To say that I felt bewildered means nothing at all. What on earth she was doing there, I could not conceive, and at last I made up my mind that she must be hiding from Virgil with whom she had had some fuss. Of him or the other two men I could see no sign.
Now but for the sight of the woman, I should have at once descended and taken the other trail, but whilst I was still considering whether to follow this course, the woman got to her feet and stood perfectly still.
When I saw her do this, it came to me in a flash that, unless the woman was mad, she must be acting in concert with somebody else. And so she was. Before two minutes had passed, the chauffeur appeared.
He made his way straight to her side, when the woman handed him something and then hurried out of the ride and so out of my view.
I now felt bound to admit that Herrick must have been right when he made his idle suggestion that ‘Percy was making a film’. The behaviour which I had just witnessed was not consistent with the manners of a workaday world, but the screen is above convention, as every schoolboy knows. The early hour and the talk of a change of clothes supported this point of view, and though I could see no apparatus, I had no doubt that this was somewhere at hand. And since I had no interest in such goings on, I began at once to consider how best to get down from my oak.
I had turned about and was standing upon the branch with my hands on the trunk, when the scream of a dog in agony rent the air. Half turning again, I saw the chauffeur standing where I had seen him last, holding the dog at arm’s length by the scruff of its neck and flogging the luckless creature with all his might.
I was just about to cry out – for, film or no film, such cruelty was not to be borne – when I heard a galloping horse coming down from the right, that is to say, from the circus from which the four rides ran out.
Because of the leaves before me, I could not see it go by, but an instant later a bay flashed into my view. On his back was a girl, and the two were going full tilt down the midst of the ride, and making straight for the chauffeur still thrashing the dog.
So for a second or less. Then the bay turned head over heels and the girl went flying beyond him, as though shot out of a gun.
I never saw such a fall in all my life, but before I had time to think, much less descend, a man and a woman were rushing to where the girl lay. They were, of course, the two that came out of the car and they must have been standing directly in line with the bay when he came to the ground. And the chauffeur, too, was running as fast as he could.
The bay was up now and was moving off through the bracken with heaving flanks, but the girl lay crumpled up and perfectly still. To my surprise, instead of attending to her, the man and the woman between them lifted her up and began to stumble with her towards my oak. They passed directly beneath me, seeming to think of nothing but getting their burden along. Had this been the carcase of a dog, they could scarce have used it with less propriety. The girl was dead or senseless – I could not tell which: but, instead of supporting her head, they let this hang, and one of her legs was suffered to trail on the ground.
This was too much for me, and at once I began to go down; but, for all my indignation, I could not make haste, because, as I had feared, the descent was twice as stiff as the climb I had made.
I was, of course, wholly bewildered by what I had seen. An accident had occurred – I supposed in the course of the ‘picture’ then being made. But I could not understand any number of things. Where was Virgil? And what of the beaten dog? And what had become of the chauffeur? And why was the girl being hustled out of the way?
And there I looked over my shoulder, still twelve feet up, to see the man and the woman lay the girl down in the track which led to the car. They paid her no sort of attention, but after a hurried word, the man turned back to the ride and the woman ran down the track and out of my sight.
I think it was then that I thought that they meant her ill, for both of them need not have left her in any case. Be that as it may, I hung where I was for an instant, to let the fellow go by. Had he looked, he must have seen me, for I was fully exposed, but his eyes were fixed on something I could not see.
I leaped the last six feet, and before I turned to the girl, I looked after the man. In so doing I saw the chauffeur, walking across the ride…at the spot where the bay took his fall…hastily coiling the wire which had brought him down.
For a moment I stared, unable to credit my eyes.
Then I whipped to the girl, who was yet lying still as death, and, picking her up in my arms, ran out of the track and into the thick of the bracken until I could run no more.
3: I Open a Lady’s Eyes
I afterwards found I had run a quarter of a mile, which shows, I think, that fear can lend a man strength which he does not possess. Be that as it may, I laid the girl down as gently as I knew how – and then lay down beside her to get my breath.
Of course I knew who she was and I knew I had seen an attempt to carry her off. And I knew that I had been sent to bring that attempt to naught. I prayed that I had succeeded – with all my heart.
And here, before going on, I will render unto Destiny the things that are his. When I remember the manifold changes and chances that steered me gradually into the nick of time, I never fail to worship the wonderful workings of Fate. I perceive that I was a puppet, now moved, now held, now switched and now thrust upon the stage, that it was not I but my Master that brought me from the County of Surrey into an Austrian oak-tree that morning at six o’clock. Had I not been there at that moment, though I had contrived to move mountains, my efforts must have been vain and Lady Elizabeth Virgil have gone to a doom more shocking than that which her father knew.
From the way she had lain in my arms I was sure that she was not dead, but I felt that she ought to have water, to bring her to life. And then I heard the speech of a rill…
Two minutes later, perhaps, a hand went up to her head.
“It’s all right,” said I, “lie still. You took the deuce of a toss.”
Lady Elizabeth Virgil opened two large, grey eyes.
“The dog,” she said. “Who was it beating that dog in that merciless way?”
“It’s all right,” said I. “He stopped when he saw you come down.”
“And Caesar?” she cried, sitting up. “Where’s Caesar – the horse I was riding?”
“Unhurt,” said I. “He may be going spare, but he’s not going short. And now will you please lie down and let me look round?”
After a steady stare, she did as I said.
I got to my knees and peered through the tops of the bracken, but all was still.
As I sat back on my heels —
“Why did you want to look round?”
“Because you are still in danger. You were brought down on purpose. A wire was across the ride.”
Lady Elizabeth looked at me very hard.
“How do you know?”
“I saw it taken away. I saw the whole thing. The fellow was thrashing the dog to draw you that way.”
There was a little silence.
Then —
“Who arranged this…melodrama?”
“Your cousin, Percy,” said I. “I saw him at work.”
After a long silence she let out a little laugh.
“That rings true,” she said shortly. And then, “Who are you?”
“My name is Richard Exon,” I said. “A – a friend of yours told me about you.”
“I didn’t know I had any friends.”
“You’ve Herrick and me,” I said quickly. “His mother was a friend of your mother’s, and I was a friend of – of the friend I mentioned just now.”
The girl regarded me straitly.
“I can’t remember my mother.”
“I know,” said I. “The Countess Rudolph was killed before you were two years old.”
With that, I got again to my knees, to throw a look round.
As I did so, I heard a car coming – gathering speed. Till then I had
had no idea that we were so close to the drive, and for one distracting moment it seemed as though the closed car were heading directly for us. Then it switched to its right a short six paces away, and before ten seconds had passed we could hear it no more.
“Was that them?” said Lady Elizabeth.
I nodded.
“That’s right. Gone empty away.”
“What do you mean – empty?”
“They were to have taken you with them – I don’t know where.”
My lady sat up.
“Are you sure of this?”
“Quite sure. I’ll tell you everything later.” Cautiously I got to my feet. “D’you think you could manage to walk? My car’s not very far off.”
“There’s nothing the matter with me, but why should I walk to your car?”
I hesitated. Then —
“Because I beg you,” I said. “I’ll tell you everything later – indeed, I will. But now we’ve not a moment to lose. Directly Caesar gets in, the alarm will be raised: and I don’t want you to be found until after you’ve heard my tale. Please trust me till then. You really are in danger – what happened just now must show you that your cousin will stick at nothing to put you out of the way.”
Finger to lip, Lady Elizabeth Virgil appeared to reflect. At length she rose to her feet.
“All right,” she said. “I’ll trust you. Where is this car?”
When I told her, she glanced about her. Then she pointed across the drive.
“That’s our quickest way. But how do we come to be here? I came off in the Golden Ride.”
“I carried you here,” said I. “They left you halfway to the car, so I picked you up and cleared out before they came back.”
A hand went up to her head.
“So far as I can make out, I’ve a great deal to thank you for. But I can’t think as straight as I should. And when we get to your car, you are going to drive me to Brief?”
“I’d like to drive you to Raven.”
“To Raven? Do you know Raven?”
“That’s where we’re staying,” said I.
“All right. I don’t care. I’d like to see Brenda again. I’ll lie down there for a while. When you’ve been knocked out, you’re never quite right till you’ve slept.”
Though she seemed to have taken no hurt, she was not fit to walk as far as the Rolls: yet I was afraid to offer to fetch the car, in case, before I got back, the hunt should be up. There was, therefore, nothing for it. Fortune had laid on my anvil a red-hot iron. If I did not strike it now…
When she had stumbled twice, without a word I took her right arm and set it about my neck: then I put my left arm about her and held her up.
“Thank you,” she said. And then, “You’re awfully strong.”
“You’re not very heavy,” said I, and spoke the truth.
With that, we went forward in silence as fast as we could: she, I think, was thankful to hold her peace, and I could think of nothing but of getting her clear of the park. For all that, I should not have been human, if I had not been aware of her beauty and the grace of the slim, straight figure that swayed in the crook of my arm.
Her head was bare, and she wore a soft, silk shirt, now smudged with green, and Jodhpur riding breeches, very well cut: but thus unadorned and shaken, she filled the eye.
I am given to understand that she had her mother’s looks, but I find it hard to believe that the Countess Rudolph had all of her daughter’s charm. I have said before that her eyes were large and grey, but I despair of disclosing the exquisite light which made them so very rare. This was a very soft brilliance, which could leap into a flame, but, once you had seen it, you never could forget it, because forever after all other eyes seemed dull. Her hair was soft and shining and black as night, and the face which it framed was strong and proud and fearless, but something sad. I think it was the droop of her lips that gave her this wistful air, but you could not have wished it absent, because that might have altered the shape of her faultless mouth. Her skin was very white and her colour was high, and she made you think of some mistress of mediaeval days, of whose beauty troubadours sang, whose favour was sought and fought for by famous men. I have seen such great ladies presented on stage and screen, but though these had the advantage of raiment, scene, and surroundings to set them off, I never saw one that looked the part so well as did Elizabeth Virgil, no matter where she was or how she was dressed. Times have changed, and knights and queens of beauty have long been dust, but the Count and the Countess Rudolph were both of proud descent, and I think that their daughter threw back to one of those lovely ghosts that fanned to a flame the flush of chivalry.
Twenty minutes had passed and I had had to carry her over a stream before I saw through the trees the flash of the Rolls. I never was so thankful, for though she made no complaint, I knew it was all she could do to stay up on her feet, and I had a dreadful fear that to strive with the effects of concussion might do her some serious ill.
Winter saw us coming and had a door open, for her to get into the car: this she did without speaking and at once lay back on the cushions and closed her eyes.
“D’you feel very rotten?” I asked.
“I’m done,” she said. “That’s all. I’ll be all right as soon as I’ve had some sleep.”
Herrick was not to be seen, but since he was sure to return by the entrance-drive and the road, I bade Winter take the wheel and make for the spot at which he had set us down. If he was not in sight when we got there, I meant to go on to Raven and then return, but, as luck would have it, we met him at the mouth of the track.
He was plainly bursting with news, but I was down in the road before he could speak —
“I’ve got her,” I breathed. “She’s coming with us to Raven. But don’t say a word in the car – she’s not too well.”
Then we both got into the Rolls, and Winter let in his clutch.
“It’s very seldom,” said Herrick, “that Fortune makes up her mind to do a thing really well. She almost always leaves you with two or three little knots, and you have to try and untie them as best you can. As a rule, you can’t: and so you have to cut them… But here she’s excelled herself, for I came upon the scene of the outrage as you went off, and so I can complete the astonishing tale you’ve just told.
“But before I do that, let’s go back. Between us, we saw the whole thing. We saw Percy meet his bullies and lead them off to the ride. There, of course, be told them exactly what they were to do, watched them fix the wire and placed them in the positions which they were to occupy – the chauffeur at the end of the ride to watch for my lady’s approach, and the woman to show him his place as soon as he’d seen her go by. And when Percy had posted them, he went back to the house. That’s not guesswork. I saw him. Two minutes after you’d left me, he whipped through the fields below me, up to the house and in by the door at the foot of a staircase turret. Back to bed, of course – and there’s his alibi. Nobody saw him go out, and nobody saw him come in…
“My lady must have appeared just after I’d made up my mind to return to the Rolls. Any way, I didn’t see her. But I saw the closed car, as you did: and, as you did, I crawled up to have a good look. Before I was through, I heard that unfortunate dog, and, without thinking what I was doing, I started along the track. Then the dog stopped screaming, and I re-entered the bracken, just about ten paces in rear of the car.
“I was wondering where you were and whether to follow the track or go back to the Rolls, when I saw the woman approaching between the trees. She was blowzed and out of breath and went by at a shambling run, and when she got to the car, she swung the door wide open and then stood biting her nails and staring the way she had come.
“Presently along comes the chauffeur, sweating great drops, with a coil of rebellious wire, and going as fast as he knew.
“‘Where is she?’ he cries. ‘Have you got her?’
“The woman lets out a gasp.
“‘Me?’ she bleats. ‘Max has
got her. He sent me on.’
“‘Max hasn’t got her,’ cries the chauffeur, and the woman goes white as a sheet.
“The next moment, up comes Max, with his eyes bulging out of his head.
“When they told him she wasn’t there, he threw the best part of a fit before my eyes. Then they all ran back in a bunch, like so many frantic beasts, to where she ought to have been. Less than two minutes elapsed before they came stumbling back, all three disputing hoarsely and, naturally, blaming each other for what had occurred. Bang opposite where I was lying the woman fell upon Max and scratched his face to glory before the chauffeur was able to pull her off. Then she fell down in a heap and burst into tears, and Max did his best to kick her till the chauffeur landed a good one and knocked him down. But for him, they’d have been there now, for he was the only one that wasn’t beside himself.
“‘D’you want to be taken?’ he hissed. ‘That cursed horse is back in the stables by now, and in two minutes’ time the hue and cry will be raised. And if we’re to be found, we’re done. That Jew will show us no mercy – he’ll lead the pack: and he’ll hound us into prison for twenty years.’
“That brought the others up to their feet and into the car, and thirty seconds later the latter was out of my sight.
“Well, there you are. We know the whole truth of the matter from first to last, and, thanks to your enterprise, we have in our hands the remarkably beautiful subject of their activities. As I said two days ago, you’re one of Fortune’s pets: but you know how to use your luck – I’ll give you that. It would never have entered my head to carry the lady off.”
“Of course it would,” said I.
“No, it wouldn’t,” said Herrick. “I might have rescued her: but after that I should have taken her home.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s eight o’clock now, and she’ll probably sleep till lunch. D’you propose to tell her the truth this afternoon?”
She Painted Her Face Page 5