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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75288 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                        The Seven Dials Mystery
+
+                            Agatha Christie
+
+                           PRINTING HISTORY
+               _Dodd, Mead edition published March 1929_
+          _Grosset & Dunlap edition published February 1930_
+           _American Mercury edition published October 1942_
+                     _Bantam edition/January 1964_
+                    _New Bantam edition/March 1976_
+        _The Agatha Christie Mystery Collection/September 1986_
+
+                        _All rights reserved._
+            _Copyright 1929 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc._
+        _Copyright renewed © 1957 by Agatha Christie Mallowan._
+
+                PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
+
+
+
+
+                               CONTENTS
+
+
+                      I ON EARLY RISING
+
+                     II CONCERNING ALARUM CLOCKS
+
+                    III THE JOKE THAT FAILED
+
+                     IV A LETTER
+
+                      V THE MAN IN THE ROAD
+
+                     VI SEVEN DIALS AGAIN
+
+                    VII BUNDLE PAYS A CALL
+
+                   VIII VISITORS FOR JIMMY
+
+                     IX PLANS
+
+                      X BUNDLE VISITS SCOTLAND YARD
+
+                     XI DINNER WITH BILL
+
+                    XII INQUIRIES AT CHIMNEYS
+
+                   XIII THE SEVEN DIALS CLUB
+
+                    XIV THE MEETING OF THE SEVEN DIALS
+
+                     XV THE INQUEST
+
+                    XVI THE HOUSE PARTY AT THE ABBEY
+
+                   XVII AFTER DINNER
+
+                  XVIII JIMMY'S ADVENTURES
+
+                    XIX BUNDLE'S ADVENTURES
+
+                     XX LORAINE'S ADVENTURES
+
+                    XXI THE RECOVERY OF THE FORMULA
+
+                   XXII THE COUNTESS RADZKY'S STORY
+
+                    XXIII SUPERINTENDENT BATTLE IN CHARGE
+
+                    XXIV BUNDLE WONDERS
+
+                    XXV JIMMY LAYS HIS PLANS
+
+                    XXVI MAINLY ABOUT GOLF
+
+                    XXVII NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE
+
+                    XXVIII SUSPICIONS
+
+                    XXIX SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF GEORGE LOMAX
+
+                    XXX AN URGENT SUMMONS
+
+                    XXXI THE SEVEN DIALS
+
+                    XXXII BUNDLE IS DUMFOUNDED
+
+                    XXXIII BATTLE EXPLAINS
+
+                    XXXIV LORD CATERHAM APPROVES
+
+
+
+
+                        THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I
+
+                            ON EARLY RISING
+
+
+That amiable youth, Jimmy Thesiger, came racing down the big staircase
+at Chimneys two steps at a time. So precipitate was his descent that
+he collided with Tredwell, the stately butler, just as the latter
+was crossing the hall bearing a fresh supply of hot coffee. Owing to
+the marvellous presence of mind and masterly agility of Tredwell, no
+casualty occurred.
+
+"Sorry," apologized Jimmy. "I say, Tredwell, am I the last down?"
+
+"No, sir, Mr. Wade has not come down yet."
+
+"Good," said Jimmy, and entered the breakfast-room.
+
+The room was empty save for his hostess, and her reproachful gaze gave
+Jimmy the same feeling of discomfort he always experienced on catching
+the eye of a defunct codfish exposed on a fishmonger's slab. Yet, hang
+it all, why should the woman look at him like that? To come down at
+a punctual nine-thirty when staying in a country house simply wasn't
+done. To be sure, it was now a quarter past eleven which was, perhaps,
+the outside limit, but even then--
+
+"Afraid I'm a bit late, Lady Coote. What?"
+
+"Oh! it doesn't matter," said Lady Coote in a melancholy voice.
+
+As a matter of fact, people being late for breakfast worried her very
+much. For the first ten years of her married life, Sir Oswald Coote
+(then plain Mr.) had, to put it baldly, raised hell if his morning
+meal were even a half minute later than eight o'clock. Lady Coote had
+been disciplined to regard unpunctuality as a deadly sin of the most
+unpardonable nature. And habit dies hard. Also, she was an earnest
+woman, and she could not help asking herself what possible good these
+young people would ever do in the world without early rising. As Sir
+Oswald so often said, to reporters and others: "I attribute my success
+entirely to my habits of early rising, frugal living, and methodical
+habits."
+
+Lady Coote was a big, handsome woman in a tragic sort of fashion. She
+had large, dark, mournful eyes and a deep voice. An artist looking
+for a model for "Rachel mourning for her children" would have hailed
+Lady Coote with delight. She would have done well, too, in melodrama,
+staggering through the falling snow as the deeply wronged wife of the
+villain.
+
+She looked as though she had some terrible secret sorrow in her life,
+and yet if the truth be told, Lady Coote had had no trouble in her
+life whatever, except the meteoric rise to prosperity of Sir Oswald.
+As a young girl she had been a jolly flamboyant creature, very much
+in love with Oswald Coote, the aspiring young man in the bicycle shop
+next to her father's hardware store. They had lived very happily,
+first in a couple of rooms, and then in a tiny house, and then in a
+larger house, and then in successive houses of increasing magnitude,
+but always within a reasonable distance of "the Works" until now Sir
+Oswald had reached such an eminence that he and "the Works" were no
+longer interdependent, and it was his pleasure to rent the very largest
+and most magnificent mansions available all over England. Chimneys was
+a historic place, and in renting it from the Marquis of Caterham for
+two years, Sir Oswald felt that he had attained the top notch of his
+ambition.
+
+Lady Coote was not nearly so happy about it. She was a lonely woman.
+The principal relaxation of her early married life had been talking
+to "the girl"--and even when "the girl" had been multiplied by three,
+conversation with her domestic staff had still been the principal
+distraction of Lady Coote's day. Now, with a pack of housemaids, a
+butler like an archbishop, several footmen of imposing proportions,
+a bevy of scuttling kitchen and scullery maids, a terrifying foreign
+chef with a "temperament" and a housekeeper of immense proportions who
+alternately creaked and rustled when she moved, Lady Coote was as one
+marooned on a desert island.
+
+She sighed now, heavily, and drifted out through the open window, much
+to the relief of Jimmy Thesiger who at once helped himself to more
+kidneys and bacon on the strength of it.
+
+Lady Coote stood for a few moments tragically on the terrace and
+then nerved herself to speak to MacDonald, the head gardener, who
+was surveying the domain over which he ruled with an autocratic eye.
+MacDonald was a very chief and prince among head gardeners. He knew his
+place--which was to rule. And he ruled--despotically.
+
+Lady Coote approached him nervously.
+
+"Good-morning, MacDonald."
+
+"Good-morning, m'lady."
+
+He spoke as head gardeners should speak--mournfully, but with
+dignity--like an emperor at a funeral.
+
+"I was wondering--could we have some of those late grapes for dessert
+to-night?"
+
+"They're no fit for picking yet," said MacDonald.
+
+He spoke kindly but firmly.
+
+"Oh," said Lady Coote.
+
+She plucked up courage.
+
+"Oh! but I was in the end house yesterday, and I tasted one and they
+seemed very good."
+
+MacDonald looked at her, and she blushed. She was made to feel that she
+had taken an unpardonable liberty. Evidently the late Marchioness of
+Caterham had never committed such a solecism as to enter one of her own
+hothouses and help herself to grapes.
+
+"If you had given orders, m'lady, a bunch should have been cut and sent
+in to you," said MacDonald severely.
+
+"Oh, thank you," said Lady Coote. "Yes, I will do that another time."
+
+"But they're no properly fit for picking yet."
+
+"No," murmured Lady Coote. "No, I suppose not. We'd better leave it
+then."
+
+MacDonald maintained a masterly silence. Lady Coote nerved herself once
+more.
+
+"I was going to speak to you about the piece of lawn at the back of the
+rose garden. I wondered if it could be used as a bowling green. Sir
+Oswald is very fond of a game of bowls."
+
+"And why not?" thought Lady Coote to herself. She had been instructed
+in her history of England. Had not Sir Francis Drake and his knightly
+companions been playing a game of bowls when the Armada was sighted?
+Surely a gentlemanly pursuit and one to which MacDonald could not
+reasonably object. But she had reckoned without the predominant trait
+of a good head gardener, which is to oppose any and every suggestion
+made to him.
+
+"Nae doot it could be used for that purpose," said MacDonald
+noncommittally.
+
+He threw a discouraging flavour into the remark, but its real object
+was to lure Lady Coote on to her destruction.
+
+"If it was cleared up and--er--cut--and--er--all that sort of thing,"
+she went on hopefully.
+
+"Aye," said MacDonald slowly. "It could be done. But it would mean
+taking William from the lower border."
+
+"Oh!" said Lady Coote doubtfully. The words "lower border" conveyed
+absolutely nothing to her mind--except a vague suggestion of a
+Scottish song--but it was clear that to MacDonald they constituted an
+insuperable objection.
+
+"And that would be a pity," said MacDonald.
+
+"Oh! of course," said Lady Coote. "It _would_."
+
+And wondered why she agreed so fervently.
+
+MacDonald looked at her very hard.
+
+"Of course," he said, "if it's your _orders_, m'lady--"
+
+He left it like that. But his menacing tone was too much for Lady
+Coote. She capitulated at once.
+
+"Oh! no," she said. "I see what you mean, MacDonald. N-no--William had
+better get on with the lower border."
+
+"That's what I thocht meself, m'lady."
+
+"Yes," said Lady Coote. "Yes. Certainly."
+
+"I thocht you'd gree, m'lady," said MacDonald.
+
+"Oh! certainly," said Lady Coote again.
+
+MacDonald touched his hat and moved away.
+
+Lady Coote sighed unhappily and looked after him. Jimmy Thesiger,
+replete with kidneys and bacon, stepped out on to the terrace beside
+her, and sighed in quite a different manner.
+
+"Topping morning, eh?" he remarked.
+
+"Is it?" said Lady Coote, absently. "Oh! yes, I suppose it is. I hadn't
+noticed."
+
+"Where are the others? Punting on the lake?"
+
+"I expect so. I mean, I shouldn't wonder if they were."
+
+Lady Coote turned and plunged abruptly into the house again. Tredwell
+was just examining the coffee pot.
+
+"Oh, dear," said Lady Coote. "Isn't Mr.--Mr.--"
+
+"Wade, m'lady?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Wade. Isn't he down _yet_?"
+
+"No, m'lady."
+
+"It's very late."
+
+"Yes, m'lady."
+
+"Oh! dear. I suppose he will come down _sometime_, Tredwell?"
+
+"Oh, undoubtedly, m'lady. It was eleven thirty yesterday morning when
+Mr. Wade came down, m'lady."
+
+Lady Coote glanced at the clock. It was now twenty minutes to twelve. A
+wave of human sympathy rushed over her.
+
+"It's very hard luck on you, Tredwell. Having to clear and then get
+lunch on the table by one o'clock."
+
+"I am accustomed to the ways of young gentlemen, m'lady."
+
+The reproof was dignified, but unmistakable. So might a prince of the
+Church reprove a Turk or an infidel who had unwittingly committed a
+solecism in all good faith.
+
+Lady Coote blushed for the second time that morning. But a welcome
+interruption occurred. The door opened and a serious, spectacled young
+man put his head in.
+
+"Oh! there you are, Lady Coote. Sir Oswald was asking for you."
+
+"Oh, I'll go to him at once, Mr. Bateman."
+
+Lady Coote hurried out.
+
+Rupert Bateman, who was Sir Oswald's private secretary, went out the
+other way, through the window where Jimmy Thesiger was still lounging
+amiably.
+
+"Morning, Pongo," said Jimmy. "I suppose I shall have to go and make
+myself agreeable to those blasted girls. You coming?"
+
+Bateman shook his head and hurried along the terrace and in at the
+library window. Jimmy grinned pleasantly at his retreating back. He and
+Bateman had been at school together, when Bateman had been a serious,
+spectacled boy, and had been nicknamed Pongo for no earthly reason
+whatever.
+
+Pongo, Jimmy reflected, was very much the same sort of ass now that he
+had been then. The words "Life is real, life is earnest" might have
+been written specially for him.
+
+Jimmy yawned and strolled slowly down to the lake. The girls were
+there, three of them--just the usual sort of girls, two with dark,
+shingled heads and one with a fair, shingled head. The one that giggled
+most was (he thought) called Helen--and there was another called
+Nancy--and the third one was, for some reason, addressed as Socks. With
+them were his two friends, Bill Eversleigh and Ronny Devereux, who were
+employed in a purely ornamental capacity at the Foreign Office.
+
+"Hallo," said Nancy (or possibly Helen). "It's Jimmy. Where's what's
+his name?"
+
+"You don't mean to say," said Bill Eversleigh, "that Gerry Wade's not
+up _yet_? Something ought to be done about it."
+
+"If he's not careful," said Ronny Devereux, "he'll miss his breakfast
+altogether one day--find it's lunch or tea instead when he rolls down."
+
+"It's a shame," said the girl called Socks. "Because it worries Lady
+Coote so. She gets more and more like a hen that wants to lay an egg
+and can't. It's too bad."
+
+"Let's pull him out of bed," suggested Bill. "Come on, Jimmy."
+
+"Oh! let's be more subtle than that," said the girl called Socks.
+Subtle was a word of which she was rather fond. She used it a great
+deal.
+
+"I'm not subtle," said Jimmy. "I don't know how."
+
+"Let's get together and do something about it to-morrow morning,"
+suggested Ronny vaguely. "You know, get him up at seven. Stagger the
+household. Tredwell loses his false whiskers and drops the tea urn.
+Lady Coote has hysterics and faints in Bill's arms--Bill being the
+weight carrier. Sir Oswald says 'Ha!' and steel goes up a point and
+five eighths. Pongo registers emotion by throwing down his spectacles
+and stamping on them."
+
+"You don't know Gerry," said Jimmy. "I daresay enough cold water
+_might_ wake him--judiciously applied, that is. But he'd only turn over
+and go to sleep again."
+
+"Oh! we must think of something more subtle than cold water," said
+Socks.
+
+"Well, what?" asked Ronny bluntly. And nobody had any answer ready.
+
+"We ought to be able to think of something," said Bill. "Who's got any
+brains?"
+
+"Pongo," said Jimmy. "And here he is, rushing along in a hurried manner
+as usual. Pongo was always the one for brains. It's been his misfortune
+from his youth upwards. Let's turn Pongo on to it."
+
+Mr. Bateman listened patiently to a somewhat incoherent statement. His
+attitude was that of one poised for flight. He delivered his solution
+without loss of time.
+
+"I should suggest an alarum clock," he said briskly. "I always use one
+myself for fear of oversleeping. I find that early tea brought in in a
+noiseless manner is sometimes powerless to awaken one."
+
+He hurried away.
+
+"An alarum clock." Ronny shook his head. "_One_ alarum clock. It would
+take about a dozen to disturb Gerry Wade."
+
+"Well, why not?" Bill was flushed and earnest. "I've got it. Let's all
+go into Market Basing and buy an alarum clock each."
+
+There was laughter and discussion. Bill and Ronny went off to get hold
+of cars. Jimmy was deputed to spy upon the dining-room. He returned
+rapidly.
+
+"He's there right enough. Making up for lost time and wolfing down
+toast and marmalade. How are we going to prevent him coming along with
+us?"
+
+It was decided that Lady Coote must be approached and instructed to
+hold him in play. Jimmy and Nancy and Helen fulfilled this duty. Lady
+Coote was bewildered and apprehensive.
+
+"A rag? You will be careful, won't you, my dears? I mean, you won't
+smash the furniture and wreck things or use too much water. We've got
+to hand this house over next week, you know. I shouldn't like Lord
+Caterham to think--"
+
+Bill, who had returned from the garage, broke in reassuringly.
+
+"That's all right, Lady Coote. Bundle Brent--Lord Caterham's
+daughter--is a great friend of mine. And there's nothing she'd stick
+at--absolutely nothing! You can take it from me. And anyway there's not
+going to be any damage done. This is quite a quiet affair."
+
+"Subtle," said the girl called Socks.
+
+Lady Coote went sadly along the terrace just as Gerald Wade emerged
+from the breakfast-room. Jimmy Thesiger was a fair, cherubic young man,
+and all that could be said of Gerald Wade was that he was fairer and
+more cherubic, and that his vacuous expression made Jimmy's face quite
+intelligent by contrast.
+
+"Morning, Lady Coote," said Gerald Wade. "Where are all the others?"
+
+"They've all gone to Market Basing," said Lady Coote.
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Some joke," said Lady Coote in her deep, melancholy voice.
+
+"Rather early in the morning for jokes," said Mr. Wade.
+
+"It's not so very early in the morning," said Lady Coote pointedly.
+
+"I'm afraid I was a bit late coming down," said Mr. Wade with engaging
+frankness. "It's an extraordinary thing, but wherever I happen to be
+staying, I'm always last to be down."
+
+"Very extraordinary," said Lady Coote.
+
+"I don't know why it is," said Mr. Wade, meditating. "I can't think,
+I'm sure."
+
+"Why don't you just get up?" suggested Lady Coote.
+
+"Oh!" said Mr. Wade. The simplicity of the solution rather took him
+aback.
+
+Lady Coote went on earnestly.
+
+"I've heard Sir Oswald say so many times that there's nothing for
+getting a young man on in the world like punctual habits."
+
+"Oh! I know," said Mr. Wade. "And I have to when I'm in town. I mean,
+I have to be round at the jolly old Foreign Office by eleven o'clock.
+You mustn't think I'm always a slacker, Lady Coote. I say, what
+awfully jolly flowers you've got down in that lower border. I can't
+remember the names of them, but we've got some at home--those mauve
+thingummybobs. My sister's tremendously keen on gardening."
+
+Lady Coote was immediately diverted. Her wrongs rankled within her.
+
+"What kind of gardeners do you have?"
+
+"Oh! just one. Rather an old fool, I believe. Doesn't know much, but he
+does what he's told. And that's a great thing, isn't it?"
+
+Lady Coote agreed that it was with a depth of feeling in her voice that
+would have been invaluable to her as an emotional actress. They began
+to discourse on the iniquities of gardeners.
+
+Meanwhile the expedition was doing well. The principal emporium of
+Market Basing had been invaded and the sudden demand for alarum clocks
+was considerably puzzling the proprietor.
+
+"I wish we'd got Bundle here," murmured Bill. "You know her, don't
+you, Jimmy? Oh, you'd like her. She's a splendid girl--a real good
+sport--and mark you, she's got brains too. You know her, Ronny?"
+
+Ronny shook his head.
+
+"Don't know Bundle? Where have you been vegetating? She's simply it."
+
+"Be a bit more subtle, Bill," said Socks. "Stop blethering about your
+lady friends and get on with the business."
+
+Mr. Murgatroyd, owner of Murgatroyd's Stores, burst into eloquence.
+
+"If you'll allow me to advise you, Miss, I should say--_not_ the 7/11
+one. It's a good clock--I'm not running it down, mark you, but I
+should strongly advise this kind at 10/6. Well worth the extra money.
+Reliability, you understand. I shouldn't like you to say afterwards--"
+
+It was evident to everybody that Mr. Murgatroyd must be turned off like
+a tap.
+
+"We don't want a reliable clock," said Nancy.
+
+"It's got to go for one day, that's all," said Helen.
+
+"We don't want a subtle one," said Socks. "We want one with a good loud
+ring."
+
+"We want--" began Bill, but was unable to finish, because Jimmy, who
+was of a mechanical turn of mind, had at last grasped the mechanism.
+For the next five minutes the shop was hideous with the loud raucous
+ringing of many alarum clocks.
+
+In the end six excellent starters were selected.
+
+"And I'll tell you what," said Ronny handsomely, "I'll get one for
+Pongo. It was his idea, and it's a shame that he should be out of it.
+He shall be represented among those present."
+
+"That's right," said Bill. "And I'll take an extra one for Lady Coote.
+The more the merrier. And she's doing some of the spade work. Probably
+gassing away to old Gerry now."
+
+Indeed at this precise moment Lady Coote was detailing a long story
+about MacDonald and a prize peach and enjoying herself very much.
+
+The clocks were wrapped up and paid for. Mr. Murgatroyd watched the
+cars drive away with a puzzled air. Very spirited the young people of
+the upper classes nowadays, very spirited indeed, but not at all easy
+to understand. He turned with relief to attend to the vicar's wife, who
+wanted a new kind of dripless teapot.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II
+
+                       CONCERNING ALARUM CLOCKS
+
+
+"Now where shall we put them?"
+
+Dinner was over. Lady Coote had been once more detailed for duty. Sir
+Oswald had unexpectedly come to the rescue by suggesting bridge--not
+that suggesting is the right word. Sir Oswald, as became one of
+"Our Captains of Industry" (No. 7 of Series I), merely expressed a
+preference and those around him hastened to accommodate themselves to
+the great man's wishes.
+
+Rupert Bateman and Sir Oswald were partners against Lady Coote and
+Gerald Wade, which was a very happy arrangement. Sir Oswald played
+bridge, like he did everything else, extremely well, and liked a
+partner to correspond. Bateman was as efficient a bridge player as
+he was a secretary. Both of them confined themselves strictly to the
+matter in hand, merely uttering in curt short barks, "Two no trumps,"
+"Double," "Three spades." Lady Coote and Gerald Wade were amiable and
+discursive and the young man never failed to say at the conclusion
+of each hand, "I say, partner, you played that simply splendidly,"
+in tones of simple admiration which Lady Coote found both novel and
+extremely soothing. They also held very good cards.
+
+The others were supposed to be dancing to the wireless in the big
+ballroom. In reality they were grouped around the door of Gerald Wade's
+bedroom, and the air was full of subdued giggles and the loud ticking
+of clocks.
+
+"Under the bed in a row," suggested Jimmy in answer to Bill's question.
+
+"And what shall we set them at? What time, I mean? All together so that
+there's one glorious what-not, or at intervals?"
+
+The point was hotly disputed. One party argued that for a champion
+sleeper like Gerry Wade the combined ringing of eight alarum clocks was
+necessary. The other party argued in favour of steady and sustained
+effort.
+
+In the end the latter won the day. The clocks were set to go off one
+after the other, starting at 6:30 A.M.
+
+"And I hope," said Bill virtuously, "that this will be a lesson to him."
+
+"Hear, hear," said Socks.
+
+The business of hiding the clocks was just being begun when there was a
+sudden alarm.
+
+"Hist," cried Jimmy. "Somebody's coming up the stairs."
+
+There was a panic.
+
+"It's all right," said Jimmy. "It's only Pongo."
+
+Taking advantage of being dummy, Mr. Bateman was going to his room for
+a handkerchief. He paused on his way and took in the situation at a
+glance. He then made a comment, a simple and practical one.
+
+"He will hear them ticking when he goes to bed."
+
+The conspirators looked at each other.
+
+"What did I tell you?" said Jimmy in a reverent voice. "Pongo always
+_did_ have brains!"
+
+The brainy one passed on.
+
+"It's true," admitted Ronny Devereux, his head on one side. "Eight
+clocks all ticking at once do make a devil of a row. Even old Gerry,
+ass as he is, couldn't miss it. He'll guess something's up."
+
+"I wonder if he is," said Jimmy Thesiger.
+
+"Is what?"
+
+"Such an ass as we all think."
+
+Ronny stared at him.
+
+"We all know old Gerald."
+
+"Do we?" said Jimmy. "I've sometimes thought that--well, that it isn't
+possible for anyone to be quite the ass old Gerry makes himself out to
+be."
+
+They all stared at him. There was a serious look on Ronny's face.
+
+"Jimmy," he said, "you've got brains."
+
+"A second Pongo," said Bill encouragingly.
+
+"Well, it just occurred to me, that's all," said Jimmy, defending
+himself.
+
+"Oh! don't let's all be subtle," cried Socks. "What are we to do about
+these clocks?"
+
+"Here's Pongo coming back again. Let's ask him," suggested Jimmy.
+
+Pongo, urged to bring his great brain to bear upon the matter, gave his
+decision.
+
+"Wait till he's gone to bed and got to sleep. Then enter the room very
+quietly and put the clocks down on the floor."
+
+"Little Pongo's right again," said Jimmy. "On the word one all park
+clocks, and then we'll go downstairs and disarm suspicion."
+
+Bridge was still proceeding--with a slight difference. Sir Oswald was
+now playing with his wife and was conscientiously pointing out to her
+the mistakes she had made during the play of each hand. Lady Coote
+accepted reproof good-humouredly, and with a complete lack of any real
+interest. She reiterated, not once but many times:
+
+"I see, dear. It's so kind of you to tell me."
+
+And she continued to make exactly the same errors.
+
+At intervals, Gerald Wade said to Pongo:
+
+"Well played, partner, jolly well played."
+
+Bill Eversleigh was making calculations with Ronny Devereux.
+
+"Say he goes to bed about twelve--what do you think we ought to give
+him--about an hour?"
+
+He yawned.
+
+"Curious thing--three in the morning is my usual time for bye-bye,
+but to-night, just because I know we've got to sit up a bit, I'd give
+anything to be a mother's boy and turn in right away."
+
+Everyone agreed that he felt the same.
+
+"My dear Maria," rose the voice of Sir Oswald in mild irritation,
+"I have told you over and over again not to hesitate when you are
+wondering whether to finesse or not. You give the whole table
+information."
+
+Lady Coote had a very good answer to this--namely that as Sir Oswald
+was dummy, he had no right to comment on the play of the hand. But she
+did not make it. Instead she smiled kindly, leaned her ample chest well
+forward over the table, and gazed firmly into Gerald Wade's hand where
+he sat on her right.
+
+Her anxieties lulled to rest by perceiving the queen, she played the
+knave and took the trick and proceeded to lay down her cards.
+
+"Four tricks and the rubber," she announced. "I think I was very lucky
+to get four tricks there."
+
+"Lucky," murmured Gerald Wade, as he pushed back his chair and came
+over to the fireplace to join the others. "Lucky, she calls it. That
+woman wants watching."
+
+Lady Coote was gathering up notes and silver.
+
+"I know I'm not a good player," she announced in a mournful tone which
+nevertheless held an undercurrent of pleasure in it. "But I'm really
+very lucky at the game."
+
+"You'll never be a bridge player, Maria," said Sir Oswald.
+
+"No, dear," said Lady Coote. "I know I shan't. You're always telling me
+so. And I do try so hard."
+
+"She does," said Gerald Wade _sotto voce_. "There's no subterfuge about
+it. She'd put her head right down on your shoulder if she couldn't see
+into your hand any other way."
+
+"I know you try," said Sir Oswald. "It's just that you haven't any card
+sense."
+
+"I know, dear," said Lady Coote. "That's what you're always telling me.
+And you owe me another ten shillings, Oswald."
+
+"Do I?" Sir Oswald looked surprised.
+
+"Yes. Seventeen hundred--eight pounds ten. You've only given me eight
+pounds."
+
+"Dear me," said Sir Oswald. "My mistake."
+
+Lady Coote smiled at him sadly and took up the extra ten-shilling note.
+She was very fond of her husband, but she had no intention of allowing
+him to cheat her out of ten shillings.
+
+Sir Oswald moved over to a side table and became hospitable with whisky
+and soda. It was half-past twelve when general good-nights were said.
+
+Ronny Devereux, who had the room next door to Gerald Wade's, was told
+off to report progress. At a quarter to two he crept round tapping at
+doors. The party, pyjamaed and dressing-gowned, assembled with various
+scuffles and giggles and low whispers.
+
+"His light went out about twenty minutes ago," reported Ronny in a
+hoarse whisper. "I thought he'd never put it out. I opened the door
+just now and peeped in, and he seems sound off. What about it?"
+
+Once more the clocks were solemnly assembled. Then another difficulty
+arose.
+
+"We can't all go barging in. Make no end of a row. One person's got to
+do it and the others can hand him the what-nots from the door."
+
+Hot discussion then arose as to the proper person to be selected.
+
+The three girls were rejected on the grounds that they would giggle.
+Bill Eversleigh was rejected on the grounds of his height, weight and
+heavy tread, also for his general clumsiness, which latter clause he
+fiercely denied. Jimmy Thesiger and Ronny Devereux were considered
+possibles, but in the end an overwhelming majority decided in favour of
+Rupert Bateman.
+
+"Pongo's the lad," agreed Jimmy. "Anyway, he walks like a cat--always
+did. And then, if Gerry should waken up, Pongo will be able to think of
+some rotten silly thing to say to him. You know, something plausible
+that'll calm him down and not rouse his suspicions."
+
+"Something subtle," suggested the girl Socks thoughtfully.
+
+"Exactly," said Jimmy.
+
+Pongo performed his job neatly and efficiently. Cautiously opening the
+bedroom door, he disappeared into the darkness inside bearing the two
+largest clocks. In a minute or two he reappeared on the threshold
+and two more were handed to him and then again twice more. Finally
+he emerged. Every one held his breath and listened. The rhythmical
+breathing of Gerald Wade could still be heard, but drowned, smothered
+and buried beneath the triumphant, impassioned ticking of Mr.
+Murgatroyd's eight alarum clocks.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III
+
+                         THE JOKE THAT FAILED
+
+
+"Twelve o'clock," said Socks despairingly.
+
+The joke--as a joke--had not gone off any too well. The alarum clocks,
+on the other hand, had performed their part. _They_ had gone off--with
+a vigour and _élan_ that could hardly have been surpassed and which had
+sent Ronny Devereux leaping out of bed with a confused idea that the
+day of judgment had come. If such had been the effect in the room next
+door, what must it have been at close quarters? Ronny hurried out in
+the passage and applied his ear to the crack of the door.
+
+He expected profanity--expected it confidently and with intelligent
+anticipation. But he heard nothing at all. That is to say, he heard
+nothing of what he expected. The clocks were ticking all right--ticking
+in a loud, arrogant, exasperating manner. And presently another went
+off, ringing with a crude, deafening note that would have aroused acute
+irritation in a deaf man.
+
+There was no doubt about it; the clocks had performed their part
+faithfully. They did all and more than Mr. Murgatroyd had claimed for
+them. But apparently they had met their match in Gerald Wade.
+
+The syndicate was inclined to be despondent about it.
+
+"The lad isn't human," grumbled Jimmy Thesiger.
+
+"Probably thought he heard the telephone in the distance and rolled
+over and went to sleep again," suggested Helen (or possibly Nancy).
+
+"It seems to me very remarkable," said Rupert Bateman seriously. "I
+think he ought to see a doctor about it."
+
+"Some disease of the ear-drums," suggested Bill hopefully.
+
+"Well, if you ask me," said Socks, "I think he's just spoofing us.
+Of course they woke him up. But he's just going to do us down by
+pretending that he didn't hear anything."
+
+Every one looked at Socks with respect and admiration.
+
+"It's an idea," said Bill.
+
+"He's subtle, that's what it is," said Socks. "You'll see, he'll be
+extra late for breakfast this morning--just to show us."
+
+And since the clock now pointed to some minutes past twelve the general
+opinion was that Socks' theory was a correct one. Only Ronny Devereux
+demurred.
+
+"You forget, I was outside the door when the first one went off.
+Whatever old Gerry decided to do later, the first one must have
+surprised him. He'd have let out something about it. Where did you put
+it, Pongo?"
+
+"On a little table close to his ear," said Mr. Bateman.
+
+"That was thoughtful of you, Pongo," said Ronny. "Now, tell me." He
+turned to Bill. "If a whacking great bell started ringing within a few
+inches of your ear at half-past six in the morning, what would you say
+about it?"
+
+"Oh! Lord," said Bill. "I should say--" He came to a stop.
+
+"Of course you would," said Ronny. "So should I. So would anyone. What
+they call the natural man would emerge. Well, it didn't. So I say that
+Pongo is right--as usual--and that Gerry has got an obscure disease of
+the ear-drums."
+
+"It's now twenty past twelve," said one of the other girls sadly.
+
+"I say," said Jimmy slowly, "that's a bit beyond anything, isn't it? I
+mean a joke's a joke. But this is carrying it a bit far. It's a shade
+hard on the Cootes."
+
+Bill stared at him.
+
+"What are you getting at?"
+
+"Well," said Jimmy, "somehow or other--it's not like old Gerry."
+
+He found it hard to put into words just what he meant to say. He
+didn't want to say too much, and yet--He saw Ronny looking at him.
+Ronny was suddenly alert.
+
+It was at that moment Tredwell came into the room and looked round him
+hesitatingly.
+
+"I thought Mr. Bateman was here," he explained apologetically.
+
+"Just gone out this minute through the window," said Ronny. "Can I do
+anything?"
+
+Tredwell's eyes wandered from him to Jimmy Thesiger and then back
+again. As though singled out, the two young men left the room with him.
+Tredwell closed the dining-room door carefully behind him.
+
+"Well," said Ronny. "What's up?"
+
+"Mr. Wade not having yet come down, sir, I took the liberty of sending
+Williams up to his room."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Williams has just come running down in a great state of agitation,
+sir." Tredwell paused--a pause of preparation. "I am afraid, sir, the
+poor young gentleman must have died in his sleep."
+
+Jimmy and Ronny stared at him.
+
+"Nonsense," cried Ronny at last. "It's--it's impossible. Gerry--" His
+face worked suddenly. "I'll--I'll run up and see. That fool Williams
+may have made a mistake."
+
+Tredwell stretched out a detaining hand. With a queer, unnatural
+feeling of detachment, Jimmy realized that the butler had the whole
+situation in hand.
+
+"No, sir, Williams has made no mistake. I have already sent for Dr.
+Cartwright, and in the meantime I have taken the liberty of locking the
+door, preparatory to informing Sir Oswald of what has occurred. I must
+now find Mr. Bateman."
+
+Tredwell hurried away. Ronny stood like a man dazed.
+
+"Gerry," he muttered to himself.
+
+Jimmy took his friend by the arm and steered him out through a side
+door on to a secluded portion of the terrace. He pushed him down on to
+a seat.
+
+"Take it easy, old son," he said kindly. "You'll get your wind in a
+minute."
+
+But he looked at him rather curiously. He had had no idea that Ronny
+was such a friend of Gerry Wade's.
+
+"Poor old Gerry," he said thoughtfully. "If ever a man looked fit, he
+did."
+
+Ronny nodded.
+
+"All that clock business seems so rotten now," went on Jimmy. "It's
+odd, isn't it, why farce so often seems to get mixed up with tragedy?"
+
+He was talking more or less at random, to give Ronny time to recover
+himself. The other moved restlessly.
+
+"I wish that doctor would come. I want to know--"
+
+"Know what?"
+
+"What he--died of."
+
+Jimmy pursed up his lips.
+
+"Heart?" he hazarded.
+
+Ronny gave a short, scornful laugh.
+
+"I say, Ronny," said Jimmy.
+
+"Well?"
+
+Jimmy found a difficulty in going on.
+
+"You don't mean--you aren't thinking--I mean, you haven't got it into
+your head that--that, well, I mean he wasn't biffed on the head or
+anything? Tredwell's locking the door and all that."
+
+It seemed to Jimmy that his words deserved an answer, but Ronny
+continued to stare straight out in front of him.
+
+Jimmy shook his head and relapsed into silence. He didn't see that
+there was anything to do except just wait. So he waited.
+
+It was Tredwell who disturbed them.
+
+"The doctor would like to see you two gentlemen in the library, if you
+please, sir."
+
+Ronny sprang up. Jimmy followed him.
+
+Dr. Cartwright was a thin, energetic young man with a clever face.
+He greeted them with a brief nod. Pongo, looking more serious and
+spectacled than ever, performed introductions.
+
+"I understand you were a great friend of Mr. Wade's," the doctor said
+to Ronny.
+
+"His greatest friend."
+
+"H'm. Well, this business seems straightforward enough. Sad, though.
+He looked a healthy young chap. Do you know if he was in the habit of
+taking stuff to make him sleep?"
+
+"Make him _sleep_?" Ronny stared. "He always slept like a top."
+
+"You never heard him complain of sleeplessness?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Well, the facts are simple enough. There'll have to be an inquest, I'm
+afraid, nevertheless."
+
+"How did he die?"
+
+"There's not much doubt; I should say an overdose of chloral. The stuff
+was by his bed. And a bottle and glass. Very sad, these things are."
+
+It was Jimmy who asked the question which he felt was trembling on his
+friend's lips, and yet which the other could somehow or other not get
+out.
+
+"There's no question of--foul play?"
+
+The doctor looked at him sharply.
+
+"Why do you say that? Any cause to suspect it, eh?"
+
+Jimmy looked at Ronny. If Ronny knew anything, now was the time to
+speak. But to his astonishment Ronny shook his head.
+
+"No cause whatever," he said clearly.
+
+"And suicide--eh?"
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+Ronny was emphatic. The doctor was not so clearly convinced.
+
+"No troubles that you know of? Money troubles? A woman?"
+
+Again Ronny shook his head.
+
+"Now about his relations. They must be notified."
+
+"He's got a sister--a half-sister rather. Lives at Deane Priory. About
+twenty miles from here. When he wasn't in town Gerry lived with her."
+
+"H'm," said the doctor. "Well, she must be told."
+
+"I'll go," said Ronny. "It's a rotten job, but somebody's got to do
+it." He looked at Jimmy. "You know her, don't you?"
+
+"Slightly. I've danced with her once or twice."
+
+"Then we'll go in your car. You don't mind, do you? I can't face it
+alone."
+
+"That's all right," said Jimmy reassuringly. "I was going to suggest it
+myself. I'll go and get the old bus cranked up."
+
+He was glad to have something to do. Ronny's manner puzzled him. What
+did he know or suspect? And why had he not voiced his suspicions, if he
+had them, to the doctor.
+
+Presently the two friends were skimming along in Jimmy's car with a
+cheerful disregard for such things as speed limits.
+
+"Jimmy," said Ronny at last, "I suppose you're about the best pal I
+have--now."
+
+"Well," said Jimmy, "what about it?"
+
+He spoke gruffly.
+
+"There's something I'd like to tell you. Something you ought to know."
+
+"About Gerry Wade?"
+
+"Yes, about Gerry Wade."
+
+Jimmy waited.
+
+"Well?" he inquired at last.
+
+"I don't know that I ought to," said Ronny.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I'm bound by a kind of promise."
+
+"Oh! Well then, perhaps you'd better not."
+
+There was a silence.
+
+"And yet, I'd like--You see, Jimmy, your brains are better than mine."
+
+"They could easily be that," said Jimmy unkindly.
+
+"No, I can't," said Ronny suddenly.
+
+"All right," said Jimmy. "Just as you like."
+
+After a long silence, Ronny said:
+
+"What's she like?"
+
+"Who?"
+
+"This girl. Gerry's sister."
+
+Jimmy was silent for some minutes, then he said in a voice that had
+somehow or other altered:
+
+"She's all right. In fact--well, she's a corker."
+
+"Gerry was very devoted to her, I know. He often spoke of her."
+
+"She was very devoted to Gerry. It--it's going to hit her hard."
+
+"Yes, a nasty job."
+
+They were silent till they reached Deane Priory.
+
+Miss Loraine, the maid told them, was in the garden. Unless they wanted
+to see Mrs. Coker--
+
+Jimmy was eloquent that they did not want to see Mrs. Coker.
+
+"Who's Mrs. Coker?" asked Ronny as they went round into the somewhat
+neglected garden.
+
+"The old trout who lives with Loraine."
+
+They had stepped out into a paved walk. At the end of it was a girl
+with two black spaniels. A small girl, very fair, dressed in shabby old
+tweeds. Not at all the girl that Ronny had expected to see. Not, in
+fact, Jimmy's usual type.
+
+Holding one dog by the collar, she came down the pathway to meet them.
+
+"How do you do," she said. "You mustn't mind Elizabeth. She's just had
+some puppies and she's very suspicious."
+
+She had a supremely natural manner and, as she looked up smiling, the
+faint wild rose flush deepened in her cheeks. Her eyes were a very dark
+blue--like cornflowers.
+
+Suddenly they widened--was it with alarm? As though, already, she
+guessed.
+
+Jimmy hastened to speak.
+
+"This is Ronny Devereux, Miss Wade. You must often have heard Gerry
+speak of him."
+
+"Oh! yes." She turned a lovely, warm, welcoming smile on him. "You've
+both been staying at Chimneys, haven't you? Why didn't you bring Gerry
+over with you?"
+
+"We--er--couldn't," said Ronny, and then stopped.
+
+Again Jimmy saw the look of fear flash into her eyes.
+
+"Miss Wade," he said, "I'm afraid--I mean, we've got bad news for you."
+
+She was on the alert in a moment.
+
+"Gerry?"
+
+"Yes--Gerry. He's--"
+
+She stamped her foot with sudden passion.
+
+"Oh! tell me--tell me--" She turned suddenly on Ronny. "_You'll_ tell
+me."
+
+Jimmy felt a pang of jealousy, and in that moment he knew what up to
+now he had hesitated to admit to himself.
+
+He knew why Helen and Nancy and Socks were just "girls" to him and
+nothing more.
+
+He only _half_ heard Ronny's voice saying gravely:
+
+"Yes, Miss Wade, I'll tell you. Gerry is dead."
+
+She had plenty of pluck. She gasped and drew back, but in a minute or
+two she was asking eager, searching questions. How? When?
+
+Ronny answered her as gently as he could.
+
+"_Sleeping_ draught? Gerry?"
+
+The incredulity in her voice was plain. Jimmy gave her a glance. It was
+almost a glance of warning. He had a sudden feeling that Loraine in her
+innocence might say too much.
+
+In his turn he explained as gently as possible the need for an
+inquest. She shuddered. She declined their offer of taking her back to
+Chimneys with them, but explained she would come over later. She had a
+two-seater of her own.
+
+"But I want to be--be alone a little first," she said piteously.
+
+"I know," said Ronny.
+
+"That's all right," said Jimmy.
+
+They looked at her, feeling awkward and helpless.
+
+"Thank you both ever so much for coming."
+
+They drove back in silence and there was something like constraint
+between them.
+
+"My God! that girl's plucky," said Ronny once.
+
+Jimmy agreed.
+
+"Gerry was my friend," said Ronny. "It's up to me to keep an eye on
+her."
+
+"Oh! rather. Of course."
+
+They said no more.
+
+On returning to Chimneys Jimmy was waylaid by a tearful Lady Coote.
+
+"That poor boy," she kept repeating. "That poor boy."
+
+Jimmy made all the suitable remarks he could think of.
+
+Lady Coote told him at great length various details about the decease
+of various dear friends of hers. Jimmy listened with a show of sympathy
+and at last managed to detach himself without actual rudeness.
+
+He ran lightly up the stairs. Ronny was just emerging from Gerald
+Wade's room. He seemed taken aback at the sight of Jimmy.
+
+"I've been in to see him," he said. "Are you going in?"
+
+"I don't think so," said Jimmy, who was a healthy young man with a
+natural dislike to being reminded of death.
+
+"I think all his friends ought to."
+
+"Oh! do you?" said Jimmy, and registered to himself an impression that
+Ronny Devereux was damned odd about it all.
+
+"Yes. It's a sign of respect."
+
+Jimmy sighed, but gave in.
+
+"Oh! very well," he said, and passed in, setting his teeth a little.
+
+There were white flowers arranged on the coverlet, and the room had
+been tidied and set to rights.
+
+Jimmy gave one quick, nervous glance at the still, white face. Could
+that be cherubic, pink Gerry Wade? That still peaceful figure. He
+shivered.
+
+As he turned to leave the room, his glance swept the mantelshelf and
+he stopped in astonishment. The alarum clocks had been ranged along it
+neatly in a row.
+
+He went out sharply. Ronny was waiting for him.
+
+"Looks very peaceful and all that. Rotten luck on him," mumbled Jimmy.
+
+Then he said:
+
+"I say, Ronny, who arranged all those clocks like that in a row?"
+
+"How should I know? One of the servants, I suppose."
+
+"The funny thing is," said Jimmy, "that there are seven of them, not
+eight. One of them's missing. Did you notice that?"
+
+Ronny made an inaudible sound.
+
+"Seven instead of eight," said Jimmy, frowning. "I wonder why."
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV
+
+                               A LETTER
+
+
+"Inconsiderate, that's what I call it," said Lord Caterham.
+
+He spoke in a gentle, plaintive voice and seemed pleased with the
+adjective he had found.
+
+"Yes, distinctly inconsiderate. I often find these self-made men
+_are_ inconsiderate. Very possibly that is why they amass such large
+fortunes."
+
+He looked mournfully out over his ancestral acres, of which he had
+to-day regained possession.
+
+His daughter, Lady Eileen Brent, known to her friends and society in
+general as "Bundle," laughed.
+
+"You'll certainly never amass a large fortune," she observed dryly,
+"though you didn't do so badly out of old Coote, sticking him for this
+place. What was he like? Presentable?"
+
+"One of those large men," said Lord Caterham, shuddering slightly,
+"with a red square face and iron-grey hair. Powerful, you know. What
+they call a forceful personality. The kind of a man you'd get if a
+steam-roller were turned into a human being."
+
+"Rather tiring?" suggested Bundle sympathetically.
+
+"Frightfully tiring, full of all the most depressing virtues like
+sobriety and punctuality. I don't know which are the worst, powerful
+personalities or earnest politicians. I do so prefer the cheerful
+inefficient."
+
+"A cheerful inefficient wouldn't have been able to pay you the price
+you asked for this old mausoleum," Bundle reminded him.
+
+Lord Caterham winced.
+
+"I wish you wouldn't use that word, Bundle. We were just getting away
+from the subject."
+
+"I don't see why you're so frightfully sensitive about it," said
+Bundle. "After all, people must die somewhere."
+
+"They needn't die in my house," said Lord Caterham.
+
+"I don't see why not. Lots of people have. Masses of stuffy old great
+grandfathers and grandmothers."
+
+"That's different," said Lord Caterham. "Naturally I expect Brents
+to die here--they don't count. But I do object to strangers. And I
+especially object to inquests. The thing will become a habit soon. This
+is the second. You remember all that fuss we had four years ago? For
+which, by the way, I hold George Lomax entirely to blame."
+
+"And now you're blaming poor old steam-roller Coote. I'm sure he was
+quite as annoyed about it as anyone."
+
+"Very inconsiderate," said Lord Caterham obstinately. "People who are
+likely to do that sort of thing oughtn't to be asked to stay. And you
+may say what you like, Bundle, I don't like inquests. I never have and
+I never shall."
+
+"Well, this wasn't the same sort of thing as the last one," said Bundle
+soothingly. "I mean, it wasn't a murder."
+
+"It might have been--from the fuss that thick-head of an inspector
+made. He's never got over that business four years ago. He thinks every
+death that takes place here must necessarily be a case of foul play
+fraught with grave political significance. You've no idea the fuss
+he made. I've been hearing about it from Tredwell. Tested everything
+imaginable for fingerprints. And of course they only found the dead
+man's own. The clearest case imaginable--though whether it was suicide
+or accident is another matter."
+
+"I met Gerry Wade once," said Bundle. "He was a friend of Bill's. You'd
+have liked him, Father. I never saw anyone more cheerfully inefficient
+than he was."
+
+"I don't like anyone who comes and dies in my house on purpose to annoy
+me," said Lord Caterham obstinately.
+
+"But I certainly can't imagine anyone murdering him," continued Bundle.
+"The idea's absurd."
+
+"Of course it is," said Lord Caterham. "Or would be to anyone but an
+ass like Inspector Raglan."
+
+"I daresay looking for fingerprints made him feel important," said
+Bundle soothingly. "Anyway, they brought it in 'Death by misadventure,'
+didn't they?"
+
+Lord Caterham acquiesced.
+
+"They had to show some consideration for the sister's feelings."
+
+"Was there a sister? I didn't know."
+
+"Half-sister, I believe. She was much younger. Old Wade ran away with
+her mother--he was always doing that sort of thing. No woman appealed
+to him unless she belonged to another man."
+
+"I'm glad there's one bad habit you haven't got," said Bundle.
+
+"I've always led a very respectable God-fearing life," said Lord
+Caterham. "It seems extraordinary, considering how little harm I do to
+anybody, that I can't be let alone. If only--"
+
+He stopped as Bundle made a sudden excursion through the window.
+
+"MacDonald," called Bundle in a clear, autocratic voice.
+
+The emperor approached. Something that might possibly have been taken
+for a smile of welcome tried to express itself on his countenance, but
+the natural gloom of gardeners dispelled it.
+
+"Your ladyship?" said MacDonald.
+
+"How are you?" said Bundle.
+
+"I'm no verra grand," said MacDonald.
+
+"I wanted to speak to you about the bowling green. It's shockingly
+overgrown. Put someone on to it, will you?"
+
+MacDonald shook his head dubiously.
+
+"It would mean taking William from the lower border, m'lady."
+
+"Damn the lower border," said Bundle. "Let him start at once. And,
+MacDonald--"
+
+"Yes, m'lady?"
+
+"Let's have some of those grapes in from the far house. I know it's the
+wrong time to cut them because it always is, but I want them all the
+same. See?"
+
+Bundle re-entered the library.
+
+"Sorry, Father," she said, "I wanted to catch MacDonald. Were you
+speaking?"
+
+"As a matter of fact I was," said Lord Caterham. "But it doesn't
+matter. What were you saying to MacDonald?"
+
+"Trying to cure him of thinking he's God Almighty. But that's an
+impossible task. I expect the Cootes have been bad for him. MacDonald
+wouldn't care one hoot, or even two hoots for the largest steam-roller
+that ever was. What's Lady Coote like?"
+
+Lord Caterham considered the question.
+
+"Very like my idea of Mrs. Siddons," he said at last. "I should think
+she went in a lot for amateur theatricals. I gather she was very upset
+about the clock business."
+
+"What clock business?"
+
+"Tredwell has just been telling me. It seems the house-party had some
+joke on. They bought a lot of alarum clocks and hid them about this
+young Wade's room. And then, of course, the poor chap was dead. Which
+made the whole thing rather beastly."
+
+Bundle nodded.
+
+"Tredwell told me something else rather odd about the clocks,"
+continued Lord Caterham, who was now quite enjoying himself. "It
+seems that somebody collected them all and put them in a row on the
+mantelpiece after the poor fellow was dead."
+
+"Well, why not?" said Bundle.
+
+"I don't see why not myself," said Lord Caterham. "But apparently there
+was some fuss about it. No one would own up to having done it, you see.
+All the servants were questioned and swore they hadn't touched the
+beastly things. In fact, it was rather a mystery. And then the coroner
+asked questions at the inquest, and you know how difficult it is to
+explain things to people of that class."
+
+"Perfectly foul," agreed Bundle.
+
+"Of course," said Lord Caterham, "it's very difficult to get the hang
+of things afterwards. I didn't quite see the point of half the things
+Tredwell told me. By the way, Bundle, the fellow died in your room."
+
+Bundle made a grimace.
+
+"Why need people die in my room?" she asked with some indignation.
+
+"That's just what I've been saying," said Lord Caterham, in triumph.
+"Inconsiderate. Everybody's damned inconsiderate nowadays."
+
+"Not that I mind," said Bundle valiantly. "Why should I?"
+
+"I should," said her father. "I should mind very much. I should dream
+things, you know--spectral hands and clanking chains."
+
+"Well," said Bundle, "Great Aunt Louisa died in _your_ bed. I wonder
+you don't see her spook hovering over you."
+
+"I do sometimes," said Lord Caterham, shuddering. "Especially after
+lobster."
+
+"Well, thank heavens I'm not superstitious," declared Bundle.
+
+Yet that evening, as she sat in front of her bedroom fire, a slim,
+pyjamaed figure, she found her thoughts reverting to that cheery,
+vacuous young man, Gerry Wade. Impossible to believe that anyone so
+full of the joy of living could deliberately have committed suicide.
+No, the other solution must be the right one. He had taken a sleeping
+draught and by a pure mistake had swallowed an overdose. That _was_
+possible. She did not fancy that Gerry Wade had been overburdened in an
+intellectual capacity.
+
+Her gaze shifted to the mantelpiece and she began thinking about the
+story of the clocks. Her maid had been full of that, having just been
+primed by the second housemaid. She had added a detail which apparently
+Tredwell had not thought worth while retailing to Lord Caterham, but
+which had piqued Bundle's curiosity.
+
+Seven clocks had been neatly ranged on the mantelpiece; the last
+and remaining one had been found on the lawn outside, where it had
+obviously been thrown from the window.
+
+Bundle puzzled over that point now. It seemed such an extraordinarily
+purposeless thing to do. She could imagine that one of the maids might
+have tidied the clocks and then, frightened by the inquisition into the
+matter, have denied doing so. But surely no maid would have thrown a
+clock into the garden.
+
+Had Gerry Wade done so when its first sharp summons woke him? But no;
+that again was impossible. Bundle remembered hearing that his death
+must have taken place in the early hours of the morning, and he would
+have been in a comatose condition for some time before that.
+
+Bundle frowned. This business of the clocks was curious. She must get
+hold of Bill Eversleigh. He had been there, she knew.
+
+To think was to act with Bundle. She got up and went over to the
+writing desk. It was an inlaid affair with a lid that rolled back.
+Bundle sat down at it, pulled a sheet of notepaper towards her and
+wrote.
+
+    DEAR BILL,--
+
+She paused to pull out the lower part of the desk. It had stuck
+half-way, as she remembered it often did. Bundle tugged at it
+impatiently but it did not move. She recalled that on a former occasion
+an envelope had been pushed back with it and had jammed it for the time
+being. She took a thin paperknife and slipped it into the narrow crack.
+She was so far successful that a corner of white paper showed. Bundle
+caught hold of it and drew it out. It was the first sheet of a letter,
+somewhat crumpled.
+
+It was the date that first caught Bundle's eye. A big flourishing date
+that leaped out from the paper. Sept. 21st.
+
+"September 21st," said Bundle slowly. "Why, surely that was--"
+
+She broke off. Yes, she was sure of it. The 22nd was the day Gerry Wade
+was found dead. This, then, was a letter he must have been writing on
+the very evening of the tragedy.
+
+Bundle smoothed it out and read it. It was unfinished.
+
+    "MY DARLING LORAINE,--I will be down on Wednesday. Am feeling
+    awfully fit and rather pleased with myself all round. It will be
+    heavenly to see you. Look here, do forget what I said about that
+    Seven Dials business. I thought it was going to be more or less of
+    a joke, but it isn't--anything but. I'm sorry I ever said anything
+    about it--it's not the kind of business kids like you ought to be
+    mixed up in. So forget about it, see?
+
+    "Something else I wanted to tell you--but I'm so sleepy I can't
+    keep my eyes open.
+
+    "Oh, about Lurcher; I think--"
+
+Here the letter broke off.
+
+Bundle sat frowning. Seven Dials. Where was that? Some rather slummy
+district of London, she fancied. The words Seven Dials reminded her of
+something else, but for the moment she couldn't think of what. Instead
+her attention fastened on two phrases. "Am feeling awfully fit ..." and
+"I'm so sleepy I can't keep my eyes open."
+
+That didn't fit in. That didn't fit in at all. For it was that very
+night that Gerry Wade had taken such a heavy dose of chloral that he
+never woke again. And if what he had written in that letter was true,
+why should he have taken it?
+
+Bundle shook her head. She looked round the room and gave a slight
+shiver. Supposing Gerry Wade were watching her now. In this room he had
+died...
+
+She sat very still. The silence was unbroken save for the ticking of
+her little gold clock. That sounded unnaturally loud and important.
+
+Bundle glanced towards the mantelpiece. A vivid picture rose before her
+mind's eye. The dead man lying on the bed, and seven clocks ticking on
+the mantelpiece--ticking loudly, ominously ... ticking ... ticking....
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V
+
+                          THE MAN IN THE ROAD
+
+
+"Father," said Bundle, opening the door of Lord Caterham's special
+sanctum and putting her head in, "I'm going up to town in the Hispano.
+I can't stand the monotony down here any longer."
+
+"We only got home yesterday," complained Lord Caterham.
+
+"I know. It seems like a hundred years. I'd forgotten how dull the
+country could be."
+
+"I don't agree with you," said Lord Caterham. "It's peaceful, that's
+what it is--peaceful. And extremely comfortable. I appreciate getting
+back to Tredwell more than I can tell you. That man studies my comfort
+in the most marvellous manner. Somebody came round only this morning to
+know if they could hold a tally for girl guides here--"
+
+"A rally," interrupted Bundle.
+
+"Rally or tally--it's all the same. Some silly word meaning nothing
+whatever. But it would have put me in a very awkward position--having
+to refuse--in fact, I probably shouldn't have refused. But Tredwell got
+me out of it. I've forgotten what he said--something damned ingenious
+which couldn't hurt anybody's feelings and which knocked the idea on
+the head absolutely."
+
+"Being comfortable isn't enough for me," said Bundle. "I want
+excitement."
+
+Lord Caterham shuddered.
+
+"Didn't we have enough excitement four years ago?" he demanded
+plaintively.
+
+"I'm about ready for some more," said Bundle. "Not that I expect I
+shall find any in town. But at any rate I shan't dislocate my jaw with
+yawning."
+
+"In my experience," said Lord Caterham, "people who go about looking
+for trouble usually find it." He yawned. "All the same," he added, "I
+wouldn't mind running up to town myself."
+
+"Well, come on," said Bundle. "But be quick, because I'm in a hurry."
+
+Lord Caterham, who had begun to rise from his chair, paused.
+
+"Did you say you were in a hurry?" he asked suspiciously.
+
+"In the devil of a hurry," said Bundle.
+
+"That settles it," said Lord Caterham. "I'm not coming. To be driven
+by you in the Hispano when you're in a hurry--no, it's not fair on any
+elderly man. I shall stay here."
+
+"Please yourself," said Bundle, and withdrew.
+
+Tredwell took her place.
+
+"The vicar, my lord, is most anxious to see you, some unfortunate
+controversy having arisen about the status of the Boys' Brigade."
+
+Lord Caterham groaned.
+
+"I rather fancied, my lord, that I had heard you mention at breakfast
+that you were strolling down to the village this morning to converse
+with the vicar on the subject."
+
+"Did you tell him so?" asked Lord Caterham eagerly.
+
+"I did, my lord. He departed, if I may say so, hot-foot. I hope I did
+right, my lord?"
+
+"Of course you did, Tredwell. You are always right. You couldn't go
+wrong if you tried."
+
+Tredwell smiled benignly and withdrew.
+
+Bundle, meanwhile, was sounding the Klaxon impatiently before the lodge
+gates, while a small child came hastening out with all speed from the
+lodge, admonishment from her mother following her.
+
+"Make haste, Katie. That be her ladyship in a mortal hurry as always."
+
+It was indeed characteristic of Bundle to be in a hurry, especially
+when driving a car. She had skill and nerve and was a good driver; had
+it been otherwise her reckless pace would have ended in disaster more
+than once.
+
+It was a crisp October day, with a blue sky and a dazzling sun. The
+sharp tang of the air brought the blood to Bundle's cheeks and filled
+her with the zest of living.
+
+She had that morning sent Gerald Wade's unfinished letter to Loraine
+Wade at Deane Priory, enclosing a few explanatory lines. The curious
+impression it had made upon her was somewhat dimmed in the daylight,
+yet it still struck her as needing explanation. She intended to get
+hold of Bill Eversleigh sometime and extract from him fuller details
+of the house-party which had ended so tragically. In the meantime, it
+was a lovely morning and she felt particularly well and the Hispano was
+running like a dream.
+
+Bundle pressed her foot down on the accelerator and the Hispano
+responded at once. Mile after mile vanished, traffic stops were few and
+far between and Bundle had a clear stretch of road in front of her.
+
+And then, without any warning whatever, a man reeled out of the
+hedge and on to the road right in front of the car. To stop in time
+was out of the question. With all her might Bundle wrenched at the
+steering wheel and swerved out to the right. The car was nearly in the
+ditch--nearly, but not quite. It was a dangerous manoeuvre, but it
+succeeded. Bundle was almost certain that she had missed the man.
+
+She looked back and felt a sickening sensation in the middle of her
+anatomy. The car had not passed over the man, but nevertheless it must
+have struck him in passing. He was lying face downwards on the road,
+and he lay ominously still.
+
+Bundle jumped out and ran back. She had never yet run over anything
+more important than a stray hen. The fact that the accident was hardly
+her fault did not weigh with her at the minute. The man had seemed
+drunk, but drunk or not, she had killed him. She was quite sure she
+had killed him. Her heart beat sickeningly in great pounding thumps,
+sounding right up in her ears.
+
+She knelt down by the prone figure and turned him very gingerly over.
+He neither groaned nor moaned. He was young, she saw, rather a
+pleasant-faced young man, well dressed and wearing a small toothbrush
+moustache.
+
+There was no external mark of injury that she could see, but she was
+quite positive that he was either dead or dying. His eyelids flickered
+and the eyes half opened. Piteous eyes, brown and suffering, like a
+dog's. He seemed to be struggling to speak. Bundle bent right over.
+
+"Yes," she said. "Yes?"
+
+There was something he wanted to say, she could see that. Wanted to say
+badly. And she couldn't help him, couldn't do anything.
+
+At last the words came, a mere sighing breath:
+
+"_Seven Dials_ ... tell...."
+
+"Yes," said Bundle again. It was a name he was trying to get
+out--trying with all his failing strength. "Yes. Who am I to tell?"
+
+"_Tell_ ... _Jimmy Thesiger_...." He got it out at last, and then
+suddenly, his head fell back and his body went limp.
+
+Bundle sat back on her heels, shivering from head to foot. She could
+never have imagined that anything so awful could have happened to her.
+He was dead--and she had killed him.
+
+She tried to pull herself together. What must she do now? A
+doctor--that was her first thought. It was possible--just
+possible--that the man might only be unconscious, not dead. Her
+instinct cried out against the possibility, but she forced herself to
+act upon it. Somehow or other she must get him into the car and take
+him to the nearest doctor's. It was a deserted stretch of country road
+and there was no one to help her.
+
+Bundle, for all her slimness, was strong. She had muscles of whipcord.
+She brought the Hispano as close as possible, and then, exerting all
+her strength, she dragged and pulled the inanimate figure into it. It
+was a horrid business, and one that made her set her teeth, but at last
+she managed it.
+
+Then she jumped into the driver's seat and started off. A couple of
+miles brought her into a small town and on inquiry she was quickly
+directed to the doctor's house.
+
+Dr. Cassell, a kindly, middle-aged man, was startled to come into
+his surgery and find a girl there who was evidently on the verge of
+collapse.
+
+Bundle spoke abruptly.
+
+"I--I think I've killed a man. I ran over him. I brought him along in
+the car. He's outside now. I--I was driving too fast, I suppose. I've
+always driven too fast."
+
+The doctor cast a practised glance over her. He stepped over to a shelf
+and poured something into a glass. He brought it over to her.
+
+"Drink this down," he said, "and you'll feel better. You've had a
+shock."
+
+Bundle drank obediently and a tinge of colour came into her pallid
+face. The doctor nodded approvingly.
+
+"That's right. Now I want you to sit quietly here. I'll go out and
+attend to things. After I've made sure there's nothing to be done for
+the poor fellow, I'll come back and we'll talk about it."
+
+He was away some time. Bundle watched the clock on the mantelpiece.
+Five minutes, ten minutes, a quarter of an hour, twenty minutes--would
+he never come?
+
+Then the door opened and Dr. Cassell reappeared. He looked
+different--Bundle noticed that at once--grimmer and at the same time
+more alert. There was something else in his manner that she did not
+quite understand, a suggestion of repressed excitement.
+
+"Now then, young lady," he said, "let's have this out. You ran over
+this man, you say. Tell me just how the accident happened?"
+
+Bundle explained to the best of her ability. The doctor followed her
+narrative with keen attention.
+
+"Just so; the car didn't pass over his body?"
+
+"No. In fact, I thought I'd missed him altogether."
+
+"He was reeling, you say?"
+
+"Yes, I thought he was drunk."
+
+"And he came from the hedge?"
+
+"There was a gate just there, I think. He must have come through the
+gate."
+
+The doctor nodded, then he leaned back in his chair and removed his
+pince-nez.
+
+"I've no doubt at all," he said, "that you're a very reckless driver,
+and that you'll probably run over some poor fellow and do for him one
+of these days--but you haven't done it this time."
+
+"But--"
+
+"The car never touched him. _This man was shot._"
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI
+
+                           SEVEN DIALS AGAIN
+
+
+Bundle stared at him. And very slowly the world, which for the last
+three quarters of an hour had been upside down, shifted till it stood
+once more the right way up. It was quite two minutes before Bundle
+spoke, but when she did it was no longer the panic-stricken girl but
+the real Bundle, cool, efficient, and logical.
+
+"How could he be shot?" she said.
+
+"I don't know how he could," said the doctor dryly. "But he was. He's
+got a rifle bullet in him all right. He bled internally, that's why you
+didn't notice anything."
+
+Bundle nodded.
+
+"The question is," the doctor continued, "Who shot him? You saw nobody
+about?"
+
+Bundle shook her head.
+
+"It's odd," said the doctor. "If it was an accident, you'd expect
+the fellow who did it would come running to the rescue--unless just
+possibly he didn't know what he'd done."
+
+"There was no one about," said Bundle. "On the road, that is."
+
+"It seems to me," said the doctor, "that the poor lad must have been
+running--the bullet got him just as he passed through the gate and he
+came reeling on to the road in consequence. You didn't hear a shot?"
+
+Bundle shook her head.
+
+"But I probably shouldn't anyway," she said, "with the noise of the
+car."
+
+"Just so. He didn't say anything before he died?"
+
+"He muttered a few words."
+
+"Nothing to throw light on the tragedy?"
+
+"No. He wanted something--I don't know what--told to a friend of his.
+Oh! yes, and he mentioned Seven Dials."
+
+"H'm," said Doctor Cassell. "Not a likely neighborhood for one of his
+class. Perhaps his assailant came from there. Well, we needn't worry
+about that now. You can leave it in my hands. I'll notify the police.
+You must, of course, leave your name and address, as the police are
+sure to want to question you. In fact, perhaps you'd better come round
+to the police station with me now. They might say I ought to have
+detained you."
+
+They went together in Bundle's car. The police inspector was a
+slow-speaking man. He was somewhat overawed by Bundle's name and
+address when she gave it to him, and he took down her statement with
+great care.
+
+"Lads!" he said. "That's what it is. Lads practising! Cruel stupid,
+them young varmints are. Always loosing off at birds with no
+consideration for anyone as may be the other side of a hedge."
+
+The doctor thought it a most unlikely solution, but he realized that
+the case would soon be in abler hands and it did not seem worth while
+to make objections.
+
+"Name of deceased?" asked the sergeant, moistening his pencil.
+
+"He had a cardcase on him. He appears to have been a Mr. Ronald
+Devereux, with an address in the Albany."
+
+Bundle frowned. The name Ronald Devereux awoke some chord of
+remembrance. She was sure she had heard it before.
+
+It was not until she was half-way back to Chimneys in the car that it
+came to her. Of course! Ronny Devereux. Bill's friend in the Foreign
+Office. He and Bill and--yes--Gerald Wade.
+
+As this last realisation came to her, Bundle nearly went into the
+hedge. First Gerald Wade--then Ronny Devereux. Gerry Wade's death might
+have been natural--the result of carelessness--but Ronny Devereux's
+surely bore a more sinister interpretation.
+
+And then Bundle remembered something else. Seven Dials! When the
+dying man had said it, it had seemed vaguely familiar. Now she knew
+why. Gerald Wade had mentioned Seven Dials in that last letter of his
+written to his sister on the night before his death. And that again
+connected up with something else that escaped her.
+
+Thinking all these things over, Bundle had slowed down to such a sober
+pace that nobody would have recognised her. She drove the car round to
+the garage and went in search of her father.
+
+Lord Caterham was happily reading a catalogue of a forthcoming sale of
+rare editions and was immeasurably astonished to see Bundle.
+
+"Even you," he said, "can't have been to London and back in this time."
+
+"I haven't been to London," said Bundle. "I ran over a man."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Only I didn't really. He was shot."
+
+"How could he have been?"
+
+"I don't know how he could have been, but he was."
+
+"But why did you shoot him?"
+
+"I didn't shoot him."
+
+"You shouldn't shoot people," said Lord Caterham in a tone of mild
+remonstrance. "You shouldn't really. I daresay some of them richly
+deserve it--but all the same it will lead to trouble."
+
+"I tell you I didn't shoot him."
+
+"Well, who did?"
+
+"Nobody knows," said Bundle.
+
+"Nonsense," said Lord Caterham. "A man can't be shot and run over
+without anyone having done it."
+
+"He wasn't run over," said Bundle.
+
+"I thought you said he was."
+
+"I said I thought I had."
+
+"A tyre burst, I suppose," said Lord Caterham. "That does sound like a
+shot. It says so in detective stories."
+
+"You really are perfectly impossible, Father. You don't seem to have
+the brains of a rabbit."
+
+"Not at all," said Lord Caterham. "You come in with a wildly impossible
+tale about men being run over and shot and I don't know what, and then
+you expect me to know all about it by magic."
+
+Bundle sighed wearily.
+
+"Just attend," she said. "I'll tell you all about it in words of one
+syllable."
+
+"There," she said when she had concluded. "Now have you got it?"
+
+"Of course. I understand perfectly now. I can make allowances for your
+being a little upset, my dear. I was not far wrong when I remarked to
+you before starting out that people looking for trouble usually found
+it. I am thankful," finished Lord Caterham with a slight shiver, "that
+I stayed quietly here."
+
+He picked up the catalogue again.
+
+"Father, where is Seven Dials?"
+
+"In the East End somewhere, I fancy. I have frequently observed buses
+going there--or do I mean Seven Sisters? I have never been there
+myself, I am thankful to say. Just as well, because I don't fancy it is
+the sort of spot I should like. And yet, curiously enough, I seem to
+have heard of it in some connection just lately."
+
+"You don't know a Jimmy Thesiger, do you?"
+
+Lord Caterham was now engrossed in his catalogue once more. He had made
+an effort to be intelligent on the subject of Seven Dials. This time he
+made hardly any effort at all.
+
+"Thesiger," he murmured vaguely. "Thesiger. One of the Yorkshire
+Thesigers?"
+
+"That's what I'm asking you. Do attend, Father. This is important."
+
+Lord Caterham made a desperate effort to look intelligent without
+really having to give his mind to the matter.
+
+"There _are_ some Yorkshire Thesigers," he said earnestly. "And unless
+I am mistaken some Devonshire Thesigers also. Your Great Aunt Selina
+married a Thesiger."
+
+"What good is that to me?" cried Bundle.
+
+Lord Caterham chuckled.
+
+"It was very little good to her, if I remember rightly."
+
+"You're impossible," said Bundle, rising. "I shall have to get hold of
+Bill."
+
+"Do, dear," said her father absently as he turned a page. "Certainly.
+By all means. Quite so."
+
+Bundle rose to her feet with an impatient sigh.
+
+"I wish I could remember what that letter said," she murmured more to
+herself than aloud. "I didn't read it very carefully. Something about a
+joke--that the Seven Dials business wasn't a joke."
+
+Lord Caterham emerged suddenly from his catalogue.
+
+"Seven Dials?" he said. "Of course. I've got it now."
+
+"Got what?"
+
+"I know why it sounded so familiar. George Lomax has been over.
+Tredwell failed for once and let him in. He was on his way up to town.
+It seems he's having some political party at the Abbey next week and he
+got a warning letter."
+
+"What do you mean by a warning letter?"
+
+"Well, I don't really know. He didn't go into details. I gather it
+said 'Beware' and 'Trouble is at hand,' and all those sort of things.
+But anyway it was written from Seven Dials, I distinctly remember his
+saying so. He was going up to town to consult Scotland Yard about it.
+You know George?"
+
+Bundle nodded. She was well acquainted with that public-spirited
+Cabinet Minister, George Lomax, His Majesty's permanent Under Secretary
+of State for Foreign Affairs, who was shunned by many because of his
+inveterate habit of quoting from his public speeches in private. In
+allusion to his bulging eyeballs, he was known to many--Bill Eversleigh
+among others--as Codders.
+
+"Tell me," she said, "was Codders interested at all in Gerald Wade's
+death?"
+
+"Not that I ever heard of. He may have been, of course."
+
+Bundle said nothing for some minutes. She was busily engaged in trying
+to remember the exact wording of the letter she had sent on to Loraine
+Wade, and at the same time she was trying to picture the girl to whom
+it had been written. What sort of a girl was this to whom, apparently,
+Gerald Wade was so devoted? The more she thought over it, the more it
+seemed to her that it was an unusual letter for a brother to write.
+
+"Did you say the Wade girl was Gerry's half-sister?" she asked suddenly.
+
+"Well, of course, strictly speaking, I suppose she isn't--wasn't, I
+mean--his sister at all."
+
+"But her name's Wade?"
+
+"Not really. She wasn't old Wade's child. As I was saying, he ran
+away with his second wife, who was married to a perfect blackguard. I
+suppose the Courts gave the rascally husband the custody of the child,
+but he certainly didn't avail himself of the privilege. Old Wade got
+very fond of the child and insisted that she should be called by his
+name."
+
+"I see," said Bundle. "That explains it."
+
+"Explains what?"
+
+"Something that puzzled me about that letter."
+
+"She's rather a pretty girl, I believe," said Lord Caterham. "Or so
+I've heard."
+
+Bundle went upstairs thoughtfully. She had several objects in view.
+First she must find this Jimmy Thesiger. Bill, perhaps, would be
+helpful there. Ronny Devereux had been a friend of Bill's. If Jimmy
+Thesiger was a friend of Ronny's, the chances were that Bill would know
+him too. Then there was the girl, Loraine Wade. It was possible that
+she could throw some light on the problem of Seven Dials. Evidently
+Gerry Wade had said something to her about it. His anxiety that she
+should forget the fact had a sinister suggestion.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII
+
+                          BUNDLE PAYS A CALL
+
+
+Getting hold of Bill presented few difficulties. Bundle motored up
+to town on the following morning--this time without adventures by
+the way--and rang him up. Bill responded with alacrity, and made
+various suggestions as to lunch, tea, dinner and dancing. All of which
+suggestions Bundle turned down as made.
+
+"In a day or two, I'll come and frivol with you, Bill. But for the
+moment I'm up on business."
+
+"Oh," said Bill. "What a beastly bore."
+
+"It's not that kind," said Bundle. "It's anything but boring. Bill, do
+you know anyone called Jimmy Thesiger."
+
+"Of course. So do you."
+
+"No, I don't," said Bundle.
+
+"Yes, you do. You must. Everyone knows old Jimmy."
+
+"Sorry," said Bundle. "Just for once I don't seem to be everyone."
+
+"Oh! but you must know Jimmy--pink-faced chap. Looks a bit of an ass.
+But really he's got as many brains as I have."
+
+"You don't say so," said Bundle. "He must feel a bit top heavy when he
+walks about."
+
+"Was that meant for sarcasm?"
+
+"It was a feeble effort at it. What does Jimmy Thesiger do?"
+
+"How do you mean, what does he do?"
+
+"Does being at the Foreign Office prevent you from understanding your
+native language?"
+
+"Oh! I see, you mean, has he got a job? No, he just tools around. Why
+should he do anything?"
+
+"In fact, more money than brains?"
+
+"Oh! I wouldn't say that. I told you just now that he had more brains
+than you'd think."
+
+Bundle was silent. She was feeling more and more doubtful. This gilded
+youth did not sound a very promising ally. And yet it was his name that
+had come first to the dying man's lips. Bill's voice chimed in suddenly
+with singular appropriateness.
+
+"Ronny always thought a lot of his brains. You know, Ronny Devereux.
+Thesiger was his greatest pal."
+
+"Ronny--"
+
+Bundle stopped, undecided. Clearly Bill knew nothing of the other's
+death. It occurred to Bundle for the first time that it was odd the
+morning papers had contained nothing of the tragedy. Surely it was the
+kind of spicy item of news that would never be passed over. There could
+be one explanation, and one explanation only. The police, for reasons
+of their own, were keeping the matter quiet.
+
+Bill's voice was continuing.
+
+"I haven't seen Ronny for an age--not since that week-end down at your
+place. You know, when poor old Gerry Wade passed out."
+
+He paused and then went on.
+
+"Rather a foul business that altogether. I expect you've heard about
+it. I say, Bundle--are you there still?"
+
+"Of course I'm here."
+
+"Well, you haven't said anything for an age. I began to think that you
+had gone away."
+
+"No, I was just thinking over something."
+
+Should she tell Bill of Ronny's death? She decided against it--it was
+not the sort of thing to be said over the telephone. But soon, very
+soon, she must have a meeting with Bill. In the meantime--
+
+"Bill?"
+
+"Hullo."
+
+"I might dine with you to-morrow night."
+
+"Good, and we'll dance afterwards. I've got a lot to talk to you
+about. As a matter of fact I've been rather hard hit--the foulest
+luck--"
+
+"Well, tell me about it to-morrow," said Bundle, cutting him short
+rather unkindly. "In the meantime, what is Jimmy Thesiger's address?"
+
+"Jimmy Thesiger?"
+
+"That's what I said."
+
+"He's got rooms in Jermyn Street--do I mean Jermyn Street or the other
+one?"
+
+"Bring that class A brain to bear upon it."
+
+"Yes, Jermyn Street. Wait a bit and I'll give you the number."
+
+There was a pause.
+
+"Are you there still?"
+
+"I'm always there."
+
+"Well, one never knows with these dashed telephones. The number is 103.
+Got it?"
+
+"103. Thank you, Bill."
+
+"Yes, but I say--what do you want it for? You said you didn't know him."
+
+"I don't, but I shall in half an hour."
+
+"You're going round to his rooms?"
+
+"Quite right, Sherlock."
+
+"Yes, but I say--well, for one thing he won't be up."
+
+"Won't be up?"
+
+"I shouldn't think so. I mean, who would if they hadn't got to? Look at
+it that way. You've no idea what an effort it is for me to get here at
+eleven every morning, and the fuss Codders makes if I'm behind time is
+simply appalling. You haven't the least idea, Bundle, what a dog's life
+this is--"
+
+"You shall tell me all about it to-morrow night," said Bundle hastily.
+
+She slammed down the receiver and took stock of the situation. First
+she glanced at the clock. It was five and twenty minutes to twelve.
+Despite Bill's knowledge of his friend's habits, she inclined to the
+belief that Mr. Thesiger would by now be in a fit state to receive
+visitors. She took a taxi to 103 Jermyn Street.
+
+The door was opened by a perfect example of the retired gentleman's
+gentleman. His face, expressionless and polite, was such a face as may
+be found by the score in that particular district of London.
+
+"Will you come this way, madam?"
+
+He ushered her upstairs into an extremely comfortable sitting-room
+containing leather covered arm-chairs of immense dimensions. Sunk
+in one of those monstrosities was another girl, rather younger than
+Bundle. A small, fair girl, dressed in black.
+
+"What name shall I say, madam?"
+
+"I won't give any name," said Bundle. "I just want to see Mr. Thesiger
+on important business."
+
+The grave gentleman bowed and withdrew, shutting the door noiselessly
+behind him.
+
+There was a pause.
+
+"It's a nice morning," said the fair girl timidly.
+
+"It's an awfully nice morning," agreed Bundle.
+
+There was another pause.
+
+"I motored up from the country this morning," said Bundle, plunging
+once more into speech. "And I thought it was going to be one of those
+foul fogs. But it wasn't."
+
+"No," said the other girl. "It wasn't." And she added: "I've come up
+from the country too."
+
+Bundle eyed her more attentively. She had been slightly annoyed at
+finding the other there. Bundle belonged to the energetic order of
+people who like "to get on with it," and she foresaw that the second
+visitor would have to be disposed of and got rid of before she could
+broach her own business. It was not a topic she could introduce before
+a stranger.
+
+Now, as she looked more closely, an extraordinary idea rose in her
+brain. Could it be? Yes, the girl was in deep mourning; her black,
+silk-clad ankles showed that. It was a long shot, but Bundle was
+convinced that her idea was right. She drew a long breath.
+
+"Look here," she said. "Are you by any chance Loraine Wade?"
+
+Loraine's eyes opened wide.
+
+"Yes, I am. How clever of you to know. We've never met, have we?"
+
+Bundle shook her head.
+
+"I wrote to you yesterday, though. I'm Bundle Brent."
+
+"It was so very kind of you to send me Gerry's letter," said Loraine.
+"I've written to thank you. I never expected to see you here."
+
+"I'll tell you why I'm here," said Bundle. "Did you know Ronny
+Devereux?"
+
+Loraine nodded.
+
+"He came over the day that Gerry--you know. And he's been to see me two
+or three times since. He was one of Gerry's greatest friends."
+
+"I know. Well--he's dead."
+
+Loraine's lips parted in surprise.
+
+"_Dead!_ But he always seemed so fit."
+
+Bundle narrated the events of the preceding day as briefly as possible.
+A look of fear and horror came into Loraine's face.
+
+"Then it _is_ true. It _is_ true."
+
+"What's true?"
+
+"What I've thought--what I've been thinking all these weeks. Gerald
+didn't die a natural death. He was killed."
+
+"You've thought that, have you?"
+
+"Yes. Gerry would never have taken things to make him sleep." She gave
+the little ghost of a laugh. "He slept much too well to need them. I
+always thought it queer. And _he_ thought so too--I know he did."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Ronny. And now this happens. Now he's killed too." She paused and then
+went on: "That's what I came for to-day. That letter of Gerry's you
+sent me--as soon as I read it, I tried to get hold of Ronny, but they
+said he was away. So I thought I'd come and see Jimmy--he was Ronny's
+other great friend. I thought perhaps he'd tell me what I ought to do."
+
+"You mean--" Bundle paused. "About--Seven Dials."
+
+Loraine nodded.
+
+"You see--" she began.
+
+But at that moment Jimmy Thesiger entered the room.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII
+
+                          VISITORS FOR JIMMY
+
+
+We must at this point go back to some twenty minutes earlier. To a
+moment when Jimmy Thesiger, emerging from the mists of sleep, was
+conscious of a familiar voice speaking unfamiliar words.
+
+His sleep-ridden brain tried for a moment to cope with the situation,
+but failed. He yawned and rolled over again.
+
+"A young lady, sir, has called to see you."
+
+The voice was implacable. So prepared was it to go on repeating the
+statement indefinitely that Jimmy resigned himself to the inevitable.
+He opened his eyes and blinked.
+
+"Eh, Stevens?" he said. "Say that again."
+
+"A young lady, sir, has called to see you."
+
+"Oh!" Jimmy strove to grasp the situation. "Why?"
+
+"I couldn't say, sir."
+
+"No, I suppose not. No," he thought it over. "I suppose you couldn't."
+
+Stevens swooped down upon a tray by the bedside.
+
+"I will bring you some fresh tea, sir. This is cold."
+
+"You think that I ought to get up and--er--see the lady?"
+
+Stevens made no reply, but he held his back very stiff and Jimmy read
+the signs correctly.
+
+"Oh! very well," he said. "I suppose I'd better. She didn't give her
+name?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"H'm. She couldn't be by any possible chance my Aunt Jemima, could
+she? Because if so, I'm damned if I'm going to get up."
+
+"The lady, sir, could not possibly be anyone's aunt, I should say,
+unless the youngest of a large family."
+
+"Aha," said Jimmy. "Young and lovely. Is she--what kind is she?"
+
+"The young lady, sir, is most undoubtedly strictly _comme il faut_, if
+I may use the expression."
+
+"You may use it," said Jimmy graciously. "Your French pronunciation,
+Stevens, if I may say so, is very good. Much better than mine."
+
+"I am gratified to hear it, sir. I have lately been taking a
+correspondence course in French."
+
+"Have you really? You're a wonderful chap, Stevens."
+
+Stevens smiled in a superior fashion and left the room. Jimmy lay
+trying to recall the names of any young and lovely girls strictly
+_comme il faut_ who might be likely to come and call upon him.
+
+Stevens re-entered with fresh tea, and as Jimmy sipped it he felt a
+pleasurable curiosity.
+
+"You've given her the paper and all that, I hope, Stevens," he said.
+
+"I supplied her with the _Morning Post_ and _Punch_, sir."
+
+A ring at the bell took him away. In a few minutes he returned.
+
+"Another young lady, sir."
+
+"What?"
+
+Jimmy clutched his head.
+
+"Another young lady; she declines to give her name, sir, but says her
+business is important."
+
+Jimmy stared at him.
+
+"This is damned odd, Stevens. Damned odd. Look here, what time did I
+come home last night?"
+
+"Just upon five o'clock, sir."
+
+"And was I--er--how was I?"
+
+"Just a little cheerful, sir--nothing more. Inclined to sing 'Rule
+Britannia.'"
+
+"What an extraordinary thing," said Jimmy. "'Rule Britannia,'
+eh? I cannot imagine myself in a sober state ever singing 'Rule
+Britannia.' Some latent patriotism must have emerged under the stimulus
+of--er--just a couple too many. I was celebrating at the 'Mustard and
+Cress,' I remember. Not nearly such an innocent spot as it sounds,
+Stevens." He paused. "I was wondering--"
+
+"Yes, sir?"
+
+"I was wondering whether under the aforementioned stimulus I had put
+an advertisement in a newspaper asking for a nursery governess or
+something of that sort."
+
+Stevens coughed.
+
+"_Two_ girls turning up. It looks odd. I shall eschew the 'Mustard and
+Cress' in future. That's a good word, Stevens--_eschew_--I met it in a
+cross-word the other day and took a fancy to it."
+
+Whilst he was talking Jimmy was rapidly apparelling himself. At the
+end of ten minutes he was ready to face his unknown guests. As he
+opened the door of his sitting-room the first person he saw was a dark,
+slim girl who was totally unknown to him. She was standing by the
+mantelpiece, leaning against it. Then his glance went on to the big
+leather covered arm-chair, and his heart missed a beat. Loraine!
+
+It was she who rose and spoke first a little nervously.
+
+"You must be very surprised to see me. But I had to come. I'll explain
+in a minute. This is Lady Eileen Brent."
+
+"Bundle--that's what I'm usually known as. You've probably heard of me
+from Bill Eversleigh."
+
+"Oh! rather, of course I have," said Jimmy, endeavouring to cope
+with the situation. "I say, do sit down and let's have a cocktail or
+something."
+
+But both girls declined.
+
+"As a matter of fact," continued Jimmy, "I'm only just out of bed."
+
+"That's what Bill said," remarked Bundle. "I told him I was coming
+round to see you, and he said you wouldn't be up."
+
+"Well, I'm up now," said Jimmy encouragingly.
+
+"It's about Gerry," said Loraine. "And now about Ronny--"
+
+"What do you mean by 'and now about Ronny'?"
+
+"He was shot yesterday."
+
+"What?" cried Jimmy.
+
+Bundle told her story for the second time. Jimmy listened like a man in
+a dream.
+
+"Old Ronny--shot," he murmured. "What _is_ this damned business?"
+
+He sat down on the edge of a chair, thinking for a minute or two, and
+then spoke in a quiet, level voice.
+
+"There's something I think I ought to tell you."
+
+"Yes," said Bundle encouragingly.
+
+"It was on the day Gerry Wade died. On the way over to break the news
+to _you_"--he nodded at Loraine--"in the car Ronny said something
+to me. That is to say, he started to tell me something. There was
+something he wanted to tell me, and he began about it, and then he said
+he was bound by a promise and couldn't go on."
+
+"Bound by a promise," said Loraine thoughtfully.
+
+"That's what he said. Naturally I didn't press him after that. But he
+was odd--darned odd--all through. I got the impression then that he
+suspected--well, foul play. I thought he'd tell the doctor so. But no,
+not even a hint. So I thought I'd been mistaken. And afterwards, with
+the evidence and all--well, it seemed such a very clear case. I thought
+my suspicions had been all bosh."
+
+"But you think Ronny still suspected?" asked Bundle.
+
+Jimmy nodded.
+
+"That's what I think now. Why, none of us have seen anything of him
+since. I believe he was playing a lone hand--trying to find out the
+truth about Gerry's death, and what's more, I believe he _did_ find
+out. That's why the devils shot him. And then he tried to send word to
+me, but could only get out those two words."
+
+"Seven Dials," said Bundle, and shivered a little.
+
+"Seven Dials," said Jimmy gravely. "At any rate we've got that to go on
+with."
+
+Bundle turned to Loraine.
+
+"You were just going to tell me--"
+
+"Oh! yes. First, about the letter." She spoke to Jimmy.
+
+"Gerry left a letter. Lady Eileen--"
+
+"Bundle."
+
+"Bundle found it." She explained the circumstances in a few words.
+
+Jimmy listened, keenly interested. This was the first he had heard of
+the letter. Loraine took it from her bag and handed it to him. He read
+it, then looked across at her.
+
+"This is where you can help us. What was it Gerry wanted you to forget?"
+
+Loraine's brows wrinkled a little in perplexity.
+
+"It's so hard to remember exactly now. I opened a letter of Gerry's by
+mistake. It was written on cheap sort of paper, I remember, and very
+illiterate handwriting. It had some address in Seven Dials at the head
+of it. I realized it wasn't for me, so I put it back in the envelope
+without reading it."
+
+"Sure?" asked Jimmy very gently.
+
+Loraine laughed for the first time.
+
+"I know what you think, and I admit that women are curious. But, you
+see, this didn't even look interesting. It was a kind of list of names
+and dates."
+
+"Names and dates," said Jimmy thoughtfully.
+
+"Gerry didn't seem to mind much," continued Loraine. "He laughed. He
+asked me if I had ever heard of the Mafia, and then said it would be
+queer if a society like the Mafia started in England--but that that
+kind of secret society didn't take on much with English people. 'Our
+criminals,' he said, 'haven't got a picturesque imagination.'"
+
+Jimmy pursed up his lips into a whistle.
+
+"I'm beginning to see," he said. "Seven Dials must be the headquarters
+of some secret society. As he says in his letter to you, he thought
+it rather a joke to start with. But evidently it wasn't a joke--he
+says as much. And there's something else: his anxiety that you should
+forget what he'd told you. There can be only one reason for that--if
+that society suspected that you had any knowledge of its activity, you
+too would be in danger. Gerald realized the peril, and he was terribly
+anxious--for you."
+
+He stopped, then he went on quietly:
+
+"I rather fancy that we're all going to be in danger--if we go on with
+this."
+
+"If--?" cried Bundle indignantly.
+
+"I'm talking to you two. It's different for me. I was poor old Ronny's
+pal." He looked at Bundle. "You've done your bit. You've delivered the
+message he sent me. No; for God's sake keep out of it, you and Loraine."
+
+Bundle looked questioningly at the other girl. Her own mind was
+definitely made up, but she gave no indication of it just then. She
+had no wish to push Loraine Wade into a dangerous undertaking. But
+Loraine's small face was alight at once with indignation.
+
+"You say that! Do you think for one minute I'd be contented to keep out
+of it--when they killed Gerry--my own dear Gerry, the best and dearest
+and kindest brother any girl ever had. The only person belonging to me
+I had in the whole world!"
+
+Jimmy cleared his throat uncomfortably. Loraine, he thought, was
+wonderful; simply wonderful.
+
+"Look here," he said awkwardly, "you mustn't say that. About being
+alone in the world--all that rot. You've got lots of friends--only too
+glad to do what they can. See what I mean?"
+
+It is possible that Loraine did, for she suddenly blushed, and to cover
+her confusion began to talk nervously.
+
+"That's settled," she said. "I'm going to help. Nobody's going to stop
+me."
+
+"And so am I, of course," said Bundle.
+
+They both looked at Jimmy.
+
+"Yes," he said slowly. "Yes, quite so."
+
+They looked at him inquiringly.
+
+"I was just wondering," said Jimmy, "how we were going to begin."
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IX
+
+                                 PLANS
+
+
+Jimmy's words lifted the discussion at once into a more practical
+sphere.
+
+"All things considered," he said, "we haven't got much to go on. In
+fact, just the words Seven Dials. As a matter of fact I don't even know
+exactly where Seven Dials is. But, anyway, we can't very well comb out
+the whole of that district, house by house."
+
+"We could," said Bundle.
+
+"Well, perhaps we could eventually--though I'm not so sure. I imagine
+it's a well-populated area. But it wouldn't be very subtle."
+
+The word reminded him of the girl Socks and he smiled.
+
+"Then, of course, there's the part of the country where Ronny was
+shot. We could nose around there. But the police are probably doing
+everything we could do, and doing it much better."
+
+"What I like about you," said Bundle sarcastically, "is your cheerful
+and optimistic disposition."
+
+"Never mind her, Jimmy," said Loraine softly. "Go on."
+
+"Don't be so impatient," said Jimmy to Bundle. "All the best sleuths
+approach a case this way, by eliminating unnecessary and unprofitable
+investigation. I'm coming now to the third alternative--Gerald's death.
+Now that we know it was murder--by the way, you do both believe that,
+don't you?"
+
+"Yes," said Loraine.
+
+"Yes," said Bundle.
+
+"Good. So do I. Well, it seems to me that there we do stand some faint
+chance. After all, if Gerry didn't take the chloral himself, someone
+must have got into his room and put it there--dissolved it in the glass
+of water, so that when he woke up he drank it off. And of course left
+the empty box or bottle or whatever it was. You agree with that?"
+
+"Ye-es," said Bundle slowly. "But--"
+
+"Wait. And that someone must have been in the house at the time. It
+couldn't very well have been someone from outside."
+
+"No," agreed Bundle, more readily this time.
+
+"Very well. Now, that narrows down things considerably. To begin with,
+I suppose a good many of the servants are family ones--they're your
+lot, I mean."
+
+"Yes," said Bundle. "Practically all the staff stayed when we let it.
+All the principal ones are there still--of course there have been
+changes among the under servants."
+
+"Exactly--that's what I am getting at. _You_,"--he addressed
+Bundle--"must go into all that. Find out when new servants were
+engaged--what about footmen, for instance?"
+
+"One of the footmen is new. John, his name is."
+
+"Well, make inquiries about John. And about any others who have only
+come recently."
+
+"I suppose," said Bundle slowly, "it must have been a servant. It
+couldn't have been one of the guests?"
+
+"I don't see how that's possible."
+
+"Who were there exactly?"
+
+"Well, there were three girls--Nancy and Helen and Socks--"
+
+"Socks Daventry? I know her."
+
+"May have been. Girl who was always saying things were subtle."
+
+"That's Socks all right. Subtle is one of her words."
+
+"And then there were Gerry Wade and me and Bill Eversleigh and Ronny.
+And, of course, Sir Oswald and Lady Coote. Oh! and Pongo."
+
+"Who's Pongo?"
+
+"Chap called Bateman--secretary to old Coote. Solemn sort of cove but
+very conscientious. I was at school with him."
+
+"There doesn't seem anything very suspicious there," remarked Loraine.
+
+"No, there doesn't," said Bundle. "As you say, we'll have to look
+amongst the servants. By the way, you don't suppose that clock being
+thrown out of the window had anything to do with it."
+
+"A clock thrown out of the window," said Jimmy, staring. It was the
+first he had heard of it.
+
+"I can't see how it can have anything to do with it," said Bundle. "But
+it's odd somehow. There seems no sense in it."
+
+"I remember," said Jimmy slowly. "I went in to--to see poor old Gerry,
+and there were the clocks ranged along the mantelpiece. I remember
+noticing there were only seven--not eight."
+
+He gave a sudden shiver and explained himself apologetically.
+
+"Sorry. But somehow those clocks have always given me the shivers. I
+dream of them sometimes. I'd hate to go into that room in the dark and
+see them there in a row."
+
+"You wouldn't be able to see them if it was dark," said Bundle
+practically. "Not unless they had luminous dials--Oh!" She gave a
+sudden gasp and the colour rushed into her cheeks. "Don't you see?
+_Seven Dials!_"
+
+The others looked at her doubtfully, but she insisted with increasing
+vehemence.
+
+"It must be. It can't be a coincidence."
+
+There was a pause.
+
+"You may be right," said Jimmy Thesiger at last. "It's--it's dashed
+odd."
+
+Bundle started questioning him eagerly.
+
+"Who bought the clocks?"
+
+"All of us."
+
+"Who thought of them?"
+
+"All of us."
+
+"Nonsense, somebody must have thought of them first."
+
+"It didn't happen that way. We were discussing what we could do to get
+Gerry up, and Pongo said an alarum clock, and somebody said one would
+be no good, and somebody else--Bill Eversleigh, I think--said why not
+get a dozen. And we all said good egg and hoofed off to get them. We
+got one each and an extra one for Pongo and one for Lady Coote--just
+out of the generosity of our hearts. There was nothing premeditated
+about it--it just happened."
+
+Bundle was silenced, but not convinced.
+
+Jimmy proceeded to sum up methodically.
+
+"I think we can say we're sure of certain facts. There's a secret
+society, with points of resemblance to the Mafia, in existence. Gerry
+Wade came to know about it. At first he treated it as rather a joke--as
+an absurdity, shall we say. He couldn't believe in its being really
+dangerous. But later something happened to convince him, and then he
+got the wind up in earnest. I rather fancy he must have said something
+to Ronny Devereux about it. Anyway, when he was put out of the way,
+Ronny suspected, and he must have known enough to get on the same track
+himself. The unfortunate thing is that we've got to start quite from
+the outer darkness. We haven't got the knowledge the other two had."
+
+"Perhaps that's an advantage," said Loraine coolly. "They won't suspect
+us and therefore they won't be trying to put us out of the way."
+
+"I wish I felt sure about that," said Jimmy in a worried voice. "You
+know, Loraine, old Gerry himself wanted you to keep out of it. Don't
+you think you could--"
+
+"No, I couldn't," said Loraine. "Don't let's start discussing that
+again. It's only a waste of time."
+
+At the mention of the word time, Jimmy's eyes rose to the clock and he
+uttered an exclamation of astonishment. He rose and opened the door.
+
+"Stevens."
+
+"Yes, sir?"
+
+"What about a spot of lunch, Stevens? Could it be managed?"
+
+"I anticipated that it would be required, sir. Mrs. Stevens has made
+preparations accordingly."
+
+"That's a wonderful man," said Jimmy, as he returned, heaving a sigh
+of relief. "Brain, you know. Sheer brain. He takes correspondence
+courses. I sometimes wonder if they'd do any good to me."
+
+"Don't be silly," said Loraine.
+
+Stevens opened the door and proceeded to bring in a most recherché
+meal. An omelette was followed by quails and the very lightest things
+in soufflés.
+
+"Why are men so happy when they're single," said Loraine tragically.
+"Why are they so much better looked after by other people than by us?"
+
+"Oh! but that's rot, you know," said Jimmy. "I mean, they're not. How
+could they be. I often think--"
+
+He stammered and stopped. Loraine blushed again.
+
+Suddenly Bundle let out a whoop and both the others started violently.
+
+"Idiot," said Bundle. "Imbecile. Me, I mean. I knew there was something
+I'd forgotten."
+
+"What?"
+
+"You know Codders--George Lomax, I mean?"
+
+"I've heard of him a good deal," said Jimmy. "From Bill and Ronny, you
+know."
+
+"Well, Codders is giving some sort of a dry party next week--and he's
+had a warning letter from Seven Dials."
+
+"What?" cried Jimmy excitedly, leaning forward. "You can't mean it?"
+
+"Yes, I do. He told Father about it. Now what do you think that points
+to?"
+
+Jimmy leant back in his chair. He thought rapidly and carefully. At
+last he spoke. His speech was brief and to the point.
+
+"Something's going to happen at that party," he said.
+
+"That's what I think," said Bundle.
+
+"It all fits in," said Jimmy almost dreamily.
+
+He turned to Loraine.
+
+"How old were you when the war was on?" he asked unexpectedly.
+
+"Nine--no, eight."
+
+"And Gerry, I suppose, was about twenty. Most lads of twenty fought in
+the war. Gerry didn't."
+
+"No," said Loraine, after thinking a minute or two. "No, Gerry wasn't a
+soldier. I don't know why."
+
+"I can tell you why," said Jimmy. "Or at least I can make a very shrewd
+guess. He was out of England from 1915 to 1918. I've taken the trouble
+to find that out. And nobody seems to know exactly where he was. I
+think he was in Germany."
+
+The colour rose in Loraine's cheeks. She looked at Jimmy with
+admiration.
+
+"How clever of you."
+
+"He spoke German well, didn't he?"
+
+"Oh! yes, like a native."
+
+"I'm sure I'm right. Listen, you two. Gerry Wade was at the Foreign
+Office. He appeared to be the same sort of amiable idiot--excuse the
+term, but you know what I mean--as Bill Eversleigh and Ronny Devereux.
+A purely ornamental excrescence. But in reality he was something quite
+different. I think Gerry Wade was the real thing. Our secret service
+is supposed to be the best in the world. I think Gerry Wade was pretty
+high up in that service. And that explains everything! I remember
+saying idly that last evening at Chimneys that Gerry couldn't be quite
+such an ass as he made himself out to be."
+
+"And if you're right?" said Bundle, practical as ever.
+
+"Then the thing's bigger than we thought. This Seven Dials business
+isn't merely criminal--it's international. One thing's certain,
+somebody has got to be at this house-party of Lomax's."
+
+Bundle made a slight grimace.
+
+"I know George well--but he doesn't like me. He'd never think of asking
+me to a serious gathering. All the same, I might--"
+
+She remained a moment lost in thought.
+
+"Do you think _I_ could work it through Bill?" asked Jimmy. "He's
+bound to be there as Codders's right-hand man. He might bring me along
+somehow or other."
+
+"I don't see why not," said Bundle. "You'll have to prime Bill and
+make him say the right things. He's incapable of thinking of them for
+himself."
+
+"What do you suggest?" asked Jimmy humbly.
+
+"Oh! it's quite easy. Bill describes you as a rich young
+man--interested in politics, anxious to stand for Parliament. George
+will fall at once. You know what these political parties are: always
+looking for new, rich young men. The richer Bill says you are, the
+easier it will be to manage."
+
+"Short of being described as Rothschild, I don't mind," said Jimmy.
+
+"Then I think that's practically settled. I'm dining with Bill
+to-morrow night, and I'll get a list of who is to be there. That will
+be useful."
+
+"I'm sorry you can't be there," said Jimmy. "But on the whole I think
+it's all for the best."
+
+"I'm not so sure I shan't be there," said Bundle. "Codders hates me
+like poison--but there are other ways."
+
+She became meditative.
+
+"And what about me?" asked Loraine in a small, meek voice.
+
+"You're not on in this act," said Jimmy instantly. "See? After all,
+we've got to have someone outside to--er--"
+
+"To what?" said Loraine.
+
+Jimmy decided not to pursue this tack. He appealed to Bundle.
+
+"Look here," he said. "Loraine must keep out of this, mustn't she?"
+
+"I certainly think she'd better."
+
+"Next time," said Jimmy kindly.
+
+"And suppose there isn't a next time," said Loraine.
+
+"Oh! there probably will be. Not a doubt of it."
+
+"I see. I'm just to go home and--wait."
+
+"That's it," said Jimmy, with every appearance of relief. "I thought
+you'd understand."
+
+"You see," explained Bundle, "three of us forcing our way in might look
+rather suspicious. And you would be particularly difficult. You do see
+that, don't you?"
+
+"Oh! yes," said Loraine.
+
+"Then it's settled--you do nothing," said Jimmy.
+
+"I do nothing," said Loraine meekly.
+
+Bundle looked at her in sudden suspicion. The tameness with which
+Loraine was taking it seemed hardly natural. Loraine looked at her. Her
+eyes were blue and guileless. They met Bundle's without a quiver even
+of the lashes. Bundle was only partly satisfied. She found the meekness
+of Loraine Wade highly suspicious.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER X
+
+                      BUNDLE VISITS SCOTLAND YARD
+
+
+Now it may be said at once that in the foregoing conversation each one
+of the three participants had, as it were, held something in reserve.
+That "Nobody tells everything" is a very true motto.
+
+It may be questioned, for instance, if Loraine Wade was perfectly
+sincere in her account of the motives which had led her to seek out
+Jimmy Thesiger.
+
+In the same way, Jimmy Thesiger himself had various ideas and plans
+connected with the forthcoming party at George Lomax's which he had no
+intention of revealing to--say, Bundle.
+
+And Bundle herself had a fully-fledged plan which she proposed to put
+into immediate execution and which she had said nothing whatever about.
+
+On leaving Jimmy Thesiger's rooms, she drove to Scotland Yard, where
+she asked to see Superintendent Battle.
+
+Superintendent Battle was rather a big man. He worked almost entirely
+on cases of a delicate political nature. On such a case he had come
+to Chimneys four years ago, and Bundle was frankly trading on his
+remembering this fact.
+
+After a short delay, she was taken along several corridors and into
+the Superintendent's private room. Battle was a stolid-looking man
+with a wooden face. He looked supremely unintelligent and more like a
+commissionaire than a detective.
+
+He was standing by the window when she entered, gazing in an
+expressionless manner at some sparrows.
+
+"Good-afternoon, Lady Eileen," he said. "Sit down, won't you?"
+
+"Thank you," said Bundle. "I was afraid you mightn't remember me."
+
+"Always remember people," said Battle. He added: "Got to in my job."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle, rather damped.
+
+"And what can I do for you?" inquired the Superintendent.
+
+Bundle came straight to the point.
+
+"I've always heard that you people at Scotland Yard have lists of all
+secret societies and things like that that are formed in London."
+
+"We try to keep up to date," said Superintendent Battle cautiously.
+
+"I suppose a great many of them aren't really dangerous."
+
+"We've got a very good rule to go by," said Battle. "The more they
+talk, the less they'll do. You'd be surprised how well that works out."
+
+"And I've heard that very often you let them go on?"
+
+Battle nodded.
+
+"That's so. Why shouldn't a man call himself a Brother of Liberty and
+meet twice a week in a cellar and talk about rivers of blood--it won't
+hurt either him or us. And if there is trouble any time, we know where
+to lay our hands on him."
+
+"But sometimes, I suppose," said Bundle slowly, "a society may be more
+dangerous than anyone imagines?"
+
+"Very unlikely," said Battle.
+
+"But it _might_ happen," persisted Bundle.
+
+"Oh! it _might_," admitted the Superintendent.
+
+There was a moment or two's silence. Then Bundle said quietly.
+
+"Superintendent Battle, could you give me a list of secret societies
+that have their headquarters in Seven Dials?"
+
+It was Superintendent Battle's boast that he had never been seen to
+display emotion. But Bundle could have sworn that just for a moment
+his eyelids flickered and he looked taken aback. Only for a moment,
+however. He was his usual wooden self as he said:
+
+"Strictly speaking, Lady Eileen, there's no such place as Seven Dials
+nowadays."
+
+"No?"
+
+"No. Most of it is pulled down and rebuilt. It was rather a low quarter
+once, but it's very respectable and high class nowadays. Not at all a
+romantic spot to poke about in for mysterious secret societies."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle, rather nonplussed.
+
+"But all the same I should very much like to know what put that
+neighborhood into your head, Lady Eileen?"
+
+"Have I got to tell you?"
+
+"Well, it saves trouble, doesn't it? We know where we are, so to speak?"
+
+Bundle hesitated for a minute.
+
+"There was a man shot yesterday," she said slowly. "I thought I had run
+over him--"
+
+"Mr. Ronald Devereux?"
+
+"You know about it, of course. Why has there been nothing in the
+papers?"
+
+"Do you really want to know that, Lady Eileen?"
+
+"Yes, please."
+
+"Well, we just thought we should like to have a clear twenty-four
+hours--see? It will be in the papers to-morrow."
+
+"Oh!" Bundle studied him, puzzled.
+
+What was hidden behind that immovable face. Did he regard the shooting
+of Ronald Devereux as an ordinary crime or as an extraordinary one.
+
+"He mentioned Seven Dials when he was dying," said Bundle slowly.
+
+"Thank you," said Battle. "I'll make a note of that."
+
+He wrote a few words on the blotting pad in front of him.
+
+Bundle started on another tack.
+
+"Mr. Lomax, I understand, came to see you yesterday about a threatening
+letter he had had."
+
+"He did."
+
+"And that was written from Seven Dials?"
+
+"It had Seven Dials written at the top of it, I believe."
+
+Bundle felt as though she was battering hopelessly on a locked door.
+
+"If you'll let me advise you, Lady Eileen--"'
+
+"I know what you're going to say."
+
+"I should go home and--well, think no more about these matters."
+
+"Leave it to you, in fact?"
+
+"Well," said Superintendent Battle, "after all, we _are_ the
+professionals."
+
+"And I'm only an amateur? Yes, but you forget one thing--I mayn't have
+your knowledge and skill--but I have one advantage over you. I can work
+in the dark."
+
+She thought that the Superintendent seemed a little taken aback, as
+though the force of her words struck home.
+
+"Of course," said Bundle, "if you won't give me a list of secret
+societies--"
+
+"Oh! I never said that. You shall have a list of the whole lot."
+
+He went to the door, put his head through and called out something,
+then came back to his chair. Bundle, rather unreasonably, felt baffled.
+The ease with which he acceded to her request seemed to her suspicious.
+He was looking at her now in a placid fashion.
+
+"Do you remember the death of Mr. Gerald Wade?" she asked abruptly.
+
+"Down at your place, wasn't it? Took an overdraught of sleeping
+mixture."
+
+"His sister says he never took things to make him sleep."
+
+"Ah!" said the Superintendent. "You'd be surprised what a lot of things
+there are that sisters don't know."
+
+Bundle again felt baffled. She sat in silence till a man came in with a
+typewritten sheet of paper, which he handed to the Superintendent.
+
+"Here you are," said the latter when the other had left the room. "The
+Blood Brothers of St. Sebastian. The Wolf Hounds. The Comrades of
+Peace. The Comrades Club. The Friends of Oppression. The Children of
+Moscow. The Red Standard Bearers. The Herrings. The Comrades of the
+Fallen--and half a dozen more."
+
+He handed it to her with a distinct twinkle in his eye.
+
+"You give it to me," said Bundle, "because you know it's not going to
+be the slightest use to me. Do you want me to leave the whole thing
+alone?"
+
+"I should prefer it," said Battle. "You see--if you go messing round
+all these places--well, it's going to give us a lot of trouble."
+
+"Looking after me, you mean?"
+
+"Looking after you, Lady Eileen."
+
+Bundle had risen to her feet. Now she stood undecided. So far the
+honours lay with Superintendent Battle. Then she remembered one slight
+incident, and she based a last appeal upon it.
+
+"I said just now that an amateur could do some things which a
+professional couldn't. You didn't contradict me. That's because you're
+an honest man, Superintendent Battle. You knew I was right."
+
+"Go on," said Battle quietly.
+
+"At Chimneys you let me help. Won't you let me help now?"
+
+Battle seemed to be turning the thing over in his mind. Emboldened by
+his silence, Bundle continued.
+
+"You know pretty well what I'm like, Superintendent Battle. I butt into
+things. I'm a Nosey Parker. I don't want to get in your way or to try
+and do things that you're doing and can do a great deal better. But if
+there's a chance for an amateur, let me have it."
+
+Again there was a pause, and then Superintendent Battle said quietly:
+
+"You couldn't have spoken fairer than you have done, Lady Eileen. But
+I'm just going to say this to you. What you propose is dangerous. And
+when I say dangerous, I _mean_ dangerous."
+
+"I've grasped that," said Bundle. "I'm not a fool."
+
+"No," said Superintendent Battle. "Never knew a young lady who was less
+so. What I'll do for you, Lady Eileen, is this. I'll just give you one
+little hint. And I'm doing it because I never have thought much of the
+motto 'Safety First.' In my opinion half the people who spend their
+lives avoiding being run over by buses had much better be run over and
+put safely out of the way. They're no good."
+
+This remarkable utterance issuing from the conventional lips of
+Superintendent Battle quite took Bundle's breath away.
+
+"What was the hint you were going to give me," she asked at last.
+
+"You know Mr. Eversleigh, don't you?"
+
+"Know Bill? Why, of course. But what--"
+
+"I think Mr. Bill Eversleigh will be able to tell you all you want to
+know about Seven Dials."
+
+"Bill knows about it? _Bill?_"
+
+"I didn't say that. Not at all. But I think, being a quick-witted young
+lady, you'll get what you want from him.
+
+"And now," said Superintendent Battle firmly, "I'm not going to say
+another word."
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XI
+
+                           DINNER WITH BILL
+
+
+Bundle set out to keep her appointment with Bill on the following
+evening full of expectation.
+
+Bill greeted her with every sign of elation.
+
+"Bill really _is_ rather nice," thought Bundle to herself. "Just like a
+large, clumsy dog that wags its tail when it's pleased to see you."
+
+The large dog was uttering short staccato yelps of comment and
+information.
+
+"You look tremendously fit, Bundle. I can't tell you how pleased I am
+to see you. I've ordered oysters--you do like oysters, don't you? And
+how's everything? What did you want to go mouldering about abroad so
+long? Were you having a very gay time?"
+
+"No, deadly," said Bundle. "Perfectly foul. Old diseased colonels
+creeping about in the sun, and active, wizened spinsters running
+libraries and churches."
+
+"Give me England," said Bill. "I bar this foreign business--except
+Switzerland. Switzerland's all right. I'm thinking of going this
+Christmas. Why don't you come along?"
+
+"I'll think of it," said Bundle. "What have you been doing with
+yourself lately, Bill?"
+
+It was an incautious query. Bundle had merely made it out of politeness
+and as a preliminary to introducing her own topics of conversation. It
+was, however, the opening for which Bill had been waiting.
+
+"That's just what I've been wanting to tell you about. You're brainy,
+Bundle, and I want your advice. You know that musical show, 'Damn Your
+Eyes'?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I'm going to tell you about one of the dirtiest pieces of work
+imaginable. My God! the theatrical crowd. There's a girl--a Yankee
+girl--a perfect stunner--"
+
+Bundle's heart sank. The grievances of Bill's lady friends were always
+interminable--they went on and on and there was no stemming them.
+
+"This girl, Babe St. Maur her name is--"
+
+"I wonder how she got that name?" said Bundle sarcastically.
+
+Bill replied literally.
+
+"She got it out of _Who's Who_. Opened it and jabbed her finger down on
+a page without looking. Pretty nifty, eh? Her real name's Goldschmidt
+or Abrameier--something quite impossible."
+
+"Oh! quite," agreed Bundle.
+
+"Well, Babe St. Maur is pretty smart. And she's got muscles. She was
+one of the eight girls who made the living bridge--"
+
+"Bill," said Bundle desperately, "I went to see Jimmy Thesiger
+yesterday morning."
+
+"Good old Jimmy," said Bill. "Well, as I was telling you, Babe's
+pretty smart. You've got to be nowadays. She can put it over on most
+theatrical people. If you want to live, be high-handed, that's what
+Babe says. And mind you, she's the goods all right. She can act--it's
+marvellous how that girl can act. She'd not much chance in 'Damn Your
+Eyes'--just swamped in a pack of good-looking girls. I said why not try
+the legitimate stage--you know, Mrs. Tanqueray--that sort of stuff--but
+Babe just laughed--"
+
+"Have you seen Jimmy at all?"
+
+"Saw him this morning. Let me see, where was I? Oh, yes, I hadn't
+got to the rumpus yet. And mind you it was jealousy--sheer, spiteful
+jealousy. The other girl wasn't a patch on Babe for looks and she knew
+it. So she went behind her back--"
+
+Bundle resigned herself to the inevitable and heard the whole story
+of the unfortunate circumstances which had led up to Babe St. Maur's
+summary disappearance from the cast of "Damn Your Eyes." It took a long
+time. When Bill finally paused for breath and sympathy, Bundle said:
+
+"You're quite right, Bill, it's a rotten shame. There must be a lot of
+jealousy about--"
+
+"The whole theatrical world's rotten with it."
+
+"It must be. Did Jimmy say anything to you about coming down to the
+Abbey next week?"
+
+For the first time, Bill gave his attention to what Bundle was saying.
+
+"He was full of a long rigmarole he wanted me to stuff Codders with.
+About wanting to stand in the Conservative interest. But you know,
+Bundle, it's too damned risky."
+
+"Stuff," said Bundle. "If George _does_ find him out, he won't blame
+you. You'll just have been taken in, that's all."
+
+"That's not it at all," said Bill. "I mean it's too damned risky for
+Jimmy. Before he knows where he is, he'll be parked down somewhere like
+Tooting West, pledged to kiss babies and make speeches. You don't know
+how thorough Codders is and how frightfully energetic."
+
+"Well, we'll have to risk that," said Bundle. "Jimmy can take care of
+himself all right."
+
+"You don't know Codders," repeated Bill.
+
+"Who's coming to this party, Bill? Is it anything very special?"
+
+"Only the usual sort of muck. Mrs. Macatta for one."
+
+"The M.P.?"
+
+"Yes, you know, always going off the deep end about Welfare and Pure
+Milk and Save the Children. Think of poor Jimmy being talked to by her."
+
+"Never mind Jimmy. Go on telling me."
+
+"Then there's a Hungarian, what they call a Young Hungarian. Countess
+something unpronounceable. She's all right."
+
+He swallowed as though embarrassed and Bundle observed that he was
+crumbling his bread nervously.
+
+"Young and beautiful?" she inquired delicately.
+
+"Oh! rather."
+
+"I didn't know George went in for female beauty much."
+
+"Oh! he doesn't. She runs baby feeding in Buda Pesth--something like
+that. Naturally she and Mrs. Macatta want to get together."
+
+"Who else?"
+
+"Sir Stanley Digby--"
+
+"The Air Minister?"
+
+"Yes. And his secretary, Terence O'Rourke. He's rather a lad, by
+the way--or used to be in his flying days. Then there's a perfectly
+poisonous German chap called Herr Eberhard. I don't know who he is, but
+we're all making the hell of a fuss about him. I've been twice told off
+to take him out to lunch, and I can tell you, Bundle, it was no joke.
+He's not like the Embassy chaps, who are all very decent. This man
+sucks in soup and eats peas with a knife. Not only that, but the brute
+is always biting his finger-nails--positively gnaws at them."
+
+"Pretty foul."
+
+"Isn't it? I believe he invents things--something of the kind. Well,
+that's all. Oh! yes, Sir Oswald Coote."
+
+"And Lady Coote?"
+
+"Yes, I believe she's coming too."
+
+Bundle sat lost in thought for some minutes. Bill's list was
+suggestive, but she hadn't time to think out various possibilities just
+now. She must get on to the next point.
+
+"Bill?" she said. "What's all this about Seven Dials?"
+
+Bill at once looked horribly embarrassed. He blinked and avoided her
+glance.
+
+"I don't know what you mean," he said.
+
+"Nonsense," said Bundle. "I was told you know all about it."
+
+"About what?"
+
+This was rather a poser. Bundle shifted her ground.
+
+"I don't see what you want to be so secretive for," she complained.
+
+"Nothing to be secretive about. Nobody goes there much now. It was only
+a craze."
+
+This sounded puzzling.
+
+"One gets so out of things when one is away," said Bundle in a sad
+voice.
+
+"Oh! you haven't missed much," said Bill. "Everyone went there just to
+say they had been. It was boring really, and, my God, you _can_ get
+tired of fried fish."
+
+"Where did everyone go?"
+
+"To the Seven Dials Club, of course," said Bill, staring. "Wasn't that
+what you were asking about?"
+
+"I didn't know it by that name," said Bundle.
+
+"Used to be a slummy sort of district round about Tottenham Court Road
+way. It's all pulled down and cleaned up now. But the Seven Dials Club
+keeps to the old atmosphere. Fried fish and chips. General squalor.
+Kind of East End stunt, but awfully handy to get at after a show."
+
+"It's a night club, I suppose," said Bundle. "Dancing and all that?"
+
+"That's it. Awfully mixed crowd. Not a posh affair. Artists, you know,
+and all sorts of odd women and a sprinkling of our lot. They say quite
+a lot of things, but I think that that's all bunkum myself, just said
+to make the place go."
+
+"Good," said Bundle. "We'll go there to-night."
+
+"Oh! I shouldn't do that," said Bill. His embarrassment had returned.
+"I tell you it's played out. Nobody goes there now."
+
+"Well, we're going."
+
+"You wouldn't care for it, Bundle. You wouldn't really."
+
+"You're going to take me to the Seven Dials Club and nowhere else,
+Bill. And I should like to know why you are so unwilling?"
+
+"I? Unwilling?"
+
+"Painfully so. What's the guilty secret?"
+
+"Guilty secret?"
+
+"Don't keep repeating what I say. You do it to give yourself time."
+
+"I don't," said Bill indignantly. "It's only--"
+
+"Well? I know there's something. You never can conceal anything."
+
+"I've got nothing to conceal. It's only--"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"It's a long story--You see, I took Babe St. Maur there one night--"
+
+"Oh! Babe St. Maur again."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I didn't know it was about her--" said Bundle, stifling a yawn.
+
+"As I say, I took Babe there. She rather fancied a lobster. I had a
+lobster under my arm--"
+
+The story went on--When the lobster had been finally dismembered in
+a struggle between Bill and a fellow who was a rank outsider, Bundle
+brought her attention back to him.
+
+"I see," she said. "And there was a row?"
+
+"Yes, but it was _my_ lobster. I'd bought it and paid for it. I had a
+perfect right--"
+
+"Oh! you had, you had," said Bundle hastily. "But I'm sure that's all
+forgotten now. And I don't care for lobsters anyway. So let's go."
+
+"We may be raided by the police. There's a room upstairs where they
+play baccarat."
+
+"Father will have to come out and bail me out, that's all. Come on,
+Bill."
+
+Bill still seemed rather reluctant, but Bundle was adamant, and they
+were soon speeding to their destination in a taxi.
+
+The place, when they got to it, was much as she imagined it would be.
+It was a tall house in a narrow street, 14 Hunstanton Street; she noted
+the number.
+
+A man whose face was strangely familiar opened the door. She thought he
+started slightly when he saw her, but he greeted Bill with respectful
+recognition. He was a tall man, with fair hair, a rather weak, anaemic
+face and slightly shifty eyes. Bundle puzzled to herself where she
+could have seen him before.
+
+Bill had recovered his equilibrium now and quite enjoyed doing showman.
+They danced in the cellar, which was very full of smoke--so much so
+that you saw everyone through a blue haze. The smell of fried fish was
+almost overpowering.
+
+On the wall were rough charcoal sketches, some of them executed with
+real talent. The company was extremely mixed. There were portly
+foreigners, opulent Jewesses, a sprinkling of the really smart, and
+several ladies belonging to the oldest profession in the world.
+
+Soon Bill led Bundle upstairs. There the weak-faced man was on guard,
+watching all those admitted to the gambling room with a lynx eye.
+Suddenly recognition came to Bundle.
+
+"Of course," she said. "How stupid of me. It's Alfred, who used to be
+second footman at Chimneys. How are you, Alfred?"
+
+"Nicely, thank you, your ladyship."
+
+"When did you leave Chimneys, Alfred? Was it long before we got back?"
+
+"It was about a month ago, m'lady. I got a chance of bettering myself,
+and it seemed a pity not to take it."
+
+"I suppose they pay you very well here," remarked Bundle.
+
+"Very fair, m'lady."
+
+Bundle passed in. It seemed to her that in this room the real life
+of the club was exposed. The stakes were high, she saw that at
+once, and the people gathered round the two tables were of the true
+type--hawk-eyed, haggard, with the gambling fever in their blood.
+
+She and Bill stayed there for about half an hour. Then Bill grew
+restive.
+
+"Let's get out of this place, Bundle, and go on dancing."
+
+Bundle agreed. There was nothing to be seen here. They went down again.
+They danced for another half hour, had fish and chips, and then Bundle
+declared herself ready to go home.
+
+"But it's so early," Bill protested.
+
+"No, it isn't. Not really. And, anyway, I've got a long day in front of
+me to-morrow."
+
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+"That depends," said Bundle mysteriously. "But I can tell you this,
+Bill, the grass is not going to grow under my feet."
+
+"It never does," said Mr. Eversleigh.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XII
+
+                         INQUIRIES AT CHIMNEYS
+
+
+Bundle's temperament was certainly not inherited from her father,
+whose prevailing characteristic was a wholly amiable inertia. As Bill
+Eversleigh had very justly remarked, the grass never did grow under
+Bundle's feet.
+
+On the morning following her dinner with Bill, Bundle woke full of
+energy. She had three distinct plans which she meant to put into
+operation that day, and she realized that she was going to be slightly
+hampered by the limits of time and space.
+
+Fortunately she did not suffer from the affliction of Gerry Wade,
+Ronny Devereux and Jimmy Thesiger--that of not being able to get up in
+the morning. Sir Oswald Coote himself would have had no fault to find
+with her on the score of early rising. At half-past eight Bundle had
+breakfasted and was on her way to Chimneys in the Hispano.
+
+Her father seemed mildly pleased to see her.
+
+"I never know when you're going to turn up," he said. "But this will
+save me ringing up, which I hate. Colonel Melrose was here yesterday
+about the inquest."
+
+Colonel Melrose was Chief Constable of the county, and an old friend of
+Lord Caterham.
+
+"You mean the inquest on Ronny Devereux? When is it to be?"
+
+"To-morrow. Twelve o'clock. Melrose will call for you. Having found the
+body, you'll have to give evidence, but he said you needn't be at all
+alarmed."
+
+"Why on earth should I be alarmed?"
+
+"Well, you know," said Lord Caterham apologetically, "Melrose is a bit
+old-fashioned."
+
+"Twelve o'clock," said Bundle. "Good. I shall be here, if I'm still
+alive."
+
+"Have you any reason to anticipate not being alive?"
+
+"One never knows," said Bundle. "The strain of modern life--as the
+newspapers say."
+
+"Which reminds me that George Lomax asked me to come over to the Abbey
+next week. I refused, of course."
+
+"Quite right," said Bundle. "We don't want you mixed up in any funny
+business."
+
+"Is there going to be any funny business?" asked Lord Caterham with a
+sudden awakening of interest.
+
+"Well--warning letters and all that, you know," said Bundle.
+
+"Perhaps George is going to be assassinated," said Lord Caterham
+hopefully. "What do you think, Bundle--perhaps I'd better go after all."
+
+"You curb your bloodthirsty instincts and stay quietly at home," said
+Bundle. "I'm going to talk to Mrs. Howell."
+
+Mrs. Howell was the housekeeper, that dignified, creaking lady who had
+struck such terror to the heart of Lady Coote. She had no terrors for
+Bundle, whom, indeed, she always called Miss Bundle, a relic of the
+days when Bundle had stayed at Chimneys, a long-legged, impish child,
+before her father had succeeded to the title.
+
+"Now, Howelly," said Bundle, "let's have a cup of rich cocoa together,
+and let me hear all the household news."
+
+She gleaned what she wanted without much difficulty, making mental
+notes as follows:
+
+"Two new scullery maids--village girls--doesn't seem much there. New
+third housemaid--head housemaid's niece. That sounds all right. Howelly
+seems to have bullied poor Lady Coote a good deal. She would."
+
+"I never thought the day would come when I should see Chimneys
+inhabited by strangers, Miss Bundle."
+
+"Oh! one must go with the times," said Bundle. "You'll be lucky,
+Howelly, if you never see it converted into desirable flats with use of
+superb pleasure grounds."
+
+Mrs. Howell shivered all down her reactionary aristocratic spine.
+
+"I've never seen Sir Oswald Coote," remarked Bundle.
+
+"Sir Oswald is no doubt a very clever gentleman," said Mrs. Howell
+distantly.
+
+Bundle gathered that Sir Oswald had not been liked by his staff.
+
+"Of course, it was Mr. Bateman who saw to everything," continued the
+housekeeper. "A very efficient gentleman. A very efficient gentleman
+indeed, and one who knew the way things ought to be done."
+
+Bundle led the talk on to the topic of Gerald Wade's death. Mrs.
+Howell was only too willing to talk about it, and was full of pitying
+ejaculations about the poor young gentleman, but Bundle gleaned nothing
+new. Presently she took leave of Mrs. Howell and came downstairs again,
+where she promptly rang for Tredwell.
+
+"Tredwell, when did Alfred leave?"
+
+"It would be about a month ago now, my lady."
+
+"Why did he leave?"
+
+"It was by his own wish, my lady. I believe he has gone to London. I
+was not dissatisfied with him in any way. I think you will find the new
+footman, John, very satisfactory. He seems to know his work and to be
+most anxious to give satisfaction."
+
+"Where did he come from?"
+
+"He had excellent references, my lady. He had lived last with Lord
+Mount Vernon."
+
+"I see," said Bundle thoughtfully.
+
+She was remembering that Lord Mount Vernon was at present on a shooting
+trip in East Africa.
+
+"What's his last name, Tredwell?"
+
+"Bower, my lady."
+
+Tredwell paused for a minute or two and then, seeing that Bundle had
+finished, he quietly left the room. Bundle remained lost in thought.
+
+John had opened the door to her on her arrival that day, and she had
+taken particular notice of him without seeming to do so. Apparently, he
+was the perfect servant, well trained, with an expressionless face. He
+had, perhaps, a more soldierly bearing than most footmen and there was
+something a little odd about the shape of the back of his head.
+
+But these details, as Bundle realized, were hardly relevant to the
+situation. She sat frowning down at the blotting paper in front of her.
+She had a pencil in her hand and was idly tracing the name Bower over
+and over again.
+
+Suddenly an idea struck her and she stopped dead, staring at the word.
+Then she summoned Tredwell once more.
+
+"Tredwell, how is the name Bower spelt?"
+
+"B-A-U-E-R, my lady."
+
+"That's not an English name."
+
+"I believe he is of Swiss extraction, my lady."
+
+"Oh! That's all, Tredwell, thank you."
+
+Swiss extraction? No. German! That martial carriage, that flat back to
+the head. And he had come to Chimneys a fortnight before Gerry Wade's
+death.
+
+Bundle rose to her feet. She had done all she could here. Now to get on
+with things! She went in search of her father.
+
+"I'm off again," she said. "I've got to go and see Aunt Marcia."
+
+"Got to see Marcia?" Lord Caterham's voice was full of astonishment.
+"Poor child, how did you get let in for that?"
+
+"Just for once," said Bundle, "I happen to be going of my own free
+will."
+
+Lord Caterham looked at her in amazement. That anyone could have
+a genuine desire to face his redoubtable sister-in-law was quite
+incomprehensible to him. Marcia, Marchioness of Caterham, the widow of
+his late brother Henry, was a very prominent personality. Lord Caterham
+admitted that she had made Henry an admirable wife and that but for her
+in all probability he would never have held the office of Secretary of
+State for Foreign Affairs. On the other hand, he had always looked upon
+Henry's early death as a merciful release.
+
+It seemed to him that Bundle was foolishly putting her head into the
+lion's mouth.
+
+"Oh! I say," he said. "You know, I shouldn't do that. You don't know
+what it may lead to."
+
+"I know what I hope it's going to lead to," said Bundle. "I'm all
+right, Father, don't you worry about me."
+
+Lord Caterham sighed and settled himself more comfortably in his chair.
+He went back to his perusal of the _Field_. But in a minute or two
+Bundle suddenly put her head in again.
+
+"Sorry," she said. "But there's one other thing I wanted to ask you.
+What is Sir Oswald Coote?"
+
+"I told you--a steam-roller."
+
+"I don't mean your personal impression of him. How did he make his
+money--trouser buttons or brass beds or what?"
+
+"Oh! I see. He's steel. Steel and iron. He's got the biggest steel
+works, or whatever you call it, in England. He doesn't, of course, run
+the show personally now. It's a company or companies. He got me in as
+a director of something or other. Very good business for me--nothing
+to do except go down to the city once or twice a year to one of those
+hotel places--Cannon Street or Liverpool Street--and sit round a table
+where they have very nice new blotting paper. Then Coote or some clever
+Johnny makes a speech simply bristling with figures, but fortunately
+you needn't listen to it--and I can tell you, you often get a jolly
+good lunch out of it."
+
+Uninterested in Lord Caterham's lunches, Bundle had departed again
+before he had finished speaking. On the way back to London, she tried
+to piece together things to her satisfaction.
+
+As far as she could see, steel and infant welfare did not go together.
+One of the two, then, was just padding--presumably the latter. Mrs.
+Macatta and the Hungarian countess could be ruled out of court. They
+were camouflage. No, the pivot of the whole thing seemed to be the
+unattractive Herr Eberhard. He did not seem to be the type of man whom
+George Lomax would normally invite. Bill had said vaguely that he
+invented. Then there was the Air Minister and Sir Oswald Coote, who was
+steel. Somehow that seemed to hang together.
+
+Since it was useless speculating further, Bundle abandoned the attempt
+and concentrated on her forthcoming interview with Lady Caterham.
+
+The lady lived in a large gloomy house in one of London's higher
+class squares. Inside it smelt of sealing wax, bird seed and slightly
+decayed flowers. Lady Caterham was a large woman--large in every way.
+Her proportions were majestic, rather than ample. She had a large
+beaked nose, wore gold rimmed pince-nez and her upper lip bore just the
+faintest suspicion of a moustache.
+
+She was somewhat surprised to see her niece, but accorded her a frigid
+cheek, which Bundle duly kissed.
+
+"This is quite an unexpected pleasure, Eileen," she observed coldly.
+
+"We've only just got back, Aunt Marcia."
+
+"I know. How is your father? Much as usual?"
+
+Her tone conveyed disparagement. She had a poor opinion of Alastair
+Edward Brent, ninth Marquis of Caterham. She would have called him, had
+she known the term, a "poor fish."
+
+"Father is very well. He's down at Chimneys."
+
+"Indeed. You know, Eileen, I never approved of the letting of Chimneys.
+The place is, in many ways, a historical monument. It should not be
+cheapened."
+
+"It must have been wonderful in Uncle Henry's day," said Bundle with a
+slight sigh.
+
+"Henry realized his responsibilities," said Henry's widow.
+
+"Think of the people who stayed there," went on Bundle ecstatically.
+"All the principal statesmen of Europe."
+
+Lady Caterham sighed.
+
+"I can truly say that history has been made there more than once," she
+observed. "If only your father--"
+
+She shook her head sadly.
+
+"Politics bore Father," said Bundle, "and yet they are about the most
+fascinating study there is, I should say. Especially if one knew about
+them from the inside."
+
+She made this extravagantly untruthful statement of her feelings
+without even a blush. Her aunt looked at her with some surprise.
+
+"I am pleased to hear you say so," she said. "I always imagined,
+Eileen, that you cared for nothing but this modern pursuit of pleasure."
+
+"I used to," said Bundle.
+
+"It is true that you are still very young," said Lady Caterham
+thoughtfully. "But with your advantages, and if you were to marry
+suitably, you might be one of the leading political hostesses of the
+day."
+
+Bundle felt slightly alarmed. For a moment she feared that her aunt
+might produce a suitable husband straight away.
+
+"But I feel such a fool," said Bundle. "I mean I know so little."
+
+"That can easily be remedied," said Lady Caterham briskly. "I have any
+amount of literature I can lend you."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Marcia," said Bundle, and proceeded hastily to her
+second line of attack.
+
+"I wondered if you knew Mrs. Macatta, Aunt Marcia?"
+
+"Certainly I know her. A most estimable woman with a brilliant brain.
+I may say that as a general rule I do not hold with women standing
+for Parliament. They can make their influence felt in a more womanly
+fashion." She paused, doubtless to recall the womanly way in which
+she had forced a reluctant husband into the political arena and the
+marvellous success which had crowned his and her efforts. "But still,
+times change. And the work Mrs. Macatta is doing is of truly national
+importance, and of the utmost value to all women. It is, I think I may
+say, true womanly work. You must certainly meet Mrs. Macatta."
+
+Bundle gave a rather dismal sigh.
+
+"She's going to be at a house-party at George Lomax's next week. He
+asked Father, who, of course, won't go, but he never thought of asking
+me. Thinks I'm too much of an idiot, I suppose."
+
+It occurred to Lady Caterham that her niece was really wonderfully
+improved. Had she, perhaps, had an unfortunate love affair? An
+unfortunate love affair, in Lady Caterham's opinion, was often highly
+beneficial to young girls. It made them take life seriously.
+
+"I don't suppose George Lomax realizes for a moment that you
+have--shall we say, grown up? Eileen, dear," she said, "I must have a
+few words with him."
+
+"He doesn't like me," said Bundle. "I know he won't ask me."
+
+"Nonsense," said Lady Caterham. "I shall make a point of it. I knew
+George Lomax when he was so high." She indicated a quite impossible
+height. "He will be only too pleased to do me a favour. And he will be
+sure to see for himself that it is vitally important that the present
+day young girls of our own class should take an intelligent interest in
+the welfare of their country."
+
+Bundle nearly said: "Hear, hear," but checked herself.
+
+"I will find you some literature now," said Lady Caterham, rising.
+
+She called in a piercing voice, "Miss Connor."
+
+A very neat secretary with a frightened expression came running. Lady
+Caterham gave her various directions. Presently Bundle was driving
+back to Brook Street with an armful of the driest looking literature
+imaginable.
+
+Her next proceeding was to ring up Jimmy Thesiger. His first words were
+full of triumph.
+
+"I've managed it," he said. "Had a lot of trouble with Bill, though.
+He'd got it into his thick head that I should be a lamb among
+the wolves. But I made him see sense at last. I've got a lot of
+thingummybobs now and I'm studying them. You know, blue books and white
+papers. Deadly dull--but one must do the thing properly. Have you ever
+heard of the Santa Fé boundary dispute?"
+
+"Never," said Bundle.
+
+"Well, I'm taking special pains with that. It went on for years and
+was very complicated. I'm making it my subject. Nowadays one has to
+specialize."
+
+"I've got a lot of the same sort of things," said Bundle. "Aunt Marcia
+gave them to me."
+
+"Aunt who?"
+
+"Aunt Marcia--Father's sister-in-law. She's very political. In fact,
+she's going to get me invited to George's party."
+
+"No? Oh, I say, that will be splendid." There was a pause and then
+Jimmy said:
+
+"I say, I don't think we'd better tell Loraine that--eh?"
+
+"Perhaps not."
+
+"You see, she mayn't like being out of it. And she really must be kept
+out of it."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I mean you can't let a girl like that run into danger!"
+
+Bundle reflected that Mr. Thesiger was slightly deficient in tact. The
+prospect of _her_ running into danger did not seem to give him any
+qualms whatever.
+
+"Have you gone away?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"No, I was only thinking."
+
+"I see. I say, are you going to the inquest to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes; are you?"
+
+"Yes. By the way, it's in the evening papers. But tucked away in a
+corner. Funny--I should have thought they'd have made rather a splash
+about it."
+
+"Yes--so should I."
+
+"Well," said Jimmy, "I must be getting on with my task. I've just got
+to where Bolivia sent us a Note."
+
+"I suppose I must get on with my little lot," said Bundle. "Are you
+going to swot at it all the evening?"
+
+"I think so. Are you?"
+
+"Oh, probably. Good-night."
+
+They were both liars of the most unblushing order. Jimmy Thesiger knew
+perfectly well that he was taking Loraine Wade out to dinner.
+
+As for Bundle, no sooner had she rung off than she attired herself in
+various nondescript garments belonging, as a matter of fact, to her
+maid. And having donned them, she sallied out on foot deliberating
+whether bus or tube would be the best route by which to reach the Seven
+Dials Club.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XIII
+
+                         THE SEVEN DIALS CLUB
+
+
+Bundle reached 14 Hunstanton Street about 6 P.M. At that hour,
+as she rightly judged, the Seven Dials Club was a dead spot. Bundle's
+aim was a simple one. She intended to get hold of the ex-footman
+Alfred. She was convinced that once she had got hold of him the rest
+would be easy. Bundle had a simple autocratic method of dealing with
+retainers. It seldom failed, and she saw no reason why it should fail
+now.
+
+The only thing of which she was not certain was how many people
+inhabited the club premises. Naturally she wished to disclose her
+presence to as few people as possible.
+
+Whilst she was hesitating as to her best line of attack, the problem
+was solved for her in a singularly easy fashion. The door of No. 14
+opened and Alfred himself came out.
+
+"Good-afternoon, Alfred," said Bundle pleasantly.
+
+Alfred jumped.
+
+"Oh! good-afternoon, your ladyship. I--I didn't recognize your ladyship
+just for a moment."
+
+Paying a tribute in her own mind to her maid's clothing, Bundle
+proceeded to business.
+
+"I want a few words with you, Alfred? Where shall we go?"
+
+"Well--really, my lady--I don't know--it's not what you might call a
+nice part round here--I don't know, I'm sure--"
+
+Bundle cut him short.
+
+"Who's in the club?"
+
+"No one at present, my lady."
+
+"Then we'll go in there."
+
+Alfred produced a key and opened the door. Bundle passed in. Alfred,
+troubled and sheepish, followed her. Bundle sat down and looked
+straight at the uncomfortable Alfred.
+
+"I suppose you know," she said crisply, "that what you're doing here is
+dead against the law?"
+
+Alfred shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
+
+"It's true as we've been raided twice," he admitted. "But nothing
+compromising was found, owing to the neatness of Mr. Mosgorovsky's
+arrangements."
+
+"I'm not talking of the gambling only," said Bundle. "There's more than
+that--probably a great deal more than you know. I'm going to ask you a
+direct question, Alfred, and I should like the truth, please. _How much
+were you paid for leaving Chimneys?_"
+
+Alfred looked twice round the cornice as though seeking for
+inspirations, swallowed three or four times, and then took the
+inevitable course of a weak will opposed to a strong one.
+
+"It was this way, your ladyship. Mr. Mosgorovsky, he come with a
+party to visit Chimneys on one of the show days. Mr. Tredwell, he
+was indisposed like--an ingrowing toe-nail as a matter of fact--so
+it fell to me to show the parties over. At the end of the tour, Mr.
+Mosgorovsky, he stays behind the rest, and after giving me something
+handsome, he falls into conversation."
+
+"Yes," said Bundle encouragingly.
+
+"And the long and the short of it was," said Alfred, with a sudden
+acceleration of his narrative, "that he offers me a hundred pound
+down to leave that instant minute and to look after this here club.
+He wanted someone as was used to the best families--to give the place
+a tone, as he put it. And, well, it seemed flying in the face of
+providence to refuse--let alone that the wages I get here are just
+three times what they were as second footman."
+
+"A hundred pounds," said Bundle. "That's a very large sum, Alfred. Did
+they say anything about who was to fill your place at Chimneys?"
+
+"I demurred a bit, my lady, about leaving at once. As I pointed out,
+it wasn't usual and might cause inconvenience. But Mr. Mosgorovsky,
+he knew of a young chap--been in good service and ready to come any
+minute. So I mentioned his name to Mr. Tredwell and everything was
+settled pleasant like."
+
+Bundle nodded. Her own suspicions had been correct and the _modus
+operandi_ was much as she had thought it to be. She essayed a further
+inquiry.
+
+"Who is Mr. Mosgorovsky?"
+
+"Gentleman as runs this club. Russian gentleman. A very clever
+gentleman too."
+
+Bundle abandoned the getting of information for the moment and
+proceeded to other matters.
+
+"A hundred pounds is a very large sum of money, Alfred."
+
+"Larger than I ever handled, my lady," said Alfred with simple candour.
+
+"Did you never suspect that there was something wrong?"
+
+"Wrong, my lady?"
+
+"Yes. I'm not talking about the gambling. I mean something far more
+serious. You don't want to be sent to penal servitude, do you, Alfred?"
+
+"Oh, Lord, my lady, you don't mean it?"
+
+"I was at Scotland Yard the day before yesterday," said Bundle
+impressively. "I heard some very curious things. I want you to help me,
+Alfred, and if you do, well--if things go wrong, I'll put in a good
+word for you."
+
+"Anything I can do, I shall be only too pleased, my lady. I mean, I
+would anyway."
+
+"Well, first," said Bundle, "I want to go all over this place--from top
+to bottom."
+
+Accompanied by a mystified and scared Alfred, she made a very thorough
+tour of inspection. Nothing struck her eye till she came to the gaming
+room. There she noticed an inconspicuous door in a corner, and the door
+was locked.
+
+Alfred explained readily.
+
+"That's used as a getaway, your ladyship. There's a room and a door on
+to a staircase what comes out in the next street. That's the way the
+gentry goes when there's a raid."
+
+"But don't the police know about it?"
+
+"It's a cunning door, you see, my lady. Looks like a cupboard, that's
+all."
+
+Bundle felt a rising excitement.
+
+"I must get in here," she said.
+
+Alfred shook his head.
+
+"You can't, my lady; Mr. Mosgorovsky, he has the key."
+
+"Well," said Bundle, "there are other keys."
+
+She perceived that the lock was a perfectly ordinary one which probably
+could be easily unlocked by the key of one of the other doors. Alfred,
+rather troubled, was sent to collect likely specimens. The fourth that
+Bundle tried fitted. She turned it, opened the door and passed through.
+
+She found herself in a small, dingy apartment. A long table occupied
+the centre of the room with chairs ranged round it. There was no other
+furniture in the room. Two built-in cupboards stood on either side of
+the fireplace. Alfred indicated the nearer one with a nod.
+
+"That's it," he explained.
+
+Bundle tried the cupboard door, but it was locked, and she saw at once
+that this lock was a very different affair. It was of the patent kind
+that would only yield to its own key.
+
+"'Ighly ingenious, it is," explained Alfred. "It looks all right when
+opened. Shelves, you know, with a few ledgers and that on 'em. Nobody'd
+ever suspect, but you touch the right spot and the whole thing swings
+open."
+
+Bundle had turned round and was surveying the room thoughtfully. The
+first thing she noticed was that the door by which they had entered was
+carefully fitted round with baize. It must be completely soundproof.
+Then her eyes wandered to the chairs. There were seven of them, three
+each side and one rather more imposing in design at the head of the
+table.
+
+Bundle's eyes brightened. She had found what she was looking for. This,
+she felt sure, was the meeting place of the secret organization. The
+place was almost perfectly planned. It looked so innocent--you could
+reach it just by stepping through from the gaming room, or you could
+arrive there by the secret entrance--and any secrecy, any precautions
+were easily explained by the gaming going on in the next room.
+
+Idly, as these thoughts passed through her mind, she drew a finger
+across the marble of the mantelpiece. Alfred saw and misinterpreted the
+action.
+
+"You won't find no dirt, not to speak of," he said. "Mr. Mosgorovsky he
+ordered the place to be swept out this morning, and I did it while he
+waited."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle, thinking very hard. "This morning, eh?"
+
+"Has to be done sometimes," said Alfred. "Though the room's never what
+you might call used."
+
+Next minute he received a shock.
+
+"Alfred," said Bundle, "you've got to find me a place in this room
+where I can hide."
+
+Alfred looked at her in dismay.
+
+"But it's impossible, my lady. You'll get me into trouble and I'll lose
+my job."
+
+"You'll lose it anyway when you go to prison," said Bundle unkindly.
+"But as a matter of fact, you needn't worry, nobody will know anything
+about it."
+
+"And there ain't no place," wailed Alfred. "Look round for yourself,
+your ladyship, if you don't believe me."
+
+Bundle was forced to admit that there was something in this argument.
+But she had the true spirit of one undertaking adventures.
+
+"Nonsense," she said with determination. "There has _got_ to be a
+place."
+
+"But there ain't one," wailed Alfred.
+
+Never had a room shown itself more unpropitious for concealment. Dingy
+blinds were drawn down over the dirty window panes, and there were no
+curtains. The window sill outside, which Bundle examined, was about
+four inches wide! Inside the room there were the table, the chairs and
+the cupboards.
+
+The second cupboard had a key in the lock. Bundle went across and
+pulled it open. Inside were shelves covered with an odd assortment of
+glasses and crockery.
+
+"Surplus stuff as we don't use," explained Alfred. "You can see for
+yourself, my lady, there's no place here as a cat could hide."
+
+But Bundle was examining the shelves.
+
+"Flimsy work," she said. "Now then, Alfred, have you got a cupboard
+downstairs where you could shove all this glass? You have? Good. Then
+get a tray and start to carry it down at once. Hurry--there's no time
+to lose."
+
+"You can't, my lady. And it's getting late, too. The cooks will be here
+any minute now."
+
+"Mr. Mosgo-what-not doesn't come till later, I suppose?"
+
+"He's never here much before midnight. But, oh, my lady--"
+
+"Don't talk so much, Alfred," said Bundle. "Get that tray. If you stay
+here arguing, you _will_ get into trouble."
+
+Doing what is familiarly known as "wringing his hands," Alfred
+departed. Presently he returned with a tray, and having by now realized
+that his protests were useless, he worked with a nervous energy quite
+surprising.
+
+As Bundle had seen, the shelves were easily detachable. She took them
+down, ranged them upright against the wall, and then stepped in.
+
+"H'm," she remarked. "Pretty narrow. It's going to be a tight fit. Shut
+the door on me carefully, Alfred--that's right. Yes, it can be done.
+Now I want a gimlet."
+
+"A gimlet, my lady?"
+
+"That's what I said."
+
+"I don't know--"
+
+"Nonsense, you must have a gimlet--perhaps you've got an auger as well.
+If you haven't got what I want, you'll have to go out and buy it, so
+you'd better try hard to find the right thing."
+
+Alfred departed and returned presently with quite a creditable
+assortment of tools. Bundle seized what she wanted and proceeded
+swiftly and efficiently to bore a small hole at the level of her
+right eye. She did this from the outside so that it should be less
+noticeable, and she dared not make it too large lest it should attract
+attention.
+
+"There, that'll do," she remarked at last.
+
+"Oh! but, my lady, my lady--"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"But they'll find you--if they should open the door."
+
+"They won't open the door," said Bundle, "because you are going to lock
+it and take the key away."
+
+"And if by chance Mr. Mosgorovsky should ask for the key?"
+
+"Tell him it's lost," said Bundle briskly. "But nobody's going to worry
+about this cupboard--it's only here to attract attention from the other
+one and make a pair. Go on, Alfred, someone might come at any time.
+Lock me in and take the key and come and let me out when everyone's
+gone."
+
+"You'll be taken bad, my lady. You'll faint--"
+
+"I never faint," said Bundle. "But you might as well get me a cocktail.
+I shall certainly need it. Then lock the door of the room again--don't
+forget--and take all the door keys back to their proper doors. And,
+Alfred--don't be too much of a rabbit. Remember, if anything goes
+wrong, I'll see you through."
+
+"And that's that," said Bundle to herself when, having served the
+cocktail, Alfred had finally departed.
+
+She was not nervous lest Alfred's nerve should fail and he should
+give her away. She knew that his sense of self-preservation was far
+too strong for that. His training alone helped him to conceal private
+emotions beneath the mask of the well-trained servant.
+
+Only one thing worried Bundle. The interpretation she had chosen to put
+upon the cleaning of the room that morning might be all wrong. And if
+so--Bundle sighed in the narrow confines of the cupboard. The prospect
+of spending long hours in it for nothing was not attractive.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XIV
+
+                    THE MEETING OF THE SEVEN DIALS
+
+
+It would be as well to pass over the sufferings of the next four hours
+as quickly as possible. Bundle found her position extremely cramped.
+She had judged that the meeting, if meeting there was to be, would take
+place at a time when the club was in full swing--somewhere probably
+between the hours of midnight and 2 A.M.
+
+She was just deciding that it must be at least six o'clock in the
+morning when a welcome sound came to her ears, the sound of the
+unlocking of a door.
+
+In another minute the electric light was switched on. The hum of
+voices, which had come to her for a minute or two rather like the
+far-off roar of sea waves, ceased as suddenly as it had begun, and
+Bundle heard the sound of a bolt being shot. Clearly someone had
+come in from the gaming room next door, and she paid tribute to the
+thoroughness with which the communicating door had been rendered sound
+proof.
+
+In another minute the intruder came into her line of vision--a line of
+vision that was necessarily somewhat incomplete but which yet answered
+its purpose. A tall man, broad shouldered and powerful looking, with a
+long black beard. Bundle remembered having seen him sitting at one of
+the baccarat tables on the preceding night.
+
+This, then, was Alfred's mysterious Russian gentleman, the proprietor
+of the club, the sinister Mr. Mosgorovsky. Bundle's heart beat faster
+with excitement. So little did she resemble her father that at this
+minute she fairly gloried in the extreme discomfort of her position.
+
+The Russian remained for some minutes standing by the table, stroking
+his beard. Then he drew a watch from his pocket and glanced at the
+time. Nodding his head as though satisfied, he again thrust his hand
+into his pocket, and, pulling out something that Bundle could not see,
+he moved out of her line of vision.
+
+When he reappeared again, she could hardly help giving a gasp of
+surprise.
+
+His face was now covered by a mask--but hardly a mask in the
+conventional sense. It was not shaped to the face. It was a mere piece
+of material hanging in front of the features like a curtain in which
+two slits were pierced for the eyes. In shape it was round and on it
+was the representation of a clock face, with the hands pointing to six
+o'clock.
+
+"The Seven Dials!" said Bundle to herself.
+
+And at that minute there came a new sound--seven muffled taps.
+
+Mosgorovsky strode across to where Bundle knew was the other cupboard
+door. She heard a sharp click, and then the sound of greetings in a
+foreign tongue.
+
+Presently she had a view of the newcomers.
+
+They also wore clock masks, but in their case the hands were in a
+different position--four o'clock and five o'clock respectively. Both
+men were in evening dress--but with a difference. One was an elegant,
+slender young man wearing evening clothes of exquisite cut. The grace
+with which he moved was foreign rather than English. The other man
+could be better described as wiry and lean. His clothes fitted him
+sufficiently well, but no more, and Bundle guessed at his nationality
+even before she heard his voice.
+
+"I reckon we're the first to arrive at this little meeting."
+
+A full pleasant voice with a slight American drawl, and an inflection
+of Irish behind it.
+
+The elegant young man said in good, but slightly stilted, English:
+
+"I had much difficulty in getting away to-night. These things do not
+always arrange themselves fortunately. I am not, like No. 4 here, my
+own master."
+
+Bundle tried to guess at his nationality. Until he spoke, she had
+thought he might be French, but the accent was not a French one. He
+might possibly, she thought, be an Austrian, or a Hungarian, or even a
+Russian.
+
+The American moved to the other side of the table, and Bundle heard a
+chair being pulled out.
+
+"One o'clock's being a great success," he said. "I congratulate you on
+taking the risk."
+
+Five o'clock shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Unless one takes risks--" He left the sentence unfinished.
+
+Again seven taps sounded, and Mosgorovsky moved across to the secret
+door.
+
+She failed to catch anything definite for some moments since the
+whole company were out of sight, but presently she heard the bearded
+Russian's voice upraised.
+
+"Shall we begin proceedings?"
+
+He himself came round the table and took the seat next to the arm-chair
+at the top. Sitting thus, he was directly facing Bundle's cupboard. The
+elegant five o'clock took the place next to him. The third chair that
+side was out of Bundle's sight, but the American, No. 4, moved into her
+line of vision for a moment or two before he sat down.
+
+On the near side of the table also, only two chairs were visible, and
+as she watched a hand turned the second--really the middle chair--down.
+And then with a swift movement, one of the newcomers brushed past the
+cupboard and took the chair opposite Mosgorovsky. Whoever sat there
+had, of course, their back directly turned to Bundle--and it was at
+that back that Bundle was staring with a good deal of interest, for it
+was the back of a singularly beautiful woman very much _décolleté_.
+
+It was she who spoke first. Her voice was musical, foreign--with a deep
+seductive note in it. She was glancing towards the empty chair at the
+head of the table.
+
+"So we are not to see No. 7 to-night?" she said. "Tell me, my friends,
+shall we ever see him?"
+
+"That's darned good," said the American. "Darned good! As for seven
+o'clock--_I'm_ beginning to believe there is no such person."
+
+"I should not advise you to think that, my friend," said the Russian
+pleasantly.
+
+There was a silence--rather an uncomfortable silence, Bundle felt.
+
+She was still staring as though fascinated at the beautiful back in
+front of her. There was a tiny black mole just below the right shoulder
+blade that enhanced the whiteness of the skin. Bundle felt that at last
+the term "beautiful adventuress," so often read, had a real meaning for
+her. She was quite certain that this woman had a beautiful face--a dark
+Slavonic face with passionate eyes.
+
+She was recalled from her imaginings by the voice of the Russian, who
+seemed to act as master of ceremonies.
+
+"Shall we get on with our business? First to our absent comrade! No. 2!"
+
+He made a curious gesture with his hand towards the turned down chair
+next to the woman, which everyone present imitated, turning to the
+chair as they did so.
+
+"I wish No. 2 were with us to-night," he continued. "There are many
+things to be done. Unsuspected difficulties have arisen."
+
+"Have you had his report?" It was the American who spoke.
+
+"As yet--I have nothing from him." There was a pause. "I cannot
+understand it."
+
+"You think it may have--gone astray?"
+
+"That is--a possibility."
+
+"In other words," said five o'clock softly, "there is--danger."
+
+He spoke the word delicately--and yet with relish.
+
+The Russian nodded emphatically.
+
+"Yes--there's danger. Too much is getting known about us--about this
+place. I know of several people who suspect." He added coldly: "They
+must be silenced."
+
+Bundle felt a little cold shiver pass down her spine. If she were to be
+found, would she be silenced? She was recalled suddenly to attention by
+a word.
+
+"So nothing has come to light about Chimneys?"
+
+Mosgorovsky shook his head.
+
+"Nothing."
+
+Suddenly No. 5 leant forward.
+
+"I agree with Anna; where is our president--No. 7? He who called us
+into being. Why do we never see him?"
+
+"No. 7," said the Russian, "has his own ways of working."
+
+"So you always say."
+
+"I will say more," said Mosgorovsky. "I pity the man--or woman--who
+comes up against him."
+
+There was an awkward silence.
+
+"We must get on with our business," said Mosgorovsky quietly. "No. 3,
+you have the plans of Wyvern Abbey?"
+
+Bundle strained her ears. So far she had neither caught a glimpse of
+No. 3, nor had she heard his voice. She heard it now and recognized it
+as unmistakable. Low, pleasant, indistinct--the voice of a well-bred
+Englishman.
+
+"I've got them here, sir."
+
+Some papers were shoved across the table. Everyone bent forward.
+Presently Mosgorovsky raised his head again.
+
+"And the list of guests?"
+
+"Here."
+
+The Russian read them.
+
+"Sir Stanley Digby. Mr. Terence O'Rourke. Sir Oswald and Lady Coote.
+Mr. Bateman. Countess Anna Radzky. Mrs. Macatta. Mr. James Thesiger--"
+he paused and then asked sharply:
+
+"Who is Mr. James Thesiger?"
+
+The American laughed.
+
+"I guess you needn't worry any about him. The usual complete young ass."
+
+The Russian continued reading.
+
+"Herr Eberhard and Mr. Eversleigh. That completes the list."
+
+"Does it?" said Bundle silently. "What about that sweet girl, Lady
+Eileen Brent?"
+
+"Yes, there seems nothing to worry about there," said Mosgorovsky. He
+looked across the table. "I suppose there's no doubt whatever about the
+value of Eberhard's invention?"
+
+Three o'clock made a laconic British reply.
+
+"None whatever."
+
+"Commercially it should be worth millions," said the Russian. "And
+internationally--well, one knows only too well the greed of nations."
+
+Bundle had an idea that behind his mask he was smiling unpleasantly.
+
+"Yes," he went on, "a gold mine."
+
+"Well worth a few lives," said No. 5, cynically, and laughed.
+
+"But you know what inventions are," said the American. "Sometimes these
+darned things won't work."
+
+"A man like Sir Oswald Coote will have made no mistake," said
+Mosgorovsky.
+
+"Speaking as an aviator myself," said No. 5, "the thing is perfectly
+feasible. It has been discussed for years--but it needed the genius of
+Eberhard to bring it to fruition."
+
+"Well," said Mosgorovsky, "I don't think we need discuss matters any
+further. You have all seen the plans. I do not think our original
+scheme can be bettered. By the way, I hear something about a letter
+of Gerald Wade's that has been found--a letter that mentions this
+organization. Who found it?"
+
+"Lord Caterham's daughter--Lady Eileen Brent."
+
+"Bauer should have been on to that," said Mosgorovsky. "It was careless
+of him. Who was the letter written to?"
+
+"His sister, I believe," said No. 3.
+
+"Unfortunate," said Mosgorovsky. "But it cannot be helped. The inquest
+on Ronald Devereux is to-morrow. I suppose that has been arranged for?"
+
+"Reports as to local lads having been practising with rifles have been
+spread everywhere," said the American.
+
+"That should be all right then. I think there is nothing further to be
+said. I think we must all congratulate our dear one o'clock and wish
+her luck in the part she has to play."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried No. 5. "To Anna!"
+
+All hands flew out in the same gesture which Bundle had noticed before.
+
+"To Anna!"
+
+One o'clock acknowledged the salutation with a typically foreign
+gesture. Then she rose to her feet and the others followed suit. For
+the first time, Bundle caught a glimpse of No. 3 as he came to put
+Anna's cloak round her--a tall, heavily built man.
+
+Then the party filed out through the secret door. Mosgorovsky secured
+it after them. He waited a few moments and then Bundle heard him unbolt
+the other door and pass through, after extinguishing the electric light.
+
+It was not until two hours later that a white and anxious Alfred came
+to release Bundle. She almost fell into his arms and he had to hold her
+up.
+
+"Nothing," said Bundle. "Just stiff, that's all. Here, let me sit down."
+
+"Oh, Gord, my lady, it's been awful."
+
+"Nonsense," said Bundle. "It all went off splendidly. Don't get the
+wind up now it's all over. It might have gone wrong, but thank goodness
+it didn't."
+
+"Thank goodness, as you say, my lady. I've been in a twitter all the
+evening. They're a funny crowd, you know."
+
+"A damned funny crowd," said Bundle, vigorously massaging her arms and
+legs. "As a matter of fact, they're the sort of crowd I always imagined
+until to-night only existed in books. In this life, Alfred, one never
+stops learning."
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XV
+
+                              THE INQUEST
+
+
+Bundle reached home about 6 A.M. She was up and dressed by
+half-past nine, and rang up Jimmy Thesiger on the telephone.
+
+The promptitude of his reply somewhat surprised her, till he explained
+that he was going down to attend the inquest.
+
+"So am I," said Bundle. "And I've got a lot to tell you."
+
+"Well, suppose you let me drive you down and we can talk on the way.
+How about that?"
+
+"All right. But allow a bit extra because you'll have to take me to
+Chimneys. The Chief Constable's picking me up there."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he's a kind man," said Bundle.
+
+"So am I," said Jimmy. "Very kind."
+
+"Oh! you--you're an ass," said Bundle. "I heard somebody say so last
+night."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"To be strictly accurate--a Russian Jew. No, it wasn't. It was--"
+
+But an indignant protest drowned her words.
+
+"I may be an ass," said Jimmy. "I daresay I am--but I won't have
+Russian Jews saying so. What were you doing last night, Bundle?"
+
+"That's what I'm going to talk about," said Bundle. "Good-bye for the
+moment."
+
+She rang off in a tantalizing manner which left Jimmy pleasantly
+puzzled. He had the highest respect for Bundle's capabilities, though
+there was not the slightest trace of sentiment in his feeling towards
+her.
+
+"She's been up to something," he opined, as he took a last hasty drink
+of coffee. "Depend upon it, she's been up to something."
+
+Twenty minutes later, his little two-seater drew up before the Brook
+Street house and Bundle, who had been waiting, came tripping down the
+steps. Jimmy was not ordinarily an observant young man, but he noticed
+that there were black rings around Bundle's eyes and that she had all
+the appearance of having had a late night the night before.
+
+"Now then," he said, as the car began to nose her way through the
+suburbs, "what dark deeds have you been up to?"
+
+"I'll tell you," said Bundle. "But don't interrupt until I've finished."
+
+It was a somewhat long story, and Jimmy had all he could do to keep
+sufficient attention on the car to prevent an accident. When Bundle had
+finished he sighed--then looked at her searchingly.
+
+"Bundle?"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Look here, you're not pulling my leg?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I'm sorry," apologized Jimmy, "but it seems to me as though I'd heard
+it all before--in a dream, you know."
+
+"I know," said Bundle sympathetically.
+
+"It's impossible," said Jimmy, following out his own train of thought.
+"The beautiful foreign adventuress, the international gang, the
+mysterious No. 7, whose identity nobody knows--I've read it all a
+hundred times in books."
+
+"Of course you have. So have I. But it's no reason why it shouldn't
+really happen."
+
+"I suppose not," admitted Jimmy.
+
+"After all--I suppose fiction is founded on the truth. I mean unless
+things did happen, people couldn't think of them."
+
+"There is something in what you say," agreed Jimmy. "But all the same
+I can't help pinching myself to see if I'm awake."
+
+"That's how I felt."
+
+Jimmy gave a deep sigh.
+
+"Well, I suppose we are awake. Let me see, a Russian, an American, an
+Englishman--a possible Austrian or Hungarian--and the lady who may
+be any nationality--for choice Russian or Polish--that's a pretty
+representative gathering."
+
+"And a German," said Bundle. "You've forgotten the German."
+
+"Oh!" said Jimmy slowly. "You think--"
+
+"The absent No. 2 is Bauer--our footman. That seems to me quite
+clear from what they said about expecting a report which hadn't come
+in--though what there can be to report about Chimneys, I can't think."
+
+"It must be something to do with Gerry Wade's death," said Jimmy.
+"There's something there we haven't fathomed yet. You say they actually
+mentioned Bauer by name?"
+
+Bundle nodded.
+
+"They blamed him for not having found that letter."
+
+"Well, I don't see what you could have clearer than that. There's
+no going against it. You'll have to forgive my first incredulity,
+Bundle--but you know, it was rather a tall story. You say they knew
+about my going down to Wyvern Abbey next week?"
+
+"Yes, that's when the American--it was him, not the Russian--said they
+needn't worry--you were only the usual kind of ass."
+
+"Ah!" said Jimmy. He pressed his foot down on the accelerator viciously
+and the car shot forward. "I'm very glad you told me that. It gives me
+what you might call a personal interest in the case."
+
+He was silent for a minute or two and then he said:
+
+"Did you say that German inventor's name was Eberhard?"
+
+"Yes. Why?"
+
+"Wait a minute. Something's coming back to me. Eberhard, Eberhard--yes,
+I'm sure that was the name."
+
+"Tell me."
+
+"Eberhard was a Johnny who'd got some patent process he applied to
+steel. I can't put the thing properly because I haven't got the
+scientific knowledge--but I know the result was that it became so
+toughened that a wire was as strong as a steel bar had previously
+been. Eberhard had to do with aeroplanes and his idea was that the
+weight would be so enormously reduced that flying would be practically
+revolutionized--the cost of it, I mean. I believe he offered his
+invention to the German Government, and they turned it down, pointed
+out some undeniable flaw in it--but they did it rather nastily. He set
+to work and circumvented the difficulty, whatever it was, but he'd been
+offended by their attitude and swore they shouldn't have his ewe lamb.
+I always thought the whole thing was probably bunkum, but now--it looks
+differently."
+
+"That's it," said Bundle eagerly. "You must be right, Jimmy. Eberhard
+must have offered his invention to our Government. They've been taking,
+or are going to take, Sir Oswald Coote's expert opinion on it. There's
+going to be an unofficial conference at the Abbey. Sir Oswald, George,
+the Air Minister and Eberhard. Eberhard will have the plans or the
+process or whatever you call it--"
+
+"Formula," suggested Jimmy. "I think 'formula' is a good word myself."
+
+"He'll have the formula with him, and the Seven Dials are out to steal
+the formula. I remember the Russian saying it was worth millions."
+
+"I suppose it would be," said Jimmy.
+
+"And well worth a few lives--that's what the other man said."
+
+"Well, it seems to have been," said Jimmy, his face clouding over.
+"Look at this damned inquest to-day. Bundle, are you sure Ronny said
+nothing else?"
+
+"No," said Bundle. "Just that. _Seven Dials. Tell Jimmy Thesiger_.
+That's all he could get out, poor lad."
+
+"I wish we knew what he knew," said Jimmy. "But we've found out one
+thing. I take it that the footman, Bauer, must almost certainly have
+been responsible for Gerry's death. You know, Bundle--"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Well, I'm a bit worried sometimes. Who's going to be the next one! It
+really isn't the sort of business for a girl to be mixed up in."
+
+Bundle smiled in spite of herself. It occurred to her that it had taken
+Jimmy a long time to put her in the same category as Loraine Wade.
+
+"It's far more likely to be you than me," she remarked cheerfully.
+
+"Hear, hear," said Jimmy. "But what about a few casualties on the other
+side for a change? I'm feeling rather bloodthirsty this morning. Tell
+me, Bundle, would you recognize any of these people if you saw them?"
+
+Bundle hesitated.
+
+"I think I should recognize No. 5," she said at last. "He's got a queer
+way of speaking--a kind of venomous, lisping way--that I think I'd know
+again."
+
+"What about the Englishman?"
+
+Bundle shook her head.
+
+"I saw him least--only a glimpse--and he's got a very ordinary voice.
+Except that he's a big man, there's nothing much to go by."
+
+"There's the woman, of course," continued Jimmy. "She ought to be
+easier. But then, you're not likely to run across her. She's probably
+putting in the dirty work being taken out to dinner by amorous Cabinet
+Ministers and getting State secrets out of them when they've had a
+couple. At least, that's how it's done in books. As a matter of fact,
+the only Cabinet Minister I know drinks hot water with a dash of lemon
+in it."
+
+"Take George Lomax, for instance, can you imagine him being amorous
+with beautiful foreign women?" said Bundle with a laugh.
+
+Jimmy agreed with her criticism.
+
+"And now about the man of mystery--No. 7," went on Jimmy. "You've no
+idea who he could be?"
+
+"None whatever."
+
+"Again--by book standard, that is--he ought to be someone we all know.
+What about George Lomax himself?"
+
+Bundle reluctantly shook her head.
+
+"In a book, it would be perfect," she agreed. "But knowing Codders--"
+And she gave herself up to a sudden uncontrollable mirth. "Codders, the
+great criminal organizer," she gasped. "Wouldn't it be marvellous?"
+
+Jimmy agreed that it would. Their discussion had taken some time and
+his driving had slowed down involuntarily once or twice. They arrived
+at Chimneys, to find Colonel Melrose already there waiting. Jimmy was
+introduced to him and they all three proceeded to the inquest together.
+
+As Colonel Melrose had predicted, the whole affair was very simple.
+Bundle gave her evidence. The doctor gave his. Evidence was given of
+rifle practice in the neighbourhood. A verdict of death by misadventure
+was brought in.
+
+After the proceedings were over, Colonel Melrose volunteered to drive
+Bundle back to Chimneys, and Jimmy Thesiger returned to London. For all
+his lighthearted manner, Bundle's story had impressed him profoundly.
+He set his lips closely together.
+
+"Ronny, old boy," he murmured, "I'm going to be up against it. And
+you're not here to join in the game."
+
+Another thought flashed into his mind. Loraine! Was she in danger?
+
+After a minute or two's hesitation, he went over to the telephone and
+rang her up.
+
+"It's me--Jimmy. I thought you'd like to know the result of the
+inquest. Death by misadventure."
+
+"Oh, but--"
+
+"Yes, but I think there's something behind that. The coroner had had a
+hint. Someone's at work to hush it up. I say, Loraine--"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Look here. There's--there's some funny business going about. You'll be
+very careful, won't you? For my sake."
+
+He heard the quick note of alarm that sprang into her voice.
+
+"Jimmy--but then it's dangerous--for _you_."
+
+He laughed.
+
+"Oh, _that's_ all right. I'm the cat that had nine lives. Bye-bye, old
+thing."
+
+He rang off and remained a minute or two lost in thought. Then he
+summoned Stevens.
+
+"Do you think you could go out and buy me a pistol, Stevens?"
+
+"A pistol, sir?"
+
+True to his training, Stevens betrayed no hint of surprise.
+
+"What kind of a pistol would you be requiring?"
+
+"The kind where you put your finger on the trigger and the thing goes
+on shooting until you take it off again."
+
+"An automatic, sir."
+
+"That's it," said Jimmy. "An automatic. And I should like it to be a
+blue-nosed one--if you and the shopman know what that is. In American
+stories, the hero always takes his blue-nosed automatic from his hip
+pocket."
+
+Stevens permitted himself a faint, discreet smile.
+
+"Most American gentlemen that I have known, sir, carry something very
+different in their hip pockets," he observed.
+
+Jimmy Thesiger laughed.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XVI
+
+                     THE HOUSE PARTY AT THE ABBEY
+
+
+Bundle drove over to Wyvern Abbey just in time for tea on Friday
+afternoon. George Lomax came forward to welcome her with considerable
+_empressement_.
+
+"My dear Eileen," he said, "I can't tell you how pleased I am to see
+you here. You must forgive my not having invited you when I asked your
+father, but to tell the truth I never dreamed that a party of this kind
+would appeal to you. I was both--er--surprised and--er--delighted when
+Lady Caterham told me of your--er--interest in--er--politics."
+
+"I wanted to come so much," said Bundle in a simple, ingenuous manner.
+
+"Mrs. Macatta will not arrive till the later train," explained George.
+"She was speaking at a meeting in Manchester last night. Do you know
+Thesiger? Quite a young fellow, but a remarkable grasp of foreign
+politics. One would hardly suspect it from his appearance."
+
+"I know Mr. Thesiger," said Bundle, and she shook hands solemnly with
+Jimmy, whom she observed had parted his hair in the middle in the
+endeavour to add earnestness to his expression.
+
+"Look here," said Jimmy in a low hurried voice, as George temporarily
+withdrew. "You mustn't be angry, but I've told Bill about our little
+stunt."
+
+"Bill?" said Bundle, annoyed.
+
+"Well, after all," said Jimmy, "Bill is one of the lads, you know.
+Ronny was a pal of his and so was Gerry."
+
+"Oh! I know," said Bundle.
+
+"But you think it's a pity? Sorry."
+
+"Bill's all right, of course. It isn't that," said Bundle. "But
+he's--well, Bill's a born blunderer."
+
+"Not mentally very agile?" suggested Jimmy. "But you forget one
+thing--Bill's got a very hefty fist. And I've an idea that a hefty fist
+is going to come in handy."
+
+"Well, perhaps you're right. How did he take it?"
+
+"Well, he clutched his head a good bit, but--I mean the facts took some
+driving home. But by repeating the thing patiently in words of one
+syllable I at last got it into his thick head. And, naturally, he's
+with us to the death, as you might say."
+
+George reappeared suddenly.
+
+"I must make some introductions, Eileen. This is Sir Stanley
+Digby--Lady Eileen Brent. Mr. O'Rourke." The Air Minister was a little
+round man with a cheerful smile. Mr. O'Rourke, a tall young man with
+laughing blue eyes and a typical Irish face, greeted Bundle with
+enthusiasm.
+
+"And I thinking it was going to be a dull political party entirely," he
+murmured in an adroit whisper.
+
+"Hush," said Bundle. "I'm political--very political."
+
+"Sir Oswald and Lady Coote you know," continued George.
+
+"We've never actually met," said Bundle, smiling.
+
+She was mentally applauding her father's descriptive powers.
+
+Sir Oswald took her hand in an iron grip and she winced slightly.
+
+Lady Coote, after a somewhat mournful greeting, had turned to Jimmy
+Thesiger, and appeared to be registering something closely akin to
+pleasure. Despite his reprehensible habit of being late for breakfast,
+Lady Coote had a fondness for this amiable, pink-faced young man. His
+air of irrepressible good nature fascinated her. She had a motherly
+wish to cure him of his bad habits and form him into one of the world's
+workers. Whether, once formed, he would be as attractive was a question
+she had never asked herself. She began now to tell him of a very
+painful motor accident which had happened to one of her friends.
+
+"Mr. Bateman," said George briefly, as one who would pass on to better
+things.
+
+A serious, pale-faced young man bowed.
+
+"And now," continued George, "I must introduce you to Countess Radzky."
+
+Countess Radzky had been conversing with Mr. Bateman. Leaning very
+far back on a sofa, with her legs crossed in a daring manner, she was
+smoking a cigarette in an incredibly long turquoise-studded holder.
+
+Bundle thought she was one of the most beautiful women she had ever
+seen. Her eyes were very large and blue, her hair was coal black,
+she had a matte skin, the slightly flattened nose of the Slav, and a
+sinuous, slender body. Her lips were reddened to a degree with which
+Bundle was sure Wyvern Abbey was totally unacquainted.
+
+She said eagerly: "This is Mrs. Macatta--yes?"
+
+On George's replying in the negative and introducing Bundle, the
+Countess gave her a careless nod, and at once resumed her conversation
+with the serious Mr. Bateman.
+
+Bundle heard Jimmy's voice in her ear:
+
+"Pongo is absolutely fascinated by the lovely Slav," he said.
+"Pathetic, isn't it? Come and have some tea."
+
+They drifted once more into the neighbourhood of Sir Oswald Coote.
+
+"That's a fine place of yours, Chimneys," remarked the great man.
+
+"I'm glad you liked it," said Bundle meekly.
+
+"Wants new plumbing," said Sir Oswald. "Bring it up to date, you know."
+
+He ruminated for a minute or two.
+
+"I'm taking the Duke of Alton's place. Three years. Just while I'm
+looking round for a place of my own. Your father couldn't sell if he
+wanted to, I suppose."
+
+Bundle felt her breath taken away. She had a nightmare vision of
+England with innumerable Cootes in innumerable counterparts of
+Chimneys--all, be it understood, with an entirely new system of
+plumbing installed.
+
+She felt a sudden violent resentment which, she told herself, was
+absurd. After all, contrasting Lord Caterham with Sir Oswald Coote,
+there was no doubt as to who would go to the wall. Sir Oswald had one
+of those powerful personalities which make all those with whom they
+come in contact appear faded. He was, as Lord Caterham had said, a
+human steam-roller. And yet, undoubtedly, in many ways, Sir Oswald was
+a stupid man. Apart from his special line of knowledge and his terrific
+driving force, he was probably intensely ignorant. A hundred delicate
+appreciations of life which Lord Caterham could and did enjoy were a
+sealed book to Sir Oswald.
+
+Whilst indulging in these reflections Bundle continued to chat
+pleasantly. Herr Eberhard, she heard, had arrived, but was lying down
+with a nervous headache. This was told her by Mr. O'Rourke, who managed
+to find a place by her side and keep it.
+
+Altogether, Bundle went up to dress in a pleasant mood of expectation,
+with a slight nervous dread hovering in the background whenever she
+thought of the imminent arrival of Mrs. Macatta. Bundle felt that
+dalliance with Mrs. Macatta was going to prove no primrose path.
+
+Her first shock was when she came down, demurely attired in a black
+lace frock, and passed along the hall. A footman was standing there--at
+least a man dressed as a footman. But that square, burly figure lent
+itself badly to the deception. Bundle stopped and stared.
+
+"Superintendent Battle," she breathed.
+
+"That's right, Lady Eileen."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle uncertainly. "Are you here to--to--"
+
+"Keep an eye on things."
+
+"I see."
+
+"That warning letter, you know," said the Superintendent, "fairly put
+the wind up Mr. Lomax. Nothing would do for him but that I should come
+down myself."
+
+"But don't you think--" began Bundle, and stopped. She hardly liked to
+suggest to the Superintendent that his disguise was not a particularly
+efficient one. He seemed to have "police officer" written all over him,
+and Bundle could hardly imagine the most unsuspecting criminal failing
+to be put on his guard.
+
+"You think," said the Superintendent stolidly, "that I might be
+recognized?"
+
+He gave the final word a distinct capital letter.
+
+"I did think so--yes--" admitted Bundle.
+
+Something that might conceivably have been intended for a smile crossed
+the woodenness of Superintendent Battle's features.
+
+"Put them on their guard, eh? Well, Lady Eileen, why not?"
+
+"Why not?" echoed Bundle, rather stupidly, she felt.
+
+Superintendent Battle was nodding his head slowly.
+
+"We don't want any unpleasantness, do we?" he said. "Don't want
+to be too clever--just show any light-fingered gentry that may be
+about--well, just show them that there's somebody on the spot, so to
+speak."
+
+Bundle gazed at him in some admiration. She could imagine that the
+sudden appearance of so renowned a personage as Superintendent Battle
+might have a depressing effect on any scheme and the hatchers of it.
+
+"It's a great mistake to be too clever," Superintendent Battle was
+repeating. "The great thing is not to have any unpleasantness this
+week-end."
+
+Bundle passed on, wondering how many of her fellow guests had
+recognized or would recognize the Scotland Yard detective. In the
+drawing-room George was standing with a puckered brow and an orange
+envelope in his hand.
+
+"Most vexatious," he said. "A telegram from Mrs. Macatta to say she
+will be unable to be with us. Her children are suffering from mumps."
+
+Bundle's heart gave a throb of relief.
+
+"I especially feel this on your account, Eileen," said George kindly.
+"I know how anxious you were to meet her. The Countess too will be
+sadly disappointed."
+
+"Oh, never mind," said Bundle. "I should hate it if she'd come and
+given me mumps."
+
+"A very distressing complaint," agreed George. "But I do not think
+that infection could be carried that way. Indeed, I am sure that Mrs.
+Macatta would have run no risk of that kind. She is a most highly
+principled woman, with a very real sense of her responsibilities to
+the community. In these days of national stress, we must all take into
+account--"
+
+On the brink of embarking on a speech, George pulled himself up short.
+
+"But it must be for another time," he said. "Fortunately there is no
+hurry in your case. But the Countess, alas, is only a visitor to our
+shores."
+
+"She's a Hungarian, isn't she?" said Bundle, who was curious about the
+Countess.
+
+"Yes. You have heard, no doubt, of the Young Hungarian party? The
+Countess is a leader in that party. A woman of great wealth, left a
+widow at an early age, she has devoted her money and her talents to
+public service. She has especially devoted herself to the problem of
+infant mortality--a terrible one under present conditions in Hungary.
+I--Ah! here is Herr Eberhard."
+
+The German inventor was younger than Bundle had imagined him. He was
+probably not more than thirty-three or four. He was boorish and ill at
+ease, and yet his personality was not an unpleasing one. His blue eyes
+were more shy than furtive, and his more unpleasant mannerisms, such as
+the one that Bill had described of gnawing his finger-nails, arose, she
+thought, more from nervousness than from any other cause. He was thin
+and weedy in appearance and looked anaemic and delicate.
+
+He conversed rather awkwardly with Bundle in stilted English and they
+both welcomed the interruption of the joyous Mr. O'Rourke. Presently
+Bill bustled in--there is no other word for it. In the same such way
+does a favoured Newfoundland make his entrance, and at once came over
+to Bundle. He was looking perplexed and harassed.
+
+"Hullo, Bundle. Heard you'd got here. Been kept with my nose to the
+grindstone all the blessed afternoon or I'd have seen you before."
+
+"Cares of State heavy to-night?" suggested O'Rourke sympathetically.
+
+Bill groaned.
+
+"I don't know what your fellow's like," he complained. "Looks a
+good-natured, tubby little chap. But Codders is absolutely impossible.
+Drive, drive, drive, from morning to night. Everything you do is wrong,
+and everything you haven't done you ought to have done."
+
+"Quite like a quotation from the prayer book," remarked Jimmy, who had
+just strolled up.
+
+Bill glanced at them reproachfully.
+
+"Nobody knows," he said pathetically, "what I have to put up with."
+
+"Entertaining the Countess, eh?" suggested Jimmy. "Poor Bill, that must
+have been a sad strain--to a woman hater like yourself."
+
+"What's this?" asked Bundle.
+
+"After tea," said Jimmy with a grin, "the Countess asked Bill to show
+her round the interesting old place."
+
+"Well, I couldn't refuse, could I?" said Bill, his countenance assuming
+a brick-red tint.
+
+Bundle felt faintly uneasy. She knew, only too well, the susceptibility
+of Mr. William Eversleigh to female charms. In the hands of a woman
+like the Countess, Bill would be as wax. She wondered once more whether
+Jimmy Thesiger had been wise to take Bill into their confidence.
+
+"The Countess," said Bill, "is a very charming woman. And no end
+intelligent. You should have seen her going round the house. All sorts
+of questions she asked."
+
+"What kind of questions?" asked Bundle suddenly.
+
+Bill was vague.
+
+"Oh! I don't know. About the history of it. And old furniture. And--oh!
+all sorts of things."
+
+At that moment the Countess swept into the room. She seemed a shade
+breathless. She was looking magnificent in a close-fitting black velvet
+gown. Bundle noticed how Bill gravitated at once into her immediate
+neighbourhood. The serious, spectacled young man joined him.
+
+"Bill and Pongo have both got it badly," observed Jimmy Thesiger with a
+laugh.
+
+Bundle was by no means so sure that it was a laughing matter.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XVII
+
+                             AFTER DINNER
+
+
+George was not a believer in modern innovations. The Abbey was innocent
+of anything so up to date as central heating. Consequently, when the
+ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the
+room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
+The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a
+magnet. The three women huddled round it.
+
+"Brrrrrrrrrrrr!" said the Countess, a fine, exotic, foreign sound.
+
+"The days are drawing in," said Lady Coote, and drew a flowered
+atrocity of a scarf closer about her ample shoulders.
+
+"Why on earth doesn't George have the house properly heated?" said
+Bundle.
+
+"You English, you never heat your houses," said the Countess.
+
+She took out her long cigarette holder and began to smoke.
+
+"That grate is old-fashioned," said Lady Coote. "The heat goes up the
+chimney instead of into the room."
+
+"Oh!" said the Countess.
+
+There was a pause. The Countess was so plainly bored by her company
+that conversation became difficult.
+
+"It's funny," said Lady Coote, breaking the silence, "that Mrs.
+Macatta's children should have mumps. At least, I don't mean exactly
+funny--"
+
+"What," said the Countess, "are mumps?"
+
+Bundle and Lady Coote started simultaneously to explain. Finally,
+between them, they managed it.
+
+"I suppose Hungarian children have it?" asked Lady Coote.
+
+"Eh?" said the Countess.
+
+"Hungarian children. They suffer from it?"
+
+"I do not know," said the Countess. "How should I?"
+
+Lady Coote looked at her in some surprise.
+
+"But I understood that you worked--"
+
+"Oh, that!" The Countess uncrossed her legs, took her cigarette holder
+from her mouth and began to talk rapidly.
+
+"I will tell you some horrors," she said. "Horrors that I have seen.
+Incredible! You would not believe!"
+
+And she was as good as her word. She talked fluently and with a graphic
+power of description. Incredible scenes of starvation and misery were
+painted by her for the benefit of her audience. She spoke of Buda Pesth
+shortly after the war and traced its vicissitudes to the present day.
+She was dramatic, but she was also, to Bundle's mind, a little like a
+gramophone record. You turned her on, and there you were. Presently,
+just as suddenly, she would stop.
+
+Lady Coote was thrilled to the marrow--that much was clear. She sat
+with her mouth slightly open and her large, sad, dark eyes fixed on the
+Countess. Occasionally, she interpolated a comment of her own.
+
+"One of my cousins had three children burned to death. Awful, wasn't
+it?"
+
+The Countess paid no attention. She went on and on. And she finally
+stopped as suddenly as she had begun.
+
+"There!" she said. "I have told you! We have money--but no
+organization. It is organization we need."
+
+Lady Coote sighed.
+
+"I've heard my husband say that nothing can be done without regular
+methods. He attributes his own success entirely to that. He declares he
+would have never got on without them."
+
+She sighed again. A sudden fleeting vision passed before her eyes of a
+Sir Oswald who had not got on in the world. A Sir Oswald who retained,
+in all essentials, the attributes of that cheery young man in the
+bicycle shop. Just for a second it occurred to her how much pleasanter
+life might have been for her if Sir Oswald had _not_ had regular
+methods.
+
+By a quite understandable association of ideas she turned to Bundle.
+
+"Tell me, Lady Eileen," she said, "do you like that head gardener of
+yours?"
+
+"MacDonald? Well--" Bundle hesitated. "One couldn't exactly _like_
+MacDonald," she explained apologetically. "But he's a first-class
+gardener."
+
+"Oh! I know he is," said Lady Coote.
+
+"He's all right if he's kept in his place," said Bundle.
+
+"I suppose so," said Lady Coote.
+
+She looked enviously at Bundle, who appeared to approach the task of
+keeping MacDonald in his place so light heartedly.
+
+"I'd just adore a high-toned garden," said the Countess dreamily.
+
+Bundle stared, but at that moment a diversion occurred. Jimmy Thesiger
+entered the room and spoke directly to her in a strange, hurried voice.
+
+"I say, will you come and see those etchings now? They're waiting for
+you."
+
+Bundle left the room hurriedly, Jimmy close behind her.
+
+"What etchings?" she asked, as the drawing-room door closed behind her.
+
+"No etchings," said Jimmy. "I'd got to say something to get hold of
+you. Come on, Bill is waiting for us in the library. There's nobody
+there."
+
+Bill was striding up and down the library, clearly in a very perturbed
+state of mind.
+
+"Look here," he burst out, "I don't like this."
+
+"Don't like what?"
+
+"You being mixed up in this. Ten to one there's going to be a rough
+house and then--"
+
+He looked at her with a kind of pathetic dismay that gave Bundle a warm
+and comfortable feeling.
+
+"She ought to be kept out of it, oughtn't she, Jimmy?"
+
+He appealed to the other.
+
+"I've told her so," said Jimmy.
+
+"Dash it all, Bundle, I mean--someone might get hurt."
+
+Bundle turned round to Jimmy.
+
+"How much have you told him?"
+
+"Oh! everything."
+
+"I haven't got the hang of it all yet," confessed Bill. "You in that
+place in Seven Dials and all that." He looked at her unhappily. "I say,
+Bundle, I wish you wouldn't."
+
+"Wouldn't what?"
+
+"Get mixed up in these sorts of things."
+
+"Why not?" said Bundle. "They're exciting."
+
+"Oh, yes--exciting. But they may be damnably dangerous. Look at poor
+old Ronny."
+
+"Yes," said Bundle. "If it hadn't been for your friend Ronny, I don't
+suppose I should ever have got what you call 'mixed up' in this thing.
+But I am. And it's no earthly use your bleating about it."
+
+"I know you're the most frightful sport, Bundle, but--"
+
+"Cut out the compliments. Let's make plans."
+
+To her relief, Bill reacted favourably to the suggestion.
+
+"You're right about the formula," he said. "Eberhard's got some sort
+of formula with him, or rather Sir Oswald has. The stuff has been
+tested out at his works--very secretly and all that. Eberhard has been
+down there with him. They're all in the study now--what you might call
+coming down to brass tacks."
+
+"How long is Sir Stanley Digby staying?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"Going back to town to-morrow."
+
+"H'm," said Jimmy. "Then one thing's quite clear. If, as I suppose, Sir
+Stanley will be taking the formula with him, any funny business there's
+going to be will be to-night."
+
+"I suppose it will."
+
+"Not a doubt of it. That narrows the thing down very comfortably. But
+the bright lads will have to be their very brightest. We must come down
+to details. First of all, where will the sacred formula be to-night?
+Will Eberhard have it, or Sir Oswald Coote?"
+
+"Neither. I understand it's to be handed over to the Air Minister this
+evening, for him to take to town to-morrow. In that case O'Rourke will
+have it. Sure to."
+
+"Well, there's only one thing for it. If we believe someone's going to
+have a shot at pinching that paper, we've got to keep watch to-night,
+Bill, my boy."
+
+Bundle opened her mouth as though to protest, but shut it again without
+speaking.
+
+"By the way," continued Jimmy, "did I recognize the commissionaire from
+Harrods in the hall this evening, or was it our old friend Lestrade
+from Scotland Yard?"
+
+"Scintillating, Watson," said Bill.
+
+"I suppose," said Jimmy, "that we are rather butting in on his
+preserves."
+
+"Can't be helped," said Bill. "Not if we mean to see this thing
+through."
+
+"Then it's agreed," said Jimmy. "We divide the night into two watches?"
+
+Again Bundle opened her mouth, and again shut it without speaking.
+
+"Right you are," agreed Bill. "Who'll take first duty?"
+
+"Shall we spin for it?"
+
+"Might as well."
+
+"All right. Here goes. Heads you first and I second. Tails, vice versa."
+
+Bill nodded. The coin spun in the air. Jimmy bent to look at it.
+
+"Tails," he said.
+
+"Damn," said Bill. "You get first half and probably any fun that's
+going."
+
+"Oh, you never know," said Jimmy. "Criminals are very uncertain. What
+time shall I wake you? Three thirty?"
+
+"That's about fair, I think."
+
+And now, at last, Bundle spoke:
+
+"What about _me_?" she asked.
+
+"Nothing doing. You go to bed and sleep."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle. "That's not very exciting."
+
+"You never know," said Jimmy kindly. "You may be murdered in your sleep
+whilst Bill and I escape scot-free."
+
+"Well, there's always that possibility. Do you know, Jimmy, I don't
+half like the look of that Countess. I suspect her."
+
+"Nonsense," cried Bill hotly. "She's absolutely above suspicion."
+
+"How do you know?" retorted Bundle.
+
+"Because I do. Why, one of the fellows at the Hungarian Embassy vouched
+for her."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle, momentarily taken aback by his fervour.
+
+"You girls are all the same," grumbled Bill. "Just because she's a
+jolly good-looking woman--"
+
+Bundle was only too well acquainted with this unfair masculine line of
+argument.
+
+"Well, don't you go and pour confidences into her shell-pink ear," she
+remarked. "I'm going to bed. I was bored stiff in that drawing-room and
+I'm not going back."
+
+She left the room. Bill looked at Jimmy.
+
+"Good old Bundle," he said. "I was afraid we might have trouble with
+her. You know how keen she is to be in everything. I think the way she
+took it was just wonderful."
+
+"So did I," said Jimmy. "It staggered me."
+
+"She's got some sense, Bundle has. She knows when a thing's plumb
+impossible. I say, oughtn't we to have some lethal weapons? Chaps
+usually do when they're going on this sort of stunt."
+
+"I have a blue-nosed automatic," said Jimmy with gentle pride. "It
+weighs several pounds and looks most murderous. I'll lend it to you
+when the time comes."
+
+Bill looked at him with respect and envy.
+
+"What made you think of getting that?" he said.
+
+"I don't know," said Jimmy carelessly. "It just came to me."
+
+"I hope we shan't go and shoot the wrong person," said Bill with some
+anxiety.
+
+"That would be unfortunate," said Mr. Thesiger gravely.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XVIII
+
+                          JIMMY'S ADVENTURES
+
+
+Our chronicle must here split into three separate and distinct
+portions. The night was to prove an eventful one and each of the three
+persons involved saw it from his or her own individual angle.
+
+We will begin with that pleasant and engaging youth, Mr. Jimmy
+Thesiger, at a moment when he has at last exchanged final good-nights
+with his fellow conspirator, Bill Eversleigh.
+
+"Don't forget," said Bill, "3 A.M. If you're still alive, that
+is," he added kindly.
+
+"I may be an ass," said Jimmy, with rancorous remembrance of the remark
+Bundle had repeated to him, "but I'm not nearly so much of an ass as I
+look."
+
+"That's what you said about Gerry Wade," said Bill slowly. "Do you
+remember? And that very night he--"
+
+"Shut up, you damned fool," said Jimmy. "Haven't you got _any_ tact?"
+
+"Of course I've got tact," said Bill. "I'm a budding diplomatist. All
+diplomatists have tact."
+
+"Ah!" said Jimmy. "You must be still in what they call the larval
+stage."
+
+"I can't get over Bundle," said Bill, reverting abruptly to a former
+topic. "I should certainly have said that she'd be--well, difficult.
+Bundle's improved. She's improved very much."
+
+"That's what your Chief was saying," said Jimmy. "He said he was
+agreeably surprised."
+
+"I thought Bundle was laying it on a bit thick myself," said Bill.
+"But Codders is such an ass he'd swallow anything. Well, night-night.
+I expect you'll have a bit of a job waking me when the time comes--but
+stick to it."
+
+"It won't be much good if you've taken a leaf out of Gerry Wade's
+book," said Jimmy maliciously.
+
+Bill looked at him reproachfully.
+
+"What the hell do you want to go and make a chap uncomfortable for?" he
+demanded.
+
+"You're only getting your own back," said Jimmy. "Toddle along."
+
+But Bill lingered. He stood uncomfortably, first on one foot and then
+on the other.
+
+"Look here," he said.
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"What I mean to say is--well, I mean you'll be all right and all that,
+won't you? It's all very well ragging, but when I think of poor old
+Gerry--and then poor old Ronny--"
+
+Jimmy gazed at him in exasperation. Bill was one of those who
+undoubtedly meant well, but the result of his efforts would not be
+described as heartening.
+
+"I see," he remarked, "that I shall have to show you Leopold."
+
+He slipped his hand into the pocket of the dark blue suit into which he
+had just changed and held out something for Bill's inspection.
+
+"A real, genuine, blue-nosed automatic," he said with modest pride.
+
+"No, I say," Bill said. "Is it really?"
+
+He was undoubtedly impressed.
+
+"Stevens, my man, got him for me. Warranted clean and methodical in his
+habits. You press the button and Leopold does the rest."
+
+"Oh!" said Bill. "I say, Jimmy?"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Be careful, won't you? I mean, don't go loosing that thing off at
+anybody. Pretty awkward if you shot old Digby walking in his sleep."
+
+"That's all right," said Jimmy. "Naturally, I want to get value out of
+Leopold now I've bought him, but I'll curb my bloodthirsty instincts as
+far as possible."
+
+"Well, night-night," said Bill for the fourteenth time, and this time
+really did depart.
+
+Jimmy was left alone to take up his vigil.
+
+Sir Stanley Digby occupied a room at the extremity of the west wing. A
+bathroom adjoined it on one side, and on the other a communicating door
+led into a smaller room, which was tenanted by Mr. Terence O'Rourke.
+The doors of these three rooms gave on to a short corridor. The watcher
+had a simple task. A chair placed inconspicuously in the shadow of an
+oak press just where the corridor ran into the main gallery formed a
+perfect vantage ground. There was no other way into the west wing, and
+anyone going to or from it could not fail to be seen. One electric
+light was still on.
+
+Jimmy ensconced himself comfortably, crossed his legs and waited.
+Leopold lay in readiness across his knee.
+
+He glanced at his watch. It was twenty minutes to one--just an hour
+since the household had retired to rest. Not a sound broke the
+stillness, except for the far-off ticking of a clock somewhere.
+
+Somehow or other, Jimmy did not much care for that sound. It
+recalled things. Gerald Wade--and those seven ticking clocks on the
+mantelpiece.... Whose hand had placed them there, and why? He shivered.
+
+It was a creepy business, this waiting. He didn't wonder that things
+happened at spiritualistic séances. Sitting in the gloom, one got all
+worked up--ready to start at the least sound. And unpleasant thoughts
+came crowding in on a fellow.
+
+Ronny Devereux! Ronny Devereux and Gerry Wade! Both young, both full
+of life and energy; ordinary, jolly, healthy young men. And now, where
+were they? Dank earth ... worms getting them.... Ugh! why couldn't he
+put these horrible thoughts out of his mind?
+
+He looked again at his watch. Twenty minutes past one only. How the
+time crawled.
+
+Extraordinary girl, Bundle! Fancy having the nerve and the daring
+actually to get into the midst of that Seven Dials place. Why hadn't
+he had the nerve and the initiative to think of that? He supposed
+because the thing _was_ so fantastic.
+
+No. 7. Who the hell could No. 7 be? Was he, perhaps, in the house
+at this minute? Disguised as a servant. He couldn't, surely, be one
+of the guests. No, that was impossible. But then, the whole thing
+was impossible. If he hadn't believed Bundle to be essentially
+truthful--well, he would have thought she had invented the whole thing.
+
+He yawned. Queer, to feel sleepy, and yet at the same time strung up.
+He looked again at his watch. Ten minutes to two. Time was getting on.
+
+And then, suddenly, he held his breath and leaned forward, listening.
+He had heard something.
+
+The minutes went past.... There it was again. The creak of a board....
+But it came from downstairs somewhere. There it was again! A slight,
+ominous creak. Somebody was moving stealthily about the house.
+
+Jimmy sprang noiselessly to his feet. He crept silently to the head
+of the staircase. Everything seemed perfectly quiet. Yet he was quite
+certain he had really heard that stealthy sound. It was not imagination.
+
+Very quietly and cautiously he crept down the staircase, Leopold
+clasped tightly in his right hand. Not a sound in the big hall. If he
+had been correct in assuming that the muffled sound came from directly
+beneath him, then it must have come from the library.
+
+Jimmy stole to the door of it, listened, but heard nothing; then,
+suddenly flinging open the door, he switched on the lights.
+
+Nothing! The big room was flooded with light. But it was empty.
+
+Jimmy frowned.
+
+"I could have sworn--" he murmured to himself.
+
+The library was a large room with three windows which opened on to the
+terrace. Jimmy strode across the room. The middle window was unlatched.
+
+He opened it and stepped out on the terrace, looking from end to end of
+it. Nothing!
+
+"Looks all right," he murmured to himself. "And yet--"
+
+He remained for a minute lost in thought. Then he stepped back into
+the library. Crossing to the door, he locked it and put the key in
+his pocket. Then he switched off the light. He stood for a minute
+listening, then crossed softly to the open window and stood there,
+Leopold ready in his hand.
+
+Was there, or was there not, a soft patter of feet along the terrace?
+No--his imagination. He grasped Leopold tightly and stood listening....
+
+In the distance a stable clock chimed two.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XIX
+
+                          BUNDLE'S ADVENTURES
+
+
+Bundle Brent was a resourceful girl--she was also a girl of
+imagination. She had foreseen that Bill, if not Jimmy, would make
+objections to her participation in the possible dangers of the night.
+It was not Bundle's idea to waste time in argument. She had laid her
+own plans and made her own arrangements. A glance from her bedroom
+window shortly before dinner had been highly satisfactory. She had
+known that the gray walls of the Abbey were plentifully adorned with
+ivy, but the ivy outside her window was particularly solid looking and
+would present no difficulties to one of her athletic propensities.
+
+She had no fault to find with Bill's and Jimmy's arrangements as far as
+they went. But in her opinion they did not go far enough. She offered
+no criticism, because she intended to see to that side of things
+herself. Briefly, while Jimmy and Bill were devoting themselves to the
+inside of the Abbey, Bundle intended to devote her attentions to the
+outside.
+
+Her own meek acquiescence in the tame rôle assigned to her gave her an
+infinity of pleasure, though she wondered scornfully how either of the
+two men could be so easily deceived. Bill, of course, had never been
+famous for scintillating brain power. On the other hand, he knew, or
+should know, his Bundle. And she considered that Jimmy Thesiger, though
+only slightly acquainted with her, ought to have known better than to
+imagine that she could be so easily and summarily disposed of.
+
+Once in the privacy of her own room, Bundle set rapidly to work. First
+she discarded her evening dress and the negligible trifle which she
+wore beneath it, and started again, so to speak, from the foundations.
+Bundle had not brought her maid with her, and she herself had packed.
+Otherwise, the puzzled Frenchwoman might have wondered why her lady
+took a pair of riding breeches and no further equine equipment.
+
+Arrayed in riding breeches, rubber-soled shoes, and a dark-coloured
+pullover, Bundle was ready for the fray. She glanced at the time. As
+yet, it was only half-past twelve. Too early by far. Whatever was going
+to happen would not happen for some time yet. The occupants of the
+house must all be given time to get off to sleep. Half-past one was the
+time fixed by Bundle for the start of operations.
+
+She switched off her light and sat down by the window to wait.
+Punctually at the appointed moment, she rose, pushed up the sash and
+swung her leg over the sill. The night was a fine one, cold and still.
+There was starlight but no moon.
+
+She found the descent very easy. Bundle and her two sisters had run
+wild in the park at Chimneys as small children, and they could all
+climb like cats. Bundle arrived on a flower-bed, rather breathless, but
+quite unscathed.
+
+She paused a minute to take stock of her plans. She knew that the rooms
+occupied by the Air Minister and his secretary were in the west wing;
+that was the opposite side of the house from where Bundle was now
+standing. A terrace ran along the south and west side of the house,
+ending abruptly against a walled fruit garden.
+
+Bundle stepped out of her flower-bed and turned the corner of the house
+to where the terrace began on the south side. She crept very quietly
+along it, keeping close to the shadow of the house. But, as she reached
+the second corner, she got a shock, for a man was standing there, with
+the clear intention of barring her way.
+
+The next instant she had recognized him.
+
+"Superintendent Battle! You did give me a fright!"
+
+"That's what I'm here for," said the Superintendent pleasantly.
+
+Bundle looked at him. It struck her now, as so often before, how
+remarkably little camouflage there was about him. He was large and
+solid and noticeable. He was, somehow, very English. But of one thing
+Bundle was quite sure. Superintendent Battle was no fool.
+
+"What are you really doing here?" she asked, still in a whisper.
+
+"Just seeing," said Battle, "that nobody's about who shouldn't be."
+
+"Oh!" said Bundle, rather taken aback.
+
+"You, for instance, Lady Eileen. I don't suppose you usually take a
+walk at this time of night."
+
+"Do you mean," said Bundle slowly, "that you want me to go back?"
+
+Superintendent Battle nodded approvingly.
+
+"You're very quick, Lady Eileen. That's just what I do mean. Did
+you--er--come out of a door, or the window?"
+
+"The window. It's easy as anything climbing down this ivy."
+
+Superintendent Battle looked up at it thoughtfully.
+
+"Yes," he said. "I should say it would be."
+
+"And you want me to go back?" said Bundle. "I'm rather sick about that.
+I wanted to go round on to the west terrace."
+
+"Perhaps you won't be the only one who'll want to do that," said Battle.
+
+"Nobody could miss seeing you," said Bundle rather spitefully.
+
+The Superintendent seemed rather pleased than otherwise.
+
+"I hope they won't," he said. "_No unpleasantness._ That's my motto.
+And if you'll excuse me, Lady Eileen, I think it's time you were going
+back to bed."
+
+The firmness of his tone admitted of no parley. Rather crestfallen,
+Bundle retraced her steps. She was half-way up the ivy when a sudden
+idea occurred to her, and she nearly relaxed her grip and fell.
+
+Supposing Superintendent Battle suspected _her_.
+
+There had been something--yes, surely there had been something in his
+manner that vaguely suggested the idea. She couldn't help laughing
+as she crawled over the sill into her bedroom. Fancy the solid
+Superintendent suspecting _her_!
+
+Though she had so far obeyed Battle's orders as to return to her room,
+Bundle had no intention of going to bed and sleeping. Nor did she think
+that Battle had really intended her to do so. He was not a man to
+expect impossibilities. And to remain quiescent when something daring
+and exciting might be going on was a sheer impossibility to Bundle.
+
+She glanced at her watch. It was ten minutes to two. After a moment
+or two of irresolution, she cautiously opened her door. Not a sound.
+Everything was still and peaceful. She stole cautiously along the
+passage.
+
+Once she halted, thinking she heard a board creak somewhere, but then
+convinced that she was mistaken, she went on again. She was now in the
+main corridor, making her way to the west wing. She reached the angle
+of intersection and peered cautiously round--then she stared in blank
+surprise.
+
+The watcher's post was empty. Jimmy Thesiger was not there.
+
+Bundle stared in complete amazement. What had happened? Why had Jimmy
+left his post? What did it mean?
+
+And at that moment she heard a clock strike two.
+
+She was still standing there, debating what to do next, when suddenly
+her heart gave a leap and then seemed to stand still.
+
+_The door handle of Terence O'Rourke's room was slowly turning._
+
+Bundle watched, fascinated. But the door did not open. Instead the knob
+returned slowly to its original position. What did it mean?
+
+Suddenly Bundle came to a resolution. Jimmy, for some unknown reason,
+had deserted his post. She must get hold of Bill.
+
+Quickly and noiselessly, Bundle fled along the way she had come. She
+burst unceremoniously into Bill's room.
+
+"Bill, wake up! Oh, do wake up!"
+
+It was an urgent whisper she sent forth, but there came no response to
+it.
+
+"Bill," breathed Bundle.
+
+Impatiently she switched on the lights, and then stood dumfounded.
+
+The room was empty, and the bed had not even been slept in.
+
+Where then was Bill?
+
+Suddenly she caught her breath. _This was not Bill's room._ The
+dainty négligé thrown over a chair, the feminine knick-knacks on the
+dressing-table, the black velvet evening dress thrown carelessly over a
+chair--Of course, in her haste she had mistaken the doors. This was the
+Countess Radzky's room.
+
+But where, oh, where, was the Countess?
+
+And just as Bundle was asking herself this question, the silence of the
+night was suddenly broken, and in no uncertain manner.
+
+The clamour came from below. In an instant Bundle had sped out of the
+Countess's room and downstairs. The sounds came from the library--a
+violent crashing of chairs being overturned.
+
+Bundle rattled vainly at the library door. It was locked. But she could
+clearly hear the struggle that was going on within--the panting and
+scuffling, curses in manly tones, the occasional crash as some light
+piece of furniture came into the line of battle.
+
+And then, sinister and distinct, breaking the peace of the night for
+good and all, two shots in rapid succession.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XX
+
+                         LORAINE'S ADVENTURES
+
+
+Loraine Wade sat up in bed and switched on the light. It was exactly
+ten minutes to one. She had gone to bed early--at half-past nine.
+She possessed the useful art of being able to wake herself up at the
+required time, so she had been able to enjoy some hours of refreshing
+sleep.
+
+Two dogs slept in the room with her, and one of these now raised his
+head and looked at her inquiringly.
+
+"Quiet, Lurcher," said Loraine, and the big animal put his head down
+again obediently, watching her from between his shaggy eyelashes.
+
+It is true that Bundle had once doubted the meekness of Loraine Wade,
+but that brief moment of suspicion had passed. Loraine had seemed so
+entirely reasonable, so willing to be kept out of everything.
+
+And yet, if you studied the girl's face, you saw that there was
+strength of purpose in the small, resolute jaw and the lips that closed
+together so firmly.
+
+Loraine rose and dressed herself in a tweed coat and skirt. Into one
+pocket of the coat she dropped an electric torch. Then she opened
+the drawer of her dressing-table and took out a small ivory-handled
+pistol--almost a toy in appearance. She had bought it the day before at
+Harrods and she was very pleased with it.
+
+She gave a final glance round the room to see if she had forgotten
+anything, and at that moment the big dog rose and came over to her,
+looking up at her with pleading eyes and wagging his tail.
+
+Loraine shook her head.
+
+"No, Lurcher. Can't go. Missus can't take you. Got to stay here and be
+a good boy."
+
+She dropped a kiss on the dog's head, made him lie down on his rug
+again, and then slipped noiselessly out of the room, closing the door
+behind her.
+
+She let herself out of the house by a side door and made her way round
+to the garage, where her little two-seater car was in readiness.
+There was a gentle slope, and she let the car run silently down it,
+not starting the engine till she was some way from the house. Then
+she glanced at the watch on her arm and pressed her foot down on the
+accelerator.
+
+She left the car at a spot she had previously marked down. There was
+a gap there in the fencing that she could easily get through. A few
+minutes later, slightly muddy, Loraine stood inside the grounds of
+Wyvern Abbey.
+
+As noiselessly as possible, she made her way towards the venerable
+ivy-covered building. In the distance a stable clock chimed two.
+
+Loraine's heart beat faster as she drew near to the terrace. There was
+no one about--no sign of life anywhere. Everything seemed peaceful and
+undisturbed. She reached the terrace and stood there, looking about her.
+
+Suddenly, without the least warning, something from above fell with a
+flop almost at her feet. Loraine stooped to pick it up. It was a brown
+paper packet, loosely wrapped. Holding it, Loraine looked up.
+
+There was an open window just above her head, and even as she looked a
+leg swung over it and a man began to climb down the ivy.
+
+Loraine waited for no more. She took to her heels and ran, still
+clasping the brown paper packet.
+
+Behind her, the noise of a struggle suddenly broke out. A hoarse voice:
+"Lemme go"; another that she knew well: "Not if I know it--ah, you
+would, would you?"
+
+Still Loraine ran--blindly, as though panic-stricken--right round the
+corner of the terrace--and slap into the arms of a large, solidly built
+man.
+
+"There, there," said Superintendent Battle kindly.
+
+Loraine was struggling to speak.
+
+"Oh, quick--oh, quick! They're killing each other. Oh, do be quick!"
+
+There was a sharp crack of a revolver shot--and then another.
+
+Superintendent Battle started to run. Loraine followed. Back round the
+corner of the terrace and along to the library window. The window was
+open.
+
+Battle stooped and switched on an electric torch. Loraine was close
+beside him, peering over his shoulder. She gave a little sobbing gasp.
+
+On the threshold of the window lay Jimmy Thesiger in what looked like a
+pool of blood. His right arm lay dangling in a curious position.
+
+Loraine gave a sharp cry.
+
+"He's dead," she wailed. "Oh, Jimmy--Jimmy--he's dead!"
+
+"Now, now," said Superintendent Battle soothingly, "don't you take on
+so. The young gentleman isn't dead, I'll be bound. See if you can find
+the lights and turn them on."
+
+Loraine obeyed. She stumbled across the room, found the switch by
+the door and pressed it down. The room was flooded with light.
+Superintendent Battle uttered a sigh of relief.
+
+"It's all right--he's only shot in the right arm. He's fainted through
+loss of blood. Come and give me a hand with him."
+
+There was a pounding on the library door. Voices were heard, asking,
+expostulating, demanding.
+
+Loraine looked doubtfully at it.
+
+"Shall I--"
+
+"No hurry," said Battle. "We'll let them in presently. You come and
+give me a hand."
+
+Loraine came obediently. The Superintendent had produced a large, clean
+pocket-handkerchief and was neatly bandaging the wounded man's arm.
+Loraine helped him.
+
+"He'll be all right," said the Superintendent. "Don't you worry. As
+many lives as cats, these young fellows. It wasn't the loss of blood
+knocked him out either. He must have caught his head a crack on the
+floor as he fell."
+
+Outside the knocking on the door had become tremendous. The voice of
+George Lomax, furiously upraised, came loud and distinct:
+
+"Who is in there? Open the door at once."
+
+Superintendent Battle sighed.
+
+"I suppose we shall have to," he said. "A pity."
+
+His eyes darted round, taking in the scene. An automatic lay by Jimmy's
+side. The Superintendent picked it up gingerly, holding it very
+delicately, and examined it. He grunted and laid it on the table. Then
+he stepped across and unlocked the door.
+
+Several people almost fell into the room. Nearly everybody said
+something at the same minute. George Lomax, spluttering with obdurate
+words which refused to come with sufficient fluency, exclaimed:
+
+"The--the--the meaning of this? Ah! It's you, Superintendent. What's
+happened? I say--what has--happened?"
+
+Bill Eversleigh said: "My God! Old Jimmy!" and stared at the limp
+figure on the ground.
+
+Lady Coote, clad in a resplendent purple dressing-gown, cried out:
+"The poor boy!" and swept past Superintendent Battle to bend over the
+prostrate Jimmy in a motherly fashion.
+
+Bundle said: "Loraine!"
+
+Herr Eberhard said: "Gott im Himmel!" and other words of that nature.
+
+Sir Stanley Digby said: "My God, what's all this?"
+
+A housemaid said: "Look at the blood," and screamed with pleasurable
+excitement.
+
+A footman said: "Lor!"
+
+The butler said, with a good deal more bravery in his manner than had
+been noticeable a few minutes earlier: "Now then, this won't do!" and
+waved away underservants.
+
+The efficient Mr. Rupert Bateman said to George: "Shall we get rid of
+some of these people, sir?"
+
+Then they all took fresh breath.
+
+"Incredible!" said George Lomax. "Battle, what has _happened_?"
+
+Battle gave him a look, and George's discreet habits assumed their
+usual sway.
+
+"Now then," he said, moving to the door, "everyone go back to bed,
+please. There's been a--er--"
+
+"A little accident," said Superintendent Battle easily.
+
+"A--er--an accident. I shall be much obliged if everyone will go back
+to bed."
+
+Everyone was clearly reluctant to do so.
+
+"Lady Coote--please--"
+
+"The poor boy," said Lady Coote in a motherly fashion.
+
+She rose from a kneeling position with great reluctance. And as she did
+so, Jimmy stirred and sat up.
+
+"Hallo!" he said thickly. "What's the matter?"
+
+He looked round him vacantly for a minute or two and then intelligence
+returned to his eye.
+
+"Have you got him?" he demanded eagerly.
+
+"Got who?"
+
+"The man. Climbed down the ivy. I was by the window there. Grabbed him
+and we had no end of a set-to--"
+
+"One of those nasty, murderous cat burglars," said Lady Coote. "Poor
+boy."
+
+Jimmy was looking round him.
+
+"I say--I'm afraid we--er--have made rather a mess of things. Fellow
+was as strong as an ox and we went fairly waltzing around."
+
+The condition of the room was clear proof of this statement. Everything
+light and breakable within a range of twelve feet that could be broken
+_had_ been broken.
+
+"And what happened then?"
+
+But Jimmy was looking round for something.
+
+"Where's Leopold? The pride of the blue-nosed automatics."
+
+Battle indicated the pistol on the table.
+
+"Is this yours, Mr. Thesiger?"
+
+"That's right. That's little Leopold. How many shots have been fired?"
+
+"One shot."
+
+Jimmy looked chagrined.
+
+"I'm disappointed in Leopold," he murmured. "I can't have pressed the
+button properly, or he'd have gone on shooting."
+
+"Who shot first?"
+
+"I did, I'm afraid," said Jimmy. "You see, the man twisted himself out
+of my grasp suddenly. I saw him making for the window and I closed my
+finger down on Leopold and let him have it. He turned in the window and
+fired at me and--well, I suppose after that I took the count."
+
+He rubbed his head rather ruefully.
+
+But Sir Stanley Digby was suddenly alert.
+
+"Climbing down the ivy, you said? My God, Lomax, you don't think
+they've got away with it?"
+
+He rushed from the room. For some curious reason nobody spoke during
+his absence. In a few minutes Sir Stanley returned. His round, chubby
+face was white as death.
+
+"My God Battle," he said, "they've got it. O'Rourke's fast
+asleep--drugged, I think. I can't wake him. And the papers have
+vanished."
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XXI
+
+                      THE RECOVERY OF THE FORMULA
+
+
+"Der liebe Gott!" said Herr Eberhard in a whisper.
+
+His face had gone chalky white.
+
+George turned a face of dignified reproach on Battle.
+
+"Is this true, Battle? I left all arrangements in your hands."
+
+The rock-like quality of the Superintendent showed out well. Not a
+muscle of his face moved.
+
+"The best of us are defeated sometimes, sir," he said quietly.
+
+"Then you mean--you really mean--that the document is gone?"
+
+But to everyone's intense surprise Superintendent Battle shook his head.
+
+"No, no, Mr. Lomax, it's not so bad as you think. Everything's all
+right. But you can't lay the credit for it at my door. You've got to
+thank this young lady."
+
+He indicated Loraine, who stared at him in surprise. Battle stepped
+across to her and gently took the brown paper parcel which she was
+still clutching mechanically.
+
+"I think, Mr. Lomax," he said, "that you will find what you want here."
+
+Sir Stanley Digby, quicker in action than George, snatched at the
+package and tore it open, investigating its contents eagerly. A sigh
+of relief escaped him and he mopped his brow. Herr Eberhard fell upon
+the child of his brain and clasped it to his heart, whilst a torrent of
+German burst from him.
+
+Sir Stanley turned to Loraine, shaking her warmly by the hand.
+
+"My dear young lady," he said, "we are infinitely obliged to you, I am
+sure."
+
+"Yes, indeed," said George. "Though I--er--"
+
+He paused in some perplexity, staring at a young lady who was a total
+stranger to him. Loraine looked appealingly at Jimmy, who came to the
+rescue.
+
+"Er--this is Miss Wade," said Jimmy. "Gerald Wade's sister."
+
+"Indeed," said George, shaking her warmly by the hand. "My dear Miss
+Wade, I must express my deep gratitude to you for what you have done. I
+must confess that I do not quite see--"
+
+He paused delicately and four of the persons present felt that
+explanations were going to be fraught with much difficulty.
+Superintendent Battle came to the rescue.
+
+"Perhaps we'd better not go into that just now, sir," he suggested
+tactfully.
+
+The efficient Mr. Bateman created a further diversion.
+
+"Wouldn't it be wise for someone to see to O'Rourke? Don't you think,
+sir, that a doctor had better be sent for?"
+
+"Of course," said George. "Of course. Most remiss of us not to
+have thought of it before." He looked towards Bill. "Get Dr.
+Cartwright on the telephone. Ask him to come. Just hint, if you can,
+that--er--discretion should be observed."
+
+Bill went off on his errand.
+
+"I will come up with you, Digby," said George. "Something, possibly,
+could be done--measures should, perhaps, be taken--whilst awaiting the
+arrival of the doctor."
+
+He looked rather helplessly at Rupert Bateman. Efficiency always makes
+itself felt. It was Pongo who was really in charge of the situation.
+
+"Shall I come up with you, sir?"
+
+George accepted the offer with relief. Here, he felt, was someone on
+whom he could lean. He experienced that sense of complete trust in
+Mr. Bateman's efficiency which came to all those who encountered that
+excellent young man.
+
+The three men left the room together. Lady Coote, murmuring in deep
+rich tones: "The poor young fellow. Perhaps I could do something--"
+hurried after them.
+
+"That's a very motherly woman," observed the Superintendent
+thoughtfully. "A very motherly woman. I wonder--"
+
+Three pairs of eyes looked at him inquiringly.
+
+"I was wondering," said Superintendent Battle slowly, "where Sir Oswald
+Coote may be."
+
+"Oh!" gasped Loraine. "Do you think he's been murdered?"
+
+Battle shook his head at her reproachfully.
+
+"No need for anything so melodramatic," he said. "No--I rather think--"
+
+He paused, his head on one side, listening--one large hand raised to
+enjoin silence.
+
+In another minute they all heard what his sharper ears had been the
+first to notice--footsteps coming along the terrace outside. They rang
+out clearly with no kind of subterfuge about them. In another minute
+the window was blocked by a bulky figure which stood there regarding
+them and who conveyed, in an odd way, a sense of dominating the
+situation.
+
+Sir Oswald, for it was he, looked slowly from one face to another. His
+keen eyes took in the details of the situation. Jimmy, with his roughly
+bandaged arm; Bundle, in her somewhat anomalous attire; Loraine, a
+perfect stranger to him. His eyes came last to Superintendent Battle.
+He spoke sharply and crisply:
+
+"What's been happening here, officer?"
+
+"Attempted robbery, sir."
+
+"_Attempted_--eh?"
+
+"Thanks to this young lady, Miss Wade, the thieves failed to get away
+with it."
+
+"Ah!" he said again, his scrutiny ended. "And now, officer, what about
+_this_?"
+
+He held out a small Mauser pistol which he carried delicately by the
+butt.
+
+"Where did you find that, Sir Oswald?"
+
+"On the lawn outside. I presume it must have been thrown down by one
+of the thieves as he took to his heels. I've held it carefully, as I
+thought you might wish to examine it for fingerprints."
+
+"You think of everything, Sir Oswald," said Battle.
+
+He took the pistol from the other, handling it with equal care, and
+laid it down on the table beside Jimmy's Colt.
+
+"And now, if you please," said Sir Oswald, "I should like to hear
+exactly what occurred."
+
+Superintendent Battle gave a brief résumé of the events of the night.
+Sir Oswald frowned thoughtfully.
+
+"I understand," he said sharply. "After wounding and disabling Mr.
+Thesiger, the man took to his heels and ran, throwing away the pistol
+as he did so. What I cannot understand is why no one pursued him."
+
+"It wasn't till we heard Mr. Thesiger's story that we knew there was
+anyone to pursue," remarked Superintendent Battle dryly.
+
+"You didn't--er--catch sight of him making off as you turned the corner
+of the terrace?"
+
+"No, I missed him by just about forty seconds, I should say. There's no
+moon and he'd be invisible as soon as he'd left the terrace. He must
+have leapt for it as soon as he'd fired the shot."
+
+"H'm," said Sir Oswald. "I still think that a search should have been
+organized. Someone else should have been posted--"
+
+"There are three of my men in the grounds," said the Superintendent
+quietly.
+
+"Oh!" Sir Oswald seemed rather taken aback.
+
+"They were to hold and detain any one attempting to leave the grounds."
+
+"And yet--they haven't done so?"
+
+"And yet they haven't done so," agreed Battle gravely.
+
+Sir Oswald looked at him as though something in the words puzzled him.
+He said sharply:
+
+"Are you telling me all that you know, Superintendent Battle?"
+
+"All that I _know_--yes, Sir Oswald. What I think is a different
+matter. Maybe I think some rather curious things--but until thinking's
+got you somewhere it's no use talking about it."
+
+"And yet," said Sir Oswald slowly, "I should like to know what you
+think, Superintendent Battle."
+
+"For one thing, sir, I think there's a lot too much ivy about this
+place--excuse me, sir, you've got a bit on your coat--yes, a great deal
+too much ivy. It complicates things."
+
+Sir Oswald stared at him, but any reply he might have contemplated
+making was arrested by the entrance of Rupert Bateman.
+
+"Oh, there you are, Sir Oswald. I'm so glad. Lady Coote has just
+discovered that you were missing--and she has been insisting upon it
+that you had been murdered by the thieves. I really think, Sir Oswald,
+that you had better come to her at once. She is terribly upset."
+
+"Maria is an incredibly foolish woman," said Sir Oswald. "Why should I
+be murdered? I'll come with you, Bateman."
+
+He left the room with his secretary.
+
+"That's a very efficient young man," said Battle, looking after them.
+"What's his name--Bateman?"
+
+Jimmy nodded.
+
+"Bateman--Rupert," he said. "Commonly known as Pongo. I was at school
+with him."
+
+"Were you? Now, that's interesting, Mr. Thesiger. What was your opinion
+of him in those days?"
+
+"Oh, he was always the same sort of ass."
+
+"I shouldn't have thought," said Battle mildly, "that he was an ass."
+
+"Oh, you know what I mean. Of course he wasn't really an ass. Tons of
+brains and always swotting at things. But deadly serious. No sense of
+humour."
+
+"Ah!" said Superintendent Battle. "That's a pity. Gentlemen who have no
+sense of humour get to taking themselves too seriously--and that leads
+to mischief."
+
+"I can't imagine Pongo getting into mischief," said Jimmy. "He's done
+extremely well for himself so far--dug himself in with old Coote and
+looks like being a permanency in the job."
+
+"Superintendent Battle," said Bundle.
+
+"Yes, Lady Eileen?"
+
+"Don't you think it very odd that Sir Oswald didn't say what he was
+doing wandering about in the garden in the middle of the night?"
+
+"Ah!" said Battle. "Sir Oswald's a great man--and a great man always
+knows better than to explain unless an explanation is demanded. To rush
+into explanations and excuses is always a sign of weakness. Sir Oswald
+knows that as well as I do. He's not going to come in explaining and
+apologizing--not he. He just stalks in and hauls _me_ over the coals.
+He's a big man, Sir Oswald."
+
+Such a warm admiration sounded in the Superintendent's tones that
+Bundle pursued the subject no further.
+
+"And now," said Superintendent Battle, looking round with a slight
+twinkle in his eye, "now that we're together and friendly like--I
+_should_ like to hear just how Miss Wade happened to arrive on the
+scene so pat."
+
+"She ought to be ashamed of herself," said Jimmy. "Hoodwinking us all
+as she did."
+
+"Why should I be kept out of it all?" cried Loraine passionately. "I
+never meant to be--no, not the very first day in your rooms when you
+both explained how the best thing for me to do was to stay quietly at
+home and keep out of danger. I didn't say anything, but I made up my
+mind then."
+
+"I half suspected it," said Bundle. "You were so surprisingly meek
+about it. I might have known you were up to something."
+
+"I thought you were remarkably sensible," said Jimmy Thesiger.
+
+"You would, Jimmy dear," said Loraine. "It was easy enough to deceive
+you."
+
+"Thank you for these kind words," said Jimmy. "Go on, and don't mind
+me."
+
+"When you rang up and said there might be danger, I was more determined
+than ever," went on Loraine. "I went to Harrods and I bought a pistol.
+Here it is."
+
+She produced the dainty weapon, and Superintendent Battle took it from
+her and examined it.
+
+"Quite a deadly little toy, Miss Wade," he said. "Have you had
+much--er--practise with it?"
+
+"None at all," said Loraine. "But I thought if I took it with me--well,
+that it would give me a comforting feeling."
+
+"Quite so," said Battle gravely.
+
+"My idea was to come over here and see what was going on. I left the
+car in the road and climbed through the hedge and came up to the
+terrace. I was just looking about me when--plop--something fell right
+at my feet. I picked it up and then looked to see where it could have
+come from. And then I saw the man climbing down the ivy and I ran."
+
+"Just so," said Battle. "Now, Miss Wade, can you describe that man at
+all?"
+
+The girl shook her head.
+
+"It was too dark to see much. I think he was a big man--but that's
+about all."
+
+"And now you, Mr. Thesiger." Battle turned to him. "You struggled with
+the man--can you tell me anything about him?"
+
+"He was a pretty hefty individual--that's all I can say. He gave a few
+hoarse whispers--that's when I had him by the throat. He said, 'Lemme
+go, guvnor,' something like that."
+
+"An uneducated man, then?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose he was. He spoke like one."
+
+"I still don't quite understand about the packet," said Loraine. "Why
+should he throw it down as he did? Was it because it hampered him
+climbing?"
+
+"No," said Battle. "I've got an entirely different theory about that.
+That packet, Miss Wade, was deliberately thrown down to you--or so I
+believe."
+
+"To _me_?"
+
+"Shall we say--to the person the thief thought you were."
+
+"This is getting very involved," said Jimmy.
+
+"Mr. Thesiger, when you came into this room, did you switch on the
+light at all?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And there was no one in the room?"
+
+"No one at all."
+
+"But previously you thought you heard someone moving about down here?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And then, after trying the window, you switched off the light again
+and locked the door?"
+
+Jimmy nodded.
+
+Superintendent Battle looked slowly round him. His glance was arrested
+by a big screen of Spanish leather which stood near one of the
+bookcases.
+
+Brusquely he strode across the room and looked behind it.
+
+He uttered a sharp ejaculation, which brought the three young people
+quickly to his side.
+
+Huddled on the floor, in a dead faint, lay the Countess Radzky.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXII
+
+                      THE COUNTESS RADZKY'S STORY
+
+
+The Countess's return to consciousness was very different from that of
+Jimmy Thesiger. It was more prolonged and infinitely more artistic.
+
+Artistic was Bundle's word. She had been zealous in her
+ministrations--largely consisting of the application of cold water--and
+the Countess had instantly responded, passing a white, bewildered hand
+across her brow and murmuring faintly.
+
+It was at this point that Bill, at last relieved from his duties
+with telephone and doctors, had come bustling into the room and had
+instantly proceeded to make (in Bundle's opinion) a most regrettable
+idiot of himself.
+
+He had hung over the Countess with a concerned and anxious face and had
+addressed a series of singularly idiotic remarks to her:
+
+"I say, Countess. It's all right. It's really all right. Don't try
+to talk. It's bad for you. Just lie still. You'll be all right in a
+minute. It'll all come back to you. Don't say anything till you're
+quite all right. Take your time. Just lie still and close your eyes.
+You'll remember everything in a minute. Have another sip of water.
+Have some brandy. That's the stuff. Don't you think, Bundle, that some
+brandy...?"
+
+"For God's sake, Bill, leave her alone," said Bundle crossly. "She'll
+be all right."
+
+And with an expert hand she flipped a good deal of cold water on to the
+exquisite make-up of the Countess's face.
+
+The Countess flinched and sat up. She looked considerably more wide
+awake.
+
+"Ah!" she murmured. "I am here. Yes, I am here."
+
+"Take your time," said Bill. "Don't talk till you feel quite all right
+again."
+
+The Countess drew the folds of a very transparent négligé closer around
+her.
+
+"It is coming back to me," she murmured. "Yes, it is coming back."
+
+She looked at the little crowd grouped around her. Perhaps something in
+the attentive faces struck her as unsympathetic. In any case she smiled
+deliberately up at the one face which clearly displayed a very opposite
+emotion.
+
+"Ah, my big Englishman," she said very softly, "do not distress
+yourself. All is well with me."
+
+"Oh! I say, but are you sure?" demanded Bill anxiously.
+
+"Quite sure." She smiled at him reassuringly. "We Hungarians, we have
+nerves of steel."
+
+A look of intense relief passed over Bill's face. A fatuous look
+settled down there instead--a look which made Bundle earnestly long to
+kick him.
+
+"Have some water," she said coldly.
+
+The Countess refused water. Jimmy, kindlier to beauty in distress,
+suggested a cocktail. The Countess reacted favourably to this
+suggestion. When she had swallowed it, she looked round once more, this
+time with a livelier eye.
+
+"Tell me, what has happened?" she demanded briskly.
+
+"We were hoping you might be able to tell us that," said Superintendent
+Battle.
+
+The Countess looked at him sharply. She seemed to become aware of the
+big, quiet man for the first time.
+
+"I went to your room," said Bundle. "The bed hadn't been slept in and
+you weren't there."
+
+She paused--looking accusingly at the Countess. The latter closed her
+eyes and nodded her head slowly.
+
+"Yes, yes, I remember it all now. Oh, it was horrible!" She shuddered.
+"Do you want me to tell you?"
+
+Superintendent Battle said, "If you please" at the same moment that
+Bill said, "Not if you don't feel up to it."
+
+The Countess looked from one to the other, but the quiet, masterful eye
+of Superintendent Battle won the game.
+
+"I could not sleep," began the Countess. "The house--it oppressed me. I
+was all, as you say, on wires, the cat on the hot bricks. I knew that
+in the state I was in it was useless to think of going to bed. I walked
+about my room. I read. But the books placed there did not interest
+me greatly. I thought I would come down here and find something more
+absorbing."
+
+"Very natural," said Bill.
+
+"Very often done, I believe," said Battle.
+
+"So as soon as the idea occurred to me, I left my room and came down.
+The house was very still--"
+
+"Excuse me," interrupted the Superintendent, "but can you give me an
+idea of the time when this occurred?"
+
+"I never know the time," said the Countess superbly, and swept on with
+her story.
+
+"The house was very quiet. One could even hear the little mouse run, if
+there had been one. I come down the stairs--very quietly--"
+
+"Very quietly?"
+
+"Naturally, I do not want to disturb the household," said the Countess
+reproachfully. "I come in here. I go into this corner and I search the
+shelves for a suitable book."
+
+"Having, of course, switched on the light?"
+
+"No, I did not switch on the light. I had, you see, my little electric
+torch with me. With that, I scanned the shelves."
+
+"Ah!" said the Superintendent.
+
+"Suddenly," continued the Countess dramatically, "I hear something. A
+stealthy sound. A muffled footstep. I switch out my torch and listen.
+The footsteps draw nearer--stealthy, horrible footsteps. I shrink
+behind the screen. In another minute the door opens and the light is
+switched on. The man--the burglar is in the room."
+
+"Yes, but I say--" began Mr. Thesiger.
+
+A large-sized foot pressed his, and realizing that Superintendent
+Battle was giving him a hint, Jimmy shut up.
+
+"I nearly died of fear," continued the Countess. "I tried not to
+breathe. The man waited for a minute, listening. Then, still with that
+horrible, stealthy tread--"
+
+Again Jimmy opened his mouth in protest, and again shut it.
+
+"--he crossed to the window and peered out. He remained there for a
+minute or two, then he recrossed the room and turned out the lights
+again, locking the door. I am terrified. He is in the room, moving
+stealthily about in the dark. Ah, it is horrible. Suppose he should
+come upon me in the dark! In another minute I hear him again by the
+window. Then silence. I hope that perhaps he may have gone out that
+way. As the minutes pass and I hear no further sound, I am almost sure
+that he has done so. Indeed I am in the very act of switching on my
+torch and investigating when--_prestissimo!_--it all begins."
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Ah! But it was terrible--never--never shall I forget it! Two men
+trying to murder each other. Oh, it was horrible! They reeled about
+the room, and furniture crashed in every direction. I thought, too,
+that I heard a woman scream--but that was not in the room. It was
+outside somewhere. The criminal had a hoarse voice. He croaked rather
+than spoke. He kept saying, 'Lemme go--lemme go.' The other man was a
+gentleman. He had a cultured, English voice."
+
+Jimmy looked gratified.
+
+"He swore--mostly," continued the Countess.
+
+"Clearly a gentleman," said Superintendent Battle.
+
+"And then," continued the Countess, "a flash and a shot. The bullet hit
+the bookcase beside me. I--I suppose I must have fainted."
+
+She looked up at Bill. He took her hand and patted it.
+
+"You poor dear," he said. "How rotten for you."
+
+"Silly idiot," thought Bundle.
+
+Superintendent Battle had moved on swift, noiseless feet over to the
+bookcase a little to the right of the screen. He bent down, searching.
+Presently he stooped and picked something up.
+
+"It wasn't a bullet, Countess," he said. "It's the shell of the
+cartridge. Where were you standing when you fired, Mr. Thesiger?"
+
+Jimmy took up a position by the window.
+
+"As nearly as I can say, about here."
+
+Superintendent Battle placed himself in the same spot.
+
+"That's right," he agreed. "The empty shell would throw right rear.
+It's a .455. I don't wonder the Countess thought it was a bullet in
+the dark. It hit the bookcase about a foot from her. The bullet itself
+grazed the window frame and we'll find it outside to-morrow--unless
+your assailant happens to be carrying it about in him."
+
+Jimmy shook his head regretfully.
+
+"Leopold, I fear, did not cover himself with glory," he remarked sadly.
+
+The Countess was looking at him with most flattering attention.
+
+"Your arm!" she exclaimed. "It is all tied up! Was it you then--"
+
+Jimmy made her a mock bow.
+
+"I'm so glad I've got a cultured English voice," he said. "And I can
+assure you that I wouldn't have dreamed of using the language I did if
+I had had any suspicion that a lady was present."
+
+"I did not understand all of it," the Countess hastened to explain.
+"Although I had an English governess when I was young--"
+
+"It isn't the sort of thing she'd be likely to teach you," agreed
+Jimmy. "Kept you busy with your uncle's pen, and the umbrella of the
+gardener's niece. I know the sort of stuff."
+
+"But what has happened?" asked the Countess. "That is what I want to
+know. I demand to know what has happened."
+
+There was a moment's silence whilst everybody looked at Superintendent
+Battle.
+
+"It's very simple," said Battle mildly. "Attempted robbery. Some
+political papers stolen from Sir Stanley Digby. The thieves nearly
+got away with them, but thanks to this young lady"--he indicated
+Loraine--"they didn't."
+
+The Countess flashed a glance at the girl--rather an odd glance.
+
+"Indeed," she said coldly.
+
+"A very fortunate coincidence that she happened to be there," said
+Superintendent Battle, smiling.
+
+The Countess gave a little sigh and half closed her eyes again.
+
+"It is absurd, but I still feel extremely faint," she murmured.
+
+"Of course you do," cried Bill. "Let me help you up to your room.
+Bundle will come with you."
+
+"It is very kind of Lady Eileen," said the Countess, "but I should
+prefer to be alone. I am really quite all right. Perhaps you will just
+help me up the stairs?"
+
+She rose to her feet, accepted Bill's arm and, leaning heavily on it,
+went out of the room. Bundle followed as far as the hall but, the
+Countess reiterating her assurance--with some tartness--that she was
+quite all right, she did not accompany them upstairs.
+
+But as she stood watching the Countess's graceful form, supported by
+Bill, slowly mounting the stairway, she stiffened suddenly to acute
+attention. The Countess's négligé, as previously mentioned, was thin--a
+mere veil of orange chiffon. Through it Bundle saw distinctly below the
+right shoulder blade _a small black mole_.
+
+With a gasp, Bundle swung impetuously round to where Superintendent
+Battle was just emerging from the library. Jimmy and Loraine had
+preceded him.
+
+"There," said Battle. "I've fastened the window and there will be a
+man on duty outside. And I'll lock this door and take the key. In the
+morning we'll do what the French call reconstruct the crime--Yes, Lady
+Eileen, what is it?"
+
+"Superintendent Battle, I must speak to you--at once."
+
+"Why, certainly, I--"
+
+George Lomax suddenly appeared, Dr. Cartwright by his side.
+
+"Ah, there you are, Battle. You'll be relieved to hear that there's
+nothing seriously wrong with O'Rourke."
+
+"I never thought there would be much wrong with Mr. O'Rourke," said
+Battle.
+
+"He's had a strong hypnotic administered to him," said the doctor.
+"He'll wake perfectly all right in the morning. Perhaps a bit of a
+head, perhaps not. Now then, young man, let's look at this bullet wound
+of yours."
+
+"Come on, nurse," said Jimmy to Loraine. "Come and hold the basin or my
+hand. Witness a strong man's agony. You know the stunt."
+
+Jimmy, Loraine and the doctor went off together. Bundle continued to
+throw agonized glances in the direction of Superintendent Battle, who
+had been buttonholed by George.
+
+The Superintendent waited patiently till a pause occurred in George's
+loquacity. He then swiftly took advantage of it.
+
+"I wonder, sir, if I might have a word privately with Sir Stanley? In
+the little study at the end there."
+
+"Certainly," said George. "Certainly. I'll go and fetch him at once."
+
+He hurried off upstairs again. Battle drew Bundle swiftly into the
+drawing-room and shut the door.
+
+"Now, Lady Eileen, what is it?"
+
+"I'll tell you as quickly as I can--but it's rather long and
+complicated."
+
+As concisely as she could, Bundle related her introduction to the Seven
+Dials Club and her subsequent adventures there. When she had finished,
+Superintendent Battle drew a long breath. For once, his facial
+woodenness was laid aside.
+
+"Remarkable," he said. "Remarkable. I wouldn't have believed it
+possible--even for you, Lady Eileen. I ought to have known better."
+
+"But you did give me a hint, Superintendent Battle. You told me to ask
+Bill Eversleigh."
+
+"It's dangerous to give people like you a hint, Lady Eileen. I never
+dreamt of your going to the lengths you have."
+
+"Well, it's all right, Superintendent Battle. My death doesn't lie at
+your door."
+
+"Not yet, it doesn't," said Battle grimly.
+
+He stood as though in thought, turning things over in his mind.
+
+"What Mr. Thesiger was about, letting you run into danger like that, I
+can't think," he said presently.
+
+"He didn't know till afterwards," said Bundle. "I'm not a complete mug,
+Superintendent Battle. And anyway, he's got his hands full looking
+after Miss Wade."
+
+"Is that so?" said the Superintendent. "Ah!"
+
+He twinkled a little.
+
+"I shall have to detail Mr. Eversleigh to look after you, Lady Eileen."
+
+"Bill!" said Bundle contemptuously. "But Superintendent Battle, you
+haven't heard the end of my story. The woman I saw there--Anna--No. 1.
+Yes, No. 1 is the Countess Radzky."
+
+And rapidly she went on to describe her recognition of the mole.
+
+To her surprise the Superintendent hemmed and hawed.
+
+"A mole isn't much to go upon, Lady Eileen. Two women might have an
+identical mole very easily. You must remember that the Countess Radzky
+is a very well-known figure in Hungary."
+
+"Then this isn't the real Countess Radzky. I tell you I'm sure this is
+the same woman I saw there. And look at her to-night--the way we found
+her. I don't believe she ever fainted at all."
+
+"Oh, I shouldn't say that, Lady Eileen. That empty shell striking the
+bookcase beside her might have frightened any woman half out of her
+wits."
+
+"But what was she doing there anyway? One doesn't come down to look for
+a book with an electric torch."
+
+Battle scratched his cheek. He seemed unwilling to speak. He began to
+pace up and down the room, as though making up his mind. At last he
+turned to the girl.
+
+"See here, Lady Eileen, I'm going to trust you. The Countess's
+conduct _is_ suspicious. I know that as well as you do. It's very
+suspicious--but we've got to go carefully. There mustn't be any
+unpleasantness with the Embassies. One has got to be _sure_."
+
+"I see. If you were _sure_...."
+
+"There's something else. During the war, Lady Eileen, there was a great
+outcry about German spies being left at large. Busybodies wrote letters
+to the papers about it. We paid no attention. Hard words didn't hurt
+us. The small fry were left alone. Why? Because through them, sooner or
+later, _we got the big fellow--the man at the top_."
+
+"You mean?"
+
+"Don't bother about what I mean, Lady Eileen. But remember this. _I
+know all about the Countess._ And I want her let alone.
+
+"And now," added Superintendent Battle ruefully, "I've got to think of
+something to say to Sir Stanley Digby!"
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXIII
+
+                    SUPERINTENDENT BATTLE IN CHARGE
+
+
+It was ten o'clock on the following morning. The sun poured in through
+the windows of the library, where Superintendent Battle had been at
+work since six. On a summons from him, George Lomax, Sir Oswald Coote
+and Jimmy Thesiger had just joined him, having repaired the fatigues of
+the night with a substantial breakfast. Jimmy's arm was in a sling, but
+he bore little other trace of the night's affray.
+
+The Superintendent eyed all three of them benevolently, somewhat with
+the air of a kindly curator explaining a museum to little boys. On the
+table beside him were various objects, neatly labelled. Amongst them
+Jimmy recognized Leopold.
+
+"Ah, Superintendent," said George, "I have been anxious to know how you
+have progressed. Have you caught the man?"
+
+"He'll take a lot of catching, he will," said the Superintendent easily.
+
+His failure in that respect did not appear to rankle with him.
+
+George Lomax did not look particularly well pleased. He detested levity
+of any kind.
+
+"I've got everything taped out pretty clearly," went on the detective.
+
+He took up two objects from the table.
+
+"Here we've got the two bullets. The largest is a .455, fired from
+Mr. Thesiger's Colt automatic. Grazed the window sash and I found it
+embedded in the trunk of that cedar tree. This little fellow was fired
+from the Mauser .25. After passing through Mr. Thesiger's arm, it
+embedded itself in this arm-chair here. As for the pistol itself--"
+
+"Well?" said Sir Oswald eagerly. "Any fingerprints?"
+
+Battle shook his head.
+
+"The man who handled it wore gloves," he said slowly.
+
+"A pity," said Sir Oswald.
+
+"A man who knew his business would wear gloves. Am I right in thinking,
+Sir Oswald, that you found this pistol just about twenty yards from the
+bottom of the steps leading up to the terrace?"
+
+Sir Oswald stepped to the window.
+
+"Yes, almost exactly, I should say."
+
+"I don't want to find fault, but it would have been wiser on your part,
+sir, to leave it exactly as you found it."
+
+"I am sorry," said Sir Oswald stiffly.
+
+"Oh, it doesn't matter. I've been able to reconstruct things. There
+were your footprints, you see, leading up from the bottom of the
+garden, and a place where you had obviously stopped and stooped down,
+and a kind of dent in the grass which was highly suggestive. By the
+way, what was your theory of the pistol being there?"
+
+"I presumed that it had been dropped by the man in his flight."
+
+Battle shook his head.
+
+"Not dropped, Sir Oswald. There are two points against that. To begin
+with, there is only one set of footprints crossing the lawn just
+there--your own."
+
+"I see," said Sir Oswald thoughtfully.
+
+"Can you be sure of that, Battle?" put in George.
+
+"Quite sure, sir. There is one other set of tracks crossing the lawn,
+Miss Wade's, but they are a good deal farther to the left."
+
+He paused, and then went on: "And there's the dent in the ground. The
+pistol must have struck the ground with some force. It all points to
+its having been thrown."
+
+"Well, why not?" said Sir Oswald. "Say the man fled down the path to
+the left. He'd leave no footprints on the path and he'd hurl the
+pistol away from him into the middle of the lawn, eh, Lomax?"
+
+George agreed by a nod of the head.
+
+"It's true that he'd leave no footprints on the path," said Battle,
+"but from the shape of the dent and the way the turf was cut, I don't
+think the pistol was thrown from that direction. I think it was thrown
+from the terrace here."
+
+"Very likely," said Sir Oswald. "Does it matter, Superintendent?"
+
+"Ah, yes, Battle," broke in George. "Is it--er--strictly relevant?"
+
+"Perhaps not, Mr. Lomax. But we like to get things just so, you know. I
+wonder now if one of you gentlemen would take this pistol and throw it.
+Will you, Sir Oswald? That's very kind. Stand just here in the window.
+Now fling it into the middle of the lawn."
+
+Sir Oswald complied, sending the pistol flying through the air with a
+powerful sweep of his arm. Jimmy Thesiger drew near with breathless
+interest. The Superintendent lumbered off after it like a well-trained
+retriever. He reappeared with a beaming face.
+
+"That's it, sir. Just the same kind of mark. Although, by the way, you
+sent it a good ten yards farther. But then, you're a very powerfully
+built man, aren't you, Sir Oswald? Excuse me, I thought I heard someone
+at the door."
+
+The Superintendent's ears must have been very much sharper than anyone
+else's. Nobody else had heard a sound, but Battle was proved right, for
+Lady Coote stood outside, a medicine glass in her hand.
+
+"Your medicine, Oswald," she said, advancing into the room. "You forgot
+it after breakfast."
+
+"I'm very busy, Maria," said Sir Oswald. "I don't want my medicine."
+
+"You would never take it if it wasn't for me," said his wife serenely,
+advancing upon him. "You're just like a naughty little boy. Drink it up
+now."
+
+And meekly, obediently, the great steel magnate drank it up!
+
+Lady Coote smiled sadly and sweetly at everyone.
+
+"Am I interrupting you? Are you very busy? Oh, look at those revolvers.
+Nasty, noisy, murdering things. To think, Oswald, that you might have
+been shot by the burglar last night."
+
+"You must have been alarmed when you found he was missing, Lady Coote,"
+said Battle.
+
+"I didn't think of it at first," confessed Lady Coote. "This poor boy
+here"--she indicated Jimmy--"being shot--and everything so dreadful,
+but so exciting. It wasn't till Mr. Bateman asked me where Sir Oswald
+was that I remembered he'd gone out half an hour before for a stroll."
+
+"Sleepless, eh, Sir Oswald?" asked Battle.
+
+"I am usually an excellent sleeper," said Sir Oswald. "But I must
+confess that last night I felt unusually restless. I thought the night
+air would do me good."
+
+"You came out through this window, I suppose?"
+
+Was it his fancy, or did Sir Oswald hesitate for a moment before
+replying.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"In your pumps too," said Lady Coote, "instead of putting thick shoes
+on. What would you do without me to look after you?"
+
+She shook her head sadly.
+
+"I think, Maria, if you don't mind leaving us--we have still a lot to
+discuss."
+
+"I know, dear, I'm just going."
+
+Lady Coote withdrew, carrying the empty medicine glass as though it
+were a goblet out of which she had just administered a death potion.
+
+"Well, Battle," said George Lomax, "it all seems clear enough. Yes,
+perfectly clear. The man fires a shot, disabling Mr. Thesiger, flings
+away the weapon, runs along the terrace and down the gravel path."
+
+"Where he ought to have been caught by my men," put in Battle.
+
+"Your men, if I may say so, Battle, seem to have been singularly
+remiss. They didn't see Miss Wade come in. If they could miss her
+coming in, they could easily miss the thief going out."
+
+Superintendent Battle opened his mouth to speak, then seemed to think
+better of it. Jimmy Thesiger looked at him curiously. He would have
+given a lot to know just what was in Superintendent Battle's mind.
+
+"Must have been a champion runner," was all the Scotland Yard man
+contented himself with saying.
+
+"How do you mean, Battle?"
+
+"Just what I say, Mr. Lomax. I was round the corner of the terrace
+myself not fifty seconds after the shot was fired. And for a man to
+run all that distance towards me and get round the corner of the path
+before I appeared round the side of the house--well, as I say, he must
+have been a champion runner."
+
+"I am at a loss to understand you, Battle. You have some idea of your
+own which I have not yet--er--grasped. You say the man did not go
+across the lawn and now you hint--What exactly do you hint? That the
+man did not go down the path? Then in your opinion--er--where _did_ he
+go?"
+
+For answer, Superintendent Battle jerked an eloquent thumb upwards.
+
+"Eh?" said George.
+
+The Superintendent jerked harder than ever. George raised his head and
+looked at the ceiling.
+
+"Up there," said Battle. "Up the ivy again."
+
+"Nonsense, Superintendent. What you are suggesting is impossible."
+
+"Not at all impossible, sir. He'd done it once. He could do it twice."
+
+"I don't mean impossible in that sense. But if the man wanted to
+escape, he'd never bolt back into the house."
+
+"Safest place for him, Mr. Lomax."
+
+"But Mr. O'Rourke's door was still locked on the inside when we came to
+him."
+
+"And how did you get to him? Through Sir Stanley's room. That's the
+way our man went. Lady Eileen tells me she saw the door knob of Mr.
+O'Rourke's door move. That was when our friend was up there the first
+time. I suspect the key was under Mr. O'Rourke's pillow. But his exit
+is clear enough the second time--through the communicating door and
+through Sir Stanley's room, which, of course, was empty. Like everyone
+else, Sir Stanley is rushing downstairs to the library. Our man's got a
+clear course."
+
+"And where did he go then?"
+
+Superintendent Battle shrugged his burly shoulders and became evasive.
+
+"Plenty of ways open. Into an empty room on the other side of the house
+and down the ivy again--out through a side door--or, just possibly, if
+it was an inside job, he--well, stayed in the house."
+
+George looked at him in shocked surprise.
+
+"Really, Battle, I should--I should feel it very deeply if one of
+my servants--er--I have the most perfect reliance on them--it would
+distress me very much to have to suspect--"
+
+"Nobody's asking you to suspect anyone, Mr. Lomax. I'm just putting all
+the possibilities before you. The servants may be all right--probably
+are."
+
+"You have disturbed me," said George. "You have disturbed me greatly."
+
+His eyes appeared more protuberant than ever.
+
+To distract him, Jimmy poked delicately at a curious blackened object
+on the table.
+
+"What's this?" he asked.
+
+"That's exhibit Z," said Battle. "The last of our little lot. It is, or
+rather it has been, a glove."
+
+He picked it up, the charred relic, and manipulated it with pride.
+
+"Where did you find it?" asked Sir Oswald.
+
+Battle jerked his head over his shoulder.
+
+"In the grate--nearly burnt, but not quite. Queer; looks as though it
+had been chewed by a dog."
+
+"It might possibly be Miss Wade's," suggested Jimmy. "She has several
+dogs."
+
+The Superintendent shook his head.
+
+"This isn't a lady's glove--no, not even the large kind of loose glove
+ladies wear nowadays. Fit it on, sir, a moment."
+
+He adjusted the blackened object over Jimmy's hand.
+
+"You see--it's large even for you."
+
+"Do you attach importance to this discovery?" inquired Sir Oswald
+coldly.
+
+"You never know, Sir Oswald, what's going to be important or what
+isn't."
+
+There was a sharp tap at the door and Bundle entered.
+
+"I'm so sorry," she said apologetically, "but Father has just rung up.
+He says I must come home because everybody is worrying him."
+
+She paused.
+
+"Yes, my dear Eileen?" said George encouragingly, perceiving that there
+was more to come.
+
+"I wouldn't have interrupted you--only that I thought it might perhaps
+have something to do with all this. You see, what has upset Father is
+that one of our footmen is missing. He went out last night and hasn't
+come back."
+
+"What is the man's name?" It was Sir Oswald who took up the
+cross-examination.
+
+"John Bauer."
+
+"An Englishman?"
+
+"I believe he calls himself a Swiss--but I think he's a German. He
+speaks English perfectly, though."
+
+"Ah!" Sir Oswald drew in his breath with a long, satisfied hiss. "And
+he has been at Chimneys--how long?"
+
+"Just under a month."
+
+Sir Oswald turned to the other two.
+
+"Here is our missing man. You know, Lomax, as well as I do, that
+several foreign Governments are after the thing. I remember the man
+now perfectly--tall, well-drilled fellow. Came about a fortnight
+before we left. A clever move. Any new servants here would be closely
+scrutinized, but at Chimneys, five miles away--" He did not finish the
+sentence.
+
+"You think the plan was laid so long beforehand?"
+
+"Why not? There are millions in that formula, Lomax. Doubtless Bauer
+hoped to get access to my private papers at Chimneys, and to learn
+something of forthcoming arrangements from them. It seems likely that
+he may have had an accomplice in this house--someone who put him
+wise to the lie of the land and who saw to the doping of O'Rourke.
+But Bauer was the man Miss Wade saw climbing down the ivy--the big,
+powerful man."
+
+He turned to Superintendent Battle.
+
+"Bauer was your man, Superintendent. And, somehow or other, you let him
+slip through your fingers."
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXIV
+
+                            BUNDLE WONDERS
+
+
+There was no doubt that Superintendent Battle was taken aback. He
+fingered his chin thoughtfully.
+
+"Sir Oswald is right, Battle," said George. "This is the man. Any hope
+of catching him?"
+
+"There may be, sir. It certainly looks--well, suspicious. Of course the
+man may turn up again--at Chimneys, I mean."
+
+"Do you think it likely?"
+
+"No, it isn't," confessed Battle. "Yes, it certainly looks as though
+Bauer were the man. But I can't quite see how he got in and out of
+these grounds unobserved."
+
+"I have already told you my opinion of the men you posted," said
+George. "Hopelessly inefficient--I don't want to blame you,
+Superintendent, but--" His pause was eloquent.
+
+"Ah, well," said Battle lightly, "my shoulders are broad."
+
+He shook his head and sighed.
+
+"I must get to the telephone at once. Excuse me, gentlemen. I'm sorry,
+Mr. Lomax--I feel I've rather bungled this business. But it's been
+puzzling, more puzzling than you know."
+
+He strode hurriedly from the room.
+
+"Come into the garden," said Bundle to Jimmy. "I want to talk to you."
+
+They went out together through the window. Jimmy stared down at the
+lawn, frowning.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Bundle.
+
+Jimmy explained the circumstances of the pistol throwing.
+
+"I'm wondering," he ended, "what was in old Battle's mind when he got
+Coote to throw the pistol. Something, I'll swear. Anyhow, it landed up
+about ten yards farther than it should have done. You know, Bundle,
+Battle's a deep one."
+
+"He's an extraordinary man," said Bundle. "I want to tell you about
+last night."
+
+She retailed her conversation with the Superintendent. Jimmy listened
+attentively.
+
+"So the Countess is No. 1," he said thoughtfully. "It all hangs
+together very well. No. 2--Bauer--comes over from Chimneys. He climbs
+up into O'Rourke's room, knowing that O'Rourke has had a sleeping
+draught administered to him--by the Countess somehow or other. The
+arrangement is that he is to throw down the papers to the Countess, who
+will be waiting below. Then she'll nip back through the library and
+up to her room. If Bauer's caught leaving the grounds, they'll find
+nothing on him. Yes, it was a good plan--but it went wrong. No sooner
+is the Countess in the library than she hears me coming and has to jump
+behind the screen. Jolly awkward for her, because she can't warn her
+accomplice. No. 2 pinches the papers, looks out of the window, sees,
+as he thinks, the Countess waiting, pitches the papers down to her and
+proceeds to climb down the ivy, where he finds a nasty surprise in the
+shape of me waiting for him. Pretty nervy work for the Countess waiting
+behind her screen. All things considered, she told a pretty good story.
+Yes, it all hangs together very well."
+
+"Too well," said Bundle decidedly.
+
+"Eh?" said Jimmy, surprised.
+
+"What about No. 7--No. 7, who never appears, but lives in the
+background. The Countess and Bauer? No, it's not so simple as that.
+Bauer was here last night, yes. But he was only here in case things
+went wrong--as they have done. His part is the part of scapegoat; to
+draw all attention from No. 7--the boss."
+
+"I say, Bundle," said Jimmy anxiously, "you haven't been reading too
+much sensational literature, have you?"
+
+Bundle threw him a glance of dignified reproach.
+
+"Well," said Jimmy, "I'm not yet like the Red Queen. I can't believe
+six impossible things before breakfast."
+
+"It's after breakfast," said Bundle.
+
+"Or even after breakfast. We've got a perfectly good hypothesis which
+fits the facts--and you won't have it at any price, simply because like
+the old riddle, you want to make things more difficult."
+
+"I'm sorry," said Bundle, "but I cling passionately to a mysterious No.
+7 being a member of the house-party."
+
+"What does Bill think?"
+
+"Bill," said Bundle coldly, "is impossible."
+
+"Oh!" said Jimmy. "I suppose you've told him about the Countess?
+He ought to be warned. Heaven knows what he'll go blabbing about
+otherwise."
+
+"He won't hear a word against her," said Bundle. "He's--oh, simply
+idiotic. I wish you'd drive it home to him about that mole."
+
+"You forget I wasn't in the cupboard," said Jimmy. "And anyway I'd
+rather not argue with Bill about his lady friend's mole. But surely he
+can't be such an ass as not to see that everything fits in?"
+
+"He's every kind of ass," said Bundle bitterly. "You made the greatest
+mistake, Jimmy, in ever telling him at all."
+
+"I'm sorry," said Jimmy. "I didn't see it at the time--but I do now. I
+was a fool, but dash it all, old Bill--"
+
+"You know what foreign adventuresses are," said Bundle. "How they get
+hold of one."
+
+"As a matter of fact, I don't," said Jimmy. "One has never tried to get
+hold of me." And he sighed.
+
+For a moment or two there was silence. Jimmy was turning things over in
+his mind. The more he thought about them, the more unsatisfactory they
+seemed.
+
+"You say that Battle wants the Countess let alone," he said at last.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"The idea being that through her he will get at someone else?"
+
+Bundle nodded.
+
+Jimmy frowned deeply as he tried to see where this led. Clearly Battle
+had some very definite idea in his mind.
+
+"Sir Stanley Digby went up to town early this morning, didn't he?" he
+said.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"O'Rourke with him?"
+
+"Yes, I think so."
+
+"You don't think--no, that's impossible?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"That O'Rourke can be mixed up in this in any way?"
+
+"It's possible," said Bundle thoughtfully. "He's got what one calls a
+very vivid personality. No, it wouldn't surprise me if--oh, to tell the
+truth, nothing would surprise me! In fact, there's only one person I'm
+really sure isn't No. 7."
+
+"Who's that?"
+
+"Superintendent Battle."
+
+"Oh! I thought you were going to say George Lomax."
+
+"Ssh, here he comes."
+
+George was, indeed, bearing down upon them in an unmistakable manner.
+Jimmy made an excuse and slipped away. George sat down by Bundle.
+
+"My dear Eileen, must you really leave us?"
+
+"Well, Father seems to have got the wind up rather badly. I think I'd
+better go home and hold his hand."
+
+"This little hand will indeed be comforting," said George, taking it
+and pressing it playfully. "My dear Eileen, I understand your reasons
+and I honour you for them. In these days of changed and unsettled
+conditions--"
+
+"He's off," thought Bundle desperately.
+
+"--when family life is at a premium--all the old standards falling!--it
+becomes our class to set an example--to show that we, at least, are
+unaffected by modern conditions. They call us the Die Hards--I am proud
+of the term--I repeat I am proud of the term! There are things that
+_should_ die hard--dignity, beauty, modesty, the sanctity of family
+life, filial respect--who dies if these shall live? As I was saying,
+my dear Eileen, I envy you the privileges of your youth. Youth! What
+a wonderful thing! What a wonderful word! And we do not appreciate it
+until we grow to--er--maturer years. I confess, my dear child, that I
+have in the past been disappointed by your levity. I see now it was but
+the careless and charming levity of a child. I perceive now the serious
+and earnest beauty of your mind. You will allow me, I hope, to help you
+with your reading?"
+
+"Oh, thank you," said Bundle faintly.
+
+"And you must never be afraid of me again. I was shocked when Lady
+Caterham told me that you stood in awe of me. I can assure you that I
+am a very humdrum sort of person."
+
+The spectacle of George being modest struck Bundle spellbound. George
+continued.
+
+"Never be shy with me, dear child. And do not be afraid of boring me.
+It will be a great delight to me to--if I may say so--form your budding
+mind. I will be your political mentor. We have never needed young women
+of talent and charm in the Party more than we need them to-day. You
+may well be destined to follow in the footsteps of your aunt, Lady
+Caterham."
+
+This awful prospect knocked Bundle out completely. She could only stare
+helplessly at George. This did not discourage him--on the contrary. His
+main objection to women was that they talked too much. It was seldom
+that he found what he considered a really good listener. He smiled
+benignantly at Bundle.
+
+"The butterfly emerging from the chrysalis. A wonderful picture. I have
+a very interesting work on political economy. I will look it out now,
+and you can take it to Chimneys with you. When you have finished it, I
+will discuss it with you. Do not hesitate to write to me if any point
+puzzles you. I have many public duties, but by unsparing work I can
+always make time for the affairs of my friends. I will look for the
+book."
+
+He strode away. Bundle gazed after him with a dazed expression. She was
+roused by the unexpected advent of Bill.
+
+"Look here," said Bill, "what the hell was Codders holding your hand
+for?"
+
+"It wasn't my hand," said Bundle wildly. "It was my budding mind."
+
+"Don't be an ass, Bundle."
+
+"Sorry, Bill, but I'm a little worried. Do you remember saying that
+Jimmy ran a grave risk coming down here?"
+
+"So he does," said Bill. "It's frightfully hard to escape from Codders
+once he's got interested in you. Jimmy will be caught in the toils
+before he knows where he is."
+
+"It's not Jimmy who's got caught--it's me," said Bundle wildly. "I
+shall have to meet endless Mrs. Macattas, and read political economy
+and discuss it with George, and heavens knows where it will end!"
+
+Bill whistled.
+
+"Poor old Bundle. Been laying it on a bit thick, haven't you?"
+
+"I must have done. Bill, I feel horribly entangled."
+
+"Never mind," said Bill consolingly. "George doesn't really believe
+in women standing for Parliament, so you won't have to stand up on
+platforms and talk a lot of junk, or kiss dirty babies in Bermondsey.
+Come and have a cocktail. It's nearly lunch time."
+
+Bundle got up and walked by his side obediently.
+
+"And I do so hate politics," she murmured piteously.
+
+"Of course you do. So do all sensible people. It's only people like
+Codders and Pongo who take them seriously and revel in them. But all
+the same," said Bill, reverting suddenly to a former point, "you
+oughtn't to let Codders hold your hand."
+
+"Why on earth not?" said Bundle. "He's known me all my life."
+
+"Well, I don't like it."
+
+"Virtuous William--Oh, I say, look at Superintendent Battle."
+
+They were just passing in through a side door. A cupboard-like
+room opened out of the little hallway. In it were kept golf clubs,
+tennis racquets, bowls and other features of country house life.
+Superintendent Battle was conducting a minute examination of various
+golf clubs. He looked up a little sheepishly at Bundle's exclamation.
+
+"Going to take up golf, Superintendent Battle?"
+
+"I might do worse, Lady Eileen. They say it's never too late to start.
+And I've got one good quality that will tell at any game."
+
+"What's that?" asked Bill.
+
+"I don't know when I'm beaten. If everything goes wrong, I turn to and
+start again!"
+
+And with a determined look on his face, Superintendent Battle came out
+and joined them, shutting the door behind him.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XXV
+
+                         JIMMY LAYS HIS PLANS
+
+
+Jimmy Thesiger was feeling depressed. Avoiding George, whom he
+suspected of being ready to tackle him on serious subjects, he stole
+quietly away after lunch. Proficient as he was in details of the Santa
+Fé boundary dispute, he had no wish to stand an examination on it this
+minute.
+
+Presently what he hoped would happen came to pass. Loraine Wade, also
+unaccompanied, strolled down one of the shady garden paths. In a moment
+Jimmy was by her side. They walked for some minutes in silence and then
+Jimmy said tentatively:
+
+"Loraine?"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Look here, I'm a bad chap at putting things--but what about it? What's
+wrong with getting a special license and being married and living
+together happy ever afterwards?"
+
+Loraine displayed no embarrassment at this surprising proposal. Instead
+she threw back her head and laughed frankly.
+
+"Don't laugh at a chap," said Jimmy reproachfully.
+
+"I can't help it. You were so funny."
+
+"Loraine--you are a little devil."
+
+"I'm not. I'm what's called a thoroughly nice girl."
+
+"Only to those who don't know you--who are taken in by your delusive
+appearance of meekness and decorum."
+
+"I like your long words."
+
+"All out of cross-word puzzles."
+
+"So educative."
+
+"Loraine dear, don't beat about the bush. Will you or won't you!"
+
+Loraine's face sobered. It took on its characteristic appearance of
+determination. Her small mouth hardened and her little chin shot out
+aggressively.
+
+"No, Jimmy. Not while things are as they are at present--all
+unfinished."
+
+"I know we haven't done what we set out to do," agreed Jimmy. "But all
+the same--well, it's the end of a chapter. The papers are safe at the
+Air Ministry. Virtue triumphant. And--for the moment--nothing doing."
+
+"So--let's get married?" said Loraine with a slight smile.
+
+"You've said it. Precisely the idea."
+
+But again Loraine shook her head.
+
+"No, Jimmy. Until this thing's rounded up--until we're safe--"
+
+"You think we're in danger?"
+
+"Don't you?"
+
+Jimmy's cherubic pink face clouded over.
+
+"You're right," he said at last. "If that extraordinary rigmarole of
+Bundle's is true--and I suppose, incredible as it sounds, it must be
+true--then we're not safe till we've settled with--No. 7!"
+
+"And the others?"
+
+"No--the others don't count. It's No. 7 with his own ways of working
+that frightens me. Because I don't know who he is or where to look for
+him."
+
+Loraine shivered.
+
+"I've been frightened," she said in a low voice. "Ever since Gerry's
+death...."
+
+"You needn't be frightened. There's nothing for you to be frightened
+about. You leave everything to me. I tell you, Loraine--_I'll get No.
+7 yet_. Once we get him--well, I don't think there'll be much trouble
+with the rest of the gang, whoever they are."
+
+"_If_ you get him--and suppose he gets you?"
+
+"Impossible," said Jimmy cheerfully. "I'm much too clever. Always have
+a good opinion of yourself--that's my motto."
+
+"When I think of the things that might have happened last night--"
+Loraine shivered.
+
+"Well, they didn't," said Jimmy. "We're both here, safe and
+sound--though I must admit my arm is confoundedly painful."
+
+"Poor boy."
+
+"Oh, one must expect to suffer in a good cause. And what with my wounds
+and my cheerful conversation, I've made a complete conquest of Lady
+Coote."
+
+"Oh! Do you think that important?"
+
+"I've an idea it may come in useful."
+
+"You've got some plan in your mind, Jimmy. What is it?"
+
+"The young hero never tells his plans," said Jimmy firmly. "They mature
+in the dark."
+
+"You are an idiot, Jimmy."
+
+"I know. I know. That's what everyone says. But I can assure you,
+Loraine, there's a lot of brain-work going on underneath. Now what
+about your plans? Got any?"
+
+"Bundle has suggested that I should go to Chimneys with her for a bit."
+
+"Excellent," said Jimmy approvingly. "Nothing could be better. I'd like
+an eye kept on Bundle anyway. You never know what mad thing she won't
+be up to next. She's so frightfully unexpected. And the worst of it is,
+she's so astonishingly successful. I tell you, keeping Bundle out of
+mischief is a whole-time job."
+
+"Bill ought to look after her," suggested Loraine.
+
+"Bill's pretty busy elsewhere."
+
+"Don't you believe it," said Loraine.
+
+"What? Not the Countess? But the lad's potty about her."
+
+Loraine continued to shake her head.
+
+"There's something there I don't quite understand. But it's not the
+Countess with Bill--it's Bundle. Why, this morning Bill was talking to
+me when Mr. Lomax came out and sat down by Bundle. He took her hand or
+something, and Bill was off like--like a rocket."
+
+"What a curious taste some people have," observed Mr. Thesiger. "Fancy
+anyone who was talking to you wanting to do anything else. But you
+surprise me very much, Loraine. I thought our simple Bill was enmeshed
+in the toils of the beautiful foreign adventuress. Bundle thinks so, I
+know."
+
+"Bundle may," said Loraine, "but I tell you, Jimmy, it isn't so."
+
+"Then what's the big idea?"
+
+"Don't you think it possible that Bill is doing a bit of sleuthing on
+his own?"
+
+"Bill? He hasn't got the brains."
+
+"I'm not so sure. When a simple, muscular person like Bill does set out
+to be subtle, no one ever gives him credit for it."
+
+"And in consequence he can put in some good work. Yes, there's
+something in that. But all the same I'd never have thought it of Bill.
+He's doing the Countess's little woolly lamb to perfection. I think
+you're wrong, you know, Loraine. The Countess is an extraordinarily
+beautiful woman--not my type, of course," put in Mr. Thesiger
+hastily--"and old Bill has always had a heart like an hotel."
+
+Loraine shook her head, unconvinced.
+
+"Well," said Jimmy, "have it your own way. We seem to have more or less
+settled things. You go back with Bundle to Chimneys, and for Heavens'
+sake keep her from poking about in that Seven Dials place again.
+Heavens knows what will happen if she does."
+
+Loraine nodded.
+
+"And now," said Jimmy, "I think a few words with Lady Coote would be
+advisable."
+
+Lady Coote was sitting on a garden seat doing wool-work. The subject
+was a disconsolate and somewhat misshapen young woman weeping over an
+urn.
+
+Lady Coote made room for Jimmy by her side, and he promptly, being a
+tactful young man, admired her work.
+
+"Do you like it?" said Lady Coote, pleased. "It was begun by my Aunt
+Selina the week before she died. Cancer of the liver, poor thing."
+
+"How beastly," said Jimmy.
+
+"And how is the arm?"
+
+"Oh, it's feeling quite all right. Bit of a nuisance and all that, you
+know."
+
+"You'll have to be careful," said Lady Coote in a warning voice. "I've
+known blood-poisoning set in--and in that case you might lose your arm
+altogether."
+
+"Oh! I say, I hope not."
+
+"I'm only warning you," said Lady Coote.
+
+"Where are you hanging out now?" inquired Mr. Thesiger. "Town--or
+where?"
+
+Considering that he knew the answer to his query perfectly well, he put
+the question with a praiseworthy amount of ingenuousness.
+
+Lady Coote sighed heavily.
+
+"Sir Oswald has taken the Duke of Alton's place. Letherbury. You know
+it, perhaps?"
+
+"Oh, rather. Topping place, isn't it?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know," said Lady Coote. "It's a very large place, and
+gloomy, you know. Rows of picture galleries with such forbidding
+looking people. What they call Old Masters are very depressing, I
+think. You should have seen a little house we had in Yorkshire, Mr.
+Thesiger. When Sir Oswald was plain Mr. Coote. Such a nice lounge hall
+and a cheerful drawing-room with an ingle-nook--a white striped paper
+with a frieze of wisteria I chose for it, I remember. Satin stripe, you
+know, not moiré. Much better taste, I always think. The dining-room
+faced northeast, so we didn't get much sun in it, but with a good
+bright scarlet paper and a set of those comic hunting prints--why, it
+was as cheerful as Christmas."
+
+In the excitement of these reminiscences, Lady Coote dropped several
+little balls of wool, which Jimmy dutifully retrieved.
+
+"Thank you, my dear," said Lady Coote. "Now, what was I saying?
+Oh!--about houses--yes, I do like a cheerful house. And choosing things
+for it gives you an interest."
+
+"I suppose Sir Oswald will be buying a place of his own one of these
+days," suggested Jimmy. "And then you can have it just as you like."
+
+Lady Coote shook her head sadly.
+
+"Sir Oswald talks of a firm doing it--and you know what that means."
+
+"Oh! But they'd consult you!"
+
+"It would be one of those grand places--all for the antique. They'd
+look down on the things I call comfortable and homey. Not but that Sir
+Oswald wasn't very comfortable and satisfied in his home always, and I
+daresay his tastes are just the same underneath. But nothing will suit
+him now but the best! He's got on wonderfully, and naturally he wants
+something to show for it, but many's the time I wonder where it will
+end."
+
+Jimmy looked sympathetic.
+
+"It's like a runaway horse," said Lady Coote. "Got the bit between its
+teeth and away it goes. It's the same with Sir Oswald. He's got on, and
+he's got on, till he can't stop getting on. He's one of the richest men
+in England now--but does that satisfy him? No, he wants still more.
+He wants to be--I don't know what he wants to be! I can tell you, it
+frightens me sometimes!"
+
+"Like the Persian Johnny," said Jimmy, "who went about wailing for
+fresh worlds to conquer."
+
+Lady Coote nodded acquiescence without much knowing what Jimmy was
+talking about.
+
+"What I wonder is--will his stomach stand it?" she went on tearfully.
+"To have him an invalid--with his ideas--oh, it won't bear thinking of."
+
+"He looks very hearty," said Jimmy, consolingly.
+
+"He's got something on his mind," said Lady Coote. "Worried, that's
+what he is. _I_ know."
+
+"What's he worried about?"
+
+"I don't know. Perhaps something at the works. It's a great comfort
+for him having Mr. Bateman. Such an earnest young man--and so
+conscientious."
+
+"Marvellously conscientious," agreed Jimmy.
+
+"Oswald thinks a lot of Mr. Bateman's judgment. He says that Mr.
+Bateman is always right."
+
+"That was one of his worst characteristics years ago," said Jimmy
+feelingly.
+
+Lady Coote looked slightly puzzled.
+
+"That was an awfully jolly week-end I had with you at Chimneys," said
+Jimmy. "I mean it would have been awfully jolly if it hadn't been for
+poor old Gerry kicking the bucket. Jolly nice girls."
+
+"I find girls very perplexing," said Lady Coote. "Not romantic, you
+know. Why, I embroidered some handkerchiefs for Sir Oswald with my own
+hair when we were engaged."
+
+"Did you?" said Jimmy. "How marvellous. But I suppose girls haven't got
+long enough hair to do that nowadays."
+
+"That's true," admitted Lady Coote. "But, oh, it shows in lots of
+other ways. I remember when I was a girl, one of my--well, my young
+men--picked up a handful of gravel, and a girl who was with me said at
+once that he was treasuring it because my feet had trodden on it. Such
+a pretty idea, I thought. Though it turned out afterwards that he was
+taking a course of mineralogy--or do I mean geology?--at a technical
+school. But I liked the idea--and stealing a girl's handkerchief and
+treasuring it--all those sort of things."
+
+"Awkward if the girl wanted to blow her nose," said the practical Mr.
+Thesiger.
+
+Lady Coote laid down her wool-work and looked searchingly but kindly at
+him.
+
+"Come now," she said, "isn't there some nice girl that you fancy? That
+you'd like to work and make a little home for?"
+
+Jimmy blushed and mumbled.
+
+"I thought you got on very well with one of those girls at Chimneys
+that time--Vera Daventry."
+
+"Socks?"
+
+"They do call her that," admitted Lady Coote. "I can't think why. It
+isn't pretty."
+
+"Oh, she's a topper," said Jimmy. "I'd like to meet her again."
+
+"She's coming down to stay with us next week-end."
+
+"Is she?" said Jimmy, trying to infuse a large amount of wistful
+longing into the two words.
+
+"Yes. Would--would you like to come?"'
+
+"I _would_," said Jimmy heartily. "Thanks ever so much, Lady Coote."
+
+And reiterating fervent thanks, he left her.
+
+Sir Oswald presently joined his wife.
+
+"What has that young jackanapes been boring you about?" he demanded. "I
+can't stand that young fellow."
+
+"He's a dear boy," said Lady Coote. "And so brave. Look how he got
+wounded last night."
+
+"Yes, messing around where he'd no business to be."
+
+"I think you're very unfair, Oswald."
+
+"Never done an honest day's work in his life. A real waster if there
+ever was one. He'd never get on if he had his way to make in the world."
+
+"You must have got your feet damp last night," said Lady Coote. "I hope
+you won't get pneumonia. Freddie Richards died of it the other day.
+Dear me, Oswald, it makes my blood run cold to think of you wandering
+about with a dangerous burglar loose in the grounds. He might have shot
+you. I've asked Mr. Thesiger down for next week-end, by the way."
+
+"Nonsense," said Sir Oswald. "I won't have that young man in my house,
+do you hear, Maria?"
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"That's my business."
+
+"I'm so sorry, dear," said Lady Coote placidly. "I've asked him now, so
+it can't be helped. Pick up that ball of pink wool, will you, Oswald?"
+
+Sir Oswald complied, his face black as thunder. He looked at his wife
+and hesitated. Lady Coote was placidly threading her wool needle.
+
+"I particularly don't want Thesiger down next week-end," he said at
+last. "I've heard a good deal about him from Bateman. He was at school
+with him."
+
+"What did Mr. Bateman say?"
+
+"He'd no good to say of him. In fact, he warned me very seriously
+against him."
+
+"He did, did he?" said Lady Coote thoughtfully.
+
+"And I have the highest respect for Bateman's judgment. I've never
+known him wrong."
+
+"Dear me," said Lady Coote. "What a mess I seem to have made of things.
+Of course, I should never have asked him if I had known. You should
+have told me all this before, Oswald. It's too late now."
+
+She began to roll up her work very carefully. Sir Oswald looked at her,
+made as if to speak, then shrugged his shoulders. He followed her into
+the house. Lady Coote, walking ahead, wore a very faint smile on her
+face. She was fond of her husband, but she was also fond--in a quiet,
+unobtrusive, wholly womanly manner--of getting her own way.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXVI
+
+                           MAINLY ABOUT GOLF
+
+
+"That friend of yours is a nice girl, Bundle," said Lord Caterham.
+
+Loraine had been at Chimneys for nearly a week, and had earned the high
+opinion of her host--mainly because of the charming readiness she had
+shown to be instructed in the science of the mashie shot.
+
+Bored by his winter abroad, Lord Caterham had taken up golf. He was
+an execrable player and in consequence was profoundly enthusiastic
+over the game. He spent most of his mornings lofting mashie shots over
+various shrubs and bushes--or, rather, essaying to loft them, hacking
+large bits out of the velvety turf and generally reducing MacDonald to
+despair.
+
+"We must lay out a little course," said Lord Caterham, addressing
+a daisy. "A sporting little course. Now then, just watch this one,
+Bundle. Off the right knee, slow back, keep the head still and use the
+wrists."
+
+The ball, heavily topped, scudded across the lawn and disappeared into
+the unfathomed depths of a great bank of rhododendrons.
+
+"Curious," said Lord Caterham. "What did I do then, I wonder? As I was
+saying, Bundle, that friend of yours is a very nice girl. I really
+think I am inducing her to take quite an interest in the game. She hit
+some excellent shots this morning--really quite as good as I could do
+myself."
+
+Lord Caterham took another careless swing and removed an immense chunk
+of turf. MacDonald, who was passing, retrieved it and stamped it firmly
+back. The look he gave Lord Caterham would have caused anyone but an
+ardent golfer to sink through the earth.
+
+"If MacDonald has been guilty of cruelty to Cootes, which I strongly
+suspect," said Bundle, "he's being punished now."
+
+"Why shouldn't I do as I like in my own garden?" demanded her father.
+"MacDonald ought to be interested in the way my game is coming on--the
+Scotch are a great golfing nation."
+
+"You poor old man," said Bundle. "You'll never be a golfer--but at any
+rate it keeps you out of mischief."
+
+"Not at all," said Lord Caterham. "I did the long sixth in five the
+other day. The pro was very surprised when I told him about it."
+
+"He would be," said Bundle.
+
+"Talking of Cootes, Sir Oswald plays a fair game--a very fair game. Not
+a pretty style--too stiff. But straight down the middle every time.
+But curious how the cloven hoof shows--won't give you a six-inch putt!
+Makes you put it in every time. Now I don't like that."
+
+"I suppose he's a man who likes to be sure," said Bundle.
+
+"It's contrary to the spirit of the game," said her father. "And he's
+not interested in the theory of the thing either. Says he just plays
+for exercise and doesn't bother about style. Now, that secretary chap,
+Bateman, is quite different. It's the theory interests him. I was
+slicing badly with my spoon; and he said it all came from too much
+right arm; and he evolved a very interesting theory. It's all left arm
+in golf--the left arm is the arm that counts. He says he plays tennis
+left handed but golf with ordinary clubs because there his superiority
+with the left arm tells."
+
+"And did he play very marvellously?" inquired Bundle.
+
+"No, he didn't," confessed Lord Caterham. "But then he may have been
+off his game. I see the theory all right and I think there's a lot in
+it. Ah! Did you see that one, Bundle? Right over the rhododendrons. A
+perfect shot. Ah! If one could be sure of doing that every time--Yes,
+Tredwell, what is it?"
+
+Tredwell addressed Bundle.
+
+"Mr. Thesiger would like to speak to you on the telephone, my lady."
+
+Bundle set off at full speed for the house, yelling "Loraine, Loraine,"
+as she did so. Loraine joined her just as she was lifting the receiver.
+
+"Hallo, is that you, Jimmy?"
+
+"Hallo. How are you?"
+
+"Very fit, but a bit bored."
+
+"How's Loraine?"
+
+"She's all right. She's here. Do you want to speak to her?"
+
+"In a minute. I've got a lot to say. To begin with, I'm going down to
+the Cootes' for the week-end," he said significantly. "Now, look here,
+Bundle, you don't know how one gets hold of skeleton keys, do you?"
+
+"Haven't the foggiest. Is it really necessary to take skeleton keys to
+the Cootes'?"
+
+"Well, I had a sort of idea they'd come in handy. You don't know the
+sort of shop one gets them at?"
+
+"What you want is a kindly burglar friend to show you the ropes."
+
+"I do, Bundle, I do. And unfortunately, I haven't got one. I thought
+perhaps your bright brain might grapple successfully with the problem.
+But I suppose I shall have to fall back upon Stevens as usual. He'll be
+getting some funny ideas in his head soon about me--first a blue-nosed
+automatic--and now skeleton keys. He'll think I've joined the criminal
+classes."
+
+"Jimmy?" said Bundle.
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Look here--be careful, won't you? I mean if Sir Oswald finds you
+nosing around with skeleton keys--well, I should think he could be very
+unpleasant when he likes."
+
+"Young man of pleasing appearance in the dock! All right, I'll be
+careful. Pongo's the fellow I'm really frightened of. He sneaks around
+so on those flat feet of his. You never hear him coming. And he always
+did have a genius for poking his nose in where he wasn't wanted. But
+trust to the boy hero."
+
+"Well, I wish Loraine and I were going to be there to look after you."
+
+"Thank you, nurse. As a matter of fact, though, I have a scheme--"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Do you think you and Loraine might have a convenient car breakdown
+near Letherbury to-morrow morning? It's not so very far from you, is
+it?"
+
+"Forty miles. That's nothing."
+
+"I thought it wouldn't be--to you! Don't kill Loraine though. I'm
+rather fond of Loraine. All right, then--somewhere round about quarter
+to half-past twelve."
+
+"So that they invite us to lunch?"
+
+"That's the idea. I say, Bundle, I ran into that girl Socks yesterday
+and what do you think--Terence O'Rourke is going to be down there this
+week-end!"
+
+"Jimmy, do you think he--"
+
+"Well--suspect everyone, you know. That's what they say. He's a wild
+lad, and daring as they make them. I wouldn't put it past him to run a
+secret society. He and the Countess might be in this together. He was
+out in Hungary last year."
+
+"But he could pinch the formula any time."
+
+"That's just what he couldn't. He'd have to do it under circumstances
+where he couldn't be suspected. But the retreat up the ivy and into his
+own bed--well, that would be rather neat. Now for instructions. After
+a few polite nothings to Lady Coote, you and Loraine are to get hold
+of Pongo and O'Rourke by hook or by crook and keep them occupied till
+lunch time. See? It oughtn't to be difficult for a couple of beautiful
+girls like you."
+
+"You're using the best butter, I see."
+
+"A plain statement of fact."
+
+"Well, at any rate, your instructions are duly noted. Do you want to
+talk to Loraine now?"
+
+Bundle passed over the receiver and tactfully left the room.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXVII
+
+                          NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE
+
+
+Jimmy Thesiger arrived at Letherbury on a sunny autumn afternoon and
+was greeted affectionately by Lady Coote and with cold dislike by Sir
+Oswald. Aware of the keen match-making eye of Lady Coote upon him,
+Jimmy took pains to make himself extremely agreeable to Socks Daventry.
+
+O'Rourke was there in excellent spirits. He was inclined to be
+official and secretive about the mysterious events at the Abbey, about
+which Socks catechized him freely, but his official reticence took a
+novel form--namely that of embroidering the tale of events in such a
+fantastic manner that nobody could possibly guess what the truth might
+have been.
+
+"Four masked men with revolvers? Is that really so?" demanded Socks
+severely.
+
+"Ah! I'm remembering now that there was the round half dozen of them to
+hold me down and force the stuff down my throat. Sure, and I thought it
+was poison, and I done for entirely."
+
+"And what was stolen, or what did they try and steal?"
+
+"What else but the crown jewels of Russia that were brought to Mr.
+Lomax secretly to deposit in the Bank of England."
+
+"What a bloody liar you are," said Socks without emotion.
+
+"A liar? I? And the jewels brought over by aeroplane with my best
+friend as pilot. This is secret history I'm telling you, Socks. Will
+you ask Jimmy Thesiger there if you don't believe me. Not that I'd be
+putting any trust in what he'd say."
+
+"Is it true," said Socks, "that George Lomax came down without his
+false teeth? That's what I want to know."
+
+"There were two revolvers," said Lady Coote. "Nasty things. I saw them
+myself. It's a wonder this poor boy wasn't killed."
+
+"Oh, I was born to be hanged," said Jimmy.
+
+"I hear that there was a Russian countess there of subtle beauty," said
+Socks. "And that she vamped Bill."
+
+"Some of the things she said about Buda Pesth were too dreadful,"
+said Lady Coote. "I shall never forget them. Oswald, we must send a
+subscription."
+
+Sir Oswald grunted.
+
+"I'll make a note of it, Lady Coote," said Rupert Bateman.
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Bateman. I feel one ought to do something as a thank
+offering. I can't imagine how Sir Oswald escaped being shot--letting
+alone die of pneumonia."
+
+"Don't be foolish, Maria," said Sir Oswald.
+
+"I've always had a horror of cat burglars," said Lady Coote.
+
+"Think of having the luck to meet one face to face. How thrilling!"
+murmured Socks.
+
+"Don't you believe it," said Jimmy. "It's damned painful." And he
+patted his right arm gingerly.
+
+"How is the poor arm?" inquired Lady Coote.
+
+"Oh, pretty well all right now. But it's been the most confounded
+nuisance having to do everything with the left hand. I'm no good
+whatever with it."
+
+"Every child should be brought up to be ambidextrous," said Sir Oswald.
+
+"Oh!" said Socks, somewhat out of her depth. "Is that like seals?"
+
+"Not amphibious," said Mr. Bateman. "Ambidextrous means using either
+hand equally well."
+
+"Oh!" said Socks, looking at Sir Oswald with respect. "Can you?"
+
+"Certainly; I can write with either hand."
+
+"But not with both at once?"
+
+"That would not be practical," said Sir Oswald shortly.
+
+"No," said Socks thoughtfully. "I suppose that would be a bit too
+subtle."
+
+"It would be a grand thing now in a Government department," observed
+Mr. O'Rourke, "if one could keep the right hand from knowing what the
+left hand was doing."
+
+"Can you use both hands?"
+
+"No, indeed. I'm the most right-handed person that ever was."
+
+"But you deal cards with your left hand," said the observant Bateman.
+"I noticed the other night."
+
+"Oh, but that's different entirely," said Mr. O'Rourke easily.
+
+A gong with a sombre note pealed out and everyone went upstairs to
+dress for dinner.
+
+After dinner Sir Oswald and Lady Coote, Mr. Bateman and Mr. O'Rourke
+played bridge and Jimmy passed a flirtatious evening with Socks. The
+last words Jimmy heard as he retreated up the staircase that night were
+Sir Oswald saying to his wife:
+
+"You'll never make a bridge player, Maria."
+
+And her reply:
+
+"I know, dear. So you always say. You owe Mr. O'Rourke another pound,
+Oswald. That's right."
+
+It was some two hours later that Jimmy crept noiselessly (or so he
+hoped) down the stairs. He made one brief visit to the dining-room
+and then found his way to Sir Oswald's study. There, after listening
+intently for a minute or two, he set to work. Most of the drawers
+of the desk were locked, but a curiously shaped bit of wire in
+Jimmy's hand soon saw to that. One by one the drawers yielded to his
+manipulations.
+
+Drawer by drawer he sorted through methodically, being careful to
+replace everything in the same order. Once or twice he stopped
+to listen, fancying he heard some distant sound. But he remained
+undisturbed.
+
+The last drawer was looked through. Jimmy now knew--or could have
+known had he been paying attention--many interesting details relating
+to steel; but he had found nothing of what he wanted--a reference to
+Herr Eberhard's invention or anything that could give him a clue to
+the identity of the mysterious No. 7. He had, perhaps, hardly hoped
+that he would. It was an off-chance and he had taken it--but he had not
+expected much result--except by sheer luck.
+
+He tested the drawers to make sure that he had relocked them securely.
+He knew Rupert Bateman's powers of minute observation and glanced round
+the room to make sure that he had left no incriminating trace of his
+presence.
+
+"That's that," he muttered to himself softly. "Nothing there. Well,
+perhaps I'll have better luck to-morrow morning--if the girls only play
+up."
+
+He came out of the study, closing the door behind him and locking it.
+For a moment he thought he heard a sound quite near him, but decided he
+had been mistaken. He felt his way noiselessly along the great hall.
+Just enough light came from the high vaulted windows to enable him to
+pick his way without stumbling into anything.
+
+Again he heard a soft sound--he heard it quite certainly this time and
+without the possibility of making a mistake. He was not alone in the
+hall. Somebody else was there, moving as stealthily as he was. His
+heart beat suddenly very fast.
+
+With a sudden spring he jumped to the electric switch and turned on the
+lights. The sudden glare made him blink--but he saw plainly enough. Not
+four feet away stood Rupert Bateman.
+
+"My goodness, Pongo," cried Jimmy, "you did give me a start. Slinking
+about like that in the dark."
+
+"I heard a noise," explained Mr. Bateman severely. "I thought burglars
+had got in and I came down to see."
+
+Jimmy looked thoughtfully at Mr. Bateman's rubber-soled feet.
+
+"You think of everything, Pongo," he said genially. "Even a lethal
+weapon."
+
+His eye rested on the bulge in the other's pocket.
+
+"It's as well to be armed. One never knows whom one may meet."
+
+"I am glad you didn't shoot," said Jimmy. "I'm a bit tired of being
+shot at."
+
+"I might easily have done so," said Mr. Bateman.
+
+"It would be dead against the law if you did," said Jimmy. "You've got
+to make quite sure the beggar's house-breaking, you know, before you
+pot at him. You mustn't jump to conclusions. Otherwise you'd have to
+explain why you shot a guest on a perfectly innocent errand like mine."
+
+"By the way, what did you come down for?"
+
+"I was hungry," said Jimmy. "I rather fancied a dry biscuit."
+
+"There are some biscuits in a tin by your bed," said Rupert Bateman.
+
+He was staring at Jimmy very intently through his horn-rimmed
+spectacles.
+
+"Ah! That's where the staff work has gone wrong, old boy. There's a
+tin there with 'Biscuits for Starving Visitors' on it. But when the
+starving visitor opened it--nothing inside. So I just toddled down to
+the dining-room."
+
+And with a sweet, ingenuous smile, Jimmy produced from his
+dressing-gown pocket a handful of biscuits.
+
+There was a moment's pause.
+
+"And now I think I'll toddle back to bed," said Jimmy. "Night-night,
+Pongo."
+
+With an affectation of nonchalance, he mounted the staircase. Rupert
+Bateman followed him. At the doorway of his room, Jimmy paused as if to
+say good-night once more.
+
+"It's an extraordinary thing about these biscuits," said Mr. Bateman.
+"Do you mind if I just--"
+
+"Certainly, laddie, look for yourself."
+
+Mr. Bateman strode across the room, opened the biscuit box and stared
+at its emptiness.
+
+"Very remiss," he murmured. "Well, good-night."
+
+He withdrew. Jimmy sat on the edge of his bed listening for a minute.
+
+"That was a narrow shave," he murmured to himself. "Suspicious sort of
+chap, Pongo. Never seems to sleep. Nasty habit of his prowling around
+with a revolver."
+
+He got up and opened one of the drawers of the dressing-table. Beneath
+an assortment of ties lay a pile of biscuits.
+
+"There's nothing for it," said Jimmy. "I shall have to eat all the
+damned things. Ten to one, Pongo will come prowling round in the
+morning."
+
+With a sigh, he settled down to a meal of biscuits for which he had no
+inclination whatever.
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+                              SUSPICIONS
+
+
+It was just on the appointed hour of twelve o'clock that Bundle and
+Loraine entered the park gates, having left the Hispano at an adjacent
+garage.
+
+Lady Coote greeted the two girls with surprise, but distinct pleasure,
+and immediately pressed them to stay to lunch.
+
+O'Rourke, who had been reclining in an immense arm-chair, began at once
+to talk with great animation to Loraine, who was listening with half an
+ear to Bundle's highly technical explanation of the mechanical troubles
+which had affected the Hispano.
+
+"And we said," ended Bundle, "how marvellous that the brute should have
+broken down just here! Last time it happened was on a Sunday at a place
+called Little Spedlington under the Hill. And it lived up to its name,
+I can tell you."
+
+"That would be a grand name on the films," remarked O'Rourke.
+
+"Birthplace of the simple country maiden," suggested Socks.
+
+"I wonder now," said Lady Coote, "where Mr. Thesiger is?"
+
+"He's in the billiard-room, I think," said Socks. "I'll fetch him."
+
+She went off, but had hardly gone a minute when Rupert Bateman appeared
+on the scene, with the harassed and serious air usual with him.
+
+"Yes, Lady Coote? Thesiger said you were asking for me. How do you do,
+Lady Eileen--"
+
+He broke off to greet the two girls, and Loraine immediately took the
+field.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Bateman! I've been wanting to see you. Wasn't it you who was
+telling me what to do for a dog when he is continually getting sore
+paws?"
+
+The secretary shook his head.
+
+"It must have been someone else, Miss Wade. Though, as a matter of
+fact, I do happen to know--"
+
+"What a wonderful young man you are," interrupted Loraine. "You know
+about everything."
+
+"One should keep abreast of modern knowledge," said Mr. Bateman
+seriously. "Now about your dog's paws--"
+
+Terence O'Rourke murmured _sotto voce_ to Bundle:
+
+"'Tis a man like that that writes all those little paragraphs in
+the weekly papers. 'It is not generally known that to keep a brass
+fender uniformly bright,' etc.; 'The dorper beetle is one of the most
+interesting characters in the insect world'; 'The marriage customs of
+the Fingalese Indians,' and so on."
+
+"General information, in fact."
+
+"And what more horrible two words could you have?" said Mr. O'Rourke,
+and added piously: "Thank the Heavens above I'm an educated man and
+know nothing whatever upon any subject at all."
+
+"I see you've got clock golf here," said Bundle to Lady Coote.
+
+"I'll take you on at it, Lady Eileen," said O'Rourke.
+
+"Let's challenge those two," said Bundle. "Loraine, Mr. O'Rourke and I
+want to take you and Mr. Bateman on at clock golf."
+
+"Do play, Mr. Bateman," said Lady Coote, as the secretary showed a
+momentary hesitation. "I'm sure Sir Oswald doesn't want you."
+
+The four went out on the lawn.
+
+"Very cleverly managed, what?" whispered Bundle to Loraine.
+"Congratulations on our girlish tact."
+
+The round ended just before one o'clock, victory going to Bateman and
+Loraine.
+
+"But I think you'll agree with me, partner," said Mr. O'Rourke, "that
+we played a more sporting game."
+
+He lagged a little behind with Bundle.
+
+"Old Pongo's a cautious player--he takes no risks. Now, with me it's
+neck or nothing. And a fine motto through life, don't you agree, Lady
+Eileen?"
+
+"Hasn't it ever landed you in trouble?" asked Bundle, laughing.
+
+"To be sure it has. Millions of times. But I'm still going strong.
+Sure, it'll take the hangman's noose to defeat Terence O'Rourke."
+
+Just then Jimmy Thesiger strolled round the corner of the house.
+
+"Bundle, by all that's wonderful!" he exclaimed.
+
+"You've missed competing in the Autumn Meeting," said O'Rourke.
+
+"I'd gone for a stroll," said Jimmy. "Where did these girls drop from?"
+
+"We came on our flat feet," said Bundle. "The Hispano let us down."
+
+And she narrated the circumstances of the breakdown.
+
+Jimmy listened with sympathetic attention.
+
+"Hard luck," he vouchsafed. "If it's going to take some time, I'll run
+you back in my car after lunch."
+
+A gong sounded at that moment and they all went in. Bundle observed
+Jimmy covertly. She thought she had noticed an unusual note of
+exultance in his voice. She had the feeling that things had gone well.
+
+After lunch they took a polite leave of Lady Coote, and Jimmy
+volunteered to run them down to the garage in his car. As soon as they
+had started the same word burst simultaneously from both girls' lips:
+
+"Well?"
+
+Jimmy chose to be provoking.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Oh, pretty hearty, thanks. Slight indigestion owing to over indulgence
+in dry biscuits."
+
+"But what has happened?"
+
+"I tell you. Devotion to the cause made me eat too many dry biscuits.
+But did our hero flinch? No, he did not."
+
+"Oh, Jimmy," said Loraine reproachfully, and he softened.
+
+"What do you really want to know?"
+
+"Oh, everything. Didn't we do it well? I mean, the way we kept Pongo
+and Terence O'Rourke in play."
+
+"I congratulate you on the handling of Pongo. O'Rourke was probably a
+sitter--but Pongo is made of other stuff. There's only one word for
+that lad--it was in the _Sunday Newsbag_ cross-word last week. Word
+of ten letters meaning everywhere at once. Ubiquitous. That describes
+Pongo down to the ground. You can't go anywhere without running into
+him--and the worst of it is you never hear him coming."
+
+"You think he's dangerous?"
+
+"Dangerous? Of course he's not dangerous. Fancy Pongo being dangerous.
+He's an ass. But, as I said just now, he's an ubiquitous ass. He
+doesn't even seem to need sleep like ordinary mortals. In fact, to put
+it bluntly, the fellow's a damned nuisance."
+
+And, in a somewhat aggrieved manner, Jimmy described the events of the
+previous evening.
+
+Bundle was not very sympathetic.
+
+"I don't know what you think you're doing anyway, mouching round here."
+
+"No. 7," said Jimmy crisply. "That's what I'm after. No. 7."
+
+"And you think you'll find him in this house?"
+
+"I thought I might find a clue."
+
+"And you didn't?"
+
+"Not last night--no."
+
+"But this morning," said Loraine, breaking in suddenly. "Jimmy, you did
+find something this morning. I can see it by your face."
+
+"Well, I don't know if it is anything. But during the course of my
+stroll--"
+
+"Which stroll didn't take you far from the house, I imagine."
+
+"Strangely enough, it didn't. Round trip in the interior, we might
+call it. Well, as I say, I don't know whether there's anything in it or
+not. But I found this."
+
+With the celerity of a conjuror he produced a small bottle and tossed
+it over to the girls. It was half full of a white powder.
+
+"What do you think it is?" asked Bundle.
+
+"A white crystalline powder, that's what it is," said Jimmy. "And to
+any reader of detective fiction those words are both familiar and
+suggestive. Of course, if it turns out to be a new kind of patent
+tooth-powder, I shall be chagrined and annoyed."
+
+"Where did you find it?" asked Bundle sharply.
+
+"Ah!" said Jimmy, "that's my secret."
+
+And from that point he would not budge in spite of cajolery and insult.
+
+"Here we are at the garage," he said. "Let's hope the high-mettled
+Hispano has not been subjected to any indignities."
+
+The gentleman at the garage presented a bill for five shillings and
+made a few vague remarks about loose nuts. Bundle paid him with a sweet
+smile.
+
+"It's nice to know we all get money for nothing sometimes," she
+murmured to Jimmy.
+
+The three stood together in the road, silent for the moment as they
+each pondered the situation.
+
+"I know," said Bundle suddenly.
+
+"Know what?"
+
+"Something I meant to ask you--and nearly forgot. Do you remember that
+glove that Superintendent Battle found--the half-burnt one?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Didn't you say that he tried it on your hand?"
+
+"Yes--it was a shade big. That fits in with the idea of its being a
+big, hefty man who wore it."
+
+"That's not at all what I'm bothering about. Never mind the size of it.
+George and Sir Oswald were both there too, weren't they?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He could have given it to either of them to fit on?"
+
+"Yes, of course--"
+
+"But he didn't. He chose you. Jimmy, don't you see what that means?"
+
+Mr. Thesiger stared at her.
+
+"I'm sorry, Bundle. Possibly the jolly old brain isn't functioning as
+well as usual, but I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking
+about."
+
+"Don't you see, Loraine?"
+
+Loraine looked at her curiously, but shook her head. "Does it mean
+anything in particular?"
+
+"Of course it does. Don't you see--Jimmy had his right hand in a sling."
+
+"By Jove, Bundle," said Jimmy slowly. "It was rather odd now I come to
+think of it; it's being a left hand glove, I mean. Battle never said
+anything."
+
+"He wasn't going to draw attention to it. By trying it on you it might
+pass without notice being drawn to it, and he talked about the size
+just to put everybody off. But surely it must mean that the man who
+shot at you held the pistol in his _left_ hand."
+
+"So we've got to look for a left-handed man," said Loraine thoughtfully.
+
+"Yes, and I'll tell you another thing. That was what Battle was doing
+looking through the golf clubs. He was looking for a left-handed man's."
+
+"By Jove," said Jimmy suddenly.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Well, I don't suppose there's anything in it, but it's rather curious."
+
+He retailed the conversation at tea the day before.
+
+"So Sir Oswald Coote is ambidextrous?" said Bundle.
+
+"Yes. And I remember now on that night at Chimneys--you know, the
+night Gerry Wade died--I was watching the bridge and thinking idly how
+awkwardly someone was dealing--and then realizing that it was because
+they were dealing with the left hand. Of course, it must have been Sir
+Oswald."
+
+They all three looked at each other. Loraine shook her head.
+
+"A man like Sir Oswald Coote! It's impossible. What could he have to
+gain by it?"
+
+"It seems absurd," said Jimmy. "And yet--"
+
+"No. 7 has his own ways of working," quoted Bundle softly. "Supposing
+this is the way Sir Oswald has really made his fortune?"
+
+"But why stage all that comedy at the Abbey when he'd had the formula
+at his own works."
+
+"There might be ways of explaining that," said Loraine. "The same line
+of argument you used about Mr. O'Rourke. Suspicion had to be diverted
+from him and placed in another quarter."
+
+Bundle nodded eagerly.
+
+"It all fits in. Suspicion is to fall on Bauer and the Countess. Who on
+earth would ever dream of suspecting Sir Oswald Coote?"
+
+"I wonder if Battle does," said Jimmy slowly.
+
+Some chord of memory vibrated in Bundle's mind. _Superintendent Battle
+plucking an ivy leaf off the millionaire's coat._
+
+Had Battle suspected all the time?
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXIX
+
+                  SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF GEORGE LOMAX
+
+
+"Mr. Lomax is here, my lord."
+
+Lord Caterham started violently, for, absorbed in the intricacies
+of what not to do with the left wrist, he had not heard the butler
+approach over the soft turf. He looked at Tredwell more in sorrow than
+in anger.
+
+"I told you at breakfast, Tredwell, that I should be particularly
+engaged this morning."
+
+"Yes, my lord, but--"
+
+"Go and tell Mr. Lomax that you have made a mistake, that I am out in
+the village, that I am laid up with the gout, or, if all else fails,
+that I am dead."
+
+"Mr. Lomax, my lord, has already caught sight of your lordship when
+driving up the drive."
+
+Lord Caterham sighed deeply.
+
+"He would. Very well, Tredwell, I am coming." In a manner highly
+characteristic, Lord Caterham was always most genial when his feelings
+were in reality the reverse. He greeted George now with a heartiness
+quite unparalleled.
+
+"My dear fellow, my dear fellow. Delighted to see you. Absolutely
+delighted. Sit down. Have a drink. Well, well, this is splendid!"
+
+And having pushed George into a large arm-chair, he sat down opposite
+him and blinked nervously.
+
+"I wanted to see you very particularly," said George.
+
+"Oh!" said Lord Caterham faintly, and his heart sank, whilst his mind
+raced actively over all the dread possibilities that might lie behind
+that simple phrase.
+
+"_Very_ particularly," said George with heavy emphasis.
+
+Lord Caterham's heart sank lower than ever. He felt that something was
+coming worse than anything he had yet thought of.
+
+"Yes?" he said, with a courageous attempt at nonchalance.
+
+"Is Eileen at home?"
+
+Lord Caterham felt reprieved, but slightly surprised.
+
+"Yes, yes," he said. "Bundle's here. Got that friend of hers with
+her--the little Wade girl. Very nice girl--_very_ nice girl. Going to
+be quite a good golfer one day. Nice easy swing--"
+
+He was chatting garrulously on when George interrupted with
+ruthlessness:
+
+"I am glad Eileen is at home. Perhaps I might have an interview with
+her presently?"
+
+"Certainly, my dear fellow, certainly." Lord Caterham still felt very
+surprised, but was still enjoying the sensation of reprieve. "If it
+doesn't bore you."
+
+"Nothing could bore me less," said George. "I think, Caterham, if I may
+say so, that you hardly appreciate the fact that Eileen is grown up.
+She is no longer a child. She is a woman, and if I may say so, a very
+charming and talented woman. The man who succeeds in winning her love
+will be extremely lucky. I repeat it--extremely lucky."
+
+"Oh, I daresay," said Lord Caterham. "But she's very restless, you
+know. Never content to be in one place for more than two minutes
+together. However, I daresay young fellows don't mind that nowadays."
+
+"You mean that she is not content to stagnate. Eileen has brains,
+Caterham; she is ambitious. She interests herself in the questions of
+the day, and brings her fresh and vivid young intellect to bear upon
+them."
+
+Lord Caterham stared at him. It occurred to him that what was so often
+referred to as "the strain of modern life," had begun to tell upon
+George. Certainly his description of Bundle seemed to Lord Caterham
+ludicrously unlike.
+
+"Are you sure you are feeling quite well?" he asked anxiously.
+
+George waved the inquiry aside impatiently.
+
+"Perhaps, Caterham, you begin to have some inkling of my purpose
+in visiting you this morning. I am not a man to undertake fresh
+responsibilities lightly. I have a proper sense, I hope, of what is due
+to the position I hold. I have given this matter my deep and earnest
+consideration. Marriage, especially at my age, is not to be undertaken
+without full--er--consideration. Equality of birth, similarity of
+tastes, general suitability, and the same religious creed--all these
+things are necessary and the pros and cons have to be weighed and
+considered. I can, I think, offer my wife a position in society that
+is not to be despised. Eileen will grace that position admirably. By
+birth and breeding she is fitted for it, and her brains and her acute
+political sense cannot but further my career to our mutual advantage.
+I am aware, Caterham, that there is--er--some disparity in years. But
+I can assure you that I feel full of vigour--in my prime. The balance
+of years should be on the husband's side. And Eileen has serious
+tastes--an older man will suit her better than some young jackanapes
+without either experience or _savoir-faire_. I can assure you, my dear
+Caterham, that I will cherish her--er--exquisite youth; I will cherish
+it--er--it will be appreciated. To watch the exquisite flower of her
+mind unfolding--what a privilege! And to think that I never realized--"
+
+He shook his head deprecatingly and Lord Caterham, finding his voice
+with difficulty, said blankly:
+
+"Do I understand you to mean--ah, my dear fellow, you can't want to
+marry Bundle?"
+
+"You are surprised. I suppose to you it seems sudden. I have your
+permission, then, to speak to her?"
+
+"Oh, yes," said Lord Caterham. "If it's permission you want--of course
+you can. But you know, Lomax, I really shouldn't if I were you. Just go
+home and think it over like a good fellow. Count twenty. All that sort
+of thing. Always a pity to propose and make a fool of yourself."
+
+"I daresay you mean your advice kindly, Caterham, though I must confess
+that you put it somewhat strangely. But I have made up my mind to put
+my fortune to the test. I may see Eileen?"
+
+"Oh, it's nothing to do with me," said Lord Caterham hastily; "Eileen
+settles her own affairs. If she came to me to-morrow and said she was
+going to marry the chauffeur, I shouldn't make any objections. It's the
+only way nowadays. Your children can make life damned unpleasant if you
+don't give in to them in every way. I say to Bundle, 'Do as you like,
+but don't worry me,' and really, on the whole, she is amazingly good
+about it."
+
+George stood up, intent upon his purpose.
+
+"Where shall I find her?"
+
+"Well, really, I don't know," said Lord Caterham vaguely. "She might be
+anywhere. As I told you just now, she's never in the same place for two
+minutes together. No repose."
+
+"And I suppose Miss Wade will be with her? It seems to me, Caterham,
+that the best plan would be for you to ring the bell and ask your
+butler to find her, saying that I wish to speak to her for a few
+minutes."
+
+Lord Caterham pressed the bell obediently.
+
+"Oh, Tredwell," he said, when the bell was answered, "just find her
+ladyship, will you? Tell her Mr. Lomax is anxious to speak to her in
+the drawing-room."
+
+"Yes, my lord."
+
+Tredwell withdrew. George seized Lord Caterham's hand and wrung it
+warmly, much to the latter's discomfort.
+
+"A thousand thanks," he said. "I hope soon to bring you good news."
+
+He hastened from the room.
+
+"Well," said Lord Caterham. "Well!"
+
+And after a long pause:
+
+"What _has_ Bundle been up to?"
+
+The door opened again.
+
+"Mr. Eversleigh, my lord."
+
+As Bill hastened in, Lord Caterham caught his hand and spoke earnestly.
+
+"Hullo, Bill. You're looking for Lomax, I suppose? Look here, if you
+want to do a good turn, hurry into the drawing-room and tell him the
+Cabinet have called an immediate meeting, or get him away somehow. It's
+really not fair to let the poor devil make an ass of himself all for
+some silly girl's prank."
+
+"I've not come for Codders," said Bill. "Didn't know he was here. It's
+Bundle I want to see. Is she anywhere about?"
+
+"You can't see her," said Lord Caterham. "Not just now, at any rate.
+George is with her."
+
+"Well--what does it matter?"
+
+"I think it does rather," said Lord Caterham. "He's probably
+spluttering horribly at this minute, and we mustn't do anything to make
+it worse for him."
+
+"But what is he saying?"
+
+"Heavens knows," said Lord Caterham. "A lot of damned nonsense,
+anyway. Never say too much, that was always my motto. Grab the girl's
+hand and let events take their course."
+
+Bill stared at him.
+
+"But look here, sir, I'm in a hurry. I must talk to Bundle--"
+
+"Well, I don't suppose you'll have to wait long. I must confess I'm
+rather glad to have you here with me--I suppose Lomax will insist on
+coming back and talking to me when it's all over."
+
+"When what's all over? What is Lomax supposed to be doing?"
+
+"Hush," said Lord Caterham. "He's proposing."
+
+"Proposing? Proposing what?"
+
+"Marriage. To Bundle. Don't ask me why. I suppose he's come to what
+they call the dangerous age. I can't explain it any other way."
+
+"Proposing to Bundle? The dirty swine. At his age."
+
+Bill's face grew crimson.
+
+"He says he's in the prime of life," said Lord Caterham cautiously.
+
+"He? Why, he's decrepit--senile! I--" Bill positively choked.
+
+"Not at all," said Lord Caterham coldly. "He's five years younger than
+I am."
+
+"Of all the damned cheek! Codders and Bundle! A girl like Bundle! You
+oughtn't to have allowed it."
+
+"I never interfere," said Lord Caterham.
+
+"You ought to have told him what you thought of him."
+
+"Unfortunately modern civilization rules that out," said Lord Caterham
+regretfully. "In the Stone Age now--but, dear me, I suppose even then I
+shouldn't be able to do it--being a small man."
+
+"Bundle! Bundle! Why, I've never dared to ask Bundle to marry me
+because I knew she'd only laugh. And George--a disgusting wind-bag, an
+unscrupulous, hypocritical old hot-air merchant--a foul, poisonous self
+advertiser--"
+
+"Go on," said Lord Caterham. "I'm enjoying this."
+
+"My God!" said Bill simply and with feeling. "Look here, I must be off."
+
+"No, no, don't go. I'd much rather you stayed. Besides, you want to see
+Bundle."
+
+"Not now. This has driven everything else out of my head. You don't
+know where Jimmy Thesiger is by any chance? I believe he was staying
+with the Cootes. Is he there still?"
+
+"I think he went back to town yesterday. Bundle and Loraine were over
+there on Saturday. If you'll only wait--"
+
+But Bill shook his head energetically and rushed from the room. Lord
+Caterham tiptoed out into the hall, seized a hat and made a hurried
+exit by the side door. In the distance he observed Bill streaking down
+the drive in his car.
+
+"That young man will have an accident," he thought.
+
+Bill, however, reached London without any mischance, and proceeded to
+park his car in St. James's Square. Then he sought out Jimmy Thesiger's
+rooms. Jimmy was at home.
+
+"Hullo, Bill. I say, what's the matter? You don't look your usual
+bright little self."
+
+"I'm worried," said Bill. "I was worried anyway, and then something
+else turned up and gave me a jolt."
+
+"Oh!" said Jimmy. "How lucid. What's it all about? Can I do anything?"
+
+Bill did not reply. He sat staring at the carpet and looking so puzzled
+and uncomfortable that Jimmy felt his curiosity aroused.
+
+"Has anything very extraordinary occurred, William?" he asked gently.
+
+"Something damned odd. I can't make head or tail of it."
+
+"The Seven Dials business?"
+
+"Yes--the Seven Dials business. I got a letter this morning."
+
+"A letter? What sort of a letter?"
+
+"A letter from Ronny Devereux's executors."
+
+"Good Lord! After all this time!"
+
+"It seems he left instructions. If he was to die suddenly, a certain
+sealed envelope was to be sent to me exactly a fortnight after his
+death."
+
+"And they've sent it to you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You've opened it?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well--what did it say?"
+
+Bill turned a glance upon him, such a strange and uncertain one that
+Jimmy was startled.
+
+"Look here," he said. "Pull yourself together, old man. It seems to
+have knocked the wind out of you, whatever it is. Have a drink."
+
+He poured out a stiff whisky and soda and brought it over to Bill, who
+took it obediently. His face still bore the same dazed expression.
+
+"It's what's in the letter," he said. "I simply can't believe it,
+that's all."
+
+"Oh, nonsense," said Jimmy. "You must get into the habit of believing
+six impossible things before breakfast. I do it regularly. Now then,
+let's hear all about it. Wait a minute."
+
+He went outside.
+
+"Stevens?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Just go out and get me some cigarettes, will you? I've run out."
+
+"Very good, sir."
+
+Jimmy waited till he heard the front door close. Then he came back into
+the sitting-room. Bill was just in the act of setting down his empty
+glass. He looked better, more purposeful and more master of himself.
+
+"Now then," said Jimmy. "I've sent Stevens out so that we can't be
+overheard. Are you going to tell me all about it?"
+
+"It's so incredible."
+
+"Then it's sure to be true. Come on, out with it."
+
+Bill drew a deep breath.
+
+"I will. I'll tell you everything."
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER XXX
+
+                           AN URGENT SUMMONS
+
+
+Loraine, playing with a small and delectable puppy, was somewhat
+surprised when Bundle rejoined her after an absence of twenty minutes,
+in a breathless state and with an indescribable expression on her face.
+
+"Whoof," said Bundle, sinking on to a garden seat. "Whoof."
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Loraine, looking at her curiously.
+
+"George is the matter--George Lomax."
+
+"What's he been doing?"
+
+"Proposing to me. It was awful. He spluttered and he stuttered, but
+he would go through with it--he must have learnt it out of a book, I
+think. There was no stopping him. Oh, how I hate men who splutter! And,
+unfortunately, I didn't know the reply."
+
+"You must have known what you wanted to do."
+
+"Naturally I'm not going to marry an apoplectic idiot like George. What
+I mean is, I didn't know the correct reply from the book of etiquette.
+I could only just say flatly: 'No, I won't.' What I ought to have said
+was something about being very sensible of the honour he had done me
+and so on and so on. But I got so rattled that in the end I jumped out
+of the window and bolted."
+
+"Really, Bundle, that's not like you."
+
+"Well, I never dreamt of such a thing happening. George--who I always
+thought hated me--and he did too. What a fatal thing it is to pretend
+to take an interest in a man's pet subject. You should have heard the
+drivel George talked about my girlish mind and the pleasure it would be
+to form it. My mind! If George knew one quarter of what was going on in
+my mind, he'd faint with horror!"
+
+Loraine laughed. She couldn't help it.
+
+"Oh, I know it's my own fault. I let myself in for this. There's Father
+dodging round that rhododendron. Hallo Father."
+
+Lord Caterham approached with a hangdog expression.
+
+"Lomax gone, eh?" he remarked with somewhat forced geniality.
+
+"A nice business you let me in for," said Bundle. "George told me he
+had your full approval and sanction."
+
+"Well," said Lord Caterham, "what did you expect me to say? As a matter
+of fact, I didn't say that at all, or anything like it."
+
+"I didn't really think so," said Bundle. "I assumed that George had
+talked you into a corner and reduced you to such a state that you could
+only nod your head feebly."
+
+"That's very much what happened. How did he take it? Badly?"
+
+"I didn't wait to see," said Bundle. "I'm afraid I was rather abrupt."
+
+"Oh, well," said Lord Caterham, "perhaps that was the best way. Thank
+goodness in the future Lomax won't always be running over as he has
+been in the habit of doing, worrying me about things. Everything is for
+the best they say. Have you seen my jigger anywhere?"
+
+"A mashie shot or two would steady my nerves, I think," said Bundle.
+"I'll take you on for sixpence, Loraine."
+
+An hour passed very peacefully. The three returned to the house in a
+harmonious spirit. A note lay on the hall table.
+
+"Mr. Lomax left that for you, my lord," explained Tredwell. "He was
+much disappointed to find that you had gone out."
+
+Lord Caterham tore it open. He uttered a pained ejaculation and turned
+upon his daughter. Tredwell had retired.
+
+"Really, Bundle, you might have made yourself clear, I think."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Well, read this."
+
+Bundle took it and read:
+
+    "MY DEAR CATERHAM--
+
+    "I am sorry not to have had a word with you. I thought I made
+    it clear that I wanted to see you again after my interview with
+    Eileen. She, dear child, was evidently quite unaware of the
+    feelings I entertained towards her. She was, I am afraid, much
+    startled. I have no wish to hurry her in any way. Her girlish
+    confusion was very charming, and I entertain an even higher regard
+    for her, as I much appreciate her maidenly reserve. I must give her
+    time to become accustomed to the idea. Her very confusion shows
+    that she is not wholly indifferent to me and I have no doubts of my
+    ultimate success.
+
+                                            "Believe me, dear Caterham,
+                                                  "Your sincere friend,
+                                                        "GEORGE LOMAX."
+
+"Well," said Bundle. "Well, I'm damned!"
+
+Words failed her.
+
+"The man must be mad," said Lord Caterham. "No one could write those
+things about you, Bundle, unless they were slightly touched in the
+head. Poor chap, poor chap. But what persistence! I don't wonder he
+got into the Cabinet. It would serve him right if you did marry him,
+Bundle."
+
+The telephone rang and Bundle moved forward to answer it. In another
+minute George and his proposal were forgotten, and she was beckoning
+eagerly to Loraine. Lord Caterham went off to his own sanctum.
+
+"It's Jimmy," said Bundle. "And he's tremendously excited about
+something."
+
+"Thank goodness I've caught you," said Jimmy's voice. "There's no time
+to be lost. Loraine's there, too?"
+
+"Yes, she's here."
+
+"Well, look here, I haven't got time to explain everything--in fact, I
+can't through the telephone. But Bill has been round to see me with the
+most amazing story you ever heard. If it's true--well, if it's true,
+it's the biggest scoop of the century. Now, look here, this is what
+you've got to do. Come up to town at once, both of you. Garage the car
+somewhere and go straight to the Seven Dials Club. Do you think that
+when you get there you can get rid of that footman fellow?"
+
+"Alfred? Rather. You leave that to me."
+
+"Good. Get rid of him and watch out for me and Bill. Don't show
+yourselves at the windows, but when we drive up, let us in at once.
+See?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That's all right then. Oh, Bundle, don't let on that you're going up
+to town. Make some other excuse. Say you're taking Loraine home. How
+would that do?"
+
+"Splendidly. I say, Jimmy, I'm thrilled to the core."
+
+"And you might as well make your will before starting."
+
+"Better and better. But I wish I knew what it was all about."
+
+"You will as soon as we meet. I'll tell you this much. We're going to
+get ready the hell of a surprise for No. 7!"
+
+Bundle hung up the receiver and turned to Loraine, giving her a rapid
+résumé of the conversation. Loraine rushed upstairs and hurriedly
+packed her suitcase, and Bundle put her head round her father's door.
+
+"I'm taking Loraine home, Father."
+
+"Why? I had no idea she was going to-day."
+
+"They want her back," said Bundle vaguely. "Just telephoned. Bye-bye."
+
+"Here, Bundle, wait a minute. When will you be home?"
+
+"Don't know. Expect me when you see me."
+
+With this unceremonious exit Bundle rushed upstairs, put a hat on,
+slipped into her fur coat and was ready to start. She had already
+ordered the Hispano to be brought round.
+
+The journey to London was without adventure, except such as was
+habitually provided by Bundle's driving. They left the car at a garage
+and proceeded direct to the Seven Dials Club.
+
+The door was opened to them by Alfred. Bundle pushed her way past him
+without ceremony and Loraine followed.
+
+"Shut the door, Alfred," said Bundle. "Now, I've come here especially
+to do you a good turn. The police are after you."
+
+"Oh, my lady!"
+
+Alfred turned chalk white.
+
+"I've come to warn you because you did me a good turn the other night,"
+went on Bundle rapidly. "There's a warrant out for Mr. Mosgorovsky,
+and the best thing you can do is to clear out of here as quick as you
+can. If you're not found here, they won't bother about you. Here's ten
+pounds to help you get away somewhere."
+
+In three minutes' time an incoherent and badly scared Alfred had left
+14 Hunstanton Street with only one idea in his head--never to return.
+
+"Well, I've managed that all right," said Bundle with satisfaction.
+
+"Was it necessary to be so--well, drastic?" Loraine demurred.
+
+"It's safer," said Bundle. "I don't know what Jimmy and Bill are up to,
+but we don't want Alfred coming back in the middle of it and wrecking
+everything. Hallo, here they are. Well, they haven't wasted much time.
+Probably watching round the corner to see Alfred leave. Go down and
+open the door to them, Loraine."
+
+Loraine obeyed. Jimmy Thesiger alighted from the driving seat.
+
+"You stop there for a moment, Bill," he said. "Blow the horn if you
+think anyone's watching the place."
+
+He ran up the steps and banged the door behind him. He looked pink and
+elated.
+
+"Hallo, Bundle, there you are. Now then, we've got to get down to it.
+Where's the key of the room you got into last time?"
+
+"It was one of the downstairs keys. We'd better bring the lot up."
+
+"Right you are, but be quick. Time's short."
+
+The key was easily found, the baize-lined door swung back and the three
+entered. The room was exactly as Bundle had seen it before, with the
+seven chairs grouped round the table. Jimmy surveyed it for a minute or
+two in silence. Then his eye went to the two cupboards.
+
+"Which is the cupboard you hid in, Bundle?"
+
+"This one."
+
+Jimmy went to it and flung the door open. The same collection of
+miscellaneous glassware covered the shelves.
+
+"We shall have to shift all this stuff," he murmured. "Run down and
+get Bill, Loraine. There's no need for him to keep watch outside any
+longer."
+
+Loraine ran off.
+
+"What are you going to do?" inquired Bundle impatiently.
+
+Jimmy was down on his knees, trying to peer through the crack of the
+other cupboard door.
+
+"Wait till Bill comes and you shall hear the whole story. This is his
+staff work--and a jolly creditable bit of work it is. Hallo--what's
+Loraine flying up the stairs for as though she'd got a mad bull after
+her?"
+
+Loraine was indeed racing up the stairs as fast as she could. She burst
+in upon them with an ashen face and terror in her eyes.
+
+"Bill--Bill--oh, Bundle--Bill!"
+
+"What about Bill?"
+
+Jimmy caught her by the shoulder.
+
+"For God's sake, Loraine, what's happened?"
+
+Loraine was still gasping.
+
+"Bill--I think he's dead--he's in the car still--but he doesn't move or
+speak. I'm sure he's dead."
+
+Jimmy muttered an oath and sprang for the stairs, Bundle behind
+him, her heart pounding unevenly and an awful feeling of desolation
+spreading over her.
+
+Bill--dead? Oh, no! Oh, no! Not that. Please God--not that.
+
+Together she and Jimmy reached the car, Loraine behind them.
+
+Jimmy peered under the hood. Bill was sitting as he had left him,
+leaning back. But his eyes were closed and Jimmy's pull at his arm
+brought no response.
+
+"I can't understand it," muttered Jimmy. "But he's not dead. Cheer up,
+Bundle. Look here, we've got to get him into the house. Let's pray to
+goodness no policeman comes along. If anybody says anything, he's our
+sick friend we're helping into the house."
+
+Between the three of them they got Bill into the house without much
+difficulty, and without attracting much attention, save for an unshaven
+gentleman, who said sympathetically:
+
+"Genneman's 'ad a couple, I shee," and nodded his head sapiently.
+
+"Into the little back room downstairs," said Jimmy. "There's a sofa
+there."
+
+They got him safely on to the sofa and Bundle knelt down beside him and
+took his limp wrist in her hand.
+
+"His pulse is beating," she said. "What _is_ the matter with him?"
+
+"He was all right when I left him just now," said Jimmy. "I wonder if
+someone's managed to inject some stuff into him. It would be easily
+done--just a prick. The man might have been asking him the time.
+There's only one thing for it. I must get a doctor at once. You stay
+here and look after him."
+
+He hurried to the door, then paused.
+
+"Look here--don't be scared, either of you. But I'd better leave you my
+revolver. I mean--just in case. I'll be back just as soon as I possibly
+can."
+
+He laid the revolver down on the little table by the sofa, then hurried
+off. They heard the front door bang behind him.
+
+The house seemed very still now. The two girls stayed motionless by
+Bill. Bundle still kept her finger on his pulse. It seemed to be
+beating very fast and irregularly.
+
+"I wish we could do something," she whispered to Loraine. "This is
+awful."
+
+Loraine nodded.
+
+"I know. It seems ages since Jimmy went and yet it's only a minute and
+a half."
+
+"I keep hearing things," said Bundle. "Footsteps and boards creaking
+upstairs--and yet I know it's only imagination."
+
+"I wonder why Jimmy left us the revolver," said Loraine. "There can't
+really be danger."
+
+"If they could get Bill--" said Bundle and stopped. Loraine shivered.
+
+"I know--but we're in the house. Nobody can get in without our hearing
+them. And anyway we've got the revolver."
+
+Bundle turned her attention back again to Bill.
+
+"I wish I knew what to do. Hot coffee. You give them that sometimes."
+
+"I've got some smelling-salts in my bag," said Loraine. "And some
+brandy. Where is it? Oh, I must have left it in the room upstairs."
+
+"I'll get it," said Bundle. "They might do some good."
+
+She sped quickly up the stairs, across the gaming room and through the
+open door into the meeting place. Loraine's bag was lying on the table.
+
+As Bundle stretched out her hand to take it, she heard a noise from
+behind her. Hidden behind the door a man stood ready with a sand-bag in
+his hand. Before Bundle could turn her head, he had struck.
+
+With a faint moan, Bundle slipped down, an unconscious heap, upon the
+floor.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXXI
+
+                            THE SEVEN DIALS
+
+
+Very slowly Bundle returned to consciousness. She was aware of a dark,
+spinning blackness, the centre of which was a violent, throbbing ache.
+Punctuating this were sounds. A voice that she knew very well saying
+the same thing over and over again.
+
+The blackness spun less violently. The ache was now definitely located
+as being in Bundle's own head. And she was sufficiently herself to take
+an interest in what the voice was saying.
+
+"Darling, darling Bundle. Oh, darling Bundle. She's dead; I know she's
+dead. Oh, my darling. Bundle, darling, darling Bundle. I do love you
+so. Bundle--darling--darling--"
+
+Bundle lay quite still with her eyes shut. But she was now fully
+conscious. Bill's arms held her closely.
+
+"Bundle, darling--Oh, dearest, darling Bundle. Oh, my dear love. Oh,
+Bundle--Bundle. What shall I do? Oh, darling one--my Bundle--my own
+dearest, sweetest Bundle. Oh, God, what shall I do? I've killed her.
+I've killed her."
+
+Reluctantly--very reluctantly--Bundle spoke.
+
+"No, you haven't, you silly idiot," she said.
+
+Bill gave a gasp of utter amazement.
+
+"Bundle--you're alive?"
+
+"Of course I'm alive."
+
+"How long have you been--I mean when did you come to?"
+
+"About five minutes ago."
+
+"Why didn't you open your eyes--or say something?"
+
+"Didn't want to. I was enjoying myself."
+
+"Enjoying yourself?"
+
+"Yes. Listening to all the things you were saying. You'll never say
+them so well again. You'll be too beastly self-conscious."
+
+Bill had turned a dark brick-red.
+
+"Bundle--you really didn't mind? You know, I _do_ love you so. I have
+for ages. But I never have dared tell you so."
+
+"You silly juggins," said Bundle. "Why?"
+
+"I thought you'd only laugh at me. I mean--you've got brains and all
+that--you'll marry some bigwig."
+
+"Like George Lomax?" suggested Bundle.
+
+"I don't mean a fatuous ass like Codders. But some really fine chap
+who'll be worthy of you--though I don't think anyone could be that,"
+ended Bill.
+
+"You're rather a dear, Bill."
+
+"But, Bundle, seriously, could you ever? I mean, could you ever bring
+yourself to?"
+
+"Could I ever bring myself to do what?"
+
+"Marry me. I know I'm awfully thick-headed--but I do love you, Bundle.
+I'd be your dog or your slave or your anything."
+
+"You're very like a dog," said Bundle. "I like dogs. They're so
+friendly and faithful and warmhearted. I think that perhaps I could
+just bring myself to marry you, Bill--with a great effort, you know."
+
+Bill's response to this was to relinquish his grasp of her and recoil
+violently. He looked at her with amazement in his eyes.
+
+"Bundle--you don't mean it?"
+
+"There's nothing for it," said Bundle. "I see I shall have to relapse
+into unconsciousness again."
+
+"Bundle--darling--" Bill caught her to him. He was trembling violently.
+"Bundle--do you really mean it--do you?--you don't know how much I love
+you."
+
+"Oh, Bill," said Bundle.
+
+There is no need to describe in detail the conversation of the next ten
+minutes. It consisted mostly of repetitions.
+
+"And do you really love me," said Bill, incredulously, for the
+twentieth time as he at last released her.
+
+"Yes--yes--yes. Now do let's be sensible. I've got a racking head
+still, and I've been nearly squeezed to death by you. I want to get the
+hang of things. Where are we and what's happened?"
+
+For the first time, Bundle began to take stock of her surroundings.
+They were in the secret room, she noted, and the baize door was closed
+and presumably locked. They were prisoners, then!
+
+Bundle's eyes came back to Bill. Quite oblivious of her question he was
+watching her with adoring eyes.
+
+"Bill, darling," said Bundle, "pull yourself together. We've got to get
+out of here."
+
+"Eh?" said Bill. "What? Oh, yes. That'll be all right. No difficulty
+about that."
+
+"It's being in love makes you feel like that," said Bundle. "I feel
+rather the same myself. As though everything's easy and possible."
+
+"So it is," said Bill. "Now that I know you care for me--"
+
+"Stop it," said Bundle. "Once we begin again any serious conversation
+will be hopeless. Unless you pull yourself together and become
+sensible, I shall very likely change my mind."
+
+"I shan't let you," said Bill. "You don't think that once having got
+you I'd be such a fool as to let you go, do you?"
+
+"You would not coerce me against my will, I hope," said Bundle
+grandiloquently.
+
+"Wouldn't I?" said Bill. "You just watch me do it, that's all."
+
+"You really are rather a darling, Bill. I was afraid you might be too
+meek, but I see there's going to be no danger of that. In another half
+hour you'd be ordering me about. Oh, dear, we're getting silly again.
+Now, look here, Bill, we've got to get out of here."
+
+"I tell you that'll be quite all right. I shall--"
+
+He broke off, obedient to a pressure from Bundle's hand. She was
+leaning forward, listening intently. Yes, she had not been mistaken. A
+step was crossing the outer room. The key was thrust into the lock and
+turned. Bundle held her breath. Was it Jimmy coming to rescue them--or
+was it someone else?
+
+The door opened and the black-bearded Mr. Mosgorovsky stood on the
+threshold.
+
+Immediately Bill took a step forward, standing in front of Bundle.
+
+"Look here," he said, "I want a word with you privately."
+
+The Russian did not reply for a minute or two. He stood stroking his
+long, silky, black beard and smiling quietly to himself.
+
+"So," he said at last, "it is like that. Very well. The lady will be
+pleased to come with me."
+
+"It's all right, Bundle," said Bill. "Leave it to me. You go with this
+chap. Nobody's going to hurt you. I know what I'm doing."
+
+Bundle rose obediently. That note of authority in Bill's voice was new
+to her. He seemed absolutely sure of himself and confident of being
+able to deal with the situation. Bundle wondered vaguely what it was
+that Bill had--or thought he had--up his sleeve.
+
+She passed out of the room in front of the Russian. He followed her,
+closing the door behind him and locking it.
+
+"This way, please," he said.
+
+He indicated the staircase and she mounted obediently to the floor
+above. Here she was directed to pass into a small, frowsy room, which
+she took to be Alfred's bedroom.
+
+Mosgorovsky said: "You will wait here quietly, please. There must be no
+noise."
+
+Then he went out, closing the door behind him and locking her in.
+
+Bundle sat down on a chair. Her head was aching badly still and she
+felt incapable of sustained thought. Bill seemed to have the situation
+well in hand. Sooner or later, she supposed, someone would come and let
+her out.
+
+The minutes passed. Bundle's watch had stopped, but she judged that
+over an hour had passed since the Russian had brought her here. What
+was happening? What, indeed, _had_ happened?
+
+At last she heard footsteps on the stairs. It was Mosgorovsky once
+more. He spoke very formally to her.
+
+"Lady Eileen Brent, you are wanted at an emergency meeting of the Seven
+Dials Society. Please follow me."
+
+He led the way down the stairs and Bundle followed him. He opened the
+door of the secret chamber and Bundle passed in, catching her breath in
+surprise as she did so.
+
+She was seeing for the second time what she had only had a glimpse of
+the first time through her peephole. The masked figures were sitting
+round the table. As she stood there, taken aback by the suddenness of
+it, Mosgorovsky slipped into his place, adjusting his clock mask as he
+did so.
+
+But this time the chair at the head of the table was occupied. No. 7
+was in his place.
+
+Bundle's heart beat violently. She was standing at the foot of the
+table directly facing him and she stared and stared at the mocking
+piece of hanging stuff, with the clock dial on it, that hid his
+features.
+
+He sat quite immovable and Bundle got an odd sensation of power
+radiating from him. His inactivity was not the inactivity of
+weakness--and she wished violently, almost hysterically, that he would
+speak--that he would make some sign, some gesture--not just sit there
+like a gigantic spider in the middle of its web waiting remorselessly
+for its prey.
+
+She shivered and as she did so Mosgorovsky rose. His voice, smooth,
+silky, persuasive, seemed curiously far away.
+
+"Lady Eileen, you have been present unasked at the secret councils
+of this society. It is therefore necessary that you should identify
+yourself with our aims and ambitions. The place 2 o'clock, you may
+notice, is vacant. It is that place that is offered to you."
+
+Bundle gasped. The thing was like a fantastic nightmare. Was it
+possible that she, Bundle Brent, was being asked to join a murderous
+secret society? Had the same proposition been made to Bill, and had he
+refused indignantly?
+
+"I can't do that," she said bluntly.
+
+"Do not answer precipitately."
+
+She fancied that Mosgorovsky, beneath his clock mask, was smiling
+significantly into his beard.
+
+"You do not as yet know, Lady Eileen, what it is you are refusing."
+
+"I can make a pretty good guess," said Bundle.
+
+"Can you?"
+
+It was the voice of 7 o'clock. It awoke some vague chord of memory in
+Bundle's brain. Surely she knew that voice?
+
+Very slowly No. 7 raised a hand to his head and fumbled with the
+fastening of the mask.
+
+Bundle held her breath. At last--she was going to _know_.
+
+The mask fell.
+
+_Bundle found herself looking into the expressionless, wooden face of
+Superintendent Battle._
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXXII
+
+                         BUNDLE IS DUMFOUNDED
+
+
+"That's right," said Battle, as Mosgorovsky leapt up and came round to
+Bundle. "Get a chair for her. It's been a bit of a shock, I can see."
+
+Bundle sank down on a chair. She felt limp and faint with surprise.
+Battle went on talking in a quiet, comfortable way wholly
+characteristic of him.
+
+"You didn't expect to see me, Lady Eileen. No, and no more did some
+of the others sitting round this table. Mr. Mosgorovsky's been my
+lieutenant in a manner of speaking. He's been in the know all along.
+But most of the others have taken their orders blindly from him."
+
+Still Bundle said no word. She was--a most unusual state of affairs for
+her--simply incapable of speech.
+
+Battle nodded at her comprehendingly, seeming to understand the state
+of her feelings.
+
+"You'll have to get rid of one or two preconceived ideas of yours,
+I'm afraid, Lady Eileen. About this society, for instance--I know
+it's common enough in books--a secret organization of criminals with
+a mysterious super-criminal at the head of it whom no one ever sees.
+That sort of thing may exist in real life, but I can only say that I've
+never come across anything of the sort, and I've had a good deal of
+experience one way or another.
+
+"But there's a lot of romance in the world, Lady Eileen. People,
+especially young people, like reading about such things, and they like
+still better really _doing_ them. I'm going to introduce you now to a
+very creditable band of amateurs that has done remarkably fine work for
+my Department, work that nobody else could have done. If they've chosen
+rather melodramatic trappings, well, why shouldn't they? They've been
+willing to face real danger--danger of the very worst kind--and they've
+done it for these reasons: love of danger for its own sake--which to my
+mind is a very healthy sign in these Safety First days--and an honest
+wish to serve their country.
+
+"And now, Lady Eileen, I'm going to introduce you. First of all,
+there's Mr. Mosgorovsky, whom you already know in a manner of speaking.
+As you're aware, he runs the club and he runs a host of other things
+too. He's our most valuable Secret Anti-Bolshevist Agent in England.
+No. 5 is Count Andras of the Hungarian Embassy, a very near and dear
+friend of the late Mr. Gerald Wade. No. 4 is Mr. Hayward Phelps, an
+American journalist, whose British sympathies are very keen and whose
+aptitude for scenting 'news' is remarkable. No. 3--"
+
+He stopped, smiling, and Bundle stared dumfounded into the sheepish,
+grinning face of Bill Eversleigh.
+
+"No. 2," went on Battle in a graver voice, "can only show an empty
+place. It is the place belonging to Mr. Ronald Devereux, a very gallant
+young gentleman who died for his country if any man ever did. No.
+1--well, No. 1 was Mr. Gerald Wade, another very gallant gentleman
+who died in the same way. His place was taken--not without some grave
+misgivings on my part--by a lady--a lady who has proved her fitness to
+have it and who has been a great help to us."
+
+The last to do so, No. 1, removed her mask, and Bundle looked without
+surprise into the beautiful, dark face of Countess Radzky.
+
+"I might have known," said Bundle resentfully, "that you were too
+completely the beautiful foreign adventuress to be anything of the kind
+really."
+
+"But you don't know the real joke," said Bill. "_Bundle, this is Babe
+St. Maur_--you remember my telling you about her and what a ripping
+actress she was--and she's about proved it."
+
+"That's so," said Miss St. Maur in pure transatlantic nasal. "But it's
+not a terrible lot of credit to me, because Poppa and Momma came from
+that part of Yurrup--so I got the patter fairly easy. Gee, but I nearly
+gave myself away once at the Abbey, talking about gardens."
+
+She paused and then said abruptly:
+
+"It's--it's not been just fun. You see, I was kinder engaged to Ronny,
+and when he handed in his checks--well, I had to do something to track
+down the skunk who murdered him. That's all."
+
+"I'm completely bewildered," said Bundle. "Nothing is what it seems."
+
+"It's very simple, Lady Eileen," said Superintendent Battle. "It began
+with some of the young people wanting a bit of excitement. It was Mr.
+Wade who first got on to me. He suggested the formation of a band of
+what you might call amateur workers to do a bit of secret service work.
+I warned him that it might be dangerous--but he wasn't the kind to
+weigh that in the balance. I made it plain to him that any one who came
+in must do so on that understanding. But, bless you, that wasn't going
+to stop any of Mr. Wade's friends. And so the thing began."
+
+"But what was the object of it all?" asked Bundle.
+
+"We wanted a certain man--wanted him badly. He wasn't an ordinary
+crook. He worked in Mr. Wade's world, a kind of Raffles, but much
+more dangerous than any Raffles ever was or could be. He was out
+for big stuff, international stuff. Twice already valuable secret
+inventions had been stolen, and clearly stolen by someone who had
+inside knowledge. The professionals had had a try--and failed. Then the
+amateurs took on--and succeeded."
+
+"Succeeded?"
+
+"Yes--but they didn't come out of it unscathed. The man was dangerous.
+Two lives fell victim to him and he got away with it. But the Seven
+Dials stuck to it. And as I say, they succeeded. Thanks to Mr.
+Eversleigh, the man was caught at last red-handed."
+
+"Who was he?" asked Bundle. "Do I know him?"
+
+"You know him very well, Lady Eileen. His name is Mr. Jimmy Thesiger,
+and he was arrested this afternoon."
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+                            BATTLE EXPLAINS
+
+
+Superintendent Battle settled to explain. He spoke comfortably and
+cozily.
+
+"I didn't suspect him myself for a long time. The first hint of it
+I had was when I heard what Mr. Devereux's last words had been.
+Naturally, you took them to mean that Mr. Devereux was trying to send
+word to Mr. Thesiger that the Seven Dials had killed him. That's what
+the words seemed to mean on their face value. But of course I knew
+that that couldn't be so. It was the Seven Dials that Mr. Devereux
+wanted told--and what he wanted them told was something about Mr. Jimmy
+Thesiger.
+
+"The thing seemed incredible, because Mr. Devereux and Mr. Thesiger
+were close friends. But I remembered something else--that these thefts
+must have been committed by someone who was absolutely in the know.
+Someone who, if not in the Foreign Office himself, was in the way of
+hearing all its chit-chat. And I found it very hard to find out where
+Mr. Thesiger got his money. The income his father left him was a small
+one, yet he was able to live at a most expensive rate. Where did the
+money come from?
+
+"I knew that Mr. Wade had been very excited by something that he had
+found out. He was quite sure that he was on the right track. He didn't
+confide in anyone about what he thought that track was, but he did say
+something to Mr. Devereux about being on the point of making sure. That
+was just before they both went down to Chimneys for that week-end.
+As you know, Mr. Wade died there--apparently from an overdose of a
+sleeping draught. It seemed straightforward enough, but Mr. Devereux
+did not accept that explanation for a minute. He was convinced that
+Mr. Wade had been very cleverly put out of the way and that someone in
+the house must actually be the criminal we were all after. He came, I
+think, very near confiding in Mr. Thesiger, for he certainly had no
+suspicions of him at that moment. But something held him back.
+
+"Then he did rather a curious thing. He arranged seven clocks upon the
+mantelpiece, throwing away the eighth. It was meant as a symbol that
+the Seven Dials would revenge the death of one of their members--and he
+watched eagerly to see if anyone betrayed themselves or showed signs of
+perturbation."
+
+"And it was Jimmy Thesiger who poisoned Gerry Wade?"
+
+"Yes, he slipped the stuff into a whisky and soda which Mr. Wade had
+downstairs before retiring to bed. That's why he was already feeling
+sleepy when he wrote that letter to Miss Wade."
+
+"Then the footman, Bauer, hadn't anything to do with it?" asked Bundle.
+
+"Bauer was one of our people, Lady Eileen. It was thought likely that
+our crook would go for Herr Eberhard's invention and Bauer was got
+into the house to watch events on our behalf. But he wasn't able to do
+much. As I say, Mr. Thesiger administered the fatal dose easily enough.
+Later, when everyone was asleep, a bottle, glass and empty chloral
+bottle were placed by Mr. Wade's bedside by Mr. Thesiger. Mr. Wade was
+unconscious then, and his fingers were probably pressed round the glass
+and the bottle so that they should be found there if any questions
+should arise. I don't know what effect the seven clocks on the
+mantelpiece made on Mr. Thesiger. He certainly didn't let on anything
+to Mr. Devereux. All the same, I think he had a bad five minutes now
+and again thinking of them. And I think he kept a pretty wary eye on
+Mr. Devereux after that.
+
+"We don't know exactly what happened next. No one saw much of Mr.
+Devereux after Mr. Wade's death. But it is clear that he worked along
+the same lines that he knew Mr. Wade had been working on and reached
+the same result--namely, that Mr. Thesiger was the man. I fancy, too,
+that he was betrayed in the same way."
+
+"You mean?"
+
+"Through Miss Loraine Wade. Mr. Wade was devoted to her--I believe he
+hoped to marry her--she wasn't really his sister, of course--and there
+is no doubt that he told her more than he should have done. But Miss
+Loraine Wade was devoted body and soul to Mr. Thesiger. She would do
+anything he told her. She passed on the information to him. In the same
+way, later, Mr. Devereux was attracted to her, and probably warned
+her against Mr. Thesiger. So Mr. Devereux in turn was silenced--and
+died trying to send word to the Seven Dials that his murderer was Mr.
+Thesiger."
+
+"How ghastly," cried Bundle. "If I had only known."
+
+"Well, it didn't seem likely. In fact, I could hardly credit it myself.
+But then we came to the affair at the Abbey. You will remember how
+awkward it was--specially awkward for Mr. Eversleigh here. You and
+Mr. Thesiger were hand in glove. Mr. Eversleigh had already been
+embarrassed by your insisting on being brought to this place, and when
+he found that you had actually overheard what went on at a meeting, he
+was dumfounded."
+
+The Superintendent paused and a twinkle came into his eye.
+
+"So was I, Lady Eileen. I never dreamt of such a thing being possible.
+You put one over on me there all right.
+
+"Well, Mr. Eversleigh was in a dilemma. He couldn't let you into the
+secret of the Seven Dials without letting Mr. Thesiger in also--and
+that would never do. It all suited Mr. Thesiger very well, of course,
+for it gave him a bona fide reason for getting himself asked to the
+Abbey, which made things much easier for him.
+
+"I may say that the Seven Dials had already sent a warning letter to
+Mr. Lomax. That was to ensure his applying to me for assistance, so
+that I should be able to be on the spot in a perfectly natural manner.
+I made no secret of my presence, as you know."
+
+And again the Superintendent's eyes twinkled.
+
+"Well, ostensibly, Mr. Eversleigh and Mr. Thesiger were to divide the
+night into two watches. Really, Mr. Eversleigh and Miss St. Maur did
+so. She was on guard at the library window when she heard Mr. Thesiger
+coming and had to dart behind the screen.
+
+"And now comes the cleverness of Mr. Thesiger. Up to a point he told
+a perfectly true story, and I must admit that with the fight and
+everything, I was distinctly shaken--and began to wonder whether he had
+had anything to do with the theft at all, or whether we were completely
+on the wrong track. There were one or two suspicious circumstances that
+pointed in an entirely different direction, and I can tell you I didn't
+know what to make of things, when something turned up to clinch matters.
+
+"I found the burnt glove in the fireplace with the teeth marks on
+it--and then--well--I knew that I'd been right after all. But, upon my
+word, he was a clever one."
+
+"What actually happened?" said Bundle. "Who was the other man?"
+
+"There wasn't any other man. Listen, and I'll show you how in the end
+I reconstructed the whole story. To begin with, Mr. Thesiger and Miss
+Wade are in this together. And they have a rendezvous for an exact
+time. Miss Wade comes over in her car, climbs through the fence and
+comes up to the house. She's got a perfectly good story if any one
+stops her--the one she told eventually. But she arrived unmolested on
+the terrace just after the clock had struck two.
+
+"Now, I may say to begin with that she was seen coming in. My men saw
+her, but they had orders to stop nobody coming in--only going out. I
+wanted, you see, to find out as much as possible. Miss Wade arrives
+on the terrace, and at that minute a parcel falls at her feet and she
+picks it up. A man comes down the ivy and she starts to run. What
+happens next? The struggle--and presently the revolver shots. What will
+everyone do? Rush to the scene of the fight. And Miss Loraine Wade
+could have left the grounds and driven off with the formula safely in
+her possession.
+
+"But things don't happen quite like that. Miss Wade runs straight into
+my arms. And at that moment the game changes. It's no longer attack but
+defence. Miss Wade tells her story. It is perfectly true and perfectly
+sensible.
+
+"And now we come to Mr. Thesiger. One thing struck me at once. The
+bullet wound alone couldn't have caused him to faint. Either he
+had fallen and hit his head--or--well, he hadn't fainted at all.
+Later we had Miss St. Maur's story. It agreed perfectly with Mr.
+Thesiger's--there was only one suggestive point. Miss St. Maur said
+that after the lights were turned out and Mr. Thesiger went over to
+the window, he was so still that she thought he must have left the
+room and gone outside. Now, if any one is in the room, you can hardly
+help hearing their breathing if you are listening for it. Supposing,
+then, that Mr. Thesiger _had_ gone outside. Where next? Up the ivy to
+Mr. O'Rourke's room--Mr. O'Rourke's whisky and soda having been doped
+the night before. He gets the papers, throws them down to the girl,
+climbs down the ivy again, and--starts the fight. That's easy enough
+when you come to think of it. Knock the tables down, stagger about,
+speak in your own voice and then in a hoarse half-whisper. And then,
+the final touch, the two revolver shots. His own Colt automatic, bought
+openly the day before, is fired at an imaginary assailant. Then, with
+his left gloved hand, he takes from his pocket the small Mauser pistol
+and shoots himself through the fleshy part of the right arm. He flings
+the pistol through the window, tears off the glove with his teeth, and
+throws it into the fire. When I arrive he is lying on the floor in a
+faint."
+
+Bundle drew a deep breath.
+
+"You didn't realize all this at the time, Superintendent Battle?"
+
+"No, that I didn't. I was taken in as much as anyone could be. It
+wasn't till long afterwards that I pieced it all together. Finding
+the glove was the beginning of it. Then I made Sir Oswald throw the
+pistol through the window. It fell a good way farther on than it should
+have done. But a man who is right-handed doesn't throw nearly as far
+with the left hand. Even then it was only suspicion--and a very faint
+suspicion at that.
+
+"But there was one point struck me. The papers were obviously thrown
+down for someone to pick up. If Miss Wade was there by accident, who
+was the real person? Of course, for those who weren't in the know, that
+question was answered easily enough--the Countess. But there I had the
+pull over you. _I knew the Countess was all right._ So what follows?
+Why, the idea that the papers had actually been picked up by the person
+they were meant for. And the more I thought of it, the more it seemed
+to me a very remarkable coincidence that Miss Wade should have arrived
+at the exact moment she did."
+
+"It must have been very difficult for you when I came to you full of
+suspicion about the Countess."
+
+"It was, Lady Eileen. I had to say something to put you off the scent.
+And it was very difficult for Mr. Eversleigh here, with the lady coming
+out of a dead faint and no knowing what she might say."
+
+"I understand Bill's anxiety now," said Bundle. "And the way he kept
+urging her to take time and not talk till she felt quite all right."
+
+"Poor old Bill," said Miss St. Maur. "That poor baby had to be vamped
+against his will--getting madder'n a hornet every minute."
+
+"Well," said Superintendent Battle, "there it was. I suspected Mr.
+Thesiger--but I couldn't get definite proof. On the other hand, Mr.
+Thesiger himself was rattled. He realized more or less what he was up
+against in the Seven Dials--but he wanted badly to know who No. 7 was.
+He got himself asked to the Cootes under the impression that Sir Oswald
+Coote was No. 7."
+
+"I suspected Sir Oswald," said Bundle, "especially when he came in from
+the garden that night."
+
+"I never suspected him," said Battle. "But I don't mind telling you
+that I _did_ have my suspicions of that young chap, his secretary."
+
+"Pongo?" said Bill. "Not old Pongo?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Eversleigh, old Pongo as you call him. A very efficient
+gentleman and one that could have put anything through if he'd a mind
+to. I suspected him partly because he'd been the one to take the
+clocks into Mr. Wade's room that night. It would have been easy for him
+to put the bottle and glass by the bedside then. And then, for another
+thing, he was left-handed. That glove pointed straight to him--if it
+hadn't been for one thing--"
+
+"What?"
+
+"The teeth marks--only a man whose right hand was incapacitated would
+have needed to tear off that glove with his teeth."
+
+"So Pongo was cleared."
+
+"So Pongo was cleared, as you say. I'm sure it would be a great
+surprise to Mr. Bateman to know he was ever suspected."
+
+"It would," agreed Bill. "A solemn card--a silly ass like Pongo. How
+you could ever think--"
+
+"Well, as far as that goes, Mr. Thesiger was what you might describe as
+an empty-headed young ass of the most brainless description. One of the
+two was playing a part. When I decided that it was Mr. Thesiger, I was
+interested to get Mr. Bateman's opinion of him. All along, Mr. Bateman
+had the gravest suspicions of Mr. Thesiger and frequently said as much
+to Sir Oswald."
+
+"It's curious," said Bill, "but Pongo always is right. It's maddening."
+
+"Well, as I say," went on Superintendent Battle, "we got Mr. Thesiger
+fairly on the run, badly rattled over this Seven Dials business and
+uncertain just where the danger lay. That we got him in the end was
+solely through Mr. Eversleigh. He knew what he was up against, and
+he risked his life cheerfully. But he never dreamt that you would be
+dragged into it, Lady Eileen."
+
+"My God, no," said Bill with feeling.
+
+"He went round to Mr. Thesiger's rooms with a cooked-up tale,"
+continued Battle. "He was to pretend that certain papers of Mr.
+Devereux's had come into his hands. Those papers were to suggest
+a suspicion of Mr. Thesiger. Naturally, as the honest friend, Mr.
+Eversleigh rushed round, sure that Mr. Thesiger would have an
+explanation. We calculated that if we were right, Mr. Thesiger would
+try and put Mr. Eversleigh out of the way, and we were fairly certain
+as to the way he'd do it. Sure enough, Mr. Thesiger gave his guest a
+whisky and soda. During the minute or two that his host was out of the
+room, Mr. Eversleigh poured that into a jar on the mantelpiece, but he
+had to pretend, of course, that the drug was taking effect. It would
+be slow, he knew, not sudden. He began his story, and Mr. Thesiger at
+first denied it all indignantly, but as soon as he saw (or thought he
+saw) that the drug was taking effect, he admitted everything and told
+Mr. Eversleigh that he was the third victim.
+
+"When Mr. Eversleigh was nearly unconscious, Mr. Thesiger took him
+down to the car and helped him in. The hood was up. He must already
+have telephoned to you unknown to Mr. Eversleigh. He made a clever
+suggestion to you. You were to say that you were taking Miss Wade home.
+
+"You made no mention of a message from him. Later, when your body was
+found here, Miss Wade would swear that you had driven her home and gone
+up to London with the idea of penetrating into this house by yourself.
+
+"Mr. Eversleigh continued to play his part, that of the unconscious
+man. I may say that as soon as the two young men had left Jermyn
+Street, one of my men gained admission and found the doctored whisky,
+which contained enough hydrochloride of morphia to kill two men. Also
+the car they were in was followed. Mr. Thesiger drove out of town to
+a well-known golf course, where he showed himself for a few minutes,
+speaking of playing a round. That, of course, was for an alibi, should
+one be needed. He left the car with Mr. Eversleigh in it a little way
+down the road. Then he drove back to town and to the Seven Dials Club.
+As soon as he saw Alfred leave, he drove up to the door, spoke to Mr.
+Eversleigh as he got out in case you might be listening and came into
+the house and played his little comedy.
+
+"When he pretended to go for a doctor, he really only slammed the
+door and then crept quietly upstairs and hid behind the door of this
+room, where Miss Wade would presently send you up on some excuse.
+Mr. Eversleigh, of course, was horror struck when he saw you, but he
+thought it best to keep up the part he was playing. He knew our people
+were watching the house, and he imagined that there was no immediate
+danger intended to you. He could always 'come to life' at any moment.
+When Mr. Thesiger threw his revolver on the table and apparently left
+the house it seemed safer than ever. As for the next bit--" He paused,
+looking at Bill. "Perhaps you'd like to tell that, sir."
+
+"I was still lying on that bally sofa," said Bill, "trying to look
+done in and getting the fidgets worse and worse. Then I heard someone
+run down the stairs, and Loraine got up and went to the door. I heard
+Thesiger's voice, but not what he said. I heard Loraine say: 'That's
+all right--it's gone splendidly.' Then he said: 'Help me carry him
+up. It will be a bit of a job, but I want them both together there--a
+nice little surprise for No. 7.' I didn't quite understand what they
+were jawing about, but they hauled me up the stairs somehow or other.
+It _was_ a bit of a job for them. I made myself a dead weight all
+right. They heaved me in here, and then I heard Loraine say: 'You're
+sure it's all right. She won't come round?' And Jimmy said--the damned
+blackguard: 'No fear. I hit with all my might.'
+
+"They went away and locked the door, and then I opened my eyes and saw
+you. My God, Bundle, I shall never feel so perfectly awful again. I
+thought you were dead."
+
+"I suppose my hat saved me," said Bundle.
+
+"Partly," said Superintendent Battle. "But partly it was Mr. Thesiger's
+wounded arm. He didn't realize it himself--but it had only half its
+usual strength. Still, that's all no credit to the Department. We
+didn't take the care of you we ought to have done, Lady Eileen--and
+it's a black blot on the whole business."
+
+"I'm very tough," said Bundle. "And also rather lucky. What I can't get
+over is Loraine being in it. She was such a gentle little thing."
+
+"Ah!" said the Superintendent. "So was the Pentonville murderess that
+killed five children. You can't go by that. She's got bad blood in
+her--her father ought to have seen the inside of a prison more than
+once."
+
+"You've got her too?"
+
+Superintendent Battle nodded.
+
+"I daresay they won't hang her--juries are soft-hearted. But young
+Thesiger will swing all right--and a good thing too--a more utterly
+depraved and callous criminal I never met.
+
+"And now," he added. "If your head isn't aching too badly, Lady Eileen.
+What about a little celebration? There's a nice little restaurant round
+the corner."
+
+Bundle heartily agreed.
+
+"I'm starving, Superintendent Battle. Besides," she looked round, "I've
+got to get to know all my colleagues."
+
+"The Seven Dials," said Bill. "Hurrah! Some fizz is what we need. Do
+they run to fizz at this place, Battle?"
+
+"You won't have anything to complain of, sir. You leave it to me."
+
+"Superintendent Battle," said Bundle, "you are a wonderful man. I'm
+sorry you're married already. As it is, I shall have to put up with
+Bill."
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+                        LORD CATERHAM APPROVES
+
+
+"Father," said Bundle, "I've got to break a piece of news to you.
+You're going to lose me."
+
+"Nonsense," said Lord Caterham. "Don't tell me that you're suffering
+from galloping consumption or a weak heart or anything like that,
+because I simply don't believe it."
+
+"It's not death," said Bundle. "It's marriage."
+
+"Very nearly as bad," said Lord Caterham. "I suppose I shall have to
+come to the wedding, all dressed up in tight, uncomfortable clothes,
+and give you away. And Lomax may think it necessary to kiss me in the
+vestry."
+
+"Good heavens! You don't think I'm going to marry George, do you?"
+cried Bundle.
+
+"Well, something like that seemed to be in the wind last time I saw
+you," said her father. "Yesterday morning, you know."
+
+"I'm going to be married to someone a hundred times nicer than George,"
+said Bundle.
+
+"I hope so, I'm sure," said Lord Caterham. "But one never knows. I
+don't feel you're really a good judge of character, Bundle. You told me
+that young Thesiger was a cheerful inefficient, and from all I hear now
+it seems that he was one of the most efficient criminals of the day.
+The sad thing is that I never met him. I was thinking of writing my
+reminiscences soon--with a special chapter on murderers I have met--and
+by a purely technical oversight, I never met this young man."
+
+"Don't be silly," said Bundle. "You know you haven't got the energy to
+write reminiscences or anything else."
+
+"I wasn't actually going to write them myself," said Lord Caterham. "I
+believe that's never done. But I met a very charming girl the other day
+and that's her special job. She collects the material and does all the
+actual writing."
+
+"And what do you do?"
+
+"Oh, just give her a few facts for half an hour every day. Nothing
+more than that." After a slight pause, Lord Caterham said: "She was a
+nice-looking girl--very restful and sympathetic."
+
+"Father," said Bundle, "I have a feeling that without me you will run
+into deadly danger."
+
+"Different kinds of danger suit different kinds of people," said Lord
+Caterham.
+
+He was moving away, when he turned back and said over his shoulder:
+
+"By the way, Bundle, who _are_ you marrying?"
+
+"I was wondering," said Bundle, "when you were going to ask me that.
+I'm going to marry Bill Eversleigh."
+
+The egoist thought it over for a minute. Then he nodded in complete
+satisfaction.
+
+"Excellent," he said. "He's scratch, isn't he? He and I can play
+together in the foursomes in the Autumn Meeting."
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75288 ***