The Slave of Silence

by Fred M. White

  CHAPTER XXXIV

  Field walked away thoughtfully from the office of Mr. Fleming. He was alittle pleased to find that the lawyer took the same view of the mysteryas himself. There was a great deal to be done yet. It was getting verylate indeed before Field made his way once more in the direction ofWandsworth. He had an important paper in his pocket, and he had givendirections for two of his most trusted men to meet him outside No. 100,Audley Place, by eleven o'clock.

  But those other men had other tasks to perform first, and they might besome time yet. With this knowledge in his mind, Field repaired to thegarden in front of the house and there decided to wait for developments.It was not a cold night, the bushes in the garden were thick, and Fieldfelt that he would be just as well there as anywhere else. His patiencewas not unduly tried. He chuckled slightly to himself as he saw Beatricearrive. He had a pretty shrewd idea what she was here for.

  "The old fox is not quite certain of his goal," he told himself. "Hethinks he has got everything in his grip--that the forged deed will dothe mischief, but perhaps there are other papers. That is why he hassent for Mrs. Richford. We shall see."

  If Sartoris had known what reposed in Field's breast pocket he would nothave been quite so easy in his mind. But he did not know it, and Fielddid not know what was transpiring inside the house. He waited a littlelonger till Mary Sartoris came up. She seemed to be greatly agitatedabout something; she stood in the garden hesitating. A little later, andshe was joined by Mark Ventmore. Field was glad to see so valuable anally here.

  From his hiding-place Field could hear all that passed. It was asatisfaction to be able to gather up such a deal of information.Richford would have to come into the net presently, and Richford was inEngland, which was more than Field had expected. Of course, witheverybody else, he had heard of the famous diamonds that Richford hadgiven to his wife, and supposed that before now the diamonds had beenturned into money. Into funds, Richford would have had a good chance ofgetting away; as it was, he must still be in London.

  "So that fellow is still here," Field chuckled. "Did she say EdwardStreet? The very house that I have my eye on. We will bag all the birds.Hullo, here come some more!"

  Mark and Mary Sartoris drew back as the man and woman respectivelycalled Reggie and Cora came up. They had their listeners, but they didnot know it. Perhaps, if they had, they would not have made their plansquite so openly. As it was, they had laid bare the whole of their newscheme to the quickest ears in London. Field slipped from hishiding-place as Reggie and Cora closed the front door behind them. Marygave a little scream.

  "There is no occasion for alarm--at least, as far as you are concerned,Miss Sartoris," Field said. "I have heard everything that those peoplesaid."

  "This is Inspector Field of Scotland Yard," Mark said.

  Mary's lips quivered, but she said nothing. Her own instincts told herwhat Field was doing here. She had always felt that the bubble mustburst some day--she had always known that her noble efforts werealtogether in vain. And yet she would have gone on sacrificing herselfto save Carl Sartoris from the fate that was inevitable.

  "Are you down here on any special business?" Mark asked.

  "On business connected with the disappearance of Sir Charles Darryll andother matters," Field said. "The one thing contains the other. But youneed not have the smallest apprehension for the safety of Mrs. Richfordand her diamonds. She is not going to lose them."

  "How did you know that she had those diamonds in her pocket?" Maryasked.

  "You forget that I have been hiding here," Field explained. "Likeyourself, I heard every word that passed just now. Every moment I expectto have two of my most trusted men here. Directly those two emerge fromthe house and get into the road, they will be arrested. In my business Ioften find that when you are looking for one bird you frequently findanother. Mr. Reggie and Miss Cora are old friends of mine and the Parispolice. They are very clever at disguises; they work together, she as acountess, and he as a general officer. Both of them were on the stageand both would have made very good names, but the honest _role_ was toodull for them. You may rest assured that those two will be out of theway before daylight."

  Mary listened with mixed feelings. She felt that in a measure she wasmainly responsible for what was going to happen. It looked as though itwould be an eventful evening.

  "Well, we can't stand here all night," Mark said impatiently. He wasvaguely frightened for Beatrice, in the house with those rascals. "I canhelp you. You and I together would be a match for the lot of them. Whatdo you say to try?"

  But Field had no feeling that way at all. The cool, shrewd officer didnot rush things in that fashion. He had his birds secured and he couldafford to wait.

  "I cannot possibly permit you to interfere with my plans, sir," he saidcoldly. "You must recollect that I am responsible to the authorities,and that I have my reputation to think of. In my pocket I have a warrantfor the arrest of certain people, and that being the case----"

  "For my brother! for Carl Sartoris?" Mary gasped. "Oh, is that reallyso?"

  "It would be no kindness to conceal the fact," Field said in a gentletone. "No, I cannot permit you to enter the house. The thing isabsolutely inevitable, and you could not possibly prevent it. A cripplelike your brother could not escape me, and any hasty action of yoursmight mean the escape of the other two. I am exceedingly sorry, MissGrey."

  Mary started as she heard her own name from the lips of the inspector.The expression told her that he knew everything. The blow had fallen atlast, as Mary always knew that it would fall, but it was none the lessbitter for that. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she said nothingfurther. Mark looked at her with distress in his eyes; he and Fieldexchanged glances.

  "This must be very painful to you, miss," the latter went on. "Bystaying here you can do us no good--you are only giving yourselfunnecessary pain. Is there any house you can go to, any place where youcan stay for the night? A hotel?"

  "I have no friends and no money," Mary said through her tears. "Sincecoming to England I have given myself wholly to my brother. I have donemy best to make the path smooth for him and I have failed. It was nofault of mine that Sir Charles----"

  "That Sir Charles was not warned," Field said hastily. "Don't say anymore, please. Don't place yourself in such a position that I shall haveto call you as a witness."

  Mary swallowed down her choking sobs. Two figures stole across thestreet, and Field gave a low whistle. His two trusty subordinates hadcome at last. As they passed by the gate Field strode across to them andgave them their instructions. Mark turned to Mary.

  "Pray let me be your banker," he said. "Let me provide the money so thatyou----"

  "But I cannot," Mary protested. "I dare not. You would never see themoney again, and like all good and generous people, you are as poor as Iam myself."

  "That remark may have applied to my affairs yesterday, but it certainlydoes not to-day," Mark said eagerly. "I told you that I have been to seemy father who has been very ill lately. As he lay in bed, with nofriends to come and see him--for he has been a hard and selfish man--hegrew to see things in a different light. He sent for me. He was ratherimpressed by the tale that I had managed to do without his assistanceand that I was making a name for myself. I told him everything, and weare quite good friends again. He insisted upon making me an allowance ofL1,500, and as the thought of it did him good, I did not protest. Afterthat, will you let me help you? I know how good you are, and how youhave suffered."

  "I am more than grateful," Mary said in a choked voice. "It is kind ofyou, but I cannot take any advantage of your offer; I must stay till theend."

  "And go through all the misery of it," Mark protested. "You know thatall those people will sleep in jail to-night. Why should you witness thearrest? Let me take you to some quiet hotel and arrange for youraccommodation there."

  But Mary shook her head resolutely. She was not going to leave till shewas forced to. Mark ceased his pleadings as Field came back to them.


  "If you would only let me go into the house," Mary said. "I have my ownkey, and I shall not make the slightest noise. They do not require me!if I put my head inside the study I should at once be ordered out again.Let me go to my own room."

  Field hesitated for a moment. It was not the first time he had met agood woman whose life was bound up with that of a criminal, and he hadexperience of what those women could do in the hour of peril. And yet hehesitated because Mary's prayer was passionate and sincere. But it wasonly for a moment, then he became a police officer again.

  "I could not allow it," he said. "If it came to the ears of mysuperiors, I should suffer. And I have a wife and family to think of.In minutes of temptation such as you ask me to put before you, women arecapable of anything for the sake of those they love. Besides, you wouldnot have me do a thing that is wrong in the eyes of my employers?"

  Mary was silent. Her own sense of justice showed her that Field wasright. But nothing would induce her to go away, so long as there wasanything like hope remaining. She might get a chance still to whisperone word of warning. And if it came she would not hesitate. She had notbeen placed on her parole so far.

  She turned away to wipe her shining eyes, and as she did so the dooropened and Berrington crept out. His face was full of excitement, hislips were white.

  "Glad to find you here," he said. "I was going to try and find amessenger. I could not leave the house for very long, consideringthat----"

  He paused significantly, with his eyes on Mary. Evidently Berrington hadmade some great and startling discovery, or he would not have been sodreadfully agitated. Even in the moment of her awful sorrow, Mary couldfind time to speak and think of others.

  "I am in a great measure responsible for this," she said. "Philip,Beatrice Richford is in the house; she has a valuable parcel of diamondsin her pocket; those thieves there know it. Go to her assistance atonce; see that she is safe from harm. If anything happens to her I shallnever forgive myself. Why don't you go at once?"

  "I am sorry," Berrington stammered. He seemed quite dazed and confused."I have no doubt that Mrs. Richford will be perfectly safe, seeing thatassistance is at hand. Indeed, I let her know that I was in the houseso that she should not be unduly frightened. But there are other mattersof far greater importance than that. Sir Charles Darryll----"

  "I thought we should come to Sir Charles Darryll," Field cut in swiftly."But we need not discuss that matter here and now. Do you want me?"

  Field asked the question with a strange ring in his voice. Berringtonwondered--he was rapidly regaining complete possession of himself. Hemoved towards the house.

  "In a few minutes," he said. "Wait till I give you the signal. Thankgoodness, you were so close by."

  Berrington passed into the house again and closed the door behind him.