Читать книгу For the Queen - E. Phillips Oppenheim - Страница 3

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"YOU are—Milord Cravon?"

I admitted the fact meekly, but with a lamentable absence of dignity, being, indeed, too utterly amazed for coherency. Whereupon my visitor raised her veil, flashed a brilliant smile upon me and sat down.

"I was sure of it," she remarked, speaking with great fluency, but with a strong foreign accent. "Milord's likeness to his brother is remarkable. I am very fortunate to discover you so early. It is but half an hour since I reached London."

That she had discovered me was obvious, but how or why was more than I could imagine. She was a complete stranger to me, she had entered my rooms unannounced, and the little French clock upon my mantelpiece had just struck midnight. However, she had mentioned my brother! I spoke of him at once.

"You know Reggie, then?" I inquired.

"I have met Mr. Reginald Lessingham once or twice," she admitted.

"At Marianburg?"

"At Marianburg—and elsewhere!"

"You have come from there?" I asked.

She nodded, and loosened her travelling cloak.

"I left Marianburg," she said, "exactly forty hours ago. It is rapid travelling, is it not? I am very tired and very hungry. If your servants have not all gone to bed, may I have some supper, please, and a glass of wine? Anything will do!"

I secretly pinched myself and then rang the bell. I had not fallen to sleep over my pipe and final whisky and Apollinaris. This remarkable and mysterious invasion of my solitude was an undoubted fact. By the time Groves appeared my visitor had removed her hat and was contemplating the arrangement of her hair in the mirror. Groves, who was a model servant, gave a momentary start of surprise and then looked steadily into vacancy. He received my confused orders in eloquent but respectful silence.

"Some supper, Groves—for one. Anything cold, and some wine!"

He disappeared. My companion succeeded in the replacement of a refractory curl, and with a parting glance at the mirror resumed her seat. I rose to my feet and began to collect my scattered wits.

"Do I understand," I began, "that you bring me a message from my brother?"

She shook her head.

"I have met your brother," she said, "but I have never yet spoken with him. He certainly does not know me or who I am."

I opened my lips to ask her bluntly what had brought her to my rooms at such an hour, but the words remained unspoken. Now that her hat was removed I was suddenly conscious that she was an exceedingly pretty woman. She lounged in my most comfortable chair perfectly at her ease, a charming smile upon her lips, her dark eyes meeting mine frankly and lit with a distinct gleam of humour. She was becomingly dressed, and although the dust of travel was upon her shoes and clothes, the details and finish of her toilette were sufficiently piquant to indicate her nationality. She was distinctly a very attractive woman. I felt my annoyance at her unexpected appearance decrease as my curiosity concerning her grew.

"Did I understand," I began, after a few moments' silence," that you had come from Marianburg to see me?"

She laughed outright, and showed a set of perfectly white teeth. It was a dazzling smile, and the teeth were magnificent.

"Not altogether, Milord Cravon. I have come on a matter of very great importance, though, and you are concerned in it."

I signified my interest and my desire to hear more. She seemed in no hurry, however, to complete her explanation.

"I am so hungry!" she remarked, with pathetic irrelevance.

I moved to the bell, but at that moment Groves re-entered, bearing a small table. He silently but deftly arranged some cold things upon the sideboard and produced wine and a corkscrew. "You need not wait, Groves," I said, avoiding his eyes. "Bring in some coffee when I ring." He left the room and I proceeded to the sideboard.

"What may I give you?" I asked. "There is some collared stuff, cold salmon, and galantine."

"I will see," she answered, rising and coming to my side, "which looks the nicest!"

She made a selection, and was kind enough to express her approval of the result.

"Champagne or claret?" I asked.

"Champagne, if you please—one glass! Thank you. Now sit down and go on smoking, and I will talk to you."

I obeyed her. She was obviously a young woman who was used to having her own way, and it seemed to be the easiest thing to do.

"In the first place," she remarked, with something which sounded like a sigh, "who am I? It is what you want to know, eh? I would very much rather not tell you, Milord Cravon; for when you know, perhaps you will be sorry that you have been kind to me! Hélas!"

I moved in my chair uncomfortably, and murmured an insane desire that she would not needlessly distress herself by unnecessary revelations. She brushed my words aside. She was forced to declare herself.

"I am," she said, "a spy!"

"A what?" I cried.

"A spy! You understand—a creature of the police. It is you English, is it not, who detest so much the detective, who do not recognize the art of espionage?"

"By no means," I answered. "On the contrary, undertaken for the right motives and by the right class of man or woman, it is a magnificent profession, or, rather, I should call it a science!"

"You are right," she cried fervently, "Milord Cravon! You are charming! You are the most intelligent Englishman I have ever met!"

I bowed and waved my hand.

"It is a profession," I continued, "which as yet is "only in its infancy. It demands ingenuity, invention and originality. To succeed in it one must be an artist. The lights and shadows of human nature must become a close and constant study."

"Milord Cravon," she cried, lifting a glass of champagne in her hand, "you are adorable!"

"The prejudices you spoke of," I continued, "are natural! As yet it is a profession which has been adopted only by persons of inferior calibre! It should be lifted to a place amongst the fine arts. I drink, Mademoiselle, to your calling with all respect and much enthusiasm!"

She leaned over and clinked the edge of her glass against my tumbler. Her eyes were very bright and her smile was bewitching. She was, I decided, the prettiest woman I had ever seen in my life!

"Milord Cravon," she murmured softly, "you are the most delightful man in the world!"

"And now," I remarked, "suppose you tell me in what I am to have the honour of serving you."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"You have not heard, "she asked, "from your brother Reginald?"

"Not for more than a week," I answered. "Is anything wrong with him?"

She glanced at the clock.

"In a few minutes," she said, "he will be here!" I looked up, startled.

"What, here in England!" I exclaimed; " Reggie?"

She nodded.

"Yes. He is in trouble!"

"In trouble! Of what sort?"

"He will tell you himself. It will be better so."

I rose to my feet, worried and anxious.

"You say that Reggie is in trouble, is coming here!" I said. "You are in the service of the police of Marianburg. Does that mean that you have followed him?"

She shook her head.

"No. The police of Marianburg are on his side. I am here as an ally, I am here to help him. You too, Milord Cravon, must help, for it is great trouble into which Mr. Reginald has fallen!"

A smothered groan from behind her startled us both. The cigarette which I had just lit dropped from my fingers and lay smoking upon the floor. A minute before I could have sworn that we were alone in the room, but at some time or other during our conversation the man who stood before us must have made his noiseless entrance. No wonder that we were taken by surprise! Only two of the electric lights were burning, and the room was full of shadows. Standing amongst them, with his fiercely bright eyes fixed upon us, was a young man whose features, in those first few moments of half-alarmed surprise, were only vaguely familiar to me. His face was the face of a boy, smooth and beardless, but its intense pallor and the black lines underneath his bloodshot eyes had transfigured him. His evening clothes were all awry, his white tie had slipped up behind his ear, the flower in his coat was crushed into a shapeless pulp, his shirt was crumpled and his clothes were splashed with mud. He stood a grim, dramatic figure, only a few yards away from our touch, glaring at us like a wild animal face to face with its captors.

The clock on the mantelpiece ticked for thirty seconds or more, and still my lips were sealed. For years people had told that my brother, Reggie Lessingham, was one of the smartest and most debonair young men in Europe. Was it any wonder that recognition dawned but slowly upon me?

My companion was naturally the first to recover herself. Indeed, after her little exclamation of dismay at his sudden appearance, she seemed to treat Reggie's presence as a matter of course. But for my part it was a terrible shock to me.

"Reggie!" I cried. "What—what in the name of all that's horrible is the matter, boy? Are you ill?"

He tottered rather than walked towards us, and stood still, with shaking hands resting upon the little table where my mysterious guest had been supping. He looked first at her and then at me, but when he opened his mouth to speak no words came—only a harsh, dry rattle from the back of his throat. He was like a man whom torture had driven to the furthermost bounds of insanity.

I caught up a tumbler, and filling it with champagne, forced some between his lips. He drank it with a little gasp. I helped him into a chair, and drew it up to the fire. He was still shaking all over, but his appearance was more natural.

"Come! You look a different man now," I said quietly. "What's wrong? Tell me all about it. I thought that you were in Marianburg. Are you home on leave?"

He did not answer. He looked from the girl to me, and then into the fire. It seemed as though he had lost the power of speech. I gripped him by the shoulder.

"Have you been drinking, Reggie?" I cried. "Come, pull yourself together. Remember, I have heard nothing as yet."

Still there was no answer. The burning light faded out from his bloodshot eyes. He sank back wearily in his chair—he was utterly exhausted by excitement and intense nervous strain. My visitor came softly over to my side.

"Make him tell you," she whispered. "There is no time to be lost. He can tell you what has happened better than I can."

I rested my hand upon his shoulder and spoke firmly.

"Reggie, old chap, "I said, "make a clean breast of it. Let me know the worst. Is anything wrong at headquarters—a row with the chief, eh? I shall stand by you; you can rely upon that. Come! out with it!"

Reggie looked up at us with white face and trembling lips. He was in a terrible state.

"Close the door, Maurice," he faltered.

I obeyed him. He followed me with his eyes, and then looked searchingly round the room. I began to fear that the boy's brain had given way.

"You are Marie Lichenstein?" he said suddenly, addressing my guest.

She nodded.

"Yes. I know all about it. You can speak before me."

"You were at Cologne?"

She nodded.

"I am more used to rapid travelling than you," she remarked. "I came from Ostend, and saved two hours."

"You have heard nothing from Marianburg?"

"Nothing. I was to come here and wait for instructions."

Reggie was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, it was to me he turned.

"Maurice," he faltered, "something hideous has happened to me. You will help me! For God's sake don't say no!"

"Of course I will help you," I answered readily; "only I must know what it is all about. Tell me the whole story."

He shivered.

"The whole story! No, I can't do that now."

"Something has happened at headquarters?" I suggested.

"Yes. I have been robbed! There was a burglary at the Embassy, and I was robbed of some papers."

A light began to break in upon me. After all, nothing so terribly tragic had happened. Reggie had probably been indiscreet. A few words to the Foreign Secretary would set matters right.

"State papers, I suppose?"

He shook his head with a groan.

"Worse! Much worse!"

The light faded away. I was more puzzled than ever.

"Worse than State papers?" I repeated vaguely.

"Yes!"

He looked at the door again and all round the room. His voice sank to a whisper. He took hold of my hand, and drew me down so that my head nearly touched his. I could feel his finger-nails burning in my flesh.

"Swear, Maurice—ay, and you too, Marie Lichenstein—upon your honour, upon your sacred honour, that what I am going to tell you shall never pass your lips—that you will lock it deep down in your memories! Swear!"

"I swear, Reggie!"

Marie Lichenstein inclined her head.

"To me," she said, "these things are holy. It is my profession. Besides, I already know what you are going to say."

His voice sank to a husky whisper! His eyes were afire!

"They were the letters of a woman—whom I loved—who loved me!"

"A woman!" I exclaimed. "Letters! Why, Reggie!"

The relief in my tone seemed to irritate him. He held out his hand.

"You do not understand. Those letters were mine. They have been stolen from me. It is a plot of her enemies. They were written by a woman who loved me. They were written impetuously, without prudence, signed with her name. I told her —that they were destroyed! I lied, for I kept some of them. I could not bear to part with all. They were precious to me. If I do not get them back at once, I shall shoot myself. I have sworn it! But God help her! God help her!"

"Have you any clue, any idea where they are?" I asked. "You have come to England. Do you think that they have been brought here?"

"She has enemies," he muttered, "enemies everywhere, and powerful. My servant must have been in their pay. He has absconded, and he has come to England. He had only a few hours' start, but I cannot find him!"

"What, Shalders?" I asked. "Surely you cannot suspect him!"

"Suspect!" Reggie beat upon the floor with his heel. "It is no matter for suspicions. It is he who robbed the safe. He is in England somewhere. I must find him! We should have caught him on the boat."

"Are they very bad, these letters?" I asked, "or were they only indiscreet?"

"They are absolutely fatal," he gasped. "But it is not that they are so bad; it is—who she is!"

We were all silent. Reggie's face was ashen. The girl was watching him curiously.

"If I am to be of any use to you, Reggie," I said, "I must know her name, I must know all the circumstances."

He half rose from his chair, clutching at the arms. His voice was hysterical.

"It is a little packet!" he cried with a sob. "There are only four letters and a ring, but with them goes—the honour of a queen!"

At first I had but one thought—Reggie was mad! But when I looked from his white, anguish stricken face to my other visitor, I saw that she, at least, did not think so. Apparently she was not surprised. Reggie's bitter cry had only told her what she already knew. Then, whilst I stood there wondering, a sudden memory rose up before me. I thought of a long visit of my brother's years ago to the capital where he was now attache, and of certain half-jesting allusions to the beauty of a certain princess, which Reggie had taken very ill indeed. There had been a paragraph in a so-called Society paper, scandalous but vague; somebody had shown it to him, and Reggie's language had been awful to listen to. These things came back to me in those few tragical moments, and dimly suggested others. For years we in England had seen very little of Reggie. His leave was mostly spent at the capital to which he had taken special care to be appointed at his entry into diplomatic life. With contemporary history I was sufficiently well acquainted to know that the princess had become a queen. Conviction came to me with a sudden, lightning like rush. He had spoken the truth! I felt the perspiration stand out in beads upon my forehead as I recognized his terrible dilemma.

"Reggie," I said, "I want the whole story, please. If I am to be of any use to you, I must hear it all. Out with it!"

He hesitated, with his eyes fixed upon the girl. She shrugged her shoulders.

"You do not mistrust me, Monsieur Lessingham?" she exclaimed.

He hesitated.

"I do not mistrust you," he said, "but—"

She stopped him with a little gesture.

"Ah, well!" she exclaimed, "I do not wish that you should have any further anxiety. Look, if you will, upon my credentials."

She drew a folded sheet of paper from her bosom and laid it upon the table. The words were so few and written so boldly that I too could see them?

"Trust Marie Lichenstein.—Fedora."

With a sudden movement Reggie lifted the piece of paper to his lips. Then he laid it reverently down.

"You recognize the handwriting?" she asked.

"It is enough," he answered. "You shall hear in a few words all that there is to tell. It is the story of a simple robbery. A packet of letters and a ring have been stolen in a most wonderful way from my room in the Embassy. They were kept"

I held up my hand.

"Reggie, forgive me, but I must know! Were they written before her marriage or after?"

"All—save one—before. I have had letters since—a few—on my promise that I would destroy them as they came. I kept that promise faithfully —until last week. Then I was horribly tempted! I could not see her for several days. A letter came! Oh, I was foolish, but the letter meant so much to me!" he groaned. "I kept it for an hour or two, meaning to destroy it at night. It was stolen with the others!"

"That letter "I began, looking searchingly at Reggie.

"It was—at least—imprudent!" he moaned. "To those who do not know her, as I know her, it will seem worse!"

I turned towards the girl. Had she anything to say? For my part, the matter seemed already hopeless. I could see no ray of light anywhere.

"Will you tell us, please," she said, "all about the actual robbery?"

"You have had particulars," he said. "You know all that there is to be known."

"It is true," she admitted; " nevertheless, your brother does not, and I myself would like to hear the story from your own lips."

He rested his head wearily upon his hand; he had taken a chair now, and began with his eyes fixed upon the fire.

"I kept the packet in a safe let into the wall of my room, and fastened with a combination cipher and Bramah key, exactly the same as the chief has for the treaty safe. The letter I speak about I received by hand on Sunday morning. I had it with me all day. At eight o'clock I went out to dine. I left the letter with the other packet in my safe. The key never leaves my person. I have a hollow gold band around my arm, and the key fits into it. When I returned at night everything was as usual. I opened the safe, meaning to read the letter over and then destroy it. It was gone and with it the packet and a ring. I rang my bell. There was no answer. I rushed along the passage of the Embassy shouting for Shalders. He was my servant. No one knew anything about him. I behaved, I am afraid, like a maniac. I should have been cool, but I was not. I could not contain myself. At last I heard news. He had been seen to leave the house about an hour after me, carrying a bag. I traced him to the station; he had taken a ticket to London. I followed him."

"The key?" I asked.

He touched his arm.

"It is here still. It has not left my possession for a second."

"How do you suppose, then, that the safe was opened?"

Reggie groaned.

"God alone knows! All I can say is, that it was done with a key, and the only other one made has never been out of the chief's possession, or, at any rate, out of the secretary's room. Sir Henry assured me of that himself. How the cipher could have been adjusted, and the safe opened Oh, Maurice!" he cried wearily, "it makes my brain whirl to think of it!"

He dropped his head wearily into his hands and leaned upon the table. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Groves came softly into the little circle of light with a telegram upon his salver. He brought it to me. It was addressed to "Miss Lichenstein, c/o the Earl of Cravon."

"I thought that it might be for the young lady," Groves murmured.

I handed it to her. She studied it for a few moments in silence. Then she took her gloves from the table.

"Will you allow your servant to call for me a hansom cab?" she asked. "I must go."

"Is there any news?" Reggie asked, suddenly looking up with white face.

She shook her head.

"Not yet. These are my instructions; I must obey them at once. Monsieur Reginald, do not despair! I shall do my best. Milord Cravon, au revoir! It has been a very leetle visit, but—oh! so pleasant!"

Her dark eyes flashed sweetly at me, and she took her leave with a bewitching smile and backward glance over her shoulder. I heard Groves whistle for a hansom, and she drove rapidly away. Then I went back to Reggie. He was leaning forward across the table, and was breathing heavily. I bent over him quietly. He had fallen asleep. In the morning I was even more shocked to see the alteration in my brother. His clothes hung loosely about him, as though he were just recovering from a long illness; his cheeks were haggard, and his eyes deep-set and unnaturally bright. He held a telegram in his hand when I entered the room.

"Any news?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"None," he answered mournfully. "My message simply says, 'Situation unchanged.'"

I rang the bell for breakfast. Until he had eaten something I would not let him speak. Afterwards I pushed two easy chairs to the fire, and passed him a pipe and some tobacco.

"I am going to ask you some questions, Reggie," I said.

"Yes. Go on," he answered feverishly.

"How long has Shalders been with you?"

"For six years. Ever since I had a man."

"Has he been a good servant?"

"I would have trusted him," Reggie said, "with my life."

"Where are your rooms in the Embassy?"

"On the third floor."

"Anybody else near you?"

"Sir Henry's private secretaries—Dick Colquhoun and a fellow named Harris."

Dick was an old school fellow. I passed him by without a thought.

"Harris, "I repeated thoughtfully. "Is he by any chance a connection of the Foreign Secretary's?"

Reggie nodded.

"Nephew."

"Are you on friendly terms with him?"

"Not particularly. He is not a sociable fellow. He was away on a week's leave, shooting somewhere."

"When was he expected back?" I asked. "The day I left."

"There was no one else who had rooms upon the third floor?"

"No one."

"Had you any difficulty in hearing about Shalders at the Marianburg railway station?"

"No."

"He did not seem to take any particular pains about concealing his identity?"

"None at all. I traced him as far as Paris easily. He took a sleeping berth in his own name."

"He travelled first-class, then?"

"Yes."

"And at Paris?"

"I lost him. I was only one train behind, and I believe that I reached London first."

"You think that he stayed over in Paris?"

"Yes."

"He took his ticket for London?"

"Yes."

"You have had no recent unpleasantness with Shalders? Your behaviour has been such that he would presumably consider you a good master?"

"I am sure of it."

"Then what possible motive, Reggie, could he have had in stealing those letters?"

"You might as well ask me," Reggie cried in despair," how he could possibly have opened the safe. All I know is that he has bolted and the letters are gone."

"Can you think of any one," I asked, "to whom those letters would have been specially valuable?"

"No one—except an enemy."

"And has she an enemy that you or she knows of?"

"Not one."

"Then we must conclude that they have been stolen for blackmail."

"I suppose so."

"And this is utterly unlike anything you would ever have expected from Shalders?"

"Utterly."

"Have you seen her since, Reggie?"

He covered his face with his hands.

"For one moment—one horrible moment!"

"You have warned her?"

"Yes."

"Is she taking any steps?"

"She has interest with the secret police. They are following Shalders. Marie Lichenstein is their agent."

"Can you communicate with her, or some one absolutely trustworthy in Marianburg?" I asked.

"Yes. I have had two or three telegrams already."

"Any news?"

"None."

"Sit down and write out a telegram."

He obeyed without a word. I placed pen and ink and forms before him.

"Say, 'Is Harris at Embassy?'"

"Harris, "he repeated. "What has he to do with it?"

"Never mind, Reggie. You send the telegram. An affair like this is mostly guess-work. There is no harm in asking the question, anyhow."

Reggie thought for a moment, turned it into cipher and wrote it slowly out.

"Now go and despatch that yourself," I said. "The walk will do you good."

He rose wearily.

"I don't see any object in sending this, "he said. "It is ridiculous to think of Harris in connection with the affair. He wasn't even there. Shalders took the letters! There is no doubt about that. What we want to do," he concluded, with a feverish little burst, "is to find Shalders."

"Send it any way," I answered. "Promise that you will send it."

He nodded listlessly.

"Oh yes, I'll send it," he said. "I've told you that it's no good, that's all."

"Do you know if Shalders has any friends in London?" I asked.

"He told me once that he had a brother, a hall-porter at the Geranium Club."

"Why not go on there and see if he has heard anything of him? You might find out his other relations, and they could be all watched."

"There is more sense in that," he muttered. "At least, it will be something to do!"

He left the room. I spent the morning reading a file of The Times for the last six months. Gradually I became more and more interested. I began to see the glimmerings of a clue. I was interrupted only a few minutes before luncheon-time by Groves announcing a visitor.

I looked up from my papers.

"Who is it?" I asked impatiently.

"A gentleman, my lord," Groves announced. "He declines to give his name, but he has a large box and a note which he says that he must give into your own hands."

"Show him in," I directed.

A man was ushered in, tall and by no means ill-looking, with a thin black moustache, steel-grey eyes and somewhat foreign appearance. He was carefully, in fact, irreproachably, dressed, with a single exception—he wore a brilliantly red tie, which seemed a little out of place with the rest of his toilet.

He bowed and regarded me keenly.

"The Earl of Cravon, I believe?"

I admitted the fact. He produced a note and handed it to me without further speech. It was addressed to me in a delicate, feminine handwriting, and a faint, familiar perfume assailed me directly I touched the seal. It was undated and the notepaper was quite plain.

My dear Friend,—

Necessity, or rather your brother's necessity, compels me to ask what will seem strange to you. Yet do as I send you word, and later I will explain. The bearer of this has a box. Let it be placed in an empty bedroom of your house, unknown, if it be possible, to any save your own confidential servant. Further, send me by him a latch-key of your house, and do not you yourself retire for the night until you see or hear from me. You will think that I am asking you strange things. No matter. All that I can I will explain to you very soon; and for the rest— well, it is for your brother, you know. Is it not?

Do not hesitate to do exactly what I ask. Very much depends upon it. As yet I cannot send you any news, but very soon our effort will be made, and you will know with what success.

Farewell, Milord Cravon. It is for a very short time.

Marie.

I looked from the note to the messenger.

"Where is—Miss Lichenstein?" I asked.

He spread out his hands.

"I cannot tell you, sir," he said. "It is better for you not to know. Will you give me the key? The box of which she has made mention is in your hall."

I went out and looked at it. It was an ordinary lady's dress-basket. Groves was examining it from a little distance, with his hands behind his back and a curious expression upon his face.

"Have this box taken into the guest-chamber upon the first floor, Groves," I directed. He bowed and hurried away. I returned to the library.

"Here is the key," I said to the man who awaited me, taking my own latch-key from my watch-chain

"I will do what Miss Lichenstein has asked."

He accepted it with a bow.

"You will not regret it," he answered quietly. "By this time to-morrow I trust that we may report ourselves successful."

"You are from Marianburg?" I asked.

He took up his hat.

"I see no reason for concealing the fact, Lord Cravon, that I am of the Marianburg secret police. This affair has been placed wholly in my hands. You will forgive me now if I hurry away."

I watched him step from the pavement into a small, handsome brougham and drive rapidly away. Then I hastened to change my own clothes and order a carriage.

I drove first to the house of Sir Charles Wimpole, a somewhat intimate friend of mine, who had a seat in the House of Commons and held a minor post in the Foreign Office. I found Wimpole Lodge, however, in the hands of the whitewashers and decorators. Sir Charles, I was told, was staying for a week or so at the Hotel Maurice. A few minutes later I drove into the splendid courtyard of the hotel and made inquiries at the bureau.

Sir Charles, I was told, had gone out only a few minutes before, but he was expected back in a quarter of an hour. I lit a cigarette and subsided into one of the luxurious lounges in the hall. I wanted particularly some information which Sir Charles would be able to give me, so I decided to wait.

I had been there scarcely a minute when the rustling of a dress across the marble floor induced me to raise my eyes from the paper which I had picked up. To my amazement, it was Marie Lichenstein. She was charmingly dressed in a Parisian toilette of red and black, and a poodle, shaved in the latest fashion and wearing a jewelled collar, trotted behind her. I rose to my feet, hat in hand, and stepped forward. To my blank astonishment, she met my eyes with a stony stare of non-recognition. I muttered her name—she turned coldly away.

"Monsieur has mistaken me," she said. "I have not the honour of his acquaintance."

She retreated to the further end of the hall and sat down in an easy chair, with the dog by her side. I resumed my seat, and looked sharply round to see if any one had witnessed my discomfiture. I fancied that the head-porter, who had suddenly averted his head, was indulging in a faint smile; I was sure that a man, whom I had not previously noticed, and who was sitting in a dark corner by the cigar stall, was laughing softly to himself. I looked at him more closely. Something about the man's mouth seemed familiar. I leaned forward and saw him distinctly. It was the messenger whom Marie Lichenstein had sent to me scarcely an hour ago.

I threw my cigarette away and walked down to the cigar stall. I made some trifling purchases, glancing every now and then at the man, who was barely a couple of yards away. He neither avoided my notice nor courted it, but there was not the faintest gleam of recognition in his face. I purposely tendered a banknote to the girl in charge of the cigar stall. She left to get change, and I spoke softly to the man.

"We meet again very soon," I remarked.

He looked up at me with a bland but unintelligent smile.

"Monsieur is, I think, mistaken," he said. "I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance."

I muttered something which was scarcely polite, and returned to my seat. I felt that I was being drawn into some sort of a conspiracy. The man and the woman sat at opposite corners of the hall, and not even a glance passed between them. They did not know one another—they did not know me. Both had assumed with perfect naturalness the listless attitude of people passing away an hour of boredom. All the same I began to realize that they were waiting for some one. Every time the swing-doors were opened by the hall-porter, who stood like a machine at his post, the man looked up. There was no anxiety or nervousness in that slight, sidelong glance. It was to all appearance nothing more than the ordinary curiosity of the casual hotel-lounger. Only I, who was watching very closely indeed, could see every now and then faint signs of impatience underneath his insouciance.

I lit a fresh cigarette and waited. They were watching for some one! Was that some one the man who had planned and carried out this strange robbery?

I too began to scrutinize the little stream of people who were passing in and out. So far as I could see, they were the usual cosmopolitan throng who patronize such hotels as the Maurice. The majority were Americans, plainly dressed and carrying satchels with an occasional Baedeker. Every now and then a Frenchwoman, like a brilliant butterfly, came flitting in, and the gay chatter of voices, introductions and leave-takings filled the air. It was just when the hall seemed fullest that the door swung back and a man entered with a rug upon his arm, followed by one of the outside porters carrying a portmanteau. I glanced over at the face of the watcher by the cigar stall, and felt a sudden thrill of excitement. A look had flashed across from the man to the woman, and I intercepted it. I knew at once what it meant— this was the man!

The new-comer passed within a few feet of me, and I was able to observe him closely. He appeared to be from thirty to thirty-five years old, he was of medium height, sallow and thin. He was dressed in a blue serge suit of foreign cut, and he wore a black bowler-hat, which would have been the better for a good brushing. As he passed from the door to the hotel office, he looked quickly and furtively around at the loungers in the hall, and seemed relieved to recognize no familiar face.

He disappeared into the bureau, and almost immediately afterwards Marie Lichenstein rose from her corner and came quietly down the hall until she reached the space between the bureau and the lifts. She paused here and exchanged a few words with one of the hotel pages. As she dismissed the boy, the new-comer issued from the hotel office, and raising her eyes, they fell, as if by accident, upon him.

I know what I should have felt if a woman as beautiful as Marie Lichenstein had looked at me in like manner. She must have been a consummate actress. At first her glance denoted nothing but curiosity, in a second or two it had softened into interest, then she passed on with a faint, but bewitching, smile at the corners of her lips. The newcomer hesitated awkwardly for a moment. Then he handed his rug to the porter who was carrying his bag.

"You can take them into my room," I heard him say. "I shall be there in a few minutes."

The servant withdrew; the new-comer glanced after Marie Lichenstein. She had swung down the hall with slow graceful movements, and was looking idly into the restaurant. The man followed her as far as the cigar stall, where he made some trifling purchase. As he stood there the woman passed slowly back again. He turned and looked at her more boldly. This time her eyes fell quickly before his, but that wonderful smile quivered once more upon her lips. She walked on towards the lift and entered—the man followed her. It seemed to me that as they swung up out of sight I saw him bend down towards her!

When they had gone I drew a little breath and glanced down towards my fellow-watcher. He was lighting a cigarette and smiling softly to himself. In a few moments he rose and, drawing on his gloves, passed out of the hotel. I heard the whistle which summoned a private carriage and the sound of wheels driving away. It had all happened so quickly that it was hard to realize anything. Only I looked at the two empty seats, and I think I understood that the curtain had rung up upon the first act of the little drama of which I had unwittingly become the sole audience.

In a moment or two I rose and entered the office. I had intended to take a room, in order to see for myself under what name this latest comer to the hotel had registered. But as it happened this was not necessary. The office was crowded, and the visitors' book lay open before me. The last name was written boldly enough—the ink, indeed, was not yet dry. I read it over slowly to myself. It was quite unfamiliar:—

Maxime De Carteret,

Buda Pesth.

No. 357.

I turned away and came face to face with Wimpole. He greeted me with some surprise.

"What are you doing here, Cravon?" he asked. "I thought you hated these huge hotels."

"I came to see you," I answered. "Are you busy, or can you spare me half an hour?"

"I'm off to the House presently," he said. "We'll have a cigarette first, if you like; and then, if you've nothing better to do, you might give me a lift down. I saw your carriage outside." We sat down on one of the lounges.

"I have come to beg for some political information, Wimpole," I said.

He looked at me with a smile.

"I'm very much flattered," he said. "Are you going to speak on the Zanzibar question, then?"

I shook my head.

"No. I'm not going to speak at all—at least, I do not want the information for political purposes. Nor has it anything to do with Zanzibar."

"China?"

"Much nearer home."

"Europe?"

I was silent for a moment.

"You remember Reggie—my younger brother?"

"Quite well," he answered. "He came to Eton the year I left, and he followed me to Magdalen. Nice boy, but I haven't seen him for years."

"He has been at Marianburg," I continued, "and I am sorry to say that he has got into a scrape there. It's a very mysterious and complicated business, but I'd give a good deal to help him out of it."

"At Marianburg!" Wimpole whistled softly to himself and began to look more interested.

"I daresay you know," he said,"that matters politically are looking very queer there just now?"

"I know nothing," I answered, "except what I have gathered from The Times. It seems to me that there is something in the background there, and I have a sort of theory that Reggie has got drawn into it."

Wimpole looked around him.

"Marianburg," he said, "is giving us just now a great deal of trouble. This is scarcely the place to talk of it, but if you will drive me down to the House we can talk as we go."

We both rose. At that moment the lift doors opposite to us were opened, and Marie Lichenstein stepped out, dressed for walking and followed by the man in the blue serge suit. She passed me with unseeing eyes and perfect unconsciousness, chatting all the while gaily to her companion. Wimpole looked after her admiringly.

"What a handsome woman, Cravon!"

I smiled. We all four stood on the steps together, and a porter, who had recognized me, called for my carriage. I saw Marie's companion turn round as though he were shot. Wimpole looked at him curiously.

"The fellow with her seemed to recognize your name," he remarked.

I nodded, but took care not to advance towards him. The hansom arrived first, and I heard their destination

"Charbonell's, Bond Street."

They drove off. I stepped into my brougham, which followed up. On the other side of the court-yard a man was strolling up and down. It was the messenger whom Marie had sent to me—the man with the red tie.

*****

There followed for me an evening of inaction during which I thought a good deal and smoked too much. Reggie had not returned, nor was there any message from him. About eight o'clock a telegram arrived from Marianburg, but, although I opened it without hesitation and with considerable interest, it was in cipher and unintelligible to me. After that the hours passed away very slowly. At twelve o'clock I fell asleep; at one I awoke with a sudden start and a chill consciousness that I was not alone. I sat up in my chair. At first I thought that I must still be dreaming. The woman who stood before me with uplifted and warning finger was dressed in the fashion of another age. Her hair and cheeks were powdered, diamonds flashed from her shoe buckles, her corsage, from the velvet which bound her hair. Her dress of green satin was strangely cut and looped up on one side to display a gorgeous petticoat. She held a fan in her left hand, and her fingers were ablaze with rings.

"Milord Cravon!" she whispered.

I knew her then, as indeed I might have done from the first, for her eyes and mouth were eloquent enough and her face was not one to be easily disguised.

"Marie Lichenstein!" I cried. "Why—"

She interrupted me.

"I have been to your Covent Garden Ball," she said. "Give me some wine quickly."

I had some at hand and poured her out a glass. The hand which took it from me was shaking like an aspen leaf. I looked at her more closely, and I saw that she was a sorry masquerader. There was a pallor upon her cheeks more real than the delicate blanching of the powder, and a fear in her eyes which was like the fear of death. Behind her, across a chair, had fallen a black opera cloak and a domino. She stood there in her brilliant dress a strange, wan picture.

I gave her more wine. She drank it eagerly and sank down in my easy chair. I took her hand and held it in mine. It was as cold as ice.

"I am afraid," she murmured, "that I am losing my nerve. Yet I never thought that it would end like this."

"Something—has happened?"

"A great deal has happened," she declared, "much that I would were undone. Milord Cravon, we have failed!"

My heart sank. Yet from the moment when I had recognized her I had felt sure of it. She was like a woman wholly unnerved by a great shock, and with it all I knew that she was not a woman to be lightly brought into such a state.

"He was—not the man then?"

"Of that I am not sure," she answered; "but it is very certain that he has not the letters. If he is the man who stole them, and of that Meyer is certain, then he has already made his bargain and parted with them. We were too late. We have run a great risk for no purpose"

"I am sorry—for your sake as well as Reggie's," I murmured.

"My friend," she said, looking at me with eyes which seemed suddenly very dim and soft, "by this time to-morrow you will not be sorry for me any longer! At the sound of my name you will shudder, at the thought of me you will shrink as one shrinks from a poisonous thing! But after all—what matters?" she added, with a hysterical little laugh. "I have but one thing to think of now, and that is to get away. Milord Cravon, have you servants whom you can trust?"

"Implicitly," I assured her.

"I need a carriage," she said.

"My night cab is ready," I answered. "I have only to touch a bell. The horse is already harnessed"

"And my box?"

I motioned her to follow me, and showed her the room where it had been placed.

"The cab—in five minutes," she said, as I turned to go; "I shall not be longer."

She kept her word literally. I was prepared for some sort of transformation, but scarcely for anything so complete. She glided into my study before the five minutes were up, a slim, sad figure in the sorrowful garb of a sister of mercy. From the rough, black gown which fell upon her ill-shaped shoes to the gold chain about her neck, the metamorphosis was absolute and complete. I gasped for breath as I looked at her.

"I have left you but one thing to do, Milord Cravon," she said. "The opera cloak and domino there—will you put them in the box which I have left upstairs? Keep that box in a safe place until you have an opportunity of destroying it, and every trace of Marie Lichenstein has vanished."

"But—where are you going?" I cried.

"To a convent at Highgate. I have letters from a sister at Brussels. When your door closes behind me, I am as safe as though. I were a thousand miles away. Everything has been perfectly arranged, and I am expected to-night. Is the carriage here?"

"It is waiting," I answered. "Do you mean, then, that we shall not meet again?"

She sighed.

"It is a small world," she said softly.

"And Highgate," I suggested, "is a small suburb."

She shook her head.

"Not there," she said decidedly. "Whatever you do, do not come there, or make any inquiries. You promise?"

"Faithfully."

She sighed once more. I found myself holding her hand. Her dark eyes looked sorrowfully into mine.

"After all," she said, "it is true what I have told you. By this time to-morrow you will loathe me. If my hand lay within yours—as now—you would cast it away."

"I can assure you," I said earnestly, and raising it a little towards my lips, "that I should do nothing of the sort. I should do precisely what I am going to do now."

The little white fingers were as cold as ice. She drew them gently away and I walked with her to the door. With my hand upon the latch I paused. There was something I wanted to say to her, but she gave me no opportunity. With a sudden impulsive movement, she threw the door open herself, ran down the steps and vanished into the carriage. She did not look round nor say a word of farewell, but as she crossed the pavement I heard something which sounded like a sob break from her lips.