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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/25595-8.txt b/25595-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d80376c --- /dev/null +++ b/25595-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7896 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Queen's Error, by Henry Curties + + +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 Queen's Error + + +Author: Henry Curties + + + +Release Date: May 25, 2008 [eBook #25595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A QUEEN'S ERROR*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +A QUEEN'S ERROR + +by + +CAPTAIN HENRY CURTIES + +Author of + + "The Blood Bond" "The Idol of the King" + "Tears of Angels" "The Queen's Gate Mystery" + "Out of the Shadows" Etc. Etc. + + + + + + + +London +F. V. White & Co. Ltd. +17 Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C. +1911 + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAP. + + I. A STRANGE VISIT + II. THE MAN WITH THE GLASS EYE + III. THE SECOND VISIT AND ITS RESULT + IV. I AM DETAINED + V. ARRESTED + VI. PUT TO THE TORTURE + VII. CRUFT'S FOLLY + VIII. SANDRINGHAM + IX. THE DUKE OF RITTERSHEIM + X. THE PLOT THAT FAILED + XI. THE _OCEANA_ + XII. HELD UP + XIII. DON JUAN D'ALTA + XIV. THE CASKET + XV. THE ABBOT OF SAN JUAN + XVI. THE CONFESSION OF BROOKS + XVII. THE STEEL SAFE + XVIII. THE OLD GRAVEYARD + XIX. THE STRUGGLE IN THE TUNNEL + XX. THE DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE + XXI. MADAME LA COMTESSE + XXII. THE QUEEN'S ERROR + XXIII. THE QUEEN'S ATONEMENT + + + + +TO + +SWEET KATHLEEN + +OF + +BATH + + + + +A QUEEN'S ERROR + + +CHAPTER I + +A STRANGE VISIT + +I turned the corner abruptly and found myself in a long, dreary street; +looking in the semi-fog and drizzle more desolate than those dismal +old-world streets of Bath I had passed through already in my aimless +wandering; I turned sharply and came almost face to face with her. + +She was standing on the upper step, and the door stood open; the house +itself looked neglected and with the general appearance of having been +shut up for years. The windows were grimed with dirt, and there was +that little accumulation of dust, pieces of straw, and little scraps of +paper, under the two steps which tells of long disuse. + +She stood on the step, a figure slightly over the middle height, +leaning one hand on a walking stick, and her face fascinated me. + +It was the face of an old lady of perhaps seventy, hale and healthful, +with fresh colour on the cheeks, and bands of perfectly white hair +falling over the ears. But it was the expression which attracted me; +it was peculiarly sweet and winning. + +My halt could only have been momentary. I recollected myself and was +passing on, when she spoke to me. + +"Would you be so kind as to do me a favour, sir?" she asked. + +The voice was as sweet and winning as her expression; though she spoke +perfect English, yet there was the very slightest _soupçon_ of a +foreign accent. Of what country, I could not tell. + +I stopped again as she spoke, and having perhaps among my friends a +little reputation for politeness to the weaker sex, especially the +older members of it--for I am not by way of being a Lothario, be it +said--I answered her as politely as I could. + +"In what way may I be of service to you?" + +She brought her walking stick round in front of her and leant upon it +with both hands as she made her request. She then appeared, in the +fuller light of the yellow-flamed old-fashioned gas lamp opposite, to +be much older than I first thought. + +"I want you, if you will," she said, "to come into this house for a few +minutes. I wish to ask a further favour of you which I shall then have +an opportunity of explaining, but, on the other hand, the service I +shall ask will not go unrewarded." + +Prepossessing though her appearance and address were, yet I hesitated. + +I took another long look at her open face, white hair, and very correct +old lady's black hat secured by a veil tied under her chin. It was +just such a hat as my own dear mother used to wear. + +"You seem to hesitate," she remarked, noting, I suppose, my delay in +answering her; "but I assure you you have nothing to fear." + +I took a sudden resolve, despite the many tragedies I had read of in +connection with empty houses; I would trust her. + +There was something about her face which conveyed confidence. + +"Very well," I replied, "if I can be of any use to you, I _will_ come +in." + +"Thank you," she said, "then kindly follow me." + +She turned and held the door for me to pass in; when I was inside she +closed it, and we stood almost in complete darkness, except for the +glimmering reflected light of the yellow street lamp opposite, which +struggled in through the dirty pane of glass over the door. + +"Now," she added, "I will get a light." + +She passed me and went to the hall table on which stood one of those +candlesticks in which the candle is protected by a glass chimney. She +struck a match and lighted a candle. "Now if you please," she added, +going on before me down the dark passage. I saw now from her tottering +walk that she was much older and much more feeble than I had imagined. +I followed her and saw signs of dust and neglect on every side; the +house, I should say, had stood empty for many years. But as I followed +the old lady one thing struck me, and that was, that instead of the +common candle which I would have expected her to use under the +circumstances, the one she carried in its glass protector was evidently +of fine wax. She took me down a long passage, and we came to a flight +of stairs leading to the kitchens, I imagined. + +"We must go down here," she announced. "I am sorry to have to take you +to the basement, but it cannot be helped." Again I had some slight +misgivings, but I braced myself. I had made up my mind and I would go +forward. + +I followed her as she went laboriously step by step down the flight. +At the bottom was the usual long basement passage, such as I expected +to see, but with this difference, it was swept and evidently well kept. + +The old lady led on to the extreme end of this passage towards the back +of the house, then opened a door on the left hand and walked in. At +her invitation I followed her and found her busily lighting more wax +candles fixed in old-fashioned sconces on the walls. As each candle +burned up I was astonished to find the sort of room it revealed to me. + +It was a lady's boudoir beautifully furnished and filled with works of +art; china, choice pictures, and old silver abounded on every side; on +the hearth burned a bright fire; on the mantelpiece was a very handsome +looking-glass framed in oak. My companion, having lit six candles, +went to the windows to draw down the blinds. I interposed and saved +her this exertion by doing it myself. + +I then became aware that the house, like so many others in Bath, was +built on the side of a hill, the front door being on a level with the +street, whilst the lower back windows even commanded lovely views over +the beautiful valley, the town, and the distant hills beyond. + +Below me innumerable lights twinkled out in the streets through the +misty air, while here and there brightly lit tram cars wound through +the town or mounted the hills. Thick though the air was the sight was +exceedingly pretty. + +I could now understand how even a room situated as this was in the +basement of a house could become habitable and pleasant. The voice of +the old lady recalled me to myself as I pulled down the last blind. + +"I am sorry to have to bring you down here," she said. "It is hardly +the sort of room in which a lady usually receives visitors, but you +will perhaps understand my liking for it when I tell you that I have +lived here many years." + +The information surprised me. + +"Whatever induced you to do that?" I asked without thinking, then +recollected that I had no right to ask the question. "You must excuse +my question," I added, "but I fear you find it very lonely unless you +have some one living with you?" + +"I live here," she replied, "absolutely alone, and yet I am never +lonely." + +"You have some occupation?" I suggested. + +"Yes," she replied, "I write for the newspapers." + +This piece of information astounded me more than ever. I imagined it +to be the last place from which "copy" would emanate for the present +go-ahead public prints, and the old lady to be the last person who +could supply it. + +She saw my puzzled look, and came to my aid with further information. + +"Not the newspapers of this country," she added, "the newspapers of--of +foreign countries." + +I was more satisfied with this answer; the requirements of most foreign +journals had not appeared to me to be excessive. + +"I too am a brother of the pen," I answered, "I write books of sorts." + +The old lady broke into a very sweet smile which lighted up her +charming old face. + +"Permit me to shake hands," she suggested, "with a fellow-sufferer in +the cause of Literature." + +I took her hand and noted its soft elegance, old though she was. + +She crossed to a carved cupboard which was fixed in the wall, and took +from it a tiny Venetian decanter, two little glasses, and a silver +cigarette case. + +"We must celebrate this meeting," she suggested with another smile, "as +disciples of the pen." + +She filled the two little glasses with what afterwards proved to be +yellow Chartreuse, and held one glass towards me. + +"Pray take this," she suggested, "it will be good for you after being +out in the damp air." + +I took the tiny glass of yellow liqueur in which the candlelight +sparkled, and sipped it; it was superb. + +"Now," she continued, indicating an armchair on the farther side of the +fireplace, "sit and let us talk." + +I took the chair, and she opened the silver box of cigarettes and +pushed them towards me. + +"I presume you smoke?" she suggested. "I smoke myself habitually; I +find it a great resource and comfort. I lived for a long time in a +country where all the ladies smoked." + +I took a cigarette, lit a match, and handed her a light; she lit her +cigarette with a grace born of long habit. + +"Now," she said, as I puffed contentedly, "I can tell you what I have +to say in comfort." + +I certainly thought I had made a good exchange from the raw air of the +street to this comfortable fireside. + +"It will not interest you now," she continued, "to hear the reasons +which have moved me to live here so long as I have done; that is a +story which would take too long to tell you. All the preamble I wish +to make to my remark is this; that the favour I shall ask of you is one +that you can fulfil without the slightest injury to your honour. On +the contrary it will be an act of kindness and humanity which no one in +the world could object to." + +"I feel sure of that," I interposed with a bow, "you need not say +another word on that point." + +I was really quite falling in love with the old lady, and her old-world +courtesy of manner. + +"I will then come straight to the point," she proceeded, taking a +curious key from her pocket; it was a key with a finely-wrought handle +in which was the letter C. + +"I want you to open a secret drawer in this room, which, since its +hiding-place was contrived, has been known only to me and to one other, +the workman who made it, a Belgian long since dead. Please take this +key." + +I took it. + +"Now," she continued, "cast your eyes round this room, and see if you +can detect where the secret safe is hidden." + +I looked round the room as she wished, and could see nothing which gave +me the slightest clue to it. + +"No," I said, "I can see nothing which has any resemblance to a safe." + +She laughed, and, rising from her seat, turned to the fireplace and +touched a carved rose in the frame of the handsome over-mantel; +immediately the looking-glass moved up by itself in its frame, +disclosing, apparently, the bare wall. + +"Please watch me," proceeded the old lady. + +She placed her finger on a certain part of the pattern of the wall +paper beneath, and the whole of that part of the pattern swung forward; +behind was a safe, apparently of steel, evidently a piece of foreign +workmanship. + +"Please place the key in the lock, and turn it," she asked, "but do not +open the safe." + +I regarded her proceedings with much interest, and rose from my chair +and did as she asked. + +"Thank you," she said, when she heard the lock click and the bolts +shoot back, "now will you lock it again?" + +I did so. + +"Now please put the key in your pocket, and take care of it for me. I +give you full authority to open that safe again in case of necessity." + +"What necessity?" I asked. + +"You will discover that in due course," she answered. + +This was about the last thing I should have expected her to ask, but +nevertheless I did as she told me and put the key in my pocket. + +"Please notice how I close it again," was her next request. + +She pushed back the displaced square of the wall paper pattern, which +was simply the door of a cupboard. It closed with a snap and fitted so +exactly into the pattern of the paper that it was impossible to detect +it. + +Then with a glance towards me to see that I was paying attention, she +touched a carved rose on the frame of the over-mantel on the opposite +side to that which had caused the looking-glass to move, and at once +the latter slowly slid down again into its place. + +I stood gazing at her as this was accomplished, and she noted the look +of inquiry on my face. + +"There is only one thing now I have to ask you," she said, "and then I +will detain you no longer. Will you oblige me by coming to see me here +at five o'clock to-morrow?" + +I considered for a moment or two, and then recollected that there was +nothing in my engagements for the next day to prevent my complying with +the old lady's request. My life for the last week had been occupied in +taking the baths and the waters at regular intervals, with the daily +diversion of the Pump Room concert at three. + +"Yes," I answered, "I shall be very pleased to come and see you again +at five to-morrow." + +Although up to now I looked upon her proceedings as simply the whims of +an eccentric old lady, yet I felt some considerable interest in them. + +"Then let me fill your glass again with liqueur?" she suggested. +Alluring as the offer was I declined it. + +I buttoned up my overcoat and prepared to depart, accepting, however, +the offer of another cigarette. + +The old lady insisted upon accompanying me to the door, and went on in +front with a candle, despite my remonstrances, to show me the way +upstairs. + +She had one foot on the stair when she stopped. + +"Do you mind telling me your name?" she asked. + +I handed her my card, and she put up her glasses. + +"'William Anstruther,'" she read. "That is a coincidence." "I had +nearly forgotten one thing," she continued. "I must give you a +duplicate latch-key to let yourself in with. I have a habit of falling +asleep in the afternoon, and you might ring the bell for half an hour +and I should not hear you." + +She went back into the room we had left and returned in a few moments +with the latch-key, which she gave me. + +Despite my endeavours to persuade her, she went with me to the front +door, and I felt a deep pity for her when I left, thinking that she was +to spend the night alone in that dismal old house. + +"_Au revoir_ until five to-morrow," I said cheerfully, as I bowed and +left her. + +She smiled benignantly upon me. + +"_Au revoir_," she answered. + +When the door had closed and it was too late to call her back, I +recollected one piece of forgetfulness on my part; I had never thought +to ask her name! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MAN WITH THE GLASS EYE + +I took a note of the number of the house--it was 190 Monmouth +Street--and gazed a little while at its neglected exterior before I +walked away into the mist towards my hotel. + +Over the whole of the front windows faded Venetian blinds were drawn +down; it was one of those houses, sometimes met with, shut up for no +apparent reason, and without any intention on the part of the owner, +apparently, to dispose of it, for there was no board up. It was not +until later that I learned that the house belonged to the old lady +herself. + +I returned to my hotel, that luxurious resort of the wealthy and +rheumatic, its well furnished interior looking particularly comfortable +in the ruddy glow of two immense fires in the hall. I had left it +early in the afternoon, before the lamps were lit, tired of being +indoors; the change was most agreeable from the damp, misty atmosphere +without. + +I betook myself to the smoking-room, and, being a lover of the +beverage, ordered tea, with the addition of buttered toast. Delighted +with the big glowing fire in the room, and believing myself to be +alone, I threw myself back luxuriously into a big, saddle-bag chair. + +As it ran back with the impetus of my descent into it, it jammed into +one behind, and from this immediately arose a very indignant face which +looked into mine as I turned round. It was a dark, foreign-looking +face, the red face of a man who wore a black moustache and a little +imperial, and whose bloodshot brown eyes simply _glared_ through a pair +of gold-rimmed pince-nez. There was something very strange about these +eyes. + +"I really beg your pardon," I said. "I didn't know you were there!" + +The fierce expression of the bloodshot eyes changed to one of somewhat +forced amiability. + +"Pray don't apologise," he answered, with just the merest touch of a +foreign accent in his voice, that sort of undetectable accent which +some men of cosmopolitan habits possess, though they are rarely met +with. + +"I think I must have been asleep," he added, "and the little shock +awoke me from a disagreeable dream. There is really so little to do in +this place besides bathing and sleeping." + +"And water drinking," I suggested, with a smile. + +"I do as little of that," he answered hastily, with a grimace, "as I +possibly can. By the bye though," he continued, wheeling round his +chair sociably beside mine, "do you know that the Bath water taken +_hot_ with a good dash of whisky in it and two lumps of sugar is not +half bad?" + +I took a good look at his face as he sat leering at me through his +glasses. From the congested look of it, I could quite believe that he +had sampled this mixture, or others of a similar alcoholic nature, +sufficiently to give an opinion on the point; his bloodshot eyes also +testified to the fact. + +But concerning these latter features, the reason of the curious look +about them was solved by the firelight; one of them was of glass! I +saw that it remained stationary whilst the other leered round the +corner of the gold-rimmed pince-nez at me. It was a very good +imitation, and was made _bloodshot_ to match the other. + +My tea and buttered toast arrived now, and I made a vigorous attack +upon the latter. + +"The idea of mixing whisky with Bath water," I replied, laughing, +"never struck me. It appears novel." + +"I can assure you," continued my new acquaintance, "that many of the +old men who are ordered here to Bath do it, and I should not be +surprised to hear that it is a practice among the old ladies too. Look +at their faces as they come waddling down to table d'hôte!" + +This appeared to me rather a disrespectful remark with regard to the +opposite sex, and I answered him somewhat stiffly, "I hope you are +deceived." + +He was not a tactful person by any means: he made an observation then +concerning my tea and buttered toast. + +"I really wonder," he said, "how you can drink that stuff," with a nod +towards my cup. "It would make me sick; put it away and have a whisky +and soda with me?" + +I naturally considered this a very rude remark from a perfect stranger. + +"I am much obliged," I snapped, "but I prefer tea." + +At that moment I put my hand in my pocket for my cigarette case. I +thought I would give this man one to stop his tiresome talking; as I +pulled it out the key of the safe which the old lady had given me fell +out with it. Before I could stoop and pick it up myself the man with +the glass eye had got it. He put it up close to his good eye and +examined it critically. "What an extraordinary key!" he observed. +"Where did you get it?" + +Then he saw the letter C which was worked among the elaborate tracery +of the handle, and he became greatly agitated. + +"Where did you get this from?" he repeated abruptly. + +I did not answer; I got up from my seat and took the key out of his +hand; he was by no means willing to part with it. + +"Excuse me," I said. + +Then with the key safe in my pocket and my hand over it, I walked out +of the smoking-room, leaving behind me two pieces of buttered toast and +perhaps a cup and a half of excellent tea all wasted. + +I am a delicately constituted individual, and I preferred smoking my +cigarette all alone in a corner of the big hall, to consuming my usual +allowance of tea and buttered toast in the society of the glass-eyed +person in the smoking-room. I considered that I was doing a little +intellectual fast all by myself. + +I saw nothing more of my friend of the false brown optic that evening, +except that I observed his bloodshot eye of the flesh fixed scathingly +upon me from a remote corner of the great dining-room, where he +appeared to be dining mostly off a large bottle of champagne. + +I sauntered away my evening as I had done the others of my first week's +"cure" in Bath, making a fair division of it between the dining-room, +the smoking-room and the reading-room. I did not go near the +drawing-room; its occupants consisted solely of a few obese ladies of +the type referred to by the gentleman with the glass eye, wearing such +palpable wigs that my artistic susceptibilities were sorely wounded at +the mere sight of them, and my sense of decency outraged. + +I went to bed in my great room over-looking the river and the weir, and +I lay awake listening to its rushing waters, for the night was warm and +almost summer-like, as it happens sometimes in a fine November, and my +windows were open. + +I suppose I fell asleep, for when I was again conscious, the Abbey +clock struck four; at the same moment I became aware that some one was +in my room. I could discern the figure of a man in the shadow of the +wardrobe near the chair on which I had placed my clothes when I took +them off. I leant over the side of the bed and switched on the +electric light; the figure turned. It was the dark man with the glass +eye! + +"What the devil are you doing in my room?" I asked in none too polite a +tone. + +He was not at all disconcerted, but stood looking at me, replacing his +pince-nez. + +"Well, really," he replied, "wonders will never cease. I thought I was +in my own room!" + +I knew he was lying. + +"I fail to perceive," I said, sitting up in bed, "in what manner you +could have mistaken this room for your own. In the first place the +door is locked." + +"Just so," remarked my visitor, "that's exactly where it is; I came in +at the window." + +"The window?" I repeated. + +"Yes, the window. I couldn't sleep, so took a stroll up and down the +balconies, and when I returned to my room, as I thought, I came in here +by mistake." + +The excuse was plausible, but I didn't believe a word of it. I was in +a dilemma, and sat scratching my head. I could not prove that the man +was lying, and therefore had to take his word. + +"Very well, then," I said in a compromising tone, "having made the +mistake, and it being now nearly five, perhaps you will be able to find +your way back to your room and go to sleep." + +I thought I was putting the request in as polite a manner as possible, +and I expected him to move off at once. + +He did nothing of the kind. With a quick movement of his hand to his +hip, he produced a revolver and covered me with it. + +"Where's that key?" he asked. + +He took my breath away for a few moments and I couldn't answer him, +then I regained my presence of mind. + +"What key?" I asked, though I had a pretty shrewd idea as to the key he +wanted. + +"The key which dropped out of your pocket this afternoon." + +"I don't keep it in bed with me," I replied. "I'll get out and fetch +it for you, you are quite welcome to it." + +I temporised with him, but I was perfectly determined in my own mind +that he should never have it while I lived. + +I slipped out of bed and he still held the pistol pointed towards me +but in a careless way. I think he was thrown off his guard by my +apparent acquiescence. + +The clock of the Abbey struck five and he involuntarily turned his head +at the first stroke; in that moment I made a sweeping blow with my left +arm and knocked the revolver out of his hand; it fell with a crash on +the floor. Then I seized him by the throat and tried to hold him. He +was, however, like an eel; he wriggled himself free and struck me a +heavy blow on the chest which sent me backwards, then he turned and +darted towards the window, but as he did so I heard something fall on +the floor. For one second his hand went down on the floor groping for +it, then, with a curse, he snatched up the revolver, which lay near, +and darted out of the window on to the balcony. It all occurred in a +few moments, and I followed him as quickly as I could, but when I +reached the window I saw him flying along the balcony; he had already +cleared several of the little divisions railing off one apartment from +another, and I could see it would be useless to follow him. + +As I turned and re-entered the bedroom something lying on the floor +caught my glance and I stooped and picked it up. + +It was the man's glass eye, it had dropped out! + +"Now," I said to myself, surveying the bloodshot counterfeit orb as I +held it under the electric light. "_Now_ I shall be able to trace him +by means of his missing eye and hand him over to justice." + +I was fated to be disappointed. + + +Late the next morning when, having passed the remainder of the night +sleeplessly, I came down the main staircase into the hall, almost the +first person I met was my friend of the glass eye coming in at the +front door. He had apparently just left a cab from which the hotel +porters were removing some luggage. He came straight to me, and, +looking me in the face, had the impudence to bid me "Good morning." + +"Went over to Bristol last night," he explained, "for a ball, and have +only just got back. Had awful fun!" + +I returned his look for some time without speaking; he had another +glass eye stuck in which was the counterpart of the other. I saw now +clearly that he had two or more glass eyes for emergencies. + +"Bristol!" I repeated. "Did you not come into my room last night +and----?" + +"And what?" he asked innocently. + +"And threaten me?" I added. + +He seemed highly amused. + +"Do you mean before I went?" he asked. + +"No, about four o'clock this morning." + +This time he burst out laughing. + +"My dear fellow," he said with impertinent familiarity, "at four +o'clock this morning I was dancing like mad with some of the prettiest +girls in Bristol!" + +Liar! It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him whether his glass eye +had fallen out during his terpsichorean efforts! It was, however, +perfectly evident to me that he intended to deny that he had been in +the hotel during the night, and probably had had time to establish some +sort of an _alibi_. I therefore decided to move cautiously in the +matter. + +I turned on my heel and went into the dining-room to breakfast without +another word. + +But I made it my business during the morning to inquire of the hall +porter, who I found had been on duty up to eleven o'clock on the +previous night, whether Mr. Saumarez--for that I discovered was the +name he had entered in the hotel visitors' book--had left the hotel on +the previous evening. + +The porter unhesitatingly informed me that he had to go to a ball at +Bristol! + +Really, when I left this man I began to wonder whether I had been +dreaming, until I recollected the glass eye which was securely locked +up in my dressing-case, such things not being produced in dreams and +found under the pillow in the morning wrapped in an old telegram as +this had been. + +I went next to the chambermaid who presided over the corridor in which +Mr. Saumarez' room was. + +Being a good-looking girl I gave her half-a-crown and chucked her under +the chin. + +"Look here, Maria," I said, "just tell me whether 340, Mr. Saumarez, +was in or not last night. I'm rather curious to know and have got a +bet on about it with a friend." + +She looked at me knowingly and giggled. + +"Why, _out_, sir, of course," she replied; "he came in at half-past ten +this morning with his boots unblacked. We all know what _that_ means." + +This evidence to me appeared conclusive. I gave the chambermaid a +parting chuck under the chin--no one being about--and dismissed her. + +Then, it being a fine morning, I went out for a walk. + +I went right over the hills by Sham Castle and across the Golf Links, +being heartily sworn at--in the distance--by sundry retired officers +for not getting out of the way. But I was trying to have a good think +over Mr. Saumarez, his duplicate glass eyes, and the reason why he +wanted the key of the old lady's safe. + +I so tired myself out with walking and thinking, with no result, that +when I got back and had lunched late all by myself in the big +dining-room, I went into the smoking-room, which this time was quite +empty, and fell asleep in front of the great fire. + +My sleep was curiously broken and unrestful, and full of that undefined +cold apprehension which sometimes attacks one without any apparent +reason during an afternoon nap. + +I awoke at last to hear the old Abbey clock striking five, and then I +nearly jumped out of my seat, for I recollected my promise to the +unknown old lady in Monmouth Street to visit her again that day at that +very hour. + +I hurried through the hall to the coat room, and, seizing my hat, +rushed out and just caught a tram which was gliding past in the +direction of the upper town where Monmouth Street stretched its length +along the slope of the hill. + +It was only three minutes past five when the gaily lighted tram +deposited me at the end of my old lady's street, and I set off for +Number 190, which was at the other extremity of the long, badly lighted +thoroughfare, looking, with its interminable rows of oblong windows, +like an odd corner of the eighteenth century which had been left behind +in the march of time. + +I found the house practically as I had left it; there was no fog that +evening, and I had a better opportunity of observing its general +appearance in the yellow flare of the old-fashioned gas lamp opposite. + +The house on one side of it was to be let, with a large staring board +announcing that fact fixed to the railings; the house on the other side +was a dingy looking place with lace curtains shrouding the dining-room +windows and a notice outside concerning "Apartments." + +I drew out the latch-key, blew in it to cleanse it from any dust, then, +with very little difficulty, opened the door and entered Number 190. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE SECOND VISIT AND ITS RESULT + +The first thing which caught my attention was the wax candle with its +glass shade standing on the raised flap which did duty for a hall table. + +I at once lit the candle from the box of matches by it, and then, when +it had burned up a little, proceeded at once to the kitchen staircase. +The old lady had given me the latch-key with such a free hand that I +felt myself fully justified in walking in; in fact, I rather wanted to +take her by surprise if possible. + +Nevertheless I made a little noise going downstairs to give her +knowledge of my approach, and it was then that I thought I heard a +window open somewhere at the back of the house. + +I walked towards the end of the passage, and there I saw the glow of +the fire reflected through the open door of the handsome sitting-room +in which I had sat with the old lady on the previous day. It played +upon the opposite wall as I advanced with a great air of comfort. + +"Ten to one," I said to myself, "that I find the old lady asleep over +the fire." + +The room I found in darkness except for the firelight. I could see +little within it. I paused on the threshold and made a polite inquiry. + +"May I come in?" I asked in a tone intended to be loud enough to wake +the old lady. + +No answer. + +I advanced into the room with my candle and set it on the table, then I +struck a match and lit two more of the candles in the sconces. + +The room was empty! + +This placed me rather in a dilemma. I had no further means of +announcing my presence; I could only wait. + +I sat down by the fire and began to look around. + +Comfortable, even luxurious as the room was with its abundance of +valuable knick-knacks and pictures, it had an eerie look about it. The +eyes of the figures in the pictures seemed following me about. + +I got up and lit two more of the candles in the sconces on the walls. +Then I returned to my seat, made up the fire, and waited the course of +events. + +I waited thus quite a quarter of an hour, during which nothing +occurred, and then I heard sounds which almost made me jump from my +chair. + +The first was a long, gasping breath, followed after an interval by a +groan, a long wailing groan as of one in the deepest suffering. + +I immediately rose from my chair, and caught a glimpse of my white face +as I did so in the looking-glass over the mantelpiece. + +I stood for some seconds on the hearthrug, and then the groan was +repeated; it came from the direction of a heavy curtain which hung in +one corner of the room, and which I had taken, on the previous day, to +be the covering of a cabinet or a recess in the wall perhaps for some +of the old lady's out-door clothing. + +I tore it on one side now and found that it concealed a door. The knob +turned in my hand and I entered the room beyond; it was in total +darkness, and I at once returned to the sitting-room for candles. + +I took two in my hands and advanced once again, with an effort, into +the dark room. + +The sight that met my gaze there almost caused me to drop them. It was +a handsomely furnished bedroom, and in the farther corner was the bed. +On it lay the old lady wrapped in a white quilted silk dressing-robe. + +The whole of the breast of this garment was saturated with blood! + +With the candles trembling in my hands I advanced to the side of the +bed, and the poor soul's eyes looked up at me while she acknowledged my +coming with a groan. + +Looking down at her there could not be a doubt but that her throat had +been cut! + +I drew back from her horrified, and then I saw her lips moving; she was +trying to speak. + +I put my ear down close to her mouth and then I heard faintly but very +distinctly two words-- + +"Safe--open." + +I answered her at once. + +"I will go for a doctor first, then I will return and open the safe." + +At once she moved her head, causing a fresh flow of blood from a great +gaping wound at the right side of her neck. She was eager to speak +again, and I bent my ear over her mouth. + +Two words came again very faintly--"Open--first." + +I nodded to show her that I understood what she meant, then giving one +glance at her I prepared to do what she asked. There was a look of +satisfaction in her eyes as I turned away. I went quickly back into +the sitting-room and turned the carved rose on the left side of the +frame of the looking-glass in the over-mantel. Then when the glass had +slid up I felt for the spring in the wall, touched it, and the door +flew open. Without any hesitation I fixed the key in the lock of the +steel safe, and, with a slight effort, turned it and pulled the door +open. + +The first thing I saw was a slip of white paper with some writing on it +lying on two packets. This I took up and read at once; the words +scribbled on it were in a lady's hand. + +"If anything has happened to me take these two packets, hide them in +your pockets, and close the safe, cupboard, and looking-glass, and +leave it all as it was at first." + +I did not delay a moment. I took the two packets, which were wrapped +in white paper like chemists' parcels, and sealed with red wax. I saw +this before I crammed them into my trousers pockets. + +I hastily closed the safe, locked it, fastened the panel, and, by +turning the rose on the right-hand side of the over-mantel, caused the +glass to resume its place. + +Then I turned to leave the room, and--found myself standing face to +face with Saumarez, the man with the glass eye, who held a revolver +levelled at me. + +He did not stay to speak, but fired immediately; I dodged my head to +one side just in time and heard the bullet go crashing into the +looking-glass behind me. + +Before he could fire again I hit him with all my might under the ear, +and he fell in the corner of the room like a log. Stopping only to +possess myself of his revolver, which had dropped by his side, I rushed +up the stairs and out into the street; there I inquired of the first +person I met, a working man going home, for the nearest doctor, and he +directed me to a Dr. Redfern only about ten doors away. + +Within a few seconds I was pausing at this door, and endeavouring to +make an astonished parlour-maid understand that I wanted to see her +master on a matter of life and death. + +A placid-looking gentleman made his appearance from a room at the end +of the entrance hall while I was speaking to her, with an evening paper +in his hand. + +"What's the matter?" he asked casually. + +"Murder is the matter," I answered between gasps of excitement, "murder +at Number 190, and I want you to come at once." + +I gave him a brief account of the old lady with her throat cut. He +stood looking at me a moment or two, as if in doubt whether I was sane +or not, then made up his mind. + +"All right," he said, "just wait a moment and I'll come with you." + +He reappeared in about a couple of minutes, wearing an overcoat and a +tall hat. + +"Now," he said, "just lead the way." + +We went together straight back to Number 190, and I think he had some +misgivings about entering the house with me alone, but I reassured him +by reminding him that an old lady was dying within; as it was he made +me go first. + +"I had no idea any one lived here at all," he remarked, as I lighted +him along the passage to the stairs by means of wax vestas, of which I +fortunately had a supply, for there was no candle in the hall. "I +always thought this house was shut up. But still I have only been here +just over twelve months." + +"I think you will find," I said, as we got firmly on the basement +floor, and saw the reflection of my candle which I had left on the +table in the sitting-room, "that there are a good many surprises in +this house." + +"Now," I continued as we entered the room, "the old lady is lying in +there. I will take this candle and show you the way." I led the way +into the room, and held the candle aloft, with a shudder at what I +expected to see there. + +_The bed was empty._ + +I rubbed my eyes and looked again. + +No, there was nothing there; the bed looked rather rumpled, but there +was no sign whatever of the old lady. + +"Well," remarked the doctor sharply--he had followed closely at my +heels--"where is your murdered old lady?" + +I looked round the bedroom helplessly. + +"I would take the most solemn oath," I said steadfastly, "that I left +the old lady lying on that bed with her throat cut, and her clothes and +the bed appeared soaked in blood." + +The doctor walked to the bed and examined it closely, turning back the +bedclothes. + +"There is not a spot of blood on it," he remarked savagely, "you are +dreaming." + +But my eyes were sharper than his. + +"Look here," I said, and pointed to a small red mark on the wall on the +farther side of the bed, "what do you call that?" He leaned over the +bed and looked at the little stain through his glasses as I held the +light. + +"Yes," he said after a close scrutiny, "that _might_ be blood, and, +strange to say, it seems wet." + +He looked at his finger which had just touched it, and it had a slight +smear of blood on it. + +I had told him on the staircase that I had been attacked by a man who +had fired at me, and indeed the smell of powder even on the landing +above was very apparent. + +"Now come back into the next room," I said, "and see the body of the +man who assailed me and whom I knocked down." + +He followed me into the boudoir, and I went straight to the corner +where I had last seen Saumarez lying. + +_There was nothing there!_ + +I gave a great gasp of astonishment. + +"I left the man lying there!" I exclaimed, pointing to the floor. + +The doctor took the candle lamp from my hands and held it close to my +face, scrutinising me earnestly meanwhile through his glasses; then he +leant forward and sniffed suspiciously. + +"Do you drink?" he asked abruptly. + +Then, noticing my look of growing indignation, he altered his tone +slightly. + +"Excuse my asking the question," he explained. "But it is the only way +in which I can account for your symptoms. Do you see things?" + +"Things be d----," I replied hotly. "I would answer with my life that +I left that poor old lady lying on her bed grievously wounded not half +an hour ago, and the villain who assaulted me insensible in this +corner!" + +The doctor went to the corner and held the candle in such a way as to +shed its light upon the floor. + +Then he stooped and picked up something. + +"What's this?" he exclaimed, holding it close to the candle. "A glass +eye," he continued in astonishment, "a glass eye, as I live!" + +"There!" I said triumphantly, "the man who fired at me had a glass eye. +Is it not a brown one, shot with blood?" + +"Right!" he answered after another glance at it, "a bloodshot brown eye +it undoubtedly is." + +He handed it to me, and I put it in my pocket. + +"You had better take care of it," he said. "But I really don't know +what to say about your story." + +"Perhaps you will deny the evidence of your eyes?" I asked; "look at +this." + +I pointed to where the bullet from the revolver had struck the +looking-glass over the mantelpiece and starred it. + +"No," he answered, "that certainly looks as if it had been smashed by a +bullet. There is the little round hole where the bullet entered. And +there is another point too," he continued, "you say you left the old +lady lying on the bed bleeding, not half an hour ago?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then the bed ought to be warm; let us come and see." + +We walked back into the bedroom and examined the bed again. + +It was very evident to me that a fresh coverlet had been put on the bed +and fresh sheets. How it could have been done in so short a time was a +marvel to me. + +The doctor put his hand on the coverlet. + +"That is quite cold," he reported, "there can be no question of a doubt +about that." + +"Let me try inside the bed," I suggested; "that may tell a different +tale." + +I turned down the bedclothes, and put my hand into the bed. It was +distinctly warm! + +"Now," I said, turning to the doctor, "do you believe me or not?" + +He put his hand into the bed. + +"Yes," he answered, "it is certainly warm. I don't know what to make +of it." + +I thrust my hand once more deep beneath the clothes, and this time it +encountered something and closed on it. I glanced at it as I drew it +out. + +It was a lady's handkerchief. + +I don't know what moved me to do it, but an impulse made me put it in +my pocket, without showing it to the doctor. + +"I don't know what to make of it at all," repeated Dr. Redfern, +stroking his chin, "but one thing is certain, we must acquaint the +police." + +"Certainly," I answered. "I think we ought to have done that long ago." + +"Well, will you promise me to remain here, Mr.--Mr.--?" he queried. + +"Anstruther," I suggested. People in the middle class of life always +assume that you are a "Mr." I might have been a Duke! + +"Will you promise me to remain here, Mr. Anstruther," he asked, "while +I go and telephone the police?" + +"Of course," I answered; "what should I want to run away for?" + +"Very well, then," he said with a nod and a smile. "I will take it +that you won't. I will be back inside a quarter of an hour." + +We lit more of the candles on the walls, and then I took the candle +lamp to light him upstairs to the front door. + +I was standing there watching him going up Monmouth Street towards his +house, when a sudden resolve took possession of me concerning the two +packets I had in my trousers pockets! I did not know what turn affairs +were going to take, and I thought I should like to put those two little +parcels in a place of safety. + +I had noticed a small dismal post office at the end of the street not +fifty yards off. I would go and post them, registered to my lawyers, +in whom I had the greatest confidence. + +To the taking of this resolve and the carrying of it out, instead of +returning to the downstairs room, I always attribute, in the light of +subsequent events, the saving of my life. I left the door "on the jar" +and ran quickly to the post office. There I demanded their largest +sized registered envelope, and they fortunately had a big one. + +Into this I crammed the two packets--which I noticed were both directed +to me in a very neat lady's hand--and then, as an afterthought, the +handkerchief which I had found in the bed. Finally I put the key of +the safe in too. With my back to the ever curious clerk, I directed it +to myself-- + + c/o Messrs. BLACKETT & SNOWDON, + Solicitors, + Lincoln's Inn, + London. + +Then, slapping it down before the astonished official, I demanded a +receipt for it. + +This obtained, I hastened back to 190; the door was still as I had left +it, but in a few moments the doctor returned, and at his heels a +policeman. + +"The inspector will be here directly," announced Dr. Redfern. "We had +better wait outside until he arrives." + +We walked up and down for nearly a quarter of an hour while the doctor +smoked a cigarette, and meanwhile the policeman, a person of gigantic +stature and a bucolic expression of countenance, eyed me suspiciously. + +Presently the inspector arrived, and the doctor and I returned with him +to the sitting-room downstairs. There the police official insisted +upon my giving a full account of the whole matter, while he stood +critically by with a notebook in his hand. I told him the whole truth +from the time of my seeing the old lady at the door, to the time of my +calling in the doctor, but I suppressed all mention of the two packets +and the secret safe. These being confidential matters between me and +the old lady, I did not feel at liberty to disclose them. + +I saw very plainly from the looks the inspector gave me that he did not +believe me; he even had doubts, it was very evident, whether I was +staying at the Hotel Magnifique at all, as I had informed him at the +commencement of my statement. + +Having entered all the notes to his satisfaction, he thoroughly +inspected both rooms and made more notes. Then he went outside and +bawled up the stairs-- + +"Wilkins!" + +"Sir," came the answer from the bucolic constable on duty above. + +"Just step round to the 'Compasses,'" instructed his superior from the +foot of the stairs, "and tell my brother I should be glad if he'd come +round here for a few minutes. We've got a rather curious case." + +"Very good, sir," came the reply, followed by the heavy tread of the +man's boots as he went to carry out the orders. + +"My brother's down 'ere on a bit of a 'oliday, sir," explained the +inspector to the doctor, entirely ignoring me, "and being one of the +tip-top detectives up in London, I thought we'd take the benefit of his +opinion." + +The "Compasses," as it turned out, being only a couple of streets off, +we had not long to wait for the coming of the detective luminary from +London. His heavy footsteps were soon heard on the stairs; preceded by +the constable, he descended the flight with evident forethought and +consideration. Emerging from the darkness into the light of the wax +candles, he presented the appearance of a prosperous butcher, tall, +broad-shouldered, red-necked, and with moustache and whiskers of a +sandy hue. His face was very red, and the skin shining as if distended +with good living. + +"This is my brother, Inspector Bull of the Z Metropolitan Division," +explained our inspector to the doctor, once more ignoring me, "down +'ere on a little 'oliday." + +As I learned afterwards, this gentleman was one of the Guardian Angels +who watched over the safety of the inhabitants of the Mile End Road. + +The doctor having shaken hands with him, his brother put another +question to him. + +"'Ow's Alf?" he inquired. + +The newcomer gently soothed the back of his red neck with a hand like a +small leg of mutton, and displayed a set of massive front teeth in a +gratified smile. + +"'E's all right," he answered, "we wos having fifty up when you sent +for me." + +"You see," explained our inspector, "my brother's got so many friends +in the licensed victuallers' line down here, through being a Mason, +that it takes him 'arf his 'oliday to go round and see 'em all." + +The doctor smiled indulgently but made no answer; then our inspector +briefly informed his brother of the state of the case before him, +stating the facts as I related them, in such a different light, and +with so many evident aspersions on my veracity, that I hardly knew them +again. + +The two brothers made a further close inspection of the rooms, and then +held a consultation on the hearthrug in whispers. + +Though the words were unintelligible, the fact that the officer of the +Z Division had been partaking liberally of whisky soon became apparent +from the all-pervading odour of that stimulant diffused throughout the +apartment. + +They finished at last, and I heard the London man's final word of +advice-- + +"I should put me 'and on 'im at any rate." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +I AM DETAINED + +I was the "'im" referred to evidently. + +Our inspector buttoned up his blue overcoat. + +"Perhaps you'll be kind enough to walk down with us to the station, Mr. +. . . er--Anstruther," he said; "we can have a little talk down there +and straighten things out a bit." + +His subterfuge did not in the least deceive me. + +"Do I understand," I asked, "that you propose to detain me?" + +The inspector raised his shoulders perplexedly, and his brother smiled +a fat smile over his shoulder. + +"That'll depend how you explain matters to our chief," he said +deprecatingly; "at any rate we'd better get along." + +This was a hint I could not disregard. He led the way up the +staircase, and his stout brother, through force of habit, closed in +behind, far too close to be pleasant, owing to the diffused aroma of a +mixture of various brands of inferior whisky, arising from his hard +breathing as he ascended the stairs. We walked two and two down +Monmouth Street, I with the inspector, the doctor and the London +detective improving their acquaintance in the rear. + +Two streets off we dropped the officer of the Z Division, who betook +himself once more to the "Compasses" to continue his "fifty up" with +his friend the landlord, and the doctor joined us. I had the pleasure +of listening to his conversation with the inspector, conducted across +me, without having the pleasure of being included in it. + +We walked all three down into the town, and then straight into the +Police Station, only a few doors off my hotel. + +The inspector and the doctor went into a private room to confer with +some superior official while I was left to sit by the fire in the outer +office. + +Presently the inspector came out. + +"We've decided to detain you, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "until we can +find out a little more about this affair. Just come over here." + +"Look here, Mr. Inspector," I said, "if you intend to detain me without +sufficient reason, you'll find it an awkward matter." The inspector +looked a trifle uncomfortable. + +"We shall have to take our chance of that," he said, rather sullenly, +"we've only got our duty to do, Mr. Anstruther. You can have bail, I +should think." + +"Bail!" I repeated, "how am I to get bail? I don't know a soul in the +town." + +The inspector shrugged his shoulders and motioned me into a railed +space in the centre of the office. + +There was no help for it, so I went and placed myself as he desired in +the little dock, and a constable standing there obligingly clamped down +a rail behind me to keep me there. Then the doctor, who, it turned +out, was some official in the town, gave a garbled version of the whole +affair, which I found it useless to try and contradict, as I was told +to hold my tongue. The inspector's version of the affair was even more +insulting than the doctor's. He did not hesitate to express his +opinion that I was a very suspicious person, probably a lunatic at +large. When asked if I had anything to say, my remark summed up the +situation, tersely, in a few words. + +"This is a parcel of d--d rot!" I said. + +Then they searched me. + +The inspector simply gloated over Saumarez' revolver when I turned it +out of my pocket, and this feeling rose to an absolute thrill of +triumph when he discovered that one of the chambers had been discharged. + +In my heart, I was thankful that I had sent those two packets and the +key to my lawyers. + +While the inspector was hanging fondly over Saumarez' glass eye, which +one energetic young constable had furraged out of the corner of my +waistcoat pocket, an idea struck me which ought to have occurred to me +before. + +I had come to Bath with a letter of introduction to a certain doctor, a +Dr. Mainwaring; I would send for him. + +"Look here, Mr. Inspector," I said, "when you've quite finished +rattling me about, I have two suggestions to make. One is to send some +of your men to try if they can find the old lady whose throat has been +cut, and the other is to send for Dr. Mainwaring, who knows me. I warn +you that if you lock me up you will get into trouble." + +At the mention of Dr. Mainwaring, Dr. Redfern, who was still there, +pricked up his ears. + +"Dr. Mainwaring!" he repeated. "Do you know him?" + +"I came here about ten days ago," I answered, "with a letter of +introduction to him from Sir Belgrave Walpole. I've no doubt that he +will be able to tell you something about me." + +He turned to the inspector. + +"Don't you think you had better send a man up to Royal Crescent," he +said, "to ask Dr. Mainwaring? There _may_ be a mistake, you know. It +would be safer." + +I could see that the inspector was very unwilling to admit the +possibility of a mistake; he was, however, overruled by the man who was +writing in the book, and who appeared to be a person in authority. + +"Shapland," he said to a waiting constable, "go up to Dr. Mainwaring's +and ask if he knows a person of the name of Anstruther." + +"You'd better take one of my cards there with you," I suggested, "then +he'll know who you mean." + +The inspector gave me a scathing look, but gave the man one of the +cards out of my case. + +I think they were undecided then as to whether they would lock me up or +not, but eventually made up their minds on the side of prudence. + +I was allowed to sit by the fire. + +Within half an hour a motor came puffing up to the police station, and +Dr. Mainwaring entered. + +"My dear Mr. Anstruther," he inquired breathlessly, "whatever is the +matter?" + +In a few brief sentences I unloaded the burden of my wrongs. + +"Why, there must be some mistake!" cried Mainwaring. "I'll just go off +and see the chief constable, he's a particular friend of mine." + +When he had gone, the faces of my guardians grew visibly longer; one of +them fetched me an armchair out of the office. + +The chief constable soon put matters right. + +"This gentleman is staying at the Magnifique," he announced, "he is +well known to Dr. Mainwaring, and, in fact, the doctor will answer for +his appearance; what more do you want, Mr. Inspector?" + +The inspector wanted nothing more. + +Within five minutes I was sitting by a glorious fire in a private room +at the Magnifique, discussing the whole matter with the chief constable +and Dr. Mainwaring. + +But before I left the station, I put a query to Inspector Bull, junior. + +"What have you done about the old lady?" I asked. + +The officer assumed some shreds of dignity, even in his discomfiture. + +"You may have thought us a bit forgetful, sir," he observed, "but I +assure you, both the railway stations have been under careful +observation from the time of my being able to touch a telephone." + +"Thank you," I said; but it appeared to me that under the circumstances +they might just as profitably have watched the Pump Room or the Baths. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ARRESTED + +Being left to myself after thoroughly thrashing out the whole case with +Dr. Mainwaring and the chief constable, who both agreed with me that +the circumstances were the most extraordinary they had ever heard of, I +sat down to consider matters by myself. + +Here was I, a country gentleman of moderate estate, trying to eke out a +smallish income by literature, plumped down into the centre of as fine +a tangle of mystery as ever came out of the _Arabian Nights +Entertainments_. + +I got up and looked at myself in the glass, and saw there a +clean-shaven tall man of thirty whose black hair was already turning +white at the temples; about my grey eyes, alas, there were already +crows' feet, the price I had paid, I suppose, for taking honours at +Oxford. + +I sat down again and thought deeply. + +"Bill Anstruther," I said to myself, "you're in for it. You've +consented to receive the confidences of that old lady, who, poor soul, +was in the direst need of help and friendship without doubt when she +called you in the night before last. You're bound in honour to go +through with it, and try to help her, or at any rate carry out her +wishes, be she dead or alive." + +Thus I reasoned, and in this, it seemed to me, my duty lay. Obviously +the first thing to do was to obtain possession of the packets again and +ascertain their contents. I knew, of course, that they were directed +to me and possibly contained some request of the old lady. I marvelled +very much what the connection between her and the man with the glass +eye could possibly be, but could form no guess even in the matter. It +was very evident that he was a bloodthirsty scoundrel, and I had little +doubt in my own mind that it was he who had wounded her, perhaps unto +death. + +While I thought of it, I decided to go down to the office and make +inquiries concerning Saumarez. + +I found he had left during the morning. + +"Mr. Saumarez went up to town, sir," explained the clerk, "by the +twelve-twenty." + +"Thank you," I said, and walked away to the smoking-room to have a good +think again. Eating for the present was out of the question. + +After three cigarettes I arrived at the following conclusions. I would +go up to town in the morning, secure the packets, and read them in my +lawyers' office. + +I would not trust myself to carry them about with me while that man +Saumarez was at large. It was very evident that the safe and its +contents possessed a great attraction for him; probably with very good +reason. + +I caught the morning train to London, and arrived in Lincoln's Inn +about two o'clock, after lunching early at my club. There Messrs. +Blackett & Snowdon's managing clerk handed me the registered packet +which I had sent off the evening before from the post office in +Monmouth Street, Bath. + +With this in my hand I retired to the private office of Mr. Snowdon, +who was away from town, his room being placed at my disposal by the +managing clerk when I told him I had some important papers to examine. + +I sat down at the desk, cleared it of the few papers lying there, then +prepared to open my precious parcel. + +First I tore off the registered envelope. + +Yes, there were the two packets which I had thought so much of in the +hours I lay awake during the night. There was the key; there was the +handkerchief. + +I took this latter up and examined it carefully by the light. It was +of the finest cambric, and bore in the corner the letter C. + +Then there remained the two packets to examine. + +They were both addressed to me in a small, old-fashioned handwriting +which I took to be that of the old lady, poor soul! One was heavy, +felt hard, and contained evidently a box of some sort, the other was +soft and I took it to be composed of papers. I broke the seals--a +C--and opened it. My surmise was correct, it contained several sheets +of thick correspondence paper, covered with writing. It was dated the +day I first met her. When I spread it out this is what I found it to +contain-- + + +"DEAR MR. ANSTRUTHER,--I have little doubt but you consider me merely a +crazy old woman. + +"Perhaps I am, Heaven knows I have had enough trouble in my life to +make me so, and the trouble and anxiety I am enduring now is by no +means the lightest I have had to bear. That is why I had the resolve +to trust you, taking a sudden fancy, as I have done before without +regretting it, to a resolute open face. + +"I believe that you will carry out what I ask of you to the letter; I +believe you will do it honestly and truly, for the reason that you love +to be honest and true. + +"So much for my trust in you. Now for the object of my appealing to +you. + +"I am threatened with a great peril, a peril which may cost me my life, +I expect it, I do not fear it. I have held my life in my hands for +years past. + +"But there is something in my case which I value more than my life; +this I would preserve at all costs. It is contained in the small box +in the second packet which I have prepared for you. + +"I think I have thought of every contingency and may reasonably count +upon being left in peace until I see you at five to-morrow. I do not +doubt for one moment but that you will keep your appointment. Should +I, however, have to send you to the safe, instead of handing you these +packets, I have prepared even for that. + +"The request I am about to make you is, I know, an unreasonable one, +yet I believe you will carry it out. + +"Upon opening the other packet, which I shall leave you with this, you +will find a small carved casket which is locked; with it you will find +sufficient money for your journey--of which presently. + +"Mr. Anstruther, I want you to take the casket to Aquazilia and to +deliver it to the person to whom it is addressed." + +"Aquazilia!" I exclaimed, putting down the letter, "why, that is the +big Republic the other side of Brazil which once upon a time used to be +a Monarchy! That's rather a tall order!" I took the letter up again +and went on:-- + +"I know the journey is a long one, but it will repay you. When you +told me you were a writer, I knew at once that such a journey would be +one from which you would draw profit both in experience and otherwise. +In doing it you will earn my undying gratitude. Go, I beseech you! To +you I confide that which is dearer to me than my life. Go, I implore +of you. I ask it in the name of Truth and Honour. Go, and earn the +eternal thanks of + +"CARLOTTA D'ALTENBERG." + + +"D'Altenberg, d'Altenberg," I muttered as I finished. "It seems a +familiar name!" + +I now turned my attention to the second packet, and opened that. It +contained a small wooden box with the lid tied down with string. Upon +taking this off, I found within a very beautifully carved oblong +casket, made of ebony, inlaid with gold. It was a most finished piece +of workmanship, and measured, I should think, about six inches by +perhaps two and a half. In raised letters on the lid was carved the +letter C as on the seals. On a small parchment label firmly secured to +it by silk was:-- + +"To His Excellency the Senor JUAN D'ALTA, + Valoro, + Aquazilia." + +It was fastened by no less than three locks, all of different sizes, +and by its excessive weight, even for ebony, I should say was lined +with some metal. + +When I had lifted this casket out of the box I found beneath it two +ordinary long envelopes both addressed to me and open. On the first I +took up was:-- + +"To William Anstruther, Esq. + For the expenses of the journey to Valoro." + +I opened it and found it to contain four fifty pound notes. On the +other was my name, and beneath it:-- + +"A slight honorarium by way of compensation for time lost on the +journey." + +It contained a Bank of England note for one thousand pounds. I sat +with the note in my hand for some time; it was the first for that +amount which I had ever come across. + +However, not without some considerable satisfaction, I admit, I put up +the note into its envelope again and packed it with the other into the +box. I very carefully replaced the ebony casket after a glance of +admiration at its beautifully inlaid workmanship. + +I closed the box up as before, and, making free with Mr. Snowdon's +stationery, put it in a fresh linen lined envelope and sealed it up +again. This time with my own seal. I treated the letter in the same +way, packing it up with the hankerchief and the key, then directed the +two to myself, care of my lawyers. I intended to leave both in their +care as before. I had ample confidence in their strong room. I had +barely completed this task and thrown the old wrappers into the fire, +when there came a knock at the door; the managing clerk entered with +rather a scared look on his face. + +"There are two men waiting to see you downstairs, Mr. Anstruther," he +announced, "and I rather think they are police officers." + +Instinctively as he spoke I thrust the two packets before me into +pigeon holes of the writing table I was sitting at, and he saw me do it. + +Before I could make any reply, the door was pushed open behind him, and +two men entered; the foremost of them walked up to the table. + +"Are you Mr. William Anstruther?" he asked. + +He was a tall, dark, fresh-coloured man with sharp grey eyes, his +companion had the appearance of an ordinary constable in plain clothes. + +"Yes," I answered, rising, "I am William Anstruther." + +"Then I arrest you, William Anstruther," he said, "on suspicion of +causing the death of an old lady, name unknown, whose body was +discovered at daybreak this morning on Lansdown, near Bath, with her +throat cut. You'll have to come with us down to Bath to be charged." + +Here was a terrible development! + +My first thoughts were of pity for the poor old lady. How I wished I +had been able to save her life. + +"Very well," I answered as coolly as I could. "I suppose there is no +help for it, and I had better go with you. Perhaps, Mr. Watson," I +said, turning to the managing clerk, who was standing by as white as a +sheet, "perhaps you will see that this man has proper authority for +taking me." + +"Certainly, Mr. Anstruther," he answered, then turning to the detective +he asked for his papers. + +"Show me your warrant, please," he said. "I shall not allow Mr. +Anstruther, our client, to leave with you unless you do." + +The fresh-coloured officer smiled, and produced from his pocket a blue +paper, together with some other documents. These seemed to satisfy +Watson. + +"There seems no help for it, Mr. Anstruther," he said, with them in his +hands. "I am afraid you will have to go with him. This is a proper +warrant signed by a magistrate on sworn information." + +"Who are the informants?" I asked. + +He referred to the warrant and read out the names. + +"Inspector James Bull, Frederick Redfern, surgeon, and Anthony +Saumarez, gentleman." + +"Saumarez!" I exclaimed, "the scoundrel and would-be murderer!" + +"You had better be careful what you say," remarked the police officer, +"as I may have to take it down, and it will be used against you." + +"Yes," confirmed Watson, "you'd better say as little as possible. No +doubt the whole matter is a mistake." + +I took up my overcoat and the managing clerk helped me on with it; +meanwhile, the police officer walked to the desk I had been sitting at +and laid his hands on some papers. I looked upon the packets as lost. + +Watson, however, stopped him at once. + +"You mustn't touch those papers," he said hastily. "They are the +property of Mr. Snowdon, a member of our firm." + +"Then what is _he_ doing here?" asked the man, with a jerk of his head +towards me. + +"Mr. Anstruther," replied Watson, "was attending to some business +correspondence at Mr. Snowdon's desk, that gentleman being away." + +"Where's the correspondence?" asked the detective, with a quick glance +at my two packets sticking out of the pigeon holes. I looked the man +straight in the face. + +"My correspondence is finished," I answered, "and in the hands of this +firm." + +A little smile about Watson's mouth and a hasty glance at the packets, +convinced me that he understood my remark. + +"Very well, then," said the police officer, "we'd better come along. +Provided you come quietly," he observed to me as I followed him out, +"it won't be necessary for me to handcuff you." + +That was a comfort I thought, as I went downstairs and through the +office, full of astounded clerks, who had all known me well for years. + +We got into a cab and were driven to Paddington Station, reaching it +about dusk, much to my satisfaction, as I should not at all have +appreciated making my appearance in such a place with the two police +officers. + +We got into a third class compartment all to ourselves right at the end +of the train, near the engine, and there I sat between the two men, who +hardly exchanged a word the whole way, but who sat trying to read +newspapers by the bad light. They would hold no conversation with me. + +When we got to Bath they hurried me quickly down the stairs into a fly, +and then we drove straight through the town. + +As we passed the police station and my hotel--towards which I cast +longing glances, for it was not far off dinner time--I asked a question +of the tall, fresh-coloured man. + +"I understood that you were going to take me to the police station?" I +said. + +The man shook his head. + +"We are taking you to the prison," he said, "for the night. You will +be brought before the magistrates in the morning." + +I sank back in the corner of the fly thoroughly dejected, and the +vehicle drove out by what I knew to be the Warminster Road. We now +left the lights of the town behind, and then the journey was entirely +between two hedgerows, which bordered the road, with an occasional +field gate by way of variety--all else beyond was blank night, for +there was no moon. + +My two guardians began to show signs of fatigue, not unmixed with a +certain disgust, at the length of the journey. + +They began yawning and stretching their arms, with very little regard +for my comfort. + +When at last the fly pulled up with a jerk, after a good deal of +bumping over a rough road, the two men were very unceremonious in +ordering me to quit the vehicle. + +"Now then, Ugly," remarked the fresh-coloured man with a push of his +foot, which was remarkably like a kick, "out you get!" + +He stepped out himself and I followed, knowing full well it was useless +to resist, but I made a mental resolve that I would report him. + +Once outside the fly, I found myself apparently at the foot of a tower, +a door stood open in front of me, and on the doorstep a man holding a +lantern. + +I was, however, given very little time to contemplate this scene; the +big man seized my right arm, and his companion my left; between them, +they rushed me up a flight of steps immediately inside the tower. + +These steps constituted a spiral staircase which wound round the +interior of the tower; ever and anon as we passed a small window I saw +the lights of Bath twinkling in the distance. + +Beyond a few walks during the ten days I had spent there--my first +visit--I knew very little of Bath or its neighbourhood, therefore I had +no opportunity of taking my bearings. + +I was urged up this staircase in a manner which I should have thought +unusual had I not remembered the men's complaints of the long +journey--which they had made twice--in the fly. + +Finally we reached a door, and they simply pushed me through it into a +large room. It was evidently the top storey of the tower and had +windows looking all ways. It was perfectly circular in shape, was +fairly clean, and had a fire burning in a grate with a wire screen +before it; in one corner was a bed. + +The two men released their hold as I looked around, and the dark one +went to a corner and picked up a chain. + +"Come here!" he shouted to me roughly. + +His colleague assisted me by giving me a shove in his direction. Then, +in a twinkling, he fixed a steel ring to my left ankle, snapped it +there and locked a small padlock on it. + +I was chained up like a dog! + +Having thoroughly searched me, they prepared to leave; the taller man +addressed me. + +"I suppose you know," he remarked, as the two moved towards the door, +"that if you make any attempt to escape, you'll be shot?" + +With this parting caution he closed the door, and I heard a key turn in +the lock. + +I took one turn round the room, the chain being long enough, with many +a yearning look at the distant lights of Bath; then, horrified at the +clanking of my fetters, which were fixed to a staple in the wall, I +threw myself as I was on the bed in the corner, and there, being tired +out, almost immediately fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +PUT TO THE TORTURE + +I awoke with a feeling of intense cold, the fire was out, and I was +lying outside the bed without covering. + +The day had fully broken, and there was even an attempt on the part of +the sun to pierce the heavy mists of a November morning. I looked +around out of the windows, and saw the hills topped with cloud in every +direction. + +Drawing the rough blankets over me, I lay and thought. My first +yearning was for something to eat; I had tasted nothing since lunch the +previous day; I was fearfully hungry. + +I had lain thus perhaps half an hour between sleeping and waking, when +a key was put in the door and it opened, admitting a big, dark man with +a long, black beard; he bore in his hands a small table which he placed +in the middle of the room. + +"Now," I said to myself, "this means breakfast." + +I was mistaken. + +He brought in next a square box, not unlike the case of a sewing +machine, and placed it on the table. + +"What can this be?" I muttered as I watched him closely. + +In a few minutes footsteps were heard on the stairs, and another man +joined him. A great strong fellow with a fair moustache. The two of +them wheeled a large chair with glass arms to it, which I had not +noticed before, from one corner of the room, and placed it on one side +of the table. + +The preparations now had all the appearance of the commencement of some +performance; it only needed the principal actor to appear. + +He was not long in coming. + +Meanwhile, I wondered why the chair had glass arms to it. + +I noticed that the two men, who now stood idly looking out of the +windows, did not wear uniforms. They were dressed in ordinary +rough-looking clothes of foreign cut; it struck me as very strange. I +asked them who they were. + +"Are you the warders of the prison?" I said. + +"Hein!" the dark one inquired. + +"Are you the warders of the prison?" I repeated. + +"Find out, _verdammt Englander_," the man replied. + +Then I felt certain I was in no English prison. Where was I? + +The question was soon answered, the door once more opened and +_Saumarez_ entered. I sat up on the bed and fairly gasped; the whole +matter was perfectly unintelligible to me. After the first thrill of +astonishment my glance went to his eyes. + +They were complete; he had another glass one in the socket, and it +exactly matched the real one. + +He came towards me with a little bow, and a smile on his red +countenance. + +"Good morning, Mr. Anstruther," he began, "we seem to be always +meeting." + +I could not restrain my feelings. + +"That is my misfortune," I answered. + +He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps so," he answered casually, "that remains to be seen." + +He said some words in German to the two men, which I imperfectly +understood, but it seemed to be an order to lift me off the bed, for +they immediately did it. + +Then one of them unlocked my chain, and the two of them carried me to +the chair, and sat me in it. + +I now realised that I was in a desperate condition. + +"I insist on knowing," I cried to Saumarez, "why I was brought here. +It is very evident that I have been tricked." + +Saumarez laughed--a low laugh of enjoyment. + +"You certainly came here under a false impression," he sniggered; "as +for the reason of your coming, you will soon know it. Now, to begin +with, where is the key of the safe at 190 Monmouth Street. You have +been thoroughly searched and we cannot find it. + +"You are not likely to," I answered. "It is in a place where you +cannot get at it." + +"Indeed!" replied Saumarez. "What place is that?" + +"I shall not tell you." + +"We shall see," he remarked laconically. + +As he spoke, he motioned to the two men to do something with the box on +the table. + +As they moved towards it, I heard the double report of a sporting gun +not far off. Evidently some one was out shooting. + +The men went to the table, and, taking off the square lid of the box, +disclosed a large galvanic battery! + +My blood began to run cold as an awful idea formed itself in my mind. + +"Secure him in the chair!" Saumarez said sharply in German. + +Before the men could reach me, I darted out of the chair towards the +door, but they were too quick for me and caught me before I reached it. +They carried me back struggling to the chair, and one held me down in +it while the other passed thick straps round me, holding me fast in it, +hand and foot. I found, when they had done with me, that my two hands +were strapped firmly to the glass arms of the chair. + +Lying back in the chair I noticed high up in the roof an old cobwebbed +window, the top of which was standing open for purposes of ventilation. +It looked as if it had not been interfered with for years. + +In the position I was in, I could not very well see what was going on +in the room, but the next thing I experienced was feeling my wrists +being encircled apparently with wire. I gave one convulsive struggle +to get free, but it was useless I knew well now what they were going +to do. + +They were going to torture me by giving me galvanic shocks, and passing +strong currents through my body. + +I had heard of the torture being applied in Russia to political +prisoners. + +I had, when a boy, patronised those machines which professed to try +one's "nerve." I had held the two handles and watched the proprietor +draw out the rod from the coil to increase the strength of the current. +I knew how unbearable _that_ feeling could become even with a _weak_ +battery. What would it be with this _strong_ one? + +Saumarez' voice broke in upon me. + +"Where is the key of the safe?" + +I was enraged at the sound of his voice. + +"You shall never know, you vile devil!" I cried. + +"Give it to him," he exclaimed sharply to the two men in German. As he +spoke I heard the sharp report of two sporting guns, one charged with +black powder, one, from its quick sharp crack, with smokeless, _quite +near_. There were two sportsmen. + +Then--oh my God!--began that awful torture of a strong current of +electricity passing up my arms. + +I threw back my head and cried with all my strength, directing my voice +to the open window far above me in the roof of the tower-- + +"Help! Murder! Help!" + +And immediately, to my great joy, I heard an answering shout! + +"_Donner und blitzen_!" cried Saumarez, "he has attracted their +attention! Stop his mouth!" + +Immediately I felt a handkerchief being rammed into my mouth, but from +far below came the sound of hard knocking on the door of the tower, and +men's voices shouting. + +Saumarez rapped out a fearful oath, and gave an order to the men. + +"You must carry him down below and drop him through the trap door into +the vaults," he cried. "You will have plenty of time to do it if you +are quick. Unbind him, sharp now!" + +The two men commenced to do as he told them and very soon had the +straps off me, then they carried me between them towards the door after +firmly securing the gag in my mouth. + +They had got about half-way down the spiral staircase with me, Saumarez +following behind, and I was in an agony of mind that they would succeed +in reaching the vaults with me, when I heard the door burst in below, +and a cheer from several voices, followed by rapid footsteps on the +steps. + +"It's no good," cried Saumarez with another oath, "drop him and follow +me up to the roof." + +They did drop me very roughly on the stone stairs, but before they went +I heard one of the men cry out-- + +"Don't kill him in cold blood!" + +Then there came the click of a pistol lock followed by a deafening +report, and a bullet struck the step I was lying on about an inch from +my temple. There was a scuffling of feet on the stairs above, mingled +with words of remonstrance in German; the two men were hurrying +Saumarez away. + +The report and the impact of the bullet had half stunned me, but I sat +up, and my hands being free, tore the gag out of my mouth. At the same +time, rapid footsteps came up the stairs, and, in a few moments, I +found a very familiar face, with an absolutely astounded expression on +it looking down into mine. + +"In Heaven's name!" a well-known voice cried, "what are you doing here, +Bill?" + +It was my cousin, Lord St. Nivel, a subaltern in the Coldstream Guards! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CRUFT'S FOLLY + +Looking over my cousin's shoulders were two other faces, one covered +with rough hair, and evidently belonging to a game-keeper, the other +the beautiful face of my cousin, Lady Ethel Vanborough, St. Nivel's +sister. + +"Poor fellow!" she remarked sympathetically. "What have they been +doing to you?" + +I could hardly believe my eyes, and passed my hand wearily across my +forehead. + +St. Nivel turned to the keeper. + +"Give me the brandy flask," he said. + +The man produced it, and my cousin poured some out in the little silver +cup attached to it. + +"It's a lucky thing for you, Bill," he observed, while I greedily drank +the brandy down, "that I thought of bringing this flask with me this +morning. Ethel was against it; she's a total abstainer." + +"Except when alcohol is needed medicinally," she interposed in an +explanatory tone, "then it is another matter." + +I now took a good look at her; she was wearing a short, tweed, +tailor-made shooting costume, and carried in her hand a light sixteen +bore shot gun. + +"You look just about done," continued her brother. "Whatever has +happened to you?" + +"You would look bad," I answered, "if you had had nothing to eat since +lunch yesterday." + +St. Nivel was a soldier and man of action. + +"Botley," he said to the keeper, "the sandwiches." + +"Now," said the guardsman invitingly, when I had ravenously disposed of +my second sandwich, "tell us something about it." + +I had just opened my lips to speak, when there came a great cry from +the roof of the tower above, and a black body shot past the little +window near which I was sitting. + +We all ran to the window but could see nothing. + +Then St. Nivel made a suggestion. + +"Let us mount up to the roof," he said, "and see what is to be seen. +You, Botley, had better go down to the foot of the tower." + +The keeper touched his forelock and commenced his descent of the spiral +staircase. Meanwhile, Lady Ethel, her brother and I mounted up to the +top. + +We passed the room in which I had been imprisoned, and went up a very +much narrower flight of steps to the roof, coming out at a little door +which was standing open. The roof was flat and covered with lead. + +"Take care how you tread," cried St. Nivel. "I expect it is all pretty +rotten. In fact, Ethel, I think you had better go inside." + +Ethel, however, was not of that way of thinking; she was a thorough +sportswoman and wanted to see all the fun. + +"All right, Jack," she rejoined cheerily. "You go on, I'll look after +myself without troubling you." + +It was very evident at the first glance that there had been an +accident, a piece of the low stone wall which surrounded the roof was +gone. It looked as if it had recently tumbled over. St. Nivel was +evidently right when he said the place was rotten. Rotten it certainly +was. + +Stepping very gingerly we all approached the embattled wall, and, +selecting the firmest part, looked over, one at a time. I had the +second peep and was just in time to see two men, one limping very +much--this I am sure was Saumarez--disappear into a neighbouring wood. +A countrified-looking boy was running up from the opposite direction. + +At the foot of the tower, however, was another matter; huddled up in a +heap was the body of a man, with a coil of rope and some shattered +masonry lying all around it. + +By the body stood Botley, the game-keeper, scratching his head. + +It was now very evident what had occurred. + +The three miscreants who had tried to torture me had endeavoured to +escape by letting themselves down by a rope from the top of the tower. +Two had succeeded and one had been killed. The reason of this was +obvious, the rope had been fixed round one of the battlements and it +had not been sufficiently strong to maintain the weight of the three +men. The two lowest had probably got off with a shaking, the man who +had got on the rope last had lost his life. All this was perfectly +evident. + +"Who is it?" shouted Lord St. Nivel to the keeper below. + +"Doan't know, me lord," came back the answer, "he's a stranger to me." + +The keeper had now been joined by the countrified boy, and the two +turned the body over on to its face. I could see that it was the +fairer of the two men who had acted under Saumarez' orders. + +"I think we had better go down," suggested my cousin, the Guardsman; +"we may be of some service there." + +On the way down the winding staircase, a thought struck me. + +"What has become of that body," I asked, "that was found on Lansdown +yesterday morning?" + +"What body?" replied my two cousins together. + +"The body of an old lady." + +"We have heard nothing of it," replied St. Nivel, "and we ought to have +done so. But you have not told us what happened to _you_." + +Going down the old stone staircase, I gave them a brief account of my +arrest in London and journey down there, with my imprisonment during +the night in the tower. + +"Well," remarked St. Nivel, while his sister murmured a few words of +sympathy, "I haven't quite got the hang of the thing yet, but you must +tell us more at lunch." + +We found that the man lying at the foot of the tower was certainly +dead; his neck was broken. + +We could therefore do nothing but leave the gamekeeper in charge of the +body while we despatched the boy to warn the police and fetch a doctor. + +With a shilling in his pocket to get his dinner, the young yokel set +off on his journey, and we strolled away. + +"I don't think we'll shoot any more this morning, Jack," Ethel said, +"this affair has made me feel a bit shaky." + +"Then you had better come up to the house with us, Bill," said her +brother, slapping me on the back, "and have some lunch. Then you can +tell us all your adventures." + +I readily agreed, and we had walked some little distance when I heard +footsteps running behind us; we stopped and turned. It was the country +boy we had sent to the police. + +"I forgot to show you this yere sir," he said, opening his hand, in +which he held something carefully clasped. + +"What is it?" I asked as he addressed me. + +"It's this yere _heye_, sir," he answered. "It don't belong to the +dead 'un; he's got two." + +I glanced into his open palm and beheld two halves of a brown +artificial eye, made of glass, and much shot with imitation blood! + + * * * * * + +"No," observed my friend, Inspector Bull, "there's been no body found +on Lansdown, and I should have heard of it if there had been without a +doubt." + +The inspector finished a liberal tumbler of Lord St. Nivel's Scotch +whisky and soda, and set the tumbler carefully down on the table as if +it were a piece of very rare china. + +My cousin, who was standing on the hearthrug, laughed heartily. + +"That was only another piece of the rogue's plot," he said. "They must +have had a clever head to direct them." + +"Yes," I put in, "a clever head with only one eye in it, if I'm not +much mistaken." + +The inspector gave me a doubtful look; then his eye reverted to the +whisky decanter upon which it had been fondly fixed. St. Nivel +observed it and pushed the whisky towards him. + +"Thank you, my lord," said the police officer, helping himself with a +look of intense satisfaction; he did not often get such whisky. "It's +a curious thing, however, that this man with one eye should ha' been +doing all these pranks right under my nose as it were, and I never even +heard of him before." + +Being aware of his methods, I was not at all surprised. + +Even now, knowing that I was respectably connected, he even suspected +me, and regarded me as an impostor with rich relatives. + +This story of the finding of the body on Lansdown only confirmed his +views of my powers of invention. + +"As a matter of fact," observed Lord St. Nivel, "I am only a stranger +in these parts, having borrowed a friend's house for a week's shooting; +but no doubt you can tell me what this tower is, where my cousin was +kept a prisoner, and which my sister and I came across by the merest +chance." + +"Cruft's Folly," replied the beaming inspector, with his whisky glass +in his hand. "Cruft's Folly has stood where it does nearly a hundred +years. It was built by some gentleman, I believe, a long while ago, to +improve the landscape, just like Sham Castle over yonder." + +"But does nobody live in it?" + +"No, I've always understood it was quite empty and nearly a ruin." + +"Then I have little doubt," said my cousin with a chuckle, "that your +friends, Bill, simply appropriated it for their own uses." + +"I suppose you'll have the place thoroughly searched, Mr. Bull, won't +you?" I asked. "There may be something hidden there which will give +you a clue to my assailants." + +"You may rely upon that, Mr. Anstruther," replied the inspector, rising +and slapping his chest, "but we shall have to communicate with the +owner first." + +Thus through the red-tapism of the law the chance was lost. Had the +old tower of Cruft's Folly been searched at that moment the remainder +of this history most certainly would never have been written. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SANDRINGHAM + +When I got back to the comfort of the Magnifique, though my "cure" was +but half completed, yet I determined to bring my visit to Bath to a +close; it had been too exciting. I would come back and finish the +course of water drinking and baths some other time. + +At any rate the little twinge of rheumatism in my shoulder which had +brought me there was all gone. I think possibly the shocks of +electricity combined with my agitation of mind had cured it. + +St. Nivel and Lady Ethel, being tired of the "rough" shooting for the +time being, and perhaps having a sneaking liking for their cousin, +decided to come in to Bath and take up their quarters with me at the +big hotel in the town. However, at the end of three days, being +thoroughly rested, and nothing whatever having been heard of Saumarez, +I decided, finally, on account of the sensation I was creating in the +hotel, which was becoming an annoyance, to accept St. Nivel's +invitation to put in a fortnight's shooting with him at his place in +Norfolk. I had the very pleasantest recollections of it, though I had +not been there for two shooting seasons. + +"If you behave yourself and are very good," explained Ethel, "perhaps +we may take you to one of the big shoots at Sandringham. Jack is going +to one, and they are always glad to have an extra gun if he happens to +be such a good shot as you are." + +I bowed my acknowledgments to my pretty cousin with much mock humility, +but in my heart I felt very proud of the prospective honour. I had +never yet occupied one of those much-coveted places in a royal shooting +party. Besides, I knew that the Sandringham preserves were simply +_chock-full_ of pheasants and were, in fact, simply a sportsman's +elysium. + +"You'll be able to put in five days' shooting a week with us, Bill, if +you like," St. Nivel said, "before we go over to Sandringham. My +invitation is for next Thursday week, so you'll be able to get your +hand in." + +This gave a much-needed change to my ideas, but before I packed up to +leave Bath I went down and had another look at 190 Monmouth Street. + +I rang the bell and a woman opened the door with a baby in her arms. + +"I'm the sergeant's wife, please sir," she said in reply to my inquiry. +"We was put in here by Inspector Bull." + +"Then nothing has been heard of the old lady?" I asked. + +"No, sir," she replied, "nothing. The neighbours hardly knew she was +here, she showed herself so seldom; but the woman that used to come in +and do odd jobs for her says she's been living here ten year." + +"Ten years!" I repeated in astonishment. "How on earth did she pass +her time?" + +"The woman says, sir, she was always writing, writing all day." + +"How was she fed?" I asked anxiously. "I suppose no tradesmen called?" + +"No, sir," the sergeant's wife replied, "the woman I am speaking of, +who lives in the country, used to come three times a week and clean up +for her, and each time she would bring her a supply of simple food, +eggs and milk and such-like, to last her till she came again." + +I put my hand in my pocket and gave her half a crown. + +"I suppose you don't mind my looking round the house," I suggested. "I +should like to see it once more before I leave Bath." + +"Well," she said hesitatingly, "I'm afraid it's against orders, but----" + +The woman who hesitates is lost; she let me in. + +I went with her straight down to the sitting-room. It was locked, but +she had the key for cleaning purposes, and let me in. + +"It looks very dreary now, don't it, sir," she queried, "in spite of +all the china and finery and that?" + +Yes, she was right, the room by daylight looked very dismal; the broken +looking-glass over the mantelpiece did not improve its appearance. + +I would have given a good deal to have been able to open the safe again +if I had had the key with me and to see if it contained any further +secrets, but this, for the present, was out of the question. + +I had, however, the satisfaction of knowing that the place was well +guarded, and was not likely to be interfered with perhaps for years. I +went into the other rooms--the sergeant and his wife were occupying the +kitchens--and found nothing there but dust. One or two were locked up, +but it was perfectly impossible to see what was in them. An inspection +of the keyholes revealed only darkness. I came down from the top +storey with a sigh at its desolation. + +I left the old place and walked rather sadly down the long street back +to my hotel. + +I wondered as I went what had become of the poor wounded old lady; +whether she had died and her body was thrust away somewhere in hiding +without Christian burial, or did she by some miracle still live? But +this latter suggestion seemed an utter impossibility from the state in +which I had left her. So I packed up, and on the next morning, with my +two cousins, left the tower of Bath Abbey behind and started _en route_ +for Bannington Hall, the Mid Norfolk mansion of Lord St. Nivel. + +The Vanboroughs were relatives of my mother's; she was one of that +noble family, and the present peer's aunt. Dear soul, she had long +since gone to her rest, following my father, the Chancery Judge, in +about a year after his own demise. + +The Vanboroughs were celebrated for their beauty, and my mother had +been no exception to the rule. My rather stern, sad features had, I +suppose, come from my father, but still I think I had my mother's eyes, +and a look of her about the mouth when I smiled. + +At least my cousin, Ethel Vanborough, said I had. + +There was always something like home about dear old Bannington to me, +with a sniff of the sea when you first stepped out of the carriage at +the door. + +The big comfortable old landau with its pair of strong horses had now, +however, given place to a smart motor car, upholstered like a little +drawing-room. + +My cousin, Lord St. Nivel, was certainly fully up to date, and his +sister, Lady Ethel, was, if possible, a little more so. They were +twins. Left orphans as children, the two had grown up greatly attached +to one another naturally, and being the sole survivors of a very rich +family and inheriting all its savings and residues, they had an +extremely good time of it together without any great desire to exchange +their happy brother and sisterhood for the bonds of matrimony. Still +they were very young, being only four-and-twenty. + +I spent a very happy ten days with them in the glorious old mansion +full of recollections and relics of bygone ages. Its very red brick +peacefulness had a soothing effect upon me, and I will defy any one to +experience greater comfort than we did coming in tired out after a +day's tramp after the partridges--for St. Nivel was an advocate of +"rough" shooting--and sitting round the great blazing fire of logs in +the hall while Ethel poured out our tea. + +I will admit that Ethel and I indulged in a mild flirtation; we always +did when we met, especially when we had not seen one another for some +time, which was the case in the present instance. + +Still it was only a _cousinly_ flirtation and never went beyond a +pressure of the hand, or on very rare occasions a kiss, when we met by +chance perhaps, in the gloaming of the evening, in one of the long, old +world corridors, when no one was about. + +Shooting almost every day, I soon got back into my old form again. + +"Yes, you'll do," remarked my cousin, when I brought down my seventh +"rocketter," in succession the day before the royal shoot. "If you +shoot like that to-morrow, Bill, you'll be asked to Sandringham again!" + +A few words from my cousin to the courteous old secretary had gained me +the invitation I so desired; I was determined to do my very best to +keep up my reputation as a good sporting shot. We motored over the +next morning; Ethel with us. It was always understood that St. Nivel's +invitations included her, in fact, she was a decided favourite in the +royal circle, and being an expert photographer, handy with her +snapshotter, always had something interesting to talk about when she +came across the Greatest Lady. + +We found the members of the shooting party lounging about the terrace, +for the most part smoking and waiting for their host. Several motor +cars were in readiness to carry them off to the various plantations. + +Presently our host arrived, and we were complete; I heard him remark to +one of the guests as he got into his car-- + +"There are three more of those lazy fellows to arrive," he said, +laughing, "but they must come on by themselves in another car." + +Our first shot was on the Wolverton Road about half-way down towards +the station, and here the birds were as plentiful as blackberries. I +never before had seen such a head of game. The beaters entered the +plantations in a row, standing close together, and moved _one step_ at +a time, each step sending out perhaps a dozen pheasants, who were, as a +rule, quickly disposed of by the guns around. + +Of course there were exceptions: there were those who missed their +birds both barrels time after time, or still worse sent them away +sorely wounded with their poor shattered legs hanging helplessly down. + +These were the sort of shots who were not required at Sandringham, and, +as a rule, were not asked again. I, however, was fortunate; being in +good practice and cool, I brought down my birds one after the other, as +St. Nivel remarked afterwards, "like a bit of clockwork," and I had +the satisfaction of hearing our host inquire who I was. We had +finished one plantation very satisfactorily, as the heaps of dead +pheasants testified, and were moving off to the next when I got a shock. + +A motor car came rushing on to the road, and stopped quite near to +where I was strolling along in conversation with one of the equerries. + +"Ah! you lazy fellows!" exclaimed our host, "you are losing all the +best of the sport." + +A well-known foreign nobleman, a tall, dark, handsome fellow, got out +first and advanced full of apologies, hat in hand. + +My glance was fixed upon his very prepossessing face and I did not at +the moment notice the gentleman who followed him. When I did I started +violently and the equerry walking with me asked what was the matter. + +"Nothing is the matter particularly," I answered, passing my hand +before my eyes, "but can you tell me the name of that gentleman who has +just got out of the car?" + +"You mean the red-faced man with the black imperial?" he suggested. + +"Yes," I answered. + +"Oh! That is some Bavarian duke," he answered, "not royal, but a +Serene Somebody. I forget his name myself, but I will ask some one, +and tell you." + +A friend in the Household was passing at the time and he caught his arm +and whispered him a question. + +"Yes, of course," he said, turning again to me; "he is the Duke +Rittersheim, one of those small German principalities swept away long +ago, and of which only the title and the family estates remain." + +I turned and took another look at His Serene Highness. Yes, Duke of +Rittersheim or not, the red-faced, dark-haired foreigner, who was +advancing half cringingly, hat in hand and full of apologies, was none +other than Saumarez, the man who had tried to torture me in the tower +of Cruft's Folly! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE DUKE OF RITTERSHEIM + +That little _rencontre_ took my nerve away, and I shot very badly at +the next plantation, so badly--I missed two birds--that I was almost +inclined to give up and go home; but then lunch came--in a marquee--and +its luxury and the delightful wine restored me. I shot well again all +the afternoon. + +Yes, it was a glorious day, and I enjoyed it immensely when I got +Saumarez--or His Serene Highness--out of my mind. He was a superb +shot, I will say that of him; he fired from the left shoulder as many +men do, but in his case I knew it was on account of his glass eye. + +Walking to the last plantation with one of the Household and casually +discussing all manner of ordinary subjects, I ventured a chance remark +concerning the Duke of Rittersheim. + +"His Serene Highness is a fine shot," I said, "an old sportsman, it is +easy to see." + +"Yes," answered my companion, "he is supposed to be one of the finest +shots in Germany." + +"And yet he has a glass eye?" I ventured. + +The man I was walking with turned round and stared at me. + +"Now, how in the name of goodness did you know that?" he inquired. "It +is supposed to be a secret, and the artificial eye looks so natural +under his pince-nez that very few know of its existence." + +"But you are quite right," he continued; "he lost it in a shooting +accident when he was a boy." + +This made the matter quite certain in my mind, and I determined to +confront His Serene Highness at the first opportunity and see what +effect it would have upon him; but I might have saved myself the +trouble of this resolution; subsequent event proved pretty conclusively +that he had recognised me from the first. + +We were all arranged for the final shoot of the day, when to my +astonishment I found myself next to the Duke of Rittersheim. He was on +my right hand, and therefore had me well under his sound left eye. + +I must admit that I felt uneasy when I saw him there; nevertheless, I +went on shooting coolly and had the pleasure once or twice of "wiping +his eye." I even heard a distinct "Bravo" come from him at one of my +shots. + +I was, however, far from comfortable in having him for such a close +neighbour under the circumstances, and wished him a hundred miles away. +We shot on until the light got very bad, but there were only a few more +yards to be driven, so we went on. We had nearly finished when I +noticed the Duke of Rittersheim send his loader away to pick up +something he had dropped. + +I noted the man run off to fulfil the request, and at the same moment +my eyes were attracted by the last rays of the red sun, already set, +reddening far away the waters of Lynn Deeps. + +It was a lovely sight, and my gaze rested on it some moments; then I +suddenly realised that I was practically alone with the Bavarian Duke, +as my loader had walked on a few yards with his back to me. + +The Duke was standing quite alone, and in that moment I saw his gun go +up to his shoulder at a bird, then in a flash it turned towards me! + +I realised my danger in a moment and threw myself flat on my face. As +I lay there I heard the report of his gun, the swish of the charge, and +a cry from my loader. He had shot him! + +I sprang to my feet, and ran to the man, who was standing holding his +arm; but quick as I was the Duke was there before me. + +"Are you hurt, my man?" he asked in his sharp tone which I knew so +well. "Where are you hit?" + +"It's in the arm, sir," the Norfolk man answered; "it be set fast." + +"Look here," said the Duke, quickly taking out a note case. "I can see +you are not badly hurt. Take these bank-notes; here are twenty pounds. +Go quietly away and say nothing about it and I'll give you another +twenty. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, me lord," answered the man, who probably had never had so much +money before in his life. "I'll keep mum." + +"Can you walk all right?" asked the Duke. + +"Yes, Your Royal Highness," answered the poor fellow, who was getting +mixed, feeling, no doubt, very faint. + +"Then off with you at once," cried the Duke, "and send some one up in +the morning to the Duke of Rittersheim for the other twenty pounds. +Tell the people," he added, as the man went slowly off, "that you have +had a bad fall." + +"Yes, Your Majesty," answered the bewildered, wounded man as he +disappeared in the dusk. + +I stood watching the Duke as he went coolly back without a word to me +to his place; this, then, was the cool, resourceful scoundrel I had to +deal with! + + * * * * * + +Sitting by the big fire in the smoking-room at Bannington Hall that +night after dinner, I told St. Nivel the whole of the incident of the +shooting of the beater by the Duke of Rittersheim. + +"Well, that's the limit," commented Jack, taking the cigar out of his +mouth; "he _must_ be a cool-headed scoundrel. I never heard of such +nerve!" + +"It's a nice thing to have a brute like that on one's track, isn't it?" +I remarked dejectedly; "it makes life hardly worth living." + +Jack sat and smoked placidly for some moments looking into the fire. +He was thinking. + +Presently he turned to me. + +"Look here, Bill," he remarked, "Ethel and I had a talk this evening +before dinner about matters generally and she has started what I call a +very good idea." + +"What's that?" I asked. + +"Of course, she knows all about your promise to the old lady; you told +her, you know." + +"Certainly," I answered, "I told you both. I know you never keep +secrets from one another." + +"Well, she knows," he proceeded, "therefore, that you have made up your +mind to go to Valoro with that packet the old lady gave you." + +"Well?" + +Jack brought his hand down with a smack on my knee. + +"Let us come too, old chap," he cried--"both of us--Ethel and I." + +The idea to me was both pleasant and astonishing. I had never thought +of it. + +"But won't Ethel find it rather a fatiguing journey?" I suggested. + +He was quite amused at the idea. + +"I can assure you," he said, "that she can stand pretty nearly as much +as I can. She's a regular little amazon. That's what Ethel is." + +"Very well, then," I replied, "nothing will suit me better than to have +yours and Ethel's charming society. As a matter of fact I am beginning +to look forward to the expedition keenly." + +The next few days were given up to wild speculations on our coming +journey and its results. + +"I hear the country is lovely," exclaimed Ethel, poring over a map; "at +any rate the voyage will be splendid!" + +It was settled that we should start from Liverpool to Monte Video, +thence make our way by rail across country to our destination, Valoro, +a beautiful city in the mountains of Aquazilia, in the neighbourhood of +which we were told we should get splendid sport. + +Therefore we made a flying trip to town, especially to visit Purdey's +and supply ourselves with the very latest things in sporting guns and +rifles. + +Out of the very liberal provision the old lady had made for my +expenses, I felt justified in being extravagant, and provided myself +with a beautiful gun--the right barrel having a shallow rifling for a +bullet should we meet with very big game--and a perfect gem of an +express rifle; these two were the latest models in sporting firearms. + +Ethel and St. Nivel, having an unlimited command of money, ordered +pretty nearly everything they were advised to take, with the result +that we required a small pantechnicon van to take our combined luggage. + +There was, however, one thing I was very particular about, and upon +which I took the advice of an old friend who had travelled much. + +I bought a first-rate _Target_ revolver--a Colt--with which I knew I +could make _accurate_ shooting. I would not trust my life to one of +those unscientific productions which are just as likely to shoot a +friend as an enemy, and are more in the nature of pop-guns than +defensive weapons. I had reason to congratulate myself later on that I +had taken such a precaution. + +"There's one thing you really must see to at once, Bill," exclaimed St. +Nivel, one day when we were all busy making out lists of our +requirements in the great library and posting them off to the stores. +"You _must_ get a servant." + +Now I had been, for the last three months, doing for myself; my old +servant had left me some months before and I had not filled his place +with another. Times, too, had not been very prosperous with me and I +seriously thought of curtailing that luxury and brushing my own clothes. + +The liberal allowance for my travelling expenses, however, plus the +thousand pound note, put quite a different complexion on matters. I +felt now thoroughly justified in providing myself with a first-rate +man, and for that purpose I took my cousin's advice and put an +advertisement in the _Morning Post_. + +"A gentleman requires a good valet, used to travelling. Excellent +reference required." I gave my name and St. Nivel's address to ensure +getting a good one. + +That was the wording of it, and I arranged to run up to town for a day +to make my selection from them. From the numerous applicants I +selected six, and told them to meet me at Long's Hotel. + +St. Nivel accompanied me to give me the benefit of his advice, which +was perhaps not likely to be of much service to me. He employed a +refined person himself who asked and got £150 a year. + +The man who took my fancy was an old cavalry soldier named Brooks who +had been out of work for a time, but who yet bore the stamp of a man +who knew his work and would do it. I closed with him for a modest £70 +a year, and he was glad to get it. + +"When will you be ready to come, Brooks?" I asked when we had settled +preliminaries. "We shall be off by the next boat to La Plata, and I +shall want you to get on with the packing as soon as you can." + +"For the matter of that, sir," he answered, "I could come now. I've no +chick nor child to hold me. I'm a widower without encumbrances." + +I told the "widower without encumbrances" to come the next day, and St. +Nivel and I jumped into a hansom to catch the five o'clock express, +glad to get out of the thick atmosphere of London into the bright crisp +air of Norfolk. + +"I think you've done right," remarked St. Nivel in the train, "in +getting an old cavalry man. He'll understand hunting things." + +As I could not afford to hunt I missed the point of the signification. + +Ah, those were happy days, those last few before we started! + +All our serious preparations were finished and we had only to give a +little general supervision to the packing of our respective servants. +Ethel's experienced maid was going with her, of course. + +This done, we used to stroll about together--the three of us--and enjoy +the last few hours of the dear old place as much as we could in the +beautiful bright weather. + +I think Ethel and I even used to get a little bit romantic in the +lovely moonlight nights, when the old oak-panelled corridors and +staircases were bathed in the soft light. But we were very far from +being in love with one another all the same. + +I shall never forget that time of peace, which came in a period of +storm and trial; the old red mansion with the river running not a +hundred yards from it, and the graceful swans sailing to and fro, the +glorious old trees of the avenue, the fine broad terrace with its +splendid views over the low, undulating country, with a glimpse of Lynn +Deeps on one hand and the white towers of St. Margaret's, the great +church in the ancient town, on the other. + +The dreamy, old-world air of the place, the smell even of the +fresh-turned earth in the great gardens, the cawing of the circling +rooks--it all comes back to me as if I had but walked out of it all an +hour ago. + +However, the morning soon came when we were to bid adieu to it all, and +in the hurry and scurry of it and the race down to the station in the +motor--for we were late, Ethel's maid having forgotten an important +hat--perhaps we forgot all our peaceful happiness in our feverish +speculations on our voyage across the Atlantic to that distant South +American Republic, Aquazilia, and its mountain capital, Valoro. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PLOT THAT FAILED + +Settling on the Hotel Victoria as our headquarters, we prepared to make +the two days before our sailing as amusing as possible, but I always +had before me the nightmare of the little carved casket which I was to +carry with me. + +I decided I would take no risks with it. I would go and fetch it from +my solicitors on the afternoon of our departure, on the way to the +station. It was very evident to me that this casket contained +something of the greatest possible interest to several people, +including in particular His Serene Highness, the Duke of Rittersheim. + +When, then, Ethel, St. Nivel and I had crowded all the visits to +theatres and matinees we could into the intervening two days, we sat +taking our last luncheon in England, probably, for some time to come. + +"I am so glad we are going by this boat instead of the next," remarked +St. Nivel, taking a glass of Chartreuse from the attentive waiter who +was on the look out for a parting tip; "a fortnight makes all the +difference in that part of the world; we shall just get there for the +tail end of the summer, which they say is glorious. A bit of a change, +I am thinking," he added, with a glance out of the window, "to this +kind of diluted pea-soup weather we get here in November." + +"Let us see," said Ethel, with a calculating air, "this is the last +week in November. We arrive there the second week in December, and the +rainy season does not begin until the middle of January. We shall have +a clear month to enjoy ourselves in!" + +"Very delightful," I replied; "a delightful voyage under delightful +circumstances." + +I bowed to my cousin Ethel as I raised my liqueur glass to my lips. + +She blew away the smoke of the cigarette she took from hers--we were in +a private room--and smiled at me. + +"You flattering old courtier!" she answered; "you get those airs +through writing romances. What is more to the purpose, have you +secured those three state cabins on the C deck of the _Oceana_?" + +"Well," I answered laconically, "I've paid the money for them at any +rate. Sixty-six pounds the three, over and above first-class fare!" + +"And very cheap, too," replied Ethel; "the comfort of sleeping in a +real brass bedstead instead of those intolerable bunks is worth three +times as much!" + +I looked at my cigar and said nothing; but for the generosity of the +old lady of Monmouth Street, Bath, a bunk would have been my lot, +without doubt, in the ordinary way. Though she had laid a heavy burden +upon me, she certainly had a kind consideration for my comfort. + +Further conversation was put an end to by the entry of my new man, +Brooks, with my travelling coat. + +"The motor's at the door, sir," he announced. + +I had engaged a special motor-brougham to take me from the hotel to my +lawyers in Lincoln's Inn, and from there to the station with the +precious casket in my possession; I had already banked the notes. I +wished to make the journey as rapidly as possible, and Brooks was to +accompany me, my luggage going on under the care of St. Nivel's man. + +"Then _au revoir_ until we meet at Euston," I said to my cousins; "mind +you are in good time for the train." + +"We shall be all right," answered Ethel. "I wish we were coming with +you. I feel rather anxious about you." + +"Don't you worry, Ethel," St. Nivel replied, "he'll be all right. He's +not a child." + +I went off and got into the motor, Brooks taking his seat on the box. + +We rattled away through the crowded streets in the dim half-fog that +was enveloping the town, and duly arrived at the dreary-looking offices +of the lawyers. + +There I did not lose a minute; they had been duly apprised of my coming +and I found Watson the managing clerk already waiting for me. + +"Here are the two packets, Mr. Anstruther," he said, handing them to +me; "they are just as you left them, you see, and the seals are intact." + +I examined them and found them quite correct. + +"What a fortunate thing," added Watson, as I buttoned my overcoat over +the pocket in which I had stowed the little parcels, "that I saw you +push those two packets into the pigeon-holes, and stopped that +scoundrel from laying his hands on them!" + +"Yes, it was a very lucky thing," I replied, "and I am very much +obliged to you for your promptness in gathering my meaning." + +"Yes, it was a fortunate escape for you, sir," he added; "when I saw +you go away with those two men, I never felt more miserable in my life. +But, of course, we read all about the truth of it next afternoon in the +evening paper. One can hardly believe such things possible in these +times with our efficient police." + +"Ye-es,"--I hesitated, with my mind on the thick necks and +whisky-drinking proclivities of some of the "'tecs" I had known,--"I +suppose we can never rely upon _absolute_ safety in this world." + +Then as I spoke a thought struck me; I noticed that the packets were +rather bulging out in the pocket in which I had placed them. I had an +idea I would change their position. I quickly took them out and placed +one in each of my trousers pockets; there was then nothing in my +appearance to denote where they were. In the result, it was a very +lucky thing I had taken this precaution. + +To preserve the secret of their whereabouts, I kept my hand in the +breast of my travelling coat as if I were guarding the precious parcels +there, and in this way I left the lawyers' office and made for the +motor-brougham, the door of which was being held open by my man Brooks. + +Just as I was half-way across the pavement, a man selling evening +papers came rushing by and shouting-- + +"'Orrible murder! Suicide of the assassin! 'Orrible murder!" + +He was running very fast and apparently not looking where he was going, +for he knocked roughly against me as he passed, dislodging my hand from +my breast; but Brooks he ran right into, full tilt, with the result +that my man lost his balance and sprawled on the pavement. + +It was then that a very fussy little over-dressed man came bustling up +out of the fog, accompanied by a very attractive lady. + +"A more disgraceful thing, sir," he said, addressing me, "I have never +seen before. I trust you are not hurt, sir?" + +"No, thank you, I'm all right," I answered, half inclined to laugh at +Brooks scrambling up from the pavement and brushing himself, for it was +a wet, slimy day and the pavements muddy. The newspaper man had +disappeared. + +"Why, I declare," exclaimed the little man, "the scamp has covered you +with mud!" + +I looked down; there certainly was a splash of mud on the front of my +coat. I wondered how it had got there. Despite my assertions, the +two--both the lady and the gentleman--insisted on brushing me, until in +very desperation I had to get into the brougham out of their way. Then +they suddenly made me very polite bows and disappeared. + +Brooks mounted the box, and we rattled away to Euston. There was one +thing which attracted my attention, however, on that short journey. +Brooks' ungloved hand was hanging down as he sat on the box, and I +noticed that he kept snapping his fingers as he sat. + +"That's a very highly nervous man," I said to myself, "and even that +little incident has upset him." + +Brooks' nervousness passed out of my mind altogether when we reached +Euston, and I sought in the bustle for my two cousins. I found them at +last standing in front of the reserved coupé which I had taken care to +have secured for us by my man. + +When they saw me, a look of surprise and amusement came over their +faces, and they both laughed heartily. + +"What on earth have you been doing, Will?" Ethel cried. "Have you been +to a suffragists' meeting on the way?" + +Ethel affected to laugh at the suffragists, but in her heart I believe +she would have liked to join them, and perhaps would have done so but +for her brother. + +"No," I answered; "what's the matter with me?" + +"Look at your coat," replied St. Nivel, pointing to the breast of that +garment. + +I did look, and found that both my travelling coat and the coat +underneath it had been cut completely through the left breast, where my +pocket was, with a knife whose edge must have been as keen as that of a +razor. + +At the first shock I cried, half aloud-- + +"Good God! The packets have been stolen." + +Then I recollected my forethought in placing them in my trousers +pockets, and I dived my hands into them instinctively. Yes, thank God, +they were all right; my two hands closed on their crisp sealed surfaces. + +But how had it occurred? + +I thought of the man tearing along with the evening papers, the +upsetting of Brooks, and the fussy lady and gentleman who had insisted +on brushing me down. I saw it all now--a carefully prepared plan! + +Then I roared with laughter, much to the astonishment of Ethel and St. +Nivel. + +"They've had all their trouble for nothing," I gasped, simply stamping +with delight; "the silly fools have got nothing!" But I was wrong; +they had got my brand new cigar case given me by Ethel with my initials +on it and full of St. Nivel's best Havannahs, placed there by her own +fair hands for the railway journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE OCEANA + +Very thankful were my two cousins and I when we got clear of the fogs +of the Mersey and were fairly out at sea. Not that we were bad +sailors. We did not proclaim that we were, at any rate, though I will +admit that for the first two days I found my comfortable brass bedstead +a resting-place much more to my liking than a seat at the dinner-table, +although I duly turned up there for the sake of appearances. During +this period of seclusion I thought deeply of the latest attempt of my +enemies to secure the casket, and it caused me great uneasiness. I +could not imagine how they knew that I should go to my lawyers for it. + +Ethel made a brave show, but it was quite the third day out from +Liverpool before I saw her smile as I wished to see her smile--without +a mental reservation, in fact. + +St. Nivel was really the only perfectly unconcerned member of our +party, and it was through his persevering attendances on the promenade +deck, that I became acquainted with a young lady who will figure +largely in these pages, although she in reality was by no means of +commanding stature, but one of those charming petite persons whose +mission in life appears to be to exemplify what extraordinarily choice +pieces of human goods can be made up in small parcels. + +It was on the fourth day out that I became acquainted with Dolores +d'Alta. While I had been lying disconsolately on my cot, St. Nivel had +been improving the shining hour by looking after Miss Dolores, who had +taken up her position, during the first few days of her trial, in a +sheltered position on the promenade deck, in preference to her "stuffy +cabin," as she called her state room. + +It had been the pleasure, and had become the duty--a self-imposed +one--of St. Nivel to see that she was properly wrapped up. + +She did not object to smoke either, having, as she stated, been brought +up in an atmosphere of smoke at home. Therefore Jack smoked his cigar. + +Had I not known that St. Nivel's inclinations were apparently fixed in +the direction of bachelorhood, I should have thought he had fallen in +love; but I discovered later that he had, to use an expression of his +own, "simply taken on another pal." He found her a congenial person in +whose society to smoke cigars. But if he had fallen in love, certainly +he would have had a most excellent excuse for doing so. + +A daintier little specimen of Southern beauty it would have been +difficult to imagine than this little Aquazilian aristocrat. To +describe her in a few words, she was a beautiful woman in miniature; +she was the most perfectly symmetrical little piece of womanhood that I +had ever set eyes upon. + +A perfectly clear, creamy complexion, yet not without colour of a rose +tint; dimples in the cheeks, which were ravishing when she smiled,--and +she was very fond of smiling, ay, and laughing too, and showing the +most perfect set of white teeth,--black hair, and very dark blue eyes; +and there you have her. United to this beauty of person was a most +fascinating natural manner; not the manner of a flirt, but that of a +light-hearted, pure-minded girl, as gay as a lark released from +captivity, and not unlike it in its new freedom, for she had not +escaped from a first-rate finishing school in Paris more than six +months. + +She had spent the intervening period under the care of a sister of her +father who had married an Englishman and who lived in good society. + +She had had a season in London and had spent the autumn in a round of +country visits which accounted for her wonderful _savoir faire_; she +was only eighteen. Now she was going home to her dear father, a +widower, under the care of her aunt. Hearing her always referred to in +conversation as "Dolores," her surname was a revelation when I heard it +properly pronounced. St. Nivel's idea of foreign names was exceedingly +hazy and misleading. As soon as she told me she was going home to +Aquazilia, I became very alert and began to ask her questions. + +"Yes," she replied to my query concerning her parent's name, "my father +is the Senor Don Juan d'Alta; in the old time of our monarchy he was +for many years the Prime Minister. He is a very old man is my father," +she further explained; "he is nearly seventy!" + +Looking at her I could understand the old man simply making an idol of +this his only child. It appeared to me very marvellous that I should +have met her. + +Some of the other passengers told me that he was a member of one of the +oldest and most aristocratic families in the country. + +It was very lovely as we steamed farther and farther away from our own +cold fogs and got into the warmth of the south; very fascinating to +walk on deck with Dolores and talk, under the brilliant stars, of +Aquazilia and the extraordinary chance which had made us meet on board +both with the same destination in view--the house of her father. + +"I don't think, though, it is so strange," she confided to me one +lovely moonlight night when we were walking the promenade deck side by +side; "it is not an unreasonable thing that we should have taken the +same boat, considering that they only run once a fortnight." + +"It is certainly not unreasonable," I answered, with a look into her +eyes. "It is the most reasonable chance that I have ever come across +in the whole of my life!" + +"Why?" she answered, with a look of mischief in her dark blue eyes. + +"Because," I answered fervently, with a little tremor in my voice, "it +has given me the chance of spending three weeks near you! + +"Let us go and look at the flying fish," she answered hastily, to +change the conversation. "I do so love to see them." + +Yes, I was daily becoming more and more attached to her; for the first +time in my long career of flirtation I was beginning to find out what +love _really_ meant. + +I was falling in love with a little divinity twelve years my junior, +and from the depths of my knowledge I expected she would very justly +make a fool of me--not intentionally, perhaps, but in effect the +same--and laugh at me for my pains. + +It seemed very bitter to think of as I saw her walking--and laughing +and talking too--with St. Nivel who was six years my junior. It seemed +to me, in my growing jealousy, an ideal match for her. + +I forgot that young ladies never fall in love with the persons they are +expected to, but invariably go off on an unknown tangent of their own, +in obedience to the same law of Nature, perhaps, which causes an +unusually tall girl to lose her heart to a very diminutive--though +generally very consequential--little man. + +In the contemplation of the varied charms of Dolores d'Alta, I almost +forgot my precious casket, confided in fear and trembling to the care +of the captain, and locked up by him in the ship's strong room in my +presence and in the presence of St. Nivel. + +In due course we came to Coruña, or Corunna as we more commonly call +it, and there I had the delight of strolling about the old +fortifications all alone with Dolores and showing her the tomb of Sir +John Moore, while St. Nivel obligingly took charge of her aunt, and +solicitously kept her out of earshot. The old lady had lived long +enough in England to appreciate the attentions of a lord, and he a rich +one, without designs on her niece's fortune. + +Yes, that fortune was my stumbling-block; I learned of it from old Sir +Rupert Frampton, our minister to Aquazilia, who was travelling back to +his post on the _Oceana_. + +"I really don't suppose," he said, one evening in the smoking-room, +nodding his head sententiously, "that old Don Juan d'Alta knows what he +is worth; neither do I suppose that he cares much, for he is a man of +the simplest tastes, living on the plainest food, and having but one +hobby and object, in fact, in life." + +"His daughter?" I suggested at once, Dolores, of course, being the +uppermost thought in my mind. + +"No," replied the old gentleman crisply, with the smartness of the +_diplomat_; "reptiles!" + +"Reptiles!" I exclaimed in disgust; "what reptiles?" + +"Principally snakes," replied the old man, shifting his cigar in his +mouth; "he has a regular Zoological Gardens full of them--all kinds, +from boa-constrictors to adders. He makes pets of them." + +"Not about the _house_?" I suggested. + +"No, not exactly," Sir Rupert replied, "unless they stray in by +themselves. He's very eccentric and I don't think has been quite +himself since the queen abdicated. They say he was in love with her, +notwithstanding the fact that she was a confirmed old maid." + +"Indeed," I replied, curious to keep the old man talking, for I was +desirous of hearing as much as I possibly could about Aquazilia and its +capital, Valoro, "it sounds quite romantic." + +"Well, it _was_ romantic in a way," he proceeded, glad to have a +listener, as old men are; "there's always a certain amount of romance +about the court of a reigning queen. Of course you know that the Salic +law did not prevail in the kingdom of Aquazilia when it _was_ a +kingdom. Yes, it was a splendid court was that of Valoro when Her +Majesty Inez the Second reigned over it. I just remember it +thirty-five years ago when I went out to it as a young attaché on one +of my first appointments and took such a fancy to the lovely country." + +"Then it _is_ lovely," I ventured; "the reports of it are not +exaggerations?" + +Old Sir Rupert replied almost with emotion-- + +"It is superb. It is the loveliest country in the world!" + +"In those days I am speaking of," he proceeded, "Valoro was a place +worth living in. In many respects it outshone some of the courts of +Europe, with which, by the bye, it was in close contact. Queen Inez, +as you no doubt know, was a Princess of Istria; the royal line of +Aquazilia was simply a collateral branch of the great Imperial House of +Dolphberg. And there were those that said that Queen Inez despite all +her resistance of the many endeavours to induce her to enter the +married state--and her offers had been abundant--was not only a queen +and a rich one, but she was also a very beautiful woman." + +"Your account of Queen Inez, Sir Rupert, is absolutely fascinating," I +said. "I am almost inclined to fall in love with her. Where is she +now?" + +The old man paused and a sad look came over his face. + +"She is dead, poor woman," he answered sadly; "they say she died of a +broken heart." + +"At losing the throne?" I queried. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," he said slowly, throwing away the end of his +cigar. "Some say she was glad to get rid of the responsibilities of +it, and quite content to retire to a castle she had in Switzerland not +far from the Lake of Lucerne. She was a woman of very simple tastes." + +"It seems a pity she did not marry," I suggested, "as far as one can +judge." + +"Well, it is highly probable," he answered, "that she would not have +lost her throne if she had had a husband to stand up for her. She was +no match for Razzaro." + +"Who was Razzaro?" I asked. + +"Well, he was the sort of adventurer," the old diplomat answered, "that +South America seems especially to breed. He was a man of great talents +and abandoned to unscrupulousness. I believe he would have sold his +own mother, if he could have got a good bid, and would have haggled +with the purchaser whether the price was to include the clothes she +stood in." + +"A thoroughly honourable, straightforward gentleman," I suggested +ironically. "I can imagine a lady such as you describe Queen Inez to +have been being peculiarly unfitted to deal with such a man!" + +"Yes," agreed Sir Rupert; "and her Prime Minister, or Chancellor as +they called him, Don Juan d'Alta, was not much better. He had the +misfortune to possess the nature of a modern Bayard, and believed in +everybody, until he found out too late that he had been deceived. That +is how Queen Inez lost her throne. Razzaro was slowly but surely +sapping the Royal power for years, right under d'Alta's nose, and he +never really found it out until the whole country burst into +revolution." + +"What happened then?" I asked. + +"Nothing happened," replied Sir Rupert. "When the Queen discovered +that the voice of the people was in favour of a Republic she simply +abdicated. She would not allow a drop of blood to be shed in her +behalf. An Istrian warship which had been waiting for her at the coast +took her to Europe with her devoted lady-in-waiting, the Baroness +d'Altenberg." + +"D'Altenberg," I muttered; "where have heard that name?" + +"It was a bloodless revolution." + +"And Razzaro triumphed?" I added aloud. + +"Yes; Razzaro triumphed," he replied; "and, as a matter of fact, +thoroughly got hold of the popular favour. His son is President of the +Republic at the present moment. Old Razzaro made a sort of family +living of the Presidency." + +"And Don Juan d'Alta retired into private life?" I ventured. + +"Into private life and the society of his reptiles," added the old +diplomatist, rising. "I think the latter have consoled him for many +disappointments." + +"Whom did he marry?" I asked. + +"A very beautiful French lady," he replied, "whose husband, a French +nobleman, had come to Aquazilia to try and make his fortune, and had +died in the effort." + +"Poor man!" I commented. "And Don Juan married his widow?" + +"Exactly; and this pretty little lady, Señorita Dolores, who is +returning to Valoro with us, is the result of the union. They say she +is the very image of her mother, who died when she was five." + +"Then the mother must have been very beautiful," was my comment. + +The old minister stopped and looked at me for some moments without +saying anything. Then, with a peculiar smile about the corners of his +good-natured mouth, shook his head and went slowly out of the +smoking-room. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HELD UP + +Rio with its heat, its tramways, and its great sea wall; its Botanical +Gardens in which once more I had the delight of losing myself with +Dolores, to the evident anxiety of her aunt and duenna, Mrs. +Darbyshire; it seemed so strange to find such a foreign little person +with such a distinctly English name. She, however, refused to be +beguiled away by St. Nivel to look at the giraffes. I think she began +to smell more than a rat when we reached the monkey house, and to doubt +whether his attentions to her were as disinterested as they appeared, +especially when she heard that I was his cousin. + +To marry his poor relation--me--to a rich heiress--her niece +Dolores--no doubt struck her as an end worth taking some trouble about. +Probably she would have done the same herself. + +Therefore as we approached our port of debarkation, after leaving Rio, +I began to find my little interviews with Dolores becoming restricted +more often by the presence of her aunt. Still the recollection of our +rambles at Rio, and the rides alone on the tops of the electric +trams--which are quite orthodox--remained with us; and if Mrs. +Darbyshire became more severe, were there not those little stolen +interviews in the dark part of the promenade deck, where the electric +light did not reach, worth a lifetime; and did I not day by day have +that growing feeling round my heart, which thrilled me through and +through and told me that my little darling was beginning to care for me? + +Did she not absolutely shed tears the night we stole away from the +concert and sat hand in hand under one of the boats, when I whispered +just one little sentence; that I loved her? Ah me! shall I ever forget +those beautiful Southern nights, with the stars shining like great +diamonds above us--nights made for love? + +My cousin Ethel at first did not by any means appreciate the turn my +affections had recently taken; she made several pointed and rather +sarcastic remarks about it, having in her mind, I presume, the +recollection of our little meetings in the long corridors of dear old +Bannington. + +"You seem very much taken up with that Miss d'Alta," she remarked one +day. "I thought you did not like foreign girls. I don't suppose she +can ride or shoot a bit." + +"I don't want her to, Ethel," I replied tersely; "there are no +facilities for either amusement on board ship." + +She smiled, then bit her lips to check it; she wanted to be dignified +and couldn't. She descended to mere abuse. + +"You were always a fool about girls, Bill," she continued. "Any girl +could twist you round her finger. Do you remember Mary Greenway?" + +Now the recollection of that young lady was peculiarly galling to me at +the moment. After expressing deep love for me--I was eighteen--for +nearly six months, she eloped with one of her father's grooms! + +"Please don't mention that young lady," I implored; "it makes me feel +ill. I believe at the present moment she teaches young ladies in her +husband's riding-school." + +Ethel laughed heartily. + +"She might do worse," she replied. "I think she is rather a plucky +girl." + +"What, to run away with a groom?" I suggested. + +"No," she snapped; "to work for her living." + +We came to our port of debarkation, Monte Video, at last. It seemed +like the end of a holiday to go ashore, and take to the dusty train, +luxurious though it was, but _now_ I had the precious casket in my +care, and the anxiety was almost too much for me. + +"Look here," said St. Nivel, when we had been in the train about an +hour, "you are looking pretty sick over that precious packet, why don't +you let me take care of it for you?" + +I tapped nervously at the trousers pocket in which I was carrying it. + +"I hardly like to let it go out of my own charge," I answered +anxiously; "though I know, of course, that it would be safe with you." + +We were, at the time of this conversation, running through a most +beautiful valley, glorious with tropical vegetation. The train was +gradually rising on an easy gradient to the higher lands, where we +hoped to get fresher air, for the heat in the valley was most +oppressive after three weeks passed practically in the open on the deck +of the _Oceana_. + +Without in any way forcing myself on Mrs. Darbyshire's society, I +contrived to see a good deal of Dolores on this little railway journey, +which was only to occupy a day and a half. + +Once on the beautiful tableland with its gorgeous views of hill and +dale, ocean and distant mountain, the train sped onwards at a rate +almost alarming to us used to the slower methods of Europe. + +It was well on in the evening; we had dined excellently in the +well-provided restaurant car, and were lounging about in the moonlight +thinking of turning in--for there were several sleeping-cars attached +to the train--when the incident occurred which very nearly rendered my +journey fruitless. It was just as we had entered Aquazilian territory, +and passed the customs. We were, as I have said, lounging about +smoking, when the train which was running through a deep cutting +suddenly slowed down, and presently the breaks [Transcriber's note: +brakes?] were put on so hard that we who were standing near were nearly +thrown off our feet. + +"Whatever is the matter?" cried Ethel, who was sitting in a compartment +of the smoking-car with us. "I hope there is no accident." + +St. Nivel, who was sitting opposite to me, suddenly leaned forward and +whispered-- + +"If you have that packet of yours handy, give it to me. I think there +will be trouble." + +He had travelled in America before, and I placed a good deal of +reliance on his experience. + +From the front of the train there arose a great hubbub, a chorus of +exclamations in Spanish. + +"I thought so," remarked St. Nivel; "you'd better look sharp, Bill, if +you want to make that packet safe." + +As he spoke, he held out towards me an open cigar-box which he had +taken out of the rack. + +Then I saw what he was aiming at; he wished me for some reason to hide +my packet among the cigars in the box. + +I did not hesitate a moment, but put my hand in my trousers pocket, and +pulling out the precious packet, placed it among the cigars. + +He immediately covered it with more cigars, and then put the box back +in the rack. + +There was a sudden stillness in the front of the train, and I saw +through the windows of the smoking-car quite a cloud of horsemen ride +up the permanent way and dismount; apparently the forepart of the train +had been already occupied, for we heard the sound of a by no means +unpleasant voice making in English the following request:-- + +"Hands up, gentlemen." + +I was unused to this sort of thing, but St. Nivel apparently knew all +about it, for he sat back in his seat with a curse between his teeth. + +"What does it mean?" asked Ethel and I, almost in a breath. + +"It means," answered St. Nivel, "that we are going to be robbed." + +"Oh, my God!" cried poor Ethel, "I hope they won't murder us!" + +By the white look on St. Nivel's face, as he sat with his teeth set, I +saw that there was something in his mind which he feared for his sister +more than death. + +I knew afterwards what some of these South American half-bred +freebooters were like. + +The men who had ridden up by the side of the train were a queer-looking +lot. + +For the most part they wore very loose garments and high-crowned hats, +somewhat of the kind worn by Guy Fawkes. Slung at the saddle of each +man was a coil of rope--a lasso. Nearly every one of them carried a +rifle. + +"I shall get my revolver," I exclaimed. "I've left it in my +dressing-bag." + +"Do nothing of the sort," cried St. Nivel, in alarm; "they would shoot +you instantly." + +"We're being 'held up' then?" I queried. + +"Yes; that's it," he answered shortly. + +At once all thought of my packet went out of my mind; I thought only of +Dolores. I rose from my seat and, despite St. Nivel's remonstrance, +passed rapidly to the rear of the brilliantly lighted train. I had met +her as she came out of the dining-car, and she had told me she intended +sitting with her aunt until it was time to retire for the night at ten +o'clock. She intended to slip out, dear girl, for a few minutes before +she went to bed to say good-night to me. + +Now I found both her and her aunt in a great state of alarm. + +"It's nothing serious, is it, Mr. Anstruther?" asked the elder lady, +seizing my arm. "Some one here says that we are attacked by robbers." + +Before I could answer, a man wearing a cowboy's high-crowned hat and a +mask across the upper part of his face, appeared at the door of the car +and gave the command-- + +"Hands up!" + +He carried a revolver pointed upwards over his shoulder in such a +position that he could have brought it down at once. At first I +refused to elevate my hands as a fat Brazilian was doing near me, and +this evoked another word of command-- + +"Hands up! Sharp!" + +"_Do_ put your hands up, dear," came the soft trembling voice of +Dolores; "_do_, to please _me_." + +My two hands shot up most willingly, immediately. + +"Ladies," the man proceeded, in far from a disagreeable voice, "you +have no need to fear. Our chief has fined each first-class passenger a +hundred dollars; second-class passengers fifty dollars. If those +amounts are placed on the seats, our collector will be round in a +minute or two to take them up, then you will be at liberty to proceed." + +At that moment another man, similarly attired, armed, and masked, +joined the other at the door. + +"He's in here," he announced. "That's him, no doubt." + +He added a sentence in Spanish which I could not understand, then +turned to me. + +"Mr. William Anstruther?" he asked. + +Involuntarily I answered him-- + +"Yes; my name is Anstruther." + +"Follow me," he said sharply; "you're wanted." + +I gave one look at Dolores, and she answered my look. + +"You had better go with them, William," she said, calling me by my name +for the first time. "I will come too." + +She looked deadly white, and I feared every moment would faint. + +The man who had entered first spoke again, addressing Dolores. + +"You need not be afraid," he said. "We shall not harm Mr. Anstruther; +and you had better remain where you are, because we shall probably have +to _strip_ him." + +The two men laughed heartily at their coarse joke, and I felt as if I +could have killed them both. + +Then the thought came unpleasantly home to me. + +"_Why_ would they want to strip me?" + +I followed the first man down the corridor, and looking round saw the +other standing at the door of the compartment in which I had left the +ladies. He had a revolver in his hand, and was watching me intently. +Had I made the slightest effort to escape, I have little doubt he would +have shot me at once. My conductor took me back into the smoking-car, +and then politely asked Lady Ethel, who was still there, to retire. + +When she had gone, with wide-open eyes full of fear, fixed on me to the +last glance, the masked man, who had me in charge, turned to me and +made the following request:-- + +"Mr. Anstruther," he said, speaking in very good English, although one +could tell it was not his native tongue, "we have reason to believe +that you have concealed either on your person, or in your luggage, a +certain packet which you are carrying to Valoro. Our chief requires +that you shall give that packet up to him. That done, and your fine of +a hundred dollars paid, you will be permitted to go on your way." + +"And if I refuse to comply with your request?" I asked. + +The man shrugged his shoulders. + +"The chief will be here directly," he answered, with a peculiar smile; +"he will tell you himself." + +I threw myself in a corner of the carriage, and with the bitterest +thoughts at my heart, tried to think of some means of escape, while I +awaited the coming of the principal brigand. St. Nivel sat opposite to +me, and I saw by his set jaw and knitted brows that he considered the +situation very serious. We had not long to wait for the chief. A +heavy footstep came along the corridor and presently an immense bulk +entered the doorway with a great masked head above it. + +The man was a half-breed and a giant, possessing immense strength; the +reason of his chieftainship was very evident. + +"Which is Anstruther?" he asked abruptly, as he came in, with a strong +foreign accent. + +His subordinate pointed to me. + +"_Carajo!_ Mr. Anstruther," the giant began, "I hope you are not going +to give us any trouble. You don't look very amiable!" + +I simply looked at him and did not answer. + +"My lieutenant here," the chief proceeded, "has no doubt acquainted you +with my wishes. We want that little packet of yours, which you are +carrying to Valoro." + +"What little packet?" I asked superciliously. + +"The little packet which you fetched from your lawyer's office just +before you left London," he replied, with a smile; adding at my look of +astonishment, "you see we know your movements pretty well." + +I gave an impatient toss of my head, and felt inclined to drive my fist +into the man's great fat face, the only part of which I could see was a +great thick-lipped mouth with fine white teeth grinning through a black +beard. + +"Supposing," I said, "that I refuse to comply with your demand?" + +"Then," he said abruptly, "we shall look for it." "Come now, Mr. +Anstruther," he added, "we have very little time to lose; give me that +packet." + +"I haven't got it," I answered truthfully, for it was in St. Nivel's +cigar-box. + +The big man turned to his lieutenant. + +"Send in a couple of the others; strip and search him," he said sharply. + +In obedience to a call from the other, two more of the gang, big strong +fellows, came in, and I prepared for a strong resistance. + +Before, however, the men touched me, Sir Rupert Frampton's face +appeared in the doorway; he had evidently just got out of bed, and wore +a dressing-gown. + +"It is no use whatever making any resistance to these men, Mr. +Anstruther," he said, speaking in French; "you will probably lose your +life if you do. Submit to what they demand, and we will make a claim +against the Government at Valoro for whatever you lose. During the +whole of my long connection with Aquazilia," he added, "I have only +known such a robbery as this occur twice, and knowing the present +peaceful and law-abiding state of the country, I cannot understand it." + +"Very well then, Sir Rupert," I said, after a pause, "I will submit to +these men, but I call upon you to witness my protest at the outrage!" + +He nodded his head at my words, and in obedience to a further request +from the giant, I proceeded to undress. + +When this was done, they were not satisfied to search my clothes only, +but took them away with them for further examination. + +After returning me my light silk under-vest and drawers, they brought +me a loose cowboy's dress, such as they wore themselves, and intimated +that I must put it on. + +It was no use demurring, so with a plaintive look at Sir Rupert, who, +hardly able to repress his laughter, was still standing by, I did as I +was bid. + +"Now," proceeded the chief, "we have not found what we want about your +person, Mr. Anstruther; we must look for it among your luggage." + +He dangled my bunch of keys in his hand as he spoke. "Follow me, +please." + +The others closed round me and we went together to the luggage-car; +here my luggage, which was fully marked with my name, was already set +aside. They proceeded at once to thoroughly search each trunk, but +replacing every article as they did so; loot was evidently not their +object. + +They came at last to the end of it; and the chief turned to me savagely. + +"_Carajo!_ Mr. Anstruther," he said, "you are playing with us. Do you +refuse to tell us where this packet is?" + +"Supposing I don't know?" I replied prevaricatingly, "supposing it is +out of my power to tell you?" + +"Then," he answered, with a savage oath, "we shall take you with us, +and perhaps another besides, and hold you both as hostages until the +packet is given up to us by _somebody_." + +After a pause I shrugged my shoulders. + +"You must do as you like," I said. + +"Carlo," cried the chief at once, "see the fines are collected, and we +will be off and take him with us." + +"Who shall the other hostage be?" asked the lieutenant. + +The big man stooped down and whispered in his ear. + +The other man nodded and smiled in response to the other's laugh, but +it appeared to me that he by no means relished the information conveyed +to him in the whisper. + +"Now, Mr. Anstruther," remarked the big half-breed, "we must trouble +you to come with us, and don't take longer than you can help to say +good-bye to the ladies." + +This was intended by way of a joke; one which I did not appreciate. + +"As soon as my cashier has been round collecting the dues," proceeded +the big man, "we must be off. Don't you think you will change your +mind, Mr. Anstruther, and give me that packet? If I had my way I would +search the whole train for it, but we haven't got time, so we must take +you instead." + +St. Nivel looked up from his corner where he had sat, his hat drawn +over his eyes. + +"Have a cigar, Señor Capitano," he remarked to the chief, "while your +man collects the cash. I've paid already." + +He handed the man the box of cigars in which the packet was hidden. I +thought it an act of madness. + +"Thank you, Señor," replied the man, taking two; "a fine brand of +cigars." + +"Yes," replied my cousin, "they are very decent." + +The Capitano took the box in his hands and smelt them. + +"Yes, very nice," he remarked. "As good as anything you will get in +Aquazilia." + +Then St. Nivel did something which appeared to me to be an additional +sign that he had taken leave of his senses. + +"Won't you take the box, Capitano?" he asked. + +The man smiled and shook his great head. + +"Thank you," he said, "they are too mild for me." + +St. Nivel shut the box up with what I thought was impatience, and threw +it in the rack. + +The thieves' cashier made his appearance with a bag full of dollars; +then they all made a move for the door, taking me with them. + +As we reached the platform of the smoking-car, and I was perforce about +to jump down on to the permanent way, I saw the face of my servant +Brooks looking up at me from the line. + +"Let me give you a hand, sir," he said, with an expressive look in his +eyes; "the ground's a bit rough here." + +As he assisted me down in the darkness I felt him slip something under +the loose cowboy's frock I wore and nudge me to take it; as I put my +hand down, to my joy I felt it was my Colt's revolver! + +I hastily thrust it into the belt under my smock-frock, where it was +quite hidden. + +Then the horses were brought round and we prepared to mount; but before +we departed there was still a little ceremony to be gone through. + +There were some left with drawn revolvers at the end of each carriage, +almost to the last moment, but as the bulk of the band left the train +they brought with them a half-breed dressed in the ordinary frock-coat +and tall hat of civilisation, in a state of abject terror. + +"Who is this man?" I asked the lieutenant, who happened to be near me. + +He laughed as he twisted up a cigarette and answered me. + +"He used to belong to our little society once," he said; "but he ran +away and gave evidence against another member, who was shot." + +"What are you going to do with him?" I asked. + +He made a motion with his hand in his loose neckerchief of a man being +hanged. + +"No, surely not!" I cried, in horror. + +"You'll see," he replied, as he began to smoke. + +They dragged forward the shivering wretch, who had a prosperous look +about him; and as they pulled him out of the train his tall hat fell +off and rattled on the iron rails. No one stopped to pick it up; it +was not worth while. + +The man immediately following him carried his lasso in his hand. They +lost very little time; there was a tree with a convenient branch, just +near the line, and in a trice they threw the rope over this and knotted +the end into a noose. + +Then there was a call for a priest, and there happening to be a Padré +in the train, the wretched man was accorded five minutes with him as he +stood. + +Within three minutes more the body of the half-breed was swinging and +struggling in the air; but the struggles were not for long. + +The desperadoes all around me whipped out their revolvers and commenced +a rattling fusillade, the mark being the body of the man swinging on +the tree. + + * * * * * + +My blood ran cold as I listened to the pinging of the bullets and the +resounding shrieks of the ladies in the train. + +Not till then did the last of the men leave the train, and one of them +I saw, to my astonishment, bore in his arms apparently a woman in a +cloak. + +In a brilliant gleam of electric light, shot from the train in the +darkness, I thought I saw the face of my Dolores, with a white gag +across the mouth, but the idea seemed so preposterous that I did not +give it another thought, thinking it to be some phantom of an +overwrought brain, and the woman some light-o'-love of the desperado. + +The man went straight to a horse, placed the burden he was carrying +across the saddle-bow, sprang on to the horse, and with a number of +others round him, including the chief, rode away. + +They brought a horse for me and I mounted too, and rode along very +unwillingly towards the end of the train. As we passed the engine, I +saw that the fire-box had been raked out and water poured on it. There +was a dense steam arising from it. I conjectured, and conjectured +correctly, that they had done this to prevent the train steaming away +and giving the alarm, for there was a considerable town not five miles +off, the inhabitants of which were no doubt anxiously expecting the +express. + +When we arrived at the other side of the train, and the leading files +of the robbers were passing off the railway line, the identity of the +figure carried away across the saddle was put beyond all doubt, and the +revelation nearly sent me mad. + +Mrs. Darbyshire came shrieking out into the forepart of the car in +which I had left her with Dolores. + +"They have taken her," she shrieked, "they have taken her away from me +as a hostage. It cannot be. Bring her back, bring her back, I implore +you!" she cried in Spanish to the men who were passing the train, and +who in return only laughed and jeered her. + +"Mr. Anstruther," she cried, "save her!" + +I made her no answer, for I knew it was useless, but I gripped the +revolver I carried beneath my loose smock. + +A great calmness came upon me then, though the blood surged through my +head. Life was as nothing to me, compared with saving her; without her +it would be worthless. I determined to use every art I was capable of, +every ingenuity to outwit these ruffians and murderers, for her sake. + +I began to laugh and talk with the men around me, at the same time +noting every feature of the country as we left the railway behind and +took a rough road. + +As we emerged upon this, the moon rose and I could see that the road +wound away in front of us, down into a valley where there was a thick +wood and up the other side to great hills which were probably our +destination. About two hundred yards in front of us rode the party who +had carried off Dolores. To my great joy my party commenced to trot, +and within ten minutes had caught up the party in front. + +There was a good deal of talking in Spanish, which I did not +understand. My eyes were fixed on the figure wrapped in the black +cloak and lying across the saddle-bow of one of the ruffians. + +As far as I could see, she was perfectly inanimate, but one thing I +noticed, and that was the man who held her, a great, swarthy, +black-bearded wretch, masked like the others, rode some six paces in +rear of the rest. + +This was sufficient for me; my plan was formed at once. + +As we rode forward again, I felt that I had a good horse under me, and +this was a satisfaction for the task I had in view. As we reached the +wood at the foot of the hill, there were, I found to my great +satisfaction, but two of the gang riding behind me and one by my side; +the rest were in front. I had made myself agreeable, and rode so +easily with them that the men around me had taken no special +precautions to secure me; believing me to be unarmed, they evidently +thought that I was powerless under the muzzles of their numerous +revolvers. + +They were mistaken. + +As we plunged into the blackness of the road through the wood, I waited +until we were well into it, then drew my revolver and shot the man +riding on my right. + +In the very act of firing, I dug the heels of my boots into my horse +and caused him to swerve round. + +Before they could draw, I shot both the men behind me, and as I tore +past them, grasped the mask from the face of one as he fell. The whole +thing was done in under ten seconds. I flew off like an arrow back +towards the party we had just left, followed by a spattering fire from +the men. I had left when they fully realised what had happened in the +darkness. + +I hastily fixed the black crape mask across my face as I cleared the +wood, and made full gallop for Dolores. + +As I came in sight of the party, they were evidently in alarm at the +shooting, but I waved my arm to them assuringly and slowed down to a +canter as I came near. They plainly regarded me from my mask as one of +the gang. + +I noticed to my satisfaction as I approached that the man in charge of +Dolores was still some distance in the rear. + +The road being narrow, and the men riding two abreast in it, I left the +track and rode out into the rough ground as if I wished to reach the +chief, crying out "Capitano!" as I passed the leading men, that being +about all the Spanish I knew. + +The great burly chief rode out as I approached, with a querulous look +on his face as I saw it in the moonlight, as if he were annoyed, but +the expression changed immediately, for I shot him through the body +from my revolver as I held it concealed beneath the smock I wore; then +I dashed for Dolores. I had still two chambers undischarged, and one +of these I intended for the man bearing Dolores, but he was too quick +for me; he turned his horse and bolted back along the road we had come +and I after him. He was apparently in a panic. I roared out to him +with all my might that if he would give up the lady I would spare his +life, or otherwise he would be a dead man. + +This hint seemed sufficient for him, for he slid off his horse and +rolled away somewhere into the rough ground at the side of the road, +leaving Dolores on the horse. + +Then I saw that she had been secured to the high pommel of the Spanish +saddle by a turn or two of a lasso. + +We had gone fully three hundred yards more before I caught the horse +which galloped away at full speed. Perhaps it was as well things +happened thus, as the robbers were thundering behind, and had I taken +the two burdens on one horse, we should I think, without doubt, have +been recaptured. As it was, I lashed both horses to their fullest +speed when I saw Dolores was secure, though evidently in great +discomfort, yet it was a matter of life or death or worse. + +Presently we came in view of the train getting up steam, though it was +some distance off, and then a sight burst upon my view in addition +which filled me with both joy and astonishment. About ten bicycles +ridden by men were coming along the road, the slender spokes of their +wheels glinting in the moonlight. They no sooner saw us than they +raised a great shout, and waved their arms; it was then to my great +thankfulness I saw the leading cyclist was my cousin, St. Nivel. I +felt as if a ton weight of care had been lifted off my shoulders. + +They made way for us as we came, and St. Nivel shouted to me as we +passed through-- + +"Make straight for the train!" + +I did as he bid me, and within five minutes had the pleasure of tearing +the handkerchief with which she was gagged from my darling's mouth; and +before all the assembled passengers kissing her upon the lips as I gave +her insensible into the arms of her aunt. + +I think I had earned those kisses! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DON JUAN D'ALTA + +No sooner had we passed through the cyclists than they formed across +the road and, dismounting, took up positions behind any cover which +they discovered in the rough ground. + +To my astonishment they unstrapped rifles from their machines, and as +soon as the robbers appeared in pursuit greeted them with a rapid fire +evidently from magazines. I saw several saddles emptied as they turned +and rode off. + +A few minutes after St. Nivel and his friends rejoined us. + +"That was a lucky thought of mine," he said, laughing, when he had +gripped my hand and congratulated me on our escape. + +I remembered seeing the bicycles being put into the train at Monte +Video, and the magazine rifles of course were in the guard's van, and +ought to have been used when the robbers attacked us, but they came too +suddenly and there was no time to get them. + +From that time forward things went easily enough; steam was soon up, +and we were away again to Valoro within half an hour. At the next +station a special restaurant car was attached; we were treated like +heroes, sitting amid the popping of champagne corks relating our +adventures, and this went on long after the morning had broken. + +But I, tired out, soon sought my bed in the sleeping-car, but not +before I had been assured at the door of the ladies' car, by Mrs. +Darbyshire, now all tears and smiles, that Dolores had regained +consciousness, and was unhurt, save for bruises and, of course, a +severe shock. + +I slept until within an hour of our running into Valoro station late in +the afternoon, and just had time to have a delicious bath and emerge +fresh and hungry into the restaurant car in which St. Nivel, Lady +Ethel, and Dolores looking very pale and ill, were just finishing +lunch. My darling sat beside me while I lunched and held my hand--when +it was disengaged--unheeded by Mrs. Darbyshire. This lady, I think, +considered that the case had got beyond her and had better be relegated +to a higher court--Don Juan d'Alta--for judgment. + +Dolores even lighted my cigarette for me, but soon after her aunt took +her away to prepare to leave the train. + +"What on earth made you hand that poor devil of a brigand chief that +box of cigars, Jack?" I asked St. Nivel, when we were alone with Ethel, +and he had restored my precious casket to me; "he might have taken it +and got the whole shoot." + +"At that moment," replied St. Nivel, glancing through the rings of his +cigar smoke quite affectionately at me, "I wished he _would_ take it. +Things looked very ugly for you, and we were powerless to help you. I +thought if he took the cigar case the casket would at least be with you +and you would know it and could use your own discretion about giving +them the tip if your life were threatened as I imagined it would be." + +"Very clever of you, Jack," I answered, "and I'm very much obliged to +you for thinking of it, but I am glad that the poor devil didn't take +it after all. I believe it to be my duty to take it to Don Juan +d'Alta, even at the risk of my life." + +St. Nivel sat thinking a moment or two; then he spoke. + +"Why do you use the term 'poor devil'?" he asked, "when you speak of +the robber chief?" + +I told him why. I told him how I had shot him. + +"Well, really, Bill," he said very seriously, "I wish the thing _had_ +gone. It has already cost several lives, and seems to carry ill-luck +with it. Who knows how many more lives may be sacrificed? Of course, +there cannot be a doubt but that the train was held up solely to obtain +it; the taking of the hundred dollars a head was simply a ruse to cover +the other. Old Frampton says such a raid on a train is a thing unheard +of now in Aquazilia." + +"Yes," I answered, "but it came to a good round sum all the same. +Well, at any rate," I continued, as the train ran into Valoro station, +"we've brought the thing to its destination, and we're all safe and +sound, so there's _something_ to be thankful for!" + +At Valoro, things were "all right" as my man Brooks put it; news of the +attack on the train, in which was the British Minister, had reached the +capital, and a troop of cavalry awaited to escort him to his Legation. + +"As I understand you have something of importance to deliver in +Valoro," said Sir Rupert Frampton to me as we left the train, "I think +you had better come in my carriage. I am taking Mrs. Darbyshire and +the Señorita with me too. They both want reassuring, and the morale of +the escort will do that. I shall take them right home." + +"Thank you very much," I answered, "that will suit me down to the +ground. My mission is to deliver a packet to Don Juan d'Alta himself." + +"Then come along," added Sir Rupert, "for, of course, the ladies are +going there too." + +In a few minutes we were driving out of the station yard in a fine +carriage, surrounded by soldiers. + +It was the first time I had ever ridden with an escort, and I liked it. + +We left the immense terminus, which would not have disgraced the finest +city in Europe, and turned up a great boulevard leading to the higher +part of the city where amid trees we could see many fine white houses. + +"That is our house!" cried Dolores, as we left the houses behind and +came out into the country. "Look, aunt! look, William!" + +I did look and saw on the crest of the hill we were approaching, far +away to the left, a long range of white buildings, relieved with +towers, which looked like a small castle. + +It filled me with apprehension, for it was a sign of the great wealth +of her father--the wealth which I feared would be a bar to our union. + +I think she was surprised at the glum look on my face for the rest of +the little journey. + +"Are you sorry to go and see my father?" she asked plaintively, with a +sweet look in her blue eyes. "I am sure he will be very glad to see +_you_ and to thank you for saving me. He is a very kind man is my +father," she added solemnly, "very kind to me, and very kind to his +reptiles." + +Before them all--Mrs. Darbyshire was now quite resigned--I took her +hand and pressed it. + +"It is a very easy thing to be kind to _you_, Dolores," I said. "I +should find the difficulty in being kind to the reptiles." + +"But you will humour my father, won't you?" she asked, and then dropped +her voice, "for both our sakes?" + +The amount of interest dear old Sir Rupert Frampton took in distant +scenery during this drive, and the many objects of interest he pointed +out to Mrs. Darbyshire to divert her attention from us, made me his +willing slave for life. For, indeed, I was agitated at the prospect of +the interview which was to come in a few minutes with old Don Juan +d'Alta, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the dear old lady at +Bath, who I doubted not was now dead, and the packet she had confided +to my care. + +It was a comfort to sit with Dolores' little hand in mine. My other +clasped the precious packet in my trousers pocket. + +At last we drove into a great avenue filled with the most luxuriant +tropical vegetation, very carefully tended, for there were men at work +everywhere. + +The escort wheeled away into line as we swept under a great +glass-roofed portiere, and came to a halt at a fine flight of marble +steps, where Sir Rupert left us and drove away with the soldiers +clattering around him. + +Yes, the home of my Dolores was like a modern palace. + +Overcome with seeing it again, I think she forgot even me for the +moment. She ran gaily up the steps, trilling with laughter. + +"Where is father?" she cried. + +That gentleman answered her question in person. + +At the head of the steps appeared an old man dressed in black with an +abundance of perfectly white hair which surrounded a very +good-humoured, wrinkled face, almost as brown as a berry. It was the +face of an aristocrat, but of an aristocrat who lived in the open air, +and a good deal under the burning sun of an Aquazilian summer. + +He came forward with a very loving smile on his old face and took his +little daughter in his arms. + +Their greeting was in Spanish and therefore most of it was lost to me, +but I took it to be a very affectionate one. This over, the +conversation turned in my direction and broke into English. + +"This is the gentleman who saved me from the robbers, father," +exclaimed Dolores; "this is Mr. William Anstruther." + +The old man turned towards me with extended hands, his face beaming. + +"Mr. Anstruther," he said, speaking in very fair English, which I found +most of the gentry spoke there, "let me take your hands and thank you +from my heart for your heroic conduct to my daughter. The news of the +outrage and your gallant escape reached us together by telegraph the +first thing this morning. Indeed, I think they had the news at the +club last night." + +When he had at last let my hand go, I got in a word of my own. + +"Naturally," I began, "you will like to spend some time with your +daughter, but when you are at liberty I have an important message to +deliver to you." + +"Indeed!" he said, looking rather surprised. "From whom?" + +"From an old lady who formerly lived at Bath, in England," I replied, +"but who now, I fear, is dead--murdered!" + +"Good heavens!" he cried; "who can it be?" + +"It was a lady known by the name of Carlotta Altenberg," I answered. + +"Good God!" he cried, throwing up his hands excitedly; "poor old +d'Altenberg murdered!" + +I was rather disappointed at his tone. It was very certain that the +old lady was a person of little importance, or he would never have +spoken of her like that. + +In a moment or two he turned to me again. + +"I have taken the liberty," he said, "of having your luggage and that +of your friends with whom you are travelling--and whom Dolores tells me +are your cousins--brought up here. I could not think of allowing you +to stay anywhere else in Valoro than under my roof, and I am vain +enough to think that we can keep you amused during your stay." + +I made suitable acknowledgments for his kindness, and was wondering all +the while, in my heart, under what lucky star I had been born to be +located beneath the very roof with my Dolores, and that, too, at her +father's invitation. But he broke in upon my thanks. + +"Not another word, Mr. Anstruther," he said; "it is you who confer the +benefit upon me. + +"Now, you say you have a message from the poor old Baroness d'Altenberg +for me. Good! I will show you to my study, and there we will go into +the matter at our leisure." + +He led me down a long corridor to a beautiful room overlooking the +valley, communicating with a long range of what looked like +conservatories. Hardly necessary, I thought, in such a climate! + +"Now," said my host, placing a box of cigars before me, "amuse yourself +with these, and my servant shall bring us some champagne to celebrate +your arrival. I will just go and see my sister and little Dolores +settled in their apartments, then I will come back to you and we can +have our talk. You shall tell me all about the poor Baroness." + +The kind old man pressed me down into a comfortable lounge chair, then +with a smile departed. + +I took a good look round the room, and took stock of its contents. It +was furnished very luxuriously in the European fashion and contained +some beautiful pictures, but its principal ornaments were cases of +stuffed reptiles of every sort, from a tiny lizard to a great +boa-constrictor with red jaws agape. + +There were four French windows opening to the ground, shaded by outside +striped blinds similar to those used in England, but not low enough to +hide a most splendid view of hill and dale and far-away mountains, +which seemed to surround the city of Valoro, itself seeming to rest on +a plateau. + +I was standing looking at a case of particularly objectionable yellow +snakes when I heard one of the French windows move behind me; turning, +I came face to face with the polite lieutenant of the band of robbers +who had attacked our train. He had discarded the cowboys' dress and +wore the clothes of a gentleman. He at once raised a revolver to the +level of my head as I started back, and addressed me in perfectly +polite tones. + +"Come, come, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "it's no good. I want that +packet. If you don't give it to me I shall simply shoot you through +the head and take it." + +It appeared to me that my journey after all had been in vain; there was +the muzzle of the pistol within six inches of my head, and I had to +make up my mind about it. + +St. Nivel's words came back to me concerning the ill-luck of it, and I +could almost hear him saying-- + +"Let the thing go; it isn't worth risking your life for." + +Then I thought of Dolores, and on this thought broke the voice of the +robber, cold and hard. + +"You must make up your mind, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "while I count +ten, otherwise I must fire." + +He commenced counting slowly. + +"One." + +The thought of Dolores grew stronger. + +"Two." + +I could almost _hear_ St. Nivel's voice urging me to give it up. + +"Three." + +Then there was my promise to the old lady, murdered, I believed, by +these infamous ruffians. I hesitated. + +"Four." + +"Five." + +"Six." + +Then came another thought: would the old lady, who had been spoken of +as the Baroness d'Altenberg, hold me to my word under the circumstances? + +"Seven." + +"Eight." + +I doubted it. + +"Nine." + +I had made up my mind to save my life for Dolores. + +"Hold," I said; "I will give it to you!" + +He smiled. + +"I think you are very sensible," he said; "anybody else but an +Englishman would have given it up long ago, and then a great deal of +trouble and several lives would have been saved." + +I put my hand in my pocket despising myself the while for giving way, +but still convinced that I should have been a fool to throw my life +away under the circumstances. + +"Perhaps you will tell me," I asked, as I drew the packet from my +pocket, "how it is that you know I am here and that I have the packet +with me?" + +He laughed. + +"I may as well tell you," he said, "that you have never been left +unwatched since you left Bath." + +"You seem to know my movements pretty well yourself," I said, in an +astonished tone. + +"Pretty well," he answered, with another smile. + +I had no sooner drawn the packet from my pocket than he snatched it +unceremoniously from my hands and walked with it towards the window. + +"Don't move," he cried to me, "until I tell you _or_ I shall fire. I +must verify the contents before I leave you." + +He still held the pistol in my direction and I have no doubt would have +fired had I made the slightest move towards him, which I could not have +done without making some noise, for about six paces divided us. + +I stood still and regarded him as he tore off the covering with his +teeth. + +He was so thoroughly engrossed with the task that he did not hear a +slight rustling sound which caused me to turn my head towards the door +which led to the long range of what appeared to be glass houses, and +which was just open a little. What I saw there made me turn cold from +head to foot. + +Gliding through the slightly open door, and pushing it farther open as +it came with its immense bulk, was a huge black and yellow snake! + +It was moving in the direction of the robber, who, entirely engrossed +with the packet from which he had torn the wrapper, was totally +oblivious of his position. The snake had possibly been attracted by +the tearing noise which he had made as he rent the linen envelope with +his teeth. + +I had almost cried aloud to warn him, when, I checked myself. The man +had come to murder me; he must take his chance. He had turned to me, +satisfied with his scrutiny of the casket which he now held in his +hand, the box which contained it having been thrown on the floor, when +I saw the snake draw itself into a great coil and raise its head; then, +just as his lips were opening to speak to me, the great reptile made a +spring, and in an instant coiled itself tight round him, the tail +whipping close like a steel wire. He gave a great cry and dropped the +casket and the revolver immediately. Within a second or two I had them +in my hands, and at the same moment the door opened and Don Juan d'Alta +entered. + +He rapped out a great Spanish oath, and a good many more words in the +same language; then he turned to me. + +"Who is this man?" he asked. + +"That is one of the men," I answered at once, "who attacked the train. +He entered this room a few minutes after you left me with the intention +of robbing or murdering me." + +"Then he seems to have got his deserts," replied my host, laughing. He +came quite close to me and whispered in my ear, "The snake is quite +harmless, but it will give him a fright and maybe break a rib or two if +it squeezes hard." + +The old man appeared to regard it as a huge joke, but kept a solemn +face. + +It appeared to be going beyond a joke to break his ribs, and I said so +in a whisper. + +"He deserves it," was the reply. + +Meanwhile, the robber was becoming absolutely livid with fear, and +began to supplicate Don Juan in Spanish. + +Finding this of no avail, he turned to me. + +"Have mercy, Señor," he cried piteously, "and help me to free myself +from this reptile. It is crushing me to death." + +The horrible thing with wide-open jaws was breathing in his face, and +its fetid breath seemed turning him sick. + +Don Juan laughed aloud, rather heartlessly it seemed to me, but the +Spanish nature is a cruel one to its enemies. + +"I know the man," he said, "and I cannot understand what has brought +him into this _galère_. Let us question him?" + + * * * * * + +I could not quite see that a man enveloped in the embrace of a +boa-constrictor, even though the reptile might be tame and harmless, +would be a person likely to give either correct or coherent answers to +questions, but I acquiesced in Don Juan d'Alta's suggestion that we +should try and get some information out of him. + +He commenced at once; speaking in English for my benefit. + +"What induced you and your band to attack the train yesterday?" was his +first question. + +"I don't know," was the answer. + +"That is a lie," responded Don Juan, speaking quite coolly. "If you +wish to get out of the coils of that snake, you must speak the truth. + +"Now come, I know of course who you are, I know everybody in Valoro, +and especially the members of the Carlotta Society, which is avowedly +Royalist and opposed to the present Government like myself. You are a +member of that Society; you are one of its leaders. I suggest to you +that the so-called band of robbers who attacked the train last night +were simply members of the Carlotta Society?" + +"I admit," gasped the man, trying with all his force to keep the +boa-constrictor's head away from his face, "that I am a leader of the +Carlotta Society, but I cannot disclose its secrets even to you." + +"You must speak, Lopes," Don Juan said, "or you will not get free. +Remember that I am a member of the Carlotta Society myself, though an +honorary one on account of my age. You will never get back to your +desk in the bank of Valoro if you don't speak." + +"It is inhuman!" cried the man desperately, "it is vile torture!" + +"It is also inhuman," added Don Juan sententiously, "to raid trains, +and to threaten murder as you have done in this room. Your band too +was none too scrupulous in hanging Jimenez the half-breed, though he +was an informer. Tell me now, why did you hold up the train? why did +you try to rob this English gentleman?" + +"It was done," answered the man stertorously, for he was becoming weak, +"it was done on urgent orders from Europe from our head." + +Don Juan started, and going close whispered a name in his ear. + +"Yes," replied Lopes faintly, but I heard the words, "from the Duke +himself." + +As Don Juan turned from him with a perplexed look, his eye caught the +casket which I still held in my hand; he lost colour and became very +agitated as he saw it. + +"Where did you get that from?" he asked abruptly, seizing my hand. + +I opened my hand and placed the casket in his. + +"From the Baroness d'Altenberg," I replied. "I made the journey from +Europe to give it to you. My task is accomplished." + +The casket had reached its destination. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE CASKET + +"Now there are two favours I wish to ask you, Don Juan," I said, as he +stood with the precious casket in his hands, "the first is to put that +casket in a place of safety; the second to release this poor wretch +from the snake." + +He awoke from a fit of deep meditation with a start. + +"I will grant your two favours immediately," he answered quickly as he +put the casket in his breast pocket and buttoned his frock-coat over +it; "see one is already done, now I will accomplish the other." + +He went to the end of the apartment, and lifting a curtain hanging over +the base of a bookcase, took from a shelf there a silver bowl, filled +apparently with bread and milk. + +With this he went out on to the terrace, through the French windows, +and commenced to make a peculiar sibilant noise between his teeth, half +whistle half hiss. + +It had a most peculiar effect upon the boa-constrictor, who, from the +first production of the silver bowl, had shown a lively interest in it +by moving its great head up and down excitedly. The noise made by Don +Juan, however, decided it; it began to uncoil itself from the would-be +assassin and finally dropped on the floor with a "slump" and wriggled +out of the window on to the terrace. As the man was released, I +covered him with the revolver as I was taking no risks, but it was +quite unnecessary, as he fell fainting on a couch to which he had +staggered almost immediately he was free. + +Don Juan returned from the terrace with a pleased smile. + +"My pets are a great source of comfort to me," he remarked as he sank +into a chair, after courteously making me take another. "To see that +poor dumb thing take its food so healthily compensates me almost for +the shock which this villainous fellow has given us." + +"Snakes," he continued, "are greatly affected by sound, as no doubt you +noticed just now. There is little question that the snake was +attracted to Lopes by some sound." + +"But still," he continued, placing his hand in his breast, "the sight +of the casket which you have brought to me is a greater shock than the +desperado's pistol presented at your head was to you." + +He passed his hand over his forehead as if the idea bewildered him. + +"And you say you got it from the Baroness d'Altenberg?" he asked. + +"Yes," I answered, "I took it from the safe at her direction." + +"Whatever can it contain?" he muttered to himself; then the figure of +Lopes lying on the sofa caught his eye. + +"We must have this fellow removed," he said. "What shall we do with +him?" + +I looked at the recumbent figure for some time, and it only inspired me +with pity. + +"I think he ought to be sent somewhere," I proposed, "where he would be +taken care of and prevented from doing further mischief. Have you a +hospital in Valoro?" + +The old gentleman looked at me in some surprise. + +"I assure you," he answered, "that we have two, as fine as any in +Europe." + +"Then," I said, "if I may make the suggestion, I would have Lopes sent +off to one." + +Don Juan rang the bell immediately, and when a servant answered it, he +indicated the man on the couch and gave some order in Spanish to him. + +"They will take him away," he explained, "and send him down to the +hospital in one of my carriages. There we can have him arrested later +if it is worth while." + +In a very short time two men appeared and carried Lopes out of the room. + +Then we sat down facing one another, and Don Juan produced the casket +from his pocket and stood contemplating it upon his knee. + +"Whatever could have prompted the old Baroness d'Altenberg to send me +this," he cogitated half to himself, "after so many years; and what can +it contain?" + +I made a suggestion. + +"Supposing you open it," I said, "while I walk in the garden." + +"My dear Mr. Anstruther," he said, quite frightened at giving me so +much trouble, "that is not at all necessary. I can go into my little +cabinet here." + +He indicated a small room, the door of which stood partly open, and +revealed a little study with a writing table and a reading lamp. + +"If you will excuse me for five minutes," he added, "I will retire into +that little room and open the casket!" + +"But have you the keys?" I asked. + +He nodded with a smile. + +"Oh yes," he answered, "those three little locks and the secret of +opening them are very familiar to me, but I have not seen it for a +great many years." + +I did not in the least understand what he was alluding to, but I, of +course, urged him to retire into his little room and examine the +contents of the casket in peace, while I amused myself in the study +itself. + +"You will find some marvellous stuffed specimens of the green lizard in +those lower cases," he remarked, as he disappeared into his sanctum. +"I should advise you to study them closely." + +He had no sooner disappeared into the little room, the door of which he +left slightly open, when I mentally consigned the green lizards and, in +fact, the whole lacertilian family to a place warmer than the plains of +Aquazilia in summer even, and sat idly wondering how long it would be +before I saw Dolores again. + +I distinctly heard the click of a lock as the old gentleman opened the +ebony casket, there was a pause and a long silence broken only by the +crackling of paper. Then I heard him give a cry of astonishment, and a +Spanish exclamation it was--"Madre de Dios!" + +An invocation only used on occasions of great excitement. + +Then I heard a low muttering as he repeated certain passages, possibly +of the letter, to himself, but it was in a foreign language, probably +Spanish, and entirely unintelligible to me. + +Another pause followed, then the door opened again and Don Juan +re-entered the room, but his appearance had entirely changed. + +His healthy sunburnt complexion had lost all its colour and was of a +leaden hue, his eyes were starting from beneath his bushy eyebrows, and +his right hand, as he laid it on the back of a chair, trembled like a +leaf in the wind. + +"Mr. Anstruther," he said with difficulty, "it will be necessary for me +to leave for Europe as soon as possible, for England, for Bath!" + +If he had said that he had just made up his mind to go to the moon I +could not have been more astonished! + +"To England!" I repeated. + +"Yes, to England, and that as soon as possible." + +The whole thing seemed to me extremely curious. + +"Forgive my asking the question," I said, "but do you mind telling me +why you want to visit Bath?" + +He considered for some moments, passing his hand across his forehead, +which was clammy with perspiration. + +"Before I answer that question," he said at last, "I should like to ask +you another. + +"I understand that you have met the lady who entrusted you with the +casket which you have given me, at a certain house in a street called +Monmouth Street in the town of Bath?" + +"Yes, that is so," I answered. + +"Are you aware that there was a safe in that house. A steel safe of +peculiar workmanship?" + +"Yes," I replied, "I have seen it and opened it. I told you so." + +"Ah! then you can tell me," he cried excitedly, "what was in the safe?" + +"I'm afraid I cannot; I opened the safe at the request of the old lady, +who, at that time, was lying sorely wounded on her bed. I opened it +hastily, took out what I was directed to take by a note within, then +closed the safe again." + +"But the safe was not empty?" + +"No, I think I can go so far as to say that there appeared, as well as +I recollect from the hasty glance I had, to be other documents and +parcels behind those which I took away." + +"Very good," Don Juan replied; "now tell me something more. In whose +charge is that house in the street of Monmouth. Do you happen to know?" + +"When I left Bath," I replied, "the house was in charge of a sergeant +of police and his wife; they were caretakers." + +"Very good, very good indeed," answered the old man, apparently much +relieved; "now tell me one thing more. When does the ship by which you +came return to England?" + +"The _Oceana_ returns in about a fortnight's time." + +"Do you think now, if I used my best endeavours to make that fortnight +very agreeable to you, and to show you during that time more, perhaps, +than you would see of Aquazilia in a month in the ordinary way, that I +could induce you to return to England with me by that ship?" + +At first I thought that by agreeing with his request I should be +leaving Dolores behind, then I remembered that I could induce him +perhaps to take her with him. + +I hesitated for a time and he pressed me. + +"Come, now, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "give me your answer." + +"I am perfectly certain," I said hesitatingly, for I was not going to +give myself away, "that you will make our stay delightful, but I think, +before I answer, I had better let you into a little secret. + +"I happen to know that my cousin, Lord St. Nivel, and his sister, Lady +Ethel Vanborough, intend asking you and Donna Dolores to spend some +time with them in England. Could you not make this visit answer both +purposes?" + +"That would necessitate my taking my daughter with me," he said rather +dubiously; then a light seemed to break in upon him, and a smile +hovered about his lips to which the colour was just returning. + +"Should my daughter have no objection," he replied guardedly, "I see no +reason why she should not accompany us." + +I know my face lighted up with pleasure. I could not control it. + +"We shall spend Christmas with you," I said cheerfully at last, "at any +rate, and Christmas in Valoro will be a great novelty both to my +cousins and myself, I have no doubt." + +"Christmas and the New Year are the gayest times with us of the whole +twelve months," he answered, "and you will be able to be present at +them both." + +"The prospect," I cried, "is delightful, and I will return with you, +Don Juan, with pleasure. I should be most ungrateful to refuse your +kind offer. I think I can answer for my cousins too, as they have +really only taken this trip to please me." + +"Very well, then," he said rising, "that's settled; now we will go and +find the ladies. I have no doubt your cousins have arrived by this +time. I sent an automobile for them." + +As I followed him, I flattered myself that I could persuade Dolores to +take that return journey with us to Europe, if any persuasion were +indeed necessary, by which it will be seen that I was acquiring a +certain amount of confidence in my powers over that young lady. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ABBOT OF SAN JUAN + +The two weeks which followed constituted, I have no hesitation in +saying, the gala fortnight of my existence. + +I never could have imagined it possible that so much pleasure could +have been crowded into such a short time. But can it not be easily +believed that everything then was to me gilded with that supreme fine +gold, the glamour of a young love? Yes, I think even the old Don +himself saw it, and at any rate did not forbid it. + +I went about with Dolores everywhere, even to church, at which she was +a regular attendant, and I flatter myself behaved very creditably +there, for though I was not a Roman Catholic like herself, yet I had +attended the Sunday evening ministrations of the monks of Bath, and +knew a good deal about it through the said monks' discourses. + +I hope I don't make a mistake in calling them monks--if I do, I ask +their pardon. I certainly understood them to _say_ they were monks. + +Be that as it may. I did not disgrace Dolores when I went with her to +the great cathedral in Valoro. + +But our time there was by no means entirely spent in going to church. +Day after day the old Don engaged special trains in which we flew about +the Republic faring sumptuously everywhere, and on our return there +would generally be a dinner-party, followed by the theatre or the +opera--a magnificent house and performance--and as likely as not a ball +after that. Much more of it would have killed us all. + +But the gay life mercifully drew towards a close, and Dolores and I +began to contemplate a pleasurable voyage back on that very ship on +which we had first met and loved. + +Yes, loved; we were plighted lovers now; there was no secret, no hiding +anything from one another. + +By Dolores' wish I only waited to reach England to tell her father of +my love for her and ask him for her. + +"And do you think he will give you to me, darling?" I asked one +beautiful night, when we were sitting out a waltz at a ball at the +house of a grandee at Valoro. "Do you think he will give you to an +Englishman?" + +"Considering that he gave his sister away to an Englishman I don't see +how he can refuse me to you, dearest," she answered. "At any rate I +think I can persuade him." + +Yes, I believed she could, she looked capable of persuading the angels +themselves, in her dress of white silk, cut rather low, with a string +of pearls round her neck worth about the value of the winner of the +Derby. + +Towards the last few days of our stay in Aquazilia, when we were all, +even Lady Ethel, surfeited with dancing, and St. Nivel and I began to +look askance at banquets, Don Juan came to me one day and took me aside +into his garden. + +I purposely led him away from the direction of the reptile houses of +which I had a holy horror, and we sauntered down a shady avenue of +palms. + +"There is one place of interest near Valoro, Mr. Anstruther," he said, +"which I should much like to show you and Lord St. Nivel if he cares to +come, and that is the great Trappist Monastery at San Juan del Monte, +about ten miles from here." + +"By Jove!" I answered, "that is the very place I should like to see! +I'm your man at any time." + +"If you can be up by seven to-morrow morning," continued the old man, +"we can motor over in the cool of the day. I know it is asking a good +deal of you, because we have this evening to attend the reception of +your minister, and then go on to the ball at Donna Elvira della +Granja's. At the earliest we shall not be in bed till two, I fear." + +"Never mind," I answered, "a cold tub usually puts me straight after a +late night, and I am particularly anxious to see some real live monks +in real cells." + +"You will see both there in dozens," replied d'Alta; "there are nearly +three hundred monks there." + +Despite the dissipation of the night, six o'clock the next morning saw +me out of bed, and 7.45 found me dressed for the road and as fresh from +my cold bath as if His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Valoro had not +given a reception at all, and Donna Elvira della Granja's ball had +never taken place, though I certainly put in an appearance at the +former, sitting in a corner with Dolores and listening to her +description of all the political notabilities present, and at the +latter I certainly did my duty as an Englishman, as many a black-eyed +donna could testify, albeit I had all the best waltzes with Dolores, +and of course took her in to supper. + +I think every one in Valoro by this time put us down as an engaged +couple; especially as old Don Juan seemed a consenting party or +discreetly blind to our proceedings. + +St. Nivel told me afterwards of a conversation he overheard between two +American attachés at Donna Elvira's. + +"I guess," remarked the "Military" to the "Naval," "that Englishman's +goin' to walk off with old d'Alta's girl." + +"You bet," confirmed the Naval, "he's fairly on the job. What is he?" + +"Well, he's the cousin of that young Lord St. Nivel," responded the +Military, "and that counts a lot, of course. But his _real_ trade I'm +told is book writing." + +"Jeehosophat!" commented the Naval. "I guess he'll chuck that when +he's Don Juan's son-in-law; the old snake-charmer will never tolerate a +mere _bookman_ in his drawing-room. His blue Spanish blood would all +turn green, I reckon." + +Thus was the humble calling of a novelist despised, even in Valoro! + +When, however, I descended from my bedroom at 7.45, after partaking of +a delicious _petit déjeuner_ of coffee, milk, bread, and fruit in my +apartment, I found Don Juan d'Alta ready for the road, and the motor at +the door. In five minutes St. Nivel joined us. + +"I didn't like to be left behind, old sportsman," he exclaimed. +"Staying in bed on a huntin' mornin' is not exactly my form, even when +the quarry is merely a harmless Trappist!" + +"Your early habits do you credit, but your language, St. Nivel," I said +reprovingly, "is verging on the profane." + +"I'm sure I'm very sorry," he answered. "I'd walk ten miles rather +than offend any one's feelings. I hope Don Juan didn't hear me." + +"Don Juan is a man of the world," I answered, "and it wouldn't matter +if he did, but other people might hear you and not like it." + +"Righto, Bill," replied my sporting cousin. "I'll keep my eye on you +and try and not put my foot in it." + +In a few minutes we were rattling through some magnificent mountain +scenery, with luxuriant vegetation and lovely wild flowers on every +side. On the tops of the trees were parrots of varied colours which, +disturbed by the noise of the motor, fluttered in all directions before +us. + +"Now I particularly want you to notice the abbot," said Don Juan as we +approached the monastery, a very ancient-looking pile of buildings +situated in a most lonely spot on the side of a mountain, yet +surrounded by scenery which would have rivalled any in the world; "he +is a most remarkable man, and possesses, as you will see, a most +remarkable presence." + +Presently we drew up at a very plain front door, and were immediately +reconnoitred through a small wicket hole. + +"The janitor," observed St. Nivel, "is evidently taking stock of us, +and for that reason, Bill, I feel thankful that you have put on that +new Norfolk suit; it gives the whole party a classy appearance." + +The survey seemed satisfactory. Some bolts were shot back and the door +opened, disclosing a monk in a brown habit. + +He made some evidently most respectful remarks to Don Juan in Spanish, +and then we all entered the monastery and were shown into a guest-room. + +Here in a few minutes another lay brother brought a liqueur stand with +glasses. + +"Veritable Chartreuse," remarked Don Juan, as he laid his hand on the +little decanters of green and yellow liquid, "the true stream drunk at +the source!" + +He filled the little glasses and handed them round as the lay brother +stood looking on admiringly. + +"You must take some," he said, "or they will be offended." + +St. Nivel sipped his glass appreciatively. + +"The monk who invented this," he remarked sententiously, "_deserved_ to +go to heaven." + +"Our abbot will give himself the honour of waiting upon your +lordships," were the lay brother's parting words as translated to us by +Don Juan. + +We possessed our spirits in contentment, and awaited his coming, whilst +d'Alta expatiated on the rigours of the Trappists' life, their +isolation, their silence, their exactness in the keeping of the Office +of the Church. + +I fear this discourse, earnest though it was on the part of our host, +was lost upon St. Nivel, whom I detected catching flies--and liberating +them immediately--in the most solemn part. To him the severest form of +penance was represented by a life from which all descriptions of +"huntin'" and "shootin'" were excluded. He had been burning to kill +something big in the game line ever since he had set foot on shore, and +I was quite prepared to hear him ask the abbot when he arrived whether +he was "a huntin' man." He had asked that question of almost everybody +we had met up to then in Aquazilia. + +The abbot, however, came at last, just as Don Juan was concluding an +account of St. Bruno, the Founder of the Order, and Jack was sitting +with his eyes stolidly fixed upon the liqueur decanter. + +Yes, the abbot was all d'Alta had said; he was a man of fifty, tall, +spare, straight as a dart, but unlike most of the other monks we saw, +fair and fresh coloured. + +I stood looking at him for some time, gazing into his fair open face, +after he had taken my hand and released it. I wondered who it was he +reminded me of, whose face he brought so vividly to my recollection. +Yet striking as the likeness was to _some one_, I could not recall who +that some one was. + +"You must be hungry after your drive, gentlemen," he said, speaking +very fair English, as indeed most educated people did in Aquazilia. "I +have ordered _déjeuner_ at once for you. While it is preparing would +you like to see the monastery?" + +St. Nivel and I at once expressed our pleasure at the prospect, and the +abbot preceded us, walking with Don Juan, but stopping occasionally to +turn and speak to us and point out some object of interest. + +In this way we passed through the wonderful institution and saw the +Trappists each in his little abode, a sort of cottage to himself in +which he ate and slept, and worked _alone_. At stated hours all +through the day and night, the hundreds of monks met in the church to +recite the office. + +Don Juan told us as we stood on the steps of the great corridor that he +had spent a week there in retreat before his marriage, and kept the +"Hours" with the community. + +Pointing down the corridor which stretched before us, he said the sight +which struck him most was to stand as we did, on a night in winter and +hear the great bell ring for Matins. + +"Then," said he, "all those doors of the little houses open, and from +each comes out a monk with a lantern. They look like hundreds of +fireflies all going towards the great Abbey church." + +I think the abbot saw with that intuitive knowledge which belongs to a +refined nature that St. Nivel was _bored_; he steered us back to the +guest-room, where a most excellent lunch was awaiting us--soup, fish, a +dish of cutlets and a sweet omelette, all excellent, and served with +red and white wine-like nectar and coffee from the Trappists' estate on +the hills. + +The abbot did not eat with us, but sat and charmed us with his +conversation, for charming it was. + +He talked with that fascinating fluency which one would have expected +to find in a travelled man of the world rather that in a cloistered +monk. He held us during all that meal, giving zest to each dish that +came, with anecdotes of every country, and yet he spoke with a refined +simplicity and perfect innocence of thought. His clear-cut and healthy +face, his bright blue eyes and white teeth, the exceeding sweetness of +his face and expression are with me now as I write. + +When it was over and we had parted from him and were flying back to +Valoro and modernism, I turned to Don Juan and spoke my thoughts. + +"And where," I asked, "can the Order of Trappists have gained such a +wonderful recruit from?" + +The old man's face, which had been smiling, turned very grave; he shook +his head and sighed. + +"Ah! I wish I could tell you!" + +That was his answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CONFESSION OF BROOKS + +We left Valoro a few days after the great festival of the New Year, +which came as a fitting finale to all our gaiety. + +Christmas had been a quiet, sedate feast in the nature of a Sunday. We +left just as the premonitory signs of the rainy season were making +themselves apparent. + +St. Nivel's friends, the American attachés, told him that we were well +out of it, as the rains were torrential. + +Dolores and I commenced the journey with much satisfaction; up to the +last we had feared that Don Juan might have altered his mind and left +his daughter at home, but I think the old gentleman began to +understand, if he thought about it at all, that if he left Dolores +behind, he would also have to leave me too. + +Our departure was on the morrow of a great banquet, given by Don Juan +to many of the notabilities of Valoro in our honour. + +It was one of the grandest dinners I was ever present at, and the +display of ladies' dresses and jewels would have done credit to a court +function at home. But I think the sweet simple beauty of Dolores and +my cousin Ethel took the palm. On this occasion I took in to dinner a +grave and important donna with a distinct beard and moustache. I was +told that she was a model of piety and that _all_--or nearly all--pious +old ladies in Aquazilia had beards and moustaches! + +Dolores sat opposite me on this occasion, and the way in which a young +military attaché of Brazil paid her attention under my very nose, +stamped him at once in my estimation, with his curled-up moustache, as +a mere puppy! + +I am sure Dolores thought so too, although she _did_ listen to his +trashy conversation, because when we were saying "good-night"--hastily +under one of the big palms on the terrace--oh! if he could have seen +us--she told me with her two dear arms round my neck that she only +loved me, and I was not to look so _jealous_ another time at a +dinner-party, but talk to my partner whether she had a beard and +moustache or not. Just as if I _could_ look jealous and of _such_ a +man! + +And so we left Aquazilia behind with its sunshine and lavish +hospitality, and took ship again--the dear old _Oceana_--for our own +foggy island, which I did not much relish returning to in February. + +But Dolores was with me and she made sunshine everywhere. + +We had been a fortnight on our return voyage, when an incident occurred +which filled me with surprise and concern. + +It was one of those grey days at sea when the prospect of the mingled +ocean and sky is not very attractive. + +St. Nivel was in the smoking-room; Dolores and Ethel were in the +state-room of the latter, holding one of those long important feminine +conferences--most delightful, I understood, to themselves--in which +dress was the _pièce de résistance_, with perhaps a little gossip about +Ethel's conquests in Aquazilia; they were legion! Mrs. Darbyshire was +asleep in her state-room, and as for the dear old man, Don Juan, whom I +looked upon now as my future father-in-law, he was studying assiduously +a book he had picked up in the ship's library, _Reptiles of England, +Scotland, and Wales_. + +Simple soul! He might just as well have studied the snakes of Ireland +for all he would see of them in England at that time of the year, +unless he went to the Zoo, and then I understand he would not see much. + +Our party being thus disposed of, I was sitting alone in a sheltered +part of the promenade deck--for there was a bit of a wind--rather +depressed at the dreary grey prospect I was contemplating. I was +absolutely alone. + +Perhaps I had been sitting thus half an hour, wrapped up in a Burberry, +when I heard a soft footstep approaching, and my man Brooks stood +before me. I noticed that he too looked depressed, and I put his +expression down too to the effect of the weather. He stood there for a +moment in silence, then preferred a request. + +"May I speak to you for a few minutes, sir?" he asked. + +I straightened myself up in my deck chair, and took a good look at him; +he certainly appeared very solemn, as if he had got something on his +mind. + +"Certainly, Brooks," I answered, "what's the matter?" + +The man had been a most excellent servant, and indeed I considered I +owed my life to him, and perhaps Dolores' as well, for had he not +handed me my Colt's revolver on that memorable night when the train was +attacked, and I was being carried off by the supposed robbers? He +availed himself of his permission to speak very slowly; he appeared to +be turning something over in his mind, and whatever it was, was +apparently not very agreeable. He stood at "attention," the habit of +an old soldier, with his forehead puckered; at last his lips opened, +and he commenced what he had to say. + +"When you engaged me, sir," he began, "you were under the impression +that I was a straightforward English servant. Sir," he added, "I was +nothing of the sort." + +I looked at his bronzed, clean-shaven face, fair hair and soldier's +blue eyes, in wonderment. + +"What are you talking about, Brooks?" I asked. The man's tone +disturbed me. I had grown quite fond of him, and feared he was going +to give notice. He was a most perfect valet, the best by far that I +had ever come across. + +"You thought I was straight, sir," he continued, "and I wasn't. It was +like this, sir: when I left the army I was taken as valet by the Dook +of Birmingham; his brother had been an officer in my old regiment, and +I had been his servant. + +"I lived with the Dook over two year, and then when we were staying in +a big house near Sandringham there was some jewellery of the Dook's +missed, and His Grace told me that, although he made no charge against +me, he should get another valet. + +"I give you my word, sir, as I stand here, that I knew nothing of the +missing jewellery. I was as innocent of stealing it as a babe unborn. + +"But I knew perfectly well that the thing would stand against me, and +that I should be a marked man; indeed, there was a good deal of talk +about it in the housekeeper's room among the other upper servants. +About this time the valet of a great foreign duke, who happened to be +also staying in the neighbourhood, and himself a foreigner, came to me +one day when I was very downhearted, and asked me to come over to the +great house where he was staying and drink a bottle of Rhine wine with +him. I went, and he showed me your advertisement, and told me he +thought it would be a good thing for me. + +"I thought so too, but I did not believe that you would be likely to +take me if you were told why I was leaving the Dook, as I have no doubt +you would have been. + +"I mentioned this to the foreign valet, and he said he thought he knew +a gentleman who would help me, and perhaps I had better go and see him +first. By his direction, sir, I went to see a gentleman at the Langham +Hotel in London, a Mr. Saumarez." + +"Saumarez?" I exclaimed. "What was he like?" + +"He was a dark gentleman, sir, and he had got something the matter with +one of his eyes." + +"Thank you," I said, "go on. I think I know who the gentleman was." + +"He asked me to confide in him, sir, and I told him everything, and the +difficulty I feared I should have in finding another situation. + +"After some conversation he said he thought I certainly ought to try +for your situation, and that if I succeeded to come and let him know, +and he would see about the character without troubling the Dook. + +"As you know, sir, you were good enough to entertain my application, +and I then went straight away to Mr. Saumarez to ask him what I was to +do. + +"He said that on certain conditions a friend of his would give me a +character." + +"That was Captain FitzJames, I suppose?" I interrupted. + +"Exactly, sir," Brooks replied, "the gentleman who you supposed I had +been living with." + +"This is pretty bad, Brooks," I said gravely, looking away at the grey +horizon. In my heart I was thoroughly sorry for the man. And he was +such a good valet, too! No wonder, for he had lived with one of the +richest dukes in England. + +"Yes, it is pretty bad, sir," he continued, "but not as bad as what's +to come. I asked Mr. Saumarez what conditions he required of me, and +he told me. First, I was to keep him informed daily of every movement +of yours; secondly, I was to be ready to act under his orders in +certain 'simple matters.' He explained that these simple matters would +consist in 'little acts which would harm no one.' + +"At first I was inclined to walk out of the room and leave him, and I +think he saw my intention, for he held up his hand and went on further. + +"He told me plainly that I was entirely in his power, and that he could +prevent me getting a situation at all if he chose. I had told him I +had a wife and two children depending on me--although I deceived you, +sir, in that matter under his advice. He asked me now whether I wished +them to starve. He pointed out that if I accepted his terms he would +double my wages, so that I could leave my little family in comfort. I +couldn't bear to think they would be in want, sir. I felt certain I +had fallen among a bad lot, and believed myself to be powerless. In +the end, sir, like a fool, I gave in and agreed to his terms. + +"Now just listen, sir, how I betrayed you. + +"I wrote every day to Mr. Saumarez and told him of every movement of +yours, especially the going to the solicitors; he wanted to know all +about that. + +"You will remember the last time you went there, just before we went to +Euston on our way to Liverpool? Well, that newspaper man running along +and knocking me down, and the lady and gentleman coming up and brushing +you down, was all a put-up job. I was told to fall down and keep out +of the way to give the others time to act. Of course, it was they who +cut your coat open. + +"I wonder you can listen to me, sir." + +"Go on," I said. + +"I knew they hadn't got what they wanted, because there was a long +telegram waiting for me at Liverpool on board, and I was told to keep +up communication with Saumarez by Marconograms. So, I did; I did all +they wished until the train was held up, and then, sir, when I saw you +stripped by those greasers, and about being carried off, I could stand +it no longer. I made my mind up to throw Saumarez over and protect +you; it was then that I went and fetched your revolver and put it in +your hand. Since then I have kept on giving them information, but it +is all false. + +"I couldn't bear the worry of it any longer. I laid awake all last +night, and this morning I made up my mind to come and tell you +everything. + +"I know you will discharge me, sir, and I deserve it. + +"I only have to humbly ask your pardon for betraying you, and +forgetting I was once an English soldier." + +He finished, standing before me, white, and with quivering lips. As he +ceased speaking, I could not help remembering that, at any rate, he had +saved my life in all probability, and that which was far dearer to me +than life, the honour of Dolores. + +I turned to him. + +"For the present," I said, as kindly as I could under the +circumstances, "continue to do your duties, and I will consider what I +must do." + +"If I could only think you would give me another chance, sir----" he +said, eagerly taking a step forward. + +"I cannot promise," I said. "I must consider." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE STEEL SAFE + +Don Juan's conduct upon our arrival in London was both a revelation and +a surprise to me. + +First, following a custom, now long established for diplomatists, he +put up at Claridge's. + +From that famous hotel I had the pleasure of accompanying him at his +request on a series of visits. + +The first was an appointment at the Foreign Office, and there he was +closeted with the Secretary of State for a solid two hours, while I was +kicking my heels in a waiting-room. His last words to me had been +exceedingly disappointing. + +"You must forgive me for not taking you with me, Anstruther," he said, +"but the matter I am engaged upon is of such an exceedingly +confidential nature that I dare not disclose it to any one, except the +Ministers themselves." + +I simply bowed my acquiescence and said nothing. + +But being left alone in the waiting-room, which was liberally supplied +with writing materials, I industriously filled up my time by writing +letters. + +First, of course, to Dolores, whom I had left but an hour before at +Claridge's, and to whom I yet felt constrained to pour forth my soul on +paper. + +The feeling, I have no doubt, was a mutual one, as when I returned to +my hotel to dress, there was handed to me as usual a letter from +Dolores, giving me an account of her morning's proceedings. + +Having disposed of my letter to her on this particular morning, I wrote +to my cousin St. Nivel. + +"As for solving the mystery of the old lady at Bath and her casket," I +wrote, "whether she is alive or dead, and why she sent me to Valoro, +_all_, my dear Jack, are to me at the present moment as great a mystery +as the reason why His Serene Highness the Duke of Rittersheim should +want to shoot me at a _battue_ down in Norfolk! + +"I go about with Don Juan d'Alta, and I might just as well be walking +about with one of the lions in Trafalgar Square for all the information +I get out of him. His is the silence of the old diplomatist." + +To Ethel I sent my love; she was pretty well informed of our movements, +as she and Dolores had become fast friends, and corresponded twice or +thrice a week. + +From the Foreign Office Don Juan walked me over to the Home Office, and +there he had a lengthy interview with the Home Secretary of fully an +hour's duration. Finally, we went to Scotland Yard, and there I +thought we should never get away at all; I, of course, being "in +waiting" all the time. + +But there was one consolation which Dolores and I had had ever since we +set foot on board the _Oceana_ on our return, and that was, we did not +care how soon Don Juan knew of our betrothal; we only waited for the +old gentleman to be rid of his mysterious business to declare ourselves. + +For myself, I had but little anxiety as to the result. I had caught +him looking at us on board the steamer, when we were together, openly +lovemaking, and his expression then had been wistful, but not unkind +nor unfavourable. Therefore, I had great hope. + +"If he will not give his consent, darling," my little sweetheart had +whispered often in my ear, "I shall tell him that I will go and be a +nun." + +"But you _won't_, will you, little one?" I always asked anxiously, "you +won't go and leave me?" + +And then she would generally make the naïve confession-- + +"I would rather marry _you_, dear, than be a nun." + +After ringing the changes between the Foreign Office, the Home Office, +and Scotland Yard for a week, Don Juan suddenly expressed his +determination to go down to Bath. I was asked to secure rooms for them +at the "Magnifique"; it was to be a fairly long stay, and Dolores was +going too. + +The proceedings at Bath mystified me more than ever. The first thing +that happened, when we were installed at the "Magnifique," was, that +Inspector Bull accompanied the head of the police on a visit of +ceremony and absolutely raised his hat to _me_ on discovering that I +was _à la suite_ of Don Juan d'Alta! I was never more thunderstruck in +my life, and was hardly able to return such an unexpected act of +courtesy, through astonishment. + +The next thing was a ceremonious visit to Cruft's Folly in a motor car. +There we found the inspector keeping guard over a curious array of +articles assembled on a table on the ground floor of the tower; they +were a most extraordinary collection. First, there was a lady's +handkerchief, and I identified it at once as a fellow one to that which +I had found in the still warm bed of the old lady in Monmouth Street. + +"Are you quite certain," inquired Don Juan, when I had told him about +it in answer to his question. "Are you certain the handkerchief you +found was like this?" + +"As certain as I stand here," I answered; "if there is any doubt about +it I can get the other, for it is only at the hotel." + +"Very well," replied the old gentleman with an air of satisfaction, +making a note in a book, "that settles that matter. Now for the next. +Have you ever seen that silver cigarette box before?" + +I took up the article he referred to, which was standing by the +handkerchief on the table, and examined it; it might, or might not, +have been that case from which I took a cigarette in the old lady's +room on the occasion of my first visit. I told them so. + +"You cannot swear to it?" asked the old Don. + +"No," I answered, "I cannot swear to it; it may be the case, and it may +not." + +"Now, Inspector," he said, turning to the police officer, "kindly show +Mr. Anstruther _that_." + +He pointed to a bundle lying on the table, the last of the articles, +and the inspector took it up, and slowly unfolded it. _It was a lady's +quilted white silk dressing-gown, and the whole of the bosom of it was +deeply stained with what was evidently dried blood._ + +I turned in triumph to the police officer. + +"_That_ is the dressing-gown worn by the old lady the last time I saw +her lying bleeding on her bed in the basement of 190 Monmouth Street. +I told you of it at the time, and you would not believe it." + +Don Juan appeared exceedingly interested at this exhibit, and leant +over it with his gold pince-nez held to his eyes. + +"Ah!" he remarked at last, removing his glasses with a sigh, "then I +suppose that is all you have to show Mr. Anstruther, Inspector?" + +The inspector gathered up the articles ceremoniously before he answered. + +"That is all we 'ave to exhibit to Mr. Anstruther _at present_," he +said. + +Mr. Bull was not going to commit himself. + +From Cruft's Folly we went straight to 190 Monmouth Street, and there +we found the sergeant's wife in her Sunday clothes to do honour to the +occasion; the baby as usual dangled easily from her arm. + +Descending to the basement, I was astonished to find a well-known +gentleman waiting us in the room with so many sad remembrances for me. + +This gentleman was a Mr. Fowler, and I knew him to be one of the Crown +solicitors. His presence there, however, was accounted for when Don +Juan asked me for the key of the steel safe, which I still had in my +possession. + +Under the circumstances I felt fully justified in giving it to him. + +"Now, Anstruther," he said cheerfully, "I will get you to show me and +Mr. Fowler the secret of the panel." + +The broken glass had been already cleared from the frame over the +mantelpiece; therefore, as soon as I touched the carved rose on the +left-hand side, the framework moved up. I touched the spring beneath +and the door in the wall flew open; there within was the steel safe, +exactly as I had seen it last, Don Juan turned to me with a look of +solicitude. + +"Don't feel offended, Anstruther," he began, "at what I was going to +say, but it is essential that I should open this safe in the presence +of Mr. Fowler alone." + +As he took the key from my hands and inserted it in the lock, I bowed +and left them. + +For half an hour I paced the passage without or wandered through the +back door into the neglected garden, which I found abutted on a disused +graveyard--a very common object, met with often in startlingly unlikely +places in one's walks in Bath. + +It was on my return from one of these little rambles that I found the +door of the old lady's sitting-room open, and Don Juan and Mr. Fowler +superintending the removal of the safe by two porters; a third +gentleman had now joined the party. + +"This is Mr. Symonds of the Bank of England," said the old Don +ceremoniously. "He has very kindly undertaken the removal of this safe +to London." + +I was getting now so used to the Don's mysterious movements that even +this did not surprise me. I noticed, however, that the safe had been +very carefully _sealed_ in addition to being locked. The safe was +carried up to the street and placed on the front seat of a large motor +car which was waiting. + +In this the representative of the Bank of England quickly entered, and +two very unmistakable detectives who had been standing by mounted on +the front seat, then the motor puffed away. + +"They won't stop now," remarked Mr. Fowler, "until they reach +Threadneedle Street." + +Within a quarter of an hour Don Juan and I were back in his private +room at the hotel. + +"Thank God!" he exclaimed as we entered, "my mind is now cleared from +that terrible anxiety, and I can rest in peace." + +I looked very hard at the old gentleman as he sank into an arm-chair, +but I did not agree with him. + +"Excuse me, Don Juan," I said, "I have another very serious matter to +trouble you with." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE OLD GRAVEYARD + +"What do you mean?" asked Don Juan. + +The old man glanced at me quickly, an anxious look in his eyes. + +I looked him straight in the face in return. + +"Don Juan," I replied, "Dolores and I love one another." + +The anxious look faded into one of softness, and he commenced walking +backwards and forwards in the room, without answering me. + +Presently he stopped and faced me again, and in his old eyes, which +were blue like his daughter's, there were tears. + +"I will not conceal from you, Anstruther," he began, "the fact that +your affection for Dolores has been apparent to me for some time past, +and has given me cause for much thought. Not that I have distrusted +you, remember," he added with a kind glance. + +"I am not often deceived in a man, and I think I could trust my child +to you." I gave a great gasp of pleasure, but he added immediately, +"under certain circumstances." + +"And those circumstances?" I asked anxiously. + +"First," he began as he sank into an arm-chair, "you are of different +religions; you are not a Catholic, I understand." + +I answered him smiling. + +"I don't think we shall disagree over that," I replied, "Dolores and +her children shall worship the Almighty as she wishes. My religion is +that of a man of the world, I worship with all." + +The old man nodded his grey head and smiled. + +"I did not expect you to be very bigoted," he answered quietly. + +"Now, there is another point, Don Juan," I continued, "upon which I +must satisfy you, and that is my ability to keep a wife." + +I told him of my little estate in Hampshire with its small manor house +on the shores of the Solent, and how I had let it to a yachting man who +had taken a fancy to it; it being too large for my modest bachelor +wants. I told him proudly of my balance at the bank, swelled by the +thousand of the old lady of Monmouth Street, of which he already knew. +I told him what my income was from every source, and finally what I +succeeded in wringing annually from the publishing body. This last +item seemed to amuse him mightily, despite his polite effort to listen +to me with becoming solemnity. + +"Very good, very good, Anstruther," he said at last encouragingly, "I +see you are quite capable of maintaining a wife in a modest way. It is +very creditable to you, too, that you have taken to making money by +your pen. With regard to Dolores, however, should she become your +wife, she is not likely to be a burden to you financially. She will, +in the first place, become entitled on her marriage to an income of +fifty thousand dollars, which arises from property which I settled upon +her mother. + +"Then, she is my only child as you know, and I shall make a further +settlement upon her. My income has been accumulating for years, I want +but little; when I die she and her children will have _all_." + +The amount he mentioned certainly took my breath away, but I raised my +hand and asked him to stop. + +"Believe me, Don Juan," I said, "I should be a happier man if I could +supply her wants by the work of my hands." + +"I _do_ believe you," he answered, "and those would be my own +sentiments exactly under similar circumstances. You will, however, not +find a good income a bar to marital happiness if used judiciously. But +enough of financial matters; I wish to come to another more important +point. I believe it that Dolores loves you; from my own observations I +believe she does, but I must hear it from her own lips. + +"Should it prove to be the case, which I do not doubt, then I will give +my consent to your marriage." + +I rushed forward joyfully to thank him, for I knew what Dolores' answer +would be, but he held up his finger to check me. + +"I will give my consent under those circumstances," he continued, "on +_one_ condition." + +"And that?" I asked eagerly. + +He did not answer me at once; he sat in his chair, with his hand to his +forehead, thinking. + +Then he lifted his head. + +"Sit down and listen to me, Anstruther," he said; "I want you to follow +exactly what I say. + +"When you arrived in Valoro six weeks ago, and gave me that casket, you +reopened an episode in my life closed many many years ago." + +He spoke with great emotion and his lip trembled. I even saw a tear +coursing down his sunburnt cheek. + +"Since then," he continued, "you have very kindly followed me in the +fulfilment of certain duties which devolved upon me upon opening that +packet. You have followed me without question, as became a gentleman, +taking an old man's word that all was well. In keeping that silence of +delicacy, Anstruther, you have unwittingly done me a great service; you +have left me unhampered to fulfil that which I had to do." + +He paused and placed his fingers together in deep thought. + +"I place myself mentally," he continued, "in your position, and I try +to think as you think--try to realise your feelings: the appeal you +received from the old lady as she stood at the door of the house in +Monmouth Street, your acceding to her request, your second visit, the +discovery of the tragedy, the undeserved misfortunes that fell upon you +in consequence, your fidelity to your promise to the lady who was at +best a mere chance acquaintance, the impenetrable mystery which +surrounds it all. + +"I have thought of it, and I feel that you must be consumed with a +great and reasonable curiosity. + +"That you have not indulged that reasonable curiosity, that you have +maintained a discreet silence under very trying circumstances has +caused a very good first impression of you to grow into one of respect +and strong regard." + +He rose and took my hand in both his, the tears running down his cheeks. + +"Anstruther," he continued, mastering his emotion with an effort, "I am +going to ask a further sacrifice from you as a condition of my consent +to your marriage with Dolores--a very necessary condition, or I would +not make it. + +"Anstruther, I ask you to keep eternal silence on what has occurred to +you since you entered the door of the house in Monmouth Street, that +dull evening in November. I ask you never to refer to it again from +this moment, in any shape or form. + +"Tell me, can you make this promise?" + +I stood with my hand in his, my eyes fixed on his kind old face working +with emotion. + +"And this is the final condition you ask," I replied, "to my union with +Dolores? You are satisfied in every other way?" + +"I am satisfied," he replied; "I ask no more." + +"Then I give you my promise," I replied, gripping his hand hard; "the +subject to me shall be dead. God help me to keep my word!" + + * * * * * + +My future father-in-law and I sat chatting an hour longer over the +bright fire in the sitting-room while the gloaming of a February day +was deepening without, and he had talked to me with the familiarity +accorded to one already admitted to his family circle. + +Dolores had gone to a concert at the Assembly Rooms and we did not +expect her back until between five and six. + +It was when we had both paused in our conversation and sat with our +eyes fixed on the leaping flames--the only illumination of the +room--that a knock came at the door and a waiter entered. + +"A gentleman to see you, sir," he said, addressing Don Juan. + +"Who is it?" d'Alta asked. + +"I think it is one of the police officers, sir," replied the man; "he +gave the name of Bull." + +"Ah! it's the inspector, evidently," commented the Don. "Show him up. +I wonder whatever Inspector Bull can want," he continued, turning to +me; "we only left him an hour or two ago." + +The inspector came to answer for himself. The waiter threw open the +door and he entered. + +I saw at once that he had something of importance to communicate. His +demeanour was that of the Duke of Wellington on the morning of Waterloo. + +"Certain information of importance," he commenced, after we had greeted +him, "having come to 'and this afternoon, sir, I thought it well to +come round and see you immediate." + +The inspector's eyes wandered round the apartment. There was a +sideboard certainly; previous experience on former visits had, however, +taught him to expect nothing from it. The foreign Don was evidently an +advocate of temperance, like so many other foreigners who could not +drink good, honest English beer--well seasoned with noxious chemicals. + +"Indeed," commented Don Juan, who had received several of these +mysterious visits before, and did not on that account expect much from +this one. "What have you discovered?" + +"It 'pears," continued the police officer, "that just after dinner +to-day some children was playing in the little disused graveyard in the +rear of 190 Monmouth Street." + +From being a listless listener I became an earnest one immediately; an +idea concerning that graveyard had crossed my mind that very morning +while I contemplated its dismal gravestones, almost hidden in old rank +grass, through the open ironwork forming the upper part of the gate +which shut it off from the little strip of sloping garden in rear of +190 Monmouth Street. In my walk backwards and forwards, while I waited +for Don Juan and the lawyer, Mr. Fowler, during their examination of +the safe, I had come back to that iron grating again and again. It had +somehow fascinated me. + +"These 'ere children," proceeded the inspector, "was playing round the +gravestones, and jumpin' over 'em to keep warm. It was while they were +jumpin' and shovin' each other about over the graves that they noticed +that the top stone of a great flat old grave was loose, and, of course, +they started to make it looser by see-sawing it, until one fat boy +jumped it a bit too 'eavy, and it tilted and let him in." + +"In where?" I asked quickly. + +"Into a new-made grave, sir," he answered solemnly--"a grave what had +been dug recently under the old stone." + +"Whatever for?" asked Don Juan. + +"That's just where it is," replied the officer; "that's just what we +want to find out. The grave is about half filled in with loose earth. +We want to know what's under that loose earth, and that's why I'm here." + +"What have we got to do with it?" asked the Don. + +"The theory is, sir," replied Bull, "that _something_ is buried under +that loose earth. It may be stolen property. It may be a _body_." + +I think both Don Juan and I whitened at the prospect disclosed by the +inspector, but the Don soon recovered himself. He did not seem so +affected by it as I imagined he would be. + +"What do you propose to do?" he asked. + +"We propose," answered the inspector, "to at once have the loose earth +cleared out and see what's underneath." + +"Do you mean now?" I asked. "Why, it is quite dark." + +"We mean to put two workmen on to dig out that earth at once, sir, and +I want you and this gentleman, sir," he added, with a bow to the Don, +"to come and be present. _There might be something to identify_." + +"Identify!" I exclaimed, rather horrified at the prospect; "what could +we identify in the dark?" + +"There'll be plenty of light, sir," answered Bull. "We shall bring +half a dozen lanterns; besides, the moon will be up in half an hour's +time." + +I looked at Don Juan. + +"Do you intend to go?" I asked. + +The old man sprang to his feet. + +"Though I believe the search may be a fruitless one," he answered, "I +will miss no opportunity. I will certainly accompany the inspector." + +The latter at once rose to his feet with a look of satisfaction on his +large face. + +"I thought you would, sir," he answered, with a broad smile; "but I +should advise you, sir, if I might be so bold, to _wrop_ up well, as +the job may be a longish one, and them graveyards is very damp." + +Don Juan rang the bell for his valet to fetch him a fur-lined overcoat, +and I told the waiter to tell my man Brooks to bring mine. + +At my suggestion, the Don ordered some liquid refreshment for the +inspector. Scotch, cold, proved to be his selection, and he stood +imbibing it, while we waited, commenting upon its excellent qualities +for "keeping out the cold," a theory which I have since learned is +totally erroneous. + +Presently the coats came, and we followed the inspector down to the +door of the hotel, where a closed fly was already awaiting us. We +drove away through the brilliantly lighted city to the neighbourhood of +long, dismal Monmouth Street on the hillside, but this time we did not +drive down the street itself but took a turning which ran below it. + +"The gate of the old burial ground," explained the police officer, "is +in this street. It will be far more convenient to enter it this way +than by going round by Monmouth Street." + +At the old-fashioned, sunken iron gateway of the dreary looking, +neglected graveyard a policeman was standing, apparently keeping guard. + +He might have saved himself the trouble, for, with the exception of two +poor-looking little children--one standing with his mouth open and a +forgotten hoop and stick in his hand--the place was deserted. + +We received the constable's salute and, passing through the rusty iron +gate which he held open for us, came at once among the long wet grass +and sunken, often lopsided, tombs. On the farther side of the ground +another constable stood with a lighted lantern, and near him two +labouring men, with spades and picks leaning against an old stone by +them. These latter hastily put out their pipes as we approached. + +I was curious to see what sort of tomb this was which had been +apparently so desecrated, and followed the inspector towards it at his +invitation. + +"This is the grave I told you about, gentlemen," he said, indicating it +with his finger; "you will see they have lifted the top stone off." + +It was a very large tomb of the description called "altar tombs," but +the flat stone which covered it lay by its side, and the rotten state +of the low brickwork which had supported it accounted for its giving +way, even with the boy's weight. + +The inspector took a lantern and held it inside the broken brickwork; +yes, there could be no doubt the grave had been disturbed, and that +recently. + +Freshly turned earth lay between the walls of brickwork, which were +spacious enough to allow of an ordinary-sized grave being dug within +them. + +"Is the grave just as it was found?" I asked. + +"Exactly, Mr. Anstruther," he answered. "The earth has not been +disturbed at all. But I think we'll make a start now. Here comes Dr. +Burbridge, the officer of health. We thought it better to have him +present." + +The figure of a man wearing a tall hat now appeared crossing the +graveyard, preceded by a constable bearing a lantern. + +After briefly introducing the newcomer, the inspector gave the word to +the two labourers, and they scrambled inside the broken brickwork and +commenced digging. + +I looked round the weird spot as the noise of their spades became +monotonous, relieved only by the throwing aside of the great lumps of +moist earth; a mist was rising from the river flowing near, of which in +the first stillness of our coming I could just catch the ripple of the +water. It seemed to me that those who were long buried there had in +life perhaps had some association with the river--even an affection for +it--and had wished to be laid there near its soft murmur while they +slept. + +The men dug on and the pile of earth they threw up grew and grew; it +was very clear that the old ground had been recently broken, and a new +grave carefully shaped out of it. The sides were compact and firm and +had not been disturbed, perhaps, for a whole century. + +I glanced at the stone which had been removed, thinking, perhaps, that +it might give me a clue to the date of the grave, but, alas, time and +the weather had rotted the soft stone and it had come off in layers. +The face of the stone was a blank, and the names of those who lay +beneath lost for ever. + +The moon had risen and the men had dug down perhaps four feet, but +nothing had come to light. Then, as they were proceeding after a brief +halt, one of them gave a cry. + +"There's something here, marster!" he cried excitedly. + +At the sound of his voice all the lanterns were brought to the edge of +the grave, and we looked down into the hole, which the bright moonbeams +did not reach. It was illuminated solely by the dull yellow light of +one candle-lantern by which the men worked. The two diggers had +withdrawn themselves, half scared, to the sides of the hole, and were +looking down fearsomely at _something_ at their feet. It appeared that +they were afraid of treading upon this something; at first I could not +tell what they were looking at, but presently my eyes became accustomed +to the gloom. It was a dark patch protruding from the ground. + +"What is it?" I asked the men, as we all hung over the edge of the +brickwork. + +The nearest man turned a white face up to mine and answered me. + +"It's a human 'ead, sir," he said. + +I think we all drew back again as he said this, and the doctor stepped +forward with a flask in his hand. + +"If you will take my advice, gentlemen," he said, addressing Don Juan +and me, "you will have a nip of this old brandy before we go any +further in this matter. Then I think you had better let me give the +instructions to these workmen, Mr. Inspector, or they may do some +damage unintentionally." + +Don Juan touched me on the arm. His hand trembled fearfully. + +"Let us come away and walk a little," he said; "the strain of this +affair is too much for me." + +I took his arm and walked away with him towards the gate, where now +quite a little crowd had assembled, attracted by the lanterns round the +grave. + +Knowing the Don's fondness for smoking and its soothing effect upon +him, I handed him my cigar case, and he took a cigar and lit it. There +seemed to be something in the aroma of the fine Havannahs as I lit one, +too, that dispelled the lurking mouldiness of the old burial ground. + +"But for those children playing around that tomb this afternoon," +remarked d'Alta, "this body might have lain there undiscovered for +years. It was a cunning mind which thought of using an old grave as a +receptacle for a fresh body." + +We strolled backwards and forwards on the grass-grown pathway, and I +kept the old gentleman as far as I could from the open grave. The +voice of the doctor giving directions and the muffled answers of the +men working in the excavation came to us occasionally. + +Presently, as we turned in one of our walks, I saw the labourers had +come out of the grave and were hauling at something, assisted by the +two policemen. + +As I checked the Don in our walk, and looked on, a white mass was +raised from the opening and laid by the doctor's direction on an +adjacent flat tomb. + +I shuddered as I saw the whiteness of it in the moonlight, and my +thoughts reverted to the blood-stained figure of the old lady which I +had last seen lying on her bed in the house in Monmouth Street. + +The workmen went down into the grave again, and Inspector Bull came +towards us. + +"Will you kindly step over this way for a few moments, Mr. Anstruther?" +he asked. "I want to see if you can recognise the body which has been +brought to the surface." + +I let go the arm of Don Juan which I had been holding, and with a +sickening feeling at my heart followed Inspector Bull. He led me +towards the object lying on the old moss-grown tomb, and I could not +summon the words to ask him who it was. There was a strong +presentiment in my mind that I should look upon the dead face of the +old lady at whose wish I had crossed the Atlantic. + +We came to the body, over which a piece of sacking had been thrown, and +this the inspector drew back, while one of the policemen held a lantern. + +In its yellow light mingled with the clear moonbeams, I looked upon the +face, and my heart gave a great leap of thankfulness. The face was +perfectly fresh and recognisable. It was not the face of the old lady +which I had feared to see, but that of a man with a coal-black beard, +which seemed very familiar to me. + +I had scarcely looked upon it when a cry came from the grave where the +men were working, and they threw up a white bundle, evidently a bundle +of linen. + +This the inspector quickly opened, and displayed a heap of bedclothing +and a pillow all stained with blood. + +"Is that all?" asked the inspector, as the men jumped out of the hole. + +"Yes, marster," the man replied, knocking the clay off his boots, +"there's naught there now but the coffin of the old 'un, well-nigh +moulderin' away, and the plate says he was one o' the old Mayors o' +Bath." + +I turned again to the exhumed body, and the recognition of it came to +me in a flash. + +_It was the dark German who had helped to strap me in the chair in +Cruft's Folly, when Saumarez was going to torture me_. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE STRUGGLE IN THE TUNNEL + +I was delayed two days in Bath by the inquest on the body of the +German, the discovery of which in the old graveyard formed a nine days' +wonder in the old western city and then died out altogether. + +It was a very barren inquiry, for it discovered nothing. The man was a +stranger, no evidence was produced to show who he was, and as an +unknown stranger he was buried again, not in the old graveyard, but in +the new cemetery away among the hills. + +There was only one piece of evidence which carried any interest with +it, and that was the testimony of the doctor. + +He stated that the man had been shot through the head and immediately +killed; he produced the .450 revolver bullet which he had found in the +head. + +Furthermore, he added that the body had been buried at once, and by +that means preserved from decay. It was practically incorrupt. It +might have been buried there a month. + +That was all, and all the coroner's acumen, and all the researches of +the police, could produce no more. Public opinion had to be satisfied +with a very vague verdict. + +There was only one point of interest left for me in the matter, and +that was the bundle of bed-linen which was found buried in the grave. + +That was proved beyond doubt to be the bed-linen of my old lady of +Monmouth Street; it was plainly marked with the letter C, surmounted on +the case of the pillow by a small coronet. + +"Things is coming round in a most extraordinary way to corroborate your +statement about the old lady, Mr. Anstruther," remarked Inspector Bull +patronisingly. "I could 'ardly believe it. I don't know when I come +across another case like it." + +I don't suppose he did. It was an enigma which puzzled many wiser +heads than his in the long run; but I think the part which astonished +him most was to be discovering, bit by bit, that the story of my visit +to the house in Monmouth Street, as related to him and his brother, the +"tip-top London detective," was actually founded at any rate on _some_ +fact! + +The Don and I joyfully directed our respective servants to pack up for +London at the conclusion of the inquest. Dolores had been sent back to +Claridge's by her father, and placed under the care of Mrs. Darbyshire +the morning after the discovery in the old graveyard. He had very +wisely decided to keep her away from the gruesomeness of the inquest, +which pervaded the whole town. + +Under the circumstances that little interview which I was so anxious +that he should have with her to discover the state of her affections +towards me, was postponed, and things remained just as they were. + +Nevertheless, I think both Dolores and I were perfectly satisfied to +wait for the formal declaration of her father's sanction, being happy +in the consciousness of each other's love and steadfastness. + +So the inquest being disposed of, we very gladly went off to the +station beneath the great cliff to catch the afternoon express to town. + +We were in ample time, and strolled up and down the platform, taking a +last look at the town which had proved so fateful to us both. + +Presently the great engine, the embodiment of modern steam power, swept +into the station, and the Don's man at once secured a first-class +smoking compartment for us, with the aid of the guard, while Brooks +looked after the luggage, the other man being a foreigner. + +"I'm afraid I shall not be able to keep the whole compartment for you, +gentlemen," said the guard civilly, as we took our seats; "but I'll put +as few in as I can." + +The old Don was the embodiment of politeness; he was the last person in +the world to inconvenience any one on the railway or anywhere else, +though he liked to have a carriage to himself when he could. + +He told the guard so. + +"I'll do my best, sir," replied the guard, with great _impressement_, +as he pocketed Don Juan's five shillings. "You shall be inconvenienced +as little as possible." + +He locked the door and walked away, and I thought we should be left to +ourselves. + +The guard, however, had overestimated his powers. + +The train was within a minute of starting when two passengers, +evidently in a great hurry, made their appearance at the window. One +was an old gentleman with a white beard, wearing blue spectacles, and +apparently half blind; the other a young sturdy man, evidently his son, +for the elder leant on his arm, and was addressed by him as "father." + +The son led the old man straight to our carriage, and called aloud for +the guard on finding it locked. + +"Now, guard!" he cried with authority, when the official made his +appearance, "open the door; all the other carriages are full." + +"If you wouldn't mind coming down a few carriages farther, sir," +suggested our guard, "I can find you two good corner seats at once." + +"Open this door at once," cried the gentleman furiously; "there is only +half a minute to spare, and don't you see my father is an invalid?" + +Don Juan emerged from his corner with a look of genuine concern upon +his face. + +"Let the gentlemen in at once, guard," he ordered. "I would not be the +cause of inconvenience to them on any account. Come in, gentlemen, I +beg." + +The guard opened the door, and the two passengers entered just as the +stationmaster called out a remonstrance not to delay the train. The +old gentleman sank back in his seat with a sigh of relief. + +"I'm so glad we caught the train," he said breathlessly. + +Brooks ran up at the last moment and handed our tickets to the +collector, who had been waiting for them, as the train did not stop +again until it reached Paddington. + +As Brooks turned and touched his hat to us, it appeared to me that he +started as he looked into the carriage, but the train was just off and +the ticket collector almost pushed him into the next compartment to +ours--a second, of course. + +We puffed out of Bath, and I saw the last of its hills and stone houses +for many a day; indeed, I don't think I have seen it since, except +perhaps in the same way from a flying train. We were soon swallowed up +by a great tunnel, and the Don and I subsided into thoughtfulness and +the quiet enjoyment of our cigars. + +Our fellow-travellers in the opposite corners maintained an absolute +silence; they might have been two statues. + +But in a few minutes we burst out again into the almost blinding +daylight, and then it seemed to me that the appearance of the two men +we were shut up with had undergone a change. It was, if not my fancy, +a total change in the expression of their faces. + +The idea seemed to fascinate me, and I kept my eyes fixed upon them +both. + +Presently, after a quick glance at his companion, the old man put his +hand into the pocket of the thick travelling coat he wore and quickly +pulled out a revolver; then in a voice which I knew again full well he +addressed us both, at the same time covering Don Juan with his pistol. + +"If you make the slightest movement, or speak without my permission, I +shall fire." + +I saw as I sat looking at them that the younger man had also produced a +revolver, and was covering me. + +Then the two moved nearer us into the two central seats of the +compartment, for the convenience, as it proved, of talking to us. + +Don Juan and I sat petrified with astonishment, whilst the elder man +spoke again. I knew him from the first moment he had opened his lips, +despite his disguise, to be the Duke of Rittersheim, or "Saumarez," as +he had called himself. + +"Don Juan d'Alta," he began, "I know you very well, and I don't suppose +you have forgotten me." + +"I know your voice, _Your Serene Highness_," responded the old Don, +with a distinct accentuation of the title. + +"Very well," replied the Duke. "Then that knowledge will enlighten you +to the extent that you will be aware that I want something of you." + +Don Juan made no reply. + +"I want," proceeded the Duke, "the key of the steel safe which you +removed from 190 Monmouth Street, Bath, and sent to the Bank of +England. I want also an order from you to the directors of the Bank of +England, authorising them to give me access to the safe. My friend +here has writing materials." + +My glance turned to Don Juan, who was contemplating the Duke with a +stony stare of contempt. + +"You will get neither the key nor the order, sir," he replied. + +The Duke shrugged up his shoulders. + +"You will compel me, then, to take a certain course," he answered. "I +believe you have the key with you?" + +He was right, the Don had it, but neither of us answered him. + +"You will not answer," he proceeded. "Very well; silence gives +consent. I believe you have it. + +"That being so, I give you five minutes by this watch to make up your +mind, Señor. At the conclusion of that period, we shall shoot you both +as I shot the German they have been making such a fuss about in Bath, +and take the key if you don't give it up. I have no doubt whatever I +can get some clever fellow to copy your writing and manufacture me an +order. + +"At any rate, neither of you will be in a position to prevent me." + +I confess that my blood ran cold at his words, as he took his watch out +with his left hand and laid it on the seat. All my visions of +happiness with Dolores seemed melting into shadows of grim death. + +Don Juan, however, kept perfectly calm; there was scarcely a twitch on +his face as he answered, although the colour had fled from it. + +"That is all very well, sir," he replied coolly; "but what are you +going to do with our bodies? You will be discovered, tried, and +executed." + +The Duke laughed aloud. + +"They don't execute Serene Highnesses," he replied; "but, at any rate, +as you are curious about my safety, I will tell you. In a few minutes +the train will run into a tunnel. There we shall shoot you. + +"In half an hour's time, during which we shall have the discomfort of +regarding your two dead bodies, the train will once more enter a +tunnel, the last before we reach London, and invariably the driver +slows down in it to negotiate a very sharp curve. There we shall cast +your bodies out on to the line as soon as we are in the tunnel, and +availing ourselves of the slowing down which will occur a few minutes +later, we shall leave the train." + +As he spoke, the train entered the tunnel he mentioned, and almost at +the same moment I saw a face appear at the window on the farther side +behind the Duke and his accomplice. + +It was the face of Brooks--my servant! + +At first he expressed great astonishment at the situation as he looked +through the window, then he very clearly frowned to me to keep silence. + +Covered by the rattling of the train in the tunnel he began very +carefully to open the door. + +"The minutes are passing, gentlemen," remarked the Duke, in a mocking +tone. "I must beg of you to make up your minds." + +He clicked his revolver lock as a gentle reminder; but as he glanced at +us in triumph, Brooks crept into the carriage behind him, and in a +flash, with a great spring, his two strong hands held down those of our +assailants which held their pistols. It was a splendid act of judgment. + +In a moment I sprang forward too, to aid him, and then began a fearful +struggle, in which Don Juan could take but little part. The great +endeavour of Brooks and myself was to prevent the men using their +revolvers; with all our strength we held down their hands and rendered +them powerless. + +When it appeared to me we were getting the mastery of them, I heard the +Duke gasp out some guttural remarks in German to his companion. + +Then suddenly the latter released his hold of the pistol, leaving it in +our hands, but his freed hand went to his breast and reappeared with a +long knife in it. + +I did not actually see the blow, but I heard Brooks cry out, and I knew +that the man had struck him. + +But meanwhile Don Juan had picked up the revolver and pointed it +towards the two villains. + +"Fly, Duke," he cried, "for the honour of your house, or I will kill +you." + +With a curse the Duke let go his revolver and cried out in German to +his companion. Then in a moment the two slipped out of the open door +of the carriage on to the footboard and disappeared. We saw them no +more. + +Don Juan and I turned at once to Brooks, who had sunk back with a groan +on the cushions. + +"Are you hurt, my poor man," asked the Don; "have they stabbed you?" + +"Yes, sir," he answered faintly, with his hand to his side. "They've +about done for me, but I'm glad I die fighting like a British soldier +should. I'm glad I've wiped the old score out by saving my master and +you, sir." + +When a quarter of an hour later the train ran into Paddington poor +Brooks lay back in a corner with set white face. He had had his wish; +he had died like a British soldier. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE + +As Dolores and I had both anticipated, the result of her interview with +her father on the subject of her affections was entirely satisfactory +to us both. The Don expressed himself satisfied, too, with the +consultation, and gave us his blessing in the good old-fashioned way +still in vogue in Aquazilia, or at any rate among the adherents of the +old monarchy. We knelt at his feet to receive it. The result was a +paragraph in the _Morning Post_, as follows:-- + + +"A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place, between +William Frederick, only son of the late Sir Henry and Lady Mary +Anstruther, and Dolores, only daughter of Don Juan d'Alta, for some +years Prime Minister of the late Queen Inez of Aquazilia." + + +This announcement brought us a shower of congratulations and inquiries +as to the date of the wedding. + +That query I naturally left to Dolores to answer, and at my earnest +solicitation she very considerately decided, having in view my intense +impatience in the matter, that the paternal assent--with +blessing---having been given in the month of February, we should be +married in April. + +Yes, absolutely _married_! The idea took me greatly by surprise at +first. I used to wake in the morning, and the thought would in a +manner sweetly confront me. It was as if a little mischievous Cupid +sat on the end rail of my bed and revelled in his work. + +"William Frederick," he seemed to say, "you're going to be married. +You're going to marry Dolores. What do you think of it?" + +I _did_ think a great deal of it, and the thought to me was ecstasy. + +I often used to wonder, as I contemplated in my mind's eye this little +wicked Cupid sitting on my bed, whether he went and sat in like manner +on Dolores', and if he did, what the little imp of mischief said to her. + +But time flew, long as the interval seemed at first between February +and April. + +I did not see half as much of my Dolores as I could have wished; Mrs. +Darbyshire and a host of other ladies absorbed her. + +After a week or two my cousin Ethel joined her sage counsels to the +rest in the matter of the bridesmaids' dresses. She herself was to be +the chief of that important band, to which sundry male recruits in the +shape of small boys were to be added by way of pages. + +I never could quite gather how Ethel took my engagement. Her +congratulation assumed the form of a short note. + + +"Dear Bill," it ran, "so you've done it! + +"Well, dear old fellow, I saw it was a dead certainty at Valoro, and I +congratulate you both and wish you every happiness with all my heart. + +"Dear little Dolores is a right good sort, and if I were a man I think +I should fall in love with her myself. I am sure she will make you +happy; mind you take care of her! + +"There is one thing I am sure you will be glad to hear. + +"Give her a season or two over an easy country to begin with, and I +assure you she will ride to hounds as well as any girl born and bred in +the Shires. Believe me, dear Bill, I am speaking seriously, and you +know me too well to think I would deceive you on such a matter. + +"I leave you to teach her to shoot; I think every girl should be able +to handle a gun; it gives her something to talk about to other girls' +brothers." + + +This was the gist of the letter, and I put it aside with a sigh, +wondering whether dear old Ethel would ever marry herself. In that +mood, I regretted that I had ever lingered in those dear old corridors +at Bannington when the moonbeams slanted through the mullions of the +narrow old Tudor windows, and Ethel came down the broad oaken staircase +with a look of well simulated surprise in her eyes at finding me there, +dressed early for dinner and waiting for her to surrender those red +lips of hers in a cousinly kiss. + +_Cousinly?_ + +Well, regrets were unavailing; I could not call the kisses back again, +and how was I to know I was going to meet Dolores and of course fall +straightway in love with her? + +That is the way a man argues himself into a comfortable state of mind +when his half forgotten peccadilloes of meanness spring up and prick +him! + +St. Nivel came round daily with his sister, and, to use his own +expression, "took me in hand." This taking in hand meant principally +marching me off to the tailors and hosiers to order new clothes. + +"A man when he is going to be married," he said sententiously, "must +make a clean sweep of all his old clothes and start afresh. It's a +duty he owes to his future wife--and his tailor!" + +He of course elected himself my best man, and only regretted that I was +not in the "Brigade" that a dash of colour might be added to the +ceremony by lining the church with his dear "Coldstreamers." + +He was, however, getting tired of the Army. He confided to me his +intention to "chuck it" at an early date, and devote himself to a +country life entirely. + +"In fact," he added, summing up the whole situation, "I mean to buy +pigs and live pretty," whatever that expression might mean. His ideas +of matrimony were, however, almost entirely of a pessimistic order, as +he was for ever slapping me on the back and urging me to buck up, +mistaking those delicious love musings which, I suppose, every +bridegroom indulges in for fits of depression. + +"My dear children," said the old Don to us one day, when we were all +together, he, Dolores, and I; "my dear children, I want you to make me +a promise." + +"Of course we will, Padré," we both answered. "What is it?" + +The "Padré" and the "dear children" were now well established forms of +address, and I think the old man delighted in them. + +"I want you to promise me," he replied, "that you will spend _some_ +part of the year with me in Valoro." + +"Of course we will," we chorused. + +Dolores whispered a few words in my ear to which I readily nodded +assent. + +"Padré," she continued aloud, "we will come and spend Christmas and the +New Year with you, and we will bring Lord St. Nivel and Ethel with us. +I am sure they will come. Then," she added, turning to me, "we will +have all our courtship over again." + +In such happy thoughts the time sped away. Don Juan, as an act of +gratitude for what he called "a dutiful acquiescence" to his wishes, +purchased a town house for us in Grosvenor Square. + +"During the season," he added meditatively, "perhaps you will find a +little room for me"--most of the best bedrooms measured about 25 by +40--"that is all I need. After consideration, I have decided that it +would be too much to ask you to have any of my dear snakes. If I bring +any with me, I shall board them out at the Zoo." + +The tenant of my manor house by the Solent, when he heard I was going +to be married, called upon me at my club. + +"My dear fellow," he said, "I'm a sportsman; I couldn't think of +keepin' on your house when I know you'll want it to settle down in. +I've seen another across the water that'll suit me just as well, and +you shall have your own again before the weddin'." + +He was a kind-hearted man and sent me a wedding present--a silver +bootjack to take off my hunting boots with. He said it might be useful +to both of us, which was a distinct libel on Dolores' dear little feet. + +At last the eve of our wedding came and Claridge's Hotel was filled +from basement to roof, principally with the relatives of both families. +For a bevy of Dons with their wives and daughters, all kindred of my +little Dolores, had crossed the Atlantic, glad of the excuse to visit +London, and a contingent from France of the old _noblesse_, her +mother's relatives, had arrived to do honour to the nuptials of the +little heiress. And because she was already a large possessor of the +goods of this world they brought more to swell it; gold, silver, and +precious stones in such quantities that it took two big rooms at +Claridge's to contain them, and four detectives to watch them, two by +day and two by night. + +But among these presents were two which puzzled me greatly--they came +anonymously--a _rivière_ of splendid diamonds for Dolores, a splendid +motor car for me. + +Had she been but a poor relation I fear her display of wedding gifts +would have been but a meagre one. As it was, perhaps St. Nivel's terse +comment on the "show," as he called it, was nearest to the truth. + +"Bill," he said confidentially, "all this splendour is simply +_barbaric_." + +But nobody grudged little Dolores her grand wedding, nor the +magnificent gifts, for every one loved her. + +I was sitting calmly at breakfast on the morning of the day preceding +our wedding, with my mind filled to overflowing with the happiness +before me, when St. Nivel burst in upon me. + +"Look here, Bill," he cried, flourishing a newspaper before my eyes. +"Look here, _some one_ has got his deserts at last!" + +I took the paper from him and read the paragraph he pointed to; it was +headed-- + + +"Tragic Death of the Duke of Rittersheim." + + +I paused, put down the newspaper, and looked at St. Nivel. + +"Yes," he said, interpreting my look; "you will be troubled with him no +more in this world; he's dead. Read it and see." + +I took up the paper and read on-- + + +"MUNICH, _Tuesday_. + +"Considerable consternation was caused this morning in the Castle of +Rittersheim and its neighbourhood upon the fact becoming known that His +Serene Highness the Duke had passed away during the night. It appears +that the Duke has been in bad health ever since his return from England +two months ago, where he had the misfortune to break his arm; he +suffered also the loss of a very dear friend, in Mr. Summers, an +American gentleman who, for some time, had been acting as his +secretary, and whose body, it will be remembered, was found under very +mysterious circumstances, at the time the Duke left England, in a +tunnel on the Great Western Railway, just after the Bath express had +passed through, in which train it is known Mr. Summers had been +travelling with an elderly gentleman. A rumour concerning the +connection of Mr. Summers with a murder which had taken place in the +Bath train seems to have preyed on the Duke's mind, and he has been +unable to sleep for some weeks past. + +"It is presumed that for this reason he had commenced the habit of +injecting morphia, as a large hypodermic syringe, with an empty morphia +bottle, were found beside his dead body. The general opinion is, that +he succumbed to an overdose." + + +"Well, what do _you_ think," asked St. Nivel, as I laid down the paper, +"accident or suicide?" + +"It is impossible to say," I replied. "Nobody can tell, and I should +think that will be one of the problems which will go down to posterity +unsolved." + +"As unsolved, I suppose," he answered, "as the mystery of your old lady +of Bath?" + +That was a subject I had barred since my pledge to Don Juan. "Who can +tell?" I answered with a shrug of the shoulders, "I have given it up. +I never think of it." + +"_I_ do, though," replied my cousin, "and I also recollect, very often +with mingled feelings, the way in which the finding of that man +Summers' body in the tunnel was hushed up, and no further efforts made +to connect him with the murder of poor Brooks." + +"I don't see that any good purpose would have been served," I answered, +"if they _had_ connected him with it. He could not have been tried and +hanged." + +"No, certainly not, but there would have been the satisfaction in +_knowing_. But I believe your deceased friend the Duke of Rittersheim +worked that. In my opinion he threw a cloak of some sort over the Bath +case too, and I don't suppose you will ever discover the truth of it." + +"No," I answered solemnly, "I don't suppose I ever shall." + +And I don't suppose I ever should but for one of those little chances +which occur in a man's life, trifles in themselves, but leading on to +great discoveries. + +The next day after that little talk, amid the pomp of a great wedding, +almost regal in its magnificence, I took Dolores to be my little wife, +to have and to hold from that day forth in sickness and in health, for +richer, for poorer, until death we two doth part. + +And from that time I walked as on air, and forgot the murky clouds +which had darkened my horizon in the days before I found my happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MADAME LA COMTESSE + +It was five years after my marriage, or to be correct, in May of the +year nineteen hundred and seven, that Dolores and I, leaving our three +dear little children in the manor house on the shores of the Solent +whilst we took a flying trip to Switzerland, found ourselves one +heavenly spring morning standing on the balcony of the great hotel at +Lucerne which is built on the very edge of the blue lake. + +"Well, where shall we go to-day, darling?" I asked my little wife as I +slipped one hand round her waist and took the cigar from between my +lips with the other; "shall we ascend grim Pilatus, or cog-wheel it up +the Rigi and have lunch at the little hotel at the top, or shall we +idle away the day in a boat on the lake? What say you, little one?" + +An old German passing below with his hand behind his back, feeling his +way gingerly along on gouty feet with the aid of a stick, looked up, +smiled, and shook his head at us. He took us for a newly married +couple! + +When the laughter provoked by this little interlude had subsided, I +once more put the question to Dolores. + +"Where shall we go to-day?" + +"Darling," she answered, "I'm entirely for the lazy day on the lake. I +want to be idle." + +So the lazy day on the lake it was. + +A small hamper containing a cold chicken, some ham, a salad, with other +accessories for lunch, and the added luxury of a gipsy tea-set, having +been duly put into a boat, we followed it, and taking our seats, were +met with the following query of the boatman, who sat looking at us, his +two oars poised ready for work-- + +"Where will you go?" + +We exchanged a significant glance, then gave voice simultaneously to +the thought which was in both our minds. + +"Anywhere." + +The boatman nodded sagaciously; here again he even--the +experienced--was deceived into believing that he had charge of a pair +who had recently sworn to keep each other warm for life. + +Had he been asked for his opinion concerning us, his reply expressed in +his native tongue would have been briefly-- + +"Honey mooners!" + +As I had reason to believe, after finding that we were perfectly +indifferent as to where we went, he decided to have a little trip to +suit his own convenience. He would go and see his sister at the +Convent of The Nativity up the lake. + +He continued sagely nodding his head as he rowed us away, and in reply +to a question of mine as to what direction he had decided on, winked +confidentially. + +"Monsieur et madame," he replied, "leave it to me. You will have a +great surprise." + +We did, but not in the way he intended. + +On the dark face of the boatman as he worked steadily up the lake I saw +both perplexity and concern; first, although I held Dolores' hand, as I +usually did on such occasions when we were alone--or nearly so, for the +Swiss oarsman counted for little--yet the man saw no yearning desire on +my part to _kiss_ her, as was the case with most husbands in the early +days of the _lune de miel_. + +Several times I noticed that he gave me opportunity by turning round +and straining his neck to see imaginary obstacles in the way for the +fulfilment of this custom, which, to his surprise, I did not avail +myself of. There were no blushes, no abrupt separations, and no +assumed looks of unconcern when he turned round again. + +The situation was a puzzling one. But there was a pale cast of thought +over his features in addition, which I only knew the reason for later +on. He was puzzling his brains to find an excuse for taking us to the +very plain looking convent up the lake which, although beautifully +situated, yet presented no extraordinary attractions beyond a well +ordered and ancient garden, laid out in terraces on the side of one of +the lower slopes of the mountains, and, of course, the beautiful view. +Therefore when, at that curve in the lake when the Rigi comes into +fullest view, a smile of satisfaction overspread the boatman's face, I +knew, after, that he had solved the difficulty and found the excuse for +taking us to such a very ordinary resort. + +"I will show these simple English people," he had reasoned, "the +long-haired goats. I will make a _spécialité_ of these animals for the +delectation of this cold-blooded bride and bridegroom, who do not kiss +when I turn round to observe the prospect." + +In the course of an hour and a half we arrived off a white terrace-like +landing place with a flight of steps leading down to the lake. + +All questions as to our destination had been answered by the boatman +with mysterious nods and winks, giving promise of a stupendous surprise +in store. His object was to get us safely on shore before he opened +the subject of the hairy goats, lest we should, insular like, change +our minds and not give him the opportunity of visiting his sister. The +boat shot alongside the steps, the man sprang out and assisted us to +land; a nun who had been working in the garden came down and met us. + +"_Ma soeur_," explained our boatman, "this English milor and his lady +have a great desire to see your most splendid goats!" + +The good sister looked surprised, an expression which Dolores and I +shared with her, mingled with amusement. We had, however, no +particular objection to inspecting her goats, notwithstanding. + +"Our Mother," she replied amiably, "I am sure, will be pleased to show +monsieur and madame the goats if it will give them any gratification." + +She preceded us through the beautifully kept kitchen garden, and up a +flight of steps to another above, each foot of the productive soil +being used to advantage, as we saw by the abundance of the crops reared +on the sunny slope. + +We mounted up from garden to garden until we came to a large terrace +full of flowers, which surrounded the conventual buildings and +commanded a magnificent view of the lake. + +Here the sister left us. + +"Will monsieur and madame divert themselves here," she asked, "while I +go fetch our Mother?" + +Delighted with the beautiful surroundings and the glorious stretch of +blue water below us, Dolores and I were quite content to enjoy the +lovely scene by ourselves; our boatman had long since slunk off down a +side alley to find his relative the lay sister. + +We had walked half the length of the broad terrace absorbed in the +view, when, turning from it, we became aware that we were not alone. +At the farther end of the terrace was an old lady sitting in an +invalid's chair, also enjoying the beautiful prospect. By her side sat +a nun on a garden chair, holding a large white sunshade over her; the +sun was very hot. Not wishing to disturb her privacy, we turned back +and met the Reverend Mother approaching with our conductress. + +She was amiability itself. Certainly she would show monsieur and +madame the goats. She was unaware that they had become so celebrated. +Perhaps monsieur and madame kept goats in England? + +"No; you have come only by the recommendation of the boatman, Fritz +Killner?" she asked. "No doubt he wished to give you the diversion of +the long passage in the boat." + +I saw a look of amused intelligence pass over the Reverend Mother's +face; she had divined the object of the boatman's visit. In fact, she +frankly told us later--when we had seen the goats--that he had a sister +in the community, and thus let the cat out of the bag. + +We were not by any means petrified with astonishment at the goats; they +seemed very ordinary animals, but with very long white coats. I had +seen better in a goat chaise at Ramsgate. + +But we had, at the Reverend Mother's solicitation, to make the tour of +the convent. + +We inspected the cows, the pigs, the orchard and a very respectable +range of glass houses. + +Then we went to the chapel, and finally to the refectory; here the +hospitality of the white-clad order burst forth; we must have +_déjeuner_. + +The good Superior waved aside the mention of our cold fowl, and +insisted on cutlets and an omelette. Meanwhile, we were to walk with +her upon the terrace to improve our appetite--we were simply ravenous +already. + +"I have brought you to the terrace, monsieur and madam," proceeded the +nun, "not only to admire the fine view and increase your appetites, but +also to present you to Madame la Comtesse." + +"Madame la Comtesse?" I repeated inquiringly. + +She indicated the old white-haired lady sitting at the farther end of +the terrace. + +"That is Madame la Comtesse, the founder of this religious house," she +explained. "She delights to see English visitors. She adores your +nation. Come, let us go to her, but I ask you to approach quite near +her, or she will not see you clearly. She is shortsighted." + +Walking one on either hand of the Reverend Mother, we approached Madame +la Comtesse. + +The attendant nun had fixed the large white sunshade in a socket in the +invalid chair; she was writing at the old lady's dictation. We came +quite near before the Comtesse heard us approaching. Then she turned +her head and looked at us, her kind old features breaking into a very +sweet smile; her glance wandered from the Mother Superior to Dolores, +then to me; there it stopped. + +A little more frail, a little paler, yet with a bright colour in her +cheeks, her still clear eyes gazing up to mine with an alarmed look in +them; I knew her. + +From the very first moment that she moved in her chair and turned to +us; from the instant that that movement of her head disarranged the +silk scarf which was wrapped round her throat, and laying it bare, +showed a broad red scar upon it, _I knew her_; knew her for my dear old +lady of Monmouth Street, Bath, at whose bidding I had crossed the +Atlantic and endured many perils. I knew her, and as I gazed upon her +her lips moved and formed two words-- + +"Mr. Anstruther!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE QUEEN'S ERROR + +The Reverend Mother looked from Madame la Comtesse to me, and from me +back again to the Comtesse. + +"Madame," she said, addressing her, "without doubt you are old friends; +here is a re-union of the most pleasant!" + +We heard her words, both of us, I have no doubt, but we did not answer +her; my thoughts were back again in that basement room at Monmouth +Street. I saw "Madame la Comtesse," this healthy, bright looking old +lady, lying on the disordered bed, her clothes soaked in blood, a great +wound in her throat. + +How did she come here? + +How did she escape? + +Those were the two questions which, for the moment, absorbed my whole +faculties. + +Her face, as I gazed upon it, expressed first blank amazement and +alarm; then pleasure; finally the formation in a strong mind of a great +resolve; she was the first to recover her entire self-possession, +which, perhaps, she had really never lost. + +"Mr. Anstruther," she said in English, extending her frail, delicate +looking hand, "I am delighted to meet you again." + +She took my hand in both of hers, and still holding it looked up into +my face. + +"You are well," she said, "I can see that, and happy. So you should be +with such a charming wife. Please present me to her." + +Dolores wanted no presentation; I think she loved the dear old lady at +the very first sight. She went to her and gave her both her hands, and +the Comtesse drew her face down to hers and kissed her. + +"Your good husband did me a great service once, my dear," she said, +"perhaps the greatest service a man can do a woman." + +Dolores looked down at her wonderingly, and then at me. + +"I wish I could tell you what it was, my dear," she continued, "but it +is a secret. Still, perhaps your husband will tell you, _when I have +told him_. I do not think that he realised the great benefit he did me +at the time, for the good reason that he did not know its extent." + +Dolores nodded her head and smiled, but I am sure she did not +understand. How should she? I did not understand myself. + +Our hostess, the nun, stood looking from one to the other of us with a +smile on her face of that fixity which denoted that she did not +understand a single word of what we were talking about. + +Madame la Comtesse noted her isolation at once. + +"Pray forgive me, _chère mère_," she said, breaking into French, which +she pronounced with a very charming accent. "Mr. Anstruther and I are +old friends. I meet madame, his wife, for the first time today." + +In voluble language the Reverend Mother expressed her gratification at +so happy a re-union, and in the midst of her compliments a nun arrived +to say that _déjeuner_ was served. + +"Go to your lunch, my dears," the Comtesse said, "you must be famished +after your long row on the lake." We had told her of our morning +excursion. "Come back to me here afterwards," she continued, "if you +will, and perhaps I will tell you that which you had a right to know +long ago. Go now, and come back to me. I shall be under those trees +yonder in the little arbour, which is cool in the heat of the +afternoon." + +Dolores and I went off to our _déjeuner_, but though it was excellent, +we ate but little; we were thinking of the Comtesse. + +"What a dear old lady she is," commented my warm-hearted little wife. +"I don't think I have ever seen any one with such a sweet expression as +she has!" + +Neither had I, save, of course, Dolores. + +"But whatever can she have to say to you, Will?" she continued, "and +what is this great service you have done her?" + +Alas, I could not tell her! I remembered my promise of eternal +silence, made to her father before our marriage. + +A cold muteness fell upon us both when I shook my head and did not +answer her; it was the first time that the barrier of secrecy had +arisen between us. The air of the room seemed cold as we sat there, +though the sun shone brilliantly without. The fruits the nuns had +placed before us at the end of our meal remained untouched. + +"Coffee will be served to you on the terrace, monsieur and madame," +announced our attendant nun, "it is the wish of Madame la Comtesse." + +We arose silently, and went forth on to the sunlit terrace again, with +its wealth of flowers and perfumed air. We walked without a word +passing between us, and we came to the arbour in the shade overlooking +a grand stretch of blue lake; here was the Comtesse, a table before her +with coffee and liqueurs, amongst them a sparkling cut-glass decanter +of yellow Chartreuse. A nun stood ready to pour out the coffee, the +same that had written at the old lady's dictation and held her sunshade +in the morning. She served us with our coffee, then with a low bow +disappeared. + +"Sister Thérèse," remarked the Comtesse, "is a great comfort to me; she +writes all my letters and waits on me as if I were her mother." + +At the word "mother" the old lady paused, and I saw her blue eyes fixed +on a distant sail on the lake, with a sad, almost yearning look in them. + +But in a moment it was gone. She turned to us, smiling. + +"You must take a glass of Chartreuse," she said, filling the tiny +glasses, "it is so good for you. It is a perfect elixir!" + +We drank the liqueur more to please her than anything else; then +Dolores rose. I have never seen such a look of pain on her sweet face +as was there then. God send I never see such again! + +"No doubt, Madame la Comtesse," she began, "you wish to speak to my +husband alone?" + +The old lady glanced up at her for a few moments without speaking, +there was a slightly puzzled look in her kind blue eyes; then, in a +second, this look was gone, and one of deep solicitude and affection +took its place. + +It was as if some expression or passing glance on my dear wife's face +had touched a chord somewhere in her nature, perhaps long forgotten. + +She put out her slender white hand and drew Dolores down beside her on +to the bench on which she sat; then she put her arm round her and +pressed her to her, as one fondles a child. + +"My dear," she said, "between a husband and his wife there should be no +secret. No secret of mine shall divide you two. What I tell to one, I +tell to both. What does it matter? For myself, I shall soon be gone; +for the others, what harm can it bring them?" + +We sat in silence, she with her arm round Dolores, her eyes fixed on +the blue lake, a tear trembling in each, and she spoke to us as one +whose thoughts were far away among the people and the scenes she +described. I sat enthralled by every word she uttered. + +"My eyes first saw the light," she began, "in a castle among the +mountains around Valoro, one of the seats of my father, the king!" + +Though I started at her words, they did not amaze me; I was prepared +for them. + +"My mother died when I was ten," she continued. "How I remember her +with her fair curls and blue eyes, they seemed so strange among the +dark-skinned Aquazilians! Young though I was, the shock of her death +was the most awful, I think, that I ever had, perhaps--save one. It +was all the greater because I had no brother or sister to share my +grief with me. Yet I loved my father very dearly; he was a good and +great man, and much reverenced by his people. There was no talk of +revolutions nor republics in those days; the people were content under +a mild rule. + +"The years went on, and I became a woman, nurtured in the magnificence +of a rich palace, yet imbued with the fear of God, for my father was a +good man, and had me well taught my faith. I grew up, I think, with +the brightness of my dead mother's spirit pervading me, for I avoided +many of the pitfalls of youth. + +"My royal father, often taking my face between his hands, would look +into my eyes, and thank God that I had not in me the wickedness of the +Dolphbergs, the race from which we sprang. It was when I was +three-and-twenty that a sudden chill, caught by my father when out +hunting, produced a fever which robbed me of him, and I was left an +orphan; an orphan queen to reign over a nation. + +"I was my father's only child; there was no Salic law to bar me. But +as the orphan is ever succoured by heaven, so was I in my lonely royal +state upheld by the counsels of a good and great man. + +"Your grandfather, my child," she continued turning to Dolores, "the +old Don Silvio d'Alta. + +"He had been my father's stay in all his troubles; the d'Altas were a +race of diplomatists, and when death claimed him your father, Don Juan, +took his place." + +A soft look came into her eyes as she sat with Dolores' hand in hers, a +far-away look; her thoughts were in the times she spoke of. + +"Those were happy days, Dolores," she continued, "those first years +when your father and I ruled the people of Aquazilia. I had had a +reign of ten years when your grandfather died and young Don Juan took +the reins of government as my adviser; no one ever thought of +contesting his right to it. Was he not a d'Alta? + +"He was but twenty-five and I barely nine years older when he became my +chancellor, and those ten years of ruling should have taught me +prudence as a queen had I but listened to Don Juan's counsels too. For +I know he loved me, loved me far too well perhaps and above my deserts. + +"Had I had the prudence of an honest milkmaid who guards her honour as +by instinct, I might have reigned this day at Valoro, instead of being +the victim of a villain who, creeping into my heart like the serpent +into Eden, destroyed it with the fire of burning love, and left me only +ashes." + + * * * * * + +"It was in the very first year of Don Juan's chancellorship that there +came to Valoro the son of a Grand Duke of one of the German States; +what brought him there I shall never know. He told me it was the sight +of my face in a picture, and the 'glamour of my virgin court,' but I +think rather it was the spirit of the adventurer, or the gamester, +which seeks for gain and counts not the cost to others. The Prince of +Rittersheim----" + +"Rittersheim!" I exclaimed, interrupting her. + +"Yes," she continued, "Adalbert, the eldest son of the Grand Duke of +Rittersheim, he who succeeded his father two years later. + +"The Prince was, I think, the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I +think the wickedest. His tall fine presence, set off by a magnificent +uniform, was seen at every Court I held. At every Court ball he +claimed my hand for the first dance; as far as my lonely state allowed +he sought me at every opportunity, and I, like a fool, was flattered by +his attentions. + +"Yes, to my sorrow, I began to love him. + +"I had travelled but little; travelling was harder in those days; one +tour in Europe with my father, that was all. + +"I had fondly imagined that my suitor was a free, unmarried man. The +first shock of his perfidy came when I learned he was not; but it came +too late--I loved him. + +"Don Juan told me, as he was bound in duty and honour to tell me from +his position, that the Prince of Rittersheim was already married, but +was separated from his wife. + +"At the very next opportunity I had of speaking to the Prince--it was +in a secluded part of the palace gardens, and the meetings were +connived at by one of my ladies, the Baroness of Altenstein--I asked +him plainly if he were married. + +"This was apparently the opportunity he had been waiting for; he threw +himself at my feet, and in passionate terms declared his love for me. + +"He had loved me from the first moment that he had seen my portrait, he +had loved me ten times more since he had seen the original. + +"I stayed the torrent of his words and reminded him that he was married. + +"Yes, he admitted he was married in name, but his marriage was no +marriage; he had separated from his wife by the direction of the Grand +Duke, his father--in this he spoke the truth, but the reason was far +different--his so-called marriage was soon to be set aside as null and +void, he told me. + +"'Then come back to me when you are free,' I answered, 'and I will +listen to you if the Church permits,' for I knew he was not of my +Faith, and the German States treated marriage lightly. My answer only +caused him to redouble his entreaties; he begged me not to drive him +from me, he could not live away from my presence, and I, poor fool, +looking down at his handsome face and graceful person, and loving him +with my whole heart, believed him. + +"I know not how it came about, but I found myself sitting on a seat in +that secluded corner of my garden with the Prince beside me with his +arms around me, whilst my lady-in-waiting, the Baroness d'Altenstein, +had discreetly wandered off out of earshot, but still with a keen eye +that no one should disturb us. + +"I never can account for it, I never can understand how it was I +listened to him. I suppose it was the hot bad blood of the Dolphbergs +which lurked in my veins and urged me, for I loved with all the passion +of my race then; loved as a woman over thirty loves who has never loved +before. + +"Sitting on that rustic seat with him, whilst the cool evening wind +played about us, I listened to a scheme he unfolded to me. He said he +loved me to such distraction that he could not leave me, it would kill +him; he could not wait until his marriage was set aside. He swore that +he believed himself conscience free to marry, and swore a great oath +that nothing should ever part him from me. + +"In soft, loving whispers, he proposed that we should be married +secretly; he had a priest all ready willing to perform the ceremony. + +"Then he would be sure of me and could live content. + +"In a few months his former alliance would be set aside; before all the +world we could be married again. A grand state ceremony if I would +have it so. + +"I listened to him, and my heart beat high as he spoke, yet I doubted +in my saner moments whether I should ever be permitted to marry him by +my ministers and my people were he free that very day. + +"Poor fool that I was, he bent me to his will within a week, and he had +no greater advocate for his cause than the Baroness d'Altenstein, my +lady, though, poor soul, she only meant me well. But she was romantic, +and had not long been married to a man she loved, a courtier from the +country of the Dolphbergs; she had spent her honeymoon in their +capital, and was an advocate for love at any price. + +"Knowing I loved the Prince of Rittersheim, she worked only to make me +happy by a marriage with him. + +"With her knowledge only, I slipped away from Court for a week and went +through a ceremony of marriage with the Prince at a little village +church hidden away in the mountains a hundred miles from Valoro. + +"I married him in the dress and under the name of a simple peasant +woman, not knowing--as he did--that such a ceremony was utterly null +and void. + +"Was I happy? I think he loved me then--a little." A soft, sad look +overspread the sweet old face; she gazed away across the lake in +silence for a few moments. It seemed that, even after all these years, +that time of love and falseness held some tender recollection still. + +She came, as it were, to herself almost directly, and heaving a great +sigh, went on-- + +"Long before the week was ended, the Prince had told me I must return +to the Court, and take my place there as before. + +"Of course I protested, and begged him to even then make our marriage +public; that I would give up the throne. Had I not a great fortune +left me by my father? + +"Yes, that was the point that touched him, the great fortune. The +treasures of my late father were immense. Besides an enormous fortune +in money, mostly invested prudently in Europe, he possessed some of the +most valuable diamonds in the world. It had been his diversion to +collect them; he believed that they were always a most valuable +security, likely to increase in value, and therefore he did not grudge +the money sunk in them. The most valuable, reckoned to be worth a +million English pounds, were stored in a safe of special construction +made of steel. They were apart from the Crown Jewels, and were never +worn. Indeed most of them were unset. My father's theory was that +they were of immense value and could be carried in a small compass in +case of necessity. + +"The Prince, of course, knew from me full well of these treasures, and +I firmly believe hungered for their possession from the very moment he +learned from my foolish lips of their existence. He forced me at the +end of the few days' honeymoon to return to the Court, and then from +that time forth I saw him only surreptitiously with the aid of +d'Altenstein, who was the aider and abettor of it all, yet loving me, +and working only, as she thought, poor soul, for my happiness. + +"I was soon undeceived in my Prince. I soon learned that he was in +sore straits for money, and that he intended to get it from me. + +"I gave him all I could, but he was insatiable. Finally he would come +to me drunk and strike me when I could not meet his demands for +thousands upon thousands. + +"It was then that in my desperation, when I knew I was to be a mother +soon, I confided all to Don Juan d'Alta, and by so doing perhaps saved +my life and my child's." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE QUEEN'S ATONEMENT + +"Yes, but for the intervention of Don Juan d'Alta, my Chancellor at +that time," continued the old lady, "my life might have ended in +despair. + +"From the very first, although he did not tell me so then, he saw that +I had been simply _exploited_ by this heartless and unprincipled +scoundrel, Prince Adalbert of Rittersheim. But your father," she +proceeded, turning to Dolores and placing her hand on hers, "your +father, my dear, by his self-sacrifice and the pure affection which he +bore me, saved me. + +"He realised that he had to do with a villain whose object was plunder, +and who at that time dominated the situation. He foresaw that a +liberal outlay of money was the only thing that would rid me of this +fiend. He went to Prince Adalbert and simply asked him his price. + +"He named at first an exorbitant sum, _and the diamonds of my late +father contained in the steel safe_. + +"This was refused. Don Juan at last brought him to his knees by +defying him and telling him to do his worst. + +"Then he agreed to a yearly pension of one hundred thousand dollars, +which would be paid to him on condition that he left me unmolested. + +"He made a fight for the custody of the child which was coming, as I +doubt not he thought that he could have a greater hold over me if he +had it, but this request was flatly refused, and he sailed away from +Aquazilia the richer by a great income, but bought at the price of a +loving woman's happiness." + +The old queen stopped and wiped the tears from her eyes. + +"Do not go on, your Majesty," urged Dolores, half dazed at the +disclosures; "you distress yourself." + +The old lady brightened at once and pressed her hand, putting away her +handkerchief. + +"No," she answered; "I prefer to tell you _all_ and _now_. + +"By the aid of Don Juan and the Baroness d'Altenstein, who was broken +down with grief at the course affairs had taken, my condition was +concealed, and arrangements were made for my accouchement under +circumstances of the greatest secrecy. Don Juan had abandoned all hope +from the outset of legitimatising the child; his one object was to +conceal my shame. This he succeeded in doing. I gave birth to a boy, +and my love for him has been the great solace of my life." + +"And he is living, madame?" I ventured to ask. + +"Yes, living," she answered, the sweet smile playing about her lips +again--"living, and the greatest comfort God has given me in my trials. + +"From his babyhood he was the one thought I had; his training, his +education, the fostering of good in his receptive mind that he might +grow up a good man. And he has repaid me a thousandfold. + +"But in those years great troubles came upon me. Prince Adalbert, +known as one of the greatest roués and spendthrifts in Europe, had +succeeded his father two years after he left me, and was now Grand +Duke. His first wife had been taken back again--or he never could have +faced his people--and had borne him a son. This son was fated to be +the scourge of my life hereafter. + +"Meanwhile, in the throes of a continental war, the Grand Duchy of +Rittersheim was absorbed into the neighbouring great state, and the +Grand Duke Adalbert, deposed and impoverished, became simply a +pensioner, and a most importunate blackmailer of myself. + +"His one great object in life--and later he confided this secret, with +the story of our marriage, to his son--was to obtain possession of the +great fortune in diamonds, still locked in the steel safe bequeathed me +by my father, and which I had steadfastly refused to part with, nay, +even to withdraw a single stone from. + +"But the value had, in the drink-distorted mind of the Grand Duke +Adalbert, become immensely exaggerated. The safe was believed by his +son Waldemar to contain diamonds to the value of five millions of +English pounds!" + +Hence his intense rapacity in later years; for when my boy was +twenty-five his father, the Grand Duke Adalbert, died, and was +succeeded in the title only, for the power was gone, by his son +Waldemar, but two years younger than my own. + +"This Waldemar appears to have been evilly disposed from boyhood, and +embittered against mankind in general, first by the loss of his Duchy, +and in addition by the destruction of an eye which he suffered in some +low fracas, for his delight was to mingle and drink with the lowest of +mankind. On his father's death he came to Valoro and demanded that the +pension paid to the late Duke by me should be continued to him! + +"This was refused. + +"Then he had the impudence to try and bargain with me, offering to keep +silence for a certain sum. Finally he laid claim to the diamonds in +the steel safe, which he stated were his father's property. My answer +to his requests and fraudulent claims was to have him placed on board a +steamer bound for Europe. + +"Then he threatened me with his life-long vengeance. Leagued with a +professional agitator named Razzaro, he commenced to undermine my +authority with great subtilty, till in the end my simple people who +once had loved me and my family grew to hate me, and to look upon +Waldemar, even the Royalists, as a much-wronged person. + +"You know the rest; it is written in the history of the world. My +people rose in rebellion. I was dethroned, and with one single +faithful companion, the Baroness d'Altenstein, fled to Europe in the +warship of a friendly nation. + +"But before the storm burst I had sent to Europe the steel safe and its +precious contents, the diamonds. + +"For some reasons, I have many times since wished that it had sunk to +the bottom of the Atlantic. + +"For years I lived in one of the fairest cities of Europe with my +faithful d'Altenstein, and for those years the Duke Waldemar left me +in peace, being, I suppose, occupied in some other villainy. + +"But suddenly he commenced his importunities again, and made one +dastardly attempt, through others, to steal the safe from the bankers' +vaults in which it lay, but this was frustrated. + +"Harried to death by his persecution, I consulted a learned English +judge whom I met in Society in Paris, Sir Henry Anstruther, your +father," she added, turning to me, "and it has always seemed to me a +providential coincidence that in my need I should also have turned to +you. + +"I asked this good English judge, without disclosing my secret, what he +considered the most effectual mode for a woman to adopt to hide herself +entirely from the world and her friends. I said I was very curious to +know what his long experience had taught him in that respect. + +"He seemed amused at my question, and thought for some time before +replying, little guessing what was running in my mind. He answered me +at last, and said that he thought that a person could be best hidden +and lost to the world by living just a fairly ordinary life in a quiet +way in one of the larger towns in England. That was his experience +during his long life as a lawyer. + +"I treasured his opinion, and formed a scheme in my mind upon it. + +"Just then poor Carlotta d'Altenstein, a widow without friends, my dear +companion, was seized with her mortal illness, and then I saw my scheme +complete before me. + +"By the lavish use of money, of which I had more than I needed by far, +for my father's private fortune invested in Europe was very great, I +contrived that I should change places with the Baroness d'Altenstein. + +"To the public it was _I_ who was ill; to the world at large, even to +Don Juan, it was _I_ who died. It was then that, passing as the +Baroness d'Altenstein--in England as plain Mrs. Carlotta Altenstein--I +went to the city of Bath, which had been recommended, and also offered +certain devotional advantages to me, for I intended to give the +remainder of my life to religion and the poor. + +"There in Monmouth Street, where you saw me, Mr. Anstruther, amusing +myself with philanthropic literature, I succeeded for ten years in +hiding myself from the Duke Waldemar of Rittersheim, who had in a +manner reformed himself and become a philanthropist too, _in public_; +in secret his life was worse than ever. In that little room in which +you found me, I was foolish enough to keep the steel safe, hidden away +in a receptacle cut in the stone wall of the house. But the safe no +longer contained all the diamonds. I had been gradually selling them +and devoting the proceeds to the poor of the world. This convent, a +refuge for aged men and women, and orphaned children, was founded with +part of the money. + +"But to my horror, at the end of the ten years, I met the Duke +Waldemar, face to face, coming out of the Pump Room at Bath, where +quietly and unobtrusively I had gone to take the waters. That was on +the morning of the day I spoke to you, for I knew then that my refuge +was a refuge no longer. + +"I intended on the morrow to have asked you to help me remove what +remained of the diamonds to a place of security and leave the safe +behind. Perhaps I might have even encroached on your kindness to have +asked you to escort me here, but it was arranged otherwise. + +"During the night and early morning, I became aware that something was +taking place in the next house, which up to then had stood empty. I +connected it in my mind with some plot of the Duke, who I doubted not +had had me followed home. The sequel proved I was right. + +"This fear so worked upon me that, towards morning, I rose and +commenced to write the letters to you and Don Juan, and to make them up +in packets. + +"The letter to the latter, in which I told him I should come here if I +lived, of course I placed in the ebony casket with something else that +was worth more to me than all the diamonds in the world; it was the +certificate of my marriage to Prince Adalbert of Rittersheim at the +little church of the remote mountain village in Aquazilia. + +"I was far more fearful of losing that than all my fortune. It was the +certificate of my honour and my son's birthright. I knew that if the +Duke Waldemar once got it into his possession he could demand any price +from me for its return. + +"It was late in the morning, a dull foggy November morning, when I had +finished sealing the packets and locked them away in the steel safe +with my own key. The one I had given you was the only duplicate in +existence; they both bore my father's initial C, he was Carlo the Third +of Aquazilia. + +"Having left directions on a paper which you could see within the safe +when you opened it, I carefully locked it and hid my own key under a +special place in the carpet. + +"I intended then to write to you at once and tell you to come and open +the safe, whatever might happen to me, for I believed that its +hiding-place would not easily be discovered, but I never had this +chance. + +"Exhausted with want of sleep, I went back to my room and threw myself +on my bed, half dressed as I was, with my white silk dressing-robe on +in which I had sat writing half the night. + +"I at once fell asleep and must have slept for hours, for it was dark +again when I awoke, and then I was called back to consciousness by +having my arm roughly shaken. I found the Duke Waldemar and two other +men in my room. + +"He at once demanded to know the whereabouts of the steel safe with the +diamonds, and held a naked knife to my throat to force me to tell him. + +"Life was of very little value to me in comparison with the needs of +the poor for whom I was determined to preserve the riches. + +"Each time I refused to tell him he pressed the knife closer to my +throat, until it cut into the flesh, and I felt the warm blood +trickling down on to my white dressing-robe. + +"When he and his companions had been there it seemed to me a long, long +time, and it was useless for me to shriek for help, I gave myself up +for lost, turning my thoughts as well as I could to the next world. + +"It was then that the Duke and his men were startled by hearing you +open the front door of the house and stumble through the dark passage. + +"With horrible curses they fled through the window. + +"Then you came, and I had just the strength left to whisper to you to +open the safe when I fainted away. + +"I have no recollection of what occurred after. Many hours must have +elapsed before I regained consciousness, and then I came to myself in +an underground room of what I knew after to be a lonely tower on the +hills near Bath." + +"What, not Cruft's Folly?" I suggested. + +"Yes," she replied thoughtfully; "I believe that was the name I +afterwards learned was given to the place. + +"I was waited on by a German woman, the wife of one of the Duke's +followers, a big dark man with a black beard. + +"My dress, my bed, and general surroundings were those of a poor +country woman. + +"But this black-bearded German and his wife were the means of saving me. + +"There had been an accident, a man had fallen off the tower and been +killed. + +"The big dark man and his wife were terribly frightened, and in this +state could not withstand the temptation of the big bribe I promised +them if they would obtain my release. + +"They brought a country cart to the tower, full of straw, as soon as it +was dusk on the day of the accident, and in this I was driven to +Devizes. From there I telegraphed to my bankers and they sent a +special messenger to me with an abundance of money and a new +cheque-book; from that time forth I was my own mistress again. + +"The wound in my neck, which was only skin deep, had been carefully +bandaged by the German woman; under the hands of a skilled doctor and +nurse, it soon healed. + +"I have very little doubt but that the Duke intended to keep me a +prisoner in the tower until I disclosed the whereabouts of the diamonds. + +"The big German who had arranged my escape--and to whom I gave five +hundred pounds--told me that a grave had already been dug to receive my +body in the old graveyard behind the house in Monmouth Street. + +"Had the Duke discovered the diamonds, I should have been murdered to +save further trouble from me; he knew, of course, I was already dead to +the world. As it was, they only buried my bloodstained bed-linen in +the grave when they carried me off from the house, after you had left +the Duke stunned." + +I could have told the old Queen that the big German did not long enjoy +her five hundred pounds, but that he himself filled the grave intended +for her, and which, probably, he had helped to dig. I did not tell her +this, she had had trouble enough; but I had little doubt that the Duke +had discovered that the man had played him false, and had shot him and +disposed of his body in that way. + +Queen Inez paused, and passed her frail white hand across her eyes. + +"I have told you all now, I think," she said slowly, for she was +fatigued. "When I was well enough I came here and found a telegram +from Don Juan. I knew you had delivered the casket. Here I have +remained; here I shall, if it be God's will, remain to the end." + +Seeing that the long relation had tired her, I leant forward and filled +one of the little liqueur glasses with the golden Chartreuse and handed +it to her. She took it from me with a smile, and insisted that we +should take some too. We sat sipping the delicious liqueur in silence, +our gaze fixed on the blue lake and the white sails slowly moving in +the stillness of the afternoon heat. + +As I saw the colour returning to the Queen's face, I ventured to ask +her another question. + +"There is one person, madame," I said, "who's history you have not yet +thought fit to tell us. Forgive me if I am presumptuous in asking the +question. It is your son I speak of." + +A very sweet smile came over her face as I ceased speaking. She +glanced, it appeared involuntarily, at the sparkling liqueur in her +little glass. + +"My dear son's history is soon told," she said, still smiling. "He has +been a Carthusian monk, a Trappist, since his youth. He never had the +least inclination for the life of the world. He is the abbot of the +monastery of San Juan del Monte, near Valoro." + +_Then_ I recollected his fair face, and blue eyes, and remembered that +he had reminded me of _some one_; now I knew who that some one was--his +mother. It was plain to me why Don Juan had taken us there. + +"Every year," continued Queen Inez, "by the special permission of the +head of his order, he comes to me and stays ten days. Those are, to +me, ten days stolen from heaven. Thank God, he comes next month, and +each time he comes," she added, with a smile, raising her little glass, +"he brings me a present from his monastery of the veritable Chartreuse." + +We lingered with the dear old Queen until the sun was declining over +the lake, whose waters were turning a darker blue; the sister came with +wraps and a warning glance to take her to her rooms in the convent. + +At her request, during our short stay at Lucerne, we visited her again +and again, until the day of parting came, and we bade her farewell on +the terrace where we had first met her, above the blue waters of the +lake. + +There were tears in her eyes and ours when we left her, and the tears +came back again to ours as we looked wistfully up at the terrace as +Fritz rowed us away, and we saw her waving to us no longer. + +That was the last we saw of her, or shall ever see in this world, for +six months after we received a letter from the Reverend Mother telling +us that "Madame la Comtesse" was dead, and Dolores and I, remembering +her sufferings, her patience, and her great love, are presumptuous +enough to think that heaven has gained another saint. + + * * * * * + +No, neither Ethel nor St. Nivel are married yet, but I would not say +that they never will be. I have heard rumours of a Guardsman on the +one hand, and a sweet Irish girl on the other. + +At any rate, during those happy autumn weeks which Dolores and I +invariably spend at dear old Bannington in the shooting season, if, by +any chance, Ethel and I meet in the gloaming in the long, oak-panelled +corridors, we indulge in no more cousinly kisses; she _won't_. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A QUEEN'S ERROR*** + + +******* This file should be named 25595-8.txt or 25595-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/5/9/25595 + + + +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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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/25595-8.zip b/25595-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..410b025 --- /dev/null +++ b/25595-8.zip diff --git a/25595.txt b/25595.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df4da10 --- /dev/null +++ b/25595.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7896 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Queen's Error, by Henry Curties + + +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 Queen's Error + + +Author: Henry Curties + + + +Release Date: May 25, 2008 [eBook #25595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A QUEEN'S ERROR*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +A QUEEN'S ERROR + +by + +CAPTAIN HENRY CURTIES + +Author of + + "The Blood Bond" "The Idol of the King" + "Tears of Angels" "The Queen's Gate Mystery" + "Out of the Shadows" Etc. Etc. + + + + + + + +London +F. V. White & Co. Ltd. +17 Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C. +1911 + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAP. + + I. A STRANGE VISIT + II. THE MAN WITH THE GLASS EYE + III. THE SECOND VISIT AND ITS RESULT + IV. I AM DETAINED + V. ARRESTED + VI. PUT TO THE TORTURE + VII. CRUFT'S FOLLY + VIII. SANDRINGHAM + IX. THE DUKE OF RITTERSHEIM + X. THE PLOT THAT FAILED + XI. THE _OCEANA_ + XII. HELD UP + XIII. DON JUAN D'ALTA + XIV. THE CASKET + XV. THE ABBOT OF SAN JUAN + XVI. THE CONFESSION OF BROOKS + XVII. THE STEEL SAFE + XVIII. THE OLD GRAVEYARD + XIX. THE STRUGGLE IN THE TUNNEL + XX. THE DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE + XXI. MADAME LA COMTESSE + XXII. THE QUEEN'S ERROR + XXIII. THE QUEEN'S ATONEMENT + + + + +TO + +SWEET KATHLEEN + +OF + +BATH + + + + +A QUEEN'S ERROR + + +CHAPTER I + +A STRANGE VISIT + +I turned the corner abruptly and found myself in a long, dreary street; +looking in the semi-fog and drizzle more desolate than those dismal +old-world streets of Bath I had passed through already in my aimless +wandering; I turned sharply and came almost face to face with her. + +She was standing on the upper step, and the door stood open; the house +itself looked neglected and with the general appearance of having been +shut up for years. The windows were grimed with dirt, and there was +that little accumulation of dust, pieces of straw, and little scraps of +paper, under the two steps which tells of long disuse. + +She stood on the step, a figure slightly over the middle height, +leaning one hand on a walking stick, and her face fascinated me. + +It was the face of an old lady of perhaps seventy, hale and healthful, +with fresh colour on the cheeks, and bands of perfectly white hair +falling over the ears. But it was the expression which attracted me; +it was peculiarly sweet and winning. + +My halt could only have been momentary. I recollected myself and was +passing on, when she spoke to me. + +"Would you be so kind as to do me a favour, sir?" she asked. + +The voice was as sweet and winning as her expression; though she spoke +perfect English, yet there was the very slightest _soupcon_ of a +foreign accent. Of what country, I could not tell. + +I stopped again as she spoke, and having perhaps among my friends a +little reputation for politeness to the weaker sex, especially the +older members of it--for I am not by way of being a Lothario, be it +said--I answered her as politely as I could. + +"In what way may I be of service to you?" + +She brought her walking stick round in front of her and leant upon it +with both hands as she made her request. She then appeared, in the +fuller light of the yellow-flamed old-fashioned gas lamp opposite, to +be much older than I first thought. + +"I want you, if you will," she said, "to come into this house for a few +minutes. I wish to ask a further favour of you which I shall then have +an opportunity of explaining, but, on the other hand, the service I +shall ask will not go unrewarded." + +Prepossessing though her appearance and address were, yet I hesitated. + +I took another long look at her open face, white hair, and very correct +old lady's black hat secured by a veil tied under her chin. It was +just such a hat as my own dear mother used to wear. + +"You seem to hesitate," she remarked, noting, I suppose, my delay in +answering her; "but I assure you you have nothing to fear." + +I took a sudden resolve, despite the many tragedies I had read of in +connection with empty houses; I would trust her. + +There was something about her face which conveyed confidence. + +"Very well," I replied, "if I can be of any use to you, I _will_ come +in." + +"Thank you," she said, "then kindly follow me." + +She turned and held the door for me to pass in; when I was inside she +closed it, and we stood almost in complete darkness, except for the +glimmering reflected light of the yellow street lamp opposite, which +struggled in through the dirty pane of glass over the door. + +"Now," she added, "I will get a light." + +She passed me and went to the hall table on which stood one of those +candlesticks in which the candle is protected by a glass chimney. She +struck a match and lighted a candle. "Now if you please," she added, +going on before me down the dark passage. I saw now from her tottering +walk that she was much older and much more feeble than I had imagined. +I followed her and saw signs of dust and neglect on every side; the +house, I should say, had stood empty for many years. But as I followed +the old lady one thing struck me, and that was, that instead of the +common candle which I would have expected her to use under the +circumstances, the one she carried in its glass protector was evidently +of fine wax. She took me down a long passage, and we came to a flight +of stairs leading to the kitchens, I imagined. + +"We must go down here," she announced. "I am sorry to have to take you +to the basement, but it cannot be helped." Again I had some slight +misgivings, but I braced myself. I had made up my mind and I would go +forward. + +I followed her as she went laboriously step by step down the flight. +At the bottom was the usual long basement passage, such as I expected +to see, but with this difference, it was swept and evidently well kept. + +The old lady led on to the extreme end of this passage towards the back +of the house, then opened a door on the left hand and walked in. At +her invitation I followed her and found her busily lighting more wax +candles fixed in old-fashioned sconces on the walls. As each candle +burned up I was astonished to find the sort of room it revealed to me. + +It was a lady's boudoir beautifully furnished and filled with works of +art; china, choice pictures, and old silver abounded on every side; on +the hearth burned a bright fire; on the mantelpiece was a very handsome +looking-glass framed in oak. My companion, having lit six candles, +went to the windows to draw down the blinds. I interposed and saved +her this exertion by doing it myself. + +I then became aware that the house, like so many others in Bath, was +built on the side of a hill, the front door being on a level with the +street, whilst the lower back windows even commanded lovely views over +the beautiful valley, the town, and the distant hills beyond. + +Below me innumerable lights twinkled out in the streets through the +misty air, while here and there brightly lit tram cars wound through +the town or mounted the hills. Thick though the air was the sight was +exceedingly pretty. + +I could now understand how even a room situated as this was in the +basement of a house could become habitable and pleasant. The voice of +the old lady recalled me to myself as I pulled down the last blind. + +"I am sorry to have to bring you down here," she said. "It is hardly +the sort of room in which a lady usually receives visitors, but you +will perhaps understand my liking for it when I tell you that I have +lived here many years." + +The information surprised me. + +"Whatever induced you to do that?" I asked without thinking, then +recollected that I had no right to ask the question. "You must excuse +my question," I added, "but I fear you find it very lonely unless you +have some one living with you?" + +"I live here," she replied, "absolutely alone, and yet I am never +lonely." + +"You have some occupation?" I suggested. + +"Yes," she replied, "I write for the newspapers." + +This piece of information astounded me more than ever. I imagined it +to be the last place from which "copy" would emanate for the present +go-ahead public prints, and the old lady to be the last person who +could supply it. + +She saw my puzzled look, and came to my aid with further information. + +"Not the newspapers of this country," she added, "the newspapers of--of +foreign countries." + +I was more satisfied with this answer; the requirements of most foreign +journals had not appeared to me to be excessive. + +"I too am a brother of the pen," I answered, "I write books of sorts." + +The old lady broke into a very sweet smile which lighted up her +charming old face. + +"Permit me to shake hands," she suggested, "with a fellow-sufferer in +the cause of Literature." + +I took her hand and noted its soft elegance, old though she was. + +She crossed to a carved cupboard which was fixed in the wall, and took +from it a tiny Venetian decanter, two little glasses, and a silver +cigarette case. + +"We must celebrate this meeting," she suggested with another smile, "as +disciples of the pen." + +She filled the two little glasses with what afterwards proved to be +yellow Chartreuse, and held one glass towards me. + +"Pray take this," she suggested, "it will be good for you after being +out in the damp air." + +I took the tiny glass of yellow liqueur in which the candlelight +sparkled, and sipped it; it was superb. + +"Now," she continued, indicating an armchair on the farther side of the +fireplace, "sit and let us talk." + +I took the chair, and she opened the silver box of cigarettes and +pushed them towards me. + +"I presume you smoke?" she suggested. "I smoke myself habitually; I +find it a great resource and comfort. I lived for a long time in a +country where all the ladies smoked." + +I took a cigarette, lit a match, and handed her a light; she lit her +cigarette with a grace born of long habit. + +"Now," she said, as I puffed contentedly, "I can tell you what I have +to say in comfort." + +I certainly thought I had made a good exchange from the raw air of the +street to this comfortable fireside. + +"It will not interest you now," she continued, "to hear the reasons +which have moved me to live here so long as I have done; that is a +story which would take too long to tell you. All the preamble I wish +to make to my remark is this; that the favour I shall ask of you is one +that you can fulfil without the slightest injury to your honour. On +the contrary it will be an act of kindness and humanity which no one in +the world could object to." + +"I feel sure of that," I interposed with a bow, "you need not say +another word on that point." + +I was really quite falling in love with the old lady, and her old-world +courtesy of manner. + +"I will then come straight to the point," she proceeded, taking a +curious key from her pocket; it was a key with a finely-wrought handle +in which was the letter C. + +"I want you to open a secret drawer in this room, which, since its +hiding-place was contrived, has been known only to me and to one other, +the workman who made it, a Belgian long since dead. Please take this +key." + +I took it. + +"Now," she continued, "cast your eyes round this room, and see if you +can detect where the secret safe is hidden." + +I looked round the room as she wished, and could see nothing which gave +me the slightest clue to it. + +"No," I said, "I can see nothing which has any resemblance to a safe." + +She laughed, and, rising from her seat, turned to the fireplace and +touched a carved rose in the frame of the handsome over-mantel; +immediately the looking-glass moved up by itself in its frame, +disclosing, apparently, the bare wall. + +"Please watch me," proceeded the old lady. + +She placed her finger on a certain part of the pattern of the wall +paper beneath, and the whole of that part of the pattern swung forward; +behind was a safe, apparently of steel, evidently a piece of foreign +workmanship. + +"Please place the key in the lock, and turn it," she asked, "but do not +open the safe." + +I regarded her proceedings with much interest, and rose from my chair +and did as she asked. + +"Thank you," she said, when she heard the lock click and the bolts +shoot back, "now will you lock it again?" + +I did so. + +"Now please put the key in your pocket, and take care of it for me. I +give you full authority to open that safe again in case of necessity." + +"What necessity?" I asked. + +"You will discover that in due course," she answered. + +This was about the last thing I should have expected her to ask, but +nevertheless I did as she told me and put the key in my pocket. + +"Please notice how I close it again," was her next request. + +She pushed back the displaced square of the wall paper pattern, which +was simply the door of a cupboard. It closed with a snap and fitted so +exactly into the pattern of the paper that it was impossible to detect +it. + +Then with a glance towards me to see that I was paying attention, she +touched a carved rose on the frame of the over-mantel on the opposite +side to that which had caused the looking-glass to move, and at once +the latter slowly slid down again into its place. + +I stood gazing at her as this was accomplished, and she noted the look +of inquiry on my face. + +"There is only one thing now I have to ask you," she said, "and then I +will detain you no longer. Will you oblige me by coming to see me here +at five o'clock to-morrow?" + +I considered for a moment or two, and then recollected that there was +nothing in my engagements for the next day to prevent my complying with +the old lady's request. My life for the last week had been occupied in +taking the baths and the waters at regular intervals, with the daily +diversion of the Pump Room concert at three. + +"Yes," I answered, "I shall be very pleased to come and see you again +at five to-morrow." + +Although up to now I looked upon her proceedings as simply the whims of +an eccentric old lady, yet I felt some considerable interest in them. + +"Then let me fill your glass again with liqueur?" she suggested. +Alluring as the offer was I declined it. + +I buttoned up my overcoat and prepared to depart, accepting, however, +the offer of another cigarette. + +The old lady insisted upon accompanying me to the door, and went on in +front with a candle, despite my remonstrances, to show me the way +upstairs. + +She had one foot on the stair when she stopped. + +"Do you mind telling me your name?" she asked. + +I handed her my card, and she put up her glasses. + +"'William Anstruther,'" she read. "That is a coincidence." "I had +nearly forgotten one thing," she continued. "I must give you a +duplicate latch-key to let yourself in with. I have a habit of falling +asleep in the afternoon, and you might ring the bell for half an hour +and I should not hear you." + +She went back into the room we had left and returned in a few moments +with the latch-key, which she gave me. + +Despite my endeavours to persuade her, she went with me to the front +door, and I felt a deep pity for her when I left, thinking that she was +to spend the night alone in that dismal old house. + +"_Au revoir_ until five to-morrow," I said cheerfully, as I bowed and +left her. + +She smiled benignantly upon me. + +"_Au revoir_," she answered. + +When the door had closed and it was too late to call her back, I +recollected one piece of forgetfulness on my part; I had never thought +to ask her name! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MAN WITH THE GLASS EYE + +I took a note of the number of the house--it was 190 Monmouth +Street--and gazed a little while at its neglected exterior before I +walked away into the mist towards my hotel. + +Over the whole of the front windows faded Venetian blinds were drawn +down; it was one of those houses, sometimes met with, shut up for no +apparent reason, and without any intention on the part of the owner, +apparently, to dispose of it, for there was no board up. It was not +until later that I learned that the house belonged to the old lady +herself. + +I returned to my hotel, that luxurious resort of the wealthy and +rheumatic, its well furnished interior looking particularly comfortable +in the ruddy glow of two immense fires in the hall. I had left it +early in the afternoon, before the lamps were lit, tired of being +indoors; the change was most agreeable from the damp, misty atmosphere +without. + +I betook myself to the smoking-room, and, being a lover of the +beverage, ordered tea, with the addition of buttered toast. Delighted +with the big glowing fire in the room, and believing myself to be +alone, I threw myself back luxuriously into a big, saddle-bag chair. + +As it ran back with the impetus of my descent into it, it jammed into +one behind, and from this immediately arose a very indignant face which +looked into mine as I turned round. It was a dark, foreign-looking +face, the red face of a man who wore a black moustache and a little +imperial, and whose bloodshot brown eyes simply _glared_ through a pair +of gold-rimmed pince-nez. There was something very strange about these +eyes. + +"I really beg your pardon," I said. "I didn't know you were there!" + +The fierce expression of the bloodshot eyes changed to one of somewhat +forced amiability. + +"Pray don't apologise," he answered, with just the merest touch of a +foreign accent in his voice, that sort of undetectable accent which +some men of cosmopolitan habits possess, though they are rarely met +with. + +"I think I must have been asleep," he added, "and the little shock +awoke me from a disagreeable dream. There is really so little to do in +this place besides bathing and sleeping." + +"And water drinking," I suggested, with a smile. + +"I do as little of that," he answered hastily, with a grimace, "as I +possibly can. By the bye though," he continued, wheeling round his +chair sociably beside mine, "do you know that the Bath water taken +_hot_ with a good dash of whisky in it and two lumps of sugar is not +half bad?" + +I took a good look at his face as he sat leering at me through his +glasses. From the congested look of it, I could quite believe that he +had sampled this mixture, or others of a similar alcoholic nature, +sufficiently to give an opinion on the point; his bloodshot eyes also +testified to the fact. + +But concerning these latter features, the reason of the curious look +about them was solved by the firelight; one of them was of glass! I +saw that it remained stationary whilst the other leered round the +corner of the gold-rimmed pince-nez at me. It was a very good +imitation, and was made _bloodshot_ to match the other. + +My tea and buttered toast arrived now, and I made a vigorous attack +upon the latter. + +"The idea of mixing whisky with Bath water," I replied, laughing, +"never struck me. It appears novel." + +"I can assure you," continued my new acquaintance, "that many of the +old men who are ordered here to Bath do it, and I should not be +surprised to hear that it is a practice among the old ladies too. Look +at their faces as they come waddling down to table d'hote!" + +This appeared to me rather a disrespectful remark with regard to the +opposite sex, and I answered him somewhat stiffly, "I hope you are +deceived." + +He was not a tactful person by any means: he made an observation then +concerning my tea and buttered toast. + +"I really wonder," he said, "how you can drink that stuff," with a nod +towards my cup. "It would make me sick; put it away and have a whisky +and soda with me?" + +I naturally considered this a very rude remark from a perfect stranger. + +"I am much obliged," I snapped, "but I prefer tea." + +At that moment I put my hand in my pocket for my cigarette case. I +thought I would give this man one to stop his tiresome talking; as I +pulled it out the key of the safe which the old lady had given me fell +out with it. Before I could stoop and pick it up myself the man with +the glass eye had got it. He put it up close to his good eye and +examined it critically. "What an extraordinary key!" he observed. +"Where did you get it?" + +Then he saw the letter C which was worked among the elaborate tracery +of the handle, and he became greatly agitated. + +"Where did you get this from?" he repeated abruptly. + +I did not answer; I got up from my seat and took the key out of his +hand; he was by no means willing to part with it. + +"Excuse me," I said. + +Then with the key safe in my pocket and my hand over it, I walked out +of the smoking-room, leaving behind me two pieces of buttered toast and +perhaps a cup and a half of excellent tea all wasted. + +I am a delicately constituted individual, and I preferred smoking my +cigarette all alone in a corner of the big hall, to consuming my usual +allowance of tea and buttered toast in the society of the glass-eyed +person in the smoking-room. I considered that I was doing a little +intellectual fast all by myself. + +I saw nothing more of my friend of the false brown optic that evening, +except that I observed his bloodshot eye of the flesh fixed scathingly +upon me from a remote corner of the great dining-room, where he +appeared to be dining mostly off a large bottle of champagne. + +I sauntered away my evening as I had done the others of my first week's +"cure" in Bath, making a fair division of it between the dining-room, +the smoking-room and the reading-room. I did not go near the +drawing-room; its occupants consisted solely of a few obese ladies of +the type referred to by the gentleman with the glass eye, wearing such +palpable wigs that my artistic susceptibilities were sorely wounded at +the mere sight of them, and my sense of decency outraged. + +I went to bed in my great room over-looking the river and the weir, and +I lay awake listening to its rushing waters, for the night was warm and +almost summer-like, as it happens sometimes in a fine November, and my +windows were open. + +I suppose I fell asleep, for when I was again conscious, the Abbey +clock struck four; at the same moment I became aware that some one was +in my room. I could discern the figure of a man in the shadow of the +wardrobe near the chair on which I had placed my clothes when I took +them off. I leant over the side of the bed and switched on the +electric light; the figure turned. It was the dark man with the glass +eye! + +"What the devil are you doing in my room?" I asked in none too polite a +tone. + +He was not at all disconcerted, but stood looking at me, replacing his +pince-nez. + +"Well, really," he replied, "wonders will never cease. I thought I was +in my own room!" + +I knew he was lying. + +"I fail to perceive," I said, sitting up in bed, "in what manner you +could have mistaken this room for your own. In the first place the +door is locked." + +"Just so," remarked my visitor, "that's exactly where it is; I came in +at the window." + +"The window?" I repeated. + +"Yes, the window. I couldn't sleep, so took a stroll up and down the +balconies, and when I returned to my room, as I thought, I came in here +by mistake." + +The excuse was plausible, but I didn't believe a word of it. I was in +a dilemma, and sat scratching my head. I could not prove that the man +was lying, and therefore had to take his word. + +"Very well, then," I said in a compromising tone, "having made the +mistake, and it being now nearly five, perhaps you will be able to find +your way back to your room and go to sleep." + +I thought I was putting the request in as polite a manner as possible, +and I expected him to move off at once. + +He did nothing of the kind. With a quick movement of his hand to his +hip, he produced a revolver and covered me with it. + +"Where's that key?" he asked. + +He took my breath away for a few moments and I couldn't answer him, +then I regained my presence of mind. + +"What key?" I asked, though I had a pretty shrewd idea as to the key he +wanted. + +"The key which dropped out of your pocket this afternoon." + +"I don't keep it in bed with me," I replied. "I'll get out and fetch +it for you, you are quite welcome to it." + +I temporised with him, but I was perfectly determined in my own mind +that he should never have it while I lived. + +I slipped out of bed and he still held the pistol pointed towards me +but in a careless way. I think he was thrown off his guard by my +apparent acquiescence. + +The clock of the Abbey struck five and he involuntarily turned his head +at the first stroke; in that moment I made a sweeping blow with my left +arm and knocked the revolver out of his hand; it fell with a crash on +the floor. Then I seized him by the throat and tried to hold him. He +was, however, like an eel; he wriggled himself free and struck me a +heavy blow on the chest which sent me backwards, then he turned and +darted towards the window, but as he did so I heard something fall on +the floor. For one second his hand went down on the floor groping for +it, then, with a curse, he snatched up the revolver, which lay near, +and darted out of the window on to the balcony. It all occurred in a +few moments, and I followed him as quickly as I could, but when I +reached the window I saw him flying along the balcony; he had already +cleared several of the little divisions railing off one apartment from +another, and I could see it would be useless to follow him. + +As I turned and re-entered the bedroom something lying on the floor +caught my glance and I stooped and picked it up. + +It was the man's glass eye, it had dropped out! + +"Now," I said to myself, surveying the bloodshot counterfeit orb as I +held it under the electric light. "_Now_ I shall be able to trace him +by means of his missing eye and hand him over to justice." + +I was fated to be disappointed. + + +Late the next morning when, having passed the remainder of the night +sleeplessly, I came down the main staircase into the hall, almost the +first person I met was my friend of the glass eye coming in at the +front door. He had apparently just left a cab from which the hotel +porters were removing some luggage. He came straight to me, and, +looking me in the face, had the impudence to bid me "Good morning." + +"Went over to Bristol last night," he explained, "for a ball, and have +only just got back. Had awful fun!" + +I returned his look for some time without speaking; he had another +glass eye stuck in which was the counterpart of the other. I saw now +clearly that he had two or more glass eyes for emergencies. + +"Bristol!" I repeated. "Did you not come into my room last night +and----?" + +"And what?" he asked innocently. + +"And threaten me?" I added. + +He seemed highly amused. + +"Do you mean before I went?" he asked. + +"No, about four o'clock this morning." + +This time he burst out laughing. + +"My dear fellow," he said with impertinent familiarity, "at four +o'clock this morning I was dancing like mad with some of the prettiest +girls in Bristol!" + +Liar! It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him whether his glass eye +had fallen out during his terpsichorean efforts! It was, however, +perfectly evident to me that he intended to deny that he had been in +the hotel during the night, and probably had had time to establish some +sort of an _alibi_. I therefore decided to move cautiously in the +matter. + +I turned on my heel and went into the dining-room to breakfast without +another word. + +But I made it my business during the morning to inquire of the hall +porter, who I found had been on duty up to eleven o'clock on the +previous night, whether Mr. Saumarez--for that I discovered was the +name he had entered in the hotel visitors' book--had left the hotel on +the previous evening. + +The porter unhesitatingly informed me that he had to go to a ball at +Bristol! + +Really, when I left this man I began to wonder whether I had been +dreaming, until I recollected the glass eye which was securely locked +up in my dressing-case, such things not being produced in dreams and +found under the pillow in the morning wrapped in an old telegram as +this had been. + +I went next to the chambermaid who presided over the corridor in which +Mr. Saumarez' room was. + +Being a good-looking girl I gave her half-a-crown and chucked her under +the chin. + +"Look here, Maria," I said, "just tell me whether 340, Mr. Saumarez, +was in or not last night. I'm rather curious to know and have got a +bet on about it with a friend." + +She looked at me knowingly and giggled. + +"Why, _out_, sir, of course," she replied; "he came in at half-past ten +this morning with his boots unblacked. We all know what _that_ means." + +This evidence to me appeared conclusive. I gave the chambermaid a +parting chuck under the chin--no one being about--and dismissed her. + +Then, it being a fine morning, I went out for a walk. + +I went right over the hills by Sham Castle and across the Golf Links, +being heartily sworn at--in the distance--by sundry retired officers +for not getting out of the way. But I was trying to have a good think +over Mr. Saumarez, his duplicate glass eyes, and the reason why he +wanted the key of the old lady's safe. + +I so tired myself out with walking and thinking, with no result, that +when I got back and had lunched late all by myself in the big +dining-room, I went into the smoking-room, which this time was quite +empty, and fell asleep in front of the great fire. + +My sleep was curiously broken and unrestful, and full of that undefined +cold apprehension which sometimes attacks one without any apparent +reason during an afternoon nap. + +I awoke at last to hear the old Abbey clock striking five, and then I +nearly jumped out of my seat, for I recollected my promise to the +unknown old lady in Monmouth Street to visit her again that day at that +very hour. + +I hurried through the hall to the coat room, and, seizing my hat, +rushed out and just caught a tram which was gliding past in the +direction of the upper town where Monmouth Street stretched its length +along the slope of the hill. + +It was only three minutes past five when the gaily lighted tram +deposited me at the end of my old lady's street, and I set off for +Number 190, which was at the other extremity of the long, badly lighted +thoroughfare, looking, with its interminable rows of oblong windows, +like an odd corner of the eighteenth century which had been left behind +in the march of time. + +I found the house practically as I had left it; there was no fog that +evening, and I had a better opportunity of observing its general +appearance in the yellow flare of the old-fashioned gas lamp opposite. + +The house on one side of it was to be let, with a large staring board +announcing that fact fixed to the railings; the house on the other side +was a dingy looking place with lace curtains shrouding the dining-room +windows and a notice outside concerning "Apartments." + +I drew out the latch-key, blew in it to cleanse it from any dust, then, +with very little difficulty, opened the door and entered Number 190. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE SECOND VISIT AND ITS RESULT + +The first thing which caught my attention was the wax candle with its +glass shade standing on the raised flap which did duty for a hall table. + +I at once lit the candle from the box of matches by it, and then, when +it had burned up a little, proceeded at once to the kitchen staircase. +The old lady had given me the latch-key with such a free hand that I +felt myself fully justified in walking in; in fact, I rather wanted to +take her by surprise if possible. + +Nevertheless I made a little noise going downstairs to give her +knowledge of my approach, and it was then that I thought I heard a +window open somewhere at the back of the house. + +I walked towards the end of the passage, and there I saw the glow of +the fire reflected through the open door of the handsome sitting-room +in which I had sat with the old lady on the previous day. It played +upon the opposite wall as I advanced with a great air of comfort. + +"Ten to one," I said to myself, "that I find the old lady asleep over +the fire." + +The room I found in darkness except for the firelight. I could see +little within it. I paused on the threshold and made a polite inquiry. + +"May I come in?" I asked in a tone intended to be loud enough to wake +the old lady. + +No answer. + +I advanced into the room with my candle and set it on the table, then I +struck a match and lit two more of the candles in the sconces. + +The room was empty! + +This placed me rather in a dilemma. I had no further means of +announcing my presence; I could only wait. + +I sat down by the fire and began to look around. + +Comfortable, even luxurious as the room was with its abundance of +valuable knick-knacks and pictures, it had an eerie look about it. The +eyes of the figures in the pictures seemed following me about. + +I got up and lit two more of the candles in the sconces on the walls. +Then I returned to my seat, made up the fire, and waited the course of +events. + +I waited thus quite a quarter of an hour, during which nothing +occurred, and then I heard sounds which almost made me jump from my +chair. + +The first was a long, gasping breath, followed after an interval by a +groan, a long wailing groan as of one in the deepest suffering. + +I immediately rose from my chair, and caught a glimpse of my white face +as I did so in the looking-glass over the mantelpiece. + +I stood for some seconds on the hearthrug, and then the groan was +repeated; it came from the direction of a heavy curtain which hung in +one corner of the room, and which I had taken, on the previous day, to +be the covering of a cabinet or a recess in the wall perhaps for some +of the old lady's out-door clothing. + +I tore it on one side now and found that it concealed a door. The knob +turned in my hand and I entered the room beyond; it was in total +darkness, and I at once returned to the sitting-room for candles. + +I took two in my hands and advanced once again, with an effort, into +the dark room. + +The sight that met my gaze there almost caused me to drop them. It was +a handsomely furnished bedroom, and in the farther corner was the bed. +On it lay the old lady wrapped in a white quilted silk dressing-robe. + +The whole of the breast of this garment was saturated with blood! + +With the candles trembling in my hands I advanced to the side of the +bed, and the poor soul's eyes looked up at me while she acknowledged my +coming with a groan. + +Looking down at her there could not be a doubt but that her throat had +been cut! + +I drew back from her horrified, and then I saw her lips moving; she was +trying to speak. + +I put my ear down close to her mouth and then I heard faintly but very +distinctly two words-- + +"Safe--open." + +I answered her at once. + +"I will go for a doctor first, then I will return and open the safe." + +At once she moved her head, causing a fresh flow of blood from a great +gaping wound at the right side of her neck. She was eager to speak +again, and I bent my ear over her mouth. + +Two words came again very faintly--"Open--first." + +I nodded to show her that I understood what she meant, then giving one +glance at her I prepared to do what she asked. There was a look of +satisfaction in her eyes as I turned away. I went quickly back into +the sitting-room and turned the carved rose on the left side of the +frame of the looking-glass in the over-mantel. Then when the glass had +slid up I felt for the spring in the wall, touched it, and the door +flew open. Without any hesitation I fixed the key in the lock of the +steel safe, and, with a slight effort, turned it and pulled the door +open. + +The first thing I saw was a slip of white paper with some writing on it +lying on two packets. This I took up and read at once; the words +scribbled on it were in a lady's hand. + +"If anything has happened to me take these two packets, hide them in +your pockets, and close the safe, cupboard, and looking-glass, and +leave it all as it was at first." + +I did not delay a moment. I took the two packets, which were wrapped +in white paper like chemists' parcels, and sealed with red wax. I saw +this before I crammed them into my trousers pockets. + +I hastily closed the safe, locked it, fastened the panel, and, by +turning the rose on the right-hand side of the over-mantel, caused the +glass to resume its place. + +Then I turned to leave the room, and--found myself standing face to +face with Saumarez, the man with the glass eye, who held a revolver +levelled at me. + +He did not stay to speak, but fired immediately; I dodged my head to +one side just in time and heard the bullet go crashing into the +looking-glass behind me. + +Before he could fire again I hit him with all my might under the ear, +and he fell in the corner of the room like a log. Stopping only to +possess myself of his revolver, which had dropped by his side, I rushed +up the stairs and out into the street; there I inquired of the first +person I met, a working man going home, for the nearest doctor, and he +directed me to a Dr. Redfern only about ten doors away. + +Within a few seconds I was pausing at this door, and endeavouring to +make an astonished parlour-maid understand that I wanted to see her +master on a matter of life and death. + +A placid-looking gentleman made his appearance from a room at the end +of the entrance hall while I was speaking to her, with an evening paper +in his hand. + +"What's the matter?" he asked casually. + +"Murder is the matter," I answered between gasps of excitement, "murder +at Number 190, and I want you to come at once." + +I gave him a brief account of the old lady with her throat cut. He +stood looking at me a moment or two, as if in doubt whether I was sane +or not, then made up his mind. + +"All right," he said, "just wait a moment and I'll come with you." + +He reappeared in about a couple of minutes, wearing an overcoat and a +tall hat. + +"Now," he said, "just lead the way." + +We went together straight back to Number 190, and I think he had some +misgivings about entering the house with me alone, but I reassured him +by reminding him that an old lady was dying within; as it was he made +me go first. + +"I had no idea any one lived here at all," he remarked, as I lighted +him along the passage to the stairs by means of wax vestas, of which I +fortunately had a supply, for there was no candle in the hall. "I +always thought this house was shut up. But still I have only been here +just over twelve months." + +"I think you will find," I said, as we got firmly on the basement +floor, and saw the reflection of my candle which I had left on the +table in the sitting-room, "that there are a good many surprises in +this house." + +"Now," I continued as we entered the room, "the old lady is lying in +there. I will take this candle and show you the way." I led the way +into the room, and held the candle aloft, with a shudder at what I +expected to see there. + +_The bed was empty._ + +I rubbed my eyes and looked again. + +No, there was nothing there; the bed looked rather rumpled, but there +was no sign whatever of the old lady. + +"Well," remarked the doctor sharply--he had followed closely at my +heels--"where is your murdered old lady?" + +I looked round the bedroom helplessly. + +"I would take the most solemn oath," I said steadfastly, "that I left +the old lady lying on that bed with her throat cut, and her clothes and +the bed appeared soaked in blood." + +The doctor walked to the bed and examined it closely, turning back the +bedclothes. + +"There is not a spot of blood on it," he remarked savagely, "you are +dreaming." + +But my eyes were sharper than his. + +"Look here," I said, and pointed to a small red mark on the wall on the +farther side of the bed, "what do you call that?" He leaned over the +bed and looked at the little stain through his glasses as I held the +light. + +"Yes," he said after a close scrutiny, "that _might_ be blood, and, +strange to say, it seems wet." + +He looked at his finger which had just touched it, and it had a slight +smear of blood on it. + +I had told him on the staircase that I had been attacked by a man who +had fired at me, and indeed the smell of powder even on the landing +above was very apparent. + +"Now come back into the next room," I said, "and see the body of the +man who assailed me and whom I knocked down." + +He followed me into the boudoir, and I went straight to the corner +where I had last seen Saumarez lying. + +_There was nothing there!_ + +I gave a great gasp of astonishment. + +"I left the man lying there!" I exclaimed, pointing to the floor. + +The doctor took the candle lamp from my hands and held it close to my +face, scrutinising me earnestly meanwhile through his glasses; then he +leant forward and sniffed suspiciously. + +"Do you drink?" he asked abruptly. + +Then, noticing my look of growing indignation, he altered his tone +slightly. + +"Excuse my asking the question," he explained. "But it is the only way +in which I can account for your symptoms. Do you see things?" + +"Things be d----," I replied hotly. "I would answer with my life that +I left that poor old lady lying on her bed grievously wounded not half +an hour ago, and the villain who assaulted me insensible in this +corner!" + +The doctor went to the corner and held the candle in such a way as to +shed its light upon the floor. + +Then he stooped and picked up something. + +"What's this?" he exclaimed, holding it close to the candle. "A glass +eye," he continued in astonishment, "a glass eye, as I live!" + +"There!" I said triumphantly, "the man who fired at me had a glass eye. +Is it not a brown one, shot with blood?" + +"Right!" he answered after another glance at it, "a bloodshot brown eye +it undoubtedly is." + +He handed it to me, and I put it in my pocket. + +"You had better take care of it," he said. "But I really don't know +what to say about your story." + +"Perhaps you will deny the evidence of your eyes?" I asked; "look at +this." + +I pointed to where the bullet from the revolver had struck the +looking-glass over the mantelpiece and starred it. + +"No," he answered, "that certainly looks as if it had been smashed by a +bullet. There is the little round hole where the bullet entered. And +there is another point too," he continued, "you say you left the old +lady lying on the bed bleeding, not half an hour ago?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then the bed ought to be warm; let us come and see." + +We walked back into the bedroom and examined the bed again. + +It was very evident to me that a fresh coverlet had been put on the bed +and fresh sheets. How it could have been done in so short a time was a +marvel to me. + +The doctor put his hand on the coverlet. + +"That is quite cold," he reported, "there can be no question of a doubt +about that." + +"Let me try inside the bed," I suggested; "that may tell a different +tale." + +I turned down the bedclothes, and put my hand into the bed. It was +distinctly warm! + +"Now," I said, turning to the doctor, "do you believe me or not?" + +He put his hand into the bed. + +"Yes," he answered, "it is certainly warm. I don't know what to make +of it." + +I thrust my hand once more deep beneath the clothes, and this time it +encountered something and closed on it. I glanced at it as I drew it +out. + +It was a lady's handkerchief. + +I don't know what moved me to do it, but an impulse made me put it in +my pocket, without showing it to the doctor. + +"I don't know what to make of it at all," repeated Dr. Redfern, +stroking his chin, "but one thing is certain, we must acquaint the +police." + +"Certainly," I answered. "I think we ought to have done that long ago." + +"Well, will you promise me to remain here, Mr.--Mr.--?" he queried. + +"Anstruther," I suggested. People in the middle class of life always +assume that you are a "Mr." I might have been a Duke! + +"Will you promise me to remain here, Mr. Anstruther," he asked, "while +I go and telephone the police?" + +"Of course," I answered; "what should I want to run away for?" + +"Very well, then," he said with a nod and a smile. "I will take it +that you won't. I will be back inside a quarter of an hour." + +We lit more of the candles on the walls, and then I took the candle +lamp to light him upstairs to the front door. + +I was standing there watching him going up Monmouth Street towards his +house, when a sudden resolve took possession of me concerning the two +packets I had in my trousers pockets! I did not know what turn affairs +were going to take, and I thought I should like to put those two little +parcels in a place of safety. + +I had noticed a small dismal post office at the end of the street not +fifty yards off. I would go and post them, registered to my lawyers, +in whom I had the greatest confidence. + +To the taking of this resolve and the carrying of it out, instead of +returning to the downstairs room, I always attribute, in the light of +subsequent events, the saving of my life. I left the door "on the jar" +and ran quickly to the post office. There I demanded their largest +sized registered envelope, and they fortunately had a big one. + +Into this I crammed the two packets--which I noticed were both directed +to me in a very neat lady's hand--and then, as an afterthought, the +handkerchief which I had found in the bed. Finally I put the key of +the safe in too. With my back to the ever curious clerk, I directed it +to myself-- + + c/o Messrs. BLACKETT & SNOWDON, + Solicitors, + Lincoln's Inn, + London. + +Then, slapping it down before the astonished official, I demanded a +receipt for it. + +This obtained, I hastened back to 190; the door was still as I had left +it, but in a few moments the doctor returned, and at his heels a +policeman. + +"The inspector will be here directly," announced Dr. Redfern. "We had +better wait outside until he arrives." + +We walked up and down for nearly a quarter of an hour while the doctor +smoked a cigarette, and meanwhile the policeman, a person of gigantic +stature and a bucolic expression of countenance, eyed me suspiciously. + +Presently the inspector arrived, and the doctor and I returned with him +to the sitting-room downstairs. There the police official insisted +upon my giving a full account of the whole matter, while he stood +critically by with a notebook in his hand. I told him the whole truth +from the time of my seeing the old lady at the door, to the time of my +calling in the doctor, but I suppressed all mention of the two packets +and the secret safe. These being confidential matters between me and +the old lady, I did not feel at liberty to disclose them. + +I saw very plainly from the looks the inspector gave me that he did not +believe me; he even had doubts, it was very evident, whether I was +staying at the Hotel Magnifique at all, as I had informed him at the +commencement of my statement. + +Having entered all the notes to his satisfaction, he thoroughly +inspected both rooms and made more notes. Then he went outside and +bawled up the stairs-- + +"Wilkins!" + +"Sir," came the answer from the bucolic constable on duty above. + +"Just step round to the 'Compasses,'" instructed his superior from the +foot of the stairs, "and tell my brother I should be glad if he'd come +round here for a few minutes. We've got a rather curious case." + +"Very good, sir," came the reply, followed by the heavy tread of the +man's boots as he went to carry out the orders. + +"My brother's down 'ere on a bit of a 'oliday, sir," explained the +inspector to the doctor, entirely ignoring me, "and being one of the +tip-top detectives up in London, I thought we'd take the benefit of his +opinion." + +The "Compasses," as it turned out, being only a couple of streets off, +we had not long to wait for the coming of the detective luminary from +London. His heavy footsteps were soon heard on the stairs; preceded by +the constable, he descended the flight with evident forethought and +consideration. Emerging from the darkness into the light of the wax +candles, he presented the appearance of a prosperous butcher, tall, +broad-shouldered, red-necked, and with moustache and whiskers of a +sandy hue. His face was very red, and the skin shining as if distended +with good living. + +"This is my brother, Inspector Bull of the Z Metropolitan Division," +explained our inspector to the doctor, once more ignoring me, "down +'ere on a little 'oliday." + +As I learned afterwards, this gentleman was one of the Guardian Angels +who watched over the safety of the inhabitants of the Mile End Road. + +The doctor having shaken hands with him, his brother put another +question to him. + +"'Ow's Alf?" he inquired. + +The newcomer gently soothed the back of his red neck with a hand like a +small leg of mutton, and displayed a set of massive front teeth in a +gratified smile. + +"'E's all right," he answered, "we wos having fifty up when you sent +for me." + +"You see," explained our inspector, "my brother's got so many friends +in the licensed victuallers' line down here, through being a Mason, +that it takes him 'arf his 'oliday to go round and see 'em all." + +The doctor smiled indulgently but made no answer; then our inspector +briefly informed his brother of the state of the case before him, +stating the facts as I related them, in such a different light, and +with so many evident aspersions on my veracity, that I hardly knew them +again. + +The two brothers made a further close inspection of the rooms, and then +held a consultation on the hearthrug in whispers. + +Though the words were unintelligible, the fact that the officer of the +Z Division had been partaking liberally of whisky soon became apparent +from the all-pervading odour of that stimulant diffused throughout the +apartment. + +They finished at last, and I heard the London man's final word of +advice-- + +"I should put me 'and on 'im at any rate." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +I AM DETAINED + +I was the "'im" referred to evidently. + +Our inspector buttoned up his blue overcoat. + +"Perhaps you'll be kind enough to walk down with us to the station, Mr. +. . . er--Anstruther," he said; "we can have a little talk down there +and straighten things out a bit." + +His subterfuge did not in the least deceive me. + +"Do I understand," I asked, "that you propose to detain me?" + +The inspector raised his shoulders perplexedly, and his brother smiled +a fat smile over his shoulder. + +"That'll depend how you explain matters to our chief," he said +deprecatingly; "at any rate we'd better get along." + +This was a hint I could not disregard. He led the way up the +staircase, and his stout brother, through force of habit, closed in +behind, far too close to be pleasant, owing to the diffused aroma of a +mixture of various brands of inferior whisky, arising from his hard +breathing as he ascended the stairs. We walked two and two down +Monmouth Street, I with the inspector, the doctor and the London +detective improving their acquaintance in the rear. + +Two streets off we dropped the officer of the Z Division, who betook +himself once more to the "Compasses" to continue his "fifty up" with +his friend the landlord, and the doctor joined us. I had the pleasure +of listening to his conversation with the inspector, conducted across +me, without having the pleasure of being included in it. + +We walked all three down into the town, and then straight into the +Police Station, only a few doors off my hotel. + +The inspector and the doctor went into a private room to confer with +some superior official while I was left to sit by the fire in the outer +office. + +Presently the inspector came out. + +"We've decided to detain you, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "until we can +find out a little more about this affair. Just come over here." + +"Look here, Mr. Inspector," I said, "if you intend to detain me without +sufficient reason, you'll find it an awkward matter." The inspector +looked a trifle uncomfortable. + +"We shall have to take our chance of that," he said, rather sullenly, +"we've only got our duty to do, Mr. Anstruther. You can have bail, I +should think." + +"Bail!" I repeated, "how am I to get bail? I don't know a soul in the +town." + +The inspector shrugged his shoulders and motioned me into a railed +space in the centre of the office. + +There was no help for it, so I went and placed myself as he desired in +the little dock, and a constable standing there obligingly clamped down +a rail behind me to keep me there. Then the doctor, who, it turned +out, was some official in the town, gave a garbled version of the whole +affair, which I found it useless to try and contradict, as I was told +to hold my tongue. The inspector's version of the affair was even more +insulting than the doctor's. He did not hesitate to express his +opinion that I was a very suspicious person, probably a lunatic at +large. When asked if I had anything to say, my remark summed up the +situation, tersely, in a few words. + +"This is a parcel of d--d rot!" I said. + +Then they searched me. + +The inspector simply gloated over Saumarez' revolver when I turned it +out of my pocket, and this feeling rose to an absolute thrill of +triumph when he discovered that one of the chambers had been discharged. + +In my heart, I was thankful that I had sent those two packets and the +key to my lawyers. + +While the inspector was hanging fondly over Saumarez' glass eye, which +one energetic young constable had furraged out of the corner of my +waistcoat pocket, an idea struck me which ought to have occurred to me +before. + +I had come to Bath with a letter of introduction to a certain doctor, a +Dr. Mainwaring; I would send for him. + +"Look here, Mr. Inspector," I said, "when you've quite finished +rattling me about, I have two suggestions to make. One is to send some +of your men to try if they can find the old lady whose throat has been +cut, and the other is to send for Dr. Mainwaring, who knows me. I warn +you that if you lock me up you will get into trouble." + +At the mention of Dr. Mainwaring, Dr. Redfern, who was still there, +pricked up his ears. + +"Dr. Mainwaring!" he repeated. "Do you know him?" + +"I came here about ten days ago," I answered, "with a letter of +introduction to him from Sir Belgrave Walpole. I've no doubt that he +will be able to tell you something about me." + +He turned to the inspector. + +"Don't you think you had better send a man up to Royal Crescent," he +said, "to ask Dr. Mainwaring? There _may_ be a mistake, you know. It +would be safer." + +I could see that the inspector was very unwilling to admit the +possibility of a mistake; he was, however, overruled by the man who was +writing in the book, and who appeared to be a person in authority. + +"Shapland," he said to a waiting constable, "go up to Dr. Mainwaring's +and ask if he knows a person of the name of Anstruther." + +"You'd better take one of my cards there with you," I suggested, "then +he'll know who you mean." + +The inspector gave me a scathing look, but gave the man one of the +cards out of my case. + +I think they were undecided then as to whether they would lock me up or +not, but eventually made up their minds on the side of prudence. + +I was allowed to sit by the fire. + +Within half an hour a motor came puffing up to the police station, and +Dr. Mainwaring entered. + +"My dear Mr. Anstruther," he inquired breathlessly, "whatever is the +matter?" + +In a few brief sentences I unloaded the burden of my wrongs. + +"Why, there must be some mistake!" cried Mainwaring. "I'll just go off +and see the chief constable, he's a particular friend of mine." + +When he had gone, the faces of my guardians grew visibly longer; one of +them fetched me an armchair out of the office. + +The chief constable soon put matters right. + +"This gentleman is staying at the Magnifique," he announced, "he is +well known to Dr. Mainwaring, and, in fact, the doctor will answer for +his appearance; what more do you want, Mr. Inspector?" + +The inspector wanted nothing more. + +Within five minutes I was sitting by a glorious fire in a private room +at the Magnifique, discussing the whole matter with the chief constable +and Dr. Mainwaring. + +But before I left the station, I put a query to Inspector Bull, junior. + +"What have you done about the old lady?" I asked. + +The officer assumed some shreds of dignity, even in his discomfiture. + +"You may have thought us a bit forgetful, sir," he observed, "but I +assure you, both the railway stations have been under careful +observation from the time of my being able to touch a telephone." + +"Thank you," I said; but it appeared to me that under the circumstances +they might just as profitably have watched the Pump Room or the Baths. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ARRESTED + +Being left to myself after thoroughly thrashing out the whole case with +Dr. Mainwaring and the chief constable, who both agreed with me that +the circumstances were the most extraordinary they had ever heard of, I +sat down to consider matters by myself. + +Here was I, a country gentleman of moderate estate, trying to eke out a +smallish income by literature, plumped down into the centre of as fine +a tangle of mystery as ever came out of the _Arabian Nights +Entertainments_. + +I got up and looked at myself in the glass, and saw there a +clean-shaven tall man of thirty whose black hair was already turning +white at the temples; about my grey eyes, alas, there were already +crows' feet, the price I had paid, I suppose, for taking honours at +Oxford. + +I sat down again and thought deeply. + +"Bill Anstruther," I said to myself, "you're in for it. You've +consented to receive the confidences of that old lady, who, poor soul, +was in the direst need of help and friendship without doubt when she +called you in the night before last. You're bound in honour to go +through with it, and try to help her, or at any rate carry out her +wishes, be she dead or alive." + +Thus I reasoned, and in this, it seemed to me, my duty lay. Obviously +the first thing to do was to obtain possession of the packets again and +ascertain their contents. I knew, of course, that they were directed +to me and possibly contained some request of the old lady. I marvelled +very much what the connection between her and the man with the glass +eye could possibly be, but could form no guess even in the matter. It +was very evident that he was a bloodthirsty scoundrel, and I had little +doubt in my own mind that it was he who had wounded her, perhaps unto +death. + +While I thought of it, I decided to go down to the office and make +inquiries concerning Saumarez. + +I found he had left during the morning. + +"Mr. Saumarez went up to town, sir," explained the clerk, "by the +twelve-twenty." + +"Thank you," I said, and walked away to the smoking-room to have a good +think again. Eating for the present was out of the question. + +After three cigarettes I arrived at the following conclusions. I would +go up to town in the morning, secure the packets, and read them in my +lawyers' office. + +I would not trust myself to carry them about with me while that man +Saumarez was at large. It was very evident that the safe and its +contents possessed a great attraction for him; probably with very good +reason. + +I caught the morning train to London, and arrived in Lincoln's Inn +about two o'clock, after lunching early at my club. There Messrs. +Blackett & Snowdon's managing clerk handed me the registered packet +which I had sent off the evening before from the post office in +Monmouth Street, Bath. + +With this in my hand I retired to the private office of Mr. Snowdon, +who was away from town, his room being placed at my disposal by the +managing clerk when I told him I had some important papers to examine. + +I sat down at the desk, cleared it of the few papers lying there, then +prepared to open my precious parcel. + +First I tore off the registered envelope. + +Yes, there were the two packets which I had thought so much of in the +hours I lay awake during the night. There was the key; there was the +handkerchief. + +I took this latter up and examined it carefully by the light. It was +of the finest cambric, and bore in the corner the letter C. + +Then there remained the two packets to examine. + +They were both addressed to me in a small, old-fashioned handwriting +which I took to be that of the old lady, poor soul! One was heavy, +felt hard, and contained evidently a box of some sort, the other was +soft and I took it to be composed of papers. I broke the seals--a +C--and opened it. My surmise was correct, it contained several sheets +of thick correspondence paper, covered with writing. It was dated the +day I first met her. When I spread it out this is what I found it to +contain-- + + +"DEAR MR. ANSTRUTHER,--I have little doubt but you consider me merely a +crazy old woman. + +"Perhaps I am, Heaven knows I have had enough trouble in my life to +make me so, and the trouble and anxiety I am enduring now is by no +means the lightest I have had to bear. That is why I had the resolve +to trust you, taking a sudden fancy, as I have done before without +regretting it, to a resolute open face. + +"I believe that you will carry out what I ask of you to the letter; I +believe you will do it honestly and truly, for the reason that you love +to be honest and true. + +"So much for my trust in you. Now for the object of my appealing to +you. + +"I am threatened with a great peril, a peril which may cost me my life, +I expect it, I do not fear it. I have held my life in my hands for +years past. + +"But there is something in my case which I value more than my life; +this I would preserve at all costs. It is contained in the small box +in the second packet which I have prepared for you. + +"I think I have thought of every contingency and may reasonably count +upon being left in peace until I see you at five to-morrow. I do not +doubt for one moment but that you will keep your appointment. Should +I, however, have to send you to the safe, instead of handing you these +packets, I have prepared even for that. + +"The request I am about to make you is, I know, an unreasonable one, +yet I believe you will carry it out. + +"Upon opening the other packet, which I shall leave you with this, you +will find a small carved casket which is locked; with it you will find +sufficient money for your journey--of which presently. + +"Mr. Anstruther, I want you to take the casket to Aquazilia and to +deliver it to the person to whom it is addressed." + +"Aquazilia!" I exclaimed, putting down the letter, "why, that is the +big Republic the other side of Brazil which once upon a time used to be +a Monarchy! That's rather a tall order!" I took the letter up again +and went on:-- + +"I know the journey is a long one, but it will repay you. When you +told me you were a writer, I knew at once that such a journey would be +one from which you would draw profit both in experience and otherwise. +In doing it you will earn my undying gratitude. Go, I beseech you! To +you I confide that which is dearer to me than my life. Go, I implore +of you. I ask it in the name of Truth and Honour. Go, and earn the +eternal thanks of + +"CARLOTTA D'ALTENBERG." + + +"D'Altenberg, d'Altenberg," I muttered as I finished. "It seems a +familiar name!" + +I now turned my attention to the second packet, and opened that. It +contained a small wooden box with the lid tied down with string. Upon +taking this off, I found within a very beautifully carved oblong +casket, made of ebony, inlaid with gold. It was a most finished piece +of workmanship, and measured, I should think, about six inches by +perhaps two and a half. In raised letters on the lid was carved the +letter C as on the seals. On a small parchment label firmly secured to +it by silk was:-- + +"To His Excellency the Senor JUAN D'ALTA, + Valoro, + Aquazilia." + +It was fastened by no less than three locks, all of different sizes, +and by its excessive weight, even for ebony, I should say was lined +with some metal. + +When I had lifted this casket out of the box I found beneath it two +ordinary long envelopes both addressed to me and open. On the first I +took up was:-- + +"To William Anstruther, Esq. + For the expenses of the journey to Valoro." + +I opened it and found it to contain four fifty pound notes. On the +other was my name, and beneath it:-- + +"A slight honorarium by way of compensation for time lost on the +journey." + +It contained a Bank of England note for one thousand pounds. I sat +with the note in my hand for some time; it was the first for that +amount which I had ever come across. + +However, not without some considerable satisfaction, I admit, I put up +the note into its envelope again and packed it with the other into the +box. I very carefully replaced the ebony casket after a glance of +admiration at its beautifully inlaid workmanship. + +I closed the box up as before, and, making free with Mr. Snowdon's +stationery, put it in a fresh linen lined envelope and sealed it up +again. This time with my own seal. I treated the letter in the same +way, packing it up with the hankerchief and the key, then directed the +two to myself, care of my lawyers. I intended to leave both in their +care as before. I had ample confidence in their strong room. I had +barely completed this task and thrown the old wrappers into the fire, +when there came a knock at the door; the managing clerk entered with +rather a scared look on his face. + +"There are two men waiting to see you downstairs, Mr. Anstruther," he +announced, "and I rather think they are police officers." + +Instinctively as he spoke I thrust the two packets before me into +pigeon holes of the writing table I was sitting at, and he saw me do it. + +Before I could make any reply, the door was pushed open behind him, and +two men entered; the foremost of them walked up to the table. + +"Are you Mr. William Anstruther?" he asked. + +He was a tall, dark, fresh-coloured man with sharp grey eyes, his +companion had the appearance of an ordinary constable in plain clothes. + +"Yes," I answered, rising, "I am William Anstruther." + +"Then I arrest you, William Anstruther," he said, "on suspicion of +causing the death of an old lady, name unknown, whose body was +discovered at daybreak this morning on Lansdown, near Bath, with her +throat cut. You'll have to come with us down to Bath to be charged." + +Here was a terrible development! + +My first thoughts were of pity for the poor old lady. How I wished I +had been able to save her life. + +"Very well," I answered as coolly as I could. "I suppose there is no +help for it, and I had better go with you. Perhaps, Mr. Watson," I +said, turning to the managing clerk, who was standing by as white as a +sheet, "perhaps you will see that this man has proper authority for +taking me." + +"Certainly, Mr. Anstruther," he answered, then turning to the detective +he asked for his papers. + +"Show me your warrant, please," he said. "I shall not allow Mr. +Anstruther, our client, to leave with you unless you do." + +The fresh-coloured officer smiled, and produced from his pocket a blue +paper, together with some other documents. These seemed to satisfy +Watson. + +"There seems no help for it, Mr. Anstruther," he said, with them in his +hands. "I am afraid you will have to go with him. This is a proper +warrant signed by a magistrate on sworn information." + +"Who are the informants?" I asked. + +He referred to the warrant and read out the names. + +"Inspector James Bull, Frederick Redfern, surgeon, and Anthony +Saumarez, gentleman." + +"Saumarez!" I exclaimed, "the scoundrel and would-be murderer!" + +"You had better be careful what you say," remarked the police officer, +"as I may have to take it down, and it will be used against you." + +"Yes," confirmed Watson, "you'd better say as little as possible. No +doubt the whole matter is a mistake." + +I took up my overcoat and the managing clerk helped me on with it; +meanwhile, the police officer walked to the desk I had been sitting at +and laid his hands on some papers. I looked upon the packets as lost. + +Watson, however, stopped him at once. + +"You mustn't touch those papers," he said hastily. "They are the +property of Mr. Snowdon, a member of our firm." + +"Then what is _he_ doing here?" asked the man, with a jerk of his head +towards me. + +"Mr. Anstruther," replied Watson, "was attending to some business +correspondence at Mr. Snowdon's desk, that gentleman being away." + +"Where's the correspondence?" asked the detective, with a quick glance +at my two packets sticking out of the pigeon holes. I looked the man +straight in the face. + +"My correspondence is finished," I answered, "and in the hands of this +firm." + +A little smile about Watson's mouth and a hasty glance at the packets, +convinced me that he understood my remark. + +"Very well, then," said the police officer, "we'd better come along. +Provided you come quietly," he observed to me as I followed him out, +"it won't be necessary for me to handcuff you." + +That was a comfort I thought, as I went downstairs and through the +office, full of astounded clerks, who had all known me well for years. + +We got into a cab and were driven to Paddington Station, reaching it +about dusk, much to my satisfaction, as I should not at all have +appreciated making my appearance in such a place with the two police +officers. + +We got into a third class compartment all to ourselves right at the end +of the train, near the engine, and there I sat between the two men, who +hardly exchanged a word the whole way, but who sat trying to read +newspapers by the bad light. They would hold no conversation with me. + +When we got to Bath they hurried me quickly down the stairs into a fly, +and then we drove straight through the town. + +As we passed the police station and my hotel--towards which I cast +longing glances, for it was not far off dinner time--I asked a question +of the tall, fresh-coloured man. + +"I understood that you were going to take me to the police station?" I +said. + +The man shook his head. + +"We are taking you to the prison," he said, "for the night. You will +be brought before the magistrates in the morning." + +I sank back in the corner of the fly thoroughly dejected, and the +vehicle drove out by what I knew to be the Warminster Road. We now +left the lights of the town behind, and then the journey was entirely +between two hedgerows, which bordered the road, with an occasional +field gate by way of variety--all else beyond was blank night, for +there was no moon. + +My two guardians began to show signs of fatigue, not unmixed with a +certain disgust, at the length of the journey. + +They began yawning and stretching their arms, with very little regard +for my comfort. + +When at last the fly pulled up with a jerk, after a good deal of +bumping over a rough road, the two men were very unceremonious in +ordering me to quit the vehicle. + +"Now then, Ugly," remarked the fresh-coloured man with a push of his +foot, which was remarkably like a kick, "out you get!" + +He stepped out himself and I followed, knowing full well it was useless +to resist, but I made a mental resolve that I would report him. + +Once outside the fly, I found myself apparently at the foot of a tower, +a door stood open in front of me, and on the doorstep a man holding a +lantern. + +I was, however, given very little time to contemplate this scene; the +big man seized my right arm, and his companion my left; between them, +they rushed me up a flight of steps immediately inside the tower. + +These steps constituted a spiral staircase which wound round the +interior of the tower; ever and anon as we passed a small window I saw +the lights of Bath twinkling in the distance. + +Beyond a few walks during the ten days I had spent there--my first +visit--I knew very little of Bath or its neighbourhood, therefore I had +no opportunity of taking my bearings. + +I was urged up this staircase in a manner which I should have thought +unusual had I not remembered the men's complaints of the long +journey--which they had made twice--in the fly. + +Finally we reached a door, and they simply pushed me through it into a +large room. It was evidently the top storey of the tower and had +windows looking all ways. It was perfectly circular in shape, was +fairly clean, and had a fire burning in a grate with a wire screen +before it; in one corner was a bed. + +The two men released their hold as I looked around, and the dark one +went to a corner and picked up a chain. + +"Come here!" he shouted to me roughly. + +His colleague assisted me by giving me a shove in his direction. Then, +in a twinkling, he fixed a steel ring to my left ankle, snapped it +there and locked a small padlock on it. + +I was chained up like a dog! + +Having thoroughly searched me, they prepared to leave; the taller man +addressed me. + +"I suppose you know," he remarked, as the two moved towards the door, +"that if you make any attempt to escape, you'll be shot?" + +With this parting caution he closed the door, and I heard a key turn in +the lock. + +I took one turn round the room, the chain being long enough, with many +a yearning look at the distant lights of Bath; then, horrified at the +clanking of my fetters, which were fixed to a staple in the wall, I +threw myself as I was on the bed in the corner, and there, being tired +out, almost immediately fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +PUT TO THE TORTURE + +I awoke with a feeling of intense cold, the fire was out, and I was +lying outside the bed without covering. + +The day had fully broken, and there was even an attempt on the part of +the sun to pierce the heavy mists of a November morning. I looked +around out of the windows, and saw the hills topped with cloud in every +direction. + +Drawing the rough blankets over me, I lay and thought. My first +yearning was for something to eat; I had tasted nothing since lunch the +previous day; I was fearfully hungry. + +I had lain thus perhaps half an hour between sleeping and waking, when +a key was put in the door and it opened, admitting a big, dark man with +a long, black beard; he bore in his hands a small table which he placed +in the middle of the room. + +"Now," I said to myself, "this means breakfast." + +I was mistaken. + +He brought in next a square box, not unlike the case of a sewing +machine, and placed it on the table. + +"What can this be?" I muttered as I watched him closely. + +In a few minutes footsteps were heard on the stairs, and another man +joined him. A great strong fellow with a fair moustache. The two of +them wheeled a large chair with glass arms to it, which I had not +noticed before, from one corner of the room, and placed it on one side +of the table. + +The preparations now had all the appearance of the commencement of some +performance; it only needed the principal actor to appear. + +He was not long in coming. + +Meanwhile, I wondered why the chair had glass arms to it. + +I noticed that the two men, who now stood idly looking out of the +windows, did not wear uniforms. They were dressed in ordinary +rough-looking clothes of foreign cut; it struck me as very strange. I +asked them who they were. + +"Are you the warders of the prison?" I said. + +"Hein!" the dark one inquired. + +"Are you the warders of the prison?" I repeated. + +"Find out, _verdammt Englander_," the man replied. + +Then I felt certain I was in no English prison. Where was I? + +The question was soon answered, the door once more opened and +_Saumarez_ entered. I sat up on the bed and fairly gasped; the whole +matter was perfectly unintelligible to me. After the first thrill of +astonishment my glance went to his eyes. + +They were complete; he had another glass one in the socket, and it +exactly matched the real one. + +He came towards me with a little bow, and a smile on his red +countenance. + +"Good morning, Mr. Anstruther," he began, "we seem to be always +meeting." + +I could not restrain my feelings. + +"That is my misfortune," I answered. + +He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps so," he answered casually, "that remains to be seen." + +He said some words in German to the two men, which I imperfectly +understood, but it seemed to be an order to lift me off the bed, for +they immediately did it. + +Then one of them unlocked my chain, and the two of them carried me to +the chair, and sat me in it. + +I now realised that I was in a desperate condition. + +"I insist on knowing," I cried to Saumarez, "why I was brought here. +It is very evident that I have been tricked." + +Saumarez laughed--a low laugh of enjoyment. + +"You certainly came here under a false impression," he sniggered; "as +for the reason of your coming, you will soon know it. Now, to begin +with, where is the key of the safe at 190 Monmouth Street. You have +been thoroughly searched and we cannot find it. + +"You are not likely to," I answered. "It is in a place where you +cannot get at it." + +"Indeed!" replied Saumarez. "What place is that?" + +"I shall not tell you." + +"We shall see," he remarked laconically. + +As he spoke, he motioned to the two men to do something with the box on +the table. + +As they moved towards it, I heard the double report of a sporting gun +not far off. Evidently some one was out shooting. + +The men went to the table, and, taking off the square lid of the box, +disclosed a large galvanic battery! + +My blood began to run cold as an awful idea formed itself in my mind. + +"Secure him in the chair!" Saumarez said sharply in German. + +Before the men could reach me, I darted out of the chair towards the +door, but they were too quick for me and caught me before I reached it. +They carried me back struggling to the chair, and one held me down in +it while the other passed thick straps round me, holding me fast in it, +hand and foot. I found, when they had done with me, that my two hands +were strapped firmly to the glass arms of the chair. + +Lying back in the chair I noticed high up in the roof an old cobwebbed +window, the top of which was standing open for purposes of ventilation. +It looked as if it had not been interfered with for years. + +In the position I was in, I could not very well see what was going on +in the room, but the next thing I experienced was feeling my wrists +being encircled apparently with wire. I gave one convulsive struggle +to get free, but it was useless I knew well now what they were going +to do. + +They were going to torture me by giving me galvanic shocks, and passing +strong currents through my body. + +I had heard of the torture being applied in Russia to political +prisoners. + +I had, when a boy, patronised those machines which professed to try +one's "nerve." I had held the two handles and watched the proprietor +draw out the rod from the coil to increase the strength of the current. +I knew how unbearable _that_ feeling could become even with a _weak_ +battery. What would it be with this _strong_ one? + +Saumarez' voice broke in upon me. + +"Where is the key of the safe?" + +I was enraged at the sound of his voice. + +"You shall never know, you vile devil!" I cried. + +"Give it to him," he exclaimed sharply to the two men in German. As he +spoke I heard the sharp report of two sporting guns, one charged with +black powder, one, from its quick sharp crack, with smokeless, _quite +near_. There were two sportsmen. + +Then--oh my God!--began that awful torture of a strong current of +electricity passing up my arms. + +I threw back my head and cried with all my strength, directing my voice +to the open window far above me in the roof of the tower-- + +"Help! Murder! Help!" + +And immediately, to my great joy, I heard an answering shout! + +"_Donner und blitzen_!" cried Saumarez, "he has attracted their +attention! Stop his mouth!" + +Immediately I felt a handkerchief being rammed into my mouth, but from +far below came the sound of hard knocking on the door of the tower, and +men's voices shouting. + +Saumarez rapped out a fearful oath, and gave an order to the men. + +"You must carry him down below and drop him through the trap door into +the vaults," he cried. "You will have plenty of time to do it if you +are quick. Unbind him, sharp now!" + +The two men commenced to do as he told them and very soon had the +straps off me, then they carried me between them towards the door after +firmly securing the gag in my mouth. + +They had got about half-way down the spiral staircase with me, Saumarez +following behind, and I was in an agony of mind that they would succeed +in reaching the vaults with me, when I heard the door burst in below, +and a cheer from several voices, followed by rapid footsteps on the +steps. + +"It's no good," cried Saumarez with another oath, "drop him and follow +me up to the roof." + +They did drop me very roughly on the stone stairs, but before they went +I heard one of the men cry out-- + +"Don't kill him in cold blood!" + +Then there came the click of a pistol lock followed by a deafening +report, and a bullet struck the step I was lying on about an inch from +my temple. There was a scuffling of feet on the stairs above, mingled +with words of remonstrance in German; the two men were hurrying +Saumarez away. + +The report and the impact of the bullet had half stunned me, but I sat +up, and my hands being free, tore the gag out of my mouth. At the same +time, rapid footsteps came up the stairs, and, in a few moments, I +found a very familiar face, with an absolutely astounded expression on +it looking down into mine. + +"In Heaven's name!" a well-known voice cried, "what are you doing here, +Bill?" + +It was my cousin, Lord St. Nivel, a subaltern in the Coldstream Guards! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CRUFT'S FOLLY + +Looking over my cousin's shoulders were two other faces, one covered +with rough hair, and evidently belonging to a game-keeper, the other +the beautiful face of my cousin, Lady Ethel Vanborough, St. Nivel's +sister. + +"Poor fellow!" she remarked sympathetically. "What have they been +doing to you?" + +I could hardly believe my eyes, and passed my hand wearily across my +forehead. + +St. Nivel turned to the keeper. + +"Give me the brandy flask," he said. + +The man produced it, and my cousin poured some out in the little silver +cup attached to it. + +"It's a lucky thing for you, Bill," he observed, while I greedily drank +the brandy down, "that I thought of bringing this flask with me this +morning. Ethel was against it; she's a total abstainer." + +"Except when alcohol is needed medicinally," she interposed in an +explanatory tone, "then it is another matter." + +I now took a good look at her; she was wearing a short, tweed, +tailor-made shooting costume, and carried in her hand a light sixteen +bore shot gun. + +"You look just about done," continued her brother. "Whatever has +happened to you?" + +"You would look bad," I answered, "if you had had nothing to eat since +lunch yesterday." + +St. Nivel was a soldier and man of action. + +"Botley," he said to the keeper, "the sandwiches." + +"Now," said the guardsman invitingly, when I had ravenously disposed of +my second sandwich, "tell us something about it." + +I had just opened my lips to speak, when there came a great cry from +the roof of the tower above, and a black body shot past the little +window near which I was sitting. + +We all ran to the window but could see nothing. + +Then St. Nivel made a suggestion. + +"Let us mount up to the roof," he said, "and see what is to be seen. +You, Botley, had better go down to the foot of the tower." + +The keeper touched his forelock and commenced his descent of the spiral +staircase. Meanwhile, Lady Ethel, her brother and I mounted up to the +top. + +We passed the room in which I had been imprisoned, and went up a very +much narrower flight of steps to the roof, coming out at a little door +which was standing open. The roof was flat and covered with lead. + +"Take care how you tread," cried St. Nivel. "I expect it is all pretty +rotten. In fact, Ethel, I think you had better go inside." + +Ethel, however, was not of that way of thinking; she was a thorough +sportswoman and wanted to see all the fun. + +"All right, Jack," she rejoined cheerily. "You go on, I'll look after +myself without troubling you." + +It was very evident at the first glance that there had been an +accident, a piece of the low stone wall which surrounded the roof was +gone. It looked as if it had recently tumbled over. St. Nivel was +evidently right when he said the place was rotten. Rotten it certainly +was. + +Stepping very gingerly we all approached the embattled wall, and, +selecting the firmest part, looked over, one at a time. I had the +second peep and was just in time to see two men, one limping very +much--this I am sure was Saumarez--disappear into a neighbouring wood. +A countrified-looking boy was running up from the opposite direction. + +At the foot of the tower, however, was another matter; huddled up in a +heap was the body of a man, with a coil of rope and some shattered +masonry lying all around it. + +By the body stood Botley, the game-keeper, scratching his head. + +It was now very evident what had occurred. + +The three miscreants who had tried to torture me had endeavoured to +escape by letting themselves down by a rope from the top of the tower. +Two had succeeded and one had been killed. The reason of this was +obvious, the rope had been fixed round one of the battlements and it +had not been sufficiently strong to maintain the weight of the three +men. The two lowest had probably got off with a shaking, the man who +had got on the rope last had lost his life. All this was perfectly +evident. + +"Who is it?" shouted Lord St. Nivel to the keeper below. + +"Doan't know, me lord," came back the answer, "he's a stranger to me." + +The keeper had now been joined by the countrified boy, and the two +turned the body over on to its face. I could see that it was the +fairer of the two men who had acted under Saumarez' orders. + +"I think we had better go down," suggested my cousin, the Guardsman; +"we may be of some service there." + +On the way down the winding staircase, a thought struck me. + +"What has become of that body," I asked, "that was found on Lansdown +yesterday morning?" + +"What body?" replied my two cousins together. + +"The body of an old lady." + +"We have heard nothing of it," replied St. Nivel, "and we ought to have +done so. But you have not told us what happened to _you_." + +Going down the old stone staircase, I gave them a brief account of my +arrest in London and journey down there, with my imprisonment during +the night in the tower. + +"Well," remarked St. Nivel, while his sister murmured a few words of +sympathy, "I haven't quite got the hang of the thing yet, but you must +tell us more at lunch." + +We found that the man lying at the foot of the tower was certainly +dead; his neck was broken. + +We could therefore do nothing but leave the gamekeeper in charge of the +body while we despatched the boy to warn the police and fetch a doctor. + +With a shilling in his pocket to get his dinner, the young yokel set +off on his journey, and we strolled away. + +"I don't think we'll shoot any more this morning, Jack," Ethel said, +"this affair has made me feel a bit shaky." + +"Then you had better come up to the house with us, Bill," said her +brother, slapping me on the back, "and have some lunch. Then you can +tell us all your adventures." + +I readily agreed, and we had walked some little distance when I heard +footsteps running behind us; we stopped and turned. It was the country +boy we had sent to the police. + +"I forgot to show you this yere sir," he said, opening his hand, in +which he held something carefully clasped. + +"What is it?" I asked as he addressed me. + +"It's this yere _heye_, sir," he answered. "It don't belong to the +dead 'un; he's got two." + +I glanced into his open palm and beheld two halves of a brown +artificial eye, made of glass, and much shot with imitation blood! + + * * * * * + +"No," observed my friend, Inspector Bull, "there's been no body found +on Lansdown, and I should have heard of it if there had been without a +doubt." + +The inspector finished a liberal tumbler of Lord St. Nivel's Scotch +whisky and soda, and set the tumbler carefully down on the table as if +it were a piece of very rare china. + +My cousin, who was standing on the hearthrug, laughed heartily. + +"That was only another piece of the rogue's plot," he said. "They must +have had a clever head to direct them." + +"Yes," I put in, "a clever head with only one eye in it, if I'm not +much mistaken." + +The inspector gave me a doubtful look; then his eye reverted to the +whisky decanter upon which it had been fondly fixed. St. Nivel +observed it and pushed the whisky towards him. + +"Thank you, my lord," said the police officer, helping himself with a +look of intense satisfaction; he did not often get such whisky. "It's +a curious thing, however, that this man with one eye should ha' been +doing all these pranks right under my nose as it were, and I never even +heard of him before." + +Being aware of his methods, I was not at all surprised. + +Even now, knowing that I was respectably connected, he even suspected +me, and regarded me as an impostor with rich relatives. + +This story of the finding of the body on Lansdown only confirmed his +views of my powers of invention. + +"As a matter of fact," observed Lord St. Nivel, "I am only a stranger +in these parts, having borrowed a friend's house for a week's shooting; +but no doubt you can tell me what this tower is, where my cousin was +kept a prisoner, and which my sister and I came across by the merest +chance." + +"Cruft's Folly," replied the beaming inspector, with his whisky glass +in his hand. "Cruft's Folly has stood where it does nearly a hundred +years. It was built by some gentleman, I believe, a long while ago, to +improve the landscape, just like Sham Castle over yonder." + +"But does nobody live in it?" + +"No, I've always understood it was quite empty and nearly a ruin." + +"Then I have little doubt," said my cousin with a chuckle, "that your +friends, Bill, simply appropriated it for their own uses." + +"I suppose you'll have the place thoroughly searched, Mr. Bull, won't +you?" I asked. "There may be something hidden there which will give +you a clue to my assailants." + +"You may rely upon that, Mr. Anstruther," replied the inspector, rising +and slapping his chest, "but we shall have to communicate with the +owner first." + +Thus through the red-tapism of the law the chance was lost. Had the +old tower of Cruft's Folly been searched at that moment the remainder +of this history most certainly would never have been written. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SANDRINGHAM + +When I got back to the comfort of the Magnifique, though my "cure" was +but half completed, yet I determined to bring my visit to Bath to a +close; it had been too exciting. I would come back and finish the +course of water drinking and baths some other time. + +At any rate the little twinge of rheumatism in my shoulder which had +brought me there was all gone. I think possibly the shocks of +electricity combined with my agitation of mind had cured it. + +St. Nivel and Lady Ethel, being tired of the "rough" shooting for the +time being, and perhaps having a sneaking liking for their cousin, +decided to come in to Bath and take up their quarters with me at the +big hotel in the town. However, at the end of three days, being +thoroughly rested, and nothing whatever having been heard of Saumarez, +I decided, finally, on account of the sensation I was creating in the +hotel, which was becoming an annoyance, to accept St. Nivel's +invitation to put in a fortnight's shooting with him at his place in +Norfolk. I had the very pleasantest recollections of it, though I had +not been there for two shooting seasons. + +"If you behave yourself and are very good," explained Ethel, "perhaps +we may take you to one of the big shoots at Sandringham. Jack is going +to one, and they are always glad to have an extra gun if he happens to +be such a good shot as you are." + +I bowed my acknowledgments to my pretty cousin with much mock humility, +but in my heart I felt very proud of the prospective honour. I had +never yet occupied one of those much-coveted places in a royal shooting +party. Besides, I knew that the Sandringham preserves were simply +_chock-full_ of pheasants and were, in fact, simply a sportsman's +elysium. + +"You'll be able to put in five days' shooting a week with us, Bill, if +you like," St. Nivel said, "before we go over to Sandringham. My +invitation is for next Thursday week, so you'll be able to get your +hand in." + +This gave a much-needed change to my ideas, but before I packed up to +leave Bath I went down and had another look at 190 Monmouth Street. + +I rang the bell and a woman opened the door with a baby in her arms. + +"I'm the sergeant's wife, please sir," she said in reply to my inquiry. +"We was put in here by Inspector Bull." + +"Then nothing has been heard of the old lady?" I asked. + +"No, sir," she replied, "nothing. The neighbours hardly knew she was +here, she showed herself so seldom; but the woman that used to come in +and do odd jobs for her says she's been living here ten year." + +"Ten years!" I repeated in astonishment. "How on earth did she pass +her time?" + +"The woman says, sir, she was always writing, writing all day." + +"How was she fed?" I asked anxiously. "I suppose no tradesmen called?" + +"No, sir," the sergeant's wife replied, "the woman I am speaking of, +who lives in the country, used to come three times a week and clean up +for her, and each time she would bring her a supply of simple food, +eggs and milk and such-like, to last her till she came again." + +I put my hand in my pocket and gave her half a crown. + +"I suppose you don't mind my looking round the house," I suggested. "I +should like to see it once more before I leave Bath." + +"Well," she said hesitatingly, "I'm afraid it's against orders, but----" + +The woman who hesitates is lost; she let me in. + +I went with her straight down to the sitting-room. It was locked, but +she had the key for cleaning purposes, and let me in. + +"It looks very dreary now, don't it, sir," she queried, "in spite of +all the china and finery and that?" + +Yes, she was right, the room by daylight looked very dismal; the broken +looking-glass over the mantelpiece did not improve its appearance. + +I would have given a good deal to have been able to open the safe again +if I had had the key with me and to see if it contained any further +secrets, but this, for the present, was out of the question. + +I had, however, the satisfaction of knowing that the place was well +guarded, and was not likely to be interfered with perhaps for years. I +went into the other rooms--the sergeant and his wife were occupying the +kitchens--and found nothing there but dust. One or two were locked up, +but it was perfectly impossible to see what was in them. An inspection +of the keyholes revealed only darkness. I came down from the top +storey with a sigh at its desolation. + +I left the old place and walked rather sadly down the long street back +to my hotel. + +I wondered as I went what had become of the poor wounded old lady; +whether she had died and her body was thrust away somewhere in hiding +without Christian burial, or did she by some miracle still live? But +this latter suggestion seemed an utter impossibility from the state in +which I had left her. So I packed up, and on the next morning, with my +two cousins, left the tower of Bath Abbey behind and started _en route_ +for Bannington Hall, the Mid Norfolk mansion of Lord St. Nivel. + +The Vanboroughs were relatives of my mother's; she was one of that +noble family, and the present peer's aunt. Dear soul, she had long +since gone to her rest, following my father, the Chancery Judge, in +about a year after his own demise. + +The Vanboroughs were celebrated for their beauty, and my mother had +been no exception to the rule. My rather stern, sad features had, I +suppose, come from my father, but still I think I had my mother's eyes, +and a look of her about the mouth when I smiled. + +At least my cousin, Ethel Vanborough, said I had. + +There was always something like home about dear old Bannington to me, +with a sniff of the sea when you first stepped out of the carriage at +the door. + +The big comfortable old landau with its pair of strong horses had now, +however, given place to a smart motor car, upholstered like a little +drawing-room. + +My cousin, Lord St. Nivel, was certainly fully up to date, and his +sister, Lady Ethel, was, if possible, a little more so. They were +twins. Left orphans as children, the two had grown up greatly attached +to one another naturally, and being the sole survivors of a very rich +family and inheriting all its savings and residues, they had an +extremely good time of it together without any great desire to exchange +their happy brother and sisterhood for the bonds of matrimony. Still +they were very young, being only four-and-twenty. + +I spent a very happy ten days with them in the glorious old mansion +full of recollections and relics of bygone ages. Its very red brick +peacefulness had a soothing effect upon me, and I will defy any one to +experience greater comfort than we did coming in tired out after a +day's tramp after the partridges--for St. Nivel was an advocate of +"rough" shooting--and sitting round the great blazing fire of logs in +the hall while Ethel poured out our tea. + +I will admit that Ethel and I indulged in a mild flirtation; we always +did when we met, especially when we had not seen one another for some +time, which was the case in the present instance. + +Still it was only a _cousinly_ flirtation and never went beyond a +pressure of the hand, or on very rare occasions a kiss, when we met by +chance perhaps, in the gloaming of the evening, in one of the long, old +world corridors, when no one was about. + +Shooting almost every day, I soon got back into my old form again. + +"Yes, you'll do," remarked my cousin, when I brought down my seventh +"rocketter," in succession the day before the royal shoot. "If you +shoot like that to-morrow, Bill, you'll be asked to Sandringham again!" + +A few words from my cousin to the courteous old secretary had gained me +the invitation I so desired; I was determined to do my very best to +keep up my reputation as a good sporting shot. We motored over the +next morning; Ethel with us. It was always understood that St. Nivel's +invitations included her, in fact, she was a decided favourite in the +royal circle, and being an expert photographer, handy with her +snapshotter, always had something interesting to talk about when she +came across the Greatest Lady. + +We found the members of the shooting party lounging about the terrace, +for the most part smoking and waiting for their host. Several motor +cars were in readiness to carry them off to the various plantations. + +Presently our host arrived, and we were complete; I heard him remark to +one of the guests as he got into his car-- + +"There are three more of those lazy fellows to arrive," he said, +laughing, "but they must come on by themselves in another car." + +Our first shot was on the Wolverton Road about half-way down towards +the station, and here the birds were as plentiful as blackberries. I +never before had seen such a head of game. The beaters entered the +plantations in a row, standing close together, and moved _one step_ at +a time, each step sending out perhaps a dozen pheasants, who were, as a +rule, quickly disposed of by the guns around. + +Of course there were exceptions: there were those who missed their +birds both barrels time after time, or still worse sent them away +sorely wounded with their poor shattered legs hanging helplessly down. + +These were the sort of shots who were not required at Sandringham, and, +as a rule, were not asked again. I, however, was fortunate; being in +good practice and cool, I brought down my birds one after the other, as +St. Nivel remarked afterwards, "like a bit of clockwork," and I had +the satisfaction of hearing our host inquire who I was. We had +finished one plantation very satisfactorily, as the heaps of dead +pheasants testified, and were moving off to the next when I got a shock. + +A motor car came rushing on to the road, and stopped quite near to +where I was strolling along in conversation with one of the equerries. + +"Ah! you lazy fellows!" exclaimed our host, "you are losing all the +best of the sport." + +A well-known foreign nobleman, a tall, dark, handsome fellow, got out +first and advanced full of apologies, hat in hand. + +My glance was fixed upon his very prepossessing face and I did not at +the moment notice the gentleman who followed him. When I did I started +violently and the equerry walking with me asked what was the matter. + +"Nothing is the matter particularly," I answered, passing my hand +before my eyes, "but can you tell me the name of that gentleman who has +just got out of the car?" + +"You mean the red-faced man with the black imperial?" he suggested. + +"Yes," I answered. + +"Oh! That is some Bavarian duke," he answered, "not royal, but a +Serene Somebody. I forget his name myself, but I will ask some one, +and tell you." + +A friend in the Household was passing at the time and he caught his arm +and whispered him a question. + +"Yes, of course," he said, turning again to me; "he is the Duke +Rittersheim, one of those small German principalities swept away long +ago, and of which only the title and the family estates remain." + +I turned and took another look at His Serene Highness. Yes, Duke of +Rittersheim or not, the red-faced, dark-haired foreigner, who was +advancing half cringingly, hat in hand and full of apologies, was none +other than Saumarez, the man who had tried to torture me in the tower +of Cruft's Folly! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE DUKE OF RITTERSHEIM + +That little _rencontre_ took my nerve away, and I shot very badly at +the next plantation, so badly--I missed two birds--that I was almost +inclined to give up and go home; but then lunch came--in a marquee--and +its luxury and the delightful wine restored me. I shot well again all +the afternoon. + +Yes, it was a glorious day, and I enjoyed it immensely when I got +Saumarez--or His Serene Highness--out of my mind. He was a superb +shot, I will say that of him; he fired from the left shoulder as many +men do, but in his case I knew it was on account of his glass eye. + +Walking to the last plantation with one of the Household and casually +discussing all manner of ordinary subjects, I ventured a chance remark +concerning the Duke of Rittersheim. + +"His Serene Highness is a fine shot," I said, "an old sportsman, it is +easy to see." + +"Yes," answered my companion, "he is supposed to be one of the finest +shots in Germany." + +"And yet he has a glass eye?" I ventured. + +The man I was walking with turned round and stared at me. + +"Now, how in the name of goodness did you know that?" he inquired. "It +is supposed to be a secret, and the artificial eye looks so natural +under his pince-nez that very few know of its existence." + +"But you are quite right," he continued; "he lost it in a shooting +accident when he was a boy." + +This made the matter quite certain in my mind, and I determined to +confront His Serene Highness at the first opportunity and see what +effect it would have upon him; but I might have saved myself the +trouble of this resolution; subsequent event proved pretty conclusively +that he had recognised me from the first. + +We were all arranged for the final shoot of the day, when to my +astonishment I found myself next to the Duke of Rittersheim. He was on +my right hand, and therefore had me well under his sound left eye. + +I must admit that I felt uneasy when I saw him there; nevertheless, I +went on shooting coolly and had the pleasure once or twice of "wiping +his eye." I even heard a distinct "Bravo" come from him at one of my +shots. + +I was, however, far from comfortable in having him for such a close +neighbour under the circumstances, and wished him a hundred miles away. +We shot on until the light got very bad, but there were only a few more +yards to be driven, so we went on. We had nearly finished when I +noticed the Duke of Rittersheim send his loader away to pick up +something he had dropped. + +I noted the man run off to fulfil the request, and at the same moment +my eyes were attracted by the last rays of the red sun, already set, +reddening far away the waters of Lynn Deeps. + +It was a lovely sight, and my gaze rested on it some moments; then I +suddenly realised that I was practically alone with the Bavarian Duke, +as my loader had walked on a few yards with his back to me. + +The Duke was standing quite alone, and in that moment I saw his gun go +up to his shoulder at a bird, then in a flash it turned towards me! + +I realised my danger in a moment and threw myself flat on my face. As +I lay there I heard the report of his gun, the swish of the charge, and +a cry from my loader. He had shot him! + +I sprang to my feet, and ran to the man, who was standing holding his +arm; but quick as I was the Duke was there before me. + +"Are you hurt, my man?" he asked in his sharp tone which I knew so +well. "Where are you hit?" + +"It's in the arm, sir," the Norfolk man answered; "it be set fast." + +"Look here," said the Duke, quickly taking out a note case. "I can see +you are not badly hurt. Take these bank-notes; here are twenty pounds. +Go quietly away and say nothing about it and I'll give you another +twenty. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, me lord," answered the man, who probably had never had so much +money before in his life. "I'll keep mum." + +"Can you walk all right?" asked the Duke. + +"Yes, Your Royal Highness," answered the poor fellow, who was getting +mixed, feeling, no doubt, very faint. + +"Then off with you at once," cried the Duke, "and send some one up in +the morning to the Duke of Rittersheim for the other twenty pounds. +Tell the people," he added, as the man went slowly off, "that you have +had a bad fall." + +"Yes, Your Majesty," answered the bewildered, wounded man as he +disappeared in the dusk. + +I stood watching the Duke as he went coolly back without a word to me +to his place; this, then, was the cool, resourceful scoundrel I had to +deal with! + + * * * * * + +Sitting by the big fire in the smoking-room at Bannington Hall that +night after dinner, I told St. Nivel the whole of the incident of the +shooting of the beater by the Duke of Rittersheim. + +"Well, that's the limit," commented Jack, taking the cigar out of his +mouth; "he _must_ be a cool-headed scoundrel. I never heard of such +nerve!" + +"It's a nice thing to have a brute like that on one's track, isn't it?" +I remarked dejectedly; "it makes life hardly worth living." + +Jack sat and smoked placidly for some moments looking into the fire. +He was thinking. + +Presently he turned to me. + +"Look here, Bill," he remarked, "Ethel and I had a talk this evening +before dinner about matters generally and she has started what I call a +very good idea." + +"What's that?" I asked. + +"Of course, she knows all about your promise to the old lady; you told +her, you know." + +"Certainly," I answered, "I told you both. I know you never keep +secrets from one another." + +"Well, she knows," he proceeded, "therefore, that you have made up your +mind to go to Valoro with that packet the old lady gave you." + +"Well?" + +Jack brought his hand down with a smack on my knee. + +"Let us come too, old chap," he cried--"both of us--Ethel and I." + +The idea to me was both pleasant and astonishing. I had never thought +of it. + +"But won't Ethel find it rather a fatiguing journey?" I suggested. + +He was quite amused at the idea. + +"I can assure you," he said, "that she can stand pretty nearly as much +as I can. She's a regular little amazon. That's what Ethel is." + +"Very well, then," I replied, "nothing will suit me better than to have +yours and Ethel's charming society. As a matter of fact I am beginning +to look forward to the expedition keenly." + +The next few days were given up to wild speculations on our coming +journey and its results. + +"I hear the country is lovely," exclaimed Ethel, poring over a map; "at +any rate the voyage will be splendid!" + +It was settled that we should start from Liverpool to Monte Video, +thence make our way by rail across country to our destination, Valoro, +a beautiful city in the mountains of Aquazilia, in the neighbourhood of +which we were told we should get splendid sport. + +Therefore we made a flying trip to town, especially to visit Purdey's +and supply ourselves with the very latest things in sporting guns and +rifles. + +Out of the very liberal provision the old lady had made for my +expenses, I felt justified in being extravagant, and provided myself +with a beautiful gun--the right barrel having a shallow rifling for a +bullet should we meet with very big game--and a perfect gem of an +express rifle; these two were the latest models in sporting firearms. + +Ethel and St. Nivel, having an unlimited command of money, ordered +pretty nearly everything they were advised to take, with the result +that we required a small pantechnicon van to take our combined luggage. + +There was, however, one thing I was very particular about, and upon +which I took the advice of an old friend who had travelled much. + +I bought a first-rate _Target_ revolver--a Colt--with which I knew I +could make _accurate_ shooting. I would not trust my life to one of +those unscientific productions which are just as likely to shoot a +friend as an enemy, and are more in the nature of pop-guns than +defensive weapons. I had reason to congratulate myself later on that I +had taken such a precaution. + +"There's one thing you really must see to at once, Bill," exclaimed St. +Nivel, one day when we were all busy making out lists of our +requirements in the great library and posting them off to the stores. +"You _must_ get a servant." + +Now I had been, for the last three months, doing for myself; my old +servant had left me some months before and I had not filled his place +with another. Times, too, had not been very prosperous with me and I +seriously thought of curtailing that luxury and brushing my own clothes. + +The liberal allowance for my travelling expenses, however, plus the +thousand pound note, put quite a different complexion on matters. I +felt now thoroughly justified in providing myself with a first-rate +man, and for that purpose I took my cousin's advice and put an +advertisement in the _Morning Post_. + +"A gentleman requires a good valet, used to travelling. Excellent +reference required." I gave my name and St. Nivel's address to ensure +getting a good one. + +That was the wording of it, and I arranged to run up to town for a day +to make my selection from them. From the numerous applicants I +selected six, and told them to meet me at Long's Hotel. + +St. Nivel accompanied me to give me the benefit of his advice, which +was perhaps not likely to be of much service to me. He employed a +refined person himself who asked and got L150 a year. + +The man who took my fancy was an old cavalry soldier named Brooks who +had been out of work for a time, but who yet bore the stamp of a man +who knew his work and would do it. I closed with him for a modest L70 +a year, and he was glad to get it. + +"When will you be ready to come, Brooks?" I asked when we had settled +preliminaries. "We shall be off by the next boat to La Plata, and I +shall want you to get on with the packing as soon as you can." + +"For the matter of that, sir," he answered, "I could come now. I've no +chick nor child to hold me. I'm a widower without encumbrances." + +I told the "widower without encumbrances" to come the next day, and St. +Nivel and I jumped into a hansom to catch the five o'clock express, +glad to get out of the thick atmosphere of London into the bright crisp +air of Norfolk. + +"I think you've done right," remarked St. Nivel in the train, "in +getting an old cavalry man. He'll understand hunting things." + +As I could not afford to hunt I missed the point of the signification. + +Ah, those were happy days, those last few before we started! + +All our serious preparations were finished and we had only to give a +little general supervision to the packing of our respective servants. +Ethel's experienced maid was going with her, of course. + +This done, we used to stroll about together--the three of us--and enjoy +the last few hours of the dear old place as much as we could in the +beautiful bright weather. + +I think Ethel and I even used to get a little bit romantic in the +lovely moonlight nights, when the old oak-panelled corridors and +staircases were bathed in the soft light. But we were very far from +being in love with one another all the same. + +I shall never forget that time of peace, which came in a period of +storm and trial; the old red mansion with the river running not a +hundred yards from it, and the graceful swans sailing to and fro, the +glorious old trees of the avenue, the fine broad terrace with its +splendid views over the low, undulating country, with a glimpse of Lynn +Deeps on one hand and the white towers of St. Margaret's, the great +church in the ancient town, on the other. + +The dreamy, old-world air of the place, the smell even of the +fresh-turned earth in the great gardens, the cawing of the circling +rooks--it all comes back to me as if I had but walked out of it all an +hour ago. + +However, the morning soon came when we were to bid adieu to it all, and +in the hurry and scurry of it and the race down to the station in the +motor--for we were late, Ethel's maid having forgotten an important +hat--perhaps we forgot all our peaceful happiness in our feverish +speculations on our voyage across the Atlantic to that distant South +American Republic, Aquazilia, and its mountain capital, Valoro. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PLOT THAT FAILED + +Settling on the Hotel Victoria as our headquarters, we prepared to make +the two days before our sailing as amusing as possible, but I always +had before me the nightmare of the little carved casket which I was to +carry with me. + +I decided I would take no risks with it. I would go and fetch it from +my solicitors on the afternoon of our departure, on the way to the +station. It was very evident to me that this casket contained +something of the greatest possible interest to several people, +including in particular His Serene Highness, the Duke of Rittersheim. + +When, then, Ethel, St. Nivel and I had crowded all the visits to +theatres and matinees we could into the intervening two days, we sat +taking our last luncheon in England, probably, for some time to come. + +"I am so glad we are going by this boat instead of the next," remarked +St. Nivel, taking a glass of Chartreuse from the attentive waiter who +was on the look out for a parting tip; "a fortnight makes all the +difference in that part of the world; we shall just get there for the +tail end of the summer, which they say is glorious. A bit of a change, +I am thinking," he added, with a glance out of the window, "to this +kind of diluted pea-soup weather we get here in November." + +"Let us see," said Ethel, with a calculating air, "this is the last +week in November. We arrive there the second week in December, and the +rainy season does not begin until the middle of January. We shall have +a clear month to enjoy ourselves in!" + +"Very delightful," I replied; "a delightful voyage under delightful +circumstances." + +I bowed to my cousin Ethel as I raised my liqueur glass to my lips. + +She blew away the smoke of the cigarette she took from hers--we were in +a private room--and smiled at me. + +"You flattering old courtier!" she answered; "you get those airs +through writing romances. What is more to the purpose, have you +secured those three state cabins on the C deck of the _Oceana_?" + +"Well," I answered laconically, "I've paid the money for them at any +rate. Sixty-six pounds the three, over and above first-class fare!" + +"And very cheap, too," replied Ethel; "the comfort of sleeping in a +real brass bedstead instead of those intolerable bunks is worth three +times as much!" + +I looked at my cigar and said nothing; but for the generosity of the +old lady of Monmouth Street, Bath, a bunk would have been my lot, +without doubt, in the ordinary way. Though she had laid a heavy burden +upon me, she certainly had a kind consideration for my comfort. + +Further conversation was put an end to by the entry of my new man, +Brooks, with my travelling coat. + +"The motor's at the door, sir," he announced. + +I had engaged a special motor-brougham to take me from the hotel to my +lawyers in Lincoln's Inn, and from there to the station with the +precious casket in my possession; I had already banked the notes. I +wished to make the journey as rapidly as possible, and Brooks was to +accompany me, my luggage going on under the care of St. Nivel's man. + +"Then _au revoir_ until we meet at Euston," I said to my cousins; "mind +you are in good time for the train." + +"We shall be all right," answered Ethel. "I wish we were coming with +you. I feel rather anxious about you." + +"Don't you worry, Ethel," St. Nivel replied, "he'll be all right. He's +not a child." + +I went off and got into the motor, Brooks taking his seat on the box. + +We rattled away through the crowded streets in the dim half-fog that +was enveloping the town, and duly arrived at the dreary-looking offices +of the lawyers. + +There I did not lose a minute; they had been duly apprised of my coming +and I found Watson the managing clerk already waiting for me. + +"Here are the two packets, Mr. Anstruther," he said, handing them to +me; "they are just as you left them, you see, and the seals are intact." + +I examined them and found them quite correct. + +"What a fortunate thing," added Watson, as I buttoned my overcoat over +the pocket in which I had stowed the little parcels, "that I saw you +push those two packets into the pigeon-holes, and stopped that +scoundrel from laying his hands on them!" + +"Yes, it was a very lucky thing," I replied, "and I am very much +obliged to you for your promptness in gathering my meaning." + +"Yes, it was a fortunate escape for you, sir," he added; "when I saw +you go away with those two men, I never felt more miserable in my life. +But, of course, we read all about the truth of it next afternoon in the +evening paper. One can hardly believe such things possible in these +times with our efficient police." + +"Ye-es,"--I hesitated, with my mind on the thick necks and +whisky-drinking proclivities of some of the "'tecs" I had known,--"I +suppose we can never rely upon _absolute_ safety in this world." + +Then as I spoke a thought struck me; I noticed that the packets were +rather bulging out in the pocket in which I had placed them. I had an +idea I would change their position. I quickly took them out and placed +one in each of my trousers pockets; there was then nothing in my +appearance to denote where they were. In the result, it was a very +lucky thing I had taken this precaution. + +To preserve the secret of their whereabouts, I kept my hand in the +breast of my travelling coat as if I were guarding the precious parcels +there, and in this way I left the lawyers' office and made for the +motor-brougham, the door of which was being held open by my man Brooks. + +Just as I was half-way across the pavement, a man selling evening +papers came rushing by and shouting-- + +"'Orrible murder! Suicide of the assassin! 'Orrible murder!" + +He was running very fast and apparently not looking where he was going, +for he knocked roughly against me as he passed, dislodging my hand from +my breast; but Brooks he ran right into, full tilt, with the result +that my man lost his balance and sprawled on the pavement. + +It was then that a very fussy little over-dressed man came bustling up +out of the fog, accompanied by a very attractive lady. + +"A more disgraceful thing, sir," he said, addressing me, "I have never +seen before. I trust you are not hurt, sir?" + +"No, thank you, I'm all right," I answered, half inclined to laugh at +Brooks scrambling up from the pavement and brushing himself, for it was +a wet, slimy day and the pavements muddy. The newspaper man had +disappeared. + +"Why, I declare," exclaimed the little man, "the scamp has covered you +with mud!" + +I looked down; there certainly was a splash of mud on the front of my +coat. I wondered how it had got there. Despite my assertions, the +two--both the lady and the gentleman--insisted on brushing me, until in +very desperation I had to get into the brougham out of their way. Then +they suddenly made me very polite bows and disappeared. + +Brooks mounted the box, and we rattled away to Euston. There was one +thing which attracted my attention, however, on that short journey. +Brooks' ungloved hand was hanging down as he sat on the box, and I +noticed that he kept snapping his fingers as he sat. + +"That's a very highly nervous man," I said to myself, "and even that +little incident has upset him." + +Brooks' nervousness passed out of my mind altogether when we reached +Euston, and I sought in the bustle for my two cousins. I found them at +last standing in front of the reserved coupe which I had taken care to +have secured for us by my man. + +When they saw me, a look of surprise and amusement came over their +faces, and they both laughed heartily. + +"What on earth have you been doing, Will?" Ethel cried. "Have you been +to a suffragists' meeting on the way?" + +Ethel affected to laugh at the suffragists, but in her heart I believe +she would have liked to join them, and perhaps would have done so but +for her brother. + +"No," I answered; "what's the matter with me?" + +"Look at your coat," replied St. Nivel, pointing to the breast of that +garment. + +I did look, and found that both my travelling coat and the coat +underneath it had been cut completely through the left breast, where my +pocket was, with a knife whose edge must have been as keen as that of a +razor. + +At the first shock I cried, half aloud-- + +"Good God! The packets have been stolen." + +Then I recollected my forethought in placing them in my trousers +pockets, and I dived my hands into them instinctively. Yes, thank God, +they were all right; my two hands closed on their crisp sealed surfaces. + +But how had it occurred? + +I thought of the man tearing along with the evening papers, the +upsetting of Brooks, and the fussy lady and gentleman who had insisted +on brushing me down. I saw it all now--a carefully prepared plan! + +Then I roared with laughter, much to the astonishment of Ethel and St. +Nivel. + +"They've had all their trouble for nothing," I gasped, simply stamping +with delight; "the silly fools have got nothing!" But I was wrong; +they had got my brand new cigar case given me by Ethel with my initials +on it and full of St. Nivel's best Havannahs, placed there by her own +fair hands for the railway journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE OCEANA + +Very thankful were my two cousins and I when we got clear of the fogs +of the Mersey and were fairly out at sea. Not that we were bad +sailors. We did not proclaim that we were, at any rate, though I will +admit that for the first two days I found my comfortable brass bedstead +a resting-place much more to my liking than a seat at the dinner-table, +although I duly turned up there for the sake of appearances. During +this period of seclusion I thought deeply of the latest attempt of my +enemies to secure the casket, and it caused me great uneasiness. I +could not imagine how they knew that I should go to my lawyers for it. + +Ethel made a brave show, but it was quite the third day out from +Liverpool before I saw her smile as I wished to see her smile--without +a mental reservation, in fact. + +St. Nivel was really the only perfectly unconcerned member of our +party, and it was through his persevering attendances on the promenade +deck, that I became acquainted with a young lady who will figure +largely in these pages, although she in reality was by no means of +commanding stature, but one of those charming petite persons whose +mission in life appears to be to exemplify what extraordinarily choice +pieces of human goods can be made up in small parcels. + +It was on the fourth day out that I became acquainted with Dolores +d'Alta. While I had been lying disconsolately on my cot, St. Nivel had +been improving the shining hour by looking after Miss Dolores, who had +taken up her position, during the first few days of her trial, in a +sheltered position on the promenade deck, in preference to her "stuffy +cabin," as she called her state room. + +It had been the pleasure, and had become the duty--a self-imposed +one--of St. Nivel to see that she was properly wrapped up. + +She did not object to smoke either, having, as she stated, been brought +up in an atmosphere of smoke at home. Therefore Jack smoked his cigar. + +Had I not known that St. Nivel's inclinations were apparently fixed in +the direction of bachelorhood, I should have thought he had fallen in +love; but I discovered later that he had, to use an expression of his +own, "simply taken on another pal." He found her a congenial person in +whose society to smoke cigars. But if he had fallen in love, certainly +he would have had a most excellent excuse for doing so. + +A daintier little specimen of Southern beauty it would have been +difficult to imagine than this little Aquazilian aristocrat. To +describe her in a few words, she was a beautiful woman in miniature; +she was the most perfectly symmetrical little piece of womanhood that I +had ever set eyes upon. + +A perfectly clear, creamy complexion, yet not without colour of a rose +tint; dimples in the cheeks, which were ravishing when she smiled,--and +she was very fond of smiling, ay, and laughing too, and showing the +most perfect set of white teeth,--black hair, and very dark blue eyes; +and there you have her. United to this beauty of person was a most +fascinating natural manner; not the manner of a flirt, but that of a +light-hearted, pure-minded girl, as gay as a lark released from +captivity, and not unlike it in its new freedom, for she had not +escaped from a first-rate finishing school in Paris more than six +months. + +She had spent the intervening period under the care of a sister of her +father who had married an Englishman and who lived in good society. + +She had had a season in London and had spent the autumn in a round of +country visits which accounted for her wonderful _savoir faire_; she +was only eighteen. Now she was going home to her dear father, a +widower, under the care of her aunt. Hearing her always referred to in +conversation as "Dolores," her surname was a revelation when I heard it +properly pronounced. St. Nivel's idea of foreign names was exceedingly +hazy and misleading. As soon as she told me she was going home to +Aquazilia, I became very alert and began to ask her questions. + +"Yes," she replied to my query concerning her parent's name, "my father +is the Senor Don Juan d'Alta; in the old time of our monarchy he was +for many years the Prime Minister. He is a very old man is my father," +she further explained; "he is nearly seventy!" + +Looking at her I could understand the old man simply making an idol of +this his only child. It appeared to me very marvellous that I should +have met her. + +Some of the other passengers told me that he was a member of one of the +oldest and most aristocratic families in the country. + +It was very lovely as we steamed farther and farther away from our own +cold fogs and got into the warmth of the south; very fascinating to +walk on deck with Dolores and talk, under the brilliant stars, of +Aquazilia and the extraordinary chance which had made us meet on board +both with the same destination in view--the house of her father. + +"I don't think, though, it is so strange," she confided to me one +lovely moonlight night when we were walking the promenade deck side by +side; "it is not an unreasonable thing that we should have taken the +same boat, considering that they only run once a fortnight." + +"It is certainly not unreasonable," I answered, with a look into her +eyes. "It is the most reasonable chance that I have ever come across +in the whole of my life!" + +"Why?" she answered, with a look of mischief in her dark blue eyes. + +"Because," I answered fervently, with a little tremor in my voice, "it +has given me the chance of spending three weeks near you! + +"Let us go and look at the flying fish," she answered hastily, to +change the conversation. "I do so love to see them." + +Yes, I was daily becoming more and more attached to her; for the first +time in my long career of flirtation I was beginning to find out what +love _really_ meant. + +I was falling in love with a little divinity twelve years my junior, +and from the depths of my knowledge I expected she would very justly +make a fool of me--not intentionally, perhaps, but in effect the +same--and laugh at me for my pains. + +It seemed very bitter to think of as I saw her walking--and laughing +and talking too--with St. Nivel who was six years my junior. It seemed +to me, in my growing jealousy, an ideal match for her. + +I forgot that young ladies never fall in love with the persons they are +expected to, but invariably go off on an unknown tangent of their own, +in obedience to the same law of Nature, perhaps, which causes an +unusually tall girl to lose her heart to a very diminutive--though +generally very consequential--little man. + +In the contemplation of the varied charms of Dolores d'Alta, I almost +forgot my precious casket, confided in fear and trembling to the care +of the captain, and locked up by him in the ship's strong room in my +presence and in the presence of St. Nivel. + +In due course we came to Coruna, or Corunna as we more commonly call +it, and there I had the delight of strolling about the old +fortifications all alone with Dolores and showing her the tomb of Sir +John Moore, while St. Nivel obligingly took charge of her aunt, and +solicitously kept her out of earshot. The old lady had lived long +enough in England to appreciate the attentions of a lord, and he a rich +one, without designs on her niece's fortune. + +Yes, that fortune was my stumbling-block; I learned of it from old Sir +Rupert Frampton, our minister to Aquazilia, who was travelling back to +his post on the _Oceana_. + +"I really don't suppose," he said, one evening in the smoking-room, +nodding his head sententiously, "that old Don Juan d'Alta knows what he +is worth; neither do I suppose that he cares much, for he is a man of +the simplest tastes, living on the plainest food, and having but one +hobby and object, in fact, in life." + +"His daughter?" I suggested at once, Dolores, of course, being the +uppermost thought in my mind. + +"No," replied the old gentleman crisply, with the smartness of the +_diplomat_; "reptiles!" + +"Reptiles!" I exclaimed in disgust; "what reptiles?" + +"Principally snakes," replied the old man, shifting his cigar in his +mouth; "he has a regular Zoological Gardens full of them--all kinds, +from boa-constrictors to adders. He makes pets of them." + +"Not about the _house_?" I suggested. + +"No, not exactly," Sir Rupert replied, "unless they stray in by +themselves. He's very eccentric and I don't think has been quite +himself since the queen abdicated. They say he was in love with her, +notwithstanding the fact that she was a confirmed old maid." + +"Indeed," I replied, curious to keep the old man talking, for I was +desirous of hearing as much as I possibly could about Aquazilia and its +capital, Valoro, "it sounds quite romantic." + +"Well, it _was_ romantic in a way," he proceeded, glad to have a +listener, as old men are; "there's always a certain amount of romance +about the court of a reigning queen. Of course you know that the Salic +law did not prevail in the kingdom of Aquazilia when it _was_ a +kingdom. Yes, it was a splendid court was that of Valoro when Her +Majesty Inez the Second reigned over it. I just remember it +thirty-five years ago when I went out to it as a young attache on one +of my first appointments and took such a fancy to the lovely country." + +"Then it _is_ lovely," I ventured; "the reports of it are not +exaggerations?" + +Old Sir Rupert replied almost with emotion-- + +"It is superb. It is the loveliest country in the world!" + +"In those days I am speaking of," he proceeded, "Valoro was a place +worth living in. In many respects it outshone some of the courts of +Europe, with which, by the bye, it was in close contact. Queen Inez, +as you no doubt know, was a Princess of Istria; the royal line of +Aquazilia was simply a collateral branch of the great Imperial House of +Dolphberg. And there were those that said that Queen Inez despite all +her resistance of the many endeavours to induce her to enter the +married state--and her offers had been abundant--was not only a queen +and a rich one, but she was also a very beautiful woman." + +"Your account of Queen Inez, Sir Rupert, is absolutely fascinating," I +said. "I am almost inclined to fall in love with her. Where is she +now?" + +The old man paused and a sad look came over his face. + +"She is dead, poor woman," he answered sadly; "they say she died of a +broken heart." + +"At losing the throne?" I queried. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," he said slowly, throwing away the end of his +cigar. "Some say she was glad to get rid of the responsibilities of +it, and quite content to retire to a castle she had in Switzerland not +far from the Lake of Lucerne. She was a woman of very simple tastes." + +"It seems a pity she did not marry," I suggested, "as far as one can +judge." + +"Well, it is highly probable," he answered, "that she would not have +lost her throne if she had had a husband to stand up for her. She was +no match for Razzaro." + +"Who was Razzaro?" I asked. + +"Well, he was the sort of adventurer," the old diplomat answered, "that +South America seems especially to breed. He was a man of great talents +and abandoned to unscrupulousness. I believe he would have sold his +own mother, if he could have got a good bid, and would have haggled +with the purchaser whether the price was to include the clothes she +stood in." + +"A thoroughly honourable, straightforward gentleman," I suggested +ironically. "I can imagine a lady such as you describe Queen Inez to +have been being peculiarly unfitted to deal with such a man!" + +"Yes," agreed Sir Rupert; "and her Prime Minister, or Chancellor as +they called him, Don Juan d'Alta, was not much better. He had the +misfortune to possess the nature of a modern Bayard, and believed in +everybody, until he found out too late that he had been deceived. That +is how Queen Inez lost her throne. Razzaro was slowly but surely +sapping the Royal power for years, right under d'Alta's nose, and he +never really found it out until the whole country burst into +revolution." + +"What happened then?" I asked. + +"Nothing happened," replied Sir Rupert. "When the Queen discovered +that the voice of the people was in favour of a Republic she simply +abdicated. She would not allow a drop of blood to be shed in her +behalf. An Istrian warship which had been waiting for her at the coast +took her to Europe with her devoted lady-in-waiting, the Baroness +d'Altenberg." + +"D'Altenberg," I muttered; "where have heard that name?" + +"It was a bloodless revolution." + +"And Razzaro triumphed?" I added aloud. + +"Yes; Razzaro triumphed," he replied; "and, as a matter of fact, +thoroughly got hold of the popular favour. His son is President of the +Republic at the present moment. Old Razzaro made a sort of family +living of the Presidency." + +"And Don Juan d'Alta retired into private life?" I ventured. + +"Into private life and the society of his reptiles," added the old +diplomatist, rising. "I think the latter have consoled him for many +disappointments." + +"Whom did he marry?" I asked. + +"A very beautiful French lady," he replied, "whose husband, a French +nobleman, had come to Aquazilia to try and make his fortune, and had +died in the effort." + +"Poor man!" I commented. "And Don Juan married his widow?" + +"Exactly; and this pretty little lady, Senorita Dolores, who is +returning to Valoro with us, is the result of the union. They say she +is the very image of her mother, who died when she was five." + +"Then the mother must have been very beautiful," was my comment. + +The old minister stopped and looked at me for some moments without +saying anything. Then, with a peculiar smile about the corners of his +good-natured mouth, shook his head and went slowly out of the +smoking-room. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HELD UP + +Rio with its heat, its tramways, and its great sea wall; its Botanical +Gardens in which once more I had the delight of losing myself with +Dolores, to the evident anxiety of her aunt and duenna, Mrs. +Darbyshire; it seemed so strange to find such a foreign little person +with such a distinctly English name. She, however, refused to be +beguiled away by St. Nivel to look at the giraffes. I think she began +to smell more than a rat when we reached the monkey house, and to doubt +whether his attentions to her were as disinterested as they appeared, +especially when she heard that I was his cousin. + +To marry his poor relation--me--to a rich heiress--her niece +Dolores--no doubt struck her as an end worth taking some trouble about. +Probably she would have done the same herself. + +Therefore as we approached our port of debarkation, after leaving Rio, +I began to find my little interviews with Dolores becoming restricted +more often by the presence of her aunt. Still the recollection of our +rambles at Rio, and the rides alone on the tops of the electric +trams--which are quite orthodox--remained with us; and if Mrs. +Darbyshire became more severe, were there not those little stolen +interviews in the dark part of the promenade deck, where the electric +light did not reach, worth a lifetime; and did I not day by day have +that growing feeling round my heart, which thrilled me through and +through and told me that my little darling was beginning to care for me? + +Did she not absolutely shed tears the night we stole away from the +concert and sat hand in hand under one of the boats, when I whispered +just one little sentence; that I loved her? Ah me! shall I ever forget +those beautiful Southern nights, with the stars shining like great +diamonds above us--nights made for love? + +My cousin Ethel at first did not by any means appreciate the turn my +affections had recently taken; she made several pointed and rather +sarcastic remarks about it, having in her mind, I presume, the +recollection of our little meetings in the long corridors of dear old +Bannington. + +"You seem very much taken up with that Miss d'Alta," she remarked one +day. "I thought you did not like foreign girls. I don't suppose she +can ride or shoot a bit." + +"I don't want her to, Ethel," I replied tersely; "there are no +facilities for either amusement on board ship." + +She smiled, then bit her lips to check it; she wanted to be dignified +and couldn't. She descended to mere abuse. + +"You were always a fool about girls, Bill," she continued. "Any girl +could twist you round her finger. Do you remember Mary Greenway?" + +Now the recollection of that young lady was peculiarly galling to me at +the moment. After expressing deep love for me--I was eighteen--for +nearly six months, she eloped with one of her father's grooms! + +"Please don't mention that young lady," I implored; "it makes me feel +ill. I believe at the present moment she teaches young ladies in her +husband's riding-school." + +Ethel laughed heartily. + +"She might do worse," she replied. "I think she is rather a plucky +girl." + +"What, to run away with a groom?" I suggested. + +"No," she snapped; "to work for her living." + +We came to our port of debarkation, Monte Video, at last. It seemed +like the end of a holiday to go ashore, and take to the dusty train, +luxurious though it was, but _now_ I had the precious casket in my +care, and the anxiety was almost too much for me. + +"Look here," said St. Nivel, when we had been in the train about an +hour, "you are looking pretty sick over that precious packet, why don't +you let me take care of it for you?" + +I tapped nervously at the trousers pocket in which I was carrying it. + +"I hardly like to let it go out of my own charge," I answered +anxiously; "though I know, of course, that it would be safe with you." + +We were, at the time of this conversation, running through a most +beautiful valley, glorious with tropical vegetation. The train was +gradually rising on an easy gradient to the higher lands, where we +hoped to get fresher air, for the heat in the valley was most +oppressive after three weeks passed practically in the open on the deck +of the _Oceana_. + +Without in any way forcing myself on Mrs. Darbyshire's society, I +contrived to see a good deal of Dolores on this little railway journey, +which was only to occupy a day and a half. + +Once on the beautiful tableland with its gorgeous views of hill and +dale, ocean and distant mountain, the train sped onwards at a rate +almost alarming to us used to the slower methods of Europe. + +It was well on in the evening; we had dined excellently in the +well-provided restaurant car, and were lounging about in the moonlight +thinking of turning in--for there were several sleeping-cars attached +to the train--when the incident occurred which very nearly rendered my +journey fruitless. It was just as we had entered Aquazilian territory, +and passed the customs. We were, as I have said, lounging about +smoking, when the train which was running through a deep cutting +suddenly slowed down, and presently the breaks [Transcriber's note: +brakes?] were put on so hard that we who were standing near were nearly +thrown off our feet. + +"Whatever is the matter?" cried Ethel, who was sitting in a compartment +of the smoking-car with us. "I hope there is no accident." + +St. Nivel, who was sitting opposite to me, suddenly leaned forward and +whispered-- + +"If you have that packet of yours handy, give it to me. I think there +will be trouble." + +He had travelled in America before, and I placed a good deal of +reliance on his experience. + +From the front of the train there arose a great hubbub, a chorus of +exclamations in Spanish. + +"I thought so," remarked St. Nivel; "you'd better look sharp, Bill, if +you want to make that packet safe." + +As he spoke, he held out towards me an open cigar-box which he had +taken out of the rack. + +Then I saw what he was aiming at; he wished me for some reason to hide +my packet among the cigars in the box. + +I did not hesitate a moment, but put my hand in my trousers pocket, and +pulling out the precious packet, placed it among the cigars. + +He immediately covered it with more cigars, and then put the box back +in the rack. + +There was a sudden stillness in the front of the train, and I saw +through the windows of the smoking-car quite a cloud of horsemen ride +up the permanent way and dismount; apparently the forepart of the train +had been already occupied, for we heard the sound of a by no means +unpleasant voice making in English the following request:-- + +"Hands up, gentlemen." + +I was unused to this sort of thing, but St. Nivel apparently knew all +about it, for he sat back in his seat with a curse between his teeth. + +"What does it mean?" asked Ethel and I, almost in a breath. + +"It means," answered St. Nivel, "that we are going to be robbed." + +"Oh, my God!" cried poor Ethel, "I hope they won't murder us!" + +By the white look on St. Nivel's face, as he sat with his teeth set, I +saw that there was something in his mind which he feared for his sister +more than death. + +I knew afterwards what some of these South American half-bred +freebooters were like. + +The men who had ridden up by the side of the train were a queer-looking +lot. + +For the most part they wore very loose garments and high-crowned hats, +somewhat of the kind worn by Guy Fawkes. Slung at the saddle of each +man was a coil of rope--a lasso. Nearly every one of them carried a +rifle. + +"I shall get my revolver," I exclaimed. "I've left it in my +dressing-bag." + +"Do nothing of the sort," cried St. Nivel, in alarm; "they would shoot +you instantly." + +"We're being 'held up' then?" I queried. + +"Yes; that's it," he answered shortly. + +At once all thought of my packet went out of my mind; I thought only of +Dolores. I rose from my seat and, despite St. Nivel's remonstrance, +passed rapidly to the rear of the brilliantly lighted train. I had met +her as she came out of the dining-car, and she had told me she intended +sitting with her aunt until it was time to retire for the night at ten +o'clock. She intended to slip out, dear girl, for a few minutes before +she went to bed to say good-night to me. + +Now I found both her and her aunt in a great state of alarm. + +"It's nothing serious, is it, Mr. Anstruther?" asked the elder lady, +seizing my arm. "Some one here says that we are attacked by robbers." + +Before I could answer, a man wearing a cowboy's high-crowned hat and a +mask across the upper part of his face, appeared at the door of the car +and gave the command-- + +"Hands up!" + +He carried a revolver pointed upwards over his shoulder in such a +position that he could have brought it down at once. At first I +refused to elevate my hands as a fat Brazilian was doing near me, and +this evoked another word of command-- + +"Hands up! Sharp!" + +"_Do_ put your hands up, dear," came the soft trembling voice of +Dolores; "_do_, to please _me_." + +My two hands shot up most willingly, immediately. + +"Ladies," the man proceeded, in far from a disagreeable voice, "you +have no need to fear. Our chief has fined each first-class passenger a +hundred dollars; second-class passengers fifty dollars. If those +amounts are placed on the seats, our collector will be round in a +minute or two to take them up, then you will be at liberty to proceed." + +At that moment another man, similarly attired, armed, and masked, +joined the other at the door. + +"He's in here," he announced. "That's him, no doubt." + +He added a sentence in Spanish which I could not understand, then +turned to me. + +"Mr. William Anstruther?" he asked. + +Involuntarily I answered him-- + +"Yes; my name is Anstruther." + +"Follow me," he said sharply; "you're wanted." + +I gave one look at Dolores, and she answered my look. + +"You had better go with them, William," she said, calling me by my name +for the first time. "I will come too." + +She looked deadly white, and I feared every moment would faint. + +The man who had entered first spoke again, addressing Dolores. + +"You need not be afraid," he said. "We shall not harm Mr. Anstruther; +and you had better remain where you are, because we shall probably have +to _strip_ him." + +The two men laughed heartily at their coarse joke, and I felt as if I +could have killed them both. + +Then the thought came unpleasantly home to me. + +"_Why_ would they want to strip me?" + +I followed the first man down the corridor, and looking round saw the +other standing at the door of the compartment in which I had left the +ladies. He had a revolver in his hand, and was watching me intently. +Had I made the slightest effort to escape, I have little doubt he would +have shot me at once. My conductor took me back into the smoking-car, +and then politely asked Lady Ethel, who was still there, to retire. + +When she had gone, with wide-open eyes full of fear, fixed on me to the +last glance, the masked man, who had me in charge, turned to me and +made the following request:-- + +"Mr. Anstruther," he said, speaking in very good English, although one +could tell it was not his native tongue, "we have reason to believe +that you have concealed either on your person, or in your luggage, a +certain packet which you are carrying to Valoro. Our chief requires +that you shall give that packet up to him. That done, and your fine of +a hundred dollars paid, you will be permitted to go on your way." + +"And if I refuse to comply with your request?" I asked. + +The man shrugged his shoulders. + +"The chief will be here directly," he answered, with a peculiar smile; +"he will tell you himself." + +I threw myself in a corner of the carriage, and with the bitterest +thoughts at my heart, tried to think of some means of escape, while I +awaited the coming of the principal brigand. St. Nivel sat opposite to +me, and I saw by his set jaw and knitted brows that he considered the +situation very serious. We had not long to wait for the chief. A +heavy footstep came along the corridor and presently an immense bulk +entered the doorway with a great masked head above it. + +The man was a half-breed and a giant, possessing immense strength; the +reason of his chieftainship was very evident. + +"Which is Anstruther?" he asked abruptly, as he came in, with a strong +foreign accent. + +His subordinate pointed to me. + +"_Carajo!_ Mr. Anstruther," the giant began, "I hope you are not going +to give us any trouble. You don't look very amiable!" + +I simply looked at him and did not answer. + +"My lieutenant here," the chief proceeded, "has no doubt acquainted you +with my wishes. We want that little packet of yours, which you are +carrying to Valoro." + +"What little packet?" I asked superciliously. + +"The little packet which you fetched from your lawyer's office just +before you left London," he replied, with a smile; adding at my look of +astonishment, "you see we know your movements pretty well." + +I gave an impatient toss of my head, and felt inclined to drive my fist +into the man's great fat face, the only part of which I could see was a +great thick-lipped mouth with fine white teeth grinning through a black +beard. + +"Supposing," I said, "that I refuse to comply with your demand?" + +"Then," he said abruptly, "we shall look for it." "Come now, Mr. +Anstruther," he added, "we have very little time to lose; give me that +packet." + +"I haven't got it," I answered truthfully, for it was in St. Nivel's +cigar-box. + +The big man turned to his lieutenant. + +"Send in a couple of the others; strip and search him," he said sharply. + +In obedience to a call from the other, two more of the gang, big strong +fellows, came in, and I prepared for a strong resistance. + +Before, however, the men touched me, Sir Rupert Frampton's face +appeared in the doorway; he had evidently just got out of bed, and wore +a dressing-gown. + +"It is no use whatever making any resistance to these men, Mr. +Anstruther," he said, speaking in French; "you will probably lose your +life if you do. Submit to what they demand, and we will make a claim +against the Government at Valoro for whatever you lose. During the +whole of my long connection with Aquazilia," he added, "I have only +known such a robbery as this occur twice, and knowing the present +peaceful and law-abiding state of the country, I cannot understand it." + +"Very well then, Sir Rupert," I said, after a pause, "I will submit to +these men, but I call upon you to witness my protest at the outrage!" + +He nodded his head at my words, and in obedience to a further request +from the giant, I proceeded to undress. + +When this was done, they were not satisfied to search my clothes only, +but took them away with them for further examination. + +After returning me my light silk under-vest and drawers, they brought +me a loose cowboy's dress, such as they wore themselves, and intimated +that I must put it on. + +It was no use demurring, so with a plaintive look at Sir Rupert, who, +hardly able to repress his laughter, was still standing by, I did as I +was bid. + +"Now," proceeded the chief, "we have not found what we want about your +person, Mr. Anstruther; we must look for it among your luggage." + +He dangled my bunch of keys in his hand as he spoke. "Follow me, +please." + +The others closed round me and we went together to the luggage-car; +here my luggage, which was fully marked with my name, was already set +aside. They proceeded at once to thoroughly search each trunk, but +replacing every article as they did so; loot was evidently not their +object. + +They came at last to the end of it; and the chief turned to me savagely. + +"_Carajo!_ Mr. Anstruther," he said, "you are playing with us. Do you +refuse to tell us where this packet is?" + +"Supposing I don't know?" I replied prevaricatingly, "supposing it is +out of my power to tell you?" + +"Then," he answered, with a savage oath, "we shall take you with us, +and perhaps another besides, and hold you both as hostages until the +packet is given up to us by _somebody_." + +After a pause I shrugged my shoulders. + +"You must do as you like," I said. + +"Carlo," cried the chief at once, "see the fines are collected, and we +will be off and take him with us." + +"Who shall the other hostage be?" asked the lieutenant. + +The big man stooped down and whispered in his ear. + +The other man nodded and smiled in response to the other's laugh, but +it appeared to me that he by no means relished the information conveyed +to him in the whisper. + +"Now, Mr. Anstruther," remarked the big half-breed, "we must trouble +you to come with us, and don't take longer than you can help to say +good-bye to the ladies." + +This was intended by way of a joke; one which I did not appreciate. + +"As soon as my cashier has been round collecting the dues," proceeded +the big man, "we must be off. Don't you think you will change your +mind, Mr. Anstruther, and give me that packet? If I had my way I would +search the whole train for it, but we haven't got time, so we must take +you instead." + +St. Nivel looked up from his corner where he had sat, his hat drawn +over his eyes. + +"Have a cigar, Senor Capitano," he remarked to the chief, "while your +man collects the cash. I've paid already." + +He handed the man the box of cigars in which the packet was hidden. I +thought it an act of madness. + +"Thank you, Senor," replied the man, taking two; "a fine brand of +cigars." + +"Yes," replied my cousin, "they are very decent." + +The Capitano took the box in his hands and smelt them. + +"Yes, very nice," he remarked. "As good as anything you will get in +Aquazilia." + +Then St. Nivel did something which appeared to me to be an additional +sign that he had taken leave of his senses. + +"Won't you take the box, Capitano?" he asked. + +The man smiled and shook his great head. + +"Thank you," he said, "they are too mild for me." + +St. Nivel shut the box up with what I thought was impatience, and threw +it in the rack. + +The thieves' cashier made his appearance with a bag full of dollars; +then they all made a move for the door, taking me with them. + +As we reached the platform of the smoking-car, and I was perforce about +to jump down on to the permanent way, I saw the face of my servant +Brooks looking up at me from the line. + +"Let me give you a hand, sir," he said, with an expressive look in his +eyes; "the ground's a bit rough here." + +As he assisted me down in the darkness I felt him slip something under +the loose cowboy's frock I wore and nudge me to take it; as I put my +hand down, to my joy I felt it was my Colt's revolver! + +I hastily thrust it into the belt under my smock-frock, where it was +quite hidden. + +Then the horses were brought round and we prepared to mount; but before +we departed there was still a little ceremony to be gone through. + +There were some left with drawn revolvers at the end of each carriage, +almost to the last moment, but as the bulk of the band left the train +they brought with them a half-breed dressed in the ordinary frock-coat +and tall hat of civilisation, in a state of abject terror. + +"Who is this man?" I asked the lieutenant, who happened to be near me. + +He laughed as he twisted up a cigarette and answered me. + +"He used to belong to our little society once," he said; "but he ran +away and gave evidence against another member, who was shot." + +"What are you going to do with him?" I asked. + +He made a motion with his hand in his loose neckerchief of a man being +hanged. + +"No, surely not!" I cried, in horror. + +"You'll see," he replied, as he began to smoke. + +They dragged forward the shivering wretch, who had a prosperous look +about him; and as they pulled him out of the train his tall hat fell +off and rattled on the iron rails. No one stopped to pick it up; it +was not worth while. + +The man immediately following him carried his lasso in his hand. They +lost very little time; there was a tree with a convenient branch, just +near the line, and in a trice they threw the rope over this and knotted +the end into a noose. + +Then there was a call for a priest, and there happening to be a Padre +in the train, the wretched man was accorded five minutes with him as he +stood. + +Within three minutes more the body of the half-breed was swinging and +struggling in the air; but the struggles were not for long. + +The desperadoes all around me whipped out their revolvers and commenced +a rattling fusillade, the mark being the body of the man swinging on +the tree. + + * * * * * + +My blood ran cold as I listened to the pinging of the bullets and the +resounding shrieks of the ladies in the train. + +Not till then did the last of the men leave the train, and one of them +I saw, to my astonishment, bore in his arms apparently a woman in a +cloak. + +In a brilliant gleam of electric light, shot from the train in the +darkness, I thought I saw the face of my Dolores, with a white gag +across the mouth, but the idea seemed so preposterous that I did not +give it another thought, thinking it to be some phantom of an +overwrought brain, and the woman some light-o'-love of the desperado. + +The man went straight to a horse, placed the burden he was carrying +across the saddle-bow, sprang on to the horse, and with a number of +others round him, including the chief, rode away. + +They brought a horse for me and I mounted too, and rode along very +unwillingly towards the end of the train. As we passed the engine, I +saw that the fire-box had been raked out and water poured on it. There +was a dense steam arising from it. I conjectured, and conjectured +correctly, that they had done this to prevent the train steaming away +and giving the alarm, for there was a considerable town not five miles +off, the inhabitants of which were no doubt anxiously expecting the +express. + +When we arrived at the other side of the train, and the leading files +of the robbers were passing off the railway line, the identity of the +figure carried away across the saddle was put beyond all doubt, and the +revelation nearly sent me mad. + +Mrs. Darbyshire came shrieking out into the forepart of the car in +which I had left her with Dolores. + +"They have taken her," she shrieked, "they have taken her away from me +as a hostage. It cannot be. Bring her back, bring her back, I implore +you!" she cried in Spanish to the men who were passing the train, and +who in return only laughed and jeered her. + +"Mr. Anstruther," she cried, "save her!" + +I made her no answer, for I knew it was useless, but I gripped the +revolver I carried beneath my loose smock. + +A great calmness came upon me then, though the blood surged through my +head. Life was as nothing to me, compared with saving her; without her +it would be worthless. I determined to use every art I was capable of, +every ingenuity to outwit these ruffians and murderers, for her sake. + +I began to laugh and talk with the men around me, at the same time +noting every feature of the country as we left the railway behind and +took a rough road. + +As we emerged upon this, the moon rose and I could see that the road +wound away in front of us, down into a valley where there was a thick +wood and up the other side to great hills which were probably our +destination. About two hundred yards in front of us rode the party who +had carried off Dolores. To my great joy my party commenced to trot, +and within ten minutes had caught up the party in front. + +There was a good deal of talking in Spanish, which I did not +understand. My eyes were fixed on the figure wrapped in the black +cloak and lying across the saddle-bow of one of the ruffians. + +As far as I could see, she was perfectly inanimate, but one thing I +noticed, and that was the man who held her, a great, swarthy, +black-bearded wretch, masked like the others, rode some six paces in +rear of the rest. + +This was sufficient for me; my plan was formed at once. + +As we rode forward again, I felt that I had a good horse under me, and +this was a satisfaction for the task I had in view. As we reached the +wood at the foot of the hill, there were, I found to my great +satisfaction, but two of the gang riding behind me and one by my side; +the rest were in front. I had made myself agreeable, and rode so +easily with them that the men around me had taken no special +precautions to secure me; believing me to be unarmed, they evidently +thought that I was powerless under the muzzles of their numerous +revolvers. + +They were mistaken. + +As we plunged into the blackness of the road through the wood, I waited +until we were well into it, then drew my revolver and shot the man +riding on my right. + +In the very act of firing, I dug the heels of my boots into my horse +and caused him to swerve round. + +Before they could draw, I shot both the men behind me, and as I tore +past them, grasped the mask from the face of one as he fell. The whole +thing was done in under ten seconds. I flew off like an arrow back +towards the party we had just left, followed by a spattering fire from +the men. I had left when they fully realised what had happened in the +darkness. + +I hastily fixed the black crape mask across my face as I cleared the +wood, and made full gallop for Dolores. + +As I came in sight of the party, they were evidently in alarm at the +shooting, but I waved my arm to them assuringly and slowed down to a +canter as I came near. They plainly regarded me from my mask as one of +the gang. + +I noticed to my satisfaction as I approached that the man in charge of +Dolores was still some distance in the rear. + +The road being narrow, and the men riding two abreast in it, I left the +track and rode out into the rough ground as if I wished to reach the +chief, crying out "Capitano!" as I passed the leading men, that being +about all the Spanish I knew. + +The great burly chief rode out as I approached, with a querulous look +on his face as I saw it in the moonlight, as if he were annoyed, but +the expression changed immediately, for I shot him through the body +from my revolver as I held it concealed beneath the smock I wore; then +I dashed for Dolores. I had still two chambers undischarged, and one +of these I intended for the man bearing Dolores, but he was too quick +for me; he turned his horse and bolted back along the road we had come +and I after him. He was apparently in a panic. I roared out to him +with all my might that if he would give up the lady I would spare his +life, or otherwise he would be a dead man. + +This hint seemed sufficient for him, for he slid off his horse and +rolled away somewhere into the rough ground at the side of the road, +leaving Dolores on the horse. + +Then I saw that she had been secured to the high pommel of the Spanish +saddle by a turn or two of a lasso. + +We had gone fully three hundred yards more before I caught the horse +which galloped away at full speed. Perhaps it was as well things +happened thus, as the robbers were thundering behind, and had I taken +the two burdens on one horse, we should I think, without doubt, have +been recaptured. As it was, I lashed both horses to their fullest +speed when I saw Dolores was secure, though evidently in great +discomfort, yet it was a matter of life or death or worse. + +Presently we came in view of the train getting up steam, though it was +some distance off, and then a sight burst upon my view in addition +which filled me with both joy and astonishment. About ten bicycles +ridden by men were coming along the road, the slender spokes of their +wheels glinting in the moonlight. They no sooner saw us than they +raised a great shout, and waved their arms; it was then to my great +thankfulness I saw the leading cyclist was my cousin, St. Nivel. I +felt as if a ton weight of care had been lifted off my shoulders. + +They made way for us as we came, and St. Nivel shouted to me as we +passed through-- + +"Make straight for the train!" + +I did as he bid me, and within five minutes had the pleasure of tearing +the handkerchief with which she was gagged from my darling's mouth; and +before all the assembled passengers kissing her upon the lips as I gave +her insensible into the arms of her aunt. + +I think I had earned those kisses! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DON JUAN D'ALTA + +No sooner had we passed through the cyclists than they formed across +the road and, dismounting, took up positions behind any cover which +they discovered in the rough ground. + +To my astonishment they unstrapped rifles from their machines, and as +soon as the robbers appeared in pursuit greeted them with a rapid fire +evidently from magazines. I saw several saddles emptied as they turned +and rode off. + +A few minutes after St. Nivel and his friends rejoined us. + +"That was a lucky thought of mine," he said, laughing, when he had +gripped my hand and congratulated me on our escape. + +I remembered seeing the bicycles being put into the train at Monte +Video, and the magazine rifles of course were in the guard's van, and +ought to have been used when the robbers attacked us, but they came too +suddenly and there was no time to get them. + +From that time forward things went easily enough; steam was soon up, +and we were away again to Valoro within half an hour. At the next +station a special restaurant car was attached; we were treated like +heroes, sitting amid the popping of champagne corks relating our +adventures, and this went on long after the morning had broken. + +But I, tired out, soon sought my bed in the sleeping-car, but not +before I had been assured at the door of the ladies' car, by Mrs. +Darbyshire, now all tears and smiles, that Dolores had regained +consciousness, and was unhurt, save for bruises and, of course, a +severe shock. + +I slept until within an hour of our running into Valoro station late in +the afternoon, and just had time to have a delicious bath and emerge +fresh and hungry into the restaurant car in which St. Nivel, Lady +Ethel, and Dolores looking very pale and ill, were just finishing +lunch. My darling sat beside me while I lunched and held my hand--when +it was disengaged--unheeded by Mrs. Darbyshire. This lady, I think, +considered that the case had got beyond her and had better be relegated +to a higher court--Don Juan d'Alta--for judgment. + +Dolores even lighted my cigarette for me, but soon after her aunt took +her away to prepare to leave the train. + +"What on earth made you hand that poor devil of a brigand chief that +box of cigars, Jack?" I asked St. Nivel, when we were alone with Ethel, +and he had restored my precious casket to me; "he might have taken it +and got the whole shoot." + +"At that moment," replied St. Nivel, glancing through the rings of his +cigar smoke quite affectionately at me, "I wished he _would_ take it. +Things looked very ugly for you, and we were powerless to help you. I +thought if he took the cigar case the casket would at least be with you +and you would know it and could use your own discretion about giving +them the tip if your life were threatened as I imagined it would be." + +"Very clever of you, Jack," I answered, "and I'm very much obliged to +you for thinking of it, but I am glad that the poor devil didn't take +it after all. I believe it to be my duty to take it to Don Juan +d'Alta, even at the risk of my life." + +St. Nivel sat thinking a moment or two; then he spoke. + +"Why do you use the term 'poor devil'?" he asked, "when you speak of +the robber chief?" + +I told him why. I told him how I had shot him. + +"Well, really, Bill," he said very seriously, "I wish the thing _had_ +gone. It has already cost several lives, and seems to carry ill-luck +with it. Who knows how many more lives may be sacrificed? Of course, +there cannot be a doubt but that the train was held up solely to obtain +it; the taking of the hundred dollars a head was simply a ruse to cover +the other. Old Frampton says such a raid on a train is a thing unheard +of now in Aquazilia." + +"Yes," I answered, "but it came to a good round sum all the same. +Well, at any rate," I continued, as the train ran into Valoro station, +"we've brought the thing to its destination, and we're all safe and +sound, so there's _something_ to be thankful for!" + +At Valoro, things were "all right" as my man Brooks put it; news of the +attack on the train, in which was the British Minister, had reached the +capital, and a troop of cavalry awaited to escort him to his Legation. + +"As I understand you have something of importance to deliver in +Valoro," said Sir Rupert Frampton to me as we left the train, "I think +you had better come in my carriage. I am taking Mrs. Darbyshire and +the Senorita with me too. They both want reassuring, and the morale of +the escort will do that. I shall take them right home." + +"Thank you very much," I answered, "that will suit me down to the +ground. My mission is to deliver a packet to Don Juan d'Alta himself." + +"Then come along," added Sir Rupert, "for, of course, the ladies are +going there too." + +In a few minutes we were driving out of the station yard in a fine +carriage, surrounded by soldiers. + +It was the first time I had ever ridden with an escort, and I liked it. + +We left the immense terminus, which would not have disgraced the finest +city in Europe, and turned up a great boulevard leading to the higher +part of the city where amid trees we could see many fine white houses. + +"That is our house!" cried Dolores, as we left the houses behind and +came out into the country. "Look, aunt! look, William!" + +I did look and saw on the crest of the hill we were approaching, far +away to the left, a long range of white buildings, relieved with +towers, which looked like a small castle. + +It filled me with apprehension, for it was a sign of the great wealth +of her father--the wealth which I feared would be a bar to our union. + +I think she was surprised at the glum look on my face for the rest of +the little journey. + +"Are you sorry to go and see my father?" she asked plaintively, with a +sweet look in her blue eyes. "I am sure he will be very glad to see +_you_ and to thank you for saving me. He is a very kind man is my +father," she added solemnly, "very kind to me, and very kind to his +reptiles." + +Before them all--Mrs. Darbyshire was now quite resigned--I took her +hand and pressed it. + +"It is a very easy thing to be kind to _you_, Dolores," I said. "I +should find the difficulty in being kind to the reptiles." + +"But you will humour my father, won't you?" she asked, and then dropped +her voice, "for both our sakes?" + +The amount of interest dear old Sir Rupert Frampton took in distant +scenery during this drive, and the many objects of interest he pointed +out to Mrs. Darbyshire to divert her attention from us, made me his +willing slave for life. For, indeed, I was agitated at the prospect of +the interview which was to come in a few minutes with old Don Juan +d'Alta, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the dear old lady at +Bath, who I doubted not was now dead, and the packet she had confided +to my care. + +It was a comfort to sit with Dolores' little hand in mine. My other +clasped the precious packet in my trousers pocket. + +At last we drove into a great avenue filled with the most luxuriant +tropical vegetation, very carefully tended, for there were men at work +everywhere. + +The escort wheeled away into line as we swept under a great +glass-roofed portiere, and came to a halt at a fine flight of marble +steps, where Sir Rupert left us and drove away with the soldiers +clattering around him. + +Yes, the home of my Dolores was like a modern palace. + +Overcome with seeing it again, I think she forgot even me for the +moment. She ran gaily up the steps, trilling with laughter. + +"Where is father?" she cried. + +That gentleman answered her question in person. + +At the head of the steps appeared an old man dressed in black with an +abundance of perfectly white hair which surrounded a very +good-humoured, wrinkled face, almost as brown as a berry. It was the +face of an aristocrat, but of an aristocrat who lived in the open air, +and a good deal under the burning sun of an Aquazilian summer. + +He came forward with a very loving smile on his old face and took his +little daughter in his arms. + +Their greeting was in Spanish and therefore most of it was lost to me, +but I took it to be a very affectionate one. This over, the +conversation turned in my direction and broke into English. + +"This is the gentleman who saved me from the robbers, father," +exclaimed Dolores; "this is Mr. William Anstruther." + +The old man turned towards me with extended hands, his face beaming. + +"Mr. Anstruther," he said, speaking in very fair English, which I found +most of the gentry spoke there, "let me take your hands and thank you +from my heart for your heroic conduct to my daughter. The news of the +outrage and your gallant escape reached us together by telegraph the +first thing this morning. Indeed, I think they had the news at the +club last night." + +When he had at last let my hand go, I got in a word of my own. + +"Naturally," I began, "you will like to spend some time with your +daughter, but when you are at liberty I have an important message to +deliver to you." + +"Indeed!" he said, looking rather surprised. "From whom?" + +"From an old lady who formerly lived at Bath, in England," I replied, +"but who now, I fear, is dead--murdered!" + +"Good heavens!" he cried; "who can it be?" + +"It was a lady known by the name of Carlotta Altenberg," I answered. + +"Good God!" he cried, throwing up his hands excitedly; "poor old +d'Altenberg murdered!" + +I was rather disappointed at his tone. It was very certain that the +old lady was a person of little importance, or he would never have +spoken of her like that. + +In a moment or two he turned to me again. + +"I have taken the liberty," he said, "of having your luggage and that +of your friends with whom you are travelling--and whom Dolores tells me +are your cousins--brought up here. I could not think of allowing you +to stay anywhere else in Valoro than under my roof, and I am vain +enough to think that we can keep you amused during your stay." + +I made suitable acknowledgments for his kindness, and was wondering all +the while, in my heart, under what lucky star I had been born to be +located beneath the very roof with my Dolores, and that, too, at her +father's invitation. But he broke in upon my thanks. + +"Not another word, Mr. Anstruther," he said; "it is you who confer the +benefit upon me. + +"Now, you say you have a message from the poor old Baroness d'Altenberg +for me. Good! I will show you to my study, and there we will go into +the matter at our leisure." + +He led me down a long corridor to a beautiful room overlooking the +valley, communicating with a long range of what looked like +conservatories. Hardly necessary, I thought, in such a climate! + +"Now," said my host, placing a box of cigars before me, "amuse yourself +with these, and my servant shall bring us some champagne to celebrate +your arrival. I will just go and see my sister and little Dolores +settled in their apartments, then I will come back to you and we can +have our talk. You shall tell me all about the poor Baroness." + +The kind old man pressed me down into a comfortable lounge chair, then +with a smile departed. + +I took a good look round the room, and took stock of its contents. It +was furnished very luxuriously in the European fashion and contained +some beautiful pictures, but its principal ornaments were cases of +stuffed reptiles of every sort, from a tiny lizard to a great +boa-constrictor with red jaws agape. + +There were four French windows opening to the ground, shaded by outside +striped blinds similar to those used in England, but not low enough to +hide a most splendid view of hill and dale and far-away mountains, +which seemed to surround the city of Valoro, itself seeming to rest on +a plateau. + +I was standing looking at a case of particularly objectionable yellow +snakes when I heard one of the French windows move behind me; turning, +I came face to face with the polite lieutenant of the band of robbers +who had attacked our train. He had discarded the cowboys' dress and +wore the clothes of a gentleman. He at once raised a revolver to the +level of my head as I started back, and addressed me in perfectly +polite tones. + +"Come, come, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "it's no good. I want that +packet. If you don't give it to me I shall simply shoot you through +the head and take it." + +It appeared to me that my journey after all had been in vain; there was +the muzzle of the pistol within six inches of my head, and I had to +make up my mind about it. + +St. Nivel's words came back to me concerning the ill-luck of it, and I +could almost hear him saying-- + +"Let the thing go; it isn't worth risking your life for." + +Then I thought of Dolores, and on this thought broke the voice of the +robber, cold and hard. + +"You must make up your mind, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "while I count +ten, otherwise I must fire." + +He commenced counting slowly. + +"One." + +The thought of Dolores grew stronger. + +"Two." + +I could almost _hear_ St. Nivel's voice urging me to give it up. + +"Three." + +Then there was my promise to the old lady, murdered, I believed, by +these infamous ruffians. I hesitated. + +"Four." + +"Five." + +"Six." + +Then came another thought: would the old lady, who had been spoken of +as the Baroness d'Altenberg, hold me to my word under the circumstances? + +"Seven." + +"Eight." + +I doubted it. + +"Nine." + +I had made up my mind to save my life for Dolores. + +"Hold," I said; "I will give it to you!" + +He smiled. + +"I think you are very sensible," he said; "anybody else but an +Englishman would have given it up long ago, and then a great deal of +trouble and several lives would have been saved." + +I put my hand in my pocket despising myself the while for giving way, +but still convinced that I should have been a fool to throw my life +away under the circumstances. + +"Perhaps you will tell me," I asked, as I drew the packet from my +pocket, "how it is that you know I am here and that I have the packet +with me?" + +He laughed. + +"I may as well tell you," he said, "that you have never been left +unwatched since you left Bath." + +"You seem to know my movements pretty well yourself," I said, in an +astonished tone. + +"Pretty well," he answered, with another smile. + +I had no sooner drawn the packet from my pocket than he snatched it +unceremoniously from my hands and walked with it towards the window. + +"Don't move," he cried to me, "until I tell you _or_ I shall fire. I +must verify the contents before I leave you." + +He still held the pistol in my direction and I have no doubt would have +fired had I made the slightest move towards him, which I could not have +done without making some noise, for about six paces divided us. + +I stood still and regarded him as he tore off the covering with his +teeth. + +He was so thoroughly engrossed with the task that he did not hear a +slight rustling sound which caused me to turn my head towards the door +which led to the long range of what appeared to be glass houses, and +which was just open a little. What I saw there made me turn cold from +head to foot. + +Gliding through the slightly open door, and pushing it farther open as +it came with its immense bulk, was a huge black and yellow snake! + +It was moving in the direction of the robber, who, entirely engrossed +with the packet from which he had torn the wrapper, was totally +oblivious of his position. The snake had possibly been attracted by +the tearing noise which he had made as he rent the linen envelope with +his teeth. + +I had almost cried aloud to warn him, when, I checked myself. The man +had come to murder me; he must take his chance. He had turned to me, +satisfied with his scrutiny of the casket which he now held in his +hand, the box which contained it having been thrown on the floor, when +I saw the snake draw itself into a great coil and raise its head; then, +just as his lips were opening to speak to me, the great reptile made a +spring, and in an instant coiled itself tight round him, the tail +whipping close like a steel wire. He gave a great cry and dropped the +casket and the revolver immediately. Within a second or two I had them +in my hands, and at the same moment the door opened and Don Juan d'Alta +entered. + +He rapped out a great Spanish oath, and a good many more words in the +same language; then he turned to me. + +"Who is this man?" he asked. + +"That is one of the men," I answered at once, "who attacked the train. +He entered this room a few minutes after you left me with the intention +of robbing or murdering me." + +"Then he seems to have got his deserts," replied my host, laughing. He +came quite close to me and whispered in my ear, "The snake is quite +harmless, but it will give him a fright and maybe break a rib or two if +it squeezes hard." + +The old man appeared to regard it as a huge joke, but kept a solemn +face. + +It appeared to be going beyond a joke to break his ribs, and I said so +in a whisper. + +"He deserves it," was the reply. + +Meanwhile, the robber was becoming absolutely livid with fear, and +began to supplicate Don Juan in Spanish. + +Finding this of no avail, he turned to me. + +"Have mercy, Senor," he cried piteously, "and help me to free myself +from this reptile. It is crushing me to death." + +The horrible thing with wide-open jaws was breathing in his face, and +its fetid breath seemed turning him sick. + +Don Juan laughed aloud, rather heartlessly it seemed to me, but the +Spanish nature is a cruel one to its enemies. + +"I know the man," he said, "and I cannot understand what has brought +him into this _galere_. Let us question him?" + + * * * * * + +I could not quite see that a man enveloped in the embrace of a +boa-constrictor, even though the reptile might be tame and harmless, +would be a person likely to give either correct or coherent answers to +questions, but I acquiesced in Don Juan d'Alta's suggestion that we +should try and get some information out of him. + +He commenced at once; speaking in English for my benefit. + +"What induced you and your band to attack the train yesterday?" was his +first question. + +"I don't know," was the answer. + +"That is a lie," responded Don Juan, speaking quite coolly. "If you +wish to get out of the coils of that snake, you must speak the truth. + +"Now come, I know of course who you are, I know everybody in Valoro, +and especially the members of the Carlotta Society, which is avowedly +Royalist and opposed to the present Government like myself. You are a +member of that Society; you are one of its leaders. I suggest to you +that the so-called band of robbers who attacked the train last night +were simply members of the Carlotta Society?" + +"I admit," gasped the man, trying with all his force to keep the +boa-constrictor's head away from his face, "that I am a leader of the +Carlotta Society, but I cannot disclose its secrets even to you." + +"You must speak, Lopes," Don Juan said, "or you will not get free. +Remember that I am a member of the Carlotta Society myself, though an +honorary one on account of my age. You will never get back to your +desk in the bank of Valoro if you don't speak." + +"It is inhuman!" cried the man desperately, "it is vile torture!" + +"It is also inhuman," added Don Juan sententiously, "to raid trains, +and to threaten murder as you have done in this room. Your band too +was none too scrupulous in hanging Jimenez the half-breed, though he +was an informer. Tell me now, why did you hold up the train? why did +you try to rob this English gentleman?" + +"It was done," answered the man stertorously, for he was becoming weak, +"it was done on urgent orders from Europe from our head." + +Don Juan started, and going close whispered a name in his ear. + +"Yes," replied Lopes faintly, but I heard the words, "from the Duke +himself." + +As Don Juan turned from him with a perplexed look, his eye caught the +casket which I still held in my hand; he lost colour and became very +agitated as he saw it. + +"Where did you get that from?" he asked abruptly, seizing my hand. + +I opened my hand and placed the casket in his. + +"From the Baroness d'Altenberg," I replied. "I made the journey from +Europe to give it to you. My task is accomplished." + +The casket had reached its destination. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE CASKET + +"Now there are two favours I wish to ask you, Don Juan," I said, as he +stood with the precious casket in his hands, "the first is to put that +casket in a place of safety; the second to release this poor wretch +from the snake." + +He awoke from a fit of deep meditation with a start. + +"I will grant your two favours immediately," he answered quickly as he +put the casket in his breast pocket and buttoned his frock-coat over +it; "see one is already done, now I will accomplish the other." + +He went to the end of the apartment, and lifting a curtain hanging over +the base of a bookcase, took from a shelf there a silver bowl, filled +apparently with bread and milk. + +With this he went out on to the terrace, through the French windows, +and commenced to make a peculiar sibilant noise between his teeth, half +whistle half hiss. + +It had a most peculiar effect upon the boa-constrictor, who, from the +first production of the silver bowl, had shown a lively interest in it +by moving its great head up and down excitedly. The noise made by Don +Juan, however, decided it; it began to uncoil itself from the would-be +assassin and finally dropped on the floor with a "slump" and wriggled +out of the window on to the terrace. As the man was released, I +covered him with the revolver as I was taking no risks, but it was +quite unnecessary, as he fell fainting on a couch to which he had +staggered almost immediately he was free. + +Don Juan returned from the terrace with a pleased smile. + +"My pets are a great source of comfort to me," he remarked as he sank +into a chair, after courteously making me take another. "To see that +poor dumb thing take its food so healthily compensates me almost for +the shock which this villainous fellow has given us." + +"Snakes," he continued, "are greatly affected by sound, as no doubt you +noticed just now. There is little question that the snake was +attracted to Lopes by some sound." + +"But still," he continued, placing his hand in his breast, "the sight +of the casket which you have brought to me is a greater shock than the +desperado's pistol presented at your head was to you." + +He passed his hand over his forehead as if the idea bewildered him. + +"And you say you got it from the Baroness d'Altenberg?" he asked. + +"Yes," I answered, "I took it from the safe at her direction." + +"Whatever can it contain?" he muttered to himself; then the figure of +Lopes lying on the sofa caught his eye. + +"We must have this fellow removed," he said. "What shall we do with +him?" + +I looked at the recumbent figure for some time, and it only inspired me +with pity. + +"I think he ought to be sent somewhere," I proposed, "where he would be +taken care of and prevented from doing further mischief. Have you a +hospital in Valoro?" + +The old gentleman looked at me in some surprise. + +"I assure you," he answered, "that we have two, as fine as any in +Europe." + +"Then," I said, "if I may make the suggestion, I would have Lopes sent +off to one." + +Don Juan rang the bell immediately, and when a servant answered it, he +indicated the man on the couch and gave some order in Spanish to him. + +"They will take him away," he explained, "and send him down to the +hospital in one of my carriages. There we can have him arrested later +if it is worth while." + +In a very short time two men appeared and carried Lopes out of the room. + +Then we sat down facing one another, and Don Juan produced the casket +from his pocket and stood contemplating it upon his knee. + +"Whatever could have prompted the old Baroness d'Altenberg to send me +this," he cogitated half to himself, "after so many years; and what can +it contain?" + +I made a suggestion. + +"Supposing you open it," I said, "while I walk in the garden." + +"My dear Mr. Anstruther," he said, quite frightened at giving me so +much trouble, "that is not at all necessary. I can go into my little +cabinet here." + +He indicated a small room, the door of which stood partly open, and +revealed a little study with a writing table and a reading lamp. + +"If you will excuse me for five minutes," he added, "I will retire into +that little room and open the casket!" + +"But have you the keys?" I asked. + +He nodded with a smile. + +"Oh yes," he answered, "those three little locks and the secret of +opening them are very familiar to me, but I have not seen it for a +great many years." + +I did not in the least understand what he was alluding to, but I, of +course, urged him to retire into his little room and examine the +contents of the casket in peace, while I amused myself in the study +itself. + +"You will find some marvellous stuffed specimens of the green lizard in +those lower cases," he remarked, as he disappeared into his sanctum. +"I should advise you to study them closely." + +He had no sooner disappeared into the little room, the door of which he +left slightly open, when I mentally consigned the green lizards and, in +fact, the whole lacertilian family to a place warmer than the plains of +Aquazilia in summer even, and sat idly wondering how long it would be +before I saw Dolores again. + +I distinctly heard the click of a lock as the old gentleman opened the +ebony casket, there was a pause and a long silence broken only by the +crackling of paper. Then I heard him give a cry of astonishment, and a +Spanish exclamation it was--"Madre de Dios!" + +An invocation only used on occasions of great excitement. + +Then I heard a low muttering as he repeated certain passages, possibly +of the letter, to himself, but it was in a foreign language, probably +Spanish, and entirely unintelligible to me. + +Another pause followed, then the door opened again and Don Juan +re-entered the room, but his appearance had entirely changed. + +His healthy sunburnt complexion had lost all its colour and was of a +leaden hue, his eyes were starting from beneath his bushy eyebrows, and +his right hand, as he laid it on the back of a chair, trembled like a +leaf in the wind. + +"Mr. Anstruther," he said with difficulty, "it will be necessary for me +to leave for Europe as soon as possible, for England, for Bath!" + +If he had said that he had just made up his mind to go to the moon I +could not have been more astonished! + +"To England!" I repeated. + +"Yes, to England, and that as soon as possible." + +The whole thing seemed to me extremely curious. + +"Forgive my asking the question," I said, "but do you mind telling me +why you want to visit Bath?" + +He considered for some moments, passing his hand across his forehead, +which was clammy with perspiration. + +"Before I answer that question," he said at last, "I should like to ask +you another. + +"I understand that you have met the lady who entrusted you with the +casket which you have given me, at a certain house in a street called +Monmouth Street in the town of Bath?" + +"Yes, that is so," I answered. + +"Are you aware that there was a safe in that house. A steel safe of +peculiar workmanship?" + +"Yes," I replied, "I have seen it and opened it. I told you so." + +"Ah! then you can tell me," he cried excitedly, "what was in the safe?" + +"I'm afraid I cannot; I opened the safe at the request of the old lady, +who, at that time, was lying sorely wounded on her bed. I opened it +hastily, took out what I was directed to take by a note within, then +closed the safe again." + +"But the safe was not empty?" + +"No, I think I can go so far as to say that there appeared, as well as +I recollect from the hasty glance I had, to be other documents and +parcels behind those which I took away." + +"Very good," Don Juan replied; "now tell me something more. In whose +charge is that house in the street of Monmouth. Do you happen to know?" + +"When I left Bath," I replied, "the house was in charge of a sergeant +of police and his wife; they were caretakers." + +"Very good, very good indeed," answered the old man, apparently much +relieved; "now tell me one thing more. When does the ship by which you +came return to England?" + +"The _Oceana_ returns in about a fortnight's time." + +"Do you think now, if I used my best endeavours to make that fortnight +very agreeable to you, and to show you during that time more, perhaps, +than you would see of Aquazilia in a month in the ordinary way, that I +could induce you to return to England with me by that ship?" + +At first I thought that by agreeing with his request I should be +leaving Dolores behind, then I remembered that I could induce him +perhaps to take her with him. + +I hesitated for a time and he pressed me. + +"Come, now, Mr. Anstruther," he said, "give me your answer." + +"I am perfectly certain," I said hesitatingly, for I was not going to +give myself away, "that you will make our stay delightful, but I think, +before I answer, I had better let you into a little secret. + +"I happen to know that my cousin, Lord St. Nivel, and his sister, Lady +Ethel Vanborough, intend asking you and Donna Dolores to spend some +time with them in England. Could you not make this visit answer both +purposes?" + +"That would necessitate my taking my daughter with me," he said rather +dubiously; then a light seemed to break in upon him, and a smile +hovered about his lips to which the colour was just returning. + +"Should my daughter have no objection," he replied guardedly, "I see no +reason why she should not accompany us." + +I know my face lighted up with pleasure. I could not control it. + +"We shall spend Christmas with you," I said cheerfully at last, "at any +rate, and Christmas in Valoro will be a great novelty both to my +cousins and myself, I have no doubt." + +"Christmas and the New Year are the gayest times with us of the whole +twelve months," he answered, "and you will be able to be present at +them both." + +"The prospect," I cried, "is delightful, and I will return with you, +Don Juan, with pleasure. I should be most ungrateful to refuse your +kind offer. I think I can answer for my cousins too, as they have +really only taken this trip to please me." + +"Very well, then," he said rising, "that's settled; now we will go and +find the ladies. I have no doubt your cousins have arrived by this +time. I sent an automobile for them." + +As I followed him, I flattered myself that I could persuade Dolores to +take that return journey with us to Europe, if any persuasion were +indeed necessary, by which it will be seen that I was acquiring a +certain amount of confidence in my powers over that young lady. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ABBOT OF SAN JUAN + +The two weeks which followed constituted, I have no hesitation in +saying, the gala fortnight of my existence. + +I never could have imagined it possible that so much pleasure could +have been crowded into such a short time. But can it not be easily +believed that everything then was to me gilded with that supreme fine +gold, the glamour of a young love? Yes, I think even the old Don +himself saw it, and at any rate did not forbid it. + +I went about with Dolores everywhere, even to church, at which she was +a regular attendant, and I flatter myself behaved very creditably +there, for though I was not a Roman Catholic like herself, yet I had +attended the Sunday evening ministrations of the monks of Bath, and +knew a good deal about it through the said monks' discourses. + +I hope I don't make a mistake in calling them monks--if I do, I ask +their pardon. I certainly understood them to _say_ they were monks. + +Be that as it may. I did not disgrace Dolores when I went with her to +the great cathedral in Valoro. + +But our time there was by no means entirely spent in going to church. +Day after day the old Don engaged special trains in which we flew about +the Republic faring sumptuously everywhere, and on our return there +would generally be a dinner-party, followed by the theatre or the +opera--a magnificent house and performance--and as likely as not a ball +after that. Much more of it would have killed us all. + +But the gay life mercifully drew towards a close, and Dolores and I +began to contemplate a pleasurable voyage back on that very ship on +which we had first met and loved. + +Yes, loved; we were plighted lovers now; there was no secret, no hiding +anything from one another. + +By Dolores' wish I only waited to reach England to tell her father of +my love for her and ask him for her. + +"And do you think he will give you to me, darling?" I asked one +beautiful night, when we were sitting out a waltz at a ball at the +house of a grandee at Valoro. "Do you think he will give you to an +Englishman?" + +"Considering that he gave his sister away to an Englishman I don't see +how he can refuse me to you, dearest," she answered. "At any rate I +think I can persuade him." + +Yes, I believed she could, she looked capable of persuading the angels +themselves, in her dress of white silk, cut rather low, with a string +of pearls round her neck worth about the value of the winner of the +Derby. + +Towards the last few days of our stay in Aquazilia, when we were all, +even Lady Ethel, surfeited with dancing, and St. Nivel and I began to +look askance at banquets, Don Juan came to me one day and took me aside +into his garden. + +I purposely led him away from the direction of the reptile houses of +which I had a holy horror, and we sauntered down a shady avenue of +palms. + +"There is one place of interest near Valoro, Mr. Anstruther," he said, +"which I should much like to show you and Lord St. Nivel if he cares to +come, and that is the great Trappist Monastery at San Juan del Monte, +about ten miles from here." + +"By Jove!" I answered, "that is the very place I should like to see! +I'm your man at any time." + +"If you can be up by seven to-morrow morning," continued the old man, +"we can motor over in the cool of the day. I know it is asking a good +deal of you, because we have this evening to attend the reception of +your minister, and then go on to the ball at Donna Elvira della +Granja's. At the earliest we shall not be in bed till two, I fear." + +"Never mind," I answered, "a cold tub usually puts me straight after a +late night, and I am particularly anxious to see some real live monks +in real cells." + +"You will see both there in dozens," replied d'Alta; "there are nearly +three hundred monks there." + +Despite the dissipation of the night, six o'clock the next morning saw +me out of bed, and 7.45 found me dressed for the road and as fresh from +my cold bath as if His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Valoro had not +given a reception at all, and Donna Elvira della Granja's ball had +never taken place, though I certainly put in an appearance at the +former, sitting in a corner with Dolores and listening to her +description of all the political notabilities present, and at the +latter I certainly did my duty as an Englishman, as many a black-eyed +donna could testify, albeit I had all the best waltzes with Dolores, +and of course took her in to supper. + +I think every one in Valoro by this time put us down as an engaged +couple; especially as old Don Juan seemed a consenting party or +discreetly blind to our proceedings. + +St. Nivel told me afterwards of a conversation he overheard between two +American attaches at Donna Elvira's. + +"I guess," remarked the "Military" to the "Naval," "that Englishman's +goin' to walk off with old d'Alta's girl." + +"You bet," confirmed the Naval, "he's fairly on the job. What is he?" + +"Well, he's the cousin of that young Lord St. Nivel," responded the +Military, "and that counts a lot, of course. But his _real_ trade I'm +told is book writing." + +"Jeehosophat!" commented the Naval. "I guess he'll chuck that when +he's Don Juan's son-in-law; the old snake-charmer will never tolerate a +mere _bookman_ in his drawing-room. His blue Spanish blood would all +turn green, I reckon." + +Thus was the humble calling of a novelist despised, even in Valoro! + +When, however, I descended from my bedroom at 7.45, after partaking of +a delicious _petit dejeuner_ of coffee, milk, bread, and fruit in my +apartment, I found Don Juan d'Alta ready for the road, and the motor at +the door. In five minutes St. Nivel joined us. + +"I didn't like to be left behind, old sportsman," he exclaimed. +"Staying in bed on a huntin' mornin' is not exactly my form, even when +the quarry is merely a harmless Trappist!" + +"Your early habits do you credit, but your language, St. Nivel," I said +reprovingly, "is verging on the profane." + +"I'm sure I'm very sorry," he answered. "I'd walk ten miles rather +than offend any one's feelings. I hope Don Juan didn't hear me." + +"Don Juan is a man of the world," I answered, "and it wouldn't matter +if he did, but other people might hear you and not like it." + +"Righto, Bill," replied my sporting cousin. "I'll keep my eye on you +and try and not put my foot in it." + +In a few minutes we were rattling through some magnificent mountain +scenery, with luxuriant vegetation and lovely wild flowers on every +side. On the tops of the trees were parrots of varied colours which, +disturbed by the noise of the motor, fluttered in all directions before +us. + +"Now I particularly want you to notice the abbot," said Don Juan as we +approached the monastery, a very ancient-looking pile of buildings +situated in a most lonely spot on the side of a mountain, yet +surrounded by scenery which would have rivalled any in the world; "he +is a most remarkable man, and possesses, as you will see, a most +remarkable presence." + +Presently we drew up at a very plain front door, and were immediately +reconnoitred through a small wicket hole. + +"The janitor," observed St. Nivel, "is evidently taking stock of us, +and for that reason, Bill, I feel thankful that you have put on that +new Norfolk suit; it gives the whole party a classy appearance." + +The survey seemed satisfactory. Some bolts were shot back and the door +opened, disclosing a monk in a brown habit. + +He made some evidently most respectful remarks to Don Juan in Spanish, +and then we all entered the monastery and were shown into a guest-room. + +Here in a few minutes another lay brother brought a liqueur stand with +glasses. + +"Veritable Chartreuse," remarked Don Juan, as he laid his hand on the +little decanters of green and yellow liquid, "the true stream drunk at +the source!" + +He filled the little glasses and handed them round as the lay brother +stood looking on admiringly. + +"You must take some," he said, "or they will be offended." + +St. Nivel sipped his glass appreciatively. + +"The monk who invented this," he remarked sententiously, "_deserved_ to +go to heaven." + +"Our abbot will give himself the honour of waiting upon your +lordships," were the lay brother's parting words as translated to us by +Don Juan. + +We possessed our spirits in contentment, and awaited his coming, whilst +d'Alta expatiated on the rigours of the Trappists' life, their +isolation, their silence, their exactness in the keeping of the Office +of the Church. + +I fear this discourse, earnest though it was on the part of our host, +was lost upon St. Nivel, whom I detected catching flies--and liberating +them immediately--in the most solemn part. To him the severest form of +penance was represented by a life from which all descriptions of +"huntin'" and "shootin'" were excluded. He had been burning to kill +something big in the game line ever since he had set foot on shore, and +I was quite prepared to hear him ask the abbot when he arrived whether +he was "a huntin' man." He had asked that question of almost everybody +we had met up to then in Aquazilia. + +The abbot, however, came at last, just as Don Juan was concluding an +account of St. Bruno, the Founder of the Order, and Jack was sitting +with his eyes stolidly fixed upon the liqueur decanter. + +Yes, the abbot was all d'Alta had said; he was a man of fifty, tall, +spare, straight as a dart, but unlike most of the other monks we saw, +fair and fresh coloured. + +I stood looking at him for some time, gazing into his fair open face, +after he had taken my hand and released it. I wondered who it was he +reminded me of, whose face he brought so vividly to my recollection. +Yet striking as the likeness was to _some one_, I could not recall who +that some one was. + +"You must be hungry after your drive, gentlemen," he said, speaking +very fair English, as indeed most educated people did in Aquazilia. "I +have ordered _dejeuner_ at once for you. While it is preparing would +you like to see the monastery?" + +St. Nivel and I at once expressed our pleasure at the prospect, and the +abbot preceded us, walking with Don Juan, but stopping occasionally to +turn and speak to us and point out some object of interest. + +In this way we passed through the wonderful institution and saw the +Trappists each in his little abode, a sort of cottage to himself in +which he ate and slept, and worked _alone_. At stated hours all +through the day and night, the hundreds of monks met in the church to +recite the office. + +Don Juan told us as we stood on the steps of the great corridor that he +had spent a week there in retreat before his marriage, and kept the +"Hours" with the community. + +Pointing down the corridor which stretched before us, he said the sight +which struck him most was to stand as we did, on a night in winter and +hear the great bell ring for Matins. + +"Then," said he, "all those doors of the little houses open, and from +each comes out a monk with a lantern. They look like hundreds of +fireflies all going towards the great Abbey church." + +I think the abbot saw with that intuitive knowledge which belongs to a +refined nature that St. Nivel was _bored_; he steered us back to the +guest-room, where a most excellent lunch was awaiting us--soup, fish, a +dish of cutlets and a sweet omelette, all excellent, and served with +red and white wine-like nectar and coffee from the Trappists' estate on +the hills. + +The abbot did not eat with us, but sat and charmed us with his +conversation, for charming it was. + +He talked with that fascinating fluency which one would have expected +to find in a travelled man of the world rather that in a cloistered +monk. He held us during all that meal, giving zest to each dish that +came, with anecdotes of every country, and yet he spoke with a refined +simplicity and perfect innocence of thought. His clear-cut and healthy +face, his bright blue eyes and white teeth, the exceeding sweetness of +his face and expression are with me now as I write. + +When it was over and we had parted from him and were flying back to +Valoro and modernism, I turned to Don Juan and spoke my thoughts. + +"And where," I asked, "can the Order of Trappists have gained such a +wonderful recruit from?" + +The old man's face, which had been smiling, turned very grave; he shook +his head and sighed. + +"Ah! I wish I could tell you!" + +That was his answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CONFESSION OF BROOKS + +We left Valoro a few days after the great festival of the New Year, +which came as a fitting finale to all our gaiety. + +Christmas had been a quiet, sedate feast in the nature of a Sunday. We +left just as the premonitory signs of the rainy season were making +themselves apparent. + +St. Nivel's friends, the American attaches, told him that we were well +out of it, as the rains were torrential. + +Dolores and I commenced the journey with much satisfaction; up to the +last we had feared that Don Juan might have altered his mind and left +his daughter at home, but I think the old gentleman began to +understand, if he thought about it at all, that if he left Dolores +behind, he would also have to leave me too. + +Our departure was on the morrow of a great banquet, given by Don Juan +to many of the notabilities of Valoro in our honour. + +It was one of the grandest dinners I was ever present at, and the +display of ladies' dresses and jewels would have done credit to a court +function at home. But I think the sweet simple beauty of Dolores and +my cousin Ethel took the palm. On this occasion I took in to dinner a +grave and important donna with a distinct beard and moustache. I was +told that she was a model of piety and that _all_--or nearly all--pious +old ladies in Aquazilia had beards and moustaches! + +Dolores sat opposite me on this occasion, and the way in which a young +military attache of Brazil paid her attention under my very nose, +stamped him at once in my estimation, with his curled-up moustache, as +a mere puppy! + +I am sure Dolores thought so too, although she _did_ listen to his +trashy conversation, because when we were saying "good-night"--hastily +under one of the big palms on the terrace--oh! if he could have seen +us--she told me with her two dear arms round my neck that she only +loved me, and I was not to look so _jealous_ another time at a +dinner-party, but talk to my partner whether she had a beard and +moustache or not. Just as if I _could_ look jealous and of _such_ a +man! + +And so we left Aquazilia behind with its sunshine and lavish +hospitality, and took ship again--the dear old _Oceana_--for our own +foggy island, which I did not much relish returning to in February. + +But Dolores was with me and she made sunshine everywhere. + +We had been a fortnight on our return voyage, when an incident occurred +which filled me with surprise and concern. + +It was one of those grey days at sea when the prospect of the mingled +ocean and sky is not very attractive. + +St. Nivel was in the smoking-room; Dolores and Ethel were in the +state-room of the latter, holding one of those long important feminine +conferences--most delightful, I understood, to themselves--in which +dress was the _piece de resistance_, with perhaps a little gossip about +Ethel's conquests in Aquazilia; they were legion! Mrs. Darbyshire was +asleep in her state-room, and as for the dear old man, Don Juan, whom I +looked upon now as my future father-in-law, he was studying assiduously +a book he had picked up in the ship's library, _Reptiles of England, +Scotland, and Wales_. + +Simple soul! He might just as well have studied the snakes of Ireland +for all he would see of them in England at that time of the year, +unless he went to the Zoo, and then I understand he would not see much. + +Our party being thus disposed of, I was sitting alone in a sheltered +part of the promenade deck--for there was a bit of a wind--rather +depressed at the dreary grey prospect I was contemplating. I was +absolutely alone. + +Perhaps I had been sitting thus half an hour, wrapped up in a Burberry, +when I heard a soft footstep approaching, and my man Brooks stood +before me. I noticed that he too looked depressed, and I put his +expression down too to the effect of the weather. He stood there for a +moment in silence, then preferred a request. + +"May I speak to you for a few minutes, sir?" he asked. + +I straightened myself up in my deck chair, and took a good look at him; +he certainly appeared very solemn, as if he had got something on his +mind. + +"Certainly, Brooks," I answered, "what's the matter?" + +The man had been a most excellent servant, and indeed I considered I +owed my life to him, and perhaps Dolores' as well, for had he not +handed me my Colt's revolver on that memorable night when the train was +attacked, and I was being carried off by the supposed robbers? He +availed himself of his permission to speak very slowly; he appeared to +be turning something over in his mind, and whatever it was, was +apparently not very agreeable. He stood at "attention," the habit of +an old soldier, with his forehead puckered; at last his lips opened, +and he commenced what he had to say. + +"When you engaged me, sir," he began, "you were under the impression +that I was a straightforward English servant. Sir," he added, "I was +nothing of the sort." + +I looked at his bronzed, clean-shaven face, fair hair and soldier's +blue eyes, in wonderment. + +"What are you talking about, Brooks?" I asked. The man's tone +disturbed me. I had grown quite fond of him, and feared he was going +to give notice. He was a most perfect valet, the best by far that I +had ever come across. + +"You thought I was straight, sir," he continued, "and I wasn't. It was +like this, sir: when I left the army I was taken as valet by the Dook +of Birmingham; his brother had been an officer in my old regiment, and +I had been his servant. + +"I lived with the Dook over two year, and then when we were staying in +a big house near Sandringham there was some jewellery of the Dook's +missed, and His Grace told me that, although he made no charge against +me, he should get another valet. + +"I give you my word, sir, as I stand here, that I knew nothing of the +missing jewellery. I was as innocent of stealing it as a babe unborn. + +"But I knew perfectly well that the thing would stand against me, and +that I should be a marked man; indeed, there was a good deal of talk +about it in the housekeeper's room among the other upper servants. +About this time the valet of a great foreign duke, who happened to be +also staying in the neighbourhood, and himself a foreigner, came to me +one day when I was very downhearted, and asked me to come over to the +great house where he was staying and drink a bottle of Rhine wine with +him. I went, and he showed me your advertisement, and told me he +thought it would be a good thing for me. + +"I thought so too, but I did not believe that you would be likely to +take me if you were told why I was leaving the Dook, as I have no doubt +you would have been. + +"I mentioned this to the foreign valet, and he said he thought he knew +a gentleman who would help me, and perhaps I had better go and see him +first. By his direction, sir, I went to see a gentleman at the Langham +Hotel in London, a Mr. Saumarez." + +"Saumarez?" I exclaimed. "What was he like?" + +"He was a dark gentleman, sir, and he had got something the matter with +one of his eyes." + +"Thank you," I said, "go on. I think I know who the gentleman was." + +"He asked me to confide in him, sir, and I told him everything, and the +difficulty I feared I should have in finding another situation. + +"After some conversation he said he thought I certainly ought to try +for your situation, and that if I succeeded to come and let him know, +and he would see about the character without troubling the Dook. + +"As you know, sir, you were good enough to entertain my application, +and I then went straight away to Mr. Saumarez to ask him what I was to +do. + +"He said that on certain conditions a friend of his would give me a +character." + +"That was Captain FitzJames, I suppose?" I interrupted. + +"Exactly, sir," Brooks replied, "the gentleman who you supposed I had +been living with." + +"This is pretty bad, Brooks," I said gravely, looking away at the grey +horizon. In my heart I was thoroughly sorry for the man. And he was +such a good valet, too! No wonder, for he had lived with one of the +richest dukes in England. + +"Yes, it is pretty bad, sir," he continued, "but not as bad as what's +to come. I asked Mr. Saumarez what conditions he required of me, and +he told me. First, I was to keep him informed daily of every movement +of yours; secondly, I was to be ready to act under his orders in +certain 'simple matters.' He explained that these simple matters would +consist in 'little acts which would harm no one.' + +"At first I was inclined to walk out of the room and leave him, and I +think he saw my intention, for he held up his hand and went on further. + +"He told me plainly that I was entirely in his power, and that he could +prevent me getting a situation at all if he chose. I had told him I +had a wife and two children depending on me--although I deceived you, +sir, in that matter under his advice. He asked me now whether I wished +them to starve. He pointed out that if I accepted his terms he would +double my wages, so that I could leave my little family in comfort. I +couldn't bear to think they would be in want, sir. I felt certain I +had fallen among a bad lot, and believed myself to be powerless. In +the end, sir, like a fool, I gave in and agreed to his terms. + +"Now just listen, sir, how I betrayed you. + +"I wrote every day to Mr. Saumarez and told him of every movement of +yours, especially the going to the solicitors; he wanted to know all +about that. + +"You will remember the last time you went there, just before we went to +Euston on our way to Liverpool? Well, that newspaper man running along +and knocking me down, and the lady and gentleman coming up and brushing +you down, was all a put-up job. I was told to fall down and keep out +of the way to give the others time to act. Of course, it was they who +cut your coat open. + +"I wonder you can listen to me, sir." + +"Go on," I said. + +"I knew they hadn't got what they wanted, because there was a long +telegram waiting for me at Liverpool on board, and I was told to keep +up communication with Saumarez by Marconograms. So, I did; I did all +they wished until the train was held up, and then, sir, when I saw you +stripped by those greasers, and about being carried off, I could stand +it no longer. I made my mind up to throw Saumarez over and protect +you; it was then that I went and fetched your revolver and put it in +your hand. Since then I have kept on giving them information, but it +is all false. + +"I couldn't bear the worry of it any longer. I laid awake all last +night, and this morning I made up my mind to come and tell you +everything. + +"I know you will discharge me, sir, and I deserve it. + +"I only have to humbly ask your pardon for betraying you, and +forgetting I was once an English soldier." + +He finished, standing before me, white, and with quivering lips. As he +ceased speaking, I could not help remembering that, at any rate, he had +saved my life in all probability, and that which was far dearer to me +than life, the honour of Dolores. + +I turned to him. + +"For the present," I said, as kindly as I could under the +circumstances, "continue to do your duties, and I will consider what I +must do." + +"If I could only think you would give me another chance, sir----" he +said, eagerly taking a step forward. + +"I cannot promise," I said. "I must consider." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE STEEL SAFE + +Don Juan's conduct upon our arrival in London was both a revelation and +a surprise to me. + +First, following a custom, now long established for diplomatists, he +put up at Claridge's. + +From that famous hotel I had the pleasure of accompanying him at his +request on a series of visits. + +The first was an appointment at the Foreign Office, and there he was +closeted with the Secretary of State for a solid two hours, while I was +kicking my heels in a waiting-room. His last words to me had been +exceedingly disappointing. + +"You must forgive me for not taking you with me, Anstruther," he said, +"but the matter I am engaged upon is of such an exceedingly +confidential nature that I dare not disclose it to any one, except the +Ministers themselves." + +I simply bowed my acquiescence and said nothing. + +But being left alone in the waiting-room, which was liberally supplied +with writing materials, I industriously filled up my time by writing +letters. + +First, of course, to Dolores, whom I had left but an hour before at +Claridge's, and to whom I yet felt constrained to pour forth my soul on +paper. + +The feeling, I have no doubt, was a mutual one, as when I returned to +my hotel to dress, there was handed to me as usual a letter from +Dolores, giving me an account of her morning's proceedings. + +Having disposed of my letter to her on this particular morning, I wrote +to my cousin St. Nivel. + +"As for solving the mystery of the old lady at Bath and her casket," I +wrote, "whether she is alive or dead, and why she sent me to Valoro, +_all_, my dear Jack, are to me at the present moment as great a mystery +as the reason why His Serene Highness the Duke of Rittersheim should +want to shoot me at a _battue_ down in Norfolk! + +"I go about with Don Juan d'Alta, and I might just as well be walking +about with one of the lions in Trafalgar Square for all the information +I get out of him. His is the silence of the old diplomatist." + +To Ethel I sent my love; she was pretty well informed of our movements, +as she and Dolores had become fast friends, and corresponded twice or +thrice a week. + +From the Foreign Office Don Juan walked me over to the Home Office, and +there he had a lengthy interview with the Home Secretary of fully an +hour's duration. Finally, we went to Scotland Yard, and there I +thought we should never get away at all; I, of course, being "in +waiting" all the time. + +But there was one consolation which Dolores and I had had ever since we +set foot on board the _Oceana_ on our return, and that was, we did not +care how soon Don Juan knew of our betrothal; we only waited for the +old gentleman to be rid of his mysterious business to declare ourselves. + +For myself, I had but little anxiety as to the result. I had caught +him looking at us on board the steamer, when we were together, openly +lovemaking, and his expression then had been wistful, but not unkind +nor unfavourable. Therefore, I had great hope. + +"If he will not give his consent, darling," my little sweetheart had +whispered often in my ear, "I shall tell him that I will go and be a +nun." + +"But you _won't_, will you, little one?" I always asked anxiously, "you +won't go and leave me?" + +And then she would generally make the naive confession-- + +"I would rather marry _you_, dear, than be a nun." + +After ringing the changes between the Foreign Office, the Home Office, +and Scotland Yard for a week, Don Juan suddenly expressed his +determination to go down to Bath. I was asked to secure rooms for them +at the "Magnifique"; it was to be a fairly long stay, and Dolores was +going too. + +The proceedings at Bath mystified me more than ever. The first thing +that happened, when we were installed at the "Magnifique," was, that +Inspector Bull accompanied the head of the police on a visit of +ceremony and absolutely raised his hat to _me_ on discovering that I +was _a la suite_ of Don Juan d'Alta! I was never more thunderstruck in +my life, and was hardly able to return such an unexpected act of +courtesy, through astonishment. + +The next thing was a ceremonious visit to Cruft's Folly in a motor car. +There we found the inspector keeping guard over a curious array of +articles assembled on a table on the ground floor of the tower; they +were a most extraordinary collection. First, there was a lady's +handkerchief, and I identified it at once as a fellow one to that which +I had found in the still warm bed of the old lady in Monmouth Street. + +"Are you quite certain," inquired Don Juan, when I had told him about +it in answer to his question. "Are you certain the handkerchief you +found was like this?" + +"As certain as I stand here," I answered; "if there is any doubt about +it I can get the other, for it is only at the hotel." + +"Very well," replied the old gentleman with an air of satisfaction, +making a note in a book, "that settles that matter. Now for the next. +Have you ever seen that silver cigarette box before?" + +I took up the article he referred to, which was standing by the +handkerchief on the table, and examined it; it might, or might not, +have been that case from which I took a cigarette in the old lady's +room on the occasion of my first visit. I told them so. + +"You cannot swear to it?" asked the old Don. + +"No," I answered, "I cannot swear to it; it may be the case, and it may +not." + +"Now, Inspector," he said, turning to the police officer, "kindly show +Mr. Anstruther _that_." + +He pointed to a bundle lying on the table, the last of the articles, +and the inspector took it up, and slowly unfolded it. _It was a lady's +quilted white silk dressing-gown, and the whole of the bosom of it was +deeply stained with what was evidently dried blood._ + +I turned in triumph to the police officer. + +"_That_ is the dressing-gown worn by the old lady the last time I saw +her lying bleeding on her bed in the basement of 190 Monmouth Street. +I told you of it at the time, and you would not believe it." + +Don Juan appeared exceedingly interested at this exhibit, and leant +over it with his gold pince-nez held to his eyes. + +"Ah!" he remarked at last, removing his glasses with a sigh, "then I +suppose that is all you have to show Mr. Anstruther, Inspector?" + +The inspector gathered up the articles ceremoniously before he answered. + +"That is all we 'ave to exhibit to Mr. Anstruther _at present_," he +said. + +Mr. Bull was not going to commit himself. + +From Cruft's Folly we went straight to 190 Monmouth Street, and there +we found the sergeant's wife in her Sunday clothes to do honour to the +occasion; the baby as usual dangled easily from her arm. + +Descending to the basement, I was astonished to find a well-known +gentleman waiting us in the room with so many sad remembrances for me. + +This gentleman was a Mr. Fowler, and I knew him to be one of the Crown +solicitors. His presence there, however, was accounted for when Don +Juan asked me for the key of the steel safe, which I still had in my +possession. + +Under the circumstances I felt fully justified in giving it to him. + +"Now, Anstruther," he said cheerfully, "I will get you to show me and +Mr. Fowler the secret of the panel." + +The broken glass had been already cleared from the frame over the +mantelpiece; therefore, as soon as I touched the carved rose on the +left-hand side, the framework moved up. I touched the spring beneath +and the door in the wall flew open; there within was the steel safe, +exactly as I had seen it last, Don Juan turned to me with a look of +solicitude. + +"Don't feel offended, Anstruther," he began, "at what I was going to +say, but it is essential that I should open this safe in the presence +of Mr. Fowler alone." + +As he took the key from my hands and inserted it in the lock, I bowed +and left them. + +For half an hour I paced the passage without or wandered through the +back door into the neglected garden, which I found abutted on a disused +graveyard--a very common object, met with often in startlingly unlikely +places in one's walks in Bath. + +It was on my return from one of these little rambles that I found the +door of the old lady's sitting-room open, and Don Juan and Mr. Fowler +superintending the removal of the safe by two porters; a third +gentleman had now joined the party. + +"This is Mr. Symonds of the Bank of England," said the old Don +ceremoniously. "He has very kindly undertaken the removal of this safe +to London." + +I was getting now so used to the Don's mysterious movements that even +this did not surprise me. I noticed, however, that the safe had been +very carefully _sealed_ in addition to being locked. The safe was +carried up to the street and placed on the front seat of a large motor +car which was waiting. + +In this the representative of the Bank of England quickly entered, and +two very unmistakable detectives who had been standing by mounted on +the front seat, then the motor puffed away. + +"They won't stop now," remarked Mr. Fowler, "until they reach +Threadneedle Street." + +Within a quarter of an hour Don Juan and I were back in his private +room at the hotel. + +"Thank God!" he exclaimed as we entered, "my mind is now cleared from +that terrible anxiety, and I can rest in peace." + +I looked very hard at the old gentleman as he sank into an arm-chair, +but I did not agree with him. + +"Excuse me, Don Juan," I said, "I have another very serious matter to +trouble you with." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE OLD GRAVEYARD + +"What do you mean?" asked Don Juan. + +The old man glanced at me quickly, an anxious look in his eyes. + +I looked him straight in the face in return. + +"Don Juan," I replied, "Dolores and I love one another." + +The anxious look faded into one of softness, and he commenced walking +backwards and forwards in the room, without answering me. + +Presently he stopped and faced me again, and in his old eyes, which +were blue like his daughter's, there were tears. + +"I will not conceal from you, Anstruther," he began, "the fact that +your affection for Dolores has been apparent to me for some time past, +and has given me cause for much thought. Not that I have distrusted +you, remember," he added with a kind glance. + +"I am not often deceived in a man, and I think I could trust my child +to you." I gave a great gasp of pleasure, but he added immediately, +"under certain circumstances." + +"And those circumstances?" I asked anxiously. + +"First," he began as he sank into an arm-chair, "you are of different +religions; you are not a Catholic, I understand." + +I answered him smiling. + +"I don't think we shall disagree over that," I replied, "Dolores and +her children shall worship the Almighty as she wishes. My religion is +that of a man of the world, I worship with all." + +The old man nodded his grey head and smiled. + +"I did not expect you to be very bigoted," he answered quietly. + +"Now, there is another point, Don Juan," I continued, "upon which I +must satisfy you, and that is my ability to keep a wife." + +I told him of my little estate in Hampshire with its small manor house +on the shores of the Solent, and how I had let it to a yachting man who +had taken a fancy to it; it being too large for my modest bachelor +wants. I told him proudly of my balance at the bank, swelled by the +thousand of the old lady of Monmouth Street, of which he already knew. +I told him what my income was from every source, and finally what I +succeeded in wringing annually from the publishing body. This last +item seemed to amuse him mightily, despite his polite effort to listen +to me with becoming solemnity. + +"Very good, very good, Anstruther," he said at last encouragingly, "I +see you are quite capable of maintaining a wife in a modest way. It is +very creditable to you, too, that you have taken to making money by +your pen. With regard to Dolores, however, should she become your +wife, she is not likely to be a burden to you financially. She will, +in the first place, become entitled on her marriage to an income of +fifty thousand dollars, which arises from property which I settled upon +her mother. + +"Then, she is my only child as you know, and I shall make a further +settlement upon her. My income has been accumulating for years, I want +but little; when I die she and her children will have _all_." + +The amount he mentioned certainly took my breath away, but I raised my +hand and asked him to stop. + +"Believe me, Don Juan," I said, "I should be a happier man if I could +supply her wants by the work of my hands." + +"I _do_ believe you," he answered, "and those would be my own +sentiments exactly under similar circumstances. You will, however, not +find a good income a bar to marital happiness if used judiciously. But +enough of financial matters; I wish to come to another more important +point. I believe it that Dolores loves you; from my own observations I +believe she does, but I must hear it from her own lips. + +"Should it prove to be the case, which I do not doubt, then I will give +my consent to your marriage." + +I rushed forward joyfully to thank him, for I knew what Dolores' answer +would be, but he held up his finger to check me. + +"I will give my consent under those circumstances," he continued, "on +_one_ condition." + +"And that?" I asked eagerly. + +He did not answer me at once; he sat in his chair, with his hand to his +forehead, thinking. + +Then he lifted his head. + +"Sit down and listen to me, Anstruther," he said; "I want you to follow +exactly what I say. + +"When you arrived in Valoro six weeks ago, and gave me that casket, you +reopened an episode in my life closed many many years ago." + +He spoke with great emotion and his lip trembled. I even saw a tear +coursing down his sunburnt cheek. + +"Since then," he continued, "you have very kindly followed me in the +fulfilment of certain duties which devolved upon me upon opening that +packet. You have followed me without question, as became a gentleman, +taking an old man's word that all was well. In keeping that silence of +delicacy, Anstruther, you have unwittingly done me a great service; you +have left me unhampered to fulfil that which I had to do." + +He paused and placed his fingers together in deep thought. + +"I place myself mentally," he continued, "in your position, and I try +to think as you think--try to realise your feelings: the appeal you +received from the old lady as she stood at the door of the house in +Monmouth Street, your acceding to her request, your second visit, the +discovery of the tragedy, the undeserved misfortunes that fell upon you +in consequence, your fidelity to your promise to the lady who was at +best a mere chance acquaintance, the impenetrable mystery which +surrounds it all. + +"I have thought of it, and I feel that you must be consumed with a +great and reasonable curiosity. + +"That you have not indulged that reasonable curiosity, that you have +maintained a discreet silence under very trying circumstances has +caused a very good first impression of you to grow into one of respect +and strong regard." + +He rose and took my hand in both his, the tears running down his cheeks. + +"Anstruther," he continued, mastering his emotion with an effort, "I am +going to ask a further sacrifice from you as a condition of my consent +to your marriage with Dolores--a very necessary condition, or I would +not make it. + +"Anstruther, I ask you to keep eternal silence on what has occurred to +you since you entered the door of the house in Monmouth Street, that +dull evening in November. I ask you never to refer to it again from +this moment, in any shape or form. + +"Tell me, can you make this promise?" + +I stood with my hand in his, my eyes fixed on his kind old face working +with emotion. + +"And this is the final condition you ask," I replied, "to my union with +Dolores? You are satisfied in every other way?" + +"I am satisfied," he replied; "I ask no more." + +"Then I give you my promise," I replied, gripping his hand hard; "the +subject to me shall be dead. God help me to keep my word!" + + * * * * * + +My future father-in-law and I sat chatting an hour longer over the +bright fire in the sitting-room while the gloaming of a February day +was deepening without, and he had talked to me with the familiarity +accorded to one already admitted to his family circle. + +Dolores had gone to a concert at the Assembly Rooms and we did not +expect her back until between five and six. + +It was when we had both paused in our conversation and sat with our +eyes fixed on the leaping flames--the only illumination of the +room--that a knock came at the door and a waiter entered. + +"A gentleman to see you, sir," he said, addressing Don Juan. + +"Who is it?" d'Alta asked. + +"I think it is one of the police officers, sir," replied the man; "he +gave the name of Bull." + +"Ah! it's the inspector, evidently," commented the Don. "Show him up. +I wonder whatever Inspector Bull can want," he continued, turning to +me; "we only left him an hour or two ago." + +The inspector came to answer for himself. The waiter threw open the +door and he entered. + +I saw at once that he had something of importance to communicate. His +demeanour was that of the Duke of Wellington on the morning of Waterloo. + +"Certain information of importance," he commenced, after we had greeted +him, "having come to 'and this afternoon, sir, I thought it well to +come round and see you immediate." + +The inspector's eyes wandered round the apartment. There was a +sideboard certainly; previous experience on former visits had, however, +taught him to expect nothing from it. The foreign Don was evidently an +advocate of temperance, like so many other foreigners who could not +drink good, honest English beer--well seasoned with noxious chemicals. + +"Indeed," commented Don Juan, who had received several of these +mysterious visits before, and did not on that account expect much from +this one. "What have you discovered?" + +"It 'pears," continued the police officer, "that just after dinner +to-day some children was playing in the little disused graveyard in the +rear of 190 Monmouth Street." + +From being a listless listener I became an earnest one immediately; an +idea concerning that graveyard had crossed my mind that very morning +while I contemplated its dismal gravestones, almost hidden in old rank +grass, through the open ironwork forming the upper part of the gate +which shut it off from the little strip of sloping garden in rear of +190 Monmouth Street. In my walk backwards and forwards, while I waited +for Don Juan and the lawyer, Mr. Fowler, during their examination of +the safe, I had come back to that iron grating again and again. It had +somehow fascinated me. + +"These 'ere children," proceeded the inspector, "was playing round the +gravestones, and jumpin' over 'em to keep warm. It was while they were +jumpin' and shovin' each other about over the graves that they noticed +that the top stone of a great flat old grave was loose, and, of course, +they started to make it looser by see-sawing it, until one fat boy +jumped it a bit too 'eavy, and it tilted and let him in." + +"In where?" I asked quickly. + +"Into a new-made grave, sir," he answered solemnly--"a grave what had +been dug recently under the old stone." + +"Whatever for?" asked Don Juan. + +"That's just where it is," replied the officer; "that's just what we +want to find out. The grave is about half filled in with loose earth. +We want to know what's under that loose earth, and that's why I'm here." + +"What have we got to do with it?" asked the Don. + +"The theory is, sir," replied Bull, "that _something_ is buried under +that loose earth. It may be stolen property. It may be a _body_." + +I think both Don Juan and I whitened at the prospect disclosed by the +inspector, but the Don soon recovered himself. He did not seem so +affected by it as I imagined he would be. + +"What do you propose to do?" he asked. + +"We propose," answered the inspector, "to at once have the loose earth +cleared out and see what's underneath." + +"Do you mean now?" I asked. "Why, it is quite dark." + +"We mean to put two workmen on to dig out that earth at once, sir, and +I want you and this gentleman, sir," he added, with a bow to the Don, +"to come and be present. _There might be something to identify_." + +"Identify!" I exclaimed, rather horrified at the prospect; "what could +we identify in the dark?" + +"There'll be plenty of light, sir," answered Bull. "We shall bring +half a dozen lanterns; besides, the moon will be up in half an hour's +time." + +I looked at Don Juan. + +"Do you intend to go?" I asked. + +The old man sprang to his feet. + +"Though I believe the search may be a fruitless one," he answered, "I +will miss no opportunity. I will certainly accompany the inspector." + +The latter at once rose to his feet with a look of satisfaction on his +large face. + +"I thought you would, sir," he answered, with a broad smile; "but I +should advise you, sir, if I might be so bold, to _wrop_ up well, as +the job may be a longish one, and them graveyards is very damp." + +Don Juan rang the bell for his valet to fetch him a fur-lined overcoat, +and I told the waiter to tell my man Brooks to bring mine. + +At my suggestion, the Don ordered some liquid refreshment for the +inspector. Scotch, cold, proved to be his selection, and he stood +imbibing it, while we waited, commenting upon its excellent qualities +for "keeping out the cold," a theory which I have since learned is +totally erroneous. + +Presently the coats came, and we followed the inspector down to the +door of the hotel, where a closed fly was already awaiting us. We +drove away through the brilliantly lighted city to the neighbourhood of +long, dismal Monmouth Street on the hillside, but this time we did not +drive down the street itself but took a turning which ran below it. + +"The gate of the old burial ground," explained the police officer, "is +in this street. It will be far more convenient to enter it this way +than by going round by Monmouth Street." + +At the old-fashioned, sunken iron gateway of the dreary looking, +neglected graveyard a policeman was standing, apparently keeping guard. + +He might have saved himself the trouble, for, with the exception of two +poor-looking little children--one standing with his mouth open and a +forgotten hoop and stick in his hand--the place was deserted. + +We received the constable's salute and, passing through the rusty iron +gate which he held open for us, came at once among the long wet grass +and sunken, often lopsided, tombs. On the farther side of the ground +another constable stood with a lighted lantern, and near him two +labouring men, with spades and picks leaning against an old stone by +them. These latter hastily put out their pipes as we approached. + +I was curious to see what sort of tomb this was which had been +apparently so desecrated, and followed the inspector towards it at his +invitation. + +"This is the grave I told you about, gentlemen," he said, indicating it +with his finger; "you will see they have lifted the top stone off." + +It was a very large tomb of the description called "altar tombs," but +the flat stone which covered it lay by its side, and the rotten state +of the low brickwork which had supported it accounted for its giving +way, even with the boy's weight. + +The inspector took a lantern and held it inside the broken brickwork; +yes, there could be no doubt the grave had been disturbed, and that +recently. + +Freshly turned earth lay between the walls of brickwork, which were +spacious enough to allow of an ordinary-sized grave being dug within +them. + +"Is the grave just as it was found?" I asked. + +"Exactly, Mr. Anstruther," he answered. "The earth has not been +disturbed at all. But I think we'll make a start now. Here comes Dr. +Burbridge, the officer of health. We thought it better to have him +present." + +The figure of a man wearing a tall hat now appeared crossing the +graveyard, preceded by a constable bearing a lantern. + +After briefly introducing the newcomer, the inspector gave the word to +the two labourers, and they scrambled inside the broken brickwork and +commenced digging. + +I looked round the weird spot as the noise of their spades became +monotonous, relieved only by the throwing aside of the great lumps of +moist earth; a mist was rising from the river flowing near, of which in +the first stillness of our coming I could just catch the ripple of the +water. It seemed to me that those who were long buried there had in +life perhaps had some association with the river--even an affection for +it--and had wished to be laid there near its soft murmur while they +slept. + +The men dug on and the pile of earth they threw up grew and grew; it +was very clear that the old ground had been recently broken, and a new +grave carefully shaped out of it. The sides were compact and firm and +had not been disturbed, perhaps, for a whole century. + +I glanced at the stone which had been removed, thinking, perhaps, that +it might give me a clue to the date of the grave, but, alas, time and +the weather had rotted the soft stone and it had come off in layers. +The face of the stone was a blank, and the names of those who lay +beneath lost for ever. + +The moon had risen and the men had dug down perhaps four feet, but +nothing had come to light. Then, as they were proceeding after a brief +halt, one of them gave a cry. + +"There's something here, marster!" he cried excitedly. + +At the sound of his voice all the lanterns were brought to the edge of +the grave, and we looked down into the hole, which the bright moonbeams +did not reach. It was illuminated solely by the dull yellow light of +one candle-lantern by which the men worked. The two diggers had +withdrawn themselves, half scared, to the sides of the hole, and were +looking down fearsomely at _something_ at their feet. It appeared that +they were afraid of treading upon this something; at first I could not +tell what they were looking at, but presently my eyes became accustomed +to the gloom. It was a dark patch protruding from the ground. + +"What is it?" I asked the men, as we all hung over the edge of the +brickwork. + +The nearest man turned a white face up to mine and answered me. + +"It's a human 'ead, sir," he said. + +I think we all drew back again as he said this, and the doctor stepped +forward with a flask in his hand. + +"If you will take my advice, gentlemen," he said, addressing Don Juan +and me, "you will have a nip of this old brandy before we go any +further in this matter. Then I think you had better let me give the +instructions to these workmen, Mr. Inspector, or they may do some +damage unintentionally." + +Don Juan touched me on the arm. His hand trembled fearfully. + +"Let us come away and walk a little," he said; "the strain of this +affair is too much for me." + +I took his arm and walked away with him towards the gate, where now +quite a little crowd had assembled, attracted by the lanterns round the +grave. + +Knowing the Don's fondness for smoking and its soothing effect upon +him, I handed him my cigar case, and he took a cigar and lit it. There +seemed to be something in the aroma of the fine Havannahs as I lit one, +too, that dispelled the lurking mouldiness of the old burial ground. + +"But for those children playing around that tomb this afternoon," +remarked d'Alta, "this body might have lain there undiscovered for +years. It was a cunning mind which thought of using an old grave as a +receptacle for a fresh body." + +We strolled backwards and forwards on the grass-grown pathway, and I +kept the old gentleman as far as I could from the open grave. The +voice of the doctor giving directions and the muffled answers of the +men working in the excavation came to us occasionally. + +Presently, as we turned in one of our walks, I saw the labourers had +come out of the grave and were hauling at something, assisted by the +two policemen. + +As I checked the Don in our walk, and looked on, a white mass was +raised from the opening and laid by the doctor's direction on an +adjacent flat tomb. + +I shuddered as I saw the whiteness of it in the moonlight, and my +thoughts reverted to the blood-stained figure of the old lady which I +had last seen lying on her bed in the house in Monmouth Street. + +The workmen went down into the grave again, and Inspector Bull came +towards us. + +"Will you kindly step over this way for a few moments, Mr. Anstruther?" +he asked. "I want to see if you can recognise the body which has been +brought to the surface." + +I let go the arm of Don Juan which I had been holding, and with a +sickening feeling at my heart followed Inspector Bull. He led me +towards the object lying on the old moss-grown tomb, and I could not +summon the words to ask him who it was. There was a strong +presentiment in my mind that I should look upon the dead face of the +old lady at whose wish I had crossed the Atlantic. + +We came to the body, over which a piece of sacking had been thrown, and +this the inspector drew back, while one of the policemen held a lantern. + +In its yellow light mingled with the clear moonbeams, I looked upon the +face, and my heart gave a great leap of thankfulness. The face was +perfectly fresh and recognisable. It was not the face of the old lady +which I had feared to see, but that of a man with a coal-black beard, +which seemed very familiar to me. + +I had scarcely looked upon it when a cry came from the grave where the +men were working, and they threw up a white bundle, evidently a bundle +of linen. + +This the inspector quickly opened, and displayed a heap of bedclothing +and a pillow all stained with blood. + +"Is that all?" asked the inspector, as the men jumped out of the hole. + +"Yes, marster," the man replied, knocking the clay off his boots, +"there's naught there now but the coffin of the old 'un, well-nigh +moulderin' away, and the plate says he was one o' the old Mayors o' +Bath." + +I turned again to the exhumed body, and the recognition of it came to +me in a flash. + +_It was the dark German who had helped to strap me in the chair in +Cruft's Folly, when Saumarez was going to torture me_. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE STRUGGLE IN THE TUNNEL + +I was delayed two days in Bath by the inquest on the body of the +German, the discovery of which in the old graveyard formed a nine days' +wonder in the old western city and then died out altogether. + +It was a very barren inquiry, for it discovered nothing. The man was a +stranger, no evidence was produced to show who he was, and as an +unknown stranger he was buried again, not in the old graveyard, but in +the new cemetery away among the hills. + +There was only one piece of evidence which carried any interest with +it, and that was the testimony of the doctor. + +He stated that the man had been shot through the head and immediately +killed; he produced the .450 revolver bullet which he had found in the +head. + +Furthermore, he added that the body had been buried at once, and by +that means preserved from decay. It was practically incorrupt. It +might have been buried there a month. + +That was all, and all the coroner's acumen, and all the researches of +the police, could produce no more. Public opinion had to be satisfied +with a very vague verdict. + +There was only one point of interest left for me in the matter, and +that was the bundle of bed-linen which was found buried in the grave. + +That was proved beyond doubt to be the bed-linen of my old lady of +Monmouth Street; it was plainly marked with the letter C, surmounted on +the case of the pillow by a small coronet. + +"Things is coming round in a most extraordinary way to corroborate your +statement about the old lady, Mr. Anstruther," remarked Inspector Bull +patronisingly. "I could 'ardly believe it. I don't know when I come +across another case like it." + +I don't suppose he did. It was an enigma which puzzled many wiser +heads than his in the long run; but I think the part which astonished +him most was to be discovering, bit by bit, that the story of my visit +to the house in Monmouth Street, as related to him and his brother, the +"tip-top London detective," was actually founded at any rate on _some_ +fact! + +The Don and I joyfully directed our respective servants to pack up for +London at the conclusion of the inquest. Dolores had been sent back to +Claridge's by her father, and placed under the care of Mrs. Darbyshire +the morning after the discovery in the old graveyard. He had very +wisely decided to keep her away from the gruesomeness of the inquest, +which pervaded the whole town. + +Under the circumstances that little interview which I was so anxious +that he should have with her to discover the state of her affections +towards me, was postponed, and things remained just as they were. + +Nevertheless, I think both Dolores and I were perfectly satisfied to +wait for the formal declaration of her father's sanction, being happy +in the consciousness of each other's love and steadfastness. + +So the inquest being disposed of, we very gladly went off to the +station beneath the great cliff to catch the afternoon express to town. + +We were in ample time, and strolled up and down the platform, taking a +last look at the town which had proved so fateful to us both. + +Presently the great engine, the embodiment of modern steam power, swept +into the station, and the Don's man at once secured a first-class +smoking compartment for us, with the aid of the guard, while Brooks +looked after the luggage, the other man being a foreigner. + +"I'm afraid I shall not be able to keep the whole compartment for you, +gentlemen," said the guard civilly, as we took our seats; "but I'll put +as few in as I can." + +The old Don was the embodiment of politeness; he was the last person in +the world to inconvenience any one on the railway or anywhere else, +though he liked to have a carriage to himself when he could. + +He told the guard so. + +"I'll do my best, sir," replied the guard, with great _impressement_, +as he pocketed Don Juan's five shillings. "You shall be inconvenienced +as little as possible." + +He locked the door and walked away, and I thought we should be left to +ourselves. + +The guard, however, had overestimated his powers. + +The train was within a minute of starting when two passengers, +evidently in a great hurry, made their appearance at the window. One +was an old gentleman with a white beard, wearing blue spectacles, and +apparently half blind; the other a young sturdy man, evidently his son, +for the elder leant on his arm, and was addressed by him as "father." + +The son led the old man straight to our carriage, and called aloud for +the guard on finding it locked. + +"Now, guard!" he cried with authority, when the official made his +appearance, "open the door; all the other carriages are full." + +"If you wouldn't mind coming down a few carriages farther, sir," +suggested our guard, "I can find you two good corner seats at once." + +"Open this door at once," cried the gentleman furiously; "there is only +half a minute to spare, and don't you see my father is an invalid?" + +Don Juan emerged from his corner with a look of genuine concern upon +his face. + +"Let the gentlemen in at once, guard," he ordered. "I would not be the +cause of inconvenience to them on any account. Come in, gentlemen, I +beg." + +The guard opened the door, and the two passengers entered just as the +stationmaster called out a remonstrance not to delay the train. The +old gentleman sank back in his seat with a sigh of relief. + +"I'm so glad we caught the train," he said breathlessly. + +Brooks ran up at the last moment and handed our tickets to the +collector, who had been waiting for them, as the train did not stop +again until it reached Paddington. + +As Brooks turned and touched his hat to us, it appeared to me that he +started as he looked into the carriage, but the train was just off and +the ticket collector almost pushed him into the next compartment to +ours--a second, of course. + +We puffed out of Bath, and I saw the last of its hills and stone houses +for many a day; indeed, I don't think I have seen it since, except +perhaps in the same way from a flying train. We were soon swallowed up +by a great tunnel, and the Don and I subsided into thoughtfulness and +the quiet enjoyment of our cigars. + +Our fellow-travellers in the opposite corners maintained an absolute +silence; they might have been two statues. + +But in a few minutes we burst out again into the almost blinding +daylight, and then it seemed to me that the appearance of the two men +we were shut up with had undergone a change. It was, if not my fancy, +a total change in the expression of their faces. + +The idea seemed to fascinate me, and I kept my eyes fixed upon them +both. + +Presently, after a quick glance at his companion, the old man put his +hand into the pocket of the thick travelling coat he wore and quickly +pulled out a revolver; then in a voice which I knew again full well he +addressed us both, at the same time covering Don Juan with his pistol. + +"If you make the slightest movement, or speak without my permission, I +shall fire." + +I saw as I sat looking at them that the younger man had also produced a +revolver, and was covering me. + +Then the two moved nearer us into the two central seats of the +compartment, for the convenience, as it proved, of talking to us. + +Don Juan and I sat petrified with astonishment, whilst the elder man +spoke again. I knew him from the first moment he had opened his lips, +despite his disguise, to be the Duke of Rittersheim, or "Saumarez," as +he had called himself. + +"Don Juan d'Alta," he began, "I know you very well, and I don't suppose +you have forgotten me." + +"I know your voice, _Your Serene Highness_," responded the old Don, +with a distinct accentuation of the title. + +"Very well," replied the Duke. "Then that knowledge will enlighten you +to the extent that you will be aware that I want something of you." + +Don Juan made no reply. + +"I want," proceeded the Duke, "the key of the steel safe which you +removed from 190 Monmouth Street, Bath, and sent to the Bank of +England. I want also an order from you to the directors of the Bank of +England, authorising them to give me access to the safe. My friend +here has writing materials." + +My glance turned to Don Juan, who was contemplating the Duke with a +stony stare of contempt. + +"You will get neither the key nor the order, sir," he replied. + +The Duke shrugged up his shoulders. + +"You will compel me, then, to take a certain course," he answered. "I +believe you have the key with you?" + +He was right, the Don had it, but neither of us answered him. + +"You will not answer," he proceeded. "Very well; silence gives +consent. I believe you have it. + +"That being so, I give you five minutes by this watch to make up your +mind, Senor. At the conclusion of that period, we shall shoot you both +as I shot the German they have been making such a fuss about in Bath, +and take the key if you don't give it up. I have no doubt whatever I +can get some clever fellow to copy your writing and manufacture me an +order. + +"At any rate, neither of you will be in a position to prevent me." + +I confess that my blood ran cold at his words, as he took his watch out +with his left hand and laid it on the seat. All my visions of +happiness with Dolores seemed melting into shadows of grim death. + +Don Juan, however, kept perfectly calm; there was scarcely a twitch on +his face as he answered, although the colour had fled from it. + +"That is all very well, sir," he replied coolly; "but what are you +going to do with our bodies? You will be discovered, tried, and +executed." + +The Duke laughed aloud. + +"They don't execute Serene Highnesses," he replied; "but, at any rate, +as you are curious about my safety, I will tell you. In a few minutes +the train will run into a tunnel. There we shall shoot you. + +"In half an hour's time, during which we shall have the discomfort of +regarding your two dead bodies, the train will once more enter a +tunnel, the last before we reach London, and invariably the driver +slows down in it to negotiate a very sharp curve. There we shall cast +your bodies out on to the line as soon as we are in the tunnel, and +availing ourselves of the slowing down which will occur a few minutes +later, we shall leave the train." + +As he spoke, the train entered the tunnel he mentioned, and almost at +the same moment I saw a face appear at the window on the farther side +behind the Duke and his accomplice. + +It was the face of Brooks--my servant! + +At first he expressed great astonishment at the situation as he looked +through the window, then he very clearly frowned to me to keep silence. + +Covered by the rattling of the train in the tunnel he began very +carefully to open the door. + +"The minutes are passing, gentlemen," remarked the Duke, in a mocking +tone. "I must beg of you to make up your minds." + +He clicked his revolver lock as a gentle reminder; but as he glanced at +us in triumph, Brooks crept into the carriage behind him, and in a +flash, with a great spring, his two strong hands held down those of our +assailants which held their pistols. It was a splendid act of judgment. + +In a moment I sprang forward too, to aid him, and then began a fearful +struggle, in which Don Juan could take but little part. The great +endeavour of Brooks and myself was to prevent the men using their +revolvers; with all our strength we held down their hands and rendered +them powerless. + +When it appeared to me we were getting the mastery of them, I heard the +Duke gasp out some guttural remarks in German to his companion. + +Then suddenly the latter released his hold of the pistol, leaving it in +our hands, but his freed hand went to his breast and reappeared with a +long knife in it. + +I did not actually see the blow, but I heard Brooks cry out, and I knew +that the man had struck him. + +But meanwhile Don Juan had picked up the revolver and pointed it +towards the two villains. + +"Fly, Duke," he cried, "for the honour of your house, or I will kill +you." + +With a curse the Duke let go his revolver and cried out in German to +his companion. Then in a moment the two slipped out of the open door +of the carriage on to the footboard and disappeared. We saw them no +more. + +Don Juan and I turned at once to Brooks, who had sunk back with a groan +on the cushions. + +"Are you hurt, my poor man," asked the Don; "have they stabbed you?" + +"Yes, sir," he answered faintly, with his hand to his side. "They've +about done for me, but I'm glad I die fighting like a British soldier +should. I'm glad I've wiped the old score out by saving my master and +you, sir." + +When a quarter of an hour later the train ran into Paddington poor +Brooks lay back in a corner with set white face. He had had his wish; +he had died like a British soldier. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE + +As Dolores and I had both anticipated, the result of her interview with +her father on the subject of her affections was entirely satisfactory +to us both. The Don expressed himself satisfied, too, with the +consultation, and gave us his blessing in the good old-fashioned way +still in vogue in Aquazilia, or at any rate among the adherents of the +old monarchy. We knelt at his feet to receive it. The result was a +paragraph in the _Morning Post_, as follows:-- + + +"A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place, between +William Frederick, only son of the late Sir Henry and Lady Mary +Anstruther, and Dolores, only daughter of Don Juan d'Alta, for some +years Prime Minister of the late Queen Inez of Aquazilia." + + +This announcement brought us a shower of congratulations and inquiries +as to the date of the wedding. + +That query I naturally left to Dolores to answer, and at my earnest +solicitation she very considerately decided, having in view my intense +impatience in the matter, that the paternal assent--with +blessing---having been given in the month of February, we should be +married in April. + +Yes, absolutely _married_! The idea took me greatly by surprise at +first. I used to wake in the morning, and the thought would in a +manner sweetly confront me. It was as if a little mischievous Cupid +sat on the end rail of my bed and revelled in his work. + +"William Frederick," he seemed to say, "you're going to be married. +You're going to marry Dolores. What do you think of it?" + +I _did_ think a great deal of it, and the thought to me was ecstasy. + +I often used to wonder, as I contemplated in my mind's eye this little +wicked Cupid sitting on my bed, whether he went and sat in like manner +on Dolores', and if he did, what the little imp of mischief said to her. + +But time flew, long as the interval seemed at first between February +and April. + +I did not see half as much of my Dolores as I could have wished; Mrs. +Darbyshire and a host of other ladies absorbed her. + +After a week or two my cousin Ethel joined her sage counsels to the +rest in the matter of the bridesmaids' dresses. She herself was to be +the chief of that important band, to which sundry male recruits in the +shape of small boys were to be added by way of pages. + +I never could quite gather how Ethel took my engagement. Her +congratulation assumed the form of a short note. + + +"Dear Bill," it ran, "so you've done it! + +"Well, dear old fellow, I saw it was a dead certainty at Valoro, and I +congratulate you both and wish you every happiness with all my heart. + +"Dear little Dolores is a right good sort, and if I were a man I think +I should fall in love with her myself. I am sure she will make you +happy; mind you take care of her! + +"There is one thing I am sure you will be glad to hear. + +"Give her a season or two over an easy country to begin with, and I +assure you she will ride to hounds as well as any girl born and bred in +the Shires. Believe me, dear Bill, I am speaking seriously, and you +know me too well to think I would deceive you on such a matter. + +"I leave you to teach her to shoot; I think every girl should be able +to handle a gun; it gives her something to talk about to other girls' +brothers." + + +This was the gist of the letter, and I put it aside with a sigh, +wondering whether dear old Ethel would ever marry herself. In that +mood, I regretted that I had ever lingered in those dear old corridors +at Bannington when the moonbeams slanted through the mullions of the +narrow old Tudor windows, and Ethel came down the broad oaken staircase +with a look of well simulated surprise in her eyes at finding me there, +dressed early for dinner and waiting for her to surrender those red +lips of hers in a cousinly kiss. + +_Cousinly?_ + +Well, regrets were unavailing; I could not call the kisses back again, +and how was I to know I was going to meet Dolores and of course fall +straightway in love with her? + +That is the way a man argues himself into a comfortable state of mind +when his half forgotten peccadilloes of meanness spring up and prick +him! + +St. Nivel came round daily with his sister, and, to use his own +expression, "took me in hand." This taking in hand meant principally +marching me off to the tailors and hosiers to order new clothes. + +"A man when he is going to be married," he said sententiously, "must +make a clean sweep of all his old clothes and start afresh. It's a +duty he owes to his future wife--and his tailor!" + +He of course elected himself my best man, and only regretted that I was +not in the "Brigade" that a dash of colour might be added to the +ceremony by lining the church with his dear "Coldstreamers." + +He was, however, getting tired of the Army. He confided to me his +intention to "chuck it" at an early date, and devote himself to a +country life entirely. + +"In fact," he added, summing up the whole situation, "I mean to buy +pigs and live pretty," whatever that expression might mean. His ideas +of matrimony were, however, almost entirely of a pessimistic order, as +he was for ever slapping me on the back and urging me to buck up, +mistaking those delicious love musings which, I suppose, every +bridegroom indulges in for fits of depression. + +"My dear children," said the old Don to us one day, when we were all +together, he, Dolores, and I; "my dear children, I want you to make me +a promise." + +"Of course we will, Padre," we both answered. "What is it?" + +The "Padre" and the "dear children" were now well established forms of +address, and I think the old man delighted in them. + +"I want you to promise me," he replied, "that you will spend _some_ +part of the year with me in Valoro." + +"Of course we will," we chorused. + +Dolores whispered a few words in my ear to which I readily nodded +assent. + +"Padre," she continued aloud, "we will come and spend Christmas and the +New Year with you, and we will bring Lord St. Nivel and Ethel with us. +I am sure they will come. Then," she added, turning to me, "we will +have all our courtship over again." + +In such happy thoughts the time sped away. Don Juan, as an act of +gratitude for what he called "a dutiful acquiescence" to his wishes, +purchased a town house for us in Grosvenor Square. + +"During the season," he added meditatively, "perhaps you will find a +little room for me"--most of the best bedrooms measured about 25 by +40--"that is all I need. After consideration, I have decided that it +would be too much to ask you to have any of my dear snakes. If I bring +any with me, I shall board them out at the Zoo." + +The tenant of my manor house by the Solent, when he heard I was going +to be married, called upon me at my club. + +"My dear fellow," he said, "I'm a sportsman; I couldn't think of +keepin' on your house when I know you'll want it to settle down in. +I've seen another across the water that'll suit me just as well, and +you shall have your own again before the weddin'." + +He was a kind-hearted man and sent me a wedding present--a silver +bootjack to take off my hunting boots with. He said it might be useful +to both of us, which was a distinct libel on Dolores' dear little feet. + +At last the eve of our wedding came and Claridge's Hotel was filled +from basement to roof, principally with the relatives of both families. +For a bevy of Dons with their wives and daughters, all kindred of my +little Dolores, had crossed the Atlantic, glad of the excuse to visit +London, and a contingent from France of the old _noblesse_, her +mother's relatives, had arrived to do honour to the nuptials of the +little heiress. And because she was already a large possessor of the +goods of this world they brought more to swell it; gold, silver, and +precious stones in such quantities that it took two big rooms at +Claridge's to contain them, and four detectives to watch them, two by +day and two by night. + +But among these presents were two which puzzled me greatly--they came +anonymously--a _riviere_ of splendid diamonds for Dolores, a splendid +motor car for me. + +Had she been but a poor relation I fear her display of wedding gifts +would have been but a meagre one. As it was, perhaps St. Nivel's terse +comment on the "show," as he called it, was nearest to the truth. + +"Bill," he said confidentially, "all this splendour is simply +_barbaric_." + +But nobody grudged little Dolores her grand wedding, nor the +magnificent gifts, for every one loved her. + +I was sitting calmly at breakfast on the morning of the day preceding +our wedding, with my mind filled to overflowing with the happiness +before me, when St. Nivel burst in upon me. + +"Look here, Bill," he cried, flourishing a newspaper before my eyes. +"Look here, _some one_ has got his deserts at last!" + +I took the paper from him and read the paragraph he pointed to; it was +headed-- + + +"Tragic Death of the Duke of Rittersheim." + + +I paused, put down the newspaper, and looked at St. Nivel. + +"Yes," he said, interpreting my look; "you will be troubled with him no +more in this world; he's dead. Read it and see." + +I took up the paper and read on-- + + +"MUNICH, _Tuesday_. + +"Considerable consternation was caused this morning in the Castle of +Rittersheim and its neighbourhood upon the fact becoming known that His +Serene Highness the Duke had passed away during the night. It appears +that the Duke has been in bad health ever since his return from England +two months ago, where he had the misfortune to break his arm; he +suffered also the loss of a very dear friend, in Mr. Summers, an +American gentleman who, for some time, had been acting as his +secretary, and whose body, it will be remembered, was found under very +mysterious circumstances, at the time the Duke left England, in a +tunnel on the Great Western Railway, just after the Bath express had +passed through, in which train it is known Mr. Summers had been +travelling with an elderly gentleman. A rumour concerning the +connection of Mr. Summers with a murder which had taken place in the +Bath train seems to have preyed on the Duke's mind, and he has been +unable to sleep for some weeks past. + +"It is presumed that for this reason he had commenced the habit of +injecting morphia, as a large hypodermic syringe, with an empty morphia +bottle, were found beside his dead body. The general opinion is, that +he succumbed to an overdose." + + +"Well, what do _you_ think," asked St. Nivel, as I laid down the paper, +"accident or suicide?" + +"It is impossible to say," I replied. "Nobody can tell, and I should +think that will be one of the problems which will go down to posterity +unsolved." + +"As unsolved, I suppose," he answered, "as the mystery of your old lady +of Bath?" + +That was a subject I had barred since my pledge to Don Juan. "Who can +tell?" I answered with a shrug of the shoulders, "I have given it up. +I never think of it." + +"_I_ do, though," replied my cousin, "and I also recollect, very often +with mingled feelings, the way in which the finding of that man +Summers' body in the tunnel was hushed up, and no further efforts made +to connect him with the murder of poor Brooks." + +"I don't see that any good purpose would have been served," I answered, +"if they _had_ connected him with it. He could not have been tried and +hanged." + +"No, certainly not, but there would have been the satisfaction in +_knowing_. But I believe your deceased friend the Duke of Rittersheim +worked that. In my opinion he threw a cloak of some sort over the Bath +case too, and I don't suppose you will ever discover the truth of it." + +"No," I answered solemnly, "I don't suppose I ever shall." + +And I don't suppose I ever should but for one of those little chances +which occur in a man's life, trifles in themselves, but leading on to +great discoveries. + +The next day after that little talk, amid the pomp of a great wedding, +almost regal in its magnificence, I took Dolores to be my little wife, +to have and to hold from that day forth in sickness and in health, for +richer, for poorer, until death we two doth part. + +And from that time I walked as on air, and forgot the murky clouds +which had darkened my horizon in the days before I found my happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MADAME LA COMTESSE + +It was five years after my marriage, or to be correct, in May of the +year nineteen hundred and seven, that Dolores and I, leaving our three +dear little children in the manor house on the shores of the Solent +whilst we took a flying trip to Switzerland, found ourselves one +heavenly spring morning standing on the balcony of the great hotel at +Lucerne which is built on the very edge of the blue lake. + +"Well, where shall we go to-day, darling?" I asked my little wife as I +slipped one hand round her waist and took the cigar from between my +lips with the other; "shall we ascend grim Pilatus, or cog-wheel it up +the Rigi and have lunch at the little hotel at the top, or shall we +idle away the day in a boat on the lake? What say you, little one?" + +An old German passing below with his hand behind his back, feeling his +way gingerly along on gouty feet with the aid of a stick, looked up, +smiled, and shook his head at us. He took us for a newly married +couple! + +When the laughter provoked by this little interlude had subsided, I +once more put the question to Dolores. + +"Where shall we go to-day?" + +"Darling," she answered, "I'm entirely for the lazy day on the lake. I +want to be idle." + +So the lazy day on the lake it was. + +A small hamper containing a cold chicken, some ham, a salad, with other +accessories for lunch, and the added luxury of a gipsy tea-set, having +been duly put into a boat, we followed it, and taking our seats, were +met with the following query of the boatman, who sat looking at us, his +two oars poised ready for work-- + +"Where will you go?" + +We exchanged a significant glance, then gave voice simultaneously to +the thought which was in both our minds. + +"Anywhere." + +The boatman nodded sagaciously; here again he even--the +experienced--was deceived into believing that he had charge of a pair +who had recently sworn to keep each other warm for life. + +Had he been asked for his opinion concerning us, his reply expressed in +his native tongue would have been briefly-- + +"Honey mooners!" + +As I had reason to believe, after finding that we were perfectly +indifferent as to where we went, he decided to have a little trip to +suit his own convenience. He would go and see his sister at the +Convent of The Nativity up the lake. + +He continued sagely nodding his head as he rowed us away, and in reply +to a question of mine as to what direction he had decided on, winked +confidentially. + +"Monsieur et madame," he replied, "leave it to me. You will have a +great surprise." + +We did, but not in the way he intended. + +On the dark face of the boatman as he worked steadily up the lake I saw +both perplexity and concern; first, although I held Dolores' hand, as I +usually did on such occasions when we were alone--or nearly so, for the +Swiss oarsman counted for little--yet the man saw no yearning desire on +my part to _kiss_ her, as was the case with most husbands in the early +days of the _lune de miel_. + +Several times I noticed that he gave me opportunity by turning round +and straining his neck to see imaginary obstacles in the way for the +fulfilment of this custom, which, to his surprise, I did not avail +myself of. There were no blushes, no abrupt separations, and no +assumed looks of unconcern when he turned round again. + +The situation was a puzzling one. But there was a pale cast of thought +over his features in addition, which I only knew the reason for later +on. He was puzzling his brains to find an excuse for taking us to the +very plain looking convent up the lake which, although beautifully +situated, yet presented no extraordinary attractions beyond a well +ordered and ancient garden, laid out in terraces on the side of one of +the lower slopes of the mountains, and, of course, the beautiful view. +Therefore when, at that curve in the lake when the Rigi comes into +fullest view, a smile of satisfaction overspread the boatman's face, I +knew, after, that he had solved the difficulty and found the excuse for +taking us to such a very ordinary resort. + +"I will show these simple English people," he had reasoned, "the +long-haired goats. I will make a _specialite_ of these animals for the +delectation of this cold-blooded bride and bridegroom, who do not kiss +when I turn round to observe the prospect." + +In the course of an hour and a half we arrived off a white terrace-like +landing place with a flight of steps leading down to the lake. + +All questions as to our destination had been answered by the boatman +with mysterious nods and winks, giving promise of a stupendous surprise +in store. His object was to get us safely on shore before he opened +the subject of the hairy goats, lest we should, insular like, change +our minds and not give him the opportunity of visiting his sister. The +boat shot alongside the steps, the man sprang out and assisted us to +land; a nun who had been working in the garden came down and met us. + +"_Ma soeur_," explained our boatman, "this English milor and his lady +have a great desire to see your most splendid goats!" + +The good sister looked surprised, an expression which Dolores and I +shared with her, mingled with amusement. We had, however, no +particular objection to inspecting her goats, notwithstanding. + +"Our Mother," she replied amiably, "I am sure, will be pleased to show +monsieur and madame the goats if it will give them any gratification." + +She preceded us through the beautifully kept kitchen garden, and up a +flight of steps to another above, each foot of the productive soil +being used to advantage, as we saw by the abundance of the crops reared +on the sunny slope. + +We mounted up from garden to garden until we came to a large terrace +full of flowers, which surrounded the conventual buildings and +commanded a magnificent view of the lake. + +Here the sister left us. + +"Will monsieur and madame divert themselves here," she asked, "while I +go fetch our Mother?" + +Delighted with the beautiful surroundings and the glorious stretch of +blue water below us, Dolores and I were quite content to enjoy the +lovely scene by ourselves; our boatman had long since slunk off down a +side alley to find his relative the lay sister. + +We had walked half the length of the broad terrace absorbed in the +view, when, turning from it, we became aware that we were not alone. +At the farther end of the terrace was an old lady sitting in an +invalid's chair, also enjoying the beautiful prospect. By her side sat +a nun on a garden chair, holding a large white sunshade over her; the +sun was very hot. Not wishing to disturb her privacy, we turned back +and met the Reverend Mother approaching with our conductress. + +She was amiability itself. Certainly she would show monsieur and +madame the goats. She was unaware that they had become so celebrated. +Perhaps monsieur and madame kept goats in England? + +"No; you have come only by the recommendation of the boatman, Fritz +Killner?" she asked. "No doubt he wished to give you the diversion of +the long passage in the boat." + +I saw a look of amused intelligence pass over the Reverend Mother's +face; she had divined the object of the boatman's visit. In fact, she +frankly told us later--when we had seen the goats--that he had a sister +in the community, and thus let the cat out of the bag. + +We were not by any means petrified with astonishment at the goats; they +seemed very ordinary animals, but with very long white coats. I had +seen better in a goat chaise at Ramsgate. + +But we had, at the Reverend Mother's solicitation, to make the tour of +the convent. + +We inspected the cows, the pigs, the orchard and a very respectable +range of glass houses. + +Then we went to the chapel, and finally to the refectory; here the +hospitality of the white-clad order burst forth; we must have +_dejeuner_. + +The good Superior waved aside the mention of our cold fowl, and +insisted on cutlets and an omelette. Meanwhile, we were to walk with +her upon the terrace to improve our appetite--we were simply ravenous +already. + +"I have brought you to the terrace, monsieur and madam," proceeded the +nun, "not only to admire the fine view and increase your appetites, but +also to present you to Madame la Comtesse." + +"Madame la Comtesse?" I repeated inquiringly. + +She indicated the old white-haired lady sitting at the farther end of +the terrace. + +"That is Madame la Comtesse, the founder of this religious house," she +explained. "She delights to see English visitors. She adores your +nation. Come, let us go to her, but I ask you to approach quite near +her, or she will not see you clearly. She is shortsighted." + +Walking one on either hand of the Reverend Mother, we approached Madame +la Comtesse. + +The attendant nun had fixed the large white sunshade in a socket in the +invalid chair; she was writing at the old lady's dictation. We came +quite near before the Comtesse heard us approaching. Then she turned +her head and looked at us, her kind old features breaking into a very +sweet smile; her glance wandered from the Mother Superior to Dolores, +then to me; there it stopped. + +A little more frail, a little paler, yet with a bright colour in her +cheeks, her still clear eyes gazing up to mine with an alarmed look in +them; I knew her. + +From the very first moment that she moved in her chair and turned to +us; from the instant that that movement of her head disarranged the +silk scarf which was wrapped round her throat, and laying it bare, +showed a broad red scar upon it, _I knew her_; knew her for my dear old +lady of Monmouth Street, Bath, at whose bidding I had crossed the +Atlantic and endured many perils. I knew her, and as I gazed upon her +her lips moved and formed two words-- + +"Mr. Anstruther!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE QUEEN'S ERROR + +The Reverend Mother looked from Madame la Comtesse to me, and from me +back again to the Comtesse. + +"Madame," she said, addressing her, "without doubt you are old friends; +here is a re-union of the most pleasant!" + +We heard her words, both of us, I have no doubt, but we did not answer +her; my thoughts were back again in that basement room at Monmouth +Street. I saw "Madame la Comtesse," this healthy, bright looking old +lady, lying on the disordered bed, her clothes soaked in blood, a great +wound in her throat. + +How did she come here? + +How did she escape? + +Those were the two questions which, for the moment, absorbed my whole +faculties. + +Her face, as I gazed upon it, expressed first blank amazement and +alarm; then pleasure; finally the formation in a strong mind of a great +resolve; she was the first to recover her entire self-possession, +which, perhaps, she had really never lost. + +"Mr. Anstruther," she said in English, extending her frail, delicate +looking hand, "I am delighted to meet you again." + +She took my hand in both of hers, and still holding it looked up into +my face. + +"You are well," she said, "I can see that, and happy. So you should be +with such a charming wife. Please present me to her." + +Dolores wanted no presentation; I think she loved the dear old lady at +the very first sight. She went to her and gave her both her hands, and +the Comtesse drew her face down to hers and kissed her. + +"Your good husband did me a great service once, my dear," she said, +"perhaps the greatest service a man can do a woman." + +Dolores looked down at her wonderingly, and then at me. + +"I wish I could tell you what it was, my dear," she continued, "but it +is a secret. Still, perhaps your husband will tell you, _when I have +told him_. I do not think that he realised the great benefit he did me +at the time, for the good reason that he did not know its extent." + +Dolores nodded her head and smiled, but I am sure she did not +understand. How should she? I did not understand myself. + +Our hostess, the nun, stood looking from one to the other of us with a +smile on her face of that fixity which denoted that she did not +understand a single word of what we were talking about. + +Madame la Comtesse noted her isolation at once. + +"Pray forgive me, _chere mere_," she said, breaking into French, which +she pronounced with a very charming accent. "Mr. Anstruther and I are +old friends. I meet madame, his wife, for the first time today." + +In voluble language the Reverend Mother expressed her gratification at +so happy a re-union, and in the midst of her compliments a nun arrived +to say that _dejeuner_ was served. + +"Go to your lunch, my dears," the Comtesse said, "you must be famished +after your long row on the lake." We had told her of our morning +excursion. "Come back to me here afterwards," she continued, "if you +will, and perhaps I will tell you that which you had a right to know +long ago. Go now, and come back to me. I shall be under those trees +yonder in the little arbour, which is cool in the heat of the +afternoon." + +Dolores and I went off to our _dejeuner_, but though it was excellent, +we ate but little; we were thinking of the Comtesse. + +"What a dear old lady she is," commented my warm-hearted little wife. +"I don't think I have ever seen any one with such a sweet expression as +she has!" + +Neither had I, save, of course, Dolores. + +"But whatever can she have to say to you, Will?" she continued, "and +what is this great service you have done her?" + +Alas, I could not tell her! I remembered my promise of eternal +silence, made to her father before our marriage. + +A cold muteness fell upon us both when I shook my head and did not +answer her; it was the first time that the barrier of secrecy had +arisen between us. The air of the room seemed cold as we sat there, +though the sun shone brilliantly without. The fruits the nuns had +placed before us at the end of our meal remained untouched. + +"Coffee will be served to you on the terrace, monsieur and madame," +announced our attendant nun, "it is the wish of Madame la Comtesse." + +We arose silently, and went forth on to the sunlit terrace again, with +its wealth of flowers and perfumed air. We walked without a word +passing between us, and we came to the arbour in the shade overlooking +a grand stretch of blue lake; here was the Comtesse, a table before her +with coffee and liqueurs, amongst them a sparkling cut-glass decanter +of yellow Chartreuse. A nun stood ready to pour out the coffee, the +same that had written at the old lady's dictation and held her sunshade +in the morning. She served us with our coffee, then with a low bow +disappeared. + +"Sister Therese," remarked the Comtesse, "is a great comfort to me; she +writes all my letters and waits on me as if I were her mother." + +At the word "mother" the old lady paused, and I saw her blue eyes fixed +on a distant sail on the lake, with a sad, almost yearning look in them. + +But in a moment it was gone. She turned to us, smiling. + +"You must take a glass of Chartreuse," she said, filling the tiny +glasses, "it is so good for you. It is a perfect elixir!" + +We drank the liqueur more to please her than anything else; then +Dolores rose. I have never seen such a look of pain on her sweet face +as was there then. God send I never see such again! + +"No doubt, Madame la Comtesse," she began, "you wish to speak to my +husband alone?" + +The old lady glanced up at her for a few moments without speaking, +there was a slightly puzzled look in her kind blue eyes; then, in a +second, this look was gone, and one of deep solicitude and affection +took its place. + +It was as if some expression or passing glance on my dear wife's face +had touched a chord somewhere in her nature, perhaps long forgotten. + +She put out her slender white hand and drew Dolores down beside her on +to the bench on which she sat; then she put her arm round her and +pressed her to her, as one fondles a child. + +"My dear," she said, "between a husband and his wife there should be no +secret. No secret of mine shall divide you two. What I tell to one, I +tell to both. What does it matter? For myself, I shall soon be gone; +for the others, what harm can it bring them?" + +We sat in silence, she with her arm round Dolores, her eyes fixed on +the blue lake, a tear trembling in each, and she spoke to us as one +whose thoughts were far away among the people and the scenes she +described. I sat enthralled by every word she uttered. + +"My eyes first saw the light," she began, "in a castle among the +mountains around Valoro, one of the seats of my father, the king!" + +Though I started at her words, they did not amaze me; I was prepared +for them. + +"My mother died when I was ten," she continued. "How I remember her +with her fair curls and blue eyes, they seemed so strange among the +dark-skinned Aquazilians! Young though I was, the shock of her death +was the most awful, I think, that I ever had, perhaps--save one. It +was all the greater because I had no brother or sister to share my +grief with me. Yet I loved my father very dearly; he was a good and +great man, and much reverenced by his people. There was no talk of +revolutions nor republics in those days; the people were content under +a mild rule. + +"The years went on, and I became a woman, nurtured in the magnificence +of a rich palace, yet imbued with the fear of God, for my father was a +good man, and had me well taught my faith. I grew up, I think, with +the brightness of my dead mother's spirit pervading me, for I avoided +many of the pitfalls of youth. + +"My royal father, often taking my face between his hands, would look +into my eyes, and thank God that I had not in me the wickedness of the +Dolphbergs, the race from which we sprang. It was when I was +three-and-twenty that a sudden chill, caught by my father when out +hunting, produced a fever which robbed me of him, and I was left an +orphan; an orphan queen to reign over a nation. + +"I was my father's only child; there was no Salic law to bar me. But +as the orphan is ever succoured by heaven, so was I in my lonely royal +state upheld by the counsels of a good and great man. + +"Your grandfather, my child," she continued turning to Dolores, "the +old Don Silvio d'Alta. + +"He had been my father's stay in all his troubles; the d'Altas were a +race of diplomatists, and when death claimed him your father, Don Juan, +took his place." + +A soft look came into her eyes as she sat with Dolores' hand in hers, a +far-away look; her thoughts were in the times she spoke of. + +"Those were happy days, Dolores," she continued, "those first years +when your father and I ruled the people of Aquazilia. I had had a +reign of ten years when your grandfather died and young Don Juan took +the reins of government as my adviser; no one ever thought of +contesting his right to it. Was he not a d'Alta? + +"He was but twenty-five and I barely nine years older when he became my +chancellor, and those ten years of ruling should have taught me +prudence as a queen had I but listened to Don Juan's counsels too. For +I know he loved me, loved me far too well perhaps and above my deserts. + +"Had I had the prudence of an honest milkmaid who guards her honour as +by instinct, I might have reigned this day at Valoro, instead of being +the victim of a villain who, creeping into my heart like the serpent +into Eden, destroyed it with the fire of burning love, and left me only +ashes." + + * * * * * + +"It was in the very first year of Don Juan's chancellorship that there +came to Valoro the son of a Grand Duke of one of the German States; +what brought him there I shall never know. He told me it was the sight +of my face in a picture, and the 'glamour of my virgin court,' but I +think rather it was the spirit of the adventurer, or the gamester, +which seeks for gain and counts not the cost to others. The Prince of +Rittersheim----" + +"Rittersheim!" I exclaimed, interrupting her. + +"Yes," she continued, "Adalbert, the eldest son of the Grand Duke of +Rittersheim, he who succeeded his father two years later. + +"The Prince was, I think, the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I +think the wickedest. His tall fine presence, set off by a magnificent +uniform, was seen at every Court I held. At every Court ball he +claimed my hand for the first dance; as far as my lonely state allowed +he sought me at every opportunity, and I, like a fool, was flattered by +his attentions. + +"Yes, to my sorrow, I began to love him. + +"I had travelled but little; travelling was harder in those days; one +tour in Europe with my father, that was all. + +"I had fondly imagined that my suitor was a free, unmarried man. The +first shock of his perfidy came when I learned he was not; but it came +too late--I loved him. + +"Don Juan told me, as he was bound in duty and honour to tell me from +his position, that the Prince of Rittersheim was already married, but +was separated from his wife. + +"At the very next opportunity I had of speaking to the Prince--it was +in a secluded part of the palace gardens, and the meetings were +connived at by one of my ladies, the Baroness of Altenstein--I asked +him plainly if he were married. + +"This was apparently the opportunity he had been waiting for; he threw +himself at my feet, and in passionate terms declared his love for me. + +"He had loved me from the first moment that he had seen my portrait, he +had loved me ten times more since he had seen the original. + +"I stayed the torrent of his words and reminded him that he was married. + +"Yes, he admitted he was married in name, but his marriage was no +marriage; he had separated from his wife by the direction of the Grand +Duke, his father--in this he spoke the truth, but the reason was far +different--his so-called marriage was soon to be set aside as null and +void, he told me. + +"'Then come back to me when you are free,' I answered, 'and I will +listen to you if the Church permits,' for I knew he was not of my +Faith, and the German States treated marriage lightly. My answer only +caused him to redouble his entreaties; he begged me not to drive him +from me, he could not live away from my presence, and I, poor fool, +looking down at his handsome face and graceful person, and loving him +with my whole heart, believed him. + +"I know not how it came about, but I found myself sitting on a seat in +that secluded corner of my garden with the Prince beside me with his +arms around me, whilst my lady-in-waiting, the Baroness d'Altenstein, +had discreetly wandered off out of earshot, but still with a keen eye +that no one should disturb us. + +"I never can account for it, I never can understand how it was I +listened to him. I suppose it was the hot bad blood of the Dolphbergs +which lurked in my veins and urged me, for I loved with all the passion +of my race then; loved as a woman over thirty loves who has never loved +before. + +"Sitting on that rustic seat with him, whilst the cool evening wind +played about us, I listened to a scheme he unfolded to me. He said he +loved me to such distraction that he could not leave me, it would kill +him; he could not wait until his marriage was set aside. He swore that +he believed himself conscience free to marry, and swore a great oath +that nothing should ever part him from me. + +"In soft, loving whispers, he proposed that we should be married +secretly; he had a priest all ready willing to perform the ceremony. + +"Then he would be sure of me and could live content. + +"In a few months his former alliance would be set aside; before all the +world we could be married again. A grand state ceremony if I would +have it so. + +"I listened to him, and my heart beat high as he spoke, yet I doubted +in my saner moments whether I should ever be permitted to marry him by +my ministers and my people were he free that very day. + +"Poor fool that I was, he bent me to his will within a week, and he had +no greater advocate for his cause than the Baroness d'Altenstein, my +lady, though, poor soul, she only meant me well. But she was romantic, +and had not long been married to a man she loved, a courtier from the +country of the Dolphbergs; she had spent her honeymoon in their +capital, and was an advocate for love at any price. + +"Knowing I loved the Prince of Rittersheim, she worked only to make me +happy by a marriage with him. + +"With her knowledge only, I slipped away from Court for a week and went +through a ceremony of marriage with the Prince at a little village +church hidden away in the mountains a hundred miles from Valoro. + +"I married him in the dress and under the name of a simple peasant +woman, not knowing--as he did--that such a ceremony was utterly null +and void. + +"Was I happy? I think he loved me then--a little." A soft, sad look +overspread the sweet old face; she gazed away across the lake in +silence for a few moments. It seemed that, even after all these years, +that time of love and falseness held some tender recollection still. + +She came, as it were, to herself almost directly, and heaving a great +sigh, went on-- + +"Long before the week was ended, the Prince had told me I must return +to the Court, and take my place there as before. + +"Of course I protested, and begged him to even then make our marriage +public; that I would give up the throne. Had I not a great fortune +left me by my father? + +"Yes, that was the point that touched him, the great fortune. The +treasures of my late father were immense. Besides an enormous fortune +in money, mostly invested prudently in Europe, he possessed some of the +most valuable diamonds in the world. It had been his diversion to +collect them; he believed that they were always a most valuable +security, likely to increase in value, and therefore he did not grudge +the money sunk in them. The most valuable, reckoned to be worth a +million English pounds, were stored in a safe of special construction +made of steel. They were apart from the Crown Jewels, and were never +worn. Indeed most of them were unset. My father's theory was that +they were of immense value and could be carried in a small compass in +case of necessity. + +"The Prince, of course, knew from me full well of these treasures, and +I firmly believe hungered for their possession from the very moment he +learned from my foolish lips of their existence. He forced me at the +end of the few days' honeymoon to return to the Court, and then from +that time forth I saw him only surreptitiously with the aid of +d'Altenstein, who was the aider and abettor of it all, yet loving me, +and working only, as she thought, poor soul, for my happiness. + +"I was soon undeceived in my Prince. I soon learned that he was in +sore straits for money, and that he intended to get it from me. + +"I gave him all I could, but he was insatiable. Finally he would come +to me drunk and strike me when I could not meet his demands for +thousands upon thousands. + +"It was then that in my desperation, when I knew I was to be a mother +soon, I confided all to Don Juan d'Alta, and by so doing perhaps saved +my life and my child's." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE QUEEN'S ATONEMENT + +"Yes, but for the intervention of Don Juan d'Alta, my Chancellor at +that time," continued the old lady, "my life might have ended in +despair. + +"From the very first, although he did not tell me so then, he saw that +I had been simply _exploited_ by this heartless and unprincipled +scoundrel, Prince Adalbert of Rittersheim. But your father," she +proceeded, turning to Dolores and placing her hand on hers, "your +father, my dear, by his self-sacrifice and the pure affection which he +bore me, saved me. + +"He realised that he had to do with a villain whose object was plunder, +and who at that time dominated the situation. He foresaw that a +liberal outlay of money was the only thing that would rid me of this +fiend. He went to Prince Adalbert and simply asked him his price. + +"He named at first an exorbitant sum, _and the diamonds of my late +father contained in the steel safe_. + +"This was refused. Don Juan at last brought him to his knees by +defying him and telling him to do his worst. + +"Then he agreed to a yearly pension of one hundred thousand dollars, +which would be paid to him on condition that he left me unmolested. + +"He made a fight for the custody of the child which was coming, as I +doubt not he thought that he could have a greater hold over me if he +had it, but this request was flatly refused, and he sailed away from +Aquazilia the richer by a great income, but bought at the price of a +loving woman's happiness." + +The old queen stopped and wiped the tears from her eyes. + +"Do not go on, your Majesty," urged Dolores, half dazed at the +disclosures; "you distress yourself." + +The old lady brightened at once and pressed her hand, putting away her +handkerchief. + +"No," she answered; "I prefer to tell you _all_ and _now_. + +"By the aid of Don Juan and the Baroness d'Altenstein, who was broken +down with grief at the course affairs had taken, my condition was +concealed, and arrangements were made for my accouchement under +circumstances of the greatest secrecy. Don Juan had abandoned all hope +from the outset of legitimatising the child; his one object was to +conceal my shame. This he succeeded in doing. I gave birth to a boy, +and my love for him has been the great solace of my life." + +"And he is living, madame?" I ventured to ask. + +"Yes, living," she answered, the sweet smile playing about her lips +again--"living, and the greatest comfort God has given me in my trials. + +"From his babyhood he was the one thought I had; his training, his +education, the fostering of good in his receptive mind that he might +grow up a good man. And he has repaid me a thousandfold. + +"But in those years great troubles came upon me. Prince Adalbert, +known as one of the greatest roues and spendthrifts in Europe, had +succeeded his father two years after he left me, and was now Grand +Duke. His first wife had been taken back again--or he never could have +faced his people--and had borne him a son. This son was fated to be +the scourge of my life hereafter. + +"Meanwhile, in the throes of a continental war, the Grand Duchy of +Rittersheim was absorbed into the neighbouring great state, and the +Grand Duke Adalbert, deposed and impoverished, became simply a +pensioner, and a most importunate blackmailer of myself. + +"His one great object in life--and later he confided this secret, with +the story of our marriage, to his son--was to obtain possession of the +great fortune in diamonds, still locked in the steel safe bequeathed me +by my father, and which I had steadfastly refused to part with, nay, +even to withdraw a single stone from. + +"But the value had, in the drink-distorted mind of the Grand Duke +Adalbert, become immensely exaggerated. The safe was believed by his +son Waldemar to contain diamonds to the value of five millions of +English pounds!" + +Hence his intense rapacity in later years; for when my boy was +twenty-five his father, the Grand Duke Adalbert, died, and was +succeeded in the title only, for the power was gone, by his son +Waldemar, but two years younger than my own. + +"This Waldemar appears to have been evilly disposed from boyhood, and +embittered against mankind in general, first by the loss of his Duchy, +and in addition by the destruction of an eye which he suffered in some +low fracas, for his delight was to mingle and drink with the lowest of +mankind. On his father's death he came to Valoro and demanded that the +pension paid to the late Duke by me should be continued to him! + +"This was refused. + +"Then he had the impudence to try and bargain with me, offering to keep +silence for a certain sum. Finally he laid claim to the diamonds in +the steel safe, which he stated were his father's property. My answer +to his requests and fraudulent claims was to have him placed on board a +steamer bound for Europe. + +"Then he threatened me with his life-long vengeance. Leagued with a +professional agitator named Razzaro, he commenced to undermine my +authority with great subtilty, till in the end my simple people who +once had loved me and my family grew to hate me, and to look upon +Waldemar, even the Royalists, as a much-wronged person. + +"You know the rest; it is written in the history of the world. My +people rose in rebellion. I was dethroned, and with one single +faithful companion, the Baroness d'Altenstein, fled to Europe in the +warship of a friendly nation. + +"But before the storm burst I had sent to Europe the steel safe and its +precious contents, the diamonds. + +"For some reasons, I have many times since wished that it had sunk to +the bottom of the Atlantic. + +"For years I lived in one of the fairest cities of Europe with my +faithful d'Altenstein, and for those years the Duke Waldemar left me +in peace, being, I suppose, occupied in some other villainy. + +"But suddenly he commenced his importunities again, and made one +dastardly attempt, through others, to steal the safe from the bankers' +vaults in which it lay, but this was frustrated. + +"Harried to death by his persecution, I consulted a learned English +judge whom I met in Society in Paris, Sir Henry Anstruther, your +father," she added, turning to me, "and it has always seemed to me a +providential coincidence that in my need I should also have turned to +you. + +"I asked this good English judge, without disclosing my secret, what he +considered the most effectual mode for a woman to adopt to hide herself +entirely from the world and her friends. I said I was very curious to +know what his long experience had taught him in that respect. + +"He seemed amused at my question, and thought for some time before +replying, little guessing what was running in my mind. He answered me +at last, and said that he thought that a person could be best hidden +and lost to the world by living just a fairly ordinary life in a quiet +way in one of the larger towns in England. That was his experience +during his long life as a lawyer. + +"I treasured his opinion, and formed a scheme in my mind upon it. + +"Just then poor Carlotta d'Altenstein, a widow without friends, my dear +companion, was seized with her mortal illness, and then I saw my scheme +complete before me. + +"By the lavish use of money, of which I had more than I needed by far, +for my father's private fortune invested in Europe was very great, I +contrived that I should change places with the Baroness d'Altenstein. + +"To the public it was _I_ who was ill; to the world at large, even to +Don Juan, it was _I_ who died. It was then that, passing as the +Baroness d'Altenstein--in England as plain Mrs. Carlotta Altenstein--I +went to the city of Bath, which had been recommended, and also offered +certain devotional advantages to me, for I intended to give the +remainder of my life to religion and the poor. + +"There in Monmouth Street, where you saw me, Mr. Anstruther, amusing +myself with philanthropic literature, I succeeded for ten years in +hiding myself from the Duke Waldemar of Rittersheim, who had in a +manner reformed himself and become a philanthropist too, _in public_; +in secret his life was worse than ever. In that little room in which +you found me, I was foolish enough to keep the steel safe, hidden away +in a receptacle cut in the stone wall of the house. But the safe no +longer contained all the diamonds. I had been gradually selling them +and devoting the proceeds to the poor of the world. This convent, a +refuge for aged men and women, and orphaned children, was founded with +part of the money. + +"But to my horror, at the end of the ten years, I met the Duke +Waldemar, face to face, coming out of the Pump Room at Bath, where +quietly and unobtrusively I had gone to take the waters. That was on +the morning of the day I spoke to you, for I knew then that my refuge +was a refuge no longer. + +"I intended on the morrow to have asked you to help me remove what +remained of the diamonds to a place of security and leave the safe +behind. Perhaps I might have even encroached on your kindness to have +asked you to escort me here, but it was arranged otherwise. + +"During the night and early morning, I became aware that something was +taking place in the next house, which up to then had stood empty. I +connected it in my mind with some plot of the Duke, who I doubted not +had had me followed home. The sequel proved I was right. + +"This fear so worked upon me that, towards morning, I rose and +commenced to write the letters to you and Don Juan, and to make them up +in packets. + +"The letter to the latter, in which I told him I should come here if I +lived, of course I placed in the ebony casket with something else that +was worth more to me than all the diamonds in the world; it was the +certificate of my marriage to Prince Adalbert of Rittersheim at the +little church of the remote mountain village in Aquazilia. + +"I was far more fearful of losing that than all my fortune. It was the +certificate of my honour and my son's birthright. I knew that if the +Duke Waldemar once got it into his possession he could demand any price +from me for its return. + +"It was late in the morning, a dull foggy November morning, when I had +finished sealing the packets and locked them away in the steel safe +with my own key. The one I had given you was the only duplicate in +existence; they both bore my father's initial C, he was Carlo the Third +of Aquazilia. + +"Having left directions on a paper which you could see within the safe +when you opened it, I carefully locked it and hid my own key under a +special place in the carpet. + +"I intended then to write to you at once and tell you to come and open +the safe, whatever might happen to me, for I believed that its +hiding-place would not easily be discovered, but I never had this +chance. + +"Exhausted with want of sleep, I went back to my room and threw myself +on my bed, half dressed as I was, with my white silk dressing-robe on +in which I had sat writing half the night. + +"I at once fell asleep and must have slept for hours, for it was dark +again when I awoke, and then I was called back to consciousness by +having my arm roughly shaken. I found the Duke Waldemar and two other +men in my room. + +"He at once demanded to know the whereabouts of the steel safe with the +diamonds, and held a naked knife to my throat to force me to tell him. + +"Life was of very little value to me in comparison with the needs of +the poor for whom I was determined to preserve the riches. + +"Each time I refused to tell him he pressed the knife closer to my +throat, until it cut into the flesh, and I felt the warm blood +trickling down on to my white dressing-robe. + +"When he and his companions had been there it seemed to me a long, long +time, and it was useless for me to shriek for help, I gave myself up +for lost, turning my thoughts as well as I could to the next world. + +"It was then that the Duke and his men were startled by hearing you +open the front door of the house and stumble through the dark passage. + +"With horrible curses they fled through the window. + +"Then you came, and I had just the strength left to whisper to you to +open the safe when I fainted away. + +"I have no recollection of what occurred after. Many hours must have +elapsed before I regained consciousness, and then I came to myself in +an underground room of what I knew after to be a lonely tower on the +hills near Bath." + +"What, not Cruft's Folly?" I suggested. + +"Yes," she replied thoughtfully; "I believe that was the name I +afterwards learned was given to the place. + +"I was waited on by a German woman, the wife of one of the Duke's +followers, a big dark man with a black beard. + +"My dress, my bed, and general surroundings were those of a poor +country woman. + +"But this black-bearded German and his wife were the means of saving me. + +"There had been an accident, a man had fallen off the tower and been +killed. + +"The big dark man and his wife were terribly frightened, and in this +state could not withstand the temptation of the big bribe I promised +them if they would obtain my release. + +"They brought a country cart to the tower, full of straw, as soon as it +was dusk on the day of the accident, and in this I was driven to +Devizes. From there I telegraphed to my bankers and they sent a +special messenger to me with an abundance of money and a new +cheque-book; from that time forth I was my own mistress again. + +"The wound in my neck, which was only skin deep, had been carefully +bandaged by the German woman; under the hands of a skilled doctor and +nurse, it soon healed. + +"I have very little doubt but that the Duke intended to keep me a +prisoner in the tower until I disclosed the whereabouts of the diamonds. + +"The big German who had arranged my escape--and to whom I gave five +hundred pounds--told me that a grave had already been dug to receive my +body in the old graveyard behind the house in Monmouth Street. + +"Had the Duke discovered the diamonds, I should have been murdered to +save further trouble from me; he knew, of course, I was already dead to +the world. As it was, they only buried my bloodstained bed-linen in +the grave when they carried me off from the house, after you had left +the Duke stunned." + +I could have told the old Queen that the big German did not long enjoy +her five hundred pounds, but that he himself filled the grave intended +for her, and which, probably, he had helped to dig. I did not tell her +this, she had had trouble enough; but I had little doubt that the Duke +had discovered that the man had played him false, and had shot him and +disposed of his body in that way. + +Queen Inez paused, and passed her frail white hand across her eyes. + +"I have told you all now, I think," she said slowly, for she was +fatigued. "When I was well enough I came here and found a telegram +from Don Juan. I knew you had delivered the casket. Here I have +remained; here I shall, if it be God's will, remain to the end." + +Seeing that the long relation had tired her, I leant forward and filled +one of the little liqueur glasses with the golden Chartreuse and handed +it to her. She took it from me with a smile, and insisted that we +should take some too. We sat sipping the delicious liqueur in silence, +our gaze fixed on the blue lake and the white sails slowly moving in +the stillness of the afternoon heat. + +As I saw the colour returning to the Queen's face, I ventured to ask +her another question. + +"There is one person, madame," I said, "who's history you have not yet +thought fit to tell us. Forgive me if I am presumptuous in asking the +question. It is your son I speak of." + +A very sweet smile came over her face as I ceased speaking. She +glanced, it appeared involuntarily, at the sparkling liqueur in her +little glass. + +"My dear son's history is soon told," she said, still smiling. "He has +been a Carthusian monk, a Trappist, since his youth. He never had the +least inclination for the life of the world. He is the abbot of the +monastery of San Juan del Monte, near Valoro." + +_Then_ I recollected his fair face, and blue eyes, and remembered that +he had reminded me of _some one_; now I knew who that some one was--his +mother. It was plain to me why Don Juan had taken us there. + +"Every year," continued Queen Inez, "by the special permission of the +head of his order, he comes to me and stays ten days. Those are, to +me, ten days stolen from heaven. Thank God, he comes next month, and +each time he comes," she added, with a smile, raising her little glass, +"he brings me a present from his monastery of the veritable Chartreuse." + +We lingered with the dear old Queen until the sun was declining over +the lake, whose waters were turning a darker blue; the sister came with +wraps and a warning glance to take her to her rooms in the convent. + +At her request, during our short stay at Lucerne, we visited her again +and again, until the day of parting came, and we bade her farewell on +the terrace where we had first met her, above the blue waters of the +lake. + +There were tears in her eyes and ours when we left her, and the tears +came back again to ours as we looked wistfully up at the terrace as +Fritz rowed us away, and we saw her waving to us no longer. + +That was the last we saw of her, or shall ever see in this world, for +six months after we received a letter from the Reverend Mother telling +us that "Madame la Comtesse" was dead, and Dolores and I, remembering +her sufferings, her patience, and her great love, are presumptuous +enough to think that heaven has gained another saint. + + * * * * * + +No, neither Ethel nor St. Nivel are married yet, but I would not say +that they never will be. I have heard rumours of a Guardsman on the +one hand, and a sweet Irish girl on the other. + +At any rate, during those happy autumn weeks which Dolores and I +invariably spend at dear old Bannington in the shooting season, if, by +any chance, Ethel and I meet in the gloaming in the long, oak-panelled +corridors, we indulge in no more cousinly kisses; she _won't_. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A QUEEN'S ERROR*** + + +******* This file should be named 25595.txt or 25595.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/5/9/25595 + + + +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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