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diff --git a/36511.txt b/36511.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..823e62b --- /dev/null +++ b/36511.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9971 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Weight of the Crown, by Fred M. White + + +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: The Weight of the Crown + + +Author: Fred M. White + + + +Release Date: June 24, 2011 [eBook #36511] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WEIGHT OF THE CROWN*** + + +E-text prepared by Donald Cummings, Suzanne Shell, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images +generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 36511-h.htm or 36511-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36511/36511-h/36511-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36511/36511-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/weightofcrown00whitiala + + + + + +[Illustration: "_She was going to have a look at the pictures, she +said._"] + + +THE WEIGHT OF THE CROWN + +by + +FRED. M. WHITE + +Author of +"Tregarthen's Wife" "The Robe of Lucifer" +"The Crimson Blind" etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +R. F. Fenno & Company, _Publishers_ +18 East Seventeenth Street, New York City + +Ward Lock & Co. Limited: London +1906 + +Copyright 1904. +By Transatlantic Press, Ltd. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAP. PAGE + I WITHOUT A FRIEND 7 + II A DESPERATE VENTURE 18 + III ON GUARD 30 + IV THE WARNING LIGHT 36 + V DEEPER STILL 43 + VI THE PERIL SPEAKS 49 + VII "UNEASY LIES THE HEAD" 55 + VIII THE VERY MAN 61 + IX "PONGO" 72 + X A FRIEND AT COURT 78 + XI IN THE GARDEN 84 + XII A PRODIGAL SON 90 + XIII THE MODERN JOURNALIST 96 + XIV BAFFLED! 102 + XV THE SEARCH 108 + XVI WAS IT RUSSIA? 114 + XVII A BOW AT A VENTURE 120 + XVIII WATCHING 126 + XIX THE QUEST OF THE PAPERS 132 + XX A SPECIAL EFFORT 138 + XXI "FOREWARNED, FOREARMED" 144 + XXII THE TRAIL GROWS 150 + XXIII GENERAL MAXGREGOR 156 + XXIV AT THE WINDOW 162 + XXV AN UNEXPECTED HONOUR 168 + XXVI LOYAL SILENCE 174 + XXVII LECHMERE TO THE RESCUE 180 + XXVIII THE POWER OF THE PRESS 186 + XXIX IN MAXGREGOR'S CHAMBERS 192 + XXX HER FRIEND, THE QUEEN 198 + XXXI A SURPRISE FOR JESSIE 204 + XXXII NO TIME TO LOSE 210 + XXXIII THE FISH ON THE LINE 216 + XXXIV A ROYAL ACTOR 222 + XXXV A RACE FOR A THRONE 228 + XXXVI ANNETTE TELLS A STORY 234 + XXXVII CROSS PURPOSES 240 + XXXVIII ON BROKEN GROUND 246 + XXXIX IN THE CAMP OF THE FOE 252 + XL THIN ICE 258 + XLI ANNETTE AT BAY 264 + XLII THE COUNTESS RETURNS 271 + XLIII IN SEARCH OF THE KING 277 + XLIV DEAD! 283 + XLV CHECK! 289 + XLVI MATE IN TWO MOVES 295 + XLVII THE SITUATION IS SAVED 301 + XLVIII THE PAPERS AT LAST 307 + XLIX LOVE AND ROSES 313 + + + + +THE WEIGHT OF THE CROWN + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WITHOUT A FRIEND + + +The girl stood there fighting hard to keep back the tears from her eyes. +The blow had been so swift, so unexpected. And there was the hurt to her +pride also. + +"Do I understand that I am dismissed, Madame?" Jessie Harcourt asked +quietly. "You mean that I am to go at the end of the week?" + +The little woman with the faded fair hair and the silly affectation of +fashion was understood to say that Miss Harcourt would go at once. The +proprietress of the fashionable millinery establishment in Bond Street +chose to call herself Madame Malmaison, though she was London to the +core. Her shrill voice shook a little as she spoke. + +"You are a disgrace to the establishment," she said. "I am sorry you +ever came here. It is fortunate for me that Princess Mazaroff took the +proper view so far as I am concerned. Your conduct was infamous, +outrageous. You go to the Princess to try on hats for her Highness, and +what happens? You are found in the library engaged in a bold flirtation +with her Highness's son, Prince Boris. Romping together! You suffered +him to kiss you. When the Princess came here just now and told me the +story, I was----" + +"It is a lie," Jessie burst out passionately. "A cowardly lie on the +part of a coward. Why did not that Russian cad tell the truth? He came +into the drawing-room where I was waiting for the Princess. Don't +interrupt me, I must speak, I tell you." + +Madame Malmaison subsided before the splendid fury of Jessie's anger. +She looked more like a countess than a shop girl as she stood there with +her beautiful eyes blazing, the flash of sorrow on her lovely face. +Madame Malmaison had always been a little proud of the beauty and grace +and sweetness of her fitter-on. Perhaps she felt in her heart of hearts +that the girl was telling the truth. + +"I hope I am a lady," Jessie said a little more gently--"at any rate, I +try to remember that I was born one. And I am telling the truth--not +that it matters much, seeing that you would send us all into the gutter +rather than offend a customer like the Princess. That coward said his +mother was waiting for me in the library. He would show me the way. Then +he caught me in his arms and tried to kiss me. He wanted me to go to +some theatre with him to-night. He was too strong for me. I thought I +should have died of shame. Then the Princess came in, and all the anger +was for me. And that coward stood by and shirked the blame; he let it +pass that I had actually followed him into the library." + +The girl was telling the truth, it was stamped on every word that she +said. Madame Malmaison knew it also, but the hard look on her greedy +face did not soften. + +"You are wasting my time," she said. "The Princess naturally prefers her +version of the story. And she has demanded your instant dismissal. You +must go." + +Jessie said no more. There was proud satisfaction in the fact that she +had conquered her tears. She moved back to the splendid show-room with +its Persian carpets and Louis Seize furniture as if nothing had +happened. She had an idea that Madame Malmaison believed her, and that +the latter would be discreet enough to keep the story from the other +hands. And Jessie had no friends there. She could not quite bring +herself to be friendly with the others. She had not forgotten the days +when Colonel Harcourt's daughter had mixed with the class of people whom +she now served. Bitterly Jessie regretted that she had ever taken up +this kind of life. + +But unhappily there had been no help for it. Careless, easy-going +Colonel Harcourt had not troubled much about the education of his two +girls; and when the crash came and he died, they were totally unfitted +to cope with the world. The younger girl, Ada, was very delicate, and so +Jessie had to cast about to make a living for the two. The next six +months had been a horror. + +It was in sheer desperation that Jessie had offered her services to +Madame Malmaison. Here was the ideal fitter-on that that shrewd lady +required. She was prepared to give a whole two guineas a week for +Jessie's assistance, and the bargain was complete. + +"Well, it was all over, anyway, now," Jessie told herself. She was +dismissed, and that without a character. It would be in vain for her to +apply to other fashionable establishments of the kind unless she was +prepared to give some satisfactory reason for leaving Madame Malmaison. +Her beauty and grace and charm would count for nothing with rival +managers. The bitter, hopeless, weary struggle was going to begin all +over again. The two girls were utterly friendless in London. In all the +tragedy of life there is nothing more sad and pathetic than that. + +Jessie conquered the feeling of despair for the moment. She had all her +things to arrange; she had to tell the girl under her that she was +leaving for good to-night. She had had a dispute with Madame Malmaison, +she explained, and she would not return in the morning. Jessie was +surprised at the steadiness of her own voice as she gave the +explanation. But her cold fingers trembled, and the tears were very +heavy in the beautiful eyes. Jessie was praying for six o'clock now. + +Mechanically she went about her work. She did not heed or hear the +chatter of her companions; she did not see that somebody had handed her +a note. Somebody said that there was no answer, and Jessie merely +nodded. In the same dull way she opened the letter. She saw that the +paper was good, she saw that the envelope bore her name. There was no +address on the letter, which Jessie read twice before having the most +remote idea of its meaning. + +A most extraordinary letter, Jessie decided, when at length she had +fixed her mind into its usual channel. She read it again in the light of +the sunshine. There was no heading, no signature. + +"I am writing to ask you a great favour (the letter ran). I should have +seen you and explained, but there was no time. If you have any heart and +feeling you cannot disregard this appeal. But you will not ignore it, +however, because you are as good and kind as you are beautiful. The +happiness of a distressed and miserable woman is in your hands. Will you +help me? + +"But you will help me, I am certain. Come to 17, Gordon Gardens, +to-night at half-past nine o'clock. Come plainly dressed in black, and +take care to wear a thick black veil. Say that you are the young person +from Forder's in Piccadilly, and that you have called about the dress. +That is all that I ask you to do for the present. Then you will see me, +and I can explain matters fully. Dare I mention money in connection with +this case? If that tempts you, why the price is your own. L500, L1,000 +await you if you are bold and resolute." + +There was nothing more, no kind of clue to the identity of the writer. +Jessie wondered if it were some mistake; but her name was most plainly +written on the envelope. It had been left by a district messenger boy, +so that there was no way of finding out anything. Jessie wondered if she +had been made the victim of some cruel hoax. Visions of a decoy rose +before her eyes. + +And yet there was no mistake about the address. Gordon Gardens was one +of the finest and most fashionable squares in the West End of London. +Jessie fluttered over the leaves of the _London Directory_. There was +Gordon Gardens right enough--Lady Merehaven. The name was quite familiar +to her, though the lady in question was not a customer of Madame +Malmaison's. All this looked very genuine, so also did the letter with +the passionate, pleading tone behind the somewhat severe restraint of it +all. Jessie had made up her mind. + +She would go. Trouble and disappointment had not soured the nobility of +her nature. She was ready as ever to hold out a helping hand to those in +distress. And she was bold and resolute, too. Moreover, as she told +herself with a blush, she was not altogether indifferent to the money. +Only a few shillings stood between her and Ada and absolute starvation. +L500 sounded like a fortune. + +"I'll go," Jessie told herself. "I'll see this thing to the bitter end, +whatever the adventure may lead to. Unless, of course, it is something +wrong or dishonest. But I don't think that the writer of the letter +means that. And perhaps I shall make a friend. God knows I need one." + +The closing hour came, and Jessie went her way. At the corner of New +Bond Street a man stood before her, and bowed with an air of suggested +politeness. He had the unmistakable air of the dissipated life; he was +well dressed, and handsome, in a picturesque way. But the mouth under +the close-cropped beard was hard and sensual; the eyes had that in them +that always fills the heart of a girl with disgust. + +"I have been waiting for you," the man said. "You see I know your +habits. I am afraid you are angry with me." + +"I am not angry with you at all," Jessie said coldly. "You are not worth +it, Prince Boris. A man who could play the contemptible cur as you +played it this morning----" + +"But, _ma cherie_, what could I do? Madame la Princess, my mother, holds +the purse-strings. I am in disfavour the most utter and absolute. If my +mother comes to your establishment and says----" + +"The Princess has already been. She has told her version of the story. +No doubt she heartily believes that she has been told the truth. I have +been made out to be a scullery girl romping with the page boy. My word +was as nothing against so valuable a client as the Princess. I am +discharged without a character." + +Prince Boris stammered something, but the cruel light of triumph in his +eyes belied his words. Jessie's anger flamed up passionately. + +"Stand aside and let me pass," she said; "And never dare to address me +again. If you do, I will appeal to the first decent man who passes, and +say you have grossly insulted me. I have a small consolation in the +knowledge that you are not an Englishman." + +The man drew back abashed, perhaps ashamed, for his dark face flushed. +He made no attempt to detain Jessie, who passed down the street with her +cheeks flaming. She went on at length until she came to one of the +smaller byways leading out of Oxford Street, and here, before a +shabby-looking house, she stopped and let herself in with a latchkey. In +a bare little room at the top of the house a girl was busy painting. She +was a smaller edition of Jessie, and more frail and delicate. But the +same pluck and spirit were there in Ada Harcourt. + +"What a colour!" the younger girl cried. "And yet--Jessie, what has +happened? Tell me." + +The story was told--indeed, there was no help for it. Then Jessie +produced her mysterious letter. The trouble was forgotten for the time +being. The whole thing was so vague and mysterious, and moreover there +was the promise of salvation behind it. Ada flung her paint brush aside +hastily. + +"You will go?" she cried. "With an address like that there can be no +danger. I am perfectly certain that that is a genuine letter, Jess, and +the writer is in some desperate bitter trouble. We have too many of +those troubles of our own to ignore the cry of help from another. And +there is the money. It seems a horrible thing, but the money is a sore +temptation." + +Jessie nodded thoughtfully. She smiled, too, as she noted Ada's flushed, +eager face. + +"I am going," she said. "I have quite made up my mind to that. I am +going if only to keep my mind from dwelling on other things. Besides, +that letter appeals to me. It seems to be my duty. And as you say, there +is the money to take into consideration. And yet I blush even to think +of it." + +Ada rose and walked excitedly about the room. The adventure appealed to +her. Usually in the stories it was the men only to whom these exciting +incidents happened. And here was a chance for a mere woman to +distinguish herself. And Jessie would do it, too, Ada felt certain. She +had all the courage and resolution of her race. + +"It's perfectly splendid!" Ada cried. "I feel that the change of our +fortunes is at hand. You are going to make powerful friends, Jessie; we +shall come into our own again. And when you have married the prince, I +hope you will give me a room under the palace roof to paint in. But you +must not start on your adventure without any supper." + +Punctual to the moment Jessie turned into Gordon Gardens. Her heart was +beating a little faster now; she half felt inclined to turn back and +abandon the enterprise altogether. But then such a course would have +been cowardly, and the girl was certainly not that. Besides, there was +the ever unceasing grizzly spectre of poverty dangling before Jessie's +eyes. She must go on. + +Here was No. 17 at length--a fine, double-fronted house, the big doors of +which stood open, giving a glimpse of the wealth and luxury beyond. +Across the pavement, to her surprise, Jessie noticed that a breadth of +crimson cloth had been unrolled. The girl had expected to find the +house still and quiet, and here were evidences of social festivities. +Inside the hall two big footmen lounged in the vestibule; a row of hats +testified to the fact that there were guests here to dinner. A door +opened somewhere, and a butler emerged with a tray in his hand. + +As the door opened there was a pungent smell of tobacco smoke, followed +by a bass roll of laughter. Many people were evidently dining there. +Jessie felt that she needed all her courage now. + +It was only for a moment that the girl hesitated. She was afraid to +trust her own voice; the great lump in her throat refused to be +swallowed. Then she walked up the scarlet-covered steps and knocked at +the door. One of the big footmen strolled across and asked her her +business. + +"I am the young person from Forder's, in Piccadilly," Jessie said, with +a firmness that surprised herself. "I was asked by letter to come here +at this hour to-night." + +"Something about a dress?" the footman asked flippantly. "I'll send and +see." + +A moment later and the lady's maid was inviting Jessie up the stairs. As +requested, the girl had dressed herself in black; she wore a black +sailor hat with a dark veil. Except in her carriage and the striking +lines of her figure, she was the young person of the better class +millionaire's shop to the life. She came at length to a dressing-room, +which was evidently about to be used by somebody of importance. The +dressing-room was large and most luxuriously fitted; the contents of a +silver-mounted dressing-bag were scattered over the table between the +big cheval glasses; on a couch a ball dress had been spread out. Jessie +began to understand what was going on--there had been a big dinner +party, doubtless to be followed presently by an equally big reception. +One of the blinds had not been quite drawn, and in the garden beyond she +could see hundreds of twinkling fairy lamps. The adventure was beginning +to appeal to her now; she was looking forward to it with zeal and +eagerness. + +"My mistress will come to you in a moment," the maid said, in the tone +of one who speaks to an equal. "Only don't let her keep you any longer +than you can help. The sooner you are done, the sooner I shall be able +to finish and get out. Good night!" + +The maid flitted away without shutting the door. Jessie's spirits rose +as she looked about her. There could be no possible chance of personal +danger here. Jessie would have liked to have raised her veil to get a +better view of all these lovely things that would appeal to a feminine +mind, but she reflected that the black veil had been strongly insisted +upon. + +A voice came from somewhere, a voice asking somebody also in a whisper +to put the lights out. This command was repeated presently in a hurried +way, and Jessie realized that the voice was addressing her. Without a +minute's hesitation she crossed over to the door and flicked out the +lights. Well, the adventure was beginning now in real earnest, Jessie +told herself. The voices whispered something further, and then in the +corridor Jessie saw something that rooted her to the spot. In perfect +darkness herself, she could look boldly out into the light beyond. She +saw the figure of a man half led and half carried between two women--one +of them being in evening dress. The man's face was as white as death. +He was either very ill or very near to death, Jessie could see; his eyes +were closed, and he dragged his limbs after him like one in the last +stage of paralysis. One of the ladies in evening dress was elderly, her +hair quite gray; the other was young and handsome, with a commanding +presence. On her hair she wore a tiara of diamonds, only usually +affected by those of royal blood. She looked every inch a queen, Jessie +thought, as with her strong gleaming arms she hurried the stricken man +along. And yet there was a furtive air about the pair that Jessie did +not understand at all. + +The phantom passed away quietly as it had come, like a dream; the trio +vanished, and close by somebody was closing a bedroom door gently, as if +fearful of being overheard. Jessie rubbed her eyes as if to make sure +that the whole thing had not been a delusion. She was still pondering +over that strange scene in a modern house, when there came the quick +swish of drapery along the corridor, and somebody flashed into the room +and closed and locked the door. That somebody was a woman, as the trail +of skirts testified, but Jessie rose instantly to the attitude of self. + +She had not long to wait, for suddenly the lights flashed up, and a girl +in simple evening dress stood there looking at Jessie. There was a +placid smile on her face, though her features were very white and +quivering. + +"How good of you!" she said. "God only knows how good of you. Will you +please take off your hat, and I will...? Thank you. Now stand side by +side with me before the glass. Is not that strange, Miss Harcourt? Do +you see the likeness?" + +Jessie gasped. Side by side in the glass she was looking at the very +image of herself! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A DESPERATE VENTURE + + +"The likeness is wonderful," Jessie cried. "How did you find out? Did +anybody tell you? But you have not mentioned your own name yet, though +you know who I am." + +The other girl smiled. Jessie liked the look of her face. It was a +little haughty like her own, but the smile was very sweet, the features +resolute and strong just now. Both the girls seemed to feel the +strangeness of the situation. It was as if each was actually seeing +herself for the first time. Then Jessie's new friend began to speak. + +"It is like this," she explained. "I am Vera Galloway, and Lady +Merehaven is my aunt. As my aunt and my uncle, Lord Merehaven, have no +children, they have more or less adopted me. I have been very happy here +till quite lately, until the danger came not only to my adopted parents, +but to one whom I love better than all the world. I cannot tell you what +it is now, I have no time. But the danger to this house and Charles--I +mean my lover--is terrible. Fate has made it necessary that I should be +quite free for the next few hours, free to escape the eyes of suspicious +people, and yet at the same time it is necessary that I should be here. +My dear Miss Harcourt, you are going to take my place." + +"My dear Miss Galloway, the thing is impossible," Jessie cried. "Believe +me, I would help you if I could--anything that requires courage or +determination. I am so desperately placed that I would do anything for +money. But to take your place----" + +"Why not? You are a lady, you are accustomed to society. Lord Merehaven +you will probably not see all the evening, Lady Merehaven is quite +short-sighted. And she never expects me to help to entertain her guests. +There will be a mob of people here presently, and there is safety in +numbers. A little tact, a little watchful discretion, and the thing is +done." + +Vera Galloway spoke rapidly and with a passionate entreaty in her voice. +Her beautiful face was very earnest. Jessie felt that she was giving way +already. + +"I might manage it," she admitted dubiously. "But how did you come to +hear of me?" + +"My cousin, Ronald Hope, told me. Ronald knew your people in the old +days. Do you recollect him?" + +Jessie blushed slightly. She recollected Captain Hope perfectly well. +And deep down in her heart she had a feeling that, if things had turned +out differently, she and Ronald Hope had been a little more than mere +acquaintances by this time. But when the crash came, Jessie had put the +Captain resolutely aside with her other friends. + +"Well, Ronald told me," Vera Galloway went on. "I fancy Ronald admired +you. He often mentioned your name to me, and spoke of the strange +likeness between us. He would have found you if he could. Then out of +curiosity I asked a man called Beryll, who is a noted gossip, what had +become of Colonel Hacker Harcourt's daughters, and he said one of them +was in a milliner's shop in Bond Street, he believed Madame +Malmaison's. Mind you, I was only mildly curious to see you. But to-day +the brooding trouble came, and I was at my wits ends for a way out. Then +the scheme suddenly came to me, and I called at Malmaison's this morning +with a message for a friend. You did not see me, but I saw you. My mind +was made up at once, hence my note to you.... And now I am sure that you +are going to help me." + +"I am going to help you to do anything you require," Jessie said, +"because I feel sure that I am on the side of a good cause." + +"I swear it," Vera said with a passionate emphasis. "For the honour of a +noble house, for the reputation of the man I love. And you shall never +regret it, never. You shall leave that hateful business for ever.... But +come this way--there are many things that I have to show you." + +Jessie followed obediently into the corridor a little behind Vera, and +in the attitude of one who feels and admits her great social +inferiority. They came at length to a large double window opening on to +some leads, and then descending by a flight of steps to the garden. The +thing was safer than at first appeared, for there were roll shutters to +the windows. + +It was very quiet and still in the garden, with its close-shaven lawns +and the clinging scent of the roses. The silent parterre would be gay +with a giddy, chattering mob of Society people before long, Vera +hurriedly explained. Lady Merehaven was giving a great reception, +following a diplomatic dinner to the foreign Legation by Lord Merehaven. +Jessie had forgotten for the moment that Lord Merehaven was Secretary +for Foreign Affairs. + +The big windows at the back of the dining-room were open to the garden; +the room was one blaze of light, that flickered over old silver and +priceless glass on banks of flowers and red wines in Bohemian decanters. +A score or more men were there, all of them distinguished with stars and +ribbons and collars. Very rapidly Vera picked them out one by one. +Jessie felt just a little bewildered as great, familiar names tripped +off the tongue of her companion. A strange position for one who only a +few hours before had been a shop-girl. + +"We will walk back through the house," Vera Galloway said. "I must show +you my aunt. Some of the guests are beginning to arrive, I see. Come +this way." + +Already a knot of well-dressed women filled the hall. Coming down the +stairs was the magnificent woman with the diamond tiara, the woman who +had helped along the corridor the man with the helpless limbs. Jessie +elevated her eyebrows as the great lady passed. + +"The Queen of Asturia," Vera whispered. "You have forgotten to lower +your veil. Yes, the Queen of Asturia. She has been dining here alone +with my aunt in her private room. You have seen her before?" + +"Yes," Jessie replied. "It was just now. Somebody whispered to me to put +out the lights. As I sat in the dark I saw----but I don't want to appear +inquisitive." + +"Oh, I know. It was I who called to you from my bedroom to put the +lights out. I had no wish for that strange scene on the stairs to be ... +you understand?" + +"And the sick man? He is one whose name I ought to know, perhaps." + +"Well, yes. Whisper--come close, so that nobody can hear. That was the +King of Asturia. You think he was ill. Nothing of the kind. Mark you, +the Queen of Asturia is the best of women. She is good and kind--she is +a patriot to her finger tips. And he--the king--is one of the greatest +scoundrels in Europe. In a way, it is because of him that you are here +to-night. The whole dreadful complication is rooted in a throne. And +that scoundrel has brought it all about. Don't ask me more, for the +secret is not wholly mine." + +All this Vera Galloway vouchsafed in a thrilling whisper. Jessie was +feeling more and more bewildered. But she was not going back on her +promise now. The strange scene she had witnessed in the corridor came +again to her with fresh force now. The ruler of Asturia might be a +scoundrel, but he certainly was a scoundrel who was sick unto death. + +"We will go back to my room now," Vera said. "First let me dismiss my +maid, saying that I have decided not to change my dress. Go up the +stairs as if I had sent you for something. You will see how necessary it +is to get my maid out of the way." + +The bedroom door was locked again, and Vera proceeded to strip off her +dress, asking Jessie to do the same. In a little time the girls were +transformed. The matter of the hair was a difficulty, but it was +accomplished presently. A little while later and Jessie stood before the +glass wondering if some other soul had taken possession of her body. On +the other hand, Vera Galloway was transformed into a demure-looking shop +assistant waiting a customers' orders. + +"I declare that nobody will know the difference," she said. "Unless you +are in a very strong light, it will be impossible to detect the +imposture. You will stay here and play my part, and I shall slip away +disguised in my clothes. Is that ten o'clock striking? I must fly. I +have one or two little things to get from my bedroom. Meanwhile, you can +study those few points for instruction that I have written on this sheet +of paper. Study them carefully, because one or two of them really are of +importance." + +Vera was back again in a moment, and ready to depart. The drama was +about to begin in earnest now, and Jessie felt her heart beating a +little faster. As the two passed down the stairs together, they could +see that the handsome suite of rooms on the first floor were rapidly +filling. One or two guests nodded to Jessie, and she forced a smile in +reply. It was confusing to be recognized like this without knowing who +the other people were. Jessie began to realize the full magnitude of the +task before her. + +"I am not in the least satisfied with your explanation," she said, in a +very fair imitation of Vera Galloway's voice. After all there is a great +sameness in the society tones of a woman. "I am very sorry to trouble +you as the hour is late, but I must have it back to-night. Bannister, +whatever time this young person comes back, see that she is not sent +away, and ask her in to the little morning room. And send for me." + +The big footman bowed, and Vera Galloway slipped into the street. Not +only had she got away safely, but she had also achieved a way for a safe +return. Jessie wondered what was the meaning of all this secrecy and +clever by-play. Surely there must be more than one keen eye watching the +movements of Vera Galloway. The knowledge thrilled Jessie, for if those +keen eyes were about they would be turned just as intently upon her. A +strange man came up to her and held out his hand. He wanted to know if +Miss Galloway enjoyed the Sheringham's dance last night. Jessie shrugged +her shoulders, and replied that the dance was about as enjoyable as most +of that class of thing. She was on her guard now, and resolved to be +careful. One step might spoil everything and lead to an exposure, the +consequences of which were altogether too terrible to contemplate. + +The strange man was followed by others; then a pretty fair girl +fluttered up to Jessie and kissed her, with the whispered question as to +whether there was going to be any bridge or not. Would Vera go and find +Amy Macklin and Connie, and bring them over to the other side of the +room? With a nod and a smile Jessie slipped away, resolving that she +would give the fair girl a wide berth for the remainder of the evening. +In an amused kind of way she wondered what Amy and Connie were like. It +looked as if the evening were going to be a long series of evasions. +There was a flutter in the great saloon presently as the hostess came +into the room, presently followed by the stately lady with the diamond +tiara in her hair. + +The guests were bowing right and left. Presently the Queen of Asturia +was escorted to a seat, and the little thrill of excitement passed off. +Jessie hoped to find that it would be all right, but a new terror was +added to the situation. She, the shop-girl, was actually in the presence +of a real queen, perhaps the most romantic figure in Europe at the +present moment. Jessie recalled all the strange stories she had heard of +the ruling house of Asturia, of its intrigues and fiery conspiracies. +She was thinking of it still, despite the fact that a great diva was +singing, and accompanied on the piano by a pianist whose reputation was +as great as her own. A slim-waisted attache crossed the room and bowed +before Jessie, bringing his heels together with a click after the most +approved court military fashion. + +"Pardon me the rudeness, Mademoiselle Vera, but her Highness would speak +to you. When you meet the princess, the lady on the left of the queen +will vacate her chair. It is to look as natural as possible." + +Jessie expressed her delight at the honour. But her heart was beating +more painfully just now than it had done any time during the evening. +The thing was so staggering and unexpected. Was it possible that the +queen knew of the deception, and was party to the plot? But that theory +was impossible. A royal guest could not be privy to such a trick upon +her hostess. + +With her head in a whirl but her senses quite alert, Jessie crossed the +room. As she came close to the queen, a lady-in-waiting rose up quite +casually and moved away, and Jessie slipped into the vacant seat. She +could see now how lined and wearisome behind the smile was the face of +the Queen of Asturia. And yet it was one of the most beautiful faces in +the world. + +"You are not surprised that I have sent for you, _cherie_?" the queen +asked. + +"No, Madame," Jessie replied. She hoped that the epithet was correct. +"If there is anything that I can do----" + +"Dear child, there is something you can do presently," the queen went +on. "We have managed to save him to-night. You know who I mean. But the +danger is just as terribly imminent as it was last night. Of course, you +know that General Maxgregor is coming here presently?" + +"I suppose so," Jessie murmured. "At least, it would not surprise me. +You see, Madame----" + +"Of course it would not surprise you. How strangely you speak to-night. +Those who are watching us cannot possibly deduct anything from the +presence of General Maxgregor at your aunt's reception. When he comes +you are to attach yourself to him. Take him into the garden. Then go up +those steps leading to the corridor and shut the General in the +sitting-room next to your dressing-room--the next room to where _he_ is, +in fact. And when that is done come to me, and in a loud voice ask me to +come and see the pictures that you spoke of. Then I shall be able to see +the General in private. Then you can wait in the garden by the fountain +till one or both of us come down again. I want you to understand this +quite clearly, for heaven only knows how carefully I am watched." + +Jessie murmured respectfully that she knew everything. All the same, she +was quite at a loss to know how she was to identify the General +Maxgregor when he did come. The mystery of the whole thing was becoming +more and more bewildering. Clearly Vera Galloway was deep in the +confidence of the queen, and yet at the same time she had carefully +concealed from her majesty the fact that she had substituted a perfect +stranger for herself. It was a daring trick to play upon so exalted a +personage, but Vera had not hesitated to do it. And Jessie felt that +Vera Galloway was all for the cause of the queen. + +"I will lie in wait for the General," she said. "There is no time to be +lost--I had better go now." + +Jessie rose and bowed and went her way. So far everything had gone quite +smoothly. But it was a painful shock on reaching the hall to see Prince +Boris Mazaroff bending over a very pretty girl who was daintily eating +an ice there. Just for a moment it seemed to Jessie that she must be +discovered. Then she reflected that in her party dress and with her hair +so elaborately arranged, she would present to the eyes of the Russian +nothing more than a strange likeness to the Bond Street shop-girl. At +any rate, it would be necessary to take the risk. The prince was too +deep in his flirtation to see anybody at present. + +Once more Jessie breathed freely. She would linger here in the hall +until General Maxgregor came. He would be announced on his entrance, so +that Jessie would have to ask no questions. Some little time elapsed +before a big man with a fine, resolute face came into the hall. + +Somebody whispered the name of Maxgregor, and Jessie looked up eagerly. +The man's name had a foreign flavour--his uniform undoubtedly was; and +yet Jessie felt quite sure that she was looking at the face of an +Englishman. She had almost forgotten her part for the moment, when the +General turned eagerly to her. + +"I'll go upstairs presently," he murmured. "You understand how +imperative it is that I should see the queen without delay. It is all +arranged, of course. Does the queen know?" + +"The queen knows everything, General," Jessie said. She felt on quite +firm ground now. "Let us stroll into the garden as if we were looking +for somebody. Then I will admit you to the room where the queen will +meet you presently. Yes, that is a very fine specimen of a Romney." + +The last words were uttered aloud. Once in the garden the two hurried on +up the steps of the corridor. From a distance came the divine notes of +the diva uplifted in some passionate love song. At another time Jessie +would have found the music enchanting. As it was, she hurried back to +the salon and made her way to the queen's side. One glance and a word +were sufficient. + +The song died away in a hurricane of applause. The queen rose and laid +her hand on Jessie's arm. She was going to have a look at the pictures, +she said. In a languid way, and as if life was altogether too fatiguing, +she walked down the stairs. But once in the garden her manner altogether +changed. + +"You managed it?" she demanded. "You succeeded? Is the General in the +room next to your sitting-room? How wonderfully quick and clever you +are! Would that I had a few more like you near me! Throw that black +cloak on the deck chair yonder over my head and shoulders. Now show me +the way yourself. And when you have done, go and stand by the fountain +yonder, so as to keep the coast clear. When you see two quick flashes of +light in the window you will know that I am coming down again." + +Very quietly the flight of steps was mounted and the corridor entered. +With a sign Jessie indicated the room where General Maxgregor was +waiting for the queen; the door opened, there was a stifled, strangled +cry, and the door was closed as softly as it had opened. With a heart +beating unspeakably fast, Jessie made her way into the garden again and +stood by the side of the ornamental fountain as if she were enjoying the +cooling breezes of the night. + +On the whole, she was enjoying the adventure. But she wanted to think. +Everybody was still in the house listening to the divine notes of the +great singer, so that it was possible to snatch a half breathing space. +And Jessie felt that she wanted it. She tried to see her way through; +she was thinking it out when the sound of a footstep behind caused her +to look round. She gave a sudden gasp, and then she appeared to be +deeply interested in the gold fish in the fountain. + +"I hope he won't address me. I hope he will pass without recognition," +was Jessie's prayer. + +For the man strolling directly towards the fountain was Prince Boris +Mazaroff! + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ON GUARD + + +Here was a danger that Jessie had not expected. She was not surprised to +see Prince Boris Mazaroff there; indeed, she would not have been +surprised at anything after the events of the last few hours. There was +no startling coincidence in the presence of the Russian here, seeing +that he knew everybody worth knowing in London, and all society would be +here presently. + +Would he come forward and speak? Jessie wondered. She would have avoided +the man, but then it seemed to be quite understood that she must stay by +the fountain till the signal was given. All this had been evidently +carefully thought out before Vera Galloway found it an imperative +necessity to be elsewhere on this fateful night. + +Would Mazaroff penetrate her disguise? was the most fateful question +that Jessie asked herself. Of course he would see the strong likeness +between the sham Vera and the milliner in the Bond Street shop; but as +he appeared to be _au fait_ of Lord Merehaven's house, and presumedly +knew Vera, he had doubtless noticed the likeness before. Jessie +recollected the girls who had greeted her so smilingly in the hall, and +reflected that they must have known Vera far better than this rascally +Russian could have done, and they had been utterly deceived. + +Mazaroff lounged up to the fountain and murmured something polite. His +manner was easy and polished and courteous now, but that it could be +very different Jessie knew to her cost. She raised her eyes and looked +the man coldly in the face. She determined to know once for all whether +he guessed anything or not. But the expression of his face expressed +nothing but a sense of disappointment. + +"Why do you frown at me like that, Miss Vera?" he asked. "What have I +done?" + +Jessie forced a smile to her lips. She could not quite forget her own +ego, and she knew this man to be a scoundrel and a coward. Through his +fault she had come very close to starvation. But, she reflected, +certainly Vera could know nothing of this, and she must act exactly as +Vera would have done. Jessie wanted all her wits for the coming +struggle. + +"Did I frown?" she laughed. "If I did, it was certainly not at you. My +thoughts----" + +"Let me guess your thoughts," Mazaroff said in a low tone of voice. He +reclined his elbows on the lip of the fountain so that his face was +close to Jessie's. "I am rather good at that kind of thing. You are +thinking that the queen did not care much for the pictures." + +Jessie repressed a start. There was a distinct menace in the speaker's +words. If they meant anything they meant danger, and that to the people +whose interests it was Jessie's to guard. And she knew one thing that +Vera Galloway could not possibly know--this man was a scoundrel. + +"You are too subtle for me," she said. "What queen do you allude to?" + +"There was only one queen in this conversation. I mean the Queen of +Asturia. She left the salon with you to look at certain pictures, and +she was disappointed. Where is she?" + +"Back again in the salon by this time, doubtless," Jessie laughed. "I am +not quite at home in the presence of royalty." + +The brows of Mazaroff knitted into a frown. Evidently Jessie had +accidentally said something that checkmated him for the moment. + +"And the king?" he asked. "Do you know anything about him? Where is he, +for example?" + +Jessie shook her head. She was treading on dangerous ground now, and it +behoved her to be careful. The smallest possible word might lead to +mischief. + +"The queen is a great friend of mine," Mazaroff went on, and Jessie knew +instantly that he was lying. "She is in danger, as you may possibly +know. You shake your head, but you could tell a great deal if you +choose. But then the niece of a diplomatist knows the value of silence." + +"The niece of a diplomatist learns a great deal," Jessie said coldly. + +"Exactly. I hope that I have not offended you. But certain things are +public property. It is impossible for a crowned head to disguise his +vices. That the King of Asturia is a hopeless drunkard and a gambler is +known to everyone. He has exhausted his private credit, and his sullen +subjects will not help him any more from the public funds. It is four +years since the man came to the throne, and he has not been crowned yet. +His weakness and rascalities are Russia's opportunity." + +"As a good and patriotic Russian you should be glad of that," Jessie +said. + +"You are a very clever young lady," Mazaroff smiled. "As a Russian, my +country naturally comes first. But then I am exceedingly liberal in my +political views, and that is why the Czar prefers that I should more or +less live in Western Europe. In regard to the Asturian policy, I do not +hold with the views of my imperial master at all. At the risk of being +called a traitor I am going to help the queen. She is a great friend of +yours also?" + +"I would do anything in my power to help her," Jessie said guardedly. + +The Russian's eyes gleamed. In a moment of excitement he laid his hand +on Jessie's arm. The touch filled her with disgust, but she endured it. + +"Then you never had a better opportunity than you have at the present +moment," Mazaroff whispered. "I have private information which the queen +must know at once. Believe me, I am actuated only by the purest of +motives. The fact that I am practically an exile from my native land +shows where my sympathies lie. I am sick to death of this Russian earth +hunger. I know that in the end it will spell ruin and revolution and the +breaking up of the State. I can save Asturia, too." + +"Do I understand that you want to see the queen?" Jessie asked. + +"That is it," was the eager response. "The queen and the king. I +expected to find him elsewhere. I have been looking for him in one of +the haunts he frequents. I know that Charles Maxwell was with him this +morning. Did he give you any hint as to the true state of affairs?" + +"I don't know who you mean?" Jessie said unguardedly. "The name is not +familiar to me." + +"Oh, this is absurd!" Mazaroff said with some show of anger in his +voice. "Caution is one thing, but to deny knowledge of Lord Merehaven's +private and confidential secretary is another matter. Come, this is +pique--a mere lovers' quarrel, or something of that kind." + +Jessie recovered herself at once. If Mazaroff had not been so angry he +could not have possibly overlooked so serious a slip on the part of his +companion. + +"It is very good of you to couple our names together like this," Jessie +said coldly. + +"But, my dear young lady, it is not I who do it," Mazaroff protested. +"Everybody says so. You said nothing when Miss Maitland taxed you with +it at the duke's on Friday night. Lady Merehaven shrugs her shoulders, +and says that worse things might happen. If Maxwell were to come up at +this moment----" + +Jessie waived the suggestion aside haughtily. This information was +exceedingly valuable, but at the same time it involved a possible new +danger. If this Charles Maxwell did come up--but Jessie did not care to +think of that. She half turned so that Mazaroff could not see the +expression of her face; she wanted time to regain control over her +features. As she looked towards the house she saw twice the quick flash +of light in one of the bedroom windows. + +It was the signal that the queen was ready to return to the salon again. +Jessie's duty was plain. It was to hurry back to the bedroom and attend +to the good pleasure of the queen. And yet she could not do it with the +man by her side; she could think of no pretext to get rid of him. It was +not as if he had been a friend. Mazaroff was an enemy of the heads of +Asturia. Possibly he knew a great deal more than he cared to say. There +had been a distinct menace in his tone when he asked how the queen had +enjoyed the pictures. As Jessie's brain flashed rapidly over the events +of the evening, she recalled to mind the spectacle of the queen and the +strange lady who dragged the body of the helpless man between them. What +if that man were the King of Asturia! Why, Vera Galloway had said so! + +Jessie felt certain of it--certain that for some reasons certain people +were not to know that the King of Asturia was under Lord Merehaven's +roof, and this fellow was trying to extract valuable information from +her. As she glanced round once more the signal flashed out again. For +all Jessie knew to the contrary, time might be as valuable as a crown of +diamonds. But it was quite impossible to move so long as Mazaroff was +there. + +She looked round for some avenue of escape. The garden was deserted +still, for the concert in the salon was not yet quite over. Even here +the glorious voice of the prima donna floated clear as a silver bell. +The singer was flinging aloft the stirring refrain of some patriotic +melody. + +"The Asturian national anthem," Mazaroff said softly. "Inspiring, isn't +it?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE WARNING LIGHT + + +Jessie could feel rather than see that the signal was flashing out +again. She looked about her for some assistance. In the distance a man +came from the direction of the house. In the semi-darkness he paused to +light a cigarette, and the reflection of the match shone on his face. +Jessie started, and her face flushed. It seemed as if the stars were +fighting for her to-night. She recognized the dark, irregular features +behind the glow of the match. She had made up her mind what to do. +Surely the queen would understand that there was cause for delay, that +some unforeseen danger threatened. + +The man with the cigarette strolled close by the fountain. He had his +hands behind him, and appeared to be plunged in thought. He would have +passed the fountain altogether without seeing the two standing there, +only Jessie called to him to stop in a clear gay voice. + +"Have you lost anything, Captain Hope?" she asked. "Won't you come and +tell us what it is?" + +Jessie's voice was perfectly steady, but her heart was beating to +suffocation now. For Vera's cousin, Captain Ronald Hope, was perfectly +well known to her in her own private capacity as Jessie Harcourt. Hope +had been a frequent visitor at her father's house in the old days, and +Jessie had had her dreams. Had he not inspired Vera's daring scheme! +Hope had not forgotten her, though she had elected to disappear and +leave no sign, the girl knew full well; for had not Hope told Vera +Galloway of the marvellous likeness between herself and Jessie Harcourt? + +It was a critical moment. That Hope had cared for her Jessie well knew, +though she sternly told her heart that it was not to be. Would he +recognize her and penetrate her disguise? If the eyes of love are blind +in some ways they make up for it in others. Jessie's heart seemed to +stand still as Hope raised his crushed hat and came leisurely up the +steps of the fountain. + +"I was looking for my lost and wasted youth, Miss Galloway," he said. +"How are you, Prince? What a night!" + +"A night for lovers," Mazaroff said, though Jessie could see that he was +terribly annoyed at the interruption of their conversation. "Reminds one +of birds and nightingales and rose bowers. Positively, I think of the +days when I used to send valentines and love tokens to my many +sweethearts." + +"And what does it remind you of, Captain Hope?" Jessie asked. + +"_You_ always remind me of my friend Jessie Harcourt," Hope said. "The +more I see of you, the more I see the likeness." + +"The little shop-girl in Bond Street," Mazaroff burst out. "I have met +her. Ah, yes." + +"We are waiting for Captain Hope to tell us what the evening reminds him +of," Jessie said hurriedly. + +"Certainly," Captain Hope said. "Afterwards I may want to ask Prince +Mazaroff a question. This reminds me of a night three years ago--a night +in a lovely lane, with the moon rising at the end of it. Of course, +there was a man and a woman in the lane, and they talked of the future. +They picked some flowers, so as to be in tune with the picture. They +picked dog roses----" + +"'Your heart and mine' played out with the petals," Jessie laughed. "Do +you know the other form of blowing the seed from a dandelion, only you +use rose petals instead?" + +There was a swift change on the face of Captain Hope. His face paled +under the healthy tan as he looked quickly at Jessie. Their eyes met +just for a moment--there was a flash of understanding between them. +Mazaroff saw nothing, for he was lighting a cigar by the lip of the +fountain. Jessie broke into some nonsense, only it was quite uncertain +if she knew what she was saying. She appealed to Mazaroff, and as she +did so she knocked the cigar that he had laid on the edge of the +fountain so that it rolled down the steps on to the grass. + +"How excessively clumsy of me!" Jessie cried. "Let me get it back for +you, Prince Boris." + +With a smile Prince Mazaroff proceeded to regain his cigar. Quick as a +flash Ronald Hope turned to Jessie. + +"What is it you want?" he asked. "What am I to do to help you? Only say +the word." + +"Get rid of that man," Jessie panted. "I can't explain now. Only get rid +of that man and see that he is kept out of the way for at least ten +minutes. Then you can return to me if you like." + +Hope nodded. He appeared to have grasped the situation. With some +commonplace on his lips he passed leisurely towards the house. Before +Mazaroff could take up the broken threads of the subject a young man, +who might have been in the diplomatic service, came hurrying to the +spot. + +"I have been looking everywhere for you, Prince Boris," he said. "Lord +Merehaven would like to say a few words to you. I am very sorry to +detain you, but this is a matter of importance." + +Mazaroff's teeth flashed in a grin which was not a grin of pleasure. He +had no suspicion that this had been all arranged in the brief moment +that he was looking for his cigar, the thing seemed genuine and +spontaneous. With one word to the effect that he would be back again in +a moment, he followed the secretary. + +Jessie had a little time to breathe at last. She looked round her +eagerly, but the signal was not given again. Ought she not to fly up the +steps of the corridor? the girl asked herself. As she looked up again at +the now darkened window the light came up for a moment, and the figure +of a man, recognizable as that of General Maxgregor, stood out in high +relief. The head of the figure was shaken twice, and the light vanished +again. Jessie could make nothing of it except that she was not to hurry. +Whilst she was still waiting and wondering what to do, Captain Ronald +Hope returned. His face was stern, but at the same time there was a +tender light in his eyes that told Jessie not to fear. + +"What is the meaning of it all?" he asked. "I never had such a surprise +in my life. When you spoke about our old sweetheart pastime of your +heart and mine played with the petals of the wild rose, I recognized you +for Jessie Harcourt at once, because we invented that game, and the +understanding was that we were never to tell anybody else. Oh, yes, I +see that you are my dear little Jessie now." + +The tender words thrilled Jessie. She spoke with an unsteady smile on +her lips. + +"But you did not recognize me till I gave you a clue," she said. "Are +you very angry with me, Ronald?" + +"I meant to be if ever I found you," Hope said. "I am going to be stern. +I was going to ask you why you had----" + +"Dear Ronald, you had no right to speak like that. Great friends as we +used to be----" + +"Oh, yes, I know what you are going to say. Great friends as we were, I +had never told you that I loved you. But you knew it perfectly well, +without any mere words of mine; your heart told you so. Though I have +never kissed you--never so much as had my arm about your waist--we knew +all the time. And I meant to wait till after my long stay in Ireland. +Then your father died, and you were penniless, and you disappeared. My +dearest girl, why did you not tell me?" + +"Because you were poor, Ronald. Because I did not want to stand between +you and your career. Ada and myself were as proud as we were penniless. +And I thought that you would soon forget." + +"Forget! Impossible to forget you, Jessie. I am not that kind of man. I +came here frequently because I was trying to get a diplomatic +appointment, through my friend General Maxgregor, in the Asturian +service, where there is both trouble and danger and the chance of a +future. And every time that I saw Vera Galloway my heart seemed to ache +for the sight of you. I told her about you often. Now tell me, why did +your pride break down so suddenly to-night? You might have passed for +Vera had you not spoken about the roses." + +"I had the most pressing need of your assistance," Jessie said hoarsely. +"I did not want to disclose myself, but conscience called me +imperatively. I dare say you are wondering why I am masquerading here as +Miss Galloway, and where she is gone. I cannot tell you. She only found +me out to-day, and implored me to come to her and take her place. My +decision to do so was not free from sordid consideration. I have played +my part with success till that scoundrel Mazaroff came along. At present +I am in attendance on the Queen of Asturia, who is in one of the rooms +overhead with General Maxgregor and a helpless paralytic creature who is +no less than the King of Asturia. If you ask me about this mystery I +cannot tell you. The whole thing was fixed up in a desperate hurry, and +here I am. It was necessary to get Prince Mazaroff out of the way so +that the queen could return without being seen. I should not be +surprised to find that Mazaroff was no more than a vulgar Russian spy +after all." + +"I feel pretty well convinced of it," Hope said. "But how long is this +to go on, Jessie?" + +"Till Miss Galloway comes back dressed in the fashion of the Bond Street +shop-girl. Then we shall change dresses, and I shall be free to depart." + +Hope whispered something sweet, and the colour came to Jessie's cheeks. +She was feeling resolute and brave enough now. As she turned and glanced +at the upstairs window she saw the light spring up and the blind pulled +aside. Then a man, stripped to his shirt and trousers, threw up the +window and stood upon the parapet waving his arms wildly and +gesticulating the while. A stifled cry came from Jessie's lips. If the +man fell to the ground he would fall on the stone terrace and be killed +on the spot. + +[Illustration: "_A stifled cry came from Jessie's lips._"] + +But he did not fall; somebody gripped him from behind, the window was +shut, and the blind fell. There was darkness for a few seconds, and then +the two flashes of the signal came once more, sharp and imperative. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DEEPER STILL + + +Puzzled, vaguely alarmed, and nervous as she was, Jessie had been still +more deeply thrilled could she have seen into the room from whence the +signal came. She had escorted the Queen of Asturia there, and +subsequently the man known as General Maxgregor, but why they came and +why that secret meeting Jessie did not know. + +In some vague way Jessie connected the mystery with the hapless creature +whom she knew now to be the King of Asturia. Nor was she far wrong. In +the dressing-room beyond the larger room where that strange interview +was to take place, the hapless man lay on a bed. He might have been +dead, so silent was he and so still his breathing. He lay there in his +evening dress, but there was nothing about him to speak of his exalted +rank. He wore no collar or star or any decoration; he might have been no +more than a drunken waiter tossed contemptuously out of the way to lie +in a sodden sleep till the effects of his potations passed. + +The sleeper was small of size and mean of face, the weak lips hidden +with a ragged red moustache; a thin crop of the same flame-coloured hair +was on his head. In fine contrast stood the Queen of Asturia, regally +beautiful, perfectly dressed and flashing with diamonds. There was every +inch of a queen. But her face was bitter and hard, her dark eyes +flashed. + +"And to think that I am passing my life in peril, ruining my health and +shattering my nerves for a creature like _that_!" she whispered +vehemently. "A cowardly, dishonest, drunken hog--a man who is prepared +to sacrifice his crown for money to spend on wine and cards. Nay, the +crown may be sold by this time for all I know." + +The figure on the bed stirred just a little. With a look of intense +loathing the queen bent down and laid her head on the sleeper's breast. +It seemed to her that the heart was not moving. + +"He must not die," she said passionately. "He must not die--yet. And +yet, God help me, I should be the happier for his release. The weary +struggle would be over, and I could sleep without the fear of his being +murdered before my eyes. Oh, why does not Paul come!" + +The words came as if in protest against the speaker's helplessness. +Almost immediately there came a gentle tap at the door, and General +Maxgregor entered. A low, fierce cry of delight came from the queen; she +held out a pair of hands that trembled to the newcomer. There was a +flush on her beautiful face now, a look of pleasure in the splendid +eyes. She was more like a girl welcoming her lover than a queen awaiting +the arrival of a servant. + +"I began to be afraid, Paul," she said. "You are so very late, that +I----" + +Paul Maxgregor held the trembling hands in a strong grasp. There was +something in his glance that caused the queen to lower her eyes and her +face to flush hotly. It was not the first time that a soldier has +aspired to share a throne. There was more than one tradition in the +berserker Scotch family to bear out the truth of it. The Maxgregors of +Glen had helped to make European history before now, and Paul Maxgregor +was not the softest of his race. + +Generally he passed for an Asturian, for he spoke the language +perfectly, having been in the service of that turbulent State for the +last twenty odd years. There was always fighting in the Balkans, and the +pay had attracted Paul Maxgregor in his earliest days. But though his +loyalty had never been called in question, he was still a Briton to the +backbone. + +"I could not come before, Margaret," he said. "There were other matters. +But why did you bring him here? Surely Lord Merehaven does not know that +our beloved ruler----" + +"He doesn't, Paul. But I had to be here and play my part. And there came +news that the king was in some gambling house with a troupe of that +archfiend's spies. The police helped me, and I dragged him out and I +brought him here by way of the garden. Vera Galloway did the rest. I +dared not leave that man behind me, I dared not trust a single servant I +possess. So I smuggled the king here and I sent for you. He is very near +to death to-night." + +"Let him die!" Paul Maxgregor cried. "Let the carrion perish! Then you +can seat yourself on the throne of Asturia, and I will see that you +don't want for a following." + +The queen looked up with a mournful smile on her face. There was one +friend here whom she could trust, and she knew it well. Her hands were +still held by those of Maxgregor. + +"You are too impetuous, Paul," she said softly. "I know that you are +devoted to me, that yo--you love me----" + +"I love you with my whole heart and soul, sweetheart," Maxgregor +whispered. "I have loved you since the day you came down from your +father's castle in the hills to wed the drunken rascal who lies there +heedless of his peril. The Maxgregors have ever been rash where their +affections were concerned. And even before you became Erno's bride, I +warned you what to expect. I would have taken you off then and there and +married you, even though I had lost my career and all Europe would have +talked of the scandal. But your mind was fixed upon saving Asturia from +Russia, and you refused. Not because you did not love me----" + +The queen smiled faintly. This handsome, impetuous, headstrong soldier +spoke no more than the truth. And she was only a friendless, desperate +woman after all. + +"I must go on, Paul," she said. "My duty lies plainly before me. Suppose +Erno ... dies? He may die to-night. And if he does, what will happen? As +sure as you and I stand at this moment here, Russia will produce some +document purporting to be signed by the king. The forgery will be a +clever one, but it will be a forgery all the same. It will be proved +that Erno has sold his country, the money will be traced to him, and +Russia will take possession of those Southern passes. This information +comes from a sure hand. And if Russia can make out a case like this, +Europe will not interfere. Spies everywhere will make out that I had a +hand in the business, and all my work will be in vain. Think of it, +Paul--put your own feelings aside for a moment. Erno must not die." + +Maxgregor paced up and down the room with long, impatient strides. The +pleading voice of the queen had touched him. When he spoke again his +tone was calmer. + +"You are right," he said. "Your sense of duty and honour make me +ashamed. Mind you, were the king to die I should be glad. I would take +you out of the turmoil of all this, and you would be happy for the first +time in your life. We are wasting valuable time. See here." + +As Maxgregor spoke he took a white package from his pocket and tore off +the paper. Two small bottles were disclosed. The general drew the cork +from one of them. + +"I got this from Dr. Salerno--I could not find Dr. Varney," he +explained--"and is for our distinguished drunkard--he takes one. The +other is to be administered drop by drop every ten minutes. Salerno told +me that the next orgie like this was pretty sure to be fatal. He said he +had made the remedy strong." + +The smaller bottle was opened, and Maxgregor proceeded to raise the head +of the sleeping figure. He tilted up the phial and poured the contents +down the sleeper's throat. He coughed and gurgled, but he managed to +swallow it down. Then there was a faint pulsation of the rigid limbs, +the white, mean face took on a tinge as if the blood were flowing again. +Presently a pair of bloodshot eyes were opened and looked dully round +the room. The king sat up and shuddered. + +"What have you given me?" he asked fretfully. "My mouth is on fire. +Fetch me champagne, brandy, anything that tastes of drink. What are you +staring at, fool? Don't you see him over there? He's got a knife in his +hand--he's all dressed in red. He's after me!" + +With a yell the unhappy man sprang from the bed and flew to the window. +The spring blind shot up and the casement was forced back before +Maxgregor could interfere. Another moment and the madman would have been +smashed on the flagstones below. With something that sounded like an +oath Maxgregor dashed forward only just in time. His strong hands +reached the drink-soddened maniac back, the casement was shut down, but +in the heat and excitement of the moment the blind remained up, so that +it was just possible from the terrace at the end of the garden to see +into the room. + +But this Maxgregor had not time to notice. He had the ruler of Asturia +back on the bed now, weak and helpless and almost collapsed after his +outburst of violence. The delusion of the red figure with the knife had +passed for a moment, and the king's eyes were closed. Yet his heart was +beating now, and he bore something like the semblance of a man. + +"And to think that on a wretch like that the fate of a kingdom hangs," +Maxgregor said sadly. "You can leave him to me, Margaret, for the time +being. Your absence will be noticed by Mazaroff and the rest. Give the +signal.... Why doesn't that girl come?" + +But the signal was repeated twice with no sign of the sham Miss +Galloway. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PERIL SPEAKS + + +The two conspirators exchanged uneasy glances. The king seemed to have +dropped off again into a heavy sleep, for his chest was rising steadily. +Evidently the powerful drug had done its work. Maxgregor had opened the +second phial, and had already begun to drop the spots at intervals on +the sleeping man's lips. + +"There must be something wrong," the queen said anxiously. "I am sure +Miss Galloway is quite to be relied upon. She knew that she had to wait. +They--why does she not come?" + +"Watched, probably," Maxgregor said between his teeth. "There are many +spies about. This delay may cause serious trouble, but you must not +return back by yourself.... Try again." + +Once more the signal was tried, and after the lapse of an anxious moment +a knock came at the door. The queen crossed rapidly and opened it. +Jessie stood there a little flushed and out of breath. + +"I could not come before," she explained. "A man found me by the +fountain. I can hardly tell you why, but I am quite sure that he is your +enemy. If you knew Prince Boris Mazaroff----" + +"You did wisely," the queen said. "I know Mazaroff quite well, and +certainly he is no friend of mine or of my adopted country. You did not +let him see you come?" + +"No; I had to wait till there was a chance to get rid of him, madame. A +friend came to my assistance, and Lord Merehaven was impressed into the +service. Mazaroff will not trouble us for some little time; he will not +be free before you regain the salon. And this gentleman----" + +"Will have to stay here. He has to look after the king. Lock the door, +Paul." + +Maxgregor locked the door behind the queen and Jessie. They made their +way quickly into the garden again without being seen. It was well that +no time was lost, for the concert in the salon was just over, and the +guests were beginning to troop out into the open air. The night was so +calm and warm that it was possible to sit outside. Already a small army +of footmen were coming with refreshments. The queen slipped away and +joined a small party of the diplomatic circle, but the warm pressure of +her hand and the radiancy of her smile testified to her appreciation of +Jessie's services. + +The girl was feeling uneasy and nervous now. She was wondering what was +going to happen next. She slipped away from the rest and sauntered down +a side path that led to a garden grove. Her head was in a maze of +confusion. She had practically eaten nothing all day; she was feeling +the want of food now. She sat down on a rustic seat and laid her aching +head back. + +Presently two men passed her, one old and grey and distinguished-looking, +whom she had no difficulty in recognizing as Lord Merehaven. Nor was +Jessie in the least surprised to see that his companion was Prince +Mazaroff. The two men were talking earnestly together. + +"I assure you, my lord, I am speaking no more than the truth," Mazaroff +said eagerly. "The secret treaty between Russia and Asturia over those +passes is ready for signature. It was handed to King Erno only to-day, +and he promised to read it and return it signed in the morning." + +"Provided that he is in a position to sign," Lord Merehaven said drily. + +"Just so, my lord. Under that treaty Russia gets the Southern passes. +Once that is a fact, the fate of Asturia is sealed. You can see that, of +course?" + +"Yes, I can see that, Prince. It is a question of absorbing Asturia. I +would give a great deal for a few words now with the King of Asturia." + +"I dare say," Mazaroff muttered. "So would I for that matter. But nobody +knows where he is. He has a knack of mysteriously disappearing when on +one of his orgies. The last time he was discovered in Paris in a +drinking den, herding with some of the worst characters in Europe. At +the present moment his suite are looking for him everywhere. You see, he +has that treaty in his pocket----" + +Lord Merehaven turned in his stride and muttered that he must see to +something immediately. Mazaroff refrained from following, saying that he +would smoke a cigarette in the seclusion of the garden. The light from a +lantern fell on the face of the Russian, and Jessie could plainly see +the evil triumph there. + +"The seed has fallen on fruitful ground," Mazaroff laughed. "That +pompous old ass will---- Igon! What is it?" + +Another figure appeared out of the gloom and stood before Mazaroff. The +new-comer might have been an actor from his shaven face and alert air. +He was in evening dress, and wore a collar of some order. + +"I followed you," the man addressed as Igon said. "What am I looking so +annoyed about? Well, you will look quite as much annoyed, my friend, +when you hear the news. We've lost the king." + +Something like an oath rose to Mazaroff's lips. He glanced angrily at +his companion. + +"The thing is impossible," he said. "Why, I saw the king myself at four +o'clock this afternoon in a state of hopeless intoxication. It was I who +lured him from his hotel with the story of some wonderful dancing he was +going to see, with a prospect of some gambling to follow. I spoke in +glowing terms of the marvellous excellency of the champagne. I said he +would have to be careful, as the police have their eyes on the place. +Disguised as a waiter the king left his hotel and joined me. I saw him +helplessly drunk, and I came away with instructions that the king was to +be carefully watched, and that he was not to be allowed to leave. Don't +stand there and tell me that my carefully planned coup of so many weeks +has failed." + +"I do tell you that, and the sooner you realize it the better," the +other man said. "We put the king to bed and locked the door on the +outside. Just before dusk the police raided the place----" + +"By what right? It is a private house. Nothing has ever taken place +there that the police object to. Of course, it was quite a fairy tale +that I pitched to the King of Asturia." + +"Well, there it is!" the other said gloomily. "The police raided the +place. Possibly somebody put them up to it. That Maxgregor is a devil of +a fellow who finds out everything. They found nothing, and went off +professing to be satisfied. And when I unlocked the door to see that we +hadn't gone too far with the king, he had vanished. I only found them +out a little time ago, and I came to you at once. Not being an invited +guest, I did not run the risk of coming to the house, but I got over the +garden wall from the stables beyond, and here I am. It's no use blaming +me, Mazaroff; I could not have helped it--nobody could have helped it." + +Mazaroff paced up and down the gravel walk anxiously. His gloomy brows +were knitted into a frown. A little while later and his face cleared +again. + +"I begin to see my way," he said. "We have people here to deal with +cleverer than I anticipated. There is no time to be lost, Igon. Come +this way." + +The two rascals disappeared, leaving Jessie more mystified than ever. +Then she rose to her feet in her turn and made her way towards the +house. At any rate, she had made a discovery worth knowing. It seemed to +be her duty to tell the queen what she had discovered. But the queen +seemed to have vanished, for Jessie could not find her in the grounds of +the house. As she came out of the hall she saw Ronald Hope, who appeared +to be looking for somebody. + +"I wanted you," he said in an undertone. "An explanation is due to me. +You were going to tell me everything. I have never come across a more +maddening mystery than this, Jessie." + +"Don't even whisper my name," the girl said. "I will tell you everything +presently. Meanwhile, I shall be very glad if you will tell me where I +can find the Queen of Asturia." + +"She has gone," was the unexpected reply. "She was talking to Lady +Merehaven when a messenger came with a big letter. The queen glanced at +it and ordered her carriage at once. She went quite suddenly. I hope +there is nothing wrong, but from the expression of your face----" + +"I hope my face is not as eloquent as all that," Jessie said. "What I +have to say to the queen will keep, or the girl I am impersonating can +carry the information. Let us go out into the garden, where we can talk +freely. I am doing a bold thing, Ronald, and---- What is it?" + +A footman was handing a letter for Jessie on a tray. The letter was +addressed to Miss Galloway, and just for an instant Jessie hesitated. +The letter might be quite private. + +"Delivered by the young person from Bond Street, miss," the footman +said. "The young person informed me that she hoped to come back with all +that you required in an hour, miss. Meanwhile she seemed to be anxious +for you to get this letter." + +"What a complication it all is," Jessie said as she tore open the +envelope and read the contents under the big electrics in the hall. +"This is another mystery, Ronald. Read it." + +Ronald Hope leaned over Jessie's shoulder and read as follows:-- + +"At all hazards go up to the bedroom where the king is, and warn the +general he is watched. Implore him for Heaven's sake and his own to +_pull down the blind_!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +"UNEASY LIES THE HEAD" + + +Jessie crushed the paper carelessly in the palm of her hand. Her impulse +was, of course, to destroy the letter, seeing that the possession of it +was not unattended with danger, but there was no chance at present. The +thing would have to be burnt to make everything safe. + +"How long since the note came?" she asked the footman with an assumption +of displeasure. "Really, these tradespeople are most annoying." + +The footman was understood to say that the note had only just arrived, +that it had been left by the young person herself with an intimation +that she would return presently. To all of this Jessie listened with a +well-acted impatience. + +"I suppose I shall have to put up with it," she said. "You know where to +ask the girl if she comes. That will do. What were we talking about, +Captain Hope?" + +It was all admirably done, as Ronald Hope was fain to admit. But he did +not like it, and he did not hesitate to say so. He wanted to know what +it all meant. And he spoke as one who had every right to know. + +"I can hardly tell you," Jessie said unsteadily. "Events are moving so +fast to-night that they are getting on my nerves. Meanwhile, you seem to +know General Maxgregor very well--you say that you are anxious to obtain +a post in the Asturian service. That means, of course, that you know +something of the history of the country. The character of the king, for +instance----" + +"Bad," Hope said tersely, "very bad indeed. A drunkard, a _roue_, and a +traitor. It is for the queen's sake that I turn to Asturia." + +"I can quite understand that. Queen Margaret of Asturia seems very +fortunate in her friends. Look at this. Then put it in your pocket, and +take the first opportunity of destroying it." + +And Jessie handed the mysterious note to Ronald, who read it again with +a puzzled air. + +"That came from Vera Galloway," the girl explained. "She is close by, +but she does not seem to have finished her task yet. Why I am here +playing her part I cannot say. But there it is. This letter alludes to +General Maxgregor, who is upstairs in one of the rooms in close +attendance on the King of Asturia, who is suffering from one of his +alcoholic attacks. Do you think that it is possible for anybody to see +into the room?" + +"Certainly," Ronald replied. "For instance, there are terraces at the +end of the garden made to hide the mews at the back from overlooking the +grounds. An unseen foe hidden there in the trees, with a good glass, may +discover a good deal. Vera Galloway knows that, or she would not have +sent you that note. You had better see to it at once." + +Jessie hurried away, having first asked Hope to destroy the note. The +door of the room containing the king was locked, and Jessie had to rap +upon it more than once before it was opened. A voice inside demanded her +business. + +"I come with a message from the queen," she whispered. She was in a +hurry, and there was always the chance of the servants coming along. +"Please let me in." + +Very cautiously the door was opened. General Maxgregor stood there with +a bottle in his hand. His face was deadly pale, and his hand shook as if +he had a great fear of something. The fear was physical, or Jessie was +greatly mistaken. + +"What has happened?" she asked. "Tell me, what has frightened you so +terribly?" + +"Frightened!" Maxgregor stammered. It seemed odd at the moment to think +of this man as one of the bravest and most dashing cavalry officers in +Europe. "I don't understand what you mean?" + +With just a gesture of scorn Jessie indicated the cheval glass opposite. +As Maxgregor glanced at the polished mirror he saw a white, ghastly +face, wet with sweat, and with a furtive, shrinking look in the eyes. He +passed the back of his hand over his moist forehead. + +"You are quite right," he said. "I had not known--I could not tell. And +I have been passing through one of the fiercest temptations that ever +lured a man to the edge of the Pit. You are brave and strong, Miss +Galloway, and already you have given evidences of your devotion to the +queen. Look there!" + +With loathing and contempt Maxgregor indicated the bed on which the King +of Asturia was lying. The pitiful, mean, low face and its frame of shock +red hair did not appeal to Jessie. + +"Not like one's recognized notion of royalty," she said. + +"Royalty! The meanest beggar that haunts the gutter is a prince compared +to him. He drinks, he gambles, he is preparing to barter his crown for +a mess of pottage. And the fellow's heart is hopelessly weak. At any +moment he may die, and the heart of the queen will be broken. Not for +him, but for the sake of her people. You see this bottle in my hand?" + +"Yes," Jessie whispered. "It might be a poison and you--and you----" + +"Might be a poisoner," Maxgregor laughed uneasily. "The reverse is the +case. I have to administer the bottle drop by drop till it is exhausted, +and if I fail the king dies. Miss Galloway, when you came into the room +you were face to face with a murderer." + +"You mean to say," Jessie stammered, "that you were going to refrain +from--from----" + +"That was it, though you hesitate to say the word. I had only to get rid +of the contents of that bottle and let it be tacitly understood that the +patient had taken his medicine. In an hour he would be dead--his heart +would have given way under the strain. The world would have been well +rid of a scoundrel, and I should never have been found out. The queen +would have regained her freedom at the loss of Asturia. And I would have +consoled her--I could have healed her wound." + +The last words came with a fierce indrawing of the speaker's breath. One +glance at his face, and Jessie knew everything. She could feel for the +long-drawn agony of the strong man's temptation. She loved herself, and +she could realize it all. There was nothing but pity in her heart. + +"I understand," she said. "Oh, I understand perfectly. I came in time to +save you. General Maxgregor, this matter must never be alluded to +between us again. The temptation is past now, I am certain. A brave and +good soldier like you---- But I am forgetting. I did not come to you +from the queen as I said, because the queen has already departed. I +had an urgent message from some unknown friend who desires me to say +that you have left the blind up." + +"Bless me! and is that really a fact?" Maxgregor exclaimed. "And it is +quite possible for any one to see into this room from the terrace at the +end of the garden. I used to play here as a boy. There are many spies +about to-night. I am glad you reminded me." + +Maxgregor crossed over to the window and laid his hand on the blind. As +he stood there with the light behind him his figure was picked out clear +and sharp. The blind came down with a rush, there was a little tinkle of +glass, and the general staggered back with his hand to his shoulder. A +moan of pain escaped him as he collapsed into a chair. + +"What is it?" Jessie asked anxiously. "Pray tell me, what is the matter? +That broken glass----" + +[Illustration: "_'What is it?' Jessie asked anxiously._"] + +"A bullet," Maxgregor whispered between his teeth, that were clenched in +pain. "As I stood in the window somebody fired at me from the garden. It +must have been a watcher hidden amongst the trees on the terrace. A +little more to the left and my career had been ended." + +The man had obtained a grip of himself now, but he was evidently +suffering intense pain. A dark stain of red broke out on the left side +of his coat. + +"I have been hit in the shoulder," he said. "I have no doubt that it is +little more than a flesh wound, but it is bleeding, and I feel faint. I +once lay on the battlefield all night with such a wound, so that I can +put up with it. Please leave me alone for a moment; do not think of me +at all. It is just the time for the king to have another dose of those +drops. There is no help for it now, Miss Galloway. You must stay and +give the king his medicine until it is all gone. Meanwhile, I can only +sit here and suffer. For Heaven's sake never mind me." + +Jessie took the bottle from the hand of the stricken man and walked to +the bed. She marvelled at the steadiness of her own hand. The drops fell +on the lips of the sleeping man, who was now breathing regularly. Half +an hour passed, and then the bottle was empty. + +"I have done my task," Jessie said. "What next? Shall I call Lord +Merehaven----" + +"Not for worlds," Maxgregor whispered fiercely. "He must not know. We +must wait till the house is quiet. There is no occasion ... how faint +and giddy I am! If there was only one man whom I could trust at this +critical moment!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE VERY MAN + + +Jessie thought for a moment, then a brilliant inspiration came to her. +She touched Maxgregor on the arm. + +"I have the very man," she said. "You know him; he is a good and +efficient soldier. Moreover, he is anxious to obtain a post in the +Asturian army. He is a great friend of mine--Captain Ronald Hope." + +"You are a veritable angel of mercy and courage," Maxgregor cried. +"There is no man I would sooner trust in a crisis like this than Captain +Hope. Will you take long to find him?" + +Jessie engaged to have Ronald in the room in five minutes. She crept +down the stairs as if listless and bored with everything, but her heart +was beating thick and fast. There was no trouble in finding Ronald, who +advanced towards the stairs at Jessie's signal. She wasted no words in +idle explanation, but led him directly to the room where Maxgregor was +waiting. + +"We seem to have dropped into a murderous gang," he said, when the +hurried explanation was finished. "Do you think those fellows know +everything, General?" + +"I fancy they know a great deal," Maxgregor muttered. "They know that +they will be more safe if I am out of the way, and they have a pretty +good notion of the identity of the poor fool lying on the bed yonder. If +we could only get him away! He had no business to come here at all, and +yet the queen could not do anything else. If we could only get him +away!" + +"Wouldn't it come to the same thing if those murderous ruffians merely +thought that the king had gone?" Jessie asked. "Then in the dead of the +night I could manage the real removal. If I could show you a way of +throwing dust in the eyes of those people----" + +"You have a plan?" Maxgregor said. "A clever woman against the world! +Say on." + +"My plan is a very simple one," Jessie said. "Before long the grounds +will be deserted for supper. There will be nobody in the garden at all. +Supper is at midnight. Change clothes with the king, though it will be a +tight fit for you, General. Then you can descend by the balcony to the +garden. Go to the gate that leads into the lane beyond, walk as if you +were under the influence of recent potations. At the end of the lane are +cabs. Take one and go to your chambers and send for a doctor. Doubtless +you will be followed in another cab by whoever was, or rather _is_, in +the garden, but I will see that the murderer is delayed. Later on +Captain Hope and myself will decide what is to be done with the king." + +The plan was simple, but quite sufficient for the circumstances. Jessie +retired into the dressing-room whilst the change was being made. She was +not sorry for a little time to collect her thoughts. It seemed to her +that she had lived for a century since the few hours before when Madame +Malmaison had given her a curt dismissal. A lifetime had been crushed +into minutes. The girl was being taxed now to the utmost limit of her +strength. She longed for Vera Galloway's return. + +Still, she had achieved her object; she was likely to be free from +anxiety for some time to come, and best of all, she had found Ronald +Hope again. It was good to know that he had loved her all along, and +that he had not once faltered in his allegiance. It was worth a great +deal to know that. + +A whisper behind the door of the dressing-room, and Jessie was herself +again. The change had been made, and the king had fallen into his stupor +once more. General Maxgregor looked pinched and confined in the dress of +his king, but that would pass in the dark. His face was deadly white +too, which was all in his favour. The wound had ceased to bleed, but the +pain was still there. + +"I am quite ready," he whispered, "when you think that the coast is +clear." + +The house was growing noisy again as the guests filed in to supper. +Jessie ventured into the corridor presently and looked out into the +grounds. So far as she could see the place was empty. She would go and +take her place by the door leading into the lane, and the general was to +follow a little later. Would Ronald lend her half a sovereign? Jessie +shuddered and turned a little pale as she pushed through the belt of +trees behind the terrace, for the would-be murderer might have been +lurking there at that moment. + +From where she stood she could see Maxgregor coming in her direction. He +walked unsteadily; there was no reason to sham intoxication, for his +wound did that for him. It was only the iron nerve of the man that kept +him going at all. Jessie was thankful at length to see that Maxgregor +had reached the door. At the end of the lane two hansoms were standing. +The general stumbled into one of them and was driven rapidly away. +Then, as Jessie had confidently anticipated, another figure emerged as +if from the door of the garden and hailed the other hansom. Doubtless +the idea was to keep the general's cab in sight and track him to his +destination, under the impression that the King of Asturia was in the +first hansom. + +But Jessie was resolved to frustrate that. She stepped quickly forward +and hailed the other cab. Then for the first time she saw that the +newcomer was not, as she expected, a man, but a woman. She was tall and +fair, and exceedingly good looking. + +"I particularly want that cab," she said coolly. "I put up my hand +first." + +The speaker used good English, Jessie noticed, though with a lisp. +Without waiting to combat the point, Jessie jumped into the cab. + +"There is another a little way down the lane," she said. "I am in a +hurry, or I would wait. Please drive me to 14, Albert Mansions, Hyde +Park." + +With a sort of smothered exclamation, the other hurried down the lane. +The cabman again asked where he was to go. He had not caught the +direction, he said. + +"I don't want to go anywhere," Jessie said coolly, as she came to the +ground again. "Take this half sovereign, and drive some distance, say a +mile, at a good pace. And if you can possibly prevent that woman behind +catching the first cab so much the better. Now bang your doors to and be +off." + +With a grin the cabman touched his cap, the door banged, and the hansom +set off as if the fare were in a breakneck hurry. Standing well back in +the doorway Jessie had the satisfaction of seeing the fair woman flash +by her presently on her futile errand. She had saved the situation for +the present. Nobody guessed where the King of Asturia was, and the spy +had gone off on a false errand altogether. No doubt the would-be +assassin had departed by this time. + +In a fever of impatience Ronald Hope awaited Jessie at the steps of the +balcony. The gardens were quite deserted by this time, so that it was +possible to talk in safety. + +"He got clear off," Jessie said, not without a little pardonable pride. +"As I expected, an attempt was made to follow him, only fortunately +there were only two hansoms in the lane, and I took the second one and +pretended to drive away whilst the spy was hurrying elsewhere in search +of a conveyance. That was what I wanted your half sovereign for, +Ronald." + +"And the spy?" Ronald asked. "What sort of a fellow was he?" + +"It was not a fellow at all. The spy was a woman, and a very nice +looking one, too. Tall and fair, with rather a patrician cast of +features. But I should know her again." + +"And now you are going to tell me everything, dearest?" Ronald said. + +"Indeed I am not going to do anything of the sort just at present," +Jessie said. "I don't want anybody to see me talking to you in this +fashion when everybody is at supper. Recollect that I am Miss Vera +Galloway, and that I am supposed to be fond of a certain Charles +Maxwell, whose friends may make mischief for him. I shall go into +supper; and indeed, Ronald, a little food and a glass of wine are +absolute necessities, for my legs are trembling as if I had walked too +far. Have patience." + +Ronald bent and kissed the speaker, with a fervent hope that everything +would end well. Jessie slipped into the supper-room presently and took +her seat at a table with three other people, who welcomed her heartily. +She had not the least idea who they were, but they evidently knew Vera +Galloway very well indeed. Some of the questions were very awkward ones +for the girl to reply to. + +"My dear friends," she said, "I am ravenously hungry. Positively, I have +a country appetite. A little of the chicken and salad and just a glass +of champagne. I am not going to answer any questions till I have had my +supper. Go on with your gossip." + +In spite of her anxiety Jessie made a hearty supper. She was glad +presently when a footman came up to her with a message. She hoped that +Vera Galloway, in the guise of a shop-girl, had come back. But it was +not the real Vera, it was only an intimation to the effect that a +district messenger boy was waiting to see Miss Vera Galloway in the +hall. Hurriedly Jessie passed out. + +"Charing Cross 'Ospital, miss," the lad said as he touched his cap. +"Young person from a shop. Had a nasty accident; run over by a cab. Said +as they was to let you know as how she could not come to-night and see +to your hat as arranged." + +Jessie checked a wild burst of hysterical laughter. She was in a pretty +predicament indeed. + +She was not even aware of Vera's maid's name. She would write a letter +to Vera asking for definite instructions. The note was despatched at +length, and Jessie came into the hall with a feeling of wonder as to +what was going to happen next. She was glad to find Ronald Hope awaiting +her. + +"There are lines of anxiety on your face," he said. "I shall be very +glad when the real Vera Galloway comes back and enables that 'young +person' Jessie Harcourt to depart in peace. Let me know when the time +comes, so that I can escort you back to your lodgings and talk matters +over with you and Ada." + +"There is not the slightest chance of your doing that to-night, Ronald," +Jessie said, repressing a wild desire to laugh. "My dear boy, this thing +is developing from one adventure to a hideous nightmare. Of course, I +haven't the remotest idea what Miss Galloway had in her mind when she +brought me here, but I have just heard that she has met with an accident +which will detain her in Charing Cross Hospital till the end of the +week." + +"Which means that you must carry on the masquerade till then?" + +"Which means that I must try, which is a very different thing +altogether. I can only clear myself by confessing the truth, and thereby +getting Miss Galloway into serious trouble. She is a good girl, and I am +certain that she is up to no wrong. She is making a great sacrifice for +the sake of somebody else. If I tell the truth, that sacrifice will be +in vain. Ronald, tell me what I am to do for the best." + +But Ronald Hope had no advice to offer. The situation was beyond the +wildest dreams of fiction. He could only shrug his shoulders and hope +for the best. There was nothing for it now but to sit down and watch the +progress of events. + +"Let us go and enjoy ourselves," Ronald said. "I feel horribly guilty +over the whole thing, especially as Lady Merehaven is such a dear good +friend of mine. Is that a band I can hear in the garden? Let us walk +about, and pretend that we are perfectly gay and happy." + +Supper was over by this time, and the guests all over the house and +grounds. Jessie thought of that white, silent form sleeping in the room +where she had conducted the Queen of Asturia and General Maxgregor. A +sudden thought had come to her. + +"I can't do it, Ronald," she said. "Practically, I am left guardian of a +king. I, who was only this morning quite content to try on bonnets in a +Bond Street shop! It seems almost incredible, but the fact remains. If +his majesty comes to his senses----" + +"By Jove!" Ronald said thoughtfully. "I have never thought of that. What +are you going to do?" + +"Run upstairs again and see that the king is all right. Then there is +another matter that has entirely escaped my attention in the new +complication--General Maxgregor. He went away from here badly hurt and +in great pain. He may have fainted in the cab--he may be dead, perhaps. +Ronald, you must be guided by me. You have the run of the house--you +seem to come and go as you like." + +"I have had the run of the house since I was a kid in knickerbockers, +Jessie." + +"Very good. Then you are to go at once to the general's lodgings and see +that everything is being done for him. Then come back and report +progress. Go at once, please." + +Ronald departed obediently. As Jessie crossed the room in the direction +of the house, three girls stood in her way. She would have passed them +for strangers, but they held on to her in a manner so familiar that +Jessie realized they were friends of Vera Galloway's. + +"What is the matter with the girl to-night?" one of them cried gaily. +"There is a frown on her brow, there are lines on her cheeks. Is it +Tommy or Larry that causes the trouble?" + +Jessie laughed in affected good humour, wondering all the while who +Tommy and Larry might be. The question was pressed again, and there was +nothing but to answer it. + +"Oh, they are all right," she said in an offhand way. "Haven't you seen +them to-night?" + +"To-night!" one of the girls cried. "When? On one of the tables after +the sugar? Positively, I am jealous of your Larry. But he would not have +done so well at Brighton if Lionel had been there." + +"Possibly not," Jessie admitted. "As Tommy said to me----" + +"Tommy said to you!" laughed another of the girls. "Oh, you people are +absurd over your pets. Cats are all very well in their way, but whilst +there are dogs and horses----" + +Jessie felt an inclination to embrace the speaker who had quite +innocently helped her out of the hole. It was quite evident that Tommy +and Larry were two pet cats belonging to Miss Galloway. The Lionel in +question, whose absence from Brighton--presumedly at a show--was +evidently a pet of the tall girl with the very nice blue eyes. The +incident was farcical enough, but the incidents came so fast that they +were beginning to get on Jessie's nerves. + +"I'll come and see Lionel soon, if I may," she said. "Is that Lady +Longmarsh over there? I have been looking for her all the evening." + +And Jessie managed to slip away into the house. Here and there someone +or another smiled at her and asked her questions that she found it +difficult to parry, chaff and badinage that would have been easy to +Vera Galloway, though they were as Greek to her double. + +"I can positively feel my hair turning grey," Jessie said to herself as +she crept up the stairs. The thought of carrying on this imposition till +the end of the week was appalling. "I shall have to invent a bad turn of +neuralgia, and stay in my bedroom till Saturday. Vera is a society girl, +and surely has many social engagements, and I don't even know what her +programme for to-morrow is." + +Jessie slipped into the room where the king lay. He looked grotesque +enough in Maxgregor's uniform, and not in the least like a ruler. So far +as Jessie could see, the poor creature looked like sleeping a long time +yet. The danger of collapse was past for the present, but the deep sleep +of utter intoxication still clung to the ruler of Asturia. For some +time, at any rate, there was no expectation of danger in that quarter. +And there was always Ronald Hope to fall back upon. When everybody had +gone, which was not likely to be very soon, the king would be smuggled +out of the house. The Queen of Asturia had gone off in a hurry, but she +was pretty certain to send instructions by somebody. The man on the bed +turned and muttered something in his sleep. + +"Don't let anybody know," he said. "He's at Charleston Street, No. 15. +Always manage it that way. Give me some more of it. Out of the other +bottle." + +The voice trailed off in a murmur, and the deep sleep fell again. Jessie +crept away and locked the door. Down in the hall a great throng of +guests passed from the room into the garden and back again. At the back +of the press Jessie caught sight of a tall, stately figure, with the +light falling on her glorious hair and sparkling on her diamond tiara. +Jessie's heart gave a great leap; she felt that the needed aid was close +at hand. + +"Heaven be praised!" she said. "The queen has returned again. What does +she know, I wonder?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"PONGO" + + +The Queen of Asturia was back again surely enough, smiling as if she had +not a trouble in the world. Lady Merehaven was listening to what she had +to say. + +"I found that I had to return," she was murmuring. "I am searching for a +will-o'-the-wisp. I was told that I should find him at the Duchess of +Norton's, but he had been called away from there. There was a case +needing his urgent attention at Charing Cross Hospital. I was told that +subsequent to that matter my will-o'-the-wisp was coming on here +positively. Have you seen Dr. Varney?" + +Lady Merehaven had not seen the distinguished physician, but he had +certainly promised to look in at Merehaven House in the course of the +evening. Despite his position and his many affairs, Dr. Varney was a man +who prided himself upon keeping his social engagements, and he was +certain to appear. It seemed to Jessie that the queen seemed to be +relieved about something. She had never ceased to smile, but there was +an expression of sudden fierce gladness in her eyes. As she looked up +her glance took in Jessie. There was a quick signal, the uplifting of a +bouquet, and that was all. + +But Jessie understood that the queen wanted to speak to her without +delay. The opportunity came presently, for Lady Merehaven was called +away, leaving a pompous old diplomat to wait on the queen. It was an +easy matter to send him in quest of lemonade, and then as the bouquet +was lifted again, Jessie crossed over rapidly to the side of the queen. + +"Tell me all that has happened," she commanded swiftly, fiercely almost, +though the smile never left her face. She might have been discussing the +most trivial of topics. "I was called away; I had to go. I am at the +beck and call of people like a footman." + +"You have not seen or heard anything, madame?" Jessie asked. + +"Did I not tell you so? Forgive my temper, but I am harassed and worried +to death. Is everything going all right?" + +"Up to the present, madame," Jessie proceeded to explain. "It was +unfortunate that the blind in the room upstairs was not pulled down. I +had a warning about that, so I proceeded to the bedroom. General +Maxgregor was giving those drops to the king, out of the little +bottle----" + +"Yes, yes. And were they all administered? Heaven forgive me for asking +the question, but I think that had I been in General Maxgregor's place, +I----but I talk nonsense. Were they all----?" + +"Every one of them. I administered the last few drops myself. I had to, +for the simple reason that General Maxgregor was wounded. The blind was +up, and somebody shot at the general from the garden, from the high +terrace at the end of the garden." + +"Ah! Well, it is only what I expected, after all. The general--was he +badly hit?" + +"In the shoulder. He said it was only a flesh wound, but evidently he +was in great pain. You see, after that the general had to go away at +once. At my suggestion he changed clothes with the king, and I managed +to get him away, all staggering and ill as he was, by way of the +garden." + +"You are a brave and true friend--God bless you! But there was the +danger of being followed, Vera." + +"I thought of that. There were two hansoms in the lane, and I put the +supposed king into one of them and gave the cabman the address of the +general's lodgings. As I expected, somebody appeared and attempted to +obtain the use of the other cab, but I was too quick for the foe. I gave +the cabman money and told him to drive on as if he carried a fare, and +the spy was baffled." + +"Wonderful! I shall never forget your service to me and to Asturia. What +was the man like who----" + +"It was not a man at all, madame," Jessie proceeded to explain. "It was +a woman. She was tall and fair, and exceedingly beautiful. I should not +have any difficulty in recognizing her again." + +The queen expressed her satisfaction, nor did she seem in the least +surprised to find that the spy was a woman. + +"I am very sorry about the accident to the general," she said +thoughtfully. "But it only tends to show you what we have to guard +against. I must go to the general as soon as possible. He may be very +ill." + +"I have already sent," Jessie said. "To a great extent I had to confide +in somebody. I told my friend Captain Ronald Hope all that was +necessary, and he is on his way to the general's now. Captain Hope is +also a great friend of General Maxgregor, and is, I know, very anxious +to find a post in the Asturian army. Perhaps your majesty may know +him?" + +The queen smiled and nodded. Evidently the name of Ronald was quite +familiar to her. Then she went on to ask after the health of the king. +Her face changed to a bitter smile as Jessie proceeded to say what she +had done in that direction. + +"I shall know how to act in the future," the queen said, "once the +crisis is over. But there are people waiting to talk to me, and who are +wondering why I am wasting my time on a mere girl like you when I have +the privilege of their society. If they only knew!" + +Jessie passed on, feeling that she was dismissed for the present. She +wandered aimlessly into the garden; there was a good deal of noise and +laughter going on behind the terrace. The little door leading to the +lane was open, and from the far side came the hiss of a motor. + +"Have you come to join the fun, Vera?" a girl who was a total stranger +to Jessie asked. "We are having larks on Pongo's motor-car. But now that +you have come Pongo will have eyes for nobody else." + +Jessie wondered who Pongo was, and whether any tender passages had +passed between him and Miss Galloway. Possibly not, for Vera was not the +class of girl who made herself a familiar footing with the type of young +man who allows himself to be christened by so characteristic a name. + +"Doin' it for a charity," a typical Johnny drawled as the car pulled up. +Jessie recognized the Bond Street type of rich fool who is flattered for +his money. "Get in, Miss Vera. Take you as far as Piccadilly and back +for a shilling. Society for Lost Dogs, you know." + +Jessie promptly accepted the offer, for a wild, brilliant scheme had +come into her head. The motor flashed along before there was time for +anybody else to get in. + +"Not as far as Piccadilly," Jessie said. "Only to the end of the lane +and back. I can't stay at present, Pongo. But if I come back presently, +do you think you could get rid of the others and take me as far as +Charing Cross Hospital? It's for the sake of a bet, you know." + +Pongo, whose other name Jessie had not the slightest idea of, grinned +with pleasure. The more ridiculous the thing, the more it appealed to +his peculiar nature. He would keep his car at the end of the lane and +wait for Miss Galloway an hour if necessary. The mention of his pet name +and the flash from Jessie's eyes had utterly overcome him. + +"Anything you like," he said. "Streets quiet, and all that; take you to +Charing Cross and back before you could say Jack Robinson, don't you +know. Only I'd like to make the journey slow, don't you know." + +Jessie laughed a response to the meaningless chatter of her companion. +She was going to do a foolish and most certainly a desperate thing, but +there was no help for it. Back in the house again she could see a little +man with a fine head and a grey beard talking to the queen. There was no +need to tell Jessie that this was Doctor Varney, for she knew the great +physician well by sight. She was going to speak to him presently and get +an order, late as it was, for her to see a patient in the hospital. She +knew quite well that it was no use her trying to get into the big +establishment at that hour without a special permit, and it would be no +fault of hers if that permit did not emanate from Dr. Varney. + +The little man's powerful voice boomed out, but ever and again it was +dropped at some quiet question from the queen. Presently the doctor +moved on in the direction of Jessie. She assumed that he would probably +know Miss Vera Galloway quite well, and she made up her mind to address +him as a friend of the family. But there were other people first who +claimed the doctor's attention--a Cabinet Minister, who had a question +or two to put on the score of his personal health, so that it was some +little time before Jessie obtained her chance. Even then the appearance +of Lady Merehaven delayed the operation. + +"Positively, my dear lady, I must apologize for being so late," the +doctor said. "But there was a little matter claiming my attention at +Charing Cross Hospital, an operation that one does not get every day, +and one that would brook no delay. But I got here as soon as possible. +Sad thing about your niece." + +"Why, what is the matter with my niece?" Lady Merehaven demanded. "My +niece!" + +The doctor looked as surprised as his hostess. There was a grave +expression on his fine face. + +"Miss Vera Galloway," he said. "Managed to get run over by a cab. But +you must know all about that. Nothing serious, really; but the loss of +her pleasant face here, and the knowledge that she takes no part in the +festivities of the evening, is rather distressing. But she seems quite +cheerful." + +"Dr. Varney," Lady Merehaven cried, "positively, I know nothing of what +you are talking about." + +Jessie crept away and hid herself discreetly behind one of the big palms +in the hall. What was coming now? + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A FRIEND AT COURT + + +Jessie's prevailing feeling was not one of fear; rather was she moved by +an intense, overpowering curiosity. She lingered behind the palm +wondering what was going to happen next. She could see between the +graceful hanging leaves the puzzled expression on Lady Merehaven's face. + +"But, my dear doctor, what you say is absurd," she was saying. "I saw +Vera pass not five minutes ago. And if she had met with an accident and +been conveyed to Charing Cross Hospital, why---- But the thing is out of +the question." + +"And yet I feel perfectly certain of my facts," Dr. Varney persisted. +"It is true that I was in a hurry, and that the young lady I allude to +was fast asleep--at any rate, nearly asleep. My dear lady, seeing that I +was present at Vera's birth, and that all these years I have known her +so intimately----" + +Jessie came leisurely into sight. It was impossible to let this matter +go any further. By chance the doctor had learnt something, and his mouth +must be closed if possible. She came along with a smile and a hand +outstretched. + +"You are very late, doctor," she said. "I have been looking forward to a +chat with you." + +For once in his life Dr. Varney was genuinely astonished. He looked at +Jessie in a vague, dreamy kind of way, though fortunately Lady Merehaven +did not glance up and notice his face. + +"There, you unbelieving man!" she cried. "Vera does not look as if she +had met with anything serious in the way of an accident." + +Dr. Varney pulled himself together promptly and took Jessie's +outstretched hand. There was a twinkle in his shrewd eyes as he held the +girl's fingers. + +"Extraordinary mistake of mine, wasn't it?" he said. "Could have sworn +that I saw you lying half asleep in one of the wards of Charing Cross +Hospital. Case of shock and injured ankle. People said the patient +called herself Harcourt, but could not recollect her address. Young +girls have such queer escapades nowadays that----" + +"But surely you know me better than that?" Jessie forced herself to say. + +"I'm not quite so sure that I do," Varney chuckled. "However, the girl +was very like you. Come and give me a sandwich and a glass of claret, +and we'll talk of old times." + +Jessie expressed herself as delighted, but inwardly she was praying for +some diversion. She was quite convinced that the doctor was by no means +satisfied; she could see that he was a shrewd, clever man of the world, +and that he meant to question her adroitly. If once the conversation +drifted to old times, she felt that she must be discovered. + +But Varney ate his sandwich and sipped his claret and water with no +reference to the past. He looked at Jessie once or twice in an +abstracted kind of way. She felt that she must talk, that she must say +something to start a safe conversation. + +"What are you thinking about, doctor?" she asked. + +"I am thinking," was the startling reply, "that you are one of the +finest actresses I have ever seen. The stage is the poorer for your +absence." + +Jessie's heart sank within her; there was no mistaking the dry +significance of the speech. This man was sure of his ground; he had +found her out. And yet there was a kindly look on his face, not as if he +were dealing with an impostor at all. + +"What do you mean?" Jessie asked. "I do not in the least understand +you." + +"Oh yes, you do; you understand me perfectly well. I don't know who you +are, but I most assuredly know who you are _not_, and that is Vera +Galloway. Mind, I am not accusing you of being a type of the mere vulgar +impostor. I would trust you against the world." + +"It is very good of you to say so," Jessie gasped. "You are not going to +assume that--that----" + +"That you are here for any evil purpose? With a face like yours the idea +is impossible. As I was passing through the wards of the hospital just +now, to my surprise I saw Vera Galloway there. I knew her not only by +her face and figure, but by the dimples round her wrists. Now your +wrists are very long and slender, and you have no dimples at all. Many +men would have let out the whole thing, but not so me. I find that the +patient has given the name of Harcourt, and that she has forgotten her +address. Forgive me if I scented a scandal. That is why I led up so +carefully to Lady Merehaven. But when you came on the scene I guessed +exactly what had happened. You were engaged to play Vera's part when she +was up to something elsewhere. I confess I am not altogether without +sorrow that so charming a girl----" + +"Indeed, I am quite sure that there was nothing really wrong," Jessie +cried. "From what I have seen of Miss Galloway I am quite sure that she +is not that class of girl. But for this unfortunate accident.... Dr. +Varney, you will not betray me?" + +"Well, I won't," Varney cried, "though I am no doubt an old fool for my +pains. It's very lucky that a clear head like mine has been imported +into the business. Now, in the first place, tell me who you are and what +you are doing here. I know you will be candid." + +"I will tell you everything," Jessie said. She was utterly thankful that +the case was no worse. "My name is Jessie Harcourt, and up to a few +hours ago I was a shop-girl in Bond Street." + +"That sounds quite romantic. A shop-girl in Bond Street and a lady by +birth and breeding, too. Which branch of the family do you belong to?" + +"The Kent Harcourts. My father was Colonel Harcourt, of the Royal +Galways." + +"Really now!" Varney exclaimed. "I knew your father quite well years +ago. I was an army doctor myself for a long time. Your father was an +extravagant man, my dear--always was. And he left you poor?" + +"He left my sister and myself penniless. We were fit for nothing either. +And that is why I found my way into a Bond Street shop. I was discharged +because I was supposed to have flirted with the son of a customer. My +indignant protest that the cowardly cad tried to kiss me counted for +nothing. As the complaining customer was the Princess Mazaroff----" + +"And her son the culprit," Varney said, with a queer gleam in his eyes. +"My dear child, you have done well to confide in me. But go on, tell me +everything." + +Jessie proceeded to relate her story at length, from the time that she +met Vera Galloway down to the existing moment. And the romantic side of +the royal story was not suppressed. Nor could Jessie feel that she had +not an interested listener. + +"This is one of the most remarkable stories that I have ever heard," +Varney said. "And as a doctor in a large way of practice, I have heard +some singular ones. I fancy that I can see my way clear now. And I know +what you don't know--that Vera is taking a desperate step for the sake +of a man she loves. It is quite plain to me why you are here. Well, +well! I am doing quite wrong, but I am going to keep your secret." + +"That is indeed good of you," Jessie said gratefully. "But there is more +to be done. My dear doctor, I can see my way to important information +without which it is impossible for me to sustain my present role until +Miss Galloway comes home again. It is imperative that I should have a +few words with her. You can give me a permit for the hospital +authorities. After that the rest is easy." + +"I quite see your point," Varney said thoughtfully. "You are as clever +as you are courageous. But how are you going to manage this without +being missed?" + +"I am going to make use of another," Jessie laughed. All her courage had +come back to her now. "I am going to make use of a gentleman known as +Pongo. He is supposed to be very fond of me as Vera Galloway. He does +not seem to be a very harmful individual." + +"Honourable George Lascelles," Varney muttered. "There is a good deal +of good in Pongo, though he assumes the role of an ass in society. Once +he marries and settles down he will be quite different. But how do you +propose to enlist him in the service?" + +Jessie proceeded to explain the silly business of the motor-car in the +lane behind the house. + +"I shall get him to take me to Charing Cross Hospital," she said. "You +may be quite certain that Vera Galloway is not asleep. A few minutes +with her will be quite enough for my purpose. And I shall be back again +before I am missed. Do you approve?" + +"I have to whether I like it or not," Varney grumbled, "though this is a +nice predicament for a man in my position and my time of life. I'll go +as far as the library and scribble out that permit, though what the +College of Physicians would say if they only knew----" + +And Varney strode off muttering as he went. But the twinkle was in his +eyes still. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +IN THE GARDEN + + +Jessie slipped out into the garden and along to the back of the terrace. +The absurd nonsense of the motor-car was still going on in the lane. It +was late now, and no chance of a crowd gathering there. The Honourable +George clamoured for Jessie's company, and asked where she had been. But +she smilingly shook her head, and declared that she was not ready; and, +besides, there were many before her. + +"I shall be back again practically in a quarter of an hour," she said. +"I can't stir till then." + +So far everything promised well. Jessie hurried back to the place where +she had left Varney. He was waiting there with half a sheet of note +paper in his hand. + +"There is the permit," he said. "You have only to show it to anybody in +authority and there will be no more difficulty. Hullo! what is all this +about?" + +There was a disturbance in the hall--the figure of a French maid talking +volubly in two languages at once; behind her a footman, accompanied by a +man who was unmistakably a plain-clothes detective, and behind him the +figure of a policeman, his helmet towering above the heads of the +guests. + +"Somebody asking for the Countess Saens," a guest replied to a question +of Varney's. "As far as I can gather, there has been a burglary at the +house of the countess, and her maid seems to know something about it. +But we shall know presently. Here comes the countess." + +The Countess Saens came smilingly into the hall, a strikingly handsome +figure in yellow satin. Jessie did not fail to notice her dark, piercing +eyes. + +"Who is she?" she asked Varney in a whisper. "Did you ever see such +black eyes?" + +"Don't know," the doctor replied. "Sort of comet of a season. Mysterious +antecedents, and all that, but possesses plenty of money, gives the most +splendid entertainments, and goes everywhere. I understand that she is +the morganatic wife of one of the Russian grand dukes." + +At any rate, the woman looked a lady to her finger tips, as Jessie was +bound to admit. She came with an easy smile into the little group, and +immediately her magnetic presence seemed to rivet all attention. The +frightened maid ceased to scold in her polyglot way and grew coherent. + +"Now let us get to the bottom of this business," the countess said +gaily. "There has been a burglary at my house. Where did it take place, +and what has been removed from the premises?" + +"It was in your room, madame," the maid said--"in your dressing-room. I +was going up to put everything right for the night and I saw the thief +there." + +"Would you recognize him again, Annette?" the countess asked. + +"Pardon me, but it was not a man; it was a woman. And she had opened the +drawers of your dressing table--she had papers in her hands. I came upon +her suddenly, and she heard me. Then she caught me by the throat and +half strangled me. Before I could recover my senses she had fled down +the stairs and out of the house. The hall porter took her for a friend +of yours, and did not stop her. Then I suppose that my feelings overcame +me, and----" + +"And you went off in hysterics," the countess said with a contemptuous +smile. "So long as you did not lose the papers----" + +"But, madame, the papers are gone! The second drawer on the left-hand +side is empty." + +Jessie saw the dark eyes blaze and the stern face of the countess +stiffen with fury. It was only for a moment, and then the face smiled +once more. But that flashing insight was a revelation to Jessie. + +"I hope you will be able to recognize the woman again," the countess +said. "Shall you? Speak, you idiot!" + +For the maid's gaze had suddenly become riveted on Jessie. The sight of +her face seemed to fascinate the little Frenchwoman. It was some minutes +before she found words to express her thoughts. + +"But behind," she said, pointing a forefinger at Jessie as if she had +been some striking picture. "Behind, she is there. Not dressed like +that, but in plain black; but she stole those papers. I can feel the +touch of her fingers on my throat at this moment. There is the culprit, +_voila_!" + +"Oh, this is ridiculous!" the countess cried. "How long since this has +happened?" + +"It is but twenty minutes ago," Annette said. "Not more than half an +hour, and behold the thief----" + +"Behold the congenital idiot," the countess laughed. "Miss Galloway has +not been out of my sight save for a few minutes for the last hour. Let +the police find out what they can, and take that poor creature home and +put ice on her head.... Perhaps I had better go along. It is a perfect +nuisance, but those papers were important. Will one of you call my +carriage?" + +The countess departed presently, smiling gaily. But Jessie had not +forgotten that flashing eye and the expression on her features. She +turned eagerly to Varney. + +"Very strange, is it not?" she asked. "Can you see what it all means?" + +"I can see perfectly well," Varney said coldly. "And I more or less hold +the key to the situation. Let us assume for the moment that the countess +is a spy and an intriguer. She has certain documents that somebody else +badly wants. Somebody else succeeds in getting those papers by force." + +"But why did the maid, Annette, pitch upon me?" Jessie asked. + +"Because you were the image of the thief," Varney whispered. "Only she +was dressed in black. The maid was not dreaming; she had more wits about +her than we imagine. Unless I am greatly mistaken, the thief who stole +those papers was no one else than Vera Galloway." + +The logic was so forcible and striking that Jessie could only stand +silent before it. The French maid had given Varney an important clue, +though the others had been blind to it. And Vera had not disguised at +the beginning of the adventure that she was engaged upon a desperate +errand for the sake of the man she loved, or, at any rate, for one who +was very dear to her. It had been a bold and daring thing to do, and +Jessie's admiration was moved. She hoped from the bottom of her heart +that Vera had the papers. + +"You will know before very long," Varney said, as if reading her +thoughts, "whether Vera Galloway has been successful or not. There is no +question whatever in my mind that Vera was the culprit. I will give you +a hint as to why she has acted in this way presently. Get a thick black +wrap of some kind and conceal it as closely as possible. When you are +going through the streets of London you must have something over your +head." + +"If I only knew where to put my hand on a wrap of that description!" +Jessie said helplessly. + +"Time is short, and bold measures are necessary," Varney said coolly. +"There are heaps of wraps in the vestibule, and I should take the first +that came to hand. If the owner wants it in the meantime it will be +assumed that it has been taken by mistake." + +Jessie hesitated no longer. She chose a thick black cloak and hood +arrangement that folded into very little space, and then she squeezed it +under her arm. Then she strolled out into the garden. It was very still +and warm. London was growing quiet, so that the shrieks of the late +newsboys with the evening scare could be distinctly heard there. Varney +laid his hand on Jessie's arm. He had grown very grave and impressive. +The yelling newsboys were growing gradually nearer. + +"Listen, and tell me what they are saying," Varney whispered. + +Impressed by the sudden gravity of her companion's manner, Jessie gave +all her ears to the call. + +"Late Special! Startling case at the War Office! Suicide of Captain +Lancing, and flight of Mr. Charles Maxwell! Disappearance of official +documents! Special!" + +"I hear," Jessie said; "but I am afraid that I don't understand quite." + +"Well, there has been a scandal at the War Office. One or two officials +there have been accused of selling information to foreign Governments. I +heard rumours especially with regard to Asturian affairs. Late to-night +Captain Lancing shot himself in the smoking-room of his club. They took +him to Charing Cross, and as I happened to look into the club a little +later I followed on to the hospital to see what I could do. But I was +too late, for the poor fellow was dead. Now do you see how it was that I +came to see Vera Galloway?" + +Jessie nodded; she did not quite understand the problem yet. What had +this War Office business to do with Vera Galloway and her dangerous and +desperate enterprise? She looked inquiringly at her companion. + +"We had better get along," he said. "I see Pongo is waiting for you. +Tuck that wrap a little closer under your arm so that it may not be +seen. And as soon as you get back come to me and let me know exactly +what has happened. I ought to be ashamed of myself. I ought to lay all +the facts of this case before my charming hostess; but there are events +here beyond the usual society tenets. My dear child, don't you know who +the Charles Maxwell is whose name those boys are yelling? Does not the +name seem familiar to you? Come, you are quick as a rule." + +"Oh, yes," Jessie gasped. "That was the name that Prince Mazaroff +mentioned. Dr. Varney, it is the man to whom Vera Galloway is engaged, +or practically engaged. What a dreadful business altogether." + +"Yes," Varney said curtly, "the plot is thickening. Now for the +motor-car." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A PRODIGAL SON + + +Loth as he might have been inclined to admit it, Dr. Varney was by no +means ill-pleased with his share of the adventure. He felt that a man +like himself, who knew everything, would be decidedly useful. And how +much he really did know Jessie would have been startled to know. For +here was a man who had a great practice amongst politicians, and +statesmen especially. He walked quietly back to the house now and +entered the salon as if looking for somebody. His shrewd face was grave +and thoughtful. He found his man at last--a tall, grizzled man, who bore +some kind of likeness to a greyhound. He was in a measure a greyhound, +for he had been a queen's messenger for many years. + +"I thought I should find you about somewhere," the doctor said. "I want +a few words with you, Lechmere. Let us go into the garden and smoke a +cigarette." + +"Always delighted to chat with you, Varney," Lechmere said. "Come along. +Now, what is it?" + +"_Re_ the Countess Saens," Varney said. "You know the woman I mean?" + +"Certainly I do. Lives in a big house in Connaught Crescent. Not her own +house, by the way. Dresses magnificently, gives wonderful parties, and +always has the last new thing. Handsome woman, too, and goes everywhere. +But nobody knows anything about her." + +"I came to you for a little information on the point, Lechmere." + +"Well, as a matter of fact I can give it to you, Varney. There are very +few of the foreign colony in London whose history I haven't ready for +docketing. Many a useful hint have I given the Foreign Office and +Scotland Yard. Ever hear of Saul Marx, the famous cosmopolitan spy--I +mean the man who saved that war between France and Germany?" + +"Of course I have heard of Marx. Who hasn't? But what has that to do +with the business?" + +"Well, he told me all about the charming countess. She began life in +Warsaw in a company of strolling players. Afterwards she married one of +the most noted scamps in Paris, who wanted a pretty wife as a pawn in +some game of his. The fellow ill-treated her horribly, but he taught her +everything in the way of the predatory life that was to be learnt. +Finally, the husband died under very strange circumstances, and between +ourselves, Marx says that the woman murdered him. After that she +narrowly escaped a long term of imprisonment over the Malcolm-Sin +diamond business, and then for a long time nothing was heard of her till +she turned up as Vera Olpheut, the famous anarchist speaker. She was +expelled from Russia, which was all a blind, seeing that she is one of +the cleverest spies that the Russian police ever employed. Her ladyship +is after a very big game now, or she would not be spending all that +money. An adventuress like that never pays her tradesmen as a rule, but +I know for a fact that the household bills are discharged regularly +every week." + +"You are quite sure of those facts?" Varney asked. + +"My dear fellow, you can take them as gospel. Marx never makes a +mistake. Why do you ask?" + +"I am merely a seeker after information. I may be in the way of putting +a spoke in the lady's wheel a little later on, perhaps. Have you heard +of that business at the Foreign Office?" + +"I heard of it just now; in fact, I looked in here to see if Merehaven +could tell me anything about it. How those newspapers get hold of these +things puzzles me. But I don't suppose it is true that poor old Dick +Lancing committed suicide at his club, and----" + +"It's perfectly true, Lechmere. I was in the club directly after, and I +followed on to Charing Cross Hospital, only to find that I was too late. +What you say about the newspapers is absolutely correct. But, unless I +am greatly mistaken, the newspaper containing the startling report in +question will help me over this matter. I am going to make a proposal to +Lord Merehaven." + +"I've been trying to get at him. But the Austrian Ambassador has held +him fast for the last hour." + +"Well, there is plenty of time," Varney went on. "From what I can +understand papers of the utmost importance have been stolen from the +Foreign Office, or they have been sold by some official to the foe. On +the face of it, the charge points to poor Lancing; but one never can +tell. Those papers relate to a kind of understanding with Asturia, and +if Russia gets to know all about it then we are done. Now, let me tell +you a little thing that happened to-night. There was a burglary at +Countess Saens' house, and the thief took nothing but papers. The thief +was a woman, who obviously went to the countess' for the very purpose +of obtaining possession of those papers. Now, it is only a theory of +mine, but I feel pretty sure that the papers have to do with the Foreign +Office scandal. If we get to the bottom of it, we shall find that the +countess inspired the paragraph that the _Evening Mercury_ had to-night. +Do you happen to know anything about the editor of that sheet?" + +"Fellow named Hunt, an American," Lechmere replied. "As a matter of +fact, the _Mercury_ is an American paper, the first start of an attempt +to capture the English Press. You know how those fellows boast. I've met +Hunt several times in society." + +"Did you ever happen to meet him at Countess Saens' house?" Varney +asked. + +Lechmere turned over the question before he replied. On consideration he +had seen Hunt twice at the house in question. Not that that was very +material, because all sorts and conditions of men flocked to the +countess' evening parties. But Varney thought otherwise. + +"At any rate, the fact fits in well with my theory," he said. "I shall +be greatly surprised if we fail to find a connection between the +countess and that sensational story in to-night's _Mercury_. I shall +make it my business to meet this man Hunt. Well, what is the matter?" A +breathless footman stood before Varney, and stammered out something to +the effect that Lord Merehaven had sent him here hot-foot in search of +the doctor. A gentleman had been taken suddenly ill. The rest of the +guests did not know anything about it, and the gentleman in question lay +in a state of collapse in his lordship's study. Would Dr. Varney come +at once. Varney was on his way to the house before the footman had +finished his halting explanation. + +The study door was locked, but it was opened immediately on Varney +whispering his name. In a big armchair a white-haired man in evening +dress was lying back in a state of collapse. By his side stood Lord +Merehaven, looking anxious and bewildered, whilst Ronald Hope was trying +to force a little brandy between the lips of the unconscious figure in +the chair. + +[Illustration: "_Ronald Hope was trying to force a little brandy between +the lips._"] + +"Thank goodness you have come, Varney!" Lord Merehaven said shakily. +"It's poor old Reggie Lancing. He simply walked into here dragging on +Hope's arm, and collapsed. He said something to the effect that his boy +had committed suicide, and some rubbish about missing papers. What does +it mean?" + +Varney was too busy to answer the question. He removed Sir Reginald's +collar and turned down the neckband. Meanwhile the patient was breathing +heavily. + +"Put him flat on the floor," Varney said. "It's not quite so bad as it +looks. A seizure from over-excitement, or something of that kind. Give +me a pen and ink and paper." + +Varney hastily scribbled some formula on a sheet of note paper, and +directed that it should be taken to a chemist and be made up at once. +Till he could administer the drug he could do nothing. There was a wait +of half an hour before the footman returned. Then the drug was coaxed +between the stricken man's teeth, and presently he opened his eyes once +more. He was terribly white and shaky, and he seemed to have some +difficulty in getting out his words. + +"It's the disgrace, Merehaven," he said--"the dreadful disgrace. To +think that a son of mine could have been guilty of such a thing! I would +not have believed it; it came to me quite as a shock--that paragraph in +the late _Mercury_. I went to look for my son at once, but he had paid +the penalty already. He had shot himself, Merehaven--shot himself--shot +himself." + +The old man repeated the last words again and again in a feeble kind of +way. Lord Merehaven was sympathetic enough, but utterly puzzled. He +looked at the other and shrugged his shoulders. + +"Is this a mere delusion?" he asked. "You don't mean to say that Asturia +business----" + +The speaker paused, conscious that he was perhaps saying too much. +Varney hastened to explain, to Merehaven's horror and astonishment. +Positively, this was the first that he had heard of it. And if Captain +Lancing had shot himself that was proof positive. + +"Good heavens! what a terrible business altogether!" Lord Merehaven +cried. "And the mischief that may have been done here! I must see the +King of Asturia at once, late as it is, though goodness knows where I am +to look, seeing that the king is----" + +The speaker paused, and Ronald Hope took up the thread of the +conversation. + +"It may be possible, my lord," he said, "that his majesty is nearer at +hand than you suppose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE MODERN JOURNALIST + + +The old diplomatist looked coldly and suspiciously at the speaker. It +was hardly the way for a young man to address a Cabinet Minister, and +one who, moreover, was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Varney +saw what was passing through Lord Merehaven's mind and promptly +interfered. + +"For heaven's sake, don't stand on ceremony!" he said. "This is an +exceedingly serious matter. Certain important papers are missing from +the Foreign Office. It is alleged that confidence has been betrayed by +Captain Lancing and Mr. Charles Maxwell. The boys are shouting it in the +streets, probably most of your guests know all about it by this time. +Those papers have been sold, or given to somebody who has made use of +them. This is no canard to sell a few miserable papers." + +"The documents you refer to were in my hands at seven o'clock," Lord +Merehaven said. "I read them and made notes on the margin of them in my +office not long before dinner----" + +"And did you lock them up in your safe afterwards?" Varney asked. + +"No, I didn't. There is no safe in my office. I gave the papers to +Captain Lancing and Mr. Maxwell, and asked them to see that they were +securely placed away. Then I came home. Do you mean to say that this +thing has been over London for the past hour and I never knew it?" + +"So it seems," Varney said coolly. "How should you know it when you have +not been out of the house all the evening? And none of your guests could +get at you to ask questions, seeing that you have been closeted with one +ambassador or another ever since dinner." + +"That's quite true," Lord Merehaven admitted moodily. "But what is to be +done? You don't suggest that the contents of those papers is made +public?" + +"I fancy not," Varney replied. "My dear Sir Reginald, you have read that +paragraph. What does it say?" + +The stricken man in the armchair looked up with dulled eyes. It was some +little time before he could be made to understand the drift of the +question. + +"I am trying to remember," he said, passing his hand over his forehead. +"As far as I can recollect, there were no details given. The paragraph +said that certain important papers had been stolen from the Foreign +Office, and handed over to the enemies of this country. The editor of +the _Mercury_ was supposed to be in a position to vouch for this, and he +hinted very freely at the identity of the culprits. A resume of the +missing papers was promised for the morning issue of the _Mercury_ +to-morrow. Then there was a break in the report, and down below a short +history of my son's suicide. This was pointed to as an absolute +confirmation of the news, the suggestion being that my son had shot +himself after reading the nine o'clock edition of the _Mercury_, which +contained the first part of the report." + +"There is some foul and mysterious business here," Ronald Hope said +sternly. "It is only twenty minutes ago that I heard what the boys were +calling out. I immediately took a hansom to Maxwell's rooms, to find +that he had gone to Paris in a great hurry. He had left no message +behind him. He had not even taken his man, whom he never travels +without." + +"He has fled," Merehaven said promptly. "This thing is absolutely true. +What beats me is the prompt way in which these _Mercury_ people +collected the news." + +"That is where I come in," Varney remarked. "We'll get Lechmere into +this, if you don't mind? Sir Reginald had better stay here for the +present. Lechmere shall go and interview Hunt of the _Mercury_. And if +he does not bring back some very startling news, I shall be greatly +mistaken." + +Lechmere came into the study cool, collected, and imperturbable as ever. +He had quite relinquished his old pursuits and occupations now, but he +was delighted to do anything to be of service to Lord Merehaven and the +Government; in point of fact, he would rather enjoy this adventure. What +was he to do? + +"Find Hunt of the _Mercury_," Varney said. "Run him down in a corner, +and let him know that you are not the man to be trifled with. And when +you have done that, make him tell you the exact time that he got his +information over those missing papers." + +Lechmere nodded without asking further questions. He knew that he would +be told everything in time. He would do what he could, and return and +report progress as soon as possible. His first move was to take a hansom +and go down to the office of the _Mercury_ and there ask for Mr. Hunt. +But Hunt was not in; he had gone away about half-past seven and had not +returned yet. Usually he looked in a little after midnight to see that +the evening edition of the paper was progressing all right. So far as +the chief sub-editor could say, Mr. Hunt had gone to the Carlton to +supper. + +"Something gained," Lechmere muttered, as he drove to the Carlton. "If +that chap left the office at half-past seven, that sensational paragraph +had already been passed for the Press. No assistant editor would dare to +shove that into a paper on his own responsibility. Very smart of them to +get Lancing's suicide. But I expect some American reporter shadowed the +poor chap." + +Mr. Hunt had been to the Carlton; in fact, he had just arrived there, +but he was in a private room with a lady, and had asked not to be +disturbed. Intimating that he would wait, Lechmere took his seat at a +little table in one of the public rooms and asked for something. He had +a sovereign on the table by the side of his glass, and looked +significantly at the waiter. + +"That is for you to earn," he said, "if you are smart and do your work +properly. In the first place, do you happen to know Mr. Hunt, the editor +of the _Mercury_?" + +The man replied that he knew Mr. Hunt quite well. In fact, he was pretty +intimately acquainted with all the American colony in London. Mr. Hunt +supped at the Carlton frequently; he was supping now with a lady in a +room upstairs. Lechmere began to see his way. + +"Did you happen to see the lady?" he asked. "If so, what was she like?" + +"I saw them come not many minutes ago. In fact, they looked in here, and +the lady wanted to take the table by the door, but Mr. Hunt said 'No.' +They appeared to be in a great hurry, seeing that it is getting late; +and it seemed to me that Mr. Hunt was not so amiable as usual. The lady +was tall and dark; she had a black wrap, and under it was a dress of +yellow satin." + +"Good man!" Lechmere said with genial warmth. "You have earned your +money. All you have to do now is to let me know the moment that Mr. Hunt +is leaving the hotel. In any case it can't be long, because it is nearly +twenty minutes past twelve now." + +The waiter came back presently and pocketed his sovereign. Mr. Hunt and +the lady were just leaving the hotel. Lechmere sauntered into the hall +and stood watching the other two. He smiled to himself as he noted the +face and features of Hunt's companion. A hansom stood at the door, and +into it the American handed his companion and raised his hat. + +"It will come out all right," Lechmere heard the lady say. "Don't look +so annoyed. Your paper is not going to be allowed to suffer. +Good-night!" + +The hansom drove away, and Hunt raised his hat. As he stopped to light a +cigarette, Lechmere crept up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. +The American turned in a startled way. + +"Mr. Lechmere!" he stammered. "Really, you gave me a start. If there is +anything that I can do for you----?" + +"There is," Lechmere said in a sharp, stern way. "I want to know the +exact time that your office received the unfortunate news of the +Foreign Office business." + +The directness of the attack took the American quite off his balance. +The truth broke from him. + +"About ten minutes to seven," he stammered. "That is to say---- But, +confound it all, what business is that of yours?" + +Lechmere smiled; he could afford to let the other bluster now that he +had learnt everything. He turned the matter aside as a joke. He made +some remark about the beauty of the night, and a minute later he was +bowling back in a hansom to Merehaven House. + +"Yes, I have done pretty well," he said in reply to Varney's questioning +gaze. "I have seen Hunt, whom I traced to the Carlton, where he was +supping hastily in company with Countess Saens. I sort of fool-mated him +over that paragraph, and he told me that the information reached the +_Mercury_ at about ten minutes to seven. He tried to bluster afterwards, +but it was too late. At ten minutes to seven Hunt knew all about that +scandal at the Foreign Office." + +Lord Merehaven threw up his hands with a gesture of astonishment. Varney +smiled. + +"I knew that you would come back with some amazing information," the +latter said. "See how the mystery gets thicker. Lord Merehaven is going +to say something." + +"I am going to say this," Merehaven remarked sternly. "The _Mercury_ +knew of those missing papers before seven o'clock. _At_ seven o'clock +those papers were in my hands, and the scandal had not begun then. And +yet the _Mercury_ paragraph, written before the robbery, is absolutely +true! What does it mean?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BAFFLED! + + +Meanwhile, the Countess Saens had departed from Merehaven House with a +smiling assurance to the effect that she did not anticipate any serious +loss in consequence of the very mysterious robbery. She looked easy +enough as she stepped into her brougham, drawn by the splendid bays that +London knew so well by sight, and kissed her fingers gaily to her +cavalier. But the brightness left her eyes when once she was alone. +There was a keen, eager expression on her face then, a look of mingled +anxiety and anger in her dark eyes. The most fascinating woman in London +would have surprised her many admirers had they chanced to see her at +that moment. She looked old and haggard; the smiling mouth had grown +hard as a steel trap. She did not wait for the footman to open the door; +she ran up the steps with a curt command that the carriage must wait, as +she was presently going out again. + +The trembling maid was upstairs awaiting the coming of her mistress. She +had very little to add to what she had already said. Nothing appeared to +have been disturbed. There was no sign of a robbery anywhere, save that +one of the drawers in a dressing table had been turned out and the +contents scattered on the floor. + +"Now listen to me," the countess said. "Who paid for you to take those +papers?" + +"I know nothing of any papers, _non, non_!" the maid replied. "I take +nothing. If madame wishes to suggest that I am a thief, I go. I leave +to-night." + +The girl paced up and down the room, her pale face held high. She was +not used to being called a thief. If madame was not satisfied she would +depart at once. The countess changed her tone. + +"Now listen to me," she said more gently. "Just before dinner to-night I +am in receipt of certain papers. Nobody knows that I possess them. For +safe keeping I place them in that drawer and lock it up. Some time later +you come to me with this story of the burglary. If jewels had been +stolen, or money, I would have perhaps understood it, though your tale +is so extraordinary that----" + +"Not at all, madame," the maid cried hotly. "No more strange than the +stories one reads every day in the newspapers. And there are no jewels +missing." + +"No, and that makes the affair all the more suspicious in my eyes. +Nobody could have known about those papers, and yet the thief takes +nothing else. A woman walks into the house as if it belonged to her, she +goes direct to that drawer, and there you are! You say you saw the +woman?" + +The maid nodded sulkily; she did not look in the least guilty. + +"I have already told madame so," she said. "I saw the woman twice +to-night. The first time was when she was here, the second time at the +residence of my Lord Merehaven. It was the lady in the satin dress who +stood in the hall." The girl spoke in tones of perfect confidence. No +ridicule on the part of the countess could shake her belief in the +statement. + +"But it is impossible," the latter said. "You are speaking of Miss +Galloway. I saw Miss Galloway several times during the evening. If you +are correct, she must have slipped away and changed her dress, committed +the robbery, and be back here and changed her dress again--all in a +quarter of an hour." + +"Nevertheless, it was the same woman," the maid said with a stubborn +air. + +With a gesture of contempt the countess dismissed the girl. It was +impossible to believe that she had had a hand in the disappearance of +those precious papers. Perhaps the hall porter might have something to +say in the matter. In the opinion of Countess Saens, the thief was +non-existent. At any rate, the hall porter would be able to say. + +The hall porter had not much to tell, but that little was to the point. +Certainly, about the time mentioned by the maid a woman had come into +the house. She had opened the hall door and had walked in herself as if +she were quite at home there. She was plainly dressed in black and wore +a veil. Then she proceeded to walk upstairs. + +"You mean to say that you did nothing to interfere?" the countess asked. + +"Well, no, madame," the hall porter admitted. "The young woman appeared +to be quite at home; evidently she had been here many times before, and +I thought she was a friend of Annette's. Friends of hers do come here +sometimes after you have gone out, and one or two of them walk in. So I +took no notice whatever. A little time after, the young woman came back +as if she were in a hurry, and hastened out of the house. Just as she +was gone I heard Annette call out. Thinking that something was the +matter, I rushed up the stairs. When I knew what was wrong it was too +late to go after the thief." + +So Annette had been telling the truth, the countess thought. She was +furiously angry at her loss, but it was impossible to blame anybody. It +was a stroke of the sword after the countess's own heart. But there were +disquieting circumstances behind it that frightened her. + +"You had better send again to the nearest police-station," she said. +"Let them know that I have gone out and shall not be back for some +little time." + +With a frown between her delicate brows the countess drove away. In all +her bold, dashing, adventurous life she had never been confronted by a +more difficult problem than this. She was playing for tremendously high +stakes, and her share of the victory was the price of a throne. Once +this thing was accomplished, she had no need ever to plot or scheme or +trick again. A fortune would be hers, and she would sit secure as a +leader of fashion for the rest of her days. + +An hour ago and the game was as good as won. Everything had been done so +secretly; nobody guessed anything. Another day, and nothing could save +the crown in question. And yet in a moment the whole dream had been +shattered. Somebody knew exactly what was going on, somebody was at work +to checkmate the dark design. And that somebody was bold and daring to a +degree. If the countess only knew who the other woman was! It was +maddening to work in the dark against so clever a foe. If your enemy +knows you and you don't know your enemy, he has a tremendous advantage. +The countess clenched her teeth together viciously as she thought of it. + +The carriage stopped at length outside the Carlton Hotel, and almost +immediately Hunt, the editor of the _Evening Mercury_, appeared. He +looked uneasy and anxious. + +"Your message came all right," he said. "I came here at once and ordered +supper, though we shall not have much time to talk." + +"Then let us go into the room at once," the countess said; "though as to +appetite, why----" + +"But I ordered the supper in a private room," Hunt protested. "One never +knows what people may hear. What is the use of arguing? The supper is +all ready for us." + +They were in the private room at length. They made some pretence of +eating and drinking till the two waiters had for the time being +departed. Then Hunt turned to his companion. + +"What has happened?" he asked. There was nothing of deference in his +manner. It was quite evident that the smart little American editor was +no squire of dames. "Your manner was so mysterious. And it is time you +did something for your money. Two thousand pounds is a deal to pay +for----" + +"Such information as I have already given you?" the countess +interrupted. "I don't think so, seeing what a tremendous sensation you +secured to-night." + +"But those other papers," Hunt protested. "You promised me the full +details of that private understanding between England and Asturia. I +have told my readers boldly that they shall have it in the morning issue +of my paper to-morrow morning. If you want the extra money----" + +"Man, I want it as an old man wants youth. It is vitally necessary to +me. And can't you see that it is to my interest that those papers +should be published to the world? It will be a staggering blow to +England, and a corresponding advantage to Russia. I should have seen +that those papers saw the light whether I was paid for them or not. But +they are worth a great deal to you, and that is why I approached you in +the matter." + +"Yes, yes," Hunt said impatiently. "Please get on. I came here to +receive those papers--in fact, the _Mercury_ is waiting for them at this +moment. If you will hand them over to me you shall have the other cheque +for five thousand posted to you to-night. Where are they?" + +The countess laughed derisively. There was a gleam of wild fury in her +dark eyes. + +"It is impossible," she said. "Out of the question. Strange as it may +seem, those papers were stolen from my house to-night by some woman whom +I would give five years of my life to know." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SEARCH + + +Hunt's expression was not polite, nor was it intended for ears feminine. +His almost eager face fell; he was evidently thinking of nothing else +but his paper. He would have ruined every kingdom in the universe, +including the State that gave him birth, to get a scoop on his rivals. +Just for a moment it flashed across his mind that he had been betrayed +for higher money. + +But that was hardly possible. No English paper would have dared to give +that information to the world. It would have aroused the indignation of +every patriotic Briton, and the circulation of even the yellowest in the +world would have suffered. And the expression of the countess's face was +no acting. + +"It seems almost incredible," Hunt said. "Please tell me all about it." + +The countess proceeded to relate the story. It seemed to him that the +case was not quite hopeless after all. True, he would not be able to +enjoy the prospective triumph of his paper over the others, but as an +able and adroit journalist he would know how to get out of the +difficulty. + +"Well, you have a clue anyway," he said. "Miss Galloway is a strikingly +beautiful girl, with a very marked type of loveliness, and if the thief +was so like her as to make your maid certain that Miss Galloway was the +real thief, the culprit is not far to seek. You don't think +yourself----" + +"That Vera Galloway is the thief? Of course not. The thing is physically +impossible. Besides, Vera Galloway does not take the slightest interest +in politics. She is quite a butterfly. And yet the whole thing is very +strange. What puzzles me most is the infinite acquaintance the thief +appears to have with my house. She could not have walked in like that to +my bedroom unless she had a fine knowledge of the geography of the +place." + +"I'll make a stirring half column of it," Hunt said--"showing no +connection between your loss and that Asturian business, of course. +We'll hint that the papers were stolen by somebody who fancied that she +had a claim on your vast Russian estates. See what I mean. And we'll +make fun of the fact that your maid recognized Miss Galloway as the +culprit. That will set people talking. We'll offer a reward of L100 for +a person who first finds the prototype of Miss Galloway. See? Unless I'm +greatly mistaken, we shall precious soon get to the bottom of this +business." + +The countess nodded and smiled approvingly. The cunning little scheme +appealed to her. She pushed her plate and glass away with which she had +been toying. At the same moment a waiter came and handed her a note, +which she opened and read with a flushed face. + +"It appears as if the police had actually succeeded in doing something +for once," she said. "This is from one of the Scotland Yard men, saying +that a woman in black dress and veil, answering to the description given +by Annette, has been taken to Charing Cross Hospital after being knocked +down by a passing cab. This may or may not mean anything, but it is +distinctly encouraging. I am told that I shall know more in the +morning. But that is not good enough for me." + +"Don't do anything impetuous," Hunt said anxiously. + +"I am not in the habit of doing impulsive things," the countess replied. +"At the same time, I am going to Charing Cross Hospital to-night to make +sure. It is quite time we finished this discussion, as you have to alter +your plans and write that paragraph. Let us be going." + +A little later and the countess was proceeding in her brougham +eastwards. Hunt had parted from Lechmere, too, after the latter had +derived his useful piece of information from the startled editor. But +the countess did not know anything of that. And as she was approaching +the well-known hospital, Jessie Harcourt was reaching it in another +direction in the motor-car of Lascelles, otherwise known as "Pongo." The +nearer she approached to her destination the more nervous did the girl +become. + +"Awfully jolly ride," Lascelles grinned. "Glad you put that black thing +over your head, though. It's a pity to cut the thing short, but I +suppose the joke has gone far enough?" + +"Not quite," Jessie said between her teeth. "I am going to confide in +you, Mr. Lascelles----" + +"Called me 'Pongo' just now," the other said in tones of deep reproach. +"It seems to me----" + +"Well, Pongo, then--dear Pongo, if you like," Jessie said desperately. +"I am going to confide in you. I want you to put me down close to the +hospital, and then you go back without me. You may infer that I did not +care for the business, and that I returned home by the front door. Then +at the end of half an hour or so, you are to declare that the sport is +over for the night and ride off as if seeking your chauffeur. After that +you are to come here and fetch me back. You understand?" + +It was quite plain, from the blank expression of Lascelles' face, that +he did not understand. The familiar air had left him; he had grown stiff +and almost stern. + +"I don't quite follow," he said. "Of course, if I choose to play the +ass--which, by the way, I am getting a little tired of--why, that hurts +nobody. But when a lady who I respect and admire asks me to become a +party, don't you know, to what looks like some--er--vulgar +assignation----" + +"You are wrong," Jessie cried. "You are a gentleman; you have more sense +than I expected. I pledge you my word of honour that this is no +assignation. It is a case of life and death, a desperate case. I am +going into the hospital; it is important that nobody should know of my +visit--none of my own friends, I mean. I could come back in a hansom, +but danger lies that way. I have no money for one thing. Mr. Lascelles, +please believe that I am telling the truth." + +The girl's troubled eyes turned on the listener's face. Lascelles would +have been less than a man had he not yielded, sorely against his +judgment as it was. + +"I'll do it," he said. "No woman ever yet appealed to me in vain. +Because I play the ass people think that I don't notice things, but they +are mistaken. I've never done anything yet to be ashamed of, anyway. And +I'm not going to begin now. It seems to me that you are making a great +sacrifice for somebody else. If I could feel quite sure that that +somebody else was a----" + +"Woman? It _is_ a woman! I felt quite sure that I could rely upon you. +Now please go back and act exactly as I have suggested. When you come to +know the truth--as assuredly you shall some day--I am quite certain that +you will never repent what you are doing to-night." + +Lascelles was equally certain of it. He was quite convinced now that he +was no party to anything wrong. All the same, his face was very grave as +he helped Jessie from the car, and placed her wrap more carefully around +her. It was a long black wrap, covering her head and face and reaching +to the ground, so that the girl's rich dress was quite hidden. + +"Half an hour," Jessie whispered. "It may be a little longer. I can +trust your discretion. At first I was a little afraid that perhaps you +might--but in your new character you are quite reliable. Do not stay any +longer or we shall attract attention." + +Lascelles wheeled his car round and started westward once more. Jessie +hesitated just a minute to make quite sure that she had her permit in +her pocket, when a two-horse brougham dashed up. Evidently some +fashionable doctor summoned in a hurry, Jessie thought. But when she +looked again at the perfectly appointed equipage, with its fine horses +and its silver harness, she knew better. The thing was too fashionable +and glittering for a doctor; besides, no man in the profession would use +such a turn-out at night. Then, as Jessie looked again, her heart beat +more violently as she recognized the face of the occupant. It was the +Countess Saens. What did she want at this hour of the night? No errand +of mercy, Jessie felt quite sure, for the Countess Saens did not bear +that reputation. + +Then like a flash it came to the girl standing hesitatingly on the +pavement. The countess had found some clue, possibly through the +assertions of the maid Annette that the sham Miss Galloway was the thief +who was responsible for the burglary. It was possible for such a train +of thought to be started and worked out logically in that brilliant +brain. But there was one other thing that Jessie would have given a +great deal to know--How had the countess discovered that the real Miss +Galloway was detained by an accident at Charing Cross Hospital? + +Well, Jessie would know in a very few minutes. The countess stepped out +of her carriage and made her way into the hall of the hospital. She +could be seen talking to the porter, who shook his head. Evidently the +countess was asking for something that was against the rules. Again the +man shook his head. Jessie felt that a crisis was at hand. She stood on +the pavement hesitatingly, so eager that her hand fell from her face; +her features were distinct and lovely in the strong rays of light. A man +walking past her in a great hurry stopped, and an exclamation broke from +him. + +"Vera!" he said hurriedly. "Vera, won't you speak to me? Great heavens! +A chance like this----" + +Instantly Jessie guessed what had happened. She was face to face with +Vera's lover, Charles Maxwell! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WAS IT RUSSIA? + + +Dr. Varney went slowly and thoughtfully back to the house after seeing +Jessie start on her adventure. The brilliant old scientist had ample +food for thought as he walked along. It was not as if he did not +thoroughly grasp the situation. He had a reputation for something +besides medicine; his practice largely lay amongst diplomatists and +statesmen. Once, even, he had been summoned to a consultation on the +illness of a king. + +So that he knew most of the inner political game by heart. He could be +bold and discreet at the same time. Very little of the scandal that hung +over the Asturian throne like a blighting cloud was hidden from him. He +could have placed his finger on the fatal blot at once. + +In the library, Lord Merehaven with Ronald Hope and Lechmere were still +talking over matters. Sir Reginald Lancing had disappeared, to Varney's +relief. The stricken old man had avowed himself to be better. He was +sorry that he had obtruded his grief on his friends; he would like to go +home at once; he did not wish for anybody to accompany him. + +"All this is very irregular," Lord Merehaven was saying as Varney joined +the group again and carefully closed the door behind him. "According to +all precedent I should not discuss this matter with you gentlemen at +all." + +"But think what we may accomplish," Ronald said eagerly. "The whole +scandal may be averted. I fancy that you can trust everybody here, my +lord." + +"I have been the recipient of a few secrets in my time," Lechmere said +drily. "Lord Merehaven will not forget what my audacity accomplished in +the Moscow case." + +"Officially, I know nothing about it," Lord Merehaven murmured. +"Officially----" + +"Officially you know nothing about this matter," Lechmere interrupted +with some impatience. "A Minister cannot hold himself responsible for +the statements made in an irresponsible paper which is notoriously +controlled by Americans. The _Mercury_ suggests that certain papers have +been stolen, and that one of the culprits has fled, whilst the other has +committed suicide. Who shall say that Mr. Maxwell has fled? Certainly he +has departed suddenly for Paris. Unfortunately, Captain Lancing has +committed suicide. At the same time, it is a notorious fact that he has +had heavy losses at cards and on the turf, which may account for +everything. And as to those papers alleged to be stolen, why, Lord +Merehaven had them in his own hands at seven o'clock to-night." + +"An excellent piece of political logic," said Lord Merehaven. "I could +not have given a better explanation from my place in the House. But I +fear that if I were pressed to say that I had taken steps to discover if +those papers were intact----. You see my position?" + +"I must speak plainly," Lechmere went on. "It is any odds that the +papers have gone. The thing has been arranged for some time; the house +where the papers were to be handed over to the arch thief was actually +fixed. The arch thief, taking the thing as a settled fact, gave a broad +outline of what was going to happen to the editor of the _Evening +Mercury_. He saw a chance of a 'scoop,' and decided to take the chance +of the papers not being delivered. If there was a hitch at the last +moment, Hunt could easily wriggle out of it. But the papers changed +hands, and Hunt's bold plan was justified. Lancing saw the paragraph and +shot himself." + +"But why should he shoot himself?" Lord Merehaven asked. + +"I fancy that is pretty obvious," Lechmere went on. "Lancing was +betrayed. Don't you see that Hunt promised to-morrow to give a _precis_ +of the stolen documents? If my deductions are correct, Lancing only +borrowed the papers on the distinct understanding that they should be +returned. Lancing had a large sum of money for that act of his. If we +find that he had considerable cash about him I shall be certain. No +sooner had he parted with the papers than he was coolly betrayed. The +receiver of the papers simply laughed at him. Who was the receiver of +the papers?" + +"Some foe of England," Lord Merehaven said. "A Russian agent probably. +If those papers are made public we shall have our trouble for our pains +in Asturia, and Russia will buy the King of Asturia out. So far, I can +see this thing quite plainly." + +"You are right beyond a doubt, my lord," Lechmere went on. "With your +permission I am going to locate exactly where those papers went. They +went to a woman." + +"I should doubt that," Lord Merehaven said. "I should doubt it very much +indeed." + +"Nevertheless, I am going to prove it to you," said Lechmere. + +"Those papers must have been disposed of after seven o'clock to-night. +By nine o'clock Lancing had read in print how he had been cruelly +betrayed. Well, with all his faults, Lancing was a man of high courage. +He had great physical strength as well. What did he do directly he read +that paragraph and saw that he had been deluded. Did he go off and shoot +himself at once? Not he! He got up from the dinner table of his club +quite quietly and called a hansom. Obviously he was going to lose no +time in seeing the person to whom he delivered the important State +papers. Is that logic?" + +The listeners standing round the fire-place admitted that it was. +Interest was painted on every face. + +"We know now that Lancing failed in his mission which was proved by the +fact that he returned to his club and shot himself there. Now, I +conclude that Lancing did not fail to find his deceiver. He would not +have given up the search so easily as all that. It was not the man's +character, nor could the deceiver have left London, because it was +imperative that the same deceiver should be on the spot to watch the +progress of events. My idea is that Lancing saw the deceiver and failed +to get the papers back." + +"Then where does his strength and courage come in?" Merehaven asked. +"Remember that you began to draw a series of inferences from that same +courage." + +"I have not finished yet, my lord," Lechmere said quietly. "Lancing +failed because his courage and personal strength was useless in this +case. If he had been dealing with a man he would not have hesitated. +But poor Lancing was seriously handicapped by the fact that he had a +woman for his antagonist. You can't ill-treat a woman; you can't damage +her features and knock her teeth out. And that is why Lancing failed. He +saw the woman, and she laughed at him. She defied him to do his worst. +He could not denounce her without proclaiming his own shame, and the +clever woman traded on that. Therefore Lancing went and shot himself. +What do you think of my argument?" + +It was evident from the silence that followed that each of the little +group was considerably impressed by the clear logic of the speaker's +story. It was not often that Lechmere said so much, though his +reputation was high, and more than one knotty trouble had been solved by +him. + +"Our friend is absolutely right," Varney said at length. "The more I +think of it the more certain I am. Perhaps he can tell us the name of +the woman?" + +"That I am also in a position to do," Lechmere proceeded, without the +slightest shade of triumph in his voice. "Accident helped me to that. In +the hall some time ago there was a little scene between Countess Saens +and her maid. The maid came to say that a strange robbery had taken +place at the house of the countess. Nothing had been taken but papers +from a certain drawer. Now I was close by and heard that, and I had a +good opportunity of seeing that lady's face. Rage, anger, despair, +murder almost, danced like so many devils in her dark eyes. The countess +was quick to recover herself, but she had betrayed herself to me. I did +not think so very much of this at the time, but when I subsequently saw +the countess leave the house and subsequently find that she had gone off +to have supper with Hunt of the _Evening Mercury_ in a private room at +the Carlton, I knew as well as if she had told me that she had met Hunt +to tell him why she could not give him the chance of printing the crux +of those stolen papers in the morning edition of the _Mercury_--for the +simple reason that the papers had in turn been stolen from her." + +Ronald Hope turned as if to speak, then as suddenly changed his mind. It +would be a mistake to still further complicate matters at this junction, +he thought. + +"It was to Countess Saens that Lancing delivered those papers," Lechmere +said finally. "Lord Merehaven looks dubious; but his lordship does not +know, and I do, that the brilliant society creature, Countess Saens, is +really one of the cleverest adventuresses in Europe--a police spy, +passing as a kind of socialist and the rest. If I could see the King of +Asturia----" + +"You shall," Varney snapped out. "You shall see him before half an hour +has passed. Stay where you are and---- Stop! Hope, keep an eye on Prince +Mazaroff, and see that he does not leave the house." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A BOW AT A VENTURE + + +With a strong feeling of congratulation that he had gleaned the whole +story of her wild adventure from Jessie Harcourt, Varney walked coolly +up the staircase. He had little difficulty in locating the room where +the dissolute ruler of Asturia lay. It was the only locked door in that +corridor, and he had the key in his pocket, which key, it will be +remembered, Jessie handed over to him. + +The lights were still burning there; the king still lay in the huddled +uniform of General Maxgregor on the bed. At the end of the corridor a +telephone gleamed. Varney crossed over and called up his own +confidential servant, to whom he gave a long message. This being done, +he returned to the bedroom and carefully locked the door behind him. He +crossed over to the bed and shook the royal occupant much as a policeman +shakes a drunken tramp asleep in a gutter. + +"Get up," he said. "Get up; you are wanted at once. And drink this--do +you hear?" + +The blear-eyed wretch sat up in bed. He was shaking from head to foot. +His hands shook as he held them out for the contents of the bottle that +Varney was holding--the rest of the drug that had been administered to +Sir Reginald Lancing. + +"I hope it won't hurt me," the king whispered. "My doctor here, Dr. +Varney----" + +"I am Dr. Varney," said the latter coldly, "only you are still too drunk +to know who I am. I am not likely to give you anything harmful--at +least, not for the present. Where are your clothes? You never came here +in that uniform." + +"I was in evening dress," the king said helplessly. "Somebody must have +changed with me. Look and see, there's a good fellow. Must have been a +big fellow who played this trick on me." + +Varney gave a grunt of disappointment. He recollected now that Maxgregor +had gone off in the guise of the king. Therefore, if the king had that +proposed treaty of abdication in his pocket, the same was in the +possession of Maxgregor at this moment. + +"You are in the house of Lord Merehaven," Varney said. "You should have +come here to-night with the queen. In the interests of your country, and +in the interests of Europe, you should have been here. Instead of that +you go off somewhere and get wretchedly drunk in some gambling-house. It +was by great good luck that you were found and conveyed secretly here by +the garden entrance. Kings have done some disgraceful things in their +time, but nothing quite so bad as your conduct to-night. Where is the +document that Prince Mazaroff gave you to sign?" + +It was a bow drawn at a venture, but the shaft went home. + +"I don't know," the king groaned. "I put it in my pocket. It was not the +thing to sign all at once. Shouldn't have pluck enough whilst I was +sober. Then I had too much champagne. What was that you gave me to drink +just now? Seems to make a new man of me. Haven't felt so fit and well +for years. Feel as if I could do anything now." + +"You'll want all your manhood presently," Varney said coolly. "Your +father was a man of courage, as I found out for myself in his last +painful illness. You had pluck enough as a boy; you'd have it again now +if you dropped your champagne. Wash yourself well, and make yourself +look as respectable as possible. We are going downstairs." + +"What, like this!" the king cried in dismay. "In a uniform that is far +too big----" + +"Nothing of the kind. There is a change coming for you from your hotel. +My confidential servant is seeing to it, and he will be here presently. +With clean clothes and linen and an order or two you will be a passable +king yet. Go and wash yourself at once. You are in my hands to-night." + +There was a cold, stinging contempt in Varney's tones by no means lost +on the listener. Perhaps some sense of shame was stirring within him, +for no reproof rose to his trembling, bibulous lips. Varney passed out +presently, locking the door behind him as coolly as if he had been a +gaoler. At the foot of the stairs a neat-looking footman was waiting +with a parcel for Varney. As he took it Hope crossed the hall. There was +a look of alertness, a desire for battle in his face. + +"What is going on?" Varney asked. "Something seems to have happened?" + +"Count Gleikstein is here," Ronald whispered. "The Russian _charge +d'affaires_, in the absence at St. Petersburg of the Ambassador. You can +imagine what he has come for. There was a great battle of wits going on +in the salon. The Queen of Asturia is talking to Gleikstein, and I have +secured the presence of Prince Mazaroff. Lechmere looks anxious for the +fray, and I should say from the expression on his face that he has a +knife up his sleeve. If we could play some strong card----" + +"We are going to," Varney snapped, as he hugged his bundle under his +arm. "Only keep the ball rolling for another quarter of an hour, and I +shall be ready for you. Listen!" + +Very rapidly Varney whispered a few instructions into the ear of Hope. +The latter grinned delightedly, then his face grew grave again. The +thing was serious enough, and yet there was a fine element of comedy in +it. It was diplomacy gone mad. On the hall stand was a stack of visiting +cards. On one of them, chosen at haphazard, Hope wrote a message. He +trusted that the queen would understand; in fact, he felt sure that she +would. + +The little group in the salon, under the famous Romney and the equally +famous Velasquez, was a striking one--the Queen of Asturia, tall and +stately, and smiling as if perfectly at her ease; by her side Count +Gleikstein, the Russian _charge d'affaires_, slim waisted, dark of face +and stern of eye, yet with a waxed moustache and an air that gave a +suggestion of effeminacy to him. Lechmere was lounging by in a listless +kind of way, and yet from time to time there was an eager tightening of +his mouth that proved him ready for the fray. Prince Mazaroff completed +the group. + +Ronald Hope came up with a respectful bow, and tendered the card to the +queen. She glanced at it leisurely; her face betrayed nothing as she +read the message and handed the card back to Ronald again. One grateful +look flashed from her eyes. + +"I regret that I cannot," she said. "I have so many calls of that kind +on my time. If the lady is a friend of yours, Captain Hope, I may +stretch a point in her favour. She may call on my secretary at eleven +o'clock to-morrow morning." + +Ronald bowed deeply as if charged with a message, and hastened into the +hall. The card he tore into small fragments and cast into a waste paper +basket under one of the hall tables. Then he went back to the striking +group under the picture again. + +"I am afraid that it concerns all of us," the count was saying in a +dangerously insinuating voice. "Of course, one can hardly be responsible +for what the papers say, but in the present dangerous state of public +opinion in Asturia--the queen will pardon me?" + +"I pardon anybody who does their duty to their country at any cost," the +queen said. "If we could produce those papers that your royal master is +so suspicious about----" + +"Then I am to understand that some papers of importance have really been +stolen?" the count said swiftly. + +"On the contrary, you are not to understand anything of the kind," Lord +Merehaven smiled. "My dear count, I could lead you a fine wild-goose +chase if I chose to allow your imagination free run. As a matter of +fact, the papers you allude to were in my own hands at seven o'clock +this evening. It is hardly possible that they could have been stolen and +their contents made known to an American paper within an hour from that +time. So easy am I in my mind that I have not even sent down to my +office to see if the papers are still extant. And when you see the King +of Asturia----" + +"But I understand that he has gone to Paris?" Count Gleikstein said, +with a swift, meaning glance at the queen. "Of course, if his majesty +were here, and could give us an assurance that he has in no way given +his authority and let you know what I mean. I am afraid that those +agreeable Bohemian excursions that his majesty is so fond of are not +regarded in Asturia in the same liberal light that they might be. Still, +your assurance, my dear Lord Merehaven, will not----" + +"Will not weigh like that of his majesty," Merehaven said. "If he were +only here----" + +"He has been detained," the queen said, ignoring a meaning smile that +passed between the count and Prince Mazaroff. "If I could only have a +message----" + +A quick, smothered cry broke from Mazaroff as he looked to the door. +Gleikstein followed his glance, and his face fell wofully. The queen +smiled and advanced one step towards the door. Her dark eyes were filled +with a great and lasting joy. + +"I think your kindness is going to be rewarded, count," she said. "Yes, +I was not mistaken." + +A tall footman in the doorway announced--"His Majesty the King of +Asturia!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +WATCHING + + +It was not difficult for Jessie to guess the identity of the man who +addressed her. Only a man who loved and felt sure that he was loved in +return would have spoken to a girl like that. This was Charles Maxwell +beyond a doubt. Nice-looking enough, Jessie thought, with a pleasing, +amiable face--perhaps a trifle too amiable, but there was no mistaking +the power in the lines of the mouth. + +"What are you doing here like this?" he asked. "Heavens! has all the +world gone mad to-night?" + +The bitterness of despair rang in the speaker's voice. Jessie noticed +that Maxwell was dressed not in the least like men in his position +usually dress at that time of the night. He wore a grey flannel suit and +a panama hat pulled down over his eyes. + +"I came on urgent business," Jessie said. "I presume that you are Mr. +Maxwell?" + +"Why should I deny it?" the other asked. "I am Charles Maxwell, and the +most miserable dog in London. But I am forgetting. Why do you ask me +such a foolish question, Vera?" + +"Because I want to be quite sure of my ground," Jessie said. "And +because I am not Miss Vera Galloway at all. If you look at me very +closely you will see that for yourself." + +Maxwell stared at Jessie in a dull, wooden kind of way, as if the whole +thing were past his comprehension. + +"Yes," he said, "there is a difference, but it is so subtle that even I +should not have noticed it unless you had called my attention to it. But +I know who you are now. You are Miss Harcourt, daughter of Colonel +Harcourt, late of the --th. I have often told Vera of the wonderful +likeness between you. If you should ever meet her in private life----" + +"I have met her, I am personating her at the present moment," Jessie +whispered. + +"Amazing!" Maxwell exclaimed. "But I understood that you were--that you +had been--in short----" + +"Engaged in a Bond Street shop," Jessie finished the sentence. "So I was +till to-day, when I was discharged through no fault of my own. Miss +Galloway sent for me to take her place. Secretly I have played her part +all this evening. And she went away dressed in my simple black +clothes----" + +"But why?" Maxwell demanded jealously. "Why all this absurd mystery?" + +"Surely you can guess? Why do you look so suspicious? I am not +altogether in Miss Galloway's confidence, but I understand that she +wanted to save somebody whom she loved--somebody that was in trouble. It +requires no great intelligence to guess that you were the person in +question. It was all connected with those papers missing from the +Foreign Office." + +"I know no more about it than the dead," Maxwell said vehemently. "The +papers in question--and others--were as much in Lancing's custody as +mine. It was he who was to blame, though I admit that I locked the +papers away to-night after Lord Merehaven had done with them. When I saw +the _Mercury_ I was horror-stricken. I guessed exactly what had +happened." + +"How could you guess what had happened?" Jessie asked. + +"Because I have had my suspicions for some time," Maxwell said. "I +dismissed those suspicions as unworthy of me and insulting to Captain +Lancing. I know that he was greatly infatuated with Countess Saens, whom +a Mr. Lechmere, a late Queen's Messenger, had warned me against as no +better than a Russian spy. Lancing was mad over her. There is not the +slightest doubt that she induced Lancing to let her have those papers to +copy. Then she refused to return them, and Lancing committed suicide. +That is what I make of it." + +"The sensational report in the _Mercury_ went farther than that," Jessie +said. "It is assumed that you are a party to the conspiracy, and that +you fled to Paris. Is that true, or going to be true?" + +"As heaven is my witness, no," Maxwell said in a hoarse whisper. "When I +had made up my mind what had happened, I determined to get possession of +those papers. I vanished, saying that I was called suddenly to Paris. +For the last four hours I have been dogging Countess Saens. I followed +her here, and I am not going to lose sight of her until she is safely at +home. And when she is once safely at home, I am going to do a desperate +and daring thing. What is she doing here?" + +Jessie made no reply for the moment. She had pulled her wrap over her +face again so that she should not be recognized. She was watching the +movements of Countess Saens breathlessly. The woman had passed up the +steps into the big hall beyond the swinging glass doors. She seemed to +be arguing with a porter, who shook his head in an emphatic way. +Evidently the countess was angry; so much could be seen from her +gestures and the shake of her shoulders. + +"She is trying to see a patient at irregular hours," Jessie said, "and +the porter is adamant. I pray from the bottom of my heart that she may +fail." + +"Is this another piece in the puzzle?" Maxwell asked hopelessly. + +"It is the key-piece of the problem," said Jessie. "Ah, the porter is +not to be moved. He has sent off an under porter, possibly to call one +of the house surgeons. See, the countess sits down." + +Surely enough the countess had flung herself angrily into a seat. Nobody +seemed to care much about her, for she waited ten minutes without any +sign of anybody in authority. Meanwhile Jessie was making Maxwell _au +fait_ with the situation. + +"You threatened some dangerous and desperate enterprise a little later +on," she said. "I suppose that is a supreme effort to try and get those +papers?" + +"You have guessed it," Maxwell said grimly. "If I could do that, the +whole situation would be saved. We could do anything; we could point to +Lancing's suicide as the result of reckless gambling. Mind you, that +would be more or less true. If Lancing had not been desperately +situated, he would never have yielded to the countess's fascinations and +sold those precious documents." + +"Yes, yes," Jessie interrupted. "But unless I am greatly mistaken, you +have been forestalled. Somebody else has already removed the documents +from Countess Saens's custody." + +"You don't really mean that! What was it--a case of diamond cut +diamond?" + +"Yes, but not quite in the way you imagine. Those papers were stolen in +turn from Countess Saens to-night, taken from a drawer in her bedroom by +Miss Galloway." + +Maxwell pressed his hands to his head. The situation was too much for +him. He groaned for an explanation. + +"I can only surmise," Jessie said. "But presently you will have to admit +that I have very strong grounds for my surmises. In some way Miss +Galloway obtained a clue to what was about to happen. That is why I was +called in to take her place, so that she could have an hour or two +without being suspected. An hour or so ago Countess Saens's maid came to +Merehaven House with the information that there had been a burglary in +the countess's bedroom, but that nothing besides some papers seemed to +be missing. That those papers were important could be guessed by the +ghastly yet furious expression on the lady's face. The maid was pressed +for a description of the thief--who, by the by, was a woman. And then +and there the maid pitched upon _me_. She declared point blank that it +was I who committed the burglary. What do you think of that?" + +"You are a clever young lady," Maxwell said hoarsely. "Pray go on." + +"The maid stuck to her guns, though everybody laughed at her. She said +the thief was dressed in plain black, and as I was in evening dress, and +had been seen all the evening, those who heard were amused. But _I_ +understood. In my plain black dress Miss Galloway had gone to the +countess's house and stolen those papers. The thing was as clear as +daylight to anybody behind the scenes. Under the circumstances, your +prospective burglary would be so much loss of time." + +"I quite understand that," Maxwell muttered. "It is exceedingly clever +of you to read between the lines so clearly. Vera has done this for my +sake. But how did she know--how could she possibly tell what was going +to happen, and when those papers were to be found? Of course, _I_ +guessed where the trouble lay directly I saw the _Mercury_ paragraph, +but Vera! And she never takes the slightest interest in politics. What +are you looking at?" + +Once more Jessie was staring intently past the swinging doors of the +hospital into the big hall beyond. The countess had now risen from her +chair and was facing a little man with a bald head and gold-rimmed +spectacles, who appeared to be explaining something to her. Jessie could +see him bow and shake his head. Her breath came very fast. + +"Why are you so interested in the countess's present action?" Maxwell +asked. + +"Because she has come here to try and see a patient," Jessie whispered +intently. "From the bottom of my heart, I pray that she may fail. If she +succeeds we are ruined, you are ruined. For the patient is no other than +Vera Galloway." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE QUEST OF THE PAPERS + + +"I suppose I shall be able to take it all in presently," Maxwell said +feebly. "Vera is a patient here, and the countess has come to see her. +But would you mind explaining to me why Vera is here, what has happened +to her, and what that fiend of a woman desires to know?" + +"It was a case of cruel misfortune," Jessie said. "Miss Galloway was +knocked down by a passing cab in Piccadilly and brought here. She was +not so badly hurt, because she had the sense to call herself by my name. +Besides, Dr. Varney saw her here. And Dr. Varney discovered my secret, +so that I was obliged to confide in him. Now do you see?" + +"I can't see where the Countess Saens comes in," Maxwell murmured. + +"You are not very wise or long sighted for a diplomatist," Jessie said +with a faint smile. "Don't you see that the countess's maid's suspicions +fell on fruitful soil? When she left Merehaven House for her own, she +discovered the full significance of her loss. Then she began to put +things together. She had an idea that a trick had been played upon her. +She had the police in----" + +"Yes, but how did she discover that anybody answering to Vera's +description was _here_?" + +"Easily enough. Her maid gave the description of the thief. Then the +police began to make inquiries. They discover that a girl in black +answering to the maid's description has been brought here after an +accident. They tell the countess as much. The police don't worry about +the matter for the present, because their bird is quite safe. But that +is not good enough for the countess. She comes here to make sure for +herself; she suspects the trick." + +"I confess that you are too clever for me," Maxwell sighed. "And yet +everything you say is absolutely clear and convincing. I am afraid that +there is still further trouble looming ahead. How did you get to know +what had happened?" + +"Miss Galloway sent me a message by a district boy. The idea was that I +was to try and see her without delay, and go on playing my part until we +could resume our respective personalities. Without some further coaching +such a thing was impossible. I took Dr. Varney into my confidence, and +he gave me a permit to see Vera Galloway to-night. I am here at +considerable risk, as you understand, though I have prepared for my +return to Merehaven House. Ah, she has failed." + +The countess was standing up and gesticulating wildly before the little +man in the gold-rimmed glasses. He seemed to be profoundly sorry, but he +was quite firm. He signalled the porter, who opened one of the big glass +doors and signified that the countess could depart. + +"Even her fascinations have failed," Jessie said. "Please let me go, Mr. +Maxwell. If I am recognized now everything is ruined. And you had better +not be seen, either." + +"Every word that you say is replete with wisdom," Maxwell said. "One +moment. I must see you again to-night and know how things are going. +Will you meet me in an hour's time in the garden at the back of +Merehaven House? Don't say no." + +"If it can possibly be managed," said Jessie. "Now I must go. You had +better get into the shadow across the road. I feel that all is going to +be well yet." + +Maxwell lounged away, and Jessie passed quickly along as the countess +came down the steps and stepped into her brougham. Jessie waited to see +the flashing equipage drive away before she turned again and in her turn +mounted the steps of the hospital. + +Jessie boldly demanded to see a patient named Harcourt, and thrust her +permit into the porter's hand. He looked a little suspicious over this +fuss about a mere patient, but the name on the permit had its force, and +presently Jessie found herself entering one of the wards under the +charge of a nurse. The nurse glanced at Jessie's half-concealed face, +and came to the natural conclusion that here was a sister of the latest +accident case. Under the circumstances, she had no hesitation in leaving +Jessie and Vera Galloway together. + +"Thank Heaven you have come!" Vera whispered. "No, there is not much the +matter. I suppose I must have fainted at the shock and the pain, but the +doctor says I shall be out in two or three days at the outside. It is a +case of bruised tendons more than anything else. You dear, brave girl!" + +The dear, brave girl forced a smile to her lips. All the same, the +prospect was alarming. It was one thing to carry this imposture through +for an hour or two, but quite another to keep the comedy going for some +days longer. But audacity carries such things through. + +"Tell me everything that has happened," Vera went on. "Don't let us +dwell on this cruel misfortune. Everything seemed going so well when +that wretched cab came along. Perhaps I was dazed by my success. I know +that I was shaking from head to foot ... but that mattered to nobody but +myself. Tell me." + +Jessie proceeded with her story. She had a deeply interested listener. +Vera turned from side to side and her face grew pale as she listened to +the amazing story that Jessie told her. + +"So I am in danger," she said. "The countess suspects. And it was all +true, all about Charles and Captain Lancing. I heard that as I came +along. If I could only see Charlie----" + +"I saw him not five minutes ago," Jessie said. "Perhaps I had better +finish my story, and then you can ask any questions you like +afterwards." + +Vera composed herself to listen with what patience she could. Her white +face was flushed and hot before Jessie had finished. The latter looked +uneasy. + +She was evidently uneasy in her mind about something. + +"I am afraid that I must ask you to confide in me more fully," Jessie +said. "Presently I will ask you to give me a few simple instructions +whereby I can keep in touch with my position. But you will recognize the +danger, both to you and myself. The countess has her suspicions aroused, +as I have told you. Now tell me, did you visit her house to-night? Were +you the burglar, so to speak, who----" + +"I was. I may as well admit it to you. It was the matter of the papers. +You see I knew----" + +"Yes, but how did you know?" Jessie persisted. "You saw me this evening +quite early. At that time those papers were quite safe at the Foreign +Office. How could you tell _then_ that they were going to be stolen, or +rather, conveyed to Countess Saens? And if you knew that the robbery was +going to take place, why did you not warn Lord Merehaven? Or better +still, tell Mr. Maxwell what you had discovered?" + +"I could not get in touch with Charlie at that moment," Vera said, +speaking as if with difficulty. The tears had gathered in her eyes. +"There was no time to be lost." + +"I am still very much at sea," Jessie said gently. "What aroused your +suspicions?" + +"Yes, I had better tell you everything," Vera said in a firmer tone. +"You have been so good to me, you are so loyal and brave. There never +was anybody so good to a stranger before." + +"No, no. I did it all for money. It was because I was so desperately +placed----" + +"It is nothing of the kind, Jessie, and you know it. You would have done +the same for me in any case--I feel certain that you would. My first +suspicions were aroused by a letter which came into my hands. It was +evidently sent in mistake, and written by Charlie to Countess Saens. It +seems as if the two had struck up a violent flirtation together. If I +cared less than I do for Charlie----" + +"I would not let your mind dwell on that," Jessie said soothingly. "When +you get to the bottom of this business you will find that there is some +plan on the part of that infamous woman. May I ask you whether that +letter was an admission of guilt on the part of Mr. Maxwell, or----" + +"It might have been. In the light of recent events it certainly looks +like it. But pretty well everything is capable of explanation, as you +know. I shall possess my soul in patience.... I am so dazed and confused +now that I do not seem able to think clearly. But when I sent for you I +could see everything as clear as crystal before my eyes. If I had not +met that cab everything would have been all right, and you would have +been back at home by this time and nobody any the wiser." + +"Then you were quite successful?" Jessie asked eagerly. + +"Absolutely successful. I can't think now how I had courage to do it. +Once I got going, my nerves never failed me for a moment. You see, I +know that house where the countess lives; I have been there so many +times before. And I felt so strong and resolute, especially when I +passed the porter and he did not make any protest. But the rest you +already have from the Countess Saens's maid. It was a sheer piece of bad +luck finding her there at all." + +"And you got safely out of the house with those papers? That was a bit +of good luck indeed." + +Vera Galloway smiled. A sudden idea came to her--the idea seemed to come +to both girls at the same time. It was Jessie who put the question. + +"And where are the papers now?" she asked. "You had better let me have +them." + +"Have them!" Vera echoed blankly. "Where are they? Don't say they were +lost after I fell under the cab!" + +There were no papers anywhere to be found. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A SPECIAL EFFORT + + +Cool hand as he was, even Lechmere glanced with astonishment at the King +of Asturia. The ruler was small and mean-looking generally, but now he +seemed to be transformed. Varney's drug must have been a powerful one to +make that difference. For here was a king--a boy specimen with red hair, +but a king all the same. Count Gleikstein flashed a furious glance at +Mazaroff, who merely shrugged his shoulders. But he was puzzled and +annoyed, as Lechmere could see from the expression of his face. The +comedy was a pleasing one for the old queen's messenger. + +The great salon was still well filled by Lord Merehaven's guests, for +this was one of the functions of the season, and few people were going +farther to-night. It was known, too, that the great diva also had +captured all hearts and was going to sing again. Therefore the big room, +with its magnificent pictures and china and statuary gleaming with +hundreds of electric lights, was still filled with a brilliant mass of +moving colour. + +A thrill and a murmur had run round the brilliant assembly as the King +of Asturia came in. There had been many rumours lately, but nobody quite +knew the truth. The King of Asturia had either abdicated his throne or +he had been deposed by a revolution. The papers had been full of gossip +lately, for the Queen of Asturia was a popular figure in London +society, and people were interested. It was for this reason--it was for +the sake of necessary people that Lord Merehaven had hoped to have seen +his royal guest earlier. + +But here he was at last, making a dramatic entrance at exactly the +proper time, and surprising even the man who had brought this mischief +about. + +"The constitution of an ox," Varney told himself. "With a heart like +his, too! And yet an hour ago he was looking death in the face. I'll try +that drug again." + +The king came forward smiling and at his ease. He bowed to the queen, +and placed her hand to his lips. Then he extended his fingers to Lord +Merehaven. + +"My dear lord, I am much distressed to be so late," he said. "I dare say +the queen will have told you the reason why I have been delayed. Ah, +good evening, Count Gleikstein. Prince Mazaroff, I wonder you are not +ashamed to look me in the face." + +Mazaroff muttered something and looked uncomfortable. He was understood +to ask what he had done. + +"Now there is an elastic conscience for you!" the king cried. "That man +comes between me and my duty to my people, and then he asks what he has +done! He knows that love of pleasure is my stumbling-block, and he plays +on my weakness. Only this very afternoon he comes to me with a proposal +which I find utterly irresistible. My dear prince, I shall have to +forswear your company. You had no right to take me where you took me +to-day." + +Mazaroff stepped back puzzled and confused. He had decided that he knew +his man well, but here was an utterly unexpected phase of his +character. + +"You gave me certain papers to sign," the king went on. "Positively, I +have utterly forgotten what they were all about. Nothing very important, +or I should not have presumed to sign them. Something to do with +concessions, were they not?" + +"That is so, please your majesty," Mazaroff stammered. "It is a matter +that will keep. If you will go over the petition at your leisure? As a +liberal-minded man myself----" + +"My dear Mazaroff, your liberal-mindedness is proverbial. But as to +those papers, I lost them. Positively, they are nowhere to be found. You +must let me have others." + +A curious clicking sound came from Mazaroff's lips. The face of Count +Gleikstein turned pale with anger. There was a comedy going on, and the +grave listeners with their polite attention knew what was happening +quite as well as if the conversation had been in plain words. + +"Your majesty is pleased to jest with me," Mazaroff said hoarsely. + +"Indeed I am not, my good fellow. Blame yourself for the excellency of +that brand of champagne. We dined somewhere, did we not? I must have +changed somewhere after, for I distinctly remember burning a hole in my +shirt front with a cigarette, and behold there is no burn there now! +Somewhere in the pocket of a dress-coat lies your precious concessions." + +"I think," the queen said with some dignity, "we had better change the +conversation. I do not approve of those medieval customs in my husband. +Ah, Madame Peri is going to sing again." + +There was a hush and a stir, and the glorious liquid notes broke out +again. Mazaroff slipped away, followed presently by Count Gleikstein. +The latter's face was smiling and gay as he addressed some remark to +Mazaroff in a low tone, but his words were bitter. + +"You senseless fool," he said. "How have you managed to blunder in this +idiotic way? And after everything had been so perfectly arranged. It +would have been known to-morrow in every capital in Europe that the +Queen of Asturia attended the important diplomatic and social function +_alone_. We could have hinted that the king had already fled. In the +present state of feeling in Asturia that would have insured the success +of the revolution." + +"And the occupation of Russia in the interests of peace," Mazaroff +sneered. "My dear Gleikstein, I am absolutely dumbfounded. It was as the +king says. I lured him into a house where only the fastest of men go, a +gambling den. I saw that act of abdication in his pocket. I saw him so +helplessly intoxicated that it was any odds he was not seen before +morning. I arranged for him to be detained where he was. To-morrow the +thing would have been done; it would have been done to-day but he was +past signing. Then he comes here clothed and in his right mind. It is +amazing. We shall have to begin all over again, it seems to me." + +"We certainly have received a check," Gleikstein admitted with a better +grace. "But there are other cards to play yet. Those papers missing from +the Foreign Office, for instance. To get to the bottom of England's game +will be a great advantage." + +"Don't you know that we have been beaten there as well?" said Mazaroff. + +"You don't mean to say so! Impossible! Why, the countess sent a cypher +message to say that she had been entirely successful. The message was +not sent direct to _me_, of course, but it came by a sure hand about +eight o'clock. The countess had not read those papers, but they were +most assuredly in her possession. She promised me that----" + +"Well, she is no longer in a position to fulfil her promise," said +Mazaroff. "To return, the papers were most impudently stolen from her +house. It is quite true, my dear Gleikstein, that we both realize the +powerful secret combination that we have to fight against. Don't you see +what a clever lot they are! How they have tracked our deeds and acts! +How did they manage to recover the king and bring him here clothed and +in his right mind? Why, the thing is nothing less than a miracle. Then +the countess loses those papers almost before they are in her +possession. It is any odds that she had not even sufficient time to +glance at them." + +"But you are quite sure that the papers have been lost, Mazaroff?" + +"Absolutely certain, though the countess did not tell me so. She left +here in a violent hurry on her maid coming to say that there had been a +burglary at her house. I heard all that in the hall. The maid said that +nothing but papers had vanished. One glance at the face of the countess +told me what papers those were. And so we have a powerful combination +against us who can work miracles and undo our best efforts almost before +the knots are securely tied. For the present we are beaten, and it will +be just as well for you to realize it thoroughly." + +Gleikstein would have said more, but Lechmere lounged up at the same +moment. His grey, lean face was quite smooth and placid; there was a +smile on his face. + +"What are you two old friends conspiring about?" he asked. + +"There is never any conspiracy so far as diplomacy is concerned," +Gleikstein said smoothly. "We are all crystal wells of truth. Who told +you we were old friends?" + +"My eyes," Lechmere said quite coolly. "And my excellent memory. It is +idle to try and deceive an old queen's messenger like me. You look +puzzled, both of you. Cast your minds back to 15th November, 1897, at +Moscow. It was at the Hotel Petersburg. Three men were playing loo. +There was a waiter with one eye in the room. Come, there is a puzzle for +you." + +And Lechmere lounged on as if anxious to catch up a passing +acquaintance. + +"What does he mean?" Mazaroff muttered anxiously. "What does the fellow +_know_?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +"FOREWARNED, FOREARMED" + + +Gleikstein looked as utterly puzzled as his companion. They glanced at +one another in a guilty kind of way. Evidently the allusion to the Hotel +Petersburg mentioned by Lechmere conjured up some painful and none too +creditable associations. + +"There was only one other man present, and he has totally disappeared," +said Gleikstein. "Now how did that man come to know all about it? One +never seems quite to get away from the past." + +Somebody attracted Gleikstein's attention, and Mazaroff wandered off +into the garden. He was uneasy and disturbed in his mind, and anxious +over the failure of his plot. It seemed as if the whole affair was +little better than an open secret. As an agent of Russia, he was anxious +to see the abdication of the throne by the King of Asturia. Asturia was +a stumbling-block south in the path of Russian progress. Once the king +had abdicated or been forced from his throne by a revolution, Russia +would certainly step in under the plea of the maintenance of peace in a +notoriously turbulent region. They might concede to European opinion by +placing a puppet on the throne, but henceforth Asturia would be no +better or worse than a Russian province. If this was accomplished, then +Mazaroff netted a fortune. Only to-day it had seemed in his grasp. + +And with the swiftness of a lightning flash, everything had changed. The +puppet had been torn from Mazaroff's hands; those compromising papers +had vanished from Countess Saens's drawer. At the present moment Lord +Merehaven was in a position to shrug his shoulders, and say that those +suspicions must be verified before he was prepared to admit anything. It +was a comedy on both sides, but it remained a comedy so long as those +papers were not forthcoming. + +Mazaroff was brought back out of the grave of these gloomy reflections +by a footman who tendered him a note. There was no answer, the servant +said, he had merely had to deliver the letter to Prince Mazaroff. With a +new interest in life, Mazaroff recognized the Countess Saens's neat +writing. He read the letter slowly and thoughtfully, then tearing it in +small pieces he dropped the fragments into the heart of a laurel bush. A +slow, cruel smile spread over his dark face. + +"So that is the game," he muttered. "Strange that I did not spot it +before. Still, the marvellous likeness would have deceived anybody. The +maid was not far wrong after all. Well, at any rate, I shall have some +sport out of this. Who knows what it may lead to?" + +Quite eagerly Mazaroff dropped his cigarette and returned to the house. +He walked from one room to the other as if looking for somebody. He was +in search of Miss Galloway, he said. Had anybody see her lately? He had +an important message to deliver to her from Countess Saens. The cry was +taken up--it became generally known that Vera Galloway was sought after. + +One had seen her here and one had seen her there, but nobody knew +anything definite. The more difficult the search became, the more Prince +Mazaroff appeared to be pleased. The quest came to the ears of Dr. +Varney at length. He dropped the ever-pleasant conversation in which he +was indulging with a famous lady novelist and became alert instantly. + +"I fancy I can find her," he said. "Who seeks her so closely at this +time of night?" + +"Prince Mazaroff," a girl laughed as she passed by. "Is it a proposal, +do you think, doctor? Fancy being proposed to by a real prince!" + +But Varney was anxious behind his answering smile. His name had not been +mentioned in the business at all. He was quite free to cross-examine +Mazaroff without the latter being in the least suspicious. And Varney +had a pretty shrewd idea that Mazaroff regarded him as an elderly old +fossil who had a child's mind outside the regions of science. He +pottered up to the Russian presently. + +"What are you seeking?" he asked. "Is there anything that I can do for +you?" + +"Yes; I am looking for Miss Galloway," Mazaroff said, with a gleam in +his eye that told Varney a great deal more than the speaker imagined. "I +have an important message for her." + +"Well, tell me what it is and I will deliver it," Varney said with a +vacuous smile. "As the family physician there are no secrets from me. +Who seeks Miss Galloway?" + +"Tell her the Countess Saens," Mazaroff said. "I fancy she will +understand that. I have just had a letter----" + +But Varney had wandered off as if the conversation did not in the least +interest him. As a matter of fact, he was both startled and uneasy. +Mazaroff had been too communicative in the hour of his supposed +triumph, and he had told Varney everything. Mazaroff had had a letter +from the countess, and the countess had guessed, on finding her precious +papers missing, exactly what had happened. On making inquiries, Countess +Saens had discovered that there was a double of Miss Galloway somewhere, +and she had asked Mazaroff to make sure of the fact. And Mazaroff was +the very man who was wholly responsible for the appearance of Jessie +Harcourt at Merehaven House. But for his flagrant insult of the girl she +would not have been here at all. There was danger in the air. + +And the danger was not lessened by the fact that Jessie had not +returned. People presently would begin to think it strange that Miss +Galloway was not to be found. And if those two came face to face--Jessie +and Mazaroff--what an explosion there would be! + +Well, forewarned was forearmed, Varney told himself as he walked back to +the house. Jessie would be back before long, and then the whole thing +must come out. But Jessie had done good work, not only on behalf of her +new friend Vera Galloway, but also on behalf of England and the peace of +Europe. This pretty, resolute, sharp girl had suddenly become an +important piece in the great game of diplomatic chess. If necessary, +Merehaven must be told everything. He must be shown the absolute +importance of checking Mazaroff and rendering his last stroke utterly +futile. When Merehaven came to know what had happened, he would be +compelled to stand by the side of Jessie Harcourt. It would have to be a +strong game of bluff, Varney decided. Merehaven would be properly +indignant when the confession came; he would refuse to believe that his +niece could be party to anything of the kind. Jessie could come into +the room if Mazaroff decided to make an exposure, and sit with becoming +dignity. She would decline to listen to the Russian's preposterous +suggestion, and with all the dignity at his command Merehaven would back +the girl up. Varney began to chuckle to himself as he thought of +Mazaroff's discomfiture. + +But whilst Mazaroff was hunting round for the double of Miss Galloway, +never dreaming that she also had left the house, Merehaven must be +warned. It was a difficult matter to detach the old diplomat from the +circle surrounding him, but Varney succeeded at length. + +"Now what is the matter?" Merehaven said tartly. "Another surprise? +Really, I seem to be living in an atmosphere of them to-night, and I am +getting too old for these shocks. What is the matter?" + +"A great deal, or I would not bother you in this way?" Varney said. +"Make an excuse to get away for a few minutes and go to your study. It +is absolutely imperative that I should have a word or two with you +before you speak to Mazaroff again." + +Merehaven complied with a sigh for his lost social evening. He went off +in the direction of his study, but Varney did not follow him direct. On +the contrary, he lounged into the garden intending to enter the study by +the window, which he knew to be open. By the time he reached the garden +he had a full view of Merehaven bending over his writing table as if +dispatching a note. At the same instant a figure rose from behind a +group of rose trees and confronted Varney. As her black wrap fell away +he had no difficulty in recognizing the features of Jessie Harcourt. + +"I am back again, you see," she said breathlessly. "It is such wonderful +good fortune to meet you here so soon, and where we can speak at once. +Dr. Varney, have I missed anything? Is there anything that you have to +tell me? Have _I_ been missed? Nothing has happened since I left?" + +"Not till the last moment," Varney said. "My dear child, positively I +can't stay a moment to tell you. It is imperative that I should have a +few words with Lord Merehaven at once, before Prince Mazaroff can get to +him. Stay here under the shadow of the house; keep your wrap over your +head. Nobody is likely to come out again to-night. And please to listen +to everything that is going to be said, because the conversation will +give you the clue that I cannot stay to afford you now. Ah!" + +Varney darted forward until he reached the window of the library, and +then he stumbled into the room as if he had found his way there quite by +accident. At the same moment Mazaroff entered from the hall. His face +was pale, his eyes glittered with something of sneering triumph. He +advanced to the writing table and laid a hand on Lord Merehaven's +shoulders. + +"May I ask your lordship's attention for a moment?" he said. "I have +something important and, I am afraid, very painful to say to you." + +Jessie strained her ears to listen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE TRAIL GROWS + + +As Jessie sat there by the bedside of her new-found friend, she hardly +knew what to say. It was impossible, after all that Jessie had seen and +heard, to believe that the papers so boldly purloined by Vera Galloway +were not of the least importance. Otherwise there would not have been +all those alarms and excursions, and most assuredly Countess Saens would +have made no attempt to get into the hospital. Vera had handled the +missing Foreign Office documents beyond a doubt. + +"Cannot you recollect anything about them?" Jessie urged. + +"Absolutely nothing at all," Vera replied. "You see, I was so utterly +overcome by the success of my daring exploit that I was half dazed. I +had saved the situation, and I had saved Charlie Maxwell also. I suppose +I must have crossed Piccadilly in a dream. Then there was a violent +shock, and I came to my senses; but only for a moment, and then I was +utterly unconscious till I arrived here. I had just sense enough left to +remember that I was called 'Harcourt,' and there it ended." + +"And yet I suppose all your underlinen is marked?" Jessie suggested. + +"Only with a monogram, one of those intricate things that nobody could +possibly understand. But look round, and see if you can find any trace +of those papers. In a vague way I remember clutching them tightly in my +hand as the cab struck me." + +But there were no papers to be seen. The nurse knew nothing of them, and +the hall porter was equally sure that the patient carried nothing as she +entered the hospital. Doubtless they had fallen in the road and had been +picked up by somebody who would not have the slightest idea of the value +of their contents. It was so cruelly hard that the tears rose to Vera's +eyes. + +"It does seem terrible," she said, "after all the risk and all the +danger. I could cry out when I think of it, I could sit up in bed and +scream. And to think that those documents are perhaps lying in the +gutter at this very moment! Jessie, is there nothing you can do?" + +"I can have faith and courage," Jessie replied. "I will ask Dr. Varney +what is best to be done. At any rate, there is one way in which we have +the better of our foes. They know that the papers are stolen, but they +don't know that they have been lost again. I dare say Dr. Varney will +think of a plan. But I cannot believe that Mr. Maxwell was guilty. I saw +him just now, as I told you, and I am quite certain that he is no +traitor to his country." + +"I hope not," Vera said. "It seems almost incredible. When Charlie's +face rises up before me, I feel that I have been dreaming. Yet I know +that he has been exceedingly friendly with the Countess Saens. There was +assuredly a kind of flirtation between them. I tried to believe that I +was needlessly jealous. I should have thought no more about it until I +received that anonymous letter----" + +"Anonymous letter!" Jessie exclaimed. "That is the first time that you +have mentioned it at all to me." + +"Because I forget. As a matter of fact, I had no opportunity. It was +only just before I came to you in my distress and trouble. The letter +was beautifully written on very good paper. I am quite sure that it +emanated from a lady of education. It simply said that if I would save +the man I loved from ruin, I had better contrive to find my way into the +Countess Saens's bedroom to-night between the hours of nine and eleven. +Also, I was to open the second drawer of the Dutch cabinet, the key of +which I should find on the top of the clock. You see, I had heard my +uncle mention this Asturian trouble. The queen was a friend of mine, and +I divined what was going to happen. I tried to see Charlie, but I was +baffled there. + +"Then you came into my mind, and I determined to put a desperate resolve +into execution. I knew Countess Saens's house well; she took it +furnished from some friends of ours, and I had been in every room there. +I knew the countess was coming to my aunt's party. And when I started +out on my errand I was more or less in the dark until I heard those +dreadful newsboys proclaiming the tragedy. Then one or two hints dropped +by the Queen of Asturia came back to me, and I knew then the import of +my mission. That mission was accomplished, as you know. How I failed at +the very last moment you already know." + +"But I am not going to admit that you have failed," Jessie urged. "There +can be no question of the fact that you dropped those papers. It is +equally certain that somebody picked them up. They would be nothing to +an outsider, who would probably take them to Scotland Yard. I decline to +admit that we are beaten yet." + +"It is very good of you to say so," Vera said gratefully. "You will +have to play my part till to-morrow, when Dr. Varney must contrive to +come and see me. He will have to certify that I am quite well enough to +be moved, and then I shall proceed in a cab to your lodgings, still +passing as Jessie Harcourt. You will write to your sister and ask her to +be prepared. Then you will come home and we will change clothes once +more, so that nobody will be any the wiser. Don't worry about anything; +be prepared and silent, and leave matters to my maid. And never again so +long as I live shall you want a friend, Jessie. God bless you!" + +Jessie rose and kissed the tearful face of the speaker. The nurse was +hovering about again with a suggestion that it was high time the visitor +departed. Jessie blessed the long black wrap and hood that Varney's +foresight had provided her with, seeing that she would have to walk +home. She would not have been afraid under ordinary circumstances, but +the spectacle of a well dressed woman walking in that guise at dead of +night was likely to attract attention. As a matter of fact, it did +attract attention, for a man passed Jessie at the hospital door. + +"Don't be alarmed," he said. "It is I--Charles Maxwell. Glad to find +that a turned-up collar and hat pulled over the eyes makes so much +difference. How is she Miss--Miss----" + +Maxwell boggled over the name, and Jessie did not help him. Miss +Galloway was going on very well indeed, but she had had her perilous +errand for nothing. There was no object whatever in Mr. Maxwell +committing a second attack on the house of the countess, seeing that the +precious documents had already been abstracted by Vera Galloway. That +Miss Galloway had lost the papers made no difference. + +"That's very unfortunate," Maxwell said with a little sigh. "A brave and +daring action like that should have been fully rewarded. Still, it gives +us breathing time; it enables me to defy the foe. Let me walk back with +you as far as the garden gate of Merehaven House. We shall pass the +residence of Countess Saens on the way, and we may notice something." + +Jessie had no objection to make. On the contrary, she was glad of a male +companion. Usually she did not mind being out late; but then she was not +dressed for society, and the shoes she wore were not satin ones with old +paste buckles. + +Very silently they walked along the now deserted streets. Then Maxwell +paused, and indicated a house on the opposite side of the road. A +brilliant light burned in the hall, and in the dining-room the electrics +were fully on. The lace blinds were half down, and beyond the bank of +Parma violets and maidenhair fern in the window boxes it was possible to +obtain a glimpse into the room. + +"The countess is at home," Maxwell whispered. "I know that for certain. +I don't fancy she has gone out again, for a messenger boy was summoned +to the house. Ah, there she is!" + +By stooping a little it was possible to see the figure of the countess. +She had discarded her jewels and her flowers; she had a tiny cigarette +in her mouth. She took her place at a table and seemed to be writing +something. Presently a man entered the room--a slight man, with a pale +face and a mass of flame-coloured hair on his head; across his gleaming +white shirt an order or two glittered. + +Maxwell grasped Jessie's arm; he spoke with a fierce indrawing of his +breath. + +"Do you see that?" he whispered "Do you recognize anybody in that figure +standing there--the man, I mean?" + +"The King of Asturia," Jessie replied promptly. It was not possible to +be quite certain at that distance, but the dining-room was flooded with +light. Beyond doubt here was the ruler of Asturia, whom Jessie had left +not so long before in a state of collapse. + +"Look at him," Maxwell said in tones of the deepest contempt. "Look at +the smiling scoundrel. And yet to save him and his kingdom one of the +noblest women in England is risking her all. For his sake General +Maxgregor does outrage to his feelings and conceals his passionate love +for the queen. I would give ten years of my life to know what is going +on there." + +It was impossible to hear, however. It was also impossible to see +anything from the near side of the road. Jessie's anger was almost as +passionate as that of her companion. It seemed a lamentable thing that +the King of Asturia should be so lost to all sense of his position. And +he must have known that he was making himself quite at home in the house +of his deadliest enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +GENERAL MAXGREGOR + + +Maxwell's coolness had come back to him again. His face was alert and +vigorous; his anger had gone. + +"I am afraid that I shall have to ask you to go on alone," he said. "In +the face of this discovery I do not see my way to lose this opportunity. +The king cannot stay here long; you will see that it is impossible for +Countess Saens to run any further risks. I am going to wait." + +Jessie felt that she would like to wait also, but duty was urging her +elsewhere. She stood irresolute just a moment as a figure came down the +street, and pausing before the house opposite, whistled a bar from some +comic opera. Maxwell touched Jessie's arm. + +"Just a minute," he said. "Cling to me as if we were saying good-night. +Unless I am greatly mistaken, the whistle was no more than a signal. Ah, +that is what I thought! Evidently all the servants have gone to bed, for +here is the countess herself." + +The countess opened the door and stood on the step with the light behind +her. The man stopped whistling and walked up the steps. He saluted the +countess properly. + +"So you are here at last!" she said. The night was so close and still +that her voice was easily carried across the road. "I thought that you +were never coming. Take this note and see that Prince Mazaroff has it +without delay. You will be able to give him the signal. See it goes into +his own hand. Oh, yes, Merehaven House. The best way will be by the +garden door. _You_ know where that is." + +The man nodded, and said something in Russian that the listeners could +not follow. Then he lounged off up the road and the countess vanished. +Maxwell was all energy. + +"Come along," he said. "I have changed my mind. What the king does for +the next few hours must be on his own head and on his own account. It is +far greater importance for me to know what message it is that the +countess has sent to Prince Mazaroff. We will walk quickly and get ahead +of that fellow, so that I can hide myself in the garden before he comes. +We shall probably find that the signal is a bar or two of the same opera +that our man was whistling just now. Unless fortune plays me a very +sorry trick, I shall see the inside of that letter within half an hour." + +The slouching figure of the unconscious Russian was passed in a +perfectly natural way. Maxwell glanced at him sideways, and saw that he +had slipped the letter into his breast pocket. The garden gate leading +into the grounds of Merehaven House was safely reached, and Jessie drew +a sigh of relief as she threw off her wrap and cast it on a seat. If +anybody saw her now it would be assumed that she had come out for a +breath of fresh air. + +She saw the lights streaming from the library window, she saw the little +group there, and she drew nearer. She heard enough to tell her that she +was in deadly peril of being discovered. If Mazaroff was not stopped, if +he persisted in his determination, the fraud must be exposed. + +What was to be done? Something would have to be done, and speedily. +Varney could be trusted to stave off the evil moment as long as +possible. If she could come and spoil Mazaroff's game? The idea came to +Jessie like a flash--she tingled with it. + +The queen! Who else but the Queen of Asturia? Jessie raced round and +reached the house. She hoped that she would not be too late; she prayed +that the queen had not gone. There she was, on the couch of the salon, +quiet and dignified as usual, but her dark eyes were alert. She looked +about her from time to time as if seeking something. Greatly daring, +Jessie made a sign. With her forefinger she actually beckoned to the +queen! But there was no sign of offended displeasure in the face of +royalty. On the contrary, the queen rose, and making some excuse walked +to the door. Once outside her manner changed entirely. Her face grew +haggard, her eyes had a hunted expression. + +"What is it?" she asked. "Something very wrong, or you would never.... +But never mind that. Speak plainly, and I will do anything I can to +assist. Ay, menial work, if necessary." + +"There is no necessity, madame," Jessie said breathlessly. "Nor have I +time to explain. That will come later. Prince Mazaroff has made what he +deems to be a most important discovery. It is nothing like so important +as he thinks, but its disclosure at the present moment would ruin all +our plans. He is telling Lord Merehaven all about it now in the library. +Lord Merehaven is an English gentleman first and a diplomatist +afterwards, and he would insist upon having the whole thing cleared up. +Could you not make a diversion? Could you not interrupt, get Mazaroff +out of the way if only for half an hour? Time is precious." + +"It is very vague," said the queen quietly. "At the same time, I can see +that you are in deadly earnest. I will go to the library myself at +once." + +The queen moved along the corridor swiftly, as she used to do in her +mountain home long before she felt the weight of the crown on her brows. +She forced a smile to her face as she entered. Lord Merehaven was +listening gravely and with a puzzled frown to Mazaroff. Varney stood by +laughing with the air of a man who is vastly amused. + +"I don't think Lord Merehaven understands," he said. "Champagne, my dear +prince, champagne in moderation is an excellent thing. But when indulged +in three times a day----" + +"I shall be glad if Miss Galloway will be pleased to grace us with her +presence," Mazaroff said. + +"Would I not do instead?" the queen said as she looked in. She was +smiling gaily as she entered. She seemed to have utterly abandoned +herself to the gaiety of the moment. "Miss Galloway is doing something +for me, and I could not spare her for the next half hour. After that we +are both at your disposal. Positively, I cannot permit three of the +cleverest and most brilliant men in the house to be seeking each other's +society in that selfish manner. You have quite forgotten those stamps, +my lord!" + +"Bless my soul, so I have!" Merehaven exclaimed. "I beg your majesty's +pardon. Mazaroff was saying----" + +"What Mazaroff was saying will keep," that individual muttered +significantly. "There is no hurry; and the mere idea of keeping her +majesty waiting----" + +He bowed and smiled. It was quite clear to Jessie, who was once more +outside the window, that the Russian had no idea that anything but +accident had postponed his accusation. He was talking to Varney now in +the most natural manner. With her hand under his arm the queen had led +Merehaven away. Presently Mazaroff made an excuse and followed. Jessie +stepped into the room. + +"That was a very near thing, my dear," Varney said coolly. "If the queen +had not come in----" + +"I fetched her," Jessie said. "By great good luck I was by the window at +the time. Keep Mazaroff's mouth sealed to-night, and by this time +to-morrow, when he is confronted with Vera Galloway, he will see the +real Vera and nobody else." + +"Then you have been quite successful in your mission?" Varney asked +eagerly. + +Jessie proceeded to explain, and as she did so Varney's face grew grave. +But after all, he reflected, things are not quite so bad as they might +be. The enemy was utterly at a loss, and could not possibly know that +those papers had vanished. + +"You have done wonderfully well between you," Varney said at length. +"What was that? I fancied that I saw the shadow of a man lurking in the +garden. Just by those mimosa tubs." + +Surely enough a shadow flitted along, and somebody began softly +whistling a few bars of an opera. Hardly was the first bar on the man's +lips before another man dashed forward and struck the whistler to the +ground. There was a struggle, the sound of a blow or two, a suggestion +of punishment for loafers hanging about there with a felonious +intention, and the figure of the first man rose and ran headlong down +the garden. In the distance the clang of the wooden door could be +heard. + +[Illustration: "_Another man dashed forward and struck the whistler to +the ground._"] + +"We had better see into this," Varney cried. "If this is some cunning +game of some gang of thieves----?" + +"It is nothing of the kind," Jessie said tranquilly. "That is Mr. +Charles Maxwell. We had better go and see if he has succeeded. I will +tell you presently what it all means. If he has only obtained possession +of that letter without the thief knowing that the robbery was +intentional!... Come along!" + +Varney followed, greatly excited. In the shadow of an alcove seat +Maxwell stood with a small black envelope in his hand. He advanced +coolly to Varney. + +"This was intended for Mazaroff," he explained. "It was sent to him by +Countess Saens. I fancy that I have managed this without yonder tool +suspecting anything. This young lady will tell you all about it +presently. Let us open the letter." + +The letter contained nothing worse than a visiting card, with only a few +words written on it. As Maxwell held it up to the light the others could +see perfectly:-- + +"I am sending this by a sure hand. The key of the situation lies with +General Maxgregor. Follow him up without delay, for time is all against +us." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +AT THE WINDOW + + +Maxwell turned over the card thoughtfully and studied the neat +handwriting thereon. + +"We are dealing with one of the cleverest women in Europe," he said. +"See how wonderfully she recovers her mistakes and picks up the tracks +again. But I don't see that Maxgregor can have anything to do with it. +What do you say, doctor?" + +"I should say that Maxgregor had a great deal to do with it," Varney +replied. "If he were not a deadly foe to these people here, there would +have been no attempt to shoot him as there was to-night. Do you think +that he has been tracked back to his lodgings?" + +"I should say not," Jessie put in. "I was very careful about that. I +told you all about the fair woman in the lane, and the way I prevented +her from following the General when he went away in the ill-fitting +evening dress of the king. But there might have been spies who----" + +"I don't think so," Varney interrupted. "Evidently these people have +found out that Maxgregor blocks the way. Depend upon it that the report +has gone out to the effect that the king has left here--or so Countess +Saens thinks. She calculated that Maxgregor is still here, because the +messenger is sent to Mazaroff at the house. If they knew that Maxgregor +was lying wounded at his lodgings, they would work at their leisure and +there would have been no occasion to send that letter here." + +"Which must not miscarry," Maxwell suggested. "If it does they will +never think that the whole affair is an accident. My idea is that +Mazaroff must have that letter and never imagine for a moment that we +have read it. We can see that Maxgregor comes to no harm." + +Varney was disposed to regard the suggestion as a good one. But before +doing anything he would like to discuss the matter with Lechmere. +Maxwell's face fell. + +"In that case I will stay here till you have finished," he said. "I +don't feel much like facing anybody at present, though I am as innocent +of this business as a child." + +"What nonsense!" Varney cried. "This is no time to stand on ceremony. +Lechmere is a man of the world and a friend of yours. He is not in the +least likely to condemn you until the charge is proved. I appreciate +your feelings, but an empire is at stake." + +Without another word the doctor slipped away and returned presently with +Lechmere. He nodded in his cool, collected way at Maxwell as if nothing +had happened. + +"I have no doubt we shall get to the bottom of this business between +us," he said. "Varney has been telling me what has happened. I am quite +of your opinion, Maxwell, that Mazaroff must have that letter. When he +has read it he shall be watched and followed." + +"But how to get it into the fellow's hands without suspicion?" Maxwell +asked. + +"That is easy enough. I suppose you acted on the spur of the moment, but +you were foolish to tear that envelope open without steaming it. +Fortunately the envelope seems to have many counterparts in Lord +Merehaven's study, and luckily it is a different texture to the +correspondence card on which the message is written. Amongst my many +gifts is a fair talent for copying the handwriting of other people. I'll +get this fixed up. When the thing is done one of the guests shall hand +the letter to Mazaroff and say that he had picked it up in the garden. I +think I'll select a lady for the part. Stay here for a moment." + +A little later on, and somebody touched Mazaroff's arm as he was +watching a game of bridge in the card room. He turned to see a pretty +girl standing by and smiling into his face. She held a letter in her +hand. + +"I fancy this is for you, Prince Mazaroff," she said. "I picked it up in +the garden. On the whole, I came very near to having an adventure over +it." + +Mazaroff glanced at the envelope and his eyes gleamed. Then quite +leisurely he tore off the ends and read the message. He smiled in a +careless way, as if the message were of no importance. + +"I am sorry there was any danger," he said, "especially as the note is +so trivial. Where does the adventure come in?" + +"You have destroyed my romance," the girl laughed. "I suppose it was the +messenger who brought this letter for you, and not a burglar after all. +I expect the messenger made a mistake and came into the garden by the +door leading from the lane. Anyway, a gardener pounced upon him and the +man fled. It was quite thrilling to look at, I assure you. When I had +recovered from my fright I saw that letter on the grass. Then the real +solution of the mystery burst in upon me." + +Mazaroff laughed as if he enjoyed the story. His face grew a little +grave. + +"I should not tell anybody if I were you," he said. "It isn't many women +here who have your pluck. If they know they will fight shy of the +garden, and many a promising flirtation will be spoilt. And flirtations +very often lead to marriage, you know." + +The girl laughed in her turn and flitted away. Lechmere stood by the +doorway awaiting her. + +"You did it very well," he said. "You are a born actress, Miss +Cheylesmere. Oh, yes, the joke develops; you shall play your part in it. +Now, I want you to keep an eye upon Mazaroff, and if he leaves the house +let me know at once." + +Lechmere strolled off, pleased with the way in which events were going, +and quite certain that Mazaroff had not the slightest idea what had +happened. A pretty scheme was evolving itself in his mind. He went back +to the study, where the others were awaiting him. + +"So far so good," he said. "Mazaroff has received his letter without +guessing what we know of it. At the present moment he is hunting all +over the place for Maxgregor, ignorant of the fact that Maxgregor has +gone long ago. Mazaroff will ask Lady Merehaven if the General has gone, +and she will naturally say no, as the General did not wish her +good-night. Mazaroff will be quite certain that Maxgregor would never +commit such a social slip, so that I confidently hope that he will +continue his hunt." + +"But surely there is a much more important thing to do?" Jessie +exclaimed. "Mr. Maxwell, have you forgotten whom we saw in the +drawing-room with Countess Saens just now?" + +"I had forgotten," Maxwell admitted. "Miss--er--Harcourt told me that +the King of Asturia was here. She went on to say that he was not only +here, but in such a condition that he would have to stay all night and +be conveyed home in a cab. Why was he shamming?" + +"Shamming!" Varney cried. "I'll stake my professional reputation that +the king was not shamming. He has had some near shaves during the time +he has been under my care, but never has he been nearer to death's door +than he was to-night. I sincerely believe that it was only the +administration of a very powerful drug that saved him." + +"I know, I know," Jessie cried. "I saw a good deal of it myself. When I +left him the king was unconscious. And yet not half an hour ago I saw +him in the Countess Saens's dining-room." + +Varney and Lechmere smiled incredibly. They both shook their heads. + +"Impossible!" the former said. "Quite impossible, my dear young lady. +For the last hour, or nearly an hour, the King of Asturia has been in +this house clothed and in his right mind. It was I who brought him +downstairs. It was I who produced his majesty to the utter confusion of +Mazaroff and Gleikstein, the Russian _charge d'affaires_. You must have +been utterly mistaken." + +"It was no mistake," Maxwell put in. "I have seen the king often enough +here and elsewhere. I am prepared to swear in any court of justice that +within the last half hour I have seen the King of Asturia in close +companionship with Countess Saens in her own house." + +Varney and Lechmere looked a little bewildered. There still appeared to +be cards in the game of which they knew nothing. Varney was about to +speak when Lechmere touched his arm and indicated two figures that had +just entered the study. + +"To prove that you two are mistaken," he said, "look there. If you know +the King of Asturia so well, perhaps you will tell me who that is?" + +"The king," Maxwell cried. "And the queen. And yet I am ready to +swear.... You don't think that he might have slipped out and----" + +"No, I don't," Lechmere said curtly. "As a matter of fact, his majesty +is being too carefully watched for that. He has been here all the time, +I assure you." + +"It's like a dream," Jessie said. "The king is in two places at once. +And seeing that _that_ is the king, who was the man we saw in Countess +Saens's dining-room?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +AN UNEXPECTED HONOUR + + +The question was asked a great deal easier than it could be answered. +Only Lechmere smiled. + +"I fancy I could give a pretty shrewd guess," he said. "The countess has +been inspired by a discovery that she has made to-night, and a double of +the king might prove very useful under certain circumstances. And in +spite of what this young lady says as to the way she baffled the hired +spy in the lane, I fancy the countess has an inkling of the truth. We +have pretty well established the fact that the king started out this +afternoon with certain papers in his pocket." + +"Probably an abdication of his throne in the interests of Russia," +Maxwell said. + +"Precisely. He was hesitating as to whether he should sign or not. He +goes to some gambling hell and gets exceedingly intoxicated there. The +idea was probably to force a signature out of him as soon as he was in a +fit state to hold a pen. Then a vast amount of money would have changed +hands. The king would have been invited to drink again, and perhaps have +recovered without having the least idea where he was for the next few +days. In a word, he would have disappeared. In four and twenty hours all +Europe would have heard of the abdication. Now, where are those papers +now? The king certainly had them in his possession when he was rescued +from the gambling hell." + +"I wish you had looked," Maxwell said. "If I had known this earlier!" + +"Unfortunately, nobody knew of it," Lechmere proceeded. "Only our +enemies. And when Maxgregor went off from here in the king's dress +clothes, he took the papers in the pockets. If Madame Saens has an idea +of what has happened, she knows this. Hence her note to Mazaroff. As a +matter of fact, our friend the General is in considerable peril." + +"In which case somebody ought to go to him at once," Jessie exclaimed. + +Lechmere announced his intention of doing so without delay, but Maxwell +objected. It would be far better for Lechmere to stay here and keep an +eye on Mazaroff. And Maxwell was supposed to be out of the way, nobody +would give him a second thought; therefore he was the best man for the +purpose. Varney was warmly in favour of this suggestion, and Lechmere +had no further objection to offer. + +"Let it go at that," he said. "And the sooner you are off the better. +There is one great point in our favour, these people can do nothing very +harmful so long as those papers are missing. I mean the Foreign Office +papers stolen from Countess Saens's bedroom. If we could get them +back----" + +"They must be got back," Varney said. "The best I can do is to go down +to Scotland Yard and report the loss without being too free over the +contents of the documents. Once those are back in our hands, our people +can afford to be blandly ignorant of what the _Mercury_ said to-night." + +"And I should be free to hold up my head again." Maxwell murmured. "But +I am wasting time here." + +Maxwell disappeared into the darkness and made his way by the back lane +into Piccadilly. The streets were quiet now, and very few people about. +It was no far cry to the chambers occupied by General Maxgregor, and no +time would be lost by going to the house of Countess Saens. Maxwell +paused before it a moment. The dining-room blinds were still up, and the +lights gleaming inside. But so far as Maxwell could see the room was +empty. He lingered as long as he dared in the hope of something +happening. He was just turning away when the front door opened and a man +came out. In the passing flash of the street lamp Maxwell recognized the +man who he had mistaken for the King of Asturia. The likeness became no +less strong under Maxwell's close scrutiny. + +The man stopped on the doorstep and lit a cigarette, and then he pulled +his hat over his eyes and turned up his coat collar, warm as the night +was. A hansom crawled along with the driver half asleep on his perch. In +a strong German accent the man on the pavement called to the driver. + +"Fleet Street!" he said. "No 191B, Fleet Street! Office of the _Evening +Mercury_, you know. Wake up!" + +Maxwell felt half inclined to follow. But he thought of the possible +danger to Maxgregor, and he was forced unwillingly to abandon his +intention. Acting on the impulse of the moment, he ran up the steps of +the house and tried the door. To his surprise the lock turned in his +hand. At the same moment the blinds in the dining-room were pulled down +by the countess herself, and the lights switched off. Maxwell stood with +the door just opened; he saw the figure of the countess herself mounting +up the stairs. He could hear distinctly the swish of her skirts. Then +there was another click, and the hall lights vanished. Countess Saens +was going to bed, having forgotten to lock the front door! That all the +servants had gone to bed Maxwell felt certain, for the area quarters +were all in black darkness. + +"Astonishing how careless these clever women are sometimes!" Maxwell +muttered as he took his way down the road. "I suppose the servants +generally see to that, and her ladyship has entirely forgotten a thing +that never comes within the scope of her duties." + +Maxgregor's place was reached at length, and Maxwell was glad to see the +lights burning. A sleepy porter had not the slightest idea whether the +General was in or out. He was just going to bed himself; he never sat up +after midnight, and if the gentlemen were out after this without their +keys it was their own fault. Maxwell cut short this tirade by going +upstairs. He walked straight into Maxgregor's sitting-room. It was a +dark room on the first floor with folding doors. On the other side of +the folding doors the General was stretched out on the bed. He looked +somewhat haughtily at the intruder. + +"This is an unexpected honour," he said. "I have met you once or twice, +Mr. Maxwell, but that does not give you the right to come into my +bedroom in this fashion. In the light of recent events----" + +"For Heaven's sake don't take that tone!" Maxwell cried passionately. +"It is impossible not to understand what you are alluding to. And it is +quite futile just now to protest my innocence. That I am innocent; that +sooner or later you will have to apologize for your suspicions is +inevitable. Meanwhile, I am here at the request of Mr. Lechmere and Dr. +Varney to warn you of your danger. Cleverly as your escape was managed, +it has been found out. Let me tell you what has happened?" + +The General bowed coldly. He looked on the speaker as the cause of all +the trouble. He was not going to accept a mere protestation of innocence +in this way. And yet there was a ring of sincerity in what Maxwell said. +He was here, also, of his own free will, and his news was serious. + +"So that accursed woman has hit the right nail again," he growled. "That +letter you speak of means mischief to me. I wonder if the countess knows +that I am wounded? I dare say she does. I might have been murdered in my +bed if you had not come." + +"You would have been murdered," Maxwell retorted. "That is absolutely +certain. Are you very ill?" + +"No; it was merely a flesh wound in the shoulder. The bullet has been +extracted. I lost blood, and I am feeling rather weak at present, but in +a day or two I shall be quite myself again." + +"How did you manage to keep the thing so quiet?" + +"I sent for a doctor friend of mine. He was with me in the first +Asturian campaign--a fellow who has a fortune, and loves doctoring as a +pastime. He knows a lot about the Balkan business. I asked him to keep +this matter a secret, and he has done so. Is there anything else I can +tell you?" + +"It seems to me that there is a good deal that you can tell me," Maxwell +replied. "When you walked off with the king's clothes you probably went +away with papers that may be used with great effect against Russia if +they fall into proper hands--our hands, that is. If you don't mind, I +shall be glad to turn out the pockets of that coat." + +"That is an excellent idea," Maxgregor said. "What did I do?--oh, I +know. The porter took the whole suit down to be brushed; as I don't keep +a man he acts as my valet. If you would not mind going down into the +hall and asking the fellow?" + +Maxwell vanished at once. But the hall porter had departed for the +night, so the occupant of another set of chambers said as he opened the +outer door with his latchkey. At the same moment a figure bolted past +the door, a figure with coat collar turned up and hat pulled down. It +was the double of the King of Asturia. Maxgregor's face grew stern as he +heard. + +"Let us anticipate events," he said. "Put out the lights in my +sitting-room and close the door. When you have done that put out the +light here also. There is a way into the corridor out of this room +without going through the sitting-room. Place the key of the +sitting-room door on the outside." + +Maxwell crept back presently, having accomplished his task. For half an +hour or more the two sat in the pitch darkness saying not a word to each +other. It seemed a long time, but the watchers knew that something was +going to happen and stifled their impatience. Presently Maxwell felt +that a hand was clutching him by the arm. Maxgregor was whispering +something in his ear. + +And under the folding doors a long slit of light filtered into the +bedroom. Somebody had turned up the light in the sitting-room! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +LOYAL SILENCE + + +It was getting late by this time. Gradually the guests were thinning and +the splendid rooms were taking on a deserted appearance. Jessie sat in +one of the corridors hidden away behind a bank of palms and azaleas, and +longed for the time when she could rest. From head to foot she was +aching with fatigue. She had not been used to excitement lately; the +close atmosphere of the Bond Street establishment and the want of +regular exercise in the pure air had told upon her. Now that the +excitement had passed away she realized how tired she was. + +She laid her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. So utterly +exhausted was she that she did not seem to care what happened. And there +would be much to be done in the morning. If only Vera Galloway could be +restored to her proper place, Jessie vowed that nothing should prevail +upon her to carry on the adventure. She slept just for a moment. She +might have stayed there till daylight, only Ronald Hope came along and +found her. + +At the sound of a human voice Jessie became quite alert and vigorous +again. + +"How you startled me," she said. "I was asleep. Is there anything fresh, +any new complication?" + +Ronald dropped into the seat by Jessie's side. He was looking just a +little grave and stern. It was possible to detain Jessie there for some +little time. + +"There is nothing fresh," he said. "I have a few words to say to you, +Jessie. Everybody is going, and only a few of Lady Merehaven's intimate +friends remain." + +"If you are one of them you will not be expected to leave just yet," +Jessie smiled. "But why look so serious, Ronald? Have I done anything?" + +"Upon my word, I don't know," Ronald said in some perplexity. "I don't +like it, Jess. If you look at it from a proper point of view you have no +business to be here at all. Lady Merehaven is a dear friend of mine. +What would she say if she knew everything? As a matter of fact, she is +bound to know everything sooner or later." + +"But you can't blame me," Jessie protested. "Look at my position. I was +quite desperate. I had been dismissed from Bond Street for no fault of +my own; I had a sister practically depending upon me; it was useless in +the circumstances to try and find employment elsewhere. I was face to +face with something very like starvation, my dear Ronald." + +Ronald's face softened, but the perplexed frown on his face was still +there. + +"Oh, I know it," he said eagerly. "I see your position entirely. At the +same time, it is quite wrong. I am looking at the social side of the +question. And the worst of the affair is that you _must_ go on now till +Vera Galloway comes back. I have been trying to find some way to achieve +that without delay. If it can be managed, you must promise never to +change your identity again." + +Something like tears rose into Jessie's eyes. The dull, tired feeling +was coming over her again. + +"Don't blame me, dear," she whispered. "Think of my position. I had not +met you this afternoon; I did not dream that you still cared for me. And +yet I fancy that I would have done the same in any case. A good and +noble girl comes to me in great trouble; she asks me to help her out of +a grave difficulty to save one she loves. To help her I do this. And she +has more or less succeeded. Between the two of us we have gone far to +save a nation. Tell Lady Merehaven if you like, but do not spoil +everything in the moment of victory." + +"I don't want to," Ronald said. "It would be ridiculous to speak just +yet. But any moment some unexpected accident may find you out. It may +come before bedtime. And what would happen to you then? I am very +jealous for the good name of my future wife. Dr. Varney----" + +"Dr. Varney is standing by me nobly, and he will see that I am safe," +Jessie said. "Dear old boy, don't be afraid. Trust me a little longer, +and I am quite sure----" + +"My darling, I trust you implicitly," Ronald exclaimed. He bent forward +and kissed Jessie's trembling lips. "Only I am so miserably anxious, so +fearful lest---- But somebody is coming." + +Somebody came down the corridor, pushing the azaleas carelessly aside +from time to time. The newcomer was evidently looking for somebody. Then +the grey face of Lechmere appeared, white and excited as Ronald had +never seen him before. He paused before the others. + +[Illustration: "_Then the grey face of Lechmere appeared white and +excited._"] + +"Miss--er--Galloway, I have been looking for you everywhere," he said. +"It is of the utmost importance that----" + +"Oh, dear!" said Jessie with a little broken laugh. "Please don't tell +me that I have to do anything else to-night. I am utterly worn out. +If I could go straight to bed----" + +"So you may as far as I am concerned," Lechmere said curtly. "I beg your +pardon, but I fancy I have made a discovery of importance. That man whom +you took to be the King of Asturia--I mean the man you saw in the +Countess Saens's dining-room. What became of him?" + +"Really, I cannot tell you," Jessie said. "Let me think. I fancy Mr. +Maxwell said something about him. Yes, that was it. He said that the man +you mention drove to the office of the _Mercury_. Mr. Maxwell would have +followed him, only he could not spare the time." + +Lechmere nodded as if pleased about something, but the stern look was +still on his face. + +"I fancy that is all that I need bother you about at present," he said. +"And I don't think that we shall need your services any more to-night, +my dear young lady. If you can contrive to see Dr. Varney on your ride +before breakfast in the morning, you will be doing everybody a service." + +Lechmere darted away as hurriedly as he had come. Evidently he had work +of importance before him. + +"He has given me one useful piece of information," Jessie said as soon +as Lechmere had gone. "If what he remarks is correct, Miss Galloway is +in the habit of riding before breakfast. Well, I shall be able to fulfil +that part of the programme, Ronald. It will be delightful to be on the +back of a horse again, even in a borrowed habit, which I sincerely hope +will fit me." + +Ronald looked at the mass of chiffon and the quivering fall of drapery +before him and smiled. The dress might have been made for the wearer, +so perfectly did it seem to fit her. + +"This is quite another matter," Jessie said. "One can do wonders with a +little lace and a bow or two of chiffon. But a close-fitting riding +habit is quite another thing. I dare say I shall manage. There is only +one thing that really fills me with terror." + +"I should like to know what that is," said Ronald. + +"Why, Countess Saens. I am quite sure that she knows what has taken +place--at least, she suspects, and will find out dual identity, or she +would never have tried to gain admission to the hospital to-night. I am +perfectly sure that she will make another attempt in the morning. She is +clever and unscrupulous, and she is certain to get her own way. In the +accident ward of a hospital there is always a case or two that needs +identity, and there will be the chance of the countess. She professes to +have missed somebody, and she will be able to walk through the accident +ward. That is all she requires. And I am quite certain that she will do +this thing in the course of the morning. Don't you agree with me?" + +Ronald was fain to agree with what Jessie said. Perhaps some scheme for +baffling the countess was already in the air, as Lechmere would not have +suggested that early morning visit to Varney. + +"I have been thinking the matter out," Jessie went on. "Why could not +Miss Galloway be removed to a private ward? If Dr. Varney called at the +hospital he could see the patient and drop a hint to that effect. You +see what is uppermost in my mind, Ronald. A private ward affords chance +of escape, also chance for me to take Miss Galloway's place and let her +come home." + +"You are a friend in need," Ronald said as he kissed the red lips again. +"It was a lucky thing for Vera Galloway when she thought of you. But +there are risks even in this scheme. Suppose the maid who was present +when the robbery at the Countess Saens's took place comes forward and +identifies you, what then? You will be charged with burglary, and +perhaps convicted. The police will find out all about you--your name +will figure largely in the newspapers." + +Jessie hesitated a little before she replied. Her head fell forward, and +she fell almost asleep on Ronald's arm. Nothing seemed to matter to her +now; if only she could have a good night's rest. + +"I don't seem to care," she murmured. "I don't fancy that the countess +would go that far. It isn't as if she stood any chance of recovering the +stolen papers. And she would have to give a description of the missing +documents, which would not suit her book at all. On the whole, I am +prepared to take any risk so that I can spare Vera Galloway further +misery." + +And Ronald had nothing further to say. It was good to know that he had +the love of a girl like this. She should carry out her resolution, and +he would maintain a loyal silence for the present. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +LECHMERE TO THE RESCUE + + +With a new object uppermost in his mind Lechmere left Merehaven House +and took his way into Piccadilly. The roads were almost deserted now, +save for a solitary foot-passenger and a dingy night cab. One of these +crept along presently, and Lechmere ordered the driver to take him to +Fleet Street. In contrast with the West End there was bustle and +animation enough in the street that never sleeps. It was near to the +hour when the great morning papers went to press; there were lights +everywhere, and the hoarse rattle of machinery. Lechmere came at length +to the offices of the _Mercury_ and demanded to see the editor. The +request was an unusual one at so late an hour, and the clerk asked if +the visitor had an appointment. + +"I have no appointment at all," Lechmere said. "But at the same time I +am going to see the editor. Give my card to Mr. Hunt, and say that I +will not detain him many moments." + +There was something in Lechmere's manner that caused the clerk to take +the card without further protest. Lechmere had before now forced himself +in times of emergency on the great ones of the earth, so that he was not +going to be baffled by a newspaper editor, important functionary as the +latter was. He waited some little time before the clerk returned. + +Mr. Hunt was very busy, he said, and was sorry he could not see the +gentleman. Perhaps he would like to call later on, or send up the nature +of his business? Some very important news had come in late, and in the +circumstances it was impossible for the editor to grant an interview to +anybody. + +Lechmere said he would call again, and turned for the door. But he had +no intention of being put off in this way. He paused as a rush of +business distracted the attention of the clerk. In a corridor leading to +a flight of steps two jaded-looking reporters were talking eagerly. + +"Is it a fake or a real thing?" the first one said. "I've just come back +from Westminster--scene in the House, don't you know--and Gregg would +not even look at us. Said we had a real good thing on." + +"Then you didn't get to the bottom of what it was?" the other asked +eagerly. + +"No, I didn't. Something about the King of somewhere and a row in the +office. Anyway, the whole of the staff up in the composing-room are +working with closed doors, so that no hated rival shall get a sniff of +what is going on. We are evidently in for a big sensation." + +Lechmere waited for no more; he gripped his opportunity with both hands. +He advanced along the corridor to where the two men were talking, and +asked what floor Mr. Hunt's office was on. The two men looked at him +with something of admiration on their faces. Hunt was a martinet in his +office, and difficult of access at all times. + +"Second floor on the right," one of the reporters said with a wink at +his companion. "Don't knock, but walk right in. Hunt is always glad to +see visitors at this hour. It is a refreshing change after the grind of +the night. He'll be quite pleased to see you." + +Lechmere grimly expressed his thanks, though the sarcastic force of the +words and the wink were not lost on him. He was here to see Hunt, and he +was going to do it at any cost. He made his way up the staircase and +along to the second floor, where a door with the name of Hunt in large +letters attracted his eye. The door of the room was shut, but Lechmere +walked in. + +The room was empty for the moment. The floor was littered with paper and +proofs; on the desk a slip of galley proof lay. The heading attracted +Lechmere's attention, and he whistled. Then he sat calmly down to await +Mr. Hunt's return. He had no undue trial of his patience, for a moment +later the editor of the _Mercury_ bustled into the room. + +There was a pleased smile on his face; he seemed to be on the best of +terms with himself. But the smile faded away, and the mean, eager face +grew anxious as Hunt detected the presence of his visitor. + +"Now this is really too bad, Mr. Lechmere," he protested. Lechmere did +not fail to notice the agitation of the speaker's voice. "Of course, I +had your card. I sent a message down for you. If you had been the king I +would not have seen you to-night. I never see anybody after twelve +o'clock. I repeat, if you had been the king I should have had to refuse +you an audience." + +"Sounds exceedingly impressive, not to say regal," Lechmere remarked in +a dry tone, and without the slightest suggestion of an apology. "What +king do you happen to mean?" + +"Why, the King of England, of course," Hunt puffed. "Any living king, as +a matter of fact." + +"Any king in the _Almanach de Gotha_--with the exception of the King of +Asturia, eh?" + +The question was couched in a tone of easy badinage, but its effect on +Hunt was wonderful. The face grew grey and his hands trembled. If he had +been accused of some crime he could not have looked more agitated. He +tried to bluff, but he could only stammer something incoherent. + +"Really, I don't know what you mean," he said. "The King of Asturia, you +say?" + +"My words were quite plain, Mr. Hunt. I came here to-night determined to +see you and determined not to be bluffed by all the clerks in your +office. Your paper has gone to press, and therefore you must have a few +minutes to spare. You need not be afraid. Your composing-room door is +locked, and the present item of news destined for your readers is not +likely to leak out. Will you be so good as to let me have an advanced +copy of the paper?" + +"Certainly not," Hunt said. "This is an outrage. If you do not leave my +office----" + +"Sit down," Lechmere said sternly. He might have been speaking to an +unruly hound. "You are not going beyond that door without we have an +explanation. The King of Asturia was here to-night. If you deny it, I +shall give you the lie from that printed proof on the table before you." + +Hunt glanced at the long galley slip and wriggled. All his dignity had +vanished. + +"I am not going to deny it," he said. "The King of Asturia has been +here. He came in a cab. I did not send for him, he came of his own free +will. He gave me certain information----" + +"I have not the slightest doubt of it," Lechmere said drily. +"Unfortunately, his majesty has made for himself in London the sort of +reputation which is coveted only by a certain class of music-hall +frequenter and the haunter of the typical Strand bar. There have been +occasions when his majesty has exceeded the bounds in the way of +intoxicating liquor. Did you see any signs of it to-night?" + +Hunt intimated that he had. He was palpably uneasy and uncomfortable. +Every admission that he made Lechmere had literally to drag from him. + +"The description sounds convincing," Lechmere said. "But suppose I was +in a position to tell you that the King of Asturia had not been here in +Fleet Street at all?" + +"Impossible!" Hunt cried. "I saw his majesty; he sat in that chair for +an hour. A man in my position is not likely to make mistakes like that. +And he gave me certain information that I propose to make a sensation +of. What that information is you will know with the rest of the general +public when you get your _Mercury_ at breakfast time." + +Lechmere nodded. Beyond the door he could see something in the guise of +a foreman printer with a damp news sheet in his hand. He knew at once +that here was an early copy of the paper; that early copy he had made up +his mind to possess. He rose as if satisfied with his interview. + +"Very well," he said. "I will wish you good-night. You have done a +foolish thing, and, unless I am greatly mistaken, you are the victim of +one of the most mistaken cases of identity ever played off on the editor +of a great newspaper. But the fault is on your own head. Good-night." + +Lechmere passed out, closing the door behind him. The printer stood +there, evidently waiting for him to go. Lechmere silently drew his purse +from his pocket and extracted a ten-pound note. This he held up in the +glaring light of the passage and pointed to the paper. The printer +perspired profusely. Then, with a sudden spasmodic gesture he folded up +the paper and placed it in Lechmere's hand, at the same time snatching +convulsively for the money. The whole transaction did not take five +seconds. + +Calm and easy in his triumph, Lechmere walked leisurely down the stairs. +Once in Fleet Street he stood under the friendly light of a lamp and +opened the paper. As he did so he started. Well in hand as he usually +kept himself, Lechmere was surprised to-night. + +There it was for anybody to see who had an eye at all; the fifth page +was filled with it:-- + +"The King of Asturia and his people. His majesty visits the _Mercury_ +office and speaks freely. Does not care for the responsibilities of +State, and has made up his mind to abdicate. Has already signed the +declaration to that effect. Prefers Piccadilly to the Balkan service. +One of the most amazing romances in the history of Europe." + +"Good Heavens!" Lechmere cried. "So that is the game! What a lucky thing +I came down here! Of all the audacious things that ever happened, this +is the most audacious of all." + +He crushed the paper in his hand and hurried breathlessly westward at +the top of his speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE POWER OF THE PRESS + + +The editorial staff of the _Mercury_ had certainly done their work very +well. No detail had been spared to make the report absolutely complete. +Everybody was reminded that recently there had been a great deal of +friction in that corner of the Balkans known as Asturia. It was well +known that for many years Russia had coveted that fair province. Up to +now the crown of the King of Asturia had been quite safe. But with the +advent of the present monarch things were entirely different. King Erno +had very early in his career given evidence that he did not appreciate +the full measure of responsibility. He was too fond of gaiety and +pleasure; he had no patriotism. His people were a stern, hard-living +race, and they did not tolerate the gaiety of the new court. + +The queen was all very well, but she was only the consort, after all. It +was useless for her to be ever on the spot whilst the king was +dissipating his fortune and spending the money ground from his people by +extra taxation in London and Paris. And latterly eyes had been turned to +Vienna, where dwelt Prince Alix, who was known to covet the throne. At +any moment there might be a glaring tragedy, and Prince Alix might find +himself with the crown. That Prince Alix was notoriously a friend of +Russia mattered little at the present juncture. + +Lechmere read all this as he hurried along Fleet Street. He also read a +lot of information that was true, and more that was false. Evidently the +_Mercury_ people cared for nothing beyond the sensation of the hour. But +after all this came the sting of the thing. The King of Asturia had that +night gone down to the _Mercury_ office and demanded audience of the +editor. He had been very wild and violent, and the intimation that he +was hopelessly intoxicated was not very carefully concealed. The king +wished it to be understood that he had done with Asturia. He had not the +slightest intention of going back to his capital any more. His +abdication was signed, and doubtless by that time a deputation was on +its way to Vienna to offer the throne to Prince Alix. Altogether, it was +perhaps the most sensational report that ever appeared even in an +American paper. It was certain to create a great commotion, and set all +the courts of Europe by the ears. + +"Well, of all the amazing audacity!" Lechmere muttered as he raced +along. "Nothing more daring had ever been done in the history of +political intrigue. I wonder if Hunt suspects the truth. Not that it +would make any difference to him so long as he could shift the +responsibility afterwards, as I daresay he will be prepared with proofs +that he was justified in what he did. There is only one way to get even +with this thing." + +Lechmere arrived at length at the office of the _Daily Herald_. The +paper in question had very little taint of the modern spirit about it. +There was no chance, for instance, that it would ever be published for +less than a penny. The _Herald_ had no very great reputation for +enterprise, but it was sound and safe, and everything therein would be +accepted as true. No newspaper in the kingdom carried more weight, no +journal had a greater reputation for veracity. + +The _Herald_ had not gone to press yet. There was no great hurry, seeing +that the feverish rush to capture circulation had never commended itself +to the paper's proprietors. There was a sense of decorum about the +office that had been lacking in the _entourage_ of the _Mercury_. The +place seemed more dignified; there was no noise; all the corridors had +felted floors. Even down in the manager's office the same decorum +prevailed. + +Lechmere knew that he would have no difficulty in seeing the editor of +the _Herald_. In the first place, that gentleman was an old friend of +his; indeed, Lechmere had contributed from time to time many articles on +foreign politics. Mr. Eveleigh was at liberty, and would see Mr. +Lechmere at once. The editor was lying back in an armchair smoking a +cigar. + +"I have just finished, my dear fellow," he said. "I hope you have +something good for me? Nothing wrong? You look actually excited, a most +unusual thing for you." + +"I certainly have come along at a pretty good pace," Lechmere admitted. +"A most extraordinary thing has happened. If this matter is allowed to +pass there is no limit to the damage that it may do. Will you be so good +as to cast your eye on that, Eveleigh?" + +The editor of the _Herald_ took the _Mercury_ in his hand as if he had +been contaminated. There was a smile of contempt on his fine face. But +the smile faded away, and an interested gleam came into his eyes as he +read. He tossed the paper aside at length. + +"Nothing very wonderful," he said. "That is precisely how I should have +expected the present ruler of Asturia to behave. It's a fine scoop for +Hunt, and one after his own heart. He would set the whole of Europe in a +blaze to sell an extra fifty thousand papers." + +"Why not? He is an American, and his aim is to make money. He has the +excuse that he is not bound by any patriotic scruples. Do you believe +that story?" + +"It certainly has the impress of truth," Eveleigh said thoughtfully. +"Hunt dare not hoax his public. The average Briton would never stand it. +Besides, that's Hunt's own writing. He is perfectly certain to have +taken the statement down from the royal lips." + +"No doubt. Probably with the aid of a stenographer. There are no flies +on Hunt, to use a pet expression of his own. Let us assume for the sake +of argument that Hunt fully believes that he has had the thing from the +principal actor in the drama. But all the same, he didn't. The man who +dictated that statement was no more King of Asturia than I am." + +Eveleigh looked up brightly. Lechmere was not in the habit of making +statements that he couldn't prove. + +"As a matter of fact, the king has been at Lord Merehaven's all the +evening," he went on. "I left him there a little while ago. This thing +has been deliberately got up by the gang of conspirators who are working +here in the interests of Russia and incidentally for their own pockets. +When the proper time comes I will name all these conspirators to you. I +can even give you the name of the man who played the part for Hunt's +benefit. They chose their people carefully, knowing that only the +_Mercury_ out of all the London journals would publish that without +first consulting the Foreign Secretary. Don't you see the game? Every +paper in Paris and Vienna and St. Petersburg will get a copy of that +interview _in extenso_. It will create a perfect furore in Asturia if +the lie is not most promptly contradicted. You see what I mean?" + +"In the first place, that some clever actor has been playing the king?" +Eveleigh asked. + +"Yes. It was Countess Saens's idea in the first place. I am afraid that +some of our people inspired her with the suggestion. But that is neither +here nor there. That lie has to be scotched, and you are the man to do +it. After all said and done, _the_ journalistic English authority abroad +is the _Herald_. Therefore the _Herald_ is going to print that wild +story of Hunt's to-night and comment upon the audacity of the scheme. +Also, you are going to proclaim the fact that the real King of Asturia +was known to be at the residence of the Foreign Secretary, Lord +Merehaven, at the time when he was supposed to be betraying his private +affairs to the editor of the _Mercury_. If I were not absolutely certain +of my facts I would not ask you to do this, Eveleigh. I want you to make +a big thing of this. I want you to assume that Hunt has been hoaxed, and +call for the prompt punishment of the criminals. Is there time?" + +"Oh, there is plenty of time," Eveleigh said thoughtfully. "No trouble +on that score. And I think I can manage it. Sit down for a minute or two +while I go and see my chief of staff." + +Lechmere sat down fluttering over the pages of the _Mercury_. His +restless eye wandered near the column and along the crowded +advertisements. Finally his gaze stopped at the agony column. One line +there arrested his attention. It was a jumbled cypher, but the training +that Lechmere had had in that kind of thing enabled him to read it +almost at a glance. + +"I thought so," he said. "I felt absolutely certain of my man. So +Peretori is in London! I might have guessed that from the first. Well, +it seems to me that I am in a position to hoist these people with their +own petard. So long as Peretori is not in earnest, well and good. I +wonder if there is a telephone anywhere here?" + +There was a telephone at the back of the editor's desk, and Lechmere +promptly called up Scotland Yard in search of information. After a pause +the information came, which Lechmere carefully jotted down in his pocket +book. Eveleigh came back with the air of a busy man. + +"I'm going to do it, Lechmere," he said. "No thanks needed: it will be a +good thing for us. And now I shall be glad if you will go, as I shall be +pretty busy for the next hour. I think you will be safe to leave matters +in my hands." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +IN MAXGREGOR'S CHAMBERS + + +Whilst Lechmere was making the best of his way from the _Herald_ office +to the chambers in the big block occupied by General Maxgregor, he, it +will be remembered, lay perfectly still on his bed watching the light +broadening under the door of his sitting-room. It was a thrilling moment +for both Maxwell and himself. + +"What are you going to do?" Maxwell whispered. "Shall I go and see what +the fellow is after?" + +"No," Maxgregor replied. "Stay where you are. Unless I am greatly +mistaken, I know who it is. Our friend is coming in here to +investigate." + +Surely enough the double doors were opening and the figure walked in. He +came boldly enough with the light behind him into the comparative +darkness of the bedroom. He fumbled along the wall for the switch, and +presently the bedroom also was flooded with light. Mazaroff stood there, +his hands apparently covered with pitch, for they were black and sticky, +and he was looking round for the washstand. + +"If there is anything you want and you don't see it," Maxgregor said +coolly "ring the bell." + +Mazaroff gave a startled cry. The man was genuinely astonished, of that +there could be no doubt. He looked helplessly from Maxgregor to Maxwell +and back again. + +"I am exceedingly sorry," he stammered. "I--I have come to the wrong +rooms." + +"Where did you get the key of my suite from?" Maxgregor demanded. + +"Who from?" Mazaroff asked helplessly. "Why, from Barlow--Barlow who +occupies the suite that I took for this one. You see, Barlow is a friend +of mine. Very unfortunate that the key should fit both outer rooms." + +"Very," Maxgregor said drily. "When was it that Barlow gave you the +key?" + +"Yesterday, or the day before?" Mazaroff explained. "You see, he is away +from London. As a matter of fact he wanted to let the suite, and I +wanted it for a friend. It's very strange that I should find you here +like this. I can only tender you my very sincere apologies." + +"Better wash your hands before you go," Maxwell suggested grimly. "Were +you looking for the basin?" + +"That is it," Mazaroff said hurriedly. "You see, I thought I knew my way +about the suite, having been so often in Barlow's rooms. I--I slipped +getting out of a cab just now and fell on a newly finished piece of +asphalte pavement. May I use your basin?" + +Maxgregor grimly intimated that the basin was at the disposal of the +intruder, who did not cease to pour out floods of apologies. Mazaroff +was pretty much at his ease again by this time. He was quite concerned +to see Maxgregor looking so pale. Was he suffering from that old +malarial fever again? + +"Sprained ankle," Maxgregor said sketchily. "Nothing very much to speak +of. As a matter of fact, I have never been in better health in my life. +It seems to me----" + +Maxgregor paused and broke off with a quick sneeze. The thing was +ostensibly done, and served very well to hide an exclamation of +surprise. For in the sitting-room, with his finger to his lips, Lechmere +stood. He shook his head warningly, and pointed to Mazaroff. Then he +crossed the room and took his place behind the heavy curtain before the +window. No sooner was he secure of his hiding place than he walked out +and signified Maxwell to approach the window. + +In a casual way Maxwell sauntered into the sitting-room. He first moved +the curtain, and appeared to be looking idly into the street below. + +"Good boy!" Lechmere whispered approvingly. "What is that fellow doing +here? Said he came here in mistake, for a suite of rooms occupied by a +man named Barlow? Didn't come here to murder Maxgregor as you might have +been inclined to imagine. Well, I quite agree that Mazaroff has made a +mistake and shall be able to prove to you why a little later on. I want +you to shut the bedroom door for a time till I give you the signal--a +tap of the blind on the window--and keep Mazaroff talking. Make him feel +at his ease, if possible. Big events are in the air." + +Maxwell sauntered back to the bedroom and pulled the door to behind him. +Mazaroff was quite himself again by this time, and stood chatting gaily +to Maxgregor. It was no part of the latter's policy to let Mazaroff know +that he had been nearly done to death at Merehaven House. + +"How did you come by that sprained ankle?" he asked. "You seemed all +right just an hour or so ago, when I saw you at Merehaven House." + +"That's where I did it," Maxgregor lied coolly. He had no scruples +whatever in dealing with a man like Mazaroff. "Slipped on a confounded +banana skin, which, by the way, is a little more dangerous than orange +peel. It's a nuisance just at present, when I am so busy with Asturian +affairs and the king is such a handful to hold. I daresay some +confounded Russian placed that banana skin for me." + +"Don't forget that Prince Mazaroff is a Russian," Maxwell laughed. + +"Oh, you need not trouble about me," Mazaroff said in his most +fascinating manner. "There are Russians and Russians. I am too +enlightened and progressive to feel comfortable in my own country, and +that is why I spend so much time in England. So far as I am concerned, +you have all my sympathy in your efforts to check the Russian influence +in the Balkans. What was that?" + +From the sitting-room beyond there came the sounds of somebody gently +whistling. The thing was natural enough, and yet Mazaroff listened with +a certain suggestion of uneasiness. It came to Maxwell, quick as a +flash, that here was something that Mazaroff must not see, for a moment +at any rate. Lechmere had charged him distinctly to keep Mazaroff +talking for a time. + +"My man, I expect," he explained. "I told him to come here about this +time, and I suppose he is whistling to let me know that he is handy. +When anybody is in trouble, as I am at present, it behoves one to be +careful. As one accused of betraying diplomatic secrets----" + +"Not at all, my dear fellow," Mazaroff said graciously. "Pray do not +apologise. There is a great deal too much fuss made over that kind of +thing. The sale of diplomatic secrets is a brisk one in my own country, +or how would so many of our poor aristocracy live? And you are innocent, +of course. The mere fact that Lancing has made away with himself proves +that." + +Maxwell turned away so that the speaker should not see his face. It was +hard work to keep his hands off the ruffian who was one of the main +causes of the trouble. Perhaps Maxgregor divined that, for he hastened +to change the conversation. Meanwhile, the whistling in the next room +went on.... + +Lechmere carelessly pulled a section of the curtain aside and looked +out. He saw a little man with a clean-shaven face and shrewd eye sitting +swinging his legs on the edge of the table and whistling very softly to +himself. The little man seemed to be quite at home; he was perfectly +cool and collected, save that his face was shining with something that +looked like an intense perspiration. He had a small bag with him of +which he seemed to be very careful. If he was satisfied with himself, +Lechmere grinned with the air of a man who is still more satisfied. + +As a matter of fact, Lechmere had discovered all that he desired for the +present. He swayed the knot of the blind cord backwards and forwards +gently, as if the draught from the open windows was moving it. The knot +tapped idly on the panes, and Maxwell's keen ear heard it. The time had +come to get rid of Mazaroff. Maxwell opened the door leading into the +corridor. + +"Excuse me if I ask you to go," he said. "I have some business to settle +with Maxgregor, and I have to be on my way to Dover within an hour. It +is not very polite of me, but----" + +And Maxwell shrugged his shoulders. Mazaroff departed with a graceful +apology. He passed along the corridor till he came to the open +sitting-room door. He looked in and grabbed for the shoulders of the +little man who sat whistling on the table. + +"You fool!" he said. "If you only knew how near you have been to +betraying everything! But I am to blame as I mistook the room, perhaps +because the door was open. Come along at once." + +The little man murmured something to the effect that he was ready to do +anything for a quiet life, and obediently followed Mazaroff. Lechmere +crept from the shadow of the curtain and closed the outer door of the +sitting-room. Then he called for Maxwell, who came immediately. + +"Is there anything fresh?" he demanded eagerly. "Is there anything that +I can do for you?" + +"Yes," Lechmere said crisply. "You can do a great deal for me, and you +need ask no questions for the present, for I have no time to reply to +them. Ask Maxgregor if he has any of his fishing tackle here. If he has, +ask him to let me have a long length of salmon line on a reel. The +sooner I have it the better I shall be pleased." + +"In the bottom drawer of my writing table," Maxgregor called out. "What +_are_ you up to now?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +HER FRIEND, THE QUEEN + + +Jessie sat listening in a vague way to a girl who sat chatting by her +side. She had not the least idea what the girl was saying, nor, indeed, +had she any clue to the identity of the speaker. The talk was a little +confidential, and was evidently the continuation of some confidence +began at another time. Jessie nodded and smiled, and by instinct looked +sympathetic at the right moment. + +"And what would you say to Reggie under the circumstances?" the girl +asked. "It isn't as if George had behaved badly, because he really +hasn't, you know. Vera, you are not listening." + +Jessie laughed in a dreamy kind of way. The whole thing was getting +horribly on her nerves now. She felt how utterly impossible it would be +to keep up much longer. She was utterly tired out; she longed for +something to inspire her flagging strength. She began to understand why +men drink in certain circumstances. But she was just equal to the +occasion. + +"I am dead tired, I am half asleep," she said. "And my head is racking. +Ask me again, my dear, when I am capable of a coherent thought or two. +And as to Reggie, why, what can you do better than trust your own +woman's instinct. Have I not always thought that----" + +But there was no reason for Jessie to prevaricate any further. Relieved +at last from her onerous duties, Lady Merehaven was crossing the room. +There was no chance of escape so far as Jessie could see, the guests had +dwindled down to a comfortable number including the Queen of Asturia. +She would have to wait so long as the king chose to play bridge; it +would be folly to leave him there. Lady Merehaven came and dropped into +a seat by Jessie's side. + +"My dear Ada, money is bid for you," she said to the confidential girl. +"Your father is positively fussing for you in the hall. He said +something about an early excursion on the river to-morrow." + +The girl rose with a pleasant little laugh and kissed Jessie. Evidently +there was some very clever friend of Vera Galloway's. As she flitted +away Lady Merehaven turned to Jessie. + +"I have heard the most extraordinary idea suggested to-night," she said. +"I understand from your uncle that the idea emanated from Prince +Mazaroff. He said that you were not yourself, but somebody else. It +sounds very Irish, you know, but there it is. My dear child, how pale +you are. Short-sighted as I am, I can see how pale you are." + +"I have a dreadful headache," Jessie said unsteadily. "What did the +prince mean?" + +"Really, I have no idea. I could see that he was very annoyed about +something. He told some queer story to the effect that there was a girl +in a Bond Street shop who was the very image of you. The only distant +branch of our family whose women are remarkably like ours are the +Harcourts. But I understand that they have disappeared altogether. It is +just possible, of course, that one of the girls might have come down to +service in a shop. Have you heard anything of this?" + +"I have been told so," Jessie said boldly. "Ronald Hope told me. But +why should you trouble?" + +"My dear, this is rather a serious business. You heard what happened to +Countess Saens. You heard what the countess's maid said. There is no +doubt that this girl, who is so very like you, actually committed that +robbery. I am going to ask your uncle to enquire into the matter. We +shall have the police arresting you for a swindler or something of that +kind." + +Jessie suppressed a tendency to burst into hysterical laughter. It was +fortunate for her that somebody called Lady Merehaven away at this +moment, or Jessie's laughter had turned to tears. She crept away through +the little room where the bridge players were deep in their game into +the conservatory beyond. The king was still playing, and behind his +chair was a dark, military looking man with a stern face. It was quite +evident that he was on guard over the royal presence. Jessie's mood +changed when once she found herself alone. She felt sad and desolate and +lonely and utterly beyond her strength. She placed her aching head +between her hands and the tears ran down her cheeks. + +For a time she wept there quietly. Her eyes were still misty with tears +when the noise of rustling skirts attracted her attention. She wiped her +face hurriedly, but it was too late to take away all traces of emotion. +And as the tears were brushed from the long lashes, Jessie saw the queen +before her. + +The queen was smiling graciously, but the smile turned to a look of +concern. She sat down by the girl's side and slipped an arm round her +neck. It was one of the soft, womanly touches that endeared the queen to +all who knew her. She was all a woman now. + +"What is the matter?" she asked. "I have seen too much trouble in my +life not to feel for it in others. And you are so brave and firm as a +rule. Let me help you; forget who I am. Let me be as good a friend to +you as you have been to me, Vera." + +The last word touched Jessie. It seemed horrible to play a part with +such a woman as this. And yet the night would have been a bad one for +Asturia without the guardian girl from Bond Street. Jessie felt a strong +inclination to tell the truth. + +"I had better not say, perhaps," she said. "And yet you can help me. +There is one thing that I dread--and that is to stay to-night under this +roof. Pray don't ask me why, the secret is not all my own. I feel that I +_dare_ not stay." + +The queen asked no curious questions; there was a phase of temperament +here that puzzled her. Very softly she took Jessie's hand in hers and +stroked it. + +"I know that nervous restlessness," she said. "Who better? But then with +me every shadow hides an enemy. Even my friends are enemies sometimes. +So you dread staying here to-night. Why?" + +"I cannot tell you, madame." Jessie said in a low voice. "And yet if we +were elsewhere I might be tempted to speak the truth. Again, I must be +out very early in the morning. If you could help me----" + +"Help you! Of course I can help you! What is the use of being a queen if +I cannot do a little thing like that? One of my women has fallen ill, +and I am rather awkwardly situated. If you will come with me to-night +you shall take her place. How would that suit you?" + +Jessie gasped with pleasure. The whole burden of her trouble seemed to +have fallen from her shoulders. She rose to her feet as if anxious to +escape at once. A new colour came into her face. The queen smiled, and +pulled the girl down into her seat again. + +"You are as impetuous and headstrong as you are courageous," she said. +"I cannot go yet. There is something still to be done. A message has to +be sent to Captain Alexis, the gentleman who you can see from here +standing behind the king's chair. It is his duty not to allow his +majesty out of his sight. But you need not fear. I shall make everything +right with Lady Merehaven." + +"If you only knew what a relief it is to me!" Jessie murmured. "I dared +not stay here to-night. I should have betrayed everything. And after +being so wonderfully successful so far----" + +Jessie paused, conscious that she was saying too much. The queen +regarded her with astonishment. A look of haughtiness--pride, something +like suspicion, too, crossed her handsome, weary face. + +"Evidently there is more here than meets the eye," she said coldly. "I +have pledged my word, and I am not going to break it now. Possibly you +may have a story to tell me presently." + +"I will tell you everything if you will only be kind to me," Jessie +exclaimed. "Ah, madame, if you only knew what I had gone through and +suffered for you to-night----" + +"True," the queen said hastily and with a change of tone. "I had +forgotten for the moment. Only I hate mysteries. My life has been +poisoned by them for years. Stay here and compose yourself, and I will +see Lady Merehaven. Then I will send for your maid and give her +instructions what to do. Don't stir from here." + +Jessie murmured her thanks. She was only too glad to remain where she +was and get a little time to think. At any rate, she was free from the +dread of having to pass a night at Merehaven House. It was all very well +for her to pose as Vera Galloway when dressed for the part and under the +shaded lights. But in the strong light of day in her simple night +clothing, and with her hair free, it would be a miracle if Vera +Galloway's maid did not detect the difference. + +Jessie lay back and closed her eyes with a blissful sense of freedom +from danger. Surely it would make no difference if she told the queen +everything? After all, she had done as much for Asturia as Vera had +done, and perhaps more. She had proved her courage and her devotion, and +no girl could have done more. Just for a moment Jessie fell into a quiet +doze. + +She was awakened at length by the entry of a servant, who came with the +information that the carriage of the Queen of Asturia was at the door, +that her majesty desired to see Miss Galloway. There was a new life and +strength in Jessie as she rose to obey the summons. + +"Say I am coming at once," she said. "Her majesty is in the hall, I +suppose?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +A SURPRISE FOR JESSIE + + +Her majesty was in the hall as Jessie had anticipated. She was chatting +quite gaily with Lady Merehaven as the girl came up. She flashed Jessie +a significant glance. + +"Your aunt has been pleased to accede to my whim," she said. "And so you +are coming with me, Vera. I understand your maid is sending everything +to our hotel. Good-night, Lady Merehaven, and please do not allow those +people to play cards too long. My dear child, come along." + +"It is a very great honour for the child," Lady Merehaven murmured. +"Good-night, madame, good-night." + +The queen swept Jessie into the brougham before her. There was a tiny +electric lamp behind the queen's head so that it shone full on Jessie's +face. Jessie felt the latter's eyes going all over her. + +"Now tell me your story," she said. "Tell me freely and don't be afraid. +I shall be your good friend." + +"You give me courage to proceed," Jessie murmured. "In the first place +I'll tell you why I so dreaded passing the night at Merehaven House. I +should certainly have been found out in the morning and then everything +would have been ruined. Not that I cared for myself, but for the sake of +others. Madame, is it possible that you fail to see that I am not Miss +Galloway at all?" + +The queen fairly gasped with astonishment. Those dark eyes of hers took +in Jessie's identity. It was a long time before she spoke again. + +"You are quite right," she said slowly and thoughtfully. "I notice +little subtle differences now you mention it. And yet the likeness is +wonderful. My dear, you are a lady." + +"I am a lady, yes. My father was Colonel Harcourt, in fact I am a +connection of the Merehavens. There has been nothing vulgar about my +adventure to-night." + +"That I am absolutely certain of. Really, the likeness is marvellous. +And I have been talking to you and confiding in you all the evening as +if you were my friend Vera Galloway." + +"Instead of your friend Jessie Harcourt," the girl said with a wistful +smile. "Believe me, I am as devoted to your interests as is the one +whose part I play. I have given proof of it enough to-night. I might +have gone on deceiving you to the end but I could not do it." + +"I see, I see. You are telling the truth, you are making me love you. +And why did you do this for one who a little time ago was a perfect +stranger to you? If you know anything of our cause----" + +"But I do now--and you can command me in any way. Perhaps I had better +begin at the beginning. It was Vera Galloway who took me up. She came to +me at a moment when I was absolutely desperate. It is strange how the +warp of fate has dragged me into this business!" + +"You cannot tell how deeply I am interested," the queen said softly. + +"It is very good of your majesty. Miss Galloway came to me. She had +heard of me, evidently. She came to me at the very moment when I was +dismissed from my situation. I had been accused of a disgraceful +flirtation with the son of one of the shop customers. As a matter of +fact the coward had tried to kiss me and he let all the blame rest on my +shoulders. I was dismissed without any chance of a further situation, I +had only a few shillings in the world and an invalid sister partially +dependent upon me. At that moment I was desperate enough for anything. +Quite early the complication began. The name of the coward who brought +all this trouble on me was Prince Boris Mazaroff." + +"I am not surprised," the queen said with just a touch of weary scorn in +her voice. "We are all creatures of fate. I know that I am. But the +coincidence is a little strange." + +"Miss Galloway wrote me a letter and asked me to call upon her in my +working dress. When I saw her I could not but be struck by the amazing +likeness between us. Then she unfolded her plan--the plan that we were +to change places for a little time. Someone whom she cared for was in +trouble and it was impossible that she should get away without being +suspected. Your Majesty may guess that the somebody in trouble was no +other than Mr. Charles Maxwell and at the bottom of the trouble was the +missing papers relating to Asturia." + +The queen nodded, her dark eyes gleaming in the light of the lamp. + +"I see," she exclaimed. "Those papers that found their way into the +hands of the Countess Saens. The papers that she was robbed of almost as +soon as she had obtained possession of them. What an amazing daring +thing to do. I seem to see quite clearly now. Miss Galloway slipped off +and stole them while all the time her friends and relations thought +that she was in the house of her uncle! Ah, what will not a woman do for +the sake of the man she loves! And she was quite successful!" + +"Quite. We know that by the scene made by the countess' maid at +Merehaven House. I did not guess until the maid looked at me and said +that I was the thief. Of course everybody who heard it laughed, but the +woman stuck to her story. The statement was a flood of light to me, when +I heard it I knew then exactly what had happened as well as if I had +been present and seen the robbery." + +"Vera Galloway saved Asturia and her lover at the same time," the queen +said. "But why did not Miss Galloway come back and resume her proper +place?" + +"Oh, that is the unfortunate part of it," Jessie said sadly. "She was so +overcome with her good fortune that she walked down Piccadilly in a +dazed state. Then she was run over by a cab and taken to Charing Cross +Hospital. She is there at this moment." + +A cry of passionate anger broke from the queen. Her hands were clasped +together closely. + +"Of all the misfortunes!" she gasped. "Will nothing ever come right +here? Go on and tell me the worst." + +"The worst is that Vera lost the papers," Jessie resumed. "When the news +of the accident came to me, I slipped out and with great risk went to +the hospital. Dr. Varney gave me a permit. Vera had lost the papers, she +had not the least idea what had become of them. But that is not all. +Countess Saens has found out that a girl answering to my description had +been taken to the hospital and she went there. Fortunately she was +refused admission. But she will get this in the morning and that is why +I want to go out so early. The suspicions of the countess are aroused, +she begins to understand. And there is Prince Mazaroff." + +"What can he possibly have to do with it?" the Queen asked. + +"Your Majesty is forgetting that Prince Mazaroff knows both Vera +Galloway and Jessie Harcourt, the shop girl whom he honoured with his +hated attentions. He knows that there is a girl in London identical in +looks to Miss Galloway, he heard what Countess Saens's maid said. Indeed +he went so far to-night to hint to Lord Merehaven that a trick was being +played upon her ladyship. There is only one thing that prevented his +discovery outright." + +"And what was that?" the queen asked. "Why should he hesitate?" + +"Because he was not absolutely sure of his ground," Jessie said. "He +knew the shop girl Jessie Harcourt. But he was puzzled because he did +not imagine that a shop girl would be so wonderfully at ease in good +society and have all the manners of it at her fingers' ends. He did not +know that the Bond Street girl was of gentle birth, and he was puzzled. +Do you see my point?" + +The queen saw the point perfectly well and admitted that it was a very +clever one. + +"I am more than glad that you have told me all this," she said in a +thrilling voice. "Your frankness may save the situation in the long run. +One thing is certain, we must get Vera out of the hospital and back +again here without delay. And for the time being you must disappear. I +seem to have as many enemies here as I have in Asturia, only they are +cleverer ones. These people are all in the pay of Russia. Countess Saens +must be baffled at any cost. Wait a moment." + +The carriage had pulled up, but the footman did not dismount from the +box. So far as Jessie could judge, the carriage had stopped nowhere near +the Queen of Asturia's headquarters. She smiled as Jessie looked up with +a questioning eye. + +"You are wondering why we are here," she said. "It is imperative before +I sleep to-night that I should have a few words with General Maxgregor. +I understand that he has a suite of rooms in the big block of flats. I +fancy those are his windows on the second floor, those with the lights +up. Somebody has just come in and looked out of the window. My child, +who is that?" + +The queen's voice changed suddenly, her tones were harsh and rasping. A +man in evening dress stood in one of the lighted windows looking out. + +"You saw what happened at Lady Merehaven's," the queen went on. "We left +the king there with the faithful Alexis behind his chair. We have come +direct here. The whole thing is maddening. Who do you reckon that man to +be who was looking out of the window?" + +Jessie looked up with bewildered eyes. The old dreamy feeling was coming +over her again. She gazed steadily at the figure framed in the flood of +light. + +"There is no mistake about it," she gasped. "That is his majesty the +King of Asturia!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +NO TIME TO LOSE + + +Lechmere would have walked off with his fishing line, but Maxgregor +called him back. There was no reason for mystery over this business so +far as the General could see. But Lechmere shook his head. + +"I'll be back in a very few minutes," he said, "and then you can tell me +what has happened. On the other hand I shall have a great deal to tell +you. Which way did Mazaroff go?" + +So far as Maxwell could judge, Mazaroff had not left the building. He +was pretty sure that the Russian had not come to Maxgregor with any +sinister design. Beyond question, Mazaroff was looking for a certain +suite of rooms, though Maxgregor doubted it. + +"The fellow would have shewn his teeth fast enough if it had not been +for Maxwell," he said. "It is possible that he is looking for a certain +suite of rooms, I should not be at all surprised to find that he has not +yet left the building." + +Lechmere muttered something to the effect that he was absolutely certain +of it. He was very anxious to know if there was a back staircase from +the floor and whether it was much used so late at night. + +"It isn't used at all after the servants have gone," Maxgregor +explained. "There are several very rapid young men living on this floor +and they find the back staircase useful for the purpose of evading +creditors. The stairs are at the far end of the corridor." + +Lechmere murmured his thanks and hurried away. He had hardly disappeared +before there was a tiny tap on the door and Jessie came in. She seemed +anxious and uneasy, nor was her confusion lessened by the expression of +blank astonishment, not to say displeasure, on Maxwell's face. + +"Vera," he cried reproachfully. "Oh, I forgot. Events are moving so fast +that it is difficult to keep pace with them. And you are so wonderfully +like Vera Galloway. I had to be told the facts, you see. Oh, of course +you told me yourself by the hospital. But what are you doing here?" + +"I came with the queen," Jessie explained. "I am going to her hotel with +her. But the queen declared that she could not rest to-night unless she +had seen General Maxgregor. Is he better?" + +"I am going on as well as possible," Maxgregor said from his bed. "It is +dreadful to be laid up just now, at this time of all others. It was good +of the queen to think of me, but it occurs to me to be dreadfully +imprudent for her to come here now." + +"But she had to," Jessie persisted. "There was no help for it. And +another extraordinary thing happened. We left the king at Merehaven +House being closely guarded by Captain Alexis. When we came away his +majesty was actually playing bridge. And yet, as the carriage pulled up +outside these mansions, we saw the king seated in one of the windows." + +"Impossible," Maxgregor cried. "The king has not been here at all." + +"So I should have said if I had been able to disbelieve my own eyes," +Jessie went on. "I tell you I have just seen the king. At first I +thought that he was actually here. Now I know that he must be on the +next suite to this. He was in evening dress just as we left him, but he +had his orders on. And the queen is in a position to confirm what I +say." + +"I am certainly in a position to do what Miss----er----this lady says," +came a voice from the doorway as the queen came in. "We must get to the +bottom of this." + +Maxgregor groaned. He admired the pluck and spirit of the queen but he +deplored the audacity that brought her here. The thing was absolutely +madness. The queen smiled anxiously. + +"Are you any worse, my dear old friend," she asked. "Are you suffering +at all?" + +"My pain is more mental than physical," Maxgregor replied. "Oh, why did +you come here, why did you not leave matters to me? Heaven only knows +how many spies are dogging your footsteps. And it is impossible that the +king can be where you say he is." + +"The king's recuperative powers are marvellous," Maxwell remarked. "At +one hour he is apparently at the point of death, an hour later he is an +honoured guest of the Foreign Secretary. A little time later this young +lady and I see him seated in the drawing-room of Countess Saens's house +and quite at his ease there. At this moment he seems to be in two places +at once. Can anybody explain. Can _you_?" + +The last question was put to Lechmere, who had stepped into the room +again. The diplomatist smiled. + +"I hope to explain the whole thing and prove what has happened before +long," he said. "It was to aid you in that purpose that I borrowed the +salmon line. Is your majesty safe here?" + +"Is my majesty safe anywhere?" the queen asked in bitter contempt. "I +have taken every precaution. There was nobody to be seen as I drove up +and I have sent my horses to wait for me in the square. Then I could not +stop any longer, I could not wait for my dear little friend here to +bring me news. And I was most miserably anxious about General Maxgregor. +Is there any news?" + +"I was just coming to the news," Lechmere said. "Our enemies have tried +on the most dangerous and daring thing that I have ever heard of. When +the _Mercury_ appears to-morrow it will contain a long and particular +account of an interview between the King of Asturia and the Editor. I +have seen the Editor of the _Mercury_, and by a stratagem I became +possessed of an advanced copy of the paper. I should like your majesty +to see what it is that the British public will find on their breakfast +tables later on." + +Lechmere produced his copy of the _Mercury_ and flattened it on the +table. Then he handed it to the queen. She waved the sheet aside +impatiently, she could not read to-night, her eyes were too heavy. + +"Let us have the pith of it," she said. "I am curious to know what it +all means." + +Lechmere proceeded to read the article aloud. It was well done and the +insinuations it conveyed were worse than the actual truth. For instance, +it was not boldly said that the King of Asturia had visited the offices +of the _Mercury_ in a state of intoxication, but it was shrewdly +inferred. The brutal callous indifference of the whole thing was most +strongly marked. The king had abdicated his throne, he cared nothing for +his country or what his subjects thought of it. Here was an article +calculated to arouse the greatest sensation in Europe. The queen was not +slow to see the danger of it. + +"But the thing is all a lie," she cried. "It is impossible. We know that +the king has not left Merehaven House since dinner-time. And this +interview is stated to have taken place later. Is this what your +journalism is coming to in this country, Mr. Lechmere?" + +"Not our journalism, madame," Lechmere said coolly. "No English daily +paper would have been so depraved and unpatriotic as to print that +interview without consulting some Minister of State. As a matter of fact +the _Mercury_ is American, it is published to sell, it is the pioneer +paper floated to capture the cream of our Press. Hunt has no scruples." + +"But he has invented the whole thing," the queen said. "It is a +dastardly fraud." + +"No," Lechmere said calmly. "No doubt somebody called on Hunt and told +him that story. I believe Hunt to be genuinely under the impression that +he had the honour of the confidence of the King of Asturia. In a way he +has been hoaxed with the rest." + +"If we could only prove it," the queen said under her breath. "If we +could only prove it." + +"I hope to be able to do so within the next half hour," Lechmere went on +in his cool way. "I have a pretty shrewd idea what has taken place. In a +measure we have to thank the little scheme planned out between this +young lady here and her double, Miss Vera Galloway. It suggested an +idea to Countess Saens. And fortunately for her the material was at +hand. After all said and done the Editor of the _Mercury_ could only +have seen the king in the most casual way and he would be easily imposed +on. In the circumstances, he would be quite ready and even eager to be +imposed upon. The fact that the whole affair subsequently proved to be a +hoax would not in the least disturb Hunt. He would get his sensation and +his extra copies sold, the mistake itself would be forgotten in a day or +two." + +"But not in Europe," the queen cried. "By to-morrow Europe will be +ringing with that vile lie. The telegraph will be put in motion, our +enemies will see that it is promptly reported from one end of Asturia to +another. Once the lie is floated on the stream of public opinion we +shall never catch it up again. The whole thing has been engineered with +the deliberate intention of ruining us. What can we do?" + +"What man can do I have already done," Lechmere said. "The thing will be +contradicted and proved to be a lie by the _Herald_ newspaper, to whose +Editor I have told everything. The two papers will start fairly, the one +with the lie and the other with the truth. And as you know the _Herald_ +is looked upon as a respectable journal. The telegraph that flashes the +news for the one will flash the refutation for the other. And I have +taken an extremely bold step. The _Herald_ to-morrow will be responsible +for the announcement that so far from resigning his crown, King Erno of +Asturia has started already by a series of special trains to Asturia. +Madame, you will see that this is done?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +THE FISH ON THE LINE + + +A gleam of admiration flashed into the eyes of the queen. Here was a man +after her own heart. And Lechmere had done marvellously well. True, he +could not stamp out the lie, he could not prevent the thing being +reported from one end of Europe to another, but he could refute it. The +mere fact that King Erno had started for Asturia would naturally create +a great impression. + +"It shall be done," the queen cried. "I will go back to Merehaven House +and fetch the king. He shall travel without delay under the care of +Captain Alexis. I would that I had another trusty friend to accompany +him, but it seems to me that I need you all in London. + +"You do not need me, madame," said Maxwell earnestly. "I mean you don't +need me _here_. For the moment the good friends you have here will +suffice. It is necessary that I should be out of the way for a time, and +nobody would guess where I have gone. Let me go to Asturia." + +The queen thanked Maxwell with a look of gratitude from her dark eyes. +Then she turned to Lechmere. "How can all this travelling machinery be +put in motion so quickly?" she asked. + +"Fortunately you have come to the right quarter for information," +Lechmere said. "As an old queen's messenger, there are few services for +getting over the ground that I do not know. Before now I have been +despatched at a minute's notice to the other end of Europe with +instructions to reach my destination in a given time. In an hour or so, +the programme will be complete. I will see to the special train to Dover +and the special steamer to cross the Channel. After that it is a mere +matter of using the cables. If the king does not care to undertake the +journey----" + +The queen laughed in a strange metallic fashion. Her eyes were gleaming +with intensity of purpose. + +"The king is going," she said between her teeth. "You may be quite sure +about that. If he declines, or shews the least infirmity of purpose, he +will be drugged and taken home that way. He will shew himself in the +capital. A manifesto will be issued directly he gets there. There is one +thing yet to be done." + +The queen paused and looked significantly at Lechmere. He smiled and +shook his head. + +"I know exactly what your majesty means," he said. "It is useless for us +to take all this trouble if we are to be confronted with a mystery which +will enable certain people to say that the King of Asturia is still in +London. I have taken a step to entirely obviate that business. If your +majesty has a few minutes to spare I shall be able to render your mind +easy on that score." + +The queen expressed her willingness to stay, and Lechmere left the room. +He paused to light a cigar in the corridor and don his overcoat again. +Then he walked casually to the outer door of the next suite of rooms and +strolled calmly in. The second door of the suite was locked and Lechmere +gently tried the handle. + +"So far so good," he muttered. "There is another door into the corridor +leading to the back stairs. I need not worry about the back stairs as my +ferret is there. If the thing were not so serious, what a fine comedy it +would make! Now for it!" + +Lechmere tapped smartly on the door, a murmur of voices within ceased +and the door was opened and shewed the face of Prince Mazaroff himself. +He turned a little pale as he saw Lechmere and stammeringly asked what +the latter wanted. Lechmere laughed in an irritating kind of way. + +"Well, that's pretty cool," he said. "I come to the suite of rooms of my +friend Bevis to smoke a cigar and I find you here demanding why I come. +Is Bevis here?" + +"No, he isn't," Mazaroff said curtly as he came into the front room and +closed the door behind him. "And, what is more, he is not likely to be +in. I have a friend in there if you must know." + +Mazaroff grinned with an assumption that Lechmere could understand that +the situation was rather a delicate one. But Lechmere knew better than +that for the voice in the inner room had been unmistakably that of a +man. But it served the purpose of the old diplomat to let the thing +pass. + +"Very well," he said. "I will take your word for it. But where is my +friend Bevis?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea where your friend Bevis is or where he has +got to," Mazaroff said with a sneer in his voice. "Bevis is a young man +who has lately outrun the constable. He inferred to me that he was going +to retire to the country for a time. He offered me this little place on +my own terms and I am to give it back to our friend if I get tired of +it. It is a more swagger _pied a terre_ than my own and I jumped at the +chance. Now you know everything." + +Lechmere nodded as if perfectly satisfied, though he did not know +everything by any means. He sat down and helped himself to a cigarette +to Mazaroff's annoyance. But Lechmere appeared not to see it. He had his +own game to play and he was not to be deterred. + +"I want to have a little chat with you," he said. "We shall never get a +better chance than this. I want if possible to enlist your sympathies on +the side of the Queen of Asturia. If I could gain your assistance and +that of Madame Saens I should be more than satisfied." + +Mazaroff muttered something to the effect that he should be delighted. +But his aspect was uneasy and guilty. He could not shake off his air of +fear. From time to time he cocked his ears as if listening for something +in the inner room. Lechmere sat there grimly smoking and looking at the +ceiling. He was not quite sure what card he should play next. + +"I am thinking of going to Asturia myself," he said. "I'm not quite old +enough to get rusty yet. And there is a fine field for intrigue and +adventure yonder. I understand that the king returns to-morrow. It will +be in all the papers in the morning." + +"The deuce it will!" Mazaroff exclaimed blankly. "Why that will upset +all our plans----I mean, that it will be a checkmate to Russia. +Considering all that we have done ... is that a fact, Lechmere?" + +"My dear chap, surely I have no object in telling you what is false!" +Lechmere said. "Of course it is a fact. The king ought never to have +come away, he would not have come away if the queen could have trusted +him. She thought that she could do her country good by visiting London. +But the king will be looked after much better in future, I promise you. +Have you seen Peretori lately?" + +The latter question was shot dexterously at Mazaroff like a snap from a +gun. The latter glanced swiftly at Lechmere, but he could make nothing +of the other's inscrutable face. The Russian began to feel as if he had +blundered into a trap; he had the same fear as a lying witness in the +box under the horror of a rasping cross-examination from a sharp +barrister. + +"I don't know that I am acquainted with the man you mention?" he +faltered. + +"Oh, nonsense. Take your memory back, man. Not know Peretori! Think of +that night five years ago in Paris when you and I and Scandel and the +rest were supping with those Oderon people. And you say that the name of +Peretori is not known to you!" + +Mazaroff laughed in a sulky kind of way. He said something to the effect +that his memory was not as good as it might be. From time to time he +glanced at the inner door of the suite, he seemed as if he could not +keep his eyes off it. + +"Do you think that you could find his address for me?" Lechmere +persisted. "I have every reason to believe that he is somewhere in +London at the present moment. Ah, look there. To think of it! And you +pretending all this when the very man in question is in the next room. +What a coincidence!" + +"Call me a liar at once," Mazaroff said thickly "How dare you insinuate +that I am not--not----" + +"Telling the truth," Lechmere said coolly. "That stick yonder belongs to +Peretori. Nobody else possesses one like it, as I have heard Peretori +boast. If you can deny what I say after--but I shall make no apologies +for seeing into the matter for myself." + +With a sudden dart Lechmere was by the door leading into the inner room. +Mazaroff started after him crying out something in Russian at the top of +his voice. But he was too late to prevent Lechmere from entering the +inner room. The place was quite empty now save for a hat and a pair of +gloves on the table, both of which tended to prove that the room had +been occupied a few moments before. + +"This is a most unpardonable outrage," Mazaroff cried. He had quite +recovered himself within the last minute or two, he was his cunning self +again. "I did not ask you to come here at all. And as to the evidence of +that stick it is worth nothing. I could get a copy of it made that--but +after what has happened I think you had better give me the benefit of +your absence." + +"Quite so," Lechmere said pleasantly, "I apologise. I'll go out this +way, I think. Awfully sorry to have ruffled you so much. Good-night." + +Lechmere departed into the corridor by the far door, which he closed +swiftly behind him. As he did so there came a sound of stumbling and +falling from the region of the back stairs and curses in a ruffled voice +that had a note of pain in it. + +"Got him," Lechmere said triumphantly. "I was certain of my man. Now for +it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +A ROYAL ACTOR + + +Lechmere darted along in the direction of the secondary staircase from +whence the noise of the falling body had come. It was somewhat dark +there, for the gas jet at that point had been turned down and there were +no electrics there. At the foot of the stairs could be seen the outline +of somebody who had become entangled with a maze of salmon line and who +was held up like a great blundering bee in a spider's web. Lechmere +could hear him muttering and swearing to himself as he struggled to be +free. + +But there was no time to waste. Doubtless Mazaroff would be out of his +room in a little time, and it was just possible that he might come that +way. Lechmere slid down the bannisters as a schoolboy might have done; +he had an open pocket knife in his teeth. Noiselessly he came down upon +the struggling man and gripped him by the shoulders. + +"Don't you make a sound," he hissed. "Not one word unless you want this +knife plunged into your body. Be still, and no harm shall come to you." + +[Illustration: "_'Don't you make a sound,' he hissed._"] + +The other man said nothing. He allowed himself to be cut free from the +salmon line and dragged behind a kind of housemaid's closet at the foot +of the stairs. At the same moment Mazaroff came along. The two men there +could see the dark outline of his anxious face as he lighted a vesta to +aid him in seeing what was going on. + +"Got away, I expect," he muttered. "A precious near thing, anyway. But +if he is clear off the premises I may as well go this way myself." + +So close did Mazaroff pass the other two that Lechmere could easily have +touched him. His companion gave no sign, perhaps Lechmere's fingers +playing about his throat warned him of the danger of anything of the +kind. Mazaroff disappeared in the gloom, a door closed with a click, +there was a muffled echo of retreating footsteps and then Lechmere's +grim features relaxed into a smile. He jogged up his captive. + +"Now we shall be able to get along," he said. "Will you be so good as to +precede me, sir?" + +"Do you know who I am?" the other man replied. "Because if you are not +aware of my identity----" + +"I am quite aware of your identity," Lechmere said coolly. "And I should +do again what I am doing now if necessary. I daresay you regard the +thing as a magnificent joke, but when you come to realise the enormous +mischief that you have done, why----" + +Lechmere shrugged his shoulders by way of completing his sentence. He +pushed the other man along the corridor until he came to Maxgregor's +rooms, where he hustled his prisoner inside. He stood winking and +blinking there in the light, the very image of the king with his orders +on his breast and his flame-coloured hair gleaming in the light. +Shamefaced as he appeared, there was yet a kind of twinkle in his eyes. + +"Behold your king," Lechmere said. "Behold the source of the trouble. +Your majesty must find the heat very much in that wig. Let me remove +it." + +He coolly twitched the flame-coloured thatch away and disclosed a close +crop of black hair. The queen threw up her hands with a gesture of +amazement. + +"Peretori," she cried. "Prince Peretori! So you are the cause of all the +mischief. Will you be so good as to explain yourself?" + +"There is no very great resemblance to the king, now that the wig is +removed," Jessie whispered to Maxwell who stood beside her. "Do you know +I rather like his face. Who is he?" + +"Prince Peretori of Nassa, a second cousin of the King of Asturia," +Maxwell explained. "There are many mad princes in Europe but none quite +so mad as Peretori. He is not bad or wicked, he is simply utterly +irresponsible. The great object in his life is the playing of practical +jokes. Also he is a wonderfully fine actor--he would have made a great +name on the stage. It is one of his boasts that he can make up to +resemble anybody." + +"He doesn't look like an enemy," Jessie said in the same low voice. + +"He's not," Maxwell replied. "In fact Peretori is nobody's enemy but his +own. I should not be in the least surprised to find that he had been +made use of in this business." + +"Why have you committed this crowning act of folly?" the queen asked +coldly. + +"Is it any worse than usual?" the prince asked. "My dear cousin, I did +it for a wager. The price of my success was to be a thousand guineas. +Now a thousand guineas to me at the present moment represents something +like salvation. I am terribly hard up, I am painfully in debt. In this +country those commercial brutal laws take no heed of station. I ignored +certain civil processes with the result that a common tradesman can +throw me into gaol at any moment for a debt that I simply cannot pay. +That I am always ready for a joke you are aware. But a remunerative joke +like this was not to be denied." + +"Therefore you believe that you have won the bet from Countess Saens and +Prince Mazaroff?" Lechmere asked. "Do they admit that you have won?" + +"They do, my somewhat heavy-handed friend," the prince cried gaily. +"Though how on earth you came to know that the countess and Mazaroff had +any hand in the business----" + +"We will come to that presently," Lechmere resumed. "You talked that +matter over with the countess and Mazaroff and they gradually persuaded +you to try this thing. You were to go to the editor of the _Mercury_ and +pass yourself off as the King of Asturia. You were to tell him all kinds +of damaging things, and he was to believe you. If he believed you to be +the king, you earned your money." + +"Never was a sum of money gained more easily," Peretori cried. + +"Yes, but at what a cost!" the queen said sternly. "Peretori, do you +ever consider anything else but your own selfish amusements? Look at the +harm you have done. Once the printed lie crosses the border into +Asturia, what is to become of us all! Did you think of that? Can't you +understand that all Europe will imagine that the king has resigned his +throne? Desperate as things are, you have made then ten times worse." + +Peretori looked blankly at the speaker. He was like a boy who had been +detected in some offence and for the first time realized the +seriousness of it. + +"I give you my word that I never thought of that for a moment," he said. +"It is one of my sins that I never think of anything where a jest is +concerned. That smug little editor swallowed everything that I said in +the most amusing fashion. I had won my money and I was free. My dear +cousin, if there is anything that I can do----" + +The queen shook her head mournfully. She was quite at a loss for the +moment. Unless, perhaps, the tables could be turned in another way. + +"You have been the dupe of two of our most unscrupulous enemies," the +queen went on. "They are agents of Russia, and at the present moment +their great task is to try and bring about the abdication of the King of +Asturia. Once this is done, the path is fairly clear. To bring this +about these people can use as much money as they please. They have been +baffled once or twice lately, but when they found you they saw a good +chance of doing our house a deadly harm. A thousand pounds, or fifty +times that amount mattered little. How did they find you?" + +"I have been in England six months," Peretori said. "I dropped my rank. +There was an English girl I was very fond of. I was prepared to +sacrifice everything so long as she became my wife. It doesn't matter +how those people found me. The mischief is done." + +"The mischief is almost beyond repair," Lechmere said. "But why did you +come here? Why did you sit before the open windows in the next suite of +rooms?" + +"That was part of the plan, my dear sir," Peretori exclaimed. "Probably +there was somebody watching who had to be convinced that I was the King +of Asturia. I flatter myself that my make-up was so perfect that nobody +could possibly----" + +"Still harping on that string," the queen said reproachfully. "Why don't +you try and realize that the great harm that you have done has to be +repaired at any cost? With all your faults, you were never a traitor to +your country. Are you going to take the blood-money, knowing what it +means? I cannot believe that you have stooped so low as that." + +The face of Peretori fell; a shamed look came into his eyes. + +"I shall take it," he said. "I shall spoil the Egyptians. But at the +same time, I can see a way to retrieve the mischief that I have done. It +is not too late yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A RACE FOR A THRONE + + +A silence fell on the little group for a time. All Peretori's gaiety had +vanished. He looked very moody and thoughtful as he sat there turning +recent events over in his mind. With all his faults, and they were many, +he was an Asturian at heart. He was prepared to do a deal for the sake +of his country. He had always promised himself that some day he would +settle down and be a credit to his nationality. The career of mad jest +must stop some time. It was impossible not to understand the mischief +that he had just done. But there was a mobile and clever brain behind +all this levity, and already Peretori began to see his way to a subtle +and suitable revenge. + +"Have those stolen papers anything to do with it?" he asked. "That +Foreign Office business, you know?" + +"They have everything to do with it," said Lechmere. "As a matter of +fact, Countess Saens has had those papers stolen from her in turn. She +cannot move very far without them. That she suspects where they have +gone is evidenced by the fact that she put your highness up to your last +escapade. The way she was tricked herself inspired her. If you can do +anything to even matters up----" + +"I will do more than that," Peretori cried. "I have thought of +something. It is quite a good thing that the countess regards me as no +better than a feather-headed fool. She will never guess that I have +been here, she will never give you people credit for finding out what +you have done. It was very clever of Mr. Lechmere to do so." + +"Not at all," Lechmere muttered. "I have seen your smart impersonations +before, and guessed at once who I had to look for. My finding you right +here was a bit of luck. Will you be so good as to tell us what you +propose doing?" + +"I think not, if you don't mind," the prince replied. "I might fail, you +see. But, late as it is, I am going to call upon Countess Saens. My +excuse is that I have won my wager, and that it was a cash transaction. +Has the queen a telephone in her private apartments at the hotel?" + +The queen explained that the telephone was there as a matter of course. +Peretori rose to his feet. "Then we had better adjourn this meeting for +the present," he said. "It will be far more cautious and prudent for the +queen to return to her hotel. You had better all go. Only somebody must +be imported here to look after General Maxgregor, whose life is so +valuable to Asturia." + +Lechmere explained curtly that he would see to Maxgregor's safety, after +which he would follow to the queen's hotel. With a nod and a smile, +Peretori disappeared, after removing all traces of his make-up. + +He was quite confident that he would be able to turn the tables on those +who had made use of him in so sorry a way. The queen could make up her +mind that she should hear from him before the night was over. + + * * * * * + +In a dazed, heavy way Jessie found herself in a handsome sitting room in +the queen's hotel. She became conscious presently that Lechmere was +back again, and that he was discussing events and recent details with +the queen. Jessie wondered if these people ever knew what it was to be +tired. Usually she was so utterly tired with her long day's work that +she was in bed a little after ten o'clock, and it was past two now. She +could hardly keep her eyes open. She sat up as the queen spoke to her. + +"My poor dear child," she said quite tenderly, "you are half dead with +fatigue. I must take care of you after all you have done for me. And you +are going to bed without delay." + +Jessie murmured that she was only too ready to do anything necessary. +But the queen would not hear of it. Jessie must go to bed at once. The +girl was too utterly tired to resist. In a walking dream she was led +away; a neat handed maid appeared to be undressing her, there was a +vision of a soft, luxurious bed, and then a dreamy delicious +unconsciousness. The queen bent and kissed the sleeping face before she +returned to the room where Lechmere awaited her. + +"It is good to know that I have so many real friends," she said. "And +they are none the less kind because I have no possible claim on them. +You have arranged everything?" + +"Thanks to the telephone, madame," Lechmere explained. "The rest I have +managed by cable. The special train to Dover will be ready in half an +hour; the special steamer awaits its arrival. The king will be in +Asturia almost before that damning paragraph reaches there. If he goes +_soon_." + +"He should be back here by this time," the queen said with some anxiety +in her voice. "Captain Alexis promised me---- But somebody is coming up +the stairs. Ah, here they are!" + +The king came into the room followed by Captain Alexis. He seemed moody +and depressed now. Probably the effects of the drug were passing off. He +said sullenly that he was going to bed. The queen's face flushed with +anger. She spoke clearly and to the point. She told him precisely what +had happened. The king followed in a dull yet interested way. + +"Am I never to have any peace?" he asked brokenly. "What is the use of +being a king unless one----" + +"Acts like a king," the queen said. "Have you not brought it all on +yourself by your criminal folly? Were you not on the point of betraying +us all? Now that is past. You are not going to bed, you are going to be +up and doing. It is your part to show Europe that your enemies' plans +are futile. You will be on the way to Asturia in half an hour, and +Captain Alexis and this gentleman accompany you." + +The king protested feebly; it was utterly impossible that this thing +could be. But all his weak objections were thrust aside by the +importunity of the queen. + +"You are going," she said firmly. "All things are ready. It is a +thousand pities that I cannot accompany you, but my place is in England +for the next ten days. All has been done; even now your man is finishing +the packing of your trunks. In half an hour the train starts for Dover. +If you are bold and resolute now, the situation can be saved and Asturia +with it." + +The king protested no further. He sat with a dark, stubborn expression +on his face. It seemed to him that he was no better than a prisoner +being removed from one prison to another with two warders for company. +Not that he had the slightest intention of going to Asturia, he told +himself; it would be no fault of his if ever he set foot in his domains +again. But all this he kept to himself. + +The little party set off at length, to the unmistakable relief of the +queen. She felt now that something was being done in the cause of home +and freedom. Russia was not going to be allowed to have everything her +own way. She paced up and down the room, a prey to her own painful +thoughts. + +"Is there anything more that I can do for you, madame?" Lechmere asked. +"If there is, I pray that you command my services, which are altogether +at your disposal." + +"Perhaps you will wait a little?" the queen said. "I expect we shall +hear from Peretori presently. What we have to do now is to recover those +missing papers. It is maddening to think that they may be lying in the +gutter at the present moment. If we dared advertise for them! Can't you +think of some way? You are so quick and clever and full of resource." + +Lechmere shook his head. Perhaps he might think of some cunning scheme +when he had the time, but for the present he could not see his way at +all. To advertise would be exceeding dangerous. Any move in that +direction would be pretty sure to attract the attention of the enemy. + +"The enemy is sufficiently alert as it is," Lechmere pointed out. "There +is Countess Saens, for instance, who has a pretty shrewd idea already of +the trick that has been played upon her. If she had no suspicion, she +would not have gone to Charing Cross Hospital to-night. And your +majesty must see that, at all hazards, she must be prevented from going +there in the morning. That scandal must be avoided. It would be a +thousand pities if Miss Galloway or Miss Harcourt----" + +"I see, I see," the queen cried as she paced restlessly up and down the +room. "In this matter cannot you get Prince Peretori to give you a hand? +There is a fine fertility of resources in that brilliant brain of his. +And I am sure that when he left here to-night he had some scheme----" + +The tinkle of the telephone bell cut off further discussion. At a sign +from the queen Lechmere took down the receiver and placed it to his ear. +Very gently he asked who was there. The reply was in a whisper that it +could hardly be heard by the listener, but all the same, he did not fail +to recognize the voice of Prince Peretori. + +"It is I--Lechmere," he said. "You can speak quite freely. Have you done +anything?" + +"I have done a great deal," came the response. "Only I want assistance. +Come round here and creep into the house and go into the little +sitting-room on the left side of the door. All the servants have gone to +bed, so you will be safe. Sit in the dark and wait for the signal. The +front door is not fastened. Can I count upon you? Right! So." + +The voice ceased, there was a click of the telephone, and the connection +was cut off. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +ANNETTE TELLS A STORY + + +Prince Peretori was a by no means unpopular figure with those who knew +him both personally and by reputation. He had in him that strain of wild +blood that seems peculiar to all the Balkan peninsula, where so many +extravagant things are done. In bygone days Peretori would have been a +romantic figure. As it was, Western civilization had gone far to spoil +his character. Audacious deeds and elaborate practical jokes filled up +the measure of his spare time. For some months under a pseudonym he was +a prominent figure at a Vienna theatre. It was only when his identity +became threatened that he had to abandon his latest fad. + +But he was feeling deeply chagrined and mortified over his last +escapade. It never occurred to him at the time that he was doing any +real harm. The King of Asturia, his cousin, he had always disliked and +despised; for the king he had the highest admiration. And it looked as +if he had done the latter an incalculable injury. + +That he had been touched on the raw of his vanity and made the catspaw +of others added fuel to his wrath. It would be no fault of his if he did +not get even the Countess Saens. He would take that money and pretend +that he enjoyed the joke. But it was going to be a costly business for +Countess Saens and her ally Prince Mazaroff. + +Peretori had pretty well made up his mind what line to take by the time +he had reached the house of the countess. The place was all in darkness, +as if everybody had retired for the night; but Peretori had his own +reasons for believing that the countess had not returned home. If +necessary he would wait on the doorstep for her. + +But perhaps the door was not fastened? With spies about, the countess +might feel inclined to keep the house in darkness. As a matter of fact +the door was not fastened, and Peretori slipped quietly into the hall. +He had no fear of being discovered, if he were discovered he had only to +say that he had come back for the reward of his latest exploit. To the +countess he had made no secret of the desperate nature of his pecuniary +affairs. + +The house seemed absolutely at rest, there could be no doubt that the +servants had all gone to bed. Peretori stood in the hall a little +undecided what to do next. His sharp ears were listening intently. It +seemed to him presently that he could hear the sound of somebody +laughing in a subdued kind of way. As his eyes grew accustomed to the +gloom, a thread of light from under a distant door crossed his line of +vision. Then there was the smothered explosion that was unmistakably +made by a champagne cork. + +Peretori crept along to the door under which the track of light peeped. +The door was pulled to, but the latch had not caught. Very quietly +Peretori pushed the door back so that he could look in. It was more or +less as he had expected. Seated at a table where a dainty supper had +been laid out was a man who had the unmistakable hall-mark of a +gentleman's servant written all over him. On the other side of the +table sat the countess's maid Annette. + +"Another glass," the maid was saying. "It is a brand of the best. +Nothing comes into this house but the best, _ma foi_! And no questions +asked where things go to. So help yourself, _mon_ Robert! There is no +chance of being interrupted." + +The man sat there grinning uneasily. There was no conspirator here, +Peretori decided. The man was no more than a shrewd cockney +servant--none too honest over trifles, perhaps, but he was not the class +of man that political conspirators are made of. It was a romance of the +kitchen on Robert's side. + +"Bit risky, ain't it?" he said as he pulled at his champagne. "If your +mistress catches us----" + +"There is no fear of that, Robert. She is in bed sound asleep long ago. +Nothing wakes or disturbs her. She undressed herself to-night; she +dispensed with my services. Oh, a good thing!" + +"But risky sometimes, eh?" Robert said. "Lor, the trouble that some of +'em give!" + +"Oh, they have no heart, no feeling. It is slave, slave, slave! But we +make them pay for it. I make _her_ pay for it. And when I am ready to go +back to Switzerland, I know that I have not worked in vain. And she +called me a liar and a thief to-night." + +Robert muttered something sympathetic. He had no wish for Annette to go +back to Switzerland, he said. He had saved a little also. Did not +Annette think that a respectable boarding house or something select in +the licensed victualling line might do? The girl smiled coquettishly. + +"And perhaps something better," she said, dropping her voice to a +whisper. "I am not dishonest, I do no more than other ladies in my +position. Not that the perquisites are not handsome. But sometimes one +has great good luck. She call me thief and liar to-night; she say I not +tell the truth when I say she was robbed to-night. I show her the real +thief, and still she is doubtful. The real thief took those papers. Mind +you, they were papers of great value. That is certain. Suppose those +papers came into my possession! Suppose I read them, and find them +immense importance! Suppose that they don't belong to the countess at +all, that she has got them by a trick!" + +Peretori listened eagerly. Now that he was _au fait_ of the situation, +he knew exactly what Annette was talking about. He blessed his stars +that he had come here to-night. Without doubt Annette was talking of the +papers missing from the Foreign Office. + +"Sounds good," Robert said. "Worth fifty or sixty pounds to somebody +else perhaps." + +"Worth ten thousand pounds!" Annette went on in the same fierce whisper. +"That money with what we have saved, eh? We could take a boarding house +in Mount Street and make a fortune, you and I, my Robert. Look you, +these papers vanish, they are taken by a lady in a black dress. My +mistress she say the lady meet with an accident and is taken to a +hospital. The police come in and ask questions--_ma foi_! they ask +questions till my head ache. Then they go away again, and my mistress +leave the house again. My head ache so that I go and walk up and down +the pavement to get a breath of air." + +"Sounds like a scene in a play," Robert said encouragingly. "Go on, +ducky!" + +"As I stood there a policeman come up to me. I know that policeman; he +is young to his work--he admires me. You need not look so jealous, my +Robert, it is not the police where my eyes go. But he has heard of the +robbery. Not that he knows its importance--no, no! He can tell all about +the lady in Piccadilly who was run over. And behold he has picked up a +packet of papers!" + +"Good business!" Robert exclaimed. "You're something like a +story-teller, Annette." + +"That packet of papers he show me," Annette went on gaily. "There is an +elastic band round them, and under the band an envelope with the crest +of the countess upon it. Those papers were to be give up to Scotland +Yard, mark you. But not if Annette knows anything about her man. Behold +in a few minutes those papers are in my pocket. It is a smile, a little +kiss, and the thing is done! Frown not, Robert, I have no use for that +soft young policeman." + +"You're a jolly deep one, that's what you are," Robert said with +profound admiration. "I should like to know what those papers are all +about. I suppose you've read 'em?" + +"No; they are in French, the French used by the educated classes. The +language is very different to my Swiss. But I have a friend who will be +able to tell me what they are all about. Meanwhile, the papers are +carefully hidden away where they cannot be found. My policeman, he dare +not speak; even if he did, I could say that the papers were rubbish +which I had thrown away. But the countess she call me a liar and a +thief. She shall never see them again. What's that?" + +A sudden violent ringing of the front door bell startled the supper +party and the listener in the hall. Robert rose and grabbed his hat as +if prepared for flight. + +"No, no!" the fertile Annette whispered. "Don't go. I'll reply to that +bell. It is easy to say that I have not gone to bed, and that I came +down. Stay where you are. You are quite safe. It may be a cablegram, +they sometimes come quite late at night. Just turn down the light." + +Peretori stepped into one of the darkened rooms and awaited events. He +saw Annette come into the hall and flick up the glaring electrics. In +her usual demure way she opened the front door and confronted a fussy +little man who stood on the step. + +"Your mistress," he said hurriedly. "Your mistress. I must see her at +once--at once!" + +"But my mistress has gone to bed," Annette protested. "She is asleep for +some time, and----" + +"Then you must wake her up," the little man said. "At once. It is no use +to make a fuss, my good girl, I am bound to see the countess. Tell her +that Mr. Hunt is here--Mr. Hunt of the _Mercury_, whose business will +not brook delay." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +CROSS PURPOSES + + +Peretori gave way to a fit of silent laughter. Born comedian that he +was, he fully appreciated the comedy of the situation. He did not need +anyone to tell him why Hunt was here. But there was a serious side to +the matter too, and the prince was not blind to that. Hunt pushed his +way into the dining-room with the air of a man who is quite at home with +his surroundings and put up the lights. As Annette disappeared up the +stairs, Peretori fumbled his way to the telephone and gave Lechmere a +whispered call. He had an idea that he would be in need of assistance +presently, and the sooner it came the better. Then he felt that he could +stand there in the dark and watch the interesting development of events. + +Annette came tripping down the stairs again presently with a look of +astonishment on her face. She found Hunt fuming about in the +dining-room. He turned upon her sharply. + +"Well?" he asked. "You have aroused your mistress? I trust that she will +not keep me long." + +"But it is impossible that she should do anything else, M'sieu," Annette +protested. "I told you that my mistress had gone to bed. I had been out +late to-night myself, and there were things to do after I came in. That +is why I was ready to answer your ring. I say the countess was asleep +under the profound impression that such was the fact. I go to wake my +mistress, and behold she is not in bed at all!" + +"What does it matter so long as she gets my message?" Hunt asked +impatiently. + +"But she does not get your message, M'sieu," Annette protested. "She is +not there. The countess is not in the house at all. I recollect now that +when I respond to your ring the front door is not fastened. It is plain +to me that my mistress is not in." + +Hunt's reply was more forcible than polite. Annette's face flamed with +anger. + +"It seems the fashion at present for everybody to say to me that I am a +liar," she cried. "I tell you again that my mistress is not in the +house. You can wait if you like, and I will not go to bed till she come +in. There is no more to be said for the present, M'sieu." + +And Annette walked away with her head in the air. There was the sound of +shuffling feet in the hall presently as Robert was smuggled out of the +house, and Annette retired to her dignified retreat in the small back +room. She had hardly regained it before the hall door opened and the +countess came in. Annette, with an air of wounded dignity, proclaimed +all that had recently taken place. As the light flashed on the face of +the countess, Peretori could see that she was visibly disturbed. + +"Go to bed, Annette," she exclaimed. "I will see this gentleman who +comes at so strange a time." + +The countess passed into the dining-room, and as she did so Peretori saw +the handle of the front door turn very quietly, and Lechmere crept into +the house. He stood motionless just for a moment, then Peretori stepped +out of the little room where he was listening and beckoned to him. + +"Come in here," he whispered. "I sent for you because I have an idea +that I shall require your assistance a little later on. Hunt is in the +dining room. Ah, the quarrel has begun!" + +"I tell you I have been fooled," Hunt was saying passionately. "Fooled +like a child. You promised me that you would manage that the _Mercury_ +should contain an interview with the King of Asturia." + +"Well? Did I fail in my promise? Did I not send the king to you in a +condition when he was prepared to say or do anything? Won't it be all +there to-morrow morning?" + +"It is all there now," Hunt said with a groan. "Already the country +editions of the paper are on the train. A large proportion of the town +impressions have gone out also. And you have fooled me purposely." + +"What is the man talking about?" the countess cried impatiently. "Anyone +would think that I had some object----" + +"In making a fool of me. So you have, if I could only understand the +reason. As a matter of fact, I have been hoaxed in the most shameless +manner possible. The man who came to me was an impostor, a fraud, an +actor, and you knew it. When the whole story comes to be told my paper +will be ruined, and I shall be laughed out of London. The real King of +Asturia----" + +"The man is mad!" the countess cried. "The real King of Asturia was with +you to-night." + +"It is utterly false, and you know it. You are playing this thing off on +me for your own ends. I have just had it from the same source that the +real King of Asturia, accompanied by Captain Alexis and another +gentleman, have left for Dover by a special train an hour ago _en route_ +for Asturia. The information came to me from a lady journalist who +actually saw the departure from Charing Cross. The lady in question +makes no mistakes. I have never known her to be wrong. What have you to +say to this?" + +For once in her life Countess Saens was absolutely nonplussed. In the +face of this information it was utterly impossible to keep up the +present fraud any longer. + +"So you have got the best of me?" she laughed. "It was a daring thing to +do, but I thought that it would pass muster. It cost me a thousand +guineas into the bargain. Mind you, I had not the slightest idea that +the king would take such strong measures as these, and I am obliged by +your priceless information. Now, what can I do to put matters right?" + +Hunt made the best of a bad bargain. As a matter of fact he was not +quite blameless in the matter. + +"Those papers," he said. "Get me those papers. I dare say I can bluff +the matter through. We can suggest that somebody is personating the real +king. But I must have those papers." + +"Ay, if we could only get them!" the countess said between her teeth. +"We have clever people to deal with, and you may thank the way I have +been fooled to-night for the suggestion of the way in which I have done +my best to damage the cause of Asturia. But I am on the track now, and I +am going to get to the bottom of it. The first thing to-morrow morning I +shall go to Charing Cross Hospital." + +"What for?" Hunt growled. "You are talking in enigmas so far as I am +concerned." + +"Never mind. The enigma will explain itself in good time. I tell you +that you shall have those papers. I'm sorry for the trick I played on +you to-night, but there is a great stake in my hands. It never occurred +to me that the enemy would play so bold a game." + +"You hear that?" Lechmere said to his companion. "Now whatever scheme +you have in your mind, my dear prince, it must be abandoned to the +certainty that the Countess Saens does not go to the hospital at Charing +Cross to-morrow. You have a pretty good idea of how things stand, and I +look to you to prevent that. Can you possibly manage it?" + +Peretori whispered something reassuring. If Lechmere would stay here for +a time and watch over the progress of events, he might be able to manage +it. Lechmere expressed himself as ready to do anything that was +required. + +"Very well," Peretori replied. "I am going to slip away for a time. I +shall be back in ten minutes at the outside. But don't leave the house, +because we have business here later on. There will be a real danger and +peril before us presently." + +Lechmere nodded in his turn as Peretori stole softly away. The murmur of +voices from the dining-room was still going on. The conversation had +grown desultory. + +"I repeat, I am sorry for the trick I had to play you to-night," the +countess was saying. "But you have only to stick to your guns and stand +out for the genuineness of your interview. Under ordinary circumstances +it would have passed muster. But what possessed the king to take that +decided step? I understood that his nerve was gone. I had it from a sure +source that he never dared set foot in Asturia again. And to have gone +off in that determined manner! What does it mean?" + +Lechmere could have answered that question, as he smilingly told +himself. He could tell from the sound of the voices that Hunt was +getting nearer and nearer to the door. Presently the pair emerged into +the hall. It was fully a quarter of an hour now since Peretori had +departed, and Lechmere was getting anxious. At the same moment there was +a knock at the door so sharp and sudden that the countess started, as +did her companion. The former opened the door. + +Just for a moment Lechmere craned his neck to see. But all he noted was +a district messenger boy, who handed an envelope to the countess and +profferred his pencil for a receipt. The door closed, and the countess +tore open the envelope eagerly. + +"A thick envelope," she said. "Merely my name printed on it in large +letters. What have we here? A visiting card with the name of the Duchess +of Dinon on it. That is the _nom de plume_ adopted by the Queen of +Asturia when travelling. Ah, here is the gist of it! Listen: + + "'Meet me to-morrow night Hotel Bristol, Paris, at 9 o'clock. + Ask for Mr. Conway. Am watched. Am anxious to escape. Do not + fail me. Erno.'" + +The countess waved the little slip of parchment in triumph over her +head. "From the king!" she said. "From the king to me. He desires to +escape, and that plays my game. Give me the time-table that is on the +hall table behind you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +ON BROKEN GROUND + + +Jessie opened her eyes and looked languidly around. She could not grasp +the situation at first. She was in a large room exquisitely furnished; +the silken draperies rustled in the breeze from the open window. Whence +came all this luxury, the girl wondered? As she lay there with her hair +sweeping over the laced pillow, the events of the previous evening began +to come back to her. Fresh and vigorous now after her night's rest, +Jessie could smile as she thought of it. It seemed almost impossible to +believe that she had gone through so much, that any girl had the pluck +to go through such a series of adventures without breaking down. + +And yet she had done it! And Jessie thrilled with a little pardonable +pride as she dwelt upon the part she had played. At any rate, it had +been better than slaving in the shop of Madame Malmaison, without the +slightest prospect for the future. Jessie felt that now she had gained +powerful friends there was no chance of further genteel starvation. +Prince Mazaroff's disgraceful conduct had been a blessing in disguise. + +And best of all, it had brought Ronald Hope back to her. Jessie flushed +with happiness as she thought of Ronald. She was thinking, too, of her +sister. What would Ada imagine had happened? She must find time to send +Ada a message. If Vera Galloway was in a position to be moved from the +hospital, then she might resign her part and go home. She would have to +keep out of the way for a bit--out of the way of those who were likely +to draw their own deductions from the knowledge that Vera Galloway had a +double. + +Jessie was still turning these things over in her mind when the door +opened and a neat-looking maid came in with a dainty breakfast set out +on a tray. When this was despatched the maid volunteered to help her to +dress, from such things as had come from Vera Galloway's wardrobe. But +Jessie preferred to dress herself. She managed very well with a plain +skirt and a loose fluffy blouse that looked as if it had been made for +her. The queen was already up, and would see the young lady at once, the +maid said. Not without some feeling of nervousness, Jessie went +downstairs. + +She bowed profoundly to the queen, who advanced and kissed the girl. + +"You are my friend," she said, "my very good friend. Would that I had +others like you. We will talk it over presently. Meanwhile, I have many +letters to dictate. How fresh and sweet you look! I wonder if I shall +ever feel what it is to be young again! Meanwhile, you are to wait here. +There is nothing for you to do but to take care of yourself." + +"Indeed, there is a great deal for me to do, madame," Jessie protested. +"I had meant to be up and doing long before this; it is already ten +o'clock. I have to go to the hospital and see Miss Galloway. She must be +removed before the Countess Saens takes any steps." + +"I had forgotten that," the queen admitted. "There is so much to be done +that one is apt to forget. You will manage that through Dr. Varney of +course?" + +Jessie explained that such was her intention. She meant to go and see +Dr. Varney at once. After that she would go to the hospital if +necessary. Only it would be just as well if she wore a veil, Jessie +thought. There was no reason why the attention of the hospital +authorities should be drawn to the likeness between the patient and the +visitor. The matter of the veil was adjusted without the slightest +difficulty, and Jessie left the hotel. + +Dr. Varney was not to be disturbed, so his man said. It required +something very urgent indeed to interrupt the doctor at this hour. +Jessie ignored the suggestion, and, pushing by the astonished man, +walked boldly into the dining-room. Varney was not in the least angry. + +"So it is you!" he said. "I rather expected this. How bright and fresh +you look this morning! So you have not had enough of adventures yet? +What are you going to do now? Don't mind my smoking a cigarette, do you? +I always do after breakfast. That, between ourselves, is one of the +reasons why I don't allow myself to be disturbed. What is the next +move." + +"To get Miss Vera Galloway home--or rather, to get her out of the +hospital," Jessie said. "If we don't, we shall have Countess Saens +finding her there. She is certain to call at the hospital some time +to-day--probably this morning. If we can be first, well and good. If you +can go down with me on pretence of business and profess to recognize +Miss Galloway for somebody else so much the better. Then you can say +that she is fit to travel, and there is an end of it." + +The doctor grinned with a comic expression of dismay. + +"Well, you are a nice kind of young lady!" he said. "A pretty +proposition truly to a man in my exalted position! Why, if the truth +came out it would ruin me. But I suppose you expect to get your own way. +Only you can't take Miss Galloway home." + +"I don't propose to take her home," Jessie said eagerly. "Lord and Lady +Merehaven think that their real niece is staying with the Queen of +Asturia for a day or two in the place of an absent woman-in-waiting. To +take Vera home would be to spoil everything. Besides, we should have to +account in some way for her sprained ankle, and it is quite imperative +that nobody should know of that." + +"What a clever girl you are!" Varney muttered admiringly. "I begin to +see what you are driving at. Go on." + +"There is very little more to say," Jessie murmured. "I shall pose as a +relation of Vera's--calling myself by my proper name of Harcourt, of +course. Dressed in her plain black--or rather in _my_ plain black and +veil--I shall convey Vera to the queen's hotel and there change clothes. +I shall just walk out of the hotel and vanish for the time being, and +there you are! The real Vera will be with the queen. She can nurse her +ankle for a day or two, and nobody will be any the wiser." + +Varney loudly applauded the suggestion. It was just possible, he said, +that he was going to get himself into serious trouble, but he was not +going to back out of it now. If Jessie would go down to the hospital and +see Vera Galloway, he would follow after a discreet interval. + +It all fell out exactly as Jessie had hoped. There was little the matter +with Vera save for the fact that her ankle was very troublesome, though +one of the house surgeons dismissed the idea of the patient being moved +for the next day or two. When the discussion was still on Varney came +in. He approached the matter in his own quick and breezy fashion. + +"Well, young lady?" he cried. "I thought that I recognized you last +night, only I wasn't sure. Miss Harcourt's father was an old friend of +mine, Cattley. Wants to go home, does she? Well, I don't see any reason +why she should not. Matter of a cab, nothing more. Yes, yes." + +And Varney moved off as if he had already washed his hands of the +matter--a mere incident in the life of a busy man like himself. Jessie +hurried on Vera's preparations with a shaking hand. It was just possible +that the countess might turn up at any moment. But the operation was +finished at length, and the cab was ready at the door. + +"Pull your veil down as I have done with mine," Jessie whispered. "You +never know who may recognize you. And now lean heavily on my arm, and +walk as if nothing was the matter. Ah!" + +And Jessie drew a sigh of relief once they were safely in the cab. The +cab was dismissed in Bond Street under pretext of shopping, and another +engaged. It was just as well to take all precautions, Jessie declared. +Vera was looking very faint and worn, but she expressed her warm thanks +to Jessie. + +"It is really nothing," the latter proceeded to explain what had +happened. "As events turn out, everything is going most fortunately for +you. As I have told you, by sheer good luck I managed to escape from +Merehaven House without suspicions being excited. Lady Merehaven thinks +that you are with the queen and in a very short time you _will_ be with +the queen. Then you have only to nurse your ankle and get well. As to +me, I am going to discreetly disappear from view for the time." + +"But you have no money," Vera protested. "You told me last night that +you were desperately placed, and that if it had not been for the money +you would not have come to me at all. Of course that was all nonsense, +because you would have done what you did for me or any other poor girl +in distress. Perhaps some day I may be able to properly thank you, dear +Jessie. But without money!... And I have none." + +"I am not going to leave London," Jessie whispered. "I shall be quite +safe in my lodgings. And it is very little money I want. What I am +looking for is some situation----" + +"Situation!" Vera cried scornfully. "As if I should ever permit you to +take a situation again! And what is Ronald Hope thinking about? If he +really cared for you----" + +"He really does care for me," Jessie said with a fine colour. "And if +there is any need for you to thank me for bringing Ronald and myself +together.... But here we are at the hotel." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +IN THE CAMP OF THE FOE + + +As it so happened--though as yet the girls were ignorant of the +fact--they had no need to be afraid of the Countess Saens for the +present. She had been cleverly fooled by a trick, as Lechmere learnt +directly he was out of the house after hearing the countess read her +wire to Hunt of the _Mercury_. Just for a moment Hunt had suspected the +King of Asturia of a further act of treachery. But no sooner was he out +of the house than Prince Peretori pounced upon him. There was a keen +glitter in his eyes. + +"Well?" he asked. "I left you in that place yonder with a purpose. Did +my bait take?" + +"Oh, it was you who sent that card, then?" Lechmere exclaimed. "How did +you manage to do that?" + +"The idea came to me like an inspiration. We wanted the countess out of +the way, and it seemed to me that I knew the exact plan for doing it. I +rushed off to the queen's hotel and procured one of her incognito cards +to give the thing a real air. Then I forged a message from the king +asking the countess to meet him in Paris to-morrow night. All I had to +do was to place the thing in the hands of a district messenger boy, and +there you are! The question is, Did my bait take?" + +"As the countess is at present rushing through the pages of Bradshaw, I +should say that the bait had taken," Lechmere said drily. "Our +fascinating friend will assuredly be off to Paris by the very first +train that is available. Isn't there an early morning boat? Of course +there is, seeing that I have travelled by it many times. The countess +will be off in an hour. We'll just hang about here and make sure, and +then we can go to bed with easy minds." + +Prince Peretori laughed grimly. He lighted a cigarette and smoked it +with the air of a patient man. + +"We're not going to bed yet," he said. "Our task does not even begin +till the countess has gone. I'll throw myself heart and soul into this +business, and I don't let go now till I see it through. When the +countess has gone, you and I are going to do a little burglary of our +own." + +"What for?" asked Lechmere. "What are we going to gain by a risk like +that? Besides, if you are after those Foreign Office papers most +assuredly they are not in the countess's possession." + +"No, but they are in the possession of her maid Annette," was the +startling reply. "So I have at length succeeded in astonishing even the +stolid Lechmere. My dear fellow, when I went into that house to-night, I +found that Annette was entertaining a lover--one Robert, who is +unmistakably a gentleman's servant. We must find out who Robert is, and +where he comes from, because he may be very useful to us later on. But +Annette has those papers, because I heard her say so. A stupid policeman +picked them up and handed them to Annette without having the least idea +of their value. But the girl has, and she proposes to dispose of them +for a good round sum." + +"Then our course is quite easy," Lechmere said; he had quite recovered +from his surprise again. "The countess will be out of the way for +eight and forty hours at least. That gives us ample time to open +_pour-parlers_ with the girl for the recovery of the papers." + +"And perhaps frighten her and arouse her suspicions. How can you and I +approach the girl? My own good friend, it seems to me that my own way is +the best. Let us get into the house and search for the papers. If they +are of the slightest value, the girl has not hidden them in her box. +That would be too dangerous a game, and she is clever. What do you say?" + +Lechmere replied that generally he was ready for anything. It was +beginning to get light as the countess, accompanied by Hunt, left the +house. She was dressed in black with a dark veil, and she carried a +small travelling bag in her hand. It was quite evident that the countess +had given scant attention to her wardrobe on this occasion as Lechmere +pointed out to his companion. + +"Let's get into the house without delay," Peretori said. "It's any odds +that her ladyship has not said anything to her servants and that she has +not aroused the household. She is in the habit of disappearing from time +to time thus when urgent business calls." + +It proved exactly as Peretori had prophesied. None of the servants were +about, on the table in the hall was an open note for Annette saying that +her mistress had gone to Paris and that she would wire what time she was +coming home again. Lechmere looked a little ironically at his companion. + +"So far so good," he said. "The coast is quite clear. What do you +propose to do next? You can hardly expect me to creep into Annette's +bedroom like a vulgar burglar and examine the girl's possessions. That +is, even if we knew where to look, which we don't." + +Peretori shook his head. That was not precisely his way of doing +business, he explained. He had a much better scheme than that. He +proceeded to the hall door and rung the bell loudly. Lechmere looked at +him in blank astonishment. He knew that Peretori was really a man of +infinite resources, but his intense love of a practical joke at all +times over-ruled all dictates of prudence. + +"Are you mad?" Lechmere cried. "What insane folly possesses you? Why, +you will have all the servants in the place down upon you at once." + +"There is a kind of proverb of yours that says 'let 'em all come.'" +Peretori smiled. "I beg to remark, my dear friend, that this is not one +of my escapades. I'll give the bell another ring to make sure. Ah, the +rats are beginning to stir in the hole at last!" + +Unmistakable sounds of motion overhead came to the ears of the listeners +below. A frightened butler in a long coat and carrying a poker in his +hand looked over the banisters and demanded feebly what was wrong. A +footman or two hovered in sight, and there was a glimpse of petticoats +hastily donned behind. + +"Come down here at once, all of you," Peretori commanded. "This is a +pretty thing. I come here to bring back a little ornament that the +countess lost to-night, and I ring the bell and nobody even takes the +trouble to reply. Then I make the discovery that everybody is in bed, I +also make the discovery that the front door has not been fastened up, +leaving the place absolutely to the first burglar that comes along. I +may be wrong but it seemed to me that somebody crept into the house as +I came up the steps. It is important that the house should be searched. +Put the lights up everywhere. I will go to the top of the house and +guard the fanlight leading to the roof. Now get about it at once." + +Nobody demurred, nobody ventured to ask questions. There was an air of +command about the speaker that shewed him as one accustomed to be +obeyed. His face was very stern, but he winked at Lechmere as he +proceeded to make his way up the stairs. It was a fairly long search, +for the suggestion of a possible burglar in the house had given the +shock of alarm that such a suggestion always produces in the women kind +and they were loud in the determination that the men should search +everywhere. + +"And we can lock up after the kind gentlemen have gone," Annette +proclaimed. "See, here is a letter from my mistress addressed to me. She +has gone off to Paris suddenly by the early boat. It is one of the +eccentric expeditions that the countess loves. Has anybody searched the +basement?" + +Nobody had searched the basement for the simple reason that nobody cared +to face the task. + +"Begin at the bottom and work up," suggested Lechmere with cynical +amusement. "If there is a man here he can't possibly escape you if that +system is adopted, as my friend guards the exit in the roof." + +"Which is immediately above my bedroom," Annette said with a shudder. +"_Par bleu_, we might have all been murdered as we lay asleep. Let the +men look everywhere." + +It was presently borne in upon the men servants that nobody was in the +house, so that their courage rose. They no longer hunted in couples. +They were near the top of the house now, they were quite certain that +nobody was about when Peretori descended. + +"It was either a false alarm or the man got away by the skylight," he +said. "Did I understand someone to say that the countess was not +returning to-night. In that case you had better see that the door is +properly fastened after this gentleman and myself have gone. Good-night +to you all. I will say nothing of this to the countess if you promise to +be more careful in the future." + +The big door closed behind Peretori and Lechmere and was properly +secured this time. Lechmere turned to his companion and demanded to know +what it all meant. + +"Well, I think that is pretty plain," Peretori said. "Our way lies +together, does it not? And I confess that I am most terribly sleepy. Oh, +yes, as to my scheme. Well, I wanted to get a good idea of the servants' +quarters, and where Mademoiselle Annette slept. Mightily snug quarters +these maids get in these good houses. And Annette is no exception to the +general rule." + +"Yes, but you did not find the papers, I suppose?" Lechmere asked with +some impatience. + +Peretori paused to light a fresh cigarette. His face was quite grave +though his eyes danced. + +"Not quite," he said. "The maid was a bit too quick for me. But the +papers are hidden behind a plaster cast of the Adoration of the Magi +high up on the left hand side of the bedroom. I have said it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +THIN ICE + + +With all her loyalty and determination in the interests of her new +friend, Jessie could not repress a sigh of relief once Vera Galloway was +safe in the shelter of the queen's hotel. After all said and done, the +events of the previous night had been exceedingly trying, and Jessie was +feeling in need of a rest. Vera Galloway did not fail to notice this. + +"It is impossible for me to properly thank you," she said in a voice +that was very unsteady. "What I should have done without you, goodness +knows. By this time the man I love would have been ruined. Charlie +Maxwell would never have been able to hold up his head again. Oh, if +only I had not lost the papers!" + +"They will be found," Jessie said. "I feel quite sure that they will be +found and you will regain possession of them. At any rate the countess +is powerless for present evil. Everything is against her." + +The queen came into the room at the same moment. She was kindness itself +to Vera, though her face had its sternest expression. She held in her +hand a copy of the _Mercury_. She had been reading the sensational +interview carefully. Never had there been a more daring or outrageous +plot. And thanks to the courage and promptitude of Lechmere it had +failed. + +"This thing is infamous, daring to a degree," the queen said. "But +fortunately the _Herald_ comes to our aid. And the king is already on +his way to Asturia. It is only the matter of those papers.... Vera, I +suppose I must forgive you for the trick you played on me." + +"It was in a good cause," Vera smiled faintly. "You see, there were +complicating interests. And yet they were absolutely identical. I wanted +to save Charlie and you at the same time and but for a most distressing +and unforeseen accident I should have done so. But what a perfect +substitute I left behind me! Could any other girl possibly have behaved +like Jessie Harcourt?" + +The queen forgot her anger and distress for a moment. A little time +later and Jessie was walking to her lodgings, her ears tingling with +pride and pleasure. She was never going to want a friend again, the way +was rosy before her for the future. Ada's pale anxious face brightened +and her eyes filled with tears as Jessie came in. It had been an anxious +time for Ada. + +"You look so strong and happy and yet so tired," she said. "Sit down in +the armchair and tell me everything. There is something about you that +suggests adventure. But you have not failed." + +No, Jessie had not failed, she explained. She told Ada everything from +beginning to end; she had to answer a thousand eager questions. When she +mentioned the name of Ronald Hope Ada smiled demurely. That was the best +news of it all. + +"I am glad you and Ronald have met again," Ada said quietly. "We ought +never to have left the old home without writing to him. It has been on +my mind to do so frequently, but I thought perhaps that you would not +like it, Jessie. Now you are going to sit there and rest whilst I run +out and get some paints for those Christmas cards. I have been so +miserably anxious about you that I dared not go out before. The walk +will freshen me up." + +Jessie nodded lazily. A delicious sense of fatigue stole over her. Her +eyes closed and she fell into a half sleep. When she came to herself +again Ronald was bending over her. Her face flushed as he stooped down +and pressed his lips to hers. Perhaps she had been more guarded had she +not been taken by surprise, for she returned the pressure. + +"That was not fair," she said with a trembling smile. "You caught me +unawares, Ronald." + +Ronald coolly took a seat close to Jessie's side. He took her hand in +his and it was not withdrawn. + +"It isn't as if you didn't love me," he said. "You know perfectly well +that we always cared for one another. And you would not have kissed me +if you had not loved me, Jess. Why you disappeared in that strange +manner I never could understand. What difference did the fact make that +your poor father had left you penniless? I knew that he was a poor man +and that I had nothing to expect but your dear self, and you were quite +aware of it. Then when I go to India you disappear and I don't hear any +more of you till rumours reach me of the goddess in Bond Street. Jess, +you are never going to run away from me again?" + +"It does not seem so," Jessie said demurely, "especially if you hold my +hand and my waist as tightly as you are holding them at the present +time. But seriously, Ronald----" + +"That's the way to talk, seriously! Seriously, my darling Jess, don't +you love me?" + +"I love you with my whole heart and soul, Ronald," Jessie whispered. "I +never realised how much I loved you till we came to be parted and I +thought that I had lost you for ever. This time yesterday I was one of +the most miserable girls in England, now I am one of the happiest." + +"And you are going to marry me right away, dearest?" Hope whispered. "A +quiet wedding." + +"Presently," Jessie smiled. "Not so fast, if you please. I have my new +friends to think of. I can't forget that but for them I might never have +seen you again, Ronald. Till that business is finished I am not a free +agent. Even at the present moment I am in danger of being arrested on a +charge of stealing some papers from the residence of Countess Saens." + +"But, my dear girl, you never so much as saw those confounded papers." + +"That does not make the slightest difference. The papers were stolen +from the residence of Countess Saens by a young girl answering to my +description and dressed exactly as I am dressed at the present moment. +If I was confronted now with the Countess's maid Annette she would +identify me as the thief." + +"The real thief being Miss Vera Galloway all the time, Jessie." + +"Of course she is. But could I say so? Could I in my own defence go into +the witness box and tell the story of my bold impersonation of Vera +Galloway so that she could be free to regain those papers? Why, by so +doing we admit the existence of the papers that we deny existence to at +all. If any scandal arises over them, I shall have to bear it alone. +Vera Galloway's share must not even be suggested. It must be assumed +that I traded on my marvellous resemblance to Vera to obtain certain +things from the countess." + +"But this is monstrous," cried Ronald. "If it came to a matter of +imprisonment----" + +"I should go through with it if it did," Jessie declared quietly. "At +least I should do so until it was safe to have the truth out. Countess +Saens is a bitter foe when----" + +"Who can do you no harm," said Ronald. "At present she is on her way to +Paris. She has been lured there by a dexterous trick to keep her out of +the way." + +"But she might have put the matter in the hands of the police before she +left?" + +"Perhaps so. I had not thought of that, Jessie. It behoves you to be +careful. If any attempt was made to arrest you, but I dare not think of +it. If danger threatens, go back to the queen. She can help you if +anybody can. Hullo, here is Ada." + +Ada's reception of the visitor was flattering enough. She was delighted +to see Ronald again, she was almost tearfully glad to find that Ronald +and Jessie had come to an understanding. But all the same she confessed +that she was frightened. A man had accosted her on her way home with an +enquiry as to the spot where Miss Jessie Harcourt lived. He had a parcel +in his hand and came from the shop of Madame Malmaison. It appeared that +Jessie had left some of her possessions behind and the messenger was +anxious to deliver it. + +"And I don't believe that he was a messenger at all," Ada said +breathlessly. "He was far too prim and dark. He gave me an impression of +Scotland Yard. Of course I pretended to know nothing, but I was +frightened. Go and see what you think, Ronald. He is in Seymour Street; +he has a box under his arm." + +Ronald departed hastily. He came back a little time later with a grim +face and an uneasy air. + +"I am afraid that Ada is right," he said. "The fellow has police force +written all over him. I suppose the police are following up the +enquiries they made last night. You must go back to the queen without +delay, Jess. I fancy I have managed it. I see that there is a way out of +these block of rooms in Dean Street. Go down there and stand in the +doorway. Presently I shall pull up with a cab just for a second and you +are to jump in. Don't lose any time. If you are arrested many questions +will be asked, if you can tide over the next day you may escape +altogether. I'll see what Lechmere can do." + +Hope bustled away and a little time later Jessie crept down the stone +stairs leading to Dean Street. She had not long to wait there, for +presently a cab drove up and Ronald looked anxiously out. Like a flash +Jessie was across the pavement and into the cab. + +"Saved this time," Ronald muttered. "I shall leave you in Piccadilly to +go back alone. Glad to see that you took the precaution to veil your +features. After I have left you I'll go as far as Lechmere's rooms. I +daresay we can beat those people yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +ANNETTE AT BAY + + +But meanwhile Lechmere had not been idle. His steadygoing brain had not +failed to see the danger arise after the matter of the countess's +burglary had come into the hands of the police. And he seemed to fancy +that he had discovered a way out of the difficulty. After a message to +Scotland Yard making an appointment an hour later at the house of +Countess Saens he had proceeded to the queen's hotel. He was a little +disappointed to find that already Jessie had departed some short time. + +He was about to go off in search of Jessie when she returned with her +story. Lechmere smiled with the air of a man who holds the key to the +situation. + +"You need not be in the least alarmed," he said. "Hope was quite right +when he suggested that perhaps I could help you in the matter. Not only +am I going to help, but I am going to put you a long way out of the +reach of the police. We are going as far as Countess Saens's house." + +"I am!" Jessie exclaimed. "Why, the mere fact of my being there face to +face with the countess----" + +"My dear young lady, you are not going to be face to face with the +countess. She has gone abroad. You will go with me in a cab, you will +keep your veil down and you will wait in the drawing-room until I want +you. I daresay all this sounds very abrupt, but it is quite necessary. +Now come bustle along before other things come to complicate matters." + +Jessie followed in a helpless kind of way. It seemed to her that she was +off on another series of bewildering adventures before the last series +was closed almost. But she had her previous experience to keep her +courage to the sticking point and Lechmere's face gave her confidence. +"When am I going to get out of this coil?" she asked with a smile. + +"_You_ are going to get out of it very quietly," Lechmere said gravely. +"And after that you are going to marry my young friend Ronald Hope, whom +I regard as a very lucky fellow. When the tangle itself is likely to +end, Heaven only knows. The best thing that could happen to the Queen of +Asturia would be the death of the king. She would know what peace meant +then and the removal of the king by natural means would enable Europe to +interfere and so check the designs of Russia. But here we are." + +The cab stopped at length and the occupants alighted. At Lechmere's +bidding, Jessie raised her veil. + +"The countess is not at home?" Lechmere asked the footman. "How +annoying! It is rather an urgent and private affair that Miss Vera +Galloway desires to see your mistress upon. But perhaps Annette the maid +will be able to answer a few questions for me. Shew us into the +drawing-room and send Annette to us there." + +The footman bowed and shewed no signs of astonishment. He was too used +to strange requests and equally strange visitors to that house. He led +the way gravely enough upstairs and announced that he would at once send +for Annette to see Miss Galloway. + +"So far, so good," Lechmere muttered. "I shall want you to see Annette a +little later on, Miss Harcourt, but for the present I shall be glad if +you will take your seat in the little inner drawing-room. It is just as +well perhaps that you should overhear all that is said." + +Jessie asked no questions, but she could not altogether repress a +natural curiosity to know what was going to take place next. From where +she was seated she had a perfect view of all that was going on in the +large drawing-room without being seen herself. Annette came in quite +self-possessed and just a little demure in the presence of the tall +grey-faced stranger. + +"I was told that Miss Galloway was here, M'sieu," she said. "It strikes +to me, M'sieu----" + +"As a matter of fact Miss Galloway is not here at all," said Lechmere +coolly. "This is another young lady whom you will see all in good time, +but not quite yet. I had no desire to arouse the curiosity of your +fellow servants. The footman, for instance, who is a very good-looking +fellow, may be a lover of yours. Ah, so there has been tender passages +between you?" + +"M'sieu is a gentleman and cannot be contradicted," Annette said +demurely. "If you say so----" + +"Oh, well. That is bad hearing, I am afraid you are a sad flirt. What a +dreadful tragedy might be precipitated here if this thing came to the +ears of your devoted Robert." + +Annette changed colour and the smile died out of her eyes. She looked +quite anxiously at the speaker. + +"Listen to me," he said sternly. "I am disposed to help you and shield +you if you help me. If we make a kind of compact together I will say +nothing about those champagne suppers and I will keep my own council +over certain important papers that may later on be sold for a good round +sum--a sum so big, in fact, that Robert and yourself will be able to +take a boarding-house. Where was it that you preferred the +establishment? Ah, I have it--in Brook Street." + +All the blood left the listener's cheeks, the audacious expression faded +and left her eyes cloudy and troubled. + +"M'sieu is too clever for me," she whispered. "What do you want me to +do?" + +"Very little. It is about a robbery here. Now it is positively absurd +that Miss Galloway could be the thief as you suggested. You smile, you +fancy that perhaps Miss Galloway has a double. Now it all rests on you +to say whether that double is the proper person or not. If she was +produced by the police and you said it was _not_ the lady who surprised +you last night, why, there would be an end of the matter--for you and +Robert." + +A look of quiet cunning intelligence flashed across Annette's face. + +"It is plain what you mean," she said. "I quite understand. I am brought +face to face with the young lady and I stare at her again and again. I +study her with a puzzled frown on my face--like this--and then I say +that it is not the person. I am absolutely certain of my facts. She is +different, the eyes are not the same colour. I know not what the eyes +and hair of your friend the young lady are like, but whether _they are_ +like the missing thief's are different. See, M'sieu?" + +"I see perfectly well, Annette," Lechmere smiled. "You see that man +loitering on the other side of the road? Fetch him up here and say that +Mr. Lechmere is waiting. He is a leading official at Scotland Yard, and +I am to meet him here by appointment. Oh, by the way, where is your +Robert to be found?" + +"Guards Buildings," Annette whispered. "He waits on the second floor +gentleman there. But you will not----" + +"No, I will not," said Lechmere, passing his hand over his face to hide +a smile, for he had made a further discovery. "Play your part properly +and I will play mine. And now go and fetch Inspector Taske here and say +that I am waiting for him." + +Inspector Taske came up and Lechmere conducted him into the small +drawing-room. At a sign from him Jessie raised her veil. She began to +understand what was coming. + +"This is Miss Jessie Harcourt," said Lechmere, "daughter of my old +friend Colonel Harcourt. It has been suggested that Miss Harcourt came +here last night and stole certain papers. She only found it out this +morning when she--er--came out of the hospital. All this absurd bother +has arisen because Miss Harcourt is exceedingly like Miss Galloway whom +the maid Annette here stupidly picked out as the thief, picked her out +at Merehaven House, mind you, when she was in full evening dress at a +party! Then suspicions were directed to my young lady friend here, +forsooth because of the likeness, and she is being tracked by your +fellows, Taske. There is a strong light here, and I am going to settle +the matter once and for all. Now, Annette, look very carefully at this +lady and say if you have ever seen her before." + +Jessie bore the scrutiny more or less firmly and haughtily because she +herself had never seen Annette's face before. Everything depended upon +the girl's reply. Her examination was long and careful, as if she did +not want to outrage her conscience in the smallest degree. Then she +shook her head. + +"The likeness is great," she said. "Positively there are three young +ladies almost the same. And we make mistakes--and did not you police +bring a man all the way here from Australia the other day on a charge of +murder only to find he was the wrong person? And he had been sworn to, +_ma foi_. Therefore it behoves me to be careful. All the same, I can +speak with confidence. If it were dark I could say that here was the +thief. But in the daylight, _non_. Her eyes were dark, the hair very +rich brown. And here the eyes are grey and the hair a lovely shade of +gold. This is not the lady." + +The Inspector turned slightly on his heel as if he had heard quite +sufficient. + +"This ends the matter," he said. "I am sorry that Miss Harcourt has been +molested and I will see that she is not further annoyed. I wish you good +morning, sir." + +The Inspector departed and at a sign from Lechmere, Jessie followed. +Annette bowed demurely, but the smile on her face vanished and her eyes +grew troubled as she found herself alone. Down in the street the +newsboys were shouting something. Lechmere listened eagerly to hear:-- + +"Alarming railway accident near Paris. Breakdown of a special train. +Suspected outrage on the part of the French Anarchists. Serious accident +to the King of Asturia. Special." + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +THE COUNTESS RETURNS + + +Lechmere bought a paper and read the paragraph for himself. It seemed +strange that this thing should happen at a time when everybody was +talking of Asturia and its rulers. First there was the sensational +interview in the _Mercury_ to set all tongues talking and then, almost +before the public had grasped what had happened, the _Herald_ came out +with a flat contradiction and a dignified statement to the effect that +the _Mercury_ had been hoaxed by an impudent practical joker. + +Here was an excellent chance for the evening papers and they did their +best to make a good thing of it. But the more things came to be +investigated the firmer became the position of the _Herald_. Beyond all +doubt the real king had been safe at Merehaven House at the very time +when his deputy was closeted with the editor of the _Mercury_. + +And now this had come on the top of it all. There was no reason to doubt +that the veritable ruler of Asturia had met with an accident, seeing +that the _Herald_ had proclaimed the fact that he was already on his way +to his kingdom. Lechmere shook his head as he read. + +"Is this foul play or another link in the amazing chain?" Jessie asked. + +"I should say foul play," Lechmere replied. "We have a most dangerous +foe to contend with. And at any hazards the king must be kept from +reaching his capital just now. I should not wonder if the special train +had been deliberately wrecked----" + +"It makes one's heart bleed for the queen," Jessie murmured. "If she +comes successfully out of this." + +"She won't," said Lechmere curtly. "She is only Asturian by marriage, +and the people had never really cared for her, devoted as she is to +their interests. They want to get rid of the king. If he abdicates, then +Russia comes in. If he were killed at this moment, Russia would still +come in. But given a few days longer and Prince Alix will be in Asturia. +This is the man the populace want. If they can once proclaim him, Russia +is checkmated. You see how things stand?" + +"It would break the heart of the queen," Jessie said. + +"I think not. She would worry for a time, but her position is +intolerable. The present king's life hangs on a thread, the next plunge +into dissipation may kill him. And then Asturia would know the queen no +longer. She would marry Maxgregor, who worships the ground she walks on, +and for the first time in her life would taste real happiness. And now I +shall leave you. It is necessary that I should see Prince Peretori at +once." + +And Lechmere hastened away in pursuit of the Prince. They missed one +another by a few minutes but they met at length. Needless to say, +Peretori had heard the news. + +"You can see exactly what has happened," the latter said. "Countess +Saens has gone off in a great hurry to see if she could prevent the king +from reaching Asturia. If he reaches his capital what will happen will +be this--he will be invited at once to attend a conference and place +himself freely and unreservedly in the hands of his ministers. They will +ask him to proclaim his abdication in favour of Prince Alix." + +"I see," Lechmere said thoughtfully. "That knocks Russia out. But if the +king does not get there at all?" + +Peretori chuckled as if something amused him. + +"The king is going to get there," he said. "He will be rather damaged by +his accident, but he will get there all the same. I'll see to that." + +"If you have some scheme in your mind, I should like to know what it +is," Lechmere said. + +"Not at present, my dear fellow. I did a very foolish thing last night +and I am anxious to try and wipe it out. I calculate that I can arrive +on the scene of the accident by dark to-night, by using a despatch boat +which Lord Merehaven has placed at my disposal. I am going alone and I +am going to disguise myself. I may send you a telegram this evening, if +I do, hold yourself in readiness to follow me. So far as my cousin and +his consort are concerned, Asturia is dead. But it is not going to fall +into the lap of Russia all the same." + +Nothing that Lechmere could say served to break Peretori's obstinate +silence. He had a plan of his own and he was going to carry it out if +necessary. + +"Go and see the queen," he urged, "go and see Maxgregor. Unless I am +greatly mistaken in the character of the queen, she is pretty certain to +follow Erno. If she does she is equally certain to make a mess of it. +She must not go, and Maxgregor must prevent it. Put Maxgregor in a cab +if it is possible to move him, and see that he keeps the queen here. +Tell Maxgregor that I am going to put the third scheme into operation." + +"You have seen Maxgregor to-day?" Lechmere asked in some surprise. + +"Yes, I saw him early to-day and talked matters over. He abused me in +the most shameful manner, but I had to put up with it. Good bye." + +Peretori jumped into a passing hansom and was whirled away, leaving +Lechmere to his own thoughts. But Peretori's advice was singularly sound +from that usually feather-headed individual, and Lechmere decided to go +as far as Maxgregor's at once. Maxgregor was sitting up in bed +impatiently fuming over an evening paper which lay propped up before +him. + +"This is a nice mess," he exclaimed. "Of course that special train was +wrecked deliberately. Not that it very much matters, seeing that +Peretori--but perhaps you have not seen him? You have? Good! Did he send +any kind of message to me?" + +"Yes," Lechmere replied. "He said that he was going to put the third +programme into execution." + +Maxgregor chuckled and his dark angry face relaxed. He managed to crawl +out of bed, but he was still very weak and staggering. He dressed with +Lechmere's assistance. + +"Call a cab and take me as far as the queen's hotel," he said. "I must +see her majesty alone. It is important that she keeps quiet at this +junction. She must be persuaded to drive about and show herself just as +if nothing had happened." + +But there was nothing quiet about the queen as the two arrived at the +hotel. She was pacing up and down the morning room, despite Vera +Galloway's efforts to soothe her. The girl lay on a couch, for her ankle +was still giving her a deal of pain. + +"So you have managed to come to me, brave heart," the queen cried, as +she held out both hands to Maxgregor. "What should I do without your +devoted courage? Are you well enough to accompany me across the Channel. +I am going at once." + +"You are going to do nothing of the kind, madame," Maxgregor said +sternly. "The thing is already in the most capable hands. May I beg a +few words in private with you?" + +The queen led the way into an inner room. Vera turned eagerly to +Lechmere. Her face was pale and her eyes were heavy with the tears that +she was too proud to let fall. + +"Is there anything fresh to tell me?" she demanded eagerly. "I did not +care to mention my private grief before the queen, who has been so good +to me. But Charles Maxwell was in that train also. If there has been a +bad accident, if it is to be called an accident----" + +"It was no accident," Lechmere said grimly. "The thing was done +deliberately. And we dare not make too many enquiries because it may +arouse suspicion. Try and fix your mind on something else. It is just as +imperative now as it was yesterday to regain possession of those papers +you risked so much to get." + +"If we could only find them," Vera sighed. "If we only knew into whose +hands they had fallen!" + +"Well, as a matter of fact we do know that," Lechmere said coolly. "Also +we know exactly where they are. And I am going to try and obtain +possession of them this very day. The mere fact of those papers coming +back into our hands would go far to free Maxwell from suspicion. You +follow me?" + +It was quite plain that Vera followed. As much of recent events as he +dared Lechmere told her. He would be back in a little time, he said, but +meanwhile he was going as far as the house of Countess Saens with the +object of having another talk with Annette. + +Lechmere's mind was perfectly well occupied as he walked along. He had +nearly reached his destination when a cab pulled up before the residence +of the Countess of Saens. A tall graceful figure carefully cloaked and +veiled stepped out and darted for the house without paying the cabman. +Evidently the graceful figure had taken alarm at somebody in the road. + +"By Jove, it's me," Lechmere muttered. "And that was the countess, for a +million. Now what brings her back in a break-neck hurry like this?" + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +IN SEARCH OF THE KING + + +Lechmere had plenty of time before him to think out the problem. It +would be utterly useless for him to try and see Annette at any rate for +some time to come. There was consolation in the fact, too, that Annette +would have no opportunity at present for dealing with the papers. +Returned to the hotel, Lechmere found that Maxgregor had succeeded in +getting his own way with the queen, who had evidently abandoned the idea +of going to Paris. She even seemed quite cheerful and resigned. + +It was quite late in the evening before Lechmere received his message +from Peretori. It must have been an expensive one, for it was long:-- + +"Come over by the night boat," it ran, "accident took place half way +between Calais and Paris, near a station called Amiens. Drive there from +the junction at Poiteux and do not let yourself be seen, as Mazaroff is +here. Ask for Pierre Loti's hut and there await developments. Above all +things take care not to be seen. And I am on my way Eastward." + +The thing was vague and in a way unsatisfactory. There was no news of +the king in it, which was bad, as if some tragedy had happened that the +sender of the telegram was afraid to put into evidence. And the mention +of Mazaroff made matters distinctly worse. That rascal was evidently +acting as deputy to the countess, who had been recalled to England by +some urgent business. But perhaps, after all, she had not crossed the +Channel, perhaps she was satisfied to find that the scheme to wreck the +special train was certain to prove successful. At any rate she was back +in England and would have to be watched. The only man who could do that +was Ronald Hope. Lechmere found him at length at Jessie's lodgings +talking over matters with her and Ada. + +"I will do anything you like," Hope said cheerfully. "My mind is quite +at rest now that Jessie is free. My dear fellow, you managed that matter +very cleverly indeed." + +"Only a little diplomacy," Lechmere smiled. "After all said and done, +Annette told no lie. Most emphatically she never saw Miss Harcourt in +the countess's house that night. Keep an eye on that clever lady for me +and carefully report all her doings. As for me, I am crossing the +Channel to-night and I may be away for a day or two. And don't forget +one thing--the papers we are looking for are still in Countess Saens's +house." + +With this significant message, Lechmere departed. The Channel passage +was right enough, but the trouble to get to Poiteux was immense. The +local trains were few and the breakdown of the line seemed to have +disturbed everything. It was nearly dark the next night before Lechmere +reached the next village. There was an hotel of sorts there, and at +first Lechmere considered the advisability of seeking rooms there. But +the idea of coming face to face with Mazaroff was not to be thought of. +A railway porter offered his assistance, and Lechmere gladly availed +himself of his help. The accident, so he gathered, had been caused by a +defective rail on the track, a sufficiently strange thing, seeing that +the line at that point had just been overhauled by the authorities. +Lechmere's guide significantly hinted that the police were not quite +satisfied with the explanation and that one or two suspicious characters +had been arrested. + +"Have you any stranger staying here just now?" Lechmere asked. + +"But one, sir," the porter proceeded to explain: "a gentleman at the +hotel. He came here to see the Duc de Mornay, but he is away from here. +So the gentleman is staying in the hotel." + +"Fine man with a dark moustache and pointed beard?" Lechmere asked. + +The porter intimated that the description was fairly accurate and +Lechmere asked no further questions on that head. He knew quite well +that Mazaroff was not far off. But what was the enemy doing here after +the desired mischief had been accomplished. There was only one more +question to ask. What had become of the King of Asturia? The porter put +up his hand with a gesture of impatience. + +"That is the puzzle," he said. "There were two gentlemen with the king +when the accident happened; they are not badly hurt, M'sieu will +understand, and they are at two cottages in the village. They are +visited from time to time by the gentleman who is stopping at the +hotel." + +"Spy," Lechmere muttered to himself. "Mazaroff is leaving nothing to +chance. As to the king now?" + +"As to the king nobody knows anything," the porter resumed. "He simply +vanished. There are some who say that he was spirited away by +Anarchists, that the whole thing was a vile conspiracy. The other two +gentlemen lay stunned on the ground so that they could see nothing of +what was going on. And they are just as puzzled and bewildered over the +disappearance of the king as anybody else." + +Lechmere nodded as if the thing were of the most trivial importance to +him, but he was utterly puzzled. What was the motive or the sense in +spiriting off the king in this way? If he was dead, then the game of the +conspirators would simply be played for without any further efforts of +theirs. Had the king contrived to escape unhurt, and had he taken this +chance to get away from those whom he virtually regarded as little +better than his gaolers? By this time he was probably enjoying himself +in Paris, heedless of the trouble that he was giving to others. + +Lechmere figured it out that he would have to get to the bottom of this +business for himself. He dared not go near either to Maxwell or Alexis +for fear of meeting Mazaroff. It was imperative that Mazaroff should not +know of his presence in the village. + +The only thing to be done now was to settle down in his lodging and keep +out of Mazaroff's way. A clean but frugal meal was provided and +despatched, for Lechmere was keen set and for the most part he did not +care what he ate when on expeditions like these. After the meal was done +he sat smoking and thinking over the problem. Suddenly it occurred to +him that he had been told by Peretori's cablegram to ask for the hut of +Pierre Loti. Pierre Loti, he found, bore anything but a good character. +It was a moot point as to how he got his living; he lived in a hut in +the woods close by where the accident had happened and he had been first +on the spot. All this interested Lechmere and he decided to try and +find Loti at once. He had no difficulty in running down his man, who was +making hurdles in the wood. He received the advances of the Englishman +with evident suspicion. + +"It is no use fencing about like this," Lechmere said at length. "I have +come all the way from England to see you. I had a telegram asking me to +do so. Do you understand?" + +The man nodded and blinked slowly. His cunning little eyes were turned +on Lechmere's face. He took from his pocket a dirty piece of paper and +proceeded to spell out some rude signs there. + +"I have a friend," he said, "a gentleman who has been very good to me. +He was with me in my hut last night. And before he went away he said +that very likely a gentleman would come from England to see me. And he +said that the gentleman's name began by a certain letter. Would M'sieu +be so good as to suggest what that letter is likely to be?" + +Lechmere was on the right track at last and could afford to be patient. +He smiled at this caution. + +"I should say it would be the letter L," he said, "followed by Lechmere. +Is that good enough for you or do you want further proof?" + +"That is exactly as it should be," Loti said approvingly. "Lechmere is +the name. Now, sir, I was close by when the accident happened yesterday. +It was I who helped the wounded people out. The driver and his assistant +were killed. One gentleman was unconscious and the other had a little +sense left. He asked me to take care of the third gentleman, to get him +away in fact and say nothing to anybody till the signal came. Only he +wanted my name. Then this gentleman he failed also, and a little time +later people came on the scene. I carried away the one gentleman to my +hut and said nothing of it to anybody till another gentleman came along. +He was the gentleman who was kind to me and told me that a friend of his +called Lechmere would come along presently and reward me. I shall have +to be rewarded, for I am doing what in the eyes of our law is a +crime----" + +"You need not worry in the least about your reward," Lechmere said +impatiently. "Take me to your hut and let me speak to the person you are +hiding there." + +"Let him speak to you?" Loti said with widely open eyes. "I do not +understand. You do not understand. But come this way; I keep my lips +sealed and I say nothing to anybody. It is a dangerous position, but +money can accomplish most things. This way, sir; I will see that you are +not followed, for there are dogs about with sharp noses. This way." + +The hut was reached at length, the door closed cautiously. In a little +lean-to shed was a heap of straw, and this straw Loti proceeded to +remove with a careful hand. + +"Look down," he whispered. "Look down and see if you have ever seen him +before." + +Lechmere started back surprised and dismayed, almost unnerved for the +moment. For the dead white face looking so calmly up at him was that of +the ill-fated King of Asturia! + +[Illustration: "_The dead white face--was that of the ill-fated King of +Asturia._"] + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +DEAD! + + +There lay the body of the King of Asturia without a doubt. The first +painful shock of surprise over, Lechmere was his cool prudent self +again. He knew that Loti was watching him, so it behoved him to be +careful. He bent down and made a long examination of the body. He would +have given much at this moment for a few words with Peretori, but the +latter seemed to have vanished and apparently had repudiated any further +responsibility after sending the telegram. But then perhaps Peretori was +playing some game of his own. + +"Do you know anything about this gentleman?" he asked of Loti. + +The ragged peasant shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Obviously the +man had no suspicions that he was so closely on the fringe of an +international tragedy. He was quite sure that the disaster to the +special had not come about by accident and he murmured something about +socialists. So long as he was well paid for what he was doing, his +services could be relied upon. + +"There is more money for you, here," Lechmere said, placing the soundest +argument before the peasant, "if you are silent. If you go to the police +now they will ask awkward questions. And they will pay you nothing. Can +you procure a plain coffin and convey the body by road to, say, Amiens? +Only the coffin must be packed in another case so as to disguise what it +is, and I will give you the name and address whereby I can pick up the +case to-morrow. If you can do this thing for me I will pay you no less a +sum than two thousand francs." + +Loti's eyes gleamed. Such a sum was beyond his wildest dreams. It would +make him independent for the rest of his life. He nodded eagerly. + +"Well, that is settled," Lechmere proceeded. "Listen. Later on in the +day I will give you the address to be placed on the case. Bring me back +the receipt from the railway people at Amiens and the money is yours in +cash, so that no suspicion need be excited. I will meet you here +to-morrow at the same time. You quite understand?" + +Loti nodded, his eyes were gleaming like stars. It was obvious that he +understood perfectly. Lechmere made his way back to the cottage where he +had obtained shelter, and there wrote a long letter to the Head of the +Police in Paris. This he despatched by special parcel so that it would +be delivered in the course of the afternoon. He waited till dark before +setting out with the object of seeing Maxwell and Alexis. There was +considerable danger in this course, seeing that Mazaroff was close at +hand, and, above all things, Lechmere had no idea of being seen by the +Russian. + +That the train had been deliberately and wantonly wrecked with a view to +preventing the journey of the king to Asturia, Lechmere knew quite well. +To further their own design these people had taken no heed of human +life, they had stopped at nothing. And yet their plan had not been +carried out quite so successfully as they had hoped though a great meed +of triumph had been theirs. No doubt Mazaroff was hanging about the +neighbourhood to report progress. But Mazaroff would be puzzled and +rendered somewhat uneasy by the strange disappearance of the king. That +he was dead the Russian could not possibly know or he would have visited +Pierre Loti. + +All these things Lechmere turned over in his mind as he made his way +after dark to the cottage where Maxwell was lying. The primitive +peasants who gave him shelter had already retired to bed, but the door +had not been fastened, possibly to permit the visit of the doctor. +Lechmere cautiously opened the door and looked in. The common +sitting-room of the family had been divided by a couple of sheets over a +clothes-horse, and behind this Lechmere guessed that the patient lay, +from the smell of carbolic on the sheets. Lechmere secured the door as a +means of precaution, and passed behind the sheet. As he expected, +Maxwell lay there. + +His face was terribly bruised and battered, but the restless motion of +his limbs testified to the fact that the nervous vitality was not +greatly impaired. Maxwell opened a pair of languid eyes as Lechmere +touched him on the shoulder. + +"Go away," he said. "Why do you bother? There is nothing much the matter +with me if I were not so terribly sleepy. I can't get my head right. I +don't know what that peasant fellow is doing? I gave him all the money I +had, too. What's the matter?" + +Maxwell's eyes suddenly changed, he identified Lechmere with a smile of +pleasure. + +"I felt quite sure that you would turn up," he whispered. "Was I +successful? Did I baffle them? But you don't know anything about that +or about the king----" + +"Indeed I do," Lechmere hastened to reply. "I know everything. The king +is dead, because I have seen his body. And by this time the little plot +has been successful. The king has not returned to his capital, and it +will be understood by his people that he has taken advantage of the +accident to go off on one of his dissipated excesses, and the revolution +will be in full blast." + +"But those people don't know that the king is dead?" Maxwell asked +eagerly. + +"They don't. You worked that business very cleverly. And Peretori must +have been pretty near, for he sent me a cablegram telling me what to do. +I found your Pierre Loti. He shewed me the body of the king covered with +straw in his cottage. Did you manage all that?" + +"I did," Maxwell said, not without a smile. "When the accident happened +it came to me like a flash that the whole thing had been brought about +by design. Our carriage was literally smashed to pieces and we were +thrown on the permanent way. The engine-driver and stoker were killed, +so I and Alexis managed to stagger as far as the engine. The king lay +perfectly motionless and I felt that I was going to collapse. It was at +this point that Pierre Loti came up. I gave him all the money I had in +my pocket to get the king out of the way and say nothing till he heard +from me again. I should say that he has obeyed instructions." + +"To the letter," Lechmere said. "The king is dead, he must have been +killed on the spot. I compliment you sincerely on the manner in which +you contrived to keep this thing a secret. So long as the foe are in +ignorance of the full measure of their success we have a chance. And I +have made arrangements for the king to be conveyed to England secretly, +Mazaroff is still hanging about here on the off chance of picking +something up." + +"Which he will not do. But what has become of our new ally, Peretori?" + +"That I can't say," Lechmere replied. "Though I have a pretty shrewd +idea. But it is useless to speak of that just now. What does the doctor +say is the matter with you?" + +"Shock, and yet I feel quite well at times. I can't keep my eyes open. I +have the strange sensation of being drugged. I am so thirsty that I have +to have a big jug of lemonade always by my side as you see. I am as +tired as a dog again now." + +And Maxwell closed his eyes. There was the sound of a step outside the +cottage and the door opened very cautiously. With a sudden instinct +Lechmere passed at the back of the sheets into the glow beyond just in +time to avoid Mazaroff, who was the newcomer. Holding the sheet slightly +back, Lechmere could see exactly what was taking place. He saw Maxwell +lying as if in a heavy sleep, he saw the sinister smile that came over +Mazaroff's face. The longer the protectors of the absent king lay there +helpless so much the better for Mazaroff and his party. The Russian took +a little bottle from his pocket and proceeded to drop a few spots from +it into Maxwell's lemonade. With the same sinister smile on his face he +crept away in the direction of the door. Was he carrying on the same +game with Alexis, Lechmere wondered, or was some confidante doing the +work? + +Lechmere looked grim rather than angry, as he followed the Russian into +the open air. He was going to see if the experiment was destined to be +repeated on Alexis. It would be the last time, Lechmere told himself, +for he had that morning put a spoke in Mazaroff's wheel which ought to +stop the coach at any moment. Near the little village hotel to which the +Russian made his way two official looking men were standing, a blue +paper in the hand of one of them. One of them stepped up and bowed +profoundly. + +"Prince Mazaroff," he said. "Surely I have the honour. Ah, I thought so. +You will consider yourself my prisoner in the interests of the Criminal +Department of Paris. It is the warrant that I hold in my hand. You will +have to come with me to Paris." + +Mazaroff swore and threatened. He would like to know something of the +charge. As the charge was read over his bluster and threats subdued to a +little cry of dismay. + +"It is a case of mistaken identity," he said. "Where are you going to +take me? To Paris? It is very unfortunate, but circumstances are too +strong for me, and I yield." + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +CHECK! + + +Mazaroff was disposed of at any rate for the present. Lechmere's letter +to the Chief of the Police in Paris had not been futile. He was pretty +well posted with the life story of the man who called himself Prince +Mazaroff, who, in point of fact, was one of the greatest scoundrels of +his time. Under another name the French police had long wanted him for +an old offence, and Lechmere had been in a position to supply the +missing details and facts for identification. Besides, the head of the +Paris police was an old acquaintance of Lechmere's and valued his +opinion highly. Thus it was that no time was lost in tying Mazaroff by +the heels after receipt of Lechmere's letter. Mazaroff was a cunning +enough scoundrel, but he had more than his match in the old queen's +messenger. The coast was quite clear now. + +Nothing was in the way of taking the body of the unfortunate king back +to England. Nobody must know that he had died, at least not for the +present. The secret was valuable for the moment. Of course the queen +must be told, and General Maxgregor, but nobody else. It was early the +next morning that Lechmere saw both Alexis and Maxwell and found them +going on well. He explained briefly to both what had happened. + +"You will both be about again in a day or two," he said. "Meanwhile it +exactly suits the position of affairs for you to be here as invalids who +are incapable of seeing anybody. But I have arranged with the doctor to +keep the gentleman of the pencil at bay. You know nothing, you are +capable of no opinion, you are utterly indifferent as to what has become +of the king. Obviously he has escaped somewhere or his body would have +been found. I fancy you understand." + +There was no reason to repeat the question. With an easy mind, Lechmere +made the best of his way back to London. With the aid of a few cigars, +he worked the matter out to the end. He could see his way to damp the +pretty scheme of Countess Saens and also regain possession of those +papers. Nor would he shew his hand in the matter at all. The thing would +cause a little sensation in London perhaps, there would be complications +partaking of an international character, but there it would end. + +Lechmere drove straight with his gruesome burden to the rooms occupied +by General Maxgregor. He found the latter considerably better and ready +for work again. The flesh wound in the old soldier's shoulder had quite +healed up, that fine constitution made little of the loss of blood. + +"The very man I have been longing to see," Maxgregor cried. "When I +heard that you were not in London, I felt sure that you were following +that strange matter up. Was it an accident?" + +"Of course not," Lechmere said with fine contempt. "Did you suppose for +a moment that it was? The thing was planned and accomplished by +Mazaroff. Who his confederates were does not matter for the moment. At +any rate he managed it. It would never do to let the king reach +Asturia. But there was one thing they did not reckon on--the +disappearance." + +"The luck that ever follows the foolish," Maxgregor growled. "The only +man uninjured. He takes the first opportunity to get away from his +gaolers. In his callous way, heedless of the fact that they are badly +hurt, he takes a carriage and goes to Paris. He has no money, but the +King of Asturia can always raise that in the French capital. Am I +right?" + +"No, you are quite wrong," Lechmere said gravely. "The king is dead. I +have his body with me at the present moment. Mind you, nobody knows +anything about it. But perhaps I had better explain to you how we +managed to keep the tragic affair a secret." + +Maxgregor listened eagerly to Lechmere's story. His grave face was +tinged with deep melancholy. + +"That is very sad," he said. "It will be a dreadful blow to the queen. +After all she has gone through and suffered it will break her heart to +know that Asturia will fall to Russia in spite of everything." + +"Asturia is not going to fall into the hands of Russia," Lechmere said +drily. "Cunning as those people are, we are going to be one too many for +them. After all said and done, nobody outside our little circle knows +that the king is dead. I will explain presently. Meanwhile the king must +be buried. We must get a certificate without delay. When the time comes +the story can be made public." + +"It will be difficult to get a certificate from an ordinary doctor," +said Maxgregor. + +"I grant your point, my friend. But we can get a certificate from Dr. +Varney, who attended the king on and off for years during the time he +visited London. And Varney often warned the king that any shock might be +his end. I should say that he died of the shock. Any way we'll get +Varney in and ask his opinion. Have you a room that you can spare? If so +we will complete my gruesome task and lock the body carefully away. Get +your man off the premises." + +The whole thing was managed at length, and a little later and then +Varney came in. He made a long and careful examination of the body +before he gave his verdict. + +"There is nothing broken," he said. "The cause of death has nothing to +do with violence. Of that I am certain. This sudden fright acting on a +heart all to pieces and nerves like brown paper did the mischief. The +shock stopped the heart and the King of Asturia died. There is nothing +to prevent my saying that I was called in here to see the body of the +King of Asturia and that I certified that shock was the cause of death. +I am so sure of it that even had the patient been a common man, I should +have certified that there was no cause for an inquest." + +"So that we may get the body buried without delay?" Maxgregor asked. + +"Well, I should say not," the cautious Varney said. "I am perhaps +stretching a medical point and I do not want to get myself into further +trouble. For political reasons we do not want the public to know that +the King of Asturia is dead. I am prepared to swear as to what killed +him. But kings are not buried like ordinary bodies, they are generally +embalmed. In the course of a few days the sad news may be made public +and then the body can be taken to Asturia and buried in state. The +embalmers need not know of the high rank of their subject." + +Varney was absolutely right, as Lechmere saw at once. Besides, if his +calculations were correct, the sad news would be made public very soon +now. People would ask questions but they need not be answered. There was +nothing for it now but to break the news to the queen. + +"I think I'll get you to do that," Lechmere said to Maxgregor. "You are +such an old friend and you can speak to the queen in tones that I should +not venture to address to her. But it will be all right so far as +Asturia is concerned--Russia is going to fail there. And you and I and +one or two others will go down to the grave holding one of the most +romantic and wildest political secrets that has ever taken place in +Europe. Good luck to you, my friend." + +Maxgregor went off at once to the queen's hotel. He found her, to his +surprise, not in the least gloomy or anxious; on the contrary there was +a fine smile on her face. + +"I have been longing for you," she said. "If you had not come to me, +positively I must have invaded your rooms. Have you heard the good +news--I mean the good news of the king?" + +Maxgregor looked with some alarm at the royal speaker. Thoughts of a +brain unhinged by trouble rose before him. Evidently the queen had taken +leave of her senses. + +"The good news," he stammered. "Margaret, there is no good news. +Somebody has been cruelly deceiving you. You must be prepared to hear +that which is bad, very bad." + +"But the king escaped," the queen cried. "He escaped from the wrecked +train and made his way secretly and swiftly to our capital. It was +perhaps the one unselfish and manly action of his life. He was bruised +and battered but he was sufficiently himself to meet his ministers. +Tomani has cabled me." + +"Impossible!" Maxgregor cried. "Madame, the king is dead. He was killed +in that accident. Mr. Charles Maxwell, though sorely hurt himself, +managed to get the body conveyed to a place of safety so that nobody +should know, and the body has been brought to England. Mr. Lechmere +managed it in the most wonderful way. The body is at present in my rooms +safely under lock and key. I have seen it, Mr. Lechmere has of course +seen it, and so has Dr. Varney, who is prepared to certify that the +cause of death was shock to the system. I came here on purpose to bring +you the ill tidings. I pray you be buoyed up with no hopes on such a +fallacy as this. If you like to come and see for yourself----" + +The queen passed her hand across her brows in a bewildered sort of way. +At the same time she took up a grey cablegram from the table by her +side. + +"Listen to what Tomani says," she cried. "Listen--'King here safe but +knocked about from the result of his accident. Met him myself. Is at +present in consultation with ministers. Will let your majesty know +result of deliberations as soon as settled. Tomani.' Paul, what does it +mean?" + +But for once in his life General Maxgregor was incapable of reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +MATE IN TWO MOVES + + +Maxgregor made no reply for a moment. It flashed across his mind that +some person or persons were playing a cruel hoax on the queen. + +But a moment's reflection served to show that such a thing was +impossible. In the first place the telegram was in the cypher used by +the queen in communicating with Tomani, the only really faithful friend +she possessed in the councils of the government party of Asturia. And +Tomani's honour was beyond question. + +The queen was first to speak. She crossed over and laid a shaking hand +on Maxgregor's arm. + +"You must be mistaken," she said. "Unless Tomani--but not for a moment +do I doubt _him_. I trust him as implicitly as I trust yourself. And yet +you say--you say----" + +"That the king is dead, madame. The king was killed in the disaster that +happened to his special train between here and Paris. Mind you, nobody +knows of this with the exception of the faithful few into whose hands +you would place your life safely. As a matter of fact the disaster was +no accident at all, it was deliberately brought about by Countess Saens +and Prince Mazaroff for their own ends. The miscreants disappeared and I +am afraid that we shall not have the satisfaction of laying them by the +heels. The driver and stoker of the train were killed so that it is +impossible to obtain their testimony. Captain Alexis and Mr. Charles +Maxwell escaped by a miracle, though they are both badly knocked about. +It was Mr. Maxwell who saved the situation and contrived to get the body +of the king smuggled away." + +"But the telegram, General, the telegram?" the queen cried. "Tomani says +that the king is in our capital closeted with ministers. Perhaps at this +very moment----" + +"But, madame, I assure you that the king is no more," Maxgregor +protested. "There is some strange maddening mystery here that will be +explained in time. I say the king is dead, if necessary I am prepared to +prove that to you. The body was smuggled away so that Russia should have +no pretext for interfering. It was essential that they should not know +what had happened, for the present at any rate. They must not know till +we can get Prince Alix on the scene." + +"You are assuming a thing that you can prove?" the queen asked hoarsely. + +"Indeed I am, madame. Try and realise the fact that your sway is ended. +It expires with the life of the king as you know. Therefore, we must put +all private feeling aside and strain every nerve to get Prince Alix to +Asturia before the Russians learn what has happened. Once Prince Alix is +nominated to the succession, Russia is powerless. Do you follow me?" + +"I should follow you better if I were certain that you were telling me +hard facts, General." + +"Heaven only knows that I am, madame. That the king is dead is beyond +question. Let me finish what I am going to say. I have had everything +from Lechmere. He had a mysterious message from Prince Peretori urging +him to go at once to the scene of the disaster. He was told to visit the +cottage of a certain peasant and give proofs of his identity. There he +saw the body of the king hidden away. The body was brought back to +England, and at present it is locked in one of my rooms. I have seen it, +Lechmere has seen it, so has Dr. Varney." + +The queen passed her hand across her forehead with a gesture of despair. + +"It is all bewildering and so confusing, so sudden!" she cried. "You +come to me and tell me this a few minutes after the receipt of Tomani's +telegram." + +"I do not wish to be hard or unkind," Maxgregor interrupted. "But I must +ask you for the present to forget that telegram. That side of the +mystery will doubtless be cleared up in time. What most concerns us now +is the king and the fact that his death must be concealed from everybody +until we have had time to communicate with Prince Alix. Of your dream +and mine we can say nothing; that is shattered. Our whole energies too +must be devoted to the task of defeating Russia. And the king has to be +buried, you understand." + +"But that cannot be done without necessary formalities," the queen +protested. "In England----" + +"Yes, I know that in England they do things differently to what they do +abroad. But most fortunately, we have Dr. Varney on our side. He +attended the king, he is prepared to certify that death was the result +of a shock and that nothing in the way of an inquest was necessary. +Officially, the doctor is not supposed to know anything about the +railway accident. He is not bound to speak of what has happened until +officially, you, as royal consort, see fit to announce to the world that +King Erno of Asturia is no more. Varney suggests that the body be +embalmed and conveyed to Asturia for burial. You see everything plays +for our hand if we can only be bold and do not lose our opportunities." + +The queen made no reply for a little time, she paced up and down the +room lost in thought. A kingdom had slipped through her fingers, all her +darling ambition had fallen suddenly to the ground. The cup of +humiliation was full to the brim and she had to drink it to the dregs. +And yet through it all was the consolation that peace and quietness +henceforth would be her portion. She had been tried beyond her strength +of late. + +"Paul," she said, with a gentle sweetness that surprised Maxgregor. "I +place myself entirely in your hands. I have done more than a woman's +portion and I have failed. The fact that I knew that I should fail from +the first does not render my humiliation any the less bitter. The king +is dead, and for his own sake and mine I do not regret it. My married +life has been a nightmare, I am glad that it is over. How can I grieve +for this thing when I remember what I have suffered? Henceforth I take +no part in politics--that is, after we have successfully placed Alix on +a firm throne. The people will follow him as they never would have +followed me, devoted as I was to their interests. When you came in I was +getting ready to start for Asturia. I was going to travel incognito and +let it be understood that I was still in England. And that splendid girl +Jessie Harcourt was coming with me. It is just as well that she should +be out of the way for some little time, and her courage and devotion +are splendid." + +Before Maxgregor could make any reply, Jessie came into the room. She +was quietly dressed in black and evidently ready for a journey. At the +sight of the queen's pale face and the presence of Maxgregor she started +and backed towards the door. The queen detained her. + +"This is no private conversation," she said, "at least not so far as you +are concerned. I should like you to know everything, for I feel how +implicitly I can trust you. General Maxgregor brings some startling +news. News so strange that I would not believe it for a time. He says +the king is dead." + +"Dead!" Jessie exclaimed. "But that telegram, madame. Surely your friend +Tomani----?" + +"Is beyond reproach. Nor can I believe that anybody has obtained access +to my private cypher. And yet the king is dead. The General will tell +you all about that." + +Maxgregor reported his story over again, Jessie listening with dilated +eyes. How many ages ago, she wondered, since she was filling her dreary +routine duties in Bond Street. But she seemed to have left that old life +behind her years ago. She was piecing the puzzle together as Maxgregor +spoke. At the name of Peretori a sudden light flashed in upon her. + +"Prince Peretori," she cried. "It was Prince Peretori who sent that +mysterious telegram to Mr. Lechmere. Then the Prince must have known all +about it, I mean _after_ the accident. And Prince Peretori was the man +who impersonated the king for the sake of a bet and then foolishly +played into the hands of Countess Saens and the rest of them. It was he +who passed himself off to the Editor of the _Mercury_ as King of +Asturia. Surely you can see what has happened?" + +"I wish I did," Maxgregor muttered. "It would simplify matters +wonderfully." + +"Why, the problem is already solved," said Jessie. "Prince Peretori was +sincerely sorry for the part he had played. He said he would do his best +to make amends. Ah, he is far cleverer in his frivolous way than you +give him credit for. He foresaw something of this and hung in disguise +on the track of the king. He was not far off when the accident took +place. And thus he was on his way when he was assured of the fact that +the king was dead. Once more he played the part of the King of Asturia. +He made up as the king, he would probably use a few bandages and a +discoloured face so as to make detection absolutely impossible. The king +was expected in his capital and the prince went there instead. Hence the +telegram from Tomani who had not detected the imposture. By this time +you may be sure that Prince Alix is on the spot. It is the old story of +the comedy man who comes forward at the crisis and saves the play." + +"She is right," Maxgregor shouted. "For a million she has hit the +right nail on the head." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +THE SITUATION IS SAVED + + +There was no reason to say any more. Both listeners felt that the +situation was saved; they felt, too, that Jessie was absolutely right. +Her logic lacked no force, because it was so clear and simple. The queen +paused in her agitated walk and crossed towards the door. + +"That is settled, then," she said. "My dear friend here has solved the +problem. But there is yet much to be done before we are safe and Asturia +is preserved from the grip of the wolf. I should like to see the king." + +Maxgregor had no objection to make. Perhaps on the whole it would be +better for the queen to be quite sure that he told no more than the +truth. It was a sufficiently sad hour that followed before the queen +returned to her hotel again. She was hardly back before Lord Merehaven +was announced. His easy air vanished as he entered the room, he looked +very old and agitated. There was just a wild gleam in his eyes as his +gaze fell on Jessie. + +"I have been hearing strange things, madame," he said. "My niece has +been confessing the truth. So it was this young lady who was responsible +for so many of the startling events of the other night. Not that I +propose to recognise that I am in anyway----" + +"For Heaven's sake, forget that you are a diplomat and a minister for +once, my lord," the queen said. "This is a matter that closely touches +your personal honour and mine. I beg you to believe that I did not know +of the change of identity till this young lady accompanied me here from +your house. Surely you must recognise her bravery and courage, that she +ran all these risks merely to help one whom she had never seen before. +It was a strange position for a lady----" + +"An impossible position for a lady," Merehaven said drily. + +"I think not," the queen said, just a little coldly. "It was done on the +spur of the moment. If your niece has told you everything, surely you +must be aware of that." + +"My niece has told me everything, madame," Merehaven went on. "She had +planned a desperate enterprise to save the man she loved and she wanted +to so place it that she could leave the house all the while her friends +could testify that she had not gone beyond the front door. And Vera came +very near to success----" + +"Very near to success!" the queen cried. "She _did_ succeed. She +obtained possession of those missing papers. It is true that she lost +them again, but they passed out of the possession of Countess Saens and +thus deprived her of one of her most powerful weapons. The bold attempt +to free Mr. Maxwell from blame----" + +"Mr. Maxwell was not in the least to blame, as matters turned out," +Merehaven explained. "Captain Lancing was the culprit all through. Mr. +Maxwell was foolish in his little flirtation with the Countess--which by +the way she forced upon him--gave colour to his guilt. It was Maxwell's +wild endeavour to save Lancing that brought suspicion on him, but I +shall be able to satisfy Maxwell's chiefs that he has nothing to ask +forgiveness for when the time comes. As a matter of fact a letter +written by Captain Lancing before he committed suicide has come to hand +and he takes all the blame." + +"But this need not become public property," the queen said. + +"It is not going to become public property," Merehaven said. "We shall +let the rumour die. We shall assume that the whole thing was merely a +foolish newspaper canard. All the same there were papers stolen and they +_did_ pass into Countess Saens's hands. And Count Gleikstein is acting +as if he knew the contents and as if he had possession of the papers. +Probably it is only bluff, but it is giving me a deal of anxiety." + +"You mean that you cannot feel quite certain whether or not those papers +are in the hands of the Count or not?" Jessie asked. "He is acting as if +he possessed them?" + +"You are an exceedingly clever young lady," Merehaven smiled. "That is +exactly the point. I have a wonderfully shrewd man to deal with and he +is puzzling me utterly. If he has not the papers and I can prove it, +then I can afford to laugh and affect ignorance. Whereas----" + +"Perhaps I had better tell you exactly how things stand," the queen +remarked. "You need not know anything of this officially as yet, but the +more fully you are posted the better for your fight with Count +Gleikstein. I am going to tell you a story that will astonish you, +diplomat as you are." + +The queen did not boast. Merehaven was unaffectedly astonished and +showed it. He walked up and down the room muttering to himself as he +walked. + +"Did ever anybody ever hear anything so amazing," he said. "If I could +only be sure now what has become of those stolen papers. Does anybody +guess where they are?" + +"I can't go as far as that," Jessie said. "But I can guess who does +know. I fully believe that lost secret will be found in the possession +of Mr. Lechmere." + +Merehaven gave a grunt of delight. The moody frown passed away from his +face. "You really are a very clever young lady," he said. "I suppose +when the time comes to smooth out things I shall have to forgive you for +the part you have played. But your suggestion as to Lechmere is +brilliant, distinctly brilliant. I'll go to him at once." + +The early edition of the evening papers was once more full of the +affairs of Asturia, and the newsboys were proclaiming the fact as they +ran along before Merehaven. It was quite clear from the rumours +emanating from the Asturian capital that the enemy had no real grip as +yet of the true position of things. King Erno was back again in his +capital once more, he had met his disaffected ministers frankly and +openly for once in his life, and he was prepared to place himself +entirely in the hands of his advisers. He admitted that he had not been +a model monarch in his time, but then, physically and intellectually, he +was not fit for so exalted a position. If there was any question of his +successor, he should like to name Prince Alix, whom he had every reason +to believe was close at hand. + +Merehaven chuckled as he walked along reading all this from a +_Telephone_. Once Prince Alix accepted the successor, Russia would be +beaten. And that they should be so innocent as to stand by when, had +they known it, all the cards were in their hands was a piece of +diplomatic success that pleased Merehaven exceedingly. He even forgot +his troubles over those evening papers and the battle with Gleikstein. + +Lechmere was not at home, but he had left directions that if anybody +desired to see him particularly he was to be found for the next hour or +so at the Orient Club, and thither Merehaven made his way. He found +Lechmere reading an evening paper and smoking a long black cigar as if +he were one of the most idle and purposeless men in the world. But as he +glanced up at Merehaven's face he saw that the latter knew everything. +He laid his paper aside and drew Merehaven into a corner. + +"I suppose you have heard the amazing story, my lord?" he asked. + +Merehaven replied that he had nothing to acquire in that direction. He +plunged immediately into his subject. He could be very direct and to the +point if he chose. + +"That is why I came to you," he said in conclusion. "Is it not possible +that you can give me a real helping hand in the direction of recovering +those confounded papers?" + +"I think that I can be of material assistance to you and that before +very long," Lechmere smiled. "I have laid the match to a carefully +prepared mine and the explosion may take place at any moment. You see I +take a considerable interest in the career of international adventurers, +and the careers of both Prince Mazaroff and Countess Saens interest me +exceedingly. I hinted to you that if the continental police liked to +follow certain things up it would be awkward for the lady. As to the +gentleman, I gave such information about him as led to his arrest and +subsequent detention in Paris. Unless I am greatly mistaken, he will not +trouble the world much for the next few years. Now it so happens that I +also desire to have the Countess Saens out of the way for a space. There +are certain possessions of hers that I desire to examine. So I have +found the means." + +"Will that bring those papers into sight, though?" Merehaven asked. + +Lechmere rather thought that it would. He was proceeding to explain when +an excited man rushed into the smoking-room evidently primed and +bursting with some fine piece of scandal. He pounced upon the two +acquaintances in the window as proper recipients of the news. + +"The latest, the very latest," he cried. "Who on earth would have +thought it? A fine woman like that with a good position and any amount +of money. Who do I mean? Why, Countess Saens. Arrested by the police as +she was getting into her carriage and taken to Bow Street like a common +thief. Charged with forgery or something of that kind. What?" + +Lechmere rose very quietly from his seat and pitched his cigar into the +grate. + +"Come along," he whispered. "There is no time to be lost. Unless I am +grievously out in my calculations, those papers will be in your hands +before the hour is up." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +THE PAPERS AT LAST + + +Lord Merehaven followed Lechmere eagerly down the steps of the club. He +was anxious and excited now as any schoolboy with the prospect of a last +holiday before him. The diplomatist became merged in the mere man. He +plied Lechmere with questions. + +"I think that we had better have a cab," said the latter. "In the first +instance we have to go as far as General Maxgregor's rooms. After that +we will proceed to the residence of Countess Saens. Yes, you are quite +right. It was I who supplied the police with the information that led up +to this sensational arrest." + +"Pity you had not done it before," Merehaven spluttered, as he jammed +his top hat in the door of the hansom. "It would have saved a wonderful +lot of trouble." + +Lechmere demurred. He had known for some time a great deal of the past +of the woman who was known to society as Countess Saens. As a matter of +fact he had bided his time, little dreaming how soon it would be +necessary to make use of his information. + +"I think I told you before who the woman was," he said. "Or was it +General Maxgregor? Anyway, it does not in the least matter. For my part, +I rather regret the necessity for putting this woman out of the way. It +is far better to keep such people under observation and thus keep in +touch with one's enemies. But I could see no other way." + +"But you won't frighten her into speaking," Merehaven said. + +"Of course we shan't. She has too much pluck for that. I want to get her +out of the way because it is desirable to search her house for the +missing papers without suspicion of our designs. And we are going to +find the papers there sure enough." + +"Surely you must be mistaken," Merehaven protested. "If the countess +still has the papers, she would have handed them over to Count +Gleikstein, who would have made profit over them. She would have given +us no quarter like he is doing now." + +"I did not say that the countess had the papers," Lechmere said drily. +"I said they were in the house, which is quite a different matter. But +here we are at Maxgregor's." + +Maxgregor was out as the hall porter-valet Robert told Lechmere. But the +latter did not seem in the least disappointed. He proceeded up the +stairs to the general's rooms, intimating that Robert had better follow +him. The man did so wondering, but he had no anxiety for himself yet. +Lechmere wanted to go into the general's bedroom, he also wanted to see +the suit of dress clothes worn by the general on the night of his return +from Lady Merehaven's reception. With some little demur Robert produced +the garments in question from a wardrobe. Lechmere smiled with an air of +easy triumph as he produced a flat packet of papers from the dress coat +pocket. + +"Exactly as I expected," he murmured to Lord Merehaven. "This is the +dress suit worn by the king when he was smuggled into your house by the +queen and her tiring woman on the night of the reception. As I have told +you before, Maxgregor escaped in the king's clothes. In these clothes +was the Deed of Abdication ready for signature as handed to the king by +Mazaroff. If you will open that packet you will see whether I am wrong +or not." + +Lechmere was not wrong, it was the Deed of Abdication right enough. Very +grimly Lord Merehaven placed it in a position of safety. It was a strong +weapon that Lechmere had afforded for his next interview with Count +Gleikstein. + +"I felt quite certain that we should find it," Lechmere said. "And now +let us proceed a stage further. Where is General Maxgregor's telephone, +Robert?" + +Robert explained that the telephone was in the next room. The servant +seemed a little easier in his mind as he led the way to the +sitting-room. Then Lechmere closed the door and looked at the man +keenly. + +"You are going to do something for me, Robert," he said. "Be so good as +to call up No. 99996 Belgravia. Ah, I see that the number is well known +to you. I have every reason to believe that you have called up that +number many times before. Now listen to me and do exactly what I tell +you or you may make the acquaintance of the inside of a gaol before +long. You are going to help me to find certain papers which, though you +may not be a party to stealing them, you know all about them and their +value and the like." + +"I am sure that I don't know what you mean, sir," Robert said sulkily. + +"Then it will be necessary for me to refresh your memory, Robert. I mean +those papers that you were discussing the other night with Annette--the +night you had the champagne supper at Countess Saens's house. The papers +returned by the policeman, you know, found by him in Piccadilly. You and +Annette were going to sell them and buy a boarding-house in Brook Street +with the proceeds. I think it would be far better for you to recollect, +Robert." + +The valet-porter collapsed without further signs of fight. There was +nothing of the born conspirator about him. He was no more or less than a +tolerably dishonest London servant. He was quite ready to do anything +that Mr. Lechmere asked him. + +"Then call up 99996 and ask for Annette," Lechmere said curtly. "Say +that you must see her at once here without the slightest delay. No +occasion to explain the reason. Then you can hang the receiver up +quietly as if you were cut off, so that the young woman has no time to +ask questions. After that you will come with me in my cab. It won't be +gallant conduct so far as Annette is concerned but I can't help that. +You can make the best of your explanations later on." + +"What do you want that fellow for?" Merehaven asked, as Robert proceeded +to carry out his instructions. + +Lechmere replied that he had no need whatever of Robert's services, but +that he had not the smallest intention of leaving him there to sound the +note of alarm over the telephone directly they had gone. Lord Merehaven +had not seen this point, it would have escaped him. But Lechmere was not +in the habit of leaving his pawns unaccounted for like that. He listened +close by the telephone till he heard the small distant voice of Annette +saying that she would come round at once, then he jerked up the +receiver and rang off connection sharply. + +"Now come along," he said. "By the time we reach the residence of +Countess Saens, Annette will be well on her way here, indeed we shall +probably pass her in the cab. For the sake of our friend Robert it will +be necessary to take a four-wheeler this time. Come along." + +Lechmere proved to be perfectly correct as to the meeting of Annette on +her way to keep the appointment. The cab pulled up not too close to the +countess' residence and Lechmere alighted, bidding Lord Merehaven wait +until he returned. As he expected, the house was in the hands of the +police pending the arrival of the owner's agent, who had been +telegraphed for. The inspector in charge was an old acquaintance of +Lechmere's and seemed glad to see him. + +"Bit of a sensation, this, Roscoe," Lechmere said guardedly. "But one +never knows, do they?" + +Roscoe smiled with the air of a man who was used to these surprises. He +intimated that this was going to be a big business, there would be a +formal remand applied for, and after that the foreign police proposed to +take a hand in the matter. + +"Have you had the house searched yet?" Lechmere asked. "No? Well, you'd +better get a warrant. As a matter of fact the countess is a brilliant +political spy and there may be things here well worth the inspection of +the British Government. Don't say I didn't give you the tip. I suppose +you don't mind my going over the house. I may see something worth +noting." + +Roscoe had no objection whatever. Lechmere made an elaborate pretence of +inspecting the room and then he strolled up to the servants' quarters +in a casual way. This was Annette's room sure enough. Lechmere +remembered Peretori's description well enough to recollect that. And on +the wall high up was a plaster cast of a crucifix with a figure extended +upon it. Lechmere listened a moment to make quite sure that nobody was +about, then he climbed up with the aid of a chair. As he had expected, +the back of the cast was hollow and in the cavity was a bundle of +papers. Without the slightest feeling of excitement he untied the tape +that fastened them, glanced his eyes over the contents, and walked down +stairs again. He nodded to Roscoe as he passed out. + +"Nothing so far as I can see," he said. "Don't forget to apply for a +search warrant." + +He dismissed the four-wheeler in the street and told Robert curtly to go +about his business. He had no further use for the valet-porter. The task +was done. + +"Well?" Merehaven asked eagerly. "Well? One can judge nothing from your +face." + +"Good thing for me," Lechmere said imperturbably. "But what do you think +of this? There are your papers." + +And Merehaven was only too glad to admit that Lechmere was right. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +LOVE AND ROSES + + +It was late the next afternoon before Maxwell arrived in London. He was +still feeling ill and shaky, but there was hope in his heart now, for +Lechmere's telegram recalling him had given him reason to believe that +everything was perfectly settled. He dressed and walked as quickly as he +could to Lord Merehaven's house. He had been instructed to do so by +Lechmere's telegram. He was a little surprised and confused to find Lord +Merehaven shaking him cordially by the hand and inviting him to sit +down. + +"Everything has been explained," Merehaven said. "You were a little +foolish, Charles, but I don't see that you were in the least to blame. +We are all foolish where pretty women are concerned. We know now how the +countess tried to drag you into the business, in fact Lancing had left a +letter explaining everything and absolutely exonerating you from blame. +Of course Vera did not know of it when she set out on her dangerous +mission, and left that splendid creature Jessie Harcourt to take her +place. It does one good to know that this old country can produce such +girls. Nobody knows anything, not even as to Lancing's letter or of the +death of the King of Asturia. It is all settled." + +"Except as to those missing papers," Maxwell said, suppressing a +tendency to laugh hysterically. + +"The papers are recovered," Merehaven chuckled as he proceeded to +explain. "I have seen Count Gleikstein to-day and I fancy that he will +respect me a little more in the future. We have won all along the line. +And the news from Asturia is good. Of course we in the secret know how +that matter has been arranged--that Prince Peretori played poor King +Erno's part and posed as the king. Everybody believes that Erno has +abdicated in favour of Prince Alix, who is in the capital of Asturia, +where he was crowned yesterday with the acclamations of the people. +Peretori is on his way back to England and before nightfall the papers +will have it that he has reached London. The papers will also say that +he went at once to the rooms of General Maxgregor and that he was +looking shockingly ill. All this had been arranged, you understand. +To-morrow all London will be grieved to hear that the king passed +quietly away in the night at the general's rooms. That is all right +because the body is there and Dr. Varney will give the necessary +certificate. Those who wish to be sure will see the body for themselves. +And I don't forget how carefully you managed that business, my boy, at a +time when you were knocked about in that accident. The thing is a most +extraordinary romance, one of the strangest affairs that ever happened +in Europe. But Europe will never know it and the world will be the +poorer for one of the finest plays ever left unwritten. I forgot to say +that I probably vindicated your character in the House of Lords last +night. I stretched my conscience a bit, but it had to be done. And now I +am going to give you a few days' holiday. Let me get back to my papers +again. Oh, I forgot to say that Lady Merehaven wants to speak to you. +You will find her in the drawing-room, I think." + +Lord Merehaven fairly hustled his young guest out of the room without +waiting for any further thanks. His step was lighter and his eyes more +sparkling than it had been for some days. All the same, he drew back a +little as he saw that Vera Galloway was waiting for him alone. + +"My aunt had to go out," she said demurely. "She will not be long, +Charlie. Oh, my dear boy, how foolish you have been, and how splendidly +you atoned for your folly." + +Charles Maxwell felt his heart beating a little faster. He advanced with +hands extended. + +"So you have forgiven me," he cried. "I had hardly hoped for this, Vera. +And yet I did nothing. It was no more than a silly piece of vanity. But +when I found that Lancing was in deadly earnest----" + +"I don't think we need discuss it," Vera said quietly. "Naturally you +took the countess to be an honest woman, you had no idea that she was a +mere adventuress. What started me on the track was a letter which found +its way into my hands by mistake. There was no time to lose, but I could +not find you. I could not find Captain Lancing also. You see, I dared +not take anybody into my confidence, for there was always the chance +that you were implicated. Then I thought of what Ronald Hope had said +about the shop girl who was so like me--you see I happened to know who +she was. The scheme flashed into my mind and I put it into operation at +once. I would go and steal those papers because I had a pretty good +idea where to find them. I knew my way about that house as well as I +know about this one. And I was successful beyond my wildest dreams.... +The rest I have just heard from my uncle. My dear Charlie, what a tale +we could tell Europe if we only chose." + +But Charlie Maxwell refused to say any more about it. He had had a good +lesson and he was going to take it to heart. Meanwhile all was well that +ended well, he said. It was a very delicious half hour that passed +before a footman announced Miss Jessie Harcourt. + +The girls looked wonderfully alike as they stood side by side and +Maxwell was fain to admit it. He saw Jessie's eyes gleam and the colour +come into her face as Ronald Hope entered. He advanced at once and shook +him cordially by the hand. + +"'Be you as pure as snow, and as chaste as ice, thou shalt not escape +calumny,'" he quoted. "I know there was nothing wrong as far as you were +concerned, Maxwell. And Lancing either. They tell me his gambling debts +turned his mind, poor fellow. And there were no papers missing after +all." + +"Not as far as I am concerned," Maxwell said grimly. "The fellows at the +club----" + +"Consider that you have been infernally badly treated by a mob of +newspaper gossips," said Ronald. "By the way, there is an exceedingly +handsome apology in to-day's _Mercury_. Everybody is talking about it. I +should let the matter stop there if I were you." + +Everything fell out exactly as Lord Merehaven had predicted. The evening +papers were full of the new Asturian affair. They were glad to find +that Russia had been checkmated and that the appointment of Prince Alix +was likely to give satisfaction. They also cherished the fact that King +Erno was back in London and that he was looking very ill. The morning +papers got their innings in due course with the announcement that +ex-King Erno was dead, and that he had died in the night at General +Maxgregor's rooms. Dr. Varney had given a certificate of death to the +effect that his highness had succumbed to the shock following on his +railway accident, and there was no more to be said. The body of the +unfortunate prince was going to be embalmed and taken back to his +country for burial. Count Gleikstein was puzzled and felt that he had +been in some way outwitted, but there was the corpse of the king for him +to see, and there, unfortunately for him, was Prince Alix apparently +firmly seated on the throne of Asturia. It was impossible for the count +at this juncture to hold any sort of communication with either Mazaroff +or Countess Saens, seeing that they were both arrested and both had +serious charges hanging over them. Russia would have to wait a further +opportunity to gratify her designs upon Asturia. + +"What will be the upshot of it all?" Ronald Hope asked Jessie as the two +of them strolled in the gardens behind Merehaven House a week later. +There had been a small dinner-party there and the ex-Queen of Asturia +just back from the burial of her husband had been present. "Where will +_she_ end, Jessie?" + +Jessie laughed and coloured as she replied to the question. There was +nobody near so that she kissed Ronald. + +"I hope _she_ will end as happily as my trouble is going to end with +you," the girl said softly. "I have seen quite enough of the queen to +know where her heart is. I know the temptation that was placed on the +shoulders of General Maxgregor that fateful night. He loves the ground +that the queen walks on. And she knows it quite as well as I know that +you love me, Ronald. She would have kept her secret so long as the +throne was fairly under her. But that is all over, and henceforth Queen +Margaret and Asturia will be strangers. She feels that she has beaten +Russia and that the dynasty is safe with Prince Alix. It was a near +thing, but between us we managed to win. Thenceforth the queen will be +no more than a subject of King Edward here, and her happiness is in her +own hands if she chooses to grip it." + +Jessie's voice trailed off to a whisper, for at the same moment ex-Queen +Margaret came out of the house down the lane with General Maxgregor by +her side. They were talking very earnestly, and they passed by the side +of the sundial where Jessie had stood not so many nights before waiting +for the signal to come. The queen said something in a broken voice, her +head dropped, she held out her hand to Maxgregor who carried it to his +lips. + +"So that is settled," the involuntary eavesdroppers heard him say. "God +bless you for those words, Margaret. I always knew that this would come. +And if the passing of the years does not bring----" + +There was no more to be heard. Jessie stepped forward and smiled as the +queen beckoned her. + +"You look very happy, my child," she said. "And Captain Hope! Are you +very happy, Jessie?" + +"I believe I am the happiest girl in the world," she said in a voice +that thrilled. "Oh, so happy, your majesty. I only wish with my heart +that you would be the same." + +"Do you?" the queen said drily. "It is a secret yet, but--but I am going +to ... try." + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + --Printer and punctuation inaccuracies were silently corrected. + + --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + + --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. + + --The author's long dash style has been preserved. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WEIGHT OF THE CROWN*** + + +******* This file should be named 36511.txt or 36511.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/5/1/36511 + + + +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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