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diff --git a/40434-8.txt b/40434-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6b715b9..0000000 --- a/40434-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10483 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Place of Dragons, by William Le Queux - -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/license - - -Title: The Place of Dragons - -Author: William Le Queux - -Release Date: August 8, 2012 [EBook #40434] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLACE OF DRAGONS *** - - - - -Produced by D Alexander, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -THE PLACE OF DRAGONS - -A MYSTERY - -By -WILLIAM LE QUEUX - -Author of "In White Raiment," "If Sinners Entice Thee," -"The Room of Secrets," etc. - -WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED -LONDON AND MELBOURNE - - -MADE IN ENGLAND - -Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAP. PAGE - I PRESENTS A PROBLEM 5 - - II IS MAINLY ASTONISHING 12 - - III SHOWS LIGHT FROM THE MIST 22 - - IV OPENS SEVERAL QUESTIONS 30 - - V IN WHICH THE SHADOW FALLS 38 - - VI MYSTERY INEXPLICABLE 44 - - VII TELLS OF TWO MEN 52 - - VIII REMAINS AN ENIGMA 60 - - IX DESCRIBES A NIGHT VIGIL 67 - - X CONTAINS A CLUE 73 - - XI THE AFFAIR OF THE SEVENTEENTH 81 - - XII LOLA 87 - - XIII RELATES A STRANGE STORY 95 - - XIV WHEREIN CONFESSION IS MADE 103 - - XV CONFIRMS CERTAIN SUSPICIONS 110 - - XVI WHERE TWO C'S MEET 118 - - XVII REVEALS ANOTHER PLOT 125 - - XVIII DONE IN THE NIGHT 131 - - XIX RECORDS FURTHER FACTS 139 - - XX ANOTHER DISCOVERY IS MADE 145 - - XXI EXPLAINS LOLA'S FEARS 152 - - XXII THE ROAD OF RICHES 160 - - XXIII FOLLOWS THE ELUSIVE JULES 166 - - XXIV MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE 173 - - XXV IS MORE MYSTERIOUS 181 - - XXVI HOT-FOOT ACROSS EUROPE 188 - - XXVII OPENS A DEATH-TRAP 196 - -XXVIII DESCRIBES A CHASE 204 - - XXIX THE HOUSE IN HAMPSTEAD 212 - - XXX NARRATES A STARTLING AFFAIR 219 - - XXXI "SHEEP OF THY PASTURE" 227 - - XXXII THE TENTS OF UNGODLINESS 235 - -XXXIII DISCLOSES A STRANGE TRUTH 241 - - XXXIV CONCERNS TO-DAY 250 - - - - -THE PLACE OF DRAGONS - - - - -CHAPTER I - -PRESENTS A PROBLEM - - -"Curious affair, isn't it?" - -"Very." - -"Now, you're a bit of a mystery-monger, Vidal. What's your theory--eh?" - -"I haven't one," I replied with a smile. - -"I knew the old boy quite well by sight. Didn't you?" asked my friend, -Major Keppell, as we stood gossiping together in the doorway of the -_Hôtel de Paris_, high up on the cliff opposite the pier at Cromer. - -"Perfectly. His habit was to go down the slope yonder, to the pier each -morning at ten, and to remain there till eleven," I said. "I used to -watch him every morning. He went as regularly as the clock, wet or -fine." - -"A bit eccentric, I thought," remarked the Major, standing astride in -his rough golfing clothes, and puffing at his briar pipe. "Quite a -character for a novel--eh?" and he laughed. "You'll do a book about this -strange affair--what?" - -I shrugged my shoulders and smiled, as I replied: "Not very likely, I -think. Yet the circumstances are, to say the least, extremely curious." - -"They are, from all I hear," said my friend. Then, glancing at his -wristlet watch, he exclaimed: "By Jove!--nearly seven! I must get in and -dress for dinner. See you later." - -With this he passed through the swing-doors of the hotel, leaving me -standing upon the short sweep of gravel gazing out upon the summer sea, -golden in the glorious June sunset. - -The Major had spoken the truth. A discovery had been made in Cromer that -morning which possessed many remarkable features, and to me, an -investigator of crime, it presented an extremely interesting -problem--one such as I, Herbert Vidal, had never before heard of. - -Briefly related, the facts were as follows. Early in February--four -months before--there had arrived in Cromer a queer, wizened, little old -man named Vernon Gregory. He was accompanied by his nephew, a rather -dandified, overdressed young fellow of twenty-three, named Edward Craig. - -Strangers are very few in Cromer in winter, and therefore Mrs. Dean, -landlady of Beacon House, on the West Cliff, a few doors west of the -_Hôtel de Paris_, where the asphalted footpath runs along the top of the -cliff, was very glad to let the new-comers the first-floor front -sitting-room with two bedrooms above. - -In winter and spring, Cromer, high and bleak, and swept by the wild, -howling winds from the grey North Sea, its beach white with the spume of -storm, is practically deserted. The hotels, with the exception of the -_Paris_, are closed, the boarding-houses are mostly shut, and the -landladies who let apartments wait weeks and weeks in vain for the -arrival of a chance visitor. In August, however, the place overflows -with visitors, all of the best class, and for six weeks each year Cromer -becomes one of the gayest little towns on the breezy East Coast. - -So, all through the spring, with its grey, wet days, when the spindrift -swept in a haze across the promenade, old Mr. Gregory was a familiar -figure taking his daily walk, no matter how inclement the weather. - -In appearance he was unusual, and seedy. His bony face was long, thin, -and grey; a countenance that was broad at the brow and narrowed to a -pointed chin. He had a longish white beard, yet his deep-set eyes with -their big bushy brows were so dark and piercing that the fire of youth -seemed still to burn within them. He was of medium height, rather -round-shouldered, and walked with a decided limp, aided by a stout ash -stick. Invariably he wore an old, dark grey, mackintosh cape, very -greasy at the collar; black trousers, old and baggy; boots very down at -heel; and on his mass of long white hair a broad-brimmed felt hat, which -gave him the appearance of a musician, or an artist. - -Sometimes, on rare occasions, his well-dressed nephew walked with -him--but very seldom were they together. - -Craig was a tall, well-set-up young fellow, who generally wore a drab -golf-suit, smoked cigarettes eternally, and frequently played billiards -at the _Red Lion_. He was also a golfer and well known on the links for -the excellence of his play. - -Between uncle and nephew there was nothing in common. Craig had dropped -a hint that he was down there with his relative "just to look after the -old boy." He undoubtedly preferred London life, and it was stated that a -few years before he had succeeded to a large estate somewhere on the -Welsh border. - -The residents of Cromer are as inquisitive as those of most small towns. -Therefore, it was not very long after the arrival of this curious -couple, that everybody knew that old Mr. Gregory was concealing the fact -that he was head of the famous Sheffield armour-plate making firm, -Messrs. Gregory and Thorpe, though he now took but little part in the -active work of the world-famed house that rolled plates for Britain's -mighty "Dreadnoughts." - -Cromer, on learning his identity, at once regarded old Gregory's queer -figure with due reverence. His parsimonious ways, the clockwork -regularity with which he took his morning walk, bought his daily paper -at Munday's Library, and took his afternoon stroll up past the -coast-guard station, or towards the links, or along the Overstrand or -Sheringham roads, were looked upon as the eccentricities of an immensely -wealthy man. - -In rich men the public tolerate idiosyncrasies, that in poorer persons -are declared to betoken either lunacy, or that vague excuse for the -contravention of the conventionalities known as "the artistic -temperament." Many men have actually earned reputations, and even -popularity, by the sheer force of cultivated eccentricities. With -professional men eccentricity is one of the pegs on which their astute -press-agents can always hang a paragraph. - -In the case of Mr. Vernon Gregory, as he limped by, the good -shop-keeping public of Cromer looked after him with benevolent glances. -He was the great steel magnate who ate frugally, who grumbled loudly at -Mrs. Dean if his weekly bill exceeded that of the City clerk and his -wife who had occupied the same rooms for a fortnight in the previous -July. He was pointed at with admiration as the man of millions who eked -out every scuttleful of coal as though it were gold. - -Undoubtedly Mr. Gregory was a person of many eccentricities. From his -secretary in Sheffield he daily received a bulky package of -correspondence, and this, each morning, was attended to by his nephew. -Yet the old man always made a point of posting all the letters with his -own hand, putting them into the box at the post-office opposite the -church. - -Sometimes, but only at rare intervals--because, as he declared, "it was -so very costly"--Mr. Gregory hired an open motor-car from Miller's -garage. On such occasions, Craig, who was a practised motorist, would -drive, and the pair would go on long day excursions towards Yarmouth, or -Hunstanton, or inland to Holt or Norwich. At such times the old man -would don many wraps, and a big blue muffler, and wear an unsightly pair -of goggles. - -Again, the old fellow preferred to do much of his shopping himself, and -it was no uncommon sight to see him in the street carrying home -two-pennyworth of cream in a little jug. Hence the good people of Cromer -grew to regard their out-of-season visitor as a harmless, but -philanthropic old buffer, for his hand was in his pocket for every local -charity. His amusements were as frugal as his housekeeping. During the -spring his only recreation was a visit to the cinema at the Town Hall -twice a week. When, however, the orchestral concerts commenced on the -pier, he became a constant attendant at them. - -So small is Cromer, with its narrow streets near the sea, that in the -off-season strangers are constantly running into each other. Hence, I -frequently met old Gregory, and on such occasions we chatted about the -weather, or upon local topics. His voice was strangely high-pitched, -thin, but not unmusical. Indeed, he was a great lover of music, as was -afterwards shown by his constant attendance at the pier concerts. - -His nephew, Craig, was what the people of Cromer, in vulgar parlance, -dubbed a "nut." He was always immaculately dressed, wore loud socks, -seemed to possess a dozen styles of hats, and was never seen without -perfectly clean wash-leather gloves. He laughed loudly, talked loudly, -displayed money freely and put on patronizing airs which filled those -who met him with an instinctive dislike. - -I first made his acquaintance in April in the cosy bar of the _Albion_, -where, after a long walk one morning, I went to quench my thirst. Craig -was laughing with the barmaid and gingerly lighting a cigarette. Having -passed me by many times, he now addressed a casual remark to me, to -which I politely responded, and we got into conversation. But, somehow, -his speech jarred upon me, and, like his personal appearance, struck an -unpleasant note, for his white shoes and pale blue socks, his light -green Tyrolese hat, and his suit of check tweeds distinctly marked him -as being more of a cad than a gentleman. - -I remarked that I had walked to Overstrand, whereupon he asked-- - -"Did you chance to meet my uncle? He's gone out that way, somewhere." - -I replied in the negative. - -"Wonderful old boy, you know," he went on. "Walks me clean right out! -But oh! such a dreadful old bore! Always talking about what he did in -the seventies, and how much better life was then than now. I don't -believe it. Do you?" - -"I hardly know," was my reply. "I wasn't old enough then to appreciate -life." - -"Neither was I," he responded. "But really, these eccentric old people -ought all to be put in an asylum. You don't know what I have to put up -with. I tell you, it's a terrible self-sacrifice to be down in this -confounded hole, instead of being on the Riviera in decent sunny -weather, and in decent society." - -"Your uncle is always extremely pleasant to me when I meet him," I said. - -"Ah, yes, but you don't know him, my dear sir," said his nephew. "He's -the very Old Nick himself sometimes, and his eccentricities border upon -insanity. Why, only last night, before he went to bed, he put on his -bed-gown, cut two wings out of brown paper, pinned them on his back, and -fancied himself the Archangel Gabriel. Last week he didn't speak to me -for two days because I bought a box of sardines. He declares they are -luxuries and he can't afford them--he, with an income of forty thousand -a year!" - -"Rich men are often rather niggardly," I remarked. - -"Oh, yes. But with Uncle Vernon it's become a craze. He shivers with -cold at night but won't have a fire in his bedroom because, he says, -coals are so dear." - -I confess I did not like this young fellow. Why should he reveal all his -private grievances to me, a perfect stranger? - -"Why did your uncle come to Cromer?" I asked. "This place is hardly a -winter resort, except for a few golfers." - -"Oh, because when he was in Egypt last winter, some fool of a woman he -met at the _Savoy_ in Cairo, told him that Cromer was so horribly -healthy in the winter, and that if he spent six months each year in this -God-forgotten place, he'd live to be a hundred. Bad luck to her and her -words! I've had to come here with the old boy, and am their victim." -Then he added warmly: "My dear sir, just put yourself in my place. I've -nobody to talk to except the provincial Norfolk tradespeople, who think -they can play a good game at billiards. I've got the absolute hump, I -tell you frankly!" - -Well, afterwards I met the loud-socked young man more frequently, but -somehow I had taken a violent and unaccountable dislike to him. Why, I -cannot tell, except perhaps that he had disgusted me by the way he -unbosomed himself to a stranger and aired his grievances against his -eccentric uncle. - -To descend that asphalted slope which led, on the face of the cliff, -from the roadway in front of the _Hôtel de Paris_, away to the -Promenade, old Gregory had to pass beneath my window. Hence I saw him -several times daily, and noted how the brown-bloused fishermen who -lounged there hour after hour, gazing idly seaward, leaning upon the -railings and gossiping, respectfully touched their caps to the limping, -eccentric old gentleman who in his slouch hat and cape looked more like -a poet than a steel magnate, and who so regularly took the fresh, -bracing air on that breezy promenade. - -On that morning--the morning of the twelfth of June--a startling rumour -had spread through the town. It at once reached me through Charles, the -head-waiter of the hotel, who told me the whole place was agog. The -strange story was that old Mr. Gregory had at three o'clock that morning -been found by a coast-guard lying near a seat on the top of the east -cliff at a point near the links, from which a delightful view could be -obtained westward over the town towards Rimton and Sheringham. - -The coast-guard had at once summoned a doctor by telephone, and on -arrival the medical man had pronounced the mysterious old gentleman -dead, and, moreover, that he had been dead several hours. - -More than that, nobody knew, except that the dead man's nephew could not -be found. - -That fact in itself was certainly extraordinary, but it was not half so -curious, or startling, as certain other features of the amazing affair, -which were now being carefully withheld from the public by the -police--facts, which when viewed as a whole, formed one of the most -inexplicable criminal problems ever presented for solution. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -IS MAINLY ASTONISHING - - -In virtue of the facts that I was well known in Cromer, on friendly -terms with the local superintendent of police, and what was more to the -purpose, known to be a close friend of the Chief Constable at -Norwich--also that I was a recognized writer of some authority upon -problems of crime--Inspector Treeton, of the Norfolk Constabulary, -greeted me affably when, after a very hasty breakfast, I called at the -police station. - -Treeton was a thin, grey-haired man, usually very quiet and thoughtful -in manner, but this staggering affair had quite upset his normal -coolness. - -"I expect the detectives over from Norwich in half an hour," he said, -with a distinct trace of excitement in his tones, as we stood in his -bare little office discussing the morning's discovery. "You being such a -close friend of the Chief Constable, I don't suppose there'll be any -objection whatever to your being present during our investigations." - -All the same, his tone was somewhat dubious as he added cautiously, "You -won't, of course, give anything to the Press?" - -"Certainly not," I replied. "You can rely upon my discretion. This isn't -the first mystery I have assisted the police to investigate. This sort -of thing is, so to speak, part of my profession." - -"Yes," said Treeton, still with some hesitation, "so I understand, Mr. -Vidal. But our people are terribly particular, as you know, about -admitting unofficial persons into police work. No offence. But we are -bound to be very careful." - -"If you like, I'll 'phone to the Chief Constable," I suggested. - -"No, sir. No need for that," he said hastily. "When the plain-clothes -men arrive, I don't think any difficulty will be made as to your -accompanying them." Then he added, as if to give the conversation a -turn, "It's a very queer business, very. But I mustn't talk about it at -present. No doubt you'll soon see for yourself what a strange affair it -is." - -"What is the curious feature, then?" I inquired anxiously. - -"No," said Treeton, with a deprecatory gesture. "No. Mr. Vidal. Don't -ask me. You must wait till the officers come from Norwich. They'll have -a surprise, I can assure you they will. That's all I can say. I've taken -care to have everything kept as it was found so as not to interfere with -any clues, finger-prints, or things of that sort." - -"Ah," I said. "Then you suspect foul play, eh?" - -Treeton flushed slightly, as if annoyed with himself at having let slip -the words that prompted my query. - -Then he said slowly: "Well, at present we can't tell. But there's -certainly something very mysterious about the whole business." - -"Where is the body?" - -"They've put it in the life-boat house." - -"And that young fellow, Craig? I hear he's missing." - -The Inspector looked at me with a strange expression on his face. - -"Ah," he said briefly, "that isn't the only remarkable feature of this -affair by any manner of means." Then impatiently: "I wish they'd come. I -'phoned to Norwich at six o'clock this morning, and now it's nearly ten. -They might have come over in a car, instead of waiting for the train." - -"Yes," I responded. "That is how so many inquiries are bungled. Red tape -and delay. In the meantime a criminal often gets away hours ahead of the -sleuths of the law and eventually may escape altogether. I've known a -dozen cases where, because of the delay in making expert investigation, -the culprit has never been caught." - -As I spoke the telephone bell tinkled and Treeton answered the call. The -Superintendent at Holt was asking for information, but my companion -could give him but very little. - -"I am watching the railway-station, sir," said Treeton over the 'phone, -"and I've sent word to all the fishermen in my district not to take out -any strangers. I've also warned all the garages to let me know if any -stranger hires a car. The party we fancy may be wanted won't be able to -get away if he's still in the district." - -"Which is not very likely," I murmured in a low voice so that my words -should not be heard over the wire. - -When the conversation over the phone was ended, I sat chatting with -Treeton, until, some twenty minutes later, three men, bearing -unmistakably the cut of police-officers in plain clothes, entered the -station. - -Two of them were tall, dark-haired young fellows, dressed in neat -navy-blue serge and wearing bowler hats. The third man, Inspector -Frayne, as I learnt afterwards, was in dark grey, with a soft grey felt -hat with the brim turned down in front. - -"Well Treeton," said the Inspector briskly, "what's all the fuss about -down here?" - -"A case--a very funny case. That's all," replied the local inspector. "I -told you over the 'phone all I know about it." - -Then followed a brief, low-pitched conversation between the two -officers. I saw Frayne look over at me inquisitively, and caught a few -snatches of Treeton's words to him. "Great personal friend of the Chief -Constable.... Yes, quite all right.... Writes about crime.... No, no, -nothing to do with newspapers ... amateur, of course ... decent sort." - -I gathered from this that there was going to be no difficulty about my -joining the party of police investigators. I was right. In a few moments -Treeton brought Inspector Frayne over to me and we were introduced. -Then, after a few friendly words, we started for the scene of the -startling discovery of the morning. - -We slipped out of the station in pairs, so as to avoid attracting -attention, which might have led to our being followed and hampered in -our movements by a crowd of idle and curious inhabitants. - -Proceeding by way of the path which wound round the back of the high-up -coast-guard station and so up over the cliff, we soon came to the seat -where the body of old Mr. Gregory had been found. - -The seat, a green-painted one with a curved back, that had more than -once afforded me a comfortable resting-place, was the first out of the -town towards the links. It was situate a little way from the footpath -amid the rough grass of the cliff-top. Around it the herbage never grew -on account of the constant tread from the feet of many daily visitors, -so that clear about it was a small patch of bare sand. - -On the right, upon the next point of the cliff, was another similar -seat, while on the left the path leading back to the town was railed -off because it was dangerous to approach too near the crumbling edge. - -At the seat stood a very tall, thin, fair-haired young constable who -had, since the discovery of old Gregory's body, remained on duty at the -spot to prevent any one approaching it. This was done by Treeton's -orders, who hoped, and very logically, that if the sand about the seat -was not disturbed some tell-tale mark or footprint might be found by the -detectives that would give a clue to the person or persons who had -visited the seat with old Gregory in the early hours of that fatal -morning. - -Near the constable were two men with cameras, and at a little distance a -small knot of curious idlers, all that remained of the many inquisitive -folks who were at first attracted to the spot, but who, finding nothing -to satisfy their curiosity, had soon returned to the town. - -The morning was bright and calm, the sunlight reflected from a glassy -sea, upon the surface of which were a dozen or so fishing-boats lifting -their crab-pots, for the crabs of Cromer are far-famed amongst epicures -for their excellencies. It was a peaceful, happy scene, that none could -have suspected was the setting of a ghastly tragedy. - -On arrival, Inspector Frayne, tall, grey-haired, with aquiline, -clean-shaven face, assumed an attitude of ubiquitous importance that -amused me. - -"The body was found lying face downwards six feet beyond the south end -of the seat," Treeton explained. "You see this mark in the grass?" - -Looking, we all saw distinctly the impression that marked the spot where -the unfortunate man had lain. - -"No doubt," said the detective inspector, "the old gentleman was sitting -on the seat when he was attacked from behind by somebody who sneaked -quietly across the footpath, and he fell sideways from the seat. Have -you looked for footprints?" - -"There are a number of them, as you see," was Treeton's reply. "Nothing -has been disturbed. I left all to you." - -Gazing around, I saw that there were many prints of soles and heels in -the soft sand about the seat. Many people had evidently sat there on the -previous day. In the sand, too, some one had traced with a stick, in -sprawly capitals, the word "Alice." - -Frayne and his two provincial assistants bent and closely examined the -prints in question. - -"Women's mostly, I should say," remarked the detective inspector after a -pause. "That's plain from the French heels, flat golf-shoe soles, and -narrow rubber-pads, that have left their marks behind them. Better take -some casts of these, Phelps," he said, addressing the elder of his -subordinates. - -"Forgive me for making a remark," I ventured. "I'm not a detective, but -it strikes me that if anybody did creep across the grass from the path, -as the Inspector rightly suggested, to attack the old man, he, or she, -may have left some prints in the rear there. In the front here the -footprints we have been examining are obviously those of people who had -been sitting upon the seat long prior to the arrival of the victim." - -"I quite agree, Mr. Vidal," exclaimed Treeton, and at this I thought the -expert from Norwich seemed somewhat annoyed. "Yes," continued the local -inspector, "it's quite possible, as Mr. Frayne said, that somebody did -creep across the grass behind the old man. But unfortunately, there have -been dozens of people over that very same spot this morning." - -"Hopeless then!" grunted Frayne. "Why on earth, Treeton, did you let -them swarm over there?" he queried testily. "Their doing so has rendered -our inquiry a hundred per cent. more difficult. In all such cases the -public ought to be rigorously kept from the immediate neighbourhood of -the crime." - -"At least we can make a search," I suggested. - -"My dear Mr. Vidal, what is the use if half Cromer has been up here -prying about?" asked the detective impatiently. "No, those feminine -footprints in front of the seat are much more likely to help us. There's -bound to be a woman in such a case as this. My motto in regard to crime -mysteries is, first find the woman, and the rest is easy. In every great -problem the 'eternal feminine,' as you writers put it, is ever present. -She is in this one somewhere, you may depend upon it." - -I did not answer him, judging that he merely emitted these sentiments in -order to impress his listening subordinates with a due sense of his -superior knowledge. But the search went on. - -From the footpath across the grass to the seat was about thirty feet, -and over the whole area all of us made diligent investigation. In one of -the patches where the sand was bare of herbage I found the print of a -woman's shoe--a smart little shoe--size 3, I judged it to be. The sole -was well shaped and pointed, the heel was of the latest fashionable -model--rather American than French. - -I at once pointed it out to Frayne, but though he had so strongly -expressed the opinion that there was a woman in the case, he dismissed -it with a glance. - -"Some woman came here yesterday evening with her sweetheart, I suppose," -he said with a laugh. - -But to me that footprint was distinctly instructive, for among the many -impressed on the sand before the seat, I had not detected one that bore -any resemblance to it. The owner of that American shoe had walked from -the path to the back of the seat, but had certainly not sat down there. - -I carefully marked the spot, and telling an old fisherman of my -acquaintance, who stood by, to allow no one to obliterate it, continued -my investigations. - -Three feet behind the seat, in the midst of the trodden grass, I came -upon two hairpins lying close together. Picking them up, I found they -were rather thick, crinkled in the middle, and both of the same pale -bronze shade. - -Was it possible there had been a struggle there--a struggle with the -woman who wore those American shoes--who was, moreover, a fair woman, if -those pins had fallen from her hair in the encounter? - -I showed the hairpins to Frayne who was busy taking a measurement of the -distance from the seat to where the body had been found. - -To my surprise, he seemed impatient and annoyed. - -"My dear Mr. Vidal," he exclaimed, "you novelists are, I fear, far too -imaginative. I dare say there are hundreds of hairpins about here in the -grass if we choose to search for them. This seat is a popular resort for -visitors by day and a trysting place for lovers after sundown. In the -vicinity of any such seat you will always find hairpins, cigarette ends, -wrappings from chocolates, and tinfoil. Look around you and see." - -"But these pins have not been here more than a day," I expostulated. -"They are bright and were lying lightly on the grass. Besides, are we -not looking for a woman?" - -"I'll admit that they may perhaps have belonged to somebody who was here -last evening," he said. "But I can assure you they are no good to us." -With this he turned away with rather a contemptuous smile. - -I began to suspect that I had in some way antagonized Frayne, who at -that moment seemed more intent upon working up formal evidence to give -before the coroner, rather than in pushing forward the investigation of -the crime, and so finding a clue to the culprit. - -I could see that he regarded the minute investigations I was making with -undisguised and contemptuous amusement. Of course, he was polite to me, -for was I not the friend of the Chief Constable? But, all the same, I -was an amateur investigator, therefore, in his eyes, a blunderer. He, of -course, did not know at how many investigations of crime I had assisted -in Paris, in Brussels, and in Rome--investigations conducted by the -greatest detectives in Europe. - -It was not to be expected that an officer of the Norfolk Constabulary, -more used to petty larceny than to murder, would be so alert or so -thorough in his methods as an officer from Scotland Yard, or of the -_Sûreté_ in Paris. - -Arguing thus, I felt that I could cheerfully disregard the covert sneers -and glances of my companions; and plunged with renewed interest into the -work I had undertaken. - -In the sand before the seat, I saw two long, wide marks which told me -that old Mr. Gregory must have slipped from his position in a totally -helpless condition. That being so, how was it that his body was found -several feet away? - -Had it been dragged to that spot in the grass? Or, had he crawled there -in his death agony? - -In the little knot of people who had gathered I noticed a young -fisherman in his brown blouse--a tall youth, with fair curly hair, whom -I knew well and could trust. Calling him over, I despatched him to the -town for a couple of pounds of plaster of Paris, a bucket, some water, -and a trowel. - -Then I went on methodically with my investigations. - -Presently the coast-guard, George Simmonds, a middle-aged, dark-haired -man, who was a well-known figure in Cromer, came up and was introduced -to Frayne as the man who, returning from duty as night patrol along the -cliffs, early that morning, had discovered the body. - -I stood by listening as he described the incident to the detective -inspector. - -"You see, sir," he said saluting, "I'd been along the cuffs to -Trimingham, and was on my way back about a quarter past three, when I -noticed a man lying yonder on the grass. It was a fine morning, quite -light, and at first I thought it was a tramp, for they often sleep on -the cliffs in the warm weather. But on going nearer I saw, to my -surprise, that the man was old Mr. Gregory. I thought he was asleep, and -bent down and shook him, his face being downwards on the grass and his -arms stretched out. He didn't wake up, so I turned him over, and the -colour of his face fair startled me. I opened his coat, put my hand on -his heart, and found he was quite dead. I then ran along to our station -and told Mr. Day, the Chief Officer, and he sent me off sharp to the -police." - -"You saw nobody about?" Frayne asked sharply. "Nobody passed you?" - -"I didn't see a soul all the way from Trimingham." - -"Constable Baxter was along there somewhere keeping a point," remarked -Treeton. "Didn't you meet him?" - -"Going out I met him, just beyond Overstrand, at about one o'clock, and -wished him good morning," was the coast-guard's reply. - -"But where is Craig, the young nephew of the dead man?" I asked Treeton. -"Surely he may know something! He must have missed his uncle, who, -apparently, was out all night." - -"Ah! That's just the mystery, Mr. Vidal," replied the Inspector. "Let us -go down to the life-boat house," he added, addressing the detective. - -As they were moving away, and I was about to follow, the tall -fisher-youth arrived with the plaster of Paris and a pail of water. - -Promising to be with them quickly, I remained behind, mixed the plaster -into a paste and within a few minutes had secured casts of the imprint -of the woman's American shoe, and those of several other footmarks, -which, with his superior knowledge, the expert from Norwich had -considered beneath his notice. - -Then, placing my casts carefully in the empty pail, I sent them along to -the _Hôtel de Paris_ by the same fisher-youth. Afterwards, I walked -along the path, passed behind the lawn of the coast-guard station, where -the White Ensign was flying on the flagstaff, and then descending, at -last entered the life-boat house, where the officers and three doctors -had assembled. - -One of the doctors, named Sladen, a grey-headed practitioner who had -been many years in Cromer, recognized me as I entered. - -"Hulloa, Mr. Vidal! This is a very curious case, isn't it? Interests -you, of course. All mysteries do, no doubt. But this case is astounding. -In making our examination, do you know we've discovered a most amazing -fact?" and he pointed to the plank whereon lay the body, covered with -one of the brown sails from the life-boat. - -"No. What?" I asked eagerly. - -"Well--though we all at first, naturally, took the body to be that of -old Vernon Gregory, it isn't his at all!" - -"Not Gregory's?" I gasped. - -"No. He has white hair and a beard, and he is wearing old Gregory's cape -and hat, but it certainly is not Gregory's body." - -"Who, then, is the dead man?" I gasped. - -"His nephew, Edward Craig!" - - - - -CHAPTER III - -SHOWS LIGHTS FROM THE MIST - - -"But Edward Craig is a young man--while Gregory must be nearly seventy!" -I exclaimed, staring at Dr. Sladen in blank amazement. - -"Exactly. I attended Mr. Gregory a month ago for influenza. But I tell -you the body lying yonder is that of young Craig!" declared my friend. -Then he added: "There is something very extraordinary about the whole -affair, for Craig was made up to exactly resemble his uncle." - -"And because of it was apparently done to death, eh?" - -"That is certainly my theory." - -"Amazing," I exclaimed. "This increases the mystery very considerably." -Then, gazing around, I saw that the two doctors, who had assisted Sladen -in his examination, were talking aside eagerly with the detective, while -Mr. Day, a short thick-set man, with his white-covered cap removed in -the presence of the dead, had joined the party. - -Cromer is a "war-station," and Mr. Day was a well-known figure in the -place, a fine active type of the British sailor, who had seen many years -afloat, and now, with his "sea-time" put in, was an expert signal-man -ashore. He noticed me and saluted. - -"Look," exclaimed Dr. Sladen, taking me across to a bench against the -side of the life-boat shed. "What do you think of these?" and he took up -a white wig and a long white beard. - -I examined them. Then slowly replied, "There is much, very much more, in -this affair than any of us can at present see." - -"Certainly. Why should the young man go forth at night, under cover of -darkness, made up to exactly resemble the old one?" - -"To meet somebody in secret, no doubt; and that somebody killed him," I -said. - -"Did they--ah, that's just the point," said the doctor. "As far as we -can find there's no apparent cause of death, no wound whatever. The -superficial examination we have made only reveals a slight abrasion on -the left wrist, which might have been caused when he fell from the seat -to the ground. The wrist is much swollen--from a recent sprain, I think. -But beyond that we can find nothing." - -"Won't you prosecute your examination further?" I asked. - -"Certainly. This afternoon we shall make a post-mortem--after I get the -order from the coroner." - -"Ah. Then we shall know something definite?" - -"I hope so." - -"Gentlemen," exclaimed Inspector Frayne, addressing us all, "this latest -discovery, of the identity of the victim, is a very extraordinary and -startling one. I trust that you will all regard the matter as one of the -greatest secrecy--at least till after the inquest. Publicity now may -defeat the ends of justice. Do you all promise?" - -With one accord we promised. Then, crossing to where the body lay, I -lifted the heavy brown sail that covered it, and in the dim light gazed -upon the white, dead countenance. - -Yes. It was the face of Edward Craig. - -Frayne at that moment came up, and after two men had taken the covering -from the body, commenced to search the dead man's pockets. In the old -mackintosh cape was a pouch, from which the detective drew a small -wallet of crocodile leather, much worn, together with two letters. The -latter were carried to the light and at once examined. - -One proved to be a bill from a well-known hatter in Piccadilly. The -superscription on the other envelope, of pale blue-grey paper, was -undoubtedly in the hand of an educated woman. - -Frayne drew from this envelope a sheet of notepaper, which bore neither -address nor date, merely the words-- - -"At Ealing, at 10 p.m., on the twenty-ninth of August, where the two C's -meet." - -"Ah, an appointment," remarked Frayne. Then, looking at the post-mark, -he added: "It was posted the day before yesterday at Bridlington. I -wonder what it means?" - -"I see it is addressed to Mr. Gregory!" I pointed out, "not to the dead -man." - -"Then the old man had an appointment on the twenty-ninth of August -somewhere in Ealing--where the two C's meet. I wonder where that can be? -Some agreed-on spot, I suppose, where two persons, whose initials are C, -are in the habit of meeting." - -"Probably," was my reply. But I was reflecting deeply. - -In the wallet were four five-pound notes; a few of Gregory's cards; a -letter from a local charity, thanking him for a contribution of two -guineas; and a piece of paper bearing a number of very elaborate -calculations, apparently of measured paces. - -It seemed as though the writer had been working out some very difficult -problem of distances, for the half-sheet of quarto paper was absolutely -covered with minute pencilled figures; lengths in metres apparently. - -I looked at them, and at a glance saw that old Gregory had either -received his education abroad, or had lived for a long time upon the -continent when a young man. Why? Because, when he made a figure seven, -he drew a short cross-stroke half-way up the downward stroke, in order, -as foreigners do, to distinguish it from the figure one. - -"I wonder what all these sums can mean?" remarked the detective, as -Treeton and I looked over his shoulder. - -"Mr. Gregory was a business man," the local police officer said. "These -are, no doubt, his things, not his nephew's." - -"They seem to be measurements," I said, "not sums of money." - -"Perhaps the old man himself will tell us what they are," Frayne -remarked. Then again examining the wallet, he drew forth several slips -of thin foreign notepaper, which were carefully folded, and had the -appearance of having been carried there for a long time. Upon each was -written a separate word, together with a number, in carefully-formed -handwriting, thus-- - -"Lavelle 429; Kunzle 191; Geering 289; Souweine 17; Hodrickx 110." - -The last one we opened contained the word, "Cromer 900," and I wondered -whether they were code words. - -"These are rather funny, Mr. Vidal," Frayne remarked, as he slowly -replaced them in the wallet. "A little mysterious, eh?" - -"No doubt, old Mr. Gregory will explain," I said. "The great puzzle to -me is why the nephew should carry the uncle's belongings in his -pockets. There was some deep motive in it, without a doubt." - -Frayne returned to the body and made further search. There was nothing -more in the other pockets save a handkerchief, some loose silver and a -pocket-knife. - -But, around the dead man's neck, suspended by a fine gold chain, and -worn beneath his shirt, was a lady's tiny, round locket, not more than -an inch in diameter, and engine-turned like a watch, a thin, -neatly-made, old-fashioned little thing. - -Frayne carefully unclasped it, and taking it across to the light, opened -it, expecting to find a photograph, or, perhaps, a miniature. But there -was nothing. It had evidently not been opened for years, for behind the -little glass, where once had been a photograph, was only a little grey -powder. Something had been preserved there--some relic or other--that -had, with age, crumbled into dust. - -"This doesn't tell us much," he said. "Yet, men seldom wear such things. -Some relic of his sweetheart, eh?" Then he searched once more, and drew -from the dead man's hip-pocket a serviceable Browning revolver, the -magazine of which was fully loaded. - -"He evidently expected trouble, and was prepared for it," Treeton said, -as the Norwich detective produced the weapon. - -"Well, he certainly had no time to use it," responded Frayne. "Death -must have been instantaneous." - -"I think not," I ventured. "If so, why was he found several feet away -from the seat?" - -Again Frayne showed impatience. He disliked any expression of outside -opinion. - -"Well, Mr. Vidal, we've not yet established that it is a case of murder, -have we?" he said. "The young man may have died suddenly--of natural -causes." - -I smiled. - -"Curious," I exclaimed, a moment later, "that he should be made up to so -exactly resemble his uncle! No, Inspector Frayne, if I'm not greatly -mistaken, you'll find this a case of assassination--a murder by a very -subtle and ingenious assassin. It is a case of one master-criminal -against another. That is my opinion." - -The man from Norwich smiled sarcastically. My opinion was only the -opinion of a mere amateur, and, to the professional thief-catcher, the -amateur detective is a person upon whom to play practical jokes. The -amateur who dares to investigate a crime from a purely independent -standpoint is a man to jeer and laugh at--a target for ridicule. - -I could follow Frayne's thoughts. I had met many provincial police -officers of his type all over Europe, from Paris up to Petersburg. The -great detectives of Europe, are, on the contrary, always open to listen -to theories or suggestions. - -The three doctors were standing aside, discussing the affair--the -absence of all outward signs of anything that might have caused death. -Until the coroner issued his order they could not, however, put their -doubts at rest by making the post-mortem examination. The case puzzled -them, and they were all three eager to have the opportunity of deciding -how the young man had died. - -"The few symptoms offered superficially have some strange points about -them," I heard Dr. Sladen say. "Do you notice the clenched hands? and -yet the mouth is open. The eyes are open too--and the lips are curiously -discoloured. Yes, there is decidedly something very mysterious attaching -to the cause of death." - -And he being the leading practitioner in Cromer, his two colleagues -entirely agreed with him. - -After a long conversation, in which many theories--most of them -sensational, ridiculous, and baseless--had been advanced, Mr. Day, the -Chief Officer of Coast-guard, who had been outside the life-boat house, -chatting with some friends, entered and told us the results of some of -his own observations regarding the movements of the eccentric Mr. -Gregory. Day was a genial, pleasant man and very popular in Cromer. Of -course he was in ignorance that the body discovered was not that of the -old gentleman. - -"I've had a good many opportunities of watching the old man, Mr. Vidal," -said the short, keen-eyed naval man, turning to me with his hands in the -pockets of his pea-jacket, "and he was a funny 'un. He often went out -from Beacon House at one and two in the morning, and took long strolls -towards Rimton and Overstrand. But Mrs. Dean never knew as he wasn't -indoors, for I gather he used to let himself out very quietly. We often -used to meet him a-creepin' about of a night. I can't think what he went -out for, but I suppose he was a little bit eccentric, eh? Why," went on -the coast-guard officer, "he'd often come into the station early of a -mornin', and have a chat with me, and look through the big telescope. He -used, sometimes, to stand a-gazin' out at the sea, a-gazin' at nothing, -for half an hour on end--lost in thought like. I wonder what he fancied -he saw there?" - -"Yes," I said. "He was eccentric, like many rich men." - -"Well, one night, not long ago," Day went on, "there were some -destroyers a-passin' about midnight, and we'd been taking in their -signals by flash-light, when, in the middle of it, who should come into -the enclosure but old Mr. Gregory. He stood a-watchin' us for ten -minutes or so. Then, all at once he says, 'I see they're signalling to -the _Hermes_ at Harwich.' This remark gave me quite a start, for he'd -evidently been a-readin' all we had taken in--and it was a confidential -message, too." - -"Then he could read the Morse code," I exclaimed. - -"Read it? I should rather think he could!" was the coast-guard officer's -reply. "And mark you, the _Wolverene_ was a-flashin' very quick. It was -as much as I could do to pick it up through the haze. After that, I -confess I didn't like him hanging about here so much as he did. But -after all, I'm sorry--very sorry--that the poor old gent is dead." - -"Did you ever see him meet anybody on his nightly rambles?" I asked. - -"Yes, once. I saw him about six weeks ago, about three o'clock one dark, -and terrible wet, mornin', out on the cliff near Rimton Gap. As I passed -by he was a-talkin' to a tall young man in a drab mackintosh. Talkin' -excited, he was, and a-wavin' his arms wild-like towards the sea. The -young man spotted me first, and said something, whereupon the old gent -dropped his argument, and the two of 'em walked on quietly together. I -passed them, believing that his companion was only one of them -simple-like fools we get about here sometimes in the summer. But I'd -never seen him in Cromer. He was a perfect stranger to me." - -"That's the only time you've seen him with any companion on these secret -night outings?" I asked. - -"Yes. I don't remember ever having seen him in the night with anybody -else." - -"Not even with his nephew?" - -"No, not even with Mr. Craig." - -"When he dropped in to chat with you at the coastguard station, did he -show any inquisitiveness?" I asked. - -"Well, he wanted to know all about things, as most of 'em do," laughed -Day. "Ours is a war-station, you know, and folk like to look at the -inside, and the flash-lamp I invented." - -"The old fellow struck you as a bit of a mystery, didn't he?" Frayne -asked, in his pleasant Norfolk brogue. - -"Well, yes, he did," replied the coast-guard officer. "I remember one -night last March--the eleventh, I think it was--when our people at -Weybourne detected some mysterious search-lights far out at sea and -raised an alarm on the 'phone all along the coast. It was a very dirty -night, but the whole lot of us, from Wells right away to Yarmouth, were -at once on the look-out. We could see search-lights but could make -nothing of the signals. That's what puzzled us so. I went out along the -cliff, and up Rimton way, but could see nothing. Yet, on my way back, as -I got near the town, I suddenly saw a stream of light--about like a -search-light--coming from the sea-front here. It was a-flashin' some -signal. I was a couple of miles from the town, and naturally concluded -it was one of my men with the flash-lamp. As I passed Beacon House, -however, I saw old Mr. Gregory a-leanin' over the railings, looking out -to sea. It was then about two o'clock. I supposed he had seen the -distant lights, and, passing a word with him, I went along to the -station. To my surprise, I found that we'd not been signalling at all. -Then I recollected old Mr. Gregory's curious interest in the lights, and -I wondered. In fact, I've wondered ever since, whether that answering -signal I saw did not come from one of the front windows of Beacon House? -Perhaps he was practisin' Morse!" - -"Strange, very strange!" Frayne remarked. "Didn't you discover what -craft it was making the signals?" - -"No, sir. They are a mystery to this day. We reported by wire to the -Admiralty, of course, but we've never found out who it was a-signalling. -It's a complete mystery--and it gave us a bit of an alarm at the time, I -can tell you," he laughed. "There was a big Italian yacht, called the -_Carlo Alberta_, reported next day from Hunstanton, and it may, of -course, have been her. But I am not inclined to think so." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -OPENS SEVERAL QUESTIONS - - -Our next step in the inquiry was a domiciliary visit to Beacon House. - -While the public, including Mr. Day, were expecting to see his nephew, -we, of course, were hoping to find old Gregory. - -In this we were disappointed. Already Treeton knew that both men were -missing from their lodgings. Yet while the police were watching -everywhere for the dandified young man from London, the queer, -white-haired old Sheffield steel manufacturer had slipped through their -fingers and vanished as though the earth had swallowed him up. - -Mrs. Dean's house was a typical seaside lodging-house, plainly and -comfortably furnished--a double-fronted house painted pale blue, with -large airy rooms and bay windows, which, situated high up and on the -very edge of the cliff, commanded extensive views up and down the coast. - -The sitting-room occupied by uncle and nephew, proved to be a big -apartment on the first-floor, to the left of the entrance. The houses in -that row had a front door from the asphalt path along the edge of the -cliff and also a back entrance abutting upon the narrow street which ran -into the centre of the town. Therefore, the hall went from back to -front, the staircase ascending in the centre. - -The room in which I stood with the detectives, was large, with a -cheerful lattice-work wall-paper, and substantial leather-covered -furniture. In the window was placed a writing-table, and upon it a -telescope mounted on a stand. A comfortable couch was placed against the -wall, while before the fire-place were a couple of deep-seated easy -chairs, and a large oval table in the centre. - -Indeed, the room possessed an air of homely comfort, with an absence of -the inartistic seldom found in seaside apartments. The windows were open -and the light breeze from the sun-lit sea slowly fanned the lace -curtains. On the writing-table lay a quantity of papers, mostly -tradesmen's receipts--all of which the old gentleman carefully -preserved--some newspapers, a tin of tobacco, and several pipes. - -Beside the fire-place lay a pair of Egyptian slippers in crimson -morocco, evidently the property of young Craig, while his straw hat and -cane lay upon the couch, together with the fawn Burberry coat which had -been one of the common objects in Cromer. Everywhere were signs of -occupation. Indeed, the cushions in the easy chairs were crumpled just -as if the two men had only a little while before arisen from them, while -in the grate were a number of ends of those gold-tipped cigarettes -without which Craig was never seen. - -Upon a peg behind the door hung another old grey mackintosh belonging to -old Gregory--an exact replica of which had been worn by the man who had -so mysteriously met his death. - -But where was old Gregory? Aye, that was the question. - -With Mrs. Dean, a homely person with hair brushed tightly back, and her -husband looking on, we began a thorough search of the room, as well as -of the two bedrooms on the next floor. The sitting-room was investigated -first of all, but in the writing-table we found nothing of interest. One -of the drawers had been emptied and a mass of tinder in the grate told a -significant tale. - -Old Mr. Gregory had burned a lot of documents before disappearing. - -Why? Were they incriminating? - -Why, too, had he so suddenly disappeared? Surely he would not have done -so without knowledge of his nephew's tragic death! - -For a full half-hour we rummaged that room and all that was in it, but, -alas, found nothing. - -In the old man's bedroom stood a battered leathern cabin-trunk bearing -many labels of Continental hotels. It was unlocked, and we found it -filled with clothes, but strangely enough, not the clothes of an old -man, but rather the smart attire of a middle-aged person of fashion. - -At first Frayne refused to believe that the trunk belonged to old -Gregory. But Mrs. Dean was precise upon the point. That was Mr. -Gregory's room. - -In the bottom of the cabin-trunk we found a number of folded sheets of -foolscap, upon which were written many cryptic calculations in feet and -metres; "wave-metres," it was written upon one slip. They seemed to be -electrical. Upon other sheets were lists of names together with certain -figures, all of which conveyed to us no meaning. Frayne, of course, took -possession of them for submission to examination later on. - -"May I look at them later?" I asked him. - -"Certainly, Mr. Vidal. They seem to be a bit of a puzzle, don't they? -They have something to do with electricity, I fancy." - -In the corner of the room, opposite the window, stood a large wooden -sea-chest, similar to those used by naval officers. It was painted -black, and bore, in white, the initials "V. G." It had an old and -battered appearance, and the many labels upon it told of years of -transit by rail and steamer. - -I bent to examine it, but found it securely locked and bound round with -iron bands. - -"That's very heavy, sir," Mrs. Dean remarked. "He always kept it locked, -so I don't know what's inside. When the old gentleman came in, he always -went straight over to it as though to ascertain whether the lock had -been tampered with." - -"Ah, then there's something in there he wished to keep away from prying -eyes!" said Frayne. "We must see what it is." - -I remarked that the lock was a patent one, but he at once ordered a -locksmith to be fetched, while we turned our attention to the adjoining -room, the one that had been occupied by young Craig. - -It was slightly smaller than the other one, and overlooked the narrow -street which ran along the back of the houses towards the church. - -We searched the drawers carefully, one after another, but found nothing -except clothes--a rather extensive wardrobe. Of cravats, Craig had -possessed fully a hundred, and of collars, dozens upon dozens. - -Upon his dressing-table stood the heavy silver fittings of a -travelling-bag, a very handsome set, and, in a little silver box, we -found a set of diamond studs, with several valuable scarf-pins. The -device of one of these was some intertwined initials, surmounted by a -royal crown in diamonds; apparently a present from some exalted -personage. - -Presently, however, Treeton, who had remained in Gregory's room -assisting in the perquisition, entered with an ejaculation of surprise, -and we found that on pulling out the small drawer of the washstand, he -had discovered beneath it some papers that had been concealed there. - -We at once eagerly examined them, and found that there were slips -exactly duplicating those discovered in old Gregory's wallet--slips with -names and numbers upon them--apparently code numbers. - -Together with these were several papers bearing more remarkable -calculations, very similar to those we had found at the bottom of the -cabin-trunk. The last document we examined was, however, something very -different. It was a letter written upon a large sheet of that foreign -business paper which is ruled in small squares. - -"Hulloa!" Frayne exclaimed, "this is in some foreign language--French or -German, I suppose." - -"No," I said, glancing over his shoulder. "It's in Italian. I'll read -it, shall I?" - -"Yes, please, Mr. Vidal," cried the detective, and handed it to me. - -It bore no address--only a date--March 17th, and translating it into -English, I read as follows:-- - -"Illustrious Master,--The business we have been so long arranging was -most successfully concluded last night. It is in the _Matin_ to-day, a -copy of which I send you with our greeting. H. left as arranged. J. -arrives back in Algiers to-morrow, and the Nightingale still sings on -blithely. I leave by Brindisi for Egypt to-night and will wire my safe -arrival. Read the _Matin_. Does H. know anything, do you think? -Greetings from your most devoted servant, EGISTO." - -"A very funny letter," remarked Treeton. "I wonder to what it alludes?" - -"Mention of the _Matin_ newspaper would make it appear that it has been -written from Paris," I said. Then, with Frayne's assent, I rapidly -scribbled a copy of the letter upon the back of an envelope which I took -from my pocket. - -A few moments later, the locksmith having arrived, we returned to old -Gregory's room, and watched the workman as he used his bunch of -skeleton-keys upon the lock of the big sea-chest. For ten minutes or so -he worked on unsuccessfully, but presently there was a click, and he -lifted the heavy wooden lid, displaying an old brown army blanket, -carefully folded, lying within. - -This we removed, and then, as our astounded gaze fell upon the contents -of the chest, all involuntarily gave vent to loud ejaculations of -surprise. - -Concealed beneath the rug we saw a quantity of antique ornaments of -silver and gold--rare objects of great value--ancient chalices, -reliquaries, golden cups studded with precious stones, gold coronets, a -great number of fine old watches, and a vast quantity of splendid -diamond and ruby jewellery. - -The chest was literally crammed with jewels, and gold, and silver--was -the storehouse of a magnificent treasure, that must have been worth a -fabulous sum. - -I assisted Frayne to take out the contents of the chest, until the floor -was covered with jewels. In one old brown morocco case that I opened, I -found a glorious ruby necklet, with one enormous centre stone of perfect -colour--the largest I had ever seen. In another was a wonderful collar -of perfectly matched pearls; in a third, a splendid diamond tiara worth -several thousand pounds. - -"Enough to stock a jeweller's shop," said Frayne in an awed voice. -"Why, what's this at the bottom?" - -He began to tug at a heavy square wooden box, which, when he had -succeeded in dragging it out and we opened it, we found to contain a -hand flash-lamp for signalling purposes--one of the most recent and -powerful inventions in night-signalling apparatus. - -"Ha!" Treeton cried. "That's the lamp which Day suspected had been -flashed from these windows on the night of the coast alarm." - -"Yes," I remarked reflectively, "I wonder for what purpose that lamp was -used?" - -"At any rate, the old man has a fine collection of curiosities," said -Frayne. "I suppose it was one of his eccentricities to carry them with -him? No wonder he was so careful that the lock should not be tampered -with!" - -I stood looking at that strange collection of valuables. There were -pieces of gold and silver plate absolutely unique. I am no connoisseur -of antique jewellery, but instinctively I knew that every piece was of -enormous value. And it had all been thrown pell-mell into the box, -together with some old rags--seemingly once parts of an old damask -curtain--in order to prevent the metal rattling. Much of the silver-ware -was, of course, blackened, as none of it had been cleaned for years. But -the gems sparkled and shone, like liquid drops of parti-coloured fire, -as they lay upon the shabby carpet. What could it all mean? - -Mrs. Dean, who was standing utterly aghast at this amazing discovery, -jumped with nervousness as Frayne suddenly addressed her. - -"Did Mr. Gregory have many visitors?" - -"Not many, sir," was her reply. "His secretary used to come over from -Sheffield sometimes--Mr. Fielder, I think his name was--a tall, thin -gentleman, who spoke with an accent as though he were a foreigner. I -believe he was a Frenchman, though he had an English name." - -"Anybody else?" - -"Mr. Clayton, the old schoolmaster from Sheringham, and--oh, yes--a lady -came from London one day, a short time ago, to see him--a young French -lady," replied Mrs. Dean. - -"What was her name?" - -"I don't know. It's about a fortnight ago since she came, one morning -about eleven, so she must have left London by the newspaper train. She -rang, and I answered the bell. She wouldn't let me take her name up to -Mr. Gregory, saying: 'She would go up, as she wanted to give him a -surprise.' I pointed out his door and she went in. But I don't think the -old gentleman exactly welcomed her." - -"Why?" I asked. - -"Because I heard him raising his voice in anger," replied the landlady. - -"Was Mr. Craig there?" - -"No. He was out somewhere I think. My own belief is that the young lady -was Mr. Gregory's daughter. She stayed about an hour, and once, when I -opened the door, I heard her speaking with him very earnestly in French, -asking him to do something, it seemed like. But he flatly refused and -spoke to her very roughly; and at this she seemed very upset--quite -brokenhearted. I watched her leave. Her face was pale, and she looked -wretchedly miserable, as though in utter despair. But I forgot," added -Mrs. Dean. "Three days later I found her photograph, which the old man, -who was very angry, had flung into the waste-paper basket. I kept it, -because it was such a pretty face. I'll run down and get it--if you'd -like to see it." - -"Excellent," exclaimed Frayne, and the good woman descended the stairs. - -A few moments later she came back with a cabinet photograph, which she -handed to the detective. - -I glanced at it over his shoulder. - -Then I held my breath, staggered and dumbfounded. - -The colour must have left my cheeks, I think, for I was entirely -unprepared for such a shock. - -But I pulled myself together, bit my lip, and by dint of a great effort -managed to remain calm. - -Nevertheless, my heart beat quickly as I gazed upon the picture of that -pretty face, that most open, innocent countenance, that I knew so well. - -Those wide-open, trusting eyes, that sweet smile, those full red -lips--ah! - -And what was the secret? Aye, what, indeed? - - - - -CHAPTER V - -IN WHICH THE SHADOW FALLS - - -"A very charming portrait," Frayne remarked. "I see it was taken in -London. We ought to have no great difficulty in discovering the -original--eh, Treeton--if we find it necessary?" - -I smiled to myself, for well I knew that the police would experience -considerable difficulty in ascertaining the identity of the original of -that picture. - -"Are you quite sure, Mrs. Dean, that it was the same lady who came to -visit Mr. Gregory?" I asked the landlady. - -"Quite positive, sir. That funny little pendant she is wearing in the -photograph, she was wearing when she came to see the old gentleman--a -funny little green stone thing--shaped like one of them heathen idols." - -I knew to what she referred--the small green figure of Maat, the Goddess -of Truth--an ancient amulet I had found, while prying about in the ruins -of a temple on the left bank of the Nile, a few miles beyond -Wady-Halfa--the gate of the Sudan. I knew that amulet well, knew the -hieroglyphic inscription upon its back, for I had given it to her as a -souvenir. - -Then Lola--the mysterious Lola, whose memory had occupied my thoughts, -both night and day, for many and many a month--had reappeared from -nowhere, and had visited the eccentric Gregory. - -In that room I stood, unconscious of what was going on about me; -unconscious of that glittering litter of plate and jewels; of fifteenth -century chalices and gem-encrusted cups; of sixteenth century silver, -much of it ecclesiastical--probably from churches in France, Italy, and -Spain--of those heavy nineteenth century ornaments, that wonderful array -of diamonds and other precious stones, in ponderous early-Victorian -settings, which lay upon the faded, threadbare carpet at my feet. - -I was thinking only of the past--of that strange adventure of mine, -which was now almost like some half-forgotten dream--and of Lola, the -beautiful and the mysterious--whose photograph I now held in my -nerveless fingers, just as the detective had given it to me. - -At that moment a constable entered with a note for his inspector, who -took it and opened it. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, turning to Frayne. "Here's another surprise for us! -I made inquiries this morning of the Sheffield police concerning old Mr. -Gregory. Here's their reply. They've been up to Messrs. Gregory and -Thorpe's works, but there is no Mr. Gregory. Mr. Vernon Gregory, senior -partner in the firm, died, while on a voyage to India, nearly a year -ago!" - -"What?" shrieked Mrs. Dean in scandalized tones. "Do you mean to say -that that there old man, my lodger, wasn't Mr. Gregory?" - -"He may have been _a_ Mr. Gregory, but he certainly was not Mr. Vernon -Gregory, the steel manufacturer," responded Treeton, calmly. - -"Well, that beats everything!" she gasped. "Then that old man was a -humbugging impostor--eh?" - -"So it seems," Frayne replied. - -"But it can't be true? I can't believe it! He was a real gentleman. See, -here, what he had got put away in that old box of his. Them there -Sheffield police is mistook, I'm sure they be. There'll be some good -explanation of all this, I'll be bound, if 'tis looked for." - -"I sincerely hope so," I remarked. "But at present I certainly don't see -any." - -Truth to tell, I was utterly staggered and confounded, the more so, by -that report from Sheffield. I confess I had all along believed old -Gregory to be what he had represented himself as being to the people of -Cromer. - -Now I realized that I was face to face with a profound and amazing -problem--one which those provincial police-officers, patient and -well-meaning as they were, could never hope to solve. - -Yes, old Vernon Gregory was an impostor. The reply from the Sheffield -police proved that beyond a doubt. Therefore, it also followed that the -man lying dead was certainly not what he had represented himself to -be--nephew of the great steel magnate. - -But who was he? That was the present great question that baffled us. - -The photograph I held in my hand bore the name: "Callard, Photographer, -Shepherd's Bush Road." But I knew that whatever inquiries were made at -that address, the result would be negative. The mysterious Lola was an -elusive little person, not at all likely to betray her identity to any -photographer. - -There were reasons for her secrecy--very strong reasons, I knew. - -So I smiled, when Frayne announced that he should send the picture up to -London, and put through an inquiry. - -I picked up some pieces of the jewellery that was lying at my feet. In -my hand I held a splendid golden coronet in which were set great -emeralds and rubies of enormous value. Even my inexpert eye could see -that the workmanship was very ancient, and the stones but roughly cut -and polished. I judged it to be a crown which had adorned the head of -some famous Madonna in an Italian or Spanish church; a truly regal -ornament. - -Again stooping, I picked up a small heavy box of blackened repoussé -silver of genuine Italian Renaissance work, and opening it, found it -filled with rings of all kinds, both ancient and modern. There were -signet rings bearing coats of arms; ladies' gem rings; men's plain gold -rings; and rings of various fancy devices. - -One I picked out was distinctly curious. A man's flat gold ring set with -eight finely-coloured turquoises at equal intervals. It looked brighter -and newer than the others, and as I fingered it, a small portion of the -outer edge opened, revealing a neatly enamelled inscription in French, -"Thou art Mine." On further examination I found that each of the spaces -in which a turquoise was set, opened, and in each was also a tender love -passage, "I love you," "Faithful and True," and so on, executed probably -a century ago. - -Yes, each piece in that wonderful collection was unique--the treasure of -one who was undoubtedly a connoisseur of gems and antiques. Indeed, in -no national collection had I ever seen a display more remarkable than -that flung out so unceremoniously upon the carpet, around that -mysterious flash-lamp. - -While one of the detectives, at Frayne's order, began repacking the -treasure, I went with the two inspectors to a sitting-room on the -ground-floor, where, with the door closed, we discussed the situation. - -Outside, upon the path in front of the house, were a knot of curious -persons, among them Mr. Day, and his subordinate officer who had made -the tragic discovery. - -"Well," exclaimed Frayne, slowly rubbing his chin, "it's a very curious -case. What will you do now, Treeton?" - -"Do?" asked the local officer. "Why, I've done all I can do. I've -reported it to the Coroner, and I suppose they'll make the post-mortem -to-day, and hold the inquest to-morrow." - -"Yes, I know," said the other. "But we must find this old man, Gregory. -He seems to have been pretty slick at getting away." - -"Frightened, I suppose," said Treeton. - -"What. Do you think he killed his nephew?" queried the man from Norwich. - -"Looks suspiciously like it," Treeton replied. - -"Yes, but why did Craig go out disguised as the old man--that's the -question?" - -"Yes," I repeated. "That is indeed the question." - -"And all that jewellery? The old man is not likely to leave that lot -behind--unless he's guilty," said Frayne. "Again, that visit of the -young lady. If we could only get track of her, she'd have something to -tell us without a doubt." - -"Of course," said Treeton. "Send the photograph to London, and find out -who she is. What a bit of luck, wasn't it, that Mrs. Dean kept the -picture she found in the waste-paper basket?" - -I remained silent. Yes, if we could only discover the original of that -photograph we should, no doubt, learn much that would be startling. But -I felt assured that we should never find trace of her. The police could -follow in her direction if they chose. I intended to proceed upon an -entirely different path. - -What I had learned in that brief hour, had staggered me. I could -scarcely realize that once again I was face to face with the mystery of -Lola--the sweetest, strangest, most shadowy little person I had ever met -in all my life. And yet she was so real, so enchanting, so -delightful--such a merry, light-hearted little friend. - -Lola! - -I drew a long breath when I recalled that perfect oval face, with the -wonderful blue eyes, the soft little hand--those lips that were made for -kisses. - -Even as I stood there in the plainly-furnished sitting-room of that -seaside lodging-house, I remembered a strangely different scene. A fine, -luxurious chamber, rich with heavy gilt furniture, and crimson damask, -aglow under shaded electric lights. - -I saw her upon her knees before me, her white hands grasping mine, her -hair dishevelled upon her shoulders, pleading with me--pleading, ah! I -remembered her wild, passionate words, her bitter tears--her terrible -confession. - -And this provincial detective, whose chief feats had been confined to -cases of petty larceny, speed limit, and trivial offences, dealt with by -the local Justices of the Peace, actually hoped to unravel a mystery -which I instinctively felt to be fraught with a thousand difficulties. - -Any swindler, providing he has made sufficient money by his tricks, has -bought a place in the country, and has been agreeable to the -Deputy-Lieutenant of the County, can become one of His Majesty's -Justices of the Peace. Some such are now and then unmasked, and off to -penal servitude have gone, men who have been the foremost to inflict -fines and imprisonment on the poor for the most trivial offences--men -who made the poaching of a rabbit a heinous crime. - -I venture to assert that the past of many a J. P. does not bear -investigation. But even when glaring injustices are exposed to the Home -Secretary, he is often afraid to order an inquiry, for political -reasons. It is always "Party" that must be first considered in this poor -old England of ours to-day. - -What does "Party" mean? Be it Liberal, Unionist, Conservative, Labour, -anything, there should at least be honesty, fair dealing, plain speaking -and uprightness. But alas, this is an age of sham in England. -Journalists, novelists, preachers, playwrights, are afraid to speak the -truth frankly, though they know it, and feel it. It is "Party" always. -Many a criminal has escaped conviction before our County Benches because -of "Party," and for the same reason many innocents have been condemned -and suffered. - -This case of Mr. Vernon Gregory was a provincial case. The amusing farce -of local investigation, and local justice, would no doubt be duly -played. The coroner always agrees with the evidence of his own family -doctor, or the prominent local medico, and the twelve honest tradesmen -forming the jury are almost invariably led by the coroner in the -direction of the verdict. - -Oh, the farce of it all! I hold no brief for France, Belgium, Germany, -or any other continental nation, for England is my native land. But I do -feel that methods of inquiry on the continent are just, though minutely -searching, that there Justice is merciful though inexorable, that her -scales weigh all evidence to the uttermost gramme. - -These reflections passed through my mind as I stood in that -lodging-house room, while the two police officers discussed as to their -further procedure in the amazing case with which they had been called -upon to deal. I could not help such thoughts arising, for I was dubious, -very dubious, as to the thoroughness of investigation that would be -given to the affair by the local authorities. Slackness, undue delay, -party or personal interests, any one of these things might imperil the -inquiry and frustrate the ends of justice. - -I knew we were confronted by one of the greatest criminal problems that -had ever been offered for solution, calling for the most prompt, -delicate and minute methods of investigation, if it was to be handled -successfully. And as I contrasted the heavy, cumbrous, restricted -conditions of English criminal procedure with the swift, far-reaching -methods in use across the Channel, I felt that something of the latter -was needed here if the mystery of Craig's death was ever to be solved. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -MYSTERY INEXPLICABLE - - -The town of Cromer was agog, when, next day, the coroner held his -inquiry. - -The afternoon was warm, and the little room usually used as the police -court was packed to suffocation. - -The jury--the foreman of which was a stout local butcher--having viewed -the body, the inquest was formally opened, and Mrs. Dean, the first -witness, identified the remains as those of her visitor, Mr. Edward -Craig. - -This, the first intimation to the public that Mr. Gregory was not dead -after all, caused the greatest sensation. - -In answer to the coroner, Mrs. Dean explained how, with his uncle, old -Mr. Gregory, Craig had taken apartments with her. She had always found -him a quiet, well-conducted young gentleman. - -"Was he quite idle?" asked the grave-faced coroner. - -"No. Not exactly, sir," replied the witness, looking round the closely -packed room. "He used to do a good deal of writing for his uncle, more -especially after the young man, Mr. Gregory's private secretary, had -been over from Sheffield." - -"How often did he come?" - -"At intervals of a week or more. He always carried a small despatch-box, -and on those occasions the three would sit together for half the day, -doing their business, with the door closed--and," added the landlady -vigorously, "Mr. Craig had no end of business sometimes, for he received -lots of telegrams. From what I heard him say one day to his Uncle, I -believe he was a betting man, and the telegrams were results of races." - -"Ah, probably so," remarked the coroner. "I believe you have not seen -the elder gentleman since the tragic evening of his nephew's death?" - -"No, sir. The last I saw of Mr. Gregory was when he wished me -'good-night,' and went to bed, as was his habit, about half-past ten, on -the night previous." - -"And, where was the deceased then?" - -"My servant Anne had taken up his hot water, and he had already gone to -bed." - -"And, did you find next day that the beds had been slept in?" - -"Mr. Craig's had, but Mr. Gregory's hadn't," was the reply. Whereat the -eager, listening crowd buzzed and moved uneasily. - -The grave-faced county official holding the inquiry, having finished -writing down the replies to his questions upon blue foolscap, looked -across to the row of twelve tradesmen, and exclaimed in his sharp, -brusque manner---- - -"Have the jury any questions to put to this witness?" - -"I'd like to ask, sir," said the fat butcher, "whether this Mr. Gregory -was not a very eccentric and extraordinary man?" - -"He was," replied the good woman with a smile. "He always suspected that -people was a-robbin' him. He'd strike out threepence from my weekly -bill, and on the very same day, pay six or seven shillings for a pound -of fresh strawberries." - -"During the night you heard nobody leave your house?" - -"No, neither me, nor my husband, heard any sound. Of course, our dog -knew both of 'em, and was very friendly, so he'd make no noise." - -"I would like to ask you, Mrs. Dean," said another juryman, the -thin-faced manager of a boot-shop, "whether Mr. Craig was in the habit -of receiving any strangers?" - -"No," interrupted the coroner, "we are not here to inquire into that. We -are here solely to establish the identity of the deceased and the cause -of his death. The other matters must be left to the police." - -"Oh! I beg pardon sir," ejaculated the offending juryman, and sat back -in his chair with a jerk. - -George Simmonds, a picturesque figure in his coast-guard uniform, was -called next, and minutely described how he had found deceased, and had, -from his dress, believed him to be old Mr. Gregory. Afterwards he was -cross-examined by the foreman of the jury as to whom he had met during -his patrol that night, and what he knew personally about the dead man. - -"I only know that he was a very nice young gentleman," replied the -coast-guard. "Both he and his uncle often used to pass the time o' day -with us out against the flagstaff, and sometimes they'd have a look -through the glass at the passing ships." - -The police evidence then followed, and, after that Dr. Sladen, the chief -medical man in Cromer, took the oath and made the following statement, -in clear, business-like tones, the coroner writing it down rapidly. - -"Henry Harden Sladen, Doctor of Medicine, 36, Cliff Avenue, Cromer. I -was called to see deceased by the police, at about half-past four on the -morning of the twelfth of June. He was lying upon a public seat on the -East Cliff, and on examination I found that he had been dead about two -hours or more." - -"Any signs of violence?" inquired the coroner, looking up sharply at the -witness, and readjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. - -"None whatever." - -"Yes, Dr. Sladen?" - -"Yesterday afternoon," continued the witness, "I made a post-mortem -examination in conjunction with Dr. Copping, of Cromer, and found the -body to be that of a young man about twenty-five years old, of somewhat -athletic build. All the organs were quite normal. There was an old wound -under the left shoulder, apparently a bullet wound, and two rather -curious scars on the right forearm, which, we agreed, had been received -while fencing. We, however, could find no trace of disease or injury." - -"Then to what do you attribute death?" inquired the coroner. - -"Well, I came to the conclusion that the young man had been suddenly -asphyxiated, but how, is a perfect mystery," responded the doctor. "It -would be difficult to asphyxiate any one in the open air without leaving -any mark of strangulation." - -"I take it that you discovered no mark?" - -"Not the slightest." - -"Then you do not think death was due to natural causes?" - -"It was due to asphyxiation--a rapid, almost instantaneous death it must -have been--but it was not due to natural causes." - -"Briefly put, then, you consider that the deceased was the victim of -foul play?" - -"Yes. The young man was murdered, without a doubt," replied the doctor, -slowly. "But so ingeniously was the crime committed, that no trace of -the methods by which death was accomplished has been left. The assassin, -whoever he was, must have been a perfect artist in crime." - -"Why do you think so?" asked the coroner. - -"For several reasons," was the reply. "The victim must have been sitting -upon the seat when suddenly attacked. He rose to defend himself and, as -he did so, he was struck down by a deadly blow which caused him to -stagger, reel, and fall lifeless some distance away from the seat. Yet -there is no bruise upon him--no sign of any blow having been struck. His -respiratory organs suddenly became paralysed, and he expired--a most -mysterious and yet instant death." - -"But is there no way, that you--as a medical man--can account for such a -death, Dr. Sladen?" asked the coroner dryly. - -"There are several ways, but none in which death could ensue in such -circumstances and with such an utter absence of symptoms. If death had -occurred naturally we should have been quickly able to detect the fact." - -After one or two pointless questions had been put to the witness by -members of the jury, his place was taken by his colleague, Dr. Copping, -a pushing young medico who, though he had only been in Cromer a year, -had a rapidly-growing practice. - -In every particular he corroborated Dr. Sladen's evidence, and gave it -as his professional opinion that the young man had met with foul play, -but how, was a complete mystery. - -"You do not suspect poison, I take it?" asked the coroner, looking up -from his writing. - -"Poison is entirely out of the question," was Dr. Copping's reply. "The -deceased was asphyxiated, and died almost instantly. How it was done, I -fail to understand and can formulate no theory." - -The public, seated at the back of the court, were so silent that one -could have heard the dropping of the proverbial pin. They had expected -some remarkable revelations from the medical men, but were somewhat -disappointed. - -After the evidence of Inspector Treeton had been taken, the coroner, in -a few brief words, put the matter before the jury. - -It was, he said, a case which presented several very remarkable -features, not the least being the fact that the nephew had gone out in -the night, dressed in his uncle's clothes and made up to resemble the -elder man. That fact made it evident that there was some unusual motive -for going out that night on the part of the deceased man--either a -humorous one, or one not altogether honest. The latter seemed the most -reasonable theory. The young man evidently went out to keep a tryst in -the early morning, and while waiting on the seat, was suddenly attacked -and murdered. - -"Well, gentlemen," he went on, removing his glasses, and polishing them -with his handkerchief, "it is for you to return your verdict--to say how -this young man met with his death, to-day, or, if you consider it -advisable, you can, of course, adjourn this inquiry in order to obtain -additional evidence. Personally, I do not see whence any additional -evidence can come. We have heard the depositions of all concerned, and -if you decide that it is a case of wilful murder, as both Dr. Sladen and -Dr. Copping have unhesitatingly stated it to be, the rest must be left -to the police, who will no doubt use their utmost endeavours to discover -the identity of this 'artist in crime,' as Dr. Sladen put it, who is -responsible for this young man's death. So far as I am concerned, and I -have acted as coroner for this district for twenty-three years, I have -never before held an inquiry into a case which has presented so many -puzzling features. Even the method by which the victim was done to death -is inexplicable. The whole thing, gentlemen, is inexplicable, and, as -far as we can discern, there is no motive for the crime. It is, of -course, for you to arrive at a verdict now, or to adjourn for a week. -Perhaps you will consult together." - -The twelve Norfolk tradesmen, under the leadership of the obese butcher, -whispered together for a few moments and were quickly agreed. - -The coroner's officer, a tall constable, standing near the door, saw -that the foreman wished to speak, and shouted: "Silence!" - -"We will return our verdict at once, Mr. Coroner," said the butcher. "We -find that deceased was murdered." - -"That is your verdict, eh? Then it will read, 'that deceased was -wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown.' Is that what you -all agree?" he asked in his quick, business-like manner. - -"Yes, sir. That is our verdict," was the response. - -"Any dissentients?" asked the official. But there was none. - -"Then the rest must be left to the police," said the coroner, resuming -his writing. - -At those words, the public, disappointed at the lack of gory details, -began to file out into the street, while the jury were discharged. - -Who was the murderer? That was the question upon every one's tongue. - -And where was Vernon Gregory, the quaint, eccentric old fellow who had -become such a notable figure in Cromer streets and along the asphalted -parade. What had become of him? - -The police had, of course, made no mention in their evidence of the -search in the rooms occupied by the two men--of the discovery of the -splendid treasure of gold and jewels--or of the fact that the real Mr. -Vernon Gregory had died while on a voyage to India. - -With Frayne, I walked back to the police-station, where we found that no -trace had yet been discovered of the old man. He had disappeared swiftly -and completely, probably in clothes which in no way resembled those he -habitually wore, for, as his pocket-book and other things were found in -the cape worn by his nephew, we assumed that they were actually the -uncle's. Therefore, it would be but natural that old Gregory would have -left the house wearing clothes suitable to a younger man. - -The fact that Lola had visited him told me much. - -Gregory, whoever he was, was certainly no amateur in the art of -disguise. In all probability he now presented the appearance of a man of -thirty or so, and in no way resembled the eccentric old gentleman who -looked like a poet and whose habits were so regular. - -That there was a mystery, a strange, amazing mystery, I knew -instinctively. Edward Craig had, I felt confident, fallen the victim of -a bitter and terrible vengeance--had been ingeniously done to death by -one whose hand was that of a relentless slayer. - -So, as I walked past the grey old church of Cromer, back to the _Hôtel -de Paris_, I pondered deeply. - -My own particular knowledge I kept a fast secret to myself. Among that -heterogeneous collection of treasures had been one object which I -recognized--an object I had seen and handled once before, in very -different circumstances. - -How came it in that old sea-chest, and in the possession of the man who -was now exposed as an impostor? - -Mr. Day, the chief officer of the coast-guard, passed me by and saluted. -But I was so preoccupied that I scarcely noticed him. - -I had crossed by the path leading through the churchyard, and arrived -at the corner of Jetty Street--a narrow, old-fashioned lane which leads -along to the cliff-top in front of the _Hôtel de Paris_, and where an -inclined slope goes down to the pier. - -Suddenly, on raising my eyes at a passer-by, my gaze met that of a tall, -thin, pale-faced, rather gentlemanly man in a dark grey suit, and -wearing a grey felt hat. - -The stranger, without noticing me, went on with unconcern. - -But in that second I had recognized him. We had met before, and in that -instant I had fixed him as the one man who knew the truth regarding that -remarkable secret I had now set out to investigate. - -I halted aghast, and half-turned upon my heel to greet him. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -TELLS OF TWO MEN - - -The stranger, whose age was about forty-five, went on in the direction -of the post-office in the Church Square. - -Should I dash back, overtake him and claim acquaintance? Or should I -keep my knowledge to myself, and watch in patience? - -A single second had I in which to decide. And I decided. - -I turned back upon my heel again as though I had not recognized him. - -But what could that man's presence mean in that little East Coast town? -Aye, what indeed? - -I tried to think, to conjecture, to form some theory--but I was too -confused. Lola had been there--and now that man who had just passed! - -Along the narrow, old-fashioned Jetty Street I strode for some yards, -and then turned and retraced my steps till I saw him across the old -churchyard entering the post-office. - -Treeton was coming up in my direction, little dreaming how near he was -to the one man who knew the truth. I smiled to myself at the ignorance -of the local police. And yet my own knowledge was that of a man who had -led a strange cosmopolitan life, who had mixed with all classes on the -Continent, who had trodden the streets of more than one capital in -disguise, and who had assisted the _Sûreté_ in half a dozen countries. - -I smiled at Treeton as he went by, and he smiled back. That man in the -post-office yonder was a remarkable personage. That I well knew. What -would any agent in the _brigade mobile_ of Paris have given to be in my -place at that moment--to be able to enter the Cromer post-office and lay -hands upon Jules Jeanjean--the notorious Jules Jeanjean, of all men! - -My thoughts were of Lola. Phew! Had ever man such a strange reverie as I -had in those moments when I halted, pretending to look into the -shop-window of the jeweller at the corner--yet all the time watching in -the direction of the door of the post-office! - -To go back would betray recognition, so I was compelled to go -forward--to the hotel. - -I did not, however, allow the grass to grow beneath my feet. That night, -instead of dining at the hotel, I ate a sandwich in the bar of the -_Albion_, and soon discovered that the man I had seen passing Cromer -Church was living in apartments in the Overstrand Road, the aristocratic -quarter of Cromer, close to the Doctor's steps. - -I had kept careful watch all the evening. First, quite unconcernedly, he -had strolled along the East Cliff, past the seat where the man, now -dead, had sat early on that fatal morning. I had followed, and had -watched. - -He paused close by, ostensibly to light a cigarette with a patent -lighter, then, after covertly making observations, he went on away to -the edge of the links, and up the path near the _Links Hotel_, where he -gained the Overstrand Road. - -The evening was clear and bright, the sundown across the North Sea a -blaze of crimson and gold. There were many promenaders along that -well-trodden path, yet it required the exercise of all my cunning to -escape the observation of the shrewd and clever man I was following. - -At eight o'clock he entered his lodging. Half an hour later, as I -lounged past, I saw him seated at dinner between two elderly women, -laughing with that easy-going cosmopolitan air--that foreign charm of -his, which had carried him through so many strange adventures. - -Then I waited--waited until dusk deepened into night. Silent, and -without wind, the summer air was fresh and invigorating after the -oppressiveness of the day. The street-lamps were lit, yet I still -remained watching, and ever on the alert. - -The Norfolk constabulary were observing the old, slow, stereotyped, -routine methods of police investigation, as I had expected them to do. - -I alone had scented the clue to the mystery. - -Not a sign had been seen of the cunning old fugitive. Telegrams had been -dispatched by the dozen. Scotland Yard had been, of course, "informed," -but information from the country is there but lightly considered. -Therefore, in all probability, the shrewd old man, who had so cleverly -imposed upon the good people of Cromer, was by that time across the -Channel. - -But, would he leave that splendid treasure of his behind? - -All through that evening I waited in patience in the Overstrand -Road--waited to see if Jules Jeanjean would come forth again. - -At half-past ten, when the moon was shining brightly over the calm sea, -I saw him come out, wearing a soft grey felt hat and light drab -overcoat. He laughed at the neat maid who opened the door for him, and -instinctively put his hand to his hat to raise it, as foreigners so -often do. - -Instead of walking towards the town, as I had expected, he turned in the -direction of Suffield Park, the pretty suburb of Cromer, and actually -passed within a few yards of where I was crouching behind the laurel -hedge of somebody's front garden. - -I allowed him to get some distance ahead, then, treading lightly upon my -rubber heels, swiftly followed. - -He made in the direction of the great Eastern Railway Station, until he -came to the arch where the line crosses the road, when from the shadow -there crept silently another figure of a man. - -At that hour, and at that point, all was deserted. From where I stood I -could see the lights of the great _Links Hotel_ high up, dominating the -landscape, and nearer were the long, slowly-moving shafts of extreme -brilliance, shining from the lighthouse as a warning to mariners on the -North Sea. - -Jules Jeanjean, the man of a hundred adventures, met the stranger. It -was a tryst, most certainly. Under the shadow of a wall I drew back, and -watched the pair with eager interest. They whispered, and it was -apparent that they were discussing some very serious and weighty matter. -Of necessity I was so far away that I could not distinguish the features -of the stranger. All I could see was that he was very well dressed, and -wore dark clothes, a straw hat, and carried a cane. - -Together they walked slowly in the shadow. Jeanjean had linked his arm -in that of the stranger, who seemed young and athletic, and was talking -very earnestly--perhaps relating what had occurred at the inquest that -afternoon, for, though I had not seen him there, I suspected that he -might have been present. - -I saw Jeanjean give something to his companion, but I could not detect -what it was. Something he took very slowly and carefully from his pocket -and handed it to the young man, who at first hesitated to accept it, -and only did so after Jeanjean's repeated and firm insistence. - -It was as though the man I had recognized that afternoon in Cromer was -bending the other by his dominant personality--compelling him to act -against his will. - -And as I stood there I wondered whether after all Jeanjean had actually -recognized me when we met in Church Square--or whether he had been -struck merely by what he deemed a chance resemblance, and had passed me -by without further thought. - -Had he recognized me I do not think he would have dared to remain in -Cromer a single hour. Hence, I hoped he had not. The fact would render -my work of investigation a thousandfold easier. - -Presently, after a full quarter of an hour's conversation, the pair -strolled together along the moonlit road back towards the town, which at -that hour was wrapped in slumber. - -By a circuitous route they reached the narrow street at the back of the -house where old Mr. Gregory and his nephew had lived, and, after passing -and repassing it several times, returned by the way they had come. - -Near the railway bridge, where Jeanjean had first met the stranger, both -paused and had another earnest conversation. More than once in the -lamplight I had caught sight of the man's face, a keen face, with dark -moustache, and sharp, dark eyes. He had a quick, agile gait, and I -judged him to be about eight-and-twenty. - -Presently the two walked out beyond the arch, and I saw the younger man -go behind a hedge, from which he wheeled forth a motor-cycle that had -been concealed there. They bade each other adieu, and then, starting his -engine, the stranger mounted the machine, and next moment was speeding -towards Norwich without having lit his lamp, possibly having forgotten -to do so in his hurry to get away. - -The Frenchman watched his friend depart, then, leisurely lighting a -cigarette, turned and went back to the house in Overstrand Road where he -had taken up his temporary abode. - -It was half-past two when the night-porter at the _Hôtel de Paris_ -admitted me, and until the sun had risen over the sea, I sat at my open -window, smoking, and thinking. - -The discovery that Jules Jeanjean was in that little East Coast town was -to me utterly amazing. What was his business in Cromer? - -A wire to the _Sûreté_ in Paris, stating his whereabouts, would, I knew, -create no end of commotion, and Inspector Treeton would no doubt receive -urgent orders by telegram from London for the arrest of the seemingly -inoffensive man with the jaunty, foreign air. - -The little town of Cromer, seething with excitement over the mysterious -murder of Edward Craig, little dreamed that it now harboured one of the -most dangerous criminals of modern times. - -Next day, in the hotel, I was asked on every hand my opinion in regard -to the East Cliff murder mystery. The evidence at the inquest was given -verbatim in the Norwich papers, and every one was reading it. By reason -of my writings, I suppose, I had earned a reputation as a seeker-out of -mystery. But to all inquirers I now expressed my inability to theorize -on the affair, and carefully preserved an attitude of amazed ignorance. - -I scarce dared to go forth that day lest I should again meet Jeanjean, -and he should become aware of my presence in Cromer. Had he recognized -me when we met? I was continually asking myself that question, and -always I came to the conclusion that he had not, or he would not have -dared to keep his tryst with the mysterious motor-cyclist. - -Were either of the pair responsible for Edward Craig's death? That was -the great problem that was before me. - -And where was Gregory? If he were not implicated in the crime, why had -he absconded? - -I examined the copy of that curious letter signed by Egisto, but it -conveyed nothing very tangible to me. - -Frayne and his men were still passing to and fro in Cromer, making all -kinds of abortive inquiries, and were, I knew, entirely on the wrong -scent. Like myself, they were seeking the motive which caused the sudden -disappearance of old Gregory. They were actually looking for him in the -county of Norfolk! I knew, too well, that he must be already safely far -away, abroad. - -Frayne called in to see me after luncheon, and sat up in my room for an -hour, smoking cigarettes. - -"I'm leaving the rooms that were occupied by Craig and his uncle just as -they are," he said to me. "I'm not touching a thing for the present, so -that when we find Gregory we can make him give explanations of what we -have secured there. I thought first of taking that sea-chest and its -contents over to Norwich with me, but I have now decided to seal up the -room and leave everything as it is." - -"I understand," I replied, smiling to myself at his forlorn hope of ever -finding Mr. Vernon Gregory. For, the further my inquiries had gone, the -more apparent was it that the old man was a very wily customer. - -"We've made one discovery," said the detective as he lit a fresh -cigarette. - -"Oh, what's that?" I inquired. - -"A young fisherman, named Britton, has come forward and told me that on -the night of the murder he was going along the road to Gunton, at about -midnight, when he met a man on a motor-cycle, with an empty side-car, -coming from the direction of Norwich. The man dismounted and asked -Britton how far it was to Cromer. The fisherman told him, and the fellow -rode off. Britton, who had been to see his brother, returned just before -two, and met the same motor-cyclist coming back from Cromer, and -travelling at a very high speed. He then had somebody in the side-car -with him. In the darkness Britton could not get a very good view of the -passenger, but he believes that it was a woman." - -"A woman!" I echoed, somewhat surprised. - -"Yes, he was sure it was a woman," Frayne said. "One good point is, that -Britton is able to give a fairly good description of the motor-cyclist, -whose face he saw when the fellow got off his machine to speak to him. -He pictures him as a sharp-faced man, with a small black moustache, who -spoke broken English." - -"A foreigner, then?" - -"Evidently." Then Frayne went on to remark, "It was foolish of this -fellow Britton not to have come forward before, Mr. Vidal. But you know -how slow these Norfolk fishermen are. It was only after he was pressed -by his friends, to whom he related the incident, that he consented to -come to the police-station and have a chat with me." - -"Well--then you suspect the motor-cyclist and the woman?" - -"Not without some further proof," replied the detective, with a look of -wisdom on his face. "We don't know yet if the passenger in the side-car -was a woman. Britton only believes so. The foreigner evidently only came -into Cromer to fetch a friend." - -"But could not any foreigner come into Cromer to fetch a lady friend?" I -queried. - -"Yes. That's just why I do not attach much importance to the young -fellow's story." - -"Does he say he could recognize the cyclist again?" - -"He believes so. But, unfortunately, he's not a lad of very high -intelligence," laughed Frayne. - -To my companions the statement of that young fisherman evidently meant -but little. - -To me, however, it revealed a very great deal. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -REMAINS AN ENIGMA - - -Six days had gone by. - -The funeral of the unfortunate Edward Craig had taken place, and locally -the sensation caused by the tragic discovery had died down. - -The weather was beautifully warm, the sea calm, and gradually a few -holiday-makers were appearing in the streets; women in summer blouses, -knitted golf coats and cotton skirts, with flannel-trousered men. They -were of the class who are compelled to take their holidays early, before -their employers; with them came delighted children carrying spades and -buckets. - -Fearing recognition by the notorious Frenchman, I was greatly -handicapped, for I was compelled to remain in the hotel all day, and go -forth only at night. - -Frayne and his men had locked and sealed the rooms which had been -occupied by old Gregory and Craig, and had returned to Norwich. In their -place had come a plain-clothes man who, as far as I could gather, -lounged about the corners of the streets, and chatted idly with the -constables in uniform. - -The plain-clothes man in our county constabulary system is not an -overwhelming success. His only real use seems to be mostly that of a -catcher of small boys who go out stealing fruit. - -By dint of judicious inquiry, made by my manservant, Rayner, whom I had -summoned from London, I had discovered something regarding the foreign -gentleman, who had taken apartments in the Overstrand Road. - -Rayner could always keep a secret. He was a fair-haired, bullet-headed -chap of thirty-two whom I had found, eight years before the date of this -story, wandering penniless in the streets of Constantinople. I had taken -him into my service, and never once had occasion to regret having done -so. He was a model of discretion, and to a man constantly travelling, -like myself, a veritable treasure. - -Sometimes upon my erratic journeys on the Continent I took him with me, -at others he remained at home in my little flat off Berkeley Square. If -I ever called upon him to make inquiries for me, to watch, or to follow -a suspected person, he obeyed with an intelligence that would, I -believe, have done credit to any member of that remarkable combination -of brains--the Council of Seven, of New Scotland Yard. - -Living an adventurous life, as he had done, his wits had been sharpened, -and his perception had become as keen as that of any detective. -Therefore, I had called upon him, under seal of secrecy, to assist me in -the investigation of many a mystery. - -Knowing his value, I had wired to him to come to Cromer. He arrived when -I was out. First, he looked through my traps, folded my trousers and -coats, arranged my shirts and ties in order with professional precision, -and when I returned, entered my room, saying briefly-- - -"I'm here, sir." - -I threw myself into a chair and told him all that had occurred--of -course, under strictest secrecy. - -Then I gave him minute instructions as to making inquiries of the -servants at the house in the Overstrand Road. A servant can always get -useful information from other servants, for there is a freemasonry among -all who are employed in domestic capacities. - -Therefore, it was with interest that I sat in my room, overlooking the -sea, on the following day, and listened to Rayner's report. - -In his straw hat, and well-cut grey tweed suit, my man made a very -presentable appearance. It was the same suit in which he went out to -Richmond with his "young lady" on Sundays. - -"Well, sir," he said, standing by the window, "I've managed to get to -know something. The gentleman is a Belgian doctor named Paul Arendt. He -has the two best rooms in the house and is the only visitor staying -there at present. They say he's a bit eccentric; goes out at all hours, -but gives lots of money in tips. Seemingly, he's pretty rich." - -"Has he had any visitors?" I asked quickly. - -"One. Another foreigner. An Italian named Bertini, who rides a -motor-cycle." - -"Has he been there often?" - -"He came last Monday afternoon--three days ago," my man replied. - -"Anything else?" - -"Well, sir, I managed to make friends with the maidservant, and then, on -pretence of wanting apartments myself, got her to show me several rooms -in the house in the absence of her mistress. Doctor Arendt was out, too, -therefore I took the opportunity of looking around his bedroom. I'd -given the girl a sovereign, so she didn't make any objection to my -prying about a bit. Arendt is a rather suspicious character, isn't he, -sir?" asked Rayner, looking at me curiously. - -"That's for you to find out," I replied. - -"Well, sir, I have found out," was his quick answer. "In the small top -left-hand drawer of the chest of drawers in his room I found a small -false moustache and some grease-paint; while in the right-hand drawer -was a Browning revolver in a brown leather case, a bottle of strong -ammonia, and a small steel tube, about an inch across, with an -india-rubber bulb attached to one end." - -"Ah!" I said. "I thought as much. You know what the ammonia and rubber -ball are for, eh?" - -The man grinned. - -"Well, sir, I can guess," was his reply. "It's for blinding dogs--eh?" - -"Exactly. We must keep a sharp eye upon that Belgian, Rayner." - -"Yes, sir. I took the opportunity to have a chat with the maid about the -recent affair on the East Cliff, and she told me she believed that the -dead man and Doctor Arendt were friends." - -"Friends!" I echoed, starting forward at his words. - -"Yes, sir. The girl was not quite certain, but believes she saw the -Belgian doctor and young Mr. Craig walking together over the golf-links -one evening. It was her Sunday out and she was strolling that way just -at dusk with her sweetheart." - -"She is not quite positive, eh?" I asked. - -"No, sir, not quite positive. She only thinks it was young Mr. Craig." - -"Did Craig or Gregory ever go to that house while our friend has been -there?" - -"No, sir. She was quite positive on that point." - -"What does the doctor do with himself all day?" I asked. - -"Sits reading novels, or the French papers, greater part of the day. -Sometimes he writes letters, but very seldom. According to the books I -noticed in his room, he delights in stories of mystery and crime." - -I smiled. Too well I knew the literary tastes of Jules Jeanjean, the man -who was fearless, and being so, was eminently dangerous, and who was -passing as a Belgian doctor. He, who had once distinguished himself by -holding the whole of the forces of the Paris police at arms' length, and -defying them--committing crimes under their very noses out of sheer -anarchical bravado--was actually living there as a quiet, studious, -steady-going man of literary tastes and refinement--Doctor Paul Arendt, -of Liège, Belgium. - -Ah! Some further evil was intended without a doubt. Yet so clever were -Jeanjean's methods, and so entirely unsuspicious his actions, that I -confess I failed to see what piece of chicanery was now in progress. - -My next inquiry was in the direction of establishing the identity of the -motor-cyclist. - -That night Rayner kept watchful vigil instead of myself, for I had been -up five nights in succession and required sleep. But though he waited -near the house in the Overstrand Road from ten o'clock until four in -the morning, nothing occurred. Jeanjean had evidently retired to rest -and to sleep. - -After that we took it in turns to watch, I having made it right with the -night-porter of the hotel, for a pecuniary consideration, to take no -notice of our going or coming. - -For a whole week the notorious Frenchman did not emerge after he entered -the house at dinner-time. I was sorely puzzled regarding the identity of -that motor-cyclist. Would he return, or had he left the neighbourhood? - -Early one morning Rayner, having taken his turn of watching, returned to -say that Bertini, with his motor-cycle, had again met the "foreign -gentleman" at the railway bridge--the same spot at which I had seen them -meet. - -They had remained about half an hour in conversation, after which the -stranger had mounted and rode away again on the Norwich road, while -Jeanjean had returned to his lodgings. - -My mind was then made up. That same morning I took train to Norwich, -where I hired a motor-car for a fortnight, and paying down a substantial -deposit, drove the car--an open "forty," though a trifle -old-fashioned--as far as Aylsham, a distance of ten miles, or half-way -between Norwich and Cromer. There I put up at a small hotel, where I -spent the rest of the day in idleness, and afterwards dined. - -Aylsham is a sleepy little place, with nothing much to attract the -visitor save its church and ancient houses. Therefore, I devoted myself -to the newspapers until just before the hotel closed for the night. - -Then I rang up Rayner on the telephone as I had made arrangement to do. - -"That's me, sir," was his answer to my inquiry. - -"Well," I asked, "anything fresh?" - -"Yes, sir. A lady called to see you at seven o'clock--a young French -lady. I saw her and explained that you were away until to-morrow, -and----" - -"Yes, yes!" I cried eagerly. "A French lady. Did she give her name?" - -"No, sir. She only told me to tell you that if I mentioned the word -'nightingale,' you would know." - -"The Nightingale!" I gasped, astounded. It was Lola! And she had called -upon me! - -"When is she coming back?" I demanded eagerly. - -"She didn't say, sir--only told me to tell you how sorry she was that -you were out. She had travelled a long way to see you." - -"But didn't she say she'd call back?" I demanded, full of chagrin that I -should have so unfortunately been absent. - -"No, sir. She said she might be able to call sometime to-morrow -afternoon, but was not at all certain." - -I held the receiver in my trembling fingers in reflection. Nothing could -be done. I had missed her--missed seeing Lola! - -Surely my absence had been a great, and, perhaps, unredeemable -misfortune. - -"Very well," I said at last. "You know what to do to-night, Rayner?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And I will be back in the morning." - -"Very good, sir," responded my man, and I shut off. I paid my bill, went -outside and lit up the big headlamps of the car. Then I drove slowly out -of the yard, and out of the town, in the direction of Cromer. - -It had been a close day, and the night, dark and oppressive, was -overcast with a threatening storm. The dust swept up before me with -every gust of wind as I went slowly along that high road which led -towards the sea. I proceeded very leisurely, my thoughts full of my fair -visitor. - -Lola had called upon me! Why? Surely, after what had occurred, I could -never have hoped for another visit from her. - -Yes. It must be something of the greatest importance upon which she -wished to consult me. Evidently she knew of my presence in -Cromer--knew, possibly, of the efforts I was making to unravel the -mystery of old Vernon Gregory. - -Yet, I could only wait in impatience for the morrow. But would she -return? That was the question. - -The car was running well, but I had plenty of time. Therefore, after -travelling five miles or so, I pulled up, took out my pipe and smoked. - -I stopped my engine, and, in the silence of the night, strained my ears -to catch the sound of an approaching motor-cycle. But I could hear -nothing--only the distant rumble of thunder far northward across the -sea. - -By my watch I saw that it was nearly midnight. So I restarted my engine -and went slowly along until I was within a couple of miles of Cromer, -and could see the flashing of the lighthouse, and the lights of the town -twinkling below. Then again I stopped and attended to my headlights, -which were growing dim. - -A mile and a half further on I knew that Rayner, down the dip of the -hill, was lurking in the shadow. But my object in stationing myself -there was to follow the mysterious cyclist, not when he went to keep his -appointment, but when he left. - -In order to avert suspicion, I presently turned the car round with its -lights towards Norwich, but scarcely had I done so, and stopped the -engine again, when I heard, in the darkness afar off, the throb of a -motor-cycle approaching at a furious pace. - -My lamps lit up the road, while, standing in the shadow bending as -though attending to a tyre, my own form could not, I knew, be seen in -the darkness. - -On came the cyclist. Was it the man for whom I was watching? - -He gave a blast on his horn as he rounded the corner, for he could no -doubt see the reflection of my lamps from afar. - -Then he passed me like a flash, but, in that instant as he came through -the zone of light, I recognized his features. - -It was Bertini, the mysterious friend of Jules Jeanjean. - -I had but to await his return, and by waiting I should learn the truth. - -I confess that my heart beat quickly as I watched his small red light -disappear along the road. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -DESCRIBES A NIGHT-VIGIL - - -The gusty wind had died down. - -In the silence of the night I listened to the receding noise of the -motor-cycle as it swept down the hill into Cromer town, where I knew -Rayner would be on the alert. - -The sound died away, therefore I relit my pipe, and mounting again into -the driver's seat, sat back thinking--thinking mostly of Lola, and my -ill-luck at having missed her. - -Before me, in the white glare of the lamps upon the road, where insects -of the night, attracted by the radiance, were dancing to their deaths, -there arose before me that sweet, perfect face, the face that had so -attracted me. I saw her smile--smile at me, as she did when first we had -met. Ah! How strange had been our friendship, stranger than novelist had -ever imagined. I had loved her--loved as I had never loved before, and -she had loved me, with that bright, intense look in her wonderful eyes, -the woman's look that can never lie. - -There is but one love-look. A man knows it by his instinct, just as does -a woman. A woman knows by intuition that the fool who takes her out to -the theatre and supper, and is so profuse in his protestations of -undying admiration, is only uttering outpourings of vapid nonsense. Just -so, a man meets insincerity with insincerity. The woman gets to know in -time how much her vain, shallow admirer is good for, for she knows he -will soon pass out of her life, while the man's instinct is exactly the -same. In a word, it is life--the life of this, our Twentieth Century. - -The man laughed at and derided to-day, is a hero ten years hence. - -A few years ago Mr. John Burns carried a banner perspiringly along the -Thames Embankment, in a May Day procession, and I assisted him. To-day -he is a Cabinet Minister. A few years ago my dear friend, George -Griffith, wrote about air-ships in his romance, _The Angel of the -Revolution_, and everybody made merry at his expense. To-day airships -are declared to be the chief arm of Continental nations. - -Ah, yes! The world proceeds apace, and the unknown to-morrow ever brings -its amazing surprises and the adoption of the "crank's" ideas of -yesterday. - -Lola had called to see me. That fact conjured up in my imagination a -thousand startling theories. - -Why? - -Why had she called, after all that had passed between us? - -I waited, waited for the coming of that mysterious cyclist, who arose -from nowhere, and whose business with Jules Jeanjean was of such vast -and secret importance. - -The very fact of Jeanjean being in Cromer had staggered me. As I sat -there smoking, and listening, I recollected when last I had heard -mention of his name. Hamard--the great Hamard--Chief of the _Sûreté_ of -Paris, had been seated in his private bureau in the offices of the -detective police. - -He had leaned back in his chair, and blowing a cloud of tobacco-smoke -from his lips, had said in French-- - -"Ah! Mon cher Vidal, we are face to face in this affair with Jules -Jeanjean, the most ingenious and most elusive criminal that we have met -this century in France. In other walks of life Jeanjean would have been -a great man--a millionaire financier, a Minister of the Cabinet, a -great general--a leader of men. But in the circumstances this -arch-adventurer, who slips through our fingers, no matter what trap we -set for him, is a criminal of a type such as Europe has never known -within the memory of living man. Personally I admire his pluck, his -energy, his inventiveness, his audacity, his iron nerve, and his amazing -cunning. Truly, now, cher ami, he is a marvel. There is but one -master-criminal, Jules Jeanjean." - -That was the character given him by Monsieur Hamard, the greatest French -detective since Lecoq. - -And now this master-criminal was beneath the railway arch at Cromer -meeting in secret a mysterious cyclist! - -What evil was now intended? - -I waited, my ears strained to catch every sound. But I only heard the -distant rumble of the thunder, away across the North Sea, and, -somewhere, the dismal howling of a dog. - -I waited, and still waited. The sky grew brighter, and I grew -perceptibly colder, so that I turned up my coat-collar, and shivered, -even though the previous day had been so unusually warm. The car smelt -of petrol and oil--a smell that nauseated me--and yet my face was turned -to the open country ready to follow and track down the man who had swept -past me to keep that mysterious tryst in the darkness. - -Looking back, I saw, away to the right, the white shafts of light from -the high-up lighthouse, slowly sweeping the horizon, flashing warning to -mariners upon that dangerous coast, while, far away in the distance over -the sea, I could just discern a flash from the lightship on the -Haisboro' Sands. - -In the valley, deep below, lay Cromer, the street-lamps reflecting upon -the low storm-clouds. At that moment the thunder-storm threatened to -burst. - -Yet I waited, and waited, watching the rose of dawn slowly spreading in -the Eastern sky. - -Silence--a complete and impressive silence had fallen--even the dog had -now ceased to howl. - -And yet I possessed myself in patience, my ears strained for the -"pop-pop" of the returning motor-cycle. - -A farmer's cart, with fresh vegetables and fruit for the Cromer shops on -the morrow, creaked slowly past, and the driver in his broad Norfolk -dialect asked me-- - -"Any trouble, sir?" - -I replied in the negative, whereupon he whipped up his horse, bade me a -cheery "good morning," and descended the hill. For a long time, as I -refilled and relit my pipe, I could hear the receding wheels, but no -sound of a motor-cycle could I hear. - -Time passed, the flush of dawn crept over the sea, brightened swiftly, -and then overcast night gave place to a calm and clear morning. The -larks, in the fields on either side, rose to greet the rising sun, and -the day broke gloriously. Many a dawn had I witnessed in various parts -of the world, from the snows of Spitzbergen to the baking sands of the -Sahara, but never a more glorious one than that June morning in -Poppyland, for Cromer is one of the few places in England where you can -witness the sun both rise from, and set in the sea. - -My headlights had burned themselves out long ago. It was now four -o'clock. Strange that the nocturnal cyclist did not return! - -All my preparations had, it seemed, been in vain. - -I knew, however, that I was dealing with Jules Jeanjean, a past-master -in crime, a man who, no doubt, was fully aware of the inquiries being -made by the plain-clothes officers from Norwich, and who inwardly -laughed them to scorn. - -The man who had defied the Paris _Sûreté_ would hardly entertain any -fear of the Norfolk Constabulary. - -Many country carts, most of them going towards Cromer, now passed me, -and their drivers wished me "Good morning," but I remained at my lonely -vigil until five o'clock. Then I decided that Jeanjean's friend must -have taken another road out of Cromer, either the Sheringham, the Holt, -or the Overstrand, the three other main roads out of the town. - -What had Rayner done, I wondered? Where was he? - -I sat down upon the grassy bank at the roadside, still pondering. Of all -the mysteries of crime I had assisted in investigating, in order to -write down the details in my book, this was assuredly the most -remarkable. - -I knew that I was face to face with some great and startling affair, -some adventure which, when the truth became known, would amaze and -astound the world. Jules Jeanjean was not the man to attempt small -things. He left those to smaller men. In his profession he was the -master, and a thousand _escrocs_, all over the Continent, forgers, -international thieves, burglars, coiners, _rats d'hotel_--most ingenious -of malefactors--regarded the name of Jeanjean with awe. - -One of his exploits was well known up and down the Continent--for the -_Matin_ had published the full story a year ago. Under another name, and -in the guise of a wealthy _rentier_ of Paris, he made the acquaintance -of one of the Inspectors of the Paris detective service. Inviting him to -his private sitting-room in the _Hôtel Royale_, on the Promenade des -Anglais, he gave him an _aperitif_ which in less than three minutes -caused the police official to lose consciousness. Thereupon Jeanjean -took from the Inspector's pocket his card of authority as a detective--a -card signed by the Prefect of Police--and at once left the hotel. - -Next night, at the _Café Américain_ in Paris, he went up to a wealthy -German who was spending a harmless but gay evening at that well-known -supper-resort and arrested him for theft, exhibiting his warrant of -authority. - -In a taxi he conducted him to the Prefecture of Police, but on their way -the German asked him if they could come to terms. The pseudo-Inspector -hesitated, then told the taxi-driver to go to a small hotel opposite -the Gare du Nord. There he and his prisoner discussed terms, it being -eventually agreed that the German--a well-known shipowner of -Hamburg--should in the morning telegraph to his bank for eighty thousand -marks, for which sum he would be allowed to go at liberty. - -It was well known, of course, to Jeanjean that his "prisoner" had been -guilty of the offence for which he had "arrested" him, and the _coup_ -was quite easy. - -He kept the German in the hotel till ten o'clock next morning, and then -the pair went to the Crédit Lyonnais together. At four o'clock--the -bogus Inspector still with his "prisoner,"--the money was brought to the -obscure hotel, and after Jeanjean had carefully counted through the -notes he allowed his prey to go at liberty, advising him to take the -next train back to Germany. - -At six o'clock, the sun shining out warm and brightly, my patience was -exhausted. I had spent the night hours there in vain. Yet I dare not -drive the car into Cromer, for I intended to repeat my effort on the -following night. Therefore I started the engine, and was soon back in -the yard of the small hotel in Aylsham. - -There I put up the car, breakfasted, and then taking the first train to -North Walsham, arrived in Cromer about half-past nine o'clock. - -When I entered my room at the _Hôtel de Paris_ the maid came quickly -along, saying-- - -"Will you please go up to see your servant, sir! He's very unwell!" - -"Unwell?" I said. "Why, what's the matter?" - -"I don't know, sir. The police brought him in about half an hour ago. -He's been out all night, they say. And they found him very ill." - -I darted upstairs and entered Rayner's room without knocking. - -He was lying upon the bed, still dressed, his face pale as death. - -"Ah, sir!" he gasped, "I--I'm so glad you've come back! I--I wondered -whether anything had happened to you. I--I----" - -He stretched out his hand to me, but no other word escaped his lips. - -I saw that he had fainted. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CONTAINS A CLUE - - -At once I knew that some startling incident had happened. - -Dr. Sladen, called by the police, entered the room a few moments -afterwards, whereupon I turned to him, and in order to allay any undue -curiosity, said-- - -"My man has been taken ill, doctor. Exhaustion, I suppose. He's a great -walker, and, unknown to me, has apparently been out for a night ramble." - -"Ah, yes," answered the quiet, old-fashioned medical man, peering at the -invalid through his glasses. - -Slowly he took Rayner's pulse, and then said-- - -"Heart a little weak, I suppose. There's nothing really wrong--eh?" - -"I think not. He was talking to me only a few moments ago, and then -suddenly fainted. Been on a long ramble, I should think." - -"At night, eh?" asked the doctor in some surprise. - -"It is a habit of his to walk at night. He does the same thing in -London--walks miles and miles." - -We dashed cold water into Rayner's face, gave him a smelling-bottle -belonging to one of the maids, and very soon he came round again, -opening his eyes in wonder at his surroundings. - -"Here's Doctor Sladen," I said. "You feel better now, don't you, -Rayner?" - -"Yes, sir," was his feeble reply. - -"Ah, you've been on one of your night rambles again," I said -reprovingly. "You over-do it, you know." - -Then Sladen asked him a few questions, and finding that he had -recovered, shook my hand and left. - -The instant the door was closed upon the doctor Rayner sat up, and with -a serious expression upon his face said-- - -"Something has happened, sir. I don't know what. I'll tell you all I -know. I went up to the railway arch as you directed, and lay down in the -hedge to wait. After a long time the foreigner from the Overstrand Road -came along, lit a cigar, and waited. He was wearing an overcoat, and I -suppose he must have waited a full half-hour, until, at last, the -cyclist came. They had a brief talk. Then the cyclist left his cycle -about fifty yards from where I was in hiding, and both men set off -towards the town. I, of course, followed at a decent distance, and they -didn't hear me because of the rubber soles on my boots." - -"Well, what then?" I inquired impatiently. - -"They separated just against the _Albion_, and then followed one another -past the church, and to the left, behind this hotel, and along to the -house where the dead man lived--the house you pointed out to me. Close -by they met another man who, in the darkness, I took to be a chauffeur. -But I had, then, to draw back into a doorway to watch their movements. -The chap I took to be a chauffeur, after a few words with the two -foreigners, came along in my direction, and passed within a yard of me, -when of a sudden he turned and faced me. 'What are you doing here?' he -asked quickly. 'Nothing,' was my reply. 'Then take that for your -inquisitiveness,' he said, and in a second I felt something over both my -nose and mouth. It was only for a second, but I recollect I smelt a -strong smell of almonds; and then I knew no more, nothing until I found -myself here." - -"That's most extraordinary!" I exclaimed. "Then you don't know what -became of the three men?" - -"Not in the least, sir," Rayner replied. "I was so thoroughly taken -aback, that I must have gone down like a log." - -"Then, that's all you know?" - -"Yes, sir." - -Scarcely had he finished relating his strange adventure than Inspector -Treeton entered, and greeting me, explained how Rayner had been found by -a constable, lying senseless, about three miles out of the town on the -road to Holt. - -By that I knew he must have been conveyed there, probably by a -motor-car, driven by the chauffeur who had so mysteriously attacked him, -apparently at the foreigners' orders. It was Jeanjean's work, no doubt. -The Frenchman had seemingly eyes at the back of his head, and had -evidently detected that his actions were being spied upon. - -To the police inspector I made no mystery of the affair, merely -replying, as I had to the doctor, that my manservant was in the habit of -taking long walks, long nocturnal rambles, and that he evidently had -overdone it. - -"Doctor Sladen has already been here and seen him," I added. "He says -he's quite right again." - -This satisfied the highly-esteemed local inspector, and presently he -left us, expressing the hope that Rayner would very soon be himself once -more. - -"Well," I said to my man when the inspector had gone, "it's evident that -while you were unconscious they picked you up, put you in the car, and -tipped you out upon the road outside the town. Perhaps they believed you -to be dead." - -"Like enough, sir," he said, smiling grimly. - -"They evidently trapped you, Rayner," I said, laughing. "You were not -sharp enough." - -"But, who'd have thought that the fellow could have come straight for -me, and rendered me insensible in a tick--as he did?" asked my man as he -lay, still extended on the bed, a dirty, dishevelled figure. "I know I -was caught, sir; those men were cleverer than I was, I admit." - -"Yes, Rayner," was my reply. "I don't blame you in the least. I'm only -glad that your plight isn't worse. The men had a motor-car, it seems, at -their disposal somewhere, and they went in the direction of Holt." - -"That appears so, sir." - -"Why, I wonder? Bertini probably obtained his machine and followed the -car. They must have gone either through Wells and Fakenham, or East -Dereham." - -"Back to Norwich, perhaps, sir. All roads from here seem to lead to -Norwich." - -"But you say the incident happened close to Beacon House, where old -Gregory lived--eh?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then they objected to you being present. Evidently something was -intended and you prevented it." - -"No. Perhaps I didn't prevent it. They prevented me instead." - -Rayner was a bit of a humorist. - -"Quite likely," I answered, smiling. But I was full of chagrin that I -had been out all night, waiting on that lonely road, while that -mysterious affair had been in progress. - -"Well, at any rate, Rayner, you've had a very funny experience," I said, -with a laugh. - -"And not the first, sir, eh?" he replied, stretching lazily on the bed. -"Do you recollect that funny case at Pegli, just outside Genoa? My word, -those two assassins nearly did me in that night, sir." - -"And three nights later we gave them over to agents of the Department of -Public Security," I said. "Yes, Rayner, you had a tough half-hour, I -know. But you're an adventurer, like myself. As long as we solve a -mystery we don't regret the peril, or the adventure, do we?" - -"No, sir. I don't--as long as you give a guiding eye over it. But I -tell you straight, sir, I don't like detectives. They're chumps, most of -'em." - -"No. Don't condemn them," I said. "Rather condemn the blind and silly -police system of England. The man who snares a rabbit gets a conviction -recorded against him, while the shark in the city pays toll to the Party -and becomes a Baronet. I'm no socialist," I added, "but I believe in -honesty in our daily life. Honesty in man, and modesty in woman, are the -two ideals we should always retain, even in this age of degeneracy and -irreligion." - -"I think the local police are blundering the whole of this affair," -Rayner went on. "Yet I can't make out by what means I was so suddenly -put out of action. That curious, strong smell of almonds puzzles me. -It's in my nostrils now." - -"Your fancy, I expect," I said. - -At that moment came a knock at the door, and the tall young constable -entered, the same man who had been on duty when I had gone up to inspect -the seat where Craig's body had been found. - -"The Inspector has sent me, sir," he exclaimed, saluting, "to say he'd -like to see you at once. He's just along the West Cliff--at Beacon -House, where Mr. Craig lived in." - -"Certainly," I replied. "Tell him I will come at once." - -The constable disappeared, and turning to Rayner, I said: "I wonder why -Treeton wishes to see me in such a hurry? What has happened now?" Then, -promising to return quickly, I went out. - -At Beacon House, I found Treeton standing in the front sitting-room, on -the ground-floor, talking seriously with the landlady. - -"Hulloa! Mr. Vidal," he exclaimed as I entered. "Something more has -occurred in this house during the night. The place has been broken into -by burglars, who've got clean away with all old Mr. Gregory's collection -of jewellery." - -"Burglary," I repeated slowly; and then all that Rayner had told me -flashed across my mind. I saw the reason for Jeanjean and his mysterious -cyclist companion being near the house, and also why Rayner, on being -detected, had been rendered senseless. - -"Have you found any trace of the thieves?" I asked, having already -decided to keep my own information to myself. - -"Lots of traces," laughed Treeton. "Come and see for yourself." - -We ascended the stairs, followed by the excited landlady and her -husband. - -"This is really terrible," moaned the woman. "I wish we'd never set eyes -upon the poor young man and his uncle. We heard nothing in the night, -nothing. In fact, I didn't discover that the room had been opened until -an hour ago, when I was sweeping down the stairs. Then I noticed that -the seals placed upon it had been broken, and the lock sawn right out. -Why we didn't hear them, I can't think!" - -"Ah, you don't hear much when the modern burglar is at work," declared -Treeton. "They're far too scientific for that." - -He showed me the door, from which the lock had been cut away, saying-- - -"They evidently got in by the window of the room downstairs, where we've -just been, for it was found closed but not latched. They came up these -stairs, cut out the lock, as you see--and look at that!" he added as we -entered the old man's room. - -The strong old sea-chest stood in the centre of the room. The lid, which -had been nailed down, and sealed by the police, had been wrenched off -and the box stood empty! - -"Look!" cried Treeton again. "Every scrap gone--and it must have been a -pretty bulky lot--a couple, or even three, sacksful at the least." - -I went to the two windows which overlooked the narrow street behind, and -examining the sills, saw marks where the paint had recently been rubbed -away. - -"Yes, I see," I remarked, "and they lowered the plunder to confederates -outside." - -"But who could have known of the existence of the jewellery, here?" -asked Treeton. "Only ourselves were aware of it. At the inquest all -mention of it was carefully suppressed." - -"Somebody, of course, must have talked, perhaps unthinkingly, about it, -and the news got round to the thieves," remarked the landlord. - -I remained silent. Had I not, from the first, marvelled that old Mr. -Gregory should disappear and leave behind him that collection of -valuables? - -"I've wired to Norwich, to Frayne, to come over at once, and see if he -can find any finger-prints," said the local inspector. "We've discovered -something here which the burglars left behind. Look at this." - -And from a corner of the room he picked up something and handed it to -me. - -It was a woman's little, patent leather walking-shoe, with two white -pearl buttons as fastening. The size I judged to be threes, but, as it -was still fastened, it must have been too large for the wearer, who -apparently having dropped it, was unable for some reason to regain it, -and so left it behind. - -"That's very strange!" I said, turning the little shoe over in my hand. -It was not much worn, and of very good quality. "A woman has evidently -been here!" - -"Evidently, Mr. Vidal," replied the officer. "But surely a woman would -never have the pluck to do a job of this sort. Nine people slept in this -house last night and never heard a sound." - -Truth to tell, I did not expect they would have done, now that I knew -the robbery had been engineered by Jules Jeanjean. - -"Very remarkable--very," I declared. "Probably Frayne, when he takes the -finger-prints, will find some clue," I added, laughing inwardly, for I -knew that those who had committed that robbery were far too clever to -leave behind any traces of their identity. Besides, to actually lower -the booty down into a public street showed a daring spirit which one -only finds in the most expert criminals. - -I could not, however, account for the discovery of that little shoe. Had -it really been lost--or had it been placed there in order to mystify and -mislead the police? - -The latter suggestion had, of course, never entered Treeton's head. - -"I wonder," I said to him, "if you would allow me to take this shoe -along to the hotel? I want to take the exact measurements." - -"Certainly, Mr. Vidal," was his reply. "You'll send it round to me, at -the station, afterwards?" - -"In an hour you shall have it," I promised him. Then I placed the shoe -in my pocket, and made a tour of the room, touching nothing because of -Frayne's coming hunt for finger-prints. - -Jeanjean always wore gloves, skin-thin, rubber-gloves, which left no -trace of his light touch. The curved lines of his thumb and forefinger -were far too well known in Paris, in London, in Berlin and Rome, where -the bureaux of detective police all possessed enlarged photographs of -them. - -Back in my room at the _Hôtel de Paris_, I took from a drawer the -plaster cast of the woman's footprints I had found near the spot where -Craig had been found. - -Then, carrying it down to the shore near the pier, I made a print with -the cast in the wet sand left hard by the receding tide. - -Afterwards, I took the tiny, patent leather shoe from my pocket, and -placed it carefully in the print. - -It fitted exactly. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE AFFAIR ON THE SEVENTEENTH - - -The ingenious theft of old Gregory's treasure created the greatest -consternation amongst the police, though the truth was carefully -concealed from the public. - -Treeton pledged Mr. and Mrs. Dean and their servant to secrecy, -therefore all that was known in Cromer was that there had been an -attempted burglary at Beacon House. - -Cromer is a quiet, law-abiding town, and burglars had not been known -there for years. Therefore the inhabitants were naturally alarmed, and -now carefully locked and bolted their doors at night. - -I returned the shoe to the police-station, but made no mention of the -result of my test. - -From the first I had guessed that old Gregory would not leave his -treasure behind. Yet, if he were not guilty of Craig's murder, why had -he fled? - -Lola had visited him, and Jeanjean had been in Cromer. Those two facts -were, in themselves, sufficient to tell me that Gregory was an impostor -and that Craig, whoever he might really have been, had fallen the victim -of some deadly vengeance. - -Would Lola return to see me? - -In the days that followed--bright June days, with the North Sea lying -calm and blue below the cliffs--I waited in patience, scarce leaving the -hotel all day, in fear lest she might again seek me, and, paying me a -visit, find me absent. - -Rayner considered me inactive and grumbled in consequence. - -He spent his time lolling upon one of the seats on the cliff-top outside -the hotel, idly smoking Virginian cigarettes. He had openly expressed -his dissatisfaction that I had not made any attempt to follow the -mysterious Doctor Arendt and his Italian friend. - -Truth to tell, I was utterly confounded. - -To follow Jules Jeanjean, now that he had got clean away with Gregory's -treasure, would, I felt, be an utterly futile task. He was too clever to -leave any trace behind--a past-master in the art of evasion, and a man -of a hundred clever disguises. - -What would they say at the Prefecture of Police in Paris, when I related -to them the strange story of Jeanjean's exploits in England? Was it -possible, I wondered, that the master-criminal, finding the Continent of -Europe growing a trifle too hot for him, had come to England to follow -his nefarious profession. If so, then he would certainly cause a great -deal of trouble to the famous Council of Seven at the Criminal -Investigation Department in London. - -Thus days went on--warm, idle, summer days with holiday visitors daily -arriving, houses being repainted, and Cromer putting on her best -appearance for the coming "season." Seaside towns always blossom forth -into fresh paint in the month of June, window-sashes in white and doors -in green. But Cromer, with its golf and high-class music, is essentially -a resort of the wealthy, a place where the tripper is unwanted and where -there are no importunate long-shoremen suggesting that it is a "Nice day -for a bowot, sir!" - -Where was Lola? Would she ever return? - -I idled about the hotel, impatient and angry with myself. Yes, Rayner -was right after all! I ought to have made some effort to follow the -three men. But now, it was quite impossible. They were, no doubt, far -away, and probably old Gregory's treasure was by that time safe in his -own hands. - -The evidence of the shoe puzzled me. The wearer of that little shoe with -the two pearl buttons had, without doubt, been near that seat on the -East Cliff where Craig had been killed--present, in all probability, -when he had been so mysteriously stricken down. - -Was it possible that a woman--the same woman--had assisted in the -burglary, and had inadvertently lost her shoe? Perhaps she had taken -her shoes off in order to move noiselessly, and in trying to recover -them could only regain one! - -Lola, I remembered, possessed a very small foot. She was always -extremely neat and dainty about the ankles and wore silk stockings and -pretty shoes. Was it the print of her foot that I had found near that -fatal seat? Was it her shoe that had been found at Beacon House? - -Ah! If I could but see her? If she would only call upon me once again! - -Day after day I waited, but, alas, she did not come. - -That she was most anxious to see me was proved by the fact that she had -dared to call at all after what had occurred. She had some strong motive -in meeting me again, therefore I lived on in hope that she would return. - -The Nightingale! Heavens! What strange memories that one word brought -back to me as I sat in the window of my high-up room, gazing over the -summer sea. - -It was now July, and Cromer was rapidly filling with better-class folk. -Now and then I went to London, but only for the day, fearing lest Lola -should send me a telegram to meet her. In my absence Rayner always -remained on duty. - -I had written to her address in the Avenue Pereire, in Paris, but had -received no reply. Then I had sent a line to the concierge of the house -wherein the flat was situated. To this I had received an ill-scribbled -few lines in French, expressing a regret that Mademoiselle had vacated -the place some weeks previously and that her present address was -unknown. - -Unknown! Well, that, after all, scarcely surprised me. Lola's address -generally was unknown. Only her most intimate friends ever knew it; and -for obvious reasons. She existed always in a deadly fear. - -Perhaps it was that very fear which even now kept her from me! - -Several times I had advertised in the personal column of the _Matin_ in -the hope that she might see it and communicate with me, but all to no -avail. - -In Cromer the sensation caused by the mysterious crime had quite died -down. - -Frayne, in Norwich, had ceased to make further inquiry, and Treeton now -regarded the problem as one that would never be solved. So, with the -daily arrival of visitors, Cromer and its tradespeople and landladies -forgot the curious affair which had afforded them such a "nine days' -wonder." - -The month of July passed, and, with the London season over, every one -rushed to the seaside. Cromer was filled to overflowing. The narrow -streets were crowded with well-dressed folk, and large cars passed one -at every turn. Stifled town-dwellers were there to enjoy the strong, -healthy breezes from the North Sea, and to indulge in the bathing and -the golf. - -Yet, though August came, I still kept on my room at the _Paris_, hoping -against hope that Lola might yet return. - -Quite suddenly, one day, I recollected that curious letter in Italian, -signed "Egisto," and addressed to his "Illustrious Master," found at -Beacon House. - -It had referred to something which had appeared in the Paris _Matin_ of -March 17. Consequently I sent to Paris for a copy of the paper, and, one -morning, the pale yellow sheet arrived. - -"The business we have been so long arranging, was successfully concluded -last night," the writer of the letter had said, adding that a report of -it appeared in the _Matin_ on the day of this letter. - -Eagerly I searched the paper, which was, as usual, full of sensational -reports, for the French newspaper reader dearly loves a tragedy. - -The "feature" of the paper is always placed in the right-hand corner -near the bottom, and, as I searched, my eyes fell upon the words, in -bold capitals: "Motor Bandits: Dastardly Outrage near Fontainebleau." - -What followed, roughly translated into English, read-- - -"By telephone from Fontainebleau. Early this morning we have received -information of a dastardly outrage in which two lives have been -sacrificed. It appears that, just after midnight, Monsieur Charles -Benoy, the well-known jeweller of the Rue de la Paix, was travelling -from Paris to his château near Maret-sur-Loire, on the other side of the -Forest of Fontainebleau. He was accompanied by his son Pierre, aged -twenty-four, and driven by the chauffeur, named Petit. With him, in the -car, M. Benoy had in their leather cases four diamond collars of great -value, and two pearl necklaces, which he intended to show next day to a -certain American gentleman who has recently purchased the ancient -Château de Provins, and who was one of the jeweller's customers. - -"M. Benoy's intention was to take the jewels over to Provins in his car -on the following morning. Apparently all went well on the journey. They -passed through Melun, entered the Forest, and at a high speed passed -through the little hamlet of Chantoïseau, where they were seen by two -gendarmes. - -"According to the story of the chauffeur, when about four kilometres -beyond Chantoïseau, at a lonely point of the forest, he saw two red -lights being waved in the roadway, and reduced his speed on this sign of -danger. - -"As he did so, however, three men sprang out from the undergrowth. They -called upon him to stop, and a revolver was fired point-blank at him. -Next moment the bandits fired, without further ado, upon the occupants -of the car, but the chauffeur, severely wounded, then fainted, and knew -no more until he recovered consciousness in the barracks of the -Gendarmerie in Moret. - -"What happened, apparently, was that the three assassins, after shooting -all three of the occupants of the car, threw the bodies into the -roadway, seized the automobile, and drove off with the jewels. M. Benoy -and his son were dead when found, the father having two bullet-wounds in -his head, while the son had been struck in the region of the heart. The -chauffeur, Petit, lies in a critical condition, and only with great -difficulty has been able to give an account of the murderous attack. - -"Inquiries at M. Benoy's shop, in the Rue de la Paix, have revealed the -fact that the jewellery is worth about four hundred thousand francs. - -"The car was seen returning through Melun, being driven at a furious -pace by the bandits, but, unfortunately, all traces of it, and of the -three men, have been lost. - -"According to the chauffeur's description of one of the men, who wore -motor-goggles as a disguise, the police believe the outrage to be the -work of the notorious Jules Jeanjean, the ingenious criminal of whom the -police have been so long in search. - -"The occupants of the car were treated with inhuman brutality. The -bodies of both father and son, together with the number-plates of the -car, were thrown unceremoniously into the undergrowth; that of Petit was -allowed to lie across the footpath, but for what reason cannot be -guessed at. - -"From the fact that the number-plates of the car have been found, it -would appear that before the bandits moved off they replaced the correct -numbers by false ones. No doubt, also, a rapid attempt was made to alter -the appearance of the body of the car, because, close by, there were -found two pails containing grey paint, and large brushes with the paint -still wet in them. - -"From this it is seen that the intention of the bandits was to make a -long run, perhaps all through the following day, to reach some distant -point of safety. - -"It will be remembered that Jules Jeanjean was the prime mover in the -terrible outrage near Lyons, where three motorists were shot dead and -two wounded. Two men named Dubois, and Leblon, were arrested, and before -their condemnation confessed that Jeanjean, a dangerous anarchist, had -instigated the plot. - -"Readers of the _Matin_ will not need to be reminded of the many -desperate crimes of which this atrocious scoundrel has been the author; -of his amazing daring and marvellous cunning; and of the almost uncanny -ease with which he, time after time, defies every effort of the police -to trace and capture him. - -"M. Hamard, Chef de la Sûreté, and several inspectors have left Paris, -and are upon the scene of the outrage, while descriptions of the missing -jewellery have already been circulated." - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -LOLA - - -Several times I re-read the account of the dastardly outrage. - -Too well I knew how dangerous and desperate a man was Jules Jeanjean, -the studious, and apparently harmless, Belgian doctor, who had lodged in -the Overstrand Road, and had strolled about the pier and promenade of -Cromer. His name, during the last three years or so, had become well -known from end to end of Europe as an Anarchist who defied all the -powers of law and order; a man who moved from place to place with -marvellous swiftness, and who passed from frontier to frontier under the -very noses of the commissaries of police stationed there. - -His narrowest escape of capture had been one day in Charleroi, where, -while sitting before the _Café des XXV_, he had been recognized by an -inspector of the French _Sûreté_, who was in Belgium upon another -matter. The inspector called a local agent of police, who suddenly -pounced upon him, but in an instant Jeanjean had drawn a revolver, with -which he shot the unfortunate policeman dead, and, in the confusion, -escaped. - -He then wrote an impudent letter to the Prefecture of Police in Paris, -telling them that his intention was to serve any other police agent the -same who might attempt to arrest him. - -I took from my dispatch-box the copy I had made of the letter in -Italian, found at Beacon House. In the light of that newspaper report it -proved curious and interesting reading. - -Who was the writer, Egisto? Evidently one of the conspirators. It was a -report to his "Illustrious Master," of what had been done. Who was his -Master? Surely not Jules Jeanjean, because one sentence read, "J. -arrives back in Algiers to-morrow." - -Was it possible that the "Illustrious Master"--the man who actually -plotted and directed those dramatic coups--was none other than old -Gregory himself! - -The letter was certainly a report to the head of an association of -dangerous malefactors. Who "H." was, who had "left as arranged," I knew -not, but "J." evidently indicated Jules Jeanjean, and the fact that he -would arrive back in Algiers on the morrow, showed first, that his -hiding-place was on the other side of the Mediterranean; and, secondly, -that after the crime a dash had been made to the south to join the -mail-boat at Marseilles. The writer, Egisto, had left the other, -travelling via Brindisi, to Port Said, so leaving the Paris police to -again search for them in vain. - -"Does H. know anything, do you think?" was the question Egisto had asked -in his letter. - -Did "H." indicate Monsieur Hamard, the Chef de la Sûreté? - -My own theory was that "H." did indicate that well-known official, whom -the gang had so often defied. - -The writer, too, declared that "The Nightingale" still sang on blithely. - -I knew the singer, the pretty, refined, fair-haired girl, so neat and -dainty, with the sweet, clear contralto voice. It was Lola--Lola Sorel! - -On the morning of August 24, I was standing with Mr. Day on the -well-kept lawn outside the coast-guard station, watching the life-boat -being launched for the benefit of the visitors, and in order to collect -funds for the Life-boat Institution. The morning was perfect, with -bright sunshine, a clear sky and glassy sea. Below us, the promenade and -beach were thronged with summer visitors in light clothes, and the scene -was one of brightness and merriment. - -Amid the cheers of the waiting crowd the life-boat, guided by its -gallant crew of North Sea fishermen, wearing their cork belts, went -slowly down to the water's edge. The instant it was launched, Mr. Day, -who held a huge pistol in his hand, fired a green rocket high into the -air--the signal to the Haisboro' Lightship that aid was on its way. - -Just as he had done so, a telegraph-boy handed me a message. - -I tore it open and read the words-- - -"Can you meet me at the _Maid's Head Hotel_, Norwich, this afternoon at -four? Urgent. Reply, _King's Head Hotel_, Beccles--LOLA." - -My heart gave a great bound. - -From the messenger I obtained a telegraph-form, and at once replied in -the affirmative. - -Just before four o'clock I entered the covered courtyard of the old -_Maid's Head Hotel_, in Norwich, one of the most famous and popular -hostelries in Norfolk. John Peston mentioned it in 1472, when its sign -was _The Murtel_ or _Molde Fish_, and to-day, remodelled with taste, and -its ancient features jealously preserved, it is well known to every -motorist who visits the capital of Norfolk, the metropolis of Eastern -England. - -I engaged a small private sitting-room on the first-floor, a pretty, -old-fashioned apartment with bright chintzes, and a bowl of fresh roses -upon the polished table in the centre. Telling the waiter I expected a -lady, I stood at the window to await my visitor. - -As I stood there, all-impatient, the Cathedral chimes close by told the -hour of four, and shortly afterwards I heard the noise of a car turning -from the street into the courtyard. - -Was it Lola? - -From the room in which I was I could not see either roadway or -courtyard, therefore I waited, my ears strained to catch the sound of -footsteps upon the stairs. - -Suddenly I heard some one ascending. The handle of the door was turned, -and next second I found myself face to face with the slim, fair-haired -girl whose coming I had so long awaited. - -She came forward smiling, her white-gloved hand outstretched, her pretty -countenance slightly flushed, exclaiming in French-- - -"Ah! M'sieu' Vidal! After all this time!" - -"It is not my fault, Mademoiselle, that we are such strangers," I -replied with a smile, bowing over her hand as the waiter closed the -door. - -She was a charming little person, sweet and dainty from head to foot. -Dressed in a black coat and skirt, the former relieved with a collar of -turquoise silk, and the latter cut short, so that her silk-encased -ankles and small shoes were revealed. She wore a tiny close-fitting felt -hat, and a boa of grey ostrich feathers around her neck. - -Her countenance was pale with well-moulded features of soft sympathetic -beauty, a finely-poised head with pretty dimpled chin, and a straight -nose, well-defined eyebrows, and a pair of eyes of that clear blue that -always seemed to me unfathomable. - -I drew forward a chair, and she sank into it, stretching forth her small -feet and displaying her neat black silk stockings from beneath the hem -of her short skirt, which, adorned with big ball buttons, was discreetly -opened at the side to allow freedom in walking. - -"Well, and why did you not call again upon me in Cromer?" I asked in -English, for I knew that she spoke our language always perfectly. - -"Because--well, because I was unable," was her reply. - -"Why did you not write?" I asked. "I've been waiting weeks for you." - -"I know. I heard so," she said with a smile. "I am ve-ry sorry, but I -was prevented," she went on with a pretty, musical accent. "That same -evening I called upon you, I had to leave Cromer ve-ry hurriedly." - -A strange thought flashed across my mind. Had her sudden departure been -due to the theft at Beacon House? Had she been present then and lost her -shoe? - -I glanced at the shoes she wore. They were very smart, of black patent -leather, with a strip of white leather along the upper edge. Yes, the -size looked to me just the same as that of the little shoe which so -exactly fitted the imprint I had made in the sand. - -"Why did you leave so quickly?" I asked, standing before her, and -leaning against the table, as I looked into the wonderful eyes of the -chic little Parisienne. - -"I was compelled," was her brief response. - -"You might have written to me." - -"What was the use, M'sieu' Vidal? I went straight back to France. Then -to Austria, Hungary, and Russia," she answered. "Only the day before -yesterday I returned to London." - -"From where?" - -"From Algiers." - -Algiers! The mention of that town recalled the fact that it was the -hiding-place of the notorious Jules Jeanjean. - -"Why have you been in Algiers--and in August, too?" - -"Not for pleasure," she replied with a grim smile. "The place is a -perfect oven just now--as you may well imagine. But I was forced to go." - -"Forced against your will, Lola, eh?" I asked, bending towards her, and -looking her full in the face very seriously. - -"Yes," she admitted, her eyes cast down, "against my will. I had a -message to deliver." - -"To whom?" - -"To my uncle." - -"Not a message," I said, correcting her. "Something more valuable than -mere words. Is not that so?" - -The Nightingale nodded in the affirmative, her blue eyes still downcast -in shame. - -"Where was your starting-point?" I asked. - -"In St. Petersburg, a fortnight ago. I was given the little box in the -_Hôtel de l'Europe_, and that night I concealed its contents in the -clothes I wore. Some of them I sewed into the hem of my travelling-coat, -and, and----" - -"Stones they were, I suppose?" I said, interrupting. - -"Yes, from Lobenski's, the jeweller's in the Nevski," she replied. -"Well, that night I left Petersburg and travelled to Vienna, thence to -Trieste, where I found my uncle's yacht awaiting me, and we went down -the Adriatic and along the Mediterranean to Algiers. My uncle was -already at home. The _coup_ was a large one, I believe. Have you seen -reports of it in the English papers?" she asked. - -"Certainly," I replied. For a fortnight before I had read in several of -the newspapers of the daring robbery committed at the shop of Lobenski, -the Russian Court Jeweller, and of the theft of a large quantity of -diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. The safe, believed to be impregnable, -had been fused by an oxygen acetylene jet, and the whole of its contents -stolen. From what Lola had revealed, it seemed that Jeanjean had had no -actual hand in the theft, for he had been in Algiers awaiting the booty. -But he always travelled swiftly after a _coup_. - -"Did the papers say much about it?" asked Lola, with interest. - -"Oh, just a sensational story," I replied. "But I never dreamt that you -were in Russia, Lola--that you had carried the stones across Europe sewn -in your dress!" - -"Ah! It is not the first time, as you know, M'sieu' Vidal," she sighed. -"There is always danger of some customs officer or agent of police -recognizing me. But uncle says I am unsuspected, and hence the work is -assigned always to me." - -"And you have come to England to see me--eh? Why?" I asked, looking -again into her clear blue eyes. - -"I have come, M'sieu' Vidal, in order to ask a further favour of you--a -request I almost fear to make after your great generosity towards me." - -"Oh! Don't let us speak of that," I said. "It is all past and over. I -only acted as any other man would have done in the circumstances, Lola!" - -"You acted as a gentleman would act," she said. "But, alas! How few real -gentlemen are met by a wretched girl like myself," she added bitterly. -"Suppose you had acted as thousands would have done. Where should I be -now? Spending my days in one of your female prisons here." - -"Instead of which you are still the little Nightingale, who sings so -blithely, and who is so inexpressibly dainty and charming," I said with -a smile. "At the best hotels up and down Europe, Lola Sorel is a -well-known figure, always ready to flirt with the idle youngsters, and -to make herself pleasant to those of her own sex. Only they must be -wealthy--eh?" - -She made a quick movement as though to arrest the flow of my words. - -"You are, alas! right, M'sieu' Vidal," she replied. "Ah, if you only -knew how I hate it all--how day by day, hour by hour--I fear that I may -blunder and consequently find myself in the hands of the police--if----" - -"Never, if you follow your uncle, Jules Jeanjean," I interrupted. "And, -I suppose, you are still doing so?" - -She sighed heavily, and a hard expression crossed her pretty face. - -"Alas! I am forced to. You know the bitter truth, M'sieu' Vidal--the -tragedy of my life." - -For a few moments I remained silent, my eyes upon her. - -I knew full well the strange, romantic story of that pretty French girl -seated before me--the sweet, refined little person--scarcely more than a -child--whose present, and whose future, were so entirely in the hands of -that notorious criminal. - -Why had I not telegraphed to the Paris police on discovering Jeanjean's -presence in Cromer? For one reason alone. Because his arrest would also -mean hers. He had too vowed in my presence that if he were ever taken -alive, he would betray his niece, because she had once, in a moment of -despair and horror, at one of his cold-blooded crimes, threatened to -give him away. - -As she sat there, her face sweet and soft as a child's, her blue eyes so -clear and innocent, one would never dream that she was the cat's-paw of -the most ingenious and dangerous association of jewel thieves in the -whole of Europe. - -Truly her story was a strange one--one of the strangest of any girl in -the world. - -She noticed my thoughtfulness, and suddenly put out her little hand -until it touched mine; then, looking into my eyes, she asked, in a low, -intense voice-- - -"What are you thinking about?" - -"I am thinking of you, Lola," I replied. "I am wondering what really -happened in Cromer, back in the month of June. You are here to -explain--eh? Will you tell me?" - -Her brows contracted slightly, and she drew her hand back from mine. - -"You know what happened," she said. - -"I don't. Explain it all to me in confidence," I urged. "You surely know -me well enough to rely upon my keeping the secret." - -"Ah, no!" she cried, starting up suddenly, a strange light of fear in -her eyes. "Never, M'sieu' Vidal! I--I can tell you nothing of -that--nothing more than what you already know. Please don't ask -me--never ask me again, for I--I can't tell you! It was all too -dastardly, too terrible!" - -And the girl, with a wild gesture, covered her pale face with her little -hands as though to shut out from memory the grim recollection of a scene -that was full of bitterness and horror. - -"But you will tell me the truth, Lola. Do. I beg of you?" I urged, -placing my hand tenderly upon her shoulder. - -"No," she cried in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "No. Don't ask me. -Please don't ask me." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -RELATES A STRANGE STORY - - -I stood before Lola, grieved at her distress. - -Too well I knew, alas! how deeply she had suffered, of all the -bitterness and remorse with which her young life was filled, blighted by -an ever-present terror, her youth sapped and her ideas warped by living -in an atmosphere of criminality. - -Rapidly, as I took her little hands in unspoken sympathy, recollections -of our strangely-made acquaintanceship ran through my memory, and before -me arose a truly dramatic and impressive scene. - -I had first seen Lola, two years before, seated alone at luncheon in the -pretty salle-à-manger of the _Hôtel d'Angleterre_ in Copenhagen. Many -eyes were upon her because of her youth and beauty, and many men sitting -at the various tables cast admiring glances at her. - -I was with my friend, Jack Bellairs, and we were breaking our journey -for a few days in the Danish capital, before going up to Norway -salmon-fishing. - -Jack first noted her, and drew my attention to the fact that she was -alone. At the time, I knew nothing of the two men who were lunching -together at another table at the further end of the room, and that the -name of one of them was Jules Jeanjean. - -The girl, we discovered from the concierge, had been living alone in the -hotel for a month, and had become on very friendly terms with a certain -very wealthy Hungarian lady, the Baroness Függer, of Budapest. She -accompanied the Baroness everywhere, but the reason she was lunching -alone that morning was because the Baroness was absent for the day at -Elsinore. - -During the next day or two we saw the stately old lady, whose chief -delight seemed to be the ostentatious display of jewellery, constantly -in Lola's company. The girl, though admired everywhere, treated all the -men about her with utter unconcern, being most modest and reserved. - -On the fourth morning of our stay, at about ten o'clock, the hotel was -thrown into the greatest commotion by an amazing report that the -Baroness's bedroom had been entered during the night and the whole -contents of her jewel-case stolen. The police were at once called, and -were mystified by the fact that the Baroness had locked her door before -retiring, and that it was still locked when she awoke in the morning. -Therefore, it seemed that the jewels had been abstracted immediately -before she had entered the room on the previous night--stolen by some -one well acquainted with their hiding-place--for the jewel-case was kept -for safety at the bottom of a trunk full of soiled linen. - -Naturally the police inquired if any of the visitors had left the hotel -since the previous night, but no person had left. All the visitors who -had been in the hotel the previous day at noon were still there. The -night-porter had not noticed anything suspicious, and nobody had heard -any unusual sound during the night. - -All of us in the hotel were closely interrogated, including Lola, who -preserved an air of deepest regret that her dear friend, the Baroness, -should have been so ingeniously robbed. Indeed, it was during that -interrogation that I had first exchanged words with her. - -"I can't understand it," she had declared to me in French. "I was in the -Baroness's room until she returned at a quarter to twelve, and I am -quite sure the jewels were there because, when she took off her diamond -necklet, I got out the case, and placed it with the other jewels." - -"The case might then have been already empty," said the Commissary of -Police, who was making the investigation. - -"It might have been, of course," replied the girl. "But the diamond -necklet is no longer there!" - -Well, to go into the whole details of the inquiry is unnecessary. -Suffice it to say that, though the police searched everywhere, and the -Baroness indignantly invoked the aid of her Legation, nothing was ever -recovered, and at last I departed for Norway, leaving the Baroness still -enjoying the bright companionship of the young and pretty Lola. - -The two sedate visitors, one of whom I knew later on as Jules Jeanjean, -also remained idling their days in the pleasant city, awaiting the -conclusion of a business deal, but, of course, holding no communication -with the fair-haired young girl. - -After that, quite a year passed, and I found myself, in the course of my -erratic wanderings, guest of Lord Bracondale at a shooting-party at -Balmaclellan Castle, up in Kirkcudbrightshire--in that wild, lonely, -heather-clad land which lies between New Galloway and the Solway Firth. - -As is well known, the Earl and Countess of Bracondale surround -themselves with a very smart set, and the party in question was a big -one. Indeed, most of the rooms in the historic Scottish Castle were -occupied, and while there was good sport by day, there was at night much -dancing in the fine old ball-room, and much bridge-playing. - -In the midst of all the gaiety came the County Ball at Dumfries, to -which the whole party went over, the ladies eclipsing each other with -their jewels, as the function is always one of the smartest in Scotland. - -My room at the castle, a big oak-panelled one, was in the east wing, at -the top of a steep flight of spiral stairs set in a corner tower, and on -the night following that of the ball, at about half-past two in the -morning, I awoke, and lay thinking, when I fancied I heard somebody -moving about, outside my door. - -I strained my ears to listen. - -The room next mine, further along the corridor, was occupied by a Mrs. -Forbes Wilson, the widow of the well-known American millionaire, while -further beyond slept Lady Oxborough, and beyond these were several other -visitors' rooms. - -I suppose I must have listened for nearly a quarter of an hour, drowsily -wondering who could be on the move, when suddenly I was thoroughly -roused by hearing a sharp click. The door of the room adjoining mine had -been closed! - -This struck me as distinctly curious, because, only at six o'clock the -previous evening, Mrs. Forbes Wilson had been called away suddenly to -the bedside of her little daughter, who had been taken ill at Wigton, -where she was stopping with friends. The widow had taken her maid with -her, and left very hurriedly, leaving her luggage behind, and promising -to return next day if there was nothing seriously wrong with her child. - -Some one was moving about in her room! - -I lay there wondering. But as the minutes passed, and I heard no further -sound, I began to believe that my imagination had deceived me. I had -almost dozed off to sleep again when suddenly a brilliant ray of -electricity shot across my room--the light of a small electric -torch--and I was immediately aware that my own door had been opened -noiselessly, and an intruder had entered. - -Quick as thought I sprang out of bed in my pyjamas, but, as I did so, I -heard a woman's light scream, while the torch was instantly -extinguished. - -I was at the door, behind the intruder, and when, next moment, I -switched on the light, to my astonishment I found myself confronted with -Lola Sorel! - -"You!" I gasped, as the girl shrank from me against the wall, her face -white as death. "You--Mademoiselle! What is the meaning of this -visit--eh?" - -"Will you--will you close the door, M'sieur?" she begged in a low -whisper, in broken English. "Some one may overhear." - -I did as she bade, and slipped on my dressing-gown, which was hanging -over the foot-rail of the bed. - -"Well?" I asked, with a good deal of severity, for I saw by her manner -that she was there for some nefarious purpose. She was dressed in plain -black, with a neat little velvet cap, and wore slippers with rubber -soles. Her hands were covered with india-rubber gloves, such as surgeons -often wear when operating or making post-mortem examinations. Her -electric torch was attached to her wrist, while, beneath her dark -golf-coat, which fell open, I saw that she wore around her waist a -capacious bag of black silk. - -"I--I never dreamed that this was your room, M'sieur," the girl -declared, terrified. "I--I----" - -But she did not conclude her sentence, for she realized how completely -she had been trapped. Her pretty countenance betrayed terror in every -line, her eyes were staring and haggard, and her hands were trembling. - -"I--I--know there is no escape," she said with her pleasing French -accent. "You are aware of the truth, M'sieur--of what occurred in -Copenhagen. Ah, yes. It is Fate that you and I should again meet--and in -these circumstances." - -"Please be seated, Mademoiselle," I said. "You have no cause for alarm. -Naturally, this encounter has upset you." - -I feared that she might faint, therefore I went to the table where, on -the previous night, the valet had placed some brandy and a siphon of -soda. Mixing a little, I gave it to her to drink. - -"This will do you good," I said. - -Then, when she had swallowed it, I asked her to explain the reason of -her nocturnal visit to the castle. - -She looked a pale, pathetic little figure, seated there before me, her -fair head bowed with shame and confusion, her terrified eyes staring -into space. - -"I--I--am entirely in your hands, M'sieur," she stammered at last. "I -came here to thieve, because--because I am forced to do so. It was work -of peril for all three of us--for me most of all. This room was the last -I intended to visit--and in it I found the very last person I wished to -meet--you!" - -"Tell me more about yourself," I urged. "I'm greatly interested." - -"What is there to tell you?" she cried, her eyes filling with bitter -tears. "I am a thief--that's all. You are a guest here--and it is your -duty to your host to keep me here, and call the police. Jules was -watching on the stairs below. By this time he knows you have trapped me, -and they have both escaped--without a doubt--escaped with the stuff I -handed to them ten minutes ago." - -"Jules? Who is he?" I asked quickly. - -"Jules Jeanjean--my uncle," she replied. - -"Jules Jeanjean!" I ejaculated, "that man!" for the name was synonymous -for all that was audacious and criminal. - -"Yes, M'sieur." - -"And he is your uncle?" - -"Yes. At his instigation I am forced to do these things against my -will," she declared in a hard, bitter voice. "Ah, if only you knew--if -you knew everything, M'sieur, I believe you would have pity and -compassion for me--you would allow me one more chance--a chance to -escape--a chance to try once more to break away from these hateful men -who hold me in the hollow of their hands!" - -She spoke so fervently, so earnestly, that her appeal sank deeply into -my heart. By her despairing manner I saw that she hoped for no clemency, -for no sympathy, especially from me, who had actually been suspected of -the robbery in Copenhagen which she and her confederates had committed. - -"What have you in that bag?" I asked, indicating the black silk bag -beneath her coat. - -She placed her small hand into it and slowly and shamefacedly drew forth -a splendid collar of large pearls. - -"I took it from the next room," she said briefly. "I will replace it -if--if only you would allow me to get away," she added wistfully. - -"And the other stuff you have stolen?" - -"Ah! My uncle has it. He has already gone--carrying it with him!" - -"Deserted you--and left you to your fate--as soon as he realized the -danger," I remarked. "The coward!" - -"Yes. But it was fortunate that you did not come out of this room--upon -the stairs," she said. - -"Why?" - -"Because he would have killed you with as little compunction as he would -kill a fly," she replied slowly. - -"I quite believe that. His reputation is known all over Europe," I said. -"Mine was, no doubt, a fortunate escape." - -"Will you let me put these pearls back?" she asked eagerly. - -"No. Leave them on the table. I will replace them," I said. - -"Then, what do you intend doing with me?" she asked very seriously. -"Only allow me to go, and I shall always be grateful to you, -M'sieur--grateful to you all my life." - -And with a sudden movement she took my hand in hers, and looked so -earnestly into my eyes, that I stood before her fascinated by her -wonderful beauty. - -The scene was indeed a strange one. She pleaded to me for her liberty, -pleaded to me, throwing herself wildly upon her knees, covering her face -with her hands, and bursting into a torrent of hot, bitter tears. - -My duty, both towards my host and towards the guests whose jewellery had -been stolen by that silent-footed, expert little thief, was to raise the -alarm, and hand her over to the police. - -Yet so pitiful was her appeal, so tragic the story she had briefly -related to me, so earnest her promise never to offend again, that I -confess I could not bring myself to commit her to prison. - -I saw that she was but the unwilling cat's-paw of the most dangerous -criminal in Europe. Therefore, I gently assisted her to rise to her feet -and began to further question her. - -In confidence she told me her address in Paris--a flat in the Boulevard -Pereire--and then, after nearly half an hour's further conversation, I -said-- - -"Very well, Lola. You shall leave here, and I hope to see you in Paris -very shortly. I hope, too, that you will succeed in breaking away from -your uncle and his associates and so have a chance to live a life of -honesty." - -"Ah!" she sighed, gripping my hand with heartfelt thanks, as she turned -to creep from the room, and down the stairs. "Ah! If I could! If I only -could. _Au revoir_, M'sieur. You are indeed generous. I--I owe my life -to you--_au revoir_!" - -And, then? Well, she had slipped noiselessly down the winding stair, -while I had taken the pearl necklace and replaced it in the room of Mrs. -Forbes Wilson. - -Imagine the consternation next morning, when it was discovered that -burglars had entered the place, and had got clean away with jewellery -worth in all about thirty thousand pounds. - -I watched the investigations made by the police, who were summoned from -Dumfries by telephone. - -But I remained silent, and kept the secret of little Lola Sorel to -myself. - -And here she was, once again--standing before me! - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -WHEREIN CONFESSION IS MADE - - -"Well, Lola," I said at last, still holding her little hand in mine, -"and why cannot you reveal to me the truth regarding the mystery of the -death of Edward Craig?" - -"For a very good reason--because I do not myself know the exact -circumstances," was her prompt response, dropping into French. "I know -that you have made an investigation. What have you discovered?" - -"If you will be frank with me," I said, also in French, "I will be -equally frank with you." - -"But, have I not always been frank?" she protested. "Have I not always -told you the truth, ever since that night in Scotland when you trapped -me in your room. Don't you remember?" - -"Yes," I replied in a low voice. "I remember, alas! too well. You -promised in return for your liberty that you would break away from your -uncle." - -"Ah, I did--but I have been utterly unable, M'sieur Vidal," she cried -quickly in her broken English. "You don't know how much I have suffered -this past year--how terrible is my present position," she added in a -tone of poignant bitterness. - -"Yes, I quite understand and sympathize with you," I said, taking out a -cigarette and lighting it, while she sat back in the big old-fashioned -horse-hair arm-chair. "For weeks I have been endeavouring to find -you--after you came to Cromer to call upon me. You have left the -Boulevard Pereire." - -"Yes. I have been travelling constantly of late." - -"After the affair of the jeweller, Benoy--eh? Where were you at that -time?" - -"In Marseilles, awaiting my uncle. We crossed to Algiers together. -Thence we went along to Alexandria, and on to Cairo, where we met our -friends." - -"It was a dastardly business. I read of it in the _Matin_," I said. - -"Brutal--horrible!" declared the girl. "But is not my uncle an inhuman -brute--a fearless, desperate man, who carries out, with utter disregard -of human life, the amazing plots which are formed by one who is the -master of all the criminal arts." - -"Then he is not the prime mover of all these ingenious thefts?" I -exclaimed in some surprise, for I had always believed Jules Jeanjean to -be the head of that international band. - -"No. He acts under the direction of another, a man of amazing ingenuity -and colossal intellect. It is he who cleverly investigates, and gains -knowledge of those who possess rare jewels; he who watches craftily for -opportunities, who so carefully plans the _coups_, and who afterwards -arranges for the stones to be re-cut in Antwerp or Amsterdam." - -"Who is he?" I asked eagerly. "You may tell me in confidence. I will not -betray your secret." - -"He poses as a dealer in precious stones in London." - -"In London?" - -"Yes. He has an office in Hatton Garden, and is believed by other -dealers in precious stones to be a most respectable member of that -select little coterie that deals in gems." - -"What is his name?" - -The girl was silent for a few seconds. Then she said-- - -"In Cromer he has been known under the name of Vernon Gregory." - -"Gregory!" I gasped in astonishment. "What, to that quiet old man is due -the conception of all these great and daring robberies committed by -Jules Jeanjean?" - -"Yes. My uncle acts upon plans and information which the old man -supplies," Lola replied. "Being in the trade, the crafty old fellow -knows in whose hands lie the most valuable stones, and then lays his -cunningly-prepared plans accordingly--plans that my uncle desperately -carries out to the very letter." - -This statement much surprised me, for I had always regarded Jeanjean as -the instigator of the plots. But now, it appeared, old Gregory was the -head of Europe's most dangerous association of criminals. - -"Then the jewels found in Gregory's rooms at Cromer were all stolen -property?" - -"Yes. We were surprised that the police did not discover the real -owners," Lola replied. "The greater part of the jewels were taken from -the castle of the Grand Duke Alexander of Russia, just outside Kiev, -about nine months ago." - -"By you?" I asked with a grim smile. - -"Not all. Some," admitted the girl with a light laugh. Then she -continued: "We expected that when the old gentleman made such a hurried -flight from Cromer, the police would recognize the property from the -circulated description. But, as they did not, Uncle determined to regain -possession of it--which he did." - -"Who aided him?" - -"Egisto--a man who is generally known as Egisto Bertini." - -"The man who rode the motor-cycle?" - -She nodded. - -"And you assisted," I said. "Why did you leave your shoe behind?" - -"By accident. I thought I heard some of the occupants of the house -stirring, so fled without having an opportunity of recovering it. I -suppose it has puzzled the local police--eh?" she laughed merrily. - -"It did. You were all very clever, and my man, Rayner, was rendered -insensible." - -"Because he was a trifle too inquisitive. He was watching, and did not -know that my uncle, in such expeditions, has eyes in the back of his -head," she answered. "It was fortunate for him that he was not killed -outright, for, as you know, my uncle always, alas! believes in the old -maxim that dead men tell no tales." - -"The assassin!" I cried in fierce anger. "He will have many crimes to -answer for when at last the police lay hands upon him." - -"He will never be taken alive," she said. "He will denounce me, and then -kill himself. That is what he constantly threatens." - -"And because of that you fear to hold aloof and defy him?" I asked. "You -live in constant terror, Lola." - -"Yes. How can I act--how can I escape them? Advise me," she urged, her -face pale and intensely in earnest. - -I hesitated. It was certainly a difficult matter upon which to give -advice. The pretty girl before me had for several years been the -unwilling tool of that scoundrelly gang of bandits, whose organization -was so perfect that they were never arrested, nor was any of their booty -ever traced. - -The four or five men acting under the direction of the master-mind of -old Gregory were, in private life, all of them affluent and respected -citizens, either in England or in France, while Jules Jeanjean, I -afterwards learned, occupied a big white villa overlooking the blue sea -three miles out of Algiers. It was a place with wonderful gardens filled -with high date-palms and brilliant tropical flowers. There, in his hours -of retirement, Jules Jeanjean lived amid the most artistic and luxurious -surroundings, with many servants, and a couple of motor-cars, devoting -himself to experiments in wireless telegraphy, having fitted up a -powerful station for both receiving and transmitting. - -The science of wireless telegraphy was indeed his chief hobby, and he -spent many hours in listening to the messages from Pold, Poldhu, -Clifden, Soller, Paris, Port Said, or Norddeich on the North Sea, in -communicating with ships in the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Levant, -or on the Atlantic. - -I was wondering how to advise my little friend. Ever since our first -meeting my heart had been full of sympathy and compassion for her, so -frail seemed her frame, so tragic her life, and so fettered did she seem -to that disreputable gang. Yet, had she not pointed out to me, on the -several occasions on which we had met in Paris, the impossibility of -breaking the bonds which bound her to that detestable life? Indeed she -had, more than once, declared our meetings to be filled with peril for -myself. - -Her uncle knew me by repute as an investigator of crime, and if he ever -suspected me of prying into any affair in which he might be concerned, -then my life would most certainly be in jeopardy. Jules Jeanjean never -did things by halves. It was, I found, for that reason she had now -sought me--to beseech me to relinquish my efforts to fathom the mystery -of the death of Edward Craig. - -"Do heed what I say, M'sieur Vidal," she exclaimed with deep -earnestness. "My uncle knows that you are still in Cromer, and that you -have been investigating. In Algiers, a fortnight ago, he mentioned it to -me, and declared that very shortly you would cease to trouble him." - -"He intends foul play--eh?" I remarked with a grim smile, lighting -another cigarette. - -"He means mischief," she assured me. "He knows, too well, of your -success in other cases in which you have interested yourself," she -remarked quickly. "And he fears--fears lest you may discover the secret -of the young man's death." - -"And if I do?" I asked, looking straight into her face. - -"He does not intend that you shall," she replied very earnestly, adding: -"Ah! M'sieur Vidal, do heed my words--I beg you. Be warned by me!" - -"But, why?" I queried. "I am not afraid of Jules Jeanjean. I have never -done him an evil turn. Therefore, why should he conspire to take my -life? Besides, I already know of his connexion with the Cromer mystery, -the Benoy affair, and others. Could I not easily have sent a telegram to -the Prefecture of Police in Paris, when I recognized him in Cromer? But -I did not." - -"Why?" - -"For two reasons. First, I wished to stand aside and watch, and, -secondly, I feared to betray him for your sake, Lola." - -"Ah!" she exclaimed. "But you are always so generous. You know quite -well that he already believes that I have told you the truth. Therefore, -he suspects us both and is determined to put an end to your -inquisitiveness." - -"Unless I act swiftly--eh?" I suggested. - -"But think--what would then become of me?" she exclaimed, her eyes open -in quick alarm. - -"I can't see what you really have to fear," I said. "It is true, Lola, -that you live, like your friends, by dishonest methods, but have you not -been forced into it by your uncle? Even if you were arrested, the law -would treat you with the greatest leniency. Indeed, if necessary, I -would come forward and tell the Court all I have known and discovered -concerning the baneful influence which has been exercised upon you by -the man Jeanjean." - -She shook her head mournfully. - -"Alas! That would be of no avail," she declared in a low, strained -voice. - -"Why?" - -"Because--because, ah!--you do not know the truth," she faltered, her -face pale to the lips. - -"Cannot you explain it to me?" I asked, bending down to her, and placing -my hand tenderly upon her shoulder. - -I felt her shudder beneath my touch, while her big blue eyes were -downcast--downcast in shame. - -"No. I cannot explain," she replied. "If you knew, M'sieur Vidal, how -horrible, how terrible all this is for me, you would not press your -question." - -"But I do--in your interests," I said with deep earnestness. "I want to -help you to escape from these scoundrels--I want to stand as your -friend." - -"My friend!" she exclaimed blankly. "My friend--ah! that you can never -be." - -"Why not?" - -"You would not wish to cultivate my acquaintance further, M'sieur Vidal, -if--if you were aware of the actual truth. Besides, this friendship -which you have shown to me may, in itself, prove fatal to you. If you do -not exercise the greatest precaution, your reward for saving me, as you -did that night at Balmaclellan, will be death!" - -"You are apprehensive on my account?" I asked, wondering whether she -were really in earnest--or whether beneath her strange warning there lay -some subtle motive. - -"Yes," was her frank response. "Take great care, or death will come to -you at a moment when you least expect it." - -For an instant I was silent. Her warning was truly a curious and -disconcerting one, for I knew the dangerous character of Jules Jeanjean. -That if he threatened, he meant action. - -"I do not care for myself, Lola," I said at last. "I am thinking how I -can protect you, and rescue you from the hands of these unscrupulous -men." - -"You cannot," she declared, with a hard, fixed look of desperation. "No, -only be careful of yourself, and, at the same time, dismiss me from your -thoughts. I--I am unworthy of your regard," she murmured, her voice -choked by a sob. "Alas, entirely unworthy!" - -"No, no," I urged. "I will not allow you to speak like that, Lola. Ever -since you entered my room, on that well-remembered night in Scotland, I -have wondered how best I could assist you to lead an honest life; how I -could----" - -"I can accept no further assistance from you, M'sieur Vidal," she -interposed, in a quivering voice. "I repeat that I am utterly -unworthy," she cried, and shivered with despair, as she stood erect -before me. "And--and--if you only knew the truth--the terrible truth of -the past--you would at once, I know, turn and discard me--nay, you would -probably ring for the waiter and hand me over to the police without -either compunction or regret." - -And the girl, known as "The Nightingale," stood before me, her face -white and hard, her eyes with a strange light in them, staring straight -before her, her breast heaving and falling with emotion which she was -trying in vain to suppress. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -CONFIRMS CERTAIN SUSPICIONS - - -For yet another hour we sat together, but Lola would reveal nothing -further. - -She only repeated that serious warning, urging me to abandon this -investigation of the strange affair at Cromer. - -She refused to tell me the name under which old Gregory was known in -Hatton Garden, and she likewise firmly declined to give me any -information concerning the curious code which had been found in -Gregory's room. Indeed, she affected ignorance of it, as well as of the -mysterious spot in Ealing "where the two C's meet." - -"My uncle is in Antwerp," she told me in reply to a question. "I join -him to-morrow, and then we go travelling--where, I have no idea. But you -know how erratic and sudden our movements necessarily are. The master -usually meets my uncle in Antwerp, going there regularly in the guise of -a diamond merchant." - -"And you will not tell me the master's real name?" I asked -persuasively. - -"I am not allowed. If you discover it for yourself, then I shall not be -to blame," she said, with a meaning smile. "But do, I beg of you, give -up the search, M'sieu' Vidal. It can only end fatally if you still -persist." - -"You have warned me, Lola, and I thank you sincerely for doing so, but I -shall continue to act as I have begun." - -"At your own peril--a deadly peril!" she ejaculated, with an -apprehensive look. - -"I must accept the risk," I said quietly. "And I intend to still stand -your friend, Lola." - -"But you must not, you cannot!" she protested. "Of course I most deeply -appreciate all that you have done for me--and how generous you have -been, knowing that I am, alas! what I am. But I will not allow you to -risk your life further on my account." - -"That is really my own affair." - -"No. It is mine. I am here to-day, in secret, solely to warn you--to ask -you--to give up this inquiry, and allow the matter to rest a mystery," -she protested. "Will you not do this for my sake?" she pleaded. - -For a few seconds I paused, smiling at her. Then I replied-- - -"No. I cannot promise that. Young Craig was foully murdered, of that I -am confident, and I intend to unravel the mystery." - -"Even though it costs you your life?" she asked slowly. - -Why, I wondered, was she so frantically anxious for me to abandon the -inquiry? Was it really because she feared that her uncle might attempt -to rid himself of me, or had she some other hidden motive? - -The expression upon her sweet face had altered. It was eager and -apprehensive--a curious look, such as I had never witnessed there -before. - -Deeply in earnest, she was persuading me, with all the arts of which -she, as a woman, was capable to give up the investigation--why? - -My refusal evidently caused her the greatest anxiety--even deadly fear. -She would, however, reveal nothing more to me. Therefore, I told her -point-blank that I would make her no promise. - -"But you will think over my words," she said earnestly. "You will be -forewarned of the evil that is intended!" - -"If there is evil, then I will combat it," I replied briefly. "My first -concern is yourself, Lola. Do you remember our confidential talks when -we strolled together in the Bois--when you told me all your troubles, -and your fears?" - -"Yes," she replied in a strange, dreary voice. "But--but, I did not tell -you all. You do not know," she added in a whisper. - -"Tell me all," I urged. "I know you are--well, let us say it quite -plainly--a thief." - -"Ah! If I were only _that_, I might dare to look you in the face--to -crave your sympathy--your interest--your generosity once again. But I -cannot. No! I cannot," and she burst into tears. - -"Are we not friends?" I queried. "And between friends surely there may -be confidences." - -"To a certain degree, yes. But there is a limit even to confidences -between friends," was her slow, thoughtful reply, as she dried her eyes -with a little wisp of lace. - -I was disappointed. I had fully expected to obtain from her some clue -which might lead to a solution of the mystery of Craig's death. But she -was obdurate. - -"Lola," I said, taking her trembling hand again, "I wish to tell you -something." - -"Well, what is it?" she asked. - -"Simply this. I think I ought to tell you that, near that seat on the -cliff at Cromer, where Craig was found, there was discovered a clear -print of a lady's shoe," and I watched her countenance narrowly. - -Her face went paler in an instant, and in her eyes showed a quick look -of terror. But in a second she had recovered herself, and said-- - -"That is interesting. Do you think that its presence there gives any -clue to the assassin?" - -"I don't know," was my reply. I stood before her in wonder. Her perfect -sang-froid was truly amazing. "But," I went on, "curiously enough, the -same lady's shoe was found in Beacon House, after Gregory's property had -been carried off. It fitted exactly the imprint in the sand near the -seat." - -The only sign that her mind was perturbed by my knowledge was a slight -twitching at the corners of her pretty mouth. Yes, she preserved an -astounding calm. - -"That is curious," she remarked with unconcern. - -"Very," I declared, still gazing fixedly into her white face. "And can -you tell me nothing further regarding this affair?" I asked, bending to -her, and speaking in a whisper. - -She shook her head. - -I did not suspect--nay, I could not bring myself to believe--that Edward -Craig had fallen by her hand. Yet the facts were strange--amazingly -strange--and her demeanour was stranger still. - -We had tea together. She poured it out, and handed it to me daintily, -with a sweet smile upon her lips. Then after a further chat, she drew on -her long gloves, settled her skirts and prepared to leave. - -"A letter addressed to the Poste Restante at Versailles will always find -me," she said, in reply to my request for an address. "I use the name -Elise Leblanc." - -I made a rapid note of it upon my shirt-cuff, and having paid the bill, -we descended, and walked together, through the busy streets of Norwich, -to the Thorpe Station, where I saw her into the evening express for -London. - -"_Au revoir_, M'sieu' Vidal," she said, as she held my hand, before -entering the first-class compartment. "Do heed my warning, I beg of you. -Do not further imperil yourself. Will you?" - -"I cannot promise," I replied with a smile. - -"But you must not persist--or something will most surely happen," she -declared. "_Au revoir!_ If we meet again it must be in the strictest -secrecy. My uncle must never know." - -"_Au revoir!_" I said as the porter closed the door, and next moment the -train moved off. - -I saw her face smiling, and a white-gloved hand waving at the window, -and then "The Nightingale" had gone. - -A fortnight went by. I had packed my traps, and leaving Cromer, returned -to my rooms in London, and then crossed to Paris, where I spent a week -in close, anxious inquiry. - -Paris in August is given over to the Cookites and provincials, and most -of my friends were absent. - -The Prefecture of Police was, however, the chief centre of my sphere of -operations, for in that sombre room, with its large, littered -writing-table, its telephones, its green-painted walls, and green-baize -covered door, the private cabinet of my friend Henri Jonet--the famous -Chief Inspector of the _Sûreté_--I sat on several occasions discussing -the activity of Jeanjean and his clever gang. - -Jonet was a sharp-featured, clean-shaven man of about forty-five, short -and slightly stout, with a pair of merry dark eyes, his hair carefully -brushed and trousers always well creased. He was something of a dandy in -private life, even though he so often assumed various disguises, passing -very frequently as a camelot, or a respectable workman. Of his successes -in detection of crime all the world knew. - -Next to the Chef de la Sûreté, Chief Inspector Jonet was the most famous -police official in Paris, or even in France. In the course of the past -few years he had many times dealt unsuccessfully with crimes in which -the amazing Jules Jeanjean had been implicated. - -I had on many occasions assisted him in his investigations into other -matters, and, therefore, on the sultry afternoon, when I called and -presented my card, I was shown up immediately into his private -bureau--that dismal and rather depressing room, which I so well -remembered. - -We sat smoking together for a long time before I approached the subject -upon which I had called to consult him. - -He sat back in his chair enjoying the excellent Bogdanoff cigarette, a -fellow to which he had handed to me, and recalling a strange affair -that, a year ago, had occupied us both--a theft of bonds from a private -bank in the Boulevard Haussmann. - -Outside, the afternoon was blazing hot, therefore the green sun-shutters -were closed, and the room was in semi-darkness. Jonet's big -writing-table was piled with reports and correspondence, as well as one -or two recently-arrived photographs of persons wanted by the police -authorities of other European countries. - -Now and then the telephone buzzed, and he would reply, and give -instructions in a quick, sharp voice. Then he turned to me again and -continued our conversation. - -"The Benoy affair in March last was a sensational one--the murder of the -jeweller while in his motor-car in the Forest of Fontainebleau--you -remember," I remarked presently in French, leaning back in my chair and -puffing at my cigarette. "You made no arrest, did you?" - -"Yes, several. But we didn't get the culprits," he replied with a dry -smile. "It was our friend Jules Jeanjean again, without a doubt. But he -and his accomplices got clean away in the stolen car. It was found two -days later a mile out of Maçon, painted grey, and bearing another -number. The bandits evidently took train." - -"Where to?" - -"Who knows? Back to Paris, perhaps," was his reply, flicking the ash -from his cigarette. "Yet, though we made a close search, we found no -trace whatever of the interesting Jules. _Sapristí!_ I only wish I could -lay hands upon him. He is undoubtedly the most daring and dangerous -criminal in the whole of Europe," Jonet went on. "Of late we have had -reports of his doings from Germany and Russia, but he always escapes. A -big jewel robbery in Petersburg is his latest clever exploit. Yet how he -disposes of his booty always puzzles me. He must get rid of it -somewhere, and yet we never find any trace of it." - -I said nothing. From his words I saw how utterly ignorant even Jonet was -of the truth, and how little he suspected the actual fact that Jeanjean -was not the originator of those ingenious crimes but merely the -instrument of another and a master-brain. - -The great police official drew a long sigh, and expressed wonder as to -whether the elusive jewel-thief and assassin would ever fall into the -hands of justice. - -"At present he seems to bear quite a charmed life," he declared with a -smile. "He openly defies us each time--sometimes even going the length -of writing us an insulting letter, denouncing us as incompetent and -heaping ridicule upon the whole department of the _Sûreté_. It is that -which makes my officers so intensely keen to capture him." - -"I fear you will never do so," I remarked. - -"Why?" - -"Because Jeanjean is too clever to be caught. He is wary, rich, and -takes every precaution against surprise." - -"You know him--eh?" - -"Yes," I admitted. "But what is the latest information you have -regarding him?" - -Jonet took up the telephone and gave instructions for the dossier of the -great criminal to be brought to him. - -In a few moments a clerk entered bearing three formidable portfolios -full of reports, photographs, lists of stolen jewellery, and other -matters concerning the career of the man who had constantly baffled all -attempts to capture him. - -Jonet opened one of the portfolios and scanned several sheets of -closely-written reports. Then he said-- - -"It seems that he, with a young girl, said to be a niece of his, were in -Russia just prior to the great robbery from a jeweller in Petersburg. No -doubt they were implicated in it. The girl, travelling alone, passed the -frontier at Wirballen on the following day, but the telegram from the -Petersburg police arrived at the frontier too late, and in Germany she -disappeared." - -"And what about Jeanjean?" I asked. - -The famous Chief Inspector read on for a few moments. Then he replied-- - -"He was seen on the day of the theft, together with an Italian, believed -to be one of his accomplices, but after that nothing further was heard -of him until four days later. Then an inspector at Lille recognized him -from his circulated photograph, but not being quite certain, and also -knowing that, if the suspect were actually the man wanted, he would be -armed, and recollecting the affair at Charleroi, he did not care to make -a pounce single-handed. He went back to the police-station, but while he -was looking for the photograph, his man, evidently seeing he was -suspected, made his escape." - -"And have you a photograph of the girl?" I asked anxiously. - -"She has never been arrested, therefore we have no official portrait," -was his reply. "But last summer, one of my assistants, a young man named -Rothera, was in Dinard at the _Hôtel Royal_, keeping observation in -another matter, when one evening he saw a young girl, who was staying in -the hotel with an elderly aunt, meet in the Casino a man who greatly -resembled Jeanjean. The pair went out and had a long stroll, speaking -confidentially together. Meanwhile Rothera, like the inspector at Lille, -went to the local bureau de police to turn up the description of the -wanted man. Having done so, and having satisfied himself that it was -actually the master-criminal so long wanted, he took three men and -waited in patience in the country road along which the pair had -strolled. Two hours elapsed, when, to their dismay, the young girl -returned alone. Jeanjean, it was afterwards discovered, had a motor-car -awaiting him about four kilometres away along the Dinan road. Rothera -said nothing to the girl, but next day got into conversation with her in -the hotel. He was exceedingly attentive through several succeeding days, -and being an amateur photographer, asked to be allowed to take a -snapshot of her. He had satisfied himself that, from her description, -she was that female accomplice of the notorious jewel-thief, of whom we -possessed no portrait. She, quite unsuspecting, believed Rothera to be -an idle young man of means. He took the picture--and here it is," added -the Inspector, and passed over to me a photograph of post-card size. - -It was Lola. Lola, in a pretty white summer gown, lolling lazily in a -long cane chair upon the beach at Dinard, and laughing merrily, her hat -flung upon the ground, and her book in her lap. A pretty scene of summer -idleness. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -"WHERE THE TWO C'S MEET" - - -So Lola's portrait was in the hands of the French police. The fact -jarred upon me. - -But I was careful not to betray any of the agitation I felt, and after -gazing upon it in silence I remarked in a light tone to Jonet-- - -"That is the only portrait you've got--eh? Rather good-looking, isn't -she?" - -"Good-looking! Ah, mon cher Vidal, extremely beautiful, I call her," -declared the Inspector, taking the picture and gazing upon it. "Really," -he added, "it hardly seems possible that such a pretty girl should be -such a hardened and expert thief as she is reported to be." - -"I thought Jeanjean was the thief," I said with a pretence of surprise. - -Jonet lit a fresh cigarette, after offering me one. Then he said-- - -"It is on record here," and he tapped the damning portfolio that lay -under his hand, "that in at least half a dozen cases the methods have -been the same. The Nightingale--as the girl, whose real name is Lola -Sorel, but who has a dozen aliases--is called by her friends, goes with -her maid to one of the smartest hotels, say at Carlsbad, Nice, Aix, -Trouville, or London, Berlin, anywhere, where there are usually wealthy -women. She is a modest little person, and makes a long stay, keeping her -blue eyes well open for any visitor possessed of valuable jewellery. -Having fixed upon one, she carefully cultivates the lady's acquaintance, -is extremely affable, and soon becomes on such intimate terms with her -that she is admitted to her bedroom, and is then able to discover where -the lady's jewels are kept--whether the case is sufficiently small to be -portable, and if not, what kind of lock it has. Every detail she -carefully notes and passes on to Jeanjean, who, when the _coup_ is -ready, appears from nowhere. He is too wary to stay in the same hotel." - -"Then the girl has a maid with her!" I exclaimed. - -"Invariably," was Jonet's reply. "But the methods by which the robberies -are carried out are varied. In some cases the pretty Lola has simply -seized an opportunity to transfer her 'friend's' jewel-case to her own -room, whence it has been abstracted in her absence by Jeanjean. In other -cases while she has been out with the owner of the jewels, motoring, or -shopping, or at the theatre, Jeanjean, having had the tip from his -niece, has slipped in and secured the valuables. Again this method has -been varied by Lola stealing the best piece from the victim's room and -in the night handing it to Jeanjean from her bedroom window, as was done -at Cannes last winter, when the Princess Tynarowski lost her diamond -collar after a brief acquaintance with the fascinating Lola. The latter -remained in the hotel for nearly a fortnight following the theft and -left still enjoying the greatest friendship of the unsuspecting victim." - -"Then this girl must be very clever and daring," I exclaimed. - -"Yes. She is the tool of that scoundrel Jeanjean," declared Jonet, -closing the dossier. "Poor girl. Probably she acts entirely against her -will. The brute has her in his power, as so many girls are in the power -of unscrupulous men in the criminal under-world. They, in their -innocence, commit one crime, perhaps unconsciously, and for years -afterwards they are threatened with exposure to us; so, in order to -purchase their liberty, they are forced to become thieves and -adventuresses. Ah, yes, mon cher Vidal, that is a curious and tragic -side of criminal life, one of which the world never dreams." - -"Then you do not believe this girl is really a criminal from instinct?" -I asked eagerly. - -"No. She is under the all-compelling influence of Jeanjean, who will not -hesitate to take a life if it suits him; the man who has set at naught -every law of our civilized existence." - -"Her position must be one full of terror," I said. - -"Yes. Poor girl. Though I have never seen her, to my knowledge, yet I, -even though I am a police functionary, cannot help feeling pity for her. -Think what a girl forced into crime by such a man must suffer! Rothera -in his report says she is extremely refined and full of personal charm." - -"That is why wealthy women find her such a pleasant and engaging -companion, I suppose." - -"No doubt. Most middle-aged women take an interest in a pretty girl, -especially if she can tell a good story of her unhappiness with her -parents, or of some sorrowful love affair," remarked Jonet. "I expect -she can romance as well as you can, my friend," he laughed. "And you are -a professional writer." - -"Better, in all probability," I rejoined, also laughing. "At any rate it -seems that, by her romances, this fellow Jeanjean reaps a golden -harvest." - -"And I dare say her profits are not very much," said the police -official. "He probably pays all her hotel bills, and gives her a little -over for pocket money." - -"And the maid?" - -"Ah! She must be one of the gang. They would never risk being given away -by one who was not in the swim. The maid, if she were in ignorance of -what went on, would very quickly scent some mystery, for each time her -young mistress found a new friend in an hotel she would notice that -jewels invariably were reported missing, and a hue and cry raised. No. -The maid is an accomplice, and at this moment I am doing all I can to -fix the interesting pair." - -"And you will arrest them?" - -"Of course," he replied determinedly. "I sympathize with the pretty -little thief, yet I have my duty to perform. Besides, if I have the -interesting little lady here before me for interrogation, I shall, I -think, not be very long before I discover our friend Jeanjean in his -secret hiding-place." - -I did not answer for several minutes. - -A trap had evidently been laid for Lola, and, in her own interests, she -should be warned. - -Continuing, I further questioned my friend, and he told me some -astounding stories of Jeanjean's elusiveness. I, however, said nothing -of what I knew. I remained silent regarding the curious affair in -Cromer, and as to my knowledge that the pretty villa near Algiers -concealed the man for whom all the police of Europe were in search. - -My chief concern was for Lola, and that same evening I wrote to her at -the Poste Restante at Versailles giving her warning of what was -intended. She was probably in Brussels, but in due course would, no -doubt, receive my letter, and see me again, as I requested. - -On two other occasions I saw Jonet, but he had no further information -regarding Jeanjean and his gang. The chief point which puzzled him -seemed to be the fact that not a single stone, out of all the stolen -jewels, had been traced. - -"The receiver is an absolute mystery," he declared. "Perhaps the stuff -goes to London." - -"Perhaps," I said. "Have you made inquiry of Scotland Yard?" - -"Oh, yes. I was over there a month ago. But they either know nothing, or -else they are not inclined to help us." Then with a faint smile he -added, "As you know, mon cher ami, I have no very great admiration for -your English police. Their laws are always in favour of the criminal, -and their slowness of movement is astounding to us." - -"Yes. Your methods are more drastic and more effective in the detection -of crime," I admitted. - -"And in its prevention," he added. - -That day was the twenty-sixth of August, and as I walked along the Rue -de Rivoli back to the _Hotel Meurice_, I suddenly remembered the -mysterious tryst contained in that letter found in the pocket of Edward -Craig. The appointment at the spot, "where the two C's meet," at Ealing. - -I left Paris that night by the mail-train, crossed from Calais to Dover, -and at noon next day alighted at Ealing Broadway station. - -I had never been in Ealing before, and spent several hours wandering -about its quiet, well-kept suburban roads, many of them of -comfortable-looking detached villas. But I found the district a perfect -maze of streets, therefore I went and sat on one of the seats in the -small park in front of the station, wondering how best to act. - -Two clear days were still before me ere the meeting which had apparently -been arranged with old Gregory--the man with the master-mind. - -"Where the two C's meet." - -I lunched at the _Feathers Hotel_ near the station, and all that hot -afternoon wandered the streets, but failed to discover any clue. What -"C's" were meant? Possibly two persons whose initials were C were in the -habit of meeting at some spot, or in some house at Ealing--and Ealing is -a big place when one is presented with such a problem. - -Fagged and hungry, I returned to my rooms in Carlos Place, off Berkeley -Square, where Rayner was awaiting me. He knew the object of my search, -and as he admitted me, asked if I had been successful. - -"No, Rayner, I haven't," I snapped. "I can see no ray of daylight yet. -The appointment is an important one, no doubt, and one which we should -watch. But how?" - -"Well, sir," he replied, as I cast myself into my big arm-chair, and he -got out my slippers, "we could watch the two railway stations at Ealing, -and see if we detect old Gregory, or any of the others." - -"They might go to Ealing in a tram or a taxi," I suggested. - -"Yes, sir. But there'll be no harm in watching the trains, will there?" -my man remarked. "If he went in a taxi he might leave by train." - -"True," I said, and after a few seconds' reflection, added, "Yes. We'll -try the trains." - -So, on the night of the twenty-ninth, at about nine o'clock in the -evening, I took up my post in the small arcade which formed the exit of -the station and there waited patiently. - -I was in a shabby tweed suit, with patched boots, and a cloth golf-cap, -presenting the appearance of a respectable workman, as I smoked my -short briar-pipe and idled over the _Evening News_. - -As each train arrived I eagerly scanned the emerging passengers, while -pretending to look in the shop window, but I saw nobody whom I knew. - -The expression, "Where the two C's meet," kept running through my mind -as I stood there in impatient inactivity. It was already past nine, and, -in three-quarters of an hour, the fateful meeting, for somehow I felt -that it was a fateful meeting, would be held. - -The two "C's." The idea suddenly flashed across my mind, whether the -spot indicated could be the junction of two roads, or streets, the names -of which commenced with "C." Yet, how could I satisfy myself? If I -searched Ealing again for roads commencing with a "C," I could only do -so in daylight, too late to learn what I so dearly wished. - -Of a porter I inquired the time of arrival of the next underground train -and found that I had eight minutes. So I dashed along to the _Feathers -Hotel_, where I obtained a map of the Ealing district and eagerly -scanned it to find streets commencing with "C." - -For some minutes I was unsuccessful, until of a sudden I noticed -Castlebar Road, and examining the map carefully saw, to my excitement, -that at an acute angle it joined another road, called Carlton Road, a -triangular open space lying between the two thoroughfares. - -It was the spot in Ealing where the two C's met! - -I glanced at the clock. - -It still wanted a quarter to ten, therefore I drained my glass hastily -and, leaving the hotel, struck across the small open space opposite the -station, in which, in a direct line, lay the junction of the two roads. - -The evening was dark and sultry, with every indication of a -thunderstorm. I remembered Rayner's vigil, but alas! had no time to go -to him and explain my altered plans. - -Along the dark, rather ill-lit, suburban road I hurried until, before -me, I saw a big electric-light standard with four great inverted globes. - -It showed a parting of the ways. - -I looked at my watch as I passed a street-lamp, and saw that it wanted -two minutes to ten. - -And as I looked on ahead I saw, standing back in the shadow of the -trees, on the left-hand, a dark figure, but in the distance I could not -distinguish whether a man or a woman waited there. - -I hurried forward, full of eagerness, to witness the secret meeting, and -with an intention of watching and following those who met. - -Yet, could I have foreseen the due result of such inquisitiveness, I -scarcely think that I would have dared to tread ground so highly -dangerous. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -REVEALS ANOTHER PLOT - - -Approaching from Ealing Broadway, the huge electric-light standard, -which was also a sign-post, shed a bright glow across the junction of -the two roads. The thoroughfare on the right was Castlebar Road and on -the left Carlton Road. In the latter road stood half a dozen big old -trees, relics of a day when Ealing was a rural village and those trees -formed a leafy way. - -Beyond the sign-post, placed at the end of the triangle, lay a small -open space of grass, and behind it a pleasant house with many trees in -its spacious grounds. - -At that hour silence reigned in that highly respectable suburban -neighbourhood, and, as I went forward, I noticed that the figure beneath -the trees was that of a man, who, emerging from the shadow, crossed the -road leisurely and passed across the grass into the Castlebar Road, on -the right hand. - -He was dressed in dark clothes with a light grey felt hat, but so far -was I away that to see his features was impossible, though the zone of -light from the sign-post revealed his figure plainly. - -Once he halted and looked in my direction, on hearing my footsteps, I -suppose, but then continued his leisurely stroll. - -I was upon the left-hand pavement, and in order not to attract the man's -attention, passed along by the garden walls of the series of detached -villas, for about two hundred yards, until the road ran in a curve round -to the left, and thus I became hidden from his view. - -When I found that I had not attracted the attention of the waiting man -in the grey hat, I halted. - -Was that the spot indicated? Was he one of those keeping the -long-arranged appointment? - -Ten o'clock had struck fully five minutes before, therefore, treading -noiselessly, I retraced my steps until I could cautiously peep around -the corner and see over the triangular plot of grass to the Castlebar -Road. - -Yes, the man was still standing there awaiting somebody. I could see the -glowing end of his cigar. - -Fortunately, he had his back turned towards me, gazing in the direction -of the Broadway in apparent expectation. This allowed me to slip along a -few yards, and entering the garden gate of one of the villas, I crouched -down behind the low stone wall which separated the garden from the -footway. - -Kneeling there, I could watch without being seen, for fortunately the -stranger opposite had not seen me. - -I suppose I must have been there fully ten minutes. Several people -passed within a few inches of me quite unsuspicious of my presence. In -Castlebar Road a few people went along, but none interested the watcher. - -Of a sudden, however, after straining his eyes for a long time in the -direction whence I had come, he suddenly threw away his cigar and -started off eagerly. - -A few moments later I witnessed the approach of a short, thinnish man, -wearing a black overcoat, open, over his evening clothes, and an opera -hat. - -And as he approached I recognized him. It was none other than Gregory -himself! - -The two men shook hands heartily, and by their mutual enthusiasm I -realized that they could not have met for some considerable time. - -They halted on the kerb in eager consultation, then both with one accord -turned and strolled together in the direction of the station. - -Next moment I had slipped from my hiding-place and was lounging along at -a respectable distance behind them. - -How I regretted that I had had no time to hail Rayner, for he would have -had no difficulty in keeping observation upon the pair, while I, at any -moment, might be recognized by the cunning, clever old fellow to whose -inventiveness all the _coups_ of the notorious Jules Jeanjean were due. - -He seemed to walk more erect, and with more sprightliness, than at -Cromer, where his advanced age and slight infirmity were undoubtedly -assumed. In his present garb he really looked what he was supposed to -be--a wealthy dealer in gems. - -Engaged in earnest conversation, Gregory and his companion walked -together along the dark road until they came to a taxi-stand near the -station, when, entering the first cab, they drove rapidly away. - -The moment they had left, I leapt into the next cab and, telling the -driver to keep his friend in sight, we were soon moving along after the -red tail-light of the first taxi. - -The chase was an exciting one, for we whizzed along dark roads, quite -unfamiliar to me, roads lying to the south of Ealing towards the Thames. -My driver believed me to be a detective from my garb, and I did not -discourage the belief. - -Suddenly we turned to the right, when I recognized that we were in the -long, narrow town of Brentford, and travelling in the direction of Syon -House, the main road to Hounslow and Staines. At Spring Grove, which I -had known slightly in years gone by, we turned again to the right, and -were soon passing through a district of market-gardens and solitary -houses. - -On the way I had leaned out of the window and instructed the taxi-driver -to keep well behind the other cab, so as not to be discovered. -Therefore, in carrying out my orders, he suddenly put on his brakes and -stopped, saying-- - -"They're going into that house yonder, sir. See?" - -I nipped out quickly and saw that in the distance the other taxi had -pulled up and the two men had alighted before a garden gate. - -"Put out your lights, go back to the end of the road, and wait for me," -I said. - -Then I hurried forward to ascertain what I could. - -The taxi, having put down its two fares and been dismissed, turned and -passed me as I went forward. At last I had run the sly old fox, Gregory, -to earth, and I now meant to keep in touch with him. - -On approaching the house I found it to be a good-sized one, standing -back, lonely and deserted, in a weedy garden, and surrounded by big, -high elms. From the neglect apparent everywhere, the decayed oak fence, -and the grass-grown path leading to the front door, it was plain that -the place was unoccupied, though in two windows lights now shone, behind -dark-green holland blinds. - -The place seemed situated in the centre of some market-gardens, without -any other house in the near vicinity. A dismal, old-fashioned dwelling -far removed from the bustle of London life, and yet within hearing of -it, for, as I stood, I could see the night-glare of the metropolis -shining in the sky, upon my right, and could hear the roar of -motor-buses upon the main road through Spring Grove. - -For a few moments I stood up under the shadow of a big bush which -overhung the road, my eyes upon the lower window where the fights -showed. The house was half-covered with ivy and had bay-windows upon -each side of the front door, which was approached by a short flight of -moss-grown steps. - -That I was not mistaken in my surmise that the house was uninhabited was -proved by the "To Let" notice-board which I discerned lying behind the -fence, thrown down purposely, perhaps. - -Was old Gregory an intruder there? Had he purposely thrown down that -board in order that any person, seeing lights in the window, would not -have their suspicions sufficiently aroused to cause them to investigate? - -The house was a dark, weird one. But what would I not have given to be -inside, and to overhear what was being planned! - -Vernon Gregory was, according to Lola, the instigator of all those -marvellously ingenious thefts effected by Jeanjean. Was another great -robbery being planned? - -Perhaps the man in the grey hat had travelled from afar. Possibly so, -because of the long time in advance the appointment had been made. - -All was silent. Therefore I crept over the weedy garden until I stood -beneath the bay window in which a light was shining. - -I could hear voices--men's voices raised in controversy. Then, suddenly, -they only conversed in whispers. What was said, I could not distinguish. -They were speaking in French, but further than that I could catch -nothing. - -Sometimes they laughed heartily at something evidently hailed as a huge -joke. I distinctly heard Gregory's tones, but the others' I could not -recognize. As far as I could gather they were strangers to me. - -Was the place, I wondered, one of old Gregory's hiding-places? Though he -conducted his business in Hatton Garden, where he was well known, his -private address, Lola had told me, had always been a mystery, such pains -did he take to conceal it. - -Was that lonely house his place of abode? Had he met his friend in -Ealing and taken him there in order to place before him certain plans -for the future? - -I looked at the grim old house, with its mantle of ivy, and reflected -upon what quantities of stolen property it might contain! - -That the man I knew as Vernon Gregory was head of an association of the -cleverest jewel-thieves in the world, had been alleged by Lola, and I -believed her. His deep cunning and clever elusiveness, his amazing -craftiness and astounding foresight had been well illustrated by his -disappearance from Cromer, even though his flight had been so sudden -that he had been compelled to abandon his treasures. Yet as I stood -there, upon the carpet of weeds, with my ears strained, I could hear his -familiar voice speaking in slow measured tones, as he was explaining -something in elaborate detail. - -What was it? I stood there in a fever of excitement and curiosity. - -Yet I had one satisfaction. I had run him to earth at last. - -Presently the voices of the men were again raised in dissension. Gregory -had apparently made some statement from which the others--how many there -were, I knew not--dissented. They spoke rapidly in French, and I could -hear one man's mouth full of execrations, a hard, hoarse voice of one of -the lower class. - -Then I distinctly heard some one say in English-- - -"I don't believe it! He knows nothing. Why take such a step against an -innocent man?" - -"Because, I tell you, he knows too much!" declared Gregory, now speaking -loudly in English. "He was at Cromer, and discovered everything. Ah! you -don't know how shrewd and painstaking he is. Read his books and you will -see. He is the greatest danger confronting you to-day, my friends." - -I held my breath. They were discussing me! - -"I object," exclaimed the man who had first spoken in English. "He has -no evil intentions against us." - -"But he knows the Nightingale, and through her has learnt much," -Gregory replied promptly. - -"What?" gasped the unseen speaker. "Has she told him anything? Has the -girl betrayed us?" - -"Ask her," the old man urged. "She's upstairs. Call her." - -Lola was there--in that house! - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -DONE IN THE NIGHT - - -I heard the stranger's voice call-- - -"Lola! Lola! Come here. We want you." - -I heard her rather impatient reply, and then, a few moments later, she -descended the stairs and entered the room where the gang had been -discussing me. - -Some quick words in French were exchanged. Then I heard her cry-- - -"I tell you, I refuse!" - -A man's voice protested. - -"No, You shall not!" she declared in a loud, defiant voice. "If you do, -then the police shall know!" - -"Oh!" exclaimed old Gregory, whose voice I recognized. "Then you object, -Mademoiselle, eh?" - -"Yes. I do object, M'sieu'!" she cried. "If any attempt is made against -him, then I shall myself inform the police. Remember, M'sieu' Vidal is -my friend." - -"Your lover, perhaps," sneered the old man. - -"No," she cried in loud, angry protest. "He is not my lover! Would he -love a girl like myself--a girl who has been brought by you, and your -friends, to what I am?" - -"Well, you are a very pretty girl, and sometimes uncommonly useful to -your uncle," replied old Gregory tauntingly. - -"Of use to you!" she cried. "Yes, I know I am! And when you have no -further use for me, then--then--an accident will happen to me, and I -shall trouble you no further--an accident like that which you intend -shall befall Mr. Vidal!" - -I crouched against the window, my ears glued to the glass. I tried to -picture to myself the scene within--how the young girl I had befriended -in such curious circumstances was standing before them, defying them to -make any attempt to put me out of action. - -"You speak like a little fool, Lola," old Gregory declared. "You lead -the life of a lady of means. You travel with a maid, and all you have to -do is to be pleasant to people, and keep your eyes and ears open. For -that you receive very handsome rewards, and----" - -"And you make a million francs a year, M'sieur Gregory," she -interrupted. "Ah! when the police trace these marvellous plots to their -source, they will be surprised. One day the papers will be full of you -and your wicked doings--mark me!" - -"You are mad, you ungrateful little minx!" shouted the old man in -furious anger. "If you try to prevent me carrying out any of my schemes, -depend upon it you will rue it. I'm not a man to be played with!" - -"Neither am I to be played with, though I am only a girl!" she retorted. -"I'm desperate now--rendered desperate by you and your blackguardly -gang." - -"Because you fear for this novelist friend of yours--this prying person -who is so fond of investigating other people's affairs, and using the -material for his books, eh?" - -"Yes. I fear for him, because I know what is intended." - -"I tell you it's a matter which does not concern you," said the man with -the master-mind, as I listened attentively. - -"It does. He is my friend," she exclaimed in French. "I know that you -intend he shall die--and I will warn him." - -"You will, will you!" shouted Gregory, and I heard him spring to his -feet. "Repeat that, at your peril!" - -"I do repeat it!" said the girl wildly. "He shall not be harmed!" - -"Eh? So you are ready to betray us, are you!" said the old man in a -hard, hissing voice. - -"Yes," she cried in defiance. "I will, if you so much as touch a hair of -his head." - -"You will! Then take that!" screamed the old man, while, at the same -instant, I heard a heavy blow struck, followed by a woman's scream, and -a loud noise as she fell upon the floor. - -"_Dieu!_" I heard a man's voice exclaim. "Why--master--you've killed -her!" - -Then as I stood there, breathless, I heard some further conversation in -low tones. The ruffians were discussing the tragedy--for a tragedy I -felt it to be. A defenceless girl struck down by old Gregory--her lips -closed for ever because she had sought to protect me! - -These men feared me! This thought, despite the horror and anger with -which I was seething, flashed through my mind like fire. They believed -that I knew more than I really did. - -But it was a moment for action. Old Gregory had deliberately struck down -that unfortunate girl who had been trained until she had become an -expert thief, made a cat's paw and tool for that dangerous gang of -criminals. - -Creeping along the wall of the house, I managed to find and noiselessly -place against the window a rustic garden-chair, and discovering also a -heavy piece of wood. I prepared to make a dramatic entry into the room -where this tragedy had happened, and the conspiracy against my life was -being hatched. - -Again I listened. The voices were now so low that I could not catch the -words uttered. - -Then standing on a level with the window-sill, I raised my arm and with -the block of wood smashed one of the huge, long panes to fragments. - -The crash was startling, no doubt, but ere they could recover from it I -had dashed the holland blind aside and stepped boldly into the room, my -big Browning revolver in my hand, and my back instantly against the -wall. - -The scene there was truly a strange one. - -It was a dingy, old-fashioned drawing-room furnished in early Victorian -style, with ponderous walnut furniture, a brown threadbare carpet, ugly -arm-chairs, a what-not, and wax flowers under a glass dome, in the -fashion beloved by our grandmothers. By the fireplace was a cosy corner, -the upholstery of which was tattered and moth-eaten, while the stuffing -of some of the chairs appeared through the corners of the cushions. Near -where I stood was an old chintz-covered couch, and beyond, an arm-chair, -of the same inartistic description. - -The place smelt damp and musty, and in places the faded grey paper was -peeling from the walls. - -Three men were there. Gregory, and two others, strangers. The old man's -appearance had greatly altered from what it was when I had seen him -wandering about in Cromer. Then he had worn his white hair and beard -long, and with his broad forehead, his pointed chin, and wide-brimmed -slouch hat presented the picturesque appearance such as twenty years ago -used to be affected by literary men or artists. - -But now, as he stood before me, startled by my sudden appearance, I saw -that he wore both beard and hair much shorter, and, though he could not -alter his height, his facial expression was considerably different. - -In an instant I realized that I saw him now as he naturally was, while -in Cromer he had so disguised himself as to appear many years older than -was actually the case. - -His two companions were rather well-dressed men of perhaps thirty, one -of whom, a foreigner, wore a small pointed brown beard, while the other, -clean-shaven, was unmistakably an Englishman. Thieves they were both, -assuredly, yet in the street one would have passed them by as -respectable and rather refined citizens. - -"You! Vidal!" cried Gregory, starting back when I sprang so -unceremoniously into their midst. - -"Yes, Vidal, Mr. Gregory!" I cried, striving to remain calm. Yet how -could I, when my eyes fell upon the form of Lola, who, dressed in a -dark-brown walking-costume, was lying huddled up in a heap on the floor, -a few feet from where I stood. - -Blood was upon the bosom of her dress. She had been struck down brutally -with a knife! - -"I may tell you, Gregory," I said, as coolly as I could, "that I have -been listening to your interesting conspiracy to kill me. Well, do so -now, if you dare! My friends are outside. They will be charmed to meet -you, I assure you, especially after the foul deed you committed only a -few minutes ago." - -The three men started and exchanged glances. I saw by their faces that -they were frightened. Yet I dared not lower my pistol, or bend down to -Lola, for they would have jumped upon me instantly. - -As I spoke, I pushed forth my weapon threateningly, covering them with -it determinedly. But it required all my nerve to face them. - -"You are an assassin, sir!" I cried, "and I have caught you redhanded." - -"You haven't caught us yet," remarked the foreigner, defiantly, speaking -English with a strong accent; and the expressions upon the faces of all -three were villainous. - -My thoughts were not of myself, but to avenge that murderous blow which -had been struck at the poor defenceless girl. They were scoundrels, -without pity and without compunction, who held human life cheaply -whenever the existence of a person stood in the way of their schemes. - -And I knew that they intended that I, too, should die. - -But they were not quite sure whether I had the police waiting outside or -not. My bluff had worked. I saw how they hesitated. Even Gregory was -taken aback by my boldness in entering there and facing them. - -"I may tell you," I said, still keeping my back to the wall and my -useful Browning ready for business, "that I have discovered much more -concerning your interesting doings and your intentions than you -imagine." - -"Lola has told you!" burst forth old Gregory. "Well, she won't have -further opportunity of doing so." - -"And you will not have further opportunity of engineering your -remarkable thefts, my dear sir," I replied quite coolly. "The police -desire to see you, and to question you about a certain little affair at -Cromer, remember. You are extremely clever, Mr. Gregory--or whatever -your real name may be--but I tell you that you are at last unmasked. -To-morrow the papers will be full of your interesting career, and one -diamond-broker will disappear from Hatton Garden for ever." - -"Listen," cried the master-criminal to his companions, his face now -white as paper. "Hark what that little chit of a girl has been saying! -Was I not right to strike her down?" - -"Quite," admitted his two companions. - -"And now you will pay the penalty, my dear sir," I declared. "I intend -that you shall." - -"Put that revolver down," Gregory commanded. "Let us talk. You are -clever, Mr. Vidal, and I--well, I confess you have the whip hand of us." - -His companions looked at each other, dismayed at these words of the -Master. He had actually admitted defeat! - -For a few seconds I did not reply. I was reflecting, and it struck me -that this pretence of being vanquished might only be a ruse. Gregory was -far too clever and defiant a criminal to be beaten single-handed by the -man he so sincerely hated and feared. - -"No," I replied with a grim smile. "It is war between us, Mr. -Gregory--not peace. Therefore, I shall hold my revolver here until my -friends arrive. They will not be long, and I shall not suffer from -fatigue, I assure you." - -Gregory, quick-witted and shrewd, cast a rapid glance around as he stood -before me, a smart figure in his well-cut evening clothes, with a fine -diamond glistening in his pleated shirt-front. - -"Well," he exclaimed after a brief pause, "if you deliberately take on -the duties of the police, and pry into affairs which do not concern you, -then you must take the consequences." - -"For that very reason I have entered here," I said, "to become witness -of your dastardly crime. You have killed that girl--killed her because -you feared she would betray you." - -"She has betrayed us," he retorted. "And she deserves all she has got." - -"You infernal brute!" I cried. "If it were not that it would be -deliberate murder, I'd put a bullet through you in return." - -"Try it," he laughed jeeringly. "This quixotic temperament of yours will -be your undoing." - -"I befriended that unfortunate girl," I said. "And she has appreciated -what I did." - -"The little fool ran her head into a noose, I know," was his reply. "But -even though you befriended her, it gave her no right to betray us." - -"Nor any right to you to strike her down," I said, glancing at the white -face of the prostrate form. - -"Ah! You are her champion!" he laughed. "But you wouldn't be if you knew -the truth. She wasn't the innocent little person she led you to believe -she was." - -"No," I cried angrily. "You shall say nothing against your victim's -honour, curse you! I only thank Heaven that I'm here to-night--that I -know the truth regarding this tragedy. Your intention was--the intention -of all three of you, no doubt, was--to get rid of the evidence of your -crime. But that will now be impossible." - -As I uttered that last sentence, the bearded Frenchman made a movement -towards the door. - -"Halt!" I cried in a loud, imperious voice. "Come back here. Do not -attempt to leave this room or I'll shoot you," and as he glanced at me -he found himself looking into the barrel of my weapon. - -"Come," said Gregory. "Enough of this fooling! It's a drawn game between -us, Mr. Vidal. Why not let us discuss the future quietly and without any -ill-feeling on either side. I admit what I have done--killed the -traitress." - -"And by Heaven! you shall pay the penalty of your crime!" I cried. - -"Oh, shall I?" he laughed with a nonchalant air. "We shall see." - -Next instant I heard a sharp click in the passage outside and the room -was plunged in darkness. The electric light had been switched off by one -of Gregory's confederates out in the hall. - -I heard the door opened, and voices shouted wildly in French. - -"Just in time," I heard the new-comer cry. - -"Ah, Jules!" gasped Gregory. "You are late. Where have you been? Where -are you?" - -And, by the shuffling of feet, I knew that the men were groping about in -the darkness. - -Jules Jeanjean was there, in that room! - -"_Dieu!_ You were nearly trapped, all of you," I heard him cry. "Where -is he?" he asked, referring to myself. "He shall not live to blab. Mind -he doesn't get out by the window." - -But I still stood with my back against the wall, my pistol raised in -self-defence. - -A few moments elapsed--moments that seemed like hours--when of a sudden -my eyes were blinded by the ray of an electric torch which threw a -strong light upon me from the doorway. - -Ere I could realize my peril, there was a red flash, followed by a loud -explosion, and I felt a hot, stinging sensation in my throat. - -Then next second the blackness of unconsciousness fell upon me, and I -knew no more. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -RECORDS FURTHER FACTS - - -How long I remained there, or what subsequently happened to me, I did -not learn till long afterwards. - -I only knew, when I again awoke to consciousness, that it was day, and I -found myself in a narrow bed, with two nurses in blue linen dresses, and -white caps and aprons, standing near me, while two doctors were gazing -into my face with keen, anxious expressions. - -At first they would tell me nothing, even though, with a great effort, I -asked what had happened. Bandages were around my throat and across my -left shoulder, and I felt a nausea and a giddiness that I knew arose -from chloroform, and therefore that some operation had been performed. I -slowly struggled back to a knowledge of things about me. - -"It's all right, Mr. Vidal," the youngest of the two doctors assured me. -"Try and sleep. Don't worry. Everything is all right." - -I felt uncommonly drowsy, and again slept, and not until night had -fallen did I re-open my eyes. - -A night-nurse was seated at my bedside, reading by a green-shaded lamp. -The little room was in darkness, and I think I startled her when I -suddenly spoke. - -"Where am I, Nurse?" I inquired in a thin, weak voice, and with -difficulty. - -"This is the Cottage Hospital at Hounslow," was the reply. "You've been -here two days, but you are much better now. Don't talk, however, for the -doctor has forbidden it." - -"But I want to know what has happened," I protested. - -"Well, I don't exactly know," the dark-haired young woman answered. "I -only know what I've been told. That is, that a taxi-driver who took you -to some house beyond Spring Grove, grew tired of waiting for you, and on -going to the house found you in one of the rooms, dying." - -"Dying!" I gasped. "Ah! yes, I remember," I added, as recollections of -that fateful night arose within my memory. - -"Yes. You were suffering from a serious bullet-wound in the throat," she -went on. "The window of the room was smashed, but your friends had all -fled." - -"My friends!" I echoed. "Who said they were my friends?" - -"The taxi-driver said so, I believe." - -"Where is he?" - -"He has promised to come to-morrow, to see you." - -"But was not a lady found in the same room?" I inquired eagerly, trying -to raise myself. "She had been killed--deliberately struck down!" - -"Yes. I've heard that a lady was found there." - -"Was she brought here, with me?" - -"No" was the nurse's reply. "She was removed, but to what place I've not -heard." - -Lola was dead! Ah! The sight of that white, upturned face, so delicate -and sweet, and of that dark, ugly stream of blood across the bosom of -her dress, haunted me. I recollected those hideous moments when, being -on my guard against the assassins, I alas! had no opportunity of lending -her aid. - -She was found dead, apparently, and they had removed her body--probably -to the nearest mortuary to await an inquest. - -All my thoughts became confused when I realized the tragic truth. The -nurse saw that I was upset and urged to try to sleep again. Indeed she -gave me a draught which the doctor had ordered and, presently, though -much against my inclination, I again dozed off. - -It was once more day--a warm, sunny day--when I became thoroughly alive -to things about me. The doctors came and expressed satisfaction at my -improvement, dressed my wound, which I confess was very painful, and -declared that I had had a very narrow escape. - -"A quarter of an inch further to the left, Mr. Vidal," one of the -surgeons remarked, "and we couldn't have saved you." - -Towards noon the taxi-driver, cap in hand, came up to my bedside to -inquire how I was. His name was Stevens. The nurse would not, however, -allow me to put many questions to him. - -"You were such a long time gone, sir, that I thought I'd just come up -and see if you wanted me any more. I had to get over to Acton to the -garage, for I'd had a long day," he told me. "I'd just got to the garden -gate when I heard a pistol shot and, entering the garden, and seeing the -window smashed, I suspected something wrong. I got in at the window and -found the room in darkness. A light was burning in the hall and the door -was open. Quickly I found the electric switch and, turning it, saw you -lying on the floor close beside the body of a young lady." - -"Did you see the other men?" I asked eagerly. - -"At first sir, I believed it to be a case of murder and suicide," -answered Stevens, "but a moment later, as I stood in the room horrified -at the discovery, I heard several persons leave the house. I tried to -raise an alarm, but nobody heard me, so they got clean away. I examined -the young lady and yourself, then I rushed out for help. At the bottom -of the road I went towards my cab, but as I did so, I heard the engine -started and the red tail-lamp moved off, away from me. Those fellows -that had run from the house were inside. Yes, sir, them vagabonds had -stolen my cab!" - -"What did you do then?" I asked excitedly. - -"Why, I yelled after 'em, but nobody heard me, until presently I came -across a copper and told him what was up. We soon got another taxi and -went back to the house, and there we found you both a-lying as I'd left -you." - -"Was the lady alive?" I queried huskily. - -"Yes. She was a-breathing slightly, and as we thought she was injured -worse than you, the copper took her off at once to the Brentford -Hospital by herself, as there wasn't room for both of you in the cab. On -the way he sent another taxi back for me and I brought you here." - -"But is the young lady alive now?" I asked. - -"I believe so, but I'm not quite sure. She was last night when I called -at the hospital, but she was dreadful bad, and in great danger, they -told me." - -"Ah!" I sighed. "I only hope and pray that she may recover to face and -condemn her brutal enemies." - -"Was she a friend of yours, sir?" asked the man with some curiosity. - -"Yes, a great friend," was my reply. - -"But who tried to kill you, sir?" Stevens asked. "Those blokes as -escaped seemed to be a pretty desperate lot. My cab ain't been found -yet," he added. - -"They were her enemies as well as mine," I replied vaguely, for I had no -intention of telling him the whole story, though I thanked him sincerely -for his prompt help. Had it not been for him I fear that Lola and myself -would never have lived through the night. Jeanjean would have taken good -care that the lips of both of us were closed for ever. - -"Well, sir, you've had a pretty narrow shave of it," Stevens declared. -"There's something very queer about that house, it seems. People say -that though the place, as was to be let furnished, had nobody a-living -in it, strange lights have been seen a-moving about it, and in the -windows now and again and always very late at night." - -"Will you do a favour for me, Stevens?" I asked. - -"Certainly, sir." - -Then I gave him instructions first to go to the hospital where Lola was -lying, to inquire how she was. Then he was to go on to my flat in -Carlos Place, tell Rayner all that had occurred, and order him to come -to me at once. - -Just then the nurse kindly, but very firmly intervened, and the -taxi-driver rose from the chair at my bedside and left. - -For some hours I dozed. Then woke to find the faithful Rayner standing -by me, much concerned. - -"I've had an awful fright, sir," he said. "When you didn't come home for -forty-eight hours, I went to Vine Street Police Station and reported -that you were missing. Inspector Palmer, of the C.I. Department, knows -you well, sir, and he quickly stirred himself. But I heard nothing till -that taxi-driver came and told me you were here. He explained how you'd -been shot at a house in Spring Grove, Isleworth. I hope you're all right -again, sir?" - -"Yes, Rayner, so far," I answered rather feebly. "I've a bit of pain in -my throat, but they've bandaged me up all right, and I'll soon be about -again. That fellow you knew as Dr. Arendt, in Cromer, plugged me." - -"What! The man Jeanjean!" - -"The same," I said. "Gregory was there, too. I tracked them into their -den, and this is what I got for my trouble," I added grimly. - -"Well, sir, I'm no end glad you escaped. They're a desperate crowd and -you might very easily have gone under. Can I do anything?" - -"Yes. Take a message for me to the Brentford Hospital, to Mademoiselle -Sorel." - -"The lady the taxi-man told me about?" Rayner asked. - -"Yes. An attempt was made upon her life," I replied. "Go there, take -some nice flowers, and send up a message from me expressing a hope that -she's better, and say that I will see her as soon as ever I'm able." - -"Very well, sir. I'll be off at once," he replied. - -But for some time longer he sat with me, while I gave him instructions -regarding various matters. Then he left, promising me to quickly return -and bring me news of Lola. - -He was absent about a couple of hours, and on re-entering told me that -he had seen the Sister in charge, who had given Lola my flowers and my -message and had received one in return from her. This was that she felt -much better, and that until we met and consulted it would be best to -take no action against the assassins. - -That same evening, with the doctor's sanction, a tall, clean-shaven man -in grey tweeds approached my bed and, seating himself, announced that -his name was Warton, and that he was an Inspector of the Criminal -Investigation Department. - -He brought out a business-like book and pencil and in a rather abrupt -manner commenced to interrogate me regarding the events of that night -when I so narrowly escaped being murdered. - -From his methods I judged that he had risen from a constable. He was -bluff and to the point. He told me he was attached to the Brentford -Station, and I set him down as a man of similar mental calibre to -Frayne. - -No good could accrue at that moment from any full explanation, so, after -listening to him for some little time, I pretended to be very unwell and -only answered his questions with plain "yes" or "no." - -It was not likely that I would tell all I knew to this local detective. -Had Henri Jonet been present it would have been a different matter, but -I saw at a glance that Warton was a very ordinary type of -police-officer. - -He asked me what took me to the house in Spring Grove on that fateful -night. To this I merely replied with the one word-- - -"Curiosity." - -Then he asked-- - -"Did you know the lady who was found stabbed a few feet from you?" - -"Yes. I had met her," was my reply. - -"Do you know the circumstances in which she was struck down?" - -"I was not present then, therefore I could know nothing," was my evasive -response. - -"But the men in the house were friends of yours, were they not?" he -asked. - -"No. They were not," was my prompt reply. - -"Then, who were they?" he asked, scribbling down my answers with his -stumpy pencil. - -"I--I don't feel well enough to be questioned like this," I complained -to the Sister, who was standing by. "I've committed no crime, and I -object to the police making a cross-examination as though I were a -criminal. I appeal to you, Sister." - -The middle-aged woman in her cool linen uniform, with a silver medal -upon her breast, looked hard at me for a moment. Then, realizing the -situation, she turned to the detective, and said-- - -"You must come to-morrow. The patient still suffers much from shock, and -I cannot allow him to be questioned further. He is too weak." - -"Very well, Sister," replied Warton, as he closed his pocket-book. "I'll -come to-morrow. But a strange mystery envelopes that house in Spring -Grove, Mr. Vidal," he added, turning back to me. "You'll be surprised -when you go there and see for yourself." - -"Perhaps Mr. Vidal may be well enough to do so in a few days," said the -Sister. "We shall see." - -And with that the police-officer was forced to depart. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -ANOTHER DISCOVERY IS MADE - - -On several occasions during the weary week that followed Inspector -Warton called and saw me, but I always managed, by one subterfuge or -another, to evade the more pointed of his questions. - -The three men who had attacked Lola and myself that night knew from the -papers that we both still lived as witnesses against them. - -The nurses would not allow me to see the papers, but from Rayner I -learnt that the more sensational section of the London Press had -published reports headed, "Novelist Found Shot." Indeed, a great many -reporters had called at the hospital, but had been promptly sent empty -away. - -At last, one morning, I was declared convalescent and sufficiently well -to be removed to my chambers. Therefore Rayner ordered Stevens to bring -his taxi for me, and we left the hospital. - -Though still feeling far from well, I was all curiosity to see the house -in Spring Grove by daylight, so we called at the police-station and a -stout sergeant of the T. Division accompanied us with the key, the place -being still in the hands of the police. - -As we pulled up in that unfrequented side-road I saw how mysterious and -desolate the place was in the warm sunshine--an old red-brick Georgian -house, with square, inartistic windows, standing solitary and alone, -half covered by its ivy mantle, and surrounded by a spacious garden -dotted with high trees, and neglected and overgrown with weeds. - -As we walked over the moss-grown flags leading to the steps, I noticed -the window I had smashed in making my entry that night. - -The constable unlocked the door and we found ourselves in a wide, -spacious hall, its stone flags worn hollow and containing some -old-fashioned furniture. The atmosphere of the house was musty and -close, and long cobwebs hung in festoons in the corners. - -The room on the right, the one in which I had been found, I remembered -well. It was just the same as when I had stood there in the presence of -the Master and the notorious Jules Jeanjean. Upon its brown threadbare -carpet were two ugly stains in close proximity to each other--the spots -where both Lola and I had lain! - -I saw the wall against which I had stood in defiance. An evening -overcoat still lay upon a chair--the coat which old Gregory had -abandoned in his hurried flight, when Stevens, the taxi-driver, had so -opportunely appeared upon the scene. - -"Nothing's been touched, sir," remarked the fat sergeant. "We've been -waiting for you to see the place, and to tell us what you know." - -I exchanged glances with Rayner. - -"I know very little," I replied. "I simply fell in with a very dangerous -set. They were evidently plotting something, and believing that I had -overheard, attempted to put me out of the way." - -"And the lady?" - -"I imagine the same sort of thing happened to her. They considered she -knew too much of their movements and might betray them." - -"But what were they plotting?" - -"They spoke in French, so I couldn't catch." - -"Oh! They were foreigners--eh?" exclaimed the sergeant in surprise. -"Coiners or anarchists, perhaps." - -"Perhaps," I said. "Who knows?" - -"Ah. I've heard that two strangers have been seen up and down here in -the night time," continued the sergeant. "We've got their description -from a constable who's been doing night-duty. He says he'd know 'em -again. Once he saw a woman with 'em, and he believes it was the young -lady now in the hospital." - -"He saw them together--eh?" - -"He says so." - -Then I changed the conversation, and I followed him from room to room -through the dirty, neglected house, which nevertheless, with slight -signs here and there, showed marks of recent occupation. - -Two of the beds in the upstairs rooms had been slept in, and there was -other evidence in both kitchen and dining-room that, as I had surmised, -it had been the secret hiding-place of the man who posed in Hatton -Garden as a substantial and respectable dealer in precious stones. - -No doubt he came there late at night, and if he remained during the day -he never went out. - -Surely the place was one where he might effectively conceal himself from -the police; yet to live in such a house, and in that manner, certainly -showed a daring and audacity unequalled. He, of course, never knew when -a prospective tenant might come to visit it, or the agents in Hounslow -might send to inspect its condition. - -"You had a very narrow escape here, sir," said the sergeant as we -descended the stairs. "Will you step outside? I want to show you -something." - -We all went out by the kitchen door into the weedy garden where, behind -a low wall, lay a mound of newly-dug earth. By its side I saw a rough, -yawning hole about five feet long by three broad. - -"That's the grave they'd prepared for you, sir, without a doubt! By gum! -It was lucky that taxi-driver got up here just in time, or they'd have -flung you in and covered you up, dead or alive!" - -I stood aghast, staring at the hole prepared for the concealment--not of -my body--but that of Lola. They had had no inkling of my expected -presence, hence that prepared grave had been for her--and her alone! - -She had been invited there by old Gregory, who had intended that she -should die, and ere morning broke all trace of the crime would have been -removed. - -Yes. The fat sergeant spoke the truth. Had not Stevens fortunately come -to that house at the moment he did, we should both have been flung into -that gaping hole and there buried. In a week the weeds of the garden -would have spread and all traces of the soil having been moved would -have been obliterated. - -How many secret crimes are yearly committed in the suburbs of London! -How many poor innocent victims of both sexes, and of all ages, lie -concealed beneath the floors of kitchens and cellars, or in the back -gardens of the snug, old-fashioned houses around London? Once, Seven -Dials or Drury Lane were dangerous. But to-day they are not half so -dangerous to the unwary as our semi-rural suburbs. The clever criminal -never seeks to dissect, burn, or otherwise get rid of his victim save to -bury the body. Burial conceals everything, and the corpse rapidly -moulders into dust. - -If the walls of the middle-class houses of suburban London could speak, -what grim stories some of them could tell! And how many quiet, -respectable families are now living in houses where, beneath the -basement floor, or in the little back garden, lie the rotting remains of -the victim of some brutal crime. - -It is the same in Paris, in Brussels, in Vienna, aye, in every capital. -The innocent pay the toll always. Men make laws and cleverer men break -them. But God reigns supreme, and sooner or later places His hand -heavily upon the guilty. - -Ask any of the heads of the police of the European Powers, and they will -tell you that Providence assists them to bring the guilty to justice. It -may be mere chance, mere coincidence, vengeance of those who have been -tricked, jealousy of a woman--a dozen motives--yet the result is ever -the same, the criminal at last stands before his judges. - -The great detective--and there are a dozen in Europe--takes no kudos -unto himself. He will tell you that his success in such and such a case -is due to some lucky circumstance. Ask him who controlled it, and he -will go further and tell you that the punishment meted out to the -assassin by man is the punishment decreed by his Creator. He has taken a -life which is God-given--hence his own life must pay the penalty. - -Rayner, as he looked into the hole which had been so roughly dug, was -inclined to hilarity. - -"Well, sir," he exclaimed. "It's hardly long enough for you, is it?" - -"Enough!" I said. "Had it not been for Stevens, I should have been -lying down there with the earth over me." - -"I was afraid I shouldn't get my fare," said the taxi-driver, simply. "I -didn't know you, sir, and I had four-and-sixpence on the clock--a lot to -me." - -"And a good job, too," declared Rayner. "If it had only been a bob fare -you might have gone back to Acton and left Mr. Vidal to his fate." - -"Ah! I quite agree," Stevens said. "It was only by mere chance, as I had -promised my wife to be home early that night, it being our wedding-day, -and we had two or three friends coming in." - -"Then your wedding anniversary saved my life, Stevens!" I exclaimed. - -"Well, if you put it that way, sir, I suppose it really did," he replied -with a laugh. "But this preparation of a grave is a surprise to me. They -evidently got it ready for the young lady--eh?" - -I paused. My blood rose against the crafty old Gregory and his -associates. They knew of Lola's friendship with me, and they had -deliberately plotted the poor girl's death. They had actually dug a -grave ready to receive her! - -Within myself I made a solemn vow that I would be even with the man whom -the mysterious Egisto had addressed as "Master." - -Surely I should have a strange and interesting story to relate to my -friend Jonet in Paris. - -I glanced at the surroundings. About the oblong excavation was a tangled -mass of herbage, peas and beans with fading leaves, for it was in the -corner of a kitchen-garden, which in the fall of the previous year had -been allowed to run wild. And in such a position had the grave been dug -that it was entirely concealed. - -That it had been purposely prepared for Lola was apparent. She had been -invited there to her death! - -Had it not been for my fortunate presence, combined with the fact that -Stevens had called just at the opportune moment, then the dainty little -girl who, against her will, was the cat's paw of the most daring and -dangerous gang of criminals in Europe, would be lying there concealed -beneath that long tangle of vegetables and weeds. - -"The house has been to let for nearly three years," the sergeant -informed me. "But this hole has only been recently dug, a little over a -week, we think. It was probably on the evening previous to your -adventure, sir." - -"Probably," I said, for the earth looked still fresh, though the rain -had caked it somewhat. Two spades were lying near, therefore, I -conjectured, the work had been accomplished by two men. The two I had -seen with Gregory, I presumed. - -"We're making inquiries regarding the intruders," the sergeant went on. -"I only wish Mr. Warton were here, but he had to go up to the Yard this -morning. Can't you give any description of the people you saw here?" - -"I thought you had described them, Stevens," I said, addressing the -taxi-driver. - -"So I have, sir. But in the dark I wasn't able to see very much." - -"Well," I exclaimed, in reply to the sergeant, "I, too, did not have -much opportunity of seeing them. The electric light was switched off the -moment I entered and I was shot by the aid of an electric torch. I had -no means of defending myself. I fired at the light at the time, it's -true, but the scoundrel evidently held it away from him, knowing that I -might shoot." - -I did not intend to assist the police. The Criminal Investigation -Department never showed very great eagerness to assist me in any of my -investigations. - -"But you saw the men?" - -"Yes. As I have already told Inspector Warton." - -"What brought you here?" - -"I followed two of the men from Ealing." - -"I know. But for what reason did you follow them?" - -"Because I believed that I recognized them." - -"But you were mistaken, eh?" asked the fat sergeant as we still stood at -the edge of the grave. - -"I hardly know," I answered vaguely, "except that a dastardly attempt -was made upon my life because I had pried into the men's business." - -The sergeant was silent for a few moments, and I had distinct suspicion -that, from the expression upon his face, he did not believe me. - -Then he remarked in a slow, reflective tone-- - -"I suppose, Mr. Vidal, you know that the young French lady who was found -here has made a statement to Inspector Warton?" - -"What!" I gasped. "What has she told him?" - -"I don't know, except that he's gone up to Scotland Yard to-day -regarding it." - -I held my breath. - -What indiscretions, I wondered, had Lola committed! - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -EXPLAINS LOLA'S FEARS - - -After leaving the house in which I had so narrowly escaped death, I -dropped the sergeant at Spring Place station and, with Rayner, drove -over to Brentford, where, at the hospital, I stood beside Lola's bed. - -She looked a pale, frail, pathetic little figure, clad in a light blue -dressing-jacket, and propped up among the pillows. When she recognized -me she put forth a slim white hand and smiled a glad welcome. - -"I have been so very anxious about you, Lola," I said after the nurse -had gone. "You know, of course, what happened?" - -"Yes," she answered weakly in French. "I am so very sorry that you -should have fallen into the trap as well as myself, M'sieur Vidal. They -induced me to call there for one purpose--to kill me," she added in -English, with her pretty French accent. - -"I fear that is so," was my reply. "But did you not receive my warnings? -The Paris _Sûreté_ are searching for you everywhere, and Jonet is most -anxious to find you." - -"Ah, I know!" she exclaimed with a slight laugh. "Yes, I got your kind -letters, but I could not reply to them. There were reasons which, at the -time, prevented me." - -She looked very sweet, her fair, soft hair in two long plaits hanging -over her shoulders, the ends being secured by big bows of turquoise -ribbon. - -Yes, she was decidedly pretty; her big, blue, wide-open eyes turned upon -me. - -"I wrote to Elise Leblanc at Versailles," I said, for want of something -else to say. - -"I got the letters. I was in Dresden at the time." - -"With your uncle?" - -"No. He has been in Vienna," was her brief response. - -"But he was at that house in Spring Grove." - -"Yes. It was a trap for me--a dastardly trap laid for me by old -Gregory," she cried in anger. "He intended that I should die, but he -never expected you to come so suddenly upon the scene." - -"How was it that Jeanjean arrived there also?" I asked. - -"He came there to consult the Master," she replied. "A huge affair was -being planned to take place at the offices of one of the best known -diamond dealers in Hatton Garden. Gregory, being in the diamond trade, -knows most of the secrets of the other dealers, and in this case had -learned of the arrival of three very fine stones, among the most notable -diamonds known to the world. For three months he had carefully laid his -plans of attack, and on the night in question had called his -confederates together, as was his habit, in order to put his plans -finally before them, and to allocate each his work. Through my uncle, -however, I knew of the proposed robbery, and the old man, fearing me, -had decided that it would be in their interests if I died. Hence the -attack upon me." - -"A most base and brutal one!" I cried. "But thank Heaven! Lola, you are -recovering. I overheard all that you said regarding myself." - -She flushed slightly, but did not reply. - -"To-day I have heard that you have made a statement to the police," I -went on in a low voice so that I should not be overheard by the nurse -who stood outside the door of the small two-bedded ward, the second bed -being unoccupied. - -"Yes. An agent of police came and questioned me," was her reply, "but I -did not tell him much--at least, nothing which might give them any -clue--or which would jeopardize either of us. I had heard that you were -recovering, and therefore I thought you would prefer to unmask Gregory -and his associates yourself, rather than leave it to the London police. -Besides, they have escaped and I have no idea where they may now be." - -"Quite right," I replied, much relieved at her words. "You acted wisely, -for had you told them the truth they would in all probability have -arrested you." - -She smiled faintly. - -"Yes. That was one of the reasons which caused me to exercise -discretion. I felt that we should soon meet again, M'sieur Vidal," she -added. "They say that I shall be discharged from here in about a week." - -"I hope so," I declared earnestly. "You had a very narrow escape from -those fiends." - -"I was quite unsuspicious when I went there," she said. "That house has -been our meeting-place for the past eighteen months or so. Sometimes we -met at Gregory's flat in Amsterdam, and sometimes at the tenantless -house in Spring Grove, or at one which has been to let at Cricklewood, -and also at a house in West Hampstead." - -"The spot 'where the three C's meet' at Ealing is the usual rendezvous, -I suppose?" - -"Yes, the place is easy of access, quiet, and entirely unsuspicious. I -have met my uncle there sometimes when in London, and sometimes Gregory -or the others. The conference usually took place there, and then we went -together in a taxi to one or other of the meeting-places which Gregory -had established." - -"As soon as you have quite recovered we will lay a trap and secure the -whole gang," I whispered confidently. - -"Ah! I fear that will not be easy," she exclaimed, slowly shaking her -head. "We shall be too well watched." - -"And we can watch also," I remarked. "I know that from to-day I shall be -kept under close supervision because they will fear me more than ever. -But I shall manage to evade them, never fear. As soon as you leave -hospital we must join forces and exterminate this gang of assassins." - -She drew a long breath, bent her fair brows and looked straight across -at the pale-green wall. I could see that she was not at all confident of -escape. She knew how clever, designing and unscrupulous was the old man -Gregory; how cheaply her uncle, Jules Jeanjean, held human life. - -"Where is Gregory now, I wonder?" I exclaimed. - -"Who knows? They are all in France or Belgium, I expect. They may be in -Amsterdam, but I do not think so, as they might suspect me of making a -statement to the police." - -"What did you tell the police?" - -For a moment she hesitated. - -"Simply that I was enticed there by a young man whom I knew in Paris, -and found myself in the company of several men who were undoubtedly -thieves. These men I described. I stated that I was pressed to act as -their decoy, and on refusal was struck down." - -"Then they will be already searching for the men!" I exclaimed, -remembering that Warton had that morning gone up to consult his chief at -Scotland Yard. - -"They will be searching for men whose descriptions do not tally with -those of my uncle and his friends," she whispered frankly, with a -mischievous smile. - -"Tell me, Lola," I asked, after complimenting her upon her astuteness, -"do you recognize the names of Lavelle, Kunzle, Geering, or Hodrickx?" - -She started, staring at me. - -"Why? What do you know of them?" she inquired quickly, an apprehensive -look upon her pretty face. - -"They are associates of your uncle, are they not--in fact, members of -the gang?" - -"Yes. But how did you discover their true names?" - -Then I explained how, after poor Craig's death, I had found the paper -with the elaborate calculations, and the list of names with -corresponding numbers. - -"They are code-numbers, so that mention of them can be made in telegrams -or letters, and their identity still concealed." - -"And what were the columns of figures?" I asked, describing them. - -"Probably either the calculations of weights and values of precious -stones, or calculations of wave-lengths of wireless telegraphy in which -Gregory experiments," she replied. "After a _coup_ Gregory always valued -the stolen gems very carefully before they were sent to Antwerp or -Amsterdam to be re-cut and altered out of recognition. At one _coup_, a -year ago, when at Klein's, the principal jeweller in Vienna, the -night-watchman was killed and the safe opened with the acetylene jet. We -got clear away with jewels valued at three-quarters of a million francs. -Afterwards, I motored from Vienna to Antwerp, carrying most of the unset -stones and pearls in the radiator of my car. The prying _douaniers_ at -the frontiers never suspect anything there, nor in the inner tube of a -spare wheel. Besides, I was the daughter of the Baronne de Lericourt, -travelling with her maid, therefore nobody suspected, and Kunzle, a -young Dane, acted as my chauffeur." - -"In which direction did your uncle travel?" - -"To Algiers, by way of Trieste, and home to his hobby, wireless -telegraphy. He has high aerial wires across the grounds of his villa, -and can receive on his delicate apparatus messages from Clifden in -Ireland, Trieste, Paris, Madrid, London, Port Said, and stations all -over Europe." - -"Can he transmit messages?" I asked. - -She sighed slightly, her wound was giving her pain. - -"Oh, yes. His transmitter is very powerful, and sometimes, at night, he -can reach Poldhu in Cornwall." - -"Then your uncle is, apparently, a skilled scientist, as well as a -daring criminal!" I said, surprised. - -"_Oui_, M'sieur. He is just now experimenting with a wireless telephone, -and has already heard from Algiers, across the Mediterranean, to Genoa, -where his friend, the man Hodrickx, has established a similar station. -It was Hodrickx you saw at Spring Grove." - -"And the wireless is sometimes used for their nefarious purposes, I -suppose?" - -"Probably. But that is, of course, their own secret. I am told nothing," -was her reply, dropping into French. "Sometimes, when at home, my uncle -sits for hours with the telephones over his ears, listening--listening -attentively--and now and then, scribbling down the mysterious -call-letters he hears, and referring to his registers to see whose -attention is being attracted. Every night, at twelve o'clock, he -receives the day's news sent out from Clifden in Ireland to ships in the -Atlantic." - -"It must be an exceedingly interesting hobby," I remarked. - -"It is. If I were a man I should certainly go in for experimenting. -There is something weirdly mysterious about it," she said with a sweet -expression. - -"If he can speak by telephone across the Mediterranean to Genoa, then, -no doubt, such an instrument is of greatest use to him in the pursuit -of his shameful profession," I said. - -"I expect it is," she answered rather grimly, regarding me with -half-closed eyes. "But, oh! M'sieu', how can I bear the future? What -will happen now? I cannot tell. For me it must be either a violent -death, at a moment when I least expect it, or--or----" - -"Leave it all to me, Lola," I interrupted. "I'll leave no stone unturned -to effect the arrest of the whole gang." - -"Do be careful of yourself," she urged, with apprehension. "Remember, -they intend at all hazards to kill you! Gregory and my uncle fear you -more than they do the police. Ever since you unearthed that mystery in -Brussels, they have held you in terror. The evidence you gave in the -Assize Court against the man Lefranc showed them that you entertained -suspicion of who killed the jeweller, Josse Vanderelst, in the Avenue -Louise. And for that reason you have since been a marked man," she -added, looking very earnestly into my face. - -"I assure you I have now no fear of them, Lola. I will extricate you -from the guilty bonds in which they hold you, if you will only render me -assistance." - -For a moment she remained thoughtful, a very serious expression upon her -fair face. - -"_Bien!_ But if the men are arrested they will at once turn upon me," -she argued. "Then I too will stand in the criminal dock beside them!" - -"Not if you act as I direct," I assured her, placing my hand upon hers, -which lay outside the coverlet. - -Then, after a brief pause, during which I again looked straight into her -great blue eyes, I suddenly asked-- - -"Where can I find trace of old Gregory? As soon as I am a little better -I shall resume my investigations, and run the whole gang to earth." - -"I do not know where he lives. My uncle once remarked that he was so -evasive that he changed his abode as often as he did his collars. His -office, however, is in Hatton Garden over a watchmaker's named -Etherington, on the second floor. You will find on a door, 'Loicq -Freres, Diamond Dealers, Antwerp.' Mr. Gregory Vernon, not Vernon -Gregory, poses as the London manager of the firm of 'Loicq Freres,' who, -by reason of their wealth and the magnitude of their purchases and -sales, are well known in the diamond trade. So, by carrying on a genuine -business, he very successfully conceals his illegitimate one of -re-cutting stones and re-placing them upon the market." - -"Good!" I said, enthusiastically, in English. "I shall endeavour to -trace his hiding-place, for most certainly he is no longer in London, -now that he knows that his attempt upon you was unsuccessful." - -"And the police are now looking for mythical persons!" she laughed -merrily, displaying her white, even teeth. - -Yes, the more I saw of my dainty little divinity, the greater I became -attracted by her, even though force of circumstances had, alas! -compelled her, against her will, to become an expert jewel-thief, who by -reason of her charm, her beauty, and her astuteness, had passed without -suspicion. - -What a strange and tragic career had been that of the frail little -creature now smiling so sweetly at me! My heart went out in sympathy -towards her, just as it had done ever since that memorable night when I -had gripped her slim waist and captured her in my room. - -The nurse entered, so I rose from my chair, and clasping Lola's little -hand, bade her _au revoir_, promising to return again in two days' time, -and also suggesting that when she became convalescent I should take her -down to some friends of mine at Boscombe to recuperate. - -My suggestion she adopted at once, and then I turned, and thanking the -nurse for all her kindness, left the hospital. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE ROAD OF RICHES - - -When my doctor first allowed me forth on foot it was fully a week later. - -I had driven to Brentford in a taxi on three occasions to visit Lola, -taking her fresh flowers, grapes and other dainties. Each time I -recognized a marked improvement in her. - -I felt certain that every movement of mine was being watched, but -neither Rayner nor myself could discover any one spying upon us. I had -always flattered myself that nobody could keep observation upon me -without I detected them, and I certainly felt considerable chagrin at my -present helplessness. - -Rayner, a shrewd, clever watcher himself, was up to every ruse in the -science of keeping observation and remaining unseen. Yet he also failed -to discover any one. - -Therefore, one morning I left Carlos Place in a taxi and drove to King's -Cross Station, where I alighted, paid the man, and went on to the main -line departure platform. Thence I passed across to the arrival platform, -so as to evade any pursuer, though no one had followed me to my -knowledge, and then I drove down to Brentford. - -Though still weak, I that afternoon accompanied the dainty little -invalid down to Bournemouth, where I saw her comfortably installed with -a very worthy family--a retired excise officer and his wife and -daughter, living at Boscombe--and, after a night at the _Bath Hotel_, I -returned to London to resume my investigations. - -Through three days following I felt very unwell and unable to go out, -the journey to Bournemouth having rather upset me in my weak state. -Indeed, it was not before another week that one afternoon I alighted -from a taxi at Holborn Circus and strolled leisurely down Hatton Garden -in search of the watchmaker's Lola had indicated. - -I found it with but little difficulty, about half-way down on the -left-hand side. - -A stranger passing along Hatton Garden, that dreary, rather mean street, -leading from busy Holborn away to the poverty-stricken district of -Saffron Hill, with its poor Italian denizens and its Italian church, -would never dream that it contained all the chief wholesale dealers in -precious stones in London. In that one street, hidden away in the safes -of the various dealers, Jew and Gentile, are gems and pearls worth -millions. - -The houses are sombre, grimed, and old-fashioned, and there is an air of -middle-class respectability about them which disguises from the stranger -the real character of their contents. The very passers-by are for the -most part shabby, though, now and then, one may see a well-dressed man -enter or leave one of the houses let out in floors to the diamond -dealers. - -It is a street of experts, of men who pay thousands of pounds for a -single stone, and who regard the little paper packets of glittering -diamonds as the ordinary person would regard packets of seed-peas. - -Many a shabby man with shiny coat, and rather down at heel, passing up -the street, carries in his pocket, in a well-worn leathern wallet, -diamonds, rubies or emeralds worth the proverbial king's ransom. - -On that autumn afternoon the sun was shining brightly as I passed the -house where "Gregory Vernon's" office was situated. Seldom, indeed, does -the sun shine in Hatton Garden or in Saffron Hill, but when it does it -brings gladness to the hearts of those sons and daughters of the sunny -Italy, who are wearing out their lives in the vicinity. To them, born -and bred in the fertile land where August is indeed the Lion Month, the -sun is their very life. Alas! it comes to them so very seldom, but when -it does, the women and children go forth into the streets bare-headed to -enjoy the "bella giornata." - -And so it was then. Some Italian women and children, with a few old -men, white-haired and short of stature, were passing up and down the -Road of Riches into which I had ventured. - -I knew not, of course, whether old Gregory was still in London. He might -be at his upper window for aught I knew. Therefore I had adopted the -dress of a curate of the Church of England, a disguise which on many an -occasion had stood me in good stead. And as I loitered through the road, -with eyes about me on all hands, I presented the appearance of the -hard-worked curate of a poor London parish. - -Before the watchmaker's I halted, looking in at the side door, where I -saw written up with the names in dark, dingy lettering, "Loicq Freres, -Second Floor." - -Beyond was a dark, well-worn stair leading to the other offices, but all -looked so dingy and so dismal, that it was hard to believe that within -were stored riches of such untold value. - -I did not hesitate long, but with sudden resolve entered boldly and -mounted the stairs. - -On the second floor, on a narrow landing, was a dingy, dark-brown door -on which the words "Loicq Freres" were painted. - -At this I knocked, whereupon a foreign voice called, "Come in." - -I entered a clerk's room where, at a table, sat a man who, when he -raised his head and sallow face, I recognized instantly as the -mysterious motor-cyclist of Cromer, the man Egisto Bertini, who had so -cleverly evaded me on the night of my long vigil on the Norwich road, -and who had assisted Gregory, or Vernon as he called himself, to remove -the jewels from Beacon House. - -He did not, of course, recognize me, though I knew his face in an -instant. He rose and came forward. - -"Is Mr. Gregory Vernon in?" I asked, assuming a clerical drawl. - -"No, sare," replied the dark-eyed Italian. "Can I gif him any message?" -he asked with a strong accent. - -The reply satisfied me, for my object in going there was not to see the -man whose real name was Vernon, but to get a peep at the unsuspicious -headquarters of the greatest criminal in Europe. - -"Ah, I--I called to ask him to be good enough to subscribe to an outing -we are giving to the poor children of my parish--that of St. Anne's. We -have much poverty, you know, and the poor children want a day in the -country before autumn is over. Several kind friends----" - -"Meester Vernon, he will not be able to make a subscription--he is -away," broke in the Italian. - -My quick eye had noticed that opposite me was a door of ground-glass. A -shadow had flitted across that glass, for the short curtains behind it -were inadvertently drawn slightly aside. - -Some one was within. If it were Vernon, then he might have a secret hole -for spying and would recognize me. Thereupon I instantly altered my -position, turning my back towards the door, as though unconsciously. - -"I'm sorry," I said. "Perhaps you could subscribe a trifle yourself, if -only one shilling?" and I took out a penny account book with which I had -provided myself. - -"Ah, no," was his reply. "I haf none to gif," and he shook his head and -held out his palms. "Meester Vernon--he reech man--me, no! Me only -clerk!" - -"I'm sorry," I said. "Perhaps you will tell Mr. Vernon that the Reverend -Harold Hawke called." - -"Yes, sare," replied the expert motor-cyclist, whom I knew to be one of -the clever gang. And he pretended to scribble something upon a pad. He -posed as a clerk perfectly, even to the shabbiness of his office-coat. -He presented the appearance of a poor, under-paid foreign clerk, of whom -there are thousands in the City of London. - -Standing in such a position that old Mr. Vernon could not see my face, I -conversed with the Italian a few moments longer as I wished to make some -further observations. What I saw surprised me, for there seemed every -evidence that a _bona fide_ trade was actually conducted there. - -The shadow across the private office had puzzled me. I entertained a -strong suspicion that old Vernon was within that room, and the man, -Egisto Bertini, had orders to tell all strangers that his master was -absent. - -If he feared arrest--as no doubt he did, knowing that Lola might make a -statement to the police--then it was but natural that he would not see -any stranger. - -No. I watched Bertini very closely as I chatted with him, feeling -assured that he was lying. - -So I apologized for my intrusion, as a good curate should do, and -descended the dark, narrow stairs with the firm conviction that Gregory -Vernon was actually in his office. - -In the street I walked leisurely towards Holborn, fearing to hurry lest -the crafty old man should be watching my departure. Having turned the -corner, however, I rushed to the nearest telephone and got on to Rayner. - -He answered me quickly, and I gave him instructions to dress instantly -as a poor, half-starved labourer--for my several suits of disguise -fitted him--and to meet me at the earliest moment at Holborn Circus, -outside Wallis's shop. - -"All right, sir," was the man's prompt reply. "I'll be there inside half -an hour." - -"And, Rayner," I added, "bring my small suit-case with things for the -night, and an extra suit. Drop it at the cloak-room at Charing Cross on -your way here. I may have to leave London." - -"Anything interesting, sir?" he asked, his natural curiosity rising. - -"Yes. I'll tell you when we meet," was my answer, and I rang off. - -I have always found clerical clothes an excellent disguise for keeping -observation. It may be conspicuous, but the clergyman is never regarded -with any suspicion, where an ill-dressed man who loiters is in peril of -being interfered with by the police, "moved on," or even taken into -custody on suspicion of loitering for the purpose of committing a -felony. England is not exactly the "free country" which those ignorant -of our by-laws are so fond of declaring. - -Having spoken to Rayner, I returned to the corner of Hatton Garden, and -idling about aimlessly, kept a sharp eye upon the watchmaker's shop. - -If my visit to the offices of Loicq Brothers had aroused any suspicion -in the mind of Gregory Vernon, then he would, no doubt, make a bolt for -it. If not, he would remain there till he left for his home. - -In the latter case I should certainly discover the place of his abode, -and take the first step towards striking the blow. - -On the one hand, I argued that Vernon would never dare to remain in -England after his brutal attack upon Lola, knowing that the police must -question her. Then there was the tell-tale excavation in the garden at -Spring Grove--the nameless grave ready prepared for her! But, on the -other hand, I recollected the subtle cunning of the man, his bold -audacity, his astounding daring, and his immunity hitherto from the -slightest suspicion. - -The flitting shadow upon the ground-glass was, I felt confident, his -silhouette--that silhouette I had known so well--when he had been in the -habit of passing the _Hôtel de Paris_, at Cromer, a dozen times a day. - -The afternoon wore on, but I still remained at the Holborn end of Hatton -Garden, ever watchful of all who came and went. Rayner was longer than -he had anticipated, for he had to drive down to Charing Cross before -coming to me. But at last I saw a wretched, ill-dressed, pale-faced man -alight from a bus outside Wallis's drapery shop, and, glancing round, he -quickly found me. - -I walked round a corner and, when we met, I explained in a few brief -words the exact situation. - -Then I instructed him to pass down Hatton Garden to the Clerkenwell -Road end and watch there while I maintained a vigilance in Holborn. When -Vernon came out we would both follow him, and track him to his -dwelling-place. - -I told Rayner of Bertini's presence there as a clerk, whereupon my man -grew full of vengeful anger, expressing a hope that later on he would -meet the Italian face to face and get even for the treatment meted out -to him on that memorable night at Cromer. - -We had walked together to the end of the Road of Riches in earnest -discussion, when, on suddenly glancing along the pavement in the -direction of the watchmaker's, I recognized the figure of a well-dressed -man coming in our direction. - -I held my breath, for his presence there was entirely unexpected. - -It was Jules Jeanjean. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -FOLLOWS THE ELUSIVE JULES - - -The man of a hundred aliases, and as many crimes, was walking swiftly in -our direction, and I only just had time to nip back and cross to the -street refuge in the centre of Holborn Circus. - -Rayner recognized him in an instant, and I had just time to exclaim-- - -"There's Jeanjean! Take him up, but be careful. Got your revolver?" - -"Trust me, sir," Rayner laughed. "I don't forget Cromer." - -"Be careful," I whispered, and next instant we had separated. - -I saw Jeanjean gain the end of the drab thoroughfare and glance around -apprehensively. He was dressed smartly in a well-cut suit of blue serge -and wore a grey hat of soft felt, and a pair of yellow wash-leather -gloves, like those poor Craig had habitually affected. His quick, shifty -eyes searched everywhere for a few seconds, then he turned into the -bustle of the traffic in Holborn and walked westward in the direction of -Oxford Street. - -A moment later Rayner, a poor wretched-looking figure, penurious and -ill, crossed from the opposite side of the road and lounged slowly after -Jeanjean until I lost them amidst the crowd. - -I was divided in my intentions, for if I followed the pair I should miss -the Italian clerk, and as he undoubtedly was a member of the interesting -association, I felt that it would be judicious to follow and ascertain -where he lived. - -For nearly two hours, nevertheless, my vigilance remained unrewarded. -Office-boys came forth from the various houses laden with letters, and -middle-aged clerks carried in black bags packets of precious stones in -order to insure them for transmission by post. Then as the dusk crept -on, the offices and workshops in the vicinity emptied their workers, who -hurried home by train or motor-bus, while in a constant stream came -weary Italians, painfully and patiently dragging piano-organs and -ice-cream barrows on their way to their quarters at the other end of the -road, their day's wanderings over. - -A perfect panorama of London life passed by me as I stood there watching -in vain. - -At length, about seven o'clock, when it had grown dark and the -street-lamps had been lit, I saw the figure of the Italian emerge from -the door, and turning his back towards me, he walked in the direction of -Clerkenwell Road. - -In eagerness I took a few quick steps after him, but halted as a sudden -suggestion arose within me. If Jeanjean had been there it was for -consultation with his chief--the man he regarded as his master--the -master-mind of that daring and dangerous association. Was it possible, -therefore, that these two men had left the place at long intervals, -because of the suspicion in which they held the curate who had called -for a subscription? Was it possible that Gregory Vernon, alias Gregory, -and alias a dozen other names, no doubt, was still safe in his high-up -dingy little office wherein lay concealed stolen gems of untold value? - -Rayner was, without doubt, hot upon the track of the elusive bandit -whose _empreintes digitales_, and whose _cliches_ and _relevés_ were so -carefully preserved in that formidable dossier at the Prefecture of -Police of the Seine. Rayner was a past master in the art of observation, -and I felt convinced that ere long I should learn where Jeanjean made -his headquarters in London. - -Therefore, after a second's reflection, I decided not to follow Bertini, -but to still remain on and watch for the clever old rascal to whose -plots so many jewel robberies in Europe, with and without violence, were -due. By some vague intuition I felt that if Jeanjean dared to go to the -offices of Loicq Freres, then certainly the elder man would have no -hesitation. But their daring was astounding in face of the -circumstances. - -Perhaps, so completely and entirely did they hold Lola in their grip, -that they felt confident she dare not reveal the truth. Was it not a -fact, alas! that the sweet, dainty little girl was actually a thief, -forced into crime and trained by her uncle to act the part of decoy, her -very innocence disarming suspicion? Her youth was her protection, for -nobody would believe that she was actually a clever adventuress and a -professional thief. - -Ah! how I pitied her, knowing all that I did. How often recollections -arose in my mind of that never-to-be-forgotten night in Scotland when -she had inadvertently entered my bedroom, and I had seized her--of her -piteous appeal to me, and of her expression of heartfelt thanks when I -allowed her her liberty. Yes, assuredly Lola Sorel was to be pitied, not -blamed. She had been struggling all along to free herself from those -bonds of guilt which had bound her to that unscrupulous brutal gang of -malefactors who were undoubtedly the most dangerous criminals in Europe. -But, alas! all in vain. They had held her in their inexorable grip -until, fearing lest she should appeal to me and make revelations, the -sinister-faced old rascal who ruled them had ruthlessly struck her down -and left her for dead. - -Such a formidable band as that, constituted as it was, and with enormous -funds at command, could hold the police in contempt. Money was of no -object, and Lola had once told me how police officials, both in Berlin -and in Rome, had been judiciously "squared" by a certain obscure lawyer -who had an office in the Italian capital, and who, being a member of the -gang, conducted their legal affairs--which mainly consisted in the -obtaining of information concerning the whereabouts of jewels in the -possession of private families, and in bribing any obnoxious police -official, from a _sous-prefet_ down to a humble _agent_. - -Bribery among the Continental police is far more rife than is generally -supposed. Poor pay, especially in Italy, is the prime cause. There are, -of course, black sheep in every flock, even in England, but in the -southern countries the aspect of the flock is much darker than in the -northern ones. Many a law-breaker to-day pays toll to the police, even -in our own London, and from the street bookmaker in the East End slums -to the keeper of the luxurious gaming-house near Piccadilly Circus, -hundreds of men are allowed to carry on their nefarious practices by -sending anonymous presents to the private addresses of those who might -trouble them. - -So it is even in matters criminal. There is not a single member of the -Criminal Investigation Department who has not been sorely tempted at one -time or another. And perhaps in the light of certain recent -prosecutions, and the allegations of Mr. Keir Hardie, big names--the -names of certain men who are leaders of our present-day life and -thought--are suppressed, and grave scandals concealed by the judicious -application of gold. - -My watch proved a wearying one, especially in my weak state. - -With the darkness there were fewer people in the streets. The City -traffic had now died down, and at eight o'clock Hatton Garden had become -practically deserted. - -I had been chatting to the constable on duty, who, on account of my -clerical attire, had not viewed me with any suspicion, when of a sudden -Rayner alighted from a taxi and approached me. - -"Well?" I asked eagerly, when we were together. - -"He gave me the slip, sir," exclaimed my man breathlessly. "He's -devilish clever, he is, sir." - -"You surely knew that before, Rayner," I said, reproachfully. - -"Yes, and I took every precaution. But he did me in the end." - -"How?" - -"Well, when he left here, he walked as far as Gamage's very leisurely. -Then he took a taxi up to Baker Street Station. I followed him, and saw -that he took a ticket to Swiss Cottage, where he took another taxi along -the Finchley Road, alighting at the end of a rather quiet thoroughfare -of superior houses called Arkwright Road. He went into one of them, a -new red-brick house, called Merton Lodge." - -"You were near when he entered?" I asked. - -"Quite. I watched the door open to admit him, but couldn't see who -opened it," he replied. "Then I waited for nearly two hours, concealing -myself in the area of an unoccupied house close by. The road was so -quiet and unfrequented that I dare not show myself. The house seemed -smart and well-kept, with a large garden behind." - -"No one came out?" - -"Nobody. But at last I grew impatient and got out on to the pavement, -when, a few seconds later, the door opened, and a middle-aged, dark-eyed -man came out straight up to me. He had a Hebrew cast in his features. -Without ado, he asked me with indignation why I was watching his house. -Whereupon I told him I was waiting for a friend who had entered there. -In reply, he denied that any friend of mine was there. He said, 'I -object to my house being watched like this, and if you don't be off, I -shall telephone for the police, and have you arrested for loitering. I -believe you intend to commit a burglary.'" - -"Ah! that was rather disconcerting, eh, Rayner?" - -"Yes, sir. What could I do? I saw I'd been spotted, and so the game was -up. Well, a thought occurred to me, and I replied to him, 'Very good. -Telephone at once. I'll be pleased to have a constable here to help me.' -It was a bold move, but it worked. He believed me to be a detective, and -his tone altered at once. 'I tell you,' he said, 'I have nobody in my -house. Nobody has come in since I returned home at five o'clock. You may -search, if you wish!' I smiled and said, 'Oh, so you don't now suspect -me of being a thief?' 'Well,' he replied, 'if you think your friend is -here, come over and satisfy yourself.'" - -"Clever of him--very clever," I remarked. "But there might have been a -trap! Jeanjean would set one without the slightest hesitation." - -"Just what I suspected, sir," replied Rayner. "At first I hesitated, but -I had my revolver with me, so I resolved to search the place. Just as I -crossed the road a constable turned the corner idly, and in a moment I -was beside him. In a few words I asked him to accompany me, at the same -time slipping a couple of half-crowns into his hand, much to the chagrin -of the occupier of the house. To the constable I explained that I had -reason to believe that a friend of mine was hidden in the house and I -had been invited to search. So together we went in, and while the -constable remained in the hall, I went from room to room with the -dark-faced Hebrew. The place was well furnished, evidently the abode of -a man of wealth and taste. He was something of a student, too, for in a -corner of the small library at the rear, on the ground-floor, was a -table, and on it several queer-looking electrical instruments and a -telephone receiver. From room to room I went, and found nobody. Indeed, -there was nobody else in the house except a sallow-looking youth, the -son of the man who had invited me in. The back premises, however, told -their own tale. At the end of the dark garden was a door in the wall, -leading to a narrow lane beyond the tradesmen's entrance. By that way -Jules Jeanjean had escaped nearly two hours before!" - -"So he has eluded you, as he always does," I remarked regretfully. - -"Yes. But the owner of Merton Lodge no doubt knows him and gives him -shelter when he's in London," Rayner said. - -"He may, but, if I judge correctly, Jeanjean knew he was followed from -the first, and simply led you there to mystify you. He entered by the -front door and went out at once by the back one," I said. "In all -probability he only knows the owner of Merton Lodge quite slightly. If -not, why did the Hebrew come out so boldly and ask you to search?" - -"Bluff," declared Rayner promptly. - -"No, not exactly," I remarked. "If Jeanjean knew he was followed he -would never have gone to a house where he could be again found, depend -upon it. No. He perhaps told the person who opened the door to him some -cock-and-bull story, and only remained in the house a minute or two. To -me, all seems quite clear. He led you on a wild-goose chase, Rayner," I -laughed, as we stood together in Holborn. - -Yet scarcely had these words left my mouth when there passed close by us -a thin, old gentleman in black, and wearing a silk hat. His grey hair -and beard were close-cropped, but his broad forehead and narrow chin -could not be disguised. - -I held my breath as I recognized him at a glance. He had not noticed me, -for my back had been towards him. Yet my heart beat quickly, for might -he not have identified me by my clerical hat! - -It was the man I had suspected of lying closely concealed in his -office--old Gregory Vernon, the dealer in stolen gems. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE - - -He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and -continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I -strolling after him at some distance behind. - -At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore -concealment was extremely difficult. Yet by his leisurely walk I felt -convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me. - -Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" -to me. - -The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite -happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have -taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the -corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward. His -example I quickly followed, leaving Rayner standing on the kerb, unable -to follow, as no third cab was in sight. - -Up Fleet Street we drove quickly and along the Strand as far as Charing -Cross, when the taxi I was pursuing turned into Northumberland Avenue -and pulled up before the _Hôtel Metropole_. - -I drew up further along, at the corner of the Embankment, at the same -time watching the old man pay the driver and enter, being saluted by -the uniformed porter, who evidently knew him. - -For about five minutes I waited. Then I entered the hotel, where I also -was well known, having very often stayed there. - -Of the porter at the door, who touched his hat as I went in, I asked the -name of the old gentleman who had just entered. - -"I don't know his name, sir. He often stays here. They'll tell you at -the key-office." - -So I ascended the stairs into the hall, and made inquiry of the -sharp-eyed, dark-faced man at the key-counter. - -"Oh, Mr. Vernon, you mean, sir? Been in about five minutes. He's just -gone up in the lift--Room 139_a_, first-floor--shall I send your name -up, Mr. Vidal?" - -"No, I'll go up," I said. "You're sure he is up in his room?" - -"Quite sure, sir. He took his key about five minutes ago." - -"Is he often here?" - -"Every month," was the reply. "He usually spends about a week with us, -and always has the same room." - -"What is he? Have you any idea?" - -"I've heard that he's a diamond-broker. Lives in Paris, I fancy." - -"Has he many callers?" - -"One or two business men sometimes; but only one lady." - -"A lady!" I echoed. "Who?" - -"Oh, a very pretty young French girl who comes sometimes to see him," -replied the clerk. Then, after reflection, he added: "I think the name -is Sorel--Mademoiselle Sorel." - -I started at mention of the name. - -"Does she come alone?" I asked. "Excuse me making these inquiries," I -added apologetically, "but I have strong reasons for doing so." - -"Once she came alone, I think about six weeks ago. But she generally -comes with a tall, rather ugly, but well-dressed Frenchman of about -forty-five, a man who seems to be Mr. Vernon's most intimate friend." - -I asked for a further description of her companion, and decided that it -was Jules Jeanjean. - -"Is the hotel detective about?" I asked. - -"Yes. He's somewhere down on the smoking-room floor. Do you want him?" -he asked, surprised. - -I replied in the affirmative. Whereupon a page was at once dispatched, -and returned with an insignificant-looking man, an ex-sergeant of -Scotland Yard, engaged by the hotel as its private inquiry agent. - -He knew me well, therefore I said-- - -"Will you come up with me to 139_a_. I want to see a Mr. Vernon, and -there may be a little trouble. I may have to call in the police." - -"What's the trouble, sir?" he asked in surprise, though he knew me to be -an investigator of crime. - -"Only a little difference between us," I said. "He may have a revolver. -Have you got one?" - -The detective smiled, and produced a serviceable-looking Colt from his -hip-pocket, while I drew a long, plated, hammerless Smith & Wesson, -which has been my constant companion throughout my adventurous life. - -Then together we ascended in the lift, and passed along the corridor -till we found the room which the clerk had indicated. - -I tapped loudly at the door, at the same moment summoning all my -self-possession. I was about to secure one of the most cunning and -clever criminals on earth. - -There was no answer. Yet I distinctly heard some one within the room. - -Again I knocked loudly. - -Then I heard footsteps advancing to the door, which was thrown open, and -a chambermaid stood there. - -"I'm sorry, sir," she said apologetically. - -I drew back in dismay. - -"Is Mr. Vernon in here?" I asked breathlessly. - -"Mr. Vernon--the gentleman in this room, sir?" - -"Yes. He has come up here, I know." - -"He did come in a few minutes ago, and took a small leather case, but he -went out again at once." - -"Went out? You saw him?" - -"Yes. He was coming out just as I came in, sir," replied the girl. - -"Gone!" I gasped, turning to the ex-sergeant. - -"He must have gone down the stairs, sir," the man suggested. - -With a glance round the room, which only contained a suit-case, I dashed -down the stairs and into the hall. - -Of the porter at the door I asked a quick question. - -"No, sir," he replied. "Mr. Vernon hasn't gone out this way. He may have -gone out by the door in Whitehall Place." - -I rushed through the hotel and, at the door indicated, the man in -uniform told me that Mr. Vernon had left on foot five minutes before, -going towards Whitehall. - -I hurried after him, but alas! I was too late. - -Again, he had evaded me! - -So I returned to my rooms utterly fagged by the long vigil, and feeling -thoroughly ill. Indeed, in my weak state, it had been a somewhat -injudicious proceeding, yet I felt anxious and impatient, eager to -strike a crushing blow against the daring band who held poor Lola so -completely in their power. - -The result of my imprudence, however, was another whole week in bed, and -a further confinement to my room for a second week. Meanwhile Rayner was -active and watchful. - -Observation upon the offices of Loicq Frères showed that only an English -clerk was left in charge, and that neither Vernon, Jeanjean nor Bertini -had since been there. Vigilance upon Merton Lodge, in Hampstead, also -resulted in nothing. It was clear, therefore, that the trio had become -alarmed at my visit to Hatton Garden, even though I had exercised every -precaution to avoid recognition. - -As I sat in my big arm-chair, day after day, unable to go out, I -carefully reviewed all the events of the past, just as I have set them -down in these pages. Somehow--how it came to pass, I cannot tell--I -found myself thinking more than ever of Lola Sorel, the sweet-faced, -innocent-looking girl whose career had been fraught with so much -tragedy, apprehension and bitterness. - -Every day, nay, every hour, her pretty, fair face arose before my -vision--that pale, delicately-moulded countenance, with the big, blue, -wondering eyes, larger and more perfect than the eyes of any woman I had -ever before met in the course of my adventurous career. - -Time after time I asked myself why my thoughts should so constantly -revert to her. Sleeping or waking, I dreamed ever of that dainty little -figure with its sweet, rather sad face, the pathetic countenance of the -pretty Parisienne who had so gradually fascinated and entranced me. - -Within myself, I laughed at my own feelings of sympathy towards her. Why -should I entertain any regard for a girl who, after all, was only a -thief--a girl whose innocence had decoyed men, and caused women to -betray the whereabouts of their jewels, so that her associates could rob -them with impunity? - -From the moment when I had seized her in my bedroom at Balmaclellan I -had pitied her, and that pity had now deepened into keen sympathy for -her, held, as she was, in those bonds of guilt, yet struggling always to -free herself, like a poor frightened bird beating its wings against the -bars. - -Had I fallen in love with her? Time after time I asked myself that -question. But time after time did I scout the very idea and laughed -myself to ridicule. - -The thought that I loved Lola Sorel, beautiful as she was, seemed -utterly absurd. - -Yes. During that fortnight of forced inactivity I had plenty of time to -carefully analyse the whole situation, to examine every detail of the -mystery surrounding the death of Edward Craig and, also, to formulate -fresh plans. - -One fact was evident--that Vernon and his friends intended that Lola -should die. In addition, so subtle were they, I knew not when some -secret and desperate attack might not be made upon myself. - -Foul play was intended. Of that I had no doubt. - -The autumn days were passing. Business London had returned from the -country and the sea, and even the blinds of houses in Berkeley Square -were, one after another, being raised, indicative of the fact that many -people in Society were already again in town. - -I exchanged letters with Lola almost daily. She was very happy and had -greatly improved, she said, and also expressed a hope that we should -soon meet, a hope which I devoutly reciprocated. - -My one great fear, however, was that some dastardly attack might be made -upon her if any of the bandits succeeded in discovering her -hiding-place. For that reason I sent Rayner to Bournemouth in secret to -watch the house, and to ascertain whether any signs of intended evil -were apparent. - -He remained there a week, until one morning in October I received an -urgent telegram from him asking me, if I were well enough, to lose no -time in coming to Bournemouth. He gave no reason for the urgency of his -message, but gravely apprehensive, I took the next train from Waterloo, -arriving in Bournemouth about four o'clock. Rayner refused to meet me -openly, so I drove to the _Grand Hotel_, where he was staying, and found -him in his room awaiting me. - -"There's something up, sir," he said very seriously, when I had closed -the door. "But I can't exactly make out what is intended. Mademoiselle -does not, of course, know I'm here. She went to the Winter Gardens with -two young ladies last night, and they were followed by a man--a -stranger. He went behind them to the concert, and sat in the back seats -watching them, and when they walked home, he followed." - -"Have you ever seen him before?" - -"Never, sir." - -"Is he young or old?" - -"Young, and looks like a gentleman." - -"A foreigner?" - -"No, an Englishman, sir," was my man's reply. "I dare say if we go along -to Boscombe to-night, and watch the house, we might see him. He's up to -no good, I believe." - -I readily adopted Rayner's suggestion. - -As soon as darkness fell, we took the tram eastward, and at length -alighted at the end of a quiet road of comfortable red-brick villas, in -one of which Lola was residing, a road which ran from the highway -towards the sea. - -Separating, I passed up the road, while my man waited at the corner. The -house of my friends stood in its own small garden, a neat, artistic -little red-and-white place with a long verandah in front and a pleasant -garden full of dahlias. As I passed it I saw that many of the rooms were -lit, and I was eager to go and ring at the door and meet Lola, after our -long separation. - -But I remembered I was there to watch and to ward off any danger that -might threaten. Therefore I turned upon my heel, and finding a hedge, -behind which lay some vacant land, I hid myself behind it and waited, -wondering what had become of Rayner. - -All was quiet, save for the rumble of electric trams passing along the -main road to Bournemouth. From where I lurked, smoking a cigarette, I -could hear a woman's sweet contralto voice singing gaily one of the -latest songs of the Paris Café concerts, which ran-- - - - "_C'est la femme aux bijoux, - Celle qui rend fou, - C'est une enjôleuse, - Tous ceux qui l'ont aimée, - Ont souffert, ont pleuré._ - - _Ell' n'aime que l'argent, - Se rit des serments, - Prends garde à la gueuse! - Le coeur n'est qu'un joujou, - Pour la femme aux bijoux!_" - - -_La femme aux bijoux!_ The words fell upon my ears, causing me to -ponder. Was she not herself "_La femme aux bijoux_"! How strangely -appropriate was that merry _chanson_ which I had so often heard in -Paris, Brussels, and elsewhere. - -Suddenly the train of my reflections was interrupted by the sound of a -light footstep coming in my direction, and, peering eagerly forth, I -discerned the figure of a rather smart-looking man advancing towards me. - -I watched him come forward, tall and erect, into the light of the -street-lamp a little to my left. He was well dressed in a smart suit of -dark brown with well-creased trousers, and wore a soft Hungarian hat of -dark-brown plush. On his hands were wash-leather gloves and he carried a -gold-mounted stick. - -As he came nearer I saw his face, and my heart gave a great leap. I -stared again, not being able to believe my own eyes! - -Was it, indeed, any wonder? How would you, my reader, have felt in -similar circumstances? I ask, for the man who came past me, within a -couple of feet from where I stood concealed, all unconscious of my -presence, was no stranger. - -It was Edward Craig--Edward Craig, risen from the dead! - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -IS MORE MYSTERIOUS - - -I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed. The man was walking -slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house -where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny -strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway. - -I watched him like a man in a dream. As he approached the house he trod -lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes. In a flash -the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, -recurred to me. I remembered that green-painted seat upon the cliff, -where the coast-guard, in the early dawn, had found him lying dead, of -his strange disguise, and of the coroner's inquiry which followed. I -remembered too, all too well, the puzzling incidents which followed; the -presence of the notorious Jeanjean in that quiet little cliff-resort; -the disappearance of the man of master-mind; the discovery of his hoard -of gold and gems, and how, subsequently, it had been spirited away in a -manner which had absolutely flabbergasted the astute members of the -Norfolk Constabulary, unused as they were to cases of ingenious crime. - -Truly it was all amazing--utterly astounding. - -I watched Craig's receding figure in startled wonder, holding my breath, -and trying to convince myself that I had been mistaken in some -resemblance. - -But I was not. The man who had passed me was Edward Craig in the -flesh--the man upon whose death twelve honest tradesmen of Cromer had -delivered their verdict--the man who had been placed in his coffin and -buried. - -Was ever there incident such as this, I wondered? Had ever man met with -a similar experience? - -By the light of the street-lamp I saw him glance anxiously up and down -that quiet, dark road. Then satisfying himself that he was unobserved, -he crept in at the gate, crossed the lawn noiselessly, and peered in at -the window through the chink between the windowframe and the blind. - -For fully five minutes he remained with his eyes glued to the window. In -the light which fell upon him I saw that his face had assumed an angry, -vengeful look, and that his gloved hands were clenched. - -Yes. He certainly meant mischief. He was watching her as she sat, all -unconsciously, at the piano, singing the gay _chansons_ of the -boulevards, "Mimi d'Amour," "Le tic-tac du Moulin," "Petit Pierre," and -others, so popular in Paris at the moment. - -The family of the retired excise-officer knew but little French, but -they evidently enjoyed the spontaneous gaiety of the songs. - -That Edward Craig, after his mysterious death, should reappear as a -shadow in the night was certainly most astounding. At first I tried to -convince myself that only a strong resemblance existed, but his gait, -his figure, his face, the manner in which he held his cane, and the -slight angle at which he wore his hat--the angle affected by those -elegant young men who in these days are termed "nuts"--were all the -same. - -Yes. It was Edward Craig and none other! - -And yet, who was the man who so suddenly lost his life while -masquerading in the clothes of old Gregory Vernon? - -Aye, that was the question. - -With strained eyes I watched and saw him change his position in order to -obtain a better view of the interior of the room. There was no sign of -Rayner, who, I supposed, had not risked following him, knowing that I -was lurking close to the house. - -That his intentions were evil ones I could not doubt, and yet the light -shining upon his countenance revealed a strange, almost fascinated -expression, as his eyes were fixed into the room, and upon her without a -doubt. - -The music had not ceased. Her quick fingers were still running over the -keys, and in her sweet contralto she was singing the catching refrain-- - - - "_Mimi d'amour, - Petite fleur jolie, - Oui pour toujours - Je t'ai donné ma vie. - Les jours sont courts - Grisons-nous, ma chérie, - Petit' Mimi jolie, - Mimi d'amour!_" - - -Her voice ceased, and, as it did so, the silent watcher crept away, -gaining the pavement and walking lightly in my direction. - -As he passed, within a couple of feet of where I was concealed, I was -able to confirm my belief. There was no doubt as to his identity. By -this discovery the cliff-mystery at Cromer had become a more formidable -and astounding problem. Who could have been the actual victim? What -facts did Lola actually know? - -So well organized and so far extended the ramifications of the criminal -association of which Gregory Vernon was the head and brains, that I -became bewildered. - -I stood gazing over the hedge watching Craig disappear back towards the -main road, where at the corner a small red light now showed. - -When he had got a safe distance from me, I emerged and, crossing the -road quickly, hastened after him. Rayner was in waiting and would, no -doubt, take up the chase. - -Yet when he approached the corner I saw that he suddenly crossed to -where the red light showed, and entering the car, which was evidently -waiting for him, was driven swiftly off to the right in the direction of -Christchurch. - -Rayner met me in breathless haste a few moments after the car had turned -the corner, saying-- - -"I didn't know that car was waiting for him, sir. It only pulled up a -moment ago." - -"Was anybody in it?" - -"Only the driver." - -"Did you take the number?" - -"Yes, sir. It's local, we'll soon find out its owner." - -"You must do so," I said. "The police will help you. But do you know who -that man was?" - -"No, sir. He's a stranger to me," Rayner replied. - -"Well," I said, "he's Edward Craig." - -"Edward Craig!" echoed Rayner, staring at me as we stood at the street -corner together. "Why, that's the man who was murdered at Cromer!" - -"The same." - -"But he died. An inquest was held." - -"I tell you, Rayner, that Edward Craig--the man who is supposed to be -nephew of old Gregory Vernon--is still alive. I could identify him among -ten thousand." - -Rayner was silent. Then at last he said-- - -"Well, sir, that's utterly astounding. Who, then, was the man who was -killed?" - -"That's just what we have to discover," I replied. "We must find out, -too, why he wore old Vernon's clothes on that fatal night." - -Thoughts of the footprint, and the tiny shoe which had so exactly fitted -it, arose within me, but I kept my own counsel and said nothing. - -Having told Rayner to inquire of the police regarding the mysterious -car, and to return to the hotel and await me, I retraced my steps along -that quiet, eminently respectable road, inhabited mostly by retired -tradespeople from London or the North of England, who live in their -"model" villas or "ideal homes" so pleasantly situated, after the smoke -and bustle of business life. - -When I entered the pretty little drawing-room where Lola was, she sprang -to her feet to receive me, holding out her small white hand in glad -welcome. - -In her smiling, sweet face was a far healthier look than when I had -taken leave of her, and returned to London, and in reply to my question, -she declared that she felt much stronger. The sea air had done her an -immense amount of good. Yes, she was a delightful little person who had -been ever in my thoughts. - -She anxiously inquired after my health, but I laughingly declared that I -was now quite right again. - -Her hostess, Mrs. Featherstone, with her daughter, Winifred, and a young -fellow to whom the latter was engaged, were present, so I sat down for a -chat, all four being apparently delighted by my unexpected visit. Mr. -Featherstone had, I found, gone to London that morning and would not -return for three days. - -Presently mother and daughter, and the young man, probably knowing that -I wished to speak with Mademoiselle alone, made excuses and left the -room. - -Then when the door had closed I rose and walked over to where Lola, in a -simple semi-evening gown of soft cream silk, was reclining in an -arm-chair, her neat little shoes placed upon a velvet footstool. - -"To-night," I said in a low voice in French, as I stood near her chair, -my hand resting upon it. "To-night, Lola, I have made a very startling -discovery." - -"A discovery!" she exclaimed, instantly interested. "What?" - -"Edward Craig is still alive!" I answered. "He did not die in Cromer, as -we have all believed." - -"Edward Craig!" she echoed, amazed. "How do you know? I--I mean--_mon -Dieu_!--it's impossible!" - -"It seems impossible, but it is, nevertheless, a fact, Lola," I declared -in a low, earnest tone as I bent towards her. I had watched her face -and, by its expression, knew the truth. "And you," I added, slowly, -"have been aware of this all along." - -"I--I----" she faltered in French, opening her big blue eyes widely, as -the colour mounted to her cheeks in her confusion. - -"No," I interrupted, raising my hand in protest. "Please do not deny -it. You have known that Craig did not die, Lola. You may as well, at -once, admit your knowledge." - -"Certainement, I have not denied it," was her low reply. - -"How did you know he was alive?" I asked. - -"Well," and then she hesitated. But, after a few seconds' reflection, -she went on: "After that affair at Lobenski's in Petersburg, I was -leaving at night for Berlin, by the Ostend rapide, with some of the -stolen stones sewn in my dress, as I told you, when, just as the train -moved off from the platform, I fancied I caught sight of him. But only -for a second. Then, when I came to consider all the facts, I felt -convinced that my eyes must have deceived me. Edward Craig was dead and -buried, and the man on the railway platform must have only borne some -slight resemblance to him." - -Was she deceiving me? I wondered. - -"Have you since seen the same man anywhere else?" I asked her, -seriously. - -"Well, yes," she replied slowly. "Curiously enough, I saw the same -person once in Paris, and again in London. I was in a taxi going along -Knightsbridge on the afternoon of the day when I afterwards walked so -innocently into the trap at Spring Grove. He was just coming out of the -post-office in Knightsbridge, but did not notice me as I passed. I -turned to look at him a second time, but he had gone in the opposite -direction and his back was towards me. Yet I felt certain that he was -actually the same man whom I had seen as the Ostend Express had left -Petersburg. And now," she added, looking straight into my eyes, "you -tell me that Edward Craig still lives!" - -"He does. And he has been here--at this house--to-night!" - -"At this house!" gasped the Nightingale, starting instantly to her feet, -her face as pale as death. - -"Yes. He has been standing on the lawn outside, peering in at this -window, watching you seated at the piano," I explained. - -"Watching me!" - -"Yes," I replied. "And, if my surmise is correct, he is certainly no -friend of yours. He has watched you during the _coup_ in Petersburg, -again in Paris, and in London, and now he has discovered your -hiding-place," I answered. "What does it all mean?" - -Deathly pale, with thin, quivering lips, and hands clasped helplessly -before her, she stood there in an attitude of deadly fear, of blank -despair. - -"Yes," she whispered in a low, strained voice, full of apprehension. "I -believed that he was dead, that----" - -But she halted, as if suddenly recollecting that her words might betray -her. Her bosom, beneath the laces of her corsage, rose and fell -convulsively. - -"That--what?" I asked in a soft, sympathetic voice, placing my hand -tenderly upon her shoulder, and looking into her wonderful eyes. - -"Oh! I--I----" she exclaimed in a half-choked voice. "I thought him -dead. But now, alas! I find that my suspicions are well grounded. He is -alive--and he has actually been here!" - -"Then you are in fear of him--in deadly fear, Lola," I said. "Why?" And -I looked straight at my dainty little friend. - -She tried to make response, but though her white lips moved no sound -escaped them. I saw how upset and overwrought she was by the amazing -information I had conveyed to her. - -"Tell me the truth, Lola--the truth of what happened in Cromer," I -urged, my hand still upon her shoulder. "Do not withhold it from me. -Remember, I am your friend, your most devoted friend." - -She trembled at my question. - -"If the dead man was not Edward Craig, then, who was he?" I asked, as -she had made no reply. - -"How can I tell?" she asked in French. "I thought it was Craig. Was he -not identified as Craig and buried as him?" - -"Certainly. And I, too, most certainly believed the body to be that of -Craig," I answered. - -For a few moments there was a dead silence. Then I repeated my question. -I could see that she feared that young man's visit even more than she -did either her uncle or the old scoundrel Vernon. - -For some mysterious reason the fact that Craig still lived held her in -breathless suspense and apprehension. - -"Lola," I said at last, speaking very earnestly and sympathetically, "am -I correct in my surmise that this man, whom both you and I have believed -to be in his grave, is in possession of some secret of yours--some -weighty secret? Tell me frankly." - -For answer she slowly nodded, and next moment burst into a torrent of -hot, bitter tears, saying, in a faltering voice, scarce above a -whisper-- - -"Yes, alas! M'sieur Vidal. He--he is in possession of my -secret--and--and the past has risen against me!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -HOT-FOOT ACROSS EUROPE - - -By Lola's attitude I became more than ever mystified. I tried to induce -her to tell me the exact position of affairs, but she seemed far too -nervous and unstrung. The fact that Craig had found out her hiding-place -seemed to cause her the most breathless anxiety. - -That he knew some guilty secret of hers seemed plain. - -It was eleven o'clock before I rose to go, after begging her many times -in vain to tell me the truth. I felt confident that she could reveal -the strange mystery of Cromer, yet she steadfastly refused. - -"You surely see, Lola, that we are both in serious peril," I said, -standing before the chair upon which she had sunk in deep dejection. -"These daring, unscrupulous people must, sooner or later, make a fatal -attack upon us, if we do not deliver our blow against them. To invoke -the aid or protection of the police is useless. They set all authority -at defiance, for they are wealthy, and the ramifications of their -society extend all over Europe." - -"I know," she admitted. "Vernon has agents in every country. I have met -many of them--quite unsuspicious persons. My uncle has introduced me to -people at whose apparent honesty and respectability I have been amazed." - -"Then you must surely realize how insecure is the present position of -both of us," I said. - -"I do. But disaster cannot be averted," was her sorrowful response. - -"Unless you unite with me in avenging the attack made upon us at Spring -Grove." - -"What is the use?" she queried. "They have all left London." - -"What?" I exclaimed quickly. "You know that?" - -"Yes," she replied. "I know they have." - -"How?" - -"By an advertisement I saw in the paper three days ago," she answered. -"They use a certain column of a certain paper on a certain day to -distribute general information to all those interested." - -"In a code?" - -"In a secret cipher--known only to the friends of M'sieur Vernon," she -said. "They always look for his orders or his warnings on the eighteenth -of each month. My uncle is back at Algiers." - -"Where is Vernon?" - -"Ah! I do not know. Perhaps he is with my uncle." - -"But the young man, Craig. Why is he watching you? It can only be with -evil intent." - -She drew a long breath, but said nothing. And to all my further -questions she remained dumb, so that when I bent over her outstretched -hand and left, I felt annoyed at her resolute secrecy--a secrecy which -must, I felt, result fatally. - -And yet by her manner I was confident that she was still prevented by -fear from revealing everything to me. Yes, after all, I pitied her -deeply. - -At the _Grand_ I found Rayner awaiting me. He had already learnt from -the police that the car in which Craig had driven away belonged to a -garage in Bournemouth. - -On going there he had found the car had just returned. It had been hired -for the evening by Craig himself, who had first driven out to Boscombe -and was afterwards driven to Christchurch, where he had caught the -express for London. - -He had, therefore, gone. - -This news I scribbled in a note to Lola, and before midnight Rayner had -delivered it at Mr. Featherstone's house. - -Then I retired to rest full of strange thoughts and serious -apprehensions. The revelations of that night had indeed been astounding. -Craig was alive, and his intentions were, undoubtedly, sinister ones. - -But who was the man who had met with such a mysterious death and had -been buried as "Mr. Gregory's nephew?" - -At eleven o'clock next morning I took the tram along to Boscombe and -rang at the door of the house where my delightful little friend was -living. - -The neat maid who answered amazed me by saying-- - -"Mademoiselle left for London by the eight o'clock train this morning, -sir. She packed all her things after you left last night, and ordered a -cab by telephone." - -"Didn't she leave me any message?" I asked Mrs. Featherstone, when I -saw her a few moments later. - -"No, none, Mr. Vidal," replied the old lady. "After you had gone, and -she received your note, she became suddenly very terrified, why, I don't -know. Then she packed, and though we tried to persuade her to stay till -you called, she declined. All she said, besides thanking us, was that -she would write to you." - -"Most extraordinary!" I exclaimed. "I wonder what caused her such sudden -fear?" - -Could it have been that she had discovered any one else watching the -house? Strange, I thought, that she had not sent me word of her intended -departure. She could so easily have spoken to me on the telephone. - -Well, two hours later, I followed her to London, and began an inquiry of -hotels where I knew she had stayed on previous occasions--the _Cecil_, -the _Savoy_, the _Carlton_, the _Metropole_, the _Grand_, and so forth. -But though I spent a couple of hours on the telephone, speaking with -various reception clerks, I could get no news of Mademoiselle Sorel. - -Yet, was it surprising? She would hardly, in the circumstances, stay in -London in her own name. - -Ten days went by. By each post I expected news of Lola, but none came, -and I felt confident that she had gone abroad. - -I wired and wrote to Mademoiselle Elise Leblanc, at the Poste Restante -at Versailles. But I obtained no reply. At last I went down to Cromer -and remained at the _Hôtel de Paris_ for nearly a week, carefully going -over all the details of the mystery with Mr. Day and Inspector Treeton, -who were, of course, both as much puzzled as I was myself. - -The autumn weather was perfect. The holiday crowd had left, and Cromer -looked her brightest and best in the glorious sunshine and golden tints -of the declining year. On the links I played one or two most enjoyable -rounds, and once or twice I sat outside the Golf Club and smoked and -chatted with men I knew in London. - -Daily I wondered what had become of Lola. - -Time after time I visited that green-painted seat near which the dead -man had been found and where I had discovered the imprint of Lola's -shoe. But, beyond what I have already recorded in the foregoing pages, I -could discover absolutely nothing. The identity of the man who had -masqueraded in the clothes of the master-criminal was entirely -enshrouded in mystery. - -The law had buried Edward Craig, and in the cemetery, on the road to -Holt was a plain head-stone bearing his name and the date of his death. - -How could I have been mistaken in his identity? That was the chief fact -which held me puzzled and confused. I had looked upon his face, as -others had done, and all had agreed that the man who died was actually -Craig. - -I told Treeton nothing of my discovery, but one day, as I stood at the -window of the hotel gazing across the sea, I made a sudden resolve, and -that evening I found myself back again in my rooms in London, with -Rayner packing my traps for a trip across the Channel. - -My one most deadly fear was that Lola might, already, have fallen into -one or other of the pitfalls which were, no doubt, spread open for her. -The crafty, unscrupulous gang, with Vernon at their head, were -determined that we both should die. - -On the morning of my arrival from Cromer I left Charing Cross by the -boat-train, and that same evening entered the long, dusty _wagon-lit_ of -the night rapide for Marseilles. - -Marseilles! How many times in my life had I trod the broad Cannebière, -drank cocktails at the Louvre et Paix, ate my boullibuisse at the little -underground café, where the best in the world is served, or sauntered -along the double row of booths placed under the trees of the -boulevard--shops where one can buy anything from a toothpick to a -kitchen-stove. Yes, even to the blasé cosmopolitan, Marseilles is always -interesting, and as I drove along from the station up the Cannebière, I -found the place full of life and movement, with the masts of shipping -and glimpses of huge docks showing at the end of the broad, handsome -thoroughfare. - -From the station I drove direct to the big black mail-boat of the French -Transatlantic Company, and by noon we had swung out of the harbour past -the historic Château d'If, our bows set due south, for Algiers. Lola had -told me that Jeanjean had fled to his hiding-place. And I intended to -seek him and face him. - -There were few passengers on board--one or two French officers on their -way to join their regiments, a few commercial men; while in the third -class I saw more than one squatting, brown-faced Arab, picturesque in -his white burnouse and turban, placidly smoking, with his belongings -tied in bundles arranged around him on the deck. The sea in the Gulf of -Lyons was rough, as it usually is, yet the bright autumn weather on land -had seemed perfect. As soon, however, as we were away from the gulf and -in the open sea, following for hours in the wake of an Orient liner on -her way to Australia, the weather abated and the voyage became most -enjoyable. - -As a student of men, I found the passengers in the steerage far more -interesting than those in the saloon. Among the former was a knot of -young, active-looking men of various nationalities, who leaned over the -side watching the crimson sunset, and smoking and chattering, sometimes -trying to make each other understand. I saw they were in charge of a -military officer, and one of them being a smart, rather gentlemanly -young Englishman--the only other Englishman on board, as far as I could -gather--I spoke to him. - -"Yes," he laughed, "my comrades here are rather a queer lot. We've all -of us come to grief in one way or another. Bad luck, that's it. I speak -for myself. I had a commission in the Hussars, but the gambling fever -bit me hard, and I went a little too often to Dick Seddon's snug little -place in Knightsbridge. Then I came a cropper, the governor cut up -rough, and there was only one thing left to do--to hand in my papers, go -to Paris, and join the French Foreign Legion. So, here I am, drafted to -Algeria as a private with my friends, who are all in the same glorious -predicament. See that fair-bearded chap over there?" he added, pointing -to a well-set-up man of thirty-five who was just lighting a cigarette. -"He's a German Baron, captain of one of the crack regiments in -Saxony--quite a decent chap--a woman, I think, is at the bottom of his -trouble." - -And so, while the Arabs knelt towards Mecca, and touched the decks with -their foreheads, we chatted on, he telling me what he knew concerning -each of his hard-up companions who, under names not their own, were now -on their way to serve France, as privates, in the "Legion of the Lost -Ones," and start their careers afresh. - -At last, after a couple of days, the blue coast of Africa could be -discerned straight ahead, and gradually, as I stood leaning upon the -rail and watching, the long white front of Algiers, with its breakwater, -its white domes of mosques, and high minarets, and its heights crowned -by white villas, came into view. - -The city, dazzling white against the intense blue of the Mediterranean, -presented a picture like the illustration to a fairy tale, and I stood -watching, the sunny strip of African shore until at last we dropped -anchor in the shelter of the bay, and presently went ashore in a boat. - -I followed my traps across the sun-baked promenade to the nearest -hotel--the old-fashioned _Régence_, in The Place--and after a wash, and -a marzagran at the café outside, I inquired my way to the Prefecture of -Police, where, on presenting an open letter, which Henri Jonet, of the -_Sûreté_, had given me a couple of years before, and which had often -served as an introduction, I was received very cordially. - -To the French detective-inspector I said-- - -"I am making an inquiry, and I want, M'sieur, to ask you to allow me to -have one of your men. I am meeting an individual who may prove -desperate." - -"There is danger--eh? Why, of course, M'sieur, a man shall accompany -you." And he shouted through the open window to one of his underlings -who was seated on a bench in the inner courtyard. - -I made no mention of the name of Jules Jeanjean. Had I done so the -effect would, I know, have been electrical. - -But when I got outside with the dark-eyed, sunburnt little man in a -shabby straw hat and rather frayed suit, I exclaimed in French-- - -"There is a villa somewhere outside the town where some experiments in -wireless telegraphy are being conducted. Do you happen to know the -place?" - -"Ah! M'sieur means the Villa Beni Hassan, out near the Jardin d'Essai. -There are two high masts in the grounds with four long wires suspended -between them." - -"Who lives there?" - -"The Comte Paul d'Esneux." - -"Is he French?" I asked, at the same time inquiring his description. - -From the latter, as the detective gave it to me, I at once knew that the -Comte d'Esneux and Jules Jeanjean were one and the same. - -"Non, Monsieur," replied the man. "He is a great Belgian financier. He -comes here at frequent intervals, and carries on his experiments with -wireless telegraphy. It is said that he has made several discoveries in -wireless telephony, hence the Government have given him permission to -establish a station with as great a power as that at Oran." - -"And he is often experimenting?" - -"Constantly. It is said that he can actually transmit messages to Paris -and England. Last year, when the station at Oran was injured by fire, -the Government operators came here, took his instruments over and -worked them. The installation is, I believe, most up-to-date." - -"_Bien!_" I said. "Then let us go up there, and see this Comte -d'Esneux." - -And together we entered a ramshackle fiacre in The Place, and drove away -out by the city gate to the white, dusty high-road, along which many -white-robed Arabs and a few Europeans were trudging in the burning glare -of the African sun. - -When I had mentioned the Count as the person whom I wished to see, I -noticed that the detective hesitated, and, with a strange look, regarded -me with some apprehension. - -Did he suspect? Was he suspicious of the truth concerning the actual -identity of the wealthy Belgian financier who dabbled in wireless? - -Were rumours already afloat, I wondered? - -Had the ever-active Jonet at last succeeded in establishing the secret -hiding-place of the notorious Jules Jeanjean--the prince of European -jewel-thieves? - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -OPENS A DEATH-TRAP - - -The Villa Beni Hassan, a great red-and-white house of Moorish -architecture, with three large domes, and many minarets, and long-arched -windows of stained glass, I found standing high up, facing the azure -sea, amid a wonderful tropical garden full of tall, feathery palms, dark -oleanders, fiery pointsettias, and a perfect tangle of aloes, roses, -giant geraniums and other brilliant flowers. - -A high white wall hid it from the dusty highway, its position being -between the road and the sea with spacious, well-kept grounds sloping -away down to the golden beach. Truly it was a princely residence, one of -the finest in the picturesque suburbs of Algiers. That afternoon beneath -the blazing African sun, shining like burnished copper, all was still in -the fiery heat, which, after the coolness of autumn in England, seemed -overpowering. - -At length the ricketty fiacre pulled up before great gates of ornamental -iron-work, the tops of which were gilded, and on ringing, a gigantic -Arab janitor in blue and gold livery appeared from the concierge's -lodge, and salaamed. - -In Arabic my companion explained that we wished to see the Comte, -whereupon he opened the gates, and on foot we proceeded up the winding, -well-kept drive, bordered by flowers, and shaded by palms of various -species. On our left, across a sun-baked lawn, in the centre of which a -big handsome fountain was playing, I caught sight of an aerial mast of -iron lattice nearly a hundred feet high, and across from it to another -similar mast were suspended four thin wires, kept apart by wooden -crosses. - -I held my breath. I was actually upon the domain of the most daring -criminal known to the European police. - -"There are the wires of the wireless station," the detective exclaimed. -"But why, M'sieur, do you wish to see the Comte?" he asked with sudden -curiosity. - -"To ask him a plain question," was my brief and, I fear, rather snappish -reply. "But tell me," I added, "have you ever seen his niece here -visiting him?" - -"Mademoiselle Sorel, M'sieur means. Yes, certainly. She has often been -here--young, about nineteen--_très petite_, and very pretty. She lives -in Paris." - -"Yes. When was she here last?" - -"Ah! I have not seen her here for several months," replied the man in -the shabby straw hat. "I saw the Comte only yesterday. I was in Mustapha -Pasha when he went past in his grey automobile. He had with him the -tall elderly Englishman who sometimes visits here, a M'sieur Vernon, I -think, is his name." - -"Vernon!" I exclaimed with quick satisfaction. "Is he here?" - -"I believe so, M'sieur. He was here yesterday." - -As he uttered the words we turned the corner, and the great white -Moorish house, with the broad dark-red bands upon the walls, and -dark-red decorations over the arched corridors, came into view. - -Boldly we approached the front door, before which was a great arched -portico lined with dark-blue tiles, delightfully cool after the sun -without. Yet scarcely had we placed our feet upon the threshold when a -tall servant, with face jet-black and three scars upon his cheeks, his -tribal marks, stood before us with a look of inquiry, silently barring -our further passage. - -Beyond we saw a cool courtyard, where vine were trailing overhead, and -water plashed pleasantly into a marble basin. - -Again the detective explained that we wished to see the Comte d'Esneux, -whereupon the silent servant, bowing, motioned us to enter a small -elegantly furnished room on the left of the courtyard, and then -disappeared, closing the door after him. - -The room, panelled in cedar-wood, was Moorish in character, the light -filtering in through long windows of stained glass. Around the vaulted -ceiling was a symmetrical device in Arabesque in gold, red and blue, -while about the place were soft Moorish divans and silken cushions, with -rich rugs on the floor, and a heavy brass arabesque lamp suspended from -the centre of the ornamented ceiling. The place was full of the subtlest -perfume of burning pastilles, and, in a cabinet, I noted a collection of -rare Arab gold and silver jewellery. - -And this was the home of the motor-bandit of the Forest of -Fontainebleau--the man who had shot dead the Paris jeweller, Benoy, with -as little compunction as he killed a fly. - -I strode around the room, bewildered by its Arabian Nights aspect. -Truly Jules Jeanjean lived in a style befitting an Eastern Prince. - -"Hush!" I exclaimed, and we both listened to a loud crackling. "That," I -said, "is the sound of wireless telegraphy. A message is being sent out -across the sea." - -Jeanjean was evidently in a room in the vicinity. - -Suddenly the noise ceased. The door-keeper, who had not asked our names, -had evidently sent in the message that two strangers desired to see his -master. - -But it was only a pause, for in a few seconds the message was resumed. I -could easily distinguish the long and short cracks of the spark across -the gap, as the electric waves were sent into the ether over the -Mediterranean to Europe. - -I happen to know the Continental Morse code, for I had dabbled in -wireless telegraphy two years before. So I stood with strained ears -trying to decipher the tapped-out message. I heard that it was directed -to some station the call-letters of which were "B. X." But the message -was a mere jumble of letters and numerals of some pre-arranged code. - -I listened attentively till I heard the rapid short sound followed by -four long sounds, and another short one, which indicated the conclusion -of the message. - -Then we both waited breathlessly. Who was B. X., I wondered? - -I felt myself upon the verge of a great and effective triumph. I would -give Jeanjean into custody upon a charge of murder, and if Vernon were -still there, he should also be captured at the point of the revolver. - -Those seconds seemed hours. - -In a whisper I urged my companion to hold himself in readiness for a -great surprise, and to have his revolver handy--which he had. - -I laughed within myself at the great surprise the pair would have. - -The heavy atmosphere of the room where, from a big old bowl of brass -with a pierced cover, ascended the blue smoke of perfume being burnt -upon charcoal ashes, became almost unbearable. The pastilles as burnt by -the Orientals is pleasing to the nostrils unless some foreign matter be -mixed with them, or the smoke is not allowed to escape. In this case the -round-headed stained glass windows were fully twelve feet from the -ground, had wire-work in front of them, and apparently did not open. The -designs of dark-blue, purple, red and yellow were very elegant, and they -were probably very ancient windows brought from some fairy-like palace -of the days before the occupation of Algeria by the French. - -Again I gazed around the delightfully luxurious apartment, so -essentially Moorish and artistic. Amid such surroundings had lived -Lola--the girl who had fled from me and disappeared. - -What would the world say when it became known that that magnificent -house, almost indeed a palace, was the home of the man of a hundred -crimes, the daring and unscrupulous criminal, Jules Jeanjean? - -I was listening for a repetition of the wireless signals to B.X., but -could distinguish nothing. Probably he was receiving their reply, in -which case there would be no sounds except in the head-telephones. - -"_Mon Dieu!_" gasped my companion, whose name he had told me was -Fournier. "This atmosphere is becoming suffocating!" - -I agreed, and tried to extinguish the fire within the brazier. -Unfortunately I failed to open the lid, which was held down by some -spring the catch of which I could not detect. - -Indeed, the thin column of blue smoke grew darker and denser, as we -watched. The room became full of a perfume which gradually changed to a -curious odour which suffocated us. - -We both coughed violently, and upon me grew the feeling that I was being -asphyxiated. My throat became contracted, my eyes smarted, and I could -only take short, quick gasps. - -"Let's get out of this," I exclaimed, reaching to open the door. - -But it was locked. - -We were caught like rats in a trap. - -In an instant we both realized that we were imprisoned, and began to -bang violently upon the heavy doors of iron-bound and unpolished oak, -shouting to be let out. The fool of an Arab had secured us there while -he went to announce our visit to his master. - -I took up a small ebony and pearl coffee-table inlaid with a verse from -the Koran, and raising it frantically above my head, attacked the locked -door. But when it struck the oak it flew into a dozen pieces. Fournier -took up a small chair with equally futile result, and then in silence we -exchanged glances. - -Could it be, that on our approach to the house, we had been recognized -by the owner and invited into that room which, with its rising fumes, -was nothing less than an ingenious death-trap. - -I remembered the sinister grin upon the villainous black face of the -silent servant. - -Again and again we attacked the door, for we knew that our lives -depended upon our escape. We shouted, yelled and banged, but attracted -no attention. We threw things at the windows, but they were protected by -the wire-work. - -Then a sudden thought occurred to me. - -Swiftly I bent down and examined the large keyhole. The key had been -taken and, it seemed to me, the heavy bolt of the lock had been shot -into a deep socket in the framework of the door. - -Without a word I motioned Fournier to stand back, and finding that the -barrel of my revolver was, fortunately, small enough to insert into the -keyhole, I pushed it in and pulled the trigger. - -A loud explosion followed, and splinters of wood and iron flew in all -directions. The bolt of the lock was blown away and the door forced -open. - -Next second, with revolvers in our hands, we stood facing two black -faced servants, who drew back in alarm as we rushed from that lethal -chamber. - -Fournier, excited as a Frenchman naturally would be in such -circumstances, raised his weapon and shouted in Arabic that he was a -police-officer, and that all persons in that house were to consider -themselves under arrest. Whereupon both men, Moors they were most -probably, fell upon their knees begging for mercy. - -My companion exchanged some quick words with them, and they entered into -a conversation, while at the same moment, casting my eyes across the -beautiful, blue-tiled, vaulted hall, I looked through an open door into -the room which the Count d'Esneux used for his experiments in wireless. - -At a glance I recognized, by the variety of the apparatus, the size of -the great spiral transmitting helix, by the pattern of the loose-coupled -tuning inductance, the big variable condensers, those strange-looking -circular instruments of zinc vanes enclosed in a round glass, used for -receiving, the electrolytic detector, and the big crystal detector, a -gold point working over silicon, carborundum, galena, and copper -pyrites--that the station must have a very wide range. The spark-gap was -bigger than any I had ever before seen, while there was a long loading -coil enabling any distant station using long wave-lengths to be picked -up, as well as the latest type of potentiometer, used to regulate the -voltage and current supplied to the detectors. - -At a glance I took in the whole arrangement, placed as it was, upon a -long table beneath a window of stained glass at the further end of that -luxurious little Moorish chamber. Apparently no cost had been spared in -its installation, and I fully believed that with it the notorious -criminal could communicate with any station within a radius of, perhaps, -two thousand miles. - -Fournier had questioned the native servants rapidly, and received their -replies, which were at first unsatisfactory. I saw by the fear in their -faces that he had threatened them, when suddenly one of them excitedly -made a statement. - -"_Diable!_" cried the detective in French, turning to me. "The Count -recognized us, and had us locked in that death-chamber while he and the -Englishman, M'sieur Vernon, got away!" - -"Escaped!" I gasped in dismay. "Then let us follow." - -A quick word in Arabic, and the two servants, without further -reluctance, dashed away along the big hall, through several -luxuriously-furnished rooms full of soft divans, where the air was heavy -with Eastern perfumes and the decorations were mostly in dark red and -blue. Then across a small cool courtyard paved with polished marble, -where another fountain plashed, and out to the sun-baked palm-grove -which sloped from the front of the house away to the calm sapphire sea. - -Excitedly the men pointed, as we stood upon the marble terrace, to a -white speck far away along the broken coast of pale brown rocks, a speck -fast receding around the next point, behind which was hidden the harbour -of Algiers. - -"By Gad!" I cried, gazing eagerly after it, "that's a motor-boat, and -they are making for the town! We mustn't lose an instant or they will -get away to some place of safety." - -So together we dashed back to the road as fast as our legs could carry -us, and drove with all possible speed back to the town, in order to -reach the harbour before the fugitives could land. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -DESCRIBES A CHASE - - -The driver, with the southerner's disregard of the feelings of animals, -lashed his weedy horse into a gallop, as up-hill and down-hill we sped, -back to the town. - -Entering the city gate, the man scattered the dogs and foot-passengers -by his warning yells in Arabic, until at last we were down upon the -long, semi-circular quay, our eager eyes looking over the blue, sun-lit -sea. - -No sign could we discern of the motor-boat, but Fournier, with his hand -uplifted, cried-- - -"See! Look at that white steam-yacht at the end of the Mole--the long, -low-built one. That belongs to the Count. Perhaps he has already boarded -her!" - -I looked in the direction my companion indicated, and there saw lying -anchored about half a mile from the shore a small white-painted yacht, -built so low that her decks were almost awash, with two rakish-looking -funnels, and a light mast at either end with a wireless telegraph -suspended between them. The French tricolour was flying at the stern. - -From the funnels smoke was issuing, and from where I stood, I could see -men running backwards and forwards. - -"She's getting under weigh," I cried. "The fugitives must be aboard. We -must stop them." - -"How can we?" asked the Frenchman, dismayed. "Besides, why should -we--except that we were nearly suffocated in that room." - -"That man you know as the Comte d'Esneux is the most dangerous criminal -in all Europe," I told him. "To the Prefecture of Police in Paris--to -you in Algiers also--he is known as Jules Jeanjean!" - -"Jules Jeanjean!" choked out the man in the shabby straw hat. "Is that -the actual truth, M'sieur?" - -"It is," I replied. "And now you know the cause of my anxiety." - -"Why, there is a reward of four hundred thousand francs for his capture, -offered by companies who have insured jewels he has stolen," he cried. - -"I know. Now, what shall we do?" I asked, feeling myself helpless, for -at that moment I saw the motor-boat draw away from the yacht, with only -one occupant, the man driving the engine. It had turned and was speeding -along the coast back in the direction of the villa, white foam rising at -its elevated bows. - -"What can we do?" queried my companion. "That yacht is the fastest -privately owned craft in the Mediterranean. It is the _Carlo Alberta_, -the Italian torpedo-boat built at Spezzia two years ago. Because it did -not quite fulfil the specifications, it was disarmed and sold. The Count -purchased her, and turned her into a yacht." - -"But surely there must be some craft on which we could follow?" I -exclaimed. "Let's see." - -We drove down to the port, and after a few rapid inquiries at the bureau -of the harbour-master, found that there was lying beyond the Mole, a big -steam-yacht belonging to an American railway magnate named Veale. The -owner and some ladies were on board, and he might perhaps assist the -police and give chase. - -Quickly we were aboard the fast motor-boat belonging to the harbour -authorities, but ere we had set out, the _Carlo Alberta_, with long -lines of black smoke issuing from her funnels, had weighed anchor and -was slowly steaming away. - -Silas J. Veale, of the New York Central Railroad, a tall, very thin, -very bald-headed man in a smart yachting suit, greeted us pleasantly -when we boarded his splendid yacht. When he heard our appeal he entered -into the adventure with spirit and gave the order to sail at once. - -Beside us, on his own broad white deck, he stood scanning the -low-built, rapidly disappearing _Carlo Alberta_ through his binoculars. - -"Guess they'll be able to travel some! We'll have all our work cut out -if we mean to keep touch with them. Never mind. We'll see what the old -_Viking_ can do." - -Then he shouted another order to his captain, a red-whiskered American, -urging him to "hurry up and get a move on!" - -As we stood there, three ladies, his wife and two daughters, the latter -respectively about twenty-two and twenty, all of them in yachting -costumes, came and joined us, eagerly inquiring whither we were bound. - -"Don't know, Jenny," he replied to his wife. "We're just following a -couple of crooks who've got slick away in that two-funnelled boat -yonder, and we mean to keep in touch with them till they land. That's -all." - -"Then we're leaving Algiers!" exclaimed the younger girl regretfully. - -"Looks like it, Sadie," was his reply. "The police have requested our -aid, an' we can't very well refuse it." Then turning to me he exclaimed, -"Say, I wonder where they're making for?" - -"They are the most elusive pair of thieves in Europe," I replied. "They -are certain to get away if we do not exercise the greatest caution." - -The ladies grew most excited, and as the vessel began at last to move -through the water, the chief officer shouting at her men, the girl whose -name was Sadie, a smart, rather good-looking little person, though -typically American, exclaimed to me, as she fixed her grey eyes on the -fleeing vessel-- - -"Do you think they are faster than we are?" - -"I fear so," was my reply. "But your father has promised to do his -best." - -"What crime is alleged against the men?" inquired Mrs. Veale, in a -high-pitched, nasal tone. - -"Murder," replied Fournier, in French, understanding English, but never -speaking it. - -"Murder!" all three ladies echoed in unison. "How exciting!" - -And exciting that chase proved. Old Mr. Veale entered thoroughly into -the spirit of the adventure. With Fournier, I took off my coat and, -descending to the engine-room, assisted to stoke, we having put to sea -short-handed, three men being ashore. Amateur stoking, of course, is not -conducive to speed, but Veale himself, his coat also off, and perspiring -freely, directed our efforts. - -Still our speed was not up to what it should have been. Therefore the -owner of the yacht went along to the storeroom, and dragging out sides -of cured bacon, chopped them up, and with the pieces fed the furnaces, -until we got up sufficient steam-pressure, and were moving through the -calm, sun-lit waters at the maximum speed the fine yacht had attained on -her trials. - -As the golden sun sank away in the direction of Gibraltar, the fugitive -vessel held on her course to the north-east, straight to where the -nightclouds were rising upon the horizon. Far away we could see the long -line of black smoke lying out behind her upon the glassy sea. And though -we had every ounce of pressure in our boilers, yet with heart-sinking we -watched her slowly but very surely, getting further and further away -from us, growing smaller as each half-hour passed. - -The fiery sun sank into the glassy sea, and was followed by a wonderful -crimson afterglow, which shone upon our anxious faces as, ever and anon, -we left our work in the stifling stokehold, and went on deck for a -breath of fresh air. - -Fournier's face was grimy with coal-dust, and so was mine, while Veale -himself also took his turn in handling the shovel. - -The chase was full of wildest excitement, which was certainly shared by -the three ladies, to whom the hunting of criminals was a decided -novelty. - -With the aid of a whisky and soda now and then, and on odd ham -sandwich, we worked far into the night. - -The captain reported that before darkness had fallen the _Carlo Alberta_ -had, according to the laws of navigation, put up her lights. But an hour -after the darkness became complete she must have either extinguished -them or had passed through a bank of mist. For fully half an hour -nothing was seen of the lights, though most of the men on board were -eagerly on the watch for a sight of them. Suddenly, however, they again -reappeared. - -Then our captain, after consultation with Mr. Veale, decided to try a -ruse. He extinguished every light in the ship, but still held on his -course, following the distant yacht. For quite an hour we went -full-speed ahead with all lights extinguished, keeping an active -look-out for shipping, or for obstacles. - -We did this in order that the fugitives should believe we had given up -the chase. Though their vessel was so fast, it was apparent that -something must have happened to them, for they had not drawn away from -us so far as we had expected. An ordinary steam-yacht, however swift she -may be, can never hold her own with a destroyer. - -"Guess she's got engine-trouble," remarked the American captain as I -stood with him upon the bridge, peering into the darkness. "We may -overhaul her yet if you gentlemen keep the furnaces a-going as you have -been. Hot job, ain't it?" - -"Rather," I laughed. "But I don't mind as long as we can get alongside -that boat." And then I returned to my place in the stokehold, perspiring -so freely that I had not a stitch of dry clothing upon me. - -Half an hour later I was again on deck for a blow, and saw that the -fugitive steamer had perceptibly increased the distance between us. Had -her engines been working well she would, no doubt, have been well out of -sight two hours after we had left Algiers. Yet, as it was, we were still -following in her wake, all our lights out, so that in the darkness she -could not see us following. - -The whole of that night was an exciting one. All of us worked at the -furnaces with a will, pouring in coal to keep up every ounce of steam of -which our boilers were capable. No one slept, and Mrs. Veale, now as -excited as the rest, brought us big draughts of tea below. - -In the stokehold the heat became unbearable. I was not used to such a -temperature, neither were the railway magnate nor the detective. The -latter was all eagerness now that he knew who was on board the vessel -away there on the horizon. - -"She's making for Genoa, I believe," declared the captain, towards four -o'clock in the morning. "She's not going to Marseilles, that's very -evident. If only we had wireless on board we might warn the -harbour-police at Genoa to detain them, but, unfortunately, we haven't." - -"And they have!" I remarked with a grin. - -Dawn came at last, and the spreading light revealed us. From the two low -funnels of the escaping vessel a long trail of black smoke extended far -away across the sea, while from our funnel went up a whirling, -woolly-looking, dunnish column, due to our unprofessional stoking. - -All the bacon had been used, as well as other stores, to make as much -steam as possible, yet even though the _Carlo Alberta_ had plainly -something amiss with her engines, we found it quite impossible to -overhaul her. - -The day went past, long and exciting. The captain held to his opinion -that our quarry was making for Savona or Genoa. The weather was perfect, -and the voyage would have been most enjoyable had not the race been one -of life and death. - -To Veale and his party I related some of the marvellous exploits of the -criminal pair, and told how cleverly they had escaped us from the Villa -Beni Hassan. I described the dastardly attempt made upon my life, and -that of Lola, and my narrative caused every one on board to work with a -will in order to break up the desperate gang. - -As we had feared, when night again fell the vessel we were chasing -showed no lights. Only by aid of his night-glasses could our captain -distinguish her in the darkness, but fortunately it was not so cloudy as -on the previous night, and the moon shone from behind the light patches -of drifting vapour much, no doubt, to Jeanjean's chagrin, for it -revealed their presence and allowed us to still hang on to them. - -Our American captain was a tough-looking fellow, of bull-dog type, and -full of humorous remarks concerning the fugitives. - -I recollected what Lola had told me in regard to her uncle's wireless -experiments with a friend of his in Genoa. Yes. Finding themselves -pressed by us they, no doubt, intended to land at that port. How -devoutly we all wished that their engines would break down entirely. But -that was not likely in a boat of her powerful description. Yet something -was, undoubtedly, interfering with her speed. - -The second day passed much as the first. We were already within sight of -the rocky coast near Toulon, and in the track of the liners passing up -and down between Port Said and Gib'. We passed two P. and O. mail -steamers, and a yellow-funnelled North German Lloyd homeward bound from -China. Still we kept at our enemies' heels like a terrier, though the -seas were heavy off the coast, and a strong wind was blowing. - -Fournier suffered from sea-sickness, so did Mr. Veale's second daughter, -but we kept doggedly on, snatching hasty meals and performing the -monotonous, soul-killing work of stoking. The run was as hard a strain -as ever had been put upon the engines of the _Viking_, and I knew that -the engineer was in hourly dread of their breaking down under it. - -If she did, then all our efforts would be in vain. - -So he alternately nursed them, and urged them along through the long, -angry waves which had now arisen. - -Another long and weary night passed, and again we both steamed along -with all lights out, a dangerous proceeding now that we were right in -the track of the shipping. Then, when morning broke, we found we were -off the yellow Ligurian coast, close to Savona, and heading, as our -captain had predicted, for Genoa. The race became fiercely contested. We -stood on deck full of excitement. Even Fournier shook off his -sea-sickness. - -Soon the high, square lighthouse came into view through the haze, and we -then put on all the speed of which we were capable in a vain endeavour -to get closer to the fugitives. But again the black smoke trailed out -upon the horizon, and suddenly rounding the lighthouse, they were lost -to view. - -At last we, too, rounded the end of the Mole, and entered the harbour -where the _Carlo Alberta_ had moored three-quarters of an hour earlier. -Fournier instantly invoked the aid of the dock police and, with them, we -boarded the vessel, only, alas! to find that its owner and his English -guest had landed and left, leaving orders to the captain to proceed to -Southampton. - -The vessel was, we found, spick and span, luxuriously appointed, and -tremendously swift, though, on that run across the Mediterranean, one of -the engines had been under repair when the Count and his friend had so -unexpectedly come on board, and the other was working indifferently. - -The captain, a dark-bearded, pleasant-faced Englishman from Portsmouth, -believed that his master had dashed to catch the express for Rome. He -had, he said, heard him speaking with Mr. Vernon as to whether they -could catch it. - -"Did they use the wireless apparatus on board?" I asked quickly. - -"Once, sir," was the captain's reply. "The Comte was in the wireless -cabin last night for nearly an hour. He's always experimenting." - -"You don't know if he sent any messages--eh?" - -"Oh, yes. He sent some, for I heard them, but I didn't trouble to try to -read the sounds." - -Therefore, having thanked Mr. Veale and his family, I set forth, -accompanied by Fournier and the two Italian police officers, to the -railway station up the hill, above the busy docks. - -Eagerly I asked one of the ticket-collectors in Italian if the Rome -express had gone, knowing well that in Italy long-distance trains are -often an hour or more late. - -"No, Signore," was his reply. "It is still here, fifty-five minutes -late, from Turin." Then glancing down upon the lines, where several -trains were standing in the huge, vaulted station, he added: "Platform -number four. Hurry quickly, Signore, and you will catch it." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -THE HOUSE IN HAMPSTEAD - - -I dashed down to the platform, three steps at a time, followed by my -three companions, but ere I gained it the train had begun to move out of -the station. - -One of the Italian police officers shouted to the scarlet-capped -station-master to have the train stopped, but that stately official, his -hands behind his back, only walked calmly in our direction to hear the -voluble words which fell from the French officer's lips. - -By that time the train had rounded the curve and was dropping from -sight. - -My heart sank within me. Once again Jeanjean had escaped! - -We were making frantic inquiry regarding the two fugitives when a -porter, who chanced to overhear my words, expressed a belief that they -had not left by the Rome express, but for Turin by the train that had -and started a quarter of an hour before. - -I rushed to the booking office, and, after some inquiry of the lazy, -cigar-smoking clerk, learned that two foreigners, answering the -descriptions of the men I wanted, had taken tickets for London by way of -the Mont Cenis Paris-Calais route. He gave me the ticket numbers. - -Yes. The porter was correct. They had left by the express for Turin, and -the frontier at Modane! - -With Fournier and the two policemen, I went to the Questura, or Central -Police Office, situated in a big, gloomy, old medieval palace--for Genoa -is eminently a city of ancient palaces--and before the Chief of the -Brigade Mobile, a dapper little man with bristling white hair and yellow -boots, I laid information, requesting that the pair be detained at the -frontier. - -When I revealed the real name of the soi-disant Comte d'Esneux, the -police official started, staring at me open-mouthed. Then, even as we -sat in his bare, gloomy office with its heavily-barred windows--the -original windows of the palace, in the days when it had also been a -fortress--he spoke over the telephone with the Commissary of Police at -Bardonnechia in the Alps, the last Italian station before the great Mont -Cenis tunnel is entered. - -After me he repeated over the wire a minute description of both men -wanted, while the official at the other end wrote them down. - -"They will probably travel by the train which arrives from Turin at -6.16," the Chief of the Brigade Mobile went on. "The numbers of their -tickets are 4,176 B. and 4,177 B., issued to London. Search them, as -they may have stolen jewels upon them. Understand?" - -An affirmative reply was given, and the white-haired little man -replaced the telephone receiver. - -Thanking him I went outside into the Via Garibaldi, with a sigh of -relief. At last the two men were running straight into the arms of the -police. My chief thought now was of Lola. Where could she be, that she -had not answered my urgent letters sent to the Poste Restante at -Versailles? - -The next train--the through sleeping-car express from Rome to -Calais--left at a few minutes to six, and for this we were compelled to -wait. - -I recollected that Lola had told me how Jeanjean was in the habit of -communicating with his confederate Hodrickx, who had also established a -wireless station in Genoa. Thereupon I made inquiry, and found that -aerial wires were placed high over the roof of a house close to the -Acqua Sola Gardens at the end of the broad, handsome Via Roma. - -The house, however, was tenantless, Hodrickx, apparently a Belgian, -having sold his furniture and disappeared, no one knew where, a -fortnight previously. - -At six o'clock we entered the Calais express, and travelling by way of -Alessandria and Turin, ascended, through the moon-lit Alps, that night a -perfect fairyland, up the long steep incline, mounting ever higher and -higher, until the two engines hauling the _train-de-luxe_ at last, at -midnight, pulled up at the little ill-lit station of Bardonnechia. -There, we hastily alighted and sought the Commissary of Police. - -To him Fournier presented his card of identity which every French -detective carries, and at once the brown-bearded official told us that, -although strict watch had been kept upon every train, the fugitives had -not arrived! - -"They may have left the train at Turin, and gone across to Milan, and -thence by the Gotthard route to Basle and Paris," he suggested to me. -"If they believe they were followed that is what they most certainly -would do." - -Then he swiftly turned over the leaves of a timetable upon the desk of -his little office, and, after a minute examination, added in Italian-- - -"If they have gone by that route they will join the same Channel-boat at -Calais as this train catches, whether they go from Basle, by way of -Paris, or direct on to Calais." - -The train we had travelled by was still waiting in the station, for one -of the engines was being detached. - -"Then you suggest that we had better go by this?" I said. - -"I certainly should, Signore, if I were you," was his polite answer. -"Besides they are wanted in England, you say, therefore it would be -better to arrest them on the English steamer, or on their arrival in -Dover, and thus avoid the long formalities of extradition. Our -Government, as you know, never gives up criminals to England." - -Instantly I realized the soundness of his argument, and, thanking him, -we both climbed back into the _wagon-lit_ we had occupied, and were soon -slowly entering the black, stifling tunnel. - -Need I further describe that eager, anxious journey, save to say that -when next day we traversed the Ceinture in Paris, and arrived from the -Gare de Lyon, at the Gare du Nord, we kept a vigilant and expectant -watch, for it was there that the two men might join our train. Our -watch, however, proved futile. They might have joined the ordinary -express from Paris to Calais which had left half an hour before us--ours -being a _train-de-luxe_. So we possessed ourselves in patience till at -length, after a halt at Calais-Ville, we slowly drew up on the quay near -where the big white Dover boat was lying. - -The soft felt hat I had bought in Genoa, I pulled over my eyes, and then -rushed along the gangway, and on board, with Fournier at my side, making -a complete tour of the vessel, peeping into every cabin, and in every -hole and corner, to discover the fugitives. - -Already the gangway was up, and the three blasts sounded upon the siren -announcing the departure of the boat. Therefore the pair, if on board, -could not now escape. - -Throughout the hour occupied in the crossing I was ever active, and when -we were moored beside the pier in Dover Harbour, I stood at the gangway -to watch every one leave. - -Yet all my efforts were, alas! in vain. - -They had evidently changed their route to London a second time, and had -travelled from Bâle to Brussels and Ostend! - -The thought occurred to me as I stood watching the last passengers -leaving the steamer. If they had travelled direct by way of Ostend, then -they would be seated in the train for Charing Cross, for the Ostend boat -had been in half an hour, we were told. - -The train, one of those gloomy, grimy, South-Eastern "expresses," was -waiting close by. Therefore I ran frantically from end to end, peering -into each carriage, but, to my dismay, the men I sought were not there! - -So Fournier and I entered a first-class compartment and, full of bitter -disappointment, travelled up to Charing Cross, where we arrived about -seven o'clock. - -I was alighting from the train into the usual crowd of arriving -passengers, and their friends who were present to meet them, for there -is always a quick bustle when the boat-train comes alongside the customs -barrier, when of a sudden my quick eyes caught sight of two men in -Homburg hats and overcoats. - -My heart gave a bound. - -Vernon and Jeanjean had alighted from the same train in which I and -Fournier had travelled, and were hurrying out of the station. - -Jeanjean carried a small brown leather handbag, while Vernon had only a -walking-stick. Both men looked fagged, weary and travel-worn. - -"Look!" I whispered to Fournier. "There they are!" - -Then, holding back in the crowd, and keeping our eyes upon the hats of -the fugitives, we followed them out into the station yard, where they -hurriedly entered a taxi and drove away, all unconscious of our -presence. - -In another moment we were in a second taxi, following them up Regent -Street, through Regent's Park, and along Finchley Road, until suddenly -they turned into Arkwright Road. - -Then I stopped our vehicle and descended, just in time to see them enter -the house called Merton Lodge--the house which Rayner had described to -me on the night of my long vigil at the corner of Hatton Garden. - -For a few moments I stood, undecided how to act. Should I drive at once -to Scotland Yard and lay the whole affair before them, or should I still -keep my counsel until I rediscovered Lola? - -I knew where they were hiding, and if I watched, I might learn something -further. Both Rayner and Fournier were known to the two culprits. -Therefore I decided to invoke the aid of an ex-detective-sergeant who, -since his retirement from Scotland Yard, had more than once assisted me. - -Truth to tell, I had a far higher opinion of the astuteness of the Paris -police than that of Scotland Yard. The latter disregarded my theories, -whereas Jonet was always ready to listen to me. For that reason I -hesitated to go down to the "Yard," preferring to send word to Jonet, -and allow him to act as he thought fit. - -William Benham lived in the Camberwell New Road; so I went to the -nearest telephone call-box and, ringing him up, asked him to meet me at -Swiss Cottage Station and bring a trustworthy friend. - -I knew that Merton Lodge had a convenient exit at the rear, hence, to be -watched effectively, two men must be employed. - -Towards half-past nine, leaving Fournier to watch at the end of the -road, I met Benham, who came attired as one of the County Council -employés engaged in watering the roads at night, accompanied by a -burly-looking labourer who was introduced to me as an ex-detective from -Vine Street. Without revealing the whole story, or who the two men were, -I explained that I had followed them post-haste from Algiers, and that -both were wanted for serious crimes. All I desired was that a strict -surveillance should be placed upon them, and that they should be -followed and all their movements watched. - -"Very well, Mr. Vidal," Benham replied. - -He was a pleasant-faced, grey-haired man, with a broad countenance, and -a little grey moustache. - -"I quite understand," he said. "We'll keep on them, and if I find it -necessary, I'll get a third person. They won't get very far ahead of us, -you bet," he laughed. - -"They're extremely wary birds," I cautioned. "So you'll both of you be -compelled to keep your eyes skinned." - -"You merely want to know what's doing-eh?" - -"Yes. I'm fagged out, and want a rest to-night. I'll come up and see you -in the morning," I said. - -Then we entered a bar, and having had a drink together, we went to -Arkwright Road, where I rejoined Fournier, and with him returned to my -rooms. - -Next day nothing happened. The two men wanted, wearing different -clothes, and Vernon in blue glasses, went out about eleven for a walk as -far as Hampstead Heath, and returned to luncheon. That was all my -watchers reported. - -On the following evening, however, I met Benham by appointment in a bar -in the Finchley Road, when he said-- - -"There's something in the wind, Mr. Vidal. But I can't make out what it -is. This afternoon a well-dressed man, apparently an Italian, called, -and about half an hour later a smart young French girl, with fair hair, -and wearing a short dark blue dress and brown silk stockings and shoes, -also paid the pair a visit. She's there now." - -From the further description he gave of her, I found that it tallied -exactly with the identity of Lola. - -And she was there! with Vernon and his two confederates. - -"There's also something else strange about that house, Mr. Vidal," added -Benham. "I dare say you didn't notice it in the dark, but away, -half-hidden by the trees in the garden, there's a long stretch of four -wires, suspended from two high poles. A wireless telegraph, I take it to -be." - -"Wireless at Merton Lodge!" I cried. - -"Yes. To-day I asked a man who was repairing an underground wire in the -Finchley Road, and he says it's a very powerful station, and he wonders -that the Post Office ever licensed it." - -"It was probably licensed as a small station, and then its power was -secretly increased," I suggested. - -"But you say that the young French lady is still there?" - -"Yes," replied Benham, "she was when I left ten minutes ago." - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -NARRATES A STARTLING AFFAIR - - -I lost no time, but quickly hurried round to Arkwright Road, strolling -past the new, well-kept, red-brick house which, upon its gate, bore the -words in neat white letters, "Merton Lodge." - -In several of the windows were lights. What, I wondered, was the nature -of the consultation going on within? - -While I walked to the corner of Frognal, Benham remained at the Finchley -Road end, within call. - -I watched patiently, when, about half-past eight, the front door opened -and Lola, descending the steps, left the house, walking alone in my -direction. - -Drawing back quickly, I resolved to follow her, and doing so, went after -her straight up Arkwright Road, and up Fitzjohn's Avenue, till she came -to the Hampstead Tube Station, where, in the entrance, I was astounded -to see Edward Craig awaiting her. - -He raised his hat and shook her hand warmly, while she, flushed with -pleasure, strolled at his side up the steep hill towards the Heath. - -The attitude of the man, who was once supposed to have been dead and -buried, was now very different to what it had been when he had watched -her in secret at Boscombe. - -I stood watching the pair, puzzled and wondering. What could it mean? - -They were both smart and handsome. She, with all the vivacious -mannerisms of the chic Parisienne, was explaining something with much -gesticulation, while he strode at her side, bending to listen. - -Behind them, I came on unobserved, following them on the high road over -the dark, windy Heath, past the well-known inn called _Jack Straw's -Castle_--the Mecca of the East-End seeker after fresh air--and on across -the long, straight road which led to the ancient Spaniards, one of the -landmarks of suburban London. - -Half-way along that wide, open road, at that hour deserted, they sat -together upon a seat, talking earnestly, while I, leaving the road, lay -hidden in a bush upon the Heath. Lola seemed to be making some long -explanation, and then I distinctly saw him take her hand, and hold it -sympathetically, as he looked her full in the face. - -Presently they rose, and walked the whole length of the open road, which -led across the top of the Heath, as far as the Spaniards. On either -side, far below, lay the lights of London, while, above, the red -night-glare was reflected from the lowering sky. - -As they walked closely beside each other, with halting steps, as though -the moments of their meeting were passing all too rapidly, the man from -the grave was speaking, low and earnestly, into her ear. - -She seemed to be listening to him in silence. And I watched on, -half-inclined to the belief that they were lovers. - -Nevertheless, such an idea seemed ridiculous after Craig's demeanour -when he had watched her through the window on that night in Boscombe. - -Yes. The friendship between Lola and the man whom every one believed to -be in his grave, was a complete mystery. - -I followed them back, past the infrequent street-lamps, to the seat -whereon they had at first sat. Upon it they sank again, and until nearly -ten o'clock they remained in deep, earnest conversation. - -When they rose, at last, I thought he raised her hand reverently to his -lips. But I was so far away that I could not be absolutely certain. As -they sauntered slowly down the hill to the station, I lounged leisurely -after them. - -They were too occupied with each other to be conscious of my -surveillance. - -I saw them descend in the lift to the platform below, and I was -compelled to take the next lift. - -Fortunately, the train had not left ere I gained it, and I got in the -rear carriage, keeping a wary eye upon each platform as we reached it. - -At Oxford Street they alighted, and while they ascended by the lift, I -tore up the stairs two steps at a time, reaching the street just as they -entered the big, grey, closed motor-car, which was apparently there -awaiting them, and moved off down the street. - -In a moment I had hailed a taxi and was speeding after the grey car. - -The red light showing the number-plate and the "G.B." plaque, went -swiftly down to Piccadilly Circus, then turning to the right along -Piccadilly, pulled up suddenly before the _Berkeley Hotel_, where both -alighted. - -Craig went as far as the door and stood speaking with her for a moment -or two; then, raising his hat, re-entered the grey car and drove rapidly -in the direction of Hyde Park Corner. - -Having established the fact that Lola was staying at the _Berkeley_, I -re-entered my taxi, and in about half an hour alighted once more at the -junction of Arkwright Road with Finchley Road. - -Benham quickly detected my arrival, and approaching me from the -darkness, said-- - -"I wondered where you'd gone to, sir, all the evening. Nobody has come -out. The three men are in there still." - -I was very tired and hungry, therefore we both went into the -neighbouring bar and swallowed some sandwiches. Then we went forth -again, and though midnight chimed from a distant church clock, there was -no sign of the interesting trio. Perhaps Vernon and Jeanjean were -fatigued after their swift journey from the African coast. - -The solution of the mystery at Cromer was still as far off as ever. The -reappearance of the supposed dead man had increased the complications in -the amazing problem which had, long ago, been given up by Frayne of the -estimable Norfolk Constabulary as constituting an unsolvable "mystery." -Both he and Treeton were, no doubt, busily engaged in trapping motorists -who exceeded "the limit," for to secure a conviction is a far greater -credit to the local police officer than the patient unravelling of a -mystery of crime. Hence the persistent lack of intelligence amongst too -many of the country police. - -It was past one o'clock in the morning when, lurking together in a -doorway, we saw the portals of Merton Lodge open, and Vernon with his -two friends, all in evening dress, come out. They buttoned their black -overcoats, pressed their crush-hats upon their heads against the wind, -and all three sallied briskly forth in the direction of Fitzjohn's -Avenue. - -Bertini was, I noticed, carrying a small leather bag, very strong, like -those used by bankers to convey their coin. - -One thing, which struck me as curious, was that they made no noise -whatever as they walked. They were seemingly wearing boots with rubber -soles. Yet, being in evening clothes, they might all be wearing -dancing-pumps. - -We followed at a respectable distance, and, watching, saw some -astounding manoeuvres. - -Passing down Fitzjohn's Avenue to Swiss Cottage Station, they separated, -Vernon taking a taxi and the others crossing to the station, which still -remained open. - -I followed Vernon in another taxi while Benham, unknown to the other -two, stood upon the kerb in the darkness and lit a cigarette. - -Vernon's cab went direct to Tottenham Court Road, where, opposite the -_Horse Shoe_, he alighted, and turning to the right, strolled along -Oxford Street past the Oxford Music Hall, I dogging his steps all the -time. - -Half-way down Oxford Street he paused and, turning into Wells Street, -lit a cigar. Then he glanced up and down in expectancy till, some ten -minutes later, a taxi-cab pulled up some distance away, and his two -friends alighted from it. Close on their heels came a second taxi, from -which I saw Benham jump out. - -The trio separated, and neither took any notice of the others. - -Jeanjean came out into Oxford Street, where I was standing in the -shadow, and walking a few doors down in the direction of Great Portland -Street, halted suddenly before the door of a large jeweller's shop, -swiftly unlocked it with a key he held ready in his hand, and, ere I -could realize his intention, he was inside with the door closed behind -him. - -The key had, no doubt, been already prepared from a cast of the -original, and the scene of action well prospected. Otherwise he would -never have dared to act in that openly defiant manner almost under the -very noses of the police. - -I drew back and waited, watching the operations of the most notorious -jewel-thief in Europe, Benham keeping a wary eye upon the other pair. - -Vernon, after a few moments, crossed into Poland Street, a narrow -thoroughfare nearly opposite, while Bertini, carrying the bag, slipped -along to the jeweller's shop, and also entered by the unlocked door. - -In the heavy iron revolving shutters were gratings, allowing the police -on the beat to see within, but from where I stood I could see no light -inside. All was quite quiet and unsuspicious. It was a marvel to me how -silently and actively both men had slipped from view right under the -noses of the police in Oxford Street, who are ever vigilant at night. - -Vernon, watched by Benham, had hidden himself in a doorway with the -evident intention of remaining until the _coup_ was successfully -effected, and to immediately take over the spoils and lock them away in -his safes in Hatton Garden. - -Five, ten, fifteen breathless minutes went by. - -I saw the constable on the beat, walking with his sergeant, approaching -me. Both were blissfully ignorant that within a few yards of them was -the great Jules Jeanjean, for whose capture the French police had long -ago offered a vast reward. - -I was compelled to shift from my point of vantage, yet I remained in the -vicinity unseen by either. - -What if the constable were to try the jeweller's door as he passed? - -I watched the pair strolling slowly, their shiny capes on their -shoulders, for rain had begun to fall, watched them breathlessly. - -Of a sudden the constable halted as he was passing the jeweller's shop -door, and, stepping aside, tried it. - -My heart stood still. - -Next second, however, the truth was plain. The door had been -re-fastened, and the constable, reassured, went on, resuming his night -gossip with his sergeant at the point where he had broken off. - -Yes. The two thieves were inside, no doubt sacking the place of all that -was most valuable. - -Their daring, swiftness, and expert methods were astounding. Truly Jules -Jeanjean was a veritable prince among jewel-thieves. Not another man in -the whole of Europe could approach him either for knowledge as to -whether a gem were good or bad, for nerve and daring, for impudent -effrontery, or for swift and decisive action. He was a king among -jewel-thieves, and as such acknowledged by the dishonest fraternity -whose special prey was precious stones. - -I stood in blank wonder and amazement. - -My first impulse was to turn and step along to Oxford Circus, where I -knew another constable would be on point-duty. Indeed, I was about to -raise the alarm without arousing old Vernon's suspicions, when I saw the -jeweller's door open quickly and both men dashed out wildly and up Wells -Street as fast as their legs could carry them. - -In a moment I saw that they had been desperately alarmed and were -fleeing without waiting to secure their booty, for next second a man--a -watchman who had been sleeping on the premises--staggered out upon the -pavement, shouting, "Murder! Help! Thieves!" and then fell on the ground -senseless. - -I rushed over to him, and by the light of the street-lamp saw that blood -was flowing from a great wound in his skull. Then, in a moment, Benham -was beside me, and the constable and sergeant came running back, being -joined by a second constable. - -Meanwhile Vernon, as well as the two thieves, had disappeared. - -The man attacked was senseless. The wound in his head was a terrible -one, apparently inflicted by a jemmy or life-preserver; so quickly an -ambulance was sent for, and the poor fellow was swiftly conveyed, -apparently in a dying condition, to the Middlesex Hospital. - -At first the police regarded me with some suspicion, but when Benham -explained who he was, and that our attention had been attracted by -"something wrong," they were satisfied. We, however, went round to the -police-station and there made a statement that, in passing we had seen -two men--whom we described--enter the premises with a key, and as they -did not emerge, we waited, until we saw them escape, followed by the -injured watchman. - -Then--it being about half-past three in the morning--we went back to the -jeweller's, and there found the place in a state of great disorder. At -the back of the window pieces of black linen had been suspended, in -order to shut out the light from the small gratings in the shutters, -and, in what they had believed to be perfect security, the thieves, -wearing gloves, had forced open several show-cases and packed their most -valuable contents in a cotton bag ready for removal. The big safe, one -by a well-known maker, stood open, and the various valuable articles it -contained had been pulled roughly out, examined, and placed aside ready -to be packed up, together with a bag containing about one hundred -sovereigns, and a small packet of banknotes. - -On the floor lay a beautiful pearl collar, while everywhere empty cases -were strewn about. Yet, as far as could be ascertained from the manager, -who had come up hastily in a taxi, nothing had been taken. - -Detectives came and began a thorough examination of the premises, and -the damage done. - -They were looking for finger-prints, but it was not likely that -practised experts such as Jules Jeanjean and his companion would risk -detection by leaving any. - -I kept my knowledge to myself, and returned, weary and hungry, to my -rooms, Benham accompanying me, and there we discussed our plans for the -morrow. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -"SHEEP OF THY PASTURE" - - -The autumn sun shone brightly into the artistic little sitting-room at -the _Berkeley Hotel_, overlooking Piccadilly and the Green Park, where, -next morning, I was seated alone with Lola. - -She was dressed in a pretty, neatly-made gown of a delicate brown shade, -with silk stockings and smart little shoes to match, and as she leaned -back in her cosy arm-chair, her pointed chin upon her white hand, her -big blue eyes, so full of expression, were turned upon me, their brows -slightly knit in her earnestness. - -Upon the centre table stood a big silver bowl of dahlias and autumn -foliage, while upon a sideboard was lying a fine bouquet of roses which -a page-boy had brought in as we had been chatting. - -I related my strange experience of the previous night, whereupon she had -said, in a low, intense voice-- - -"Yes. I heard yesterday afternoon, when I was at Vernon's house in -Hampstead, that an attempt was to be made somewhere. But I was not told -where." - -"Lola," I exclaimed, taking her hand tenderly, and looking into her -eyes, "I am here this morning to save you from these people, and to save -myself. If we remain inactive like this, they will deal us both a secret -blow. They fear you, and in addition they know that I have discovered -who they are, and the truth concerning some of their crimes." - -She nodded, but no sound escaped her lips. - -At last, however, by dint of long persuasion and argument, I succeeded -in convincing her that I really was her friend, and that even if I -exposed the gang, and caused them to be arrested, I could at the same -time keep her out of the sensational affair which must inevitably -result. - -She rose, and for a long time stood at the window, gazing out upon the -never-ceasing traffic in Piccadilly, her countenance very grave and -thoughtful. By the quick rising and falling of her bosom, and by her -pursed lips, I saw how deep was her agitation, how torn was her mind by -conflicting emotions. - -At last, as she leaned upon a chair, her eyes still fixed blankly out -upon the long, rather monotonous façade of the _Ritz Hotel_, she began -to tell me some of the facts she knew concerning her notorious uncle, -Jules Jeanjean. - -"He started life," she explained, "as an employé of the Nord Railway of -France, and, being honest and hardworking, rose from an obscure -situation in the goods-yard at Creil to become chief conductor on the -express line between Calais and Paris. His sister, who was my mother, -had married Felix Sorel, a leather-merchant in the Boulevard de Clichy, -and they had one daughter, myself. Jules, however, remained unmarried. -Apparently he held advanced Republican views, and soon entertained -Anarchist ideas, yet no fault was ever found with the performance of his -duties by the railway officials. He was, I have heard, a model servant, -always punctual, sober, and so extremely polite that all the habitual -passengers knew and liked him." - -She paused, reflecting. - -"It seems," she went on after a few moments, "it seems that as chief of -the express which left Calais for Paris each day, after the arrival of -the midday boat from Dover, his position was much coveted by the other -employés. After about two and a half years of this, however, the Company -one day offered him the post of Station-Inspector at Abbeville, where -the boat expresses stop for water. But, to the surprise of his friends, -he declined and, moreover, resigned from the service, pleading an -internal trouble, and left France." - -"Curious," I remarked. "He must have had some other motive than that for -his sudden decision, I suppose." - -Then, continuing her narrative, the pretty blue-eyed girl revealed to -me a very remarkable story. From what she said it appeared that during -his two and a half years' service between Calais and Dover, her uncle -had been reaping a golden harvest and placing great sums of money in an -English bank. The device by which the money had been gained was both -ingenious and simple. Employed in the Customs House at the Maritime -Station at Calais--through which all persons travelling from England by -that route have to pass--was a _douanier_ from Corsica who, though a -French subject, bore an Italian name, Egisto Bertini. Between Bertini -and the honest train-conductor a close friendship had arisen. Then -Bertini, who had become acquainted with a London diamond-broker, Mr. -Gregory Vernon, a constant traveller between the French and English -capitals, one day introduced his friend. Before long Vernon's -master-mind was at work, and at a meeting of the three men, held one -evening on Dover cliffs, a very neat conspiracy was formed. It was -simply this-- - -Bertini's duty was to examine passengers' baggage registered beyond -Paris, and when it was placed upon the counter in the Customs House, he -kept an open eye for any jewel-cases. Exercising his power, he would -have them opened and inspect their contents, and then, being replaced, -the box would be locked by the unsuspecting passenger. The Customs -Officer would, however, chalk a peculiar mark upon the trunk containing -the valuables, and during its transit between Calais and Paris Jeanjean -would go to the baggage-wagon, and, with a big bunch of duplicate keys, -unlock the marked trunks, abstract the jewellery, and relock it again. -By the time the unfortunate passenger discovered the loss, the stolen -property would probably be on its way into old Vernon's hands for -disposal in Antwerp or Amsterdam. - -Thus the two made some huge _coups_. In one instance, the pearls of the -Duchess of Carcassonne, valued at forty-five thousand pounds, were -secured, and never traced, for they were sold east of Suez. In another -instance the celebrated diamond necklace belonging to Mademoiselle -Montbard, the famous actress at the Ambigu in Paris, worth thirty -thousand pounds, was abstracted from her baggage. Emeralds to the value -of over twenty thousand pounds, the property of the wife of an American -millionaire, and the whole of the famous jewels of the Princess -Tchernowski were also among the articles stolen. - -So constant, however, were these mysterious thefts, that at last the -police established a strict surveillance upon all baggage, and hence the -interesting little game was at an end. - -Matters grew a trifle too warm, and though neither Jeanjean nor Bertini -changed their mode of life with their rapidly-gained wealth, yet it was -felt that to retire was best. So, within a month of each other, they -left. Jeanjean crossed over to England, and Bertini accepted promotion -to Boulogne, where he remained several months, fearing that if he -resigned too quickly suspicions might be aroused. - -Of course, after this, the organized thefts between Calais and Paris -ceased suddenly, though the Company never entertained the slightest -suspicion of the guilty persons, or of the mode in which each trunk -containing jewellery was made known to the thief. - -Vernon's craft and cunning were unequalled, for at his suggestion, -Jeanjean, though he had over fifty thousand pounds in the Bank of -England, now embarked upon the career of a jewel-thief, whose audacity, -daring and elusiveness was astounding. His anarchist views prompted him -to disregard human life wherever it interfered with his plans, and so -clever and ingenious were his _coups_, that the police of Europe, whom -he so often defied, stood dumbfounded. - -About this time Lola's father, the honest leather-merchant of Paris, -went bankrupt, and died a few weeks afterwards of phthisis, while Madame -Sorel, brokenhearted, followed her husband to the grave two months -later, leaving little Lola alone. She was then fifteen, and her uncle, -seeing that she might be of use to him, adopted her as his daughter, -and gradually initiated her into the arts and wiles of an expert-thief. -His whole surroundings were criminal, she declared to me. She lived in -an atmosphere of crime, for to the flat in the Boulevard Pereire, which -her uncle made his headquarters when in Paris, came the men, Bertini, -Vernon, Hodrickx, Hunzle, and others, great _coups_ being discussed -between them, and arranged, thefts carried out in various cities of -Europe, often at great cost and frequently with the assistance of Lola, -who was pressed into the service, and upon whom her uncle had bestowed -the name of "The Nightingale," on account of her sweet voice. - -Vernon was the brain of the organization. By his connection with the -diamond trade he obtained information as to who had valuable gems in -their possession, and by the exercise of his marvellous wit and -subterfuge would devise deep and remarkable plots of which the -assassination of the well-known Paris jeweller, M. Benoy, was one. In -three years the daring gang, so perfectly organized, perpetrated no -fewer than eighteen big jewel robberies as well as other smaller thefts -and burglaries. In many, robbery was, alas! accompanied by brutal -violence. The Paris _Sûreté_, Scotland Yard, and the Detective -Departments of Berlin, Brussels, and Rome were ever on the alert -endeavouring to trace, capture, and break up the gang, but with the -large funds at their disposal they were able to bribe even responsible -officials who became obnoxious, and by such means evade arrest. Of these -bribings there had been many sinister whispers, as Henri Jonet told me -months afterwards. - -"Ah! Lola!" I exclaimed. "How strangely romantic your career has been!" - -"Yes, M'sieur Vidal," she replied, turning her splendid eyes upon mine. -"And were it not for your generosity towards me, I should have been -arrested that night at Balmaclellan, and at this moment would have been -in prison." - -"I know that you have been associated with these men through no fault -of your own--that you have been forced to become a confederate of -thieves and assassins," I said. "Surely no other girl in all England, -or, indeed, in Europe, has found herself in a similar position--the -decoy of such a dangerous and unscrupulous gang." - -"No," faltered the girl. "It was not my fault, I assure you. Ah! Heaven -knows how, times without number, I have endeavoured to defy and break -away from them. But they were always too artful, too strong for me. My -uncle held me in his grip, and though he was never unkind, yet he was -always determined, and constantly threatened me with exposure if I did -not blindly do his bidding. Thus I was forced to remain his cat's paw, -even till to-day," she added, in a voice full of sorrow and regret. - -I recollected the scene I had witnessed on Hampstead Heath on the -previous night--her meeting with the man who had so mysteriously died in -Cromer, and as I gazed upon her fair face, I pondered. - -What could it mean? - -Apparently she was staying at the _Berkeley_ alone, and I mentioned this -fact. - -"Oh, they know me well, here. When I'm alone, I often stay here," she -explained, still speaking in French. "I like the place far better than -the _Carlton_ or the _Ritz_. I have had quite enough of the big hotels," -she added with a meaning smile. - -She referred to those hotels where she had lived in order to rub -shoulders with women who possessed rich jewels. - -At that moment a foreign waiter knocked at the door and interrupted our -_tête-à-tête_, by announcing-- - -"Mr. Craig to see you, miss." - -"Show him in," was her prompt reply in English, as she rose and glanced -quickly at me. I saw that her cheeks were slightly flushed in her sudden -excitement. - -And a few seconds later I stood face to face with the man upon whose -body a Coroner's verdict had been pronounced. - -He was tall, good-looking, and smartly-dressed in a grey lounge-suit, -carrying his plush Tyrolese hat in his hand. - -On seeing me he drew back, and cast a quick, inquisitive glance at Lola. - -"This is M'sieur Vidal," the girl exclaimed in her pretty broken -English, introducing us. "My very good friend of whom I spoke -yesterday--M'sieur Edouard Craig." - -We bowed to each other, and I thought I saw upon his face a look of -annoyance. He had evidently believed Lola to be alone. - -In an instant, however, the shadow fled from the young man's face, and -he exclaimed with frankness-- - -"I'm extremely pleased to know you, sir, more especially after what Lola -has told me concerning you." - -"What has she told you?" I asked, with a smile. "Nothing very terrible, -I hope?" - -For a second he did not reply. Then, looking over at her as she stood on -the opposite side of the table, he replied-- - -"Well, she has told me of your long friendship and--and--may I be -permitted to tell Mr. Vidal, Lola?" he suddenly asked, turning to her. - -"Tell him what you wish," she answered. - -"Then I will not conceal it," he went on, turning back to me. "Lola has -explained to me her position, her connection with certain undesirable -persons, whom we need not mention, and how you in your generosity -allowed her her freedom." - -"She has told you!" I gasped in surprise, not understanding in what -position he stood towards the dainty little Parisienne. "Well, Mr. -Craig, I thought you knew that long ago," I added after a pause. - -"Until last night, I was in entire ignorance of the whole truth. I met -Lola at Hampstead, and she explained many things that have astounded -me." - -"I have told Mr. Craig the truth," declared the girl, her cheeks flushed -with excitement. "It was only right that he should know who and what I -am--especially as----" she broke off suddenly. - -"Especially as--what?" I asked. - -"Especially as I love you, Lola, eh?" the young man chimed in, grasping -her hand and raising it to his lips fondly. - -This revelation staggered me. The pair were lovers! This man, whose -attitude when he saw her in secret at Boscombe was so antagonistic, was -now deeply in love with her! Surely I was living in a world of -surprises! - -How much, I wondered, had she revealed to this man who was believed to -have been buried? - -For some moments all three of us stood looking at each other, neither -uttering a word. - -Then I swiftly put to the young man several questions, and receiving -answers, excused myself, and went below to the telephone. - -I had three calls in various directions, and then returned to where Lola -and her lover were standing together. Heedless of my presence, so deeply -in love was he, that he was holding her hand and looking affectionately -into the girl's eyes as he bent, whispering lovingly, to her. - -Yes, they were indeed a well-matched pair standing there together. She -sweet and innocent-looking, he tall and athletic, with all the -appearance of a gentleman. - -Yet it was Edward Craig, the man who had lived at Beacon House at -Cromer, the man whom I had seen lying stark and dead, killed by some -mysterious means which medical men could not discover. Edward Craig, the -dead man in the flesh! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -THE TENTS OF UNGODLINESS - - -Frank Sommerville, Chief Inspector of the Criminal Investigation -Department, a big, dark-moustached man, stretched his long legs from the -easy chair in which he was sitting, some half an hour after my interview -with Lola and Edward Craig, clasped his hands behind his head, and -looking over at me, exclaimed-- - -"By Jove! Vidal. That's one of the most astounding stories I've ever -heard! And the young lady is actually in the next room with the 'dead' -man Craig?" - -"Yes, they're ready to go up to Hampstead," I said. "If we are shrewd we -shall catch all three. They did that burglary at Bennington's, in Oxford -Street, last night." - -"How do you know, my dear fellow?" he asked. - -"For the simple reason that I was there," I laughed. - -He looked astounded. - -"I remember the report on the Cromer mystery, last June, perfectly -well," he said. "But I never dreamed that you'd taken the matter up. We -shall certainly do well if we can lay hands on Jeanjean, for we get -constant reports from Paris about his wonderful exploits. I had one only -this morning. He is suspected of having done a big job at a jeweller's -in St. Petersburg, lately." - -"Very well," I answered. "Let us take a taxi up to Arkwright Road at -once. Benham, your ex-sergeant, is already there awaiting us, as well as -my servant, Rayner." - -Together we entered the next room, where Craig and Lola were sitting -closely together, and I introduced them to the well-known Chief -Detective-Inspector. Then, after Sommerville had telephoned to his -office, and ordered up to Hampstead three of his men, we waited for -another quarter of an hour to give them time to get to the appointed -spot--the public-house in the Finchley Road. - -At last we started, and on the way I explained many facts to my old -friend Sommerville, who, with a hearty laugh, said-- - -"Well, Vidal, I know you're pretty painstaking over an inquiry, but I -never thought you'd ferret out this great French jewel-thief when we had -failed! Of course, we've looked upon this man Vernon with suspicion for -some little time. He sold some stolen rubies in Antwerp two months ago, -and it was reported to us, but we couldn't get sufficient evidence. I -made some inquiry, and found that he's immensely wealthy, although he -lives such a changeful life. The house in Arkwright Road is his, but he -is never there more than two or three days at a time. He experiments in -wireless telegraphy, judging from the masts and wires in his back -garden." - -I told him of Jeanjean's powerful station in Algiers, and we agreed -that, by means of a code, the pair were in the habit of exchanging -messages, just as Jeanjean did with his confederate in Genoa. - -"Yes," Lola said. "At Merton Lodge there are big dynamos down in the -cellars, and when I've been with my uncle at the Villa Beni Hassan, he -has often come from the wireless room and told me he has been speaking -with his friend Vernon in London. Wireless telegraphy is wonderful, is -it not?" - -Briefly I had described the murderous attack made upon the girl and -myself at that untenanted house in Spring Grove, and, as I finished, the -taxi drew up a few doors from the bar to which I had directed the man to -drive. - -Ere we could alight, Benham, in the guise of a loafer, had opened the -door and touched his cap to me with a grin. - -In the bar we found the three sergeants from Scotland Yard, as well as -Rayner, who was greatly excited, and, of course, unaware of the identity -of the three men who had entered casually, and were chatting at his -elbow. - -"We're going to make three arrests in a house close by," Sommerville -explained to the trio. "They may make a pretty tough fight, and they -probably carry revolvers. So keep a sharp look-out." - -"All right, sir," the men replied, and were quickly in readiness. - -In order not to arouse the suspicion of the three men, we arranged that -Lola should first go there alone. Then we would surround the house, back -and front, while Sommerville went to the front door and made some -pretext. With a man behind him, he would wait until the door opened, and -then rush in, followed by myself and two detectives and the young man -Craig. - -The arrangements were made in the private room behind the bar, and -presently Lola, bidding us a merry _au revoir_, tripped out. - -We gave her about ten minutes, and then in pairs, and by different -routes, we approached the quiet, highly-respectable-looking house, first -having got a couple of constables off the beat. - -While Benham, as a loafer, went round to the back entrance, under the -pretext of asking for an odd job to clean up the garden, Sommerville and -one of his men slipped in and up the front steps. - -For a little time his ring remained unanswered, but suddenly the door -was opened slightly by Bertini. - -For a second there was a sharp tussle, the Italian raising the alarm, -but in a few moments I found myself, with Craig and Sommerville, inside -the house. - -Those moments were indeed exciting ones. Craig's only thought was for -Lola's safety, and I saw him rush down the prettily-furnished hall and -take her in his arms. - -Shouts were raised on all sides. - -In the scurry old Vernon dashed out of the room on the left and, meeting -Lola with her lover, raised the revolver he had drawn and fired -point-blank at her. - -Fortunately, he missed. One of the detectives instantly closed with -him, and I sprang to the officer's assistance. The old fellow, his face -livid, his eyes staring wildly from his head, fought like a tiger, -trying to turn his weapon upon us. He had forced the barrel of his big -revolver right against my jaw, and was in the act of firing, when I -ducked my head, and seizing his wrist, twisted it. - -At that moment there was a loud explosion, and before I knew the truth I -found his grip relaxing. - -The weapon had been turned upon him as he, in desperation, had fired, -and the bullet, entering his brain, had struck him dead. - -He collapsed in our arms and we laid him upon the tiled floor. - -Within the room, whence the old man had come, a desperate struggle was -in progress, and entering, I found it to be a small library, at one end -of which, upon a large table, was arranged a quantity of electrical -apparatus--the various instruments necessary for wireless telegraphy. -Close to this table, as we entered, stood Jules Jeanjean in the hands of -Benham and the two detectives, while Rayner was standing covering the -culprit resolutely with the revolver which he had wrenched from the -prisoner's grasp. - -Jeanjean's face was changed, his eyes wild and full of evil. In his -fierce dash for liberty his collar had been torn from its studs and the -sleeve of his smart blue serge jacket torn out. His hair was awry, and -from a long scratch on his left cheek blood was freely flowing. - -Truly he presented a weird, unkempt appearance, held as he was in the -grip of those three strong, burly officers. - -"Be careful!" I urged. "He'll get away if you don't exercise every care. -He's as slippery as an eel!" - -At my words his captors forced him back against the wall, redoubling -their grip upon him. - -Sommerville and Craig were standing beside Lola, who looked on, nervous -and pale-faced. She had been witness to the tragedy out in the hall, -and realized what a narrow escape she had had from the vicious old -scoundrel's bullet. - -Bertini was in the hall, held in a merciless grip by the two constables -who had been summoned from their beats, and was standing close to the -fallen body of the man who had so long been his acknowledged master. - -Jules Jeanjean, though forced against the wall by those four men, was -still wildly defiant, his face distorted by anger. He ceased struggling -in order to curse and abuse his captors, pouring out upon them torrents -of voluble French, a language with which only one of the four men, -Rayner, was acquainted, and he but slightly. - -"Listen, Jules Jeanjean!" said Sommerville, in a hard, commanding voice. -"I am a police officer, and I arrest you on charges of theft and -murder." - -"Fools!" snarled the prisoner in defiance. "You've made a mistake, a -great mistake! Arrest that girl yonder. Make inquiries about her, and -you will find lots that will interest you." - -"It is sufficient for the present to arrest you, my friend," was the -Chief Inspector's response. "One of your comrades is outside, dead, and -the other is under arrest." - -Then turning to Lola, he asked-- - -"Do you identify this man as Jules Jeanjean, Mademoiselle?" - -"Yes," the girl replied. "He is my uncle." - -"You infernal brat!" shrieked the prisoner, livid with fury. "So it is -you who have given me away, after all! I should have taken the old man's -advice, and have put you out of the way. _Dieu!_ You and your friend, -Vidal, over there, had a narrow escape at Spring Grove. Your grave was -already dug for you!" - -"And yours will also be dug for you before long--when the Judge has -sentenced you to death!" I cried. - -"Enough!" exclaimed Sommerville, holding up his hand to command -silence. "We want no recriminations, only the truth. You, and your -friend Bertini, will have plenty of opportunity for defending yourselves -when before the court. I think, Mademoiselle," he added, turning to -where Lola was standing beside the man once believed to be dead, "you -will have a strange story to relate to the Judge." - -"She'll lie, no doubt," declared Jeanjean with a sneer. "She always -does." - -"No," the girl cried in her pretty, broken English, "I shall the truth -speak. All of the truth." - -"Yes," I urged, eagerly. "Reveal to us now the truth concerning the -mystery on Cromer Cliffs. How it is that Edward Craig, the man who died, -is now standing beside you!" - -The prisoner, with a frantic struggle to free his arms, and throw -himself upon her, to silence her lips, made a sudden dash forward. But -his captors closed with him, pinioned him, and held him fiercely by the -throat. - -Lola, standing by, drew a long breath, but remained silent. - -Her frail little figure seemed unbalanced, she was unnerved and -trembling, two bright spots showing in the centre of her pale cheeks, as -she stood there. Upon her shoulder rested the tender hand of the man -whose end had been so wrapped in mystery. - -"Speak, Lola," I urged again. "Have no fear of these men now. Tell us -the plain truth." - -"Yes, Lola," Craig added earnestly, "tell them the strange story. There -is nothing now to be afraid of. Speak the truth and let the law deal -with that assassin." - -Again Jeanjean went into a perfect paroxysm of rage. But all to no -purpose, though he bit his lips till the blood came. The men held him so -firmly that he could move neither hand nor foot. - -The heavy hand of Justice had fallen upon him! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -DISCLOSES A STRANGE TRUTH - - -"I think, Lola, I had better explain to them the circumstances in which -we met," young Craig exclaimed with frankness. His hand was still upon -her shoulder, his eyes gazing straight into hers with that intense -love-light which, in this world of falsity and fraud, is one of the -things which can never be feigned. - -"Yes, do," she urged, clinging closely to him, her frail frame -trembling, for she was still upset and unnerved. - -"Well, last January, I was staying with my mother at the _Hôtel Adlon_, -in Berlin, for though I have a place near Monmouth called Huttoft Hall, -left to me by my father, Sir Alexander Craig, I am constantly on the -Continent. As a bachelor I prefer life abroad, and indeed, at that time, -I had not been in England since I came of age, four years before. At the -hotel, I found Lola staying with her uncle--that man!" and he pointed to -Jeanjean--held there prisoner. "He called himself Dr. Paul Arendt, and -gave himself out to be a Belgian from Liège. He was very affable, and we -became on friendly terms, while my mother took a great fancy to Lola. -After about ten days or so an English friend of Arendt's, a young man -named Richard Perceval, arrived, and we three men went about Berlin, and -saw the sights and the night-life, a good deal together. This went on -for nearly three weeks, Lola and I becoming very fast friends. At last, -however, her uncle being suddenly recalled to Paris, we were compelled -to part, though we constantly exchanged letters. From Berlin, my mother -moved to Cannes, and I followed her. We spent February and March on the -Riviera, and then went north to the Italian Lakes, the most lovely spot -in Europe in the springtide." He paused and, turning to the girl, said, -"Now, Lola, will you explain what happened?" - -The man under arrest again fought violently for freedom. His face was -flushed with exertion, his long teeth clenched, his black eyes starting -wildly from his head. Now that the villainous old man he had obeyed as -master was dead, he saw that he must, at all hazards, save himself. - -From his grey lips there issued a torrent of abuse, and the most fearful -maledictions, in the French tongue. - -Lola, requested by her lover to speak, held her breath for a moment, and -then, with an effort, calming the flood of emotion that arose within -her, said in her pretty English-- - -"After we met in Berlin, I, at my uncle's orders, ingratiated myself -with Lady Craig, for the purpose of ascertaining whether she had with -her jewellery of any value. Meanwhile, finding that Edouard had become -very friendly with me, he at once instituted inquiries and found that -Lady Craig was widow of Sir Alexander Craig, Knight, who had died -leaving his only son possessor of a great fortune and a large estate -near Monmouth. He also, through inquiries made by Vernon, found that -Edouard had not been in England since he came of age. Vernon and my -uncle met secretly one day at Frankfort, whereupon the crafty old man -elaborated an ingenious plan which, within a few days, was put into -execution. Among Vernon's wily confederates was a very smart, -gentlemanly young man named Richard Perceval, who had been an actor, and -who was the same height and much the same build as Edouard. This man -came to our hotel in Berlin, but with what object I was, then, entirely -ignorant. I now know that the reason he joined us was in order to -carefully watch Mr. Craig's manners, his gait, his style of dress, and -all his idiosyncrasies. While Edouard was unaware of it, he took many -snapshots of him in secret, and one day for a joke they both went to a -photographer's and had their portraits taken, the object of my uncle and -Perceval being to obtain a thoroughly good likeness of M'sieur Craig. -After three weeks, however, their preparations being completed, though -I, of course, had no suspicion as to what was intended, we left Berlin -and returned to Paris." - -"To Brussels," interrupted the notorious criminal. "Be correct, at -least." And his face broadened in an evil grin. - -"To Brussels first, and then next day to Paris," Lola went on. "For some -weeks nothing was done, it seems. I had constant letters from Edouard, -who was at Beau Site, at Cannes, and I frequently wrote to him there. -Then I accompanied my uncle to Algiers, where we remained some time, our -movements being always sudden and always uncertain. My uncle, at -Algiers, was engaged with his wireless telegraphy, sending and receiving -messages from nowhere. Meanwhile, old Vernon's wits were at work and he -laid his plans for a great _coup_. He took Richard Perceval to Cromer, -then dull, sleepy, and out-of-season, the young man arriving there as -his nephew, Edward Craig. He possessed an exact counterpart of M'sieur -Craig's wardrobe, his hair was cut in the style you see Edouard wearing -it, and by means of certain small but expert touches to his countenance, -so artistic as not to be discernible, he had become transformed into the -exact counterpart of the owner of Huttoft. Early in June we returned -from Algiers to Paris, and my uncle, leaving me, went to London. Then, -when he returned to the Boulevard Pereire three days later, I noticed a -great change in him. He seemed greatly incensed with the Master." - -"Had they quarrelled?" I inquired eagerly. - -"Yes, over the division of the profits arising from the theft, in the -month of March, of four hundred thousand francs' worth of diamonds, and -pearls from a Paris jeweller named Benoy, while he was in a motor-car in -the Forest of Fontainebleau. Vernon, he told me, had sold the stones and -had retained three-fourths of the plunder. My uncle was furious and -vowed most terrible vengeance. Next day, he sent me from Paris direct -to Norfolk with a letter to Vernon. On arrival in Cromer I was utterly -astounded to meet Perceval in the street dressed as Edouard Craig and -presenting an exact likeness to him! Perceval, however, did not see me, -and I went to Beacon House, delivered the letter to the old man, -obtained a reply, returned to London, and next day to Paris. From my -uncle, who became more incensed than ever against Vernon on receipt of -the reply to his letter, I managed to elicit what was intended. This was -that Vernon, knowing that Edouard lived always on the Continent, and had -not been home for four years, had devised a devilish plan by which -Perceval, representing himself to be the owner of Huttoft, was to obtain -from his late father's lawyers, a reputable firm whose address is in -Lincoln's Inn Fields, the deeds relating to the great Huttoft estate, as -well as a quantity of family jewels, and raise a large mortgage upon the -property from a well-known firm of money-lenders. The preliminary -negotiations with the latter had already been opened, and it was only a -question of days when the bogus Edouard Craig, already practised in the -art of forging the signature of the real M'sieur Craig, would present -himself to his late father's solicitors. The deep cunning of the whole -plot, and the fine and elaborate detail in which it had all been worked -out, held me aghast. If carried out, it was expected that fully seventy -thousand pounds would be neatly netted and the bogus Craig would -disappear into thin air!" - -"What did you do then?" I asked, amazed at her revelation. - -"At once I wrote to M'sieur Craig, who was at Villa d'Este, on the Lake -of Como, asking him to meet me in secret in Paris, at the earliest -possible moment. He met me one afternoon in the tea-rooms in the corner -of the Place Vendome, and there I told him what I had discovered. -And--and--well, I was forced to confess to him, for the first time, that -I was a thief." She added in a changed voice, "the cat's paw of my -uncle. I know I----" - -"That's enough, Lola!" exclaimed the young man. "We need not refer to -that. With Mr. Vidal, I am fully aware that your connection with those -terrible crimes has been a purely innocent one. You have been forced -into assisting them--held to them and to silence on pain of death." - -"Yes," I added, "that's true. Lola is innocent. I vouch for that." - -"Yes. Put upon my guard by Lola," Craig exclaimed, "I crossed at once to -London, and without revealing who it was who intended to personate me, I -told old Jerningham, the solicitor, to be careful. I remained in London -a week, and then, unable to further repress my curiosity, I went to -Cromer. I----" - -"Ah, perhaps I had better continue my narrative, so that we shall be -rightly understood," Lola interrupted, with cheeks flushed in her -excitement. "A couple of days after Edouard had gone to London, my -uncle, stung to fury by a letter he had received from old Vernon, -suddenly announced that we were both going to Cromer. Therefore, we left -Paris, and duly landed at Charing Cross, just in time to catch the last -train up to Cromer, where we arrived between ten and eleven o'clock at -night. In order to spring a surprise upon Vernon, we evaded the hotel -and went to some rooms in Overstrand Road for which he had already -telegraphed, having seen an advertisement in a railway guide." - -"To the house where he afterwards lodged?" I asked. - -"Yes. He had taken the same name he had used in Berlin, Doctor Arendt," -she replied. "Well, I had gone to my room, but was standing at the open -window, without switching on the light, when I saw him leave the house. -Wondering what might be in progress, I put on my knitted golf coat and -cap, and went after him. He took a long night-ramble past the flashing -lighthouse on the cliff, and away across the golf-links, towards -Overstrand, apparently reflecting deeply, his anger rising more and more -against Vernon, whom he had accused of robbing him. For a long time I -watched as he sat upon a log on top of the cliffs about a mile and a -half from the town, gazing out upon the sea, and smoking a cigar, I -having hid myself behind a bush. I was rather sorry I had come out, yet -in the circumstances, and in the interests of Edouard, I felt it my duty -to watch in patience. At last my uncle rose and strolled back over the -golf-course, along the cliff-path, towards the town. As he came along -over the low hill from the lighthouse, strolling on the grass, and -making no sound, he suddenly discerned upon a seat the figure of a man -in wide-brimmed hat and cape seated with his back to him and looking out -to sea. The night was warm and pleasant, a calm and perfect night on the -North Sea----" - -"Were you near him?" Sommerville interrupted. - -"I was walking along under the shadow of the hedge, while he walked over -the open, undulating ground," was the girl's reply. "On recognizing the -Master seated there, he was apparently seized by a sudden impulse of -revenge--perhaps cupidity as well--for I saw him creep up behind the -seat, and taking something from his pocket, thrust it quick as a flash -into the old man's face. The man attacked clawed the air frantically, -rose to his feet, staggered a few steps, and reeling, fell to the ground -without uttering a sound--dead. I saw, in my uncle's hand a -strange-looking and most terrible instrument, which he sometimes carried -when engaged on one of his desperate exploits, a specially-constructed -pistol the barrel of which was of soft india-rubber and finishing in a -bell-mouth about three inches across. This he had suddenly pressed over -the old man's nose and mouth--as he had done, alas! I knew, in other -cases where the victim had been found dead, and doctors had been unable -to establish the mysterious cause--then, pulling the trigger, he had -discharged a glass capsule containing a mixture of compressed amyl -nitrate and hydrocyanic gas, which, when released, a single inhalation -caused instant death. The discoverer of the compound killed himself -accidentally by it. Aghast, I stood watching him. He bent and examined -the dead man's face. Then he searched his pockets, took out something, -and then, moving quickly, dashed away towards the town, evidently -alarmed at his own action." - -And the girl paused, the accused man before her shouting strenuous -denials. - -"The instant he had gone," she continued, "I crept over the grass, past -the seat whereon the dead man had rested, and, bending to see if he was -still breathing, I found to my horror and dismay that it was not the -Master at all, but his supposed nephew, Richard Perceval! Back I hurried -to the house where we had rooms, and entering noiselessly--for I had -been taught to move without noise at night"--and she smiled grimly at -me. "I found my uncle had, fortunately, not yet come in. Therefore I -retired to bed. Next morning we left hurriedly for London, Jeanjean not -daring to face Vernon after what had occurred, and moreover, ignorant of -the fact that Vernon had left Cromer during the night, alarmed by the -real Edouard Craig calling upon him, and hinting that he knew the truth -concerning certain recent jewel robberies. Jeanjean, however, returned -to Cromer a few days later, and I followed and helped to secure the -jewels Vernon had left behind." - -"Yes," Craig exclaimed. "True. I saw nothing of Perceval on that evening -when I called upon old Vernon. My visit, however, completely upset him. -Lola had telegraphed to me that she was coming to England, therefore I -asked Vernon where she was. The old scoundrel replied that she was in -Cromer, and that if I went at a certain hour at night to a seat upon the -East Cliff, which he indicated, I should meet her there--that she had a -tryst with a secret lover. This naturally upset me, and I went, only to -discover Perceval, dressed in the old man's cape and hat, lying stark -dead. Why was he wearing those clothes, I wonder?" - -"I have only recently learnt the truth," Lola answered. "When you, saw -the old man, he believed me to be still in Paris, but when you inquired -for me he, keen and crafty as he was, instantly discerned a means by -which to entrap you. Therefore, saying nothing of his fear and intended -flight to Perceval, he arranged with that young impostor that the latter -should go to the seat dressed as himself, face you on your arrival, -Edouard, and close your mouth for ever by exactly the same dastardly, -silent and instant method as that adopted by Jeanjean--the gas pistol. -My uncle found the weapon upon the body and carried it off." - -"You had a very narrow escape, Mr. Craig," I remarked. "I sincerely -congratulate you." - -"Ah! I know," the young man said hastily. "Had not that man yonder -killed Perceval by mistake, I should most certainly by now have been a -dead man. But when I quickly realized the tragedy that had happened, and -feared lest I might be suspected, I went off, and making my way out of -the town, I walked through the night for twenty miles to Norwich, whence -I took train to London, and at once back to Italy." - -"Did you afterwards read of the affair in the papers?" asked -Sommerville, amazed, like ourselves at the startling revelations. - -"Of course. I followed every detail. But I did not come forward, for two -reasons. First I was--I frankly confess--deeply in love with Lola, and -feared to implicate her; and, secondly, for my mother's sake. I had no -desire to be mixed up in such an unsavoury and sensational affair, or -with such a notorious gang of criminals." - -"Did you see much of Lola after the affair at Cromer?" I queried. - -"I saw her once in Petersburg, where I followed her, also in Paris, and -again in London." - -"And also once at Boscombe--eh?" I added, "when you were so very -annoyed." - -"How do you know," he asked, starting, and at the same time laughing. - -"Because I met you, and believing you had arisen from the dead, I -watched you." - -"I was in entire ignorance of it," he declared. "Yes, I was annoyed -that night, for, on looking inside the room, I saw a young man standing -beside the piano, admiring Lola." - -"Oh!" she cried. "How foolish of you, Edouard! That was Mr. Burton, who -is engaged to Winifred Featherstone!" - -While these revelations had been made, Jules Jeanjean, wanted by the -police of nearly every country in Europe for a number of desperate -crimes, remained silent, listening to the words of Lola and her lover, -listening to the grim story of his own murderous treachery towards the -man whom he had acknowledged as Master. - -Suddenly, without warning, he burst from the men who held him, and with -a spring bounded like some wild animal towards Lola, and would have -thrown himself upon her, and strangled her, were it not that we all fell -upon him with one accord, and threw him to the ground, while handcuffs -were placed upon his wrists to prevent further violence. - -"You infernal devils!" he cried in French. "I vowed you should never -take me alive--and you shan't. You hear!" he yelled. "You shan't. I defy -you!" - -"Ah!" laughed Sommerville in triumph. "But thanks to Mr. Vidal, we have -at last got you, my ingenious friend." Then turning to Rayner, he said: -"Will you go and get two taxis? We'll take him to Bow Street, and the -other fellow also." - -Jeanjean cursed and shouted defiance, but his captors only laughed at -him. In those gyves of steel he was their prisoner, and held for the -justice he so richly deserved. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -CONCERNS TO-DAY - - -The next day the London papers were full of the raid upon Merton Lodge, -the tragic death of the well-known diamond-broker, Gregory Vernon, and -the arrest of Jules Jeanjean and Egisto Bertini. - -The police had given but the most meagre details to the Press, therefore -the report was only vague, and no hint was forthcoming as to the actual -charges against the three men, or that they had any connection with the -cliff-mystery at Cromer. - -The most sensational passage of the report, which was regarded as "the -story," or principal feature by most of the papers, was the fact that -Jules Jeanjean, having been charged at Bow Street with robbery and -murder, was placed in the cells to be brought up next morning before the -magistrate. - -A warder, however, on going to the cell about half-past eight in the -evening, found the prisoner standing before him in defiance. - -"I refuse to be tried, after all!" he cried in English, in a loud voice, -"I'll escape you yet!" - -And before the man was aware of the prisoner's intention, he had placed -his right hand to his mouth, and with his left held his nostrils -tightly. - -The warder sprung upon him, but beneath his teeth the prisoner crushed a -small capsule of glass, while the fact that his nose was held caused him -to inhale the gas compressed within the capsule, and next second he -fell, inert, dead. - -I read the report in breathless eagerness, and then I realized that -Jules Jeanjean, alias Arendt, alias dozens of other names, had destroyed -himself with that combination of nitrate of amyl and hydrocyanic gas, a -single whiff of which was sufficient to cause instant death--the same -lethal gas which the criminal had discharged in the face of young -Perceval, and alas! into the faces of others of his victims who had been -found mysteriously dead on the scenes of the bandit's daring and -desperate exploits. - -Truly he had been a veritable artist in crime, but as he sowed, so also -had he reaped. The wages of sin are, indeed, death. - -From Sommerville, a few weeks later, I gathered a few further -interesting details. - -The man Hodrickx, together with two other men named Kunzle and Lavelle, -had been arrested while committing a clever burglary at a jeweller's in -the Corso in Rome; while tests at the private wireless station in -Arkwright Road and at the Villa Beni Hassan, near Algiers, had proved -conclusively that messages could be exchanged, as no doubt they often -were, but, being in a prearranged code, could not be read by the dozens -of other receiving stations, commercial and amateur, which picked them -up. - -In due course Bertini, the ex-customs officer of Calais, was extradited -to Paris, where he took his trial before the Assize Court of the Seine, -and was sentenced to a long term of penal servitude, which he is at -present serving at the penal island of New Caledonia, in the far -Pacific. - -As for myself, I still live in blessed singleness, and am a confirmed -bachelor, and a constant investigator of problems of crime. With the -ever-faithful Rayner, I still occupy my cosy rooms off Berkeley Square, -and, I may add, am still an intimate friend of Lola. - -But she is now Mrs. Edward Craig, mistress of Huttoft Hall, and wife of -an immensely wealthy man. She is a prominent figure in the country, but -none, save her husband, myself and Rayner, know that she was, not so -long ago, the confederate of the cleverest gang of international thieves -that has ever puzzled the police, or that she was then known to them as -"The Nightingale." - -Yes. The pair are both extremely happy, living solely for each other. -Perhaps if I were not such a confirmed bachelor, an iron-grey-headed -"uncle" to many a flapper niece, and jeered at by the schoolgirl reader -of novels as an "old man," I might be just a little jealous. - -But as things are, I am delighted to see my charming, delightful little -friend so happy. - -Often I am their guest at the fine, historic, sixteenth-century mansion -standing in its broad park, a few miles out of Monmouth. Indeed, it is -beneath their roof that, on this bright summer evening, while the -crimson after-glow is shining over the tops of the distant belt of dark -firs across the park, that I am setting down the concluding lines of -this strange story of daring and ingenious crime, this drama which so -nearly cost all three of us our lives at the hands of that unscrupulous -gang of dastardly malefactors. - -Edward Craig, and his wife, Lola, who returned from their honeymoon, -spent first in Khartoum, and afterwards in India, six months ago, and -have now quite settled, have just come in from tennis. As they stand -together, upon the threshold of the big oak-panelled library, a handsome -pair in white, hand-in-hand, hot and flushed from playing, Lola says, -with a merry smile upon her bright, open countenance and a pretty accent -in her voice-- - -"In your narrative of what has recently happened, M'sieur Vidal, please -tell the reader, man and woman, that the long, grim night has at last -passed, the dawn has broken, yet 'The Nightingale' still sings on more -blithely than ever, for she is at last supremely happy. At last, -Edouard!" she adds, throwing her white arms about her husband's neck. -"At last!" - -And the tall, handsome fellow in flannels bent until his lips met hers. - -"Ah, yes, Lola, darling!" he whispered earnestly. "You are -mine--mine--mine, for always. We have, as the Psalmist of old has put -it, passed through the Place of Dragons, and been covered with the -Shadow of Death. But God in His justice has smitten the transgressors, -and we have been delivered from the hand of the ungodly, into a world of -peace, of happiness, and of love." - - -THE END - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS - - -NOVELS BY - -_E. Charles Vivian_ - - -"Mr. Vivian is proving one of our most virile and entertaining writers -of the present day. Each succeeding work from his pen appears to grow in -strength and in characterization."--_The Bournemouth Graphic._ - -"This author has a fine sense of character, and can create atmosphere -quickly and effectively."--_Sunday Referee._ - - -Delicate Fiend -Double or Quit -Woman Dominant -Man Alone -The Forbidden Door -The Tale of Fleur -Nine Days -One Tropic Night -Unwashed Gods -Innocent Guilt -The Keys of the Flat -Ladies in the Case -Jewels Go Back -Seventeen Cards -Accessory After -The Capsule Mystery -Girl in the Dark -The Guardian of the Cup -Infamous Fame -Shadow on the House -Cigar for Inspector Head - - -_WARD, LOCK & CO., LTD., LONDON_ - - -NOVELS BY - -_Ben Bolt_ - - -"We know of few authors to-day whose works we enjoy so much as we do Mr. -Bolt's. He has the art of getting hold of a good story, unblemished by -any form of 'psycho' complication, and telling it really well, in a -style, too, that is free from split infinitives and the other solecisms -so common to the usual breathless novelist of the twentieth -century."--_Guardian._ - - -The Mystery of Belvoir Mansions -The Sword of Fortune -Captain Lucifer -The Badge -The Jewels of Sin -The Shadow of the Yamen -The Buccaneer's Bride -The Other Three -The Subway Mystery -The Coil of Mystery -The Diamond-Buckled Shoe -Diana of the Islands -The Forest Ranger -The Impossible Lover -The Pride of the Ring -The Sealed Envelope -The Bushmaster -The Mystery Hand -The Burnt Caravan -The Crooked Sign -The Green Arrow -The Lavenham Mystery -A Shot in the Night -The Snapshot Mystery -The Unseen Witness -Wayland of the Guides -The Green Lantern - - -_WARD, LOCK & CO., LTD., LONDON_ - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Place of Dragons, by William Le Queux - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLACE OF DRAGONS *** - -***** This file should be named 40434-8.txt or 40434-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/4/3/40434/ - -Produced by D Alexander, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -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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