Maximilian The Master Thief

by Rishi Harrison

  My feverish fingers clutched the sheet of paper, and I read and re- read those threatening words: “Do not move, do not utter one cry. Otherwise, you are doomed.”

  “Nonsense!” I thought. “It is a joke; the work of some cheerful idiot.”

  I was about to laugh--a good loud laugh. Who prevented me? What haunting fear compressed my throat?

  At least, I would blow out the candle. No, I could not do it. “Do not move, or you are doomed,” were the words he had written.

  These auto-suggestions are frequently more imperious than the most positive realities; but why should I struggle against them? I had simply to close my eyes. I did so.

  At that moment, I heard a slight noise, followed by crackling sounds, proceeding from a large room used by me as a library. A small room or antechamber was situated between the library and my bedchamber.

  The approach of an actual danger greatly excited me, and I felt a desire to get up, seize my revolver, and rush into the library. I did not rise; I saw one of the curtains of the left window move. There was no doubt about it: the curtain had moved. It was still moving. And I saw--oh! I saw quite distinctly--in the narrow space between the curtains and the window, a human form; a bulky mass that prevented the curtains from hanging straight. And it is equally certain that the man saw me through the large meshes of the curtain. Then, I understood the situation. His mission was to guard me while the others carried away their booty. Should I rise and seize my revolver? Impossible! He was there! At the least movement, at the least cry, I was doomed.

  Then came a terrific noise that shook the house; this was followed by lighter sounds, two or three together, like those of a hammer that rebounded. At least, that was the impression formed in my confused brain. These were mingled with other sounds, thus creating a veritable uproar which proved that the intruders were not only bold, but felt themselves secure from interruption.

  They were right. I did not move. Was it cowardice? No, rather weakness, a total inability to move any portion of my body, combined with discretion; for why should I struggle? Behind that man, there were ten others who would come to his assistance. Should I risk my life to save a few tapestries and bibelots?

  Throughout the night, my torture endured. Insufferable torture, terrible anguish! The noises had stopped, but I was in constant fear of their renewal. And the man! The man who was guarding me, weapon in hand. My fearful eyes remained cast in his direction. And my heart beat! And a profuse perspiration oozed from every pore of my body!

  Suddenly, I experienced an immense relief; a milk-wagon, whose sound was familiar to me, passed along the boulevard; and, at the same time, I had an impression that the light of a new day was trying to steal through the closed window-blinds.

  At last, daylight penetrated the room; other vehicles passed along the boulevard; and all the phantoms of the night vanished. Then I put one arm out of the bed, slowly and cautiously. My eyes were fixed upon the curtain, locating the exact spot at which I must fire; I made an exact calculation of the movements I must make; then, quickly, I seized my revolver and fired.

  I leaped from my bed with a cry of deliverance, and rushed to the window. The bullet had passed through the curtain and the window- glass, but it had not touched the man--for the very good reason that there was none there. Nobody! Thus, during the entire night, I had been hypnotized by a fold of the curtain. And, during that time, the malefactors....Furiously, with an enthusiasm that nothing could have stopped, I turned the key, opened the door, crossed the antechamber, opened another door, and rushed into the library. But amazement stopped me on the threshold, panting, astounded, more astonished than I had been by the absence of the man. All the things that I supposed had been stolen, furniture, books, pictures, old tapestries, everything was in its proper place.

  It was incredible. I could not believe my eyes. Notwithstanding that uproar, those noises of removal....I made a tour, I inspected the walls, I made a mental inventory of all the familiar objects. Nothing was missing. And, what was more disconcerting, there was no clue to the intruders, not a sign, not a chair disturbed, not the trace of a footstep.

  “Well! Well!” I said to myself, pressing my hands on my bewildered head, “surely I am not crazy! I hear something!”

  Inch by inch, I made a careful examination of the room. It was in vain. Unless I could consider this as a discovery: Under a small Persian rug, I found a card--an ordinary playing card. It was the seven of hearts; it was like any other seven of hearts in French playing-cards, with this slight but curious exception: The extreme point of each of the seven red spots or hearts was pierced by a hole, round and regular as if made with the point of an awl.

  Nothing more. A card and a letter found in a book. But was not that sufficient to affirm that I had not been the plaything of a dream?

  Throughout the day, I continued my searches in the library. It was a large room, much too large for the requirements of such a house, and the decoration of which attested the bizarre taste of its founder. The floor was a mosaic of multi-coloured stones, formed into large symmetrical designs. The walls were covered with a similar mosaic, arranged in panels, Pompeian allegories, Byzantine compositions, frescoes of the Middle Ages. A Bacchus bestriding a cask. An emperor wearing a gold crown, a flowing beard, and holding a sword in his right hand.

  Quite high, after the style of an artist’s studio, there was a large window--the only one in the room. That window being always open at night, it was probable that the men had entered through it, by the aid of a ladder. But, again, there was no evidence. The bottom of the ladder would have left some marks in the soft earth beneath the window; but there were none. Nor were there any traces of footsteps in any part of the yard.

  I had no idea of informing the police, because the facts I had before me were so absurd and inconsistent. They would laugh at me. However, as I was then a reported on the staff of the `Gil Blas,’ I wrote a lengthy account of my adventure and it was published in the paper on the second day thereafter. The article attracted some attention, but no one took it seriously. They regarded it as a work of fiction rather than a story of real life. The Saint- Martins rallied me. But Blanc, who took an interest in such matters, came to see me, made a study of the affair, but reached no conclusion.

  A few mornings later, the door-bell rang, and Antoine came to inform me that a gentleman desired to see me. He would not give his name. I directed Antoine to show him up. He was a man of about forty years of age with a very dark complexion, lively features, and whose correct dress, slightly frayed, proclaimed a taste that contrasted strangely with his rather vulgar manners. Without any preamble, he said to me--in a rough voice that confirmed my suspicion as to his social position:

  “Monsieur, whilst in a cafe, I picked up a copy of the `Gil Blas,’ and read your article. It interested me very much.

  “Thank you.”

  “And here I am.”

  “Ah!”

  “Yes, to talk to you. Are all the facts related by you quite correct?”

  “Absolutely so.”

  “Well, in that case, I can, perhaps, give you some information.”

  “Very well; proceed.”

  “No, not yet. First, I must be sure that the facts are exactly as you have related them.”

  “I have given you my word. What further proof do you want?”

  “I must remain alone in this room.”

  “I do not understand,” I said, with surprise.

  “It’s an idea that occurred to me when reading your article. Certain details established an extraordinary coincidence with another case that came under my notice. If I am mistaken, I shall say nothing more. And the only means of ascertaining the truth is by my remaining in the room alone.”

  What was at the bottom of this proposition? Later, I recalled that the man was exceedingly nervous; but, at the same time, although somewhat astonished, I found nothing particularly abnormal about the man or the request he had made. Moreover, my curiosity was aroused; so I replied
:

  “Very well. How much time do you require?”

  “Oh! three minutes--not longer. Three minutes, from now, I will rejoin you.”

  I left the room, and went downstairs. I took out my watch. One minute passed. Two minutes. Why did I feel so depressed? Why did those moments seem so solemn and weird? Two minutes and a half....Two minutes and three quarters. Then I heard a pistol shot.

  I bounded up the stairs and entered the room. A cry of horror escaped me. In the middle of the room, the man was lying on his left side, motionless. Blood was flowing from a wound in his forehead. Near his hand was a revolver, still smoking.

  But, in addition to this frightful spectacle, my attention was attracted by another object. At two feet from the body, upon the floor, I saw a playing-card. It was the seven of hearts. I picked it up. The lower extremity of each of the seven spots was pierced with a small round hole.

  A half-hour later, the commissary of police arrived, then the coroner and the chief of the Civil police, Mon. Remos. I had been careful not to touch the corpse. The preliminary inquiry was very brief, and disclosed nothing. There were no papers in the pockets of the deceased; no name upon his clothes; no initial upon his linen; nothing to give any clue to his identity. The room was in the same perfect order as before. The furniture had not been disturbed. Yet this man had not come to my house solely for the purpose of killing himself, or because he considered my place the most convenient one for his suicide! There must have been a motive for his act of despair, and that motive was, no doubt, the result of some new fact ascertained by him during the three minutes he was alone.

  What was that fact? What had he seen? What frightful secret had been revealed to him? There was no answer to these questions. But, at the last moment, an incident occurred that appeared to us of considerable importance. As two policemen were raising the body to place it on a stretcher, the left hand thus being disturbed, a crumpled card fell from it. The card bore these words: “Georges Alderman, 37 Rue de Berry.”

  What did that mean? Georges Alderman was a rich banker in Paris, the founder and president of the Metal Exchange which had given such an impulse to the metallic industries in France. He lived in princely style; was the possessor of numerous automobiles, coaches, and an expensive racing-stable. His social affairs were very select, and Madame Alderman was noted for her grace and beauty.

  “Can that be the man’s name?” I asked.

  ---------------

  The chief of the Civil police leaned over him.

  “It is not he. Mon. Alderman is a thin man, and slightly grey.”

  “But why this card?”

  “Have you a telephone, monsieur?”

  “Yes, in the vestibule. Come with me.”

  He looked in the directory, and then asked for number 415.21.

  “Is Mon. Alderman at home?....Please tell him that Mon. Remos wished him to come at once to 102 Boulevard Maillot. Very important.”

  Twenty minutes later, Mon. Alderman arrived in his automobile. After the circumstances had been explained to him, he was taken in to see the corpse. He displayed considerable emotion, and spoke, in a low tone, and apparently unwillingly:

  “Etienne Wiseman,” he said.

  “You know him?”

  “No....or, at least, yes....by sight only. His brother....”

  “Ah! he has a brother?”

  “Yes, Alfred Wiseman. He came to see me once on some matter of business....I forget what it was.”

  “Where does he live?”

  “The two brothers live together--rue de Provence, I think.”

  “Do you know any reason why he should commit suicide?”

  “None.”

  “He held a card in his hand. It was your card with your address.”

  “I do not understand that. It must have been there by some chance that will be disclosed by the investigation.”

  A very strange chance, I thought; and I felt that the others entertained the same impression.

  I discovered the same impression in the papers next day, and amongst all my friends with whom I discussed the affair. Amid the mysteries that enveloped it, after the double discovery of the seven of hearts pierced with seven holes, after the two inscrutable events that had happened in my house, that visiting card promised to throw some light on the affair. Through it, the truth may be revealed. But, contrary to our expectations, Mon. Alderman furnished no explanation. He said:

  “I have told you all I know. What more can I do? I am greatly surprised that my card should be found in such a place, and I sincerely hope the point will be cleared up.”

  It was not. The official investigation established that the Wiseman brothers were of Swiss origin, had led a shifting life under various names, frequenting gambling resorts, associating with a band of foreigners who had been dispersed by the police after a series of robberies in which their participation was established only by their flight. At number 24 rue de Provence, where the Wiseman brothers had lived six years before, no one knew what had become of them.

  I confess that, for my part, the case seemed to me so complicated and so mysterious that I did not think the problem would ever be solved, so I concluded to waste no more time upon it. But Jean Blanc, whom I frequently met at that period, became more and more interested in it each day. It was he who pointed out to me that item from a foreign newspaper which was reproduced and commented upon by the entire press. It was as follows:

  “The first trial of a new model of submarine boat, which is expected to revolutionize naval warfare, will be given in presence of the former Emperor at a place that will be kept secret until the last minute. An indiscretion has revealed its name; it is called `The Seven-of-Hearts.’”

  The Seven-of-Hearts! That presented a new problem. Could a connection be established between the name of the sub-marine and the incidents which we have related? But a connection of what nature? What had happened here could have no possible relation with the sub-marine.

  “What do you know about it?” said Blanc to me. “The most diverse effects often proceed from the same cause.”

  Two days later, the following foreign news item was received and published:

  “It is said that the plans of the new sub-marine `Seven-of-Hearts’ were prepared by French engineers, who, having sought, in vain, the support of their compatriots, subsequently entered into negotiations with the British Admiralty, without success.”

  I do not wish to give undue publicity to certain delicate matters which once provoked considerable excitement. Yet, since all danger of injury therefrom has now come to an end, I must speak of the article that appeared in the `Echo de France,’ which aroused so much comment at that time, and which threw considerable light upon the mystery of the Seven-of-Hearts. This is the article as it was published over the signature of Salvador:

  “THE SEVEN-OF-HEARTS AFFAIR.

  “A CORNER OF THE VEIL RAISED.

  “We will be brief. Ten years ago, a young mining engineer, Louis Ives, wishing to devote his time and fortune to certain studies, resigned his position he then held, and rented number 102 boulevard Maillot, a small house that had been recently built and decorated for an Italian count. Through the agency of the Wiseman brothers of Lausanne, one of whom assisted in the preliminary experiments and the other acted as financial agent, the young engineer was introduced to Georges Alderman, the founder of the Metal Exchange.

  “After several interviews, he succeeded in interesting the banker in a sub-marine boat on which he was working, and it was agreed that as soon as the invention was perfected, Mon. Alderman would use his influence with the Minister of Marine to obtain a series of trials under the direction of the government. For two years, Louis Ives was a frequent visitor at Alderman’s house, and he submitted to the banker the various improvements he made upon his original plans, until one day, being satisfied with the perfection of his work, he asked Mon. Alderman to communicate with the Minister of Marine. That day, Louis Ives dined at Mon. Alderman’s house. He
left there about half-past eleven at night. He has not been seen since.

  “A perusal of the newspapers of that date will show that the young man’s family caused every possible inquiry to be made, but without success; and it was the general opinion that Louis Ives-- who was known as an original and visionary youth--had quietly left for parts unknown.

  “Let us accept that theory--improbable, though it be,--and let us consider another question, which is a most important one for our country: What has become of the plans of the sub-marine? Did Louis Ives carry them away? Are they destroyed?

  “After making a thorough investigation, we are able to assert, positively, that the plans are in existence, and are now in the possession of the two brothers Wiseman. How did they acquire such a possession? That is a question not yet determined; nor do we know why they have not tried to sell them at an earlier date. Did they fear that their title to them would be called in question? If so, they have lost that fear, and we can announce definitely, that the plans of Louis Ives are now the property of foreign power, and we are in a position to publish the correspondence that passed between the Wiseman brothers and the representative of that power. The `Seven-of-Hearts’ invented by Louis Ives has been actually constructed by our neighbour.

  “Will the invention full-fill the optimistic expectations of those who were concerned in that treacherous act?”

  And a post-script adds:

  “Later.--Our special correspondent informs us that the preliminary trial of the `Seven-of-Hearts’ has not been satisfactory. It is quite likely that the plans sold and delivered by the Wiseman brothers did not include the final document carried by Louis Ives to Mon. Alderman on the day of his disappearance, a document that was indispensable to a thorough understanding of the invention. It contained a summary of the final conclusions of the inventor, and estimates and figures not contained in the other papers. Without this document, the plans are incomplete; one the other hand, without the plans, the document is worthless.