In White Raiment
Page 6
contracted as though by a diphtheritic swelling.
A low continued roaring sounded in my ears, accompanied by a curiousunusual jarring. Slow to fully realise my position, it was some momentsbefore I became convinced that the regular throbbing beneath my head wascaused by machinery, and that the steady motion to and fro was therocking of the waves.
I opened my eyes and found that it was broad daylight. To the left wasa round opening closed by glass--a porthole through which the summer sunwas shining, its rays being shut out now and then by the bright greenwater that rose against it as the waves hissed past. I was on board aship at sea. The cabin was a narrow, rather dirty place, and themattress on which I was lying was hard, being filled with straw. It wasnot a passenger cabin, that was certain, for the beams across were blackand dirty, and swinging on a nail were a set of unclean yellow oil-skinsand a sou'-wester.
So sudden and unaccountable had been my transition from the bed-chamberin that mysterious house of the Wynds', wherein my wife had beenmurdered, to that narrow pallet out at sea, that at first I could notbelieve it possible. I raised myself and looked around in wonder, halfinclined to believe that the past events had been but a dream.
In that instant all the curious circumstances which had followed my callto the house with the big portico came vividly before me in rapidsuccession, the crafty actions of the Tempter and my wife's marvellousbeauty most of all. With her, I had fallen a victim to the twoingenious conspirators, her father and the Major. It had, no doubt,been intended that I should die; yet certain of the Tempter's actionsseemed out of keeping with the others, thus rendering the enigma morecomplete.
The pains in my head and the swelling in my mouth and throat weresufficient, however, to prove that the past was no chimera of theimagination. I had met with an adventure stranger, perhaps, than thatexperienced by any other man, for I had been both bridegroom and widowerwithin an hour.
With some little difficulty I rose, but my legs were weak and cramped,and this, combined with the rolling of the ship, caused me to quicklyseat myself on the edge of the narrow berth. My nerves were unstrung,my brain dulled, and the giddiness that seized me was such as I hadnever before experienced. It was not _mal de mer_, for I had travelledmuch by sea and had never experienced nausea, even in roughest weather.No; I had, by moistening the cigarette with the saliva, absorbed astrong dose of some anaesthetic, and its effect had been to a greatextent irritant as well. Only my robust constitution had succeeded inthrowing it off; the dose must, I felt confident, have killed a weakerman.
In a few minutes I succeeded in standing erect, and struggled to thecabin door. I turned the handle, but could not open it. I was lockedin.
Again I seated myself upon my mattress and tried to calmly review thesituation. Of a sudden I bethought myself of the amulet I had takenfrom the neck of my dead wife, and thrusting my hand into my pocket, wasgratified to find it still there, together with a pair of white glovesthat the Tempter had given me.
I took it out and carefully examined it. The chain was a very fine butstrong one, and the curious little charm of plain gold on that side thatwould lay against the skin, was beautifully set with diamonds which nowsparkled and flashed with a thousand fires in the brilliant sunset.About an inch and a half long, it was of most delicate workmanship. Ihad seen in jewellers' windows in Bond Street and Regent Street manyarticles of jewellery--brooches, breast-pins, and the like--in the formof a note of interrogation, but never one made in this manner. It wasdifferent to all the others, a costly ornament without doubt, for allthe stones were well matched, and, as far as I could judge, not being anexpert, of the first water.
What was its significance, I wondered, as it lay in the palm of my hand.It was a souvenir of her--a souvenir of the woman who was my legalwife, and who had fallen a victim beneath the cruel hand of an assassin.
The crumpled scrap of paper I had also secured I brought from my pocketand likewise examined. The words upon it were in a man's hand without adoubt--an educated hand which, by its angularity and the formation ofthe letters might possibly have been acquired on the Continent.
"I have seen La Gioia!"
The words conveyed some distinct message or warning which I could notdetermine. One fact was, however, plain; if I could discover thismysterious "La Gioia," be she a woman or an object, I might perhapsascertain the true meaning of the words, the reason they were penned,and the motive Beryl had in thus treasuring them beneath her pillow.
A desire possessed me to escape from that narrow place wherein the airwas stifling. The porthole was screwed down so tightly that I could notmove it without a wrench, and the place seemed hermetically sealed.
By the terrible racket of the machinery and the strong smell of tar andoil I felt certain that it was no passenger steamer by which I wastravelling. Everywhere were traces of black dust. I dipped my fingerin some of it, examining it closely; it was coal dust. The ship was acollier.
I rose again, and taking up a stout piece of wood lying on the floor,battered heavily at the door, demanding release. But the clash and roarof the rickety engines drowned my voice, and I feared that no one couldhear me above the din.
A strong sea was running, although the sun shone brightly. We wereevidently somewhere in the Channel, but from my porthole I could see noland.
Again and again I battered furiously, until of a sudden I heard gruffvoices, and the door was unlocked and opened cautiously, disclosing tworough-looking bronzed seamen, dark-bearded and dressed in patched andfaded dungareen.
"Well, mister," exclaimed the elder of the two, "what's the fuss?"
"No fuss at all," I responded. "I only want to be let out."
"No doubt," he responded, with a grin at his companion. "You'd like abreath of fresh air--eh?"
"Yes, I should."
"But sea-air ain't good for your constitution mister, so you'll have tostop here. You've got a cabin all to yourself, so what more do youwant? Perhaps you'd like a bloomin' saloon?"
"Look here, my man," I said, as calmly as I could, "just do me a favourand ask your captain to step down here. I'd like to speak to him beforethe farce proceeds further. You're only obeying orders by locking me uphere, of that I'm sure. But just tell the captain that I'm better, andwant to have a word with him."
Both men looked somewhat surprised.
"We were goin' to have a look at you in a few minutes, and see whetheryou'd come to, if you hadn't have kicked up such a confounded row."
"Well, go and tell the captain I want to see him," I said, endeavouringto smile.
"All right, sir, I will," answered the man; "but I'll have to lock thedoor again."
"Very well," I laughed. "Only don't starve me, remember." Thesituation seemed humorous.
Both men grinned broadly; the door was closed, and I heard one remark tothe other in true cockney English--
"'E ain't such a vi'lent fellow, after all, Bill." Five minutes laterthe door was again opened, and a burly, full-bearded, black-eyed man ina pea-jacket and peaked cap entered the cabin.
"You are the captain, I presume?" I said.
"That's me," he answered, leaning against the wooden partition oppositemy bunk.
"Well," I said, "I'd like to know by what right you lock me up here?I've been unconscious for a long time, and on coming to myself, I findI'm here onboard your ship at sea, imprisoned, and not allowed out."
"You're in here for the benefit of your health," he answered roughly."A sea voyage'll do you good."
"Then perhaps you'll tell me the name of the ship on board which I'mtaking this pleasure trip?" I said sarcastically.
"Better find that out."
"No very difficult matter, I suppose," I answered quite coolly. "Only Ishould like to point out that even though you may be skipper of thiscoal hulk, you have no right to imprison me here."
"I shall do just as I like, cocky," he responded. "And further, you'dbest be quiet and keep a still tongue, or perhaps you won't see landagain."
"That's certainly a very genteel speech," I said; "and perhaps theBritish Consul at your port of destination will have something to sayregarding your conduct."
"I don't care a brass button for all the blanked consuls in the wholeConsular Service," he replied, with a coarse laugh. "You are on boardmy ship, and I'll give you to understand now, once and for all, that I'mmaster here."
"Perhaps you'll pipe to a different tune when your master's certificateis suspended for a year or two."
"It 'ud take a better man than you to suspend it. While you're on boardthis craft, it'll be a wise policy to keep a