Читать книгу The Kidnapping of Madame Storey and Other Stories (Madame Storey) - Footner Hulbert - Страница 11

On the following afternoon we were seated on the terrace when Mme. Storey said suddenly: "It has sprouted."

Following the direction of her glance I saw Durocher coming along with Charlie Raines in tow. My heart began to pound against my ribs. Fortunately the scared red-nosed companion was not forced to take any part in the scene that followed.

Charlie had learned his lesson well. He never batted an eye when he was introduced. It was only by a slight subcutaneous flush in his pale cheeks that I knew he had been told that "Mrs. Bradford" was Lady Wedderminster. His manners were perfect.

They talked about all sorts of things. Lady Wedderminster appeared to warm towards the handsome young American. Marcel made believe to be jealous, but his wicked eyes were full of satisfaction. It was not necessary for anybody to steer the talk around to the subject of dancing. After a while it got there itself.

"Charlie is a wonderful dancer," said Marcel jealously.

Lady Wedderminster looked at Charlie eagerly.

"Marcel mentioned that you would like to learn to dance," said Charlie. "I'd be tickled to death to teach you if you'll let me. There's a little dance studio on the Avenue de Joffre where we can practise. But I'll bet you anything you like, that inside an hour you'll be ready to take the floor at the Sporting Club."

"I should like it," murmured Lady Wedderminster, letting a world of meaning appear in her hungry hollow eyes.

"You go with him!" grumbled Marcel jealously. But his pleased eyes were saying: She's hooked! ... It was a good comedy.

"Well, come on, let's go!" said Charlie.

We climbed the steps to the street and Marcel hailed a taxi-cab. Mme. Storey said with the insulting indifference that she assumed towards me:

"Cora, you run off to the "Café de Paris." Buy yourself a drink on the terrace and wait until I come back."

This was about three o'clock. Shortly before five they returned. I was sitting with my drink before me when they got out of a taxi at the pavement. Marcel raised his hat and walked off; Mme. Storey and Charlie came to my table. Charlie was saying: "Thank God! he's left us. I didn't dare come out of my part for a moment at the studio. That guy has eyes like a lynx and ears like nothing human!"

They sat down. "Gee! what wonderful disguises!" Charlie went on. "Both you and Bella. Marvellous! Even now I can't believe that you are really you."

"Restrain your enthusiasm," said Mme. Storey in the dull manner of Lady Wedderminster. "Marcel had gone, but there are other spies. Act towards me as if I was a difficult prospect that you were working on, and you can say what you like."

Charlie passed a hand over his mouth. "I can't help grinning when you and Bella and I are together," he said apologetically.

"Why didn't you let me hear from you?" she asked.

"I couldn't. Until now I've been watched night and day. This is the first time Marcel has left me on my own."

"Good! That means you have passed.... What has happened?"

"Well," said Charlie, "after I had been thrown up on the beach for a couple of days, this guy Marcel picked me up. Offered to share his room with me. Made out it was pure friendship. He has a swell room in a villa on the main street a little way out. We always ride in and out on the bus, though it isn't far.

"I haven't got any of the dope on the gang yet. Marcel admits, of course, that he's a gigolo, but makes out that he's on his own. He's training me as his side partner. He feeds me a line of cynical philosophy that would have corrupted the angel Gabriel when young. I appear to lap it up like milk.... One thing struck me as funny. He had me get my photograph taken in a photomat one day. Just for a joke, he made out."

"He wanted to show it to his bosses," said Mme. Storey. "Go on."

"I haven't been told anything," said Charlie, "but I have put two and two together. There are a lot of these bozos in Monte Carlo. They live around in different places, and do not associate except when they need to help each other out. For an identification badge each one has a little white book to show, but I haven't been given one."

"I know the book," said Mme. Storey dryly. "What about the boss?"

"Haven't heard a whisper about him," said Charlie, "but I know there is a boss because Marcel gets orders from him in writing that he translates with the aid of the little white book. And he makes reports to his boss. But how he gets his orders or sends his reports I don't know."

We sipped our thè au rhum, the gypsy orchestra played a czardas, and the people went hurrying along the pavement to the casino. They always hurry when they go in.

"Now that you and I have joined up," Mme. Storey said to Charlie, "we must pull off our trick swiftly. If there is any delay we are certain to be found out and then ... good-night! ... Have you any idea of what their intentions are towards Lady Wedderminster?"

Charlie shook his head. "Blackmail I reckon."

"That's what I am afraid of," she said. "Blackmail is too complicated and too slow an operation. We must try to tempt them to rob me outright."

"Robbery! Good God!" muttered Charlie, changing colour.

"When you make your report to Marcel about me," Mme. Storey went on, "tell him that I confided to you that I had brought a large sum in cash to Monte Carlo because I didn't want my husband or my bankers to know that I was going to gamble. Tell him that I have almost doubled it since I came, and that I am carrying half a million francs around with me because I'm afraid to leave it in my room."

"But ... but," stammered Charlie, "they will attack you!"

"You are coming out of your part," she warned. "We will take care of that.... If I figure right," she went on, "as soon as Marcel gets this information he will report it to his boss, and will receive instructions how to act. Ah! if you could get me a copy of Marcel's instructions we would have them dead to rights!"

"I'll do my damnedest," said Charlie.