The Wiles of the Wicked

by William Le Queux

last! I feared that you would have left beforemy arrival."

  "I expected you days ago," she answered, and I knew from the man's sighthat he had sunk wearily into a chair.

  "I was delayed," he explained. "I had a narrow escape. Oustromoff hasguessed the truth."

  "What?" she gasped in alarm, "The secret is out?"

  "Yes," he answered gruffly.

  "Impossible!"

  "I tell you it's the truth," he answered. "I escaped over the frontierby the merest chance. Oustromoff's bloodhounds were at my heels. Theyfollowed me to Vienna, but there I managed to escape them and travel toBerlin. I knew that there was a warrant out for me--Roesch sent me wordthat orders had been issued by the Minister of Police--therefore Ifeared to cross to England by any of the mail routes. I knew the policewould be on the look-out at Calais, Antwerp, Ostend, Folkestone, andDieppe. Therefore I travelled to Copenhagen, thence by steamer toGothenburg, and rail to Christiania. I arrived by the weekly mailsteamer from there only an hour ago."

  "What a journey!" exclaimed the woman I had been watching so long andpatiently. "Do you actually mean that you are unsafe--here, inEngland?"

  "Unsafe? Of course. The Ministry have telegraphed my description toall police centres, with a request for my extradition."

  "It is inconceivable," she cried, "just at the moment when all seemedsafest, that this catastrophe should fall! What of Roesch, Blumhardt,and Schaefer?"

  "Schaefer was arrested in Sofia on the day I left. Blumhardt escaped toVarna, but was taken while embarking on board a cargo-boat for England.I tell you I had a narrow escape--a very narrow escape."

  "Then don't speak so loud," she urged. "Some one might be in the nextroom, you know."

  He rose and tried the door at which I stood. It was locked, and thatapparently reassured him.

  "Whom do you think informed the Ministry of Police?"

  "Ah! at present no one knows," he responded. "What do you think theysay?"

  "What?"

  "That some of your precious friends in London have exposed the wholething."

  "My friends? Whom do you mean?"

  "You know best who are your friends," he replied, with sarcasm.

  "But no one is aware of the whole facts."

  "Are you absolutely certain?"

  "Absolutely."

  "And the loan for the Prince?" he said. "Have you raised it?"

  "No; the thing is too dangerous in these circumstances. I have made afull report. You received it, I suppose?"

  "No; I must have left Sofia before it arrived. Tell me."

  "That very useful fool named Heaton has suddenly gone out of his mind."

  "Insane?"

  "Yes," she responded. "At least, he seems so to me. I placed thematter before him, but he refused to have anything whatever to do withit. His standing in the City has been utterly shattered by all sorts ofrumours regarding the worthlessness of certain of the concessions, andas far as we are concerned our hopes of successfully raising the loanhave now disappeared into thin air."

  "What!" he cried. "Have you utterly failed?"

  "Yes," she answered. "Heaton assisted us while all was square, but now,just when we want a snug little sum for ourselves, he has suddenlybecome obstinate and refuses to raise a finger."

  "Curse him! He shall assist us--by Heaven! I'll--I'll compel him!"cried her mysterious companion furiously.

  "To talk like that is useless," she responded. "Remember that he knowssomething."

  "Something, yes. But what?"

  "He knows more than we think."

  "Where is he now?"

  "Nobody can discover. I saw him once, but he has disappeared. They sayhe's a wandering lunatic. He left Denbury suddenly after showing signsof madness, and although that terror of a woman, his wife, strove totrace him, she was unsuccessful. His insanity, coupled with the factthat financial ruin overtook him suddenly, apparently preyed upon hermind. She fell ill, and according to a letter I received from Gedge afew days ago, she died suddenly of an aneurism, and was buried lastThursday at Budleigh-Salterton. The announcement of her death was inyesterday's papers."

  I listened to those words open-mouthed. My wife was dead! Then I wasfree!

  With my strained ear close to the thin wood of the door I stoodbreathless, fearing that they might distinguish the rapid beating of myheart.

  "Your ingenuity has always been extraordinary, madame," he saidreflectively, "but in this last affair you have not shown your usualtact."

  "In what manner?"

  "His Highness places confidence in you, yet you sit idly here, andprofess yourself unable to assist him."

  "A warrant is out against you; nevertheless, you still consider thePrince your friend. That is curious!" she remarked, with a touch ofsarcasm.

  "Most certainly. It was Oustromoff's doings. His Highness is powerlessto control the Ministry of Police."

  "And you believe that you will be safe in England?" she inquireddubiously.

  "I believe so, providing that I exercise care," he responded. "Afterto-night it is best that we should remain strangers--you understand?"

  "Of course."

  "And Mrs Anson and her charge? Are they at a safe distance?"

  "Yes. When I met Heaton he inquired after them. He particularly wishedto discover them, and of course I assisted him."

  They both laughed in chorus. But her words in themselves weresufficient proof that she feared the result of our re-union. Theyimpressed upon me the truth of my suspicion, namely, that Mabel held thekey to the enigma.

  "What does he know?" asked the man, evidently referring to me.

  "He is aware of the spot where the affair took place," she answered.

  "What?" gasped her companion in alarm. "That can't be. He was stoneblind, you said!"

  "Certainly he was. But by some means--how I can't say--he hasascertained at least one fact."

  "Did he make any remark to you?"

  "Of course he did. He gave me to understand that he was acquainted withthe details of the whole affair." A long silence fell between them.

  The mention of Mrs Anson and her charge held me breathless. The"charge" referred to was evidently Mabel. I only hoped that from thisconversation I might obtain some clue to the whereabouts of my darling.

  "I wonder how much Heaton really does know?" observed her visitorreflectively at last.

  "Too much, I fear," she answered. No doubt she recollected how I hadexpressed my determination to go to Scotland Yard.

  Again there was a prolonged pause.

  "Roesch has arrived in London. I must see him," exclaimed the man.

  "In London? I thought he was still at his post in the Ministry atSofia," she said in a tone of surprise.

  "He was fortunate enough to obtain early intimation of Oustromoff'sintentions, and after warning me, escaped the same evening. He tooksteamer, I heard, from Trieste to London."

  "Why associate yourself further with that man?" she urged. "Surely itwill only add to the danger."

  "What concerns myself likewise concerns him," he answered ratherambiguously.

  "You have apparently of late become closer friends. For what reason?"

  "You will see later."

  "With some distinctly evil purpose, I have no doubt," she observed, "butremember that I have no further interest in any of your future schemes."

  He grunted dubiously.

  "Now that you think our fortunes have changed you contemplate desertingus, eh?" he snapped. "A single word to the Prince and you wouldconclude your career rather abruptly, I'm thinking."

  "Is that intended as a threat?" she inquired in a calm voice.

  "Take it as such, if you wish," the man responded angrily. "Throughyour confounded bungling you've brought exposure upon us. We have onlyyou to thank for it. You know me quite well enough to be aware thatwhen I make threats they are never idle ones."

  "And you are sufficiently well acquainted with me to know that I never
run unnecessary risks."

  "I know you to be a devilishly clever woman," he said. "But in yourdealings with that man Heaton you showed weakness--a coward's weakness.All that he knows is through your own folly. You attempted to misleadhim by your actions and letters, but he has, it seems, been a little tooshrewd for you."

  "And if he does know the truth--even, indeed, if he dared to inform thepolice--what direct evidence can he give, pray?" she