Till the Clock Stops
Page 6
CHAPTER V
Mrs. Lancaster would have accompanied her husband to the library,but for once, and despite the shock he had just suffered, he showedsome firmness.
"I will see Bullard alone," he said, and left her in the hall.
He entered the library, closed and locked the door, and drew the heavycurtain across it. But there his spirit failed him, and he seemed togrope his way to his familiar chair.
Without a word Bullard put the telegram into his hands. It had been sentoff at 8 a.m., the hour of opening for the local post office. It wasaddressed to both men, and was brief:
Mr. Craig died nine last night. Funeral private.--Caw.
"Caw must have had instructions," remarked Bullard presently. "Onewonders how much Caw knows about his master's affairs."
Possibly Lancaster did not hear. He kept on staring at the message thathad closed the door on his last hope. Carlotta's suggestion, or rathercommand, had been far from grateful to his inclinations, yet it hadforced him towards the less of two evils, and for a few minutes he hadimagined himself with Christopher's cheque in his pocket, immediatesalvation and peace assured whatever it might cost him eventually. Andnow this telegram!
Impatiently Bullard touched him on the arm.
"Look here, Lancaster!--there is a train from St. Pancras at eleven, andit's now past ten. Pull yourself together."
"St. Pancras--eleven? To-night?" Lancaster checked himself.
"No, this morning! We shall be in Glasgow at eight, and a good car willrun us down under a couple of hours.... Lancaster, for Heaven's sake,wake up! Can't you take in the situation? Listen! Point one: We saw thediamonds yesterday. Point two: Christopher died suddenly, sooner thaneven he expected, and the diamonds, in all probability, have not left thehouse--if he ever intended to send them elsewhere. They may even be stillon the table or in the drawer! Point three: The sooner we discover theirwhereabouts the better, for if they are in the house we must act onAlan's will at once, though I'd have avoided that if possible. Alan knewnothing about the diamonds. Christopher distinctly stated that no oneknows about them excepting ourselves and his servant. Well, if necessary,we must manage Caw, somehow. Now--"
"But--the clock--"
"Oh, damn the clock--mere tomfoolery! As for Alan's return, if youpersist in doubting what I have already told you"--Bullard lowered hisvoice--"I shall be forced to introduce to you the man who--who saw AlanCraig die."
"Die!"
"Don't get hysterical. At this moment the one thing that matters is thatwe locate or lay hands on that green box."
"But I--I can't think to go prowling into Christopher's house, and he--"
"Don't think; I'll do all that's necessary in that way, and we shall haveplenty of time for talk in the train. Now I want your cheque--open--forfive hundred pounds. I'm going to draw the same amount on my own. We mayhave to buy things--Caw, for instance. Don't argue. We've got to catchthat train, and I've got to go to the bank first."
Lancaster sat up. "Bullard," he said hoarsely, "I won't have anything todo with this beastly business."
Bullard smiled. "Very well, Lancaster," he said pleasantly; "I'll takeyour cheque for twenty-four thousand and seventy-five pounds."
"My God!" It was the sum he owed the Syndicate.
Moments passed, and then with a white face he got up and went feebly tothe writing table.
* * * * *
In the last hour of the journey they dined. Bullard ordered champagne,and saw to it that his companion's glass was kept charged. He was not alittle afraid of a general collapse on Lancaster's part, but if such wereimminent, the wine averted it. The physician, however, took little of hisprescribed medicine.
A car, ordered by telegraph, awaited them at the Glasgow terminus.Bullard, who was known to the hirers, dismissed the chauffeur and tookthe driving seat. He glanced up at the big clock, and remarked toLancaster, clambering in beside him, that they ought to reach theirdestination by ten.
The car rolled out of the station down the declivity into the Square,thence into Glasgow's longest street, then swarming with pedestriansand traffic.
"Damn it!" exclaimed Bullard, "the air's frosty. We'll meet with fogpresently."
He was right. They met it before they were clear of the city, and overthe twenty miles that followed it lay thick, blanketing the river andcountryside. Bullard was a seasoned but not a reckless driver; besideshe was no more than acquainted with the road. He drove cautiously, hisimpatience escaping now and then in curses. They were nearingHelensburgh when they came almost abruptly into clear weather. The skywas cloudless, starry.
"This is better," said Bullard, "but I'm afraid it'll be a case ofrouting the estimable Caw from his virtuous couch."
Lancaster struggled out of his stupor of weariness. "Are we nearlythere?"
"Hardly, but we can let her go now. I say, don't sleep; or you'll be toostiff for anything. Think over what I told you in the train; don't talk."
Five minutes later they were speeding up the Gareloch; still later, downthe west side; then through the village of Roseneath, over the hill intoKilcreggan; then round the point and up Loch Long side....
At the last, as it seemed, of the houses Bullard slowed down.
"Aren't we going too far?" Lancaster inquired in a voiceunnecessarily low.
"You are no observer," the other returned pleasantly, "or you would haveremembered that there are here first a small wood and then a biggishfield, aFter which we come to a couple of solitary houses, the furtherand larger being Christopher's. The other belongs to a doctor--retired,though I believe he has attended our old friend. As it may not beadvisable to advertise our call more than we can help, we are going torun the car into the wood--there's a sort of track--and make our approachon foot. We can do with the exercise."
Within five minutes they started briskly along the deserted road.
"No need to walk on tiptoe," said Bullard with a laugh. "Hardly any oneliving here at this time of year. Don't let your nerves get the upperhand. We're not going to do anything sensational, you know. Cold, isn'tit? We shall begin by requesting the amiable Caw to serve drinks."
"Don't jest, Bullard. I'm honestly hoping that the Green Box was somehowput away into safety."
"If not, we must rectify the error."
Lancaster sighed. "If the box is there, do you mean to--to--"
"'Pinch' is possibly the word you are hunting for. Expressive if notpretty. Well, it will all depend on circumstances."
"Bullard, I wish to say that I refuse to take more of the diamonds thanwill just pay my debts."
"A thousand thanks, old chap, but I really cannot accept suchgenerosity." Bullard threw out his hand. "Yonder are the houses, and youwill perceive that the doctor has not yet retired--to bed. Christopher's,however, looks less hospitable. Never mind! We can take turns at pushingthe button."
"Bullard, for Heaven's sake, let us respect the--the dead."
"And let us refrain from hypocrisies. Come along, man!"
In silence they came to the gates, where Bullard spoke--
"Now remember, all you've got to do is to follow my lead, and not takefright at anything. Caw may not be alone in the house. It is evenpossible that he may have the company of some wretched lawyer fellow whohas been nosing around all day. Come, buck up! You'll feel fitter after adrink. Allons!"
Taking Lancaster by the elbow, he led him up the gravel path, leavesrustling about their feet. They mounted the three broad steps to theclosed outer door, and, with a muttered "Here's luck!" Bullard rung theelectric bell.
"Good!" he exclaimed a few seconds later, as a flood of light poured fromthe fan-light.
They heard the inner door being opened; then with the minimum of noise, alarge key was turned, and half of the outer door swung inwards. The lateMr. Craig's servant, in his customary black lounge suit, stood thereregarding them quite calmly.
Bullard had expected at least a word of astonishment, so that there was alittle pause until hi
s own words arrived.
"Good evening, Caw," he said gravely. "We very much regret to disturb youat this hour, and at this tragic time, but our business is of the utmostimportance. May we have a word with you?"
Still silent, the servant stood aside, and they entered.
Said Bullard--"I need not say that we were both greatly shocked by yourwire this morning. I trust our old friend did not suffer much."
"Too much, sir," answered Caw quietly, turning from closing the door. Hiscountenance had a bleak look; his eyes were heavy. He stepped past themand opened a door on the right, switching on the lights inside. "Thisway, if you please, gentlemen."
Lancaster showed a momentary hesitation, or confusion, but Bullardtouched his arm and he accepted the invitation.
Caw followed them a couple of paces into the room and stood at attention.The two visitors remained standing, their hats in their hands.
Bullard had foreseen a hundred difficulties, but strangely enough, he hadnever thought of not being admitted to the right room. Nevertheless, hischagrin was not apparent.
"A few words will explain our unseasonable call," he said pleasantly."Our visit yesterday afternoon was partly of a business nature, and webrought for Mr. Craig's inspection a number of documents which, afterperusal, he returned to us--as it seemed at the time. But in the train,late at night, we discovered we were one short. And that document is ofsuch vital importance that we left London again this morning, and haveregretfully disturbed you now. As a matter of fact, it was a pale greenshare certificate in our joint names--Mr. Lancaster's and mine--and as wehave sold the shares and have to deliver them two days hence, you willprobably understand the necessity of recovering it immediately. Possiblyyou have come across such a document in the room upstairs?"
"No, sir."
"Ah! I suppose Mr. Craig's legal man was here today?"
"No, sir."
"Then nothing has been disturbed?"
"No, sir."
"You will, I hope, excuse these questions, Caw? We are considerablyharassed about the matter. Will you tell us whether there were many loosepapers on Mr. Craig's table last night?"
"None, sir."
"Then he must have tidied up after we left?"
"Yes, sir."
Bullard gave a tiny cough and glanced at Lancaster, who immediately saidin a somewhat recitative fashion:
"I stick to my theory, Bullard, that Mr. Craig, in placing some of hisown papers in a green metal box, placed ours along with them."
Bullard turned to the servant with a frank look of appeal. "A green metalbox. Can you help us, Caw?"
It was on Caw's tongue to reply "No, sir." But in that moment, as it doeswith most of us at times, vanity pushed aside discretion. "Yes, sir," heanswered. "I was the last to see inside that box, closing it at Mr.Craig's request, and I can assure you there were no papers in it."
"Wrong again, Lancaster!" Bullard lightly remarked. Then gravely--"Thematter is so serious, Caw, that I must ask you who has charge of thepapers and so on upstairs?"
"I, sir."
"And to whom are you responsible?"
"My master and Mr. Alan Craig--till the clock stops, sir."
After a moment's pause Bullard said--"Yes, of course, we are aware thatall here was gifted to Mr. Alan; also Mr. Craig mentioned the clock. Butnow, would you have any objections to taking us upstairs, on the chancethat our document is lying about where we were sitting?"
Caw considered quickly. To his mind, their story had been damned by themention of the Green Box; at the same time, he was quite aware that theyhad only to persist in their story to obtain legal authority to searchthe room upstairs, and his master had commanded "no police interference."He felt pretty confident, too, that they would hardly attempt to play theburglar game in his presence, but he was curious to see how far theywould go, and he was not unarmed.
"Be so good as to follow me, gentlemen," he said in his stiff way, andled them in the desired direction.
The master's room, though fireless, was warm. In silence they entered,their footfalls soundless on the heavy carpet.
Bullard halted in front of the clock with its flashing pendulum. "Is thiswhat he spoke of," he enquired softly, "and when does it stop?"
The servant cleared his throat. "A year to-night, sir."
"Ah! ... And why this--and this?" He pointed first to the ebony slip,then to the green fluid.
"To prevent its being interfered with; also, no doubt to protect thejewels in the pendulum."
"Is it the liquid that is dangerous?"
"So I understand, sir."
"Poison?--explosive?"
"I could not say, sir."
Bullard turned to Lancaster, who had sunk into a chair, then back tothe servant.
"I say, Caw," he said, "could you possibly get Mr. Lancaster something todrink? He's knocked up with the travelling, and it's a bitter nightoutside. I could do with something myself."
"Very good, sir," came the reply, without hesitation, and Caw went out,closing the door behind him.
"Now," whispered Bullard, and made straight for the writing table, takingfrom his pocket an instrument of shining steel.
But it was not needed. The deep drawer opened obediently, sweetly.
"Lancaster, we've got it first time!" He lifted out and placed the GreenBox on the table. "The diamonds!" Lancaster got up with a jerk andshudder. "Quick! Look in the other drawers for the keys."
All the other drawers were locked.
"Then we must take the whole thing."
"Good Heavens! We can't do that! How can--"
Bullard darted to the door and listened. After a moment he turned thehandle gingerly. Then he grinned.
"I'm hanged," said he, "but the artful Caw has locked us in!"
"He suspects us!"
"Can't help it." Bullard sped to the bay window and drew aside one of theheavy curtains.
"I've got it!" he exclaimed.
Christopher Craig had had a craze for things that worked silently andeasily. Bullard lifted the heavy sash with scarce a sound.
"Switch off the lights and come here!" he ordered. "Don't fall overthings and make a row."
When Lancaster joined him Bullard was leaning half out of the window,directing the ray from an electric torch on the ground below. Anincessant murmuring came from the loch, filling their ears.
"Lancaster, could you drop that height?"
"Oh, God, no!"
"There's a great heap of gathered leaves there--see! Think! Six hundredthousand pounds!"
"No, no! If one of us got hurt--"
"Perhaps you're right. There's nothing for it but to drop the box andcollect it when we get out. 'Sh! did you hear something just now?"
Lancaster started and caught his head a stunning blow on the sash. At thesame time he inadvertently knocked the torch from the fingers of Bullard,who was going to flash it into the darkness behind them.
"Idiot!" muttered Bullard. "Don't move till I fetch the box." He stoleacross the floor, feeling his way.
Lancaster, nursing his head, waited--waited until a gasped expletivereached his ears--
"Damnation!" Then--"Quick! Close the window, draw the curtain!" Thespeaker blundered to the electric switch.
Fumblingly, Lancaster obeyed, then turned to face a blaze of light,Bullard, white with fury and dismay, and the writing table withnothing on it.