The Baron Goes East

by John Creasey

  It seemed that he had been asleep only for a few minutes when he felt himself shaken, heard Lorna’s voice, low-pitched but urgent. His eyes were heavy, his head was like lead. He didn’t want to wake up, but Lorna’s voice grew more and more insistent. He opened his eyes, saw her face close to his, filled with alarm.

  “John, you must wake up. You must wake up. Ramdhal says he must see you at once.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  PRISONERS?

  Mannering pushed back the bedclothes and sat up. Lorna moved away, and Ramdhal stood between the bed and the door, dismay vivid in his face.

  “I am sorry, sahib; it is impossible to leave Ganpore. There are roads through the mountain passes, and all of them are blocked. It was my good fortune to fall among friends, who warned me of this. All roads have been blocked for people going out, for several days. The only way is over the mountains themselves, and that will take a long time.”

  Lorna brought a sponge and towel, sat on the side of Mannering’s bed, spread the towel over his knees and handed him the sponge.

  “If I’d known you were going to be up half the night I’d have chained you to the bed,” she said.

  “On Dr. Weiner’s advice,” murmured Mannering. “Ramdhal, there must be another way out.”

  “To the north only, sahib. That would also take a long time, and you would be in the mountains again. It is not possible to leave without the Maharajah’s authority. No one may go. I have done the only thing I could.”

  Mannering said: “What?”

  “I have arranged with a friend to go across the hills into the next state. It will take him at least three days. He will telephone Kana then. But even if he gets through, it will now be four and perhaps five days before Kana can come.”

  Mannering said slowly: “At least there’s a time limit. Thanks, Ramdhal.”

  “What is all this?” asked Lorna.

  “It doesn’t look as if the Maharajah wants us to leave yet. Ramdhal and I found snow by the ton last night. You know, coc—”

  “I know snow is cocaine,” said Lorna. The colour had gone from her cheeks and yet her eyes were suddenly bright. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. Ramdhal went to take a message to Kana, but couldn’t get away. We don’t know exactly what he’s up to yet, but if he finds out that the strong-room was burgled—”

  “You found the strong-room?”

  “All I took was a broken packet of snow,” protested Mannering virtuously. “I gave that to Ramdhal.” He sponged his face and dried himself. “What’s the time?”

  “John,” said Lorna, “did you expect to find cocaine?”

  “Let’s say I hoped to,” said Mannering.

  Lorna sat down heavily on a chair by the side of the bed.

  “Patel was in it,” Mannering went on. “Patel’s main business has been drugs. Jewels as a sideline, perhaps, but drugs, drugs and more drugs. Kana told us so; we know that Patandi was just one of hundreds of agents who distributed. We also knew that Patel was in this jewel sideline – he and his heirs. So both drugs and jewels were involved. Ganpore is a little state, hidden away from the others, so far off and so insignificant in the eyes of a government which has plenty on its hands, that it was left to run itself almost autonomously. Then there was the Bundi and the war against the jewels belonging to the princes – a war with public opinion on the side of the zealots, making Kana’s task ten times more difficult. The Bundi got a lot of jewels, but none has ever been traced on the market. That made Kana and Phiroshah sceptical. Would the Bundi steal just to gloat over the beauty? If the Bundi was a cloak and criminals were behind it, sooner or later they would have to sell. Those diamonds we saw last night aren’t all the Maharajah’s. They are the proceeds of many thefts from the private collections of different princes, not likely to be recognised by buyers from the West. The blue diamonds are really his. They were to blind us from suspecting the other stolen stuff. Easy enough, isn’t it? The Maharajah, the jewel big-shot, worked with Patel, who ran the dope.”

  Lorna said: “Give me a cigarette, please.” They were on the table by Mannering’s bed. “So the dealers were brought here to buy stolen jewels that couldn’t be smuggled out. And you—”

  “I wasn’t wanted. Phiro recommended me; the Maharajah didn’t write and invite me, but told Phiro he had.”

  Lorna said: “I see. What—”

  She stopped and looked over her shoulder nervously; she need not have done, for Ramdhal was coming in with tea and fruit juice.

  “He’s as good as Amu,” said Mannering lazily.

  Ramdhal put the tray down and went out. Lorna lit her cigarette as Mannering poured tea.

  “And now we’re imprisoned,” Lorna said heavily. “I don’t understand it. Why? He’s sold the jewels. Isn’t that what he wanted?”

  “He’s playing safe. We wouldn’t know we were prisoners but for Ramdhal.” Mannering finished his tea and pushed back the bed-clothes. “Have you seen any of the others this morning?”

  “Van Groot was walking in the grounds.”

  “Remember that we don’t know anything about being hemmed in,” said Mannering.

  He had a shower and shaved, and was feeling fit enough when he left the suite. Lorna had already gone downstairs. Breakfast was served in the room where they had dined; the long narrow table was now placed over the circular platform. Van Groot sat by himself at one end of the table, Kyneton and Petter were together, eating with obvious appetite. Lorna was opposite the two Americans.

  They were sitting and smoking cigarettes when the Maharajah came in briskly.

  “Mrs. Mannering, gentlemen. Good morning!” Nothing in his manner suggested that he suspected what had happened. “I hope everyone is well. I have seen poor Duval and my physician is with him now. I am sure you all hope with me that his illness isn’t serious.”

  “Damned bad luck,” Petter said.

  Van Groot grunted. Kyneton nodded.

  “And I hope you are all perfectly happy about our deal,” said the Maharajah. “There is the matter of payment, of course, which has to be discussed.” He looked at Mannering smilingly. “Yours is the largest account, Mr. Mannering.”

  “How do you suggest?” Mannering asked.

  “You understand, all of you, the difficulties I am in,” said the Maharajah. “I can, however, obtain all the credits I need from the Government provided I can show that I have funds abroad. So I am going to suggest that all of you arrange to make payment to my agents in London and New York, by cable, against your cabled request. You can also arrange insurance that way.”

  No one disagreed.

  “It will take two or three days,” said the Maharajah.

  Van Groot jerked his head up.

  “That is not necessary. I am already anxious to go. I have stayed longer than I intended. I am a business man, with much to do. I begin to think I was a fool to come – payment should be against the jewels in Amsterdam or London, not against delivery here. After last night, how can we be sure that we shall get them out?”

  “I will see that you have the strongest escort,” said the Maharajah smoothly. “I am sorry about the delay. I would gladly accommodate you, but—” He shrugged. “The weather has been bad over central India. Air services have been disrupted, and the plane in which you were to have returned to Bombay, Mynheer, will not be here for at least two or three days.”

  Van Groot was getting up slowly.

  “There is the plane Mannering came in.”

  “Unfortunately it has developed engine trouble,” said the Maharajah. Mannering still couldn’t guess whether he knew about the strong-room. “We have wirelessed for the necessary spare parts, but it may be two or three days before they can arrive. I am sorry.” He spread out his hands. “I will, of course, hand each of you the jewels you b
ought. I will provide guards. You will make all arrangements by cable, enjoy yourselves here for a day or two. Duval would not in any case be able to leave; it would be too bad if you were to desert him.”

  Kyneton sat absolutely still.

  Petter said: “Are you saying that you’re going to keep us here until the drafts are cleared? What guarantee have we that—”

  “My friend, please! It is unavoidable. You need have no worries. The only safe way out is by aeroplane. You saw the attack which was made against us last night. There are dacoits in the hills who would attack you if you attempted to go by road. You will have the jewels and you will be well entertained. Once the weather has improved and the aircraft have arrived—” He shrugged. “Do we need to talk about it any more?”

  Van Groot said harshly: “I wish to make myself understood. Not one penny will I pay to your agents. Not one penny – until I have the jewels and am out of Ganpore. I tell you that.” He thrust his head forward and glared at the Indian.

  Kalda still smiled.

  “It is—a mistaken point of view, my friend. You surely understand my difficulty. The dacoits have been a great menace recently. They are not my people. They have come from the famine country beyond the mountains. They can get out of hand. I try, but—”

  Petter said quietly: ‘This is the coolest frame-up I’ve ever heard of.”

  “An ugly expression,” murmured the Maharajah.

  “It is true!” Van Groot could hardly choke the words out. “It is absolutely true. You would have us murdered—”

  “Nonsense,” said the Maharajah sharply. “All this fuss, over what? We have reached an agreement; you have bought the jewels. You simply have to pay for them. A few days of delay, because of weather – isn’t that the way to look at it?”

  “And then you take back the jewels and cut our throats!”

  The Maharajah looked distressed.

  “Mynheer, I ask you—”

  Petter said mildly: “Let’s try not to get heated. Where are my stones, Kalda?”

  “In my strong-room.”

  “Good. I’ll take delivery now, against my cabled draft to New York.”

  Mannering felt his heart thump.

  “You play into his hands!” cried van Groot.

  “Take it easy,” Petter said. “If we can’t get out, we can’t. I don’t mind paying for the jewels, provided I have them.” His smile was as bland as the Maharajah’s. “Once I have them, they’re in my custody, no one else’s responsibility. If I were you—” he looked at the others smilingly—”I’d take the same course. Delivery of the jewels against the despatch of our cables. After that, we can all keep together, in case the Maharajah should be unable to control the dacoits, but I think he’ll manage that for us.”

  “It’s all wrong,” Kyneton said. He was pale and his eyes were frightened. “Don’t you agree, Mannering?”

  Mannering said: “I haven’t made up my mind.” But he knew the Maharajah would go to the strong-room, and find evidence of burglary.

  “Why should we worry?” Petter asked. “We’ll have the jewels, he’ll have the money. We paid our own price. Nothing wrong about that, was there? Kalda, may I have those diamonds?”

  “At once,” said the Maharajah.

  “Bring my purchase, too,” said Mannering.

  “It’s crazy, but I’d better agree,” said Kyneton.

  “Van Groot?” the Maharajah asked gently. “It would be better if you were all of one mind.”

  Van Groot said carefully: “I pay not one penny until I am out of this damn country.”

  The Maharajah shrugged.

  The door closed behind him as he went out.

  Van Groot jumped to his feet and hurled a torrent of angry recrimination. Petter went across to Lorna and began to talk. Van Groot dried up, but stood near the door as if prepared to rush out as soon as it opened again.

  The jewels were brought into the room on small trays, nearly an hour later. The servants who brought them went out, closing the door. The Maharajah of Ganpore gave no sign of having discovered the evidence of the raid. He motioned to the cases which had been placed on a small table near Mannering.

  “Inspect the greatest prize, my friend.”

  “Thanks.” Mannering opened the first case. There were nine small blue diamonds in it; he had seen these diamonds and this case before. In the indifferent light of the room they looked real. He put one of them on the table and peered at it, then slid his hand to his pocket and drew out his automatic. He held it by the barrel, then brought the butt down on to the diamond.

  It smashed into a hundred pieces; a fine white powder remained on the table.

  The Maharajah backed towards the door, but the gun slid round in Mannering’s hand.

  “I should stay there, Kalda. Mark, press the knob on the right of the door, twice – it’s level with your eyes.” Petter obeyed; the door was locked. Mannering looked lazy as he picked up the other nine paste gems in his left hand and tossed them into the air. “That’s what they’re worth. We don’t stand on ceremony here, Kalda, do we? This is the showdown. You took it for granted that after seeing the real diamonds last night we’d give them a cursory glance this morning. And as you were afraid I’d find a way out once I had them, you daren’t risk giving me the real stuff.”

  The Maharajah’s eyes were cold with fury. Van Groot was baring his teeth with anger.

  “Plain speaking, plain facts. You’re a liar, a fraud and a murderer or accomplice of murderers,” Mannering went on.

  “You worked with or under the protection of the Bundi. Most of the jewels we’ve bought are stolen. You worked with Patel, who handled the drugs.”

  No one spoke.

  Mannering said: “The big sale might have worked, but these blue jewels have been in your family for so long you didn’t want to part with them, but they drew the big dealers here. Oh, the other stuff’s genuine. If I’d discovered these fakes after I’d left you’d have said the switch took place after I bought them. Am I going too fast?”

  The Maharajah looked his venom.

  “You’re not going fast enough for me,” Petter said.

  “What are we going to do?” cried van Groot. “We are prisoners; we—” He broke off.

  “Remember that,” the Maharajah said thinly.

  “Remembered.” Mannering smiled. “If the worst comes to the worst, Kalda, you can stage another dacoit raid, have us murdered, blame the Bundi. You could probably get yourself a medal trying to defend us.”

  “Stage a raid,” Kyneton choked. “Was last night—”

  “As phoney as the blue diamonds, arranged to get us into the right frame of mind,” Mannering said. “Kalda has used the Bundi, probably a genuine organisation at one time, to cover himself all along. He even sent one blue diamond out of the country, using Phiroshah, to show how anxious he was to sell. I’m guessing, but I think real Bundi agents, misguided zealots, went after those and killed Yusuf Phiroshah in New York. They probably carried out the London robbery, too, and made Phiroshah a tool in Kalda’s hands, ready to lend his name to the invitations to the big dealers. But old Phiro named me. Kalda didn’t like the idea of an amateur detective around and forgot to invite me. Phiroshah, not knowing that, made sure I came. As the sample diamond was still in Phiroshah’s possession, he used that to lure me to India.

  “Kalda tried to keep me away – by threats, by a show of force at my shop. He tried to send me back, using kid-glove methods at first. When I stayed, he turned desperate, but he wasn’t sure why I stayed, what Phiroshah and I knew. His son was in love with Phiroshah’s daughter, might have some idea of the truth, might have told Shani, who would have told her father. He had Phiroshah and I kidnapped, but we got away before his men could question us and find out what we knew. Then he took Shani and his own son �
�� would a man be party to kidnapping his own son? Holding Shani, he felt safe from Phiroshah. Old Patel was dead. He could use his house, have his own son freed – as it happened, I freed Jagat before it was intended – who would pass the message on to me. He, the Maharajah, doubted Phiroshah’s honesty. A nice touch. And Jagat had to get me here quickly. Kalda had to know when I started; would have had my plane brought down somehow. So I came ahead of time.”

  Mannering stopped. No one spoke for what seemed a long time.

  Then the Maharajah moved his position slightly, and a taut smile curved his lips.

  “You are so clever and talk so much. Tell me, how are you going to take this story to the police?”

  “Ah!” ejaculated van Groot. “Is there a way, Mannering?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  THE WAY OUT

  The Maharajah’s smile broadened as Mannering stood silent, covering him with the gun. Van Groot repeated harshly: “Is there a way?” No one else spoke.

  Mannering said mildly: “Oh yes. After the jewels were shown last night, I had that look round. I made an interesting discovery. By moving the table and pulling up part of the carpet we can get below the palace to the strong-room and the tunnel. That’s where we’re going. The air’s quite fresh down there. There are some iron rations and plenty of rice – I saw that last night, too. We’ll take some water, and be able to stay there for a few days.”

  “It will not help you.” But Kalda’s smile had lost its edge of triumph.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” said Mannering. “You’ll be with us. If any of your people try to get at us, we will simply tell them you’ll be killed if there’s any trouble. They won’t take the chance, will they?”

  “How will it help if we lock ourselves up?” demanded van Groot.

  “We shan’t have to stay long,” said Mannering. “I sent a message out last night. It will soon reach the Bombay police, and when they hear about the drugs they will stir up a lively Government interest in Ganpore. Three or four days down there won’t be pleasant but won’t be unbearable. Will it, Lorna?”