The Cardinal Moth
Page 19
*CHAPTER XIX.*
*WHAT DID SHE MEAN?*
Harold was on the look out for Angela, so that she had not much troublein finding him. His stolid Asiatic indifference was admirably feigned,and showed nothing of the anxiety within. There was just aninterrogative gleam in his eyes for the moment.
"Isn't there somewhere where we can be really quiet for a few minutes?"he said. "I have successfully disposed of my royal rascal for the time,and I want badly to speak to you. Unless I am greatly mistaken, you cangive me a good deal of information, Angela."
Angela's smile indicated that she could. There was a small passagebehind some heavy curtains leading to a suite of rarely-used rooms, andAngela led the way there. She put the light up for a few moments anddisclosed a cosy corner lounge, then she snapped off the switch again.
"I've pulled the curtain back so that it is possible to see withoutbeing seen," she explained. "We must not stay long, Harold--I am surethat Mrs. Benstein will want me before long."
Harold slipped his arm round the girl's waist, and kissed her. Stolenmoments like this were very sweet. There was just an interval ofblissful silence.
"Now tell me what you know," Harold asked presently, "about the BlueStone."
"I know nothing about the Blue Stone," Angela explained. "Mrs. Bensteinhas done something with it. All the mischief arose from the fact thatshe had no idea of the traditional value of the gem. She had not askedher husband about it. As a matter of fact a cunning idea of SirClement's----"
"I know all about that," Harold interrupted. "It was very cunning, andcame near success, only I nicked in, and you and I spoilt it between us.Lefroy spotted the stone first and tried to keep the knowledge fromFrobisher, which was practically impossible. Then luck conspired toforce those fellows to make an offensive and defensive alliance. Butwhere is the stone?"
"My dear boy, I haven't the remotest idea. All I know is that it hasdisappeared from Mrs. Benstein's forehead, and that she seems to beenjoying the comedy."
Harold listened uneasily. He knew perfectly well that Frobisher andLefroy would not stick at murder even to regain possession of the BlueStone. If the sacred gem was still in Mrs. Benstein's possession shewould never be allowed to reach home with the thing intact.
"I suppose we must wait on events," he said after a pause. "For thepresent the Shan is not likely to interfere. I have placed him safelyat a bridge-table, and there he will sit so long as there is a game,though his kingdom was toppling about his ears. Still, it keeps himsober, and that is the main thing. I suppose Mrs. Benstein did not tellyou what she proposed to do?"
"I didn't ask her, Harold. She is so marvellously cool and clever thatI felt quite easy in my mind. But there is another foe to fight. Iquite forgot to tell you about him."
"Did Mrs. Benstein tell you, or did you find it out yourself?"
"No. It was Mrs. Benstein. She said somebody was closeted in theprivate smoking-room with Sir Clement and Count Lefroy. I was topretend that I didn't know, and blunder into the room, taking care toget a good sight of the stranger before apologising. I did it verywell."
Harold squeezed Angela's waist affectionately. She laid a loving hand onhis.
"Perhaps you know the man," she went on. "He looks like a true Asiatic,but at the same time he has blue eyes. It struck me as such a singularthing."
"I know him perfectly well," Harold muttered. "This thing goes deeperthan I expected. The man who is still plotting with these two rascalsis Hamid Khan, who calls himself one of the Shan's ministers. He isperhaps the most dangerous foe my pseudo-master has. If he can onlyprove that the Blue Stone had been out of the Shan's possession therewill be a change of dynasty in Koordstan. This is the worst piece ofnews I have heard to-night."
"I don't quite see why you should be so deeply interested," Angela saidsoftly.
"My darling, there is a good deal of self at the bottom of it," Haroldadmitted candidly. "I shouldn't take all this trouble and run all thisrisk for a worthless creature like the Shan, unless I could see somebenefit in it. I want to pin him down over those concessions, whichwill make my fortune. They will give me control over one of the richesttracts of land in Koordstan. In a year or two I shall be wealthy."
"Just as if it mattered," Angela whispered, rubbing her cheek againstHarold's, "just as if it mattered, when I shall have so much. But don'tforget that you have Mr. Benstein to deal with. You can't rob him of thestone which he has come by honestly in the way of business."
"Oh, I know that. And we must have the stone by ten o'clock to-morrow.But I have found a way out of that difficulty. Between ourselves, LordRashburn showed me the way. We have a rich Englishman who will advancethe money and benefit politically and secretly at the same time. He runsno risks of losing his capital either, because he is certain to get itback from the Shan in time. When Mrs. Benstein has gone home we shallfollow and settle the business out of hand. I wish she would go now."
"I should trust her," Angela said thoughtfully. "She will go in her owntime and her own way; she will baffle those scoundrels yet, I am certainof it. My dear boy, do be careful. If you are found out----"
Angela paused significantly. There was a risk of the mine being firedat any moment. There was no more dangerous or cunning foe in Europethan Sir Clement Frobisher, all the more dangerous in that he had CountLefroy for an ally. And the time before the Shan was getting perilouslyshort.
"Wait upon events a little longer," Angela urged as she arose. "We mustgo back again, it is not wise to stay here any longer. Mrs. Benstein maywant me."
Harold made no demur, pleasant as it was to linger by Angela's side.She held his face between her hands and kissed him, then he walkedtowards the curtain. The band was playing some passionate love waltz;there were murmurs of conversation and light laughter. It seemed almostimpossible to identify intrigue and danger with so fair a scene.
The two wandered on together past the dancers and the couples sittingout, talking quietly together as if they had been no more than casualacquaintances. Harold was a dull-dogged Asiatic again, but he kept hiseyes about him. The crowd grew less; it was more quiet in the region ofthe card-rooms. Several parties were deep in bridge here, the Shan ofKoordstan amongst the number. There was a pile of gold before him; fromthe satisfied glitter in his eyes he was winning heavily. Harold gave asigh of relief. He was free still to follow his own plans without theadded responsibility of keeping the Shan away from the champagne. Hehad a passion for wine, but a deeper passion for play, and so long asthe cards were on the green baize, he would think of nothing else.
"His whole soul seems to be wrapped up in it," Angela whispered.
"Of course it is," Harold said contemptuously. "If I went to him now andtold him that he had only to step across the room to recover his sacredgem he would ask me to come back in an hour. Doubtless he has quiteforgotten why he came here. Look, here comes Frobisher."
Frobisher came into the room rubbing his hands together and smilingsoftly. A glance at him told Harold that he had not only made hisplans, but was perfectly satisfied with them. Somebody hailed Frobisherwith a suggestion that he should come in and make up a table, but heexcused himself. He strolled off down the corridor, and as he did soAngela caught sight of Mrs. Benstein's flashing gems in the distance.
"I'll follow her," she whispered. "She's gone towards the bigconservatory."
But Frobisher was on the same errand. He caught Mrs. Benstein up andmade some remark. She smiled back at him as if there was nothing hiddenunder the surface.
"Oh, yes, the orchids," she said. "I have been promising myself a treatwith your orchids. I will conveniently forget that I am engaged for thenext dance. I want to see your Cardinal Moth in full bloom."
"I want to know how you are so _au fait_ with the Moth," Frobishergrinned.
"That is my secret, sir," Isa Benstein laughed. "There is Eastern bloodin my veins. But I know all a
bout it. You will certainly be murderedif you keep that orchid long enough."
"That, to my mind, is just the added charm," Frobisher said coollyenough. "I love the flower passionately. But the Cardinal Moth isunique, it has such a cruel, bloody history. Still I am not going topart with it for all the priests of Ghan."
Isa Benstein was forced to admit that there was something in Frobisher'sfascination as she looked up at the graceful ropes of blossoms. Therehad been one of the periodical bursts of steam which had just clearedaway, so that the cloud of delicate white-pink bloom with its flutteringred satellites overshone in refulgent perfection.
"It is indeed the queen of flowers," a deep voice came from behind.
Mrs. Benstein looked round into the dark, inscrutable face of Lefroy.She and her host and the Count were alone in the big conservatory. Thedoor was open, but they were too far away for any one to hear or to hearany one else. That she had been lured there Isa Benstein knew withoutanybody to tell her. She had the Blue Stone of Ghan in her possession,both these men knew it, and they were both desirous of gainingpossession, but they were both utterly unscrupulous in their methods.
If it came to a personal struggle they were equal to that. They wouldboth declare afterwards that the story of violence was a purefabrication, and that it had existed in a hysterical woman'simagination. And for the sake of her husband Mrs. Benstein would saynothing. How could she stand up and tell the world that she had beenwearing the Blue Stone at Lady Frobisher's dance, when the thing hadbeen pledged to cover a money advance?
These thoughts flashed through the woman's nimble brain like lightning.But the smile never left her face; she did not show for a moment thatshe knew or felt anything. She was quite ready.
"They are lovely," she said. "I am filled with envy, though I have someperfect orchids of my own. Miss Lyne, won't you come and worship at theshrine of Flora?"
Isa Benstein raised her voice in the hope that Angela might be near. Itwas a sort of danger signal and might prove efficacious. The nextmoment Angela walked in. She understood perfectly, but she made nosign. Just for a moment Frobisher's eyes flashed like electric points.
"I don't care for orchids," Angela said. "There is something uncannyabout them."
"Not all," said Mrs. Benstein, as she bent and broke off a spray of deepblue blossom. Frobisher winced as if somebody had struck him a painfulblow. "Look at these blooms; they are sweet and tender enough. CountLefroy, I want you to arrange this spray in Miss Lyne's hair. You canreach better than I can, and I can trust your taste. Place this flatunder the coil at the side."
Angela made no demur, though she would far rather have done it herself.Lefroy did his work gracefully enough and stepped back to admire theeffect, as did Isa Benstein. Frobisher, still snarling for the loss ofhis beloved flowers, looked on with his teeth bared in an uneasy grin.
"Perfect!" Mrs. Benstein cried, as if she had only one thought in hermind. "All this evening I have been racking my brains to know whatlittle final touch was lacking. I beg of you as a personal favour notto remove those flowers till you go to bed. Now will you promise me?"
Angela gave the promise lightly enough. Lefroy drew Frobisher a littleon one side.
"We are wasting valuable time," he growled. "Get rid of that girl."
"One moment. Her presence here is quite an accident. Our fair friendhas no suspicion. I shall find a good pretext to get rid of Angela in amoment. Yes, it is a fine flower and quite unique."
The last few words were spoken aloud. But if Lefroy had seized hischance for a word with Frobisher, Isa Benstein had not lost heropportunity. "I am going to make a remark," she said, "though I onlydare to give you a hint. Sir Clement has ears like a hare. When I speakyou are to give a laugh as if I had made a brilliant joke. You arequite sure neither of these men are really listening to us?"
"I think you can venture to go on," Angela murmured. "I am quite readyto laugh."
She broke out into a rippling, amused smile as Mrs. Benstein slightlybent her head and said:
"Be sure that you take down and brush out your hair to-night!"