*CHAPTER XVIII*
*A TANGLED CLUE*
Beatrice turned once more to her companion. The look of fear was in hereyes again. No sooner had the charm of Uzali's appearance been removedthan it seemed that she had done wrong. Perhaps Wilfrid guessed herthoughts.
"I don't think so," he said. "It certainly was a most surprising thingto happen. But I have come across more extraordinary coincidences in mylife, and, do you know, I rather like our friend. He seems to be agentleman."
"I think so," Beatrice said doubtfully, "but I am frightened all thesame. He was so like the man----"
"Who tried to get into Maldon Grange the other night. But you surely donot believe that a man like Mr. Uzali could be guilty of burglary. I amdisposed to believe what he said. If I were you I should think no moreof the matter."
"That is all very well," Beatrice protested, "but I am bound to tell myuncle."
"Then tell him," Wilfrid said, growing rather impatient. "It is clearthat you have nothing to fear. When you mentioned your uncle's name,Mr. Uzali gave no sign that he had ever heard it before. Don't youthink we are in the way of these people here?"
Beatrice glanced round her to see that most of the tables and chairs haddisappeared and that the stage was nearly ready for dancing. The guestshad increased considerably and the theatre appeared to be filled withvisitors. They had overflowed into the auditorium and already many hadgathered in stalls and boxes to watch the entertainment. As Beatricemoved away with her companion a man came up and accosted her.
"I think you are Miss Galloway," he said politely. "I don't suppose youremember me, though I have dined more than once at your house in town.Your uncle sent me to look for you. He is in one of the boxes. If youwill allow me to show you the way. From what I understand he has notbeen very well. I don't think there is anything to be alarmed about;only he wanted you."
Beatrice waited for no more. She hurried off with her new companionuntil they came to a box at the back of the dress circle. Here one ortwo men were talking somewhat earnestly to Flower, but he dismissed themwith a gesture as Beatrice came in. There were one or two shadedelectric lights behind Flower's head, but subdued as they were Beatricedid not fail to notice the pallor of her uncle's face. There was aquick irritation in his manner which she had never noticed before.
"I have sent for you everywhere," he said. "Where have you been? Andtell me, who was the man you were supping with? Now don't prevaricate.Tell me at once."
Beatrice's face flushed with indignation.
"There is no reason why I should not tell you," she said. "I went intosupper with Mr. Mercer. He is a guest here as well as ourselves.Perhaps we stayed too long----"
Flower waived the suggestion aside impatiently.
"Oh, why do you waste my time like this?" he asked. "I don't meanMercer at all. I want to know who was the other man who sat at the sametable with you?"
Once again the old dread was closing in upon Beatrice. She glanced ather guardian with troubled eyes.
"I have never seen him before," she said. "It was no fault of mine thathe sat at the same table. He came in with Miss Marcombe, the actress,who, as you know, has been a guest of ours at Maldon Grange. Sheintroduced him as Mr. Uzali. He is not an Englishman, but I found himvery entertaining, and a gentleman. Moreover, he surprised me by sayinghe had seen my moth brooch before. He declared he had a piece whichwould match the broken part and took it from his pocket. It seemsalmost incredible, but the match was perfect."
"You let him have it?" Flower asked hoarsely.
"What else could I do? He promised that he would return it in a day ortwo completely restored."
Flower said nothing for a moment or two. He sat looking gloomily at theglittering stage below. Beatrice could see that his hands were clenchedso that the muscles stood out strong and blue. It was not for her todeduce anything from these signs, but she knew that Flower was moved tothe very core of his being. He turned to the girl with an effort.
"Was my name mentioned between you?" he asked.
"Certainly, I told him who you were," Beatrice said, "but it did notstrike him as familiar. You might have been perfect strangers from theway in which he spoke of you. But why all this mystery, uncle? Whathave I done that is wrong?"
Flower pulled himself together with an effort, but there was an unsteadysmile on his thick lips. He tried to speak gaily, but Beatrice notedhow forced his words were.
"Another romance!" he said. "I must make the acquaintance of yourfriend. No, I am not in the least angry; only one comes in contact withsuch strange people at this sort of an affair that you cannot be toocareful. And now if you are ready I should like to go home. Somebodywill call a carriage for us. I'll stay here till you come back."
For some reason the man was afraid to move as Beatrice could plainlysee. She wondered at his want of strength, at his sudden display ofcowardice. She had never seen him in this mood before. She had neverknown him to display anything that savoured of terror.
"Just as you like," she said coldly. "I daresay I can manage."
The carriage came at length and Flower moved reluctantly from the shadowof the box. The night was not cold, but he huddled himself in a bigcoat so that he might not be recognized. But as they walked through thehall to the portico Beatrice saw that Mercer was not far away. Thelatter waited until they had vanished, then he made his way back to thestage again. The first person he encountered in the wings was Russell.
"I have been looking for you everywhere," the latter said. "I saw youon the stage just now when you were having supper, but it was not policyto come near you. What has become of Flower and his niece? Have theyleft?"
"Some few moments ago," Mercer explained. "I think I shall have enoughinformation even to satisfy you. If you were watching us at supper Isuppose you saw whom we sat down with?"
"That was why I was looking for you," Russell said eagerly. "What astroke of luck that our friend the Malay should take a seat at the sametable. What was he doing with that ornament which Miss Galloway waswearing?"
By way of reply Mercer led the way to one of the refreshment-rooms. Itwould be much easier to talk the matter over a cigarette than standchattering where they were in everybody's way. Russell was an attentivelistener. He said nothing whilst Wilfrid poured out his story.
"Splendid!" he muttered under his breath. "Nothing could have happenedbetter. I came here on the off-chance of picking up some information,but I never expected to gather as much as this. But I will explain allin good time. Now let us get as near that party by the alcove as wecan. Unless I am mistaken Uzali is in the midst of them. We don't wantto arouse his suspicions, but I am going to let him know that he hasfriends here. We can hear what is going on without appearing tolisten."
There were four or five men in the alcove and room for as many more.Russell and his companion pushed their way in casually and lighted theircigarettes. Uzali appeared to be finishing some anecdote, for hestopped presently and smote emphatically with his fist on the tablebefore him.
"Not a sign, gentlemen, I assure you," he said, "not so much as a singleclue. But I am not the man to be rebuffed at the first disappointment.No, I would rather not go back to the stage if you don't mind. I willstay here till you are ready to go. I am not a dancing man."
The alcove speedily cleared, leaving Wilfrid and Russell opposite Uzali,who smoked his cigarette as placidly as if nothing had happened to upsetthe even tenor of his way. Russell reached out his hand to an emptychocolate box around which a silk string was still attached. He tookthe string in his hand and tied it into a variety of knots.
"That was a strange story you told just now, sir," he said coolly. "Youwill pardon my friend and myself if we listened."
Uzali looked up sharply with a challenge in his eyes.
"I was wondering," Russell went on, "if the clue was anything like thiswhich I hold in my hand." With a
pparent carelessness he tossed thestring across the table and waited for the Malay to speak.
"You have said too much," Uzali murmured, "or too little."
The Five Knots Page 18