The House of Whispers

by William Le Queux

  CHAPTER XXXI

  DESCRIBES A CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE

  To Hamilton it was evident that the man Krail, now smartly dressed incountry tweeds, was telling the girl something which surprised her. Hewas speaking quickly, making involuntary gestures which betrayed hisforeign birth, while she stood pale, surprised, and yet defiant. TheBaron's secretary was not near enough to overhear their words. Indeed,he remained there in concealment in order to watch.

  Why had Gabrielle met Felix Krail--of all men? She was beautiful. Yes,there could be no two opinions upon that point, Edgar decided. And yethow strange it all was, how very remarkable, how romantic!

  The man was evidently endeavouring to impress upon the girl some plaintruths to which, at first, she refused to listen. She shrugged hershoulders impatiently and swung her walking-stick before her in anattempt to remain unconcerned. But from where Hamilton was standing hecould plainly detect her agitation. Whatever Krail had told her hadcaused her much nervous anxiety. What could it be?

  Across the meadows, beyond the river, could be seen the lantern-tower ofold Fotheringhay church, with the mound behind where once stood thecastle where ill-fated Mary met her doom.

  And as the Baron's secretary watched, he saw that the foreigner'sattitude was gradually changing from persuasive to threatening. He wasspeaking quickly, probably in French, making wild gestures with hishands, while she had drawn back with an expression of alarm. She wasnow, it seemed, frightened at the man, and to Edgar Hamilton thisincreased the interest tenfold.

  Through his mind there flashed the recollection of a previous occasionwhen he had seen the man now before him. He was in different garb, andacting a very different part. But his face was still the same--acountenance which it was impossible to forget. He was watching thechanging expression upon the girl's face. Would that he could read thesecret hidden behind those wonderful eyes! He had, quite unexpectedly,discovered a mysterious circumstance. Why should Krail meet her byaccident at that lonely spot?

  The pair moved very slowly together along the path which, having leftthe way to Southwick, ran along the very edge of the broad, windingriver towards Fotheringhay. Until they had crossed the wide pasture-landand followed the bend of the stream Hamilton dare not emerge from hisplace of concealment. They might glance back and discover him. If so,then to watch Krail's movements further would be futile.

  He saw that, by the exercise of caution, he might perhaps learnsomething of deeper interest than he imagined. So he watched until theydisappeared, and then sped along the path they had taken until he cameto a clump of bushes which afforded further cover. From where he stood,however, he could see nothing. He could hear voices--a man's voiceraised in distinct threats, and a woman's quick, defiant response.

  He walked round the bushes quickly, trying to get sight of the pair, butthe river bent sharply at that point in such a manner that he could notget a glimpse of them.

  Again he heard Krail speaking rapidly in French, and still again thegirl's response. Then, next instant, there was a shrill scream and aloud splash.

  Next moment, he had darted from his hiding-place to find the girlstruggling in the water, while at the same time he caught sight of Kraildisappearing quickly around the path. Had he glanced back he could nothave seen the girl in the stream.

  At that point the bank was steep, and the stillness of the river andabsence of rushes told that it was deep.

  The girl was throwing up her hand, shrieking for help; therefore,without a second's hesitation, Hamilton, who was a good swimmer, threwoff his coat, and, diving in, was soon at her side.

  By this time Krail had hurried on, and could obtain no glimpse of whatwas in progress owing to the sharp bend of the river.

  After considerable splashing--Hamilton urging her to remain calm--hesucceeded in bringing her to land, where they both struggled up the bankdripping wet and more or less exhausted. Some moments elapsed beforeeither spoke; until, indeed, Hamilton, looking straight into the girl'sface and bursting out laughing, exclaimed, "Well, I think I have thepleasure of being acquainted with you, but I must say that we both looklike drowned rats!"

  "I look horrid!" she declared, staring at him half-dazed, putting herhands to her dripping hair. "I know I must. But I have to thank you forpulling me out. Only fancy, Mr. Hamilton--you!"

  "Oh, no thanks are required! What we must do is to get to some place andget our clothes dried," he said. "Do you know this neighbourhood?"

  "Oh, yes. Straight over there, about a quarter of a mile away, isWyatt's farm. Mrs. Wyatt will look after us, I'm sure." And as she roseto her feet, regarding her companion shyly, her skirts clung around herand the water squelched from her shoes.

  "Very well," he answered cheerily. "Let's go and see what can be donetowards getting some dry kit. I'm glad you're not too frightened. A goodmany girls would have fainted, and all that kind of thing."

  "I certainly should have gone under if you hadn't so fortunately comealong!" she exclaimed. "I really don't know how to thank yousufficiently. You've actually saved my life, you know! If it were notfor you I'd have been dead by this time, for I can't swim a stroke."

  "By Jove!" he laughed, treating the whole affair as a huge joke, "howromantic it sounds! Fancy meeting you again after all this time, andsaving your life! I suppose the papers will be full of it if they get toknow--gallant rescue, and all that kind of twaddle."

  "Well, personally, I hope the papers won't get hold of this piece ofintelligence," she said seriously, as they walked together, ratherpitiable objects, across the wide grass-fields.

  He glanced at her pale face, her hair hanging dank and wet about it, andsaw that, even under these disadvantageous conditions, she had grownmore beautiful than before. Of late he had heard of her--heard a gooddeal of her--but had never dreamed that they would meet again in thatmanner.

  "How did it happen?" he asked in pretence of ignorance of hercompanion's presence.

  She raised her fine eyes to his for a moment, and wavered beneath hisinquiring gaze.

  "I--I--well, I really don't know," was her rather lame answer. "The bankwas very slippery, and--well, I suppose I walked too near."

  Her reply struck him as curious. Why did she attempt to shield the manwho, by his sudden flight, was self-convicted of an attempt upon herlife?

  Felix Krail was not a complete stranger to her. Why had their meetingbeen a clandestine one? This, and a thousand similar queries ran throughhis mind as they walked across the field in the direction of a long,low, thatched farmhouse which stood in the distance.

  "I'm a complete stranger in these parts," Hamilton informed her. "I livenowadays mostly abroad, away above the Danube, and am only home for aholiday."

  "And I'm afraid you've completely spoilt your clothes," she laughed,looking at his wet, muddy trousers and boots.

  "Well, if I have, yours also are no further good."

  "Oh, my blouse will wash, and I shall send my skirt to the cleaners, andit will come back like new," she answered. "Women's outdoor clothingnever suffers by a wetting. We'll get Mrs. Wyatt to dry them, and thenI'll get home again to my aunt in Woodnewton. Do you know the place?"

  "I fancy I passed through it this morning. One of those long, leanvillages, with a church at the end."

  "That's it--the dullest little place in all England, I believe."

  He was struck by her charm of manner. Though bedraggled and dishevelled,she was nevertheless delightful, and treated her sudden immersion withcareless unconcern.

  Why had Krail attempted to get rid of her in that manner? What motivehad he?

  They reached the farmhouse, where Mrs. Wyatt, a stout, ruddy-facedwoman, detecting their approach, met them upon the threshold. "Lawks,Miss Heyburn! why, what's happened?" she asked in alarm.

  "I fell into the river, and this gentleman fished me out. That's all,"laughed the girl. "We want to dry our things, if we may."

  In a few minutes, in bedrooms upstairs, they had exchanged their wetclothes for dry ones. Then Edgar in the
farmer's Sunday suit of black,and Gabrielle in one of Mrs. Wyatt's stuff dresses, in the big folds ofwhich her slim little figure was lost, met again in the spaciousfarmhouse-kitchen below.

  They laughed heartily at the ridiculous figure which each presented, anddrank the glasses of hot milk which the farmer's wife pressed upon them.

  Old Miss Heyburn had been Mrs. Wyatt's mistress years ago, when she wasin service, therefore she was most solicitous after the girl's welfare,and truth to tell looked askance at the good-looking stranger who hadaccompanied her.

  Gabrielle, too, was puzzled to know why Mr. Hamilton should be there.That he now lived abroad "beside the Danube" was all the information hehad vouchsafed regarding himself, yet from certain remarks he haddropped she was suspicious. She recollected only too vividly theoccasion when they had met last, and what had occurred.

  They sat together on the bench outside the house, enjoying the fullsunshine, while the farmer's wife chattered on. A big fire had been madein the kitchen, and their clothes were rapidly drying.

  Hamilton, by careful questions, endeavoured to obtain from the girl someinformation concerning her dealings with the man Krail. But she was toowary. It was evident that she had some distinct object in concealing thefact that he had deliberately flung her into the water after that heatedaltercation.

  Felix Krail! The very name caused him to clench his hands. Fortunately,he knew the truth, therefore that dastardly attempt upon the girl's lifeshould not go unpunished. As he sat there chatting with her, admiringher refinement and innate daintiness, he made a vow within himself toseek out that cowardly fugitive and meet him face to face.

  Felix Krail! What could be his object in ridding the world of thedaughter of Sir Henry Heyburn! What would the man gain thereby? He knewKrail too well to imagine that he ever did anything without a motive ofgain. So well did he play his cards always that the police could neverlay hands upon him. Yet his "friends," as he termed them, were among themost dangerous men in all Europe--men who were unscrupulous, and wouldhesitate at nothing in order to accomplish the _coup_ which they haddevised.

  What was the _coup_ in this particular instance? Ay, that was thequestion.