the seven dials mysteryenglishonlineclub.com/pdf/agatha christie - the...write thrillers. so why am...
TRANSCRIPT
Contents
TitlePage
Introduction
1OnEarlyRising
2ConcerningAlarumClocks
3TheJokethatFailed
4ALetter
5TheManintheRoad
6SevenDialsAgain
7BundlePaysaCall
8VisitorsforJimmy
9Plans
10BundleVisitsScotlandYard
11DinnerwithBill
12InquiriesatChimneys
13TheSevenDialsClub
14TheMeetingoftheSevenDials
15TheInquest
16TheHousePartyattheAbbey
17AfterDinner
18JimmyâsAdventures
19BundleâsAdventures
20LoraineâsAdventures
21TheRecoveryoftheFormula
22TheCountessRadzkyâsStory
23SuperintendentBattleinCharge
24BundleWonders
25JimmyLayshisPlans
26MainlyaboutGolf
27NocturnalAdventure
28Suspicions
29SingularBehaviourofGeorgeLomax
30AnUrgentSummons
31TheSevenDials
32BundleisDumbfounded
33BattleExplains
34LordCaterhamApproves
AbouttheAuthor
TheAgathaChristieCollection
RelatedProducts
Copyright
AboutthePublisherOceanofPDF.com
IntroductionbyValMcDermid
ThingsthateverybodyknowsaboutAgathaChristie:sheproducedalotofbooks that still outsell the competition; she was the greatest plotter of theclassic detective story; she did a vanishing act and turned up amnesiac inHarrogate, identified by the banjo player in the hotel band; she wrote thelongest-running play in theatrical history,TheMousetrap; and she couldnâtwritethrillers.
SowhyamIsuggestingthatanyonewouldwanttoreadTheSevenDialsMystery?After all, it has all the ingredients of the classic1920s thriller, asexemplifiedby;A.E.W.Mason,SapperandJohnBuchan.Secretplans,evilforeigners, marvellous cars with running boards and powerful engines, thejoint threats ofGermany andCommunistRussia, house parties, youngmenwandering roundwith loaded revolvers and plucky youngwomenâtheyârealltherebythebucketload.
Oh,andletâsnotforgetthesecretsocietythatmeetsbehindcloseddoors,whosemembersaremaskedsonoteventheyknowwhotheothermembersare. Bulldog Drummond and Richard Hannay territory, surely? Which weknowthatChristiecanâtdo.Right?
Wrong.BecauseTheSevenDialsMysteryisnâtathriller.Itâsapasticheofa thriller, anantidote to thegung-hochest-beatingof theboys. Itâswry, itâsgot its tongueplanted firmly in its cheekand it subverts thewholegenre itappearstobepartof,notleastbecauseaswellasallofthis, italsodeliverscleverly dovetailed plottingwith a typicalChristie flourish at the end. âAhyes,â we sigh. âFooled again.â If one of our Young Turks did somethingsimilar with the thriller now, weâd all nod sagely and go, âhow verypostmodern,howveryself-referentialandknowing,howverymetafictional.â
Butthatwasthenandthisisnow.SoChristiegetsnocreditforpokinghertongueoutatthebigboyswhosettheagendaforwhatathrillershouldbe.Imean, how can a nice middle-class wife and mother be considered asubversive? How embarrassing would that be for the leather-jacketed
iconoclasts?
ButthefactremainsthatTheSevenDialsMysteryreallydoesnâtperformasexpected.
Aswellasshowingthatwhenitcametosleightofhand,AgathaChristiejustcouldnâthelpherself,whatTheSevenDialsMysteryrevealsisthesideofitsauthorthateverybodyseemstoforget.(Notsurprisingly,whenyoulookatthosesternjacketphotographs...)Shehadasenseofhumour.Itwasslyandshrewd,andneverfarfromthesurface.
Itâs there in the very first Jane Marple mystery in the character ofGriselda, the hopelessly inappropriate wife of the very conservative vicar.AnditcontinuesintheMarplenovelswith,forexample,aseriesofslydigsatMiss Marpleâs nephew, the literary novelist Raymond West, whosepretensionsareaconstantsourceofbubble-burstingonChristieâspart.
And itâs there in thePoirotmysteries too.PerhapsChristieâs funniest aswellashermostself-referentialcharacterappearsregularlythereâthecrimewriter Ariadne Oliver. Mrs. Oliver, with her perpetually bursting bags ofapplesandherdisregardforconvention,isclearlyathinlydisguisedversionofChristieherself.
Where Christie has her Belgian detective whom she came to dislikeintensely,Mrs.OliverhasaFinn.Sheisconstantlytobeheardcomplainingbitterlyaboutherfollyincreatingadepressivedetectivefromacountryaboutwhichsheknewnothingandhashad to learnfar toomuch.Shemoans thatherpublisherandherreaderswonâtletherkillhimoffbecausetheylikehimtoomuch.AllofthisisdeliveredinsuchawaythatitâsimpossibletoavoidawrysmileatthecharacterâsexpenseandatChristieâstoo.
FromtheveryfirstparagraphofTheSevenDialsMystery,weshouldbeinno doubt thatweâre in aworld ofWodehousian insouciance.No one couldhavewrittensuchanopening,notevenin1929,withoutbeingconsciousofitsparodicquality.
Thatamiableyouth,JimmyThesiger,cameracingdownthebigstaircaseatChimneys two steps at a time. Soprecipitatewashis descent that hecollidedwithTredwell, the stately butler, just as the latterwas crossingthe hall bearing a fresh supply of hot coffee. Owing to the marvellouspresenceofmindandmasterlyagilityofTredwell,nocasualtyoccurred.
âSorry,âapologizedJimmy.âIsay,Tredwell,amIthelastdown?â
Substitute BertieWooster for Jimmy Thesiger and Jeeves for Tredwell,and itwouldnât feel at all out of place. I think itâs safe to say thatChristiewasnâtsettingupincompetitionwithBuchanandSapperwhenshewrotethisnovel.
When critics consider Christie now, they often point to the apparentintoleranceandlackofpoliticalcorrectnessrevealedbyherattitudestoclassand to other races. Itâs true that she patronises the lower classes and isextraordinarily offensive about Jews,Germans andRussians, amongothers.Butinthisshereflectedtheattitudesofawomanofherclassandgeneration.Itwouldhavebeenremarkableifshehaddisplayeddifferentattitudes.Evenafeminist icon likeVirginiaWoolf,writingataround thesame time,displaysanunnervinglackofinsightintothelivesanddreamsoftheâservantclasses.â
But that hasnât stopped people leaping onChristie as an example of allthatisworstabouttheEnglish.Sheâsaccusedofsnobbery,ofinsensitivity,ofracialandclassstereotyping.
Buthowvalidare thesecriticisms?Formyself,Iâvealwaysthought thatthetruetestofpeopleâsbeliefsliesintheirsenseofhumour.Whattheyfindfunnywilltellyoufarmoreaboutsomeonethantheirseriousprofessionsofbelief.Itâsoftenseemedtomethatthosewemakethebuttsofourjokesarethoseforwhomwenurseourdeepestandmostsecretcontempt.
SowhatdoesChristiemakefunofinthisnovel?
Well, first there is the aristocracy. The egotistical, indolent and almostindigentLordCaterham(atitleabsurdinitself,Caterhambeingtheepitomeof stifling Home Counties suburbia) is drawn with affection, but whereBuchan or Sapper would have shown him as a figure of status, worthy ofrespectandtrust,Christieshowshimasafigureoffunwhoisindulgedbyhisfeisty daughter. Heâs a not-too-distant relative of Wodehouseâs LordEmsworth.
Christie teases thenouveauriche justaswickedly.SirOswaldandLadyCooteareperceptivelylampooned,theoneforhisover-reachingambition,theotherforherfailuretoescapeherlowermiddle-classsensibilities.Weseehertreatedwithdisdainbytheservants,whileherhusbandfailstoseehowlittleacceptancehiswealth,histitleandhismaterialsuccesshavebroughthim.
Buttheuppermiddleclassesaregivennomoreleewaythanthearrivistes.The Seven Dials Mystery is peppered with ineffectual Oxbridge ForeignOffice youngmen being rescued by theirwomen. Themen are silly asses,who avoid disastermore by luck and having the right people behind themthanbyfinelyhonedjudgement.
Butmostimportantly,prejudicecomesunderthecosh.Thereareseveralcharacters inTheSevenDialsMystery aboutwhomwe are invited tomakeknee-jerk judgements, from the mysterious East European countess to theapparently reliable but unimaginative ScotlandYard detective. All of thesesnapdecisionswouldfallintolinewiththereceivedbigotryofthetime.
Yetbytheendofthenovel,Christiehasforcedareversalofalmostallofthesepositions.
Iâmnotsuggestingthatshewasactuallyasecretradicalwhowasaimingtosubvertthenarrow-mindedintoleranceofhertimeandclass.Thatwouldbepatentlyabsurd,forAgathaChristiewasnorevolutionary.
But she was far less of a hidebound conservative than is generallyassumed. There is clearly more to The Seven Dials Mystery than a facileattempt to turn everything on its head in order to make the âleast likelypersonâhypothesiswork.Thereis,Ibelieve,clearevidencethatChristiesawher world with a far clearer and colder eye than those who disparage herunderstand.
The Seven Dials Mystery is the perfect antidote to anyone who hasoverdosedontheclassicEnglishthrillerfrombetweenthewars.ButitâsalsoworthreadingforthesheerskillwithwhichChristieplayswithherreadersâexpectationsandusesthemtoplaythecleverestofnarrativetrickswithus.
Itâsallsleightofhand.AndthequicknessofChristieâshandstillcontinuestodeceiveoureyes,allthoseyearslater.
OceanofPDF.com
One
ONEARLYRISING
Thatamiableyouth,JimmyThesiger,cameracingdownthebigstaircaseatChimneystwostepsatatime.Soprecipitatewashisdescentthathecollidedwith Tredwell, the stately butler, just as the latter was crossing the hallbearing a fresh supply of hot coffee. Owing to themarvellous presence ofmindandmasterlyagilityofTredwell,nocasualtyoccurred.
âSorry,âapologizedJimmy.âIsay,Tredwell,amIthelastdown?â
âNo,sir.Mr.Wadehasnotcomedownyet.â
âGood,âsaidJimmy,andenteredthebreakfastroom.
Theroomwasemptysaveforhishostess,andherreproachfulgazegaveJimmythesamefeelingofdiscomforthealwaysexperiencedoncatchingtheeyeofadefunctcodfishexposedonafishermanâsslab.Yet,hangitall,whyshould thewoman look at him like that?To comedownat a punctual ninethirtywhenstayinginacountryhousesimplywasnâtdone.Tobesure,itwasnowaquarterpastelevenwhichwas,perhaps,theoutsidelimit,buteventhenâ
âAfraidIâmabitlate,LadyCoote.What?â
âOh,itdoesnâtmatter,âsaidLadyCooteinamelancholyvoice.
Asamatteroffact,peoplebeinglateforbreakfastworriedherverymuch.Forthefirsttenyearsofhermarriedlife,SirOswaldCoote(thenplainMr.)had,toputitbadly,raisedhellifhismorningmealwereevenahalfminutelater than eight oâclock. Lady Coote had been disciplined to regardunpunctualityasadeadlysinofthemostunpardonablenature.Andhabitdieshard.Also,shewasanearnestwoman,andshecouldnothelpaskingherselfwhatpossiblegood theseyoungpeoplewouldeverdo in theworldwithoutearlyrising.AsSirOswaldsooftensaid,toreportersandothers:âIattributemysuccessentirelytomyhabitsofearlyrising,frugalliving,andmethodical
habits.â
LadyCootewasabig,handsomewomaninatragicsortoffashion.Shehadlarge,mournfuleyesandadeepvoice.AnartistlookingforamodelforâRachel mourning for her childrenâ would have hailed Lady Coote withdelight.Shewouldhavedonewell,too,inmelodrama,staggeringthroughthefallingsnowasthedeeplywrongedwifeofthevillain.
Shelookedasthoughshehadsometerriblesecretsorrowinherlife,andyet if the truthbe told,LadyCootehadhadno trouble inher lifewhatever,exceptthemeteoricrisetoprosperityofSirOswald.Asayounggirlshehadbeenajollyflamboyantcreature,verymuchinlovewithOswaldCoote,theaspiringyoungman in thebicycle shopnext toher fatherâshardware store.They had lived very happily, first in a couple of rooms, and then in a tinyhouse,andtheninalargerhouse,andtheninsuccessivehousesofincreasingmagnitude,butalwayswithinareasonabledistanceofâtheWorks,âuntilnowSirOswaldhadreachedsuchaneminencethatheandâtheWorksâwerenolonger interdependent, and it was his pleasure to rent the very largest andmost magnificent mansions available all over England. Chimneys was ahistoricplace,andinrentingitfromtheMarquisofCaterhamfortwoyears,SirOswaldfeltthathehadattainedthetopnotchofhisambition.
LadyCootewasnotnearlysohappyabout it.Shewasa lonelywoman.The principal relaxation of her early married life had been talking to âthegirlââandevenwhenâthegirlâhadbeenmultipliedby three, conversationwithherdomesticstaffhadstillbeentheprincipaldistractionofLadyCooteâsday. Now, with a pack of housemaids, a butler like an archbishop, severalfootmen of imposing proportions, a bevy of scuttling kitchen and scullerymaids,aterrifyingforeignchefwithaâtemperament,âandahousekeeperofimmense proportionswho alternately creaked and rustledwhen shemoved,LadyCootewasasonemaroonedonadesertisland.
Shesighednow,heavily,anddriftedoutthroughtheopenwindow,muchtothereliefofJimmyThesiger,whoatoncehelpedhimselftomorekidneysandbacononthestrengthofit.
LadyCoote stood for a fewmoments tragically on the terrace and thennervedherselftospeaktoMacDonald,theheadgardener,whowassurveyingthe domain overwhich he ruledwith an autocratic eye.MacDonaldwas averychiefandprinceamongheadgardeners.Heknewhisplaceâwhichwas
torule.Andheruledâdespotically.
LadyCooteapproachedhimnervously.
âGoodmorning,MacDonald.â
âGoodmorning,mâlady.â
Hespokeasheadgardenersshouldspeakâmournfully,butwithdignityâlikeanemperoratafuneral.
âIwaswonderingâcouldwehavesomeof those lategrapes fordesserttonight?â
âTheyârenofitforpickingyet,âsaidMacDonald.
Hespokekindlybutfirmly.
âOh!âsaidLadyCoote.
Shepluckedupcourage.
âOh! but I was in the end house yesterday, and I tasted one and theyseemedverygood.â
MacDonaldlookedather,andsheblushed.Shewasmadetofeelthatshehad taken an unpardonable liberty. Evidently the late Marchioness ofCaterhamhadnever committed such a solecismas to enter oneof her ownhothousesandhelpherselftograpes.
âIfyouhadgivenorders,mâlady,abunchshouldhavebeencutandsentintoyou,âsaidMacDonaldseverely.
âOh,thankyou,âsaidLadyCoote.âYes,Iwilldothatanothertime.â
âButtheyârenoproperlyfitforpickingyet.â
âNo,â murmured Lady Coote, âno, I suppose not.Weâd better leave itthen.â
MacDonald maintained a masterly silence. Lady Coote nerved herselfoncemore.
âIwasgoing tospeak toyouabout thepieceof lawnat thebackof therosegarden.Iwonderedifitcouldbeusedasabowlinggreen.SirOswaldisveryfondofagameofbowls.â
âAndwhynot?âthoughtLadyCootetoherself.Shehadbeeninstructedin
her history of England. Had not Sir Francis Drake and his knightlycompanions been playing a game of bowlswhen theArmadawas sighted?Surely a gentlemanly pursuit and one to which MacDonald could notreasonably object.But she had reckonedwithout the predominant trait of agood head gardener,which is to oppose any and every suggestionmade tohim.
âNae doot it could be used for that purpose,â said MacDonaldnoncommittally.
Hethrewadiscouragingflavourintotheremark,butitsrealobjectwastolureLadyCooteontoherdestruction.
âIfitwasclearedupandâerâcutâandâerâallthatsortofthing,âshewentonhopefully.
âAye,â said MacDonald slowly. âIt could be done. But it would meantakingWilliamfromthelowerborder.â
âOh!â saidLadyCoote doubtfully.Thewords âlower borderâ conveyedabsolutelynothingtohermindâexceptavaguesuggestionofaScottishsongâbut it was clear that to MacDonald they constituted an insuperableobjection.
âAndthatwouldbeapity,âsaidMacDonald.
âOh, of course,â said Lady Coote. âItwould.â Andwondered why sheagreedsofervently.
MacDonaldlookedatherveryhard.
âOfcourse,âhesaid,âifitâsyourorders,mâladyââ
Heleftitlikethat.ButhismenacingtonewastoomuchforLadyCoote.Shecapitulatedatonce.
âOh,no,âshesaid.âIseewhatyoumean,MacDonald.NânoâWilliamhadbettergetonwiththelowerborder.â
âThatâswhatIthochtmeself,mâlady.â
âYes,âsaidLadyCoote.âYes,certainly.â
âIthochtyouâdagree,mâlady,âsaidMacDonald.
âOh,certainly,âsaidLadyCooteagain.
MacDonaldtouchedhishatandmovedaway.
Lady Coote sighed unhappily and looked after him. Jimmy Thesiger,repletewithkidneysandbacon,steppedoutontotheterracebesideher,andsighedinquiteadifferentmanner.
âToppingmorning,eh?âheremarked.
âIs it?â said Lady Coote absently. âOh, yes, I suppose it is. I hadnâtnoticed.â
âWherearetheothers?Puntingonthelake?â
âIexpectso.Imean,Ishouldnâtwonderiftheywere.â
LadyCoote turned andplunged abruptly into thehouse again.Tredwellwasjustexaminingthecoffeepot.
âOh,dear,âsaidLadyCoote.âIsnâtMr.âMr.ââ
âWade,mâlady?â
âYes,Mr.Wade.Isnâthedownyet?â
âNo,mâlady.â
âItâsverylate.â
âYes,mâlady.â
âOh,dear.Isupposehewillcomedownsometime,Tredwell?â
âOh, undoubtedly,mâlady. Itwas eleven thirty yesterdaymorningwhenMr.Wadecamedown,mâlady.â
LadyCooteglancedattheclock.Itwasnowtwentyminutestotwelve.Awaveofhumansympathyrushedoverher.
âItâsveryhardluckonyou,Tredwell.Havingtoclearandthengetlunchonthetablebyoneoâclock.â
âIamaccustomedtothewaysofyounggentlemen,mâlady.â
The reproof was dignified, but unmistakable. So might a prince of theChurch reprove a Turk or an infidel who had unwittingly committed asolecisminallgoodfaith.
Lady Coote blushed for the second time that morning. But a welcomeinterruptionoccurred.Thedooropenedandaserious,spectacledyoungman
puthisheadin.
âOh,thereyouare,LadyCoote.SirOswaldwasaskingforyou.â
âOh,Iâllgotohimatonce,Mr.Bateman.â
LadyCootehurriedout.
Rupert Bateman, whowas Sir Oswaldâs private secretary, went out theother way, through the window where Jimmy Thesiger was still loungingamiably.
ââMorning,Pongo,âsaidJimmy.âIsupposeIshallhavetogoandmakemyselfagreeabletothoseblastedgirls.Youcoming?â
Batemanshookhisheadandhurriedalongtheterraceandinatthelibrarywindow. Jimmy grinned pleasantly at his retreating back. He and Batemanhad been at school together, whenBateman had been a serious, spectacledboy,andhadbeennicknamedPongofornoearthlyreasonwhatever.
Pongo,Jimmyreflected,wasverymuchthesamesortofassnowthathehad been then. The words âLife is real, life is earnestâ might have beenwrittenspeciallyforhim.
Jimmyyawnedandstrolledslowlydowntothelake.Thegirlswerethere,threeofthemâjusttheusualsortofgirls,twowithdark,shingledheadsandonewith a fair, shingledhead.Theone that giggledmostwas (he thought)calledHelenâand therewas another calledNancyâand the thirdonewas,for some reason, addressed as Socks.With themwere his two friends,BillEversleighandRonnyDevereux,whowereemployedinapurelyornamentalcapacityattheForeignOffice.
âHallo,âsaidNancy(orpossiblyHelen).âItâsJimmy.Whereâswhatâshisname?â
âYoudonâtmeantosay,âsaidBillEversleigh,âthatGerryWadeâsnotupyet?Somethingoughttobedoneaboutit.â
âIf heâs not careful,â said Ronny Devereux, âheâll miss his breakfastaltogetheronedayâfinditâslunchorteainsteadwhenherollsdown.â
âItâsashame,âsaidthegirlcalledSocks.âBecauseitworriesLadyCooteso.Shegetsmoreandmorelikeahenthatwantstolayaneggandcanât.Itâstoobad.â
âLetâspullhimoutofbed,âsuggestedBill.âComeon,Jimmy.â
âOh!letâsbemoresubtlethanthat,âsaidthegirlcalledSocks.Subtlewasawordofwhichshewasratherfond.Sheuseditagreatdeal.
âIâmnotsubtle,âsaidJimmy.âIdonâtknowhow.â
âLetâs get together and do something about it tomorrow morning,âsuggested Ronny vaguely. âYou know, get him up at seven. Stagger thehousehold. Tredwell loses his false whiskers and drops the tea urn. LadyCootehashysterics and faints inBillâs armsâBill being theweight carrier.Sir Oswald says âHa!â and steel goes up a point and five eighths. Pongoregistersemotionbythrowingdownhisspectaclesandstampingonthem.â
âYoudonâtknowGerry,âsaidJimmy.âIdaresayenoughcoldwatermightwake himâjudiciously applied, that is. But heâd only turn over and go tosleepagain.â
âOh! we must think of something more subtle than cold water,â saidSocks.
âWell,what?âaskedRonnybluntly.Andnobodyhadanyanswerready.
âWeought tobeable to thinkof something,â saidBill. âWhoâsgot anybrains?â
âPongo,âsaidJimmy.âAndhereheis,rushingalonginaharriedmannerasusual.Pongowasalwaystheoneforbrains.Itâsbeenhismisfortunefromhisyouthupwards.LetâsturnPongoontoit.â
Mr.Bateman listenedpatiently to a somewhat incoherent statement.Hisattitudewas that of onepoised for flight.Hedeliveredhis solutionwithoutlossoftime.
âI should suggest an alarum clock,â he said briskly. âI always use onemyselfforfearofoversleeping.Ifindthatearlyteabroughtininanoiselessmannerissometimespowerlesstoawakenone.â
Hehurriedaway.
âAnalarumclock.âRonnyshookhishead.âOnealarumclock.ItwouldtakeaboutadozentodisturbGerryWade.â
âWell,whynot?âBillwas flushedandearnest. âIâvegot it.Letâs allgointoMarketBasingandbuyanalarumclockeach.â
Therewaslaughteranddiscussion.BillandRonnywentofftogetholdofcars.Jimmywasdeputedtospyuponthediningroom.Hereturnedrapidly.
âHeâshererightenough.Makingupforlosttimeandwolfingdowntoastandmarmalade.Howarewegoingtopreventhimcomingalongwithus?â
ItwasdecidedthatLadyCootemustbeapproachedandinstructedtoholdhiminplay.JimmyandNancyandHelenfulfilledthisduty.LadyCootewasbewilderedandapprehensive.
âA rag? You will be careful, wonât you, my dears? I mean, you wonâtsmash the furniture andwreck things or use toomuchwater.Weâve got tohandthishouseovernextweek,youknow.IshouldnâtlikeLordCaterhamtothinkââ
Bill,whohadreturnedfromthegarage,brokeinreassuringly.
âThatâs all right,LadyCoote.BundleBrentâLordCaterhamâsdaughterâis a great friend ofmine. And thereâs nothing sheâd stick atâabsolutelynothing!Youcan take it fromme.Andanyway thereâsnotgoing tobeanydamagedone.Thisisquiteaquietaffair.â
âSubtle,âsaidthegirlcalledSocks.
Lady Coote went sadly along the terrace just as GeraldWade emergedfrom the breakfast room. JimmyThesigerwas a fair, cherubic youngman,and all that couldbe saidofGeraldWadewas that hewas fairer andmorecherubic,andthathisvacuousexpressionmadeJimmyâsfacequiteintelligentbycontrast.
ââMorning,LadyCoote,âsaidGeraldWade.âWherearealltheothers?â
âTheyâveallgonetoMarketBasing,âsaidLadyCoote.
âWhatfor?â
âSomejoke,âsaidLadyCooteinherdeep,melancholyvoice.
âRatherearlyinthemorningforjokes,âsaidMr.Wade.
âItâsnotsoveryearlyinthemorning,âsaidLadyCootepointedly.
âIâmafraidIwasabitlatecomingdown,âsaidMr.Wadewithengagingfrankness.âItâsanextraordinary thing,butwhereverIhappentobestaying,Iâmalwayslasttobedown.â
âVeryextraordinary,âsaidLadyCoote.
âIdonâtknowwhy it is,âsaidMr.Wade,meditating.âIcanât think, Iâmsure.â
âWhydonâtyoujustgetup?âsuggestedLadyCoote.
âOh!â said Mr. Wade. The simplicity of the solution rather took himaback.
LadyCootewentonearnestly.
âIâveheardSirOswaldsaysomanytimesthatthereâsnothingforgettingayoungmanonintheworldlikepunctualhabits.â
âOh,Iknow,âsaidMr.Wade.âAndIhavetowhenIâmintown.Imean,Ihave to be round at the jolly old Foreign Office by eleven oâclock. Youmustnât think Iâm always a slacker, Lady Coote. I say, what awfully jollyflowersyouâvegotdowninthatlowerborder.Icanâtrememberthenamesofthem, but weâve got some at homeâthose mauve thingummybobs. Mysisterâstremendouslykeenongardening.â
LadyCootewasimmediatelydiverted.Herwrongsrankledwithinher.
âWhatkindofgardenersdoyouhave?â
âOh justone.Rather anold fool, Ibelieve.Doesnâtknowmuch,buthedoeswhatheâstold.Andthatâsagreatthing,isnâtit?â
LadyCoote agreed that itwaswith a depth of feeling in her voice thatwould have been invaluable to her as an emotional actress. They began todiscourseontheiniquitiesofgardeners.
Meanwhile the expedition was doing well. The principal emporium ofMarketBasinghadbeen invadedand the suddendemand foralarumclockswasconsiderablypuzzlingtheproprietor.
âIwishweâdgotBundlehere,âmurmuredBill.âYouknowher,donâtyou,Jimmy? Oh, youâd like her. Sheâs a splendid girlâa real good sportâandmarkyou,sheâsgotbrainstoo.Youknowher,Ronny?â
Ronnyshookhishead.
âDonâtknowBundle?Wherehaveyoubeenvegetating?Sheâssimplyit.â
âBeabitmoresubtle,Bill,âsaidSocks.âStopbletheringaboutyourlady
friendsandgetonwiththebusiness.â
Mr.Murgatroyd,ownerofMurgatroydâsStores,burstintoeloquence.
âIfyouâllallowmetoadviseyou,Miss,Ishouldsayânot the7/11one.ItâsagoodclockâIâmnotrunningitdown,markyou,butIshouldstronglyadvise this kind at 10/6. Well worth the extra money. Reliability, youunderstand.Ishouldnâtlikeyoutosayafterwardsââ
ItwasevidenttoeverybodythatMr.Murgatroydmustbeturnedofflikeatap.
âWedonâtwantareliableclock,saidNancy.
âItâsgottogoforoneday,thatâsall,âsaidHelen.
âWedonâtwantasubtleone,âsaidSocks.âWewantonewithagoodloudring.â
âWewantââbeganBill,butwasunable to finish,becauseJimmy,whowasofamechanicalturnofmind,hadatlastgraspedthemechanism.Forthenextfiveminutestheshopwashideouswiththeloudraucousringingofmanyalarumclocks.
Intheendsixexcellentstarterswereselected.
âAndIâlltellyouwhat,âsaidRonnyhandsomely,âIâllgetoneforPongo.It was his idea, and itâs a shame that he should be out of it. He shall berepresentedamongthosepresent.â
âThatâsright,âsaidBill.âAndIâlltakeanextraoneforLadyCoote.Themorethemerrier.Andsheâsdoingsomeofthespadework.ProbablygassingawaytooldGerrynow.â
Indeed at this precise moment Lady Coote was detailing a long storyaboutMacDonaldandaprizepeachandenjoyingherselfverymuch.
The clockswerewrappedup andpaid for.Mr.Murgatroydwatched thecars drive away with a puzzled air. Very spirited the young people of theupper classes nowadays, very spirited indeed, but not at all easy tounderstand.Heturnedwithrelieftoattendtothevicarâswife,whowantedanewkindofdriplessteapot.
OceanofPDF.com
Two
CONCERNINGALARUMCLOCKS
âNowwhereshallweputthem?â
Dinnerwasover.LadyCootehadbeenoncemoredetailed forduty.SirOswaldhadunexpectedlycometotherescuebysuggestingbridgeânotthatsuggestingistherightword.SirOswald,asbecameoneofâOurCaptainsofIndustryâ(No7ofSeriesI),merelyexpressedapreferenceandthosearoundhimhastenedtoaccommodatethemselvestothegreatmanâswishes.
Rupert Bateman and SirOswaldwere partners against LadyCoote andGerald Wade, which was a very happy arrangement. Sir Oswald playedbridge, like he did everything else, extremely well, and liked a partner tocorrespond.Batemanwasasefficientabridgeplayerashewasa secretary.Both of them confined themselves strictly to the matter in hand, merelyuttering in curt, short barks, âTwo no trumps,â âDouble,â âThree spades.âLadyCoote andGeraldWadewere amiable and discursive, and the youngmannever failed to sayat theconclusionofeachhand,âI say,partner,youplayed that simply splendidly,â in tones of simple admiration which LadyCoote found both novel and extremely soothing. They also held very goodcards.
The others were supposed to be dancing to the wireless in the bigballroom. In reality they were grouped around the door of GeraldWadeâsbedroom, and the air was full of subdued giggles and the loud ticking ofclocks.
âUnderthebedinarow,âsuggestedJimmyinanswertoBillâsquestion.
âAndwhatshallwesetthemat?Whattime,Imean?Alltogethersothatthereâsonegloriouswhatnot,oratintervals?â
The point was hotly disputed. One party argued that for a championsleeper like GerryWade the combined ringing of eight alarum clocks wasnecessary.Theotherpartyarguedinfavourofsteadyandsustainedeffort.
Intheendthelatterwontheday.Theclocksweresettogooffoneaftertheother,startingat6:30am.
âAndIhope,âsaidBillvirtuously,âthatthiswillbealessontohim.â
âHear,hear,âsaidSocks.
Thebusinessofhidingtheclockswasjustbeingbegunwhentherewasasuddenalarm.
âHist,âcriedJimmy.âSomebodyâscomingupthestairs.â
Therewasapanic.
âItâsallright,âsaidJimmy.âItâsonlyPongo.â
Takingadvantageofbeingdummy,Mr.Batemanwasgoing tohis roomforahandkerchief.Hepausedonhiswayandtookinthesituationataglance.Hethenmadeacomment,asimpleandpracticalone.
âHewillhearthemtickingwhenhegoestobed.â
Theconspiratorslookedateachother.
âWhatdidItellyou?âsaidJimmyinareverentvoice.âPongoalwaysdidhavebrains!â
Thebrainyonepassedon.
âItâstrue,âadmittedRonnyDevereux,hisheadononeside.âEightclocksall ticking at once domake a devil of a row.Even oldGerry, ass as he is,couldnâtmissit.Heâllguesssomethingâsup.â
âIwonderifheis,âsaidJimmyThesiger.
âIswhat?â
âSuchanassasweallthink.â
Ronnystaredathim.
âWeallknowoldGerald.â
âDowe?â said Jimmy. âIâve sometimes thought thatâwell, that it isnâtpossibleforanyonetobequitetheassoldGerrymakeshimselfouttobe.â
Theyallstaredathim.TherewasaseriouslookonRonnyâsface.
âJimmy,âhesaid,âyouâvegotbrains.â
âAsecondPongo,âsaidBillencouragingly.
âWell,itjustoccurredtome,thatâsall,âsaidJimmy,defendinghimself.
âOh! donât letâs all be subtle,â cried Socks. âWhat are we to do abouttheseclocks?â
âHereâsPongocomingbackagain.Letâsaskhim,âsuggestedJimmy.
Pongo, urged to bring his great brain to bear upon thematter, gave hisdecision.
âWait till heâs gone to bed and got to sleep. Then enter the room veryquietlyandputtheclocksdownonthefloor.â
âLittle Pongoâs right again,â said Jimmy. âOn the word one all parkclocks,andthenweâllgodownstairsanddisarmsuspicion.â
Bridge was still proceedingâwith a slight difference. Sir Oswald wasnow playingwith hiswife andwas conscientiously pointing out to her themistakes she hadmadeduring the play of each hand.LadyCoote acceptedreproofgood-humouredly,andwithacompletelackofanyrealinterest.Shereiterated,notonce,butmanytimes:
âIsee,dear.Itâssokindofyoutotellme.â
Andshecontinuedtomakeexactlythesameerrors.
Atintervals,GeraldWadesaidtoPongo:
âWell-played,partner,jollywell-played.â
BillEversleighwasmakingcalculationswithRonnyDevereux.
âSayhegoes tobedabout twelveâwhatdoyou thinkweought togivehimâaboutanhour?â
Heyawned.
âCurious thingâthree in themorning ismyusual time forbye-bye,buttonight,justbecauseIknowweâvegottositupabit,Iâdgiveanythingtobeamotherâsboyandturninrightaway.â
Everyoneagreedthattheyfeltthesame.
âMydearMaria,ârosethevoiceofSirOswaldinmildirritation.âIhavetoldyouoverandoveragainnottohesitatewhenyouarewonderingwhether
tofinesseornot.Yougivethewholetableinformation.â
LadyCootehadaverygoodanswer to thisânamely thatasSirOswaldwasdummy,hehadnorighttocommentontheplayofthehand.Butshedidnotmake it. Insteadshesmiledkindly, leanedheramplechestwell forwardoverthetable,andgazedfirmlyintoGeraldWadeâshandwherehesatonherright.
Heranxietieslulledtorestbyperceivingthequeen,sheplayedtheknaveandtookthetrickandproceededtolaydownhercards.
âFourtricksandtherubber,âsheannounced.âIthinkIwasveryluckytogetfourtricksthere.â
âLucky,âmurmuredGeraldWade,ashepushedbackhischairandcameovertothefiresidetojointheothers.âLucky,shecallsit.Thatwomanwantswatching.â
LadyCootewasgatheringupnotesandsilver.
âIknowIâmnotagoodplayer,âsheannouncedinamournfultonewhichneverthelessheldanundercurrentofpleasureinit.âButIâmreallyveryluckyatthegame.â
âYouâllneverbeabridgeplayer,Maria,âsaidSirOswald.
âNo,dear,âsaidLadyCoote.âIknowIshanât.Youârealwaystellingmeso.AndIdotrysohard.â
âShedoes,âsaidGeraldWadesottovoce.âThereâsnosubterfugeaboutit.Sheâdputherheadrightdownonyourshoulderifshecouldnâtseeintoyourhandanyotherway.â
âI know you try,â said SirOswald. âItâs just that you havenât any cardsense.â
âIknow,dear,âsaidLadyCoote.âThatâswhatyouârealwaystellingme.Andyouowemeanothertenshillings,Oswald.â
âDoI?âSirOswaldlookedsurprised.
âYes.Seventeenhundredâeightpoundsten.Youâveonlygivenmeeightpounds.â
âDearme,âsaidSirOswald.âMymistake.â
LadyCoote smiledathimsadlyand tookup theextra ten shillingnote.Shewasveryfondofherhusband,butshehadnointentionofallowinghimtocheatheroutoftenshillings.
SirOswaldmovedovertoasidetableandbecamehospitablewithwhiskyandsoda.Itwashalfpasttwelvewhengeneralgoodnightsweresaid.
RonnyDevereux,whohadtheroomnextdoortoGeraldWadeâs,wastoldofftoreportprogress.Ataquartertotwohecreptroundtappingatdoors.Theparty, pyjamaed and dressing gowned, assembledwith various scuffles andgigglesandlowwhispers.
âHis light went out twenty minutes ago,â reported Ronny in a hoarsewhisper. âI thought heâd never put it out. I opened the door just now andpeepedin,andheseemssoundoff.Whataboutit?â
Oncemore theclocksweresolemnlyassembled.Thenanotherdifficultyarose.
âWecanâtallgobargingin.Makenoendofarow.Onepersonâsgottodoitandtheotherscanhandhimthewhatnotsfromthedoor.â
Hotdiscussionthenaroseastotheproperpersontobeselected.
Thethreegirlswererejectedonthegroundsthattheywouldgiggle.BillEversleighwasrejectedonthegroundsofhisheight,weightandheavytread,alsoforhisgeneralclumsiness,whichlatterclausehefiercelydenied.JimmyThesigerandRonnyDevereuxwereconsideredpossibles,but in theendanoverwhelmingmajoritydecidedinfavourofRupertBateman.
âPongoâsthelad,âagreedJimmy.âAnyway,hewalkslikeacatâalwaysdid.Andthen,ifGerryshouldwakenup,Pongowillbeabletothinkofsomerotten silly thing to say tohim.Youknow, somethingplausible thatâll calmhimdownandnotrousehissuspicions.â
âSomethingsubtle,âsuggestedthegirlSocksthoughtfully.
âExactly,âsaidJimmy.
Pongo performed his job neatly and efficiently. Cautiously opening thebedroomdoor,hedisappearedintothedarknessinsidebearingthetwolargestclocks.Inaminuteortwohereappearedonthethresholdandtwomorewerehandedtohimandthenagaintwicemore.Finallyheemerged.Everyoneheldtheirbreathandlistened.TherhythmicalbreathingofGeraldWadecouldstill
be heard, but drowned, smothered and buried beneath the triumphant,impassionedtickingofMr.Murgatroydâseightalarumclocks.
OceanofPDF.com
Three
THEJOKETHATFAILED
âTwelveoâclock,âsaidSocksdespairingly.
Thejokeâasajokeâhadnotgoneoffanytoowell.Thealarumclocks,ontheotherhand,hadperformedtheirpart.TheyhadgoneoffâwithavigourandĂ©lan that could hardly have been surpassed andwhich had sentRonnyDevereux leapingoutofbedwithaconfused idea that thedayof judgmenthad come. If such had been the effect in the room next door,whatmust ithavebeenatclosequarters?Ronnyhurriedoutinthepassageandappliedhiseartothecrackofthedoor.
He expected profanityâexpected it confidently and with intelligentanticipation.Butheheardnothingatall.That is tosay,heheardnothingofwhat he expected. The clocks were ticking all rightâticking in a loud,arrogant,exasperatingmanner.Andpresentlyanotherwentoff,ringingwithacrude,deafeningnotethatwouldhavearousedacuteirritationinadeafman.
There was no doubt about it; the clocks had performed their partfaithfully.TheydidallandmorethanMr.Murgatroydhadclaimedforthem.ButapparentlytheyhadmettheirmatchinGeraldWade.
Thesyndicatewasinclinedtobedespondentaboutit.
âTheladisnâthuman,âgrumbledJimmyThesiger.
âProbablythoughtheheardthetelephoneinthedistanceandrolledoverandwenttosleepagain,âsuggestedHelen(orpossiblyNancy).
âItseemstomeveryremarkable,âsaidRupertBatemanseriously.âIthinkheoughttoseeadoctoraboutit.â
âSomediseaseoftheeardrums,âsuggestedBillhopefully.
âWell,ifyouaskme,âsaidSocks,âIthinkheâsjustspoofingus.Ofcoursetheywokehimup.Butheâs justgoing todousdownbypretending thathedidnâthearanything.â
EveryonelookedatSockswithrespectandadmiration.
âItâsanidea,âsaidBill.
âHeâssubtle,thatâswhatitis,âsaidSocks.âYouâllsee,heâllbeextralateforbreakfastthismorningâjusttoshowus.â
Andsincetheclocknowpointedtosomeminutespasttwelvethegeneralopinion was that Sockâs theory was a correct one. Only Ronny Devereuxdemurred.
âYouforget,Iwasoutsidethedoorwhenthefirstonewentoff.WhateveroldGerry decided to do later, the first onemust have surprised him.Heâdhaveletoutsomethingaboutit.Wheredidyouputit,Pongo?â
âOnalittletableclosebyhisear,âsaidMr.Bateman.
âThat was thoughtful of you, Pongo,â said Ronny. âNow, tell me.â HeturnedtoBill.âIfawhackinggreatbellstartedringingwithinafewinchesofyourearathalfpastsixinthemorning,whatwouldyousayaboutit?â
âOh,Lord,âsaidBill.âIshouldsayââHecametoastop.
âOfcourseyouwould,âsaidRonny.âSowouldI.Sowouldanyone.Whattheycallthenaturalmanwouldemerge.Well,itdidnât.SoIsaythatPongoisrightâasusualâandthatGerryhasgotanobscurediseaseoftheeardrums.â
âItâsnowtwentypasttwelve,âsaidoneoftheothergirlssadly.
âIsay,âsaidJimmyslowly,âthatâsabitbeyondanything,isnâtit?Imeana jokeâs a joke. But this is carrying it a bit far. Itâs a shade hard on theCootes.â
Billstaredathim.
âWhatareyougettingat?â
âWell,âsaidJimmy.âSomehoworotherâitâsnotlikeoldGerry.â
Hefound ithard toput intowords justwhathemeant tosay.Hedidnâtwant to say toomuch,andyetâHesawRonny lookingathim.Ronnywassuddenlyalert.
Itwas at thatmomentTredwell came into the room and looked aroundhimhesitatingly.
âIthoughtMr.Batemanwashere,âheexplainedapologetically.
âJustgoneout thisminute through thewindow,â saidRonny.âCan Idoanything?â
Tredwellâs eyes wandered from him to Jimmy Thesiger and then backagain. As though singled out, the two youngmen left the roomwith him.Tredwellclosedthediningroomdoorcarefullybehindhim.
âWell,âsaidRonny.âWhatâsup?â
âMr.Wadenothavingyet comedown, sir, I took the libertyof sendingWilliamsuptohisroom.â
âYes?â
âWilliamshas justcomerunningdowninagreatstateofagitation,sir.âTredwell pausedâa pause of preparation. âI am afraid, sir, the poor younggentlemanmusthavediedinhissleep.â
JimmyandRonnystaredathim.
âNonsense,âcriedRonnyatlast.âItâsâitâsimpossible.GerryââHisfaceworked suddenly. âIâllâIâll run up and see. That foolWilliams may havemadeamistake.â
Tredwellstretchedoutadetaininghand.Withaqueer,unnaturalfeelingofdetachment,Jimmyrealizedthatthebutlerhadthewholesituationinhand.
âNo, sir, Williams has made no mistake. I have already sent for Dr.Cartwright,andinthemeantimeIhavetakenthelibertyoflockingthedoor,preparatory to informingSirOswaldofwhathasoccurred. ImustnowfindMr.Bateman.â
Tredwellhurriedaway.Ronnystoodlikeamandazed.
âGerry,âhemutteredtohimself.
Jimmytookhisfriendbythearmandsteeredhimoutthroughasidedoorontoasecludedportionoftheterrace.Hepushedhimdownontoaseat.
âTakeiteasy,oldson,âhesaidkindly.âYouâllgetyourwindinaminute.â
But he looked at him rather curiously.He had no idea that RonnywassuchafriendofGerryWadeâs.
âPooroldGerry,âhesaidthoughtfully.âIfeveramanlookedfit,hedid.â
Ronnynodded.
âAllthatclockbusinessseemssorottennow,âwentonJimmy.âItâsodd,isnâtit,whyfarcesooftenseemstogetmixedupwithtragedy?â
Hewas talkingmore or less at random, to giveRonny time to recoverhimself.Theothermovedrestlessly.
âIwishthatdoctorwouldcome.Iwanttoknowââ
âKnowwhat?â
âWhatheâdiedof.â
Jimmypurseduphislips.
âHeart?âhehazarded.
Ronnygaveashort,scornfullaugh.
âIsay,Ronny,âsaidJimmy.
âWell?â
Jimmyfoundadifficultyingoingon.
âYoudonâtmeanâyouarenât thinkingâImean, youhavenât got it intoyour headâthat, well I mean he wasnât biffed on the head or anything?Tredwellâslockingthedoorandallthat.â
It seemed to Jimmy that his words deserved an answer, but Ronnycontinuedtostarestraightoutinfrontofhim.
Jimmyshookhisheadandrelapsedintosilence.Hedidnâtseethattherewasanythingtodoexceptjustwait.Sohewaited.
ItwasTredwellwhodisturbedthem.
âThe doctorwould like to see you two gentlemen in the library, if youplease,sir.â
Ronnysprangup.Jimmyfollowedhim.
Dr. Cartwrightwas a thin, energetic youngmanwith a clever face. Hegreeted themwith a brief nod. Pongo, lookingmore serious and spectacledthanever,performedintroductions.
âIunderstandyouwereagreatfriendofMr.Wadeâs,âthedoctorsaidtoRonny.
âHisgreatestfriend.â
âHâm.Well,thisbusinessseemsstraightforwardenough.Sad,though.Helookedahealthyyoungchap.Doyouknowifhewasinthehabitofsmokingstufftomakehimsleep?â
âMakehimsleep.âRonnystared.âHealwayssleptlikeatop.â
âYouneverheardhimcomplainofsleeplessness?â
âNever.â
âWell, the facts are simple enough. Thereâll have to be an inquest, Iâmafraid,nevertheless.â
âHowdidhedie?â
âThereâsnotmuchdoubt; Ishouldsayanoverdoseofchloral.Thestuffwasbyhisbed.Andabottleandglass.Verysad,thesethingsare.â
ItwasJimmywhoaskedthequestionwhichhefeltwastremblingonhisfriendâslips,andyetwhichtheothercouldsomehoworothernotgetout.
âThereâsnoquestionofâfoulplay?â
Thedoctorlookedathimsharply.
âWhydoyousaythat?Anycausetosuspectit,eh?â
Jimmy looked at Ronny. If Ronny knew anything nowwas the time tospeak.ButtohisastonishmentRonnyshookhishead.
âNocausewhatever,âhesaidclearly.
âAndsuicideâeh?â
âCertainlynot.â
Ronnywasemphatic.Thedoctorwasnotsoclearlyconvinced.
âNotroublesthatyouknowof?Moneytroubles?Awoman?â
AgainRonnyshookhishead.
âNowabouthisrelations.Theymustbenotified.â
âHeâs got a sisterâa half sister rather. Lives at Deane Priory. Abouttwentymilesfromhere.WhenhewasnâtintownGerrylivedwithher.â
âHâm,âsaidtheDoctor.âWell,shemustbetold.â
âIâllgo,âsaidRonny.âItâsarottenjob,butsomebodyâsgottodoit.âHe
lookedatJimmy.âYouknowher,donâtyou?â
âSlightly.Iâvedancedwithheronceortwice.â
âThenweâllgoinyourcar.Youdonâtmind,doyou?Icanâtfaceitalone.â
âThatâs all right,â said Jimmy reassuringly. âI was going to suggest itmyself.Iâllgoandgettheoldbuscrankedup.â
Hewasgladtohavesomethingtodo.Ronnyâsmannerpuzzledhim.Whatdidheknoworsuspect?Andwhyhadhenotvoicedhissuspicions,ifhehadthem,tothedoctor.
Presently the two friends were skimming along in Jimmyâs car with acheerfuldisregardforsuchthingsasspeedlimits.
âJimmy,âsaidRonnyatlast,âIsupposeyouâreaboutthebestpalIhaveânow.â
âWellâsaidJimmy,âwhataboutit?â
Hespokegruffly.
âThereâssomethingIâdliketotellyou.Somethingyououghttoknow.â
âAboutGerryWade?â
âYes,aboutGerryWade.â
Jimmywaited.
âWell?âheinquiredatlast.
âIdonâtknowthatIoughtto,âsaidRonny.
âWhy?â
âIâmboundbyakindofpromise.â
âOh!Wellthen,perhapsyouâdbetternot.â
Therewasasilence.
âAndyet,IâdlikeâYousee,Jimmy,yourbrainsarebetterthanmine.â
âTheycouldeasilybethat,âsaidJimmyunkindly.
âNo,Icanât,âsaidRonnysuddenly.
âAllright,âsaidJimmy.âJustasyoulike.â
Afteralongsilence,Ronnysaid:
âWhatâsshelike?â
âWho?â
âThisgirl.Gerryâssister.â
Jimmy was silent for some minutes, then he said in a voice that hadsomehoworotheraltered:
âSheâsallright.Infactâwell,sheâsacorker.â
âGerrywasverydevotedtoher,Iknew.Heoftenspokeofher.â
âShewasverydevotedtoGerry.Itâitâsgoingtohitherhard.â
âYes,anastyjob.â
TheyweresilenttilltheyreachedDeanePriory.
MissLoraine,themaidtoldthem,wasinthegarden.UnlesstheywantedtoseeMrs.Coker.
JimmywaseloquentthattheydidnotwanttoseeMrs.Coker.
âWhoâsMrs.Coker?âaskedRonnyastheywentroundintothesomewhatneglectedgarden.
âTheoldtroutwholiveswithLoraine.â
Theyhadsteppedoutintoapavedwalk.Attheendofitwasagirlwithtwoblackspaniels.Asmallgirl,veryfair,dressedinshabbyoldtweeds.NotatallthegirlthatRonnyhadexpectedtosee.Not,infact,Jimmyâsusualtype.
Holdingonedogbythecollar,shecamedownthepathwaytomeetthem.
âHowdoyoudo,âshesaid.âYoumustnâtmindElizabeth.Sheâsjusthadsomepuppiesandsheâsverysuspicious.â
Shehad a supremelynaturalmanner and, as she lookedup smiling, thefaintwild-roseflushdeepenedinhercheeks.Hereyeswereaverydarkblueâlikecornflowers.
Suddenly they widenedâwas it with alarm? As though, already, sheguessed.
Jimmyhastenedtospeak.
âThisisRonnyDevereux,MissWade.YoumustoftenhaveheardGerryspeakofhim.â
âOh,yes.âSheturnedalovely,warm,welcomingsmileonhim.âYouâveboth been staying at Chimneys, havenât you?Why didnât you bring Gerryoverwithyou?â
âWe-er-couldnât,âsaidRonny,andthenstopped.
AgainJimmysawthelookoffearflashintohereyes.
âMissWade,âhesaid,âIâmafraidâImean,weâvegotbadnewsforyou.â
Shewasonthealertinamoment.
âGerry?â
âYesâGerry.Heâsââ
Shestampedherfootwithsuddenpassion.
âOh!tellmeâtellmeââSheturnedsuddenlyonRonny.âYouâlltellme.â
Jimmy felt a pangof jealousy, and in thatmomentheknewwhatup tonowhehadhesitatedtoadmittohimself.HeknewwhyHelenandNancyandSockswerejustâgirlsâtohimandnothingmore.
Heonlyhalf-heardRonnyâsvoicesayingbravely:
âYes,MissWade,Iâlltellyou.Gerryisdead.â
Shehadplentyofpluck.Shegaspedanddrewback,but inaminuteortwoshewasaskingeager,searchingquestions.How?When?
Ronnyansweredherasgentlyashecould.
âSleepingdraught?Gerry?â
The incredulity inhervoicewasplain.Jimmygaveheraglance. Itwasalmost a glance of warning. He had a sudden feeling that Loraine in herinnocencemightsaytoomuch.
Inhisturnheexplainedasgentlyaspossibletheneedforaninquest.Sheshuddered. She declined their offer of taking her back to Chimneys withthem,butexplainedshewouldcomeover later.Shehada two-seaterofherown.
âButIwanttobeâbealonealittlefirst,âshesaidpiteously.
âIknow,âsaidRonny.
âThatâsallright,âsaidJimmy.
Theylookedather,feelingawkwardandhelpless.
âThankyoubotheversomuchforcoming.â
They drove back in silence and there was something like constraintbetweenthem.
âMyGod!thatgirlâsplucky,âsaidRonnyonce.
Jimmyagreed.
âGerrywasmyfriend,âsaidRonny.âItâsuptometokeepaneyeonher.â
âOh!rather.Ofcourse.â
OnreturningtoChimneysJimmywaswaylaidbyatearfulLadyCoote.
âThatpoorboy,âshekeptrepeating.âThatpoorboy.â
Jimmymadeallthesuitableremarkshecouldthinkof.
LadyCootetoldhimatgreat lengthvariousdetailsabout thedeceaseofvariousdearfriendsofhers.Jimmylistenedwithashowofsympathyandatlastmanagedtodetachhimselfwithoutactualrudeness.
Heranlightlyupthestairs.RonnywasjustemergingfromGeraldWadeâsroom.HeseemedtakenabackatthesightofJimmy.
âIâvebeenintoseehim,âhesaid.âAreyougoingin?â
âI donât think so,â said Jimmy, who was a healthy young man with anaturaldislikeofbeingremindedofdeath.
âIthinkallhisfriendsoughtto.â
âOh!doyou?âsaid Jimmy,and registered tohimselfan impression thatRonnyDevereuxwasdamnedoddaboutitall.
âYes.Itâsasignofrespect.â
Jimmysighed,butgavein.â
âOh!verywell,âhesaid,andpassedin,settinghisteethalittle.
Therewerewhiteflowersarrangedonthecoverlet,andtheroomhadbeentidiedandsettorights.
Jimmygaveonequick,nervousglanceatthestill,whiteface.Couldthatbecherubic,pinkGerryWade?Thatstillpeacefulfigure.Heshivered.
Asheturnedtoleavetheroom,hisglancesweptthemantelshelfandhestoppedinastonishment.Thealarumclockshadbeenrangedalongitneatlyinarow.
Hewentoutsharply.Ronnywaswaitingforhim.
âLooksverypeacefulandallthat.Rottenluckonhim,âmumbledJimmy.
Thenhesaid:
âIsay,Ronny,whoarrangedallthoseclockslikethatinarow?â
âHowshouldIknow?Oneoftheservants,Isuppose.â
âThefunnythingis,âsaidJimmy,âthattherearesevenofthem,noteight.Oneofthemâsmissing.Didyounoticethat?â
Ronnymadeaninaudiblesound.
âSeveninsteadofeight,âsaidJimmy,frowning.âIwonderwhy.â
OceanofPDF.com
Four
ALETTER
âInconsiderate,thatâswhatIcallit,âsaidLordCaterham.He spoke in a gentle, plaintive voice and seemed pleased with the
adjectivehehadfound.
âYes, distinctly inconsiderate. I often find these self-made men areinconsiderate.Verypossiblythatiswhytheyamasssuchlargefortunes.â
Helookedmournfullyoutoverhisancestralacres,ofwhichhehadtodayregainedpossession.
His daughter, Lady Eileen Brent, known to her friends and society ingeneralasâBundle,âlaughed.
âYouâll certainly never amass a large fortune,â she observed dryly,âthoughyoudidnâtdosobadlyoutofoldCoote,stickinghimforthisplace.Whatwashelike?Presentable?â
âOneofthoselargemen,âsaidLordCaterham,shudderingslightly,âwitha red square face and iron-greyhair.Powerful, youknow.What they call aforcefulpersonality.Thekindofmanyouâdget ifasteamrollerwereturnedintoahumanbeing.â
âRathertiring?âsuggestedBundlesympathetically.
âFrightfullytiring,fullofallthemostdepressingvirtueslikesobrietyandpunctuality. I donât know which are the worst, powerful personalities orearnestpoliticians.Idosopreferthecheerfulinefficient.â
âAcheerfulinefficientwouldnâthavebeenabletopayyouthepriceyouaskedforthisoldmausoleum,âBundleremindedhim.
LordCaterhamwinced.
âIwishyouwouldnâtuse thatword,Bundle.Wewere justgettingawayfromthesubject.â
âI donât see why youâre so frightfully sensitive about it,â said Bundle.âAfterall,peoplemustdiesomewhere.â
âTheyneednâtdieinmyhouse,âsaidLordCaterham.
âI donât seewhy not. Lots of people have.Masses of stuffy old great-grandfathersandgrandmothers.â
âThatâsdifferent,âsaidLordCaterham.âNaturallyIexpectBrentstodiehereâtheydonâtcount.ButIdoobjecttostrangers.AndIespeciallyobjectto inquests. The thing will become a habit soon. This is the second. Yourememberallthatfusswehadfouryearsago?Forwhich,bytheway,IholdGeorgeLomaxentirelytoblame.â
âAndnowyouâre blaming poor old steamrollerCoote. Iâm sure hewasquiteasannoyedaboutitasanyone.â
âVery inconsiderate,â said Lord Caterham obstinately. âPeople who arelikelytodothatsortofthingoughtnâttobeaskedtostay.Andyoumaysaywhatyoulike,Bundle,Idonâtlikeinquests.IneverhaveandInevershall.â
âWell, this wasnât the same sort of thing as the last one,â said Bundlesoothingly.âImean,itwasnâtamurder.â
âItmighthavebeenâfromthefussthatthickheadofaninspectormade.Heâsnevergotoverthatbusinessfouryearsago.Hethinkseverydeaththattakes place heremust necessarily be a case of foul play fraughtwith gravepolitical significance. Youâve no idea the fuss he made. Iâve been hearingaboutitfromTredwell.Testedeverythingimaginableforfingerprints.Andofcoursetheyonlyfoundthedeadmanâsown.Theclearestcaseimaginableâthoughwhetheritwassuicideoraccidentisanothermatter.â
âImetGerryWadeonce,âsaidBundle.âHewasafriendofBillâs.Youâdhavelikedhim,Father.Ineversawanyonemorecheerfullyinefficientthanhewas.â
âI donât like anyone who comes and dies in my house on purpose toannoyme,âsaidLordCaterhamobstinately.
âButIcertainlycanâtimagineanyonemurderinghim,âcontinuedBundle.âTheideaâsabsurd.â
âOfcourseitis,âsaidLordCaterham.âOrwouldbetoanyonebutanasslikeInspectorRaglan.â
âIdaresaylookingforfingerprintsmadehimfeelimportant,âsaidBundlesoothingly. âAnyway, they brought it in âDeath by misadventure,â didnâtthey?â
LordCaterhamacquiesced.
âTheyhadtoshowsomeconsiderationforthesisterâsfeelings?â
âWasthereasister.Ididnâtknow.â
âHalfsister, Ibelieve.Shewasmuchyounger.OldWaderanawaywithhermotherâhewasalwaysdoingthatsortofthing.Nowomanappealedtohimunlessshebelongedtoanotherman.â
âIâmgladthereâsonebadhabityouhavenâtgot,âsaidBundle.
âIâve always led a very respectable God-fearing life,â said LordCaterham. âIt seems extraordinary, considering how little harm I do toanybody,thatIcanâtbeletalone.Ifonlyââ
HestoppedasBundlemadeasuddenexcursionthroughthewindow.
âMacDonald,âcalledBundleinaclear,autocraticvoice.
Theemperorapproached.Somethingthatmightpossiblyhavebeentakenfor a smile of welcome tried to express itself on his countenance, but thenaturalgloomofgardenersdispelledit.
âYourladyship?âsaidMacDonald.
âHowareyou?âsaidBundle.
âIâmnoverragrand,âsaidMacDonald.
âI wanted to speak to you about the bowling green. Itâs shockinglyovergrown.Putsomeoneontoit,willyou?â
MacDonaldshookhisheaddubiously.
âItwouldmeantakingWilliamfromthelowerborder,mâlady.â
âDamn the lower border,â said Bundle. âLet him start at once. AndMacDonaldââ
âYes,mâlady?â
âLetâshave someof thosegrapes in from the far house. I know itâs thewrong time to cut thembecause it always is, but Iwant themall the same.
See?â
Bundlereenteredthelibrary.
âSorry, Father,â she said. âI wanted to catch MacDonald. Were youspeaking?â
âAsamatterof fact Iwas,âsaidLordCaterham.âBut itdoesnâtmatter.WhatwereyousayingtoMacDonald?â
âTrying to cure him of thinking heâs God Almighty. But thatâs animpossible task. I expect the Cootes have been bad for him. MacDonaldwouldnât care one hoot, or even two hoots, for the largest steamroller thateverwas.WhatâsLadyCootelike?â
LordCaterhamconsideredthequestion.
âVerylikemyideaofMrs.Siddons,âhesaidat last.âIshouldthinkshewent in a lot for amateur theatricals. I gather shewas very upset about theclockbusiness.â
âWhatclockbusiness?â
âTredwell has just been tellingme. It seems the house party had somejokeon.Theyboughta lotofalarumclocksandhid themabout thisyoungWadeâsroom.Andthen,ofcourse,thepoorchapwasdead.Whichmadethewholethingratherbeastly.
Bundlenodded.
âTredwelltoldmesomethingelseratheroddabouttheclocks,âcontinuedLord Caterham, who was now quite enjoying himself. âIt seems thatsomebodycollectedthemallandputtheminarowonthemantelpieceafterthepoorfellowwasdead.â
âWell,whynot?âsaidBundle.
âIdonâtseewhynotmyself,âsaidLordCaterham.âButapparentlytherewassomefussaboutit.Noonewouldownuptohavingdoneit,yousee.Allthe servants were questioned and swore they hadnât touched the beastlythings.Infact,itwasratheramystery.Andthenthecoroneraskedquestionsattheinquest,andyouknowhowdifficultitistoexplainthingstopeopleofthatclass.â
âPerfectlyfoul,âagreedBundle.
âOf course,â saidLordCaterham, âitâs very difficult to get the hang ofthingsafterwards.IdidnâtquiteseethepointofhalfthethingsTredwelltoldme.Bytheway,Bundle,thefellowdiedinyourroom.â
Bundlemadeagrimace.
âWhyneedpeopledieinmyroom?âsheaskedwithsomeindignation.
âThatâs just what Iâve been saying,â said Lord Caterham, in triumph.âInconsiderate.Everybodyâsdamnedinconsideratenowadays.â
âNotthatImind,âsaidBundlevaliantly.âWhyshouldI?â
âI should,â said her father. âI should mind very much. I should dreamthings,youknowâspectralhandsandclankingchains.â
âWell,âsaidBundle.âGreatAuntLouisadiedinyourbed.Iwonderyoudonâtseeherspookhoveringoveryou.â
âI do sometimes,â said Lord Caterham, shuddering. âEspecially afterlobster.â
âWell,thankheavenIâmnotsuperstitious,âdeclaredBundle.
Yetthatevening,asshesatinfrontofherbedroomfire,aslim,pyjamaedfigure,shefoundher thoughtsreverting to thatcheery,vacuousyoungman,GerryWade. Impossible to believe that anyone so full of the joy of livingcoulddeliberatelyhavecommittedsuicide.No,theothersolutionmustbetheright one. He had taken a sleeping draught and by a pure mistake hadswallowedanoverdose.Thatwaspossible.ShedidnotfancythatGerryWadehadbeenoverburdenedinanintellectualcapacity.
Hergazeshiftedtothemantelpieceandshebeganthinkingaboutthestoryoftheclocks.Hermaidhadbeenfullofthat,havingjustbeenprimedbythesecondhousemaid.ShehadaddedadetailwhichapparentlyTredwellhadnotthought worthwhile retailing to Lord Caterham, but which had piquedBundleâscuriosity.
Seven clocks had been neatly ranged on the mantelpiece; the last andremainingonehadbeen foundon the lawnoutside,where it hadobviouslybeenthrownfromthewindow.
Bundle puzzled over that point now. It seemed such an extraordinarypurposelessthingtodo.Shecouldimaginethatoneofthemaidsmighthave
tidiedtheclocksandthen,frightenedbytheinquisitionintothematter,havedenied doing so. But surely no maid would have thrown a clock into thegarden.
HadGerryWadedone sowhen its first sharp summonswokehim?Butno; that again was impossible. Bundle remembered hearing that his deathmusthavetakenplaceintheearlyhoursofthemorning,andhewouldhavebeeninacomatoseconditionforsometimebeforethat.
Bundle frowned.This business of the clockswas curious.Shemust getholdofBillEversleigh.Hehadbeenthere,sheknew.
TothinkwastoactwithBundle.Shegotupandwentovertothewritingdesk.Itwasaninlaidaffairwithalidthatrolledback.Bundlesatdownatit,pulledasheetofnotepapertowardsherandwrote.
DearBill,â
Shepausedtopulloutthelowerpartofthedesk.Ithadstuckhalfway,asshe remembered it often did.Bundle tugged at it impatiently but it did notmove.She recalled thatona formeroccasionanenvelopehadbeenpushedbackwithitandhadjammeditforthetimebeing.Shetookathinpaperknifeandslippeditintothenarrowcrack.Shewassofarsuccessfulthatacornerofwhitepapershowed.Bundlecaughtholdofitanddrewitout.Itwasthefirstsheetofaletter,somewhatcrumpled.
ItwasthedatethatfirstcaughtBundleâseye.Abigflourishingdatethatleapedoutfromthepaper.Sept.21st.
âSeptember21st,âsaidBundleslowly.âWhy,surelythatwasââ
Shebrokeoff.Yes,shewassureofit.The22ndwasthedayGerryWadewas found dead. This, then,was a letter hemust have beenwriting on theveryeveningofthetragedy.
Bundlesmootheditoutandreadit.Itwasunfinished.
âMyDarlingLoraine,âIwillbedownonWednesday.Amfeelingawfullyfitandratherpleasedwithmyselfallround.Itwillbeheavenlytoseeyou.Look here, do forget what I said about that Seven Dials business. Ithoughtitwasgoingtobemoreorlessajokeâbutitisnâtâanythingbut.IâmsorryIeversaidanythingaboutitâitâsnotthekindofbusinesskidslikeyououghttobemixedupin.Soforgetaboutit,see?
âSomethingelse Iwanted to tellyouâbut Iâmsosleepy Icanâtkeepmyeyesopen.
âOh,aboutLurcher;Ithinkââ
Heretheletterbrokeoff.
Bundlesatfrowning.SevenDials.Wherewasthat?Someratherslummydistrict of London, she fancied. The words Seven Dials reminded her ofsomething else, but for themoment she couldnât think ofwhat. Instead herattentionfastenedontwophrases.âAmfeelingawfullyfit . . .âandâIâmsosleepyIcanâtkeepmyeyesopen.â
Thatdidnât fit in.Thatdidnât fit inatall.For itwas thatverynight thatGerryWadehadtakensuchaheavydoseofchloralthatheneverwokeagain.Andifwhathehadwritteninthatletterweretrue,whyshouldhehavetakenit?
Bundle shook her head. She looked round the room and gave a slightshiver.SupposingGerryWadewerewatchinghernow. In this roomhehaddied...
She sat very still. The silencewas unbroken save for the ticking of herlittlegoldclock.Thatsoundedunnaturallyloudandimportant.
Bundleglancedtowardsthemantelpiece.Avividpicturerosebeforehermindâseyes.Thedeadmanlyingonthebed,andsevenclockstickingonthemantelpieceâtickingloudly,ominously...ticking...ticking...
OceanofPDF.com
Five
THEMANINTHEROAD
âFather,â said Bundle, opening the door of Lord Caterhamâs specialsanctum and putting her head in, âIâm going up to town in theHispano. Icanâtstandthemonotonydownhereanylonger.â
âWeonlygothomeyesterday,âcomplainedLordCaterham.
âIknow.Itseemslikeahundredyears.Iâdforgottenhowdullthecountrycouldbe.â
âIdonâtagreewithyou,âsaidLordCaterham.âItâspeaceful,thatâswhatitisâpeaceful. And extremely comfortable. I appreciate getting back toTredwellmorethanIcantellyou.Thatmanstudiesmycomfortinthemostmarvellousmanner.Somebodycameroundonlythismorningtoknowiftheycouldholdatallyforgirlguideshereââ
âArally,âinterruptedBundle.
âRally or tallyâitâs all the same. Some silly word meaning nothingwhatever.But itwouldhaveputme inaveryawkwardpositionâhaving torefuseâinfact,Iprobablyshouldnâthaverefused.ButTredwellgotmeoutofit.Iâveforgottenwhathesaidâsomethingdamnedingeniouswhichcouldnâthurtanybodyâsfeelingsandwhichknockedtheideaontheheadabsolutely.â
âBeing comfortable isnât enough for me,â said Bundle. âI wantexcitement.â
LordCaterhamshuddered.
âDidnât we have enough excitement four years ago?â he demandedplaintively.
âIâmaboutreadyforsomemore,âsaidBundle.âNotthatIexpectIshallfindanyintown.ButatanyrateIshanâtdislocatemyjawwithyawning.â
âInmyexperience,âsaidLordCaterham,âpeoplewhogoabout looking
fortroubleusuallyfindit.âHeyawned.âAllthesame,âheadded,âIwouldnâtmindrunninguptotownmyself.â
âWell,comeon,âsaidBundle.âButbequick,becauseâminahurry.â
LordCaterham,whohadbeguntorisefromhischair,paused.
âDidyousayyouwereinahurry?âheaskedsuspiciously.
âInthedevilofahurry,âsaidBundle.
âThatsettles it,âsaidLordCaterham.âIâmnotcoming.Tobedrivenbyyou in theHispanowhenyouâre inahurryâno, itâsnot faironanyelderlyman.Ishallstayhere.â
âPleaseyourself,âsaidBundle,andwithdrew.
Tredwelltookherplace.
âThe vicar, my lord, is most anxious to see you, some unfortunatecontroversyhavingarisenaboutthestatusoftheBoysâBrigade.â
LordCaterhamgroaned.
âIratherfancied,mylord,thatIhadheardyoumentionatbreakfastthatyouwerestrollingdowntothevillagethismorningtoconversewiththevicaronthesubject.â
âDidyoutellhimso?âaskedLordCaterhameagerly.
âIdid,mylord.Hedeparted,ifImaysayso,hotfoot.IhopeIdidright,mylord?â
âOf course you did, Tredwell. You are always right. You couldnât gowrongifyoutried.â
Tredwellsmiledbenignlyandwithdrew.
BundlemeanwhilewassoundingtheKlaxonimpatientlybeforethelodgegates,whileasmallchildcamehasteningoutwithallspeedfromthelodge,admonishmentfromhermotherfollowingher.
âMakehaste,Katie.Thatbeherladyshipinamortalhurryasalways.â
Itwas indeed characteristic ofBundle to be in a hurry, especiallywhendriving a car. She had skill and nerve and was a good driver; had it beenotherwiseherrecklesspacewouldhaveendedindisastermorethanonce.
ItwasacrispOctoberday,withablueskyandadazzlingsun.Thesharptangof theairbrought theblood toBundleâscheeksand filledherwith thezestofliving.
She had that morning sent Gerald Wadeâs unfinished letter to LoraineWade at Deane Priory, enclosing a few explanatory lines. The curiousimpressionithadmadeuponherwassomewhatdimmedinthedaylight,yetitstill struck her as needing explanation. She intended to get hold of BillEversleigh sometime and extract from him fuller details of the house partywhichhadendedsotragically.Inthemeantime,itwasalovelymorningandshefeltparticularlywellandtheHispanowasrunninglikeadream.
Bundle pressed her foot down on the accelerator and the Hispanorespondedatonce.Mileaftermilevanished,trafficwasfewandfarbetweenandBundlehadaclearstretchofroadinfrontofher.
Andthen,withoutanywarningwhatever,amanreeledoutof thehedgeand on to the road right in front of the car.To stop in timewas out of thequestion. With all her might Bundle wrenched at the steering wheel andswerved out to the right. The car was nearly in the ditchânearly, but notquite. Itwas a dangerousmanoeuvre; but it succeeded.Bundlewas almostcertainthatshehadmissedtheman.
She looked back and felt a sickening sensation in the middle of heranatomy.Thecarhadnotpassedovertheman,butneverthelessitmusthavestruckhiminpassing.Hewaslyingfacedownwardsontheroad,andhelayominouslystill.
Bundle jumped out and ran back. She had never yet run over anythingmore important than a stray hen. The fact that the accidentwas hardly herfaultdidnotweighwithherat theminute.Themanhadseemeddrunk,butdrunkornot,shehadkilledhim.Shewasquitesureshehadkilledhim.Herheart beat sickeningly in great pounding thumps, sounding right up in herears.
Shekneltdownbythepronefigureandturnedhimverygingerlyover.Heneithergroanednormoaned.Hewasyoung,shesaw,ratherapleasant-facedyoungman,well-dressedandwearingasmalltoothbrushmoustache.
Therewasnoexternalmarkofinjurythatshecouldsee,butshewasquitepositive thathewaseitherdeadordying.Hiseyelidsflickeredandtheeyes
half-opened.Piteouseyes,brownandsuffering,likeadogâs.Heseemedtobestrugglingtospeak.Bundlebentrightover.
âYes,âshesaid.âYes?â
Therewassomethinghewantedtosay,shecouldseethat.Wantedtosaybadly.Andshecouldnâthelphim,couldnâtdoanything.
Atlastthewordscame,ameresighingbreath:
âSevenDials...tell...â
âYes,âsaidBundleagain.Itwasanamehewastryingtogetoutâtryingwithallhisfailingstrength.âYes.WhoamItotell?â
âTell...JimmyThesiger...âHegotitoutatlast,andthen,suddenly,hisheadfellbackandhisbodywentlimp.
Bundlesatbackonherheels,shiveringfromheadtofoot.Shecouldneverhave imagined that anything so awful could have happened to her.Hewasdeadâandshehadkilledhim.
Shetriedtopullherselftogether.Whatmustshedonow?Adoctorâthatwasherfirstthought.Itwaspossibleâjustpossibleâthatthemanmightonlybeunconscious,notdead.Herinstinctcriedoutagainstthepossibility,butsheforcedherselftoactuponit.Somehoworothershemustgethimintothecarandtakehimtothenearestdoctorâs.Itwasadesertedstretchofcountryroadandtherewasnoonetohelpher.
Bundle, for all her slimness,was strong. She hadmuscles ofwhipcord.She brought the Hispano as close as possible, and then exerting all herstrength,shedraggedandpulledtheinanimatefigureintoit.Itwasahorridbusiness,andonethatmadehersetherteeth,butatlastshemanagedit.
Then she jumped into the driverâs seat and set off. A couple of milesbroughtherintoasmalltownandoninquiringshewasquicklydirectedtothedoctorâshouse.
Dr. Cassell, a kindly, middle-aged man, was startled to come into hissurgeryandfindagirltherewhowasevidentlyonthevergeofcollapse.
Bundlespokeabruptly.
âIâIthinkIâvekilledaman.Iranoverhim.Ibroughthimalonginthecar.Heâsoutsidenow.IâIwasdrivingtoofast,Isuppose.Iâvealwaysdriven
toofast.â
Thedoctorcastapractisedglanceoverher.Hesteppedovertoashelfandpouredsomethingintoaglass.Hebroughtitovertoher.
âDrinkthisdown,âhesaid,âandyouâllfeelbetter.Youâvehadashock.â
Bundledrankobedientlyandatingeofcolourcameintoherpallidface.Thedoctornoddedapprovingly.
âThatâsright.NowIwantyoutositquietlyhere.Iâllgooutandattendtothings.AfterIâvemadesurethereâsnothingtobedoneforthepoorfellow,Iâllcomebackandweâlltalkaboutit.â
Hewasawaysome time.Bundlewatched theclockon themantelpiece.Fiveminutes, tenminutes, a quarter of anhour, twentyminutesâwouldheevercome?
ThenthedooropenedandDr.Cassellreappeared.HelookeddifferentâBundlenoticedthatatonceâgrimmerandatthesametimemorealert.Therewas something else in his manner that she did not quite understand, asuggestionofrepressedexcitement.
âNowthen,younglady,âhesaid.âLetâshavethisout.Youranoverthisman,yousay.Tellmejusthowtheaccidenthappened?â
Bundle explained to the best of her ability. The doctor followed hernarrativewithkeenattention.
âJustso;thecardidnâtpassoverhisbody?â
âNo.Infact,IthoughtIâdmissedhimaltogether.â
âHewasreeling,yousay?â
âYes,Ithoughthewasdrunk.â
âAndhecamefromthehedge?â
âThere was a gate just there, I think. He must have come through thegate.â
The doctor nodded, then he leaned back in his chair and removed hispince-nez.
âIâvenodoubtatall,âhesaid,âthatyouâreaveryrecklessdriver,andthatyouâllprobablyrunoversomepoorfellowanddoforhimoneofthesedays
âbutyouhavenâtdoneitthistime.â
âButââ
âThecarnevertouchedhim.Thismanwasshot.â
OceanofPDF.com
Six
SEVENDIALSAGAIN
Bundle staredathim.Andvery slowly theworld,which for the last threequartersofanhourhadbeenupsidedown,shiftedtillitstoodoncemoretherightwayup.ItwasquitetwominutesbeforeBundlespoke,butwhenshediditwasnolongerthepanic-strickengirlbuttherealBundle,cool,efficientandlogical.
âHowcouldhebeshot?âshesaid.
âIdonâtknowhowhecould,âsaidthedoctordryly.âButhewas.Heâsgotariflebulletinhimallright.Hebledinternally,thatâswhyyoudidnâtnoticeanything.â
Bundlenodded.
âThequestionis,âthedoctorcontinued,âwhoshothim?Yousawnobodyabout?â
Bundleshookherhead.
âItâsodd,âsaidthedoctor.âIfitwasanaccident,youâdexpectthefellowwhodiditwouldcomerunningtotherescueâunlessjustpossiblyhedidnâtknowwhatheâddone.â
âTherewasnooneabout,âsaidBundle.âOntheroad,thatis.â
âIt seems to me,â said the doctor, âthat the poor lad must have beenrunningâthebulletgothimjustashepassed throughthegateandhecamereelingontotheroadinconsequence.Youdidnâthearashot?â
Bundleshookherhead.
âButIprobablyshouldnâtanyway,âshesaid,âwiththenoiseofthecar.â
âJustso.Hedidnâtsayanythingbeforehedied?â
âHemutteredafewwords.â
âNothingtothrowlightonthetragedy?â
âNo.HewantedsomethingâIdonâtknowwhatâtoldtoafriendofhis.Oh!Yes,andhementionedSevenDials.â
âHâm,â saidDoctorCassell. âNota likelyneighbourhood foroneofhisclass. Perhaps his assailant came from there.Well,we neednâtworry aboutthatnow.Youcan leave it inmyhands. Iâllnotify thepolice.Youmust,ofcourse, leave your name and address, as the police are sure to want toquestionyou. In fact,perhapsyouâdbettercome round to thepolice stationwithmenow.TheymightsayIoughttohavedetainedyou.â
They went together in Bundleâs car. The police inspector was a slow-speakingman.Hewas somewhat overawed byBundleâs name and addresswhenshegaveittohim,andhetookdownherstatementwithgreatcare.
âLads!â he said. âThatâswhat it is. Lads practising!Cruel stupid, themyoung varmints are. Always loosing off at birds with no consideration foranyoneasmaybetheothersideofahedge.â
The doctor thought it amost unlikely solution, but he realized that thecasewould soonbe inablerhandsand itdidnot seemworthwhile tomakeobjections.
âNameofdeceased?âaskedthesergeant,moisteninghispencil.
âHe had a card case on him. He appeared to have been aMr. RonaldDevereux,withanaddressintheAlbany.â
Bundle frowned. The name Ronald Devereux awoke some chord ofrememberance.Shewassureshehadhearditbefore.
ItwasnotuntilshewashalfwaybacktoChimneysinthecarthatitcameto her.Of course!RonnyDevereux.Billâs friend in the ForeignOffice.HeandBillandâyesâGeraldWade.
As this last realization came to her,Bundle nearlywent into the hedge.FirstGeraldWadeâthenRonnyDevereux.GerryWadeâsdeathmight havebeennaturalâtheresultofcarelessnessâbutRonnyDevereuxâssurelyboreamoresinisterinterpretation.
And then Bundle remembered something else. Seven Dials! When thedyingmanhadsaid it, ithadseemedvaguely familiar.Nowsheknewwhy.GeraldWadehadmentionedSevenDialsinthatlastletterofhiswrittentohis
sister on the night before his death. And that again connected up withsomethingelsethatescapedher.
Thinkingall thesethingsover,Bundlehadsloweddowntosuchasoberpacethatnobodywouldhaverecognizedher.Shedrovethecarroundtothegarageandwentinsearchofherfather.
LordCaterhamwashappilyreadingacatalogueofaforthcomingsaleofrareeditionsandwasimmeasurablyastonishedtoseeBundle.
âEvenyou,âhesaid,âcanâthavebeentoLondonandbackinthistime.â
âIhavenâtbeentoLondon,âsaidBundle.âIranoveraman.â
âWhat?â
âOnlyIdidnâtreally.Hewasshot.â
âHowcouldhehavebeen?â
âIdonâtknowhowhecouldhavebeen,buthewas.â
âButwhydidyoushoothim?â
âIdidnâtshoothim.â
âYou shouldnât shoot people,â said Lord Caterham in a tone of mildremonstrance.âYoushouldnâtreally.Idaresaysomeofthemrichlydeserveitâbutallthesameitwillleadtotrouble.â
âItellyouIdidnâtshoothim.â
âWell,whodid?â
âNobodyknows,âsaidBundle.
âNonsense,â said Lord Caterham. âA man canât be shot and run overwithoutanyonehavingdoneit.â
âHewasnâtrunover,âsaidBundle.
âIthoughtyousaidhewas.â
âIsaidIthoughtIhad.â
âA tyre burst, I suppose,â saidLordCaterham. âThat does sound like ashot.Itsayssoindetectivestories.â
âYoureallyareperfectlyimpossible,Father.Youdonâtseemtohavethe
brainsofarabbit.â
âNotatall,âsaidLordCaterham.âYoucomeinwithawildlyimpossibletaleaboutmenbeingrunoverandshotandIdonâtknowwhat,andthenyouexpectmetoknowallaboutitbymagic.â
Bundlesighedwearily.
âJustattend,âshesaid.âIâlltellyouallaboutitinwordsofonesyllable.â
âThere,âshesaidwhenshehadconcluded.âNowhaveyougotit?â
âOfcourse. Iunderstandperfectlynow. Icanmakeallowances foryourbeing a little upset,my dear. Iwas not farwrongwhen I remarked to youbefore starting out that people looking for trouble usually found it. I amthankful,âfinishedLordCaterhamwithaslightshiver,âthatIstayedquietlyhere.â
Hepickedupthecatalogueagain.
âFather,whereisSevenDials?â
âIn theEast End somewhere, I fancy. I have frequently observed busesgoingthereâordoImeanSevenSisters?Ihaveneverbeentheremyself,Iâmthankful to say. Just as well, because I donât fancy it is the sort of spot Ishould like.Andyet, curiously enough, I seem tohaveheardof it in someconnectionjustlately.â
âYoudonâtknowaJimmyThesiger,doyou?â
LordCaterhamwasnowengrossed in his catalogueoncemore.Hehadmadeaneffort tobe intelligenton the subjectofSevenDials.This timehemadehardlyanyeffortatall.
âThesiger,â he murmured vaguely. âThesiger. One of the YorkshireThesigers?â
âThatâswhatIâmaskingyou.Doattend,Father.Thisisimportant.â
LordCaterhammadeadesperateeffort to look intelligentwithout reallyhavingtogivehismindtothematter.
âThereare someYorkshireThesigers,â he said earnestly. âAnd unless Iam mistaken some Devonshire Thesigers also. Your Great Aunt SelinamarriedaThesiger.â
âWhatgoodisthattome?âcriedBundle.
LordCaterhamchuckled.
âItwasverylittlegoodtoher,ifIrememberrightly.â
âYouâreimpossible,âsaidBundle,rising.âIshallhavetogetholdofBill.â
âDo,dear,âsaidherfatherabsentlyasheturnedapage.âCertainly.Byallmeans.Quiteso.â
Bundlerosetoherfeetwithanimpatientsigh.
âIwishIcouldrememberwhat that lettersaid,âshemurmured,more toherself than aloud. âI didnât read it very carefully.Something about a joke,thattheSevenDialsbusinesswasnâtajoke.â
LordCaterhamemergedsuddenlyfromhiscatalogue.
âSevenDials?âhesaid.âOfcourse.Iâvegotitnow.â
âGotwhat?â
âI know why it sounded so familiar. George Lomax has been over.Tredwell failed for once and let him in.Hewas on hisway up to town. ItseemsheâshavingsomepoliticalpartyattheAbbeynextweekandhegotawarningletter.â
âWhatdoyoumeanbyawarningletter?â
âWell, I donât really know. He didnât go into details. I gather it saidâBewareâandâTroubleisathand,âandallthosesortofthings.Butanywayitwaswritten fromSevenDials, I distinctly rememberhis saying so.HewasgoinguptotowntoconsultScotlandYardaboutit.YouknowGeorge?â
Bundlenodded.Shewaswell-acquaintedwiththatpublic-spiritedCabinetMinister,GeorgeLomax,HisMajestyâspermanentUnderSecretaryofStateforForeignAffairs,whowasshunnedbymanybecauseofhisinveteratehabitof quoting from his public speeches in private. In allusion to his bulgingeyeballs,hewasknowntomanyâBillEversleighamongothersâasCodders.
âTell me,â she said, âwas Codders interested at all in Gerald Wadeâsdeath?â
âNotthatIheardof.Hemayhavebeen,ofcourse.â
Bundlesaidnothingforsomeminutes.Shewasbusilyengagedintrying
toremembertheexactwordingofthelettershehadsentontoLoraineWade,andat thesametimeshewas tryingtopicture thegirl towhomithadbeenwritten.Whatsortofagirlwasthistowhom,apparently,GeraldWadewassodevoted?Themoreshethoughtoverit,themoreitseemedtoherthatitwasanunusualletterforabrothertowrite.
âDidyousaytheWadegirlwasGerryâshalfsister?âsheaskedsuddenly.
âWell,ofcourse,strictlyspeaking,Isupposesheisnâtâwasnât,Imeanâhissisteratall.â
âButhernameâsWade?â
âNot really.ShewasnâtoldWadeâschild.As Iwassaying,he ranawaywithhissecondwife,whowasmarriedtoaperfectblackguard.IsupposetheCourts gave the rascally husband the custody of the child, but he certainlydidnâtavailhimselfoftheprivilege.OldWadegotveryfondofthechildandinsistedthatsheshouldbecalledbyhisname.â
âIsee,âsaidBundle.âThatexplainsit.â
âExplainswhat?â
âSomethingthatpuzzledmeaboutthatletter.â
âSheâs rather a pretty girl, I believe,â said Lord Caterham. âOr so Iâveheard.â
Bundlewentupstairs thoughtfully.Shehadseveralobjects inview.Firstshe must find this Jimmy Thesiger. Bill, perhaps, would be helpful there.RonnyDevereuxhadbeenafriendofBillâs.IfJimmyThesigerwasafriendofRonnyâs,thechanceswerethatBillwouldknowhimtoo.Thentherewasthegirl,LoraineWade.Itwaspossiblethatshecouldthrowsomelightontheproblem of Seven Dials. Evidently GerryWade had said something to heraboutit.Hisanxietythatsheshouldforgetthefacthadasinistersuggestion.
OceanofPDF.com
Seven
BUNDLEPAYSACALL
GettingholdofBillpresentedfewdifficulties.Bundlemotoreduptotownon the following morningâthis time without adventures on the wayâandranghimup.Billrespondedwithalacrityandmadevarioussuggestionsastolunch,tea,dinneranddancing.AllofwhichsuggestionsBundleturneddownasmade.
âInadayortwo,Iâllcomeandfrivolwithyou,Bill.ButforthemomentIâmuponbusiness.â
âOh,âsaidBill.âWhatabeastlybore.â
âItâs not that kind,â saidBundle. âItâs anythingbut boring.Bill, doyouknowanyonecalledJimmyThesiger?â
âOfcourse.Sodoyou.â
âNo,Idonât,âsaidBundle.
âYes,youdo.Youmust.EveryoneknowsoldJimmy.â
âSorry,âsaidBundle.âJustforonceIdonâtseemtobeeveryone.â
âOh!butyoumustknowJimmyâpink-facedchap.Looksabitofanass.ButreallyheâsgotasmanybrainsasIhave.â
âYoudonâtsayso,âsaidBundle.âHemustfeelabit topheavywhenhewalksabout.â
âWasthatmeantforsarcasm?â
âItwasafeebleeffortatit.WhatdoesJimmyThesigerdo?â
âHowdoyoumean,whatdoeshedo?â
âDoesbeingat theForeignOfficepreventyou fromunderstandingyournativelanguage?â
âOh! I see,youmean,hashegot a job?No,he just fools around.Why
shouldhedoanything?â
âInfact,moremoneythanbrains?â
âOh!Iwouldnâtsaythat.Itoldyoujustnowthathehadmorebrainsthanyouâdthink.â
Bundlewassilent.Shewasfeelingmoreandmoredoubtful.Thisgildedyouthdidnotsoundaverypromisingally.Andyetitwashisnamethathadcome first to the dying manâs lips. Billâs voice chimed in suddenly withsingularappropriateness.
âRonnyalways thoughta lotofhisbrains.Youknow,RonnyDevereux.Thesigerwashisgreatestpal.â
âRonnyââ
Bundle stopped, undecided. Clearly Bill knew nothing of the otherâsdeath. It occurred to Bundle for the first time that it was odd themorningpapershadcontainednothingof the tragedy.Surelyitwasthekindofspicyitem of news that would never be passed over. There could be oneexplanation,andoneexplanationonly.Thepolice, for reasonsof theirown,werekeepingthematterquiet.
Billâsvoicewascontinuing.
âIhavenâtseenRonnyforanageânotsincethatweekenddownatyourplace.Youknow,whenpooroldGerryWadepassedout.â
Hepausedandthenwenton.
âRathera foulbusiness thataltogether. Iexpectyouâveheardabout it. Isay,Bundleâareyoutherestill?â
âOfcourseIâmhere.â
âWell,youhavenâtsaidanythingforanage.Ibegantothinkthatyouhadgoneaway.â
âNo,Iwasjustthinkingoversomething.â
ShouldshetellBillofRonnyâsdeath?Shedecidedagainstitâitwasnotthesortofthingtobesaidoverthetelephone.Butsoon,verysoon,shemusthaveameetingwithBill.Inthemeantimeâ
âBill?â
âHullo.â
âImightdinewithyoutomorrownight.â
âGood,andweâlldanceafterwards.Iâvegotalottotalktoyouabout.AsamatteroffactIâvebeenratherhardhitâthefoulestluckâ
âWell, tellmeabout it tomorrow,â saidBundle, cuttinghimshort ratherunkindly.âInthemeantime,whatisJimmyThesigerâsaddress?â
âJimmyThesiger?â
âThatâswhatIsaid.â
âHeâsgotroomsinJermynStreetâdoImeanJermynStreetortheotherone?â
âBringthatclassAbraintobearuponit.â
âYes,JermynStreet.WaitabitandIâllgiveyouthenumber.â
Therewasapause.
âAreyoustillthere?â
âIâmalwayshere.â
âWell,oneneverknowswiththesedashedtelephones.Thenumberis103.Gotit?â
â103.Thankyou,Bill.â
âYes, but, I sayâwhat do you want it for? You said you didnât knowhim.â
âIdonât,butIshallinhalfanhour.â
âYouâregoingroundtohisrooms?â
âQuiteright,Sherlock.â
âYes,but,Isayâwell,foronethinghewonâtbeup.â
âWonâtbeup?â
âIshouldnâtthinkso.Imean,whowouldbeiftheyhadnâtgotto?Lookatit thatway.Youâveno ideawhataneffort it is forme togethereatelevenevery morning, and the fuss Codders makes if Iâm behind time is simplyappalling.Youhavenâttheleastidea,Bundle,whatadogâslifethisisââ
âYoushalltellmeallaboutittomorrownight,âsaidBundlehastily.
Sheslammeddownthereceiverandtookstockofthesituation.Firstsheglancedattheclock.Itwasfiveandtwentyminutestotwelve.DespiteBillâsknowledgeofhisfriendâshabits,sheinclinedtoherbeliefthatMr.Thesigerwould by now be in a fit state to receive visitors. She took a taxi to 103JermynStreet.
The door was opened by a perfect example of the retired gentlemanâsgentleman. His face, expessionless and polite, was such a face as may befoundbythescoreinthatparticulardistrictofLondon.
âWillyoucomethisway,madam?â
He ushered her upstairs into an extremely comfortable sitting roomcontainingleather-coveredarmchairsofimmensedimensions.Sunkinoneofthosemonstrositieswasanothergirl,ratheryoungerthanBundle.Asmall,fairgirl,dressedinblack.
âWhatnameshallIsay,madam?â
âIwonâtgiveanyname,âsaidBundle.âIjustwanttoseeMr.Thesigeronimportantbusiness.â
Thegravegentlemanbowedandwithdrew,shutting thedoornoiselesslybehindhim.
Therewasapause.
âItâsanicemorning,âsaidthefairgirltimidly.
âItâsanawfullynicemorning,âagreedBundle.
Therewasanotherpause.
âImotoredupfromthecountrythismorning,âsaidBundle,plungingoncemoreintospeech.âAndI thought itwasgoingtobeoneof thosefoulfogs.Butitwasnât.â
âNo,âsaidtheothergirl.âItwasnât.âAndsheadded:âIâvecomeupfromthecountrytoo.â
Bundle eyed her more attentively. She had been slightly annoyed atfindingtheotherthere.Bundlebelongedtotheenergeticorderofpeoplewholikedâtogetonwithit,âandsheforesawthatthesecondvisitorwouldhave
tobedisposedofandgotridofbeforeshecouldbroachherownbusiness.Itwasnotatopicshecouldintroducebeforeastranger.
Now,asshelookedmoreclosely,anextraordinaryidearosetoherbrain.Could it be? Yes, the girl was in deep mourning; her black-clad anklesshowedthat.Itwasalongshot,butBundlewasconvincedthatherideawasright.Shedrewalongbreath.
âLookhere,âshesaid,âareyoubyanychanceLoraineWade?â
Loraineâseyesopenedwide.
âYes,Iam.Howcleverofyoutoknow.Weâvenevermet,havewe?â
âIwrotetoyouyesterday,though.IâmBundleBrent.â
âItwassoverykindofyoutosendmeGerryâsletter,âsaidLoraine.âIâvewrittentothankyou.Ineverexpectedtoseeyouhere.â
âIâll tell you why Iâm here,â said Bundle. âDid you know RonnyDevereux?â
Lorainenodded.
âHecameover thedaythatGerryâyouknow.Andheâsbeentoseemetwoorthreetimessince.HewasoneofGerryâsgreatestfriends.â
âIknow.Wellâheâsdead.â
Loraineâslipspartedinsurprise.
âDead!Buthealwaysseemedsofit.â
Bundlenarratedtheeventsoftheprecedingdayasbrieflyaspossible.AlookoffearandhorrorcameintoLoraineâsface.
âThenitistrue.Itistrue.â
âWhatâstrue?â
âWhat Iâve thoughtâwhat Iâve been thinking all these weeks. Gerrydidnâtdieanaturaldeath.Hewaskilled.â
âYouâvethoughtthat,haveyou?â
âYes.Gerrywouldneverhavetakenthingstomakehimsleep.âShegavethe little ghost of a laugh. âHe sleptmuch toowell to need them. I alwaysthoughtitqueer.AndhethoughtsotooâIknowhedid.â
âWho?â
âRonny. And now this happens. Now heâs killed too.â She paused andthenwenton:âThatâswhatIcamefortoday.ThatletterofGerryâsyousentmeâassoonas I read it, I tried togetholdofRonny,but theysaidhewasaway. So I thought Iâd come and see Jimmyâhewas Ronnyâs other greatfriend.IthoughtperhapsheâdtellmewhatIoughttodo.â
âYoumeanââBundlepaused.âAboutâSevenDials.âLorainenodded.
âYouseeââshebegan.
ButatthatmomentJimmyThesigerenteredtheroom.
OceanofPDF.com
Eight
VISITORSFORJIMMY
Wemustatthispointgobacktosometwentyminutesearlier,toamomentwhenJimmyThesiger,emergingfromthemistsofsleep,wasconsciousofafamiliarvoicespeakingunfamiliarwords.
Hissleep-riddenbraintriedforamoment tocopewiththesituation,butfailed.Heyawnedandrolledoveragain.
âAyounglady,sir,hascalledtoseeyou.â
The voice was implacable. So prepared was it to go on repeating thestatement indefinitely that Jimmy resigned himself to the inevitable. Heopenedhiseyesandblinked.
âEh,Stevens?âhesaid.âSaythatagain.â
âAyounglady,sir,hascalledtoseeyou.â
âOh!âJimmystrovetograspthesituation.âWhy?â
âIcouldnâtsay,sir.â
âNo,Isupposenot.No,âhethoughtitover.âIsupposeyoucouldnât.â
Stevensswoopeddownuponatraybythebedside.
âIwillbringyousomefreshtea,sir.Thisiscold.â
âYouthinkthatIoughttogetupandâerâseethelady?â
Stevensmadenoreply,butheheldhisbackverystiffandJimmyreadthesignscorrectly.
âOh!verywell,âhesaid.âIsupposeIâdbetter.Shedidnâtgivehername?â
âNo,sir.â
âMâm.ShecouldnâtbebyanypossiblechancemyAunt Jemima,couldshe?Becauseifso,IâmdamnedifIâmgoingtogetup.â
âThe lady, sir, couldnotpossiblybeanyoneâs aunt, I should say,unlesstheyoungestofalargefamily.â
âAha,âsaidJimmy.âYoungandlovely.Issheâwhatkindisshe?â
âTheyounglady,sir,ismostundoubtedlystrictlycommeilfaut,ifImayusetheexpression.â
âYoumay use it,â said Jimmy graciously. âYour French pronunciation,Stevens,ifImaysayso,isverygood.Muchbetterthanmine.â
âIamgratifiedtohearit,sir.IhavelatelybeentakingacorrespondencecourseinFrench.â
âHaveyoureally?Youâreawonderfulchap,Stevens.â
Stevenssmiledinasuperiorfashionandlefttheroom.Jimmylaytryingtorecallthenamesofanyyoungandlovelygirlsstrictlycommeilfautwhomightbelikelytocomeandcalluponhim.
Stevens reentered with fresh tea, and as Jimmy sipped it he felt apleasurablecuriosity.
âYouâvegivenherthepaperandallthat,Ihope,Stevens,âhesaid.
âIsuppliedherwiththeMorningPostandPunch,sir.â
Aringatthebelltookhimaway.Inafewminuteshereturned.
âAnotheryounglady,sir.â
âWhat?â
Jimmyclutchedhishead.
âAnother young lady; she declines to give her name, sir, but says herbusinessisimportant.â
Jimmystaredathim.
âThis isdamnedodd,Stevens.Damnedodd.Lookhere,what timedidIcomehomelastnight?â
âJustuponfiveoâclock,sir.â
âAndwasIâerâhowwasI?â
âJustalittlecheerful,sirânothingmore.InclinedtosingâRuleBritannia.ââ
âWhat an extraordinary thing,â said Jimmy. â âRule Britannia,â eh? Icannot imaginemyself in a sober state ever singing âRuleBritannia.âSomelatentpatriotismmusthaveemergedunderthestimulusofâerâjustacoupletoo many. I was celebrating at the âMustard and Cress,â I remember. Notnearly such an innocent spot as it sounds, Stevens.â He paused. âI waswonderingââ
âYes,sir?â
âIwaswonderingwhetherundertheaforementionedstimulusIhadputanadvertisementinanewspaperaskingforanurserygovernessorsomethingofthatsort.â
Stevenscoughed.
âTwogirlsturningup.Itlooksodd.IshalleschewtheâMustardandCressâinfuture.Thatâsagoodword,StevensâeschewâImetitinacrosswordtheotherdayandtookafancytoit.â
WhilsthewastalkingJimmywasrapidlyapparellinghimself.Attheendof tenminuteshewas ready to facehisunknownguests.Asheopened thedoorofhissittingroomthefirstpersonhesawwasadark,slimgirlwhowastotallyunknowntohim.Shewasstandingbythemantelpiece,leaningagainstit.Thenhisglancewentontothebigleather-coveredarmchair,andhisheartmissedabeat.Loraine!
Itwasshewhoroseandspokefirstalittlenervously.
âYoumustbeverysurprisedtoseeme.ButIhadtocome.Iâllexplaininaminute.ThisisLadyEileenBrent.â
âBundleâthatâswhatIâmusuallyknownas.YouâveprobablyheardofmefromBillEversleigh.â
âOh,rather,ofcourseIhave,âsaidJimmy,endeavouringtocopewiththesituation.âIsay,dositdownandletâshaveacocktailorsomething.â
Bothgirlsdeclined.
âAsamatteroffact,âcontinuedJimmy,âIâmonlyjustoutofbed.â
âThatâswhatBillsaid,âremarkedBundle.âItoldhimIwascomingroundtoseeyou,andhesaidyouwouldnâtbeup.â
âWell,IâmupnowâsaidJimmyencouragingly.
âItâsaboutGerry,âsaidLoraine.âAndnowaboutRonnyââ
âWhatdoyoumeanbyâandnowaboutRonny?ââ
âHewasshotyesterday.â
âWhat?âcriedJimmy.
Bundletoldherstoryforthesecondtime.Jimmylistenedlikeamaninadream.
âOldRonnyâshot,âhemurmured.âWhatisthisdamnedbusiness?â
Hesatdownontheedgeofachair,thinkingforaminuteortwo,andthenspokeinaquiet,levelvoice.
âThereâssomethingIthinkIoughttotellyou.â
âYes,âsaidBundleencouragingly.
âItwasonthedayGerryWadedied.OnthewayovertobreakthenewstoyouââhenoddedatLoraineââinthecarRonnysaidsomethingtome.Thatistosay,hestartedtotellmesomething.Therewassomethinghewantedtotellme,andhebeganaboutit,andthenhesaidhewasboundbyapromiseandcouldnâtgoon.â
âBoundbyapromise,âsaidLorainethoughtfully.
âThatâswhathesaid.Naturally Ididnâtpresshimafter that.Buthewasoddâdamnedoddâallthrough.Igottheimpressionthenthathesuspectedâwell,foulplay.Ithoughtheâdtellthedoctorso.Butno,notevenahint.SoIthoughtIâdbeenmistaken.Andafterwards,withtheevidenceandallâwell,itseemedsuchaveryclearcase.Ithoughtmysuspicionshadbeenallbosh.â
âButyouthinkRonnystillsuspected?âaskedBundle.
Jimmynodded.
âThatâs what I think now.Why, none of us have seen anything of himsince.IbelievehewasplayingalonehandâtryingtofindoutthetruthaboutGerryâs death, and whatâs more, I believe he did find out. Thatâs why thedevilsshothim.Andthenhetriedtosendwordtome,butcouldonlygetoutthosetwowords.â
âSevenDials,âsaidBundle,andshiveredalittle.
âSevenDials,âsaidJimmygravely.âAtanyrateweâvegotthattogoon
with.â
BundleturnedtoLoraine.
âYouwerejustgoingtotellmeââ
âOh!yes.First,abouttheletter.âShespoketoJimmy.âGerryleftaletter.LadyEileenââ
âBundle.â
âBundlefoundit.âSheexplainedthecircumstancesinafewwords.
Jimmylistened,keenlyinterested.Thiswasthefirsthehadheardof theletter. Loraine took it from her bag and handed it to him.He read it, thenlookedacrossather.
âThisiswhereyoucanhelpus.WhatwasitGerrywantedyoutoforget?â
Loraineâsbrowswrinkledalittleinperplexity.
âItâs so hard to remember exactly now. I opened a letter ofGerryâs bymistake.Itwaswrittenoncheapsortofpaper,Iremember,andveryilliteratehandwriting.IthadsomeaddressinSevenDialsattheheadofit.Irealizeditwasnâtforme,soIputitbackintheenvelopewithoutreadingit.â
âSure?âaskedJimmyverygently.
Lorainelaughedforthefirsttime.
âI knowwhat you think, and I admit thatwomenare curious.But, yousee,thisdidnâtevenlookinteresting.Itwasakindoflistofnamesanddates.â
âNamesanddates,âsaidJimmythoughtfully.
âGerrydidnâtseemtomindmuch,âcontinuedLoraine.âHelaughed.HeaskedmeifIhadeverheardoftheMafia,andthensaiditwouldbequeerifasocietyliketheMafiastartedinEnglandâbutthatthatkindofsecretsocietydidnât takeonmuchwithEnglishpeople. âOur criminals,â he said, âhavenâtgotapicturesqueimagination.ââ
Jimmypursueduphislipsintoawhistle.
âIâmbeginningtosee,âhesaid.âSevenDialsmustbetheheadquartersforsomesecretsociety.Ashesaysinhislettertoyou.Hethoughtitratherajoketo startwith.But evidently itwasnât a jokeâhe says asmuch.And thereâssomethingelse:hisanxietythatyoushouldforgetwhatheâstoldyou.There
canbeonlyone reason for thatâif that society suspected thatyouhadanyknowledge of its activity, you too would be in danger. Gerald realized theperil,andhewasterriblyanxiousâforyou.â
Hestopped,thenhewentonquietly:
âI rather fancy that weâre all going to be in dangerâifwe go onwiththis.â
âIfâ?âcriedBundleindignantly.
âIâmtalkingofyoutwo.Itâsdifferentforme.IwaspooroldRonnyâspal.âHelookedatBundle.âYouâvedoneyourbit.Youâvedeliveredthemessagehesentme.No;forGodâssakekeepoutofit,youandLoraine.â
Bundle looked questioningly at the other girl. Her own mind wasdefinitelymadeup,butshegavenoindicationofitjustthen.ShehadnowishtopushLoraineWadeintoadangerousundertaking.
ButLoraineâssmallfacewasalightatoncewithindignation.
âYousaythat!DoyouthinkforoneminuteIâdbecontentedtokeepoutofitâwhentheykilledGerryâmyowndearGerry,thebestanddearestandkindestbrotheranygirleverhad.TheonlypersonbelongingtomeIhadinthewholeworld!â
Jimmy cleared his throat uncomfortably. Loraine, he thought, waswonderful;simplywonderful.
âLook here,â he said awkwardly. âYou mustnât say that. About beingaloneintheworldâallthatrot.Youâvegotlotsoffriendsâonlytoogladtodowhattheycan.SeewhatImean?â
ItispossiblethatLorainedid,forshesuddenlyblushed,andtocoverherconfusionbegantotalknervously.
âThatâs settled,â she said. âIâm going to help. Nobodyâs going to stopme.â
âAndsoamI,ofcourse,âsaidBundle.
TheybothlookedatJimmy.
âYes,âhesaidslowly.âYes,quiteso.â
Theylookedathiminquiringly.
Nine
PLANS
Jimmyâswordsliftedthediscussionatonceintoamorepracticalsphere.âAllthingsconsidered,âhesaid,âwehavenâtgotmuchtogoon.Infact,
just thewords SevenDials.As amatter of fact I donât even know exactlywhereSevenDialsis.But,anyway,wecanâtverywellcomboutthewholeofthatdistrict,housebyhouse.â
âWecould,âsaidBundle.
âWell, perhapswe could eventuallyâthough Iâmnot so sure. I imagineitâsawell-populatedarea.Butitwouldnâtbeverysubtle.â
ThewordremindedhimofthegirlSocksandhesmiled.
âThen,ofcourse, thereâs thepartof thecountrywhereRonnywasshot.Wecouldnosearoundthere.Butthepoliceareprobablydoingeverythingwecoulddo,anddoingitmuchbetter.â
âWhatI likeaboutyou,âsaidBundlesarcastically,âisyourcheerfulandoptimisticdisposition.â
âNevermindher,Jimmy,âsaidLorainesoftly.âGoon.â
âDonât be so impatient,â said Jimmy to Bundle. âAll the best sleuthsapproach a case this way, by eliminating unnecessary and unprofitableinvestigation.IâmcomingnowtothethirdalternativeâGeraldâsdeath.Nowthat we know it wasmurderâby the way, you do both believe that, donâtyou?â
âYes,âsaidLoraine.
âYes,âsaidBundle.
âGood.Sodo I.Well, it seems tome that therewedo stand some faintchance.Afterall,ifGerrydidnâttakethechloralhimself,someonemusthavegotintohisroomandputitthereâdissolveditintheglassofwater,sothat
whenhewokeuphedrankitoff.Andofcourselefttheemptyboxorbottleorwhateveritwas.Youagreewiththat?â
âYeâes,âsaidBundleslowly.âButââ
âWait. And that someone must have been in the house at the time. Itcouldnâtverywellhavebeensomeonefromoutside.â
âNo,âagreedBundle,morereadilythistime.
âVerywell.Now,thatnarrowsdownthingsconsiderably.Tobeginwith,Isuppose a good many of the servants are family onesâtheyâre your lot, Imean.â
âYes,âsaidBundle.âPracticallyallthestaffstayedwhenweletit.Alltheprincipalonesare therestillâofcourse therehavebeenchangesamong theunderservants.â
âExactlyâthatâs what I am getting at. Youââhe addressed Bundleââmust go into all that. Find outwhen new servantswere engagedâwhataboutfootmen,forinstance?â
âOneofthefootmenisnew.John,hisnameis.â
âWell,make inquiries about John.And about the otherswho have onlycomerecently.â
âIsuppose,âsaidBundleslowly,âitmusthavebeenaservant.Itcouldnâthavebeenoneoftheguests?â
âIdonâtseehowthatâspossible.â
âWhowerethereexactly?â
âWell,therewerethreegirlsâNancyandHelenandSocksââ
âSocksDaventry?Iknowher.â
âMayhavebeen.Girlwhowasalwayssayingthingsweresubtle.â
âThatâsSocksallright.Subtleisoneofherwords.â
âAndthentherewasGerryWadeandmeandBillEversleighandRonny.And,ofcourse,SirOswaldandLadyCoote.Oh!andPongo.â
âWhoâsPongo?â
âChapcalledBatemanâsecretary tooldCoote.Solemnsortofcovebut
veryconscientious.Iwasatschoolwithhim.â
âTheredoesnâtseemanythingverysuspiciousthere,âremarkedLoraine.
âNo,theredoesnât,âsaidBundle.âAsyousay,weâllhavetolookamongsttheservants.Bytheway,youdonâtsupposethatclockbeingthrownoutofthewindowhadanythingtodowithit?â
âAclockthrownoutofthewindow,âsaidJimmy,staring.Itwasthefirsthehadheardofit.
âIcanâtseehowitcanhaveanythingtodowithit,âsaidBundle.âButitâsoddsomehow.Thereseemsnosenseinit.â
âI remember,âsaidJimmyslowly.âIwent in toâtoseepooroldGerry,and,thereweretheclocksrangedalongthemantelpiece.Iremembernoticingtherewereonlysevenânoteight.â
Hegaveasuddenshiverandexplainedhimselfapologetically.
âSorry, but somehow those clocks have always givenme the shivers. Idreamof themsometimes. Iâdhate togo into that roomin thedarkandseethemthereinarow.â
âYouwouldnâtbeabletoseethemifitwasdark,âsaidBundlepractically.âNotunlesstheyhadluminousdialsâOh!âShegaveasuddengaspandthecolourrushedintohercheeks.âDonâtyousee!SevenDials!â
The others looked at her doubtfully, but she insisted with increasingvehemence.
âItmustbe.Itcanâtbeacoincidence.â
Therewasapause.
âYoumayberight,âsaidJimmyThesigeratlast.âItâsâitâsdashedodd.â
Bundlestartedquestioninghimeagerly.
âWhoboughttheclocks?â
âAllofus.â
âWhothoughtofthem?â
âAllofus.â
âNonsense,somebodymusthavethoughtofthemfirst.â
âItdidnâthappenthatway.WewerediscussingwhatwecoulddotogetGerryup,andPongosaidanalarumclock,andsomebodysaidonewouldbeno good, and somebody elseâBill Eversleigh, I thinkâsaidwhy not get adozen.Andweallsaidgoodeggandhoofedofftogetthem.Wegotoneeachand an extra one for Pongo and one for Lady Cooteâjust out of thegenerosity of our hearts. There was nothing premeditated about itâit justhappened.â
Bundlewassilenced,butnotconvinced.
Jimmyproceededtosumupmethodically.
âI thinkwecansayweâre sureofcertain facts.Thereâsa secret society,withpointsof resemblance to theMafia, in existence.GerryWadecame toknowaboutit.Atfirsthetreateditasratherajokeâasanabsurdity,shallwesay. He couldnât believe in its being really dangerous. But later somethinghappened to convincehim, and thenhegot thewindup in earnest. I ratherfancy he must have said something to Ronny Devereux about it. Anyway,whenhewasputoutoftheway,Ronnysuspected,andhemusthaveknownenoughtogetonthesametrackhimself.Theunfortunatethingisthatweâvegottostartquitefromtheouterdarkness.Wehavenâtgottheknowledgetheothertwohad.â
âPerhaps thatâsanadvantage,âsaidLorainecoolly.âTheywonât suspectusandthereforetheywonâtbetryingtoputusoutoftheway.â
âIwishIfeltsureaboutthat,âsaidJimmyinaworriedvoice.âYouknow,Loraine,oldGerryhimselfwantedyoutokeepoutofit.Donâtyouthinkyoucouldââ
âNo,Icouldnât,âsaidLoraine.âDonâtletâsstartdiscussingthatagain.Itâsonlyawasteoftime.â
At thementionof thewordtime,Jimmyâseyesrose to theclockandheutteredanexclamationofastonishment.Heroseandopenedthedoor.
âStevens.â
âYes,sir?â
âWhataboutaspotoflunch,Stevens?Coulditbemanaged?â
âI anticipated that it would be required, sir. Mrs. Stevens has madepreparationsaccordingly.â
âThatâsawonderfulman,âsaidJimmy,ashereturned,heavingasighofrelief. âBrain, you know. Sheer brain. He takes correspondence courses. Isometimeswonderiftheyâdbeanygoodtome.â
âDonâtbesilly,âsaidLoraine.
Stevensopenedthedoorandproceededtobringinamostrecherchémeal.Anomelettewasfollowedbyquailsandtheverylightestthinginsoufflés.
âWhy are men so happy when theyâre single,â said Loraine tragically.âWhyaretheysomuchbetterlookedafterbyotherpeoplethanbyus?â
âOh! but thatâs rot, you know,â said Jimmy. âImean, theyâre not.Howcouldtheybe?Ioftenthinkââ
Hestammeredandstopped.Loraineblushedagain.
SuddenlyBundleletoutawhoopandboththeothersstartedviolently.
âIdiot,âsaidBundle.âImbecile.Me,Imean.IknewtherewassomethingIâdforgotten.â
âWhat?â
âYouknowCoddersâGeorgeLomax,Imean?â
âIâveheardofhimagooddeal,âsaidJimmy.âFromBillandRonny,youknow.â
âWell,Codders is giving some sort of a dry party nextweekâandheâshadawarningletterfromSevenDials.â
âWhat?âcriedJimmyexcitedly,leaningforward.âYoucanâtmeanit?â
âYes,Ido.HetoldFatheraboutit.Nowwhatdoyouthinkthatpointsto?â
Jimmyleantbackinhischair.Hethoughtrapidlyandcarefully.Atlasthespoke.Hisspeechwasbriefandtothepoint.
âSomethingâsgoingtohappenatthatparty,âhesaid.
âThatâswhatIthink,âsaidBundle.
âItallfitsin,saidJimmyalmostdreamily.
HeturnedtoLoraine.
âHowoldwereyouwhenthewarwason?âheaskedunexpectedly.
âNineâno,eight.â
âAndGerry,Isuppose,wasabouttwenty.Mostladsoftwentyfoughtinthewar.Gerrydidnât.â
âNo,âsaidLoraine,after thinkingaminuteor two.âNo,Gerrywasnâtasoldier.Idonâtknowwhy.â
âIcantellyouwhy,âsaidJimmy.âOratleastIcanmakeaveryshrewdguess.HewasoutofEngland from1915 to1918. Iâve taken the trouble tofind thatout.Andnobodyseems toknowexactlywherehewas. I thinkhewasinGermany.â
The colour rose in Loraineâs cheeks. She looked at Jimmy withadmiration.
âHowcleverofyou.â
âHespokeGermanwell,didnâthe?â
âOh,yes,likeanative.â
âIâm sure Iâm right. Listen you two. Gerry Wade was at the ForeignOffice.Heappeared tobe the same sortof amiable idiotâexcuse the term,but you know what I meanâas Bill Eversleigh and Ronny Devereux. Apurely ornamental excrescence. But in reality he was something quitedifferent. I think Gerry Wade was the real thing. Our secret service issupposedtobethebestintheworld.IthinkGerryWadewasprettyhighupinthat service.And that explains everything! I remember saying idly that lastevening at Chimneys that Gerry couldnât be quite such an ass as hemadehimselfouttobe.â
âAndifyouâreright?âsaidBundle,practicalasever.
âThenthethingâsbiggerthanwethought.ThisSevenDialsbusinessisnâtmerelycriminalâitâsinternational.Onethingâscertain,somebodyhasgottobeatthishousepartyofLomaxâs.â
Bundlemadeaslightgrimace.
âIknowGeorgewellâbuthedoesnâtlikeme.Heâdneverthinkofaskingmetoaseriousgathering.Allthesame,Imightââ
Sheremainedamomentlostinthought.
âDoyouthinkIcouldworkit throughBill?âaskedJimmy.âHeâsboundtobethereasCodderâsrighthandman.Hemightbringmealongsomehoworother.â
âIdonâtseewhynot,âsaidBundle.âYouâllhavetoprimeBillandmakehimsaytherightthings.Heâsincapableofthinkingofthemforhimself.â
âWhatdoyousuggest?âaskedJimmyhumbly.
âOh!Itâsquiteeasy.Billdescribesyouasarichyoungmanâinterestedinpolitics,anxioustostandforParliament.Georgewillfallatonce.Youknowwhatthesepoliticalpartiesare:alwayslookingfornewrichyoungmen.ThericherBillsaysyouare,theeasieritwillbetomanage.â
âShortofbeingdescribedasRothschild,Idonâtmind,âsaidJimmy.
âThen I think thatâs practically settled. Iâm dining with Bill tomorrownight,andIâllgetalistofwhoistobethere.Thatwillbeuseful.â
âIâmsorryyoucanâtbethere,âsaidJimmy.âButonthewholeIthinkitâsallforthebest.â
âIâm not sure I shanât be there,â said Bundle. âCodders hates me likepoisonâbutthereareotherways.â
Shebecamemeditative.
âAndwhataboutme?âaskedLoraineinasmall,meekvoice.
âYouârenoton in thisact,âsaidJimmyinstantly.âSee?Afterall,weâvegottohavesomeoneoutsidetoâerââ
âTowhat?âsaidLoraine.
Jimmydecidednottopursuethistack.HeappealedtoBundle.
âLookhere,âhesaid,âLorainemustkeepoutofthis,mustnâtshe?â
âIcertainlythinksheâdbetter.â
âNexttime,âsaidJimmykindly.
âAndsupposethereisnâtanexttime?âsaidLoraine.
âOh,thereprobablywillbe.Notadoubtofit.â
âIsee.Iâmjusttogohomeandâwait.â
âThatâsit,âsaidJimmy,witheveryappearanceofrelief.âIthoughtyouâd
understand.â
âYousee,âexplainedBundle,âthreeofusforcingourwayinmightlookrather suspicious.And youwould be particularly difficult.You do see that,donâtyou?â
âOh,yes,âsaidLoraine.
âThenitâssettledâyoudonothing,âsaidJimmy.
âIdonothing,âsaidLorainemeekly.
Bundle looked at her in sudden suspicion. The tameness with whichLorainewastakingitseemedhardlynatural.Lorainelookedather.Hereyeswere blue and guileless. They met Bundleâs without a quiver even of thelashes.Bundlewasonlypartlysatisfied.ShefoundthemeeknessofLoraineWadehighlysuspicious.
OceanofPDF.com
Ten
BUNDLEVISITSSCOTLANDYARD
Nowitmaybesaidatoncethatintheforegoingconversationeachoneofthe three participants had, as it were, held something in reserve. ThatâNobodytellseverythingâisaverytruemotto.
Itmaybequestioned,forinstance,ifLoraineWadewasperfectlysincereinheraccountofthemotiveswhichhadledhertoseekoutJimmyThesiger.
In the same way, Jimmy Thesiger himself had various ideas and plansconnectedwith the forthcoming party atGeorgeLomaxâswhich he had nointentionofrevealingtoâsay,Bundle.
AndBundle herself had a fully-fledgedplanwhich she proposed to putintoimmediateexecutionandwhichshehadsaidnothingwhateverabout.
On leavingJimmyThesigerâs rooms,shedrove toScotlandYard,wheresheaskedforSuperintendentBattle.
SuperintendentBattlewasratherabigman.Heworkedalmostentirelyoncasesofadelicatepoliticalnature.OnsuchacasehehadcometoChimneysfouryearsago,andBundlewasfranklytradingonhisrememberingthisfact.
After a short delay, she was taken along several corridors and into theSuperintendentâs private room. Battle was a stolid-looking man with awooden face. He looked supremely unintelligent and more like acommissionairethanadetective.
He was standing by the window when she entered, gazing in anexpressionlessmanneratsomesparrows.
âGoodafternoon,LadyEileen,âhesaid.âSitdown,wonâtyou?â
âThankyou,âsaidBundle.âIwasafraidyoumightnâtrememberme.â
âAlwaysrememberpeople,âsaidBattle.Headded:âGottoinmyjob.â
âOh!âsaidBundle,ratherdamped.
âAndwhatcanIdoforyou?âinquiredtheSuperintendent.
Bundlecamestraighttothepoint.
âIâvealwaysheardthatyoupeopleatScotlandYardhavelistsofallsecretsocietiesandthingslikethatthatareformedinLondon.â
âWetrytokeepuptodate,âsaidSuperintendentBattlecautiously.
âIsupposeagreatmanyofthemarenâtreallydangerous.â
âWeâvegotaverygoodruletogoby,âsaidBattle.âThemoretheytalk,thelesstheyâlldo.Youâdbesurprisedhowwellthatworksout.â
âAndIâveheardthatveryoftenyouletthemgoon?â
Battlenodded.
âThatâs so.Why shouldnât aman call himself aBrother of Liberty andmeet twice aweek in a cellar and talk about riversof bloodâitwonât hurteitherhimorus.Andifthereistroubleanytime,weknowwheretolayourhandsonhim.â
âButsometimes,Isuppose,âsaidBundleslowly,âasocietymaybemoredangerousthananyoneimagines?â
âVeryunlikely,âsaidBattle.
âButitmighthappen,âpersistedBundle.
âOh,itmight,âadmittedtheSuperintendent.
Therewasamomentortwoâssilence.ThenBundlesaidquietly:
âSuperintendentBattle, could you giveme a list of secret societies thathavetheirheadquartersinSevenDials?â
ItwasSuperintendentBattleâsboastthathehadneverbeenseentodisplayemotion. But Bundle could have sworn that just for a moment his eyelidsflickeredandhelookedtakenback.Onlyforamoment,however.Hewashisusualwoodenselfashesaid:
âStrictly speaking, Lady Eileen, thereâs no such place as Seven Dialsnowadays.â
âNo?â
âNo.Most of it is pulled down and rebuilt. Itwas rather a low quarter
once,butitâsveryrespectableandhighclassnowadays.Notatallaromanticspottopokeaboutinformysterioussecretsocieties.â
âOh!âsaidBundle,rathernonplussed.
âBut all the same I should very much like to know what put thatneighbourhoodintoyourhead,LadyEileen.â
âHaveIgottotellyou?â
âWell,itsavestrouble,doesnâtit?Weknowwhereweare,sotospeak.â
Bundlehesitatedforaminute.
âTherewasamanshotyesterday,âshesaidslowly.âI thoughtIhadrunoverhimââ
âMr.RonaldDevereux?â
âYou know about it, of course. Why has there been nothing in thepapers?â
âDoyoureallywanttoknowthat,LadyEileen?â
âYes,please.â
âWell,wejustthoughtweshouldliketohaveacleartwenty-fourhoursâsee?Itwillbeinthepaperstomorrow.â
âOh!âBundlestudiedhim,puzzled.
Whatwashiddenbehindthatimmovableface?DidheregardtheshootingofRonaldDevereuxasanordinarycrimeorasanextraordinaryone?
âHementionedSevenDialswhenhewasdying,âsaidBundleslowly.
âThankyou,âsaidBattle.âIâllmakeanoteofthat.â
Hewroteafewwordsontheblottingpadinfrontofhim.
Bundlestartedonanothertack.
âMr.Lomax,Iunderstand,cametoseeyouyesterdayaboutathreateningletterhehadhad.â
âHedid.â
âAndthatwaswrittenfromSevenDials.â
âIthadSevenDialswrittenatthetopifit,Ibelieve.â
Bundlefeltasthoughshewasbatteringhopelesslyonalockeddoor.
âIfyouâllletmeadviseyou,LadyEileenââ
âIknowwhatyouâregoingtosay.â
âIshouldgohomeandâwell,thinknomoreaboutthesematters.â
âLeaveittoyou,infact?â
âWell,âsaidSuperintendentBattle,âafterall,wearetheprofessionals.â
âAndIâmonlyanamateur?Yes,butyouforgetonethingâImaynâthaveyourknowledgeandskillâbutIhaveoneadvantageoveryou.Icanworkinthedark.â
ShethoughtthattheSuperintendentseemedalittletakenaback,asthoughtheforceofherwordsstruckhome.
âOfcourse,âsaidBundle,âifyouwonâtgivemealistofsecretsocietiesââ
âOh!Ineversaidthat.Youshallhavealistofthewholelot.â
Hewenttothedoor,puthisheadthroughandcalledoutsomething,thencame back to his chair. Bundle, rather unreasonably, felt baffled. The easewith which he acceded to her request seemed to her suspicious. He waslookingathernowinaplacidfashion.
âDoyourememberthedeathofMr.GeraldWade?âsheaskedabruptly.
âDown at your place, wasnât it? Took an overdraught of sleepingmixture.â
âHissistersayshenevertookthingstomakehimsleep.â
âAh!â said theSuperintendent. âYouâdbe surprisedwhat a lotof thingstherearethatsistersdonâtknow.â
Bundle again felt baffled. She sat in silence till a man came in with atypewrittensheetofpaper,whichhehandedtotheSuperintendent.
âHere you are,â said the latter when the other had left the room. âTheBloodBrothersofSt.Sebastian.TheWolfHounds.TheComradesofPeace.TheComradesClub.TheFriends ofOppression.TheChildren ofMoscow.TheRedStandardBearers.TheHerrings.TheComradesof theFallenâandhalfadozenmore.â
Hehandedittoherwithadistincttwinkleinhiseye.
âYougiveittome,âsaidBundle,âbecauseyouknowitâsnotgoingtobetheslightestusetome.Doyouwantmetoleavethewholethingalone?â
âIshouldpreferit,âsaidBattle.âYouseeâifyougomessingaroundalltheseplacesâwell,itâsgoingtogiveusalotoftrouble.â
âLookingafterme,youmean?â
âLookingafteryou,LadyEileen.â
Bundlehadrisentoherfeet.Nowshestoodundecided.SofarthehonourslaywithSuperintendentBattle.Thensherememberedoneslightincident,andshebasedherlastappealuponit.
âI said just now that an amateur could do some things which aprofessional couldnât. You didnât contradict me. Thatâs because youâre anhonestman,SuperintendentBattle.YouknewIwasright.â
âGoon,âsaidBattlequickly.
âAtChimneysyouletmehelp.Wonâtyouletmehelpnow?â
Battleseemedtobeturningthethingoverinhismind.Emboldenedbyhissilence,Bundlecontinued.
âYouknowprettywellwhat Iâm like, SuperintendentBattle. I butt intothings. IâmaNosyParker. Idonâtwant toget inyourwayor to tryanddothingsthatyouâredoingandcandoagreatdealbetter.Butifthereâsachanceforanamateur,letmehaveit.â
Againtherewasapause,andthenSuperintendentBattlesaidquietly:
âYoucouldnâthavespoken fairer thanyouhavedone,LadyEileen.ButIâmjustgoingtosaythistoyou.Whatyouproposeisdangerous.AndwhenIsaydangerous,Imeandangerous.â
âIâvegraspedthat,âsaidBundle.âIâmnotafool.â
âNo,â said Superintendent Battle. âNever knew a young lady who waslessso.WhatIâlldoforyou,LadyEileen,isthis.Iâlljustgiveyouonelittlehint. And Iâm doing it because I never have thought much of the mottoâSafety First.â Inmy opinion all the peoplewho spend their lives avoidingbeingrunoverbybuseshadmuchbetterberunoverandputsafelyoutofthe
way.Theyârenogood.â
This remarkable utterance issuing from the conventional lips ofSuperintendentBattlequitetookBundleâsbreathaway.
âWhatwasthathintyouweregoingtogiveme?âsheaskedatlast.
âYouknowMr.Eversleigh,donâtyou?â
âKnowBill?Why,ofcourse,Butwhatâ?â
âIthinkMr.BillEversleighwillbeabletotellyouallyouwanttoknowaboutSevenDials.â
âBillknowsaboutit?Bill?â
âIdidnâtsaythat.Notatall.ButIthink,beingaquick-wittedyounglady,youâllgetwhatyouwantfromhim.
âAnd now,â said Superintendent Battle firmly, âIâm not going to sayanotherword.â
OceanofPDF.com
Eleven
DINNERWITHBILL
BundlesetouttokeepherappointmentwithBillonthefollowingeveningfullofexpectation.
Billgreetedherwitheverysignofelation.
âBill really is rathernice,â thoughtBundle toherself. âJust like a large,clumsydogthatwagsitstailwhenitâspleasedtoseeyou.â
The large dog was uttering short staccato yelps of comment andinformation.
âYoulooktremendouslyfit,Bundle.IcanâttellyouhowpleasedIamtosee you. Iâve ordered oystersâyou do like oysters, donât you? And howâseverything?Whatdidyouwanttogomoulderingaboutabroadsolong?Wereyouhavingaverygaytime?â
âNo,deadly,âsaidBundle.âPerfectlyfoul.Olddiseasedcolonelscreepingabout in the sun, and active, wizened spinsters running libraries andchurches.â
âGive me England,â said Bill. âI bar this foreign businessâexceptSwitzerland. Switzerlandâs all right. Iâm thinking of going this Christmas.Whydonâtyoucomealong?â
âIâll think about it,â said Bundle. âWhat have you been doing withyourselflately,Bill?â
Itwasan incautiousquery.Bundlehadmerelymade itoutofpolitenessand as a preliminary to introducing her own topics of conversation. Itwas,however,theopeningforwhichBillhadbeenwaiting.
âThatâs just what Iâve been wanting to tell you about. Youâre brainy,Bundle,and Iwantyouradvice.Youknow thatmusical show, âDamnYourEyes?ââ
âYes.â
âWell, Iâm going to tell you about one of the dirtiest pieces of workimaginable.MyGod! the theatricalcrowd.ThereâsagirlâaYankeegirlâaperfectstunnerââ
Bundleâs heart sank. The grievances of Billâs lady friends were alwaysinterminableâtheywentonandonandtherewasnostemmingthem.
âThisgirl,BabeSt.Maurhernameisââ
âIwonderhowshegothername?âsaidBundlesarcastically.
Billrepliedliterally.
âShegotitoutofWhoâsWho.Openeditandjabbedherfingerdownonapage without looking. Pretty nifty, eh? Her real nameâs Goldschmidt orAbrameierâsomethingquiteimpossible.â
âOh,quite,âagreedBundle.
âWell,BabeSt.Maurisprettysmart.Andsheâsgotmuscles.Shewasoneoftheeightgirlswhomadethelivingbridgeââ
âBill,âsaidBundledesperately.âIwenttoseeJimmyThesigeryesterdaymorning.â
âGoodold Jimmy,â saidBill. âWell, as Iwas telling you,Babeâs prettysmart. Youâve got to be nowadays. She can put it over on most theatricalpeople.Ifyouwanttolive,behigh-handed,thatâswhatBabesays.Andmindyou,sheâsthegoodsallright.Shecanactâitâsmarvelloushowthatgirlcanact.SheâdnotmuchchanceinâDamnYourEyesââjustswampedinapackofgood-lookinggirls. Isaidwhynot try the legitimatestageâyouknow,Mrs.TanquerayâthatsortofstuffâbutBabejustlaughedââ
âHaveyouseenJimmyatall?â
âSawhimthismorning.Letmesee,wherewasI?Oh,yes,Ihadnâtgottotherumpusyet.Andmindyouitwasjealousyâsheer,spitefuljealousy.Theother girl wasnât a patch on Babe for looks and she knew it. So she wentbehindherbackââ
Bundleresignedherselftotheinevitableandheardthewholestoryoftheunfortunate circumstances which had led up to Babe St. Maurâs summarydisappearancefromthecastofâDamnYourEyes.âIttookalongtime.When
Billfinallypausedforbreathandsympathy,Bundlesaid:
âYouâre quite right, Bill, itâs a rotten shame. There must be a lot ofjealousyaboutââ
âThewholetheatricalworldâsrottenwithit.â
âItmust be.Did Jimmy say anything toyou about comingdown to theAbbeynextweek?â
Forthefirsttime,BillgavehisattentiontowhatBundlewassaying.
âHewas full of a long rigmarole he wantedme to stuff Codders with.AboutwantingtostandintheConservativeinterest.Butyouknow,Bundle,itâstoodamnedrisky.â
âStuff,âsaidBundle.âIfGeorgedoesfindhimout,hewonâtblameyou.Youâlljusthavebeentakenin,thatâsall.â
âThatâsnotitatall,âsaidBill.âImeanitâstoodamnedriskyforJimmy.Beforeheknowswhereheis,heâllbeparkeddownsomewherelikeTootingEast, pledged to kiss babies and make speeches. You donât know howthoroughCoddersisandhowfrightfullyenergetic.â
âWell, weâll have to risk that,â said Bundle. âJimmy can take care ofhimselfallright.â
âYoudonâtknowCodders,ârepeatedBill.
âWhoâscomingtothisparty,Bill?Isitanythingveryspecial?â
âOnlytheusualsortofmuck.Mrs.Macattaforone.â
âTheM.P.?â
âYes,youknow,alwaysgoingoff thedeependaboutWelfare andPureMilkandSavetheChildren.ThinkofpoorJimmybeingtalkedtobyher.â
âNevermindJimmy.Goontellingme.â
âThenthereâstheHungarian,whattheycallaYoungHungarian.Countesssomethingunpronounceable.Sheâsallright.â
Heswallowedas thoughembarrassed,andBundleobserved thathewascrumblinghisbreadnervously.
âYoungandbeautiful?âsheinquireddelicately.
âOh,rather.â
âIdidnâtknowGeorgewentinforfemalebeautymuch.â
âOh,hedoesnât.She runsbabyfeeding inBudaPesthâsomething likethat.NaturallysheandMrs.Macattawanttogettogether.â
âWhoelse?â
âSirStanleyDigbyââ
âTheAirMinister?â
âYes.Andhissecretary,TerenceOâRourke.Heâsratheralad,bythewayâorusedtobeinhisflyingdays.ThenthereâsaperfectlypoisonousGermanchapcalledHerrEberhard.Idonâtknowwhoheis,butweâreallmakingthehellofafussabouthim.Iâvebeentwicetoldofftotakehimouttolunch,andIcantellyou,Bundle,itwasnojoke.HeâsnotliketheEmbassychaps,whoareallverydecent.Thismansucks insoupandeatspeaswithaknife.Notonly that,but thebrute isalwaysbitinghisfingernailsâpositivelygnawsatthem.â
âPrettyfoul.â
âIsnâtit?Ibelieveheinventsthingsâsomethingofthekind.Well,thatâsall.Oh,yes,SirOswaldCoote.â
âAndLadyCoote?â
âYes,Ibelievesheâscomingtoo.â
Bundlesatlostinthoughtforsomeminutes.Billâslistwassuggestive,butshehadnâttimetothinkoutvariouspossibilitiesjustnow.Shemustgetontothenextpoint.
âBill,âshesaid,âwhatâsallthisaboutSevenDials?â
Bill at once looked horribly embarrassed. He blinked and avoided herglance.
âIdonâtknowwhatyoumean,âhesaid.
âNonsense,âsaidBundle.âIwastoldyouknowallaboutit.â
âAboutwhat?â
Thiswasratheraposer.Bundleshiftedherground.
âIdonâtseewhatyouwanttobesosecretivefor,âshecomplained.
âNothingtobesecretiveabout.Nobodygoestheremuchnow.Itwasonlyacraze.â
Thissoundedpuzzling.
âOnegetssooutofthingswhenoneisaway,âsaidBundleinasadvoice.
âOh,youhavenâtmissedmuch,â saidBill. âEveryonewent there just tosay they had been. Itwas boring really, and,myGod, youcan get tired offriedfish.â
âWheredideveryonego?â
âTotheSevenDialsClub,ofcourse,âsaidBill,staring.âWasnâtthatwhatyouwereaskingabout?â
âIdidnâtknowitbythatname,âsaidBundle.
âUsedtobeaslummysortofdistrictroundaboutTottenhamCourtRoadway.Itâsallpulleddownandcleanedupnow.ButtheSevenDialsClubkeepstotheoldatmosphere.Friedfishandchips.Generalsqualor.KindofEastEndstunt,butawfullyhandytogetatafterashow.â
âItâsanightclub,Isuppose,âsaidBundle.âDancingandallthat?â
âThatâsit.Awfullymixedcrowd.Notaposhaffair.Artists,youknow,andall sorts of oddwomen and a sprinkling of our lot.They say quite a lot ofthings,butI thinkthat thatâsallbunkummyself, justsaidtomaketheplacego.â
âGood,âsaidBundle.âWeâllgotheretonight.â
âOh! I shouldnâtdo that,â saidBill.Hisembarrassmenthad returned.âItellyouitâsplayedout.Nobodygoestherenow.â
âWell,weâregoing.â
âYouwouldnâtcareforit,Bundle.Youwouldnâtreally.â
âYouâregoingtotakemetotheSevenDialsClubandnowhereelse,Bill.AndIshouldliketoknowwhyyouaresounwilling?â
âI?Unwilling?â
âPainfullyso.Whatâstheguiltysecret?â
âGuiltysecret?â
âDonâtkeeprepeatingwhatIsay.Youdoittogiveyourselftime.â
âIdonât,âsaidBillindignantly.âItâsonlyââ
âWell?Iknowthereâssomething.Younevercanconcealanything.â
âIâvegotnothingtoconceal.Itâsonlyââ
âWell?â
âItâsalongstoryâYousee,ItookBabeSt.Maurthereonenightââ
âOh!BabeSt.Mauragain.â
âWhynot?â
âIdidnâtknowitwasaboutherââsaidBundle,stiflingayawn.
âAsIsay,ItookBabethere.Sheratherfanciedalobster.Ihadalobsterundermyarmââ
ThestorywentonâWhenthelobsterhadbeenfinallydismemberedinastrugglebetweenBillandafellowwhowasarankoutsider,Bundlebroughtherattentionbacktohim.
âIsee,âshesaid.âAndtherewasarow?â
âYes,but itwasmy lobster. Iâdbought itandpaidfor it. Ihadaperfectrightââ
âOh, you had, you had,â said Bundle hastily. âBut Iâm sure thatâs allforgottennow.AndIdonâtcareforlobstersanyway.Soletâsgo.â
âWemayberaidedbythepolice.Thereâsaroomupstairswheretheyplaybaccarat.â
âFatherwillhavetocomeandbailmeout,thatâsall.Comeon,Bill.â
Billstillseemedratherreluctant,butBundlewasadamantandtheyweresoonspeedingtotheirdestinationinataxi.
Theplace,whentheygottoit,wasmuchassheimagineditwouldbe.Itwas a tall house in a narrow street, 14 Hunstanton Street; she noted thenumber.
Amanwhosefacewasstrangelyfamiliaropenedthedoor.Shethoughthestarted slightly when he saw her, but he greeted Bill with respectful
recognition.Hewasatallman,withfairhair,aratherweak,anaemicfaceandslightlyshiftyeyes.Bundlepuzzledtoherselfwhereshecouldhaveseenhimbefore.
Bill had recovered his equilibrium now and quite enjoyed doingshowman.Theydancedinthecellar,whichwasveryfullofsmokeâsomuchso that you saw everyone through a blue haze.The smell of fried fishwasalmostoverpowering.
On thewallwere rough charcoal sketches, someof themexecutedwithrealtalent.Thecompanywasextremelymixed.Therewereportlyforeigners,opulent Jewesses, a sprinkling of the really smart, and several ladiesbelongingtotheoldestprofessionintheworld.
SoonBill ledBundleupstairs.There theweak-facedmanwasonguard,watchingallthoseadmittedtothegamblingroomwithalynxeye.SuddenlyrecognitioncametoBundle.
âOf course,â she said. âHow stupid of me. Itâs Alfred who used to besecondfootmanatChimneys.Howareyou,Alfred?â
âNicely,thankyou,yourLadyship.â
âWhen did you leave Chimneys, Alfred? Was it long before we gotback?â
âItwasaboutamonthago,mâlady.Igotachanceofbetteringmyself,anditseemedapitynottotakeit.â
âIsupposetheypayyouverywellhere,âremarkedBundle.
âVeryfair,mâlady.â
Bundle passed in. It seemed to her that in this room the real life of theclubwasexposed.Thestakeswerehigh,shesawthatatonce,andthepeoplegatheredroundthetwotableswereofthetruetype.Hawkeyed,haggard,withthegamblingfeverintheirblood.
SheandBillstayedhereforabouthalfanhour.ThenBillgrewrestive.
âLetâsgetoutofthisplace,Bundle,andgoondancing.â
Bundleagreed.Therewasnothingtobeseenhere.Theywentdownagain.They danced for another half hour, had fish and chips, and then Bundledeclaredherselfreadytogohome.
âButitâssoearly,âBillprotested.
âNo,itisnât.Notreally.And,anyway,Iâvegotalongdayinfrontofmetomorrow.â
âWhatareyougoingtodo?â
âThatdepends,âsaidBundlemysteriously.âBut Ican tellyou this,Bill,thegrassisnotgoingtogrowundermyfeet.â
âItneverdoes,âsaidMr.Eversleigh.
OceanofPDF.com
Twelve
INQUIRIESATCHIMNEYS
Bundleâs temperament was certainly not inherited from her father, whoseprevailingcharacteristicwasawhollyamiableinertia.AsBillEversleighhadveryjustlyremarked,thegrassneverdidgrowunderBundleâsfeet.
On the morning following her dinner with Bill, Bundle woke full ofenergy.Shehadthreedistinctplanswhichshemeanttoputintooperationthatday,andsherealizedthatshewasgoingtobeslightlyhamperedbythelimitsoftimeandspace.
Fortunatelyshedidnotsuffer fromtheafflictionofGerryWade,RonnyDevereux and Jimmy Thesigerâthat of not being able to get up in themorning.SirOswaldCootehimselfwouldhavehadnofaulttofindwithheronthescoreofearlyrising.AthalfpasteightBundlehadbreakfastedandwasonherwaytoChimneysintheHispano.
Herfatherseemedmildlypleasedtoseeher.
âIneverknowwhenyouâregoingtoturnup,âhesaid.âButthiswillsavemeringingup,which Ihate.ColonelMelrosewashereyesterdayabout theinquest.â
ColonelMelrosewasChiefConstableofthecounty,andanoldfriendofLordCaterham.
âYoumeantheinquestofRonnyDevereux?Whenisittobe?â
âTomorrow.Twelveoâclock.Melrosewillcallforyou.Havingfoundthebody,youâllhavetogiveevidence,buthesaidyouneednâtbeatallalarmed.â
âWhyonearthshouldIbealarmed?â
âWell, youknow,â saidLordCaterhamapologetically, âMelrose is a bitold-fashioned.â
âTwelveoâclock,âsaidBundle.âGood.Ishallbehere,ifIâmstillalive.â
âHaveyouanyreasontoanticipatenotbeingalive?â
âOne never knows,â said Bundle. âThe strain of modern lifeâas thenewspaperssay.â
âWhich remindsme thatGeorge Lomax askedme to come over to theAbbeynextweek.Irefused,ofcourse.â
âQuite right,â saidBundle. âWedonâtwant youmixedup in any funnybusiness.â
âIs theregoing tobeany funnybusiness?âaskedLordCaterhamwithasuddenawakeningofinterest.
âWellâwarninglettersandallthat,youknow,âsaidBundle.
âPerhaps George is going to be assassinated,â said Lord Caterhamhopefully.âWhatdoyouthink,BundleâperhapsIâdbettergoafterall.â
âYou curb your bloodthirsty instincts and stay quietly at home,â saidBundle.âIâmgoingtotalktoMrs.Howell.â
Mrs. Howell was the housekeeper, that dignified, creaking lady whostruckterrortotheheartofLadyCoote.ShehadnoterrorforBundle,whom,indeed,shealwayscalledMissBundle,arelicofthedayswhenBundlehadstayed at Chimneys, a long-legged, impish child, before her father hadsucceededtothetitle.
âNow,Howelly,â saidBundle, âletâs have a cup of rich cocoa together,andletmehearallthehouseholdnews.â
She gleaned what she wanted without much difficulty, making mentalnotesasfollows:
âTwonewscullerymaidsâvillagegirlsâdoesnâtseemmuchthere.Newthird housemaidâhead housemaidâs niece. That sounds all right. HowellyseemstohavebulliedpoorLadyCooteagooddeal.Shewould.â
âI never thought the day would come when I should see Chimneysinhabitedbystrangers,MissBundle.â
âOh! one must go with the times,â said Bundle. âYouâll be lucky,Howelly,ifyouneverseeitconvertedintodesirableflatswithuseofsuperbpleasuregrounds.â
Mrs.Howellsshiveredalldownherreactionaryaristocraticspine.
âIâveneverseenSirOswaldCoote,âremarkedBundle.
âSir Oswald is no doubt a very clever gentleman,â said Mrs. Howellsdistantly.
BundlegatheredthatSirOswaldhadnotbeenlikedbyhisstaff.
âOf course, itwasMr.Batemanwho saw to everything,â continued thehousekeeper.âAveryefficientgentleman.Averyefficientgentlemanindeed,andonewhoknewthewaythingsoughttobedone.â
BundleledthetalkontothetopicofGeraldWadeâsdeath.Mrs.Howellwasonlytoowillingtotalkaboutit,andwasfullofpityingejaculationsaboutthe poor young gentleman, but Bundle gleaned nothing new. Presently shetook leaveofMrs.Howell andcamedownstairs again,where shepromptlyrangforTredwell.
âTredwell,whendidArthurleave?â
âItwouldbeaboutamonthagonow,mylady.â
âWhydidheleave?â
âItwasbyhisownwish,mylady.IbelievehehasgonetoLondon.Iwasnotdissatisfiedwithhiminanyway.Ithinkyouwillfindthenewfootman,John,verysatisfactory.Heseemstoknowhisworkandtobemostanxioustogivesatisfaction.â
âWheredidhecomefrom?â
âHehadexcellentreferences,mylady.HehadlivedlastwithLordMountVernon.â
âIsee,âsaidBundlethoughtfully.
She was remembering that Lord Mount Vernon was at present on ashootingtripinEastAfrica.
âWhatâshislastname,Tredwell?â
âBower,mylady.â
Tredwell paused for aminute or two and then, seeing that Bundle hadfinished,hequietlylefttheroom.Bundleremainedlostinthought.
Johnhadopenedthedoortoheronherarrivalthatday,andshehadtakenparticular notice of him without seeming to do so. Apparently he was theperfectservant,well-trained,withanexpressionlessface.Hehad,perhaps,amore soldierly bearing thanmost footmen and therewas something a littleoddabouttheshapeofthebackofhishead.
Butthesedetails,asBundlerealized,werehardlyrelevanttothesituation.Shesatfrowningdownattheblottingpaperinfrontofher.ShehadapencilinherhandandwasidlytracingthenameBoweroverandoveragain.
Suddenly an idea struck her and she stopped dead, staring at theword.ThenshesummonedTredwelloncemore.
âTredwell,howisthenameBowerspelt?â
âB-A-U-E-R,mylady.â
âThatâsnotanEnglishname.â
âIbelieveheisofSwissextraction,mylady.â
âOh!Thatâsall,Tredwell,thankyou.â
Swissextraction?No.German!Thatmartialcarriage,thatflatbacktothehead.AndhehadcometoChimneysafortnightbeforeGerryWadeâsdeath.
Bundlerosetoherfeet.Shehaddoneallshecouldhere.Nowtogetonwiththings!Shewentinsearchofherfather.
âIâmoffagain,âshesaid.âIâvegottogoandseeAuntMarcia.â
âGot to seeMarcia?â Lord Caterhamâs voice was full of astonishment.âPoorchild,howdidyougetletinforthat?â
âJustforonce,âsaidBundle,âIhappentobegoingofmyownfreewill.â
Lord Caterham looked at her in amazement. That anyone could have agenuine desire to face his redoubtable sister-in-law was quiteincomprehensibletohim.Marcia,MarchionessofCaterham,thewidowofhislatebrotherHenry,wasaveryprominentpersonality.LordCaterhamadmittedthat she had made Henry an admirable wife and that but for her in allprobability he would never have held the office of Secretary of State forForeignAffairs.Ontheotherhand,hehadalwayslookeduponHenryâsearlydeathasamercifulrelease.
ItseemedtohimthatBundlewasfoolishlyputtingherheadintothelionâsmouth.
âOh!Isay,âhesaid.âYouknow,Ishouldnâtdothat.Youdonâtknowwhatitmayleadto.â
âI knowwhat I hope itâs going to lead to,â saidBundle. âIâm all right,Father,donâtyouworryaboutme.â
LordCaterhamsighedandsettledhimselfmorecomfortablyinhischair.He went back to his perusal of theField. But in a minute or two Bundlesuddenlyputherheadinagain.
âSorry,âshesaid.âButthereâsoneotherthingIwantedtoaskyou.WhatisSirOswaldCoote?â
âItoldyouâasteamroller.â
âI donât mean your personal impression of him. How did he make hismoneyâtrouserbuttonsorbrassbedsorwhat?â
âOh,Isee.Heâssteel.Steelandiron.Heâsgotthebiggeststeelworks,orwhatever you call it, in England. He doesnât, of course, run the showpersonallynow.Itâsacompanyorcompanies.Hegotmeinasadirectorofsomething or other. Very good business for meânothing to do except godownto thecityonceor twiceayear tooneof thosehotelplacesâCannonStreetorLiverpoolStreetâandsitaroundatablewheretheyhaveverynicenewblottingpaper.ThenCooteorsomecleverJohnnymakesaspeechsimplybristlingwithfigures,butfortunatelyyouneednât listento itâandIcantellyou,youoftengetajollygoodlunchoutofit.â
Uninterested in Lord Caterhamâs lunches, Bundle had departed againbefore he had finished speaking. On theway back to London, she tried topiecetogetherthingstohersatisfaction.
Asfarasshecouldsee,steelandinfantwelfaredidnotgotogether.Oneofthetwo,then,wasjustpaddingâpresumablythelatter.Mrs.MacattaandtheHungariancountesscouldbe ruledoutofcourt.Theywerecamouflage.No,thepivotofthewholethingseemedtobetheunattractiveHerrEberhard.HedidnotseemtobethetypeofmanwhomGeorgeLomaxwouldnormallyinvite. Bill had said vaguely that he invented. Then there was the AirMinister, and Sir Oswald Coote, who was steel. Somehow that seemed to
hangtogether.
Since it was useless speculating further, Bundle abandoned the attemptandconcentratedonherforthcominginterviewwithLadyCaterham.
The lady lived ina largegloomyhouse inoneofLondonâshigher-classsquares.Insideitsmeltofsealingwax,birdseedandslightlydecayedflowers.Lady Caterham was a large womanâlarge in every way. Her proportionswere majestic, rather than ample. She had a large beaked nose, woregoldrimmedpince-nezandherupperlipborejust thefaintestsuspicionofamoustache.
Shewas somewhat surprised to see her niece, but accordedher a frigidcheek,whichBundledulykissed.
âThisisquiteanunexpectedpleasure,Eileen,âsheobservedcoldly.
âWeâveonlyjustgotback,AuntMarcia.â
âIknow.Howisyourfather?Muchasusual?â
Her tone conveyed disparagement. She had a poor opinion of AlastairEdwardBrent,ninthMarquisofCaterham.Shewouldhavecalledhim,hadsheknowntheterm,aâpoorfish.â
âFatherisverywell.HeâsdownatChimneys.â
âIndeed.Youknow,Eileen,IneverapprovedofthelettingofChimneys.The place is in many ways a historical monument. It should not becheapened.â
âItmusthavebeenwonderfulinUncleHenryâsdays,âsaidBundlewithaslightsigh.
âHenryrealizedhisresponsibilities,âsaidHenryâswidow.
âThinkofthepeoplewhostayedthere,âwentonBundleecstatically.âAlltheprincipalstatesmenofEurope.â
LadyCaterhamsighed.
âI can truly say that history has beenmade theremore than once,â sheobserved.âIfonlyyourfatherââ
Sheshookherheadsadly.
âPolitics bore father,â said Bundle, âand yet they are about the most
fascinating study there is, I should say. Especially if one knew about themfromtheinside.â
Shemadethisextravagantlyuntruthfulstatementofherfeelingswithoutevenablush.Herauntlookedatherwithsomesurprise.
âIampleasedtohearyousayso,âshesaid.âIalwaysimagined,Eileen,thatyoucaredfornothingbutthismodernpursuitofpleasure.â
âIusedto,âsaidBundle.
âItistruethatyouarestillveryyoung,âsaidLadyCaterhamthoughtfully.âButwithyouradvantages,andifyouweretomarrysuitably,youmightbeoneoftheleadingpoliticalhostessesoftheday.â
Bundlefeltslightlyalarmed.Foramomentshefearedthatherauntmightproduceasuitablehusbandstraightaway.
âButIfeelsuchafool,âsaidBundle.âImean,Iknowsolittle.â
âThatcaneasilyberemedied,âsaidLadyCaterhambriskly.âIhaveanyamountofliteratureIcanlendyou.â
âThank you, Aunt Marcia,â said Bundle, and proceeded hastily to hersecondlineofattack.
âIwonderedifyouknewMrs.Macatta,AuntMarcia?â
âCertainly Iknowher.Amostestimablewomanwithabrilliantbrain. Imay say that as a general rule I do not hold with women standing forParliament.Theycanmaketheirinfluencefeltinamorewomanlyfashion.âShepaused,doubtless torecall thewomanlywayinwhichshehadforcedareluctant husband into thepolitical arena and themarvellous successwhichhadcrownedhisandherefforts.âButstill,timeschange.AndtheworkMrs.Macattaisdoingisoftrulynationalimportance,andoftheutmostvaluetoallwomen.Itis,IthinkImaysay,truewomanlywork.YoumustcertainlymeetMrs.Macatta.â
Bundlegavearatherdismalsigh.
âSheâs going to be at a house party at George Lomaxâs next week. Heasked father,who, of course,wonât go, but henever thoughtof askingme.ThinksIâmtoomuchofanidiot,Isuppose.â
It occurred to Lady Caterham that her niece was really wonderfully
improved.Hadshe,perhaps,hadanunfortunate loveaffair?Anunfortunatelove affair, in Lady Caterhamâs opinion, was so often highly beneficial toyounggirls.Itmadethemtakelifeseriously.
âI donât supposeGeorgeLomax realizes for amoment that youhaveâshallwesay,grownup?Eileendearâshesaid,âImusthaveafewwordswithhim.â
âHedoesnâtlikeme,âsaidBundle.âIknowhewonâtaskme.â
âNonsense,â said Lady Caterham. âI shall make a point of it. I knewGeorge Lomax when he was so high.â She indicated a quite impossibleheight.âHewillbeonlytoopleasedtodomeafavour.Andhewillbesuretoseeforhimselfthatitisvitallyimportantthatthepresent-dayyounggirlsofour own class should take an intelligent interest in the welfare of theircountry.â
Bundlenearlysaid:âHear,hear,âbutcheckedherself.
âIwillfindyousomeliteraturenow,âsaidLadyCaterham,rising.
Shecalledinapiercingvoice:âMissConnor.â
A very neat secretarywith a frightened expression came running. LadyCaterhamgavehervariousdirections.PresentlyBundlewasdrivingbacktoBrookStreetwithanarmfulofthedriest-lookingliteratureimaginable.
HernextproceedingwastoringupJimmyThesiger.Hisfirstwordswerefulloftriumph.
âIâvemanagedit,âhesaid.âHadalotoftroublewithBill,though.HeâdgotitintohisthickheadthatIshouldbealambamongwolves.ButImadehimseesenseatlast.IâvegotalotofthingummybobsnowandIâmstudyingthem.Youknow,bluebooksandwhitepapers.Deadlydullâbutonemustdothethingproperly.HaveyoueverheardoftheSantaFĂ©boundarydispute?â
âNever,âsaidBundle.
âWell, Iâm taking special painswith that. Itwent on for years andwasvery complicated. Iâm making it my subject. Nowadays one has tospecialize.â
âIâvegotalotofthesamesortofthings,âsaidBundle.âAuntMarciagavethemtome.â
âAuntwho?â
âAuntMaricaâFatherâs sister-in-law. Sheâs very political. In fact, sheâsgoingtogetmeinvitedtoGeorgeâsparty.â
âNo?Oh,Isay,thatwillbesplendid.âTherewasapauseandthenJimmysaid:
âIsay,IdonâtthinkweâdbettertellLorainethatâeh?â
âPerhapsnot.â
âYousee,shemaynâtlikebeingoutofit.Andshereallymustbekeptoutofit.â
âYes.â
âImeanyoucanâtletagirllikethatrunintodanger!â
Bundle reflected that Mr. Thesiger was slightly deficient in tact. Theprospect of her running into danger did not seem to give him any qualmswhatever.
âHaveyougoneaway?âaskedJimmy.
âNo,Iwasonlythinking.â
âIsee.Isay,areyougoingtotheinquesttomorrow?â
âYes,areyou?â
âYes.Bytheway,itâsintheeveningpapers.Buttuckedawayinacorner.FunnyâIshouldhavethoughttheyâdhavemaderatherasplashaboutit.â
âYesâsoshouldI.â
âWell,âsaidJimmy,âImustbegettingonwithmytask. Iâve justgot towhereBoliviasentusaNote.â
âIsupposeImustgetonwithmylittlelot,âsaidBundle.âAreyougoingtoswotatitalltheevening?â
âIthinkso.Areyou?â
âOh,probably.Goodnight.â
Theywerebothliarsofthemostunblushingorder.JimmyThesigerknewperfectlywellthathewastakingLoraineWadeouttodinner.
As for Bundle, no sooner had she rung off than she attired herself invariousnondescriptgarmentsbelonging,asamatteroffact,tohermaid.AndhavingdonnedthemshesalliedoutonfootdeliberatingwhetherbusortubewouldbethebestroutebywhichtoreachtheSevenDialsClub.
OceanofPDF.com
Thirteen
THESEVENDIALSCLUB
Bundle reached 14Hunstanton Street about six p.m.At that hour, as sherightly judged, the SevenDialsClubwas a dead spot. Bundleâs aimwas asimple one. She intended to get hold of the ex-footman Alfred. She wasconvincedthatonceshehadgotholdofhimtherestwouldbeeasy.Bundlehadasimpleautocraticmethodofdealingwithretainers.Itseldomfailed,andshesawnoreasonwhyitshouldfailnow.
The only thing of which she was not certain was how many peopleinhabitedtheclubpremises.Naturallyshewishedtodiscloseherpresencetoasfewpeopleaspossible.
Whilst shewashesitating as to thebest lineof attack, theproblemwassolved for her in a singularly easy fashion.The door ofNo14opened andAlfredhimselfcameout.
âGoodafternoon,Alfred,âsaidBundlepleasantly.
Alfredjumped.
âOh!goodafternoon,your ladyship. IâIdidnât recognizeyour ladyshipjustforamoment.â
Paying a tribute in her own mind to her maidâs clothing, Bundleproceededtobusiness.
âIwantafewwordswithyou,Alfred.Whereshallwego?â
âWellâreally, my ladyâI donât knowâitâs not what you might call anicepartroundhereâIdonâtknow,Iâmsureââ
Bundlecuthimshort.
âWhoâsintheclub?â
âNooneatpresent,mylady.â
âThenweâllgointhere.â
Alfred produced a key and opened the door. Bundle passed in. Alfred,troubledandsheepish,followedher.BundlesatdownandlookedstraightattheuncomfortableAlfred.
âI supposeyouknow,â she said crisply, âthatwhatyouâredoinghere isdeadagainstthelaw?â
Alfredshifteduncomfortablyfromonefoottotheother.
âItâs true as weâve been raided twice,â he admitted. âBut nothingcompromising was found, owing to the neatness of Mr. Mosgorovskyâsarrangements.â
âIâmnot talkingof the gamblingonly,â saidBundle.Thereâsmore thanthatâprobably a great deal more than you know. Iâm going to ask you adirect question,Alfred, and I should like the truth, please.HowmuchwereyoupaidforleavingChimneys?â
Alfred looked twiceround thecorniceas thoughseekingfor inspiration,swallowedthreeorfourtimes,andthentooktheinevitablecourseofaweakwillopposedtoastrongone.
âItwasthisway,yourladyship.Mr.Mosgorovsky,hecomewithapartytovisitChimneysononeoftheshowdays.Mr.Tredwell,hewasindisposedlikeâan ingrowing toenailasamatterof factâso it fell tome toshow thepartiesover.AttheendofthetourMr.Mosgorovsky,hestaysbehindtherest,andaftergivingmesomethinghandsome,hefallsintoconversation.â
âYes,âsaidBundleencouragingly.
âAnd the long and the short of it was,â said Alfred, with a suddenacceleration of his narrative, âthat he offers me a hundred pound down toleavethatinstantandtolookafterthishereclub.Hewantedsomeoneaswasusedtothebestfamiliesâtogivetheplaceatone,asheputit.And,well,itseemedflyinginthefaceofprovidencetorefuseâletalonethatthewagesIgetherearejustthreetimeswhattheywereassecondfootman.â
âAhundredpounds,âsaidBundle.âThatâsaverylargesum,Alfred.DidtheysayanythingaboutwhowastofillyourplaceatChimneys?â
âI demurred a bit, my lady, about leaving at once. As I pointed out, itwasnâtusualandmightcauseinconvenience.ButMr.Mosgorovskyheknewofayoungchapâbeeningoodserviceandreadytocomeanyminute.SoI
mentioned his name to Mr. Tredwell and everything was settled pleasant-like.â
Bundle nodded. Her own suspicions had been correct and the modusoperandiwasmuchasshehadthoughtittobe.Sheessayedafurtherinquiry.
âWhoisMr.Mosgorovsky?â
âGentleman as runs this club. Russian gentleman. A very clevergentlemantoo.â
Bundle abandoned the getting of information for the moment andproceededtoothermatters.
âAhundredpoundsisaverylargesumofmoney,Alfred.â
âLargerthanIeverhandled,mylady,âsaidAlfredwithsimplecandour.
âDidyoueversuspectthattherewassomethingwrong?â
âWrong,mylady?â
âYes. Iâm not talking about the gambling. I mean something far moreserious.Youdonâtwanttobesenttopenalservitude,doyou,Alfred?â
âOh,Lord!mylady,youdonâtmeanit?â
âI was at Scotland Yard the day before yesterday,â said Bundleimpressively. âI heard some very curious things. I want you to help me,Alfred,andifyoudo,wellâif thingsgowrong,Iâllput inagoodwordforyou.â
âAnythingIcando,Ishallbeonlytoopleased,mylady.ImeanIwouldanyway.â
âWell,first,âsaidBundle,âIwanttogoalloverthisplaceâfromtoptobottom.â
AccompaniedbyamystifiedandscaredAlfred,shemadeaverythoroughtourofinspection.Nothingstruckhereyetillshecametothegamingroom.There she noticed an inconspicuous door in the corner, and the door waslocked.
Alfredexplainedreadily.
âThatâsusedasagetaway,yourladyship.Thereâsaroomandadoorontoastaircasewhatcomesoutinthenextstreet.Thatâsthewaythegentrygoes
whenthereâsaraid.â
âButdonâtthepoliceknowaboutit?â
âItâsacunningdoor,yousee,mylady.Lookslikeacupboard,thatâsall.â
Bundlefeltarisingexcitement.
âImustgetinthere,âshesaid.
Alfredshookhishead.
âYoucanât,mylady;Mr.Mosgorovsky,hehasthekey.â
âWell,âsaidBundle,âthereareotherkeys.â
Sheperceivedthatthelockwasaperfectlyordinaryonewhichprobablycouldbeeasilyunlockedbythekeyofoneoftheotherdoors.Alfred,rathertroubled,was sent to collect likely specimens.The fourth thatBundle triedfitted.Sheturnedit,openedthedoorandpassedthrough.
Shefoundherselfinasmall,dingyapartment.Alongtableoccupiedthecentreoftheroomwithchairsrangedroundit.Therewasnootherfurnitureintheroom.Twobuilt-incupboardsstoodoneithersideofthefireplace.Alfredindicatedtheneareronewithanod.
âThatâsit,âheexplained.
Bundle tried the cupboarddoor, but itwas locked, and she sawat oncethatthislockwasaverydifferentaffair.Itwasofthepatentkindthatwouldonlyyieldtoitsownkey.
â âIghly ingenious, it is,â explained Alfred. âIt looks all right whenopened.Shelves, youknow,with a few ledgers and that on âem.Nobodyâdeversuspect,butyoutouchtherightspotandthewholethingsswingsopen.â
Bundlehad turned roundandwas surveying the room thoughtfully.Thefirst thing she noticed was that the door by which they had entered wascarefullyfittedroundwithbaize.Itmustbecompletelysoundproof.Thenhereyeswandered to thechairs.Thereweresevenof them, threeeachsideandonerathermoreimposingindesignattheheadofthetable.
Bundleâseyesbrightened.Shehadfoundwhatshewaslookingfor.This,shefeltsure,wasthemeetingplaceofthesecretorganization.Theplacewasalmost perfectly planned. It looked so innocentâyou could reach it just by
stepping through from the gaming room, or you could arrive there by thesecret entranceâandany secrecy, anyprecautionswere easily explainedbythegaminggoingoninthenextroom.
Idly,asthesethoughtspassedthroughhermind,shedrewafingeracrossthemarbleofthemantelpiece.Alfredsawandmisinterpretedtheaction.
âYouwonâtfindnodirt,nottospeakof,âhesaid.âMr.Mosgorovsky,heorderedtheplacetobesweptoutthismorning,andIdiditwhilehewaited.â
âOh!âsaidBundle,thinkingveryhard.âThismorning,eh?â
âHastobedonesometimes,âsaidAlfred.âThoughtheroomâsneverwhatyoumightcallused.â
Nextminutehereceivedashock.
âAlfred,âsaidBundle,âyouâvegottofindmeaplaceinthisroomwhereIcanhide.â
Alfredlookedatherindismay.
âButitâsimpossible,mylady.YouâllgetmeintotroubleandIâlllosemyjob.â
âYouâll lose it anyway when you go to prison,â said Bundle unkindly.âButasamatteroffact,youneednâtworry,nobodywillknowanythingaboutit.â
âAndthereainâtnoplace,âwailedAlfred.âLookroundforyourself,yourladyship,ifyoudonâtbelieveme.â
Bundlewas forced to admit that therewas something in this argument.Butshehadthetruespiritofoneundertakingadventures.
âNonsense,âshesaidwithdetermination.âTherehasgottobeaplace.â
âButthereainâtone,âwailedAlfred.
Neverhadaroomshownitselfmoreunpropitiousforconcealment.Dingyblinds were drawn down over the dirty window panes, and there were nocurtains.Thewindow sill outside,whichBundle examined,was about fourinches wide! Inside the room there were the table, the chairs and thecupboards.
The second cupboard had a key in the lock. Bundle went across and
pulleditopen.Insidewereshelvescoveredwithanoddassortmentofglassesandcrockery.
âSurplus stuff as we donât use,â explained Alfred. âYou can see foryourself,mylady,thereâsnoplacehereasacatcouldhide.â
ButBundlewasexaminingtheshelves.
âFlimsy work,â she said. âNow then, Alfred, have you got a cupboarddownstairswhereyoucouldshoveallthisglass?Youhave?Good.Thengetatrayandstarttocarryitdownatonce.Hurryâthereâsnotimetolose.â
âYoucanât,mylady.Anditâsgettinglate,too.Thecookswillbehereanyminutenow.â
âMr.Mosgoâwhatnotdoesnâtcometilllater,Isuppose?â
âHeâsneverheremuchbeforemidnight.Butoh,myladyââ
âDonâttalksomuch,Alfred,âsaidBundle.âGetthattray.Ifyoustayherearguing,youwillgetintotrouble.â
Doingwhatisfamiliarlyknownasâwringinghishands,âAlfreddeparted.Presentlyhereturnedwithatray,andhavingbynowrealizedthathisprotestswereuseless,heworkedwithanervousenergyquitesurprising.
AsBundlehad seen, the shelveswere easilydetachable.She took themdown,rangedthemuprightagainstthewall,andthensteppedin.
âHâm,âsheremarked.âPrettynarrow.Itâsgoingtobeatightfit.Shutthedooronmecarefully,Alfredâthatâsright.Yes,itcanbedone.NowIwantagimlet.â
âAgimlet,mylady?â
âThatâswhatIsaid.â
âIdonâtknowââ
âNonsense,youmusthaveagimletâperhapsyouâvegotanaugeraswell.If you havenât gotwhat Iwant, youâll have to go out and buy it, so youâdbettertryhardtofindtherightthing.â
Alfreddepartedandreturnedpresentlywithquiteacreditableassortmentoftools.Bundleseizedwhatshewantedandproceededswiftlyandefficientlytoboreasmallholeatthelevelofherrighteye.Shedidthisfromtheoutside
sothatitshouldbelessnoticeable,andshedarednotmakeittoolargelestitshouldattractattention.
âThere,thatâlldo,âsheremarkedatlast.
âOh,but,mylady,myladyââ
âYes?â
âButtheyâllfindyouâiftheyshouldopenthedoor.â
âTheywonâtopenthedoor,âsaidBundle.âBecauseyouaregoingtolockitandtakethekeyaway.â
âAndifbychanceMr.Mosgorovskyshouldaskforthekey?â
âTell him itâs lost,â said Bundle briskly. âBut nobodyâs going toworryaboutthiscupboardâitâsonlyheretoattractattentionfromtheotheroneandmakeitapair.Goon,Alfred,someonemightcomeatanytime.Lockmeinandtakethekeyandcomeandletmeoutwheneveryoneâsgone.â
âYouâllbetakenbad,mylady.Youâllfaintââ
âIneverfaint,âsaidBundle.âButyoumightaswellgetmeacocktail.Ishallcertainlyneedit.Thenlockthedooroftheroomagainâdonâtforgetâandtakethedoorkeysbacktotheirproperdoors.AndAlfredâdonâtbetoomuchofarabbit.Remember,ifanythinggoeswrong,Iâllseeyouthrough.â
âAndthatâsthat,âsaidBundletoherself,whenhavingservedthecocktail,Alfredhadfinallydeparted.
ShewasnotnervouslestAlfredâsnerveshouldfailandheshouldgiveheraway.Sheknewthathissenseofself-preservationwasfartoostrongforthat.His trainingalonehelpedhimtoconcealprivateemotionsbeneaththemaskofawell-trainedservant.
OnlyonethingworriedBundle.Theinterpretationshehadchosentoputuponthecleaningoftheroomthatmorningmightbeallwrong.AndifsoâBundle sighed in the narrow confines of the cupboard. The prospect ofspendinglonghoursinitfornothingwasnotattractive.
OceanofPDF.com
Fourteen
THEMEETINGOFTHESEVENDIALS
It would be as well to pass over the sufferings of the next four hours asquicklyaspossible.Bundle foundherpositionextremelycramped.Shehadjudgedthatthemeeting,ifmeetingtherewastobe,wouldtakeplaceatatimewhentheclubwasinfullswingâsomewhereprobablybetweenthehoursofmidnightandtwoa.m.
Shewas justdeciding that itmustbeat leastsixoâclock in themorningwhen awelcome sound come to her ears, the sound of the unlocking of adoor.
Inanotherminutetheelectriclightwasswitchedon.Thehumofvoices,whichhadcometoherforaminuteortwo,ratherlikethefar-offroarofseawaves,ceasedassuddenlyasithadbegun,andBundleheardthesoundofabolt being shot. Clearly someone had come in from the gaming room nextdoor,andshepaidtributetothethoroughnesswithwhichthecommunicatingdoorhadbeenrenderedsoundproof.
In another minute the intruder came into her line of visionâa line ofvisionthatwasnecessarilysomewhatincompletebutwhichyetanswereditspurpose. A tall man, broad-shouldered and powerful looking, with a longblack beard, Bundle remembered having seen him sitting at one of thebaccarattablesontheprecedingnight.
This,then,wasAlfredâsmysteriousRussiangentleman,theproprietorofthe club, the sinister Mr. Mosgorovsky. Bundleâs heart beat faster withexcitement.Solittledidsheresembleherfatherthatatthisminuteshefairlygloriedintheextremediscomfortofherposition.
TheRussian remained for someminutes standing by the table, strokinghis beard. Then he drew awatch from his pocket and glanced at the time.Noddinghisheadasthoughsatisfied,heagainthrusthishandintohispocketand, pulling out something thatBundle could not see, hemoved out of the
lineofvision.
Whenhereappearedshecouldhardlyhelpgivingagaspofsurprise.
His face was now covered by a maskâbut hardly a mask in theconventional sense. It was not shaped to the face. It was a mere piece ofmaterialhanginginfrontofthefeatureslikeacurtaininwhichtwoslitswerepiercedfortheeyes.Inshapeitwasroundandonitwastherepresentationofaclockface,withthehandspointingtosixoâclock.
âTheSevenDials!âsaidBundletoherself.
Andatthatminutetherecameanewsoundâsevenmuffledtaps.
MosgorovskystrodeacrosstowhereBundleknewwastheothercupboarddoor. She heard a sharp click, and then the sound of greetings in a foreigntongue.
Presentlyshehadaviewofthenewcomers.
Theyalsoworeclockmasks,butintheircasethehandswereinadifferentpositionâfour oâclock and five oâclock respectively. Both men were ineveningdressâbutwithadifference.Onewasanelegant,slenderyoungmanwearingeveningclothesofexquisitecut.ThegracewithwhichhemovedwasforeignratherthanEnglish.Theothermancouldbebetterdescribedaswiryand lean.His clothes fitted him sufficientlywell, but nomore, andBundleguessedathisnationalityevenbeforesheheardhisvoice.
âIreckonweârethefirsttoarriveatthislittlemeeting.â
A fullpleasantvoicewitha slightAmericandrawl, andan inflectionofIrishbehindit.
Theelegantyoungmansaidingood,butslightlystiltedEnglish:
âIhadmuchdifficultyingettingawaytonight.Thesethingsdonotalwaysarrangethemselvesfortunately.Iamnot,likeNo4here,myownmaster.â
Bundletriedtoguessathisnationality.Untilhespoke,shehadthoughthemightbeFrench,buttheaccentwasnotaFrenchone.Hemightpossibly,shethought,beanAustrian,oraHungarian,orevenaRussian.
TheAmericanmoved to theother sideof the table, andBundleheardachairbeingpulledout.
âOne oâclockâs being a great success,â he said. âI congratulate you ontakingtherisk.â
Fiveoâclockshruggedhisshoulders.
âUnlessonetakesrisksââHeleftthesentenceunfinished.
Again seven taps soundedandMosgorovskymovedacross to the secretdoor.
She failed tocatchanythingdefinite for somemoments since thewholecompany were out of sight, but presently she heard the bearded Russianâsvoiceupraised.
âShallwebeginproceedings?â
Hehimselfcameroundthetableandtooktheseatnexttothearmchairatthe top.Sitting thus,hewasdirectly facingBundleâs cupboard.Theelegantfiveoâclocktooktheplacenext tohim.Thethirdchair thatsidewasoutofBundleâs sight,but theAmerican,No4,moved intoher lineofvision foramomentortwobeforehesatdown.
Onthenearsideofthetablealso,onlytwochairswerevisible,andasshewatchedahandturnedthesecondâreallythemiddlechairâdown.Andthenwithaswiftmovement,oneofthenewcomersbrushedpastthecupboardandtookthechairoppositeMosgorovsky.Whoeversattherehad,ofcourse,theirback directly turned to Bundleâand it was at that back that Bundle wasstaring with a good deal of interest, for it was the back of a singularlybeautifulwomanverymuchdĂ©colletĂ©.
Itwasshewhospokefirst.Hervoicewasmusical,foreignâwithadeepseductivenoteinit.Shewasglancingtowardstheemptychairattheheadofthetable.
âSowearenottoseeNo7tonight?âshesaid.âTellme,myfriends,shallweeverseehim?â
âThatâs darned good,â said the American. âDarned good! As for sevenoâclockâIâmbeginningtobelievethereisnosuchperson.â
âI should not advise you to think that, my friend,â said the Russianpleasantly.
Therewasasilenceâratheranuncomfortablesilence,Bundlefelt.
Shewasstillstaringasthoughfascinatedatthebeautifulbackinfrontofher. There was a tiny black mole just below the right shoulder blade thatenhancedthewhitenessoftheskin.Bundlefeltthatatlastthetermâbeautifuladventuress,âsooftenread,hadarealmeaningforher.Shewasquitecertainthat thiswomanhadabeautiful faceâadarkSlavonic facewithpassionateeyes.
Shewas recalled from her imagining by the voice of theRussian,whoseemedtoactasmasterofceremonies.
âShallwegetonwithourbusiness?Firsttoourabsentcomrade!No2!â
Hemadeacuriousgesturewithhishand towards the turneddownchairnext to thewoman,whicheveryonepresent imitated, turning to thechairastheydidso.
âIwishNo2werewithustonight,âhecontinued.âTherearemanythingstobedone.Unsuspecteddifficultieshavearisen.â
âHaveyouhadhisreport?âItwastheAmericanwhospoke.
âAs yetâI have nothing from him.â There was a pause. âI cannotunderstandit.â
âYouthinkitmayhaveâgoneastray?â
âThatisâapossibility.â
âInotherwords,âsaidfiveoâclocksoftly,âthereisâdanger.â
Hespoketheworddelicatelyâandyetwithrelish.
TheRussiannoddedemphatically.
âYesâthereâs danger. Toomuch is getting known about usâabout thisplace.Iknowofseveralpeoplewhosuspect.âHeaddedcoldly:âTheymustbesilenced.â
Bundle felt a little cold shiver pass down her spine. If she were to befound,would she be silenced? Shewas recalled suddenly to attention by aword.
âSonothinghascometolightaboutChimneys?â
Mosgorovskyshookhishead.
âNothing.â
SuddenlyNo5leantforward.
âIagreewithAnna;whereisourpresidentâNo7?Hewhocalledusintobeing.Whydoweneverseehim?â
âNo7,âsaidtheRussian,âhashisownwaysofworking.â
âSoyoualwayssay.â
âIwill saynomore,â saidMosgorovsky. âIpity themanâorwomanâwhocomesupagainsthim.â
Therewasanawkwardsilence.
âWemust get onwith our business,â saidMosgorovsky quietly. âNo 3,youhavetheplansofWyvernAbbey?â
Bundlestrainedherears.SofarshehadneithercaughtaglimpseofNo3,nor had she heard his voice. She heard it now and recognized it asunmistakable. Low, pleasant, indistinctâthe voice of a well-bredEnglishman.
âIâvegotthemhere,sir.â
Some papers were shoved across the table. Everyone bent forward.PresentlyMosgorovskyraisedhisheadagain.
âAndthelistofguests?â
âHere.â
TheRussianreadthem.
âSirStanleyDigby.Mr.TerenceOâRourke.SirOswaldandLadyCoote.Mr.Bateman.CountessAnnaRadzky.Mrs.Macatta.Mr.JamesThesigerââHepausedandthenaskedsharply:
âWhoisMr.JamesThesiger?â
TheAmericanlaughed.
âI guess you neednât worry any about him. The usual complete youngass.â
TheRussiancontinuedreading.
âHerrEberhardandMr.Eversleigh.Thatcompletesthelist.â
âDoesit?âsaidBundlesilently.âWhataboutthatsweetgirl,LadyEileen
Brent?â
âYes, there seemsnothing toworryabout there,â saidMosgorovsky.Helookedacrossthetable.âIsupposethereâsnodoubtwhateveraboutthevalueofEberhardâsinvention?â
ThreeoâclockmadealaconicBritishreply.
âNonewhatever.â
âCommercially it should be worth millions,â said the Russian. âAndinternationallyâwell,oneknowsonlytoowellthegreedofnations.â
Bundlehadanideathatbehindhismaskhewassmilingunpleasantly.
âYes,âhewenton.âAgoldmine.â
âWellworthafewlives,âsaidNo5,cynically,andlaughed.
âButyouknowwhatinventorsare,âsaidtheAmerican.âSometimesthesedarnedthingswonâtwork.â
âA man like Sir Oswald Coote will have made no mistake,â saidMosgorovsky.
âSpeaking as an aviator myself,â said No 5, âthe thing is perfectlyfeasible.IthasbeendiscussedforyearsâbutitneededthegeniusofEberhardtobringittofruition.â
âWell,â saidMosgorovsky, âI donât think we need discuss matters anyfurther.Youhaveallseentheplans.Idonotthinkouroriginalschemecanbebettered.By theway, Ihear somethingabouta letterofGeraldWadeâs thathasbeenfoundâaletterthatmentionsthisorganization.Whofoundit?â
âLordCaterhamâsdaughterâLadyEileenBrent.â
âBauershouldhavebeenontothat,âsaidMosgorovsky.âItwascarelessofhim.Whowastheletterwrittento?â
âHissister,Ibelieve,âsaidNo3.
âUnfortunate,âsaidMosgorovsky.âBut itcannotbehelped.The inquestonRonaldDevereuxistomorrow.Isupposethathasbeenarrangedfor?â
âReports as to local lads having been practising with rifles have beenspreadeverywhere,âsaidtheAmerican.
âThatshouldbeallrightthen.Ithinkthereisnothingfurthertobesaid.Ithinkwemustallcongratulateourdearoneoâclockandwishherluckinthepartshehastoplay.â
âHurrah!âcriedNo5.âToAnna!â
AllhandsflewoutinthesamegesturewhichBundlehadnoticedbefore.
âToAnna!â
Oneoâclockacknowledgedthesalutationwithatypicallyforeigngesture.Then she rose to her feet and the others followed suit. For the first time,BundlecaughtaglimpseofNo3ashecametoputAnnaâscloakroundherâatall,heavilybuiltman.
Thenthepartyfiledoutthroughthesecretdoor.Mosgorovskysecureditafterthem.HewaitedafewmomentsandthenBundleheardhimunbolttheotherdoorandpassthroughafterextinguishingtheelectriclight.
Itwasnotuntil twohours later thatawhiteandanxiousAlfredcametoreleaseBundle.Shealmostfellintohisarmsandhehadtoholdherup.
âNothing,âsaidBundle.âJuststiff,thatâsall.Here,letmesitdown.â
âOh,Gord,mylady,itâsbeenawful.â
âNonsense,âsaidBundle.âItallwentoffsplendidly.Donâtget thewindupnowitâsallover.Itmighthavegonewrong,butthankgoodnessitdidnât.â
âThank goodness, as you say, my lady. Iâve been in a twitter all theevening.Theyâreafunnycrowd,youknow.â
âA damned funny crowd,â saidBundle, vigorouslymassaging her armsand legs. âAs amatter of fact, theyâre the sort of crowd I always imagineduntil tonight only existed in books. In this life, Alfred, one never stopslearning.â
OceanofPDF.com
Fifteen
THEINQUEST
Bundle reachedhomeabout sixa.m.Shewasupanddressedbyhalfpastnine,andrangupJimmyThesigeronthetelephone.
The promptitude of his reply somewhat surprised her, till he explainedthathewasgoingdowntoattendtheinquest.
âSoamI,âsaidBundle.âAndIâvegotalottotellyou.â
âWell, supposeyou letmedriveyoudownandwecan talkon theway.Howaboutthat?â
âAll right. But allow a bit extra because youâll have to take me toChimneys.TheChiefConstableâspickingmeupthere.â
âWhy?â
âBecauseheâsakindman,âsaidBundle.
âSoamI,âsaidJimmy.âVerykind.â
âOh! youâyouâre an ass,â saidBundle. âI heard somebody say so lastnight.â
âWho?â
âTobestrictlyaccurateâaRussianJew.No,itwasnât.Itwasââ
Butanindignantprotestdrownedherwords.
âImaybeanass,âsaidJimmy.âIdaresayIamâbutIwonâthaveRussianJewssayingso.Whatwereyoudoinglastnight,Bundle?â
âThatâswhat Iâm going to talk about,â said Bundle. âGood-bye for themoment.â
SherangoffinatantalizingmannerwhichleftJimmypleasantlypuzzled.HehadthehighestrespectforBundleâscapabilities,thoughtherewasnottheslightesttraceofsentimentinhisfeelingtowardsher.
âSheâsbeenuptosomething,âheopined,ashetookalasthastydrinkofcoffee.âDependuponit,sheâsbeenuptosomething.â
Twentyminuteslater,hislittletwo-seaterdrewupbeforetheBrookStreethouse and Bundle, who had been waiting, came tripping down the steps.Jimmywasnotordinarilyanobservantyoungman,buthenoticedthattherewereblackringsroundBundleâseyesandthatshehadalltheappearanceofhavinghadalatenightthenightbefore.
âNow then,â he said, as the car began to nose her way through thesuburbs,âwhatdarkdeedshaveyoubeenupto?â
âIâlltellyou,âsaidBundle.âButdonâtinterruptuntilIâvefinished.â
It was a somewhat long story, and Jimmy had all he could do to keepsufficient attention on the car to prevent an accident. When Bundle hadfinishedhesighedâthenlookedathersearchingly.
âBundle?â
âYes?â
âLookhere,youârenotpullingmyleg?â
âWhatdoyoumean?â
âIâmsorry,âapologizedJimmy,âbutitseemstomeasthoughIâdhearditallbeforeâinadream,youknow.â
âIknow,âsaidBundlesympathetically.
âItâs impossible,â said Jimmy, following out his own train of thought.âThebeautifulforeignadventuress,theinternationalgang,themysteriousNo7,whoseidentitynobodyknowsâIâvereaditallahundredtimesinbooks.â
âOfcourseyouhave.SohaveI.Butitâsnoreasonwhyitshouldnâtreallyhappen.â
âIsupposenot,âadmittedJimmy.
âAfterallâIsupposefictionisfoundedonthetruth.Imeanunlessthingsdidhappen,peoplecouldnâtthinkofthem.â
âThereissomethinginwhatyousay,âagreedJimmy.âButallthesameIcanâthelppinchingmyselftoseeifIâmawake.â
âThatâshowIfelt.â
Jimmygaveadeepsigh.
âWell, Isupposeweareawake.Letmesee,aRussian,anAmerican,anEnglishmanâa possibleAustrian orHungarianâand the ladywhomay beanynationalityâforchoiceRussianorPolishâthatâsapretty representativegathering.â
âAndaGerman,âsaidBundle.âYouâveforgottentheGerman.â
âOh!âsaidJimmyslowly.âYouthinkâ?â
âTheabsentNo2.No2isBauerâourfootman.Thatseemstomequiteclear fromwhat theysaidaboutexpectinga reportwhichhadnâtcome inâthoughwhattherecanbetoreportaboutChimneys,Icanâtthink.â
âIt must be something to do with Gerry Wadeâs death,â said Jimmy.âThereâs something there we havenât fathomed yet. You say they actuallymentionedBauerbyname?â
Bundlenodded.
âTheyblamedhimfornothavingfoundthatletter.â
âWell,Idonâtseewhatyoucouldhaveclearerthanthat.Thereâsnogoingagainstit.Youâllhavetoforgivemyfirstincredulity,Bundleâbutyouknow,itwasratheratallstory.YousaytheyknewaboutmygoingdowntoWyvernAbbeynextweek?â
âYes,thatâswhentheAmericanâitwashim,nottheRussianâsaidtheyneednâtworryâyouwereonlytheusualkindofass.â
âAh!âsaidJimmy.Hepressedhisfootdownontheacceleratorviciouslyandthecarshotforward.âIâmverygladyoutoldmethat.Itgivesmewhatyoumightcallapersonalinterestinthecase.â
Hewassilentforaminuteortwoandthenhesaid:
âDidyousaythatGermaninventorâsnamewasEberhard?â
âYes.Why?â
âWait aminute.Somethingâs comingback tome.Eberhard,Eberhardâyes,Iâmsurethatwasthename.â
âTellme.â
âEberhardwasaJohnnywhoâdgotsomepatentprocessheappliedtosell.
IcanâtputthethingproperlybecauseIhavenâtgotthescientificknowledgeâbut I know the result was that it became so toughened that a wire was asstrongasasteelbarhadpreviouslybeen.Eberhardhadtodowithaeroplanesandhisideawasthattheweightwouldbesoenormouslyreducedthatflyingwould be practically revolutionizedâthe cost of it, I mean. I believe heoffered his invention to theGermanGovernment, and they turned it down,pointedoutsomeundeniableflawinitâbuttheydiditrathernastily.Hesetto work and circumvented the difficulty, whatever it was, but heâd beenoffended by their attitude and swore they shouldnât have his ewe lamb. Ialways thought the whole thing was probably bunkum, but nowâit looksdifferently.â
âThatâs it,â said Bundle eagerly. âYou must be right, Jimmy. EberhardmusthaveofferedhisinventiontoourGovernment.Theyâvebeentaking,oraregoingtotake,SirOswaldCooteâsexpertopiniononit.Thereâsgoingtobeanunofficialconferenceat theAbbey.SirOswald,George, theAirMinisterandEberhard.Eberhardwill have theplansor theprocess orwhatever youcallitââ
âFormula,âsuggestedJimmy.âIthinkâformulaâisagoodwordmyself.â
âHeâllhavetheformulawithhim,andtheSevenDialsareouttostealtheformula.IremembertheRussiansayingitwasworthmillions.â
âIsupposeitwouldbe,âsaidJimmy.
âAndwellworthafewlivesâthatâswhattheothermansaid.â
âWell,itseemstohavebeen,âsaidJimmy,hisfacecloudingover.âLookatthisdamnedinquesttoday.Bundle,areyousureRonnysaidnothingelse?â
âNo,âsaidBundle.âJustthat.SevenDials.TellJimmyThesiger.Thatâsallhecouldgetout,poorlad.â
âIwishweknewwhatheknew,âsaidJimmy.âButweâvefoundoutonething. I take it that the footman, Bauer, must almost certainly have beenresponsibleforGerryâsdeath.Youknow,Bundleââ
âYes?â
âWell, Iâmabitworried sometimes.Whoâsgoing tobe thenextone! Itreallyisnâtthesortofbusinessforagirltobemixedupin.â
Bundle smiled in spite of herself. It occurred to her that it had taken
JimmyalongtimetoputherinthesamecategoryasLoraineWade.
âItâsfarmorelikelytobeyouthanme,âsheremarkedcheerfully.
âHear,hear,âsaidJimmy.âButwhatabouta fewcasualtieson theotherside for a change? Iâm feeling rather bloodthirsty this morning. Tell me,Bundle,wouldyourecognizeanyofthesepeopleifyousawthem?â
Bundlehesitated.
âIthinkIshouldrecognizeNo5,âshesaidatlast.âHeâsgotaqueerwayofspeakingâakindofvenomous,lispingwayâthatIthinkIâdknowagain.â
âWhatabouttheEnglishman?â
Bundleshookherhead.
âI saw him leastâonly a glimpseâand heâs got a very ordinary voice.Exceptthatheâsabigman,thereâsnothingmuchtogoby.â
âThereâs the woman, of course,â continued Jimmy. âShe ought to beeasier.Butthen,youârenotlikelytorunacrossher.Sheâsprobablyputtinginthedirtywork,being takenout todinnerbyamorousCabinetMinistersandgettingStatesecretsoutof themwhentheyâvehadacouple.At least, thatâshowitâsdoneinbooks.Asamatteroffact,theonlyCabinetMinisterIknowdrinkshotwaterwithadashoflemoninit.â
âTakeGeorgeLomax,for instance,canyouimaginehimbeingamorouswithbeautifulforeignwomen?âsaidBundlewithalaugh.
Jimmyagreedwithhercriticism.
âAndnowaboutthemanofmysteryâNo7,âwentonJimmy.âYouâvenoideawhohecouldbe?â
âNonewhatever.â
âAgainâby book standards, that isâhe ought to be someone we allknow.WhataboutGeorgeLomaxhimself?â
Bundlereluctantlyshookherhead.
âIn a book itwould be perfect,â she agreed. âBut knowingCoddersââAndshegaveherselfuptosuddenuncontrollablemirth.âCodders,thegreatcriminalorganizer,âshegasped.âWouldnâtitbemarvellous?â
Jimmyagreedthatitwould.Theirdiscussionhadtakensometimeandhis
driving had slowed down involuntarily once or twice. They arrived atChimneys, to find Colonel Melrose already there waiting. Jimmy wasintroducedtohimandtheyallthreeproceededtotheinquesttogether.
As Colonel Melrose had predicted, the whole affair was very simple.Bundlegaveherevidence.Thedoctorgavehis.Evidencewasgivenofriflepractice in the neighbourhood. A verdict of death by misadventure wasbroughtin.
After the proceedings were over, ColonelMelrose volunteered to driveBundlebacktoChimneys,andJimmyThesigerreturnedtoLondon.
For all his lighthearted manner, Bundleâs story had impressed himprofoundly.Hesethislipscloselytogether.
âRonny, old boy,â he murmured, âIâm going to be up against it. Andyouârenotheretojoininthegame.â
Anotherthoughtflashedintohismind.Loraine!Wassheindanger?
Afteraminuteortwoâshesitation,hewentovertothetelephoneandrangherup.
âItâsmeâJimmy.I thoughtyouâd like toknowtheresultof the inquest.Deathbymisadventure.â
âOh,butââ
âYes, but I think thereâs something behind that. The coroner had had ahint.Someoneâsatworktohushitup.Isay,Loraineââ
âYes?â
âLookhere.Thereâsâthereâssomefunnybusinessgoingabout.Youâllbeverycareful,wonâtyou?Formysake.â
Heheardthequicknoteofalarmthatsprangintohervoice.
âJimmyâbutthenitâsdangerousâforyou.â
Helaughed.
âOh,thatâsallright.Iâmthecatthathadninelives.Bye-bye,oldthing.â
He rang off and remained a minute or two lost in thought. Then hesummonedStevens.
âDoyouthinkyoucouldgooutandbuymeapistol,Stevens?â
âApistol,sir?â
Truetohistraining,Stevensbetrayednohintofsurprise.
âWhatkindofapistolwouldyouberequiring?â
âThekindwhereyouputyourfingeronthetriggerandthethinggoesonshootinguntilyoutakeitoffagain.â
âAnautomatic,sir.â
âThatâs it,â said Jimmy. âAn automatic. And I should like it to be abluenosed oneâif you and the shopman know what that is. In Americanstories,theheroalwaystakeshisbluenosedautomaticfromhishippocket.â
Stevenspermittedhimselfafaint,discreetsmile.
âMostAmericangentlementhatIhaveknown,sir,carrysomethingverydifferentintheirhippockets,âheobserved.
JimmyThesigerlaughed.
OceanofPDF.com
Sixteen
THEHOUSEPARTYATTHEABBEY
Bundle drove over to Wyvern Abbey just in time for tea on Fridayafternoon. George Lomax came forward to welcome her with considerableempressement.
âMydearEileen,âhesaid,âIcanâttellyouhowpleasedIamtoseeyouhere.YoumustforgivemynothavinginvitedyouwhenIaskedyourfather,buttotellthetruthIneverdreamedthatapartyofthiskindwouldappealtoyou. I was bothâerâsurprised andâerâdelighted when Lady Caterhamtoldmeofyourâerâinterestinâerâpolitics.â
âIwantedtocomesomuch,âsaidBundleinasimple,ingenuousmanner.
âMrs.Macattawillnotarrivetillthelatertrain,âexplainedGeorge.âShewasspeakingatameetinginManchesterlastnight.DoyouknowThesiger?Quiteayoungfellow,butaremarkablegraspofforeignpolitics.Onewouldhardlysuspectitfromhisappearance.â
âIknowMr.Thesiger,âsaidBundle,andsheshookhandssolemnlywithJimmy,whosheobservedhadpartedhishairinthemiddleintheendeavourtoaddearnestnesstohisexpression.
âLookhere,â said Jimmy in a lowhurriedvoice, asGeorge temporarilywithdrew.âYoumustnâtbeangry,butIâvetoldBillaboutourlittlestunt.â
âBill?âsaidBundle,annoyed.
âWell, afterall,â said Jimmy,âBill isoneof the lads,youknow.RonnywasapalofhisandsowasGerry.â
âOh!Iknow,âsaidBundle.
âButyouthinkitâsapity?Sorry.â
âBillâs all right, of course. It isnât that,â said Bundle. âBut heâsâwell,Billâsabornblunderer.â
âNotmentallyveryagile?âsuggestedJimmy.âButyouforgetonethingâBillâsgotaveryheftyfist.AndIâveanideathataheftyfistisgoingtocomeinhandy.â
âWell,perhapsyouâreright.Howdidhetakeit?ââWell,heclutchedhishead a good bit, butâI mean the facts took some driving home. But byrepeating the thingpatiently inwordsofonesyllable Iat lastgot it intohisthickhead.And,naturally,heâswithustothedeath,asyoumightsay.â
Georgereappearedsuddenly.
âI must make some introductions, Eileen. This is Sir Stanley DigbyâLadyEileenBrent.Mr.OâRourke.âTheAirMinisterwasalittleroundmanwith a cheerful smile.Mr.OâRourke, a tall youngmanwith laughing blueeyesandatypicalIrishface,greetedBundlewithenthusiasm.
âAnd I thinking it was going to be a dull political party entirely,â hemurmuredinanadroitwhisper.
âHush,âsaidBundle.âIâmpoliticalâverypolitical.â
âSirOswaldandLadyCooteyouknow,âcontinuedGeorge.
âWeâveneveractuallymet,âsaidBundle,smiling.
Shewasmentallyapplaudingherfatherâsdescriptivepowers.
SirOswaldtookherhandinanirongripandshewincedslightly.
LadyCoote, after a somewhatmournful greeting, had turned to JimmyThesiger,andappeared toberegisteringsomethingcloselyakin topleasure.Despitehisreprehensiblehabitofbeinglateforbreakfast,LadyCootehadafondnessforthisamiable,pink-facedyoungman.Hisairofirrepressiblegoodnaturefascinatedher.Shehadamotherlywishtocurehimofhisbadhabitsand form him into one of the worldâs workers. Whether, once formed, hewouldbeasattractivewasaquestionshehadneveraskedherself.Shebegannowtotellhimofaverypainfulmotoraccidentwhichhadhappenedtooneofherfriends.
âMr.Bateman,âsaidGeorgebriefly,asonewhowouldpassontobetterthings.
Aserious,palefacedyoungmanbowed.
âAnd now,â continued George, âI must introduce you to Countess
Radzky.â
CountessRadzkyhadbeen conversingwithMr.Bateman.Leaningveryfarbackonasofa,withherlegscrossedinadaringmanner,shewassmokingacigaretteinanincrediblylongturquoise-studdedholder.
Bundle thought shewas one of themost beautifulwomen she had everseen.Hereyeswerevery largeandblue,herhairwascoalblack,shehadamatteskin,theslightlyflattenednoseoftheSlav,andasinuous,slenderbody.Her lips were reddened to a degree with which Bundle was sure WyvernAbbeywastotallyunacquainted.
Shesaideagerly:âThisisMrs.Macattaâyes?â
On Georgeâs replying in the negative and introducing Bundle, thecountessgaveheracarelessnod,andatonceresumedherconversationwiththeseriousMr.Bateman.
BundleheardJimmyâsvoiceinherear:
âPongo is absolutely fascinated by the lovely Slav,â he said. âPathetic,isnâtit?Comeandhavesometea.â
TheydriftedoncemoreintotheneighbourhoodofSirOswaldCoote.
âThatâsafineplaceofyours,Chimneys,âremarkedthegreatman.
âIâmgladyoulikedit,âsaidBundlemeekly.
âWantsnewplumbing,âsaidSirOswald.âBringituptodate,youknow.â
Heruminatedforaminuteortwo.
âIâm taking the Duke of Altonâs place. Three years. Just while Iâmlookingroundforaplaceofmyown.Yourfathercouldnâtsell ifhewantedto,Isuppose?â
Bundlefeltherbreathtakenaway.ShehadanightmarevisionofEnglandwithinnumerableCootesininnumerablecounterpartsofChimneysâall,beitunderstood,withanentirelynewsystemofplumbinginstalled.
Shefeltasuddenviolentresentmentwhich,shetoldherself,wasabsurd.After all, contrasting Lord Caterhamwith Sir Oswald Coote, there was nodoubtastowhowouldgotothewall.SirOswaldhadoneofthosepowerfulpersonalitieswhichmakeall thosewithwhom theycome in contact appear
faded.Hewas, as Lord Caterham had said, a human steamroller. And yet,undoubtedly, inmanyways, SirOswaldwas a stupidman.Apart from hisspecial line of knowledge and his terrific driving force, he was probablyintensely ignorant. A hundred delicate appreciations of life which LordCaterhamcouldanddidenjoywereasealedbooktoSirOswald.
WhilstindulginginthesereflectionsBundlecontinuedtochatpleasantly.Herr Eberhard, she heard, had arrived, butwas lying downwith a nervousheadache.ThiswastoldherbyMr.OâRourke,whomanagedtofindaplacebyhersideandkeepit.
Altogether,Bundlewent up to dress in a pleasantmood of expectation,withaslightnervousdreadhoveringinthebackgroundwhenevershethoughtoftheimminentarrivalofMrs.Macatta.BundlefeltthatdalliancewithMrs.Macattawasgoingtoprovenoprimrosepath.
Herfirstshockwaswhenshecamedown,demurelyattiredinablacklacefrock, and passed along the hall.A footmanwas standing thereâat least amandressedasafootman.Butthatsquare,burlyfigurelentitselfbadlytothedeception.Bundlestoppedandstared.
âSuperintendentBattle,âshebreathed.
âThatâsright,LadyEileen.â
âOh!âsaidBundleuncertainly.âAreyouheretoâtoâ?â
âKeepaneyeonthings.â
âIsee.â
âThatwarningletter,youknow,âsaidtheSuperintendent,âfairlyput thewindupMr.Lomax.NothingwoulddoforhimbutthatIshouldcomedownmyself.â
âButdonâtyouthinkââbeganBundle,andstopped.ShehardlylikedtosuggesttotheSuperintendentthathisdisguisewasnotaparticularlyefficientone. He seemed to have âpolice officerâ written all over him, and Bundlecouldhardlyimaginethemostunsuspectingcriminalfailingtobeputonhisguard.
âYou think,â said the Superintendent stolidly, âthat I might berecognized?â
Hegavethefinalwordadistinctcapitalletter.
âIdidthinksoâyesââadmittedBundle.
SomethingthatmightconceivablyhavebeenintendedforasmilecrossedthewoodennessofSuperintendentBattleâsfeatures.
âPutthemontheirguard,eh?Well,LadyEileen,whynot?â
âWhynot?âechoedBundleâratherstupidly,shefelt.
SuperintendentBattlewasnoddinghisheadslowly.
âWedonâtwantanyunpleasantness,dowe?âhesaid.âDonâtwanttobetoocleverâjustshowanylight-fingeredgentrythatmaybeaboutâwell,justshowthemthatthereâssomebodyonthespot,sotospeak.â
Bundle gazed at him in some admiration. She could imagine that thesudden appearance of so renowned a personage as Superintendent Battlemighthaveadepressingeffectonanyschemeandthehatchersofit.
âItâs a great mistake to be too clever,â Superintendent Battle wasrepeating.âThegreatthingisnottohaveanyunpleasantnessthisweekend.â
Bundle passed on, wondering how many of her fellow guests hadrecognized orwould recognize the ScotlandYard detective. In the drawingroomGeorgewasstandingwithapuckeredbrowandanorangeenvelopeinhishand.
âMostvexatious,âhesaid.âAtelegramfromMrs.Macattatosayshewillbeunabletobewithus.Herchildrenaresufferingfrommumps.â
Bundleâsheartgaveathrobofrelief.
âI especially feel this on your account, Eileen,â said George kindly. âIknow how anxious you were to meet her. The Countess too will be sadlydisappointed.â
âOh,nevermind,âsaidBundle.âIshouldhateitifsheâdcomeandgivenmemumps.â
âAverydistressing complaint,â agreedGeorge. âBut I donot think thatinfection could be carried that way. Indeed, I am sure that Mrs. Macattawouldhaverunnoriskofthatkind.Sheisamosthighlyprincipledwoman,withaveryrealsenseofherresponsibilitiestothecommunity.Inthesedays
ofnationalstress,wemustalltakeintoaccountââ
Onthebrinkofembarkingonaspeech,Georgepulledhimselfupshort.
âButitmustbeforanothertime,âhesaid.âFortunatelythereisnohurryinyourcase.ButtheCountess,alas,isonlyavisitortoourshores.â
âSheâsaHungarian, isnât she?âsaidBundle,whowascuriousabout theCountess.
âYes. You have heard, no doubt, of the Young Hungarian party. TheCountessisaleaderofthatparty.Awomanofgreatwealth,leftawidowatanearly age, she has devoted hermoney and her talents to the public service.She has especially devoted herself to the problem of infant mortalityâaterrible one under present conditions in Hungary. IâAh! here is HerrEberhard.â
The German inventor was younger than Bundle had imagined him. Hewas probably notmore than thirty-three or four. Hewas boorish and ill atease.Andyethispersonalitywasnotanunpleasingone.Hisblueeyesweremoreshythanfurtive,andhismoreunpleasantmannerisms,suchastheonethatBill haddescribedofgnawinghis fingernails, arose, she thought,morefrom nervousness than from any other cause. He was thin and weedy inappearanceandlookedanaemicanddelicate.
He conversed rather awkwardlywithBundle in stiltedEnglish and theybothwelcomed the interruption of the joyousMr.OâRourke. PresentlyBillbustled inâthere is no other word for it: in the same such way does afavoured Newfoundland make his entranceâand at once came over toBundle.Hewaslookingperplexedandharassed.
âHullo, Bundle. Heard youâd got here. Been kept with my nose to thegrindstonealltheblessedafternoonorIâdhaveseenyoubefore.â
âCaresofStateheavytonight?âsuggestedOâRourkesympathetically.
Billgroaned.
âIdonâtknowwhatyour fellowâs like,âhecomplained.âLooksagood-natured,tubbylittlechap.ButCoddersisabsolutelyimpossible.Drive,drive,drive,frommorningtonight.Everythingyoudoiswrong,andeverythingyouhavenâtdoneyououghttohavedone.â
âQuitelikeaquotationfromtheprayerbook,âremarkedJimmy,whohad
juststrolledup.
Billglancedathimreproachfully.
âNobodyknows,âhesaidpathetically,âwhatIhavetoputupwith.â
âEntertainingtheCountess,eh?âsuggestedJimmy.âPoorBill, thatmusthavebeenasadstraintoawomanhaterlikeyourself.â
âWhatâsthis?âaskedBundle.
âAftertea,âsaidJimmywithagrin,âtheCountessaskedBilltoshowherroundtheinterestingoldplace.â
âWell,Icouldnâtrefuse,couldI?âsaidBill,hiscountenanceassumingabrick-redtint.
Bundlefelt faintlyuneasy.Sheknew,only toowell, thesusceptibilityofMr.WilliamEversleigh to female charms. In thehandof awoman like theCountess, Bill would be aswax. Shewondered oncemorewhether JimmyThesigerhadbeenwisetotakeBillintotheirconfidence.
âThe Countess,â said Bill, âis a very charming woman. And no endintelligent. You should have seen her going round the house. All sorts ofquestionssheasked.â
âWhatkindofquestions?âaskedBundlesuddenly.
Billwasvague.
âOh!Idonâtknow.Aboutthehistoryofit.Andoldfurniture.Andâoh!allsortsofthings.â
At thatmoment theCountess swept into the room.She seemed a shadebreathless.Shewaslookingmagnificentinaclose-fittingblackvelvetgown.BundlenoticedhowBillgravitatedatoncetoherimmediateneighbourhood.Theseriousspectacledyoungmanjoinedhim.
âBillandPongohavebothgotitbadly,âobservedJimmyThesigerwithalaugh.
Bundlewasbynomeanssosurethatitwasalaughingmatter.
OceanofPDF.com
Seventeen
AFTERDINNER
Georgewasnotabelieverinmoderninnovations.TheAbbeywasinnocentof anything soup to date as central heating.Consequently,when the ladiesentered the drawing room after dinner, the temperature of the room waswoefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes. The fire thatburntinthewell-furnishedsteelgratebecameasamagnet.Thethreewomenhuddledroundit.
âBrrrrrrrrrr!âsaidtheCountess,afine,exoticforeignsound.
âThedaysaredrawingin,âsaidLadyCoote,anddrewafloweredatrocityofascarfcloseraboutherampleshoulders.
âWhy on earth doesnât George have the house properly heated?â saidBundle.
âYouEnglish,youneverheatyourhouses,âsaidtheCountess.
Shetookoutherlongcigaretteholderandbegantosmoke.
âThat grate is old-fashioned,â said Lady Coote. âThe heat goes up thechimneyinsteadofintotheroom.â
âOh!âsaidtheCountess.
Therewasapause.TheCountesswassoplainlyboredbyhercompanythatconversationbecamedifficult.
âItâsfunny,âsaidLadyCoote,breakingthesilence,âthatMrs.Macattaâschildrenshouldhavemumps.Atleast,Idonâtmeanexactlyfunnyââ
âWhat,âsaidtheCountess,âaremumps?â
Bundle and Lady Coote started simultaneously to explain. Finally,betweenthem,theymanagedit.
âIsupposeHungarianchildrenhaveit?âaskedLadyCoote.
âEh?âsaidtheCountess.
âHungarianchildren.Theysufferfromit?â
âIdonotknow,âsaidtheCountess.âHowshouldI?â
LadyCootelookedatherinsomesurprise.
âButIunderstoodthatyouworkedââ
âOh, that!â The Countess uncrossed her legs, took her cigarette holderfromhermouthandbegantotalkrapidly.
âI will tell you some horrors,â she said. âHorrors that I have seen.Incredible!Youwouldnotbelieve!â
Andshewasasgoodasherword.Shetalkedfluentlyandwithagraphicpowerofdescription.Incrediblescenesofstarvationandmiserywerepaintedbyherforthebenefitofheraudience.ShespokeofBudaPesthshortlyafterthewarand traced itsvicissitudes to thepresentday.Shewasdramatic,butshewasalso,toBundleâsmind,alittlelikeagramophonerecord.Youturnedheron,andthereyouwere.Presently,justassuddenly,shewouldstop.
LadyCootewasthrilledtothemarrowâthatmuchwasclear.Shesatwithhermouthslightlyopenandherlarge,sad,darkeyesfixedontheCountess.Occasionally,sheinterpolatedacommentofherown.
âOneofmycousinshadthreechildrenburnedtodeath.Awful,wasnâtit?â
The Countess paid no attention. She went on and on. And she finallystoppedassuddenlyasshehadbegun.
âThere!â she said. âI have told you. We have moneyâbut noorganization.Itisorganizationweneed.â
LadyCootesighed.
âIâve heard my husband say that nothing can be done without regularmethods.Heattributeshisownsuccessentirelytothat.Hedeclareshewouldneverhavegotonwithoutthem.â
Shesighedagain.AsuddenfleetingvisionpassedbeforehereyesofaSirOswaldwhohadnotgotonintheworld.ASirOswaldwhoretained, inallessentials,theattributesofthatcheeryyoungmaninthebicycleshop.Justforaseconditoccurredtoherhowmuchpleasanterlifemighthavebeenforher
ifSirOswaldhadnothadregularmethods.
ByaquiteunderstandableassociationofideassheturnedtoBundle.
âTell me, Lady Eileen,â she said; âdo you like that head gardener ofyours?â
âMacDonald? Wellââ Bundle hesitated. âOne couldnât exactly likeMacDonald,âsheexplainedapologetically.âButheâsafirst-classgardener.â
âOh!Iknowheis,âsaidLadyCoote.
âHeâsallrightifheâskeptinhisplace,âsaidBundle.
âIsupposeso,âsaidLadyCoote.
She looked enviously at Bundle,who appeared to approach the task ofkeepingMacDonaldinhisplacesolightheartedly.
âIâdjustadoreahigh-tonedgarden,âsaidtheCountessdreamily.
Bundlestared,butat thatmomentadiversionoccurred.JimmyThesigerenteredtheroomandspokedirectlytoherinastrange,hurriedvoice.
âI say,will you come and see those etchings now?Theyârewaiting foryou.â
Bundlelefttheroomhurriedly,Jimmyclosebehindher.
âWhatetchings?âsheasked,asthedrawingroomdoorclosedbehindher.
âNoetchings,âsaidJimmy.âIâdgottosaysomethingtogetholdofyou.Comeon,Billiswaitingforusinthelibrary.Thereâsnobodythere.â
Billwasstridingupanddownthelibrary,clearlyinaveryperturbedstateofmind.
âLookhere,âheburstout,âIdonâtlikethis.â
âDonâtlikewhat?â
âYoubeingmixedupinthis.Tentoonethereâsgoingtobearoughhouseandthenââ
HelookedatherwithakindofpatheticdismaythatgaveBundleawarmandcomfortablefeeling.
âSheoughttobekeptoutofit,oughtnâtshe,Jimmy?â
Heappealedtotheother.
âIâvetoldherso,âsaidJimmy.
âDashitall,Bundle,Imeanâsomeonemightgethurt.â
BundleturnedroundtoJimmy.
âHowmuchhaveyoutoldhim?â
âOh!everything.â
âIhavenâtgotthehangofitallyet,âconfessedBill.âYouinthatplaceinSevenDialsandallthat.âHelookedatherunhappily.âIsay,Bundle,Iwishyouwouldnât.â
âWouldnâtwhat?â
âGetmixedupinthesesortofthings.â
âWhynot?âsaidBundle.âTheyâreexciting.â
âOh,yesâexciting.Buttheymaybedamnablydangerous.LookatpooroldRonny.â
âYes,â said Bundle. âIf it hadnât been for your friend Ronny, I donâtsupposeIshouldeverhavegotwhatyoucallâmixedupâinthisthing.ButIam.Anditâsnoearthlyuseyourbleatingaboutit.â
âIknowyouârethemostfrightfulsport,Bundle,butââ
âCutoutthecompliments.Letâsmakeplans.â
Toherrelief,Billreactedfavourablytothesuggestion.
âYouâre right about the formula,â he said. âEberhardâs got some sort offormulawithhim,orratherSirOswaldhas.Thestuffhasbeentestedoutathis worksâvery secretly and all that. Eberhard has been down there withhim. Theyâre all in the study nowâwhat you might call coming down tobrasstacks.â
âHowlongisSirStanleyDigbystaying?âaskedJimmy.
âGoingbacktotowntomorrow.â
âHâm,â said Jimmy. âThen one thingâs quite clear. If, as I suppose, SirStanleywillbetakingtheformulawithhim,anyfunnybusinessthereâsgoingtobewillbetonight.â
âIsupposeitwill.â
âNotadoubtofit.Thatnarrowsthethingdownverycomfortably.Butthebrightladswillhavetobetheirverybrightest.Wemustcomedowntodetails.Firstofall,wherewillthesacredformulabetonight?WillEberhardhaveit,orSirOswaldCoote?â
âNeither. I understand itâs to be handed over to the Air Minister thisevening,forhimtotaketotowntomorrow.InthatcaseOâRourkewillhaveit.Sureto.â
âWell,thereâsonlyonethingforit.Ifwebelievesomeoneâsgoingtohaveashotatpinchingthatpaper,weâvegottokeepwatchtonight,Bill,myboy.â
Bundleopenedhermouthas thoughtoprotest,butshut itagainwithoutspeaking.
âBy the way,â continued Jimmy, âdid I recognize the commissionairefromHarrodsinthehallthisevening,orwasitouroldfriendLestradefromScotlandYard?â
âScintillating,Watson,âsaidBill.
âIsuppose,âsaidJimmy,âthatweareratherbuttinginonhispreserves.â
âCanâtbehelped,âsaidBill.âNotifwemeantoseethisthingthrough.â
âThenitâsagreed,âsaidJimmy.âWedividethenightintotwowatches?â
AgainBundleopenedhermouth,andagainshutitwithoutspeaking.
âRightyouare,âagreedBill.âWhoâlltakefirstduty?â
âShallwespinforit?â
âMightaswell.â
âAllright.Heregoes.HeadsyoufirstandIsecond.Tails,viceversa.â
Billnodded.Thecoinspunintheair.Jimmybenttolookatit.
âTails,âhesaid.
âDamn,âsaidBill.âYougetfirsthalfandprobablyanyfunthatâsgoing.â
âOh,youneverknow,âsaidJimmy.âCriminalsareveryuncertain.WhattimeshallIwakeyou?Three?â
âThatâsaboutfair,Ithink.â
Andnow,atlast,Bundlespoke:
âWhataboutme?âsheasked.
âNothingdoing.Yougotobedandsleep.â
âOh!âsaidBundle.âThatâsnotveryexciting.â
âYou never know,â said Jimmy kindly. âYoumay bemurdered in yoursleepwhileBillandIescapescot-free.â
âWell, thereâsalways thatpossibility.Doyouknow, Jimmy, Idonâthalflikethelookofthatcountess.Isuspecther.â
âNonsense,âcriedBillyhotly.âSheâsabsolutelyabovesuspicion.â
âHowdoyouknow?âretortedBundle.
âBecause I do. Why, one of the fellows at the Hungarian Embassyvouchedforher.â
âOh!âsaidBundle,momentarilytakenabackbyhisfervour.
âYou girls are all the same,â grumbledBill. âJust because sheâs a jollygood-lookingwomanââ
Bundlewas only toowell-acquaintedwith this unfairmasculine line ofargument.
âWell, donât you go and pour confidences into her shell-pink ear,â sheremarked. âIâmgoing tobed. Iwasbored stiffwith thatdrawing roomandIâmnotgoingback.â
Shelefttheroom.BilllookedatJimmy.
âGoodoldBundle,âhesaid.âIwasafraidwemighthavetroublewithher.Youknowhowkeensheistobeineverything.Ithinkthewayshetookitwasjustwonderful.â
âSodidI,âsaidJimmy.âItstaggeredme.â
âSheâs got some sense, Bundle has. She knows when a thingâs plumbimpossible.Isay,oughtnâtwetohavesomelethalweapons?Chapsusuallydowhentheyâregoingonthissortofstunt.â
âIhaveabluenosedautomatic,âsaidJimmywithgentlepride.âItweighsseveralpoundsand looksmostdangerous. Iâll lend it toyouwhen the time
comes.â
Billlookedathimwithrespectandenvy.
âWhatmadeyouthinkofgettingthat?âhesaid.
âIdonâtknow,âsaidJimmycarelessly.âItjustcametome.â
âIhopewe shanâtgoand shoot thewrongperson,â saidBillwith someanxiety.
âThatwouldbeunfortunate,âsaidMr.Thesigergravely.
OceanofPDF.com
Eighteen
JIMMYâSADVENTURES
Ourchroniclemustheresplitintothreeseparateanddistinctportions.Thenightwastoproveaneventfuloneandeachofthethreepersonsinvolvedsawitfromhisorherownindividualangle.
We will begin with that pleasant and engaging youth, Mr. JimmyThesiger,atamomentwhenhehasatlastexchangedfinalgoodnightswithhisfellowconspirator,BillEversleigh.
âDonâtforget,âsaidBill,âthreea.m.Ifyouârestillalive,thatis,âheaddedkindly.
âI may be an ass,â said Jimmy, with rancorous remembrance of theremarkBundlehadrepeatedtohim,âbutIâmnotnearlysomuchofanassasIlook.â
âThatâs what you said about Gerry Wade,â said Bill slowly. âDo youremember?Andthatverynightheââ
âShutup,youdamnedfool,âsaidJimmy.âHavenâtyougotanytact?â
âOf course Iâve got tact,â said Bill. âIâm a budding diplomatist. Alldiplomatistshavetact.â
âAh!âsaidJimmy.âYoumustbestillinwhattheycallthelarvalstage.â
âIcanâtgetoverBundle,âsaidBill,revertingabruptlytoaformertopic.âIshouldcertainlyhavesaidthatsheâdbeâwell,difficult.Bundleâsimproved.Sheâsimprovedverymuch.â
âThatâs what your Chief was saying,â said Jimmy. âHe said he wasagreeablysurprised.â
âI thought Bundle was laying it on a bit thickmyself,â said Bill. âButCodders is such an ass heâd swallow anything.Well, night-night. I expectyouâllhaveabitofajobwakingmewhenthetimescomesâbutsticktoit.â
âItwonâtbemuchgoodifyouâvetakenaleafoutofGerryWadeâsbook,âsaidJimmymaliciously.
Billlookedathimreproachfully.
âWhatthehelldoyouwanttogoandmakeachapuncomfortablefor?âhedemanded.
âIâmonlygettingmyownback,âsaidJimmy.âToddlealong.â
ButBill lingered.Hestooduncomfortably, firstononefootand thenontheother.
âLookhere,âhesaid.
âYes?â
âWhatImeantosayisâwell,Imeanyouâllbeallrightandallthat,wonâtyou?ItâsallverywellraggingbutwhenIthinkofpoorGerryâandthenpooroldRonnyââ
Jimmy gazed at him in exasperation. Bill was one of those whoundoubtedlymeantwell,but theresultofhiseffortswouldnotbedescribedasheartening.
âIsee,âheremarked,âthatIshallhavetoshowyouLeopold.â
Heslippedhishandintothepocketofthedark-bluesuitintowhichhehadjustchangedandheldoutsomethingforBillâsinspection.
âAreal,genuine,bluenosedautomatic,âhesaidwithmodestpride.
âNo.Isay,âsaidBill,âisitreally?â
Hewasundoubtedlyimpressed.
âStevens,myman,gothimforme.Warrantedcleanandmethodicalinhishabits.YoupressthebuttonandLeopolddoestherest.â
âOh!âsaidBill.âIsay,Jimmy?â
âYes?â
âBe careful, wonât you? I mean, donât go loosing that thing off atanybody.PrettyawkwardifyoushotoldDigbywalkinginhissleep.â
âThatâsall right,âsaidJimmy.âNaturally, Iwant togetvalueoutofoldLeopoldnowIâveboughthim,butIâllcurbmybloodthirstyinstinctsasfaras
possible.â
âWell,night-night,âsaidBillforthefourteenthtime,andthistimereallydiddepart.
Jimmywasleftalonetotakeuphisvigil.
SirStanleyDigbyoccupiedaroomattheextremityofthewestwing.Abathroomadjoineditononeside,andontheotheracommunicatingdoorledintoasmallerroom,whichwastenantedbyMr.TerenceOâRourke.Thedoorsof these three roomsgaveon to a short corridor.Thewatcherhada simpletask.Achairplacedinconspicuouslyintheshadowofanoakpressjustwherethecorridorranintothemaingalleryformedaperfectvantageground.Therewasnootherwayintothewestwing,andanyonegoingtoorfromitcouldnotfailtobeseen.Oneelectriclightwasstillon.
Jimmy ensconced himself comfortably, crossed his legs and waited.Leopoldlayinreadinessacrosshisknee.
Heglancedathiswatch.Itwastwentyminutestooneâjustanhoursincethehouseholdhadretiredtorest.Notasoundbrokethestillness,exceptforthefar-offtickingofaclocksomewhere.
Somehowor other, Jimmydidnotmuch care for that sound. It recalledthings.GeraldWadeâandthoseseventickingclocksonthemantelpiece...Whosehandhadplacedthemthere,andwhy?Heshivered.
It was a creepy business, this waiting. He didnât wonder that thingshappenedatspiritualisticsĂ©ances.Sittinginthegloom,onegotallworkedupâready to start at the least sound. And unpleasant thoughts came in on afellow.
RonnyDevereux!RonnyDevereux andGerryWade!Both young, bothfullof lifeandenergy;ordinary, jolly,healthyyoungmen.Andnow,wherewerethey?Dankearth...wormsgettingthem...Ugh!whycouldnâtheputthesehorriblethoughtsoutofhismind?
He looked again at his watch. Twentyminutes past one only. How thetimecrawled.
Extraordinarygirl,Bundle!FancyhavingthenerveanddaringactuallytogetintothemidstofthatSevenDialsplace.Whyhadnâthehadthenerveandinitiativetothinkofthat?Hesupposedbecausethethingwassofantastic.
No7.WhothehellcouldNo7be?Washe,perhaps,inthehouseatthisminute?Disguisedasaservant.Hecouldnât,surely,beoneoftheguests.No,thatwas impossible.But then, thewhole thingwas impossible. IfhehadnâtbelievedBundle tobeessentially truthfulâwell,hewouldhave thoughtshehadinventedthewholething.
Heyawned.Queer,tofeelsleepy,andyetatthesametimestrungup.Helookedagainathiswatch.Tenminutestotwo.Timewasgettingon.
Andthen,suddenly,heheldhisbreathandleanedforward,listening.Hehadheardsomething.
Theminuteswentpast. . .Thereitwasagain.Thecreakofaboard. . .But it came from downstairs somewhere. There it was again! A slight,ominouscreak.Somebodywasmovingstealthilyaboutthehouse.
Jimmysprangnoiselesslytohisfeet.Hecreptsilentlytotheheadofthestaircase.Everythingseemedperfectlyquiet.Yethewasquitecertainhehadreallyheardthatstealthysound.Itwasnotimagination.
Veryquietlyandcautiouslyhecreptdownthestaircase,Leopoldclaspedtightlyinhisrighthand.Notasoundinthebighall.Ifhehadbeencorrectinassumingthatthemuffledsoundcamefromdirectlybeneathhim,thenitmusthavecomefromthelibrary.
Jimmystoletothedoorofit, listened,butheardnothing;then,suddenlyflingingopenthedoor,heswitchedonthelights.
Nothing!Thebigroomwasfloodedwithlight.Butitwasempty.
Jimmyfrowned.
âIcouldhaveswornââhemurmuredtohimself.
Thelibrarywasalargeroomwiththreewindowswhichopenedontotheterrace.Jimmystrodeacrosstheroom.Themiddlewindowwasunlatched.
Heopeneditandsteppedoutontotheterrace,lookingfromendtoendofit.Nothing!
âLooksallright,âhemurmuredtohimself.âAndyetââ
Heremainedforaminutelostinthought.Thenhesteppedbackintothelibrary.Crossingtothedoor,helockeditandputthekeyinhispocket.Thenheswitchedoffthelight.Hestoodforaminutelistening,thencrossedsoftly
totheopenwindowandstoodthere,Leopoldreadyinhishand.
Wasthere,orwastherenot,asoftpatteroffeetalongtheterrace?Noâhisimagination.HegraspedLeopoldtightlyandstoodlistening....
Inthedistanceastableclockchimedtwo.
OceanofPDF.com
Nineteen
BUNDLEâSADVENTURES
BundleBrentwasaresourcefulgirlâshewasalsoagirlofimagination.Shehad foreseen that Bill, if not Jimmy, would make objections to herparticipationinthepossibledangersofthenight.ItwasnotBundleâsideatowaste time in argument. She had laid her own plans and made her ownarrangements.Aglancefromherbedroomwindowshortlybeforedinnerhadbeen highly satisfactory. She had known that the grey walls of the Abbeywere plentifully adorned with ivy, but the ivy outside her window wasparticularly solid looking and would present no difficulties to one of herathleticpropensities.
Shehadno fault to findwithBillâs and Jimmyâsarrangements as far asthey went. But in her opinion they did not go far enough. She offered nocriticism,because she intended to see to that sideof thingsherself.Briefly,whileJimmyandBillweredevoting themselves to the insideof theAbbey,Bundleintendedtodevoteherattentionstotheoutside.
HerownmeekacquiescenceinthetamerĂŽleassignedtohergaveheraninfinity of pleasure, though shewondered scornfully how either of the twomencouldbesoeasilydeceived.Bill,ofcourse,hadneverbeenfamousforscintillating brain power.On the other hand, he knew, or should know, hisBundle. And she considered that Jimmy Thesiger, though only slightlyacquainted with her, ought to have known better than to imagine that shecouldbesoeasilyandsummarilydisposedof.
Once in theprivacyofherown room,Bundle set rapidly towork.Firstshe discarded her evening dress and the negligible trifle which she worebeneath it,andstartedagain, so tospeak, fromthe foundations.Bundlehadnot brought hermaidwith her, and she had packed herself. Otherwise, thepuzzled Frenchwoman might have wondered why her lady took a pair ofridingbreechesandnofurtherequineequipment.
Arrayed in riding breeches, rubber-soled shoes, and a dark-coloured
pullover,Bundlewas ready for the fray.Sheglanced at the time.Asyet, itwasonlyhalfpast twelve.Tooearlyby far.Whateverwasgoing tohappenwouldnothappenforsometimeyet.Theoccupantsofthehousemustallbegiventimetogetofftosleep.HalfpastonewasthetimefixedbyBundleforthestartofoperations.
Sheswitchedoffherlightandsatdownbythewindowtowait.Punctuallyattheappointedmoment,sherose,pushedupthesashandswungherlegoverthe sill.Thenightwasa fineone, coldand still.Therewas starlightbutnomoon.
Shefoundthedescentveryeasy.BundleandhertwosistershadrunwildintheparkatChimneysassmallchildren,andtheycouldallclimblikecats.Bundlearrivedonaflowerbed,ratherbreathless,butquiteunscathed.
Shepausedaminutetotakestockofherplans.Sheknewthattheroomsoccupied by theAirMinister and his secretarywere in thewestwing; thatwastheoppositesideofthehousefromwhereBundlewasnowstanding.Aterraceranalongthesouthandwestsideofthehouse,endingabruptlyagainstawalledfruitgarden.
Bundlesteppedoutofherflowerbedandturnedthecornerofthehousetowhere 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 secondcorner,shegotashock,foramanwasstandingthere,withtheclearintentionofbarringherway.
Thenextinstantshehadrecognizedhim.
âSuperintendentBattle!Youdidgivemeafright!â
âThatâswhatIâmherefor,âsaidtheSuperintendentpleasantly.
Bundle looked at him. It struck her now, as so often before, howremarkablylittlecamouflagetherewasabouthim.Hewaslargeandsolidandnoticeable. He was, somehow, very English. But of one thing Bundle wasquitesure.SuperintendentBattlewasnofool.
âWhatareyoureallydoinghere?âsheasked,stillinawhisper.
âJustseeing,âsaidBattle,âthatnobodyâsaboutwhoshouldnâtbe.â
âOh!âsaidBundle,rathertakenaback.
âYou,forinstance,LadyEileen.Idonâtsupposeyouusuallytakeawalkatthistimeofnight.â
âDoyoumean,âsaidBundleslowly,âthatyouwantmetogoback?â
SuperintendentBattlenoddedapprovingly.
âYouâreveryquick,LadyEileen.ThatâsjustwhatIdomean.Didyouâerâcomeoutofadoor,orthewindow?â
âThewindow.Itâseasyasanythingclimbingdownthisivy.â
SupertintendentBattlelookedupatitthoughtfully.
âYes,âhesaid.âIshouldsayitwouldbe.â
âAndyouwantmetogoback?âsaidBundle.âIâmrathersickaboutthat.Iwantedtogoroundontothewestterrace.â
âPerhapsyouwonâtbetheonlyonewhoâllwanttodothat,âsaidBattle.
âNobodycouldmissseeingyou,âsaidBundleratherspitefully.
TheSuperintendentseemedratherpleasedthanotherwise.
âIhopetheywonât,âhesaid.âNounpleasantness.Thatâsmymotto.Andif youâll excuseme, LadyEileen, I think itâs time youwere going back tobed.â
The firmness of his tone admitted no parley.Rather crestfallen, Bundleretracedhersteps.Shewashalfwayuptheivywhenasuddenideaoccurredtoher,andshenearlyrelaxedhergripandfell.
SupposingSuperintendentBattlesuspectedher.
Therehadbeensomethingâyes, surely therehadbeensomething inhismanner that vaguely suggested the idea. She couldnât help laughing as shecrawled over the sill into her bedroom. Fancy the solid Superintendentsuspectingher!
ThoughshehadsofarobeyedBattleâsordersastoreturningtoherroom,Bundlehadnointentionofgoingtobedandsleeping.NordidshethinkthatBattle had really intended her to do so. He was not a man to expectimpossibilities.AndtoremainquiescentwhensomethingdaringandexcitingmightbegoingonwasasheerimpossibilitytoBundle.
Sheglancedatherwatch. Itwas tenminutes to two.Afteramomentor
twoofirresolution,shecautiouslyopenedherdoor.Notasound.Everythingwasstillandpeaceful.Shestolecautiouslyalongthepassage.
Once shehalted, thinking sheheard aboard creak somewhere, but thenconvincedthatshewasmistaken,shewentonagain.Shewasnowinthemaincorridor, making her way to the west wing. She reached the angle ofintersectionandpeeredcautiouslyroundâthenshestaredinblanksurprise.
Thewatcherâspostwasempty.JimmyThesigerwasnotthere.
Bundle stared in complete amazement. What had happened? Why hadJimmylefthispost?Whatdiditmean?
Atthatmomentsheheardaclockstriketwo.
Shewasstillstandingthere,debatingwhattodonext,whensuddenlyherheartgavealeapandthenseemedtostandstill.ThedoorhandleofTerenceOâRourkeâsroomwasslowlyturning.
Bundlewatched,fascinated.Butthedoordidnotopen.Insteadtheknobturnedslowlytoitsoriginalposition.Whatdiditmean?
SuddenlyBundlecametoaresolution.Jimmy,forsomeunknownreason,haddesertedhispost.ShemustgetholdofBill.
Quickly and noiselessly, Bundle fled along theway she had come. SheburstunceremoniouslyintoBillâsroom.
âBill,wakeup!Oh,dowakeup!â
Itwasanurgentwhispershesentforth,buttherecamenoresponsetoit.
âBill,âbreathedBundle.
Impatientlysheswitchedonthelights,andthenstooddumbfounded.
Theroomwasempty,andthebedhadnotevenbeensleptin.
WherethenwasBill?
Suddenly she caught her breath. This was not Billâs room. The daintynegligĂ©ethrownoverachair,thefeminineknickknacksonthedressingtable,theblackvelveteveningdressthrowncarelesslyoverachairâOfcourse,inherhasteshehadmistakenthedoors.ThiswastheCountessRadzkyâsroom.
Butwhere,ohwhere,wasthecountess?
And just as Bundlewas asking herself this question, the silence of thenightwassuddenlybroken,andinnouncertainmanner.
Theclamourcamefrombelow.InaninstantBundlehadspedoutof theCountessâs room and downstairs. The sounds came from the libraryâaviolentcrashingofchairsbeingoverturned.
Bundle rattled vainly at the library door. It was locked. But she couldclearlyhearthestrugglethatwasgoingonwithinâthepantingandscuffling,curses inmany tones, the occasional crash as some light piece of furniturecameintothelineofbattle.
And then, sinister anddistinct,breaking thepeaceof thenight forgoodandall,twoshotsinrapidsuccession.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty
LORAINEâSADVENTURES
LoraineWade sat up in bed and switched on the light. Itwas exactly tenminutestoone.Shehadgonetobedearlyâathalfpastnine.Shepossessedtheusefulartofbeingabletowakeherselfupattherequiredtime,soshehadbeenabletoenjoysomehoursofrefreshingsleep.
Twodogssleptintheroomwithher,andoneofthesenowraisedhisheadandlookedatherinquiringly.
âQuiet, Lurcher,â said Loraine, and the big animal put his head downagainobediently,watchingherfrombetweenhisshaggyeyelashes.
ItistruethatBundlehadoncedoubtedthemeeknessofLoraineWade,butthat briefmoment of suspicion had passed.Loraine had seemed so entirelyreasonable,sowillingtobekeptoutofeverything.
Andyet,ifyoustudiedthegirlâsface,yousawthattherewasstrengthofpurposeinthesmall,resolutejawandthelipsthatclosedtogethersofirmly.
Loraineroseanddressedherselfinatweedcoatandskirt.Intoonepocketofthecoatshedroppedanelectrictorch.Thensheopenedthedrawerofherdressing table and took out a small ivory-handled pistolâalmost a toy inappearance. She had bought it the day before atHarrods and shewas verypleasedwithit.
She gave a final glance round the room to see if she had forgottenanything,andatthatmomentthebigdogroseandcameovertoher,lookingupatherwithpleadingeyesandwaggingitstail.
âNo,Lurcher.Canâtgo.Missuscanâttakeyou.Gottostayhereandbeagoodboy.â
She dropped a kiss on the dogâs head, made him lie down on his rugagain,andthenslippednoiselesslyoutof theroom,closingthedoorbehindher.
Sheletherselfoutofthehousebyasidedoorandmadeherwayroundtothe garage, where her little two-seater car was in readiness. There was agentleslope,andsheletthecarrunsilentlydownit,notstartingtheenginetillshewassomewayfromthehouse.Thensheglancedatthewatchonherarmandpressedherfootdownontheaccelerator.
She left thecarataspotshehadpreviouslymarkeddown.Therewasagapthereinthefencingthatshecouldeasilygetthrough.Afewminuteslater,slightlymuddy,LorainestoodinsidethegroundsofWyvernAbbey.
Asnoiselesslyaspossible,shemadeherwaytowardsthevenerableivy-colouredbuilding.Inthedistanceastableclockchimedtwo.
Loraineâsheartbeatfasterasshedrewnear to the terrace.Therewasnoone aboutâno sign of life anywhere. Everything seemed peaceful andundisturbed.Shereachedtheterraceandstoodthere,lookingabouther.
Suddenly, without the least warning, something from above fell with aflopalmostather feet.Lorainestooped topick itup. Itwasabrownpaperpacket,looselywrapped.Holdingit,Lorainelookedup.
Therewasanopenwindowjustaboveherhead,andevenasshelookedalegswungoveritandamanbegantoclimbdowntheivy.
Lorainewaitednomore.Shetooktoherheelsandran,stillclaspingthebrownpaperpacket.
Behindher, thenoise of a struggle suddenlybrokeout.Ahoarsevoice:âLemmegoâ;anotherthatsheknewwell:âNotifIknowitâah,youwould,wouldyou?â
Still Loraine ranâblindly, as though panic-strickenâright round thecorneroftheterraceâandslapintothearmsofalarge,solidlybuiltman.
âThere,there,âsaidSuperintendentBattlekindly.
Lorainewasstrugglingtospeak.
âOh,quick!âoh,quick!Theyârekillingeachother.Oh,dobequick!â
Therewasasharpcrackofarevolvershotâandthenanother.
Superintendent Battle started to run. Loraine followed. Back round thecorneroftheterraceandalongtothelibrarywindow.Thewindowwasopen.
Battle stooped and switched on an electric torch. Loraine was closebehindhim,peeringoverhisshoulder.Shegavealittlesobbinggasp.
OnthethresholdofthewindowlayJimmyThesigerinwhatlookedlikeapoolofblood.Hisrightarmlaydanglinginacuriousposition.
Lorainegaveasharpcry.
âHeâsdead,âshewailed.âOh,JimmyâJimmyâheâsdead!â
âNow, now,â said SuperintendentBattle soothingly. âDonât you take onso.The young gentleman isnât dead, Iâll be bound. See if you can find thelightsandturnthemon.â
Loraineobeyed.Shestumbledacross the room, found theswitchby thedoorandpressed itdown.Theroomwasfloodedwith light.SuperintendentBattleutteredasighofrelief.
âItâsallrightâheâsonlyshotintherightarm.Heâsfaintedthroughlossofblood.Comeandgivemeahandwithhim.â
There was a pounding on the library door. Voices were heard, asking,expostulating,demanding.
Lorainelookeddoubtfullyatit.
âShallIâ?â
âNohurry,âsaidBattle.âWeâlllettheminpresently.Youcomeandgivemeahand.â
Lorainecameobediently.TheSuperintendenthadproducedalarge,cleanpocket handkerchief and was neatly bandaging the wounded manâs arm.Lorainehelpedhim.
âHeâllbeallright,âsaidtheSuperintendent.âDonâtyouworry.Asmanylivesascats,theseyoungfellows.Itwasnâtthelossofbloodknockedhimouteither.Hemusthavecaughthisheadacrackonthefloorashefell.â
Outside,theknockingonthedoorhadbecometremendous.ThevoiceofGeorgeLomax,furiouslyupraised,cameloudanddistinct:
âWhoisinthere?Openthedooratonce.â
SuperintendentBattlesighed.
âIsupposeweshallhaveto,âhesaid.âApity.â
Hiseyesdartedround,takinginthescene.AnautomaticlaybyJimmyâsside.TheSuperintendentpickeditupgingerly,holdingitverydelicately,andexaminedit.Hegruntedandlaiditonthetable.Thenhesteppedacrossandunlockedthedoor.
Severalpeoplefellintotheroom.Nearlyeverybodysaidsomethingatthesameminute.GeorgeLomax,splutteringwithobduratewordswhichrefusedtocomewithsufficientfluency,exclaimed:
âTheâtheâthe meaning of this? Ah! Itâs you, Superintendent; whatâshappened?Isayâwhathasâhappened?â
BillEversleighsaid;âMyGod!OldJimmy!âandstaredatthelimpfigureontheground.
LadyCoote,cladinaresplendentpurpledressinggown,criedout:âThepoor boy!â and swept past SuperintendentBattle to bend over the prostrateJimmyinamotherlyfashion.
Bundlesaid:âLoraine!â
HerrEberhardsaid:âGottimHimmel!âandotherwordsofthatnature.
SirStanleyDigbysaid:âMyGod,whatâsallthis?â
A housemaid said: âLook at the blood,â and screamedwith pleasurableexcitement.
Afootmansaid:âLor!â
The butler said,with a good dealmore bravery in hismanner than hadbeennoticeableafewminutesearlier:âNowthen,thiswonâtdo!âandwavedawayunderservants.
The efficientMr. Rupert Bateman said toGeorge: âShall we get rid ofsomeofthesepeople,sir?â
Thentheyalltookfreshbreath.
âIncredible!âsaidGeorgeLomax.âBattle,whathashappened?â
Battlegavehimalook,andGeorgeâsdiscreethabitsassumedtheirusualway.
âNow then,â he said, moving to the door, âeveryone go back to bed,please.Thereâsbeenaâerââ
âAlittleaccident,âsaidSuperintendentBattleeasily.
âAâerâanaccident.Ishallbemuchobligedifeveryonewillgobacktobed.â
Everyonewasclearlyreluctanttodoso.
âLadyCooteâpleaseââ
âThepoorboy,âsaidLadyCooteinamotherlyfashion.
She rose fromakneelingpositionwithgreat reluctance.Andas shedidso,Jimmystirredandsatup.
âHallo!âhesaidthickly.âWhatâsthematter?â
Helookedroundhimvacantlyforaminuteor twoandthenintelligencereturnedtohiseye.
âHaveyougothim?hedemandedeagerly.
âGotwho?â
âTheman.Climbeddown the ivy. Iwasby thewindow there.Grabbedhimandwehadnoendofaset-toââ
âOne of those nasty, murderous cat burglars,â said Lady Coote. âPoorboy.â
Jimmywaslookingroundhim.
âI sayâIâm afraidweâerâhavemade rather amess of things. Fellowwasasstrongasanoxandwewentfairlywaltzinground.â
Theconditionof theroomwasclearproofof thisstatement.Everythinglight and breakablewithin a range of twelve feet that could be brokenhadbeenbroken.
âAndwhathappenedthen?â
ButJimmywaslookingroundforsomething.
âWhereâsLeopold?Theprideofthebluenosedautomatics?â
Battleindicatedthepistolonthetable.
âIsthisyours,Mr.Thesiger?â
âThatâsright.ThatâslittleLeopold.Howmanyshotshavebeenfired?â
âOneshot.â
Jimmylookedchagrined.
âIâmdisappointed inLeopold,â hemurmured. âI canât have pressed thebuttonproperly,orheâdhavegoneonshooting.â
âWhoshotfirst?â
âIdid,Iâmafraid,âsaidJimmy.âYousee,themantwistedhimselfoutofmygraspsuddenly.IsawhimmakingforthewindowandIclosedmyfingerdownonLeopoldandlethimhaveit.Heturnedinthewindowandfiredatmeandâwell,IsupposeafterthatItookthecount.â
Herubbedhisheadratherruefully.
ButSirStanleyDigbywassuddenlyalert.
âClimbing down the ivy, you said? My God, Lomax, you donât thinktheyâvegotawaywithit?â
Herushedfromtheroom.Forsomecuriousreasonnobodyspokeduringhis absence. In a fewminutesSirStanley returned.His round, chubby facewaswhiteasdeath.
âMy God, Battle,â he said, âtheyâve got it. OâRourkeâs fast asleepâdrugged,Ithink.Icanâtwakehim.Andthepapershavevanished.â
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-one
THERECOVERYOFTHEFORMULA
âDerliebeGott!âsaidHerrEberhardinawhisper.
Hisfacehadgonechalkywhite.
GeorgeturnedafaceofdignifiedreproachonBattle.
âIsthistrue,Battle?Ileftallarrangementsinyourhands.â
The rock-like quality of the Superintendent showed out well. Not amuscleofhisfacemoved.
âThebestofusaredefeatedsometimes,sir,âhesaidquietly.
âThenyoumeanâyoureallymeanâthatthedocumentisgone?â
ButtoeveryoneâssurpriseSuperintendentBattleshookhishead.
âNo,no,Mr.Lomax, itâsnotsobadasyouthink.Everythingâsall right.Butyoucanâtlaythecreditforitatmydoor.Youâvegottothankthisyounglady.â
HeindicatedLoraine,whostaredathiminsurprise.Battlesteppedacrosstoherandgently took thebrownpaperparcelwhichshewasstillclutchingmechanically.
âIthink,Mr.Lomax,âhesaid,âthatyouwillfindwhatyouwanthere.â
SirStanleyDigby,quickerinactionthanGeorge,snatchedatthepackageand tore it open, investigating its contents eagerly.A sigh of relief escapedhimandhemoppedhisbrow.HerrEberhardfelluponthechildofhisbrainandclaspedittohisheart,whilstatorrentofGermanburstfromhim.
SirStanleyturnedtoLoraine,shakingherwarmlybythehand.
âMy dear young lady,â he said, âwe are infinitely obliged to you, I amsure.â
âYes,indeed,âsaidGeorge.âThoughIâerââ
He paused in some perplexity, staring at a young ladywhowas a totalstranger to him. Loraine looked appealingly at Jimmy, who came to therescue.
âWeâthisisMissWade.âsaidJimmy.âGeraldWadeâssister.â
âIndeed,âsaidGeorge,shakingherwarmlyby thehand.âMydearMissWade, Imust expressmy deep gratitude to you forwhat you have done. ImustconfessthatIdonotquiteseeââ
Hepauseddelicatelyandfourofthepersonspresentfeltthatexplanationsweregoingtobefraughtwithmuchdifficulty.SuperintendentBattlecametotherescue.
âPerhapsweâdbetternotgointothatjustnow,sir,âhesuggestedtactfully.
TheefficientMr.Batemancreatedafurtherdiversion.
âWouldnât itbewiseforsomeone tosee toOâRourke?Donâtyou think,sir,thatadoctorhadbetterbesentfor?â
âOf course,â said George. âOf course. Most remiss of us not to havethought of it before.â He looked towards Bill. âGet Dr. Cartwright on thetelephone.Askhimtocome.Justhint,ifyoucan,thatâerâdiscretionshouldbeobserved.â
Billwentoffonhiserrand.
âI will come up with you, Digby,â said George. âSomething, possibly,could be doneâmeasures should, perhaps, be takenâwhilst awaiting thearrivalofthedoctor.â
HelookedratherhelplesslyatRupertBateman.Efficiencyalwaysmakesitselffelt.ItwasPongowhowasreallyinchargeofthesituation.
âShallIcomeupwithyou,sir?â
George accepted the offer with relief. Here, he felt, was someone onwhom he could lean. He experienced that sense of complete trust in Mr.Batemanâsefficiencywhichcametoallthosewhoencounteredthatexcellentyoungman.
Thethreemenlefttheroomtogether.LadyCoote,murmuringindeeprichtones:âThepooryoungfellow.PerhapsIcoulddosomethingââhurriedafterthem.
âThatâs a very motherly woman,â observed the Superintendentthoughtfully.âAverymotherlywoman.Iwonderââ
Threepairsofeyeslookedathiminquiringly.
âIwaswondering,âsaidSuperintendentBattleslowly,âwhereSirOswaldCootemaybe.â
âOh!âgaspedLoraine.âDoyouthinkheâsbeenmurdered?â
Battleshookhisheadatherreproachfully.
âNoneedforanythingsomelodramatic,âhesaid.âNoâIratherthinkââ
He paused, his head on one side, listeningâone large hand raised toenjoinsilence.
Inanotherminutetheyallheardwhathissharperearshadbeenthefirsttonotice.Footstepscomingalongtheterraceoutside.Theyrangoutclearlywithnokindofsubterfugeaboutthem.Inanotherminutethewindowwasblockedbyabulkyfigurewhichstoodthereregardingthemandwhoconveyed,inanoddway,asenseofdominatingthesituation.
SirOswald, for itwas he, looked slowly from one face to another.Hiskeen eyes took in the details of the situation. Jimmy, with his roughlybandagedarm;Bundle,inhersomewhatanomalousattire;Loraine,aperfectstranger to him. His eyes came last to Superintendent Battle. He spokesharplyandcrisply.
âWhatâsbeenhappeninghere,officer?â
âAttemptedrobbery,sir.â
âAttemptedâeh?â
âThanks to this young lady,MissWade, the thieves failed to get awaywithit.â
âAh!â he said again, his scrutiny ended. âAnd now, officer,what aboutthis?â
HeheldoutasmallMauserpistolwhichhecarrieddelicatelybythebutt.
âWheredidyoufindthat,SirOswald?â
âOnthelawnoutside.Ipresumeitmusthavebeenthrowndownbyoneofthe thieves as he took to his heels. Iâve held it carefully, as I thought you
mightwishtoexamineitforfingerprints.â
âYouthinkofeverything,SirOswald,âsaidBattle.
Hetookthepistolfromtheother,handlingitwithequalcare,andlaiditdownonthetablebesideJimmyâsColt.
âAndnow,ifyouplease,âsaidSirOswald,âIshouldliketohearexactlywhatoccurred.â
SuperintendentBattlegaveabrief résuméof theeventsof thenight.SirOswaldfrownedthoughtfully.
âI understand,â he said sharply. âAfter wounding and disabling Mr.Thesiger, theman took tohisheelsand ran, throwingaway thepistolashedidso.WhatIcannotunderstandiswhynoonepursuedhim.â
âIt wasnât till we heard Mr. Thesigerâs story that we knew there wasanyonetopursue,âremarkedSuperintendentBattledryly.
âYoudidnâtâerâcatchsightofhimmakingoffasyouturnedthecorneroftheterrace?â
âNo, Imissedhimby just about forty seconds, I should say.Thereâsnomoon and heâd be invisible as soon as heâd left the terrace.Hemust haveleaptforitassoonasheâdfiredtheshot.â
âHâm,â said Sir Oswald. âI still think that a search should have beenorganized.Someoneelseshouldhavebeenpostedââ
âThere are three of my men in the grounds,â said the Superintendentquietly.
âOh!âSirOswaldseemedrathertakenaback.
âThey were told to hold and detain anyone attempting to leave thegrounds.â
âAndyetâtheyhavenâtdoneso?â
âAndyettheyhavenâtdoneso,âagreedBattlegravely.
SirOswaldlookedathimasthoughsomethinginthewordspuzzledhim.Hesaidsharply:
âAreyoutellingmeallthatyouknow,SuperintendentBattle?â
âAll that I knowâyes, Sir Oswald. What I think is a different matter.Maybe I think some rather curious thingsâbut until thinkingâs got yousomewhereitâsnousetalkingaboutit.â
âAndyet,âsaidSirOswaldslowly,âIshouldliketoknowwhatyouthink,SuperintendentBattle.â
âForone thing,sir, I think thereâsa lot toomuch ivyabout thisplaceâexcuseme,sir,youâvegotabitonyourcoatâyes,agreatdealtoomuchivy.Itcomplicatesthings.â
Sir Oswald stared at him, but any reply he might have contemplatedmakingwasarrestedbytheentranceofRupertBateman.
âOh, there you are, Sir Oswald. Iâm so glad. Lady Coote has justdiscoveredthatyouweremissingâandshehasbeeninsistinguponitthatyouhadbeenmurderedby the thieves. I really, think,SirOswald, that youhadbettercometoheratonce.Sheisterriblyupset.â
âMariaisanincrediblyfoolishwoman,âsaidSirOswald.âWhyshouldIbemurdered?Iâllcomewithyou,Bateman.â
Helefttheroomwithhissecretary.
âThatâs a very efficient young man,â said Battle, looking after them.âWhatâshisnameâBateman?â
Jimmynodded.
âBatemanâRupert,â he said. âCommonly known as Pongo. I was atschoolwithhim.â
âWereyou?Now,thatâsinteresting,Mr.Thesiger.Whatwasyouropinionofhiminthosedays?â
âOh,hewasalwaysthesamesortofass.â
âIshouldnâthavethought,âsaidBattlemildly,âthathewasanass.â
âOh,youknowwhatImean.Ofcoursehewasnâtreallyanass.Tonsofbrains and always swotting at things. But deadly serious. No sense ofhumour.â
âAh!âsaidSuperintendentBattle.âThatâsapity.Gentlemenwhohavenosense of humour get to taking themselves too seriouslyâand that leads to
mischief.â
âI canât imagine Pongo getting intomischief,â said Jimmy. âHeâs doneextremelywellforhimselfsofarâdughimself inwitholdCooteandlookslikebeingapermanencyinthejob.â
âSuperintendentBattle,âsaidBundle.
âYes,LadyEileen?â
âDonâtyouthinkitveryoddthatSirOswalddidnâtsaywhathewasdoingwanderingaboutinthegardeninthemiddleofthenight?â
âAh!â saidBattle. âSirOswaldâs a greatmanâand a greatman alwaysknowsbetterthantoexplainunlessanexplanationisdemanded.Torushintoexplanations and excuses is always a sign ofweakness. SirOswald knowsthataswellasIdo.Heâsnotgoingtocomeinexplainingandapologizingânot he. He just stalks in and haulsme over the coals. Heâs a bigman, SirOswald.â
Such a warm admiration sounded in the Superintendentâs tones thatBundlepursuedthesubjectnofurther.
âAnd now,â said Superintendent Battle, looking round with a slighttwinkleinhiseye,ânowthatweâretogetherandfriendlylikeâIshould liketohearjusthowMissWadehappenedtoarriveonthescenesopat.â
âSheoughttobeashamedofherself,âsaidJimmy.âHood-winkingusallasshedid.â
âWhyshouldIbekeptoutofitall?âcriedLorainepassionately.âInevermeant to beâno, not the very first day in your rooms when you bothexplainedhow thebest thing forme todowas to stayquietly at homeandkeepoutofdanger.Ididnâtsayanything,butImadeupmymindthen.â
âIhalfexpectedit,âsaidBundle.âYouweresosurprisinglymeekaboutit.Imighthaveknownyouwereuptosomething.â
âIthoughtyouwereremarkablysensible,âsaidJimmyThesiger.
âYouwould,Jimmydear,âsaidLoraine.âItwaseasyenoughtodeceiveyou.â
âThankyoufor thesekindwords,âsaidJimmy.âGoon,anddonâtmindme.â
âWhen you rang up and said there might be danger, I was moredetermined than ever,â went on Loraine. âI went to Harrods and bought apistol.Hereitis.â
Sheproduced thedaintyweaponandSuperintendentBattle took it fromherandexaminedit.
âQuiteadeadlylittletoy,MissWade,âhesaid.âHaveyouhadmuchâerâpracticewithit?â
âNoneatall,âsaidLoraine.âButIthoughtifItookitwithmeâwell,thatitwouldgivemeacomfortingfeeling.â
âQuiteso,âsaidBattlegravely.
âMyideawastocomeoverhereandseewhatwasgoingon.Ileftmycarintheroadandclimbedthroughthehedgeandcameuptotheterrace.Iwasjustlookingaboutmewhenâplopâsomethingfellrightatmyfeet.Ipickeditupandthenlookedtoseewhereitcouldhavecomefrom.AndthenIsawthemanclimbingdowntheivyandIran.â
âJust so,â said Battle. âNow,MissWade, can you describe the man atall?â
Thegirlshookherhead.
âItwastoodarktoseemuch.Ithinkhewasabigmanâbutthatâsaboutall.â
âAndnowyou,Mr.Thesiger.âBattleturnedtohim.âYoustruggledwiththemanâcanyoutellmeanythingabouthim?â
âHewas a pretty hefty individualâthatâs all I can say. He gave a fewhoarsewhispersâthatâswhen Ihadhimby the throat.Hesaid âLemmego,guvnor,âsomethinglikethat.â
âAnuneducatedman,then?â
âYes,Isupposehewas.Hespokelikeone.â
âI still donât quite understand about the packet,â said Loraine. âWhyshould he throw it down as he did? Was it because it hampered himclimbing?â
âNo,â saidBattle. âIâvegot an entirelydifferent theory about that.That
packet,MissWade,wasdeliberatelythrowndowntoyouâorsoIbelieve.â
âTome?â
âShallwesayâtothepersonthethiefthoughtyouwere.â
âThisisgettingveryinvolved,âsaidJimmy.
âMr.Thesiger,whenyoucameintothisroom,didyouswitchonthelightatall?â
âYes.â
âAndtherewasnooneintheroom?â
âNooneatall.â
âBut previously you thought you heard someone moving about downhere?â
âYes.â
âAndthen,aftertryingthewindow,youswitchedoffthelightagainandlockedthedoor?â
Jimmynodded.
SuperintendentBattlelookedslowlyaroundhim.HisglancewasarrestedbyabigscreenofSpanishleatherwhichstoodnearoneofthebookcases.
Brusquelyhestrodeacrosstheroomandlookedbehindit.
He uttered a sharp ejaculation, which brought the three young peoplequicklytohisside.
Huddledonthefoor,inadeadfaint,laytheCountessRadzky.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-two
THECOUNTESSRADZKYâSSTORY
The Countessâs return to consciousness was very different from that ofJimmyThesiger.Itwasmoreprolongedandinfinitelymoreartistic.
ArtisticwasBundleâsword.Shehadbeenzealousinherministrationsâlargely consisting of the application of cold waterâand the Countess hadinstantly responded, passing awhite, bewildered hand across her brow andmurmuringfaintly.
ItwasatthispointthatBill,atlastrelievedfromhisdutieswithtelephoneanddoctors,hadcomebustlingintotheroomandhadinstantlyproceededtomake(inBundleâsopinion)amostregrettableidiotofhimself.
Hehadhungover theCountesswith a concerned and anxious face andhadaddressedaseriesofsingularlyidioticremarkstoher:
âIsay,Countess.Itâsallright.Itâsreallyallright.Donâttrytotalk.Itâsbadforyou.Justliestill.Youâllbeallrightinaminute.Itâllallcomebacktoyou.Donâtsayanythingtillyouârequiteallright.Takeyourtime.Justliestillandcloseyoureyes.Youâllremembereverythinginaminute.Haveanothersipofwater.Havesomebrandy.Thatâsthestuff.Donâtyouthink,Bundle,thatsomebrandy...?â
âForGodâssake,Bill,leaveheralone,âsaidBundlecrossly.âSheâllbeallright.â
AndwithanexperthandsheflippedagooddealofcoldwaterontotheexquisitemakeupoftheCountessâsface.
The Countess flinched and sat up. She looked considerably more wideawake.
âAh!âshemurmured.âIamhere.Yes,Iamhere.â
âTakeyoutime,âsaidBill.âDonâttalktillyoufeelquiteallrightagain.â
TheCountessdrewthefoldsofaverytransparentnegligéecloseraroundher.
âItiscomingbacktome,âshemurmured.âYes,itiscomingback.â
Shelookedatthelittlecrowdgroupedaroundher.Perhapssomethinginthe attentive faces struck her as unsympathetic. In any case she smileddeliberately up at the one face which clearly displayed a very oppositeemotion.
âAh,mybigEnglishman,âshesaidverysoftly,âdonotdistressyourself.Alliswellwithme.â
âOh!Isay,butareyousure?âdemandedBillanxiously.
âQuite sure.âShe smiledathim reassuringly. âWeHungarians,wehavenervesofsteel.â
A look of intense relief passed over Billâs face. A fatuous look settleddownthereinsteadâalookwhichmadeBundleearnestlylongtokickhim.
âHavesomewater,âshesaidcoldly.
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 oncemore, this timewith aliveliereye.
âTellme,whathashappened?âshedemandedbriskly.
âWewerehopingyoumightbeable to tellus that,âsaidSuperintendentBattle.
TheCountesslookedathimsharply.Sheseemedtobecomeawareofthebig,quietmanforthefirsttime.
âIwent to your room,â saidBundle. âThe bed hadnât been slept in andyouwerenâtthere.â
She pausedâlooking accusingly at the Countess. The latter closed hereyesandnoddedherheadslowly.
âYes, yes, I remember it all now.Oh, it was horrible!â She shuddered.âDoyouwantmetotellyou?â
SuperintendentBattlesaid,âIfyoupleaseâat thesamemomentthatBill
said,âNotifyoudonâtfeeluptoit.â
TheCountesslookedfromonetotheother,butthequiet,masterfuleyeofSuperintendentBattlewonthegame.
âIcouldnotsleep,âbegantheCountess.âThehouseâitoppressedme.Iwasall,asyousay,onwires,thecatonthehotbricks.IknewthatinthestateIwas in itwasuseless to thinkofgoing tobed. Iwalkedaboutmyroom.Iread.Butthebooksplacedtheredidnotinterestmegreatly.IthoughtIwouldcomedownandfindsomethingmoreabsorbing.â
âVerynatural,âsaidBill.
âVeryoftendone,Ibelieve,âsaidBattle.
âSoassoonastheideaoccurredtome,I leftmyroomandcamedown.Thehousewasverystillââ
âExcuse me,â interrupted the Superintendent, âbut can you give me anideaofthetimewhenthisoccurred?â
âIneverknowthe time,âsaid theCountesssuperbly,andsweptonwithherstory.
âThehousewasveryquiet.Onecouldevenhear the littlemouserun, iftherehadbeenone.Icomedownthestairsâveryquietlyââ
âVeryquietly?â
âNaturally I do not want to disturb the household,â said the Countessreproachfully.âIcomeinhere.IgointothiscornerandIsearchtheshelvesforasuitablebook.â
âHavingofcourseswitchedonthelight?â
âNo,Ididnotswitchonthelight.Ihad,yousee,mylittleelectrictorchwithme.Withthat,Iscannedtheshelves.â
âAh!âsaidtheSuperintendent.
âSuddenly,â continued the Countess dramatically, âI hear something. Astealthy sound. A muffled footstep. I switch out my torch and listen. Thefootstepsdrawnearerâstealthy,horriblefootsteps.Ishrinkbehindthescreen.Inanotherminutethedooropensandthelightisswitchedon.Themanâtheburglarisintheroom.â
âYes,butIsayââbeganMr.Thesiger.
A large-sized foot pressed his, and realizing that Superintendent Battlewasgivinghimahint,Jimmyshutup.
âInearlydiedoffear,âcontinuedtheCountess.âItriednottobreathe.Themanwaitedforaminute,listening.Then,stillwiththathorrible,stealthytreadââ
AgainJimmyopenedhismouthinprotest,andagainshutit.
ââhe crossed to the window and peered out. He remained there for aminute or two, then he recrossed the room and turned out the lights again,lockingthedoor.Iamterrified.Heisintheroom,movingstealthilyaboutinthedark.Ah,itishorrible.Supposeheshouldcomeuponmeinthedark!Inanotherminute I hear him again by thewindow. Then silence. I hope thatperhapshemayhavegoneout thatway.As theminutespassand Ihearnofurthersound,Iamalmostsurethathehasdoneso.IndeedIamintheveryact of switching on my torch and investigating whenâprestissimo!âit allbegins.â
âYes?â
âAh!ButitwasterribleâneverânevershallIforgetit!Twomentryingtomurder eachother.Oh, itwashorrible!They reeledabout the room,andfurniture crashed in every direction. I thought, too, that I heard a womanscreamâbut that was not in the room. It was outside somewhere. Thecriminal had a hoarse voice.He croaked rather than spoke.He kept sayingâLemmegoâlemmego.âTheothermanwasagentleman.HehadaculturedEnglishvoice.â
Jimmylookedgratified.
âHesworeâmostly,âcontinuedtheCountess.
âClearlyagentleman,âsaidSuperintendentBattle.
âAndthen,âcontinuedtheCountess,âaflashandashot.Thebullethitthebookcasebesideme.IâIsupposeImusthavefainted.â
ShelookedupatBill.Hetookherhandandpattedit.
âYoupoordear,âhesaid.âHowrottenforyou.â
âSillyidiot,âthoughtBundle.
Superintendent Battle had moved on swift, noiseless feet over to thebookcasealittletotherightofthescreen.Hebentdown,searching.Presentlyhestoopedandpickedsomethingup.
âIt wasnât a bullet, Countess,â he said. âItâs the shell of the cartridge.Wherewereyoustandingwhenyoufired,Mr.Thesiger.â
Jimmytookupapositionbythewindow.
âAsnearlyasIcansee,abouthere.â
SuperintendentBattleplacedhimselfinthesamespot.
âThatâsright,âheagreed.âTheemptyshellwouldthrowrightrear.Itâsa.455.IdonâtwondertheCountessthoughtitwasabulletinthedark.Ithitthebookcase about a foot fromher. The bullet itself grazed thewindow frameand weâll find it outside tomorrowâunless your assailant happens to becarryingitaboutinhim.â
Jimmyshookhisheadregretfully.
âLeopold,Ifear,didnotcoverhimselfwithglory,âheremarkedsadly.
TheCountesswaslookingathimwithmostflatteringattention.
âYourarm!âsheexclaimed.âItisalltiedup!Wasityouthenâ?â
Jimmymadeheramockbow.
âIâm so glad Iâve got a cultured, English voice,â he said. âAnd I canassureyouthatIwouldnâthavedreamedofusingthelanguageIdidifIhadhadanysuspicionthataladywaspresent.â
âI did not understand all of it,â the Countess hastened to explain.âAlthoughIhadanEnglishgovernesswhenIwasyoungââ
âIt isnât the sort of thing sheâd be likely to teach you,â agreed Jimmy.âKept you busy with your uncleâs pen, and the umbrella of the gardenerâsniece.Iknowthesortofstuff.â
âButwhat has happened?â asked theCountess. âThat iswhat Iwant toknow.Idemandtoknowwhathashappened.â
TherewasamomentâssilencewhilsteverybodylookedatSuperintendentBattle.
âItâsverysimple,âsaidBattlemildly.âAttemptedrobbery.Somepolitical
papersstolenfromSirStanleyDigby.Thethievesnearlygotawaywiththem,butthankstothisyoungladyââheindicatedLoraineââtheydidnât.â
TheCountessflashedaglanceatthegirlâratheranoddglance.
âIndeed,âshesaidcoldly.
âA very fortunate coincidence that she happened to be there,â saidSuperintendentBattle,smiling.
TheCountessgavealittlesighandhalfclosedhereyesagain.
âItisabsurd,butIstillfeelextremelyfaint,âshemurmured.
âOfcourseyoudo,âcriedBill.âLetmehelpyouuptoyourroom.Bundlewillcomewithyou.â
âItisverykindofLadyEileen,âsaidtheCountess,âbutIshouldprefertobe alone. I am really quite all right. Perhaps you will just helpme up thestairs.â
Sherosetoherfeet,acceptedBillâsarmand,leaningheavilyonit,wentout of the room. Bundle followed as far as the hall, but, the Countessreiterating her assuranceâwith some tartnessâthat shewas quite all right,shedidnotaccompanythemupstairs.
But as she stood watching the Countessâs graceful form, supported byBill,slowlymountingthestairway,shestiffenedsuddenlytoacuteattention.TheCountessâsnegligĂ©e,aspreviouslymentioned,wasthinâamereveiloforange chiffon. Through it Bundle saw distinctly below the right shoulderbladeasmallblackmole.
Withagasp,Bundle swung impetuously round towhereSuperintendentBattlewas justemergingfromthe library.JimmyandLorainehadprecededhim.
âThere,âsaidBattle.âIâvefastened thewindowand therewillbeamanondutyoutside.AndIâlllockthedoorandtakethekey.InthemorningweâlldowhattheFrenchcallreconstructthecrimeâYes,LadyEileen,whatisit?â
âSuperintendentBattle,Imustspeakwithyou,âatonce.â
âWhy,certainly,Iââ
GeorgeLomaxsuddenlyappeared,Dr.Cartwrightbyhisside.
âAh,thereyouare,Battle.YouâllberelievedtohearthatthereâsnothingseriouslywrongwithOâRourke.â
âInever thought therewouldbemuchwrongwithMr.OâRourke,â saidBattle.
âHeâs had a strong hypodermic administered to him,â said the doctor.âHeâllwakeperfectlyallrightinthemorning,perhapsabitofahead,perhapsnot.Nowthen,youngman,letâslookatthisbulletwoundofyours.â
âComeon,nurse,âsaidJimmytoLoraine.âComeandhold thebasinormyhand.Witnessastrongmanâsagony.Youknowthestunt.â
Jimmy, Loraine and the doctor went off together. Bundle continued tothrow agonized glances in the direction of Superintendent Battle, who hadbeenbuttonholedbyGeorge.
The Superintendent waited patiently till a pause occurred in Georgeâsloquacity.Hethenswiftlytookadvantageofit.
âIwonder, sir, if ImighthaveawordprivatelywithSirStanley? In thelittlestudyattheendthere.â
âCertainly,âsaidGeorge.âCertainly.Iâllgoandfetchhimatonce.â
Hehurriedoffupstairsagain.BattledrewBundleswiftlyintothedrawingroomandshutthedoor.
âNow,LadyEileen,whatisit?â
âIâlltellyouasquicklyasIcanâbutitâsratherlongandcomplicated.â
As concisely as she could,Bundle relatedher introduction to theSevenDials Club and her subsequent adventures there. When she had finished,Superintendent Battle drew a long breath. For once, his facial woodennesswaslaidaside.
âRemarkable,âhesaid.âRemarkable.Iwouldnâthavebelieveditpossibleâevenforyou,LadyEileen.Ioughttohaveknownbetter.â
âButyoudidgivemeahint,SuperintendentBattle.You toldme toaskBillEversleigh.â
âItâsdangeroustogivepeoplelikeyouahint,LadyEileen.Ineverdreamtofyourgoingtothelengthsyouhave.â
âWell, itâs all right, SuperintendentBattle.Mydeath doesnât lie at yourdoor.â
âNotyet,itdoesnât,âsaidBattlegrimly.
Hestoodasthoughinthought,turningthingsoverinhismind.âWhatMr.Thesigerwas about, lettingyou run into danger like that, I canât think,â hesaidpresently.
âHedidnâtknowtillafterwards,âsaidBundle.âIâmnotacompletemug,SuperintendentBattle.And,anyway,heâsgothishandsfulllookingafterMissWade.â
âIsthatso?âsaidtheSuperintendent.âAh!â
Hetwinkledalittle.
âIshallhavetodetailMr.Eversleightolookafteryou,LadyEileen.â
âBill!â said Bundle contemptuously. âBut, Superintendent Battle, youhavenât heard the end ofmy story. Thewoman I saw thereâAnnaâNo1.Yes,No1istheCountessRadzky.â
Andrapidlyshewentontodescribeherrecognitionofthemole.
TohersurprisetheSuperintendenthemmedandhawed.
âAmoleisnâtmuchtogoupon,LadyEileen.Twowomenmighthaveanidenticalmoleveryeasily.YoumustrememberthattheCountessRadzkyisaverywell-knownfigureinHungary.â
âThen this isnât the realCountessRadzky. I tellyouIâmsure this is thesamewomanIsawthere.Andlookathertonightâthewaywefoundher.Idonâtbelievesheeverfaintedatall.â
âOh, I shouldnât say that, Lady Eileen. That empty shell striking thebookcasebesidehermighthavefrightenedanywomanhalfoutofherwits.â
âButwhatwasshedoingthereanyway?Onedoesnâtcomedowntolookforabookwithanelectrictorch.â
Battle scratched his cheek.He seemed unwilling to speak.He began topaceupanddowntheroom,asthoughmakinguphismind.Atlastheturnedtothegirl.
âSeehere,LadyEileen,Iâmgoingtotrustyou.TheCountessâsconductis
suspicious.Iknowthataswellasyoudo.Itâsverysuspiciousâbutweâvegottogocarefully.TheremustnâtbeanyunpleasantnesswiththeEmbassies.Onehasgottobesure.â
âIsee.Ifyouweresure...â
âThereâssomethingelse.During thewar,LadyEileen, therewasagreatoutcryaboutGermanspiesbeingleftatlarge.Busybodieswroteletterstothepapersabout it.Wepaidnoattention.Hardwordsdidnâthurtus.Thesmallfrywereleftalone.Why?Becausethroughthem,soonerorlater,wegotthebigfellowâthemanatthetop.â
âYoumean?â
âDonâtbotheraboutwhatImean,LadyEileen.Butrememberthis.IknowallabouttheCountess.AndIwantherletalone.â
âAnd now,â added Superintendent Battle ruefully, âIâve got to think ofsomethingtosaytoSirStanleyDigby!â
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-three
SUPERINTENDENTBATTLEINCHARGE
Itwastenoâclockonthefollowingmorning.Thesunpouredinthroughthewindowsof thelibrary,whereSuperintendentBattlehadbeenatworksincesix.Onasummonsfromhim,GeorgeLomax,SirOswaldCooteandJimmyThesigerhadjustjoinedhim,havingrepairedthefatiguesofthenightwithasubstantialbreakfast. Jimmyâsarmwas inasling,buthebore little traceofthenightâsaffray.
TheSuperintendent eyed all threeof thembenevolently, somewhatwiththe air of akindly curator explaining amuseum to little boys.On the tablebeside him were various objects, neatly labelled. Amongst them JimmyrecognizedLeopold.
âAh, Superintendent,â saidGeorge, âI have been anxious to know howyouhaveprogressed.Haveyoucaughttheman?â
âHeâlltakealotofcatching,hewill,âsaidtheSuperintendent.
Hisfailureinthatrespectdidnotappeartoranklewithhim.
GeorgeLomaxdidnot lookparticularlywell-pleased.Hedetested levityofanykind.
âIâvegoteverythingtapedoutprettyclearly,âwentonthedetective.
Hetookuptwoobjectsfromthetable.
âHere weâve got the two bullets. The largest is a .455, fired fromMr.ThesigerâsColtautomatic.GrazedthewindowsashandIfounditembeddedin the trunkof that cedar tree.This little fellowwas fired from theMauser.25. After passing through Mr. Thesigerâs arm, it embedded itself in thisarmchairhere.Asforthepistolitselfââ
âWell?âsaidSirOswaldeagerly.âAnyfingerprints?â
Battleshookhishead.
âThemanwhohandleditworegloves,âhesaidslowly.
âApity,âsaidSirOswald.
âA man who knew his business would wear gloves. Am I right inthinking,SirOswald,thatyoufoundthispistoljustabouttwentyyardsfromthebottomofthestepsleadinguptotheterrace?â
SirOswaldsteppedtothewindow.
âYes,almostexactly,Ishouldsay.â
âIdonâtwanttofindfault,butitwouldhavebeenwiseronyourpart,sir,toleaveitexactlyasyoufoundit.â
âIamsorry,âsaidSirOswaldstiffly.
âOh, it doesnâtmatter. Iâve been able to reconstruct things. Therewereyour footprints, you see, leading up from the bottom of the garden, and aplacewhereyouhadobviouslystoppedandstoopeddown,andakindofdentinthegrasswhichwashighlysuggestive.Bytheway,whatwasyourtheoryofthepistolbeingthere?â
âIpresumedthatithadbeendroppedbythemaninhisflight.â
Battleshookhishead.
âNot dropped. Sir Oswald. There are two points against that. To beginwith, thereareonlyonesetof footprintscrossing the lawn just thereâyourown.â
âIsee,âsaidSirOswaldthoughtfully.
âCanyoubesureofthat,Battle?âputinGeorge.
âQuitesure,sir.There isoneothersetof trackscrossing the lawn,MissWadeâs,buttheyareagooddealfurthertotheleft.â
Hepaused, and thenwenton: âAnd thereâs thedent in theground.Thepistolmusthavestruckthegroundwithsomeforce.Itallpointstoitshavingbeenthrown.â
âWell,whynot?âsaidSirOswald.âSaythemanfleddownthepathtotheleft.Heâdleavenofootprintsonthepathandheâdhurlthepistolawayfromhimintothemiddleofthelawn,eh,Lomax?â
Georgeagreedbyanodofthehead.
âItâstruethatheâdleavenofootprintsonthepath,âsaidBattle,âbutfromtheshapeofthedentandthewaytheturfwascut,Idonâtthinkthepistolwasthrownfromthatdirection.Ithinkitwasthrownfromtheterracehere.â
âVerylikely,âsaidSirOswald.âDoesitmatter,Superintendent?â
âAh,yes,Battle,âbrokeinGeorge.âIsitâerâstrictlyrelevant?â
âPerhapsnot,Mr.Lomax.Butwelike toget things justso,youknow.Iwondernowifoneofyougentlemenwouldtakethispistolandthrowit.Willyou,SirOswald?Thatâsverykind.Standjustthereinthewindow.Nowflingitintothemiddleofthelawn.â
Sir Oswald complied, sending the pistol flying through the air with apowerful sweep of his arm. Jimmy Thesiger drew near with breathlessinterest.TheSuperintendentlumberedoffafteritlikeawell-trainedretriever.Hereappearedwithabeamingface.
âThatâsit,sir.Justthesamekindofmark.Although,bytheway,yousentit a good ten yards farther. But then, youâre a very powerfully built man,arenâtyou,SirOswald?Excuseme,IthoughtIheardsomeoneatthedoor.â
TheSuperintendentâsearsmusthavebeenverymuchsharperthananyoneelseâs.Nobodyelsehadheardasound,butBattlewasprovedright,forLadyCootestoodoutside,amedicineglassinherhand.
âYourmedicine,Oswald,âshesaid,advancingintotheroom.âYouforgotitafterbreakfast.â
âIâmverybusy,Maria,âsaidSirOswald.âIdonâtwantmymedicine.â
âYou would never take it if it wasnât for me,â said his wife serenely,advancinguponhim.âYouârejustlikeanaughtylittleboy.Drinkitupnow.â
Andmeekly,obediently,thegreatsteelmagnatedrankitup!
LadyCootesmiledsadlyandsweetlyateveryone.
âAmIinterruptingyou?Areyouverybusy?Oh,lookatthoserevolvers.Nasty,noisy,murdering things.To think,Oswald, thatyoumighthavebeenshotbytheburglarlastnight.â
âYou must have been alarmed when you found he was missing, LadyCoote,âsaidBattle.
âI didnât think of it at first,â confessed Lady Coote. âThis poor boyhereââshe indicated Jimmyââbeing shotâand everything so dreadful, butsoexciting.ItwasnâttillMr.BatemanaskedmewhereSirOswaldwasthatIrememberedheâdgoneouthalfanhourbeforeforastroll.â
âSleepless,eh,SirOswald?âaskedBattle.
âIamusuallyanexcellentsleeper,âsaidSirOswald.âButImustconfessthat last night I felt unusually restless. I thought thenight airwoulddomegood.â
âYoucameoutthroughthiswindow,Isuppose?â
Wasithisfancy,ordidSirOswaldhesitateforamomentbeforereplying?
âYes.â
âInyourpumpstoo,âsaidLadyCoote,âinsteadofputtingthickshoeson.Whatwouldyoudowithoutmetolookafteryou?â
Sheshookherheadsadly.
âI think, Maria, if you donât mind leaving usâwe have still a lot todiscuss.â
âIknow,dear,Iâmjustgoing.â
Lady Coote withdrew, carrying the empty medicine glass as though itwereagobletoutofwhichshehadjustadministeredadeathpotion.
âWell, Battle,â said George Lomax, âit all seems clear enough. Yes,perfectlyclear.Themanfiresashot,disablingMr.Thesiger,flingsawaytheweapon,runsalongtheterraceanddownthegravelpath.â
âWhereheoughttohavebeencaughtbymymen,âputinBattle.
âYourmen,ifImaysayso,Battle,seemtohavebeensingularlyremiss.TheydidnâtseeMissWadecomein.If theycouldmisshercomingin, theycouldeasilymissthethiefgoingout.â
SuperintendentBattle opened hismouth to speak, then seemed to thinkbetterofit.JimmyThesigerlookedathimcuriously.HewouldhavegivenalottoknowjustwhatwasinSuperintendentBattleâsmind.
âMust have been a champion runner,â was all the Scotland Yard mancontentedhimselfwithsaying.
âHowdoyoumean,Battle?â
âJustwhatIsay,Mr.Lomax.Iwasroundthecorneroftheterracemyselfnot fifty seconds after the shot was fired. And for a man to run all thatdistance towardsmeandget round thecornerof thepathbefore Iappearedround the sideof thehouseâwell, as I say,hemusthavebeenachampionrunner.â
âIamatalosstounderstandyou,Battle.Youhavesomeideaofyourownwhich I havenot yetâerâgrasped.You say themandidnot go across thelawn,andnowyouhintâWhatexactlydoyouhint?Thatthemandidnotgodownthepath?Theninyouropinionâerâwheredidhego?â
Foranswer,SuperintendentBattlejerkedaneloquentthumbupwards.
âEh?âsaidGeorge.
TheSuperintendent jerkedharder thanever.George raisedhisheadandlookedattheceiling.
âUpthere,âsaidBattle.âUptheivyagain.â
âNonsense,Superintendent.Whatyouaresuggestingisimpossible.â
âNotatallimpossible,sir.Heâddoneitonce.Hecoulddoittwice.â
âIdonâtmeanimpossibleinthatsense.Butifthemanwantedtoescape,heâdneverboltbackintothehouse.â
âSafestplaceforhim,Mr.Lomax.â
âButMr.OâRourkeâsdoorwasstilllockedontheinsidewhenwecametohim.â
âAnd how did you get to him? Through Sir Stanleyâs room. Thatâs theway our man went. Lady Eileen tells me she saw the door knob of Mr.OâRourkeâsroommove.Thatwaswhenourfriendwasuptherethefirsttime.I suspect the key was under Mr. OâRourkeâs pillow. But his exit is clearenough the second timeâthrough the communicating door and throughSirStanleyâsroom,which,ofcourse,wasempty.Likeeveryoneelse,SirStanleyisrushingdownstairstothelibrary.Ourmanâsgotaclearcourse.â
âAndwheredidhegothen?â
SuperintendentBattleshruggedhisburlyshouldersandbecameevasive.
âPlentyofwaysopen.Intoanemptyroomontheothersideofthehouseanddowntheivyagainâoutthroughasidedoorâor,justpossibly,ifitwasaninsidejob,heâwell,stayedinthehouse.â
Georgelookedathiminshockedsurprise.
âReally, Battle, I shouldâI should feel it very deeply if one of myservantsâerâIhavethemostperfectrelianceonthemâitwoulddistressmeverymuchtohavetosuspectââ
âNobodyâsaskingyoutosuspectanyone,Mr.Lomax.Iâmjustputtingallthepossibilitiesbeforeyou.Theservantsmaybeallrightâprobablyare.â
âYouhavedisturbedme,âsaidGeorge.âYouhavedisturbedmegreatly.â
Hiseyesappearedmoreprotuberantthanever.
Todistracthim,Jimmypokeddelicatelyatacuriousblackenedobjectonthetable.
âWhatâsthis?âheasked.
âThatâsexhibitZ,âsaidBattle.âThelastofourlittlelot.Itis,orratherithasbeen,aglove.â
Hepickeditup,thecharredrelic,andmanipulateditwithpride.
âWheredidyoufindit?âaskedSirOswald.
Battlejerkedhisheadoverhisshoulder.
âIn thegrateânearlyburnt, but notquite.Queer looks as though it hadbeenchewedbyadog.â
âItmightpossiblybeMissWadeâs,â suggested Jimmy.âShehas severaldogs.â
TheSuperintendentshookhishead.
âThis isnât a ladyâs gloveâno, not even the large kind of loose gloveladieswearnowadays.Putiton,sir,amoment.â
HeadjustedtheblackenedobjectoverJimmyâshand.
âYouseeâitâslargeevenforyou.â
âDoyouattachimportancetothisdiscovery?âinquiredSirOswaldcoldly.
âYou never know, Sir Oswald, whatâs going to be important or what
isnât.â
TherewasasharptapatthedoorandBundleentered.
âIâmsosorry,âshesaidapologetically.âButFatherhas justrungup.HesaysImustcomehomebecauseeverybodyisworryinghim.â
Shepaused.
âYes,mydearEileen?âsaidGeorgeencouragingly,perceivingthat therewasmoretocome.
âIwouldnât have interrupted youâonly that I thought itmight perhapshavesomethingtodowithallthis.Yousee,whathasupsetFatheristhatoneofourfootmenismissing.Hewentoutlastnightandhasnâtcomeback.â
âWhat is themanâs name?â It was Sir Oswald who took up the cross-examination.
âJohnBauer.â
âAnEnglishman?â
âIbelievehecallshimselfaSwissâbutIthinkheâsaGerman.HespeaksEnglishperfectly,though.â
âAh!âSirOswalddrewinhisbreathwithalong,satisfiedhiss.âAndhehasbeenatChimneysâhowlong?â
âJustunderamonth.â
SirOswaldturnedtotheothertwo.
âHereisourmissingman.Youknow,Lomax,aswellasIdo,thatseveralforeignGovernmentsareafterthething.Irememberthemannowperfectlyâtall,well-drilledfellow.Cameaboutafortnightbeforeweleft.Aclevermove.Anynew servants herewould be closely scrutinized, but atChimneys, fivemilesawayââHedidnotfinishthesentence.
âYouthinktheplanwaslaidsolongbeforehand?â
âWhynot?There aremillions in that formula,Lomax.DoubtlessBauerhopedtogetaccesstomyprivatepapersatChimneys,andtolearnsomethingofforthcomingarrangementsfromthem.ItseemslikelythathemayhavehadanaccompliceinthishouseâsomeonewhoputhimwisetothelieofthelandandwhosawtothedopingofOâRourke.ButBauerwasthemanMissWade
sawclimbingdowntheivyâthebig,powerfulman.â
HeturnedtoSuperintendentBattle.
âBauerwas yourman, Superintendent.And, somehow or other, you lethimslipthroughyourfingers.â
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-four
BUNDLEWONDERS
TherewasnodoubtthatSuperintendentBattlewastakenaback.Hefingeredhischinthoughtfully.
âSirOswaldisright,Battle,âsaidGeorge.âThisistheman.Anyhopeofcatchinghim?â
âThere may be, sir. It certainly looksâwell, suspicious. Of course themanmayturnupagainâatChimneys,Imean.â
âDoyouthinkitlikely?â
âNo, it isnât,âconfessedBattle. âYes, it certainly looksas thoughBauerwere theman.But Icanâtquiteseehowhegot inandoutof thesegroundsunobserved.â
âIhavealreadytoldyoumyopinionofthemenyouposted,âsaidGeorge.âHopelessly inefficientâIdonâtmeantoblameyou,Superintendent,butââHispausewaseloquent.
âAh,well,âsaidBattlelightly,âmyshouldersarebroad.â
Heshookhisheadandsighed.
âImustgettothetelephoneatonce.Excuseme,gentlemen.Iâmsorry,Mr.LomaxâIfeelIâveratherbungledthisbusiness,Butitâsbeenpuzzling,morepuzzlingthanyouknow.â
Hestrodehurriedlyfromtheroom.
âComeintothegarden,âsaidBundletoJimmy.âIwanttotalktoyou.â
Theywent out together through thewindow. Jimmy stared down at thelawn,frowning.
âWhatâsthematter?âaskedBundle.
Jimmyexplainedthecircumstancesofthepistolthrowing.
âIâmwondering,âheended,âwhatwasinoldBattleâsmindwhenhegotCootetothrowthepistol.Something,Iâllswear.Anyhow,itlandedupabouttenyardsfartherthanitshouldhavedone.Youknow,Bundle,Battleâsadeepone.â
âHeâsanextraordinaryman,âsaidBundle.âIwant to tellyouabout lastnight.â
She retailed her conversation with the Superintendent. Jimmy listenedattentively.
âSotheCountessisNo1,âhesaidthoughtfully.âItallhangstogetherverywell. No 2âBauerâcomes over from Chimneys. He climbs up intoOâRourkeâs room, knowing that OâRourke has had a sleeping draughtadministeredtohimâbytheCountesssomehoworother.Thearrangementisthat he is to throw the papers to theCountess,whowill bewaiting below.Thensheâllnipbackthroughthelibraryanduptoherroom.IfBauerâscaughtleavingthegrounds,theyâllfindnothingonhim.Yes,itwasagoodplanâbutitwentwrong.No sooner is theCountess in the library than she hearsmecoming andhas to jumpbehind the screen. Jolly awkward for her, becauseshe canât warn her accomplice. No 2 pinches the papers, looks out of thewindow,sees,ashethinks,theCountesswaiting,pitchesthepapersdowntoherandproceedstoclimbdowntheivy,wherehefindsanastysurpriseintheshape of me waiting for him. Pretty nervy work for the Countess waitingbehindherscreen.Allthingsconsidered,shetoldaprettygoodstory.Yes,itallhangstogetherverywell.â
âToowell,âsaidBundledecidedly.
âEh?âsaidJimmysurprised.
âWhat about No 7âNo 7, who never appears, but lives in thebackground.TheCountessandBauer?No, itâsnot so simpleas that.Bauerwasherelastnight,yes.Buthewasonlyhereincasethingswentwrongâastheyhavedone.Hispart is thepartofscapegoat; todrawallattentionfromNo7âtheboss.â
âI say, Bundle,â said Jimmy anxiously, âyou havenât been reading toomuchsensationalliterature,haveyou?â
Bundlethrewhimaglanceofdignifiedreproach.
âWell,âsaidJimmy,âIâmnotyetliketheRedQueen.Icanâtbelievesiximpossiblethingsbeforebreakfast.â
âItâsafterbreakfast,âsaidBundle.
âOrevenafterbreakfast.Weâvegotaperfectlygoodhypothesiswhichfitsthe factsâandyouwonât have it at any price, simply because, like the oldriddle,youwanttomakethingsmoredifficult.â
âIâmsorry,âsaidBundle,âbut Iclingpassionately toamysteriousNo7beingamemberofthehouseparty.â
âWhatdoesBillthink?â
âBill,âsaidBundlecoldly,âisimpossible.â
âOh!â said Jimmy. âI suppose youâve told him about theCountess?Heoughttobewarned.Heavenknowswhatheâllgoblabbingaboutotherwise.â
âHe wonât hear a word against her,â said Bundle. âHeâsâoh, simplyidiotic.Iwishyouâddriveithometohimaboutthatmole.â
âYou forget I wasnât in the cupboard,â said Jimmy. âAnd anyway IâdrathernotarguewithBillabouthisladyfriendâsmole.Butsurelyhecanâtbesuchanassasnottoseethateverythingfitsin?â
âHeâs every kind of ass,â said Bundle bitterly. âYou made the greatestmistake,Jimmy,inevertellinghimatall.â
âIâmsorry,âsaidJimmy.âIdidnâtseeitatthetimeâbutIdonow.Iwasafool,butdashitall,oldBillââ
âYouknowwhatforeignadventuressesare,âsaidBundle.âHowtheygetholdofone.â
âAsamatteroffact,Idonât,âsaidJimmy.âOnehasnevertriedtogetholdofme.âAndhesighed.
Foramomentortwotherewassilence.Jimmywasturningthingsoverinhis mind. The more he thought about them the more unsatisfactory theyseemed.
âYousaythatBattlewantstheCountessleftalone,âhesaidatlast.
âYes.â
âTheideabeingthatthroughherhewillgetatsomeoneelse?â
Bundlenodded.
Jimmyfrowneddeeplyashetriedtoseewherethisled.ClearlyBattlehadsomeverydefiniteideainhismind.
âSir Stanley Digbywent up to town early thismorning, didnât he,â hesaid.
âYes.â
âOâRourkewithhim?â
âYes,Ithinkso.â
âYoudonâtthinkâno,thatâsimpossible.â
âWhat?â
âThatOâRourkecanbemixedupinthisinanyway.â
âItâspossible,âsaidBundlethoughtfully.âHeâsgotwhatonecallsaveryvividpersonality.No,itwouldnâtsurprisemeifâoh,totellthetruth,nothingwouldsurpriseme! In fact, thereâsonlyonepersonIâmreallysure isnâtNo7.â
âWhoâsthat?â
âSuperintendentBattle.â
âOh!IthoughtyouweregoingtosayGeorgeLomax.â
âSsh,herehecomes.â
Georgewas,indeed,bearingdownupontheminanunmistakablemanner.Jimmymadeanexcuseandslippedaway.GeorgesatdownbyBundle.
âMydearEileen,mustyoureallyleaveus?â
âWell,Fatherseemstohavegotthewindupratherbadly.IthinkIâdbettergohomeandholdhishand.â
âThis little handwill indeed be comforting,â saidGeorge, taking it andpressingitplayfully.âMydearEileen,IunderstandyourreasonsandIhonouryouforthem.Inthesedaysofchangedandunsettledconditionsââ
âHeâsoff,âthoughtBundledesperately.
ââwhen family life is at a premiumâall the old standards falling!âItbecomesourclasstosetanexampletoshowthatwe,atleast,areunaffected
bymodernconditions.TheycallustheDieHardsâIamproudofthetermâIrepeatIamproudoftheterm!Therearethingsthatshoulddiehardâdignity,beauty,modesty, thesanctityof family life, filial respectâwhodies if theseshalllive?AsIwassaying,mydearEileen,Ienvyyoutheprivilegesofyouryouth.Youth!Whatawonderfulthing!Whatawonderfulword!Andwedonot appreciate it until we grow toâerâmaturer years. I confess, my dearchild,thatIhaveinthepastbeendisappointedbyyourlevity.Iseenowthatitwasbutthecarelessandcharminglevityofachild.Iperceivenowtheseriousandearnestbeautyofyourmind.Youwillallowme,Ihope,tohelpyouwithyourreading?â
âOh,thankyou,âsaidBundlefaintly.
âAndyoumust never be afraidofme again. Iwas shockedwhenLadyCaterhamtoldmethatyoustoodinaweofme.IcanassureyouthatIamaveryhumdrumsortofperson.â
ThespectacleofGeorgebeingmodeststruckBundlespellbound.Georgecontinued:
âNeverbeshywithme,dearchild.Anddonotbeafraidofboringme.ItwillbeagreatdelighttometoâifImaysaysoâformyourbuddingmind.Iwillbeyourpoliticalmentor.Wehaveneverneededyoungwomenoftalentand charm in the Party more than we need them today. You may well bedestinedtofollowinthefootstepsofyouraunt,LadyCaterham.â
ThisawfulprospectknockedBundleoutcompletely.ShecouldonlystarehelplesslyatGeorge.Thisdidnotdiscouragehimâonthecontrary.Hismainobjection to women was that they talked toomuch. It was seldom that hefound what he considered a really good listener. He smiled benignly atBundle.
âThebutterflyemergingfromthechrysalis.Awonderfulpicture.Ihaveavery interestingworkonpolitical economy. Iwill look it outnow, andyoucantakeittoChimneyswithyou.Whenyouhavefinishedit,Iwilldiscussitwithyou.Donothesitatetowritetomeifanypointpuzzlesyou.IhavemanypublicdutiesbutbyunsparingworkIcanalwaysmaketimefortheaffairsofmyfriends.Iwilllookforthebook.â
Hestrodeaway.Bundlegazedafterhimwithadazedexpression.ShewasrousedbytheunexpectedadventofBill.
âLook here,â said Bill. âWhat the hell was Codders holding your handfor?â
âItwasnâtmyhand,âsaidBundlewildly.âItwasmybuddingmind.â
âDonâtbeanass,Bundle.â
âSorry,Bill,butIâmalittleworried.DoyouremembersayingthatJimmyranagraveriskdownhere?â
âSohedoes,âsaidBill.âItâsfrightfullyhardtoescapefromCoddersonceheâsgotinterestedinyou.Jimmywillbecaughtinthetoilsbeforeheknowswhereheis.â
âItâsnotJimmywhoâscaughtâitâsme,âsaidBundlewildly.âIshallhavetomeetendlessMrs.Macattas,andreadpoliticaleconomyanddiscussitwithGeorge,andheavenknowswhereitwillend!â
Billwhistled.
âPooroldBundle.Beenlayingitonabitthick,havenâtyou?â
âImusthavedone.Bill,Ifeelhorriblyentangled.â
âNever mind,â said Bill consolingly. âGeorge doesnât really believe inwomenstandingforParliament,soyouwonâthavetostanduponplatformsandtalkalotofjunk,orkissdirtybabiesinBermondsey.Comeandhaveacocktail.Itâsnearlylunchtime.â
Bundlegotupandwalkedbyhissideobediently.
âAndIdosohatepolitics,âshemurmuredpiteously.
âOfcourseyoudo.Sodoallsensiblepeople.ItâsonlypeoplelikeCoddersandPongowhotakethemseriouslyandrevelinthem.Butallthesame,âsaidBill,revertingsuddenlytoaformerpoint,âyououghtnâttoletCoddersholdyourhand.â
âWhyonearthnot?âsaidBundle.âHeâsknownmeallmylife.â
âWell,Idonâtlikeit.â
âVirtuousWilliamâOh,Isay,lookatSuperintendentBattle.â
They were just passing in through a side door. A cupboard-like roomopened out of the little hallway. In itwere kept golf clubs, tennis racquets,bowls and other features of country house life. Superintendent Battle was
conductingaminuteexaminationofvariousgolfclubs.HelookedupalittlesheepishlyatBundleâsexclamation.
âGoingtotakeupgolf,SuperintendentBattle?â
âImightdoworse,LadyEileen.Theysayitâsnevertoolatetostart.AndIâvegotonegoodqualitythatwilltellatanygame.â
âWhatâsthat?âaskedBill.
âIdonâtknowwhenIâmbeaten. Ifeverythinggoeswrong, I turn toandstartagain!â
Andwithadeterminedlookonhisface,SuperintendentBattlecameoutandjoinedthem,shuttingthedoorbehindhim.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-five
JIMMYLAYSHISPLANS
Jimmy Thesiger was feeling depressed. Avoiding George, whom hesuspected of being ready to tackle himon serious subjects, he stole quietlyaway after lunch. Proficient as hewas in details of the Santa FĂ© boundarydispute,hehadnowishtostandanexaminationonitthisminute.
Presentlywhathehopedwouldhappencametopass.LoraineWade,alsounaccompanied, strolleddownoneof the shadygardenpaths. In amomentJimmywasbyher side.Theywalked for someminutes in silence and thenJimmysaidtentatively:
âLoraine?â
âYes?â
âLookhere,Iâmabadchapatputtingthingsâbutwhataboutit?Whatâswrongwith getting a special licence and beingmarried and living togetherhappilyeverafterwards?â
Loraine displayed no embarrassment at this surprising proposal. Insteadshethrewbackherheadandlaughedfrankly.
âDonâtlaughatachap,âsaidJimmyreproachfully.
âIcanâthelpit.Youweresofunny.â
âLoraineâyouarealittledevil.â
âIâmnot.Iâmwhatâscalledathoroughlynicegirl.â
âOnlytothosewhodonâtknowyouâwhoaretakeninbyyourdelusiveappearanceofmeeknessanddecorum.â
âIlikeyourlongwords.â
âAlloutofcrosswordpuzzles.â
âSoeducative.â
âLoraine,dear,donâtbeataboutthebush.Willyouorwonâtyou?â
Loraineâs face sobered. It took on its characteristic appearance ofdetermination. Her small mouth hardened and her little chin shot outaggressively.
âNo,Jimmy.Notwhilethingsareastheyareatpresentâallunfinished.â
âIknowwehavenâtdonewhatwesetouttodo,âagreedJimmy.âButallthe sameâwell, itâs the end of a chapter. The papers are safe at the AirMinistry.Virtuetriumphant.Andâforthemomentânothingdoing.â
âSoâletâsgetmarried?âsaidLorainewithaslightsmile.
âYouâvesaidit.Preciselytheidea.â
ButagainLoraineshookherhead.
âNo,Jimmy.Untilthisthingâswoundupâuntilweâresafeââ
âYouthinkweâreindanger?â
âDonâtyou?â
Jimmyâscherubicpinkfacecloudedover.
âYouâreright,âhesaidatlast.âIfthatextraordinaryrigmaroleofBundleâsis trueâand I suppose, incredible as it sounds, itmust be trueâthenweârenotsafetillweâvesettledwithNo7!â
âAndtheothers?â
âNoâtheothersdonâtcount.ItâsNo7withhisownwaysofworkingthatfrightensme.BecauseIdonâtknowwhoheisorwheretolookforhim.â
Loraineshivered.
âIâvebeenfrightened,âshesaidinalowvoice.âEversinceGerryâsdeath....â
âYou neednât be frightened. Thereâs nothing for you to be frightenedabout.Youleaveeverythingtome.Itellyou,LoraineâIâllgetNo7yet.Oncewegethimâwell,Idonâtthinkthereâllbemuchtroublewiththerestofthegang,whoevertheyare.â
âIfyougethimâandsupposehegetsyou?â
âImpossible,âsaidJimmycheerfully.âIâmmuchtooclever.Alwayshave
agoodopinionofyourselfâthatâsmymotto.â
âWhen I think of the things that might have happened last nightââLoraineshivered.
âWell, they didnât,â said Jimmy. âWeâre both here, safe and soundâthoughImustadmitmyarmisconfoundedlypainful.â
âPoorboy.â
âOh, one must expect to suffer in a good cause. And what with mywounds and my cheerful conversation, Iâve made a complete conquest ofLadyCoote.â
âOh!Doyouthinkthatimportant?â
âIâveanideaitmaycomeinuseful.â
âYouâvegotsomeplaninyourmind,Jimmy.Whatisit?â
âTheyoungheronevertellshisplans,âsaidJimmyfirmly.âTheymatureinthedark.â
âYouareanidiot,Jimmy.â
âI know. I know. Thatâs what everyone says. But I can assure you,Loraine, thereâs a lot of brainwork going on underneath.Nowwhat aboutyourplans?Gotany?â
âBundlehassuggestedthatIshouldgotoChimneyswithherforabit.â
âExcellent,âsaidJimmyapprovingly.âNothingcouldbebetter.IâdlikeaneyekeptonBundleanyway.Youneverknowwhatmadthingshewonâtgetup to next.Sheâs so frightfully unexpected.And theworst of it is, sheâs soastonishingly successful. I tell you, keeping Bundle out of mischief is awhole-timejob.â
âBilloughttolookafterher,âsuggestedLoraine.
âBillâsprettybusyelsewhere.â
âDonâtyoubelieveit,âsaidLoraine.
âWhat? Not the Countess? But the ladâs potty about her.â Lorainecontinuedtoshakeherhead.
âThereâs something there I donât quite understand. But itâs not the
CountesswithBillâitâsBundle.Why, thismorning,Billwas talking tomewhenMr. Lomax came out and sat down byBundle.He took her hand orsomething,andBillwasofflikeâlikearocket.â
âWhatacurioustastesomepeoplehave,âobservedMr.Thesiger.âFancyanyonewhowastalkingtoyouwantingtodoanythingelse.Butyousurprisemeverymuch,Loraine.IthoughtoursimpleBillwasenmeshedinthetoilsofthebeautifulforeignadventuress.Bundlethinksso,Iknow.â
âBundlemay,âsaidLoraine.âButItellyou,Jimmy,itisnâtso.â
âThenwhatâsthebigidea?â
âDonât you think it possible that Bill is doing a bit of sleuthing on hisown?â
âBill?Hehasnâtgotthebrains.â
âIâmnotsosure.Whenasimple,muscularpersonlikeBilldoessetouttobesubtle,nooneevergiveshimcreditforit.â
âAnd in consequence he can put in some good work. Yes, thereâssomething in that. But all the same Iâd never have thought it of Bill. Heâsdoing theCountessâs littlewoolly lamb toperfection. I thinkyouârewrong,youknow,Loraine.TheCountessisanextraordinarilybeautifulwomanânotmytypeofcourse,âputinMr.ThesigerhastilyââandoldBillhasalwayshadaheartlikeanhotel.â
Loraineshookherhead,unconvinced.
âWell,âsaidJimmy,âhaveityourownway.Weseemtohavemoreorlesssettledthings.YougobackwithBundletoChimneys,andforheavenâssakekeepher frompokingabout in thatSevenDialsplaceagain.Heavenknowswhatwillhappenifshedoes.â
Lorainenodded.
âAndnow,âsaidJimmy,âIthinkafewwordswithLadyCootewouldbeadvisable.â
LadyCootewassittingonagardenseatdoingwoolwork.Thesubjectwasadisconsolateandsomewhatmisshapenyoungwomanweepingoveranurn.
LadyCootemaderoomforJimmybyherside,andhepromptly,beingatactfulyoungman,admiredherwork.
âDoyou like it?â saidLadyCoote, pleased. âItwasbegunbymyAuntSelinatheweekbeforeshedied.Canceroftheliver,poorthing.â
âHowbeastly,âsaidJimmy.
âAndhowisthearm?â
âOh,itâsfeelingquiteallright.Bitofanuisanceandallthat,youknow.â
âYouâll have to be careful,â said LadyCoote in awarning voice. âIâveknown blood poisoning set inâand in that case you might lose your armaltogether.â
âOh!Isay,Ihopenot.â
âIâmonlywarningyou,âsaidLadyCoote.
âWhere are you hanging out now?â inquiredMr. Thesiger. âTownâorwhere?â
Considering thatheknew theanswer tohisqueryperfectlywell,heputthequestionwithapraiseworthyamountofingenuousness.
LadyCootesighedheavily.
âSirOswaldhastakentheDukeofAltonâsplace.Letherbury.Youknowit,perhaps?â
âOh,rather.Toppingplace,isnâtit?â
âOh,Idonâtknow,âsaidLadyCoote.âItâsaverylargeplace,andgloomy,you know. Rows of picture galleries with such forbidding-looking people.What they call OldMasters are very depressing, I think. You should haveseenalittlehousewehadinYorkshire,Mr.Thesiger.WhenSirOswaldwasplainMr.Coote.Suchaniceloungehallandacheerfuldrawingroomwithaningle-nookâawhite striped paperwith a frieze ofwisteria I chose for it, Iremember. Satin stripe, you know, not moirĂ©. Much better taste, I alwaysthink.Thediningroomfacednortheast,sowedidnâtgetmuchsuninit,butwithagoodbrightscarletpaperandasetofthosecomichuntingprintsâwhy,itwasascheerfulasChristmas.â
In the excitement of these reminiscences, Lady Coote dropped severallittleballsofwool,whichJimmydutifullyretrieved.
âThankyou,mydear,âsaidLadyCoote.âNow,whatwasIsaying?Ohâ
about housesâyes, I do like a cheerful house. And choosing things for itgivesyouaninterest.â
âI suppose Sir Oswaldwill be buying a place of his own one of thesedays,âsuggestedJimmy.âAndthenyoucanhaveitjustasyoulike.â
LadyCooteshookherheadsadly.
âSirOswaldtalksofafirmdoingitâandyouknowwhatthatmeans.â
âOh!Buttheyâdconsultyou!â
âItwouldbeoneofthosegrandplacesâallfortheantique.Theyâdlookdownon the things I call comfortable and homey.Not but that SirOswaldwasnâtverycomfortableandsatisfiedinhishomealways,andIdaresayhistastes are just the same underneath. But nothingwill suit him now but thebest!Heâsgotonwonderfully,andnaturallyhewantssomethingtoshowforit,butmanyâsthetimeIwonderwhereitwillend.â
Jimmylookedsympathetic.
âItâs like a runaway horse,â said Lady Coote. âGot the bit between itsteethandawayitgoes.ItâsthesamewithSirOswald.Heâsgoton,andheâsgoton,tillhecanâtstopgettingon.HeâsoneoftherichestmeninEnglandâbutdoes thatsatisfyhim?No,hewantsstillmore.Hewants tobeâIdonâtknowwhathewantstobe!Icantellyou,itfrightensmesometimes!â
âLikethePersianJohnny,âsaidJimmy,âwhowentaboutwailingforfreshworldstoconquer.â
Lady Coote nodded acquiescence without much knowing what Jimmywastalkingabout.
âWhatIwonderisâwillhisstomachstandit?âshewentontearfully.âTohavehimaninvalidâwithhisideasâoh,itwonâtbearthinkingof.â
âHelooksveryhearty,âsaidJimmyconsolingly.
âHeâsgotsomethingonhismind,âsaidLadyCoote.âWorriedthatâswhatheis.Iknow.â
âWhatâsheworriedabout?â
âI donât know.Perhaps something at theworks. Itâs a great comfort forhim having Mr. Bateman. Such an earnest young manâand so
conscientious.â
âMarvellouslyconscientious,âagreedJimmy.
âOswald thinks a lot of Mr. Batemanâs judgement. He says that Mr.Batemanisalwaysright.â
âThat was one of his worst characteristics years ago,â said Jimmyfeelingly.
LadyCootelookedslightlypuzzled.
âThatwas an awfully jollyweekend I hadwithyou atChimneys,â saidJimmy.âImeanitwouldhavebeenawfullyjollyifithadnâtbeenforpooroldGerrykickingthebucket.Jollynicegirls.â
âIfindgirlsveryperplexing,âsaidLadyCoote.âNotromantic,youknow.Why, I embroidered some handkerchiefs for SirOswaldwithmy own hairwhenwewereengaged.â
âDidyou?âsaidJimmy.âHowmarvellous.ButIsupposegirlshavenâtgotlonghairtodothatnowadays.â
âThatâs true,â admitted Lady Coote. âBut, oh, it shows in lots of otherways. I remember when I was a girl, one of myâwell, my young menâpickedupahandfulofgravel,andagirlwhowaswithmesaidatoncethathewas treasuring it because my feet had trodden on it. Such a pretty idea, Ithought. Though it turned out afterwards that he was taking a course inmineralogyâordo Imeangeology?âat a technical school.But I liked theideaâand stealing a girlâs handkerchief and treasuring itâall those sort ofthings.â
âAwkward if the girl wanted to blow her nose,â said the practical Mr.Thesiger.
LadyCootelaiddownherwoolworkandlookedsearchinglybutkindlyathim.
âComenow,â she said. âIsnât there somenice girl that you fancy?Thatyouâdliketoworkandmakealittlehomefor?â
Jimmyblushedandmumbled.
âIthoughtyougotonverywellwithoneofthosegirlsatChimneysthattimeâVeraDaventry.â
âSocks?â
âTheydocallherthat,âadmittedLadyCoote.âIcanâtthinkwhy.Itisnâtpretty.â
âOh,sheâsatopper,âsaidJimmy.âIâdliketomeetheragain.â
âSheâscomingdowntostaywithusnextweekend.â
âIsshe?âsaidJimmy, trying to infusea largeamountofwistful longingintothetwowords.
âYes.Wouldâwouldyouliketocome?â
âIwould,âsaidJimmyheartily.âThankseversomuch,LadyCoote.â
Andreiteratingferventthanks,helefther.
SirOswaldpresentlyjoinedhiswife.
âWhathasthatyoungjackanapesbeenboringyouabout?âhedemanded.âIcanâtstandthatyoungfellow.â
âHeâs a dear boy,â said Lady Coote. âAnd so brave. Look how he gotwoundedlastnight.â
âYes,messingaroundwhereheâdnobusinesstobe.â
âIthinkyouâreveryunfair,Oswald.â
âNeverdoneanhonestdayâsworkinhislife.Arealwasterifthereeverwasone.Heâdnevergetonifhehadhiswaytomakeintheworld.â
âYoumusthavegotyourfeetdamplastnight,âsaidLadyCoote.âIhopeyouwonâtgetpneumonia.FreddieRichardsdiedofittheotherday.Dearme,Oswald,itmakesmybloodruncoldtothinkofyouwanderingaboutwithadangerousburglar loosein thegrounds.Hemighthaveshotyou.IâveaskedMr.Thesigerdownfornextweekend,bytheway.â
âNonsense,âsaidSirOswald.âIwonâthavethatyoungmaninmyhouse,doyouhear,Maria?â
âWhynot?â
âThatâsmybusiness.â
âIâmsosorry,dear,âsaidLadyCooteplacidly.âIâveaskedhimnow,soitcanâtbehelped.Pickupthatballofpinkwool,willyou,Oswald?â
SirOswaldcomplied,hisfaceblackasthunder.Helookedathiswifeandhesitated.LadyCootewasplacidlythreadingherwoolneedle.
âIparticularlydonâtwantThesigerdownnextweekend,âhesaidat last.âIâve heard a good deal about him from Bateman. He was at school withhim.â
âWhatdidMr.Batemansay?â
âHeâdnogoodtosayofhim.Infact,hewarnedmeveryseriouslyagainsthim.â
âHedid,didhe?âsaidLadyCootethoughtfully.
âAnd I have the highest respect for Batemanâs judgement. Iâve neverknownhimwrong.â
âDear me,â said Lady Coote. âWhat a mess I seem to have made ofthings.Ofcourse,IshouldneverhaveaskedhimifIhadknown.Youshouldhavetoldmeallthisbefore,Oswald.Itâstoolatenow.â
Shebegan to roll upherworkvery carefully.SirOswald lookedat her,made as if to speak, then shrugged his shoulders.He followed her into thehouse.LadyCoote,walkingahead,woreaveryfaintsmileonherface.Shewas fond of her husband, but she was also fondâin a quiet, unobtrusive,whollywomanlymannerâofgettingherownway.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-six
MAINLYABOUTGOLF
âThatfriendofyoursisanicegirl,Bundle,âsaidLordCaterham.
LorainehadbeenatChimneysfornearlyaweek,andhadearnedthehighopinion of her hostâmainly because of the charming readiness she hadshowntobeinstructedinthescienceofthemashieshot.
Boredbyhiswinterabroad,LordCaterhamhadtakenupgolf.Hewasanexecrable player and in consequence was profoundly enthusiastic over thegame.Hespentmostofhismorningsliftingmashieshotsovervariousshrubsand bushesâor, rather, essaying to loft them, hacking large bits out of thevelvetyturfandgenerallyreducingMacDonaldtodespair.
âWemustlayoutalittlecourse,âsaidLordCaterham,addressingadaisy.âAsportinglittlecourse.Nowthen,justwatchthisone,Bundle.Offtherightknee,slowback,keeptheheadstillandusethewrists.â
The ball, heavily topped, scudded across the lawn and disappeared intotheunfathomeddepthsofagreatbankofrhododendrons.
âCurious,âsaidLordCaterham.âWhatdidIdothen,Iwonder?AsIwassaying, Bundle, that friend of yours is a very nice girl. I really think I aminducinghertotakequiteaninterestinthegame.ShehitsomeexcellentshotsthismorningâreallyquiteasgoodasIcoulddomyself.â
Lord Caterham took another careless swing and removed an immensechunkofturf.MacDonald,whowaspassingretrieveditandstampeditfirmlyback. The look he gave Lord Caterhamwould have caused anyone but anardentgolfertosinkthroughtheearth.
âIf MacDonald has been guilty of cruelty to Cootes, which I stronglysuspect,âsaidBundle,âheâsbeingpunishednow.â
âWhyshouldnâtIdoasI likeinmyowngarden?âdemandedherfather.âMacDonaldought tobe interested in thewaymygame iscomingonâthe
Scotchareagreatgolfingnation.â
âYoupooroldman,âsaidBundle.âYouâllneverbeagolferâbutatanyrateitkeepsyououtofmischief.â
âNot at all,â saidLordCaterham. âI did the long sixth in five theotherday.TheprowasverysurprisedwhenItoldhimaboutit.â
âHewouldbe,âsaidBundle.
âTalkingofCootes,SirOswaldplaysafairgameâaveryfairgame.Notaprettystyleâtoostiff.Butstraightdownthemiddleeverytime.Butcurioushowtheclovenhoofshowsâwonâtgiveyouasixinchputt!Makesyouputitineverytime.NowIdonâtlikethat.â
âIsupposeheâsamanwholikestobesure,âsaidBundle.
âItâs contrary to the spirit of the game,â said her father. âAnd heâs notinterestedinthetheoryofthethingeither.Now,thatsecretarychap,Bateman,is quite different. Itâs the theory interests him. Iwas slicing badlywithmyspoon;andhesaiditallcamefromtoomuchrightarm;andheevolvedaveryinterestingtheory.Itâsallleftarmingolfâtheleftarmisthearmthatcounts.Hesaysheplaystennisleft-handedbutgolfwithordinaryclubsbecausetherehissuperioritywiththeleftarmtells.â
âAnddidheplayverymarvellously?âinquiredBundle.
âNo,hedidnât,âconfessedLordCaterham.âBut thenhemayhavebeenoffhisgame.IseethetheoryallrightandIthinkthereâsalotinit.Ah!Didyouseethatone,Bundle?Rightovertherhododendrons.Aperfectshot.Ah!IfonecouldbesureofdoingthateverytimeâYes,Tredwell,whatisit?â
TredwelladdressedBundle.
âMr.Thesigerwouldliketospeaktoyouonthetelephone,mylady.â
Bundlesetoffatfullspeedfor thehouse,yellingâLoraine,Loraine,âasshedidso.Lorainejoinedherjustasshewasliftingthereceiver.
âHallo,isthatyou,Jimmy?â
âHallo.Howareyou?â
âVeryfit,butabitbored.â
âHowâsLoraine?â
âSheâsallright.Sheâshere.Doyouwanttospeaktoher?â
âInaminute.Iâvegotalottosay.Tobeginwith,IâmgoingdowntotheCootesfortheweekend,âhesaidsignificantly.âNow,lookhere,Bundle,youdonâtknowhowonegetsholdofskeletonkeys,doyou?â
âHavenât the foggiest. Is it reallynecessary to take skeletonkeys to theCootes?â
âWell,Ihadasortofideatheyâdcomeinhandy.Youdonâtknowthesortofshoponegetsthemat?â
âWhatyouwantisakindlyburglarfriendtoshowyoutheropes.â
âI do, Bundle, I do. And unfortunately I havenât got one. I thoughtperhapsyourbrightbrainmightgrapplesuccessfullywiththeproblem.ButIsupposeIshallhavetofallbackuponStevensasusual.Heâllbegettingsomefunny ideas in his head soon about meâfirst a bluenosed automaticâandnowskeletonkeys.HeâllthinkIâvejoinedthecriminalclasses.â
âJimmy?âsaidBundle.
âYes?â
âLook hereâbe careful, wonât you? I mean if Sir Oswald finds younosing around with skeleton keysâwell, I should think he could be veryunpleasantwhenhelikes.â
âYoungmanofpleasingappearanceinthedock!Allright,Iâllbecareful.PongoâsthefellowIâmreallyfrightenedof.Hesneaksaroundsoonthoseflatfeetofhis.Youneverhearhimcoming.Andhealwaysdidhaveageniusforpokinghisnoseinwherehewasnâtwanted.Buttrusttotheboyhero.â
âWell,IwishLoraineandIweregoingtobetheretolookafteryou.â
âThankyou,nurse.Asamatteroffact,though,Ihaveascheme.â
âYes?â
âDoyou thinkyouandLorainemighthaveaconvenientcarbreakdownnearLetherburytomorrowmorning?Itâsnotsoveryfarfromyou,isit?â
âFortymiles.Thatâsnothing.â
âI thought itwouldnâtbeâtoyou!DonâtkillLorainethough.IâmratherfondofLoraine.Allright,thenâsomewhereroundaboutquartertohalfpast
twelve.â
âSothattheyinviteustolunch?â
âThatâs the idea. I say,Bundle, I ran into that girlSocksyesterday, andwhat do you thinkâTerence OâRourke is going to be down there thisweekend!â
âJimmy,doyouthinkheâ?â
âWellâsuspect everyone, you know. Thatâswhat they say.Heâs awildlad,anddaringastheymakethem.Iwouldnâtputitpasthimtorunasecretsociety.HeandtheCountessmightbeinthistogether.HewasoutinHungarylastyear.â
âButhecouldpinchtheformulaanytime.â
âThatâs just what he couldnât. Heâd have to do it under circumstanceswherehecouldnâtbesuspected.But the retreatup the ivyand intohisownbedâwell,thatwouldberatherneat.Nowforinstructions.Afterafewpolitenothings to Lady Coote, you and Loraine are to get hold of Pongo andOâRourkebyhookorbycrookandkeepthemoccupiedtilllunchtime.See?Itoughtnâttobedifficultforacoupleofbeautifulgirlslikeyou.â
âYouâreusingthebestbutter,Isee.â
âAplainstatementoffact.â
âWell,atanyrate,yourinstructionsaredulynoted.DoyouwanttotalktoLorainenow?â
Bundlepassedoverthereceiverandtactfullylefttheroom.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-seven
NOCTURNALADVENTURE
JimmyThesigerarrivedatLetherburyonasunnyautumnafternoonandwasgreeted affectionately by LadyCoote andwith cold dislike by SirOswald.Awareof thekeenmatchmakingeyeofLadyCooteuponhim, Jimmy tookpainstomakehimselfextremelyagreeabletoSocksDaventry.
OâRourkewasthereinexcellentspirits.Hewasinclinedtobeofficialandsecretive about the mysterious events at the Abbey, about which Sockscatechizedhimfreely,buthisofficialreticencetookanovelform...namelythatofembroideringthetaleofeventsinsuchafantasticmannerthatnobodycouldpossiblyguesswhatthetruthmighthavebeen.
âFourmaskedmenwith revolvers? Is that really so?â demanded Socksseverely.
âAh!Iâmrememberingnowthattherewastheroundhalf-dozenofthemtoholdmedownandforce thestuffdownmythroat.Sure,andI thought itwaspoison,andIdoneforentirely.â
âAndwhatwasstolen,orwhatdidtheytryandsteal?â
âWhat else but the crown jewels of Russia that were brought to Mr.LomaxsecretlytodepositintheBankofEngland.â
âWhatabloodyliaryouare,âsaidSockswithoutemotion.
âAliar,I?Andthejewelsbroughtoverbyaeroplanewithmybestfriendas pilot. This is secret history Iâm telling you, Socks.Will you ask JimmyThesiger there if you donât believeme.Not that Iâd be putting any trust inwhatheâdsay.â
âIsittrue,âsaidSocks,âthatGeorgeLomaxcamedownwithouthisfalseteeth?ThatâswhatIwanttoknow.â
âThereweretworevolvers,âsaidLadyCoote.âNastythings.Isawthemmyself.Itâsawonderthispoorboywasnâtkilled.â
âOh,Iwasborntobehanged,âsaidJimmy.
âI hear that there was a Russian countess there of subtle beauty,â saidSocks.âAndthatshevampedBill.â
âSomeof the thingsshesaidaboutBudaPesthwere toodreadful,â saidLady Coote. âI shall never forget them. Oswald, we must send asubscription.â
SirOswaldgrunted.
âIâllmakeanoteofit,LadyCoote,âsaidRupertBateman.
âThankyou,Mr.Bateman. I feel oneought todo something as a thankoffering. I canât imaginehowSirOswaldescapedbeing shotâlettingalonedieofpneumonia.â
âDonâtbefoolish,Maria,âsaidSirOswald.
âIâvealwayshadahorrorofcatburglars,âsaidLadyCoote.
âThink of having the luck to meet one face to face. How thrilling!âmurmuredSocks.
âDonâtyoubelieveit,âsaidJimmy.âItâsdamnedpainful.âAndhepattedhisrightarmgingerly.
âHowisthepoorarm?âinquiredLadyCoote.
âOh,prettywellallrightnow.Butitâsbeenthemostconfoundednuisancehavingtodoeverythingwiththelefthand.Iâmnogoodwhateverwithit.â
âEverychildshouldbebroughtuptobeambidexterous,âsaidSirOswald.
âOh!âsaidSocks,somewhatoutofherdepth.âIsthatlikeseals?â
âNotamphibious,âsaidMr.Bateman.âAmbidexterousmeansusingeitherhandequallywell.â
âOh!âsaidSocks,lookingatSirOswaldwithrespect.âCanyou?â
âCertainly;Icanwritewitheitherhand.â
âButnotwithbothatonce?â
âThatwouldnotbepractical,âsaidSirOswaldshortly.
âNo,âsaidSocksthoughtfully.âIsupposethatwouldbeabittoosubtle.â
âItwouldbeagrandthingnowinaGovernmentdepartment,âobservedMr.OâRourke,âifonecouldkeeptherighthandfromknowingwhatthelefthandwasdoing.â
âCanyouusebothhands?â
âNo,indeed.Iâmthemostright-handedpersonthateverwas.â
âButyoudealcardswithyourlefthand,âsaidtheobservantBateman.âInoticedtheothernight.â
âOh,butthatâsdifferententirely,âsaidMr.OâRourkeeasily.
Agongwithasombrenotepealedoutandeveryonewentupstairstodressfordinner.
AfterdinnerSirOswaldandLadyCoote,Mr.BatemanandMr.OâRourkeplayed bridge and Jimmy passed a flirtatious eveningwith Socks. The lastwordsJimmyheardasheretreatedupthestaircasethatnightwereSirOswaldsayingtohiswife:
âYouâllnevermakeabridgeplayer,Maria.â
Andherreply:
âIknow,dear.Soyoualwayssay.YouoweMr.OâRourkeanotherpound,Oswald.Thatâsright.â
ItwassometwohourslaterthatJimmycreptnoiselessly(orsohehoped)downthestairs.HemadeonebriefvisittothediningroomandthenfoundhiswaytoSirOswaldâsstudy.There,afterlisteningintentlyforaminuteortwo,hesettowork.Mostofthedrawersofthedeskwerelocked,butacuriouslyshapedbitofwireinJimmyâshandsoonsawtothat.Onebyonethedrawersyieldedtohismanipulations.
Drawerbydrawerhesortedthroughmethodically,beingcarefultoreplaceeverythinginthesameorder.Onceortwicehestoppedtolisten,fancyingheheardsomedistantsound.Butheremainedundisturbed.
The last drawerwas looked through. Jimmy now knewâor could haveknown had he been paying attentionâmany interesting details relating tosteel; but he had found nothing of what he wantedâa reference to HerrEberhardâsinventionoranythingthatcouldgivehimacluetotheidentityofthemysteriousNo7.Hehad,perhaps,hardlyhopedthathewould.Itwasan
offchanceandhehadtakenitâbuthehadnotexpectedmuchresultâexceptbysheerluck.
Hetestedthedrawerstomakesurethathehadrelockedthemsecurely.HeknewRupertBatemanâspowersofminuteobservationandglancedroundtheroomtomakesurethathehadleftnoincriminatingtraceofhispresence.
âThatâsthat,âhemutteredtohimselfsoftly.âNothingthere.Well,perhapsIâllhavebetterlucktomorrowmorningâifthegirlsonlyplayup.â
Hecameoutofthestudy,closingthedoorbehindhimandlockingit.Foramoment he thought he heard a soundquite near him, but decided he hadbeenmistaken.Hefelthiswaynoiselesslyalong thegreathall. Justenoughlight came from the high-vaulted windows to enable him to pick his waywithoutstumblingintoanything.
Again he heard a soft soundâhe heard it quite certainly this time andwithout the possibility ofmaking amistake. Hewas not alone in the hall.Somebody else was there, moving as stealthily as he was. His heart beatsuddenlyveryfast.
Withasuddenspringhejumpedtotheelectricswitchandturnedonthelights. The sudden glaremade him blinkâbut he saw plainly enough.NotfourfeetawaystoodRupertBateman.
âMygoodness,Pongo,âcriedJimmy,âyoudidgivemeastart.Slinkingaboutlikethatinthedark.â
âI heard a noise,â explainedMr. Bateman severely. âI thought burglarshadgotinandIcamedowntosee.â
JimmylookedthoughtfullyatMr.Batemanâsrubbersoledfeet.
âYou think of everything, Pongo,â he said genially. âEven a lethalweapon.â
Hiseyerestedonthebulgeintheotherâspocket.
âItâsaswelltobearmed.Oneneverknowswhomonemaymeet.â
âIamgladyoudidnâtshoot,âsaidJimmy.âIâmabit tiredofbeingshotat.â
âImighteasilyhavedoneso,âsaidMr.Bateman.
âItwouldbedeadagainstthelawifyoudid,âsaidJimmy.âYouâvegottomakequitesurethebeggarâshousebreaking,youknow,beforeyoupotathim.Youmustnâtjumptoconclusions.Otherwiseyouâdhavetoexplainwhyyoushotaguestonaperfectlyinnocenterrandlikemine.â
âBythewaywhatdidyoucomedownfor?â
âIwashungry,âsaidJimmy.âIratherfanciedadrybiscuit.â
âTherearesomebiscuitsinatinbyyourbed,âsaidRupertBateman.
He was staring at Jimmy very intently through his horn-rimmedspectacles.
âAh!Thatâswherethestaffworkhasgonewrong,oldboy.ThereâsatintherewithâBiscuitsforStarvingVisitorsâonit.Butwhenthestarvingvisitoropeneditânothinginside.SoIjusttoddleddowntothediningroom.â
Andwith a sweet, ingenuous smile, Jimmy produced from his dressinggownpocketahandfulofbiscuits.
Therewasamomentâspause.
âAnd now I think Iâll toddle back to bed,â said Jimmy. âNight-night,Pongo.â
With an affectation of nonchalance, he mounted the staircase. RupertBatemanfollowedhim.At thedoorwayofhis room,Jimmypausedas if tosaygoodnightoncemore.
âItâsanextraordinarythingaboutthesebiscuits,âsaidMr.Bateman.âDoyoumindifIjustâ?â
âCertainly,laddie,lookforyourself.â
Mr.Batemanstrodeacrosstheroom,openedthebiscuitboxandstaredatitsemptiness.
âVeryremiss,âhemurmured.âWell,goodnight.â
Hewithdrew.Jimmysatontheedgeofhisbedlisteningforaminute.
âThatwasanarrowshave,âhemurmuredtohimself.âSuspicioussortofchap,Pongo.Neverseemstosleep.Nastyhabitofhis,prowlingaroundwitharevolver.â
Hegotupandopenedoneofthedrawersofthedressingtable.Beneathan
assortmentoftieslayapileofbiscuits.
âThereâs nothing for it,â said Jimmy. âI shall have to eat the damnedthings.Tentoone,Pongowillcomeprowlingroundinthemorning.â
With a sigh, he settled down to ameal of biscuits forwhich he had noinclinationwhatever.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-eight
SUSPICIONS
ItwasjustontheappointedhouroftwelveoâclockthatBundleandLoraineenteredtheparkgates,havinglefttheHispanoatanadjacentgarage.
LadyCootegreetedthetwogirlswithsurprise,butdistinctpleasure,andimmediatelypressedthemtostaytolunch.
OâRourke,whohadbeenreclininginanimmensearmchair,beganatoncetotalkwithgreatanimationtoLoraine,whowaslisteningwithhalfaneartoBundleâs highly technical explanation of themechanical troublewhich hadaffectedtheHispano.
âAndwesaid,âendedBundle,âhowmarvellousthatthebruteshouldhavebroken down just here! Last time it happenedwas on a Sunday at a placecalledLittleSpeddlingtonundertheHill.Anditliveduptoitsname,Icantellyou.â
âThatwouldbeagrandnameonthefilms,âremarkedOâRourke.
âBirthplaceofthesimplecountrymaiden,âsuggestedSocks.
âIwondernow,âsaidLadyCoote,âwhereMr.Thesigeris?â
âHeâsinthebilliardroom,Ithink,âsaidSocks.âIâllfetchhim.â
She went off, but had hardly gone a minute when Rupert Batemanappeareduponthescene,withtheharassedandseriousairusualtohim.
âYes,LadyCoote?Thesigersaidyouwereaskingforme.Howdoyoudo,LadyEileenââ
He broke off to greet the two girls, and Loraine immediately took thefield.
âOh,Mr.Bateman!Iâvebeenwantingtoseeyou.Wasnâtityouwhowastellingmewhattodoforadogwhenheiscontinuallygettingsorepaws?â
Thesecretaryshookhishead.
âItmusthavebeensomeoneelse,MissWade.Though,asamatteroffact,Idohappentoknowââ
âWhatawonderfulmanyouare,âinterruptedLoraine.âYouknowabouteverything.â
âOne should keep abreast of modern knowledge,â said Mr. Batemanseriously.âNowaboutyourdogâspawsââ
TerenceOâRourkemurmuredsottovocetoBundle:
â âTis a man like that writes all those little paragraphs in the weeklypapers.âItisnotgenerallyknownthattokeepabrassfenderuniformlybright,etc;ââThedorperbeetleisoneofthemostinterestingcharactersintheinsectworld;ââThemarriagecustomsoftheFingaleseIndian;âandsoon.â
âGeneralinformation,infact.â
âAndwhatmorehorribletwowordscouldyouhave?âsaidMr.OâRourke,andaddedpiously:âThanktheheavensaboveIâmaneducatedmanandknownothingwhateveruponanysubjectatall.â
âIseeyouâvegotclockgolfhere,âsaidBundletoLadyCoote.
âIâlltakeyouonit,LadyEileen,âsaidOâRourke.
âLetâschallenge those two,âsaidBundle.âLoraine,Mr.OâRourkeandIwanttotakeyouandMr.Batemanonatclockgolf.â
âDo play, Mr. Bateman,â said Lady Coote, as the secretary showed amomentaryhesitation.âIâmsureSirOswalddoesnâtwantyou.â
Thefourwentoutonthelawn.
âVery cleverly managed, what?â whispered Bundle to Loraine.âCongratulationsonourgirlishtact.â
The roundended justbeforeoneoâclock,victorygoing toBatemanandLoraine.
âButIthinkyouâllagreewithme,partner,âsaidMr.OâRourke,âthatweplayedamoresportinggame.â
HelaggedalittlebehindwithBundle.
âOld Pongoâs a cautious playerâand takes no risks.Now,withme itâsneck or nothing. And a fine motto through life, donât you agree, Lady
Eileen?â
âHasnâtiteverlandedyouintrouble?âaskedBundlelaughing.
âTobesureithas.Millionsoftimes.ButIâmstillgoingstrong.Sure,itâlltakethehangmanâsnoosetodefeatTerenceOâRourke.â
JustthenJimmyThesigerstrolledroundthecornerofthehouse.
âBundle,byallthatâswonderful!âheexclaimed.
âYouâvemissedcompetingintheAutumnMeeting,âsaidOâRourke.
âIâdgoneforastroll,âsaidJimmy.âWheredidthesegirlsdropfrom?â
âWecameonourflatfeet,âsaidBundle.âTheHispanoletusdown.â
Andshenarratedthecircumstancesofthebreakdown.
Jimmylistenedwithsympatheticattention.
âHardluck,âhevouchsafed.âIfitâsgoingtotakesometime,Iâllrunyoubackinmycarafterlunch.â
A gong sounded at thatmoment and they allwent in.Bundle observedJimmycovertly.Shethoughtshehadnoticedanunusualnoteofexultanceinhisvoice.Shehadthefeelingthatthingshadgonewell.
After lunch they took a polite leave of Lady Coote, and Jimmyvolunteered to run themdownto thegarage inhiscar.Assoonas theyhadstartedthesamewordsburstsimultaneouslyfrombothgirlsâlips:
âWell?â
Jimmychosetobeprovoking.
âWell?â
âOh,prettyhearty,thanks.Slightindigestionowingtooverindulgenceindrybiscuits.â
âButwhathashappened?â
âItellyou.Devotiontothecausemademeeattoomanydrybiscuits.Butdidourheroflinch?No,hedidnot.â
âOh,Jimmy,âsaidLorainereproachfully,andhesoftened.
âWhatdoyoureallywanttoknow?â
âOh, everything.Didnâtwedo itwell? Imean, thewaywekeptPongoandTerenceOâRourkeinplay.â
âIcongratulateyouonthehandlingofPongo.OâRourkewasprobablyasitterâbutPongoismadeofotherstuff.Thereâsonlyonewordforthatladâit was in the Sunday Newsbag crossword last week. Word of ten lettersmeaningeverywhereatonce.Ubiquitous.ThatdescribedPongodowntotheground.Youcanâtgoanywherewithoutrunningintohimâandtheworstofitisyouneverhearhimcoming.â
âYouthinkheâsdangerous?â
âDangerous? Of course heâs not dangerous. Fancy Pongo beingdangerous.Heâs an ass. But, as I said just now, heâs an ubiquitous ass.Hedoesnât even seem to need sleep like ordinary mortals. In fact, to put itbluntly,thefellowâsadamnednuisance.â
And,inasomewhataggrievedmanner,Jimmydescribedtheeventsofthepreviousevening.
Bundlewasnotverysympathetic.
âI donât know what you think youâre doing anyway, mooching aroundhere.â
âNo7,âsaidJimmycrisply.âThatâswhatIâmafter.No7.â
âAndyouthinkyouâllfindhiminthishouse?â
âIthoughtImightfindaclue.â
âAndyoudidnât?â
âNotlastnightâno.â
âButthismorning,âsaidLoraine,breakinginsuddenly.âJimmy,youdidfindsomethingthismorning.Icanseeitbyyourface.â
âWell,Idonâtknowifitisanything.Butduringthecourseofmystrollââ
âWhichstrolldidnâttakeyoufarfromthehouse,Iimagine.â
âStrangelyenough, itdidnât.Round tripof the interior,wemightcall it.Well,asIsay,Idonâtknowwhetherthereâsanythinginitornot.ButIfoundthis.â
With the celerity of a conjurer he produced a small bottle and tossed it
overtothegirls.Itwashalffullofawhitepowder.
âWhatdoyouthinkitis?âaskedBundle.
âAwhitecrystallinepowder, thatâswhat it is,âsaidJimmy.âAnd toanyreaderof detective fiction thosewords areboth familiar and suggestive.Ofcourse, if it turns out to be a new kind of patent tooth powder, I shall bechagrinedandannoyed.â
âWheredidyoufindit?âaskedBundlesharply.
âAh!âsaidJimmy,âthatâsmysecret.â
Andfromthatpointhewouldnotbudgeinspiteofcajoleryandinsult.
âHere we are at the garage,â he said. âLetâs hope the high-mettledHispanohasnotbeensubjectedtoanyindignities.â
Thegentlemanatthegaragepresentedabillforfiveshillingsandmadeafewvagueremarksaboutloosenuts.Bundlepaidhimwithasweetsmile.
âItâs nice to know we all get money for nothing sometimes,â shemurmuredtoJimmy.
The threestood together in the road,silent for themomentas theyeachponderedthesituation.
âIknow,âsaidBundlesuddenly.
âKnowwhat?â
âSomethingImeanttoaskyouâandnearlyforgot.DoyourememberthatgloveSuperintendentBattlefoundâthehalf-burntone?â
âYes.â
âDidnâtyousaythathetrieditonyourhand?â
âYesâitwasashadebig.Thatfitsinwiththeideaofitsbeingabig,heftymanwhoworeit.â
âThatâs not at all what Iâm bothering about. Nevermind the size of it.GeorgeandSirOswaldwereboththeretoo,werenâtthey?â
âYes.â
âHecouldhavegivenittoeitherofthemtofiton?â
âYes,ofcourseââ
âButhedidnât.Hechoseyou.Jimmy,donâtyouseewhatthatmeans?â
Mr.Thesigerstaredather.
âIâmsorry,Bundle.Possiblythejollyoldbrainisnâtfunctioningaswellasusual,butIhavenâtthefaintestideawhatyouâretalkingabout.â
âDonâtyousee,Loraine?â
Lorainelookedathercuriously,butshookherhead.
âDoesitmeananythinginparticular?â
âOfcourseitdoes.DonâtyouseeâJimmyhadhisrighthandinasling.â
âByJove,Bundle,âsaidJimmyslowly.âItwasratheroddnowIcometothinkofit;itâsbeingaleft-handglove,Imean.Battleneversaidanything.â
âHewasnâtgoingtodrawattentiontoit.Bytryingitonyouitmightpasswithout notice being drawn to it, and he talked about the size just to puteverybodyoff.Butsurelyitmustmeanthatthemanwhoshotatyouheldthepistolinhislefthand.â
âSoweâvegottolookforaleft-handedman,âsaidLorainethoughtfully.
âYes, and Iâll tell you another thing. That was what Battle was doinglookingthroughthegolfclubs.Hewaslookingforaleft-handedmanâs.â
âByJove,âsaidJimmysuddenly.
âWhatisit?â
âWell,Idonâtsupposethereâsanythinginit,butitâsrathercurious.â
Heretailedtheconversationatteathedaybefore.
âSoSirOswaldCooteisambidexterous?âsaidBundle.
âYes.And I remember now on that night at Chimneysâyou know, thenight GerryWade diedâI was watching the bridge and thinking idly howawkwardlysomeonewasdealingâandthenrealizingthatitwasbecausetheyweredealingwiththelefthand.Ofcourse,itmusthavebeenSirOswald.â
Theyallthreelookedateachother.Loraineshookherhead.
âAman like SirOswaldCoote! Itâs impossible.What could he have togainbyit?â
âItseemsabsurd,âsaidJimmy.âAndyetââ
âNo7hashisownwaysofworking,âquotedBundlesoftly.âSupposingthisisthewaySirOswaldhasreallymadehisfortune?â
âButwhystageallthatcomedyattheAbbeywhenheâdhadtheformulaathisownworks?â
âTheremightbewaysofexplainingthat,âsaidLoraine.âThesamelineofargumentyouusedaboutMr.OâRourke.Suspicionhad tobediverted fromhimandplacedinanotherquarter.â
Bundlenoddedeagerly.
âItallfitsin.SuspicionistofallonBauerandtheCountess.WhoonearthwouldeverdreamofsuspectingSirOswaldCoote?â
âIwonderifBattledoes,âsaidJimmyslowly.
SomechordofmemoryvibratedinBundleâsmind.SuperintendentBattlepluckinganivyleafoffthemillionaireâscoat.
HadBattlesuspectedallthetime?
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-nine
SINGULARBEHAVIOUROFGEORGELOMAX
âMr.Lomaxishere,mylord.â
LordCaterham startedviolently, for, absorbed in the intricacies ofwhatnottodowiththeleftwrist,hehadnotheardthebutlerapproachoverthesoftturf.HelookedatTredwellmoreinsorrowthaninanger.
âI told you at breakfast,Tredwell, that I should be particularly engagedthismorning.â
âYes,mylord,butââ
âGoandtellMr.Lomaxthatyouhavemadeamistake,thatIamoutinthevillage,thatIamlaidupwiththegout,or,ifallelsefails,thatIamdead.â
âMr. Lomax, my lord, has already caught sight of your lordship whendrivingupthedrive.â
LordCaterhamsigheddeeply.
âHewould.Verywell,Tredwell,Iamcoming.â
Inamannerhighlycharacteristic,LordCaterhamwasalwaysmostgenialwhenhisfeelingswereinrealitythereverse.HegreetedGeorgenowwithaheartinessquiteunparalleled.
âMy dear fellow, my dear fellow. Delighted to see you. Absolutelydelighted.Sitdown.Haveadrink.Well,well,thisissplendid!â
Andhaving pushedGeorge into a large armchair, he sat downoppositehimandblinkednervously.
âIwantedtoseeyouveryparticularly,âsaidGeorge.
âOh!â said Lord Caterham faintly, and his heart sank, whilst his mindracedactivelyoverallthedreadpossibilitiesthatmightliebehindthatsimplephrase.
âVeryparticularly,âsaidGeorgewithheavyemphasis.
LordCaterhamâsheartsank lower thanever.Hefelt thatsomethingwascomingworsethananythinghehadyetthoughtof.
âYes?âhesaid,withacourageousattemptatnonchalance.
âIsEileenathome?â
LordCaterhamfeltreprieved,butslightlysurprised.
âYes,yes,âhesaid.âBundleâshere.GotthatfriendofherswithherâthelittleWadegirl.Verynicegirlâverynicegirl.Goingtobequiteagoodgolferoneday.Niceeasyswingââ
He was chatting garrulously on when George interrupted withruthlessness:
âIamgladthatEileenisathome.PerhapsImighthaveaninterviewwithherpresently?â
âCertainly, my dear fellow, certainly.â Lord Caterham still felt verysurprised,butwasstillenjoyingthesensationofreprieve.âIfitdoesnâtboreyou.â
âNothingcouldboremeless,âsaidGeorge.âI think,Caterham,ifImaysayso,thatyouhardlyappreciatethefactthatEileenisgrownup.Sheisnolonger a child.She is awoman, and, if Imay say so, a very charming andtalented woman. The man who succeeds in winning her love will beextremelylucky.Irepeatitâextremelylucky.â
âOh,Idaresay,âsaidLordCaterham.âButsheâsveryrestless,youknow.Never content to be in one place for more than two minutes together.However,Idaresayyoungfellowsdonâtmindthatnowadays.â
âYou mean that she is not content to stagnate. Eileen has brains,Caterham;sheisambitious.Sheinterestsherselfinthequestionsoftheday,andbringsherfreshandvividyoungintellecttobearuponthem.â
LordCaterhamstaredathim. Itoccurred tohim thatwhatwas sooftenreferred to as âthe strain of modern lifeâ had begun to tell upon George.Certainly his description of Bundle seemed to Lord Caterham ludicrouslyunlike.
âAreyousureyouarefeelingquitewell?âheaskedanxiously.
Georgewavedtheinquiryasideimpatiently.
âPerhaps, Caterham, you begin to have some inkling ofmy purpose invisitingyouthismorning.Iamnotamantoundertakefreshresponsibilitieslightly.Ihaveapropersense,Ihope,ofwhatisduetothepositionIhold.Ihave given this matter my deep and earnest consideration. Marriage,especiallyatmyage,isnottobeundertakenwithoutfullâerâconsideration.Equality of birth, similarity of tastes, general suitability, and the samereligiouscreedâallthesethingsarenecessaryandtheprosandconshavetobeweighedandconsidered.Ican,Ithink,offermywifeapositioninsocietythatisnottobedespised.Eileenwillgracethatpositionadmirably.Bybirthandbreedingshe is fittedfor it,andherbrainsandheracutepoliticalsensecannotbutfurthermycareertoourmutualadvantage.Iamaware,Caterham,thatthereisâerâsomedisparityinyears.ButIcanassureyouthatIfeelfullof vigourâinmy prime. The balance of years should be on the husbandâsside.And Eileen has serious tastesâan oldermanwill suit her better thansomeyoungjackanapeswithouteitherexperienceorsavoirfaire.Icanassureyou,mydearCaterham, that Iwill cherishherâerâexquisiteyouth; Iwillcherish itâerâitwill be appreciated.Towatch the exquisite flower of hermindunfoldingâwhataprivilege!AndtothinkthatIneverrealizedââ
He shook his head deprecatingly and Lord Caterham, finding his voicewithdifficulty,saidblankly:
âDo I understand you tomeanâah,my dear fellow, you canât want tomarryBundle?â
âYou are surprised. I suppose to you it seems sudden. I have yourpermission,then,tospeaktoher?â
âOh,yes,â saidLordCaterham.âIf itâspermissionyouwantâofcourseyoucan.Butyouknow,Lomax,IreallyshouldnâtifIwereyou.Justgohomeand think it over like a good fellow. Count twenty. All that sort of thing.Alwaysapitytoproposeandmakeafoolofyourself.â
âIdaresayyoumeanyouradvicekindly,Caterham,thoughImustconfessthatyouput itsomewhatstrangely.ButIhavemadeupmymindtoputmyfortunetothetest.ImayseeEileen?â
âOh, itâs nothing to do with me,â said Lord Caterham hastily; âEileensettlesherownaffairs.Ifshecametometomorrowandsaidshewasgoingto
marry the chauffeur, I shouldnât make any objections. Itâs the only waynowadays.Yourchildrencanmakelifedamnedunpleasantifyoudonâtgivein to them in everyway. I say toBundle, âDoasyou like, but donâtworryme,âandreally,onthewhole,sheisamazinglygoodaboutit.â
Georgestoodupintentuponhispurpose.
âWhereshallIfindher?â
âWell,really,Idonâtknow,âsaidLordCaterhamvaguely.âShemightbeanywhere. As I told you just now, sheâs never in the same place for twominutestogether.Norepose.â
âAndIsupposeMissWadewillbewithher?Itseemstome,Caterham,thatthebestplanwouldbeforyoutoringthebellandaskyourbutlertofindher,sayingthatIwishtospeaktoherforafewminutes.â
LordCaterhampressedthebellobediently.
âOh, Tredwell,â he said, when the bell was answered. âJust find herladyship, will you. Tell her Mr. Lomax is anxious to speak to her in thedrawingroom.â
âYes,mylord.â
Tredwell withdrew. George seized Lord Caterhamâs hand and wrung itwarmly,muchtothelatterâsdiscomfort.
âAthousandthanks,âhesaid.âIhopesoontobringyougoodnews.â
Hehastenedfromtheroom.
âWell,âsaidLordCaterham.âWell!â
Andafteralongpause:
âWhathasBundlebeenupto?â
Thedooropenedagain.
âMr.Eversleigh,mylord.â
AsBillhastenedin,LordCaterhamcaughthishandandspokeearnestly.
âHullo, Bill. Youâre looking for Lomax, I suppose? Look here, if youwant todoagoodturn,hurry to thedrawingroomandtellhimtheCabinethavecalledanimmediatemeeting,orgethimawaysomehow.Itâsreallynot
fair to let the poor devil make an ass of himself all for some silly girlâsprank.â
âIâve not come for Codders,â saidBill. âDidnât know hewas here. ItâsBundleIwanttosee.Issheanywhereabout?â
âYou canât see her,â said Lord Caterham. âNot just now, at any rate.Georgeiswithher.â
âWellâwhatdoesitmatter?â
âI think it does rather,â saidLordCaterham. âHeâs probably splutteringhorribly at this minute, and we mustnât do anything to make it worse forhim.â
âButwhatishesaying?â
âHeaven knows,â said Lord Caterham. âA lot of damned nonsense,anyway.Neversaytoomuch,thatwasalwaysmymotto.Grabthegirlâshandandleteventstaketheircourse.â
Billstaredathim.
âButlookhere,sir,Iâminahurry.ImusttalktoBundleââ
âWell,Idonâtsupposeyouâllhavetowaitlong.ImustconfessIâmrathergladtohaveyouherewithmeâIsupposeLomaxwillinsistoncomingbackandtalkingtomewhenitâsallover.â
âWhenwhatâsallover?WhatisLomaxsupposedtobedoing?â
âHush,âsaidLordCaterham.âHeâsproposing.â
âProposing?Proposingwhat?â
âMarriage.ToBundle.Donât askmewhy. I supposeheâs come towhattheycallthedangerousage.Icanâtexplainitanyotherway.â
âProposingtoBundle?Thedirtyswine.Athisage.â
Billâsfacegrewcrimson.
âHesaysheâsintheprimeoflife,âsaidLordCaterhamcautiously.
âHe?Why,heâsdecrepitâsenile!IââBillpositivelychoked.
âNotatall,âsaidLordCaterhamcoldly.âHeâsfiveyearsyounger thanIam.â
âOfallthedamnedcheek!CoddersandBundle!AgirllikeBundle!Yououghtnâttohaveallowedit.â
âIneverinterfere,âsaidLordCaterham.
âYououghttohavetoldhimwhatyouthoughtofhim.â
âUnfortunately modern civilization rules that out,â said Lord Caterhamregretfully. âIn the Stone Age nowâbut, dear me, I suppose even then Ishouldnâtbeabletodoitâbeingasmallman.â
âBundle! Bundle! Why, Iâve never dared to ask Bundle to marry mebecause I knew sheâd only laugh. And Georgeâa disgusting windbag, anunscrupulous hypocritical old hot air merchantâa foul, poisonous self-advertiserââ
âGoon,âsaidLordCaterham.âIamenjoyingthis.â
âMyGod!âsaidBillsimplyandwithfeeling.âLookhere,Imustbeoff.â
âNo,no,donâtgo.Iâdmuchratheryoustayed.Besides,youwant toseeBundle.â
âNot now. This has driven everything else out of my head. You donâtknowwhereJimmyThesigerisbyanychance?IbelievehewasstayingwiththeCootes.Ishetherestill?â
âI thinkhewentback to townyesterday.BundleandLorainewereoverthereonSaturday.Ifyouâllonlywaitââ
But Bill shook his head energetically and rushed from the room. LordCaterhamtiptoedoutintothehall,seizedahatandmadeahurriedexitbythesidedoor.InthedistanceheobservedBillstreakingdownthedriveinhiscar.
âThatyoungmanwillhaveanaccident,âhethought.
Bill,however,reachedLondonwithoutanymischance,andproceededtopark his car in St. Jamesâs Square. Then he sought out Jimmy Thesigerâsrooms.Jimmywasathome.
âHullo,Bill. I say,whatâs thematter?You donât look your usual brightlittleself.â
âIâmworried,âsaidBill.âIwasworriedanyway,andthensomethingelseturnedupandgavemeajolt.â
âOh!âsaidJimmy.âHowlucid!Whatâsitallabout?CanIdoanything?â
Billdidnotreply.HesatstaringatthecarpetandlookingsopuzzledanduncomfortablethatJimmyfelthiscuriosityaroused.
âHasanythingveryextraordinaryoccurred,William?âheaskedgently.
âSomethingdamnedodd.Icanâtmakeheadortailofit.â
âTheSevenDialsbusiness?â
âYesâtheSevenDialsbusiness.Igotaletterthismorning.â
âAletter?Whatsortofletter?â
âAletterfromRonnyDevereuxâsexecutors.â
âGoodlord!Afterallthistime!â
âItseemshe left instructions. Ifhewas todiesuddenly,acertainsealedenvelopewastobesenttomeexactlyafortnightafterhisdeath.â
âAndtheyâvesentittoyou?â
âYes.â
âYouâveopenedit?â
âYes.â
âWellâwhatdiditsay?â
Bill turned a glance upon him, such a strange and uncertain one thatJimmywasstartled.
âLookhere,âhesaid.âPullyourself together,oldman. It seems tohaveknockedthewindoutofyou,whateveritis.Haveadrink.â
Hepouredout a stiffwhisky and soda andbrought it over toBill,whotookitobediently.Hisfacestillborethesamedazedexpression.
âItâswhatâsintheletter,âhesaid.âIsimplycanâtbelieveit,thatâsall.â
âOh,nonsense,âsaidJimmy.âYoumustgetintothehabitofbelievingsiximpossible thingsbeforebreakfast. Idoit regularly.Nowthen, letâshearallaboutit.Waitaminute.â
Hewentoutside.
âStevens!â
âYes,sir?â
âJustgooutandgetmesomecigarettes,willyou?Iâverunout.â
âVerygood,sir.â
Jimmywaitedtillheheardthefrontdoorclose.Thenhecamebackintothesittingroom.Billwasjustintheactofsettingdownhisemptyglass.Helookedbetter,morepurposefulandmoremasterofhimself.
âNow then,â said Jimmy. âIâve sent Stevens out so that we canât beoverheard.Areyougoingtotellmeallaboutit?â
âItâssoincredible.â
âThenitâssuretobetrue.Comeon,outwithit.â
Billdrewadeepbreath.
âIwill.Iâlltellyoueverything.â
OceanofPDF.com
Thirty
ANURGENTSUMMONS
Loraine,playingwithasmallanddelectablepuppy,wassomewhatsurprisedwhenBundlerejoinedherafteranabsenceoftwentyminutes,inabreathlessstateandwithanindescribableexpressiononherface.
âWhoof,âsaidBundle,sinkingontoagardenseat.âWhoof.â
âWhatâsthematter?âaskedLoraine,lookingathercuriously.
âGeorgeisthematterâGeorgeLomax.â
âWhatâshebeendoing?â
âProposing to me. It was awful. He spluttered and he stuttered, but hewouldgothroughwithitâhemusthavelearntitoutofabook,Ithink.Therewasnostoppinghim.Oh,howIhatemenwhosplutter!And,unfortunately,Ididnâtknowthereply.â
âYoumusthaveknownwhatyouwantedtodo.â
âNaturallyIâmnotgoingtomarryanapologeticidiotlikeGeorge.WhatImean is, Ididnâtknow thecorrect reply from thebookofetiquette. I couldonlyjustsayflatly:âNo,Iwonât.âWhatIoughttohavesaidwassomethingaboutbeingverysensibleofthehonourhehaddonemeandsoonandsoon.ButIgotsorattledthatintheendIjumpedoutofthewindowandbolted.â
âReally,Bundle,thatâsnotlikeyou.â
âWell,Ineverdreamtofsuchathinghappening.GeorgeâwhoIalwaysthoughthatedmeâandhedidtoo.Whatafatalthingitistopretendtotakean interest inamanâspet subject.Youshouldhaveheard thedrivelGeorgetalked about my girlish mind and the pleasure it would be to form it.Mymind! IfGeorgeknewonequarterofwhatwasgoingon inmymind,heâdfaintwithhorror!â
Lorainelaughed.Shecouldnâthelpit.
âOh, I know itâs my own fault. I let myself in for this. Thereâs Fatherdodgingroundthatrhododendron.Hallo,Father.â
LordCaterhamapproachedwithahangdogexpression.
âLomaxgone,eh?âheremarkedwithsomewhatforcedgeniality.
âAnicebusinessyouletmeinfor,âsaidBundle.âGeorgetoldmehehadyourfullapprovalandsanction.â
âWell,âsaidLordCaterham,âwhatdidyouexpectmetosay?Asamatteroffact,Ididnâtsaythatatall,oranythinglikeit.â
âIdidnâtreallythinkso,âsaidBundle.âIassumedthatGeorgehadtalkedyou into a corner and reduced you to such a state that you could only nodyourheadfeebly.â
âThatâsverymuchwhathappened.Howdidhetakeit?Badly?â
âIdidnâtwaittosee,âsaidBundle.âIâmafraidIwasratherabrupt.â
âOhwell,â saidLordCaterham. âPerhaps thatwas the bestway.ThankgoodnessinthefutureLomaxwonâtalwaysberunningoverashehasbeeninthehabitofdoing,worryingmeaboutthings.Everythingisforthebesttheysay.Haveyouseenmyjiggeranywhere?â
âAmashie shot or twowould steadymy nerves, I think,â said Bundle.âIâlltakeyouonforsixpence,Loraine.â
An hour passed very peacefully. The three returned to the house in aharmoniousspirit.Anotelayonthehalltable.
âMr. Lomax left that for you, my lord,â explained Tredwell. âHe wasmuchdisappointedtofindthatyouhadgoneout.â
LordCaterham tore it open.He uttered a pained ejaculation and turneduponhisdaughter.Tredwellhadretired.
âReally,Bundle,youmighthavemadeyourselfclear,Ithink.â
âWhatdoyoumean?â
âWell,readthis.â
Bundletookitandread:
âMy dear Caterham,âI am sorry not to have had a word with you. I
thoughtImadeitclearthatIwantedtoseeyouagainaftermyinterviewwithEileen.She,dearchild,wasevidentlyquiteunawareofthefeelingsIentertained towardsher. Shewas, I amafraid,much startled. I havenowish tohurryher inanyway.Hergirlishconfusionwasverycharming,and I entertainanevenhigher regard forher,as Imuchappreciatehermaidenlyreserve.Imustgivehertimetobecomeaccustomedtotheidea.Her very confusion shows that she isnotwholly indifferent tomeand Ihavenodoubtsofmyultimatesuccess.
Believeme,dearCaterham,
Yoursincerefriend,
GeorgeLomax.â
âWell,âsaidBundle.âWell,Iâmdamned!â
Wordsfailedher.
âThemanmustbemad,âsaidLordCaterham.âNoonecouldwritethosethingsaboutyou,Bundle,unlesstheywereslightlytouchedinthehead.Poorchap,poorchap.Butwhatpersistence!IdonâtwonderhegotintotheCabinet.Itwouldservehimrightifyoudidmarryhim,Bundle.â
The telephone rang andBundlemoved forward to answer it. In anotherminute George and his proposal were forgotten, and she was beckoningeagerlytoLoraine.LordCaterhamwentofftohisownsanctum.
âItâs Jimmy,â said Bundle. âAnd heâs tremendously excited aboutsomething.â
âThankgoodnessIâvecaughtyou,âsaidJimmyâsvoice.âThereâsnotimetobelost.Loraineâsthere,too?â
âYes,sheâshere.â
âWell,lookhere,Ihavenâtgottimetoexplaineverythingâinfact,Icanâtthrough the telephone. But Bill has been round to see me with the mostamazing storyyou ever heard. If itâs trueâwell, if itâs true, itâs thebiggestscoopofthecentury.Now,lookhere,thisiswhatyouâvegottodo.Comeuptotownatonce,bothofyou.GaragethecarsomewhereandgostraighttotheSevenDialsClub.Doyou think thatwhenyouget thereyoucanget ridofthatfootmanfellow?â
âAlfred?Rather.Youleavethattome.â
âGood. Get rid of him and watch out for me and Bill. Donât showyourselvesatthewindows,butwhenwedriveup,letusinatonce.See?â
âYes.â
âThatâs all right then.Oh,Bundle, donât let on that youâre going up totown.Makesomeotherexcuse.Sayyour takingLorainehome.Howwouldthatdo?â
âSplendidly.Isay,Jimmy,Iâmthrilledtothecore.â
âAndyoumightaswellmakeyourwillbeforestarting.â
âBetterandbetter.ButIwishIknewwhatitwasallabout.â
âYouwillassoonaswemeet.Iâlltellyouthismuch.WeâregoingtogetreadythehellofasurpriseforNo7!â
Bundle hung up the receiver and turned to Loraine, giving her a rapidrĂ©sumĂ©oftheconversation.Lorainerushedupstairsandhurriedlypackedhersuitcase,andBundleputherheadroundherfatherâsdoor.
âIâmtakingLorainehome,Father.â
âWhy?Ihadnoideashewasgoingtoday.â
âTheywantherback,âsaidBundlevaguely.âJusttelephoned.Bye-bye.â
âHere,Bundle,waitaminute.Whenwillyoubehome?â
âDonâtknow.Expectmewhenyouseeme.â
WiththisunceremoniousexitBundlerushedupstairs,putahaton,slippedintoherfurcoatandwasreadytostart.ShehadalreadyorderedtheHispanotobebroughtround.
The journey to London was without adventure, except such as washabitually provided by Bundleâs driving. They left the car at a garage andproceededdirecttotheSevenDialsClub.
ThedoorwasopenedtothembyAlfred.BundlepushedherwaypasthimwithoutceremonyandLorainefollowed.
âShutthedoor,Alfred,âsaidBundle.âNow,Iâvecomehereespeciallytodoyouagoodturn.Thepoliceareafteryou.â
âOh,mylady!â
Alfredturnedchalkwhite.
âIâvecometowarnyoubecauseyoudidmeagoodturntheothernight,âwentonBundlerapidly.âThereâsawarrantoutforMr.Mosgorovsky,andthebestthingyoucandoistoclearoutofhereasquickasyoucan.Ifyouârenotfoundhere, theywonâtbotheraboutyou.Hereâs tenpounds tohelpyougetawaysomewhere.â
InthreeminutesâtimeanincoherentandbadlyscaredAlfredhadleft14HunstantonStreetwithonlyoneideainhisheadânevertoreturn.
âWell,Iâvemanagedthatallright,âsaidBundlewithsatisfaction.
âWasitnecessarytobesoâwell,drastic?âLorainedemurred.
âItâssafer,âsaidBundle.âIdonâtknowwhatJimmyandBillareupto,butwe donât want Alfred coming back in the middle of it and wreckingeverything. Hallo, here they are. Well, they havenât wasted much time.Probablywatchingroundthecorner toseeAlfredleave.Godownandopenthedoortothem,Loraine.â
Loraineobeyed.JimmyThesigeralightedfromthedrivingseat.
âYoustophereforamoment,Bill,âhesaid.âBlowthehornifyouthinkanyoneâswatchingtheplace.â
Heranupthestepsandbangedthedoorbehindhim.Helookedpinkandelated.
âHallo, Bundle, there you are. Now then, weâve got to get down to it.Whereâsthekeyoftheroomyougotintolasttime?â
âItwasoneofthedownstairskeys.Weâdbetterbringthelotup.â
âRightyouare,butbequick.Timeâsshort.â
Thekeywaseasilyfound,thebaize-lineddoorswungbackandthethreeentered.TheroomwasexactlyasBundlehadseenitbefore,with thesevenchairs grouped round the table. Jimmy surveyed it for a minute or two insilence.Thenhiseyeswenttothetwocupboards.
âWhichisthecupboardyouhidin,Bundle?â
âThisone.â
Jimmy went to it and flung the door open. The same collection ofmiscellaneousglasswarecoveredtheshelves.
âWeshallhavetoshiftall thisstuff,âhemurmured.âRundownandgetBill,Loraine.Thereâsnoneedforhimtokeepwatchoutsideanylonger.â
Loraineranoff.
âWhatareyougoingtodo?âinquiredBundleimpatiently.
Jimmywas down on his knees, trying to peer through the crack of theothercupboarddoor.
âWaittillBillcomesandyoushallhearthewholestory.Thisishisstaffworkâanda jollycreditablebitofwork it is.HalloâwhatâsLoraineflyingupthestairsforasthoughsheâsgotamadbullafterher?â
Lorainewasindeedracingupthestairsasfastasshecould.Sheburstinuponthemwithanashenfaceandterrorinhereyes.
âBillâBillâOh,BundleâBill!â
âWhataboutBill?â
Jimmycaughtherbytheshoulder.
âForGodâssake,Loraine,whatâshappened?â
Lorainewasstillgasping.
âBillâI think heâs deadâheâs in the car stillâbut he doesnâtmove orspeak.Iâmsureheâsdead.â
Jimmymutteredanoathandsprangforthestairs,Bundlebehindhim,herheart pounding unevenly and an awful feeling of desolation spreading overher.
Billâdead?Oh,no!Oh,no!Notthat.PleaseGodânotthat.
TogethersheandJimmyreachedthecar,Lorainebehindthem.
Jimmypeeredunderthehood.Billwassittingashehadlefthim,leaningback. But his eyes were closed and Jimmyâs pull at his arm brought noresponse.
âI canât understand it,âmuttered Jimmy. âBut heâs not dead. Cheer up,Bundle. Look here, weâve got to get him into the house. Letâs pray to
goodnessnopolicemancomesalong.Ifanybodysaysanything,heâsoursickfriendweârehelpingintothehouse.â
Between the three of them they got Bill into the house without muchdifficulty, and without attracting much attention, save for an unshavengentleman,whosaidsympathetically:
âGennemanâsâadacouple,Ishee,âandnoddedhisheadsapiently.
âIntothelittlebackroomdownstairs,âsaidJimmy.âThereâsasofathere.â
TheygothimsafelyontothesofaandBundlekneltdownbesidehimandtookhislimpwristinherhand.
âHispulseisbeating,âshesaid.âWhatisthematterwithhim?â
âHewas all right when I left him just now,â said Jimmy. âI wonder ifsomeoneâsmanagedtoinjectsomestuffintohim.Itwouldbeeasilydoneâjustaprick.Themanmighthavebeenaskinghimthetime.Thereâsonlyonething for it. Imust get him a doctor at once.You stay here and look afterhim.â
Hehurriedtothedoor,thenpaused.
âLookhereâdonâtbescared,eitherofyou.ButIâdbetter leaveyoumyrevolver.Imeanâjustincase.IâllbebackjustassoonasIpossiblycan.â
Helaidtherevolverdownonthelittletablebythesofa,thenhurriedoff.Theyheardthefrontdoorbangbehindhim.
Thehouseseemedverystillnow.ThetwogirlsstayedmotionlessbyBill.Bundlestillkeptherfingeronhispulse.Itseemedtobebeatingveryfastandirregularly.
âI wish we could do something,â she whispered to Loraine. âThis isawful.â
Lorainenodded.
âIknow.ItseemsagessinceJimmywentandyetitâsonlyaminuteandahalf.â
âI keep hearing things,â said Bundle. âFootsteps and boards creakingupstairsâandyetIknowitâsonlyimagination.â
âIwonderwhy Jimmy left us the revolver,â said Loraine. âThere canât
reallybedanger.â
âIftheycouldgetBillââsaidBundleandstopped.
Loraineshivered.
âIknowâbutweâreinthehouse.Nobodycangetinwithoutourhearingthem.Andanywayweâvegottherevolver.â
BundleturnedherattentionbackagaintoBill.
âIwishIknewwhattodo.Hotcoffee.Yougivethemthatsometimes.â
âIâve got some smelling salts in my bag,â said Loraine. âAnd somebrandy.Whereisit?Oh,Imusthaveleftitintheroomupstairs.â
âIâllgetit,âsaidBundle.âTheymightdosomegood.â
Shespedquicklyup thestairs, across thegaming roomand through theopendoorintothemeetingplace.Loraineâsbagwaslyingonthetable.
AsBundlestretchedoutherhandtotakeit,sheheardanoisefrombehindher.Hiddenbehind thedooramanstoodreadywithasandbag inhishand.BeforeBundlecouldturnherhead,hehadstruck.
Witha faintmoan,Bundleslippeddown,anunconsciousheapupon thefloor.
OceanofPDF.com
Thirty-one
THESEVENDIALS
Very slowlyBundle returned to consciousness. Shewas 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 thesamethingoverandoveragain.
Theblacknessspanlessviolently.Theachewasnowdefinitelylocatedasbeing in Bundleâs own head. And she was sufficiently herself to take aninterestinwhatthevoicewassaying.
âDarling, darlingBundle.Oh, darlingBundle. Sheâs dead; I know sheâsdead. Oh, my darling. Bundle, darling, darling Bundle. I do love you so.Bundleâdarlingâdarlingââ
Bundlelayquitestillwithhereyesshut.Butshewasnowfullyconscious.Billâsarmsheldherclosely.
âBundle darlingâOh, dearest, darling Bundle. Oh, my dear love. Oh,BundleâBundle.What shall I do?Oh, darling oneâmyBundleâmy owndearest,sweetestBundle.Oh,God,whatshallIdo?Iâvekilledher.Iâvekilledher.â
ReluctantlyâveryreluctantlyâBundlespoke.
âNo,youhavenât,yousillyidiot,âshesaid.
Billgaveagaspofutteramazement.
âBundleâyouârealive.â
âOfcourseIâmalive.â
âHowlonghaveyoubeenâImeanwhendidyoucometo?â
âAboutfiveminutesago.â
âWhydidnâtyouopenyoureyesâorsaysomething?â
âDidnâtwantto.Iwasenjoyingmyself.â
âEnjoyingyourself?â
âYes.Listeningtoall thethingsyouweresaying.Youâllneversaythemsowellagain.Youâllbetoobeastlyself-conscious.â
Billhadturnedadarkbrick-red.
âBundleâyoureallydidnâtmind?Youknow,Idoloveyouso.Ihaveforages.ButIneverhavedaredtotellyouso.â
âYousillyjuggins,âsaidBundle.âWhy?â
âIthoughtyouâdonlylaughatme.Imeanâyouâvegotbrainsandallthatâyouâllmarrysomebigwig.â
âLikeGeorgeLomax?âsuggestedBundle.
âI donât mean a fatuous ass like Codders. But some really fine chapwhoâllbeworthyofyouâthoughIdonâtthinkanyonecouldbethat,âendedBill.
âYouâreratheradear,Bill.â
âBut, Bundle, seriously, could you ever? I mean, could you ever bringyourselfto?â
âCouldIeverbringmyselftodowhat?â
âMarryme.IknowIâmawfullythickheadedâbutIdoloveyou,Bundle.Iâdbeyourdogoryourslaveoryouranything.â
âYouârevery likeadog,â saidBundle. âI likedogs.Theyâre so friendlyandfaithfulandwarmhearted.IthinkthatperhapsIcouldjustbringmyselftomarryyou,Billâwithagreateffort,youknow.â
Billâs response to this was to relinquish his grasp of her and recoilviolently.Helookedatherwithamazementinhiseyes.
âBundleâyoudonâtmeanit?â
âThereâs nothing for it,â saidBundle. âI see I shall have to relapse intounconsciousnessagain.â
âBundleâdarlingââBillcaughthertohim.Hewastremblingviolently.âBundleâdoyoureallymeanitâdoyou?âyoudonâtknowhowmuchIlove
you.â
âOh,Bill,âsaidBundle.
There is no need to describe in detail the conversation of the next tenminutes.Itconsistedmostlyofrepetitions.
âAnddoyou really loveme?âsaidBill, incredulously, for the twentiethtimeasheatlastreleasedher.
âYesâyesâyes.Nowdo letâsbe sensible. Iâvegot a rackinghead still,and Iâve been nearly squeezed to death by you. I want to get the hang ofthings.Whereareweandwhatâshappened?â
Forthefirst time,Bundlebeganto takestockofhersurroundings.Theywere in the secret room, she noted, and the baize door was closed andpresumablylocked.Theywereprisoners,then!
BundleâseyescamebacktoBill.Quiteobliviousofherquestionhewaswatchingherwithadoringeyes.
âBill,darling,âsaidBundle,âpullyourselftogether.Weâvegottogetoutofhere.â
âEh?âsaidBill.âWhat?Oh,yes.Thatâllbeallright.Nodifficultyaboutthat.â
âItâsbeinginlovemakesyoufeellikethat,âsaidBundle.âIfeelratherthesamemyself.Asthougheverythingâseasyandpossible.â
âSoitis,âsaidBill.âNowthatIknowyoucareformeââ
âStop it,â said Bundle. âOncewe begin again any serious conversationwill be hopeless. Unless you pull yourself together and become sensible, Ishallverylikelychangemymind.â
âIshanâtletyou,âsaidBill.âYoudonâtthinkthatoncehavinggotyouIâdbesuchafoolastoletyougo,doyou?â
âYou would not coerce me against my will, I hope,â said Bundlegrandiloquently.
âWouldnâtI?âsaidBill.âYoujustwatchmedoit,thatâsall.â
âYoureallyareratheradarling,Bill.Iwasafraidyoumightbetoomeek,butIseethereâsgoingtobenodangerofthat.Inanotherhalfhouryouâdbe
orderingmeabout.Oh,dear,weâregettingsillyagain.Now,lookhere,Bill.Weâvegottogetoutofhere.â
âItellyouthatâllbequiteallright.Ishallââ
Hebrokeoff,obedienttoapressurefromBundleâshand.Shewasleaningforward, listening intently. Yes, she had not been mistaken. A step wascrossingtheouterroom.Thekeywasthrustintothelockandturned.Bundleheld her breath.Was it Jimmy coming to rescue themâorwas it someoneelse?
The door opened and the black-beardedMr.Mosgorovsky stood on thethreshold.
ImmediatelyBilltookastepforward,standinginfrontofBundle.
âLookhere,âhesaid,âIwantawordwithyouprivately.â
TheRussiandidnotreplyforaminuteortwo.Hestoodstrokinghislong,silkyblackbeardandsmilingquietlytohimself.
âSo,âhesaidatlast,âitislikethat.Verywell.Theladywillbepleasedtocomewithme.â
âItâsallright,Bundle,âsaidBill.âLeaveittome.Yougowiththischap.Nobodyâsgoingtohurtyou.IknowwhatIâmdoing.â
Bundleroseobediently.ThatnoteofauthorityinBillâsvoicewasnewtoher.Heseemedabsolutelysureofhimselfandconfidentofbeingabletodealwith the situation.Bundlewondered vaguelywhat itwas thatBill hadâorthoughthehadâuphissleeve.
She passed out of the room in front of the Russian. He followed her,closingthedoorbehindhimandlockingit.
âThisway,please,âhesaid.
Heindicatedthestaircaseandshemountedobedientlytothefloorabove.Hereshewasdirectedtopassintoasmallfrowsyroom,whichshetooktobeAlfredâsbedroom.
Mosgorovskysaid:âYouwillwaitherequietly,please.Theremustbenonoise.â
Thenhewentout,closingthedoorbehindhimandlockingherin.
Bundlesatdownonachair.Herheadwasachingbadlystillandshefeltincapableofsustainedthought.Billseemedtohavethesitautionwellinhand.Soonerorlater,shesupposed,someonewouldcomeandletherout.
Theminutespassed.Bundleâswatchhadstopped,butshejudgedthatoveran hour had passed since the Russian had brought her here. What washappening?What,indeed,hadhappened?
Atlastsheheardfootstepsonthestairs.ItwasMosgorovskyoncemore.Hespokeveryformallytoher.
âLady Eileen Brent, you are wanted at an emergency meeting of theSevenDialsSociety.Pleasefollowme.â
HeledthewaydownthestairsandBundlefollowedhim.Heopenedthedoor of the secret chamber and Bundle passed in, catching her breath insurpriseasshedidso.
Shewasseeingfor thesecond timewhatshehadonlyhadaglimpseofthefirsttimethroughherpeephole.Themaskedfiguresweresittingroundthetable.Asshestoodthere,takenabackbythesuddennessofit,Mosgorovskyslippedintohisplace,adjustinghisclockmaskashedidso.
Butthistimethechairattheheadofthetablewasoccupied.No7wasinhisplace.
Bundleâs heart beat violently. Shewas standing at the foot of the tabledirectlyfacinghimandshestaredandstaredatthemockingpieceofhangingstuff,withtheclockdialonit,thathidhisfeatures.
He sat quite immovable and Bundle got an odd sensation of powerradiating from him.His inactivitywas not the inactivity ofweaknessâandshewishedviolently,almosthysterically,thathewouldspeakâthathewouldmakesomesign,somegestureânotjustsittherelikeagiganticspiderinthemiddleofitswebwaitingremorselesslyforitsprey.
She shivered and as she did soMosgorovsky rose. His voice, smooth,silky,persuasive,seemedcuriouslyfaraway.
âLadyEileen,youhavebeenpresentunaskedatthesecretcouncilsofthissociety. It is therefore necessary that you should identify yourselfwith ouraimsandambitions.Theplace2oâclock,youmaynotice,isvacant.Itisthatplacethatisofferedtoyou.â
Bundlegasped.Thethingwaslikeafantasticnightmare.Wasitpossiblethatshe,BundleBrent,wasbeingasked to joinamurderoussecretsociety?HadthesamepropositionbeenmadetoBill,andhadherefusedindignantly?
âIcanâtdothat,âshesaidbluntly.
âDonotanswerprecipitately.â
She fancied that Mosgorovsky, beneath his clock mask, was smilingsignificantlyintohisbeard.
âYoudonotasyetknow,LadyEileen,whatitisyouarerefusing.â
âIcanmakeaprettygoodguess,âsaidBundle.
âCanyou?â
Itwasthevoiceof7oâclock.ItawokesomevaguechordofmemoryinBundleâsbrain.Surelysheknewthatvoice?
VeryslowlyNo7raisedahandtohisheadandfumbledwiththefasteningofthemask.
Bundleheldherbreath.Atlastâshewasgoingtoknow.
Themaskfell.
Bundle found herself looking into the expressionless, wooden face ofSuperintendentBattle.
OceanofPDF.com
Thirty-two
BUNDLEISDUMBFOUNDED
âThatâs right,â said Battle, asMosgorovsky leapt up and came round toBundle.âGetachairforher.Itâsbeenabitofashock,Icansee.â
Bundle sank down on the chair. She felt limp and faint with surprise.Battlewent on talking in a quiet, comfortablewaywholly characteristic ofhim.
âYoudidnâtexpecttoseeme,LadyEileen.No,andnomoredidsomeoftheotherssittingroundthetable.Mr.Mosgorovskyâsbeenmylieutenantinamannerofspeaking.Heâsbeenintheknowallalong.Butmostoftheothershavetakentheirordersblindlyfromhim.â
StillBundle saidnoword.Shewasâamostunusual stateof affairs forherâsimplyincapableofspeech.
Battlenoddedathercomprehendingly,seemingtounderstandthestateofherfeelings.
âYouâll have to get rid of one or two preconceived ideas of yours, Iâmafraid, Lady Eileen. About this society, for instanceâI know itâs commonenough in booksâa secret organization of criminals with a mysterioussupercriminalattheheadofitwhomnooneeversees.Thatsortofthingmayexist inreal life,butIcanonlysaythatIâvenevercomeacrossanythingofthesort,andIâvehadagooddealofexperienceonewayoranother.
âButthereâsalotofromanceintheworld,LadyEileen.People,especiallyyoungpeople,likereadingaboutsuchthings,andtheylikestillbetterreallydoing them. Iâm going to introduce you now to a very creditable band ofamateurs thathasdoneremarkablyfineworkformyDepartment,work thatnobody else could have done. If theyâve chosen rather melodramatictrappings,well,whyshouldnâtthey?Theyâvebeenwillingtofacerealdangerâdangeroftheveryworstkindâandtheyâvedoneitforthesereasons:loveofdangerforitsownsakeâwhichtomymindisaveryhealthysigninthese
SafetyFirstdaysâandanhonestwishtoservetheircountry.
âAndnow,LadyEileen, Iâmgoing to introduceyou.Firstofall, thereâsMr. Mosgorovsky, whom you already know in a manner of speaking. Asyouâreaware,herunstheclubandherunsahostofotherthingstoo.Heâsourmost valuable Secret Anti-Bolshevist Agent in England. No 5 is CountAndras of the Hungarian Embassy, a very near and dear friend of the lateGeraldWade.No 4 isMr.HaywardPhelps, anAmerican journalist,whoseBritish sympathies are very keen andwhose aptitude for scenting ânewsâ isremarkable.No3ââ
Hestopped, smiling, andBundle stareddumbfounded into the sheepish,grinningfaceofBillEversleigh.
âNo2,âwentonBattleinagravervoice,âcanonlyshowanemptyplace.It is the place belonging to Mr. Ronald Devereux, a very gallant younggentlemanwhodiedforhiscountry ifanymaneverdid.No1âwell,No1wasMr.GeraldWade,anotherverygallantgentlemanwhodiedinthesameway.Hisplacewastakenânotwithoutsomegravemisgivingsonmypartâbyaladyâaladywhohasprovedherfitnesstohaveitandwhohasbeenagreathelptous.â
The last todo so,No1, removedhermask, andBundle lookedwithoutsurpriseintothebeautiful,darkfaceofCountessRadzky.
âI might have known,â said Bundle resentfully, âthat you were toocompletely the beautiful foreign adventuress to be anything of the kindreally.â
âBut youdonât know the real joke,â saidBill. âBundle, this isBabeSt.Maurâyou remembermy telling you about her andwhat a ripping actressshewasâandsheâsaboutprovedit.â
âThatâs so,â saidMissMaur in pure transatlantic nasal. âBut itâs not aterriblelotofcredittome,becausePoppaandMommacamefromthatpartofYurrupâso Igot thepatter fairly easy.Gee,but Inearlygavemyself awayonceattheAbbey,talkingaboutgardens.â
Shepausedandthensaidabruptly:
âItâsâitâsnotbeenjustfun.Yousee,IwaskinderengagedtoRonny,andwhenhehandedinhischecksâwell,Ihadtodosomethingtotrackdownthe
skunkwhomurderedhim.Thatâsall.â
âIâmcompletelybewildered,âsaidBundle.âNothingiswhatitseems.â
âItâsverysimple,LadyEileen,âsaidSuperintendentBattle.âItbeganwithsomeoftheyoungpeoplewantingabitofexcitement.ItwasMr.Wadewhofirstgotontome.Hesuggestedtheformationofabandofwhatyoumightcallamateurworkerstodoabitofsecretservicework.Iwarnedhimthatitmightbedangerousâbuthewasnât thekind toweigh that in thebalance. Imade it plain to him that anyone who came in must do so on thatunderstanding.But, bless you, thatwasnât going to stop anyofMr.Wadeâsfriends.Andsothethingbegan.â
âButwhatwastheobjectofitall?âaskedBundle.
âWe wanted a certain manâwanted him badly. He wasnât an ordinarycrook.Heworked inMr.Wadeâsworld, a kind of Raffles, butmuchmoredangerous thananyRaffles everwasor couldbe.Hewasout forbig stuff,internationalstuff.Twicealreadyvaluablesecretinventionshadbeenstolen,andclearlystolenbysomeonewhohadinsideknowledge.Theprofessionalshadhadatryâandfailed.Thentheamateurstookonâandsucceeded.â
âSucceeded?â
âYesâbuttheydidnâtcomeoutofitunscathed.Themanwasdangerous.Two lives fell victim to him and he got awaywith it. But the SevenDialsstucktoit.AndasIsaytheysucceeded.ThankstoMr.Eversleigh, themanwascaughtatlastred-handed.â
âWhowashe?âaskedBundle.âDoIknowhim?â
âYouknowhimverywell,LadyEileen.HisnameisMr.JimmyThesiger,andhewasarrestedthisafternoon.â
OceanofPDF.com
Thirty-three
BATTLEEXPLAINS
Superintendent Battle settled down to explain. He spoke comfortably andcosily.
âIdidnâtsuspecthimmyselfforalongtime.ThefirsthintofitIhadwaswhenIheardwhatMr.Devereuxâslastwordshadbeen.Naturally,youtookthemtomeanthatMr.DevereuxwastryingtosendwordtoMr.Thesigerthatthe SevenDials had killed him.Thatâswhat thewords seemed tomean ontheir face value. But of course I knew that that couldnât be so. It was theSevenDials thatMr.DevereuxwantedtoldâandwhathewantedthemtoldwassomethingaboutMr.JimmyThesiger.
âThe thing seemed incredible, becauseMr. Devereux andMr. Thesigerwereclosefriends.ButIrememberedsomethingelseâthatthesetheftsmusthavebeencommittedbysomeonewhowasabsolutelyintheknow.Someone,who, if not in theForeignOfficehimself,was in thewayof hearing all itschitchat. And I found it very hard to find out whereMr. Thesiger got hismoney.Theincomehisfatherlefthimwasasmallone,yethewasabletoliveatamostexpensiverate.Wheredidthemoneycomefrom?
âIknew thatMr.Wadehadbeenveryexcitedbysomething thathehadfoundout.Hewasquitesurethathewasontherighttrack.Hedidnâtconfideinanyoneaboutwhathethoughtthattrackwas,buthedidsaysomethingtoMr.Devereuxaboutbeingonthepointofmakingsure.ThatwasjustbeforetheybothwentdowntoChimneysforthatweekend.Asyouknow,Mr.Wadedied thereâapparently from an overdose of a sleeping draught. It seemedstraightforwardenough,butMr.Devereuxdidnotacceptthatexplanationforaminute.HewasconvincedthatMr.Wadehadbeenverycleverlyputoutofthewayandthatsomeoneinthehousemustactuallybethecriminalwewereall after. He came, I think, very near confiding in Mr. Thesiger, for hecertainlyhadnosuspicionsofhimat thatmoment.Butsomethingheldhimback.
âThenhedida rathercurious thing.Hearrangedsevenclocksupon themantelpiece, throwing away the eighth. It wasmeant as a symbol that theSeven Dials would revenge the death of one of their membersâand hewatched eagerly to see if anyone betrayed themselves or showed signs ofperturbation.â
âAnditwasJimmyThesigerwhopoisonedGerryWade?â
âYes, he slipped the stuff into awhisky and sodawhichMr.Wade haddownstairsbefore retiring tobed.Thatâswhyhewasalready feeling sleepywhenhewrotethatlettertoMissWade.â
âThenthefootman,Bauer,hadnâtanythingtodowithit?âaskedBundle.
âBauerwasoneofourpeople,LadyEileen.Itwasthoughtlikelythatourcrook would go for Herr Eberhardâs invention and Bauer was got into thehousetowatcheventsonourbehalf.Buthewasnâtabletodomuch.AsIsay,Mr.Thesigeradministeredthefataldoseeasilyenough.Later,wheneveryonewas asleep, a bottle, glass and empty chloral bottle were placed by Mr.Wadeâs bedside byMr. Thesiger.Mr.Wadewas unconscious then, and hisfingers were probably pressed round the glass and the bottle so that theyshouldbefoundthereifanyquestionsshouldarise.Idonâtknowwhateffectthe seven clocks on the mantelpiece made on Mr. Thesiger. He certainlydidnâtletonanythingtoMr.Devereux.Allthesame,Ithinkhehadabadfiveminutesnowandagain thinkingof them.AndI thinkhekeptaprettywaryeyeonMr.Devereuxafterthat.
âWedonât knowexactlywhathappenednext.Noone sawmuchofMr.Devereux afterMr.Wadeâs death. But it is clear that he worked along thesamelinesthatheknewMr.Wadehadbeenworkingonandreachedthesameresultânamely, that Mr. Thesiger was the man. I fancy, too, that he wasbetrayedinthesameway.â
âYoumean?â
âThroughMissLoraineWade.Mr.WadewasdevotedtoherâIbelievehehopedtomarryherâshewasnât reallyhissister,ofcourseâandthere isnodoubtthathetoldhermorethanheshouldhavedone.ButMissLoraineWadewasdevotedbodyandsoul toMr.Thesiger.Shewoulddoanythinghe toldher. She passed on the information to him. In the same way, later, Mr.Devereuxwasattractedtoher,andprobablywarnedheragainstMr.Thesiger.
SoMr.Devereux in turnwassilencedâanddied trying tosendword to theSevenDialsthathismurdererwasMr.Thesiger.â
âHowghastly,âcriedBundle.âIfIhadonlyknown.â
âWell, it didnât seem likely. In fact, I could hardly credit itmyself.ButthenwecametotheaffairattheAbbey.YouwillrememberhowawkwarditwasâspeciallyawkwardforMr.Eversleighhere.YouandMr.Thesigerwerehandinglove.Mr.Eversleighhadalreadybeenembarrassedbyyourinsistingon being brought to this place, and when he found that you had actuallyoverheardwhatwentonatameeting,hewasdumbfounded.â
TheSuperintendentpausedandatwinklecameintohiseye.
âSowasI,LadyEileen.Ineverdreamedofsucha thingbeingpossible.Youputoneoveronmethereallright.
âWell, Mr. Eversleigh was in a dilemma. He couldnât let you into thesecretoftheSevenDialswithoutlettingMr.Thesigerinalsoâandthatwouldnever do. It all suitedMr. Thesiger verywell, of course, for it gave him abonafidereasonforgettinghimselfaskedto theAbbey,whichmadethingseasierforhim.
âImaysaythat theSevenDialshadalreadysentawarningletter toMr.Lomax.Thatwastoensurehisapplyingtomeforassistance,sothatIshouldbeabletobeonthespotinaperfectlynaturalmanner.Imadenosecretofmypresence,asyouknow.â
AndagaintheSuperintendentâseyetwinkled.
âWell, ostensibly, Mr. Eversleigh and Mr. Thesiger were to divide thenightintotwowatches.Really,Mr.EversleighandMissSt.Maurdidso.ShewasonguardatthelibrarywindowwhensheheardMr.Thesigercomingandhadtodartbehindthescreen.
âAndnowcomestheclevernessofMr.Thesiger.Uptoapointhetoldmeaperfectly truestory,andImustadmit thatwith thefightandeverything, Iwasdistinctlyshakenâandbegantowonderwhetherhehadhadanythingtodowith the theftatall,orwhetherwewerecompletelyon thewrong track.Therewere one or two suspicious circumstances that pointed in an entirelydifferentdirection,andIcantellyouIdidnâtknowwhat tomakeof things,whensomethingturneduptoclinchmatters.
âIfoundtheburntgloveinthefireplacewiththeteethmarksonitâandthenâwellâIknewthatIâdbeenrightafterall.But,uponmyword,hewasacleverone.â
âWhatactuallyhappened?âsaidBundle.âWhowastheotherman?â
âTherewasnâtanyotherman.Listen,andIâllshowyouhowintheendIreconstructed thewhole story. To beginwith,Mr.Thesiger andMissWadewere in this together.And they have a rendezvous for an exact time.MissWadecomesover inher car, climbs through the fenceandcomesup to thehouse.Sheâsgotaperfectlygoodstoryifanyonestopsherâtheoneshetoldeventually.Butshearrivedunmolestedontheterracejustaftertheclockhadstrucktwo.
âNow,Imaysaytobeginwiththatshewasseencomingin.Mymensawher,buttheyhadorderstostopnobodycominginâonlygoingout.Iwanted,you see, to findout asmuchaspossible.MissWadearriveson the terrace,andatthatminuteaparcelfallsatherfeetandshepicksitup.Amancomesdown the ivy and she starts to run.What happens next?The struggleâandpresentlytherevolvershots.Whatwilleveryonedo?Rushtothesceneofthefight.AndMissLoraineWadecouldhaveleftthegroundsanddrivenoffwiththeformulasafelyinherpossession.
âButthingsdonâthappenquitelikethat.MissWaderunsstraightintomyarms. And at that moment the game changes. Itâs no longer attack butdefence.MissWadetellsherstory.Itisperfectlytrueandperfectlysensible.
âAndnowwe come toMr.Thesiger.One thing struckme at once.Thebulletwoundalonecouldnâthavecausedhimtofaint.Eitherhehadfallenandhithisheadâorâwellhehadnâtfaintedatall.LaterwehadMissSt.Maurâsstory.ItagreedperfectlywithMr.Thesigerâsâtherewasonlyonesuggestivepoint. Miss St. Maur said that after the lights were turned out and Mr.Thesigerwentover to thewindow,hewas so still that she thoughthemusthavelefttheroomandgoneoutside.Now,ifanyoneisintheroom,youcanhardlyhelphearingtheirbreathingifyouarelisteningforit.Supposing,then,that Mr. Thesiger had gone outside. Where next? Up the ivy to Mr.OâRourkeâsroomâMr.OâRourkeâswhiskyandsodahavingbeendopedthenightbefore.Hegetsthepapers,throwsthemdowntothegirl,climbsdownthe ivy again, andâstarts the fight. Thatâs easy enoughwhen you come tothinkof it.Knock the tablesdown, stagger about, speak inyourownvoice
andtheninahoarsehalfwhisper.Andthen,thefinaltouch,thetworevolvershots.HisownColt automatic, boughtopenly thedaybefore, is fired at animaginaryassailant.Then,withhisleftglovedhand,hetakesfromhispocketthesmallMauserpistolandshootshimselfthroughthefleshypartoftherightarm. He flings the pistol through the window, tears off the glove with histeeth,and throws it into thefire.WhenIarrivehe is lyingon thefloor inafaint.â
Bundledrewadeepbreath.
âYoudidnâtrealizeallthisatthetime,SuperintendentBattle?â
âNo,thatIdidnât.Iwastakeninasmuchasanyonecouldbe.Itwasnâttilllong afterwards that I pieced it all together. Finding the glove was thebeginningofit.ThenImadeSirOswaldthrowthepistolthroughthewindow.Itfellagoodwayfartheronthanitshouldhavedone.Butamanwhoisright-handeddoesnâtthrownearlyasfarwiththelefthand.Eventhenitwasonlysuspicionâandaveryfaintsuspicionatthat.
âBut therewasonepoint struckme.Thepaperswereobviously throwndownforsomeonetopickup.IfMissWadewastherebyaccident,whowastherealperson?Ofcourse,forthosewhowerenâtintheknow,thatquestionwasansweredeasilyenoughâtheCountess.ButthereIhadthepulloveryou.Iknew theCountesswasall right.Sowhat follows?Why, the idea that thepapershadactuallybeenpickedupby theperson theyweremeantfor.Andthe more I thought of it, the more it seemed to me a very remarkablecoincidence that MissWade should have arrived at the exact moment shedid.â
âIt must have been very difficult for you when I came to you full ofsuspicionabouttheCountess.â
âItwas,LadyEileen.Ihadtosaysomethingtoputyouoffthescent.Anditwasverydifficult forMr.Eversleighhere,with the ladycomingoutof adeadfaintandnoknowingwhatshemightsay.â
âI understand Billâs anxiety now,â said Bundle. âAnd the way he kepturginghertotaketimeandnottalktillshefeltquiteallright.â
âPooroldBill,â saidMissSt.Maur.âThatpoorbabyhad tobevampedagainsthiswillâgettingmadderânahorneteveryminute.â
âWell,âsaidSuperintendentBattle,âthereitwas.IsuspectedMr.ThesigerâbutIcouldnâtgetdefiniteproof.Ontheotherhand,Mr.Thesigerhimselfwas rattled.He realizedmore or lesswhat hewas up against in the SevenDialsâbuthewantedbadlytoknowwhoNo7was.HegothimselfaskedtotheCootesundertheimpressionthatSirOswaldCootewasNo7.â
âIsuspectedSirOswald,âsaidBundle,âespeciallywhenhecameinfromthegardenthatnight.â
âIneversuspectedhim,âsaidBattle.âButIdonâtmindtellingyouthatIdidhavemysuspicionsofthatyoungchap,hissecretary.â
âPongo?âsaidBill.âNotoldPongo?â
âYes, Mr. Eversleigh, old Pongo as you call him. A very efficientgentlemanandonethatcouldhaveputanythingthroughifheâdamindto.Isuspectedhimpartlybecauseheâdbeen theone to take the clocks intoMr.Wadeâsroomthatnight.Itwouldhavebeeneasyforhimtoputthebottleandglass by the bedside then.And then, for another thing, hewas left-handed.Thatglovepointedstraighttohimâifithadnâtbeenforonethingââ
âWhat?â
âTheteethmarksâonlyamanwhoserighthandwasincapacitatedwouldhaveneededtotearoffthatglovewithhisteeth.â
âSoPongowascleared.â
âSoPongowascleared,asyousay.IâmsureitwouldbeagreatsurprisetoMr.Batemantoknowhewaseversuspected.â
âIt would,â agreed Bill. âA solemn cardâa silly ass like Pongo. Howcouldyoueverthinkââ
âWell,asfarasthatgoes,Mr.Thesigerwaswhatyoumightdescribeasanempty-headed young ass of themost brainless description. One of the twowasplayingapart.WhenIdecidedthatitwasMr.Thesiger,IwasinterestedtogetMr.Batemanâsopinionofhim.Allalong,Mr.BatemanhadthegravestsuspicionsofMr.ThesigerandfrequentlysaidasmuchtoSirOswald.â
âItâscurious,âsaidBill,âbutPongoalwaysisright.Itâsmaddening.â
âWell, as I say,â went on Superintendent Battle, âwe gotMr. Thesigerfairlyon the run,badly rattledover thisSevenDialsbusinessanduncertain
justwherethedangerlay.ThatwegothimintheendwassolelythroughMr.Eversleigh.Heknewwhathewasupagainst,andheriskedhislifecheerfully.Butheneverdreamtthatyouwouldbedraggedintoit,LadyEileen.â
âMyGod,no,âsaidBillwithfeeling.
âHe went round to Mr. Thesigerâs rooms with a cooked-up tale,âcontinuedBattle. âHewas to pretend that certain papers ofMr.Devereuxâshad come into his hands. Those paperswere to suggest a suspicion ofMr.Thesiger.Naturally, as thehonest friend,Mr.Eversleigh rushed round, surethatMr.Thesigerwouldhaveanexplanation.Wecalculatedthat ifwewereright,Mr.ThesigerwouldtryandputMr.Eversleighoutoftheway,andwewerefairlycertainastothewayheâddoit.Sureenough,Mr.Thesigergavehisguestawhiskyandsoda.Duringtheminuteortwothathishostwasoutoftheroom.Mr.Eversleighpouredthatintoajaronthemantelpiece,buthehadto pretend, of course, that the drugwas taking effect. Itwould be slow, heknew,notsudden.Hebeganhisstory,andMr.Thesigeratfirstdenieditallindignantly, but as soon as he saw (or thought he saw) that the drug wastakingeffect,headmittedeverythingandtoldMr.Eversleighthathewasthethirdvictim.
âWhenMr. Eversleigh was nearly unconscious,Mr. Thesiger took himdowntothecarandhelpedhimin.Thehoodwasup.HemustalreadyhavetelephonedtoyouunknowntoMr.Eversleigh.Hemadeacleversuggestiontoyou.YouweretosaythatyouweretakingMissWadehome.
âYoumadenomentionofamessagefromhim.Laterwhenyourbodywasfoundhere,MissWadewouldswearthatyouhaddrivenherhomeandgoneuptoLondonwiththeideaofpenetratingintothishousebyyourself.
âMr.Eversleighcontinuedtoplayhispart,thatoftheunconsciousman.ImaysaythatassoonasthetwoyoungmenhadleftJermynStreet,oneofmymen gained admission and found the doctored whisky, which containedenoughhydrochlorideofmorphiatokilltwomen.Alsothecartheywereinwasfollowed.Mr.Thesigerdroveoutof towntoawell-knowngolfcourse,where he showed himself for a fewminutes, speaking of playing a round.That,ofcourse,wasforanalibi,shouldonebeneeded.HeleftthecarwithMr.Eversleighinitalittlewaydowntheroad.ThenhedrovebacktotownandtotheSevenDialsClub.AssoonashesawAlfredleave,hedroveuptothedoor,spoketoMr.Eversleighashegotoutincaseyoumightbelistening
andcameintothehouseandplayedhislittlecomedy.
âWhenhepretendedtogoforadoctor,hereallyonlyslammedthedoorand thencreptquietlyupstairsandhidbehind thedoorof this room,whereMissWadewouldpresentlysendyouuponsomeexcuse.Mr.Eversleigh,ofcourse,washorror-struckwhenhesawyou,buthethoughtitbesttokeepuptheparthewasplaying.Heknewourpeoplewerewatchingthehouse,andheimagined that there was no immediate danger intended to you. He couldalwaysâcometolifeâatanymoment.WhenMr.Thesigerthrewhisrevolveronthetableandapparentlyleftthehouseitseemedsaferthanever.AsforthenextbitââHepaused,lookingatBill.âPerhapsyouâdliketotellthat,sir.â
âIwasstilllyingonthatballysofa,âsaidBill,âtryingtolookdoneinandgetting the fidgets worse and worse. Then I heard someone run down thestairs,andLorainegotupandwenttothedoor.IheardThesigerâsvoice,butnotwhathesaid.IheardLorainesay:âThatâsallrightâitâsgonesplendidly.âThenhesaid:âHelpmecarryhimup.Itwillbeabitofajob,butIwantthembothtogetherthereâanicelittlesurpriseforNo7.âIdidnâtquiteunderstandwhat theywere jawingabout,but theyhauledmeup thestairs somehoworother. Itwas abitofa job for them. Imademyselfadeadweightall right.Theyheavedme inhere, and then IheardLoraine say: âYouâre sure itâs allright? She wonât come round?â And Jimmy saidâthe damned blackguard:âNofear.Ihitherwithallmymight.â
âTheywent away and locked the door, and then I openedmy eyes andsaw you. My God, Bundle, I shall never feel so perfectly awful again. Ithoughtyouweredead.â
âIsupposemyhatsavedme,âsaidBundle.
âPartly,â said Superintendent Battle. âBut partly it was Mr. Thesigerâswounded arm. He didnât realize it himselfâbut it had only half its usualstrength.Still,thatâsallnocredittotheDepartment.Wedidnâttakethecareofyouweoughttohavedone,LadyEileenâanditâsablackblotonthewholebusiness.â
âIâmvery tough,âsaidBundle.âAndalso rather lucky.What IcanâtgetoverisLorainebeinginit.Shewassuchagentlelittlething.â
âAh!â said the Superintendent. âSo was the Pentonville murderess thatkilled five children.You canât go by that. Sheâs got bad blood in herâher
fatheroughttohaveseentheinsideofaprisonmorethanonce.â
âYouâvegothertoo?â
SuperintendentBattlenodded.
âI daresay they wonât hang herâjuries are softhearted. But youngThesigerwillswingallrightâandagoodthingtooâamoreutterlydepravedandcallouscriminalInevermet.â
âAndnow,âheadded,âifyourheadisnâtachingtoobadly,LadyEileen,what about a little celebration? Thereâs a nice little restaurant round thecorner.â
Bundleheartilyagreed.
âIâm starving, Superintendent Battle. Besides,â she looked round. âIâvegottogettoknowallmycolleagues.â
âThe SevenDials,â saidBill. âHurrah! Some fizz iswhatwe need.Dotheyruntofizzatthisplace,Battle?â
âYouwonâthaveanythingtocomplainof,sir.Youleaveittome.â
âSuperintendent Battle,â said Bundle, âyou are a wonderful man. Iâmsorryyouâremarriedalready.Asitis,IshallhavetoputupwithBill.â
OceanofPDF.com
Thirty-four
LORDCATERHAMAPPROVES
âFather,â saidBundle, âIâve got to break a piece of news to you.Youâregoingtoloseme.â
âNonsense,â said Lord Caterham. âDonât tell me that youâre sufferingfromgallopingconsumptionoraweakheartoranythinglikethat,becauseIsimplydonâtbelieveit.â
âItâsnotdeath,âsaidBundle.âItâsmarriage.â
âVerynearlyasbad,âsaidLordCaterham.âIsupposeIshallhavetocometo thewedding, all dressedup in tight uncomfortable clothes, andgiveyouaway.AndLomaxmaythinkitnecessarytokissmeinthevestry.â
âGood heavens!You donât think Iâm going tomarryGeorge, do you?âcriedBundle.
âWell,somethinglikethatseemedtobeinthewindlasttimeIsawyou,âsaidherfather.âYesterdaymorning,youknow.â
âIâmgoingtobemarriedtosomeoneahundredtimesnicerthanGeorge,âsaidBundle.
âIhopeso,Iâmsure,âsaidLordCaterham.âButoneneverknows.Idonâtfeelyouârereallyagoodjudgeofcharacter,Bundle.YoutoldmethatyoungThesigerwasacheerfulinefficient,andfromallIhearnowitseemsthathewas one of themost efficient criminals of the day. The sad thing is that Inever met him. I was thinking of writing my reminiscences soonâwith aspecialchapteronmurderersIhavemetâandbyapurelytechnicaloversight,Inevermetthisyoungman.â
âDonâtbesilly,â saidBundle.âYouknowyouhavenâtgot theenergy towritereminiscencesoranythingelse.â
âIwasnât actually going towrite themmyself,â saidLordCaterham. âIbelieve thatâsneverdone.But Imetaverycharminggirl theotherdayand
thatâs her special job. She collects the material and does all the actualwriting.â
âAndwhatdoyoudo?â
âOh, justgivehera fewfacts forhalfanhoureveryday.Nothingmorethan that.â After a slight pause, Lord Catherham said: âShe was a nice-lookinggirlâveryrestfulandsympathetic.â
âFather,âsaidBundle,âIhaveafeelingthatwithoutmeyouwillrunintodeadlydanger.â
âDifferent kinds of danger suit different kinds of people,â said LordCaterham.
Hewasmovingaway,whenheturnedbackandsaidoverhisshoulder:
âBytheway,Bundle,whoareyoumarrying?â
âIwaswondering,â saidBundle, âwhenyouweregoing toaskme that.IâmgoingtomarryBillEversleigh.â
The egoist thought it over for a minute. Then he nodded in completesatisfaction.
âExcellent,âhesaid.âHeâsscratch,isnâthe?HeandIcanplaytogetherinthefoursomesintheAutumnMeeting.â
OceanofPDF.com
AbouttheAuthor
AgathaChristieisthemostwidelypublishedauthorofalltimeandinanylanguage, outsold only by theBible andShakespeare.Her books have soldmorethanabillioncopiesinEnglishandanotherbillioninahundredforeignlanguages. She is the author of eighty crime novels and short-storycollections, nineteen plays, twomemoirs, and six novels written under thenameMaryWestmacott.
She first tried her hand at detective fictionwhileworking in a hospitaldispensary duringWorldWar I, creating the now legendaryHercule PoirotwithherdebutnovelTheMysteriousAffairatStyles.WithTheMurderintheVicarage, published in 1930, she introduced another beloved sleuth, MissJane Marple. Additional series characters include the husband-and-wifecrime-fightingteamofTommyandTuppenceBeresford,privateinvestigatorParker Pyne, and Scotland Yard detectives Superintendent Battle andInspectorJapp.
ManyofChristieâsnovelsandshortstorieswereadaptedintoplays,films,andtelevisionseries.TheMousetrap,hermostfamousplayofall,openedin1952andisthelongest-runningplayinhistory.Amongherbest-knownfilmadaptationsareMurderon theOrientExpress (1974)andDeathon theNile(1978), with Albert Finney and Peter Ustinov playing Hercule Poirot,respectively.OnthesmallscreenPoirothasbeenmostmemorablyportrayedby David Suchet, and Miss Marple by Joan Hickson and subsequentlyGeraldineMcEwanandJuliaMcKenzie.
ChristiewasfirstmarriedtoArchibaldChristieandthentoarchaeologistSirMaxMallowan,whomsheaccompaniedonexpeditionstocountriesthatwouldalsoserveasthesettingsformanyofhernovels.In1971sheachievedone of Britainâs highest honorswhen shewasmade aDame of theBritishEmpire. She died in 1976 at the age of eighty-five. Her one hundred andtwentiethanniversarywascelebratedaroundtheworldin2010.
Visitwww.AuthorTracker.comforexclusiveinformationonyourfavoriteHarperCollinsauthors.
THEAGATHACHRISTIECOLLECTION
TheManintheBrownSuit
TheSecretofChimneys
TheSevenDialsMystery
TheMysteriousMr.Quin
TheSittafordMystery
ParkerPyneInvestigates
WhyDidnâtTheyAskEvans?
MurderIsEasy
TheRegattaMysteryandOtherStories
AndThenThereWereNone
TowardsZero
DeathComesastheEnd
SparklingCyanide
TheWitnessfortheProsecutionandOtherStories
CrookedHouse
ThreeBlindMiceandOtherStories
TheyCametoBaghdad
DestinationUnknown
OrdealbyInnocence
DoubleSinandOtherStories
ThePaleHorse
StaroverBethlehem:PoemsandHolidayStories
EndlessNight
PassengertoFrankfurt
TheGoldenBallandOtherStories
TheMousetrapandOtherPlays
TheHarlequinTeaSetandOtherStories
TheHerculePoirotMysteries
TheMysteriousAffairatStyles
TheMurderontheLinks
PoirotInvestigates
TheMurderofRogerAckroyd
TheBigFour
TheMysteryoftheBlueTrain
PerilatEndHouse
LordEdgwareDies
MurderontheOrientExpress
ThreeActTragedy
DeathintheClouds
TheA.B.C.Murders
MurderinMesopotamia
CardsontheTable
MurderintheMews
DumbWitness
DeathontheNile
AppointmentwithDeath
HerculePoirotâsChristmas
SadCypress
One,Two,BuckleMyShoe
EvilUndertheSun
FiveLittlePigs
TheHollow
TheLaborsofHercules
TakenattheFlood
TheUnderDogandOtherStories
Mrs.McGintyâsDead
AftertheFuneral
HickoryDickoryDock
DeadManâsFolly
CatAmongthePigeons
TheClocks
ThirdGirl
HalloweâenParty
ElephantsCanRemember
Curtain:PoirotâsLastCase
TheMissMarpleMysteries
TheMurderattheVicarage
TheBodyintheLibrary
TheMovingFinger
AMurderIsAnnounced
TheyDoItwithMirrors
APocketFullofRye
4:50fromPaddington
TheMirrorCrackâdfromSidetoSide
ACaribbeanMystery
AtBertramâsHotel
Nemesis
SleepingMurder
MissMarple:TheCompleteShortStories
TheTommyandTuppenceMysteries
TheSecretAdversary
PartnersinCrime
NorM?
BythePrickingofMyThumbs
PosternofFate
Memoirs
AnAutobiography
Come,TellMeHowYouLive
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
Copyright
Thisbookisaworkoffiction.Thecharacters,incidents,anddialoguearedrawnfromtheauthorâsimaginationandarenottobeconstruedasreal.Anyresemblancetoactualeventsorpersons,livingordead,isentirelycoincidental.
AGATHACHRISTIEÂźTHESEVENDIALSMYSTERYâą.Copyright©1929AgathaChristieLimited(aChorioncompany).Allrightsreserved.
THESEVENDIALSMYSTERY©1929.PublishedbypermissionofG.P.PutnamâsSons,amemberofPenguinGroup(USA)Inc.AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenonexclusive,nontransferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthisebookon-screen.Nopartofthistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,downloaded,decompiled,reverse-engineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinsebooks.Forinformation,addressHarperCollinsPublishers,10East53rdStreet,NewYork,NY10022.
Formoreinformationabouteducationaluse,teachersshouldvisitwww.HarperAcademic.com.
FIRSTWILLIAMMORROWPAPERBACKEDITIONPUBLISHED2012.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataisavailableuponrequest.
ISBN978-0-06-207416-4
EpubEdition©JANUARY2012ISBN:978-0-06-200674-5
1213141516DIX/BVG10987654321
OceanofPDF.com
AboutthePublisher
Australia
HarperCollinsPublishers(Australia)Pty.Ltd.
Level13,201ElizabethStreet
Sydney,NSW2000,Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au/ebooks
Canada
HarperCollinsCanada
2BloorStreetEast-20thFloor
Toronto,ON,M4W,1A8,Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
NewZealand
HarperCollinsPublishers(NewZealand)Limited
P.O.Box1
Auckland,NewZealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
UnitedKingdom
HarperCollinsPublishersLtd.
77-85FulhamPalaceRoad
London,W68JB,UK
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
UnitedStates
HarperCollinsPublishersInc.
10East53rdStreet
NewYork,NY10022
http://www.harpercollins.com
OceanofPDF.com