The Broken Thread

by William Le Queux

weredisturbing the old lady's mind. Now, there was something almosttangible in what Hilda had learnt about Gilda Tempest, her uncle, andthe reticule that had been picked up in the conservatory.

  Now that there was a prospect of something definite being accomplished,Hilda's bravery redoubled, and she supported the old lady with hercourage. Raife's mother had at length retired, and Hilda sat alone. Itwas late and she rang for her maid. When the girl appeared she ratherstartled her with a request for tea. Tea is an unconventional drinkwhen it is nearly midnight, in an English household. All theconventions had been broken since Raife disappeared, and Hilda carednaught for convention. She was anxious for news that should at leasthelp her to straighten out a situation that had become intolerable. Itwas impossible to return home to the United States and face the"sympathy" of friends. It was equally intolerable to endure theuncertainties of her present life.

  At length the telephone rang. Hilda clutched the receiver. "Yes, thisis Lady Remington. Who am I speaking to? Oh, yes, Mr Herrion! Anynews? What's that? You think I'd better go to Paris, and you'll tryand meet me there. Sure, I'll start right away, to-morrow. I have ahouse on the Champs Elysees! It won't be hard for you to find me, andI'll take Lady Remington, Sir Raife's mother, with me."

  Here, at last, was action. There was hope in action, and she hadsuffered from inertia.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

  HOW THE GRAND COUP WAS PLANNED.

  Raife's flat in the Rue Lafayette, Paris, was, like most things in whichDoctor Malsano was concerned, cunningly contrived. Two adjacent flatshad been converted into one in such a manner that it was easy to enterby one door and leave by another, each out of view of the other. Thepeople who foregathered there were not of the type that would have beenwelcome at Aldborough Park or Green Street, Mayfair. Here, for thefirst time, Raife met the Apache fellow at close quarters. His impulsewas to thrash him, but Mr Lesigne had most ingratiating manners, andquickly assured Raife that he was on his side now, and, if it werenecessary to do any spying, it would be in Raife's interests, and not onhim. For diplomatic reasons, to avoid suspicion, Malsano lived byhimself, and rarely appeared in public, as was his custom, preferring todirect operations rather than participate in them. For the same reasonit was considered advisable that Gilda Tempest should occupy anapartment by herself.

  Raife and Gilda found time to make many excursions together, toVersailles, and various rural spots where there was, relatively, a smallchance of being recognised. On these occasions there was a certaincharm in Gilda's companionship which enthralled the young man, and hewas quite content to suffer the ill-effects of her pernicious society.At night, in varying disguises, they spent much time at cafes, sittingat the tables of the boulevards, sipping wine and liqueurs. Thatwaywardness, that Raife's mother had been afraid of, asserted itself,and his love of adventure led him to participate in some of the minordivertissements that the doctor planned for his own profit. In nocircumstances did Raife share in the plunder of these coups, nor wouldhe allow Gilda to act as decoy, or take active part in them. What hedid was with a sense of abandoned devilment. The restraint that Raifewas exercising over Gilda was weakening the doctor's power over her, andhe determined that it was time for him to bring about a still morecomplete downfall of his enemy.

  Among the members of the gang who called at Raife's flat when occasionrequired, was an ex-officer of dragoons, who had seen some service alongthe north coast of Africa. He was an extraordinary mixture ofbraggadocio, and a certain suavity of manner which had considerablecharm until it was discovered that, whereas he could swear like atrooper, he did lie like a pickpocket. In the natural sequence ofevents he and Raife fell foul of one another. The quarrel culminatedwhen Raife discovered him at the flat paying court to Gilda, whoresented the attentions that were being forced upon her. The combat didnot last long, for Monsieur Denoir was not versed in boxing, and hisincompetence was soon made evident to him. It was a dangerous thing forRaife to quarrel with a man of this type, but the whole conditions ofhis recent life had made him quite reckless of consequences. MonsieurDenoir, with a fine exhibition of graciousness, made amends, and awaitedtime and opportunity. He did not have to wait long, for he found aready ally in the doctor.

  Gilda and Raife were seated at their favourite table at the CafeBuonaventure, on a fine warm evening. Through a mirror Gilda's keen andpractised eyes saw a little old gentleman with grey hair and spectaclessurveying the tables. He was at the far end of the room. They wereseated among a crowd of merry, talkative folk, outside the cafe.

  "Quick, Raife, we must go at once," she said, suddenly. With anexhibition of that cat-like speed that she displayed when she slid downthe silken rope from the library window at Aldborough Park, she threw acoin on the table, and slid around a corner, half dragging him with her.

  "What's the matter, Gilda?" he asked.

  "That little `old gentleman' at the end of the room was Herrion, and Iexpect he's looking for you."

  It had not occurred to Raife before, that he was being hunted, not by an"Apache fellow," but by the smartest detective on the Continent. Hispride returned to him for a while, and he felt inclined to go and shakeHerrion by the hand--if Herrion would let him. That was indeed aquestion. Who would shake him by the hand now?

  By a devious route they returned to the flat. Raife was very silent.Gilda played and sang to him, but it was of no avail, his moodinesslasted for the rest of the evening. She rallied him on his silence and,crossing the room to where he sat on a lounge, said: "Raife, tell me whyyou are so silent. Did that man Herrion upset you?"

  He answered, wearily: "Yes, he did. It has set me thinking, Gilda. Ifear I have not done the right thing. It is not right that I should be`wanted' by a man like Herrion."

  Then Gilda was alarmed. This man was all she wanted to atone for a lifeof misery. He must not be allowed to reflect. He was hers and mustremain hers.

  A knock at the door terminated the scene for a time. Lesigne enteredand presented a note to Raife from Doctor Malsano. Whilst he wasreading the note, which was lengthy and called for a reply, she beckonedLesigne into another room. She spoke hurriedly, and with authority.

  "Lesigne, you must get this notice into the _New York Herald_, Parisedition. I don't know how, but you must do it--pay for it--do it,somehow."

  The little Lesigne bowed and smiled. "Mams'elle Gilda, what you tellme, that I will do, if it cost me--yes, if it cost me my life. I amdevoted to your service."

  Gilda was well aware of the little man's devotion. Whilst he wasspeaking, she was writing:

  "Sir Raife Remington and party left Marseilles to-day, en route for the United States."

  She smiled as she handed it to Lesigne, and gave him some money to meetany contingent expense. Herrion would not miss this announcement, andit would serve to put him on a wrong trail.

  Doctor Malsano's letter was important. It planned a big coup at a housein the Avenue des Champs Elysees. Paris is a city of fine streets andavenues, and amongst the finest is the Avenue des Champs Elysees. Witha clever mixture of flattery and badinage, Malsano lured his victim intotaking a leading part in this crowning work of his folly. The houses ofthe Champs Elysees are rich, and this brave stroke called for all theorganisation and resource of the band. Malsano himself would directoperations. Denoir would be there, and to complete--Gilda would bethere. It was difficult and called for agility, courage and daring.Raife, who possessed all these qualities, was to take the leading andmore active part, but he would be well supported.

  Detective-Inspector Herrion was in his room in the obscure little HotelVillon. He was reading the Paris edition of the _New York Herald_, andhis face wore a puzzled expression. The notice that attracted hisattention read as follows:

  "Sir Raife Remington and party left Marseilles to-day, en route for theUnited States."

  He reflected: "It's fifty to one Remington didn't put that notice in. Iwonder who did. It would take a lot of people in. It'
s clever enoughfor that blackguard, Malsano. After that note on the cliffs, at Cromer,he isn't going to tell us he's alive, at least, not in that way." Hetook the telephone and rang up the _New York Herald_ office. He toldthem who he was. Then he read the notice and asked: "Where did you getthat notice from?"

  An American voice replied asking him to hold the wire. "The man whotook it in is not on duty, but the office-boy describes him as a littleman, dark, with a broad-brimmed hat, and a big, black necktie. Helooked like an artist from the Quartier Latin."

  Herrion answered: "Thanks, that will do. I think I know the man."

  Replacing the receiver he smiled rather than spoke to himself. "Ithought so. It's Malsano's work, and the man who took it was Lesigne.I must find an excuse