water on to a narrow strip of shingle. Then we set off +up the cliff at a rapid pace, with von Brünig leading the way and +Savaroff bringing up the rear. + +The bungalow was situated about a couple of hundred yards from the +summit, almost hidden by the high privet hedge which I had noticed +from the sea. This hedge ran right round the garden, the only entrance +being a small white gate in front of the house. Von Brünig walked up, +the path followed by the rest of us, and thrusting his key into the +lock pushed open the door. + +We found ourselves in a fairly big, low-ceilinged apartment, lighted +by a couple of French windows opening on to the side garden. They were +partly covered by two long curtains, each drawn half way across. The +place was comfortably furnished, and an easel with a half-finished +seascape on it bore eloquent witness to the purity of its tenants' +motives. + +Von Brünig looked round with a sort of impatient surprise. + +"Where are the others?" he demanded harshly. "Why have they left the +place empty in this way?" + +"They must have walked over to the post-office," said McMurtrie. "I +know Hoffman wanted to send a telegram. They will be back in a minute, +I expect." + +Von Brünig frowned. "They ought not to have done so. Seeker at least +should have known better. After the other night--" He paused, and +crossing the room threw open a door and disappeared into an adjoining +apartment. + +Without waiting for an invitation, I seated myself on a low couch in +the farther corner of the room. I felt quite cool, but I must admit +that the situation was beginning to strike me as a little unpromising. +Unless Latimer turned up precious soon it seemed highly probable that +he would be too late. Considering the importance of getting me safely +to Germany, neither von Brünig nor McMurtrie was likely to stay a +minute longer than was necessary. I might, of course, refuse to go +with them, but in that case the odds were that I should simply be +overpowered and taken on board by force. Von Brünig himself looked a +pretty tough handful to tackle, while Savaroff was about as powerful +as a well-grown bullock. Once I was safe in the former's "country +house" they would no doubt reckon on finding some means of bringing me +quickly to reason. + +With a bag in one hand and a bundle of papers in the other von Brünig +came back into the room. + +"I shall not wait," he announced curtly. "The risks are too great. +Seeker and your friend must follow as best they can." + +"They are bound to be here in a minute," objected Savaroff. + +Von Brünig turned on him with an angry gleam in his blue eyes. "I +shall not wait," he repeated harshly. "The future of Germany is of +more importance than their convenience." + +McMurtrie stepped forward, serene and imperturbable as ever. + +"I think Mr. von Brünig is right, Savaroff," he said. "The police may +have recognized the launch, and in that case it would be madness for +us not to go while we have the chance. We can leave a note for the +others." + +If Savaroff had any further objections he kept them to himself. He +turned away with a shrug on his broad shoulders, while McMurtrie sat +down at the table and hastily wrote a few lines which he showed to von +Brünig. The other nodded his head approvingly. + +"That will do very well," he said. "It will be safe if any one else +should find it. Seeker knows where to come to." + +McMurtrie put the note in an envelope which he placed in the centre of +the table. + +"And now," he said, pushing back his chair, "the sooner we are out of +this the better." + +I felt that if I was going to interfere the right time had now +arrived. Von Brünig's reply to Savaroff had given me just the opening +I needed. + +"One moment, gentlemen!" I said, getting up from the couch. + +They all three turned in obvious surprise at the interruption. + +"Well?" rapped out von Brünig, "what is it?" + +"I was under the impression," I said, "that this new explosive of mine +was to be put on the market as an ordinary commercial enterprise." + +McMurtrie rose from his chair and took a step forward. + +"You are perfectly right," he said. "Why should you think otherwise?" + +"In that case," I replied steadily, "I should like to know what Mr. +von Brünig meant by his remark about the 'future of Germany.'" + +There was a short pause. + +"Ach, Himmel!" broke out von Brünig. "What does it matter? What are we +wasting time for? Tell him if he wishes." + +"Why, certainly," said McMurtrie, smiling. "There is no mystery about +it. I was merely keeping the matter quiet until it was settled." He +turned to me. "The German Government have made us a very good offer +for your invention, provided of course that it will do what you +claim." + +"It will do what I claim all right," I said coolly, "but I don't wish +to sell it to the German Government." + +There was a sort of explosive gasp from von Brünig and Savaroff, and I +saw McMurtrie's eyes narrow into two dangerous cat-like slits. + +"_You don't-wish!_" he repeated icily. "May I ask why?" + +"Certainly," I said. "With the sole command of an explosive as +powerful as mine, Germany would be in a position to smash England in +about six weeks." + +"And suppose she was," interrupted von Brünig. "What in God's name +does it matter to you--an escaped convict?" + +His voice rang with impatience and contempt, and I felt my own temper +rising. + +"It matters just sufficiently," I said, "that I'll see you in hell +first." + +McMurtrie came slowly up to me, and looked me straight in the eyes. +His face was white and terrible--a livid mask of controlled anger. + +"You fool," he said almost pityingly. "You incredible fool! Do you +imagine that you have any choice in the matter?" + +Von Brünig and Savaroff moved up alongside of him, and I stood there +confronting the three of them. + +"You have heard my choice," I said. + +McMurtrie laughed. It was precisely the way in which I should imagine +the devil laughs on the rare occasions when he is still amused. + +"You are evidently a bad judge of character, Mr. Lyndon," he said. +"People who attempt to break faith with me are apt to find it a very +unhealthy occupation." + +I felt utterly reckless now. I had done my best to delay things, +and if neither the police nor the Secret Service was ready to take +advantage of it, so much the worse for them--and me. + +"I can quite believe you, doctor," I said pleasantly. "I should +imagine you were a dangerous ruffian from the intelligent way in which +you murdered Marks." + +It was a last desperate stroke, but it went home with startling +effect. + +Savaroff's face flushed purple, and with a fierce oath he gripped the +back of a chair and swung it up over his head. The doctor stopped him +with a gesture of his hand. As for von Brünig, he stood where he +was, staring from one to the other of us in angry bewilderment. He +evidently hadn't the remotest notion what I was talking about. + +McMurtrie was the first to speak. "Yes," he said, in his coolest, +silkiest voice. "I did kill Marks. He was the last person who betrayed +me. I rather think you will envy him before I have finished with you, +Mr. Lyndon." + +"A thousand devils!" cried von Brünig furiously: "what does all this +nonsense mean? We may have the police here any moment. Knock him on +the head, the fool, and--" + +"Stop!" + +The single word cut in with startling clearness. We all spun round in +the direction of the sound, and there, standing in the window just +between the two curtains, was the solitary figure of Mr. Bruce +Latimer. He was accompanied by a Mauser pistol which flickered +thoughtfully over the four of us. + +"Keep still," he drawled--"quite still, please. I shall shoot the +first man who moves." + +There was a moment of rather trenchant silence. Then von Brünig +moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Are you mad, sir?" he began hoarsely. "By what--" + +With a lightning-like movement McMurtrie slipped his right hand into +his side pocket, and as he did so Latimer instantly levelled his +pistol. The two shots rang out simultaneously, but except for a cry +and a crash of broken glass I knew nothing of what had happened. In +one stride I had flung myself on Savaroff, and just as he drew his +revolver I let him have it fair and square on the jaw. Dropping his +weapon, he reeled backwards into von Brünig, and the pair of them went +to the floor with a thud that shook the building. Almost at the same +moment both the door and the window burst violently open, and two men +came charging into the room. + +The first of the intruders was Tommy Morrison. I recognized him just +as I was making an instinctive dive for Savaroff's revolver, under the +unpleasant impression that Hoffman and the other German had returned +from the post-office. You can imagine the delight with which I +scrambled up again, clutching that useful if rather belated weapon in +my hand. + +One glance round showed me everything there was to see. + +Face downwards in a little pool of blood lay the motionless figure +of McMurtrie. Savaroff also was still--his huge bulk sprawled in +fantastic helplessness across the floor. Only von Brünig had moved; he +was sitting up on his hands, staring in a half-dazed fashion down the +barrel of Latimer's Mauser. + +It was Latimer himself who renewed the conversation. + +"Come and fix up these two, Ellis," he said. "I will see to the +other." + +The man who had burst in with Tommy, a lithe, hard-looking fellow in a +blue suit, walked crisply across the room, and pulling out a pair +of light hand-cuffs snapped them round von Brünig's wrists. He then +performed a similar service for the still unconscious Savaroff. + +The next moment Latimer, Tommy, and I were kneeling round the +prostrate figure of the doctor. We lifted him up very gently and +turned him over on to his back, using a rolled-up rug as a pillow for +his head. He had been shot through the right lung and was bleeding at +the mouth. + +Latimer bent over and made a brief examination of the wound. Then with +a slight shake of his head he knelt back. + +"I'm afraid there's no hope," he remarked dispassionately. "It's a +pity. We might have got some useful information out of him." + +There was a short pause, and then quite suddenly the dying man opened +his eyes. It may have been fancy, but it seemed to me that for a +moment a shadow of the old mocking smile flitted across his face. His +lips moved, faintly, as though he were trying to speak. I bent down to +listen, but even as I did so there came a fresh rush of blood into his +throat, and with a long shudder that strange sinister spirit of his +passed over into the darkness. I shall always wonder what it was that +he left unsaid. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +EXONERATED + + +It was Tommy who pronounced his epitaph. "Well," he observed, "he was +a damned scoundrel, but he played a big game anyhow." + +Latimer thrust his hand into the dead man's pocket, and drew out a +small nickel-plated revolver. One chamber of it was discharged. + +"Not a bad shot," he remarked critically. "Fired at me through his +coat, and only missed my head by an inch." + +He got up and looked round the room at the shattered window and the +other traces of the fray, his gaze coming finally to rest on the +prostrate figure of Savaroff. + +"That was a fine punch of yours, Lyndon," he added. "I hope you +haven't broken his neck." + +"I don't think so," I said. "Necks like Savaroff's take a lot of +breaking." Then, suddenly remembering, I added hastily: "By the way, +you know that there are two more of the crowd--Hoffman and a friend of +von Brünig's? They might be back any minute." + +Latimer shook his head almost pensively. "It's improbable," he said. +"I have every reason to believe that at the present moment they are in +Queenborough police station." + +I saw Tommy grin, but before I could make any inquiries von Brünig +had scrambled to his feet. His face looked absolutely ghastly in its +mingled rage and disappointment. After a fashion I could scarcely help +feeling sorry for him. + +"I demand an explanation," he exclaimed hoarsely. "By what right am I +arrested?" + +Latimer walked up to him, and looked him quietly in the eyes. + +"I think you understand very well, _Captain_ von Brünig," he said. + +There was a pause, and then, with a glance that embraced the four of +us, the German walked to the couch and sat down. If looks could kill I +think we should all have dropped dead in our tracks. + +Providence, however, having fortunately arranged otherwise, we +remained as we were, and at that moment there came from outside the +unmistakable sound of an approaching car. I saw Latimer open his +watch. + +"Quick work, Ellis," he remarked, with some satisfaction. "I wasn't +expecting them for another ten minutes. Tell them to come straight +in." He snapped the case and turned back to me. "Suppose we try and +awake our sleeping friend," he added. "He looks rather a heavy weight +for lifting about." + +Between us we managed to hoist Savaroff up into a chair, while Tommy +stepped across the room and fetched a bottle of water which was +standing on the sideboard. I have had some practice in my boxing days +of dealing with knocked-out men, and although Savaroff was a pretty +hard case, a little vigorous massage and one or two good sousings +soon produced signs of returning consciousness. Indeed, he had just +recovered sufficiently to indulge in a really remarkable oath when the +door swung open and Ellis came back into the room, accompanied by two +other men. One of them was dressed in ordinary clothes, the other wore +the uniform of a police sergeant. + +I shall never forget the face of the latter as he surveyed the scene +before him. + +"Gawd bless us!" he exclaimed. "What's up now, sir? Murder?" + +"Not exactly, Sergeant," replied Latimer soothingly. "I shot this man +in self-defence. The other two I give into your charge. There is a +warrant out for all three of them." + +It appeared that the sergeant knew who Latimer was, for he treated him +with marked deference. + +"Very well, sir," he said. "If 'e's dead, 'e's dead; anyhow, I've +orders to take my instructions entirely from you." Then, dragging a +note-book out of his pocket, he added with some excitement: "There's +another thing, sir, a matter that the Tilbury station have just +telephoned through about. It seems"--he consulted his references--"it +seems that when they were in that launch of theirs they run down a +party o' coast-guards, who'd got hold of Lyndon, the missing convict. +Off Tilbury it was. D'you happen to know anything about this, sir?" + +Latimer nodded his head. "A certain amount, Sergeant," he said. "You +will find the launch in the creek at the bottom of the cliff." He +paused. "This is Mr. Neil Lyndon," he added; "I will be responsible +for his safe keeping." + +I don't know what sort of experiences the Isle of Sheppey usually +provides for its police staff, but it was obvious that, professionally +speaking, the sergeant was having the day of his life. He stared at me +for a moment with the utmost interest, and then, recollecting himself, +turned and saluted Latimer. + +"Very good, sir," he said; "and what do you want me to do?" + +"I want you to stay here for the present with one of my men, while we +go to the station. I shall send the car back, and then you will take +the two prisoners into Queenborough. My man will remain in charge of +the bungalow." + +The sergeant saluted again, and Latimer turned to me. + +"You and Morrison must come straight to town," he said. "We shall just +have time to catch the twelve-three." + +It was at this point that Savaroff, who had been regarding us with +the half-stupid stare of a man who has newly recovered consciousness, +staggered up unsteadily from his chair. His half-numbed brain seemed +suddenly to have grasped what was happening. + +"Verfluchter Schweinhund!" he shouted, turning on me. "So it was you, +then--" + +He got no further. However embarrassed the sergeant might be by +exceptional events, he was evidently thoroughly at home in his own +department. + +"'Ere!" he said, stepping forward briskly, "stow that, me man!" +And with a sudden energetic thrust in the chest, he sent Savaroff +sprawling backwards on the couch almost on top of von Brünig. + +"Don't you use none of that language 'ere," he added, standing over +them, "or as like as not you'll be sorry for it." + +There was a brief pause. "I see, Sergeant," said Latimer gravely, +"that I am leaving the case in excellent hands." + +He gave a few final instructions to Ellis, who was also staying +behind, and then the four of us left the bungalow and walked quietly +down the small garden path that led to the road. Just outside the gate +stood a powerful five-seated car. + +"Start her up, Guthrie," said Latimer; and then turning to us, he +added, with a smile: "I want you in front with me, Lyndon. I know +Morrison's dying for a yarn with you, but he must wait." + +Tommy nodded contentedly. "I can wait," he observed; "it's a habit +I've cultivated where Neil's concerned." + +We all clambered into the car, and, slipping in his clutch Latimer set +off at a rapid pace in the direction of Queenborough. It was not until +we had rounded the first corner that he opened the conversation. + +"How did you know about Marks?" he asked, in that easy drawling voice +of his. + +"I didn't know for certain," I said quietly. "It was more or less of a +lucky shot." + +Then, as he seemed to be waiting for a further explanation, I repeated +to him as briefly as possible what Sonia had told me about McMurtrie's +reason for visiting London. + +"I didn't go into all this in my letter to you," I finished, "because +in the first place there was only just time for Joyce to catch the +train, and in the second I didn't want to disappoint her in case it +should turn out to be all bunkum. You must have been rather amazed +when I suddenly sprung it on McMurtrie." + +He shook his head, smiling. "Oh no," he said--"hardly amazed." He +paused. "You see, I knew about it already," he added placidly. + +If there was any amazement to spare at that moment it was certainly +mine. + +"You knew about it!" I repeated. "You knew that McMurtrie had killed +Marks?" + +He nodded coolly. "You remember telling me in the boat that your +friend Miss--Miss Aylmer, isn't it?--had recognized him as the man she +saw at the flat on the day of the murder?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, if that was so, and you had been wrongly convicted, which I +was inclined to believe, the doctor's presence on the scene seemed to +require a little looking into. I knew that at that time he had only +just arrived in London, so the odds were that he and Marks were old +acquaintances. I hunted up the evidence in your trial--I had rather +forgotten it--and I found just what I expected. Beyond the fact that +Marks was a foreigner and had been living in London for about eight +years, no one seemed to know anything about him at all. The police +were so confident in their case against you that apparently they +hadn't even bothered to make the usual inquiries. If they had taken +the trouble to communicate with St. Petersburg, they could have found +out all about Mr. Marks without much difficulty. The authorities there +have a wonderfully complete system of remembering their old friends." + +"But three years afterwards--" I began. + +"It makes very little difference, especially as just at present we +are on excellent terms with the Russian Secret Service. They took the +matter up for me, and last night I got the full particulars I wanted +about the man who had given away McMurtrie and his friends in St. +Petersburg. There can be no question that he and Marks were the same +person." + +I took a long--a very long breath. + +"There remains," I said, "the Home Office." + +"I don't think you need be seriously worried about the Home Office," +returned Latimer serenely. "By this time they have a full statement of +the case--except, of course, for my direct evidence that I heard the +doctor actually bragging of his achievement. I had a long interview +with Casement before I left London this morning, and he said he would +go round directly after breakfast. He evidently arrived just too late +to prevent the order for your arrest." + +I nodded. "Sonia must have gone to the police last night," I said; and +then in a few words I told him of the telegram I had received from +Gertie 'Uggins, and how it had just enabled me to get away. + +"I don't know," I finished, "how much my double escape complicates +matters. However unjust my sentence was, there's no denying I've +committed at least three felonies since. I've broken prison, plugged a +warder in the jaw, and shoved an oar into a policeman's tummy. Do you +think there's any possible chance of the Home Secretary being able to +overlook such enormities?" + +Latimer laughed easily. "My dear Lyndon," he said, "in return for what +you've done for us, you could decimate the police force if you wanted +to." Then, speaking more seriously, he added: "I tell you frankly, +there's every chance of a huge European war in the near future, and +you can see the different position we should be in if the Germans had +got hold of this new powder of yours. Apart from that, the Government +owe you every possible sort of reparation for the shameful way you've +been treated. If there's any 'overlooking' to be done, it will be on +your side, not on theirs." + +We were entering the dreary main street of Queenborough as he spoke, +and before I could answer he drew up outside the post-office. + +"We've just time to send off a telegram," he said. "I want to make +sure of seeing Lammersfield and Casement directly we get to town. They +will probably be at lunch if I don't wire." + +He entered the building, and Tommy took advantage of his brief absence +to lean over the back of the seat and grip my hand. + +"We've done it, Neil," he said. "Damn it, we've done it!" + +"_You've_ done it, Tommy," I retorted. "You and Joyce between you." + +There was a short pause, and then Tommy gave vent to a deep satisfied +chuckle. + +"I'm thinking of George," he said simply. + +It was such a beautiful thought that for a moment I too maintained a +voluptuous silence. + +"We must find out whether they're going to prosecute him," I said. "I +don't want to clash with the Government, but whatever happens I mean +to have my five minutes first. They're welcome to what's left of him." + +Tommy nodded sympathetically, and just at that moment Latimer came out +of the post-office. + +We got to the railway station with about half a minute to spare. +The train was fairly crowded, but a word from Latimer to the +station-master resulted in our being ushered into an empty "first" +which was ceremoniously locked behind us. It was not a "smoker," but +with a fine disregard for such trifles Latimer promptly produced his +cigar case, and offered us each a delightful-looking Upman. There are +certainly some advantages in being on the side of the established +order. + +Soothed by the fragrant tobacco, and with an exquisite feeling of +rest and freedom, I lay back in the corner and listened to Latimer's +pleasantly drawling voice, as he described to me how he had +accomplished his morning's coup. + +It seems that, accompanied by Tommy and his own man Ellis, he had +arrived at Queenborough by the early train. Instructions had already +been wired through from London that the Sheppey police were to put +themselves entirely at his disposal; and having commandeered a car, +the three of them, together with our friend the sergeant, set off to +the bungalow. They pulled up some little distance away and waited for +Guthrie, Latimer's other assistant, who had been keeping an eye on the +place during the night. He reported that McMurtrie and Savaroff and +von Brünig had just put off in the launch, leaving the other two +behind. + +"I guessed they had gone to pay you a visit," explained Latimer drily, +"and it seemed to me a favourable chance of doing a little calling on +our own account." + +The net result of that little call had been the bloodless capture +of Hoffman and the other German spy, who had been surprised in the +prosaic act of swallowing their breakfast. + +Having been favoured by fortune so far, Latimer had promptly proceeded +to make the best use of his opportunity. It struck him that, whatever +might be the result of their visit to me, the other members of the +party were pretty sure to come back to the bungalow. The idea of +hiding behind the curtain at once suggested itself to him. It was just +possible that in this way he might pick up some valuable information +before he was discovered, while in any case it would give him the +advantage of taking them utterly by surprise. + +His first step had been to tie up the prisoners, and pack them off in +the car to Queenborough police station with Guthrie and the sergeant +as an escort. (I should have loved to have heard his conversation with +Hoffman while the former operation was in progress!) He then carefully +removed all inside and outside traces of the raid on the bungalow, and +picked out a couple of convenient hiding-places in the garden, where +Tommy and Ellis could he in ambush until they were wanted. A shot from +his revolver or the smashing of the French window was to be the signal +for their united entrance on the scene. + +"Well, you know the end of the story as well as I do," he finished, +nicking off the ash of his cigar. "Things could scarcely have turned +out better, except for that unfortunate accident with McMurtrie." +He paused. "I wouldn't have shot him for the world," he added +regretfully, "but he really left me no choice." + +"He would have been hanged anyway," put in Tommy consolingly. + +Latimer smiled. "I didn't mean to suggest that it was likely to keep +me awake at night. I was only thinking that we might perhaps have got +some useful information out of him." + +"It seems to me," I said gratefully, "that we did." + +Through the interminable suburbs and slums of South-East London we +steamed slowly into London Bridge Station and drew up at the platform. +There was a taxi waiting almost opposite our carriage, and promptly +securing the driver Latimer instructed him to take us "as quickly as +possible" to No. 10 Downing Street. + +The man carried out his order with almost alarming literalness, but +Providence watched over us and we reached the Foreign Office without +disaster. Favoured with a respectful salute from the liveried porter +on duty, Latimer led the way into the hall. + +We followed him down a short narrow passage to another corridor, where +he unlocked and opened a door on the left, ushering us into a small +room comfortably fitted up as an office. + +"This is my own private den," he said; "so no one will disturb you. I +will go and see if Casement has come. If so, he is probably upstairs +with Lammersfield. I will give them my report, and then no doubt they +will want to see you. You won't have to wait very long." + +He nodded pleasantly and left the room, closing the door after him. +For all his quiet, almost lethargic manner, it was curious what an +atmosphere of swiftness and decision he seemed to carry about with +him. + +I turned to Tommy. + +"Where's Joyce?" I asked. + +"She's at the flat," he announced. "She said she would wait there +until she heard from us. I saw her last night, you know. I was having +supper at Hatchett's with Latimer when she turned up with your letter. +She'd come on from his rooms." + +"There are many women," I said softly, "but there is only one Joyce." + +Tommy chuckled. "That's what Latimer thinks. After she left us--I was +staying the night with him in Jermyn Street and we'd all three gone +back there to talk it over--he said to me in that funny drawling way +of his: 'You know, Morrison, that girl will be wasted, even on Lyndon. +She ought to be in the Secret Service.'" + +I laughed. "I'm grateful to the Secret Service," I said, "but there +are limits even to gratitude." + +For perhaps three-quarters of an hour we remained undisturbed, while +Latimer was presumably presenting his report to the authorities. Every +now and then we heard footsteps pass down the corridor, and on one +occasion an electric bell went off with a sudden vicious energy that +I should never have expected in a Government office. The time passed +quickly, for we had plenty to talk about; indeed, our only objection +to waiting was the fact that we were both beginning to get infernally +hungry, and it seemed likely to be some time yet before we should be +able to get anything to eat. + +At last there came a discreet knock at the door, and an elderly +clean-shaven person with the manners of a retired butler appeared +noiselessly upon the threshold. He bowed slightly to us both. + +"Lord Lammersfield wishes to see you, gentlemen. If you will be good +enough to follow me, I will conduct you to his presence." + +We followed him along the corridor and up a rather dingy staircase, +when he tapped gently at a door immediately facing us. "Come in," +called out a voice, and with another slight inclination of his head +our guide turned the handle and ushered us into the room. + +It was a solemn-looking sort of apartment furnished chiefly with +bookcases, and having a general atmosphere of early Victorian +stuffiness. At a big table in the centre two men were sitting. One was +Latimer; the other I recognized immediately as Lord Lammersfield. + +I had never known him personally in the old days, but I had often seen +him walking in the Park, or run across him at such popular rest +cures as Kempton and Sandown Park. He had changed very little in the +interval; his hair was perhaps a trifle greyer, otherwise he looked +just the same debonair picturesque figure that the Opposition +caricaturists had loved to flesh their pencils on. + +He got up as we entered, regarding us both with a pleasant whimsical +smile that put me entirely at my ease at once. + +"This is Lyndon," said Latimer, indicating me; "and this is Morrison." + +Lord Lammersfield came round the table and shook hands cordially with +us both. + +"Sit down, gentlemen," he said, "sit down. If half of what Mr. Latimer +has told me is true, you must be extremely tired." + +We all three laughed, and Tommy promptly took advantage of the +invitation to seat himself luxuriously in a big leather arm-chair. I +remained standing. + +"To be quite truthful," I said, "it's been the most refreshing morning +I can ever remember." + +Lord Lammersfield looked at me for a moment with the same smile on his +lips. + +"Yes," he said drily; "I suppose there is a certain stimulus in +saving England before breakfast. Most of my own work in that line is +accomplished in the afternoon." Then, with a sudden slight change in +his manner, he took a step forward and again held out his hand. + +"Mr. Lyndon," he said, "as a member of the Government, and one who is +therefore more or less responsible for the law's asinine blunders, I +am absolutely ashamed to look you in the face. I wonder if you add +generosity to your other unusual gifts." + +For the second time we exchanged grips. "I have common gratitude at +all events, Lord Lammersfield," I said. "I know that you have tried to +help me while I was in prison, and--" + +He held up his other hand with a gesture of half-ironical protest. +"Ah!" he exclaimed, "I am afraid that any poor efforts of mine in +that direction were due to the most flagrant compulsion." He paused. +"Whatever else you are unlucky in, Mr. Lyndon," he added smilingly, +"you can at least be congratulated on your friends." + +Then he turned to Latimer. "I think it would be as well if I explained +the position before Casement and Frinton arrive." + +Latimer expressed his agreement, and motioning me to a chair, Lord +Lammersfield again seated himself at the table. His manner, though +still quite friendly and unstilted, had suddenly become serious. + +"For the moment, Mr. Lyndon," he said, "the Prime Minister is out of +London. We have communicated with him, and we expect him back tonight. +In his absence it falls to me to thank you most unreservedly both on +behalf of the Government and the nation for what you have done. It +would be difficult to overrate its importance." + +I began to feel a trifle embarrassed. + +"I really don't want any thanks," I said. "I just drifted into it; +and anyway one doesn't sell one's country, even if one is an escaped +convict." + +Lord Lammersfield laughed drily. "There are many men," he said, "in +your position who would have found it an extraordinarily attractive +prospect. I am not at all sure I shouldn't have myself." He paused. +"We can't give you those three years of your life back," he went on, +"but fortunately we can make some sort of amends in other ways. I have +no doubt that the moment the Prime Minister is fully acquainted with +the circumstances he will arrange for what we humorously call a 'free +pardon'; that is to say, the Law will very graciously forgive you for +having been unjustly sent to prison. As for the rest--" he shrugged +his shoulders--"well, I don't imagine you will be precisely the loser +for not having sold your secret to the Wilhelmstrasse. Our own +War Office are quite prepared to deal in any original methods of +scattering death that happen to be on the market just at present." + +There was a brief pause. + +"And are we free now?" inquired Tommy, with a rather pathetic glance +at the clock. + +"You should be very shortly," returned Lammersfield. "Mr. Casement has +gone across to the Home Office to explain the latest developments to +Sir George Frinton. We are expecting them both here at any moment." + +"Sir George Frinton?" I echoed. "Why, I thought Mr. McCurdy was at the +Home Office." + +Lammersfield smiled tolerantly: "You have been busy, Mr. Lyndon, and +some of the more important facts of modern history have possibly +escaped you. McCurdy resigned from the Government nearly three months +ago." + +"But Sir George Frinton!" I exclaimed. "Why, I know the old boy; I +have a standing invitation to go and look him up." And then, without +waiting for any questions, I described to them in a few words how the +Home Secretary and I had travelled together from Exeter to London, and +the favourable impression I had apparently made. + +Both Lammersfield and Latimer were vastly amused--the former lying +back in his chair and laughing softly to himself in undisguised +merriment. + +"How perfectly delightful!" he observed. "Poor old Frinton has his +merits, but--" + +The libel he was about to utter on his distinguished colleague was +suddenly cut short by a knock at the door; and, in answer to his +summons, the butler-looking person entered and announced that Sir +George Frinton and Mr. Casement were waiting for an audience. + +"Show them up at once," said his lordship gravely; and then turning to +Latimer as the man left the room he added, with a reflective smile: +"I should never have believed that the Foreign Office could be so +entertaining." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + +The moment that Sir George Frinton reached the threshold, one could +see that he was seriously perturbed. He entered the room in an +energetic, fussy sort of manner, and came bustling across to Lord +Lammersfield, who had risen from the table to meet him. He was +followed by a grey-haired, middle-aged man, who strolled in quietly, +looked across at Latimer, and then threw a sharp penetrating glance at +Tommy and me. + +It was Lammersfield who spoke first. "I was sorry to bother you, +Frinton," he said pleasantly, "but the matter has so much to do with +your department I thought you ought to be present." + +Sir George waved away the apology. "You were perfectly right, Lord +Lammersfield--perfectly right. I should have come over in any case. It +is an astounding story. I have been amazed--positively amazed--at Mr. +Casement's revelations. Can it be possible there is no mistake?" + +"Absolutely none," answered Latimer calmly. "Our people have moved +with the utmost discretion, and we have the entire evidence in our +hands." He turned to Casement. "You have acquainted Sir George with +the whole of this morning's events?" + +The quiet man nodded. "Everything," he observed, in rather fatigued +voice. + +"I understand," said the Home Secretary, "that this man Lyndon is +actually here." + +With a graceful gesture Lord Lammersfield indicated where I was +standing. + +"Let me introduce you to each other," he said. "Mr. Neil Lyndon--Sir +George Frinton." + +I bowed respectfully, and when I raised my head again I saw that the +Home Secretary was contemplating me with a puzzled stare. + +"You--your face seems strangely familiar to me," he observed. + +"You evidently have a good memory, Sir George," I replied. "I had the +honour and pleasure of travelling up from Exeter to London with you +about a fortnight ago." + +A sudden light came into his face, and adjusting his spectacles he +stared at me harder than ever. + +"God bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "Of course, I remember now." He +paused. "And do you mean to tell me that you--an escaped convict--were +actually aware that you were travelling with the Home Secretary?" + +I saw no reason for dimming the glory of the incident. + +"You were kind enough to give me one of your cards," I reminded him. + +"Why, yes, to be sure; so I did--so I did." Again he paused and gazed +at me with a sort of incredulous amazement. "You must have nerves of +steel, sir. Most men in such a situation would have been paralysed +with terror." + +The idea of Sir George paralysing anybody with terror struck me as so +delightful that I almost burst out laughing, but by a great effort I +just managed to restrain myself. + +"As an escaped convict," I said, "one becomes used to rather desperate +situations." + +Lammersfield, the corner of whose mouth was twitching suspiciously, +broke into the conversation. + +"It was a remarkable coincidence," he said, "but you see how it +confirms Casement's story if any further confirmation were needed." + +Sir George nodded. "Yes, yes," he said. "I suppose there can be no +doubt about it. The proofs of it all seem beyond question." He turned +to me. "Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Lyndon, you appear +to have acted in a most creditable and patriotic manner. I understand +that the moment you discovered the nature of the plot in which you +were involved you placed yourself entirely at the disposal of the +Secret Service. That is right, Mr. Latimer, is it not?" + +Latimer stepped forward. "If Mr. Lyndon had chosen to do it, sir," he +said, "he could have sold his invention to Germany and escaped with +the money. At that time he had no proof to offer that he had been +wrongly convicted. Rather than betray his country, however, he was +prepared to return to prison and serve out his sentence." + +As an accurate description of my attitude in the matter it certainly +left something to be desired, but it seemed to have a highly +satisfactory effect upon Sir George. He took a step towards me, and +gravely and rather pompously shook me by the hand. + +"Sir," he said, "permit me to congratulate you both on your conduct +and on the dramatic establishment of your innocence. It will be my +pleasant duty as Home Secretary to see that every possible reparation +is made to you for the great injustice that you have suffered." + +Lammersfield, who had gone back to his seat at the table, again +interrupted. + +"You agree with me, don't you, Frinton, that, pending any steps you +and the Prime Minister choose to take in the matter, Mr. Lyndon may +consider himself a free man?" + +Sir George seemed a trifle embarrassed. "Well--er--to a certain +extent, most decidedly. I have informed Scotland Yard that he has +voluntarily surrendered himself to the Secret Service, so there will +be no further attempt to carry out the arrest. I--I presume that Mr. +Casement and Mr. Latimer will be officially responsible for him?" + +The former gave a reassuring nod. "Certainly, Sir George," he +observed. + +"I am entirely in your hands, sir," I put in. "There are one or two +little things I wanted to do, but if you prefer that I should consider +myself under arrest--" + +"No, no, Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted; "there is no necessity for +that--no necessity at all. Strictly speaking, of course, you are still +a prisoner, but for the present it will perhaps be best to avoid any +formal proceedings. I understand that both Lord Lammersfield and Mr. +Casement consider it advisable to keep the whole matter as quiet as +possible, at all events until the return of the Prime Minister. After +that we must decide what steps it will be best to take." + +"I am very much obliged to you," I said. "There is one question I +should like to ask if I may." + +He took off his spectacles and polished them with his +pocket-handkerchief. "Well?" he observed encouragingly. + +"I should like to know whether Savaroff's daughter is in custody--the +girl who gave the police their information about me." + +"Ah!" he said, with some satisfaction, "that is a point on which you +all appear to have been misled. I have just enlightened Mr. Casement +in the matter. The information on which the police acted was not +supplied by a girl." He paused. "It was given them by your cousin and +late partner, Mr. George Marwood." + +"What!" I almost shouted; and I heard Tommy indulge in a +half-smothered exclamation which was not at all suited to our +distinguished company. + +Sir George, who was evidently pleased with our surprise, nodded his +head. + +"Mr. Marwood rang up Scotland Yard at half-past ten last night. He +told them he had received an anonymous letter giving two addresses, +at one of which you would probably be found. He also gave a full +description of the alterations in your appearance." + +I turned to Latimer. "I suppose it was Sonia," I said. "I never +dreamed of her going to him, though." + +"It was very natural," he replied in that unconcerned drawl of his. +"She knew that your cousin would do everything possible to get you +under lock and key again, and at the same time she imagined she would +avoid the risk of being arrested herself." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Sir George, nodding his head sagely. "From +all I can gather she seems to be a most dangerous young woman. I shall +make a particular point of seeing that she is arrested." + +His words came home to me with a sudden swift stab of pity and +remorse. It was horrible to think of Sonia in jail--Sonia eating out +her wild passionate heart in the hideous slavery I knew so well. The +thought of all that she had risked and suffered for my sake crowded +back into my mind with overwhelming force. I took a step forward. + +"Sir George," I said, "a moment ago you were good enough to say that +the Government would try and make me some return for the injustice I +have suffered." + +He looked at me in obvious surprise. "Certainly," he said--"certainly. +I am convinced that they will take the most generous view of the +circumstances." + +"There is only one thing I ask," I said. "Except for this girl, Sonia +Savaroff, the Germans would now be in possession of my invention. If +the Government feel that they owe me anything, they can cancel the +debt altogether by allowing her to go free." + +Sir George raised his eyeglass. "You ask this after she did her best +to send you back to penal servitude?" + +I nodded. "I am not sure," I said, "that I didn't thoroughly deserve +it." + +For a moment Sir George stared at me in a puzzled sort of fashion. +"Very well," he said; "I think it might be arranged. As you say, she +was of considerable assistance to us, even if it was unintentionally. +That is a point in her favour--a distinct point." + +"How about our friend Mr. Marwood?" put in Lammersfield pleasantly. +"Between perjury and selling Government secrets I suppose we have +enough evidence to justify his arrest?" + +"I think so," said Sir George, nodding his head solemnly. "Anyhow I +have given instructions for it. In a case like this it is best to be +on the safe side." + +My heart sank at his words. Charming as it was to think of George in +the affectionate clutch of a policeman, I could almost have wept at +the idea of being robbed of my own little interview with him, to which +I had been looking forward for so long. It was Lammersfield who broke +in on my disappointment. "I should imagine," he said considerately, +"that you two, as well as Latimer, must be half starving. I suppose +you have had nothing to eat since breakfast." + +Tommy rose to his feet with an alacrity that answered the question so +far as he was concerned, and I acknowledged that a brief interval for +refreshment would be by no means unwelcome. + +"Well, I'm afraid I can't spare Latimer just yet," he said, "but you +two go off and have a good lunch. Come back here again as soon as +you've done. I will ring up the War Office and the Admiralty while you +are away, and we will arrange for a couple of their men to meet us +here, and then you can explain about your new explosive. I fancy you +will find them quite an appreciative audience." + +He pressed a bell by his side, and getting up from the table, +accompanied us to the door, where I stopped for a moment to try and +express my thanks both to him and Sir George. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted courteously, "you have been in +prison for three years for a crime that you didn't commit, and in +return for that you have done England a service that it is almost +impossible to overrate. Under the circumstances even a Cabinet +Minister may be excused a little common civility." + +As he spoke there came a knock at the door, and in answer to his +summons the impassive butler person appeared on the threshold. + +"Show these gentlemen out, Simpson," he said, "and let me know +directly they return." Then, shaking my hand in a friendly fashion, he +added with a quizzical smile, "If you should happen to come across any +mutual acquaintance of ours, perhaps you will be kind enough to +convey my unofficial congratulations. I hope before long to have the +privilege of offering them personally." + +I promised to deliver his message, and, following our guide +downstairs, we passed out into the street. + +"I like that chap," said Tommy. "He's got no silly side about him. +Joyce always said he was a good sort." + +He stopped on the pavement, and with his usual serene disregard for +the respectabilities proceeded to fill and light a huge briar pipe. + +"What's the programme now?" he inquired. "I'm just dying for some +grub." + +"We'll get a taxi and run down to the flat and pick up Joyce," I said. +"Then we'll come back to the Café Royal and have the best lunch that's +ever been eaten in London." + +Tommy indulged in one of his deep chuckles. + +"If anyone's expecting me in Downing Street before six o'clock," he +observed, "I rather think he's backed a loser." + +It was not until we were in a taxi, and speeding rapidly past the +House of Commons, that I broached the painful subject of George. + +"I don't know what to do," I said. "If he's at his house, he has been +arrested by now, and if he isn't the police will probably find him +before I shall. It will break my heart if I don't get hold of him for +five minutes." + +Tommy grunted sympathetically. "It's just on the cards," he said, +"that Joyce might know where he is." + +Faint as the chance seemed, it was sufficient to cheer me up a little, +and for the rest of the drive we discussed the important question of +what we should have for lunch. After a week of sardines and tinned +tongue I found it a most inspiring topic. + +As we reached the Chelsea Embankment a happy idea presented itself +to me. "I tell you what, Tommy," I said. "We won't go and knock at +Joyce's flat. Let's slip round at the back, as we did before, and take +her by surprise." + +"Right you are," he said. "She's probably left the studio door open. +She generally does on a hot afternoon like this." + +The taxi drew up at Florence Court, and telling the driver to wait for +us, we walked down the passage and turned into Tommy's flat. There +were several letters for him lying on the floor inside, and while he +stopped to pick them up, I passed on through the studio and out into +the little glass-covered corridor at the back. + +It was quite a short way along to Joyce's studio, and from where I was +I could see that her door was slightly ajar. I stepped quietly, so as +not to make any noise, and I had covered perhaps half the distance, +when suddenly I pulled up in my tracks as if I had been turned into +stone. For a moment I stood there without moving or even breathing. A +couple of yards away on the other side of the door I could hear two +people talking. One of them was Joyce; the other--the other--well, if +I had been lying half-unconscious on my death-bed I think I should +have recognized that voice! + +There was a sound behind me, and whipping noiselessly round I was just +in time to signal to Tommy that he must keep absolutely quiet. Then +with my heart beating like a drum I crept stealthily forward until I +was within a few inches of the open door. I was shaking all over with +a delight that I could hardly control. + +"... you quite understand." (I could hear every word George was saying +as plainly as if I were in the room.) "I only have to ring up the +police, and in half an hour he'll be back again in prison--back for +the rest of his life. He won't escape a second time--you can be sure +of that." + +"Well?" + +The single word came clear and distinct, but it would be difficult to +describe the scorn which Joyce managed to pack into it. It had some +effect on George. + +"You have just got to do what I want--that's all," he exclaimed +angrily. "I leave England tonight, and unless you come with me I shall +go straight from here and ring up Scotland Yard. You can make your +choice now. You either come down to Southampton with me this evening, +or Lyndon goes back to Dartmoor tomorrow." + +"Then you were lying when you said you were anxious to help him?" + +With a mighty effort George apparently regained some control over his +tongue. + +"No, I wasn't, Joyce," he said. "God knows I'm sorry for the poor +devil--I always have been; but there's nothing in the world that +matters to me now except you. I--I lost my temper when you said you +wouldn't come. You didn't mean it, did you? Lyndon can never be +anything to you; he is dead to all of us. At the best he can only be a +skulking convict hiding from the police in South America or somewhere. +You come with me; you shall never be sorry for it. I've plenty of +money, Joyce; and I'll give you the best time a woman ever had." + +"And if I refuse?" asked Joyce quietly. + +It was evident from the sound that George had taken a step towards +her. + +"Then Lyndon will go back to Dartmoor and stop there till he rots and +dies." + +There was a short pause, and then very clearly and deliberately Joyce +gave her answer. + +"I think you are the foulest man in the world," she said. "It makes me +sick to be in the same room with you." + +The gasp of fury and astonishment that broke from George's lips fell +on my ears like music. He was so choking with rage that for a moment +he could hardly speak. + +"Damn you!" he stuttered at last. "So that's your real opinion, is it! +That's what you've been thinking all along! Trying to use me to help +that precious convict lover of yours--eh?" + +I heard him come another step nearer. + +"I'll make you pay for this, anyhow," he snarled. "Sick at being +in the same room with me, are you? Then by God I'll give you some +reason--" + +With a swift jerk I flung open the door and stepped in over the +threshold. + +"Not this time, George dear," I said. + +If the devil himself had shot up through the floor in a crackle of +blue flame, I don't think it could have had a more striking effect +on my late partner. With his mouth open and his face the colour of +freshly mixed putty, he stood perfectly still in the centre of the +room, gazing at me like a man in a trance. For a second--a whole +beautiful rich second--he remained in this engaging attitude; then, +as if struck by an electric shock, he suddenly spun round with the +obvious intention of making a dart for the door. + +The idea was distinctly a sound one, but it was too late to be of any +practical value. Directly he moved I stepped in, and catching him a +smashing box on the ear with my right hand sent him sprawling full +length on the carpet. Joyce laughed gaily, while lounging across the +room Tommy set his back against the door and beamed cheerfully on the +three of us. + +"Quite a little family party," he observed. + +Joyce was in my arms, and we were kissing each other in the most +shameless and unabashed way. + +"Oh, my dear," she said, "I hope you haven't hurt your hand." + +"It stung a bit," I admitted, "but I've got another one--and two +feet." I put her gently aside. "Get up, George," I said. + +He lay where he was, pretending to be unconscious. + +"If you don't get up at once, George," I said softly, "I shall kick +you--hard." + +He scrambled to his feet, and then crouched back against the wall +eyeing me like a trapped weasel. + +I indulged myself in a good heart-filling look at him. + +"So you've been sorry for me, George?" I said. "All these three long +weary years that I've been rotting in Dartmoor, you've been really and +truly sorry for me?" + +He licked his lips and nodded. + +I laughed. "Well, I'm sorry for _you_ now, George," I said--"damned +sorry." + +If anything, the putty-like pallor of his face became still more +ghastly. + +"Don't do anything violent, Neil," he whispered. "You'll only regret +it. I swear to you--" + +"I shouldn't swear," I said. "You don't want to die with a lie on your +lips." + +The sweat broke out on his forehead, and he glanced desperately round +the room, as though seeking for some possible method of escape. The +only comfort he got was a shake of the head from Tommy. + +"You--you don't mean to murder me?" he gasped. + +I gave a fiendish laugh. "Don't I!" I cried. "What's one murder more +or less? I know you've put the police on to me, and I'd sooner be +hanged than go back to Dartmoor any day." + +Tommy rubbed his hands together ghoulishly. "What are we going to do +with him?" he asked. "Cut his throat?" + +"No," I said. "It would make a mess, and we don't want to spoil +Joyce's carpet." + +"Oh, it doesn't matter about the carpet," said Joyce unselfishly. + +"I've got it," said Tommy. "Why not throw him in the river? The tide's +up; I noticed it as we came along." + +Whether he intended the suggestion seriously or not I don't know, but +I rose to it like a trout to a fly. There are seldom more than two +feet of water at high tide at that particular part of the Embankment, +and the thought of dropping George into its turbid embrace filled me +with the utmost enthusiasm. + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed. "That's a brilliant idea. The Thames +water's about the only thing he wouldn't defile." + +I stepped forward, and before George knew what was happening I had +swung him round and clutched him by the collar and breeches. + +"Open the door," I said, "and just see there's no one in the passage." + +With a deep chuckle Tommy turned to obey, while Joyce laughed with +a viciousness that I should never have given her credit for. As for +George--well, I suppose in his blind terror he really thought he was +going to be drowned, for he kicked and struggled and raved till it was +as much as I could do to hold him. + +"All clear!" sang out Tommy from the hall. + +"Stand by, then," I said, and taking a deep breath, I ran George +through the flat down the passage, and out into the street, in a style +that would have done credit to the chucker out at the Empire. + +There were not many people about, and those that were there had no +time to interfere even if they had wanted to do so. I just got a +glimpse of the startled face of our taxi driver as he jumped aside to +let us pass, and the next moment we had crossed the road and fetched +up with a bang against the low Embankment wall. + +I paused for a moment, renewed my grip on George's collar, and took a +quick look round. Tommy was beside me, and a few yards away, down at +the bottom of some steps, I saw a number of small boys paddling in the +water. There was evidently no risk of anybody being drowned. + +"I'll take his feet," said Tommy, suiting the action to the word. "You +get hold of his arms." + +There was a brief struggle, a loud scream for help, and the next +moment George was swinging merrily between us. + +"One! Two! Three!" I cried. + +At the word "three" we let go simultaneously. He flew up into the air +like a great wriggling crab, twisted round twice, and then went +down into the muddy water with a splash that echoed all over the +Embankment. + +"Very nice," said Tommy critically. "But we ought to have put a stone +round his neck." + +One glance over the wall showed me that there was no danger. Dripping, +floundering, and gasping for breath, George emerged from the surface +like a frock-coated Neptune rising from the waves. He seemed to be +trying to speak, but the shrieks of innocent delight with which his +reappearance was greeted by the paddling boys unfortunately prevented +us from hearing him. + +I thrust my arm through Tommy's. "Come along," I said. "We must get +out of this before there's a row." + +Swift as we had been about it, our little operation had already +attracted a certain amount of notice. People were hurrying up from all +directions, but without paying any attention to them, we walked +back towards the taxi, the driver of which had apparently been too +astonished to move. + +"Gor blimey, Guv'nor," he ejaculated, "what sorter gime d'you call +that?" + +"It's all right, driver," said Tommy gravely. "We found him insulting +this gentleman's sister." + +The driver, who evidently had a nice sense of chivalry, at once came +round to our side. + +"Was 'e?--the dirty 'ound!" he observed. "Well, you done it on 'im +proper. You ain't drowned 'im, 'ave ye, gents?" + +"Oh no," I said. "He's addressing a few words to the crowd now." Then +seeing Joyce standing in the doorway I hurried up the steps. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "put on a hat and come as quick as you can. It's +quite all right, but we want to get out of this before there's any +bother." + +She nodded, and disappeared into the flat, while I strolled back to +the taxi. + +It was evident from a movement among the spectators that George was +making his way towards the steps. Some of them who had come running up +kept turning round and casting curious glances at us, but so far no +one had attempted to interfere. It was not until Joyce was just coming +out of the flats, that a man detached himself from the crowd and +started across the road. He was a big, fat, greasy person in a bowler +hat. + +"Here," he said. "You wait a bit. What d'ye mean by throwing that pore +man in the river?" + +I opened the door of the taxi and Joyce jumped in. + +"What's it got to do with you, darling?" asked Tommy affably. + +"What's it got to do with me!" he repeated indignantly. "Why, it's +just the mercy o' Gawd--" + +"Come on, Tommy," I said. + +Tommy took a step forward, but the man clutched him by the arm. + +"No yer don't," he said, "not till ... Ow!" + +With a sudden vigorous shove Tommy sent him staggering back across the +pavement, and the next moment we had both jumped into the taxi and +banged the door. + +"Right away," I called out. + +I think there was some momentary doubt amongst the other spectators +whether they oughtn't to interfere, but before they could make up +their minds our sympathetic driver had thrust in his clutch, and we +were spinning away down the Embankment. + +Joyce, who was sitting next to me, slipped her hand into mine. + +"I love to see you both laughing," she said, "but I _should_ like +to know what's happened! At present I feel as if I was acting in a +cinematograph play." + +We told her--told her in quick, eager sentences of how the danger and +mystery that had hung over us so for long had at last been scattered +and destroyed. It was a broken, inadequate sort of narrative, jerked +out as we bumped over crossings and pulled by behind buses, but I +fancy from the light in her eyes and the pressure of her hand that +Joyce was quite contented. + +"It's--it's like waking up after some horrible dream," she said, "and +suddenly finding that everything's all right. Oh, I knew it would be +in the end--I knew it the whole time--but I never dreamed it would +happen all at once like this." + +"Neither did George," chuckled Tommy. "How long had he been with you, +Joyce?" + +"About twenty minutes," she said. "He came straight to me from +Harrod's, where he's spent most of the day buying stores for his +yacht. He had quite made up his mind I was coming with him. I don't +believe he's got the faintest idea about what's happened this +morning." + +"He will have soon," I said. "That's why I threw him in the river. +He's bound to go back to the house for a change of clothes, and he'll +find the police waiting for him there." + +"That'll be just right," observed Tommy complacently. "There's nothing +so good as a little excitement to stop one from catching cold." + +"Except lunch," I added, as the taxi rounded the corner of Piccadilly +and drew up outside the Café Royal. + +What the manager of that renowned restaurant must have thought of +us, I find it rather difficult to guess. It is not often, I should +imagine, that two untidy mud-stained men and a beautiful girl turn up +at four o'clock in the afternoon and demand the best meal that London +can provide. + +Fortunately, however, he proved to be a gentleman of philosophy and +resource. He accepted our request with perfect composure, and by the +time we had succeeded in making ourselves passably respectable he +presented us with a menu that deserved to be set to music. + +Heavens, what a lunch that was! We ate it all by ourselves in the big +empty restaurant, with half a dozen fascinated waiters eyeing us from +the end of the room. They were probably speculating as to whether we +were eccentric millionaires, or whether we had just escaped from some +private lunatic asylum, but we were all far too cheerful to care what +they thought. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked, with a reckless +jubilant happiness that would have survived the scrutiny of all the +waiters in London. + +"I know what we'll do, Joyce," I said, when at last the dessert was +cleared away and we were sitting in a delicate haze of cigar smoke. +"As soon as things are fixed up I'll buy a good second-hand thirty-ton +boat, and you and I and Tommy will go off for a six months' cruise. +We'll take Mr. Gow as skipper, and your little page-boy as steward, +and we'll run down to the Mediterranean and stop there till people are +tired of gassing about us." + +"That will be beautiful," said Joyce simply. + +"I'll come," exclaimed Tommy, "unless the Secret Service refuse to +give me up." Then he stopped and looked mischievously across at Joyce +and me. "It's a pity we can't ask Sonia too," he added. + +"Poor Sonia," said Joyce. "I am so glad you got her off." + +"Are you really?" asked Tommy. "That shows I know nothing about women. +I always thought that if two girls loved the same man they hated each +other like poison." + +Joyce nodded. "So they do as a rule." + +"Well, Sonia loved Neil all right; you can take my word for it." + +Joyce laughed softly. "Yes, Tommy dear," she said, "but then, you see, +Neil didn't love _her_--and that just makes all the difference." + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10511 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed0a8df --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10511 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10511) diff --git a/old/10511-0.txt b/old/10511-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e1e0926 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10511-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13455 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Rogue by Compulsion, by Victor Bridges + + +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 Rogue by Compulsion + +Author: Victor Bridges + +Release Date: December 21, 2003 [eBook #10511] +[Last updated: June 5, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROGUE BY COMPULSION*** + + +E-text prepared by Kevin Handy, Dave Maddock, Josephine Paolucci, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +A ROGUE BY COMPULSION + +An Affair of the Secret Service + +By VICTOR BRIDGES + +With Frontispiece By JOHN H. CASSEL + +1915 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "A CURTAIN AT THE END OF THE ROOM WAS DRAWN SLOWLY +ASIDE, AND THERE, STANDING IN THE GAP, I SAW THE SLIM FIGURE OF A +GIRL." + +Chapter X. + +Drawn by John H. Cassel.] + + + + +TO + +THAT BEST OF FRIENDS + +HUGHES MASSIE + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + II. A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + III. A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + IV. ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + V. AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + VI. THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + VII. A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + VIII. RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + IX. THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + X. MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + XI. BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + XII. A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + XIII. REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + XIV. A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + XV. A HUMAN "CATCH" + + XVI. CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + XVII. THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + +XVIII. A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + XIX. LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + XX. APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + XXI. SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + XXII. THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + +XXIII. IN THE NICK OF TIME + + XXIV. EXONERATED + + XXV. A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + +Most of the really important things in life--such as love and +death--happen unexpectedly. I know that my escape from Dartmoor did. + +We had just left the quarries--eighteen of us, all dressed in that +depressing costume which King George provides for his less elusive +subjects--and we were shambling sullenly back along the gloomy road +which leads through the plantation to the prison. The time was about +four o'clock on a dull March afternoon. + +In the roadway, on either side of us, tramped an armed warder, his +carbine in his hand, his eyes travelling with dull suspicion up and +down the gang. Fifteen yards away, parallel with our route, the sombre +figure of one of the civil guards kept pace with us through the trees. +We were a cheery party! + +Suddenly, without any warning, one of the warders turned faint. He +dropped his carbine, and putting his hand to his head, stumbled +heavily against the low wall that separated us from the wood. The +clatter of his weapon, falling in the road, naturally brought all +eyes round in that direction, and seeing what had happened the whole +eighteen of us instinctively halted. + +The gruff voice of the other warder broke out at once, above the +shuffling of feet: + +"What are you stopping for? Get on there in front." + +From the corner of my eye I caught sight of the civil guard hurrying +towards the prostrate figure by the wall; and then, just as the +whole gang lurched forward again, the thing happened with beautiful +abruptness. + +A broad, squat figure shot out suddenly from the head of the column, +and, literally hurling itself over the wall, landed with a crash +amongst the thick undergrowth. There was a second shout from the +warder, followed almost instantly by a hoarse command to halt, as the +civil guard jerked his carbine to his shoulder. + +The fugitive paid about as much attention to the order as a tiger +would to a dog whistle. He was off again in an instant, bent almost +double, and bursting through the tangled bushes with amazing +swiftness. + +Bang! + +The charge of buckshot whistled after him, spattering viciously +through the twigs, and several of the bolder spirits in the gang at +once raised a half-hearted cry of "Murder!" + +"Stop that!" bawled the warder angrily, and to enforce his words he +quickened his steps so as to bring him in touch with the offenders. + +As he did so, I suddenly perceived with extraordinary clearness that I +should never again get quite such a good chance to escape. The other +men were momentarily between me and the warder, while the civil guard, +his carbine empty, was plunging through the trees in pursuit of his +wounded quarry. + +It was no time for hesitation, and in any case hesitation is not one +of my besetting sins. I recollect taking one long, deep breath: then +the next thing I remember is catching my toe on the top of the +wall and coming the most unholy purler in the very centre of an +exceptionally well armoured blackberry bush. + +This blunder probably saved my life: it certainly accounted for my +escape. The warder who evidently had more nerve than I gave him credit +for, must have fired at me from where he was, right between the heads +of the other convicts. It was only my abrupt disappearance from the +top of the wall that saved me from being filled up with lead. As +it was, the charge whistled over me just as I fell, and a devilish +unpleasant noise it made too. + +I didn't wait for him to reload. I was out of that bush and off up the +hill in rather less time than it takes to read these words. Where I +was going I scarcely thought; my one idea was to put as big a distance +as possible between myself and the carbine before its owner could ram +home a second cartridge. + +As I ran, twisting in and out between the trees, and keeping my head +as low as possible, I could hear behind me a hoarse uproar from my +fellow-convicts, who by this time were evidently getting out of hand. +No sound could have pleased me better. The more boisterous the good +fellows became the less chance would the remaining warder have of +worrying about me. As for the civil guard--well, it seemed probable +that his time was already pretty fully engaged. + +My chief danger lay in the chance that there might be other warders in +the immediate neighbourhood. If so, they would doubtless have heard +the firing and have come running up at the first alarm. I looked back +over my shoulder as I reached the top of the plantation, which was +about a hundred yards from the road, but so far as I could see there +was no one as yet on my track. + +My one chance lay in reaching the main wood that borders the Tavistock +road before the mounted guard could come up. Between this and the +plantation stretched a long bare slope of hillside, perhaps two +hundred yards across, with scarcely enough cover on it to hide a +rabbit. It was not exactly an inviting prospect, but still the place +had to be crossed, and there was nothing to be gained by looking at +it. So setting my teeth I jumped out from under the shelter of the +trees, and started off as fast as I could pelt for the opposite side. + +I had got about half-way over when there came a sudden shout away to +the right. Turning my head as I ran, I saw through the thin mist a +figure in knickerbockers and a Norfolk jacket vaulting over the low +gate that separated the moor from the road. + +I suppose he was a tourist, for he had a small knapsack fastened to +his back and he was carrying a stick in his hand. + +"Tally-ho!" he yelled, brandishing the latter, and then without +hesitation he came charging across the open with the obvious intention +of cutting me off from the wood. + +For the first time in three years I laughed. It was not a pretty +laugh, and if my new friend had heard it, his ardour in the chase +might perhaps have been a trifle cooled. As it was he came on with +undiminished zest, apparently quite confident in his ability to tackle +me single-handed. + +We met about ten yards this side of the nearest trees. + +He rushed in on me with another "whoop," and I saw then that he was a +big, powerful, red-faced fellow of a rather coarse sporting type--the +kind of brute I've always had a peculiar dislike for. + +"Down you go!" he shouted, and suiting the action to the word, he +swung back his stick and lashed out savagely at my head. + +I didn't go down. Instead of that I stepped swiftly in, and striking +up his arm with my left hand, I let him have my right bang on the +point of the chin. Worlds of concentrated bitterness were behind it, +and he went over backwards as if he had been struck by a coal-hammer. + +It did me a lot of good, that punch. It seemed to restore my +self-respect in a way that nothing else could have done. You must have +been a convict yourself, shouted at and ordered about like a dog for +three weary years, to appreciate the full pleasure of being able once +more to punch a man in the jaw. + +At the moment, however, I had no time to analyze my feelings. Almost +before the red-faced gentleman's shoulders had struck the ground I had +reached the railing which bounded the wood, and putting one hand on +the top bar had vaulted over into its inviting gloom. + +Then, just for an instant, I stopped, and, like Lot's wife, cast one +hasty glance behind me. Except for the motionless form of my late +adversary, who appeared to be studying the sky, the stretch of moor +that I had just crossed was still comfortingly empty. So far no +pursuing warder had even emerged from the plantation. With a sigh of +relief I turned round again and plunged forward into the thickest part +of the tangled brake ahead. + +It would have been difficult to find a better temporary hiding-place +than the one I had reached. Thick with trees and undergrowth, which +sprouted up from between enormous fissures and piles of granite rock, +it stretched away for the best part of a mile and a half parallel with +the main road. I knew that even in daylight the warders would find it +no easy matter to track me down: at this time in the afternoon, with +dusk coming rapidly on, the task would be an almost impossible one. + +Besides, it was starting to rain. All the afternoon a thick cloud had +been hanging over North Hessary, and now, as scratched and panting I +forced my way on into the ever-increasing gloom, a fine drizzle began +to descend through the trees. I knew what that meant. In half an hour +everything would probably be blotted out in a wet grey mist, and, +except for posting guards all round the wood, my pursuers would be +compelled to abandon the search until next morning. It was the first +time that I had ever felt an affection for the Dartmoor climate. + +Guessing rather than judging my way, I stumbled steadily forward until +I reached what I imagined must be about the centre of the wood. By +this time I was wet through to the skin. The thin parti-coloured +"slop" that I was wearing was quite useless for keeping out the rain, +a remark that applied with almost equal force to my prison-made +breeches and gaiters. Apart from the discomfort, however, I was not +much disturbed. I have never been an easy victim to chills, and three +years in Princetown had done nothing to soften a naturally tough +constitution. + +Still there was no sense in getting more soaked than was necessary, so +I began to hunt around for some sort of temporary shelter. I found it +at last in the shape of a huge block of granite, half hidden by the +brambles and stunted trees which had grown up round it. Parting the +undergrowth and crawling carefully in, I discovered at the base a kind +of hollow crevice just long enough to lie down in at full length. + +I can't say it was exactly comfortable, but penal servitude has at +least the merit of saving one from being over-luxurious. Besides, I +was much too interested in watching the steady thickening of the mist +outside to worry myself about trifles. With a swiftness which would +have been incredible to any one who didn't know the Moor, the damp +clammy vapour was settling down, blotting out everything in its grey +haze. Except for the dripping brambles immediately outside I could +soon see absolutely nothing; beyond that it was like staring into a +blanket. + +I lay there quite motionless, listening very intently for any sound of +my pursuers. Only the persistent drip, drip of the rain, however, and +the occasional rustle of a bird, broke the silence. If there were any +warders about they were evidently still some way from my hiding-place, +but the odds were that they had postponed searching the wood until the +fog lifted. + +For the first time since my leap from the wall I found myself with +sufficient leisure to review the situation. It struck me that only a +very hardened optimist could describe it as hopeful. I had made my +bolt almost instinctively, without stopping to think what chances I +had of getting away. That these were meagre in the extreme was now +becoming painfully clear to me. Even if I managed to slip out of +my present hiding-place into the still larger woods of the Walkham +Valley, the odds were all in favour of my ultimate capture. No escaped +prisoner had ever yet succeeded in retaining his liberty for more than +a few days, and where so many gentlemen of experience had tried +and failed it seemed distressingly unlikely that I should be more +fortunate. + +I began to wonder what had happened to Cairns, the man whose dash from +the ranks had been responsible for my own effort. I knew him to be one +of the most resourceful blackguards in the prison, and, provided the +civil guard's first shot had failed to stop him, it was quite likely +that he too had evaded capture. I hoped so with all my heart: it would +distract quite a lot of attention from my own humble affairs. + +If he was still at liberty, I couldn't help feeling enviously how much +better his chances of escape were than mine. In order to get away from +the Moor it was plainly necessary to possess oneself of both food and +clothes, and I could think of no other way of doing so except stealing +them from some lonely farm. At anything of this sort I was likely to +prove a sorry bungler compared with such an artist as Cairns. He was +one of the most accomplished cracksmen in England, and feats which +seemed impossible to me would probably be the merest child's play to +him. + +Still it was no good worrying over what couldn't be helped. My first +job was to get safely into the Walkham woods; after that it would be +quite time enough to think about turning burglar. + +I sat up and looked out into the mist. Things were as bad as ever, and +quite suddenly it struck me with considerable force that by lying low +in this fashion I was making a most unholy idiot of myself. Here I was +growing cold and stiff, and wasting what was probably the best chance +I should ever have of reaching Walkhampton. In fact I was playing +right into the hands of the warders. + +With an impatient exclamation I jumped to my feet. The only question +was, could I find my way out of the wood, and if I did, how on earth +was I to strike the right line over North Hessary? It was quite on the +cards I might wander back into Princetown under the happy impression +that I was going in exactly the opposite direction. + +For a moment I hesitated; then I made up my mind to risk it. After all +the fog was as bad for the warders as it was for me, and even if I +failed to reach the Walkham Valley I should probably find some other +equally good shelter before it lifted. In either case I should have +the big advantage of having changed my hiding-place. + +Buttoning up my slop, I advanced carefully through the dripping +brambles. One could see rather less than nothing, but so far as I +could remember the main Tavistock road was on my right-hand side. +This would leave North Hessary away to the left; so turning in that +direction I set my teeth and took my first step forward into the +darkness. + +I don't suppose you have ever tried walking through a wood in a fog, +but you can take my word for it that a less enjoyable form of exercise +doesn't exist. I have often wondered since how on earth I managed to +escape a sprained ankle or a broken neck, for carefully as I groped my +way forward it was quite impossible to avoid all the numerous crevices +and overhanging boughs which beset my path. + +I must have blundered into about fourteen holes and knocked my head +against at least an equal number of branches, before the trees at last +began to thin and the darkness lighten sufficiently to let me see +where I was placing my feet. I knew that by this time I must be +getting precious near the boundary of the wood, outside which the +warders were now doubtless posted at frequent intervals. So I stopped +where I was and sat down quietly on a rock for a few minutes to +recover my breath, for I had been pretty badly shaken and winded by my +numerous tumbles. + +As soon as I felt better I got up again, and taking very particular +care where I was treading, advanced on tiptoe with a delicacy that +Agag might have envied. I had taken about a dozen steps when all of a +sudden the railings loomed up in front of me through the mist. + +I put my hand on the top bar, and then paused for a moment listening +breathlessly for any sound of danger. Except for the faint patter +of the rain, however, everything was as silent as the dead. Very +carefully I raised myself on the bottom rail, lifted my legs over, one +after the other, and then dropped lightly down on to the grass beyond. + +As I did so a man rose up suddenly from the ground like a black +shadow, and hurling himself on me before I could move, clutched me +round the waist. + +"Got yer!" he roared. Then at the top of his voice--"Here he is! Help! +Help!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + +I was taken so utterly by surprise that nothing except sheer strength +saved me from going over. As it was I staggered back a couple of +paces, fetching up against the railings with a bang that nearly +knocked the breath out of me. By a stroke of luck I must have crushed +my opponent's hand against one of the bars, for with a cry of pain he +momentarily slackened his grip. + +That was all I wanted. Wrenching my left arm free, I brought up my +elbow under his chin with a wicked jolt; and then, before he could +recover, I smashed home a short right-arm punch that must have landed +somewhere in the neighbourhood of his third waistcoat button. Anyhow +it did the business all right. With a quaint noise, like the gurgle of +a half-empty bath, he promptly released me from his embrace, and sank +down on to the grass almost as swiftly and silently as he had arisen. + +I doubt if a more perfectly timed blow has ever been delivered, but +unfortunately I had no chance of studying its effects. Through the fog +I could hear the sound of footsteps--quick heavy footsteps hurrying +towards me from either direction. For one second I thought of +scrambling back over the railings and taking to the wood again. Then +suddenly a kind of mischievous exhilaration at the danger gripped hold +of me, and jumping over the prostrate figure on the ground I bolted +forwards into the mist. The warders, who must have been quite close, +evidently heard me, for from both sides came hoarse shouts of "There +he goes!" "Look out there!" and other well-meant pieces of advice. + +It was a funny sort of sensation dodging through the fog, feeling that +at any moment one might blunder up against the muzzle of a loaded +carbine. The only guide I had as to my direction was the slope of the +ground. I knew that as long as I kept on going uphill I was more or +less on the right track, for the big granite-strewn bulk of North +Hessary lay right in front of me, and I had to cross it to get to the +Walkham Valley. + +On I went, the ground rising higher and higher, until at last the +wet slippery grass began to give way to a broken waste of rocks and +heather. I had reached the top, and although I could see nothing on +account of the mist, I knew that right below me lay the woods, with +only about a mile of steeply sloping hillside separating me from their +agreeable privacy. + +Despite the cold and the wet and the fact that I was getting devilish +hungry, my spirits somehow began to rise. Good luck always acts on me +as a sort of tonic, and so far I had certainly been amazingly lucky. I +felt that if only the rain would clear up now and give me a chance of +getting dry, Fate would have treated me as handsomely as an escaped +murderer had any right to expect. + +Making my way carefully across the plateau, for the ground was stiff +with small holes and gullies and I had no wish to sprain my ankle, I +began the descent of the opposite side. The mist here was a good deal +thinner, but night was coming on so rapidly that as far as seeing +where I was going was concerned I was very little better off than I +had been on the top of the hill. + +Below me, away to the right, a blurred glimmer of light just made +itself visible. This I took to be Merivale village, on the Tavistock +road; and not being anxious to trespass upon its simple hospitality, I +sheered off slightly in the opposite direction. At last, after about +twenty minutes' scrambling, I began to hear a faint trickle of running +water, and a few more steps brought me to the bank of the Walkham. + +I stood there for a little while in the darkness, feeling a kind of +tired elation at my achievement. My chances of escape might still be +pretty thin, but I had at least reached a temporary shelter. For five +miles away to my left stretched the pleasantly fertile valley, and +until I chose to come out of it all the warders on Dartmoor might hunt +themselves black in the face without finding me. + +I can't say exactly how much farther I tramped that evening. When one +is stumbling along at night through an exceedingly ill-kept wood in a +state of hunger, dampness, and exhaustion, one's judgment of distance +is apt to lose some of its finer accuracy. I imagine, however, that I +must have covered at least three more miles before my desire to lie +down and sleep became too poignant to be any longer resisted. + +I hunted about in the darkness until I discovered a small patch of +fairly dry grass which had been more or less protected from the rain +by an overhanging rock. I might perhaps have done better, but I was +too tired to bother. I just dropped peacefully down where I stood, and +in spite of my bruises and my soaked clothes I don't think I had been +two minutes on the ground before I was fast asleep. + + * * * * * + +Tommy Morrison always used to say that only unintelligent people +woke up feeling really well. If he was right I must have been in a +singularly brilliant mood when I again opened my eyes. + +It was still fairly dark, with the raw, sour darkness of an early +March morning, and all round me the invisible drip of the trees was as +persistent as ever. Very slowly and shakily I scrambled to my feet. My +head ached savagely, I was chilled to the core, and every part of +my body felt as if it had been trampled on by a powerful and rather +ill-tempered mule. + +I was hungry too--Lord, how hungry I was! Breakfast in the prison is +not exactly an appetizing meal, but at that moment the memory of its +thin gruel and greasy cocoa and bread seemed to me beautiful beyond +words. + +I looked round rather forlornly. As an unpromising field for foraging +in, a Dartmoor wood on a dark March morning takes a lot of beating. +It is true that there was plenty of water--the whole ground and air +reeked with it--but water, even in unlimited quantities, is a poor +basis for prolonged exertion. + +There was nothing else to be got, however, so I had to make the best +of it. I lay down full length beside a small spring which gurgled +along the ground at my feet, and with the aid of my hands lapped up +about a pint and a half. When I had finished, apart from the ache in +my limbs I felt distinctly better. + +The question was what to do next. Hungry or not, it would be madness +to leave the shelter of the woods until evening, for not only would +the warders be all over the place, but by this time everyone who lived +in the neighbourhood would have been warned of my escape. My best +chance seemed to lie in stopping where I was as long as daylight +lasted, and then staking everything on a successful burglary. + +It was not a cheerful prospect, and before the morning was much older +it seemed less cheerful still. If you can imagine what it feels +like to spend hour after hour crouching in the heart of a wood in a +pitiless drizzle of rain, you will be able to get some idea of what I +went through. If I had only had a pipe and some baccy, things would +have been more tolerable; as it was there was nothing to do but to sit +and shiver and grind my teeth and think about George. + +I thought quite a lot about George. I seemed to see his face as he +read the news of my escape, and I could picture the feverish way in +which he would turn to each edition of the paper to find out whether I +had been recaptured. Then I began to imagine our meeting, and George's +expression when he realized who it was. The idea was so pleasing that +it almost made me forget my present misery. + +It must have been about midday when I decided on a move. In a way I +suppose it was a rash thing to do, but I had got so cursedly cramped +and cold again that I felt if I didn't take some exercise I should +never last out the day. Even as it was, my legs had lost practically +all feeling, and for the first few steps I took I was staggering about +like a drunkard. + +Keeping to the thickest part of the wood, I made my way slowly +forward; my idea being to reach the top of the valley and then lie low +again until nightfall. My progress was not exactly rapid, for after +creeping a yard or two at a time I would crouch down and listen +carefully for any sounds of danger. I had covered perhaps a mile in +this spasmodic fashion when a gradual improvement in the light ahead +told me that I was approaching open ground. A few steps farther, and +through a gap in the trees a red roof suddenly came into view, with a +couple of chimney-pots smoking away cheerfully in the rain. + +It gave me a bit of a start, for I had not expected to run into +civilization quite so soon as this. I stopped where I was and did +a little bit of rapid thinking. Where there's a house there must +necessarily be some way of getting at it, and the only way I could +think of in this case was a private drive up the hill into the main +Devonport road. If there was such a drive the house was no doubt a +private residence and a fairly large one at that. + +With infinite precaution I began to creep forward again. Between the +trunks of the trees I could catch glimpses of a stout wood paling +about six feet high which apparently ran the whole length of the +grounds, separating them from the wood. On the other side of this +fence I could hear, as I drew nearer, a kind of splashing noise, and +every now and then the sound of somebody moving about and whistling. + +The last few yards consisted of a strip of open grass marked by deep +cart-ruts. Across this I crawled on my hands and knees, and getting +right up against the fence began very carefully to search around for +a peep-hole. At last I found a tiny gap between two of the boards. It +was the merest chink, but by gluing my eye to it I was just able to +see through. + +I was looking into a square gravel-covered yard, in the centre of +which a man in blue overalls was cleaning the mud off a small +motor car. He was evidently the owner, for he was a prosperous, +genial-looking person of the retired Major type, and he was lightening +his somewhat damp task by puffing away steadily at a pipe. I watched +him with a kind of bitter jealousy. I had no idea who he was, but +for the moment I hated him fiercely. Why should he be able to potter +around in that comfortable self-satisfied fashion, while I, Neil +Lyndon, starved, soaked, and hunted like a wild beast, was crouching +desperately outside his palings? + +It was a natural enough emotion, but I was in too critical a position +to waste time in asking myself questions. I realized that if burglary +had to be done, here was the right spot. By going farther I should +only be running myself into unnecessary risk, and probably without +finding a house any more suitable to my purpose. + +I squinted sideways through the hole, trying to master the geography +of the place. On the left was a high bank of laurels, and just at the +corner I could see the curve of the drive, turning away up the hill. +On the other side of the yard was a small garage, built against the +wall, while directly facing me was the back of the house. + +I was just digesting these details, when a sudden sigh from the +gentleman in the yard attracted my attention. He had apparently had +enough of cleaning the car, for laying down the cloth he had been +using, he stepped back and began to contemplate his handiwork. + +It was not much to boast about, but it seemed to be good enough for +him. At all events he came forward again, and taking off the brake, +proceeded very slowly to push the car back towards the garage. At +the entrance he stopped for a moment, and going inside brought out a +bicycle which he leaned against the wall. Then he laboriously shoved +the car into its appointed place, put back the bicycle, and standing +in the doorway started to take off his overalls. + +I need hardly say I watched him with absorbed interest. The sight of +the bicycle had sent a little thrill of excitement tingling down my +back, for it opened up possibilities in the way of escape that five +minutes before had seemed wildly out of reach. If I could only steal +the machine and the overalls as well, I should at least stand a good +chance of getting clear away from the Moor before I was starved or +captured. In addition to that I should be richer by a costume which +would completely cover up the tasteful but rather pronounced pattern +of my clothes. + +My heart beat faster with excitement as with my eye pressed tight to +the peep-hole I followed every movement of my unconscious quarry. +Whistling cheerfully to himself, he stripped off the dark blue cotton +trousers and oil-stained jacket that he was wearing and hung them on a +nail just inside the door. Then he gave a last look round, presumably +to satisfy himself that everything was in order, and shutting the door +with a bang, turned the key in the lock. + +I naturally thought he was going to stuff that desirable object into +his pocket, but as it happened he did nothing of the kind. With a +throb of half-incredulous delight I saw that he was standing on +tiptoe, inserting it into some small hiding-place just under the edge +of the iron roof. + +I didn't wait for further information. At any moment someone might +have come blundering round the corner of the paling, and I felt that I +had tempted Fate quite enough already. So, abandoning my peep-hole, +I turned round, and with infinite care crawled back across the grass +into the shelter of the trees. + +Once there, however, I rolled over on the ground and metaphorically +hugged myself. The situation may not appear to have warranted such +excessive rapture, but when a man is practically hopeless even the +wildest of possible chances comes to him like music and sunshine. +Forgetting my hunger and my wet clothes in my excitement, I lay there +thinking out my plan of action. I could do nothing, of course, until +it was dark: in fact it would be really better to wait till the +household had gone to bed, for several of the back windows looked +right out on the garage. Then, provided I could climb the paling and +get out the bicycle without being spotted, I had only to push it up +the drive to find myself on the Devonport road. + +With this comforting reflection I settled myself down to wait. It was +at least four hours from darkness, with another four to be added to +that before I dared make a move. Looking back now, I sometimes wonder +how I managed to stick it out. Long before dusk my legs and arms +had begun to ache again with a dull throbbing sort of pain that got +steadily worse, while the chill of my wet clothes seemed to eat into +my bones. Once or twice I got up and crawled a few yards backwards and +forwards, but the little additional warmth this performance gave me +did not last long. I dared not indulge in any more violent exercise +for fear that there might be warders about in the wood. + +What really saved me, I think, was the rain stopping. It came to an +end quite suddenly, in the usual Dartmoor fashion, and within half an +hour most of the mist had cleared off too. I knew enough of the local +weather signs to be pretty certain that we were in for a fine night; +and sure enough, half an hour after the sun had set a large moon was +shining down from a practically cloudless sky. + +From where I was lying I could, by raising my head, just see the +two top windows of the house. About ten, as near as I could judge, +somebody lit a candle in one of these rooms, and then coming to the +window drew down the blind. I waited patiently till I saw this dull +glimmer of light disappear, then, with a not unpleasant throb of +excitement, I crawled out from my hiding-place and recrossed the grass +to my former point of observation. Very gingerly I lifted myself up +and peered over the top of the paling. The yard was in shadow, and so +far as I could see the back door and all the various outbuildings were +locked up for the night. + +Under ordinary circumstances I could have cleared that blessed paling +in about thirty seconds, but in my present state of exhaustion it +proved to be no easy matter. However, with a mighty effort I at last +succeeded in getting my right elbow on the top, and from that point I +managed to scramble up and hoist myself over. Then, keeping a watchful +eye on the windows, I advanced towards the garage. + +I found the key first shot. It was resting on a little ledge under the +roof, and a thrill of joy went through me as my fingers closed over +it. I pushed it into the keyhole, and very carefully I turned the +lock. + +It was quite dark inside, but I could just see the outline of the +overalls hanging on the nail. I unhooked them, and placing the coat on +the ground I drew on the oily trousers over my convict breeches +and stockings. I could tell by the feel that they covered me up +completely. + +As I picked up the coat something rattled in one of the side pockets. +I put my hand in and pulled out a box of wax matches, which despite +the dampness of the garment still seemed dry enough to strike. For a +moment I hesitated, wondering whether I dared to light one. It was +dangerous, especially if there happened to be a window looking out +towards the house, but on the other hand I badly wanted a little +illumination to see what I was doing. + +I decided to risk it, and closing the door, struck one against the +wall. It flared up, and shading it with my hand I cast a hasty glance +round the garage. The bicycle was leaning against a shelf just beyond +me, and on a nail above it I saw an old disreputable-looking cap. I +pounced on it joyfully, for it was the one thing I needed to complete +my disguise. Then, wheeling the bicycle past the car, I blew out the +match and reopened the door. + +Stepping as noiselessly as possible on the gravel, I pushed the bike +across the yard. There was a large patch of moonlight between me and +the end of the drive, and I went through it with a horrible feeling +in the small of my back that at any moment someone might fling up +a window and bawl out, "Stop thief!" Nothing of the kind occurred, +however, and with a vast sense of thankfulness I gained the shelter of +the laurels. + +The only thing that worried me was the thought that there might be a +lodge at the top. If so I was by no means out of the wood. Even the +most guileless of lodge-keepers would be bound to think it rather +curious that I should be creeping out at this time of night +accompanied by his master's bicycle. + +Keeping one hand against the bushes to guide me, and pushing the +machine with the other, I groped my way slowly up the winding path. As +I came cautiously round the last corner I saw with a sigh of relief +that my fears were groundless. A few yards ahead of me in the +moonlight was a plain white gate, and beyond that the road. + +I opened the gate with deliberate care, and closed it in similar +fashion behind me. Then for a moment I stopped. I was badly out of +breath, partly from weakness and partly from excitement, so laying the +machine against the bank I leaned back beside it. + +Everything was quite still. On each side of me the broad, white, +moonlit roadway stretched away into the night, flanked by a row of +telegraph poles which stood out like gaunt sentries. It was curious +to think that they had probably put in a busy day's work, carrying +messages about me. + +There was a lamp on the front bracket, and as soon as I felt a little +better I took out my matches and proceeded to light it. Then, wheeling +my bike out into the roadway, I turned in the direction of Devonport +and mounted. I felt a bit shaky at first, for, apart from the fact +that I was worn out and pretty near starving, I had not been on a +machine for over three years. However, after wobbling wildly from side +to side, I managed to get the thing going, and pedalled off down the +centre of the road as steadily as my half-numbed senses would allow. + +For perhaps a quarter of a mile the ground kept fairly level, then, +breasting a slight rise, I found myself at the top of a hill. I shoved +on the brake and went slowly round the first corner, where I got an +unexpected surprise. From this point the road ran straight away down +through a small village, across a bridge over the river, and up a +short steep slope on the farther side. + +I took in the situation at a glance, and, releasing my brake, I let +the old bike have her head. It certainly wouldn't suit me to have to +dismount in the village and walk up the opposite slope, and I was much +too exhausted to do anything else unless I could take it in a rush. + +Down I went, the machine flying noiselessly along and gathering pace +every yard. I had nearly reached the bottom and was just getting ready +to pedal, when all of a sudden, I caught sight of something that +almost paralyzed me. Right ahead, in the centre of the village square, +stood a prison warder. His back was towards me and I could see the +moonlight gleaming on the barrel of his carbine. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + +I was going so fast that everything seemed to happen simultaneously. +I had one blurred vision of him spinning round and yelling to me to +stop: then the next moment I had flashed past him and was racing +across the bridge. + +Whether he recognized me for certain I can't say. I think not, or he +would probably have fired sooner than he did: as it was, my rush had +carried me three quarters of the way up the opposite hill before he +could make up his mind to risk a shot. + +Bang went his carbine, and at the same instant, with a second loud +report, the tire of my back wheel abruptly collapsed. It was a good +shot if he had aimed for it, and what's more it came unpleasantly +near doing the trick. The old bike swerved violently, but with a wild +wrench I just succeeded in righting her. For a second I heard him +shouting and running behind me, and then, working like a maniac, I +bumped up the rest of the slope, and disappeared over the protecting +dip at the top. + +Of my progress for the next mile or so I have only the most +confused recollection. It was like one of those ghastly things that +occasionally happen to one in a nightmare. I just remember pedalling +blindly along, with the back wheel grinding and jolting beneath me +and the moonlit road rising and falling ahead. It must have been more +instinct than anything else that kept me going, for I was in the last +stages of hunger and weariness, and most of the time I scarcely knew +what I was doing. + +At last, after wobbling feebly up a long slope, I found I had reached +the extreme edge of the Moor. Right below me the road dropped down for +several hundred feet into a broad level expanse of fields and woods. +Six or seven miles away the lights of Plymouth and Devonport threw up +a yellow glare into the sky, and beyond that again I could just see +the glint of the moonlight shining on the sea. + +It was no good stopping, for I knew that in an hour or so the mounted +warders would be again on my track. So clapping on both brakes, I +started off down the long descent, being careful not to let the +machine get away with me as it had done on the previous hill. + +At the bottom, which I somehow reached in safety, I found a sign-post +with two hands, one marked Plymouth and the other Devonport. I took +the latter road, why I can hardly say, and summoning up my almost +spent energies I pedalled off shakily between its high hedges. + +How I got as far as I did remains a mystery to me to this day. I fell +off twice from sheer weakness, but on each occasion I managed to drag +myself back into the saddle again, and it was not until my third +tumble, that I decided I could go no farther. + +I was in a dark stretch of road bounded on each side by thick +plantations. It was a good place to lie up in, but unfortunately there +was another and more pressing problem in front of me. Half delirious +as I was, I realized that unless I could find something to eat that +night my career as an escaped convict was pretty near its end. + +I picked myself up, and with a great effort managed to drag the +bicycle to the side of the road. Then, clutching the rail that bounded +the plantation, I began to stagger slowly forward along the slightly +raised path. I think I had a sort of vague notion that there might be +something to eat round the next corner. + +I had progressed in this fashion for perhaps forty yards, when quite +unexpectedly both the trees and the railings came to an end. I +remained swaying and half incredulous for a moment: then I began to +realize that I was standing in front of an open gate looking up an +exceedingly ill-kept drive. At the end of this drive was a house, and +the moonlight shining full on the front of it showed me that the whole +place had about as forlorn and neglected an appearance as an inhabited +building could very well possess. That it was inhabited there could be +no doubt, for in the small glass square above the hall door I could +see a feeble glimmer of light. + +No one could have called it an inviting-looking place, but then I +wasn't exactly waiting for invitations where a chance of food was +concerned. I just slipped in at the gate, and keeping well in the +shadow of the bushes that bounded the drive, I crept slowly and +unsteadily forward until I reached a point opposite the front door. I +crouched there for a moment, peering up at the house. Except for that +flickering gas jet there was no sign of life anywhere; all the windows +were shuttered or else in complete darkness. + +At first I had a wild idea of ringing the bell and pretending to be +a starving tramp. Then I remembered that my description had no doubt +been circulated all round the neighbourhood, and that if there was +any one in the place they would probably recognize me at once as the +missing convict. This choked me off, for though as a rule I have no +objection to a slight scuffle, I felt that in my present condition the +average housemaid could knock me over with the flick of a duster. + +The only alternative scheme that suggested itself to my numbed mind +was to commit another burglary. There was a path running down the side +of the house, which apparently led round to the back, and it struck +me that if I followed this I might possibly come across an unfastened +window. Anyhow, it was no good waiting about till I collapsed from +exhaustion, so, getting on my feet, I slunk along the laurels as far +as the end of the drive, and then crept across in the shadow of an +overhanging tree. + +I made my way slowly down the path, keeping one hand against the wall, +and came out into a small square yard, paved with cobbles, where I +found myself looking up at the back of the house. There was a door +in the middle with two windows on either side of it, and above these +several other rooms--all apparently in complete darkness. + +I was beginning to feel horribly like fainting, but by sheer +will-power I managed to pull myself together. Going up to the nearest +window I peered through the pane. I could see the dim outline of a +table with some plates on it just inside, and putting my hand against +the bottom sash I gave it a gentle push. It yielded instantly, sliding +up several inches with a wheezy rattle that brought my heart into my +mouth. + +For a moment or two I waited, listening intently for any sound of +movement within the house. Then, as nothing happened, I carefully +raised the sash a little higher, and poked my head in through the +empty window-frame. + +It was the kitchen all right: there could be no doubt about that. A +strong smell of stale cooking pervaded the warm darkness, and that +musty odour brought tears of joy into my eyes. I took one long +luxurious sniff, and then with a last effort I hoisted myself up and +scrambled in over the low sill. + +As my feet touched the floor there was a sharp click. A blinding flash +of light shot out from the darkness, striking me full in the face, and +at the same instant a voice remarked quietly but firmly: "Put up your +hands." + +I put them up. + +There was a short pause: then from the other end of the room a man in +a dressing-gown advanced slowly to the table in the centre. He was +holding a small electric torch in one hand and a revolver in the +other. He laid down the former with the light still pointing straight +at my face. + +"If you attempt to move," he remarked pleasantly, "I shall blow your +brains out." + +With this he walked to the side of the room, struck a match against +the wall, and reaching up turned on the gas. + +I was much too dazed to do anything, even if I had had the chance. I +just stood there with my hands up, rocking slightly from side to side, +and wondering how long it would be before I tumbled over. + +My captor remained for a moment under the light, peering at me in +silence. He seemed to be a man of about sixty--a thin, frail man +with white hair and a sharp, deeply lined face. He wore gold-rimmed +pince-nez, behind which a pair of hard grey eyes gleamed at me in +malicious amusement. + +At last he took a step forward, still holding the revolver in his +hand. + +"A stranger!" he observed. "Dear me--what a disappointment! I hope Mr. +Latimer is not ill?" + +I had no idea what he was talking about, but his voice sounded very +far away. + +"If you keep me standing like this much longer," I managed to jerk +out, "I shall most certainly faint." + +I saw him raise his eyebrows in a sort of half-mocking smile. + +"Indeed," he said, "I thought--" + +What he thought I never heard, for the whole room suddenly went dim, +and with a quick lurch the floor seemed to get up and spin round +beneath my feet. I suppose I must have pitched forward, for the last +thing I remember is clutching wildly but vainly at the corner of the +kitchen table. + + * * * * * + +My first sensation on coming round was a burning feeling in my lips +and throat. Then I suddenly realized that my mouth was full of brandy, +and with a surprised gulp I swallowed it down and opened my eyes. + +I was lying back in a low chair with a cushion under my head. Standing +in front of me was the gentleman in the dressing-gown, only instead of +a revolver he now held an empty wine-glass in his hand. When he saw +that I was recovering he stepped back and placed it on the table. +There was a short pause. + +"Well, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "and how are you feeling now?" + +A hasty glance down showed me that the jacket of my overalls had been +unbuttoned at the neck, exposing the soaked and mud-stained prison +clothes beneath. I saw that the game was up, but for the moment I was +too exhausted to care. + +My captor leaned against the end of the table watching me closely. + +"Are you feeling any better?" he repeated. + +I made a feeble attempt to raise myself in the chair. "I don't know," +I said weakly; "I'm feeling devilish hungry." + +He stepped forward at once, his lined face breaking into something +like a smile. + +"Don't sit up. Lie quite still where you are, and I will get you +something to eat. Have you had any food today?" + +I shook my head. "Only rain-water," I said. + +"You had better start with some bread and milk, then. You have been +starving too long to eat a big meal straight away." + +Crossing the room, he pushed open a door which apparently led into the +larder, and then paused for a moment on the threshold. + +"You needn't try to escape," he added, turning back to me. "I am not +going to send for the police." + +"I don't care what you do," I whispered, "as long as you hurry up with +some grub." + +Lying there in the sort of semi-stupor that comes from utter +exhaustion, I listened to him moving about in the larder apparently +getting things ready. For the moment all thoughts of danger or +recapture had ceased to disturb me. Even the unexpected fashion +in which I was being treated did not strike me as particularly +interesting or surprising: my whole being was steeped in a sense of +approaching food. + +I saw him re-enter the room, carrying a saucepan, which he placed on +a small stove alongside the fireplace. There was the scratching of a +match followed by the pop of a gas-ring, and half-closing my eyes I +lay back in serene and silent contentment. + +I was aroused by the chink of a spoon, and the splash of something +liquid being poured out. Then I saw my host coming towards me, +carrying a large steaming china bowl in his hand. + +"Here you are," he said. "Do you think you can manage to feed +yourself?" + +I didn't trouble to answer. I just seized the cup and spoon, and the +next moment I was wolfing down a huge mouthful of warm bread and milk +that seemed to me the most perfect thing I had ever tasted. It was +followed rapidly by another and another, all equally beautiful. + +My host stood by watching me with a sort of half-amused interest. + +"I shouldn't eat it quite so fast," he observed. "It will do you more +good if you take it slowly." + +The first few spoonfuls had already partly deadened my worst pangs, +so following his advice I slackened down the pace to a somewhat more +normal level. Even then I emptied the bowl in what I think must +have been a record time, and with a deep sigh I handed it to him to +replenish. + +I was feeling better--distinctly better. The food, the rest in the +chair, and the comparative warmth of the room were all doing me good +in their various ways, and for the first time I was beginning to +realize clearly where I was and what had happened. + +I suppose my host noticed the change, for he looked at me in an +approving fashion as he gave me my second helping. + +"There you are," he said in that curious dry voice of his. "Eat that +up, and then we'll have a little conversation. Meanwhile--" he paused +and looked round--"well, if you have no objection I think I will shut +that window. I daresay you have had enough fresh air for today." + +I nodded--my mouth was too full for any more elaborate reply--and +crossing the room he closed the sash and pulled down the blind. + +"That's better," he observed, gently rubbing his hands together; "now +we are more comfortable and more private. By the way, I don't think I +have introduced myself yet. My name is McMurtrie--Doctor McMurtrie." + +"I am charmed to meet you," I said, swallowing down a large chunk of +bread. + +He nodded his head, smiling. "The pleasure is a mutual one, Mr. +Lyndon--quite a mutual one." + +The words were simple and smooth enough in themselves, but somehow or +other the tone in which they were uttered was not altogether to my +taste. It seemed to carry with it the faint suggestion of a cat +purring over a mouse. Still I was hardly in a position to be too +fastidious, so I accepted his compliment, and went on calmly with my +bread and milk. + +With the same rather catlike smile Dr. McMurtrie drew up a chair +and sat down opposite to me. He kept his right hand in his pocket, +presumably on the revolver. + +"And now," he said, "perhaps you have sufficiently recovered to be +able to tell me a little about yourself. At present my knowledge of +your adventures is confined to the account of your escape in this +morning's _Daily Mail_." + +I slowly finished the last spoonful of my second helping, and placed +the cup beside me on the floor. It was a clumsy device to gain time, +for now that the full consciousness of my surroundings had returned to +me, I was beginning to think that Dr. McMurtrie's methods of receiving +an escaped convict were, to say the least, a trifle unusual. Was his +apparent friendliness merely a blind, or did it hide some still deeper +purpose, of which at present I knew nothing? + +He must have guessed my thoughts, for leaning back in his chair he +remarked half-mockingly: "Come, Mr. Lyndon, it doesn't pay to be too +suspicious. If it will relieve your mind, I can assure you I have no +immediate intention of turning policeman, even for the magnificent sum +of--how much is it--five pounds, I believe? On mere business grounds I +think it would be underrating your market value." + +The slight but distinct change in his voice in the last remark +invested it with a special significance. I felt a sudden conviction +that for some reason of his own Dr. McMurtrie did not intend to give +me up--at all events for the present. + +"I will tell you anything you want to know with pleasure," I said. +"Where did the _Daily Mail_ leave off?" + +He laughed curtly, and thrusting the other hand into his pocket pulled +out a silver cigarette-case. + +"If I remember rightly," he said, "you had just taken advantage of the +fog to commit a brutal and quite unprovoked assault upon a warder." He +held out the case. + +"But try one of these before you start," he added. "They are a special +brand from St. Petersburg, and I think you will enjoy them. There +is nothing like a little abstinence to make one appreciate a good +tobacco." + +With a shaking hand I pressed the spring. It was three years since I +had smoked my last cigarette--a cigarette handed me by the inspector +in that stuffy little room below the dock, where I was waiting to be +sentenced to death. + +If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget my sensations as I +struck the match which my host handed me and took in that first +fragrant mouthful. It was so delicious that for a moment I remained +motionless from sheer pleasure; then lying back again in my chair with +a little gasp I drew another great cloud of smoke deep down into my +lungs. + +The doctor waited, watching me with a kind of cynical amusement. + +"Don't hurry yourself, Mr. Lyndon," he observed, "pray don't hurry +yourself. It is a pleasure to witness such appreciation." + +I took him at his word, and for perhaps a couple of minutes we sat +there in silence while the blue wreaths of smoke slowly mounted +and circled round us. Then at last, with a delightful feeling of +half-drugged contentment, I sat up and began my story. + +I told it him quite simply--making no attempt to conceal or exaggerate +anything. I described how the idea of making a bolt had come suddenly +into my mind, and how I had acted on it without reflection or +hesitation. Step by step I went quietly through my adventures, from +the time when the fog had rolled down to the moment when, half +fainting with hunger and exhaustion, I had climbed in through his +kitchen window. + +Leaning on the arm of his chair, he listened to me in silence. As far +as any movement or change of expression was concerned a statue could +scarcely have betrayed less interest, but all the time the steady +gleam of his eyes never shifted from my face. + +When I had finished he remained there for several seconds in the same +attitude. Then at last he gave a short mirthless laugh. + +"It must be pleasant to be as strong as you are," he said. "I should +have been dead long ago." + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I don't exactly feel like going to a +dance," I answered. + +He got up and walked slowly as far as the window, where he turned +round and stood staring at me thoughtfully. At last he appeared to +make up his mind. + +"You had better go to bed," he said, "and we will talk things over in +the morning. You are not fit for anything more tonight." + +"No, I'm not," I admitted frankly; "but before I go to bed I should +like to feel a little more certain where I'm going to wake up." + +There was a faint sound outside and I saw him raise his head. It was +the distant but unmistakable hum of a motor, drawing nearer and nearer +every moment. For a few seconds we both stood there listening: then +with a sudden shock I realized that the car had reached the house and +was turning in at the drive. + +Weak as I was I sprang from my chair, scarcely feeling the thrill of +pain that ran through me at the effort. + +"By God!" I cried fiercely, "you've sold me!" + +He whipped out the revolver, pointing it full at my face. + +"Sit down, you fool," he said. "It's not the police." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + +Whatever my intentions may have been--and they were pretty venomous +when I jumped up--the revolver was really an unnecessary precaution. +Directly I was on my feet I went as giddy as a kite, and it was only +by clutching the chair that I saved myself from toppling over. I was +evidently in a worse way than I imagined. + +Lowering his weapon the doctor repeated his order. + +"Sit down, man, sit down. No one means you any harm here." + +"Who is it in the car?" I demanded, fighting hard against the accursed +feeling of faintness that was again stealing through me. + +"They are friends of mine. They have nothing to do with the police. +You will see in a minute." + +I sat down, more from necessity than by choice, and as I did so I +heard the car draw up outside the back door. + +Crossing to the window the doctor threw up the sash. + +"Savaroff!" he called out. + +There came an answer in a man's voice which I was unable to catch. + +"Come in here," went on McMurtrie. "Don't bother about the car." He +turned back to me. "Drink this," he added, pouring out some more +brandy into the wine-glass. I gulped it down and lay back again in my +chair, tingling all through. + +He took my wrist and felt my pulse for a moment. "I know you are +feeling bad," he said, "but we'll get your wet clothes off and put you +to bed in a minute. You will be a different man in the morning." + +"That will be very convenient," I observed faintly. + +There was a noise of footsteps outside, the handle of the door turned, +and a man--a huge bear of a man in a long Astrachan coat--strode +heavily into the room. He was followed by a girl whose face was almost +hidden behind a partly-turned-back motor veil. When they caught sight +of me they both stopped abruptly. + +"Who's this?" demanded the man. + +Dr. McMurtrie made a graceful gesture towards me with his hand. +"Allow me," he said, "to introduce you. Monsieur and Mademoiselle +Savaroff--our distinguished and much-sought-after friend Mr. Neil +Lyndon." + +The big man gave a violent start, and with a little exclamation the +girl stepped forward, turning back her veil. I saw then that she was +remarkably handsome, in a dark, rather sullen-looking sort of way. + +"You will excuse my getting up," I said weakly. "It doesn't seem to +agree with me." + +"Mr. Lyndon," explained the doctor, "is fatigued. I was just proposing +that he should go to bed when I heard the car." + +"How in the name of Satan did he get here?" demanded the other man, +still staring at me in obvious amazement. + +"He came in through the window with the intention of borrowing a +little food. I had happened to see him in the garden, and being under +the natural impression that he was--er--well, another friend of ours, +I ventured to detain him." + +Savaroff gave a short laugh. "But it's incredible," he muttered. + +The girl was watching me curiously. "Poor man," she exclaimed, "he +must be starving!" + +"My dear Sonia," said McMurtrie, "you reflect upon my hospitality. Mr. +Lyndon has been faring sumptuously on bread and milk." + +"But he looks so wet and ill." + +"He is wet and ill," rejoined the doctor agreeably. "That is just the +reason why I am going to ask you to heat some water and light a fire +in the spare bedroom. We don't want to disturb Mrs. Weston at this +time of night. I suppose the bed is made up?" + +Sonia nodded. "I think so. I'll go up and see anyhow." + +With a last glance at me she left the room, and Savaroff, taking off +his coat, threw it across the back of a chair. Then he came up to +where I was sitting. + +"You don't look much like your pictures, my friend," he said, +unwinding the scarf that he was wearing round his neck. + +"Under the circumstances," I replied, "that's just as well." + +He laughed again, showing a set of strong white teeth. "Yes, yes. +But the clothes and the short hair--eh? They would take a lot of +explaining away. It was fortunate for you you chose this house--very +fortunate. You find yourself amongst friends here." + +I nodded. + +I didn't like the man--there was too great a suggestion of the bully +about him, but for all that I preferred him to McMurtrie. + +It was the latter who interrupted. "Come, Savaroff, you take Mr. +Lyndon's other arm and we'll help him upstairs. It is quite time he +got out of those wet things." + +With their joint assistance I hoisted myself out of the chair and, +leaning heavily on the pair of them, hobbled across to the door. Every +step I took sent a thrill of pain through me, for I was as stiff and +sore as though I had been beaten all over with a walking-stick. The +stairs were a bit of a job too, but they managed to get me up somehow +or other, and I found myself in a large sparsely furnished hall lit by +one ill-burning gas jet. There was a door half open on the left, and +through the vacant space I could see the flicker of a freshly lighted +fire. + +They helped me inside, where we found the girl Sonia standing beside a +long yellow bath-tub which she had set out on a blanket. + +"I thought Mr. Lyndon might like a hot bath," she said. "It won't take +very long to warm up the water." + +"Like it!" I echoed gratefully; and then, finding no other words to +express my emotions, I sank down in an easy chair which had been +pushed in front of the fire. + +I think the brandy that McMurtrie had given me must have gone to my +head, or perhaps it was merely the sudden sense of warmth and comfort +coming on top of my utter fatigue. Anyhow I know I fell gradually into +a sort of blissful trance, in which things happened to me very much as +they do in a dream. + +I have a dim recollection of being helped to pull off my soaked and +filthy clothes, and later on of lying back with indescribable felicity +in a heavenly tub of hot water. + +Then I was in bed and somebody was rubbing me, rubbing me all over +with some warm pungent stuff that seemed to take away the pain in my +limbs and leave me just a tingling mass of drowsy contentment. + +After that--well, after that I suppose I fell asleep. + + * * * * * + +I base this last idea upon the fact that the next thing I remember is +hearing some one say in a rather subdued voice: "Don't wake him up. +Let him sleep as long as he likes--it's the best thing for him." + +Whereupon, as was only natural, I promptly opened my eyes. + +Dr. McMurtrie and the dark girl were standing by my bedside, looking +down at me. + +I blinked at them for a moment, wondering in my half-awake state where +the devil I had got to. Then suddenly it all came back to me. + +"Well," said the doctor smoothly, "and how is the patient today?" + +I stretched myself with some care. I was still pretty stiff, and my +throat felt as if some one had been scraping it with sand-paper, but +all the same I knew that I was better--much better. + +"I don't think there's any serious damage," I said hoarsely. "How long +have I been asleep?" + +He looked at his watch. "As far as I remember, you went to sleep +in your bath soon after midnight. It's now four o'clock in the +afternoon." + +I started up in bed. "Four o'clock!" I exclaimed. "Good Lord! I must +get up--I--" + +He laid his hand on my shoulder. "Don't be foolish, my friend," he +said. "You will get up when you are fit to get up. At the present +moment you are going to have something to eat." He turned to the girl. +"What are you thinking of giving him?" he asked. + +"There are plenty of eggs," she said, "and there's some of that fish +we had for breakfast." She answered curtly, almost rudely, looking at +me while she spoke. Her manner gave me the impression that for some +reason or other she and McMurtrie were not exactly on the best of +terms. + +If that was so, he himself betrayed no sign of it. "Either will do +excellently," he said in his usual suave way, "or perhaps our +young friend could manage both. I believe the Dartmoor air is most +stimulating." + +"I shall be vastly grateful for anything," I said, addressing the +girl. "Whatever is the least trouble to cook." + +She nodded and left the room without further remark--McMurtrie looking +after her with what seemed like a faint gleam of malicious amusement. + +"I have brought you yesterday's _Daily Mail_," he said; "I thought it +would amuse you to read the description of your escape. It is quite +entertaining; and besides that there is a masterly little summary of +your distinguished career prior to its unfortunate interruption." He +laid the paper on the bed. "First of all, though," he added, "I will +just look you over. I couldn't find much the matter with you last +night, but we may as well make certain." + +He made a short examination of my throat, and then, after feeling my +pulse, tapped me vigorously all over the chest. + +"Well," he said finally, "you have been through enough to kill two +ordinary men, but except for giving you a slight cold in the head it +seems to have done you good." + +I sat up in bed. "Dr. McMurtrie," I said bluntly, "what does all this +mean? Who are you, and why are you hiding me from the police?" + +He looked down on me, with that curious baffling smile of his. "A +natural and healthy curiosity, Mr. Lyndon," he said drily. "I hope +to satisfy it after you have had something to eat. Till then--" he +shrugged his shoulders--"well, I think you will find the _Daily Mail_ +excellent company." + +He left the room, closing the door behind him, and for a moment I +lay there with an uncomfortable sense of being tangled up in some +exceedingly mysterious adventure. Even such unusual people as Dr. +McMurtrie and his friends do not as a rule take in and shelter escaped +convicts purely out of kindness of heart. There must be a strong +motive for them to run such a risk in my case, but what that motive +could possibly be was a matter which left me utterly puzzled. So far +as I could remember I had never seen any of the three before in my +life. + +I glanced round the room. It was a big airy apartment, with ugly +old-fashioned furniture, and two windows, both of which looked out in +the same direction. The pictures on the wall included an oleograph +portrait of the late King Edward in the costume of an Admiral, a large +engraving of Mr. Landseer's inevitable stag, and several coloured and +illuminated texts. One of the latter struck me as being topical if a +little inaccurate. It ran as follows: + +THE WICKED +FLEE +WHEN NO MAN +PURSUETH + +Over the mantelpiece was a mirror in a mahogany frame. I gazed at it +idly for a second, and then a sudden impulse seized me to get up and +see what I looked like. I turned back the clothes and crawled out of +bed. I felt shaky when I stood up, but my legs seemed to bear me all +right, and very carefully I made my way across to the fireplace. + +The first glance I took in the mirror gave me a shock that nearly +knocked me over. A cropped head and three days' growth of beard will +make an extraordinary difference in any one, but I would never +have believed they could have transformed me into quite such an +unholy-looking ruffian as the one I saw staring back at me out of the +glass. If I had ever been conceited about my personal appearance, that +moment would have cured me for good. + +Satisfied with a fairly brief inspection I returned to the bed, and +arranging the pillow so as to fit the small of my back, picked up the +_Daily Mail_. I happened to open it at the centre page, and the big +heavily leaded headlines caught my eyes straight away. + +ESCAPE OF NEIL LYNDON +FAMOUS PRISONER BREAKS OUT OF DARTMOOR +SENSATIONAL CASE RECALLED + +With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I settled down to read. + +_From our own Correspondent. +Princetown_. + +Neil Lyndon, perhaps the most famous convict at present serving his +sentence, succeeded yesterday in escaping from Princetown. At the +moment of writing he is still at large. + +He formed one of a band of prisoners who were returning from the +quarries late in the afternoon. As the men reached the road which +leads through the plantation to the main gate of the prison, one of +the warders in charge was overcome by an attack of faintness. In the +ensuing confusion, a convict of the name of Cairns, who was walking +at the head of the gang, made a sudden bolt for freedom. He was +immediately challenged and fired at by the Civil Guard. + +The shot took partial effect, but failed for the moment to stop the +runaway, who succeeded in scrambling off into the wood. He was pursued +by the Civil Guard, and it was at that moment that Lyndon, who was in +the rear of the gang, also made a dash for liberty. + +He seems to have jumped the low wall which bounds the plantation, +and although fired at in turn by another of the warders, apparently +escaped injury. + +Running up the hill through the trees, he reached the open slope of +moor on the farther side which divides the plantation from the main +wood. While he was crossing this he was seen from the roadway by +that well-known horse-dealer and pigeon-shot, Mr. Alfred Smith of +Shepherd's Bush, who happened to be on a walking tour in the district. + +Mr. Smith, with characteristic sportsmanship, made a plucky attempt +to stop him; but Lyndon, who had picked up a heavy stick in the +plantation, dealt him a terrific blow on the head that temporarily +stunned him. He then jumped the railings and took refuge in the wood. + +The pursuing warders came up a few minutes later, but by this time a +heavy mist was beginning to settle down over the moor, rendering +the prospect of a successful search more than doubtful. The warders +therefore surrounded the wood with the idea of preventing Lyndon's +escape. + +Taking advantage of the fog, however, the latter succeeded in slipping +out on the opposite side. He was heard climbing the railings by +Assistant-warder Conway, who immediately gave the alarm and closed +with the fugitive. The other warders came running up, but just before +they could reach the scene of the struggle Lyndon managed to +free himself by means of a brutal kick, and darting into the fog +disappeared from sight. + +It is thought that he has made his way over North Hessary and is lying +up in the Walkham Woods. In any case it is practically certain that he +will not be at liberty much longer. It is impossible for him to get +food except by stealing it from a cottage or farm, and directly he +shows himself he is bound to be recaptured. + +Considerable excitement prevails in the district, where all the +inhabitants are keenly on the alert. + +THE MARKS MURDER +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + +The escape of Neil Lyndon recalls one of the most famous crimes of +modern days. + +On the third of October four years ago, as most of our readers will +remember, a gentleman named Mr. Seton Marks was found brutally +murdered in his luxurious flat on the Chelsea Embankment. It was +thought at first that the crime was the work of burglars, for Mr. +Marks's rooms contained many art treasures of considerable value. A +further examination, however, revealed the fact that nothing had been +tampered with, and the next day the whole country was startled and +amazed to learn that Neil Lyndon had been arrested on suspicion. + +At the trial it was proved beyond question that the accused was the +last person in the company of the murdered man. He had gone round to +Mr. Marks's flat at four o'clock in the afternoon, and had apparently +been admitted by the owner. Two hours later Mr. Marks's servant +returning to the flat was horrified to find his master's dead body +lying in the sitting-room. Death had been inflicted by means of a +heavy blow on the back of the head, but the state of the dead man's +face showed that he had been brutally mishandled before being killed. + +The accused, while maintaining his innocence of the murder, did not +deny either his visit to the flat, or the fact that he had inflicted +the other injuries on the deceased. He declined to state the cause of +their quarrel, but the defending counsel produced a witness in the +person of Miss Joyce Aylmer, a young girl of sixteen, who was able to +throw some light on the matter. + +Miss Aylmer, a young lady of considerable beauty, stated that for +about a year she had been working as an art student in Chelsea, and +used occasionally to sit to artists for the head. On the afternoon +before the murder she had had a professional engagement of this kind +with Mr. Marks. There had been a visitor in the flat when she arrived, +but he had left as soon as she came in. Subsequently, according to her +statement, the deceased had acted towards her in an outrageous and +disgraceful manner. She had escaped from his flat with difficulty, and +had subsequently informed Mr. Lyndon of what had taken place. + +In his re-examination, the accused admitted that it was on account +of Miss Aylmer's statement he had visited the flat. Up till then, he +declared, he had had no quarrel with the deceased. + +This statement, however, was directly contradicted by Lyndon's +partner, Mr. George Marwood. Giving his evidence with extreme +reluctance, Mr. Marwood stated that for some time bad blood had +undoubtedly existed between Mr. Marks and the accused. He added that +in his own hearing on two separate occasions the latter had threatened +to kill the deceased. + +Pressed still further, he admitted meeting Mr. Lyndon in Chelsea +on the night of the murder, when the latter had to all intents and +purposes acknowledged his guilt. + +On the evidence there could naturally be only one verdict, and Lyndon +was found guilty and sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Owen. + +A tremendous agitation in favour of his reprieve broke out at once. +Apart from the peculiar circumstances under which the crime was +committed, it was urged that Mr. Lyndon's services to the country as +an inventor should be taken into consideration. Within twenty-four +hours over a million people had signed a petition in his favour, and +the following day His Majesty was pleased to commute the sentence to +one of penal servitude for life. + +There is little doubt, however, that Lyndon would have been released +at the end of ten or twelve years. + +THE ESCAPED CONVICT'S CAREER + +Neil Lyndon is the only son of the well-known explorer Colonel Grant +Lyndon, who perished on the Upper Amazon some fifteen years ago. He +was educated at Haileybury, and Oriel College, Oxford, where he took +the highest honours in chemistry and mathematics. Coming down, he +entered into partnership with his cousin Mr. George Marwood, and +between them the two young inventors met with early and remarkable +success. Their greatest achievement was of course the construction of +the Lyndon-Marwood automatic torpedo, which was taken up four years +ago, after exhaustive tests, by the British Government. + +Lyndon is a man of exceptionally powerful physique. He successfully +represented Oxford as a heavy-weight boxer in his last term, and the +following year was runner up in the Amateur Championship. He is also a +fine long-distance swimmer, and a well-known single-handed yachtsman. + +Mr. George Marwood, whose painful position in connection with the +trial aroused considerable sympathy, has carried on the business alone +since his partner's conviction. Quite recently, as our readers will +recall, he was the victim of a remarkable outrage at his offices in +Victoria Street. While he was working there by himself late at night, +a couple of masked men broke into the building, bound and gagged him, +and proceeded to ransack the safe. It is said that they secured plans +and documents of considerable value, but owing to the non-arrest of +the thieves the exact details have never come to light. + +So ended the _Daily Mail_. + +I finished reading, and taking a long breath, laid down the paper. Up +till then I had heard nothing about the news contained in the last +paragraph, and it sent my memory back at once to the big well-lighted +room in Victoria Street where George and I had spent so many hours +together. I wondered what the valuable "plans and documents" might +be which the thieves were supposed to have secured. In my day we had +always been pretty careful about what we left at the office, and +any really important plans--such as those of the Lyndon-Marwood +torpedo--were invariably kept at the safe deposit across the street. + +From George and the office my thoughts drifted away over the whole +of that crowded time referred to in the paper. Brief and bald as the +narrative was, it brought up before me a dozen vivid memories, which +jostled each other simultaneously in my mind. I saw again poor little +Joyce's tear-stained face, and remembered the shuddering relief with +which she had clung to me as she sobbed out her story. I could recall +the cold rage in which I had set out for Marks's flat, and that first +savage blow of mine that sent him reeling and crashing into one of his +own cabinets. + +Then I was in court again, and George was giving his evidence--the +lying evidence that had been meant to send me to the gallows. +I remembered the cleverly assumed reluctance with which he had +apparently allowed his statements to be dragged from him, and my blood +rose hot in my throat as I thought of his treachery. + +Above all I seemed to see the fat red face of Mr. Justice Owen, with +the ridiculous little three-cornered black cap above it. He had been +very cut up about sentencing me to death, had poor old Owen, and I +could almost hear the broken tones in which he had faltered out the +words: + +"... taken from the place where you now stand to the place whence you +came--hanged by the neck until your body be dead--and may God have +mercy on your soul." + +At this cheerful point in my reminiscences I was suddenly interrupted +by a sharp knock at the door. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + +With a big effort I pulled myself together. "Come in," I called out. + +The door opened, and the girl, Sonia, entered the room. She was +carrying a tray, which she set down on the top of the chest of +drawers. + +"I don't know the least how to thank you for all this," I said. + +She turned round and looked at me curiously from under her dark +eyebrows. + +"For all what?" she asked. + +"This," I repeated, waving my hand towards the tray, "and the hot bath +last night, and incidentally my life. If it hadn't been for you and +Dr. McMurtrie I think my 'career,' as the _Daily Mail_ calls it, would +be pretty well finished by now." + +She stood where she was, her hand on her hip, her eyes fixed on my +face. + +"Do you know why we are helping you?" she asked. + +I shook my head. "I haven't the faintest notion," I answered frankly. +"It certainly can't be on account of the charm of my appearance. I've +just been looking at myself in the glass." + +She shrugged her shoulders half impatiently. "What does a man's +appearance matter? You can't expect to break out of Dartmoor in a +frock-coat." + +"No," I replied gravely; "there must always be a certain lack of +dignity about such a proceeding. Still, when one looks like--well, +like an escaped murderer, it's all the more surprising that one should +be so hospitably received." + +She picked up the tray again, and brought it to my bedside. + +"Oh!" she said; "I shouldn't build too much upon our hospitality if I +were you." + +I took the tray from her hands. "I would build upon yours to any +extent," I said; "but I am under no illusion whatever about Dr. +McMurtrie's disinterestedness. He and your father--it is your father, +isn't it?--are coming up to explain matters as soon as I have had +something to eat." + +She stood silent for a moment, her brows knitted in a frown. + +"They mean you no harm," she said at last, "as long as you will do +what they want." Then she paused. "Did you murder that man Marks?" she +asked abruptly. + +I swallowed down my first mouthful of fish. "No," I said; "I only +knocked him about a bit. He wasn't worth murdering." + +She stared at me as if she was trying to read my thoughts. + +"Is that true?" she said. + +"Well," I replied, "he was alive enough when I left him, judging from +his language." + +"Then why did your partner--Mr. Marwood--why did he say that you had +done it?" + +"That," I said softly, "is a little question which George and I have +got to discuss together some day." + +She walked to the door and then turned. + +"If a man I had trusted and worked with behaved like that to me," she +said slowly, "I should kill him." + +I nodded my approval of the sentiment. "I daresay it will come to +that," I said; "the only thing is one gets rather tired of being +sentenced to death." + +She gave me another long, curious glance out of those dark brown eyes +of hers, and then going out, closed the door behind her. + +For an exceedingly busy and agreeable quarter of an hour I occupied +myself with the contents of the tray. There was some very nicely +grilled whiting, a really fresh boiled egg, a jar of honey, and a +large plate of brown bread and butter cut in sturdy slices. Best of +all, on the edge of the tray were a couple of McMurtrie's cigarettes. +Whether he or Sonia was responsible for this last attention I could +not say. I hoped it was Sonia: somehow or other I did not want to be +too much indebted to Dr. McMurtrie. + +I finished my meal--finished it in the most complete sense of the +phrase--and then, putting down my tray on the floor, reverently +lighted up. I found that my first essay in smoking on the previous +evening had in no way dulled the freshness of my enjoyment, and for +a few minutes I was content to lie there pleasantly indifferent to +everything except the flavour of the tobacco. + +Then my mind began to work. Sonia's questions had once again started a +train of thought which ever since the trial had been running through +my brain with maddening persistence. If I had not killed Marks, who +had? How often had I asked myself that during the past three years, +and how often had I abandoned the problem in utter weariness! +Sometimes, indeed, I had been almost tempted to think the jury must +have been right--that I must have struck the brute on the back of the +head without realizing in my anger what I was doing. Then, when I +remembered how I had left him crouching against the wall, spitting out +curses at me through his cut and bleeding lips, I knew that the idea +was nonsense. The wound which they found in his head must have killed +him instantly. No man who had received a blow like that would ever +speak or move again. + +The one thing I felt certain of was that in some mysterious way or +other George was mixed up in the business. It was incredible that +he could have acted as he did at the trial unless he had had some +stronger reason than mere dislike for me. That he did dislike me I +knew well, but my six years' association with him had taught me that +he would never allow any personal motive to interfere with a chance of +making money. By sending me to the gallows or into penal servitude +he was practically ruining himself, for with all his acuteness and +business knowledge he was quite deficient in any sort of inventive +power. And yet he had not hesitated to do it, and to do it by a piece +of lying sufficiently cold-blooded and deliberate to make Judas pale +with envy. + +If there had been any apparent chance of his being able to rob me by +the proceeding, I could have understood it. But my business interests +as far as past inventions went were safe in the hands of my lawyers, +and although I had told him a certain amount about the new explosive +which I had been working at, it was quite impossible for him to turn +it to any practical use. + +No, George must have had some other reason for perjuring his +unpleasant soul, and the only one I could think of was that he had +purposely turned the case against me in order to shield the real +murderer. He had been fairly well acquainted with the dead man, I +knew--their tastes indeed ran on somewhat similar lines--and it was +just possible that he was aware who had committed the crime. + +The thought filled me, as it always had filled me, with a bitter fury. +Again and again in my cell I had fancied myself escaping from the +prison and choking the truth out of my cousin's throat with my +fingers, and now that the first part of this picture had come true, I +vowed silently to myself that nothing should stop the remainder from +following it. Whatever McMurtrie might propose, I would see George +once again face to face, even if death or recapture was the price I +had to pay. + +I had just arrived at this conclusion when I heard the sound of +footsteps in the passage outside. Then the handle of the door turned, +and McMurtrie appeared on the threshold with Savaroff looming up +behind him. There was a moment's silence, while the doctor stood there +smiling down on me as blandly as ever. + +"May we come in?" he inquired. "We are not interrupting your tea, I +hope." + +"No, I have done tea, thank you," I said, with a gesture towards the +tray. + +Why it was so, I can't say, but McMurtrie's politeness always filled +me with a feeling of repulsion. There was something curiously sinister +about it. + +He stepped forward into the room, followed by Savaroff, who closed the +door behind him. The latter then lounged across and sat down on the +window-sill, McMurtrie remaining standing by my bedside. + +"You have read the _Mail_, I see," he said, picking up the paper. "I +hope you admired the size of the headlines." + +"It's the type of compliment," I replied, "that I have had rather too +much of." + +Savaroff broke out into a short gruff laugh. "Our friend," he said, +"is modest--so modest. He does not thirst for more fame. He would +retire into private life if they would let him." + +He chuckled to himself, as though enjoying the subtlety of his own +humour. Unlike his daughter, he spoke English with a distinctly +foreign accent. + +"Ah, yes," said Dr. McMurtrie amiably; "but then, Mr. Lyndon is one of +those people that we can't afford to spare. Talents such as his are +intended for use." He took off his glasses and began to polish them +thoughtfully. "One might almost say that he held them in trust--in +trust for Providence." + +There was a short silence. + +"And is it on account of my talents that you have been kind enough to +shelter me?" I asked bluntly. + +The doctor readjusted his pince-nez, and seated himself with some +deliberation on the foot of the bed. + +"The instinct to assist a hunted fellow-creature," he observed, "is +almost universal." Then he paused. "I take it, Mr. Lyndon, that you +are not particularly anxious to rejoin your friends in Princetown?" + +I shook my head. "Not if there is a more pleasant alternative." + +Savaroff grunted. "No alternative is likely to be more unpleasant for +you," he said harshly. + +The touch of bullying in his tone put my back up at once. "Indeed!" I +said: "I can imagine several." + +McMurtrie's smooth voice intervened. "But ours, Mr. Lyndon, is one +which I think will make a very special appeal to you. How would you +like to keep your freedom and at the same time take up your scientific +work again?" + +I looked at him closely. For once there was no trace of mockery in his +eyes. + +"I should like it very much indeed, if it was possible," I answered. + +McMurtrie leaned forward a little. "It is possible," he said quietly. + +There was a short pause. Savaroff pulled out a cigar, bit off the end, +and spat it into the fireplace. Then he reached sideways to the chest +of drawers for a match. + +"Explain to him," he said, jerking his head towards me. + +McMurtrie glanced at him--it seemed to me a shade impatiently. Then he +turned back to me. + +"For some time before Mr. Marks's unfortunate death," he said slowly, +"you had been experimenting with a new explosive." + +I nodded my head. I had no idea how he had got his information, for as +far as I was aware George was the only person who had any knowledge of +my secret. + +"And I believe you were just on the point of success when you were +arrested?" + +"Theoretically I was," I said. "These matters don't always work out +quite so well when you put them to a practical test." + +"Still, you yourself were quite satisfied with the prospects?" + +I nodded again. + +"And unless I am wrong, this new explosive will be immensely more +powerful than anything now in use?" + +"Immensely," I repeated; "in fact, there would be no practical +comparison between them." + +"Can you give me any idea as to its strength?" + +I hesitated. "According to my calculations," I said slowly, "it ought +to prove at least twenty times as powerful as gun-cotton." + +Savaroff uttered a hoarse exclamation and sat upright in his seat. + +"Are you speaking the truth?" he asked roughly. + +I stared him full in the face, and then without answering turned back +to McMurtrie. + +The latter made a gesture with his hand. "Leave the matter to me, +Savaroff," he said sharply. "I understand Mr. Lyndon better than you +do." Then addressing me: "Supposing you had all the things that you +required, how long would it take you to manufacture some of this +powder--or whatever it is?" + +"It's difficult to say," I answered. "Perhaps a week; perhaps a couple +of months. I could make the actual stuff at once provided I had the +materials, but it's a question of doing it in such a way that one can +handle it safely for practical purposes. I was experimenting on that +very point at the time of my arrest." + +McMurtrie nodded his head slowly. "You have been candid with us," +he said, "and now I will be equally candid with you. My friend M. +Savaroff and myself are very largely interested in the manufacture +of high explosives. The appearance of an invention like yours on the +market would be a very serious matter indeed for us. On the other +hand, if we had control of it, we should, I imagine, be in a position +to dictate our own terms." + +"You certainly would," I said; "there is no question about that. My +explosive would be no more expensive to manufacture than cordite." + +"So you see when some exceedingly convenient chance brought you in +through our kitchen window it naturally occurred to me to invite you +to stay and discuss the matter. You happen to be in a position in +which you could be useful to us, and I think that we, on the other +hand, might be of some assistance to you." + +He leant back and watched me with that cold smile of his. + +"What do you say, Mr. Lyndon?" he added. + +I did some rapid but necessary thinking. It was quite true that the +new explosive would knock the bottom out of the present methods of +manufacture, and McMurtrie's interests in the matter might well be +large enough to make him run the risk of helping me. There seemed no +reason to doubt that he was speaking the truth--and yet, somehow or +other I mistrusted him--mistrusted him from my soul. + +"How did you know about my experiments?" I asked quietly. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "There are such things as trade secrets. It +is necessary for a business man to keep in touch with anything that +may threaten his interests." + +I hesitated a second. "What is it that you propose--exactly?" I +inquired. + +I saw--or thought I saw--the faintest possible gleam of satisfaction +steal into his eyes. + +"I propose that you should finish your experiments as soon as +possible, make some of this explosive, and hand the actual stuff +and the full secret of its manufacture over to us. In return I will +guarantee you your freedom, and let you have a quarter interest in all +profits we make out of your invention." + +He brought out these somewhat startling terms as coolly as though it +were an every-day custom of his to do business with escaped convicts. +I bent down from the bed, and under cover of picking up my second +cigarette from the tray, secured a few useful moments for considering +the situation. + +"I have no objection to the bargain," I said slowly, helping myself to +a match off the table; "the only question is whether it is possible to +carry it out. My experiments aren't the kind that can be conducted +in a back bedroom. I should want a large shed of some kind, and the +farther away it was from any houses the better. There is always the +chance of blowing oneself up at this sort of business, and in that +case an explosive like mine would probably wreck everything within a +couple of miles." + +"You shall work under any conditions you please," said McMurtrie +amiably. "If it suits you we will fix you up a hut and some sheds down +on the Thames marshes, and you can live there till the experiments are +finished." + +"But I should be recognized," I objected. "I am bound to be +recognized. I am fairly well known as it is, and with my picture and +description placarded all over England, I shouldn't stand a dog's +chance. However lonely a place it was, some one would be bound to see +me and give me away sooner or later." + +McMurtrie shook his head. "You may be seen," he said, "but there is no +reason why you should be recognized." + +I paused in the act of lighting my cigarette. "What do you mean?" I +asked with some curiosity. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," said McMurtrie, courteously, "as a scientist +yourself you don't imagine that it's beyond the art of an intelligent +surgeon to cope with a little difficulty like that?" + +"But in what way?" I objected. "A disguise? Any one can see through a +disguise except in novels." + +The doctor smiled. "I am not suggesting a wig and a pair of +spectacles," he observed. "It is rather too late in the world's +history for that sort of thing." Then he stopped and studied me for an +instant attentively. "In a fortnight, and practically without hurting +you," he added, "I can make you as safe from the police as if you were +dead and buried." + +I sat up in bed. "Under the circumstances," I said, "you'll excuse my +being a little inquisitive." + +"Oh, there is no secret about it. Any surgeon could do it. I have +only to alter the shape of your nose a trifle, and make your forehead +rather higher and wider. A stain of some sort will do the rest." + +"Yes," I said; "but what about the first part of the programme?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. "Child's play," he answered. "Merely a +question of paraffin injections and the X-rays." + +He spoke with such careless confidence that for once it was impossible +to doubt his sincerity. + +I lay back again and drew in a large exulting lungful of cigarette +smoke. I had suddenly realized that if McMurtrie's offer was genuine, +and he could really do what he promised, there were no longer any +difficulties in the way of my getting at George. The idea of meeting +him, and perhaps even speaking to him, without his being able to +recognize me filled me with a wicked satisfaction that no words can do +justice to. + +I don't think I betrayed my emotion, however, for McMurtrie's keen +eyes were on me, and I was not in the least anxious to take him into +my confidence. I blew out the smoke in a grey cloud, and then, raising +myself on my elbow carefully flicked the ash off my cigarette. + +"How am I to know that you will keep your promise?" I asked. + +Savaroff made an angry movement, but before he could speak, McMurtrie +had broken in. + +"You forget what an embarrassing position we shall be putting +ourselves in, Mr. Lyndon," he said with perfect good temper. +"Shielding a runaway convict is an indictable offence--to say nothing +of altering his appearance. As for the money"--he made a little +gesture of contempt--"well, do you think it would pay us to cheat you? +There is always the chance that a gentleman who can invent things like +this explosive and the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo may have other equally +satisfactory notions." + +"Very well," I said quietly. "I will accept the offer on one +condition--that I can have a week in London before beginning work." + +With an oath Savaroff started up from the window-sill. + +"Gott in Himmel! and who are you to make terms?" he exclaimed roughly. +"Why, we have only to send you back to the prison and you will be +flogged like a dog!" + +"In which distressing event," I observed, "you would not get your +explosive." + +"My dear Savaroff," interrupted McMurtrie, soothingly, "there is +no need to threaten Mr. Lyndon. I am sure that he appreciates the +situation." Then he turned to me. "I suppose you have some reason for +making this condition?" + +Silently in my heart I invoked the shade of Ananias. + +"If you had been in Dartmoor three years," I said, with a rather +well-forced laugh, "you would find several excellent reasons for +wanting a week in London." + +My acting must have been good, for I could have sworn I saw a faint +expression of relieved contempt flicker across McMurtrie's face. + +"I see. A little holiday--a brief taste of the pleasures of liberty! +Well, that seems to me a very natural and reasonable request. What do +you think, Savaroff?" + +That gentleman contented himself with a singularly ungracious grunt. + +"I don't think there would be much risk about it," I said boldly. "If +you can change my appearance as completely as you say you can, no one +would be the least likely to recognize me. After three years of that +dog's life up there I can't settle down in a hut on the Thames marshes +without having a few days' fun first. I should be very careful what +I did naturally. I have had quite enough of the prison to appreciate +being outside." + +McMurtrie nodded. "Very well," he said slowly. "I see no objection to +your having your 'few days' fun' in London if you want them. It would +be safer perhaps to get you away from this house as soon as possible. +I should think three weeks would be quite enough for our purposes +here--and I daresay it will take us a month to fix up a satisfactory +place for you to work in." Then he paused. "Of course if you go to +town," he added, "you will have to stay at some address we shall +arrange for, and you will have to be ready to start work directly we +tell you to." + +"Naturally," I said; "I only want--" + +I was saved from finishing my falsehood by a sudden sound from +outside--the sound of a swing gate banging against its post. For a +moment I had a horrible feeling that it might be the police. + +Savaroff jumped up and looked out of the window. Then with a little +guttural exclamation he turned back to McMurtrie. + +"Hoffman!" he muttered, apparently in some surprise. + +Who Mr. Hoffman might be I had not the faintest notion, but the +mention of the name brought the doctor to his feet at once. I think +he was rather annoyed with Savaroff for being unnecessarily +communicative. When he spoke, however, it was with his usual perfect +composure. + +"Well, we will leave you at peace now, Mr. Lyndon. I should try to go +to sleep again for a little while if I were you. I will come up later +and see whether you would like some supper." He stopped and looked +round the room. "Is there anything else you want that you haven't +got?" + +"If you could advance me a box of cigarettes," I said, "it shall be +the first charge on the new explosive." + +He nodded, smiling. "I will send Sonia up with it," he answered. Then, +following Savaroff, he went out into the passage, carefully closing +the door after him. + +Left alone, I lay back on the pillow in a frame of mind which I +believe novelists describe as "chaotic." I had expected something +rather unusual from my interview with McMurtrie, but these proposals +of his could hardly be classed under such a mild heading as that. For +sheer unexpectedness they about took the biscuit. + +I had read in books of a man's appearance being altered so completely +that even his best friends failed to recognize him, but it had never +occurred to me that such a thing could be done in real life--let alone +in the simple fashion outlined by the doctor. Of course, if he was +speaking the truth, there seemed no reason why his plan, fantastic as +it might sound, should not turn out perfectly successful. A private +hut on the Thames marshes was about the last place in which you would +look for an escaped Dartmoor convict, especially when he had vanished +into thin air within a few miles of Devonport. + +What worried me most in the matter was my apparent good luck in having +fallen on my feet in this amazing fashion. There is a limit to one's +belief in coincidences, and the extraordinary combination of chances +suggested by McMurtrie's smooth explanations was just a little too +stiff for me to swallow. I felt sure that he was lying in some +important particulars--but precisely which they were I was unable to +guess for certain. + +That he wanted the secret of the new explosive, and wanted it badly, +there could be no doubt, but neither he nor Savaroff in the least +suggested to me a successful manufacturer of cordite or anything +else. They seemed to me to belong to a much more interesting if less +conventional type, and I couldn't help wondering what on earth such +a curious trio as they and Sonia could be doing tucked away in an +ill-furnished, deserted-looking country house in a corner of South +Devon. + +However it was no good worrying, for as far as I was concerned it was +painfully clear that there was no alternative. If I declined their +offer and refused to let McMurtrie carve my face about, they had only +to turn me out, and in a few hours I should probably be back in my +cell with the cheerful prospect of chains, a flogging, and six months' +semi-starvation in front of me. + +Anything was better than that--even the wildest of plunges in the +dark. Indeed I am not at all sure that the mystery that surrounded +McMurtrie's offer did not lend it a certain charm in my eyes. My life +had been so infernally dull for the last three years that the prospect +of a little excitement, even of an unpleasant kind, was by no means +wholly disagreeable. + +At least I had my week's "fun" in London to look forward to, and the +thought of that alone would have been quite enough to make me go +through with anything. I had lied to McMurtrie about my object, +but the falsehood, such as it was, did not sit very heavily on my +conscience. The precise meaning of "fun" is purely a matter of +opinion, and I was as much entitled to my definition as he was to his. +After all, if a convicted murderer can't be a little careless about +the exact truth, who the devil can? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + +McMurtrie had left me under the impression that he meant to start work +on my face the next day, but as it turned out the impression was a +mistaken one. Both the paraffin wax and the X-ray outfit had to be +procured from London, and according to Sonia it was to see about these +that her father went off to town early the following morning. She told +me this when she brought me up my breakfast, just after I had heard +the car drive away from the house. + +"Well, I suppose I had better get up too," I said. "I can't stop in +bed and be waited on by you." + +"You've got to," she replied curtly, "unless you would rather I sent +up Mrs. Weston." + +"Who's Mrs. Weston?" I inquired. + +Sonia placed the tray on my bed. "She's our housekeeper. She's deaf +and dumb." + +"There are worse things," I observed, "in a housekeeper." Then I sat +up and pulled my breakfast towards me. "Of course I would much rather +you looked after me. I was only thinking of the trouble I'm giving +you." + +"Oh, it's not much trouble," she said; then after a little pause she +added, in a rather curious voice: "Anyway I shouldn't mind if it was." + +"But I am feeling perfectly fit this morning," I persisted. "I might +just as well get up if your father would lend me some kit. I don't +think I could squeeze into McMurtrie's." + +She shook her head. "The doctor says you are to stop where you are. +He is coming up to see you." Then she hesitated. "One of the prison +warders called here last night to warn us that you were probably +hiding in the neighbourhood." + +"That was kind," I said, "if a little belated. Had they found the +bicycle?" + +"No," she answered, "and they are not likely to. My father went out +and brought it in the night you arrived. It's buried in the back +garden." + +There was another short silence, and then she seated herself on the +foot of the bed. "Tell me," she said, "this girl--Joyce Aylmer--do you +love her?" + +The question came out so unexpectedly that it took me by utter +surprise. I stopped in the middle of conveying a piece of bacon to my +mouth and laid it down again on the plate. + +"Why, Joyce is only a child," I said; "at least she was when I went to +prison. We were all in love with her in a sort of way. Her father had +been an artist in Chelsea before he died, and we looked on her as +a kind of general trust. She used to run in and out of the various +studios just as she pleased. That was the reason I was so furious with +Marks. It was impossible to believe that a man who wasn't an absolute +fiend could--" I pulled up short in some slight embarrassment. + +"But she is not a child now," remarked Sonia calmly. "According to the +paper she must be nineteen." + +"Yes," I said, "I suppose people grow older even when I'm in prison." + +"And she loves you--she must love you. Do you think any woman could +help loving a man who had done what you did for her?" + +"Oh, I expect she has forgotten all about me long ago," I said with +a sudden bitterness. "People who go to prison can't expect to be +remembered--except by the police." + +I had spoken recklessly, and even while the words were on my tongue a +vision of Joyce's honest blue eyes rose reproachfully in my mind. I +remembered the terrible heartbroken little note which she had sent me +after the trial, and then her other letter which I had received in +Dartmoor--almost more pitiful in its brave attempt to keep hope and +interest alive in my heart. + +Sonia leaned forward, her hands clasped in her lap. + +"I thought," she said slowly, "I thought that perhaps you wanted to go +to London in order to meet her." + +I shook my head. "I am not quite so selfish as that. I have brought +her enough trouble and unhappiness already." + +"Then it is your cousin that you mean to see," she said softly--"this +man, Marwood, who sent you to the prison." + +For a second I was silent. It had suddenly occurred to me that in +asking these questions Sonia might be acting under the instructions of +McMurtrie or her father. + +She saw my hesitation and evidently guessed the cause. + +"Oh, you needn't think I shall repeat what you tell me," she broke +out almost scornfully. "The doctor and my father are quite capable of +taking care of themselves. They don't want me to act as their spy." + +There was a genuine ring of dislike in her voice as she mentioned +their names which made me believe that she was speaking the truth. + +"Well," I said frankly, "I was thinking of looking up George just to +see how he has been getting on in my absence. But apart from that I +have every intention of playing straight with McMurtrie. It seems to +me to be my only chance." + +A bell tinkled faintly somewhere away in the house, and Sonia got up +off the bed. + +"It _is_ your only chance," she said quietly, "but it may be a better +one than you imagine." + +And with this encouraging if somewhat obscure remark she went out and +left me to my thoughts. + +McMurtrie came up about an hour later. Suave and courteous as ever, +he knocked at my door before entering the room, and wished me good +morning in the friendliest of fashions. + +"I have brought you another _Daily Mail_--yesterday's," he said, +throwing the paper down on the bed. "It contains the second instalment +of your adventures." Then he paused and looked at me with that curious +smile that seemed to begin and end with his lips. "Well," he added, +"and how are the stiffness and the sore throat this morning?" + +"Gone," I said, "both of them. I have no excuse for stopping in bed +except lack of clothes." + +He nodded and sat down on the window-sill. "I daresay we can find a +way out of that difficulty. My friend Savaroff would, I am sure, be +delighted to lend you some garments to go on with. You seem to be much +of a size." + +"Well, I should be delighted to accept them," I said. "Even the joy of +being in a real bed again begins to wear off after two days." + +"I am afraid you can't expect very much liberty while you are our +guest," he said, leaning back against the window. "It would be too +dangerous for you to go outside the house, even at night time. I +expect Sonia told you about our visitor yesterday." + +"Yes," I said; "I should like to have heard the interview." + +"It was quite interesting. From what he told me I should say that few +prisoners have been more missed than you are. It appears that there +are over seventy warders hunting about the neighbourhood, to say +nothing of volunteers." + +"I seem to be giving a lot of trouble," I said sadly. + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Not to us. I am only sorry that +we can't offer you a more entertaining visit." He opened his case and +helped himself to a cigarette. "On the whole, however, I daresay you +won't find the time drag so very much. There will be the business +of altering your appearance--I hope to start on that the day after +tomorrow--and then I want you to make me out a full list of everything +you will need in connection with your experiments. It would be best +perhaps to have a drawing of the actual shed--just as you would like +it fitted up. You might start on this right away." + +"Certainly," I said. "I shall be glad to have something to do." + +"And I don't suppose you will mind much if we can't arrange anything +very luxurious for you in the way of living accommodation. We shall +have to choose as lonely a place as possible, and it will probably +involve your feeding chiefly on tinned food, and roughing it a bit +generally. It won't be for very long." + +"I shan't mind in the least," I said. "Anything will be comfortable +after Princetown. As long as you can fix me up with what I want for my +work I shan't grumble about the rest." + +He nodded again in a satisfied manner. "By the way," he said, "I +suppose you never wore a beard or a moustache before you went to +prison?" + +"Only once in some amateur theatricals," I answered "and then the +moustache came off." + +"They will make a great difference in your appearance by themselves," +he went on, looking at me critically. "I wonder how long they will +take to grow." + +I passed my hand up my face, which was already covered with a thick +stubble about half an inch in length. "At the present rate of +progress," I said, "I should think about a week." + +McMurtrie smiled. "Another fortnight on top of that will be nearer the +mark, I expect," he said, getting up from the bed. "That will just fit +in with our arrangements. In three weeks we ought to be able to fix +you up with what you want, and by that time there won't be quite so +much excitement about your escape. The _Daily Mail_ will have become +tired of you, even if the police haven't." He stopped to flick the ash +off his cigarette. "Of course you will have to be extremely careful +when you are in London. I shall change your appearance so that it +will be quite impossible for any one to recognize you, but there will +always be the danger of somebody remembering your voice." + +"I can disguise that to a certain extent," I said. "Besides, it's not +likely that I shall run across any one I know well. I only want to +amuse myself for two or three evenings, and the West End's a large +place as far as amusement goes." Then I paused. "If you really thought +it was too risky," I added carelessly, "I would give up the idea." + +It was a bold stroke--but it met with the success that it deserved. +Any lingering doubts McMurtrie may have had about my intentions were +apparently dispersed. + +"I think you will work all the better for a short holiday," he said; +"and I am sure you are sensible enough to keep out of any trouble." + +He walked to the door, and stood for a moment with his hand on the +knob. "I will send you up the clothes and some paper and ink," he +added. "Then you can get up or write in bed--just as you like." + +After three years of granite quarrying--broken only by a short spell +of sewing mailsacks--the thought of getting back to a more congenial +form of work was a decidedly pleasant one. During the half-hour that +elapsed before Sonia came up with my things, I lay in bed, busily +pondering over various points in connection with my approaching task. +I had often done the same in the long solitary hours in my cell, and +worked out innumerable figures and details in connection with it on my +prison slate. Most of them, however, I had only retained vaguely in my +head, for it is one of the intelligent rules of our cheerful convict +system to allow no prisoner to make permanent notes of anything that +might be of possible service to him after his release. + +There seemed, therefore, every prospect that I should be fully +occupied for some time to come. Indeed, it was not until I had dressed +myself in Savaroff's clothes (they fitted me excellently) and sat down +at the table with a pen and a pile of foolscap in front of me, that I +realized what a lengthy task I had taken on. + +All my rough notes--those invaluable notes and calculations that I +had spent eighteen months over--were packed away in my safe at the +Victoria Street office. I had not bothered about them at the time, for +when you are being tried for your life other matters are apt to assume +a certain degree of unimportance. Besides, although I had told George +of their existence, I knew very well that, being jotted down in a +private cypher, no one except myself would be able to make head or +tail of what they were about. + +Still they would naturally have been of immense help to me now if I +could have got hold of them. Clear as the main details were in my +mind, I saw I should have to go over a good bit of old ground before +I could make out the exact list of my requirements which McMurtrie +needed. + +All that afternoon and the whole of the following day I stuck steadily +to my task. I had little to interrupt me, for with the exception +of Sonia who brought me up my meals, and the old deaf-and-dumb +housekeeper who came to do my room about midday, I saw or heard +nobody. McMurtrie did not appear again, and Savaroff, as I knew, was +away in London. + +I took an hour off in the evening for the purpose of studying the +_Daily Mail_, which proved to be quite as entertaining as the previous +issue. There were two and a half columns about me altogether, the +first consisting of a powerful if slightly inaccurate description of +how I had stolen the bicycle, and the remainder dealing with various +features of my crime and my escape. It was headed: + +STILL AT LARGE +NEIL LYNDON'S FIGHT FOR LIBERTY + +and I settled myself down to read with a feeling of enjoyment that +would doubtless have gratified Lord Northcliffe had he been fortunate +enough to know about it. + +"Neil Lyndon," it began, "whose daring escape from Princetown was +fully described in yesterday's _Daily Mail_, has so far successfully +baffled his pursuers. Not only is he still at liberty, but having +possessed himself of a bicycle and a change of clothes by means of an +amazingly audacious burglary, it is quite possible that he has managed +to get clear away from the immediate neighbourhood." + +This opening paragraph was followed by a full and vivid description of +my raid on the bicycle house. It appeared that the machine which I +had borrowed was the property of a certain Major Hammond, who, when +interviewed by the representative of the _Mail_, expressed himself of +the opinion that I was a dangerous character and that I ought to be +recaptured without delay. + +The narrative then shifted to my dramatic appearance on the bicycle, +as witnessed by the surprised eyes of Assistant-warder Marshfield. +According to that gentleman I had flashed past him at a terrific +speed, hurling a handful of gravel in his face, which had temporarily +blinded him. With amazing pluck and presence of mind he had recovered +himself in time to puncture my back wheel, a feat of marksmanship +which, as the _Daily Mail_ observed, was "highly creditable under the +circumstances." + +From that point it seemed that all traces of me had ceased. Both I and +the bicycle had vanished into space as completely as Elijah and his +fiery chariot, and not all the united brains of Carmelite House +appeared able to suggest a wholly satisfactory solution. + +"Lyndon," said the _Mail_, "may have succeeded in reaching Plymouth on +the stolen machine, and there obtained the food and shelter of which +by that time he must have been sorely in need. On the other hand it +is possible that, starved, frozen, and most likely wounded, he is +crouching in some remote coppice, grimly determined to perish rather +than to surrender himself to the warders." + +It was "possible," certainly, but as a guess at the truth that was +about all that could be said for it. + +The thing that pleased me most in the whole paper, however, was the +interview with George in the third column. It was quite short--only a +six-line paragraph headed "Mr. Marwood and the Escape," but brief as +it was, it filled me with a rich delight. + +"Interviewed by our Special Correspondent at his residence on the +Chelsea Embankment, Mr. George Marwood was reluctant to express any +opinion on the escape. 'The whole thing,' he said, 'is naturally +extremely distasteful to me. I can only hope that the unhappy man may +be recaptured before he succumbs to exposure, and before he has the +chance to commit any further acts of robbery and violence.'" + +In regard to the last sentiment I had not the faintest doubt that +George was speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart. As long as +I was at liberty his days and nights would be consumed by an acute and +painful anxiety. He was no doubt haunted by the idea that I had broken +prison largely for the purpose of renewing our old acquaintance, and +the thought that I might possibly succeed in my object must have been +an extremely uncomfortable one. I laughed softly to myself as I sat +and pictured his misgivings. It cheered me to think that whatever +happened later he would be left in this gnawing suspense for at least +another three weeks. After that I might perhaps see my way to relieve +it. + +There were other people, I reflected, who must have read the _Mail_ +with an equally deep if rather different interest. I tried to fancy +how the news of my escape had affected Joyce. For all my cynical +outburst in the morning, I knew well that no truer or more honest +little heart ever beat in a girl's breast, and that the uncertainty +about my fate must even now be causing her the utmost distress. + +Then there was Tommy Morrison. Somehow or other I didn't think Tommy +would be quite as anxious as Joyce. I could almost see him slapping +his leg and laughing that great laugh of his, as he read about my +theft of the bicycle and my wild dash down the hill past the warder. +He was a great believer in me, was Tommy--and I felt sure that nothing +but the news of my recapture would shake his faith in my ability to +survive. + +It was good to know that, whatever the rest of the world might be +thinking, these two at least would be following my escape with a +passionate hope that I should pull through. + +Just about six o'clock in the evening of the next day Savaroff +returned. I heard the car drive up to the house, and then came the +sound of voices and footsteps, followed by the banging of a door. +After that there was silence for perhaps twenty minutes while my two +hosts were presumably talking together in one of the rooms below. +Whether Sonia was with them or not I could not tell. + +At last I heard some one mounting the stairs, and a moment later +McMurtrie's figure framed itself in the doorway. + +"I'm afraid I am interrupting your work," he said, standing on the +threshold and looking down at the sheets of foolscap which littered +the table in front of me. + +"Not a bit," I returned cheerfully. "I've just finished"; and I began +to gather up the fruits of my two-days' toil into something like +order. + +He shut the door and came across to where I was sitting. "Do you mean +you have made out the full list of what you want?" he asked, picking +up one of the sheets and running his eye rapidly over the notes and +calculations. + +"I have done it all in the rough," I replied, "except the drawing of +the shed. That will only take an hour or so." + +"Excellent," he exclaimed. "I can see there won't be much time wasted +when we once get to work." Then he laid down the paper. "Tomorrow +morning I propose trying the first of our little operations. Savaroff +has brought me the things I needed, and I think we can finish the +whole business in a couple of days." + +"What part of me are you going to start on?" I inquired with some +interest. + +"I think I shall alter the shape of your nose first," he said. "It's +practically a painless operation--just one injection of hot paraffin +wax under the skin. After that you have only to keep quiet for a +couple of hours so that the wax can set in the right shape." + +"What about the X-ray treatment?" I asked. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "That's perfectly simple too. Merely a +matter of covering up everything except the part that we want exposed. +One uses a specially prepared sort of lead sheeting. There is +absolutely no danger or difficulty about it." + +I thought at first that he might be purposely minimizing both +operations in order to put me at my ease, but as it turned out he was +telling me nothing except the literal truth. + +At half-past ten the next morning he came up to my room with Sonia in +attendance, the latter carrying a Primus stove and a small black bag. + +At his own suggestion I had stayed in bed, and from between the sheets +I viewed their entrance not without a certain whimsical feeling of +regret. When one has had a nose of a particular shape for the best +part of thirty years it is rather a wrench to feel that one is +abandoning it for a stranger. I passed my fingers down it almost +affectionately. + +McMurtrie, who appeared to be in the best of spirits, wished me +good-morning in that silkily polite manner of his which I was getting +to dislike more and more. Sonia said nothing. She simply put the +things down on the table by my bedside, and then stood there with +the air of sullen hostility which she seemed generally to wear in +McMurtrie's presence. + +"I feel rather like a gladiator," I said. "Morituri te salutant!" + +McMurtrie, who had taken a shallow blue saucepan out of the bag and +was filling it with hot water, looked up with a smile. + +"It will be all over in a minute," he said, reassuringly. "The only +trouble is keeping the wax liquid while one is actually injecting it. +One has to stand it in boiling water until the last second." + +He put the saucepan on the stove, and then produced out of the bag +a little china-clay cup, which he stood in the water. Into this he +dropped a small lump of transparent wax. + +We waited for a minute until the latter melted, McMurtrie filling up +the time by carefully sponging the bridge of my nose with some liquid +antiseptic. Then, picking up what seemed like an ordinary hypodermic +syringe, he warmed it carefully by holding it close to the Primus. + +"Now," he said; "all you have to do is to keep perfectly still. You +will just feel the prick of the needle and the smart of the hot wax, +but it won't really hurt. If you move you will probably spoil the +operation." + +"Go ahead," I answered encouragingly. + +He dipped the syringe in the cup, and then with a quick movement of +his hand brought it across my face. I felt a sharp stab, followed +instantly by a stinging sensation all along the bridge of the nose. +McMurtrie dropped the syringe at once, and taking the skin between his +fingers began to pinch and mould it with swift, deft touches into the +required shape. I lay as motionless as possible, hoping that things +were prospering. + +It seemed to me a long time before the job was finished, though I +daresay it was in reality only a matter of forty-five seconds. I +know I felt vastly relieved when, with a quick intake of his breath, +McMurtrie suddenly sat back and began to contemplate his work. + +"Well?" I inquired anxiously. + +He nodded his head, with every appearance of satisfaction. + +"I think we can call it a complete success," he said. Then he stepped +back and looked at me critically from a couple of paces away. "What do +you think, Sonia?" he asked. + +"I suppose it's what you wanted," she said, in a rather grudging, +ungracious sort of fashion. + +"If you won't think me vain," I observed, "I should like to have a +look at myself in the glass." + +McMurtrie walked to the fireplace and unhooked the small mirror which +hung above the mantelpiece. + +"I would rather you waited for a couple of days if you don't mind," he +said. "You know what you used to look like better than any one else, +and it will be a good test if you see yourself quite suddenly when +the whole thing is finished. I will borrow this--and keep you out of +temptation." + +"Just as you like," I returned. "It will at least give me time to +train myself for the shock." + +Quick and easy as the first operation had been, the second proved +equally simple. The only apparatus it involved was an ordinary X-ray +machine, with a large glass globe attached to it, which McMurtrie +brought up the next morning and arranged carefully by my bedside. On +his pressing down a switch, which he did for my benefit, the whole +interior of this globe became flooded with those curious lambent +violet rays, which have altered so many of our previous notions on the +subject of light and its power. + +McMurtrie placed me in position, and then producing a large sheet of +finely-beaten-out lead, proceeded to bend and twist it into a sort of +weird-looking helmet. When I put this on it covered my head and face +almost completely, leaving only an inch of hair along the forehead and +perhaps a little more over each temple exposed to the light. + +Thus equipped, I sat for perhaps an hour in the full glare of the +machine. It was dull work, and as McMurtrie made no attempt to enliven +it by conversation I was not sorry when he eventually flicked off the +switch, and relieved me of my headgear. + +I had expected my hair to tumble out in a lump, but as a matter of +fact it was over two days in accomplishing the task. There was no +discomfort about the process: it just came off gradually all along +my forehead, leaving a smooth bare line which I could feel with my +fingers. As soon as it was all gone, McMurtrie proceeded to decorate +me with some kind of stain that he had specially prepared for my +face and neck--a composition which according to him would remain +practically unaffected either by washing or exposure. It smelt +damnably in the pot, but directly it was rubbed in this slight +drawback disappeared. + +I was naturally anxious to see what result all these attentions had +had upon my personal appearance, but McMurtrie insisted on my waiting +until my hair and beard had grown to something like a tolerable +length. I can well remember the little thrill of excitement that +ran through me when, on the fourth day after my first operation, he +brought me back the looking-glass. + +"I think we might introduce you to yourself today," he said, smiling. +"Of course another fortnight will make a considerable difference +still, but even now you will be able to get a good idea of what you +will look like. I am curious to hear your opinion." + +He handed me the glass, and the next moment, with an involuntary cry +of amazement, I was staring at my reflection. + +Instead of my usual features I saw a rough-looking, bearded man of +about forty-five, with an aquiline nose, a high forehead, and a dark +sunburned skin. It was the face of a complete stranger: at the +best that of a hard-bitten war correspondent or explorer; at the +worst--well, I don't know what it mightn't have been at the worst. + +I stared and stared in a kind of incredulous fascination, until +McMurtrie's voice abruptly recalled me to my surroundings. + +"Well, Mr. Neil Lyndon," he said, "do you recognize yourself?" + +I laid down the glass. + +"Don't call me that," I replied quietly. "Neil Lyndon is dead." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + +One would hardly expect an escaped murderer to complain of being +dull--especially when the whole country is still ringing with the +story of his disappearance. Yet I must confess that, when I had once +got used to the strangeness of my position, the next two weeks dragged +intolerably. + +I was accustomed to confinement, but in the prison at all events I had +had plenty of hard work and exercise, while here, cooped up entirely +in one room, I was able to do nothing but pace restlessly up and +down most of the day like a caged bear. I had finished my lists and +drawings for McMurtrie, and my only resources were two or three +sensational novels which Sonia brought me back one day after a visit +to Plymouth. I cannot say I found them very entertaining. I had been +rather too deeply into life in that line myself to have much use for +the second-hand imaginings of other people. + +Of the doctor and Savaroff I saw comparatively little. Both of them +were away from the house a good deal of the time, often returning in +the car late at night, and then sitting up talking till some unholy +hour in the morning. I used to lie awake in bed, and listen to the +dull rumble of their voices in the room below. + +That there was something mysterious going on which I knew nothing +about I became more convinced every day, but what it could be I was +unable to guess. Once or twice I tried to sound Sonia on the matter, +but although she would talk freely about my own affairs, on any point +connected with herself or the curious household to which she belonged +she maintained an obstinate silence. + +The girl puzzled me strangely. At times it almost seemed as though she +were being forced against her will to take part in some business that +she thoroughly disliked; but then the obvious way in which the two +men trusted her scarcely bore out this idea. She showed no particular +affection for her father, and it was plain that she detested +McMurtrie, yet there was evidently some bond between them strong +enough to keep all three together. + +To me she behaved from the first with a sort of sullen friendliness. +She would come and sit in my room, and with her chin resting on her +hand and her big dark eyes fixed on mine, she would ask me questions +about myself or listen to the stories I told her of the prison. Once, +when I had been describing some peculiarly mean little persecution +which one of the warders (who objected on principle to what he called +"gen'lemen lags") had amused himself by practising on me, she had +jumped up and with a quick, almost savage gesture, laid her hand on my +arm. + +"Never mind," she said; "it's over now, and you shall make them pay +for what they have done to you. We can promise you that at least," and +she laughed with a curious bitterness I failed to understand. + +Of the mysterious Mr. Hoffman, who had turned up at the house on the +second day after my arrival, I saw or heard nothing more. I asked +Sonia about him one day, but she only replied curtly that he was a +business friend of the doctor's, and with this meagre information I +had to remain content. + +The point that I felt perhaps most inquisitive about was whom +McMurtrie could have mistaken me for when I had crawled in through the +kitchen window. I had a distinct recollection of his having mentioned +some name just before I had collapsed, but it had gone out of my head +and for the life of me I couldn't recall it. You know the maddening +way a name will hang about the tip of one's tongue, just avoiding +every effort at recapture. + +Apart from my talks with Sonia, my chief entertainment was reading the +_Daily Mail_. Not a day passed but some one seemed to discover a fresh +clue to my hiding-place. I was seen and recognized at Manchester, +Yarmouth, London, and Edinburgh; while one gentleman wrote to inform +the editor he had trustworthy information I was actually in St. +Petersburg, having been engaged by the Russian Government to effect +certain improvements in their torpedo service. All this was quite +pleasing, for, in addition to showing me that the police were still +utterly at sea as to my whereabouts, I knew that each fresh report +would help to keep George in an acute state of nervous tension. + +Just as my imprisonment was becoming almost unbearably irksome, the +end arrived with an unexpected abruptness. I was sitting at the window +one morning smoking an after-breakfast pipe--a pipe which Sonia had +brought me back from Plymouth at the same time as the books--when I +heard a loud ring at the front door-bell, followed by a couple of +sharp knocks. Despite my three years' absence from worldly affairs, I +recognized the unmistakable touch of a telegraph-boy. + +Since it was hardly likely that the wire was for me, I continued to +smoke with undisturbed serenity. Perhaps ten minutes passed, and I +was just wondering whether the message had anything to do with the +arrangements which McMurtrie was making on my behalf, when a door +slammed and I heard someone coming up the stairs. I knew from the +sound that it was the doctor himself. + +He entered the room, and looked round with his usual suave smile. To +all outward appearance he was as composed as ever, but I had a curious +presentiment that something unexpected had happened. However, I +thought it best to show no sign of any such impression. + +"Good-morning," I said, knocking out my pipe and stuffing it away in +my pocket--or rather Savaroff's pocket. "A grand day, isn't it!" + +"Beautiful," he answered genially--"quite beautiful." Then he walked +across and sat down on the end of the bed. "As a matter of fact, I +came up to see whether you felt like taking advantage of it." + +"Do you mean that it's safe for me to go out?" I asked with some +eagerness. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "It's as safe as it ever will be; but I +meant rather more than that." + +There was a pause. + +"Yes?" I said encouragingly. + +"I meant that our preparations are going on so well, that as far as I +can see there is nothing to be gained by keeping you here any longer. +I have just had a wire to say that the cottage and shed we have been +arranging for near Tilbury are practically finished. If you want your +week in London I think you had better go up this afternoon." + +His proposal took me so completely by surprise that for a moment I +hardly knew what to say. Somehow or other, I had a suspicion that he +was keeping something back. I knew that he had intended me to stay +where I was for at least another three days, and he was not the sort +of man to change his plans without an uncommonly good reason. + +Still, the last thing I wanted was to let him think that I in any way +doubted his good faith, so pulling myself together, I forced a really +creditable laugh. + +"Right you are," I said. "It's rather short notice, but I'm game to +start any time. The only thing is, what am I to do about clothes?" + +"You can keep those you're wearing to go up in," he answered. "When +you get to London you must buy yourself an outfit. Get what you want +at different shops and pay for them in cash. I will advance you fifty +pounds, which ought to be enough to last you the week." + +"One can do quite a lot of dressing and dissipation on fifty pounds," +I replied cheerfully. "Where am I going to stay?" + +He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here's the +address," he said. "It's a lodging-house near Victoria Station, kept +by a sister of Mrs. Weston. You will find it comfortable and quiet, +and you needn't worry about the landlady having any suspicions. I have +told her that you have just come back from abroad and that you want +to be in London for several days on business. You will pass under the +name of Nicholson--James Nicholson." + +He handed me the envelope, and I read the address. + +Mrs. Oldbury, + +3, Edith Terrace, + +S.W. + +_Nr. Victoria Station_. + +"Very well," I said, getting up from my seat; "I understand I am to +stop with Mrs. Oldbury and amuse myself spending the fifty pounds +until I hear from you." + +He nodded. "Directly things are ready we shall let you know. Till then +you are free to do as you like." He opened a small leather case and +handed me a bundle of bank-notes. "Here is the money," he added with a +smile. "You see, we trust you absolutely. If you choose to make a bolt +to America, there will be nothing to stop you." + +It was said with such apparent frankness that it ought to have carried +conviction; but as a matter of fact it did nothing of the kind. I felt +certain that it would not be McMurtrie's fault if he failed to keep +himself informed about my movements while I was in London. Too much +trustfulness in human nature did not seem likely to be one of his +besetting weaknesses. + +However, I pocketed the notes cheerfully enough; indeed the mere touch +of them in my hand gave me a pleasant feeling of confidence. It is +always nice to handle money in comparative bulk, but being absolutely +without it for thirty-six months invests the operation with a peculiar +charm. + +"You had better be ready to start from here about half-past one," said +McMurtrie. "Savaroff will take you into Plymouth in the car, and there +is a fast train up at two-five. It gets you into London just before +seven." + +"Good!" I said. "That will give me time to buy what I want when I +arrive. It would spoil my dinner if I had to shop afterwards." + +McMurtrie, who had crossed to the door, looked back at me with a sort +of half-envious, half-contemptuous smile. + +"You are a curious fellow, Lyndon," he said. "At times you might be a +boy of twenty." + +"Well, I am only twenty-nine," I protested; "and one can't always +remember that one's an escaped murderer." + +I was sitting on the window-sill when I made the last remark; but as +soon as he had gone I jumped to my feet and began to pace restlessly +up and down the room. Now that the moment of my release was really at +hand, a fierce excitement had gripped hold of me. Although I had +had plenty of time to get used to my new position, the amazing +possibilities of it had never seemed to come fully home to me +till that minute. I suddenly realized that I was stepping into an +experience such as probably no other human being had ever tasted. I +was like a man coming back from the dead, safe against recognition, +and with all the record of my past life scarred and burnt into my +memory. + +I walked to the glass and once again stared long and closely at my +reflection. There could be no question about the completeness of my +disguise. Between Neil Lyndon as the world had known him, and the +grim, bearded, sunburned face that looked back at me out of the +mirror, there was a difference sufficiently remarkable to worry the +recording angel. People's wits may be sharpened both by fear and +affection, but I felt that unless I betrayed myself deliberately, not +even those who knew me best, such as George or Tommy, would have the +remotest suspicion of my real identity. Anyhow, I intended to put my +opinion to the test before very many hours had passed. + +I was pondering over this agreeable prospect, and still inspecting +myself in the glass, when I heard a soft knock at the door. I opened +it, and found Sonia standing outside. She was holding a bag in her +hand--a good-sized Gladstone that had evidently seen some hard work +in its time, and she came into the room and shut the door behind her +before speaking. + +"Well," she said, in her curious, half-sullen way, "are you pleased +you are going to London?" + +"Why, yes," I said; "I'm pleased enough." + +As a matter of fact the word "pleased" seemed rather too simple to sum +up my emotions altogether adequately. + +She placed the bag on the floor and sat down on the bed. Then, leaning +her face against the bottom rail, she stared up at me for a moment +without speaking. + +"What did the doctor tell you?" she asked at last. + +"He told me I could go up to London by the two-five," I said. + +"Is that all?" + +"Dr. McMurtrie," I reminded her, "is never recklessly communicative." +Then I paused. "Still I should like to know the reason for the change +of programme," I added. + +She raised her head and glanced half nervously, half defiantly at the +door. + +"We are going to give up this house tomorrow--that's the reason," she +said, speaking low and rather quickly. "Our work here is finished, and +it will be best for us to leave as soon as possible." + +"I wish," I said regretfully, "that I inspired just a little more +confidence." + +Sonia hesitated. Then she sat up, and with a characteristic gesture of +hers pushed back her hair from her forehead. + +"Come here," she said slowly; "come quite close to me." + +I walked towards her, wondering at the sudden change in her voice. +As I approached she straightened her arms out each side of her, and +half-closing her eyes, raised her face to mine. + +"Kiss me," she said, almost in a whisper; "kiss my lips." + +I could hardly have declined such an invitation even if I had wished +to, but as a matter of fact I felt no such prompting. It was over +three years since I had kissed anybody, and with her eyes half-closed +and her breast softly rising and falling, Sonia looked decidedly +attractive. I bent down till my mouth was almost touching hers. Then +with a little sigh she put her arms round my neck, and slowly and +deliberately our lips met. + +It was at this exceedingly inopportune moment that Savaroff's guttural +voice came grating up the stairs from the hall below. + +"Sonia!" he shouted--"Sonia! Where are you? I want you." + +She quietly disengaged her arms, and drawing back, paused for a moment +with her hands on my shoulders. + +"Now you understand," she said, looking straight into my eyes. "They +are nothing to me, my father and the doctor--I hate them both. It +is you I am thinking of--you only." She leaned forward and swiftly, +almost fiercely again kissed my mouth. "When the time comes," she +whispered-- + +"Sonia! Sonia!" Once more Savaroff's voice rose impatiently from the +hall. + +In a moment Sonia had crossed the room. I had one rapid vision of +her looking back at me--her lips parted her dark eyes shining +passionately, and then the door closed and I was alone. + +I sat down on the bed and took a long breath. There was a time when an +unexpected incident of this sort would merely have left me in a state +of comfortable optimism, but a prolonged residence in Dartmoor had +evidently shaken my nerve. + +I soon collected myself, however, and lighting a cigarette with some +care, got up and walked to the open window. If Sonia was really in +love with me--and there seemed to be rather sound evidence that she +was--I had apparently, succeeded in making a highly useful ally. This +may appear to have been rather a cold-blooded way of regarding the +matter, but to tell the truth the whole thing had taken me so utterly +by surprise that I could scarcely realize as yet that I had been +personally concerned in it. I had kissed her certainly--under +the circumstances I could hardly have done otherwise--but of any +deliberate attempt to make her fond of me I was beautifully and +entirely innocent, it had never struck me that an escaped murderer +with an artificial and rather forbidding countenance was in danger of +inspiring affection, especially in a girl whose manner had always +been slightly suggestive of a merely sullen tolerance. Still, having +succeeded in doing so, I felt no qualms in making the best of the +situation. I needed friends rather badly, especially friends who had +an intimate working acquaintance with the eminent firm of Messrs. +McMurtrie and Savaroff. If the not wholly disagreeable task of +returning Sonia's proffered affection was all that was necessary, I +felt that it would be flying in the face of Providence to decline such +an opportunity. I was not the least in love with her--except by a very +generous interpretation of the word, but I did not think that this +unfortunate fact would seriously disturb my conscience. A life +sentence for what you haven't done is apt to rob one's sense of honour +of some of its more delicate points. + +With a pleasant feeling that things were working for the best, I +got up again; and hoisting the Gladstone bag on to the bed began to +collect the books, the tooth-brush, and the few other articles which +made up my present earthly possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + +That journey of mine to London stands out in my memory with +extraordinary vividness. I don't think I shall ever forget the +smallest and most unimportant detail of it. The truth is, I suppose, +that my whole mind and senses were in an acutely impressionable state +after lying fallow, as they practically had, for over three years. +Besides, the sheer pleasure of being out in the world again seemed to +invest everything with an amazing interest and wonder. + +It was just half-past one when Savaroff brought the car round to the +front door. I was standing in the hall talking to McMurtrie, who had +decided not to accompany us into Plymouth. Of Sonia I had seen nothing +since our unfortunately interrupted interview in the morning. + +"Well," said the doctor, as with a grinding of brakes the car pulled +up outside, "we can look on this as the real beginning of our little +enterprise." + +I picked up my Gladstone. "Let's hope," I said, "that the end will be +equally satisfactory." + +McMurtrie nodded. "I fancy," he said, "that we need have no +apprehensions. Providence is with us, Mr. Lyndon--Providence or some +equally effective power." + +There was a note of irony in his voice which left one in no doubt as +to his own private opinion of our guiding agency. + +I stepped out into the drive carrying my bag. Savaroff, who was +sitting in the driving seat of the car, turned half round towards me. + +"Put it on the floor at the back under the rug," he said. "You will +sit in front with me." + +He spoke in his usual surly fashion, but by this time I had become +accustomed to it. So contenting myself with a genial observation to +the effect that I should be charmed, I tucked the bag away out of +sight and clambered up beside him into the left-hand seat. McMurtrie +stood in the doorway, that mirthless smile of his fixed upon his lips. + +"Good-bye," I said; "we shall meet at Tilbury, I suppose--if not +before?" + +He nodded. "At Tilbury certainly. Au revoir, Mr. Nicholson." + +And with this last reminder of my future identity echoing in my ears, +we slid off down the drive. + +All the way into Plymouth Savaroff maintained a grumpy silence. He was +naturally a taciturn sort of person, and I think, besides that, he had +taken a strong dislike to me from the night we had first seen each +other. If this were so I had certainly not done much to modify it. I +felt that the man was naturally a bully, and it always pleases and +amuses me to be disliked by bullies. Indeed, if I had had no other +reason for responding to Sonia's proffered affection I should have +done so just because Savaroff was her father. + +My companion's sulks, however, in no way interfered with my enjoyment +of the drive. It was a perfect day on which to regain one's liberty. +The sun shone down from a blue sky flecked here and there with fleecy +white clouds, and on each side of the road the hedges and trees were +just beginning to break into an almost shrill green. The very air +seemed to be filled with a delicious sense of freedom and adventure. + +As we got nearer to Plymouth I found a fresh source of interest and +pleasure in the people that we passed walking along the road or +driving in traps and cars. After my long surfeit of warders and +convicts the mere sight of ordinarily-dressed human beings laughing +and talking filled me with the most intense satisfaction. On several +occasions I had a feeling that I should like to jump out of the car +and join some group of cheerful-looking strangers who turned to watch +us flash past. This feeling became doubly intense when we actually +entered Plymouth, where the streets seemed to be almost inconveniently +crowded with an extraordinary number of attractive-looking girls. + +I was afforded no opportunity, however, for indulging in any such +pleasant interlude. We drove straight through the town at a rapid +pace, avoiding the main thoroughfares as much as possible, and not +slackening until we pulled up outside Millbay station. We left the car +in charge of a tired-looking loafer who was standing in the gutter, +and taking out my bag, I followed Savaroff into the booking office. + +"You had better wait there," he muttered, pointing to the corner. "I +will get the ticket." + +I followed his suggestion, and while he took his place in the small +queue in front of the window I amused myself watching my fellow +passengers hurrying up and down the platform. They looked peaceful +enough, but I couldn't help picturing what a splendid disturbance +there would be if it suddenly came out that Neil Lyndon was somewhere +on the premises. The last time I had been in this station was on my +way up to Princetown two and a half years before. + +At last Savaroff emerged from the throng with my ticket in his hand. + +"I have taken you a first-class," he said rather grudgingly. "You will +probably have the carriage to yourself. It is better so." + +I nodded. "I shouldn't like to infect any of these good people with +homicidal mania," I said cheerfully. + +He looked at me rather suspiciously--I think he always had a sort of +vague feeling that I was laughing at him--and then without further +remark led the way out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had given me a sovereign and some loose silver for immediate +expenses, and I stopped at the bookstall to buy myself some papers. I +selected a _Mail_, a _Sportsman, Punch_, and the _Saturday Review_. I +lingered over the business because it seemed to annoy Savaroff: indeed +it was not until he had twice jogged my elbow that I made my final +selection. Then, grasping my bag, I marched up the platform behind +him, coming to a halt outside an empty first-class carriage. + +"This will do," he said, and finding no sound reason for contradicting +him I stepped in and put my bag upon the rack. + +"Good-bye, Savaroff," I said cheerfully. "I shall have the pleasure of +seeing you too at Tilbury, I suppose?" + +He closed the door, and thrust his head in through the open window. + +"You will," he said in his guttural voice; "and let me give you a +little word of advice, my friend. We have treated you well--eh, but if +you think you can in any way break your agreement with us you make a +very bad mistake." + +I took out my cigarette case. "My dear Savaroff," I said coldly, "why +on earth should I want to break my agreement with you? It is the only +possible chance I have of a new start." + +He looked at me closely, and then nodded his head. "It is well. So +long as you remember we are not people to be played with, no harm will +come to you." + +He let this off with such a dramatic air that I very nearly burst out +laughing. + +"I shan't forget it," I said gravely. "I've got a very good memory." + +There was a shrill whistle from the engine, followed by a warning +shout of "Stand back there, please; stand back, sir!" I had a last +glimpse of Savaroff's unpleasant face, as he hurriedly withdrew his +head, and then with a slight jerk the train began to move slowly out +of the station. + +I didn't open my papers at once. For some time I just sat where I was +in the corner and stared out contentedly over the passing landscape. +There is nothing like prison to broaden one's ideas about pleasure. Up +till the time of my trial I had never looked on a railway journey as a +particularly fascinating experience; now it seemed to me to be +simply chock-full of delightful sensations. The very names of the +stations--Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth--filled me with a sort of +curious pleasure: they were part of the world that I had once belonged +to--the gay, free, jolly world of work and laughter that I had thought +lost to me for ever. I felt so absurdly contented that for a little +while I almost forgot about George. + +The only stop we made was at Exeter. There were not many people on the +platform, and I had just decided that I was not going to be disturbed, +when suddenly a fussy-looking little old gentleman emerged from the +booking office, followed by a porter carrying his bag. They came +straight for my carriage. + +The old gentleman reached it first, and puckering up his face, peered +in at me through the window. Apparently the inspection was a success. + +"This will do," he observed. "Leave my bag on the seat, and go and see +that my portmanteau is safely in the van. Then if you come back here I +will give you threepence for your trouble." + +Dazzled by the prospect, the porter hurried off on his errand, and +with a little grunt the old gentleman began to hoist himself in +through the door. I put out my hand to assist him. + +"Thank you, sir, thank you," he remarked breathlessly. "I am extremely +obliged to you, sir." + +Then, gathering up his bag, he shuffled along the carriage, and +settled himself down in the opposite corner. + +I was quite pleased with the prospect of a fellow passenger, +unexciting as this particular one promised to be. I have either read +or heard it stated that when people first come out of prison they feel +so shy and so lost that their chief object is to avoid any sort of +society at all. I can only say that in my case this was certainly not +true. I wanted to talk to every one: I felt as if whole volumes +of conversation had been accumulating inside me during the long +speechless months of my imprisonment. + +It was the old gentleman, however, who first broke our silence. +Lowering his copy of the _Times_, he looked up at me over the top of +his gold-rimmed spectacles. + +"I wonder, sir," he said, "whether you would object to having that +window closed; I am extremely susceptible to draughts." + +"Why, of course not," I replied cheerfully, and suiting my action to +my words I jerked up the sash. + +This prompt attention to his wishes evidently pleased him; for he +thanked me civilly, and then, after a short pause, added some becoming +reflection on the subject of the English spring. + +It was not exactly an inspiring opening, but I made the most of it. +Without appearing intrusive I managed to keep the conversation going, +and in a few minutes we were in the middle of a brisk meteorological +discussion of the most approved pattern. + +"I daresay you find these sudden changes especially trying," commented +my companion. Then, with a sort of apology in his voice, he added: +"One can hardly help seeing that you have been accustomed to a warmer +climate." + +I smiled. "I have been out of England," I said, "for some time"; and +if this was not true in the letter, I don't think that even George +Washington could have found much fault with it in the spirit. + +"Indeed, sir, indeed," said the old gentleman. "I envy you, sir. I +only wish my own duties permitted me to winter entirely abroad." + +"It has its advantages," I admitted, "but in some ways I am quite +pleased to be back again." + +My companion nodded his head. "For one thing," he said, "one gets +terribly behindhand with English news. I find that even the best of +the foreign papers are painfully ill-informed." + +A sudden mischievous thought came into my head. "I have hardly seen a +paper of any kind for a fortnight!" I said. "Is there any particular +news? The last interesting thing I saw was about that young fellow's +escape from Dartmoor--that young inventor--what was his name?--who was +in for murder." + +The old gentleman looked up sharply. "Ah! Lyndon," he said, "Neil +Lyndon you mean. He is still at large." + +"From what I read of the case," I went on carelessly, "it seems rather +difficult to help sympathizing with him--to a certain extent. The +man he murdered doesn't appear to have been any great loss to the +community." + +My companion opened his mouth as if to speak, and then hesitated. +"Well, as a matter of fact I am scarcely in a position to discuss the +subject," he said courteously. "Perhaps, sir, you are unaware who I +am?" + +He asked the question with a slight touch of self-conscious dignity, +which showed me that in his own opinion at all events he was a person +of considerable importance. I looked at him again more carefully. +There seemed to be something familiar about his face, but beyond that +I was utterly at sea. + +"The fact is, I have been so much abroad," I began apologetically-- + +He cut me short by producing a little silver case from his pocket and +handing me one of his cards. + +"Permit me, sir," he said indulgently. + +I took it and read the following inscription: + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. +_The Reform Club_. + +I remembered him at once. He was a fairly well known politician--an +old-fashioned member of the Liberal Party, with whose name I had been +more or less acquainted all my life. I had never actually met him in +the old days, but I had seen one or two photographs and caricatures +of him, and this no doubt explained my vague recollection of his +features. + +For just a moment I remained silent, struggling against a strong +impulse to laugh. There was something delightfully humorous in the +thought of my sitting in a first-class carriage exchanging cheerful +confidences with a distinguished politician, while Scotland Yard and +the Home Office were racking their brains over my disappearance. It +seemed such a pity I couldn't hand him back a card of my own just for +the fun of watching his face while he read it. + +MR. NEIL LYNDON +_Late of His Majesty's Prison_, +_Princetown_. + +Collecting myself with an effort, I covered my apparent confusion with +a slight bow. + +"It was very stupid of me not to have recognized you from your +pictures," I said. + +This compliment evidently pleased the old boy, for he beamed at me in +the most gracious fashion. + +"You see now, sir," he said, "why it would be quite impossible for me +to discuss the matter in question." + +I bowed again. I didn't see in the least, but he spoke as if the point +was so obvious that I thought it better to let the subject drop. I +could only imagine that he must be holding some official position, the +importance of which he probably overrated. + +We drifted off into the discussion of one or two other topics; +settling down eventually to our respective newspapers. I can't say I +followed mine with any keen attention. My brain was too much occupied +with my own affairs to allow me to take in very much of what I read. I +just noticed that we were engaged in a rather heated discussion +with Germany over the future of Servia, and that a well-meaning but +short-sighted Anarchist had made an unsuccessful effort to shoot the +President of the American Steel Trust. + +Of my own affairs I could find no mention, beyond a brief statement to +the effect that I was still at liberty. There was not even the usual +letter from somebody claiming to have discovered my hiding-place, and +for the first time since my escape I began to feel a little neglected. +It was evident that as a news topic I was losing something of my first +freshness. + +The last bit of the journey from Maidenhead onwards seemed to take us +an unconscionably long time. A kind of fierce restlessness had begun +to get hold of me as we drew nearer to London, and I watched the +fields and houses flying past with an impatience I could hardly +control. + +We rushed through Hanwell and Acton, and then suddenly the huge bulk +of Wormwood Scrubbs Prison loomed up in the growing dusk away to +the right of the line. It was there that I had served my +"separates"--those first ghastly six months of solitary confinement +which make even Princetown or Portland a welcome and agreeable change. + +At the sight of that poisonous place all the old bitterness welled up +in me afresh. For a moment even my freedom seemed to have lost its +sweetness, and I sat there with my hands clenched and black resentment +in my heart, staring out of those grim unlovely walls. It was lucky +for George that he was not with me in the carriage just then, for +I think I should have wrung his neck without troubling about any +explanations. + +I was awakened from these pleasant reflections by a sudden blare of +light and noise on each side of the train. I sat up abruptly, with +a sort of guilty feeling that I had been on the verge of betraying +myself, and letting down the window, found that we were steaming +slowly into Paddington Station. In the farther corner of the carriage +my distinguished friend Sir George Frinton was beginning to collect +his belongings. + +I just had time to pull myself together when the train stopped, and +out of the waiting line of porters a man stepped forward and flung +open the carriage door. He was about to possess himself of my fellow +passenger's bag when the latter waved him aside. + +"You can attend to this gentleman," he said. "My own servant is +somewhere on the platform." Then turning to me, he added courteously: +"I wish you good-day, sir. I am pleased to have made your +acquaintance. I trust that we shall have the mutual pleasure of +meeting again." + +I shook hands with him gravely. "I hope we shall," I replied. "It will +be a distinction that I shall vastly appreciate." + +And of all unconscious prophecies that were ever launched, I fancy +this one was about the most accurate. + +Preceded by the porter carrying my bag, I crossed the platform and +stepped into a waiting taxi. + +"Where to, sir?" inquired the man. + +I had a sudden wild impulse to say: "Drive me to George," but I +checked it just in time. + +"You had better drive me slowly along Oxford Street," I said. "I want +to stop at one or two shops." + +The man started the engine and, climbing back into his seat, set off +with a jerk up the slope. I lay back in the corner, and took in a +long, deep, exulting breath. I was in London--in London at last--and +if those words don't convey to you the kind of savage satisfaction +that filled my soul you must be as deficient in imagination as a +prison governor. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + +My shopping took me quite a little while. There were a lot of things +I wanted to get, and I saw no reason for hurrying--especially as +McMurtrie was paying for the taxi. I stopped at Selfridge's and laid +in a small but nicely chosen supply of shirts, socks, collars, and +other undergarments, and then, drifting slowly on, picked up at +intervals some cigars, a couple of pairs of boots, and a presentable +Homburg hat. + +The question of a suit of clothes was the only problem that offered +any real difficulties. Apart from the fact that Savaroff's suit was by +no means in its first youth, I had a strong objection to wearing his +infernal things a moment longer than I could help. I was determined to +have a decently cut suit as soon as possible, but I knew that it would +be a week at least before any West End tailor would finish the job. In +the meantime I wanted something to go on with, and in my extremity I +suddenly remembered a place in Wardour Street where four or five years +before I had once hired a costume for a Covent Garden ball. + +I told the man to drive me there, and much to my relief found the +shop still in existence. There was no difficulty about getting what I +wanted. The proprietor had a large selection of what he called "West +End Misfits," amongst which were several tweeds and blue serge suits +big enough even for my somewhat unreasonable proportions. I chose the +two that fitted me best, and then bought a second-hand suit-case to +pack them away in. + +I had spent about fifteen pounds, which seemed to me as much as a +fifty-pound capitalist had any right to squander on necessities. I +therefore returned to the taxi and, arranging my parcels on the +front seat, instructed the man to drive me down to the address that +McMurtrie had given me. + +Pimlico was a part of London that I had not patronized extensively in +the days of my freedom, and I was rather in the dark about the precise +situation of Edith Terrace. The taxi-man, however, seemed to suffer +under no such handicap. He drove me straight to Victoria, and then, +taking the road to the left of the station, turned off into a +neighbourhood of dreary-looking streets and squares, all bearing a +dismal aspect of having seen better days. + +Edith Terrace was, if anything, slightly more depressing than the +rest. It consisted of a double row of gaunt, untidy houses, from which +most of the original stucco had long since peeled away. Quiet enough +it certainly was, for along its whole length we passed only one man, +who was standing under a street lamp, lighting a cigarette. He looked +up as we went by, and for just one instant I had a clear view of his +face. Except for a scar on the cheek he was curiously like one of the +warders at Princetown, and for that reason I suppose this otherwise +trifling incident fixed itself in my mind. It is funny on what queer +chances one's fate sometimes hangs. + +We pulled up at Number 3 and, mounting some not very recently cleaned +steps, I gave a brisk tug at a dilapidated bell-handle. After a minute +I heard the sound of shuffling footsteps; then the door opened and a +funny-looking little old woman stood blinking and peering at me from +the threshold. + +"How do you do?" I said cheerfully. "Are you Mrs. Oldbury?" + +She gave a kind of spasmodic jerk, that may have been intended for a +curtsey. + +"Yes, sir," she said. "I'm Mrs. Oldbury; and you'd be the gentleman +I'm expectin'--Dr. McMurtrie's gentleman?" + +This seemed an accurate if not altogether flattering description of +me, so I nodded my head. + +"That's right," I said. "I'm Mr. Nicholson." Then, as the heavily +laden taxi-man staggered up the steps, I added: "And these are my +belongings." + +With another bob she turned round, and leading the way into the house +opened a door on the right-hand side of the passage. + +"This will be your sitting-room, sir," she said, turning up the gas. +"It's a nice hairy room, and I give it a proper cleaning out this +morning." + +I looked round, and saw that I was in a typical "ground-floor front," +with the usual cheap lace curtains, hideous wall paper, and slightly +stuffy smell. At the back of the room, away from the window, were two +folding doors. + +My landlady shuffled across and pushed one of them open. "And this +is the bedroom, sir. It's what you might call 'andy--and quiet too. +You'll find that a nice comfortable bed, sir. It's the one my late +'usband died in." + +"It sounds restful," I said. Then walking to the doorway I paid off +the taxi-man, who had deposited his numerous burdens and was waiting +patiently for his fare. + +As soon as he had gone, Mrs. Oldbury, who had meanwhile occupied +herself in pulling down the blinds and drawing the curtains, inquired +whether I should like anything to eat. + +"I don't think I'll trouble you," I said. "I have got to go out in any +case." + +"Oh, it's no trouble, sir--no trouble at all. I can put you on a nice +little bit o' steak as easy as anything if you 'appen to fancy it." + +I shook my head. A few weeks ago "a nice little bit o' steak" would +have seemed like Heaven to me, but since then I had become more +luxurious. I was determined that my first dinner in London should be +worthy of the occasion. Besides, I had other business to attend to. + +"No, thanks," I said firmly. "I don't want anything except some hot +water and a latchkey, if you have such a thing to spare. I don't know +what time you go to bed here, but I may be a little late getting +back." + +She fumbled in her pocket and produced a purse, from which she +extricated the required article. + +"I'm not gen'rally in bed--not much before midnight, sir," she said. +"If you should be later per'aps you'd be kind enough to turn out the +gas in the 'all. I'll send you up some 'ot water by the girl." + +She went off, closing the door behind her; and picking up my parcels +and bags I carried them into the bedroom and started to unpack. I +decided that the blue suit was most in keeping with my mood, so I laid +this out on the bed together with a complete change of underclothes. I +was eyeing the latter with some satisfaction, when there came a knock +at the door, and in answer to my summons the "girl" entered with the +hot water. She was the typical lodging-house drudge, a poor little +object of about sixteen, with a dirty face and her hair twisted up in +a knot at the back of her head. + +"If yer please, sir," she said, with a sniff, "Mrs. Oldbury wants ter +know if yer'll be likin' a barf in the mornin'." + +"You can tell Mrs. Oldbury that the answer is yes," I said gravely. +Then I paused. "What's your name?" I asked. + +She sniffed again, and looked at me with round, wondering eyes. +"Gertie, sir. Gertie 'Uggins." + +I felt in my pocket and found a couple of half-crowns. + +"Take these, Gertie," I said, "and go and have a damned good dinner +the first chance you get." + +She clasped the money in her grubby little hand. + +"Thank you, sir," she murmured awkwardly. + +"You needn't thank me, Gertie," I said; "it was a purely selfish +action. There are some emotions which have to be shared before they +can be properly appreciated. My dinner tonight happens to be one of +them." + +She shifted from one leg to the other. "Yes, sir," she said. Then with +a little giggle she turned and scuttled out of the room. + +I washed and dressed myself slowly, revelling in the sensation of +being once more in clean garments of my own. I was determined not to +spoil my evening by allowing any bitter or unpleasant thoughts to +disturb me until I had dined; after that, I reflected, it would be +quite time enough to map out my dealings with George. + +Lighting a cigarette I left the house, and set off at a leisurely pace +along Edith Terrace. It was my intention to walk to Victoria, and then +take a taxi from there to whatever restaurant I decided to dine at. +The latter question was not a point to be determined lightly, and as I +strolled along I debated pleasantly in my mind the attractions of two +or three of my old haunts. + +By the time I reached Victoria I had decided in favour of +Gaultier's--if Gaultier's was still in existence. It was a place that, +in my time at all events, had been chiefly frequented by artists and +foreigners, but the food, of its kind, was as good there as anywhere +in London. + +I beckoned to a passing taxi, and waving his arm in response the +driver swerved across the street and drew up at the kerb. + +"Where to, guv'nor?" he inquired. + +I gave him the direction, and then turned to open the door. As I did +so I noticed a man standing on the pavement close beside me looking +vacantly across the street. For an instant I wondered where I had seen +him before; then quite suddenly I remembered. He was the man we +had passed in Edith Terrace, lighting a cigarette under the street +lamp--the man who had reminded me of one of the prison warders. I knew +I was not mistaken because I could see the scar on his face. + +With a sudden vague sense of uneasiness I got into the taxi and shut +the door. The gentleman on the pavement paid no attention to me at +all. He continued to stand there staring aimlessly at the traffic, +until we had jerked forward and turned off round the corner of +Victoria Street. + +All the same the incident had left a kind of uncomfortable feeling +behind it. I suppose an escaped convict is naturally inclined to be +suspicious, and somehow or other I couldn't shake off the impression +that I was being watched and followed. If so, I had not much doubt +whom I was indebted to for the honour. It had never seemed to me +likely that McMurtrie would leave me entirely to my own sweet devices +while I was in London--not, at all events, until he had satisfied +himself that I had been speaking the truth about my intentions. + +Still, even if my suspicions were right, there seemed no reason for +being seriously worried. The gentleman on the pavement might have +overheard me give the address to the driver, but that after all was +exactly what I should have liked him to hear. Dinner at Gaultier's +sounded a most natural preliminary to an evening's dissipation, and +unless I was being actually followed to the restaurant I had nothing +to fear. It was quite possible that my friend with the scar was only +anxious to discover whether I was really setting out for the West End. + +All the same I determined to be devilish careful about my future +movements. If McMurtrie wanted a report he should have it, but I would +take particular pains to see that it contained nothing which would in +any way disturb his belief in me. + +We pulled up at Gaultier's, and I saw with a sort of sentimental +pleasure that, outside at all events, it had not altered in the least +during my three years' exile. There was the same discreet-looking +little window, the same big electric light over the door, and, unless +I was much mistaken, the same uniformed porter standing on the mat. + +When I entered I found M. Gaultier himself, as fat and bland as ever, +presiding over the scene. He came forward, bowing low after his usual +custom, and motioned me towards a vacant table in the corner. I felt +an absurd inclination to slap him on the back and ask him how he had +been getting on in my absence. + +It seemed highly improbable that he would remember my voice, but, as +I had no intention of running any unnecessary risks, I was careful to +alter it a little when I spoke to him. + +"Good-evening," I began; "are you M. Gaultier?" + +He bowed and beamed. + +"Well, M. Gaultier," I said, "I want a good dinner--a quite +exceptionally good dinner. I have been waiting for it for some time." + +He regarded me keenly, with a mixture of sympathy and professional +interest. + +"Monsieur is hungry?" he inquired. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "is both hungry and greedy. You have full scope +for your art." + +He straightened himself, and for an inspired moment gazed at the +ceiling. Then he slapped his forehead. + +"Monsieur," he said, "with your permission I go to consult the chef." + +"Go," I replied. "And Heaven attend your council." + +He hurried off, and I beckoned to the head waiter. + +"Fetch me," I said, "a Virginian cigarette and a sherry and bitters." + +A true gourmet would probably shudder at such a first course, but +it must be remembered that for three years my taste had had no +opportunity of becoming over-trained. Besides, in matters of this sort +I always act on the principle that it's better to enjoy oneself than +to be artistically correct. + +Lying back in my chair I looked out over the little restaurant with a +sensation of beautiful complacency. The soft rose-shaded lamps threw a +warm glamour over everything, and through the delicate blue spirals of +my cigarette I could just see the laughing face of a charmingly pretty +girl who was dining with an elderly man at the opposite table. I +glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was close on eight--the +hour when the cell lights at Princetown are turned out, and another +dragging night of horror and darkness begins. Slowly and luxuriously I +sipped my sherry and bitters. + +I was aroused from my reverie by the approach of M. Gaultier, who +carried a menu in his hand. + +He handed me the card with another bow, and then stepped back as +though to watch the result. This was the dinner: + +Clear soup. + +Grilled salmon. + +Lamb. New potatoes. + +Woodcock. + +Pêche Melba. + +Marrow on Toast. + +I read it through, enjoying each separate word, and then, with a faint +sigh, handed it back to him. + +"Heaven," I said, "was undoubtedly at the conference." + +M. Gaultier picked up a wine list from the table. "And what will +Monsieur drink?" he inquired reverently. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "has perfect faith in your judgment. He will +drink everything you choose to give him." + +Half an hour later I again lay back in my chair, and lapped in a +superb contentment gently murmured to myself those two delightful +lines of Sydney Smith's-- + +"Serenely calm, the epicure may say: +Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today." + +I sipped my Turkish coffee, lighted the fragrant Cabana which M. +Gaultier had selected for me, and debated cheerfully with myself what +I should do next. I had had so many unpleasant evenings since my trial +that I was determined that this one at all events should be a complete +success. + +My first impulse of course was to visit George. There was something +very engaging in the thought of being ushered into his presence by a +respectable butler, and making my excuses for having called at such +an unreasonable hour. I pictured to myself how he would look as +I gradually dropped my assumed voice, and very slowly the almost +incredible truth began to dawn on him. + +So charming was the idea that it was only with some reluctance I was +able to abandon it. I didn't want to waste George: he had to last me +at least three days, and I felt that if I went down there now, warmed +and exhilarated with wine and food, I should be almost certain to give +myself away. I had no intention of doing that until the last possible +moment. I still had a sort of faint irrational hope that by watching +George without betraying my identity, I might discover something which +would throw a little light on his behaviour to me. + +But if I didn't go to Cheyne Walk, what was I to do? I put the +question to myself as I slowly lifted the glass of old brandy which +the waiter had set down in front of me, and before the fine spirit +touched my lips the answer had flashed into my mind. I would go and +see Tommy! + +It was the perfect solution of the difficulty; and as I put down the +glass again I laughed softly in sheer happiness. The prospect of +interviewing Tommy without his recognizing me was only a degree less +attractive than the thought of a similar experience with George. I +knew that the mere sight of his velvet coat and his dear old burly +carcase would fill me with the most delightful emotions--emotions +which now, amongst all my one-time friends, he and perhaps poor little +Joyce would alone have the power to provoke. The others seemed to me +as dead as the past to which they belonged. + +One thing I was determined on, and that was that I wouldn't give away +my secret. It would be difficult not to, for there were naturally a +hundred things I wanted to say to Tommy; but, however much I might be +tempted, I was resolved to play the game. It was not the thought of my +promise to McMurtrie (that sat very easily on my conscience), but the +possibility of getting Tommy himself into trouble. I knew that for me +he would run any risk in the world with the utmost cheerfulness, but +I had no intention of letting him do it. He had done more than enough +for me at the time of the trial. + +I called for the waiter and paid my bill. It seemed absurdly cheap +for such a delightful evening, and I said as much to M. Gaultier, who +insisted on accompanying me to the door. He received the remark with a +protesting gesture of his hands. + +"Most people," he said, "feed. Monsieur eats. To such we do not +wish to overcharge. It is a pleasure to provide a dinner which is +appreciated." + +The porter outside volunteered to call me a taxi, and while he was +engaged in that operation I had a sharp look up and down the street +to see whether my friend with the scar was hanging about anywhere. I +could discern no sign of him, but all the same, when the taxi came up, +I took the precaution of directing the man in a fairly audible voice +to drive me to the Pavilion, in Piccadilly Circus. It was not until +we were within a few yards of that instructive institution that I +whistled through the tube and told him to take me on to Chelsea. + +I knew Tommy was in the same studio, for Joyce had told me so in her +second letter. It was one of a fairly new block of four or five at the +bottom of Beaufort Street, about half a mile along the embankment +from George's house. All the way down I was debating with myself what +excuse I could offer for calling at such a late hour, and finally +I decided that the best thing would be to pretend that I was a +travelling American artist who had seen and admired some of Tommy's +work. Under such circumstances it would be difficult for the latter +not to ask me in for a short chat. + +I stopped the cab in the King's Road, and getting out, had another +good look round to see that I was not being followed. Satisfied on +this point, I lighted a second cigar and started off down Beaufort +Street. + +The stretch of embankment at the bottom seemed to have altered very +little since I had last seen it. One or two of the older houses had +been done up, but Florence Court, the block of studios in which Tommy +lived, was exactly as I remembered it. The front door was open, after +the usual casual fashion that prevails in Chelsea, and I walked into +the square stone hall, which was lighted by a flickering gas jet. + +There was a board on the right, containing the addresses of the +various tenants. Opposite No. 3 I saw the name of Mr. T.G. Morrison, +and with a slight quickening of the pulse I advanced along the +corridor to Tommy's door. + +As I reached it I saw that there was a card tied to the knocker. I +knew that this was a favourite trick of Tommy's when he was away, and +with a sharp sense of disappointment I bent down to read what was +written on it. With some difficulty, for the light was damnable, I +made out the following words, roughly scribbled in pencil: + +"Out of Town. Please leave any telegrams or urgent letters at No. 4. +T.M." + +I dropped the card and stood wondering what to do. If Tommy had some +pal living next door, as seemed probable from his notice, the latter +would most likely know what time he was expected to return. For a +moment I hesitated: then retracing my steps, I walked back into the +hall and glanced at the board to see who might be the tenant of No. 4. + +To my surprise I found it was a woman--a "Miss Vivien." + +At first I thought I must be wrong, for women had always been the one +agreeable feature of life for which Tommy had no manner of use. There +it was, however, as plain as a pikestaff, and with a feeling of lively +interest I turned back towards the flat. Whoever Miss Vivien might +be, I was determined to have a look at her. I felt that the girl whom +Tommy would leave in charge of his more important correspondence must +be distinctly worth looking at. + +I rang the bell, and after a short wait the door was opened by a +little maid about the size and age of Gertie 'Uggins, dressed in a cap +and a print frock. + +"Is Miss Vivien in?" I asked boldly. + +She shook her head. "Miss Vivien's out. 'Ave you got an appointment?" + +"No," I said. "I only want to know where Mr. Morrison is, and when +he's coming back. There's a notice on his door asking that any letters +or telegrams should be left here, so I thought Miss Vivien might +know." + +She looked me up and down, with a faint air of suspicion. + +"'E's away in 'is boat," she said shortly. "'E won't be back not till +Thursday." + +So Tommy still kept up his sailing! This at least was news, and news +which had a rather special interest for me. I wondered whether the +"boat" was the same little seven-tonner, the _Betty_, in which we +had spent so many cheerful hours together off the Crouch and the +Blackwater. + +"Thanks," I said; and then after a moment's pause I added, "I suppose +if I addressed a letter here it would be forwarded?" + +"I s'pose so," she admitted a little grudgingly. + +There seemed to be nothing more to say, so bidding the damsel +good-night, I walked off down the passage and out on to the +embankment. If I had drawn a blank as far as seeing Tommy was +concerned, my evening had not been altogether fruitless. I felt vastly +curious as to who Miss Vivien might be. Somehow or other I couldn't +picture Tommy with a woman in his life. In the old days, partly from +shyness and partly, I think, because they honestly bored him, he had +always avoided girls with a determination that at times bordered +on rudeness. And yet, unless all the signs were misleading, it was +evident that he and his next-door neighbour were on fairly intimate +terms. The most probable explanation seemed to me that she was some +elderly lady artist who darned his socks for him, and shed tears +in secret over the state of his wardrobe. There was a magnificent +uncouthness about Tommy which would appeal irresistibly to a certain +type of motherly woman. + +I strolled up the embankment in the direction of Chelsea Bridge, +smiling to myself over the idea. Whether it was right or not, it +presented such a pleasing picture that I had walked several hundred +yards before I quite woke up to my surroundings. Then with a sudden +start I realized that I was quite close to George's house. + +It was a big red-brick affair, standing back from the embankment +facing the river. As I came opposite I could see that there was a +light on the first floor, in the room which I knew George used as a +study. I stopped for a minute, leaning back against the low wall and +staring up at the window. + +I wondered what my cousin was doing. Perhaps he was sitting there, +looking through the evening paper in the vain hope of finding news +of my capture. I could almost see the lines on his forehead and the +nervous, jerky way in which he would be biting his fingers--a trick of +his that had always annoyed me intensely. He would bite harder than +ever if he only knew that I was standing outside in the darkness not +more than twenty yards away from him! + +I waited for a little while in the hope that he might come to the +window, but this luxury was denied me. + +"Good-night, George," I said softly; "we'll meet in the morning," and +then, with a last affectionate look at the lighted blind, I continued +my way along the embankment. + +I was not sure which turning I ought to take for Edith Terrace, but an +obliging policeman who was on duty outside the Tate Gallery put me on +the right track. There was something delicately pleasing to my sense +of humour in appealing to a constable, and altogether it was in a +most contented frame of mind that I inserted my latch-key into Mrs. +Oldbury's door and let myself into the house. My first day's holiday +seemed to me to have been quite a success. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + +I woke next morning at seven, or perhaps I should say I was awakened +by Gertie 'Uggins, who to judge from the noise was apparently engaged +in wrecking the sitting-room. I looked at my watch, and then halloed +to her through the door. The tumult ceased, and a head, elaborately +festooned with curl-papers, was inserted into the room. + +"Yer want yer barf?" it asked. + +"I do, Gertrude," I said; "and after that I want my breakfast. I have +a lot to do today." + +The head withdrew itself, tittering; and a moment later I heard a +shrill voice calling down the kitchen stairs. + +"Grahnd floor wants 'is 'ot water quick." + +Within about five minutes the ground floor's wish was gratified, Mrs. +Oldbury herself arriving with a large steaming can which she placed +inside a hip bath. She asked me in a mournful voice whether I thought +I could eat some eggs and bacon, and having received a favourable +reply left me to my toilet. + +It was about a quarter to eight when I sat down to breakfast. +Considering that for three years I had been obliged to rise +at painfully unseasonable hours, this may appear to have been +unnecessarily energetic, but as a matter of fact I was not acting +without good reasons. + +To start with, it was my purpose to spend a pleasant morning with +George. I wanted to be outside his house so that I could see his face +when he came out. I felt sure that as long as I was at liberty he +would be looking worried and depressed, and I had no wish to postpone +my enjoyment of such a congenial spectacle. + +Then, provided that I could restrain myself from breaking his head, I +intended to follow him to Victoria Street or wherever else he happened +to go. Beyond this I had no plan at the moment, but at the back of my +mind there was a curious irrational feeling that sooner or later I +should stumble across some explanation of the mystery of Marks' death. + +I knew that as a rule George didn't start for business until +nine-thirty or ten. I was anxious to get out of the house as soon as +possible, however, just in case I was correct in my idea that the +gentleman with the scar was keeping a kindly eye on my movements. In +that case I thought that by departing before half-past eight I should +be almost certain to forestall him. If, as I believed, he was under +the impression that I had been indulging in a night's dissipation, it +was unlikely that he would credit me with sufficient energy to get +up before ten or eleven. As to waiting for George--well, I had no +objection to that. It was a nice sunny morning, and I could buy a +paper and sit on one of the embankment seats. + +This, indeed, was exactly what I did. I slipped out of the house as +unobtrusively as possible, and, stopping at a little newspaper and +tobacco shop round the first corner, invested in a _Telegraph_ and a +_Sportsman_. Then, after making sure that I was not being followed, I +set off for the embankment. + +Some of the seats were already occupied by gentlemen and ladies who +had apparently been using them in preference to an hotel, but as luck +would have it the one opposite George's house was empty. I seated +myself in the corner, and after cutting and lighting a cigar with the +care that such an excellent brand deserved, I prepared to beguile my +wait by reading the _D.T_. + +Nothing particularly thrilling seemed to have been happening in the +world, but I can't say I felt any sense of disappointment. Just at +present my own life afforded me all the excitement my system needed. +The only important item of news that I could find was a rather +offensive speech by the German Chancellor with reference to the +dispute with England. It was a surprising utterance for a statesman in +his position, and the _Telegraph_ had improved the occasion by writing +one of its longest and stateliest leaders on provocative politicians. + +I had just finished reading this effort when George appeared. He came +out of the front door and down the steps of his house, dressed as +usual in a well-fitting frock-coat and tall hat, such as he had always +affected in the old days. I stared at him with a sort of hungry +satisfaction. He looked pale and harassed, and he carried his head +bent forward like a man whose mind was unpleasantly preoccupied. It +warmed my heart to see him. + +When he had gone some little way along the pavement, I got up from my +seat and began to keep pace with him on the other side of the roadway. +It was easy work, for he walked slowly, and stared at the ground as +though fully taken up with his own thoughts. I was not the least +frightened of his recognizing me, but as a matter of fact he never +even looked across in my direction. + +We marched along in this fashion as far as Vauxhall Bridge Road, where +George turned up to the left in the direction of Victoria Street. +I walked on a bit, so as to allow him to get about a hundred yards +ahead, and then coming back followed in his track. As he drew nearer +to the station I began to close up the gap, and all the way along +Victoria Street I was only about ten yards behind him. It was +tantalizing work, for he was just the right distance for a running +kick. + +The offices of our firm, which I had originally chosen myself, are on +the first floor, close to the Army and Navy Stores. George turned in +at the doorway and went straight up, and for a moment I stood in the +entrance, contemplating the big brass plate with "Lyndon and Marwood" +on it, and wondering what to do next. It seemed odd to think of all +that had happened since I had last climbed those stairs. + +Exactly across the road was a restaurant. It was new since my time, +but I could see that there was a table in the window on the first +floor, which must command a fair view of the houses opposite, so I +determined to adopt it as a temporary scouting ground. I walked over +and pushed open the swinging doors. Inside was a sleepy-looking waiter +in his shirt-sleeves engaged in the leisurely pursuit of rolling up +napkins. + +"Good-morning," I said; "can I have some coffee and something to eat +upstairs?" + +He regarded me for a moment with a rather startled air, and then +pulled himself together. + +"Yes, saire. Too early for lunch, saire. 'Am-an'-eggs, saire?" + +I nodded. I had had eggs and bacon for breakfast, and on the excellent +principle of not mixing one's drinks, 'am an'-eggs sounded a most +happy suggestion. + +"Very well," I said; "and I wonder if you could let me have such a +thing as a sheet of paper, and a pen and ink? I want to write a letter +afterwards." + +This, I regret to say, was not strictly true, but it seemed to offer +an ingenious excuse for occupying the table for some time without +arousing too much curiosity. + +The waiter expressed himself as being in a position to gratify me, and +leaving him hastily donning his coat I marched up the staircase to the +room above. + +When I sat down at the table in the window I found that my +expectations were quite correct. I was looking right across into the +main room of our offices, and I could see a couple of clerks working +away at their desks quite clearly enough to distinguish their faces. +They were both strangers to me, but I was not surprised at this. I +always thought that George had probably sacked most of the old staff, +if they had not given him notice on their own account. Of my cousin +himself I could see nothing. He was doubtless either in his own +sanctum, or in the big inner room where I used to work with Watson, my +assistant. + +It was of course impossible to eat much of the generous dish of +'am-an'-eggs which the waiter brought me up, but I dallied over it as +long as possible, and managed to swallow a cup of rather indifferent +coffee. Then I smoked another cigar, and when the things were cleared +away and the writing materials had arrived, I made a pretence of +beginning my letter. + +All this time, of course, I was keeping a strict watch across the +street. Nothing interesting seemed to happen, and I was just beginning +to think that I was wasting my time in a rather hopeless fashion when +suddenly I saw George come out of his private office into the main +room opposite, wearing his hat and carrying an umbrella. He spoke to +one of the clerks as though giving him some parting instructions, and +went out, shutting the door behind him. + +I jumped to my feet, and hurrying down the stairs, demanded my bill +from the rather surprised waiter. Considering that I had been sitting +upstairs for over an hour and a half, I suppose my haste did appear a +trifle unreasonable; anyway he took so long making out the bill that +at last I threw down five shillings and left him at the process. + +Even so, I was only just in time. As I came out into the street George +emerged from the doorway opposite. He looked less depressed than +before and much more like his usual sleek self, and the sight of him +in these apparently recovered spirits whipped up my resentment again +to all its old bitterness. + +He set off at a brisk pace in the direction of the Houses of +Parliament, and crossing the street I took up a tactful position in +his rear. In this order we proceeded along Whitehall, across Trafalgar +Square, and up Charing Cross Road into Coventry Street. Here George +stopped for a moment to buy himself a carnation--he had always had a +taste for buttonholes--and then resuming our progress, we crossed the +Circus, and started off down Piccadilly. + +By this time what is known I believe as "the lust of the chase" had +fairly got hold of me. More strongly than ever I had the feeling that +something interesting was going to happen, and when George turned up +Bond Street I quickened my steps so as to bring me back to my old if +rather tempting position close behind him. + +Quite suddenly in the very narrowest part of the pavement he came to a +stop, and entered a doorway next to a tobacconist's shop. In a +couple of strides I had reached the spot, just in time to see him +disappearing up a winding flight of stone stairs. + +There were two little brass plates at the side of the door, and I +turned to them eagerly to see whom he might be honouring with a visit. +One was inscribed "Dr. Rich. Jones, M.D.," and the other "Mlle. +Vivien." + +The moment I read the last name something curiously familiar about it +suddenly struck me. Then in a flash I remembered the pencilled notice +on Tommy's door, and the obliging "Miss Vivien" who was willing to +receive his telegrams. + +The coincidence was a startling one, but I was too anxious to discover +what George was doing to waste much time pondering over it. Stepping +forward to the foot of the stairs, I peered cautiously up. I could see +by his hand, which was resting on the banisters, that he had passed +the floor above, where the doctor lived, and was half way up the next +flight. Whoever Mlle. Vivien might be, she certainly represented +George's destination. + +I retreated to the door, wondering what was the best thing to do. +My previous effort in Victoria Street had been so successful that +I instinctively glanced across the street to see whether there was +another convenient restaurant from which I could repeat my tactics. +There wasn't a restaurant but there was something else which was +even better, and that was a small and very respectable-looking +public-house. + +If I had to wait, a whisky-and-soda seemed a much more agreeable thing +to beguile the time with than a third helping of ham and eggs, so +crossing the road with a light heart, I pushed open a door marked +"Saloon Bar." I found myself in a square, comfortably fitted apartment +where a genial-looking gentleman was dispensing drinks to a couple of +chauffeurs. + +Along the back of the bar ran a big fitted looking-glass, sloped at +an angle which enabled it to reflect the opposite side of the street. +This was most convenient, for I could stand at the counter with my +back to the window, and yet keep my eye all the time upon the doorway +from which George would appear. + +"Good-morning, sir: what can I get you?" inquired the landlord +pleasantly. + +"I'll have a whisky-and-soda, thanks," I said. + +As he turned round to get it a sudden happy idea flashed into my mind. +I waited until he had placed the glass on the bar and was pouring out +the soda, and then inquired carelessly: + +"You don't happen to know any one of the name of Vivien about here, I +suppose?" + +He looked up at once. "Vivien!" he repeated; "well, there's a Mamzelle +Vivien across the road. D'you mean her?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know," I said; then, with a coolness +which would have done credit to Ananias, I added: "A friend of mine +has picked up a little bag or something with 'Vivien, Bond Street,' on +it. He asked me to see if I could find the owner." + +The landlord nodded his head with interest. "That'll be her, I expect. +Mamzelle Vivien the palmist--just across the way." + +"Oh, she's a palmist, is she?" I exclaimed. The thought of George +consulting a palmist was decidedly entertaining. Perhaps he wanted to +find out whether I was likely to wring his neck. + +With a side glance at the chauffeurs, the landlord leaned a little +towards me and slightly lowered his voice. "Well, that's what she +calls 'erself," he observed. "Palmist and Clairvoyante; and a smart +bit o' goods she is too." + +"But I thought the police had stopped that sort of thing," I said. + +The landlord shook his head. "The police don't interfere with her. +She don't advertise or anything like that, and I reckon she has some +pretty useful friends. You'd be surprised if I was to tell you some o' +the people I seen going in there--Cabinet Ministers and Bishops." + +"It sounds like the Athenaeum Club," I said. "Do you know what she +charges?" + +"No," he replied; "something pretty stiff I guess. With folks like +that it's a case of make 'ay while the sun shines." + +He was called off at this point to attend to another customer, leaving +me to ponder over the information he had given me. I felt that somehow +or other I must make Mademoiselle Vivien's acquaintance. A beautiful +palmist, for whom George deserted his business at eleven in the +morning, was just the sort of person who might prove extremely +interesting to me. Besides, the fact that her name was the same as +that of the lady who lived next door to Tommy lent an additional spur +to my curiosity. It might be a mere coincidence, but if so it was a +sufficiently odd one to merit a little further investigation. + +I drank up my whisky, and after waiting a minute or two, ordered +another. I had just got this and was taking my first sip, when quite +suddenly I saw in the mirror the reflection of George emerging from +the doorway opposite. + +I didn't stop to finish my drink. I put down the tumbler, and nodding +to the landlord walked straight out into the street. The pavement was +thronged with the usual midday crowd, but pushing my way through I +dodged across the road and reached the opposite side-walk just in +time to see George stepping into a taxi a few yards farther down the +street. + +I was not close enough to overhear the directions which he gave to the +driver, but unless his habits had changed considerably the chances +were that he was off to lunch at his club. Anyhow I felt pretty +certain that I could pick up his trail again later on at the office if +I wanted to. For the moment I had other plans; it was my intention +to follow George's example and pay a short call upon "Mademoiselle +Vivien." + +I walked back, and throwing away the end of my cigar, entered the +doorway again and started off up the stairs. I imagined that by going +as an ordinary client I should find no difficulty in getting admitted, +but if I did I was fully prepared to bribe or bluff, or adopt any +method that might be necessary to achieve my purpose. I would not +leave until I had at least seen the gifted object of George's midday +rambles. + +I reached the second landing, where I was faced by a green door with a +quaintly carved electric bell in the shape of an Egyptian girl's head, +a red stone in the centre of the forehead forming what appeared to be +the button. Anyhow I pressed it and waited, and a moment later the +door swung silently open. A small but very alert page-boy who looked +like an Italian was standing on the mat. + +"Is Mademoiselle at home?" I inquired. + +He looked me up and down sharply. "Have you an appointment, sir?" + +"No," I said, "but will you be good enough to ask whether I can +see her? My name is Mr. James Nicholson. I wish to consult her +professionally." + +"If you will step in here, sir, I will inquire. Mademoiselle very +seldom sees any one without an appointment." + +He opened a door on the right and ushered me into a small +sitting-room, the chief furniture of which appeared to be a couch, one +or two magnificent bowls of growing tulips and hyacinths, and an oak +shelf which ran the whole length of the room and was crowded with +books. + +While the boy was away I amused myself by examining the titles. There +were a number of volumes on palmistry and on various branches of +occultism, interspersed with several books of poetry and such unlikely +works as _My Prison Life_, by Jabez Balfour, and Melville Lee's +well-known _History of Police_. + +It gave me rather an uncanny feeling for the moment to be confronted +by the two latter, and I was just wondering whether a Bond Street +palmist's cliéntèle made such works of reference necessary, when the +door opened and the page-boy reappeared. + +"If you will kindly come this way, sir, Mademoiselle will see you," he +announced. + +I followed him down the passage and into another room hung with heavy +curtains that completely shut out the daylight. A small rose-coloured +lamp burning away steadily in the corner threw a warm glow over +everything, and lit up the low table of green stone in the centre, on +which rested a large crystal ball in a metal frame. Except for two +curiously carved chairs, there was no other furniture in the room. + +Closing the door noiselessly behind him, the boy went out again. I +stood there for a little while looking about me; then pulling up +a chair I was just sitting down when a slight sound attracted my +attention. A moment later a curtain at the end of the room was drawn +slowly aside, and there, standing in the gap, I saw the slim figure of +a girl, dressed in a kind of long dark Eastern tunic. + +I jumped to my feet, and as I did so an exclamation of amazement broke +involuntarily from my lips. For an instant I remained quite still, +clutching the back of the chair and staring like a man in a trance. +Unless I was mad the girl in front of me was Joyce. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + +It was the unexpectedness of the thing that threw me off my guard. +With a savage effort I recovered myself almost at once, but it was too +late to be of any use. At the sound of my voice all the colour had +left Joyce's face. Her hands went up to her breast, and with a low cry +she stepped forward and then stood there white and swaying, gazing at +me with wide-open, half-incredulous eyes. + +"My God!" she whispered; "it's you--Neil!" + +I think she would have fallen, but I came to her side, and putting my +arm round her shoulders gently forced her into one of the chairs. Then +I knelt in front of her and took her hands in mine. I saw it was no +good trying to deceive her. + +"I didn't know," I said simply; "I followed George here." + +"What have they done to you?" she moaned. "What have they done to you, +my Neil? And your hands--oh, your poor dear hands!" + +She burst out crying, and bending down pressed her face against my +fingers. + +"Don't, Joyce," I said, a little roughly. "For God's sake don't do +that." + +Half unconsciously I pulled away my hands, which three years in +Dartmoor had certainly done nothing to improve. + +My abrupt action seemed to bring Joyce to herself. She left off +sobbing, and with a sudden hurried glance round the room jumped up +from her chair. + +"I must speak to Jack--now at once," she whispered. "He mustn't let +any one else into the flat." + +She stopped for a moment to dry her eyes, which were still wet with +tears, and then walking quickly to the door disappeared into the +passage. She was only gone for a few seconds. I just had time to get +to my feet when she came back into the room, and shutting the door +behind her, turned the key in the lock. Then with a little gasp +she leaned against the wall. For the first time I realized what an +amazingly beautiful girl she had grown into. + +"Neil, Neil," she said, stretching out her hands; "is it really you!" + +I came across, and taking her in my arms very gently kissed her +forehead. + +"My little Joyce," I said. "My dear, brave little Joyce." + +She buried her face in my coat, and I felt her hand moving up and down +my sleeve. + +"Oh," she sobbed, "if I had only known where to find you before! Ever +since you escaped I have been hoping and longing that you would come +to me." Then she half pushed me back, and gazed up into my face with +her blue, tear-stained eyes. "Where have you been? What have they done +to you? Oh, tell me--tell me, Neil. It's breaking my heart to see you +so different." + +For a moment I hesitated. I would have given much if I could have +undone the work of the last few minutes, for even to be revenged on +George I would not willingly have brought my wretched troubles and +dangers into Joyce's life. Now that I had done so, however, there +seemed to be no other course except to tell her the truth. It was +impossible to leave her in her present agony of bewilderment and +doubt. + +Pulling up one of the chairs I sat down, drawing her on to my knee. + +"If I had known it was you, Joyce," I said, "I should have let George +go to the devil before I followed him here." + +"But why?" she asked. "Where should you go to if you didn't come to +me?" + +"Oh, my poor Joyce," I said bitterly; "haven't I brought enough +troubles and horrors into your life already?" + +She interrupted me with a low, passionate cry. "_You_ talk like +that! You, who have lost everything for my wretched sake! Can't you +understand that every day and night since you went to prison I've +loathed and hated myself for ever telling you anything about it? If +I'd dreamed what was going to happen I'd have let Marks--" + +I stopped her by crushing her in my arms, and for a little while she +remained there sobbing bitterly, her cheek resting on my shoulder. For +a moment or two I didn't feel exactly like talking myself. + +Indeed it was Joyce who spoke first. Raising her head she wiped away +her tears, and then sitting up gazed long and searchingly into my +face. + +"There is nothing of you left," she said, "nothing except your +eyes--your dear, splendid eyes. I think I should have known you by +those even if you hadn't spoken." Then, taking my hands again and +pressing them to her, she added passionately: "Oh, tell me what it +means, Neil. Tell me everything that's happened to you from the moment +you got away." + +"Very well," I said recklessly: "I shall be dragging you into all +sorts of dangers, and I shall be breaking my oath to McMurtrie, but +after all that's just the sort of thing one would expect from an +escaped convict." + +Step by step, from the moment when I had jumped over the wall into the +plantation, I told her the whole astounding story. She listened to me +in silence, her face alone betraying the feverish interest with which +she was following every word. When I came to the part about Sonia +kissing me (I told her everything just as it had happened) her hands +tightened a little on mine, but except for that one movement she +remained absolutely still. + +It was not until I had finished speaking that she made her first +comment. After I stopped she sat on for a moment just as she was; and +then quite suddenly her face lighted up, and with a little low laugh +that was half a sob she leaned forward and slid her arm round my neck. + +"Tommy was right," she whispered. "He said you'd do something +wonderful. I knew it too, but oh, Neil dear, I've suffered tortures +wondering where you were and what had happened." + +Then, sitting up again and pushing back her hair, she began to ask me +questions. + +"These people--Dr. McMurtrie and the others--do you believe their +story?" + +"No," I said bluntly. "I am quite certain they were lying to me." + +"Why should they have helped you, then?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea," I admitted. "I am only quite sure that +neither McMurtrie nor Savaroff are what they pretend to be. Besides, +you remember the hints that Sonia gave me." + +"Ah, Sonia!" Joyce looked down and played with one of the buttons of +my coat. "Is she--is she very pretty?" she asked. + +"She seems likely to be very useful," I said. Then, stroking Joyce's +soft curly hair, which had become all tousled against my shoulder, I +added: "But I'm answering questions when all the time I'm dying to ask +them. There are a hundred things you've got to tell me. What are you +doing here? Why do you call yourself Miss Vivien? Are you really +living next door to Tommy? And George--how on earth do you come to be +mixed up with George?" + +"I'll tell you everything," she said, "only I must know all about you +first. Why were you following George? You don't mean to let him know +who you are? Oh, Neil, Neil, promise me that you won't do that." + +"Joyce," I said slowly, "I want to find out who killed Seton Marks. I +don't suppose there is the least chance of my doing so, and if I can't +I most certainly mean to wring George's neck. That was chiefly what I +broke out of prison for." + +"Yes, yes," she said feverishly, "but there _is_ a chance. You'll +understand when I've explained." She put her hands to her forehead. +"Oh, I hardly know where to begin." + +"Begin anywhere," I said. "Tell me why you're pretending to be a +palmist." + +She got up from my knee and, walking slowly to the table, seated +herself on the end. + +"I wanted money," she said; "and I wanted to meet one or two people +who might be useful about you." + +"But I left eight hundred pounds for you with Tommy," I exclaimed. +"You got that?" + +She nodded. "It's in the bank now. I have been keeping it in case +anything happened. You don't suppose I was going to spend it? How +could I have helped you then even when I got the chance?" + +"But, my dear Joyce," I protested, "the money was for you. And you +couldn't have helped me with it in any case. I had plenty more waiting +for me when my sentence was out." + +"When your sentence was out," repeated Joyce fiercely. "Do you think +I was going to let you stop in prison till then!" She checked herself +with an effort. "I had better tell you everything from the beginning," +she said. "I couldn't write any more to you, because I was only +allowed to send the two letters, and I knew both of them would be read +by somebody." + +She paused a moment. + +"I went away after the trial. I was very ill, and Tommy took me to a +little place called Looe, down in Cornwall. We stayed there nearly six +months. When I came back I took the flat next to him and called myself +Miss Vivien. I had made up my mind then what I was going to do. You +see there were only two possible ways in which I could help you. One +was to find out who killed Marks, and the other was to get you out of +prison--anyhow. Of course, after the trial, it seemed madness to think +about the first, but then I just had three things to go on. I knew +that you were innocent, I knew that for some reason of his own George +had lied about you, and I knew that there had been some one else in +the flat the day of the murder." + +"The man who was with Marks when you arrived," I said. "But you saw +him go away, and there was nothing to connect him with the murder, +except the fact that he didn't turn up at the trial. Sexton himself +had to admit that in his speech." + +"There was his face," said Joyce quietly. "It was a dreadful face. It +looked as if all the goodness had been burned out of it." + +"There are about five hundred gentlemen like that in Princetown," +I said, "including several of the warders. Did they ever find out +anything about him?" + +Joyce shook her head. "Mr. Sexton did everything he could, but it was +quite useless. Whoever he was, the man never came forward, and you +see there was no one except me who even knew what he was like. It was +partly that which first gave me the idea of becoming a palmist. I +thought that up here in the West End I was more likely to come across +him than anywhere else. And then there were other people I meant to +meet--men in the Government who might be able to get your sentence +shortened. I knew I was beautiful, and with some men you can do +anything if you're beautiful, and--and you don't care." + +"Joyce!" I cried, "for God's sake don't tell me--" + +"No," she broke in passionately: "there's nothing to tell you. But if +the chance had come I'd have sold myself a thousand times over to get +you out of prison. The only man I've met who could do anything has +been Lord Lammersfield, and he...." She paused, then with a little +break in her voice she added: "Well, I think Lord Lammersfield is +rather like Tommy in some ways." + +"I suppose there are still one or two white men about," I said. + +"Lord Lammersfield used to be at the Home Office once, so of course +his influence would count for a great deal. Well, he did all that was +possible for me, but about six months ago he told me that there was no +chance of your being let out for another three years. It was then that +I made up my mind to get to know George." + +I thrust my hand in my pocket and pulled out my cigarette case. +"You--you've got rather thorough ideas about friendship, Joyce," I +said, a little unsteadily. "Can I smoke?" + +She picked up a box of matches from the table, and coming across +seated herself on the arm of my chair. + +"Have I?" she said simply. "Well, you taught me them." + +She struck a match and held it to my cigarette. + +"How did you manage it?" I asked. + +"Oh, it was easy enough. I asked Lord Lammersfield to bring him here +one day. You know what George is like; he would never refuse to do +anything a Cabinet Minister suggested. Of course he had no idea who I +was until he arrived." + +"It must have been quite a pleasant surprise for him," I said grimly. +"Did he recognize you at once?" + +Joyce shook her head. "He had only seen me at the trial, and I had my +hair down then. Besides, two years make a lot of difference." + +"They've made a lot of difference in you," I said. "They've turned you +from a pretty child into a beautiful woman." + +With a little low, contented laugh Joyce again laid her head on my +shoulder. "I think," she said, "that that's the only one of George's +opinions I'd like you to share." + +There was a moment's silence. Then I gently twisted one of her loose +curls round my finger. + +"My poor Joyce," I said, "you seem to have been wading in some +remarkably unpleasant waters for my sake." + +She shivered slightly. "Oh, it was hateful in a way, but I didn't +care. I knew George was hiding something that might help to get you +out of prison, and what did my feelings matter compared with that! +Besides--" she smiled mockingly--"for all his cleverness and his +wickedness George is a fool--just the usual vain fool that most men +are about women. It's been easy enough to manage him." + +"He knows who you are now, of course?" I said. + +She nodded. "I told him. He would have been almost certain to find +out, and then he would probably have been suspicious. As it is he +thinks our meeting was just pure chance." + +"But surely," I objected, "he must have guessed you were on my side?" + +She gave a short, bitter laugh. "Yes," she said, "he guessed that all +right. It's what he calls 'a sacred bond between us.' There are times, +you know, when George is almost funny." + +"There are times," I said, "when he must make Judas Iscariot feel +sick." + +"I sometimes wonder why I haven't killed him," she went on slowly. "I +think I should have if he had ever tried to kiss me. As it is--" +she laughed again in the same way--"as it is we are becoming great +friends. He is taking me out to dinner at the Savoy tonight." + +"But if he doesn't try to make love to you--" I began. + +"Oh!" she said, with a little shrug of her shoulders, "that's coming. +At present he imagines that he is being clever and diplomatic. Also +there's a business side to the matter." + +"Yes," I said; "there would be with George." + +"He's horribly frightened of you. Of course he tries to hide it from +me, but I can see that ever since you escaped from prison he has been +living in a state of absolute terror. His one idea at present is a +frantic hope that you will be recaptured. That's partly where I come +in." + +"You?" I repeated. + +"Yes. He thinks that sooner or later, when you want help, you will +probably write and tell me where you are." + +"And then you are to pass the good news on to him?" + +She nodded. "He says that if I let him know at once, he will arrange +to get you safely out of the country." + +I lay back in the chair and laughed out loud. + +Joyce, who was still sitting on the arm, looked down happily into my +face. "Oh," she said, "I love to hear you laugh again." Then, slipping +her hand into mine, she went on: "I suppose he means to arrange it so +that it will look as if you had been caught by accident while he was +trying to help you." + +"I expect so," I said. "I should be out of the way again then, and you +would be so overcome by gratitude--Oh, yes, there's quite a Georgian +touch about it." + +The sharp tinkle of an electric bell broke in on our conversation. +Joyce jumped up from the chair, and for a moment both remained +listening while "Jack" answered the door. + +"I know who it is," whispered Joyce. "It's old Lady Mortimer. She had +an appointment for one o'clock." + +"But what have you arranged to do?" I asked. "There's no reason you +should put all your people off. I can go away for the time, or stop in +another room, or something." + +"No, no; it's all right," whispered Joyce. "I'll tell you in a +minute." + +She waited until we heard the front door shut, and then coming back to +me sat down again on my knee. + +"I told Jack," she said, "not to let any one into the flat till three +o'clock. I have an appointment then I ought to keep, but that still +gives us nearly two hours. I will send Jack across to Stewart's to +fetch us some lunch, and we'll have it in here. What would you like, +my Neil?" + +"Anything but eggs and bacon," I said, getting out another cigarette. + +She jumped up with a laugh, and, after striking me a match, went out +into the passage, leaving the door open. I heard her call the page-boy +and give him some instructions, and then she came back into the room, +her eyes dancing with happiness and excitement. + +"Isn't this splendid!" she exclaimed. "Only this morning I was utterly +miserable wondering if you were dead, and here we are having lunch +together just like the old days in Chelsea." + +"Except for your hair, Joyce," I said. "Don't you remember how it was +always getting in your eyes?" + +"Oh, that!" she cried; "that's easily altered." + +She put up her hands, and hastily pulled out two or three hairpins. +Then she shook her head, and in a moment a bronze mane was rippling +down over her shoulders exactly as it used to in the old days. + +"I wish I could do something like that," I said ruefully. "I'm afraid +my changes are more permanent." + +Joyce came up and thrust her arm into mine. "My poor dear," she said, +pressing it to her. "Never mind; you look splendid as you are." + +"Won't your boy think there's something odd in our lunching together +like this?" I asked. "He seems a pretty acute sort of youth." + +"Jack?" she said. "Oh, Jack's all right. He was a model in Chelsea. I +took him away from his uncle, who used to beat him with a poker. He +doesn't know anything about you, but if he did he would die for you +cheerfully. He's by way of being rather grateful to me." + +"You always inspired devotion, Joyce," I said, smiling. "Do you +remember how Tommy and I used to squabble as to which of us should +eventually adopt you?" + +She nodded, almost gravely; then with a sudden change back to her +former manner, she made a step towards the inner room, pulling me +after her. + +"Come along," she said. "We'll lunch in there. It's more cheerful than +this, and anyway I want to see you in the daylight." + +I followed her in through the curtains, and found myself in a small, +narrow room with a window which looked out on the back of Burlington +Arcade. A couple of chairs, a black oak gate-legged table, and a +little green sofa made up the furniture. + +Joyce took me to the window, and still holding my arm, made a second +and even longer inspection of McMurtrie's handiwork. + +"It's wonderful, Neil," she said at last. "You look fifteen years +older and absolutely different. No one could possibly recognize you +except by the way you speak." + +"I've been practising that," I said, altering my voice. "I shouldn't +have given myself away if you hadn't taken me by surprise." + +She smiled again happily. "It's so good to feel that you're safe, even +if it's only for a few days." Then, letting go my arm, she crossed to +the sofa. "Come and sit down," she went on. "We've got to decide all +sorts of things, and we shan't have too much time." + +"I've told you my plans, Joyce," I said, "such as they are. I mean to +go through with this business of McMurtrie's, though I'm sure there's +something crooked at the bottom of it. As for the rest--" I shrugged +my shoulders and sat down on the sofa beside her; "well, I've got the +sort of hand one has to play alone." + +Joyce looked at me quietly and steadily. + +"Neil," she said; "do you remember that you once called me the most +pig-headed infant in Chelsea?" + +"Did I?" I said. "That was rather rude." + +"It was rather right," she answered calmly; "and I haven't changed, +Neil. If you think Tommy and I are going to let you play this hand +alone, as you call it, you are utterly and absolutely wrong." + +"Do you know what the penalties are for helping an escaped convict?" I +asked. + +She laughed contemptuously. "Listen, Neil. For three years Tommy and I +have had no other idea except to get you out of prison. Is it likely +we should leave you now?" + +"But what can you do, Joyce?" I objected. "You'll only be running +yourselves into danger, and--" + +"Oh, Neil dear," she interrupted; "it's no good arguing about it. We +mean to help you, and you'll have to let us." + +"But suppose I refuse?" I said. + +"Then as soon as Tommy comes back tomorrow I shall tell him everything +that you've told me. I know your address at Pimlico, and I know just +about where your hut will be down the Thames. If you think Tommy will +rest for a minute till he's found you, you must have forgotten a lot +about him in the last three years." + +She spoke with a kind of indignant energy, and there was an obstinate +look in her blue eyes, which showed me plainly that it would be waste +of time trying to reason with her. + +I reflected quickly. Perhaps after all it would be best for me to see +Tommy myself. He at least would appreciate the danger of dragging +Joyce into the business, and between us we might be able to persuade +her that I was right. + +"Well, what are your ideas, Joyce?" I said. "Except for keeping my eye +on George I had no particular plan until I heard from McMurtrie." + +Joyce laid her hand on my sleeve. "Tomorrow," she said, "you must go +and see Tommy. He is coming back by the midday train, and he will get +to the flat about two o'clock. Tell him everything that you have told +me. I shan't be able to get away from here till the evening, but I +shall be free then, and we three will talk the whole thing over. I +shan't make any more appointments here after tomorrow." + +"Very well," I said reluctantly. "I will go and look up Tommy, but +I can't see that it will do any good. I am only making you and him +liable to eighteen months' hard labour." She was going to speak, but +I went on. "Don't you see, Joyce dear, there are only two possible +courses open to me? I can either wait and carry out my agreement with +McMurtrie, or I can go down to Chelsea and force the truth about +Marks's death out of George--if he really knows it. Dragging you two +into my wretched affairs won't alter them at all." + +"Yes, it will," she said obstinately. "There are lots of ways in which +we can help you. Suppose these people turn out wrong, for instance; +they might even mean to give you up to the police as soon as they've +got your secret. And then there's George. If he does know anything +about the murder I'm the only person who is the least likely to find +it out. Why--" + +A discreet knock at the outer door interrupted her, and she got up +from the sofa. + +"That's Jack with the lunch," she said. "Come along, Neil dear. We +won't argue about it any more now. Let's forget everything for an +hour,--just be happy together as if we were back in Chelsea." + +She held out her hands to me, her lips smiling, her blue eyes just on +the verge of tears. I drew her towards me and gently stroked her hair, +as I used to do in the old days in Chelsea when she had come to me +with some of her childish troubles. I felt an utter brute to think +that I could ever have doubted her loyalty, even for an instant. + +How long we kept the luckless Jack waiting on the mat I can't say, +but at last Joyce detached herself, and crossing the room, opened the +door. Jack came in carrying a basket in one hand and a table-cloth in +the other. If he felt any surprise at finding Joyce with her hair down +he certainly didn't betray it. + +"I got what I could, Mademoiselle," he observed, putting down his +burdens. "Oyster patties, galatine, cheese-cakes, and a bottle of +champagne. I hope that will please Mademoiselle?" + +"It sounds distinctly pleasing, Jack," said Joyce gravely. "But then +you always do just what I want." + +The boy flushed with pleasure, and began to lay the table without even +so much as bestowing a glance on me. It was easy enough to see that he +adored his young mistress--adored her far beyond questioning any of +her actions. + +All through lunch--and an excellent lunch it was too--Joyce and I were +ridiculously happy. Somehow or other we seemed to drop straight back +into our former jolly relations, and for the time I almost forgot that +they had ever been interrupted. In spite of all she had been through +since, Joyce, at the bottom of her heart, was just the same as she had +been in the old days--impulsive, joyous, and utterly unaffected. All +her bitterness and sadness seemed to slip away with her grown-up +manner; and catching her infectious happiness, I too laughed and joked +and talked as cheerfully and unconcernedly as though we were in truth +back in Chelsea with no hideous shadow hanging over our lives. I even +found myself telling her stories about the prison, and making fun of +one of the chaplain's sermons on the beauties of justice. At the time +I remembered it had filled me with nothing but a morose fury. + +It was the little clock on the mantlepiece striking a quarter to three +which brought us back to the realities of the present. + +"I must go, Joyce," I said reluctantly, "or I shall be running into +some of your Duchesses." + +She nodded. "And I've got to do my hair by three, and turn myself back +from Joyce into Mademoiselle Vivien--if I can. Oh, Neil, Neil; it's a +funny, mad world, isn't it!" She lifted up my hand and moved it softly +backwards and forwards against her lips. Then, suddenly jumping up, +she went into the next room, and came back with my hat and stick. + +"Here are your dear things," she said; "and I shall see you tomorrow +evening at Tommy's. I shan't leave him a note--somebody might open it; +I shall just let you go and find him yourself. Oh, I should love to be +there when he realizes who it is." + +"I know just what he'll do," I said. "He'll stare at me for a minute; +then he'll say quite quietly, 'Well, I'm damned,' and go and pour +himself out a whisky." + +She laughed gaily. "Yes, yes," she said. "That's exactly what will +happen." Then with a little change in her voice she added: "And you +will be careful, won't you, Neil? I know you're quite safe; no one +can possibly recognize you; but I'm frightened all the same--horribly +frightened. Isn't it silly of me?" + +I kissed her tenderly. "My Joyce," I said, "I think you have got the +bravest heart in the whole world." + +And with this true if rather inadequate remark I left her. + +I had plenty to think about during my walk back to Victoria. Exactly +what result the sharing of my secret with Tommy and Joyce would have, +it was difficult to forecast, but it opened up a disquieting field of +possibilities. Rather than get either of them into trouble I would +cheerfully have thrown myself in front of the next motor bus, but if +such an extreme course could be avoided I certainly had no wish to +end my life in that or any other abrupt fashion until I had had the +satisfaction of a few minutes' quiet conversation with George. + +I blamed myself to a certain extent for having given way to Joyce. +Still, I knew her well enough to be sure that if I had persisted in +my refusal she would have stuck to her intention of trying to help me +against my will. That would only have made matters more dangerous for +all of us, so on the whole it was perhaps best that I should go and +see Tommy. I had not the fainest doubt he would be anxious enough to +help me himself if I would let him, but he would at least see the +necessity for keeping Joyce out of the affair. We ought to be able to +manage her between us, though when I remembered the obstinate look in +her eyes I realized that it wouldn't be exactly a simple matter. + +I stopped at a book-shop just outside Victoria, which I had noticed on +the previous evening. I wanted to order a copy of a book dealing +with a certain branch of high explosives that I had forgotten to ask +McMurtrie for, and when I had done that I took the opportunity of +buying a couple of novels by Wells which had been published since I +went to prison. Wells was a luxury which the prison library didn't run +to. + +With these tucked under my arm, and still pondering over the +unexpected results of my chase after George, I continued my walk to +Edith Terrace. As I reached the house and thrust my key into the +lock the door suddenly opened from the inside, and I found myself +confronted by the apparently rather embarrassed figure of Miss Gertie +'Uggins. + +"I 'eard you a-comin'," she observed, rubbing one hand down her leg, +"so I opened the door like." + +"That was very charming of you, Gertrude," I said gravely. + +She tittered, and then began to retreat slowly backwards down the +passage. "There's a letter for you in the sittin'-room. Come by the +post after you'd gorn. Yer want some tea?" + +"I don't mind a cup," I said. "I've been eating and drinking all day; +it seems a pity to give it up now." + +"I'll mike yer one," she remarked, nodding her head. "Mrs. Oldbury's +gorn out shoppin'." + +She disappeared down the kitchen stairs, and opening the door of my +room I discovered the letter she had referred to stuck up on the +mantelpiece. I took it down with some curiosity. It was addressed to +James Nicholson, Esq., and stamped with the Strand postmark. I did not +recognize the writing, but common-sense told me that it could only be +from McMurtrie or one of his crowd. + +When I opened the envelope I found that it contained a half-sheet +of note-paper, with the following words written in a sloping, +foreign-looking hand: + +"You will receive either a message or a visitor at five o'clock +tomorrow afternoon. Kindly make it convenient to be at home at that +hour." + +That was all. There was no signature and no address, and it struck +me that as an example of polite letter-writing it certainly left +something to be desired. Still, the message was clear enough, which +was the chief point, so, folding it up, I thrust it back into the +envelope and put it away in my pocket. After all, one can't expect a +really graceful literary style from a High Explosives Syndicate. + +I wondered whether the note meant that the preparations which were +being made for me at Tilbury were finally completed. McMurtrie had +promised me a week in Town, and so far I had only had two days; still +I was hardly in a position to kick if he asked me to go down earlier. +Anyhow I should know the next day, so there seemed no use in worrying +myself about it unnecessarily. + +It was my intention to spend a quiet interval reading one of my books, +before going out somewhere to get some dinner. In pursuance of this +plan I exchanged my boots for a pair of slippers and settled myself +down comfortably in the only easy-chair in the room. In about ten +minutes' time, faithful to her word, Gertie 'Uggins brought me up +an excellent cup of tea, and stimulated by this and the combined +intelligence and amorousness of Mr. Wells's hero, I succeeded in +passing two or three very agreeable hours. + +At seven o'clock I roused myself rather reluctantly, put on my boots +again, and indulged in the luxury of a wash and a clean collar. Then, +after ringing the bell and informing Mrs. Oldbury that I should be out +to dinner, I left the house with the pleasantly vague intention of +wandering up West until I found some really attractive restaurant. + +It was a beautiful evening, more like June than the end of April; and +with a cigarette alight, I strolled slowly along Victoria Street, my +mind busy over the various problems with which Providence had seen fit +to surround me. I had got nearly as far as the Stores, when a sudden +impulse took me to cross over and walk past our offices. A taxi was +coming up the road, so I waited for a moment on the pavement until +it had passed. The back part of the vehicle was open, and as it came +opposite to me, the light from one of the big electric standards fell +clear on the face of the man inside. He was sitting bolt upright, +looking straight out ahead, but in spite of his opera hat and his +evening dress I recognized him at once. It was the man with the +scar--the man I had imagined to be tracking me on the previous +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + +I have never been slow to act in moments of sudden emergency, and in +rather less than a second I had made up my mind. The mere idea +of stalking one's own shadower was a distinctly attractive one; +surrounded as I was by a baffling sense of mystery and danger I jumped +at the chance with an almost reckless enthusiasm. + +Coming up behind was another taxi--an empty one, the driver leaning +back in his seat puffing lazily at a pipe. I stepped out into the road +and signalled to him to pull up. + +"Follow that taxi in front," I said quickly. "If you keep it in sight +till it stops I'll give you five shillings for yourself." + +All the languor disappeared from the driver's face. Hastily knocking +out his pipe, he stuffed it into his pocket, and the next moment we +were bowling up Victoria Street hard on the track of our quarry. + +I sat back in the seat, filled with a pleasant exhilaration. Of course +it was just possible that I was making a fool of myself--that the +gentleman in front was as innocent of having spied on my movements as +the Bishop of London. Still if that were the case there could be no +harm in following him, while if he were really one of McMurtrie's +friends a closer acquaintance with his methods of spending the evening +seemed eminently desirable. + +Half way along Whitehall my driver quickened his pace until we were +only a few yards behind the other taxi. I was just going to caution +him not to get too near, when I realized that unless we hung on as +close as possible we should probably lose it in the traffic at the +corner of the Strand. The soundness of this reasoning was apparent a +moment later, when we only just succeeded in following it across the +Square before a policeman's hand peremptorily barred the way. + +Past the Garrick Theatre, across Long Acre, and up Charing Cross Road +the chase continued with unabated vigour. At the Palace the other +driver turned off sharp to the left, and running a little way along +Old Compton Street came to a halt outside Parelli's, the well-known +restaurant. As he began to slow down I picked up the speaking tube and +instructed my man to go straight past on the other side of the street, +an order which he promptly obeyed without changing his pace. I didn't +make the mistake of looking round. I just sat still in my seat until +we had covered another thirty yards or so, and then gave the signal to +stop. + +The driver, who seemed to have entered thoroughly into the spirit of +the affair, at once clambered out of his seat and came round as though +to open the door. + +"Gent's standin' on the pavement payin' 'is fare, sir," he observed in +a hoarse whisper. "Thought ye might like to know before ye gets out." + +"Thanks," I said; "I'll take the chance of lighting a cigarette." + +I was about to suit the action to the word, when with a sudden +exclamation the man again interrupted me. + +"There's another gent just come up in a taxi, sir--proper toff too +from 'is looks. 'E's shakin' 'ands with our bloke." + +"Is he an old man?" I asked quickly--"an old man with glasses?" + +"'E don't look very old, but 'e's got a glass right enough--leastways +one o' them bow-winder things in 'is eye." He paused. "They've gone +inside now, Guv'nor; they won't spot ye if you want to 'op it." + +He opened the door, and stepping out on to the pavement I handed him +half a sovereign, which I was holding in readiness. + +He touched his cap. "Thank ye, sir. Thank ye very much." Then, +fumbling in his pocket, he produced a rather dirty and crumpled card. +"I don't rightly know what the game is, Guv'nor," he went on in a +lowered tone, "but if you should 'appen to want to call on me for +evidence any time, Martyn's Garridge, Walham Green, 'll always find +me. Ye only need to ask for Dick 'Arris. They all knows me round +there." + +I accepted the card, and having assured Mr. Harris that in the event +of my needing his testimony I would certainly look him up, I lit +my delayed cigarette and started to stroll back towards Parelli's. +Whoever my original friend and his pal with the eyeglass might be, I +was anxious to give them a few minutes' law before thrusting myself +upon their society. I had known Parelli's well in the old days, and +remembering the numerous looking-glasses which decorated its walls, I +thought it probable that I should be able to find some obscure seat, +from which I could obtain a view of their table without being too +conspicuous myself. Still, it seemed advisable to give them time to +settle down to dinner first, so, stopping at a newspaper shop at the +corner, I spun out another minute or two in buying myself a copy of +_La Vie Parisienne_ and the latest edition of the _Pall Mall_. With +these under my arm and a pleasant little tingle of excitement in my +heart I walked up to the door of the restaurant, which a uniformed +porter immediately swung open. + +I found myself in a brightly lit passage, inhabited by a couple of +waiters, one of whom came forward to take my hat and stick. The other +pushed back the glass door which led into the restaurant, and then +stood there bowing politely and waiting for me to pass. + +I stopped for a moment on the threshold, and cast a swift glance round +the room. It was a large, low-ceilinged apartment, broken up by square +pillars, but as luck would have it I spotted my two men at the very +first attempt. They were sitting at a table in one of the farther +corners, and they seemed to be so interested in each other's company +that neither of them had even looked up at my entrance. + +I didn't wait for them to do it either. Quickly and unobtrusively I +walked to the corner table on the left of the floor, and sat down with +my back towards them. I was facing a large mirror which reflected the +other side of the room with admirable clearness. + +A waiter handed me the menu, and after I had ordered a light dinner I +spread out _La Vie Parisienne_ on the table, and bending over it made +a pretence of admiring its drawings. As a matter of fact I kept my +entire attention focused on the looking-glass. + +I could only see the back of the man with the scar, but the face of +his companion, who was sitting sideways on, was very plainly +visible. It was a striking-looking face, too. He seemed to be about +thirty-five--a tall, clean-shaven, powerfully built man, with bright +blue eyes and a chin like the toe of a boot. His hair was prematurely +grey, and this, together with the monocle that he was wearing, gave +him a curious air of distinction. He looked like a cross between a +successful barrister and a retired prize-fighter. + +I watched him with considerable interest. If he was another of +McMurtrie's mysterious circle, I certainly preferred him to any of the +ones I had previously come across. His face, though strong and hard, +had none of Savaroff's brutality in it, and he was quite lacking in +that air of sinister malevolence that seemed to hang about the doctor. + +As far as I could see, most of the talking was being done by the man +with the scar. He also appeared to be the host, for I saw him pick +up the wine list, and after consulting his companion's taste give a +carefully selected order to the waiter. Then my own dinner began to +arrive, and putting aside _La Vie_, I propped up the _Pall Mall_ in +front of me and started to attack the soup. + +All through the meal I divided my attention between the paper and the +looking-glass. I was careful how I made use of the latter, for the +waiter was hovering about most of the time, and I didn't want him +to think that I was spying on some of the other customers. So quite +genuinely I waded through the news, keeping on glancing in the mirror +over the top of the paper from time to time just to see how things +were progressing behind me. + +That my two friends were getting along together very well was evident +not only from their faces but from the sounds of laughter which at +intervals came floating down the room. Indeed, so animated was their +conversation, that although I had begun my dinner later, I had +finished some little time before they had. I had no intention of +leaving first, however, so ordering myself some coffee, I sat back in +my chair, and with the aid of a cigar, continued my study of the _Pall +Mall_. + +I was in the middle of a spirited article on the German trouble, +headed "What Does the Kaiser Mean?" when glancing in the mirror I saw +a waiter advance to the table behind me, carrying a bottle of port +in a basket, with a care that suggested some exceptional vintage. He +poured out a couple of glasses, and then placing it reverently on the +table, withdrew from the scene. + +I watched both men take a sip, and saw them set down their glasses +with a thoroughly satisfied air. Then the man with the scar made a +sudden remark to the other, who, turning his head, looked away over +his shoulder into the restaurant. His attention could only have been +withdrawn from the table for a couple of seconds at the most, but in +that fraction of time something happened which set my heart beating +rapidly in a kind of cold and tense excitement. + +So swiftly, that if I had not been looking straight in the mirror I +should have missed seeing it, the man with the scar brought his hand +down over his companion's glass. Unless my eyes were playing me a +trick, I distinctly saw him empty something into the wine. + +There are rare occasions in life when one acts instinctively in the +right way before one's mind has had time to reason matters out. It was +so with me now. Without stopping to think, I whipped out a pencil from +my pocket, and snatched away a piece of white paper from underneath +the small dish of candied fruit in front of me. Spreading it out on +the table I hastily scribbled the following words: + +"Don't drink your wine. The man with you has just put something into +it." + +I folded this up, and beckoned to one of the waiters who was standing +by the door. He came forward at once. + +"Do you want to earn half a sovereign?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir," he answered, without the faintest air of surprise. + +"Listen to me, then," I said, "and whatever you do don't look round. +In the farther corner behind us there's a gentleman with an eyeglass +dining with another man. Go up the centre of the room and give him +this note. If he asks you who it's from, say some one handed it you in +the hall and told you to deliver it. Then go and get my bill and bring +it me here." + +The waiter bowed, and taking the note departed on his errand, as +casually as though I had instructed him to fetch me a liqueur. All the +time I had been speaking I had kept a watchful eye on the mirror, +and as far as I could tell neither of the two men had noticed our +conversation. They were talking and laughing, the man I had sent the +message to lightly fingering the stem of his wine-glass, and blowing +thin spirals of cigarette smoke into the air. Even as I looked he +raised the glass, and for one harrowing second I thought I was too +late. Then, like a messenger from the gods, the waiter suddenly +appeared from behind one of the pillars and handed him my note on a +small silver tray. + +He took it casually with his left hand; at the same time setting down +his wine-glass on the table. I saw him make an excuse to his host, and +then open it and read it. I don't know exactly what I had expected +him to do next, but the result was certainly surprising. Instead of +showing any amazement or even questioning the waiter, he made some +laughing remark to his companion, and putting his hand in his pocket +pulled out a small leather case from which he extracted a card. + +Bending over the table he wrote two or three words in pencil, and +handed it to the waiter. As he did so the edge of his sleeve just +caught the wine-glass. I saw the other man start up and stretch out +his hand, but he was too late to save it. Over it went, breaking into +pieces against one of the plates, and spilling the wine all across the +table-cloth. + +It was done so neatly that I could almost have sworn it was an +accident. Indeed the exclamation of annoyance with which the culprit +greeted his handiwork sounded so perfectly genuine that if I hadn't +known what was in the note I should have been completely deceived. +I saw the waiter step forward and dab hurriedly at the stain with a +napkin, while the author of the damage, coolly pulling up another +glass, helped himself to a fresh supply from the bottle. A more +beautifully carried out little bit of acting it has never been my good +luck to witness. + +If the man with the scar suspected anything (which I don't think he +did) he was at least intelligent enough to keep the fact to himself. +He laughed heartily over the contretemps, and taking out his +cigar-case offered his companion a choice of the contents. I saw the +latter shake his head, raising his half-finished cigarette as much as +to indicate his preference for that branch of smoking. It struck me, +however, that his refusal was possibly dictated by other motives. + +Full of curiosity as I was, I thought it better at this point not to +tempt Fate any further. At any moment the man with the scar might look +round, and although I was some distance away, it was quite likely that +if he did he would recognize my reflection in the mirror. I was doubly +anxious now to avoid any such mischance, so, picking up _La Vie_, I +opened its immoral but conveniently spacious pages, and from behind +their shelter waited for my bill. + +It was not long in coming. Impassive as ever, the waiter reappeared +with his little silver tray, which this time contained a white slip +folded across in the usual fashion. As I took it up I felt something +inside, and opening it I discovered a small visiting card with the +following inscription: + +MR. BRUCE LATIMER +145 _Jermyn Street, W_. + +Scribbled across the top in pencil were the following words: + +"Thanks. I shall be still more grateful if you will look me up at the +above address." + +Quickly and unobtrusively I tucked it away in my waistcoat pocket, +and glancing at the total of the bill, which came to about fifteen +shillings, put down a couple of my few remaining sovereigns. It pays +to be a little extravagant when you have been well served. + +A swift inspection of the mirror showed me that neither of the +occupants of the end table was looking in my direction, so taking +my chance I rose quickly to my feet and stepped forward behind the +shelter of the nearest pillar. Here I was met by another waiter who +handed me my hat and stick, while his impassive colleague, pocketing +the two pounds, advanced to the door and opened it before me with a +polite bow. I felt rather like the hero of a melodrama making his exit +after the big scene. + +Once in the street, the full realization of what I had just been +through came to me with a sort of curious shock. It seemed an almost +incredible thing that a man should make an attempt to drug or poison +another in a public restaurant, but, unless I was going off my head, +that was what had actually occurred. Of course I might possibly have +been mistaken in what I saw in the glass, but the readiness with which +Mr. Latimer (somehow the name seemed vaguely familiar to me) had +accepted my hint rather knocked that theory on the head. It showed +that he, at all events, had not regarded such a contingency as being +the least bit incredible. + +I began to try and puzzle out in my mind what bearings this amazing +incident could have on my own affairs. I was not even sure as yet +whether the man with the scar had been really spying on my movements +or whether my seeing him twice on the night of my arrival in Town +had been purely a matter of coincidence. If he was a friend of +McMurtrie's, it seemed to stand to reason that' Mr. Bruce Latimer +was not. Even in such a weird sort of syndicate as I had apparently +stumbled against it was hardly probable that the directors would +attempt to poison each other in West End restaurants. + +The question was should I accept the invitation pencilled across the +card? I was anxious enough in all conscience to find out something +definite about McMurtrie and his friends, but I certainly had no wish +to mix myself up with any mysterious business in which I was not quite +sure that they were concerned. For the time being my own affairs +provided me with all the interest and excitement that I needed. +Besides, even if the man with the scar was one of the gang, and had +really tried to poison or drug his companion, I was scarcely in a +position to offer the latter my assistance. Apart altogether from +the fact that I had given my promise to the doctor, it was obviously +impossible for me to explain to a complete stranger how I came to be +mixed up with the matter. An escaped convict, however excellent his +intentions may be, is bound to be rather handicapped in his choice of +action. + +With my mind busy over these problems I pursued my way home, only +stopping at a small pub opposite Victoria to buy myself a syphon of +soda and a bottle of drinkable whisky. With these under my arm (it's +extraordinary how penal servitude relieves one of any false pride) I +continued my journey, reaching the house just as Big Ben was booming +out the stroke of half-past nine. + +It seemed a bit early to turn in, but I had had such a varied and +emotional day that the prospect of a good night's rest rather appealed +to me. So, after mixing myself a stiff peg, I undressed and got into +bed, soothing my harassed mind with another chapter or two of H.G. +Wells before attempting to go to sleep. So successful was this +prescription that when I did drop off it was into a deep, dreamless +slumber which was only broken by the appearance of Gertie 'Uggins with +a cup of tea at eight o'clock the next morning. + +Soundly and long as I had slept I didn't hurry about getting up. +According to Joyce, Tommy would not be back until somewhere about two, +and I had had so many grisly mornings of turning out at five o'clock +after a night of sleepless horror that the mere fact of being able to +lie in bed between clean sheets was still something of a novelty and +a pleasure. Lie in bed I accordingly did, and, in the process +of consuming several cigarettes, continued to ponder over the +extraordinary events of the previous evening. + +When I did roll out, it was to enjoy another nice hot bath and an +excellent breakfast. After that I occupied myself for some time by +running over the various notes and calculations which I had made while +I was with McMurtrie, just in case I found it necessary to start the +practical side of my work earlier than I expected. Everything seemed +right, and savagely anxious as I was to stay in town till I could find +some clue to the mystery of George's treachery, I felt also an intense +eagerness to get to grips with my new invention. I was positively +hungry for a little work. The utter idleness, from any intelligent +point of view, of my three years in prison, had been almost the +hardest part of it to bear. + +At about a quarter to two I left the house, and making my way down on +to the embankment set off for Chelsea. It was a delightful day, warm +and sunny as July; and this, combined with the fact that I was on my +way to see Tommy, lifted me into a most cheerful frame of mind. Indeed +I actually caught myself whistling--a habit which I don't think I had +indulged in since my eventful visit to Mr. Marks. + +I looked up at George's house as I passed, but except for a black cat +sunning herself on the top of the gatepost there was no sign of life +about the place. My thoughts went back to Joyce, and I wondered how +the dinner party at the Savoy had gone off. I could almost see George +sitting at one side of the table with that insufferable air of +gallantry and self-satisfaction that he always assumed in the presence +of a pretty girl. Poor, brave little Joyce! If the pluck and loyalty +of one's friends counted for anything, I was certainly as well off as +any one in London. + +As I drew near Florence Mansions I felt a sort of absurd inclination +to chuckle out loud. Much as I disliked the thought of dragging Tommy +into my tangled affairs, the prospect of springing such a gorgeous +surprise on him filled me with a mischievous delight. Up till now, +except for my arrest and sentence, I had never seen anything upset his +superb self-possession in the slightest degree. + +A glance at the board in the hall as I turned in showed me that he +had arrived. I marched along the passage till I came to his flat, and +lifting the knocker gave a couple of sharp raps. There was a short +pause; then I heard the sound of footsteps, and a moment later Tommy +himself opened the door. + +He was wearing the same dressing-gown that I remembered three years +ago, and at the sight of his untidy hair and his dear old badly-shaved +face I as nearly as possible gave the show away. Pulling myself +together with an effort, however, I made him a polite bow. + +"Mr. Morrison?" I inquired in my best assumed voice. + +"That's me all right," said Tommy. + +"My name's Nicholson," I said. "I am an artist. I was asked to look +you up by a friend of yours--Delacour of Paris." + +I had mentioned a man for whose work I knew Tommy entertained a +profound respect. + +"Oh, come in," he cried, swinging open the door and gripping my hand; +"come in, old chap. Delighted to see you. The place is in a hell of a +mess, but you won't mind that. I've only just got back from sailing." + +He dragged me into the studio, which was in the same state of +picturesque confusion as when I had last seen it, and pulling up a +large easy-chair thrust me down into its capacious depths. + +"I'm awfully glad I was in," he went on. "I wouldn't have missed you +for the world. How's old Delacour? I haven't seen him for ages. I +never get over to Paris these days." + +"Delacour's all right," I answered--"at least, as far as I know." + +Tommy walked across the room to a corner cupboard. "You'll have a +drink, won't you?" he asked; "there's whisky and brandy, and Grand +Marnier, and I've got a bottle of port somewhere if you'd care for a +glass." + +There was a short pause. Then in my natural voice I remarked quietly +and distinctly: "You were always a drunken old blackguard, Tommy." + +The effect was immense. For a moment Tommy remained perfectly still, +his mouth open, his eyes almost starting out of his head. Then quite +suddenly he sat down heavily on the couch, clutching a bottle of +whisky in one hand and a tumbler in the other. + +"Well, I'm damned!" he whispered. + +"Never mind, Tommy," I said cheerfully; "you'll be in the very best +society." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + +For perhaps a second Tommy remained motionless; then sitting up he +removed the cork, and poured himself out about a quarter of a tumbler +of neat spirit. He drained this off at a gulp, and put down both the +glass and the bottle. + +"God deliver us!" he observed; "is it really you?" + +I nodded. "What's left of me, Tommy." + +He jumped to his feet, and the next moment he was crushing my hands +with a grip that would have broken some people's fingers. "You old +ruffian!" he muttered; "I always said you'd do something like this. +Lord alive, it's good to see you, though!" Then, pulling me up out of +the chair, he caught me by the shoulders and stared incredulously +into my face. "But what the devil's happened? What have you done to +yourself?" + +"I know what I'm going to do to myself," I replied. "I am going to +get outside some of that drink you were talking about--if there's any +left." + +With something between a laugh and a choke he let me go, and crossing +to the couch picked up the whisky and splashed out a generous tot into +the glass. + +"Here you are--and I'm hanged if I don't have another one myself. I +believe I could drink the whole bottle without turning a hair." + +"I'm quite sure you could, Tommy," I said, "unless you've +deteriorated." + +We raised our tumblers and clinked them together with a force that +cracked mine from the rim to the bottom. I drained off the contents, +however, before they could escape, and flung the broken glass into the +fireplace. + +"It would have been blasphemous to drink out of it again in any case," +I said. + +With a big, happy laugh Tommy followed my example. Then he came up +again and caught me by the arm, as though to make sure that I was +still there. + +"Neil, old son," he said, "I'm so glad to see you that I shall start +wrecking the blessed studio in a minute. For God's sake tell me what +it all means." + +"Sit down, then," I said; "sit down and give me a chance. It's--it's a +hell of a yarn, Tommy." + +He laughed again, and letting go my arm threw himself back into the +easy-chair. + +"It would be," he said. + +I always have a feeling that I can talk better when I am on my feet, +and so, while Tommy sat there puffing out great clouds of smoke from a +huge cherry-wood pipe, I paced slowly up and down the room giving +him my story. Like Joyce, he listened to me without saying a word or +interrupting me in any way. I told him everything that had happened +from the moment when I had escaped from prison to the time when I had +given my promise that I would come and look him up. + +"I couldn't help it, Tommy," I finished. "I didn't want to drag you +in, but you know what Joyce is when she has once made up her mind +about anything. I thought the only way was to come and see you. +Between us--" + +I got no further, for with a sudden exclamation--it sounded more like +a growl than anything else--Tommy had risen from his chair. + +"And do you mean to tell me that, if it hadn't been for Joyce, you +wouldn't have come! By Gad, Neil, if I wasn't so glad to see you +I'd--I'd--" Words failed him, and gripping hold of my hands again he +wrung them with a force that made me wince. + +Then, suddenly dropping them, he started to stride about the room. +"Lord, what a yarn!" he exclaimed. "What a hell of a yarn!" + +"Well, I told you it was," I said, nursing my crushed fingers. + +"I knew something had happened. I knew at least that you weren't going +to be taken alive; but this--" He stopped short in front of me and +once more gazed incredulously into my face. "I wouldn't know you from +the Angel Gabriel!" he added. + +"Except that he's clean shaven," I said. Then I paused. "Look here, +Tommy," I went on seriously, "what are we going to do about Joyce? I'm +all right, you see. There's nothing to prevent me clearing out of the +country directly I've finished with McMurtrie. If I choose to go and +break George's neck, that's my own business. I am not going to have +you and Joyce mixed up in the affair." + +Tommy sat down on the edge of the table. "My dear chap," he said +slowly, "do you understand anything about Joyce at all? Do you realize +that ever since the trial she has had only one idea in her mind--to +get you out of prison? She has lived for nothing else the last three +years. All this palmistry business was entirely on your account. She +wanted to make money and get to know people who could help her, and +she's done it--done it in the most astounding way. When she found it +was too soon for your sentence to be altered she even made up some +mad plan of taking a cottage near the prison and bribing one of the +warders with that eight hundred pounds you left her. It was all I +could do to put her off by telling her that you would probably be shot +trying to get away. Is it likely she'll chuck the whole thing up now, +just when there's really a chance of helping you?" + +"But there isn't a chance," I objected. "If we couldn't find out the +truth at the trial it's not likely we shall now--unless I choke it out +of George. Besides, it's quite possible that even he doesn't know who +really killed Marks. He may only have lied about me for some reason of +his own." + +Tommy nodded impatiently. "That's likely enough, but it's all my eye +to say we can't help you. There are a hundred ways in which you'll +want friends. To start with, all this business of McMurtrie's, or +whatever his name is, sounds devilish queer to me. I don't believe his +yarn any more than you do. There's something shady about it, you can +be certain. When are you supposed to start work?" + +I looked at the clock. "I shall know in about an hour," I said. "I +forgot to tell you that when I came back from Joyce's yesterday I +found a note--I suppose from them--saying that I should have a message +or a visitor at five o'clock today, and would I be good enough to be +home at that time. At least it wasn't put quite so politely." Then I +paused. "Good Lord!" I exclaimed, "that reminds me. I haven't told you +the most amazing part of the whole yarn." I put my hand in my pocket +and pulled out the card which had been sent me in the restaurant. +"Have you ever heard of a man called Bruce Latimer?" I asked. + +To my amazement Tommy nodded his head. "Bruce Latimer," he repeated. +"Yes, I know _a_ Bruce Latimer?--lives in Jermyn Street. What's he got +to do with it?" + +"You know him!" I almost shouted. + +"Yes, slightly. He belongs to the Athenians. He used to do a lot of +sailing at one time, but I haven't seen him down there this year." + +"Who is he? What is he?" I demanded eagerly. + +"Well, I don't know exactly. He's in some Government office, I +believe, but he's not the sort of chap who ever talks about his own +affairs. Where on earth did you come across him?" + +As quickly as possible I told Tommy the story of my visit to +Parelli's, and showed him the card which Latimer had sent me by the +waiter. He took it out of my hand, looking at me with a sort of +half-sceptical amazement. + +"You're not joking?" he said. "This is Gospel truth you're telling +me?" + +I nodded. "Humour's a bit out of my line nowadays, Tommy," I answered. +"The Dartmoor climate doesn't seem to suit it." + +"But--but--" he stared for a moment at the card without speaking. +"Well, this beats everything," he exclaimed. "What in God's name can +Bruce Latimer have to do with your crowd?" + +"That," I remarked, "is exactly what I want to find out." + +"Find out!" repeated Tommy. "We'll find out right enough. Do you think +he guessed who it was that sent the note?" + +"Most likely he did," I said. "I was the nearest person, but in any +case he only saw my back. You can't recognize a man from his back." + +Tommy took two or three steps up and down the studio. "_You_ mustn't +go and see him," he said at last--"that's quite certain. You can't +afford to mix yourself up in a business of this sort." + +"No," I said reluctantly, "but all the same I should very much like to +know what's at the bottom of it." + +"Suppose I take it on, then?" suggested Tommy. + +"What could you say?" I asked. + +"I should tell him that it was a friend of mine--an artist who was +going abroad the next day--who had seen it happen, and that he'd given +me the card and asked me to explain. It's just possible Latimer would +take me into his confidence. He would either have to do that or else +pretend that the whole thing was a joke." + +"I'm quite sure there was no joke about it," I said. "Whether the chap +with the scar belongs to McMurtrie's crowd or not, I'm as certain as I +am that I'm standing here that he drugged that wine. He may not have +meant to murder Latimer, but it looks uncommon fishy." + +"It looks even fishier than you think," answered Tommy. "I'd forgotten +for the moment, when you asked about him, but I remember now that some +fellow at the Athenians once told me that Latimer was supposed to be a +secret-service man of some kind." + +"A secret-service man!" I repeated incredulously. "I didn't know we +went in for such luxuries in this country except in novels. Do you +believe it?" + +"I didn't pay much attention at the time--I thought it was probably +all rot--but this business--" He stopped, and thrusting his hands into +his pockets, again paced slowly up and down the room. + +I gave a thoughtful whistle. "By Jove, Tommy!" I said; "if that's a +fact and the gentleman with the scar is really one of our crowd, I +seem to have dropped in for a rather promising time--don't I! I knew +I was up against the police, but it's a sort of cheerful surprise to +find that I'm taking on the secret service as well." + +Tommy pulled up short. "Look here, Neil!" he said. "I don't like it; +I'm hanged if I do. There's some rotten dirty work going on somewhere; +that's as plain as a pikestaff. I believe these people are simply +using you as a cats-paw. All they want is to get hold of the secret of +this new explosive of yours; then as likely as not they'll hand you +over to the police, or else...." he paused. "Well, you've seen the sort +of crowd they are. It may be all rot about Latimer being in the secret +service, but there's no doubt they tried to poison or drug him last +night. Men who will go as far as that wouldn't stick at getting rid of +you if it happened to suit their book." + +I nodded. "That's all true enough, Tommy," I said; "but what am I to +do? I took the bargain on, and I've no choice now except to go through +with it. I can't walk up to a policeman and say I think Dr. McMurtrie +is a dangerous person engaged on some sort of illegal enterprise." + +Tommy came up, and laid his hand on my shoulder. "Drop it, Neil; chuck +the whole thing and go to America. Joyce has got that eight hundred +pounds of yours; and I can easily let you have another two or three. +In six months' time you'll be able to make as much money as you +choose. You've had three years of hell; what's the good of running +any risks that you can avoid? If there's the least faintest chance +of getting at the truth, you can be certain I'll do it. Don't go and +smash up all the rest of your life over this cursed business. What +does it matter if all the fools in England think you killed Marks? +He deserved to be killed anyway--the swine! Leave them to think, and +clear off to some country where you can start fresh and fair again. It +doesn't matter the least where you go to, you're bound to come to the +top." + +It was about the longest speech I had ever heard Tommy make, and +certainly the most eloquent. For a moment indeed I was almost tempted +to take his advice. Then the thought of George and all the complicated +suffering that I had been through rose up like a wall across my mind. + +"No," I said firmly; "I'm damned if I'll go. I'll see this out if it +means the end of everything." + +As I spoke there came a sharp "ting" from the clock on the +mantelpiece, and looking up I saw that it was half-past four. "By Gad, +Tommy," I added, "I must go from here, though. I've got to be back +at Edith Terrace by five o'clock, or I shall miss this mysterious +visitor." + +"You're coming back here afterwards?" he asked. + +I nodded. "If I can. I haven't the least notion how long they'll keep +me, but I told Joyce I would come round and let you know what had +happened." + +"Good," said Tommy. "Don't be longer than you can help. I'll get in +something to eat, and we'll all have supper together--you and I and +Joyce, and then we can have a good jaw afterwards. There are still +tons of things I want to know about." + +He thrust his arm through mine and walked with me to the door of the +flat. + +"By the way, Thomas," I said, "I suppose the police aren't watching +your place, just on the off-chance of my rolling up. They must +remember you were rather a particular pal of mine." + +"I don't think so," he answered. "They may have had a man on when you +first escaped, but if so he must have got fed up with the job by now. +Don't you worry in any case. Your guardian angel wouldn't recognize +you in that get up--let alone a policeman." + +"If there's any justice," I said, "my guardian angel got the sack +three years ago." + +With this irreverent remark, I shook his hand, and walking down the +passage passed out on to the embankment. + +Having a good two miles to cover and only five-and-twenty minutes to +do it in, it struck me that driving would be the most agreeable method +of getting home. I hesitated for a moment between a taxi and a +motor bus, deciding in favour of the latter chiefly from motives of +sentiment. I had not been on one since my arrest, and besides that +the idea of travelling along the streets in open view of the British +public rather appealed to me. Since my interview with Tommy I was +beginning to feel the most encouraging confidence in McMurtrie's +handiwork. + +So, turning up Beaufort Street, I jumped on to a "Red Victoria" at +the corner, and making my way upstairs, sat down on one of the front +seats. It was the first time I had been down the King's Road by +daylight, and the sight of all the old familiar landmarks was as +refreshing as rain in the desert. Twice I caught a glimpse of some one +whom I had known in the old days--one man was Murgatroyd, the black +and white artist, and the other Doctor O'Hara, the good-natured Irish +medico who had once set a broken finger for me. The latter was coming +out of his house as we passed, and I felt a mischievous longing to +jump off the bus and introduce myself to him, just to see what he +would do. + +At the corner of Sloane Square I had an unexpected and rather dramatic +reminder of my celebrity. As we emerged from the King's Road a +procession of five or six sandwich-men suddenly appeared from the +direction of Symons Street, shuffling dejectedly along at intervals +of a few yards. They were carrying double boards, on which, boldly +printed in red-and-black letters, stared the following announcement: + +MADAME TUSSAUD'S + +MARYLEBONE ROAD + +NEIL +LYNDON + +A LIFELIKE PORTRAIT + +I gazed down at them with a sort of fascinated interest. Somehow +or other it seemed rather like reading one's own tombstone, and I +couldn't help wondering whether I was in the main hall or whether I +had been dignified with an eligible site in the Chamber of Horrors. If +it hadn't been for my appointment I should most certainly have taken a +cab straight up to Marylebone Road in order to find out. + +Promising myself that treat on the morrow, I stuck to my seat, and at +ten minutes to five by the station clock we drew up outside Victoria. +I got off and walked briskly along to Edith Terrace. Turning the +corner of the street, I observed the figure of Miss Gertie 'Uggins +leaning against the front railings, apparently engaged in conversation +with an errand boy on the other side of the road. As soon as she +recognized me she dived down the area steps, reappearing at the front +door just as I reached the house. + +"I was watchin' for yer," she remarked in a hoarse whisper. "There's +summun wants to see yer in there." She jerked her thumb towards the +sitting-room. "It's a lidy," she added. + +"A lady!" I said. "What sort of a lady?" + +"Ow! A reel lidy. She's got a lovely 'at." + +"Is she young and dark and rather nice to look at?" I asked. + +Gertie nodded. "That's 'er. She wouldn't give no nime, but that's 'er +right enough." + +I didn't wait to ask any more questions, but putting down my hat on +the hall table, I walked up to the sitting-room and tapped lightly on +the door. + +"Come in," called out a voice. + +I turned the handle, and the next moment I was face to face with +Sonia. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + +She had risen from the sofa as I entered and was standing in the +centre of the room. The neatly cut, close-fitting dress that she was +wearing suited her dark beauty to perfection and showed off the +lines of her lithe, slender figure. She gave me a curious momentary +impression of some sort of graceful wild animal. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed softly. "I am glad you weren't late. I have to go +away quite soon." + +I took the hand she held out to me. "My dear Sonia," I said, "why +didn't you let me know that you were going to be the visitor?" + +"I didn't know myself," she answered. "The doctor meant to come, but +he was called away unexpectedly this afternoon, so he sent me instead. +I have got a letter for you from him." She let go my fingers gently, +and picking up her bag which was lying on the table, opened it and +took out an envelope. + +"Shall I read it now?" I asked. + +She nodded. + +I slit up the flap and pulled out a folded sheet of foolscap from +inside. It was in McMurtrie's handwriting, but there was no date and +no address. + + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"All the necessary arrangements have now been made with regard to your +workshop at Tilbury. It is situated on the marshes close to the river, +three miles east of the town and a mile to the west of Cunnock Creek. +You can reach it either by the main road which runs half a mile +inland, or by walking along the saltings under the sea-wall. + +"You cannot mistake the place, as it is an absolutely isolated +building, consisting of a small cabin or hut, with a large shed +attached for your work. It is not luxurious, but we have at least +fitted up the interior of your living-room as comfortably as possible, +and you will find in the shed everything that you specified in your +list as being necessary for your experiments. + +"I should be glad if you would arrange to go down there and start work +the day after tomorrow. There is a train from Fenchurch Street to +Tilbury at 11.45 in the morning, and if you will catch that I will +see that there is a trap to meet you at the station and drive you out +along the road as near to the place as it is possible to get. This +hardly gives you the full week in London which you wished for, but +circumstances have arisen that make it of great importance to us to +be able to place your invention on the market as quickly as possible. +From your own point of view the sooner the work is done the sooner you +will be in possession of funds, and so able to make any use of your +liberty you choose. + +"Sonia has the keys of the building, and will give them you with this +letter. + +"While you are working at the hut, it will be better, I think, if you +stay entirely on the premises. I believe you will find everything +you want in the way of food and cooking materials, and you will, of +course, take down your own personal belongings with you. In the event +of anything you really need having been forgotten, you can always walk +into Tilbury, but I should strongly advise you not to do so, except +in a case of absolute necessity. Apart from any danger of your being +recognized, we are extremely anxious that no one connected with the +powder trade should have the least idea that experiments are being +conducted with regard to a new explosive. A large part of the +immediate value of your invention will consist in its coming on the +market as an absolute surprise. + +"I have been unexpectedly called away for a few days, but directly I +return I shall come down to Tilbury and see you. Should you wish to +communicate with me in the interval, you can do so by writing or +wiring to me at the Hotel Russell, London, W.C. + +"I hope that you have enjoyed your well-earned if rather long-delayed +holiday. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +I finished reading and slowly refolded the letter. + +"You know what this is about, of course, Sonia?" I said. + +She nodded again. "They want you to go down there at once. You must do +it; you must do everything you are told just at present." + +"I ought to be able to manage that," I said grimly. "I've had plenty +of practice the last three years." + +With a swift, silent movement she came up to me and put her hands on +my arm. "You must trust me," she said, speaking in that low passionate +voice of hers. "You know that I love you; you know that I am only +waiting for the right time to act. When it comes I will give you a +chance such as few men have had--a chance that will mean wealth and +freedom and--and--love." She breathed out the last word almost in a +whisper, and then, raising her hands to my shoulders, drew down my +face and pressed her lips to mine. + +I have no dislike to being kissed by a beautiful woman; indeed, on +the previous occasion when Sonia had so honoured me I had distinctly +enjoyed the experience. This time, however, I felt a trifle +uncomfortable. I had a kind of unpleasant sensation that somehow or +other I was not quite playing the game. + +Still, as I have said elsewhere, an escaped convict cannot afford to +be too nice in his emotions, so I returned her kiss with the same +readiness and warmth as I had done before. Then, straightening myself, +I unlaced her arms from my neck, and looked down smilingly into those +strange dark eyes that were turned up to mine. + +"I'm a poor sort of host," I said, "but you see I am a little out of +training. Won't you have some tea or anything, Sonia?" + +"No, no," she answered quickly. "I don't want anything. I must go in a +minute; I have to meet my father with the car." Then, taking my hand +between hers, she added: "Tell me what you have been doing yourself. +Have you seen your cousin--the man who lied about you at the trial? I +have been afraid about him; I have been afraid that you would kill him +and perhaps be found out." + +"There's no hurry about it," I said. "It's rather pleasant to have +something to look forward to." + +"But you have seen him?" + +I nodded. "I had the pleasure of walking behind him for a couple of +miles yesterday. He looks a little worried, but quite well otherwise." + +She laughed softly. "Ah, you can afford to let him wait. And the girl, +Joyce? Have you seen her?" + +She asked the question quite dispassionately, and yet in some curious +way I had a sudden vague feeling of menace and danger. Anyhow, I lied +as readily and instinctively as Ananias. + +"No," I said. "George is the only part of my past that interests me +now." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible expression of satisfaction +flicker across her face, but if so it was gone immediately. + +"Sonia," I said, "there is a question I want to ask you. Am I +developing nerves, or have I really been watched and followed since I +came to London?" + +She looked at me steadily. "What makes you think so?" she asked. + +"Well," I said, "it may be only my imagination, but I have an idea +that a gentleman with a scar on his face has been taking a rather +affectionate interest in my movements." + +For a moment she hesitated; then with a rather scornful little laugh +she shrugged her shoulders. "I told them it was unnecessary!" she +said. + +I crushed down the exclamation that nearly rose to my lips. So the man +with the scar _was_ one of McMurtrie's emissaries, after all, and his +dealings with Mr. Bruce Latimer most certainly did concern me. The +feeling that I was entangled in some unknown network of evil and +mystery came back to me with redoubled force. + +"I hope the report was satisfactory," I said lightly. + +Sonia nodded. "They only wanted to make certain that you had gone to +Edith Terrace. I don't think you were followed after the first night." + +"No," I said, "I don't think I was." Precisely how much the boot had +been on the opposite foot it seemed unnecessary to add. + +Sonia walked to the table and again opened her bag. "I mustn't stay +any longer--now," she said. "I have to meet the car at six o'clock. +Here are the keys." She took them out and came across to where I was +standing. + +"Good-bye, Sonia," I said, taking her hands in mine. + +"No, no," she whispered; "don't say that: I hate the word. Listen, +Neil. I am coming to you again, down there, when we shall be +alone--you and I together. I don't know when it will be, but soon--ah, +just as soon as I can. I can't help you, not in the way I mean to, +until you have finished your work, but I will come to you, and--and...." +Her voice failed, and lowering her head she buried her face in my +coat. I bent down, and in a moment her lips met mine in another long, +passionate kiss. It was hard to see how I could have acted otherwise, +but all the same I didn't feel exactly proud of myself. + +Indeed, it was in a state of very mixed emotions that I came back into +the house after we had walked together as far as the corner of the +street. The mere fact of my having found out for certain that the man +with the scar was an agent of McMurtrie's was enough in itself to give +me food for pretty considerable thought. Any suspicions I may have had +as to the genuineness of the doctor's story were now amply confirmed. +I was not intimately acquainted with the working methods of the High +Explosives Trade, but it seemed highly improbable that they could +involve the drugging or poisoning of Government officials in public +restaurants. As Tommy had forcibly expressed it, there was some +"damned shady work" going on somewhere or other, and for all Sonia's +comforting assurances concerning my own eventual prosperity, I felt +that I was mixed up in about as sinister a mystery as even an escaped +murderer could very well have dropped into. + +The thought of Sonia brought me back to the question of our relations. +I could hardly doubt now that she loved me with all the force of her +strange, sullen, passionate nature, and that for my sake she was +preparing to take some pretty reckless step. What this was remained to +be seen, but that it amounted to a practical betrayal of her father +and McMurtrie seemed fairly obvious from the way in which she had +spoken. From the point of view of my own interests, it was an amazing +stroke of luck that she should have fallen in love with me, and yet +somehow or other I felt distinctly uncomfortable about it. I seemed +to be taking an unfair advantage of her, though how on earth I was to +avoid doing so was a question which I was quite unable to solve. I +certainly couldn't afford to quarrel with her, and she was hardly the +sort of girl to accept anything in the nature of a disappointment to +her affections in exactly a philosophic frame of mind. + +I was still pondering over this rather delicate problem, when there +came a knock at the door, and in answer to my summons Gertie 'Uggins +inserted her head. + +"The lidy's gorn?" she observed, looking inquiringly round the room. + +I nodded. "There is no deception, Gertrude," I said. "You can search +the coal-scuttle if you like." + +She wriggled the rest of her body in round the doorway. "Mrs. Oldbury +sent me up to ask if you'd be wantin' dinner." + +"No," I said; "I am going out." + +Gertie nodded thoughtfully. "Taikin' 'er, I s'pose?" + +"To be quite exact," I said, "I am dining with another lady." + +There was a short pause. Then, with an air of some embarrassment +Gertie broke the silence. '"Ere," she said: "you know that five bob +you give me?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, I ain't spendin' it on no dinner--see. I'm goin' to buy a 'at +wiv it--a 'at like 'ers: d'yer mind?" + +"I do mind," I said severely. "That money was intended for your +inside, Gertie, not your outside. You have your dinner, and I'll buy +you a new hat myself." + +She clasped her hands together. "Ow!" she cried. "Yer mean it? Yer +reely mean it?" + +"I never joke," I said, "on sacred subjects." + +Then to my dismay she suddenly began to cry. "You ain't 'alf--'alf bin +good to me," she jerked out. "No one ain't never bin good to me like +you. I'd--I'd do anyfink for you." + +"In that case," I said, "you may give me my hat--and cheer up." + +She obeyed both commands, and then, still sniffing, valiantly marched +to the front door and opened it for me to go out. + +"Goo'-night, sir," she said. + +"Good-night, Gertrude," I replied; and leaving her standing on the +step I set off down the street. Whatever else prison might have done +for me, it certainly seemed to have given me a capacity for making +friends. + +I reached Florence Court at about a quarter to seven, keeping a +sharp lookout along the embankment as I approached for any sign of +a loitering detective. Except for one aged gentleman, however, who +seemed to be wholly occupied in spitting in the Thames, the stretch in +front of the studios was absolutely deserted. Glancing at the board +in the hall as I entered, I saw that "Mr. Morrison" and "Miss Vivien" +were both "in"--a statement which in Tommy's case was confirmed a +moment later by his swift appearance at the door in answer to my +knock. + +"Mr. Morrison, I believe?" I said. + +He seized me by the arm and dragged me inside. + +"This is fine. I never thought you'd be back as quick as this. Are +things all right?" + +"I should hardly go as far as that," I said. "But we seem to be +getting along quite nicely." + +He nodded. "Good! I just want a wash, and then we'll go right in to +Joyce's place. We are going to have supper there, and you can tell us +all about it while we're feeding." + +He splashed out some water into a basin in the corner of the studio, +and made his ablutions with a swiftness that reminded me of some of my +own toilets in the grey twilight of a Dartmoor dawn. Tommy was never a +man who wasted much trouble over the accessories of life. + +"Come along," he said, flinging down the towel on the sofa. "Joyce +will be dying to hear what's happened!" + +I turned towards the hall, but he suddenly put his hand on my shoulder +and pulled me back. + +"Not that way. We've a private road now--runs along the back of the +studios." + +He crossed the room, and opened a door which led out into a narrow +stone passage roofed in by glass. + +I followed him along this till we came to another door, on which Tommy +tapped twice with his knuckles. In a moment we heard a key turn and +Joyce was standing on the threshold. When she saw who it was she gave +a little cry of welcome and held out both her hands. + +"But how nice!" she exclaimed. "I never thought you'd be here so +soon." + +We had each taken a hand, and talking and laughing at the same time, +she pulled us in after her and shut the door. + +"At last!" she cried softly; "at last!" And for a second or two we all +three stood there just gripping each other's hands and not saying a +word. It certainly was rather a good feeling. + +Tommy was the first to break the silence. "Damn it," he said huskily, +"if Neil didn't look so exactly like a brigand chief I believe I +should blubber. Eh, Joyce--how do you feel?" + +"I feel all right," said Joyce. "And he doesn't look a bit like a +brigand chief. He looks splendid." She stood back and surveyed me with +a sort of tender proprietorship. + +"I suppose we shall get used to it," remarked Tommy. "It nearly gave +me heart disease to begin with." Then, going and locking the side +door, he added cheerfully, "I vote we have supper at once. I've had +nothing except whisky since I came off the boat." + +"Well, there's heaps to eat," said Joyce. "I've been out marketing in +the King's Road." + +"What have you got?" demanded Tommy hungrily. + +Joyce ticked them off with her fingers. "There's a cold chicken and +salad, some stuffed olives--those are for you, Neil, you always used +to like them--a piece of Stilton cheese and a couple of bottles of +champagne. They're all in the kitchen, so come along both of you and +help me get them." + +"Where's the faithful Clara?" asked Tommy. + +"I've sent her out for the evening. I didn't want any one to be here +except just us three." + +We all trooped into Joyce's tiny kitchen and proceeded to carry back +our supper into the studio, where we set it out on the table in the +centre. We were so ridiculously happy that for some little time our +conversation was inclined to be a trifle incoherent: indeed, it was +not until we had settled down round the table and Tommy had knocked +the head off the first bottle of champagne with the back of his knife +that we in any way got back to our real environment. + +It was Joyce who brought about the change. "I keep on feeling I shall +wake up in a minute," she said, "and find out that it's all a dream." + +"Put it off as long as possible," said Tommy gravely. "It would be +rotten for Neil to find himself back in Dartmoor before he'd finished +his champagne." + +"I don't know when I shall get any more as it is," I said. "I've got +to start work the day after tomorrow." + +There was a short pause: Joyce pushed away her plate and leaned +forward, her eyes fixed on mine; while Tommy stretched out his arm and +filled up my glass. + +"Go on," he said. "What's happened?" + +In as few words as possible I told them about my interview with Sonia, +and showed them the letter which she had brought me from McMurtrie. +They both read it--Joyce first and then Tommy, the latter tossing it +back with a grunt that was more eloquent than any possible comment. + +"It's too polite," he said. "It's too damn' polite altogether. You can +see they're up to some mischief." + +"I am afraid they are, Tommy," I said; "and it strikes me that it must +be fairly useful mischief if we're right about Mr. Bruce Latimer. By +the way, does Joyce know?" + +Tommy nodded. "She's right up to date: I've told her everything. The +question is, how much has that affair got to do with us? It's quite +possible, if they're the sort of scoundrels they seem to be, that they +might be up against the Secret Service in some way quite apart from +their dealings with you." + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed, "I never thought of that. One's +inclined to get a bit egotistical when one's an escaped murderer." + +"It was Joyce's idea," admitted Tommy modestly, "but it's quite likely +there's something in it. Of course we've no proof at present one +way or the other. What do you think this girl--what's her +name--Sonia--means to do?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Goodness knows," I said. "It looks as if +there was a chance of making a big immediate profit on my invention, +and that she intended me to scoop it in instead of her father and +McMurtrie. I can't think of anything else." + +Tommy pulled up a fresh plate and helped himself to some cheese. + +"She must be pretty keen on you," he observed. + +"Well, you needn't rub it in, Tommy," I said. "I feel quite enough of +a cad as it is." + +"You're not," interrupted Joyce indignantly. "If she really loves you, +of course she wants to help you whether you love her or not." + +"Still, she'll expect a _quid pro quo_," persisted Tommy. + +"Then it isn't love," returned Joyce scornfully, "and in that case +there's no need to bother about her." + +This seemed a most logical point of view, and I determined to adopt it +for the future if my conscience would allow me. + +"What about your invention?" asked Tommy. "How long will it take you +to work it out?" + +"Well, as a matter of fact," I said, "it is worked out--as much as any +invention can be without being put to a practical test. I was just on +that when the smash came. I had actually made some of the powder and +proved its power, but I'd never tried it on what one might call a +working basis. If they've given me all the things I want, I don't see +any reason why I shouldn't fix it up in two or three days. There's +no real difficulty in its manufacture. I wasn't too definite with +McMurtrie. I thought it best to give myself a little margin." + +Tommy nodded. "You've handled the whole thing splendidly up till +now," he said. "I rather think it's the ticklish part that's coming, +though." Then he paused. "Look here!" he added suddenly. "I've got a +great notion. Why shouldn't we run down tomorrow in the _Betty_ and +have a squint at this place of yours? There's nothing like taking a +few soundings when you're not too sure about things." + +I drew in a deep breath. "I'd love to, Tommy," I said, "but it's +rather asking for trouble, isn't it? Suppose there was still someone +about there? If McMurtrie had the faintest idea I'd given away the +show--" + +"He won't," interrupted Tommy; "he can't. We'll take precious good +care of that. Listen here: I've got the whole thing mapped out in my +mind. The _Betty's_ at Leigh, where I laid her up yesterday. I had a +seven-horse-power Kelvin engine put in her last year, so we can get +up, whatever the wind is--I know the tide will be about right. Well, +my idea is that we three go down to Leigh tomorrow morning and take +her up to this place Cunnock Creek, or somewhere near. Then if it's +all serene you can land and have a look round; if there seems to be +any one about we can just push off again. Joyce and I won't show up at +all, anyway: we'll stop on board and let you do the scouting." + +"Yes, yes," exclaimed Joyce, her eyes shining eagerly. "Let's go. It +can't do any harm, and you might find out all sorts of useful things." + +"Besides," added Tommy, "it would be the deuce of a day, and it's a +long time since any of us had a good day, eh, Joyce?" + +"Three years," said Joyce quietly. + +That decided me. "Right you are," I said. "You're--you're something +like pals, you two." + +We clinched the arrangement with a grip, and then Joyce, jumping up +from the table, crossed the room to a small writing-desk. "I've got a +time-table somewhere here," she said, "so we can look out the train +right away." + +"It's all right," said Tommy. "I know 'em backwards. We'll catch the +nine-five from Fenchurch Street. It's low water at eight-thirty, so +that will get us in about the right time. We can leave the _Betty_ at +Tilbury or Gravesend afterwards, and come back by train from there. +We'll be home for dinner or supper or something." + +Joyce nodded. "That will just do," she said. "I am going out again +with George in the evening. Oh, I haven't told either of you about +last night--have I?" + +I shook my head. "No," I said, "but in any case I wish you'd drop that +part of it, Joyce dear. I hate to think of you dining with George: it +offends my sense of decency." + +She took an envelope out of the desk and came back to her place at the +table. "I mean to drop it quite soon," she said calmly, "but I must +go tomorrow. George is on the point of being rather interesting." She +paused a moment. "He told me last night that he was expecting to get a +cheque for twelve thousand pounds." + +"Twelve thousand pounds!" I echoed in astonishment. + +"Where the Devil's he going to get it from?" demanded Tommy. + +"That," said Joyce, "is exactly what I mean to find out. You see +George is at present under the impression that if he can convince me +he is speaking the truth I am coming away with him for a yachting +cruise in the Mediterranean. Well, tomorrow I am going to be +convinced--and it will have to be done very thoroughly." + +Tommy gave a long whistle. "I wonder what dog's trick he's up to now. +He can't be getting the money straight: I know they've done nothing +there the last year." + +"It would be interesting to find out," I admitted. "All the same, +Joyce, I don't see why you should do all the dirty work of the firm." + +"It's my job for the minute," said Joyce cheerfully, "and none of the +firm's work is dirty to me." + +She came across, and opening my coat, slipped the envelope which she +had taken out of her desk into my inner pocket. "I got those out of +the bank today," she said--"twenty five-pound notes. You had better +take them before we forget: you're sure to want some money." + +Then, before I could speak, she picked up the second bottle of +champagne that Tommy had just opened, and filled up all three glasses. + +"I like your description of us as the firm," she said; "don't you, +Tommy? Let's all drink a health to it!" + +Tommy jumped to his feet and held up his glass. "The Firm!" he cried. +"And may all the fools who sent Neil to prison live to learn their +idiocy!" + +I followed his example. "The Firm!" I cried, "and may everyone in +trouble have pals like you!" + +Joyce thrust her arm through mine and rested her head against my +shoulder. "The Firm!" she said softly. Then, with a little break in +her voice, she added in a whisper: "And you don't really want Sonia, +do you, Neil?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A HUMAN "CATCH" + + +It's not often that the weather in England is really appropriate +to one's mood, but the sunshine that was streaming down into Edith +Terrace as I banged the front door at half-past eight the next morning +seemed to fit in exactly with my state of mind. I felt as cheerful as +a schoolboy out for a holiday. Apart altogether from the knowledge +that I was going to spend a whole delightful day with Tommy and Joyce, +the mere idea of getting on the water again was enough in itself to +put me into the best of spirits. + +I stopped for a moment at the flower-stall outside Victoria Station to +buy Joyce a bunch of violets--she had always been fond of violets--and +then calling up a taxi instructed the man to drive me to Fenchurch +Street. + +I found Tommy and Joyce waiting for me on the platform. The former +looked superbly disreputable in a very old and rather dirty grey +flannel suit, while Joyce, who was wearing a white serge skirt with +a kind of green knitted coat, seemed beautifully in keeping with the +sunshine outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy. "We were just getting the jim-jams about +you. Thought you'd eloped with Sonia or something." + +I shook my head. "I never elope before midday," I said. "I haven't the +necessary stamina." + +I offered Joyce the bunch, which she took with a smile, giving my hand +a little squeeze by way of gratitude. "You dear!" she said. "Fancy +your remembering that." + +"Well, come along," said Tommy. "This is the train all right; I've got +the tickets and some papers." + +He opened the door of a first-class carriage just behind us, and we +all three climbed in. "We shall have it to ourselves," he added. +"No one ever travels first on this line except the Port of London +officials, and they don't get up till the afternoon." + +We settled ourselves down, Tommy on one side and Joyce and I on the +other, and a minute later the train steamed slowly out of the station. +Joyce slipped her hand into mine, and we sat there looking out of the +window over the sea of grey roofs and smoking chimney-stacks which +make up the dreary landscape of East London. + +"Have a paper?" asked Tommy, holding out the _Daily Mail_. + +"No, thanks, Tommy," I said. "I'm quite happy as I am. You can tell us +the news if there is any." + +He opened the sheet and ran his eye down the centre page. "There's +nothing much in it," he said, "bar this German business. No one seems +to know what's going to happen about that. I wonder what the Kaiser +thinks he's playing at. He can't be such a fool as to want to fight +half Europe." + +"How is the Navy these days?" I asked. "One doesn't worry about +trifles like that in Dartmoor." + +"Oh, we're all right," replied Tommy cheerfully. "The Germans haven't +got a torpedo to touch yours yet, and we're still a long way ahead of +'em in ships. We could wipe them off the sea in a week if they came +out to fight." + +"Well, that's comforting," I said. "I don't want them sailing up the +Thames till I've finished. I've no use for a stray shell in my line of +business." + +"I tell you what I'm going to do, Neil," said Tommy. "I was thinking +it over in bed last night after you'd gone. If there is any possible +sort of anchorage for a boat in this Cunnock Creek I shall leave the +_Betty_ there. It's only a mile from your place, and then either Joyce +or I can come down and see you without running the risk of being +spotted by your charming pals. Besides, at a pinch it might be +precious handy for you. If things got too hot on shore you could +always slip away by water. It's not as if you were dependent on the +tides. Now I've had this little engine put in her she'll paddle off +any old time--provided you can get the blessed thing to start." + +"You're a brick, Tommy," I said gratefully. "There's nothing I'd like +better. But as for you and Joyce coming down--" + +"Of course we shall come down," interrupted Joyce. "I shall come just +as soon as I can. Who do you think is going to look after you and do +your cooking?" + +"Good Lord, Joyce!" I said. "I'm in much too tight a corner to worry +about luxuries." + +"That's no reason why you should be uncomfortable," said Joyce calmly. +"I shan't come near you in the day, while you're working. I shall stay +on the _Betty_ and cook dinner for you in the evening, and then as +soon as it's dark you can shut up the place and slip across to the +creek. Oh, it will be great fun--won't it, Tommy?" + +Tommy laughed. "I think so," he said; "but I suppose there are people +in the world who might hold a different opinion." Then he turned to +me. "It's all right, Neil. We'll give you two or three clear days to +see how the land lies and shove along with your work. Joyce has got to +find out where George is getting that cheque from, and I mean to look +up Latimer and sound him about his dinner at Parelli's. You'll be +quite glad to see either of us by that time." + +"Glad!" I echoed. "I shall be so delighted, I shall probably blow +myself up. It's you two I'm thinking of. The more I see of this job +the more certain I am there's something queer about it, and if there's +going to be any trouble down there I don't want you and Joyce dragged +into it." + +"We shan't want much dragging," returned Tommy. "As far as the firm's +business goes we're all three in the same boat. We settled that last +night." + +"So there's nothing more to be said," added Joyce complacently. + +I looked from one to the other. Then I laughed and shrugged my +shoulders. "No," I said, "I suppose there isn't." + +Through the interminable slums of Plaistow and East Ham we drew out in +the squalid region of Barking Creek, and I looked down on the mud and +the dirty brown water with a curious feeling of satisfaction. It was +like meeting an old friend again after a long separation. The lower +Thames, with its wharves, its warehouses, and its never-ceasing +traffic, had always had a strange fascination for me; and in the old +days, when I wanted to come to Town from Leigh or Port Victoria, I had +frequently sailed my little six-tonner, the _Penguin_, right up as far +as the Tower Bridge. I could remember now the utter amazement with +which George had always regarded this proceeding. + +"Are you feeling pretty strong this morning?" asked Tommy, breaking a +long silence. "The _Betty's_ lying out in the Ray, and the only way of +getting at her will be to tramp across the mud. There's no water for +another four hours. We shall have to take turns carrying Joyce." + +"You won't," said Joyce. "I shall take off my shoes and stockings and +tramp too. I suppose you've got some soap on board." + +"You'll shock Leigh terribly if you do," said Tommy. "It's a beautiful +respectable place nowadays--all villas and trams and picture +palaces--rather like a bit of Upper Tooting." + +"It doesn't matter," said Joyce. "I've got very nice feet and ankles, +and I'm sure it's much less immoral than being carried in turns. Don't +you think so, Neil?" + +"Certainly," I said gravely. "No properly-brought-up girl would +hesitate for a moment." + +We argued over the matter at some length: Tommy maintaining that he +was the only one of the three who knew anything about the minds of +really respectable people--a contention which Joyce and I indignantly +disputed. As far as I can remember, we were still discussing the point +when the train ran into Leigh station and pulled up at the platform. + +"Here you are," said Tommy, handing me a basket. "You freeze on to +this; it's our lunch. I want to get a couple more cans of paraffin +before we go on board. There is some, but it's just as well to be on +the safe side." + +We left the station, and walking a few yards down the hill, pulled up +at a large wooden building which bore the dignified title of "Marine +and Yachting Stores." Here Tommy invested in the paraffin and one or +two other trifles he needed, and then turning off down some slippery +stone steps, we came out on the beach. Before us stretched a long bare +sweep of mud and sand, while out beyond lay the Ray Channel, with a +number of small boats and fishing-smacks anchored along its narrow +course. + +"There's the _Betty_," said Tommy, pointing to a smart-looking little +clinker-built craft away at the end of the line. "I've had her painted +since you saw her last." + +"And from what I remember, Tommy," I said, "she wanted it--badly." + +Joyce seated herself on a baulk of timber and began composedly to take +off her shoes and stockings. "How deep does one sink in?" she asked. +"I don't want to get this skirt dirtier than I can help." + +"You'll be all right if you hold it well up," said Tommy, "unless we +happen to strike a quicksand." + +"Well, you must go first," said Joyce, "then if we do, Neil and I can +step on you." + +Tommy chuckled, and sitting down on the bank imitated Joyce's example, +rolling his trousers up over the knee. I followed suit, and then, +gathering up our various belongings, we started off gingerly across +the mud. + +Tommy led the way, his shoes slung over his shoulder, and a tin of +paraffin in each hand. He evidently knew the lie of the land, for he +picked out the firmest patches with remarkable dexterity, keeping +on looking back to make sure that Joyce and I were following in his +footsteps. It was nasty, sloppy walking at the best, however, for +every step one took one went in with a squelch right up to the ankle, +and I think we had all had pretty well enough by the time we reached +the boat. Poor Joyce, indeed, was so exhausted that she had to sit +down on the lunch basket, while Tommy and I, by means of wading out +into the channel, managed to get hold of the dinghy. + +Our first job on getting aboard was to wash off the mud. We sat in a +row along the deck with our feet over the side; Tommy flatly refusing +to allow us any farther until we were all properly cleaned. Then, +while Joyce was drying herself and putting on her shoes and stockings, +he and I went down into the cabin and routed out a bottle of whisky +and a siphon of soda from somewhere under the floor. + +"What we want," he observed, "is a good stiff peg all round"; and the +motion being carried unanimously as far as Joyce and I were concerned, +three good stiff pegs were accordingly despatched. + +"That's better," said Tommy with a sigh. "Now we're on the safe side. +There's many a good yachtsman died of cold through neglecting these +simple precautions." Then jumping up and looking round he added +cheerfully: "We shall be able to sail the whole way up; the wind's +dead east and likely to stay there." + +"I suppose you'll take her out on the engine," I said. "This is a nice +useful ditch, but there doesn't seem to be much water in it for fancy +work." + +Tommy nodded. "You go and get in the anchor," he said, "and I'll see +if I can persuade her to start. She'll probably break my arm, but +that's a detail." + +He opened a locker at the back of the well, and squatted down in front +of it, while I climbed along the deck to the bows and proceeded +to hand in several fathoms of wet and slimy chain. I had scarcely +concluded this unpleasant operation, when with a sudden loud hum the +engine began working, and the next moment we were slowly throbbing our +way forwards down the centre of the channel. + +The Ray runs right down to Southend Pier, but there are several narrow +openings out of it connecting with the river. Through one of these +Tommy steered his course, bringing us into the main stream a few +hundred yards down from where we had been lying. Then, turning her +round, he handed the tiller over to Joyce, and clambered up alongside +of me on to the roof of the cabin. + +"Come on, Neil," he said. "I've had enough of this penny steamer +business. Let's get out the sails and shove along like gentlemen." + +The _Betty's_ rig was not a complicated one. It consisted of a +mainsail, a jib, and a spinnaker, and in a very few minutes we had set +all three of them and were bowling merrily upstream with the dinghy +bobbing and dipping behind us. Tommy jumped down and switched off the +engine, while Joyce, resigning the tiller to me, climbed up and seated +herself on the boom of the mainsail. She had taken off her hat, and +her hair gleamed in the sunshine like copper in the firelight. + +I don't think we did much talking for the first few miles: at least I +know I didn't. There is no feeling in the way of freedom quite so fine +as scudding along in a small ship with a good breeze behind you; and +after being cooped up for three years in a prison cell I drank in the +sensation like a man who has been almost dying of thirst might gulp +down his first draught of water. The mere tug of the tiller beneath my +hand filled me with a kind of fierce delight, while the splash of +the water as it rippled past the sides of the boat seemed to me the +bravest and sweetest music I had ever heard. + +I think Joyce and Tommy realized something of what I was feeling, for +neither of them made any real attempt at conversation. Now and then +the latter would jump up to haul in or let out the main sheet a +little, and once or twice he pointed out some slight alteration which +had been recently made in the buoying of the river. Joyce sat quite +still for the most part, either smiling happily at me, or else +watching the occasional ships and barges that we passed, most of which +were just beginning to get under way. + +We had rounded Canvey Island and left Hole Haven some little distance +behind us, when Tommy, who was leaning over the side staring out +ahead, suddenly turned back to me. + +"There's someone coming round the point in a deuce of a hurry," he +remarked. "Steam launch from the look of it. Better give 'em a wide +berth, or we'll have their wash aboard." + +I bent down and took a quick glance under the spinnaker boom. A couple +of hundred yards ahead a long, white, vicious-looking craft was racing +swiftly towards us, throwing up a wave on either side of her bows that +spread out fanwise across the river. + +I shoved down the helm, and swung the _Betty_ a little off her course +so as to give them plenty of room to go by. They came on without +slackening speed in the least, and passed us at a pace which I +estimated roughly to be about sixteen knots an hour. I caught a +momentary glimpse of a square-shouldered man with a close-trimmed +auburn beard crouching in the stern, and then the next moment a wave +broke right against our bows, drenching all three of us in a cloud of +flying spray. + +Tommy swore vigorously. "That's the kind of river-hog who ought to be +choked," he said. "If I--" + +He was interrupted by a sudden exclamation from Joyce. She had jumped +up laughing when the spray swept over her, and now, holding on to the +rigging, she was pointing excitedly to something just ahead of us. + +"Quick, Tommy!" she said. "There's a man in the water--drowning. +They've swamped his boat." + +In a flash Tommy had leaped to the side. "Keep her going," he shouted +to me. "We're heading straight for him." Then scrambing aft he grabbed +hold of the tow rope and swiftly hauled the dinghy alongside. + +"I'll pick him up, Tommy," I said quietly. "You look after the boat: +you know her better than I do." + +He nodded, and calling to Joyce to take over the tiller sprang up on +to the deck ready to lower the sails. I cast off the painter, all but +one turn, and handing the end to Joyce, told her to let it go as soon +as I shouted. Then, pulling the dinghy right up against the side of +the boat, I waited my chance and dropped down into her. + +I was just getting out the sculls, when a sudden shout from Tommy of +"There he is!" made me look hurriedly round. About twenty yards away a +man was splashing feebly in the water, making vain efforts to reach an +oar that was floating close beside him. + +"Let her go, Joyce!" I yelled, and the next moment I was tugging +furiously across the intervening space with the loose tow rope +trailing behind me. + +I was only just in time. Almost exactly as I reached the man he +suddenly gave up struggling, and with a faint gurgling sort of cry +disappeared beneath the water. I leaned out of the boat, and plunging +my arm in up to the shoulder, clutched him by the collar. + +"No, you don't, Bertie," I said cheerfully. "Not this journey." + +It's a ticklish business dragging a half-drowned man into a dinghy +without upsetting it, but by getting him down aft, I at last managed +to hoist him up over the gunwale. He came in like some great wet fish, +and I flopped him down in the stern sheets. Then with a deep breath I +sat down myself. I was feeling a bit pumped. + +For a moment or two my "catch" lay where he was, blowing, gasping, +grunting, and spitting out mouthfuls of dirty water. He was a little +weazened man of middle age, with a short grizzled beard. Except for +a pair of fairly new sea-boots, he was dressed in old nondescript +clothes which could not have taken much harm even from the Thames mud. +Indeed, on the whole, I should think their recent immersion had done +them good. + +"Well," I said encouragingly, "how do you feel?" + +With a big effort he raised himself on his elbow. "Right enough, +guv'nor," he gasped, "right enough." Then, sinking back again, he +added feebly: "If you see them oars o' mine, you might pick 'em up." + +There was a practical touch about this that rather appealed to me. I +sat up, and, looking round, discovered the _Betty_ about forty yards +away. Tommy had got the sails down and set the engine going, and he +was already turning her round to come back and pick us up. I waved my +hand to him--a greeting which he returned with a triumphant hail. + +Standing up, I inspected the surrounding water for any sign of my +guest's belongings. I immediately discovered both oars, which were +drifting upstream quite close to one another and only a few yards +away; but except for them there was no sign of wreckage. His boat and +everything else in it had vanished as completely as a submarine. + +I salvaged the oars, however, and had just got them safely on board, +when the _Betty_ came throbbing up, and circled neatly round us. +Tommy, who was steering, promptly shut down the engine to its slowest +pace, and reaching up I grabbed hold of Joyce's hand, which she held +out to me, and pulled the dinghy alongside. + +"Very nice, Tommy," I said. "Lipton couldn't have done it better." + +"How's the poor man?" asked Joyce, looking down pityingly at my +prostrate passenger. + +At the sound of her voice the latter roused himself from his recumbent +position, and made a shaky effort to sit up straight. + +"He'll be all right when he's got a little whisky inside him," I said. +"Come on, Tommy; you catch hold, and I'll pass him over." + +I stooped down, and, taking him round the waist, lifted him right up +over the gunwale of the _Betty_, where Tommy received him rather like +a man accepting a sack of coals. Then, catching hold of the tow rope, +I jumped up myself, and made the dinghy fast to a convenient cleat. + +Tommy dumped down his burden on one of the well seats. + +"You've had a precious narrow squeak, my friend," he observed +pleasantly. + +The man nodded. "If you hadn't 'a come along as you did, sir, I'd 'ave +bin dead by now--dead as a dog-fish." Then turning round he shook his +gnarled fist over the _Betty's_ stern in the direction of the vanished +launch. "Sunk me wi' their blarsted wash," he quavered; "that's what +they done." + +"Well, accidents will happen," I said; "but they were certainly going +much too fast." + +"Accidents!" he repeated bitterly; "this warn't no accident. They done +it a purpose--the dirty Dutchmen." + +"Sunk you deliberately!" exclaimed Tommy. "What on earth makes you +think that?" + +A kind of half-cunning, half-cautious look came into our visitor's +face. + +"Mebbe I knows too much to please 'em," he muttered, shaking his head. +"Mebbe they'd be glad to see old Luke Gow under the water." + +I thought for a moment that the shock of the accident had made him +silly, but before I could speak Joyce came out of the cabin carrying +half a tumbler of neat whisky. + +"You get that down your neck," said Tommy, "and you'll feel like a +two-year-old." + +I don't know if whisky is really the correct antidote for Thames +water, but at all events our guest accepted the glass and shifted its +contents without a quiver. As soon as he had finished Tommy took him +by the arm and helped him to his feet. + +"Now come along into the cabin," he said, "and I'll see if I can fix +you up with some dry kit." Then turning to me he added: "You might get +the sails up again while we're dressing, Neil; it's a pity to waste +any of this breeze." + +I nodded, and resigning the tiller to Joyce, climbed up on to the +deck, and proceeded to reset both the mainsail and the spinnaker, +which were lying in splendid confusion along the top of the cabin. +I had just concluded this operation when Tommy and our visitor +reappeared--the latter looking rather comic in a grey jersey, a pair +of white flannel trousers, and an old dark blue cricketing blazer and +cap. + +"I've been telling our friend Mr. Gow that he's got to sue these +chaps," said Tommy. "He knows who they are: they're a couple of +Germans who've got a bungalow on Sheppey, close to that little creek +we used to put in at." + +"You make 'em pay," continued Tommy. "They haven't a leg to stand on, +rushing past like that. They as near as possible swamped us." + +Mr. Gow cast a critical eye round the _Betty_. "Ay! and you'd take a +deal o' swampin,' mister. She's a fine manly little ship, an' that's a +fact." Then he paused. "It's hard on a man to lose his boat," he added +quietly; "specially when 'is livin' depends on 'er." + +"What do you do?" I asked. "What's your job?" + +Mr. Gow hesitated for a moment. "Well, in a manner o' speakin', I +haven't got what you might call no reg'lar perfession, sir. I just +picks up what I can outer the river like. I rows folks out to their +boats round Tilbury way, and at times I does a bit of eel fishing--or +maybe in summer there's a job lookin' arter the yachts at Leigh and +Southend. It all comes the same to me, sir." + +"Do you know Cunnock Creek?" asked Tommy. + +"Cunnock Crick!" repeated Mr. Gow. "Why, I should think I did, sir. My +cottage don't lie more than a mile from Cunnock Crick. Is that where +you're makin' for?" + +Tommy nodded. "We were thinking of putting in there," he said. "Is +there enough water?" + +"Plenty o' water, sir--leastways there will be by the time we get up. +It runs a bit dry at low tide, but there's always a matter o' three to +four feet in the middle o' the channel." + +This was excellent news, for the _Betty_ with her centre-board up only +drew about three feet six, so except at the very lowest point the +creek would always be navigable. + +"Is it a safe place to leave a boat for the night with no one on +board?" inquired Tommy. + +Mr. Gow shook his head. "I wouldn't go as far as that, sir. None o' +the reg'lar boatmen or fishermen wouldn't touch 'er, but they're a +thievin' lot o' rascals, some o' them Tilbury folk. If they happened +to come across 'er, as like as not they'd strip 'er gear, to say +nothin' of the fittings." Then he paused. "But if you was thinkin' o' +layin' 'er up there for the night, I'd see no one got monkeyin' around +with 'er. I'd sleep aboard meself." + +"Well, that's a bright notion," said Tommy, turning to me. "What do +you think, Neil?" + +"I think it's quite sound," I answered. "Besides, he can help me look +after her for the next two or three days. I shall be too busy to get +over to the creek much myself." Then putting my hand in my pocket +I pulled out Joyce's envelope, and carefully extracted one of the +five-pound notes from inside. "Look here, Mr. Gow!" I added, "we'll +strike a bargain. If you'll stay with the _Betty_ for a day or so, +I'll give you this fiver to buy or hire another boat with until you +can get your compensation out of our German friends. I shall be living +close by, but I shan't have time to keep my eye on her properly." + +Mr. Gow accepted the proposal and the note with alacrity. "I'm sure +I'm very much obliged to you, sir," he said gratefully. "I'll just run +up to my cottage when we land to get some dry clothes, and then I'll +come straight back and take 'er over. She won't come to no harm, not +with Luke Gow on board; you can reckon on that, sir." + +He touched his cap, and climbing up out of the well, made his way +forward, as though to signalize the fact that he was adopting the +profession of our paid hand. + +"I'm so glad," said Joyce quietly. "I shan't feel half so nervous now +I know you'll have someone with you." + +Tommy nodded. "It's a good egg," he observed. "I think old whiskers +is by way of being rather grateful." Then he paused. "But what swine +those German beggars must be not to have stopped! They must have seen +what had happened." + +"I wonder what he meant by hinting that they'd done it purposely," I +said. + +Tommy laughed. "I don't know. I asked him in the cabin, but he +wouldn't say any more. I think he was only talking through his hat." + +"I'm not so sure," I said doubtfully. "He seemed to have some idea at +the back of his mind. I shall sound him about it later on." + +With the wind holding good and a strong tide running, the _Betty_ +scudded along at such a satisfactory pace that by half-past twelve +we were already within sight of Gravesend Reach. There is no more +desolate-looking bit of the river than the stretch which immediately +precedes that crowded fairway. It is bounded on each side by a low sea +wall, behind which a dreary expanse of marsh and salting spreads away +into the far distance. Here and there the level monotony is broken by +a solitary hut or a disused fishing hulk, but except for the passing +traffic and the cloud of gulls perpetually wheeling and screaming +overhead there is little sign of life or movement. + +"You see them two or three stakes stickin' up in the water?" remarked +Mr. Gow suddenly, pointing away towards the right-hand bank. + +I nodded. + +"Well, you keep 'em in line with that little clump o' trees be'ind, +an' you'll just fetch the crick nicely." + +He and Tommy went forward to take in the spinnaker, while, following +the marks he had indicated, I brought the _Betty_ round towards her +destination. Approaching the shore I saw that the entrance to the +creek was a narrow channel between two mud-flats, both of which were +presumably covered at high tide. I called to Joyce to wind up the +centre-board to its fullest extent, and then, steering very carefully, +edged my way in along this drain, while Mr. Gow leaned over to leeward +diligently heaving the lead. + +"Plenty o' water," he kept on calling out encouragingly. "Keep 'er +goin', sir, keep 'er goin'. Inside that beacon, now up with 'er a bit. +That's good!" + +He discarded the lead and hurried to the anchor. I swung her round +head to wind, Tommy let down the mainsail, and the next moment we +brought up with a grace and neatness that would almost have satisfied +a Solent skipper. + +We were in the very centre of a little muddy creek with high banks +on either side of it. There was no other boat within sight; indeed, +although we were within three miles of Tilbury, anything more desolate +than our surroundings it would be difficult to imagine. + +Mr. Gow assisted us to furl the sails and put things straight +generally, and then coming aft addressed himself to me. + +"I don't know what time you gen'lemen might be thinkin' o' leavin'; +but if you could put me ashore now I could be back inside of the +hour." + +"Right you are," I said. "I'll do that straight away." + +We both got into the dinghy, and in a few strokes I pulled him to the +bank, where he stepped out on to the mud. Then he straightened himself +and touched his cap. + +"I haven't never thanked you properly yet, sir, for what you done," he +observed. "You saved my life, and Luke Gow ain't the sort o' man to +forget a thing like that." + +I backed the boat off into the stream. "Well, if you'll save our +property from the Tilbury gentlemen," I said, "we'll call it quits." + +When I got back to the ship I found Tommy and Joyce making +preparations for lunch. + +"We thought you'd like something before you pushed off," said Tommy. +"One can scout better on a full tummy." + +"You needn't apologize for feeding me," I replied cheerfully. "I've a +lot of lost time to make up in the eating line." + +It was a merry meal, that little banquet of ours in the _Betty's_ +cabin. The morning's sail had given us a first-rate appetite, and in +spite of the somewhat unsettled state of our affairs we were all three +in the best of spirits. Indeed, I think the unknown dangers that +surrounded us acted as a sort of stimulant to our sense of pleasure. +When you are sitting over a powder mine it is best to enjoy every +pleasant moment as keenly as possible. You never know when you may get +another. + +At last I decided that it was time for me to start. + +"I tell you what I think I'll do, Tommy," I said. "I'll see if there's +any way along outside the sea-wall. I could get right up to the place +then without being spotted, if there should happen to be any one +there." + +Tommy nodded. "That's the idea," he said. "And look here: I brought +this along for you. I don't suppose you'll want it, but it's a useful +sort of thing to have on the premises." + +He pulled out a small pocket revolver, loaded in each chamber, and +handed it over to me. + +I accepted it rather doubtfully. "Thanks, Tommy," I said, "but I +expect I should do a lot more damage with my fists." + +"Oh, please take it, Neil," said Joyce simply. + +"Very well," I answered, and stuffing it into my side pocket, I +buttoned up my coat. "Now, Tommy," I said; "if you'll put me ashore +we'll start work." + +It was about a hundred yards to the mouth of the creek, and with the +tide running hard against us it was quite a stiff little pull. Tommy, +however, insisted on taking me the whole way down, just to see whether +there was any chance of getting along outside the sea-wall. We landed +at the extreme point, and jumping out on to the mud, I picked my way +carefully round the corner and stared up the long desolate stretch +of river frontage. The tide was still some way out, and although the +going was not exactly suited to patent-leather boots, it was evidently +quite possible for any one who was not too particular. + +I turned round and signalled to Tommy that I was all right; then, +keeping in as close as I could to the sea-wall, I set off on my +journey. It was slow walking, for every now and then I had to climb up +the slope to get out of the way of some hopelessly soft patch of mud. +On one of these occasions, when I had covered about three-quarters of +a mile, I peered cautiously over the top of the bank. Some little +way ahead of me, right out in the middle of the marsh, I saw what I +imagined to be my goal. It was a tiny brick building with a large +wooden shed alongside, the latter appearing considerably the newer and +more sound of the two. + +I was inspecting it with the natural interest that one takes in one's +future country house, when quite suddenly I saw the door of the +building opening. A moment later a man stepped out on to the grass, +and looked quickly round as though to make certain that there was no +one watching. Although the distance was about three hundred yards I +recognized him at once. + +It was my friend of the restaurant--Mr. Bruce Latimer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + +The discovery was a beautifully unexpected one, but I was getting used +to surprises by this time. I bobbed down at once behind the sea-wall, +and crouched there for a moment wondering what was the best thing to +do. After what I had found out it seemed hardly probable that Latimer +could be there in the capacity of McMurtrie's caretaker; but if not, +how on earth had he hit upon the place, and what was he doing prowling +about inside it? + +Raising myself up again with extreme care I had another look through +the grass. Latimer had left the building and was stooping down +in front of the door of the shed, his attention being obviously +concentrated on the lock. I was rather a long way off, but as far as I +could see he appeared to be trying to slip back the bolt with the aid +of a piece of wire. + +I think that decided me. However dangerous it might be to show myself, +it seemed still more risky to allow some one of whose motives I was +at present completely ignorant to inspect my future workshop. Almost +before I realized what I was doing I had slipped over the bank and +dropped down on to the marsh. + +The slight noise I made must have reached Latimer's ears, for he +wheeled round with amazing promptness. At the same instant his right +hand travelled swiftly into the side pocket of his coat--a gesture +which I found sufficiently illuminating in view of what I was carrying +myself in a similar place. When he saw how far off I was he seemed +to hesitate for a moment; then pulling out a case he coolly and +deliberately lit himself a cigarette, and after taking a quick glance +round started to stroll slowly towards me. I noticed that he still +kept his hand in his side pocket. + +My mind was working pretty rapidly as we approached each other. What +would happen seemed to me to depend chiefly upon whether Latimer had +seen me in the restaurant, and had guessed that it was I who had sent +him the message. If not, it struck me that he must be wondering rather +badly who I was and what connection I had with the hut. + +When we were still twenty yards apart he pulled up and waited for me, +smoking his cigarette with every appearance of tranquil enjoyment. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," he said in a pleasant, lazy voice, "but I +wonder if you could tell me who this building belongs to?" + +I came to a halt right in front of him. "Well," I replied boldly, +"until I saw you coming out of the door just now I was under the +impression that I was the legal tenant." + +He smiled, and taking off his hat made me a slight bow. + +"I must really beg your pardon," he said. "I was trespassing +shamelessly. The fact of the matter is that I am acting on behalf of +the District Surveyor, and finding the door open and being unable to +get any answer, I took the liberty of looking inside." + +If ever in my life I felt confident that a man was telling me a lie it +was at that moment, but my belief was certainly due to no fault of Mr. +Latimer's. He spoke with a coolness and an apparent candour that would +have done credit to a Cabinet Minister. + +"The District Surveyor!" I repeated. "And what does that distinguished +person want with me?" + +Mr. Latimer made a gesture towards the hut with his disengaged hand. +"It's nothing of any real importance," he said, "but you appear to +have been making some slight alterations here. This wooden building--" + +"It's only a temporary structure," I interrupted. + +He nodded. "Quite so. Still there are certain bye-laws which we have +to see attended to. The Surveyor happened to notice it the other day +when he was passing, and he asked me to find out the exact purpose it +was intended for. We are bound to make some restrictions about wooden +buildings on account of the extra chance of their catching fire." + +The idea of the District Surveyor being seriously perturbed over the +possibility of my being roasted alive struck me as rather improbable, +but I was careful not to give any impression of doubting the +statement. + +"As a matter of fact," I said, "there is no chance of a tragedy +of that sort. I have taken the place to make a few experiments +in connection with photography. The stuff I am using is quite +uninflammable." + +All the time I was speaking I was watching him carefully to see if +I could detect the least sign of his recognizing me. For any such +indication, however, we might have been utter strangers. + +He accepted my falsehood as politely as I had received his. + +"Well, in that case," he said, with a smile, "there is really no need +for me to bother you any further. I will tell the Surveyor that you +are a strictly law-abiding citizen. Meanwhile"--he stepped back and +again raised his hat--"let me apologize once more for having broken +into your place." + +Whether there was any deliberate irony in his remark I was unable to +guess; his manner at all events gave no hint of it. + +"You needn't apologize," I returned artlessly. "It was my own fault +for leaving the door open." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible quiver at the corner of his +lips, but if so it was gone again at once. + +"Yes," he said gravely. "You will find it safer to keep the place +locked up. Good-day, sir." + +"Good-day," I replied, and turning deliberately away from him I +sauntered off towards the hut. + +I did not look round until I had reached the door; and even then I +made a pretence of dropping my keys and stooping to pick them up. The +precaution, however, seemed a little superfluous. Mr. Latimer was some +thirty or forty yards away, walking inland across the marsh in the +direction of Tilbury. I couldn't help wondering whether he had noticed +the mast of the _Betty_, which was just visible in the distance, +sticking up demurely above the bank of the creek. + +I stepped inside the hut--it was really little more than a hut--and +closed the door. The first impression I received was one of being back +in my prison cell. The only light in the place filtered in through a +tiny and very dirty window, which looked out in the direction that +Latimer had taken. For the rest, as soon as my eyes were used to the +gloom, I made out a camp bed with blankets on it, a small wooden table +and chair, a jug and basin, and in the farther corner of the room a +miscellaneous collection of cooking and eating utensils. There was +also a large wooden box which I imagined to contain food. + +I took in all this practically at a glance, for my mind was still too +occupied with my late visitor to trouble much about anything else. + +I sat down on the bed and tried to think out the situation clearly. +There could be no doubt that Latimer had been spying on the place, +if such an unpleasant word could be applied to a gentleman who was +supposed to be in Government service. The question was, what did he +suspect? I had pretty good evidence that he was up against McMurtrie +and the others in some shape or other, and presumably it was on +account of my connection with them that I had been favoured with his +attentions. Still, this didn't seem to make the situation any the more +cheerful for me. If Latimer was really a secret-service man, as some +one had told Tommy, it stood to reason that I must be assisting in +some particularly shady and dangerous sort of enterprise. I had no +special objection to this from the moral point of view, but on the +other hand I certainly didn't want to throw away my hardly-won liberty +before I had had the satisfaction of settling accounts with George. + +I debated with myself whether it would be best to let McMurtrie know +that the place was being watched. To a certain extent his interests in +the matter seemed to be identical with mine, but my mistrust of him +was still strong enough to make me hesitate. Beyond his bare word and +that of Sonia I had no proof as yet that he intended to play straight +with me. + +One thing appeared certain, and that was that Latimer had failed to +recognize me as the man who had sent him the warning at Parelli's. In +a way this gave me an advantage, but it was a forlorn enough sort of +advantage in view of the unknown dangers by which I was surrounded. + +I got up off the bed, feeling anything but comfortable, and going to +the door had another look round. Latimer had disappeared behind the +thin belt of trees that fringed the Tilbury road, and so far as I +could see there was no one else about. Getting out my keys, I walked +along to the shed and opened the door. + +If my living accommodation was a trifle crude, McMurtrie had certainly +made up for it here. He had evidently carried out my instructions +with the most minute care and an absolute disregard for expense. Lead +tanks, sinks, chemicals, an adequate water supply in the shape of +a pump--everything I had asked for seemed to have been provided. I +looked round the large, clean, well-lighted place with a sensation of +intense satisfaction. The mere sight of all these preparations made me +ache to begin work, for I was consumed with the impatience that any +inventor would feel who had been compelled to leave a big discovery on +the very verge of completion. + +Coming out, I closed the door again, and carefully turned the key +behind me. Then walking back to the hut I locked that up as well. I +hadn't the faintest belief in Latimer's story about finding the place +open, and apart from making things safe I certainly didn't want to +leave any traces of my surprise visit. From what I knew of McMurtrie +I felt sure that he had left somebody in charge, and that in all +probability Latimer had merely taken advantage of their temporary +absence. + +After a last glance all round, to make sure that the coast was still +clear, I walked rapidly down to the sea-wall and scrambled up on to +the top. The tide had risen a bit, but there was just room to get +along, so jumping down I set off on my return journey. + +There was something very cheering and reassuring in the sight of the +_Betty_ riding easily at her anchor, as I made my way round the mouth +of the creek. Tommy and Joyce were both on deck: the former in his +shirt-sleeves, swabbing down his new paint with a wet mop. Directly +he saw me he abandoned the job to Joyce, and with a wave of his hand +proceeded to get out the dinghy. A minute later he was pulling for the +shore. + +"All serene?" he inquired calmly, as he ran the boat up to where I was +standing. + +"Yes," I said. "We needn't hurry; there's no one chasing me." Then +pushing her off the mud I jumped in. "I'll tell you the news," I +added, "when we get on board." + +We headed off for the _Betty_, and as we came alongside and I handed +up the painter to Joyce, I felt rather like the raven must have +done when he returned to the Ark. As far as peace and security were +concerned, my outside world seemed to be almost as unsatisfactory as +his. + +"How have you got on?" demanded Joyce eagerly. + +I climbed up on to the deck. + +"I've had quite an interesting time," I said. Then I paused and looked +round the boat. "Is Mr. Gow back?" I inquired. + +Tommy shook his head. "Not yet. I expect he's blueing some of that +fiver in anticipation." + +"Come and sit down, then," I said, "and I'll tell you all about it." + +They both seated themselves beside me on the edge of the well, and +in as few words as possible I let them have the full story of my +adventures. At the first mention of Latimer's name Tommy indulged in a +low whistle, but except for that non-committal comment they listened +to me in silence. + +Joyce was the first to speak when I had finished. + +"It's hateful, isn't it?" she said. "I feel as if we were fighting in +the dark." + +"That's just what we are doing," answered Tommy, "but we're letting in +a bit of light by degrees though." Then he turned to me. "McMurtrie's +got some game on, evidently, and this chap Latimer's dropped on it. +That was why they tried to put him out of the way." + +"Yes," I said, "and if Latimer is really in the secret service, it +must be a precious queer sort of game too." + +Tommy nodded. "I wonder if they're anarchists," he said, after a +short pause. "Perhaps they want your powder to blow up the Houses of +Parliament or the Law Courts with." + +I laughed shortly. "No," I said. "Whatever McMurtrie's after, it's +nothing so useful and unselfish as that. If I thought it was I +shouldn't worry." + +"Well, there's only one thing to do," observed Tommy, after a pause, +"and that's to go and look up Latimer, as I suggested. You're sure he +didn't recognize you?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sure of nothing about him," I replied, +"except that he's a superb liar." + +"We must risk it anyhow," said Tommy. "He's the only person who knows +anything of what's going on, and he evidently wants to find out who +sent him that note, or he wouldn't have answered it as he did. He'll +have to give me some sort of explanation if I go and see him. I +shall rub it into him that my supposed pal is a perfectly sensible, +unimaginative sort of chap--and anyway people don't invent a yarn like +that." + +"Look!" interrupted Joyce suddenly. "Isn't that Mr. Gow coming along +by those trees?" + +She pointed away down the creek, and following her direction I saw the +figure of our trusty retainer trudging back towards the ship, with a +bundle over his shoulder. He had exchanged Tommy's picturesque outfit +for some garments of his own, more in keeping with his new and +dignified position. + +"I'll pick him up," I said; "but what are we going to do about getting +back? We had better not try Tilbury, or we may run into Latimer; it +would put the hat on everything if he saw us together." + +Tommy consulted his watch. "It's just half-past three now," he said. +"I vote we run across to Gravesend and catch the train there. Old +Whiskers can bring the boat back here after we've gone--if he's still +sober." + +"Of course he's sober," said Joyce; "look at the beautiful way he's +walking." + +I should hardly have applied quite such a complimentary adjective to +Mr. Gow's gait myself, but all the same Joyce's diagnosis proved to +be quite correct. Mr. Gow was sober--most undoubtedly and creditably +sober. I rowed to the bank, and brought him on board, and when we told +him of our plans he expressed himself as being perfectly competent to +manage the return journey single-handed. + +"You leave 'er to me," he remarked consolingly. "I shan't want no +help--not to bring 'er in here. Some people don't hold with being +alone in a boat, but that ain't Luke Gow's way." + +He went forward to get up the anchor, while Tommy and I occupied +ourselves with the exciting sport of trying to start the engine. It +went off at last with its usual vicious kick, and a few minutes later +we were throbbing our way out of the creek into the main river. + +The tide was right at its highest, and down the centre of the fairway +straggled a long procession of big hooting steamers, sluggish +brown-sailed barges, and small heavily-burdened tugs, puffing out +their usual trails of black smoke. One felt rather like a terrier +trying to cross Piccadilly, but by waiting for our chance we dodged +through without disaster, and pulled up in a comparatively tranquil +spot off the Gravesend landing-stage. + +Tommy signalled to one of the boatmen who were hanging about the steps +waiting for stray passengers. + +"This chap will take us off," he said, turning to Mr. Gow. "You push +straight back while the engine's running; she usually stops when we've +got about as far as this." + +"And I'll come over to the creek some time tomorrow," I added; though +in my present circumstances a confident prophecy of any kind seemed a +trifle rash. + +We went ashore and stood for a moment on the stage watching the +_Betty_ thread her course back through the traffic. Mr. Gow seemed +to handle her with perfect confidence, and relieved on this point we +turned round and set off for the station. + +We found ourselves in luck's way. An unusually obliging train was due +to start in ten minutes' time, and as before we managed to secure an +empty compartment. + +"I tell you what I want you to do when we get back to town, Joyce," I +said. "I want you to help me buy a hat." + +"What's the matter with the one you're wearing?" demanded Tommy. "It +just suits your savage style of beauty." + +"Oh, this new one isn't for me," I explained. "It's for a lady--a lady +friend, as we say." + +"I didn't know you had any," said Joyce, "except me and Sonia." + +I smiled arrogantly. "You underrate my attractions," I replied. +"Haven't I told you about Miss Gertie 'Uggins?" Then I proceeded to +sketch in Gertrude as well as I could, finishing up with the story of +her spirited determination to spend the five shillings I had given her +on a really fashionable head-dress. + +Tommy slapped his leg and chuckled. "I believe any woman would starve +herself to death for something new to wear," he remarked. + +"Of course she would," said Joyce with spirit--"any decent woman." +Then she turned to me. "I think it's sweet, Neil; I shall give her a +new hat myself, just because she loves you." + +Tommy laughed again. "You'll find that an expensive hobby to keep up, +Joyce," he said. "You'll have to start a bonnet-shop." + +All the way back to town we talked and joked in much the same strain, +as cheerfully as though none of us had a care in the world. If there +had been a stranger in the carriage listening to us, he would, I +think, have found it impossible to believe that I was Neil Lyndon, +the much-wanted convict, and that Tommy and Joyce were engaged in the +criminal pursuit of helping me avoid the police. No doubt, as I said +before, the very danger and excitement of our position accounted to +some extent for our high spirits, but in my case they were due even +more to a natural reaction from the misery of the last three years. +Ever since I had met Tommy and Joyce again I seemed to have been +shedding flakes off the crust of bitterness and hatred which had built +itself up round my soul. + +Even my feelings towards George were slowly becoming less murderous. +I was still as determined as ever to get at the truth of his amazing +treachery if I could; but the savage loathing that I had previously +cherished for him was gradually giving place to a more healthy +sensation of contempt. I felt now that, whatever his motives may have +been, there would be far more satisfaction in kicking him than in +killing him. Besides, the former process was one that under favourable +circumstances could be repeated indefinitely. + +"You're spending the evening with me, Neil, of course," observed +Tommy, as we drew into Charing Cross. + +I nodded. "We'll take a taxi and buy the hat somewhere, and then drop +Joyce at Chelsea. After that I am open to any dissipation." + +"Only keep away from the Savoy," said Joyce. "I am making my great +surrender there, and it would hamper me to have you and Tommy about." + +We promised to respect her privacy, and then, getting out of the +train, which had drawn up in the station, we hailed a taxi and climbed +quickly into it. Charing Cross is the last place to dawdle in if you +have any objection to being recognized. + +"Shall we be able to write to you?" asked Joyce. "I shall want to tell +you about George, and Tommy will want to let you know how he gets on +with Latimer. Of course I'm coming down to the boat in a day or two; +but all sorts of things may happen before then." + +I thought rapidly for a moment. "Write to me at the Tilbury +post-office," I said. "Only don't make a mistake and address the +letter to Neil Lyndon. Too much excitement isn't good for a Government +official." + +Tommy laughed. "It's just the sort of damn silly thing I should +probably have done," he said. "Can't you imagine the postmaster's face +when he read the envelope? I should like to paint it as a Christmas +supplement to the _Graphic_." + +"Where did you tell the man to stop, Joyce?" I asked. + +"Holland's," said Joyce. "I am going to buy Gertie a really splendid +hat--something with birds and flowers on it. I am sure I know just +what she'll think beautiful. I suppose I had better tell them to send +it round to you at Edith Terrace. You won't want to carry it about +London." + +"Not unless Tommy likes to wear it," I said. "I think I'm disguised +enough as it is." + +We pulled up outside Mr. Holland's imposing shop-front, and Joyce, +who was sitting next the door, got up from her seat. Then she leaned +forward and kissed me. + +"Good-bye, Neil," she said. "I shall come down on Tuesday and go +straight to the _Betty_, unless I hear anything special from you +before then." She paused. "And oh, dear Neil," she added, "you will be +careful, won't you? If anything was to happen now, I believe I should +kill George and jump into the Thames." + +"In that case," I said, "I shall be discretion itself. I couldn't +allow George anything like so charming an end; it would be quite +wasted on him." + +Joyce smiled happily and, opening the door, jumped out on to the +pavement. "You keep the taxi on," she said. "I shall take a bus home. +I can't be hurried over buying a hat--even if it's for Gertie. Where +shall I tell the man to go to?" + +"Better say the Studio," answered Tommy. "We both want a wash and a +drink before we start dissipating." + +For an escaped murderer and his guilty accessory, I am afraid that our +dissipation proved to be rather a colourless affair. Tommy had always +had simple tastes in the way of amusement, and even if it had been +safe for us to parade the West End in each other's company, I +certainly had no wish to waste my time over a theatre or anything of +that sort. I found that real life supplied me with all the drama I +needed just at present. + +What we actually did was to dine quietly in a little out-of-the-way +restaurant just off Sloane Square, and then play billiards for the +remainder of the evening in a room above a neighbouring tavern. We had +several most exciting games. In old days I had been able to beat +Tommy easily, but owing to a regrettable oversight on the part of the +Government there is no table at Princetown, and in consequence I was +rather short of practice. + +Afterwards Tommy walked with me as far as Victoria, where we discussed +such arrangements for the future as we were in a position to make. + +"I'll write to you, anyway, Neil," he said, "as soon as I've tackled +Latimer; and I'll probably come down with Joyce on Tuesday. If you +want me any time before, send me a wire." + +I nodded. "You'll be more useful to me in London, Tommy," I said. +"All the threads of the business are up here. McMurtrie--Latimer-- +George"--I paused--"I'd give something to know what those three do +between them," I added regretfully. + +Tommy gripped my hand. "It's all right, old son," he said. "I'm not +much of a believer in inspirations and all that sort of rot, but +somehow or other I'm dead certain we're going to win out. I've had a +feeling like that ever since the trial--and so has Joyce." + +"Thanks, Tommy," I said briefly. "You'd give a jellyfish a +backbone--you two." + +And with a last squeeze of the hand I left him standing there, and set +off across the station for Edith Terrace. + +It was close on midnight when I got back, and every one in the house +seemed to have gone to bed. The light had been put out in the hall, +but the door of my sitting-room was partly open, and a small jet of +gas was flickering away over the fireplace. I turned this up and, +looking round, discovered a large box with Holland's label on it, +a note, and a half-sheet of paper--all decorating the table in the +centre of the room. + +I examined the half-sheet of paper first. It contained several dirty +thumb-marks and the following message, roughly scrawled in pencil: + +"sir the lady with the hat cum for you about for aclock i told her as +you was out and she rote this leter gerty." + +Hastily picking up the envelope, I slit open the flap, and pulled out +the "leter" from inside. It covered two sides, and was written in +Sonia's curious, sloping, foreign-looking hand. + +"I have to go away with my father until the end of next week. By that +time, if you have succeeded with your invention, there will be nothing +to stop our plans. I would have explained everything to you today if +you had been here. As it is, _on no account give your secret to any +one_ until I have seen you. I shall come down to Tilbury either on +Friday or Saturday, and within a few hours we can be utterly beyond +the reach of any further danger or difficulties. Until then, my +lover--SONIA." + +I read it through twice, and then slowly folding it up, thrust it back +into the envelope. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that I'm going to have quite an interesting +house-party." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + + +I gave Gertie her hat next morning when she brought me up my +breakfast. It was a gorgeous thing--rather the shape of a dustman's +helmet, with a large scarlet bird nestling on one side of it, +sheltered by some heavy undergrowth. Gertie's face, as I pulled it out +of the box, was a study in about eight different emotions. + +"Oo--er," she gasped faintly. "That ain't never for me." + +"Yes, it is, Gertrude," I said. "It was specially chosen for you by a +lady of unimpeachable taste." + +I held it out to her, and she accepted it with shaking hands, like a +newly-made peeress receiving her tiara. + +"My Gawd," she whispered reverently; "ain't it just a dream!" + +To be perfectly honest, it seemed to me more in the nature of a +nightmare, but wild horses wouldn't have dragged any such hostile +criticism out of me. + +"I think it will suit you very nicely, Gertie," I said. "It's got just +that dash of colour which Edith Terrace wants." + +"Yer reely mean it?" she asked eagerly. "Yer reely think I'll look orl +right in it? 'Course it do seem a bit funny like with this 'ere frock, +but I got a green velveteen wot belonged to Mrs. Oldbury's niece. It +won't 'alf go with that." + +"It won't indeed," I agreed heartily. Then, looking up from my eggs +and bacon, I added: "By the way, Gertie, I've never thanked you for +your letter. I had no idea you could, write so well." + +"Go on!" said Gertie doubtfully; "you're gettin' at me now." + +"No, I'm not," I answered. "It was a very nice letter. It said just +what you wanted to say and nothing more. That's the whole art of good +letter-writing." Then a sudden idea struck me. "Look here, Gertie," I +went on, "will you undertake a little job for me if I explain it to +you?" + +She nodded. "Oo--rather. I'd do any think for you." + +"Well, it's something I may want you to do for me after I've left." + +Her face fell. "You ain't goin' away from 'ere--not for good?" + +"Not entirely for good," I said. "I hope to do a certain amount of +harm to at least one person before I come back." I paused. "It's just +possible," I continued, "that after I've gone somebody may come to +the house and ask questions about me--how I spent my time while I was +here, and that sort of thing. If they should happen to ask you, I want +you to tell them that I used to stay in bed most of the day and go to +the theatre in the evening. Do you mind telling a lie for me?" + +Gertie looked at me in obvious amazement. "I _don't_ think," she +observed. "Wotjer taike me for--a Sunday-school teacher?" + +"No, Gertie," I said gravely; "no girl with your taste in hats could +possibly be a Sunday-school teacher." Then pushing away my plate and +lighting a cigarette, I added: "I'll leave you a stamped addressed +envelope and a telegraph form. You can send me the wire first to say +if any one has called, and then write me a line afterwards by post +telling me what they were like and what they said." + +"I can do that orl right," she answered eagerly. "If they talks to +Mrs. Oldbury I'll listen at the keyhole." + +I nodded. "It's a practice that the best moralists condemn," I said, +"but after all, the recording angel does it." Then getting up from +the table, I added: "You might tell Mrs. Oldbury I should like to see +her." + +When that good lady arrived I acquainted her with the fact that I +intended to leave her house in about two hours' time. Any resentment +which she might have felt over this slightly abrupt departure was +promptly smoothed away by my offer to take on the rooms for at least +another fortnight. I did this partly with the object of leaving a +pleasant impression behind me, and partly because I had a vague idea +that it might come in handy to have some sort of headquarters in +London where I was known and recognized as Mr. James Nicholson. + +Having settled up this piece of business I sat down and wrote to +McMurtrie. It was a task which required a certain amount of care and +delicacy, but after two trial essays I succeeded in turning out the +following letter, which seemed to me about to meet the situation. + +"DEAR DR. McMURTRIE: + +"As you have probably heard, I received your letter yesterday, and I +am making arrangements to go down to Tilbury tomorrow by the 11.45. + +"Of course in a way I am sorry to leave London--it's extraordinary +what a capacity for pleasure a prolonged residence in the country +gives one--but at the same time I quite agree with you that business +must come first. + +"I shall start work directly I get down, and if all the things I asked +for in my list have been provided, I don't think it will be long +before I have some satisfactory news for you. Unless I see you or hear +from you before then I will write to the Hotel Russell directly there +is anything definite to communicate. + +"Meanwhile please give my kind regards to your amiable friend and +colleague, and also remember me to his charming daughter. + +"Believe me, + +"Yours sincerely, + +"JAMES NICHOLSON." + +With its combined touch of seriousness and flippancy, this appeared to +me exactly the sort of letter that McMurtrie would expect me to write. +I couldn't resist putting in the bit about his "amiable" friend, for +the recollection of Savaroff's manner towards me still rankled gently +in my memory. Besides I had a notion it would rather amuse McMurtrie, +whose more artistic mind must have been frequently distressed by his +colleague's blustering surliness. + +I could think of nothing else which required my immediate attention, +so going into my bedroom I proceeded to pack up my belongings. I put +in everything I possessed with the exception of Savaroff's discarded +garments, for although I was keeping on the rooms I had no very robust +faith in my prospects of ever returning to them. Then, ringing the +bell, I despatched Gertrude to fetch me a taxi, while I settled up my +bill with Mrs. Oldbury. + +"An' seem' you've taken on the rooms, sir," observed that lady, "I +'opes it's to be a case of 'say orrivar an' not good-bye.'" + +"I hope it is, Mrs. Oldbury," I replied. "I shall come back if I +possibly can, but one never knows what may happen in life." + +She shook her head sombrely. "Ah, you're right there, sir. An' curious +enough that's the very identical remark my late 'usband was ser fond +o' makin'. I remember 'is sayin' it to me the very night before 'e was +knocked down by a bus. Knocked down in Westminister 'e was, and runned +over the body by both 'ind wheels. 'E never got over it--not as you +might say reely got over it. If ever 'e ate cheese after that it +always give 'im a pain in 'is stomick." + +An apropos remark about "come wheel come woe" flashed into my mind, +but before I could frame it in properly sympathetic language, a taxi +drew up at the door with Gertie 'Uggins installed in state alongside +the driver. + +Both she and Mrs. Oldbury stood on the step, and waved farewell to me +as I drove down the street. I was quite sorry to leave them. I felt +that they both liked me in their respective ways, and my present list +of amiably disposed acquaintances was so small that I objected to +curtailing it by the most humble member. + +All the way to Tilbury I occupied myself with the hackneyed but +engrossing pursuit of pondering over my affairs. Apart from my own +private interest in the matter, which after all was a fairly poignant +one, the mysterious adventure in which I was involved filled me with +a profound curiosity. Latimer's dramatic re-entry on to the scene had +thrown an even more sinister complexion over the whole business than +it boasted before, and, like a man struggling with a jig-saw problem, +I tried vainly to fit together the various pieces into some sort of +possible solution. + +I was still engaged in this interesting occupation when the train ran +into Tilbury station. Without waiting for a porter I collected my +various belongings, and stepped out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had told me in his letter that he would arrange for some +one to meet me; and looking round I caught sight of a burly red-faced +gentleman in a tight jacket and a battered straw hat, sullenly eyeing +the various passengers who had alighted. I walked straight up to him. + +"Are you waiting for me--Mr. James Nicholson?" I asked. + +He looked me up and down in a kind of familiar fashion that distinctly +failed to appeal to me. + +"That's right," he said. Then as a sort of afterthought he added, "I +gotter trap outside." + +"Have you?" I said. "I've got a couple of bags inside, so you'd better +come and catch hold of one of them." + +His unpleasantly red face grew even redder, and for a moment he seemed +to meditate some spirited answer. Then apparently he thought better of +it, and slouching after me up the platform, possessed himself of the +larger and heavier of my two bags, which I had carefully left for him. + +The trap proved to be a ramshackle affair with an ill-kept but +powerful-looking horse between the shafts. I climbed up, and as I took +my seat I observed to my companion that I wished first of all to call +at the post-office. + +"I dunno nothin' 'bout that," he grunted, flicking his whip. "My +orders was to drive you to Warren's Copse." + +"I don't care in the least what your orders were," I answered. "You +can either go to the post-office or else you can go to the Devil. +There are plenty of other traps in Tilbury." + +He was evidently unused to this crisp style of dialogue, for after +glaring at me for a moment in a sort of apoplectic amazement he jerked +his horse round and proceeded slowly down the street. + +"'Ave it yer own way," he muttered. + +"I intend to," I said cheerfully. + +We pulled up at the post-office, a large red-brick building in the +main street, and leaving my disgruntled friend sitting in the trap, +I jumped out and pushed open the swing door. Except for an +intelligent-looking clerk behind the counter the place was empty. + +"Good-morning," I said. "I wonder if you could help me out of a slight +difficulty about my letters?" + +"What sort of a difficulty?" he inquired civilly. + +"Well, for the next week or two," I said, "I shall be living in a +little hut on the marshes about two miles to the east from here, and +quite close to the sea-wall. I am making a few chemical experiments in +connection with photography" (a most useful lie this), "and I've told +my friends to write or send telegrams here--to the post-office. I +wondered, if anything should come for me, whether you had a special +messenger or any one who could bring it over. I would be delighted to +pay him his proper fee and give him something extra for his trouble. +My name is Nicholson--Mr. James Nicholson." + +The man hesitated for a moment. "I don't think there will be any +difficulty about that--not if you leave written instructions. I shall +have to ask the postmaster when he comes in, but I'm pretty certain it +will be all right." + +I thanked him, and after writing out exactly what I wanted done, I +returned to my friend in the trap, who, to judge from his expression, +did not appear to have benefited appreciably from my little lesson in +patience and politeness. Under the circumstances I decided to extend +it. + +"I am going across the street to get some things I want," I observed. +"You can wait here." + +He made an unpleasant sound in his throat, which I think he intended +for an ironical laugh. "Wot you want's a bus," he remarked; "a bus an' +a bell an' a ruddy conductor." + +I came quite close and looked up into his face, smiling. "What you +want," I said quietly, "is a damned good thrashing, and if I have any +more of your insolence I'll pull you down out of the trap and give you +one." + +I think something in my voice must have told him I was speaking the +literal truth, for although his mouth opened convulsively it closed +again without any audible response. + +I strolled serenely across the road to where I saw an "Off-Licence." +I had acted in an indiscreet fashion, but whatever happened I was +determined to put up with no further rudeness from anybody. I had had +all the discourtesy I required during my three years in Princetown. + +My purchases at the Off-Licence consisted of three bottles of whisky +and two more of some rather obscure brand of champagne. It was +possible, of course, that McMurtrie's ideas of catering included such +luxuries, but there seemed no reason for running any unnecessary risk. +As a prospective host it was clearly my duty to take every reasonable +precaution. + +Armed with my spoils I returned to the trap, and stored them away +carefully beneath the seat. Then I climbed up alongside the driver. + +"Now you can go to Warren's Copse," I said; and without making any +reply the tomato-faced gentleman jerked round his horse's head, and +back we went up the street. + +I can't say it was exactly an hilarious drive. I felt cheerful enough +myself, but my companion maintained a depressed and lowering silence, +broken only by an occasional inward grunt, or a muttered curse at +the horse. It struck me as curious and not a little sinister that +McMurtrie should be employing such an uncouth ruffian, but I supposed +that he had some sound reason for his choice. I couldn't imagine +McMurtrie doing anything without a fairly sound reason. + +Within about ten minutes of leaving the town, we came out on to the +main road that bounded the landward side of the marshes. I caught +sight of my future home looking very small and desolate against the +long stretch of sea-wall, and far in the distance I could just discern +the mast of the _Betty_ still tapering up above the bank of the creek. +It was comforting to know that so far at all events Mr. Gow had +neither sunk her nor pawned her. + +Warren's Copse proved to be the small clump of trees that I had +noticed on the previous day, and my driver pulled up there and jerked +the butt of his whip in the direction of the hut. + +"There y'are," he said. "We can't get no nearer than this." + +There was a good distance to walk across the marsh, and for a moment I +wondered whether to insist upon his getting out and carrying one of +my bags, I decided, however, that I had had quite enough of the surly +brute's company, so jumping down, I took out my belongings, and told +him that he was at liberty to depart. + +He drove off without a word, but he had not gone more than about +thirty yards when he suddenly turned in his seat and called out a +parting observation. + +"I ain't afraid o' you--you--'ulkin' bully!" he shouted; "an' don't +you think it neither." + +Then, whipping up the horse, he broke into a smart canter, and +disappeared round a bend in the road. + +When I had done laughing, I shoved a bottle into each side pocket, and +stowed away the other three in the emptier of my two bags. The latter +were no light weight to lug along, and by the time I had covered the +half-mile of marsh that separated me from the hut I had come to the +conclusion that the profession of a railway porter was one that I +should never adopt as a private hobby. + +As soon as I unlocked the door, I saw that I had not been far wrong in +my guess about a caretaker on the previous afternoon. Some one, at all +events, had been there in the interval, for the pile of cooking and +eating utensils were now arranged on a rough shelf at the back, while +the box which I had noticed had been unpacked and its contents set out +on the kitchen table. + +I glanced over them with some interest. There were packets of tea and +sugar, several loaves of bread, and a number of gaily-coloured tins, +containing such luxuries as corned beef, condensed milk, tongue, +potted meat, and golden syrup. Except for the tea, however, there +seemed to be a regrettable dearth of liquid refreshments, and I +mentally thanked Providence for my happy inspiration with regard to +the Off-Licence. + +I pottered about a bit, unpacking my own belongings, and putting +things straight generally. As I seemed likely to be spending some time +in the place, I thought I might as well make everything as comfortable +and tidy as possible to start with; and, thanks to my combined +experience of small boats and prison cells, I flatter myself I made +rather a good job of it. + +By the time I had finished I was feeling distinctly hungry. I opened +one of the tongues, and with the additional aid of bread and whisky +made a simple but satisfying lunch. Then I sat down on the bed and +treated myself to a pipe before going across to the shed to start +work. Smoking in business hours is one of those agreeable luxuries +which an inventor of high explosives finds it healthier to deny +himself. + +I could see no sign of any one about when I went outside. Except for +a few gulls, which were wheeling backwards and forwards over the +sea-wall, I seemed to have the whole stretch of marsh and saltings +entirely to myself. Some people, I suppose, would have found the +prospect a depressing one, but I was very far from sharing any such +opinion. I like marsh scenery, and for the present at all events I +was fully able to appreciate the charms which sages of all times are +reported to have discovered in solitude. + +I shall never forget the feeling of satisfaction with which I +closed the door of the shed behind me and looked round its clean, +well-lighted interior. A careful examination soon showed me that +McMurtrie's share in the work had been done as thoroughly and +conscientiously as I had imagined from my brief inspection on the +previous day. Everything I had asked for was lying there in readiness, +and, much as I disliked and mistrusted the doctor, it was not without +a genuine sensation of gratitude that I hung up my coat and proceeded +to set to work. + +Briefly speaking, my new discovery was an improvement on the famous C. +powder, invented by Lemartre. It was derived from the aromatic series +of nitrates (which that great scientist always insisted to be the +correct basis for stable and powerful explosives), but it owed its +enormously increased force to a fresh constituent, the introduction +of which was entirely my own idea. I had been working at it for about +nine months before my arrest, and after several disappointing failures +I had just succeeded in achieving what I believed to be my object, +when my experiments had been so unkindly interrupted. + +Still, all that remained now was comparatively clear sailing. I had +merely to follow out my former process, and I had taken care to order +the various ingredients in as fully prepared a state as possible for +immediate use. I had also taken care to include one or two other +articles, which as a matter of fact had nothing on earth to do with +the business in hand. It was just as well, I felt, to obscure matters +a trifle, in case any inquiring mind might attempt to investigate my +secret. + +For hour after hour I worked on, sorting out my various chemicals, and +preparing such methods of treatment as were necessary in each case. I +was so interested in my task that I paid no attention at all to the +time, until with something of a shock I suddenly realized that the +light was beginning to fail. Looking at my watch I found that it was +nearly half-past seven. + +There was still a certain amount to do before I could knock off, so, +stopping for a moment to mix myself a well-earned whisky-and-water, I +switched on the two electric head-lights which McMurtrie had provided +as a means of illumination. With the aid of these I continued my +labours for perhaps another hour and a half, at the end of which +time I began to feel that a little rest and refreshment would be an +agreeable variation in the programme. + +After making sure that everything was safe, I turned out the lights, +and locking up the door, walked back to the hut. I was just entering, +when it suddenly struck me that instead of dining in solitary state +off tongue and bread, I might just as well stroll over to the _Betty_ +and take my evening repast in the engaging company of Mr. Gow. + +No sooner had this excellent idea entered my head than I decided to +put it into practice. The moon was out, and there appeared to be +enough light to see my way by the old route along the river shore, +so, walking down to the sea-wall, I climbed over, and set off in the +direction of the creek. + +It was tricky sort of work, with fine possibilities of spraining +one's ankle about it, but by dint of "going delicately," like Agag, I +managed to reach the end of my journey without disaster. As I rounded +the bend I saw the _Betty_ lying out in mid-stream, bathed in a most +becoming flood of moonlight. A closer observation showed me the head +and shoulders of Mr. Gow protruding from the fo'c's'le hatch. + +He responded to my hail by scrambling up on deck and lowering himself +into the dinghy, which with a few vigorous jerks he brought to the +shore. + +"I've come to have supper with you, Mr. Gow," I observed. "Have you +got anything to eat?" + +He touched his cap and nodded. "I says to meself it must be you, sir, +d'rectly I heard you comin' round the crick. There ain't much comp'ny +'bout here at night-time." + +"Nor in the daytime either," I added, pushing the boat off from the +bank. + +"And that's a fact, sir," he remarked, settling down to the oars. +"There was one gent round here this morning askin' his way, but except +for him we bin remarkable quiet." + +"What sort of a gent?" I demanded with interest. + +"Smallish, 'e was, sir, an' very civil spoken. Wanted to get to +Tilbury." + +"Did he ask who the boat belonged to, by any chance?" + +Mr. Gow reflected for a moment. "Now you come to mention it, sir, I +b'lieve 'e did. Not as I should have told 'im anything, even if I'd +known. I don't hold with answerin' questions." + +"You're quite right, Mr. Gow," I observed, catching hold of the +stern of the _Betty_. "It's a habit that gets people into a lot of +trouble--especially in the Law Courts." + +We clambered on board, and while my companion made the dinghy fast, +I went down into the cabin, and proceeded to rout out the lockers in +search of provisions. I discovered a slab of pressed beef, and some +rather stale bread and cheese, which I set out on the table, wondering +to myself, as I did so, whether the inquisitive stranger of the +morning was in any way connected with my affairs. It couldn't have +been Latimer, for that gentleman was very far from being "smallish," a +remark which applied equally well to our mutual friend with the scar. +I was still pondering over the question when I heard Mr. Gow drop down +into the fo'c's'le, and summoned him through the connecting door to +come and join the feast. + +He accepted my invitation with some embarrassment, as became a "paid +hand," but a bottle of Bass soon put him at his ease. We began by +discussing various nautical topics, such as the relative merits of a +centre-board or a keel for small boats, and whether whisky or beer was +really the better drink when one was tired and wet through. It was not +until we had finished our meal and were sitting outside enjoying our +pipes that I broached the question that was at the back of my mind. + +"Look here, Gow," I said abruptly, "were you speaking seriously when +you suggested that launch ran you down on purpose?" + +His face darkened, and then a curious look of slow cunning stole into +it. + +"Mebbe they did, and mebbe they didn't," he answered. "Anyway, I +reckon they wouldn't have bin altogether sorry to see me at the bottom +o' the river." + +"But why?" I persisted. "What on earth have you been doing to them?" + +Mr. Gow was silent for a moment. "'Tis like this, sir," he said at +last. "Bein' about the river all times o' the day an' night, I see +things as other people misses--things as per'aps it ain't too healthy +to see." + +"Well, what have you seen our pals doing?" I inquired. + +"I don't say I seen 'em doin' nothin'--nothin' against the law, so to +speak." He looked round cautiously. "All the same, sir," he added, +lowering his voice, "it's my belief as they ain't livin' up there on +Sheppey for no good purpose. Artists they calls 'emselves, but to my +way o' thinking they're a sight more interested in forts an' ships an' +suchlike than they are in pickchers and paintin'." + +I looked at him steadily for a moment. There was no doubt that the man +was in earnest. + +"You think they're spies?" I said quietly. + +He nodded his head. "That's it, sir. Spies--that's what they are; a +couple o' dirty Dutch spies--damn 'em." + +"Why don't you tell the police or the naval people?" I asked. + +He laughed grimly. "They'd pay a lot of heed to the likes o' me, +wouldn't they? You can lay them two fellers have got it all squared up +fine and proper. Come to look into it, an' you'd find they was artists +right enough; no, there wouldn't be no doubt about that. As like as +not I'd get two years 'ard for perjurin' and blackmail." + +To a certain extent I was in a position to sympathize with this point +of view. + +"Well, we must keep an eye on them ourselves," I said, "that's all. +We can't have German spies running up and down the Thames as if they +owned the blessed place." I got up and knocked out my pipe. "The first +thing to do," I added, "is to summons them for sinking your boat. If +they _are_ spies, they'll pay up without a murmur, especially if they +really tried to do it on purpose." + +Mr. Gow nodded his head again, with a kind of vicious obstinacy. "They +done it a-purpose all right," he repeated. "They seen me watching of +'em, and they knows that dead men tell no tales." + +There scarcely seemed to me to be enough evidence for the certainty +with which he cherished this opinion; but the mere possibility of its +being a fact was sufficiently disturbing. Goodness knows, I didn't +want to mix myself up in any further troubles, and yet, if these men +were really German spies, and, in addition to that, sufficiently +desperate to attempt a cold-blooded murder in order to cover up their +traces, I had apparently let myself in for it with a vengeance. + +Of course, if I liked, I could abandon Mr. Gow to pursue his claim +without any assistance; but that was a solution which somehow or other +failed to appeal to me. In a sense he had become my retainer; and +we Lyndons are not given to deserting our retainers under any +circumstances. At least, I shouldn't exactly have liked to face my +father in another world with this particular weakness against my +record. + +Altogether it was in a far from serene state of mind that I climbed +down into the dinghy, and allowed Mr. Gow to row me back to the bank. + +"Will you be over tomorrow, sir?" he asked, as he stood up in the boat +ready to push off. + +"I don't think so, I shall be rather busy the next two or three +days." Then I paused a moment. "Keep your eyes open generally, Mr. +Gow," I added; "and if any more gentlemen who have lost their way to +Tilbury come and ask you the name of the _Betty's_ owner, tell them +she belongs to the Bishop of London." + +He touched his cap quite gravely. "Yessir," he said. "Good-night, +sir." + +"Good-night, Mr. Gow," I replied, and scrambling up the bank, I set +off on my return journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + +It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the +rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and +exhaustion. Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark +brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have +taken for finely ground coffee. It was not coffee, however; it was the +fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that +any human being has ever accomplished. Unless I was wrong--utterly and +hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to +blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next +week. + +I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle +slowly through my fingers. The stuff was quite safe to handle; that +was one of its beauties. I could have put a lighted match to it or +thrown it on the fire without the faintest risk; the only possible +method of releasing its appalling power being the explosion of a few +grains of gunpowder or dynamite in its immediate vicinity. I had no +intention of allowing that interesting event to occur until I had made +certain necessary preparations. + +I was still contemplating my handiwork with a sort of fatigued pride, +when a sudden sound outside attracted my attention. Getting up and +looking through the shed window, I discovered a telegraph-boy standing +by the hut, apparently engaged in hunting for the bell. + +"All right, sonny," I called out. "Bring it along here." + +I walked to the door, and the next minute I was being handed an +envelope addressed to me at the Tilbury Post-Office in Joyce's +handwriting. + +"It came the last post yesterday," explained the lad. "We couldn't let +you have it until this morning because there wasn't any one to send." + +"Well, sit down a moment, Charles," I said; "and I'll just see if +there's any answer." + +He seated himself on the bench, staring round at everything with +obvious interest. With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I slit open +the envelope and pulled out its contents. + + +"CHELSEA, + +"_Monday._ + +"DEAREST JAMES, + +"It looks rather nice written--doesn't it! I am coming down tomorrow +by the train which gets into Tilbury at 2.15. I shall walk across to +the _Betty_ and sit there peacefully till you turn up. Whatever stage +the work is at, don't be later than 7.30. I shall have supper ready by +then--and it will be a supper worth eating. My poor darling, you must +be simply starved. I've lots to tell you, James, but it will keep till +tomorrow. + +"With all my love, + +"JOYCE." + +I read this through (it was so like Joyce I could almost fancy I heard +her speaking), and then I turned to the telegraph-boy, who was still +occupied in taking stock of his surroundings. + +"There's no answer, thank you, Charles," I said. "How much do I owe +you?" + +He pulled himself together abruptly. "It will be two shillings, the +post-office fee, sir." + +"Well, there it is," I said; "and there's another shilling for +yourself." + +He jumped up and pocketed the coins with an expression of gratitude. +Then he paused irresolutely. "Beg pardon, sir," he observed, "but +ain't you a gentleman who makes things?" + +I laughed. "We most of us do that, Charles," I said, "if they're only +mistakes." + +He looked round the shed with an expression of slight awe. "Can you +make fireworks?" he asked. + +I glanced instinctively at the little heap of powder. "Of a kind," I +admitted modestly. "Why?" + +He gave an envious sigh. "I only wondered if it was hard, sir. I'd +rather be able to make fireworks than do anything." + +"It's not very hard," I said consolingly. "You go on bringing my +letters and telegrams for me like a good boy directly they arrive, and +before I leave here I'll show you how to do it. Only you mustn't talk +about it to anybody, or I shall have everyone asking me the same +thing." + +His face brightened, and stammering out his thanks and his +determination to keep the bargain a profound secret, he reluctantly +took his departure. I felt that in future, whatever happened, I +was pretty certain to get anything which turned up for me at the +post-office without undue delay. + +For the next half-hour or so I amused myself by constructing a kind of +amateur magazine outside the hut in which to store my precious powder. +It was safe enough in a way above ground, as I have already mentioned, +but with inquisitive strangers like Mr. Latimer prowling around, I +certainly didn't mean to leave a grain of it about while I was absent +from the shed. I packed it all away in a waterproof iron box, which I +had specially ordered for the purpose, and buried it in the hole that +I had dug outside. Then I covered the latter over with a couple of +pieces of turf, and carefully removed all traces of my handiwork. + +It was not until I had finished this little job that I suddenly +realized how tired I was. For the last four days I had scarcely +stirred outside the shed, and I don't suppose I had averaged more than +three hours' sleep a night the whole time. The excitement and interest +of my work had kept me going, and now that it was over I found that I +was almost dropping with fatigue. + +I locked up the place, and walking across to the hut, opened myself +one of the bottles of champagne which I had so thoughtfully purchased +at the Off-Licence. It was not exactly a vintage wine, but I was in no +mood to be over-critical, and I drank off a couple of glasses with the +utmost appreciation. Then I lay down on the bed, and in less than five +minutes I was sleeping like a log. + +I woke up at exactly half-past four. However tired I am, a few hours' +sleep always puts me right again, and by the time I had had a wash and +changed into a clean shirt, I felt as fresh as a daisy. + +I decided to walk straight over to the _Betty_. I knew that by this +time Joyce would be on board, and as there was nothing else to be done +in the shed, I thought I might just as well join her now as later. I +had been too busy to miss any one very much the last four days, but +now that the strain was over I felt curiously hungry to see her again. +Besides, I was longing to hear what news she had brought about Tommy +and George. + +With a view to contributing some modest item towards the supper +programme, I shoved the other bottle of champagne into my pocket, and +then lighting a cigar, locked up the place, and set off for the creek +by my usual route. The tide was very high, and on several occasions I +had to scramble up and make my way along the sea-wall in full view +of the marsh and the roadway. Fortunately, however, there seemed, +as usual, to be no one about, and I reached the mouth of the creek +without much fear of having been watched or followed. + +The _Betty_ was there all right, but I could see no sign of any one on +board. I walked up the creek until I was exactly opposite where she +was lying, and then putting my hands to my lips I gave her a gentle +hail. + +In an instant Joyce's head appeared out of the cabin, and the next +moment she was on deck waving me a joyous welcome with the frying-pan. + +"Oh, it's you!" she cried. "How lovely! Half a second, and I'll come +over and fetch you." + +"Where's Mr. Gow?" I called out. + +"He's gone home. I sent him off for a holiday. There's no one on board +but me." + +She scrambled aft, and unshipping the dinghy, came sculling towards me +across the intervening water. She was wearing a white jersey, and with +her arms bare and her hair shining in the sunlight, she made a picture +that only a blind man would have failed to find inspiring. + +She brought up right against the bank where I was standing, and +leaning over, caught hold of the grass. + +"Jump," she said. "I'll hang on." + +I jumped, and the next moment I was beside her in the boat, and we +were hugging each other as cheerfully and naturally as two children. + +"You dear, to come so soon!" she said. "I wasn't expecting you for +ages." + +I kissed her again, and then, picking up the oars, pushed off from the +bank. "Joyce," I said, "I've done it! I've made enough of the blessed +stuff to blow up half Tilbury." + +She clapped her hands joyfully. "How splendid! I knew you would. Have +you tried it?" + +I shook my head. "Not yet," I said. "We'll do it early tomorrow +morning, before any one's about." Then, digging in my scull to avoid a +desolate-looking beacon, I added anxiously: "What about Tommy? Is he +coming?" + +Joyce nodded. "He'll be down tomorrow. I've got a letter for you from +him. He saw Mr. Latimer last night." + +"Did he!" said I. "Things are moving with a vengeance. What about the +gentle George?" + +Joyce laughed softly. "Oh," she said; "I've such lots to tell you, I +hardly know where to start." + +I ran the boat alongside the _Betty_, and we both climbed on board. + +"Suppose we start by having some tea," I suggested. "I'm dying for a +cup." + +"You poor dear," said Joyce. "Of course you shall have one. You can +read what Tommy says while I'm getting it ready." + +She fetched the letter out of the cabin, and sitting in the well I +proceeded to decipher the three foolscap pages of hieroglyphics which +Tommy is pleased to describe as his handwriting. As far as I could +make out they ran as follows: + +"MY DEAR NEIL, + +"I suppose I oughtn't to begin like that, in case somebody else got +hold of the letter. It doesn't matter really, however, because Joyce +is bringing it down, and you can tear the damn thing up as soon as +you've read it. + +"Well, I've seen Latimer. I wrote to him directly I got back, reminded +him who I was, and told him I wanted to have a chat with him about +some very special private business. He asked me to come round to his +rooms in Jermyn Street last night at ten o'clock, and I was there till +pretty near midnight. + +"I thought I was bound to find out something, but good Lord, Neil, it +came off in a way I'd never dared hope for. Practically speaking, I've +got to the bottom of the whole business--at least so far as Latimer's +concerned. You see he either had to explain or else tell me to go to +the devil, and as he thought I was a perfectly safe sort of chap to be +honest with, he decided to make a clean breast of it. + +"To start with, it's very much what we suspected. Latimer _is_ a +Secret Service man, and that's how he comes to be mixed up in the job. +It seems that some little while ago the Admiralty or one of the other +Government departments got it into their heads that there were a +number of Germans over in England spying out the land in view of a +possible row over this Servian business. Latimer was told off amongst +others to look into the matter. He had been sniffing around for some +weeks without much luck, when more or less by chance he dropped across +the track of those two very identical beauties who ran down Gow's boat +in the Thames last Friday. + +"Somehow or other they must have got wind of the fact that he was +after them, and they evidently made up their minds to get rid of him. +They seem to have set about it rather neatly. The man with the scar, +who is either one of them or else in with them, introduced himself to +Latimer as a member of the French Secret Service. He pretended that +he had some special information about the case in hand, and although +Latimer was a bit suspicious, he agreed to dine at Parelli's and hear +what the fellow had to say. + +"Well, you know the rest of that little incident. If it hadn't been +for you there's not the faintest doubt that Latimer would have +copped it all right, and I can tell you he's by way of being rather +particularly grateful. I was specially instructed to send you a +message to that effect next time I was writing. + +"What the connection is between your crowd and these Germans I can't +exactly make out. Of course if you're right in your idea about the +chap with the scar spying on you in London it's perfectly obvious +they're working together in some way. At the same time I'm quite sure +that Latimer knows nothing about it. The reason he came down to look +at the hut on Friday was because a report about it had been sent to +him by one of his men--he has two fellows working under him--and he +thought it might have something to do with the Germans. He described +the way you had caught him quite frankly, and told me how he'd had to +invent a lie about the Surveyor in order to get out of it. + +"Exactly what he means to do next I don't know. He has got some plan +on, and I've a notion he wants me to help him--at least he sounded +me pretty plainly last night as to whether I'd be game to lend him a +hand. I need hardly tell you I jumped at the idea. It seems to me our +only possible chance of finding out anything. I am to see him or hear +from him tomorrow, and directly I know what's in the wind I'll either +write to you or come and look you up. + +"Joyce will tell you all about George and McMurtrie. If they aren't +both up to some kind of particularly dirty mischief I'll eat my whole +wardrobe. We must talk it over thoroughly when we meet. + +"I'm longing to see you again, and hear all about the work and what's +been going on down there. + +"So long, old son, + +"Yours as ever, + +"TOMMY." + +I was just making out the last words, when Joyce emerged from the +cabin, carrying some tea on a tray. + +"Here you are, Neil," she said. "I have cut you only two slices of +bread and butter, because I don't want you to spoil your supper. +There's cold pheasant and peas and new potatoes." + +I pulled out the bottle of champagne from my pocket. "If they're as +new as this wine," I observed, "they ought to be delicious." + +Joyce accepted my contribution, and after reading the label, placed it +carefully on the floor of the well. "Sarcon et fils," she repeated. "I +always thought they made vinegar." + +"Perhaps they do," I replied. "We shall know when we drink it." + +Joyce laughed, and sitting down beside me, poured me out a cup of tea. +"You've read Tommy's letter," she said. "What do you think about it?" + +I took a long drink. "From the little I've seen of Mr. Bruce Latimer," +I said, "I should put him down as being one of the most accomplished +liars in England." I paused. "At the same time," I added, "I think +he's a fine fellow. I like his face." + +Joyce nodded her head. "But you don't believe his story?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "It may be true," I said. "Tommy seems +to think so anyhow. If it is, things are a bit simpler than I +imagined--that's all." + +"And if it isn't?" said Joyce. + +"Ah!" said I, "if it isn't--" + +I left the sentence unfinished, and helped myself to a second bit of +bread and butter. + +There was a short silence. + +"Tell me about George, Joyce," I went on. "What are these particular +dark doings that Tommy's hinting about?" + +Joyce leaned forward with her chin on her hands, her blue eyes fixed +on mine. + +"Neil," she said slowly, "I've found out something at last--something +I thought I was never going to. I know who the man was in Marks's +rooms on the day that he was murdered." + +I was so surprised that I gulped down a mouthful of nearly boiling +tea. + +"I wish you'd break these things more gently, Joyce," I said. "Who was +it?" + +"It was Dr. McMurtrie." + +I put down the teacup and stared at her in the blankest amazement. + +"Dr. McMurtrie!" I repeated incredulously. + +She nodded. "Listen, and I'll tell you exactly how it all happened. I +dined with George, as you know, at the Savoy on Friday, and we went +into the whole business of my going away with him. He has got that +twelve thousand pounds, Neil; there's no doubt about it. He showed me +the entry in his pass-book and the acknowledgment from the bank, and +he even offered to write me a cheque for a couple of hundred right +away, to buy clothes with for the trip." + +"From what I remember of George," I said, "he must be desperately in +love with you." + +Joyce gave a little shiver of disgust. "Of course I let him think I +was giving way. I wanted to find out where the money had come from, +but try as I would, I couldn't get him to tell me. That makes me feel +so certain there's something wrong about it. In the end I arranged to +dine with him again tomorrow night, when I said I'd give him my final +answer. On Saturday morning, however, I changed my mind, and wrote him +a note to say I'd come Thursday instead. I didn't mean to tie myself +to be back tomorrow, in case you wanted me here." + +She paused. + +"I had to go up Victoria Street, so I thought I'd leave the letter at +his office. I'd just got there, and I was standing outside the door +opening my bag, when a man came down the steps. I looked up as he +passed, and--oh Neil!--it was all I could do to stop myself from +screaming. I knew him at once; I knew his cold wicked face just as +well as if it had been only three days instead of three years. It was +the man I'd seen in Marks's rooms on the afternoon of the murder." + +She stopped again, and took a deep breath. + +"I was horribly excited, and yet at the same time I felt quite cool. I +let him get about ten yards away down the street, and then I started +off after him. He walked as far as the Stores. Then he called an empty +taxi that was coming past, and I heard him tell the driver to go to +the Hotel Russell. I thought about how you'd followed the man with the +scar, and I made up my mind I'd do the same thing. I had to wait for +several seconds before another taxi came by, but directly it did +I jumped in and told the man to drive me to the corner of Russell +Square. + +"I got there just as the other taxi was drawing up in front of the +hotel. A porter came forward and opened the door, and I saw the man +get out and go up the steps. I waited for one moment, and then I +walked along to the entrance myself. The porter was still standing +there, so I went straight up to him and asked him quite simply what +the name of the gentleman was who had just gone inside. He sort of +hesitated, and then he said to me: 'That gentleman, Miss?--that's Dr. +McMurtrie.'" + +Once more she paused, and, pushing away the tray, I lit myself a +cigar. "It's lucky you've had some practice in surprises," I observed. + +Joyce nodded. "Of course I was absolutely flabbergasted, but I don't +think I showed anything. I sort of rummaged in my bag for a minute +till I'd recovered; then I gave the man half a crown and asked him if +he knew how long Dr. McMurtrie was staying. I think he was in doubt as +to whether I was a female detective or a lady reporter; anyhow he took +the money and said he was very sorry he didn't know, but that if I +wanted an interview at any time he had no doubt it might be arranged. +I thanked him, and said it didn't matter for the moment, and there I +thought it best to leave things. You see I knew that whether McMurtrie +stayed on at the Russell or not you were bound to see him again, and +there was nothing to be gained by asking questions which the porter +would probably repeat to him. It would only have helped to put him on +his guard--wouldn't it?" + +"My dear Joyce," I said, "I think you did splendidly. Sherlock Holmes +couldn't have done better." I got up and walked to the end of the +cockpit. "But good Lord!" I added, "this does complicate matters. +You're absolutely certain it was McMurtrie you saw at Marks's flat?" + +"Absolutely," repeated Joyce with emphasis. "I should remember his +face if I lived to be a hundred." + +I clenched my fists in a sudden spasm of anger. "There's some damned +villainy underneath all this, Joyce," I said. "If McMurtrie was there +that afternoon the odds are that he knows who committed the murder." + +"He did it himself," said Joyce calmly. "I'm as sure of it as I am +that I'm sitting here." + +"But why?" I demanded--"why? Who on earth _was_ Marks? Nobody in +Chelsea seemed to know anything about him, and nothing came out at the +trial. Why should any one have wanted to kill him except me?" + +Joyce shook her head. "I don't know," she said stubbornly; "but I'm +quite certain it was McMurtrie. I feel it inside me." + +"And in any case," I continued, "what the devil is he doing messing +about with George? I'm the only connecting-link between them, and he +can't possibly mean to betray me--at all events, until he's got the +secret of the powder. He knows George would give me up tomorrow." + +Joyce made a gesture of perplexity. "I know," she said. "It's an +absolute mystery to me too. I've been puzzling and puzzling over it +till my head aches, and I can't see any sort of explanation at all." + +"The only thing that's quite plain," I said, "is the fact that +McMurtrie and Savaroff have been lying to me from the start. They are +no more powder-merchants than you are. They want to get hold of my +invention for some reason--to make money out of it, I suppose--and +then they're prepared to clear out and leave me to George and the +police. At least, that's what it's beginning to look like." + +"Well, anyhow," said Joyce, "you're not tied to them any longer by +your promise." + +"No," I said; "it takes two to keep a bargain. Besides," I added +rather bitterly, "I can afford the privilege of breaking my word. It's +only what you'd expect from a convict." + +Joyce got up, and coming to where I was sitting, slipped her arm +through mine and softly stroked my hand. "Don't, Neil," she said. +"I hate you to say anything that isn't fine and generous. It's like +hearing music out of tune." + +I drew her to me, and half closing her eyes, she laid her cheek +against mine. We remained silent for a moment or two, and then, giving +her a little hug, I sat up and took hold of her hands. + +"Look here, Joyce," I said, "we won't just bother about anything for +the rest of the day. We'll be cheerful and jolly and foolish, like we +were on Friday. God knows how all this infernal tangle is going to pan +out, but we may as well snatch one evening's happiness out of it while +we've got the chance." + +Joyce kissed me, and then jumping lightly from the seat, pulled me +up with her. "We will," she said. "After all, we've got a boat and a +lovely evening and a cold pheasant and a bottle of champagne--what +more can any one want?" + +"Well," I said, "it may sound greedy, but as a matter of fact I want +some of those peas and new potatoes you were talking about just now." + +She let go my hands, and opening one of the lockers, took out a large +basin with a couple of bags in it. "There you are," she laughed. "You +can skin them and shell them while I wash up the tea-things and lay +the table. It's a man's duty to do the dangerous work." + +Joyce had always had the gift of scattering a kind of infectious +gaiety around her, and that night she seemed to be in her most +bewitching and delightful mood. I think she made up her mind to try +and wipe out from my memory for the time being all thoughts of +the somewhat harassed state of existence in which it had pleased +Providence to land me. If so, she succeeded admirably. + +We cooked the supper between us. I boiled the peas and potatoes, and +then, when we had done the first course, Joyce got up and made a +brilliantly successful French omelette out of some fresh eggs which +she had brought down for that inspired purpose. + +It was very charming in the little low-ceilinged cabin, with the lamp +swinging overhead and no sound outside but the soft lapping of the +tide upon the sides of the boat. We lay and talked for some time after +we had finished, while I smoked a cigar, and Joyce, stretched out +luxuriously on the other bunk, indulged in a couple of cigarettes. + +"We won't wash up," I said. "I'll just shove everything through into +the fo'c's'le, and we'll leave them there for Mr. Gow. A certain +amount of exercise will be good for him after his holiday." + +"Do," said Joyce sleepily. "And then come and sit over here, Neil. I +want to stroke your hair." + +I cleared away the things, and shutting up the table, which worked on +a hinge, spread out my own cushions on the floor alongside of +Joyce's bunk. The latter was just low enough to let me rest my head +comfortably on her shoulder. + +How long we lay like that I really don't know. My whole body and mind +were steeped in a strange, delightful sense of peace and contentment, +and I began to realize, I think for the first time, how utterly +necessary and dear to me Joyce had become. I slid my arm underneath +her--she lay close up against me, her hair, which she had loosened +from its fastenings, half covering us both in its soft beauty. + +The lamp flickered and died down, but we didn't trouble to relight it. +Outside the night grew darker and darker, and through the open hatch +we could just see a solitary star shining down on us from between two +banks of cloud. Cool and sweet, a faint breeze drifted in from the +silent marshes. + +Then, quite suddenly, it seemed to me, a strange madness and music +filled the night for both of us. I only knew that Joyce was in my arms +and that we were kissing each other with fierce, unheeding passion. +There were tears on her cheeks--little sweet, salt tears of love and +happiness that felt all wet against my lips. + +It was only a moment--just one brief moment of unutterable beauty--and +then I remembered. With a groan I half raised myself in the darkness. + +"I must go, Joyce," I whispered. "I can't stay here. I daren't." + +She slipped her soft bare arms round my neck, and drew my face down to +hers. + +"Don't go," she whispered back. "Not if you don't want to. What does +it matter? I am all yours, Neil, anyway." + +For a moment I felt her warm fragrant breath upon my face, and her +heart beating quickly against mine. Then, with an effort--a big +effort--I tore myself away. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "it would only make things worse. Oh, my dear +sweet Joyce, I want you like the night wants the dawn, but we can't +cheat life. Suppose we fail--suppose there's only death or prison in +front of me. It will be hard enough now, but if--" + +I broke off, and with a little sob Joyce sat up and felt for my hand. + +"You're right, darling," she said; "but oh, my dear, my dear!" She +lifted up my hand and passed it softly backwards and forwards across +her eyes. Then, with a little laugh that had tears close behind it, +she added: "Do you know, my Neil, I'm conceited enough to think you're +rather wonderful." + +I bent down and kissed her with infinite tenderness. + +"I am, Joyce," I said. "Exactly how wonderful you'll never know." + +Then I lifted her up in my arms, and we went out of the cabin into the +cool darkness of the night. + +"I'll row myself ashore," I said, "and leave the dinghy on the beach. +I shall be back about four o'clock, if that's not too early for you. +We ought to get our explosion over before there's any one about." + +Joyce nodded. "I don't mind how early you come. The sooner the +better." + +"Try and get some sleep," I added; "you'll be tired out tomorrow if +you don't." + +"I'll try," said Joyce simply; "but I don't think I shall. I'm not +even sure I want to." + +I kissed her once more, and slipping down into the dinghy, pulled off +for the shore. Everything around was dark and silent--the faint splash +of my oars alone breaking the utter stillness. Landing at my usual +spot, more by luck than judgment, I tugged the boat up out of reach of +the tide, and then, turning round, waved good-night to the _Betty_. + +It was too dark to see anything, but I think Joyce sent me back my +message. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + +The eastern sky was just flushing into light when I got back to +the creek at four o'clock. It was a beautiful morning--cool and +still--with the sweet freshness of early dawn in the air, and the +promise of a long unclouded day of spring sunshine. + +I tugged the dinghy down to the water, and pushed off for the _Betty_, +which looked strangely small and unreal lying there in the dim, +mysterious twilight. The sound I made as I drew near must have reached +Joyce's ears. She was up on deck in a moment, fully dressed, and with +her hair twisted into a long bronze plait that hung down some way +below her waist. She looked as fresh and fair as the dawn itself. + +"Beautifully punctual," she called out over the side. "I knew you +would be, so I started getting breakfast." + +I caught hold of the gunwale and scrambled on board. + +"It's like living at the Savoy," I said. "Breakfast was a luxury that +had never entered my head." + +"Well, it's going to now," she returned, "unless you're in too great a +hurry to start. It's all ready in the cabin." + +"We can spare ten minutes certainly," I said. "Experiments should +always be made on a full body." + +I tied up the dinghy and followed her inside, where the table was +decorated with bread and butter and the remnants of the cold pheasant, +while a kettle hissed away cheerfully on the Primus. + +"I don't believe you've been to bed at all, Joyce," I said. "And yet +you look as if you'd just slipped out of Paradise by accident." + +She laughed, and putting her hand in my side-pocket, took out my +handkerchief to lift off the kettle with. + +"I didn't want to sleep," she said. "I was too happy, and too +miserable. It's the widest-awake mixture I ever tried." Then, picking +up the teapot, she added curiously: "Where's the powder? I expected to +see you arrive with a large keg over your shoulder." + +I sat down at the table and produced a couple of glass flasks, tightly +corked. + +"Here you are," I said. "This is ordinary gunpowder, and this other +one's my stuff. It looks harmless enough, doesn't it?" + +Joyce took both flasks and examined them with interest. "You've not +brought very much of it," she said. "I was hoping we were going to +have a really big blow-up." + +"It will be big enough," I returned consolingly, "unless I've made a +mistake." + +"Where are you going to do it?" she asked. + +"Somewhere at the back of Canvey Island," I said. "There's no one to +wake up there except the sea-gulls, and we can be out of sight round +the corner before it explodes. I've got about twenty feet of fuse, +which will give us at least a quarter of an hour to get away in." + +"What fun!" exclaimed Joyce. "I feel just like an anarchist or +something; and it's lovely to know that one's launching a new +invention. We ought to have kept that bottle of champagne to christen +it with." + +"Yes," I said regretfully; "it was the real christening brand too." + +There was a short silence. "I've thought of a name for it," cried +Joyce suddenly. "The powder, I mean. We'll call it Lyndonite. It +sounds like something that goes off with a bang, doesn't it?" + +I laughed. "It would probably suggest that to the prison authorities," +I said. "Anyhow, Lyndonite it shall be." + +We finished breakfast, and going up on deck I proceeded to haul in the +anchor, while Joyce stowed away the crockery and provisions below. For +once in a way the engine started without much difficulty, and as the +tide was running out fast it didn't take us very long to reach the +mouth of the creek. + +Once outside, I set a course down stream as close to the northern +shore as I dared go. Except for a rusty-looking steam tramp we had the +whole river to ourselves, not even a solitary barge breaking the +long stretch of grey water. One by one the old landmarks--Mucking +Lighthouse, the Thames Cattle Wharf, and Hole Haven--were left behind, +and at last the entrance to the creek that runs round behind Canvey +Island came into sight. + +One would never accuse it of being a cheerful, bustling sort of place +at the best of times, but at five o'clock in the morning it seemed the +very picture of uninhabited desolation. A better locality in which +to enjoy a little quiet practice with new explosives it would be +difficult to imagine. + +I navigated the _Betty_ in rather gingerly, for it was over three +years since I had visited the spot. Joyce kept on sounding diligently +with the lead either side of the boat, and at last we brought up in +about one and a half fathom, just comfortably out of sight of the main +stream. + +"This will do nicely," I said. "We'll turn her round first, and then +I'll row into the bank and fix things up under that tree over there. +We can be back in the river before anything happens." + +"Can't we stop and watch?" asked Joyce. "I should love to see it go +off." + +I shook my head. "Unless I've made a mistake," I said, "it will be +much healthier round the corner. We'll come back and see what's +happened afterwards." + +By the aid of some delicate manoeuvring I brought the _Betty_ round, +and then getting into the dinghy pulled myself ashore. + +It was quite unnecessary for my experiment to make any complicated +preparations. All I had to do was to dig a hole in the bank with a +trowel that I had brought for the purpose, empty my stuff into that, +and tip in the gunpowder on top. When I had finished I covered the +whole thing over with earth, leaving a clear passage for the fuse, and +then lighting the end of the latter, jumped back into the boat and +pulled off rapidly for the _Betty_. + +We didn't waste any time dawdling about. Joyce seized the painter as +I climbed on board, and hurrying to the tiller I started off down the +creek as fast as we could go, taking very particular pains not to run +aground. + +We had reached the mouth, and I was swinging her round into the main +river, when a sudden rumbling roar disturbed the peacefulness of +the dawn. Joyce, who was staring out over the stern, gave a little +startled cry, and glancing hastily back I was just in time to see a +disintegrated-looking tree soaring gaily up into the air in the midst +of a huge column of dust and smoke. The next moment a rain of falling +fragments of earth and wood came splashing down into the water--a few +stray pieces actually reaching the _Betty_, which rocked vigorously as +a minature tidal wave swept after us up the creek. + +I put down my helm and brought her round so as to face the stricken +field. + +"We seem to have done it, Joyce," I observed with some contentment. + +She gave a little gasping sort of laugh. "It was splendid!" she said. +"But, oh, Neil, what appalling stuff it must be! It's blown up half +Canvey Island!" + +"Never mind," I said cheerfully. "There are plenty of other islands +left. Let's get into the dinghy and see what the damage really amounts +to. I fancy it's fairly useful." + +We anchored the _Betty_, and then pulled up the creek towards the +scene of the explosion, where a gaping aperture in the bank was +plainly visible. As we drew near I saw that it extended, roughly +speaking, in a half-circle of perhaps twenty yards diameter. The whole +of this, which had previously been a solid bank of grass and earth, +was now nothing but a muddy pool. Of the unfortunate tree which had +marked the site there was not a vestige remaining. + +I regarded it all from the boat with the complacent pride of a +successful inventor. "It's even better than I expected, Joyce," I +said. "If one can do this with three-quarters of a pound, just fancy +the effect of a couple of hundredweight. It would shift half London." + +Joyce nodded. "They'll be more anxious than ever to get hold of it, +when they know," she said. "What are you going to do? Write and tell +McMurtrie that you've succeeded?" + +"I haven't quite decided," I answered. "I shall wait till tomorrow or +the next day, anyhow. I want to hear what Sonia has got to say first." +Then, backing away the boat, I added: "We'd better get out of this +as soon as we can. It's just possible some one may have heard the +explosion and come pushing along to find out what's the matter. People +are so horribly inquisitive." + +Joyce laughed. "It would be rather awkward, wouldn't it? We couldn't +very well say it was an earthquake. It looks too neat and tidy." + +Fortunately for us, if there was any one in the neighbourhood who +had heard the noise, they were either too lazy or too incurious to +investigate the cause. We got back on board the _Betty_ and took her +out into the main stream without seeing a sign of any one except +ourselves. The hull of the steam tramp was just visible in the far +distance, but except for that the river was still pleasantly deserted. + +"What shall we do now, Joyce?" I asked. "It seems to me that this is +an occasion which distinctly requires celebrating." + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Let's go for a long sail," she suggested, +"and then put in at Southend and have asparagus for lunch." + +I looked at her with affectionate approval. "You always have beautiful +ideas," I said. Then a sudden inspiration seized me. "I've got it!" I +cried. "What do you say to running down to Sheppey and paying a call +on our German pals?" + +Joyce's blue eyes sparkled. "It would be lovely," she said, with a +deep breath; "but dare we risk it?" + +"There's no risk," I rejoined. "When I said 'pay a call,' I didn't +mean it quite literally. My idea was to cruise along the coast and +just find out exactly where their precious bungalow is, and what they +do with that launch of theirs when they're not swamping inquisitive +boatmen. It's the sort of information that might turn out useful." + +Joyce nodded. "We'll go," she said briefly. "What about the tide?" + +"Oh, the tide doesn't matter," I replied. "It will be dead out by the +time we get to Southend; but we only draw about three foot six, and +we can cut across through the Jenkin Swatch. There's water enough off +Sheppey to float a battleship." + +It was the work of a few minutes to pull in the anchor and haul up +the sails, which filled immediately to a slight breeze that had +just sprung up from the west. Leaving a still peaceful, if somewhat +mutilated, Canvey Island behind us, we started off down the river, +gliding along with an agreeable smoothness that fitted in very nicely +with my state of mind. + +Indeed I don't think I had ever felt anything so nearly approaching +complete serenity since my escape from Dartmoor. It is true that +the tangle in which I was involved, appeared more threatening and +complicated than ever, but one gets so used to sitting on a powder +mine that the situation was gradually ceasing to distress me. + +At all events I had made my explosive, and that was one great step +towards a solution of some sort. If McMurtrie was prepared to play the +game with me I should in a few days be in what the newspapers call "a +position of comparative affluence," while if his intentions were less +straightforward I should at least have some definite idea as to where +I was. Sonia's promised disclosures were a guarantee of that. + +But apart from these considerations the mere fact of having Joyce +sitting beside me in the boat while we bowled along cheerfully through +the water was quite enough in itself to account for my new-found +happiness. One realizes some things in life with curious abruptness, +and I knew now how deeply and passionately I loved her. I suppose I +had always done so really, but she had been little more than a child +in the old Chelsea days, and the sort of brotherly tenderness and +pride I had had for her must have blinded me to the truth. + +Anyhow it was out now; out beyond any question of doubt or argument. +She was as necessary and dear to me as the stars are to the night, and +it seemed ridiculously impossible to contemplate any sort of existence +without her. Not that I wasted much energy attempting the feat; the +present was sufficiently charming to occupy my entire time. + +We passed Leigh and Southend, the former with its fleet of +fishing-smacks and the latter with its long unlovely pier, and then +nosed our way delicately into the Jenkin Swatch, that convenient ditch +which runs right across the mouth of the Thames. The sun was now high +in the sky, and one could see signs of activity on the various barges +that were hanging about the neighbourhood waiting for the tide. + +I pointed away past the Nore Lightship towards a bit of rising ground +on the low-lying Sheppey coast. + +"That's about where our pals are hanging out," I said. "There's +a little deep-water creek there, which Tommy and I used to use +sometimes, and according to Mr. Gow their bungalow is close by." + +Joyce peered out under her hand across the intervening water. "It's a +nice situation," she observed, "for artists." + +I laughed. "Yes," I said. "They are so close to Sheerness and +Shoeburyness, and other places of beauty. I expect they've done quite +a lot of quiet sketching." + +We reached the end of the Swatch, and leaving Queenborough, with its +grim collection of battleships and coal hulks, to starboard, we stood +out to sea along the coastline. It was a fairly long sail to the place +which I had pointed out to Joyce, but with a light breeze behind her +the _Betty_ danced along so gaily that we covered the distance in a +surprisingly short time. + +As we drew near, Joyce got out Tommy's field-glasses from the cabin, +and kneeling up on the seat in the well, focused them carefully on the +spot. + +"There's the entrance to the creek all right," she said, "but I don't +see any sign of a bungalow anywhere." She moved the glasses slowly +from side to side. "Oh, yes," she exclaimed suddenly, "I've got it +now--right up on the cliff there, away to the left. One can only just +see the roof, though, and it seems some way from the creek." + +She resigned the glasses to me, and took over the tiller, while I had +a turn at examining the coast. + +I soon made out the roof of the bungalow, which, as Joyce had said, +was the only part visible. It stood in a very lonely position, high +up on a piece of rising ground, and half hidden from the sea by what +seemed like a thick privet hedge. To judge by the smoke which I could +just discern rising from its solitary chimney, it looked as if the +occupants were addicted to the excellent habit of early rising. + +There was no other sign of them to be seen, however, and if the launch +was lying anywhere about, it was at all events invisible from the sea. +I refreshed my memory with a long, careful scrutiny of the entrance to +the creek, and then handing the glasses back to Joyce I again assumed +control of the boat. + +"Well," I observed, "we haven't wasted the morning. We know where +their bungalow door is, anyway." + +Joyce nodded. "It may come in very handy," she said, "in case you ever +want to pay them a surprise call." + +Exactly how soon that contingency was going to occur we neither of us +guessed or imagined! + +We reached the Nore Lightship, and waving a courteous greeting to a +patient-looking gentleman who was spitting over the side, commenced +our long beat back in the direction of Southend. It was slow work, for +the tide was only just beginning to turn, and the wind, such as there +was of it, was dead in our faces. However, I don't think either Joyce +or I found the time hang heavily on our hands. If one can't be happy +with the sun and the sea and the person one loves best in the world, +it seems to me that one must be unreasonably difficult to please. + +We fetched up off Southend Pier at just about eleven o'clock. A +hoarse-voiced person in a blue jersey, who was leaning over the end, +pointed us out some moorings that we were at liberty to pick up, and +then watched us critically while I stowed away the sails and locked up +everything in the boat which it was possible to steal. I had been to +Southend before in the old days. + +These simple precautions concluded, Joyce and I got in the dinghy +and rowed to the steps. We were met by the gentleman in blue, who +considerately offered to keep his eye on the boat for us while I "and +the lady" enjoyed what he called "a run round the town." I accepted +his proposal, and having agreed with his statement that it was "a nice +morning for a sail," set off with Joyce along the mile of pier that +separated us from the shore. + +I don't know that our adventures for the next two or three hours call +for any detailed description. We wandered leisurely and cheerfully +through the town, buying each other one or two trifles in the way of +presents, and then adjourned for lunch to a large and rather dazzling +hotel that dominated the sea front. It was a new effort on the part +of Southend since my time, but, as Joyce said, it "looked the sort of +place where one was likely to get asparagus." + +Its appearance did not belie it. At a corner table in the window, +looking out over the sea, we disposed of what the waiter described as +"two double portions" of that agreeable vegetable, together with an +excellent steak and a bottle of sound if slightly too sweet burgundy. +Then over a couple of cigarettes we discussed our immediate plans. + +"I think I'd better catch the three-thirty back," said Joyce. "I've +got one or two things I want to do before I meet George, and in any +case you mustn't stay here too long or you'll miss the tide." + +"That doesn't really matter," I said. "Only I suppose I ought to get +back just in case Tommy has turned up. I can't leave him sitting on a +mud-flat all night." + +Joyce laughed. "He'd probably be a little peevish in the morning. Men +are so unreasonable." + +I leaned across the table and took her hand. "When are you coming down +again?" I asked. "Tomorrow?" + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Tomorrow or the next day. It all depends +if I see a chance of getting anything more out of George. I'll write +to you or send you a wire, dear, anyhow." + +I nodded. "All right," I said; "and look here, Joyce; you may as well +come straight to the hut next time. It's not the least likely there'll +be any one there except me, and if there was you could easily pretend +you wanted to ask the way to Tilbury. You see, if Gow wasn't about, +you would have to pull the dinghy all the way down the bank before you +got on board the _Betty_, and that's a nice, muddy, shin-scraping sort +of job at the best of times." + +"Very well," said Joyce. Then squeezing my hand a little tighter she +added: "And my own Neil, you _will_ be careful, won't you? I always +seem to be asking you that, but, oh my dear, if you knew how horribly +frightened I am of anything happening to you. It will be worse than +ever now, after last night. I don't seem to feel it when I'm actually +with you--I suppose I'm too happy--but when I'm away from you it's +just like some ghastly horrible sword hanging over our heads all the +time. Neil darling, as soon as you get this money from McMurtrie--if +you do get it--can't we just give up the whole thing and go away and +be happy together?" + +I lifted her hand and pressed the inside of it against my lips. + +"Joyce," I said, "think what it means. It's just funking life--just +giving it up because the odds seem too heavy against us. I shouldn't +have minded killing Marks in the least. I should be rather proud of +it. If I had, we would go away together tomorrow, and I should never +worry my head as to what any one in the world was saying or thinking +about me." I paused. "But I didn't kill him," I added slowly, "and +that just makes all the difference." + +Joyce's blue eyes were very near tears, but they looked back steadily +and bravely into mine. + +"Yes, yes," she said. "I didn't really mean it, Neil. I was just weak +for the moment--that's all. Right down in my heart I want everything +for you; I could never be contented with less. I want the whole world +to know how they've wronged you; I want you to be famous and powerful +and splendid, and I want the people who've abused you to come and +smirk and grovel to you, and say that they knew all the time that you +were innocent." She stopped and took a deep breath. "And they shall, +Neil. I'm as certain of it as if I saw it happening. I seem to know +inside me that we're on the very point of finding out the truth." + +I don't think my worst enemy would accuse me of being superstitious, +but there was a ring of conviction in Joyce's voice which somehow or +other affected me curiously. + +"I believe you're right," I said. "I've got something of that sort of +feeling too. Perhaps it's infectious." Then, letting go her hand, to +spare the feelings of the waiter who had just come into the room, I +sat back in my chair and ordered the bill. + +We didn't talk much on our way to the station. I think we were both +feeling rather depressed at the prospect of doing without each other +for at least twenty-four hours, and in any case the trams and motors +and jostling crowd of holiday-makers who filled the main street would +have rendered any connected conversation rather a difficult art. + +A good many people favoured Joyce with glances of admiration, +especially a spruce-looking young constable who officially held up the +traffic to allow us to cross the road. He paid no attention at all to +me, but I consoled myself with the reflection that he was missing an +excellent chance of promotion. + +At the station I put Joyce into a first-class carriage, kissed her +affectionately under the disapproving eye of an old lady in the +opposite corner, and then stood on the platform until the train +steamed slowly out of the station. + +I turned away at last, feeling quite unpleasantly alone. It's no good +worrying about what can't be altered, however, so, lighting a cigar, I +strolled back philosophically to the hotel, where I treated myself to +the luxury of a hot bath before rejoining the boat. + +It must have been pretty nearly half-past four by the time I reached +the pier-head. My friend with the hoarse voice and the blue jersey was +still hanging around, looking rather thirsty and exhausted after his +strenuous day's work of watching over the dinghy. I gave him half a +crown for his trouble, and followed by his benediction pulled off for +the _Betty_. + +The wind had gone round a bit to the south, and as the tide was still +coming in I decided to sail up to the creek in preference to using the +engine. The confounded throb of the latter always got on my nerves, +and apart from that I felt that the mere fact of having to handle the +sails would keep my mind lightly but healthily occupied. Unless I was +mistaken, a little light healthy occupation was exactly what my mind +needed. + +As occasionally happens on exceptionally fine days in late spring, the +perfect clearness of the afternoon was gradually beginning to give +place to a sort of fine haze. It was not thick enough, however, to +bother me in any way, and under a jib and mainsail the _Betty_ swished +along at such a satisfactory pace that I was in sight of Gravesend +Reach before either the light or the tide had time to fail me. + +I thought I knew the entrance to the creek well enough by now to run +her in under sail, though it was a job that required a certain amount +of cautious handling. Anyhow I decided to risk it, and, heading for +the shore, steered her up the narrow channel, which I had been careful +to take the bearings of at low water. + +I was so engrossed in this feat of navigation that I took no notice +of anything else, until a voice from the bank abruptly attracted my +attention. I looked up with a start, nearly running myself aground, +and there on the bank I saw a gesticulating figure, which I +immediately recognized as that of Tommy. I shouted a greeting back, +and swinging the _Betty_ round, brought up in almost the identical +place where we had anchored on the previous night. + +Tommy, who had hurried down to the edge of the water, gave me a second +hail. + +"Buck up, old son!" he called out. "There's something doing." + +A suggestion of haste from Tommy argued a crisis of such urgency +that I didn't waste any time asking questions. I just threw over the +anchor, and tumbling into the dinghy sculled ashore as quickly as I +could. + +"Sorry I kept you waiting, Tommy," I said, as he jumped into the boat. +"Been here long?" + +"About three hours," he returned. "I was beginning to wonder if you +were dead." + +I shook my head. "I'm not fit to die yet," I replied. "What's the +matter?" + +He looked at his watch. "Well, the chief matter is the time. Do you +think I can get to Sheppey by half-past nine?" + +I paused in my rowing. "Sheppey!" I repeated. "Why damn it, Tommy, +I've just come back from Sheppey." + +It was Tommy's turn to look surprised. "The devil you have!" he +exclaimed. "What took you there?" + +"To be exact," I said, "it was the _Betty_"; and then in as few words +as possible I proceeded to acquaint him with the morning's doings. I +was just finishing as we came alongside. + +"Well, that's fine about the powder," he said, scrambling on board. +"Where's Gow?" + +"Joyce sent him off for a holiday," I answered, "and he hasn't come +back yet." Then hitching up the dinghy I added curiously: "What's up, +Tommy? Let's have it." + +"It's Latimer," he said. "I told you I was expecting to hear from him. +He sent me a message round early this morning, and I've promised him +I'll be in the creek under the German's bungalow by half-past nine. I +must get there somehow." + +"Oh, we'll get there all right," I returned cheerfully, "What's the +game?" + +"I think he's having a squint round," said Tommy. "Anyhow I know he's +there on his own and depending on me to pick him up." + +"But what made him ask you?" I demanded. + +"He knew I had a boat, and I fancy he's working this particular racket +without any official help. As far as I can make out, he wants to be +quite certain what these fellows are up to before he strikes. You +don't get much sympathy in the Secret Service if you happen to make a +mistake." + +"Well, it's no good wasting time talking," I said. "If we want to be +there by half-past nine we must push off at once." + +"But what about you?" exclaimed Tommy. "You can't come! He's seen you, +you know, at the hut." + +"What does it matter?" I objected. "If he didn't recognize me as the +chap who sent him the note at Parelli's, we can easily fake up some +explanation. Tell him I'm a new member of the Athenians, and that you +happened to run across me and brought me down to help work the boat. +There's no reason one shouldn't be a yachtsman and a photographer +too." + +I spoke lightly, but as a matter of fact I was some way from +trusting Tommy's judgment implicitly with regard to Latimer's +straightforwardness about the restaurant incident, and also about +his visit to the hut. All the same, I was quite determined to go to +Sheppey. Things had come to a point now when there was nothing to be +gained by over-caution. Either Latimer had recognized me or else he +hadn't. In the first event, he knew already that Tommy had been trying +to deceive him, and that the mythical artist person was none other +than myself. If that were so, I felt it was best to take the bull by +the horns, and try to find out exactly what part he suspected me of +playing. I had at least saved his life, and although we live in an +ungrateful world, he seemed bound to be more or less prejudiced in my +favour. + +Apart from these considerations, Tommy would certainly want some help +in working the _Betty_. He knew his job well enough, but with a haze +on the river and the twilight drawing in rapidly, the mouth of the +Thames is no place for single-handed sailing--especially when you're +in a hurry. + +Tommy evidently recognized this, for he raised no further objections. + +"Very well," he said, with a rather reckless laugh. "We're gambling a +bit, but that's the fault of the cards. Up with the anchor, Neil, and +let's get a move on her." + +I hauled in the chain, and then jumped up to attend to the sails, +which I had just let down loosely on deck, in my hurry to put off in +the dinghy. After a couple of unsuccessful efforts and two or three +very successful oaths, Tommy persuaded the engine to start, and we +throbbed off slowly down the creek--now quite a respectable estuary of +tidal water. + +I sat back in the well with a laugh. "I never expected a second trip +tonight," I said. "I'm beginning to feel rather like the captain of a +penny steamer." + +Tommy, who was combining the important duties of steering and lighting +a pipe, looked up from his labours. + +"The Lyndon-Morrison Line!" he observed. "Tilbury to Sheppey twice +daily. Passengers are requested not to speak to the man at the wheel." + +"I think, Tommy," I said, "that we must make an exception in the case +of Mr. Latimer." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + +A Chinese proverb informs us that "there are three hundred and +forty-six subjects for elegant conversation," but during the trip down +I think that Tommy and I confined ourselves almost exclusively to two. +One was Mr. Bruce Latimer, and the other was Joyce's amazing discovery +about McMurtrie and Marks. + +Concerning the latter Tommy was just as astonished and baffled as I +was. + +"I'm blessed if I know what to think about it, Neil," he admitted. "If +it was any one else but Joyce, I should say she'd made a mistake. What +on earth could McMurtrie have had to do with that Jew beast?" + +"Joyce seems to think he had quite a lot to do with him," I said. + +Tommy nodded. "I know. She's made up her mind he did the job all +right; but, hang it all, one doesn't go and murder people without any +conceivable reason." + +"I can conceive plenty of excellent reasons for murdering Marks," I +said impartially. "I should hardly think they would have appealed to +McMurtrie, though. The chief thing that makes me suspicious about him +is the fact of his knowing George and hiding it from me all this +time. I suppose that was how he got hold of his information about the +powder. George was almost the only person who knew of it." + +"I always thought the whole business was a devilish odd one," growled +Tommy; "but the more one finds out about it the queerer it seems to +get. These people of yours--McMurtrie and Savaroff--are weird enough +customers on their own, but when it comes to their being mixed up with +both George _and_ Marks ..." he paused. "It will turn out next that +Latimer's in it too," he added half-mockingly. + +"I shouldn't wonder," I said. "I can't swallow everything he told you, +Tommy. It leaves too much unexplained. You see, I'm pretty certain +that the chap who tried to do him in is one of McMurtrie's crowd, and +in that case--" + +"In that case," interrupted Tommy, with a short laugh, "we ought to +have rather an interesting evening. Seems to me, Neil, we're what you +might call burning our boats this journey." + +The old compunction I had felt at first against dragging Tommy and +Joyce into my affairs suddenly came back to me with renewed force. + +"I'm a selfish brute, Thomas," I said ruefully. "I think the best +thing I could do really would be to drop overboard. The Lord knows +what trouble I shall land you in before I've finished." + +"You'll land me into the trouble of telling you not to talk rot in a +minute," he returned. Then, standing up and peering out ahead over +the long dim expanse of water, dotted here and there with patches of +blurred light, he added cheerfully: "You take her over now, Neil, +We're right at the end of the Yantlet, and after this morning you +ought to know the rest of the way better than I do." + +He resigned the tiller to me, and pulling out his watch, held it up to +the binnacle lamp. + +"Close on a quarter to nine," he said. "We shall just do it nicely if +the engine doesn't stop." + +"I hope so," I said. "I should hate to keep a Government official +waiting." + +We crossed the broad entrance into Queenborough Harbour, where the dim +bulk of a couple of battleships loomed up vaguely through the haze. +It was a strange, exhilarating sensation, throbbing along in the +semi-darkness, with all sorts of unknown possibilities waiting for +us ahead. More than ever I felt what Joyce had described in the +morning--a sort of curious inward conviction that we were at last on +the point of finding out the truth. + +"We'd better slacken down a bit when we get near," said Tommy. +"Latimer specially told me to bring her in as quietly as I could." + +I nodded. "Right you are," I said. "I wasn't going to hurry, anyhow. +It's a tricky place, and I don't want to smash up any more islands. +One a day is quite enough." + +I slowed down the engine to about four knots an hour, and at this +dignified pace we proceeded along the coast, keeping a watchful eye +for the entrance to the creek. At last a vague outline of rising +ground showed us that we were in the right neighbourhood, and bringing +the _Betty_ round, I headed her in very delicately towards the shore. +It was distressingly dark, from a helmsman's point of view, but Tommy, +who had gone up into the bows, handed me back instructions, and +by dint of infinite care we succeeded in making the opening with +surprising accuracy. + +The creek was quite small, with a steep bank one side perhaps fifteen +feet high, and what looked like a stretch of mud or saltings on the +other. Its natural beauties, however, if it had any, were rather +obscured by the darkness. + +"What shall we do now, Tommy?" I asked in a subdued voice. "Turn her +round?" + +He came back to the well. "Yes," he said, "turn her round, and then +I'll cut out the engine and throttle her down. She'll make a certain +amount of row, but we can't help that. I daren't stop her; or she +might never start again." + +We carried out our manoeuvre successfully, and then dropped over the +anchor to keep us in position. I seated myself on the roof of the +cabin, and pulling out a pipe, commenced to fill it. + +"I wonder how long the interval is," I said. "I suppose spying is a +sort of job you can't fix an exact time-limit to." + +Tommy looked at his watch again. "It's just on a quarter to ten now. +He told me not to wait after half-past." + +I stuffed down the baccy with my thumb, and felt in my pocket for a +match. + +"It seems to me--" I began. + +The interesting remark I was about to make was never uttered. From the +high ground away to the left came the sudden crack of a revolver shot +that rang out with startling viciousness on the night air. It was +followed almost instantly by a second. + +Tommy and I leaped up together, inspired simultaneously by the same +idea. Being half way there, however, I easily reached the painter +first. + +"All right," I cried, "I'll pick him up. You haul in and have her +ready to start." + +I don't know exactly what the record is for getting off in a dinghy in +the dark, but I think I hold it with something to spare. I was away +from the ship and sculling furiously for the shore in about the same +time that it has taken to write this particular sentence. + +I pulled straight for the direction in which I had heard the shots. +It was the steepest part of the cliff, but under the circumstances it +seemed the most likely spot at which my services would be required. +People are apt to take a short cut when revolver bullets are chasing +about the neighbourhood. + +I stopped rowing a few yards from the shore, and swinging the boat +round, stared up through the gloom. There was just light enough to +make out the top of the cliff, which appeared to be covered by a thick +growth of gorse several feet in height. I backed away a stroke or two, +and as I did so, there came a sudden snapping, rustling sound from +up above, and the next instant the figure of a man broke through the +bushes. + +He peered down eagerly at the water. + +"That you, Morrison?" he called out in a low, distinct voice, which I +recognized at once. + +"Yes," I answered briefly. It struck me as being no time for elaborate +explanations. + +Mr. Latimer was evidently of the same opinion. Without any further +remark, he stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, and jumping well +out into the air, came down with a beautiful splash about a dozen +yards from the boat. + +He rose to the surface at once, and I was alongside of him a moment +later. + +"It's all right," I said, as he clutched hold of the stern. +"Morrison's in the _Betty_; I'm lending him a hand." + +I caught his arm to help him in, and as I did so he gave a little +sharp exclamation of pain. + +"Hullo!" I said, shifting my grip. "What's the matter?" + +With an effort he hoisted himself up into the boat. + +"Nothing much, thanks," he answered in that curious composed voice of +his. "I think one of our friends made a luckier shot than he deserved +to. It's only my left arm, though." + +I seized the sculls, and began to pull off quickly for the _Betty_. + +"We'll look at it in a second," I said. "Are they after you?" + +He laughed. "Yes, some little way after. I took the precaution of +starting in the other direction and then doubling back. It worked +excellently." + +He spoke in the same rather amused drawl as he had done at the hut, +and there was no hint of hurry or excitement in his manner. I could +just see, however, that he was dressed in rough, common-looking +clothes, and that he was no longer wearing an eye-glass. If he had had +a cap, he had evidently parted with it during his dive into the sea. + +A few strokes brought us to the _Betty_, where Tommy was leaning over +the side ready to receive us. + +"All right?" he inquired coolly, as we scrambled on board. + +"Nothing serious," replied Latimer. "Thanks to you and--and this +gentleman." + +"They've winged him, Tommy," I said. "Can you take her out while I +have a squint at the damage?" + +Tommy's answer was to thrust in the clutch of the engine, and with an +abrupt jerk we started off down the creek. As we did so there came a +sudden hail from the shore. + +"Boat ahoy! What boat's that?" + +It was a deep, rather dictatorial sort of voice, with the faintest +possible touch of a foreign accent about it. + +Latimer replied at once in a cheerful, good-natured bawl, amazingly +different from his ordinary tone: + +"Private launch, _Vanity_, Southend; and who the hell are you?" + +Whether the vigour of the reply upset our questioner or not, I can't +say. Anyhow he returned no answer, and leaving him to think what he +pleased, we continued our way out into the main stream. + +"Come into the cabin and let's have a look at you," I said to Latimer. +"You must get those wet things off, anyhow." + +He followed me inside, where I took down the small hanging lamp and +placed it on the table. Then very carefully I helped him strip off his +coat, bringing to light a grey flannel shirt, the left sleeve of which +was soaked in blood. + +I took out my knife, and ripped it up from the cuff to the shoulder. +The wound was about a couple of inches above the elbow, a small clean +puncture right through from side to side. It was bleeding a bit, but +one could see at a glance that the bullet had just missed the bone. + +"You're lucky," I said. "Another quarter of an inch, and that arm +would have been precious little use to you for the next two months. +Does it hurt much?" + +He shook his head. "Not the least," he replied carelessly. "I hardly +knew I was hit until you grabbed hold of me." + +I tied my handkerchief round as tightly as possible just above the +place, and then going to the locker hauled out our spare fancy costume +which had previously done duty for Mr. Gow. + +"You get these on first," I said, "and then I'll fix you up properly." + +I thrust my head out through the cabin door to see how things were +going, and found that we were already clear of the creek and heading +back towards Queenborough. Tommy, who was sitting at the tiller +puffing away peacefully at a pipe, removed the latter article from his +mouth. + +"Where are we going to, my pretty maid?" he inquired. + +"I don't know," I said; "I'll ask the passenger as soon as I've +finished doctoring him." + +I returned to the cabin, where Mr. Latimer, who had stripped off +his wet garments, was attempting to dry himself with a dishcloth. I +managed to find him a towel, and then, as soon as he had struggled +into a pair of flannel trousers and a vest, I set about the job of +tying up his arm. An old shirt of Tommy's served me as a bandage, and +although I don't profess to be an expert, I knew enough about first +aid to make a fairly serviceable job of it. Anyhow Mr. Latimer +expressed himself as being completely satisfied. + +"You'd better have a drink now," I said. "That's part of the +treatment." + +I mixed him a stiff peg, which he consumed without protest; and then, +after he had inserted himself carefully into a jersey and coat, we +both went outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy genially. "How do you feel now?" + +Our visitor sat down on one of the side seats in the cockpit, and +contemplated us both with his pleasant smile. + +"I feel extremely obliged to you, Morrison," he said. "You have a way +of keeping your engagements that I find most satisfactory." + +Tommy laughed. "I had a bit of luck," he returned. "If I hadn't picked +up our pal here I doubt if I should have got down in time after all. +By the way, there's no need to introduce you. You've met each other +before at the hut, haven't you?" + +Latimer, who was just lighting a cigar which I had offered him, paused +for a moment in the operation. + +"Yes," he said quietly. "We have met each other before. But I should +rather like to be introduced, all the same." + +Something in his manner struck me as being a trifle odd, but if Tommy +noticed it he certainly didn't betray the fact. + +"Well, you shall be," he answered cheerfully. "This is Mr. James +Nicholson." + +Latimer finished lighting his cigar, blew out the match, and dropped +it carefully over the side. + +"Indeed," he said. "It only shows how extremely inaccurate one's +reasoning powers can be." + +There was a short but rather pregnant pause. Then Tommy leaned +forward. + +"What do you mean?" he asked, in that peculiarly gentle voice which he +keeps for the most unhealthy occasions. + +Latimer's face remained beautifully impassive. "I was under the +mistaken impression," he answered slowly, "that I owed my life to Mr. +Neil Lyndon." + +For perhaps three seconds none of us spoke; then I broke the silence +with a short laugh. + +"We are up against it, Thomas," I observed. + +Tommy looked backwards and forwards from one to the other of us. + +"What shall we do?" he said quietly. "Throw him in the river?" + +"It would be rather extravagant," I objected, "after we've just pulled +him out." + +Latimer smiled. "I am not sure I don't deserve it. I have lied to you, +Morrison, all through in the most disgraceful manner." Then he paused. +"Still it _would_ be extravagant," he added. "I think I can convince +you of that before we get to Queenborough." + +Tommy throttled down the engine to about its lowest running point. + +"Look here, Latimer," he said. "We're not going to Queenborough, or +anywhere else, until we've got the truth out of you. You understand +that, of course. You've put yourself in our power deliberately, and +you must have some reason. One doesn't cut one's throat for fun." + +He spoke in his usual pleasant fashion, but there was a grim +seriousness behind it which no one could pretend to misunderstand. +Latimer, at all events, made no attempt to. He merely nodded his head +approvingly. + +"You're quite right," he said. "I had made up my mind you should hear +some of the truth tonight in any case; that was the chief reason why +I asked you to come and pick me up. When I saw you had brought Mr. +Lyndon with you, I determined to tell you everything. It's the +simplest and best way, after all." + +He stopped for a moment, and we all three sat there in silence, while +the _Betty_ slowly throbbed her way forward, splashing off the black +water from either bow. Then Latimer began to speak again quite +quietly. + +"I _am_ in the Secret Service," he said; "but you can forget the rest +of what I told you the other night, Morrison. I am after bigger game +than a couple of German spies--though they come into it right enough. +I am on the track of three friends of Mr. Lyndon's, who just now are +as badly wanted in Whitehall as they probably are in hell." + +I leaned back with a certain curious thrill of satisfaction. + +"I thought so," I said softly. + +He glanced at me with his keen blue eyes, and the light of the lamp +shining on his face showed up its square dogged lines of strength and +purpose. It was a fine face--the face of a man without weakness and +without fear. + +"It's nearly twelve months ago now," he continued, "that we first +began to realize at headquarters that there was something queer going +on. There's always a certain amount of spying in every country--the +sort of quiet, semi-official kind that doesn't do any one a ha'porth +of practical harm. Now and then, of course, somebody gets dropped on, +and there's a fuss in the papers, but nobody really bothers much about +it. This was different, however. Two or three times things happened +that did matter very much indeed. They were the sort of things that +showed us pretty plainly we were up against something entirely +new--some kind of organized affair that had nothing on earth to do +with the usual casual spying. + +"Well, I made up my mind to get to the bottom of it. Casement, who is +nominally the head of our department, gave me an absolutely free hand, +and I set to work in my own way quite independently of the police. It +was six months before I got hold of a clue. Then some designs--some +valuable battleship designs--disappeared from Devonport Dockyard. It +was a queer case, but there were one or two things about it which made +me pretty sure it was the work of the same gang, and that for the +time, at all events, they were somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +"I needn't bother you now with all the details of how I actually ran +them to earth. It wasn't an easy job. They weren't the sort of people +who left any spare bits of evidence lying around, and by the time I +found out where they were living it was just too late." He turned to +me. "Otherwise, Mr. Lyndon, I think we might possibly have had the +pleasure of meeting earlier." + +A sudden forgotten recollection of my first interview with McMurtrie +flashed vividly into my mind. + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed. "What a fool I am! I knew I'd heard your name +somewhere before." + +Latimer nodded. "Yes," he said. "I daresay I had begun to arouse a +certain amount of interest in the household by the time you arrived." +He paused. "By the way, I am still quite in the dark as to how you +actually got in with them. Had they managed to send you a message into +the prison?" + +"No," I said. "I'm equally in the dark as to how you've found out who +I am, but you seem to know so much already, you may as well have the +truth. It was chance; just pure chance and a bicycle. I hadn't the +remotest notion who lived in the house. I was trying to steal some +food." + +Latimer nodded again. "It was a chance that a man like McMurtrie +wasn't likely to waste. I don't know yet how you're paying him for his +help, but I should imagine it's a fairly stiff price. However, we'll +come back to that afterwards. + +"I was just too late, as I told you, to interrupt your pleasant little +house-party. I managed to find out, however, that some of you had gone +to London, and I followed at once. It was then, I think, that the +doctor decided it was time to take the gloves off. + +"So far, although I'd been on their heels for weeks, I hadn't set eyes +on any of the gang personally. All the same, I had a pretty good idea +of what McMurtrie and Savaroff were like to look at, and I fancy they +probably guessed as much. Anyhow, as you know, it was the third +member of the brotherhood--a gentleman who, I believe, calls himself +Hoffman--who was entrusted with the job of putting me out of the way." + +A faint mocking smile flickered for a moment round his lips. + +"That was where the doctor made his first slip. It never pays to +underestimate your enemy. Hoffman certainly had a good story, and +he told it well, but after thirteen years in the Secret Service I +shouldn't trust the Archbishop of Canterbury till I'd proved his +credentials. I agreed to dine at Parelli's, but I took the precaution +of having two of my own men there as well--one in the restaurant +and one outside in the street. I had given them instructions that, +whatever happened, they were to keep Hoffman shadowed till further +orders. + +"Well, you know how things turned out almost as well as I do. I was +vastly obliged to you for sending me that note, but as a matter of +fact I hadn't the least intention of drinking the wine. Indeed, I +turned away purposely to give Hoffman the chance to doctor it. What +did beat me altogether was who you were. I naturally couldn't place +you at all. I saw that you recognized one of us when you came in, and +that you were watching our table pretty attentively in the glass. I +had a horrible suspicion for a moment that you were a Scotland Yard +man, and were going to bungle the whole business by arresting Hoffman. +That was why I sent you my card; I knew if you were at the Yard you'd +recognize my name." + +"I severed my connection with the police some time ago," I said drily. +"What happened after dinner? I've been longing to know ever since." + +"I got rid of Hoffman at the door, and from the time he left the +restaurant my men never lost him again. They shadowed him to his +lodgings--he was living in a side street near Victoria--and for the +next two days I got a detailed report of everything he did. It was +quite interesting reading. Amongst other things it included paying a +morning visit to the hut you're living in at present, Mr. Lyndon, and +going on from there to spend the afternoon calling on some friends at +Sheppey." + +I laughed gently, and turned to Tommy. "Amazingly simple," I said, +"when you know how it's done." + +Tommy nodded. "I've got all that part, but I'm still utterly at sea +about how he dropped on to you." + +"That was simpler still," answered Latimer. "One of my men told me +that the hut was empty for the time, so I came down to have a look +at it." He turned to me. "Of course I recognized you at once as the +obliging stranger of the restaurant. That didn't put me much farther +on the road, but when Morrison rolled up with his delightfully +ingenious yarn, he gave me just the clue I was looking for. I knew +his story was all a lie because I'd seen you since. Well, a man +like Morrison doesn't butt into this sort of business without a +particularly good reason, and it didn't take me very long to guess +what his reason was. You see I remembered him chiefly in connection +with your trial. I knew he was your greatest friend; I knew you had +escaped from Dartmoor and disappeared somewhere in the neighbourhood +of McMurtrie's place, and putting two and two together there was only +one conclusion I could possibly come to." + +"My appearance must have taken a little getting over," I suggested. + +Latimer shrugged his shoulders. "Apart from your features you exactly +fitted the bill, and I had learned enough about McMurtrie's past +performances not to let that worry me. What I couldn't make out was +why he should have run the risk of helping you. Of course you might +have offered him a large sum of money--if you had it put away +somewhere--but in that case there seemed no reason why you should be +hanging about in a hut on the Thames marshes." + +"Why didn't you tell the police?" asked Tommy. + +"The police!" Latimer's voice was full of pleasant irony. "My dear +Morrison, we don't drag the police into this sort of business; our +great object is to keep them out of it. Mr. Lyndon's affairs had +nothing to do with me officially apart from his being mixed up with +McMurtrie. Besides, my private sympathies were entirely with him. Not +only had he tried to save my life at Parelli's, but ever since the +trial I have always been under the impression he was fully entitled to +slaughter Mr.--Mr.--whatever the scoundrel's name was." + +I acknowledged the remark with a slight bow. "Thank you," I said. "As +a matter of sober fact I didn't kill him, but I shouldn't be the least +sorry for it if I had." + +Latimer looked at me for a moment straight in the eyes. + +"We've treated you beautifully as a nation," he said slowly. "It's an +impertinence on my part to expect you to help us." + +I laughed. "Go on," I said. "Let's get it straightened out anyhow." + +"Well, the straightening out must be largely done by you. As far as +I'm concerned the rest of the story can be told very quickly. For +various reasons I got to the conclusion that in some way or other the +two gentlemen on Sheppey had a good deal to do with the matter. My men +had been making a few inquiries about them, and from what we'd learned +I was strongly inclined to think they were a couple of German naval +officers over here on leave. If that was so, the fact that they were +in communication with Hoffman made it pretty plain where McMurtrie was +finding his market. My men had told me they were generally away on the +mainland in the evening, and I made up my mind I'd have a look at the +place the first chance I got. I asked Morrison to come down and pick +me up in his boat for two reasons--partly because I wanted to keep in +touch with you both, and partly because I thought it might come in +handy to have a second line of retreat." + +"It _was_ rather convenient, as things turned out," interposed Tommy. + +"Very," admitted Latimer drily. "They got back to the garden just as I +had opened one of the windows, and shot at me from behind the hedge. +If it hadn't been for the light they must have picked me off." + +He stopped, and standing up in the well, looked round. By this time we +were again just off the entrance to Queenborough, and the thick haze +that had obscured everything earlier in the evening was rapidly +thinning away. A watery moon showed up the various warships at +anchor--dim grey formless shapes, marked by blurred lights. + +"What do you say?" he asked, turning to Tommy. "Shall we run in here +and pick up some moorings? Before we go any further I want to hear +Lyndon's part of the story, and then we all three shall know exactly +where we are. After that you can throw me in the sea, or--or--well, I +think there are several possible alternatives." + +"We'll find out anyhow," said Tommy. + +He turned the _Betty_ towards the shore, and we worked our way +carefully into the harbour. We ran on past the anchored vessels, until +we were right opposite the Queenborough jetty, where we discovered +some unoccupied moorings which we promptly adopted. It was a snug +berth, and a fairly isolated one--a rakish-looking little gunboat +being our nearest neighbour. + +In this pleasant atmosphere of law and order I proceeded to narrate as +briefly and quickly as possible the main facts about my escape and its +results. I felt that we had gone too far now to keep anything back. +Latimer had boldly placed his own cards face upwards on the table, and +short of sending him to the fishes, there seemed to be nothing else +to do except to follow his example. As he himself had said, we should +then at least know exactly how we stood with regard to each other. + +He listened to me for the most part in silence, but the few +interruptions that he did make showed the almost fierce attention with +which he was following my story. I don't think his eyes ever left my +face from the first word to the last. + +When I had finished he sat on for perhaps a minute without speaking. +Then very deliberately he leaned across and held out his hand. + +We exchanged grips, and for once in my life I found a man whose +fingers seemed as strong as my own. + +"I don't know whether that makes you an accessory after the fact," +I said. "I believe it's about eighteen months for being civil to an +escaped convict." + +He let go my hand, and getting up from his seat leaned back against +the door of the cabin facing us both. + +"You may be an escaped convict, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "but if +you choose I believe you can do more for England than any man alive." + +There was a short pause. + +"It seems to me," interrupted Tommy, "that England is a little bit in +Neil's debt already." + +"That doesn't matter," I observed generously. "Let's hear what Mr. +Latimer has got to say." I turned to him. "Who are McMurtrie and +Savaroff?" I asked, "and what the devil's the meaning of it all?" + +"The meaning is plain enough to a certain point," he answered. "I +haven't the least doubt that they intend to sell the secret of your +powder to Germany, just as they've sold their other information. If I +knew for certain it was only that, I should act, and act at once." + +He stopped. + +"Well?" I said. + +"I believe there's something more behind it--something we've got to +find out before we strike. For the last two months Germany has taken +a tone towards us diplomatically that can only have one explanation. +They mean to get their way or fight, and if it comes to a fight +they're under the impression they're going to beat us." + +"And you really believe McMurtrie and Savaroff are responsible for +their optimism?" I asked a little incredulously. + +Latimer nodded. "Dr. McMurtrie," he said in his quiet drawl, "is the +most dangerous man in Europe. He is partly English and partly Russian +by birth. At one time he used to be court physician at St. Petersburg. +Savaroff is a German Pole--his real name is Vassiloff. Between them +they were largely responsible for the early disasters in the Japanese +war." + +For a moment no one spoke. Then Tommy leaned forward. "I say, +Latimer," he exclaimed, "is this serious history?" + +"The Russian Government," replied Latimer, "are most certainly under +that impression." + +"But if they know about it," I objected, "how is it that McMurtrie and +Savaroff aren't in Siberia? I've never heard that the Russians are +particularly tender-hearted where traitors are concerned." + +Latimer indulged in that peculiarly dry smile of his. "If the +Government had got hold of them I think their destination would have +been a much warmer one than Siberia. As it was they disappeared just +in time. There was a gang of them--four or five at the least--and all +men of position and influence. They must have made an enormous amount +of money out of the Japs. In the end one of them rounded on the +others--at least that's what appears to have happened. Anyhow +McMurtrie and Savaroff skipped, and skipped in such a hurry that they +seem to have left most of their savings behind them. I suppose that's +what made them start business again in England." + +"You're absolutely sure they're the same pair?" asked Tommy. + +"Absolutely. I've got their full description from the Russian police. +It tallies in every way--even to Savaroff's daughter. There _is_ a +girl with them, I believe?" + +"Yes," I said. "There's a girl." Then I paused for a moment. "Look +here, Latimer," I went on. "What is it you want me to do? I'll help +you in any way I can. When I made my bargain with McMurtrie I hadn't +a notion what his real game was. I don't in the least want to buy my +freedom by selling England to Germany. The only thing I flatly and +utterly refuse to do is to serve out the rest of my sentence. If it's +bound to come out who I am, you must give me your word I shall have +a reasonable warning. I don't much mind dying--especially if I can +arrange for ten minutes with George first--but quite candidly I'd see +England wiped off the map before I'd go back to Dartmoor." + +Latimer made a slight gesture with his hands. "You've saved my life, +once at all events," he said. "It may seem a trifle to you, but it's a +matter of quite considerable importance to me. I don't think you need +worry about going back to Dartmoor--not as long as the Secret Service +is in existence." + +"Well, what is it you want me to do?" I asked again. + +He was silent for a moment or two, as though arranging his ideas. Then +he began to speak very slowly and deliberately. + +"I want you to go on as if nothing had happened. Write to McMurtrie +the first thing tomorrow morning and tell him that you've made the +powder. He is sure to come down to the hut at once. You can show him +that it's genuine, but on no account let him have any of it to take +away. Tell him that you will only hand over the secret on receipt of +a written agreement, and make him see that you're absolutely serious. +Meanwhile let me know everything that happens as soon as you possibly +can. Telegraph to me at 145 Jermyn Street. You can send in the +messages to Tilbury by the man who's looking after your boat. Use some +quick simple cypher--suppose we say the alphabet backwards, Z for A +and so on. Have you got plenty of money?" + +I nodded. "I should like to have some sort of notion what you're going +to do," I said. "It would be much more inspiriting than working in the +dark." + +"It depends entirely on the next two days. I shall go back to London +tonight and find out if either of my men has got hold of any fresh +information. Then I shall put the whole thing in front of Casement. If +he agrees with me I shall wait till the last possible moment before +striking. We've enough evidence about the Devonport case to arrest +McMurtrie and Savaroff straight away, but I feel it would be madness +while there's a chance of getting to the bottom of this business. +Perhaps you understand now why I've risked everything tonight. We're +playing for high stakes, Mr. Lyndon, and you--" he paused--"well, I'm +inclined to think that you've the ace of trumps." + +I stood up and faced him. "I hope so," I said. "I'm rather tired of +being taken for the Knave." + +"Isn't there a job for me?" asked Tommy pathetically. "I'm open for +anything, especially if it wants a bit of physical violence." + +"There will probably be a demand for that a little later on," said +Latimer in his quiet drawl. "At present I want you to come back with +me to London. I shall find plenty for you to do there, Morrison. The +fewer people that are mixed up in this affair the better." He turned +to me. "You can take the boat back to Tilbury alone if we go ashore +here?" + +I nodded, and he once more held out his hand. + +"We shall meet again soon," he said--"very soon I think. Have you ever +read Longfellow?" + +It was such a surprising question that I couldn't help smiling. + +"Not recently," I said. "I haven't been in the mood for poetry the +last two or three years." + +He held my hand and his blue eyes looked steadily into mine. + +"Ah," he said. "I don't want to be too optimistic, but there's a verse +in Longfellow which I think you might like." He paused again. "It has +something to do with the Mills of God," he added slowly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + +One's feelings are queer things. Personally I never have the least +notion how a particular situation will affect me until I happen to +find myself in it. + +I should have thought, for instance, that Latimer's revelations would +have left me in a state of vast excitement, but as a matter of fact +I don't think I ever felt cooler in my life. I believe every other +emotion was swallowed up in the relief of finding out something +definite at last. + +I know anyhow that that was my chief sensation as I rowed the dinghy +towards the wet slimy causeway, lit by its solitary lamp. There was a +boat train to town in the early hours of the morning which Latimer had +suggested that he and Tommy should catch, and it certainly seemed a +safer plan than coming back to Tilbury with me. + +When I had parted from them, under the sleepy eye of a +depressed-looking night watchman, I returned to the _Betty_ and +proceeded to let go my moorings. I then ran up the sails, and gliding +gently past the warships and a big incoming steamer, floated out into +the broad peaceful darkness of the Thames estuary. I was in no hurry, +and now that the mist had cleared away it was a perfect night for +drifting comfortably up river with the tide. + +The dawn was just beginning to break by the time I reached my old +anchorage in the creek. In spite of my long and slightly strenuous +day, I didn't feel particularly tired, so after stowing away the sails +and tidying up things generally, I sat down in the cabin and began to +compose my letter to McMurtrie. + +I started off by telling him that I had completed my invention some +days earlier than I expected to, and then gave him a brief but +dramatic description of the success which had attended my first +experiment. I am afraid I was a trifle inaccurate with regard to +details, but the precise truth is a luxury that very few of us can +afford to indulge in. I certainly couldn't. When I had finished I +addressed the envelope to the Hotel Russell, and then, turning into +one of the bunks, soon dropped off into a well-deserved sleep. + +I don't know whether it was Nature that aroused me, or whether it was +Mr. Gow. Anyway I woke up with the distinct impression that somebody +was hailing the boat, and thrusting my head up through the hatch I +discovered my faithful retainer standing on the bank. + +He greeted me with a slightly apologetic air when I put off to fetch +him. + +"Good-mornin', sir. I hope I done right stoppin' ashore, sir. The +young lady told me I wouldn't be wanted not till this mornin'." + +"The young lady was quite correct," I said. "You weren't." Then as we +pushed off for the _Betty_ I added: "But I'm glad you've come back +in good time today. I want you to go in and post a letter for me at +Tilbury as soon as we've had some breakfast. You might get a newspaper +for me at the same time." + +"Talkin' o' noos, sir," observed Mr. Gow with sudden interest, +"'ave you heard tell about the back o' Canvey Island bein' blown up +yesterday mornin'?" + +"Blown up!" I repeated as we ran alongside. "Who on earth did that?" + +Mr. Gow shook his head as he clambered on board after me. "No one +don't seem to know," he remarked. "'Twere done arly in the mornin', +they reckon. There's some as says 'tis the suffrinjettes, but to my +way o' thinkin' sir; it's more like to have somethin' to do with them +blarsted Dutchmen as sunk my boat." + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed, "I wonder if it had. They seem to be +mischievous devils." + +Mr. Gow nodded emphatically. "They are, sir, and that's a fact. 'Tis +time somebody took a quiet look round that house o' theirs, some day +when they ain't there." + +How very nearly this desirable object had been achieved on the +previous evening I thought it unnecessary to mention, but I was hugely +relieved to learn that so far there was no suspicion as to who was +really responsible for the damage to the creek. Apart from the +inconvenience which it would have entailed, to be arrested for blowing +up a bit of mud in a Thames backwater would have been a sad come-down +for a convicted murderer! + +As soon as he had provided me with some breakfast, Mr. Gow departed +for Tilbury with my letter to McMurtrie in his pocket. He was away for +a couple of hours, returning with a copy of the _Daily Mail_ and the +information that there were no letters for me at the post-office. + +I handed him over the _Betty_, with instructions not to desert her +until he was relieved by either Tommy or Joyce or me, and then set off +for the hut by my usual route. It was less than thirty hours since +I had left it, but so many interesting things had happened in the +interval it seemed more like three weeks. + +For any one entangled in such a variety of perils as I appeared to be, +I spent a surprisingly peaceful day. Not a soul came near the place, +and except for reading the _Mail_ and indulging in a certain amount of +hard thinking, I enjoyed the luxury of doing absolutely nothing. After +the exertion and excitements of the previous twenty-four hours, this +lull was exactly what I needed. It gave me time to take stock of my +position in the light of Latimer's amazing revelations--a process +which on the whole I found fairly satisfactory. If the likelihood of +proving my innocence still seemed a trifle remote, I had at least +penetrated some of the mystery which surrounded Dr. McMurtrie and his +friends, and more and more it was becoming obvious to me that the +two problems were closely connected. Anyhow I turned into bed in +an optimistic mood, and with the stimulating feeling that in all +probability I had a pleasantly eventful day in front of me. + +It certainly opened in the most promising fashion. I woke up at eight, +and was making a light breakfast off a tin of sardines and some +incredibly stale bread, when through the little window that looked out +towards the Tilbury road I suddenly spotted my youthful friend from +the post-office approaching across the marsh. I opened the door, and +he came up with a respectful grin of recognition. + +"Letter for you, sir," he observed, "come this morning, sir." + +He handed me an envelope addressed in Joyce's writing, and stood by +while I read it, thoughtfully scratching his head with the peak of +his cap. It was only a short note, but beautifully characteristic of +Joyce. + +"MY OWN NEIL,-- + +"I'm coming down to see you tomorrow afternoon. I've got several +things to tell you, but the chief reason is because I want to kiss +you and be kissed by you. Everything else seems rather unimportant +compared with that. + +"JOYCE." + +"Any answer, sir?" inquired the boy, when he saw I had finished +reading. + +"Yes, Charles," I said; "there is an answer, but I'm afraid I can't +send it by post. Wait a minute, though," I added, as he began to put +on his cap, "I want you to send off a wire for me if you will. It will +take a minute or two to write." + +I went into the hut, and hastily scribbled a telegram to Latimer, +telling him that I had written to McMurtrie, but that otherwise there +was nothing to report. I copied this out carefully in the simple +cypher we had agreed on, and handed it to the boy, together with five +shillings. + +"You can keep the change," I said, "and buy fireworks with it. I've +been too busy to make any yet." + +He gurgled out some expressions of gratitude and took his departure, +while I renewed my attack upon the sardines and bread. + +Fortified by this simple cheer, I devoted the remainder of the morning +to tidying up my shed. I felt that I was living in such uncertain +times that it would be just as well to remove all possible traces of +the work I had been engaged on, and by midday the place looked almost +as tidy as when I had first entered it. + +I then treated myself to a cigar and began to keep a look-out for +Joyce. She had not said in her letter what time she would arrive, but +I knew that there were a couple of trains early in the afternoon, and +I remembered that I had told her to come straight to the hut. + +It must have been getting on for two when I suddenly caught sight of +a motor car with a solitary occupant coming quickly along the Tilbury +road. It pulled up as it reached the straggling plantation opposite +the hut, and a minute later a girl appeared from between the trees, +and started to walk towards me across the marsh. + +I was a little surprised, for I didn't know that Joyce included motor +driving amongst her other accomplishments, and she had certainly never +mentioned to me that there was any chance of her coming down in a +car. Then, a moment later, the truth suddenly hit me with paralysing +abruptness. It was not Joyce at all; it was Sonia. + +I don't know why the discovery should have given me such a shock, for +in a way I had been expecting her to turn up any time. Still a shock +it undoubtedly did give me, and for a second or so I stood there +staring stupidly at her like a man who has suddenly lost the use of +his limbs. Then, pulling myself together, I turned away from the +window and strode to the door. + +She came up to me swiftly and eagerly, moving with that strange lissom +grace that always reminded me of some untamed animal. Her hurried walk +across the marsh had brought a faint tinge of colour into the usual +ivory clearness of her skin, and her dark eyes were alive with +excitement. + +I held out my hands to welcome her. "I was beginning to think you'd +forgotten the address, Sonia," I said. + +With that curious little deep laugh of hers she pulled my arms round +her, and for several seconds we remained standing in this friendly +if a trifle informal attitude. Then, perceiving no reasonable +alternative, I bent down and kissed her. + +"Ah!" she whispered. "At last! At last!" + +Deserted as the marsh was, it seemed rather public for this type of +dialogue, so drawing her inside the hut I closed the door. + +She looked round at everything with rapid, eager interest. "I have +heard all about the powder," she said. "It's quite true, isn't it? You +have done what you hoped to do?" + +I nodded. "I've blown up about twenty yards of Canvey Island with a +few ounces of it," I said. "That seems good enough for a start." + +She laughed again with a sort of fierce satisfaction. "You have done +something more than that. You have given me just the power I needed to +help you." She came up and with a quick impulsive gesture laid her two +hands on my arm. "Neil, Neil, my lover! In a few hours from now you +can have everything you want in the world. Everything, Neil--money, +freedom, love--" She broke off, panting slightly with her own +vehemence, and then drawing my face down to hers, kissed me again on +the lips. + +I suppose I ought to have felt rather ashamed of myself, but I think +I was too interested in what she was going to say to worry much about +anything else. + +"Tell me, Sonia," I said. "What am I to do? Can I trust your father +and McMurtrie?" + +She let go my arm, and stepping back sat down on the edge of the small +table which I had been using as a writing-desk. + +"Trust them!" she repeated half scornfully. "Yes, you can trust them +if you want to go on being cheated and robbed. Can't you see--can't +you guess the way they have been lying to you?" + +"Of course I can," I said coolly; "but when one's between the Devil +and Dartmoor, I prefer the Devil every time. I don't enjoy being +cheated, but it's much more pleasant than being starved or flogged." + +She leaned forward, holding the edge of the table with her hands. +"There's no need for either. As I've told you, in a few hours from +now we can be away from England with money enough to last us for our +lives. Do you know what your invention is worth? Do you know what use +they mean to make of it?" + +"I imagine they hope to sell it," I answered. "It wouldn't be +difficult to find a customer." + +"Difficult!" She lowered her voice to a quick eager whisper. "They +have got a customer. The best customer in Europe. A customer that will +pay anything in the world for such a secret as yours." + +I gazed at her with a carefully assumed expression of amazement and +dawning intelligence. + +"Good Lord, Sonia!" I said slowly; "do you mean--?" + +She made an impatient movement with her hands. "Listen! I am going to +tell you everything. What's the good of you and I beating about +the bush?" She paused. "We are spies," she said quite simply, +"professional spies. Of course it sounds absurd and impossible to +you--an Englishman--but all the same it's the truth. You don't know +what sort of man Dr. McMurtrie is." + +"I appear to be learning," I observed. + +"He has been a friend of my father's for years. They were in Russia +together at one time--and then Paris, Vienna--oh, everywhere. It has +always been the same; in each country they have found out things that +other Governments have been willing to pay for. At least, the doctor +has. The rest of us, my father, myself, Hoffman"--she shrugged her +shoulders--"we are his puppets, his tools. Everything we have done has +been planned and arranged by him." + +There was a short silence. + +"How long have you been here?" I asked. "What brought you to England?" + +"We have been here just over three years," she answered slowly. "There +was a man in London that Dr. McMurtrie and my father wanted to find. +Eight years ago he betrayed them in St. Petersburg." + +A sudden idea--so wild as to be almost incredible--flashed into my +mind. + +I moistened my lips. "Who was he?" I asked steadily. + +She shook her head. "I don't know his name. I only know that he is +dead. I think Dr. McMurtrie would kill any one who betrayed him--if he +could." + +I crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. I felt +strangely excited. + +"And after that," I said quietly, "I suppose the doctor thought he +might as well stop here and do a little business?" + +"I think it was suggested to him from Berlin. He had sent them all +sorts of information when we were in Paris, and, of course, as things +are now, they were still more anxious to get hold of anything about +the English army or navy." She paused. "What they specially wanted +were the plans of the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo." + +"Yes," I said. "I dare say they did. A lot of people have wanted them, +but unfortunately they're not for sale." + +Sonia laughed softly. "The exact price we paid for them," she said, +"was twelve thousand pounds." + +I sat up with a jerk. This time my surprise was utterly genuine. + +"You bought them!" I said incredulously. "Bought them from some one in +the Admiralty?" + +Again Sonia shook her head. "Don't you remember what you read in the +_Daily Mail_ about the robbery at your offices in Victoria Street?" + +I stared at her for a second, and then suddenly the real truth dawned +on me. + +"So George sold them to you?" I said. + +She nodded. "Ever since you went to prison the business has been going +to pieces. He wanted money badly--very badly indeed. Dr. McMurtrie +found this out. He found out too that there was a copy of the plans +in the office, and--well, you can guess the rest. The burglary, of +course, was arranged between them. It was meant to cover your cousin +in case the Government found out that the Germans had got hold of the +plans." + +"And have they found out?" I asked. + +Again Sonia shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say. The doctor and my +father never tell me anything that they can keep to themselves. Most +of what I know I have picked up from listening to them and putting +things together in my own head afterwards. I am useful to them, and to +a certain point they trust me; but only so far. They know I hate them +both." + +She made the statement with a detached bitterness that spoke volumes +for its sincerity. + +I felt too that she was telling me the truth about George. A man who +could lie as he did at the trial was quite capable of betraying his +country or anything else. Still, the infernal impudence and treachery +of his selling my beautiful torpedo to the Germans filled me with a +furious anger such as I had not felt since I crouched, dripping and +hunted, in the Walkham woods. + +I looked up at Sonia, who was leaning forward and watching me with +those curious half-sullen, half-passionate eyes of hers. + +"Why did George tell those lies about me at the trial?" I asked. + +"I don't know for certain; I think he wanted to get rid of you, so +that he could steal your invention. Of course he saw how valuable it +was. You had told him about the notes, and I think he felt that if +you were safely out of the way he would be able to make use of them +himself." + +"He must have been painfully disappointed," I said. "They were all +jotted down in a private cypher. No one else could possibly have +understood them." + +She nodded. "I know. He offered to sell them to us. He suggested that +the Germans might be willing to pay a good sum down for them on the +chance of being able to make them out." + +Angry as I was, I couldn't help laughing. It was so exactly like +George to try and make the best of a bad speculation. + +"I can hardly see the doctor doing business on those lines," I said. + +"It was too late in any case," she answered calmly. "Just after he +made the offer you escaped from prison." There was another pause. "And +what were you all doing down in that God-forsaken part of the world?" +I demanded. + +The question was a little superfluous as far as I was concerned, but I +felt that Sonia would be expecting it. + +"Oh, we weren't there for pleasure," she said curtly. "We wanted to be +near Devonport, and at the same time we wanted a place that was quite +quiet and out-of-the-way. Hoffman found the house for us, and we took +it furnished for six months." + +"It was an extraordinary stroke of luck," I said, "that I should have +come blundering in as I did." + +Sonia laughed venomously. "It was the sort of thing that would happen +to the doctor. The Devil looks after his friends." + +"As a matter of fact," I objected, "I was thinking more of myself." + +Sonia took no notice of my interruption. "Why, it meant everything +to him," she went on eagerly. "It practically gave him the power to +dictate his own terms to the Germans. You see, he knew something about +their plans. He knew--at least he could guess--that the moment war +was declared they meant to make a surprise attack on all the big +dockyards--just like the Japs did at Port Arthur. Well, think of the +difference an explosive as powerful as yours would make! Why, it would +put England absolutely at their mercy. They could blow up Portsmouth, +Sheerness, and Devonport before any one really knew that the war had +started." + +She spoke rapidly, almost feverishly, leaning forward and gripping the +edge of the table, till the skin showed white on her knuckles. I think +I was equally excited, but I tried not to show it. + +"Yes," I said; "it sounds a promising notion." + +"Promising!" she echoed. "Well, it was promising enough for the +Germans to offer us anything we wanted the moment we could give them +the secret. Now perhaps you can understand why we were so hospitable +and obliging to you." + +"And you believe McMurtrie never meant to keep his word to me?" I +asked. + +She laughed again scornfully. "If you knew him as well as I do, you +wouldn't need to ask that. He would simply have disappeared with the +money and left you to rot or starve." + +I took out my case, and having given Sonia a cigarette, lit one +myself. + +"It's an unpleasant choice," I said, "but I gather there's a possible +alternative." + +She lighted her own cigarette and threw away the match. Her dark eyes +were alight with excitement. + +"Listen," she said. "All the Germans want is the secret. Do you +suppose they care in the least whom they get it from? You have only +got to prove to them that you can do what you say, and they will pay +you the money just as readily as they would the doctor." + +There was a magnificent simplicity about the idea that for a moment +almost took my breath away. + +"How could I get in touch with them?" I asked. + +She leaned forward again, and lowered her voice almost to a whisper. + +"I can take you now--now right away--to the two men who are in charge +of the whole business. I know that they have an absolutely free hand +to make the best terms they can." + +"Who are they?" I demanded, with an eagerness I made no attempt to +hide. + +"Their names are Seeker and von Brünig, and they're living in a small +bungalow on Sheppey. They are supposed to be artists. As a matter of +fact, von Brünig is a captain in the Germany Navy. I don't know who +the other man is; I think he has been sent over specially about the +powder." + +Her statement fitted in so exactly with what I had already found out +from Latimer and Gow, that I hadn't the remotest doubt she was telling +me the literal truth. Of its importance--its vital importance to +England--there could be no question. I felt my heart beating quickly +with excitement, but the obvious necessity for fixing on some scheme +of immediate action kept my brain cool and clear. The first thing was +to gain a moment or two to think in. + +"You realize what all this means, Sonia?" I said. "You're quite +prepared to throw over your father and McMurtrie? You know how the +doctor deals with people who betray him--when he gets the chance?" + +"I am not afraid of them," she answered defiantly. "They are nothing +to me; I hate them both--and Hoffman too. It's you I want. You are the +only man I ever have wanted." She paused, and I saw her breast rising +and falling rapidly with the stress of her emotion. "We will go away +together--somewhere the other side of the world--America, Buenos +Ayres--oh, what does it matter where?--there are plenty of places! +What does anything matter so long as we love each other!" + +She half rose to her feet, but I jumped up first. + +"One moment, Sonia," I said. "Let me think." + +Thrusting my hands in my pockets, I strode across the room, and +pulling up in front of the little window, stared out across the marsh. +As I did so, I felt as if some one had suddenly placed a large handful +of crushed ice inside my waistcoat. About two hundred yards away, +strolling cheerfully and unconcernedly towards the hut, was the +charming but painfully inopportune figure of Joyce. + +It was a most unpleasant second. In my excitement at listening to +Sonia's revelations, I had clean forgotten for the time that Joyce was +coming, and now it was too late for the recollection to be of much +practical use. Except for an earthquake, or the sudden arrival of the +end of the world, nothing could stop her from reaching the hut in +another five minutes. + +I stood quite still, racking my brains as to what was the best thing +to do. It was no use trying to signal to her from the window, for +Sonia would be certain to see me; while if I made some excuse for +going outside, Joyce would probably call out to me before I had time +to warn her. My only hope seemed to lie in the chance of her hearing +us talking as she came up to the door, in which case she would know at +once that there was some one there and go straight on to the _Betty_. + +I had just reached this conclusion when a queer sound behind me made +me spin round as if I had been struck. Sonia, who had risen to her +feet, was standing and facing me; her whole attitude suggestive of +a highly-annoyed tigress. I don't think I have ever seen such a +malevolent expression on any human being's face in my life. For an +instance we stood staring at each other without speaking, and then +quite suddenly I realized what was the matter. + +Clutched tight in her right hand was a letter--a letter which I +recognized immediately as the one I had received from Joyce that +morning. Like a fool I must have left it lying on the desk, and while +I was looking out of the window she had evidently picked it up and +read it. + +I hadn't much time, however, for self-reproaches. + +"So, you have been lying to me all through," she broke out bitterly. +"This girl is your mistress; and all the time you have simply been +using me to help yourself. Oh, I see it all now. I see why you were so +anxious to come to London. While I have been working and scheming for +you, you and she ..." Her voice failed from very fury, and tearing the +letter in pieces, she flung them on the ground at my feet. + +I suppose I attempted some sort of reply, for she broke out again more +savagely than ever. + +"She _is_ your mistress! Do you dare to deny it, with that letter +staring me in the face? Coming down to 'kiss you and be kissed by +you,' is she? Well, she's used to that, at all events!" Her voice +choked again, and with her hands clenched she made a quick step +forward in my direction. + +Then quite suddenly I saw her whole expression change. The anger in +her eyes gave place to a gleam of recognition, and the next moment her +lips parted in a peculiarly malicious smile. She was looking past me +through the open window. + +"Ah!" she said. "So that's why you were standing there! You didn't +expect me to be here when she arrived, did you?" With a mocking laugh +she turned to the doorway. "Never mind," she added viciously: "you +will be able to introduce us." + +Even if I had tried to prevent her it would have been too late. With a +swift movement she flung back the door, and stepped forward across the +threshold. + +Joyce was standing about fifteen yards away, facing the hut. She had +evidently just heard the sound of Sonia's voice, and had pulled up +abruptly, as I expected she would. Directly the door opened, she +turned as if to continue her walk. + +Sonia laughed again. "Please don't go away," she said. + +There was a moment's pause, and then I too advanced to the door. I saw +that there was nothing else for it except the truth. + +"Joyce," I said, "this is Sonia. She has just read your letter, which +I left lying on the desk." + +It must have been a bewildering situation even to such a quick-witted +person as Joyce, but all the same one would never have guessed the +fact from her manner. For perhaps a second she stood still, looking +from one to the other of us; then, with that sudden engaging smile of +hers, she came forward and held out her hand to Sonia. + +"I am so glad to meet you," she said simply. "Neil has told me how +good you have been to him." + +Sonia remained quite motionless. She had drawn herself up to her full +height, and she stared at Joyce with a cool hatred she made no attempt +to conceal. + +"Yes," she said; "I have no doubt he told you that. He will have a lot +more to tell you as soon as I've gone. You will have plenty to talk +about when you're not kissing." With a low, cruel little laugh she +stepped forward. "Make the most of him while you've got him," she +added. "It won't be for long." + +As the last word left her lips, she suddenly raised the glove she was +holding in her hand, and struck Joyce fiercely across the face. + +In one stride I was up with them--God knows what I meant to do--but, +thrusting out her arm, Joyce motioned me back. + +"It's all right, Neil dear," she said. "I should have done exactly the +same." + +For a moment we all three remained just as we were, and then without a +word Sonia turned on her heel and walked off rapidly in the direction +of the Tilbury road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + + +"What have we done, Neil?" + +Joyce put the question with a calmness that was truly delightful. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that we've torn it badly." Then, with a +last look at Sonia's retreating figure, I added: "Come inside, and +I'll try to explain." + +We entered the hut, where the floor was still strewn with the +fragments of Joyce's letter. She seated herself on the edge of the bed +and waited patiently while I took a couple of turns up and down the +room. + +"Joyce," I said, "I deserve kicking. I'm not sure I haven't messed up +the whole business." + +"Tell me," she said quietly. "I know about Latimer already; I saw +Tommy at the flat this morning." + +"Well, that simplifies things," I said; and without wasting any +further time in self-reproaches, I plunged straight into the story of +Sonia's surprise visit and its abrupt and spirited ending. + +"How I could have been such an ass I don't know," I finished ruefully. +"I must have put the letter down on the table after I'd done reading +it, and there I suppose it was sitting the whole time." + +Joyce, who had listened to me without interrupting, nodded her head. +"It was just one of those things that had got to happen," she said +philosophically. "It's no good worrying now. The thing is, what are we +to do about it?" + +I thought for a moment. + +"We must let Latimer know at once," I said. "I'll write out what Sonia +told me--just the main facts, and you must take the letter straight up +to London, and find him as soon as you can. I shall stop here, as he +asked me to." + +Joyce's face looked a little troubled. + +"What do you think Sonia will do?" she asked. + +"Goodness knows!" I said. "She seemed to have some particularly +unpleasant intention at the back of her mind; but I don't quite see +what it is." + +"She won't care what she does," said Joyce. "I know exactly how she +feels. Suppose she were to go to the police?" + +"She could hardly do that," I objected. "She'd be incriminating +herself." + +"But suppose she does," persisted Joyce. "Suppose they come and arrest +you here; Latimer won't be able to help you then." + +"I can't go back now, Joyce," I said seriously. "I can't get out of +it just because it might be dangerous to me. After all, it's England +they're scheming against." + +"And what if it is?" she returned indignantly. "A nice way England's +treated you!" + +I came over to the bed and took her hands in mine. + +"Come, Joyce," I said, "you don't really mean that. I want +encouraging, not depressing. All my natural instincts are to look +after myself and let England go to the devil." + +Half laughing and half crying, she jumped up and threw her arms round +me. + +"No, no, no," she said. "I want you to do the right thing always; but +oh, Neil, I'm so frightened of losing you. I just can't do without you +now." + +"Well," I said, "I'm hanged if I can do without you, so we're in the +same boat." + +I kissed her twice, and then, sitting down at the table, made a brief +summary of what I had learned from Sonia. Latimer so far knew nothing +of my relations with the latter, so I was compelled to explain how +badly I had behaved in order to account for her visit. I then gave +him a short description of the painful way in which the interview had +terminated, and added the information that I was waiting on at the hut +in the expectation of a visit from McMurtrie. + +"You can explain things more fully to him, Joyce," I said. "It's no +good trying to keep anything back now; we've gone too far. The great +thing is to get that letter to him as soon as you possibly can. Tommy +will probably know where he is." + +She nodded. "I shall find him all right." She slipped the envelope +inside her dress, and glanced at the watch she was wearing on her +wrist. "There are several things I wanted to tell you," she added, +"but they none of them matter for the moment. If I go at once, I can +just catch the three-thirty." + +"I'll come as far as the road with you," I said. "I daren't leave the +hut for long, in case McMurtrie turns up." + +We went outside and had a good look round. Sonia had long since +disappeared, and the place wore its usual aspect of utter desolation. +I took the precaution of locking the door, however, and then at a +sharp pace we set off together across the marsh. + +"Tell me about George," I said. "How are you getting on with the +elopement plan?" + +Joyce smiled. "I think George is growing a little impatient. He wants +to get away as soon as possible." + +"Yes," I said; "I have no doubt the Mediterranean sounds attractive +to him. There's a pretty stiff penalty attached to selling Government +secrets if you happen to be found out. Besides, I expect he's still +worrying a lot about me." + +Joyce nodded. "He told me last night that I was the only thing that +was keeping him in London. You see I can't quite make up my mind +whether I love him well enough to come away." + +"That's unfortunate for George," I said. "Latimer will probably act at +once as soon as he gets that letter, and directly he does I mean to go +straight to Cheyne Walk, unless I'm dead or in prison." + +Joyce took my arm. "Neil," she said, "whatever happens you mustn't be +arrested. If you think there's any chance of it you must go on board +the _Betty_ and take her somewhere down the river. You can let me know +at the flat where you are. Promise me you will, Neil. You see if the +police once got hold of you, even Latimer mightn't be able to do +anything." + +For a moment I hesitated. So far I had told Joyce nothing of the wild +suspicion about Marks's identity which Sonia's revelations had put +into my head. I didn't want to rouse hopes in her which might turn out +quite baseless. Besides, even if I were really on the right track, and +Marks was the man who had betrayed the gang in St. Petersburg, it was +quite another thing to prove that they were responsible for splitting +his skull. I had nothing to support the idea beyond Joyce's bare +word that she had seen McMurtrie in the flat on the afternoon of the +murder. Sonia's testimony might have been useful, but after today I +could hardly picture her in the witness-box giving evidence on my +behalf. + +On the whole, therefore, I thought it best for the present to keep +the matter to myself. I promised, however, that in the event of my +observing anything in the nature of a policeman stealthily approaching +the hut I would at once seek sanctuary on the _Betty_--an assurance +which might have sounded worthless to some people, but certainly +seemed to comfort Joyce. + +Anyhow she said good-bye to me with her usual cheerfulness and pluck, +and we parted after a last affectionate kiss in full view of the open +marsh. Then I returned to the hut suffering from that novel and highly +unpleasant sense of loneliness that Joyce's departures had begun to +awake in me. + +I don't think there is anything much more trying to one's nerves than +having to sit and wait for some critical event which may happen at any +moment. I have had a good deal of practice at waiting in my life, but +I never remember the hours dragging so desperately slowly as they did +the remainder of that afternoon. + +A dozen times I went over what Latimer and Sonia had told me, putting +together their different stories in my mind and trying to think if +there was any point I had overlooked. I could see none. The mere way +in which they had corroborated each other was enough to make me feel +sure that they were both speaking the truth. Besides, everything that +had happened from the moment I had crept in through the kitchen window +at McMurtrie's house pointed to the same conclusion. + +I may appear stupid not to have seen through the doctor earlier, but +after all a gang of professional spies is hardly the sort of thing one +expects to run up against in a Devonshire village. A few years ago, +indeed, I should have laughed at the idea of their existence anywhere +outside the pages of a shilling shocker, but my three years in +Dartmoor had led me to take a rather more generous view of what life +can throw up in the way of scoundrels. + +Whether they had killed Marks or not, I had little doubt now that they +were wholly responsible for the attempt to murder Latimer. Though I +had good evidence that when it came to the point the two gentlemen +on Sheppey didn't stick at trifles, I could hardly fancy a couple of +German Naval officers deliberately countenancing such methods. If they +had, they certainly deserved the worst fate that even Mr. Gow could +wish them. + +Somehow or other my private interest in the affair seemed to have been +temporarily forced into the background. I felt I was probably doing +the best thing I could for myself in throwing in my lot with Latimer, +but in any case his enthusiasm had got hold of me, and at all risks I +was determined to stick to my side of the bargain. I knew that in her +heart Joyce would have hated me to do otherwise. + +My chief danger, as she had instantly seen, was the chance of Sonia +betraying me to the police. The latter, who knew nothing of the part I +was playing as a sort of unpaid bottle-washer to the Secret +Service, would at once jump at the chance of arresting an escaped +convict--especially such a well-advertised one as myself. However +improbable Sonia's story might sound, they would at least be certain +to take the trouble to investigate it. + +On the other hand, of course Sonia might not go to the police at all, +and even if she did, it was quite possible that Latimer would strike +first and so give me the chance of clearing out. + +Anyhow, forewarned as I was, I felt it would be an uncommonly bright +policeman who succeeded in arresting me. In the day-time, so long as I +kept a good look out, anything like a surprise attack was impossible, +and after that night I made up my mind that I would sleep on the +_Betty_. The only thing was, I should most certainly have to deprive +myself of the luxury of a skipper. Useful as he was at taking letters +into Tilbury, it would be decidedly embarrassing to have him on board +if I happened to arrive in a hurry on the beach with two perspiring +detectives in hot pursuit. + +At six o'clock, as there was still no sign of a visitor, I decided to +walk over to the _Betty_ and tell Mr. Gow that he could treat himself +to another holiday. It would only take me about half an hour, and in +case McMurtrie turned up while I was away I could leave a message on +the door to the effect that I should be back before seven. + +I did this, pinning it up carefully with a drawing-tack and then after +making sure that everything was secure I started off for the creek. + +I found Mr. Gow in his usual restful attitude, his head and shoulders +sticking up out of the fo'c's'le hatch, and a large pipe protruding +from his mouth. With the instincts of a true retainer he promptly +removed the latter as soon as he heard my hail, and hoisting himself +up on deck put off in the dinghy. + +"I'm not coming aboard," I said. "I only walked over to tell you that +you can have a couple of days ashore. We shan't be using the boat till +Saturday or Sunday." + +He thanked me and touched his cap (I could see he was beginning to +think it was rather a soft job he had stumbled into), and then, with +the air of some one breaking unpleasant tidings, he added: "Do you +happen to know, sir, as we're clean out o' petrol?" + +I didn't happen to know it, but under the circumstances it was +information I was glad to acquire. + +"Can you get me some--soon?" I asked. + +He nodded. "I'll bring along a couple o' cans in the mornin', sir, and +leave 'em aboard." + +"Any news?" I asked. + +"Well, sir, I seed the Dutchmen's launch goin' down this +arternoon--travellin' proper they was too, same as when they swamped +me. I suppose you ain't bin able to do nothin' about that matter not +yet, sir?" + +"I'm looking into it, Mr. Gow," I said. "I have a friend helping me, +and between us I think we shall be able to get some satisfaction out +of them. I shall probably have more to tell you on Saturday." + +With this answer he seemed quite content. "Well, I'll just run back +aboard and get my bag, sir," he observed. "I reckon I'd better pull +the dinghy up on top o' the bank when I done with her. If any o' them +Tilbury folk should 'appen to come along they won't see 'er then--not +among the long grass." + +It was a sensible suggestion on the face of it, but in view of the +fact that I might find it necessary to embark rather abruptly, I +couldn't afford to risk any unnecessary delays. + +"Don't bother about that tonight, Gow," I said. "Just drag her above +high-water mark. It's quite possible I may be using her in the +morning." + +Having thus provided for my retreat in the case of an emergency, I +returned to the hut by the usual route along the sea-front. I took the +precaution of putting up my head and inspecting the place carefully +before climbing over the sea-wall, but I might as well have saved +myself the trouble. The marsh was quite deserted, and when I reached +the hut I found my little notice still pinned to the door, and no +trace of any one having paid me a visit in my absence. + +I remained in the same state of splendid isolation for the rest of the +evening. There was no difficulty about keeping watch, for as soon as +the sun went down a large obliging moon appeared in the sky, lighting +up the marsh and the Tilbury road almost as clearly as if it were +day-time. I could have seen a rabbit a hundred yards off, let alone +anything as big and obvious as a Scotland Yard detective. + +At about one in the morning I turned in for a couple of hours' rest. +I felt that if Sonia had gone straight to the authorities they would +have acted before this, while if she was sleeping on her wrath there +was no reason I shouldn't do the same. I had given up any expectation +of McMurtrie until the next morning. + +I woke at half-past three, and resumed my vigil in the pure cool +twilight of early dawn. I watched the sun rise over the river, and +gradually climb up into a sky of pale blue and lemon that gave promise +of another radiantly fine day. There was scarcely a breath of wind +stirring, and everything was so deliciously quiet and peaceful that it +almost seemed as if the events of the last three years were merely the +memory of some particularly vivid nightmare. + +"Almost," I say, for as a matter of fact I was never for a moment +under any such pleasant delusion. If I had been, I should have had +an early awakening, for at eight o'clock, just as I was thinking of +routing out something in the nature of breakfast, I saw a little black +dot advancing along the Tilbury road, which soon resolved itself into +the figure of my faithful Charles. + +He struck off across the marsh and came up to the hut, where I was +standing at the door waiting for him. + +"Two telegrams and a letter for you, sir," he said, producing them +from his bag. "They came this morning, sir." + +With an assumption of leisurely indifference that I was very far from +feeling, I took them out of his hand. The letter was addressed in +McMurtrie's writing, but I put it aside for a moment in favour of the +two wires. The first was from Joyce. + +"Saw L. late yesterday evening. He will act today. Agrees with my +suggestion about the _Betty_ if necessary. J." + +I thrust it into my pocket and opened the other. + +"A copper come last nite and ask for you. He see Misses O." + +For an instant I stared at this cryptic message in bewilderment; then +suddenly the recollection of my final instructions to Gertie 'Uggins +rushed into my mind. + +So Sonia _had_ gone to the police, or had at least contrived to send +them a message which served the same purpose. Their visit to Edith +Terrace was probably explained by the fact that she had given them +both addresses so as better to establish the truth of her story. +Anyhow the murder was out, and with a new and not unpleasant thrill +of excitement I crushed up Gertie's wire in my hand and tore open +McMurtrie's letter. + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"I have been away on business and have only just received your letter, +otherwise I should have come to see you this afternoon. In the first +place allow me to congratulate you most heartily on your success, of +which personally I was never in any doubt. + +"For the moment I have left the Hotel Russell, and am staying with +some friends in Sheppey. I shall run up the river in their launch +early tomorrow morning, as I believe there is a small creek close to +the hut where we can put in. + +"Please have a specimen of the powder ready, and if it is possible I +should like you to arrange for an actual demonstration, as I shall +have a friend with me who is already considerably interested in our +little company, and would be prepared to put up further capital if +convinced of the merits of your invention. + +"You can expect us about high water, between half-past nine and ten. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +As I read the signature McMurtrie's smiling mask-like face seemed +suddenly to rise up in front of me, and all my old instincts of +distrust and repulsion came to keep it company. So he was at the +bungalow, and in little over an hour he would be here--he and the +mysterious friend who was "already considerably interested in +our little company." I smiled grimly at the phrase; it was so +characteristic of the doctor; though when he wrote it he could little +have guessed how thoroughly I should be able to appreciate it. + +He was also equally ignorant of the complications introduced into +the affair by Sonia. Unless I had been altogether misled by Gertie's +message, it was probable that the police were even now on their way to +arrest me, just as McMurtrie's launch was most likely setting out from +the little creek under the bungalow. There seemed every prospect of my +having a busy and interesting morning. + +At this point in my reflections I looked up, and found Charles eyeing +me with an air of respectful patience. I took some money out of my +pocket, and selecting a ten-shilling piece placed it in his grubby but +not unwilling palm. + +"You are a most useful boy, Charles," I said, "and you can keep the +change as usual." + +He pocketed the coin with a gratified stammer. + +"You ain't 'ad time to make no fireworks yourself, sir?" he hazarded, +after a short pause. + +"Not yet," I replied; "but it looks as if I should today." + +He brightened up still further at the news, and observing that he +hoped there would be some letters to bring the next morning departed +on his return journey. + +I went back into the hut and shut the door. Now that matters were +so rapidly approaching a climax, I felt curiously cheerful and +light-hearted. I suppose it was a reaction from the strain and +hard work of the previous week, but anyhow the thought that in all +probability the police were hard on my track didn't seem to worry me +in the least. The only point was whether they would reach the hut +before McMurtrie did. I hoped not, for I was looking forward to an +interview with the doctor, but it certainly seemed as well to take +every precaution. + +I started by unearthing the box of powder from outside, and filling up +my flask from it. Then, when I had covered it over again, I collected +all the papers which I had not burned on the previous day, and stored +them away in my inside pockets. Finally I opened a tinned tongue, and +aided by the dry remains of my last loaf, made a healthy if not very +exciting breakfast. I never believe in conducting violent exertions on +an empty tummy. + +All this time, I need hardly say, I was keeping an uncommonly sharp +look-out over the marsh. The most likely way in which any one who +didn't wish to be seen would attempt to approach the hut was along the +Tilbury road, and it was towards the last clump of trees, behind which +Sonia had left her car the previous day, that I directed my chief +attention. + +Three-quarters of an hour passed, and I was just beginning to think +that McMurtrie would be the winner after all, when I suddenly caught +sight of something dark slinking across the exposed part of the road +beyond the plantation. Standing very still, I watched carefully from +the window. I have excellent eyesight, and I soon made out that there +were three separate figures all stooping low and moving with extreme +caution towards the shelter of the trees. + +A sudden and irresistible desire to laugh seized hold of me; there +was something so intensely funny about the strategic pains they were +taking, when all the while they might just as well have advanced +boldly across the open marsh. Still it was hardly the time to linger +over the comic side of the affair, so retiring from the window, I +threw a last quick glance round the hut to make quite sure that I had +left nothing I wanted behind. Then walking to the door I opened it and +stepped quietly outside. + +I decided that it was impossible to reach the sea-wall without being +seen, so I made no attempt to do so. I just set off in the direction +of the creek, strolling along in the easy, unhurried fashion of a man +taking a morning constitutional. + +I had not gone more than ten yards, when from the corner of my eye I +saw three figures break simultaneously out of the plantation. They no +longer made any pretence about their purpose. One of them cut straight +down towards the hut, a second came running directly after me, while +the third started off as rapidly as possible along the road, so as to +head me off if I attempted to escape inland. + +Any further strategy on my part appeared to be out of place. I grasped +the position in one hurried glance, and then, buttoning my coat and +ramming down my cap, openly and frankly took to my heels. I heard the +gentlemen behind shout out something which sounded like a request that +I should stop, but I was too occupied to pay much attention. The marsh +was infested with small drains, and one had to keep one's eyes glued +on the ground immediately ahead to avoid coming an unholy purler. That +was the only thing I was afraid of, as I was in excellent condition, +and I have always been a very fair runner. + +When I had covered about a couple of hundred yards I looked back over +my shoulder. I expected to find that I had widened the gap, but to my +dismay I discovered that my immediate pursuer had distinctly gained on +me. I could just see that he was a tall, active-looking fellow in a +policeman's uniform, with a long raking stride that was carrying him +over the ground in the most unpleasant fashion. Unless he fell over a +drain and broke his silly neck it seemed highly probable that he would +arrive at the creek almost as soon as I did. + +As I ran I prayed fervently in my heart that Mr. Gow had followed +my instructions and left the dinghy within easy reach of the water. +Otherwise I was in a tight place, for though I could swim to the +_Betty_ all right, it would be impossible to take her out of the creek +in a dead calm and with no petrol aboard for the engine. I should be +compelled to stand at bay until a breeze got up, repelling boarders +with the boat-hook! + +Just before I reached the sea-wall I looked round a second time. My +pursuer was now only about thirty yards distant, but it was evident +that his efforts had begun to tell on him. He again shouted out some +breathless advice to the effect that it would be "best" for me to +surrender, but without waiting to argue the point I scrambled up the +bank and cast a hurried, anxious glance round for the dinghy. + +Any doubts I might have had about Mr. Gow's trustworthiness were +instantly dispelled. The boat was lying on the mud only a few yards +out of reach of the tide. With a gasp of thankfulness I leaped on +to the saltings, and clearing the distance in about three strides, +clutched hold of the gunwale and began to drag it towards the water. + +Just as I reached that desirable element the figure of my pursuer +appeared above the bank. I gave a last savage wrench, but my foot +slipped in the treacherous mud, and I as nearly as possible stumbled +to my knees. That final tug, however, had done the trick. The boat was +floating, and with a wild effort I scrambled in, and seizing an oar, +shoved off furiously from the shore. + +I was only just in time. Jumping from the sea-wall, the policeman +fairly hurled himself across the intervening space, and without a +moment's hesitation plunged into the creek after me. I shortened my +oar, and as he made a grab for the stern I suddenly lunged forward +with all the force I could command. The blade took him fair and square +in the wind, and with a loud observation that sounded like "Ouch!" he +sat down abruptly in the water. Before he could recover himself I was +ten yards from the shore, sculling vigorously for the centre of the +stream. + +I made no attempt to reach the _Betty_. There was still a dead calm, +and by going on board I should merely have been shutting myself up in +a prison from which there was no escape. My best plan seemed to be to +make for the open river, when I might either pick up McMurtrie and his +launch, or else row across to the opposite shore. + +I accordingly headed for the mouth of the creek, while my pursuer, who +by this time had sufficiently recovered to stagger to his feet, waded +dismally back to the shore. Here he was joined by his two companions, +who had evidently been following the chase with praiseworthy +determination. + +For a moment I saw them all three consulting together, and then my +friend the policeman started hastily throwing off his clothes with the +apparent intention of swimming across the river, while the other two +came running along the bank after me. They were both in plain clothes, +but the unmistakable stamp of a Scotland Yard detective was clearly +imprinted on each of them. + +They soon caught me up, and hurrying on ahead reached the mouth of the +creek, while I was still some twenty yards short of it. I was just +wondering what on earth they hoped to do, when, looking over my +shoulder, I saw one of them scramble up the sea-wall, and begin to +shout and wave his arms as if he had suddenly gone mad. + +A few savage pulls brought me up level, and then turning in my seat I +discovered the cause of his excitement. Some way out in the stream was +a small coast-guard cutter with three men on board, two of whom were +at the oars. They had evidently grasped that there was something +serious the matter, for they had brought their boat round and were +already heading in towards the shore. + +My position began to look a trifle unhealthy. I was out of practice +for sculling, and if the coast-guards chose to interfere it was +obviously only a question of a few minutes before they would succeed +in rowing me down. For a moment I had some idea of going ashore on +the opposite bank, and again trusting to my heels. Then I saw that my +friend the policeman, who could apparently swim as well as he could +run, was already half way across the creek, and would be on my track +long before I could get the necessary start. On the whole it seemed +best to stick to the water, so digging in my sculls I pulled out into +the main stream. + +As I rounded the sea-wall I could hear the man who was standing on +top bawling out my name to the coast-guards, and hurling them frantic +injunctions to cut me off. I cast one swift glance up and down the +river, and as I did so I nearly gave a shout of excitement. A couple +of hundred yards away, but coming up at a tremendous pace, was a large +white petrol launch, which I recognized immediately as the one that +had swamped Mr. Gow. + +Whether the coast-guards saw her too I really can't say. I doubt if +they did, for by this time they had evidently realized who I was, and +their whole attention was fixed on preventing my escape. They were +rowing towards me with tremendous energy, the officer in charge +half standing up in the stern and encouraging them to still fiercer +efforts. + +Putting every ounce I could into my stroke, I set off down stream. It +was just a question as to whether I could clear them, and I doubt if +any winner of the Diamond Sculls could have shoved that dinghy along +much faster than I did for the next few seconds. Nearer and nearer we +drew to each other, and for one instant I thought that I had done the +trick. Then from the corner of my eye I saw the cutter fairly leap +forward through the water, and the next moment, with a jolt that +almost flung me out of the seat, she bumped alongside. + +Dropping his oar, one of the men leaned over and grabbed hold of my +gunwale. + +"No go, Mister," he observed breathlessly. "You got to come along with +us." + +The words had hardly left his lips when with a wild shout the officer +in charge leaped to his feet. + +"Look out, there!" he yelled. "Port, you fools! Port your helm!" + +I swung round, and got a momentary glimpse of a sharp white prow with +a great fan of water curling away each side of it, and then, before I +could move, there came a jarring, grinding crash, mixed with a fierce +volley of shouts and oaths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN THE NICK OF TIME + + +My impressions of what happened next are a trifle involved. Something +hit me violently in the side, almost knocking me silly, while at the +same moment the boat seemed to disappear from beneath me, and I was +flying head first into the water. I struck out instinctively as I +fell, and came to the surface almost at once. I just remember a +blurred vision of floating wreckage, with something white rising up in +front of me. Then a rope came hurtling through the air, and caught me +full in the face. I clutched at it wildly, and the next thing I knew I +was being dragged violently through the water and hauled in over the +side of the launch. + +It was all over so quickly that for a moment I scarcely realized what +had happened. I just lay where I was, gasping for breath, and spitting +out a large mouthful of the Thames which I had unintentionally +appropriated. Above the throbbing of the engine and the swish of the +screw I could still hear a confused medley of shouts and curses. + +With an effort I sat up and looked about me. We had already changed +our course, and were swinging round in a half-circle, preparatory to +heading back down stream. The smashed remains of the two boats were +bobbing about behind us, and in the midst of them I could make out the +figures of the coast-guards, clinging affectionately to various bits +of wreckage. + +Besides myself, there were three other men in the launch. Dr. +McMurtrie was sitting on the seat just opposite, pouring out the +contents of a flask into a small metal cup. Against the cabin door +leaned Savaroff, eyeing me with his usual expression of hostile +mistrust. The third passenger was the man with the auburn beard, whom +I had seen in the launch on the day I picked up Mr. Gow. He was busy +with the tiller, and for the moment was paying scant attention to any +of us. + +McMurtrie got up with the cup in his hand and came across to where I +was sitting. + +"Drink this," he said. + +"This," proved to be some excellent old brandy, which I tossed off +with no little gratitude. It was exactly what I wanted to pull me +together. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked. + +I felt myself carefully before replying. "I'm all right now," I said. +"I got rather a crack in the ribs, but I don't think anything's gone." + +"We seem to have arrived just in time to prevent your arrest," he +said quietly. "Perhaps you will be good enough to explain what has +happened? At present we are rather in the dark." + +He spoke with his usual suavity, but there was a veiled menace in his +voice which it was impossible to overlook. Savaroff scowled at me more +truculently than ever. It was obvious that both of them were entirely +ignorant of Sonia's part in the affair, and suspected me of some +extraordinary bit of clumsiness. I prepared myself for some heavy +lying. + +"I know precious little more about it than you do," I said coolly. "I +was getting things ready for you this morning, when I happened to look +out of the window, and saw three men crawling towards the hut on their +hands and knees. As one of them was wearing a policeman's uniform, I +thought I had better cut and run. Well, I cut and ran. I made for the +creek because I thought you might be there. You weren't; but there was +a dinghy on the shore, which I suppose belonged to a small yacht +that was anchored out in the channel. Anyhow, I took the liberty of +borrowing it. I meant to row out into the river, and try to pick you +up before they could get hold of a boat and follow me. If it hadn't +been for these infernal coast-guards, I'd have managed it all right. I +don't think they really had anything to do with the business, but they +just happened to be passing, and of course when the police shouted to +them they cut in at once." I paused. "And that's the whole story," I +finished, "as far as I know anything about it." + +They had all three listened to me with eager attention. Even the man +with the auburn beard had kept on looking away from his steering to +favour me with quick glances out of his hard blue eyes. I think I came +through the combined scrutiny with some credit. + +McMurtrie was the first to break the ensuing silence. + +"Have you any idea how you have betrayed yourself? You can speak quite +freely. Our friend Mr. von Brünig knows the position." + +I thought it best to take the offensive. "I haven't betrayed myself," +I said angrily. "Somebody must have done it for me. I've not left the +hut since I came down except for an occasional breath of air." + +"But earlier--when you were in London?" he persisted. + +I shook my head. "I have been down here a week. You don't imagine the +police would have waited as long as that." + +I knew I was putting them in a difficulty, for by this time they +must be all aware that Latimer was still on their track, and it was +obviously conceivable that my attempted arrest might be due in some +way to my connection with them; anyhow I saw that even Savaroff was +beginning to regard me a shade less suspiciously. + +"Have you brought any of the powder with you?" asked McMurtrie. + +It struck me instantly that if I said yes, I should be putting myself +absolutely in their power. + +"I hadn't time to get any," I answered regretfully. "I had buried it +outside the hut, and they came on me so suddenly there was no chance +of digging it up. Now I have once done it, however, I can make some +more very quickly." + +It was the flattest lie I have ever told; but I managed to get it off +with surprising ease. It is astonishing what rapid strides one can +make in the art of perjury with a very little practice. + +Savaroff gave a grunt of disappointment, and McMurtrie turned to von +Brünig, who was frowning thoughtfully, and made some almost inaudible +remark in German. The latter answered at some length, but he kept his +voice so low that, with my rather sketchy knowledge of that unpleasant +language, it was impossible for me to overhear what he was saying. +Besides, he evidently didn't intend me to, and I had no wish to +spoil the good impression I had apparently made by any appearance of +eavesdropping. + +It seemed to me that my course lay pretty straight in front of me. +Latimer had all the information now he was likely to get, and I knew +from Joyce's wire that he intended to act immediately. In addition to +this, the running down of the cutter would be known to Scotland Yard +as soon as ever the men who had been sent to arrest me could get to a +telephone, and the river-police and coast-guards everywhere would be +warned to keep a sharp look-out for von Brünig's launch. In an hour or +two at the most something was bound to happen, and the way in which I +could make myself most useful seemed to be in delaying the break-up +and escape of the party as long as possible. If I had to be arrested, +I was determined that the others should be roped in as well. + +I had just arrived at this point in my meditations when McMurtrie and +von Brünig came to an end of their muttered conversation. + +The former turned back to me. "You probably understand, Mr. Lyndon, +that this unfortunate affair with the police alters our plans +entirely. At present I am quite unable to see how they have found you +out, unless you have betrayed yourself by some piece of unintentional +carelessness. Anyhow, the fact remains that they know where you are, +and that very probably they will be able to trace this launch." + +Savaroff nodded. "As likely as not we shall have a shot across our +bows when we get to Sheerness," he growled. + +McMurtrie, as usual, took no notice of his interruption. "There is +only one thing to do," he said. "Mr. von Brünig, who, as I have +already told you, is interested in our syndicate, has offered to put +his country house in Germany at our service. We must cross over to +Holland before the police have time to interfere." + +"Do you mean now, at once?" I asked, with a sudden inward feeling of +dismay. + +McMurtrie nodded. "We have to pick up a couple of friends at Sheppey +first. After that we can run straight across to The Hague." + +The proposal was so obviously sensible that, without arousing his +suspicion, I could see no way for the moment of raising any objection. +The great thing was to keep the "syndicate" together, and to delay our +departure until Latimer had had time to scoop the lot of us. Could +anything provide him with a more favourable opportunity than the +collection of the whole crowd in that remote bungalow at Sheppey? It +was surely there if anywhere he would strike first, and I hoped, +very feelingly, that he would not be too long about it. My powers +of postponing our voyage to Holland appeared to have a distinct +time-limit. + +"There seems nothing else to do," I said. "I am sorry to have been +the cause of changing all our plans; but the whole thing is as much a +mystery to me as it is to you. However the police got on to my track, +it wasn't through any carelessness of mine. I am no more anxious to go +back to Dartmoor now than I was six weeks ago." + +This last observation at least was true; and I can only hope the +recording angel jotted it down as a slight set-off against the +opposite column. + +Savaroff removed his bulky form from in front of the cabin door, and +crossing the well, sat down beside the others. They began to talk +again in German; but as before I could only catch the merest scraps of +their conversation. Once I heard Sonia's name mentioned by McMurtrie, +and I just caught Savaroff's muttered reply to the effect that she was +all right where she was, and could follow us to Germany later. As far +as I could judge, they none of them had the remotest suspicion that +she was in any way connected with the crisis. + +All this while we had been throbbing along down stream at a terrific +pace, keeping well to the centre of the river, and giving such small +vessels as we passed a reasonably wide berth. If there was any trouble +coming to us it seemed most likely to materialize in the neighbourhood +of Southend or Sheerness, which were the two places to which the +police would be almost certain to send a description of the launch +as soon as they could get to a telephone. As we reached the first +danger-zone, I noticed von Brünig beginning to cast rather anxious +glances towards the shore. No one seemed to pay any attention to us, +however, and without slackening speed, we swept out into the broad +highway of the Thames estuary. + +There were several torpedo-boats lying off Sheerness, but these also +remained utterly indifferent to our presence. Apparently the police +had been too occupied in rescuing their coast-guard allies from a +watery grave to reach a telephone in time, and we passed along down +the coast unsuspected and unchallenged. + +Whatever von Brünig's weak points might be, he could certainly steer +a motor-boat to perfection. He turned into the little creek under the +bungalow at a pace which I certainly wouldn't have cared to attempt +even in my wildest mood, and brought up in almost the identical spot +where we had anchored the _Betty_ on the historic night of Latimer's +rescue. + +We had a small collapsible Berthon boat on board, just big enough to +hold four at a pinch. I watched Savaroff getting it ready, wondering +grimly whether there was any chance of their leaving me on the launch +with only one member of the party as a companion. It would have suited +me excellently, though it might have been a little inconvenient for my +prospective guardian. + +McMurtrie, however, promptly shattered this agreeable possibility by +inviting me to take a seat in the boat. I think he believed I had told +him the truth, but he evidently had no intention of letting me out of +his sight again until I had actually handed him over the secret of the +powder. + +We landed at the foot of a little winding path, and dragged our boat +out of the water on to a narrow strip of shingle. Then we set off +up the cliff at a rapid pace, with von Brünig leading the way and +Savaroff bringing up the rear. + +The bungalow was situated about a couple of hundred yards from the +summit, almost hidden by the high privet hedge which I had noticed +from the sea. This hedge ran right round the garden, the only entrance +being a small white gate in front of the house. Von Brünig walked up, +the path followed by the rest of us, and thrusting his key into the +lock pushed open the door. + +We found ourselves in a fairly big, low-ceilinged apartment, lighted +by a couple of French windows opening on to the side garden. They were +partly covered by two long curtains, each drawn half way across. The +place was comfortably furnished, and an easel with a half-finished +seascape on it bore eloquent witness to the purity of its tenants' +motives. + +Von Brünig looked round with a sort of impatient surprise. + +"Where are the others?" he demanded harshly. "Why have they left the +place empty in this way?" + +"They must have walked over to the post-office," said McMurtrie. "I +know Hoffman wanted to send a telegram. They will be back in a minute, +I expect." + +Von Brünig frowned. "They ought not to have done so. Seeker at least +should have known better. After the other night--" He paused, and +crossing the room threw open a door and disappeared into an adjoining +apartment. + +Without waiting for an invitation, I seated myself on a low couch in +the farther corner of the room. I felt quite cool, but I must admit +that the situation was beginning to strike me as a little unpromising. +Unless Latimer turned up precious soon it seemed highly probable that +he would be too late. Considering the importance of getting me safely +to Germany, neither von Brünig nor McMurtrie was likely to stay a +minute longer than was necessary. I might, of course, refuse to go +with them, but in that case the odds were that I should simply be +overpowered and taken on board by force. Von Brünig himself looked a +pretty tough handful to tackle, while Savaroff was about as powerful +as a well-grown bullock. Once I was safe in the former's "country +house" they would no doubt reckon on finding some means of bringing me +quickly to reason. + +With a bag in one hand and a bundle of papers in the other von Brünig +came back into the room. + +"I shall not wait," he announced curtly. "The risks are too great. +Seeker and your friend must follow as best they can." + +"They are bound to be here in a minute," objected Savaroff. + +Von Brünig turned on him with an angry gleam in his blue eyes. "I +shall not wait," he repeated harshly. "The future of Germany is of +more importance than their convenience." + +McMurtrie stepped forward, serene and imperturbable as ever. + +"I think Mr. von Brünig is right, Savaroff," he said. "The police may +have recognized the launch, and in that case it would be madness for +us not to go while we have the chance. We can leave a note for the +others." + +If Savaroff had any further objections he kept them to himself. He +turned away with a shrug on his broad shoulders, while McMurtrie sat +down at the table and hastily wrote a few lines which he showed to von +Brünig. The other nodded his head approvingly. + +"That will do very well," he said. "It will be safe if any one else +should find it. Seeker knows where to come to." + +McMurtrie put the note in an envelope which he placed in the centre of +the table. + +"And now," he said, pushing back his chair, "the sooner we are out of +this the better." + +I felt that if I was going to interfere the right time had now +arrived. Von Brünig's reply to Savaroff had given me just the opening +I needed. + +"One moment, gentlemen!" I said, getting up from the couch. + +They all three turned in obvious surprise at the interruption. + +"Well?" rapped out von Brünig, "what is it?" + +"I was under the impression," I said, "that this new explosive of mine +was to be put on the market as an ordinary commercial enterprise." + +McMurtrie rose from his chair and took a step forward. + +"You are perfectly right," he said. "Why should you think otherwise?" + +"In that case," I replied steadily, "I should like to know what Mr. +von Brünig meant by his remark about the 'future of Germany.'" + +There was a short pause. + +"Ach, Himmel!" broke out von Brünig. "What does it matter? What are we +wasting time for? Tell him if he wishes." + +"Why, certainly," said McMurtrie, smiling. "There is no mystery about +it. I was merely keeping the matter quiet until it was settled." He +turned to me. "The German Government have made us a very good offer +for your invention, provided of course that it will do what you +claim." + +"It will do what I claim all right," I said coolly, "but I don't wish +to sell it to the German Government." + +There was a sort of explosive gasp from von Brünig and Savaroff, and I +saw McMurtrie's eyes narrow into two dangerous cat-like slits. + +"_You don't-wish!_" he repeated icily. "May I ask why?" + +"Certainly," I said. "With the sole command of an explosive as +powerful as mine, Germany would be in a position to smash England in +about six weeks." + +"And suppose she was," interrupted von Brünig. "What in God's name +does it matter to you--an escaped convict?" + +His voice rang with impatience and contempt, and I felt my own temper +rising. + +"It matters just sufficiently," I said, "that I'll see you in hell +first." + +McMurtrie came slowly up to me, and looked me straight in the eyes. +His face was white and terrible--a livid mask of controlled anger. + +"You fool," he said almost pityingly. "You incredible fool! Do you +imagine that you have any choice in the matter?" + +Von Brünig and Savaroff moved up alongside of him, and I stood there +confronting the three of them. + +"You have heard my choice," I said. + +McMurtrie laughed. It was precisely the way in which I should imagine +the devil laughs on the rare occasions when he is still amused. + +"You are evidently a bad judge of character, Mr. Lyndon," he said. +"People who attempt to break faith with me are apt to find it a very +unhealthy occupation." + +I felt utterly reckless now. I had done my best to delay things, +and if neither the police nor the Secret Service was ready to take +advantage of it, so much the worse for them--and me. + +"I can quite believe you, doctor," I said pleasantly. "I should +imagine you were a dangerous ruffian from the intelligent way in which +you murdered Marks." + +It was a last desperate stroke, but it went home with startling +effect. + +Savaroff's face flushed purple, and with a fierce oath he gripped the +back of a chair and swung it up over his head. The doctor stopped him +with a gesture of his hand. As for von Brünig, he stood where he +was, staring from one to the other of us in angry bewilderment. He +evidently hadn't the remotest notion what I was talking about. + +McMurtrie was the first to speak. "Yes," he said, in his coolest, +silkiest voice. "I did kill Marks. He was the last person who betrayed +me. I rather think you will envy him before I have finished with you, +Mr. Lyndon." + +"A thousand devils!" cried von Brünig furiously: "what does all this +nonsense mean? We may have the police here any moment. Knock him on +the head, the fool, and--" + +"Stop!" + +The single word cut in with startling clearness. We all spun round in +the direction of the sound, and there, standing in the window just +between the two curtains, was the solitary figure of Mr. Bruce +Latimer. He was accompanied by a Mauser pistol which flickered +thoughtfully over the four of us. + +"Keep still," he drawled--"quite still, please. I shall shoot the +first man who moves." + +There was a moment of rather trenchant silence. Then von Brünig +moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Are you mad, sir?" he began hoarsely. "By what--" + +With a lightning-like movement McMurtrie slipped his right hand into +his side pocket, and as he did so Latimer instantly levelled his +pistol. The two shots rang out simultaneously, but except for a cry +and a crash of broken glass I knew nothing of what had happened. In +one stride I had flung myself on Savaroff, and just as he drew his +revolver I let him have it fair and square on the jaw. Dropping his +weapon, he reeled backwards into von Brünig, and the pair of them went +to the floor with a thud that shook the building. Almost at the same +moment both the door and the window burst violently open, and two men +came charging into the room. + +The first of the intruders was Tommy Morrison. I recognized him just +as I was making an instinctive dive for Savaroff's revolver, under the +unpleasant impression that Hoffman and the other German had returned +from the post-office. You can imagine the delight with which I +scrambled up again, clutching that useful if rather belated weapon in +my hand. + +One glance round showed me everything there was to see. + +Face downwards in a little pool of blood lay the motionless figure +of McMurtrie. Savaroff also was still--his huge bulk sprawled in +fantastic helplessness across the floor. Only von Brünig had moved; he +was sitting up on his hands, staring in a half-dazed fashion down the +barrel of Latimer's Mauser. + +It was Latimer himself who renewed the conversation. + +"Come and fix up these two, Ellis," he said. "I will see to the +other." + +The man who had burst in with Tommy, a lithe, hard-looking fellow in a +blue suit, walked crisply across the room, and pulling out a pair +of light hand-cuffs snapped them round von Brünig's wrists. He then +performed a similar service for the still unconscious Savaroff. + +The next moment Latimer, Tommy, and I were kneeling round the +prostrate figure of the doctor. We lifted him up very gently and +turned him over on to his back, using a rolled-up rug as a pillow for +his head. He had been shot through the right lung and was bleeding at +the mouth. + +Latimer bent over and made a brief examination of the wound. Then with +a slight shake of his head he knelt back. + +"I'm afraid there's no hope," he remarked dispassionately. "It's a +pity. We might have got some useful information out of him." + +There was a short pause, and then quite suddenly the dying man opened +his eyes. It may have been fancy, but it seemed to me that for a +moment a shadow of the old mocking smile flitted across his face. His +lips moved, faintly, as though he were trying to speak. I bent down to +listen, but even as I did so there came a fresh rush of blood into his +throat, and with a long shudder that strange sinister spirit of his +passed over into the darkness. I shall always wonder what it was that +he left unsaid. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +EXONERATED + + +It was Tommy who pronounced his epitaph. "Well," he observed, "he was +a damned scoundrel, but he played a big game anyhow." + +Latimer thrust his hand into the dead man's pocket, and drew out a +small nickel-plated revolver. One chamber of it was discharged. + +"Not a bad shot," he remarked critically. "Fired at me through his +coat, and only missed my head by an inch." + +He got up and looked round the room at the shattered window and the +other traces of the fray, his gaze coming finally to rest on the +prostrate figure of Savaroff. + +"That was a fine punch of yours, Lyndon," he added. "I hope you +haven't broken his neck." + +"I don't think so," I said. "Necks like Savaroff's take a lot of +breaking." Then, suddenly remembering, I added hastily: "By the way, +you know that there are two more of the crowd--Hoffman and a friend of +von Brünig's? They might be back any minute." + +Latimer shook his head almost pensively. "It's improbable," he said. +"I have every reason to believe that at the present moment they are in +Queenborough police station." + +I saw Tommy grin, but before I could make any inquiries von Brünig +had scrambled to his feet. His face looked absolutely ghastly in its +mingled rage and disappointment. After a fashion I could scarcely help +feeling sorry for him. + +"I demand an explanation," he exclaimed hoarsely. "By what right am I +arrested?" + +Latimer walked up to him, and looked him quietly in the eyes. + +"I think you understand very well, _Captain_ von Brünig," he said. + +There was a pause, and then, with a glance that embraced the four of +us, the German walked to the couch and sat down. If looks could kill I +think we should all have dropped dead in our tracks. + +Providence, however, having fortunately arranged otherwise, we +remained as we were, and at that moment there came from outside the +unmistakable sound of an approaching car. I saw Latimer open his +watch. + +"Quick work, Ellis," he remarked, with some satisfaction. "I wasn't +expecting them for another ten minutes. Tell them to come straight +in." He snapped the case and turned back to me. "Suppose we try and +awake our sleeping friend," he added. "He looks rather a heavy weight +for lifting about." + +Between us we managed to hoist Savaroff up into a chair, while Tommy +stepped across the room and fetched a bottle of water which was +standing on the sideboard. I have had some practice in my boxing days +of dealing with knocked-out men, and although Savaroff was a pretty +hard case, a little vigorous massage and one or two good sousings +soon produced signs of returning consciousness. Indeed, he had just +recovered sufficiently to indulge in a really remarkable oath when the +door swung open and Ellis came back into the room, accompanied by two +other men. One of them was dressed in ordinary clothes, the other wore +the uniform of a police sergeant. + +I shall never forget the face of the latter as he surveyed the scene +before him. + +"Gawd bless us!" he exclaimed. "What's up now, sir? Murder?" + +"Not exactly, Sergeant," replied Latimer soothingly. "I shot this man +in self-defence. The other two I give into your charge. There is a +warrant out for all three of them." + +It appeared that the sergeant knew who Latimer was, for he treated him +with marked deference. + +"Very well, sir," he said. "If 'e's dead, 'e's dead; anyhow, I've +orders to take my instructions entirely from you." Then, dragging a +note-book out of his pocket, he added with some excitement: "There's +another thing, sir, a matter that the Tilbury station have just +telephoned through about. It seems"--he consulted his references--"it +seems that when they were in that launch of theirs they run down a +party o' coast-guards, who'd got hold of Lyndon, the missing convict. +Off Tilbury it was. D'you happen to know anything about this, sir?" + +Latimer nodded his head. "A certain amount, Sergeant," he said. "You +will find the launch in the creek at the bottom of the cliff." He +paused. "This is Mr. Neil Lyndon," he added; "I will be responsible +for his safe keeping." + +I don't know what sort of experiences the Isle of Sheppey usually +provides for its police staff, but it was obvious that, professionally +speaking, the sergeant was having the day of his life. He stared at me +for a moment with the utmost interest, and then, recollecting himself, +turned and saluted Latimer. + +"Very good, sir," he said; "and what do you want me to do?" + +"I want you to stay here for the present with one of my men, while we +go to the station. I shall send the car back, and then you will take +the two prisoners into Queenborough. My man will remain in charge of +the bungalow." + +The sergeant saluted again, and Latimer turned to me. + +"You and Morrison must come straight to town," he said. "We shall just +have time to catch the twelve-three." + +It was at this point that Savaroff, who had been regarding us with +the half-stupid stare of a man who has newly recovered consciousness, +staggered up unsteadily from his chair. His half-numbed brain seemed +suddenly to have grasped what was happening. + +"Verfluchter Schweinhund!" he shouted, turning on me. "So it was you, +then--" + +He got no further. However embarrassed the sergeant might be by +exceptional events, he was evidently thoroughly at home in his own +department. + +"'Ere!" he said, stepping forward briskly, "stow that, me man!" +And with a sudden energetic thrust in the chest, he sent Savaroff +sprawling backwards on the couch almost on top of von Brünig. + +"Don't you use none of that language 'ere," he added, standing over +them, "or as like as not you'll be sorry for it." + +There was a brief pause. "I see, Sergeant," said Latimer gravely, +"that I am leaving the case in excellent hands." + +He gave a few final instructions to Ellis, who was also staying +behind, and then the four of us left the bungalow and walked quietly +down the small garden path that led to the road. Just outside the gate +stood a powerful five-seated car. + +"Start her up, Guthrie," said Latimer; and then turning to us, he +added, with a smile: "I want you in front with me, Lyndon. I know +Morrison's dying for a yarn with you, but he must wait." + +Tommy nodded contentedly. "I can wait," he observed; "it's a habit +I've cultivated where Neil's concerned." + +We all clambered into the car, and, slipping in his clutch Latimer set +off at a rapid pace in the direction of Queenborough. It was not until +we had rounded the first corner that he opened the conversation. + +"How did you know about Marks?" he asked, in that easy drawling voice +of his. + +"I didn't know for certain," I said quietly. "It was more or less of a +lucky shot." + +Then, as he seemed to be waiting for a further explanation, I repeated +to him as briefly as possible what Sonia had told me about McMurtrie's +reason for visiting London. + +"I didn't go into all this in my letter to you," I finished, "because +in the first place there was only just time for Joyce to catch the +train, and in the second I didn't want to disappoint her in case it +should turn out to be all bunkum. You must have been rather amazed +when I suddenly sprung it on McMurtrie." + +He shook his head, smiling. "Oh no," he said--"hardly amazed." He +paused. "You see, I knew about it already," he added placidly. + +If there was any amazement to spare at that moment it was certainly +mine. + +"You knew about it!" I repeated. "You knew that McMurtrie had killed +Marks?" + +He nodded coolly. "You remember telling me in the boat that your +friend Miss--Miss Aylmer, isn't it?--had recognized him as the man she +saw at the flat on the day of the murder?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, if that was so, and you had been wrongly convicted, which I +was inclined to believe, the doctor's presence on the scene seemed to +require a little looking into. I knew that at that time he had only +just arrived in London, so the odds were that he and Marks were old +acquaintances. I hunted up the evidence in your trial--I had rather +forgotten it--and I found just what I expected. Beyond the fact that +Marks was a foreigner and had been living in London for about eight +years, no one seemed to know anything about him at all. The police +were so confident in their case against you that apparently they +hadn't even bothered to make the usual inquiries. If they had taken +the trouble to communicate with St. Petersburg, they could have found +out all about Mr. Marks without much difficulty. The authorities there +have a wonderfully complete system of remembering their old friends." + +"But three years afterwards--" I began. + +"It makes very little difference, especially as just at present we +are on excellent terms with the Russian Secret Service. They took the +matter up for me, and last night I got the full particulars I wanted +about the man who had given away McMurtrie and his friends in St. +Petersburg. There can be no question that he and Marks were the same +person." + +I took a long--a very long breath. + +"There remains," I said, "the Home Office." + +"I don't think you need be seriously worried about the Home Office," +returned Latimer serenely. "By this time they have a full statement of +the case--except, of course, for my direct evidence that I heard the +doctor actually bragging of his achievement. I had a long interview +with Casement before I left London this morning, and he said he would +go round directly after breakfast. He evidently arrived just too late +to prevent the order for your arrest." + +I nodded. "Sonia must have gone to the police last night," I said; and +then in a few words I told him of the telegram I had received from +Gertie 'Uggins, and how it had just enabled me to get away. + +"I don't know," I finished, "how much my double escape complicates +matters. However unjust my sentence was, there's no denying I've +committed at least three felonies since. I've broken prison, plugged a +warder in the jaw, and shoved an oar into a policeman's tummy. Do you +think there's any possible chance of the Home Secretary being able to +overlook such enormities?" + +Latimer laughed easily. "My dear Lyndon," he said, "in return for what +you've done for us, you could decimate the police force if you wanted +to." Then, speaking more seriously, he added: "I tell you frankly, +there's every chance of a huge European war in the near future, and +you can see the different position we should be in if the Germans had +got hold of this new powder of yours. Apart from that, the Government +owe you every possible sort of reparation for the shameful way you've +been treated. If there's any 'overlooking' to be done, it will be on +your side, not on theirs." + +We were entering the dreary main street of Queenborough as he spoke, +and before I could answer he drew up outside the post-office. + +"We've just time to send off a telegram," he said. "I want to make +sure of seeing Lammersfield and Casement directly we get to town. They +will probably be at lunch if I don't wire." + +He entered the building, and Tommy took advantage of his brief absence +to lean over the back of the seat and grip my hand. + +"We've done it, Neil," he said. "Damn it, we've done it!" + +"_You've_ done it, Tommy," I retorted. "You and Joyce between you." + +There was a short pause, and then Tommy gave vent to a deep satisfied +chuckle. + +"I'm thinking of George," he said simply. + +It was such a beautiful thought that for a moment I too maintained a +voluptuous silence. + +"We must find out whether they're going to prosecute him," I said. "I +don't want to clash with the Government, but whatever happens I mean +to have my five minutes first. They're welcome to what's left of him." + +Tommy nodded sympathetically, and just at that moment Latimer came out +of the post-office. + +We got to the railway station with about half a minute to spare. +The train was fairly crowded, but a word from Latimer to the +station-master resulted in our being ushered into an empty "first" +which was ceremoniously locked behind us. It was not a "smoker," but +with a fine disregard for such trifles Latimer promptly produced his +cigar case, and offered us each a delightful-looking Upman. There are +certainly some advantages in being on the side of the established +order. + +Soothed by the fragrant tobacco, and with an exquisite feeling of +rest and freedom, I lay back in the corner and listened to Latimer's +pleasantly drawling voice, as he described to me how he had +accomplished his morning's coup. + +It seems that, accompanied by Tommy and his own man Ellis, he had +arrived at Queenborough by the early train. Instructions had already +been wired through from London that the Sheppey police were to put +themselves entirely at his disposal; and having commandeered a car, +the three of them, together with our friend the sergeant, set off to +the bungalow. They pulled up some little distance away and waited for +Guthrie, Latimer's other assistant, who had been keeping an eye on the +place during the night. He reported that McMurtrie and Savaroff and +von Brünig had just put off in the launch, leaving the other two +behind. + +"I guessed they had gone to pay you a visit," explained Latimer drily, +"and it seemed to me a favourable chance of doing a little calling on +our own account." + +The net result of that little call had been the bloodless capture +of Hoffman and the other German spy, who had been surprised in the +prosaic act of swallowing their breakfast. + +Having been favoured by fortune so far, Latimer had promptly proceeded +to make the best use of his opportunity. It struck him that, whatever +might be the result of their visit to me, the other members of the +party were pretty sure to come back to the bungalow. The idea of +hiding behind the curtain at once suggested itself to him. It was just +possible that in this way he might pick up some valuable information +before he was discovered, while in any case it would give him the +advantage of taking them utterly by surprise. + +His first step had been to tie up the prisoners, and pack them off in +the car to Queenborough police station with Guthrie and the sergeant +as an escort. (I should have loved to have heard his conversation with +Hoffman while the former operation was in progress!) He then carefully +removed all inside and outside traces of the raid on the bungalow, and +picked out a couple of convenient hiding-places in the garden, where +Tommy and Ellis could he in ambush until they were wanted. A shot from +his revolver or the smashing of the French window was to be the signal +for their united entrance on the scene. + +"Well, you know the end of the story as well as I do," he finished, +nicking off the ash of his cigar. "Things could scarcely have turned +out better, except for that unfortunate accident with McMurtrie." +He paused. "I wouldn't have shot him for the world," he added +regretfully, "but he really left me no choice." + +"He would have been hanged anyway," put in Tommy consolingly. + +Latimer smiled. "I didn't mean to suggest that it was likely to keep +me awake at night. I was only thinking that we might perhaps have got +some useful information out of him." + +"It seems to me," I said gratefully, "that we did." + +Through the interminable suburbs and slums of South-East London we +steamed slowly into London Bridge Station and drew up at the platform. +There was a taxi waiting almost opposite our carriage, and promptly +securing the driver Latimer instructed him to take us "as quickly as +possible" to No. 10 Downing Street. + +The man carried out his order with almost alarming literalness, but +Providence watched over us and we reached the Foreign Office without +disaster. Favoured with a respectful salute from the liveried porter +on duty, Latimer led the way into the hall. + +We followed him down a short narrow passage to another corridor, where +he unlocked and opened a door on the left, ushering us into a small +room comfortably fitted up as an office. + +"This is my own private den," he said; "so no one will disturb you. I +will go and see if Casement has come. If so, he is probably upstairs +with Lammersfield. I will give them my report, and then no doubt they +will want to see you. You won't have to wait very long." + +He nodded pleasantly and left the room, closing the door after him. +For all his quiet, almost lethargic manner, it was curious what an +atmosphere of swiftness and decision he seemed to carry about with +him. + +I turned to Tommy. + +"Where's Joyce?" I asked. + +"She's at the flat," he announced. "She said she would wait there +until she heard from us. I saw her last night, you know. I was having +supper at Hatchett's with Latimer when she turned up with your letter. +She'd come on from his rooms." + +"There are many women," I said softly, "but there is only one Joyce." + +Tommy chuckled. "That's what Latimer thinks. After she left us--I was +staying the night with him in Jermyn Street and we'd all three gone +back there to talk it over--he said to me in that funny drawling way +of his: 'You know, Morrison, that girl will be wasted, even on Lyndon. +She ought to be in the Secret Service.'" + +I laughed. "I'm grateful to the Secret Service," I said, "but there +are limits even to gratitude." + +For perhaps three-quarters of an hour we remained undisturbed, while +Latimer was presumably presenting his report to the authorities. Every +now and then we heard footsteps pass down the corridor, and on one +occasion an electric bell went off with a sudden vicious energy that +I should never have expected in a Government office. The time passed +quickly, for we had plenty to talk about; indeed, our only objection +to waiting was the fact that we were both beginning to get infernally +hungry, and it seemed likely to be some time yet before we should be +able to get anything to eat. + +At last there came a discreet knock at the door, and an elderly +clean-shaven person with the manners of a retired butler appeared +noiselessly upon the threshold. He bowed slightly to us both. + +"Lord Lammersfield wishes to see you, gentlemen. If you will be good +enough to follow me, I will conduct you to his presence." + +We followed him along the corridor and up a rather dingy staircase, +when he tapped gently at a door immediately facing us. "Come in," +called out a voice, and with another slight inclination of his head +our guide turned the handle and ushered us into the room. + +It was a solemn-looking sort of apartment furnished chiefly with +bookcases, and having a general atmosphere of early Victorian +stuffiness. At a big table in the centre two men were sitting. One was +Latimer; the other I recognized immediately as Lord Lammersfield. + +I had never known him personally in the old days, but I had often seen +him walking in the Park, or run across him at such popular rest +cures as Kempton and Sandown Park. He had changed very little in the +interval; his hair was perhaps a trifle greyer, otherwise he looked +just the same debonair picturesque figure that the Opposition +caricaturists had loved to flesh their pencils on. + +He got up as we entered, regarding us both with a pleasant whimsical +smile that put me entirely at my ease at once. + +"This is Lyndon," said Latimer, indicating me; "and this is Morrison." + +Lord Lammersfield came round the table and shook hands cordially with +us both. + +"Sit down, gentlemen," he said, "sit down. If half of what Mr. Latimer +has told me is true, you must be extremely tired." + +We all three laughed, and Tommy promptly took advantage of the +invitation to seat himself luxuriously in a big leather arm-chair. I +remained standing. + +"To be quite truthful," I said, "it's been the most refreshing morning +I can ever remember." + +Lord Lammersfield looked at me for a moment with the same smile on his +lips. + +"Yes," he said drily; "I suppose there is a certain stimulus in +saving England before breakfast. Most of my own work in that line is +accomplished in the afternoon." Then, with a sudden slight change in +his manner, he took a step forward and again held out his hand. + +"Mr. Lyndon," he said, "as a member of the Government, and one who is +therefore more or less responsible for the law's asinine blunders, I +am absolutely ashamed to look you in the face. I wonder if you add +generosity to your other unusual gifts." + +For the second time we exchanged grips. "I have common gratitude at +all events, Lord Lammersfield," I said. "I know that you have tried to +help me while I was in prison, and--" + +He held up his other hand with a gesture of half-ironical protest. +"Ah!" he exclaimed, "I am afraid that any poor efforts of mine in +that direction were due to the most flagrant compulsion." He paused. +"Whatever else you are unlucky in, Mr. Lyndon," he added smilingly, +"you can at least be congratulated on your friends." + +Then he turned to Latimer. "I think it would be as well if I explained +the position before Casement and Frinton arrive." + +Latimer expressed his agreement, and motioning me to a chair, Lord +Lammersfield again seated himself at the table. His manner, though +still quite friendly and unstilted, had suddenly become serious. + +"For the moment, Mr. Lyndon," he said, "the Prime Minister is out of +London. We have communicated with him, and we expect him back tonight. +In his absence it falls to me to thank you most unreservedly both on +behalf of the Government and the nation for what you have done. It +would be difficult to overrate its importance." + +I began to feel a trifle embarrassed. + +"I really don't want any thanks," I said. "I just drifted into it; +and anyway one doesn't sell one's country, even if one is an escaped +convict." + +Lord Lammersfield laughed drily. "There are many men," he said, "in +your position who would have found it an extraordinarily attractive +prospect. I am not at all sure I shouldn't have myself." He paused. +"We can't give you those three years of your life back," he went on, +"but fortunately we can make some sort of amends in other ways. I have +no doubt that the moment the Prime Minister is fully acquainted with +the circumstances he will arrange for what we humorously call a 'free +pardon'; that is to say, the Law will very graciously forgive you for +having been unjustly sent to prison. As for the rest--" he shrugged +his shoulders--"well, I don't imagine you will be precisely the loser +for not having sold your secret to the Wilhelmstrasse. Our own +War Office are quite prepared to deal in any original methods of +scattering death that happen to be on the market just at present." + +There was a brief pause. + +"And are we free now?" inquired Tommy, with a rather pathetic glance +at the clock. + +"You should be very shortly," returned Lammersfield. "Mr. Casement has +gone across to the Home Office to explain the latest developments to +Sir George Frinton. We are expecting them both here at any moment." + +"Sir George Frinton?" I echoed. "Why, I thought Mr. McCurdy was at the +Home Office." + +Lammersfield smiled tolerantly: "You have been busy, Mr. Lyndon, and +some of the more important facts of modern history have possibly +escaped you. McCurdy resigned from the Government nearly three months +ago." + +"But Sir George Frinton!" I exclaimed. "Why, I know the old boy; I +have a standing invitation to go and look him up." And then, without +waiting for any questions, I described to them in a few words how the +Home Secretary and I had travelled together from Exeter to London, and +the favourable impression I had apparently made. + +Both Lammersfield and Latimer were vastly amused--the former lying +back in his chair and laughing softly to himself in undisguised +merriment. + +"How perfectly delightful!" he observed. "Poor old Frinton has his +merits, but--" + +The libel he was about to utter on his distinguished colleague was +suddenly cut short by a knock at the door; and, in answer to his +summons, the butler-looking person entered and announced that Sir +George Frinton and Mr. Casement were waiting for an audience. + +"Show them up at once," said his lordship gravely; and then turning to +Latimer as the man left the room he added, with a reflective smile: +"I should never have believed that the Foreign Office could be so +entertaining." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + +The moment that Sir George Frinton reached the threshold, one could +see that he was seriously perturbed. He entered the room in an +energetic, fussy sort of manner, and came bustling across to Lord +Lammersfield, who had risen from the table to meet him. He was +followed by a grey-haired, middle-aged man, who strolled in quietly, +looked across at Latimer, and then threw a sharp penetrating glance at +Tommy and me. + +It was Lammersfield who spoke first. "I was sorry to bother you, +Frinton," he said pleasantly, "but the matter has so much to do with +your department I thought you ought to be present." + +Sir George waved away the apology. "You were perfectly right, Lord +Lammersfield--perfectly right. I should have come over in any case. It +is an astounding story. I have been amazed--positively amazed--at Mr. +Casement's revelations. Can it be possible there is no mistake?" + +"Absolutely none," answered Latimer calmly. "Our people have moved +with the utmost discretion, and we have the entire evidence in our +hands." He turned to Casement. "You have acquainted Sir George with +the whole of this morning's events?" + +The quiet man nodded. "Everything," he observed, in rather fatigued +voice. + +"I understand," said the Home Secretary, "that this man Lyndon is +actually here." + +With a graceful gesture Lord Lammersfield indicated where I was +standing. + +"Let me introduce you to each other," he said. "Mr. Neil Lyndon--Sir +George Frinton." + +I bowed respectfully, and when I raised my head again I saw that the +Home Secretary was contemplating me with a puzzled stare. + +"You--your face seems strangely familiar to me," he observed. + +"You evidently have a good memory, Sir George," I replied. "I had the +honour and pleasure of travelling up from Exeter to London with you +about a fortnight ago." + +A sudden light came into his face, and adjusting his spectacles he +stared at me harder than ever. + +"God bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "Of course, I remember now." He +paused. "And do you mean to tell me that you--an escaped convict--were +actually aware that you were travelling with the Home Secretary?" + +I saw no reason for dimming the glory of the incident. + +"You were kind enough to give me one of your cards," I reminded him. + +"Why, yes, to be sure; so I did--so I did." Again he paused and gazed +at me with a sort of incredulous amazement. "You must have nerves of +steel, sir. Most men in such a situation would have been paralysed +with terror." + +The idea of Sir George paralysing anybody with terror struck me as so +delightful that I almost burst out laughing, but by a great effort I +just managed to restrain myself. + +"As an escaped convict," I said, "one becomes used to rather desperate +situations." + +Lammersfield, the corner of whose mouth was twitching suspiciously, +broke into the conversation. + +"It was a remarkable coincidence," he said, "but you see how it +confirms Casement's story if any further confirmation were needed." + +Sir George nodded. "Yes, yes," he said. "I suppose there can be no +doubt about it. The proofs of it all seem beyond question." He turned +to me. "Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Lyndon, you appear +to have acted in a most creditable and patriotic manner. I understand +that the moment you discovered the nature of the plot in which you +were involved you placed yourself entirely at the disposal of the +Secret Service. That is right, Mr. Latimer, is it not?" + +Latimer stepped forward. "If Mr. Lyndon had chosen to do it, sir," he +said, "he could have sold his invention to Germany and escaped with +the money. At that time he had no proof to offer that he had been +wrongly convicted. Rather than betray his country, however, he was +prepared to return to prison and serve out his sentence." + +As an accurate description of my attitude in the matter it certainly +left something to be desired, but it seemed to have a highly +satisfactory effect upon Sir George. He took a step towards me, and +gravely and rather pompously shook me by the hand. + +"Sir," he said, "permit me to congratulate you both on your conduct +and on the dramatic establishment of your innocence. It will be my +pleasant duty as Home Secretary to see that every possible reparation +is made to you for the great injustice that you have suffered." + +Lammersfield, who had gone back to his seat at the table, again +interrupted. + +"You agree with me, don't you, Frinton, that, pending any steps you +and the Prime Minister choose to take in the matter, Mr. Lyndon may +consider himself a free man?" + +Sir George seemed a trifle embarrassed. "Well--er--to a certain +extent, most decidedly. I have informed Scotland Yard that he has +voluntarily surrendered himself to the Secret Service, so there will +be no further attempt to carry out the arrest. I--I presume that Mr. +Casement and Mr. Latimer will be officially responsible for him?" + +The former gave a reassuring nod. "Certainly, Sir George," he +observed. + +"I am entirely in your hands, sir," I put in. "There are one or two +little things I wanted to do, but if you prefer that I should consider +myself under arrest--" + +"No, no, Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted; "there is no necessity for +that--no necessity at all. Strictly speaking, of course, you are still +a prisoner, but for the present it will perhaps be best to avoid any +formal proceedings. I understand that both Lord Lammersfield and Mr. +Casement consider it advisable to keep the whole matter as quiet as +possible, at all events until the return of the Prime Minister. After +that we must decide what steps it will be best to take." + +"I am very much obliged to you," I said. "There is one question I +should like to ask if I may." + +He took off his spectacles and polished them with his +pocket-handkerchief. "Well?" he observed encouragingly. + +"I should like to know whether Savaroff's daughter is in custody--the +girl who gave the police their information about me." + +"Ah!" he said, with some satisfaction, "that is a point on which you +all appear to have been misled. I have just enlightened Mr. Casement +in the matter. The information on which the police acted was not +supplied by a girl." He paused. "It was given them by your cousin and +late partner, Mr. George Marwood." + +"What!" I almost shouted; and I heard Tommy indulge in a +half-smothered exclamation which was not at all suited to our +distinguished company. + +Sir George, who was evidently pleased with our surprise, nodded his +head. + +"Mr. Marwood rang up Scotland Yard at half-past ten last night. He +told them he had received an anonymous letter giving two addresses, +at one of which you would probably be found. He also gave a full +description of the alterations in your appearance." + +I turned to Latimer. "I suppose it was Sonia," I said. "I never +dreamed of her going to him, though." + +"It was very natural," he replied in that unconcerned drawl of his. +"She knew that your cousin would do everything possible to get you +under lock and key again, and at the same time she imagined she would +avoid the risk of being arrested herself." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Sir George, nodding his head sagely. "From +all I can gather she seems to be a most dangerous young woman. I shall +make a particular point of seeing that she is arrested." + +His words came home to me with a sudden swift stab of pity and +remorse. It was horrible to think of Sonia in jail--Sonia eating out +her wild passionate heart in the hideous slavery I knew so well. The +thought of all that she had risked and suffered for my sake crowded +back into my mind with overwhelming force. I took a step forward. + +"Sir George," I said, "a moment ago you were good enough to say that +the Government would try and make me some return for the injustice I +have suffered." + +He looked at me in obvious surprise. "Certainly," he said--"certainly. +I am convinced that they will take the most generous view of the +circumstances." + +"There is only one thing I ask," I said. "Except for this girl, Sonia +Savaroff, the Germans would now be in possession of my invention. If +the Government feel that they owe me anything, they can cancel the +debt altogether by allowing her to go free." + +Sir George raised his eyeglass. "You ask this after she did her best +to send you back to penal servitude?" + +I nodded. "I am not sure," I said, "that I didn't thoroughly deserve +it." + +For a moment Sir George stared at me in a puzzled sort of fashion. +"Very well," he said; "I think it might be arranged. As you say, she +was of considerable assistance to us, even if it was unintentionally. +That is a point in her favour--a distinct point." + +"How about our friend Mr. Marwood?" put in Lammersfield pleasantly. +"Between perjury and selling Government secrets I suppose we have +enough evidence to justify his arrest?" + +"I think so," said Sir George, nodding his head solemnly. "Anyhow I +have given instructions for it. In a case like this it is best to be +on the safe side." + +My heart sank at his words. Charming as it was to think of George in +the affectionate clutch of a policeman, I could almost have wept at +the idea of being robbed of my own little interview with him, to which +I had been looking forward for so long. It was Lammersfield who broke +in on my disappointment. "I should imagine," he said considerately, +"that you two, as well as Latimer, must be half starving. I suppose +you have had nothing to eat since breakfast." + +Tommy rose to his feet with an alacrity that answered the question so +far as he was concerned, and I acknowledged that a brief interval for +refreshment would be by no means unwelcome. + +"Well, I'm afraid I can't spare Latimer just yet," he said, "but you +two go off and have a good lunch. Come back here again as soon as +you've done. I will ring up the War Office and the Admiralty while you +are away, and we will arrange for a couple of their men to meet us +here, and then you can explain about your new explosive. I fancy you +will find them quite an appreciative audience." + +He pressed a bell by his side, and getting up from the table, +accompanied us to the door, where I stopped for a moment to try and +express my thanks both to him and Sir George. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted courteously, "you have been in +prison for three years for a crime that you didn't commit, and in +return for that you have done England a service that it is almost +impossible to overrate. Under the circumstances even a Cabinet +Minister may be excused a little common civility." + +As he spoke there came a knock at the door, and in answer to his +summons the impassive butler person appeared on the threshold. + +"Show these gentlemen out, Simpson," he said, "and let me know +directly they return." Then, shaking my hand in a friendly fashion, he +added with a quizzical smile, "If you should happen to come across any +mutual acquaintance of ours, perhaps you will be kind enough to +convey my unofficial congratulations. I hope before long to have the +privilege of offering them personally." + +I promised to deliver his message, and, following our guide +downstairs, we passed out into the street. + +"I like that chap," said Tommy. "He's got no silly side about him. +Joyce always said he was a good sort." + +He stopped on the pavement, and with his usual serene disregard for +the respectabilities proceeded to fill and light a huge briar pipe. + +"What's the programme now?" he inquired. "I'm just dying for some +grub." + +"We'll get a taxi and run down to the flat and pick up Joyce," I said. +"Then we'll come back to the Café Royal and have the best lunch that's +ever been eaten in London." + +Tommy indulged in one of his deep chuckles. + +"If anyone's expecting me in Downing Street before six o'clock," he +observed, "I rather think he's backed a loser." + +It was not until we were in a taxi, and speeding rapidly past the +House of Commons, that I broached the painful subject of George. + +"I don't know what to do," I said. "If he's at his house, he has been +arrested by now, and if he isn't the police will probably find him +before I shall. It will break my heart if I don't get hold of him for +five minutes." + +Tommy grunted sympathetically. "It's just on the cards," he said, +"that Joyce might know where he is." + +Faint as the chance seemed, it was sufficient to cheer me up a little, +and for the rest of the drive we discussed the important question of +what we should have for lunch. After a week of sardines and tinned +tongue I found it a most inspiring topic. + +As we reached the Chelsea Embankment a happy idea presented itself +to me. "I tell you what, Tommy," I said. "We won't go and knock at +Joyce's flat. Let's slip round at the back, as we did before, and take +her by surprise." + +"Right you are," he said. "She's probably left the studio door open. +She generally does on a hot afternoon like this." + +The taxi drew up at Florence Court, and telling the driver to wait for +us, we walked down the passage and turned into Tommy's flat. There +were several letters for him lying on the floor inside, and while he +stopped to pick them up, I passed on through the studio and out into +the little glass-covered corridor at the back. + +It was quite a short way along to Joyce's studio, and from where I was +I could see that her door was slightly ajar. I stepped quietly, so as +not to make any noise, and I had covered perhaps half the distance, +when suddenly I pulled up in my tracks as if I had been turned into +stone. For a moment I stood there without moving or even breathing. A +couple of yards away on the other side of the door I could hear two +people talking. One of them was Joyce; the other--the other--well, if +I had been lying half-unconscious on my death-bed I think I should +have recognized that voice! + +There was a sound behind me, and whipping noiselessly round I was just +in time to signal to Tommy that he must keep absolutely quiet. Then +with my heart beating like a drum I crept stealthily forward until I +was within a few inches of the open door. I was shaking all over with +a delight that I could hardly control. + +"... you quite understand." (I could hear every word George was saying +as plainly as if I were in the room.) "I only have to ring up the +police, and in half an hour he'll be back again in prison--back for +the rest of his life. He won't escape a second time--you can be sure +of that." + +"Well?" + +The single word came clear and distinct, but it would be difficult to +describe the scorn which Joyce managed to pack into it. It had some +effect on George. + +"You have just got to do what I want--that's all," he exclaimed +angrily. "I leave England tonight, and unless you come with me I shall +go straight from here and ring up Scotland Yard. You can make your +choice now. You either come down to Southampton with me this evening, +or Lyndon goes back to Dartmoor tomorrow." + +"Then you were lying when you said you were anxious to help him?" + +With a mighty effort George apparently regained some control over his +tongue. + +"No, I wasn't, Joyce," he said. "God knows I'm sorry for the poor +devil--I always have been; but there's nothing in the world that +matters to me now except you. I--I lost my temper when you said you +wouldn't come. You didn't mean it, did you? Lyndon can never be +anything to you; he is dead to all of us. At the best he can only be a +skulking convict hiding from the police in South America or somewhere. +You come with me; you shall never be sorry for it. I've plenty of +money, Joyce; and I'll give you the best time a woman ever had." + +"And if I refuse?" asked Joyce quietly. + +It was evident from the sound that George had taken a step towards +her. + +"Then Lyndon will go back to Dartmoor and stop there till he rots and +dies." + +There was a short pause, and then very clearly and deliberately Joyce +gave her answer. + +"I think you are the foulest man in the world," she said. "It makes me +sick to be in the same room with you." + +The gasp of fury and astonishment that broke from George's lips fell +on my ears like music. He was so choking with rage that for a moment +he could hardly speak. + +"Damn you!" he stuttered at last. "So that's your real opinion, is it! +That's what you've been thinking all along! Trying to use me to help +that precious convict lover of yours--eh?" + +I heard him come another step nearer. + +"I'll make you pay for this, anyhow," he snarled. "Sick at being +in the same room with me, are you? Then by God I'll give you some +reason--" + +With a swift jerk I flung open the door and stepped in over the +threshold. + +"Not this time, George dear," I said. + +If the devil himself had shot up through the floor in a crackle of +blue flame, I don't think it could have had a more striking effect +on my late partner. With his mouth open and his face the colour of +freshly mixed putty, he stood perfectly still in the centre of the +room, gazing at me like a man in a trance. For a second--a whole +beautiful rich second--he remained in this engaging attitude; then, +as if struck by an electric shock, he suddenly spun round with the +obvious intention of making a dart for the door. + +The idea was distinctly a sound one, but it was too late to be of any +practical value. Directly he moved I stepped in, and catching him a +smashing box on the ear with my right hand sent him sprawling full +length on the carpet. Joyce laughed gaily, while lounging across the +room Tommy set his back against the door and beamed cheerfully on the +three of us. + +"Quite a little family party," he observed. + +Joyce was in my arms, and we were kissing each other in the most +shameless and unabashed way. + +"Oh, my dear," she said, "I hope you haven't hurt your hand." + +"It stung a bit," I admitted, "but I've got another one--and two +feet." I put her gently aside. "Get up, George," I said. + +He lay where he was, pretending to be unconscious. + +"If you don't get up at once, George," I said softly, "I shall kick +you--hard." + +He scrambled to his feet, and then crouched back against the wall +eyeing me like a trapped weasel. + +I indulged myself in a good heart-filling look at him. + +"So you've been sorry for me, George?" I said. "All these three long +weary years that I've been rotting in Dartmoor, you've been really and +truly sorry for me?" + +He licked his lips and nodded. + +I laughed. "Well, I'm sorry for _you_ now, George," I said--"damned +sorry." + +If anything, the putty-like pallor of his face became still more +ghastly. + +"Don't do anything violent, Neil," he whispered. "You'll only regret +it. I swear to you--" + +"I shouldn't swear," I said. "You don't want to die with a lie on your +lips." + +The sweat broke out on his forehead, and he glanced desperately round +the room, as though seeking for some possible method of escape. The +only comfort he got was a shake of the head from Tommy. + +"You--you don't mean to murder me?" he gasped. + +I gave a fiendish laugh. "Don't I!" I cried. "What's one murder more +or less? I know you've put the police on to me, and I'd sooner be +hanged than go back to Dartmoor any day." + +Tommy rubbed his hands together ghoulishly. "What are we going to do +with him?" he asked. "Cut his throat?" + +"No," I said. "It would make a mess, and we don't want to spoil +Joyce's carpet." + +"Oh, it doesn't matter about the carpet," said Joyce unselfishly. + +"I've got it," said Tommy. "Why not throw him in the river? The tide's +up; I noticed it as we came along." + +Whether he intended the suggestion seriously or not I don't know, but +I rose to it like a trout to a fly. There are seldom more than two +feet of water at high tide at that particular part of the Embankment, +and the thought of dropping George into its turbid embrace filled me +with the utmost enthusiasm. + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed. "That's a brilliant idea. The Thames +water's about the only thing he wouldn't defile." + +I stepped forward, and before George knew what was happening I had +swung him round and clutched him by the collar and breeches. + +"Open the door," I said, "and just see there's no one in the passage." + +With a deep chuckle Tommy turned to obey, while Joyce laughed with +a viciousness that I should never have given her credit for. As for +George--well, I suppose in his blind terror he really thought he was +going to be drowned, for he kicked and struggled and raved till it was +as much as I could do to hold him. + +"All clear!" sang out Tommy from the hall. + +"Stand by, then," I said, and taking a deep breath, I ran George +through the flat down the passage, and out into the street, in a style +that would have done credit to the chucker out at the Empire. + +There were not many people about, and those that were there had no +time to interfere even if they had wanted to do so. I just got a +glimpse of the startled face of our taxi driver as he jumped aside to +let us pass, and the next moment we had crossed the road and fetched +up with a bang against the low Embankment wall. + +I paused for a moment, renewed my grip on George's collar, and took a +quick look round. Tommy was beside me, and a few yards away, down at +the bottom of some steps, I saw a number of small boys paddling in the +water. There was evidently no risk of anybody being drowned. + +"I'll take his feet," said Tommy, suiting the action to the word. "You +get hold of his arms." + +There was a brief struggle, a loud scream for help, and the next +moment George was swinging merrily between us. + +"One! Two! Three!" I cried. + +At the word "three" we let go simultaneously. He flew up into the air +like a great wriggling crab, twisted round twice, and then went +down into the muddy water with a splash that echoed all over the +Embankment. + +"Very nice," said Tommy critically. "But we ought to have put a stone +round his neck." + +One glance over the wall showed me that there was no danger. Dripping, +floundering, and gasping for breath, George emerged from the surface +like a frock-coated Neptune rising from the waves. He seemed to be +trying to speak, but the shrieks of innocent delight with which his +reappearance was greeted by the paddling boys unfortunately prevented +us from hearing him. + +I thrust my arm through Tommy's. "Come along," I said. "We must get +out of this before there's a row." + +Swift as we had been about it, our little operation had already +attracted a certain amount of notice. People were hurrying up from all +directions, but without paying any attention to them, we walked +back towards the taxi, the driver of which had apparently been too +astonished to move. + +"Gor blimey, Guv'nor," he ejaculated, "what sorter gime d'you call +that?" + +"It's all right, driver," said Tommy gravely. "We found him insulting +this gentleman's sister." + +The driver, who evidently had a nice sense of chivalry, at once came +round to our side. + +"Was 'e?--the dirty 'ound!" he observed. "Well, you done it on 'im +proper. You ain't drowned 'im, 'ave ye, gents?" + +"Oh no," I said. "He's addressing a few words to the crowd now." Then +seeing Joyce standing in the doorway I hurried up the steps. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "put on a hat and come as quick as you can. It's +quite all right, but we want to get out of this before there's any +bother." + +She nodded, and disappeared into the flat, while I strolled back to +the taxi. + +It was evident from a movement among the spectators that George was +making his way towards the steps. Some of them who had come running up +kept turning round and casting curious glances at us, but so far no +one had attempted to interfere. It was not until Joyce was just coming +out of the flats, that a man detached himself from the crowd and +started across the road. He was a big, fat, greasy person in a bowler +hat. + +"Here," he said. "You wait a bit. What d'ye mean by throwing that pore +man in the river?" + +I opened the door of the taxi and Joyce jumped in. + +"What's it got to do with you, darling?" asked Tommy affably. + +"What's it got to do with me!" he repeated indignantly. "Why, it's +just the mercy o' Gawd--" + +"Come on, Tommy," I said. + +Tommy took a step forward, but the man clutched him by the arm. + +"No yer don't," he said, "not till ... Ow!" + +With a sudden vigorous shove Tommy sent him staggering back across the +pavement, and the next moment we had both jumped into the taxi and +banged the door. + +"Right away," I called out. + +I think there was some momentary doubt amongst the other spectators +whether they oughtn't to interfere, but before they could make up +their minds our sympathetic driver had thrust in his clutch, and we +were spinning away down the Embankment. + +Joyce, who was sitting next to me, slipped her hand into mine. + +"I love to see you both laughing," she said, "but I _should_ like +to know what's happened! At present I feel as if I was acting in a +cinematograph play." + +We told her--told her in quick, eager sentences of how the danger and +mystery that had hung over us so for long had at last been scattered +and destroyed. It was a broken, inadequate sort of narrative, jerked +out as we bumped over crossings and pulled by behind buses, but I +fancy from the light in her eyes and the pressure of her hand that +Joyce was quite contented. + +"It's--it's like waking up after some horrible dream," she said, "and +suddenly finding that everything's all right. Oh, I knew it would be +in the end--I knew it the whole time--but I never dreamed it would +happen all at once like this." + +"Neither did George," chuckled Tommy. "How long had he been with you, +Joyce?" + +"About twenty minutes," she said. "He came straight to me from +Harrod's, where he's spent most of the day buying stores for his +yacht. He had quite made up his mind I was coming with him. I don't +believe he's got the faintest idea about what's happened this +morning." + +"He will have soon," I said. "That's why I threw him in the river. +He's bound to go back to the house for a change of clothes, and he'll +find the police waiting for him there." + +"That'll be just right," observed Tommy complacently. "There's nothing +so good as a little excitement to stop one from catching cold." + +"Except lunch," I added, as the taxi rounded the corner of Piccadilly +and drew up outside the Café Royal. + +What the manager of that renowned restaurant must have thought of +us, I find it rather difficult to guess. It is not often, I should +imagine, that two untidy mud-stained men and a beautiful girl turn up +at four o'clock in the afternoon and demand the best meal that London +can provide. + +Fortunately, however, he proved to be a gentleman of philosophy and +resource. He accepted our request with perfect composure, and by the +time we had succeeded in making ourselves passably respectable he +presented us with a menu that deserved to be set to music. + +Heavens, what a lunch that was! We ate it all by ourselves in the big +empty restaurant, with half a dozen fascinated waiters eyeing us from +the end of the room. They were probably speculating as to whether we +were eccentric millionaires, or whether we had just escaped from some +private lunatic asylum, but we were all far too cheerful to care what +they thought. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked, with a reckless +jubilant happiness that would have survived the scrutiny of all the +waiters in London. + +"I know what we'll do, Joyce," I said, when at last the dessert was +cleared away and we were sitting in a delicate haze of cigar smoke. +"As soon as things are fixed up I'll buy a good second-hand thirty-ton +boat, and you and I and Tommy will go off for a six months' cruise. +We'll take Mr. Gow as skipper, and your little page-boy as steward, +and we'll run down to the Mediterranean and stop there till people are +tired of gassing about us." + +"That will be beautiful," said Joyce simply. + +"I'll come," exclaimed Tommy, "unless the Secret Service refuse to +give me up." Then he stopped and looked mischievously across at Joyce +and me. "It's a pity we can't ask Sonia too," he added. + +"Poor Sonia," said Joyce. "I am so glad you got her off." + +"Are you really?" asked Tommy. "That shows I know nothing about women. +I always thought that if two girls loved the same man they hated each +other like poison." + +Joyce nodded. "So they do as a rule." + +"Well, Sonia loved Neil all right; you can take my word for it." + +Joyce laughed softly. "Yes, Tommy dear," she said, "but then, you see, +Neil didn't love _her_--and that just makes all the difference." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROGUE BY COMPULSION*** + + +******* This file should be named 10511-0.txt or 10511-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/1/10511 + + +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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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** diff --git a/old/10511-0.zip b/old/10511-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..62045ed --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10511-0.zip diff --git a/old/10511-8.txt b/old/10511-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79b3798 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10511-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13455 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Rogue by Compulsion, by Victor Bridges + + +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 Rogue by Compulsion + +Author: Victor Bridges + +Release Date: December 21, 2003 [eBook #10511] +Most recently updated: September 9, 2008 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROGUE BY COMPULSION*** + + +E-text prepared by Kevin Handy, Dave Maddock, Josephine Paolucci, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +A ROGUE BY COMPULSION + +An Affair of the Secret Service + +By VICTOR BRIDGES + +With Frontispiece By JOHN H. CASSEL + +1915 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "A CURTAIN AT THE END OF THE ROOM WAS DRAWN SLOWLY +ASIDE, AND THERE, STANDING IN THE GAP, I SAW THE SLIM FIGURE OF A +GIRL." + +Chapter X. + +Drawn by John H. Cassel.] + + + + +TO + +THAT BEST OF FRIENDS + +HUGHES MASSIE + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + II. A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + III. A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + IV. ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + V. AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + VI. THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + VII. A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + VIII. RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + IX. THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + X. MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + XI. BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + XII. A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + XIII. REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + XIV. A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + XV. A HUMAN "CATCH" + + XVI. CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + XVII. THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + +XVIII. A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + XIX. LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + XX. APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + XXI. SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + XXII. THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + +XXIII. IN THE NICK OF TIME + + XXIV. EXONERATED + + XXV. A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + +Most of the really important things in life--such as love and +death--happen unexpectedly. I know that my escape from Dartmoor did. + +We had just left the quarries--eighteen of us, all dressed in that +depressing costume which King George provides for his less elusive +subjects--and we were shambling sullenly back along the gloomy road +which leads through the plantation to the prison. The time was about +four o'clock on a dull March afternoon. + +In the roadway, on either side of us, tramped an armed warder, his +carbine in his hand, his eyes travelling with dull suspicion up and +down the gang. Fifteen yards away, parallel with our route, the sombre +figure of one of the civil guards kept pace with us through the trees. +We were a cheery party! + +Suddenly, without any warning, one of the warders turned faint. He +dropped his carbine, and putting his hand to his head, stumbled +heavily against the low wall that separated us from the wood. The +clatter of his weapon, falling in the road, naturally brought all +eyes round in that direction, and seeing what had happened the whole +eighteen of us instinctively halted. + +The gruff voice of the other warder broke out at once, above the +shuffling of feet: + +"What are you stopping for? Get on there in front." + +From the corner of my eye I caught sight of the civil guard hurrying +towards the prostrate figure by the wall; and then, just as the +whole gang lurched forward again, the thing happened with beautiful +abruptness. + +A broad, squat figure shot out suddenly from the head of the column, +and, literally hurling itself over the wall, landed with a crash +amongst the thick undergrowth. There was a second shout from the +warder, followed almost instantly by a hoarse command to halt, as the +civil guard jerked his carbine to his shoulder. + +The fugitive paid about as much attention to the order as a tiger +would to a dog whistle. He was off again in an instant, bent almost +double, and bursting through the tangled bushes with amazing +swiftness. + +Bang! + +The charge of buckshot whistled after him, spattering viciously +through the twigs, and several of the bolder spirits in the gang at +once raised a half-hearted cry of "Murder!" + +"Stop that!" bawled the warder angrily, and to enforce his words he +quickened his steps so as to bring him in touch with the offenders. + +As he did so, I suddenly perceived with extraordinary clearness that I +should never again get quite such a good chance to escape. The other +men were momentarily between me and the warder, while the civil guard, +his carbine empty, was plunging through the trees in pursuit of his +wounded quarry. + +It was no time for hesitation, and in any case hesitation is not one +of my besetting sins. I recollect taking one long, deep breath: then +the next thing I remember is catching my toe on the top of the +wall and coming the most unholy purler in the very centre of an +exceptionally well armoured blackberry bush. + +This blunder probably saved my life: it certainly accounted for my +escape. The warder who evidently had more nerve than I gave him credit +for, must have fired at me from where he was, right between the heads +of the other convicts. It was only my abrupt disappearance from the +top of the wall that saved me from being filled up with lead. As +it was, the charge whistled over me just as I fell, and a devilish +unpleasant noise it made too. + +I didn't wait for him to reload. I was out of that bush and off up the +hill in rather less time than it takes to read these words. Where I +was going I scarcely thought; my one idea was to put as big a distance +as possible between myself and the carbine before its owner could ram +home a second cartridge. + +As I ran, twisting in and out between the trees, and keeping my head +as low as possible, I could hear behind me a hoarse uproar from my +fellow-convicts, who by this time were evidently getting out of hand. +No sound could have pleased me better. The more boisterous the good +fellows became the less chance would the remaining warder have of +worrying about me. As for the civil guard--well, it seemed probable +that his time was already pretty fully engaged. + +My chief danger lay in the chance that there might be other warders in +the immediate neighbourhood. If so, they would doubtless have heard +the firing and have come running up at the first alarm. I looked back +over my shoulder as I reached the top of the plantation, which was +about a hundred yards from the road, but so far as I could see there +was no one as yet on my track. + +My one chance lay in reaching the main wood that borders the Tavistock +road before the mounted guard could come up. Between this and the +plantation stretched a long bare slope of hillside, perhaps two +hundred yards across, with scarcely enough cover on it to hide a +rabbit. It was not exactly an inviting prospect, but still the place +had to be crossed, and there was nothing to be gained by looking at +it. So setting my teeth I jumped out from under the shelter of the +trees, and started off as fast as I could pelt for the opposite side. + +I had got about half-way over when there came a sudden shout away to +the right. Turning my head as I ran, I saw through the thin mist a +figure in knickerbockers and a Norfolk jacket vaulting over the low +gate that separated the moor from the road. + +I suppose he was a tourist, for he had a small knapsack fastened to +his back and he was carrying a stick in his hand. + +"Tally-ho!" he yelled, brandishing the latter, and then without +hesitation he came charging across the open with the obvious intention +of cutting me off from the wood. + +For the first time in three years I laughed. It was not a pretty +laugh, and if my new friend had heard it, his ardour in the chase +might perhaps have been a trifle cooled. As it was he came on with +undiminished zest, apparently quite confident in his ability to tackle +me single-handed. + +We met about ten yards this side of the nearest trees. + +He rushed in on me with another "whoop," and I saw then that he was a +big, powerful, red-faced fellow of a rather coarse sporting type--the +kind of brute I've always had a peculiar dislike for. + +"Down you go!" he shouted, and suiting the action to the word, he +swung back his stick and lashed out savagely at my head. + +I didn't go down. Instead of that I stepped swiftly in, and striking +up his arm with my left hand, I let him have my right bang on the +point of the chin. Worlds of concentrated bitterness were behind it, +and he went over backwards as if he had been struck by a coal-hammer. + +It did me a lot of good, that punch. It seemed to restore my +self-respect in a way that nothing else could have done. You must have +been a convict yourself, shouted at and ordered about like a dog for +three weary years, to appreciate the full pleasure of being able once +more to punch a man in the jaw. + +At the moment, however, I had no time to analyze my feelings. Almost +before the red-faced gentleman's shoulders had struck the ground I had +reached the railing which bounded the wood, and putting one hand on +the top bar had vaulted over into its inviting gloom. + +Then, just for an instant, I stopped, and, like Lot's wife, cast one +hasty glance behind me. Except for the motionless form of my late +adversary, who appeared to be studying the sky, the stretch of moor +that I had just crossed was still comfortingly empty. So far no +pursuing warder had even emerged from the plantation. With a sigh of +relief I turned round again and plunged forward into the thickest part +of the tangled brake ahead. + +It would have been difficult to find a better temporary hiding-place +than the one I had reached. Thick with trees and undergrowth, which +sprouted up from between enormous fissures and piles of granite rock, +it stretched away for the best part of a mile and a half parallel with +the main road. I knew that even in daylight the warders would find it +no easy matter to track me down: at this time in the afternoon, with +dusk coming rapidly on, the task would be an almost impossible one. + +Besides, it was starting to rain. All the afternoon a thick cloud had +been hanging over North Hessary, and now, as scratched and panting I +forced my way on into the ever-increasing gloom, a fine drizzle began +to descend through the trees. I knew what that meant. In half an hour +everything would probably be blotted out in a wet grey mist, and, +except for posting guards all round the wood, my pursuers would be +compelled to abandon the search until next morning. It was the first +time that I had ever felt an affection for the Dartmoor climate. + +Guessing rather than judging my way, I stumbled steadily forward until +I reached what I imagined must be about the centre of the wood. By +this time I was wet through to the skin. The thin parti-coloured +"slop" that I was wearing was quite useless for keeping out the rain, +a remark that applied with almost equal force to my prison-made +breeches and gaiters. Apart from the discomfort, however, I was not +much disturbed. I have never been an easy victim to chills, and three +years in Princetown had done nothing to soften a naturally tough +constitution. + +Still there was no sense in getting more soaked than was necessary, so +I began to hunt around for some sort of temporary shelter. I found it +at last in the shape of a huge block of granite, half hidden by the +brambles and stunted trees which had grown up round it. Parting the +undergrowth and crawling carefully in, I discovered at the base a kind +of hollow crevice just long enough to lie down in at full length. + +I can't say it was exactly comfortable, but penal servitude has at +least the merit of saving one from being over-luxurious. Besides, I +was much too interested in watching the steady thickening of the mist +outside to worry myself about trifles. With a swiftness which would +have been incredible to any one who didn't know the Moor, the damp +clammy vapour was settling down, blotting out everything in its grey +haze. Except for the dripping brambles immediately outside I could +soon see absolutely nothing; beyond that it was like staring into a +blanket. + +I lay there quite motionless, listening very intently for any sound of +my pursuers. Only the persistent drip, drip of the rain, however, and +the occasional rustle of a bird, broke the silence. If there were any +warders about they were evidently still some way from my hiding-place, +but the odds were that they had postponed searching the wood until the +fog lifted. + +For the first time since my leap from the wall I found myself with +sufficient leisure to review the situation. It struck me that only a +very hardened optimist could describe it as hopeful. I had made my +bolt almost instinctively, without stopping to think what chances I +had of getting away. That these were meagre in the extreme was now +becoming painfully clear to me. Even if I managed to slip out of +my present hiding-place into the still larger woods of the Walkham +Valley, the odds were all in favour of my ultimate capture. No escaped +prisoner had ever yet succeeded in retaining his liberty for more than +a few days, and where so many gentlemen of experience had tried +and failed it seemed distressingly unlikely that I should be more +fortunate. + +I began to wonder what had happened to Cairns, the man whose dash from +the ranks had been responsible for my own effort. I knew him to be one +of the most resourceful blackguards in the prison, and, provided the +civil guard's first shot had failed to stop him, it was quite likely +that he too had evaded capture. I hoped so with all my heart: it would +distract quite a lot of attention from my own humble affairs. + +If he was still at liberty, I couldn't help feeling enviously how much +better his chances of escape were than mine. In order to get away from +the Moor it was plainly necessary to possess oneself of both food and +clothes, and I could think of no other way of doing so except stealing +them from some lonely farm. At anything of this sort I was likely to +prove a sorry bungler compared with such an artist as Cairns. He was +one of the most accomplished cracksmen in England, and feats which +seemed impossible to me would probably be the merest child's play to +him. + +Still it was no good worrying over what couldn't be helped. My first +job was to get safely into the Walkham woods; after that it would be +quite time enough to think about turning burglar. + +I sat up and looked out into the mist. Things were as bad as ever, and +quite suddenly it struck me with considerable force that by lying low +in this fashion I was making a most unholy idiot of myself. Here I was +growing cold and stiff, and wasting what was probably the best chance +I should ever have of reaching Walkhampton. In fact I was playing +right into the hands of the warders. + +With an impatient exclamation I jumped to my feet. The only question +was, could I find my way out of the wood, and if I did, how on earth +was I to strike the right line over North Hessary? It was quite on the +cards I might wander back into Princetown under the happy impression +that I was going in exactly the opposite direction. + +For a moment I hesitated; then I made up my mind to risk it. After all +the fog was as bad for the warders as it was for me, and even if I +failed to reach the Walkham Valley I should probably find some other +equally good shelter before it lifted. In either case I should have +the big advantage of having changed my hiding-place. + +Buttoning up my slop, I advanced carefully through the dripping +brambles. One could see rather less than nothing, but so far as I +could remember the main Tavistock road was on my right-hand side. +This would leave North Hessary away to the left; so turning in that +direction I set my teeth and took my first step forward into the +darkness. + +I don't suppose you have ever tried walking through a wood in a fog, +but you can take my word for it that a less enjoyable form of exercise +doesn't exist. I have often wondered since how on earth I managed to +escape a sprained ankle or a broken neck, for carefully as I groped my +way forward it was quite impossible to avoid all the numerous crevices +and overhanging boughs which beset my path. + +I must have blundered into about fourteen holes and knocked my head +against at least an equal number of branches, before the trees at last +began to thin and the darkness lighten sufficiently to let me see +where I was placing my feet. I knew that by this time I must be +getting precious near the boundary of the wood, outside which the +warders were now doubtless posted at frequent intervals. So I stopped +where I was and sat down quietly on a rock for a few minutes to +recover my breath, for I had been pretty badly shaken and winded by my +numerous tumbles. + +As soon as I felt better I got up again, and taking very particular +care where I was treading, advanced on tiptoe with a delicacy that +Agag might have envied. I had taken about a dozen steps when all of a +sudden the railings loomed up in front of me through the mist. + +I put my hand on the top bar, and then paused for a moment listening +breathlessly for any sound of danger. Except for the faint patter +of the rain, however, everything was as silent as the dead. Very +carefully I raised myself on the bottom rail, lifted my legs over, one +after the other, and then dropped lightly down on to the grass beyond. + +As I did so a man rose up suddenly from the ground like a black +shadow, and hurling himself on me before I could move, clutched me +round the waist. + +"Got yer!" he roared. Then at the top of his voice--"Here he is! Help! +Help!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + +I was taken so utterly by surprise that nothing except sheer strength +saved me from going over. As it was I staggered back a couple of +paces, fetching up against the railings with a bang that nearly +knocked the breath out of me. By a stroke of luck I must have crushed +my opponent's hand against one of the bars, for with a cry of pain he +momentarily slackened his grip. + +That was all I wanted. Wrenching my left arm free, I brought up my +elbow under his chin with a wicked jolt; and then, before he could +recover, I smashed home a short right-arm punch that must have landed +somewhere in the neighbourhood of his third waistcoat button. Anyhow +it did the business all right. With a quaint noise, like the gurgle of +a half-empty bath, he promptly released me from his embrace, and sank +down on to the grass almost as swiftly and silently as he had arisen. + +I doubt if a more perfectly timed blow has ever been delivered, but +unfortunately I had no chance of studying its effects. Through the fog +I could hear the sound of footsteps--quick heavy footsteps hurrying +towards me from either direction. For one second I thought of +scrambling back over the railings and taking to the wood again. Then +suddenly a kind of mischievous exhilaration at the danger gripped hold +of me, and jumping over the prostrate figure on the ground I bolted +forwards into the mist. The warders, who must have been quite close, +evidently heard me, for from both sides came hoarse shouts of "There +he goes!" "Look out there!" and other well-meant pieces of advice. + +It was a funny sort of sensation dodging through the fog, feeling that +at any moment one might blunder up against the muzzle of a loaded +carbine. The only guide I had as to my direction was the slope of the +ground. I knew that as long as I kept on going uphill I was more or +less on the right track, for the big granite-strewn bulk of North +Hessary lay right in front of me, and I had to cross it to get to the +Walkham Valley. + +On I went, the ground rising higher and higher, until at last the +wet slippery grass began to give way to a broken waste of rocks and +heather. I had reached the top, and although I could see nothing on +account of the mist, I knew that right below me lay the woods, with +only about a mile of steeply sloping hillside separating me from their +agreeable privacy. + +Despite the cold and the wet and the fact that I was getting devilish +hungry, my spirits somehow began to rise. Good luck always acts on me +as a sort of tonic, and so far I had certainly been amazingly lucky. I +felt that if only the rain would clear up now and give me a chance of +getting dry, Fate would have treated me as handsomely as an escaped +murderer had any right to expect. + +Making my way carefully across the plateau, for the ground was stiff +with small holes and gullies and I had no wish to sprain my ankle, I +began the descent of the opposite side. The mist here was a good deal +thinner, but night was coming on so rapidly that as far as seeing +where I was going was concerned I was very little better off than I +had been on the top of the hill. + +Below me, away to the right, a blurred glimmer of light just made +itself visible. This I took to be Merivale village, on the Tavistock +road; and not being anxious to trespass upon its simple hospitality, I +sheered off slightly in the opposite direction. At last, after about +twenty minutes' scrambling, I began to hear a faint trickle of running +water, and a few more steps brought me to the bank of the Walkham. + +I stood there for a little while in the darkness, feeling a kind of +tired elation at my achievement. My chances of escape might still be +pretty thin, but I had at least reached a temporary shelter. For five +miles away to my left stretched the pleasantly fertile valley, and +until I chose to come out of it all the warders on Dartmoor might hunt +themselves black in the face without finding me. + +I can't say exactly how much farther I tramped that evening. When one +is stumbling along at night through an exceedingly ill-kept wood in a +state of hunger, dampness, and exhaustion, one's judgment of distance +is apt to lose some of its finer accuracy. I imagine, however, that I +must have covered at least three more miles before my desire to lie +down and sleep became too poignant to be any longer resisted. + +I hunted about in the darkness until I discovered a small patch of +fairly dry grass which had been more or less protected from the rain +by an overhanging rock. I might perhaps have done better, but I was +too tired to bother. I just dropped peacefully down where I stood, and +in spite of my bruises and my soaked clothes I don't think I had been +two minutes on the ground before I was fast asleep. + + * * * * * + +Tommy Morrison always used to say that only unintelligent people +woke up feeling really well. If he was right I must have been in a +singularly brilliant mood when I again opened my eyes. + +It was still fairly dark, with the raw, sour darkness of an early +March morning, and all round me the invisible drip of the trees was as +persistent as ever. Very slowly and shakily I scrambled to my feet. My +head ached savagely, I was chilled to the core, and every part of +my body felt as if it had been trampled on by a powerful and rather +ill-tempered mule. + +I was hungry too--Lord, how hungry I was! Breakfast in the prison is +not exactly an appetizing meal, but at that moment the memory of its +thin gruel and greasy cocoa and bread seemed to me beautiful beyond +words. + +I looked round rather forlornly. As an unpromising field for foraging +in, a Dartmoor wood on a dark March morning takes a lot of beating. +It is true that there was plenty of water--the whole ground and air +reeked with it--but water, even in unlimited quantities, is a poor +basis for prolonged exertion. + +There was nothing else to be got, however, so I had to make the best +of it. I lay down full length beside a small spring which gurgled +along the ground at my feet, and with the aid of my hands lapped up +about a pint and a half. When I had finished, apart from the ache in +my limbs I felt distinctly better. + +The question was what to do next. Hungry or not, it would be madness +to leave the shelter of the woods until evening, for not only would +the warders be all over the place, but by this time everyone who lived +in the neighbourhood would have been warned of my escape. My best +chance seemed to lie in stopping where I was as long as daylight +lasted, and then staking everything on a successful burglary. + +It was not a cheerful prospect, and before the morning was much older +it seemed less cheerful still. If you can imagine what it feels +like to spend hour after hour crouching in the heart of a wood in a +pitiless drizzle of rain, you will be able to get some idea of what I +went through. If I had only had a pipe and some baccy, things would +have been more tolerable; as it was there was nothing to do but to sit +and shiver and grind my teeth and think about George. + +I thought quite a lot about George. I seemed to see his face as he +read the news of my escape, and I could picture the feverish way in +which he would turn to each edition of the paper to find out whether I +had been recaptured. Then I began to imagine our meeting, and George's +expression when he realized who it was. The idea was so pleasing that +it almost made me forget my present misery. + +It must have been about midday when I decided on a move. In a way I +suppose it was a rash thing to do, but I had got so cursedly cramped +and cold again that I felt if I didn't take some exercise I should +never last out the day. Even as it was, my legs had lost practically +all feeling, and for the first few steps I took I was staggering about +like a drunkard. + +Keeping to the thickest part of the wood, I made my way slowly +forward; my idea being to reach the top of the valley and then lie low +again until nightfall. My progress was not exactly rapid, for after +creeping a yard or two at a time I would crouch down and listen +carefully for any sounds of danger. I had covered perhaps a mile in +this spasmodic fashion when a gradual improvement in the light ahead +told me that I was approaching open ground. A few steps farther, and +through a gap in the trees a red roof suddenly came into view, with a +couple of chimney-pots smoking away cheerfully in the rain. + +It gave me a bit of a start, for I had not expected to run into +civilization quite so soon as this. I stopped where I was and did +a little bit of rapid thinking. Where there's a house there must +necessarily be some way of getting at it, and the only way I could +think of in this case was a private drive up the hill into the main +Devonport road. If there was such a drive the house was no doubt a +private residence and a fairly large one at that. + +With infinite precaution I began to creep forward again. Between the +trunks of the trees I could catch glimpses of a stout wood paling +about six feet high which apparently ran the whole length of the +grounds, separating them from the wood. On the other side of this +fence I could hear, as I drew nearer, a kind of splashing noise, and +every now and then the sound of somebody moving about and whistling. + +The last few yards consisted of a strip of open grass marked by deep +cart-ruts. Across this I crawled on my hands and knees, and getting +right up against the fence began very carefully to search around for +a peep-hole. At last I found a tiny gap between two of the boards. It +was the merest chink, but by gluing my eye to it I was just able to +see through. + +I was looking into a square gravel-covered yard, in the centre of +which a man in blue overalls was cleaning the mud off a small +motor car. He was evidently the owner, for he was a prosperous, +genial-looking person of the retired Major type, and he was lightening +his somewhat damp task by puffing away steadily at a pipe. I watched +him with a kind of bitter jealousy. I had no idea who he was, but +for the moment I hated him fiercely. Why should he be able to potter +around in that comfortable self-satisfied fashion, while I, Neil +Lyndon, starved, soaked, and hunted like a wild beast, was crouching +desperately outside his palings? + +It was a natural enough emotion, but I was in too critical a position +to waste time in asking myself questions. I realized that if burglary +had to be done, here was the right spot. By going farther I should +only be running myself into unnecessary risk, and probably without +finding a house any more suitable to my purpose. + +I squinted sideways through the hole, trying to master the geography +of the place. On the left was a high bank of laurels, and just at the +corner I could see the curve of the drive, turning away up the hill. +On the other side of the yard was a small garage, built against the +wall, while directly facing me was the back of the house. + +I was just digesting these details, when a sudden sigh from the +gentleman in the yard attracted my attention. He had apparently had +enough of cleaning the car, for laying down the cloth he had been +using, he stepped back and began to contemplate his handiwork. + +It was not much to boast about, but it seemed to be good enough for +him. At all events he came forward again, and taking off the brake, +proceeded very slowly to push the car back towards the garage. At +the entrance he stopped for a moment, and going inside brought out a +bicycle which he leaned against the wall. Then he laboriously shoved +the car into its appointed place, put back the bicycle, and standing +in the doorway started to take off his overalls. + +I need hardly say I watched him with absorbed interest. The sight of +the bicycle had sent a little thrill of excitement tingling down my +back, for it opened up possibilities in the way of escape that five +minutes before had seemed wildly out of reach. If I could only steal +the machine and the overalls as well, I should at least stand a good +chance of getting clear away from the Moor before I was starved or +captured. In addition to that I should be richer by a costume which +would completely cover up the tasteful but rather pronounced pattern +of my clothes. + +My heart beat faster with excitement as with my eye pressed tight to +the peep-hole I followed every movement of my unconscious quarry. +Whistling cheerfully to himself, he stripped off the dark blue cotton +trousers and oil-stained jacket that he was wearing and hung them on a +nail just inside the door. Then he gave a last look round, presumably +to satisfy himself that everything was in order, and shutting the door +with a bang, turned the key in the lock. + +I naturally thought he was going to stuff that desirable object into +his pocket, but as it happened he did nothing of the kind. With a +throb of half-incredulous delight I saw that he was standing on +tiptoe, inserting it into some small hiding-place just under the edge +of the iron roof. + +I didn't wait for further information. At any moment someone might +have come blundering round the corner of the paling, and I felt that I +had tempted Fate quite enough already. So, abandoning my peep-hole, +I turned round, and with infinite care crawled back across the grass +into the shelter of the trees. + +Once there, however, I rolled over on the ground and metaphorically +hugged myself. The situation may not appear to have warranted such +excessive rapture, but when a man is practically hopeless even the +wildest of possible chances comes to him like music and sunshine. +Forgetting my hunger and my wet clothes in my excitement, I lay there +thinking out my plan of action. I could do nothing, of course, until +it was dark: in fact it would be really better to wait till the +household had gone to bed, for several of the back windows looked +right out on the garage. Then, provided I could climb the paling and +get out the bicycle without being spotted, I had only to push it up +the drive to find myself on the Devonport road. + +With this comforting reflection I settled myself down to wait. It was +at least four hours from darkness, with another four to be added to +that before I dared make a move. Looking back now, I sometimes wonder +how I managed to stick it out. Long before dusk my legs and arms +had begun to ache again with a dull throbbing sort of pain that got +steadily worse, while the chill of my wet clothes seemed to eat into +my bones. Once or twice I got up and crawled a few yards backwards and +forwards, but the little additional warmth this performance gave me +did not last long. I dared not indulge in any more violent exercise +for fear that there might be warders about in the wood. + +What really saved me, I think, was the rain stopping. It came to an +end quite suddenly, in the usual Dartmoor fashion, and within half an +hour most of the mist had cleared off too. I knew enough of the local +weather signs to be pretty certain that we were in for a fine night; +and sure enough, half an hour after the sun had set a large moon was +shining down from a practically cloudless sky. + +From where I was lying I could, by raising my head, just see the +two top windows of the house. About ten, as near as I could judge, +somebody lit a candle in one of these rooms, and then coming to the +window drew down the blind. I waited patiently till I saw this dull +glimmer of light disappear, then, with a not unpleasant throb of +excitement, I crawled out from my hiding-place and recrossed the grass +to my former point of observation. Very gingerly I lifted myself up +and peered over the top of the paling. The yard was in shadow, and so +far as I could see the back door and all the various outbuildings were +locked up for the night. + +Under ordinary circumstances I could have cleared that blessed paling +in about thirty seconds, but in my present state of exhaustion it +proved to be no easy matter. However, with a mighty effort I at last +succeeded in getting my right elbow on the top, and from that point I +managed to scramble up and hoist myself over. Then, keeping a watchful +eye on the windows, I advanced towards the garage. + +I found the key first shot. It was resting on a little ledge under the +roof, and a thrill of joy went through me as my fingers closed over +it. I pushed it into the keyhole, and very carefully I turned the +lock. + +It was quite dark inside, but I could just see the outline of the +overalls hanging on the nail. I unhooked them, and placing the coat on +the ground I drew on the oily trousers over my convict breeches +and stockings. I could tell by the feel that they covered me up +completely. + +As I picked up the coat something rattled in one of the side pockets. +I put my hand in and pulled out a box of wax matches, which despite +the dampness of the garment still seemed dry enough to strike. For a +moment I hesitated, wondering whether I dared to light one. It was +dangerous, especially if there happened to be a window looking out +towards the house, but on the other hand I badly wanted a little +illumination to see what I was doing. + +I decided to risk it, and closing the door, struck one against the +wall. It flared up, and shading it with my hand I cast a hasty glance +round the garage. The bicycle was leaning against a shelf just beyond +me, and on a nail above it I saw an old disreputable-looking cap. I +pounced on it joyfully, for it was the one thing I needed to complete +my disguise. Then, wheeling the bicycle past the car, I blew out the +match and reopened the door. + +Stepping as noiselessly as possible on the gravel, I pushed the bike +across the yard. There was a large patch of moonlight between me and +the end of the drive, and I went through it with a horrible feeling +in the small of my back that at any moment someone might fling up +a window and bawl out, "Stop thief!" Nothing of the kind occurred, +however, and with a vast sense of thankfulness I gained the shelter of +the laurels. + +The only thing that worried me was the thought that there might be a +lodge at the top. If so I was by no means out of the wood. Even the +most guileless of lodge-keepers would be bound to think it rather +curious that I should be creeping out at this time of night +accompanied by his master's bicycle. + +Keeping one hand against the bushes to guide me, and pushing the +machine with the other, I groped my way slowly up the winding path. As +I came cautiously round the last corner I saw with a sigh of relief +that my fears were groundless. A few yards ahead of me in the +moonlight was a plain white gate, and beyond that the road. + +I opened the gate with deliberate care, and closed it in similar +fashion behind me. Then for a moment I stopped. I was badly out of +breath, partly from weakness and partly from excitement, so laying the +machine against the bank I leaned back beside it. + +Everything was quite still. On each side of me the broad, white, +moonlit roadway stretched away into the night, flanked by a row of +telegraph poles which stood out like gaunt sentries. It was curious +to think that they had probably put in a busy day's work, carrying +messages about me. + +There was a lamp on the front bracket, and as soon as I felt a little +better I took out my matches and proceeded to light it. Then, wheeling +my bike out into the roadway, I turned in the direction of Devonport +and mounted. I felt a bit shaky at first, for, apart from the fact +that I was worn out and pretty near starving, I had not been on a +machine for over three years. However, after wobbling wildly from side +to side, I managed to get the thing going, and pedalled off down the +centre of the road as steadily as my half-numbed senses would allow. + +For perhaps a quarter of a mile the ground kept fairly level, then, +breasting a slight rise, I found myself at the top of a hill. I shoved +on the brake and went slowly round the first corner, where I got an +unexpected surprise. From this point the road ran straight away down +through a small village, across a bridge over the river, and up a +short steep slope on the farther side. + +I took in the situation at a glance, and, releasing my brake, I let +the old bike have her head. It certainly wouldn't suit me to have to +dismount in the village and walk up the opposite slope, and I was much +too exhausted to do anything else unless I could take it in a rush. + +Down I went, the machine flying noiselessly along and gathering pace +every yard. I had nearly reached the bottom and was just getting ready +to pedal, when all of a sudden, I caught sight of something that +almost paralyzed me. Right ahead, in the centre of the village square, +stood a prison warder. His back was towards me and I could see the +moonlight gleaming on the barrel of his carbine. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + +I was going so fast that everything seemed to happen simultaneously. +I had one blurred vision of him spinning round and yelling to me to +stop: then the next moment I had flashed past him and was racing +across the bridge. + +Whether he recognized me for certain I can't say. I think not, or he +would probably have fired sooner than he did: as it was, my rush had +carried me three quarters of the way up the opposite hill before he +could make up his mind to risk a shot. + +Bang went his carbine, and at the same instant, with a second loud +report, the tire of my back wheel abruptly collapsed. It was a good +shot if he had aimed for it, and what's more it came unpleasantly +near doing the trick. The old bike swerved violently, but with a wild +wrench I just succeeded in righting her. For a second I heard him +shouting and running behind me, and then, working like a maniac, I +bumped up the rest of the slope, and disappeared over the protecting +dip at the top. + +Of my progress for the next mile or so I have only the most +confused recollection. It was like one of those ghastly things that +occasionally happen to one in a nightmare. I just remember pedalling +blindly along, with the back wheel grinding and jolting beneath me +and the moonlit road rising and falling ahead. It must have been more +instinct than anything else that kept me going, for I was in the last +stages of hunger and weariness, and most of the time I scarcely knew +what I was doing. + +At last, after wobbling feebly up a long slope, I found I had reached +the extreme edge of the Moor. Right below me the road dropped down for +several hundred feet into a broad level expanse of fields and woods. +Six or seven miles away the lights of Plymouth and Devonport threw up +a yellow glare into the sky, and beyond that again I could just see +the glint of the moonlight shining on the sea. + +It was no good stopping, for I knew that in an hour or so the mounted +warders would be again on my track. So clapping on both brakes, I +started off down the long descent, being careful not to let the +machine get away with me as it had done on the previous hill. + +At the bottom, which I somehow reached in safety, I found a sign-post +with two hands, one marked Plymouth and the other Devonport. I took +the latter road, why I can hardly say, and summoning up my almost +spent energies I pedalled off shakily between its high hedges. + +How I got as far as I did remains a mystery to me to this day. I fell +off twice from sheer weakness, but on each occasion I managed to drag +myself back into the saddle again, and it was not until my third +tumble, that I decided I could go no farther. + +I was in a dark stretch of road bounded on each side by thick +plantations. It was a good place to lie up in, but unfortunately there +was another and more pressing problem in front of me. Half delirious +as I was, I realized that unless I could find something to eat that +night my career as an escaped convict was pretty near its end. + +I picked myself up, and with a great effort managed to drag the +bicycle to the side of the road. Then, clutching the rail that bounded +the plantation, I began to stagger slowly forward along the slightly +raised path. I think I had a sort of vague notion that there might be +something to eat round the next corner. + +I had progressed in this fashion for perhaps forty yards, when quite +unexpectedly both the trees and the railings came to an end. I +remained swaying and half incredulous for a moment: then I began to +realize that I was standing in front of an open gate looking up an +exceedingly ill-kept drive. At the end of this drive was a house, and +the moonlight shining full on the front of it showed me that the whole +place had about as forlorn and neglected an appearance as an inhabited +building could very well possess. That it was inhabited there could be +no doubt, for in the small glass square above the hall door I could +see a feeble glimmer of light. + +No one could have called it an inviting-looking place, but then I +wasn't exactly waiting for invitations where a chance of food was +concerned. I just slipped in at the gate, and keeping well in the +shadow of the bushes that bounded the drive, I crept slowly and +unsteadily forward until I reached a point opposite the front door. I +crouched there for a moment, peering up at the house. Except for that +flickering gas jet there was no sign of life anywhere; all the windows +were shuttered or else in complete darkness. + +At first I had a wild idea of ringing the bell and pretending to be +a starving tramp. Then I remembered that my description had no doubt +been circulated all round the neighbourhood, and that if there was +any one in the place they would probably recognize me at once as the +missing convict. This choked me off, for though as a rule I have no +objection to a slight scuffle, I felt that in my present condition the +average housemaid could knock me over with the flick of a duster. + +The only alternative scheme that suggested itself to my numbed mind +was to commit another burglary. There was a path running down the side +of the house, which apparently led round to the back, and it struck +me that if I followed this I might possibly come across an unfastened +window. Anyhow, it was no good waiting about till I collapsed from +exhaustion, so, getting on my feet, I slunk along the laurels as far +as the end of the drive, and then crept across in the shadow of an +overhanging tree. + +I made my way slowly down the path, keeping one hand against the wall, +and came out into a small square yard, paved with cobbles, where I +found myself looking up at the back of the house. There was a door +in the middle with two windows on either side of it, and above these +several other rooms--all apparently in complete darkness. + +I was beginning to feel horribly like fainting, but by sheer +will-power I managed to pull myself together. Going up to the nearest +window I peered through the pane. I could see the dim outline of a +table with some plates on it just inside, and putting my hand against +the bottom sash I gave it a gentle push. It yielded instantly, sliding +up several inches with a wheezy rattle that brought my heart into my +mouth. + +For a moment or two I waited, listening intently for any sound of +movement within the house. Then, as nothing happened, I carefully +raised the sash a little higher, and poked my head in through the +empty window-frame. + +It was the kitchen all right: there could be no doubt about that. A +strong smell of stale cooking pervaded the warm darkness, and that +musty odour brought tears of joy into my eyes. I took one long +luxurious sniff, and then with a last effort I hoisted myself up and +scrambled in over the low sill. + +As my feet touched the floor there was a sharp click. A blinding flash +of light shot out from the darkness, striking me full in the face, and +at the same instant a voice remarked quietly but firmly: "Put up your +hands." + +I put them up. + +There was a short pause: then from the other end of the room a man in +a dressing-gown advanced slowly to the table in the centre. He was +holding a small electric torch in one hand and a revolver in the +other. He laid down the former with the light still pointing straight +at my face. + +"If you attempt to move," he remarked pleasantly, "I shall blow your +brains out." + +With this he walked to the side of the room, struck a match against +the wall, and reaching up turned on the gas. + +I was much too dazed to do anything, even if I had had the chance. I +just stood there with my hands up, rocking slightly from side to side, +and wondering how long it would be before I tumbled over. + +My captor remained for a moment under the light, peering at me in +silence. He seemed to be a man of about sixty--a thin, frail man +with white hair and a sharp, deeply lined face. He wore gold-rimmed +pince-nez, behind which a pair of hard grey eyes gleamed at me in +malicious amusement. + +At last he took a step forward, still holding the revolver in his +hand. + +"A stranger!" he observed. "Dear me--what a disappointment! I hope Mr. +Latimer is not ill?" + +I had no idea what he was talking about, but his voice sounded very +far away. + +"If you keep me standing like this much longer," I managed to jerk +out, "I shall most certainly faint." + +I saw him raise his eyebrows in a sort of half-mocking smile. + +"Indeed," he said, "I thought--" + +What he thought I never heard, for the whole room suddenly went dim, +and with a quick lurch the floor seemed to get up and spin round +beneath my feet. I suppose I must have pitched forward, for the last +thing I remember is clutching wildly but vainly at the corner of the +kitchen table. + + * * * * * + +My first sensation on coming round was a burning feeling in my lips +and throat. Then I suddenly realized that my mouth was full of brandy, +and with a surprised gulp I swallowed it down and opened my eyes. + +I was lying back in a low chair with a cushion under my head. Standing +in front of me was the gentleman in the dressing-gown, only instead of +a revolver he now held an empty wine-glass in his hand. When he saw +that I was recovering he stepped back and placed it on the table. +There was a short pause. + +"Well, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "and how are you feeling now?" + +A hasty glance down showed me that the jacket of my overalls had been +unbuttoned at the neck, exposing the soaked and mud-stained prison +clothes beneath. I saw that the game was up, but for the moment I was +too exhausted to care. + +My captor leaned against the end of the table watching me closely. + +"Are you feeling any better?" he repeated. + +I made a feeble attempt to raise myself in the chair. "I don't know," +I said weakly; "I'm feeling devilish hungry." + +He stepped forward at once, his lined face breaking into something +like a smile. + +"Don't sit up. Lie quite still where you are, and I will get you +something to eat. Have you had any food today?" + +I shook my head. "Only rain-water," I said. + +"You had better start with some bread and milk, then. You have been +starving too long to eat a big meal straight away." + +Crossing the room, he pushed open a door which apparently led into the +larder, and then paused for a moment on the threshold. + +"You needn't try to escape," he added, turning back to me. "I am not +going to send for the police." + +"I don't care what you do," I whispered, "as long as you hurry up with +some grub." + +Lying there in the sort of semi-stupor that comes from utter +exhaustion, I listened to him moving about in the larder apparently +getting things ready. For the moment all thoughts of danger or +recapture had ceased to disturb me. Even the unexpected fashion +in which I was being treated did not strike me as particularly +interesting or surprising: my whole being was steeped in a sense of +approaching food. + +I saw him re-enter the room, carrying a saucepan, which he placed on +a small stove alongside the fireplace. There was the scratching of a +match followed by the pop of a gas-ring, and half-closing my eyes I +lay back in serene and silent contentment. + +I was aroused by the chink of a spoon, and the splash of something +liquid being poured out. Then I saw my host coming towards me, +carrying a large steaming china bowl in his hand. + +"Here you are," he said. "Do you think you can manage to feed +yourself?" + +I didn't trouble to answer. I just seized the cup and spoon, and the +next moment I was wolfing down a huge mouthful of warm bread and milk +that seemed to me the most perfect thing I had ever tasted. It was +followed rapidly by another and another, all equally beautiful. + +My host stood by watching me with a sort of half-amused interest. + +"I shouldn't eat it quite so fast," he observed. "It will do you more +good if you take it slowly." + +The first few spoonfuls had already partly deadened my worst pangs, +so following his advice I slackened down the pace to a somewhat more +normal level. Even then I emptied the bowl in what I think must +have been a record time, and with a deep sigh I handed it to him to +replenish. + +I was feeling better--distinctly better. The food, the rest in the +chair, and the comparative warmth of the room were all doing me good +in their various ways, and for the first time I was beginning to +realize clearly where I was and what had happened. + +I suppose my host noticed the change, for he looked at me in an +approving fashion as he gave me my second helping. + +"There you are," he said in that curious dry voice of his. "Eat that +up, and then we'll have a little conversation. Meanwhile--" he paused +and looked round--"well, if you have no objection I think I will shut +that window. I daresay you have had enough fresh air for today." + +I nodded--my mouth was too full for any more elaborate reply--and +crossing the room he closed the sash and pulled down the blind. + +"That's better," he observed, gently rubbing his hands together; "now +we are more comfortable and more private. By the way, I don't think I +have introduced myself yet. My name is McMurtrie--Doctor McMurtrie." + +"I am charmed to meet you," I said, swallowing down a large chunk of +bread. + +He nodded his head, smiling. "The pleasure is a mutual one, Mr. +Lyndon--quite a mutual one." + +The words were simple and smooth enough in themselves, but somehow or +other the tone in which they were uttered was not altogether to my +taste. It seemed to carry with it the faint suggestion of a cat +purring over a mouse. Still I was hardly in a position to be too +fastidious, so I accepted his compliment, and went on calmly with my +bread and milk. + +With the same rather catlike smile Dr. McMurtrie drew up a chair +and sat down opposite to me. He kept his right hand in his pocket, +presumably on the revolver. + +"And now," he said, "perhaps you have sufficiently recovered to be +able to tell me a little about yourself. At present my knowledge of +your adventures is confined to the account of your escape in this +morning's _Daily Mail_." + +I slowly finished the last spoonful of my second helping, and placed +the cup beside me on the floor. It was a clumsy device to gain time, +for now that the full consciousness of my surroundings had returned to +me, I was beginning to think that Dr. McMurtrie's methods of receiving +an escaped convict were, to say the least, a trifle unusual. Was his +apparent friendliness merely a blind, or did it hide some still deeper +purpose, of which at present I knew nothing? + +He must have guessed my thoughts, for leaning back in his chair he +remarked half-mockingly: "Come, Mr. Lyndon, it doesn't pay to be too +suspicious. If it will relieve your mind, I can assure you I have no +immediate intention of turning policeman, even for the magnificent sum +of--how much is it--five pounds, I believe? On mere business grounds I +think it would be underrating your market value." + +The slight but distinct change in his voice in the last remark +invested it with a special significance. I felt a sudden conviction +that for some reason of his own Dr. McMurtrie did not intend to give +me up--at all events for the present. + +"I will tell you anything you want to know with pleasure," I said. +"Where did the _Daily Mail_ leave off?" + +He laughed curtly, and thrusting the other hand into his pocket pulled +out a silver cigarette-case. + +"If I remember rightly," he said, "you had just taken advantage of the +fog to commit a brutal and quite unprovoked assault upon a warder." He +held out the case. + +"But try one of these before you start," he added. "They are a special +brand from St. Petersburg, and I think you will enjoy them. There +is nothing like a little abstinence to make one appreciate a good +tobacco." + +With a shaking hand I pressed the spring. It was three years since I +had smoked my last cigarette--a cigarette handed me by the inspector +in that stuffy little room below the dock, where I was waiting to be +sentenced to death. + +If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget my sensations as I +struck the match which my host handed me and took in that first +fragrant mouthful. It was so delicious that for a moment I remained +motionless from sheer pleasure; then lying back again in my chair with +a little gasp I drew another great cloud of smoke deep down into my +lungs. + +The doctor waited, watching me with a kind of cynical amusement. + +"Don't hurry yourself, Mr. Lyndon," he observed, "pray don't hurry +yourself. It is a pleasure to witness such appreciation." + +I took him at his word, and for perhaps a couple of minutes we sat +there in silence while the blue wreaths of smoke slowly mounted +and circled round us. Then at last, with a delightful feeling of +half-drugged contentment, I sat up and began my story. + +I told it him quite simply--making no attempt to conceal or exaggerate +anything. I described how the idea of making a bolt had come suddenly +into my mind, and how I had acted on it without reflection or +hesitation. Step by step I went quietly through my adventures, from +the time when the fog had rolled down to the moment when, half +fainting with hunger and exhaustion, I had climbed in through his +kitchen window. + +Leaning on the arm of his chair, he listened to me in silence. As far +as any movement or change of expression was concerned a statue could +scarcely have betrayed less interest, but all the time the steady +gleam of his eyes never shifted from my face. + +When I had finished he remained there for several seconds in the same +attitude. Then at last he gave a short mirthless laugh. + +"It must be pleasant to be as strong as you are," he said. "I should +have been dead long ago." + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I don't exactly feel like going to a +dance," I answered. + +He got up and walked slowly as far as the window, where he turned +round and stood staring at me thoughtfully. At last he appeared to +make up his mind. + +"You had better go to bed," he said, "and we will talk things over in +the morning. You are not fit for anything more tonight." + +"No, I'm not," I admitted frankly; "but before I go to bed I should +like to feel a little more certain where I'm going to wake up." + +There was a faint sound outside and I saw him raise his head. It was +the distant but unmistakable hum of a motor, drawing nearer and nearer +every moment. For a few seconds we both stood there listening: then +with a sudden shock I realized that the car had reached the house and +was turning in at the drive. + +Weak as I was I sprang from my chair, scarcely feeling the thrill of +pain that ran through me at the effort. + +"By God!" I cried fiercely, "you've sold me!" + +He whipped out the revolver, pointing it full at my face. + +"Sit down, you fool," he said. "It's not the police." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + +Whatever my intentions may have been--and they were pretty venomous +when I jumped up--the revolver was really an unnecessary precaution. +Directly I was on my feet I went as giddy as a kite, and it was only +by clutching the chair that I saved myself from toppling over. I was +evidently in a worse way than I imagined. + +Lowering his weapon the doctor repeated his order. + +"Sit down, man, sit down. No one means you any harm here." + +"Who is it in the car?" I demanded, fighting hard against the accursed +feeling of faintness that was again stealing through me. + +"They are friends of mine. They have nothing to do with the police. +You will see in a minute." + +I sat down, more from necessity than by choice, and as I did so I +heard the car draw up outside the back door. + +Crossing to the window the doctor threw up the sash. + +"Savaroff!" he called out. + +There came an answer in a man's voice which I was unable to catch. + +"Come in here," went on McMurtrie. "Don't bother about the car." He +turned back to me. "Drink this," he added, pouring out some more +brandy into the wine-glass. I gulped it down and lay back again in my +chair, tingling all through. + +He took my wrist and felt my pulse for a moment. "I know you are +feeling bad," he said, "but we'll get your wet clothes off and put you +to bed in a minute. You will be a different man in the morning." + +"That will be very convenient," I observed faintly. + +There was a noise of footsteps outside, the handle of the door turned, +and a man--a huge bear of a man in a long Astrachan coat--strode +heavily into the room. He was followed by a girl whose face was almost +hidden behind a partly-turned-back motor veil. When they caught sight +of me they both stopped abruptly. + +"Who's this?" demanded the man. + +Dr. McMurtrie made a graceful gesture towards me with his hand. +"Allow me," he said, "to introduce you. Monsieur and Mademoiselle +Savaroff--our distinguished and much-sought-after friend Mr. Neil +Lyndon." + +The big man gave a violent start, and with a little exclamation the +girl stepped forward, turning back her veil. I saw then that she was +remarkably handsome, in a dark, rather sullen-looking sort of way. + +"You will excuse my getting up," I said weakly. "It doesn't seem to +agree with me." + +"Mr. Lyndon," explained the doctor, "is fatigued. I was just proposing +that he should go to bed when I heard the car." + +"How in the name of Satan did he get here?" demanded the other man, +still staring at me in obvious amazement. + +"He came in through the window with the intention of borrowing a +little food. I had happened to see him in the garden, and being under +the natural impression that he was--er--well, another friend of ours, +I ventured to detain him." + +Savaroff gave a short laugh. "But it's incredible," he muttered. + +The girl was watching me curiously. "Poor man," she exclaimed, "he +must be starving!" + +"My dear Sonia," said McMurtrie, "you reflect upon my hospitality. Mr. +Lyndon has been faring sumptuously on bread and milk." + +"But he looks so wet and ill." + +"He is wet and ill," rejoined the doctor agreeably. "That is just the +reason why I am going to ask you to heat some water and light a fire +in the spare bedroom. We don't want to disturb Mrs. Weston at this +time of night. I suppose the bed is made up?" + +Sonia nodded. "I think so. I'll go up and see anyhow." + +With a last glance at me she left the room, and Savaroff, taking off +his coat, threw it across the back of a chair. Then he came up to +where I was sitting. + +"You don't look much like your pictures, my friend," he said, +unwinding the scarf that he was wearing round his neck. + +"Under the circumstances," I replied, "that's just as well." + +He laughed again, showing a set of strong white teeth. "Yes, yes. +But the clothes and the short hair--eh? They would take a lot of +explaining away. It was fortunate for you you chose this house--very +fortunate. You find yourself amongst friends here." + +I nodded. + +I didn't like the man--there was too great a suggestion of the bully +about him, but for all that I preferred him to McMurtrie. + +It was the latter who interrupted. "Come, Savaroff, you take Mr. +Lyndon's other arm and we'll help him upstairs. It is quite time he +got out of those wet things." + +With their joint assistance I hoisted myself out of the chair and, +leaning heavily on the pair of them, hobbled across to the door. Every +step I took sent a thrill of pain through me, for I was as stiff and +sore as though I had been beaten all over with a walking-stick. The +stairs were a bit of a job too, but they managed to get me up somehow +or other, and I found myself in a large sparsely furnished hall lit by +one ill-burning gas jet. There was a door half open on the left, and +through the vacant space I could see the flicker of a freshly lighted +fire. + +They helped me inside, where we found the girl Sonia standing beside a +long yellow bath-tub which she had set out on a blanket. + +"I thought Mr. Lyndon might like a hot bath," she said. "It won't take +very long to warm up the water." + +"Like it!" I echoed gratefully; and then, finding no other words to +express my emotions, I sank down in an easy chair which had been +pushed in front of the fire. + +I think the brandy that McMurtrie had given me must have gone to my +head, or perhaps it was merely the sudden sense of warmth and comfort +coming on top of my utter fatigue. Anyhow I know I fell gradually into +a sort of blissful trance, in which things happened to me very much as +they do in a dream. + +I have a dim recollection of being helped to pull off my soaked and +filthy clothes, and later on of lying back with indescribable felicity +in a heavenly tub of hot water. + +Then I was in bed and somebody was rubbing me, rubbing me all over +with some warm pungent stuff that seemed to take away the pain in my +limbs and leave me just a tingling mass of drowsy contentment. + +After that--well, after that I suppose I fell asleep. + + * * * * * + +I base this last idea upon the fact that the next thing I remember is +hearing some one say in a rather subdued voice: "Don't wake him up. +Let him sleep as long as he likes--it's the best thing for him." + +Whereupon, as was only natural, I promptly opened my eyes. + +Dr. McMurtrie and the dark girl were standing by my bedside, looking +down at me. + +I blinked at them for a moment, wondering in my half-awake state where +the devil I had got to. Then suddenly it all came back to me. + +"Well," said the doctor smoothly, "and how is the patient today?" + +I stretched myself with some care. I was still pretty stiff, and my +throat felt as if some one had been scraping it with sand-paper, but +all the same I knew that I was better--much better. + +"I don't think there's any serious damage," I said hoarsely. "How long +have I been asleep?" + +He looked at his watch. "As far as I remember, you went to sleep +in your bath soon after midnight. It's now four o'clock in the +afternoon." + +I started up in bed. "Four o'clock!" I exclaimed. "Good Lord! I must +get up--I--" + +He laid his hand on my shoulder. "Don't be foolish, my friend," he +said. "You will get up when you are fit to get up. At the present +moment you are going to have something to eat." He turned to the girl. +"What are you thinking of giving him?" he asked. + +"There are plenty of eggs," she said, "and there's some of that fish +we had for breakfast." She answered curtly, almost rudely, looking at +me while she spoke. Her manner gave me the impression that for some +reason or other she and McMurtrie were not exactly on the best of +terms. + +If that was so, he himself betrayed no sign of it. "Either will do +excellently," he said in his usual suave way, "or perhaps our +young friend could manage both. I believe the Dartmoor air is most +stimulating." + +"I shall be vastly grateful for anything," I said, addressing the +girl. "Whatever is the least trouble to cook." + +She nodded and left the room without further remark--McMurtrie looking +after her with what seemed like a faint gleam of malicious amusement. + +"I have brought you yesterday's _Daily Mail_," he said; "I thought it +would amuse you to read the description of your escape. It is quite +entertaining; and besides that there is a masterly little summary of +your distinguished career prior to its unfortunate interruption." He +laid the paper on the bed. "First of all, though," he added, "I will +just look you over. I couldn't find much the matter with you last +night, but we may as well make certain." + +He made a short examination of my throat, and then, after feeling my +pulse, tapped me vigorously all over the chest. + +"Well," he said finally, "you have been through enough to kill two +ordinary men, but except for giving you a slight cold in the head it +seems to have done you good." + +I sat up in bed. "Dr. McMurtrie," I said bluntly, "what does all this +mean? Who are you, and why are you hiding me from the police?" + +He looked down on me, with that curious baffling smile of his. "A +natural and healthy curiosity, Mr. Lyndon," he said drily. "I hope +to satisfy it after you have had something to eat. Till then--" he +shrugged his shoulders--"well, I think you will find the _Daily Mail_ +excellent company." + +He left the room, closing the door behind him, and for a moment I +lay there with an uncomfortable sense of being tangled up in some +exceedingly mysterious adventure. Even such unusual people as Dr. +McMurtrie and his friends do not as a rule take in and shelter escaped +convicts purely out of kindness of heart. There must be a strong +motive for them to run such a risk in my case, but what that motive +could possibly be was a matter which left me utterly puzzled. So far +as I could remember I had never seen any of the three before in my +life. + +I glanced round the room. It was a big airy apartment, with ugly +old-fashioned furniture, and two windows, both of which looked out in +the same direction. The pictures on the wall included an oleograph +portrait of the late King Edward in the costume of an Admiral, a large +engraving of Mr. Landseer's inevitable stag, and several coloured and +illuminated texts. One of the latter struck me as being topical if a +little inaccurate. It ran as follows: + +THE WICKED +FLEE +WHEN NO MAN +PURSUETH + +Over the mantelpiece was a mirror in a mahogany frame. I gazed at it +idly for a second, and then a sudden impulse seized me to get up and +see what I looked like. I turned back the clothes and crawled out of +bed. I felt shaky when I stood up, but my legs seemed to bear me all +right, and very carefully I made my way across to the fireplace. + +The first glance I took in the mirror gave me a shock that nearly +knocked me over. A cropped head and three days' growth of beard will +make an extraordinary difference in any one, but I would never +have believed they could have transformed me into quite such an +unholy-looking ruffian as the one I saw staring back at me out of the +glass. If I had ever been conceited about my personal appearance, that +moment would have cured me for good. + +Satisfied with a fairly brief inspection I returned to the bed, and +arranging the pillow so as to fit the small of my back, picked up the +_Daily Mail_. I happened to open it at the centre page, and the big +heavily leaded headlines caught my eyes straight away. + +ESCAPE OF NEIL LYNDON +FAMOUS PRISONER BREAKS OUT OF DARTMOOR +SENSATIONAL CASE RECALLED + +With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I settled down to read. + +_From our own Correspondent. +Princetown_. + +Neil Lyndon, perhaps the most famous convict at present serving his +sentence, succeeded yesterday in escaping from Princetown. At the +moment of writing he is still at large. + +He formed one of a band of prisoners who were returning from the +quarries late in the afternoon. As the men reached the road which +leads through the plantation to the main gate of the prison, one of +the warders in charge was overcome by an attack of faintness. In the +ensuing confusion, a convict of the name of Cairns, who was walking +at the head of the gang, made a sudden bolt for freedom. He was +immediately challenged and fired at by the Civil Guard. + +The shot took partial effect, but failed for the moment to stop the +runaway, who succeeded in scrambling off into the wood. He was pursued +by the Civil Guard, and it was at that moment that Lyndon, who was in +the rear of the gang, also made a dash for liberty. + +He seems to have jumped the low wall which bounds the plantation, +and although fired at in turn by another of the warders, apparently +escaped injury. + +Running up the hill through the trees, he reached the open slope of +moor on the farther side which divides the plantation from the main +wood. While he was crossing this he was seen from the roadway by +that well-known horse-dealer and pigeon-shot, Mr. Alfred Smith of +Shepherd's Bush, who happened to be on a walking tour in the district. + +Mr. Smith, with characteristic sportsmanship, made a plucky attempt +to stop him; but Lyndon, who had picked up a heavy stick in the +plantation, dealt him a terrific blow on the head that temporarily +stunned him. He then jumped the railings and took refuge in the wood. + +The pursuing warders came up a few minutes later, but by this time a +heavy mist was beginning to settle down over the moor, rendering +the prospect of a successful search more than doubtful. The warders +therefore surrounded the wood with the idea of preventing Lyndon's +escape. + +Taking advantage of the fog, however, the latter succeeded in slipping +out on the opposite side. He was heard climbing the railings by +Assistant-warder Conway, who immediately gave the alarm and closed +with the fugitive. The other warders came running up, but just before +they could reach the scene of the struggle Lyndon managed to +free himself by means of a brutal kick, and darting into the fog +disappeared from sight. + +It is thought that he has made his way over North Hessary and is lying +up in the Walkham Woods. In any case it is practically certain that he +will not be at liberty much longer. It is impossible for him to get +food except by stealing it from a cottage or farm, and directly he +shows himself he is bound to be recaptured. + +Considerable excitement prevails in the district, where all the +inhabitants are keenly on the alert. + +THE MARKS MURDER +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + +The escape of Neil Lyndon recalls one of the most famous crimes of +modern days. + +On the third of October four years ago, as most of our readers will +remember, a gentleman named Mr. Seton Marks was found brutally +murdered in his luxurious flat on the Chelsea Embankment. It was +thought at first that the crime was the work of burglars, for Mr. +Marks's rooms contained many art treasures of considerable value. A +further examination, however, revealed the fact that nothing had been +tampered with, and the next day the whole country was startled and +amazed to learn that Neil Lyndon had been arrested on suspicion. + +At the trial it was proved beyond question that the accused was the +last person in the company of the murdered man. He had gone round to +Mr. Marks's flat at four o'clock in the afternoon, and had apparently +been admitted by the owner. Two hours later Mr. Marks's servant +returning to the flat was horrified to find his master's dead body +lying in the sitting-room. Death had been inflicted by means of a +heavy blow on the back of the head, but the state of the dead man's +face showed that he had been brutally mishandled before being killed. + +The accused, while maintaining his innocence of the murder, did not +deny either his visit to the flat, or the fact that he had inflicted +the other injuries on the deceased. He declined to state the cause of +their quarrel, but the defending counsel produced a witness in the +person of Miss Joyce Aylmer, a young girl of sixteen, who was able to +throw some light on the matter. + +Miss Aylmer, a young lady of considerable beauty, stated that for +about a year she had been working as an art student in Chelsea, and +used occasionally to sit to artists for the head. On the afternoon +before the murder she had had a professional engagement of this kind +with Mr. Marks. There had been a visitor in the flat when she arrived, +but he had left as soon as she came in. Subsequently, according to her +statement, the deceased had acted towards her in an outrageous and +disgraceful manner. She had escaped from his flat with difficulty, and +had subsequently informed Mr. Lyndon of what had taken place. + +In his re-examination, the accused admitted that it was on account +of Miss Aylmer's statement he had visited the flat. Up till then, he +declared, he had had no quarrel with the deceased. + +This statement, however, was directly contradicted by Lyndon's +partner, Mr. George Marwood. Giving his evidence with extreme +reluctance, Mr. Marwood stated that for some time bad blood had +undoubtedly existed between Mr. Marks and the accused. He added that +in his own hearing on two separate occasions the latter had threatened +to kill the deceased. + +Pressed still further, he admitted meeting Mr. Lyndon in Chelsea +on the night of the murder, when the latter had to all intents and +purposes acknowledged his guilt. + +On the evidence there could naturally be only one verdict, and Lyndon +was found guilty and sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Owen. + +A tremendous agitation in favour of his reprieve broke out at once. +Apart from the peculiar circumstances under which the crime was +committed, it was urged that Mr. Lyndon's services to the country as +an inventor should be taken into consideration. Within twenty-four +hours over a million people had signed a petition in his favour, and +the following day His Majesty was pleased to commute the sentence to +one of penal servitude for life. + +There is little doubt, however, that Lyndon would have been released +at the end of ten or twelve years. + +THE ESCAPED CONVICT'S CAREER + +Neil Lyndon is the only son of the well-known explorer Colonel Grant +Lyndon, who perished on the Upper Amazon some fifteen years ago. He +was educated at Haileybury, and Oriel College, Oxford, where he took +the highest honours in chemistry and mathematics. Coming down, he +entered into partnership with his cousin Mr. George Marwood, and +between them the two young inventors met with early and remarkable +success. Their greatest achievement was of course the construction of +the Lyndon-Marwood automatic torpedo, which was taken up four years +ago, after exhaustive tests, by the British Government. + +Lyndon is a man of exceptionally powerful physique. He successfully +represented Oxford as a heavy-weight boxer in his last term, and the +following year was runner up in the Amateur Championship. He is also a +fine long-distance swimmer, and a well-known single-handed yachtsman. + +Mr. George Marwood, whose painful position in connection with the +trial aroused considerable sympathy, has carried on the business alone +since his partner's conviction. Quite recently, as our readers will +recall, he was the victim of a remarkable outrage at his offices in +Victoria Street. While he was working there by himself late at night, +a couple of masked men broke into the building, bound and gagged him, +and proceeded to ransack the safe. It is said that they secured plans +and documents of considerable value, but owing to the non-arrest of +the thieves the exact details have never come to light. + +So ended the _Daily Mail_. + +I finished reading, and taking a long breath, laid down the paper. Up +till then I had heard nothing about the news contained in the last +paragraph, and it sent my memory back at once to the big well-lighted +room in Victoria Street where George and I had spent so many hours +together. I wondered what the valuable "plans and documents" might +be which the thieves were supposed to have secured. In my day we had +always been pretty careful about what we left at the office, and +any really important plans--such as those of the Lyndon-Marwood +torpedo--were invariably kept at the safe deposit across the street. + +From George and the office my thoughts drifted away over the whole +of that crowded time referred to in the paper. Brief and bald as the +narrative was, it brought up before me a dozen vivid memories, which +jostled each other simultaneously in my mind. I saw again poor little +Joyce's tear-stained face, and remembered the shuddering relief with +which she had clung to me as she sobbed out her story. I could recall +the cold rage in which I had set out for Marks's flat, and that first +savage blow of mine that sent him reeling and crashing into one of his +own cabinets. + +Then I was in court again, and George was giving his evidence--the +lying evidence that had been meant to send me to the gallows. +I remembered the cleverly assumed reluctance with which he had +apparently allowed his statements to be dragged from him, and my blood +rose hot in my throat as I thought of his treachery. + +Above all I seemed to see the fat red face of Mr. Justice Owen, with +the ridiculous little three-cornered black cap above it. He had been +very cut up about sentencing me to death, had poor old Owen, and I +could almost hear the broken tones in which he had faltered out the +words: + +"... taken from the place where you now stand to the place whence you +came--hanged by the neck until your body be dead--and may God have +mercy on your soul." + +At this cheerful point in my reminiscences I was suddenly interrupted +by a sharp knock at the door. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + +With a big effort I pulled myself together. "Come in," I called out. + +The door opened, and the girl, Sonia, entered the room. She was +carrying a tray, which she set down on the top of the chest of +drawers. + +"I don't know the least how to thank you for all this," I said. + +She turned round and looked at me curiously from under her dark +eyebrows. + +"For all what?" she asked. + +"This," I repeated, waving my hand towards the tray, "and the hot bath +last night, and incidentally my life. If it hadn't been for you and +Dr. McMurtrie I think my 'career,' as the _Daily Mail_ calls it, would +be pretty well finished by now." + +She stood where she was, her hand on her hip, her eyes fixed on my +face. + +"Do you know why we are helping you?" she asked. + +I shook my head. "I haven't the faintest notion," I answered frankly. +"It certainly can't be on account of the charm of my appearance. I've +just been looking at myself in the glass." + +She shrugged her shoulders half impatiently. "What does a man's +appearance matter? You can't expect to break out of Dartmoor in a +frock-coat." + +"No," I replied gravely; "there must always be a certain lack of +dignity about such a proceeding. Still, when one looks like--well, +like an escaped murderer, it's all the more surprising that one should +be so hospitably received." + +She picked up the tray again, and brought it to my bedside. + +"Oh!" she said; "I shouldn't build too much upon our hospitality if I +were you." + +I took the tray from her hands. "I would build upon yours to any +extent," I said; "but I am under no illusion whatever about Dr. +McMurtrie's disinterestedness. He and your father--it is your father, +isn't it?--are coming up to explain matters as soon as I have had +something to eat." + +She stood silent for a moment, her brows knitted in a frown. + +"They mean you no harm," she said at last, "as long as you will do +what they want." Then she paused. "Did you murder that man Marks?" she +asked abruptly. + +I swallowed down my first mouthful of fish. "No," I said; "I only +knocked him about a bit. He wasn't worth murdering." + +She stared at me as if she was trying to read my thoughts. + +"Is that true?" she said. + +"Well," I replied, "he was alive enough when I left him, judging from +his language." + +"Then why did your partner--Mr. Marwood--why did he say that you had +done it?" + +"That," I said softly, "is a little question which George and I have +got to discuss together some day." + +She walked to the door and then turned. + +"If a man I had trusted and worked with behaved like that to me," she +said slowly, "I should kill him." + +I nodded my approval of the sentiment. "I daresay it will come to +that," I said; "the only thing is one gets rather tired of being +sentenced to death." + +She gave me another long, curious glance out of those dark brown eyes +of hers, and then going out, closed the door behind her. + +For an exceedingly busy and agreeable quarter of an hour I occupied +myself with the contents of the tray. There was some very nicely +grilled whiting, a really fresh boiled egg, a jar of honey, and a +large plate of brown bread and butter cut in sturdy slices. Best of +all, on the edge of the tray were a couple of McMurtrie's cigarettes. +Whether he or Sonia was responsible for this last attention I could +not say. I hoped it was Sonia: somehow or other I did not want to be +too much indebted to Dr. McMurtrie. + +I finished my meal--finished it in the most complete sense of the +phrase--and then, putting down my tray on the floor, reverently +lighted up. I found that my first essay in smoking on the previous +evening had in no way dulled the freshness of my enjoyment, and for +a few minutes I was content to lie there pleasantly indifferent to +everything except the flavour of the tobacco. + +Then my mind began to work. Sonia's questions had once again started a +train of thought which ever since the trial had been running through +my brain with maddening persistence. If I had not killed Marks, who +had? How often had I asked myself that during the past three years, +and how often had I abandoned the problem in utter weariness! +Sometimes, indeed, I had been almost tempted to think the jury must +have been right--that I must have struck the brute on the back of the +head without realizing in my anger what I was doing. Then, when I +remembered how I had left him crouching against the wall, spitting out +curses at me through his cut and bleeding lips, I knew that the idea +was nonsense. The wound which they found in his head must have killed +him instantly. No man who had received a blow like that would ever +speak or move again. + +The one thing I felt certain of was that in some mysterious way or +other George was mixed up in the business. It was incredible that +he could have acted as he did at the trial unless he had had some +stronger reason than mere dislike for me. That he did dislike me I +knew well, but my six years' association with him had taught me that +he would never allow any personal motive to interfere with a chance of +making money. By sending me to the gallows or into penal servitude +he was practically ruining himself, for with all his acuteness and +business knowledge he was quite deficient in any sort of inventive +power. And yet he had not hesitated to do it, and to do it by a piece +of lying sufficiently cold-blooded and deliberate to make Judas pale +with envy. + +If there had been any apparent chance of his being able to rob me by +the proceeding, I could have understood it. But my business interests +as far as past inventions went were safe in the hands of my lawyers, +and although I had told him a certain amount about the new explosive +which I had been working at, it was quite impossible for him to turn +it to any practical use. + +No, George must have had some other reason for perjuring his +unpleasant soul, and the only one I could think of was that he had +purposely turned the case against me in order to shield the real +murderer. He had been fairly well acquainted with the dead man, I +knew--their tastes indeed ran on somewhat similar lines--and it was +just possible that he was aware who had committed the crime. + +The thought filled me, as it always had filled me, with a bitter fury. +Again and again in my cell I had fancied myself escaping from the +prison and choking the truth out of my cousin's throat with my +fingers, and now that the first part of this picture had come true, I +vowed silently to myself that nothing should stop the remainder from +following it. Whatever McMurtrie might propose, I would see George +once again face to face, even if death or recapture was the price I +had to pay. + +I had just arrived at this conclusion when I heard the sound of +footsteps in the passage outside. Then the handle of the door turned, +and McMurtrie appeared on the threshold with Savaroff looming up +behind him. There was a moment's silence, while the doctor stood there +smiling down on me as blandly as ever. + +"May we come in?" he inquired. "We are not interrupting your tea, I +hope." + +"No, I have done tea, thank you," I said, with a gesture towards the +tray. + +Why it was so, I can't say, but McMurtrie's politeness always filled +me with a feeling of repulsion. There was something curiously sinister +about it. + +He stepped forward into the room, followed by Savaroff, who closed the +door behind him. The latter then lounged across and sat down on the +window-sill, McMurtrie remaining standing by my bedside. + +"You have read the _Mail_, I see," he said, picking up the paper. "I +hope you admired the size of the headlines." + +"It's the type of compliment," I replied, "that I have had rather too +much of." + +Savaroff broke out into a short gruff laugh. "Our friend," he said, +"is modest--so modest. He does not thirst for more fame. He would +retire into private life if they would let him." + +He chuckled to himself, as though enjoying the subtlety of his own +humour. Unlike his daughter, he spoke English with a distinctly +foreign accent. + +"Ah, yes," said Dr. McMurtrie amiably; "but then, Mr. Lyndon is one of +those people that we can't afford to spare. Talents such as his are +intended for use." He took off his glasses and began to polish them +thoughtfully. "One might almost say that he held them in trust--in +trust for Providence." + +There was a short silence. + +"And is it on account of my talents that you have been kind enough to +shelter me?" I asked bluntly. + +The doctor readjusted his pince-nez, and seated himself with some +deliberation on the foot of the bed. + +"The instinct to assist a hunted fellow-creature," he observed, "is +almost universal." Then he paused. "I take it, Mr. Lyndon, that you +are not particularly anxious to rejoin your friends in Princetown?" + +I shook my head. "Not if there is a more pleasant alternative." + +Savaroff grunted. "No alternative is likely to be more unpleasant for +you," he said harshly. + +The touch of bullying in his tone put my back up at once. "Indeed!" I +said: "I can imagine several." + +McMurtrie's smooth voice intervened. "But ours, Mr. Lyndon, is one +which I think will make a very special appeal to you. How would you +like to keep your freedom and at the same time take up your scientific +work again?" + +I looked at him closely. For once there was no trace of mockery in his +eyes. + +"I should like it very much indeed, if it was possible," I answered. + +McMurtrie leaned forward a little. "It is possible," he said quietly. + +There was a short pause. Savaroff pulled out a cigar, bit off the end, +and spat it into the fireplace. Then he reached sideways to the chest +of drawers for a match. + +"Explain to him," he said, jerking his head towards me. + +McMurtrie glanced at him--it seemed to me a shade impatiently. Then he +turned back to me. + +"For some time before Mr. Marks's unfortunate death," he said slowly, +"you had been experimenting with a new explosive." + +I nodded my head. I had no idea how he had got his information, for as +far as I was aware George was the only person who had any knowledge of +my secret. + +"And I believe you were just on the point of success when you were +arrested?" + +"Theoretically I was," I said. "These matters don't always work out +quite so well when you put them to a practical test." + +"Still, you yourself were quite satisfied with the prospects?" + +I nodded again. + +"And unless I am wrong, this new explosive will be immensely more +powerful than anything now in use?" + +"Immensely," I repeated; "in fact, there would be no practical +comparison between them." + +"Can you give me any idea as to its strength?" + +I hesitated. "According to my calculations," I said slowly, "it ought +to prove at least twenty times as powerful as gun-cotton." + +Savaroff uttered a hoarse exclamation and sat upright in his seat. + +"Are you speaking the truth?" he asked roughly. + +I stared him full in the face, and then without answering turned back +to McMurtrie. + +The latter made a gesture with his hand. "Leave the matter to me, +Savaroff," he said sharply. "I understand Mr. Lyndon better than you +do." Then addressing me: "Supposing you had all the things that you +required, how long would it take you to manufacture some of this +powder--or whatever it is?" + +"It's difficult to say," I answered. "Perhaps a week; perhaps a couple +of months. I could make the actual stuff at once provided I had the +materials, but it's a question of doing it in such a way that one can +handle it safely for practical purposes. I was experimenting on that +very point at the time of my arrest." + +McMurtrie nodded his head slowly. "You have been candid with us," +he said, "and now I will be equally candid with you. My friend M. +Savaroff and myself are very largely interested in the manufacture +of high explosives. The appearance of an invention like yours on the +market would be a very serious matter indeed for us. On the other +hand, if we had control of it, we should, I imagine, be in a position +to dictate our own terms." + +"You certainly would," I said; "there is no question about that. My +explosive would be no more expensive to manufacture than cordite." + +"So you see when some exceedingly convenient chance brought you in +through our kitchen window it naturally occurred to me to invite you +to stay and discuss the matter. You happen to be in a position in +which you could be useful to us, and I think that we, on the other +hand, might be of some assistance to you." + +He leant back and watched me with that cold smile of his. + +"What do you say, Mr. Lyndon?" he added. + +I did some rapid but necessary thinking. It was quite true that the +new explosive would knock the bottom out of the present methods of +manufacture, and McMurtrie's interests in the matter might well be +large enough to make him run the risk of helping me. There seemed no +reason to doubt that he was speaking the truth--and yet, somehow or +other I mistrusted him--mistrusted him from my soul. + +"How did you know about my experiments?" I asked quietly. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "There are such things as trade secrets. It +is necessary for a business man to keep in touch with anything that +may threaten his interests." + +I hesitated a second. "What is it that you propose--exactly?" I +inquired. + +I saw--or thought I saw--the faintest possible gleam of satisfaction +steal into his eyes. + +"I propose that you should finish your experiments as soon as +possible, make some of this explosive, and hand the actual stuff +and the full secret of its manufacture over to us. In return I will +guarantee you your freedom, and let you have a quarter interest in all +profits we make out of your invention." + +He brought out these somewhat startling terms as coolly as though it +were an every-day custom of his to do business with escaped convicts. +I bent down from the bed, and under cover of picking up my second +cigarette from the tray, secured a few useful moments for considering +the situation. + +"I have no objection to the bargain," I said slowly, helping myself to +a match off the table; "the only question is whether it is possible to +carry it out. My experiments aren't the kind that can be conducted +in a back bedroom. I should want a large shed of some kind, and the +farther away it was from any houses the better. There is always the +chance of blowing oneself up at this sort of business, and in that +case an explosive like mine would probably wreck everything within a +couple of miles." + +"You shall work under any conditions you please," said McMurtrie +amiably. "If it suits you we will fix you up a hut and some sheds down +on the Thames marshes, and you can live there till the experiments are +finished." + +"But I should be recognized," I objected. "I am bound to be +recognized. I am fairly well known as it is, and with my picture and +description placarded all over England, I shouldn't stand a dog's +chance. However lonely a place it was, some one would be bound to see +me and give me away sooner or later." + +McMurtrie shook his head. "You may be seen," he said, "but there is no +reason why you should be recognized." + +I paused in the act of lighting my cigarette. "What do you mean?" I +asked with some curiosity. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," said McMurtrie, courteously, "as a scientist +yourself you don't imagine that it's beyond the art of an intelligent +surgeon to cope with a little difficulty like that?" + +"But in what way?" I objected. "A disguise? Any one can see through a +disguise except in novels." + +The doctor smiled. "I am not suggesting a wig and a pair of +spectacles," he observed. "It is rather too late in the world's +history for that sort of thing." Then he stopped and studied me for an +instant attentively. "In a fortnight, and practically without hurting +you," he added, "I can make you as safe from the police as if you were +dead and buried." + +I sat up in bed. "Under the circumstances," I said, "you'll excuse my +being a little inquisitive." + +"Oh, there is no secret about it. Any surgeon could do it. I have +only to alter the shape of your nose a trifle, and make your forehead +rather higher and wider. A stain of some sort will do the rest." + +"Yes," I said; "but what about the first part of the programme?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. "Child's play," he answered. "Merely a +question of paraffin injections and the X-rays." + +He spoke with such careless confidence that for once it was impossible +to doubt his sincerity. + +I lay back again and drew in a large exulting lungful of cigarette +smoke. I had suddenly realized that if McMurtrie's offer was genuine, +and he could really do what he promised, there were no longer any +difficulties in the way of my getting at George. The idea of meeting +him, and perhaps even speaking to him, without his being able to +recognize me filled me with a wicked satisfaction that no words can do +justice to. + +I don't think I betrayed my emotion, however, for McMurtrie's keen +eyes were on me, and I was not in the least anxious to take him into +my confidence. I blew out the smoke in a grey cloud, and then, raising +myself on my elbow carefully flicked the ash off my cigarette. + +"How am I to know that you will keep your promise?" I asked. + +Savaroff made an angry movement, but before he could speak, McMurtrie +had broken in. + +"You forget what an embarrassing position we shall be putting +ourselves in, Mr. Lyndon," he said with perfect good temper. +"Shielding a runaway convict is an indictable offence--to say nothing +of altering his appearance. As for the money"--he made a little +gesture of contempt--"well, do you think it would pay us to cheat you? +There is always the chance that a gentleman who can invent things like +this explosive and the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo may have other equally +satisfactory notions." + +"Very well," I said quietly. "I will accept the offer on one +condition--that I can have a week in London before beginning work." + +With an oath Savaroff started up from the window-sill. + +"Gott in Himmel! and who are you to make terms?" he exclaimed roughly. +"Why, we have only to send you back to the prison and you will be +flogged like a dog!" + +"In which distressing event," I observed, "you would not get your +explosive." + +"My dear Savaroff," interrupted McMurtrie, soothingly, "there is +no need to threaten Mr. Lyndon. I am sure that he appreciates the +situation." Then he turned to me. "I suppose you have some reason for +making this condition?" + +Silently in my heart I invoked the shade of Ananias. + +"If you had been in Dartmoor three years," I said, with a rather +well-forced laugh, "you would find several excellent reasons for +wanting a week in London." + +My acting must have been good, for I could have sworn I saw a faint +expression of relieved contempt flicker across McMurtrie's face. + +"I see. A little holiday--a brief taste of the pleasures of liberty! +Well, that seems to me a very natural and reasonable request. What do +you think, Savaroff?" + +That gentleman contented himself with a singularly ungracious grunt. + +"I don't think there would be much risk about it," I said boldly. "If +you can change my appearance as completely as you say you can, no one +would be the least likely to recognize me. After three years of that +dog's life up there I can't settle down in a hut on the Thames marshes +without having a few days' fun first. I should be very careful what +I did naturally. I have had quite enough of the prison to appreciate +being outside." + +McMurtrie nodded. "Very well," he said slowly. "I see no objection to +your having your 'few days' fun' in London if you want them. It would +be safer perhaps to get you away from this house as soon as possible. +I should think three weeks would be quite enough for our purposes +here--and I daresay it will take us a month to fix up a satisfactory +place for you to work in." Then he paused. "Of course if you go to +town," he added, "you will have to stay at some address we shall +arrange for, and you will have to be ready to start work directly we +tell you to." + +"Naturally," I said; "I only want--" + +I was saved from finishing my falsehood by a sudden sound from +outside--the sound of a swing gate banging against its post. For a +moment I had a horrible feeling that it might be the police. + +Savaroff jumped up and looked out of the window. Then with a little +guttural exclamation he turned back to McMurtrie. + +"Hoffman!" he muttered, apparently in some surprise. + +Who Mr. Hoffman might be I had not the faintest notion, but the +mention of the name brought the doctor to his feet at once. I think +he was rather annoyed with Savaroff for being unnecessarily +communicative. When he spoke, however, it was with his usual perfect +composure. + +"Well, we will leave you at peace now, Mr. Lyndon. I should try to go +to sleep again for a little while if I were you. I will come up later +and see whether you would like some supper." He stopped and looked +round the room. "Is there anything else you want that you haven't +got?" + +"If you could advance me a box of cigarettes," I said, "it shall be +the first charge on the new explosive." + +He nodded, smiling. "I will send Sonia up with it," he answered. Then, +following Savaroff, he went out into the passage, carefully closing +the door after him. + +Left alone, I lay back on the pillow in a frame of mind which I +believe novelists describe as "chaotic." I had expected something +rather unusual from my interview with McMurtrie, but these proposals +of his could hardly be classed under such a mild heading as that. For +sheer unexpectedness they about took the biscuit. + +I had read in books of a man's appearance being altered so completely +that even his best friends failed to recognize him, but it had never +occurred to me that such a thing could be done in real life--let alone +in the simple fashion outlined by the doctor. Of course, if he was +speaking the truth, there seemed no reason why his plan, fantastic as +it might sound, should not turn out perfectly successful. A private +hut on the Thames marshes was about the last place in which you would +look for an escaped Dartmoor convict, especially when he had vanished +into thin air within a few miles of Devonport. + +What worried me most in the matter was my apparent good luck in having +fallen on my feet in this amazing fashion. There is a limit to one's +belief in coincidences, and the extraordinary combination of chances +suggested by McMurtrie's smooth explanations was just a little too +stiff for me to swallow. I felt sure that he was lying in some +important particulars--but precisely which they were I was unable to +guess for certain. + +That he wanted the secret of the new explosive, and wanted it badly, +there could be no doubt, but neither he nor Savaroff in the least +suggested to me a successful manufacturer of cordite or anything +else. They seemed to me to belong to a much more interesting if less +conventional type, and I couldn't help wondering what on earth such +a curious trio as they and Sonia could be doing tucked away in an +ill-furnished, deserted-looking country house in a corner of South +Devon. + +However it was no good worrying, for as far as I was concerned it was +painfully clear that there was no alternative. If I declined their +offer and refused to let McMurtrie carve my face about, they had only +to turn me out, and in a few hours I should probably be back in my +cell with the cheerful prospect of chains, a flogging, and six months' +semi-starvation in front of me. + +Anything was better than that--even the wildest of plunges in the +dark. Indeed I am not at all sure that the mystery that surrounded +McMurtrie's offer did not lend it a certain charm in my eyes. My life +had been so infernally dull for the last three years that the prospect +of a little excitement, even of an unpleasant kind, was by no means +wholly disagreeable. + +At least I had my week's "fun" in London to look forward to, and the +thought of that alone would have been quite enough to make me go +through with anything. I had lied to McMurtrie about my object, +but the falsehood, such as it was, did not sit very heavily on my +conscience. The precise meaning of "fun" is purely a matter of +opinion, and I was as much entitled to my definition as he was to his. +After all, if a convicted murderer can't be a little careless about +the exact truth, who the devil can? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + +McMurtrie had left me under the impression that he meant to start work +on my face the next day, but as it turned out the impression was a +mistaken one. Both the paraffin wax and the X-ray outfit had to be +procured from London, and according to Sonia it was to see about these +that her father went off to town early the following morning. She told +me this when she brought me up my breakfast, just after I had heard +the car drive away from the house. + +"Well, I suppose I had better get up too," I said. "I can't stop in +bed and be waited on by you." + +"You've got to," she replied curtly, "unless you would rather I sent +up Mrs. Weston." + +"Who's Mrs. Weston?" I inquired. + +Sonia placed the tray on my bed. "She's our housekeeper. She's deaf +and dumb." + +"There are worse things," I observed, "in a housekeeper." Then I sat +up and pulled my breakfast towards me. "Of course I would much rather +you looked after me. I was only thinking of the trouble I'm giving +you." + +"Oh, it's not much trouble," she said; then after a little pause she +added, in a rather curious voice: "Anyway I shouldn't mind if it was." + +"But I am feeling perfectly fit this morning," I persisted. "I might +just as well get up if your father would lend me some kit. I don't +think I could squeeze into McMurtrie's." + +She shook her head. "The doctor says you are to stop where you are. +He is coming up to see you." Then she hesitated. "One of the prison +warders called here last night to warn us that you were probably +hiding in the neighbourhood." + +"That was kind," I said, "if a little belated. Had they found the +bicycle?" + +"No," she answered, "and they are not likely to. My father went out +and brought it in the night you arrived. It's buried in the back +garden." + +There was another short silence, and then she seated herself on the +foot of the bed. "Tell me," she said, "this girl--Joyce Aylmer--do you +love her?" + +The question came out so unexpectedly that it took me by utter +surprise. I stopped in the middle of conveying a piece of bacon to my +mouth and laid it down again on the plate. + +"Why, Joyce is only a child," I said; "at least she was when I went to +prison. We were all in love with her in a sort of way. Her father had +been an artist in Chelsea before he died, and we looked on her as +a kind of general trust. She used to run in and out of the various +studios just as she pleased. That was the reason I was so furious with +Marks. It was impossible to believe that a man who wasn't an absolute +fiend could--" I pulled up short in some slight embarrassment. + +"But she is not a child now," remarked Sonia calmly. "According to the +paper she must be nineteen." + +"Yes," I said, "I suppose people grow older even when I'm in prison." + +"And she loves you--she must love you. Do you think any woman could +help loving a man who had done what you did for her?" + +"Oh, I expect she has forgotten all about me long ago," I said with +a sudden bitterness. "People who go to prison can't expect to be +remembered--except by the police." + +I had spoken recklessly, and even while the words were on my tongue a +vision of Joyce's honest blue eyes rose reproachfully in my mind. I +remembered the terrible heartbroken little note which she had sent me +after the trial, and then her other letter which I had received in +Dartmoor--almost more pitiful in its brave attempt to keep hope and +interest alive in my heart. + +Sonia leaned forward, her hands clasped in her lap. + +"I thought," she said slowly, "I thought that perhaps you wanted to go +to London in order to meet her." + +I shook my head. "I am not quite so selfish as that. I have brought +her enough trouble and unhappiness already." + +"Then it is your cousin that you mean to see," she said softly--"this +man, Marwood, who sent you to the prison." + +For a second I was silent. It had suddenly occurred to me that in +asking these questions Sonia might be acting under the instructions of +McMurtrie or her father. + +She saw my hesitation and evidently guessed the cause. + +"Oh, you needn't think I shall repeat what you tell me," she broke +out almost scornfully. "The doctor and my father are quite capable of +taking care of themselves. They don't want me to act as their spy." + +There was a genuine ring of dislike in her voice as she mentioned +their names which made me believe that she was speaking the truth. + +"Well," I said frankly, "I was thinking of looking up George just to +see how he has been getting on in my absence. But apart from that I +have every intention of playing straight with McMurtrie. It seems to +me to be my only chance." + +A bell tinkled faintly somewhere away in the house, and Sonia got up +off the bed. + +"It _is_ your only chance," she said quietly, "but it may be a better +one than you imagine." + +And with this encouraging if somewhat obscure remark she went out and +left me to my thoughts. + +McMurtrie came up about an hour later. Suave and courteous as ever, +he knocked at my door before entering the room, and wished me good +morning in the friendliest of fashions. + +"I have brought you another _Daily Mail_--yesterday's," he said, +throwing the paper down on the bed. "It contains the second instalment +of your adventures." Then he paused and looked at me with that curious +smile that seemed to begin and end with his lips. "Well," he added, +"and how are the stiffness and the sore throat this morning?" + +"Gone," I said, "both of them. I have no excuse for stopping in bed +except lack of clothes." + +He nodded and sat down on the window-sill. "I daresay we can find a +way out of that difficulty. My friend Savaroff would, I am sure, be +delighted to lend you some garments to go on with. You seem to be much +of a size." + +"Well, I should be delighted to accept them," I said. "Even the joy of +being in a real bed again begins to wear off after two days." + +"I am afraid you can't expect very much liberty while you are our +guest," he said, leaning back against the window. "It would be too +dangerous for you to go outside the house, even at night time. I +expect Sonia told you about our visitor yesterday." + +"Yes," I said; "I should like to have heard the interview." + +"It was quite interesting. From what he told me I should say that few +prisoners have been more missed than you are. It appears that there +are over seventy warders hunting about the neighbourhood, to say +nothing of volunteers." + +"I seem to be giving a lot of trouble," I said sadly. + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Not to us. I am only sorry that +we can't offer you a more entertaining visit." He opened his case and +helped himself to a cigarette. "On the whole, however, I daresay you +won't find the time drag so very much. There will be the business +of altering your appearance--I hope to start on that the day after +tomorrow--and then I want you to make me out a full list of everything +you will need in connection with your experiments. It would be best +perhaps to have a drawing of the actual shed--just as you would like +it fitted up. You might start on this right away." + +"Certainly," I said. "I shall be glad to have something to do." + +"And I don't suppose you will mind much if we can't arrange anything +very luxurious for you in the way of living accommodation. We shall +have to choose as lonely a place as possible, and it will probably +involve your feeding chiefly on tinned food, and roughing it a bit +generally. It won't be for very long." + +"I shan't mind in the least," I said. "Anything will be comfortable +after Princetown. As long as you can fix me up with what I want for my +work I shan't grumble about the rest." + +He nodded again in a satisfied manner. "By the way," he said, "I +suppose you never wore a beard or a moustache before you went to +prison?" + +"Only once in some amateur theatricals," I answered "and then the +moustache came off." + +"They will make a great difference in your appearance by themselves," +he went on, looking at me critically. "I wonder how long they will +take to grow." + +I passed my hand up my face, which was already covered with a thick +stubble about half an inch in length. "At the present rate of +progress," I said, "I should think about a week." + +McMurtrie smiled. "Another fortnight on top of that will be nearer the +mark, I expect," he said, getting up from the bed. "That will just fit +in with our arrangements. In three weeks we ought to be able to fix +you up with what you want, and by that time there won't be quite so +much excitement about your escape. The _Daily Mail_ will have become +tired of you, even if the police haven't." He stopped to flick the ash +off his cigarette. "Of course you will have to be extremely careful +when you are in London. I shall change your appearance so that it +will be quite impossible for any one to recognize you, but there will +always be the danger of somebody remembering your voice." + +"I can disguise that to a certain extent," I said. "Besides, it's not +likely that I shall run across any one I know well. I only want to +amuse myself for two or three evenings, and the West End's a large +place as far as amusement goes." Then I paused. "If you really thought +it was too risky," I added carelessly, "I would give up the idea." + +It was a bold stroke--but it met with the success that it deserved. +Any lingering doubts McMurtrie may have had about my intentions were +apparently dispersed. + +"I think you will work all the better for a short holiday," he said; +"and I am sure you are sensible enough to keep out of any trouble." + +He walked to the door, and stood for a moment with his hand on the +knob. "I will send you up the clothes and some paper and ink," he +added. "Then you can get up or write in bed--just as you like." + +After three years of granite quarrying--broken only by a short spell +of sewing mailsacks--the thought of getting back to a more congenial +form of work was a decidedly pleasant one. During the half-hour that +elapsed before Sonia came up with my things, I lay in bed, busily +pondering over various points in connection with my approaching task. +I had often done the same in the long solitary hours in my cell, and +worked out innumerable figures and details in connection with it on my +prison slate. Most of them, however, I had only retained vaguely in my +head, for it is one of the intelligent rules of our cheerful convict +system to allow no prisoner to make permanent notes of anything that +might be of possible service to him after his release. + +There seemed, therefore, every prospect that I should be fully +occupied for some time to come. Indeed, it was not until I had dressed +myself in Savaroff's clothes (they fitted me excellently) and sat down +at the table with a pen and a pile of foolscap in front of me, that I +realized what a lengthy task I had taken on. + +All my rough notes--those invaluable notes and calculations that I +had spent eighteen months over--were packed away in my safe at the +Victoria Street office. I had not bothered about them at the time, for +when you are being tried for your life other matters are apt to assume +a certain degree of unimportance. Besides, although I had told George +of their existence, I knew very well that, being jotted down in a +private cypher, no one except myself would be able to make head or +tail of what they were about. + +Still they would naturally have been of immense help to me now if I +could have got hold of them. Clear as the main details were in my +mind, I saw I should have to go over a good bit of old ground before +I could make out the exact list of my requirements which McMurtrie +needed. + +All that afternoon and the whole of the following day I stuck steadily +to my task. I had little to interrupt me, for with the exception +of Sonia who brought me up my meals, and the old deaf-and-dumb +housekeeper who came to do my room about midday, I saw or heard +nobody. McMurtrie did not appear again, and Savaroff, as I knew, was +away in London. + +I took an hour off in the evening for the purpose of studying the +_Daily Mail_, which proved to be quite as entertaining as the previous +issue. There were two and a half columns about me altogether, the +first consisting of a powerful if slightly inaccurate description of +how I had stolen the bicycle, and the remainder dealing with various +features of my crime and my escape. It was headed: + +STILL AT LARGE +NEIL LYNDON'S FIGHT FOR LIBERTY + +and I settled myself down to read with a feeling of enjoyment that +would doubtless have gratified Lord Northcliffe had he been fortunate +enough to know about it. + +"Neil Lyndon," it began, "whose daring escape from Princetown was +fully described in yesterday's _Daily Mail_, has so far successfully +baffled his pursuers. Not only is he still at liberty, but having +possessed himself of a bicycle and a change of clothes by means of an +amazingly audacious burglary, it is quite possible that he has managed +to get clear away from the immediate neighbourhood." + +This opening paragraph was followed by a full and vivid description of +my raid on the bicycle house. It appeared that the machine which I +had borrowed was the property of a certain Major Hammond, who, when +interviewed by the representative of the _Mail_, expressed himself of +the opinion that I was a dangerous character and that I ought to be +recaptured without delay. + +The narrative then shifted to my dramatic appearance on the bicycle, +as witnessed by the surprised eyes of Assistant-warder Marshfield. +According to that gentleman I had flashed past him at a terrific +speed, hurling a handful of gravel in his face, which had temporarily +blinded him. With amazing pluck and presence of mind he had recovered +himself in time to puncture my back wheel, a feat of marksmanship +which, as the _Daily Mail_ observed, was "highly creditable under the +circumstances." + +From that point it seemed that all traces of me had ceased. Both I and +the bicycle had vanished into space as completely as Elijah and his +fiery chariot, and not all the united brains of Carmelite House +appeared able to suggest a wholly satisfactory solution. + +"Lyndon," said the _Mail_, "may have succeeded in reaching Plymouth on +the stolen machine, and there obtained the food and shelter of which +by that time he must have been sorely in need. On the other hand it +is possible that, starved, frozen, and most likely wounded, he is +crouching in some remote coppice, grimly determined to perish rather +than to surrender himself to the warders." + +It was "possible," certainly, but as a guess at the truth that was +about all that could be said for it. + +The thing that pleased me most in the whole paper, however, was the +interview with George in the third column. It was quite short--only a +six-line paragraph headed "Mr. Marwood and the Escape," but brief as +it was, it filled me with a rich delight. + +"Interviewed by our Special Correspondent at his residence on the +Chelsea Embankment, Mr. George Marwood was reluctant to express any +opinion on the escape. 'The whole thing,' he said, 'is naturally +extremely distasteful to me. I can only hope that the unhappy man may +be recaptured before he succumbs to exposure, and before he has the +chance to commit any further acts of robbery and violence.'" + +In regard to the last sentiment I had not the faintest doubt that +George was speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart. As long as +I was at liberty his days and nights would be consumed by an acute and +painful anxiety. He was no doubt haunted by the idea that I had broken +prison largely for the purpose of renewing our old acquaintance, and +the thought that I might possibly succeed in my object must have been +an extremely uncomfortable one. I laughed softly to myself as I sat +and pictured his misgivings. It cheered me to think that whatever +happened later he would be left in this gnawing suspense for at least +another three weeks. After that I might perhaps see my way to relieve +it. + +There were other people, I reflected, who must have read the _Mail_ +with an equally deep if rather different interest. I tried to fancy +how the news of my escape had affected Joyce. For all my cynical +outburst in the morning, I knew well that no truer or more honest +little heart ever beat in a girl's breast, and that the uncertainty +about my fate must even now be causing her the utmost distress. + +Then there was Tommy Morrison. Somehow or other I didn't think Tommy +would be quite as anxious as Joyce. I could almost see him slapping +his leg and laughing that great laugh of his, as he read about my +theft of the bicycle and my wild dash down the hill past the warder. +He was a great believer in me, was Tommy--and I felt sure that nothing +but the news of my recapture would shake his faith in my ability to +survive. + +It was good to know that, whatever the rest of the world might be +thinking, these two at least would be following my escape with a +passionate hope that I should pull through. + +Just about six o'clock in the evening of the next day Savaroff +returned. I heard the car drive up to the house, and then came the +sound of voices and footsteps, followed by the banging of a door. +After that there was silence for perhaps twenty minutes while my two +hosts were presumably talking together in one of the rooms below. +Whether Sonia was with them or not I could not tell. + +At last I heard some one mounting the stairs, and a moment later +McMurtrie's figure framed itself in the doorway. + +"I'm afraid I am interrupting your work," he said, standing on the +threshold and looking down at the sheets of foolscap which littered +the table in front of me. + +"Not a bit," I returned cheerfully. "I've just finished"; and I began +to gather up the fruits of my two-days' toil into something like +order. + +He shut the door and came across to where I was sitting. "Do you mean +you have made out the full list of what you want?" he asked, picking +up one of the sheets and running his eye rapidly over the notes and +calculations. + +"I have done it all in the rough," I replied, "except the drawing of +the shed. That will only take an hour or so." + +"Excellent," he exclaimed. "I can see there won't be much time wasted +when we once get to work." Then he laid down the paper. "Tomorrow +morning I propose trying the first of our little operations. Savaroff +has brought me the things I needed, and I think we can finish the +whole business in a couple of days." + +"What part of me are you going to start on?" I inquired with some +interest. + +"I think I shall alter the shape of your nose first," he said. "It's +practically a painless operation--just one injection of hot paraffin +wax under the skin. After that you have only to keep quiet for a +couple of hours so that the wax can set in the right shape." + +"What about the X-ray treatment?" I asked. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "That's perfectly simple too. Merely a +matter of covering up everything except the part that we want exposed. +One uses a specially prepared sort of lead sheeting. There is +absolutely no danger or difficulty about it." + +I thought at first that he might be purposely minimizing both +operations in order to put me at my ease, but as it turned out he was +telling me nothing except the literal truth. + +At half-past ten the next morning he came up to my room with Sonia in +attendance, the latter carrying a Primus stove and a small black bag. + +At his own suggestion I had stayed in bed, and from between the sheets +I viewed their entrance not without a certain whimsical feeling of +regret. When one has had a nose of a particular shape for the best +part of thirty years it is rather a wrench to feel that one is +abandoning it for a stranger. I passed my fingers down it almost +affectionately. + +McMurtrie, who appeared to be in the best of spirits, wished me +good-morning in that silkily polite manner of his which I was getting +to dislike more and more. Sonia said nothing. She simply put the +things down on the table by my bedside, and then stood there with +the air of sullen hostility which she seemed generally to wear in +McMurtrie's presence. + +"I feel rather like a gladiator," I said. "Morituri te salutant!" + +McMurtrie, who had taken a shallow blue saucepan out of the bag and +was filling it with hot water, looked up with a smile. + +"It will be all over in a minute," he said, reassuringly. "The only +trouble is keeping the wax liquid while one is actually injecting it. +One has to stand it in boiling water until the last second." + +He put the saucepan on the stove, and then produced out of the bag +a little china-clay cup, which he stood in the water. Into this he +dropped a small lump of transparent wax. + +We waited for a minute until the latter melted, McMurtrie filling up +the time by carefully sponging the bridge of my nose with some liquid +antiseptic. Then, picking up what seemed like an ordinary hypodermic +syringe, he warmed it carefully by holding it close to the Primus. + +"Now," he said; "all you have to do is to keep perfectly still. You +will just feel the prick of the needle and the smart of the hot wax, +but it won't really hurt. If you move you will probably spoil the +operation." + +"Go ahead," I answered encouragingly. + +He dipped the syringe in the cup, and then with a quick movement of +his hand brought it across my face. I felt a sharp stab, followed +instantly by a stinging sensation all along the bridge of the nose. +McMurtrie dropped the syringe at once, and taking the skin between his +fingers began to pinch and mould it with swift, deft touches into the +required shape. I lay as motionless as possible, hoping that things +were prospering. + +It seemed to me a long time before the job was finished, though I +daresay it was in reality only a matter of forty-five seconds. I +know I felt vastly relieved when, with a quick intake of his breath, +McMurtrie suddenly sat back and began to contemplate his work. + +"Well?" I inquired anxiously. + +He nodded his head, with every appearance of satisfaction. + +"I think we can call it a complete success," he said. Then he stepped +back and looked at me critically from a couple of paces away. "What do +you think, Sonia?" he asked. + +"I suppose it's what you wanted," she said, in a rather grudging, +ungracious sort of fashion. + +"If you won't think me vain," I observed, "I should like to have a +look at myself in the glass." + +McMurtrie walked to the fireplace and unhooked the small mirror which +hung above the mantelpiece. + +"I would rather you waited for a couple of days if you don't mind," he +said. "You know what you used to look like better than any one else, +and it will be a good test if you see yourself quite suddenly when +the whole thing is finished. I will borrow this--and keep you out of +temptation." + +"Just as you like," I returned. "It will at least give me time to +train myself for the shock." + +Quick and easy as the first operation had been, the second proved +equally simple. The only apparatus it involved was an ordinary X-ray +machine, with a large glass globe attached to it, which McMurtrie +brought up the next morning and arranged carefully by my bedside. On +his pressing down a switch, which he did for my benefit, the whole +interior of this globe became flooded with those curious lambent +violet rays, which have altered so many of our previous notions on the +subject of light and its power. + +McMurtrie placed me in position, and then producing a large sheet of +finely-beaten-out lead, proceeded to bend and twist it into a sort of +weird-looking helmet. When I put this on it covered my head and face +almost completely, leaving only an inch of hair along the forehead and +perhaps a little more over each temple exposed to the light. + +Thus equipped, I sat for perhaps an hour in the full glare of the +machine. It was dull work, and as McMurtrie made no attempt to enliven +it by conversation I was not sorry when he eventually flicked off the +switch, and relieved me of my headgear. + +I had expected my hair to tumble out in a lump, but as a matter of +fact it was over two days in accomplishing the task. There was no +discomfort about the process: it just came off gradually all along +my forehead, leaving a smooth bare line which I could feel with my +fingers. As soon as it was all gone, McMurtrie proceeded to decorate +me with some kind of stain that he had specially prepared for my +face and neck--a composition which according to him would remain +practically unaffected either by washing or exposure. It smelt +damnably in the pot, but directly it was rubbed in this slight +drawback disappeared. + +I was naturally anxious to see what result all these attentions had +had upon my personal appearance, but McMurtrie insisted on my waiting +until my hair and beard had grown to something like a tolerable +length. I can well remember the little thrill of excitement that +ran through me when, on the fourth day after my first operation, he +brought me back the looking-glass. + +"I think we might introduce you to yourself today," he said, smiling. +"Of course another fortnight will make a considerable difference +still, but even now you will be able to get a good idea of what you +will look like. I am curious to hear your opinion." + +He handed me the glass, and the next moment, with an involuntary cry +of amazement, I was staring at my reflection. + +Instead of my usual features I saw a rough-looking, bearded man of +about forty-five, with an aquiline nose, a high forehead, and a dark +sunburned skin. It was the face of a complete stranger: at the +best that of a hard-bitten war correspondent or explorer; at the +worst--well, I don't know what it mightn't have been at the worst. + +I stared and stared in a kind of incredulous fascination, until +McMurtrie's voice abruptly recalled me to my surroundings. + +"Well, Mr. Neil Lyndon," he said, "do you recognize yourself?" + +I laid down the glass. + +"Don't call me that," I replied quietly. "Neil Lyndon is dead." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + +One would hardly expect an escaped murderer to complain of being +dull--especially when the whole country is still ringing with the +story of his disappearance. Yet I must confess that, when I had once +got used to the strangeness of my position, the next two weeks dragged +intolerably. + +I was accustomed to confinement, but in the prison at all events I had +had plenty of hard work and exercise, while here, cooped up entirely +in one room, I was able to do nothing but pace restlessly up and +down most of the day like a caged bear. I had finished my lists and +drawings for McMurtrie, and my only resources were two or three +sensational novels which Sonia brought me back one day after a visit +to Plymouth. I cannot say I found them very entertaining. I had been +rather too deeply into life in that line myself to have much use for +the second-hand imaginings of other people. + +Of the doctor and Savaroff I saw comparatively little. Both of them +were away from the house a good deal of the time, often returning in +the car late at night, and then sitting up talking till some unholy +hour in the morning. I used to lie awake in bed, and listen to the +dull rumble of their voices in the room below. + +That there was something mysterious going on which I knew nothing +about I became more convinced every day, but what it could be I was +unable to guess. Once or twice I tried to sound Sonia on the matter, +but although she would talk freely about my own affairs, on any point +connected with herself or the curious household to which she belonged +she maintained an obstinate silence. + +The girl puzzled me strangely. At times it almost seemed as though she +were being forced against her will to take part in some business that +she thoroughly disliked; but then the obvious way in which the two +men trusted her scarcely bore out this idea. She showed no particular +affection for her father, and it was plain that she detested +McMurtrie, yet there was evidently some bond between them strong +enough to keep all three together. + +To me she behaved from the first with a sort of sullen friendliness. +She would come and sit in my room, and with her chin resting on her +hand and her big dark eyes fixed on mine, she would ask me questions +about myself or listen to the stories I told her of the prison. Once, +when I had been describing some peculiarly mean little persecution +which one of the warders (who objected on principle to what he called +"gen'lemen lags") had amused himself by practising on me, she had +jumped up and with a quick, almost savage gesture, laid her hand on my +arm. + +"Never mind," she said; "it's over now, and you shall make them pay +for what they have done to you. We can promise you that at least," and +she laughed with a curious bitterness I failed to understand. + +Of the mysterious Mr. Hoffman, who had turned up at the house on the +second day after my arrival, I saw or heard nothing more. I asked +Sonia about him one day, but she only replied curtly that he was a +business friend of the doctor's, and with this meagre information I +had to remain content. + +The point that I felt perhaps most inquisitive about was whom +McMurtrie could have mistaken me for when I had crawled in through the +kitchen window. I had a distinct recollection of his having mentioned +some name just before I had collapsed, but it had gone out of my head +and for the life of me I couldn't recall it. You know the maddening +way a name will hang about the tip of one's tongue, just avoiding +every effort at recapture. + +Apart from my talks with Sonia, my chief entertainment was reading the +_Daily Mail_. Not a day passed but some one seemed to discover a fresh +clue to my hiding-place. I was seen and recognized at Manchester, +Yarmouth, London, and Edinburgh; while one gentleman wrote to inform +the editor he had trustworthy information I was actually in St. +Petersburg, having been engaged by the Russian Government to effect +certain improvements in their torpedo service. All this was quite +pleasing, for, in addition to showing me that the police were still +utterly at sea as to my whereabouts, I knew that each fresh report +would help to keep George in an acute state of nervous tension. + +Just as my imprisonment was becoming almost unbearably irksome, the +end arrived with an unexpected abruptness. I was sitting at the window +one morning smoking an after-breakfast pipe--a pipe which Sonia had +brought me back from Plymouth at the same time as the books--when I +heard a loud ring at the front door-bell, followed by a couple of +sharp knocks. Despite my three years' absence from worldly affairs, I +recognized the unmistakable touch of a telegraph-boy. + +Since it was hardly likely that the wire was for me, I continued to +smoke with undisturbed serenity. Perhaps ten minutes passed, and I +was just wondering whether the message had anything to do with the +arrangements which McMurtrie was making on my behalf, when a door +slammed and I heard someone coming up the stairs. I knew from the +sound that it was the doctor himself. + +He entered the room, and looked round with his usual suave smile. To +all outward appearance he was as composed as ever, but I had a curious +presentiment that something unexpected had happened. However, I +thought it best to show no sign of any such impression. + +"Good-morning," I said, knocking out my pipe and stuffing it away in +my pocket--or rather Savaroff's pocket. "A grand day, isn't it!" + +"Beautiful," he answered genially--"quite beautiful." Then he walked +across and sat down on the end of the bed. "As a matter of fact, I +came up to see whether you felt like taking advantage of it." + +"Do you mean that it's safe for me to go out?" I asked with some +eagerness. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "It's as safe as it ever will be; but I +meant rather more than that." + +There was a pause. + +"Yes?" I said encouragingly. + +"I meant that our preparations are going on so well, that as far as I +can see there is nothing to be gained by keeping you here any longer. +I have just had a wire to say that the cottage and shed we have been +arranging for near Tilbury are practically finished. If you want your +week in London I think you had better go up this afternoon." + +His proposal took me so completely by surprise that for a moment I +hardly knew what to say. Somehow or other, I had a suspicion that he +was keeping something back. I knew that he had intended me to stay +where I was for at least another three days, and he was not the sort +of man to change his plans without an uncommonly good reason. + +Still, the last thing I wanted was to let him think that I in any way +doubted his good faith, so pulling myself together, I forced a really +creditable laugh. + +"Right you are," I said. "It's rather short notice, but I'm game to +start any time. The only thing is, what am I to do about clothes?" + +"You can keep those you're wearing to go up in," he answered. "When +you get to London you must buy yourself an outfit. Get what you want +at different shops and pay for them in cash. I will advance you fifty +pounds, which ought to be enough to last you the week." + +"One can do quite a lot of dressing and dissipation on fifty pounds," +I replied cheerfully. "Where am I going to stay?" + +He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here's the +address," he said. "It's a lodging-house near Victoria Station, kept +by a sister of Mrs. Weston. You will find it comfortable and quiet, +and you needn't worry about the landlady having any suspicions. I have +told her that you have just come back from abroad and that you want +to be in London for several days on business. You will pass under the +name of Nicholson--James Nicholson." + +He handed me the envelope, and I read the address. + +Mrs. Oldbury, + +3, Edith Terrace, + +S.W. + +_Nr. Victoria Station_. + +"Very well," I said, getting up from my seat; "I understand I am to +stop with Mrs. Oldbury and amuse myself spending the fifty pounds +until I hear from you." + +He nodded. "Directly things are ready we shall let you know. Till then +you are free to do as you like." He opened a small leather case and +handed me a bundle of bank-notes. "Here is the money," he added with a +smile. "You see, we trust you absolutely. If you choose to make a bolt +to America, there will be nothing to stop you." + +It was said with such apparent frankness that it ought to have carried +conviction; but as a matter of fact it did nothing of the kind. I felt +certain that it would not be McMurtrie's fault if he failed to keep +himself informed about my movements while I was in London. Too much +trustfulness in human nature did not seem likely to be one of his +besetting weaknesses. + +However, I pocketed the notes cheerfully enough; indeed the mere touch +of them in my hand gave me a pleasant feeling of confidence. It is +always nice to handle money in comparative bulk, but being absolutely +without it for thirty-six months invests the operation with a peculiar +charm. + +"You had better be ready to start from here about half-past one," said +McMurtrie. "Savaroff will take you into Plymouth in the car, and there +is a fast train up at two-five. It gets you into London just before +seven." + +"Good!" I said. "That will give me time to buy what I want when I +arrive. It would spoil my dinner if I had to shop afterwards." + +McMurtrie, who had crossed to the door, looked back at me with a sort +of half-envious, half-contemptuous smile. + +"You are a curious fellow, Lyndon," he said. "At times you might be a +boy of twenty." + +"Well, I am only twenty-nine," I protested; "and one can't always +remember that one's an escaped murderer." + +I was sitting on the window-sill when I made the last remark; but as +soon as he had gone I jumped to my feet and began to pace restlessly +up and down the room. Now that the moment of my release was really at +hand, a fierce excitement had gripped hold of me. Although I had +had plenty of time to get used to my new position, the amazing +possibilities of it had never seemed to come fully home to me +till that minute. I suddenly realized that I was stepping into an +experience such as probably no other human being had ever tasted. I +was like a man coming back from the dead, safe against recognition, +and with all the record of my past life scarred and burnt into my +memory. + +I walked to the glass and once again stared long and closely at my +reflection. There could be no question about the completeness of my +disguise. Between Neil Lyndon as the world had known him, and the +grim, bearded, sunburned face that looked back at me out of the +mirror, there was a difference sufficiently remarkable to worry the +recording angel. People's wits may be sharpened both by fear and +affection, but I felt that unless I betrayed myself deliberately, not +even those who knew me best, such as George or Tommy, would have the +remotest suspicion of my real identity. Anyhow, I intended to put my +opinion to the test before very many hours had passed. + +I was pondering over this agreeable prospect, and still inspecting +myself in the glass, when I heard a soft knock at the door. I opened +it, and found Sonia standing outside. She was holding a bag in her +hand--a good-sized Gladstone that had evidently seen some hard work +in its time, and she came into the room and shut the door behind her +before speaking. + +"Well," she said, in her curious, half-sullen way, "are you pleased +you are going to London?" + +"Why, yes," I said; "I'm pleased enough." + +As a matter of fact the word "pleased" seemed rather too simple to sum +up my emotions altogether adequately. + +She placed the bag on the floor and sat down on the bed. Then, leaning +her face against the bottom rail, she stared up at me for a moment +without speaking. + +"What did the doctor tell you?" she asked at last. + +"He told me I could go up to London by the two-five," I said. + +"Is that all?" + +"Dr. McMurtrie," I reminded her, "is never recklessly communicative." +Then I paused. "Still I should like to know the reason for the change +of programme," I added. + +She raised her head and glanced half nervously, half defiantly at the +door. + +"We are going to give up this house tomorrow--that's the reason," she +said, speaking low and rather quickly. "Our work here is finished, and +it will be best for us to leave as soon as possible." + +"I wish," I said regretfully, "that I inspired just a little more +confidence." + +Sonia hesitated. Then she sat up, and with a characteristic gesture of +hers pushed back her hair from her forehead. + +"Come here," she said slowly; "come quite close to me." + +I walked towards her, wondering at the sudden change in her voice. +As I approached she straightened her arms out each side of her, and +half-closing her eyes, raised her face to mine. + +"Kiss me," she said, almost in a whisper; "kiss my lips." + +I could hardly have declined such an invitation even if I had wished +to, but as a matter of fact I felt no such prompting. It was over +three years since I had kissed anybody, and with her eyes half-closed +and her breast softly rising and falling, Sonia looked decidedly +attractive. I bent down till my mouth was almost touching hers. Then +with a little sigh she put her arms round my neck, and slowly and +deliberately our lips met. + +It was at this exceedingly inopportune moment that Savaroff's guttural +voice came grating up the stairs from the hall below. + +"Sonia!" he shouted--"Sonia! Where are you? I want you." + +She quietly disengaged her arms, and drawing back, paused for a moment +with her hands on my shoulders. + +"Now you understand," she said, looking straight into my eyes. "They +are nothing to me, my father and the doctor--I hate them both. It +is you I am thinking of--you only." She leaned forward and swiftly, +almost fiercely again kissed my mouth. "When the time comes," she +whispered-- + +"Sonia! Sonia!" Once more Savaroff's voice rose impatiently from the +hall. + +In a moment Sonia had crossed the room. I had one rapid vision of +her looking back at me--her lips parted her dark eyes shining +passionately, and then the door closed and I was alone. + +I sat down on the bed and took a long breath. There was a time when an +unexpected incident of this sort would merely have left me in a state +of comfortable optimism, but a prolonged residence in Dartmoor had +evidently shaken my nerve. + +I soon collected myself, however, and lighting a cigarette with some +care, got up and walked to the open window. If Sonia was really in +love with me--and there seemed to be rather sound evidence that she +was--I had apparently, succeeded in making a highly useful ally. This +may appear to have been rather a cold-blooded way of regarding the +matter, but to tell the truth the whole thing had taken me so utterly +by surprise that I could scarcely realize as yet that I had been +personally concerned in it. I had kissed her certainly--under +the circumstances I could hardly have done otherwise--but of any +deliberate attempt to make her fond of me I was beautifully and +entirely innocent, it had never struck me that an escaped murderer +with an artificial and rather forbidding countenance was in danger of +inspiring affection, especially in a girl whose manner had always +been slightly suggestive of a merely sullen tolerance. Still, having +succeeded in doing so, I felt no qualms in making the best of the +situation. I needed friends rather badly, especially friends who had +an intimate working acquaintance with the eminent firm of Messrs. +McMurtrie and Savaroff. If the not wholly disagreeable task of +returning Sonia's proffered affection was all that was necessary, I +felt that it would be flying in the face of Providence to decline such +an opportunity. I was not the least in love with her--except by a very +generous interpretation of the word, but I did not think that this +unfortunate fact would seriously disturb my conscience. A life +sentence for what you haven't done is apt to rob one's sense of honour +of some of its more delicate points. + +With a pleasant feeling that things were working for the best, I +got up again; and hoisting the Gladstone bag on to the bed began to +collect the books, the tooth-brush, and the few other articles which +made up my present earthly possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + +That journey of mine to London stands out in my memory with +extraordinary vividness. I don't think I shall ever forget the +smallest and most unimportant detail of it. The truth is, I suppose, +that my whole mind and senses were in an acutely impressionable state +after lying fallow, as they practically had, for over three years. +Besides, the sheer pleasure of being out in the world again seemed to +invest everything with an amazing interest and wonder. + +It was just half-past one when Savaroff brought the car round to the +front door. I was standing in the hall talking to McMurtrie, who had +decided not to accompany us into Plymouth. Of Sonia I had seen nothing +since our unfortunately interrupted interview in the morning. + +"Well," said the doctor, as with a grinding of brakes the car pulled +up outside, "we can look on this as the real beginning of our little +enterprise." + +I picked up my Gladstone. "Let's hope," I said, "that the end will be +equally satisfactory." + +McMurtrie nodded. "I fancy," he said, "that we need have no +apprehensions. Providence is with us, Mr. Lyndon--Providence or some +equally effective power." + +There was a note of irony in his voice which left one in no doubt as +to his own private opinion of our guiding agency. + +I stepped out into the drive carrying my bag. Savaroff, who was +sitting in the driving seat of the car, turned half round towards me. + +"Put it on the floor at the back under the rug," he said. "You will +sit in front with me." + +He spoke in his usual surly fashion, but by this time I had become +accustomed to it. So contenting myself with a genial observation to +the effect that I should be charmed, I tucked the bag away out of +sight and clambered up beside him into the left-hand seat. McMurtrie +stood in the doorway, that mirthless smile of his fixed upon his lips. + +"Good-bye," I said; "we shall meet at Tilbury, I suppose--if not +before?" + +He nodded. "At Tilbury certainly. Au revoir, Mr. Nicholson." + +And with this last reminder of my future identity echoing in my ears, +we slid off down the drive. + +All the way into Plymouth Savaroff maintained a grumpy silence. He was +naturally a taciturn sort of person, and I think, besides that, he had +taken a strong dislike to me from the night we had first seen each +other. If this were so I had certainly not done much to modify it. I +felt that the man was naturally a bully, and it always pleases and +amuses me to be disliked by bullies. Indeed, if I had had no other +reason for responding to Sonia's proffered affection I should have +done so just because Savaroff was her father. + +My companion's sulks, however, in no way interfered with my enjoyment +of the drive. It was a perfect day on which to regain one's liberty. +The sun shone down from a blue sky flecked here and there with fleecy +white clouds, and on each side of the road the hedges and trees were +just beginning to break into an almost shrill green. The very air +seemed to be filled with a delicious sense of freedom and adventure. + +As we got nearer to Plymouth I found a fresh source of interest and +pleasure in the people that we passed walking along the road or +driving in traps and cars. After my long surfeit of warders and +convicts the mere sight of ordinarily-dressed human beings laughing +and talking filled me with the most intense satisfaction. On several +occasions I had a feeling that I should like to jump out of the car +and join some group of cheerful-looking strangers who turned to watch +us flash past. This feeling became doubly intense when we actually +entered Plymouth, where the streets seemed to be almost inconveniently +crowded with an extraordinary number of attractive-looking girls. + +I was afforded no opportunity, however, for indulging in any such +pleasant interlude. We drove straight through the town at a rapid +pace, avoiding the main thoroughfares as much as possible, and not +slackening until we pulled up outside Millbay station. We left the car +in charge of a tired-looking loafer who was standing in the gutter, +and taking out my bag, I followed Savaroff into the booking office. + +"You had better wait there," he muttered, pointing to the corner. "I +will get the ticket." + +I followed his suggestion, and while he took his place in the small +queue in front of the window I amused myself watching my fellow +passengers hurrying up and down the platform. They looked peaceful +enough, but I couldn't help picturing what a splendid disturbance +there would be if it suddenly came out that Neil Lyndon was somewhere +on the premises. The last time I had been in this station was on my +way up to Princetown two and a half years before. + +At last Savaroff emerged from the throng with my ticket in his hand. + +"I have taken you a first-class," he said rather grudgingly. "You will +probably have the carriage to yourself. It is better so." + +I nodded. "I shouldn't like to infect any of these good people with +homicidal mania," I said cheerfully. + +He looked at me rather suspiciously--I think he always had a sort of +vague feeling that I was laughing at him--and then without further +remark led the way out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had given me a sovereign and some loose silver for immediate +expenses, and I stopped at the bookstall to buy myself some papers. I +selected a _Mail_, a _Sportsman, Punch_, and the _Saturday Review_. I +lingered over the business because it seemed to annoy Savaroff: indeed +it was not until he had twice jogged my elbow that I made my final +selection. Then, grasping my bag, I marched up the platform behind +him, coming to a halt outside an empty first-class carriage. + +"This will do," he said, and finding no sound reason for contradicting +him I stepped in and put my bag upon the rack. + +"Good-bye, Savaroff," I said cheerfully. "I shall have the pleasure of +seeing you too at Tilbury, I suppose?" + +He closed the door, and thrust his head in through the open window. + +"You will," he said in his guttural voice; "and let me give you a +little word of advice, my friend. We have treated you well--eh, but if +you think you can in any way break your agreement with us you make a +very bad mistake." + +I took out my cigarette case. "My dear Savaroff," I said coldly, "why +on earth should I want to break my agreement with you? It is the only +possible chance I have of a new start." + +He looked at me closely, and then nodded his head. "It is well. So +long as you remember we are not people to be played with, no harm will +come to you." + +He let this off with such a dramatic air that I very nearly burst out +laughing. + +"I shan't forget it," I said gravely. "I've got a very good memory." + +There was a shrill whistle from the engine, followed by a warning +shout of "Stand back there, please; stand back, sir!" I had a last +glimpse of Savaroff's unpleasant face, as he hurriedly withdrew his +head, and then with a slight jerk the train began to move slowly out +of the station. + +I didn't open my papers at once. For some time I just sat where I was +in the corner and stared out contentedly over the passing landscape. +There is nothing like prison to broaden one's ideas about pleasure. Up +till the time of my trial I had never looked on a railway journey as a +particularly fascinating experience; now it seemed to me to be +simply chock-full of delightful sensations. The very names of the +stations--Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth--filled me with a sort of +curious pleasure: they were part of the world that I had once belonged +to--the gay, free, jolly world of work and laughter that I had thought +lost to me for ever. I felt so absurdly contented that for a little +while I almost forgot about George. + +The only stop we made was at Exeter. There were not many people on the +platform, and I had just decided that I was not going to be disturbed, +when suddenly a fussy-looking little old gentleman emerged from the +booking office, followed by a porter carrying his bag. They came +straight for my carriage. + +The old gentleman reached it first, and puckering up his face, peered +in at me through the window. Apparently the inspection was a success. + +"This will do," he observed. "Leave my bag on the seat, and go and see +that my portmanteau is safely in the van. Then if you come back here I +will give you threepence for your trouble." + +Dazzled by the prospect, the porter hurried off on his errand, and +with a little grunt the old gentleman began to hoist himself in +through the door. I put out my hand to assist him. + +"Thank you, sir, thank you," he remarked breathlessly. "I am extremely +obliged to you, sir." + +Then, gathering up his bag, he shuffled along the carriage, and +settled himself down in the opposite corner. + +I was quite pleased with the prospect of a fellow passenger, +unexciting as this particular one promised to be. I have either read +or heard it stated that when people first come out of prison they feel +so shy and so lost that their chief object is to avoid any sort of +society at all. I can only say that in my case this was certainly not +true. I wanted to talk to every one: I felt as if whole volumes +of conversation had been accumulating inside me during the long +speechless months of my imprisonment. + +It was the old gentleman, however, who first broke our silence. +Lowering his copy of the _Times_, he looked up at me over the top of +his gold-rimmed spectacles. + +"I wonder, sir," he said, "whether you would object to having that +window closed; I am extremely susceptible to draughts." + +"Why, of course not," I replied cheerfully, and suiting my action to +my words I jerked up the sash. + +This prompt attention to his wishes evidently pleased him; for he +thanked me civilly, and then, after a short pause, added some becoming +reflection on the subject of the English spring. + +It was not exactly an inspiring opening, but I made the most of it. +Without appearing intrusive I managed to keep the conversation going, +and in a few minutes we were in the middle of a brisk meteorological +discussion of the most approved pattern. + +"I daresay you find these sudden changes especially trying," commented +my companion. Then, with a sort of apology in his voice, he added: +"One can hardly help seeing that you have been accustomed to a warmer +climate." + +I smiled. "I have been out of England," I said, "for some time"; and +if this was not true in the letter, I don't think that even George +Washington could have found much fault with it in the spirit. + +"Indeed, sir, indeed," said the old gentleman. "I envy you, sir. I +only wish my own duties permitted me to winter entirely abroad." + +"It has its advantages," I admitted, "but in some ways I am quite +pleased to be back again." + +My companion nodded his head. "For one thing," he said, "one gets +terribly behindhand with English news. I find that even the best of +the foreign papers are painfully ill-informed." + +A sudden mischievous thought came into my head. "I have hardly seen a +paper of any kind for a fortnight!" I said. "Is there any particular +news? The last interesting thing I saw was about that young fellow's +escape from Dartmoor--that young inventor--what was his name?--who was +in for murder." + +The old gentleman looked up sharply. "Ah! Lyndon," he said, "Neil +Lyndon you mean. He is still at large." + +"From what I read of the case," I went on carelessly, "it seems rather +difficult to help sympathizing with him--to a certain extent. The +man he murdered doesn't appear to have been any great loss to the +community." + +My companion opened his mouth as if to speak, and then hesitated. +"Well, as a matter of fact I am scarcely in a position to discuss the +subject," he said courteously. "Perhaps, sir, you are unaware who I +am?" + +He asked the question with a slight touch of self-conscious dignity, +which showed me that in his own opinion at all events he was a person +of considerable importance. I looked at him again more carefully. +There seemed to be something familiar about his face, but beyond that +I was utterly at sea. + +"The fact is, I have been so much abroad," I began apologetically-- + +He cut me short by producing a little silver case from his pocket and +handing me one of his cards. + +"Permit me, sir," he said indulgently. + +I took it and read the following inscription: + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. +_The Reform Club_. + +I remembered him at once. He was a fairly well known politician--an +old-fashioned member of the Liberal Party, with whose name I had been +more or less acquainted all my life. I had never actually met him in +the old days, but I had seen one or two photographs and caricatures +of him, and this no doubt explained my vague recollection of his +features. + +For just a moment I remained silent, struggling against a strong +impulse to laugh. There was something delightfully humorous in the +thought of my sitting in a first-class carriage exchanging cheerful +confidences with a distinguished politician, while Scotland Yard and +the Home Office were racking their brains over my disappearance. It +seemed such a pity I couldn't hand him back a card of my own just for +the fun of watching his face while he read it. + +MR. NEIL LYNDON +_Late of His Majesty's Prison_, +_Princetown_. + +Collecting myself with an effort, I covered my apparent confusion with +a slight bow. + +"It was very stupid of me not to have recognized you from your +pictures," I said. + +This compliment evidently pleased the old boy, for he beamed at me in +the most gracious fashion. + +"You see now, sir," he said, "why it would be quite impossible for me +to discuss the matter in question." + +I bowed again. I didn't see in the least, but he spoke as if the point +was so obvious that I thought it better to let the subject drop. I +could only imagine that he must be holding some official position, the +importance of which he probably overrated. + +We drifted off into the discussion of one or two other topics; +settling down eventually to our respective newspapers. I can't say I +followed mine with any keen attention. My brain was too much occupied +with my own affairs to allow me to take in very much of what I read. I +just noticed that we were engaged in a rather heated discussion +with Germany over the future of Servia, and that a well-meaning but +short-sighted Anarchist had made an unsuccessful effort to shoot the +President of the American Steel Trust. + +Of my own affairs I could find no mention, beyond a brief statement to +the effect that I was still at liberty. There was not even the usual +letter from somebody claiming to have discovered my hiding-place, and +for the first time since my escape I began to feel a little neglected. +It was evident that as a news topic I was losing something of my first +freshness. + +The last bit of the journey from Maidenhead onwards seemed to take us +an unconscionably long time. A kind of fierce restlessness had begun +to get hold of me as we drew nearer to London, and I watched the +fields and houses flying past with an impatience I could hardly +control. + +We rushed through Hanwell and Acton, and then suddenly the huge bulk +of Wormwood Scrubbs Prison loomed up in the growing dusk away to +the right of the line. It was there that I had served my +"separates"--those first ghastly six months of solitary confinement +which make even Princetown or Portland a welcome and agreeable change. + +At the sight of that poisonous place all the old bitterness welled up +in me afresh. For a moment even my freedom seemed to have lost its +sweetness, and I sat there with my hands clenched and black resentment +in my heart, staring out of those grim unlovely walls. It was lucky +for George that he was not with me in the carriage just then, for +I think I should have wrung his neck without troubling about any +explanations. + +I was awakened from these pleasant reflections by a sudden blare of +light and noise on each side of the train. I sat up abruptly, with +a sort of guilty feeling that I had been on the verge of betraying +myself, and letting down the window, found that we were steaming +slowly into Paddington Station. In the farther corner of the carriage +my distinguished friend Sir George Frinton was beginning to collect +his belongings. + +I just had time to pull myself together when the train stopped, and +out of the waiting line of porters a man stepped forward and flung +open the carriage door. He was about to possess himself of my fellow +passenger's bag when the latter waved him aside. + +"You can attend to this gentleman," he said. "My own servant is +somewhere on the platform." Then turning to me, he added courteously: +"I wish you good-day, sir. I am pleased to have made your +acquaintance. I trust that we shall have the mutual pleasure of +meeting again." + +I shook hands with him gravely. "I hope we shall," I replied. "It will +be a distinction that I shall vastly appreciate." + +And of all unconscious prophecies that were ever launched, I fancy +this one was about the most accurate. + +Preceded by the porter carrying my bag, I crossed the platform and +stepped into a waiting taxi. + +"Where to, sir?" inquired the man. + +I had a sudden wild impulse to say: "Drive me to George," but I +checked it just in time. + +"You had better drive me slowly along Oxford Street," I said. "I want +to stop at one or two shops." + +The man started the engine and, climbing back into his seat, set off +with a jerk up the slope. I lay back in the corner, and took in a +long, deep, exulting breath. I was in London--in London at last--and +if those words don't convey to you the kind of savage satisfaction +that filled my soul you must be as deficient in imagination as a +prison governor. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + +My shopping took me quite a little while. There were a lot of things +I wanted to get, and I saw no reason for hurrying--especially as +McMurtrie was paying for the taxi. I stopped at Selfridge's and laid +in a small but nicely chosen supply of shirts, socks, collars, and +other undergarments, and then, drifting slowly on, picked up at +intervals some cigars, a couple of pairs of boots, and a presentable +Homburg hat. + +The question of a suit of clothes was the only problem that offered +any real difficulties. Apart from the fact that Savaroff's suit was by +no means in its first youth, I had a strong objection to wearing his +infernal things a moment longer than I could help. I was determined to +have a decently cut suit as soon as possible, but I knew that it would +be a week at least before any West End tailor would finish the job. In +the meantime I wanted something to go on with, and in my extremity I +suddenly remembered a place in Wardour Street where four or five years +before I had once hired a costume for a Covent Garden ball. + +I told the man to drive me there, and much to my relief found the +shop still in existence. There was no difficulty about getting what I +wanted. The proprietor had a large selection of what he called "West +End Misfits," amongst which were several tweeds and blue serge suits +big enough even for my somewhat unreasonable proportions. I chose the +two that fitted me best, and then bought a second-hand suit-case to +pack them away in. + +I had spent about fifteen pounds, which seemed to me as much as a +fifty-pound capitalist had any right to squander on necessities. I +therefore returned to the taxi and, arranging my parcels on the +front seat, instructed the man to drive me down to the address that +McMurtrie had given me. + +Pimlico was a part of London that I had not patronized extensively in +the days of my freedom, and I was rather in the dark about the precise +situation of Edith Terrace. The taxi-man, however, seemed to suffer +under no such handicap. He drove me straight to Victoria, and then, +taking the road to the left of the station, turned off into a +neighbourhood of dreary-looking streets and squares, all bearing a +dismal aspect of having seen better days. + +Edith Terrace was, if anything, slightly more depressing than the +rest. It consisted of a double row of gaunt, untidy houses, from which +most of the original stucco had long since peeled away. Quiet enough +it certainly was, for along its whole length we passed only one man, +who was standing under a street lamp, lighting a cigarette. He looked +up as we went by, and for just one instant I had a clear view of his +face. Except for a scar on the cheek he was curiously like one of the +warders at Princetown, and for that reason I suppose this otherwise +trifling incident fixed itself in my mind. It is funny on what queer +chances one's fate sometimes hangs. + +We pulled up at Number 3 and, mounting some not very recently cleaned +steps, I gave a brisk tug at a dilapidated bell-handle. After a minute +I heard the sound of shuffling footsteps; then the door opened and a +funny-looking little old woman stood blinking and peering at me from +the threshold. + +"How do you do?" I said cheerfully. "Are you Mrs. Oldbury?" + +She gave a kind of spasmodic jerk, that may have been intended for a +curtsey. + +"Yes, sir," she said. "I'm Mrs. Oldbury; and you'd be the gentleman +I'm expectin'--Dr. McMurtrie's gentleman?" + +This seemed an accurate if not altogether flattering description of +me, so I nodded my head. + +"That's right," I said. "I'm Mr. Nicholson." Then, as the heavily +laden taxi-man staggered up the steps, I added: "And these are my +belongings." + +With another bob she turned round, and leading the way into the house +opened a door on the right-hand side of the passage. + +"This will be your sitting-room, sir," she said, turning up the gas. +"It's a nice hairy room, and I give it a proper cleaning out this +morning." + +I looked round, and saw that I was in a typical "ground-floor front," +with the usual cheap lace curtains, hideous wall paper, and slightly +stuffy smell. At the back of the room, away from the window, were two +folding doors. + +My landlady shuffled across and pushed one of them open. "And this +is the bedroom, sir. It's what you might call 'andy--and quiet too. +You'll find that a nice comfortable bed, sir. It's the one my late +'usband died in." + +"It sounds restful," I said. Then walking to the doorway I paid off +the taxi-man, who had deposited his numerous burdens and was waiting +patiently for his fare. + +As soon as he had gone, Mrs. Oldbury, who had meanwhile occupied +herself in pulling down the blinds and drawing the curtains, inquired +whether I should like anything to eat. + +"I don't think I'll trouble you," I said. "I have got to go out in any +case." + +"Oh, it's no trouble, sir--no trouble at all. I can put you on a nice +little bit o' steak as easy as anything if you 'appen to fancy it." + +I shook my head. A few weeks ago "a nice little bit o' steak" would +have seemed like Heaven to me, but since then I had become more +luxurious. I was determined that my first dinner in London should be +worthy of the occasion. Besides, I had other business to attend to. + +"No, thanks," I said firmly. "I don't want anything except some hot +water and a latchkey, if you have such a thing to spare. I don't know +what time you go to bed here, but I may be a little late getting +back." + +She fumbled in her pocket and produced a purse, from which she +extricated the required article. + +"I'm not gen'rally in bed--not much before midnight, sir," she said. +"If you should be later per'aps you'd be kind enough to turn out the +gas in the 'all. I'll send you up some 'ot water by the girl." + +She went off, closing the door behind her; and picking up my parcels +and bags I carried them into the bedroom and started to unpack. I +decided that the blue suit was most in keeping with my mood, so I laid +this out on the bed together with a complete change of underclothes. I +was eyeing the latter with some satisfaction, when there came a knock +at the door, and in answer to my summons the "girl" entered with the +hot water. She was the typical lodging-house drudge, a poor little +object of about sixteen, with a dirty face and her hair twisted up in +a knot at the back of her head. + +"If yer please, sir," she said, with a sniff, "Mrs. Oldbury wants ter +know if yer'll be likin' a barf in the mornin'." + +"You can tell Mrs. Oldbury that the answer is yes," I said gravely. +Then I paused. "What's your name?" I asked. + +She sniffed again, and looked at me with round, wondering eyes. +"Gertie, sir. Gertie 'Uggins." + +I felt in my pocket and found a couple of half-crowns. + +"Take these, Gertie," I said, "and go and have a damned good dinner +the first chance you get." + +She clasped the money in her grubby little hand. + +"Thank you, sir," she murmured awkwardly. + +"You needn't thank me, Gertie," I said; "it was a purely selfish +action. There are some emotions which have to be shared before they +can be properly appreciated. My dinner tonight happens to be one of +them." + +She shifted from one leg to the other. "Yes, sir," she said. Then with +a little giggle she turned and scuttled out of the room. + +I washed and dressed myself slowly, revelling in the sensation of +being once more in clean garments of my own. I was determined not to +spoil my evening by allowing any bitter or unpleasant thoughts to +disturb me until I had dined; after that, I reflected, it would be +quite time enough to map out my dealings with George. + +Lighting a cigarette I left the house, and set off at a leisurely pace +along Edith Terrace. It was my intention to walk to Victoria, and then +take a taxi from there to whatever restaurant I decided to dine at. +The latter question was not a point to be determined lightly, and as I +strolled along I debated pleasantly in my mind the attractions of two +or three of my old haunts. + +By the time I reached Victoria I had decided in favour of +Gaultier's--if Gaultier's was still in existence. It was a place that, +in my time at all events, had been chiefly frequented by artists and +foreigners, but the food, of its kind, was as good there as anywhere +in London. + +I beckoned to a passing taxi, and waving his arm in response the +driver swerved across the street and drew up at the kerb. + +"Where to, guv'nor?" he inquired. + +I gave him the direction, and then turned to open the door. As I did +so I noticed a man standing on the pavement close beside me looking +vacantly across the street. For an instant I wondered where I had seen +him before; then quite suddenly I remembered. He was the man we +had passed in Edith Terrace, lighting a cigarette under the street +lamp--the man who had reminded me of one of the prison warders. I knew +I was not mistaken because I could see the scar on his face. + +With a sudden vague sense of uneasiness I got into the taxi and shut +the door. The gentleman on the pavement paid no attention to me at +all. He continued to stand there staring aimlessly at the traffic, +until we had jerked forward and turned off round the corner of +Victoria Street. + +All the same the incident had left a kind of uncomfortable feeling +behind it. I suppose an escaped convict is naturally inclined to be +suspicious, and somehow or other I couldn't shake off the impression +that I was being watched and followed. If so, I had not much doubt +whom I was indebted to for the honour. It had never seemed to me +likely that McMurtrie would leave me entirely to my own sweet devices +while I was in London--not, at all events, until he had satisfied +himself that I had been speaking the truth about my intentions. + +Still, even if my suspicions were right, there seemed no reason for +being seriously worried. The gentleman on the pavement might have +overheard me give the address to the driver, but that after all was +exactly what I should have liked him to hear. Dinner at Gaultier's +sounded a most natural preliminary to an evening's dissipation, and +unless I was being actually followed to the restaurant I had nothing +to fear. It was quite possible that my friend with the scar was only +anxious to discover whether I was really setting out for the West End. + +All the same I determined to be devilish careful about my future +movements. If McMurtrie wanted a report he should have it, but I would +take particular pains to see that it contained nothing which would in +any way disturb his belief in me. + +We pulled up at Gaultier's, and I saw with a sort of sentimental +pleasure that, outside at all events, it had not altered in the least +during my three years' exile. There was the same discreet-looking +little window, the same big electric light over the door, and, unless +I was much mistaken, the same uniformed porter standing on the mat. + +When I entered I found M. Gaultier himself, as fat and bland as ever, +presiding over the scene. He came forward, bowing low after his usual +custom, and motioned me towards a vacant table in the corner. I felt +an absurd inclination to slap him on the back and ask him how he had +been getting on in my absence. + +It seemed highly improbable that he would remember my voice, but, as +I had no intention of running any unnecessary risks, I was careful to +alter it a little when I spoke to him. + +"Good-evening," I began; "are you M. Gaultier?" + +He bowed and beamed. + +"Well, M. Gaultier," I said, "I want a good dinner--a quite +exceptionally good dinner. I have been waiting for it for some time." + +He regarded me keenly, with a mixture of sympathy and professional +interest. + +"Monsieur is hungry?" he inquired. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "is both hungry and greedy. You have full scope +for your art." + +He straightened himself, and for an inspired moment gazed at the +ceiling. Then he slapped his forehead. + +"Monsieur," he said, "with your permission I go to consult the chef." + +"Go," I replied. "And Heaven attend your council." + +He hurried off, and I beckoned to the head waiter. + +"Fetch me," I said, "a Virginian cigarette and a sherry and bitters." + +A true gourmet would probably shudder at such a first course, but +it must be remembered that for three years my taste had had no +opportunity of becoming over-trained. Besides, in matters of this sort +I always act on the principle that it's better to enjoy oneself than +to be artistically correct. + +Lying back in my chair I looked out over the little restaurant with a +sensation of beautiful complacency. The soft rose-shaded lamps threw a +warm glamour over everything, and through the delicate blue spirals of +my cigarette I could just see the laughing face of a charmingly pretty +girl who was dining with an elderly man at the opposite table. I +glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was close on eight--the +hour when the cell lights at Princetown are turned out, and another +dragging night of horror and darkness begins. Slowly and luxuriously I +sipped my sherry and bitters. + +I was aroused from my reverie by the approach of M. Gaultier, who +carried a menu in his hand. + +He handed me the card with another bow, and then stepped back as +though to watch the result. This was the dinner: + +Clear soup. + +Grilled salmon. + +Lamb. New potatoes. + +Woodcock. + +Pêche Melba. + +Marrow on Toast. + +I read it through, enjoying each separate word, and then, with a faint +sigh, handed it back to him. + +"Heaven," I said, "was undoubtedly at the conference." + +M. Gaultier picked up a wine list from the table. "And what will +Monsieur drink?" he inquired reverently. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "has perfect faith in your judgment. He will +drink everything you choose to give him." + +Half an hour later I again lay back in my chair, and lapped in a +superb contentment gently murmured to myself those two delightful +lines of Sydney Smith's-- + +"Serenely calm, the epicure may say: +Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today." + +I sipped my Turkish coffee, lighted the fragrant Cabana which M. +Gaultier had selected for me, and debated cheerfully with myself what +I should do next. I had had so many unpleasant evenings since my trial +that I was determined that this one at all events should be a complete +success. + +My first impulse of course was to visit George. There was something +very engaging in the thought of being ushered into his presence by a +respectable butler, and making my excuses for having called at such +an unreasonable hour. I pictured to myself how he would look as +I gradually dropped my assumed voice, and very slowly the almost +incredible truth began to dawn on him. + +So charming was the idea that it was only with some reluctance I was +able to abandon it. I didn't want to waste George: he had to last me +at least three days, and I felt that if I went down there now, warmed +and exhilarated with wine and food, I should be almost certain to give +myself away. I had no intention of doing that until the last possible +moment. I still had a sort of faint irrational hope that by watching +George without betraying my identity, I might discover something which +would throw a little light on his behaviour to me. + +But if I didn't go to Cheyne Walk, what was I to do? I put the +question to myself as I slowly lifted the glass of old brandy which +the waiter had set down in front of me, and before the fine spirit +touched my lips the answer had flashed into my mind. I would go and +see Tommy! + +It was the perfect solution of the difficulty; and as I put down the +glass again I laughed softly in sheer happiness. The prospect of +interviewing Tommy without his recognizing me was only a degree less +attractive than the thought of a similar experience with George. I +knew that the mere sight of his velvet coat and his dear old burly +carcase would fill me with the most delightful emotions--emotions +which now, amongst all my one-time friends, he and perhaps poor little +Joyce would alone have the power to provoke. The others seemed to me +as dead as the past to which they belonged. + +One thing I was determined on, and that was that I wouldn't give away +my secret. It would be difficult not to, for there were naturally a +hundred things I wanted to say to Tommy; but, however much I might be +tempted, I was resolved to play the game. It was not the thought of my +promise to McMurtrie (that sat very easily on my conscience), but the +possibility of getting Tommy himself into trouble. I knew that for me +he would run any risk in the world with the utmost cheerfulness, but +I had no intention of letting him do it. He had done more than enough +for me at the time of the trial. + +I called for the waiter and paid my bill. It seemed absurdly cheap +for such a delightful evening, and I said as much to M. Gaultier, who +insisted on accompanying me to the door. He received the remark with a +protesting gesture of his hands. + +"Most people," he said, "feed. Monsieur eats. To such we do not +wish to overcharge. It is a pleasure to provide a dinner which is +appreciated." + +The porter outside volunteered to call me a taxi, and while he was +engaged in that operation I had a sharp look up and down the street +to see whether my friend with the scar was hanging about anywhere. I +could discern no sign of him, but all the same, when the taxi came up, +I took the precaution of directing the man in a fairly audible voice +to drive me to the Pavilion, in Piccadilly Circus. It was not until +we were within a few yards of that instructive institution that I +whistled through the tube and told him to take me on to Chelsea. + +I knew Tommy was in the same studio, for Joyce had told me so in her +second letter. It was one of a fairly new block of four or five at the +bottom of Beaufort Street, about half a mile along the embankment +from George's house. All the way down I was debating with myself what +excuse I could offer for calling at such a late hour, and finally +I decided that the best thing would be to pretend that I was a +travelling American artist who had seen and admired some of Tommy's +work. Under such circumstances it would be difficult for the latter +not to ask me in for a short chat. + +I stopped the cab in the King's Road, and getting out, had another +good look round to see that I was not being followed. Satisfied on +this point, I lighted a second cigar and started off down Beaufort +Street. + +The stretch of embankment at the bottom seemed to have altered very +little since I had last seen it. One or two of the older houses had +been done up, but Florence Court, the block of studios in which Tommy +lived, was exactly as I remembered it. The front door was open, after +the usual casual fashion that prevails in Chelsea, and I walked into +the square stone hall, which was lighted by a flickering gas jet. + +There was a board on the right, containing the addresses of the +various tenants. Opposite No. 3 I saw the name of Mr. T.G. Morrison, +and with a slight quickening of the pulse I advanced along the +corridor to Tommy's door. + +As I reached it I saw that there was a card tied to the knocker. I +knew that this was a favourite trick of Tommy's when he was away, and +with a sharp sense of disappointment I bent down to read what was +written on it. With some difficulty, for the light was damnable, I +made out the following words, roughly scribbled in pencil: + +"Out of Town. Please leave any telegrams or urgent letters at No. 4. +T.M." + +I dropped the card and stood wondering what to do. If Tommy had some +pal living next door, as seemed probable from his notice, the latter +would most likely know what time he was expected to return. For a +moment I hesitated: then retracing my steps, I walked back into the +hall and glanced at the board to see who might be the tenant of No. 4. + +To my surprise I found it was a woman--a "Miss Vivien." + +At first I thought I must be wrong, for women had always been the one +agreeable feature of life for which Tommy had no manner of use. There +it was, however, as plain as a pikestaff, and with a feeling of lively +interest I turned back towards the flat. Whoever Miss Vivien might +be, I was determined to have a look at her. I felt that the girl whom +Tommy would leave in charge of his more important correspondence must +be distinctly worth looking at. + +I rang the bell, and after a short wait the door was opened by a +little maid about the size and age of Gertie 'Uggins, dressed in a cap +and a print frock. + +"Is Miss Vivien in?" I asked boldly. + +She shook her head. "Miss Vivien's out. 'Ave you got an appointment?" + +"No," I said. "I only want to know where Mr. Morrison is, and when +he's coming back. There's a notice on his door asking that any letters +or telegrams should be left here, so I thought Miss Vivien might +know." + +She looked me up and down, with a faint air of suspicion. + +"'E's away in 'is boat," she said shortly. "'E won't be back not till +Thursday." + +So Tommy still kept up his sailing! This at least was news, and news +which had a rather special interest for me. I wondered whether the +"boat" was the same little seven-tonner, the _Betty_, in which we +had spent so many cheerful hours together off the Crouch and the +Blackwater. + +"Thanks," I said; and then after a moment's pause I added, "I suppose +if I addressed a letter here it would be forwarded?" + +"I s'pose so," she admitted a little grudgingly. + +There seemed to be nothing more to say, so bidding the damsel +good-night, I walked off down the passage and out on to the +embankment. If I had drawn a blank as far as seeing Tommy was +concerned, my evening had not been altogether fruitless. I felt vastly +curious as to who Miss Vivien might be. Somehow or other I couldn't +picture Tommy with a woman in his life. In the old days, partly from +shyness and partly, I think, because they honestly bored him, he had +always avoided girls with a determination that at times bordered +on rudeness. And yet, unless all the signs were misleading, it was +evident that he and his next-door neighbour were on fairly intimate +terms. The most probable explanation seemed to me that she was some +elderly lady artist who darned his socks for him, and shed tears +in secret over the state of his wardrobe. There was a magnificent +uncouthness about Tommy which would appeal irresistibly to a certain +type of motherly woman. + +I strolled up the embankment in the direction of Chelsea Bridge, +smiling to myself over the idea. Whether it was right or not, it +presented such a pleasing picture that I had walked several hundred +yards before I quite woke up to my surroundings. Then with a sudden +start I realized that I was quite close to George's house. + +It was a big red-brick affair, standing back from the embankment +facing the river. As I came opposite I could see that there was a +light on the first floor, in the room which I knew George used as a +study. I stopped for a minute, leaning back against the low wall and +staring up at the window. + +I wondered what my cousin was doing. Perhaps he was sitting there, +looking through the evening paper in the vain hope of finding news +of my capture. I could almost see the lines on his forehead and the +nervous, jerky way in which he would be biting his fingers--a trick of +his that had always annoyed me intensely. He would bite harder than +ever if he only knew that I was standing outside in the darkness not +more than twenty yards away from him! + +I waited for a little while in the hope that he might come to the +window, but this luxury was denied me. + +"Good-night, George," I said softly; "we'll meet in the morning," and +then, with a last affectionate look at the lighted blind, I continued +my way along the embankment. + +I was not sure which turning I ought to take for Edith Terrace, but an +obliging policeman who was on duty outside the Tate Gallery put me on +the right track. There was something delicately pleasing to my sense +of humour in appealing to a constable, and altogether it was in a +most contented frame of mind that I inserted my latch-key into Mrs. +Oldbury's door and let myself into the house. My first day's holiday +seemed to me to have been quite a success. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + +I woke next morning at seven, or perhaps I should say I was awakened +by Gertie 'Uggins, who to judge from the noise was apparently engaged +in wrecking the sitting-room. I looked at my watch, and then halloed +to her through the door. The tumult ceased, and a head, elaborately +festooned with curl-papers, was inserted into the room. + +"Yer want yer barf?" it asked. + +"I do, Gertrude," I said; "and after that I want my breakfast. I have +a lot to do today." + +The head withdrew itself, tittering; and a moment later I heard a +shrill voice calling down the kitchen stairs. + +"Grahnd floor wants 'is 'ot water quick." + +Within about five minutes the ground floor's wish was gratified, Mrs. +Oldbury herself arriving with a large steaming can which she placed +inside a hip bath. She asked me in a mournful voice whether I thought +I could eat some eggs and bacon, and having received a favourable +reply left me to my toilet. + +It was about a quarter to eight when I sat down to breakfast. +Considering that for three years I had been obliged to rise +at painfully unseasonable hours, this may appear to have been +unnecessarily energetic, but as a matter of fact I was not acting +without good reasons. + +To start with, it was my purpose to spend a pleasant morning with +George. I wanted to be outside his house so that I could see his face +when he came out. I felt sure that as long as I was at liberty he +would be looking worried and depressed, and I had no wish to postpone +my enjoyment of such a congenial spectacle. + +Then, provided that I could restrain myself from breaking his head, I +intended to follow him to Victoria Street or wherever else he happened +to go. Beyond this I had no plan at the moment, but at the back of my +mind there was a curious irrational feeling that sooner or later I +should stumble across some explanation of the mystery of Marks' death. + +I knew that as a rule George didn't start for business until +nine-thirty or ten. I was anxious to get out of the house as soon as +possible, however, just in case I was correct in my idea that the +gentleman with the scar was keeping a kindly eye on my movements. In +that case I thought that by departing before half-past eight I should +be almost certain to forestall him. If, as I believed, he was under +the impression that I had been indulging in a night's dissipation, it +was unlikely that he would credit me with sufficient energy to get +up before ten or eleven. As to waiting for George--well, I had no +objection to that. It was a nice sunny morning, and I could buy a +paper and sit on one of the embankment seats. + +This, indeed, was exactly what I did. I slipped out of the house as +unobtrusively as possible, and, stopping at a little newspaper and +tobacco shop round the first corner, invested in a _Telegraph_ and a +_Sportsman_. Then, after making sure that I was not being followed, I +set off for the embankment. + +Some of the seats were already occupied by gentlemen and ladies who +had apparently been using them in preference to an hotel, but as luck +would have it the one opposite George's house was empty. I seated +myself in the corner, and after cutting and lighting a cigar with the +care that such an excellent brand deserved, I prepared to beguile my +wait by reading the _D.T_. + +Nothing particularly thrilling seemed to have been happening in the +world, but I can't say I felt any sense of disappointment. Just at +present my own life afforded me all the excitement my system needed. +The only important item of news that I could find was a rather +offensive speech by the German Chancellor with reference to the +dispute with England. It was a surprising utterance for a statesman in +his position, and the _Telegraph_ had improved the occasion by writing +one of its longest and stateliest leaders on provocative politicians. + +I had just finished reading this effort when George appeared. He came +out of the front door and down the steps of his house, dressed as +usual in a well-fitting frock-coat and tall hat, such as he had always +affected in the old days. I stared at him with a sort of hungry +satisfaction. He looked pale and harassed, and he carried his head +bent forward like a man whose mind was unpleasantly preoccupied. It +warmed my heart to see him. + +When he had gone some little way along the pavement, I got up from my +seat and began to keep pace with him on the other side of the roadway. +It was easy work, for he walked slowly, and stared at the ground as +though fully taken up with his own thoughts. I was not the least +frightened of his recognizing me, but as a matter of fact he never +even looked across in my direction. + +We marched along in this fashion as far as Vauxhall Bridge Road, where +George turned up to the left in the direction of Victoria Street. +I walked on a bit, so as to allow him to get about a hundred yards +ahead, and then coming back followed in his track. As he drew nearer +to the station I began to close up the gap, and all the way along +Victoria Street I was only about ten yards behind him. It was +tantalizing work, for he was just the right distance for a running +kick. + +The offices of our firm, which I had originally chosen myself, are on +the first floor, close to the Army and Navy Stores. George turned in +at the doorway and went straight up, and for a moment I stood in the +entrance, contemplating the big brass plate with "Lyndon and Marwood" +on it, and wondering what to do next. It seemed odd to think of all +that had happened since I had last climbed those stairs. + +Exactly across the road was a restaurant. It was new since my time, +but I could see that there was a table in the window on the first +floor, which must command a fair view of the houses opposite, so I +determined to adopt it as a temporary scouting ground. I walked over +and pushed open the swinging doors. Inside was a sleepy-looking waiter +in his shirt-sleeves engaged in the leisurely pursuit of rolling up +napkins. + +"Good-morning," I said; "can I have some coffee and something to eat +upstairs?" + +He regarded me for a moment with a rather startled air, and then +pulled himself together. + +"Yes, saire. Too early for lunch, saire. 'Am-an'-eggs, saire?" + +I nodded. I had had eggs and bacon for breakfast, and on the excellent +principle of not mixing one's drinks, 'am an'-eggs sounded a most +happy suggestion. + +"Very well," I said; "and I wonder if you could let me have such a +thing as a sheet of paper, and a pen and ink? I want to write a letter +afterwards." + +This, I regret to say, was not strictly true, but it seemed to offer +an ingenious excuse for occupying the table for some time without +arousing too much curiosity. + +The waiter expressed himself as being in a position to gratify me, and +leaving him hastily donning his coat I marched up the staircase to the +room above. + +When I sat down at the table in the window I found that my +expectations were quite correct. I was looking right across into the +main room of our offices, and I could see a couple of clerks working +away at their desks quite clearly enough to distinguish their faces. +They were both strangers to me, but I was not surprised at this. I +always thought that George had probably sacked most of the old staff, +if they had not given him notice on their own account. Of my cousin +himself I could see nothing. He was doubtless either in his own +sanctum, or in the big inner room where I used to work with Watson, my +assistant. + +It was of course impossible to eat much of the generous dish of +'am-an'-eggs which the waiter brought me up, but I dallied over it as +long as possible, and managed to swallow a cup of rather indifferent +coffee. Then I smoked another cigar, and when the things were cleared +away and the writing materials had arrived, I made a pretence of +beginning my letter. + +All this time, of course, I was keeping a strict watch across the +street. Nothing interesting seemed to happen, and I was just beginning +to think that I was wasting my time in a rather hopeless fashion when +suddenly I saw George come out of his private office into the main +room opposite, wearing his hat and carrying an umbrella. He spoke to +one of the clerks as though giving him some parting instructions, and +went out, shutting the door behind him. + +I jumped to my feet, and hurrying down the stairs, demanded my bill +from the rather surprised waiter. Considering that I had been sitting +upstairs for over an hour and a half, I suppose my haste did appear a +trifle unreasonable; anyway he took so long making out the bill that +at last I threw down five shillings and left him at the process. + +Even so, I was only just in time. As I came out into the street George +emerged from the doorway opposite. He looked less depressed than +before and much more like his usual sleek self, and the sight of him +in these apparently recovered spirits whipped up my resentment again +to all its old bitterness. + +He set off at a brisk pace in the direction of the Houses of +Parliament, and crossing the street I took up a tactful position in +his rear. In this order we proceeded along Whitehall, across Trafalgar +Square, and up Charing Cross Road into Coventry Street. Here George +stopped for a moment to buy himself a carnation--he had always had a +taste for buttonholes--and then resuming our progress, we crossed the +Circus, and started off down Piccadilly. + +By this time what is known I believe as "the lust of the chase" had +fairly got hold of me. More strongly than ever I had the feeling that +something interesting was going to happen, and when George turned up +Bond Street I quickened my steps so as to bring me back to my old if +rather tempting position close behind him. + +Quite suddenly in the very narrowest part of the pavement he came to a +stop, and entered a doorway next to a tobacconist's shop. In a +couple of strides I had reached the spot, just in time to see him +disappearing up a winding flight of stone stairs. + +There were two little brass plates at the side of the door, and I +turned to them eagerly to see whom he might be honouring with a visit. +One was inscribed "Dr. Rich. Jones, M.D.," and the other "Mlle. +Vivien." + +The moment I read the last name something curiously familiar about it +suddenly struck me. Then in a flash I remembered the pencilled notice +on Tommy's door, and the obliging "Miss Vivien" who was willing to +receive his telegrams. + +The coincidence was a startling one, but I was too anxious to discover +what George was doing to waste much time pondering over it. Stepping +forward to the foot of the stairs, I peered cautiously up. I could see +by his hand, which was resting on the banisters, that he had passed +the floor above, where the doctor lived, and was half way up the next +flight. Whoever Mlle. Vivien might be, she certainly represented +George's destination. + +I retreated to the door, wondering what was the best thing to do. +My previous effort in Victoria Street had been so successful that +I instinctively glanced across the street to see whether there was +another convenient restaurant from which I could repeat my tactics. +There wasn't a restaurant but there was something else which was +even better, and that was a small and very respectable-looking +public-house. + +If I had to wait, a whisky-and-soda seemed a much more agreeable thing +to beguile the time with than a third helping of ham and eggs, so +crossing the road with a light heart, I pushed open a door marked +"Saloon Bar." I found myself in a square, comfortably fitted apartment +where a genial-looking gentleman was dispensing drinks to a couple of +chauffeurs. + +Along the back of the bar ran a big fitted looking-glass, sloped at +an angle which enabled it to reflect the opposite side of the street. +This was most convenient, for I could stand at the counter with my +back to the window, and yet keep my eye all the time upon the doorway +from which George would appear. + +"Good-morning, sir: what can I get you?" inquired the landlord +pleasantly. + +"I'll have a whisky-and-soda, thanks," I said. + +As he turned round to get it a sudden happy idea flashed into my mind. +I waited until he had placed the glass on the bar and was pouring out +the soda, and then inquired carelessly: + +"You don't happen to know any one of the name of Vivien about here, I +suppose?" + +He looked up at once. "Vivien!" he repeated; "well, there's a Mamzelle +Vivien across the road. D'you mean her?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know," I said; then, with a coolness +which would have done credit to Ananias, I added: "A friend of mine +has picked up a little bag or something with 'Vivien, Bond Street,' on +it. He asked me to see if I could find the owner." + +The landlord nodded his head with interest. "That'll be her, I expect. +Mamzelle Vivien the palmist--just across the way." + +"Oh, she's a palmist, is she?" I exclaimed. The thought of George +consulting a palmist was decidedly entertaining. Perhaps he wanted to +find out whether I was likely to wring his neck. + +With a side glance at the chauffeurs, the landlord leaned a little +towards me and slightly lowered his voice. "Well, that's what she +calls 'erself," he observed. "Palmist and Clairvoyante; and a smart +bit o' goods she is too." + +"But I thought the police had stopped that sort of thing," I said. + +The landlord shook his head. "The police don't interfere with her. +She don't advertise or anything like that, and I reckon she has some +pretty useful friends. You'd be surprised if I was to tell you some o' +the people I seen going in there--Cabinet Ministers and Bishops." + +"It sounds like the Athenaeum Club," I said. "Do you know what she +charges?" + +"No," he replied; "something pretty stiff I guess. With folks like +that it's a case of make 'ay while the sun shines." + +He was called off at this point to attend to another customer, leaving +me to ponder over the information he had given me. I felt that somehow +or other I must make Mademoiselle Vivien's acquaintance. A beautiful +palmist, for whom George deserted his business at eleven in the +morning, was just the sort of person who might prove extremely +interesting to me. Besides, the fact that her name was the same as +that of the lady who lived next door to Tommy lent an additional spur +to my curiosity. It might be a mere coincidence, but if so it was a +sufficiently odd one to merit a little further investigation. + +I drank up my whisky, and after waiting a minute or two, ordered +another. I had just got this and was taking my first sip, when quite +suddenly I saw in the mirror the reflection of George emerging from +the doorway opposite. + +I didn't stop to finish my drink. I put down the tumbler, and nodding +to the landlord walked straight out into the street. The pavement was +thronged with the usual midday crowd, but pushing my way through I +dodged across the road and reached the opposite side-walk just in +time to see George stepping into a taxi a few yards farther down the +street. + +I was not close enough to overhear the directions which he gave to the +driver, but unless his habits had changed considerably the chances +were that he was off to lunch at his club. Anyhow I felt pretty +certain that I could pick up his trail again later on at the office if +I wanted to. For the moment I had other plans; it was my intention +to follow George's example and pay a short call upon "Mademoiselle +Vivien." + +I walked back, and throwing away the end of my cigar, entered the +doorway again and started off up the stairs. I imagined that by going +as an ordinary client I should find no difficulty in getting admitted, +but if I did I was fully prepared to bribe or bluff, or adopt any +method that might be necessary to achieve my purpose. I would not +leave until I had at least seen the gifted object of George's midday +rambles. + +I reached the second landing, where I was faced by a green door with a +quaintly carved electric bell in the shape of an Egyptian girl's head, +a red stone in the centre of the forehead forming what appeared to be +the button. Anyhow I pressed it and waited, and a moment later the +door swung silently open. A small but very alert page-boy who looked +like an Italian was standing on the mat. + +"Is Mademoiselle at home?" I inquired. + +He looked me up and down sharply. "Have you an appointment, sir?" + +"No," I said, "but will you be good enough to ask whether I can +see her? My name is Mr. James Nicholson. I wish to consult her +professionally." + +"If you will step in here, sir, I will inquire. Mademoiselle very +seldom sees any one without an appointment." + +He opened a door on the right and ushered me into a small +sitting-room, the chief furniture of which appeared to be a couch, one +or two magnificent bowls of growing tulips and hyacinths, and an oak +shelf which ran the whole length of the room and was crowded with +books. + +While the boy was away I amused myself by examining the titles. There +were a number of volumes on palmistry and on various branches of +occultism, interspersed with several books of poetry and such unlikely +works as _My Prison Life_, by Jabez Balfour, and Melville Lee's +well-known _History of Police_. + +It gave me rather an uncanny feeling for the moment to be confronted +by the two latter, and I was just wondering whether a Bond Street +palmist's cliéntèle made such works of reference necessary, when the +door opened and the page-boy reappeared. + +"If you will kindly come this way, sir, Mademoiselle will see you," he +announced. + +I followed him down the passage and into another room hung with heavy +curtains that completely shut out the daylight. A small rose-coloured +lamp burning away steadily in the corner threw a warm glow over +everything, and lit up the low table of green stone in the centre, on +which rested a large crystal ball in a metal frame. Except for two +curiously carved chairs, there was no other furniture in the room. + +Closing the door noiselessly behind him, the boy went out again. I +stood there for a little while looking about me; then pulling up +a chair I was just sitting down when a slight sound attracted my +attention. A moment later a curtain at the end of the room was drawn +slowly aside, and there, standing in the gap, I saw the slim figure of +a girl, dressed in a kind of long dark Eastern tunic. + +I jumped to my feet, and as I did so an exclamation of amazement broke +involuntarily from my lips. For an instant I remained quite still, +clutching the back of the chair and staring like a man in a trance. +Unless I was mad the girl in front of me was Joyce. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + +It was the unexpectedness of the thing that threw me off my guard. +With a savage effort I recovered myself almost at once, but it was too +late to be of any use. At the sound of my voice all the colour had +left Joyce's face. Her hands went up to her breast, and with a low cry +she stepped forward and then stood there white and swaying, gazing at +me with wide-open, half-incredulous eyes. + +"My God!" she whispered; "it's you--Neil!" + +I think she would have fallen, but I came to her side, and putting my +arm round her shoulders gently forced her into one of the chairs. Then +I knelt in front of her and took her hands in mine. I saw it was no +good trying to deceive her. + +"I didn't know," I said simply; "I followed George here." + +"What have they done to you?" she moaned. "What have they done to you, +my Neil? And your hands--oh, your poor dear hands!" + +She burst out crying, and bending down pressed her face against my +fingers. + +"Don't, Joyce," I said, a little roughly. "For God's sake don't do +that." + +Half unconsciously I pulled away my hands, which three years in +Dartmoor had certainly done nothing to improve. + +My abrupt action seemed to bring Joyce to herself. She left off +sobbing, and with a sudden hurried glance round the room jumped up +from her chair. + +"I must speak to Jack--now at once," she whispered. "He mustn't let +any one else into the flat." + +She stopped for a moment to dry her eyes, which were still wet with +tears, and then walking quickly to the door disappeared into the +passage. She was only gone for a few seconds. I just had time to get +to my feet when she came back into the room, and shutting the door +behind her, turned the key in the lock. Then with a little gasp +she leaned against the wall. For the first time I realized what an +amazingly beautiful girl she had grown into. + +"Neil, Neil," she said, stretching out her hands; "is it really you!" + +I came across, and taking her in my arms very gently kissed her +forehead. + +"My little Joyce," I said. "My dear, brave little Joyce." + +She buried her face in my coat, and I felt her hand moving up and down +my sleeve. + +"Oh," she sobbed, "if I had only known where to find you before! Ever +since you escaped I have been hoping and longing that you would come +to me." Then she half pushed me back, and gazed up into my face with +her blue, tear-stained eyes. "Where have you been? What have they done +to you? Oh, tell me--tell me, Neil. It's breaking my heart to see you +so different." + +For a moment I hesitated. I would have given much if I could have +undone the work of the last few minutes, for even to be revenged on +George I would not willingly have brought my wretched troubles and +dangers into Joyce's life. Now that I had done so, however, there +seemed to be no other course except to tell her the truth. It was +impossible to leave her in her present agony of bewilderment and +doubt. + +Pulling up one of the chairs I sat down, drawing her on to my knee. + +"If I had known it was you, Joyce," I said, "I should have let George +go to the devil before I followed him here." + +"But why?" she asked. "Where should you go to if you didn't come to +me?" + +"Oh, my poor Joyce," I said bitterly; "haven't I brought enough +troubles and horrors into your life already?" + +She interrupted me with a low, passionate cry. "_You_ talk like +that! You, who have lost everything for my wretched sake! Can't you +understand that every day and night since you went to prison I've +loathed and hated myself for ever telling you anything about it? If +I'd dreamed what was going to happen I'd have let Marks--" + +I stopped her by crushing her in my arms, and for a little while she +remained there sobbing bitterly, her cheek resting on my shoulder. For +a moment or two I didn't feel exactly like talking myself. + +Indeed it was Joyce who spoke first. Raising her head she wiped away +her tears, and then sitting up gazed long and searchingly into my +face. + +"There is nothing of you left," she said, "nothing except your +eyes--your dear, splendid eyes. I think I should have known you by +those even if you hadn't spoken." Then, taking my hands again and +pressing them to her, she added passionately: "Oh, tell me what it +means, Neil. Tell me everything that's happened to you from the moment +you got away." + +"Very well," I said recklessly: "I shall be dragging you into all +sorts of dangers, and I shall be breaking my oath to McMurtrie, but +after all that's just the sort of thing one would expect from an +escaped convict." + +Step by step, from the moment when I had jumped over the wall into the +plantation, I told her the whole astounding story. She listened to me +in silence, her face alone betraying the feverish interest with which +she was following every word. When I came to the part about Sonia +kissing me (I told her everything just as it had happened) her hands +tightened a little on mine, but except for that one movement she +remained absolutely still. + +It was not until I had finished speaking that she made her first +comment. After I stopped she sat on for a moment just as she was; and +then quite suddenly her face lighted up, and with a little low laugh +that was half a sob she leaned forward and slid her arm round my neck. + +"Tommy was right," she whispered. "He said you'd do something +wonderful. I knew it too, but oh, Neil dear, I've suffered tortures +wondering where you were and what had happened." + +Then, sitting up again and pushing back her hair, she began to ask me +questions. + +"These people--Dr. McMurtrie and the others--do you believe their +story?" + +"No," I said bluntly. "I am quite certain they were lying to me." + +"Why should they have helped you, then?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea," I admitted. "I am only quite sure that +neither McMurtrie nor Savaroff are what they pretend to be. Besides, +you remember the hints that Sonia gave me." + +"Ah, Sonia!" Joyce looked down and played with one of the buttons of +my coat. "Is she--is she very pretty?" she asked. + +"She seems likely to be very useful," I said. Then, stroking Joyce's +soft curly hair, which had become all tousled against my shoulder, I +added: "But I'm answering questions when all the time I'm dying to ask +them. There are a hundred things you've got to tell me. What are you +doing here? Why do you call yourself Miss Vivien? Are you really +living next door to Tommy? And George--how on earth do you come to be +mixed up with George?" + +"I'll tell you everything," she said, "only I must know all about you +first. Why were you following George? You don't mean to let him know +who you are? Oh, Neil, Neil, promise me that you won't do that." + +"Joyce," I said slowly, "I want to find out who killed Seton Marks. I +don't suppose there is the least chance of my doing so, and if I can't +I most certainly mean to wring George's neck. That was chiefly what I +broke out of prison for." + +"Yes, yes," she said feverishly, "but there _is_ a chance. You'll +understand when I've explained." She put her hands to her forehead. +"Oh, I hardly know where to begin." + +"Begin anywhere," I said. "Tell me why you're pretending to be a +palmist." + +She got up from my knee and, walking slowly to the table, seated +herself on the end. + +"I wanted money," she said; "and I wanted to meet one or two people +who might be useful about you." + +"But I left eight hundred pounds for you with Tommy," I exclaimed. +"You got that?" + +She nodded. "It's in the bank now. I have been keeping it in case +anything happened. You don't suppose I was going to spend it? How +could I have helped you then even when I got the chance?" + +"But, my dear Joyce," I protested, "the money was for you. And you +couldn't have helped me with it in any case. I had plenty more waiting +for me when my sentence was out." + +"When your sentence was out," repeated Joyce fiercely. "Do you think +I was going to let you stop in prison till then!" She checked herself +with an effort. "I had better tell you everything from the beginning," +she said. "I couldn't write any more to you, because I was only +allowed to send the two letters, and I knew both of them would be read +by somebody." + +She paused a moment. + +"I went away after the trial. I was very ill, and Tommy took me to a +little place called Looe, down in Cornwall. We stayed there nearly six +months. When I came back I took the flat next to him and called myself +Miss Vivien. I had made up my mind then what I was going to do. You +see there were only two possible ways in which I could help you. One +was to find out who killed Marks, and the other was to get you out of +prison--anyhow. Of course, after the trial, it seemed madness to think +about the first, but then I just had three things to go on. I knew +that you were innocent, I knew that for some reason of his own George +had lied about you, and I knew that there had been some one else in +the flat the day of the murder." + +"The man who was with Marks when you arrived," I said. "But you saw +him go away, and there was nothing to connect him with the murder, +except the fact that he didn't turn up at the trial. Sexton himself +had to admit that in his speech." + +"There was his face," said Joyce quietly. "It was a dreadful face. It +looked as if all the goodness had been burned out of it." + +"There are about five hundred gentlemen like that in Princetown," +I said, "including several of the warders. Did they ever find out +anything about him?" + +Joyce shook her head. "Mr. Sexton did everything he could, but it was +quite useless. Whoever he was, the man never came forward, and you +see there was no one except me who even knew what he was like. It was +partly that which first gave me the idea of becoming a palmist. I +thought that up here in the West End I was more likely to come across +him than anywhere else. And then there were other people I meant to +meet--men in the Government who might be able to get your sentence +shortened. I knew I was beautiful, and with some men you can do +anything if you're beautiful, and--and you don't care." + +"Joyce!" I cried, "for God's sake don't tell me--" + +"No," she broke in passionately: "there's nothing to tell you. But if +the chance had come I'd have sold myself a thousand times over to get +you out of prison. The only man I've met who could do anything has +been Lord Lammersfield, and he...." She paused, then with a little +break in her voice she added: "Well, I think Lord Lammersfield is +rather like Tommy in some ways." + +"I suppose there are still one or two white men about," I said. + +"Lord Lammersfield used to be at the Home Office once, so of course +his influence would count for a great deal. Well, he did all that was +possible for me, but about six months ago he told me that there was no +chance of your being let out for another three years. It was then that +I made up my mind to get to know George." + +I thrust my hand in my pocket and pulled out my cigarette case. +"You--you've got rather thorough ideas about friendship, Joyce," I +said, a little unsteadily. "Can I smoke?" + +She picked up a box of matches from the table, and coming across +seated herself on the arm of my chair. + +"Have I?" she said simply. "Well, you taught me them." + +She struck a match and held it to my cigarette. + +"How did you manage it?" I asked. + +"Oh, it was easy enough. I asked Lord Lammersfield to bring him here +one day. You know what George is like; he would never refuse to do +anything a Cabinet Minister suggested. Of course he had no idea who I +was until he arrived." + +"It must have been quite a pleasant surprise for him," I said grimly. +"Did he recognize you at once?" + +Joyce shook her head. "He had only seen me at the trial, and I had my +hair down then. Besides, two years make a lot of difference." + +"They've made a lot of difference in you," I said. "They've turned you +from a pretty child into a beautiful woman." + +With a little low, contented laugh Joyce again laid her head on my +shoulder. "I think," she said, "that that's the only one of George's +opinions I'd like you to share." + +There was a moment's silence. Then I gently twisted one of her loose +curls round my finger. + +"My poor Joyce," I said, "you seem to have been wading in some +remarkably unpleasant waters for my sake." + +She shivered slightly. "Oh, it was hateful in a way, but I didn't +care. I knew George was hiding something that might help to get you +out of prison, and what did my feelings matter compared with that! +Besides--" she smiled mockingly--"for all his cleverness and his +wickedness George is a fool--just the usual vain fool that most men +are about women. It's been easy enough to manage him." + +"He knows who you are now, of course?" I said. + +She nodded. "I told him. He would have been almost certain to find +out, and then he would probably have been suspicious. As it is he +thinks our meeting was just pure chance." + +"But surely," I objected, "he must have guessed you were on my side?" + +She gave a short, bitter laugh. "Yes," she said, "he guessed that all +right. It's what he calls 'a sacred bond between us.' There are times, +you know, when George is almost funny." + +"There are times," I said, "when he must make Judas Iscariot feel +sick." + +"I sometimes wonder why I haven't killed him," she went on slowly. "I +think I should have if he had ever tried to kiss me. As it is--" +she laughed again in the same way--"as it is we are becoming great +friends. He is taking me out to dinner at the Savoy tonight." + +"But if he doesn't try to make love to you--" I began. + +"Oh!" she said, with a little shrug of her shoulders, "that's coming. +At present he imagines that he is being clever and diplomatic. Also +there's a business side to the matter." + +"Yes," I said; "there would be with George." + +"He's horribly frightened of you. Of course he tries to hide it from +me, but I can see that ever since you escaped from prison he has been +living in a state of absolute terror. His one idea at present is a +frantic hope that you will be recaptured. That's partly where I come +in." + +"You?" I repeated. + +"Yes. He thinks that sooner or later, when you want help, you will +probably write and tell me where you are." + +"And then you are to pass the good news on to him?" + +She nodded. "He says that if I let him know at once, he will arrange +to get you safely out of the country." + +I lay back in the chair and laughed out loud. + +Joyce, who was still sitting on the arm, looked down happily into my +face. "Oh," she said, "I love to hear you laugh again." Then, slipping +her hand into mine, she went on: "I suppose he means to arrange it so +that it will look as if you had been caught by accident while he was +trying to help you." + +"I expect so," I said. "I should be out of the way again then, and you +would be so overcome by gratitude--Oh, yes, there's quite a Georgian +touch about it." + +The sharp tinkle of an electric bell broke in on our conversation. +Joyce jumped up from the chair, and for a moment both remained +listening while "Jack" answered the door. + +"I know who it is," whispered Joyce. "It's old Lady Mortimer. She had +an appointment for one o'clock." + +"But what have you arranged to do?" I asked. "There's no reason you +should put all your people off. I can go away for the time, or stop in +another room, or something." + +"No, no; it's all right," whispered Joyce. "I'll tell you in a +minute." + +She waited until we heard the front door shut, and then coming back to +me sat down again on my knee. + +"I told Jack," she said, "not to let any one into the flat till three +o'clock. I have an appointment then I ought to keep, but that still +gives us nearly two hours. I will send Jack across to Stewart's to +fetch us some lunch, and we'll have it in here. What would you like, +my Neil?" + +"Anything but eggs and bacon," I said, getting out another cigarette. + +She jumped up with a laugh, and, after striking me a match, went out +into the passage, leaving the door open. I heard her call the page-boy +and give him some instructions, and then she came back into the room, +her eyes dancing with happiness and excitement. + +"Isn't this splendid!" she exclaimed. "Only this morning I was utterly +miserable wondering if you were dead, and here we are having lunch +together just like the old days in Chelsea." + +"Except for your hair, Joyce," I said. "Don't you remember how it was +always getting in your eyes?" + +"Oh, that!" she cried; "that's easily altered." + +She put up her hands, and hastily pulled out two or three hairpins. +Then she shook her head, and in a moment a bronze mane was rippling +down over her shoulders exactly as it used to in the old days. + +"I wish I could do something like that," I said ruefully. "I'm afraid +my changes are more permanent." + +Joyce came up and thrust her arm into mine. "My poor dear," she said, +pressing it to her. "Never mind; you look splendid as you are." + +"Won't your boy think there's something odd in our lunching together +like this?" I asked. "He seems a pretty acute sort of youth." + +"Jack?" she said. "Oh, Jack's all right. He was a model in Chelsea. I +took him away from his uncle, who used to beat him with a poker. He +doesn't know anything about you, but if he did he would die for you +cheerfully. He's by way of being rather grateful to me." + +"You always inspired devotion, Joyce," I said, smiling. "Do you +remember how Tommy and I used to squabble as to which of us should +eventually adopt you?" + +She nodded, almost gravely; then with a sudden change back to her +former manner, she made a step towards the inner room, pulling me +after her. + +"Come along," she said. "We'll lunch in there. It's more cheerful than +this, and anyway I want to see you in the daylight." + +I followed her in through the curtains, and found myself in a small, +narrow room with a window which looked out on the back of Burlington +Arcade. A couple of chairs, a black oak gate-legged table, and a +little green sofa made up the furniture. + +Joyce took me to the window, and still holding my arm, made a second +and even longer inspection of McMurtrie's handiwork. + +"It's wonderful, Neil," she said at last. "You look fifteen years +older and absolutely different. No one could possibly recognize you +except by the way you speak." + +"I've been practising that," I said, altering my voice. "I shouldn't +have given myself away if you hadn't taken me by surprise." + +She smiled again happily. "It's so good to feel that you're safe, even +if it's only for a few days." Then, letting go my arm, she crossed to +the sofa. "Come and sit down," she went on. "We've got to decide all +sorts of things, and we shan't have too much time." + +"I've told you my plans, Joyce," I said, "such as they are. I mean to +go through with this business of McMurtrie's, though I'm sure there's +something crooked at the bottom of it. As for the rest--" I shrugged +my shoulders and sat down on the sofa beside her; "well, I've got the +sort of hand one has to play alone." + +Joyce looked at me quietly and steadily. + +"Neil," she said; "do you remember that you once called me the most +pig-headed infant in Chelsea?" + +"Did I?" I said. "That was rather rude." + +"It was rather right," she answered calmly; "and I haven't changed, +Neil. If you think Tommy and I are going to let you play this hand +alone, as you call it, you are utterly and absolutely wrong." + +"Do you know what the penalties are for helping an escaped convict?" I +asked. + +She laughed contemptuously. "Listen, Neil. For three years Tommy and I +have had no other idea except to get you out of prison. Is it likely +we should leave you now?" + +"But what can you do, Joyce?" I objected. "You'll only be running +yourselves into danger, and--" + +"Oh, Neil dear," she interrupted; "it's no good arguing about it. We +mean to help you, and you'll have to let us." + +"But suppose I refuse?" I said. + +"Then as soon as Tommy comes back tomorrow I shall tell him everything +that you've told me. I know your address at Pimlico, and I know just +about where your hut will be down the Thames. If you think Tommy will +rest for a minute till he's found you, you must have forgotten a lot +about him in the last three years." + +She spoke with a kind of indignant energy, and there was an obstinate +look in her blue eyes, which showed me plainly that it would be waste +of time trying to reason with her. + +I reflected quickly. Perhaps after all it would be best for me to see +Tommy myself. He at least would appreciate the danger of dragging +Joyce into the business, and between us we might be able to persuade +her that I was right. + +"Well, what are your ideas, Joyce?" I said. "Except for keeping my eye +on George I had no particular plan until I heard from McMurtrie." + +Joyce laid her hand on my sleeve. "Tomorrow," she said, "you must go +and see Tommy. He is coming back by the midday train, and he will get +to the flat about two o'clock. Tell him everything that you have told +me. I shan't be able to get away from here till the evening, but I +shall be free then, and we three will talk the whole thing over. I +shan't make any more appointments here after tomorrow." + +"Very well," I said reluctantly. "I will go and look up Tommy, but +I can't see that it will do any good. I am only making you and him +liable to eighteen months' hard labour." She was going to speak, but +I went on. "Don't you see, Joyce dear, there are only two possible +courses open to me? I can either wait and carry out my agreement with +McMurtrie, or I can go down to Chelsea and force the truth about +Marks's death out of George--if he really knows it. Dragging you two +into my wretched affairs won't alter them at all." + +"Yes, it will," she said obstinately. "There are lots of ways in which +we can help you. Suppose these people turn out wrong, for instance; +they might even mean to give you up to the police as soon as they've +got your secret. And then there's George. If he does know anything +about the murder I'm the only person who is the least likely to find +it out. Why--" + +A discreet knock at the outer door interrupted her, and she got up +from the sofa. + +"That's Jack with the lunch," she said. "Come along, Neil dear. We +won't argue about it any more now. Let's forget everything for an +hour,--just be happy together as if we were back in Chelsea." + +She held out her hands to me, her lips smiling, her blue eyes just on +the verge of tears. I drew her towards me and gently stroked her hair, +as I used to do in the old days in Chelsea when she had come to me +with some of her childish troubles. I felt an utter brute to think +that I could ever have doubted her loyalty, even for an instant. + +How long we kept the luckless Jack waiting on the mat I can't say, +but at last Joyce detached herself, and crossing the room, opened the +door. Jack came in carrying a basket in one hand and a table-cloth in +the other. If he felt any surprise at finding Joyce with her hair down +he certainly didn't betray it. + +"I got what I could, Mademoiselle," he observed, putting down his +burdens. "Oyster patties, galatine, cheese-cakes, and a bottle of +champagne. I hope that will please Mademoiselle?" + +"It sounds distinctly pleasing, Jack," said Joyce gravely. "But then +you always do just what I want." + +The boy flushed with pleasure, and began to lay the table without even +so much as bestowing a glance on me. It was easy enough to see that he +adored his young mistress--adored her far beyond questioning any of +her actions. + +All through lunch--and an excellent lunch it was too--Joyce and I were +ridiculously happy. Somehow or other we seemed to drop straight back +into our former jolly relations, and for the time I almost forgot that +they had ever been interrupted. In spite of all she had been through +since, Joyce, at the bottom of her heart, was just the same as she had +been in the old days--impulsive, joyous, and utterly unaffected. All +her bitterness and sadness seemed to slip away with her grown-up +manner; and catching her infectious happiness, I too laughed and joked +and talked as cheerfully and unconcernedly as though we were in truth +back in Chelsea with no hideous shadow hanging over our lives. I even +found myself telling her stories about the prison, and making fun of +one of the chaplain's sermons on the beauties of justice. At the time +I remembered it had filled me with nothing but a morose fury. + +It was the little clock on the mantlepiece striking a quarter to three +which brought us back to the realities of the present. + +"I must go, Joyce," I said reluctantly, "or I shall be running into +some of your Duchesses." + +She nodded. "And I've got to do my hair by three, and turn myself back +from Joyce into Mademoiselle Vivien--if I can. Oh, Neil, Neil; it's a +funny, mad world, isn't it!" She lifted up my hand and moved it softly +backwards and forwards against her lips. Then, suddenly jumping up, +she went into the next room, and came back with my hat and stick. + +"Here are your dear things," she said; "and I shall see you tomorrow +evening at Tommy's. I shan't leave him a note--somebody might open it; +I shall just let you go and find him yourself. Oh, I should love to be +there when he realizes who it is." + +"I know just what he'll do," I said. "He'll stare at me for a minute; +then he'll say quite quietly, 'Well, I'm damned,' and go and pour +himself out a whisky." + +She laughed gaily. "Yes, yes," she said. "That's exactly what will +happen." Then with a little change in her voice she added: "And you +will be careful, won't you, Neil? I know you're quite safe; no one +can possibly recognize you; but I'm frightened all the same--horribly +frightened. Isn't it silly of me?" + +I kissed her tenderly. "My Joyce," I said, "I think you have got the +bravest heart in the whole world." + +And with this true if rather inadequate remark I left her. + +I had plenty to think about during my walk back to Victoria. Exactly +what result the sharing of my secret with Tommy and Joyce would have, +it was difficult to forecast, but it opened up a disquieting field of +possibilities. Rather than get either of them into trouble I would +cheerfully have thrown myself in front of the next motor bus, but if +such an extreme course could be avoided I certainly had no wish to +end my life in that or any other abrupt fashion until I had had the +satisfaction of a few minutes' quiet conversation with George. + +I blamed myself to a certain extent for having given way to Joyce. +Still, I knew her well enough to be sure that if I had persisted in +my refusal she would have stuck to her intention of trying to help me +against my will. That would only have made matters more dangerous for +all of us, so on the whole it was perhaps best that I should go and +see Tommy. I had not the fainest doubt he would be anxious enough to +help me himself if I would let him, but he would at least see the +necessity for keeping Joyce out of the affair. We ought to be able to +manage her between us, though when I remembered the obstinate look in +her eyes I realized that it wouldn't be exactly a simple matter. + +I stopped at a book-shop just outside Victoria, which I had noticed on +the previous evening. I wanted to order a copy of a book dealing +with a certain branch of high explosives that I had forgotten to ask +McMurtrie for, and when I had done that I took the opportunity of +buying a couple of novels by Wells which had been published since I +went to prison. Wells was a luxury which the prison library didn't run +to. + +With these tucked under my arm, and still pondering over the +unexpected results of my chase after George, I continued my walk to +Edith Terrace. As I reached the house and thrust my key into the +lock the door suddenly opened from the inside, and I found myself +confronted by the apparently rather embarrassed figure of Miss Gertie +'Uggins. + +"I 'eard you a-comin'," she observed, rubbing one hand down her leg, +"so I opened the door like." + +"That was very charming of you, Gertrude," I said gravely. + +She tittered, and then began to retreat slowly backwards down the +passage. "There's a letter for you in the sittin'-room. Come by the +post after you'd gorn. Yer want some tea?" + +"I don't mind a cup," I said. "I've been eating and drinking all day; +it seems a pity to give it up now." + +"I'll mike yer one," she remarked, nodding her head. "Mrs. Oldbury's +gorn out shoppin'." + +She disappeared down the kitchen stairs, and opening the door of my +room I discovered the letter she had referred to stuck up on the +mantelpiece. I took it down with some curiosity. It was addressed to +James Nicholson, Esq., and stamped with the Strand postmark. I did not +recognize the writing, but common-sense told me that it could only be +from McMurtrie or one of his crowd. + +When I opened the envelope I found that it contained a half-sheet +of note-paper, with the following words written in a sloping, +foreign-looking hand: + +"You will receive either a message or a visitor at five o'clock +tomorrow afternoon. Kindly make it convenient to be at home at that +hour." + +That was all. There was no signature and no address, and it struck +me that as an example of polite letter-writing it certainly left +something to be desired. Still, the message was clear enough, which +was the chief point, so, folding it up, I thrust it back into the +envelope and put it away in my pocket. After all, one can't expect a +really graceful literary style from a High Explosives Syndicate. + +I wondered whether the note meant that the preparations which were +being made for me at Tilbury were finally completed. McMurtrie had +promised me a week in Town, and so far I had only had two days; still +I was hardly in a position to kick if he asked me to go down earlier. +Anyhow I should know the next day, so there seemed no use in worrying +myself about it unnecessarily. + +It was my intention to spend a quiet interval reading one of my books, +before going out somewhere to get some dinner. In pursuance of this +plan I exchanged my boots for a pair of slippers and settled myself +down comfortably in the only easy-chair in the room. In about ten +minutes' time, faithful to her word, Gertie 'Uggins brought me up +an excellent cup of tea, and stimulated by this and the combined +intelligence and amorousness of Mr. Wells's hero, I succeeded in +passing two or three very agreeable hours. + +At seven o'clock I roused myself rather reluctantly, put on my boots +again, and indulged in the luxury of a wash and a clean collar. Then, +after ringing the bell and informing Mrs. Oldbury that I should be out +to dinner, I left the house with the pleasantly vague intention of +wandering up West until I found some really attractive restaurant. + +It was a beautiful evening, more like June than the end of April; and +with a cigarette alight, I strolled slowly along Victoria Street, my +mind busy over the various problems with which Providence had seen fit +to surround me. I had got nearly as far as the Stores, when a sudden +impulse took me to cross over and walk past our offices. A taxi was +coming up the road, so I waited for a moment on the pavement until +it had passed. The back part of the vehicle was open, and as it came +opposite to me, the light from one of the big electric standards fell +clear on the face of the man inside. He was sitting bolt upright, +looking straight out ahead, but in spite of his opera hat and his +evening dress I recognized him at once. It was the man with the +scar--the man I had imagined to be tracking me on the previous +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + +I have never been slow to act in moments of sudden emergency, and in +rather less than a second I had made up my mind. The mere idea +of stalking one's own shadower was a distinctly attractive one; +surrounded as I was by a baffling sense of mystery and danger I jumped +at the chance with an almost reckless enthusiasm. + +Coming up behind was another taxi--an empty one, the driver leaning +back in his seat puffing lazily at a pipe. I stepped out into the road +and signalled to him to pull up. + +"Follow that taxi in front," I said quickly. "If you keep it in sight +till it stops I'll give you five shillings for yourself." + +All the languor disappeared from the driver's face. Hastily knocking +out his pipe, he stuffed it into his pocket, and the next moment we +were bowling up Victoria Street hard on the track of our quarry. + +I sat back in the seat, filled with a pleasant exhilaration. Of course +it was just possible that I was making a fool of myself--that the +gentleman in front was as innocent of having spied on my movements as +the Bishop of London. Still if that were the case there could be no +harm in following him, while if he were really one of McMurtrie's +friends a closer acquaintance with his methods of spending the evening +seemed eminently desirable. + +Half way along Whitehall my driver quickened his pace until we were +only a few yards behind the other taxi. I was just going to caution +him not to get too near, when I realized that unless we hung on as +close as possible we should probably lose it in the traffic at the +corner of the Strand. The soundness of this reasoning was apparent a +moment later, when we only just succeeded in following it across the +Square before a policeman's hand peremptorily barred the way. + +Past the Garrick Theatre, across Long Acre, and up Charing Cross Road +the chase continued with unabated vigour. At the Palace the other +driver turned off sharp to the left, and running a little way along +Old Compton Street came to a halt outside Parelli's, the well-known +restaurant. As he began to slow down I picked up the speaking tube and +instructed my man to go straight past on the other side of the street, +an order which he promptly obeyed without changing his pace. I didn't +make the mistake of looking round. I just sat still in my seat until +we had covered another thirty yards or so, and then gave the signal to +stop. + +The driver, who seemed to have entered thoroughly into the spirit of +the affair, at once clambered out of his seat and came round as though +to open the door. + +"Gent's standin' on the pavement payin' 'is fare, sir," he observed in +a hoarse whisper. "Thought ye might like to know before ye gets out." + +"Thanks," I said; "I'll take the chance of lighting a cigarette." + +I was about to suit the action to the word, when with a sudden +exclamation the man again interrupted me. + +"There's another gent just come up in a taxi, sir--proper toff too +from 'is looks. 'E's shakin' 'ands with our bloke." + +"Is he an old man?" I asked quickly--"an old man with glasses?" + +"'E don't look very old, but 'e's got a glass right enough--leastways +one o' them bow-winder things in 'is eye." He paused. "They've gone +inside now, Guv'nor; they won't spot ye if you want to 'op it." + +He opened the door, and stepping out on to the pavement I handed him +half a sovereign, which I was holding in readiness. + +He touched his cap. "Thank ye, sir. Thank ye very much." Then, +fumbling in his pocket, he produced a rather dirty and crumpled card. +"I don't rightly know what the game is, Guv'nor," he went on in a +lowered tone, "but if you should 'appen to want to call on me for +evidence any time, Martyn's Garridge, Walham Green, 'll always find +me. Ye only need to ask for Dick 'Arris. They all knows me round +there." + +I accepted the card, and having assured Mr. Harris that in the event +of my needing his testimony I would certainly look him up, I lit +my delayed cigarette and started to stroll back towards Parelli's. +Whoever my original friend and his pal with the eyeglass might be, I +was anxious to give them a few minutes' law before thrusting myself +upon their society. I had known Parelli's well in the old days, and +remembering the numerous looking-glasses which decorated its walls, I +thought it probable that I should be able to find some obscure seat, +from which I could obtain a view of their table without being too +conspicuous myself. Still, it seemed advisable to give them time to +settle down to dinner first, so, stopping at a newspaper shop at the +corner, I spun out another minute or two in buying myself a copy of +_La Vie Parisienne_ and the latest edition of the _Pall Mall_. With +these under my arm and a pleasant little tingle of excitement in my +heart I walked up to the door of the restaurant, which a uniformed +porter immediately swung open. + +I found myself in a brightly lit passage, inhabited by a couple of +waiters, one of whom came forward to take my hat and stick. The other +pushed back the glass door which led into the restaurant, and then +stood there bowing politely and waiting for me to pass. + +I stopped for a moment on the threshold, and cast a swift glance round +the room. It was a large, low-ceilinged apartment, broken up by square +pillars, but as luck would have it I spotted my two men at the very +first attempt. They were sitting at a table in one of the farther +corners, and they seemed to be so interested in each other's company +that neither of them had even looked up at my entrance. + +I didn't wait for them to do it either. Quickly and unobtrusively I +walked to the corner table on the left of the floor, and sat down with +my back towards them. I was facing a large mirror which reflected the +other side of the room with admirable clearness. + +A waiter handed me the menu, and after I had ordered a light dinner I +spread out _La Vie Parisienne_ on the table, and bending over it made +a pretence of admiring its drawings. As a matter of fact I kept my +entire attention focused on the looking-glass. + +I could only see the back of the man with the scar, but the face of +his companion, who was sitting sideways on, was very plainly +visible. It was a striking-looking face, too. He seemed to be about +thirty-five--a tall, clean-shaven, powerfully built man, with bright +blue eyes and a chin like the toe of a boot. His hair was prematurely +grey, and this, together with the monocle that he was wearing, gave +him a curious air of distinction. He looked like a cross between a +successful barrister and a retired prize-fighter. + +I watched him with considerable interest. If he was another of +McMurtrie's mysterious circle, I certainly preferred him to any of the +ones I had previously come across. His face, though strong and hard, +had none of Savaroff's brutality in it, and he was quite lacking in +that air of sinister malevolence that seemed to hang about the doctor. + +As far as I could see, most of the talking was being done by the man +with the scar. He also appeared to be the host, for I saw him pick +up the wine list, and after consulting his companion's taste give a +carefully selected order to the waiter. Then my own dinner began to +arrive, and putting aside _La Vie_, I propped up the _Pall Mall_ in +front of me and started to attack the soup. + +All through the meal I divided my attention between the paper and the +looking-glass. I was careful how I made use of the latter, for the +waiter was hovering about most of the time, and I didn't want him +to think that I was spying on some of the other customers. So quite +genuinely I waded through the news, keeping on glancing in the mirror +over the top of the paper from time to time just to see how things +were progressing behind me. + +That my two friends were getting along together very well was evident +not only from their faces but from the sounds of laughter which at +intervals came floating down the room. Indeed, so animated was their +conversation, that although I had begun my dinner later, I had +finished some little time before they had. I had no intention of +leaving first, however, so ordering myself some coffee, I sat back in +my chair, and with the aid of a cigar, continued my study of the _Pall +Mall_. + +I was in the middle of a spirited article on the German trouble, +headed "What Does the Kaiser Mean?" when glancing in the mirror I saw +a waiter advance to the table behind me, carrying a bottle of port +in a basket, with a care that suggested some exceptional vintage. He +poured out a couple of glasses, and then placing it reverently on the +table, withdrew from the scene. + +I watched both men take a sip, and saw them set down their glasses +with a thoroughly satisfied air. Then the man with the scar made a +sudden remark to the other, who, turning his head, looked away over +his shoulder into the restaurant. His attention could only have been +withdrawn from the table for a couple of seconds at the most, but in +that fraction of time something happened which set my heart beating +rapidly in a kind of cold and tense excitement. + +So swiftly, that if I had not been looking straight in the mirror I +should have missed seeing it, the man with the scar brought his hand +down over his companion's glass. Unless my eyes were playing me a +trick, I distinctly saw him empty something into the wine. + +There are rare occasions in life when one acts instinctively in the +right way before one's mind has had time to reason matters out. It was +so with me now. Without stopping to think, I whipped out a pencil from +my pocket, and snatched away a piece of white paper from underneath +the small dish of candied fruit in front of me. Spreading it out on +the table I hastily scribbled the following words: + +"Don't drink your wine. The man with you has just put something into +it." + +I folded this up, and beckoned to one of the waiters who was standing +by the door. He came forward at once. + +"Do you want to earn half a sovereign?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir," he answered, without the faintest air of surprise. + +"Listen to me, then," I said, "and whatever you do don't look round. +In the farther corner behind us there's a gentleman with an eyeglass +dining with another man. Go up the centre of the room and give him +this note. If he asks you who it's from, say some one handed it you in +the hall and told you to deliver it. Then go and get my bill and bring +it me here." + +The waiter bowed, and taking the note departed on his errand, as +casually as though I had instructed him to fetch me a liqueur. All the +time I had been speaking I had kept a watchful eye on the mirror, +and as far as I could tell neither of the two men had noticed our +conversation. They were talking and laughing, the man I had sent the +message to lightly fingering the stem of his wine-glass, and blowing +thin spirals of cigarette smoke into the air. Even as I looked he +raised the glass, and for one harrowing second I thought I was too +late. Then, like a messenger from the gods, the waiter suddenly +appeared from behind one of the pillars and handed him my note on a +small silver tray. + +He took it casually with his left hand; at the same time setting down +his wine-glass on the table. I saw him make an excuse to his host, and +then open it and read it. I don't know exactly what I had expected +him to do next, but the result was certainly surprising. Instead of +showing any amazement or even questioning the waiter, he made some +laughing remark to his companion, and putting his hand in his pocket +pulled out a small leather case from which he extracted a card. + +Bending over the table he wrote two or three words in pencil, and +handed it to the waiter. As he did so the edge of his sleeve just +caught the wine-glass. I saw the other man start up and stretch out +his hand, but he was too late to save it. Over it went, breaking into +pieces against one of the plates, and spilling the wine all across the +table-cloth. + +It was done so neatly that I could almost have sworn it was an +accident. Indeed the exclamation of annoyance with which the culprit +greeted his handiwork sounded so perfectly genuine that if I hadn't +known what was in the note I should have been completely deceived. +I saw the waiter step forward and dab hurriedly at the stain with a +napkin, while the author of the damage, coolly pulling up another +glass, helped himself to a fresh supply from the bottle. A more +beautifully carried out little bit of acting it has never been my good +luck to witness. + +If the man with the scar suspected anything (which I don't think he +did) he was at least intelligent enough to keep the fact to himself. +He laughed heartily over the contretemps, and taking out his +cigar-case offered his companion a choice of the contents. I saw the +latter shake his head, raising his half-finished cigarette as much as +to indicate his preference for that branch of smoking. It struck me, +however, that his refusal was possibly dictated by other motives. + +Full of curiosity as I was, I thought it better at this point not to +tempt Fate any further. At any moment the man with the scar might look +round, and although I was some distance away, it was quite likely that +if he did he would recognize my reflection in the mirror. I was doubly +anxious now to avoid any such mischance, so, picking up _La Vie_, I +opened its immoral but conveniently spacious pages, and from behind +their shelter waited for my bill. + +It was not long in coming. Impassive as ever, the waiter reappeared +with his little silver tray, which this time contained a white slip +folded across in the usual fashion. As I took it up I felt something +inside, and opening it I discovered a small visiting card with the +following inscription: + +MR. BRUCE LATIMER +145 _Jermyn Street, W_. + +Scribbled across the top in pencil were the following words: + +"Thanks. I shall be still more grateful if you will look me up at the +above address." + +Quickly and unobtrusively I tucked it away in my waistcoat pocket, +and glancing at the total of the bill, which came to about fifteen +shillings, put down a couple of my few remaining sovereigns. It pays +to be a little extravagant when you have been well served. + +A swift inspection of the mirror showed me that neither of the +occupants of the end table was looking in my direction, so taking +my chance I rose quickly to my feet and stepped forward behind the +shelter of the nearest pillar. Here I was met by another waiter who +handed me my hat and stick, while his impassive colleague, pocketing +the two pounds, advanced to the door and opened it before me with a +polite bow. I felt rather like the hero of a melodrama making his exit +after the big scene. + +Once in the street, the full realization of what I had just been +through came to me with a sort of curious shock. It seemed an almost +incredible thing that a man should make an attempt to drug or poison +another in a public restaurant, but, unless I was going off my head, +that was what had actually occurred. Of course I might possibly have +been mistaken in what I saw in the glass, but the readiness with which +Mr. Latimer (somehow the name seemed vaguely familiar to me) had +accepted my hint rather knocked that theory on the head. It showed +that he, at all events, had not regarded such a contingency as being +the least bit incredible. + +I began to try and puzzle out in my mind what bearings this amazing +incident could have on my own affairs. I was not even sure as yet +whether the man with the scar had been really spying on my movements +or whether my seeing him twice on the night of my arrival in Town +had been purely a matter of coincidence. If he was a friend of +McMurtrie's, it seemed to stand to reason that' Mr. Bruce Latimer +was not. Even in such a weird sort of syndicate as I had apparently +stumbled against it was hardly probable that the directors would +attempt to poison each other in West End restaurants. + +The question was should I accept the invitation pencilled across the +card? I was anxious enough in all conscience to find out something +definite about McMurtrie and his friends, but I certainly had no wish +to mix myself up with any mysterious business in which I was not quite +sure that they were concerned. For the time being my own affairs +provided me with all the interest and excitement that I needed. +Besides, even if the man with the scar was one of the gang, and had +really tried to poison or drug his companion, I was scarcely in a +position to offer the latter my assistance. Apart altogether from +the fact that I had given my promise to the doctor, it was obviously +impossible for me to explain to a complete stranger how I came to be +mixed up with the matter. An escaped convict, however excellent his +intentions may be, is bound to be rather handicapped in his choice of +action. + +With my mind busy over these problems I pursued my way home, only +stopping at a small pub opposite Victoria to buy myself a syphon of +soda and a bottle of drinkable whisky. With these under my arm (it's +extraordinary how penal servitude relieves one of any false pride) I +continued my journey, reaching the house just as Big Ben was booming +out the stroke of half-past nine. + +It seemed a bit early to turn in, but I had had such a varied and +emotional day that the prospect of a good night's rest rather appealed +to me. So, after mixing myself a stiff peg, I undressed and got into +bed, soothing my harassed mind with another chapter or two of H.G. +Wells before attempting to go to sleep. So successful was this +prescription that when I did drop off it was into a deep, dreamless +slumber which was only broken by the appearance of Gertie 'Uggins with +a cup of tea at eight o'clock the next morning. + +Soundly and long as I had slept I didn't hurry about getting up. +According to Joyce, Tommy would not be back until somewhere about two, +and I had had so many grisly mornings of turning out at five o'clock +after a night of sleepless horror that the mere fact of being able to +lie in bed between clean sheets was still something of a novelty and +a pleasure. Lie in bed I accordingly did, and, in the process +of consuming several cigarettes, continued to ponder over the +extraordinary events of the previous evening. + +When I did roll out, it was to enjoy another nice hot bath and an +excellent breakfast. After that I occupied myself for some time by +running over the various notes and calculations which I had made while +I was with McMurtrie, just in case I found it necessary to start the +practical side of my work earlier than I expected. Everything seemed +right, and savagely anxious as I was to stay in town till I could find +some clue to the mystery of George's treachery, I felt also an intense +eagerness to get to grips with my new invention. I was positively +hungry for a little work. The utter idleness, from any intelligent +point of view, of my three years in prison, had been almost the +hardest part of it to bear. + +At about a quarter to two I left the house, and making my way down on +to the embankment set off for Chelsea. It was a delightful day, warm +and sunny as July; and this, combined with the fact that I was on my +way to see Tommy, lifted me into a most cheerful frame of mind. Indeed +I actually caught myself whistling--a habit which I don't think I had +indulged in since my eventful visit to Mr. Marks. + +I looked up at George's house as I passed, but except for a black cat +sunning herself on the top of the gatepost there was no sign of life +about the place. My thoughts went back to Joyce, and I wondered how +the dinner party at the Savoy had gone off. I could almost see George +sitting at one side of the table with that insufferable air of +gallantry and self-satisfaction that he always assumed in the presence +of a pretty girl. Poor, brave little Joyce! If the pluck and loyalty +of one's friends counted for anything, I was certainly as well off as +any one in London. + +As I drew near Florence Mansions I felt a sort of absurd inclination +to chuckle out loud. Much as I disliked the thought of dragging Tommy +into my tangled affairs, the prospect of springing such a gorgeous +surprise on him filled me with a mischievous delight. Up till now, +except for my arrest and sentence, I had never seen anything upset his +superb self-possession in the slightest degree. + +A glance at the board in the hall as I turned in showed me that he +had arrived. I marched along the passage till I came to his flat, and +lifting the knocker gave a couple of sharp raps. There was a short +pause; then I heard the sound of footsteps, and a moment later Tommy +himself opened the door. + +He was wearing the same dressing-gown that I remembered three years +ago, and at the sight of his untidy hair and his dear old badly-shaved +face I as nearly as possible gave the show away. Pulling myself +together with an effort, however, I made him a polite bow. + +"Mr. Morrison?" I inquired in my best assumed voice. + +"That's me all right," said Tommy. + +"My name's Nicholson," I said. "I am an artist. I was asked to look +you up by a friend of yours--Delacour of Paris." + +I had mentioned a man for whose work I knew Tommy entertained a +profound respect. + +"Oh, come in," he cried, swinging open the door and gripping my hand; +"come in, old chap. Delighted to see you. The place is in a hell of a +mess, but you won't mind that. I've only just got back from sailing." + +He dragged me into the studio, which was in the same state of +picturesque confusion as when I had last seen it, and pulling up a +large easy-chair thrust me down into its capacious depths. + +"I'm awfully glad I was in," he went on. "I wouldn't have missed you +for the world. How's old Delacour? I haven't seen him for ages. I +never get over to Paris these days." + +"Delacour's all right," I answered--"at least, as far as I know." + +Tommy walked across the room to a corner cupboard. "You'll have a +drink, won't you?" he asked; "there's whisky and brandy, and Grand +Marnier, and I've got a bottle of port somewhere if you'd care for a +glass." + +There was a short pause. Then in my natural voice I remarked quietly +and distinctly: "You were always a drunken old blackguard, Tommy." + +The effect was immense. For a moment Tommy remained perfectly still, +his mouth open, his eyes almost starting out of his head. Then quite +suddenly he sat down heavily on the couch, clutching a bottle of +whisky in one hand and a tumbler in the other. + +"Well, I'm damned!" he whispered. + +"Never mind, Tommy," I said cheerfully; "you'll be in the very best +society." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + +For perhaps a second Tommy remained motionless; then sitting up he +removed the cork, and poured himself out about a quarter of a tumbler +of neat spirit. He drained this off at a gulp, and put down both the +glass and the bottle. + +"God deliver us!" he observed; "is it really you?" + +I nodded. "What's left of me, Tommy." + +He jumped to his feet, and the next moment he was crushing my hands +with a grip that would have broken some people's fingers. "You old +ruffian!" he muttered; "I always said you'd do something like this. +Lord alive, it's good to see you, though!" Then, pulling me up out of +the chair, he caught me by the shoulders and stared incredulously +into my face. "But what the devil's happened? What have you done to +yourself?" + +"I know what I'm going to do to myself," I replied. "I am going to +get outside some of that drink you were talking about--if there's any +left." + +With something between a laugh and a choke he let me go, and crossing +to the couch picked up the whisky and splashed out a generous tot into +the glass. + +"Here you are--and I'm hanged if I don't have another one myself. I +believe I could drink the whole bottle without turning a hair." + +"I'm quite sure you could, Tommy," I said, "unless you've +deteriorated." + +We raised our tumblers and clinked them together with a force that +cracked mine from the rim to the bottom. I drained off the contents, +however, before they could escape, and flung the broken glass into the +fireplace. + +"It would have been blasphemous to drink out of it again in any case," +I said. + +With a big, happy laugh Tommy followed my example. Then he came up +again and caught me by the arm, as though to make sure that I was +still there. + +"Neil, old son," he said, "I'm so glad to see you that I shall start +wrecking the blessed studio in a minute. For God's sake tell me what +it all means." + +"Sit down, then," I said; "sit down and give me a chance. It's--it's a +hell of a yarn, Tommy." + +He laughed again, and letting go my arm threw himself back into the +easy-chair. + +"It would be," he said. + +I always have a feeling that I can talk better when I am on my feet, +and so, while Tommy sat there puffing out great clouds of smoke from a +huge cherry-wood pipe, I paced slowly up and down the room giving +him my story. Like Joyce, he listened to me without saying a word or +interrupting me in any way. I told him everything that had happened +from the moment when I had escaped from prison to the time when I had +given my promise that I would come and look him up. + +"I couldn't help it, Tommy," I finished. "I didn't want to drag you +in, but you know what Joyce is when she has once made up her mind +about anything. I thought the only way was to come and see you. +Between us--" + +I got no further, for with a sudden exclamation--it sounded more like +a growl than anything else--Tommy had risen from his chair. + +"And do you mean to tell me that, if it hadn't been for Joyce, you +wouldn't have come! By Gad, Neil, if I wasn't so glad to see you +I'd--I'd--" Words failed him, and gripping hold of my hands again he +wrung them with a force that made me wince. + +Then, suddenly dropping them, he started to stride about the room. +"Lord, what a yarn!" he exclaimed. "What a hell of a yarn!" + +"Well, I told you it was," I said, nursing my crushed fingers. + +"I knew something had happened. I knew at least that you weren't going +to be taken alive; but this--" He stopped short in front of me and +once more gazed incredulously into my face. "I wouldn't know you from +the Angel Gabriel!" he added. + +"Except that he's clean shaven," I said. Then I paused. "Look here, +Tommy," I went on seriously, "what are we going to do about Joyce? I'm +all right, you see. There's nothing to prevent me clearing out of the +country directly I've finished with McMurtrie. If I choose to go and +break George's neck, that's my own business. I am not going to have +you and Joyce mixed up in the affair." + +Tommy sat down on the edge of the table. "My dear chap," he said +slowly, "do you understand anything about Joyce at all? Do you realize +that ever since the trial she has had only one idea in her mind--to +get you out of prison? She has lived for nothing else the last three +years. All this palmistry business was entirely on your account. She +wanted to make money and get to know people who could help her, and +she's done it--done it in the most astounding way. When she found it +was too soon for your sentence to be altered she even made up some +mad plan of taking a cottage near the prison and bribing one of the +warders with that eight hundred pounds you left her. It was all I +could do to put her off by telling her that you would probably be shot +trying to get away. Is it likely she'll chuck the whole thing up now, +just when there's really a chance of helping you?" + +"But there isn't a chance," I objected. "If we couldn't find out the +truth at the trial it's not likely we shall now--unless I choke it out +of George. Besides, it's quite possible that even he doesn't know who +really killed Marks. He may only have lied about me for some reason of +his own." + +Tommy nodded impatiently. "That's likely enough, but it's all my eye +to say we can't help you. There are a hundred ways in which you'll +want friends. To start with, all this business of McMurtrie's, or +whatever his name is, sounds devilish queer to me. I don't believe his +yarn any more than you do. There's something shady about it, you can +be certain. When are you supposed to start work?" + +I looked at the clock. "I shall know in about an hour," I said. "I +forgot to tell you that when I came back from Joyce's yesterday I +found a note--I suppose from them--saying that I should have a message +or a visitor at five o'clock today, and would I be good enough to be +home at that time. At least it wasn't put quite so politely." Then I +paused. "Good Lord!" I exclaimed, "that reminds me. I haven't told you +the most amazing part of the whole yarn." I put my hand in my pocket +and pulled out the card which had been sent me in the restaurant. +"Have you ever heard of a man called Bruce Latimer?" I asked. + +To my amazement Tommy nodded his head. "Bruce Latimer," he repeated. +"Yes, I know _a_ Bruce Latimer?--lives in Jermyn Street. What's he got +to do with it?" + +"You know him!" I almost shouted. + +"Yes, slightly. He belongs to the Athenians. He used to do a lot of +sailing at one time, but I haven't seen him down there this year." + +"Who is he? What is he?" I demanded eagerly. + +"Well, I don't know exactly. He's in some Government office, I +believe, but he's not the sort of chap who ever talks about his own +affairs. Where on earth did you come across him?" + +As quickly as possible I told Tommy the story of my visit to +Parelli's, and showed him the card which Latimer had sent me by the +waiter. He took it out of my hand, looking at me with a sort of +half-sceptical amazement. + +"You're not joking?" he said. "This is Gospel truth you're telling +me?" + +I nodded. "Humour's a bit out of my line nowadays, Tommy," I answered. +"The Dartmoor climate doesn't seem to suit it." + +"But--but--" he stared for a moment at the card without speaking. +"Well, this beats everything," he exclaimed. "What in God's name can +Bruce Latimer have to do with your crowd?" + +"That," I remarked, "is exactly what I want to find out." + +"Find out!" repeated Tommy. "We'll find out right enough. Do you think +he guessed who it was that sent the note?" + +"Most likely he did," I said. "I was the nearest person, but in any +case he only saw my back. You can't recognize a man from his back." + +Tommy took two or three steps up and down the studio. "_You_ mustn't +go and see him," he said at last--"that's quite certain. You can't +afford to mix yourself up in a business of this sort." + +"No," I said reluctantly, "but all the same I should very much like to +know what's at the bottom of it." + +"Suppose I take it on, then?" suggested Tommy. + +"What could you say?" I asked. + +"I should tell him that it was a friend of mine--an artist who was +going abroad the next day--who had seen it happen, and that he'd given +me the card and asked me to explain. It's just possible Latimer would +take me into his confidence. He would either have to do that or else +pretend that the whole thing was a joke." + +"I'm quite sure there was no joke about it," I said. "Whether the chap +with the scar belongs to McMurtrie's crowd or not, I'm as certain as I +am that I'm standing here that he drugged that wine. He may not have +meant to murder Latimer, but it looks uncommon fishy." + +"It looks even fishier than you think," answered Tommy. "I'd forgotten +for the moment, when you asked about him, but I remember now that some +fellow at the Athenians once told me that Latimer was supposed to be a +secret-service man of some kind." + +"A secret-service man!" I repeated incredulously. "I didn't know we +went in for such luxuries in this country except in novels. Do you +believe it?" + +"I didn't pay much attention at the time--I thought it was probably +all rot--but this business--" He stopped, and thrusting his hands into +his pockets, again paced slowly up and down the room. + +I gave a thoughtful whistle. "By Jove, Tommy!" I said; "if that's a +fact and the gentleman with the scar is really one of our crowd, I +seem to have dropped in for a rather promising time--don't I! I knew +I was up against the police, but it's a sort of cheerful surprise to +find that I'm taking on the secret service as well." + +Tommy pulled up short. "Look here, Neil!" he said. "I don't like it; +I'm hanged if I do. There's some rotten dirty work going on somewhere; +that's as plain as a pikestaff. I believe these people are simply +using you as a cats-paw. All they want is to get hold of the secret of +this new explosive of yours; then as likely as not they'll hand you +over to the police, or else...." he paused. "Well, you've seen the sort +of crowd they are. It may be all rot about Latimer being in the secret +service, but there's no doubt they tried to poison or drug him last +night. Men who will go as far as that wouldn't stick at getting rid of +you if it happened to suit their book." + +I nodded. "That's all true enough, Tommy," I said; "but what am I to +do? I took the bargain on, and I've no choice now except to go through +with it. I can't walk up to a policeman and say I think Dr. McMurtrie +is a dangerous person engaged on some sort of illegal enterprise." + +Tommy came up, and laid his hand on my shoulder. "Drop it, Neil; chuck +the whole thing and go to America. Joyce has got that eight hundred +pounds of yours; and I can easily let you have another two or three. +In six months' time you'll be able to make as much money as you +choose. You've had three years of hell; what's the good of running +any risks that you can avoid? If there's the least faintest chance +of getting at the truth, you can be certain I'll do it. Don't go and +smash up all the rest of your life over this cursed business. What +does it matter if all the fools in England think you killed Marks? +He deserved to be killed anyway--the swine! Leave them to think, and +clear off to some country where you can start fresh and fair again. It +doesn't matter the least where you go to, you're bound to come to the +top." + +It was about the longest speech I had ever heard Tommy make, and +certainly the most eloquent. For a moment indeed I was almost tempted +to take his advice. Then the thought of George and all the complicated +suffering that I had been through rose up like a wall across my mind. + +"No," I said firmly; "I'm damned if I'll go. I'll see this out if it +means the end of everything." + +As I spoke there came a sharp "ting" from the clock on the +mantelpiece, and looking up I saw that it was half-past four. "By Gad, +Tommy," I added, "I must go from here, though. I've got to be back +at Edith Terrace by five o'clock, or I shall miss this mysterious +visitor." + +"You're coming back here afterwards?" he asked. + +I nodded. "If I can. I haven't the least notion how long they'll keep +me, but I told Joyce I would come round and let you know what had +happened." + +"Good," said Tommy. "Don't be longer than you can help. I'll get in +something to eat, and we'll all have supper together--you and I and +Joyce, and then we can have a good jaw afterwards. There are still +tons of things I want to know about." + +He thrust his arm through mine and walked with me to the door of the +flat. + +"By the way, Thomas," I said, "I suppose the police aren't watching +your place, just on the off-chance of my rolling up. They must +remember you were rather a particular pal of mine." + +"I don't think so," he answered. "They may have had a man on when you +first escaped, but if so he must have got fed up with the job by now. +Don't you worry in any case. Your guardian angel wouldn't recognize +you in that get up--let alone a policeman." + +"If there's any justice," I said, "my guardian angel got the sack +three years ago." + +With this irreverent remark, I shook his hand, and walking down the +passage passed out on to the embankment. + +Having a good two miles to cover and only five-and-twenty minutes to +do it in, it struck me that driving would be the most agreeable method +of getting home. I hesitated for a moment between a taxi and a +motor bus, deciding in favour of the latter chiefly from motives of +sentiment. I had not been on one since my arrest, and besides that +the idea of travelling along the streets in open view of the British +public rather appealed to me. Since my interview with Tommy I was +beginning to feel the most encouraging confidence in McMurtrie's +handiwork. + +So, turning up Beaufort Street, I jumped on to a "Red Victoria" at +the corner, and making my way upstairs, sat down on one of the front +seats. It was the first time I had been down the King's Road by +daylight, and the sight of all the old familiar landmarks was as +refreshing as rain in the desert. Twice I caught a glimpse of some one +whom I had known in the old days--one man was Murgatroyd, the black +and white artist, and the other Doctor O'Hara, the good-natured Irish +medico who had once set a broken finger for me. The latter was coming +out of his house as we passed, and I felt a mischievous longing to +jump off the bus and introduce myself to him, just to see what he +would do. + +At the corner of Sloane Square I had an unexpected and rather dramatic +reminder of my celebrity. As we emerged from the King's Road a +procession of five or six sandwich-men suddenly appeared from the +direction of Symons Street, shuffling dejectedly along at intervals +of a few yards. They were carrying double boards, on which, boldly +printed in red-and-black letters, stared the following announcement: + +MADAME TUSSAUD'S + +MARYLEBONE ROAD + +NEIL +LYNDON + +A LIFELIKE PORTRAIT + +I gazed down at them with a sort of fascinated interest. Somehow +or other it seemed rather like reading one's own tombstone, and I +couldn't help wondering whether I was in the main hall or whether I +had been dignified with an eligible site in the Chamber of Horrors. If +it hadn't been for my appointment I should most certainly have taken a +cab straight up to Marylebone Road in order to find out. + +Promising myself that treat on the morrow, I stuck to my seat, and at +ten minutes to five by the station clock we drew up outside Victoria. +I got off and walked briskly along to Edith Terrace. Turning the +corner of the street, I observed the figure of Miss Gertie 'Uggins +leaning against the front railings, apparently engaged in conversation +with an errand boy on the other side of the road. As soon as she +recognized me she dived down the area steps, reappearing at the front +door just as I reached the house. + +"I was watchin' for yer," she remarked in a hoarse whisper. "There's +summun wants to see yer in there." She jerked her thumb towards the +sitting-room. "It's a lidy," she added. + +"A lady!" I said. "What sort of a lady?" + +"Ow! A reel lidy. She's got a lovely 'at." + +"Is she young and dark and rather nice to look at?" I asked. + +Gertie nodded. "That's 'er. She wouldn't give no nime, but that's 'er +right enough." + +I didn't wait to ask any more questions, but putting down my hat on +the hall table, I walked up to the sitting-room and tapped lightly on +the door. + +"Come in," called out a voice. + +I turned the handle, and the next moment I was face to face with +Sonia. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + +She had risen from the sofa as I entered and was standing in the +centre of the room. The neatly cut, close-fitting dress that she was +wearing suited her dark beauty to perfection and showed off the +lines of her lithe, slender figure. She gave me a curious momentary +impression of some sort of graceful wild animal. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed softly. "I am glad you weren't late. I have to go +away quite soon." + +I took the hand she held out to me. "My dear Sonia," I said, "why +didn't you let me know that you were going to be the visitor?" + +"I didn't know myself," she answered. "The doctor meant to come, but +he was called away unexpectedly this afternoon, so he sent me instead. +I have got a letter for you from him." She let go my fingers gently, +and picking up her bag which was lying on the table, opened it and +took out an envelope. + +"Shall I read it now?" I asked. + +She nodded. + +I slit up the flap and pulled out a folded sheet of foolscap from +inside. It was in McMurtrie's handwriting, but there was no date and +no address. + + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"All the necessary arrangements have now been made with regard to your +workshop at Tilbury. It is situated on the marshes close to the river, +three miles east of the town and a mile to the west of Cunnock Creek. +You can reach it either by the main road which runs half a mile +inland, or by walking along the saltings under the sea-wall. + +"You cannot mistake the place, as it is an absolutely isolated +building, consisting of a small cabin or hut, with a large shed +attached for your work. It is not luxurious, but we have at least +fitted up the interior of your living-room as comfortably as possible, +and you will find in the shed everything that you specified in your +list as being necessary for your experiments. + +"I should be glad if you would arrange to go down there and start work +the day after tomorrow. There is a train from Fenchurch Street to +Tilbury at 11.45 in the morning, and if you will catch that I will +see that there is a trap to meet you at the station and drive you out +along the road as near to the place as it is possible to get. This +hardly gives you the full week in London which you wished for, but +circumstances have arisen that make it of great importance to us to +be able to place your invention on the market as quickly as possible. +From your own point of view the sooner the work is done the sooner you +will be in possession of funds, and so able to make any use of your +liberty you choose. + +"Sonia has the keys of the building, and will give them you with this +letter. + +"While you are working at the hut, it will be better, I think, if you +stay entirely on the premises. I believe you will find everything +you want in the way of food and cooking materials, and you will, of +course, take down your own personal belongings with you. In the event +of anything you really need having been forgotten, you can always walk +into Tilbury, but I should strongly advise you not to do so, except +in a case of absolute necessity. Apart from any danger of your being +recognized, we are extremely anxious that no one connected with the +powder trade should have the least idea that experiments are being +conducted with regard to a new explosive. A large part of the +immediate value of your invention will consist in its coming on the +market as an absolute surprise. + +"I have been unexpectedly called away for a few days, but directly I +return I shall come down to Tilbury and see you. Should you wish to +communicate with me in the interval, you can do so by writing or +wiring to me at the Hotel Russell, London, W.C. + +"I hope that you have enjoyed your well-earned if rather long-delayed +holiday. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +I finished reading and slowly refolded the letter. + +"You know what this is about, of course, Sonia?" I said. + +She nodded again. "They want you to go down there at once. You must do +it; you must do everything you are told just at present." + +"I ought to be able to manage that," I said grimly. "I've had plenty +of practice the last three years." + +With a swift, silent movement she came up to me and put her hands on +my arm. "You must trust me," she said, speaking in that low passionate +voice of hers. "You know that I love you; you know that I am only +waiting for the right time to act. When it comes I will give you a +chance such as few men have had--a chance that will mean wealth and +freedom and--and--love." She breathed out the last word almost in a +whisper, and then, raising her hands to my shoulders, drew down my +face and pressed her lips to mine. + +I have no dislike to being kissed by a beautiful woman; indeed, on +the previous occasion when Sonia had so honoured me I had distinctly +enjoyed the experience. This time, however, I felt a trifle +uncomfortable. I had a kind of unpleasant sensation that somehow or +other I was not quite playing the game. + +Still, as I have said elsewhere, an escaped convict cannot afford to +be too nice in his emotions, so I returned her kiss with the same +readiness and warmth as I had done before. Then, straightening myself, +I unlaced her arms from my neck, and looked down smilingly into those +strange dark eyes that were turned up to mine. + +"I'm a poor sort of host," I said, "but you see I am a little out of +training. Won't you have some tea or anything, Sonia?" + +"No, no," she answered quickly. "I don't want anything. I must go in a +minute; I have to meet my father with the car." Then, taking my hand +between hers, she added: "Tell me what you have been doing yourself. +Have you seen your cousin--the man who lied about you at the trial? I +have been afraid about him; I have been afraid that you would kill him +and perhaps be found out." + +"There's no hurry about it," I said. "It's rather pleasant to have +something to look forward to." + +"But you have seen him?" + +I nodded. "I had the pleasure of walking behind him for a couple of +miles yesterday. He looks a little worried, but quite well otherwise." + +She laughed softly. "Ah, you can afford to let him wait. And the girl, +Joyce? Have you seen her?" + +She asked the question quite dispassionately, and yet in some curious +way I had a sudden vague feeling of menace and danger. Anyhow, I lied +as readily and instinctively as Ananias. + +"No," I said. "George is the only part of my past that interests me +now." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible expression of satisfaction +flicker across her face, but if so it was gone immediately. + +"Sonia," I said, "there is a question I want to ask you. Am I +developing nerves, or have I really been watched and followed since I +came to London?" + +She looked at me steadily. "What makes you think so?" she asked. + +"Well," I said, "it may be only my imagination, but I have an idea +that a gentleman with a scar on his face has been taking a rather +affectionate interest in my movements." + +For a moment she hesitated; then with a rather scornful little laugh +she shrugged her shoulders. "I told them it was unnecessary!" she +said. + +I crushed down the exclamation that nearly rose to my lips. So the man +with the scar _was_ one of McMurtrie's emissaries, after all, and his +dealings with Mr. Bruce Latimer most certainly did concern me. The +feeling that I was entangled in some unknown network of evil and +mystery came back to me with redoubled force. + +"I hope the report was satisfactory," I said lightly. + +Sonia nodded. "They only wanted to make certain that you had gone to +Edith Terrace. I don't think you were followed after the first night." + +"No," I said, "I don't think I was." Precisely how much the boot had +been on the opposite foot it seemed unnecessary to add. + +Sonia walked to the table and again opened her bag. "I mustn't stay +any longer--now," she said. "I have to meet the car at six o'clock. +Here are the keys." She took them out and came across to where I was +standing. + +"Good-bye, Sonia," I said, taking her hands in mine. + +"No, no," she whispered; "don't say that: I hate the word. Listen, +Neil. I am coming to you again, down there, when we shall be +alone--you and I together. I don't know when it will be, but soon--ah, +just as soon as I can. I can't help you, not in the way I mean to, +until you have finished your work, but I will come to you, and--and...." +Her voice failed, and lowering her head she buried her face in my +coat. I bent down, and in a moment her lips met mine in another long, +passionate kiss. It was hard to see how I could have acted otherwise, +but all the same I didn't feel exactly proud of myself. + +Indeed, it was in a state of very mixed emotions that I came back into +the house after we had walked together as far as the corner of the +street. The mere fact of my having found out for certain that the man +with the scar was an agent of McMurtrie's was enough in itself to give +me food for pretty considerable thought. Any suspicions I may have had +as to the genuineness of the doctor's story were now amply confirmed. +I was not intimately acquainted with the working methods of the High +Explosives Trade, but it seemed highly improbable that they could +involve the drugging or poisoning of Government officials in public +restaurants. As Tommy had forcibly expressed it, there was some +"damned shady work" going on somewhere or other, and for all Sonia's +comforting assurances concerning my own eventual prosperity, I felt +that I was mixed up in about as sinister a mystery as even an escaped +murderer could very well have dropped into. + +The thought of Sonia brought me back to the question of our relations. +I could hardly doubt now that she loved me with all the force of her +strange, sullen, passionate nature, and that for my sake she was +preparing to take some pretty reckless step. What this was remained to +be seen, but that it amounted to a practical betrayal of her father +and McMurtrie seemed fairly obvious from the way in which she had +spoken. From the point of view of my own interests, it was an amazing +stroke of luck that she should have fallen in love with me, and yet +somehow or other I felt distinctly uncomfortable about it. I seemed +to be taking an unfair advantage of her, though how on earth I was to +avoid doing so was a question which I was quite unable to solve. I +certainly couldn't afford to quarrel with her, and she was hardly the +sort of girl to accept anything in the nature of a disappointment to +her affections in exactly a philosophic frame of mind. + +I was still pondering over this rather delicate problem, when there +came a knock at the door, and in answer to my summons Gertie 'Uggins +inserted her head. + +"The lidy's gorn?" she observed, looking inquiringly round the room. + +I nodded. "There is no deception, Gertrude," I said. "You can search +the coal-scuttle if you like." + +She wriggled the rest of her body in round the doorway. "Mrs. Oldbury +sent me up to ask if you'd be wantin' dinner." + +"No," I said; "I am going out." + +Gertie nodded thoughtfully. "Taikin' 'er, I s'pose?" + +"To be quite exact," I said, "I am dining with another lady." + +There was a short pause. Then, with an air of some embarrassment +Gertie broke the silence. '"Ere," she said: "you know that five bob +you give me?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, I ain't spendin' it on no dinner--see. I'm goin' to buy a 'at +wiv it--a 'at like 'ers: d'yer mind?" + +"I do mind," I said severely. "That money was intended for your +inside, Gertie, not your outside. You have your dinner, and I'll buy +you a new hat myself." + +She clasped her hands together. "Ow!" she cried. "Yer mean it? Yer +reely mean it?" + +"I never joke," I said, "on sacred subjects." + +Then to my dismay she suddenly began to cry. "You ain't 'alf--'alf bin +good to me," she jerked out. "No one ain't never bin good to me like +you. I'd--I'd do anyfink for you." + +"In that case," I said, "you may give me my hat--and cheer up." + +She obeyed both commands, and then, still sniffing, valiantly marched +to the front door and opened it for me to go out. + +"Goo'-night, sir," she said. + +"Good-night, Gertrude," I replied; and leaving her standing on the +step I set off down the street. Whatever else prison might have done +for me, it certainly seemed to have given me a capacity for making +friends. + +I reached Florence Court at about a quarter to seven, keeping a +sharp lookout along the embankment as I approached for any sign of +a loitering detective. Except for one aged gentleman, however, who +seemed to be wholly occupied in spitting in the Thames, the stretch in +front of the studios was absolutely deserted. Glancing at the board +in the hall as I entered, I saw that "Mr. Morrison" and "Miss Vivien" +were both "in"--a statement which in Tommy's case was confirmed a +moment later by his swift appearance at the door in answer to my +knock. + +"Mr. Morrison, I believe?" I said. + +He seized me by the arm and dragged me inside. + +"This is fine. I never thought you'd be back as quick as this. Are +things all right?" + +"I should hardly go as far as that," I said. "But we seem to be +getting along quite nicely." + +He nodded. "Good! I just want a wash, and then we'll go right in to +Joyce's place. We are going to have supper there, and you can tell us +all about it while we're feeding." + +He splashed out some water into a basin in the corner of the studio, +and made his ablutions with a swiftness that reminded me of some of my +own toilets in the grey twilight of a Dartmoor dawn. Tommy was never a +man who wasted much trouble over the accessories of life. + +"Come along," he said, flinging down the towel on the sofa. "Joyce +will be dying to hear what's happened!" + +I turned towards the hall, but he suddenly put his hand on my shoulder +and pulled me back. + +"Not that way. We've a private road now--runs along the back of the +studios." + +He crossed the room, and opened a door which led out into a narrow +stone passage roofed in by glass. + +I followed him along this till we came to another door, on which Tommy +tapped twice with his knuckles. In a moment we heard a key turn and +Joyce was standing on the threshold. When she saw who it was she gave +a little cry of welcome and held out both her hands. + +"But how nice!" she exclaimed. "I never thought you'd be here so +soon." + +We had each taken a hand, and talking and laughing at the same time, +she pulled us in after her and shut the door. + +"At last!" she cried softly; "at last!" And for a second or two we all +three stood there just gripping each other's hands and not saying a +word. It certainly was rather a good feeling. + +Tommy was the first to break the silence. "Damn it," he said huskily, +"if Neil didn't look so exactly like a brigand chief I believe I +should blubber. Eh, Joyce--how do you feel?" + +"I feel all right," said Joyce. "And he doesn't look a bit like a +brigand chief. He looks splendid." She stood back and surveyed me with +a sort of tender proprietorship. + +"I suppose we shall get used to it," remarked Tommy. "It nearly gave +me heart disease to begin with." Then, going and locking the side +door, he added cheerfully, "I vote we have supper at once. I've had +nothing except whisky since I came off the boat." + +"Well, there's heaps to eat," said Joyce. "I've been out marketing in +the King's Road." + +"What have you got?" demanded Tommy hungrily. + +Joyce ticked them off with her fingers. "There's a cold chicken and +salad, some stuffed olives--those are for you, Neil, you always used +to like them--a piece of Stilton cheese and a couple of bottles of +champagne. They're all in the kitchen, so come along both of you and +help me get them." + +"Where's the faithful Clara?" asked Tommy. + +"I've sent her out for the evening. I didn't want any one to be here +except just us three." + +We all trooped into Joyce's tiny kitchen and proceeded to carry back +our supper into the studio, where we set it out on the table in the +centre. We were so ridiculously happy that for some little time our +conversation was inclined to be a trifle incoherent: indeed, it was +not until we had settled down round the table and Tommy had knocked +the head off the first bottle of champagne with the back of his knife +that we in any way got back to our real environment. + +It was Joyce who brought about the change. "I keep on feeling I shall +wake up in a minute," she said, "and find out that it's all a dream." + +"Put it off as long as possible," said Tommy gravely. "It would be +rotten for Neil to find himself back in Dartmoor before he'd finished +his champagne." + +"I don't know when I shall get any more as it is," I said. "I've got +to start work the day after tomorrow." + +There was a short pause: Joyce pushed away her plate and leaned +forward, her eyes fixed on mine; while Tommy stretched out his arm and +filled up my glass. + +"Go on," he said. "What's happened?" + +In as few words as possible I told them about my interview with Sonia, +and showed them the letter which she had brought me from McMurtrie. +They both read it--Joyce first and then Tommy, the latter tossing it +back with a grunt that was more eloquent than any possible comment. + +"It's too polite," he said. "It's too damn' polite altogether. You can +see they're up to some mischief." + +"I am afraid they are, Tommy," I said; "and it strikes me that it must +be fairly useful mischief if we're right about Mr. Bruce Latimer. By +the way, does Joyce know?" + +Tommy nodded. "She's right up to date: I've told her everything. The +question is, how much has that affair got to do with us? It's quite +possible, if they're the sort of scoundrels they seem to be, that they +might be up against the Secret Service in some way quite apart from +their dealings with you." + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed, "I never thought of that. One's +inclined to get a bit egotistical when one's an escaped murderer." + +"It was Joyce's idea," admitted Tommy modestly, "but it's quite likely +there's something in it. Of course we've no proof at present one +way or the other. What do you think this girl--what's her +name--Sonia--means to do?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Goodness knows," I said. "It looks as if +there was a chance of making a big immediate profit on my invention, +and that she intended me to scoop it in instead of her father and +McMurtrie. I can't think of anything else." + +Tommy pulled up a fresh plate and helped himself to some cheese. + +"She must be pretty keen on you," he observed. + +"Well, you needn't rub it in, Tommy," I said. "I feel quite enough of +a cad as it is." + +"You're not," interrupted Joyce indignantly. "If she really loves you, +of course she wants to help you whether you love her or not." + +"Still, she'll expect a _quid pro quo_," persisted Tommy. + +"Then it isn't love," returned Joyce scornfully, "and in that case +there's no need to bother about her." + +This seemed a most logical point of view, and I determined to adopt it +for the future if my conscience would allow me. + +"What about your invention?" asked Tommy. "How long will it take you +to work it out?" + +"Well, as a matter of fact," I said, "it is worked out--as much as any +invention can be without being put to a practical test. I was just on +that when the smash came. I had actually made some of the powder and +proved its power, but I'd never tried it on what one might call a +working basis. If they've given me all the things I want, I don't see +any reason why I shouldn't fix it up in two or three days. There's +no real difficulty in its manufacture. I wasn't too definite with +McMurtrie. I thought it best to give myself a little margin." + +Tommy nodded. "You've handled the whole thing splendidly up till +now," he said. "I rather think it's the ticklish part that's coming, +though." Then he paused. "Look here!" he added suddenly. "I've got a +great notion. Why shouldn't we run down tomorrow in the _Betty_ and +have a squint at this place of yours? There's nothing like taking a +few soundings when you're not too sure about things." + +I drew in a deep breath. "I'd love to, Tommy," I said, "but it's +rather asking for trouble, isn't it? Suppose there was still someone +about there? If McMurtrie had the faintest idea I'd given away the +show--" + +"He won't," interrupted Tommy; "he can't. We'll take precious good +care of that. Listen here: I've got the whole thing mapped out in my +mind. The _Betty's_ at Leigh, where I laid her up yesterday. I had a +seven-horse-power Kelvin engine put in her last year, so we can get +up, whatever the wind is--I know the tide will be about right. Well, +my idea is that we three go down to Leigh tomorrow morning and take +her up to this place Cunnock Creek, or somewhere near. Then if it's +all serene you can land and have a look round; if there seems to be +any one about we can just push off again. Joyce and I won't show up at +all, anyway: we'll stop on board and let you do the scouting." + +"Yes, yes," exclaimed Joyce, her eyes shining eagerly. "Let's go. It +can't do any harm, and you might find out all sorts of useful things." + +"Besides," added Tommy, "it would be the deuce of a day, and it's a +long time since any of us had a good day, eh, Joyce?" + +"Three years," said Joyce quietly. + +That decided me. "Right you are," I said. "You're--you're something +like pals, you two." + +We clinched the arrangement with a grip, and then Joyce, jumping up +from the table, crossed the room to a small writing-desk. "I've got a +time-table somewhere here," she said, "so we can look out the train +right away." + +"It's all right," said Tommy. "I know 'em backwards. We'll catch the +nine-five from Fenchurch Street. It's low water at eight-thirty, so +that will get us in about the right time. We can leave the _Betty_ at +Tilbury or Gravesend afterwards, and come back by train from there. +We'll be home for dinner or supper or something." + +Joyce nodded. "That will just do," she said. "I am going out again +with George in the evening. Oh, I haven't told either of you about +last night--have I?" + +I shook my head. "No," I said, "but in any case I wish you'd drop that +part of it, Joyce dear. I hate to think of you dining with George: it +offends my sense of decency." + +She took an envelope out of the desk and came back to her place at the +table. "I mean to drop it quite soon," she said calmly, "but I must +go tomorrow. George is on the point of being rather interesting." She +paused a moment. "He told me last night that he was expecting to get a +cheque for twelve thousand pounds." + +"Twelve thousand pounds!" I echoed in astonishment. + +"Where the Devil's he going to get it from?" demanded Tommy. + +"That," said Joyce, "is exactly what I mean to find out. You see +George is at present under the impression that if he can convince me +he is speaking the truth I am coming away with him for a yachting +cruise in the Mediterranean. Well, tomorrow I am going to be +convinced--and it will have to be done very thoroughly." + +Tommy gave a long whistle. "I wonder what dog's trick he's up to now. +He can't be getting the money straight: I know they've done nothing +there the last year." + +"It would be interesting to find out," I admitted. "All the same, +Joyce, I don't see why you should do all the dirty work of the firm." + +"It's my job for the minute," said Joyce cheerfully, "and none of the +firm's work is dirty to me." + +She came across, and opening my coat, slipped the envelope which she +had taken out of her desk into my inner pocket. "I got those out of +the bank today," she said--"twenty five-pound notes. You had better +take them before we forget: you're sure to want some money." + +Then, before I could speak, she picked up the second bottle of +champagne that Tommy had just opened, and filled up all three glasses. + +"I like your description of us as the firm," she said; "don't you, +Tommy? Let's all drink a health to it!" + +Tommy jumped to his feet and held up his glass. "The Firm!" he cried. +"And may all the fools who sent Neil to prison live to learn their +idiocy!" + +I followed his example. "The Firm!" I cried, "and may everyone in +trouble have pals like you!" + +Joyce thrust her arm through mine and rested her head against my +shoulder. "The Firm!" she said softly. Then, with a little break in +her voice, she added in a whisper: "And you don't really want Sonia, +do you, Neil?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A HUMAN "CATCH" + + +It's not often that the weather in England is really appropriate +to one's mood, but the sunshine that was streaming down into Edith +Terrace as I banged the front door at half-past eight the next morning +seemed to fit in exactly with my state of mind. I felt as cheerful as +a schoolboy out for a holiday. Apart altogether from the knowledge +that I was going to spend a whole delightful day with Tommy and Joyce, +the mere idea of getting on the water again was enough in itself to +put me into the best of spirits. + +I stopped for a moment at the flower-stall outside Victoria Station to +buy Joyce a bunch of violets--she had always been fond of violets--and +then calling up a taxi instructed the man to drive me to Fenchurch +Street. + +I found Tommy and Joyce waiting for me on the platform. The former +looked superbly disreputable in a very old and rather dirty grey +flannel suit, while Joyce, who was wearing a white serge skirt with +a kind of green knitted coat, seemed beautifully in keeping with the +sunshine outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy. "We were just getting the jim-jams about +you. Thought you'd eloped with Sonia or something." + +I shook my head. "I never elope before midday," I said. "I haven't the +necessary stamina." + +I offered Joyce the bunch, which she took with a smile, giving my hand +a little squeeze by way of gratitude. "You dear!" she said. "Fancy +your remembering that." + +"Well, come along," said Tommy. "This is the train all right; I've got +the tickets and some papers." + +He opened the door of a first-class carriage just behind us, and we +all three climbed in. "We shall have it to ourselves," he added. +"No one ever travels first on this line except the Port of London +officials, and they don't get up till the afternoon." + +We settled ourselves down, Tommy on one side and Joyce and I on the +other, and a minute later the train steamed slowly out of the station. +Joyce slipped her hand into mine, and we sat there looking out of the +window over the sea of grey roofs and smoking chimney-stacks which +make up the dreary landscape of East London. + +"Have a paper?" asked Tommy, holding out the _Daily Mail_. + +"No, thanks, Tommy," I said. "I'm quite happy as I am. You can tell us +the news if there is any." + +He opened the sheet and ran his eye down the centre page. "There's +nothing much in it," he said, "bar this German business. No one seems +to know what's going to happen about that. I wonder what the Kaiser +thinks he's playing at. He can't be such a fool as to want to fight +half Europe." + +"How is the Navy these days?" I asked. "One doesn't worry about +trifles like that in Dartmoor." + +"Oh, we're all right," replied Tommy cheerfully. "The Germans haven't +got a torpedo to touch yours yet, and we're still a long way ahead of +'em in ships. We could wipe them off the sea in a week if they came +out to fight." + +"Well, that's comforting," I said. "I don't want them sailing up the +Thames till I've finished. I've no use for a stray shell in my line of +business." + +"I tell you what I'm going to do, Neil," said Tommy. "I was thinking +it over in bed last night after you'd gone. If there is any possible +sort of anchorage for a boat in this Cunnock Creek I shall leave the +_Betty_ there. It's only a mile from your place, and then either Joyce +or I can come down and see you without running the risk of being +spotted by your charming pals. Besides, at a pinch it might be +precious handy for you. If things got too hot on shore you could +always slip away by water. It's not as if you were dependent on the +tides. Now I've had this little engine put in her she'll paddle off +any old time--provided you can get the blessed thing to start." + +"You're a brick, Tommy," I said gratefully. "There's nothing I'd like +better. But as for you and Joyce coming down--" + +"Of course we shall come down," interrupted Joyce. "I shall come just +as soon as I can. Who do you think is going to look after you and do +your cooking?" + +"Good Lord, Joyce!" I said. "I'm in much too tight a corner to worry +about luxuries." + +"That's no reason why you should be uncomfortable," said Joyce calmly. +"I shan't come near you in the day, while you're working. I shall stay +on the _Betty_ and cook dinner for you in the evening, and then as +soon as it's dark you can shut up the place and slip across to the +creek. Oh, it will be great fun--won't it, Tommy?" + +Tommy laughed. "I think so," he said; "but I suppose there are people +in the world who might hold a different opinion." Then he turned to +me. "It's all right, Neil. We'll give you two or three clear days to +see how the land lies and shove along with your work. Joyce has got to +find out where George is getting that cheque from, and I mean to look +up Latimer and sound him about his dinner at Parelli's. You'll be +quite glad to see either of us by that time." + +"Glad!" I echoed. "I shall be so delighted, I shall probably blow +myself up. It's you two I'm thinking of. The more I see of this job +the more certain I am there's something queer about it, and if there's +going to be any trouble down there I don't want you and Joyce dragged +into it." + +"We shan't want much dragging," returned Tommy. "As far as the firm's +business goes we're all three in the same boat. We settled that last +night." + +"So there's nothing more to be said," added Joyce complacently. + +I looked from one to the other. Then I laughed and shrugged my +shoulders. "No," I said, "I suppose there isn't." + +Through the interminable slums of Plaistow and East Ham we drew out in +the squalid region of Barking Creek, and I looked down on the mud and +the dirty brown water with a curious feeling of satisfaction. It was +like meeting an old friend again after a long separation. The lower +Thames, with its wharves, its warehouses, and its never-ceasing +traffic, had always had a strange fascination for me; and in the old +days, when I wanted to come to Town from Leigh or Port Victoria, I had +frequently sailed my little six-tonner, the _Penguin_, right up as far +as the Tower Bridge. I could remember now the utter amazement with +which George had always regarded this proceeding. + +"Are you feeling pretty strong this morning?" asked Tommy, breaking a +long silence. "The _Betty's_ lying out in the Ray, and the only way of +getting at her will be to tramp across the mud. There's no water for +another four hours. We shall have to take turns carrying Joyce." + +"You won't," said Joyce. "I shall take off my shoes and stockings and +tramp too. I suppose you've got some soap on board." + +"You'll shock Leigh terribly if you do," said Tommy. "It's a beautiful +respectable place nowadays--all villas and trams and picture +palaces--rather like a bit of Upper Tooting." + +"It doesn't matter," said Joyce. "I've got very nice feet and ankles, +and I'm sure it's much less immoral than being carried in turns. Don't +you think so, Neil?" + +"Certainly," I said gravely. "No properly-brought-up girl would +hesitate for a moment." + +We argued over the matter at some length: Tommy maintaining that he +was the only one of the three who knew anything about the minds of +really respectable people--a contention which Joyce and I indignantly +disputed. As far as I can remember, we were still discussing the point +when the train ran into Leigh station and pulled up at the platform. + +"Here you are," said Tommy, handing me a basket. "You freeze on to +this; it's our lunch. I want to get a couple more cans of paraffin +before we go on board. There is some, but it's just as well to be on +the safe side." + +We left the station, and walking a few yards down the hill, pulled up +at a large wooden building which bore the dignified title of "Marine +and Yachting Stores." Here Tommy invested in the paraffin and one or +two other trifles he needed, and then turning off down some slippery +stone steps, we came out on the beach. Before us stretched a long bare +sweep of mud and sand, while out beyond lay the Ray Channel, with a +number of small boats and fishing-smacks anchored along its narrow +course. + +"There's the _Betty_," said Tommy, pointing to a smart-looking little +clinker-built craft away at the end of the line. "I've had her painted +since you saw her last." + +"And from what I remember, Tommy," I said, "she wanted it--badly." + +Joyce seated herself on a baulk of timber and began composedly to take +off her shoes and stockings. "How deep does one sink in?" she asked. +"I don't want to get this skirt dirtier than I can help." + +"You'll be all right if you hold it well up," said Tommy, "unless we +happen to strike a quicksand." + +"Well, you must go first," said Joyce, "then if we do, Neil and I can +step on you." + +Tommy chuckled, and sitting down on the bank imitated Joyce's example, +rolling his trousers up over the knee. I followed suit, and then, +gathering up our various belongings, we started off gingerly across +the mud. + +Tommy led the way, his shoes slung over his shoulder, and a tin of +paraffin in each hand. He evidently knew the lie of the land, for he +picked out the firmest patches with remarkable dexterity, keeping +on looking back to make sure that Joyce and I were following in his +footsteps. It was nasty, sloppy walking at the best, however, for +every step one took one went in with a squelch right up to the ankle, +and I think we had all had pretty well enough by the time we reached +the boat. Poor Joyce, indeed, was so exhausted that she had to sit +down on the lunch basket, while Tommy and I, by means of wading out +into the channel, managed to get hold of the dinghy. + +Our first job on getting aboard was to wash off the mud. We sat in a +row along the deck with our feet over the side; Tommy flatly refusing +to allow us any farther until we were all properly cleaned. Then, +while Joyce was drying herself and putting on her shoes and stockings, +he and I went down into the cabin and routed out a bottle of whisky +and a siphon of soda from somewhere under the floor. + +"What we want," he observed, "is a good stiff peg all round"; and the +motion being carried unanimously as far as Joyce and I were concerned, +three good stiff pegs were accordingly despatched. + +"That's better," said Tommy with a sigh. "Now we're on the safe side. +There's many a good yachtsman died of cold through neglecting these +simple precautions." Then jumping up and looking round he added +cheerfully: "We shall be able to sail the whole way up; the wind's +dead east and likely to stay there." + +"I suppose you'll take her out on the engine," I said. "This is a nice +useful ditch, but there doesn't seem to be much water in it for fancy +work." + +Tommy nodded. "You go and get in the anchor," he said, "and I'll see +if I can persuade her to start. She'll probably break my arm, but +that's a detail." + +He opened a locker at the back of the well, and squatted down in front +of it, while I climbed along the deck to the bows and proceeded +to hand in several fathoms of wet and slimy chain. I had scarcely +concluded this unpleasant operation, when with a sudden loud hum the +engine began working, and the next moment we were slowly throbbing our +way forwards down the centre of the channel. + +The Ray runs right down to Southend Pier, but there are several narrow +openings out of it connecting with the river. Through one of these +Tommy steered his course, bringing us into the main stream a few +hundred yards down from where we had been lying. Then, turning her +round, he handed the tiller over to Joyce, and clambered up alongside +of me on to the roof of the cabin. + +"Come on, Neil," he said. "I've had enough of this penny steamer +business. Let's get out the sails and shove along like gentlemen." + +The _Betty's_ rig was not a complicated one. It consisted of a +mainsail, a jib, and a spinnaker, and in a very few minutes we had set +all three of them and were bowling merrily upstream with the dinghy +bobbing and dipping behind us. Tommy jumped down and switched off the +engine, while Joyce, resigning the tiller to me, climbed up and seated +herself on the boom of the mainsail. She had taken off her hat, and +her hair gleamed in the sunshine like copper in the firelight. + +I don't think we did much talking for the first few miles: at least I +know I didn't. There is no feeling in the way of freedom quite so fine +as scudding along in a small ship with a good breeze behind you; and +after being cooped up for three years in a prison cell I drank in the +sensation like a man who has been almost dying of thirst might gulp +down his first draught of water. The mere tug of the tiller beneath my +hand filled me with a kind of fierce delight, while the splash of +the water as it rippled past the sides of the boat seemed to me the +bravest and sweetest music I had ever heard. + +I think Joyce and Tommy realized something of what I was feeling, for +neither of them made any real attempt at conversation. Now and then +the latter would jump up to haul in or let out the main sheet a +little, and once or twice he pointed out some slight alteration which +had been recently made in the buoying of the river. Joyce sat quite +still for the most part, either smiling happily at me, or else +watching the occasional ships and barges that we passed, most of which +were just beginning to get under way. + +We had rounded Canvey Island and left Hole Haven some little distance +behind us, when Tommy, who was leaning over the side staring out +ahead, suddenly turned back to me. + +"There's someone coming round the point in a deuce of a hurry," he +remarked. "Steam launch from the look of it. Better give 'em a wide +berth, or we'll have their wash aboard." + +I bent down and took a quick glance under the spinnaker boom. A couple +of hundred yards ahead a long, white, vicious-looking craft was racing +swiftly towards us, throwing up a wave on either side of her bows that +spread out fanwise across the river. + +I shoved down the helm, and swung the _Betty_ a little off her course +so as to give them plenty of room to go by. They came on without +slackening speed in the least, and passed us at a pace which I +estimated roughly to be about sixteen knots an hour. I caught a +momentary glimpse of a square-shouldered man with a close-trimmed +auburn beard crouching in the stern, and then the next moment a wave +broke right against our bows, drenching all three of us in a cloud of +flying spray. + +Tommy swore vigorously. "That's the kind of river-hog who ought to be +choked," he said. "If I--" + +He was interrupted by a sudden exclamation from Joyce. She had jumped +up laughing when the spray swept over her, and now, holding on to the +rigging, she was pointing excitedly to something just ahead of us. + +"Quick, Tommy!" she said. "There's a man in the water--drowning. +They've swamped his boat." + +In a flash Tommy had leaped to the side. "Keep her going," he shouted +to me. "We're heading straight for him." Then scrambing aft he grabbed +hold of the tow rope and swiftly hauled the dinghy alongside. + +"I'll pick him up, Tommy," I said quietly. "You look after the boat: +you know her better than I do." + +He nodded, and calling to Joyce to take over the tiller sprang up on +to the deck ready to lower the sails. I cast off the painter, all but +one turn, and handing the end to Joyce, told her to let it go as soon +as I shouted. Then, pulling the dinghy right up against the side of +the boat, I waited my chance and dropped down into her. + +I was just getting out the sculls, when a sudden shout from Tommy of +"There he is!" made me look hurriedly round. About twenty yards away a +man was splashing feebly in the water, making vain efforts to reach an +oar that was floating close beside him. + +"Let her go, Joyce!" I yelled, and the next moment I was tugging +furiously across the intervening space with the loose tow rope +trailing behind me. + +I was only just in time. Almost exactly as I reached the man he +suddenly gave up struggling, and with a faint gurgling sort of cry +disappeared beneath the water. I leaned out of the boat, and plunging +my arm in up to the shoulder, clutched him by the collar. + +"No, you don't, Bertie," I said cheerfully. "Not this journey." + +It's a ticklish business dragging a half-drowned man into a dinghy +without upsetting it, but by getting him down aft, I at last managed +to hoist him up over the gunwale. He came in like some great wet fish, +and I flopped him down in the stern sheets. Then with a deep breath I +sat down myself. I was feeling a bit pumped. + +For a moment or two my "catch" lay where he was, blowing, gasping, +grunting, and spitting out mouthfuls of dirty water. He was a little +weazened man of middle age, with a short grizzled beard. Except for +a pair of fairly new sea-boots, he was dressed in old nondescript +clothes which could not have taken much harm even from the Thames mud. +Indeed, on the whole, I should think their recent immersion had done +them good. + +"Well," I said encouragingly, "how do you feel?" + +With a big effort he raised himself on his elbow. "Right enough, +guv'nor," he gasped, "right enough." Then, sinking back again, he +added feebly: "If you see them oars o' mine, you might pick 'em up." + +There was a practical touch about this that rather appealed to me. I +sat up, and, looking round, discovered the _Betty_ about forty yards +away. Tommy had got the sails down and set the engine going, and he +was already turning her round to come back and pick us up. I waved my +hand to him--a greeting which he returned with a triumphant hail. + +Standing up, I inspected the surrounding water for any sign of my +guest's belongings. I immediately discovered both oars, which were +drifting upstream quite close to one another and only a few yards +away; but except for them there was no sign of wreckage. His boat and +everything else in it had vanished as completely as a submarine. + +I salvaged the oars, however, and had just got them safely on board, +when the _Betty_ came throbbing up, and circled neatly round us. +Tommy, who was steering, promptly shut down the engine to its slowest +pace, and reaching up I grabbed hold of Joyce's hand, which she held +out to me, and pulled the dinghy alongside. + +"Very nice, Tommy," I said. "Lipton couldn't have done it better." + +"How's the poor man?" asked Joyce, looking down pityingly at my +prostrate passenger. + +At the sound of her voice the latter roused himself from his recumbent +position, and made a shaky effort to sit up straight. + +"He'll be all right when he's got a little whisky inside him," I said. +"Come on, Tommy; you catch hold, and I'll pass him over." + +I stooped down, and, taking him round the waist, lifted him right up +over the gunwale of the _Betty_, where Tommy received him rather like +a man accepting a sack of coals. Then, catching hold of the tow rope, +I jumped up myself, and made the dinghy fast to a convenient cleat. + +Tommy dumped down his burden on one of the well seats. + +"You've had a precious narrow squeak, my friend," he observed +pleasantly. + +The man nodded. "If you hadn't 'a come along as you did, sir, I'd 'ave +bin dead by now--dead as a dog-fish." Then turning round he shook his +gnarled fist over the _Betty's_ stern in the direction of the vanished +launch. "Sunk me wi' their blarsted wash," he quavered; "that's what +they done." + +"Well, accidents will happen," I said; "but they were certainly going +much too fast." + +"Accidents!" he repeated bitterly; "this warn't no accident. They done +it a purpose--the dirty Dutchmen." + +"Sunk you deliberately!" exclaimed Tommy. "What on earth makes you +think that?" + +A kind of half-cunning, half-cautious look came into our visitor's +face. + +"Mebbe I knows too much to please 'em," he muttered, shaking his head. +"Mebbe they'd be glad to see old Luke Gow under the water." + +I thought for a moment that the shock of the accident had made him +silly, but before I could speak Joyce came out of the cabin carrying +half a tumbler of neat whisky. + +"You get that down your neck," said Tommy, "and you'll feel like a +two-year-old." + +I don't know if whisky is really the correct antidote for Thames +water, but at all events our guest accepted the glass and shifted its +contents without a quiver. As soon as he had finished Tommy took him +by the arm and helped him to his feet. + +"Now come along into the cabin," he said, "and I'll see if I can fix +you up with some dry kit." Then turning to me he added: "You might get +the sails up again while we're dressing, Neil; it's a pity to waste +any of this breeze." + +I nodded, and resigning the tiller to Joyce, climbed up on to the +deck, and proceeded to reset both the mainsail and the spinnaker, +which were lying in splendid confusion along the top of the cabin. +I had just concluded this operation when Tommy and our visitor +reappeared--the latter looking rather comic in a grey jersey, a pair +of white flannel trousers, and an old dark blue cricketing blazer and +cap. + +"I've been telling our friend Mr. Gow that he's got to sue these +chaps," said Tommy. "He knows who they are: they're a couple of +Germans who've got a bungalow on Sheppey, close to that little creek +we used to put in at." + +"You make 'em pay," continued Tommy. "They haven't a leg to stand on, +rushing past like that. They as near as possible swamped us." + +Mr. Gow cast a critical eye round the _Betty_. "Ay! and you'd take a +deal o' swampin,' mister. She's a fine manly little ship, an' that's a +fact." Then he paused. "It's hard on a man to lose his boat," he added +quietly; "specially when 'is livin' depends on 'er." + +"What do you do?" I asked. "What's your job?" + +Mr. Gow hesitated for a moment. "Well, in a manner o' speakin', I +haven't got what you might call no reg'lar perfession, sir. I just +picks up what I can outer the river like. I rows folks out to their +boats round Tilbury way, and at times I does a bit of eel fishing--or +maybe in summer there's a job lookin' arter the yachts at Leigh and +Southend. It all comes the same to me, sir." + +"Do you know Cunnock Creek?" asked Tommy. + +"Cunnock Crick!" repeated Mr. Gow. "Why, I should think I did, sir. My +cottage don't lie more than a mile from Cunnock Crick. Is that where +you're makin' for?" + +Tommy nodded. "We were thinking of putting in there," he said. "Is +there enough water?" + +"Plenty o' water, sir--leastways there will be by the time we get up. +It runs a bit dry at low tide, but there's always a matter o' three to +four feet in the middle o' the channel." + +This was excellent news, for the _Betty_ with her centre-board up only +drew about three feet six, so except at the very lowest point the +creek would always be navigable. + +"Is it a safe place to leave a boat for the night with no one on +board?" inquired Tommy. + +Mr. Gow shook his head. "I wouldn't go as far as that, sir. None o' +the reg'lar boatmen or fishermen wouldn't touch 'er, but they're a +thievin' lot o' rascals, some o' them Tilbury folk. If they happened +to come across 'er, as like as not they'd strip 'er gear, to say +nothin' of the fittings." Then he paused. "But if you was thinkin' o' +layin' 'er up there for the night, I'd see no one got monkeyin' around +with 'er. I'd sleep aboard meself." + +"Well, that's a bright notion," said Tommy, turning to me. "What do +you think, Neil?" + +"I think it's quite sound," I answered. "Besides, he can help me look +after her for the next two or three days. I shall be too busy to get +over to the creek much myself." Then putting my hand in my pocket +I pulled out Joyce's envelope, and carefully extracted one of the +five-pound notes from inside. "Look here, Mr. Gow!" I added, "we'll +strike a bargain. If you'll stay with the _Betty_ for a day or so, +I'll give you this fiver to buy or hire another boat with until you +can get your compensation out of our German friends. I shall be living +close by, but I shan't have time to keep my eye on her properly." + +Mr. Gow accepted the proposal and the note with alacrity. "I'm sure +I'm very much obliged to you, sir," he said gratefully. "I'll just run +up to my cottage when we land to get some dry clothes, and then I'll +come straight back and take 'er over. She won't come to no harm, not +with Luke Gow on board; you can reckon on that, sir." + +He touched his cap, and climbing up out of the well, made his way +forward, as though to signalize the fact that he was adopting the +profession of our paid hand. + +"I'm so glad," said Joyce quietly. "I shan't feel half so nervous now +I know you'll have someone with you." + +Tommy nodded. "It's a good egg," he observed. "I think old whiskers +is by way of being rather grateful." Then he paused. "But what swine +those German beggars must be not to have stopped! They must have seen +what had happened." + +"I wonder what he meant by hinting that they'd done it purposely," I +said. + +Tommy laughed. "I don't know. I asked him in the cabin, but he +wouldn't say any more. I think he was only talking through his hat." + +"I'm not so sure," I said doubtfully. "He seemed to have some idea at +the back of his mind. I shall sound him about it later on." + +With the wind holding good and a strong tide running, the _Betty_ +scudded along at such a satisfactory pace that by half-past twelve +we were already within sight of Gravesend Reach. There is no more +desolate-looking bit of the river than the stretch which immediately +precedes that crowded fairway. It is bounded on each side by a low sea +wall, behind which a dreary expanse of marsh and salting spreads away +into the far distance. Here and there the level monotony is broken by +a solitary hut or a disused fishing hulk, but except for the passing +traffic and the cloud of gulls perpetually wheeling and screaming +overhead there is little sign of life or movement. + +"You see them two or three stakes stickin' up in the water?" remarked +Mr. Gow suddenly, pointing away towards the right-hand bank. + +I nodded. + +"Well, you keep 'em in line with that little clump o' trees be'ind, +an' you'll just fetch the crick nicely." + +He and Tommy went forward to take in the spinnaker, while, following +the marks he had indicated, I brought the _Betty_ round towards her +destination. Approaching the shore I saw that the entrance to the +creek was a narrow channel between two mud-flats, both of which were +presumably covered at high tide. I called to Joyce to wind up the +centre-board to its fullest extent, and then, steering very carefully, +edged my way in along this drain, while Mr. Gow leaned over to leeward +diligently heaving the lead. + +"Plenty o' water," he kept on calling out encouragingly. "Keep 'er +goin', sir, keep 'er goin'. Inside that beacon, now up with 'er a bit. +That's good!" + +He discarded the lead and hurried to the anchor. I swung her round +head to wind, Tommy let down the mainsail, and the next moment we +brought up with a grace and neatness that would almost have satisfied +a Solent skipper. + +We were in the very centre of a little muddy creek with high banks +on either side of it. There was no other boat within sight; indeed, +although we were within three miles of Tilbury, anything more desolate +than our surroundings it would be difficult to imagine. + +Mr. Gow assisted us to furl the sails and put things straight +generally, and then coming aft addressed himself to me. + +"I don't know what time you gen'lemen might be thinkin' o' leavin'; +but if you could put me ashore now I could be back inside of the +hour." + +"Right you are," I said. "I'll do that straight away." + +We both got into the dinghy, and in a few strokes I pulled him to the +bank, where he stepped out on to the mud. Then he straightened himself +and touched his cap. + +"I haven't never thanked you properly yet, sir, for what you done," he +observed. "You saved my life, and Luke Gow ain't the sort o' man to +forget a thing like that." + +I backed the boat off into the stream. "Well, if you'll save our +property from the Tilbury gentlemen," I said, "we'll call it quits." + +When I got back to the ship I found Tommy and Joyce making +preparations for lunch. + +"We thought you'd like something before you pushed off," said Tommy. +"One can scout better on a full tummy." + +"You needn't apologize for feeding me," I replied cheerfully. "I've a +lot of lost time to make up in the eating line." + +It was a merry meal, that little banquet of ours in the _Betty's_ +cabin. The morning's sail had given us a first-rate appetite, and in +spite of the somewhat unsettled state of our affairs we were all three +in the best of spirits. Indeed, I think the unknown dangers that +surrounded us acted as a sort of stimulant to our sense of pleasure. +When you are sitting over a powder mine it is best to enjoy every +pleasant moment as keenly as possible. You never know when you may get +another. + +At last I decided that it was time for me to start. + +"I tell you what I think I'll do, Tommy," I said. "I'll see if there's +any way along outside the sea-wall. I could get right up to the place +then without being spotted, if there should happen to be any one +there." + +Tommy nodded. "That's the idea," he said. "And look here: I brought +this along for you. I don't suppose you'll want it, but it's a useful +sort of thing to have on the premises." + +He pulled out a small pocket revolver, loaded in each chamber, and +handed it over to me. + +I accepted it rather doubtfully. "Thanks, Tommy," I said, "but I +expect I should do a lot more damage with my fists." + +"Oh, please take it, Neil," said Joyce simply. + +"Very well," I answered, and stuffing it into my side pocket, I +buttoned up my coat. "Now, Tommy," I said; "if you'll put me ashore +we'll start work." + +It was about a hundred yards to the mouth of the creek, and with the +tide running hard against us it was quite a stiff little pull. Tommy, +however, insisted on taking me the whole way down, just to see whether +there was any chance of getting along outside the sea-wall. We landed +at the extreme point, and jumping out on to the mud, I picked my way +carefully round the corner and stared up the long desolate stretch +of river frontage. The tide was still some way out, and although the +going was not exactly suited to patent-leather boots, it was evidently +quite possible for any one who was not too particular. + +I turned round and signalled to Tommy that I was all right; then, +keeping in as close as I could to the sea-wall, I set off on my +journey. It was slow walking, for every now and then I had to climb up +the slope to get out of the way of some hopelessly soft patch of mud. +On one of these occasions, when I had covered about three-quarters of +a mile, I peered cautiously over the top of the bank. Some little +way ahead of me, right out in the middle of the marsh, I saw what I +imagined to be my goal. It was a tiny brick building with a large +wooden shed alongside, the latter appearing considerably the newer and +more sound of the two. + +I was inspecting it with the natural interest that one takes in one's +future country house, when quite suddenly I saw the door of the +building opening. A moment later a man stepped out on to the grass, +and looked quickly round as though to make certain that there was no +one watching. Although the distance was about three hundred yards I +recognized him at once. + +It was my friend of the restaurant--Mr. Bruce Latimer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + +The discovery was a beautifully unexpected one, but I was getting used +to surprises by this time. I bobbed down at once behind the sea-wall, +and crouched there for a moment wondering what was the best thing to +do. After what I had found out it seemed hardly probable that Latimer +could be there in the capacity of McMurtrie's caretaker; but if not, +how on earth had he hit upon the place, and what was he doing prowling +about inside it? + +Raising myself up again with extreme care I had another look through +the grass. Latimer had left the building and was stooping down +in front of the door of the shed, his attention being obviously +concentrated on the lock. I was rather a long way off, but as far as I +could see he appeared to be trying to slip back the bolt with the aid +of a piece of wire. + +I think that decided me. However dangerous it might be to show myself, +it seemed still more risky to allow some one of whose motives I was +at present completely ignorant to inspect my future workshop. Almost +before I realized what I was doing I had slipped over the bank and +dropped down on to the marsh. + +The slight noise I made must have reached Latimer's ears, for he +wheeled round with amazing promptness. At the same instant his right +hand travelled swiftly into the side pocket of his coat--a gesture +which I found sufficiently illuminating in view of what I was carrying +myself in a similar place. When he saw how far off I was he seemed +to hesitate for a moment; then pulling out a case he coolly and +deliberately lit himself a cigarette, and after taking a quick glance +round started to stroll slowly towards me. I noticed that he still +kept his hand in his side pocket. + +My mind was working pretty rapidly as we approached each other. What +would happen seemed to me to depend chiefly upon whether Latimer had +seen me in the restaurant, and had guessed that it was I who had sent +him the message. If not, it struck me that he must be wondering rather +badly who I was and what connection I had with the hut. + +When we were still twenty yards apart he pulled up and waited for me, +smoking his cigarette with every appearance of tranquil enjoyment. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," he said in a pleasant, lazy voice, "but I +wonder if you could tell me who this building belongs to?" + +I came to a halt right in front of him. "Well," I replied boldly, +"until I saw you coming out of the door just now I was under the +impression that I was the legal tenant." + +He smiled, and taking off his hat made me a slight bow. + +"I must really beg your pardon," he said. "I was trespassing +shamelessly. The fact of the matter is that I am acting on behalf of +the District Surveyor, and finding the door open and being unable to +get any answer, I took the liberty of looking inside." + +If ever in my life I felt confident that a man was telling me a lie it +was at that moment, but my belief was certainly due to no fault of Mr. +Latimer's. He spoke with a coolness and an apparent candour that would +have done credit to a Cabinet Minister. + +"The District Surveyor!" I repeated. "And what does that distinguished +person want with me?" + +Mr. Latimer made a gesture towards the hut with his disengaged hand. +"It's nothing of any real importance," he said, "but you appear to +have been making some slight alterations here. This wooden building--" + +"It's only a temporary structure," I interrupted. + +He nodded. "Quite so. Still there are certain bye-laws which we have +to see attended to. The Surveyor happened to notice it the other day +when he was passing, and he asked me to find out the exact purpose it +was intended for. We are bound to make some restrictions about wooden +buildings on account of the extra chance of their catching fire." + +The idea of the District Surveyor being seriously perturbed over the +possibility of my being roasted alive struck me as rather improbable, +but I was careful not to give any impression of doubting the +statement. + +"As a matter of fact," I said, "there is no chance of a tragedy +of that sort. I have taken the place to make a few experiments +in connection with photography. The stuff I am using is quite +uninflammable." + +All the time I was speaking I was watching him carefully to see if +I could detect the least sign of his recognizing me. For any such +indication, however, we might have been utter strangers. + +He accepted my falsehood as politely as I had received his. + +"Well, in that case," he said, with a smile, "there is really no need +for me to bother you any further. I will tell the Surveyor that you +are a strictly law-abiding citizen. Meanwhile"--he stepped back and +again raised his hat--"let me apologize once more for having broken +into your place." + +Whether there was any deliberate irony in his remark I was unable to +guess; his manner at all events gave no hint of it. + +"You needn't apologize," I returned artlessly. "It was my own fault +for leaving the door open." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible quiver at the corner of his +lips, but if so it was gone again at once. + +"Yes," he said gravely. "You will find it safer to keep the place +locked up. Good-day, sir." + +"Good-day," I replied, and turning deliberately away from him I +sauntered off towards the hut. + +I did not look round until I had reached the door; and even then I +made a pretence of dropping my keys and stooping to pick them up. The +precaution, however, seemed a little superfluous. Mr. Latimer was some +thirty or forty yards away, walking inland across the marsh in the +direction of Tilbury. I couldn't help wondering whether he had noticed +the mast of the _Betty_, which was just visible in the distance, +sticking up demurely above the bank of the creek. + +I stepped inside the hut--it was really little more than a hut--and +closed the door. The first impression I received was one of being back +in my prison cell. The only light in the place filtered in through a +tiny and very dirty window, which looked out in the direction that +Latimer had taken. For the rest, as soon as my eyes were used to the +gloom, I made out a camp bed with blankets on it, a small wooden table +and chair, a jug and basin, and in the farther corner of the room a +miscellaneous collection of cooking and eating utensils. There was +also a large wooden box which I imagined to contain food. + +I took in all this practically at a glance, for my mind was still too +occupied with my late visitor to trouble much about anything else. + +I sat down on the bed and tried to think out the situation clearly. +There could be no doubt that Latimer had been spying on the place, +if such an unpleasant word could be applied to a gentleman who was +supposed to be in Government service. The question was, what did he +suspect? I had pretty good evidence that he was up against McMurtrie +and the others in some shape or other, and presumably it was on +account of my connection with them that I had been favoured with his +attentions. Still, this didn't seem to make the situation any the more +cheerful for me. If Latimer was really a secret-service man, as some +one had told Tommy, it stood to reason that I must be assisting in +some particularly shady and dangerous sort of enterprise. I had no +special objection to this from the moral point of view, but on the +other hand I certainly didn't want to throw away my hardly-won liberty +before I had had the satisfaction of settling accounts with George. + +I debated with myself whether it would be best to let McMurtrie know +that the place was being watched. To a certain extent his interests in +the matter seemed to be identical with mine, but my mistrust of him +was still strong enough to make me hesitate. Beyond his bare word and +that of Sonia I had no proof as yet that he intended to play straight +with me. + +One thing appeared certain, and that was that Latimer had failed to +recognize me as the man who had sent him the warning at Parelli's. In +a way this gave me an advantage, but it was a forlorn enough sort of +advantage in view of the unknown dangers by which I was surrounded. + +I got up off the bed, feeling anything but comfortable, and going to +the door had another look round. Latimer had disappeared behind the +thin belt of trees that fringed the Tilbury road, and so far as I +could see there was no one else about. Getting out my keys, I walked +along to the shed and opened the door. + +If my living accommodation was a trifle crude, McMurtrie had certainly +made up for it here. He had evidently carried out my instructions +with the most minute care and an absolute disregard for expense. Lead +tanks, sinks, chemicals, an adequate water supply in the shape of +a pump--everything I had asked for seemed to have been provided. I +looked round the large, clean, well-lighted place with a sensation of +intense satisfaction. The mere sight of all these preparations made me +ache to begin work, for I was consumed with the impatience that any +inventor would feel who had been compelled to leave a big discovery on +the very verge of completion. + +Coming out, I closed the door again, and carefully turned the key +behind me. Then walking back to the hut I locked that up as well. I +hadn't the faintest belief in Latimer's story about finding the place +open, and apart from making things safe I certainly didn't want to +leave any traces of my surprise visit. From what I knew of McMurtrie +I felt sure that he had left somebody in charge, and that in all +probability Latimer had merely taken advantage of their temporary +absence. + +After a last glance all round, to make sure that the coast was still +clear, I walked rapidly down to the sea-wall and scrambled up on to +the top. The tide had risen a bit, but there was just room to get +along, so jumping down I set off on my return journey. + +There was something very cheering and reassuring in the sight of the +_Betty_ riding easily at her anchor, as I made my way round the mouth +of the creek. Tommy and Joyce were both on deck: the former in his +shirt-sleeves, swabbing down his new paint with a wet mop. Directly +he saw me he abandoned the job to Joyce, and with a wave of his hand +proceeded to get out the dinghy. A minute later he was pulling for the +shore. + +"All serene?" he inquired calmly, as he ran the boat up to where I was +standing. + +"Yes," I said. "We needn't hurry; there's no one chasing me." Then +pushing her off the mud I jumped in. "I'll tell you the news," I +added, "when we get on board." + +We headed off for the _Betty_, and as we came alongside and I handed +up the painter to Joyce, I felt rather like the raven must have +done when he returned to the Ark. As far as peace and security were +concerned, my outside world seemed to be almost as unsatisfactory as +his. + +"How have you got on?" demanded Joyce eagerly. + +I climbed up on to the deck. + +"I've had quite an interesting time," I said. Then I paused and looked +round the boat. "Is Mr. Gow back?" I inquired. + +Tommy shook his head. "Not yet. I expect he's blueing some of that +fiver in anticipation." + +"Come and sit down, then," I said, "and I'll tell you all about it." + +They both seated themselves beside me on the edge of the well, and +in as few words as possible I let them have the full story of my +adventures. At the first mention of Latimer's name Tommy indulged in a +low whistle, but except for that non-committal comment they listened +to me in silence. + +Joyce was the first to speak when I had finished. + +"It's hateful, isn't it?" she said. "I feel as if we were fighting in +the dark." + +"That's just what we are doing," answered Tommy, "but we're letting in +a bit of light by degrees though." Then he turned to me. "McMurtrie's +got some game on, evidently, and this chap Latimer's dropped on it. +That was why they tried to put him out of the way." + +"Yes," I said, "and if Latimer is really in the secret service, it +must be a precious queer sort of game too." + +Tommy nodded. "I wonder if they're anarchists," he said, after a +short pause. "Perhaps they want your powder to blow up the Houses of +Parliament or the Law Courts with." + +I laughed shortly. "No," I said. "Whatever McMurtrie's after, it's +nothing so useful and unselfish as that. If I thought it was I +shouldn't worry." + +"Well, there's only one thing to do," observed Tommy, after a pause, +"and that's to go and look up Latimer, as I suggested. You're sure he +didn't recognize you?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sure of nothing about him," I replied, +"except that he's a superb liar." + +"We must risk it anyhow," said Tommy. "He's the only person who knows +anything of what's going on, and he evidently wants to find out who +sent him that note, or he wouldn't have answered it as he did. He'll +have to give me some sort of explanation if I go and see him. I +shall rub it into him that my supposed pal is a perfectly sensible, +unimaginative sort of chap--and anyway people don't invent a yarn like +that." + +"Look!" interrupted Joyce suddenly. "Isn't that Mr. Gow coming along +by those trees?" + +She pointed away down the creek, and following her direction I saw the +figure of our trusty retainer trudging back towards the ship, with a +bundle over his shoulder. He had exchanged Tommy's picturesque outfit +for some garments of his own, more in keeping with his new and +dignified position. + +"I'll pick him up," I said; "but what are we going to do about getting +back? We had better not try Tilbury, or we may run into Latimer; it +would put the hat on everything if he saw us together." + +Tommy consulted his watch. "It's just half-past three now," he said. +"I vote we run across to Gravesend and catch the train there. Old +Whiskers can bring the boat back here after we've gone--if he's still +sober." + +"Of course he's sober," said Joyce; "look at the beautiful way he's +walking." + +I should hardly have applied quite such a complimentary adjective to +Mr. Gow's gait myself, but all the same Joyce's diagnosis proved to +be quite correct. Mr. Gow was sober--most undoubtedly and creditably +sober. I rowed to the bank, and brought him on board, and when we told +him of our plans he expressed himself as being perfectly competent to +manage the return journey single-handed. + +"You leave 'er to me," he remarked consolingly. "I shan't want no +help--not to bring 'er in here. Some people don't hold with being +alone in a boat, but that ain't Luke Gow's way." + +He went forward to get up the anchor, while Tommy and I occupied +ourselves with the exciting sport of trying to start the engine. It +went off at last with its usual vicious kick, and a few minutes later +we were throbbing our way out of the creek into the main river. + +The tide was right at its highest, and down the centre of the fairway +straggled a long procession of big hooting steamers, sluggish +brown-sailed barges, and small heavily-burdened tugs, puffing out +their usual trails of black smoke. One felt rather like a terrier +trying to cross Piccadilly, but by waiting for our chance we dodged +through without disaster, and pulled up in a comparatively tranquil +spot off the Gravesend landing-stage. + +Tommy signalled to one of the boatmen who were hanging about the steps +waiting for stray passengers. + +"This chap will take us off," he said, turning to Mr. Gow. "You push +straight back while the engine's running; she usually stops when we've +got about as far as this." + +"And I'll come over to the creek some time tomorrow," I added; though +in my present circumstances a confident prophecy of any kind seemed a +trifle rash. + +We went ashore and stood for a moment on the stage watching the +_Betty_ thread her course back through the traffic. Mr. Gow seemed +to handle her with perfect confidence, and relieved on this point we +turned round and set off for the station. + +We found ourselves in luck's way. An unusually obliging train was due +to start in ten minutes' time, and as before we managed to secure an +empty compartment. + +"I tell you what I want you to do when we get back to town, Joyce," I +said. "I want you to help me buy a hat." + +"What's the matter with the one you're wearing?" demanded Tommy. "It +just suits your savage style of beauty." + +"Oh, this new one isn't for me," I explained. "It's for a lady--a lady +friend, as we say." + +"I didn't know you had any," said Joyce, "except me and Sonia." + +I smiled arrogantly. "You underrate my attractions," I replied. +"Haven't I told you about Miss Gertie 'Uggins?" Then I proceeded to +sketch in Gertrude as well as I could, finishing up with the story of +her spirited determination to spend the five shillings I had given her +on a really fashionable head-dress. + +Tommy slapped his leg and chuckled. "I believe any woman would starve +herself to death for something new to wear," he remarked. + +"Of course she would," said Joyce with spirit--"any decent woman." +Then she turned to me. "I think it's sweet, Neil; I shall give her a +new hat myself, just because she loves you." + +Tommy laughed again. "You'll find that an expensive hobby to keep up, +Joyce," he said. "You'll have to start a bonnet-shop." + +All the way back to town we talked and joked in much the same strain, +as cheerfully as though none of us had a care in the world. If there +had been a stranger in the carriage listening to us, he would, I +think, have found it impossible to believe that I was Neil Lyndon, +the much-wanted convict, and that Tommy and Joyce were engaged in the +criminal pursuit of helping me avoid the police. No doubt, as I said +before, the very danger and excitement of our position accounted to +some extent for our high spirits, but in my case they were due even +more to a natural reaction from the misery of the last three years. +Ever since I had met Tommy and Joyce again I seemed to have been +shedding flakes off the crust of bitterness and hatred which had built +itself up round my soul. + +Even my feelings towards George were slowly becoming less murderous. +I was still as determined as ever to get at the truth of his amazing +treachery if I could; but the savage loathing that I had previously +cherished for him was gradually giving place to a more healthy +sensation of contempt. I felt now that, whatever his motives may have +been, there would be far more satisfaction in kicking him than in +killing him. Besides, the former process was one that under favourable +circumstances could be repeated indefinitely. + +"You're spending the evening with me, Neil, of course," observed +Tommy, as we drew into Charing Cross. + +I nodded. "We'll take a taxi and buy the hat somewhere, and then drop +Joyce at Chelsea. After that I am open to any dissipation." + +"Only keep away from the Savoy," said Joyce. "I am making my great +surrender there, and it would hamper me to have you and Tommy about." + +We promised to respect her privacy, and then, getting out of the +train, which had drawn up in the station, we hailed a taxi and climbed +quickly into it. Charing Cross is the last place to dawdle in if you +have any objection to being recognized. + +"Shall we be able to write to you?" asked Joyce. "I shall want to tell +you about George, and Tommy will want to let you know how he gets on +with Latimer. Of course I'm coming down to the boat in a day or two; +but all sorts of things may happen before then." + +I thought rapidly for a moment. "Write to me at the Tilbury +post-office," I said. "Only don't make a mistake and address the +letter to Neil Lyndon. Too much excitement isn't good for a Government +official." + +Tommy laughed. "It's just the sort of damn silly thing I should +probably have done," he said. "Can't you imagine the postmaster's face +when he read the envelope? I should like to paint it as a Christmas +supplement to the _Graphic_." + +"Where did you tell the man to stop, Joyce?" I asked. + +"Holland's," said Joyce. "I am going to buy Gertie a really splendid +hat--something with birds and flowers on it. I am sure I know just +what she'll think beautiful. I suppose I had better tell them to send +it round to you at Edith Terrace. You won't want to carry it about +London." + +"Not unless Tommy likes to wear it," I said. "I think I'm disguised +enough as it is." + +We pulled up outside Mr. Holland's imposing shop-front, and Joyce, +who was sitting next the door, got up from her seat. Then she leaned +forward and kissed me. + +"Good-bye, Neil," she said. "I shall come down on Tuesday and go +straight to the _Betty_, unless I hear anything special from you +before then." She paused. "And oh, dear Neil," she added, "you will be +careful, won't you? If anything was to happen now, I believe I should +kill George and jump into the Thames." + +"In that case," I said, "I shall be discretion itself. I couldn't +allow George anything like so charming an end; it would be quite +wasted on him." + +Joyce smiled happily and, opening the door, jumped out on to the +pavement. "You keep the taxi on," she said. "I shall take a bus home. +I can't be hurried over buying a hat--even if it's for Gertie. Where +shall I tell the man to go to?" + +"Better say the Studio," answered Tommy. "We both want a wash and a +drink before we start dissipating." + +For an escaped murderer and his guilty accessory, I am afraid that our +dissipation proved to be rather a colourless affair. Tommy had always +had simple tastes in the way of amusement, and even if it had been +safe for us to parade the West End in each other's company, I +certainly had no wish to waste my time over a theatre or anything of +that sort. I found that real life supplied me with all the drama I +needed just at present. + +What we actually did was to dine quietly in a little out-of-the-way +restaurant just off Sloane Square, and then play billiards for the +remainder of the evening in a room above a neighbouring tavern. We had +several most exciting games. In old days I had been able to beat +Tommy easily, but owing to a regrettable oversight on the part of the +Government there is no table at Princetown, and in consequence I was +rather short of practice. + +Afterwards Tommy walked with me as far as Victoria, where we discussed +such arrangements for the future as we were in a position to make. + +"I'll write to you, anyway, Neil," he said, "as soon as I've tackled +Latimer; and I'll probably come down with Joyce on Tuesday. If you +want me any time before, send me a wire." + +I nodded. "You'll be more useful to me in London, Tommy," I said. +"All the threads of the business are up here. McMurtrie--Latimer-- +George"--I paused--"I'd give something to know what those three do +between them," I added regretfully. + +Tommy gripped my hand. "It's all right, old son," he said. "I'm not +much of a believer in inspirations and all that sort of rot, but +somehow or other I'm dead certain we're going to win out. I've had a +feeling like that ever since the trial--and so has Joyce." + +"Thanks, Tommy," I said briefly. "You'd give a jellyfish a +backbone--you two." + +And with a last squeeze of the hand I left him standing there, and set +off across the station for Edith Terrace. + +It was close on midnight when I got back, and every one in the house +seemed to have gone to bed. The light had been put out in the hall, +but the door of my sitting-room was partly open, and a small jet of +gas was flickering away over the fireplace. I turned this up and, +looking round, discovered a large box with Holland's label on it, +a note, and a half-sheet of paper--all decorating the table in the +centre of the room. + +I examined the half-sheet of paper first. It contained several dirty +thumb-marks and the following message, roughly scrawled in pencil: + +"sir the lady with the hat cum for you about for aclock i told her as +you was out and she rote this leter gerty." + +Hastily picking up the envelope, I slit open the flap, and pulled out +the "leter" from inside. It covered two sides, and was written in +Sonia's curious, sloping, foreign-looking hand. + +"I have to go away with my father until the end of next week. By that +time, if you have succeeded with your invention, there will be nothing +to stop our plans. I would have explained everything to you today if +you had been here. As it is, _on no account give your secret to any +one_ until I have seen you. I shall come down to Tilbury either on +Friday or Saturday, and within a few hours we can be utterly beyond +the reach of any further danger or difficulties. Until then, my +lover--SONIA." + +I read it through twice, and then slowly folding it up, thrust it back +into the envelope. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that I'm going to have quite an interesting +house-party." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + + +I gave Gertie her hat next morning when she brought me up my +breakfast. It was a gorgeous thing--rather the shape of a dustman's +helmet, with a large scarlet bird nestling on one side of it, +sheltered by some heavy undergrowth. Gertie's face, as I pulled it out +of the box, was a study in about eight different emotions. + +"Oo--er," she gasped faintly. "That ain't never for me." + +"Yes, it is, Gertrude," I said. "It was specially chosen for you by a +lady of unimpeachable taste." + +I held it out to her, and she accepted it with shaking hands, like a +newly-made peeress receiving her tiara. + +"My Gawd," she whispered reverently; "ain't it just a dream!" + +To be perfectly honest, it seemed to me more in the nature of a +nightmare, but wild horses wouldn't have dragged any such hostile +criticism out of me. + +"I think it will suit you very nicely, Gertie," I said. "It's got just +that dash of colour which Edith Terrace wants." + +"Yer reely mean it?" she asked eagerly. "Yer reely think I'll look orl +right in it? 'Course it do seem a bit funny like with this 'ere frock, +but I got a green velveteen wot belonged to Mrs. Oldbury's niece. It +won't 'alf go with that." + +"It won't indeed," I agreed heartily. Then, looking up from my eggs +and bacon, I added: "By the way, Gertie, I've never thanked you for +your letter. I had no idea you could, write so well." + +"Go on!" said Gertie doubtfully; "you're gettin' at me now." + +"No, I'm not," I answered. "It was a very nice letter. It said just +what you wanted to say and nothing more. That's the whole art of good +letter-writing." Then a sudden idea struck me. "Look here, Gertie," I +went on, "will you undertake a little job for me if I explain it to +you?" + +She nodded. "Oo--rather. I'd do any think for you." + +"Well, it's something I may want you to do for me after I've left." + +Her face fell. "You ain't goin' away from 'ere--not for good?" + +"Not entirely for good," I said. "I hope to do a certain amount of +harm to at least one person before I come back." I paused. "It's just +possible," I continued, "that after I've gone somebody may come to +the house and ask questions about me--how I spent my time while I was +here, and that sort of thing. If they should happen to ask you, I want +you to tell them that I used to stay in bed most of the day and go to +the theatre in the evening. Do you mind telling a lie for me?" + +Gertie looked at me in obvious amazement. "I _don't_ think," she +observed. "Wotjer taike me for--a Sunday-school teacher?" + +"No, Gertie," I said gravely; "no girl with your taste in hats could +possibly be a Sunday-school teacher." Then pushing away my plate and +lighting a cigarette, I added: "I'll leave you a stamped addressed +envelope and a telegraph form. You can send me the wire first to say +if any one has called, and then write me a line afterwards by post +telling me what they were like and what they said." + +"I can do that orl right," she answered eagerly. "If they talks to +Mrs. Oldbury I'll listen at the keyhole." + +I nodded. "It's a practice that the best moralists condemn," I said, +"but after all, the recording angel does it." Then getting up from +the table, I added: "You might tell Mrs. Oldbury I should like to see +her." + +When that good lady arrived I acquainted her with the fact that I +intended to leave her house in about two hours' time. Any resentment +which she might have felt over this slightly abrupt departure was +promptly smoothed away by my offer to take on the rooms for at least +another fortnight. I did this partly with the object of leaving a +pleasant impression behind me, and partly because I had a vague idea +that it might come in handy to have some sort of headquarters in +London where I was known and recognized as Mr. James Nicholson. + +Having settled up this piece of business I sat down and wrote to +McMurtrie. It was a task which required a certain amount of care and +delicacy, but after two trial essays I succeeded in turning out the +following letter, which seemed to me about to meet the situation. + +"DEAR DR. McMURTRIE: + +"As you have probably heard, I received your letter yesterday, and I +am making arrangements to go down to Tilbury tomorrow by the 11.45. + +"Of course in a way I am sorry to leave London--it's extraordinary +what a capacity for pleasure a prolonged residence in the country +gives one--but at the same time I quite agree with you that business +must come first. + +"I shall start work directly I get down, and if all the things I asked +for in my list have been provided, I don't think it will be long +before I have some satisfactory news for you. Unless I see you or hear +from you before then I will write to the Hotel Russell directly there +is anything definite to communicate. + +"Meanwhile please give my kind regards to your amiable friend and +colleague, and also remember me to his charming daughter. + +"Believe me, + +"Yours sincerely, + +"JAMES NICHOLSON." + +With its combined touch of seriousness and flippancy, this appeared to +me exactly the sort of letter that McMurtrie would expect me to write. +I couldn't resist putting in the bit about his "amiable" friend, for +the recollection of Savaroff's manner towards me still rankled gently +in my memory. Besides I had a notion it would rather amuse McMurtrie, +whose more artistic mind must have been frequently distressed by his +colleague's blustering surliness. + +I could think of nothing else which required my immediate attention, +so going into my bedroom I proceeded to pack up my belongings. I put +in everything I possessed with the exception of Savaroff's discarded +garments, for although I was keeping on the rooms I had no very robust +faith in my prospects of ever returning to them. Then, ringing the +bell, I despatched Gertrude to fetch me a taxi, while I settled up my +bill with Mrs. Oldbury. + +"An' seem' you've taken on the rooms, sir," observed that lady, "I +'opes it's to be a case of 'say orrivar an' not good-bye.'" + +"I hope it is, Mrs. Oldbury," I replied. "I shall come back if I +possibly can, but one never knows what may happen in life." + +She shook her head sombrely. "Ah, you're right there, sir. An' curious +enough that's the very identical remark my late 'usband was ser fond +o' makin'. I remember 'is sayin' it to me the very night before 'e was +knocked down by a bus. Knocked down in Westminister 'e was, and runned +over the body by both 'ind wheels. 'E never got over it--not as you +might say reely got over it. If ever 'e ate cheese after that it +always give 'im a pain in 'is stomick." + +An apropos remark about "come wheel come woe" flashed into my mind, +but before I could frame it in properly sympathetic language, a taxi +drew up at the door with Gertie 'Uggins installed in state alongside +the driver. + +Both she and Mrs. Oldbury stood on the step, and waved farewell to me +as I drove down the street. I was quite sorry to leave them. I felt +that they both liked me in their respective ways, and my present list +of amiably disposed acquaintances was so small that I objected to +curtailing it by the most humble member. + +All the way to Tilbury I occupied myself with the hackneyed but +engrossing pursuit of pondering over my affairs. Apart from my own +private interest in the matter, which after all was a fairly poignant +one, the mysterious adventure in which I was involved filled me with +a profound curiosity. Latimer's dramatic re-entry on to the scene had +thrown an even more sinister complexion over the whole business than +it boasted before, and, like a man struggling with a jig-saw problem, +I tried vainly to fit together the various pieces into some sort of +possible solution. + +I was still engaged in this interesting occupation when the train ran +into Tilbury station. Without waiting for a porter I collected my +various belongings, and stepped out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had told me in his letter that he would arrange for some +one to meet me; and looking round I caught sight of a burly red-faced +gentleman in a tight jacket and a battered straw hat, sullenly eyeing +the various passengers who had alighted. I walked straight up to him. + +"Are you waiting for me--Mr. James Nicholson?" I asked. + +He looked me up and down in a kind of familiar fashion that distinctly +failed to appeal to me. + +"That's right," he said. Then as a sort of afterthought he added, "I +gotter trap outside." + +"Have you?" I said. "I've got a couple of bags inside, so you'd better +come and catch hold of one of them." + +His unpleasantly red face grew even redder, and for a moment he seemed +to meditate some spirited answer. Then apparently he thought better of +it, and slouching after me up the platform, possessed himself of the +larger and heavier of my two bags, which I had carefully left for him. + +The trap proved to be a ramshackle affair with an ill-kept but +powerful-looking horse between the shafts. I climbed up, and as I took +my seat I observed to my companion that I wished first of all to call +at the post-office. + +"I dunno nothin' 'bout that," he grunted, flicking his whip. "My +orders was to drive you to Warren's Copse." + +"I don't care in the least what your orders were," I answered. "You +can either go to the post-office or else you can go to the Devil. +There are plenty of other traps in Tilbury." + +He was evidently unused to this crisp style of dialogue, for after +glaring at me for a moment in a sort of apoplectic amazement he jerked +his horse round and proceeded slowly down the street. + +"'Ave it yer own way," he muttered. + +"I intend to," I said cheerfully. + +We pulled up at the post-office, a large red-brick building in the +main street, and leaving my disgruntled friend sitting in the trap, +I jumped out and pushed open the swing door. Except for an +intelligent-looking clerk behind the counter the place was empty. + +"Good-morning," I said. "I wonder if you could help me out of a slight +difficulty about my letters?" + +"What sort of a difficulty?" he inquired civilly. + +"Well, for the next week or two," I said, "I shall be living in a +little hut on the marshes about two miles to the east from here, and +quite close to the sea-wall. I am making a few chemical experiments in +connection with photography" (a most useful lie this), "and I've told +my friends to write or send telegrams here--to the post-office. I +wondered, if anything should come for me, whether you had a special +messenger or any one who could bring it over. I would be delighted to +pay him his proper fee and give him something extra for his trouble. +My name is Nicholson--Mr. James Nicholson." + +The man hesitated for a moment. "I don't think there will be any +difficulty about that--not if you leave written instructions. I shall +have to ask the postmaster when he comes in, but I'm pretty certain it +will be all right." + +I thanked him, and after writing out exactly what I wanted done, I +returned to my friend in the trap, who, to judge from his expression, +did not appear to have benefited appreciably from my little lesson in +patience and politeness. Under the circumstances I decided to extend +it. + +"I am going across the street to get some things I want," I observed. +"You can wait here." + +He made an unpleasant sound in his throat, which I think he intended +for an ironical laugh. "Wot you want's a bus," he remarked; "a bus an' +a bell an' a ruddy conductor." + +I came quite close and looked up into his face, smiling. "What you +want," I said quietly, "is a damned good thrashing, and if I have any +more of your insolence I'll pull you down out of the trap and give you +one." + +I think something in my voice must have told him I was speaking the +literal truth, for although his mouth opened convulsively it closed +again without any audible response. + +I strolled serenely across the road to where I saw an "Off-Licence." +I had acted in an indiscreet fashion, but whatever happened I was +determined to put up with no further rudeness from anybody. I had had +all the discourtesy I required during my three years in Princetown. + +My purchases at the Off-Licence consisted of three bottles of whisky +and two more of some rather obscure brand of champagne. It was +possible, of course, that McMurtrie's ideas of catering included such +luxuries, but there seemed no reason for running any unnecessary risk. +As a prospective host it was clearly my duty to take every reasonable +precaution. + +Armed with my spoils I returned to the trap, and stored them away +carefully beneath the seat. Then I climbed up alongside the driver. + +"Now you can go to Warren's Copse," I said; and without making any +reply the tomato-faced gentleman jerked round his horse's head, and +back we went up the street. + +I can't say it was exactly an hilarious drive. I felt cheerful enough +myself, but my companion maintained a depressed and lowering silence, +broken only by an occasional inward grunt, or a muttered curse at +the horse. It struck me as curious and not a little sinister that +McMurtrie should be employing such an uncouth ruffian, but I supposed +that he had some sound reason for his choice. I couldn't imagine +McMurtrie doing anything without a fairly sound reason. + +Within about ten minutes of leaving the town, we came out on to the +main road that bounded the landward side of the marshes. I caught +sight of my future home looking very small and desolate against the +long stretch of sea-wall, and far in the distance I could just discern +the mast of the _Betty_ still tapering up above the bank of the creek. +It was comforting to know that so far at all events Mr. Gow had +neither sunk her nor pawned her. + +Warren's Copse proved to be the small clump of trees that I had +noticed on the previous day, and my driver pulled up there and jerked +the butt of his whip in the direction of the hut. + +"There y'are," he said. "We can't get no nearer than this." + +There was a good distance to walk across the marsh, and for a moment I +wondered whether to insist upon his getting out and carrying one of +my bags, I decided, however, that I had had quite enough of the surly +brute's company, so jumping down, I took out my belongings, and told +him that he was at liberty to depart. + +He drove off without a word, but he had not gone more than about +thirty yards when he suddenly turned in his seat and called out a +parting observation. + +"I ain't afraid o' you--you--'ulkin' bully!" he shouted; "an' don't +you think it neither." + +Then, whipping up the horse, he broke into a smart canter, and +disappeared round a bend in the road. + +When I had done laughing, I shoved a bottle into each side pocket, and +stowed away the other three in the emptier of my two bags. The latter +were no light weight to lug along, and by the time I had covered the +half-mile of marsh that separated me from the hut I had come to the +conclusion that the profession of a railway porter was one that I +should never adopt as a private hobby. + +As soon as I unlocked the door, I saw that I had not been far wrong in +my guess about a caretaker on the previous afternoon. Some one, at all +events, had been there in the interval, for the pile of cooking and +eating utensils were now arranged on a rough shelf at the back, while +the box which I had noticed had been unpacked and its contents set out +on the kitchen table. + +I glanced over them with some interest. There were packets of tea and +sugar, several loaves of bread, and a number of gaily-coloured tins, +containing such luxuries as corned beef, condensed milk, tongue, +potted meat, and golden syrup. Except for the tea, however, there +seemed to be a regrettable dearth of liquid refreshments, and I +mentally thanked Providence for my happy inspiration with regard to +the Off-Licence. + +I pottered about a bit, unpacking my own belongings, and putting +things straight generally. As I seemed likely to be spending some time +in the place, I thought I might as well make everything as comfortable +and tidy as possible to start with; and, thanks to my combined +experience of small boats and prison cells, I flatter myself I made +rather a good job of it. + +By the time I had finished I was feeling distinctly hungry. I opened +one of the tongues, and with the additional aid of bread and whisky +made a simple but satisfying lunch. Then I sat down on the bed and +treated myself to a pipe before going across to the shed to start +work. Smoking in business hours is one of those agreeable luxuries +which an inventor of high explosives finds it healthier to deny +himself. + +I could see no sign of any one about when I went outside. Except for +a few gulls, which were wheeling backwards and forwards over the +sea-wall, I seemed to have the whole stretch of marsh and saltings +entirely to myself. Some people, I suppose, would have found the +prospect a depressing one, but I was very far from sharing any such +opinion. I like marsh scenery, and for the present at all events I +was fully able to appreciate the charms which sages of all times are +reported to have discovered in solitude. + +I shall never forget the feeling of satisfaction with which I +closed the door of the shed behind me and looked round its clean, +well-lighted interior. A careful examination soon showed me that +McMurtrie's share in the work had been done as thoroughly and +conscientiously as I had imagined from my brief inspection on the +previous day. Everything I had asked for was lying there in readiness, +and, much as I disliked and mistrusted the doctor, it was not without +a genuine sensation of gratitude that I hung up my coat and proceeded +to set to work. + +Briefly speaking, my new discovery was an improvement on the famous C. +powder, invented by Lemartre. It was derived from the aromatic series +of nitrates (which that great scientist always insisted to be the +correct basis for stable and powerful explosives), but it owed its +enormously increased force to a fresh constituent, the introduction +of which was entirely my own idea. I had been working at it for about +nine months before my arrest, and after several disappointing failures +I had just succeeded in achieving what I believed to be my object, +when my experiments had been so unkindly interrupted. + +Still, all that remained now was comparatively clear sailing. I had +merely to follow out my former process, and I had taken care to order +the various ingredients in as fully prepared a state as possible for +immediate use. I had also taken care to include one or two other +articles, which as a matter of fact had nothing on earth to do with +the business in hand. It was just as well, I felt, to obscure matters +a trifle, in case any inquiring mind might attempt to investigate my +secret. + +For hour after hour I worked on, sorting out my various chemicals, and +preparing such methods of treatment as were necessary in each case. I +was so interested in my task that I paid no attention at all to the +time, until with something of a shock I suddenly realized that the +light was beginning to fail. Looking at my watch I found that it was +nearly half-past seven. + +There was still a certain amount to do before I could knock off, so, +stopping for a moment to mix myself a well-earned whisky-and-water, I +switched on the two electric head-lights which McMurtrie had provided +as a means of illumination. With the aid of these I continued my +labours for perhaps another hour and a half, at the end of which +time I began to feel that a little rest and refreshment would be an +agreeable variation in the programme. + +After making sure that everything was safe, I turned out the lights, +and locking up the door, walked back to the hut. I was just entering, +when it suddenly struck me that instead of dining in solitary state +off tongue and bread, I might just as well stroll over to the _Betty_ +and take my evening repast in the engaging company of Mr. Gow. + +No sooner had this excellent idea entered my head than I decided to +put it into practice. The moon was out, and there appeared to be +enough light to see my way by the old route along the river shore, +so, walking down to the sea-wall, I climbed over, and set off in the +direction of the creek. + +It was tricky sort of work, with fine possibilities of spraining +one's ankle about it, but by dint of "going delicately," like Agag, I +managed to reach the end of my journey without disaster. As I rounded +the bend I saw the _Betty_ lying out in mid-stream, bathed in a most +becoming flood of moonlight. A closer observation showed me the head +and shoulders of Mr. Gow protruding from the fo'c's'le hatch. + +He responded to my hail by scrambling up on deck and lowering himself +into the dinghy, which with a few vigorous jerks he brought to the +shore. + +"I've come to have supper with you, Mr. Gow," I observed. "Have you +got anything to eat?" + +He touched his cap and nodded. "I says to meself it must be you, sir, +d'rectly I heard you comin' round the crick. There ain't much comp'ny +'bout here at night-time." + +"Nor in the daytime either," I added, pushing the boat off from the +bank. + +"And that's a fact, sir," he remarked, settling down to the oars. +"There was one gent round here this morning askin' his way, but except +for him we bin remarkable quiet." + +"What sort of a gent?" I demanded with interest. + +"Smallish, 'e was, sir, an' very civil spoken. Wanted to get to +Tilbury." + +"Did he ask who the boat belonged to, by any chance?" + +Mr. Gow reflected for a moment. "Now you come to mention it, sir, I +b'lieve 'e did. Not as I should have told 'im anything, even if I'd +known. I don't hold with answerin' questions." + +"You're quite right, Mr. Gow," I observed, catching hold of the +stern of the _Betty_. "It's a habit that gets people into a lot of +trouble--especially in the Law Courts." + +We clambered on board, and while my companion made the dinghy fast, +I went down into the cabin, and proceeded to rout out the lockers in +search of provisions. I discovered a slab of pressed beef, and some +rather stale bread and cheese, which I set out on the table, wondering +to myself, as I did so, whether the inquisitive stranger of the +morning was in any way connected with my affairs. It couldn't have +been Latimer, for that gentleman was very far from being "smallish," a +remark which applied equally well to our mutual friend with the scar. +I was still pondering over the question when I heard Mr. Gow drop down +into the fo'c's'le, and summond him through the connecting door to +come and join the feast. + +He accepted my invitation with some embarrassment, as became a "paid +hand," but a bottle of Bass soon put him at his ease. We began by +discussing various nautical topics, such as the relative merits of a +centre-board or a keel for small boats, and whether whisky or beer was +really the better drink when one was tired and wet through. It was not +until we had finished our meal and were sitting outside enjoying our +pipes that I broached the question that was at the back of my mind. + +"Look here, Gow," I said abruptly, "were you speaking seriously when +you suggested that launch ran you down on purpose?" + +His face darkened, and then a curious look of slow cunning stole into +it. + +"Mebbe they did, and mebbe they didn't," he answered. "Anyway, I +reckon they wouldn't have bin altogether sorry to see me at the bottom +o' the river." + +"But why?" I persisted. "What on earth have you been doing to them?" + +Mr. Gow was silent for a moment. "'Tis like this, sir," he said at +last. "Bein' about the river all times o' the day an' night, I see +things as other people misses--things as per'aps it ain't too healthy +to see." + +"Well, what have you seen our pals doing?" I inquired. + +"I don't say I seen 'em doin' nothin'--nothin' against the law, so to +speak." He looked round cautiously. "All the same, sir," he added, +lowering his voice, "it's my belief as they ain't livin' up there on +Sheppey for no good purpose. Artists they calls 'emselves, but to my +way o' thinking they're a sight more interested in forts an' ships an' +suchlike than they are in pickchers and paintin'." + +I looked at him steadily for a moment. There was no doubt that the man +was in earnest. + +"You think they're spies?" I said quietly. + +He nodded his head. "That's it, sir. Spies--that's what they are; a +couple o' dirty Dutch spies--damn 'em." + +"Why don't you tell the police or the naval people?" I asked. + +He laughed grimly. "They'd pay a lot of heed to the likes o' me, +wouldn't they? You can lay them two fellers have got it all squared up +fine and proper. Come to look into it, an' you'd find they was artists +right enough; no, there wouldn't be no doubt about that. As like as +not I'd get two years 'ard for perjurin' and blackmail." + +To a certain extent I was in a position to sympathize with this point +of view. + +"Well, we must keep an eye on them ourselves," I said, "that's all. +We can't have German spies running up and down the Thames as if they +owned the blessed place." I got up and knocked out my pipe. "The first +thing to do," I added, "is to summons them for sinking your boat. If +they _are_ spies, they'll pay up without a murmur, especially if they +really tried to do it on purpose." + +Mr. Gow nodded his head again, with a kind of vicious obstinacy. "They +done it a-purpose all right," he repeated. "They seen me watching of +'em, and they knows that dead men tell no tales." + +There scarcely seemed to me to be enough evidence for the certainty +with which he cherished this opinion; but the mere possibility of its +being a fact was sufficiently disturbing. Goodness knows, I didn't +want to mix myself up in any further troubles, and yet, if these men +were really German spies, and, in addition to that, sufficiently +desperate to attempt a cold-blooded murder in order to cover up their +traces, I had apparently let myself in for it with a vengeance. + +Of course, if I liked, I could abandon Mr. Gow to pursue his claim +without any assistance; but that was a solution which somehow or other +failed to appeal to me. In a sense he had become my retainer; and +we Lyndons are not given to deserting our retainers under any +circumstances. At least, I shouldn't exactly have liked to face my +father in another world with this particular weakness against my +record. + +Altogether it was in a far from serene state of mind that I climbed +down into the dinghy, and allowed Mr. Gow to row me back to the bank. + +"Will you be over tomorrow, sir?" he asked, as he stood up in the boat +ready to push off. + +"I don't think so, I shall be rather busy the next two or three +days." Then I paused a moment. "Keep your eyes open generally, Mr. +Gow," I added; "and if any more gentlemen who have lost their way to +Tilbury come and ask you the name of the _Betty's_ owner, tell them +she belongs to the Bishop of London." + +He touched his cap quite gravely. "Yessir," he said. "Good-night, +sir." + +"Good-night, Mr. Gow," I replied, and scrambling up the bank, I set +off on my return journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + +It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the +rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and +exhaustion. Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark +brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have +taken for finely ground coffee. It was not coffee, however; it was the +fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that +any human being has ever accomplished. Unless I was wrong--utterly and +hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to +blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next +week. + +I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle +slowly through my fingers. The stuff was quite safe to handle; that +was one of its beauties. I could have put a lighted match to it or +thrown it on the fire without the faintest risk; the only possible +method of releasing its appalling power being the explosion of a few +grains of gunpowder or dynamite in its immediate vicinity. I had no +intention of allowing that interesting event to occur until I had made +certain necessary preparations. + +I was still contemplating my handiwork with a sort of fatigued pride, +when a sudden sound outside attracted my attention. Getting up and +looking through the shed window, I discovered a telegraph-boy standing +by the hut, apparently engaged in hunting for the bell. + +"All right, sonny," I called out. "Bring it along here." + +I walked to the door, and the next minute I was being handed an +envelope addressed to me at the Tilbury Post-Office in Joyce's +handwriting. + +"It came the last post yesterday," explained the lad. "We couldn't let +you have it until this morning because there wasn't any one to send." + +"Well, sit down a moment, Charles," I said; "and I'll just see if +there's any answer." + +He seated himself on the bench, staring round at everything with +obvious interest. With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I slit open +the envelope and pulled out its contents. + + +"CHELSEA, + +"_Monday._ + +"DEAREST JAMES, + +"It looks rather nice written--doesn't it! I am coming down tomorrow +by the train which gets into Tilbury at 2.15. I shall walk across to +the _Betty_ and sit there peacefully till you turn up. Whatever stage +the work is at, don't be later than 7.30. I shall have supper ready by +then--and it will be a supper worth eating. My poor darling, you must +be simply starved. I've lots to tell you, James, but it will keep till +tomorrow. + +"With all my love, + +"JOYCE." + +I read this through (it was so like Joyce I could almost fancy I heard +her speaking), and then I turned to the telegraph-boy, who was still +occupied in taking stock of his surroundings. + +"There's no answer, thank you, Charles," I said. "How much do I owe +you?" + +He pulled himself together abruptly. "It will be two shillings, the +post-office fee, sir." + +"Well, there it is," I said; "and there's another shilling for +yourself." + +He jumped up and pocketed the coins with an expression of gratitude. +Then he paused irresolutely. "Beg pardon, sir," he observed, "but +ain't you a gentleman who makes things?" + +I laughed. "We most of us do that, Charles," I said, "if they're only +mistakes." + +He looked round the shed with an expression of slight awe. "Can you +make fireworks?" he asked. + +I glanced instinctively at the little heap of powder. "Of a kind," I +admitted modestly. "Why?" + +He gave an envious sigh. "I only wondered if it was hard, sir. I'd +rather be able to make fireworks than do anything." + +"It's not very hard," I said consolingly. "You go on bringing my +letters and telegrams for me like a good boy directly they arrive, and +before I leave here I'll show you how to do it. Only you mustn't talk +about it to anybody, or I shall have everyone asking me the same +thing." + +His face brightened, and stammering out his thanks and his +determination to keep the bargain a profound secret, he reluctantly +took his departure. I felt that in future, whatever happened, I +was pretty certain to get anything which turned up for me at the +post-office without undue delay. + +For the next half-hour or so I amused myself by constructing a kind of +amateur magazine outside the hut in which to store my precious powder. +It was safe enough in a way above ground, as I have already mentioned, +but with inquisitive strangers like Mr. Latimer prowling around, I +certainly didn't mean to leave a grain of it about while I was absent +from the shed. I packed it all away in a waterproof iron box, which I +had specially ordered for the purpose, and buried it in the hole that +I had dug outside. Then I covered the latter over with a couple of +pieces of turf, and carefully removed all traces of my handiwork. + +It was not until I had finished this little job that I suddenly +realized how tired I was. For the last four days I had scarcely +stirred outside the shed, and I don't suppose I had averaged more than +three hours' sleep a night the whole time. The excitement and interest +of my work had kept me going, and now that it was over I found that I +was almost dropping with fatigue. + +I locked up the place, and walking across to the hut, opened myself +one of the bottles of champagne which I had so thoughtfully purchased +at the Off-Licence. It was not exactly a vintage wine, but I was in no +mood to be over-critical, and I drank off a couple of glasses with the +utmost appreciation. Then I lay down on the bed, and in less than five +minutes I was sleeping like a log. + +I woke up at exactly half-past four. However tired I am, a few hours' +sleep always puts me right again, and by the time I had had a wash and +changed into a clean shirt, I felt as fresh as a daisy. + +I decided to walk straight over to the _Betty_. I knew that by this +time Joyce would be on board, and as there was nothing else to be done +in the shed, I thought I might just as well join her now as later. I +had been too busy to miss any one very much the last four days, but +now that the strain was over I felt curiously hungry to see her again. +Besides, I was longing to hear what news she had brought about Tommy +and George. + +With a view to contributing some modest item towards the supper +programme, I shoved the other bottle of champagne into my pocket, and +then lighting a cigar, locked up the place, and set off for the creek +by my usual route. The tide was very high, and on several occasions I +had to scramble up and make my way along the sea-wall in full view +of the marsh and the roadway. Fortunately, however, there seemed, +as usual, to be no one about, and I reached the mouth of the creek +without much fear of having been watched or followed. + +The _Betty_ was there all right, but I could see no sign of any one on +board. I walked up the creek until I was exactly opposite where she +was lying, and then putting my hands to my lips I gave her a gentle +hail. + +In an instant Joyce's head appeared out of the cabin, and the next +moment she was on deck waving me a joyous welcome with the frying-pan. + +"Oh, it's you!" she cried. "How lovely! Half a second, and I'll come +over and fetch you." + +"Where's Mr. Gow?" I called out. + +"He's gone home. I sent him off for a holiday. There's no one on board +but me." + +She scrambled aft, and unshipping the dinghy, came sculling towards me +across the intervening water. She was wearing a white jersey, and with +her arms bare and her hair shining in the sunlight, she made a picture +that only a blind man would have failed to find inspiring. + +She brought up right against the bank where I was standing, and +leaning over, caught hold of the grass. + +"Jump," she said. "I'll hang on." + +I jumped, and the next moment I was beside her in the boat, and we +were hugging each other as cheerfully and naturally as two children. + +"You dear, to come so soon!" she said. "I wasn't expecting you for +ages." + +I kissed her again, and then, picking up the oars, pushed off from the +bank. "Joyce," I said, "I've done it! I've made enough of the blessed +stuff to blow up half Tilbury." + +She clapped her hands joyfully. "How splendid! I knew you would. Have +you tried it?" + +I shook my head. "Not yet," I said. "We'll do it early tomorrow +morning, before any one's about." Then, digging in my scull to avoid a +desolate-looking beacon, I added anxiously: "What about Tommy? Is he +coming?" + +Joyce nodded. "He'll be down tomorrow. I've got a letter for you from +him. He saw Mr. Latimer last night." + +"Did he!" said I. "Things are moving with a vengeance. What about the +gentle George?" + +Joyce laughed softly. "Oh," she said; "I've such lots to tell you, I +hardly know where to start." + +I ran the boat alongside the _Betty_, and we both climbed on board. + +"Suppose we start by having some tea," I suggested. "I'm dying for a +cup." + +"You poor dear," said Joyce. "Of course you shall have one. You can +read what Tommy says while I'm getting it ready." + +She fetched the letter out of the cabin, and sitting in the well I +proceeded to decipher the three foolscap pages of hieroglyphics which +Tommy is pleased to describe as his handwriting. As far as I could +make out they ran as follows: + +"MY DEAR NEIL, + +"I suppose I oughtn't to begin like that, in case somebody else got +hold of the letter. It doesn't matter really, however, because Joyce +is bringing it down, and you can tear the damn thing up as soon as +you've read it. + +"Well, I've seen Latimer. I wrote to him directly I got back, reminded +him who I was, and told him I wanted to have a chat with him about +some very special private business. He asked me to come round to his +rooms in Jermyn Street last night at ten o'clock, and I was there till +pretty near midnight. + +"I thought I was bound to find out something, but good Lord, Neil, it +came off in a way I'd never dared hope for. Practically speaking, I've +got to the bottom of the whole business--at least so far as Latimer's +concerned. You see he either had to explain or else tell me to go to +the devil, and as he thought I was a perfectly safe sort of chap to be +honest with, he decided to make a clean breast of it. + +"To start with, it's very much what we suspected. Latimer _is_ a +Secret Service man, and that's how he comes to be mixed up in the job. +It seems that some little while ago the Admiralty or one of the other +Government departments got it into their heads that there were a +number of Germans over in England spying out the land in view of a +possible row over this Servian business. Latimer was told off amongst +others to look into the matter. He had been sniffing around for some +weeks without much luck, when more or less by chance he dropped across +the track of those two very identical beauties who ran down Gow's boat +in the Thames last Friday. + +"Somehow or other they must have got wind of the fact that he was +after them, and they evidently made up their minds to get rid of him. +They seem to have set about it rather neatly. The man with the scar, +who is either one of them or else in with them, introduced himself to +Latimer as a member of the French Secret Service. He pretended that +he had some special information about the case in hand, and although +Latimer was a bit suspicious, he agreed to dine at Parelli's and hear +what the fellow had to say. + +"Well, you know the rest of that little incident. If it hadn't been +for you there's not the faintest doubt that Latimer would have +copped it all right, and I can tell you he's by way of being rather +particularly grateful. I was specially instructed to send you a +message to that effect next time I was writing. + +"What the connection is between your crowd and these Germans I can't +exactly make out. Of course if you're right in your idea about the +chap with the scar spying on you in London it's perfectly obvious +they're working together in some way. At the same time I'm quite sure +that Latimer knows nothing about it. The reason he came down to look +at the hut on Friday was because a report about it had been sent to +him by one of his men--he has two fellows working under him--and he +thought it might have something to do with the Germans. He described +the way you had caught him quite frankly, and told me how he'd had to +invent a lie about the Surveyor in order to get out of it. + +"Exactly what he means to do next I don't know. He has got some plan +on, and I've a notion he wants me to help him--at least he sounded +me pretty plainly last night as to whether I'd be game to lend him a +hand. I need hardly tell you I jumped at the idea. It seems to me our +only possible chance of finding out anything. I am to see him or hear +from him tomorrow, and directly I know what's in the wind I'll either +write to you or come and look you up. + +"Joyce will tell you all about George and McMurtrie. If they aren't +both up to some kind of particularly dirty mischief I'll eat my whole +wardrobe. We must talk it over thoroughly when we meet. + +"I'm longing to see you again, and hear all about the work and what's +been going on down there. + +"So long, old son, + +"Yours as ever, + +"TOMMY." + +I was just making out the last words, when Joyce emerged from the +cabin, carrying some tea on a tray. + +"Here you are, Neil," she said. "I have cut you only two slices of +bread and butter, because I don't want you to spoil your supper. +There's cold pheasant and peas and new potatoes." + +I pulled out the bottle of champagne from my pocket. "If they're as +new as this wine," I observed, "they ought to be delicious." + +Joyce accepted my contribution, and after reading the label, placed it +carefully on the floor of the well. "Sarcon et fils," she repeated. "I +always thought they made vinegar." + +"Perhaps they do," I replied. "We shall know when we drink it." + +Joyce laughed, and sitting down beside me, poured me out a cup of tea. +"You've read Tommy's letter," she said. "What do you think about it?" + +I took a long drink. "From the little I've seen of Mr. Bruce Latimer," +I said, "I should put him down as being one of the most accomplished +liars in England." I paused. "At the same time," I added, "I think +he's a fine fellow. I like his face." + +Joyce nodded her head. "But you don't believe his story?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "It may be true," I said. "Tommy seems +to think so anyhow. If it is, things are a bit simpler than I +imagined--that's all." + +"And if it isn't?" said Joyce. + +"Ah!" said I, "if it isn't--" + +I left the sentence unfinished, and helped myself to a second bit of +bread and butter. + +There was a short silence. + +"Tell me about George, Joyce," I went on. "What are these particular +dark doings that Tommy's hinting about?" + +Joyce leaned forward with her chin on her hands, her blue eyes fixed +on mine. + +"Neil," she said slowly, "I've found out something at last--something +I thought I was never going to. I know who the man was in Marks's +rooms on the day that he was murdered." + +I was so surprised that I gulped down a mouthful of nearly boiling +tea. + +"I wish you'd break these things more gently, Joyce," I said. "Who was +it?" + +"It was Dr. McMurtrie." + +I put down the teacup and stared at her in the blankest amazement. + +"Dr. McMurtrie!" I repeated incredulously. + +She nodded. "Listen, and I'll tell you exactly how it all happened. I +dined with George, as you know, at the Savoy on Friday, and we went +into the whole business of my going away with him. He has got that +twelve thousand pounds, Neil; there's no doubt about it. He showed me +the entry in his pass-book and the acknowledgment from the bank, and +he even offered to write me a cheque for a couple of hundred right +away, to buy clothes with for the trip." + +"From what I remember of George," I said, "he must be desperately in +love with you." + +Joyce gave a little shiver of disgust. "Of course I let him think I +was giving way. I wanted to find out where the money had come from, +but try as I would, I couldn't get him to tell me. That makes me feel +so certain there's something wrong about it. In the end I arranged to +dine with him again tomorrow night, when I said I'd give him my final +answer. On Saturday morning, however, I changed my mind, and wrote him +a note to say I'd come Thursday instead. I didn't mean to tie myself +to be back tomorrow, in case you wanted me here." + +She paused. + +"I had to go up Victoria Street, so I thought I'd leave the letter at +his office. I'd just got there, and I was standing outside the door +opening my bag, when a man came down the steps. I looked up as he +passed, and--oh Neil!--it was all I could do to stop myself from +screaming. I knew him at once; I knew his cold wicked face just as +well as if it had been only three days instead of three years. It was +the man I'd seen in Marks's rooms on the afternoon of the murder." + +She stopped again, and took a deep breath. + +"I was horribly excited, and yet at the same time I felt quite cool. I +let him get about ten yards away down the street, and then I started +off after him. He walked as far as the Stores. Then he called an empty +taxi that was coming past, and I heard him tell the driver to go to +the Hotel Russell. I thought about how you'd followed the man with the +scar, and I made up my mind I'd do the same thing. I had to wait for +several seconds before another taxi came by, but directly it did +I jumped in and told the man to drive me to the corner of Russell +Square. + +"I got there just as the other taxi was drawing up in front of the +hotel. A porter came forward and opened the door, and I saw the man +get out and go up the steps. I waited for one moment, and then I +walked along to the entrance myself. The porter was still standing +there, so I went straight up to him and asked him quite simply what +the name of the gentleman was who had just gone inside. He sort of +hesitated, and then he said to me: 'That gentleman, Miss?--that's Dr. +McMurtrie.'" + +Once more she paused, and, pushing away the tray, I lit myself a +cigar. "It's lucky you've had some practice in surprises," I observed. + +Joyce nodded. "Of course I was absolutely flabbergasted, but I don't +think I showed anything. I sort of rummaged in my bag for a minute +till I'd recovered; then I gave the man half a crown and asked him if +he knew how long Dr. McMurtrie was staying. I think he was in doubt as +to whether I was a female detective or a lady reporter; anyhow he took +the money and said he was very sorry he didn't know, but that if I +wanted an interview at any time he had no doubt it might be arranged. +I thanked him, and said it didn't matter for the moment, and there I +thought it best to leave things. You see I knew that whether McMurtrie +stayed on at the Russell or not you were bound to see him again, and +there was nothing to be gained by asking questions which the porter +would probably repeat to him. It would only have helped to put him on +his guard--wouldn't it?" + +"My dear Joyce," I said, "I think you did splendidly. Sherlock Holmes +couldn't have done better." I got up and walked to the end of the +cockpit. "But good Lord!" I added, "this does complicate matters. +You're absolutely certain it was McMurtrie you saw at Marks's flat?" + +"Absolutely," repeated Joyce with emphasis. "I should remember his +face if I lived to be a hundred." + +I clenched my fists in a sudden spasm of anger. "There's some damned +villainy underneath all this, Joyce," I said. "If McMurtrie was there +that afternoon the odds are that he knows who committed the murder." + +"He did it himself," said Joyce calmly. "I'm as sure of it as I am +that I'm sitting here." + +"But why?" I demanded--"why? Who on earth _was_ Marks? Nobody in +Chelsea seemed to know anything about him, and nothing came out at the +trial. Why should any one have wanted to kill him except me?" + +Joyce shook her head. "I don't know," she said stubbornly; "but I'm +quite certain it was McMurtrie. I feel it inside me." + +"And in any case," I continued, "what the devil is he doing messing +about with George? I'm the only connecting-link between them, and he +can't possibly mean to betray me--at all events, until he's got the +secret of the powder. He knows George would give me up tomorrow." + +Joyce made a gesture of perplexity. "I know," she said. "It's an +absolute mystery to me too. I've been puzzling and puzzling over it +till my head aches, and I can't see any sort of explanation at all." + +"The only thing that's quite plain," I said, "is the fact that +McMurtrie and Savaroff have been lying to me from the start. They are +no more powder-merchants than you are. They want to get hold of my +invention for some reason--to make money out of it, I suppose--and +then they're prepared to clear out and leave me to George and the +police. At least, that's what it's beginning to look like." + +"Well, anyhow," said Joyce, "you're not tied to them any longer by +your promise." + +"No," I said; "it takes two to keep a bargain. Besides," I added +rather bitterly, "I can afford the privilege of breaking my word. It's +only what you'd expect from a convict." + +Joyce got up, and coming to where I was sitting, slipped her arm +through mine and softly stroked my hand. "Don't, Neil," she said. +"I hate you to say anything that isn't fine and generous. It's like +hearing music out of tune." + +I drew her to me, and half closing her eyes, she laid her cheek +against mine. We remained silent for a moment or two, and then, giving +her a little hug, I sat up and took hold of her hands. + +"Look here, Joyce," I said, "we won't just bother about anything for +the rest of the day. We'll be cheerful and jolly and foolish, like we +were on Friday. God knows how all this infernal tangle is going to pan +out, but we may as well snatch one evening's happiness out of it while +we've got the chance." + +Joyce kissed me, and then jumping lightly from the seat, pulled me +up with her. "We will," she said. "After all, we've got a boat and a +lovely evening and a cold pheasant and a bottle of champagne--what +more can any one want?" + +"Well," I said, "it may sound greedy, but as a matter of fact I want +some of those peas and new potatoes you were talking about just now." + +She let go my hands, and opening one of the lockers, took out a large +basin with a couple of bags in it. "There you are," she laughed. "You +can skin them and shell them while I wash up the tea-things and lay +the table. It's a man's duty to do the dangerous work." + +Joyce had always had the gift of scattering a kind of infectious +gaiety around her, and that night she seemed to be in her most +bewitching and delightful mood. I think she made up her mind to try +and wipe out from my memory for the time being all thoughts of +the somewhat harassed state of existence in which it had pleased +Providence to land me. If so, she succeeded admirably. + +We cooked the supper between us. I boiled the peas and potatoes, and +then, when we had done the first course, Joyce got up and made a +brilliantly successful French omelette out of some fresh eggs which +she had brought down for that inspired purpose. + +It was very charming in the little low-ceilinged cabin, with the lamp +swinging overhead and no sound outside but the soft lapping of the +tide upon the sides of the boat. We lay and talked for some time after +we had finished, while I smoked a cigar, and Joyce, stretched out +luxuriously on the other bunk, indulged in a couple of cigarettes. + +"We won't wash up," I said. "I'll just shove everything through into +the fo'c's'le, and we'll leave them there for Mr. Gow. A certain +amount of exercise will be good for him after his holiday." + +"Do," said Joyce sleepily. "And then come and sit over here, Neil. I +want to stroke your hair." + +I cleared away the things, and shutting up the table, which worked on +a hinge, spread out my own cushions on the floor alongside of +Joyce's bunk. The latter was just low enough to let me rest my head +comfortably on her shoulder. + +How long we lay like that I really don't know. My whole body and mind +were steeped in a strange, delightful sense of peace and contentment, +and I began to realize, I think for the first time, how utterly +necessary and dear to me Joyce had become. I slid my arm underneath +her--she lay close up against me, her hair, which she had loosened +from its fastenings, half covering us both in its soft beauty. + +The lamp flickered and died down, but we didn't trouble to relight it. +Outside the night grew darker and darker, and through the open hatch +we could just see a solitary star shining down on us from between two +banks of cloud. Cool and sweet, a faint breeze drifted in from the +silent marshes. + +Then, quite suddenly, it seemed to me, a strange madness and music +filled the night for both of us. I only knew that Joyce was in my arms +and that we were kissing each other with fierce, unheeding passion. +There were tears on her cheeks--little sweet, salt tears of love and +happiness that felt all wet against my lips. + +It was only a moment--just one brief moment of unutterable beauty--and +then I remembered. With a groan I half raised myself in the darkness. + +"I must go, Joyce," I whispered. "I can't stay here. I daren't." + +She slipped her soft bare arms round my neck, and drew my face down to +hers. + +"Don't go," she whispered back. "Not if you don't want to. What does +it matter? I am all yours, Neil, anyway." + +For a moment I felt her warm fragrant breath upon my face, and her +heart beating quickly against mine. Then, with an effort--a big +effort--I tore myself away. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "it would only make things worse. Oh, my dear +sweet Joyce, I want you like the night wants the dawn, but we can't +cheat life. Suppose we fail--suppose there's only death or prison in +front of me. It will be hard enough now, but if--" + +I broke off, and with a little sob Joyce sat up and felt for my hand. + +"You're right, darling," she said; "but oh, my dear, my dear!" She +lifted up my hand and passed it softly backwards and forwards across +her eyes. Then, with a little laugh that had tears close behind it, +she added: "Do you know, my Neil, I'm conceited enough to think you're +rather wonderful." + +I bent down and kissed her with infinite tenderness. + +"I am, Joyce," I said. "Exactly how wonderful you'll never know." + +Then I lifted her up in my arms, and we went out of the cabin into the +cool darkness of the night. + +"I'll row myself ashore," I said, "and leave the dinghy on the beach. +I shall be back about four o'clock, if that's not too early for you. +We ought to get our explosion over before there's any one about." + +Joyce nodded. "I don't mind how early you come. The sooner the +better." + +"Try and get some sleep," I added; "you'll be tired out tomorrow if +you don't." + +"I'll try," said Joyce simply; "but I don't think I shall. I'm not +even sure I want to." + +I kissed her once more, and slipping down into the dinghy, pulled off +for the shore. Everything around was dark and silent--the faint splash +of my oars alone breaking the utter stillness. Landing at my usual +spot, more by luck than judgment, I tugged the boat up out of reach of +the tide, and then, turning round, waved good-night to the _Betty_. + +It was too dark to see anything, but I think Joyce sent me back my +message. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + +The eastern sky was just flushing into light when I got back to +the creek at four o'clock. It was a beautiful morning--cool and +still--with the sweet freshness of early dawn in the air, and the +promise of a long unclouded day of spring sunshine. + +I tugged the dinghy down to the water, and pushed off for the _Betty_, +which looked strangely small and unreal lying there in the dim, +mysterious twilight. The sound I made as I drew near must have reached +Joyce's ears. She was up on deck in a moment, fully dressed, and with +her hair twisted into a long bronze plait that hung down some way +below her waist. She looked as fresh and fair as the dawn itself. + +"Beautifully punctual," she called out over the side. "I knew you +would be, so I started getting breakfast." + +I caught hold of the gunwale and scrambled on board. + +"It's like living at the Savoy," I said. "Breakfast was a luxury that +had never entered my head." + +"Well, it's going to now," she returned, "unless you're in too great a +hurry to start. It's all ready in the cabin." + +"We can spare ten minutes certainly," I said. "Experiments should +always be made on a full body." + +I tied up the dinghy and followed her inside, where the table was +decorated with bread and butter and the remnants of the cold pheasant, +while a kettle hissed away cheerfully on the Primus. + +"I don't believe you've been to bed at all, Joyce," I said. "And yet +you look as if you'd just slipped out of Paradise by accident." + +She laughed, and putting her hand in my side-pocket, took out my +handkerchief to lift off the kettle with. + +"I didn't want to sleep," she said. "I was too happy, and too +miserable. It's the widest-awake mixture I ever tried." Then, picking +up the teapot, she added curiously: "Where's the powder? I expected to +see you arrive with a large keg over your shoulder." + +I sat down at the table and produced a couple of glass flasks, tightly +corked. + +"Here you are," I said. "This is ordinary gunpowder, and this other +one's my stuff. It looks harmless enough, doesn't it?" + +Joyce took both flasks and examined them with interest. "You've not +brought very much of it," she said. "I was hoping we were going to +have a really big blow-up." + +"It will be big enough," I returned consolingly, "unless I've made a +mistake." + +"Where are you going to do it?" she asked. + +"Somewhere at the back of Canvey Island," I said. "There's no one to +wake up there except the sea-gulls, and we can be out of sight round +the corner before it explodes. I've got about twenty feet of fuse, +which will give us at least a quarter of an hour to get away in." + +"What fun!" exclaimed Joyce. "I feel just like an anarchist or +something; and it's lovely to know that one's launching a new +invention. We ought to have kept that bottle of champagne to christen +it with." + +"Yes," I said regretfully; "it was the real christening brand too." + +There was a short silence. "I've thought of a name for it," cried +Joyce suddenly. "The powder, I mean. We'll call it Lyndonite. It +sounds like something that goes off with a bang, doesn't it?" + +I laughed. "It would probably suggest that to the prison authorities," +I said. "Anyhow, Lyndonite it shall be." + +We finished breakfast, and going up on deck I proceeded to haul in the +anchor, while Joyce stowed away the crockery and provisions below. For +once in a way the engine started without much difficulty, and as the +tide was running out fast it didn't take us very long to reach the +mouth of the creek. + +Once outside, I set a course down stream as close to the northern +shore as I dared go. Except for a rusty-looking steam tramp we had the +whole river to ourselves, not even a solitary barge breaking the +long stretch of grey water. One by one the old landmarks--Mucking +Lighthouse, the Thames Cattle Wharf, and Hole Haven--were left behind, +and at last the entrance to the creek that runs round behind Canvey +Island came into sight. + +One would never accuse it of being a cheerful, bustling sort of place +at the best of times, but at five o'clock in the morning it seemed the +very picture of uninhabited desolation. A better locality in which +to enjoy a little quiet practice with new explosives it would be +difficult to imagine. + +I navigated the _Betty_ in rather gingerly, for it was over three +years since I had visited the spot. Joyce kept on sounding diligently +with the lead either side of the boat, and at last we brought up in +about one and a half fathom, just comfortably out of sight of the main +stream. + +"This will do nicely," I said. "We'll turn her round first, and then +I'll row into the bank and fix things up under that tree over there. +We can be back in the river before anything happens." + +"Can't we stop and watch?" asked Joyce. "I should love to see it go +off." + +I shook my head. "Unless I've made a mistake," I said, "it will be +much healthier round the corner. We'll come back and see what's +happened afterwards." + +By the aid of some delicate manoeuvring I brought the _Betty_ round, +and then getting into the dinghy pulled myself ashore. + +It was quite unnecessary for my experiment to make any complicated +preparations. All I had to do was to dig a hole in the bank with a +trowel that I had brought for the purpose, empty my stuff into that, +and tip in the gunpowder on top. When I had finished I covered the +whole thing over with earth, leaving a clear passage for the fuse, and +then lighting the end of the latter, jumped back into the boat and +pulled off rapidly for the _Betty_. + +We didn't waste any time dawdling about. Joyce seized the painter as +I climbed on board, and hurrying to the tiller I started off down the +creek as fast as we could go, taking very particular pains not to run +aground. + +We had reached the mouth, and I was swinging her round into the main +river, when a sudden rumbling roar disturbed the peacefulness of +the dawn. Joyce, who was staring out over the stern, gave a little +startled cry, and glancing hastily back I was just in time to see a +disintegrated-looking tree soaring gaily up into the air in the midst +of a huge column of dust and smoke. The next moment a rain of falling +fragments of earth and wood came splashing down into the water--a few +stray pieces actually reaching the _Betty_, which rocked vigorously as +a minature tidal wave swept after us up the creek. + +I put down my helm and brought her round so as to face the stricken +field. + +"We seem to have done it, Joyce," I observed with some contentment. + +She gave a little gasping sort of laugh. "It was splendid!" she said. +"But, oh, Neil, what appalling stuff it must be! It's blown up half +Canvey Island!" + +"Never mind," I said cheerfully. "There are plenty of other islands +left. Let's get into the dinghy and see what the damage really amounts +to. I fancy it's fairly useful." + +We anchored the _Betty_, and then pulled up the creek towards the +scene of the explosion, where a gaping aperture in the bank was +plainly visible. As we drew near I saw that it extended, roughly +speaking, in a half-circle of perhaps twenty yards diameter. The whole +of this, which had previously been a solid bank of grass and earth, +was now nothing but a muddy pool. Of the unfortunate tree which had +marked the site there was not a vestige remaining. + +I regarded it all from the boat with the complacent pride of a +successful inventor. "It's even better than I expected, Joyce," I +said. "If one can do this with three-quarters of a pound, just fancy +the effect of a couple of hundredweight. It would shift half London." + +Joyce nodded. "They'll be more anxious than ever to get hold of it, +when they know," she said. "What are you going to do? Write and tell +McMurtrie that you've succeeded?" + +"I haven't quite decided," I answered. "I shall wait till tomorrow or +the next day, anyhow. I want to hear what Sonia has got to say first." +Then, backing away the boat, I added: "We'd better get out of this +as soon as we can. It's just possible some one may have heard the +explosion and come pushing along to find out what's the matter. People +are so horribly inquisitive." + +Joyce laughed. "It would be rather awkward, wouldn't it? We couldn't +very well say it was an earthquake. It looks too neat and tidy." + +Fortunately for us, if there was any one in the neighbourhood who +had heard the noise, they were either too lazy or too incurious to +investigate the cause. We got back on board the _Betty_ and took her +out into the main stream without seeing a sign of any one except +ourselves. The hull of the steam tramp was just visible in the far +distance, but except for that the river was still pleasantly deserted. + +"What shall we do now, Joyce?" I asked. "It seems to me that this is +an occasion which distinctly requires celebrating." + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Let's go for a long sail," she suggested, +"and then put in at Southend and have asparagus for lunch." + +I looked at her with affectionate approval. "You always have beautiful +ideas," I said. Then a sudden inspiration seized me. "I've got it!" I +cried. "What do you say to running down to Sheppey and paying a call +on our German pals?" + +Joyce's blue eyes sparkled. "It would be lovely," she said, with a +deep breath; "but dare we risk it?" + +"There's no risk," I rejoined. "When I said 'pay a call,' I didn't +mean it quite literally. My idea was to cruise along the coast and +just find out exactly where their precious bungalow is, and what they +do with that launch of theirs when they're not swamping inquisitive +boatmen. It's the sort of information that might turn out useful." + +Joyce nodded. "We'll go," she said briefly. "What about the tide?" + +"Oh, the tide doesn't matter," I replied. "It will be dead out by the +time we get to Southend; but we only draw about three foot six, and +we can cut across through the Jenkin Swatch. There's water enough off +Sheppey to float a battleship." + +It was the work of a few minutes to pull in the anchor and haul up +the sails, which filled immediately to a slight breeze that had +just sprung up from the west. Leaving a still peaceful, if somewhat +mutilated, Canvey Island behind us, we started off down the river, +gliding along with an agreeable smoothness that fitted in very nicely +with my state of mind. + +Indeed I don't think I had ever felt anything so nearly approaching +complete serenity since my escape from Dartmoor. It is true that +the tangle in which I was involved, appeared more threatening and +complicated than ever, but one gets so used to sitting on a powder +mine that the situation was gradually ceasing to distress me. + +At all events I had made my explosive, and that was one great step +towards a solution of some sort. If McMurtrie was prepared to play the +game with me I should in a few days be in what the newspapers call "a +position of comparative affluence," while if his intentions were less +straightforward I should at least have some definite idea as to where +I was. Sonia's promised disclosures were a guarantee of that. + +But apart from these considerations the mere fact of having Joyce +sitting beside me in the boat while we bowled along cheerfully through +the water was quite enough in itself to account for my new-found +happiness. One realizes some things in life with curious abruptness, +and I knew now how deeply and passionately I loved her. I suppose I +had always done so really, but she had been little more than a child +in the old Chelsea days, and the sort of brotherly tenderness and +pride I had had for her must have blinded me to the truth. + +Anyhow it was out now; out beyond any question of doubt or argument. +She was as necessary and dear to me as the stars are to the night, and +it seemed ridiculously impossible to contemplate any sort of existence +without her. Not that I wasted much energy attempting the feat; the +present was sufficiently charming to occupy my entire time. + +We passed Leigh and Southend, the former with its fleet of +fishing-smacks and the latter with its long unlovely pier, and then +nosed our way delicately into the Jenkin Swatch, that convenient ditch +which runs right across the mouth of the Thames. The sun was now high +in the sky, and one could see signs of activity on the various barges +that were hanging about the neighbourhood waiting for the tide. + +I pointed away past the Nore Lightship towards a bit of rising ground +on the low-lying Sheppey coast. + +"That's about where our pals are hanging out," I said. "There's +a little deep-water creek there, which Tommy and I used to use +sometimes, and according to Mr. Gow their bungalow is close by." + +Joyce peered out under her hand across the intervening water. "It's a +nice situation," she observed, "for artists." + +I laughed. "Yes," I said. "They are so close to Sheerness and +Shoeburyness, and other places of beauty. I expect they've done quite +a lot of quiet sketching." + +We reached the end of the Swatch, and leaving Queenborough, with its +grim collection of battleships and coal hulks, to starboard, we stood +out to sea along the coastline. It was a fairly long sail to the place +which I had pointed out to Joyce, but with a light breeze behind her +the _Betty_ danced along so gaily that we covered the distance in a +surprisingly short time. + +As we drew near, Joyce got out Tommy's field-glasses from the cabin, +and kneeling up on the seat in the well, focused them carefully on the +spot. + +"There's the entrance to the creek all right," she said, "but I don't +see any sign of a bungalow anywhere." She moved the glasses slowly +from side to side. "Oh, yes," she exclaimed suddenly, "I've got it +now--right up on the cliff there, away to the left. One can only just +see the roof, though, and it seems some way from the creek." + +She resigned the glasses to me, and took over the tiller, while I had +a turn at examining the coast. + +I soon made out the roof of the bungalow, which, as Joyce had said, +was the only part visible. It stood in a very lonely position, high +up on a piece of rising ground, and half hidden from the sea by what +seemed like a thick privet hedge. To judge by the smoke which I could +just discern rising from its solitary chimney, it looked as if the +occupants were addicted to the excellent habit of early rising. + +There was no other sign of them to be seen, however, and if the launch +was lying anywhere about, it was at all events invisible from the sea. +I refreshed my memory with a long, careful scrutiny of the entrance to +the creek, and then handing the glasses back to Joyce I again assumed +control of the boat. + +"Well," I observed, "we haven't wasted the morning. We know where +their bungalow door is, anyway." + +Joyce nodded. "It may come in very handy," she said, "in case you ever +want to pay them a surprise call." + +Exactly how soon that contingency was going to occur we neither of us +guessed or imagined! + +We reached the Nore Lightship, and waving a courteous greeting to a +patient-looking gentleman who was spitting over the side, commenced +our long beat back in the direction of Southend. It was slow work, for +the tide was only just beginning to turn, and the wind, such as there +was of it, was dead in our faces. However, I don't think either Joyce +or I found the time hang heavily on our hands. If one can't be happy +with the sun and the sea and the person one loves best in the world, +it seems to me that one must be unreasonably difficult to please. + +We fetched up off Southend Pier at just about eleven o'clock. A +hoarse-voiced person in a blue jersey, who was leaning over the end, +pointed us out some moorings that we were at liberty to pick up, and +then watched us critically while I stowed away the sails and locked up +everything in the boat which it was possible to steal. I had been to +Southend before in the old days. + +These simple precautions concluded, Joyce and I got in the dinghy +and rowed to the steps. We were met by the gentleman in blue, who +considerately offered to keep his eye on the boat for us while I "and +the lady" enjoyed what he called "a run round the town." I accepted +his proposal, and having agreed with his statement that it was "a nice +morning for a sail," set off with Joyce along the mile of pier that +separated us from the shore. + +I don't know that our adventures for the next two or three hours call +for any detailed description. We wandered leisurely and cheerfully +through the town, buying each other one or two trifles in the way of +presents, and then adjourned for lunch to a large and rather dazzling +hotel that dominated the sea front. It was a new effort on the part +of Southend since my time, but, as Joyce said, it "looked the sort of +place where one was likely to get asparagus." + +Its appearance did not belie it. At a corner table in the window, +looking out over the sea, we disposed of what the waiter described as +"two double portions" of that agreeable vegetable, together with an +excellent steak and a bottle of sound if slightly too sweet burgundy. +Then over a couple of cigarettes we discussed our immediate plans. + +"I think I'd better catch the three-thirty back," said Joyce. "I've +got one or two things I want to do before I meet George, and in any +case you mustn't stay here too long or you'll miss the tide." + +"That doesn't really matter," I said. "Only I suppose I ought to get +back just in case Tommy has turned up. I can't leave him sitting on a +mud-flat all night." + +Joyce laughed. "He'd probably be a little peevish in the morning. Men +are so unreasonable." + +I leaned across the table and took her hand. "When are you coming down +again?" I asked. "Tomorrow?" + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Tomorrow or the next day. It all depends +if I see a chance of getting anything more out of George. I'll write +to you or send you a wire, dear, anyhow." + +I nodded. "All right," I said; "and look here, Joyce; you may as well +come straight to the hut next time. It's not the least likely there'll +be any one there except me, and if there was you could easily pretend +you wanted to ask the way to Tilbury. You see, if Gow wasn't about, +you would have to pull the dinghy all the way down the bank before you +got on board the _Betty_, and that's a nice, muddy, shin-scraping sort +of job at the best of times." + +"Very well," said Joyce. Then squeezing my hand a little tighter she +added: "And my own Neil, you _will_ be careful, won't you? I always +seem to be asking you that, but, oh my dear, if you knew how horribly +frightened I am of anything happening to you. It will be worse than +ever now, after last night. I don't seem to feel it when I'm actually +with you--I suppose I'm too happy--but when I'm away from you it's +just like some ghastly horrible sword hanging over our heads all the +time. Neil darling, as soon as you get this money from McMurtrie--if +you do get it--can't we just give up the whole thing and go away and +be happy together?" + +I lifted her hand and pressed the inside of it against my lips. + +"Joyce," I said, "think what it means. It's just funking life--just +giving it up because the odds seem too heavy against us. I shouldn't +have minded killing Marks in the least. I should be rather proud of +it. If I had, we would go away together tomorrow, and I should never +worry my head as to what any one in the world was saying or thinking +about me." I paused. "But I didn't kill him," I added slowly, "and +that just makes all the difference." + +Joyce's blue eyes were very near tears, but they looked back steadily +and bravely into mine. + +"Yes, yes," she said. "I didn't really mean it, Neil. I was just weak +for the moment--that's all. Right down in my heart I want everything +for you; I could never be contented with less. I want the whole world +to know how they've wronged you; I want you to be famous and powerful +and splendid, and I want the people who've abused you to come and +smirk and grovel to you, and say that they knew all the time that you +were innocent." She stopped and took a deep breath. "And they shall, +Neil. I'm as certain of it as if I saw it happening. I seem to know +inside me that we're on the very point of finding out the truth." + +I don't think my worst enemy would accuse me of being superstitious, +but there was a ring of conviction in Joyce's voice which somehow or +other affected me curiously. + +"I believe you're right," I said. "I've got something of that sort of +feeling too. Perhaps it's infectious." Then, letting go her hand, to +spare the feelings of the waiter who had just come into the room, I +sat back in my chair and ordered the bill. + +We didn't talk much on our way to the station. I think we were both +feeling rather depressed at the prospect of doing without each other +for at least twenty-four hours, and in any case the trams and motors +and jostling crowd of holiday-makers who filled the main street would +have rendered any connected conversation rather a difficult art. + +A good many people favoured Joyce with glances of admiration, +especially a spruce-looking young constable who officially held up the +traffic to allow us to cross the road. He paid no attention at all to +me, but I consoled myself with the reflection that he was missing an +excellent chance of promotion. + +At the station I put Joyce into a first-class carriage, kissed her +affectionately under the disapproving eye of an old lady in the +opposite corner, and then stood on the platform until the train +steamed slowly out of the station. + +I turned away at last, feeling quite unpleasantly alone. It's no good +worrying about what can't be altered, however, so, lighting a cigar, I +strolled back philosophically to the hotel, where I treated myself to +the luxury of a hot bath before rejoining the boat. + +It must have been pretty nearly half-past four by the time I reached +the pier-head. My friend with the hoarse voice and the blue jersey was +still hanging around, looking rather thirsty and exhausted after his +strenuous day's work of watching over the dinghy. I gave him half a +crown for his trouble, and followed by his benediction pulled off for +the _Betty_. + +The wind had gone round a bit to the south, and as the tide was still +coming in I decided to sail up to the creek in preference to using the +engine. The confounded throb of the latter always got on my nerves, +and apart from that I felt that the mere fact of having to handle the +sails would keep my mind lightly but healthily occupied. Unless I was +mistaken, a little light healthy occupation was exactly what my mind +needed. + +As occasionally happens on exceptionally fine days in late spring, the +perfect clearness of the afternoon was gradually beginning to give +place to a sort of fine haze. It was not thick enough, however, to +bother me in any way, and under a jib and mainsail the _Betty_ swished +along at such a satisfactory pace that I was in sight of Gravesend +Reach before either the light or the tide had time to fail me. + +I thought I knew the entrance to the creek well enough by now to run +her in under sail, though it was a job that required a certain amount +of cautious handling. Anyhow I decided to risk it, and, heading for +the shore, steered her up the narrow channel, which I had been careful +to take the bearings of at low water. + +I was so engrossed in this feat of navigation that I took no notice +of anything else, until a voice from the bank abruptly attracted my +attention. I looked up with a start, nearly running myself aground, +and there on the bank I saw a gesticulating figure, which I +immediately recognized as that of Tommy. I shouted a greeting back, +and swinging the _Betty_ round, brought up in almost the identical +place where we had anchored on the previous night. + +Tommy, who had hurried down to the edge of the water, gave me a second +hail. + +"Buck up, old son!" he called out. "There's something doing." + +A suggestion of haste from Tommy argued a crisis of such urgency +that I didn't waste any time asking questions. I just threw over the +anchor, and tumbling into the dinghy sculled ashore as quickly as I +could. + +"Sorry I kept you waiting, Tommy," I said, as he jumped into the boat. +"Been here long?" + +"About three hours," he returned. "I was beginning to wonder if you +were dead." + +I shook my head. "I'm not fit to die yet," I replied. "What's the +matter?" + +He looked at his watch. "Well, the chief matter is the time. Do you +think I can get to Sheppey by half-past nine?" + +I paused in my rowing. "Sheppey!" I repeated. "Why damn it, Tommy, +I've just come back from Sheppey." + +It was Tommy's turn to look surprised. "The devil you have!" he +exclaimed. "What took you there?" + +"To be exact," I said, "it was the _Betty_"; and then in as few words +as possible I proceeded to acquaint him with the morning's doings. I +was just finishing as we came alongside. + +"Well, that's fine about the powder," he said, scrambling on board. +"Where's Gow?" + +"Joyce sent him off for a holiday," I answered, "and he hasn't come +back yet." Then hitching up the dinghy I added curiously: "What's up, +Tommy? Let's have it." + +"It's Latimer," he said. "I told you I was expecting to hear from him. +He sent me a message round early this morning, and I've promised him +I'll be in the creek under the German's bungalow by half-past nine. I +must get there somehow." + +"Oh, we'll get there all right," I returned cheerfully, "What's the +game?" + +"I think he's having a squint round," said Tommy. "Anyhow I know he's +there on his own and depending on me to pick him up." + +"But what made him ask you?" I demanded. + +"He knew I had a boat, and I fancy he's working this particular racket +without any official help. As far as I can make out, he wants to be +quite certain what these fellows are up to before he strikes. You +don't get much sympathy in the Secret Service if you happen to make a +mistake." + +"Well, it's no good wasting time talking," I said. "If we want to be +there by half-past nine we must push off at once." + +"But what about you?" exclaimed Tommy. "You can't come! He's seen you, +you know, at the hut." + +"What does it matter?" I objected. "If he didn't recognize me as the +chap who sent him the note at Parelli's, we can easily fake up some +explanation. Tell him I'm a new member of the Athenians, and that you +happened to run across me and brought me down to help work the boat. +There's no reason one shouldn't be a yachtsman and a photographer +too." + +I spoke lightly, but as a matter of fact I was some way from +trusting Tommy's judgment implicitly with regard to Latimer's +straightforwardness about the restaurant incident, and also about +his visit to the hut. All the same, I was quite determined to go to +Sheppey. Things had come to a point now when there was nothing to be +gained by over-caution. Either Latimer had recognized me or else he +hadn't. In the first event, he knew already that Tommy had been trying +to deceive him, and that the mythical artist person was none other +than myself. If that were so, I felt it was best to take the bull by +the horns, and try to find out exactly what part he suspected me of +playing. I had at least saved his life, and although we live in an +ungrateful world, he seemed bound to be more or less prejudiced in my +favour. + +Apart from these considerations, Tommy would certainly want some help +in working the _Betty_. He knew his job well enough, but with a haze +on the river and the twilight drawing in rapidly, the mouth of the +Thames is no place for single-handed sailing--especially when you're +in a hurry. + +Tommy evidently recognized this, for he raised no further objections. + +"Very well," he said, with a rather reckless laugh. "We're gambling a +bit, but that's the fault of the cards. Up with the anchor, Neil, and +let's get a move on her." + +I hauled in the chain, and then jumped up to attend to the sails, +which I had just let down loosely on deck, in my hurry to put off in +the dinghy. After a couple of unsuccessful efforts and two or three +very successful oaths, Tommy persuaded the engine to start, and we +throbbed off slowly down the creek--now quite a respectable estuary of +tidal water. + +I sat back in the well with a laugh. "I never expected a second trip +tonight," I said. "I'm beginning to feel rather like the captain of a +penny steamer." + +Tommy, who was combining the important duties of steering and lighting +a pipe, looked up from his labours. + +"The Lyndon-Morrison Line!" he observed. "Tilbury to Sheppey twice +daily. Passengers are requested not to speak to the man at the wheel." + +"I think, Tommy," I said, "that we must make an exception in the case +of Mr. Latimer." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + +A Chinese proverb informs us that "there are three hundred and +forty-six subjects for elegant conversation," but during the trip down +I think that Tommy and I confined ourselves almost exclusively to two. +One was Mr. Bruce Latimer, and the other was Joyce's amazing discovery +about McMurtrie and Marks. + +Concerning the latter Tommy was just as astonished and baffled as I +was. + +"I'm blessed if I know what to think about it, Neil," he admitted. "If +it was any one else but Joyce, I should say she'd made a mistake. What +on earth could McMurtrie have had to do with that Jew beast?" + +"Joyce seems to think he had quite a lot to do with him," I said. + +Tommy nodded. "I know. She's made up her mind he did the job all +right; but, hang it all, one doesn't go and murder people without any +conceivable reason." + +"I can conceive plenty of excellent reasons for murdering Marks," I +said impartially. "I should hardly think they would have appealed to +McMurtrie, though. The chief thing that makes me suspicious about him +is the fact of his knowing George and hiding it from me all this +time. I suppose that was how he got hold of his information about the +powder. George was almost the only person who knew of it." + +"I always thought the whole business was a devilish odd one," growled +Tommy; "but the more one finds out about it the queerer it seems to +get. These people of yours--McMurtrie and Savaroff--are weird enough +customers on their own, but when it comes to their being mixed up with +both George _and_ Marks ..." he paused. "It will turn out next that +Latimer's in it too," he added half-mockingly. + +"I shouldn't wonder," I said. "I can't swallow everything he told you, +Tommy. It leaves too much unexplained. You see, I'm pretty certain +that the chap who tried to do him in is one of McMurtrie's crowd, and +in that case--" + +"In that case," interrupted Tommy, with a short laugh, "we ought to +have rather an interesting evening. Seems to me, Neil, we're what you +might call burning our boats this journey." + +The old compunction I had felt at first against dragging Tommy and +Joyce into my affairs suddenly came back to me with renewed force. + +"I'm a selfish brute, Thomas," I said ruefully. "I think the best +thing I could do really would be to drop overboard. The Lord knows +what trouble I shall land you in before I've finished." + +"You'll land me into the trouble of telling you not to talk rot in a +minute," he returned. Then, standing up and peering out ahead over +the long dim expanse of water, dotted here and there with patches of +blurred light, he added cheerfully: "You take her over now, Neil, +We're right at the end of the Yantlet, and after this morning you +ought to know the rest of the way better than I do." + +He resigned the tiller to me, and pulling out his watch, held it up to +the binnacle lamp. + +"Close on a quarter to nine," he said. "We shall just do it nicely if +the engine doesn't stop." + +"I hope so," I said. "I should hate to keep a Government official +waiting." + +We crossed the broad entrance into Queenborough Harbour, where the dim +bulk of a couple of battleships loomed up vaguely through the haze. +It was a strange, exhilarating sensation, throbbing along in the +semi-darkness, with all sorts of unknown possibilities waiting for +us ahead. More than ever I felt what Joyce had described in the +morning--a sort of curious inward conviction that we were at last on +the point of finding out the truth. + +"We'd better slacken down a bit when we get near," said Tommy. +"Latimer specially told me to bring her in as quietly as I could." + +I nodded. "Right you are," I said. "I wasn't going to hurry, anyhow. +It's a tricky place, and I don't want to smash up any more islands. +One a day is quite enough." + +I slowed down the engine to about four knots an hour, and at this +dignified pace we proceeded along the coast, keeping a watchful eye +for the entrance to the creek. At last a vague outline of rising +ground showed us that we were in the right neighbourhood, and bringing +the _Betty_ round, I headed her in very delicately towards the shore. +It was distressingly dark, from a helmsman's point of view, but Tommy, +who had gone up into the bows, handed me back instructions, and +by dint of infinite care we succeeded in making the opening with +surprising accuracy. + +The creek was quite small, with a steep bank one side perhaps fifteen +feet high, and what looked like a stretch of mud or saltings on the +other. Its natural beauties, however, if it had any, were rather +obscured by the darkness. + +"What shall we do now, Tommy?" I asked in a subdued voice. "Turn her +round?" + +He came back to the well. "Yes," he said, "turn her round, and then +I'll cut out the engine and throttle her down. She'll make a certain +amount of row, but we can't help that. I daren't stop her; or she +might never start again." + +We carried out our manoeuvre successfully, and then dropped over the +anchor to keep us in position. I seated myself on the roof of the +cabin, and pulling out a pipe, commenced to fill it. + +"I wonder how long the interval is," I said. "I suppose spying is a +sort of job you can't fix an exact time-limit to." + +Tommy looked at his watch again. "It's just on a quarter to ten now. +He told me not to wait after half-past." + +I stuffed down the baccy with my thumb, and felt in my pocket for a +match. + +"It seems to me--" I began. + +The interesting remark I was about to make was never uttered. From the +high ground away to the left came the sudden crack of a revolver shot +that rang out with startling viciousness on the night air. It was +followed almost instantly by a second. + +Tommy and I leaped up together, inspired simultaneously by the same +idea. Being half way there, however, I easily reached the painter +first. + +"All right," I cried, "I'll pick him up. You haul in and have her +ready to start." + +I don't know exactly what the record is for getting off in a dinghy in +the dark, but I think I hold it with something to spare. I was away +from the ship and sculling furiously for the shore in about the same +time that it has taken to write this particular sentence. + +I pulled straight for the direction in which I had heard the shots. +It was the steepest part of the cliff, but under the circumstances it +seemed the most likely spot at which my services would be required. +People are apt to take a short cut when revolver bullets are chasing +about the neighbourhood. + +I stopped rowing a few yards from the shore, and swinging the boat +round, stared up through the gloom. There was just light enough to +make out the top of the cliff, which appeared to be covered by a thick +growth of gorse several feet in height. I backed away a stroke or two, +and as I did so, there came a sudden snapping, rustling sound from +up above, and the next instant the figure of a man broke through the +bushes. + +He peered down eagerly at the water. + +"That you, Morrison?" he called out in a low, distinct voice, which I +recognized at once. + +"Yes," I answered briefly. It struck me as being no time for elaborate +explanations. + +Mr. Latimer was evidently of the same opinion. Without any further +remark, he stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, and jumping well +out into the air, came down with a beautiful splash about a dozen +yards from the boat. + +He rose to the surface at once, and I was alongside of him a moment +later. + +"It's all right," I said, as he clutched hold of the stern. +"Morrison's in the _Betty_; I'm lending him a hand." + +I caught his arm to help him in, and as I did so he gave a little +sharp exclamation of pain. + +"Hullo!" I said, shifting my grip. "What's the matter?" + +With an effort he hoisted himself up into the boat. + +"Nothing much, thanks," he answered in that curious composed voice of +his. "I think one of our friends made a luckier shot than he deserved +to. It's only my left arm, though." + +I seized the sculls, and began to pull off quickly for the _Betty_. + +"We'll look at it in a second," I said. "Are they after you?" + +He laughed. "Yes, some little way after. I took the precaution of +starting in the other direction and then doubling back. It worked +excellently." + +He spoke in the same rather amused drawl as he had done at the hut, +and there was no hint of hurry or excitement in his manner. I could +just see, however, that he was dressed in rough, common-looking +clothes, and that he was no longer wearing an eye-glass. If he had had +a cap, he had evidently parted with it during his dive into the sea. + +A few strokes brought us to the _Betty_, where Tommy was leaning over +the side ready to receive us. + +"All right?" he inquired coolly, as we scrambled on board. + +"Nothing serious," replied Latimer. "Thanks to you and--and this +gentleman." + +"They've winged him, Tommy," I said. "Can you take her out while I +have a squint at the damage?" + +Tommy's answer was to thrust in the clutch of the engine, and with an +abrupt jerk we started off down the creek. As we did so there came a +sudden hail from the shore. + +"Boat ahoy! What boat's that?" + +It was a deep, rather dictatorial sort of voice, with the faintest +possible touch of a foreign accent about it. + +Latimer replied at once in a cheerful, good-natured bawl, amazingly +different from his ordinary tone: + +"Private launch, _Vanity_, Southend; and who the hell are you?" + +Whether the vigour of the reply upset our questioner or not, I can't +say. Anyhow he returned no answer, and leaving him to think what he +pleased, we continued our way out into the main stream. + +"Come into the cabin and let's have a look at you," I said to Latimer. +"You must get those wet things off, anyhow." + +He followed me inside, where I took down the small hanging lamp and +placed it on the table. Then very carefully I helped him strip off his +coat, bringing to light a grey flannel shirt, the left sleeve of which +was soaked in blood. + +I took out my knife, and ripped it up from the cuff to the shoulder. +The wound was about a couple of inches above the elbow, a small clean +puncture right through from side to side. It was bleeding a bit, but +one could see at a glance that the bullet had just missed the bone. + +"You're lucky," I said. "Another quarter of an inch, and that arm +would have been precious little use to you for the next two months. +Does it hurt much?" + +He shook his head. "Not the least," he replied carelessly. "I hardly +knew I was hit until you grabbed hold of me." + +I tied my handkerchief round as tightly as possible just above the +place, and then going to the locker hauled out our spare fancy costume +which had previously done duty for Mr. Gow. + +"You get these on first," I said, "and then I'll fix you up properly." + +I thrust my head out through the cabin door to see how things were +going, and found that we were already clear of the creek and heading +back towards Queenborough. Tommy, who was sitting at the tiller +puffing away peacefully at a pipe, removed the latter article from his +mouth. + +"Where are we going to, my pretty maid?" he inquired. + +"I don't know," I said; "I'll ask the passenger as soon as I've +finished doctoring him." + +I returned to the cabin, where Mr. Latimer, who had stripped off +his wet garments, was attempting to dry himself with a dishcloth. I +managed to find him a towel, and then, as soon as he had struggled +into a pair of flannel trousers and a vest, I set about the job of +tying up his arm. An old shirt of Tommy's served me as a bandage, and +although I don't profess to be an expert, I knew enough about first +aid to make a fairly serviceable job of it. Anyhow Mr. Latimer +expressed himself as being completely satisfied. + +"You'd better have a drink now," I said. "That's part of the +treatment." + +I mixed him a stiff peg, which he consumed without protest; and then, +after he had inserted himself carefully into a jersey and coat, we +both went outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy genially. "How do you feel now?" + +Our visitor sat down on one of the side seats in the cockpit, and +contemplated us both with his pleasant smile. + +"I feel extremely obliged to you, Morrison," he said. "You have a way +of keeping your engagements that I find most satisfactory." + +Tommy laughed. "I had a bit of luck," he returned. "If I hadn't picked +up our pal here I doubt if I should have got down in time after all. +By the way, there's no need to introduce you. You've met each other +before at the hut, haven't you?" + +Latimer, who was just lighting a cigar which I had offered him, paused +for a moment in the operation. + +"Yes," he said quietly. "We have met each other before. But I should +rather like to be introduced, all the same." + +Something in his manner struck me as being a trifle odd, but if Tommy +noticed it he certainly didn't betray the fact. + +"Well, you shall be," he answered cheerfully. "This is Mr. James +Nicholson." + +Latimer finished lighting his cigar, blew out the match, and dropped +it carefully over the side. + +"Indeed," he said. "It only shows how extremely inaccurate one's +reasoning powers can be." + +There was a short but rather pregnant pause. Then Tommy leaned +forward. + +"What do you mean?" he asked, in that peculiarly gentle voice which he +keeps for the most unhealthy occasions. + +Latimer's face remained beautifully impassive. "I was under the +mistaken impression," he answered slowly, "that I owed my life to Mr. +Neil Lyndon." + +For perhaps three seconds none of us spoke; then I broke the silence +with a short laugh. + +"We are up against it, Thomas," I observed. + +Tommy looked backwards and forwards from one to the other of us. + +"What shall we do?" he said quietly. "Throw him in the river?" + +"It would be rather extravagant," I objected, "after we've just pulled +him out." + +Latimer smiled. "I am not sure I don't deserve it. I have lied to you, +Morrison, all through in the most disgraceful manner." Then he paused. +"Still it _would_ be extravagant," he added. "I think I can convince +you of that before we get to Queenborough." + +Tommy throttled down the engine to about its lowest running point. + +"Look here, Latimer," he said. "We're not going to Queenborough, or +anywhere else, until we've got the truth out of you. You understand +that, of course. You've put yourself in our power deliberately, and +you must have some reason. One doesn't cut one's throat for fun." + +He spoke in his usual pleasant fashion, but there was a grim +seriousness behind it which no one could pretend to misunderstand. +Latimer, at all events, made no attempt to. He merely nodded his head +approvingly. + +"You're quite right," he said. "I had made up my mind you should hear +some of the truth tonight in any case; that was the chief reason why +I asked you to come and pick me up. When I saw you had brought Mr. +Lyndon with you, I determined to tell you everything. It's the +simplest and best way, after all." + +He stopped for a moment, and we all three sat there in silence, while +the _Betty_ slowly throbbed her way forward, splashing off the black +water from either bow. Then Latimer began to speak again quite +quietly. + +"I _am_ in the Secret Service," he said; "but you can forget the rest +of what I told you the other night, Morrison. I am after bigger game +than a couple of German spies--though they come into it right enough. +I am on the track of three friends of Mr. Lyndon's, who just now are +as badly wanted in Whitehall as they probably are in hell." + +I leaned back with a certain curious thrill of satisfaction. + +"I thought so," I said softly. + +He glanced at me with his keen blue eyes, and the light of the lamp +shining on his face showed up its square dogged lines of strength and +purpose. It was a fine face--the face of a man without weakness and +without fear. + +"It's nearly twelve months ago now," he continued, "that we first +began to realize at headquarters that there was something queer going +on. There's always a certain amount of spying in every country--the +sort of quiet, semi-official kind that doesn't do any one a ha'porth +of practical harm. Now and then, of course, somebody gets dropped on, +and there's a fuss in the papers, but nobody really bothers much about +it. This was different, however. Two or three times things happened +that did matter very much indeed. They were the sort of things that +showed us pretty plainly we were up against something entirely +new--some kind of organized affair that had nothing on earth to do +with the usual casual spying. + +"Well, I made up my mind to get to the bottom of it. Casement, who is +nominally the head of our department, gave me an absolutely free hand, +and I set to work in my own way quite independently of the police. It +was six months before I got hold of a clue. Then some designs--some +valuable battleship designs--disappeared from Devonport Dockyard. It +was a queer case, but there were one or two things about it which made +me pretty sure it was the work of the same gang, and that for the +time, at all events, they were somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +"I needn't bother you now with all the details of how I actually ran +them to earth. It wasn't an easy job. They weren't the sort of people +who left any spare bits of evidence lying around, and by the time I +found out where they were living it was just too late." He turned to +me. "Otherwise, Mr. Lyndon, I think we might possibly have had the +pleasure of meeting earlier." + +A sudden forgotten recollection of my first interview with McMurtrie +flashed vividly into my mind. + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed. "What a fool I am! I knew I'd heard your name +somewhere before." + +Latimer nodded. "Yes," he said. "I daresay I had begun to arouse a +certain amount of interest in the household by the time you arrived." +He paused. "By the way, I am still quite in the dark as to how you +actually got in with them. Had they managed to send you a message into +the prison?" + +"No," I said. "I'm equally in the dark as to how you've found out who +I am, but you seem to know so much already, you may as well have the +truth. It was chance; just pure chance and a bicycle. I hadn't the +remotest notion who lived in the house. I was trying to steal some +food." + +Latimer nodded again. "It was a chance that a man like McMurtrie +wasn't likely to waste. I don't know yet how you're paying him for his +help, but I should imagine it's a fairly stiff price. However, we'll +come back to that afterwards. + +"I was just too late, as I told you, to interrupt your pleasant little +house-party. I managed to find out, however, that some of you had gone +to London, and I followed at once. It was then, I think, that the +doctor decided it was time to take the gloves off. + +"So far, although I'd been on their heels for weeks, I hadn't set eyes +on any of the gang personally. All the same, I had a pretty good idea +of what McMurtrie and Savaroff were like to look at, and I fancy they +probably guessed as much. Anyhow, as you know, it was the third +member of the brotherhood--a gentleman who, I believe, calls himself +Hoffman--who was entrusted with the job of putting me out of the way." + +A faint mocking smile flickered for a moment round his lips. + +"That was where the doctor made his first slip. It never pays to +underestimate your enemy. Hoffman certainly had a good story, and +he told it well, but after thirteen years in the Secret Service I +shouldn't trust the Archbishop of Canterbury till I'd proved his +credentials. I agreed to dine at Parelli's, but I took the precaution +of having two of my own men there as well--one in the restaurant +and one outside in the street. I had given them instructions that, +whatever happened, they were to keep Hoffman shadowed till further +orders. + +"Well, you know how things turned out almost as well as I do. I was +vastly obliged to you for sending me that note, but as a matter of +fact I hadn't the least intention of drinking the wine. Indeed, I +turned away purposely to give Hoffman the chance to doctor it. What +did beat me altogether was who you were. I naturally couldn't place +you at all. I saw that you recognized one of us when you came in, and +that you were watching our table pretty attentively in the glass. I +had a horrible suspicion for a moment that you were a Scotland Yard +man, and were going to bungle the whole business by arresting Hoffman. +That was why I sent you my card; I knew if you were at the Yard you'd +recognize my name." + +"I severed my connection with the police some time ago," I said drily. +"What happened after dinner? I've been longing to know ever since." + +"I got rid of Hoffman at the door, and from the time he left the +restaurant my men never lost him again. They shadowed him to his +lodgings--he was living in a side street near Victoria--and for the +next two days I got a detailed report of everything he did. It was +quite interesting reading. Amongst other things it included paying a +morning visit to the hut you're living in at present, Mr. Lyndon, and +going on from there to spend the afternoon calling on some friends at +Sheppey." + +I laughed gently, and turned to Tommy. "Amazingly simple," I said, +"when you know how it's done." + +Tommy nodded. "I've got all that part, but I'm still utterly at sea +about how he dropped on to you." + +"That was simpler still," answered Latimer. "One of my men told me +that the hut was empty for the time, so I came down to have a look +at it." He turned to me. "Of course I recognized you at once as the +obliging stranger of the restaurant. That didn't put me much farther +on the road, but when Morrison rolled up with his delightfully +ingenious yarn, he gave me just the clue I was looking for. I knew +his story was all a lie because I'd seen you since. Well, a man +like Morrison doesn't butt into this sort of business without a +particularly good reason, and it didn't take me very long to guess +what his reason was. You see I remembered him chiefly in connection +with your trial. I knew he was your greatest friend; I knew you had +escaped from Dartmoor and disappeared somewhere in the neighbourhood +of McMurtrie's place, and putting two and two together there was only +one conclusion I could possibly come to." + +"My appearance must have taken a little getting over," I suggested. + +Latimer shrugged his shoulders. "Apart from your features you exactly +fitted the bill, and I had learned enough about McMurtrie's past +performances not to let that worry me. What I couldn't make out was +why he should have run the risk of helping you. Of course you might +have offered him a large sum of money--if you had it put away +somewhere--but in that case there seemed no reason why you should be +hanging about in a hut on the Thames marshes." + +"Why didn't you tell the police?" asked Tommy. + +"The police!" Latimer's voice was full of pleasant irony. "My dear +Morrison, we don't drag the police into this sort of business; our +great object is to keep them out of it. Mr. Lyndon's affairs had +nothing to do with me officially apart from his being mixed up with +McMurtrie. Besides, my private sympathies were entirely with him. Not +only had he tried to save my life at Parelli's, but ever since the +trial I have always been under the impression he was fully entitled to +slaughter Mr.--Mr.--whatever the scoundrel's name was." + +I acknowledged the remark with a slight bow. "Thank you," I said. "As +a matter of sober fact I didn't kill him, but I shouldn't be the least +sorry for it if I had." + +Latimer looked at me for a moment straight in the eyes. + +"We've treated you beautifully as a nation," he said slowly. "It's an +impertinence on my part to expect you to help us." + +I laughed. "Go on," I said. "Let's get it straightened out anyhow." + +"Well, the straightening out must be largely done by you. As far as +I'm concerned the rest of the story can be told very quickly. For +various reasons I got to the conclusion that in some way or other the +two gentlemen on Sheppey had a good deal to do with the matter. My men +had been making a few inquiries about them, and from what we'd learned +I was strongly inclined to think they were a couple of German naval +officers over here on leave. If that was so, the fact that they were +in communication with Hoffman made it pretty plain where McMurtrie was +finding his market. My men had told me they were generally away on the +mainland in the evening, and I made up my mind I'd have a look at the +place the first chance I got. I asked Morrison to come down and pick +me up in his boat for two reasons--partly because I wanted to keep in +touch with you both, and partly because I thought it might come in +handy to have a second line of retreat." + +"It _was_ rather convenient, as things turned out," interposed Tommy. + +"Very," admitted Latimer drily. "They got back to the garden just as I +had opened one of the windows, and shot at me from behind the hedge. +If it hadn't been for the light they must have picked me off." + +He stopped, and standing up in the well, looked round. By this time we +were again just off the entrance to Queenborough, and the thick haze +that had obscured everything earlier in the evening was rapidly +thinning away. A watery moon showed up the various warships at +anchor--dim grey formless shapes, marked by blurred lights. + +"What do you say?" he asked, turning to Tommy. "Shall we run in here +and pick up some moorings? Before we go any further I want to hear +Lyndon's part of the story, and then we all three shall know exactly +where we are. After that you can throw me in the sea, or--or--well, I +think there are several possible alternatives." + +"We'll find out anyhow," said Tommy. + +He turned the _Betty_ towards the shore, and we worked our way +carefully into the harbour. We ran on past the anchored vessels, until +we were right opposite the Queenborough jetty, where we discovered +some unoccupied moorings which we promptly adopted. It was a snug +berth, and a fairly isolated one--a rakish-looking little gunboat +being our nearest neighbour. + +In this pleasant atmosphere of law and order I proceeded to narrate as +briefly and quickly as possible the main facts about my escape and its +results. I felt that we had gone too far now to keep anything back. +Latimer had boldly placed his own cards face upwards on the table, and +short of sending him to the fishes, there seemed to be nothing else +to do except to follow his example. As he himself had said, we should +then at least know exactly how we stood with regard to each other. + +He listened to me for the most part in silence, but the few +interruptions that he did make showed the almost fierce attention with +which he was following my story. I don't think his eyes ever left my +face from the first word to the last. + +When I had finished he sat on for perhaps a minute without speaking. +Then very deliberately he leaned across and held out his hand. + +We exchanged grips, and for once in my life I found a man whose +fingers seemed as strong as my own. + +"I don't know whether that makes you an accessory after the fact," +I said. "I believe it's about eighteen months for being civil to an +escaped convict." + +He let go my hand, and getting up from his seat leaned back against +the door of the cabin facing us both. + +"You may be an escaped convict, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "but if +you choose I believe you can do more for England than any man alive." + +There was a short pause. + +"It seems to me," interrupted Tommy, "that England is a little bit in +Neil's debt already." + +"That doesn't matter," I observed generously. "Let's hear what Mr. +Latimer has got to say." I turned to him. "Who are McMurtrie and +Savaroff?" I asked, "and what the devil's the meaning of it all?" + +"The meaning is plain enough to a certain point," he answered. "I +haven't the least doubt that they intend to sell the secret of your +powder to Germany, just as they've sold their other information. If I +knew for certain it was only that, I should act, and act at once." + +He stopped. + +"Well?" I said. + +"I believe there's something more behind it--something we've got to +find out before we strike. For the last two months Germany has taken +a tone towards us diplomatically that can only have one explanation. +They mean to get their way or fight, and if it comes to a fight +they're under the impression they're going to beat us." + +"And you really believe McMurtrie and Savaroff are responsible for +their optimism?" I asked a little incredulously. + +Latimer nodded. "Dr. McMurtrie," he said in his quiet drawl, "is the +most dangerous man in Europe. He is partly English and partly Russian +by birth. At one time he used to be court physician at St. Petersburg. +Savaroff is a German Pole--his real name is Vassiloff. Between them +they were largely responsible for the early disasters in the Japanese +war." + +For a moment no one spoke. Then Tommy leaned forward. "I say, +Latimer," he exclaimed, "is this serious history?" + +"The Russian Government," replied Latimer, "are most certainly under +that impression." + +"But if they know about it," I objected, "how is it that McMurtrie and +Savaroff aren't in Siberia? I've never heard that the Russians are +particularly tender-hearted where traitors are concerned." + +Latimer indulged in that peculiarly dry smile of his. "If the +Government had got hold of them I think their destination would have +been a much warmer one than Siberia. As it was they disappeared just +in time. There was a gang of them--four or five at the least--and all +men of position and influence. They must have made an enormous amount +of money out of the Japs. In the end one of them rounded on the +others--at least that's what appears to have happened. Anyhow +McMurtrie and Savaroff skipped, and skipped in such a hurry that they +seem to have left most of their savings behind them. I suppose that's +what made them start business again in England." + +"You're absolutely sure they're the same pair?" asked Tommy. + +"Absolutely. I've got their full description from the Russian police. +It tallies in every way--even to Savaroff's daughter. There _is_ a +girl with them, I believe?" + +"Yes," I said. "There's a girl." Then I paused for a moment. "Look +here, Latimer," I went on. "What is it you want me to do? I'll help +you in any way I can. When I made my bargain with McMurtrie I hadn't +a notion what his real game was. I don't in the least want to buy my +freedom by selling England to Germany. The only thing I flatly and +utterly refuse to do is to serve out the rest of my sentence. If it's +bound to come out who I am, you must give me your word I shall have +a reasonable warning. I don't much mind dying--especially if I can +arrange for ten minutes with George first--but quite candidly I'd see +England wiped off the map before I'd go back to Dartmoor." + +Latimer made a slight gesture with his hands. "You've saved my life, +once at all events," he said. "It may seem a trifle to you, but it's a +matter of quite considerable importance to me. I don't think you need +worry about going back to Dartmoor--not as long as the Secret Service +is in existence." + +"Well, what is it you want me to do?" I asked again. + +He was silent for a moment or two, as though arranging his ideas. Then +he began to speak very slowly and deliberately. + +"I want you to go on as if nothing had happened. Write to McMurtrie +the first thing tomorrow morning and tell him that you've made the +powder. He is sure to come down to the hut at once. You can show him +that it's genuine, but on no account let him have any of it to take +away. Tell him that you will only hand over the secret on receipt of +a written agreement, and make him see that you're absolutely serious. +Meanwhile let me know everything that happens as soon as you possibly +can. Telegraph to me at 145 Jermyn Street. You can send in the +messages to Tilbury by the man who's looking after your boat. Use some +quick simple cypher--suppose we say the alphabet backwards, Z for A +and so on. Have you got plenty of money?" + +I nodded. "I should like to have some sort of notion what you're going +to do," I said. "It would be much more inspiriting than working in the +dark." + +"It depends entirely on the next two days. I shall go back to London +tonight and find out if either of my men has got hold of any fresh +information. Then I shall put the whole thing in front of Casement. If +he agrees with me I shall wait till the last possible moment before +striking. We've enough evidence about the Devonport case to arrest +McMurtrie and Savaroff straight away, but I feel it would be madness +while there's a chance of getting to the bottom of this business. +Perhaps you understand now why I've risked everything tonight. We're +playing for high stakes, Mr. Lyndon, and you--" he paused--"well, I'm +inclined to think that you've the ace of trumps." + +I stood up and faced him. "I hope so," I said. "I'm rather tired of +being taken for the Knave." + +"Isn't there a job for me?" asked Tommy pathetically. "I'm open for +anything, especially if it wants a bit of physical violence." + +"There will probably be a demand for that a little later on," said +Latimer in his quiet drawl. "At present I want you to come back with +me to London. I shall find plenty for you to do there, Morrison. The +fewer people that are mixed up in this affair the better." He turned +to me. "You can take the boat back to Tilbury alone if we go ashore +here?" + +I nodded, and he once more held out his hand. + +"We shall meet again soon," he said--"very soon I think. Have you ever +read Longfellow?" + +It was such a surprising question that I couldn't help smiling. + +"Not recently," I said. "I haven't been in the mood for poetry the +last two or three years." + +He held my hand and his blue eyes looked steadily into mine. + +"Ah," he said. "I don't want to be too optimistic, but there's a verse +in Longfellow which I think you might like." He paused again. "It has +something to do with the Mills of God," he added slowly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + +One's feelings are queer things. Personally I never have the least +notion how a particular situation will affect me until I happen to +find myself in it. + +I should have thought, for instance, that Latimer's revelations would +have left me in a state of vast excitement, but as a matter of fact +I don't think I ever felt cooler in my life. I believe every other +emotion was swallowed up in the relief of finding out something +definite at last. + +I know anyhow that that was my chief sensation as I rowed the dinghy +towards the wet slimy causeway, lit by its solitary lamp. There was a +boat train to town in the early hours of the morning which Latimer had +suggested that he and Tommy should catch, and it certainly seemed a +safer plan than coming back to Tilbury with me. + +When I had parted from them, under the sleepy eye of a +depressed-looking night watchman, I returned to the _Betty_ and +proceeded to let go my moorings. I then ran up the sails, and gliding +gently past the warships and a big incoming steamer, floated out into +the broad peaceful darkness of the Thames estuary. I was in no hurry, +and now that the mist had cleared away it was a perfect night for +drifting comfortably up river with the tide. + +The dawn was just beginning to break by the time I reached my old +anchorage in the creek. In spite of my long and slightly strenuous +day, I didn't feel particularly tired, so after stowing away the sails +and tidying up things generally, I sat down in the cabin and began to +compose my letter to McMurtrie. + +I started off by telling him that I had completed my invention some +days earlier than I expected to, and then gave him a brief but +dramatic description of the success which had attended my first +experiment. I am afraid I was a trifle inaccurate with regard to +details, but the precise truth is a luxury that very few of us can +afford to indulge in. I certainly couldn't. When I had finished I +addressed the envelope to the Hotel Russell, and then, turning into +one of the bunks, soon dropped off into a well-deserved sleep. + +I don't know whether it was Nature that aroused me, or whether it was +Mr. Gow. Anyway I woke up with the distinct impression that somebody +was hailing the boat, and thrusting my head up through the hatch I +discovered my faithful retainer standing on the bank. + +He greeted me with a slightly apologetic air when I put off to fetch +him. + +"Good-mornin', sir. I hope I done right stoppin' ashore, sir. The +young lady told me I wouldn't be wanted not till this mornin'." + +"The young lady was quite correct," I said. "You weren't." Then as we +pushed off for the _Betty_ I added: "But I'm glad you've come back +in good time today. I want you to go in and post a letter for me at +Tilbury as soon as we've had some breakfast. You might get a newspaper +for me at the same time." + +"Talkin' o' noos, sir," observed Mr. Gow with sudden interest, +"'ave you heard tell about the back o' Canvey Island bein' blown up +yesterday mornin'?" + +"Blown up!" I repeated as we ran alongside. "Who on earth did that?" + +Mr. Gow shook his head as he clambered on board after me. "No one +don't seem to know," he remarked. "'Twere done arly in the mornin', +they reckon. There's some as says 'tis the suffrinjettes, but to my +way o' thinkin' sir; it's more like to have somethin' to do with them +blarsted Dutchmen as sunk my boat." + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed, "I wonder if it had. They seem to be +mischievous devils." + +Mr. Gow nodded emphatically. "They are, sir, and that's a fact. 'Tis +time somebody took a quiet look round that house o' theirs, some day +when they ain't there." + +How very nearly this desirable object had been achieved on the +previous evening I thought it unnecessary to mention, but I was hugely +relieved to learn that so far there was no suspicion as to who was +really responsible for the damage to the creek. Apart from the +inconvenience which it would have entailed, to be arrested for blowing +up a bit of mud in a Thames backwater would have been a sad come-down +for a convicted murderer! + +As soon as he had provided me with some breakfast, Mr. Gow departed +for Tilbury with my letter to McMurtrie in his pocket. He was away for +a couple of hours, returning with a copy of the _Daily Mail_ and the +information that there were no letters for me at the post-office. + +I handed him over the _Betty_, with instructions not to desert her +until he was relieved by either Tommy or Joyce or me, and then set off +for the hut by my usual route. It was less than thirty hours since +I had left it, but so many interesting things had happened in the +interval it seemed more like three weeks. + +For any one entangled in such a variety of perils as I appeared to be, +I spent a surprisingly peaceful day. Not a soul came near the place, +and except for reading the _Mail_ and indulging in a certain amount of +hard thinking, I enjoyed the luxury of doing absolutely nothing. After +the exertion and excitements of the previous twenty-four hours, this +lull was exactly what I needed. It gave me time to take stock of my +position in the light of Latimer's amazing revelations--a process +which on the whole I found fairly satisfactory. If the likelihood of +proving my innocence still seemed a trifle remote, I had at least +penetrated some of the mystery which surrounded Dr. McMurtrie and his +friends, and more and more it was becoming obvious to me that the +two problems were closely connected. Anyhow I turned into bed in +an optimistic mood, and with the stimulating feeling that in all +probability I had a pleasantly eventful day in front of me. + +It certainly opened in the most promising fashion. I woke up at eight, +and was making a light breakfast off a tin of sardines and some +incredibly stale bread, when through the little window that looked out +towards the Tilbury road I suddenly spotted my youthful friend from +the post-office approaching across the marsh. I opened the door, and +he came up with a respectful grin of recognition. + +"Letter for you, sir," he observed, "come this morning, sir." + +He handed me an envelope addressed in Joyce's writing, and stood by +while I read it, thoughtfully scratching his head with the peak of +his cap. It was only a short note, but beautifully characteristic of +Joyce. + +"MY OWN NEIL,-- + +"I'm coming down to see you tomorrow afternoon. I've got several +things to tell you, but the chief reason is because I want to kiss +you and be kissed by you. Everything else seems rather unimportant +compared with that. + +"JOYCE." + +"Any answer, sir?" inquired the boy, when he saw I had finished +reading. + +"Yes, Charles," I said; "there is an answer, but I'm afraid I can't +send it by post. Wait a minute, though," I added, as he began to put +on his cap, "I want you to send off a wire for me if you will. It will +take a minute or two to write." + +I went into the hut, and hastily scribbled a telegram to Latimer, +telling him that I had written to McMurtrie, but that otherwise there +was nothing to report. I copied this out carefully in the simple +cypher we had agreed on, and handed it to the boy, together with five +shillings. + +"You can keep the change," I said, "and buy fireworks with it. I've +been too busy to make any yet." + +He gurgled out some expressions of gratitude and took his departure, +while I renewed my attack upon the sardines and bread. + +Fortified by this simple cheer, I devoted the remainder of the morning +to tidying up my shed. I felt that I was living in such uncertain +times that it would be just as well to remove all possible traces of +the work I had been engaged on, and by midday the place looked almost +as tidy as when I had first entered it. + +I then treated myself to a cigar and began to keep a look-out for +Joyce. She had not said in her letter what time she would arrive, but +I knew that there were a couple of trains early in the afternoon, and +I remembered that I had told her to come straight to the hut. + +It must have been getting on for two when I suddenly caught sight of +a motor car with a solitary occupant coming quickly along the Tilbury +road. It pulled up as it reached the straggling plantation opposite +the hut, and a minute later a girl appeared from between the trees, +and started to walk towards me across the marsh. + +I was a little surprised, for I didn't know that Joyce included motor +driving amongst her other accomplishments, and she had certainly never +mentioned to me that there was any chance of her coming down in a +car. Then, a moment later, the truth suddenly hit me with paralysing +abruptness. It was not Joyce at all; it was Sonia. + +I don't know why the discovery should have given me such a shock, for +in a way I had been expecting her to turn up any time. Still a shock +it undoubtedly did give me, and for a second or so I stood there +staring stupidly at her like a man who has suddenly lost the use of +his limbs. Then, pulling myself together, I turned away from the +window and strode to the door. + +She came up to me swiftly and eagerly, moving with that strange lissom +grace that always reminded me of some untamed animal. Her hurried walk +across the marsh had brought a faint tinge of colour into the usual +ivory clearness of her skin, and her dark eyes were alive with +excitement. + +I held out my hands to welcome her. "I was beginning to think you'd +forgotten the address, Sonia," I said. + +With that curious little deep laugh of hers she pulled my arms round +her, and for several seconds we remained standing in this friendly +if a trifle informal attitude. Then, perceiving no reasonable +alternative, I bent down and kissed her. + +"Ah!" she whispered. "At last! At last!" + +Deserted as the marsh was, it seemed rather public for this type of +dialogue, so drawing her inside the hut I closed the door. + +She looked round at everything with rapid, eager interest. "I have +heard all about the powder," she said. "It's quite true, isn't it? You +have done what you hoped to do?" + +I nodded. "I've blown up about twenty yards of Canvey Island with a +few ounces of it," I said. "That seems good enough for a start." + +She laughed again with a sort of fierce satisfaction. "You have done +something more than that. You have given me just the power I needed to +help you." She came up and with a quick impulsive gesture laid her two +hands on my arm. "Neil, Neil, my lover! In a few hours from now you +can have everything you want in the world. Everything, Neil--money, +freedom, love--" She broke off, panting slightly with her own +vehemence, and then drawing my face down to hers, kissed me again on +the lips. + +I suppose I ought to have felt rather ashamed of myself, but I think +I was too interested in what she was going to say to worry much about +anything else. + +"Tell me, Sonia," I said. "What am I to do? Can I trust your father +and McMurtrie?" + +She let go my arm, and stepping back sat down on the edge of the small +table which I had been using as a writing-desk. + +"Trust them!" she repeated half scornfully. "Yes, you can trust them +if you want to go on being cheated and robbed. Can't you see--can't +you guess the way they have been lying to you?" + +"Of course I can," I said coolly; "but when one's between the Devil +and Dartmoor, I prefer the Devil every time. I don't enjoy being +cheated, but it's much more pleasant than being starved or flogged." + +She leaned forward, holding the edge of the table with her hands. +"There's no need for either. As I've told you, in a few hours from +now we can be away from England with money enough to last us for our +lives. Do you know what your invention is worth? Do you know what use +they mean to make of it?" + +"I imagine they hope to sell it," I answered. "It wouldn't be +difficult to find a customer." + +"Difficult!" She lowered her voice to a quick eager whisper. "They +have got a customer. The best customer in Europe. A customer that will +pay anything in the world for such a secret as yours." + +I gazed at her with a carefully assumed expression of amazement and +dawning intelligence. + +"Good Lord, Sonia!" I said slowly; "do you mean--?" + +She made an impatient movement with her hands. "Listen! I am going to +tell you everything. What's the good of you and I beating about +the bush?" She paused. "We are spies," she said quite simply, +"professional spies. Of course it sounds absurd and impossible to +you--an Englishman--but all the same it's the truth. You don't know +what sort of man Dr. McMurtrie is." + +"I appear to be learning," I observed. + +"He has been a friend of my father's for years. They were in Russia +together at one time--and then Paris, Vienna--oh, everywhere. It has +always been the same; in each country they have found out things that +other Governments have been willing to pay for. At least, the doctor +has. The rest of us, my father, myself, Hoffman"--she shrugged her +shoulders--"we are his puppets, his tools. Everything we have done has +been planned and arranged by him." + +There was a short silence. + +"How long have you been here?" I asked. "What brought you to England?" + +"We have been here just over three years," she answered slowly. "There +was a man in London that Dr. McMurtrie and my father wanted to find. +Eight years ago he betrayed them in St. Petersburg." + +A sudden idea--so wild as to be almost incredible--flashed into my +mind. + +I moistened my lips. "Who was he?" I asked steadily. + +She shook her head. "I don't know his name. I only know that he is +dead. I think Dr. McMurtrie would kill any one who betrayed him--if he +could." + +I crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. I felt +strangely excited. + +"And after that," I said quietly, "I suppose the doctor thought he +might as well stop here and do a little business?" + +"I think it was suggested to him from Berlin. He had sent them all +sorts of information when we were in Paris, and, of course, as things +are now, they were still more anxious to get hold of anything about +the English army or navy." She paused. "What they specially wanted +were the plans of the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo." + +"Yes," I said. "I dare say they did. A lot of people have wanted them, +but unfortunately they're not for sale." + +Sonia laughed softly. "The exact price we paid for them," she said, +"was twelve thousand pounds." + +I sat up with a jerk. This time my surprise was utterly genuine. + +"You bought them!" I said incredulously. "Bought them from some one in +the Admiralty?" + +Again Sonia shook her head. "Don't you remember what you read in the +_Daily Mail_ about the robbery at your offices in Victoria Street?" + +I stared at her for a second, and then suddenly the real truth dawned +on me. + +"So George sold them to you?" I said. + +She nodded. "Ever since you went to prison the business has been going +to pieces. He wanted money badly--very badly indeed. Dr. McMurtrie +found this out. He found out too that there was a copy of the plans +in the office, and--well, you can guess the rest. The burglary, of +course, was arranged between them. It was meant to cover your cousin +in case the Government found out that the Germans had got hold of the +plans." + +"And have they found out?" I asked. + +Again Sonia shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say. The doctor and my +father never tell me anything that they can keep to themselves. Most +of what I know I have picked up from listening to them and putting +things together in my own head afterwards. I am useful to them, and to +a certain point they trust me; but only so far. They know I hate them +both." + +She made the statement with a detached bitterness that spoke volumes +for its sincerity. + +I felt too that she was telling me the truth about George. A man who +could lie as he did at the trial was quite capable of betraying his +country or anything else. Still, the infernal impudence and treachery +of his selling my beautiful torpedo to the Germans filled me with a +furious anger such as I had not felt since I crouched, dripping and +hunted, in the Walkham woods. + +I looked up at Sonia, who was leaning forward and watching me with +those curious half-sullen, half-passionate eyes of hers. + +"Why did George tell those lies about me at the trial?" I asked. + +"I don't know for certain; I think he wanted to get rid of you, so +that he could steal your invention. Of course he saw how valuable it +was. You had told him about the notes, and I think he felt that if +you were safely out of the way he would be able to make use of them +himself." + +"He must have been painfully disappointed," I said. "They were all +jotted down in a private cypher. No one else could possibly have +understood them." + +She nodded. "I know. He offered to sell them to us. He suggested that +the Germans might be willing to pay a good sum down for them on the +chance of being able to make them out." + +Angry as I was, I couldn't help laughing. It was so exactly like +George to try and make the best of a bad speculation. + +"I can hardly see the doctor doing business on those lines," I said. + +"It was too late in any case," she answered calmly. "Just after he +made the offer you escaped from prison." There was another pause. "And +what were you all doing down in that God-forsaken part of the world?" +I demanded. + +The question was a little superfluous as far as I was concerned, but I +felt that Sonia would be expecting it. + +"Oh, we weren't there for pleasure," she said curtly. "We wanted to be +near Devonport, and at the same time we wanted a place that was quite +quiet and out-of-the-way. Hoffman found the house for us, and we took +it furnished for six months." + +"It was an extraordinary stroke of luck," I said, "that I should have +come blundering in as I did." + +Sonia laughed venomously. "It was the sort of thing that would happen +to the doctor. The Devil looks after his friends." + +"As a matter of fact," I objected, "I was thinking more of myself." + +Sonia took no notice of my interruption. "Why, it meant everything +to him," she went on eagerly. "It practically gave him the power to +dictate his own terms to the Germans. You see, he knew something about +their plans. He knew--at least he could guess--that the moment war +was declared they meant to make a surprise attack on all the big +dockyards--just like the Japs did at Port Arthur. Well, think of the +difference an explosive as powerful as yours would make! Why, it would +put England absolutely at their mercy. They could blow up Portsmouth, +Sheerness, and Devonport before any one really knew that the war had +started." + +She spoke rapidly, almost feverishly, leaning forward and gripping the +edge of the table, till the skin showed white on her knuckles. I think +I was equally excited, but I tried not to show it. + +"Yes," I said; "it sounds a promising notion." + +"Promising!" she echoed. "Well, it was promising enough for the +Germans to offer us anything we wanted the moment we could give them +the secret. Now perhaps you can understand why we were so hospitable +and obliging to you." + +"And you believe McMurtrie never meant to keep his word to me?" I +asked. + +She laughed again scornfully. "If you knew him as well as I do, you +wouldn't need to ask that. He would simply have disappeared with the +money and left you to rot or starve." + +I took out my case, and having given Sonia a cigarette, lit one +myself. + +"It's an unpleasant choice," I said, "but I gather there's a possible +alternative." + +She lighted her own cigarette and threw away the match. Her dark eyes +were alight with excitement. + +"Listen," she said. "All the Germans want is the secret. Do you +suppose they care in the least whom they get it from? You have only +got to prove to them that you can do what you say, and they will pay +you the money just as readily as they would the doctor." + +There was a magnificent simplicity about the idea that for a moment +almost took my breath away. + +"How could I get in touch with them?" I asked. + +She leaned forward again, and lowered her voice almost to a whisper. + +"I can take you now--now right away--to the two men who are in charge +of the whole business. I know that they have an absolutely free hand +to make the best terms they can." + +"Who are they?" I demanded, with an eagerness I made no attempt to +hide. + +"Their names are Seeker and von Brünig, and they're living in a small +bungalow on Sheppey. They are supposed to be artists. As a matter of +fact, von Brünig is a captain in the Germany Navy. I don't know who +the other man is; I think he has been sent over specially about the +powder." + +Her statement fitted in so exactly with what I had already found out +from Latimer and Gow, that I hadn't the remotest doubt she was telling +me the literal truth. Of its importance--its vital importance to +England--there could be no question. I felt my heart beating quickly +with excitement, but the obvious necessity for fixing on some scheme +of immediate action kept my brain cool and clear. The first thing was +to gain a moment or two to think in. + +"You realize what all this means, Sonia?" I said. "You're quite +prepared to throw over your father and McMurtrie? You know how the +doctor deals with people who betray him--when he gets the chance?" + +"I am not afraid of them," she answered defiantly. "They are nothing +to me; I hate them both--and Hoffman too. It's you I want. You are the +only man I ever have wanted." She paused, and I saw her breast rising +and falling rapidly with the stress of her emotion. "We will go away +together--somewhere the other side of the world--America, Buenos +Ayres--oh, what does it matter where?--there are plenty of places! +What does anything matter so long as we love each other!" + +She half rose to her feet, but I jumped up first. + +"One moment, Sonia," I said. "Let me think." + +Thrusting my hands in my pockets, I strode across the room, and +pulling up in front of the little window, stared out across the marsh. +As I did so, I felt as if some one had suddenly placed a large handful +of crushed ice inside my waistcoat. About two hundred yards away, +strolling cheerfully and unconcernedly towards the hut, was the +charming but painfully inopportune figure of Joyce. + +It was a most unpleasant second. In my excitement at listening to +Sonia's revelations, I had clean forgotten for the time that Joyce was +coming, and now it was too late for the recollection to be of much +practical use. Except for an earthquake, or the sudden arrival of the +end of the world, nothing could stop her from reaching the hut in +another five minutes. + +I stood quite still, racking my brains as to what was the best thing +to do. It was no use trying to signal to her from the window, for +Sonia would be certain to see me; while if I made some excuse for +going outside, Joyce would probably call out to me before I had time +to warn her. My only hope seemed to lie in the chance of her hearing +us talking as she came up to the door, in which case she would know at +once that there was some one there and go straight on to the _Betty_. + +I had just reached this conclusion when a queer sound behind me made +me spin round as if I had been struck. Sonia, who had risen to her +feet, was standing and facing me; her whole attitude suggestive of +a highly-annoyed tigress. I don't think I have ever seen such a +malevolent expression on any human being's face in my life. For an +instance we stood staring at each other without speaking, and then +quite suddenly I realized what was the matter. + +Clutched tight in her right hand was a letter--a letter which I +recognized immediately as the one I had received from Joyce that +morning. Like a fool I must have left it lying on the desk, and while +I was looking out of the window she had evidently picked it up and +read it. + +I hadn't much time, however, for self-reproaches. + +"So, you have been lying to me all through," she broke out bitterly. +"This girl is your mistress; and all the time you have simply been +using me to help yourself. Oh, I see it all now. I see why you were so +anxious to come to London. While I have been working and scheming for +you, you and she ..." Her voice failed from very fury, and tearing the +letter in pieces, she flung them on the ground at my feet. + +I suppose I attempted some sort of reply, for she broke out again more +savagely than ever. + +"She _is_ your mistress! Do you dare to deny it, with that letter +staring me in the face? Coming down to 'kiss you and be kissed by +you,' is she? Well, she's used to that, at all events!" Her voice +choked again, and with her hands clenched she made a quick step +forward in my direction. + +Then quite suddenly I saw her whole expression change. The anger in +her eyes gave place to a gleam of recognition, and the next moment her +lips parted in a peculiarly malicious smile. She was looking past me +through the open window. + +"Ah!" she said. "So that's why you were standing there! You didn't +expect me to be here when she arrived, did you?" With a mocking laugh +she turned to the doorway. "Never mind," she added viciously: "you +will be able to introduce us." + +Even if I had tried to prevent her it would have been too late. With a +swift movement she flung back the door, and stepped forward across the +threshold. + +Joyce was standing about fifteen yards away, facing the hut. She had +evidently just heard the sound of Sonia's voice, and had pulled up +abruptly, as I expected she would. Directly the door opened, she +turned as if to continue her walk. + +Sonia laughed again. "Please don't go away," she said. + +There was a moment's pause, and then I too advanced to the door. I saw +that there was nothing else for it except the truth. + +"Joyce," I said, "this is Sonia. She has just read your letter, which +I left lying on the desk." + +It must have been a bewildering situation even to such a quick-witted +person as Joyce, but all the same one would never have guessed the +fact from her manner. For perhaps a second she stood still, looking +from one to the other of us; then, with that sudden engaging smile of +hers, she came forward and held out her hand to Sonia. + +"I am so glad to meet you," she said simply. "Neil has told me how +good you have been to him." + +Sonia remained quite motionless. She had drawn herself up to her full +height, and she stared at Joyce with a cool hatred she made no attempt +to conceal. + +"Yes," she said; "I have no doubt he told you that. He will have a lot +more to tell you as soon as I've gone. You will have plenty to talk +about when you're not kissing." With a low, cruel little laugh she +stepped forward. "Make the most of him while you've got him," she +added. "It won't be for long." + +As the last word left her lips, she suddenly raised the glove she was +holding in her hand, and struck Joyce fiercely across the face. + +In one stride I was up with them--God knows what I meant to do--but, +thrusting out her arm, Joyce motioned me back. + +"It's all right, Neil dear," she said. "I should have done exactly the +same." + +For a moment we all three remained just as we were, and then without a +word Sonia turned on her heel and walked off rapidly in the direction +of the Tilbury road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + + +"What have we done, Neil?" + +Joyce put the question with a calmness that was truly delightful. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that we've torn it badly." Then, with a +last look at Sonia's retreating figure, I added: "Come inside, and +I'll try to explain." + +We entered the hut, where the floor was still strewn with the +fragments of Joyce's letter. She seated herself on the edge of the bed +and waited patiently while I took a couple of turns up and down the +room. + +"Joyce," I said, "I deserve kicking. I'm not sure I haven't messed up +the whole business." + +"Tell me," she said quietly. "I know about Latimer already; I saw +Tommy at the flat this morning." + +"Well, that simplifies things," I said; and without wasting any +further time in self-reproaches, I plunged straight into the story of +Sonia's surprise visit and its abrupt and spirited ending. + +"How I could have been such an ass I don't know," I finished ruefully. +"I must have put the letter down on the table after I'd done reading +it, and there I suppose it was sitting the whole time." + +Joyce, who had listened to me without interrupting, nodded her head. +"It was just one of those things that had got to happen," she said +philosophically. "It's no good worrying now. The thing is, what are we +to do about it?" + +I thought for a moment. + +"We must let Latimer know at once," I said. "I'll write out what Sonia +told me--just the main facts, and you must take the letter straight up +to London, and find him as soon as you can. I shall stop here, as he +asked me to." + +Joyce's face looked a little troubled. + +"What do you think Sonia will do?" she asked. + +"Goodness knows!" I said. "She seemed to have some particularly +unpleasant intention at the back of her mind; but I don't quite see +what it is." + +"She won't care what she does," said Joyce. "I know exactly how she +feels. Suppose she were to go to the police?" + +"She could hardly do that," I objected. "She'd be incriminating +herself." + +"But suppose she does," persisted Joyce. "Suppose they come and arrest +you here; Latimer won't be able to help you then." + +"I can't go back now, Joyce," I said seriously. "I can't get out of +it just because it might be dangerous to me. After all, it's England +they're scheming against." + +"And what if it is?" she returned indignantly. "A nice way England's +treated you!" + +I came over to the bed and took her hands in mine. + +"Come, Joyce," I said, "you don't really mean that. I want +encouraging, not depressing. All my natural instincts are to look +after myself and let England go to the devil." + +Half laughing and half crying, she jumped up and threw her arms round +me. + +"No, no, no," she said. "I want you to do the right thing always; but +oh, Neil, I'm so frightened of losing you. I just can't do without you +now." + +"Well," I said, "I'm hanged if I can do without you, so we're in the +same boat." + +I kissed her twice, and then, sitting down at the table, made a brief +summary of what I had learned from Sonia. Latimer so far knew nothing +of my relations with the latter, so I was compelled to explain how +badly I had behaved in order to account for her visit. I then gave +him a short description of the painful way in which the interview had +terminated, and added the information that I was waiting on at the hut +in the expectation of a visit from McMurtrie. + +"You can explain things more fully to him, Joyce," I said. "It's no +good trying to keep anything back now; we've gone too far. The great +thing is to get that letter to him as soon as you possibly can. Tommy +will probably know where he is." + +She nodded. "I shall find him all right." She slipped the envelope +inside her dress, and glanced at the watch she was wearing on her +wrist. "There are several things I wanted to tell you," she added, +"but they none of them matter for the moment. If I go at once, I can +just catch the three-thirty." + +"I'll come as far as the road with you," I said. "I daren't leave the +hut for long, in case McMurtrie turns up." + +We went outside and had a good look round. Sonia had long since +disappeared, and the place wore its usual aspect of utter desolation. +I took the precaution of locking the door, however, and then at a +sharp pace we set off together across the marsh. + +"Tell me about George," I said. "How are you getting on with the +elopement plan?" + +Joyce smiled. "I think George is growing a little impatient. He wants +to get away as soon as possible." + +"Yes," I said; "I have no doubt the Mediterranean sounds attractive +to him. There's a pretty stiff penalty attached to selling Government +secrets if you happen to be found out. Besides, I expect he's still +worrying a lot about me." + +Joyce nodded. "He told me last night that I was the only thing that +was keeping him in London. You see I can't quite make up my mind +whether I love him well enough to come away." + +"That's unfortunate for George," I said. "Latimer will probably act at +once as soon as he gets that letter, and directly he does I mean to go +straight to Cheyne Walk, unless I'm dead or in prison." + +Joyce took my arm. "Neil," she said, "whatever happens you mustn't be +arrested. If you think there's any chance of it you must go on board +the _Betty_ and take her somewhere down the river. You can let me know +at the flat where you are. Promise me you will, Neil. You see if the +police once got hold of you, even Latimer mightn't be able to do +anything." + +For a moment I hesitated. So far I had told Joyce nothing of the wild +suspicion about Marks's identity which Sonia's revelations had put +into my head. I didn't want to rouse hopes in her which might turn out +quite baseless. Besides, even if I were really on the right track, and +Marks was the man who had betrayed the gang in St. Petersburg, it was +quite another thing to prove that they were responsible for splitting +his skull. I had nothing to support the idea beyond Joyce's bare +word that she had seen McMurtrie in the flat on the afternoon of the +murder. Sonia's testimony might have been useful, but after today I +could hardly picture her in the witness-box giving evidence on my +behalf. + +On the whole, therefore, I thought it best for the present to keep +the matter to myself. I promised, however, that in the event of my +observing anything in the nature of a policeman stealthily approaching +the hut I would at once seek sanctuary on the _Betty_--an assurance +which might have sounded worthless to some people, but certainly +seemed to comfort Joyce. + +Anyhow she said good-bye to me with her usual cheerfulness and pluck, +and we parted after a last affectionate kiss in full view of the open +marsh. Then I returned to the hut suffering from that novel and highly +unpleasant sense of loneliness that Joyce's departures had begun to +awake in me. + +I don't think there is anything much more trying to one's nerves than +having to sit and wait for some critical event which may happen at any +moment. I have had a good deal of practice at waiting in my life, but +I never remember the hours dragging so desperately slowly as they did +the remainder of that afternoon. + +A dozen times I went over what Latimer and Sonia had told me, putting +together their different stories in my mind and trying to think if +there was any point I had overlooked. I could see none. The mere way +in which they had corroborated each other was enough to make me feel +sure that they were both speaking the truth. Besides, everything that +had happened from the moment I had crept in through the kitchen window +at McMurtrie's house pointed to the same conclusion. + +I may appear stupid not to have seen through the doctor earlier, but +after all a gang of professional spies is hardly the sort of thing one +expects to run up against in a Devonshire village. A few years ago, +indeed, I should have laughed at the idea of their existence anywhere +outside the pages of a shilling shocker, but my three years in +Dartmoor had led me to take a rather more generous view of what life +can throw up in the way of scoundrels. + +Whether they had killed Marks or not, I had little doubt now that they +were wholly responsible for the attempt to murder Latimer. Though I +had good evidence that when it came to the point the two gentlemen +on Sheppey didn't stick at trifles, I could hardly fancy a couple of +German Naval officers deliberately countenancing such methods. If they +had, they certainly deserved the worst fate that even Mr. Gow could +wish them. + +Somehow or other my private interest in the affair seemed to have been +temporarily forced into the background. I felt I was probably doing +the best thing I could for myself in throwing in my lot with Latimer, +but in any case his enthusiasm had got hold of me, and at all risks I +was determined to stick to my side of the bargain. I knew that in her +heart Joyce would have hated me to do otherwise. + +My chief danger, as she had instantly seen, was the chance of Sonia +betraying me to the police. The latter, who knew nothing of the part I +was playing as a sort of unpaid bottle-washer to the Secret +Service, would at once jump at the chance of arresting an escaped +convict--especially such a well-advertised one as myself. However +improbable Sonia's story might sound, they would at least be certain +to take the trouble to investigate it. + +On the other hand, of course Sonia might not go to the police at all, +and even if she did, it was quite possible that Latimer would strike +first and so give me the chance of clearing out. + +Anyhow, forewarned as I was, I felt it would be an uncommonly bright +policeman who succeeded in arresting me. In the day-time, so long as I +kept a good look out, anything like a surprise attack was impossible, +and after that night I made up my mind that I would sleep on the +_Betty_. The only thing was, I should most certainly have to deprive +myself of the luxury of a skipper. Useful as he was at taking letters +into Tilbury, it would be decidedly embarrassing to have him on board +if I happened to arrive in a hurry on the beach with two perspiring +detectives in hot pursuit. + +At six o'clock, as there was still no sign of a visitor, I decided to +walk over to the _Betty_ and tell Mr. Gow that he could treat himself +to another holiday. It would only take me about half an hour, and in +case McMurtrie turned up while I was away I could leave a message on +the door to the effect that I should be back before seven. + +I did this, pinning it up carefully with a drawing-tack and then after +making sure that everything was secure I started off for the creek. + +I found Mr. Gow in his usual restful attitude, his head and shoulders +sticking up out of the fo'c's'le hatch, and a large pipe protruding +from his mouth. With the instincts of a true retainer he promptly +removed the latter as soon as he heard my hail, and hoisting himself +up on deck put off in the dinghy. + +"I'm not coming aboard," I said. "I only walked over to tell you that +you can have a couple of days ashore. We shan't be using the boat till +Saturday or Sunday." + +He thanked me and touched his cap (I could see he was beginning to +think it was rather a soft job he had stumbled into), and then, with +the air of some one breaking unpleasant tidings, he added: "Do you +happen to know, sir, as we're clean out o' petrol?" + +I didn't happen to know it, but under the circumstances it was +information I was glad to acquire. + +"Can you get me some--soon?" I asked. + +He nodded. "I'll bring along a couple o' cans in the mornin', sir, and +leave 'em aboard." + +"Any news?" I asked. + +"Well, sir, I seed the Dutchmen's launch goin' down this +arternoon--travellin' proper they was too, same as when they swamped +me. I suppose you ain't bin able to do nothin' about that matter not +yet, sir?" + +"I'm looking into it, Mr. Gow," I said. "I have a friend helping me, +and between us I think we shall be able to get some satisfaction out +of them. I shall probably have more to tell you on Saturday." + +With this answer he seemed quite content. "Well, I'll just run back +aboard and get my bag, sir," he observed. "I reckon I'd better pull +the dinghy up on top o' the bank when I done with her. If any o' them +Tilbury folk should 'appen to come along they won't see 'er then--not +among the long grass." + +It was a sensible suggestion on the face of it, but in view of the +fact that I might find it necessary to embark rather abruptly, I +couldn't afford to risk any unnecessary delays. + +"Don't bother about that tonight, Gow," I said. "Just drag her above +high-water mark. It's quite possible I may be using her in the +morning." + +Having thus provided for my retreat in the case of an emergency, I +returned to the hut by the usual route along the sea-front. I took the +precaution of putting up my head and inspecting the place carefully +before climbing over the sea-wall, but I might as well have saved +myself the trouble. The marsh was quite deserted, and when I reached +the hut I found my little notice still pinned to the door, and no +trace of any one having paid me a visit in my absence. + +I remained in the same state of splendid isolation for the rest of the +evening. There was no difficulty about keeping watch, for as soon as +the sun went down a large obliging moon appeared in the sky, lighting +up the marsh and the Tilbury road almost as clearly as if it were +day-time. I could have seen a rabbit a hundred yards off, let alone +anything as big and obvious as a Scotland Yard detective. + +At about one in the morning I turned in for a couple of hours' rest. +I felt that if Sonia had gone straight to the authorities they would +have acted before this, while if she was sleeping on her wrath there +was no reason I shouldn't do the same. I had given up any expectation +of McMurtrie until the next morning. + +I woke at half-past three, and resumed my vigil in the pure cool +twilight of early dawn. I watched the sun rise over the river, and +gradually climb up into a sky of pale blue and lemon that gave promise +of another radiantly fine day. There was scarcely a breath of wind +stirring, and everything was so deliciously quiet and peaceful that it +almost seemed as if the events of the last three years were merely the +memory of some particularly vivid nightmare. + +"Almost," I say, for as a matter of fact I was never for a moment +under any such pleasant delusion. If I had been, I should have had +an early awakening, for at eight o'clock, just as I was thinking of +routing out something in the nature of breakfast, I saw a little black +dot advancing along the Tilbury road, which soon resolved itself into +the figure of my faithful Charles. + +He struck off across the marsh and came up to the hut, where I was +standing at the door waiting for him. + +"Two telegrams and a letter for you, sir," he said, producing them +from his bag. "They came this morning, sir." + +With an assumption of leisurely indifference that I was very far from +feeling, I took them out of his hand. The letter was addressed in +McMurtrie's writing, but I put it aside for a moment in favour of the +two wires. The first was from Joyce. + +"Saw L. late yesterday evening. He will act today. Agrees with my +suggestion about the _Betty_ if necessary. J." + +I thrust it into my pocket and opened the other. + +"A copper come last nite and ask for you. He see Misses O." + +For an instant I stared at this cryptic message in bewilderment; then +suddenly the recollection of my final instructions to Gertie 'Uggins +rushed into my mind. + +So Sonia _had_ gone to the police, or had at least contrived to send +them a message which served the same purpose. Their visit to Edith +Terrace was probably explained by the fact that she had given them +both addresses so as better to establish the truth of her story. +Anyhow the murder was out, and with a new and not unpleasant thrill +of excitement I crushed up Gertie's wire in my hand and tore open +McMurtrie's letter. + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"I have been away on business and have only just received your letter, +otherwise I should have come to see you this afternoon. In the first +place allow me to congratulate you most heartily on your success, of +which personally I was never in any doubt. + +"For the moment I have left the Hotel Russell, and am staying with +some friends in Sheppey. I shall run up the river in their launch +early tomorrow morning, as I believe there is a small creek close to +the hut where we can put in. + +"Please have a specimen of the powder ready, and if it is possible I +should like you to arrange for an actual demonstration, as I shall +have a friend with me who is already considerably interested in our +little company, and would be prepared to put up further capital if +convinced of the merits of your invention. + +"You can expect us about high water, between half-past nine and ten. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +As I read the signature McMurtrie's smiling mask-like face seemed +suddenly to rise up in front of me, and all my old instincts of +distrust and repulsion came to keep it company. So he was at the +bungalow, and in little over an hour he would be here--he and the +mysterious friend who was "already considerably interested in +our little company." I smiled grimly at the phrase; it was so +characteristic of the doctor; though when he wrote it he could little +have guessed how thoroughly I should be able to appreciate it. + +He was also equally ignorant of the complications introduced into +the affair by Sonia. Unless I had been altogether misled by Gertie's +message, it was probable that the police were even now on their way to +arrest me, just as McMurtrie's launch was most likely setting out from +the little creek under the bungalow. There seemed every prospect of my +having a busy and interesting morning. + +At this point in my reflections I looked up, and found Charles eyeing +me with an air of respectful patience. I took some money out of my +pocket, and selecting a ten-shilling piece placed it in his grubby but +not unwilling palm. + +"You are a most useful boy, Charles," I said, "and you can keep the +change as usual." + +He pocketed the coin with a gratified stammer. + +"You ain't 'ad time to make no fireworks yourself, sir?" he hazarded, +after a short pause. + +"Not yet," I replied; "but it looks as if I should today." + +He brightened up still further at the news, and observing that he +hoped there would be some letters to bring the next morning departed +on his return journey. + +I went back into the hut and shut the door. Now that matters were +so rapidly approaching a climax, I felt curiously cheerful and +light-hearted. I suppose it was a reaction from the strain and +hard work of the previous week, but anyhow the thought that in all +probability the police were hard on my track didn't seem to worry me +in the least. The only point was whether they would reach the hut +before McMurtrie did. I hoped not, for I was looking forward to an +interview with the doctor, but it certainly seemed as well to take +every precaution. + +I started by unearthing the box of powder from outside, and filling up +my flask from it. Then, when I had covered it over again, I collected +all the papers which I had not burned on the previous day, and stored +them away in my inside pockets. Finally I opened a tinned tongue, and +aided by the dry remains of my last loaf, made a healthy if not very +exciting breakfast. I never believe in conducting violent exertions on +an empty tummy. + +All this time, I need hardly say, I was keeping an uncommonly sharp +look-out over the marsh. The most likely way in which any one who +didn't wish to be seen would attempt to approach the hut was along the +Tilbury road, and it was towards the last clump of trees, behind which +Sonia had left her car the previous day, that I directed my chief +attention. + +Three-quarters of an hour passed, and I was just beginning to think +that McMurtrie would be the winner after all, when I suddenly caught +sight of something dark slinking across the exposed part of the road +beyond the plantation. Standing very still, I watched carefully from +the window. I have excellent eyesight, and I soon made out that there +were three separate figures all stooping low and moving with extreme +caution towards the shelter of the trees. + +A sudden and irresistible desire to laugh seized hold of me; there +was something so intensely funny about the strategic pains they were +taking, when all the while they might just as well have advanced +boldly across the open marsh. Still it was hardly the time to linger +over the comic side of the affair, so retiring from the window, I +threw a last quick glance round the hut to make quite sure that I had +left nothing I wanted behind. Then walking to the door I opened it and +stepped quietly outside. + +I decided that it was impossible to reach the sea-wall without being +seen, so I made no attempt to do so. I just set off in the direction +of the creek, strolling along in the easy, unhurried fashion of a man +taking a morning constitutional. + +I had not gone more than ten yards, when from the corner of my eye I +saw three figures break simultaneously out of the plantation. They no +longer made any pretence about their purpose. One of them cut straight +down towards the hut, a second came running directly after me, while +the third started off as rapidly as possible along the road, so as to +head me off if I attempted to escape inland. + +Any further strategy on my part appeared to be out of place. I grasped +the position in one hurried glance, and then, buttoning my coat and +ramming down my cap, openly and frankly took to my heels. I heard the +gentlemen behind shout out something which sounded like a request that +I should stop, but I was too occupied to pay much attention. The marsh +was infested with small drains, and one had to keep one's eyes glued +on the ground immediately ahead to avoid coming an unholy purler. That +was the only thing I was afraid of, as I was in excellent condition, +and I have always been a very fair runner. + +When I had covered about a couple of hundred yards I looked back over +my shoulder. I expected to find that I had widened the gap, but to my +dismay I discovered that my immediate pursuer had distinctly gained on +me. I could just see that he was a tall, active-looking fellow in a +policeman's uniform, with a long raking stride that was carrying him +over the ground in the most unpleasant fashion. Unless he fell over a +drain and broke his silly neck it seemed highly probable that he would +arrive at the creek almost as soon as I did. + +As I ran I prayed fervently in my heart that Mr. Gow had followed +my instructions and left the dinghy within easy reach of the water. +Otherwise I was in a tight place, for though I could swim to the +_Betty_ all right, it would be impossible to take her out of the creek +in a dead calm and with no petrol aboard for the engine. I should be +compelled to stand at bay until a breeze got up, repelling boarders +with the boat-hook! + +Just before I reached the sea-wall I looked round a second time. My +pursuer was now only about thirty yards distant, but it was evident +that his efforts had begun to tell on him. He again shouted out some +breathless advice to the effect that it would be "best" for me to +surrender, but without waiting to argue the point I scrambled up the +bank and cast a hurried, anxious glance round for the dinghy. + +Any doubts I might have had about Mr. Gow's trustworthiness were +instantly dispelled. The boat was lying on the mud only a few yards +out of reach of the tide. With a gasp of thankfulness I leaped on +to the saltings, and clearing the distance in about three strides, +clutched hold of the gunwale and began to drag it towards the water. + +Just as I reached that desirable element the figure of my pursuer +appeared above the bank. I gave a last savage wrench, but my foot +slipped in the treacherous mud, and I as nearly as possible stumbled +to my knees. That final tug, however, had done the trick. The boat was +floating, and with a wild effort I scrambled in, and seizing an oar, +shoved off furiously from the shore. + +I was only just in time. Jumping from the sea-wall, the policeman +fairly hurled himself across the intervening space, and without a +moment's hesitation plunged into the creek after me. I shortened my +oar, and as he made a grab for the stern I suddenly lunged forward +with all the force I could command. The blade took him fair and square +in the wind, and with a loud observation that sounded like "Ouch!" he +sat down abruptly in the water. Before he could recover himself I was +ten yards from the shore, sculling vigorously for the centre of the +stream. + +I made no attempt to reach the _Betty_. There was still a dead calm, +and by going on board I should merely have been shutting myself up in +a prison from which there was no escape. My best plan seemed to be to +make for the open river, when I might either pick up McMurtrie and his +launch, or else row across to the opposite shore. + +I accordingly headed for the mouth of the creek, while my pursuer, who +by this time had sufficiently recovered to stagger to his feet, waded +dismally back to the shore. Here he was joined by his two companions, +who had evidently been following the chase with praiseworthy +determination. + +For a moment I saw them all three consulting together, and then my +friend the policeman started hastily throwing off his clothes with the +apparent intention of swimming across the river, while the other two +came running along the bank after me. They were both in plain clothes, +but the unmistakable stamp of a Scotland Yard detective was clearly +imprinted on each of them. + +They soon caught me up, and hurrying on ahead reached the mouth of the +creek, while I was still some twenty yards short of it. I was just +wondering what on earth they hoped to do, when, looking over my +shoulder, I saw one of them scramble up the sea-wall, and begin to +shout and wave his arms as if he had suddenly gone mad. + +A few savage pulls brought me up level, and then turning in my seat I +discovered the cause of his excitement. Some way out in the stream was +a small coast-guard cutter with three men on board, two of whom were +at the oars. They had evidently grasped that there was something +serious the matter, for they had brought their boat round and were +already heading in towards the shore. + +My position began to look a trifle unhealthy. I was out of practice +for sculling, and if the coast-guards chose to interfere it was +obviously only a question of a few minutes before they would succeed +in rowing me down. For a moment I had some idea of going ashore on +the opposite bank, and again trusting to my heels. Then I saw that my +friend the policeman, who could apparently swim as well as he could +run, was already half way across the creek, and would be on my track +long before I could get the necessary start. On the whole it seemed +best to stick to the water, so digging in my sculls I pulled out into +the main stream. + +As I rounded the sea-wall I could hear the man who was standing on +top bawling out my name to the coast-guards, and hurling them frantic +injunctions to cut me off. I cast one swift glance up and down the +river, and as I did so I nearly gave a shout of excitement. A couple +of hundred yards away, but coming up at a tremendous pace, was a large +white petrol launch, which I recognized immediately as the one that +had swamped Mr. Gow. + +Whether the coast-guards saw her too I really can't say. I doubt if +they did, for by this time they had evidently realized who I was, and +their whole attention was fixed on preventing my escape. They were +rowing towards me with tremendous energy, the officer in charge +half standing up in the stern and encouraging them to still fiercer +efforts. + +Putting every ounce I could into my stroke, I set off down stream. It +was just a question as to whether I could clear them, and I doubt if +any winner of the Diamond Sculls could have shoved that dinghy along +much faster than I did for the next few seconds. Nearer and nearer we +drew to each other, and for one instant I thought that I had done the +trick. Then from the corner of my eye I saw the cutter fairly leap +forward through the water, and the next moment, with a jolt that +almost flung me out of the seat, she bumped alongside. + +Dropping his oar, one of the men leaned over and grabbed hold of my +gunwale. + +"No go, Mister," he observed breathlessly. "You got to come along with +us." + +The words had hardly left his lips when with a wild shout the officer +in charge leaped to his feet. + +"Look out, there!" he yelled. "Port, you fools! Port your helm!" + +I swung round, and got a momentary glimpse of a sharp white prow with +a great fan of water curling away each side of it, and then, before I +could move, there came a jarring, grinding crash, mixed with a fierce +volley of shouts and oaths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN THE NICK OF TIME + + +My impressions of what happened next are a trifle involved. Something +hit me violently in the side, almost knocking me silly, while at the +same moment the boat seemed to disappear from beneath me, and I was +flying head first into the water. I struck out instinctively as I +fell, and came to the surface almost at once. I just remember a +blurred vision of floating wreckage, with something white rising up in +front of me. Then a rope came hurtling through the air, and caught me +full in the face. I clutched at it wildly, and the next thing I knew I +was being dragged violently through the water and hauled in over the +side of the launch. + +It was all over so quickly that for a moment I scarcely realized what +had happened. I just lay where I was, gasping for breath, and spitting +out a large mouthful of the Thames which I had unintentionally +appropriated. Above the throbbing of the engine and the swish of the +screw I could still hear a confused medley of shouts and curses. + +With an effort I sat up and looked about me. We had already changed +our course, and were swinging round in a half-circle, preparatory to +heading back down stream. The smashed remains of the two boats were +bobbing about behind us, and in the midst of them I could make out the +figures of the coast-guards, clinging affectionately to various bits +of wreckage. + +Besides myself, there were three other men in the launch. Dr. +McMurtrie was sitting on the seat just opposite, pouring out the +contents of a flask into a small metal cup. Against the cabin door +leaned Savaroff, eyeing me with his usual expression of hostile +mistrust. The third passenger was the man with the auburn beard, whom +I had seen in the launch on the day I picked up Mr. Gow. He was busy +with the tiller, and for the moment was paying scant attention to any +of us. + +McMurtrie got up with the cup in his hand and came across to where I +was sitting. + +"Drink this," he said. + +"This," proved to be some excellent old brandy, which I tossed off +with no little gratitude. It was exactly what I wanted to pull me +together. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked. + +I felt myself carefully before replying. "I'm all right now," I said. +"I got rather a crack in the ribs, but I don't think anything's gone." + +"We seem to have arrived just in time to prevent your arrest," he +said quietly. "Perhaps you will be good enough to explain what has +happened? At present we are rather in the dark." + +He spoke with his usual suavity, but there was a veiled menace in his +voice which it was impossible to overlook. Savaroff scowled at me more +truculently than ever. It was obvious that both of them were entirely +ignorant of Sonia's part in the affair, and suspected me of some +extraordinary bit of clumsiness. I prepared myself for some heavy +lying. + +"I know precious little more about it than you do," I said coolly. "I +was getting things ready for you this morning, when I happened to look +out of the window, and saw three men crawling towards the hut on their +hands and knees. As one of them was wearing a policeman's uniform, I +thought I had better cut and run. Well, I cut and ran. I made for the +creek because I thought you might be there. You weren't; but there was +a dinghy on the shore, which I suppose belonged to a small yacht +that was anchored out in the channel. Anyhow, I took the liberty of +borrowing it. I meant to row out into the river, and try to pick you +up before they could get hold of a boat and follow me. If it hadn't +been for these infernal coast-guards, I'd have managed it all right. I +don't think they really had anything to do with the business, but they +just happened to be passing, and of course when the police shouted to +them they cut in at once." I paused. "And that's the whole story," I +finished, "as far as I know anything about it." + +They had all three listened to me with eager attention. Even the man +with the auburn beard had kept on looking away from his steering to +favour me with quick glances out of his hard blue eyes. I think I came +through the combined scrutiny with some credit. + +McMurtrie was the first to break the ensuing silence. + +"Have you any idea how you have betrayed yourself? You can speak quite +freely. Our friend Mr. von Brünig knows the position." + +I thought it best to take the offensive. "I haven't betrayed myself," +I said angrily. "Somebody must have done it for me. I've not left the +hut since I came down except for an occasional breath of air." + +"But earlier--when you were in London?" he persisted. + +I shook my head. "I have been down here a week. You don't imagine the +police would have waited as long as that." + +I knew I was putting them in a difficulty, for by this time they +must be all aware that Latimer was still on their track, and it was +obviously conceivable that my attempted arrest might be due in some +way to my connection with them; anyhow I saw that even Savaroff was +beginning to regard me a shade less suspiciously. + +"Have you brought any of the powder with you?" asked McMurtrie. + +It struck me instantly that if I said yes, I should be putting myself +absolutely in their power. + +"I hadn't time to get any," I answered regretfully. "I had buried it +outside the hut, and they came on me so suddenly there was no chance +of digging it up. Now I have once done it, however, I can make some +more very quickly." + +It was the flattest lie I have ever told; but I managed to get it off +with surprising ease. It is astonishing what rapid strides one can +make in the art of perjury with a very little practice. + +Savaroff gave a grunt of disappointment, and McMurtrie turned to von +Brünig, who was frowning thoughtfully, and made some almost inaudible +remark in German. The latter answered at some length, but he kept his +voice so low that, with my rather sketchy knowledge of that unpleasant +language, it was impossible for me to overhear what he was saying. +Besides, he evidently didn't intend me to, and I had no wish to +spoil the good impression I had apparently made by any appearance of +eavesdropping. + +It seemed to me that my course lay pretty straight in front of me. +Latimer had all the information now he was likely to get, and I knew +from Joyce's wire that he intended to act immediately. In addition to +this, the running down of the cutter would be known to Scotland Yard +as soon as ever the men who had been sent to arrest me could get to a +telephone, and the river-police and coast-guards everywhere would be +warned to keep a sharp look-out for von Brünig's launch. In an hour or +two at the most something was bound to happen, and the way in which I +could make myself most useful seemed to be in delaying the break-up +and escape of the party as long as possible. If I had to be arrested, +I was determined that the others should be roped in as well. + +I had just arrived at this point in my meditations when McMurtrie and +von Brünig came to an end of their muttered conversation. + +The former turned back to me. "You probably understand, Mr. Lyndon, +that this unfortunate affair with the police alters our plans +entirely. At present I am quite unable to see how they have found you +out, unless you have betrayed yourself by some piece of unintentional +carelessness. Anyhow, the fact remains that they know where you are, +and that very probably they will be able to trace this launch." + +Savaroff nodded. "As likely as not we shall have a shot across our +bows when we get to Sheerness," he growled. + +McMurtrie, as usual, took no notice of his interruption. "There is +only one thing to do," he said. "Mr. von Brünig, who, as I have +already told you, is interested in our syndicate, has offered to put +his country house in Germany at our service. We must cross over to +Holland before the police have time to interfere." + +"Do you mean now, at once?" I asked, with a sudden inward feeling of +dismay. + +McMurtrie nodded. "We have to pick up a couple of friends at Sheppey +first. After that we can run straight across to The Hague." + +The proposal was so obviously sensible that, without arousing his +suspicion, I could see no way for the moment of raising any objection. +The great thing was to keep the "syndicate" together, and to delay our +departure until Latimer had had time to scoop the lot of us. Could +anything provide him with a more favourable opportunity than the +collection of the whole crowd in that remote bungalow at Sheppey? It +was surely there if anywhere he would strike first, and I hoped, +very feelingly, that he would not be too long about it. My powers +of postponing our voyage to Holland appeared to have a distinct +time-limit. + +"There seems nothing else to do," I said. "I am sorry to have been +the cause of changing all our plans; but the whole thing is as much a +mystery to me as it is to you. However the police got on to my track, +it wasn't through any carelessness of mine. I am no more anxious to go +back to Dartmoor now than I was six weeks ago." + +This last observation at least was true; and I can only hope the +recording angel jotted it down as a slight set-off against the +opposite column. + +Savaroff removed his bulky form from in front of the cabin door, and +crossing the well, sat down beside the others. They began to talk +again in German; but as before I could only catch the merest scraps of +their conversation. Once I heard Sonia's name mentioned by McMurtrie, +and I just caught Savaroff's muttered reply to the effect that she was +all right where she was, and could follow us to Germany later. As far +as I could judge, they none of them had the remotest suspicion that +she was in any way connected with the crisis. + +All this while we had been throbbing along down stream at a terrific +pace, keeping well to the centre of the river, and giving such small +vessels as we passed a reasonably wide berth. If there was any trouble +coming to us it seemed most likely to materialize in the neighbourhood +of Southend or Sheerness, which were the two places to which the +police would be almost certain to send a description of the launch +as soon as they could get to a telephone. As we reached the first +danger-zone, I noticed von Brünig beginning to cast rather anxious +glances towards the shore. No one seemed to pay any attention to us, +however, and without slackening speed, we swept out into the broad +highway of the Thames estuary. + +There were several torpedo-boats lying off Sheerness, but these also +remained utterly indifferent to our presence. Apparently the police +had been too occupied in rescuing their coast-guard allies from a +watery grave to reach a telephone in time, and we passed along down +the coast unsuspected and unchallenged. + +Whatever von Brünig's weak points might be, he could certainly steer +a motor-boat to perfection. He turned into the little creek under the +bungalow at a pace which I certainly wouldn't have cared to attempt +even in my wildest mood, and brought up in almost the identical spot +where we had anchored the _Betty_ on the historic night of Latimer's +rescue. + +We had a small collapsible Berthon boat on board, just big enough to +hold four at a pinch. I watched Savaroff getting it ready, wondering +grimly whether there was any chance of their leaving me on the launch +with only one member of the party as a companion. It would have suited +me excellently, though it might have been a little inconvenient for my +prospective guardian. + +McMurtrie, however, promptly shattered this agreeable possibility by +inviting me to take a seat in the boat. I think he believed I had told +him the truth, but he evidently had no intention of letting me out of +his sight again until I had actually handed him over the secret of the +powder. + +We landed at the foot of a little winding path, and dragged our boat +out of the water on to a narrow strip of shingle. Then we set off +up the cliff at a rapid pace, with von Brünig leading the way and +Savaroff bringing up the rear. + +The bungalow was situated about a couple of hundred yards from the +summit, almost hidden by the high privet hedge which I had noticed +from the sea. This hedge ran right round the garden, the only entrance +being a small white gate in front of the house. Von Brünig walked up, +the path followed by the rest of us, and thrusting his key into the +lock pushed open the door. + +We found ourselves in a fairly big, low-ceilinged apartment, lighted +by a couple of French windows opening on to the side garden. They were +partly covered by two long curtains, each drawn half way across. The +place was comfortably furnished, and an easel with a half-finished +seascape on it bore eloquent witness to the purity of its tenants' +motives. + +Von Brünig looked round with a sort of impatient surprise. + +"Where are the others?" he demanded harshly. "Why have they left the +place empty in this way?" + +"They must have walked over to the post-office," said McMurtrie. "I +know Hoffman wanted to send a telegram. They will be back in a minute, +I expect." + +Von Brünig frowned. "They ought not to have done so. Seeker at least +should have known better. After the other night--" He paused, and +crossing the room threw open a door and disappeared into an adjoining +apartment. + +Without waiting for an invitation, I seated myself on a low couch in +the farther corner of the room. I felt quite cool, but I must admit +that the situation was beginning to strike me as a little unpromising. +Unless Latimer turned up precious soon it seemed highly probable that +he would be too late. Considering the importance of getting me safely +to Germany, neither von Brünig nor McMurtrie was likely to stay a +minute longer than was necessary. I might, of course, refuse to go +with them, but in that case the odds were that I should simply be +overpowered and taken on board by force. Von Brünig himself looked a +pretty tough handful to tackle, while Savaroff was about as powerful +as a well-grown bullock. Once I was safe in the former's "country +house" they would no doubt reckon on finding some means of bringing me +quickly to reason. + +With a bag in one hand and a bundle of papers in the other von Brünig +came back into the room. + +"I shall not wait," he announced curtly. "The risks are too great. +Seeker and your friend must follow as best they can." + +"They are bound to be here in a minute," objected Savaroff. + +Von Brünig turned on him with an angry gleam in his blue eyes. "I +shall not wait," he repeated harshly. "The future of Germany is of +more importance than their convenience." + +McMurtrie stepped forward, serene and imperturbable as ever. + +"I think Mr. von Brünig is right, Savaroff," he said. "The police may +have recognized the launch, and in that case it would be madness for +us not to go while we have the chance. We can leave a note for the +others." + +If Savaroff had any further objections he kept them to himself. He +turned away with a shrug on his broad shoulders, while McMurtrie sat +down at the table and hastily wrote a few lines which he showed to von +Brünig. The other nodded his head approvingly. + +"That will do very well," he said. "It will be safe if any one else +should find it. Seeker knows where to come to." + +McMurtrie put the note in an envelope which he placed in the centre of +the table. + +"And now," he said, pushing back his chair, "the sooner we are out of +this the better." + +I felt that if I was going to interfere the right time had now +arrived. Von Brünig's reply to Savaroff had given me just the opening +I needed. + +"One moment, gentlemen!" I said, getting up from the couch. + +They all three turned in obvious surprise at the interruption. + +"Well?" rapped out von Brünig, "what is it?" + +"I was under the impression," I said, "that this new explosive of mine +was to be put on the market as an ordinary commercial enterprise." + +McMurtrie rose from his chair and took a step forward. + +"You are perfectly right," he said. "Why should you think otherwise?" + +"In that case," I replied steadily, "I should like to know what Mr. +von Brünig meant by his remark about the 'future of Germany.'" + +There was a short pause. + +"Ach, Himmel!" broke out von Brünig. "What does it matter? What are we +wasting time for? Tell him if he wishes." + +"Why, certainly," said McMurtrie, smiling. "There is no mystery about +it. I was merely keeping the matter quiet until it was settled." He +turned to me. "The German Government have made us a very good offer +for your invention, provided of course that it will do what you +claim." + +"It will do what I claim all right," I said coolly, "but I don't wish +to sell it to the German Government." + +There was a sort of explosive gasp from von Brünig and Savaroff, and I +saw McMurtrie's eyes narrow into two dangerous cat-like slits. + +"_You don't-wish!_" he repeated icily. "May I ask why?" + +"Certainly," I said. "With the sole command of an explosive as +powerful as mine, Germany would be in a position to smash England in +about six weeks." + +"And suppose she was," interrupted von Brünig. "What in God's name +does it matter to you--an escaped convict?" + +His voice rang with impatience and contempt, and I felt my own temper +rising. + +"It matters just sufficiently," I said, "that I'll see you in hell +first." + +McMurtrie came slowly up to me, and looked me straight in the eyes. +His face was white and terrible--a livid mask of controlled anger. + +"You fool," he said almost pityingly. "You incredible fool! Do you +imagine that you have any choice in the matter?" + +Von Brünig and Savaroff moved up alongside of him, and I stood there +confronting the three of them. + +"You have heard my choice," I said. + +McMurtrie laughed. It was precisely the way in which I should imagine +the devil laughs on the rare occasions when he is still amused. + +"You are evidently a bad judge of character, Mr. Lyndon," he said. +"People who attempt to break faith with me are apt to find it a very +unhealthy occupation." + +I felt utterly reckless now. I had done my best to delay things, +and if neither the police nor the Secret Service was ready to take +advantage of it, so much the worse for them--and me. + +"I can quite believe you, doctor," I said pleasantly. "I should +imagine you were a dangerous ruffian from the intelligent way in which +you murdered Marks." + +It was a last desperate stroke, but it went home with startling +effect. + +Savaroff's face flushed purple, and with a fierce oath he gripped the +back of a chair and swung it up over his head. The doctor stopped him +with a gesture of his hand. As for von Brünig, he stood where he +was, staring from one to the other of us in angry bewilderment. He +evidently hadn't the remotest notion what I was talking about. + +McMurtrie was the first to speak. "Yes," he said, in his coolest, +silkiest voice. "I did kill Marks. He was the last person who betrayed +me. I rather think you will envy him before I have finished with you, +Mr. Lyndon." + +"A thousand devils!" cried von Brünig furiously: "what does all this +nonsense mean? We may have the police here any moment. Knock him on +the head, the fool, and--" + +"Stop!" + +The single word cut in with startling clearness. We all spun round in +the direction of the sound, and there, standing in the window just +between the two curtains, was the solitary figure of Mr. Bruce +Latimer. He was accompanied by a Mauser pistol which flickered +thoughtfully over the four of us. + +"Keep still," he drawled--"quite still, please. I shall shoot the +first man who moves." + +There was a moment of rather trenchant silence. Then von Brünig +moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Are you mad, sir?" he began hoarsely. "By what--" + +With a lightning-like movement McMurtrie slipped his right hand into +his side pocket, and as he did so Latimer instantly levelled his +pistol. The two shots rang out simultaneously, but except for a cry +and a crash of broken glass I knew nothing of what had happened. In +one stride I had flung myself on Savaroff, and just as he drew his +revolver I let him have it fair and square on the jaw. Dropping his +weapon, he reeled backwards into von Brünig, and the pair of them went +to the floor with a thud that shook the building. Almost at the same +moment both the door and the window burst violently open, and two men +came charging into the room. + +The first of the intruders was Tommy Morrison. I recognized him just +as I was making an instinctive dive for Savaroff's revolver, under the +unpleasant impression that Hoffman and the other German had returned +from the post-office. You can imagine the delight with which I +scrambled up again, clutching that useful if rather belated weapon in +my hand. + +One glance round showed me everything there was to see. + +Face downwards in a little pool of blood lay the motionless figure +of McMurtrie. Savaroff also was still--his huge bulk sprawled in +fantastic helplessness across the floor. Only von Brünig had moved; he +was sitting up on his hands, staring in a half-dazed fashion down the +barrel of Latimer's Mauser. + +It was Latimer himself who renewed the conversation. + +"Come and fix up these two, Ellis," he said. "I will see to the +other." + +The man who had burst in with Tommy, a lithe, hard-looking fellow in a +blue suit, walked crisply across the room, and pulling out a pair +of light hand-cuffs snapped them round von Brünig's wrists. He then +performed a similar service for the still unconscious Savaroff. + +The next moment Latimer, Tommy, and I were kneeling round the +prostrate figure of the doctor. We lifted him up very gently and +turned him over on to his back, using a rolled-up rug as a pillow for +his head. He had been shot through the right lung and was bleeding at +the mouth. + +Latimer bent over and made a brief examination of the wound. Then with +a slight shake of his head he knelt back. + +"I'm afraid there's no hope," he remarked dispassionately. "It's a +pity. We might have got some useful information out of him." + +There was a short pause, and then quite suddenly the dying man opened +his eyes. It may have been fancy, but it seemed to me that for a +moment a shadow of the old mocking smile flitted across his face. His +lips moved, faintly, as though he were trying to speak. I bent down to +listen, but even as I did so there came a fresh rush of blood into his +throat, and with a long shudder that strange sinister spirit of his +passed over into the darkness. I shall always wonder what it was that +he left unsaid. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +EXONERATED + + +It was Tommy who pronounced his epitaph. "Well," he observed, "he was +a damned scoundrel, but he played a big game anyhow." + +Latimer thrust his hand into the dead man's pocket, and drew out a +small nickel-plated revolver. One chamber of it was discharged. + +"Not a bad shot," he remarked critically. "Fired at me through his +coat, and only missed my head by an inch." + +He got up and looked round the room at the shattered window and the +other traces of the fray, his gaze coming finally to rest on the +prostrate figure of Savaroff. + +"That was a fine punch of yours, Lyndon," he added. "I hope you +haven't broken his neck." + +"I don't think so," I said. "Necks like Savaroff's take a lot of +breaking." Then, suddenly remembering, I added hastily: "By the way, +you know that there are two more of the crowd--Hoffman and a friend of +von Brünig's? They might be back any minute." + +Latimer shook his head almost pensively. "It's improbable," he said. +"I have every reason to believe that at the present moment they are in +Queenborough police station." + +I saw Tommy grin, but before I could make any inquiries von Brünig +had scrambled to his feet. His face looked absolutely ghastly in its +mingled rage and disappointment. After a fashion I could scarcely help +feeling sorry for him. + +"I demand an explanation," he exclaimed hoarsely. "By what right am I +arrested?" + +Latimer walked up to him, and looked him quietly in the eyes. + +"I think you understand very well, _Captain_ von Brünig," he said. + +There was a pause, and then, with a glance that embraced the four of +us, the German walked to the couch and sat down. If looks could kill I +think we should all have dropped dead in our tracks. + +Providence, however, having fortunately arranged otherwise, we +remained as we were, and at that moment there came from outside the +unmistakable sound of an approaching car. I saw Latimer open his +watch. + +"Quick work, Ellis," he remarked, with some satisfaction. "I wasn't +expecting them for another ten minutes. Tell them to come straight +in." He snapped the case and turned back to me. "Suppose we try and +awake our sleeping friend," he added. "He looks rather a heavy weight +for lifting about." + +Between us we managed to hoist Savaroff up into a chair, while Tommy +stepped across the room and fetched a bottle of water which was +standing on the sideboard. I have had some practice in my boxing days +of dealing with knocked-out men, and although Savaroff was a pretty +hard case, a little vigorous massage and one or two good sousings +soon produced signs of returning consciousness. Indeed, he had just +recovered sufficiently to indulge in a really remarkable oath when the +door swung open and Ellis came back into the room, accompanied by two +other men. One of them was dressed in ordinary clothes, the other wore +the uniform of a police sergeant. + +I shall never forget the face of the latter as he surveyed the scene +before him. + +"Gawd bless us!" he exclaimed. "What's up now, sir? Murder?" + +"Not exactly, Sergeant," replied Latimer soothingly. "I shot this man +in self-defence. The other two I give into your charge. There is a +warrant out for all three of them." + +It appeared that the sergeant knew who Latimer was, for he treated him +with marked deference. + +"Very well, sir," he said. "If 'e's dead, 'e's dead; anyhow, I've +orders to take my instructions entirely from you." Then, dragging a +note-book out of his pocket, he added with some excitement: "There's +another thing, sir, a matter that the Tilbury station have just +telephoned through about. It seems"--he consulted his references--"it +seems that when they were in that launch of theirs they run down a +party o' coast-guards, who'd got hold of Lyndon, the missing convict. +Off Tilbury it was. D'you happen to know anything about this, sir?" + +Latimer nodded his head. "A certain amount, Sergeant," he said. "You +will find the launch in the creek at the bottom of the cliff." He +paused. "This is Mr. Neil Lyndon," he added; "I will be responsible +for his safe keeping." + +I don't know what sort of experiences the Isle of Sheppey usually +provides for its police staff, but it was obvious that, professionally +speaking, the sergeant was having the day of his life. He stared at me +for a moment with the utmost interest, and then, recollecting himself, +turned and saluted Latimer. + +"Very good, sir," he said; "and what do you want me to do?" + +"I want you to stay here for the present with one of my men, while we +go to the station. I shall send the car back, and then you will take +the two prisoners into Queenborough. My man will remain in charge of +the bungalow." + +The sergeant saluted again, and Latimer turned to me. + +"You and Morrison must come straight to town," he said. "We shall just +have time to catch the twelve-three." + +It was at this point that Savaroff, who had been regarding us with +the half-stupid stare of a man who has newly recovered consciousness, +staggered up unsteadily from his chair. His half-numbed brain seemed +suddenly to have grasped what was happening. + +"Verfluchter Schweinhund!" he shouted, turning on me. "So it was you, +then--" + +He got no further. However embarrassed the sergeant might be by +exceptional events, he was evidently thoroughly at home in his own +department. + +"'Ere!" he said, stepping forward briskly, "stow that, me man!" +And with a sudden energetic thrust in the chest, he sent Savaroff +sprawling backwards on the couch almost on top of von Brünig. + +"Don't you use none of that language 'ere," he added, standing over +them, "or as like as not you'll be sorry for it." + +There was a brief pause. "I see, Sergeant," said Latimer gravely, +"that I am leaving the case in excellent hands." + +He gave a few final instructions to Ellis, who was also staying +behind, and then the four of us left the bungalow and walked quietly +down the small garden path that led to the road. Just outside the gate +stood a powerful five-seated car. + +"Start her up, Guthrie," said Latimer; and then turning to us, he +added, with a smile: "I want you in front with me, Lyndon. I know +Morrison's dying for a yarn with you, but he must wait." + +Tommy nodded contentedly. "I can wait," he observed; "it's a habit +I've cultivated where Neil's concerned." + +We all clambered into the car, and, slipping in his clutch Latimer set +off at a rapid pace in the direction of Queenborough. It was not until +we had rounded the first corner that he opened the conversation. + +"How did you know about Marks?" he asked, in that easy drawling voice +of his. + +"I didn't know for certain," I said quietly. "It was more or less of a +lucky shot." + +Then, as he seemed to be waiting for a further explanation, I repeated +to him as briefly as possible what Sonia had told me about McMurtrie's +reason for visiting London. + +"I didn't go into all this in my letter to you," I finished, "because +in the first place there was only just time for Joyce to catch the +train, and in the second I didn't want to disappoint her in case it +should turn out to be all bunkum. You must have been rather amazed +when I suddenly sprung it on McMurtrie." + +He shook his head, smiling. "Oh no," he said--"hardly amazed." He +paused. "You see, I knew about it already," he added placidly. + +If there was any amazement to spare at that moment it was certainly +mine. + +"You knew about it!" I repeated. "You knew that McMurtrie had killed +Marks?" + +He nodded coolly. "You remember telling me in the boat that your +friend Miss--Miss Aylmer, isn't it?--had recognized him as the man she +saw at the flat on the day of the murder?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, if that was so, and you had been wrongly convicted, which I +was inclined to believe, the doctor's presence on the scene seemed to +require a little looking into. I knew that at that time he had only +just arrived in London, so the odds were that he and Marks were old +acquaintances. I hunted up the evidence in your trial--I had rather +forgotten it--and I found just what I expected. Beyond the fact that +Marks was a foreigner and had been living in London for about eight +years, no one seemed to know anything about him at all. The police +were so confident in their case against you that apparently they +hadn't even bothered to make the usual inquiries. If they had taken +the trouble to communicate with St. Petersburg, they could have found +out all about Mr. Marks without much difficulty. The authorities there +have a wonderfully complete system of remembering their old friends." + +"But three years afterwards--" I began. + +"It makes very little difference, especially as just at present we +are on excellent terms with the Russian Secret Service. They took the +matter up for me, and last night I got the full particulars I wanted +about the man who had given away McMurtrie and his friends in St. +Petersburg. There can be no question that he and Marks were the same +person." + +I took a long--a very long breath. + +"There remains," I said, "the Home Office." + +"I don't think you need be seriously worried about the Home Office," +returned Latimer serenely. "By this time they have a full statement of +the case--except, of course, for my direct evidence that I heard the +doctor actually bragging of his achievement. I had a long interview +with Casement before I left London this morning, and he said he would +go round directly after breakfast. He evidently arrived just too late +to prevent the order for your arrest." + +I nodded. "Sonia must have gone to the police last night," I said; and +then in a few words I told him of the telegram I had received from +Gertie 'Uggins, and how it had just enabled me to get away. + +"I don't know," I finished, "how much my double escape complicates +matters. However unjust my sentence was, there's no denying I've +committed at least three felonies since. I've broken prison, plugged a +warder in the jaw, and shoved an oar into a policeman's tummy. Do you +think there's any possible chance of the Home Secretary being able to +overlook such enormities?" + +Latimer laughed easily. "My dear Lyndon," he said, "in return for what +you've done for us, you could decimate the police force if you wanted +to." Then, speaking more seriously, he added: "I tell you frankly, +there's every chance of a huge European war in the near future, and +you can see the different position we should be in if the Germans had +got hold of this new powder of yours. Apart from that, the Government +owe you every possible sort of reparation for the shameful way you've +been treated. If there's any 'overlooking' to be done, it will be on +your side, not on theirs." + +We were entering the dreary main street of Queenborough as he spoke, +and before I could answer he drew up outside the post-office. + +"We've just time to send off a telegram," he said. "I want to make +sure of seeing Lammersfield and Casement directly we get to town. They +will probably be at lunch if I don't wire." + +He entered the building, and Tommy took advantage of his brief absence +to lean over the back of the seat and grip my hand. + +"We've done it, Neil," he said. "Damn it, we've done it!" + +"_You've_ done it, Tommy," I retorted. "You and Joyce between you." + +There was a short pause, and then Tommy gave vent to a deep satisfied +chuckle. + +"I'm thinking of George," he said simply. + +It was such a beautiful thought that for a moment I too maintained a +voluptuous silence. + +"We must find out whether they're going to prosecute him," I said. "I +don't want to clash with the Government, but whatever happens I mean +to have my five minutes first. They're welcome to what's left of him." + +Tommy nodded sympathetically, and just at that moment Latimer came out +of the post-office. + +We got to the railway station with about half a minute to spare. +The train was fairly crowded, but a word from Latimer to the +station-master resulted in our being ushered into an empty "first" +which was ceremoniously locked behind us. It was not a "smoker," but +with a fine disregard for such trifles Latimer promptly produced his +cigar case, and offered us each a delightful-looking Upman. There are +certainly some advantages in being on the side of the established +order. + +Soothed by the fragrant tobacco, and with an exquisite feeling of +rest and freedom, I lay back in the corner and listened to Latimer's +pleasantly drawling voice, as he described to me how he had +accomplished his morning's coup. + +It seems that, accompanied by Tommy and his own man Ellis, he had +arrived at Queenborough by the early train. Instructions had already +been wired through from London that the Sheppey police were to put +themselves entirely at his disposal; and having commandeered a car, +the three of them, together with our friend the sergeant, set off to +the bungalow. They pulled up some little distance away and waited for +Guthrie, Latimer's other assistant, who had been keeping an eye on the +place during the night. He reported that McMurtrie and Savaroff and +von Brünig had just put off in the launch, leaving the other two +behind. + +"I guessed they had gone to pay you a visit," explained Latimer drily, +"and it seemed to me a favourable chance of doing a little calling on +our own account." + +The net result of that little call had been the bloodless capture +of Hoffman and the other German spy, who had been surprised in the +prosaic act of swallowing their breakfast. + +Having been favoured by fortune so far, Latimer had promptly proceeded +to make the best use of his opportunity. It struck him that, whatever +might be the result of their visit to me, the other members of the +party were pretty sure to come back to the bungalow. The idea of +hiding behind the curtain at once suggested itself to him. It was just +possible that in this way he might pick up some valuable information +before he was discovered, while in any case it would give him the +advantage of taking them utterly by surprise. + +His first step had been to tie up the prisoners, and pack them off in +the car to Queenborough police station with Guthrie and the sergeant +as an escort. (I should have loved to have heard his conversation with +Hoffman while the former operation was in progress!) He then carefully +removed all inside and outside traces of the raid on the bungalow, and +picked out a couple of convenient hiding-places in the garden, where +Tommy and Ellis could he in ambush until they were wanted. A shot from +his revolver or the smashing of the French window was to be the signal +for their united entrance on the scene. + +"Well, you know the end of the story as well as I do," he finished, +nicking off the ash of his cigar. "Things could scarcely have turned +out better, except for that unfortunate accident with McMurtrie." +He paused. "I wouldn't have shot him for the world," he added +regretfully, "but he really left me no choice." + +"He would have been hanged anyway," put in Tommy consolingly. + +Latimer smiled. "I didn't mean to suggest that it was likely to keep +me awake at night. I was only thinking that we might perhaps have got +some useful information out of him." + +"It seems to me," I said gratefully, "that we did." + +Through the interminable suburbs and slums of South-East London we +steamed slowly into London Bridge Station and drew up at the platform. +There was a taxi waiting almost opposite our carriage, and promptly +securing the driver Latimer instructed him to take us "as quickly as +possible" to No. 10 Downing Street. + +The man carried out his order with almost alarming literalness, but +Providence watched over us and we reached the Foreign Office without +disaster. Favoured with a respectful salute from the liveried porter +on duty, Latimer led the way into the hall. + +We followed him down a short narrow passage to another corridor, where +he unlocked and opened a door on the left, ushering us into a small +room comfortably fitted up as an office. + +"This is my own private den," he said; "so no one will disturb you. I +will go and see if Casement has come. If so, he is probably upstairs +with Lammersfield. I will give them my report, and then no doubt they +will want to see you. You won't have to wait very long." + +He nodded pleasantly and left the room, closing the door after him. +For all his quiet, almost lethargic manner, it was curious what an +atmosphere of swiftness and decision he seemed to carry about with +him. + +I turned to Tommy. + +"Where's Joyce?" I asked. + +"She's at the flat," he announced. "She said she would wait there +until she heard from us. I saw her last night, you know. I was having +supper at Hatchett's with Latimer when she turned up with your letter. +She'd come on from his rooms." + +"There are many women," I said softly, "but there is only one Joyce." + +Tommy chuckled. "That's what Latimer thinks. After she left us--I was +staying the night with him in Jermyn Street and we'd all three gone +back there to talk it over--he said to me in that funny drawling way +of his: 'You know, Morrison, that girl will be wasted, even on Lyndon. +She ought to be in the Secret Service.'" + +I laughed. "I'm grateful to the Secret Service," I said, "but there +are limits even to gratitude." + +For perhaps three-quarters of an hour we remained undisturbed, while +Latimer was presumably presenting his report to the authorities. Every +now and then we heard footsteps pass down the corridor, and on one +occasion an electric bell went off with a sudden vicious energy that +I should never have expected in a Government office. The time passed +quickly, for we had plenty to talk about; indeed, our only objection +to waiting was the fact that we were both beginning to get infernally +hungry, and it seemed likely to be some time yet before we should be +able to get anything to eat. + +At last there came a discreet knock at the door, and an elderly +clean-shaven person with the manners of a retired butler appeared +noiselessly upon the threshold. He bowed slightly to us both. + +"Lord Lammersfield wishes to see you, gentlemen. If you will be good +enough to follow me, I will conduct you to his presence." + +We followed him along the corridor and up a rather dingy staircase, +when he tapped gently at a door immediately facing us. "Come in," +called out a voice, and with another slight inclination of his head +our guide turned the handle and ushered us into the room. + +It was a solemn-looking sort of apartment furnished chiefly with +bookcases, and having a general atmosphere of early Victorian +stuffiness. At a big table in the centre two men were sitting. One was +Latimer; the other I recognized immediately as Lord Lammersfield. + +I had never known him personally in the old days, but I had often seen +him walking in the Park, or run across him at such popular rest +cures as Kempton and Sandown Park. He had changed very little in the +interval; his hair was perhaps a trifle greyer, otherwise he looked +just the same debonair picturesque figure that the Opposition +caricaturists had loved to flesh their pencils on. + +He got up as we entered, regarding us both with a pleasant whimsical +smile that put me entirely at my ease at once. + +"This is Lyndon," said Latimer, indicating me; "and this is Morrison." + +Lord Lammersfield came round the table and shook hands cordially with +us both. + +"Sit down, gentlemen," he said, "sit down. If half of what Mr. Latimer +has told me is true, you must be extremely tired." + +We all three laughed, and Tommy promptly took advantage of the +invitation to seat himself luxuriously in a big leather arm-chair. I +remained standing. + +"To be quite truthful," I said, "it's been the most refreshing morning +I can ever remember." + +Lord Lammersfield looked at me for a moment with the same smile on his +lips. + +"Yes," he said drily; "I suppose there is a certain stimulus in +saving England before breakfast. Most of my own work in that line is +accomplished in the afternoon." Then, with a sudden slight change in +his manner, he took a step forward and again held out his hand. + +"Mr. Lyndon," he said, "as a member of the Government, and one who is +therefore more or less responsible for the law's asinine blunders, I +am absolutely ashamed to look you in the face. I wonder if you add +generosity to your other unusual gifts." + +For the second time we exchanged grips. "I have common gratitude at +all events, Lord Lammersfield," I said. "I know that you have tried to +help me while I was in prison, and--" + +He held up his other hand with a gesture of half-ironical protest. +"Ah!" he exclaimed, "I am afraid that any poor efforts of mine in +that direction were due to the most flagrant compulsion." He paused. +"Whatever else you are unlucky in, Mr. Lyndon," he added smilingly, +"you can at least be congratulated on your friends." + +Then he turned to Latimer. "I think it would be as well if I explained +the position before Casement and Frinton arrive." + +Latimer expressed his agreement, and motioning me to a chair, Lord +Lammersfield again seated himself at the table. His manner, though +still quite friendly and unstilted, had suddenly become serious. + +"For the moment, Mr. Lyndon," he said, "the Prime Minister is out of +London. We have communicated with him, and we expect him back tonight. +In his absence it falls to me to thank you most unreservedly both on +behalf of the Government and the nation for what you have done. It +would be difficult to overrate its importance." + +I began to feel a trifle embarrassed. + +"I really don't want any thanks," I said. "I just drifted into it; +and anyway one doesn't sell one's country, even if one is an escaped +convict." + +Lord Lammersfield laughed drily. "There are many men," he said, "in +your position who would have found it an extraordinarily attractive +prospect. I am not at all sure I shouldn't have myself." He paused. +"We can't give you those three years of your life back," he went on, +"but fortunately we can make some sort of amends in other ways. I have +no doubt that the moment the Prime Minister is fully acquainted with +the circumstances he will arrange for what we humorously call a 'free +pardon'; that is to say, the Law will very graciously forgive you for +having been unjustly sent to prison. As for the rest--" he shrugged +his shoulders--"well, I don't imagine you will be precisely the loser +for not having sold your secret to the Wilhelmstrasse. Our own +War Office are quite prepared to deal in any original methods of +scattering death that happen to be on the market just at present." + +There was a brief pause. + +"And are we free now?" inquired Tommy, with a rather pathetic glance +at the clock. + +"You should be very shortly," returned Lammersfield. "Mr. Casement has +gone across to the Home Office to explain the latest developments to +Sir George Frinton. We are expecting them both here at any moment." + +"Sir George Frinton?" I echoed. "Why, I thought Mr. McCurdy was at the +Home Office." + +Lammersfield smiled tolerantly: "You have been busy, Mr. Lyndon, and +some of the more important facts of modern history have possibly +escaped you. McCurdy resigned from the Government nearly three months +ago." + +"But Sir George Frinton!" I exclaimed. "Why, I know the old boy; I +have a standing invitation to go and look him up." And then, without +waiting for any questions, I described to them in a few words how the +Home Secretary and I had travelled together from Exeter to London, and +the favourable impression I had apparently made. + +Both Lammersfield and Latimer were vastly amused--the former lying +back in his chair and laughing softly to himself in undisguised +merriment. + +"How perfectly delightful!" he observed. "Poor old Frinton has his +merits, but--" + +The libel he was about to utter on his distinguished colleague was +suddenly cut short by a knock at the door; and, in answer to his +summons, the butler-looking person entered and announced that Sir +George Frinton and Mr. Casement were waiting for an audience. + +"Show them up at once," said his lordship gravely; and then turning to +Latimer as the man left the room he added, with a reflective smile: +"I should never have believed that the Foreign Office could be so +entertaining." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + +The moment that Sir George Frinton reached the threshold, one could +see that he was seriously perturbed. He entered the room in an +energetic, fussy sort of manner, and came bustling across to Lord +Lammersfield, who had risen from the table to meet him. He was +followed by a grey-haired, middle-aged man, who strolled in quietly, +looked across at Latimer, and then threw a sharp penetrating glance at +Tommy and me. + +It was Lammersfield who spoke first. "I was sorry to bother you, +Frinton," he said pleasantly, "but the matter has so much to do with +your department I thought you ought to be present." + +Sir George waved away the apology. "You were perfectly right, Lord +Lammersfield--perfectly right. I should have come over in any case. It +is an astounding story. I have been amazed--positively amazed--at Mr. +Casement's revelations. Can it be possible there is no mistake?" + +"Absolutely none," answered Latimer calmly. "Our people have moved +with the utmost discretion, and we have the entire evidence in our +hands." He turned to Casement. "You have acquainted Sir George with +the whole of this morning's events?" + +The quiet man nodded. "Everything," he observed, in rather fatigued +voice. + +"I understand," said the Home Secretary, "that this man Lyndon is +actually here." + +With a graceful gesture Lord Lammersfield indicated where I was +standing. + +"Let me introduce you to each other," he said. "Mr. Neil Lyndon--Sir +George Frinton." + +I bowed respectfully, and when I raised my head again I saw that the +Home Secretary was contemplating me with a puzzled stare. + +"You--your face seems strangely familiar to me," he observed. + +"You evidently have a good memory, Sir George," I replied. "I had the +honour and pleasure of travelling up from Exeter to London with you +about a fortnight ago." + +A sudden light came into his face, and adjusting his spectacles he +stared at me harder than ever. + +"God bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "Of course, I remember now." He +paused. "And do you mean to tell me that you--an escaped convict--were +actually aware that you were travelling with the Home Secretary?" + +I saw no reason for dimming the glory of the incident. + +"You were kind enough to give me one of your cards," I reminded him. + +"Why, yes, to be sure; so I did--so I did." Again he paused and gazed +at me with a sort of incredulous amazement. "You must have nerves of +steel, sir. Most men in such a situation would have been paralysed +with terror." + +The idea of Sir George paralysing anybody with terror struck me as so +delightful that I almost burst out laughing, but by a great effort I +just managed to restrain myself. + +"As an escaped convict," I said, "one becomes used to rather desperate +situations." + +Lammersfield, the corner of whose mouth was twitching suspiciously, +broke into the conversation. + +"It was a remarkable coincidence," he said, "but you see how it +confirms Casement's story if any further confirmation were needed." + +Sir George nodded. "Yes, yes," he said. "I suppose there can be no +doubt about it. The proofs of it all seem beyond question." He turned +to me. "Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Lyndon, you appear +to have acted in a most creditable and patriotic manner. I understand +that the moment you discovered the nature of the plot in which you +were involved you placed yourself entirely at the disposal of the +Secret Service. That is right, Mr. Latimer, is it not?" + +Latimer stepped forward. "If Mr. Lyndon had chosen to do it, sir," he +said, "he could have sold his invention to Germany and escaped with +the money. At that time he had no proof to offer that he had been +wrongly convicted. Rather than betray his country, however, he was +prepared to return to prison and serve out his sentence." + +As an accurate description of my attitude in the matter it certainly +left something to be desired, but it seemed to have a highly +satisfactory effect upon Sir George. He took a step towards me, and +gravely and rather pompously shook me by the hand. + +"Sir," he said, "permit me to congratulate you both on your conduct +and on the dramatic establishment of your innocence. It will be my +pleasant duty as Home Secretary to see that every possible reparation +is made to you for the great injustice that you have suffered." + +Lammersfield, who had gone back to his seat at the table, again +interrupted. + +"You agree with me, don't you, Frinton, that, pending any steps you +and the Prime Minister choose to take in the matter, Mr. Lyndon may +consider himself a free man?" + +Sir George seemed a trifle embarrassed. "Well--er--to a certain +extent, most decidedly. I have informed Scotland Yard that he has +voluntarily surrendered himself to the Secret Service, so there will +be no further attempt to carry out the arrest. I--I presume that Mr. +Casement and Mr. Latimer will be officially responsible for him?" + +The former gave a reassuring nod. "Certainly, Sir George," he +observed. + +"I am entirely in your hands, sir," I put in. "There are one or two +little things I wanted to do, but if you prefer that I should consider +myself under arrest--" + +"No, no, Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted; "there is no necessity for +that--no necessity at all. Strictly speaking, of course, you are still +a prisoner, but for the present it will perhaps be best to avoid any +formal proceedings. I understand that both Lord Lammersfield and Mr. +Casement consider it advisable to keep the whole matter as quiet as +possible, at all events until the return of the Prime Minister. After +that we must decide what steps it will be best to take." + +"I am very much obliged to you," I said. "There is one question I +should like to ask if I may." + +He took off his spectacles and polished them with his +pocket-handkerchief. "Well?" he observed encouragingly. + +"I should like to know whether Savaroff's daughter is in custody--the +girl who gave the police their information about me." + +"Ah!" he said, with some satisfaction, "that is a point on which you +all appear to have been misled. I have just enlightened Mr. Casement +in the matter. The information on which the police acted was not +supplied by a girl." He paused. "It was given them by your cousin and +late partner, Mr. George Marwood." + +"What!" I almost shouted; and I heard Tommy indulge in a +half-smothered exclamation which was not at all suited to our +distinguished company. + +Sir George, who was evidently pleased with our surprise, nodded his +head. + +"Mr. Marwood rang up Scotland Yard at half-past ten last night. He +told them he had received an anonymous letter giving two addresses, +at one of which you would probably be found. He also gave a full +description of the alterations in your appearance." + +I turned to Latimer. "I suppose it was Sonia," I said. "I never +dreamed of her going to him, though." + +"It was very natural," he replied in that unconcerned drawl of his. +"She knew that your cousin would do everything possible to get you +under lock and key again, and at the same time she imagined she would +avoid the risk of being arrested herself." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Sir George, nodding his head sagely. "From +all I can gather she seems to be a most dangerous young woman. I shall +make a particular point of seeing that she is arrested." + +His words came home to me with a sudden swift stab of pity and +remorse. It was horrible to think of Sonia in jail--Sonia eating out +her wild passionate heart in the hideous slavery I knew so well. The +thought of all that she had risked and suffered for my sake crowded +back into my mind with overwhelming force. I took a step forward. + +"Sir George," I said, "a moment ago you were good enough to say that +the Government would try and make me some return for the injustice I +have suffered." + +He looked at me in obvious surprise. "Certainly," he said--"certainly. +I am convinced that they will take the most generous view of the +circumstances." + +"There is only one thing I ask," I said. "Except for this girl, Sonia +Savaroff, the Germans would now be in possession of my invention. If +the Government feel that they owe me anything, they can cancel the +debt altogether by allowing her to go free." + +Sir George raised his eyeglass. "You ask this after she did her best +to send you back to penal servitude?" + +I nodded. "I am not sure," I said, "that I didn't thoroughly deserve +it." + +For a moment Sir George stared at me in a puzzled sort of fashion. +"Very well," he said; "I think it might be arranged. As you say, she +was of considerable assistance to us, even if it was unintentionally. +That is a point in her favour--a distinct point." + +"How about our friend Mr. Marwood?" put in Lammersfield pleasantly. +"Between perjury and selling Government secrets I suppose we have +enough evidence to justify his arrest?" + +"I think so," said Sir George, nodding his head solemnly. "Anyhow I +have given instructions for it. In a case like this it is best to be +on the safe side." + +My heart sank at his words. Charming as it was to think of George in +the affectionate clutch of a policeman, I could almost have wept at +the idea of being robbed of my own little interview with him, to which +I had been looking forward for so long. It was Lammersfield who broke +in on my disappointment. "I should imagine," he said considerately, +"that you two, as well as Latimer, must be half starving. I suppose +you have had nothing to eat since breakfast." + +Tommy rose to his feet with an alacrity that answered the question so +far as he was concerned, and I acknowledged that a brief interval for +refreshment would be by no means unwelcome. + +"Well, I'm afraid I can't spare Latimer just yet," he said, "but you +two go off and have a good lunch. Come back here again as soon as +you've done. I will ring up the War Office and the Admiralty while you +are away, and we will arrange for a couple of their men to meet us +here, and then you can explain about your new explosive. I fancy you +will find them quite an appreciative audience." + +He pressed a bell by his side, and getting up from the table, +accompanied us to the door, where I stopped for a moment to try and +express my thanks both to him and Sir George. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted courteously, "you have been in +prison for three years for a crime that you didn't commit, and in +return for that you have done England a service that it is almost +impossible to overrate. Under the circumstances even a Cabinet +Minister may be excused a little common civility." + +As he spoke there came a knock at the door, and in answer to his +summons the impassive butler person appeared on the threshold. + +"Show these gentlemen out, Simpson," he said, "and let me know +directly they return." Then, shaking my hand in a friendly fashion, he +added with a quizzical smile, "If you should happen to come across any +mutual acquaintance of ours, perhaps you will be kind enough to +convey my unofficial congratulations. I hope before long to have the +privilege of offering them personally." + +I promised to deliver his message, and, following our guide +downstairs, we passed out into the street. + +"I like that chap," said Tommy. "He's got no silly side about him. +Joyce always said he was a good sort." + +He stopped on the pavement, and with his usual serene disregard for +the respectabilities proceeded to fill and light a huge briar pipe. + +"What's the programme now?" he inquired. "I'm just dying for some +grub." + +"We'll get a taxi and run down to the flat and pick up Joyce," I said. +"Then we'll come back to the Café Royal and have the best lunch that's +ever been eaten in London." + +Tommy indulged in one of his deep chuckles. + +"If anyone's expecting me in Downing Street before six o'clock," he +observed, "I rather think he's backed a loser." + +It was not until we were in a taxi, and speeding rapidly past the +House of Commons, that I broached the painful subject of George. + +"I don't know what to do," I said. "If he's at his house, he has been +arrested by now, and if he isn't the police will probably find him +before I shall. It will break my heart if I don't get hold of him for +five minutes." + +Tommy grunted sympathetically. "It's just on the cards," he said, +"that Joyce might know where he is." + +Faint as the chance seemed, it was sufficient to cheer me up a little, +and for the rest of the drive we discussed the important question of +what we should have for lunch. After a week of sardines and tinned +tongue I found it a most inspiring topic. + +As we reached the Chelsea Embankment a happy idea presented itself +to me. "I tell you what, Tommy," I said. "We won't go and knock at +Joyce's flat. Let's slip round at the back, as we did before, and take +her by surprise." + +"Right you are," he said. "She's probably left the studio door open. +She generally does on a hot afternoon like this." + +The taxi drew up at Florence Court, and telling the driver to wait for +us, we Walked down the passage and turned into Tommy's flat. There +were several letters for him lying on the floor inside, and while he +stopped to pick them up, I passed on through the studio and out into +the little glass-covered corridor at the back. + +It was quite a short way along to Joyce's studio, and from where I was +I could see that her door was slightly ajar. I stepped quietly, so as +not to make any noise, and I had covered perhaps half the distance, +when suddenly I pulled up in my tracks as if I had been turned into +stone. For a moment I stood there without moving or even breathing. A +couple of yards away on the other side of the door I could hear two +people talking. One of them was Joyce; the other--the other--well, if +I had been lying half-unconscious on my death-bed I think I should +have recognized that voice! + +There was a sound behind me, and whipping noiselessly round I was just +in time to signal to Tommy that he must keep absolutely quiet. Then +with my heart beating like a drum I crept stealthily forward until I +was within a few inches of the open door. I was shaking all over with +a delight that I could hardly control. + +"... you quite understand." (I could hear every word George was saying +as plainly as if I were in the room.) "I only have to ring up the +police, and in half an hour he'll be back again in prison--back for +the rest of his life. He won't escape a second time--you can be sure +of that." + +"Well?" + +The single word came clear and distinct, but it would be difficult to +describe the scorn which Joyce managed to pack into it. It had some +effect on George. + +"You have just got to do what I want--that's all," he exclaimed +angrily. "I leave England tonight, and unless you come with me I shall +go straight from here and ring up Scotland Yard. You can make your +choice now. You either come down to Southampton with me this evening, +or Lyndon goes back to Dartmoor tomorrow." + +"Then you were lying when you said you were anxious to help him?" + +With a mighty effort George apparently regained some control over his +tongue. + +"No, I wasn't, Joyce," he said. "God knows I'm sorry for the poor +devil--I always have been; but there's nothing in the world that +matters to me now except you. I--I lost my temper when you said you +wouldn't come. You didn't mean it, did you? Lyndon can never be +anything to you; he is dead to all of us. At the best he can only be a +skulking convict hiding from the police in South America or somewhere. +You come with me; you shall never be sorry for it. I've plenty of +money, Joyce; and I'll give you the best time a woman ever had." + +"And if I refuse?" asked Joyce quietly. + +It was evident from the sound that George had taken a step towards +her. + +"Then Lyndon will go back to Dartmoor and stop there till he rots and +dies." + +There was a short pause, and then very clearly and deliberately Joyce +gave her answer. + +"I think you are the foulest man in the world," she said. "It makes me +sick to be in the same room with you." + +The gasp of fury and astonishment that broke from George's lips fell +on my ears like music. He was so choking with rage that for a moment +he could hardly speak. + +"Damn you!" he stuttered at last. "So that's your real opinion, is it! +That's what you've been thinking all along! Trying to use me to help +that precious convict lover of yours--eh?" + +I heard him come another step nearer. + +"I'll make you pay for this, anyhow," he snarled. "Sick at being +in the same room with me, are you? Then by God I'll give you some +reason--" + +With a swift jerk I flung open the door and stepped in over the +threshold. + +"Not this time, George dear," I said. + +If the devil himself had shot up through the floor in a crackle of +blue flame, I don't think it could have had a more striking effect +on my late partner. With his mouth open and his face the colour of +freshly mixed putty, he stood perfectly still in the centre of the +room, gazing at me like a man in a trance. For a second--a whole +beautiful rich second--he remained in this engaging attitude; then, +as if struck by an electric shock, he suddenly spun round with the +obvious intention of making a dart for the door. + +The idea was distinctly a sound one, but it was too late to be of any +practical value. Directly he moved I stepped in, and catching him a +smashing box on the ear with my right hand sent him sprawling full +length on the carpet. Joyce laughed gaily, while lounging across the +room Tommy set his back against the door and beamed cheerfully on the +three of us. + +"Quite a little family party," he observed. + +Joyce was in my arms, and we were kissing each other in the most +shameless and unabashed way. + +"Oh, my dear," she said, "I hope you haven't hurt your hand." + +"It stung a bit," I admitted, "but I've got another one--and two +feet." I put her gently aside. "Get up, George," I said. + +He lay where he was, pretending to be unconscious. + +"If you don't get up at once, George," I said softly, "I shall kick +you--hard." + +He scrambled to his feet, and then crouched back against the wall +eyeing me like a trapped weasel. + +I indulged myself in a good heart-filling look at him. + +"So you've been sorry for me, George?" I said. "All these three long +weary years that I've been rotting in Dartmoor, you've been really and +truly sorry for me?" + +He licked his lips and nodded. + +I laughed. "Well, I'm sorry for _you_ now, George," I said--"damned +sorry." + +If anything, the putty-like pallor of his face became still more +ghastly. + +"Don't do anything violent, Neil," he whispered. "You'll only regret +it. I swear to you--" + +"I shouldn't swear," I said. "You don't want to die with a lie on your +lips." + +The sweat broke out on his forehead, and he glanced desperately round +the room, as though seeking for some possible method of escape. The +only comfort he got was a shake of the head from Tommy. + +"You--you don't mean to murder me?" he gasped. + +I gave a fiendish laugh. "Don't I!" I cried. "What's one murder more +or less? I know you've put the police on to me, and I'd sooner be +hanged than go back to Dartmoor any day." + +Tommy rubbed his hands together ghoulishly. "What are we going to do +with him?" he asked. "Cut his throat?" + +"No," I said. "It would make a mess, and we don't want to spoil +Joyce's carpet." + +"Oh, it doesn't matter about the carpet," said Joyce unselfishly. + +"I've got it," said Tommy. "Why not throw him in the river? The tide's +up; I noticed it as we came along." + +Whether he intended the suggestion seriously or not I don't know, but +I rose to it like a trout to a fly. There are seldom more than two +feet of water at high tide at that particular part of the Embankment, +and the thought of dropping George into its turbid embrace filled me +with the utmost enthusiasm. + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed. "That's a brilliant idea. The Thames +water's about the only thing he wouldn't defile." + +I stepped forward, and before George knew what was happening I had +swung him round and clutched him by the collar and breeches. + +"Open the door," I said, "and just see there's no one in the passage." + +With a deep chuckle Tommy turned to obey, while Joyce laughed with +a viciousness that I should never have given her credit for. As for +George--well, I suppose in his blind terror he really thought he was +going to be drowned, for he kicked and struggled and raved till it was +as much as I could do to hold him. + +"All clear!" sang out Tommy from the hall. + +"Stand by, then," I said, and taking a deep breath, I ran George +through the flat down the passage, and out into the street, in a style +that would have done credit to the chucker out at the Empire. + +There were not many people about, and those that were there had no +time to interfere even if they had wanted to do so. I just got a +glimpse of the startled face of our taxi driver as he jumped aside to +let us pass, and the next moment we had crossed the road and fetched +up with a bang against the low Embankment wall. + +I paused for a moment, renewed my grip on George's collar, and took a +quick look round. Tommy was beside me, and a few yards away, down at +the bottom of some steps, I saw a number of small boys paddling in the +water. There was evidently no risk of anybody being drowned. + +"I'll take his feet," said Tommy, suiting the action to the word. "You +get hold of his arms." + +There was a brief struggle, a loud scream for help, and the next +moment George was swinging merrily between us. + +"One! Two! Three!" I cried. + +At the word "three" we let go simultaneously. He flew up into the air +like a great wriggling crab, twisted round twice, and then went +down into the muddy water with a splash that echoed all over the +Embankment. + +"Very nice," said Tommy critically. "But we ought to have put a stone +round his neck." + +One glance over the wall showed me that there was no danger. Dripping, +floundering, and gasping for breath, George emerged from the surface +like a frock-coated Neptune rising from the waves. He seemed to be +trying to speak, but the shrieks of innocent delight with which his +reappearance was greeted by the paddling boys unfortunately prevented +us from hearing him. + +I thrust my arm through Tommy's. "Come along," I said. "We must get +out of this before there's a row." + +Swift as we had been about it, our little operation had already +attracted a certain amount of notice. People were hurrying up from all +directions, but without paying any attention to them, we walked +back towards the taxi, the driver of which had apparently been too +astonished to move. + +"Gor blimey, Guv'nor," he ejaculated, "what sorter gime d'you call +that?" + +"It's all right, driver," said Tommy gravely. "We found him insulting +this gentleman's sister." + +The driver, who evidently had a nice sense of chivalry, at once came +round to our side. + +"Was 'e?--the dirty 'ound!" he observed. "Well, you done it on 'im +proper. You ain't drowned 'im, 'ave ye, gents?" + +"Oh no," I said. "He's addressing a few words to the crowd now." Then +seeing Joyce standing in the doorway I hurried up the steps. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "put on a hat and come as quick as you can. It's +quite all right, but we want to get out of this before there's any +bother." + +She nodded, and disappeared into the flat, while I strolled back to +the taxi. + +It was evident from a movement among the spectators that George was +making his way towards the steps. Some of them who had come running up +kept turning round and casting curious glances at us, but so far no +one had attempted to interfere. It was not until Joyce was just coming +out of the flats, that a man detached himself from the crowd and +started across the road. He was a big, fat, greasy person in a bowler +hat. + +"Here," he said. "You wait a bit. What d'ye mean by throwing that pore +man in the river?" + +I opened the door of the taxi and Joyce jumped in. + +"What's it got to do with you, darling?" asked Tommy affably. + +"What's it got to do with me!" he repeated indignantly. "Why, it's +just the mercy o' Gawd--" + +"Come on, Tommy," I said. + +Tommy took a step forward, but the man clutched him by the arm. + +"No yer don't," he said, "not till ... Ow!" + +With a sudden vigorous shove Tommy sent him staggering back across the +pavement, and the next moment we had both jumped into the taxi and +banged the door. + +"Right away," I called out. + +I think there was some momentary doubt amongst the other spectators +whether they oughtn't to interfere, but before they could make up +their minds our sympathetic driver had thrust in his clutch, and we +were spinning away down the Embankment. + +Joyce, who was sitting next to me, slipped her hand into mine. + +"I love to see you both laughing," she said, "but I _should_ like +to know what's happened! At present I feel as if I was acting in a +cinematograph play." + +We told her--told her in quick, eager sentences of how the danger and +mystery that had hung over us so for long had at last been scattered +and destroyed. It was a broken, inadequate sort of narrative, jerked +out as we bumped over crossings and pulled by behind buses, but I +fancy from the light in her eyes and the pressure of her hand that +Joyce was quite contented. + +"It's--it's like waking up after some horrible dream," she said, "and +suddenly finding that everything's all right. Oh, I knew it would be +in the end--I knew it the whole time--but I never dreamed it would +happen all at once like this." + +"Neither did George," chuckled Tommy. "How long had he been with you, +Joyce?" + +"About twenty minutes," she said. "He came straight to me from +Harrod's, where he's spent most of the day buying stores for his +yacht. He had quite made up his mind I was coming with him. I don't +believe he's got the faintest idea about what's happened this +morning." + +"He will have soon," I said. "That's why I threw him in the river. +He's bound to go back to the house for a change of clothes, and he'll +find the police waiting for him there." + +"That'll be just right," observed Tommy complacently. "There's nothing +so good as a little excitement to stop one from catching cold." + +"Except lunch," I added, as the taxi rounded the corner of Piccadilly +and drew up outside the Café Royal. + +What the manager of that renowned restaurant must have thought of +us, I find it rather difficult to guess. It is not often, I should +imagine, that two untidy mud-stained men and a beautiful girl turn up +at four o'clock in the afternoon and demand the best meal that London +can provide. + +Fortunately, however, he proved to be a gentleman of philosophy and +resource. He accepted our request with perfect composure, and by the +time we had succeeded in making ourselves passably respectable he +presented us with a menu that deserved to be set to music. + +Heavens, what a lunch that was! We ate it all by ourselves in the big +empty restaurant, with half a dozen fascinated waiters eyeing us from +the end of the room. They were probably speculating as to whether we +were eccentric millionaires, or whether we had just escaped from some +private lunatic asylum, but we were all far too cheerful to care what +they thought. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked, with a reckless +jubilant happiness that would have survived the scrutiny of all the +waiters in London. + +"I know what we'll do, Joyce," I said, when at last the dessert was +cleared away and we were sitting in a delicate haze of cigar smoke. +"As soon as things are fixed up I'll buy a good second-hand thirty-ton +boat, and you and I and Tommy will go off for a six months' cruise. +We'll take Mr. Gow as skipper, and your little page-boy as steward, +and we'll run down to the Mediterranean and stop there till people are +tired of gassing about us." + +"That will be beautiful," said Joyce simply. + +"I'll come," exclaimed Tommy, "unless the Secret Service refuse to +give me up." Then he stopped and looked mischievously across at Joyce +and me. "It's a pity we can't ask Sonia too," he added. + +"Poor Sonia," said Joyce. "I am so glad you got her off." + +"Are you really?" asked Tommy. "That shows I know nothing about women. +I always thought that if two girls loved the same man they hated each +other like poison." + +Joyce nodded. "So they do as a rule." + +"Well, Sonia loved Neil all right; you can take my word for it." + +Joyce laughed softly. "Yes, Tommy dear," she said, "but then, you see, +Neil didn't love _her_--and that just makes all the difference." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROGUE BY COMPULSION*** + + +******* This file should be named 10511-8.txt or 10511-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/1/10511 + + +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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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** diff --git a/old/10511-8.zip b/old/10511-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..727f35a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10511-8.zip diff --git a/old/10511.txt b/old/10511.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0efd8d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10511.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13455 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Rogue by Compulsion, by Victor Bridges + + +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 Rogue by Compulsion + +Author: Victor Bridges + +Release Date: December 21, 2003 [eBook #10511] +Most recently updated: September 9, 2008 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROGUE BY COMPULSION*** + + +E-text prepared by Kevin Handy, Dave Maddock, Josephine Paolucci, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +A ROGUE BY COMPULSION + +An Affair of the Secret Service + +By VICTOR BRIDGES + +With Frontispiece By JOHN H. CASSEL + +1915 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "A CURTAIN AT THE END OF THE ROOM WAS DRAWN SLOWLY +ASIDE, AND THERE, STANDING IN THE GAP, I SAW THE SLIM FIGURE OF A +GIRL." + +Chapter X. + +Drawn by John H. Cassel.] + + + + +TO + +THAT BEST OF FRIENDS + +HUGHES MASSIE + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + II. A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + III. A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + IV. ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + V. AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + VI. THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + VII. A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + VIII. RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + IX. THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + X. MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + XI. BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + XII. A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + XIII. REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + XIV. A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + XV. A HUMAN "CATCH" + + XVI. CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + XVII. THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + +XVIII. A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + XIX. LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + XX. APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + XXI. SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + XXII. THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + +XXIII. IN THE NICK OF TIME + + XXIV. EXONERATED + + XXV. A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A BOLT FOR FREEDOM + + +Most of the really important things in life--such as love and +death--happen unexpectedly. I know that my escape from Dartmoor did. + +We had just left the quarries--eighteen of us, all dressed in that +depressing costume which King George provides for his less elusive +subjects--and we were shambling sullenly back along the gloomy road +which leads through the plantation to the prison. The time was about +four o'clock on a dull March afternoon. + +In the roadway, on either side of us, tramped an armed warder, his +carbine in his hand, his eyes travelling with dull suspicion up and +down the gang. Fifteen yards away, parallel with our route, the sombre +figure of one of the civil guards kept pace with us through the trees. +We were a cheery party! + +Suddenly, without any warning, one of the warders turned faint. He +dropped his carbine, and putting his hand to his head, stumbled +heavily against the low wall that separated us from the wood. The +clatter of his weapon, falling in the road, naturally brought all +eyes round in that direction, and seeing what had happened the whole +eighteen of us instinctively halted. + +The gruff voice of the other warder broke out at once, above the +shuffling of feet: + +"What are you stopping for? Get on there in front." + +From the corner of my eye I caught sight of the civil guard hurrying +towards the prostrate figure by the wall; and then, just as the +whole gang lurched forward again, the thing happened with beautiful +abruptness. + +A broad, squat figure shot out suddenly from the head of the column, +and, literally hurling itself over the wall, landed with a crash +amongst the thick undergrowth. There was a second shout from the +warder, followed almost instantly by a hoarse command to halt, as the +civil guard jerked his carbine to his shoulder. + +The fugitive paid about as much attention to the order as a tiger +would to a dog whistle. He was off again in an instant, bent almost +double, and bursting through the tangled bushes with amazing +swiftness. + +Bang! + +The charge of buckshot whistled after him, spattering viciously +through the twigs, and several of the bolder spirits in the gang at +once raised a half-hearted cry of "Murder!" + +"Stop that!" bawled the warder angrily, and to enforce his words he +quickened his steps so as to bring him in touch with the offenders. + +As he did so, I suddenly perceived with extraordinary clearness that I +should never again get quite such a good chance to escape. The other +men were momentarily between me and the warder, while the civil guard, +his carbine empty, was plunging through the trees in pursuit of his +wounded quarry. + +It was no time for hesitation, and in any case hesitation is not one +of my besetting sins. I recollect taking one long, deep breath: then +the next thing I remember is catching my toe on the top of the +wall and coming the most unholy purler in the very centre of an +exceptionally well armoured blackberry bush. + +This blunder probably saved my life: it certainly accounted for my +escape. The warder who evidently had more nerve than I gave him credit +for, must have fired at me from where he was, right between the heads +of the other convicts. It was only my abrupt disappearance from the +top of the wall that saved me from being filled up with lead. As +it was, the charge whistled over me just as I fell, and a devilish +unpleasant noise it made too. + +I didn't wait for him to reload. I was out of that bush and off up the +hill in rather less time than it takes to read these words. Where I +was going I scarcely thought; my one idea was to put as big a distance +as possible between myself and the carbine before its owner could ram +home a second cartridge. + +As I ran, twisting in and out between the trees, and keeping my head +as low as possible, I could hear behind me a hoarse uproar from my +fellow-convicts, who by this time were evidently getting out of hand. +No sound could have pleased me better. The more boisterous the good +fellows became the less chance would the remaining warder have of +worrying about me. As for the civil guard--well, it seemed probable +that his time was already pretty fully engaged. + +My chief danger lay in the chance that there might be other warders in +the immediate neighbourhood. If so, they would doubtless have heard +the firing and have come running up at the first alarm. I looked back +over my shoulder as I reached the top of the plantation, which was +about a hundred yards from the road, but so far as I could see there +was no one as yet on my track. + +My one chance lay in reaching the main wood that borders the Tavistock +road before the mounted guard could come up. Between this and the +plantation stretched a long bare slope of hillside, perhaps two +hundred yards across, with scarcely enough cover on it to hide a +rabbit. It was not exactly an inviting prospect, but still the place +had to be crossed, and there was nothing to be gained by looking at +it. So setting my teeth I jumped out from under the shelter of the +trees, and started off as fast as I could pelt for the opposite side. + +I had got about half-way over when there came a sudden shout away to +the right. Turning my head as I ran, I saw through the thin mist a +figure in knickerbockers and a Norfolk jacket vaulting over the low +gate that separated the moor from the road. + +I suppose he was a tourist, for he had a small knapsack fastened to +his back and he was carrying a stick in his hand. + +"Tally-ho!" he yelled, brandishing the latter, and then without +hesitation he came charging across the open with the obvious intention +of cutting me off from the wood. + +For the first time in three years I laughed. It was not a pretty +laugh, and if my new friend had heard it, his ardour in the chase +might perhaps have been a trifle cooled. As it was he came on with +undiminished zest, apparently quite confident in his ability to tackle +me single-handed. + +We met about ten yards this side of the nearest trees. + +He rushed in on me with another "whoop," and I saw then that he was a +big, powerful, red-faced fellow of a rather coarse sporting type--the +kind of brute I've always had a peculiar dislike for. + +"Down you go!" he shouted, and suiting the action to the word, he +swung back his stick and lashed out savagely at my head. + +I didn't go down. Instead of that I stepped swiftly in, and striking +up his arm with my left hand, I let him have my right bang on the +point of the chin. Worlds of concentrated bitterness were behind it, +and he went over backwards as if he had been struck by a coal-hammer. + +It did me a lot of good, that punch. It seemed to restore my +self-respect in a way that nothing else could have done. You must have +been a convict yourself, shouted at and ordered about like a dog for +three weary years, to appreciate the full pleasure of being able once +more to punch a man in the jaw. + +At the moment, however, I had no time to analyze my feelings. Almost +before the red-faced gentleman's shoulders had struck the ground I had +reached the railing which bounded the wood, and putting one hand on +the top bar had vaulted over into its inviting gloom. + +Then, just for an instant, I stopped, and, like Lot's wife, cast one +hasty glance behind me. Except for the motionless form of my late +adversary, who appeared to be studying the sky, the stretch of moor +that I had just crossed was still comfortingly empty. So far no +pursuing warder had even emerged from the plantation. With a sigh of +relief I turned round again and plunged forward into the thickest part +of the tangled brake ahead. + +It would have been difficult to find a better temporary hiding-place +than the one I had reached. Thick with trees and undergrowth, which +sprouted up from between enormous fissures and piles of granite rock, +it stretched away for the best part of a mile and a half parallel with +the main road. I knew that even in daylight the warders would find it +no easy matter to track me down: at this time in the afternoon, with +dusk coming rapidly on, the task would be an almost impossible one. + +Besides, it was starting to rain. All the afternoon a thick cloud had +been hanging over North Hessary, and now, as scratched and panting I +forced my way on into the ever-increasing gloom, a fine drizzle began +to descend through the trees. I knew what that meant. In half an hour +everything would probably be blotted out in a wet grey mist, and, +except for posting guards all round the wood, my pursuers would be +compelled to abandon the search until next morning. It was the first +time that I had ever felt an affection for the Dartmoor climate. + +Guessing rather than judging my way, I stumbled steadily forward until +I reached what I imagined must be about the centre of the wood. By +this time I was wet through to the skin. The thin parti-coloured +"slop" that I was wearing was quite useless for keeping out the rain, +a remark that applied with almost equal force to my prison-made +breeches and gaiters. Apart from the discomfort, however, I was not +much disturbed. I have never been an easy victim to chills, and three +years in Princetown had done nothing to soften a naturally tough +constitution. + +Still there was no sense in getting more soaked than was necessary, so +I began to hunt around for some sort of temporary shelter. I found it +at last in the shape of a huge block of granite, half hidden by the +brambles and stunted trees which had grown up round it. Parting the +undergrowth and crawling carefully in, I discovered at the base a kind +of hollow crevice just long enough to lie down in at full length. + +I can't say it was exactly comfortable, but penal servitude has at +least the merit of saving one from being over-luxurious. Besides, I +was much too interested in watching the steady thickening of the mist +outside to worry myself about trifles. With a swiftness which would +have been incredible to any one who didn't know the Moor, the damp +clammy vapour was settling down, blotting out everything in its grey +haze. Except for the dripping brambles immediately outside I could +soon see absolutely nothing; beyond that it was like staring into a +blanket. + +I lay there quite motionless, listening very intently for any sound of +my pursuers. Only the persistent drip, drip of the rain, however, and +the occasional rustle of a bird, broke the silence. If there were any +warders about they were evidently still some way from my hiding-place, +but the odds were that they had postponed searching the wood until the +fog lifted. + +For the first time since my leap from the wall I found myself with +sufficient leisure to review the situation. It struck me that only a +very hardened optimist could describe it as hopeful. I had made my +bolt almost instinctively, without stopping to think what chances I +had of getting away. That these were meagre in the extreme was now +becoming painfully clear to me. Even if I managed to slip out of +my present hiding-place into the still larger woods of the Walkham +Valley, the odds were all in favour of my ultimate capture. No escaped +prisoner had ever yet succeeded in retaining his liberty for more than +a few days, and where so many gentlemen of experience had tried +and failed it seemed distressingly unlikely that I should be more +fortunate. + +I began to wonder what had happened to Cairns, the man whose dash from +the ranks had been responsible for my own effort. I knew him to be one +of the most resourceful blackguards in the prison, and, provided the +civil guard's first shot had failed to stop him, it was quite likely +that he too had evaded capture. I hoped so with all my heart: it would +distract quite a lot of attention from my own humble affairs. + +If he was still at liberty, I couldn't help feeling enviously how much +better his chances of escape were than mine. In order to get away from +the Moor it was plainly necessary to possess oneself of both food and +clothes, and I could think of no other way of doing so except stealing +them from some lonely farm. At anything of this sort I was likely to +prove a sorry bungler compared with such an artist as Cairns. He was +one of the most accomplished cracksmen in England, and feats which +seemed impossible to me would probably be the merest child's play to +him. + +Still it was no good worrying over what couldn't be helped. My first +job was to get safely into the Walkham woods; after that it would be +quite time enough to think about turning burglar. + +I sat up and looked out into the mist. Things were as bad as ever, and +quite suddenly it struck me with considerable force that by lying low +in this fashion I was making a most unholy idiot of myself. Here I was +growing cold and stiff, and wasting what was probably the best chance +I should ever have of reaching Walkhampton. In fact I was playing +right into the hands of the warders. + +With an impatient exclamation I jumped to my feet. The only question +was, could I find my way out of the wood, and if I did, how on earth +was I to strike the right line over North Hessary? It was quite on the +cards I might wander back into Princetown under the happy impression +that I was going in exactly the opposite direction. + +For a moment I hesitated; then I made up my mind to risk it. After all +the fog was as bad for the warders as it was for me, and even if I +failed to reach the Walkham Valley I should probably find some other +equally good shelter before it lifted. In either case I should have +the big advantage of having changed my hiding-place. + +Buttoning up my slop, I advanced carefully through the dripping +brambles. One could see rather less than nothing, but so far as I +could remember the main Tavistock road was on my right-hand side. +This would leave North Hessary away to the left; so turning in that +direction I set my teeth and took my first step forward into the +darkness. + +I don't suppose you have ever tried walking through a wood in a fog, +but you can take my word for it that a less enjoyable form of exercise +doesn't exist. I have often wondered since how on earth I managed to +escape a sprained ankle or a broken neck, for carefully as I groped my +way forward it was quite impossible to avoid all the numerous crevices +and overhanging boughs which beset my path. + +I must have blundered into about fourteen holes and knocked my head +against at least an equal number of branches, before the trees at last +began to thin and the darkness lighten sufficiently to let me see +where I was placing my feet. I knew that by this time I must be +getting precious near the boundary of the wood, outside which the +warders were now doubtless posted at frequent intervals. So I stopped +where I was and sat down quietly on a rock for a few minutes to +recover my breath, for I had been pretty badly shaken and winded by my +numerous tumbles. + +As soon as I felt better I got up again, and taking very particular +care where I was treading, advanced on tiptoe with a delicacy that +Agag might have envied. I had taken about a dozen steps when all of a +sudden the railings loomed up in front of me through the mist. + +I put my hand on the top bar, and then paused for a moment listening +breathlessly for any sound of danger. Except for the faint patter +of the rain, however, everything was as silent as the dead. Very +carefully I raised myself on the bottom rail, lifted my legs over, one +after the other, and then dropped lightly down on to the grass beyond. + +As I did so a man rose up suddenly from the ground like a black +shadow, and hurling himself on me before I could move, clutched me +round the waist. + +"Got yer!" he roared. Then at the top of his voice--"Here he is! Help! +Help!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A BICYCLE AND SOME OVERALLS + + +I was taken so utterly by surprise that nothing except sheer strength +saved me from going over. As it was I staggered back a couple of +paces, fetching up against the railings with a bang that nearly +knocked the breath out of me. By a stroke of luck I must have crushed +my opponent's hand against one of the bars, for with a cry of pain he +momentarily slackened his grip. + +That was all I wanted. Wrenching my left arm free, I brought up my +elbow under his chin with a wicked jolt; and then, before he could +recover, I smashed home a short right-arm punch that must have landed +somewhere in the neighbourhood of his third waistcoat button. Anyhow +it did the business all right. With a quaint noise, like the gurgle of +a half-empty bath, he promptly released me from his embrace, and sank +down on to the grass almost as swiftly and silently as he had arisen. + +I doubt if a more perfectly timed blow has ever been delivered, but +unfortunately I had no chance of studying its effects. Through the fog +I could hear the sound of footsteps--quick heavy footsteps hurrying +towards me from either direction. For one second I thought of +scrambling back over the railings and taking to the wood again. Then +suddenly a kind of mischievous exhilaration at the danger gripped hold +of me, and jumping over the prostrate figure on the ground I bolted +forwards into the mist. The warders, who must have been quite close, +evidently heard me, for from both sides came hoarse shouts of "There +he goes!" "Look out there!" and other well-meant pieces of advice. + +It was a funny sort of sensation dodging through the fog, feeling that +at any moment one might blunder up against the muzzle of a loaded +carbine. The only guide I had as to my direction was the slope of the +ground. I knew that as long as I kept on going uphill I was more or +less on the right track, for the big granite-strewn bulk of North +Hessary lay right in front of me, and I had to cross it to get to the +Walkham Valley. + +On I went, the ground rising higher and higher, until at last the +wet slippery grass began to give way to a broken waste of rocks and +heather. I had reached the top, and although I could see nothing on +account of the mist, I knew that right below me lay the woods, with +only about a mile of steeply sloping hillside separating me from their +agreeable privacy. + +Despite the cold and the wet and the fact that I was getting devilish +hungry, my spirits somehow began to rise. Good luck always acts on me +as a sort of tonic, and so far I had certainly been amazingly lucky. I +felt that if only the rain would clear up now and give me a chance of +getting dry, Fate would have treated me as handsomely as an escaped +murderer had any right to expect. + +Making my way carefully across the plateau, for the ground was stiff +with small holes and gullies and I had no wish to sprain my ankle, I +began the descent of the opposite side. The mist here was a good deal +thinner, but night was coming on so rapidly that as far as seeing +where I was going was concerned I was very little better off than I +had been on the top of the hill. + +Below me, away to the right, a blurred glimmer of light just made +itself visible. This I took to be Merivale village, on the Tavistock +road; and not being anxious to trespass upon its simple hospitality, I +sheered off slightly in the opposite direction. At last, after about +twenty minutes' scrambling, I began to hear a faint trickle of running +water, and a few more steps brought me to the bank of the Walkham. + +I stood there for a little while in the darkness, feeling a kind of +tired elation at my achievement. My chances of escape might still be +pretty thin, but I had at least reached a temporary shelter. For five +miles away to my left stretched the pleasantly fertile valley, and +until I chose to come out of it all the warders on Dartmoor might hunt +themselves black in the face without finding me. + +I can't say exactly how much farther I tramped that evening. When one +is stumbling along at night through an exceedingly ill-kept wood in a +state of hunger, dampness, and exhaustion, one's judgment of distance +is apt to lose some of its finer accuracy. I imagine, however, that I +must have covered at least three more miles before my desire to lie +down and sleep became too poignant to be any longer resisted. + +I hunted about in the darkness until I discovered a small patch of +fairly dry grass which had been more or less protected from the rain +by an overhanging rock. I might perhaps have done better, but I was +too tired to bother. I just dropped peacefully down where I stood, and +in spite of my bruises and my soaked clothes I don't think I had been +two minutes on the ground before I was fast asleep. + + * * * * * + +Tommy Morrison always used to say that only unintelligent people +woke up feeling really well. If he was right I must have been in a +singularly brilliant mood when I again opened my eyes. + +It was still fairly dark, with the raw, sour darkness of an early +March morning, and all round me the invisible drip of the trees was as +persistent as ever. Very slowly and shakily I scrambled to my feet. My +head ached savagely, I was chilled to the core, and every part of +my body felt as if it had been trampled on by a powerful and rather +ill-tempered mule. + +I was hungry too--Lord, how hungry I was! Breakfast in the prison is +not exactly an appetizing meal, but at that moment the memory of its +thin gruel and greasy cocoa and bread seemed to me beautiful beyond +words. + +I looked round rather forlornly. As an unpromising field for foraging +in, a Dartmoor wood on a dark March morning takes a lot of beating. +It is true that there was plenty of water--the whole ground and air +reeked with it--but water, even in unlimited quantities, is a poor +basis for prolonged exertion. + +There was nothing else to be got, however, so I had to make the best +of it. I lay down full length beside a small spring which gurgled +along the ground at my feet, and with the aid of my hands lapped up +about a pint and a half. When I had finished, apart from the ache in +my limbs I felt distinctly better. + +The question was what to do next. Hungry or not, it would be madness +to leave the shelter of the woods until evening, for not only would +the warders be all over the place, but by this time everyone who lived +in the neighbourhood would have been warned of my escape. My best +chance seemed to lie in stopping where I was as long as daylight +lasted, and then staking everything on a successful burglary. + +It was not a cheerful prospect, and before the morning was much older +it seemed less cheerful still. If you can imagine what it feels +like to spend hour after hour crouching in the heart of a wood in a +pitiless drizzle of rain, you will be able to get some idea of what I +went through. If I had only had a pipe and some baccy, things would +have been more tolerable; as it was there was nothing to do but to sit +and shiver and grind my teeth and think about George. + +I thought quite a lot about George. I seemed to see his face as he +read the news of my escape, and I could picture the feverish way in +which he would turn to each edition of the paper to find out whether I +had been recaptured. Then I began to imagine our meeting, and George's +expression when he realized who it was. The idea was so pleasing that +it almost made me forget my present misery. + +It must have been about midday when I decided on a move. In a way I +suppose it was a rash thing to do, but I had got so cursedly cramped +and cold again that I felt if I didn't take some exercise I should +never last out the day. Even as it was, my legs had lost practically +all feeling, and for the first few steps I took I was staggering about +like a drunkard. + +Keeping to the thickest part of the wood, I made my way slowly +forward; my idea being to reach the top of the valley and then lie low +again until nightfall. My progress was not exactly rapid, for after +creeping a yard or two at a time I would crouch down and listen +carefully for any sounds of danger. I had covered perhaps a mile in +this spasmodic fashion when a gradual improvement in the light ahead +told me that I was approaching open ground. A few steps farther, and +through a gap in the trees a red roof suddenly came into view, with a +couple of chimney-pots smoking away cheerfully in the rain. + +It gave me a bit of a start, for I had not expected to run into +civilization quite so soon as this. I stopped where I was and did +a little bit of rapid thinking. Where there's a house there must +necessarily be some way of getting at it, and the only way I could +think of in this case was a private drive up the hill into the main +Devonport road. If there was such a drive the house was no doubt a +private residence and a fairly large one at that. + +With infinite precaution I began to creep forward again. Between the +trunks of the trees I could catch glimpses of a stout wood paling +about six feet high which apparently ran the whole length of the +grounds, separating them from the wood. On the other side of this +fence I could hear, as I drew nearer, a kind of splashing noise, and +every now and then the sound of somebody moving about and whistling. + +The last few yards consisted of a strip of open grass marked by deep +cart-ruts. Across this I crawled on my hands and knees, and getting +right up against the fence began very carefully to search around for +a peep-hole. At last I found a tiny gap between two of the boards. It +was the merest chink, but by gluing my eye to it I was just able to +see through. + +I was looking into a square gravel-covered yard, in the centre of +which a man in blue overalls was cleaning the mud off a small +motor car. He was evidently the owner, for he was a prosperous, +genial-looking person of the retired Major type, and he was lightening +his somewhat damp task by puffing away steadily at a pipe. I watched +him with a kind of bitter jealousy. I had no idea who he was, but +for the moment I hated him fiercely. Why should he be able to potter +around in that comfortable self-satisfied fashion, while I, Neil +Lyndon, starved, soaked, and hunted like a wild beast, was crouching +desperately outside his palings? + +It was a natural enough emotion, but I was in too critical a position +to waste time in asking myself questions. I realized that if burglary +had to be done, here was the right spot. By going farther I should +only be running myself into unnecessary risk, and probably without +finding a house any more suitable to my purpose. + +I squinted sideways through the hole, trying to master the geography +of the place. On the left was a high bank of laurels, and just at the +corner I could see the curve of the drive, turning away up the hill. +On the other side of the yard was a small garage, built against the +wall, while directly facing me was the back of the house. + +I was just digesting these details, when a sudden sigh from the +gentleman in the yard attracted my attention. He had apparently had +enough of cleaning the car, for laying down the cloth he had been +using, he stepped back and began to contemplate his handiwork. + +It was not much to boast about, but it seemed to be good enough for +him. At all events he came forward again, and taking off the brake, +proceeded very slowly to push the car back towards the garage. At +the entrance he stopped for a moment, and going inside brought out a +bicycle which he leaned against the wall. Then he laboriously shoved +the car into its appointed place, put back the bicycle, and standing +in the doorway started to take off his overalls. + +I need hardly say I watched him with absorbed interest. The sight of +the bicycle had sent a little thrill of excitement tingling down my +back, for it opened up possibilities in the way of escape that five +minutes before had seemed wildly out of reach. If I could only steal +the machine and the overalls as well, I should at least stand a good +chance of getting clear away from the Moor before I was starved or +captured. In addition to that I should be richer by a costume which +would completely cover up the tasteful but rather pronounced pattern +of my clothes. + +My heart beat faster with excitement as with my eye pressed tight to +the peep-hole I followed every movement of my unconscious quarry. +Whistling cheerfully to himself, he stripped off the dark blue cotton +trousers and oil-stained jacket that he was wearing and hung them on a +nail just inside the door. Then he gave a last look round, presumably +to satisfy himself that everything was in order, and shutting the door +with a bang, turned the key in the lock. + +I naturally thought he was going to stuff that desirable object into +his pocket, but as it happened he did nothing of the kind. With a +throb of half-incredulous delight I saw that he was standing on +tiptoe, inserting it into some small hiding-place just under the edge +of the iron roof. + +I didn't wait for further information. At any moment someone might +have come blundering round the corner of the paling, and I felt that I +had tempted Fate quite enough already. So, abandoning my peep-hole, +I turned round, and with infinite care crawled back across the grass +into the shelter of the trees. + +Once there, however, I rolled over on the ground and metaphorically +hugged myself. The situation may not appear to have warranted such +excessive rapture, but when a man is practically hopeless even the +wildest of possible chances comes to him like music and sunshine. +Forgetting my hunger and my wet clothes in my excitement, I lay there +thinking out my plan of action. I could do nothing, of course, until +it was dark: in fact it would be really better to wait till the +household had gone to bed, for several of the back windows looked +right out on the garage. Then, provided I could climb the paling and +get out the bicycle without being spotted, I had only to push it up +the drive to find myself on the Devonport road. + +With this comforting reflection I settled myself down to wait. It was +at least four hours from darkness, with another four to be added to +that before I dared make a move. Looking back now, I sometimes wonder +how I managed to stick it out. Long before dusk my legs and arms +had begun to ache again with a dull throbbing sort of pain that got +steadily worse, while the chill of my wet clothes seemed to eat into +my bones. Once or twice I got up and crawled a few yards backwards and +forwards, but the little additional warmth this performance gave me +did not last long. I dared not indulge in any more violent exercise +for fear that there might be warders about in the wood. + +What really saved me, I think, was the rain stopping. It came to an +end quite suddenly, in the usual Dartmoor fashion, and within half an +hour most of the mist had cleared off too. I knew enough of the local +weather signs to be pretty certain that we were in for a fine night; +and sure enough, half an hour after the sun had set a large moon was +shining down from a practically cloudless sky. + +From where I was lying I could, by raising my head, just see the +two top windows of the house. About ten, as near as I could judge, +somebody lit a candle in one of these rooms, and then coming to the +window drew down the blind. I waited patiently till I saw this dull +glimmer of light disappear, then, with a not unpleasant throb of +excitement, I crawled out from my hiding-place and recrossed the grass +to my former point of observation. Very gingerly I lifted myself up +and peered over the top of the paling. The yard was in shadow, and so +far as I could see the back door and all the various outbuildings were +locked up for the night. + +Under ordinary circumstances I could have cleared that blessed paling +in about thirty seconds, but in my present state of exhaustion it +proved to be no easy matter. However, with a mighty effort I at last +succeeded in getting my right elbow on the top, and from that point I +managed to scramble up and hoist myself over. Then, keeping a watchful +eye on the windows, I advanced towards the garage. + +I found the key first shot. It was resting on a little ledge under the +roof, and a thrill of joy went through me as my fingers closed over +it. I pushed it into the keyhole, and very carefully I turned the +lock. + +It was quite dark inside, but I could just see the outline of the +overalls hanging on the nail. I unhooked them, and placing the coat on +the ground I drew on the oily trousers over my convict breeches +and stockings. I could tell by the feel that they covered me up +completely. + +As I picked up the coat something rattled in one of the side pockets. +I put my hand in and pulled out a box of wax matches, which despite +the dampness of the garment still seemed dry enough to strike. For a +moment I hesitated, wondering whether I dared to light one. It was +dangerous, especially if there happened to be a window looking out +towards the house, but on the other hand I badly wanted a little +illumination to see what I was doing. + +I decided to risk it, and closing the door, struck one against the +wall. It flared up, and shading it with my hand I cast a hasty glance +round the garage. The bicycle was leaning against a shelf just beyond +me, and on a nail above it I saw an old disreputable-looking cap. I +pounced on it joyfully, for it was the one thing I needed to complete +my disguise. Then, wheeling the bicycle past the car, I blew out the +match and reopened the door. + +Stepping as noiselessly as possible on the gravel, I pushed the bike +across the yard. There was a large patch of moonlight between me and +the end of the drive, and I went through it with a horrible feeling +in the small of my back that at any moment someone might fling up +a window and bawl out, "Stop thief!" Nothing of the kind occurred, +however, and with a vast sense of thankfulness I gained the shelter of +the laurels. + +The only thing that worried me was the thought that there might be a +lodge at the top. If so I was by no means out of the wood. Even the +most guileless of lodge-keepers would be bound to think it rather +curious that I should be creeping out at this time of night +accompanied by his master's bicycle. + +Keeping one hand against the bushes to guide me, and pushing the +machine with the other, I groped my way slowly up the winding path. As +I came cautiously round the last corner I saw with a sigh of relief +that my fears were groundless. A few yards ahead of me in the +moonlight was a plain white gate, and beyond that the road. + +I opened the gate with deliberate care, and closed it in similar +fashion behind me. Then for a moment I stopped. I was badly out of +breath, partly from weakness and partly from excitement, so laying the +machine against the bank I leaned back beside it. + +Everything was quite still. On each side of me the broad, white, +moonlit roadway stretched away into the night, flanked by a row of +telegraph poles which stood out like gaunt sentries. It was curious +to think that they had probably put in a busy day's work, carrying +messages about me. + +There was a lamp on the front bracket, and as soon as I felt a little +better I took out my matches and proceeded to light it. Then, wheeling +my bike out into the roadway, I turned in the direction of Devonport +and mounted. I felt a bit shaky at first, for, apart from the fact +that I was worn out and pretty near starving, I had not been on a +machine for over three years. However, after wobbling wildly from side +to side, I managed to get the thing going, and pedalled off down the +centre of the road as steadily as my half-numbed senses would allow. + +For perhaps a quarter of a mile the ground kept fairly level, then, +breasting a slight rise, I found myself at the top of a hill. I shoved +on the brake and went slowly round the first corner, where I got an +unexpected surprise. From this point the road ran straight away down +through a small village, across a bridge over the river, and up a +short steep slope on the farther side. + +I took in the situation at a glance, and, releasing my brake, I let +the old bike have her head. It certainly wouldn't suit me to have to +dismount in the village and walk up the opposite slope, and I was much +too exhausted to do anything else unless I could take it in a rush. + +Down I went, the machine flying noiselessly along and gathering pace +every yard. I had nearly reached the bottom and was just getting ready +to pedal, when all of a sudden, I caught sight of something that +almost paralyzed me. Right ahead, in the centre of the village square, +stood a prison warder. His back was towards me and I could see the +moonlight gleaming on the barrel of his carbine. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DUBIOUS REFUGE + + +I was going so fast that everything seemed to happen simultaneously. +I had one blurred vision of him spinning round and yelling to me to +stop: then the next moment I had flashed past him and was racing +across the bridge. + +Whether he recognized me for certain I can't say. I think not, or he +would probably have fired sooner than he did: as it was, my rush had +carried me three quarters of the way up the opposite hill before he +could make up his mind to risk a shot. + +Bang went his carbine, and at the same instant, with a second loud +report, the tire of my back wheel abruptly collapsed. It was a good +shot if he had aimed for it, and what's more it came unpleasantly +near doing the trick. The old bike swerved violently, but with a wild +wrench I just succeeded in righting her. For a second I heard him +shouting and running behind me, and then, working like a maniac, I +bumped up the rest of the slope, and disappeared over the protecting +dip at the top. + +Of my progress for the next mile or so I have only the most +confused recollection. It was like one of those ghastly things that +occasionally happen to one in a nightmare. I just remember pedalling +blindly along, with the back wheel grinding and jolting beneath me +and the moonlit road rising and falling ahead. It must have been more +instinct than anything else that kept me going, for I was in the last +stages of hunger and weariness, and most of the time I scarcely knew +what I was doing. + +At last, after wobbling feebly up a long slope, I found I had reached +the extreme edge of the Moor. Right below me the road dropped down for +several hundred feet into a broad level expanse of fields and woods. +Six or seven miles away the lights of Plymouth and Devonport threw up +a yellow glare into the sky, and beyond that again I could just see +the glint of the moonlight shining on the sea. + +It was no good stopping, for I knew that in an hour or so the mounted +warders would be again on my track. So clapping on both brakes, I +started off down the long descent, being careful not to let the +machine get away with me as it had done on the previous hill. + +At the bottom, which I somehow reached in safety, I found a sign-post +with two hands, one marked Plymouth and the other Devonport. I took +the latter road, why I can hardly say, and summoning up my almost +spent energies I pedalled off shakily between its high hedges. + +How I got as far as I did remains a mystery to me to this day. I fell +off twice from sheer weakness, but on each occasion I managed to drag +myself back into the saddle again, and it was not until my third +tumble, that I decided I could go no farther. + +I was in a dark stretch of road bounded on each side by thick +plantations. It was a good place to lie up in, but unfortunately there +was another and more pressing problem in front of me. Half delirious +as I was, I realized that unless I could find something to eat that +night my career as an escaped convict was pretty near its end. + +I picked myself up, and with a great effort managed to drag the +bicycle to the side of the road. Then, clutching the rail that bounded +the plantation, I began to stagger slowly forward along the slightly +raised path. I think I had a sort of vague notion that there might be +something to eat round the next corner. + +I had progressed in this fashion for perhaps forty yards, when quite +unexpectedly both the trees and the railings came to an end. I +remained swaying and half incredulous for a moment: then I began to +realize that I was standing in front of an open gate looking up an +exceedingly ill-kept drive. At the end of this drive was a house, and +the moonlight shining full on the front of it showed me that the whole +place had about as forlorn and neglected an appearance as an inhabited +building could very well possess. That it was inhabited there could be +no doubt, for in the small glass square above the hall door I could +see a feeble glimmer of light. + +No one could have called it an inviting-looking place, but then I +wasn't exactly waiting for invitations where a chance of food was +concerned. I just slipped in at the gate, and keeping well in the +shadow of the bushes that bounded the drive, I crept slowly and +unsteadily forward until I reached a point opposite the front door. I +crouched there for a moment, peering up at the house. Except for that +flickering gas jet there was no sign of life anywhere; all the windows +were shuttered or else in complete darkness. + +At first I had a wild idea of ringing the bell and pretending to be +a starving tramp. Then I remembered that my description had no doubt +been circulated all round the neighbourhood, and that if there was +any one in the place they would probably recognize me at once as the +missing convict. This choked me off, for though as a rule I have no +objection to a slight scuffle, I felt that in my present condition the +average housemaid could knock me over with the flick of a duster. + +The only alternative scheme that suggested itself to my numbed mind +was to commit another burglary. There was a path running down the side +of the house, which apparently led round to the back, and it struck +me that if I followed this I might possibly come across an unfastened +window. Anyhow, it was no good waiting about till I collapsed from +exhaustion, so, getting on my feet, I slunk along the laurels as far +as the end of the drive, and then crept across in the shadow of an +overhanging tree. + +I made my way slowly down the path, keeping one hand against the wall, +and came out into a small square yard, paved with cobbles, where I +found myself looking up at the back of the house. There was a door +in the middle with two windows on either side of it, and above these +several other rooms--all apparently in complete darkness. + +I was beginning to feel horribly like fainting, but by sheer +will-power I managed to pull myself together. Going up to the nearest +window I peered through the pane. I could see the dim outline of a +table with some plates on it just inside, and putting my hand against +the bottom sash I gave it a gentle push. It yielded instantly, sliding +up several inches with a wheezy rattle that brought my heart into my +mouth. + +For a moment or two I waited, listening intently for any sound of +movement within the house. Then, as nothing happened, I carefully +raised the sash a little higher, and poked my head in through the +empty window-frame. + +It was the kitchen all right: there could be no doubt about that. A +strong smell of stale cooking pervaded the warm darkness, and that +musty odour brought tears of joy into my eyes. I took one long +luxurious sniff, and then with a last effort I hoisted myself up and +scrambled in over the low sill. + +As my feet touched the floor there was a sharp click. A blinding flash +of light shot out from the darkness, striking me full in the face, and +at the same instant a voice remarked quietly but firmly: "Put up your +hands." + +I put them up. + +There was a short pause: then from the other end of the room a man in +a dressing-gown advanced slowly to the table in the centre. He was +holding a small electric torch in one hand and a revolver in the +other. He laid down the former with the light still pointing straight +at my face. + +"If you attempt to move," he remarked pleasantly, "I shall blow your +brains out." + +With this he walked to the side of the room, struck a match against +the wall, and reaching up turned on the gas. + +I was much too dazed to do anything, even if I had had the chance. I +just stood there with my hands up, rocking slightly from side to side, +and wondering how long it would be before I tumbled over. + +My captor remained for a moment under the light, peering at me in +silence. He seemed to be a man of about sixty--a thin, frail man +with white hair and a sharp, deeply lined face. He wore gold-rimmed +pince-nez, behind which a pair of hard grey eyes gleamed at me in +malicious amusement. + +At last he took a step forward, still holding the revolver in his +hand. + +"A stranger!" he observed. "Dear me--what a disappointment! I hope Mr. +Latimer is not ill?" + +I had no idea what he was talking about, but his voice sounded very +far away. + +"If you keep me standing like this much longer," I managed to jerk +out, "I shall most certainly faint." + +I saw him raise his eyebrows in a sort of half-mocking smile. + +"Indeed," he said, "I thought--" + +What he thought I never heard, for the whole room suddenly went dim, +and with a quick lurch the floor seemed to get up and spin round +beneath my feet. I suppose I must have pitched forward, for the last +thing I remember is clutching wildly but vainly at the corner of the +kitchen table. + + * * * * * + +My first sensation on coming round was a burning feeling in my lips +and throat. Then I suddenly realized that my mouth was full of brandy, +and with a surprised gulp I swallowed it down and opened my eyes. + +I was lying back in a low chair with a cushion under my head. Standing +in front of me was the gentleman in the dressing-gown, only instead of +a revolver he now held an empty wine-glass in his hand. When he saw +that I was recovering he stepped back and placed it on the table. +There was a short pause. + +"Well, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "and how are you feeling now?" + +A hasty glance down showed me that the jacket of my overalls had been +unbuttoned at the neck, exposing the soaked and mud-stained prison +clothes beneath. I saw that the game was up, but for the moment I was +too exhausted to care. + +My captor leaned against the end of the table watching me closely. + +"Are you feeling any better?" he repeated. + +I made a feeble attempt to raise myself in the chair. "I don't know," +I said weakly; "I'm feeling devilish hungry." + +He stepped forward at once, his lined face breaking into something +like a smile. + +"Don't sit up. Lie quite still where you are, and I will get you +something to eat. Have you had any food today?" + +I shook my head. "Only rain-water," I said. + +"You had better start with some bread and milk, then. You have been +starving too long to eat a big meal straight away." + +Crossing the room, he pushed open a door which apparently led into the +larder, and then paused for a moment on the threshold. + +"You needn't try to escape," he added, turning back to me. "I am not +going to send for the police." + +"I don't care what you do," I whispered, "as long as you hurry up with +some grub." + +Lying there in the sort of semi-stupor that comes from utter +exhaustion, I listened to him moving about in the larder apparently +getting things ready. For the moment all thoughts of danger or +recapture had ceased to disturb me. Even the unexpected fashion +in which I was being treated did not strike me as particularly +interesting or surprising: my whole being was steeped in a sense of +approaching food. + +I saw him re-enter the room, carrying a saucepan, which he placed on +a small stove alongside the fireplace. There was the scratching of a +match followed by the pop of a gas-ring, and half-closing my eyes I +lay back in serene and silent contentment. + +I was aroused by the chink of a spoon, and the splash of something +liquid being poured out. Then I saw my host coming towards me, +carrying a large steaming china bowl in his hand. + +"Here you are," he said. "Do you think you can manage to feed +yourself?" + +I didn't trouble to answer. I just seized the cup and spoon, and the +next moment I was wolfing down a huge mouthful of warm bread and milk +that seemed to me the most perfect thing I had ever tasted. It was +followed rapidly by another and another, all equally beautiful. + +My host stood by watching me with a sort of half-amused interest. + +"I shouldn't eat it quite so fast," he observed. "It will do you more +good if you take it slowly." + +The first few spoonfuls had already partly deadened my worst pangs, +so following his advice I slackened down the pace to a somewhat more +normal level. Even then I emptied the bowl in what I think must +have been a record time, and with a deep sigh I handed it to him to +replenish. + +I was feeling better--distinctly better. The food, the rest in the +chair, and the comparative warmth of the room were all doing me good +in their various ways, and for the first time I was beginning to +realize clearly where I was and what had happened. + +I suppose my host noticed the change, for he looked at me in an +approving fashion as he gave me my second helping. + +"There you are," he said in that curious dry voice of his. "Eat that +up, and then we'll have a little conversation. Meanwhile--" he paused +and looked round--"well, if you have no objection I think I will shut +that window. I daresay you have had enough fresh air for today." + +I nodded--my mouth was too full for any more elaborate reply--and +crossing the room he closed the sash and pulled down the blind. + +"That's better," he observed, gently rubbing his hands together; "now +we are more comfortable and more private. By the way, I don't think I +have introduced myself yet. My name is McMurtrie--Doctor McMurtrie." + +"I am charmed to meet you," I said, swallowing down a large chunk of +bread. + +He nodded his head, smiling. "The pleasure is a mutual one, Mr. +Lyndon--quite a mutual one." + +The words were simple and smooth enough in themselves, but somehow or +other the tone in which they were uttered was not altogether to my +taste. It seemed to carry with it the faint suggestion of a cat +purring over a mouse. Still I was hardly in a position to be too +fastidious, so I accepted his compliment, and went on calmly with my +bread and milk. + +With the same rather catlike smile Dr. McMurtrie drew up a chair +and sat down opposite to me. He kept his right hand in his pocket, +presumably on the revolver. + +"And now," he said, "perhaps you have sufficiently recovered to be +able to tell me a little about yourself. At present my knowledge of +your adventures is confined to the account of your escape in this +morning's _Daily Mail_." + +I slowly finished the last spoonful of my second helping, and placed +the cup beside me on the floor. It was a clumsy device to gain time, +for now that the full consciousness of my surroundings had returned to +me, I was beginning to think that Dr. McMurtrie's methods of receiving +an escaped convict were, to say the least, a trifle unusual. Was his +apparent friendliness merely a blind, or did it hide some still deeper +purpose, of which at present I knew nothing? + +He must have guessed my thoughts, for leaning back in his chair he +remarked half-mockingly: "Come, Mr. Lyndon, it doesn't pay to be too +suspicious. If it will relieve your mind, I can assure you I have no +immediate intention of turning policeman, even for the magnificent sum +of--how much is it--five pounds, I believe? On mere business grounds I +think it would be underrating your market value." + +The slight but distinct change in his voice in the last remark +invested it with a special significance. I felt a sudden conviction +that for some reason of his own Dr. McMurtrie did not intend to give +me up--at all events for the present. + +"I will tell you anything you want to know with pleasure," I said. +"Where did the _Daily Mail_ leave off?" + +He laughed curtly, and thrusting the other hand into his pocket pulled +out a silver cigarette-case. + +"If I remember rightly," he said, "you had just taken advantage of the +fog to commit a brutal and quite unprovoked assault upon a warder." He +held out the case. + +"But try one of these before you start," he added. "They are a special +brand from St. Petersburg, and I think you will enjoy them. There +is nothing like a little abstinence to make one appreciate a good +tobacco." + +With a shaking hand I pressed the spring. It was three years since I +had smoked my last cigarette--a cigarette handed me by the inspector +in that stuffy little room below the dock, where I was waiting to be +sentenced to death. + +If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget my sensations as I +struck the match which my host handed me and took in that first +fragrant mouthful. It was so delicious that for a moment I remained +motionless from sheer pleasure; then lying back again in my chair with +a little gasp I drew another great cloud of smoke deep down into my +lungs. + +The doctor waited, watching me with a kind of cynical amusement. + +"Don't hurry yourself, Mr. Lyndon," he observed, "pray don't hurry +yourself. It is a pleasure to witness such appreciation." + +I took him at his word, and for perhaps a couple of minutes we sat +there in silence while the blue wreaths of smoke slowly mounted +and circled round us. Then at last, with a delightful feeling of +half-drugged contentment, I sat up and began my story. + +I told it him quite simply--making no attempt to conceal or exaggerate +anything. I described how the idea of making a bolt had come suddenly +into my mind, and how I had acted on it without reflection or +hesitation. Step by step I went quietly through my adventures, from +the time when the fog had rolled down to the moment when, half +fainting with hunger and exhaustion, I had climbed in through his +kitchen window. + +Leaning on the arm of his chair, he listened to me in silence. As far +as any movement or change of expression was concerned a statue could +scarcely have betrayed less interest, but all the time the steady +gleam of his eyes never shifted from my face. + +When I had finished he remained there for several seconds in the same +attitude. Then at last he gave a short mirthless laugh. + +"It must be pleasant to be as strong as you are," he said. "I should +have been dead long ago." + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I don't exactly feel like going to a +dance," I answered. + +He got up and walked slowly as far as the window, where he turned +round and stood staring at me thoughtfully. At last he appeared to +make up his mind. + +"You had better go to bed," he said, "and we will talk things over in +the morning. You are not fit for anything more tonight." + +"No, I'm not," I admitted frankly; "but before I go to bed I should +like to feel a little more certain where I'm going to wake up." + +There was a faint sound outside and I saw him raise his head. It was +the distant but unmistakable hum of a motor, drawing nearer and nearer +every moment. For a few seconds we both stood there listening: then +with a sudden shock I realized that the car had reached the house and +was turning in at the drive. + +Weak as I was I sprang from my chair, scarcely feeling the thrill of +pain that ran through me at the effort. + +"By God!" I cried fiercely, "you've sold me!" + +He whipped out the revolver, pointing it full at my face. + +"Sit down, you fool," he said. "It's not the police." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + + +Whatever my intentions may have been--and they were pretty venomous +when I jumped up--the revolver was really an unnecessary precaution. +Directly I was on my feet I went as giddy as a kite, and it was only +by clutching the chair that I saved myself from toppling over. I was +evidently in a worse way than I imagined. + +Lowering his weapon the doctor repeated his order. + +"Sit down, man, sit down. No one means you any harm here." + +"Who is it in the car?" I demanded, fighting hard against the accursed +feeling of faintness that was again stealing through me. + +"They are friends of mine. They have nothing to do with the police. +You will see in a minute." + +I sat down, more from necessity than by choice, and as I did so I +heard the car draw up outside the back door. + +Crossing to the window the doctor threw up the sash. + +"Savaroff!" he called out. + +There came an answer in a man's voice which I was unable to catch. + +"Come in here," went on McMurtrie. "Don't bother about the car." He +turned back to me. "Drink this," he added, pouring out some more +brandy into the wine-glass. I gulped it down and lay back again in my +chair, tingling all through. + +He took my wrist and felt my pulse for a moment. "I know you are +feeling bad," he said, "but we'll get your wet clothes off and put you +to bed in a minute. You will be a different man in the morning." + +"That will be very convenient," I observed faintly. + +There was a noise of footsteps outside, the handle of the door turned, +and a man--a huge bear of a man in a long Astrachan coat--strode +heavily into the room. He was followed by a girl whose face was almost +hidden behind a partly-turned-back motor veil. When they caught sight +of me they both stopped abruptly. + +"Who's this?" demanded the man. + +Dr. McMurtrie made a graceful gesture towards me with his hand. +"Allow me," he said, "to introduce you. Monsieur and Mademoiselle +Savaroff--our distinguished and much-sought-after friend Mr. Neil +Lyndon." + +The big man gave a violent start, and with a little exclamation the +girl stepped forward, turning back her veil. I saw then that she was +remarkably handsome, in a dark, rather sullen-looking sort of way. + +"You will excuse my getting up," I said weakly. "It doesn't seem to +agree with me." + +"Mr. Lyndon," explained the doctor, "is fatigued. I was just proposing +that he should go to bed when I heard the car." + +"How in the name of Satan did he get here?" demanded the other man, +still staring at me in obvious amazement. + +"He came in through the window with the intention of borrowing a +little food. I had happened to see him in the garden, and being under +the natural impression that he was--er--well, another friend of ours, +I ventured to detain him." + +Savaroff gave a short laugh. "But it's incredible," he muttered. + +The girl was watching me curiously. "Poor man," she exclaimed, "he +must be starving!" + +"My dear Sonia," said McMurtrie, "you reflect upon my hospitality. Mr. +Lyndon has been faring sumptuously on bread and milk." + +"But he looks so wet and ill." + +"He is wet and ill," rejoined the doctor agreeably. "That is just the +reason why I am going to ask you to heat some water and light a fire +in the spare bedroom. We don't want to disturb Mrs. Weston at this +time of night. I suppose the bed is made up?" + +Sonia nodded. "I think so. I'll go up and see anyhow." + +With a last glance at me she left the room, and Savaroff, taking off +his coat, threw it across the back of a chair. Then he came up to +where I was sitting. + +"You don't look much like your pictures, my friend," he said, +unwinding the scarf that he was wearing round his neck. + +"Under the circumstances," I replied, "that's just as well." + +He laughed again, showing a set of strong white teeth. "Yes, yes. +But the clothes and the short hair--eh? They would take a lot of +explaining away. It was fortunate for you you chose this house--very +fortunate. You find yourself amongst friends here." + +I nodded. + +I didn't like the man--there was too great a suggestion of the bully +about him, but for all that I preferred him to McMurtrie. + +It was the latter who interrupted. "Come, Savaroff, you take Mr. +Lyndon's other arm and we'll help him upstairs. It is quite time he +got out of those wet things." + +With their joint assistance I hoisted myself out of the chair and, +leaning heavily on the pair of them, hobbled across to the door. Every +step I took sent a thrill of pain through me, for I was as stiff and +sore as though I had been beaten all over with a walking-stick. The +stairs were a bit of a job too, but they managed to get me up somehow +or other, and I found myself in a large sparsely furnished hall lit by +one ill-burning gas jet. There was a door half open on the left, and +through the vacant space I could see the flicker of a freshly lighted +fire. + +They helped me inside, where we found the girl Sonia standing beside a +long yellow bath-tub which she had set out on a blanket. + +"I thought Mr. Lyndon might like a hot bath," she said. "It won't take +very long to warm up the water." + +"Like it!" I echoed gratefully; and then, finding no other words to +express my emotions, I sank down in an easy chair which had been +pushed in front of the fire. + +I think the brandy that McMurtrie had given me must have gone to my +head, or perhaps it was merely the sudden sense of warmth and comfort +coming on top of my utter fatigue. Anyhow I know I fell gradually into +a sort of blissful trance, in which things happened to me very much as +they do in a dream. + +I have a dim recollection of being helped to pull off my soaked and +filthy clothes, and later on of lying back with indescribable felicity +in a heavenly tub of hot water. + +Then I was in bed and somebody was rubbing me, rubbing me all over +with some warm pungent stuff that seemed to take away the pain in my +limbs and leave me just a tingling mass of drowsy contentment. + +After that--well, after that I suppose I fell asleep. + + * * * * * + +I base this last idea upon the fact that the next thing I remember is +hearing some one say in a rather subdued voice: "Don't wake him up. +Let him sleep as long as he likes--it's the best thing for him." + +Whereupon, as was only natural, I promptly opened my eyes. + +Dr. McMurtrie and the dark girl were standing by my bedside, looking +down at me. + +I blinked at them for a moment, wondering in my half-awake state where +the devil I had got to. Then suddenly it all came back to me. + +"Well," said the doctor smoothly, "and how is the patient today?" + +I stretched myself with some care. I was still pretty stiff, and my +throat felt as if some one had been scraping it with sand-paper, but +all the same I knew that I was better--much better. + +"I don't think there's any serious damage," I said hoarsely. "How long +have I been asleep?" + +He looked at his watch. "As far as I remember, you went to sleep +in your bath soon after midnight. It's now four o'clock in the +afternoon." + +I started up in bed. "Four o'clock!" I exclaimed. "Good Lord! I must +get up--I--" + +He laid his hand on my shoulder. "Don't be foolish, my friend," he +said. "You will get up when you are fit to get up. At the present +moment you are going to have something to eat." He turned to the girl. +"What are you thinking of giving him?" he asked. + +"There are plenty of eggs," she said, "and there's some of that fish +we had for breakfast." She answered curtly, almost rudely, looking at +me while she spoke. Her manner gave me the impression that for some +reason or other she and McMurtrie were not exactly on the best of +terms. + +If that was so, he himself betrayed no sign of it. "Either will do +excellently," he said in his usual suave way, "or perhaps our +young friend could manage both. I believe the Dartmoor air is most +stimulating." + +"I shall be vastly grateful for anything," I said, addressing the +girl. "Whatever is the least trouble to cook." + +She nodded and left the room without further remark--McMurtrie looking +after her with what seemed like a faint gleam of malicious amusement. + +"I have brought you yesterday's _Daily Mail_," he said; "I thought it +would amuse you to read the description of your escape. It is quite +entertaining; and besides that there is a masterly little summary of +your distinguished career prior to its unfortunate interruption." He +laid the paper on the bed. "First of all, though," he added, "I will +just look you over. I couldn't find much the matter with you last +night, but we may as well make certain." + +He made a short examination of my throat, and then, after feeling my +pulse, tapped me vigorously all over the chest. + +"Well," he said finally, "you have been through enough to kill two +ordinary men, but except for giving you a slight cold in the head it +seems to have done you good." + +I sat up in bed. "Dr. McMurtrie," I said bluntly, "what does all this +mean? Who are you, and why are you hiding me from the police?" + +He looked down on me, with that curious baffling smile of his. "A +natural and healthy curiosity, Mr. Lyndon," he said drily. "I hope +to satisfy it after you have had something to eat. Till then--" he +shrugged his shoulders--"well, I think you will find the _Daily Mail_ +excellent company." + +He left the room, closing the door behind him, and for a moment I +lay there with an uncomfortable sense of being tangled up in some +exceedingly mysterious adventure. Even such unusual people as Dr. +McMurtrie and his friends do not as a rule take in and shelter escaped +convicts purely out of kindness of heart. There must be a strong +motive for them to run such a risk in my case, but what that motive +could possibly be was a matter which left me utterly puzzled. So far +as I could remember I had never seen any of the three before in my +life. + +I glanced round the room. It was a big airy apartment, with ugly +old-fashioned furniture, and two windows, both of which looked out in +the same direction. The pictures on the wall included an oleograph +portrait of the late King Edward in the costume of an Admiral, a large +engraving of Mr. Landseer's inevitable stag, and several coloured and +illuminated texts. One of the latter struck me as being topical if a +little inaccurate. It ran as follows: + +THE WICKED +FLEE +WHEN NO MAN +PURSUETH + +Over the mantelpiece was a mirror in a mahogany frame. I gazed at it +idly for a second, and then a sudden impulse seized me to get up and +see what I looked like. I turned back the clothes and crawled out of +bed. I felt shaky when I stood up, but my legs seemed to bear me all +right, and very carefully I made my way across to the fireplace. + +The first glance I took in the mirror gave me a shock that nearly +knocked me over. A cropped head and three days' growth of beard will +make an extraordinary difference in any one, but I would never +have believed they could have transformed me into quite such an +unholy-looking ruffian as the one I saw staring back at me out of the +glass. If I had ever been conceited about my personal appearance, that +moment would have cured me for good. + +Satisfied with a fairly brief inspection I returned to the bed, and +arranging the pillow so as to fit the small of my back, picked up the +_Daily Mail_. I happened to open it at the centre page, and the big +heavily leaded headlines caught my eyes straight away. + +ESCAPE OF NEIL LYNDON +FAMOUS PRISONER BREAKS OUT OF DARTMOOR +SENSATIONAL CASE RECALLED + +With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I settled down to read. + +_From our own Correspondent. +Princetown_. + +Neil Lyndon, perhaps the most famous convict at present serving his +sentence, succeeded yesterday in escaping from Princetown. At the +moment of writing he is still at large. + +He formed one of a band of prisoners who were returning from the +quarries late in the afternoon. As the men reached the road which +leads through the plantation to the main gate of the prison, one of +the warders in charge was overcome by an attack of faintness. In the +ensuing confusion, a convict of the name of Cairns, who was walking +at the head of the gang, made a sudden bolt for freedom. He was +immediately challenged and fired at by the Civil Guard. + +The shot took partial effect, but failed for the moment to stop the +runaway, who succeeded in scrambling off into the wood. He was pursued +by the Civil Guard, and it was at that moment that Lyndon, who was in +the rear of the gang, also made a dash for liberty. + +He seems to have jumped the low wall which bounds the plantation, +and although fired at in turn by another of the warders, apparently +escaped injury. + +Running up the hill through the trees, he reached the open slope of +moor on the farther side which divides the plantation from the main +wood. While he was crossing this he was seen from the roadway by +that well-known horse-dealer and pigeon-shot, Mr. Alfred Smith of +Shepherd's Bush, who happened to be on a walking tour in the district. + +Mr. Smith, with characteristic sportsmanship, made a plucky attempt +to stop him; but Lyndon, who had picked up a heavy stick in the +plantation, dealt him a terrific blow on the head that temporarily +stunned him. He then jumped the railings and took refuge in the wood. + +The pursuing warders came up a few minutes later, but by this time a +heavy mist was beginning to settle down over the moor, rendering +the prospect of a successful search more than doubtful. The warders +therefore surrounded the wood with the idea of preventing Lyndon's +escape. + +Taking advantage of the fog, however, the latter succeeded in slipping +out on the opposite side. He was heard climbing the railings by +Assistant-warder Conway, who immediately gave the alarm and closed +with the fugitive. The other warders came running up, but just before +they could reach the scene of the struggle Lyndon managed to +free himself by means of a brutal kick, and darting into the fog +disappeared from sight. + +It is thought that he has made his way over North Hessary and is lying +up in the Walkham Woods. In any case it is practically certain that he +will not be at liberty much longer. It is impossible for him to get +food except by stealing it from a cottage or farm, and directly he +shows himself he is bound to be recaptured. + +Considerable excitement prevails in the district, where all the +inhabitants are keenly on the alert. + +THE MARKS MURDER +ECHOES OF A FAMOUS CASE + +The escape of Neil Lyndon recalls one of the most famous crimes of +modern days. + +On the third of October four years ago, as most of our readers will +remember, a gentleman named Mr. Seton Marks was found brutally +murdered in his luxurious flat on the Chelsea Embankment. It was +thought at first that the crime was the work of burglars, for Mr. +Marks's rooms contained many art treasures of considerable value. A +further examination, however, revealed the fact that nothing had been +tampered with, and the next day the whole country was startled and +amazed to learn that Neil Lyndon had been arrested on suspicion. + +At the trial it was proved beyond question that the accused was the +last person in the company of the murdered man. He had gone round to +Mr. Marks's flat at four o'clock in the afternoon, and had apparently +been admitted by the owner. Two hours later Mr. Marks's servant +returning to the flat was horrified to find his master's dead body +lying in the sitting-room. Death had been inflicted by means of a +heavy blow on the back of the head, but the state of the dead man's +face showed that he had been brutally mishandled before being killed. + +The accused, while maintaining his innocence of the murder, did not +deny either his visit to the flat, or the fact that he had inflicted +the other injuries on the deceased. He declined to state the cause of +their quarrel, but the defending counsel produced a witness in the +person of Miss Joyce Aylmer, a young girl of sixteen, who was able to +throw some light on the matter. + +Miss Aylmer, a young lady of considerable beauty, stated that for +about a year she had been working as an art student in Chelsea, and +used occasionally to sit to artists for the head. On the afternoon +before the murder she had had a professional engagement of this kind +with Mr. Marks. There had been a visitor in the flat when she arrived, +but he had left as soon as she came in. Subsequently, according to her +statement, the deceased had acted towards her in an outrageous and +disgraceful manner. She had escaped from his flat with difficulty, and +had subsequently informed Mr. Lyndon of what had taken place. + +In his re-examination, the accused admitted that it was on account +of Miss Aylmer's statement he had visited the flat. Up till then, he +declared, he had had no quarrel with the deceased. + +This statement, however, was directly contradicted by Lyndon's +partner, Mr. George Marwood. Giving his evidence with extreme +reluctance, Mr. Marwood stated that for some time bad blood had +undoubtedly existed between Mr. Marks and the accused. He added that +in his own hearing on two separate occasions the latter had threatened +to kill the deceased. + +Pressed still further, he admitted meeting Mr. Lyndon in Chelsea +on the night of the murder, when the latter had to all intents and +purposes acknowledged his guilt. + +On the evidence there could naturally be only one verdict, and Lyndon +was found guilty and sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Owen. + +A tremendous agitation in favour of his reprieve broke out at once. +Apart from the peculiar circumstances under which the crime was +committed, it was urged that Mr. Lyndon's services to the country as +an inventor should be taken into consideration. Within twenty-four +hours over a million people had signed a petition in his favour, and +the following day His Majesty was pleased to commute the sentence to +one of penal servitude for life. + +There is little doubt, however, that Lyndon would have been released +at the end of ten or twelve years. + +THE ESCAPED CONVICT'S CAREER + +Neil Lyndon is the only son of the well-known explorer Colonel Grant +Lyndon, who perished on the Upper Amazon some fifteen years ago. He +was educated at Haileybury, and Oriel College, Oxford, where he took +the highest honours in chemistry and mathematics. Coming down, he +entered into partnership with his cousin Mr. George Marwood, and +between them the two young inventors met with early and remarkable +success. Their greatest achievement was of course the construction of +the Lyndon-Marwood automatic torpedo, which was taken up four years +ago, after exhaustive tests, by the British Government. + +Lyndon is a man of exceptionally powerful physique. He successfully +represented Oxford as a heavy-weight boxer in his last term, and the +following year was runner up in the Amateur Championship. He is also a +fine long-distance swimmer, and a well-known single-handed yachtsman. + +Mr. George Marwood, whose painful position in connection with the +trial aroused considerable sympathy, has carried on the business alone +since his partner's conviction. Quite recently, as our readers will +recall, he was the victim of a remarkable outrage at his offices in +Victoria Street. While he was working there by himself late at night, +a couple of masked men broke into the building, bound and gagged him, +and proceeded to ransack the safe. It is said that they secured plans +and documents of considerable value, but owing to the non-arrest of +the thieves the exact details have never come to light. + +So ended the _Daily Mail_. + +I finished reading, and taking a long breath, laid down the paper. Up +till then I had heard nothing about the news contained in the last +paragraph, and it sent my memory back at once to the big well-lighted +room in Victoria Street where George and I had spent so many hours +together. I wondered what the valuable "plans and documents" might +be which the thieves were supposed to have secured. In my day we had +always been pretty careful about what we left at the office, and +any really important plans--such as those of the Lyndon-Marwood +torpedo--were invariably kept at the safe deposit across the street. + +From George and the office my thoughts drifted away over the whole +of that crowded time referred to in the paper. Brief and bald as the +narrative was, it brought up before me a dozen vivid memories, which +jostled each other simultaneously in my mind. I saw again poor little +Joyce's tear-stained face, and remembered the shuddering relief with +which she had clung to me as she sobbed out her story. I could recall +the cold rage in which I had set out for Marks's flat, and that first +savage blow of mine that sent him reeling and crashing into one of his +own cabinets. + +Then I was in court again, and George was giving his evidence--the +lying evidence that had been meant to send me to the gallows. +I remembered the cleverly assumed reluctance with which he had +apparently allowed his statements to be dragged from him, and my blood +rose hot in my throat as I thought of his treachery. + +Above all I seemed to see the fat red face of Mr. Justice Owen, with +the ridiculous little three-cornered black cap above it. He had been +very cut up about sentencing me to death, had poor old Owen, and I +could almost hear the broken tones in which he had faltered out the +words: + +"... taken from the place where you now stand to the place whence you +came--hanged by the neck until your body be dead--and may God have +mercy on your soul." + +At this cheerful point in my reminiscences I was suddenly interrupted +by a sharp knock at the door. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN OFFER WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE + + +With a big effort I pulled myself together. "Come in," I called out. + +The door opened, and the girl, Sonia, entered the room. She was +carrying a tray, which she set down on the top of the chest of +drawers. + +"I don't know the least how to thank you for all this," I said. + +She turned round and looked at me curiously from under her dark +eyebrows. + +"For all what?" she asked. + +"This," I repeated, waving my hand towards the tray, "and the hot bath +last night, and incidentally my life. If it hadn't been for you and +Dr. McMurtrie I think my 'career,' as the _Daily Mail_ calls it, would +be pretty well finished by now." + +She stood where she was, her hand on her hip, her eyes fixed on my +face. + +"Do you know why we are helping you?" she asked. + +I shook my head. "I haven't the faintest notion," I answered frankly. +"It certainly can't be on account of the charm of my appearance. I've +just been looking at myself in the glass." + +She shrugged her shoulders half impatiently. "What does a man's +appearance matter? You can't expect to break out of Dartmoor in a +frock-coat." + +"No," I replied gravely; "there must always be a certain lack of +dignity about such a proceeding. Still, when one looks like--well, +like an escaped murderer, it's all the more surprising that one should +be so hospitably received." + +She picked up the tray again, and brought it to my bedside. + +"Oh!" she said; "I shouldn't build too much upon our hospitality if I +were you." + +I took the tray from her hands. "I would build upon yours to any +extent," I said; "but I am under no illusion whatever about Dr. +McMurtrie's disinterestedness. He and your father--it is your father, +isn't it?--are coming up to explain matters as soon as I have had +something to eat." + +She stood silent for a moment, her brows knitted in a frown. + +"They mean you no harm," she said at last, "as long as you will do +what they want." Then she paused. "Did you murder that man Marks?" she +asked abruptly. + +I swallowed down my first mouthful of fish. "No," I said; "I only +knocked him about a bit. He wasn't worth murdering." + +She stared at me as if she was trying to read my thoughts. + +"Is that true?" she said. + +"Well," I replied, "he was alive enough when I left him, judging from +his language." + +"Then why did your partner--Mr. Marwood--why did he say that you had +done it?" + +"That," I said softly, "is a little question which George and I have +got to discuss together some day." + +She walked to the door and then turned. + +"If a man I had trusted and worked with behaved like that to me," she +said slowly, "I should kill him." + +I nodded my approval of the sentiment. "I daresay it will come to +that," I said; "the only thing is one gets rather tired of being +sentenced to death." + +She gave me another long, curious glance out of those dark brown eyes +of hers, and then going out, closed the door behind her. + +For an exceedingly busy and agreeable quarter of an hour I occupied +myself with the contents of the tray. There was some very nicely +grilled whiting, a really fresh boiled egg, a jar of honey, and a +large plate of brown bread and butter cut in sturdy slices. Best of +all, on the edge of the tray were a couple of McMurtrie's cigarettes. +Whether he or Sonia was responsible for this last attention I could +not say. I hoped it was Sonia: somehow or other I did not want to be +too much indebted to Dr. McMurtrie. + +I finished my meal--finished it in the most complete sense of the +phrase--and then, putting down my tray on the floor, reverently +lighted up. I found that my first essay in smoking on the previous +evening had in no way dulled the freshness of my enjoyment, and for +a few minutes I was content to lie there pleasantly indifferent to +everything except the flavour of the tobacco. + +Then my mind began to work. Sonia's questions had once again started a +train of thought which ever since the trial had been running through +my brain with maddening persistence. If I had not killed Marks, who +had? How often had I asked myself that during the past three years, +and how often had I abandoned the problem in utter weariness! +Sometimes, indeed, I had been almost tempted to think the jury must +have been right--that I must have struck the brute on the back of the +head without realizing in my anger what I was doing. Then, when I +remembered how I had left him crouching against the wall, spitting out +curses at me through his cut and bleeding lips, I knew that the idea +was nonsense. The wound which they found in his head must have killed +him instantly. No man who had received a blow like that would ever +speak or move again. + +The one thing I felt certain of was that in some mysterious way or +other George was mixed up in the business. It was incredible that +he could have acted as he did at the trial unless he had had some +stronger reason than mere dislike for me. That he did dislike me I +knew well, but my six years' association with him had taught me that +he would never allow any personal motive to interfere with a chance of +making money. By sending me to the gallows or into penal servitude +he was practically ruining himself, for with all his acuteness and +business knowledge he was quite deficient in any sort of inventive +power. And yet he had not hesitated to do it, and to do it by a piece +of lying sufficiently cold-blooded and deliberate to make Judas pale +with envy. + +If there had been any apparent chance of his being able to rob me by +the proceeding, I could have understood it. But my business interests +as far as past inventions went were safe in the hands of my lawyers, +and although I had told him a certain amount about the new explosive +which I had been working at, it was quite impossible for him to turn +it to any practical use. + +No, George must have had some other reason for perjuring his +unpleasant soul, and the only one I could think of was that he had +purposely turned the case against me in order to shield the real +murderer. He had been fairly well acquainted with the dead man, I +knew--their tastes indeed ran on somewhat similar lines--and it was +just possible that he was aware who had committed the crime. + +The thought filled me, as it always had filled me, with a bitter fury. +Again and again in my cell I had fancied myself escaping from the +prison and choking the truth out of my cousin's throat with my +fingers, and now that the first part of this picture had come true, I +vowed silently to myself that nothing should stop the remainder from +following it. Whatever McMurtrie might propose, I would see George +once again face to face, even if death or recapture was the price I +had to pay. + +I had just arrived at this conclusion when I heard the sound of +footsteps in the passage outside. Then the handle of the door turned, +and McMurtrie appeared on the threshold with Savaroff looming up +behind him. There was a moment's silence, while the doctor stood there +smiling down on me as blandly as ever. + +"May we come in?" he inquired. "We are not interrupting your tea, I +hope." + +"No, I have done tea, thank you," I said, with a gesture towards the +tray. + +Why it was so, I can't say, but McMurtrie's politeness always filled +me with a feeling of repulsion. There was something curiously sinister +about it. + +He stepped forward into the room, followed by Savaroff, who closed the +door behind him. The latter then lounged across and sat down on the +window-sill, McMurtrie remaining standing by my bedside. + +"You have read the _Mail_, I see," he said, picking up the paper. "I +hope you admired the size of the headlines." + +"It's the type of compliment," I replied, "that I have had rather too +much of." + +Savaroff broke out into a short gruff laugh. "Our friend," he said, +"is modest--so modest. He does not thirst for more fame. He would +retire into private life if they would let him." + +He chuckled to himself, as though enjoying the subtlety of his own +humour. Unlike his daughter, he spoke English with a distinctly +foreign accent. + +"Ah, yes," said Dr. McMurtrie amiably; "but then, Mr. Lyndon is one of +those people that we can't afford to spare. Talents such as his are +intended for use." He took off his glasses and began to polish them +thoughtfully. "One might almost say that he held them in trust--in +trust for Providence." + +There was a short silence. + +"And is it on account of my talents that you have been kind enough to +shelter me?" I asked bluntly. + +The doctor readjusted his pince-nez, and seated himself with some +deliberation on the foot of the bed. + +"The instinct to assist a hunted fellow-creature," he observed, "is +almost universal." Then he paused. "I take it, Mr. Lyndon, that you +are not particularly anxious to rejoin your friends in Princetown?" + +I shook my head. "Not if there is a more pleasant alternative." + +Savaroff grunted. "No alternative is likely to be more unpleasant for +you," he said harshly. + +The touch of bullying in his tone put my back up at once. "Indeed!" I +said: "I can imagine several." + +McMurtrie's smooth voice intervened. "But ours, Mr. Lyndon, is one +which I think will make a very special appeal to you. How would you +like to keep your freedom and at the same time take up your scientific +work again?" + +I looked at him closely. For once there was no trace of mockery in his +eyes. + +"I should like it very much indeed, if it was possible," I answered. + +McMurtrie leaned forward a little. "It is possible," he said quietly. + +There was a short pause. Savaroff pulled out a cigar, bit off the end, +and spat it into the fireplace. Then he reached sideways to the chest +of drawers for a match. + +"Explain to him," he said, jerking his head towards me. + +McMurtrie glanced at him--it seemed to me a shade impatiently. Then he +turned back to me. + +"For some time before Mr. Marks's unfortunate death," he said slowly, +"you had been experimenting with a new explosive." + +I nodded my head. I had no idea how he had got his information, for as +far as I was aware George was the only person who had any knowledge of +my secret. + +"And I believe you were just on the point of success when you were +arrested?" + +"Theoretically I was," I said. "These matters don't always work out +quite so well when you put them to a practical test." + +"Still, you yourself were quite satisfied with the prospects?" + +I nodded again. + +"And unless I am wrong, this new explosive will be immensely more +powerful than anything now in use?" + +"Immensely," I repeated; "in fact, there would be no practical +comparison between them." + +"Can you give me any idea as to its strength?" + +I hesitated. "According to my calculations," I said slowly, "it ought +to prove at least twenty times as powerful as gun-cotton." + +Savaroff uttered a hoarse exclamation and sat upright in his seat. + +"Are you speaking the truth?" he asked roughly. + +I stared him full in the face, and then without answering turned back +to McMurtrie. + +The latter made a gesture with his hand. "Leave the matter to me, +Savaroff," he said sharply. "I understand Mr. Lyndon better than you +do." Then addressing me: "Supposing you had all the things that you +required, how long would it take you to manufacture some of this +powder--or whatever it is?" + +"It's difficult to say," I answered. "Perhaps a week; perhaps a couple +of months. I could make the actual stuff at once provided I had the +materials, but it's a question of doing it in such a way that one can +handle it safely for practical purposes. I was experimenting on that +very point at the time of my arrest." + +McMurtrie nodded his head slowly. "You have been candid with us," +he said, "and now I will be equally candid with you. My friend M. +Savaroff and myself are very largely interested in the manufacture +of high explosives. The appearance of an invention like yours on the +market would be a very serious matter indeed for us. On the other +hand, if we had control of it, we should, I imagine, be in a position +to dictate our own terms." + +"You certainly would," I said; "there is no question about that. My +explosive would be no more expensive to manufacture than cordite." + +"So you see when some exceedingly convenient chance brought you in +through our kitchen window it naturally occurred to me to invite you +to stay and discuss the matter. You happen to be in a position in +which you could be useful to us, and I think that we, on the other +hand, might be of some assistance to you." + +He leant back and watched me with that cold smile of his. + +"What do you say, Mr. Lyndon?" he added. + +I did some rapid but necessary thinking. It was quite true that the +new explosive would knock the bottom out of the present methods of +manufacture, and McMurtrie's interests in the matter might well be +large enough to make him run the risk of helping me. There seemed no +reason to doubt that he was speaking the truth--and yet, somehow or +other I mistrusted him--mistrusted him from my soul. + +"How did you know about my experiments?" I asked quietly. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "There are such things as trade secrets. It +is necessary for a business man to keep in touch with anything that +may threaten his interests." + +I hesitated a second. "What is it that you propose--exactly?" I +inquired. + +I saw--or thought I saw--the faintest possible gleam of satisfaction +steal into his eyes. + +"I propose that you should finish your experiments as soon as +possible, make some of this explosive, and hand the actual stuff +and the full secret of its manufacture over to us. In return I will +guarantee you your freedom, and let you have a quarter interest in all +profits we make out of your invention." + +He brought out these somewhat startling terms as coolly as though it +were an every-day custom of his to do business with escaped convicts. +I bent down from the bed, and under cover of picking up my second +cigarette from the tray, secured a few useful moments for considering +the situation. + +"I have no objection to the bargain," I said slowly, helping myself to +a match off the table; "the only question is whether it is possible to +carry it out. My experiments aren't the kind that can be conducted +in a back bedroom. I should want a large shed of some kind, and the +farther away it was from any houses the better. There is always the +chance of blowing oneself up at this sort of business, and in that +case an explosive like mine would probably wreck everything within a +couple of miles." + +"You shall work under any conditions you please," said McMurtrie +amiably. "If it suits you we will fix you up a hut and some sheds down +on the Thames marshes, and you can live there till the experiments are +finished." + +"But I should be recognized," I objected. "I am bound to be +recognized. I am fairly well known as it is, and with my picture and +description placarded all over England, I shouldn't stand a dog's +chance. However lonely a place it was, some one would be bound to see +me and give me away sooner or later." + +McMurtrie shook his head. "You may be seen," he said, "but there is no +reason why you should be recognized." + +I paused in the act of lighting my cigarette. "What do you mean?" I +asked with some curiosity. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," said McMurtrie, courteously, "as a scientist +yourself you don't imagine that it's beyond the art of an intelligent +surgeon to cope with a little difficulty like that?" + +"But in what way?" I objected. "A disguise? Any one can see through a +disguise except in novels." + +The doctor smiled. "I am not suggesting a wig and a pair of +spectacles," he observed. "It is rather too late in the world's +history for that sort of thing." Then he stopped and studied me for an +instant attentively. "In a fortnight, and practically without hurting +you," he added, "I can make you as safe from the police as if you were +dead and buried." + +I sat up in bed. "Under the circumstances," I said, "you'll excuse my +being a little inquisitive." + +"Oh, there is no secret about it. Any surgeon could do it. I have +only to alter the shape of your nose a trifle, and make your forehead +rather higher and wider. A stain of some sort will do the rest." + +"Yes," I said; "but what about the first part of the programme?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. "Child's play," he answered. "Merely a +question of paraffin injections and the X-rays." + +He spoke with such careless confidence that for once it was impossible +to doubt his sincerity. + +I lay back again and drew in a large exulting lungful of cigarette +smoke. I had suddenly realized that if McMurtrie's offer was genuine, +and he could really do what he promised, there were no longer any +difficulties in the way of my getting at George. The idea of meeting +him, and perhaps even speaking to him, without his being able to +recognize me filled me with a wicked satisfaction that no words can do +justice to. + +I don't think I betrayed my emotion, however, for McMurtrie's keen +eyes were on me, and I was not in the least anxious to take him into +my confidence. I blew out the smoke in a grey cloud, and then, raising +myself on my elbow carefully flicked the ash off my cigarette. + +"How am I to know that you will keep your promise?" I asked. + +Savaroff made an angry movement, but before he could speak, McMurtrie +had broken in. + +"You forget what an embarrassing position we shall be putting +ourselves in, Mr. Lyndon," he said with perfect good temper. +"Shielding a runaway convict is an indictable offence--to say nothing +of altering his appearance. As for the money"--he made a little +gesture of contempt--"well, do you think it would pay us to cheat you? +There is always the chance that a gentleman who can invent things like +this explosive and the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo may have other equally +satisfactory notions." + +"Very well," I said quietly. "I will accept the offer on one +condition--that I can have a week in London before beginning work." + +With an oath Savaroff started up from the window-sill. + +"Gott in Himmel! and who are you to make terms?" he exclaimed roughly. +"Why, we have only to send you back to the prison and you will be +flogged like a dog!" + +"In which distressing event," I observed, "you would not get your +explosive." + +"My dear Savaroff," interrupted McMurtrie, soothingly, "there is +no need to threaten Mr. Lyndon. I am sure that he appreciates the +situation." Then he turned to me. "I suppose you have some reason for +making this condition?" + +Silently in my heart I invoked the shade of Ananias. + +"If you had been in Dartmoor three years," I said, with a rather +well-forced laugh, "you would find several excellent reasons for +wanting a week in London." + +My acting must have been good, for I could have sworn I saw a faint +expression of relieved contempt flicker across McMurtrie's face. + +"I see. A little holiday--a brief taste of the pleasures of liberty! +Well, that seems to me a very natural and reasonable request. What do +you think, Savaroff?" + +That gentleman contented himself with a singularly ungracious grunt. + +"I don't think there would be much risk about it," I said boldly. "If +you can change my appearance as completely as you say you can, no one +would be the least likely to recognize me. After three years of that +dog's life up there I can't settle down in a hut on the Thames marshes +without having a few days' fun first. I should be very careful what +I did naturally. I have had quite enough of the prison to appreciate +being outside." + +McMurtrie nodded. "Very well," he said slowly. "I see no objection to +your having your 'few days' fun' in London if you want them. It would +be safer perhaps to get you away from this house as soon as possible. +I should think three weeks would be quite enough for our purposes +here--and I daresay it will take us a month to fix up a satisfactory +place for you to work in." Then he paused. "Of course if you go to +town," he added, "you will have to stay at some address we shall +arrange for, and you will have to be ready to start work directly we +tell you to." + +"Naturally," I said; "I only want--" + +I was saved from finishing my falsehood by a sudden sound from +outside--the sound of a swing gate banging against its post. For a +moment I had a horrible feeling that it might be the police. + +Savaroff jumped up and looked out of the window. Then with a little +guttural exclamation he turned back to McMurtrie. + +"Hoffman!" he muttered, apparently in some surprise. + +Who Mr. Hoffman might be I had not the faintest notion, but the +mention of the name brought the doctor to his feet at once. I think +he was rather annoyed with Savaroff for being unnecessarily +communicative. When he spoke, however, it was with his usual perfect +composure. + +"Well, we will leave you at peace now, Mr. Lyndon. I should try to go +to sleep again for a little while if I were you. I will come up later +and see whether you would like some supper." He stopped and looked +round the room. "Is there anything else you want that you haven't +got?" + +"If you could advance me a box of cigarettes," I said, "it shall be +the first charge on the new explosive." + +He nodded, smiling. "I will send Sonia up with it," he answered. Then, +following Savaroff, he went out into the passage, carefully closing +the door after him. + +Left alone, I lay back on the pillow in a frame of mind which I +believe novelists describe as "chaotic." I had expected something +rather unusual from my interview with McMurtrie, but these proposals +of his could hardly be classed under such a mild heading as that. For +sheer unexpectedness they about took the biscuit. + +I had read in books of a man's appearance being altered so completely +that even his best friends failed to recognize him, but it had never +occurred to me that such a thing could be done in real life--let alone +in the simple fashion outlined by the doctor. Of course, if he was +speaking the truth, there seemed no reason why his plan, fantastic as +it might sound, should not turn out perfectly successful. A private +hut on the Thames marshes was about the last place in which you would +look for an escaped Dartmoor convict, especially when he had vanished +into thin air within a few miles of Devonport. + +What worried me most in the matter was my apparent good luck in having +fallen on my feet in this amazing fashion. There is a limit to one's +belief in coincidences, and the extraordinary combination of chances +suggested by McMurtrie's smooth explanations was just a little too +stiff for me to swallow. I felt sure that he was lying in some +important particulars--but precisely which they were I was unable to +guess for certain. + +That he wanted the secret of the new explosive, and wanted it badly, +there could be no doubt, but neither he nor Savaroff in the least +suggested to me a successful manufacturer of cordite or anything +else. They seemed to me to belong to a much more interesting if less +conventional type, and I couldn't help wondering what on earth such +a curious trio as they and Sonia could be doing tucked away in an +ill-furnished, deserted-looking country house in a corner of South +Devon. + +However it was no good worrying, for as far as I was concerned it was +painfully clear that there was no alternative. If I declined their +offer and refused to let McMurtrie carve my face about, they had only +to turn me out, and in a few hours I should probably be back in my +cell with the cheerful prospect of chains, a flogging, and six months' +semi-starvation in front of me. + +Anything was better than that--even the wildest of plunges in the +dark. Indeed I am not at all sure that the mystery that surrounded +McMurtrie's offer did not lend it a certain charm in my eyes. My life +had been so infernally dull for the last three years that the prospect +of a little excitement, even of an unpleasant kind, was by no means +wholly disagreeable. + +At least I had my week's "fun" in London to look forward to, and the +thought of that alone would have been quite enough to make me go +through with anything. I had lied to McMurtrie about my object, +but the falsehood, such as it was, did not sit very heavily on my +conscience. The precise meaning of "fun" is purely a matter of +opinion, and I was as much entitled to my definition as he was to his. +After all, if a convicted murderer can't be a little careless about +the exact truth, who the devil can? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FACE OF A STRANGER + + +McMurtrie had left me under the impression that he meant to start work +on my face the next day, but as it turned out the impression was a +mistaken one. Both the paraffin wax and the X-ray outfit had to be +procured from London, and according to Sonia it was to see about these +that her father went off to town early the following morning. She told +me this when she brought me up my breakfast, just after I had heard +the car drive away from the house. + +"Well, I suppose I had better get up too," I said. "I can't stop in +bed and be waited on by you." + +"You've got to," she replied curtly, "unless you would rather I sent +up Mrs. Weston." + +"Who's Mrs. Weston?" I inquired. + +Sonia placed the tray on my bed. "She's our housekeeper. She's deaf +and dumb." + +"There are worse things," I observed, "in a housekeeper." Then I sat +up and pulled my breakfast towards me. "Of course I would much rather +you looked after me. I was only thinking of the trouble I'm giving +you." + +"Oh, it's not much trouble," she said; then after a little pause she +added, in a rather curious voice: "Anyway I shouldn't mind if it was." + +"But I am feeling perfectly fit this morning," I persisted. "I might +just as well get up if your father would lend me some kit. I don't +think I could squeeze into McMurtrie's." + +She shook her head. "The doctor says you are to stop where you are. +He is coming up to see you." Then she hesitated. "One of the prison +warders called here last night to warn us that you were probably +hiding in the neighbourhood." + +"That was kind," I said, "if a little belated. Had they found the +bicycle?" + +"No," she answered, "and they are not likely to. My father went out +and brought it in the night you arrived. It's buried in the back +garden." + +There was another short silence, and then she seated herself on the +foot of the bed. "Tell me," she said, "this girl--Joyce Aylmer--do you +love her?" + +The question came out so unexpectedly that it took me by utter +surprise. I stopped in the middle of conveying a piece of bacon to my +mouth and laid it down again on the plate. + +"Why, Joyce is only a child," I said; "at least she was when I went to +prison. We were all in love with her in a sort of way. Her father had +been an artist in Chelsea before he died, and we looked on her as +a kind of general trust. She used to run in and out of the various +studios just as she pleased. That was the reason I was so furious with +Marks. It was impossible to believe that a man who wasn't an absolute +fiend could--" I pulled up short in some slight embarrassment. + +"But she is not a child now," remarked Sonia calmly. "According to the +paper she must be nineteen." + +"Yes," I said, "I suppose people grow older even when I'm in prison." + +"And she loves you--she must love you. Do you think any woman could +help loving a man who had done what you did for her?" + +"Oh, I expect she has forgotten all about me long ago," I said with +a sudden bitterness. "People who go to prison can't expect to be +remembered--except by the police." + +I had spoken recklessly, and even while the words were on my tongue a +vision of Joyce's honest blue eyes rose reproachfully in my mind. I +remembered the terrible heartbroken little note which she had sent me +after the trial, and then her other letter which I had received in +Dartmoor--almost more pitiful in its brave attempt to keep hope and +interest alive in my heart. + +Sonia leaned forward, her hands clasped in her lap. + +"I thought," she said slowly, "I thought that perhaps you wanted to go +to London in order to meet her." + +I shook my head. "I am not quite so selfish as that. I have brought +her enough trouble and unhappiness already." + +"Then it is your cousin that you mean to see," she said softly--"this +man, Marwood, who sent you to the prison." + +For a second I was silent. It had suddenly occurred to me that in +asking these questions Sonia might be acting under the instructions of +McMurtrie or her father. + +She saw my hesitation and evidently guessed the cause. + +"Oh, you needn't think I shall repeat what you tell me," she broke +out almost scornfully. "The doctor and my father are quite capable of +taking care of themselves. They don't want me to act as their spy." + +There was a genuine ring of dislike in her voice as she mentioned +their names which made me believe that she was speaking the truth. + +"Well," I said frankly, "I was thinking of looking up George just to +see how he has been getting on in my absence. But apart from that I +have every intention of playing straight with McMurtrie. It seems to +me to be my only chance." + +A bell tinkled faintly somewhere away in the house, and Sonia got up +off the bed. + +"It _is_ your only chance," she said quietly, "but it may be a better +one than you imagine." + +And with this encouraging if somewhat obscure remark she went out and +left me to my thoughts. + +McMurtrie came up about an hour later. Suave and courteous as ever, +he knocked at my door before entering the room, and wished me good +morning in the friendliest of fashions. + +"I have brought you another _Daily Mail_--yesterday's," he said, +throwing the paper down on the bed. "It contains the second instalment +of your adventures." Then he paused and looked at me with that curious +smile that seemed to begin and end with his lips. "Well," he added, +"and how are the stiffness and the sore throat this morning?" + +"Gone," I said, "both of them. I have no excuse for stopping in bed +except lack of clothes." + +He nodded and sat down on the window-sill. "I daresay we can find a +way out of that difficulty. My friend Savaroff would, I am sure, be +delighted to lend you some garments to go on with. You seem to be much +of a size." + +"Well, I should be delighted to accept them," I said. "Even the joy of +being in a real bed again begins to wear off after two days." + +"I am afraid you can't expect very much liberty while you are our +guest," he said, leaning back against the window. "It would be too +dangerous for you to go outside the house, even at night time. I +expect Sonia told you about our visitor yesterday." + +"Yes," I said; "I should like to have heard the interview." + +"It was quite interesting. From what he told me I should say that few +prisoners have been more missed than you are. It appears that there +are over seventy warders hunting about the neighbourhood, to say +nothing of volunteers." + +"I seem to be giving a lot of trouble," I said sadly. + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Not to us. I am only sorry that +we can't offer you a more entertaining visit." He opened his case and +helped himself to a cigarette. "On the whole, however, I daresay you +won't find the time drag so very much. There will be the business +of altering your appearance--I hope to start on that the day after +tomorrow--and then I want you to make me out a full list of everything +you will need in connection with your experiments. It would be best +perhaps to have a drawing of the actual shed--just as you would like +it fitted up. You might start on this right away." + +"Certainly," I said. "I shall be glad to have something to do." + +"And I don't suppose you will mind much if we can't arrange anything +very luxurious for you in the way of living accommodation. We shall +have to choose as lonely a place as possible, and it will probably +involve your feeding chiefly on tinned food, and roughing it a bit +generally. It won't be for very long." + +"I shan't mind in the least," I said. "Anything will be comfortable +after Princetown. As long as you can fix me up with what I want for my +work I shan't grumble about the rest." + +He nodded again in a satisfied manner. "By the way," he said, "I +suppose you never wore a beard or a moustache before you went to +prison?" + +"Only once in some amateur theatricals," I answered "and then the +moustache came off." + +"They will make a great difference in your appearance by themselves," +he went on, looking at me critically. "I wonder how long they will +take to grow." + +I passed my hand up my face, which was already covered with a thick +stubble about half an inch in length. "At the present rate of +progress," I said, "I should think about a week." + +McMurtrie smiled. "Another fortnight on top of that will be nearer the +mark, I expect," he said, getting up from the bed. "That will just fit +in with our arrangements. In three weeks we ought to be able to fix +you up with what you want, and by that time there won't be quite so +much excitement about your escape. The _Daily Mail_ will have become +tired of you, even if the police haven't." He stopped to flick the ash +off his cigarette. "Of course you will have to be extremely careful +when you are in London. I shall change your appearance so that it +will be quite impossible for any one to recognize you, but there will +always be the danger of somebody remembering your voice." + +"I can disguise that to a certain extent," I said. "Besides, it's not +likely that I shall run across any one I know well. I only want to +amuse myself for two or three evenings, and the West End's a large +place as far as amusement goes." Then I paused. "If you really thought +it was too risky," I added carelessly, "I would give up the idea." + +It was a bold stroke--but it met with the success that it deserved. +Any lingering doubts McMurtrie may have had about my intentions were +apparently dispersed. + +"I think you will work all the better for a short holiday," he said; +"and I am sure you are sensible enough to keep out of any trouble." + +He walked to the door, and stood for a moment with his hand on the +knob. "I will send you up the clothes and some paper and ink," he +added. "Then you can get up or write in bed--just as you like." + +After three years of granite quarrying--broken only by a short spell +of sewing mailsacks--the thought of getting back to a more congenial +form of work was a decidedly pleasant one. During the half-hour that +elapsed before Sonia came up with my things, I lay in bed, busily +pondering over various points in connection with my approaching task. +I had often done the same in the long solitary hours in my cell, and +worked out innumerable figures and details in connection with it on my +prison slate. Most of them, however, I had only retained vaguely in my +head, for it is one of the intelligent rules of our cheerful convict +system to allow no prisoner to make permanent notes of anything that +might be of possible service to him after his release. + +There seemed, therefore, every prospect that I should be fully +occupied for some time to come. Indeed, it was not until I had dressed +myself in Savaroff's clothes (they fitted me excellently) and sat down +at the table with a pen and a pile of foolscap in front of me, that I +realized what a lengthy task I had taken on. + +All my rough notes--those invaluable notes and calculations that I +had spent eighteen months over--were packed away in my safe at the +Victoria Street office. I had not bothered about them at the time, for +when you are being tried for your life other matters are apt to assume +a certain degree of unimportance. Besides, although I had told George +of their existence, I knew very well that, being jotted down in a +private cypher, no one except myself would be able to make head or +tail of what they were about. + +Still they would naturally have been of immense help to me now if I +could have got hold of them. Clear as the main details were in my +mind, I saw I should have to go over a good bit of old ground before +I could make out the exact list of my requirements which McMurtrie +needed. + +All that afternoon and the whole of the following day I stuck steadily +to my task. I had little to interrupt me, for with the exception +of Sonia who brought me up my meals, and the old deaf-and-dumb +housekeeper who came to do my room about midday, I saw or heard +nobody. McMurtrie did not appear again, and Savaroff, as I knew, was +away in London. + +I took an hour off in the evening for the purpose of studying the +_Daily Mail_, which proved to be quite as entertaining as the previous +issue. There were two and a half columns about me altogether, the +first consisting of a powerful if slightly inaccurate description of +how I had stolen the bicycle, and the remainder dealing with various +features of my crime and my escape. It was headed: + +STILL AT LARGE +NEIL LYNDON'S FIGHT FOR LIBERTY + +and I settled myself down to read with a feeling of enjoyment that +would doubtless have gratified Lord Northcliffe had he been fortunate +enough to know about it. + +"Neil Lyndon," it began, "whose daring escape from Princetown was +fully described in yesterday's _Daily Mail_, has so far successfully +baffled his pursuers. Not only is he still at liberty, but having +possessed himself of a bicycle and a change of clothes by means of an +amazingly audacious burglary, it is quite possible that he has managed +to get clear away from the immediate neighbourhood." + +This opening paragraph was followed by a full and vivid description of +my raid on the bicycle house. It appeared that the machine which I +had borrowed was the property of a certain Major Hammond, who, when +interviewed by the representative of the _Mail_, expressed himself of +the opinion that I was a dangerous character and that I ought to be +recaptured without delay. + +The narrative then shifted to my dramatic appearance on the bicycle, +as witnessed by the surprised eyes of Assistant-warder Marshfield. +According to that gentleman I had flashed past him at a terrific +speed, hurling a handful of gravel in his face, which had temporarily +blinded him. With amazing pluck and presence of mind he had recovered +himself in time to puncture my back wheel, a feat of marksmanship +which, as the _Daily Mail_ observed, was "highly creditable under the +circumstances." + +From that point it seemed that all traces of me had ceased. Both I and +the bicycle had vanished into space as completely as Elijah and his +fiery chariot, and not all the united brains of Carmelite House +appeared able to suggest a wholly satisfactory solution. + +"Lyndon," said the _Mail_, "may have succeeded in reaching Plymouth on +the stolen machine, and there obtained the food and shelter of which +by that time he must have been sorely in need. On the other hand it +is possible that, starved, frozen, and most likely wounded, he is +crouching in some remote coppice, grimly determined to perish rather +than to surrender himself to the warders." + +It was "possible," certainly, but as a guess at the truth that was +about all that could be said for it. + +The thing that pleased me most in the whole paper, however, was the +interview with George in the third column. It was quite short--only a +six-line paragraph headed "Mr. Marwood and the Escape," but brief as +it was, it filled me with a rich delight. + +"Interviewed by our Special Correspondent at his residence on the +Chelsea Embankment, Mr. George Marwood was reluctant to express any +opinion on the escape. 'The whole thing,' he said, 'is naturally +extremely distasteful to me. I can only hope that the unhappy man may +be recaptured before he succumbs to exposure, and before he has the +chance to commit any further acts of robbery and violence.'" + +In regard to the last sentiment I had not the faintest doubt that +George was speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart. As long as +I was at liberty his days and nights would be consumed by an acute and +painful anxiety. He was no doubt haunted by the idea that I had broken +prison largely for the purpose of renewing our old acquaintance, and +the thought that I might possibly succeed in my object must have been +an extremely uncomfortable one. I laughed softly to myself as I sat +and pictured his misgivings. It cheered me to think that whatever +happened later he would be left in this gnawing suspense for at least +another three weeks. After that I might perhaps see my way to relieve +it. + +There were other people, I reflected, who must have read the _Mail_ +with an equally deep if rather different interest. I tried to fancy +how the news of my escape had affected Joyce. For all my cynical +outburst in the morning, I knew well that no truer or more honest +little heart ever beat in a girl's breast, and that the uncertainty +about my fate must even now be causing her the utmost distress. + +Then there was Tommy Morrison. Somehow or other I didn't think Tommy +would be quite as anxious as Joyce. I could almost see him slapping +his leg and laughing that great laugh of his, as he read about my +theft of the bicycle and my wild dash down the hill past the warder. +He was a great believer in me, was Tommy--and I felt sure that nothing +but the news of my recapture would shake his faith in my ability to +survive. + +It was good to know that, whatever the rest of the world might be +thinking, these two at least would be following my escape with a +passionate hope that I should pull through. + +Just about six o'clock in the evening of the next day Savaroff +returned. I heard the car drive up to the house, and then came the +sound of voices and footsteps, followed by the banging of a door. +After that there was silence for perhaps twenty minutes while my two +hosts were presumably talking together in one of the rooms below. +Whether Sonia was with them or not I could not tell. + +At last I heard some one mounting the stairs, and a moment later +McMurtrie's figure framed itself in the doorway. + +"I'm afraid I am interrupting your work," he said, standing on the +threshold and looking down at the sheets of foolscap which littered +the table in front of me. + +"Not a bit," I returned cheerfully. "I've just finished"; and I began +to gather up the fruits of my two-days' toil into something like +order. + +He shut the door and came across to where I was sitting. "Do you mean +you have made out the full list of what you want?" he asked, picking +up one of the sheets and running his eye rapidly over the notes and +calculations. + +"I have done it all in the rough," I replied, "except the drawing of +the shed. That will only take an hour or so." + +"Excellent," he exclaimed. "I can see there won't be much time wasted +when we once get to work." Then he laid down the paper. "Tomorrow +morning I propose trying the first of our little operations. Savaroff +has brought me the things I needed, and I think we can finish the +whole business in a couple of days." + +"What part of me are you going to start on?" I inquired with some +interest. + +"I think I shall alter the shape of your nose first," he said. "It's +practically a painless operation--just one injection of hot paraffin +wax under the skin. After that you have only to keep quiet for a +couple of hours so that the wax can set in the right shape." + +"What about the X-ray treatment?" I asked. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "That's perfectly simple too. Merely a +matter of covering up everything except the part that we want exposed. +One uses a specially prepared sort of lead sheeting. There is +absolutely no danger or difficulty about it." + +I thought at first that he might be purposely minimizing both +operations in order to put me at my ease, but as it turned out he was +telling me nothing except the literal truth. + +At half-past ten the next morning he came up to my room with Sonia in +attendance, the latter carrying a Primus stove and a small black bag. + +At his own suggestion I had stayed in bed, and from between the sheets +I viewed their entrance not without a certain whimsical feeling of +regret. When one has had a nose of a particular shape for the best +part of thirty years it is rather a wrench to feel that one is +abandoning it for a stranger. I passed my fingers down it almost +affectionately. + +McMurtrie, who appeared to be in the best of spirits, wished me +good-morning in that silkily polite manner of his which I was getting +to dislike more and more. Sonia said nothing. She simply put the +things down on the table by my bedside, and then stood there with +the air of sullen hostility which she seemed generally to wear in +McMurtrie's presence. + +"I feel rather like a gladiator," I said. "Morituri te salutant!" + +McMurtrie, who had taken a shallow blue saucepan out of the bag and +was filling it with hot water, looked up with a smile. + +"It will be all over in a minute," he said, reassuringly. "The only +trouble is keeping the wax liquid while one is actually injecting it. +One has to stand it in boiling water until the last second." + +He put the saucepan on the stove, and then produced out of the bag +a little china-clay cup, which he stood in the water. Into this he +dropped a small lump of transparent wax. + +We waited for a minute until the latter melted, McMurtrie filling up +the time by carefully sponging the bridge of my nose with some liquid +antiseptic. Then, picking up what seemed like an ordinary hypodermic +syringe, he warmed it carefully by holding it close to the Primus. + +"Now," he said; "all you have to do is to keep perfectly still. You +will just feel the prick of the needle and the smart of the hot wax, +but it won't really hurt. If you move you will probably spoil the +operation." + +"Go ahead," I answered encouragingly. + +He dipped the syringe in the cup, and then with a quick movement of +his hand brought it across my face. I felt a sharp stab, followed +instantly by a stinging sensation all along the bridge of the nose. +McMurtrie dropped the syringe at once, and taking the skin between his +fingers began to pinch and mould it with swift, deft touches into the +required shape. I lay as motionless as possible, hoping that things +were prospering. + +It seemed to me a long time before the job was finished, though I +daresay it was in reality only a matter of forty-five seconds. I +know I felt vastly relieved when, with a quick intake of his breath, +McMurtrie suddenly sat back and began to contemplate his work. + +"Well?" I inquired anxiously. + +He nodded his head, with every appearance of satisfaction. + +"I think we can call it a complete success," he said. Then he stepped +back and looked at me critically from a couple of paces away. "What do +you think, Sonia?" he asked. + +"I suppose it's what you wanted," she said, in a rather grudging, +ungracious sort of fashion. + +"If you won't think me vain," I observed, "I should like to have a +look at myself in the glass." + +McMurtrie walked to the fireplace and unhooked the small mirror which +hung above the mantelpiece. + +"I would rather you waited for a couple of days if you don't mind," he +said. "You know what you used to look like better than any one else, +and it will be a good test if you see yourself quite suddenly when +the whole thing is finished. I will borrow this--and keep you out of +temptation." + +"Just as you like," I returned. "It will at least give me time to +train myself for the shock." + +Quick and easy as the first operation had been, the second proved +equally simple. The only apparatus it involved was an ordinary X-ray +machine, with a large glass globe attached to it, which McMurtrie +brought up the next morning and arranged carefully by my bedside. On +his pressing down a switch, which he did for my benefit, the whole +interior of this globe became flooded with those curious lambent +violet rays, which have altered so many of our previous notions on the +subject of light and its power. + +McMurtrie placed me in position, and then producing a large sheet of +finely-beaten-out lead, proceeded to bend and twist it into a sort of +weird-looking helmet. When I put this on it covered my head and face +almost completely, leaving only an inch of hair along the forehead and +perhaps a little more over each temple exposed to the light. + +Thus equipped, I sat for perhaps an hour in the full glare of the +machine. It was dull work, and as McMurtrie made no attempt to enliven +it by conversation I was not sorry when he eventually flicked off the +switch, and relieved me of my headgear. + +I had expected my hair to tumble out in a lump, but as a matter of +fact it was over two days in accomplishing the task. There was no +discomfort about the process: it just came off gradually all along +my forehead, leaving a smooth bare line which I could feel with my +fingers. As soon as it was all gone, McMurtrie proceeded to decorate +me with some kind of stain that he had specially prepared for my +face and neck--a composition which according to him would remain +practically unaffected either by washing or exposure. It smelt +damnably in the pot, but directly it was rubbed in this slight +drawback disappeared. + +I was naturally anxious to see what result all these attentions had +had upon my personal appearance, but McMurtrie insisted on my waiting +until my hair and beard had grown to something like a tolerable +length. I can well remember the little thrill of excitement that +ran through me when, on the fourth day after my first operation, he +brought me back the looking-glass. + +"I think we might introduce you to yourself today," he said, smiling. +"Of course another fortnight will make a considerable difference +still, but even now you will be able to get a good idea of what you +will look like. I am curious to hear your opinion." + +He handed me the glass, and the next moment, with an involuntary cry +of amazement, I was staring at my reflection. + +Instead of my usual features I saw a rough-looking, bearded man of +about forty-five, with an aquiline nose, a high forehead, and a dark +sunburned skin. It was the face of a complete stranger: at the +best that of a hard-bitten war correspondent or explorer; at the +worst--well, I don't know what it mightn't have been at the worst. + +I stared and stared in a kind of incredulous fascination, until +McMurtrie's voice abruptly recalled me to my surroundings. + +"Well, Mr. Neil Lyndon," he said, "do you recognize yourself?" + +I laid down the glass. + +"Don't call me that," I replied quietly. "Neil Lyndon is dead." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A KISS AND A CONFESSION + + +One would hardly expect an escaped murderer to complain of being +dull--especially when the whole country is still ringing with the +story of his disappearance. Yet I must confess that, when I had once +got used to the strangeness of my position, the next two weeks dragged +intolerably. + +I was accustomed to confinement, but in the prison at all events I had +had plenty of hard work and exercise, while here, cooped up entirely +in one room, I was able to do nothing but pace restlessly up and +down most of the day like a caged bear. I had finished my lists and +drawings for McMurtrie, and my only resources were two or three +sensational novels which Sonia brought me back one day after a visit +to Plymouth. I cannot say I found them very entertaining. I had been +rather too deeply into life in that line myself to have much use for +the second-hand imaginings of other people. + +Of the doctor and Savaroff I saw comparatively little. Both of them +were away from the house a good deal of the time, often returning in +the car late at night, and then sitting up talking till some unholy +hour in the morning. I used to lie awake in bed, and listen to the +dull rumble of their voices in the room below. + +That there was something mysterious going on which I knew nothing +about I became more convinced every day, but what it could be I was +unable to guess. Once or twice I tried to sound Sonia on the matter, +but although she would talk freely about my own affairs, on any point +connected with herself or the curious household to which she belonged +she maintained an obstinate silence. + +The girl puzzled me strangely. At times it almost seemed as though she +were being forced against her will to take part in some business that +she thoroughly disliked; but then the obvious way in which the two +men trusted her scarcely bore out this idea. She showed no particular +affection for her father, and it was plain that she detested +McMurtrie, yet there was evidently some bond between them strong +enough to keep all three together. + +To me she behaved from the first with a sort of sullen friendliness. +She would come and sit in my room, and with her chin resting on her +hand and her big dark eyes fixed on mine, she would ask me questions +about myself or listen to the stories I told her of the prison. Once, +when I had been describing some peculiarly mean little persecution +which one of the warders (who objected on principle to what he called +"gen'lemen lags") had amused himself by practising on me, she had +jumped up and with a quick, almost savage gesture, laid her hand on my +arm. + +"Never mind," she said; "it's over now, and you shall make them pay +for what they have done to you. We can promise you that at least," and +she laughed with a curious bitterness I failed to understand. + +Of the mysterious Mr. Hoffman, who had turned up at the house on the +second day after my arrival, I saw or heard nothing more. I asked +Sonia about him one day, but she only replied curtly that he was a +business friend of the doctor's, and with this meagre information I +had to remain content. + +The point that I felt perhaps most inquisitive about was whom +McMurtrie could have mistaken me for when I had crawled in through the +kitchen window. I had a distinct recollection of his having mentioned +some name just before I had collapsed, but it had gone out of my head +and for the life of me I couldn't recall it. You know the maddening +way a name will hang about the tip of one's tongue, just avoiding +every effort at recapture. + +Apart from my talks with Sonia, my chief entertainment was reading the +_Daily Mail_. Not a day passed but some one seemed to discover a fresh +clue to my hiding-place. I was seen and recognized at Manchester, +Yarmouth, London, and Edinburgh; while one gentleman wrote to inform +the editor he had trustworthy information I was actually in St. +Petersburg, having been engaged by the Russian Government to effect +certain improvements in their torpedo service. All this was quite +pleasing, for, in addition to showing me that the police were still +utterly at sea as to my whereabouts, I knew that each fresh report +would help to keep George in an acute state of nervous tension. + +Just as my imprisonment was becoming almost unbearably irksome, the +end arrived with an unexpected abruptness. I was sitting at the window +one morning smoking an after-breakfast pipe--a pipe which Sonia had +brought me back from Plymouth at the same time as the books--when I +heard a loud ring at the front door-bell, followed by a couple of +sharp knocks. Despite my three years' absence from worldly affairs, I +recognized the unmistakable touch of a telegraph-boy. + +Since it was hardly likely that the wire was for me, I continued to +smoke with undisturbed serenity. Perhaps ten minutes passed, and I +was just wondering whether the message had anything to do with the +arrangements which McMurtrie was making on my behalf, when a door +slammed and I heard someone coming up the stairs. I knew from the +sound that it was the doctor himself. + +He entered the room, and looked round with his usual suave smile. To +all outward appearance he was as composed as ever, but I had a curious +presentiment that something unexpected had happened. However, I +thought it best to show no sign of any such impression. + +"Good-morning," I said, knocking out my pipe and stuffing it away in +my pocket--or rather Savaroff's pocket. "A grand day, isn't it!" + +"Beautiful," he answered genially--"quite beautiful." Then he walked +across and sat down on the end of the bed. "As a matter of fact, I +came up to see whether you felt like taking advantage of it." + +"Do you mean that it's safe for me to go out?" I asked with some +eagerness. + +He shrugged his shoulders. "It's as safe as it ever will be; but I +meant rather more than that." + +There was a pause. + +"Yes?" I said encouragingly. + +"I meant that our preparations are going on so well, that as far as I +can see there is nothing to be gained by keeping you here any longer. +I have just had a wire to say that the cottage and shed we have been +arranging for near Tilbury are practically finished. If you want your +week in London I think you had better go up this afternoon." + +His proposal took me so completely by surprise that for a moment I +hardly knew what to say. Somehow or other, I had a suspicion that he +was keeping something back. I knew that he had intended me to stay +where I was for at least another three days, and he was not the sort +of man to change his plans without an uncommonly good reason. + +Still, the last thing I wanted was to let him think that I in any way +doubted his good faith, so pulling myself together, I forced a really +creditable laugh. + +"Right you are," I said. "It's rather short notice, but I'm game to +start any time. The only thing is, what am I to do about clothes?" + +"You can keep those you're wearing to go up in," he answered. "When +you get to London you must buy yourself an outfit. Get what you want +at different shops and pay for them in cash. I will advance you fifty +pounds, which ought to be enough to last you the week." + +"One can do quite a lot of dressing and dissipation on fifty pounds," +I replied cheerfully. "Where am I going to stay?" + +He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here's the +address," he said. "It's a lodging-house near Victoria Station, kept +by a sister of Mrs. Weston. You will find it comfortable and quiet, +and you needn't worry about the landlady having any suspicions. I have +told her that you have just come back from abroad and that you want +to be in London for several days on business. You will pass under the +name of Nicholson--James Nicholson." + +He handed me the envelope, and I read the address. + +Mrs. Oldbury, + +3, Edith Terrace, + +S.W. + +_Nr. Victoria Station_. + +"Very well," I said, getting up from my seat; "I understand I am to +stop with Mrs. Oldbury and amuse myself spending the fifty pounds +until I hear from you." + +He nodded. "Directly things are ready we shall let you know. Till then +you are free to do as you like." He opened a small leather case and +handed me a bundle of bank-notes. "Here is the money," he added with a +smile. "You see, we trust you absolutely. If you choose to make a bolt +to America, there will be nothing to stop you." + +It was said with such apparent frankness that it ought to have carried +conviction; but as a matter of fact it did nothing of the kind. I felt +certain that it would not be McMurtrie's fault if he failed to keep +himself informed about my movements while I was in London. Too much +trustfulness in human nature did not seem likely to be one of his +besetting weaknesses. + +However, I pocketed the notes cheerfully enough; indeed the mere touch +of them in my hand gave me a pleasant feeling of confidence. It is +always nice to handle money in comparative bulk, but being absolutely +without it for thirty-six months invests the operation with a peculiar +charm. + +"You had better be ready to start from here about half-past one," said +McMurtrie. "Savaroff will take you into Plymouth in the car, and there +is a fast train up at two-five. It gets you into London just before +seven." + +"Good!" I said. "That will give me time to buy what I want when I +arrive. It would spoil my dinner if I had to shop afterwards." + +McMurtrie, who had crossed to the door, looked back at me with a sort +of half-envious, half-contemptuous smile. + +"You are a curious fellow, Lyndon," he said. "At times you might be a +boy of twenty." + +"Well, I am only twenty-nine," I protested; "and one can't always +remember that one's an escaped murderer." + +I was sitting on the window-sill when I made the last remark; but as +soon as he had gone I jumped to my feet and began to pace restlessly +up and down the room. Now that the moment of my release was really at +hand, a fierce excitement had gripped hold of me. Although I had +had plenty of time to get used to my new position, the amazing +possibilities of it had never seemed to come fully home to me +till that minute. I suddenly realized that I was stepping into an +experience such as probably no other human being had ever tasted. I +was like a man coming back from the dead, safe against recognition, +and with all the record of my past life scarred and burnt into my +memory. + +I walked to the glass and once again stared long and closely at my +reflection. There could be no question about the completeness of my +disguise. Between Neil Lyndon as the world had known him, and the +grim, bearded, sunburned face that looked back at me out of the +mirror, there was a difference sufficiently remarkable to worry the +recording angel. People's wits may be sharpened both by fear and +affection, but I felt that unless I betrayed myself deliberately, not +even those who knew me best, such as George or Tommy, would have the +remotest suspicion of my real identity. Anyhow, I intended to put my +opinion to the test before very many hours had passed. + +I was pondering over this agreeable prospect, and still inspecting +myself in the glass, when I heard a soft knock at the door. I opened +it, and found Sonia standing outside. She was holding a bag in her +hand--a good-sized Gladstone that had evidently seen some hard work +in its time, and she came into the room and shut the door behind her +before speaking. + +"Well," she said, in her curious, half-sullen way, "are you pleased +you are going to London?" + +"Why, yes," I said; "I'm pleased enough." + +As a matter of fact the word "pleased" seemed rather too simple to sum +up my emotions altogether adequately. + +She placed the bag on the floor and sat down on the bed. Then, leaning +her face against the bottom rail, she stared up at me for a moment +without speaking. + +"What did the doctor tell you?" she asked at last. + +"He told me I could go up to London by the two-five," I said. + +"Is that all?" + +"Dr. McMurtrie," I reminded her, "is never recklessly communicative." +Then I paused. "Still I should like to know the reason for the change +of programme," I added. + +She raised her head and glanced half nervously, half defiantly at the +door. + +"We are going to give up this house tomorrow--that's the reason," she +said, speaking low and rather quickly. "Our work here is finished, and +it will be best for us to leave as soon as possible." + +"I wish," I said regretfully, "that I inspired just a little more +confidence." + +Sonia hesitated. Then she sat up, and with a characteristic gesture of +hers pushed back her hair from her forehead. + +"Come here," she said slowly; "come quite close to me." + +I walked towards her, wondering at the sudden change in her voice. +As I approached she straightened her arms out each side of her, and +half-closing her eyes, raised her face to mine. + +"Kiss me," she said, almost in a whisper; "kiss my lips." + +I could hardly have declined such an invitation even if I had wished +to, but as a matter of fact I felt no such prompting. It was over +three years since I had kissed anybody, and with her eyes half-closed +and her breast softly rising and falling, Sonia looked decidedly +attractive. I bent down till my mouth was almost touching hers. Then +with a little sigh she put her arms round my neck, and slowly and +deliberately our lips met. + +It was at this exceedingly inopportune moment that Savaroff's guttural +voice came grating up the stairs from the hall below. + +"Sonia!" he shouted--"Sonia! Where are you? I want you." + +She quietly disengaged her arms, and drawing back, paused for a moment +with her hands on my shoulders. + +"Now you understand," she said, looking straight into my eyes. "They +are nothing to me, my father and the doctor--I hate them both. It +is you I am thinking of--you only." She leaned forward and swiftly, +almost fiercely again kissed my mouth. "When the time comes," she +whispered-- + +"Sonia! Sonia!" Once more Savaroff's voice rose impatiently from the +hall. + +In a moment Sonia had crossed the room. I had one rapid vision of +her looking back at me--her lips parted her dark eyes shining +passionately, and then the door closed and I was alone. + +I sat down on the bed and took a long breath. There was a time when an +unexpected incident of this sort would merely have left me in a state +of comfortable optimism, but a prolonged residence in Dartmoor had +evidently shaken my nerve. + +I soon collected myself, however, and lighting a cigarette with some +care, got up and walked to the open window. If Sonia was really in +love with me--and there seemed to be rather sound evidence that she +was--I had apparently, succeeded in making a highly useful ally. This +may appear to have been rather a cold-blooded way of regarding the +matter, but to tell the truth the whole thing had taken me so utterly +by surprise that I could scarcely realize as yet that I had been +personally concerned in it. I had kissed her certainly--under +the circumstances I could hardly have done otherwise--but of any +deliberate attempt to make her fond of me I was beautifully and +entirely innocent, it had never struck me that an escaped murderer +with an artificial and rather forbidding countenance was in danger of +inspiring affection, especially in a girl whose manner had always +been slightly suggestive of a merely sullen tolerance. Still, having +succeeded in doing so, I felt no qualms in making the best of the +situation. I needed friends rather badly, especially friends who had +an intimate working acquaintance with the eminent firm of Messrs. +McMurtrie and Savaroff. If the not wholly disagreeable task of +returning Sonia's proffered affection was all that was necessary, I +felt that it would be flying in the face of Providence to decline such +an opportunity. I was not the least in love with her--except by a very +generous interpretation of the word, but I did not think that this +unfortunate fact would seriously disturb my conscience. A life +sentence for what you haven't done is apt to rob one's sense of honour +of some of its more delicate points. + +With a pleasant feeling that things were working for the best, I +got up again; and hoisting the Gladstone bag on to the bed began to +collect the books, the tooth-brush, and the few other articles which +made up my present earthly possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. + + +That journey of mine to London stands out in my memory with +extraordinary vividness. I don't think I shall ever forget the +smallest and most unimportant detail of it. The truth is, I suppose, +that my whole mind and senses were in an acutely impressionable state +after lying fallow, as they practically had, for over three years. +Besides, the sheer pleasure of being out in the world again seemed to +invest everything with an amazing interest and wonder. + +It was just half-past one when Savaroff brought the car round to the +front door. I was standing in the hall talking to McMurtrie, who had +decided not to accompany us into Plymouth. Of Sonia I had seen nothing +since our unfortunately interrupted interview in the morning. + +"Well," said the doctor, as with a grinding of brakes the car pulled +up outside, "we can look on this as the real beginning of our little +enterprise." + +I picked up my Gladstone. "Let's hope," I said, "that the end will be +equally satisfactory." + +McMurtrie nodded. "I fancy," he said, "that we need have no +apprehensions. Providence is with us, Mr. Lyndon--Providence or some +equally effective power." + +There was a note of irony in his voice which left one in no doubt as +to his own private opinion of our guiding agency. + +I stepped out into the drive carrying my bag. Savaroff, who was +sitting in the driving seat of the car, turned half round towards me. + +"Put it on the floor at the back under the rug," he said. "You will +sit in front with me." + +He spoke in his usual surly fashion, but by this time I had become +accustomed to it. So contenting myself with a genial observation to +the effect that I should be charmed, I tucked the bag away out of +sight and clambered up beside him into the left-hand seat. McMurtrie +stood in the doorway, that mirthless smile of his fixed upon his lips. + +"Good-bye," I said; "we shall meet at Tilbury, I suppose--if not +before?" + +He nodded. "At Tilbury certainly. Au revoir, Mr. Nicholson." + +And with this last reminder of my future identity echoing in my ears, +we slid off down the drive. + +All the way into Plymouth Savaroff maintained a grumpy silence. He was +naturally a taciturn sort of person, and I think, besides that, he had +taken a strong dislike to me from the night we had first seen each +other. If this were so I had certainly not done much to modify it. I +felt that the man was naturally a bully, and it always pleases and +amuses me to be disliked by bullies. Indeed, if I had had no other +reason for responding to Sonia's proffered affection I should have +done so just because Savaroff was her father. + +My companion's sulks, however, in no way interfered with my enjoyment +of the drive. It was a perfect day on which to regain one's liberty. +The sun shone down from a blue sky flecked here and there with fleecy +white clouds, and on each side of the road the hedges and trees were +just beginning to break into an almost shrill green. The very air +seemed to be filled with a delicious sense of freedom and adventure. + +As we got nearer to Plymouth I found a fresh source of interest and +pleasure in the people that we passed walking along the road or +driving in traps and cars. After my long surfeit of warders and +convicts the mere sight of ordinarily-dressed human beings laughing +and talking filled me with the most intense satisfaction. On several +occasions I had a feeling that I should like to jump out of the car +and join some group of cheerful-looking strangers who turned to watch +us flash past. This feeling became doubly intense when we actually +entered Plymouth, where the streets seemed to be almost inconveniently +crowded with an extraordinary number of attractive-looking girls. + +I was afforded no opportunity, however, for indulging in any such +pleasant interlude. We drove straight through the town at a rapid +pace, avoiding the main thoroughfares as much as possible, and not +slackening until we pulled up outside Millbay station. We left the car +in charge of a tired-looking loafer who was standing in the gutter, +and taking out my bag, I followed Savaroff into the booking office. + +"You had better wait there," he muttered, pointing to the corner. "I +will get the ticket." + +I followed his suggestion, and while he took his place in the small +queue in front of the window I amused myself watching my fellow +passengers hurrying up and down the platform. They looked peaceful +enough, but I couldn't help picturing what a splendid disturbance +there would be if it suddenly came out that Neil Lyndon was somewhere +on the premises. The last time I had been in this station was on my +way up to Princetown two and a half years before. + +At last Savaroff emerged from the throng with my ticket in his hand. + +"I have taken you a first-class," he said rather grudgingly. "You will +probably have the carriage to yourself. It is better so." + +I nodded. "I shouldn't like to infect any of these good people with +homicidal mania," I said cheerfully. + +He looked at me rather suspiciously--I think he always had a sort of +vague feeling that I was laughing at him--and then without further +remark led the way out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had given me a sovereign and some loose silver for immediate +expenses, and I stopped at the bookstall to buy myself some papers. I +selected a _Mail_, a _Sportsman, Punch_, and the _Saturday Review_. I +lingered over the business because it seemed to annoy Savaroff: indeed +it was not until he had twice jogged my elbow that I made my final +selection. Then, grasping my bag, I marched up the platform behind +him, coming to a halt outside an empty first-class carriage. + +"This will do," he said, and finding no sound reason for contradicting +him I stepped in and put my bag upon the rack. + +"Good-bye, Savaroff," I said cheerfully. "I shall have the pleasure of +seeing you too at Tilbury, I suppose?" + +He closed the door, and thrust his head in through the open window. + +"You will," he said in his guttural voice; "and let me give you a +little word of advice, my friend. We have treated you well--eh, but if +you think you can in any way break your agreement with us you make a +very bad mistake." + +I took out my cigarette case. "My dear Savaroff," I said coldly, "why +on earth should I want to break my agreement with you? It is the only +possible chance I have of a new start." + +He looked at me closely, and then nodded his head. "It is well. So +long as you remember we are not people to be played with, no harm will +come to you." + +He let this off with such a dramatic air that I very nearly burst out +laughing. + +"I shan't forget it," I said gravely. "I've got a very good memory." + +There was a shrill whistle from the engine, followed by a warning +shout of "Stand back there, please; stand back, sir!" I had a last +glimpse of Savaroff's unpleasant face, as he hurriedly withdrew his +head, and then with a slight jerk the train began to move slowly out +of the station. + +I didn't open my papers at once. For some time I just sat where I was +in the corner and stared out contentedly over the passing landscape. +There is nothing like prison to broaden one's ideas about pleasure. Up +till the time of my trial I had never looked on a railway journey as a +particularly fascinating experience; now it seemed to me to be +simply chock-full of delightful sensations. The very names of the +stations--Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth--filled me with a sort of +curious pleasure: they were part of the world that I had once belonged +to--the gay, free, jolly world of work and laughter that I had thought +lost to me for ever. I felt so absurdly contented that for a little +while I almost forgot about George. + +The only stop we made was at Exeter. There were not many people on the +platform, and I had just decided that I was not going to be disturbed, +when suddenly a fussy-looking little old gentleman emerged from the +booking office, followed by a porter carrying his bag. They came +straight for my carriage. + +The old gentleman reached it first, and puckering up his face, peered +in at me through the window. Apparently the inspection was a success. + +"This will do," he observed. "Leave my bag on the seat, and go and see +that my portmanteau is safely in the van. Then if you come back here I +will give you threepence for your trouble." + +Dazzled by the prospect, the porter hurried off on his errand, and +with a little grunt the old gentleman began to hoist himself in +through the door. I put out my hand to assist him. + +"Thank you, sir, thank you," he remarked breathlessly. "I am extremely +obliged to you, sir." + +Then, gathering up his bag, he shuffled along the carriage, and +settled himself down in the opposite corner. + +I was quite pleased with the prospect of a fellow passenger, +unexciting as this particular one promised to be. I have either read +or heard it stated that when people first come out of prison they feel +so shy and so lost that their chief object is to avoid any sort of +society at all. I can only say that in my case this was certainly not +true. I wanted to talk to every one: I felt as if whole volumes +of conversation had been accumulating inside me during the long +speechless months of my imprisonment. + +It was the old gentleman, however, who first broke our silence. +Lowering his copy of the _Times_, he looked up at me over the top of +his gold-rimmed spectacles. + +"I wonder, sir," he said, "whether you would object to having that +window closed; I am extremely susceptible to draughts." + +"Why, of course not," I replied cheerfully, and suiting my action to +my words I jerked up the sash. + +This prompt attention to his wishes evidently pleased him; for he +thanked me civilly, and then, after a short pause, added some becoming +reflection on the subject of the English spring. + +It was not exactly an inspiring opening, but I made the most of it. +Without appearing intrusive I managed to keep the conversation going, +and in a few minutes we were in the middle of a brisk meteorological +discussion of the most approved pattern. + +"I daresay you find these sudden changes especially trying," commented +my companion. Then, with a sort of apology in his voice, he added: +"One can hardly help seeing that you have been accustomed to a warmer +climate." + +I smiled. "I have been out of England," I said, "for some time"; and +if this was not true in the letter, I don't think that even George +Washington could have found much fault with it in the spirit. + +"Indeed, sir, indeed," said the old gentleman. "I envy you, sir. I +only wish my own duties permitted me to winter entirely abroad." + +"It has its advantages," I admitted, "but in some ways I am quite +pleased to be back again." + +My companion nodded his head. "For one thing," he said, "one gets +terribly behindhand with English news. I find that even the best of +the foreign papers are painfully ill-informed." + +A sudden mischievous thought came into my head. "I have hardly seen a +paper of any kind for a fortnight!" I said. "Is there any particular +news? The last interesting thing I saw was about that young fellow's +escape from Dartmoor--that young inventor--what was his name?--who was +in for murder." + +The old gentleman looked up sharply. "Ah! Lyndon," he said, "Neil +Lyndon you mean. He is still at large." + +"From what I read of the case," I went on carelessly, "it seems rather +difficult to help sympathizing with him--to a certain extent. The +man he murdered doesn't appear to have been any great loss to the +community." + +My companion opened his mouth as if to speak, and then hesitated. +"Well, as a matter of fact I am scarcely in a position to discuss the +subject," he said courteously. "Perhaps, sir, you are unaware who I +am?" + +He asked the question with a slight touch of self-conscious dignity, +which showed me that in his own opinion at all events he was a person +of considerable importance. I looked at him again more carefully. +There seemed to be something familiar about his face, but beyond that +I was utterly at sea. + +"The fact is, I have been so much abroad," I began apologetically-- + +He cut me short by producing a little silver case from his pocket and +handing me one of his cards. + +"Permit me, sir," he said indulgently. + +I took it and read the following inscription: + +RT. HON. SIR GEORGE FRINTON, P.C. +_The Reform Club_. + +I remembered him at once. He was a fairly well known politician--an +old-fashioned member of the Liberal Party, with whose name I had been +more or less acquainted all my life. I had never actually met him in +the old days, but I had seen one or two photographs and caricatures +of him, and this no doubt explained my vague recollection of his +features. + +For just a moment I remained silent, struggling against a strong +impulse to laugh. There was something delightfully humorous in the +thought of my sitting in a first-class carriage exchanging cheerful +confidences with a distinguished politician, while Scotland Yard and +the Home Office were racking their brains over my disappearance. It +seemed such a pity I couldn't hand him back a card of my own just for +the fun of watching his face while he read it. + +MR. NEIL LYNDON +_Late of His Majesty's Prison_, +_Princetown_. + +Collecting myself with an effort, I covered my apparent confusion with +a slight bow. + +"It was very stupid of me not to have recognized you from your +pictures," I said. + +This compliment evidently pleased the old boy, for he beamed at me in +the most gracious fashion. + +"You see now, sir," he said, "why it would be quite impossible for me +to discuss the matter in question." + +I bowed again. I didn't see in the least, but he spoke as if the point +was so obvious that I thought it better to let the subject drop. I +could only imagine that he must be holding some official position, the +importance of which he probably overrated. + +We drifted off into the discussion of one or two other topics; +settling down eventually to our respective newspapers. I can't say I +followed mine with any keen attention. My brain was too much occupied +with my own affairs to allow me to take in very much of what I read. I +just noticed that we were engaged in a rather heated discussion +with Germany over the future of Servia, and that a well-meaning but +short-sighted Anarchist had made an unsuccessful effort to shoot the +President of the American Steel Trust. + +Of my own affairs I could find no mention, beyond a brief statement to +the effect that I was still at liberty. There was not even the usual +letter from somebody claiming to have discovered my hiding-place, and +for the first time since my escape I began to feel a little neglected. +It was evident that as a news topic I was losing something of my first +freshness. + +The last bit of the journey from Maidenhead onwards seemed to take us +an unconscionably long time. A kind of fierce restlessness had begun +to get hold of me as we drew nearer to London, and I watched the +fields and houses flying past with an impatience I could hardly +control. + +We rushed through Hanwell and Acton, and then suddenly the huge bulk +of Wormwood Scrubbs Prison loomed up in the growing dusk away to +the right of the line. It was there that I had served my +"separates"--those first ghastly six months of solitary confinement +which make even Princetown or Portland a welcome and agreeable change. + +At the sight of that poisonous place all the old bitterness welled up +in me afresh. For a moment even my freedom seemed to have lost its +sweetness, and I sat there with my hands clenched and black resentment +in my heart, staring out of those grim unlovely walls. It was lucky +for George that he was not with me in the carriage just then, for +I think I should have wrung his neck without troubling about any +explanations. + +I was awakened from these pleasant reflections by a sudden blare of +light and noise on each side of the train. I sat up abruptly, with +a sort of guilty feeling that I had been on the verge of betraying +myself, and letting down the window, found that we were steaming +slowly into Paddington Station. In the farther corner of the carriage +my distinguished friend Sir George Frinton was beginning to collect +his belongings. + +I just had time to pull myself together when the train stopped, and +out of the waiting line of porters a man stepped forward and flung +open the carriage door. He was about to possess himself of my fellow +passenger's bag when the latter waved him aside. + +"You can attend to this gentleman," he said. "My own servant is +somewhere on the platform." Then turning to me, he added courteously: +"I wish you good-day, sir. I am pleased to have made your +acquaintance. I trust that we shall have the mutual pleasure of +meeting again." + +I shook hands with him gravely. "I hope we shall," I replied. "It will +be a distinction that I shall vastly appreciate." + +And of all unconscious prophecies that were ever launched, I fancy +this one was about the most accurate. + +Preceded by the porter carrying my bag, I crossed the platform and +stepped into a waiting taxi. + +"Where to, sir?" inquired the man. + +I had a sudden wild impulse to say: "Drive me to George," but I +checked it just in time. + +"You had better drive me slowly along Oxford Street," I said. "I want +to stop at one or two shops." + +The man started the engine and, climbing back into his seat, set off +with a jerk up the slope. I lay back in the corner, and took in a +long, deep, exulting breath. I was in London--in London at last--and +if those words don't convey to you the kind of savage satisfaction +that filled my soul you must be as deficient in imagination as a +prison governor. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE MAN WITH THE SCAR + + +My shopping took me quite a little while. There were a lot of things +I wanted to get, and I saw no reason for hurrying--especially as +McMurtrie was paying for the taxi. I stopped at Selfridge's and laid +in a small but nicely chosen supply of shirts, socks, collars, and +other undergarments, and then, drifting slowly on, picked up at +intervals some cigars, a couple of pairs of boots, and a presentable +Homburg hat. + +The question of a suit of clothes was the only problem that offered +any real difficulties. Apart from the fact that Savaroff's suit was by +no means in its first youth, I had a strong objection to wearing his +infernal things a moment longer than I could help. I was determined to +have a decently cut suit as soon as possible, but I knew that it would +be a week at least before any West End tailor would finish the job. In +the meantime I wanted something to go on with, and in my extremity I +suddenly remembered a place in Wardour Street where four or five years +before I had once hired a costume for a Covent Garden ball. + +I told the man to drive me there, and much to my relief found the +shop still in existence. There was no difficulty about getting what I +wanted. The proprietor had a large selection of what he called "West +End Misfits," amongst which were several tweeds and blue serge suits +big enough even for my somewhat unreasonable proportions. I chose the +two that fitted me best, and then bought a second-hand suit-case to +pack them away in. + +I had spent about fifteen pounds, which seemed to me as much as a +fifty-pound capitalist had any right to squander on necessities. I +therefore returned to the taxi and, arranging my parcels on the +front seat, instructed the man to drive me down to the address that +McMurtrie had given me. + +Pimlico was a part of London that I had not patronized extensively in +the days of my freedom, and I was rather in the dark about the precise +situation of Edith Terrace. The taxi-man, however, seemed to suffer +under no such handicap. He drove me straight to Victoria, and then, +taking the road to the left of the station, turned off into a +neighbourhood of dreary-looking streets and squares, all bearing a +dismal aspect of having seen better days. + +Edith Terrace was, if anything, slightly more depressing than the +rest. It consisted of a double row of gaunt, untidy houses, from which +most of the original stucco had long since peeled away. Quiet enough +it certainly was, for along its whole length we passed only one man, +who was standing under a street lamp, lighting a cigarette. He looked +up as we went by, and for just one instant I had a clear view of his +face. Except for a scar on the cheek he was curiously like one of the +warders at Princetown, and for that reason I suppose this otherwise +trifling incident fixed itself in my mind. It is funny on what queer +chances one's fate sometimes hangs. + +We pulled up at Number 3 and, mounting some not very recently cleaned +steps, I gave a brisk tug at a dilapidated bell-handle. After a minute +I heard the sound of shuffling footsteps; then the door opened and a +funny-looking little old woman stood blinking and peering at me from +the threshold. + +"How do you do?" I said cheerfully. "Are you Mrs. Oldbury?" + +She gave a kind of spasmodic jerk, that may have been intended for a +curtsey. + +"Yes, sir," she said. "I'm Mrs. Oldbury; and you'd be the gentleman +I'm expectin'--Dr. McMurtrie's gentleman?" + +This seemed an accurate if not altogether flattering description of +me, so I nodded my head. + +"That's right," I said. "I'm Mr. Nicholson." Then, as the heavily +laden taxi-man staggered up the steps, I added: "And these are my +belongings." + +With another bob she turned round, and leading the way into the house +opened a door on the right-hand side of the passage. + +"This will be your sitting-room, sir," she said, turning up the gas. +"It's a nice hairy room, and I give it a proper cleaning out this +morning." + +I looked round, and saw that I was in a typical "ground-floor front," +with the usual cheap lace curtains, hideous wall paper, and slightly +stuffy smell. At the back of the room, away from the window, were two +folding doors. + +My landlady shuffled across and pushed one of them open. "And this +is the bedroom, sir. It's what you might call 'andy--and quiet too. +You'll find that a nice comfortable bed, sir. It's the one my late +'usband died in." + +"It sounds restful," I said. Then walking to the doorway I paid off +the taxi-man, who had deposited his numerous burdens and was waiting +patiently for his fare. + +As soon as he had gone, Mrs. Oldbury, who had meanwhile occupied +herself in pulling down the blinds and drawing the curtains, inquired +whether I should like anything to eat. + +"I don't think I'll trouble you," I said. "I have got to go out in any +case." + +"Oh, it's no trouble, sir--no trouble at all. I can put you on a nice +little bit o' steak as easy as anything if you 'appen to fancy it." + +I shook my head. A few weeks ago "a nice little bit o' steak" would +have seemed like Heaven to me, but since then I had become more +luxurious. I was determined that my first dinner in London should be +worthy of the occasion. Besides, I had other business to attend to. + +"No, thanks," I said firmly. "I don't want anything except some hot +water and a latchkey, if you have such a thing to spare. I don't know +what time you go to bed here, but I may be a little late getting +back." + +She fumbled in her pocket and produced a purse, from which she +extricated the required article. + +"I'm not gen'rally in bed--not much before midnight, sir," she said. +"If you should be later per'aps you'd be kind enough to turn out the +gas in the 'all. I'll send you up some 'ot water by the girl." + +She went off, closing the door behind her; and picking up my parcels +and bags I carried them into the bedroom and started to unpack. I +decided that the blue suit was most in keeping with my mood, so I laid +this out on the bed together with a complete change of underclothes. I +was eyeing the latter with some satisfaction, when there came a knock +at the door, and in answer to my summons the "girl" entered with the +hot water. She was the typical lodging-house drudge, a poor little +object of about sixteen, with a dirty face and her hair twisted up in +a knot at the back of her head. + +"If yer please, sir," she said, with a sniff, "Mrs. Oldbury wants ter +know if yer'll be likin' a barf in the mornin'." + +"You can tell Mrs. Oldbury that the answer is yes," I said gravely. +Then I paused. "What's your name?" I asked. + +She sniffed again, and looked at me with round, wondering eyes. +"Gertie, sir. Gertie 'Uggins." + +I felt in my pocket and found a couple of half-crowns. + +"Take these, Gertie," I said, "and go and have a damned good dinner +the first chance you get." + +She clasped the money in her grubby little hand. + +"Thank you, sir," she murmured awkwardly. + +"You needn't thank me, Gertie," I said; "it was a purely selfish +action. There are some emotions which have to be shared before they +can be properly appreciated. My dinner tonight happens to be one of +them." + +She shifted from one leg to the other. "Yes, sir," she said. Then with +a little giggle she turned and scuttled out of the room. + +I washed and dressed myself slowly, revelling in the sensation of +being once more in clean garments of my own. I was determined not to +spoil my evening by allowing any bitter or unpleasant thoughts to +disturb me until I had dined; after that, I reflected, it would be +quite time enough to map out my dealings with George. + +Lighting a cigarette I left the house, and set off at a leisurely pace +along Edith Terrace. It was my intention to walk to Victoria, and then +take a taxi from there to whatever restaurant I decided to dine at. +The latter question was not a point to be determined lightly, and as I +strolled along I debated pleasantly in my mind the attractions of two +or three of my old haunts. + +By the time I reached Victoria I had decided in favour of +Gaultier's--if Gaultier's was still in existence. It was a place that, +in my time at all events, had been chiefly frequented by artists and +foreigners, but the food, of its kind, was as good there as anywhere +in London. + +I beckoned to a passing taxi, and waving his arm in response the +driver swerved across the street and drew up at the kerb. + +"Where to, guv'nor?" he inquired. + +I gave him the direction, and then turned to open the door. As I did +so I noticed a man standing on the pavement close beside me looking +vacantly across the street. For an instant I wondered where I had seen +him before; then quite suddenly I remembered. He was the man we +had passed in Edith Terrace, lighting a cigarette under the street +lamp--the man who had reminded me of one of the prison warders. I knew +I was not mistaken because I could see the scar on his face. + +With a sudden vague sense of uneasiness I got into the taxi and shut +the door. The gentleman on the pavement paid no attention to me at +all. He continued to stand there staring aimlessly at the traffic, +until we had jerked forward and turned off round the corner of +Victoria Street. + +All the same the incident had left a kind of uncomfortable feeling +behind it. I suppose an escaped convict is naturally inclined to be +suspicious, and somehow or other I couldn't shake off the impression +that I was being watched and followed. If so, I had not much doubt +whom I was indebted to for the honour. It had never seemed to me +likely that McMurtrie would leave me entirely to my own sweet devices +while I was in London--not, at all events, until he had satisfied +himself that I had been speaking the truth about my intentions. + +Still, even if my suspicions were right, there seemed no reason for +being seriously worried. The gentleman on the pavement might have +overheard me give the address to the driver, but that after all was +exactly what I should have liked him to hear. Dinner at Gaultier's +sounded a most natural preliminary to an evening's dissipation, and +unless I was being actually followed to the restaurant I had nothing +to fear. It was quite possible that my friend with the scar was only +anxious to discover whether I was really setting out for the West End. + +All the same I determined to be devilish careful about my future +movements. If McMurtrie wanted a report he should have it, but I would +take particular pains to see that it contained nothing which would in +any way disturb his belief in me. + +We pulled up at Gaultier's, and I saw with a sort of sentimental +pleasure that, outside at all events, it had not altered in the least +during my three years' exile. There was the same discreet-looking +little window, the same big electric light over the door, and, unless +I was much mistaken, the same uniformed porter standing on the mat. + +When I entered I found M. Gaultier himself, as fat and bland as ever, +presiding over the scene. He came forward, bowing low after his usual +custom, and motioned me towards a vacant table in the corner. I felt +an absurd inclination to slap him on the back and ask him how he had +been getting on in my absence. + +It seemed highly improbable that he would remember my voice, but, as +I had no intention of running any unnecessary risks, I was careful to +alter it a little when I spoke to him. + +"Good-evening," I began; "are you M. Gaultier?" + +He bowed and beamed. + +"Well, M. Gaultier," I said, "I want a good dinner--a quite +exceptionally good dinner. I have been waiting for it for some time." + +He regarded me keenly, with a mixture of sympathy and professional +interest. + +"Monsieur is hungry?" he inquired. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "is both hungry and greedy. You have full scope +for your art." + +He straightened himself, and for an inspired moment gazed at the +ceiling. Then he slapped his forehead. + +"Monsieur," he said, "with your permission I go to consult the chef." + +"Go," I replied. "And Heaven attend your council." + +He hurried off, and I beckoned to the head waiter. + +"Fetch me," I said, "a Virginian cigarette and a sherry and bitters." + +A true gourmet would probably shudder at such a first course, but +it must be remembered that for three years my taste had had no +opportunity of becoming over-trained. Besides, in matters of this sort +I always act on the principle that it's better to enjoy oneself than +to be artistically correct. + +Lying back in my chair I looked out over the little restaurant with a +sensation of beautiful complacency. The soft rose-shaded lamps threw a +warm glamour over everything, and through the delicate blue spirals of +my cigarette I could just see the laughing face of a charmingly pretty +girl who was dining with an elderly man at the opposite table. I +glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was close on eight--the +hour when the cell lights at Princetown are turned out, and another +dragging night of horror and darkness begins. Slowly and luxuriously I +sipped my sherry and bitters. + +I was aroused from my reverie by the approach of M. Gaultier, who +carried a menu in his hand. + +He handed me the card with another bow, and then stepped back as +though to watch the result. This was the dinner: + +Clear soup. + +Grilled salmon. + +Lamb. New potatoes. + +Woodcock. + +Peche Melba. + +Marrow on Toast. + +I read it through, enjoying each separate word, and then, with a faint +sigh, handed it back to him. + +"Heaven," I said, "was undoubtedly at the conference." + +M. Gaultier picked up a wine list from the table. "And what will +Monsieur drink?" he inquired reverently. + +"Monsieur," I replied, "has perfect faith in your judgment. He will +drink everything you choose to give him." + +Half an hour later I again lay back in my chair, and lapped in a +superb contentment gently murmured to myself those two delightful +lines of Sydney Smith's-- + +"Serenely calm, the epicure may say: +Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today." + +I sipped my Turkish coffee, lighted the fragrant Cabana which M. +Gaultier had selected for me, and debated cheerfully with myself what +I should do next. I had had so many unpleasant evenings since my trial +that I was determined that this one at all events should be a complete +success. + +My first impulse of course was to visit George. There was something +very engaging in the thought of being ushered into his presence by a +respectable butler, and making my excuses for having called at such +an unreasonable hour. I pictured to myself how he would look as +I gradually dropped my assumed voice, and very slowly the almost +incredible truth began to dawn on him. + +So charming was the idea that it was only with some reluctance I was +able to abandon it. I didn't want to waste George: he had to last me +at least three days, and I felt that if I went down there now, warmed +and exhilarated with wine and food, I should be almost certain to give +myself away. I had no intention of doing that until the last possible +moment. I still had a sort of faint irrational hope that by watching +George without betraying my identity, I might discover something which +would throw a little light on his behaviour to me. + +But if I didn't go to Cheyne Walk, what was I to do? I put the +question to myself as I slowly lifted the glass of old brandy which +the waiter had set down in front of me, and before the fine spirit +touched my lips the answer had flashed into my mind. I would go and +see Tommy! + +It was the perfect solution of the difficulty; and as I put down the +glass again I laughed softly in sheer happiness. The prospect of +interviewing Tommy without his recognizing me was only a degree less +attractive than the thought of a similar experience with George. I +knew that the mere sight of his velvet coat and his dear old burly +carcase would fill me with the most delightful emotions--emotions +which now, amongst all my one-time friends, he and perhaps poor little +Joyce would alone have the power to provoke. The others seemed to me +as dead as the past to which they belonged. + +One thing I was determined on, and that was that I wouldn't give away +my secret. It would be difficult not to, for there were naturally a +hundred things I wanted to say to Tommy; but, however much I might be +tempted, I was resolved to play the game. It was not the thought of my +promise to McMurtrie (that sat very easily on my conscience), but the +possibility of getting Tommy himself into trouble. I knew that for me +he would run any risk in the world with the utmost cheerfulness, but +I had no intention of letting him do it. He had done more than enough +for me at the time of the trial. + +I called for the waiter and paid my bill. It seemed absurdly cheap +for such a delightful evening, and I said as much to M. Gaultier, who +insisted on accompanying me to the door. He received the remark with a +protesting gesture of his hands. + +"Most people," he said, "feed. Monsieur eats. To such we do not +wish to overcharge. It is a pleasure to provide a dinner which is +appreciated." + +The porter outside volunteered to call me a taxi, and while he was +engaged in that operation I had a sharp look up and down the street +to see whether my friend with the scar was hanging about anywhere. I +could discern no sign of him, but all the same, when the taxi came up, +I took the precaution of directing the man in a fairly audible voice +to drive me to the Pavilion, in Piccadilly Circus. It was not until +we were within a few yards of that instructive institution that I +whistled through the tube and told him to take me on to Chelsea. + +I knew Tommy was in the same studio, for Joyce had told me so in her +second letter. It was one of a fairly new block of four or five at the +bottom of Beaufort Street, about half a mile along the embankment +from George's house. All the way down I was debating with myself what +excuse I could offer for calling at such a late hour, and finally +I decided that the best thing would be to pretend that I was a +travelling American artist who had seen and admired some of Tommy's +work. Under such circumstances it would be difficult for the latter +not to ask me in for a short chat. + +I stopped the cab in the King's Road, and getting out, had another +good look round to see that I was not being followed. Satisfied on +this point, I lighted a second cigar and started off down Beaufort +Street. + +The stretch of embankment at the bottom seemed to have altered very +little since I had last seen it. One or two of the older houses had +been done up, but Florence Court, the block of studios in which Tommy +lived, was exactly as I remembered it. The front door was open, after +the usual casual fashion that prevails in Chelsea, and I walked into +the square stone hall, which was lighted by a flickering gas jet. + +There was a board on the right, containing the addresses of the +various tenants. Opposite No. 3 I saw the name of Mr. T.G. Morrison, +and with a slight quickening of the pulse I advanced along the +corridor to Tommy's door. + +As I reached it I saw that there was a card tied to the knocker. I +knew that this was a favourite trick of Tommy's when he was away, and +with a sharp sense of disappointment I bent down to read what was +written on it. With some difficulty, for the light was damnable, I +made out the following words, roughly scribbled in pencil: + +"Out of Town. Please leave any telegrams or urgent letters at No. 4. +T.M." + +I dropped the card and stood wondering what to do. If Tommy had some +pal living next door, as seemed probable from his notice, the latter +would most likely know what time he was expected to return. For a +moment I hesitated: then retracing my steps, I walked back into the +hall and glanced at the board to see who might be the tenant of No. 4. + +To my surprise I found it was a woman--a "Miss Vivien." + +At first I thought I must be wrong, for women had always been the one +agreeable feature of life for which Tommy had no manner of use. There +it was, however, as plain as a pikestaff, and with a feeling of lively +interest I turned back towards the flat. Whoever Miss Vivien might +be, I was determined to have a look at her. I felt that the girl whom +Tommy would leave in charge of his more important correspondence must +be distinctly worth looking at. + +I rang the bell, and after a short wait the door was opened by a +little maid about the size and age of Gertie 'Uggins, dressed in a cap +and a print frock. + +"Is Miss Vivien in?" I asked boldly. + +She shook her head. "Miss Vivien's out. 'Ave you got an appointment?" + +"No," I said. "I only want to know where Mr. Morrison is, and when +he's coming back. There's a notice on his door asking that any letters +or telegrams should be left here, so I thought Miss Vivien might +know." + +She looked me up and down, with a faint air of suspicion. + +"'E's away in 'is boat," she said shortly. "'E won't be back not till +Thursday." + +So Tommy still kept up his sailing! This at least was news, and news +which had a rather special interest for me. I wondered whether the +"boat" was the same little seven-tonner, the _Betty_, in which we +had spent so many cheerful hours together off the Crouch and the +Blackwater. + +"Thanks," I said; and then after a moment's pause I added, "I suppose +if I addressed a letter here it would be forwarded?" + +"I s'pose so," she admitted a little grudgingly. + +There seemed to be nothing more to say, so bidding the damsel +good-night, I walked off down the passage and out on to the +embankment. If I had drawn a blank as far as seeing Tommy was +concerned, my evening had not been altogether fruitless. I felt vastly +curious as to who Miss Vivien might be. Somehow or other I couldn't +picture Tommy with a woman in his life. In the old days, partly from +shyness and partly, I think, because they honestly bored him, he had +always avoided girls with a determination that at times bordered +on rudeness. And yet, unless all the signs were misleading, it was +evident that he and his next-door neighbour were on fairly intimate +terms. The most probable explanation seemed to me that she was some +elderly lady artist who darned his socks for him, and shed tears +in secret over the state of his wardrobe. There was a magnificent +uncouthness about Tommy which would appeal irresistibly to a certain +type of motherly woman. + +I strolled up the embankment in the direction of Chelsea Bridge, +smiling to myself over the idea. Whether it was right or not, it +presented such a pleasing picture that I had walked several hundred +yards before I quite woke up to my surroundings. Then with a sudden +start I realized that I was quite close to George's house. + +It was a big red-brick affair, standing back from the embankment +facing the river. As I came opposite I could see that there was a +light on the first floor, in the room which I knew George used as a +study. I stopped for a minute, leaning back against the low wall and +staring up at the window. + +I wondered what my cousin was doing. Perhaps he was sitting there, +looking through the evening paper in the vain hope of finding news +of my capture. I could almost see the lines on his forehead and the +nervous, jerky way in which he would be biting his fingers--a trick of +his that had always annoyed me intensely. He would bite harder than +ever if he only knew that I was standing outside in the darkness not +more than twenty yards away from him! + +I waited for a little while in the hope that he might come to the +window, but this luxury was denied me. + +"Good-night, George," I said softly; "we'll meet in the morning," and +then, with a last affectionate look at the lighted blind, I continued +my way along the embankment. + +I was not sure which turning I ought to take for Edith Terrace, but an +obliging policeman who was on duty outside the Tate Gallery put me on +the right track. There was something delicately pleasing to my sense +of humour in appealing to a constable, and altogether it was in a +most contented frame of mind that I inserted my latch-key into Mrs. +Oldbury's door and let myself into the house. My first day's holiday +seemed to me to have been quite a success. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MADEMOISELLE VIVIEN, PALMIST + + +I woke next morning at seven, or perhaps I should say I was awakened +by Gertie 'Uggins, who to judge from the noise was apparently engaged +in wrecking the sitting-room. I looked at my watch, and then halloed +to her through the door. The tumult ceased, and a head, elaborately +festooned with curl-papers, was inserted into the room. + +"Yer want yer barf?" it asked. + +"I do, Gertrude," I said; "and after that I want my breakfast. I have +a lot to do today." + +The head withdrew itself, tittering; and a moment later I heard a +shrill voice calling down the kitchen stairs. + +"Grahnd floor wants 'is 'ot water quick." + +Within about five minutes the ground floor's wish was gratified, Mrs. +Oldbury herself arriving with a large steaming can which she placed +inside a hip bath. She asked me in a mournful voice whether I thought +I could eat some eggs and bacon, and having received a favourable +reply left me to my toilet. + +It was about a quarter to eight when I sat down to breakfast. +Considering that for three years I had been obliged to rise +at painfully unseasonable hours, this may appear to have been +unnecessarily energetic, but as a matter of fact I was not acting +without good reasons. + +To start with, it was my purpose to spend a pleasant morning with +George. I wanted to be outside his house so that I could see his face +when he came out. I felt sure that as long as I was at liberty he +would be looking worried and depressed, and I had no wish to postpone +my enjoyment of such a congenial spectacle. + +Then, provided that I could restrain myself from breaking his head, I +intended to follow him to Victoria Street or wherever else he happened +to go. Beyond this I had no plan at the moment, but at the back of my +mind there was a curious irrational feeling that sooner or later I +should stumble across some explanation of the mystery of Marks' death. + +I knew that as a rule George didn't start for business until +nine-thirty or ten. I was anxious to get out of the house as soon as +possible, however, just in case I was correct in my idea that the +gentleman with the scar was keeping a kindly eye on my movements. In +that case I thought that by departing before half-past eight I should +be almost certain to forestall him. If, as I believed, he was under +the impression that I had been indulging in a night's dissipation, it +was unlikely that he would credit me with sufficient energy to get +up before ten or eleven. As to waiting for George--well, I had no +objection to that. It was a nice sunny morning, and I could buy a +paper and sit on one of the embankment seats. + +This, indeed, was exactly what I did. I slipped out of the house as +unobtrusively as possible, and, stopping at a little newspaper and +tobacco shop round the first corner, invested in a _Telegraph_ and a +_Sportsman_. Then, after making sure that I was not being followed, I +set off for the embankment. + +Some of the seats were already occupied by gentlemen and ladies who +had apparently been using them in preference to an hotel, but as luck +would have it the one opposite George's house was empty. I seated +myself in the corner, and after cutting and lighting a cigar with the +care that such an excellent brand deserved, I prepared to beguile my +wait by reading the _D.T_. + +Nothing particularly thrilling seemed to have been happening in the +world, but I can't say I felt any sense of disappointment. Just at +present my own life afforded me all the excitement my system needed. +The only important item of news that I could find was a rather +offensive speech by the German Chancellor with reference to the +dispute with England. It was a surprising utterance for a statesman in +his position, and the _Telegraph_ had improved the occasion by writing +one of its longest and stateliest leaders on provocative politicians. + +I had just finished reading this effort when George appeared. He came +out of the front door and down the steps of his house, dressed as +usual in a well-fitting frock-coat and tall hat, such as he had always +affected in the old days. I stared at him with a sort of hungry +satisfaction. He looked pale and harassed, and he carried his head +bent forward like a man whose mind was unpleasantly preoccupied. It +warmed my heart to see him. + +When he had gone some little way along the pavement, I got up from my +seat and began to keep pace with him on the other side of the roadway. +It was easy work, for he walked slowly, and stared at the ground as +though fully taken up with his own thoughts. I was not the least +frightened of his recognizing me, but as a matter of fact he never +even looked across in my direction. + +We marched along in this fashion as far as Vauxhall Bridge Road, where +George turned up to the left in the direction of Victoria Street. +I walked on a bit, so as to allow him to get about a hundred yards +ahead, and then coming back followed in his track. As he drew nearer +to the station I began to close up the gap, and all the way along +Victoria Street I was only about ten yards behind him. It was +tantalizing work, for he was just the right distance for a running +kick. + +The offices of our firm, which I had originally chosen myself, are on +the first floor, close to the Army and Navy Stores. George turned in +at the doorway and went straight up, and for a moment I stood in the +entrance, contemplating the big brass plate with "Lyndon and Marwood" +on it, and wondering what to do next. It seemed odd to think of all +that had happened since I had last climbed those stairs. + +Exactly across the road was a restaurant. It was new since my time, +but I could see that there was a table in the window on the first +floor, which must command a fair view of the houses opposite, so I +determined to adopt it as a temporary scouting ground. I walked over +and pushed open the swinging doors. Inside was a sleepy-looking waiter +in his shirt-sleeves engaged in the leisurely pursuit of rolling up +napkins. + +"Good-morning," I said; "can I have some coffee and something to eat +upstairs?" + +He regarded me for a moment with a rather startled air, and then +pulled himself together. + +"Yes, saire. Too early for lunch, saire. 'Am-an'-eggs, saire?" + +I nodded. I had had eggs and bacon for breakfast, and on the excellent +principle of not mixing one's drinks, 'am an'-eggs sounded a most +happy suggestion. + +"Very well," I said; "and I wonder if you could let me have such a +thing as a sheet of paper, and a pen and ink? I want to write a letter +afterwards." + +This, I regret to say, was not strictly true, but it seemed to offer +an ingenious excuse for occupying the table for some time without +arousing too much curiosity. + +The waiter expressed himself as being in a position to gratify me, and +leaving him hastily donning his coat I marched up the staircase to the +room above. + +When I sat down at the table in the window I found that my +expectations were quite correct. I was looking right across into the +main room of our offices, and I could see a couple of clerks working +away at their desks quite clearly enough to distinguish their faces. +They were both strangers to me, but I was not surprised at this. I +always thought that George had probably sacked most of the old staff, +if they had not given him notice on their own account. Of my cousin +himself I could see nothing. He was doubtless either in his own +sanctum, or in the big inner room where I used to work with Watson, my +assistant. + +It was of course impossible to eat much of the generous dish of +'am-an'-eggs which the waiter brought me up, but I dallied over it as +long as possible, and managed to swallow a cup of rather indifferent +coffee. Then I smoked another cigar, and when the things were cleared +away and the writing materials had arrived, I made a pretence of +beginning my letter. + +All this time, of course, I was keeping a strict watch across the +street. Nothing interesting seemed to happen, and I was just beginning +to think that I was wasting my time in a rather hopeless fashion when +suddenly I saw George come out of his private office into the main +room opposite, wearing his hat and carrying an umbrella. He spoke to +one of the clerks as though giving him some parting instructions, and +went out, shutting the door behind him. + +I jumped to my feet, and hurrying down the stairs, demanded my bill +from the rather surprised waiter. Considering that I had been sitting +upstairs for over an hour and a half, I suppose my haste did appear a +trifle unreasonable; anyway he took so long making out the bill that +at last I threw down five shillings and left him at the process. + +Even so, I was only just in time. As I came out into the street George +emerged from the doorway opposite. He looked less depressed than +before and much more like his usual sleek self, and the sight of him +in these apparently recovered spirits whipped up my resentment again +to all its old bitterness. + +He set off at a brisk pace in the direction of the Houses of +Parliament, and crossing the street I took up a tactful position in +his rear. In this order we proceeded along Whitehall, across Trafalgar +Square, and up Charing Cross Road into Coventry Street. Here George +stopped for a moment to buy himself a carnation--he had always had a +taste for buttonholes--and then resuming our progress, we crossed the +Circus, and started off down Piccadilly. + +By this time what is known I believe as "the lust of the chase" had +fairly got hold of me. More strongly than ever I had the feeling that +something interesting was going to happen, and when George turned up +Bond Street I quickened my steps so as to bring me back to my old if +rather tempting position close behind him. + +Quite suddenly in the very narrowest part of the pavement he came to a +stop, and entered a doorway next to a tobacconist's shop. In a +couple of strides I had reached the spot, just in time to see him +disappearing up a winding flight of stone stairs. + +There were two little brass plates at the side of the door, and I +turned to them eagerly to see whom he might be honouring with a visit. +One was inscribed "Dr. Rich. Jones, M.D.," and the other "Mlle. +Vivien." + +The moment I read the last name something curiously familiar about it +suddenly struck me. Then in a flash I remembered the pencilled notice +on Tommy's door, and the obliging "Miss Vivien" who was willing to +receive his telegrams. + +The coincidence was a startling one, but I was too anxious to discover +what George was doing to waste much time pondering over it. Stepping +forward to the foot of the stairs, I peered cautiously up. I could see +by his hand, which was resting on the banisters, that he had passed +the floor above, where the doctor lived, and was half way up the next +flight. Whoever Mlle. Vivien might be, she certainly represented +George's destination. + +I retreated to the door, wondering what was the best thing to do. +My previous effort in Victoria Street had been so successful that +I instinctively glanced across the street to see whether there was +another convenient restaurant from which I could repeat my tactics. +There wasn't a restaurant but there was something else which was +even better, and that was a small and very respectable-looking +public-house. + +If I had to wait, a whisky-and-soda seemed a much more agreeable thing +to beguile the time with than a third helping of ham and eggs, so +crossing the road with a light heart, I pushed open a door marked +"Saloon Bar." I found myself in a square, comfortably fitted apartment +where a genial-looking gentleman was dispensing drinks to a couple of +chauffeurs. + +Along the back of the bar ran a big fitted looking-glass, sloped at +an angle which enabled it to reflect the opposite side of the street. +This was most convenient, for I could stand at the counter with my +back to the window, and yet keep my eye all the time upon the doorway +from which George would appear. + +"Good-morning, sir: what can I get you?" inquired the landlord +pleasantly. + +"I'll have a whisky-and-soda, thanks," I said. + +As he turned round to get it a sudden happy idea flashed into my mind. +I waited until he had placed the glass on the bar and was pouring out +the soda, and then inquired carelessly: + +"You don't happen to know any one of the name of Vivien about here, I +suppose?" + +He looked up at once. "Vivien!" he repeated; "well, there's a Mamzelle +Vivien across the road. D'you mean her?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know," I said; then, with a coolness +which would have done credit to Ananias, I added: "A friend of mine +has picked up a little bag or something with 'Vivien, Bond Street,' on +it. He asked me to see if I could find the owner." + +The landlord nodded his head with interest. "That'll be her, I expect. +Mamzelle Vivien the palmist--just across the way." + +"Oh, she's a palmist, is she?" I exclaimed. The thought of George +consulting a palmist was decidedly entertaining. Perhaps he wanted to +find out whether I was likely to wring his neck. + +With a side glance at the chauffeurs, the landlord leaned a little +towards me and slightly lowered his voice. "Well, that's what she +calls 'erself," he observed. "Palmist and Clairvoyante; and a smart +bit o' goods she is too." + +"But I thought the police had stopped that sort of thing," I said. + +The landlord shook his head. "The police don't interfere with her. +She don't advertise or anything like that, and I reckon she has some +pretty useful friends. You'd be surprised if I was to tell you some o' +the people I seen going in there--Cabinet Ministers and Bishops." + +"It sounds like the Athenaeum Club," I said. "Do you know what she +charges?" + +"No," he replied; "something pretty stiff I guess. With folks like +that it's a case of make 'ay while the sun shines." + +He was called off at this point to attend to another customer, leaving +me to ponder over the information he had given me. I felt that somehow +or other I must make Mademoiselle Vivien's acquaintance. A beautiful +palmist, for whom George deserted his business at eleven in the +morning, was just the sort of person who might prove extremely +interesting to me. Besides, the fact that her name was the same as +that of the lady who lived next door to Tommy lent an additional spur +to my curiosity. It might be a mere coincidence, but if so it was a +sufficiently odd one to merit a little further investigation. + +I drank up my whisky, and after waiting a minute or two, ordered +another. I had just got this and was taking my first sip, when quite +suddenly I saw in the mirror the reflection of George emerging from +the doorway opposite. + +I didn't stop to finish my drink. I put down the tumbler, and nodding +to the landlord walked straight out into the street. The pavement was +thronged with the usual midday crowd, but pushing my way through I +dodged across the road and reached the opposite side-walk just in +time to see George stepping into a taxi a few yards farther down the +street. + +I was not close enough to overhear the directions which he gave to the +driver, but unless his habits had changed considerably the chances +were that he was off to lunch at his club. Anyhow I felt pretty +certain that I could pick up his trail again later on at the office if +I wanted to. For the moment I had other plans; it was my intention +to follow George's example and pay a short call upon "Mademoiselle +Vivien." + +I walked back, and throwing away the end of my cigar, entered the +doorway again and started off up the stairs. I imagined that by going +as an ordinary client I should find no difficulty in getting admitted, +but if I did I was fully prepared to bribe or bluff, or adopt any +method that might be necessary to achieve my purpose. I would not +leave until I had at least seen the gifted object of George's midday +rambles. + +I reached the second landing, where I was faced by a green door with a +quaintly carved electric bell in the shape of an Egyptian girl's head, +a red stone in the centre of the forehead forming what appeared to be +the button. Anyhow I pressed it and waited, and a moment later the +door swung silently open. A small but very alert page-boy who looked +like an Italian was standing on the mat. + +"Is Mademoiselle at home?" I inquired. + +He looked me up and down sharply. "Have you an appointment, sir?" + +"No," I said, "but will you be good enough to ask whether I can +see her? My name is Mr. James Nicholson. I wish to consult her +professionally." + +"If you will step in here, sir, I will inquire. Mademoiselle very +seldom sees any one without an appointment." + +He opened a door on the right and ushered me into a small +sitting-room, the chief furniture of which appeared to be a couch, one +or two magnificent bowls of growing tulips and hyacinths, and an oak +shelf which ran the whole length of the room and was crowded with +books. + +While the boy was away I amused myself by examining the titles. There +were a number of volumes on palmistry and on various branches of +occultism, interspersed with several books of poetry and such unlikely +works as _My Prison Life_, by Jabez Balfour, and Melville Lee's +well-known _History of Police_. + +It gave me rather an uncanny feeling for the moment to be confronted +by the two latter, and I was just wondering whether a Bond Street +palmist's clientele made such works of reference necessary, when the +door opened and the page-boy reappeared. + +"If you will kindly come this way, sir, Mademoiselle will see you," he +announced. + +I followed him down the passage and into another room hung with heavy +curtains that completely shut out the daylight. A small rose-coloured +lamp burning away steadily in the corner threw a warm glow over +everything, and lit up the low table of green stone in the centre, on +which rested a large crystal ball in a metal frame. Except for two +curiously carved chairs, there was no other furniture in the room. + +Closing the door noiselessly behind him, the boy went out again. I +stood there for a little while looking about me; then pulling up +a chair I was just sitting down when a slight sound attracted my +attention. A moment later a curtain at the end of the room was drawn +slowly aside, and there, standing in the gap, I saw the slim figure of +a girl, dressed in a kind of long dark Eastern tunic. + +I jumped to my feet, and as I did so an exclamation of amazement broke +involuntarily from my lips. For an instant I remained quite still, +clutching the back of the chair and staring like a man in a trance. +Unless I was mad the girl in front of me was Joyce. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BRIDGING THREE YEARS OF SEPARATION + + +It was the unexpectedness of the thing that threw me off my guard. +With a savage effort I recovered myself almost at once, but it was too +late to be of any use. At the sound of my voice all the colour had +left Joyce's face. Her hands went up to her breast, and with a low cry +she stepped forward and then stood there white and swaying, gazing at +me with wide-open, half-incredulous eyes. + +"My God!" she whispered; "it's you--Neil!" + +I think she would have fallen, but I came to her side, and putting my +arm round her shoulders gently forced her into one of the chairs. Then +I knelt in front of her and took her hands in mine. I saw it was no +good trying to deceive her. + +"I didn't know," I said simply; "I followed George here." + +"What have they done to you?" she moaned. "What have they done to you, +my Neil? And your hands--oh, your poor dear hands!" + +She burst out crying, and bending down pressed her face against my +fingers. + +"Don't, Joyce," I said, a little roughly. "For God's sake don't do +that." + +Half unconsciously I pulled away my hands, which three years in +Dartmoor had certainly done nothing to improve. + +My abrupt action seemed to bring Joyce to herself. She left off +sobbing, and with a sudden hurried glance round the room jumped up +from her chair. + +"I must speak to Jack--now at once," she whispered. "He mustn't let +any one else into the flat." + +She stopped for a moment to dry her eyes, which were still wet with +tears, and then walking quickly to the door disappeared into the +passage. She was only gone for a few seconds. I just had time to get +to my feet when she came back into the room, and shutting the door +behind her, turned the key in the lock. Then with a little gasp +she leaned against the wall. For the first time I realized what an +amazingly beautiful girl she had grown into. + +"Neil, Neil," she said, stretching out her hands; "is it really you!" + +I came across, and taking her in my arms very gently kissed her +forehead. + +"My little Joyce," I said. "My dear, brave little Joyce." + +She buried her face in my coat, and I felt her hand moving up and down +my sleeve. + +"Oh," she sobbed, "if I had only known where to find you before! Ever +since you escaped I have been hoping and longing that you would come +to me." Then she half pushed me back, and gazed up into my face with +her blue, tear-stained eyes. "Where have you been? What have they done +to you? Oh, tell me--tell me, Neil. It's breaking my heart to see you +so different." + +For a moment I hesitated. I would have given much if I could have +undone the work of the last few minutes, for even to be revenged on +George I would not willingly have brought my wretched troubles and +dangers into Joyce's life. Now that I had done so, however, there +seemed to be no other course except to tell her the truth. It was +impossible to leave her in her present agony of bewilderment and +doubt. + +Pulling up one of the chairs I sat down, drawing her on to my knee. + +"If I had known it was you, Joyce," I said, "I should have let George +go to the devil before I followed him here." + +"But why?" she asked. "Where should you go to if you didn't come to +me?" + +"Oh, my poor Joyce," I said bitterly; "haven't I brought enough +troubles and horrors into your life already?" + +She interrupted me with a low, passionate cry. "_You_ talk like +that! You, who have lost everything for my wretched sake! Can't you +understand that every day and night since you went to prison I've +loathed and hated myself for ever telling you anything about it? If +I'd dreamed what was going to happen I'd have let Marks--" + +I stopped her by crushing her in my arms, and for a little while she +remained there sobbing bitterly, her cheek resting on my shoulder. For +a moment or two I didn't feel exactly like talking myself. + +Indeed it was Joyce who spoke first. Raising her head she wiped away +her tears, and then sitting up gazed long and searchingly into my +face. + +"There is nothing of you left," she said, "nothing except your +eyes--your dear, splendid eyes. I think I should have known you by +those even if you hadn't spoken." Then, taking my hands again and +pressing them to her, she added passionately: "Oh, tell me what it +means, Neil. Tell me everything that's happened to you from the moment +you got away." + +"Very well," I said recklessly: "I shall be dragging you into all +sorts of dangers, and I shall be breaking my oath to McMurtrie, but +after all that's just the sort of thing one would expect from an +escaped convict." + +Step by step, from the moment when I had jumped over the wall into the +plantation, I told her the whole astounding story. She listened to me +in silence, her face alone betraying the feverish interest with which +she was following every word. When I came to the part about Sonia +kissing me (I told her everything just as it had happened) her hands +tightened a little on mine, but except for that one movement she +remained absolutely still. + +It was not until I had finished speaking that she made her first +comment. After I stopped she sat on for a moment just as she was; and +then quite suddenly her face lighted up, and with a little low laugh +that was half a sob she leaned forward and slid her arm round my neck. + +"Tommy was right," she whispered. "He said you'd do something +wonderful. I knew it too, but oh, Neil dear, I've suffered tortures +wondering where you were and what had happened." + +Then, sitting up again and pushing back her hair, she began to ask me +questions. + +"These people--Dr. McMurtrie and the others--do you believe their +story?" + +"No," I said bluntly. "I am quite certain they were lying to me." + +"Why should they have helped you, then?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea," I admitted. "I am only quite sure that +neither McMurtrie nor Savaroff are what they pretend to be. Besides, +you remember the hints that Sonia gave me." + +"Ah, Sonia!" Joyce looked down and played with one of the buttons of +my coat. "Is she--is she very pretty?" she asked. + +"She seems likely to be very useful," I said. Then, stroking Joyce's +soft curly hair, which had become all tousled against my shoulder, I +added: "But I'm answering questions when all the time I'm dying to ask +them. There are a hundred things you've got to tell me. What are you +doing here? Why do you call yourself Miss Vivien? Are you really +living next door to Tommy? And George--how on earth do you come to be +mixed up with George?" + +"I'll tell you everything," she said, "only I must know all about you +first. Why were you following George? You don't mean to let him know +who you are? Oh, Neil, Neil, promise me that you won't do that." + +"Joyce," I said slowly, "I want to find out who killed Seton Marks. I +don't suppose there is the least chance of my doing so, and if I can't +I most certainly mean to wring George's neck. That was chiefly what I +broke out of prison for." + +"Yes, yes," she said feverishly, "but there _is_ a chance. You'll +understand when I've explained." She put her hands to her forehead. +"Oh, I hardly know where to begin." + +"Begin anywhere," I said. "Tell me why you're pretending to be a +palmist." + +She got up from my knee and, walking slowly to the table, seated +herself on the end. + +"I wanted money," she said; "and I wanted to meet one or two people +who might be useful about you." + +"But I left eight hundred pounds for you with Tommy," I exclaimed. +"You got that?" + +She nodded. "It's in the bank now. I have been keeping it in case +anything happened. You don't suppose I was going to spend it? How +could I have helped you then even when I got the chance?" + +"But, my dear Joyce," I protested, "the money was for you. And you +couldn't have helped me with it in any case. I had plenty more waiting +for me when my sentence was out." + +"When your sentence was out," repeated Joyce fiercely. "Do you think +I was going to let you stop in prison till then!" She checked herself +with an effort. "I had better tell you everything from the beginning," +she said. "I couldn't write any more to you, because I was only +allowed to send the two letters, and I knew both of them would be read +by somebody." + +She paused a moment. + +"I went away after the trial. I was very ill, and Tommy took me to a +little place called Looe, down in Cornwall. We stayed there nearly six +months. When I came back I took the flat next to him and called myself +Miss Vivien. I had made up my mind then what I was going to do. You +see there were only two possible ways in which I could help you. One +was to find out who killed Marks, and the other was to get you out of +prison--anyhow. Of course, after the trial, it seemed madness to think +about the first, but then I just had three things to go on. I knew +that you were innocent, I knew that for some reason of his own George +had lied about you, and I knew that there had been some one else in +the flat the day of the murder." + +"The man who was with Marks when you arrived," I said. "But you saw +him go away, and there was nothing to connect him with the murder, +except the fact that he didn't turn up at the trial. Sexton himself +had to admit that in his speech." + +"There was his face," said Joyce quietly. "It was a dreadful face. It +looked as if all the goodness had been burned out of it." + +"There are about five hundred gentlemen like that in Princetown," +I said, "including several of the warders. Did they ever find out +anything about him?" + +Joyce shook her head. "Mr. Sexton did everything he could, but it was +quite useless. Whoever he was, the man never came forward, and you +see there was no one except me who even knew what he was like. It was +partly that which first gave me the idea of becoming a palmist. I +thought that up here in the West End I was more likely to come across +him than anywhere else. And then there were other people I meant to +meet--men in the Government who might be able to get your sentence +shortened. I knew I was beautiful, and with some men you can do +anything if you're beautiful, and--and you don't care." + +"Joyce!" I cried, "for God's sake don't tell me--" + +"No," she broke in passionately: "there's nothing to tell you. But if +the chance had come I'd have sold myself a thousand times over to get +you out of prison. The only man I've met who could do anything has +been Lord Lammersfield, and he...." She paused, then with a little +break in her voice she added: "Well, I think Lord Lammersfield is +rather like Tommy in some ways." + +"I suppose there are still one or two white men about," I said. + +"Lord Lammersfield used to be at the Home Office once, so of course +his influence would count for a great deal. Well, he did all that was +possible for me, but about six months ago he told me that there was no +chance of your being let out for another three years. It was then that +I made up my mind to get to know George." + +I thrust my hand in my pocket and pulled out my cigarette case. +"You--you've got rather thorough ideas about friendship, Joyce," I +said, a little unsteadily. "Can I smoke?" + +She picked up a box of matches from the table, and coming across +seated herself on the arm of my chair. + +"Have I?" she said simply. "Well, you taught me them." + +She struck a match and held it to my cigarette. + +"How did you manage it?" I asked. + +"Oh, it was easy enough. I asked Lord Lammersfield to bring him here +one day. You know what George is like; he would never refuse to do +anything a Cabinet Minister suggested. Of course he had no idea who I +was until he arrived." + +"It must have been quite a pleasant surprise for him," I said grimly. +"Did he recognize you at once?" + +Joyce shook her head. "He had only seen me at the trial, and I had my +hair down then. Besides, two years make a lot of difference." + +"They've made a lot of difference in you," I said. "They've turned you +from a pretty child into a beautiful woman." + +With a little low, contented laugh Joyce again laid her head on my +shoulder. "I think," she said, "that that's the only one of George's +opinions I'd like you to share." + +There was a moment's silence. Then I gently twisted one of her loose +curls round my finger. + +"My poor Joyce," I said, "you seem to have been wading in some +remarkably unpleasant waters for my sake." + +She shivered slightly. "Oh, it was hateful in a way, but I didn't +care. I knew George was hiding something that might help to get you +out of prison, and what did my feelings matter compared with that! +Besides--" she smiled mockingly--"for all his cleverness and his +wickedness George is a fool--just the usual vain fool that most men +are about women. It's been easy enough to manage him." + +"He knows who you are now, of course?" I said. + +She nodded. "I told him. He would have been almost certain to find +out, and then he would probably have been suspicious. As it is he +thinks our meeting was just pure chance." + +"But surely," I objected, "he must have guessed you were on my side?" + +She gave a short, bitter laugh. "Yes," she said, "he guessed that all +right. It's what he calls 'a sacred bond between us.' There are times, +you know, when George is almost funny." + +"There are times," I said, "when he must make Judas Iscariot feel +sick." + +"I sometimes wonder why I haven't killed him," she went on slowly. "I +think I should have if he had ever tried to kiss me. As it is--" +she laughed again in the same way--"as it is we are becoming great +friends. He is taking me out to dinner at the Savoy tonight." + +"But if he doesn't try to make love to you--" I began. + +"Oh!" she said, with a little shrug of her shoulders, "that's coming. +At present he imagines that he is being clever and diplomatic. Also +there's a business side to the matter." + +"Yes," I said; "there would be with George." + +"He's horribly frightened of you. Of course he tries to hide it from +me, but I can see that ever since you escaped from prison he has been +living in a state of absolute terror. His one idea at present is a +frantic hope that you will be recaptured. That's partly where I come +in." + +"You?" I repeated. + +"Yes. He thinks that sooner or later, when you want help, you will +probably write and tell me where you are." + +"And then you are to pass the good news on to him?" + +She nodded. "He says that if I let him know at once, he will arrange +to get you safely out of the country." + +I lay back in the chair and laughed out loud. + +Joyce, who was still sitting on the arm, looked down happily into my +face. "Oh," she said, "I love to hear you laugh again." Then, slipping +her hand into mine, she went on: "I suppose he means to arrange it so +that it will look as if you had been caught by accident while he was +trying to help you." + +"I expect so," I said. "I should be out of the way again then, and you +would be so overcome by gratitude--Oh, yes, there's quite a Georgian +touch about it." + +The sharp tinkle of an electric bell broke in on our conversation. +Joyce jumped up from the chair, and for a moment both remained +listening while "Jack" answered the door. + +"I know who it is," whispered Joyce. "It's old Lady Mortimer. She had +an appointment for one o'clock." + +"But what have you arranged to do?" I asked. "There's no reason you +should put all your people off. I can go away for the time, or stop in +another room, or something." + +"No, no; it's all right," whispered Joyce. "I'll tell you in a +minute." + +She waited until we heard the front door shut, and then coming back to +me sat down again on my knee. + +"I told Jack," she said, "not to let any one into the flat till three +o'clock. I have an appointment then I ought to keep, but that still +gives us nearly two hours. I will send Jack across to Stewart's to +fetch us some lunch, and we'll have it in here. What would you like, +my Neil?" + +"Anything but eggs and bacon," I said, getting out another cigarette. + +She jumped up with a laugh, and, after striking me a match, went out +into the passage, leaving the door open. I heard her call the page-boy +and give him some instructions, and then she came back into the room, +her eyes dancing with happiness and excitement. + +"Isn't this splendid!" she exclaimed. "Only this morning I was utterly +miserable wondering if you were dead, and here we are having lunch +together just like the old days in Chelsea." + +"Except for your hair, Joyce," I said. "Don't you remember how it was +always getting in your eyes?" + +"Oh, that!" she cried; "that's easily altered." + +She put up her hands, and hastily pulled out two or three hairpins. +Then she shook her head, and in a moment a bronze mane was rippling +down over her shoulders exactly as it used to in the old days. + +"I wish I could do something like that," I said ruefully. "I'm afraid +my changes are more permanent." + +Joyce came up and thrust her arm into mine. "My poor dear," she said, +pressing it to her. "Never mind; you look splendid as you are." + +"Won't your boy think there's something odd in our lunching together +like this?" I asked. "He seems a pretty acute sort of youth." + +"Jack?" she said. "Oh, Jack's all right. He was a model in Chelsea. I +took him away from his uncle, who used to beat him with a poker. He +doesn't know anything about you, but if he did he would die for you +cheerfully. He's by way of being rather grateful to me." + +"You always inspired devotion, Joyce," I said, smiling. "Do you +remember how Tommy and I used to squabble as to which of us should +eventually adopt you?" + +She nodded, almost gravely; then with a sudden change back to her +former manner, she made a step towards the inner room, pulling me +after her. + +"Come along," she said. "We'll lunch in there. It's more cheerful than +this, and anyway I want to see you in the daylight." + +I followed her in through the curtains, and found myself in a small, +narrow room with a window which looked out on the back of Burlington +Arcade. A couple of chairs, a black oak gate-legged table, and a +little green sofa made up the furniture. + +Joyce took me to the window, and still holding my arm, made a second +and even longer inspection of McMurtrie's handiwork. + +"It's wonderful, Neil," she said at last. "You look fifteen years +older and absolutely different. No one could possibly recognize you +except by the way you speak." + +"I've been practising that," I said, altering my voice. "I shouldn't +have given myself away if you hadn't taken me by surprise." + +She smiled again happily. "It's so good to feel that you're safe, even +if it's only for a few days." Then, letting go my arm, she crossed to +the sofa. "Come and sit down," she went on. "We've got to decide all +sorts of things, and we shan't have too much time." + +"I've told you my plans, Joyce," I said, "such as they are. I mean to +go through with this business of McMurtrie's, though I'm sure there's +something crooked at the bottom of it. As for the rest--" I shrugged +my shoulders and sat down on the sofa beside her; "well, I've got the +sort of hand one has to play alone." + +Joyce looked at me quietly and steadily. + +"Neil," she said; "do you remember that you once called me the most +pig-headed infant in Chelsea?" + +"Did I?" I said. "That was rather rude." + +"It was rather right," she answered calmly; "and I haven't changed, +Neil. If you think Tommy and I are going to let you play this hand +alone, as you call it, you are utterly and absolutely wrong." + +"Do you know what the penalties are for helping an escaped convict?" I +asked. + +She laughed contemptuously. "Listen, Neil. For three years Tommy and I +have had no other idea except to get you out of prison. Is it likely +we should leave you now?" + +"But what can you do, Joyce?" I objected. "You'll only be running +yourselves into danger, and--" + +"Oh, Neil dear," she interrupted; "it's no good arguing about it. We +mean to help you, and you'll have to let us." + +"But suppose I refuse?" I said. + +"Then as soon as Tommy comes back tomorrow I shall tell him everything +that you've told me. I know your address at Pimlico, and I know just +about where your hut will be down the Thames. If you think Tommy will +rest for a minute till he's found you, you must have forgotten a lot +about him in the last three years." + +She spoke with a kind of indignant energy, and there was an obstinate +look in her blue eyes, which showed me plainly that it would be waste +of time trying to reason with her. + +I reflected quickly. Perhaps after all it would be best for me to see +Tommy myself. He at least would appreciate the danger of dragging +Joyce into the business, and between us we might be able to persuade +her that I was right. + +"Well, what are your ideas, Joyce?" I said. "Except for keeping my eye +on George I had no particular plan until I heard from McMurtrie." + +Joyce laid her hand on my sleeve. "Tomorrow," she said, "you must go +and see Tommy. He is coming back by the midday train, and he will get +to the flat about two o'clock. Tell him everything that you have told +me. I shan't be able to get away from here till the evening, but I +shall be free then, and we three will talk the whole thing over. I +shan't make any more appointments here after tomorrow." + +"Very well," I said reluctantly. "I will go and look up Tommy, but +I can't see that it will do any good. I am only making you and him +liable to eighteen months' hard labour." She was going to speak, but +I went on. "Don't you see, Joyce dear, there are only two possible +courses open to me? I can either wait and carry out my agreement with +McMurtrie, or I can go down to Chelsea and force the truth about +Marks's death out of George--if he really knows it. Dragging you two +into my wretched affairs won't alter them at all." + +"Yes, it will," she said obstinately. "There are lots of ways in which +we can help you. Suppose these people turn out wrong, for instance; +they might even mean to give you up to the police as soon as they've +got your secret. And then there's George. If he does know anything +about the murder I'm the only person who is the least likely to find +it out. Why--" + +A discreet knock at the outer door interrupted her, and she got up +from the sofa. + +"That's Jack with the lunch," she said. "Come along, Neil dear. We +won't argue about it any more now. Let's forget everything for an +hour,--just be happy together as if we were back in Chelsea." + +She held out her hands to me, her lips smiling, her blue eyes just on +the verge of tears. I drew her towards me and gently stroked her hair, +as I used to do in the old days in Chelsea when she had come to me +with some of her childish troubles. I felt an utter brute to think +that I could ever have doubted her loyalty, even for an instant. + +How long we kept the luckless Jack waiting on the mat I can't say, +but at last Joyce detached herself, and crossing the room, opened the +door. Jack came in carrying a basket in one hand and a table-cloth in +the other. If he felt any surprise at finding Joyce with her hair down +he certainly didn't betray it. + +"I got what I could, Mademoiselle," he observed, putting down his +burdens. "Oyster patties, galatine, cheese-cakes, and a bottle of +champagne. I hope that will please Mademoiselle?" + +"It sounds distinctly pleasing, Jack," said Joyce gravely. "But then +you always do just what I want." + +The boy flushed with pleasure, and began to lay the table without even +so much as bestowing a glance on me. It was easy enough to see that he +adored his young mistress--adored her far beyond questioning any of +her actions. + +All through lunch--and an excellent lunch it was too--Joyce and I were +ridiculously happy. Somehow or other we seemed to drop straight back +into our former jolly relations, and for the time I almost forgot that +they had ever been interrupted. In spite of all she had been through +since, Joyce, at the bottom of her heart, was just the same as she had +been in the old days--impulsive, joyous, and utterly unaffected. All +her bitterness and sadness seemed to slip away with her grown-up +manner; and catching her infectious happiness, I too laughed and joked +and talked as cheerfully and unconcernedly as though we were in truth +back in Chelsea with no hideous shadow hanging over our lives. I even +found myself telling her stories about the prison, and making fun of +one of the chaplain's sermons on the beauties of justice. At the time +I remembered it had filled me with nothing but a morose fury. + +It was the little clock on the mantlepiece striking a quarter to three +which brought us back to the realities of the present. + +"I must go, Joyce," I said reluctantly, "or I shall be running into +some of your Duchesses." + +She nodded. "And I've got to do my hair by three, and turn myself back +from Joyce into Mademoiselle Vivien--if I can. Oh, Neil, Neil; it's a +funny, mad world, isn't it!" She lifted up my hand and moved it softly +backwards and forwards against her lips. Then, suddenly jumping up, +she went into the next room, and came back with my hat and stick. + +"Here are your dear things," she said; "and I shall see you tomorrow +evening at Tommy's. I shan't leave him a note--somebody might open it; +I shall just let you go and find him yourself. Oh, I should love to be +there when he realizes who it is." + +"I know just what he'll do," I said. "He'll stare at me for a minute; +then he'll say quite quietly, 'Well, I'm damned,' and go and pour +himself out a whisky." + +She laughed gaily. "Yes, yes," she said. "That's exactly what will +happen." Then with a little change in her voice she added: "And you +will be careful, won't you, Neil? I know you're quite safe; no one +can possibly recognize you; but I'm frightened all the same--horribly +frightened. Isn't it silly of me?" + +I kissed her tenderly. "My Joyce," I said, "I think you have got the +bravest heart in the whole world." + +And with this true if rather inadequate remark I left her. + +I had plenty to think about during my walk back to Victoria. Exactly +what result the sharing of my secret with Tommy and Joyce would have, +it was difficult to forecast, but it opened up a disquieting field of +possibilities. Rather than get either of them into trouble I would +cheerfully have thrown myself in front of the next motor bus, but if +such an extreme course could be avoided I certainly had no wish to +end my life in that or any other abrupt fashion until I had had the +satisfaction of a few minutes' quiet conversation with George. + +I blamed myself to a certain extent for having given way to Joyce. +Still, I knew her well enough to be sure that if I had persisted in +my refusal she would have stuck to her intention of trying to help me +against my will. That would only have made matters more dangerous for +all of us, so on the whole it was perhaps best that I should go and +see Tommy. I had not the fainest doubt he would be anxious enough to +help me himself if I would let him, but he would at least see the +necessity for keeping Joyce out of the affair. We ought to be able to +manage her between us, though when I remembered the obstinate look in +her eyes I realized that it wouldn't be exactly a simple matter. + +I stopped at a book-shop just outside Victoria, which I had noticed on +the previous evening. I wanted to order a copy of a book dealing +with a certain branch of high explosives that I had forgotten to ask +McMurtrie for, and when I had done that I took the opportunity of +buying a couple of novels by Wells which had been published since I +went to prison. Wells was a luxury which the prison library didn't run +to. + +With these tucked under my arm, and still pondering over the +unexpected results of my chase after George, I continued my walk to +Edith Terrace. As I reached the house and thrust my key into the +lock the door suddenly opened from the inside, and I found myself +confronted by the apparently rather embarrassed figure of Miss Gertie +'Uggins. + +"I 'eard you a-comin'," she observed, rubbing one hand down her leg, +"so I opened the door like." + +"That was very charming of you, Gertrude," I said gravely. + +She tittered, and then began to retreat slowly backwards down the +passage. "There's a letter for you in the sittin'-room. Come by the +post after you'd gorn. Yer want some tea?" + +"I don't mind a cup," I said. "I've been eating and drinking all day; +it seems a pity to give it up now." + +"I'll mike yer one," she remarked, nodding her head. "Mrs. Oldbury's +gorn out shoppin'." + +She disappeared down the kitchen stairs, and opening the door of my +room I discovered the letter she had referred to stuck up on the +mantelpiece. I took it down with some curiosity. It was addressed to +James Nicholson, Esq., and stamped with the Strand postmark. I did not +recognize the writing, but common-sense told me that it could only be +from McMurtrie or one of his crowd. + +When I opened the envelope I found that it contained a half-sheet +of note-paper, with the following words written in a sloping, +foreign-looking hand: + +"You will receive either a message or a visitor at five o'clock +tomorrow afternoon. Kindly make it convenient to be at home at that +hour." + +That was all. There was no signature and no address, and it struck +me that as an example of polite letter-writing it certainly left +something to be desired. Still, the message was clear enough, which +was the chief point, so, folding it up, I thrust it back into the +envelope and put it away in my pocket. After all, one can't expect a +really graceful literary style from a High Explosives Syndicate. + +I wondered whether the note meant that the preparations which were +being made for me at Tilbury were finally completed. McMurtrie had +promised me a week in Town, and so far I had only had two days; still +I was hardly in a position to kick if he asked me to go down earlier. +Anyhow I should know the next day, so there seemed no use in worrying +myself about it unnecessarily. + +It was my intention to spend a quiet interval reading one of my books, +before going out somewhere to get some dinner. In pursuance of this +plan I exchanged my boots for a pair of slippers and settled myself +down comfortably in the only easy-chair in the room. In about ten +minutes' time, faithful to her word, Gertie 'Uggins brought me up +an excellent cup of tea, and stimulated by this and the combined +intelligence and amorousness of Mr. Wells's hero, I succeeded in +passing two or three very agreeable hours. + +At seven o'clock I roused myself rather reluctantly, put on my boots +again, and indulged in the luxury of a wash and a clean collar. Then, +after ringing the bell and informing Mrs. Oldbury that I should be out +to dinner, I left the house with the pleasantly vague intention of +wandering up West until I found some really attractive restaurant. + +It was a beautiful evening, more like June than the end of April; and +with a cigarette alight, I strolled slowly along Victoria Street, my +mind busy over the various problems with which Providence had seen fit +to surround me. I had got nearly as far as the Stores, when a sudden +impulse took me to cross over and walk past our offices. A taxi was +coming up the road, so I waited for a moment on the pavement until +it had passed. The back part of the vehicle was open, and as it came +opposite to me, the light from one of the big electric standards fell +clear on the face of the man inside. He was sitting bolt upright, +looking straight out ahead, but in spite of his opera hat and his +evening dress I recognized him at once. It was the man with the +scar--the man I had imagined to be tracking me on the previous +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A SCRIBBLED WARNING + + +I have never been slow to act in moments of sudden emergency, and in +rather less than a second I had made up my mind. The mere idea +of stalking one's own shadower was a distinctly attractive one; +surrounded as I was by a baffling sense of mystery and danger I jumped +at the chance with an almost reckless enthusiasm. + +Coming up behind was another taxi--an empty one, the driver leaning +back in his seat puffing lazily at a pipe. I stepped out into the road +and signalled to him to pull up. + +"Follow that taxi in front," I said quickly. "If you keep it in sight +till it stops I'll give you five shillings for yourself." + +All the languor disappeared from the driver's face. Hastily knocking +out his pipe, he stuffed it into his pocket, and the next moment we +were bowling up Victoria Street hard on the track of our quarry. + +I sat back in the seat, filled with a pleasant exhilaration. Of course +it was just possible that I was making a fool of myself--that the +gentleman in front was as innocent of having spied on my movements as +the Bishop of London. Still if that were the case there could be no +harm in following him, while if he were really one of McMurtrie's +friends a closer acquaintance with his methods of spending the evening +seemed eminently desirable. + +Half way along Whitehall my driver quickened his pace until we were +only a few yards behind the other taxi. I was just going to caution +him not to get too near, when I realized that unless we hung on as +close as possible we should probably lose it in the traffic at the +corner of the Strand. The soundness of this reasoning was apparent a +moment later, when we only just succeeded in following it across the +Square before a policeman's hand peremptorily barred the way. + +Past the Garrick Theatre, across Long Acre, and up Charing Cross Road +the chase continued with unabated vigour. At the Palace the other +driver turned off sharp to the left, and running a little way along +Old Compton Street came to a halt outside Parelli's, the well-known +restaurant. As he began to slow down I picked up the speaking tube and +instructed my man to go straight past on the other side of the street, +an order which he promptly obeyed without changing his pace. I didn't +make the mistake of looking round. I just sat still in my seat until +we had covered another thirty yards or so, and then gave the signal to +stop. + +The driver, who seemed to have entered thoroughly into the spirit of +the affair, at once clambered out of his seat and came round as though +to open the door. + +"Gent's standin' on the pavement payin' 'is fare, sir," he observed in +a hoarse whisper. "Thought ye might like to know before ye gets out." + +"Thanks," I said; "I'll take the chance of lighting a cigarette." + +I was about to suit the action to the word, when with a sudden +exclamation the man again interrupted me. + +"There's another gent just come up in a taxi, sir--proper toff too +from 'is looks. 'E's shakin' 'ands with our bloke." + +"Is he an old man?" I asked quickly--"an old man with glasses?" + +"'E don't look very old, but 'e's got a glass right enough--leastways +one o' them bow-winder things in 'is eye." He paused. "They've gone +inside now, Guv'nor; they won't spot ye if you want to 'op it." + +He opened the door, and stepping out on to the pavement I handed him +half a sovereign, which I was holding in readiness. + +He touched his cap. "Thank ye, sir. Thank ye very much." Then, +fumbling in his pocket, he produced a rather dirty and crumpled card. +"I don't rightly know what the game is, Guv'nor," he went on in a +lowered tone, "but if you should 'appen to want to call on me for +evidence any time, Martyn's Garridge, Walham Green, 'll always find +me. Ye only need to ask for Dick 'Arris. They all knows me round +there." + +I accepted the card, and having assured Mr. Harris that in the event +of my needing his testimony I would certainly look him up, I lit +my delayed cigarette and started to stroll back towards Parelli's. +Whoever my original friend and his pal with the eyeglass might be, I +was anxious to give them a few minutes' law before thrusting myself +upon their society. I had known Parelli's well in the old days, and +remembering the numerous looking-glasses which decorated its walls, I +thought it probable that I should be able to find some obscure seat, +from which I could obtain a view of their table without being too +conspicuous myself. Still, it seemed advisable to give them time to +settle down to dinner first, so, stopping at a newspaper shop at the +corner, I spun out another minute or two in buying myself a copy of +_La Vie Parisienne_ and the latest edition of the _Pall Mall_. With +these under my arm and a pleasant little tingle of excitement in my +heart I walked up to the door of the restaurant, which a uniformed +porter immediately swung open. + +I found myself in a brightly lit passage, inhabited by a couple of +waiters, one of whom came forward to take my hat and stick. The other +pushed back the glass door which led into the restaurant, and then +stood there bowing politely and waiting for me to pass. + +I stopped for a moment on the threshold, and cast a swift glance round +the room. It was a large, low-ceilinged apartment, broken up by square +pillars, but as luck would have it I spotted my two men at the very +first attempt. They were sitting at a table in one of the farther +corners, and they seemed to be so interested in each other's company +that neither of them had even looked up at my entrance. + +I didn't wait for them to do it either. Quickly and unobtrusively I +walked to the corner table on the left of the floor, and sat down with +my back towards them. I was facing a large mirror which reflected the +other side of the room with admirable clearness. + +A waiter handed me the menu, and after I had ordered a light dinner I +spread out _La Vie Parisienne_ on the table, and bending over it made +a pretence of admiring its drawings. As a matter of fact I kept my +entire attention focused on the looking-glass. + +I could only see the back of the man with the scar, but the face of +his companion, who was sitting sideways on, was very plainly +visible. It was a striking-looking face, too. He seemed to be about +thirty-five--a tall, clean-shaven, powerfully built man, with bright +blue eyes and a chin like the toe of a boot. His hair was prematurely +grey, and this, together with the monocle that he was wearing, gave +him a curious air of distinction. He looked like a cross between a +successful barrister and a retired prize-fighter. + +I watched him with considerable interest. If he was another of +McMurtrie's mysterious circle, I certainly preferred him to any of the +ones I had previously come across. His face, though strong and hard, +had none of Savaroff's brutality in it, and he was quite lacking in +that air of sinister malevolence that seemed to hang about the doctor. + +As far as I could see, most of the talking was being done by the man +with the scar. He also appeared to be the host, for I saw him pick +up the wine list, and after consulting his companion's taste give a +carefully selected order to the waiter. Then my own dinner began to +arrive, and putting aside _La Vie_, I propped up the _Pall Mall_ in +front of me and started to attack the soup. + +All through the meal I divided my attention between the paper and the +looking-glass. I was careful how I made use of the latter, for the +waiter was hovering about most of the time, and I didn't want him +to think that I was spying on some of the other customers. So quite +genuinely I waded through the news, keeping on glancing in the mirror +over the top of the paper from time to time just to see how things +were progressing behind me. + +That my two friends were getting along together very well was evident +not only from their faces but from the sounds of laughter which at +intervals came floating down the room. Indeed, so animated was their +conversation, that although I had begun my dinner later, I had +finished some little time before they had. I had no intention of +leaving first, however, so ordering myself some coffee, I sat back in +my chair, and with the aid of a cigar, continued my study of the _Pall +Mall_. + +I was in the middle of a spirited article on the German trouble, +headed "What Does the Kaiser Mean?" when glancing in the mirror I saw +a waiter advance to the table behind me, carrying a bottle of port +in a basket, with a care that suggested some exceptional vintage. He +poured out a couple of glasses, and then placing it reverently on the +table, withdrew from the scene. + +I watched both men take a sip, and saw them set down their glasses +with a thoroughly satisfied air. Then the man with the scar made a +sudden remark to the other, who, turning his head, looked away over +his shoulder into the restaurant. His attention could only have been +withdrawn from the table for a couple of seconds at the most, but in +that fraction of time something happened which set my heart beating +rapidly in a kind of cold and tense excitement. + +So swiftly, that if I had not been looking straight in the mirror I +should have missed seeing it, the man with the scar brought his hand +down over his companion's glass. Unless my eyes were playing me a +trick, I distinctly saw him empty something into the wine. + +There are rare occasions in life when one acts instinctively in the +right way before one's mind has had time to reason matters out. It was +so with me now. Without stopping to think, I whipped out a pencil from +my pocket, and snatched away a piece of white paper from underneath +the small dish of candied fruit in front of me. Spreading it out on +the table I hastily scribbled the following words: + +"Don't drink your wine. The man with you has just put something into +it." + +I folded this up, and beckoned to one of the waiters who was standing +by the door. He came forward at once. + +"Do you want to earn half a sovereign?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir," he answered, without the faintest air of surprise. + +"Listen to me, then," I said, "and whatever you do don't look round. +In the farther corner behind us there's a gentleman with an eyeglass +dining with another man. Go up the centre of the room and give him +this note. If he asks you who it's from, say some one handed it you in +the hall and told you to deliver it. Then go and get my bill and bring +it me here." + +The waiter bowed, and taking the note departed on his errand, as +casually as though I had instructed him to fetch me a liqueur. All the +time I had been speaking I had kept a watchful eye on the mirror, +and as far as I could tell neither of the two men had noticed our +conversation. They were talking and laughing, the man I had sent the +message to lightly fingering the stem of his wine-glass, and blowing +thin spirals of cigarette smoke into the air. Even as I looked he +raised the glass, and for one harrowing second I thought I was too +late. Then, like a messenger from the gods, the waiter suddenly +appeared from behind one of the pillars and handed him my note on a +small silver tray. + +He took it casually with his left hand; at the same time setting down +his wine-glass on the table. I saw him make an excuse to his host, and +then open it and read it. I don't know exactly what I had expected +him to do next, but the result was certainly surprising. Instead of +showing any amazement or even questioning the waiter, he made some +laughing remark to his companion, and putting his hand in his pocket +pulled out a small leather case from which he extracted a card. + +Bending over the table he wrote two or three words in pencil, and +handed it to the waiter. As he did so the edge of his sleeve just +caught the wine-glass. I saw the other man start up and stretch out +his hand, but he was too late to save it. Over it went, breaking into +pieces against one of the plates, and spilling the wine all across the +table-cloth. + +It was done so neatly that I could almost have sworn it was an +accident. Indeed the exclamation of annoyance with which the culprit +greeted his handiwork sounded so perfectly genuine that if I hadn't +known what was in the note I should have been completely deceived. +I saw the waiter step forward and dab hurriedly at the stain with a +napkin, while the author of the damage, coolly pulling up another +glass, helped himself to a fresh supply from the bottle. A more +beautifully carried out little bit of acting it has never been my good +luck to witness. + +If the man with the scar suspected anything (which I don't think he +did) he was at least intelligent enough to keep the fact to himself. +He laughed heartily over the contretemps, and taking out his +cigar-case offered his companion a choice of the contents. I saw the +latter shake his head, raising his half-finished cigarette as much as +to indicate his preference for that branch of smoking. It struck me, +however, that his refusal was possibly dictated by other motives. + +Full of curiosity as I was, I thought it better at this point not to +tempt Fate any further. At any moment the man with the scar might look +round, and although I was some distance away, it was quite likely that +if he did he would recognize my reflection in the mirror. I was doubly +anxious now to avoid any such mischance, so, picking up _La Vie_, I +opened its immoral but conveniently spacious pages, and from behind +their shelter waited for my bill. + +It was not long in coming. Impassive as ever, the waiter reappeared +with his little silver tray, which this time contained a white slip +folded across in the usual fashion. As I took it up I felt something +inside, and opening it I discovered a small visiting card with the +following inscription: + +MR. BRUCE LATIMER +145 _Jermyn Street, W_. + +Scribbled across the top in pencil were the following words: + +"Thanks. I shall be still more grateful if you will look me up at the +above address." + +Quickly and unobtrusively I tucked it away in my waistcoat pocket, +and glancing at the total of the bill, which came to about fifteen +shillings, put down a couple of my few remaining sovereigns. It pays +to be a little extravagant when you have been well served. + +A swift inspection of the mirror showed me that neither of the +occupants of the end table was looking in my direction, so taking +my chance I rose quickly to my feet and stepped forward behind the +shelter of the nearest pillar. Here I was met by another waiter who +handed me my hat and stick, while his impassive colleague, pocketing +the two pounds, advanced to the door and opened it before me with a +polite bow. I felt rather like the hero of a melodrama making his exit +after the big scene. + +Once in the street, the full realization of what I had just been +through came to me with a sort of curious shock. It seemed an almost +incredible thing that a man should make an attempt to drug or poison +another in a public restaurant, but, unless I was going off my head, +that was what had actually occurred. Of course I might possibly have +been mistaken in what I saw in the glass, but the readiness with which +Mr. Latimer (somehow the name seemed vaguely familiar to me) had +accepted my hint rather knocked that theory on the head. It showed +that he, at all events, had not regarded such a contingency as being +the least bit incredible. + +I began to try and puzzle out in my mind what bearings this amazing +incident could have on my own affairs. I was not even sure as yet +whether the man with the scar had been really spying on my movements +or whether my seeing him twice on the night of my arrival in Town +had been purely a matter of coincidence. If he was a friend of +McMurtrie's, it seemed to stand to reason that' Mr. Bruce Latimer +was not. Even in such a weird sort of syndicate as I had apparently +stumbled against it was hardly probable that the directors would +attempt to poison each other in West End restaurants. + +The question was should I accept the invitation pencilled across the +card? I was anxious enough in all conscience to find out something +definite about McMurtrie and his friends, but I certainly had no wish +to mix myself up with any mysterious business in which I was not quite +sure that they were concerned. For the time being my own affairs +provided me with all the interest and excitement that I needed. +Besides, even if the man with the scar was one of the gang, and had +really tried to poison or drug his companion, I was scarcely in a +position to offer the latter my assistance. Apart altogether from +the fact that I had given my promise to the doctor, it was obviously +impossible for me to explain to a complete stranger how I came to be +mixed up with the matter. An escaped convict, however excellent his +intentions may be, is bound to be rather handicapped in his choice of +action. + +With my mind busy over these problems I pursued my way home, only +stopping at a small pub opposite Victoria to buy myself a syphon of +soda and a bottle of drinkable whisky. With these under my arm (it's +extraordinary how penal servitude relieves one of any false pride) I +continued my journey, reaching the house just as Big Ben was booming +out the stroke of half-past nine. + +It seemed a bit early to turn in, but I had had such a varied and +emotional day that the prospect of a good night's rest rather appealed +to me. So, after mixing myself a stiff peg, I undressed and got into +bed, soothing my harassed mind with another chapter or two of H.G. +Wells before attempting to go to sleep. So successful was this +prescription that when I did drop off it was into a deep, dreamless +slumber which was only broken by the appearance of Gertie 'Uggins with +a cup of tea at eight o'clock the next morning. + +Soundly and long as I had slept I didn't hurry about getting up. +According to Joyce, Tommy would not be back until somewhere about two, +and I had had so many grisly mornings of turning out at five o'clock +after a night of sleepless horror that the mere fact of being able to +lie in bed between clean sheets was still something of a novelty and +a pleasure. Lie in bed I accordingly did, and, in the process +of consuming several cigarettes, continued to ponder over the +extraordinary events of the previous evening. + +When I did roll out, it was to enjoy another nice hot bath and an +excellent breakfast. After that I occupied myself for some time by +running over the various notes and calculations which I had made while +I was with McMurtrie, just in case I found it necessary to start the +practical side of my work earlier than I expected. Everything seemed +right, and savagely anxious as I was to stay in town till I could find +some clue to the mystery of George's treachery, I felt also an intense +eagerness to get to grips with my new invention. I was positively +hungry for a little work. The utter idleness, from any intelligent +point of view, of my three years in prison, had been almost the +hardest part of it to bear. + +At about a quarter to two I left the house, and making my way down on +to the embankment set off for Chelsea. It was a delightful day, warm +and sunny as July; and this, combined with the fact that I was on my +way to see Tommy, lifted me into a most cheerful frame of mind. Indeed +I actually caught myself whistling--a habit which I don't think I had +indulged in since my eventful visit to Mr. Marks. + +I looked up at George's house as I passed, but except for a black cat +sunning herself on the top of the gatepost there was no sign of life +about the place. My thoughts went back to Joyce, and I wondered how +the dinner party at the Savoy had gone off. I could almost see George +sitting at one side of the table with that insufferable air of +gallantry and self-satisfaction that he always assumed in the presence +of a pretty girl. Poor, brave little Joyce! If the pluck and loyalty +of one's friends counted for anything, I was certainly as well off as +any one in London. + +As I drew near Florence Mansions I felt a sort of absurd inclination +to chuckle out loud. Much as I disliked the thought of dragging Tommy +into my tangled affairs, the prospect of springing such a gorgeous +surprise on him filled me with a mischievous delight. Up till now, +except for my arrest and sentence, I had never seen anything upset his +superb self-possession in the slightest degree. + +A glance at the board in the hall as I turned in showed me that he +had arrived. I marched along the passage till I came to his flat, and +lifting the knocker gave a couple of sharp raps. There was a short +pause; then I heard the sound of footsteps, and a moment later Tommy +himself opened the door. + +He was wearing the same dressing-gown that I remembered three years +ago, and at the sight of his untidy hair and his dear old badly-shaved +face I as nearly as possible gave the show away. Pulling myself +together with an effort, however, I made him a polite bow. + +"Mr. Morrison?" I inquired in my best assumed voice. + +"That's me all right," said Tommy. + +"My name's Nicholson," I said. "I am an artist. I was asked to look +you up by a friend of yours--Delacour of Paris." + +I had mentioned a man for whose work I knew Tommy entertained a +profound respect. + +"Oh, come in," he cried, swinging open the door and gripping my hand; +"come in, old chap. Delighted to see you. The place is in a hell of a +mess, but you won't mind that. I've only just got back from sailing." + +He dragged me into the studio, which was in the same state of +picturesque confusion as when I had last seen it, and pulling up a +large easy-chair thrust me down into its capacious depths. + +"I'm awfully glad I was in," he went on. "I wouldn't have missed you +for the world. How's old Delacour? I haven't seen him for ages. I +never get over to Paris these days." + +"Delacour's all right," I answered--"at least, as far as I know." + +Tommy walked across the room to a corner cupboard. "You'll have a +drink, won't you?" he asked; "there's whisky and brandy, and Grand +Marnier, and I've got a bottle of port somewhere if you'd care for a +glass." + +There was a short pause. Then in my natural voice I remarked quietly +and distinctly: "You were always a drunken old blackguard, Tommy." + +The effect was immense. For a moment Tommy remained perfectly still, +his mouth open, his eyes almost starting out of his head. Then quite +suddenly he sat down heavily on the couch, clutching a bottle of +whisky in one hand and a tumbler in the other. + +"Well, I'm damned!" he whispered. + +"Never mind, Tommy," I said cheerfully; "you'll be in the very best +society." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +REGARDING MR. BRUCE LATIMER + + +For perhaps a second Tommy remained motionless; then sitting up he +removed the cork, and poured himself out about a quarter of a tumbler +of neat spirit. He drained this off at a gulp, and put down both the +glass and the bottle. + +"God deliver us!" he observed; "is it really you?" + +I nodded. "What's left of me, Tommy." + +He jumped to his feet, and the next moment he was crushing my hands +with a grip that would have broken some people's fingers. "You old +ruffian!" he muttered; "I always said you'd do something like this. +Lord alive, it's good to see you, though!" Then, pulling me up out of +the chair, he caught me by the shoulders and stared incredulously +into my face. "But what the devil's happened? What have you done to +yourself?" + +"I know what I'm going to do to myself," I replied. "I am going to +get outside some of that drink you were talking about--if there's any +left." + +With something between a laugh and a choke he let me go, and crossing +to the couch picked up the whisky and splashed out a generous tot into +the glass. + +"Here you are--and I'm hanged if I don't have another one myself. I +believe I could drink the whole bottle without turning a hair." + +"I'm quite sure you could, Tommy," I said, "unless you've +deteriorated." + +We raised our tumblers and clinked them together with a force that +cracked mine from the rim to the bottom. I drained off the contents, +however, before they could escape, and flung the broken glass into the +fireplace. + +"It would have been blasphemous to drink out of it again in any case," +I said. + +With a big, happy laugh Tommy followed my example. Then he came up +again and caught me by the arm, as though to make sure that I was +still there. + +"Neil, old son," he said, "I'm so glad to see you that I shall start +wrecking the blessed studio in a minute. For God's sake tell me what +it all means." + +"Sit down, then," I said; "sit down and give me a chance. It's--it's a +hell of a yarn, Tommy." + +He laughed again, and letting go my arm threw himself back into the +easy-chair. + +"It would be," he said. + +I always have a feeling that I can talk better when I am on my feet, +and so, while Tommy sat there puffing out great clouds of smoke from a +huge cherry-wood pipe, I paced slowly up and down the room giving +him my story. Like Joyce, he listened to me without saying a word or +interrupting me in any way. I told him everything that had happened +from the moment when I had escaped from prison to the time when I had +given my promise that I would come and look him up. + +"I couldn't help it, Tommy," I finished. "I didn't want to drag you +in, but you know what Joyce is when she has once made up her mind +about anything. I thought the only way was to come and see you. +Between us--" + +I got no further, for with a sudden exclamation--it sounded more like +a growl than anything else--Tommy had risen from his chair. + +"And do you mean to tell me that, if it hadn't been for Joyce, you +wouldn't have come! By Gad, Neil, if I wasn't so glad to see you +I'd--I'd--" Words failed him, and gripping hold of my hands again he +wrung them with a force that made me wince. + +Then, suddenly dropping them, he started to stride about the room. +"Lord, what a yarn!" he exclaimed. "What a hell of a yarn!" + +"Well, I told you it was," I said, nursing my crushed fingers. + +"I knew something had happened. I knew at least that you weren't going +to be taken alive; but this--" He stopped short in front of me and +once more gazed incredulously into my face. "I wouldn't know you from +the Angel Gabriel!" he added. + +"Except that he's clean shaven," I said. Then I paused. "Look here, +Tommy," I went on seriously, "what are we going to do about Joyce? I'm +all right, you see. There's nothing to prevent me clearing out of the +country directly I've finished with McMurtrie. If I choose to go and +break George's neck, that's my own business. I am not going to have +you and Joyce mixed up in the affair." + +Tommy sat down on the edge of the table. "My dear chap," he said +slowly, "do you understand anything about Joyce at all? Do you realize +that ever since the trial she has had only one idea in her mind--to +get you out of prison? She has lived for nothing else the last three +years. All this palmistry business was entirely on your account. She +wanted to make money and get to know people who could help her, and +she's done it--done it in the most astounding way. When she found it +was too soon for your sentence to be altered she even made up some +mad plan of taking a cottage near the prison and bribing one of the +warders with that eight hundred pounds you left her. It was all I +could do to put her off by telling her that you would probably be shot +trying to get away. Is it likely she'll chuck the whole thing up now, +just when there's really a chance of helping you?" + +"But there isn't a chance," I objected. "If we couldn't find out the +truth at the trial it's not likely we shall now--unless I choke it out +of George. Besides, it's quite possible that even he doesn't know who +really killed Marks. He may only have lied about me for some reason of +his own." + +Tommy nodded impatiently. "That's likely enough, but it's all my eye +to say we can't help you. There are a hundred ways in which you'll +want friends. To start with, all this business of McMurtrie's, or +whatever his name is, sounds devilish queer to me. I don't believe his +yarn any more than you do. There's something shady about it, you can +be certain. When are you supposed to start work?" + +I looked at the clock. "I shall know in about an hour," I said. "I +forgot to tell you that when I came back from Joyce's yesterday I +found a note--I suppose from them--saying that I should have a message +or a visitor at five o'clock today, and would I be good enough to be +home at that time. At least it wasn't put quite so politely." Then I +paused. "Good Lord!" I exclaimed, "that reminds me. I haven't told you +the most amazing part of the whole yarn." I put my hand in my pocket +and pulled out the card which had been sent me in the restaurant. +"Have you ever heard of a man called Bruce Latimer?" I asked. + +To my amazement Tommy nodded his head. "Bruce Latimer," he repeated. +"Yes, I know _a_ Bruce Latimer?--lives in Jermyn Street. What's he got +to do with it?" + +"You know him!" I almost shouted. + +"Yes, slightly. He belongs to the Athenians. He used to do a lot of +sailing at one time, but I haven't seen him down there this year." + +"Who is he? What is he?" I demanded eagerly. + +"Well, I don't know exactly. He's in some Government office, I +believe, but he's not the sort of chap who ever talks about his own +affairs. Where on earth did you come across him?" + +As quickly as possible I told Tommy the story of my visit to +Parelli's, and showed him the card which Latimer had sent me by the +waiter. He took it out of my hand, looking at me with a sort of +half-sceptical amazement. + +"You're not joking?" he said. "This is Gospel truth you're telling +me?" + +I nodded. "Humour's a bit out of my line nowadays, Tommy," I answered. +"The Dartmoor climate doesn't seem to suit it." + +"But--but--" he stared for a moment at the card without speaking. +"Well, this beats everything," he exclaimed. "What in God's name can +Bruce Latimer have to do with your crowd?" + +"That," I remarked, "is exactly what I want to find out." + +"Find out!" repeated Tommy. "We'll find out right enough. Do you think +he guessed who it was that sent the note?" + +"Most likely he did," I said. "I was the nearest person, but in any +case he only saw my back. You can't recognize a man from his back." + +Tommy took two or three steps up and down the studio. "_You_ mustn't +go and see him," he said at last--"that's quite certain. You can't +afford to mix yourself up in a business of this sort." + +"No," I said reluctantly, "but all the same I should very much like to +know what's at the bottom of it." + +"Suppose I take it on, then?" suggested Tommy. + +"What could you say?" I asked. + +"I should tell him that it was a friend of mine--an artist who was +going abroad the next day--who had seen it happen, and that he'd given +me the card and asked me to explain. It's just possible Latimer would +take me into his confidence. He would either have to do that or else +pretend that the whole thing was a joke." + +"I'm quite sure there was no joke about it," I said. "Whether the chap +with the scar belongs to McMurtrie's crowd or not, I'm as certain as I +am that I'm standing here that he drugged that wine. He may not have +meant to murder Latimer, but it looks uncommon fishy." + +"It looks even fishier than you think," answered Tommy. "I'd forgotten +for the moment, when you asked about him, but I remember now that some +fellow at the Athenians once told me that Latimer was supposed to be a +secret-service man of some kind." + +"A secret-service man!" I repeated incredulously. "I didn't know we +went in for such luxuries in this country except in novels. Do you +believe it?" + +"I didn't pay much attention at the time--I thought it was probably +all rot--but this business--" He stopped, and thrusting his hands into +his pockets, again paced slowly up and down the room. + +I gave a thoughtful whistle. "By Jove, Tommy!" I said; "if that's a +fact and the gentleman with the scar is really one of our crowd, I +seem to have dropped in for a rather promising time--don't I! I knew +I was up against the police, but it's a sort of cheerful surprise to +find that I'm taking on the secret service as well." + +Tommy pulled up short. "Look here, Neil!" he said. "I don't like it; +I'm hanged if I do. There's some rotten dirty work going on somewhere; +that's as plain as a pikestaff. I believe these people are simply +using you as a cats-paw. All they want is to get hold of the secret of +this new explosive of yours; then as likely as not they'll hand you +over to the police, or else...." he paused. "Well, you've seen the sort +of crowd they are. It may be all rot about Latimer being in the secret +service, but there's no doubt they tried to poison or drug him last +night. Men who will go as far as that wouldn't stick at getting rid of +you if it happened to suit their book." + +I nodded. "That's all true enough, Tommy," I said; "but what am I to +do? I took the bargain on, and I've no choice now except to go through +with it. I can't walk up to a policeman and say I think Dr. McMurtrie +is a dangerous person engaged on some sort of illegal enterprise." + +Tommy came up, and laid his hand on my shoulder. "Drop it, Neil; chuck +the whole thing and go to America. Joyce has got that eight hundred +pounds of yours; and I can easily let you have another two or three. +In six months' time you'll be able to make as much money as you +choose. You've had three years of hell; what's the good of running +any risks that you can avoid? If there's the least faintest chance +of getting at the truth, you can be certain I'll do it. Don't go and +smash up all the rest of your life over this cursed business. What +does it matter if all the fools in England think you killed Marks? +He deserved to be killed anyway--the swine! Leave them to think, and +clear off to some country where you can start fresh and fair again. It +doesn't matter the least where you go to, you're bound to come to the +top." + +It was about the longest speech I had ever heard Tommy make, and +certainly the most eloquent. For a moment indeed I was almost tempted +to take his advice. Then the thought of George and all the complicated +suffering that I had been through rose up like a wall across my mind. + +"No," I said firmly; "I'm damned if I'll go. I'll see this out if it +means the end of everything." + +As I spoke there came a sharp "ting" from the clock on the +mantelpiece, and looking up I saw that it was half-past four. "By Gad, +Tommy," I added, "I must go from here, though. I've got to be back +at Edith Terrace by five o'clock, or I shall miss this mysterious +visitor." + +"You're coming back here afterwards?" he asked. + +I nodded. "If I can. I haven't the least notion how long they'll keep +me, but I told Joyce I would come round and let you know what had +happened." + +"Good," said Tommy. "Don't be longer than you can help. I'll get in +something to eat, and we'll all have supper together--you and I and +Joyce, and then we can have a good jaw afterwards. There are still +tons of things I want to know about." + +He thrust his arm through mine and walked with me to the door of the +flat. + +"By the way, Thomas," I said, "I suppose the police aren't watching +your place, just on the off-chance of my rolling up. They must +remember you were rather a particular pal of mine." + +"I don't think so," he answered. "They may have had a man on when you +first escaped, but if so he must have got fed up with the job by now. +Don't you worry in any case. Your guardian angel wouldn't recognize +you in that get up--let alone a policeman." + +"If there's any justice," I said, "my guardian angel got the sack +three years ago." + +With this irreverent remark, I shook his hand, and walking down the +passage passed out on to the embankment. + +Having a good two miles to cover and only five-and-twenty minutes to +do it in, it struck me that driving would be the most agreeable method +of getting home. I hesitated for a moment between a taxi and a +motor bus, deciding in favour of the latter chiefly from motives of +sentiment. I had not been on one since my arrest, and besides that +the idea of travelling along the streets in open view of the British +public rather appealed to me. Since my interview with Tommy I was +beginning to feel the most encouraging confidence in McMurtrie's +handiwork. + +So, turning up Beaufort Street, I jumped on to a "Red Victoria" at +the corner, and making my way upstairs, sat down on one of the front +seats. It was the first time I had been down the King's Road by +daylight, and the sight of all the old familiar landmarks was as +refreshing as rain in the desert. Twice I caught a glimpse of some one +whom I had known in the old days--one man was Murgatroyd, the black +and white artist, and the other Doctor O'Hara, the good-natured Irish +medico who had once set a broken finger for me. The latter was coming +out of his house as we passed, and I felt a mischievous longing to +jump off the bus and introduce myself to him, just to see what he +would do. + +At the corner of Sloane Square I had an unexpected and rather dramatic +reminder of my celebrity. As we emerged from the King's Road a +procession of five or six sandwich-men suddenly appeared from the +direction of Symons Street, shuffling dejectedly along at intervals +of a few yards. They were carrying double boards, on which, boldly +printed in red-and-black letters, stared the following announcement: + +MADAME TUSSAUD'S + +MARYLEBONE ROAD + +NEIL +LYNDON + +A LIFELIKE PORTRAIT + +I gazed down at them with a sort of fascinated interest. Somehow +or other it seemed rather like reading one's own tombstone, and I +couldn't help wondering whether I was in the main hall or whether I +had been dignified with an eligible site in the Chamber of Horrors. If +it hadn't been for my appointment I should most certainly have taken a +cab straight up to Marylebone Road in order to find out. + +Promising myself that treat on the morrow, I stuck to my seat, and at +ten minutes to five by the station clock we drew up outside Victoria. +I got off and walked briskly along to Edith Terrace. Turning the +corner of the street, I observed the figure of Miss Gertie 'Uggins +leaning against the front railings, apparently engaged in conversation +with an errand boy on the other side of the road. As soon as she +recognized me she dived down the area steps, reappearing at the front +door just as I reached the house. + +"I was watchin' for yer," she remarked in a hoarse whisper. "There's +summun wants to see yer in there." She jerked her thumb towards the +sitting-room. "It's a lidy," she added. + +"A lady!" I said. "What sort of a lady?" + +"Ow! A reel lidy. She's got a lovely 'at." + +"Is she young and dark and rather nice to look at?" I asked. + +Gertie nodded. "That's 'er. She wouldn't give no nime, but that's 'er +right enough." + +I didn't wait to ask any more questions, but putting down my hat on +the hall table, I walked up to the sitting-room and tapped lightly on +the door. + +"Come in," called out a voice. + +I turned the handle, and the next moment I was face to face with +Sonia. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A SUMMONS FROM DR. McMURTRIE + + +She had risen from the sofa as I entered and was standing in the +centre of the room. The neatly cut, close-fitting dress that she was +wearing suited her dark beauty to perfection and showed off the +lines of her lithe, slender figure. She gave me a curious momentary +impression of some sort of graceful wild animal. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed softly. "I am glad you weren't late. I have to go +away quite soon." + +I took the hand she held out to me. "My dear Sonia," I said, "why +didn't you let me know that you were going to be the visitor?" + +"I didn't know myself," she answered. "The doctor meant to come, but +he was called away unexpectedly this afternoon, so he sent me instead. +I have got a letter for you from him." She let go my fingers gently, +and picking up her bag which was lying on the table, opened it and +took out an envelope. + +"Shall I read it now?" I asked. + +She nodded. + +I slit up the flap and pulled out a folded sheet of foolscap from +inside. It was in McMurtrie's handwriting, but there was no date and +no address. + + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"All the necessary arrangements have now been made with regard to your +workshop at Tilbury. It is situated on the marshes close to the river, +three miles east of the town and a mile to the west of Cunnock Creek. +You can reach it either by the main road which runs half a mile +inland, or by walking along the saltings under the sea-wall. + +"You cannot mistake the place, as it is an absolutely isolated +building, consisting of a small cabin or hut, with a large shed +attached for your work. It is not luxurious, but we have at least +fitted up the interior of your living-room as comfortably as possible, +and you will find in the shed everything that you specified in your +list as being necessary for your experiments. + +"I should be glad if you would arrange to go down there and start work +the day after tomorrow. There is a train from Fenchurch Street to +Tilbury at 11.45 in the morning, and if you will catch that I will +see that there is a trap to meet you at the station and drive you out +along the road as near to the place as it is possible to get. This +hardly gives you the full week in London which you wished for, but +circumstances have arisen that make it of great importance to us to +be able to place your invention on the market as quickly as possible. +From your own point of view the sooner the work is done the sooner you +will be in possession of funds, and so able to make any use of your +liberty you choose. + +"Sonia has the keys of the building, and will give them you with this +letter. + +"While you are working at the hut, it will be better, I think, if you +stay entirely on the premises. I believe you will find everything +you want in the way of food and cooking materials, and you will, of +course, take down your own personal belongings with you. In the event +of anything you really need having been forgotten, you can always walk +into Tilbury, but I should strongly advise you not to do so, except +in a case of absolute necessity. Apart from any danger of your being +recognized, we are extremely anxious that no one connected with the +powder trade should have the least idea that experiments are being +conducted with regard to a new explosive. A large part of the +immediate value of your invention will consist in its coming on the +market as an absolute surprise. + +"I have been unexpectedly called away for a few days, but directly I +return I shall come down to Tilbury and see you. Should you wish to +communicate with me in the interval, you can do so by writing or +wiring to me at the Hotel Russell, London, W.C. + +"I hope that you have enjoyed your well-earned if rather long-delayed +holiday. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +I finished reading and slowly refolded the letter. + +"You know what this is about, of course, Sonia?" I said. + +She nodded again. "They want you to go down there at once. You must do +it; you must do everything you are told just at present." + +"I ought to be able to manage that," I said grimly. "I've had plenty +of practice the last three years." + +With a swift, silent movement she came up to me and put her hands on +my arm. "You must trust me," she said, speaking in that low passionate +voice of hers. "You know that I love you; you know that I am only +waiting for the right time to act. When it comes I will give you a +chance such as few men have had--a chance that will mean wealth and +freedom and--and--love." She breathed out the last word almost in a +whisper, and then, raising her hands to my shoulders, drew down my +face and pressed her lips to mine. + +I have no dislike to being kissed by a beautiful woman; indeed, on +the previous occasion when Sonia had so honoured me I had distinctly +enjoyed the experience. This time, however, I felt a trifle +uncomfortable. I had a kind of unpleasant sensation that somehow or +other I was not quite playing the game. + +Still, as I have said elsewhere, an escaped convict cannot afford to +be too nice in his emotions, so I returned her kiss with the same +readiness and warmth as I had done before. Then, straightening myself, +I unlaced her arms from my neck, and looked down smilingly into those +strange dark eyes that were turned up to mine. + +"I'm a poor sort of host," I said, "but you see I am a little out of +training. Won't you have some tea or anything, Sonia?" + +"No, no," she answered quickly. "I don't want anything. I must go in a +minute; I have to meet my father with the car." Then, taking my hand +between hers, she added: "Tell me what you have been doing yourself. +Have you seen your cousin--the man who lied about you at the trial? I +have been afraid about him; I have been afraid that you would kill him +and perhaps be found out." + +"There's no hurry about it," I said. "It's rather pleasant to have +something to look forward to." + +"But you have seen him?" + +I nodded. "I had the pleasure of walking behind him for a couple of +miles yesterday. He looks a little worried, but quite well otherwise." + +She laughed softly. "Ah, you can afford to let him wait. And the girl, +Joyce? Have you seen her?" + +She asked the question quite dispassionately, and yet in some curious +way I had a sudden vague feeling of menace and danger. Anyhow, I lied +as readily and instinctively as Ananias. + +"No," I said. "George is the only part of my past that interests me +now." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible expression of satisfaction +flicker across her face, but if so it was gone immediately. + +"Sonia," I said, "there is a question I want to ask you. Am I +developing nerves, or have I really been watched and followed since I +came to London?" + +She looked at me steadily. "What makes you think so?" she asked. + +"Well," I said, "it may be only my imagination, but I have an idea +that a gentleman with a scar on his face has been taking a rather +affectionate interest in my movements." + +For a moment she hesitated; then with a rather scornful little laugh +she shrugged her shoulders. "I told them it was unnecessary!" she +said. + +I crushed down the exclamation that nearly rose to my lips. So the man +with the scar _was_ one of McMurtrie's emissaries, after all, and his +dealings with Mr. Bruce Latimer most certainly did concern me. The +feeling that I was entangled in some unknown network of evil and +mystery came back to me with redoubled force. + +"I hope the report was satisfactory," I said lightly. + +Sonia nodded. "They only wanted to make certain that you had gone to +Edith Terrace. I don't think you were followed after the first night." + +"No," I said, "I don't think I was." Precisely how much the boot had +been on the opposite foot it seemed unnecessary to add. + +Sonia walked to the table and again opened her bag. "I mustn't stay +any longer--now," she said. "I have to meet the car at six o'clock. +Here are the keys." She took them out and came across to where I was +standing. + +"Good-bye, Sonia," I said, taking her hands in mine. + +"No, no," she whispered; "don't say that: I hate the word. Listen, +Neil. I am coming to you again, down there, when we shall be +alone--you and I together. I don't know when it will be, but soon--ah, +just as soon as I can. I can't help you, not in the way I mean to, +until you have finished your work, but I will come to you, and--and...." +Her voice failed, and lowering her head she buried her face in my +coat. I bent down, and in a moment her lips met mine in another long, +passionate kiss. It was hard to see how I could have acted otherwise, +but all the same I didn't feel exactly proud of myself. + +Indeed, it was in a state of very mixed emotions that I came back into +the house after we had walked together as far as the corner of the +street. The mere fact of my having found out for certain that the man +with the scar was an agent of McMurtrie's was enough in itself to give +me food for pretty considerable thought. Any suspicions I may have had +as to the genuineness of the doctor's story were now amply confirmed. +I was not intimately acquainted with the working methods of the High +Explosives Trade, but it seemed highly improbable that they could +involve the drugging or poisoning of Government officials in public +restaurants. As Tommy had forcibly expressed it, there was some +"damned shady work" going on somewhere or other, and for all Sonia's +comforting assurances concerning my own eventual prosperity, I felt +that I was mixed up in about as sinister a mystery as even an escaped +murderer could very well have dropped into. + +The thought of Sonia brought me back to the question of our relations. +I could hardly doubt now that she loved me with all the force of her +strange, sullen, passionate nature, and that for my sake she was +preparing to take some pretty reckless step. What this was remained to +be seen, but that it amounted to a practical betrayal of her father +and McMurtrie seemed fairly obvious from the way in which she had +spoken. From the point of view of my own interests, it was an amazing +stroke of luck that she should have fallen in love with me, and yet +somehow or other I felt distinctly uncomfortable about it. I seemed +to be taking an unfair advantage of her, though how on earth I was to +avoid doing so was a question which I was quite unable to solve. I +certainly couldn't afford to quarrel with her, and she was hardly the +sort of girl to accept anything in the nature of a disappointment to +her affections in exactly a philosophic frame of mind. + +I was still pondering over this rather delicate problem, when there +came a knock at the door, and in answer to my summons Gertie 'Uggins +inserted her head. + +"The lidy's gorn?" she observed, looking inquiringly round the room. + +I nodded. "There is no deception, Gertrude," I said. "You can search +the coal-scuttle if you like." + +She wriggled the rest of her body in round the doorway. "Mrs. Oldbury +sent me up to ask if you'd be wantin' dinner." + +"No," I said; "I am going out." + +Gertie nodded thoughtfully. "Taikin' 'er, I s'pose?" + +"To be quite exact," I said, "I am dining with another lady." + +There was a short pause. Then, with an air of some embarrassment +Gertie broke the silence. '"Ere," she said: "you know that five bob +you give me?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, I ain't spendin' it on no dinner--see. I'm goin' to buy a 'at +wiv it--a 'at like 'ers: d'yer mind?" + +"I do mind," I said severely. "That money was intended for your +inside, Gertie, not your outside. You have your dinner, and I'll buy +you a new hat myself." + +She clasped her hands together. "Ow!" she cried. "Yer mean it? Yer +reely mean it?" + +"I never joke," I said, "on sacred subjects." + +Then to my dismay she suddenly began to cry. "You ain't 'alf--'alf bin +good to me," she jerked out. "No one ain't never bin good to me like +you. I'd--I'd do anyfink for you." + +"In that case," I said, "you may give me my hat--and cheer up." + +She obeyed both commands, and then, still sniffing, valiantly marched +to the front door and opened it for me to go out. + +"Goo'-night, sir," she said. + +"Good-night, Gertrude," I replied; and leaving her standing on the +step I set off down the street. Whatever else prison might have done +for me, it certainly seemed to have given me a capacity for making +friends. + +I reached Florence Court at about a quarter to seven, keeping a +sharp lookout along the embankment as I approached for any sign of +a loitering detective. Except for one aged gentleman, however, who +seemed to be wholly occupied in spitting in the Thames, the stretch in +front of the studios was absolutely deserted. Glancing at the board +in the hall as I entered, I saw that "Mr. Morrison" and "Miss Vivien" +were both "in"--a statement which in Tommy's case was confirmed a +moment later by his swift appearance at the door in answer to my +knock. + +"Mr. Morrison, I believe?" I said. + +He seized me by the arm and dragged me inside. + +"This is fine. I never thought you'd be back as quick as this. Are +things all right?" + +"I should hardly go as far as that," I said. "But we seem to be +getting along quite nicely." + +He nodded. "Good! I just want a wash, and then we'll go right in to +Joyce's place. We are going to have supper there, and you can tell us +all about it while we're feeding." + +He splashed out some water into a basin in the corner of the studio, +and made his ablutions with a swiftness that reminded me of some of my +own toilets in the grey twilight of a Dartmoor dawn. Tommy was never a +man who wasted much trouble over the accessories of life. + +"Come along," he said, flinging down the towel on the sofa. "Joyce +will be dying to hear what's happened!" + +I turned towards the hall, but he suddenly put his hand on my shoulder +and pulled me back. + +"Not that way. We've a private road now--runs along the back of the +studios." + +He crossed the room, and opened a door which led out into a narrow +stone passage roofed in by glass. + +I followed him along this till we came to another door, on which Tommy +tapped twice with his knuckles. In a moment we heard a key turn and +Joyce was standing on the threshold. When she saw who it was she gave +a little cry of welcome and held out both her hands. + +"But how nice!" she exclaimed. "I never thought you'd be here so +soon." + +We had each taken a hand, and talking and laughing at the same time, +she pulled us in after her and shut the door. + +"At last!" she cried softly; "at last!" And for a second or two we all +three stood there just gripping each other's hands and not saying a +word. It certainly was rather a good feeling. + +Tommy was the first to break the silence. "Damn it," he said huskily, +"if Neil didn't look so exactly like a brigand chief I believe I +should blubber. Eh, Joyce--how do you feel?" + +"I feel all right," said Joyce. "And he doesn't look a bit like a +brigand chief. He looks splendid." She stood back and surveyed me with +a sort of tender proprietorship. + +"I suppose we shall get used to it," remarked Tommy. "It nearly gave +me heart disease to begin with." Then, going and locking the side +door, he added cheerfully, "I vote we have supper at once. I've had +nothing except whisky since I came off the boat." + +"Well, there's heaps to eat," said Joyce. "I've been out marketing in +the King's Road." + +"What have you got?" demanded Tommy hungrily. + +Joyce ticked them off with her fingers. "There's a cold chicken and +salad, some stuffed olives--those are for you, Neil, you always used +to like them--a piece of Stilton cheese and a couple of bottles of +champagne. They're all in the kitchen, so come along both of you and +help me get them." + +"Where's the faithful Clara?" asked Tommy. + +"I've sent her out for the evening. I didn't want any one to be here +except just us three." + +We all trooped into Joyce's tiny kitchen and proceeded to carry back +our supper into the studio, where we set it out on the table in the +centre. We were so ridiculously happy that for some little time our +conversation was inclined to be a trifle incoherent: indeed, it was +not until we had settled down round the table and Tommy had knocked +the head off the first bottle of champagne with the back of his knife +that we in any way got back to our real environment. + +It was Joyce who brought about the change. "I keep on feeling I shall +wake up in a minute," she said, "and find out that it's all a dream." + +"Put it off as long as possible," said Tommy gravely. "It would be +rotten for Neil to find himself back in Dartmoor before he'd finished +his champagne." + +"I don't know when I shall get any more as it is," I said. "I've got +to start work the day after tomorrow." + +There was a short pause: Joyce pushed away her plate and leaned +forward, her eyes fixed on mine; while Tommy stretched out his arm and +filled up my glass. + +"Go on," he said. "What's happened?" + +In as few words as possible I told them about my interview with Sonia, +and showed them the letter which she had brought me from McMurtrie. +They both read it--Joyce first and then Tommy, the latter tossing it +back with a grunt that was more eloquent than any possible comment. + +"It's too polite," he said. "It's too damn' polite altogether. You can +see they're up to some mischief." + +"I am afraid they are, Tommy," I said; "and it strikes me that it must +be fairly useful mischief if we're right about Mr. Bruce Latimer. By +the way, does Joyce know?" + +Tommy nodded. "She's right up to date: I've told her everything. The +question is, how much has that affair got to do with us? It's quite +possible, if they're the sort of scoundrels they seem to be, that they +might be up against the Secret Service in some way quite apart from +their dealings with you." + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed, "I never thought of that. One's +inclined to get a bit egotistical when one's an escaped murderer." + +"It was Joyce's idea," admitted Tommy modestly, "but it's quite likely +there's something in it. Of course we've no proof at present one +way or the other. What do you think this girl--what's her +name--Sonia--means to do?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "Goodness knows," I said. "It looks as if +there was a chance of making a big immediate profit on my invention, +and that she intended me to scoop it in instead of her father and +McMurtrie. I can't think of anything else." + +Tommy pulled up a fresh plate and helped himself to some cheese. + +"She must be pretty keen on you," he observed. + +"Well, you needn't rub it in, Tommy," I said. "I feel quite enough of +a cad as it is." + +"You're not," interrupted Joyce indignantly. "If she really loves you, +of course she wants to help you whether you love her or not." + +"Still, she'll expect a _quid pro quo_," persisted Tommy. + +"Then it isn't love," returned Joyce scornfully, "and in that case +there's no need to bother about her." + +This seemed a most logical point of view, and I determined to adopt it +for the future if my conscience would allow me. + +"What about your invention?" asked Tommy. "How long will it take you +to work it out?" + +"Well, as a matter of fact," I said, "it is worked out--as much as any +invention can be without being put to a practical test. I was just on +that when the smash came. I had actually made some of the powder and +proved its power, but I'd never tried it on what one might call a +working basis. If they've given me all the things I want, I don't see +any reason why I shouldn't fix it up in two or three days. There's +no real difficulty in its manufacture. I wasn't too definite with +McMurtrie. I thought it best to give myself a little margin." + +Tommy nodded. "You've handled the whole thing splendidly up till +now," he said. "I rather think it's the ticklish part that's coming, +though." Then he paused. "Look here!" he added suddenly. "I've got a +great notion. Why shouldn't we run down tomorrow in the _Betty_ and +have a squint at this place of yours? There's nothing like taking a +few soundings when you're not too sure about things." + +I drew in a deep breath. "I'd love to, Tommy," I said, "but it's +rather asking for trouble, isn't it? Suppose there was still someone +about there? If McMurtrie had the faintest idea I'd given away the +show--" + +"He won't," interrupted Tommy; "he can't. We'll take precious good +care of that. Listen here: I've got the whole thing mapped out in my +mind. The _Betty's_ at Leigh, where I laid her up yesterday. I had a +seven-horse-power Kelvin engine put in her last year, so we can get +up, whatever the wind is--I know the tide will be about right. Well, +my idea is that we three go down to Leigh tomorrow morning and take +her up to this place Cunnock Creek, or somewhere near. Then if it's +all serene you can land and have a look round; if there seems to be +any one about we can just push off again. Joyce and I won't show up at +all, anyway: we'll stop on board and let you do the scouting." + +"Yes, yes," exclaimed Joyce, her eyes shining eagerly. "Let's go. It +can't do any harm, and you might find out all sorts of useful things." + +"Besides," added Tommy, "it would be the deuce of a day, and it's a +long time since any of us had a good day, eh, Joyce?" + +"Three years," said Joyce quietly. + +That decided me. "Right you are," I said. "You're--you're something +like pals, you two." + +We clinched the arrangement with a grip, and then Joyce, jumping up +from the table, crossed the room to a small writing-desk. "I've got a +time-table somewhere here," she said, "so we can look out the train +right away." + +"It's all right," said Tommy. "I know 'em backwards. We'll catch the +nine-five from Fenchurch Street. It's low water at eight-thirty, so +that will get us in about the right time. We can leave the _Betty_ at +Tilbury or Gravesend afterwards, and come back by train from there. +We'll be home for dinner or supper or something." + +Joyce nodded. "That will just do," she said. "I am going out again +with George in the evening. Oh, I haven't told either of you about +last night--have I?" + +I shook my head. "No," I said, "but in any case I wish you'd drop that +part of it, Joyce dear. I hate to think of you dining with George: it +offends my sense of decency." + +She took an envelope out of the desk and came back to her place at the +table. "I mean to drop it quite soon," she said calmly, "but I must +go tomorrow. George is on the point of being rather interesting." She +paused a moment. "He told me last night that he was expecting to get a +cheque for twelve thousand pounds." + +"Twelve thousand pounds!" I echoed in astonishment. + +"Where the Devil's he going to get it from?" demanded Tommy. + +"That," said Joyce, "is exactly what I mean to find out. You see +George is at present under the impression that if he can convince me +he is speaking the truth I am coming away with him for a yachting +cruise in the Mediterranean. Well, tomorrow I am going to be +convinced--and it will have to be done very thoroughly." + +Tommy gave a long whistle. "I wonder what dog's trick he's up to now. +He can't be getting the money straight: I know they've done nothing +there the last year." + +"It would be interesting to find out," I admitted. "All the same, +Joyce, I don't see why you should do all the dirty work of the firm." + +"It's my job for the minute," said Joyce cheerfully, "and none of the +firm's work is dirty to me." + +She came across, and opening my coat, slipped the envelope which she +had taken out of her desk into my inner pocket. "I got those out of +the bank today," she said--"twenty five-pound notes. You had better +take them before we forget: you're sure to want some money." + +Then, before I could speak, she picked up the second bottle of +champagne that Tommy had just opened, and filled up all three glasses. + +"I like your description of us as the firm," she said; "don't you, +Tommy? Let's all drink a health to it!" + +Tommy jumped to his feet and held up his glass. "The Firm!" he cried. +"And may all the fools who sent Neil to prison live to learn their +idiocy!" + +I followed his example. "The Firm!" I cried, "and may everyone in +trouble have pals like you!" + +Joyce thrust her arm through mine and rested her head against my +shoulder. "The Firm!" she said softly. Then, with a little break in +her voice, she added in a whisper: "And you don't really want Sonia, +do you, Neil?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A HUMAN "CATCH" + + +It's not often that the weather in England is really appropriate +to one's mood, but the sunshine that was streaming down into Edith +Terrace as I banged the front door at half-past eight the next morning +seemed to fit in exactly with my state of mind. I felt as cheerful as +a schoolboy out for a holiday. Apart altogether from the knowledge +that I was going to spend a whole delightful day with Tommy and Joyce, +the mere idea of getting on the water again was enough in itself to +put me into the best of spirits. + +I stopped for a moment at the flower-stall outside Victoria Station to +buy Joyce a bunch of violets--she had always been fond of violets--and +then calling up a taxi instructed the man to drive me to Fenchurch +Street. + +I found Tommy and Joyce waiting for me on the platform. The former +looked superbly disreputable in a very old and rather dirty grey +flannel suit, while Joyce, who was wearing a white serge skirt with +a kind of green knitted coat, seemed beautifully in keeping with the +sunshine outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy. "We were just getting the jim-jams about +you. Thought you'd eloped with Sonia or something." + +I shook my head. "I never elope before midday," I said. "I haven't the +necessary stamina." + +I offered Joyce the bunch, which she took with a smile, giving my hand +a little squeeze by way of gratitude. "You dear!" she said. "Fancy +your remembering that." + +"Well, come along," said Tommy. "This is the train all right; I've got +the tickets and some papers." + +He opened the door of a first-class carriage just behind us, and we +all three climbed in. "We shall have it to ourselves," he added. +"No one ever travels first on this line except the Port of London +officials, and they don't get up till the afternoon." + +We settled ourselves down, Tommy on one side and Joyce and I on the +other, and a minute later the train steamed slowly out of the station. +Joyce slipped her hand into mine, and we sat there looking out of the +window over the sea of grey roofs and smoking chimney-stacks which +make up the dreary landscape of East London. + +"Have a paper?" asked Tommy, holding out the _Daily Mail_. + +"No, thanks, Tommy," I said. "I'm quite happy as I am. You can tell us +the news if there is any." + +He opened the sheet and ran his eye down the centre page. "There's +nothing much in it," he said, "bar this German business. No one seems +to know what's going to happen about that. I wonder what the Kaiser +thinks he's playing at. He can't be such a fool as to want to fight +half Europe." + +"How is the Navy these days?" I asked. "One doesn't worry about +trifles like that in Dartmoor." + +"Oh, we're all right," replied Tommy cheerfully. "The Germans haven't +got a torpedo to touch yours yet, and we're still a long way ahead of +'em in ships. We could wipe them off the sea in a week if they came +out to fight." + +"Well, that's comforting," I said. "I don't want them sailing up the +Thames till I've finished. I've no use for a stray shell in my line of +business." + +"I tell you what I'm going to do, Neil," said Tommy. "I was thinking +it over in bed last night after you'd gone. If there is any possible +sort of anchorage for a boat in this Cunnock Creek I shall leave the +_Betty_ there. It's only a mile from your place, and then either Joyce +or I can come down and see you without running the risk of being +spotted by your charming pals. Besides, at a pinch it might be +precious handy for you. If things got too hot on shore you could +always slip away by water. It's not as if you were dependent on the +tides. Now I've had this little engine put in her she'll paddle off +any old time--provided you can get the blessed thing to start." + +"You're a brick, Tommy," I said gratefully. "There's nothing I'd like +better. But as for you and Joyce coming down--" + +"Of course we shall come down," interrupted Joyce. "I shall come just +as soon as I can. Who do you think is going to look after you and do +your cooking?" + +"Good Lord, Joyce!" I said. "I'm in much too tight a corner to worry +about luxuries." + +"That's no reason why you should be uncomfortable," said Joyce calmly. +"I shan't come near you in the day, while you're working. I shall stay +on the _Betty_ and cook dinner for you in the evening, and then as +soon as it's dark you can shut up the place and slip across to the +creek. Oh, it will be great fun--won't it, Tommy?" + +Tommy laughed. "I think so," he said; "but I suppose there are people +in the world who might hold a different opinion." Then he turned to +me. "It's all right, Neil. We'll give you two or three clear days to +see how the land lies and shove along with your work. Joyce has got to +find out where George is getting that cheque from, and I mean to look +up Latimer and sound him about his dinner at Parelli's. You'll be +quite glad to see either of us by that time." + +"Glad!" I echoed. "I shall be so delighted, I shall probably blow +myself up. It's you two I'm thinking of. The more I see of this job +the more certain I am there's something queer about it, and if there's +going to be any trouble down there I don't want you and Joyce dragged +into it." + +"We shan't want much dragging," returned Tommy. "As far as the firm's +business goes we're all three in the same boat. We settled that last +night." + +"So there's nothing more to be said," added Joyce complacently. + +I looked from one to the other. Then I laughed and shrugged my +shoulders. "No," I said, "I suppose there isn't." + +Through the interminable slums of Plaistow and East Ham we drew out in +the squalid region of Barking Creek, and I looked down on the mud and +the dirty brown water with a curious feeling of satisfaction. It was +like meeting an old friend again after a long separation. The lower +Thames, with its wharves, its warehouses, and its never-ceasing +traffic, had always had a strange fascination for me; and in the old +days, when I wanted to come to Town from Leigh or Port Victoria, I had +frequently sailed my little six-tonner, the _Penguin_, right up as far +as the Tower Bridge. I could remember now the utter amazement with +which George had always regarded this proceeding. + +"Are you feeling pretty strong this morning?" asked Tommy, breaking a +long silence. "The _Betty's_ lying out in the Ray, and the only way of +getting at her will be to tramp across the mud. There's no water for +another four hours. We shall have to take turns carrying Joyce." + +"You won't," said Joyce. "I shall take off my shoes and stockings and +tramp too. I suppose you've got some soap on board." + +"You'll shock Leigh terribly if you do," said Tommy. "It's a beautiful +respectable place nowadays--all villas and trams and picture +palaces--rather like a bit of Upper Tooting." + +"It doesn't matter," said Joyce. "I've got very nice feet and ankles, +and I'm sure it's much less immoral than being carried in turns. Don't +you think so, Neil?" + +"Certainly," I said gravely. "No properly-brought-up girl would +hesitate for a moment." + +We argued over the matter at some length: Tommy maintaining that he +was the only one of the three who knew anything about the minds of +really respectable people--a contention which Joyce and I indignantly +disputed. As far as I can remember, we were still discussing the point +when the train ran into Leigh station and pulled up at the platform. + +"Here you are," said Tommy, handing me a basket. "You freeze on to +this; it's our lunch. I want to get a couple more cans of paraffin +before we go on board. There is some, but it's just as well to be on +the safe side." + +We left the station, and walking a few yards down the hill, pulled up +at a large wooden building which bore the dignified title of "Marine +and Yachting Stores." Here Tommy invested in the paraffin and one or +two other trifles he needed, and then turning off down some slippery +stone steps, we came out on the beach. Before us stretched a long bare +sweep of mud and sand, while out beyond lay the Ray Channel, with a +number of small boats and fishing-smacks anchored along its narrow +course. + +"There's the _Betty_," said Tommy, pointing to a smart-looking little +clinker-built craft away at the end of the line. "I've had her painted +since you saw her last." + +"And from what I remember, Tommy," I said, "she wanted it--badly." + +Joyce seated herself on a baulk of timber and began composedly to take +off her shoes and stockings. "How deep does one sink in?" she asked. +"I don't want to get this skirt dirtier than I can help." + +"You'll be all right if you hold it well up," said Tommy, "unless we +happen to strike a quicksand." + +"Well, you must go first," said Joyce, "then if we do, Neil and I can +step on you." + +Tommy chuckled, and sitting down on the bank imitated Joyce's example, +rolling his trousers up over the knee. I followed suit, and then, +gathering up our various belongings, we started off gingerly across +the mud. + +Tommy led the way, his shoes slung over his shoulder, and a tin of +paraffin in each hand. He evidently knew the lie of the land, for he +picked out the firmest patches with remarkable dexterity, keeping +on looking back to make sure that Joyce and I were following in his +footsteps. It was nasty, sloppy walking at the best, however, for +every step one took one went in with a squelch right up to the ankle, +and I think we had all had pretty well enough by the time we reached +the boat. Poor Joyce, indeed, was so exhausted that she had to sit +down on the lunch basket, while Tommy and I, by means of wading out +into the channel, managed to get hold of the dinghy. + +Our first job on getting aboard was to wash off the mud. We sat in a +row along the deck with our feet over the side; Tommy flatly refusing +to allow us any farther until we were all properly cleaned. Then, +while Joyce was drying herself and putting on her shoes and stockings, +he and I went down into the cabin and routed out a bottle of whisky +and a siphon of soda from somewhere under the floor. + +"What we want," he observed, "is a good stiff peg all round"; and the +motion being carried unanimously as far as Joyce and I were concerned, +three good stiff pegs were accordingly despatched. + +"That's better," said Tommy with a sigh. "Now we're on the safe side. +There's many a good yachtsman died of cold through neglecting these +simple precautions." Then jumping up and looking round he added +cheerfully: "We shall be able to sail the whole way up; the wind's +dead east and likely to stay there." + +"I suppose you'll take her out on the engine," I said. "This is a nice +useful ditch, but there doesn't seem to be much water in it for fancy +work." + +Tommy nodded. "You go and get in the anchor," he said, "and I'll see +if I can persuade her to start. She'll probably break my arm, but +that's a detail." + +He opened a locker at the back of the well, and squatted down in front +of it, while I climbed along the deck to the bows and proceeded +to hand in several fathoms of wet and slimy chain. I had scarcely +concluded this unpleasant operation, when with a sudden loud hum the +engine began working, and the next moment we were slowly throbbing our +way forwards down the centre of the channel. + +The Ray runs right down to Southend Pier, but there are several narrow +openings out of it connecting with the river. Through one of these +Tommy steered his course, bringing us into the main stream a few +hundred yards down from where we had been lying. Then, turning her +round, he handed the tiller over to Joyce, and clambered up alongside +of me on to the roof of the cabin. + +"Come on, Neil," he said. "I've had enough of this penny steamer +business. Let's get out the sails and shove along like gentlemen." + +The _Betty's_ rig was not a complicated one. It consisted of a +mainsail, a jib, and a spinnaker, and in a very few minutes we had set +all three of them and were bowling merrily upstream with the dinghy +bobbing and dipping behind us. Tommy jumped down and switched off the +engine, while Joyce, resigning the tiller to me, climbed up and seated +herself on the boom of the mainsail. She had taken off her hat, and +her hair gleamed in the sunshine like copper in the firelight. + +I don't think we did much talking for the first few miles: at least I +know I didn't. There is no feeling in the way of freedom quite so fine +as scudding along in a small ship with a good breeze behind you; and +after being cooped up for three years in a prison cell I drank in the +sensation like a man who has been almost dying of thirst might gulp +down his first draught of water. The mere tug of the tiller beneath my +hand filled me with a kind of fierce delight, while the splash of +the water as it rippled past the sides of the boat seemed to me the +bravest and sweetest music I had ever heard. + +I think Joyce and Tommy realized something of what I was feeling, for +neither of them made any real attempt at conversation. Now and then +the latter would jump up to haul in or let out the main sheet a +little, and once or twice he pointed out some slight alteration which +had been recently made in the buoying of the river. Joyce sat quite +still for the most part, either smiling happily at me, or else +watching the occasional ships and barges that we passed, most of which +were just beginning to get under way. + +We had rounded Canvey Island and left Hole Haven some little distance +behind us, when Tommy, who was leaning over the side staring out +ahead, suddenly turned back to me. + +"There's someone coming round the point in a deuce of a hurry," he +remarked. "Steam launch from the look of it. Better give 'em a wide +berth, or we'll have their wash aboard." + +I bent down and took a quick glance under the spinnaker boom. A couple +of hundred yards ahead a long, white, vicious-looking craft was racing +swiftly towards us, throwing up a wave on either side of her bows that +spread out fanwise across the river. + +I shoved down the helm, and swung the _Betty_ a little off her course +so as to give them plenty of room to go by. They came on without +slackening speed in the least, and passed us at a pace which I +estimated roughly to be about sixteen knots an hour. I caught a +momentary glimpse of a square-shouldered man with a close-trimmed +auburn beard crouching in the stern, and then the next moment a wave +broke right against our bows, drenching all three of us in a cloud of +flying spray. + +Tommy swore vigorously. "That's the kind of river-hog who ought to be +choked," he said. "If I--" + +He was interrupted by a sudden exclamation from Joyce. She had jumped +up laughing when the spray swept over her, and now, holding on to the +rigging, she was pointing excitedly to something just ahead of us. + +"Quick, Tommy!" she said. "There's a man in the water--drowning. +They've swamped his boat." + +In a flash Tommy had leaped to the side. "Keep her going," he shouted +to me. "We're heading straight for him." Then scrambing aft he grabbed +hold of the tow rope and swiftly hauled the dinghy alongside. + +"I'll pick him up, Tommy," I said quietly. "You look after the boat: +you know her better than I do." + +He nodded, and calling to Joyce to take over the tiller sprang up on +to the deck ready to lower the sails. I cast off the painter, all but +one turn, and handing the end to Joyce, told her to let it go as soon +as I shouted. Then, pulling the dinghy right up against the side of +the boat, I waited my chance and dropped down into her. + +I was just getting out the sculls, when a sudden shout from Tommy of +"There he is!" made me look hurriedly round. About twenty yards away a +man was splashing feebly in the water, making vain efforts to reach an +oar that was floating close beside him. + +"Let her go, Joyce!" I yelled, and the next moment I was tugging +furiously across the intervening space with the loose tow rope +trailing behind me. + +I was only just in time. Almost exactly as I reached the man he +suddenly gave up struggling, and with a faint gurgling sort of cry +disappeared beneath the water. I leaned out of the boat, and plunging +my arm in up to the shoulder, clutched him by the collar. + +"No, you don't, Bertie," I said cheerfully. "Not this journey." + +It's a ticklish business dragging a half-drowned man into a dinghy +without upsetting it, but by getting him down aft, I at last managed +to hoist him up over the gunwale. He came in like some great wet fish, +and I flopped him down in the stern sheets. Then with a deep breath I +sat down myself. I was feeling a bit pumped. + +For a moment or two my "catch" lay where he was, blowing, gasping, +grunting, and spitting out mouthfuls of dirty water. He was a little +weazened man of middle age, with a short grizzled beard. Except for +a pair of fairly new sea-boots, he was dressed in old nondescript +clothes which could not have taken much harm even from the Thames mud. +Indeed, on the whole, I should think their recent immersion had done +them good. + +"Well," I said encouragingly, "how do you feel?" + +With a big effort he raised himself on his elbow. "Right enough, +guv'nor," he gasped, "right enough." Then, sinking back again, he +added feebly: "If you see them oars o' mine, you might pick 'em up." + +There was a practical touch about this that rather appealed to me. I +sat up, and, looking round, discovered the _Betty_ about forty yards +away. Tommy had got the sails down and set the engine going, and he +was already turning her round to come back and pick us up. I waved my +hand to him--a greeting which he returned with a triumphant hail. + +Standing up, I inspected the surrounding water for any sign of my +guest's belongings. I immediately discovered both oars, which were +drifting upstream quite close to one another and only a few yards +away; but except for them there was no sign of wreckage. His boat and +everything else in it had vanished as completely as a submarine. + +I salvaged the oars, however, and had just got them safely on board, +when the _Betty_ came throbbing up, and circled neatly round us. +Tommy, who was steering, promptly shut down the engine to its slowest +pace, and reaching up I grabbed hold of Joyce's hand, which she held +out to me, and pulled the dinghy alongside. + +"Very nice, Tommy," I said. "Lipton couldn't have done it better." + +"How's the poor man?" asked Joyce, looking down pityingly at my +prostrate passenger. + +At the sound of her voice the latter roused himself from his recumbent +position, and made a shaky effort to sit up straight. + +"He'll be all right when he's got a little whisky inside him," I said. +"Come on, Tommy; you catch hold, and I'll pass him over." + +I stooped down, and, taking him round the waist, lifted him right up +over the gunwale of the _Betty_, where Tommy received him rather like +a man accepting a sack of coals. Then, catching hold of the tow rope, +I jumped up myself, and made the dinghy fast to a convenient cleat. + +Tommy dumped down his burden on one of the well seats. + +"You've had a precious narrow squeak, my friend," he observed +pleasantly. + +The man nodded. "If you hadn't 'a come along as you did, sir, I'd 'ave +bin dead by now--dead as a dog-fish." Then turning round he shook his +gnarled fist over the _Betty's_ stern in the direction of the vanished +launch. "Sunk me wi' their blarsted wash," he quavered; "that's what +they done." + +"Well, accidents will happen," I said; "but they were certainly going +much too fast." + +"Accidents!" he repeated bitterly; "this warn't no accident. They done +it a purpose--the dirty Dutchmen." + +"Sunk you deliberately!" exclaimed Tommy. "What on earth makes you +think that?" + +A kind of half-cunning, half-cautious look came into our visitor's +face. + +"Mebbe I knows too much to please 'em," he muttered, shaking his head. +"Mebbe they'd be glad to see old Luke Gow under the water." + +I thought for a moment that the shock of the accident had made him +silly, but before I could speak Joyce came out of the cabin carrying +half a tumbler of neat whisky. + +"You get that down your neck," said Tommy, "and you'll feel like a +two-year-old." + +I don't know if whisky is really the correct antidote for Thames +water, but at all events our guest accepted the glass and shifted its +contents without a quiver. As soon as he had finished Tommy took him +by the arm and helped him to his feet. + +"Now come along into the cabin," he said, "and I'll see if I can fix +you up with some dry kit." Then turning to me he added: "You might get +the sails up again while we're dressing, Neil; it's a pity to waste +any of this breeze." + +I nodded, and resigning the tiller to Joyce, climbed up on to the +deck, and proceeded to reset both the mainsail and the spinnaker, +which were lying in splendid confusion along the top of the cabin. +I had just concluded this operation when Tommy and our visitor +reappeared--the latter looking rather comic in a grey jersey, a pair +of white flannel trousers, and an old dark blue cricketing blazer and +cap. + +"I've been telling our friend Mr. Gow that he's got to sue these +chaps," said Tommy. "He knows who they are: they're a couple of +Germans who've got a bungalow on Sheppey, close to that little creek +we used to put in at." + +"You make 'em pay," continued Tommy. "They haven't a leg to stand on, +rushing past like that. They as near as possible swamped us." + +Mr. Gow cast a critical eye round the _Betty_. "Ay! and you'd take a +deal o' swampin,' mister. She's a fine manly little ship, an' that's a +fact." Then he paused. "It's hard on a man to lose his boat," he added +quietly; "specially when 'is livin' depends on 'er." + +"What do you do?" I asked. "What's your job?" + +Mr. Gow hesitated for a moment. "Well, in a manner o' speakin', I +haven't got what you might call no reg'lar perfession, sir. I just +picks up what I can outer the river like. I rows folks out to their +boats round Tilbury way, and at times I does a bit of eel fishing--or +maybe in summer there's a job lookin' arter the yachts at Leigh and +Southend. It all comes the same to me, sir." + +"Do you know Cunnock Creek?" asked Tommy. + +"Cunnock Crick!" repeated Mr. Gow. "Why, I should think I did, sir. My +cottage don't lie more than a mile from Cunnock Crick. Is that where +you're makin' for?" + +Tommy nodded. "We were thinking of putting in there," he said. "Is +there enough water?" + +"Plenty o' water, sir--leastways there will be by the time we get up. +It runs a bit dry at low tide, but there's always a matter o' three to +four feet in the middle o' the channel." + +This was excellent news, for the _Betty_ with her centre-board up only +drew about three feet six, so except at the very lowest point the +creek would always be navigable. + +"Is it a safe place to leave a boat for the night with no one on +board?" inquired Tommy. + +Mr. Gow shook his head. "I wouldn't go as far as that, sir. None o' +the reg'lar boatmen or fishermen wouldn't touch 'er, but they're a +thievin' lot o' rascals, some o' them Tilbury folk. If they happened +to come across 'er, as like as not they'd strip 'er gear, to say +nothin' of the fittings." Then he paused. "But if you was thinkin' o' +layin' 'er up there for the night, I'd see no one got monkeyin' around +with 'er. I'd sleep aboard meself." + +"Well, that's a bright notion," said Tommy, turning to me. "What do +you think, Neil?" + +"I think it's quite sound," I answered. "Besides, he can help me look +after her for the next two or three days. I shall be too busy to get +over to the creek much myself." Then putting my hand in my pocket +I pulled out Joyce's envelope, and carefully extracted one of the +five-pound notes from inside. "Look here, Mr. Gow!" I added, "we'll +strike a bargain. If you'll stay with the _Betty_ for a day or so, +I'll give you this fiver to buy or hire another boat with until you +can get your compensation out of our German friends. I shall be living +close by, but I shan't have time to keep my eye on her properly." + +Mr. Gow accepted the proposal and the note with alacrity. "I'm sure +I'm very much obliged to you, sir," he said gratefully. "I'll just run +up to my cottage when we land to get some dry clothes, and then I'll +come straight back and take 'er over. She won't come to no harm, not +with Luke Gow on board; you can reckon on that, sir." + +He touched his cap, and climbing up out of the well, made his way +forward, as though to signalize the fact that he was adopting the +profession of our paid hand. + +"I'm so glad," said Joyce quietly. "I shan't feel half so nervous now +I know you'll have someone with you." + +Tommy nodded. "It's a good egg," he observed. "I think old whiskers +is by way of being rather grateful." Then he paused. "But what swine +those German beggars must be not to have stopped! They must have seen +what had happened." + +"I wonder what he meant by hinting that they'd done it purposely," I +said. + +Tommy laughed. "I don't know. I asked him in the cabin, but he +wouldn't say any more. I think he was only talking through his hat." + +"I'm not so sure," I said doubtfully. "He seemed to have some idea at +the back of his mind. I shall sound him about it later on." + +With the wind holding good and a strong tide running, the _Betty_ +scudded along at such a satisfactory pace that by half-past twelve +we were already within sight of Gravesend Reach. There is no more +desolate-looking bit of the river than the stretch which immediately +precedes that crowded fairway. It is bounded on each side by a low sea +wall, behind which a dreary expanse of marsh and salting spreads away +into the far distance. Here and there the level monotony is broken by +a solitary hut or a disused fishing hulk, but except for the passing +traffic and the cloud of gulls perpetually wheeling and screaming +overhead there is little sign of life or movement. + +"You see them two or three stakes stickin' up in the water?" remarked +Mr. Gow suddenly, pointing away towards the right-hand bank. + +I nodded. + +"Well, you keep 'em in line with that little clump o' trees be'ind, +an' you'll just fetch the crick nicely." + +He and Tommy went forward to take in the spinnaker, while, following +the marks he had indicated, I brought the _Betty_ round towards her +destination. Approaching the shore I saw that the entrance to the +creek was a narrow channel between two mud-flats, both of which were +presumably covered at high tide. I called to Joyce to wind up the +centre-board to its fullest extent, and then, steering very carefully, +edged my way in along this drain, while Mr. Gow leaned over to leeward +diligently heaving the lead. + +"Plenty o' water," he kept on calling out encouragingly. "Keep 'er +goin', sir, keep 'er goin'. Inside that beacon, now up with 'er a bit. +That's good!" + +He discarded the lead and hurried to the anchor. I swung her round +head to wind, Tommy let down the mainsail, and the next moment we +brought up with a grace and neatness that would almost have satisfied +a Solent skipper. + +We were in the very centre of a little muddy creek with high banks +on either side of it. There was no other boat within sight; indeed, +although we were within three miles of Tilbury, anything more desolate +than our surroundings it would be difficult to imagine. + +Mr. Gow assisted us to furl the sails and put things straight +generally, and then coming aft addressed himself to me. + +"I don't know what time you gen'lemen might be thinkin' o' leavin'; +but if you could put me ashore now I could be back inside of the +hour." + +"Right you are," I said. "I'll do that straight away." + +We both got into the dinghy, and in a few strokes I pulled him to the +bank, where he stepped out on to the mud. Then he straightened himself +and touched his cap. + +"I haven't never thanked you properly yet, sir, for what you done," he +observed. "You saved my life, and Luke Gow ain't the sort o' man to +forget a thing like that." + +I backed the boat off into the stream. "Well, if you'll save our +property from the Tilbury gentlemen," I said, "we'll call it quits." + +When I got back to the ship I found Tommy and Joyce making +preparations for lunch. + +"We thought you'd like something before you pushed off," said Tommy. +"One can scout better on a full tummy." + +"You needn't apologize for feeding me," I replied cheerfully. "I've a +lot of lost time to make up in the eating line." + +It was a merry meal, that little banquet of ours in the _Betty's_ +cabin. The morning's sail had given us a first-rate appetite, and in +spite of the somewhat unsettled state of our affairs we were all three +in the best of spirits. Indeed, I think the unknown dangers that +surrounded us acted as a sort of stimulant to our sense of pleasure. +When you are sitting over a powder mine it is best to enjoy every +pleasant moment as keenly as possible. You never know when you may get +another. + +At last I decided that it was time for me to start. + +"I tell you what I think I'll do, Tommy," I said. "I'll see if there's +any way along outside the sea-wall. I could get right up to the place +then without being spotted, if there should happen to be any one +there." + +Tommy nodded. "That's the idea," he said. "And look here: I brought +this along for you. I don't suppose you'll want it, but it's a useful +sort of thing to have on the premises." + +He pulled out a small pocket revolver, loaded in each chamber, and +handed it over to me. + +I accepted it rather doubtfully. "Thanks, Tommy," I said, "but I +expect I should do a lot more damage with my fists." + +"Oh, please take it, Neil," said Joyce simply. + +"Very well," I answered, and stuffing it into my side pocket, I +buttoned up my coat. "Now, Tommy," I said; "if you'll put me ashore +we'll start work." + +It was about a hundred yards to the mouth of the creek, and with the +tide running hard against us it was quite a stiff little pull. Tommy, +however, insisted on taking me the whole way down, just to see whether +there was any chance of getting along outside the sea-wall. We landed +at the extreme point, and jumping out on to the mud, I picked my way +carefully round the corner and stared up the long desolate stretch +of river frontage. The tide was still some way out, and although the +going was not exactly suited to patent-leather boots, it was evidently +quite possible for any one who was not too particular. + +I turned round and signalled to Tommy that I was all right; then, +keeping in as close as I could to the sea-wall, I set off on my +journey. It was slow walking, for every now and then I had to climb up +the slope to get out of the way of some hopelessly soft patch of mud. +On one of these occasions, when I had covered about three-quarters of +a mile, I peered cautiously over the top of the bank. Some little +way ahead of me, right out in the middle of the marsh, I saw what I +imagined to be my goal. It was a tiny brick building with a large +wooden shed alongside, the latter appearing considerably the newer and +more sound of the two. + +I was inspecting it with the natural interest that one takes in one's +future country house, when quite suddenly I saw the door of the +building opening. A moment later a man stepped out on to the grass, +and looked quickly round as though to make certain that there was no +one watching. Although the distance was about three hundred yards I +recognized him at once. + +It was my friend of the restaurant--Mr. Bruce Latimer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CONFRONTING THE INTRUDER + + +The discovery was a beautifully unexpected one, but I was getting used +to surprises by this time. I bobbed down at once behind the sea-wall, +and crouched there for a moment wondering what was the best thing to +do. After what I had found out it seemed hardly probable that Latimer +could be there in the capacity of McMurtrie's caretaker; but if not, +how on earth had he hit upon the place, and what was he doing prowling +about inside it? + +Raising myself up again with extreme care I had another look through +the grass. Latimer had left the building and was stooping down +in front of the door of the shed, his attention being obviously +concentrated on the lock. I was rather a long way off, but as far as I +could see he appeared to be trying to slip back the bolt with the aid +of a piece of wire. + +I think that decided me. However dangerous it might be to show myself, +it seemed still more risky to allow some one of whose motives I was +at present completely ignorant to inspect my future workshop. Almost +before I realized what I was doing I had slipped over the bank and +dropped down on to the marsh. + +The slight noise I made must have reached Latimer's ears, for he +wheeled round with amazing promptness. At the same instant his right +hand travelled swiftly into the side pocket of his coat--a gesture +which I found sufficiently illuminating in view of what I was carrying +myself in a similar place. When he saw how far off I was he seemed +to hesitate for a moment; then pulling out a case he coolly and +deliberately lit himself a cigarette, and after taking a quick glance +round started to stroll slowly towards me. I noticed that he still +kept his hand in his side pocket. + +My mind was working pretty rapidly as we approached each other. What +would happen seemed to me to depend chiefly upon whether Latimer had +seen me in the restaurant, and had guessed that it was I who had sent +him the message. If not, it struck me that he must be wondering rather +badly who I was and what connection I had with the hut. + +When we were still twenty yards apart he pulled up and waited for me, +smoking his cigarette with every appearance of tranquil enjoyment. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," he said in a pleasant, lazy voice, "but I +wonder if you could tell me who this building belongs to?" + +I came to a halt right in front of him. "Well," I replied boldly, +"until I saw you coming out of the door just now I was under the +impression that I was the legal tenant." + +He smiled, and taking off his hat made me a slight bow. + +"I must really beg your pardon," he said. "I was trespassing +shamelessly. The fact of the matter is that I am acting on behalf of +the District Surveyor, and finding the door open and being unable to +get any answer, I took the liberty of looking inside." + +If ever in my life I felt confident that a man was telling me a lie it +was at that moment, but my belief was certainly due to no fault of Mr. +Latimer's. He spoke with a coolness and an apparent candour that would +have done credit to a Cabinet Minister. + +"The District Surveyor!" I repeated. "And what does that distinguished +person want with me?" + +Mr. Latimer made a gesture towards the hut with his disengaged hand. +"It's nothing of any real importance," he said, "but you appear to +have been making some slight alterations here. This wooden building--" + +"It's only a temporary structure," I interrupted. + +He nodded. "Quite so. Still there are certain bye-laws which we have +to see attended to. The Surveyor happened to notice it the other day +when he was passing, and he asked me to find out the exact purpose it +was intended for. We are bound to make some restrictions about wooden +buildings on account of the extra chance of their catching fire." + +The idea of the District Surveyor being seriously perturbed over the +possibility of my being roasted alive struck me as rather improbable, +but I was careful not to give any impression of doubting the +statement. + +"As a matter of fact," I said, "there is no chance of a tragedy +of that sort. I have taken the place to make a few experiments +in connection with photography. The stuff I am using is quite +uninflammable." + +All the time I was speaking I was watching him carefully to see if +I could detect the least sign of his recognizing me. For any such +indication, however, we might have been utter strangers. + +He accepted my falsehood as politely as I had received his. + +"Well, in that case," he said, with a smile, "there is really no need +for me to bother you any further. I will tell the Surveyor that you +are a strictly law-abiding citizen. Meanwhile"--he stepped back and +again raised his hat--"let me apologize once more for having broken +into your place." + +Whether there was any deliberate irony in his remark I was unable to +guess; his manner at all events gave no hint of it. + +"You needn't apologize," I returned artlessly. "It was my own fault +for leaving the door open." + +I thought I saw the faintest possible quiver at the corner of his +lips, but if so it was gone again at once. + +"Yes," he said gravely. "You will find it safer to keep the place +locked up. Good-day, sir." + +"Good-day," I replied, and turning deliberately away from him I +sauntered off towards the hut. + +I did not look round until I had reached the door; and even then I +made a pretence of dropping my keys and stooping to pick them up. The +precaution, however, seemed a little superfluous. Mr. Latimer was some +thirty or forty yards away, walking inland across the marsh in the +direction of Tilbury. I couldn't help wondering whether he had noticed +the mast of the _Betty_, which was just visible in the distance, +sticking up demurely above the bank of the creek. + +I stepped inside the hut--it was really little more than a hut--and +closed the door. The first impression I received was one of being back +in my prison cell. The only light in the place filtered in through a +tiny and very dirty window, which looked out in the direction that +Latimer had taken. For the rest, as soon as my eyes were used to the +gloom, I made out a camp bed with blankets on it, a small wooden table +and chair, a jug and basin, and in the farther corner of the room a +miscellaneous collection of cooking and eating utensils. There was +also a large wooden box which I imagined to contain food. + +I took in all this practically at a glance, for my mind was still too +occupied with my late visitor to trouble much about anything else. + +I sat down on the bed and tried to think out the situation clearly. +There could be no doubt that Latimer had been spying on the place, +if such an unpleasant word could be applied to a gentleman who was +supposed to be in Government service. The question was, what did he +suspect? I had pretty good evidence that he was up against McMurtrie +and the others in some shape or other, and presumably it was on +account of my connection with them that I had been favoured with his +attentions. Still, this didn't seem to make the situation any the more +cheerful for me. If Latimer was really a secret-service man, as some +one had told Tommy, it stood to reason that I must be assisting in +some particularly shady and dangerous sort of enterprise. I had no +special objection to this from the moral point of view, but on the +other hand I certainly didn't want to throw away my hardly-won liberty +before I had had the satisfaction of settling accounts with George. + +I debated with myself whether it would be best to let McMurtrie know +that the place was being watched. To a certain extent his interests in +the matter seemed to be identical with mine, but my mistrust of him +was still strong enough to make me hesitate. Beyond his bare word and +that of Sonia I had no proof as yet that he intended to play straight +with me. + +One thing appeared certain, and that was that Latimer had failed to +recognize me as the man who had sent him the warning at Parelli's. In +a way this gave me an advantage, but it was a forlorn enough sort of +advantage in view of the unknown dangers by which I was surrounded. + +I got up off the bed, feeling anything but comfortable, and going to +the door had another look round. Latimer had disappeared behind the +thin belt of trees that fringed the Tilbury road, and so far as I +could see there was no one else about. Getting out my keys, I walked +along to the shed and opened the door. + +If my living accommodation was a trifle crude, McMurtrie had certainly +made up for it here. He had evidently carried out my instructions +with the most minute care and an absolute disregard for expense. Lead +tanks, sinks, chemicals, an adequate water supply in the shape of +a pump--everything I had asked for seemed to have been provided. I +looked round the large, clean, well-lighted place with a sensation of +intense satisfaction. The mere sight of all these preparations made me +ache to begin work, for I was consumed with the impatience that any +inventor would feel who had been compelled to leave a big discovery on +the very verge of completion. + +Coming out, I closed the door again, and carefully turned the key +behind me. Then walking back to the hut I locked that up as well. I +hadn't the faintest belief in Latimer's story about finding the place +open, and apart from making things safe I certainly didn't want to +leave any traces of my surprise visit. From what I knew of McMurtrie +I felt sure that he had left somebody in charge, and that in all +probability Latimer had merely taken advantage of their temporary +absence. + +After a last glance all round, to make sure that the coast was still +clear, I walked rapidly down to the sea-wall and scrambled up on to +the top. The tide had risen a bit, but there was just room to get +along, so jumping down I set off on my return journey. + +There was something very cheering and reassuring in the sight of the +_Betty_ riding easily at her anchor, as I made my way round the mouth +of the creek. Tommy and Joyce were both on deck: the former in his +shirt-sleeves, swabbing down his new paint with a wet mop. Directly +he saw me he abandoned the job to Joyce, and with a wave of his hand +proceeded to get out the dinghy. A minute later he was pulling for the +shore. + +"All serene?" he inquired calmly, as he ran the boat up to where I was +standing. + +"Yes," I said. "We needn't hurry; there's no one chasing me." Then +pushing her off the mud I jumped in. "I'll tell you the news," I +added, "when we get on board." + +We headed off for the _Betty_, and as we came alongside and I handed +up the painter to Joyce, I felt rather like the raven must have +done when he returned to the Ark. As far as peace and security were +concerned, my outside world seemed to be almost as unsatisfactory as +his. + +"How have you got on?" demanded Joyce eagerly. + +I climbed up on to the deck. + +"I've had quite an interesting time," I said. Then I paused and looked +round the boat. "Is Mr. Gow back?" I inquired. + +Tommy shook his head. "Not yet. I expect he's blueing some of that +fiver in anticipation." + +"Come and sit down, then," I said, "and I'll tell you all about it." + +They both seated themselves beside me on the edge of the well, and +in as few words as possible I let them have the full story of my +adventures. At the first mention of Latimer's name Tommy indulged in a +low whistle, but except for that non-committal comment they listened +to me in silence. + +Joyce was the first to speak when I had finished. + +"It's hateful, isn't it?" she said. "I feel as if we were fighting in +the dark." + +"That's just what we are doing," answered Tommy, "but we're letting in +a bit of light by degrees though." Then he turned to me. "McMurtrie's +got some game on, evidently, and this chap Latimer's dropped on it. +That was why they tried to put him out of the way." + +"Yes," I said, "and if Latimer is really in the secret service, it +must be a precious queer sort of game too." + +Tommy nodded. "I wonder if they're anarchists," he said, after a +short pause. "Perhaps they want your powder to blow up the Houses of +Parliament or the Law Courts with." + +I laughed shortly. "No," I said. "Whatever McMurtrie's after, it's +nothing so useful and unselfish as that. If I thought it was I +shouldn't worry." + +"Well, there's only one thing to do," observed Tommy, after a pause, +"and that's to go and look up Latimer, as I suggested. You're sure he +didn't recognize you?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sure of nothing about him," I replied, +"except that he's a superb liar." + +"We must risk it anyhow," said Tommy. "He's the only person who knows +anything of what's going on, and he evidently wants to find out who +sent him that note, or he wouldn't have answered it as he did. He'll +have to give me some sort of explanation if I go and see him. I +shall rub it into him that my supposed pal is a perfectly sensible, +unimaginative sort of chap--and anyway people don't invent a yarn like +that." + +"Look!" interrupted Joyce suddenly. "Isn't that Mr. Gow coming along +by those trees?" + +She pointed away down the creek, and following her direction I saw the +figure of our trusty retainer trudging back towards the ship, with a +bundle over his shoulder. He had exchanged Tommy's picturesque outfit +for some garments of his own, more in keeping with his new and +dignified position. + +"I'll pick him up," I said; "but what are we going to do about getting +back? We had better not try Tilbury, or we may run into Latimer; it +would put the hat on everything if he saw us together." + +Tommy consulted his watch. "It's just half-past three now," he said. +"I vote we run across to Gravesend and catch the train there. Old +Whiskers can bring the boat back here after we've gone--if he's still +sober." + +"Of course he's sober," said Joyce; "look at the beautiful way he's +walking." + +I should hardly have applied quite such a complimentary adjective to +Mr. Gow's gait myself, but all the same Joyce's diagnosis proved to +be quite correct. Mr. Gow was sober--most undoubtedly and creditably +sober. I rowed to the bank, and brought him on board, and when we told +him of our plans he expressed himself as being perfectly competent to +manage the return journey single-handed. + +"You leave 'er to me," he remarked consolingly. "I shan't want no +help--not to bring 'er in here. Some people don't hold with being +alone in a boat, but that ain't Luke Gow's way." + +He went forward to get up the anchor, while Tommy and I occupied +ourselves with the exciting sport of trying to start the engine. It +went off at last with its usual vicious kick, and a few minutes later +we were throbbing our way out of the creek into the main river. + +The tide was right at its highest, and down the centre of the fairway +straggled a long procession of big hooting steamers, sluggish +brown-sailed barges, and small heavily-burdened tugs, puffing out +their usual trails of black smoke. One felt rather like a terrier +trying to cross Piccadilly, but by waiting for our chance we dodged +through without disaster, and pulled up in a comparatively tranquil +spot off the Gravesend landing-stage. + +Tommy signalled to one of the boatmen who were hanging about the steps +waiting for stray passengers. + +"This chap will take us off," he said, turning to Mr. Gow. "You push +straight back while the engine's running; she usually stops when we've +got about as far as this." + +"And I'll come over to the creek some time tomorrow," I added; though +in my present circumstances a confident prophecy of any kind seemed a +trifle rash. + +We went ashore and stood for a moment on the stage watching the +_Betty_ thread her course back through the traffic. Mr. Gow seemed +to handle her with perfect confidence, and relieved on this point we +turned round and set off for the station. + +We found ourselves in luck's way. An unusually obliging train was due +to start in ten minutes' time, and as before we managed to secure an +empty compartment. + +"I tell you what I want you to do when we get back to town, Joyce," I +said. "I want you to help me buy a hat." + +"What's the matter with the one you're wearing?" demanded Tommy. "It +just suits your savage style of beauty." + +"Oh, this new one isn't for me," I explained. "It's for a lady--a lady +friend, as we say." + +"I didn't know you had any," said Joyce, "except me and Sonia." + +I smiled arrogantly. "You underrate my attractions," I replied. +"Haven't I told you about Miss Gertie 'Uggins?" Then I proceeded to +sketch in Gertrude as well as I could, finishing up with the story of +her spirited determination to spend the five shillings I had given her +on a really fashionable head-dress. + +Tommy slapped his leg and chuckled. "I believe any woman would starve +herself to death for something new to wear," he remarked. + +"Of course she would," said Joyce with spirit--"any decent woman." +Then she turned to me. "I think it's sweet, Neil; I shall give her a +new hat myself, just because she loves you." + +Tommy laughed again. "You'll find that an expensive hobby to keep up, +Joyce," he said. "You'll have to start a bonnet-shop." + +All the way back to town we talked and joked in much the same strain, +as cheerfully as though none of us had a care in the world. If there +had been a stranger in the carriage listening to us, he would, I +think, have found it impossible to believe that I was Neil Lyndon, +the much-wanted convict, and that Tommy and Joyce were engaged in the +criminal pursuit of helping me avoid the police. No doubt, as I said +before, the very danger and excitement of our position accounted to +some extent for our high spirits, but in my case they were due even +more to a natural reaction from the misery of the last three years. +Ever since I had met Tommy and Joyce again I seemed to have been +shedding flakes off the crust of bitterness and hatred which had built +itself up round my soul. + +Even my feelings towards George were slowly becoming less murderous. +I was still as determined as ever to get at the truth of his amazing +treachery if I could; but the savage loathing that I had previously +cherished for him was gradually giving place to a more healthy +sensation of contempt. I felt now that, whatever his motives may have +been, there would be far more satisfaction in kicking him than in +killing him. Besides, the former process was one that under favourable +circumstances could be repeated indefinitely. + +"You're spending the evening with me, Neil, of course," observed +Tommy, as we drew into Charing Cross. + +I nodded. "We'll take a taxi and buy the hat somewhere, and then drop +Joyce at Chelsea. After that I am open to any dissipation." + +"Only keep away from the Savoy," said Joyce. "I am making my great +surrender there, and it would hamper me to have you and Tommy about." + +We promised to respect her privacy, and then, getting out of the +train, which had drawn up in the station, we hailed a taxi and climbed +quickly into it. Charing Cross is the last place to dawdle in if you +have any objection to being recognized. + +"Shall we be able to write to you?" asked Joyce. "I shall want to tell +you about George, and Tommy will want to let you know how he gets on +with Latimer. Of course I'm coming down to the boat in a day or two; +but all sorts of things may happen before then." + +I thought rapidly for a moment. "Write to me at the Tilbury +post-office," I said. "Only don't make a mistake and address the +letter to Neil Lyndon. Too much excitement isn't good for a Government +official." + +Tommy laughed. "It's just the sort of damn silly thing I should +probably have done," he said. "Can't you imagine the postmaster's face +when he read the envelope? I should like to paint it as a Christmas +supplement to the _Graphic_." + +"Where did you tell the man to stop, Joyce?" I asked. + +"Holland's," said Joyce. "I am going to buy Gertie a really splendid +hat--something with birds and flowers on it. I am sure I know just +what she'll think beautiful. I suppose I had better tell them to send +it round to you at Edith Terrace. You won't want to carry it about +London." + +"Not unless Tommy likes to wear it," I said. "I think I'm disguised +enough as it is." + +We pulled up outside Mr. Holland's imposing shop-front, and Joyce, +who was sitting next the door, got up from her seat. Then she leaned +forward and kissed me. + +"Good-bye, Neil," she said. "I shall come down on Tuesday and go +straight to the _Betty_, unless I hear anything special from you +before then." She paused. "And oh, dear Neil," she added, "you will be +careful, won't you? If anything was to happen now, I believe I should +kill George and jump into the Thames." + +"In that case," I said, "I shall be discretion itself. I couldn't +allow George anything like so charming an end; it would be quite +wasted on him." + +Joyce smiled happily and, opening the door, jumped out on to the +pavement. "You keep the taxi on," she said. "I shall take a bus home. +I can't be hurried over buying a hat--even if it's for Gertie. Where +shall I tell the man to go to?" + +"Better say the Studio," answered Tommy. "We both want a wash and a +drink before we start dissipating." + +For an escaped murderer and his guilty accessory, I am afraid that our +dissipation proved to be rather a colourless affair. Tommy had always +had simple tastes in the way of amusement, and even if it had been +safe for us to parade the West End in each other's company, I +certainly had no wish to waste my time over a theatre or anything of +that sort. I found that real life supplied me with all the drama I +needed just at present. + +What we actually did was to dine quietly in a little out-of-the-way +restaurant just off Sloane Square, and then play billiards for the +remainder of the evening in a room above a neighbouring tavern. We had +several most exciting games. In old days I had been able to beat +Tommy easily, but owing to a regrettable oversight on the part of the +Government there is no table at Princetown, and in consequence I was +rather short of practice. + +Afterwards Tommy walked with me as far as Victoria, where we discussed +such arrangements for the future as we were in a position to make. + +"I'll write to you, anyway, Neil," he said, "as soon as I've tackled +Latimer; and I'll probably come down with Joyce on Tuesday. If you +want me any time before, send me a wire." + +I nodded. "You'll be more useful to me in London, Tommy," I said. +"All the threads of the business are up here. McMurtrie--Latimer-- +George"--I paused--"I'd give something to know what those three do +between them," I added regretfully. + +Tommy gripped my hand. "It's all right, old son," he said. "I'm not +much of a believer in inspirations and all that sort of rot, but +somehow or other I'm dead certain we're going to win out. I've had a +feeling like that ever since the trial--and so has Joyce." + +"Thanks, Tommy," I said briefly. "You'd give a jellyfish a +backbone--you two." + +And with a last squeeze of the hand I left him standing there, and set +off across the station for Edith Terrace. + +It was close on midnight when I got back, and every one in the house +seemed to have gone to bed. The light had been put out in the hall, +but the door of my sitting-room was partly open, and a small jet of +gas was flickering away over the fireplace. I turned this up and, +looking round, discovered a large box with Holland's label on it, +a note, and a half-sheet of paper--all decorating the table in the +centre of the room. + +I examined the half-sheet of paper first. It contained several dirty +thumb-marks and the following message, roughly scrawled in pencil: + +"sir the lady with the hat cum for you about for aclock i told her as +you was out and she rote this leter gerty." + +Hastily picking up the envelope, I slit open the flap, and pulled out +the "leter" from inside. It covered two sides, and was written in +Sonia's curious, sloping, foreign-looking hand. + +"I have to go away with my father until the end of next week. By that +time, if you have succeeded with your invention, there will be nothing +to stop our plans. I would have explained everything to you today if +you had been here. As it is, _on no account give your secret to any +one_ until I have seen you. I shall come down to Tilbury either on +Friday or Saturday, and within a few hours we can be utterly beyond +the reach of any further danger or difficulties. Until then, my +lover--SONIA." + +I read it through twice, and then slowly folding it up, thrust it back +into the envelope. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that I'm going to have quite an interesting +house-party." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE WORKSHOP ON THE MARSHES + + +I gave Gertie her hat next morning when she brought me up my +breakfast. It was a gorgeous thing--rather the shape of a dustman's +helmet, with a large scarlet bird nestling on one side of it, +sheltered by some heavy undergrowth. Gertie's face, as I pulled it out +of the box, was a study in about eight different emotions. + +"Oo--er," she gasped faintly. "That ain't never for me." + +"Yes, it is, Gertrude," I said. "It was specially chosen for you by a +lady of unimpeachable taste." + +I held it out to her, and she accepted it with shaking hands, like a +newly-made peeress receiving her tiara. + +"My Gawd," she whispered reverently; "ain't it just a dream!" + +To be perfectly honest, it seemed to me more in the nature of a +nightmare, but wild horses wouldn't have dragged any such hostile +criticism out of me. + +"I think it will suit you very nicely, Gertie," I said. "It's got just +that dash of colour which Edith Terrace wants." + +"Yer reely mean it?" she asked eagerly. "Yer reely think I'll look orl +right in it? 'Course it do seem a bit funny like with this 'ere frock, +but I got a green velveteen wot belonged to Mrs. Oldbury's niece. It +won't 'alf go with that." + +"It won't indeed," I agreed heartily. Then, looking up from my eggs +and bacon, I added: "By the way, Gertie, I've never thanked you for +your letter. I had no idea you could, write so well." + +"Go on!" said Gertie doubtfully; "you're gettin' at me now." + +"No, I'm not," I answered. "It was a very nice letter. It said just +what you wanted to say and nothing more. That's the whole art of good +letter-writing." Then a sudden idea struck me. "Look here, Gertie," I +went on, "will you undertake a little job for me if I explain it to +you?" + +She nodded. "Oo--rather. I'd do any think for you." + +"Well, it's something I may want you to do for me after I've left." + +Her face fell. "You ain't goin' away from 'ere--not for good?" + +"Not entirely for good," I said. "I hope to do a certain amount of +harm to at least one person before I come back." I paused. "It's just +possible," I continued, "that after I've gone somebody may come to +the house and ask questions about me--how I spent my time while I was +here, and that sort of thing. If they should happen to ask you, I want +you to tell them that I used to stay in bed most of the day and go to +the theatre in the evening. Do you mind telling a lie for me?" + +Gertie looked at me in obvious amazement. "I _don't_ think," she +observed. "Wotjer taike me for--a Sunday-school teacher?" + +"No, Gertie," I said gravely; "no girl with your taste in hats could +possibly be a Sunday-school teacher." Then pushing away my plate and +lighting a cigarette, I added: "I'll leave you a stamped addressed +envelope and a telegraph form. You can send me the wire first to say +if any one has called, and then write me a line afterwards by post +telling me what they were like and what they said." + +"I can do that orl right," she answered eagerly. "If they talks to +Mrs. Oldbury I'll listen at the keyhole." + +I nodded. "It's a practice that the best moralists condemn," I said, +"but after all, the recording angel does it." Then getting up from +the table, I added: "You might tell Mrs. Oldbury I should like to see +her." + +When that good lady arrived I acquainted her with the fact that I +intended to leave her house in about two hours' time. Any resentment +which she might have felt over this slightly abrupt departure was +promptly smoothed away by my offer to take on the rooms for at least +another fortnight. I did this partly with the object of leaving a +pleasant impression behind me, and partly because I had a vague idea +that it might come in handy to have some sort of headquarters in +London where I was known and recognized as Mr. James Nicholson. + +Having settled up this piece of business I sat down and wrote to +McMurtrie. It was a task which required a certain amount of care and +delicacy, but after two trial essays I succeeded in turning out the +following letter, which seemed to me about to meet the situation. + +"DEAR DR. McMURTRIE: + +"As you have probably heard, I received your letter yesterday, and I +am making arrangements to go down to Tilbury tomorrow by the 11.45. + +"Of course in a way I am sorry to leave London--it's extraordinary +what a capacity for pleasure a prolonged residence in the country +gives one--but at the same time I quite agree with you that business +must come first. + +"I shall start work directly I get down, and if all the things I asked +for in my list have been provided, I don't think it will be long +before I have some satisfactory news for you. Unless I see you or hear +from you before then I will write to the Hotel Russell directly there +is anything definite to communicate. + +"Meanwhile please give my kind regards to your amiable friend and +colleague, and also remember me to his charming daughter. + +"Believe me, + +"Yours sincerely, + +"JAMES NICHOLSON." + +With its combined touch of seriousness and flippancy, this appeared to +me exactly the sort of letter that McMurtrie would expect me to write. +I couldn't resist putting in the bit about his "amiable" friend, for +the recollection of Savaroff's manner towards me still rankled gently +in my memory. Besides I had a notion it would rather amuse McMurtrie, +whose more artistic mind must have been frequently distressed by his +colleague's blustering surliness. + +I could think of nothing else which required my immediate attention, +so going into my bedroom I proceeded to pack up my belongings. I put +in everything I possessed with the exception of Savaroff's discarded +garments, for although I was keeping on the rooms I had no very robust +faith in my prospects of ever returning to them. Then, ringing the +bell, I despatched Gertrude to fetch me a taxi, while I settled up my +bill with Mrs. Oldbury. + +"An' seem' you've taken on the rooms, sir," observed that lady, "I +'opes it's to be a case of 'say orrivar an' not good-bye.'" + +"I hope it is, Mrs. Oldbury," I replied. "I shall come back if I +possibly can, but one never knows what may happen in life." + +She shook her head sombrely. "Ah, you're right there, sir. An' curious +enough that's the very identical remark my late 'usband was ser fond +o' makin'. I remember 'is sayin' it to me the very night before 'e was +knocked down by a bus. Knocked down in Westminister 'e was, and runned +over the body by both 'ind wheels. 'E never got over it--not as you +might say reely got over it. If ever 'e ate cheese after that it +always give 'im a pain in 'is stomick." + +An apropos remark about "come wheel come woe" flashed into my mind, +but before I could frame it in properly sympathetic language, a taxi +drew up at the door with Gertie 'Uggins installed in state alongside +the driver. + +Both she and Mrs. Oldbury stood on the step, and waved farewell to me +as I drove down the street. I was quite sorry to leave them. I felt +that they both liked me in their respective ways, and my present list +of amiably disposed acquaintances was so small that I objected to +curtailing it by the most humble member. + +All the way to Tilbury I occupied myself with the hackneyed but +engrossing pursuit of pondering over my affairs. Apart from my own +private interest in the matter, which after all was a fairly poignant +one, the mysterious adventure in which I was involved filled me with +a profound curiosity. Latimer's dramatic re-entry on to the scene had +thrown an even more sinister complexion over the whole business than +it boasted before, and, like a man struggling with a jig-saw problem, +I tried vainly to fit together the various pieces into some sort of +possible solution. + +I was still engaged in this interesting occupation when the train ran +into Tilbury station. Without waiting for a porter I collected my +various belongings, and stepped out on to the platform. + +McMurtrie had told me in his letter that he would arrange for some +one to meet me; and looking round I caught sight of a burly red-faced +gentleman in a tight jacket and a battered straw hat, sullenly eyeing +the various passengers who had alighted. I walked straight up to him. + +"Are you waiting for me--Mr. James Nicholson?" I asked. + +He looked me up and down in a kind of familiar fashion that distinctly +failed to appeal to me. + +"That's right," he said. Then as a sort of afterthought he added, "I +gotter trap outside." + +"Have you?" I said. "I've got a couple of bags inside, so you'd better +come and catch hold of one of them." + +His unpleasantly red face grew even redder, and for a moment he seemed +to meditate some spirited answer. Then apparently he thought better of +it, and slouching after me up the platform, possessed himself of the +larger and heavier of my two bags, which I had carefully left for him. + +The trap proved to be a ramshackle affair with an ill-kept but +powerful-looking horse between the shafts. I climbed up, and as I took +my seat I observed to my companion that I wished first of all to call +at the post-office. + +"I dunno nothin' 'bout that," he grunted, flicking his whip. "My +orders was to drive you to Warren's Copse." + +"I don't care in the least what your orders were," I answered. "You +can either go to the post-office or else you can go to the Devil. +There are plenty of other traps in Tilbury." + +He was evidently unused to this crisp style of dialogue, for after +glaring at me for a moment in a sort of apoplectic amazement he jerked +his horse round and proceeded slowly down the street. + +"'Ave it yer own way," he muttered. + +"I intend to," I said cheerfully. + +We pulled up at the post-office, a large red-brick building in the +main street, and leaving my disgruntled friend sitting in the trap, +I jumped out and pushed open the swing door. Except for an +intelligent-looking clerk behind the counter the place was empty. + +"Good-morning," I said. "I wonder if you could help me out of a slight +difficulty about my letters?" + +"What sort of a difficulty?" he inquired civilly. + +"Well, for the next week or two," I said, "I shall be living in a +little hut on the marshes about two miles to the east from here, and +quite close to the sea-wall. I am making a few chemical experiments in +connection with photography" (a most useful lie this), "and I've told +my friends to write or send telegrams here--to the post-office. I +wondered, if anything should come for me, whether you had a special +messenger or any one who could bring it over. I would be delighted to +pay him his proper fee and give him something extra for his trouble. +My name is Nicholson--Mr. James Nicholson." + +The man hesitated for a moment. "I don't think there will be any +difficulty about that--not if you leave written instructions. I shall +have to ask the postmaster when he comes in, but I'm pretty certain it +will be all right." + +I thanked him, and after writing out exactly what I wanted done, I +returned to my friend in the trap, who, to judge from his expression, +did not appear to have benefited appreciably from my little lesson in +patience and politeness. Under the circumstances I decided to extend +it. + +"I am going across the street to get some things I want," I observed. +"You can wait here." + +He made an unpleasant sound in his throat, which I think he intended +for an ironical laugh. "Wot you want's a bus," he remarked; "a bus an' +a bell an' a ruddy conductor." + +I came quite close and looked up into his face, smiling. "What you +want," I said quietly, "is a damned good thrashing, and if I have any +more of your insolence I'll pull you down out of the trap and give you +one." + +I think something in my voice must have told him I was speaking the +literal truth, for although his mouth opened convulsively it closed +again without any audible response. + +I strolled serenely across the road to where I saw an "Off-Licence." +I had acted in an indiscreet fashion, but whatever happened I was +determined to put up with no further rudeness from anybody. I had had +all the discourtesy I required during my three years in Princetown. + +My purchases at the Off-Licence consisted of three bottles of whisky +and two more of some rather obscure brand of champagne. It was +possible, of course, that McMurtrie's ideas of catering included such +luxuries, but there seemed no reason for running any unnecessary risk. +As a prospective host it was clearly my duty to take every reasonable +precaution. + +Armed with my spoils I returned to the trap, and stored them away +carefully beneath the seat. Then I climbed up alongside the driver. + +"Now you can go to Warren's Copse," I said; and without making any +reply the tomato-faced gentleman jerked round his horse's head, and +back we went up the street. + +I can't say it was exactly an hilarious drive. I felt cheerful enough +myself, but my companion maintained a depressed and lowering silence, +broken only by an occasional inward grunt, or a muttered curse at +the horse. It struck me as curious and not a little sinister that +McMurtrie should be employing such an uncouth ruffian, but I supposed +that he had some sound reason for his choice. I couldn't imagine +McMurtrie doing anything without a fairly sound reason. + +Within about ten minutes of leaving the town, we came out on to the +main road that bounded the landward side of the marshes. I caught +sight of my future home looking very small and desolate against the +long stretch of sea-wall, and far in the distance I could just discern +the mast of the _Betty_ still tapering up above the bank of the creek. +It was comforting to know that so far at all events Mr. Gow had +neither sunk her nor pawned her. + +Warren's Copse proved to be the small clump of trees that I had +noticed on the previous day, and my driver pulled up there and jerked +the butt of his whip in the direction of the hut. + +"There y'are," he said. "We can't get no nearer than this." + +There was a good distance to walk across the marsh, and for a moment I +wondered whether to insist upon his getting out and carrying one of +my bags, I decided, however, that I had had quite enough of the surly +brute's company, so jumping down, I took out my belongings, and told +him that he was at liberty to depart. + +He drove off without a word, but he had not gone more than about +thirty yards when he suddenly turned in his seat and called out a +parting observation. + +"I ain't afraid o' you--you--'ulkin' bully!" he shouted; "an' don't +you think it neither." + +Then, whipping up the horse, he broke into a smart canter, and +disappeared round a bend in the road. + +When I had done laughing, I shoved a bottle into each side pocket, and +stowed away the other three in the emptier of my two bags. The latter +were no light weight to lug along, and by the time I had covered the +half-mile of marsh that separated me from the hut I had come to the +conclusion that the profession of a railway porter was one that I +should never adopt as a private hobby. + +As soon as I unlocked the door, I saw that I had not been far wrong in +my guess about a caretaker on the previous afternoon. Some one, at all +events, had been there in the interval, for the pile of cooking and +eating utensils were now arranged on a rough shelf at the back, while +the box which I had noticed had been unpacked and its contents set out +on the kitchen table. + +I glanced over them with some interest. There were packets of tea and +sugar, several loaves of bread, and a number of gaily-coloured tins, +containing such luxuries as corned beef, condensed milk, tongue, +potted meat, and golden syrup. Except for the tea, however, there +seemed to be a regrettable dearth of liquid refreshments, and I +mentally thanked Providence for my happy inspiration with regard to +the Off-Licence. + +I pottered about a bit, unpacking my own belongings, and putting +things straight generally. As I seemed likely to be spending some time +in the place, I thought I might as well make everything as comfortable +and tidy as possible to start with; and, thanks to my combined +experience of small boats and prison cells, I flatter myself I made +rather a good job of it. + +By the time I had finished I was feeling distinctly hungry. I opened +one of the tongues, and with the additional aid of bread and whisky +made a simple but satisfying lunch. Then I sat down on the bed and +treated myself to a pipe before going across to the shed to start +work. Smoking in business hours is one of those agreeable luxuries +which an inventor of high explosives finds it healthier to deny +himself. + +I could see no sign of any one about when I went outside. Except for +a few gulls, which were wheeling backwards and forwards over the +sea-wall, I seemed to have the whole stretch of marsh and saltings +entirely to myself. Some people, I suppose, would have found the +prospect a depressing one, but I was very far from sharing any such +opinion. I like marsh scenery, and for the present at all events I +was fully able to appreciate the charms which sages of all times are +reported to have discovered in solitude. + +I shall never forget the feeling of satisfaction with which I +closed the door of the shed behind me and looked round its clean, +well-lighted interior. A careful examination soon showed me that +McMurtrie's share in the work had been done as thoroughly and +conscientiously as I had imagined from my brief inspection on the +previous day. Everything I had asked for was lying there in readiness, +and, much as I disliked and mistrusted the doctor, it was not without +a genuine sensation of gratitude that I hung up my coat and proceeded +to set to work. + +Briefly speaking, my new discovery was an improvement on the famous C. +powder, invented by Lemartre. It was derived from the aromatic series +of nitrates (which that great scientist always insisted to be the +correct basis for stable and powerful explosives), but it owed its +enormously increased force to a fresh constituent, the introduction +of which was entirely my own idea. I had been working at it for about +nine months before my arrest, and after several disappointing failures +I had just succeeded in achieving what I believed to be my object, +when my experiments had been so unkindly interrupted. + +Still, all that remained now was comparatively clear sailing. I had +merely to follow out my former process, and I had taken care to order +the various ingredients in as fully prepared a state as possible for +immediate use. I had also taken care to include one or two other +articles, which as a matter of fact had nothing on earth to do with +the business in hand. It was just as well, I felt, to obscure matters +a trifle, in case any inquiring mind might attempt to investigate my +secret. + +For hour after hour I worked on, sorting out my various chemicals, and +preparing such methods of treatment as were necessary in each case. I +was so interested in my task that I paid no attention at all to the +time, until with something of a shock I suddenly realized that the +light was beginning to fail. Looking at my watch I found that it was +nearly half-past seven. + +There was still a certain amount to do before I could knock off, so, +stopping for a moment to mix myself a well-earned whisky-and-water, I +switched on the two electric head-lights which McMurtrie had provided +as a means of illumination. With the aid of these I continued my +labours for perhaps another hour and a half, at the end of which +time I began to feel that a little rest and refreshment would be an +agreeable variation in the programme. + +After making sure that everything was safe, I turned out the lights, +and locking up the door, walked back to the hut. I was just entering, +when it suddenly struck me that instead of dining in solitary state +off tongue and bread, I might just as well stroll over to the _Betty_ +and take my evening repast in the engaging company of Mr. Gow. + +No sooner had this excellent idea entered my head than I decided to +put it into practice. The moon was out, and there appeared to be +enough light to see my way by the old route along the river shore, +so, walking down to the sea-wall, I climbed over, and set off in the +direction of the creek. + +It was tricky sort of work, with fine possibilities of spraining +one's ankle about it, but by dint of "going delicately," like Agag, I +managed to reach the end of my journey without disaster. As I rounded +the bend I saw the _Betty_ lying out in mid-stream, bathed in a most +becoming flood of moonlight. A closer observation showed me the head +and shoulders of Mr. Gow protruding from the fo'c's'le hatch. + +He responded to my hail by scrambling up on deck and lowering himself +into the dinghy, which with a few vigorous jerks he brought to the +shore. + +"I've come to have supper with you, Mr. Gow," I observed. "Have you +got anything to eat?" + +He touched his cap and nodded. "I says to meself it must be you, sir, +d'rectly I heard you comin' round the crick. There ain't much comp'ny +'bout here at night-time." + +"Nor in the daytime either," I added, pushing the boat off from the +bank. + +"And that's a fact, sir," he remarked, settling down to the oars. +"There was one gent round here this morning askin' his way, but except +for him we bin remarkable quiet." + +"What sort of a gent?" I demanded with interest. + +"Smallish, 'e was, sir, an' very civil spoken. Wanted to get to +Tilbury." + +"Did he ask who the boat belonged to, by any chance?" + +Mr. Gow reflected for a moment. "Now you come to mention it, sir, I +b'lieve 'e did. Not as I should have told 'im anything, even if I'd +known. I don't hold with answerin' questions." + +"You're quite right, Mr. Gow," I observed, catching hold of the +stern of the _Betty_. "It's a habit that gets people into a lot of +trouble--especially in the Law Courts." + +We clambered on board, and while my companion made the dinghy fast, +I went down into the cabin, and proceeded to rout out the lockers in +search of provisions. I discovered a slab of pressed beef, and some +rather stale bread and cheese, which I set out on the table, wondering +to myself, as I did so, whether the inquisitive stranger of the +morning was in any way connected with my affairs. It couldn't have +been Latimer, for that gentleman was very far from being "smallish," a +remark which applied equally well to our mutual friend with the scar. +I was still pondering over the question when I heard Mr. Gow drop down +into the fo'c's'le, and summond him through the connecting door to +come and join the feast. + +He accepted my invitation with some embarrassment, as became a "paid +hand," but a bottle of Bass soon put him at his ease. We began by +discussing various nautical topics, such as the relative merits of a +centre-board or a keel for small boats, and whether whisky or beer was +really the better drink when one was tired and wet through. It was not +until we had finished our meal and were sitting outside enjoying our +pipes that I broached the question that was at the back of my mind. + +"Look here, Gow," I said abruptly, "were you speaking seriously when +you suggested that launch ran you down on purpose?" + +His face darkened, and then a curious look of slow cunning stole into +it. + +"Mebbe they did, and mebbe they didn't," he answered. "Anyway, I +reckon they wouldn't have bin altogether sorry to see me at the bottom +o' the river." + +"But why?" I persisted. "What on earth have you been doing to them?" + +Mr. Gow was silent for a moment. "'Tis like this, sir," he said at +last. "Bein' about the river all times o' the day an' night, I see +things as other people misses--things as per'aps it ain't too healthy +to see." + +"Well, what have you seen our pals doing?" I inquired. + +"I don't say I seen 'em doin' nothin'--nothin' against the law, so to +speak." He looked round cautiously. "All the same, sir," he added, +lowering his voice, "it's my belief as they ain't livin' up there on +Sheppey for no good purpose. Artists they calls 'emselves, but to my +way o' thinking they're a sight more interested in forts an' ships an' +suchlike than they are in pickchers and paintin'." + +I looked at him steadily for a moment. There was no doubt that the man +was in earnest. + +"You think they're spies?" I said quietly. + +He nodded his head. "That's it, sir. Spies--that's what they are; a +couple o' dirty Dutch spies--damn 'em." + +"Why don't you tell the police or the naval people?" I asked. + +He laughed grimly. "They'd pay a lot of heed to the likes o' me, +wouldn't they? You can lay them two fellers have got it all squared up +fine and proper. Come to look into it, an' you'd find they was artists +right enough; no, there wouldn't be no doubt about that. As like as +not I'd get two years 'ard for perjurin' and blackmail." + +To a certain extent I was in a position to sympathize with this point +of view. + +"Well, we must keep an eye on them ourselves," I said, "that's all. +We can't have German spies running up and down the Thames as if they +owned the blessed place." I got up and knocked out my pipe. "The first +thing to do," I added, "is to summons them for sinking your boat. If +they _are_ spies, they'll pay up without a murmur, especially if they +really tried to do it on purpose." + +Mr. Gow nodded his head again, with a kind of vicious obstinacy. "They +done it a-purpose all right," he repeated. "They seen me watching of +'em, and they knows that dead men tell no tales." + +There scarcely seemed to me to be enough evidence for the certainty +with which he cherished this opinion; but the mere possibility of its +being a fact was sufficiently disturbing. Goodness knows, I didn't +want to mix myself up in any further troubles, and yet, if these men +were really German spies, and, in addition to that, sufficiently +desperate to attempt a cold-blooded murder in order to cover up their +traces, I had apparently let myself in for it with a vengeance. + +Of course, if I liked, I could abandon Mr. Gow to pursue his claim +without any assistance; but that was a solution which somehow or other +failed to appeal to me. In a sense he had become my retainer; and +we Lyndons are not given to deserting our retainers under any +circumstances. At least, I shouldn't exactly have liked to face my +father in another world with this particular weakness against my +record. + +Altogether it was in a far from serene state of mind that I climbed +down into the dinghy, and allowed Mr. Gow to row me back to the bank. + +"Will you be over tomorrow, sir?" he asked, as he stood up in the boat +ready to push off. + +"I don't think so, I shall be rather busy the next two or three +days." Then I paused a moment. "Keep your eyes open generally, Mr. +Gow," I added; "and if any more gentlemen who have lost their way to +Tilbury come and ask you the name of the _Betty's_ owner, tell them +she belongs to the Bishop of London." + +He touched his cap quite gravely. "Yessir," he said. "Good-night, +sir." + +"Good-night, Mr. Gow," I replied, and scrambling up the bank, I set +off on my return journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME + + +It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the +rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and +exhaustion. Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark +brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have +taken for finely ground coffee. It was not coffee, however; it was the +fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that +any human being has ever accomplished. Unless I was wrong--utterly and +hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to +blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next +week. + +I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle +slowly through my fingers. The stuff was quite safe to handle; that +was one of its beauties. I could have put a lighted match to it or +thrown it on the fire without the faintest risk; the only possible +method of releasing its appalling power being the explosion of a few +grains of gunpowder or dynamite in its immediate vicinity. I had no +intention of allowing that interesting event to occur until I had made +certain necessary preparations. + +I was still contemplating my handiwork with a sort of fatigued pride, +when a sudden sound outside attracted my attention. Getting up and +looking through the shed window, I discovered a telegraph-boy standing +by the hut, apparently engaged in hunting for the bell. + +"All right, sonny," I called out. "Bring it along here." + +I walked to the door, and the next minute I was being handed an +envelope addressed to me at the Tilbury Post-Office in Joyce's +handwriting. + +"It came the last post yesterday," explained the lad. "We couldn't let +you have it until this morning because there wasn't any one to send." + +"Well, sit down a moment, Charles," I said; "and I'll just see if +there's any answer." + +He seated himself on the bench, staring round at everything with +obvious interest. With a pleasant feeling of anticipation I slit open +the envelope and pulled out its contents. + + +"CHELSEA, + +"_Monday._ + +"DEAREST JAMES, + +"It looks rather nice written--doesn't it! I am coming down tomorrow +by the train which gets into Tilbury at 2.15. I shall walk across to +the _Betty_ and sit there peacefully till you turn up. Whatever stage +the work is at, don't be later than 7.30. I shall have supper ready by +then--and it will be a supper worth eating. My poor darling, you must +be simply starved. I've lots to tell you, James, but it will keep till +tomorrow. + +"With all my love, + +"JOYCE." + +I read this through (it was so like Joyce I could almost fancy I heard +her speaking), and then I turned to the telegraph-boy, who was still +occupied in taking stock of his surroundings. + +"There's no answer, thank you, Charles," I said. "How much do I owe +you?" + +He pulled himself together abruptly. "It will be two shillings, the +post-office fee, sir." + +"Well, there it is," I said; "and there's another shilling for +yourself." + +He jumped up and pocketed the coins with an expression of gratitude. +Then he paused irresolutely. "Beg pardon, sir," he observed, "but +ain't you a gentleman who makes things?" + +I laughed. "We most of us do that, Charles," I said, "if they're only +mistakes." + +He looked round the shed with an expression of slight awe. "Can you +make fireworks?" he asked. + +I glanced instinctively at the little heap of powder. "Of a kind," I +admitted modestly. "Why?" + +He gave an envious sigh. "I only wondered if it was hard, sir. I'd +rather be able to make fireworks than do anything." + +"It's not very hard," I said consolingly. "You go on bringing my +letters and telegrams for me like a good boy directly they arrive, and +before I leave here I'll show you how to do it. Only you mustn't talk +about it to anybody, or I shall have everyone asking me the same +thing." + +His face brightened, and stammering out his thanks and his +determination to keep the bargain a profound secret, he reluctantly +took his departure. I felt that in future, whatever happened, I +was pretty certain to get anything which turned up for me at the +post-office without undue delay. + +For the next half-hour or so I amused myself by constructing a kind of +amateur magazine outside the hut in which to store my precious powder. +It was safe enough in a way above ground, as I have already mentioned, +but with inquisitive strangers like Mr. Latimer prowling around, I +certainly didn't mean to leave a grain of it about while I was absent +from the shed. I packed it all away in a waterproof iron box, which I +had specially ordered for the purpose, and buried it in the hole that +I had dug outside. Then I covered the latter over with a couple of +pieces of turf, and carefully removed all traces of my handiwork. + +It was not until I had finished this little job that I suddenly +realized how tired I was. For the last four days I had scarcely +stirred outside the shed, and I don't suppose I had averaged more than +three hours' sleep a night the whole time. The excitement and interest +of my work had kept me going, and now that it was over I found that I +was almost dropping with fatigue. + +I locked up the place, and walking across to the hut, opened myself +one of the bottles of champagne which I had so thoughtfully purchased +at the Off-Licence. It was not exactly a vintage wine, but I was in no +mood to be over-critical, and I drank off a couple of glasses with the +utmost appreciation. Then I lay down on the bed, and in less than five +minutes I was sleeping like a log. + +I woke up at exactly half-past four. However tired I am, a few hours' +sleep always puts me right again, and by the time I had had a wash and +changed into a clean shirt, I felt as fresh as a daisy. + +I decided to walk straight over to the _Betty_. I knew that by this +time Joyce would be on board, and as there was nothing else to be done +in the shed, I thought I might just as well join her now as later. I +had been too busy to miss any one very much the last four days, but +now that the strain was over I felt curiously hungry to see her again. +Besides, I was longing to hear what news she had brought about Tommy +and George. + +With a view to contributing some modest item towards the supper +programme, I shoved the other bottle of champagne into my pocket, and +then lighting a cigar, locked up the place, and set off for the creek +by my usual route. The tide was very high, and on several occasions I +had to scramble up and make my way along the sea-wall in full view +of the marsh and the roadway. Fortunately, however, there seemed, +as usual, to be no one about, and I reached the mouth of the creek +without much fear of having been watched or followed. + +The _Betty_ was there all right, but I could see no sign of any one on +board. I walked up the creek until I was exactly opposite where she +was lying, and then putting my hands to my lips I gave her a gentle +hail. + +In an instant Joyce's head appeared out of the cabin, and the next +moment she was on deck waving me a joyous welcome with the frying-pan. + +"Oh, it's you!" she cried. "How lovely! Half a second, and I'll come +over and fetch you." + +"Where's Mr. Gow?" I called out. + +"He's gone home. I sent him off for a holiday. There's no one on board +but me." + +She scrambled aft, and unshipping the dinghy, came sculling towards me +across the intervening water. She was wearing a white jersey, and with +her arms bare and her hair shining in the sunlight, she made a picture +that only a blind man would have failed to find inspiring. + +She brought up right against the bank where I was standing, and +leaning over, caught hold of the grass. + +"Jump," she said. "I'll hang on." + +I jumped, and the next moment I was beside her in the boat, and we +were hugging each other as cheerfully and naturally as two children. + +"You dear, to come so soon!" she said. "I wasn't expecting you for +ages." + +I kissed her again, and then, picking up the oars, pushed off from the +bank. "Joyce," I said, "I've done it! I've made enough of the blessed +stuff to blow up half Tilbury." + +She clapped her hands joyfully. "How splendid! I knew you would. Have +you tried it?" + +I shook my head. "Not yet," I said. "We'll do it early tomorrow +morning, before any one's about." Then, digging in my scull to avoid a +desolate-looking beacon, I added anxiously: "What about Tommy? Is he +coming?" + +Joyce nodded. "He'll be down tomorrow. I've got a letter for you from +him. He saw Mr. Latimer last night." + +"Did he!" said I. "Things are moving with a vengeance. What about the +gentle George?" + +Joyce laughed softly. "Oh," she said; "I've such lots to tell you, I +hardly know where to start." + +I ran the boat alongside the _Betty_, and we both climbed on board. + +"Suppose we start by having some tea," I suggested. "I'm dying for a +cup." + +"You poor dear," said Joyce. "Of course you shall have one. You can +read what Tommy says while I'm getting it ready." + +She fetched the letter out of the cabin, and sitting in the well I +proceeded to decipher the three foolscap pages of hieroglyphics which +Tommy is pleased to describe as his handwriting. As far as I could +make out they ran as follows: + +"MY DEAR NEIL, + +"I suppose I oughtn't to begin like that, in case somebody else got +hold of the letter. It doesn't matter really, however, because Joyce +is bringing it down, and you can tear the damn thing up as soon as +you've read it. + +"Well, I've seen Latimer. I wrote to him directly I got back, reminded +him who I was, and told him I wanted to have a chat with him about +some very special private business. He asked me to come round to his +rooms in Jermyn Street last night at ten o'clock, and I was there till +pretty near midnight. + +"I thought I was bound to find out something, but good Lord, Neil, it +came off in a way I'd never dared hope for. Practically speaking, I've +got to the bottom of the whole business--at least so far as Latimer's +concerned. You see he either had to explain or else tell me to go to +the devil, and as he thought I was a perfectly safe sort of chap to be +honest with, he decided to make a clean breast of it. + +"To start with, it's very much what we suspected. Latimer _is_ a +Secret Service man, and that's how he comes to be mixed up in the job. +It seems that some little while ago the Admiralty or one of the other +Government departments got it into their heads that there were a +number of Germans over in England spying out the land in view of a +possible row over this Servian business. Latimer was told off amongst +others to look into the matter. He had been sniffing around for some +weeks without much luck, when more or less by chance he dropped across +the track of those two very identical beauties who ran down Gow's boat +in the Thames last Friday. + +"Somehow or other they must have got wind of the fact that he was +after them, and they evidently made up their minds to get rid of him. +They seem to have set about it rather neatly. The man with the scar, +who is either one of them or else in with them, introduced himself to +Latimer as a member of the French Secret Service. He pretended that +he had some special information about the case in hand, and although +Latimer was a bit suspicious, he agreed to dine at Parelli's and hear +what the fellow had to say. + +"Well, you know the rest of that little incident. If it hadn't been +for you there's not the faintest doubt that Latimer would have +copped it all right, and I can tell you he's by way of being rather +particularly grateful. I was specially instructed to send you a +message to that effect next time I was writing. + +"What the connection is between your crowd and these Germans I can't +exactly make out. Of course if you're right in your idea about the +chap with the scar spying on you in London it's perfectly obvious +they're working together in some way. At the same time I'm quite sure +that Latimer knows nothing about it. The reason he came down to look +at the hut on Friday was because a report about it had been sent to +him by one of his men--he has two fellows working under him--and he +thought it might have something to do with the Germans. He described +the way you had caught him quite frankly, and told me how he'd had to +invent a lie about the Surveyor in order to get out of it. + +"Exactly what he means to do next I don't know. He has got some plan +on, and I've a notion he wants me to help him--at least he sounded +me pretty plainly last night as to whether I'd be game to lend him a +hand. I need hardly tell you I jumped at the idea. It seems to me our +only possible chance of finding out anything. I am to see him or hear +from him tomorrow, and directly I know what's in the wind I'll either +write to you or come and look you up. + +"Joyce will tell you all about George and McMurtrie. If they aren't +both up to some kind of particularly dirty mischief I'll eat my whole +wardrobe. We must talk it over thoroughly when we meet. + +"I'm longing to see you again, and hear all about the work and what's +been going on down there. + +"So long, old son, + +"Yours as ever, + +"TOMMY." + +I was just making out the last words, when Joyce emerged from the +cabin, carrying some tea on a tray. + +"Here you are, Neil," she said. "I have cut you only two slices of +bread and butter, because I don't want you to spoil your supper. +There's cold pheasant and peas and new potatoes." + +I pulled out the bottle of champagne from my pocket. "If they're as +new as this wine," I observed, "they ought to be delicious." + +Joyce accepted my contribution, and after reading the label, placed it +carefully on the floor of the well. "Sarcon et fils," she repeated. "I +always thought they made vinegar." + +"Perhaps they do," I replied. "We shall know when we drink it." + +Joyce laughed, and sitting down beside me, poured me out a cup of tea. +"You've read Tommy's letter," she said. "What do you think about it?" + +I took a long drink. "From the little I've seen of Mr. Bruce Latimer," +I said, "I should put him down as being one of the most accomplished +liars in England." I paused. "At the same time," I added, "I think +he's a fine fellow. I like his face." + +Joyce nodded her head. "But you don't believe his story?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. "It may be true," I said. "Tommy seems +to think so anyhow. If it is, things are a bit simpler than I +imagined--that's all." + +"And if it isn't?" said Joyce. + +"Ah!" said I, "if it isn't--" + +I left the sentence unfinished, and helped myself to a second bit of +bread and butter. + +There was a short silence. + +"Tell me about George, Joyce," I went on. "What are these particular +dark doings that Tommy's hinting about?" + +Joyce leaned forward with her chin on her hands, her blue eyes fixed +on mine. + +"Neil," she said slowly, "I've found out something at last--something +I thought I was never going to. I know who the man was in Marks's +rooms on the day that he was murdered." + +I was so surprised that I gulped down a mouthful of nearly boiling +tea. + +"I wish you'd break these things more gently, Joyce," I said. "Who was +it?" + +"It was Dr. McMurtrie." + +I put down the teacup and stared at her in the blankest amazement. + +"Dr. McMurtrie!" I repeated incredulously. + +She nodded. "Listen, and I'll tell you exactly how it all happened. I +dined with George, as you know, at the Savoy on Friday, and we went +into the whole business of my going away with him. He has got that +twelve thousand pounds, Neil; there's no doubt about it. He showed me +the entry in his pass-book and the acknowledgment from the bank, and +he even offered to write me a cheque for a couple of hundred right +away, to buy clothes with for the trip." + +"From what I remember of George," I said, "he must be desperately in +love with you." + +Joyce gave a little shiver of disgust. "Of course I let him think I +was giving way. I wanted to find out where the money had come from, +but try as I would, I couldn't get him to tell me. That makes me feel +so certain there's something wrong about it. In the end I arranged to +dine with him again tomorrow night, when I said I'd give him my final +answer. On Saturday morning, however, I changed my mind, and wrote him +a note to say I'd come Thursday instead. I didn't mean to tie myself +to be back tomorrow, in case you wanted me here." + +She paused. + +"I had to go up Victoria Street, so I thought I'd leave the letter at +his office. I'd just got there, and I was standing outside the door +opening my bag, when a man came down the steps. I looked up as he +passed, and--oh Neil!--it was all I could do to stop myself from +screaming. I knew him at once; I knew his cold wicked face just as +well as if it had been only three days instead of three years. It was +the man I'd seen in Marks's rooms on the afternoon of the murder." + +She stopped again, and took a deep breath. + +"I was horribly excited, and yet at the same time I felt quite cool. I +let him get about ten yards away down the street, and then I started +off after him. He walked as far as the Stores. Then he called an empty +taxi that was coming past, and I heard him tell the driver to go to +the Hotel Russell. I thought about how you'd followed the man with the +scar, and I made up my mind I'd do the same thing. I had to wait for +several seconds before another taxi came by, but directly it did +I jumped in and told the man to drive me to the corner of Russell +Square. + +"I got there just as the other taxi was drawing up in front of the +hotel. A porter came forward and opened the door, and I saw the man +get out and go up the steps. I waited for one moment, and then I +walked along to the entrance myself. The porter was still standing +there, so I went straight up to him and asked him quite simply what +the name of the gentleman was who had just gone inside. He sort of +hesitated, and then he said to me: 'That gentleman, Miss?--that's Dr. +McMurtrie.'" + +Once more she paused, and, pushing away the tray, I lit myself a +cigar. "It's lucky you've had some practice in surprises," I observed. + +Joyce nodded. "Of course I was absolutely flabbergasted, but I don't +think I showed anything. I sort of rummaged in my bag for a minute +till I'd recovered; then I gave the man half a crown and asked him if +he knew how long Dr. McMurtrie was staying. I think he was in doubt as +to whether I was a female detective or a lady reporter; anyhow he took +the money and said he was very sorry he didn't know, but that if I +wanted an interview at any time he had no doubt it might be arranged. +I thanked him, and said it didn't matter for the moment, and there I +thought it best to leave things. You see I knew that whether McMurtrie +stayed on at the Russell or not you were bound to see him again, and +there was nothing to be gained by asking questions which the porter +would probably repeat to him. It would only have helped to put him on +his guard--wouldn't it?" + +"My dear Joyce," I said, "I think you did splendidly. Sherlock Holmes +couldn't have done better." I got up and walked to the end of the +cockpit. "But good Lord!" I added, "this does complicate matters. +You're absolutely certain it was McMurtrie you saw at Marks's flat?" + +"Absolutely," repeated Joyce with emphasis. "I should remember his +face if I lived to be a hundred." + +I clenched my fists in a sudden spasm of anger. "There's some damned +villainy underneath all this, Joyce," I said. "If McMurtrie was there +that afternoon the odds are that he knows who committed the murder." + +"He did it himself," said Joyce calmly. "I'm as sure of it as I am +that I'm sitting here." + +"But why?" I demanded--"why? Who on earth _was_ Marks? Nobody in +Chelsea seemed to know anything about him, and nothing came out at the +trial. Why should any one have wanted to kill him except me?" + +Joyce shook her head. "I don't know," she said stubbornly; "but I'm +quite certain it was McMurtrie. I feel it inside me." + +"And in any case," I continued, "what the devil is he doing messing +about with George? I'm the only connecting-link between them, and he +can't possibly mean to betray me--at all events, until he's got the +secret of the powder. He knows George would give me up tomorrow." + +Joyce made a gesture of perplexity. "I know," she said. "It's an +absolute mystery to me too. I've been puzzling and puzzling over it +till my head aches, and I can't see any sort of explanation at all." + +"The only thing that's quite plain," I said, "is the fact that +McMurtrie and Savaroff have been lying to me from the start. They are +no more powder-merchants than you are. They want to get hold of my +invention for some reason--to make money out of it, I suppose--and +then they're prepared to clear out and leave me to George and the +police. At least, that's what it's beginning to look like." + +"Well, anyhow," said Joyce, "you're not tied to them any longer by +your promise." + +"No," I said; "it takes two to keep a bargain. Besides," I added +rather bitterly, "I can afford the privilege of breaking my word. It's +only what you'd expect from a convict." + +Joyce got up, and coming to where I was sitting, slipped her arm +through mine and softly stroked my hand. "Don't, Neil," she said. +"I hate you to say anything that isn't fine and generous. It's like +hearing music out of tune." + +I drew her to me, and half closing her eyes, she laid her cheek +against mine. We remained silent for a moment or two, and then, giving +her a little hug, I sat up and took hold of her hands. + +"Look here, Joyce," I said, "we won't just bother about anything for +the rest of the day. We'll be cheerful and jolly and foolish, like we +were on Friday. God knows how all this infernal tangle is going to pan +out, but we may as well snatch one evening's happiness out of it while +we've got the chance." + +Joyce kissed me, and then jumping lightly from the seat, pulled me +up with her. "We will," she said. "After all, we've got a boat and a +lovely evening and a cold pheasant and a bottle of champagne--what +more can any one want?" + +"Well," I said, "it may sound greedy, but as a matter of fact I want +some of those peas and new potatoes you were talking about just now." + +She let go my hands, and opening one of the lockers, took out a large +basin with a couple of bags in it. "There you are," she laughed. "You +can skin them and shell them while I wash up the tea-things and lay +the table. It's a man's duty to do the dangerous work." + +Joyce had always had the gift of scattering a kind of infectious +gaiety around her, and that night she seemed to be in her most +bewitching and delightful mood. I think she made up her mind to try +and wipe out from my memory for the time being all thoughts of +the somewhat harassed state of existence in which it had pleased +Providence to land me. If so, she succeeded admirably. + +We cooked the supper between us. I boiled the peas and potatoes, and +then, when we had done the first course, Joyce got up and made a +brilliantly successful French omelette out of some fresh eggs which +she had brought down for that inspired purpose. + +It was very charming in the little low-ceilinged cabin, with the lamp +swinging overhead and no sound outside but the soft lapping of the +tide upon the sides of the boat. We lay and talked for some time after +we had finished, while I smoked a cigar, and Joyce, stretched out +luxuriously on the other bunk, indulged in a couple of cigarettes. + +"We won't wash up," I said. "I'll just shove everything through into +the fo'c's'le, and we'll leave them there for Mr. Gow. A certain +amount of exercise will be good for him after his holiday." + +"Do," said Joyce sleepily. "And then come and sit over here, Neil. I +want to stroke your hair." + +I cleared away the things, and shutting up the table, which worked on +a hinge, spread out my own cushions on the floor alongside of +Joyce's bunk. The latter was just low enough to let me rest my head +comfortably on her shoulder. + +How long we lay like that I really don't know. My whole body and mind +were steeped in a strange, delightful sense of peace and contentment, +and I began to realize, I think for the first time, how utterly +necessary and dear to me Joyce had become. I slid my arm underneath +her--she lay close up against me, her hair, which she had loosened +from its fastenings, half covering us both in its soft beauty. + +The lamp flickered and died down, but we didn't trouble to relight it. +Outside the night grew darker and darker, and through the open hatch +we could just see a solitary star shining down on us from between two +banks of cloud. Cool and sweet, a faint breeze drifted in from the +silent marshes. + +Then, quite suddenly, it seemed to me, a strange madness and music +filled the night for both of us. I only knew that Joyce was in my arms +and that we were kissing each other with fierce, unheeding passion. +There were tears on her cheeks--little sweet, salt tears of love and +happiness that felt all wet against my lips. + +It was only a moment--just one brief moment of unutterable beauty--and +then I remembered. With a groan I half raised myself in the darkness. + +"I must go, Joyce," I whispered. "I can't stay here. I daren't." + +She slipped her soft bare arms round my neck, and drew my face down to +hers. + +"Don't go," she whispered back. "Not if you don't want to. What does +it matter? I am all yours, Neil, anyway." + +For a moment I felt her warm fragrant breath upon my face, and her +heart beating quickly against mine. Then, with an effort--a big +effort--I tore myself away. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "it would only make things worse. Oh, my dear +sweet Joyce, I want you like the night wants the dawn, but we can't +cheat life. Suppose we fail--suppose there's only death or prison in +front of me. It will be hard enough now, but if--" + +I broke off, and with a little sob Joyce sat up and felt for my hand. + +"You're right, darling," she said; "but oh, my dear, my dear!" She +lifted up my hand and passed it softly backwards and forwards across +her eyes. Then, with a little laugh that had tears close behind it, +she added: "Do you know, my Neil, I'm conceited enough to think you're +rather wonderful." + +I bent down and kissed her with infinite tenderness. + +"I am, Joyce," I said. "Exactly how wonderful you'll never know." + +Then I lifted her up in my arms, and we went out of the cabin into the +cool darkness of the night. + +"I'll row myself ashore," I said, "and leave the dinghy on the beach. +I shall be back about four o'clock, if that's not too early for you. +We ought to get our explosion over before there's any one about." + +Joyce nodded. "I don't mind how early you come. The sooner the +better." + +"Try and get some sleep," I added; "you'll be tired out tomorrow if +you don't." + +"I'll try," said Joyce simply; "but I don't think I shall. I'm not +even sure I want to." + +I kissed her once more, and slipping down into the dinghy, pulled off +for the shore. Everything around was dark and silent--the faint splash +of my oars alone breaking the utter stillness. Landing at my usual +spot, more by luck than judgment, I tugged the boat up out of reach of +the tide, and then, turning round, waved good-night to the _Betty_. + +It was too dark to see anything, but I think Joyce sent me back my +message. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +LAUNCHING A NEW INVENTION + + +The eastern sky was just flushing into light when I got back to +the creek at four o'clock. It was a beautiful morning--cool and +still--with the sweet freshness of early dawn in the air, and the +promise of a long unclouded day of spring sunshine. + +I tugged the dinghy down to the water, and pushed off for the _Betty_, +which looked strangely small and unreal lying there in the dim, +mysterious twilight. The sound I made as I drew near must have reached +Joyce's ears. She was up on deck in a moment, fully dressed, and with +her hair twisted into a long bronze plait that hung down some way +below her waist. She looked as fresh and fair as the dawn itself. + +"Beautifully punctual," she called out over the side. "I knew you +would be, so I started getting breakfast." + +I caught hold of the gunwale and scrambled on board. + +"It's like living at the Savoy," I said. "Breakfast was a luxury that +had never entered my head." + +"Well, it's going to now," she returned, "unless you're in too great a +hurry to start. It's all ready in the cabin." + +"We can spare ten minutes certainly," I said. "Experiments should +always be made on a full body." + +I tied up the dinghy and followed her inside, where the table was +decorated with bread and butter and the remnants of the cold pheasant, +while a kettle hissed away cheerfully on the Primus. + +"I don't believe you've been to bed at all, Joyce," I said. "And yet +you look as if you'd just slipped out of Paradise by accident." + +She laughed, and putting her hand in my side-pocket, took out my +handkerchief to lift off the kettle with. + +"I didn't want to sleep," she said. "I was too happy, and too +miserable. It's the widest-awake mixture I ever tried." Then, picking +up the teapot, she added curiously: "Where's the powder? I expected to +see you arrive with a large keg over your shoulder." + +I sat down at the table and produced a couple of glass flasks, tightly +corked. + +"Here you are," I said. "This is ordinary gunpowder, and this other +one's my stuff. It looks harmless enough, doesn't it?" + +Joyce took both flasks and examined them with interest. "You've not +brought very much of it," she said. "I was hoping we were going to +have a really big blow-up." + +"It will be big enough," I returned consolingly, "unless I've made a +mistake." + +"Where are you going to do it?" she asked. + +"Somewhere at the back of Canvey Island," I said. "There's no one to +wake up there except the sea-gulls, and we can be out of sight round +the corner before it explodes. I've got about twenty feet of fuse, +which will give us at least a quarter of an hour to get away in." + +"What fun!" exclaimed Joyce. "I feel just like an anarchist or +something; and it's lovely to know that one's launching a new +invention. We ought to have kept that bottle of champagne to christen +it with." + +"Yes," I said regretfully; "it was the real christening brand too." + +There was a short silence. "I've thought of a name for it," cried +Joyce suddenly. "The powder, I mean. We'll call it Lyndonite. It +sounds like something that goes off with a bang, doesn't it?" + +I laughed. "It would probably suggest that to the prison authorities," +I said. "Anyhow, Lyndonite it shall be." + +We finished breakfast, and going up on deck I proceeded to haul in the +anchor, while Joyce stowed away the crockery and provisions below. For +once in a way the engine started without much difficulty, and as the +tide was running out fast it didn't take us very long to reach the +mouth of the creek. + +Once outside, I set a course down stream as close to the northern +shore as I dared go. Except for a rusty-looking steam tramp we had the +whole river to ourselves, not even a solitary barge breaking the +long stretch of grey water. One by one the old landmarks--Mucking +Lighthouse, the Thames Cattle Wharf, and Hole Haven--were left behind, +and at last the entrance to the creek that runs round behind Canvey +Island came into sight. + +One would never accuse it of being a cheerful, bustling sort of place +at the best of times, but at five o'clock in the morning it seemed the +very picture of uninhabited desolation. A better locality in which +to enjoy a little quiet practice with new explosives it would be +difficult to imagine. + +I navigated the _Betty_ in rather gingerly, for it was over three +years since I had visited the spot. Joyce kept on sounding diligently +with the lead either side of the boat, and at last we brought up in +about one and a half fathom, just comfortably out of sight of the main +stream. + +"This will do nicely," I said. "We'll turn her round first, and then +I'll row into the bank and fix things up under that tree over there. +We can be back in the river before anything happens." + +"Can't we stop and watch?" asked Joyce. "I should love to see it go +off." + +I shook my head. "Unless I've made a mistake," I said, "it will be +much healthier round the corner. We'll come back and see what's +happened afterwards." + +By the aid of some delicate manoeuvring I brought the _Betty_ round, +and then getting into the dinghy pulled myself ashore. + +It was quite unnecessary for my experiment to make any complicated +preparations. All I had to do was to dig a hole in the bank with a +trowel that I had brought for the purpose, empty my stuff into that, +and tip in the gunpowder on top. When I had finished I covered the +whole thing over with earth, leaving a clear passage for the fuse, and +then lighting the end of the latter, jumped back into the boat and +pulled off rapidly for the _Betty_. + +We didn't waste any time dawdling about. Joyce seized the painter as +I climbed on board, and hurrying to the tiller I started off down the +creek as fast as we could go, taking very particular pains not to run +aground. + +We had reached the mouth, and I was swinging her round into the main +river, when a sudden rumbling roar disturbed the peacefulness of +the dawn. Joyce, who was staring out over the stern, gave a little +startled cry, and glancing hastily back I was just in time to see a +disintegrated-looking tree soaring gaily up into the air in the midst +of a huge column of dust and smoke. The next moment a rain of falling +fragments of earth and wood came splashing down into the water--a few +stray pieces actually reaching the _Betty_, which rocked vigorously as +a minature tidal wave swept after us up the creek. + +I put down my helm and brought her round so as to face the stricken +field. + +"We seem to have done it, Joyce," I observed with some contentment. + +She gave a little gasping sort of laugh. "It was splendid!" she said. +"But, oh, Neil, what appalling stuff it must be! It's blown up half +Canvey Island!" + +"Never mind," I said cheerfully. "There are plenty of other islands +left. Let's get into the dinghy and see what the damage really amounts +to. I fancy it's fairly useful." + +We anchored the _Betty_, and then pulled up the creek towards the +scene of the explosion, where a gaping aperture in the bank was +plainly visible. As we drew near I saw that it extended, roughly +speaking, in a half-circle of perhaps twenty yards diameter. The whole +of this, which had previously been a solid bank of grass and earth, +was now nothing but a muddy pool. Of the unfortunate tree which had +marked the site there was not a vestige remaining. + +I regarded it all from the boat with the complacent pride of a +successful inventor. "It's even better than I expected, Joyce," I +said. "If one can do this with three-quarters of a pound, just fancy +the effect of a couple of hundredweight. It would shift half London." + +Joyce nodded. "They'll be more anxious than ever to get hold of it, +when they know," she said. "What are you going to do? Write and tell +McMurtrie that you've succeeded?" + +"I haven't quite decided," I answered. "I shall wait till tomorrow or +the next day, anyhow. I want to hear what Sonia has got to say first." +Then, backing away the boat, I added: "We'd better get out of this +as soon as we can. It's just possible some one may have heard the +explosion and come pushing along to find out what's the matter. People +are so horribly inquisitive." + +Joyce laughed. "It would be rather awkward, wouldn't it? We couldn't +very well say it was an earthquake. It looks too neat and tidy." + +Fortunately for us, if there was any one in the neighbourhood who +had heard the noise, they were either too lazy or too incurious to +investigate the cause. We got back on board the _Betty_ and took her +out into the main stream without seeing a sign of any one except +ourselves. The hull of the steam tramp was just visible in the far +distance, but except for that the river was still pleasantly deserted. + +"What shall we do now, Joyce?" I asked. "It seems to me that this is +an occasion which distinctly requires celebrating." + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Let's go for a long sail," she suggested, +"and then put in at Southend and have asparagus for lunch." + +I looked at her with affectionate approval. "You always have beautiful +ideas," I said. Then a sudden inspiration seized me. "I've got it!" I +cried. "What do you say to running down to Sheppey and paying a call +on our German pals?" + +Joyce's blue eyes sparkled. "It would be lovely," she said, with a +deep breath; "but dare we risk it?" + +"There's no risk," I rejoined. "When I said 'pay a call,' I didn't +mean it quite literally. My idea was to cruise along the coast and +just find out exactly where their precious bungalow is, and what they +do with that launch of theirs when they're not swamping inquisitive +boatmen. It's the sort of information that might turn out useful." + +Joyce nodded. "We'll go," she said briefly. "What about the tide?" + +"Oh, the tide doesn't matter," I replied. "It will be dead out by the +time we get to Southend; but we only draw about three foot six, and +we can cut across through the Jenkin Swatch. There's water enough off +Sheppey to float a battleship." + +It was the work of a few minutes to pull in the anchor and haul up +the sails, which filled immediately to a slight breeze that had +just sprung up from the west. Leaving a still peaceful, if somewhat +mutilated, Canvey Island behind us, we started off down the river, +gliding along with an agreeable smoothness that fitted in very nicely +with my state of mind. + +Indeed I don't think I had ever felt anything so nearly approaching +complete serenity since my escape from Dartmoor. It is true that +the tangle in which I was involved, appeared more threatening and +complicated than ever, but one gets so used to sitting on a powder +mine that the situation was gradually ceasing to distress me. + +At all events I had made my explosive, and that was one great step +towards a solution of some sort. If McMurtrie was prepared to play the +game with me I should in a few days be in what the newspapers call "a +position of comparative affluence," while if his intentions were less +straightforward I should at least have some definite idea as to where +I was. Sonia's promised disclosures were a guarantee of that. + +But apart from these considerations the mere fact of having Joyce +sitting beside me in the boat while we bowled along cheerfully through +the water was quite enough in itself to account for my new-found +happiness. One realizes some things in life with curious abruptness, +and I knew now how deeply and passionately I loved her. I suppose I +had always done so really, but she had been little more than a child +in the old Chelsea days, and the sort of brotherly tenderness and +pride I had had for her must have blinded me to the truth. + +Anyhow it was out now; out beyond any question of doubt or argument. +She was as necessary and dear to me as the stars are to the night, and +it seemed ridiculously impossible to contemplate any sort of existence +without her. Not that I wasted much energy attempting the feat; the +present was sufficiently charming to occupy my entire time. + +We passed Leigh and Southend, the former with its fleet of +fishing-smacks and the latter with its long unlovely pier, and then +nosed our way delicately into the Jenkin Swatch, that convenient ditch +which runs right across the mouth of the Thames. The sun was now high +in the sky, and one could see signs of activity on the various barges +that were hanging about the neighbourhood waiting for the tide. + +I pointed away past the Nore Lightship towards a bit of rising ground +on the low-lying Sheppey coast. + +"That's about where our pals are hanging out," I said. "There's +a little deep-water creek there, which Tommy and I used to use +sometimes, and according to Mr. Gow their bungalow is close by." + +Joyce peered out under her hand across the intervening water. "It's a +nice situation," she observed, "for artists." + +I laughed. "Yes," I said. "They are so close to Sheerness and +Shoeburyness, and other places of beauty. I expect they've done quite +a lot of quiet sketching." + +We reached the end of the Swatch, and leaving Queenborough, with its +grim collection of battleships and coal hulks, to starboard, we stood +out to sea along the coastline. It was a fairly long sail to the place +which I had pointed out to Joyce, but with a light breeze behind her +the _Betty_ danced along so gaily that we covered the distance in a +surprisingly short time. + +As we drew near, Joyce got out Tommy's field-glasses from the cabin, +and kneeling up on the seat in the well, focused them carefully on the +spot. + +"There's the entrance to the creek all right," she said, "but I don't +see any sign of a bungalow anywhere." She moved the glasses slowly +from side to side. "Oh, yes," she exclaimed suddenly, "I've got it +now--right up on the cliff there, away to the left. One can only just +see the roof, though, and it seems some way from the creek." + +She resigned the glasses to me, and took over the tiller, while I had +a turn at examining the coast. + +I soon made out the roof of the bungalow, which, as Joyce had said, +was the only part visible. It stood in a very lonely position, high +up on a piece of rising ground, and half hidden from the sea by what +seemed like a thick privet hedge. To judge by the smoke which I could +just discern rising from its solitary chimney, it looked as if the +occupants were addicted to the excellent habit of early rising. + +There was no other sign of them to be seen, however, and if the launch +was lying anywhere about, it was at all events invisible from the sea. +I refreshed my memory with a long, careful scrutiny of the entrance to +the creek, and then handing the glasses back to Joyce I again assumed +control of the boat. + +"Well," I observed, "we haven't wasted the morning. We know where +their bungalow door is, anyway." + +Joyce nodded. "It may come in very handy," she said, "in case you ever +want to pay them a surprise call." + +Exactly how soon that contingency was going to occur we neither of us +guessed or imagined! + +We reached the Nore Lightship, and waving a courteous greeting to a +patient-looking gentleman who was spitting over the side, commenced +our long beat back in the direction of Southend. It was slow work, for +the tide was only just beginning to turn, and the wind, such as there +was of it, was dead in our faces. However, I don't think either Joyce +or I found the time hang heavily on our hands. If one can't be happy +with the sun and the sea and the person one loves best in the world, +it seems to me that one must be unreasonably difficult to please. + +We fetched up off Southend Pier at just about eleven o'clock. A +hoarse-voiced person in a blue jersey, who was leaning over the end, +pointed us out some moorings that we were at liberty to pick up, and +then watched us critically while I stowed away the sails and locked up +everything in the boat which it was possible to steal. I had been to +Southend before in the old days. + +These simple precautions concluded, Joyce and I got in the dinghy +and rowed to the steps. We were met by the gentleman in blue, who +considerately offered to keep his eye on the boat for us while I "and +the lady" enjoyed what he called "a run round the town." I accepted +his proposal, and having agreed with his statement that it was "a nice +morning for a sail," set off with Joyce along the mile of pier that +separated us from the shore. + +I don't know that our adventures for the next two or three hours call +for any detailed description. We wandered leisurely and cheerfully +through the town, buying each other one or two trifles in the way of +presents, and then adjourned for lunch to a large and rather dazzling +hotel that dominated the sea front. It was a new effort on the part +of Southend since my time, but, as Joyce said, it "looked the sort of +place where one was likely to get asparagus." + +Its appearance did not belie it. At a corner table in the window, +looking out over the sea, we disposed of what the waiter described as +"two double portions" of that agreeable vegetable, together with an +excellent steak and a bottle of sound if slightly too sweet burgundy. +Then over a couple of cigarettes we discussed our immediate plans. + +"I think I'd better catch the three-thirty back," said Joyce. "I've +got one or two things I want to do before I meet George, and in any +case you mustn't stay here too long or you'll miss the tide." + +"That doesn't really matter," I said. "Only I suppose I ought to get +back just in case Tommy has turned up. I can't leave him sitting on a +mud-flat all night." + +Joyce laughed. "He'd probably be a little peevish in the morning. Men +are so unreasonable." + +I leaned across the table and took her hand. "When are you coming down +again?" I asked. "Tomorrow?" + +Joyce thought for a moment. "Tomorrow or the next day. It all depends +if I see a chance of getting anything more out of George. I'll write +to you or send you a wire, dear, anyhow." + +I nodded. "All right," I said; "and look here, Joyce; you may as well +come straight to the hut next time. It's not the least likely there'll +be any one there except me, and if there was you could easily pretend +you wanted to ask the way to Tilbury. You see, if Gow wasn't about, +you would have to pull the dinghy all the way down the bank before you +got on board the _Betty_, and that's a nice, muddy, shin-scraping sort +of job at the best of times." + +"Very well," said Joyce. Then squeezing my hand a little tighter she +added: "And my own Neil, you _will_ be careful, won't you? I always +seem to be asking you that, but, oh my dear, if you knew how horribly +frightened I am of anything happening to you. It will be worse than +ever now, after last night. I don't seem to feel it when I'm actually +with you--I suppose I'm too happy--but when I'm away from you it's +just like some ghastly horrible sword hanging over our heads all the +time. Neil darling, as soon as you get this money from McMurtrie--if +you do get it--can't we just give up the whole thing and go away and +be happy together?" + +I lifted her hand and pressed the inside of it against my lips. + +"Joyce," I said, "think what it means. It's just funking life--just +giving it up because the odds seem too heavy against us. I shouldn't +have minded killing Marks in the least. I should be rather proud of +it. If I had, we would go away together tomorrow, and I should never +worry my head as to what any one in the world was saying or thinking +about me." I paused. "But I didn't kill him," I added slowly, "and +that just makes all the difference." + +Joyce's blue eyes were very near tears, but they looked back steadily +and bravely into mine. + +"Yes, yes," she said. "I didn't really mean it, Neil. I was just weak +for the moment--that's all. Right down in my heart I want everything +for you; I could never be contented with less. I want the whole world +to know how they've wronged you; I want you to be famous and powerful +and splendid, and I want the people who've abused you to come and +smirk and grovel to you, and say that they knew all the time that you +were innocent." She stopped and took a deep breath. "And they shall, +Neil. I'm as certain of it as if I saw it happening. I seem to know +inside me that we're on the very point of finding out the truth." + +I don't think my worst enemy would accuse me of being superstitious, +but there was a ring of conviction in Joyce's voice which somehow or +other affected me curiously. + +"I believe you're right," I said. "I've got something of that sort of +feeling too. Perhaps it's infectious." Then, letting go her hand, to +spare the feelings of the waiter who had just come into the room, I +sat back in my chair and ordered the bill. + +We didn't talk much on our way to the station. I think we were both +feeling rather depressed at the prospect of doing without each other +for at least twenty-four hours, and in any case the trams and motors +and jostling crowd of holiday-makers who filled the main street would +have rendered any connected conversation rather a difficult art. + +A good many people favoured Joyce with glances of admiration, +especially a spruce-looking young constable who officially held up the +traffic to allow us to cross the road. He paid no attention at all to +me, but I consoled myself with the reflection that he was missing an +excellent chance of promotion. + +At the station I put Joyce into a first-class carriage, kissed her +affectionately under the disapproving eye of an old lady in the +opposite corner, and then stood on the platform until the train +steamed slowly out of the station. + +I turned away at last, feeling quite unpleasantly alone. It's no good +worrying about what can't be altered, however, so, lighting a cigar, I +strolled back philosophically to the hotel, where I treated myself to +the luxury of a hot bath before rejoining the boat. + +It must have been pretty nearly half-past four by the time I reached +the pier-head. My friend with the hoarse voice and the blue jersey was +still hanging around, looking rather thirsty and exhausted after his +strenuous day's work of watching over the dinghy. I gave him half a +crown for his trouble, and followed by his benediction pulled off for +the _Betty_. + +The wind had gone round a bit to the south, and as the tide was still +coming in I decided to sail up to the creek in preference to using the +engine. The confounded throb of the latter always got on my nerves, +and apart from that I felt that the mere fact of having to handle the +sails would keep my mind lightly but healthily occupied. Unless I was +mistaken, a little light healthy occupation was exactly what my mind +needed. + +As occasionally happens on exceptionally fine days in late spring, the +perfect clearness of the afternoon was gradually beginning to give +place to a sort of fine haze. It was not thick enough, however, to +bother me in any way, and under a jib and mainsail the _Betty_ swished +along at such a satisfactory pace that I was in sight of Gravesend +Reach before either the light or the tide had time to fail me. + +I thought I knew the entrance to the creek well enough by now to run +her in under sail, though it was a job that required a certain amount +of cautious handling. Anyhow I decided to risk it, and, heading for +the shore, steered her up the narrow channel, which I had been careful +to take the bearings of at low water. + +I was so engrossed in this feat of navigation that I took no notice +of anything else, until a voice from the bank abruptly attracted my +attention. I looked up with a start, nearly running myself aground, +and there on the bank I saw a gesticulating figure, which I +immediately recognized as that of Tommy. I shouted a greeting back, +and swinging the _Betty_ round, brought up in almost the identical +place where we had anchored on the previous night. + +Tommy, who had hurried down to the edge of the water, gave me a second +hail. + +"Buck up, old son!" he called out. "There's something doing." + +A suggestion of haste from Tommy argued a crisis of such urgency +that I didn't waste any time asking questions. I just threw over the +anchor, and tumbling into the dinghy sculled ashore as quickly as I +could. + +"Sorry I kept you waiting, Tommy," I said, as he jumped into the boat. +"Been here long?" + +"About three hours," he returned. "I was beginning to wonder if you +were dead." + +I shook my head. "I'm not fit to die yet," I replied. "What's the +matter?" + +He looked at his watch. "Well, the chief matter is the time. Do you +think I can get to Sheppey by half-past nine?" + +I paused in my rowing. "Sheppey!" I repeated. "Why damn it, Tommy, +I've just come back from Sheppey." + +It was Tommy's turn to look surprised. "The devil you have!" he +exclaimed. "What took you there?" + +"To be exact," I said, "it was the _Betty_"; and then in as few words +as possible I proceeded to acquaint him with the morning's doings. I +was just finishing as we came alongside. + +"Well, that's fine about the powder," he said, scrambling on board. +"Where's Gow?" + +"Joyce sent him off for a holiday," I answered, "and he hasn't come +back yet." Then hitching up the dinghy I added curiously: "What's up, +Tommy? Let's have it." + +"It's Latimer," he said. "I told you I was expecting to hear from him. +He sent me a message round early this morning, and I've promised him +I'll be in the creek under the German's bungalow by half-past nine. I +must get there somehow." + +"Oh, we'll get there all right," I returned cheerfully, "What's the +game?" + +"I think he's having a squint round," said Tommy. "Anyhow I know he's +there on his own and depending on me to pick him up." + +"But what made him ask you?" I demanded. + +"He knew I had a boat, and I fancy he's working this particular racket +without any official help. As far as I can make out, he wants to be +quite certain what these fellows are up to before he strikes. You +don't get much sympathy in the Secret Service if you happen to make a +mistake." + +"Well, it's no good wasting time talking," I said. "If we want to be +there by half-past nine we must push off at once." + +"But what about you?" exclaimed Tommy. "You can't come! He's seen you, +you know, at the hut." + +"What does it matter?" I objected. "If he didn't recognize me as the +chap who sent him the note at Parelli's, we can easily fake up some +explanation. Tell him I'm a new member of the Athenians, and that you +happened to run across me and brought me down to help work the boat. +There's no reason one shouldn't be a yachtsman and a photographer +too." + +I spoke lightly, but as a matter of fact I was some way from +trusting Tommy's judgment implicitly with regard to Latimer's +straightforwardness about the restaurant incident, and also about +his visit to the hut. All the same, I was quite determined to go to +Sheppey. Things had come to a point now when there was nothing to be +gained by over-caution. Either Latimer had recognized me or else he +hadn't. In the first event, he knew already that Tommy had been trying +to deceive him, and that the mythical artist person was none other +than myself. If that were so, I felt it was best to take the bull by +the horns, and try to find out exactly what part he suspected me of +playing. I had at least saved his life, and although we live in an +ungrateful world, he seemed bound to be more or less prejudiced in my +favour. + +Apart from these considerations, Tommy would certainly want some help +in working the _Betty_. He knew his job well enough, but with a haze +on the river and the twilight drawing in rapidly, the mouth of the +Thames is no place for single-handed sailing--especially when you're +in a hurry. + +Tommy evidently recognized this, for he raised no further objections. + +"Very well," he said, with a rather reckless laugh. "We're gambling a +bit, but that's the fault of the cards. Up with the anchor, Neil, and +let's get a move on her." + +I hauled in the chain, and then jumped up to attend to the sails, +which I had just let down loosely on deck, in my hurry to put off in +the dinghy. After a couple of unsuccessful efforts and two or three +very successful oaths, Tommy persuaded the engine to start, and we +throbbed off slowly down the creek--now quite a respectable estuary of +tidal water. + +I sat back in the well with a laugh. "I never expected a second trip +tonight," I said. "I'm beginning to feel rather like the captain of a +penny steamer." + +Tommy, who was combining the important duties of steering and lighting +a pipe, looked up from his labours. + +"The Lyndon-Morrison Line!" he observed. "Tilbury to Sheppey twice +daily. Passengers are requested not to speak to the man at the wheel." + +"I think, Tommy," I said, "that we must make an exception in the case +of Mr. Latimer." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +APPROACHING A SOLUTION + + +A Chinese proverb informs us that "there are three hundred and +forty-six subjects for elegant conversation," but during the trip down +I think that Tommy and I confined ourselves almost exclusively to two. +One was Mr. Bruce Latimer, and the other was Joyce's amazing discovery +about McMurtrie and Marks. + +Concerning the latter Tommy was just as astonished and baffled as I +was. + +"I'm blessed if I know what to think about it, Neil," he admitted. "If +it was any one else but Joyce, I should say she'd made a mistake. What +on earth could McMurtrie have had to do with that Jew beast?" + +"Joyce seems to think he had quite a lot to do with him," I said. + +Tommy nodded. "I know. She's made up her mind he did the job all +right; but, hang it all, one doesn't go and murder people without any +conceivable reason." + +"I can conceive plenty of excellent reasons for murdering Marks," I +said impartially. "I should hardly think they would have appealed to +McMurtrie, though. The chief thing that makes me suspicious about him +is the fact of his knowing George and hiding it from me all this +time. I suppose that was how he got hold of his information about the +powder. George was almost the only person who knew of it." + +"I always thought the whole business was a devilish odd one," growled +Tommy; "but the more one finds out about it the queerer it seems to +get. These people of yours--McMurtrie and Savaroff--are weird enough +customers on their own, but when it comes to their being mixed up with +both George _and_ Marks ..." he paused. "It will turn out next that +Latimer's in it too," he added half-mockingly. + +"I shouldn't wonder," I said. "I can't swallow everything he told you, +Tommy. It leaves too much unexplained. You see, I'm pretty certain +that the chap who tried to do him in is one of McMurtrie's crowd, and +in that case--" + +"In that case," interrupted Tommy, with a short laugh, "we ought to +have rather an interesting evening. Seems to me, Neil, we're what you +might call burning our boats this journey." + +The old compunction I had felt at first against dragging Tommy and +Joyce into my affairs suddenly came back to me with renewed force. + +"I'm a selfish brute, Thomas," I said ruefully. "I think the best +thing I could do really would be to drop overboard. The Lord knows +what trouble I shall land you in before I've finished." + +"You'll land me into the trouble of telling you not to talk rot in a +minute," he returned. Then, standing up and peering out ahead over +the long dim expanse of water, dotted here and there with patches of +blurred light, he added cheerfully: "You take her over now, Neil, +We're right at the end of the Yantlet, and after this morning you +ought to know the rest of the way better than I do." + +He resigned the tiller to me, and pulling out his watch, held it up to +the binnacle lamp. + +"Close on a quarter to nine," he said. "We shall just do it nicely if +the engine doesn't stop." + +"I hope so," I said. "I should hate to keep a Government official +waiting." + +We crossed the broad entrance into Queenborough Harbour, where the dim +bulk of a couple of battleships loomed up vaguely through the haze. +It was a strange, exhilarating sensation, throbbing along in the +semi-darkness, with all sorts of unknown possibilities waiting for +us ahead. More than ever I felt what Joyce had described in the +morning--a sort of curious inward conviction that we were at last on +the point of finding out the truth. + +"We'd better slacken down a bit when we get near," said Tommy. +"Latimer specially told me to bring her in as quietly as I could." + +I nodded. "Right you are," I said. "I wasn't going to hurry, anyhow. +It's a tricky place, and I don't want to smash up any more islands. +One a day is quite enough." + +I slowed down the engine to about four knots an hour, and at this +dignified pace we proceeded along the coast, keeping a watchful eye +for the entrance to the creek. At last a vague outline of rising +ground showed us that we were in the right neighbourhood, and bringing +the _Betty_ round, I headed her in very delicately towards the shore. +It was distressingly dark, from a helmsman's point of view, but Tommy, +who had gone up into the bows, handed me back instructions, and +by dint of infinite care we succeeded in making the opening with +surprising accuracy. + +The creek was quite small, with a steep bank one side perhaps fifteen +feet high, and what looked like a stretch of mud or saltings on the +other. Its natural beauties, however, if it had any, were rather +obscured by the darkness. + +"What shall we do now, Tommy?" I asked in a subdued voice. "Turn her +round?" + +He came back to the well. "Yes," he said, "turn her round, and then +I'll cut out the engine and throttle her down. She'll make a certain +amount of row, but we can't help that. I daren't stop her; or she +might never start again." + +We carried out our manoeuvre successfully, and then dropped over the +anchor to keep us in position. I seated myself on the roof of the +cabin, and pulling out a pipe, commenced to fill it. + +"I wonder how long the interval is," I said. "I suppose spying is a +sort of job you can't fix an exact time-limit to." + +Tommy looked at his watch again. "It's just on a quarter to ten now. +He told me not to wait after half-past." + +I stuffed down the baccy with my thumb, and felt in my pocket for a +match. + +"It seems to me--" I began. + +The interesting remark I was about to make was never uttered. From the +high ground away to the left came the sudden crack of a revolver shot +that rang out with startling viciousness on the night air. It was +followed almost instantly by a second. + +Tommy and I leaped up together, inspired simultaneously by the same +idea. Being half way there, however, I easily reached the painter +first. + +"All right," I cried, "I'll pick him up. You haul in and have her +ready to start." + +I don't know exactly what the record is for getting off in a dinghy in +the dark, but I think I hold it with something to spare. I was away +from the ship and sculling furiously for the shore in about the same +time that it has taken to write this particular sentence. + +I pulled straight for the direction in which I had heard the shots. +It was the steepest part of the cliff, but under the circumstances it +seemed the most likely spot at which my services would be required. +People are apt to take a short cut when revolver bullets are chasing +about the neighbourhood. + +I stopped rowing a few yards from the shore, and swinging the boat +round, stared up through the gloom. There was just light enough to +make out the top of the cliff, which appeared to be covered by a thick +growth of gorse several feet in height. I backed away a stroke or two, +and as I did so, there came a sudden snapping, rustling sound from +up above, and the next instant the figure of a man broke through the +bushes. + +He peered down eagerly at the water. + +"That you, Morrison?" he called out in a low, distinct voice, which I +recognized at once. + +"Yes," I answered briefly. It struck me as being no time for elaborate +explanations. + +Mr. Latimer was evidently of the same opinion. Without any further +remark, he stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, and jumping well +out into the air, came down with a beautiful splash about a dozen +yards from the boat. + +He rose to the surface at once, and I was alongside of him a moment +later. + +"It's all right," I said, as he clutched hold of the stern. +"Morrison's in the _Betty_; I'm lending him a hand." + +I caught his arm to help him in, and as I did so he gave a little +sharp exclamation of pain. + +"Hullo!" I said, shifting my grip. "What's the matter?" + +With an effort he hoisted himself up into the boat. + +"Nothing much, thanks," he answered in that curious composed voice of +his. "I think one of our friends made a luckier shot than he deserved +to. It's only my left arm, though." + +I seized the sculls, and began to pull off quickly for the _Betty_. + +"We'll look at it in a second," I said. "Are they after you?" + +He laughed. "Yes, some little way after. I took the precaution of +starting in the other direction and then doubling back. It worked +excellently." + +He spoke in the same rather amused drawl as he had done at the hut, +and there was no hint of hurry or excitement in his manner. I could +just see, however, that he was dressed in rough, common-looking +clothes, and that he was no longer wearing an eye-glass. If he had had +a cap, he had evidently parted with it during his dive into the sea. + +A few strokes brought us to the _Betty_, where Tommy was leaning over +the side ready to receive us. + +"All right?" he inquired coolly, as we scrambled on board. + +"Nothing serious," replied Latimer. "Thanks to you and--and this +gentleman." + +"They've winged him, Tommy," I said. "Can you take her out while I +have a squint at the damage?" + +Tommy's answer was to thrust in the clutch of the engine, and with an +abrupt jerk we started off down the creek. As we did so there came a +sudden hail from the shore. + +"Boat ahoy! What boat's that?" + +It was a deep, rather dictatorial sort of voice, with the faintest +possible touch of a foreign accent about it. + +Latimer replied at once in a cheerful, good-natured bawl, amazingly +different from his ordinary tone: + +"Private launch, _Vanity_, Southend; and who the hell are you?" + +Whether the vigour of the reply upset our questioner or not, I can't +say. Anyhow he returned no answer, and leaving him to think what he +pleased, we continued our way out into the main stream. + +"Come into the cabin and let's have a look at you," I said to Latimer. +"You must get those wet things off, anyhow." + +He followed me inside, where I took down the small hanging lamp and +placed it on the table. Then very carefully I helped him strip off his +coat, bringing to light a grey flannel shirt, the left sleeve of which +was soaked in blood. + +I took out my knife, and ripped it up from the cuff to the shoulder. +The wound was about a couple of inches above the elbow, a small clean +puncture right through from side to side. It was bleeding a bit, but +one could see at a glance that the bullet had just missed the bone. + +"You're lucky," I said. "Another quarter of an inch, and that arm +would have been precious little use to you for the next two months. +Does it hurt much?" + +He shook his head. "Not the least," he replied carelessly. "I hardly +knew I was hit until you grabbed hold of me." + +I tied my handkerchief round as tightly as possible just above the +place, and then going to the locker hauled out our spare fancy costume +which had previously done duty for Mr. Gow. + +"You get these on first," I said, "and then I'll fix you up properly." + +I thrust my head out through the cabin door to see how things were +going, and found that we were already clear of the creek and heading +back towards Queenborough. Tommy, who was sitting at the tiller +puffing away peacefully at a pipe, removed the latter article from his +mouth. + +"Where are we going to, my pretty maid?" he inquired. + +"I don't know," I said; "I'll ask the passenger as soon as I've +finished doctoring him." + +I returned to the cabin, where Mr. Latimer, who had stripped off +his wet garments, was attempting to dry himself with a dishcloth. I +managed to find him a towel, and then, as soon as he had struggled +into a pair of flannel trousers and a vest, I set about the job of +tying up his arm. An old shirt of Tommy's served me as a bandage, and +although I don't profess to be an expert, I knew enough about first +aid to make a fairly serviceable job of it. Anyhow Mr. Latimer +expressed himself as being completely satisfied. + +"You'd better have a drink now," I said. "That's part of the +treatment." + +I mixed him a stiff peg, which he consumed without protest; and then, +after he had inserted himself carefully into a jersey and coat, we +both went outside. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Tommy genially. "How do you feel now?" + +Our visitor sat down on one of the side seats in the cockpit, and +contemplated us both with his pleasant smile. + +"I feel extremely obliged to you, Morrison," he said. "You have a way +of keeping your engagements that I find most satisfactory." + +Tommy laughed. "I had a bit of luck," he returned. "If I hadn't picked +up our pal here I doubt if I should have got down in time after all. +By the way, there's no need to introduce you. You've met each other +before at the hut, haven't you?" + +Latimer, who was just lighting a cigar which I had offered him, paused +for a moment in the operation. + +"Yes," he said quietly. "We have met each other before. But I should +rather like to be introduced, all the same." + +Something in his manner struck me as being a trifle odd, but if Tommy +noticed it he certainly didn't betray the fact. + +"Well, you shall be," he answered cheerfully. "This is Mr. James +Nicholson." + +Latimer finished lighting his cigar, blew out the match, and dropped +it carefully over the side. + +"Indeed," he said. "It only shows how extremely inaccurate one's +reasoning powers can be." + +There was a short but rather pregnant pause. Then Tommy leaned +forward. + +"What do you mean?" he asked, in that peculiarly gentle voice which he +keeps for the most unhealthy occasions. + +Latimer's face remained beautifully impassive. "I was under the +mistaken impression," he answered slowly, "that I owed my life to Mr. +Neil Lyndon." + +For perhaps three seconds none of us spoke; then I broke the silence +with a short laugh. + +"We are up against it, Thomas," I observed. + +Tommy looked backwards and forwards from one to the other of us. + +"What shall we do?" he said quietly. "Throw him in the river?" + +"It would be rather extravagant," I objected, "after we've just pulled +him out." + +Latimer smiled. "I am not sure I don't deserve it. I have lied to you, +Morrison, all through in the most disgraceful manner." Then he paused. +"Still it _would_ be extravagant," he added. "I think I can convince +you of that before we get to Queenborough." + +Tommy throttled down the engine to about its lowest running point. + +"Look here, Latimer," he said. "We're not going to Queenborough, or +anywhere else, until we've got the truth out of you. You understand +that, of course. You've put yourself in our power deliberately, and +you must have some reason. One doesn't cut one's throat for fun." + +He spoke in his usual pleasant fashion, but there was a grim +seriousness behind it which no one could pretend to misunderstand. +Latimer, at all events, made no attempt to. He merely nodded his head +approvingly. + +"You're quite right," he said. "I had made up my mind you should hear +some of the truth tonight in any case; that was the chief reason why +I asked you to come and pick me up. When I saw you had brought Mr. +Lyndon with you, I determined to tell you everything. It's the +simplest and best way, after all." + +He stopped for a moment, and we all three sat there in silence, while +the _Betty_ slowly throbbed her way forward, splashing off the black +water from either bow. Then Latimer began to speak again quite +quietly. + +"I _am_ in the Secret Service," he said; "but you can forget the rest +of what I told you the other night, Morrison. I am after bigger game +than a couple of German spies--though they come into it right enough. +I am on the track of three friends of Mr. Lyndon's, who just now are +as badly wanted in Whitehall as they probably are in hell." + +I leaned back with a certain curious thrill of satisfaction. + +"I thought so," I said softly. + +He glanced at me with his keen blue eyes, and the light of the lamp +shining on his face showed up its square dogged lines of strength and +purpose. It was a fine face--the face of a man without weakness and +without fear. + +"It's nearly twelve months ago now," he continued, "that we first +began to realize at headquarters that there was something queer going +on. There's always a certain amount of spying in every country--the +sort of quiet, semi-official kind that doesn't do any one a ha'porth +of practical harm. Now and then, of course, somebody gets dropped on, +and there's a fuss in the papers, but nobody really bothers much about +it. This was different, however. Two or three times things happened +that did matter very much indeed. They were the sort of things that +showed us pretty plainly we were up against something entirely +new--some kind of organized affair that had nothing on earth to do +with the usual casual spying. + +"Well, I made up my mind to get to the bottom of it. Casement, who is +nominally the head of our department, gave me an absolutely free hand, +and I set to work in my own way quite independently of the police. It +was six months before I got hold of a clue. Then some designs--some +valuable battleship designs--disappeared from Devonport Dockyard. It +was a queer case, but there were one or two things about it which made +me pretty sure it was the work of the same gang, and that for the +time, at all events, they were somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +"I needn't bother you now with all the details of how I actually ran +them to earth. It wasn't an easy job. They weren't the sort of people +who left any spare bits of evidence lying around, and by the time I +found out where they were living it was just too late." He turned to +me. "Otherwise, Mr. Lyndon, I think we might possibly have had the +pleasure of meeting earlier." + +A sudden forgotten recollection of my first interview with McMurtrie +flashed vividly into my mind. + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed. "What a fool I am! I knew I'd heard your name +somewhere before." + +Latimer nodded. "Yes," he said. "I daresay I had begun to arouse a +certain amount of interest in the household by the time you arrived." +He paused. "By the way, I am still quite in the dark as to how you +actually got in with them. Had they managed to send you a message into +the prison?" + +"No," I said. "I'm equally in the dark as to how you've found out who +I am, but you seem to know so much already, you may as well have the +truth. It was chance; just pure chance and a bicycle. I hadn't the +remotest notion who lived in the house. I was trying to steal some +food." + +Latimer nodded again. "It was a chance that a man like McMurtrie +wasn't likely to waste. I don't know yet how you're paying him for his +help, but I should imagine it's a fairly stiff price. However, we'll +come back to that afterwards. + +"I was just too late, as I told you, to interrupt your pleasant little +house-party. I managed to find out, however, that some of you had gone +to London, and I followed at once. It was then, I think, that the +doctor decided it was time to take the gloves off. + +"So far, although I'd been on their heels for weeks, I hadn't set eyes +on any of the gang personally. All the same, I had a pretty good idea +of what McMurtrie and Savaroff were like to look at, and I fancy they +probably guessed as much. Anyhow, as you know, it was the third +member of the brotherhood--a gentleman who, I believe, calls himself +Hoffman--who was entrusted with the job of putting me out of the way." + +A faint mocking smile flickered for a moment round his lips. + +"That was where the doctor made his first slip. It never pays to +underestimate your enemy. Hoffman certainly had a good story, and +he told it well, but after thirteen years in the Secret Service I +shouldn't trust the Archbishop of Canterbury till I'd proved his +credentials. I agreed to dine at Parelli's, but I took the precaution +of having two of my own men there as well--one in the restaurant +and one outside in the street. I had given them instructions that, +whatever happened, they were to keep Hoffman shadowed till further +orders. + +"Well, you know how things turned out almost as well as I do. I was +vastly obliged to you for sending me that note, but as a matter of +fact I hadn't the least intention of drinking the wine. Indeed, I +turned away purposely to give Hoffman the chance to doctor it. What +did beat me altogether was who you were. I naturally couldn't place +you at all. I saw that you recognized one of us when you came in, and +that you were watching our table pretty attentively in the glass. I +had a horrible suspicion for a moment that you were a Scotland Yard +man, and were going to bungle the whole business by arresting Hoffman. +That was why I sent you my card; I knew if you were at the Yard you'd +recognize my name." + +"I severed my connection with the police some time ago," I said drily. +"What happened after dinner? I've been longing to know ever since." + +"I got rid of Hoffman at the door, and from the time he left the +restaurant my men never lost him again. They shadowed him to his +lodgings--he was living in a side street near Victoria--and for the +next two days I got a detailed report of everything he did. It was +quite interesting reading. Amongst other things it included paying a +morning visit to the hut you're living in at present, Mr. Lyndon, and +going on from there to spend the afternoon calling on some friends at +Sheppey." + +I laughed gently, and turned to Tommy. "Amazingly simple," I said, +"when you know how it's done." + +Tommy nodded. "I've got all that part, but I'm still utterly at sea +about how he dropped on to you." + +"That was simpler still," answered Latimer. "One of my men told me +that the hut was empty for the time, so I came down to have a look +at it." He turned to me. "Of course I recognized you at once as the +obliging stranger of the restaurant. That didn't put me much farther +on the road, but when Morrison rolled up with his delightfully +ingenious yarn, he gave me just the clue I was looking for. I knew +his story was all a lie because I'd seen you since. Well, a man +like Morrison doesn't butt into this sort of business without a +particularly good reason, and it didn't take me very long to guess +what his reason was. You see I remembered him chiefly in connection +with your trial. I knew he was your greatest friend; I knew you had +escaped from Dartmoor and disappeared somewhere in the neighbourhood +of McMurtrie's place, and putting two and two together there was only +one conclusion I could possibly come to." + +"My appearance must have taken a little getting over," I suggested. + +Latimer shrugged his shoulders. "Apart from your features you exactly +fitted the bill, and I had learned enough about McMurtrie's past +performances not to let that worry me. What I couldn't make out was +why he should have run the risk of helping you. Of course you might +have offered him a large sum of money--if you had it put away +somewhere--but in that case there seemed no reason why you should be +hanging about in a hut on the Thames marshes." + +"Why didn't you tell the police?" asked Tommy. + +"The police!" Latimer's voice was full of pleasant irony. "My dear +Morrison, we don't drag the police into this sort of business; our +great object is to keep them out of it. Mr. Lyndon's affairs had +nothing to do with me officially apart from his being mixed up with +McMurtrie. Besides, my private sympathies were entirely with him. Not +only had he tried to save my life at Parelli's, but ever since the +trial I have always been under the impression he was fully entitled to +slaughter Mr.--Mr.--whatever the scoundrel's name was." + +I acknowledged the remark with a slight bow. "Thank you," I said. "As +a matter of sober fact I didn't kill him, but I shouldn't be the least +sorry for it if I had." + +Latimer looked at me for a moment straight in the eyes. + +"We've treated you beautifully as a nation," he said slowly. "It's an +impertinence on my part to expect you to help us." + +I laughed. "Go on," I said. "Let's get it straightened out anyhow." + +"Well, the straightening out must be largely done by you. As far as +I'm concerned the rest of the story can be told very quickly. For +various reasons I got to the conclusion that in some way or other the +two gentlemen on Sheppey had a good deal to do with the matter. My men +had been making a few inquiries about them, and from what we'd learned +I was strongly inclined to think they were a couple of German naval +officers over here on leave. If that was so, the fact that they were +in communication with Hoffman made it pretty plain where McMurtrie was +finding his market. My men had told me they were generally away on the +mainland in the evening, and I made up my mind I'd have a look at the +place the first chance I got. I asked Morrison to come down and pick +me up in his boat for two reasons--partly because I wanted to keep in +touch with you both, and partly because I thought it might come in +handy to have a second line of retreat." + +"It _was_ rather convenient, as things turned out," interposed Tommy. + +"Very," admitted Latimer drily. "They got back to the garden just as I +had opened one of the windows, and shot at me from behind the hedge. +If it hadn't been for the light they must have picked me off." + +He stopped, and standing up in the well, looked round. By this time we +were again just off the entrance to Queenborough, and the thick haze +that had obscured everything earlier in the evening was rapidly +thinning away. A watery moon showed up the various warships at +anchor--dim grey formless shapes, marked by blurred lights. + +"What do you say?" he asked, turning to Tommy. "Shall we run in here +and pick up some moorings? Before we go any further I want to hear +Lyndon's part of the story, and then we all three shall know exactly +where we are. After that you can throw me in the sea, or--or--well, I +think there are several possible alternatives." + +"We'll find out anyhow," said Tommy. + +He turned the _Betty_ towards the shore, and we worked our way +carefully into the harbour. We ran on past the anchored vessels, until +we were right opposite the Queenborough jetty, where we discovered +some unoccupied moorings which we promptly adopted. It was a snug +berth, and a fairly isolated one--a rakish-looking little gunboat +being our nearest neighbour. + +In this pleasant atmosphere of law and order I proceeded to narrate as +briefly and quickly as possible the main facts about my escape and its +results. I felt that we had gone too far now to keep anything back. +Latimer had boldly placed his own cards face upwards on the table, and +short of sending him to the fishes, there seemed to be nothing else +to do except to follow his example. As he himself had said, we should +then at least know exactly how we stood with regard to each other. + +He listened to me for the most part in silence, but the few +interruptions that he did make showed the almost fierce attention with +which he was following my story. I don't think his eyes ever left my +face from the first word to the last. + +When I had finished he sat on for perhaps a minute without speaking. +Then very deliberately he leaned across and held out his hand. + +We exchanged grips, and for once in my life I found a man whose +fingers seemed as strong as my own. + +"I don't know whether that makes you an accessory after the fact," +I said. "I believe it's about eighteen months for being civil to an +escaped convict." + +He let go my hand, and getting up from his seat leaned back against +the door of the cabin facing us both. + +"You may be an escaped convict, Mr. Lyndon," he said slowly, "but if +you choose I believe you can do more for England than any man alive." + +There was a short pause. + +"It seems to me," interrupted Tommy, "that England is a little bit in +Neil's debt already." + +"That doesn't matter," I observed generously. "Let's hear what Mr. +Latimer has got to say." I turned to him. "Who are McMurtrie and +Savaroff?" I asked, "and what the devil's the meaning of it all?" + +"The meaning is plain enough to a certain point," he answered. "I +haven't the least doubt that they intend to sell the secret of your +powder to Germany, just as they've sold their other information. If I +knew for certain it was only that, I should act, and act at once." + +He stopped. + +"Well?" I said. + +"I believe there's something more behind it--something we've got to +find out before we strike. For the last two months Germany has taken +a tone towards us diplomatically that can only have one explanation. +They mean to get their way or fight, and if it comes to a fight +they're under the impression they're going to beat us." + +"And you really believe McMurtrie and Savaroff are responsible for +their optimism?" I asked a little incredulously. + +Latimer nodded. "Dr. McMurtrie," he said in his quiet drawl, "is the +most dangerous man in Europe. He is partly English and partly Russian +by birth. At one time he used to be court physician at St. Petersburg. +Savaroff is a German Pole--his real name is Vassiloff. Between them +they were largely responsible for the early disasters in the Japanese +war." + +For a moment no one spoke. Then Tommy leaned forward. "I say, +Latimer," he exclaimed, "is this serious history?" + +"The Russian Government," replied Latimer, "are most certainly under +that impression." + +"But if they know about it," I objected, "how is it that McMurtrie and +Savaroff aren't in Siberia? I've never heard that the Russians are +particularly tender-hearted where traitors are concerned." + +Latimer indulged in that peculiarly dry smile of his. "If the +Government had got hold of them I think their destination would have +been a much warmer one than Siberia. As it was they disappeared just +in time. There was a gang of them--four or five at the least--and all +men of position and influence. They must have made an enormous amount +of money out of the Japs. In the end one of them rounded on the +others--at least that's what appears to have happened. Anyhow +McMurtrie and Savaroff skipped, and skipped in such a hurry that they +seem to have left most of their savings behind them. I suppose that's +what made them start business again in England." + +"You're absolutely sure they're the same pair?" asked Tommy. + +"Absolutely. I've got their full description from the Russian police. +It tallies in every way--even to Savaroff's daughter. There _is_ a +girl with them, I believe?" + +"Yes," I said. "There's a girl." Then I paused for a moment. "Look +here, Latimer," I went on. "What is it you want me to do? I'll help +you in any way I can. When I made my bargain with McMurtrie I hadn't +a notion what his real game was. I don't in the least want to buy my +freedom by selling England to Germany. The only thing I flatly and +utterly refuse to do is to serve out the rest of my sentence. If it's +bound to come out who I am, you must give me your word I shall have +a reasonable warning. I don't much mind dying--especially if I can +arrange for ten minutes with George first--but quite candidly I'd see +England wiped off the map before I'd go back to Dartmoor." + +Latimer made a slight gesture with his hands. "You've saved my life, +once at all events," he said. "It may seem a trifle to you, but it's a +matter of quite considerable importance to me. I don't think you need +worry about going back to Dartmoor--not as long as the Secret Service +is in existence." + +"Well, what is it you want me to do?" I asked again. + +He was silent for a moment or two, as though arranging his ideas. Then +he began to speak very slowly and deliberately. + +"I want you to go on as if nothing had happened. Write to McMurtrie +the first thing tomorrow morning and tell him that you've made the +powder. He is sure to come down to the hut at once. You can show him +that it's genuine, but on no account let him have any of it to take +away. Tell him that you will only hand over the secret on receipt of +a written agreement, and make him see that you're absolutely serious. +Meanwhile let me know everything that happens as soon as you possibly +can. Telegraph to me at 145 Jermyn Street. You can send in the +messages to Tilbury by the man who's looking after your boat. Use some +quick simple cypher--suppose we say the alphabet backwards, Z for A +and so on. Have you got plenty of money?" + +I nodded. "I should like to have some sort of notion what you're going +to do," I said. "It would be much more inspiriting than working in the +dark." + +"It depends entirely on the next two days. I shall go back to London +tonight and find out if either of my men has got hold of any fresh +information. Then I shall put the whole thing in front of Casement. If +he agrees with me I shall wait till the last possible moment before +striking. We've enough evidence about the Devonport case to arrest +McMurtrie and Savaroff straight away, but I feel it would be madness +while there's a chance of getting to the bottom of this business. +Perhaps you understand now why I've risked everything tonight. We're +playing for high stakes, Mr. Lyndon, and you--" he paused--"well, I'm +inclined to think that you've the ace of trumps." + +I stood up and faced him. "I hope so," I said. "I'm rather tired of +being taken for the Knave." + +"Isn't there a job for me?" asked Tommy pathetically. "I'm open for +anything, especially if it wants a bit of physical violence." + +"There will probably be a demand for that a little later on," said +Latimer in his quiet drawl. "At present I want you to come back with +me to London. I shall find plenty for you to do there, Morrison. The +fewer people that are mixed up in this affair the better." He turned +to me. "You can take the boat back to Tilbury alone if we go ashore +here?" + +I nodded, and he once more held out his hand. + +"We shall meet again soon," he said--"very soon I think. Have you ever +read Longfellow?" + +It was such a surprising question that I couldn't help smiling. + +"Not recently," I said. "I haven't been in the mood for poetry the +last two or three years." + +He held my hand and his blue eyes looked steadily into mine. + +"Ah," he said. "I don't want to be too optimistic, but there's a verse +in Longfellow which I think you might like." He paused again. "It has +something to do with the Mills of God," he added slowly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SONIA'S SUDDEN VISIT + + +One's feelings are queer things. Personally I never have the least +notion how a particular situation will affect me until I happen to +find myself in it. + +I should have thought, for instance, that Latimer's revelations would +have left me in a state of vast excitement, but as a matter of fact +I don't think I ever felt cooler in my life. I believe every other +emotion was swallowed up in the relief of finding out something +definite at last. + +I know anyhow that that was my chief sensation as I rowed the dinghy +towards the wet slimy causeway, lit by its solitary lamp. There was a +boat train to town in the early hours of the morning which Latimer had +suggested that he and Tommy should catch, and it certainly seemed a +safer plan than coming back to Tilbury with me. + +When I had parted from them, under the sleepy eye of a +depressed-looking night watchman, I returned to the _Betty_ and +proceeded to let go my moorings. I then ran up the sails, and gliding +gently past the warships and a big incoming steamer, floated out into +the broad peaceful darkness of the Thames estuary. I was in no hurry, +and now that the mist had cleared away it was a perfect night for +drifting comfortably up river with the tide. + +The dawn was just beginning to break by the time I reached my old +anchorage in the creek. In spite of my long and slightly strenuous +day, I didn't feel particularly tired, so after stowing away the sails +and tidying up things generally, I sat down in the cabin and began to +compose my letter to McMurtrie. + +I started off by telling him that I had completed my invention some +days earlier than I expected to, and then gave him a brief but +dramatic description of the success which had attended my first +experiment. I am afraid I was a trifle inaccurate with regard to +details, but the precise truth is a luxury that very few of us can +afford to indulge in. I certainly couldn't. When I had finished I +addressed the envelope to the Hotel Russell, and then, turning into +one of the bunks, soon dropped off into a well-deserved sleep. + +I don't know whether it was Nature that aroused me, or whether it was +Mr. Gow. Anyway I woke up with the distinct impression that somebody +was hailing the boat, and thrusting my head up through the hatch I +discovered my faithful retainer standing on the bank. + +He greeted me with a slightly apologetic air when I put off to fetch +him. + +"Good-mornin', sir. I hope I done right stoppin' ashore, sir. The +young lady told me I wouldn't be wanted not till this mornin'." + +"The young lady was quite correct," I said. "You weren't." Then as we +pushed off for the _Betty_ I added: "But I'm glad you've come back +in good time today. I want you to go in and post a letter for me at +Tilbury as soon as we've had some breakfast. You might get a newspaper +for me at the same time." + +"Talkin' o' noos, sir," observed Mr. Gow with sudden interest, +"'ave you heard tell about the back o' Canvey Island bein' blown up +yesterday mornin'?" + +"Blown up!" I repeated as we ran alongside. "Who on earth did that?" + +Mr. Gow shook his head as he clambered on board after me. "No one +don't seem to know," he remarked. "'Twere done arly in the mornin', +they reckon. There's some as says 'tis the suffrinjettes, but to my +way o' thinkin' sir; it's more like to have somethin' to do with them +blarsted Dutchmen as sunk my boat." + +"By Jove!" I exclaimed, "I wonder if it had. They seem to be +mischievous devils." + +Mr. Gow nodded emphatically. "They are, sir, and that's a fact. 'Tis +time somebody took a quiet look round that house o' theirs, some day +when they ain't there." + +How very nearly this desirable object had been achieved on the +previous evening I thought it unnecessary to mention, but I was hugely +relieved to learn that so far there was no suspicion as to who was +really responsible for the damage to the creek. Apart from the +inconvenience which it would have entailed, to be arrested for blowing +up a bit of mud in a Thames backwater would have been a sad come-down +for a convicted murderer! + +As soon as he had provided me with some breakfast, Mr. Gow departed +for Tilbury with my letter to McMurtrie in his pocket. He was away for +a couple of hours, returning with a copy of the _Daily Mail_ and the +information that there were no letters for me at the post-office. + +I handed him over the _Betty_, with instructions not to desert her +until he was relieved by either Tommy or Joyce or me, and then set off +for the hut by my usual route. It was less than thirty hours since +I had left it, but so many interesting things had happened in the +interval it seemed more like three weeks. + +For any one entangled in such a variety of perils as I appeared to be, +I spent a surprisingly peaceful day. Not a soul came near the place, +and except for reading the _Mail_ and indulging in a certain amount of +hard thinking, I enjoyed the luxury of doing absolutely nothing. After +the exertion and excitements of the previous twenty-four hours, this +lull was exactly what I needed. It gave me time to take stock of my +position in the light of Latimer's amazing revelations--a process +which on the whole I found fairly satisfactory. If the likelihood of +proving my innocence still seemed a trifle remote, I had at least +penetrated some of the mystery which surrounded Dr. McMurtrie and his +friends, and more and more it was becoming obvious to me that the +two problems were closely connected. Anyhow I turned into bed in +an optimistic mood, and with the stimulating feeling that in all +probability I had a pleasantly eventful day in front of me. + +It certainly opened in the most promising fashion. I woke up at eight, +and was making a light breakfast off a tin of sardines and some +incredibly stale bread, when through the little window that looked out +towards the Tilbury road I suddenly spotted my youthful friend from +the post-office approaching across the marsh. I opened the door, and +he came up with a respectful grin of recognition. + +"Letter for you, sir," he observed, "come this morning, sir." + +He handed me an envelope addressed in Joyce's writing, and stood by +while I read it, thoughtfully scratching his head with the peak of +his cap. It was only a short note, but beautifully characteristic of +Joyce. + +"MY OWN NEIL,-- + +"I'm coming down to see you tomorrow afternoon. I've got several +things to tell you, but the chief reason is because I want to kiss +you and be kissed by you. Everything else seems rather unimportant +compared with that. + +"JOYCE." + +"Any answer, sir?" inquired the boy, when he saw I had finished +reading. + +"Yes, Charles," I said; "there is an answer, but I'm afraid I can't +send it by post. Wait a minute, though," I added, as he began to put +on his cap, "I want you to send off a wire for me if you will. It will +take a minute or two to write." + +I went into the hut, and hastily scribbled a telegram to Latimer, +telling him that I had written to McMurtrie, but that otherwise there +was nothing to report. I copied this out carefully in the simple +cypher we had agreed on, and handed it to the boy, together with five +shillings. + +"You can keep the change," I said, "and buy fireworks with it. I've +been too busy to make any yet." + +He gurgled out some expressions of gratitude and took his departure, +while I renewed my attack upon the sardines and bread. + +Fortified by this simple cheer, I devoted the remainder of the morning +to tidying up my shed. I felt that I was living in such uncertain +times that it would be just as well to remove all possible traces of +the work I had been engaged on, and by midday the place looked almost +as tidy as when I had first entered it. + +I then treated myself to a cigar and began to keep a look-out for +Joyce. She had not said in her letter what time she would arrive, but +I knew that there were a couple of trains early in the afternoon, and +I remembered that I had told her to come straight to the hut. + +It must have been getting on for two when I suddenly caught sight of +a motor car with a solitary occupant coming quickly along the Tilbury +road. It pulled up as it reached the straggling plantation opposite +the hut, and a minute later a girl appeared from between the trees, +and started to walk towards me across the marsh. + +I was a little surprised, for I didn't know that Joyce included motor +driving amongst her other accomplishments, and she had certainly never +mentioned to me that there was any chance of her coming down in a +car. Then, a moment later, the truth suddenly hit me with paralysing +abruptness. It was not Joyce at all; it was Sonia. + +I don't know why the discovery should have given me such a shock, for +in a way I had been expecting her to turn up any time. Still a shock +it undoubtedly did give me, and for a second or so I stood there +staring stupidly at her like a man who has suddenly lost the use of +his limbs. Then, pulling myself together, I turned away from the +window and strode to the door. + +She came up to me swiftly and eagerly, moving with that strange lissom +grace that always reminded me of some untamed animal. Her hurried walk +across the marsh had brought a faint tinge of colour into the usual +ivory clearness of her skin, and her dark eyes were alive with +excitement. + +I held out my hands to welcome her. "I was beginning to think you'd +forgotten the address, Sonia," I said. + +With that curious little deep laugh of hers she pulled my arms round +her, and for several seconds we remained standing in this friendly +if a trifle informal attitude. Then, perceiving no reasonable +alternative, I bent down and kissed her. + +"Ah!" she whispered. "At last! At last!" + +Deserted as the marsh was, it seemed rather public for this type of +dialogue, so drawing her inside the hut I closed the door. + +She looked round at everything with rapid, eager interest. "I have +heard all about the powder," she said. "It's quite true, isn't it? You +have done what you hoped to do?" + +I nodded. "I've blown up about twenty yards of Canvey Island with a +few ounces of it," I said. "That seems good enough for a start." + +She laughed again with a sort of fierce satisfaction. "You have done +something more than that. You have given me just the power I needed to +help you." She came up and with a quick impulsive gesture laid her two +hands on my arm. "Neil, Neil, my lover! In a few hours from now you +can have everything you want in the world. Everything, Neil--money, +freedom, love--" She broke off, panting slightly with her own +vehemence, and then drawing my face down to hers, kissed me again on +the lips. + +I suppose I ought to have felt rather ashamed of myself, but I think +I was too interested in what she was going to say to worry much about +anything else. + +"Tell me, Sonia," I said. "What am I to do? Can I trust your father +and McMurtrie?" + +She let go my arm, and stepping back sat down on the edge of the small +table which I had been using as a writing-desk. + +"Trust them!" she repeated half scornfully. "Yes, you can trust them +if you want to go on being cheated and robbed. Can't you see--can't +you guess the way they have been lying to you?" + +"Of course I can," I said coolly; "but when one's between the Devil +and Dartmoor, I prefer the Devil every time. I don't enjoy being +cheated, but it's much more pleasant than being starved or flogged." + +She leaned forward, holding the edge of the table with her hands. +"There's no need for either. As I've told you, in a few hours from +now we can be away from England with money enough to last us for our +lives. Do you know what your invention is worth? Do you know what use +they mean to make of it?" + +"I imagine they hope to sell it," I answered. "It wouldn't be +difficult to find a customer." + +"Difficult!" She lowered her voice to a quick eager whisper. "They +have got a customer. The best customer in Europe. A customer that will +pay anything in the world for such a secret as yours." + +I gazed at her with a carefully assumed expression of amazement and +dawning intelligence. + +"Good Lord, Sonia!" I said slowly; "do you mean--?" + +She made an impatient movement with her hands. "Listen! I am going to +tell you everything. What's the good of you and I beating about +the bush?" She paused. "We are spies," she said quite simply, +"professional spies. Of course it sounds absurd and impossible to +you--an Englishman--but all the same it's the truth. You don't know +what sort of man Dr. McMurtrie is." + +"I appear to be learning," I observed. + +"He has been a friend of my father's for years. They were in Russia +together at one time--and then Paris, Vienna--oh, everywhere. It has +always been the same; in each country they have found out things that +other Governments have been willing to pay for. At least, the doctor +has. The rest of us, my father, myself, Hoffman"--she shrugged her +shoulders--"we are his puppets, his tools. Everything we have done has +been planned and arranged by him." + +There was a short silence. + +"How long have you been here?" I asked. "What brought you to England?" + +"We have been here just over three years," she answered slowly. "There +was a man in London that Dr. McMurtrie and my father wanted to find. +Eight years ago he betrayed them in St. Petersburg." + +A sudden idea--so wild as to be almost incredible--flashed into my +mind. + +I moistened my lips. "Who was he?" I asked steadily. + +She shook her head. "I don't know his name. I only know that he is +dead. I think Dr. McMurtrie would kill any one who betrayed him--if he +could." + +I crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. I felt +strangely excited. + +"And after that," I said quietly, "I suppose the doctor thought he +might as well stop here and do a little business?" + +"I think it was suggested to him from Berlin. He had sent them all +sorts of information when we were in Paris, and, of course, as things +are now, they were still more anxious to get hold of anything about +the English army or navy." She paused. "What they specially wanted +were the plans of the Lyndon-Marwood torpedo." + +"Yes," I said. "I dare say they did. A lot of people have wanted them, +but unfortunately they're not for sale." + +Sonia laughed softly. "The exact price we paid for them," she said, +"was twelve thousand pounds." + +I sat up with a jerk. This time my surprise was utterly genuine. + +"You bought them!" I said incredulously. "Bought them from some one in +the Admiralty?" + +Again Sonia shook her head. "Don't you remember what you read in the +_Daily Mail_ about the robbery at your offices in Victoria Street?" + +I stared at her for a second, and then suddenly the real truth dawned +on me. + +"So George sold them to you?" I said. + +She nodded. "Ever since you went to prison the business has been going +to pieces. He wanted money badly--very badly indeed. Dr. McMurtrie +found this out. He found out too that there was a copy of the plans +in the office, and--well, you can guess the rest. The burglary, of +course, was arranged between them. It was meant to cover your cousin +in case the Government found out that the Germans had got hold of the +plans." + +"And have they found out?" I asked. + +Again Sonia shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say. The doctor and my +father never tell me anything that they can keep to themselves. Most +of what I know I have picked up from listening to them and putting +things together in my own head afterwards. I am useful to them, and to +a certain point they trust me; but only so far. They know I hate them +both." + +She made the statement with a detached bitterness that spoke volumes +for its sincerity. + +I felt too that she was telling me the truth about George. A man who +could lie as he did at the trial was quite capable of betraying his +country or anything else. Still, the infernal impudence and treachery +of his selling my beautiful torpedo to the Germans filled me with a +furious anger such as I had not felt since I crouched, dripping and +hunted, in the Walkham woods. + +I looked up at Sonia, who was leaning forward and watching me with +those curious half-sullen, half-passionate eyes of hers. + +"Why did George tell those lies about me at the trial?" I asked. + +"I don't know for certain; I think he wanted to get rid of you, so +that he could steal your invention. Of course he saw how valuable it +was. You had told him about the notes, and I think he felt that if +you were safely out of the way he would be able to make use of them +himself." + +"He must have been painfully disappointed," I said. "They were all +jotted down in a private cypher. No one else could possibly have +understood them." + +She nodded. "I know. He offered to sell them to us. He suggested that +the Germans might be willing to pay a good sum down for them on the +chance of being able to make them out." + +Angry as I was, I couldn't help laughing. It was so exactly like +George to try and make the best of a bad speculation. + +"I can hardly see the doctor doing business on those lines," I said. + +"It was too late in any case," she answered calmly. "Just after he +made the offer you escaped from prison." There was another pause. "And +what were you all doing down in that God-forsaken part of the world?" +I demanded. + +The question was a little superfluous as far as I was concerned, but I +felt that Sonia would be expecting it. + +"Oh, we weren't there for pleasure," she said curtly. "We wanted to be +near Devonport, and at the same time we wanted a place that was quite +quiet and out-of-the-way. Hoffman found the house for us, and we took +it furnished for six months." + +"It was an extraordinary stroke of luck," I said, "that I should have +come blundering in as I did." + +Sonia laughed venomously. "It was the sort of thing that would happen +to the doctor. The Devil looks after his friends." + +"As a matter of fact," I objected, "I was thinking more of myself." + +Sonia took no notice of my interruption. "Why, it meant everything +to him," she went on eagerly. "It practically gave him the power to +dictate his own terms to the Germans. You see, he knew something about +their plans. He knew--at least he could guess--that the moment war +was declared they meant to make a surprise attack on all the big +dockyards--just like the Japs did at Port Arthur. Well, think of the +difference an explosive as powerful as yours would make! Why, it would +put England absolutely at their mercy. They could blow up Portsmouth, +Sheerness, and Devonport before any one really knew that the war had +started." + +She spoke rapidly, almost feverishly, leaning forward and gripping the +edge of the table, till the skin showed white on her knuckles. I think +I was equally excited, but I tried not to show it. + +"Yes," I said; "it sounds a promising notion." + +"Promising!" she echoed. "Well, it was promising enough for the +Germans to offer us anything we wanted the moment we could give them +the secret. Now perhaps you can understand why we were so hospitable +and obliging to you." + +"And you believe McMurtrie never meant to keep his word to me?" I +asked. + +She laughed again scornfully. "If you knew him as well as I do, you +wouldn't need to ask that. He would simply have disappeared with the +money and left you to rot or starve." + +I took out my case, and having given Sonia a cigarette, lit one +myself. + +"It's an unpleasant choice," I said, "but I gather there's a possible +alternative." + +She lighted her own cigarette and threw away the match. Her dark eyes +were alight with excitement. + +"Listen," she said. "All the Germans want is the secret. Do you +suppose they care in the least whom they get it from? You have only +got to prove to them that you can do what you say, and they will pay +you the money just as readily as they would the doctor." + +There was a magnificent simplicity about the idea that for a moment +almost took my breath away. + +"How could I get in touch with them?" I asked. + +She leaned forward again, and lowered her voice almost to a whisper. + +"I can take you now--now right away--to the two men who are in charge +of the whole business. I know that they have an absolutely free hand +to make the best terms they can." + +"Who are they?" I demanded, with an eagerness I made no attempt to +hide. + +"Their names are Seeker and von Bruenig, and they're living in a small +bungalow on Sheppey. They are supposed to be artists. As a matter of +fact, von Bruenig is a captain in the Germany Navy. I don't know who +the other man is; I think he has been sent over specially about the +powder." + +Her statement fitted in so exactly with what I had already found out +from Latimer and Gow, that I hadn't the remotest doubt she was telling +me the literal truth. Of its importance--its vital importance to +England--there could be no question. I felt my heart beating quickly +with excitement, but the obvious necessity for fixing on some scheme +of immediate action kept my brain cool and clear. The first thing was +to gain a moment or two to think in. + +"You realize what all this means, Sonia?" I said. "You're quite +prepared to throw over your father and McMurtrie? You know how the +doctor deals with people who betray him--when he gets the chance?" + +"I am not afraid of them," she answered defiantly. "They are nothing +to me; I hate them both--and Hoffman too. It's you I want. You are the +only man I ever have wanted." She paused, and I saw her breast rising +and falling rapidly with the stress of her emotion. "We will go away +together--somewhere the other side of the world--America, Buenos +Ayres--oh, what does it matter where?--there are plenty of places! +What does anything matter so long as we love each other!" + +She half rose to her feet, but I jumped up first. + +"One moment, Sonia," I said. "Let me think." + +Thrusting my hands in my pockets, I strode across the room, and +pulling up in front of the little window, stared out across the marsh. +As I did so, I felt as if some one had suddenly placed a large handful +of crushed ice inside my waistcoat. About two hundred yards away, +strolling cheerfully and unconcernedly towards the hut, was the +charming but painfully inopportune figure of Joyce. + +It was a most unpleasant second. In my excitement at listening to +Sonia's revelations, I had clean forgotten for the time that Joyce was +coming, and now it was too late for the recollection to be of much +practical use. Except for an earthquake, or the sudden arrival of the +end of the world, nothing could stop her from reaching the hut in +another five minutes. + +I stood quite still, racking my brains as to what was the best thing +to do. It was no use trying to signal to her from the window, for +Sonia would be certain to see me; while if I made some excuse for +going outside, Joyce would probably call out to me before I had time +to warn her. My only hope seemed to lie in the chance of her hearing +us talking as she came up to the door, in which case she would know at +once that there was some one there and go straight on to the _Betty_. + +I had just reached this conclusion when a queer sound behind me made +me spin round as if I had been struck. Sonia, who had risen to her +feet, was standing and facing me; her whole attitude suggestive of +a highly-annoyed tigress. I don't think I have ever seen such a +malevolent expression on any human being's face in my life. For an +instance we stood staring at each other without speaking, and then +quite suddenly I realized what was the matter. + +Clutched tight in her right hand was a letter--a letter which I +recognized immediately as the one I had received from Joyce that +morning. Like a fool I must have left it lying on the desk, and while +I was looking out of the window she had evidently picked it up and +read it. + +I hadn't much time, however, for self-reproaches. + +"So, you have been lying to me all through," she broke out bitterly. +"This girl is your mistress; and all the time you have simply been +using me to help yourself. Oh, I see it all now. I see why you were so +anxious to come to London. While I have been working and scheming for +you, you and she ..." Her voice failed from very fury, and tearing the +letter in pieces, she flung them on the ground at my feet. + +I suppose I attempted some sort of reply, for she broke out again more +savagely than ever. + +"She _is_ your mistress! Do you dare to deny it, with that letter +staring me in the face? Coming down to 'kiss you and be kissed by +you,' is she? Well, she's used to that, at all events!" Her voice +choked again, and with her hands clenched she made a quick step +forward in my direction. + +Then quite suddenly I saw her whole expression change. The anger in +her eyes gave place to a gleam of recognition, and the next moment her +lips parted in a peculiarly malicious smile. She was looking past me +through the open window. + +"Ah!" she said. "So that's why you were standing there! You didn't +expect me to be here when she arrived, did you?" With a mocking laugh +she turned to the doorway. "Never mind," she added viciously: "you +will be able to introduce us." + +Even if I had tried to prevent her it would have been too late. With a +swift movement she flung back the door, and stepped forward across the +threshold. + +Joyce was standing about fifteen yards away, facing the hut. She had +evidently just heard the sound of Sonia's voice, and had pulled up +abruptly, as I expected she would. Directly the door opened, she +turned as if to continue her walk. + +Sonia laughed again. "Please don't go away," she said. + +There was a moment's pause, and then I too advanced to the door. I saw +that there was nothing else for it except the truth. + +"Joyce," I said, "this is Sonia. She has just read your letter, which +I left lying on the desk." + +It must have been a bewildering situation even to such a quick-witted +person as Joyce, but all the same one would never have guessed the +fact from her manner. For perhaps a second she stood still, looking +from one to the other of us; then, with that sudden engaging smile of +hers, she came forward and held out her hand to Sonia. + +"I am so glad to meet you," she said simply. "Neil has told me how +good you have been to him." + +Sonia remained quite motionless. She had drawn herself up to her full +height, and she stared at Joyce with a cool hatred she made no attempt +to conceal. + +"Yes," she said; "I have no doubt he told you that. He will have a lot +more to tell you as soon as I've gone. You will have plenty to talk +about when you're not kissing." With a low, cruel little laugh she +stepped forward. "Make the most of him while you've got him," she +added. "It won't be for long." + +As the last word left her lips, she suddenly raised the glove she was +holding in her hand, and struck Joyce fiercely across the face. + +In one stride I was up with them--God knows what I meant to do--but, +thrusting out her arm, Joyce motioned me back. + +"It's all right, Neil dear," she said. "I should have done exactly the +same." + +For a moment we all three remained just as we were, and then without a +word Sonia turned on her heel and walked off rapidly in the direction +of the Tilbury road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE POLICE TAKE ACTION + + +"What have we done, Neil?" + +Joyce put the question with a calmness that was truly delightful. + +"It seems to me," I said, "that we've torn it badly." Then, with a +last look at Sonia's retreating figure, I added: "Come inside, and +I'll try to explain." + +We entered the hut, where the floor was still strewn with the +fragments of Joyce's letter. She seated herself on the edge of the bed +and waited patiently while I took a couple of turns up and down the +room. + +"Joyce," I said, "I deserve kicking. I'm not sure I haven't messed up +the whole business." + +"Tell me," she said quietly. "I know about Latimer already; I saw +Tommy at the flat this morning." + +"Well, that simplifies things," I said; and without wasting any +further time in self-reproaches, I plunged straight into the story of +Sonia's surprise visit and its abrupt and spirited ending. + +"How I could have been such an ass I don't know," I finished ruefully. +"I must have put the letter down on the table after I'd done reading +it, and there I suppose it was sitting the whole time." + +Joyce, who had listened to me without interrupting, nodded her head. +"It was just one of those things that had got to happen," she said +philosophically. "It's no good worrying now. The thing is, what are we +to do about it?" + +I thought for a moment. + +"We must let Latimer know at once," I said. "I'll write out what Sonia +told me--just the main facts, and you must take the letter straight up +to London, and find him as soon as you can. I shall stop here, as he +asked me to." + +Joyce's face looked a little troubled. + +"What do you think Sonia will do?" she asked. + +"Goodness knows!" I said. "She seemed to have some particularly +unpleasant intention at the back of her mind; but I don't quite see +what it is." + +"She won't care what she does," said Joyce. "I know exactly how she +feels. Suppose she were to go to the police?" + +"She could hardly do that," I objected. "She'd be incriminating +herself." + +"But suppose she does," persisted Joyce. "Suppose they come and arrest +you here; Latimer won't be able to help you then." + +"I can't go back now, Joyce," I said seriously. "I can't get out of +it just because it might be dangerous to me. After all, it's England +they're scheming against." + +"And what if it is?" she returned indignantly. "A nice way England's +treated you!" + +I came over to the bed and took her hands in mine. + +"Come, Joyce," I said, "you don't really mean that. I want +encouraging, not depressing. All my natural instincts are to look +after myself and let England go to the devil." + +Half laughing and half crying, she jumped up and threw her arms round +me. + +"No, no, no," she said. "I want you to do the right thing always; but +oh, Neil, I'm so frightened of losing you. I just can't do without you +now." + +"Well," I said, "I'm hanged if I can do without you, so we're in the +same boat." + +I kissed her twice, and then, sitting down at the table, made a brief +summary of what I had learned from Sonia. Latimer so far knew nothing +of my relations with the latter, so I was compelled to explain how +badly I had behaved in order to account for her visit. I then gave +him a short description of the painful way in which the interview had +terminated, and added the information that I was waiting on at the hut +in the expectation of a visit from McMurtrie. + +"You can explain things more fully to him, Joyce," I said. "It's no +good trying to keep anything back now; we've gone too far. The great +thing is to get that letter to him as soon as you possibly can. Tommy +will probably know where he is." + +She nodded. "I shall find him all right." She slipped the envelope +inside her dress, and glanced at the watch she was wearing on her +wrist. "There are several things I wanted to tell you," she added, +"but they none of them matter for the moment. If I go at once, I can +just catch the three-thirty." + +"I'll come as far as the road with you," I said. "I daren't leave the +hut for long, in case McMurtrie turns up." + +We went outside and had a good look round. Sonia had long since +disappeared, and the place wore its usual aspect of utter desolation. +I took the precaution of locking the door, however, and then at a +sharp pace we set off together across the marsh. + +"Tell me about George," I said. "How are you getting on with the +elopement plan?" + +Joyce smiled. "I think George is growing a little impatient. He wants +to get away as soon as possible." + +"Yes," I said; "I have no doubt the Mediterranean sounds attractive +to him. There's a pretty stiff penalty attached to selling Government +secrets if you happen to be found out. Besides, I expect he's still +worrying a lot about me." + +Joyce nodded. "He told me last night that I was the only thing that +was keeping him in London. You see I can't quite make up my mind +whether I love him well enough to come away." + +"That's unfortunate for George," I said. "Latimer will probably act at +once as soon as he gets that letter, and directly he does I mean to go +straight to Cheyne Walk, unless I'm dead or in prison." + +Joyce took my arm. "Neil," she said, "whatever happens you mustn't be +arrested. If you think there's any chance of it you must go on board +the _Betty_ and take her somewhere down the river. You can let me know +at the flat where you are. Promise me you will, Neil. You see if the +police once got hold of you, even Latimer mightn't be able to do +anything." + +For a moment I hesitated. So far I had told Joyce nothing of the wild +suspicion about Marks's identity which Sonia's revelations had put +into my head. I didn't want to rouse hopes in her which might turn out +quite baseless. Besides, even if I were really on the right track, and +Marks was the man who had betrayed the gang in St. Petersburg, it was +quite another thing to prove that they were responsible for splitting +his skull. I had nothing to support the idea beyond Joyce's bare +word that she had seen McMurtrie in the flat on the afternoon of the +murder. Sonia's testimony might have been useful, but after today I +could hardly picture her in the witness-box giving evidence on my +behalf. + +On the whole, therefore, I thought it best for the present to keep +the matter to myself. I promised, however, that in the event of my +observing anything in the nature of a policeman stealthily approaching +the hut I would at once seek sanctuary on the _Betty_--an assurance +which might have sounded worthless to some people, but certainly +seemed to comfort Joyce. + +Anyhow she said good-bye to me with her usual cheerfulness and pluck, +and we parted after a last affectionate kiss in full view of the open +marsh. Then I returned to the hut suffering from that novel and highly +unpleasant sense of loneliness that Joyce's departures had begun to +awake in me. + +I don't think there is anything much more trying to one's nerves than +having to sit and wait for some critical event which may happen at any +moment. I have had a good deal of practice at waiting in my life, but +I never remember the hours dragging so desperately slowly as they did +the remainder of that afternoon. + +A dozen times I went over what Latimer and Sonia had told me, putting +together their different stories in my mind and trying to think if +there was any point I had overlooked. I could see none. The mere way +in which they had corroborated each other was enough to make me feel +sure that they were both speaking the truth. Besides, everything that +had happened from the moment I had crept in through the kitchen window +at McMurtrie's house pointed to the same conclusion. + +I may appear stupid not to have seen through the doctor earlier, but +after all a gang of professional spies is hardly the sort of thing one +expects to run up against in a Devonshire village. A few years ago, +indeed, I should have laughed at the idea of their existence anywhere +outside the pages of a shilling shocker, but my three years in +Dartmoor had led me to take a rather more generous view of what life +can throw up in the way of scoundrels. + +Whether they had killed Marks or not, I had little doubt now that they +were wholly responsible for the attempt to murder Latimer. Though I +had good evidence that when it came to the point the two gentlemen +on Sheppey didn't stick at trifles, I could hardly fancy a couple of +German Naval officers deliberately countenancing such methods. If they +had, they certainly deserved the worst fate that even Mr. Gow could +wish them. + +Somehow or other my private interest in the affair seemed to have been +temporarily forced into the background. I felt I was probably doing +the best thing I could for myself in throwing in my lot with Latimer, +but in any case his enthusiasm had got hold of me, and at all risks I +was determined to stick to my side of the bargain. I knew that in her +heart Joyce would have hated me to do otherwise. + +My chief danger, as she had instantly seen, was the chance of Sonia +betraying me to the police. The latter, who knew nothing of the part I +was playing as a sort of unpaid bottle-washer to the Secret +Service, would at once jump at the chance of arresting an escaped +convict--especially such a well-advertised one as myself. However +improbable Sonia's story might sound, they would at least be certain +to take the trouble to investigate it. + +On the other hand, of course Sonia might not go to the police at all, +and even if she did, it was quite possible that Latimer would strike +first and so give me the chance of clearing out. + +Anyhow, forewarned as I was, I felt it would be an uncommonly bright +policeman who succeeded in arresting me. In the day-time, so long as I +kept a good look out, anything like a surprise attack was impossible, +and after that night I made up my mind that I would sleep on the +_Betty_. The only thing was, I should most certainly have to deprive +myself of the luxury of a skipper. Useful as he was at taking letters +into Tilbury, it would be decidedly embarrassing to have him on board +if I happened to arrive in a hurry on the beach with two perspiring +detectives in hot pursuit. + +At six o'clock, as there was still no sign of a visitor, I decided to +walk over to the _Betty_ and tell Mr. Gow that he could treat himself +to another holiday. It would only take me about half an hour, and in +case McMurtrie turned up while I was away I could leave a message on +the door to the effect that I should be back before seven. + +I did this, pinning it up carefully with a drawing-tack and then after +making sure that everything was secure I started off for the creek. + +I found Mr. Gow in his usual restful attitude, his head and shoulders +sticking up out of the fo'c's'le hatch, and a large pipe protruding +from his mouth. With the instincts of a true retainer he promptly +removed the latter as soon as he heard my hail, and hoisting himself +up on deck put off in the dinghy. + +"I'm not coming aboard," I said. "I only walked over to tell you that +you can have a couple of days ashore. We shan't be using the boat till +Saturday or Sunday." + +He thanked me and touched his cap (I could see he was beginning to +think it was rather a soft job he had stumbled into), and then, with +the air of some one breaking unpleasant tidings, he added: "Do you +happen to know, sir, as we're clean out o' petrol?" + +I didn't happen to know it, but under the circumstances it was +information I was glad to acquire. + +"Can you get me some--soon?" I asked. + +He nodded. "I'll bring along a couple o' cans in the mornin', sir, and +leave 'em aboard." + +"Any news?" I asked. + +"Well, sir, I seed the Dutchmen's launch goin' down this +arternoon--travellin' proper they was too, same as when they swamped +me. I suppose you ain't bin able to do nothin' about that matter not +yet, sir?" + +"I'm looking into it, Mr. Gow," I said. "I have a friend helping me, +and between us I think we shall be able to get some satisfaction out +of them. I shall probably have more to tell you on Saturday." + +With this answer he seemed quite content. "Well, I'll just run back +aboard and get my bag, sir," he observed. "I reckon I'd better pull +the dinghy up on top o' the bank when I done with her. If any o' them +Tilbury folk should 'appen to come along they won't see 'er then--not +among the long grass." + +It was a sensible suggestion on the face of it, but in view of the +fact that I might find it necessary to embark rather abruptly, I +couldn't afford to risk any unnecessary delays. + +"Don't bother about that tonight, Gow," I said. "Just drag her above +high-water mark. It's quite possible I may be using her in the +morning." + +Having thus provided for my retreat in the case of an emergency, I +returned to the hut by the usual route along the sea-front. I took the +precaution of putting up my head and inspecting the place carefully +before climbing over the sea-wall, but I might as well have saved +myself the trouble. The marsh was quite deserted, and when I reached +the hut I found my little notice still pinned to the door, and no +trace of any one having paid me a visit in my absence. + +I remained in the same state of splendid isolation for the rest of the +evening. There was no difficulty about keeping watch, for as soon as +the sun went down a large obliging moon appeared in the sky, lighting +up the marsh and the Tilbury road almost as clearly as if it were +day-time. I could have seen a rabbit a hundred yards off, let alone +anything as big and obvious as a Scotland Yard detective. + +At about one in the morning I turned in for a couple of hours' rest. +I felt that if Sonia had gone straight to the authorities they would +have acted before this, while if she was sleeping on her wrath there +was no reason I shouldn't do the same. I had given up any expectation +of McMurtrie until the next morning. + +I woke at half-past three, and resumed my vigil in the pure cool +twilight of early dawn. I watched the sun rise over the river, and +gradually climb up into a sky of pale blue and lemon that gave promise +of another radiantly fine day. There was scarcely a breath of wind +stirring, and everything was so deliciously quiet and peaceful that it +almost seemed as if the events of the last three years were merely the +memory of some particularly vivid nightmare. + +"Almost," I say, for as a matter of fact I was never for a moment +under any such pleasant delusion. If I had been, I should have had +an early awakening, for at eight o'clock, just as I was thinking of +routing out something in the nature of breakfast, I saw a little black +dot advancing along the Tilbury road, which soon resolved itself into +the figure of my faithful Charles. + +He struck off across the marsh and came up to the hut, where I was +standing at the door waiting for him. + +"Two telegrams and a letter for you, sir," he said, producing them +from his bag. "They came this morning, sir." + +With an assumption of leisurely indifference that I was very far from +feeling, I took them out of his hand. The letter was addressed in +McMurtrie's writing, but I put it aside for a moment in favour of the +two wires. The first was from Joyce. + +"Saw L. late yesterday evening. He will act today. Agrees with my +suggestion about the _Betty_ if necessary. J." + +I thrust it into my pocket and opened the other. + +"A copper come last nite and ask for you. He see Misses O." + +For an instant I stared at this cryptic message in bewilderment; then +suddenly the recollection of my final instructions to Gertie 'Uggins +rushed into my mind. + +So Sonia _had_ gone to the police, or had at least contrived to send +them a message which served the same purpose. Their visit to Edith +Terrace was probably explained by the fact that she had given them +both addresses so as better to establish the truth of her story. +Anyhow the murder was out, and with a new and not unpleasant thrill +of excitement I crushed up Gertie's wire in my hand and tore open +McMurtrie's letter. + +"DEAR MR. NICHOLSON, + +"I have been away on business and have only just received your letter, +otherwise I should have come to see you this afternoon. In the first +place allow me to congratulate you most heartily on your success, of +which personally I was never in any doubt. + +"For the moment I have left the Hotel Russell, and am staying with +some friends in Sheppey. I shall run up the river in their launch +early tomorrow morning, as I believe there is a small creek close to +the hut where we can put in. + +"Please have a specimen of the powder ready, and if it is possible I +should like you to arrange for an actual demonstration, as I shall +have a friend with me who is already considerably interested in our +little company, and would be prepared to put up further capital if +convinced of the merits of your invention. + +"You can expect us about high water, between half-past nine and ten. + +"Your sincere friend, + +"L.J. McMURTRIE." + +As I read the signature McMurtrie's smiling mask-like face seemed +suddenly to rise up in front of me, and all my old instincts of +distrust and repulsion came to keep it company. So he was at the +bungalow, and in little over an hour he would be here--he and the +mysterious friend who was "already considerably interested in +our little company." I smiled grimly at the phrase; it was so +characteristic of the doctor; though when he wrote it he could little +have guessed how thoroughly I should be able to appreciate it. + +He was also equally ignorant of the complications introduced into +the affair by Sonia. Unless I had been altogether misled by Gertie's +message, it was probable that the police were even now on their way to +arrest me, just as McMurtrie's launch was most likely setting out from +the little creek under the bungalow. There seemed every prospect of my +having a busy and interesting morning. + +At this point in my reflections I looked up, and found Charles eyeing +me with an air of respectful patience. I took some money out of my +pocket, and selecting a ten-shilling piece placed it in his grubby but +not unwilling palm. + +"You are a most useful boy, Charles," I said, "and you can keep the +change as usual." + +He pocketed the coin with a gratified stammer. + +"You ain't 'ad time to make no fireworks yourself, sir?" he hazarded, +after a short pause. + +"Not yet," I replied; "but it looks as if I should today." + +He brightened up still further at the news, and observing that he +hoped there would be some letters to bring the next morning departed +on his return journey. + +I went back into the hut and shut the door. Now that matters were +so rapidly approaching a climax, I felt curiously cheerful and +light-hearted. I suppose it was a reaction from the strain and +hard work of the previous week, but anyhow the thought that in all +probability the police were hard on my track didn't seem to worry me +in the least. The only point was whether they would reach the hut +before McMurtrie did. I hoped not, for I was looking forward to an +interview with the doctor, but it certainly seemed as well to take +every precaution. + +I started by unearthing the box of powder from outside, and filling up +my flask from it. Then, when I had covered it over again, I collected +all the papers which I had not burned on the previous day, and stored +them away in my inside pockets. Finally I opened a tinned tongue, and +aided by the dry remains of my last loaf, made a healthy if not very +exciting breakfast. I never believe in conducting violent exertions on +an empty tummy. + +All this time, I need hardly say, I was keeping an uncommonly sharp +look-out over the marsh. The most likely way in which any one who +didn't wish to be seen would attempt to approach the hut was along the +Tilbury road, and it was towards the last clump of trees, behind which +Sonia had left her car the previous day, that I directed my chief +attention. + +Three-quarters of an hour passed, and I was just beginning to think +that McMurtrie would be the winner after all, when I suddenly caught +sight of something dark slinking across the exposed part of the road +beyond the plantation. Standing very still, I watched carefully from +the window. I have excellent eyesight, and I soon made out that there +were three separate figures all stooping low and moving with extreme +caution towards the shelter of the trees. + +A sudden and irresistible desire to laugh seized hold of me; there +was something so intensely funny about the strategic pains they were +taking, when all the while they might just as well have advanced +boldly across the open marsh. Still it was hardly the time to linger +over the comic side of the affair, so retiring from the window, I +threw a last quick glance round the hut to make quite sure that I had +left nothing I wanted behind. Then walking to the door I opened it and +stepped quietly outside. + +I decided that it was impossible to reach the sea-wall without being +seen, so I made no attempt to do so. I just set off in the direction +of the creek, strolling along in the easy, unhurried fashion of a man +taking a morning constitutional. + +I had not gone more than ten yards, when from the corner of my eye I +saw three figures break simultaneously out of the plantation. They no +longer made any pretence about their purpose. One of them cut straight +down towards the hut, a second came running directly after me, while +the third started off as rapidly as possible along the road, so as to +head me off if I attempted to escape inland. + +Any further strategy on my part appeared to be out of place. I grasped +the position in one hurried glance, and then, buttoning my coat and +ramming down my cap, openly and frankly took to my heels. I heard the +gentlemen behind shout out something which sounded like a request that +I should stop, but I was too occupied to pay much attention. The marsh +was infested with small drains, and one had to keep one's eyes glued +on the ground immediately ahead to avoid coming an unholy purler. That +was the only thing I was afraid of, as I was in excellent condition, +and I have always been a very fair runner. + +When I had covered about a couple of hundred yards I looked back over +my shoulder. I expected to find that I had widened the gap, but to my +dismay I discovered that my immediate pursuer had distinctly gained on +me. I could just see that he was a tall, active-looking fellow in a +policeman's uniform, with a long raking stride that was carrying him +over the ground in the most unpleasant fashion. Unless he fell over a +drain and broke his silly neck it seemed highly probable that he would +arrive at the creek almost as soon as I did. + +As I ran I prayed fervently in my heart that Mr. Gow had followed +my instructions and left the dinghy within easy reach of the water. +Otherwise I was in a tight place, for though I could swim to the +_Betty_ all right, it would be impossible to take her out of the creek +in a dead calm and with no petrol aboard for the engine. I should be +compelled to stand at bay until a breeze got up, repelling boarders +with the boat-hook! + +Just before I reached the sea-wall I looked round a second time. My +pursuer was now only about thirty yards distant, but it was evident +that his efforts had begun to tell on him. He again shouted out some +breathless advice to the effect that it would be "best" for me to +surrender, but without waiting to argue the point I scrambled up the +bank and cast a hurried, anxious glance round for the dinghy. + +Any doubts I might have had about Mr. Gow's trustworthiness were +instantly dispelled. The boat was lying on the mud only a few yards +out of reach of the tide. With a gasp of thankfulness I leaped on +to the saltings, and clearing the distance in about three strides, +clutched hold of the gunwale and began to drag it towards the water. + +Just as I reached that desirable element the figure of my pursuer +appeared above the bank. I gave a last savage wrench, but my foot +slipped in the treacherous mud, and I as nearly as possible stumbled +to my knees. That final tug, however, had done the trick. The boat was +floating, and with a wild effort I scrambled in, and seizing an oar, +shoved off furiously from the shore. + +I was only just in time. Jumping from the sea-wall, the policeman +fairly hurled himself across the intervening space, and without a +moment's hesitation plunged into the creek after me. I shortened my +oar, and as he made a grab for the stern I suddenly lunged forward +with all the force I could command. The blade took him fair and square +in the wind, and with a loud observation that sounded like "Ouch!" he +sat down abruptly in the water. Before he could recover himself I was +ten yards from the shore, sculling vigorously for the centre of the +stream. + +I made no attempt to reach the _Betty_. There was still a dead calm, +and by going on board I should merely have been shutting myself up in +a prison from which there was no escape. My best plan seemed to be to +make for the open river, when I might either pick up McMurtrie and his +launch, or else row across to the opposite shore. + +I accordingly headed for the mouth of the creek, while my pursuer, who +by this time had sufficiently recovered to stagger to his feet, waded +dismally back to the shore. Here he was joined by his two companions, +who had evidently been following the chase with praiseworthy +determination. + +For a moment I saw them all three consulting together, and then my +friend the policeman started hastily throwing off his clothes with the +apparent intention of swimming across the river, while the other two +came running along the bank after me. They were both in plain clothes, +but the unmistakable stamp of a Scotland Yard detective was clearly +imprinted on each of them. + +They soon caught me up, and hurrying on ahead reached the mouth of the +creek, while I was still some twenty yards short of it. I was just +wondering what on earth they hoped to do, when, looking over my +shoulder, I saw one of them scramble up the sea-wall, and begin to +shout and wave his arms as if he had suddenly gone mad. + +A few savage pulls brought me up level, and then turning in my seat I +discovered the cause of his excitement. Some way out in the stream was +a small coast-guard cutter with three men on board, two of whom were +at the oars. They had evidently grasped that there was something +serious the matter, for they had brought their boat round and were +already heading in towards the shore. + +My position began to look a trifle unhealthy. I was out of practice +for sculling, and if the coast-guards chose to interfere it was +obviously only a question of a few minutes before they would succeed +in rowing me down. For a moment I had some idea of going ashore on +the opposite bank, and again trusting to my heels. Then I saw that my +friend the policeman, who could apparently swim as well as he could +run, was already half way across the creek, and would be on my track +long before I could get the necessary start. On the whole it seemed +best to stick to the water, so digging in my sculls I pulled out into +the main stream. + +As I rounded the sea-wall I could hear the man who was standing on +top bawling out my name to the coast-guards, and hurling them frantic +injunctions to cut me off. I cast one swift glance up and down the +river, and as I did so I nearly gave a shout of excitement. A couple +of hundred yards away, but coming up at a tremendous pace, was a large +white petrol launch, which I recognized immediately as the one that +had swamped Mr. Gow. + +Whether the coast-guards saw her too I really can't say. I doubt if +they did, for by this time they had evidently realized who I was, and +their whole attention was fixed on preventing my escape. They were +rowing towards me with tremendous energy, the officer in charge +half standing up in the stern and encouraging them to still fiercer +efforts. + +Putting every ounce I could into my stroke, I set off down stream. It +was just a question as to whether I could clear them, and I doubt if +any winner of the Diamond Sculls could have shoved that dinghy along +much faster than I did for the next few seconds. Nearer and nearer we +drew to each other, and for one instant I thought that I had done the +trick. Then from the corner of my eye I saw the cutter fairly leap +forward through the water, and the next moment, with a jolt that +almost flung me out of the seat, she bumped alongside. + +Dropping his oar, one of the men leaned over and grabbed hold of my +gunwale. + +"No go, Mister," he observed breathlessly. "You got to come along with +us." + +The words had hardly left his lips when with a wild shout the officer +in charge leaped to his feet. + +"Look out, there!" he yelled. "Port, you fools! Port your helm!" + +I swung round, and got a momentary glimpse of a sharp white prow with +a great fan of water curling away each side of it, and then, before I +could move, there came a jarring, grinding crash, mixed with a fierce +volley of shouts and oaths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN THE NICK OF TIME + + +My impressions of what happened next are a trifle involved. Something +hit me violently in the side, almost knocking me silly, while at the +same moment the boat seemed to disappear from beneath me, and I was +flying head first into the water. I struck out instinctively as I +fell, and came to the surface almost at once. I just remember a +blurred vision of floating wreckage, with something white rising up in +front of me. Then a rope came hurtling through the air, and caught me +full in the face. I clutched at it wildly, and the next thing I knew I +was being dragged violently through the water and hauled in over the +side of the launch. + +It was all over so quickly that for a moment I scarcely realized what +had happened. I just lay where I was, gasping for breath, and spitting +out a large mouthful of the Thames which I had unintentionally +appropriated. Above the throbbing of the engine and the swish of the +screw I could still hear a confused medley of shouts and curses. + +With an effort I sat up and looked about me. We had already changed +our course, and were swinging round in a half-circle, preparatory to +heading back down stream. The smashed remains of the two boats were +bobbing about behind us, and in the midst of them I could make out the +figures of the coast-guards, clinging affectionately to various bits +of wreckage. + +Besides myself, there were three other men in the launch. Dr. +McMurtrie was sitting on the seat just opposite, pouring out the +contents of a flask into a small metal cup. Against the cabin door +leaned Savaroff, eyeing me with his usual expression of hostile +mistrust. The third passenger was the man with the auburn beard, whom +I had seen in the launch on the day I picked up Mr. Gow. He was busy +with the tiller, and for the moment was paying scant attention to any +of us. + +McMurtrie got up with the cup in his hand and came across to where I +was sitting. + +"Drink this," he said. + +"This," proved to be some excellent old brandy, which I tossed off +with no little gratitude. It was exactly what I wanted to pull me +together. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked. + +I felt myself carefully before replying. "I'm all right now," I said. +"I got rather a crack in the ribs, but I don't think anything's gone." + +"We seem to have arrived just in time to prevent your arrest," he +said quietly. "Perhaps you will be good enough to explain what has +happened? At present we are rather in the dark." + +He spoke with his usual suavity, but there was a veiled menace in his +voice which it was impossible to overlook. Savaroff scowled at me more +truculently than ever. It was obvious that both of them were entirely +ignorant of Sonia's part in the affair, and suspected me of some +extraordinary bit of clumsiness. I prepared myself for some heavy +lying. + +"I know precious little more about it than you do," I said coolly. "I +was getting things ready for you this morning, when I happened to look +out of the window, and saw three men crawling towards the hut on their +hands and knees. As one of them was wearing a policeman's uniform, I +thought I had better cut and run. Well, I cut and ran. I made for the +creek because I thought you might be there. You weren't; but there was +a dinghy on the shore, which I suppose belonged to a small yacht +that was anchored out in the channel. Anyhow, I took the liberty of +borrowing it. I meant to row out into the river, and try to pick you +up before they could get hold of a boat and follow me. If it hadn't +been for these infernal coast-guards, I'd have managed it all right. I +don't think they really had anything to do with the business, but they +just happened to be passing, and of course when the police shouted to +them they cut in at once." I paused. "And that's the whole story," I +finished, "as far as I know anything about it." + +They had all three listened to me with eager attention. Even the man +with the auburn beard had kept on looking away from his steering to +favour me with quick glances out of his hard blue eyes. I think I came +through the combined scrutiny with some credit. + +McMurtrie was the first to break the ensuing silence. + +"Have you any idea how you have betrayed yourself? You can speak quite +freely. Our friend Mr. von Bruenig knows the position." + +I thought it best to take the offensive. "I haven't betrayed myself," +I said angrily. "Somebody must have done it for me. I've not left the +hut since I came down except for an occasional breath of air." + +"But earlier--when you were in London?" he persisted. + +I shook my head. "I have been down here a week. You don't imagine the +police would have waited as long as that." + +I knew I was putting them in a difficulty, for by this time they +must be all aware that Latimer was still on their track, and it was +obviously conceivable that my attempted arrest might be due in some +way to my connection with them; anyhow I saw that even Savaroff was +beginning to regard me a shade less suspiciously. + +"Have you brought any of the powder with you?" asked McMurtrie. + +It struck me instantly that if I said yes, I should be putting myself +absolutely in their power. + +"I hadn't time to get any," I answered regretfully. "I had buried it +outside the hut, and they came on me so suddenly there was no chance +of digging it up. Now I have once done it, however, I can make some +more very quickly." + +It was the flattest lie I have ever told; but I managed to get it off +with surprising ease. It is astonishing what rapid strides one can +make in the art of perjury with a very little practice. + +Savaroff gave a grunt of disappointment, and McMurtrie turned to von +Bruenig, who was frowning thoughtfully, and made some almost inaudible +remark in German. The latter answered at some length, but he kept his +voice so low that, with my rather sketchy knowledge of that unpleasant +language, it was impossible for me to overhear what he was saying. +Besides, he evidently didn't intend me to, and I had no wish to +spoil the good impression I had apparently made by any appearance of +eavesdropping. + +It seemed to me that my course lay pretty straight in front of me. +Latimer had all the information now he was likely to get, and I knew +from Joyce's wire that he intended to act immediately. In addition to +this, the running down of the cutter would be known to Scotland Yard +as soon as ever the men who had been sent to arrest me could get to a +telephone, and the river-police and coast-guards everywhere would be +warned to keep a sharp look-out for von Bruenig's launch. In an hour or +two at the most something was bound to happen, and the way in which I +could make myself most useful seemed to be in delaying the break-up +and escape of the party as long as possible. If I had to be arrested, +I was determined that the others should be roped in as well. + +I had just arrived at this point in my meditations when McMurtrie and +von Bruenig came to an end of their muttered conversation. + +The former turned back to me. "You probably understand, Mr. Lyndon, +that this unfortunate affair with the police alters our plans +entirely. At present I am quite unable to see how they have found you +out, unless you have betrayed yourself by some piece of unintentional +carelessness. Anyhow, the fact remains that they know where you are, +and that very probably they will be able to trace this launch." + +Savaroff nodded. "As likely as not we shall have a shot across our +bows when we get to Sheerness," he growled. + +McMurtrie, as usual, took no notice of his interruption. "There is +only one thing to do," he said. "Mr. von Bruenig, who, as I have +already told you, is interested in our syndicate, has offered to put +his country house in Germany at our service. We must cross over to +Holland before the police have time to interfere." + +"Do you mean now, at once?" I asked, with a sudden inward feeling of +dismay. + +McMurtrie nodded. "We have to pick up a couple of friends at Sheppey +first. After that we can run straight across to The Hague." + +The proposal was so obviously sensible that, without arousing his +suspicion, I could see no way for the moment of raising any objection. +The great thing was to keep the "syndicate" together, and to delay our +departure until Latimer had had time to scoop the lot of us. Could +anything provide him with a more favourable opportunity than the +collection of the whole crowd in that remote bungalow at Sheppey? It +was surely there if anywhere he would strike first, and I hoped, +very feelingly, that he would not be too long about it. My powers +of postponing our voyage to Holland appeared to have a distinct +time-limit. + +"There seems nothing else to do," I said. "I am sorry to have been +the cause of changing all our plans; but the whole thing is as much a +mystery to me as it is to you. However the police got on to my track, +it wasn't through any carelessness of mine. I am no more anxious to go +back to Dartmoor now than I was six weeks ago." + +This last observation at least was true; and I can only hope the +recording angel jotted it down as a slight set-off against the +opposite column. + +Savaroff removed his bulky form from in front of the cabin door, and +crossing the well, sat down beside the others. They began to talk +again in German; but as before I could only catch the merest scraps of +their conversation. Once I heard Sonia's name mentioned by McMurtrie, +and I just caught Savaroff's muttered reply to the effect that she was +all right where she was, and could follow us to Germany later. As far +as I could judge, they none of them had the remotest suspicion that +she was in any way connected with the crisis. + +All this while we had been throbbing along down stream at a terrific +pace, keeping well to the centre of the river, and giving such small +vessels as we passed a reasonably wide berth. If there was any trouble +coming to us it seemed most likely to materialize in the neighbourhood +of Southend or Sheerness, which were the two places to which the +police would be almost certain to send a description of the launch +as soon as they could get to a telephone. As we reached the first +danger-zone, I noticed von Bruenig beginning to cast rather anxious +glances towards the shore. No one seemed to pay any attention to us, +however, and without slackening speed, we swept out into the broad +highway of the Thames estuary. + +There were several torpedo-boats lying off Sheerness, but these also +remained utterly indifferent to our presence. Apparently the police +had been too occupied in rescuing their coast-guard allies from a +watery grave to reach a telephone in time, and we passed along down +the coast unsuspected and unchallenged. + +Whatever von Bruenig's weak points might be, he could certainly steer +a motor-boat to perfection. He turned into the little creek under the +bungalow at a pace which I certainly wouldn't have cared to attempt +even in my wildest mood, and brought up in almost the identical spot +where we had anchored the _Betty_ on the historic night of Latimer's +rescue. + +We had a small collapsible Berthon boat on board, just big enough to +hold four at a pinch. I watched Savaroff getting it ready, wondering +grimly whether there was any chance of their leaving me on the launch +with only one member of the party as a companion. It would have suited +me excellently, though it might have been a little inconvenient for my +prospective guardian. + +McMurtrie, however, promptly shattered this agreeable possibility by +inviting me to take a seat in the boat. I think he believed I had told +him the truth, but he evidently had no intention of letting me out of +his sight again until I had actually handed him over the secret of the +powder. + +We landed at the foot of a little winding path, and dragged our boat +out of the water on to a narrow strip of shingle. Then we set off +up the cliff at a rapid pace, with von Bruenig leading the way and +Savaroff bringing up the rear. + +The bungalow was situated about a couple of hundred yards from the +summit, almost hidden by the high privet hedge which I had noticed +from the sea. This hedge ran right round the garden, the only entrance +being a small white gate in front of the house. Von Bruenig walked up, +the path followed by the rest of us, and thrusting his key into the +lock pushed open the door. + +We found ourselves in a fairly big, low-ceilinged apartment, lighted +by a couple of French windows opening on to the side garden. They were +partly covered by two long curtains, each drawn half way across. The +place was comfortably furnished, and an easel with a half-finished +seascape on it bore eloquent witness to the purity of its tenants' +motives. + +Von Bruenig looked round with a sort of impatient surprise. + +"Where are the others?" he demanded harshly. "Why have they left the +place empty in this way?" + +"They must have walked over to the post-office," said McMurtrie. "I +know Hoffman wanted to send a telegram. They will be back in a minute, +I expect." + +Von Bruenig frowned. "They ought not to have done so. Seeker at least +should have known better. After the other night--" He paused, and +crossing the room threw open a door and disappeared into an adjoining +apartment. + +Without waiting for an invitation, I seated myself on a low couch in +the farther corner of the room. I felt quite cool, but I must admit +that the situation was beginning to strike me as a little unpromising. +Unless Latimer turned up precious soon it seemed highly probable that +he would be too late. Considering the importance of getting me safely +to Germany, neither von Bruenig nor McMurtrie was likely to stay a +minute longer than was necessary. I might, of course, refuse to go +with them, but in that case the odds were that I should simply be +overpowered and taken on board by force. Von Bruenig himself looked a +pretty tough handful to tackle, while Savaroff was about as powerful +as a well-grown bullock. Once I was safe in the former's "country +house" they would no doubt reckon on finding some means of bringing me +quickly to reason. + +With a bag in one hand and a bundle of papers in the other von Bruenig +came back into the room. + +"I shall not wait," he announced curtly. "The risks are too great. +Seeker and your friend must follow as best they can." + +"They are bound to be here in a minute," objected Savaroff. + +Von Bruenig turned on him with an angry gleam in his blue eyes. "I +shall not wait," he repeated harshly. "The future of Germany is of +more importance than their convenience." + +McMurtrie stepped forward, serene and imperturbable as ever. + +"I think Mr. von Bruenig is right, Savaroff," he said. "The police may +have recognized the launch, and in that case it would be madness for +us not to go while we have the chance. We can leave a note for the +others." + +If Savaroff had any further objections he kept them to himself. He +turned away with a shrug on his broad shoulders, while McMurtrie sat +down at the table and hastily wrote a few lines which he showed to von +Bruenig. The other nodded his head approvingly. + +"That will do very well," he said. "It will be safe if any one else +should find it. Seeker knows where to come to." + +McMurtrie put the note in an envelope which he placed in the centre of +the table. + +"And now," he said, pushing back his chair, "the sooner we are out of +this the better." + +I felt that if I was going to interfere the right time had now +arrived. Von Bruenig's reply to Savaroff had given me just the opening +I needed. + +"One moment, gentlemen!" I said, getting up from the couch. + +They all three turned in obvious surprise at the interruption. + +"Well?" rapped out von Bruenig, "what is it?" + +"I was under the impression," I said, "that this new explosive of mine +was to be put on the market as an ordinary commercial enterprise." + +McMurtrie rose from his chair and took a step forward. + +"You are perfectly right," he said. "Why should you think otherwise?" + +"In that case," I replied steadily, "I should like to know what Mr. +von Bruenig meant by his remark about the 'future of Germany.'" + +There was a short pause. + +"Ach, Himmel!" broke out von Bruenig. "What does it matter? What are we +wasting time for? Tell him if he wishes." + +"Why, certainly," said McMurtrie, smiling. "There is no mystery about +it. I was merely keeping the matter quiet until it was settled." He +turned to me. "The German Government have made us a very good offer +for your invention, provided of course that it will do what you +claim." + +"It will do what I claim all right," I said coolly, "but I don't wish +to sell it to the German Government." + +There was a sort of explosive gasp from von Bruenig and Savaroff, and I +saw McMurtrie's eyes narrow into two dangerous cat-like slits. + +"_You don't-wish!_" he repeated icily. "May I ask why?" + +"Certainly," I said. "With the sole command of an explosive as +powerful as mine, Germany would be in a position to smash England in +about six weeks." + +"And suppose she was," interrupted von Bruenig. "What in God's name +does it matter to you--an escaped convict?" + +His voice rang with impatience and contempt, and I felt my own temper +rising. + +"It matters just sufficiently," I said, "that I'll see you in hell +first." + +McMurtrie came slowly up to me, and looked me straight in the eyes. +His face was white and terrible--a livid mask of controlled anger. + +"You fool," he said almost pityingly. "You incredible fool! Do you +imagine that you have any choice in the matter?" + +Von Bruenig and Savaroff moved up alongside of him, and I stood there +confronting the three of them. + +"You have heard my choice," I said. + +McMurtrie laughed. It was precisely the way in which I should imagine +the devil laughs on the rare occasions when he is still amused. + +"You are evidently a bad judge of character, Mr. Lyndon," he said. +"People who attempt to break faith with me are apt to find it a very +unhealthy occupation." + +I felt utterly reckless now. I had done my best to delay things, +and if neither the police nor the Secret Service was ready to take +advantage of it, so much the worse for them--and me. + +"I can quite believe you, doctor," I said pleasantly. "I should +imagine you were a dangerous ruffian from the intelligent way in which +you murdered Marks." + +It was a last desperate stroke, but it went home with startling +effect. + +Savaroff's face flushed purple, and with a fierce oath he gripped the +back of a chair and swung it up over his head. The doctor stopped him +with a gesture of his hand. As for von Bruenig, he stood where he +was, staring from one to the other of us in angry bewilderment. He +evidently hadn't the remotest notion what I was talking about. + +McMurtrie was the first to speak. "Yes," he said, in his coolest, +silkiest voice. "I did kill Marks. He was the last person who betrayed +me. I rather think you will envy him before I have finished with you, +Mr. Lyndon." + +"A thousand devils!" cried von Bruenig furiously: "what does all this +nonsense mean? We may have the police here any moment. Knock him on +the head, the fool, and--" + +"Stop!" + +The single word cut in with startling clearness. We all spun round in +the direction of the sound, and there, standing in the window just +between the two curtains, was the solitary figure of Mr. Bruce +Latimer. He was accompanied by a Mauser pistol which flickered +thoughtfully over the four of us. + +"Keep still," he drawled--"quite still, please. I shall shoot the +first man who moves." + +There was a moment of rather trenchant silence. Then von Bruenig +moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Are you mad, sir?" he began hoarsely. "By what--" + +With a lightning-like movement McMurtrie slipped his right hand into +his side pocket, and as he did so Latimer instantly levelled his +pistol. The two shots rang out simultaneously, but except for a cry +and a crash of broken glass I knew nothing of what had happened. In +one stride I had flung myself on Savaroff, and just as he drew his +revolver I let him have it fair and square on the jaw. Dropping his +weapon, he reeled backwards into von Bruenig, and the pair of them went +to the floor with a thud that shook the building. Almost at the same +moment both the door and the window burst violently open, and two men +came charging into the room. + +The first of the intruders was Tommy Morrison. I recognized him just +as I was making an instinctive dive for Savaroff's revolver, under the +unpleasant impression that Hoffman and the other German had returned +from the post-office. You can imagine the delight with which I +scrambled up again, clutching that useful if rather belated weapon in +my hand. + +One glance round showed me everything there was to see. + +Face downwards in a little pool of blood lay the motionless figure +of McMurtrie. Savaroff also was still--his huge bulk sprawled in +fantastic helplessness across the floor. Only von Bruenig had moved; he +was sitting up on his hands, staring in a half-dazed fashion down the +barrel of Latimer's Mauser. + +It was Latimer himself who renewed the conversation. + +"Come and fix up these two, Ellis," he said. "I will see to the +other." + +The man who had burst in with Tommy, a lithe, hard-looking fellow in a +blue suit, walked crisply across the room, and pulling out a pair +of light hand-cuffs snapped them round von Bruenig's wrists. He then +performed a similar service for the still unconscious Savaroff. + +The next moment Latimer, Tommy, and I were kneeling round the +prostrate figure of the doctor. We lifted him up very gently and +turned him over on to his back, using a rolled-up rug as a pillow for +his head. He had been shot through the right lung and was bleeding at +the mouth. + +Latimer bent over and made a brief examination of the wound. Then with +a slight shake of his head he knelt back. + +"I'm afraid there's no hope," he remarked dispassionately. "It's a +pity. We might have got some useful information out of him." + +There was a short pause, and then quite suddenly the dying man opened +his eyes. It may have been fancy, but it seemed to me that for a +moment a shadow of the old mocking smile flitted across his face. His +lips moved, faintly, as though he were trying to speak. I bent down to +listen, but even as I did so there came a fresh rush of blood into his +throat, and with a long shudder that strange sinister spirit of his +passed over into the darkness. I shall always wonder what it was that +he left unsaid. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +EXONERATED + + +It was Tommy who pronounced his epitaph. "Well," he observed, "he was +a damned scoundrel, but he played a big game anyhow." + +Latimer thrust his hand into the dead man's pocket, and drew out a +small nickel-plated revolver. One chamber of it was discharged. + +"Not a bad shot," he remarked critically. "Fired at me through his +coat, and only missed my head by an inch." + +He got up and looked round the room at the shattered window and the +other traces of the fray, his gaze coming finally to rest on the +prostrate figure of Savaroff. + +"That was a fine punch of yours, Lyndon," he added. "I hope you +haven't broken his neck." + +"I don't think so," I said. "Necks like Savaroff's take a lot of +breaking." Then, suddenly remembering, I added hastily: "By the way, +you know that there are two more of the crowd--Hoffman and a friend of +von Bruenig's? They might be back any minute." + +Latimer shook his head almost pensively. "It's improbable," he said. +"I have every reason to believe that at the present moment they are in +Queenborough police station." + +I saw Tommy grin, but before I could make any inquiries von Bruenig +had scrambled to his feet. His face looked absolutely ghastly in its +mingled rage and disappointment. After a fashion I could scarcely help +feeling sorry for him. + +"I demand an explanation," he exclaimed hoarsely. "By what right am I +arrested?" + +Latimer walked up to him, and looked him quietly in the eyes. + +"I think you understand very well, _Captain_ von Bruenig," he said. + +There was a pause, and then, with a glance that embraced the four of +us, the German walked to the couch and sat down. If looks could kill I +think we should all have dropped dead in our tracks. + +Providence, however, having fortunately arranged otherwise, we +remained as we were, and at that moment there came from outside the +unmistakable sound of an approaching car. I saw Latimer open his +watch. + +"Quick work, Ellis," he remarked, with some satisfaction. "I wasn't +expecting them for another ten minutes. Tell them to come straight +in." He snapped the case and turned back to me. "Suppose we try and +awake our sleeping friend," he added. "He looks rather a heavy weight +for lifting about." + +Between us we managed to hoist Savaroff up into a chair, while Tommy +stepped across the room and fetched a bottle of water which was +standing on the sideboard. I have had some practice in my boxing days +of dealing with knocked-out men, and although Savaroff was a pretty +hard case, a little vigorous massage and one or two good sousings +soon produced signs of returning consciousness. Indeed, he had just +recovered sufficiently to indulge in a really remarkable oath when the +door swung open and Ellis came back into the room, accompanied by two +other men. One of them was dressed in ordinary clothes, the other wore +the uniform of a police sergeant. + +I shall never forget the face of the latter as he surveyed the scene +before him. + +"Gawd bless us!" he exclaimed. "What's up now, sir? Murder?" + +"Not exactly, Sergeant," replied Latimer soothingly. "I shot this man +in self-defence. The other two I give into your charge. There is a +warrant out for all three of them." + +It appeared that the sergeant knew who Latimer was, for he treated him +with marked deference. + +"Very well, sir," he said. "If 'e's dead, 'e's dead; anyhow, I've +orders to take my instructions entirely from you." Then, dragging a +note-book out of his pocket, he added with some excitement: "There's +another thing, sir, a matter that the Tilbury station have just +telephoned through about. It seems"--he consulted his references--"it +seems that when they were in that launch of theirs they run down a +party o' coast-guards, who'd got hold of Lyndon, the missing convict. +Off Tilbury it was. D'you happen to know anything about this, sir?" + +Latimer nodded his head. "A certain amount, Sergeant," he said. "You +will find the launch in the creek at the bottom of the cliff." He +paused. "This is Mr. Neil Lyndon," he added; "I will be responsible +for his safe keeping." + +I don't know what sort of experiences the Isle of Sheppey usually +provides for its police staff, but it was obvious that, professionally +speaking, the sergeant was having the day of his life. He stared at me +for a moment with the utmost interest, and then, recollecting himself, +turned and saluted Latimer. + +"Very good, sir," he said; "and what do you want me to do?" + +"I want you to stay here for the present with one of my men, while we +go to the station. I shall send the car back, and then you will take +the two prisoners into Queenborough. My man will remain in charge of +the bungalow." + +The sergeant saluted again, and Latimer turned to me. + +"You and Morrison must come straight to town," he said. "We shall just +have time to catch the twelve-three." + +It was at this point that Savaroff, who had been regarding us with +the half-stupid stare of a man who has newly recovered consciousness, +staggered up unsteadily from his chair. His half-numbed brain seemed +suddenly to have grasped what was happening. + +"Verfluchter Schweinhund!" he shouted, turning on me. "So it was you, +then--" + +He got no further. However embarrassed the sergeant might be by +exceptional events, he was evidently thoroughly at home in his own +department. + +"'Ere!" he said, stepping forward briskly, "stow that, me man!" +And with a sudden energetic thrust in the chest, he sent Savaroff +sprawling backwards on the couch almost on top of von Bruenig. + +"Don't you use none of that language 'ere," he added, standing over +them, "or as like as not you'll be sorry for it." + +There was a brief pause. "I see, Sergeant," said Latimer gravely, +"that I am leaving the case in excellent hands." + +He gave a few final instructions to Ellis, who was also staying +behind, and then the four of us left the bungalow and walked quietly +down the small garden path that led to the road. Just outside the gate +stood a powerful five-seated car. + +"Start her up, Guthrie," said Latimer; and then turning to us, he +added, with a smile: "I want you in front with me, Lyndon. I know +Morrison's dying for a yarn with you, but he must wait." + +Tommy nodded contentedly. "I can wait," he observed; "it's a habit +I've cultivated where Neil's concerned." + +We all clambered into the car, and, slipping in his clutch Latimer set +off at a rapid pace in the direction of Queenborough. It was not until +we had rounded the first corner that he opened the conversation. + +"How did you know about Marks?" he asked, in that easy drawling voice +of his. + +"I didn't know for certain," I said quietly. "It was more or less of a +lucky shot." + +Then, as he seemed to be waiting for a further explanation, I repeated +to him as briefly as possible what Sonia had told me about McMurtrie's +reason for visiting London. + +"I didn't go into all this in my letter to you," I finished, "because +in the first place there was only just time for Joyce to catch the +train, and in the second I didn't want to disappoint her in case it +should turn out to be all bunkum. You must have been rather amazed +when I suddenly sprung it on McMurtrie." + +He shook his head, smiling. "Oh no," he said--"hardly amazed." He +paused. "You see, I knew about it already," he added placidly. + +If there was any amazement to spare at that moment it was certainly +mine. + +"You knew about it!" I repeated. "You knew that McMurtrie had killed +Marks?" + +He nodded coolly. "You remember telling me in the boat that your +friend Miss--Miss Aylmer, isn't it?--had recognized him as the man she +saw at the flat on the day of the murder?" + +"Yes," I said. + +"Well, if that was so, and you had been wrongly convicted, which I +was inclined to believe, the doctor's presence on the scene seemed to +require a little looking into. I knew that at that time he had only +just arrived in London, so the odds were that he and Marks were old +acquaintances. I hunted up the evidence in your trial--I had rather +forgotten it--and I found just what I expected. Beyond the fact that +Marks was a foreigner and had been living in London for about eight +years, no one seemed to know anything about him at all. The police +were so confident in their case against you that apparently they +hadn't even bothered to make the usual inquiries. If they had taken +the trouble to communicate with St. Petersburg, they could have found +out all about Mr. Marks without much difficulty. The authorities there +have a wonderfully complete system of remembering their old friends." + +"But three years afterwards--" I began. + +"It makes very little difference, especially as just at present we +are on excellent terms with the Russian Secret Service. They took the +matter up for me, and last night I got the full particulars I wanted +about the man who had given away McMurtrie and his friends in St. +Petersburg. There can be no question that he and Marks were the same +person." + +I took a long--a very long breath. + +"There remains," I said, "the Home Office." + +"I don't think you need be seriously worried about the Home Office," +returned Latimer serenely. "By this time they have a full statement of +the case--except, of course, for my direct evidence that I heard the +doctor actually bragging of his achievement. I had a long interview +with Casement before I left London this morning, and he said he would +go round directly after breakfast. He evidently arrived just too late +to prevent the order for your arrest." + +I nodded. "Sonia must have gone to the police last night," I said; and +then in a few words I told him of the telegram I had received from +Gertie 'Uggins, and how it had just enabled me to get away. + +"I don't know," I finished, "how much my double escape complicates +matters. However unjust my sentence was, there's no denying I've +committed at least three felonies since. I've broken prison, plugged a +warder in the jaw, and shoved an oar into a policeman's tummy. Do you +think there's any possible chance of the Home Secretary being able to +overlook such enormities?" + +Latimer laughed easily. "My dear Lyndon," he said, "in return for what +you've done for us, you could decimate the police force if you wanted +to." Then, speaking more seriously, he added: "I tell you frankly, +there's every chance of a huge European war in the near future, and +you can see the different position we should be in if the Germans had +got hold of this new powder of yours. Apart from that, the Government +owe you every possible sort of reparation for the shameful way you've +been treated. If there's any 'overlooking' to be done, it will be on +your side, not on theirs." + +We were entering the dreary main street of Queenborough as he spoke, +and before I could answer he drew up outside the post-office. + +"We've just time to send off a telegram," he said. "I want to make +sure of seeing Lammersfield and Casement directly we get to town. They +will probably be at lunch if I don't wire." + +He entered the building, and Tommy took advantage of his brief absence +to lean over the back of the seat and grip my hand. + +"We've done it, Neil," he said. "Damn it, we've done it!" + +"_You've_ done it, Tommy," I retorted. "You and Joyce between you." + +There was a short pause, and then Tommy gave vent to a deep satisfied +chuckle. + +"I'm thinking of George," he said simply. + +It was such a beautiful thought that for a moment I too maintained a +voluptuous silence. + +"We must find out whether they're going to prosecute him," I said. "I +don't want to clash with the Government, but whatever happens I mean +to have my five minutes first. They're welcome to what's left of him." + +Tommy nodded sympathetically, and just at that moment Latimer came out +of the post-office. + +We got to the railway station with about half a minute to spare. +The train was fairly crowded, but a word from Latimer to the +station-master resulted in our being ushered into an empty "first" +which was ceremoniously locked behind us. It was not a "smoker," but +with a fine disregard for such trifles Latimer promptly produced his +cigar case, and offered us each a delightful-looking Upman. There are +certainly some advantages in being on the side of the established +order. + +Soothed by the fragrant tobacco, and with an exquisite feeling of +rest and freedom, I lay back in the corner and listened to Latimer's +pleasantly drawling voice, as he described to me how he had +accomplished his morning's coup. + +It seems that, accompanied by Tommy and his own man Ellis, he had +arrived at Queenborough by the early train. Instructions had already +been wired through from London that the Sheppey police were to put +themselves entirely at his disposal; and having commandeered a car, +the three of them, together with our friend the sergeant, set off to +the bungalow. They pulled up some little distance away and waited for +Guthrie, Latimer's other assistant, who had been keeping an eye on the +place during the night. He reported that McMurtrie and Savaroff and +von Bruenig had just put off in the launch, leaving the other two +behind. + +"I guessed they had gone to pay you a visit," explained Latimer drily, +"and it seemed to me a favourable chance of doing a little calling on +our own account." + +The net result of that little call had been the bloodless capture +of Hoffman and the other German spy, who had been surprised in the +prosaic act of swallowing their breakfast. + +Having been favoured by fortune so far, Latimer had promptly proceeded +to make the best use of his opportunity. It struck him that, whatever +might be the result of their visit to me, the other members of the +party were pretty sure to come back to the bungalow. The idea of +hiding behind the curtain at once suggested itself to him. It was just +possible that in this way he might pick up some valuable information +before he was discovered, while in any case it would give him the +advantage of taking them utterly by surprise. + +His first step had been to tie up the prisoners, and pack them off in +the car to Queenborough police station with Guthrie and the sergeant +as an escort. (I should have loved to have heard his conversation with +Hoffman while the former operation was in progress!) He then carefully +removed all inside and outside traces of the raid on the bungalow, and +picked out a couple of convenient hiding-places in the garden, where +Tommy and Ellis could he in ambush until they were wanted. A shot from +his revolver or the smashing of the French window was to be the signal +for their united entrance on the scene. + +"Well, you know the end of the story as well as I do," he finished, +nicking off the ash of his cigar. "Things could scarcely have turned +out better, except for that unfortunate accident with McMurtrie." +He paused. "I wouldn't have shot him for the world," he added +regretfully, "but he really left me no choice." + +"He would have been hanged anyway," put in Tommy consolingly. + +Latimer smiled. "I didn't mean to suggest that it was likely to keep +me awake at night. I was only thinking that we might perhaps have got +some useful information out of him." + +"It seems to me," I said gratefully, "that we did." + +Through the interminable suburbs and slums of South-East London we +steamed slowly into London Bridge Station and drew up at the platform. +There was a taxi waiting almost opposite our carriage, and promptly +securing the driver Latimer instructed him to take us "as quickly as +possible" to No. 10 Downing Street. + +The man carried out his order with almost alarming literalness, but +Providence watched over us and we reached the Foreign Office without +disaster. Favoured with a respectful salute from the liveried porter +on duty, Latimer led the way into the hall. + +We followed him down a short narrow passage to another corridor, where +he unlocked and opened a door on the left, ushering us into a small +room comfortably fitted up as an office. + +"This is my own private den," he said; "so no one will disturb you. I +will go and see if Casement has come. If so, he is probably upstairs +with Lammersfield. I will give them my report, and then no doubt they +will want to see you. You won't have to wait very long." + +He nodded pleasantly and left the room, closing the door after him. +For all his quiet, almost lethargic manner, it was curious what an +atmosphere of swiftness and decision he seemed to carry about with +him. + +I turned to Tommy. + +"Where's Joyce?" I asked. + +"She's at the flat," he announced. "She said she would wait there +until she heard from us. I saw her last night, you know. I was having +supper at Hatchett's with Latimer when she turned up with your letter. +She'd come on from his rooms." + +"There are many women," I said softly, "but there is only one Joyce." + +Tommy chuckled. "That's what Latimer thinks. After she left us--I was +staying the night with him in Jermyn Street and we'd all three gone +back there to talk it over--he said to me in that funny drawling way +of his: 'You know, Morrison, that girl will be wasted, even on Lyndon. +She ought to be in the Secret Service.'" + +I laughed. "I'm grateful to the Secret Service," I said, "but there +are limits even to gratitude." + +For perhaps three-quarters of an hour we remained undisturbed, while +Latimer was presumably presenting his report to the authorities. Every +now and then we heard footsteps pass down the corridor, and on one +occasion an electric bell went off with a sudden vicious energy that +I should never have expected in a Government office. The time passed +quickly, for we had plenty to talk about; indeed, our only objection +to waiting was the fact that we were both beginning to get infernally +hungry, and it seemed likely to be some time yet before we should be +able to get anything to eat. + +At last there came a discreet knock at the door, and an elderly +clean-shaven person with the manners of a retired butler appeared +noiselessly upon the threshold. He bowed slightly to us both. + +"Lord Lammersfield wishes to see you, gentlemen. If you will be good +enough to follow me, I will conduct you to his presence." + +We followed him along the corridor and up a rather dingy staircase, +when he tapped gently at a door immediately facing us. "Come in," +called out a voice, and with another slight inclination of his head +our guide turned the handle and ushered us into the room. + +It was a solemn-looking sort of apartment furnished chiefly with +bookcases, and having a general atmosphere of early Victorian +stuffiness. At a big table in the centre two men were sitting. One was +Latimer; the other I recognized immediately as Lord Lammersfield. + +I had never known him personally in the old days, but I had often seen +him walking in the Park, or run across him at such popular rest +cures as Kempton and Sandown Park. He had changed very little in the +interval; his hair was perhaps a trifle greyer, otherwise he looked +just the same debonair picturesque figure that the Opposition +caricaturists had loved to flesh their pencils on. + +He got up as we entered, regarding us both with a pleasant whimsical +smile that put me entirely at my ease at once. + +"This is Lyndon," said Latimer, indicating me; "and this is Morrison." + +Lord Lammersfield came round the table and shook hands cordially with +us both. + +"Sit down, gentlemen," he said, "sit down. If half of what Mr. Latimer +has told me is true, you must be extremely tired." + +We all three laughed, and Tommy promptly took advantage of the +invitation to seat himself luxuriously in a big leather arm-chair. I +remained standing. + +"To be quite truthful," I said, "it's been the most refreshing morning +I can ever remember." + +Lord Lammersfield looked at me for a moment with the same smile on his +lips. + +"Yes," he said drily; "I suppose there is a certain stimulus in +saving England before breakfast. Most of my own work in that line is +accomplished in the afternoon." Then, with a sudden slight change in +his manner, he took a step forward and again held out his hand. + +"Mr. Lyndon," he said, "as a member of the Government, and one who is +therefore more or less responsible for the law's asinine blunders, I +am absolutely ashamed to look you in the face. I wonder if you add +generosity to your other unusual gifts." + +For the second time we exchanged grips. "I have common gratitude at +all events, Lord Lammersfield," I said. "I know that you have tried to +help me while I was in prison, and--" + +He held up his other hand with a gesture of half-ironical protest. +"Ah!" he exclaimed, "I am afraid that any poor efforts of mine in +that direction were due to the most flagrant compulsion." He paused. +"Whatever else you are unlucky in, Mr. Lyndon," he added smilingly, +"you can at least be congratulated on your friends." + +Then he turned to Latimer. "I think it would be as well if I explained +the position before Casement and Frinton arrive." + +Latimer expressed his agreement, and motioning me to a chair, Lord +Lammersfield again seated himself at the table. His manner, though +still quite friendly and unstilted, had suddenly become serious. + +"For the moment, Mr. Lyndon," he said, "the Prime Minister is out of +London. We have communicated with him, and we expect him back tonight. +In his absence it falls to me to thank you most unreservedly both on +behalf of the Government and the nation for what you have done. It +would be difficult to overrate its importance." + +I began to feel a trifle embarrassed. + +"I really don't want any thanks," I said. "I just drifted into it; +and anyway one doesn't sell one's country, even if one is an escaped +convict." + +Lord Lammersfield laughed drily. "There are many men," he said, "in +your position who would have found it an extraordinarily attractive +prospect. I am not at all sure I shouldn't have myself." He paused. +"We can't give you those three years of your life back," he went on, +"but fortunately we can make some sort of amends in other ways. I have +no doubt that the moment the Prime Minister is fully acquainted with +the circumstances he will arrange for what we humorously call a 'free +pardon'; that is to say, the Law will very graciously forgive you for +having been unjustly sent to prison. As for the rest--" he shrugged +his shoulders--"well, I don't imagine you will be precisely the loser +for not having sold your secret to the Wilhelmstrasse. Our own +War Office are quite prepared to deal in any original methods of +scattering death that happen to be on the market just at present." + +There was a brief pause. + +"And are we free now?" inquired Tommy, with a rather pathetic glance +at the clock. + +"You should be very shortly," returned Lammersfield. "Mr. Casement has +gone across to the Home Office to explain the latest developments to +Sir George Frinton. We are expecting them both here at any moment." + +"Sir George Frinton?" I echoed. "Why, I thought Mr. McCurdy was at the +Home Office." + +Lammersfield smiled tolerantly: "You have been busy, Mr. Lyndon, and +some of the more important facts of modern history have possibly +escaped you. McCurdy resigned from the Government nearly three months +ago." + +"But Sir George Frinton!" I exclaimed. "Why, I know the old boy; I +have a standing invitation to go and look him up." And then, without +waiting for any questions, I described to them in a few words how the +Home Secretary and I had travelled together from Exeter to London, and +the favourable impression I had apparently made. + +Both Lammersfield and Latimer were vastly amused--the former lying +back in his chair and laughing softly to himself in undisguised +merriment. + +"How perfectly delightful!" he observed. "Poor old Frinton has his +merits, but--" + +The libel he was about to utter on his distinguished colleague was +suddenly cut short by a knock at the door; and, in answer to his +summons, the butler-looking person entered and announced that Sir +George Frinton and Mr. Casement were waiting for an audience. + +"Show them up at once," said his lordship gravely; and then turning to +Latimer as the man left the room he added, with a reflective smile: +"I should never have believed that the Foreign Office could be so +entertaining." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A LITTLE FAMILY PARTY + + +The moment that Sir George Frinton reached the threshold, one could +see that he was seriously perturbed. He entered the room in an +energetic, fussy sort of manner, and came bustling across to Lord +Lammersfield, who had risen from the table to meet him. He was +followed by a grey-haired, middle-aged man, who strolled in quietly, +looked across at Latimer, and then threw a sharp penetrating glance at +Tommy and me. + +It was Lammersfield who spoke first. "I was sorry to bother you, +Frinton," he said pleasantly, "but the matter has so much to do with +your department I thought you ought to be present." + +Sir George waved away the apology. "You were perfectly right, Lord +Lammersfield--perfectly right. I should have come over in any case. It +is an astounding story. I have been amazed--positively amazed--at Mr. +Casement's revelations. Can it be possible there is no mistake?" + +"Absolutely none," answered Latimer calmly. "Our people have moved +with the utmost discretion, and we have the entire evidence in our +hands." He turned to Casement. "You have acquainted Sir George with +the whole of this morning's events?" + +The quiet man nodded. "Everything," he observed, in rather fatigued +voice. + +"I understand," said the Home Secretary, "that this man Lyndon is +actually here." + +With a graceful gesture Lord Lammersfield indicated where I was +standing. + +"Let me introduce you to each other," he said. "Mr. Neil Lyndon--Sir +George Frinton." + +I bowed respectfully, and when I raised my head again I saw that the +Home Secretary was contemplating me with a puzzled stare. + +"You--your face seems strangely familiar to me," he observed. + +"You evidently have a good memory, Sir George," I replied. "I had the +honour and pleasure of travelling up from Exeter to London with you +about a fortnight ago." + +A sudden light came into his face, and adjusting his spectacles he +stared at me harder than ever. + +"God bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "Of course, I remember now." He +paused. "And do you mean to tell me that you--an escaped convict--were +actually aware that you were travelling with the Home Secretary?" + +I saw no reason for dimming the glory of the incident. + +"You were kind enough to give me one of your cards," I reminded him. + +"Why, yes, to be sure; so I did--so I did." Again he paused and gazed +at me with a sort of incredulous amazement. "You must have nerves of +steel, sir. Most men in such a situation would have been paralysed +with terror." + +The idea of Sir George paralysing anybody with terror struck me as so +delightful that I almost burst out laughing, but by a great effort I +just managed to restrain myself. + +"As an escaped convict," I said, "one becomes used to rather desperate +situations." + +Lammersfield, the corner of whose mouth was twitching suspiciously, +broke into the conversation. + +"It was a remarkable coincidence," he said, "but you see how it +confirms Casement's story if any further confirmation were needed." + +Sir George nodded. "Yes, yes," he said. "I suppose there can be no +doubt about it. The proofs of it all seem beyond question." He turned +to me. "Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Lyndon, you appear +to have acted in a most creditable and patriotic manner. I understand +that the moment you discovered the nature of the plot in which you +were involved you placed yourself entirely at the disposal of the +Secret Service. That is right, Mr. Latimer, is it not?" + +Latimer stepped forward. "If Mr. Lyndon had chosen to do it, sir," he +said, "he could have sold his invention to Germany and escaped with +the money. At that time he had no proof to offer that he had been +wrongly convicted. Rather than betray his country, however, he was +prepared to return to prison and serve out his sentence." + +As an accurate description of my attitude in the matter it certainly +left something to be desired, but it seemed to have a highly +satisfactory effect upon Sir George. He took a step towards me, and +gravely and rather pompously shook me by the hand. + +"Sir," he said, "permit me to congratulate you both on your conduct +and on the dramatic establishment of your innocence. It will be my +pleasant duty as Home Secretary to see that every possible reparation +is made to you for the great injustice that you have suffered." + +Lammersfield, who had gone back to his seat at the table, again +interrupted. + +"You agree with me, don't you, Frinton, that, pending any steps you +and the Prime Minister choose to take in the matter, Mr. Lyndon may +consider himself a free man?" + +Sir George seemed a trifle embarrassed. "Well--er--to a certain +extent, most decidedly. I have informed Scotland Yard that he has +voluntarily surrendered himself to the Secret Service, so there will +be no further attempt to carry out the arrest. I--I presume that Mr. +Casement and Mr. Latimer will be officially responsible for him?" + +The former gave a reassuring nod. "Certainly, Sir George," he +observed. + +"I am entirely in your hands, sir," I put in. "There are one or two +little things I wanted to do, but if you prefer that I should consider +myself under arrest--" + +"No, no, Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted; "there is no necessity for +that--no necessity at all. Strictly speaking, of course, you are still +a prisoner, but for the present it will perhaps be best to avoid any +formal proceedings. I understand that both Lord Lammersfield and Mr. +Casement consider it advisable to keep the whole matter as quiet as +possible, at all events until the return of the Prime Minister. After +that we must decide what steps it will be best to take." + +"I am very much obliged to you," I said. "There is one question I +should like to ask if I may." + +He took off his spectacles and polished them with his +pocket-handkerchief. "Well?" he observed encouragingly. + +"I should like to know whether Savaroff's daughter is in custody--the +girl who gave the police their information about me." + +"Ah!" he said, with some satisfaction, "that is a point on which you +all appear to have been misled. I have just enlightened Mr. Casement +in the matter. The information on which the police acted was not +supplied by a girl." He paused. "It was given them by your cousin and +late partner, Mr. George Marwood." + +"What!" I almost shouted; and I heard Tommy indulge in a +half-smothered exclamation which was not at all suited to our +distinguished company. + +Sir George, who was evidently pleased with our surprise, nodded his +head. + +"Mr. Marwood rang up Scotland Yard at half-past ten last night. He +told them he had received an anonymous letter giving two addresses, +at one of which you would probably be found. He also gave a full +description of the alterations in your appearance." + +I turned to Latimer. "I suppose it was Sonia," I said. "I never +dreamed of her going to him, though." + +"It was very natural," he replied in that unconcerned drawl of his. +"She knew that your cousin would do everything possible to get you +under lock and key again, and at the same time she imagined she would +avoid the risk of being arrested herself." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Sir George, nodding his head sagely. "From +all I can gather she seems to be a most dangerous young woman. I shall +make a particular point of seeing that she is arrested." + +His words came home to me with a sudden swift stab of pity and +remorse. It was horrible to think of Sonia in jail--Sonia eating out +her wild passionate heart in the hideous slavery I knew so well. The +thought of all that she had risked and suffered for my sake crowded +back into my mind with overwhelming force. I took a step forward. + +"Sir George," I said, "a moment ago you were good enough to say that +the Government would try and make me some return for the injustice I +have suffered." + +He looked at me in obvious surprise. "Certainly," he said--"certainly. +I am convinced that they will take the most generous view of the +circumstances." + +"There is only one thing I ask," I said. "Except for this girl, Sonia +Savaroff, the Germans would now be in possession of my invention. If +the Government feel that they owe me anything, they can cancel the +debt altogether by allowing her to go free." + +Sir George raised his eyeglass. "You ask this after she did her best +to send you back to penal servitude?" + +I nodded. "I am not sure," I said, "that I didn't thoroughly deserve +it." + +For a moment Sir George stared at me in a puzzled sort of fashion. +"Very well," he said; "I think it might be arranged. As you say, she +was of considerable assistance to us, even if it was unintentionally. +That is a point in her favour--a distinct point." + +"How about our friend Mr. Marwood?" put in Lammersfield pleasantly. +"Between perjury and selling Government secrets I suppose we have +enough evidence to justify his arrest?" + +"I think so," said Sir George, nodding his head solemnly. "Anyhow I +have given instructions for it. In a case like this it is best to be +on the safe side." + +My heart sank at his words. Charming as it was to think of George in +the affectionate clutch of a policeman, I could almost have wept at +the idea of being robbed of my own little interview with him, to which +I had been looking forward for so long. It was Lammersfield who broke +in on my disappointment. "I should imagine," he said considerately, +"that you two, as well as Latimer, must be half starving. I suppose +you have had nothing to eat since breakfast." + +Tommy rose to his feet with an alacrity that answered the question so +far as he was concerned, and I acknowledged that a brief interval for +refreshment would be by no means unwelcome. + +"Well, I'm afraid I can't spare Latimer just yet," he said, "but you +two go off and have a good lunch. Come back here again as soon as +you've done. I will ring up the War Office and the Admiralty while you +are away, and we will arrange for a couple of their men to meet us +here, and then you can explain about your new explosive. I fancy you +will find them quite an appreciative audience." + +He pressed a bell by his side, and getting up from the table, +accompanied us to the door, where I stopped for a moment to try and +express my thanks both to him and Sir George. + +"My dear Mr. Lyndon," he interrupted courteously, "you have been in +prison for three years for a crime that you didn't commit, and in +return for that you have done England a service that it is almost +impossible to overrate. Under the circumstances even a Cabinet +Minister may be excused a little common civility." + +As he spoke there came a knock at the door, and in answer to his +summons the impassive butler person appeared on the threshold. + +"Show these gentlemen out, Simpson," he said, "and let me know +directly they return." Then, shaking my hand in a friendly fashion, he +added with a quizzical smile, "If you should happen to come across any +mutual acquaintance of ours, perhaps you will be kind enough to +convey my unofficial congratulations. I hope before long to have the +privilege of offering them personally." + +I promised to deliver his message, and, following our guide +downstairs, we passed out into the street. + +"I like that chap," said Tommy. "He's got no silly side about him. +Joyce always said he was a good sort." + +He stopped on the pavement, and with his usual serene disregard for +the respectabilities proceeded to fill and light a huge briar pipe. + +"What's the programme now?" he inquired. "I'm just dying for some +grub." + +"We'll get a taxi and run down to the flat and pick up Joyce," I said. +"Then we'll come back to the Cafe Royal and have the best lunch that's +ever been eaten in London." + +Tommy indulged in one of his deep chuckles. + +"If anyone's expecting me in Downing Street before six o'clock," he +observed, "I rather think he's backed a loser." + +It was not until we were in a taxi, and speeding rapidly past the +House of Commons, that I broached the painful subject of George. + +"I don't know what to do," I said. "If he's at his house, he has been +arrested by now, and if he isn't the police will probably find him +before I shall. It will break my heart if I don't get hold of him for +five minutes." + +Tommy grunted sympathetically. "It's just on the cards," he said, +"that Joyce might know where he is." + +Faint as the chance seemed, it was sufficient to cheer me up a little, +and for the rest of the drive we discussed the important question of +what we should have for lunch. After a week of sardines and tinned +tongue I found it a most inspiring topic. + +As we reached the Chelsea Embankment a happy idea presented itself +to me. "I tell you what, Tommy," I said. "We won't go and knock at +Joyce's flat. Let's slip round at the back, as we did before, and take +her by surprise." + +"Right you are," he said. "She's probably left the studio door open. +She generally does on a hot afternoon like this." + +The taxi drew up at Florence Court, and telling the driver to wait for +us, we Walked down the passage and turned into Tommy's flat. There +were several letters for him lying on the floor inside, and while he +stopped to pick them up, I passed on through the studio and out into +the little glass-covered corridor at the back. + +It was quite a short way along to Joyce's studio, and from where I was +I could see that her door was slightly ajar. I stepped quietly, so as +not to make any noise, and I had covered perhaps half the distance, +when suddenly I pulled up in my tracks as if I had been turned into +stone. For a moment I stood there without moving or even breathing. A +couple of yards away on the other side of the door I could hear two +people talking. One of them was Joyce; the other--the other--well, if +I had been lying half-unconscious on my death-bed I think I should +have recognized that voice! + +There was a sound behind me, and whipping noiselessly round I was just +in time to signal to Tommy that he must keep absolutely quiet. Then +with my heart beating like a drum I crept stealthily forward until I +was within a few inches of the open door. I was shaking all over with +a delight that I could hardly control. + +"... you quite understand." (I could hear every word George was saying +as plainly as if I were in the room.) "I only have to ring up the +police, and in half an hour he'll be back again in prison--back for +the rest of his life. He won't escape a second time--you can be sure +of that." + +"Well?" + +The single word came clear and distinct, but it would be difficult to +describe the scorn which Joyce managed to pack into it. It had some +effect on George. + +"You have just got to do what I want--that's all," he exclaimed +angrily. "I leave England tonight, and unless you come with me I shall +go straight from here and ring up Scotland Yard. You can make your +choice now. You either come down to Southampton with me this evening, +or Lyndon goes back to Dartmoor tomorrow." + +"Then you were lying when you said you were anxious to help him?" + +With a mighty effort George apparently regained some control over his +tongue. + +"No, I wasn't, Joyce," he said. "God knows I'm sorry for the poor +devil--I always have been; but there's nothing in the world that +matters to me now except you. I--I lost my temper when you said you +wouldn't come. You didn't mean it, did you? Lyndon can never be +anything to you; he is dead to all of us. At the best he can only be a +skulking convict hiding from the police in South America or somewhere. +You come with me; you shall never be sorry for it. I've plenty of +money, Joyce; and I'll give you the best time a woman ever had." + +"And if I refuse?" asked Joyce quietly. + +It was evident from the sound that George had taken a step towards +her. + +"Then Lyndon will go back to Dartmoor and stop there till he rots and +dies." + +There was a short pause, and then very clearly and deliberately Joyce +gave her answer. + +"I think you are the foulest man in the world," she said. "It makes me +sick to be in the same room with you." + +The gasp of fury and astonishment that broke from George's lips fell +on my ears like music. He was so choking with rage that for a moment +he could hardly speak. + +"Damn you!" he stuttered at last. "So that's your real opinion, is it! +That's what you've been thinking all along! Trying to use me to help +that precious convict lover of yours--eh?" + +I heard him come another step nearer. + +"I'll make you pay for this, anyhow," he snarled. "Sick at being +in the same room with me, are you? Then by God I'll give you some +reason--" + +With a swift jerk I flung open the door and stepped in over the +threshold. + +"Not this time, George dear," I said. + +If the devil himself had shot up through the floor in a crackle of +blue flame, I don't think it could have had a more striking effect +on my late partner. With his mouth open and his face the colour of +freshly mixed putty, he stood perfectly still in the centre of the +room, gazing at me like a man in a trance. For a second--a whole +beautiful rich second--he remained in this engaging attitude; then, +as if struck by an electric shock, he suddenly spun round with the +obvious intention of making a dart for the door. + +The idea was distinctly a sound one, but it was too late to be of any +practical value. Directly he moved I stepped in, and catching him a +smashing box on the ear with my right hand sent him sprawling full +length on the carpet. Joyce laughed gaily, while lounging across the +room Tommy set his back against the door and beamed cheerfully on the +three of us. + +"Quite a little family party," he observed. + +Joyce was in my arms, and we were kissing each other in the most +shameless and unabashed way. + +"Oh, my dear," she said, "I hope you haven't hurt your hand." + +"It stung a bit," I admitted, "but I've got another one--and two +feet." I put her gently aside. "Get up, George," I said. + +He lay where he was, pretending to be unconscious. + +"If you don't get up at once, George," I said softly, "I shall kick +you--hard." + +He scrambled to his feet, and then crouched back against the wall +eyeing me like a trapped weasel. + +I indulged myself in a good heart-filling look at him. + +"So you've been sorry for me, George?" I said. "All these three long +weary years that I've been rotting in Dartmoor, you've been really and +truly sorry for me?" + +He licked his lips and nodded. + +I laughed. "Well, I'm sorry for _you_ now, George," I said--"damned +sorry." + +If anything, the putty-like pallor of his face became still more +ghastly. + +"Don't do anything violent, Neil," he whispered. "You'll only regret +it. I swear to you--" + +"I shouldn't swear," I said. "You don't want to die with a lie on your +lips." + +The sweat broke out on his forehead, and he glanced desperately round +the room, as though seeking for some possible method of escape. The +only comfort he got was a shake of the head from Tommy. + +"You--you don't mean to murder me?" he gasped. + +I gave a fiendish laugh. "Don't I!" I cried. "What's one murder more +or less? I know you've put the police on to me, and I'd sooner be +hanged than go back to Dartmoor any day." + +Tommy rubbed his hands together ghoulishly. "What are we going to do +with him?" he asked. "Cut his throat?" + +"No," I said. "It would make a mess, and we don't want to spoil +Joyce's carpet." + +"Oh, it doesn't matter about the carpet," said Joyce unselfishly. + +"I've got it," said Tommy. "Why not throw him in the river? The tide's +up; I noticed it as we came along." + +Whether he intended the suggestion seriously or not I don't know, but +I rose to it like a trout to a fly. There are seldom more than two +feet of water at high tide at that particular part of the Embankment, +and the thought of dropping George into its turbid embrace filled me +with the utmost enthusiasm. + +"By Jove, Tommy!" I exclaimed. "That's a brilliant idea. The Thames +water's about the only thing he wouldn't defile." + +I stepped forward, and before George knew what was happening I had +swung him round and clutched him by the collar and breeches. + +"Open the door," I said, "and just see there's no one in the passage." + +With a deep chuckle Tommy turned to obey, while Joyce laughed with +a viciousness that I should never have given her credit for. As for +George--well, I suppose in his blind terror he really thought he was +going to be drowned, for he kicked and struggled and raved till it was +as much as I could do to hold him. + +"All clear!" sang out Tommy from the hall. + +"Stand by, then," I said, and taking a deep breath, I ran George +through the flat down the passage, and out into the street, in a style +that would have done credit to the chucker out at the Empire. + +There were not many people about, and those that were there had no +time to interfere even if they had wanted to do so. I just got a +glimpse of the startled face of our taxi driver as he jumped aside to +let us pass, and the next moment we had crossed the road and fetched +up with a bang against the low Embankment wall. + +I paused for a moment, renewed my grip on George's collar, and took a +quick look round. Tommy was beside me, and a few yards away, down at +the bottom of some steps, I saw a number of small boys paddling in the +water. There was evidently no risk of anybody being drowned. + +"I'll take his feet," said Tommy, suiting the action to the word. "You +get hold of his arms." + +There was a brief struggle, a loud scream for help, and the next +moment George was swinging merrily between us. + +"One! Two! Three!" I cried. + +At the word "three" we let go simultaneously. He flew up into the air +like a great wriggling crab, twisted round twice, and then went +down into the muddy water with a splash that echoed all over the +Embankment. + +"Very nice," said Tommy critically. "But we ought to have put a stone +round his neck." + +One glance over the wall showed me that there was no danger. Dripping, +floundering, and gasping for breath, George emerged from the surface +like a frock-coated Neptune rising from the waves. He seemed to be +trying to speak, but the shrieks of innocent delight with which his +reappearance was greeted by the paddling boys unfortunately prevented +us from hearing him. + +I thrust my arm through Tommy's. "Come along," I said. "We must get +out of this before there's a row." + +Swift as we had been about it, our little operation had already +attracted a certain amount of notice. People were hurrying up from all +directions, but without paying any attention to them, we walked +back towards the taxi, the driver of which had apparently been too +astonished to move. + +"Gor blimey, Guv'nor," he ejaculated, "what sorter gime d'you call +that?" + +"It's all right, driver," said Tommy gravely. "We found him insulting +this gentleman's sister." + +The driver, who evidently had a nice sense of chivalry, at once came +round to our side. + +"Was 'e?--the dirty 'ound!" he observed. "Well, you done it on 'im +proper. You ain't drowned 'im, 'ave ye, gents?" + +"Oh no," I said. "He's addressing a few words to the crowd now." Then +seeing Joyce standing in the doorway I hurried up the steps. + +"Joyce dear," I said, "put on a hat and come as quick as you can. It's +quite all right, but we want to get out of this before there's any +bother." + +She nodded, and disappeared into the flat, while I strolled back to +the taxi. + +It was evident from a movement among the spectators that George was +making his way towards the steps. Some of them who had come running up +kept turning round and casting curious glances at us, but so far no +one had attempted to interfere. It was not until Joyce was just coming +out of the flats, that a man detached himself from the crowd and +started across the road. He was a big, fat, greasy person in a bowler +hat. + +"Here," he said. "You wait a bit. What d'ye mean by throwing that pore +man in the river?" + +I opened the door of the taxi and Joyce jumped in. + +"What's it got to do with you, darling?" asked Tommy affably. + +"What's it got to do with me!" he repeated indignantly. "Why, it's +just the mercy o' Gawd--" + +"Come on, Tommy," I said. + +Tommy took a step forward, but the man clutched him by the arm. + +"No yer don't," he said, "not till ... Ow!" + +With a sudden vigorous shove Tommy sent him staggering back across the +pavement, and the next moment we had both jumped into the taxi and +banged the door. + +"Right away," I called out. + +I think there was some momentary doubt amongst the other spectators +whether they oughtn't to interfere, but before they could make up +their minds our sympathetic driver had thrust in his clutch, and we +were spinning away down the Embankment. + +Joyce, who was sitting next to me, slipped her hand into mine. + +"I love to see you both laughing," she said, "but I _should_ like +to know what's happened! At present I feel as if I was acting in a +cinematograph play." + +We told her--told her in quick, eager sentences of how the danger and +mystery that had hung over us so for long had at last been scattered +and destroyed. It was a broken, inadequate sort of narrative, jerked +out as we bumped over crossings and pulled by behind buses, but I +fancy from the light in her eyes and the pressure of her hand that +Joyce was quite contented. + +"It's--it's like waking up after some horrible dream," she said, "and +suddenly finding that everything's all right. Oh, I knew it would be +in the end--I knew it the whole time--but I never dreamed it would +happen all at once like this." + +"Neither did George," chuckled Tommy. "How long had he been with you, +Joyce?" + +"About twenty minutes," she said. "He came straight to me from +Harrod's, where he's spent most of the day buying stores for his +yacht. He had quite made up his mind I was coming with him. I don't +believe he's got the faintest idea about what's happened this +morning." + +"He will have soon," I said. "That's why I threw him in the river. +He's bound to go back to the house for a change of clothes, and he'll +find the police waiting for him there." + +"That'll be just right," observed Tommy complacently. "There's nothing +so good as a little excitement to stop one from catching cold." + +"Except lunch," I added, as the taxi rounded the corner of Piccadilly +and drew up outside the Cafe Royal. + +What the manager of that renowned restaurant must have thought of +us, I find it rather difficult to guess. It is not often, I should +imagine, that two untidy mud-stained men and a beautiful girl turn up +at four o'clock in the afternoon and demand the best meal that London +can provide. + +Fortunately, however, he proved to be a gentleman of philosophy and +resource. He accepted our request with perfect composure, and by the +time we had succeeded in making ourselves passably respectable he +presented us with a menu that deserved to be set to music. + +Heavens, what a lunch that was! We ate it all by ourselves in the big +empty restaurant, with half a dozen fascinated waiters eyeing us from +the end of the room. They were probably speculating as to whether we +were eccentric millionaires, or whether we had just escaped from some +private lunatic asylum, but we were all far too cheerful to care what +they thought. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked, with a reckless +jubilant happiness that would have survived the scrutiny of all the +waiters in London. + +"I know what we'll do, Joyce," I said, when at last the dessert was +cleared away and we were sitting in a delicate haze of cigar smoke. +"As soon as things are fixed up I'll buy a good second-hand thirty-ton +boat, and you and I and Tommy will go off for a six months' cruise. +We'll take Mr. Gow as skipper, and your little page-boy as steward, +and we'll run down to the Mediterranean and stop there till people are +tired of gassing about us." + +"That will be beautiful," said Joyce simply. + +"I'll come," exclaimed Tommy, "unless the Secret Service refuse to +give me up." Then he stopped and looked mischievously across at Joyce +and me. "It's a pity we can't ask Sonia too," he added. + +"Poor Sonia," said Joyce. "I am so glad you got her off." + +"Are you really?" asked Tommy. "That shows I know nothing about women. +I always thought that if two girls loved the same man they hated each +other like poison." + +Joyce nodded. "So they do as a rule." + +"Well, Sonia loved Neil all right; you can take my word for it." + +Joyce laughed softly. "Yes, Tommy dear," she said, "but then, you see, +Neil didn't love _her_--and that just makes all the difference." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROGUE BY COMPULSION*** + + +******* This file should be named 10511.txt or 10511.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/1/10511 + + +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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