“And now you think?”
“That we are safe?... I’m sure of it.”
He laughed again, very loud, as though very much amused.
“You understand, my dear master.... I like to call you master because you are a master in every sense of the word. You see, something happened this morning.... I went to Lion-by-the-Sea. I saw Victor and he saw me. He recognized me. You can’t tell Victor anything about ‘make-up.’ But still, I was hoping.... It was foolish on my part. Now he knows that Mr. Flow, that Durin is disguised under the name and under the skin of Sir Douglas Sherfield.... And he lost no time in telling Sir Philip. Then Sir Philip trailed me, but not so well.... As you say, Sir Philip is a noble character.”
Again he laughed in a sarcastic and unbearable manner.
“He followed me. But he didn’t know that I knew he was following me. When I engaged this private dining-room I knew he’d engaged the adjoining one....”
“Was he alone there?”
“Ask rather if he was alone with his wife or with her and her sister.... That’s the important thing. If Natalie was with them perhaps your eloquent story would have been lost, my dear master.”
What a man! He even knew their names. And how well he sized up the situation!
“Luckily, Clotilde was alone with him. And when you talked in that beautiful voice of yours it wasn’t necessary to stress that what you said was true — especially when you spoke of your love for her. You read her diary, I think?”
“And you, Durin?”
“I, too, naturally.”
I was not surprised at anything Durin did. But that he dreamed of entering my neighbours’ room and reading Clotilde’s diary — that passed all bounds of decency. My face must have shown my feelings. For he looked at me and smiled cynically.
“What? You wouldn’t object, my dear master, to my paying a little visit to Mr. Flow. Or rather that I shouldn’t pay back the visit he made me one night?” That reminded me of what Helena once said: “My Rudy is very intelligent. He hid the necklace very well....” Why hadn’t I understood that remark then? Durin wanted to get the necklace away from me.... He didn’t find it! He wanted to read the diary. But he didn’t think to search in the fireplace! So, that time I outwitted him! That reassured me, and made me smile a little smile of triumph.
“Yes,” Durin went on, “I did read the diary, and I’m glad I did, since the little confidences it revealed prompted me to ask you to dinner here to-night.”
I now began to see through his game. Durin, hearing from Helena that Victor was in the employ of Sir Philip at Lion-by-the-Sea, wanted to go down there to gauge the situation personally. He saw Victor, but Victor recognized him and reported to Sir Philip. The latter followed Durin, to see where he was living, to keep watch on him and finally entrap him. But Durin caught him in his own little trap, thanks to me.
“If Sir Philip had been alone,” Durin went on, “he would have been on his guard; but a man in love is thinking of only one thing. I’m sure that at this very moment Clotilde believes everything you said about her. She had convinced him, too, that you were sincere. Consequently, he must be flattered at the way you spoke of him. And then think how beautifully you spoke of her! One couldn’t have helped thinking you spoke right from your heart!”
I glanced at Helena.... But her quiet eyes betrayed not the least jealousy.
“The most effective part of your defence was when you spoke of Victor. To point out that Victor accused a false Mr. Flow in order to save the real one — that was a stroke of genius! Don’t say no, my dear master — that was genius!”
“Oh, no,” I answered modestly, “merely an old trick a lawyer uses.”
“No. Genius — I like to think you have it. Probably Sir Philip is beginning to be suspicious, and my good friend Victor will regret having ever accused me.... He ought to beware of that ex-barber. Victor is more dangerous than one would imagine.... However, we’ll see. And for the time being it might be advisable to renew your friendship with Lady Philip Skarlett.”
“That’s my business,” I answered brusquely, “entirely my own.”
“As you will, my dear master, as you will. However, if Sir Philip should suddenly ask you to dinner, take my advice and don’t refuse.”
“I’ll think it over. Still it is not at all likely that Lady Skarlett wishes to see me.”
“Ha, ha! One never knows.”
He excused himself for a moment. And he had hardly closed the door after him when Lady Helena threw her arms around my neck.
“Oh, Rudy, how I love you! To-night you are stronger and handsomer than anyone in the world. But tell me, darling, you don’t love that other girl you’ve just been praising, do you?”
She took my face in her delicate warm hands, looked deep and long into my eyes. I felt her body trembling as she said:
“Whenever you want me, darling, I am yours! Take me, dearest, take me!”
She heard Sir Douglas’s hand on the door-knob. She went back to where she had been sitting when he left the room. He entered, self-possessed as always. As we were about to separate, Sir Douglas took my hand to say good night.
“We may not meet again for a long time. Permit me, my dear master, to offer you a bit of advice. Don’t enter upon any adventure impulsively — look ahead carefully. You have shown of late that you have genius, but you have also had good luck. You’re young; but don’t rely too much on luck; nor on safes, either. The saw is an excellent tool, but you use it too much.... Above all, beware of pearls!”
He darted a glance in Helena’s direction.
“For my part,” he said, “I’m through with pearls!”
XI.
NECKLACE AND NECKLACE
“WHEN YOU WANT me, I am yours and yours only,” Helena had said to me.
And Durin had said: “Beware of pearls!”
Walking alone on the beach, I couldn’t help comparing these two speeches.
My position was a hundred times better than three days ago. Then I had everything to fear from Victor; now nothing. Clotilde was on my side; she would not allow them to send me to prison; I was sure she would protect me, if necessary. Instead of trembling in fear when I learned that Victor was Sir Philip’s chauffeur, I should have been reassured; I had an ally in that household. Durin had seen that at once and, wishing to protect himself against Victor, had sought me out immediately. Who knows? If he read the diary he doubtless came across the entries regarding her interest in me. Strange that he would advise me not to refuse any invitation I might receive!
I certainly would have loved the good Clotilde if I had not loved Helena. But after Helena, all other women were savourless. Furthermore, was I to blame if each time I decided to break off that dangerous affair, destiny bound me to it more closely?
What could one do about it? One couldn’t set oneself up against Fate. I would stay where Helena was.
“When you want me,” she had said. I wanted her now. But I also wanted the necklace, the one Durin was wearing around his neck for fear of losing it. The Victor episode was closed.
I would go back to my project. I would lay Durin low and take the necklace from him. In what a superior tone he had told me to beware of pearls! Well, I was on my guard against false pearls. Helena knew something about that, and she wanted me to think that the necklace I took at the Cambridge was the real one.
Still, she loved me... in her way. She wanted everything... her husband, her lover, and her pearls.
.. Yet she wanted me to run away with her.... Would I ever understand that woman? What was she looking for?... What did she want? Never mind, I shall know all about it when I have the real necklace.
* * * * *
Poor foolish Durin! I got it.... I got the necklace, the real necklace! It wasn’t difficult; I just worked out my plans carefully.
Helena had told me that he wore it on his person; not always, but most of the time.
There must be moments when he laid it on a table, put it in a box —
moments when he took it from around his neck. When he took his bath, for instance, he must remove it. If I went into his room while he was bathing, I might find it. This was the basis of my plan.
Then I watched.... I watched his comings and his goings, and seized the exact moment to open the door. The necklace! There it was on a table. Only reach in and take it! I replaced it with the one I had such difficulty in stealing a month ago. I left; there you are — it was very simple; nothing simpler. I laugh when I think that I had so much work and worry to steal a false one, and this time I had only to reach out my hand to pocket one worth twenty or thirty million.
I now had the necklace. Durin was wrong in inciting me.... There was the spotted pearl; now I could run off with Helena. Good-bye, Deauville; good-bye, France. I would free Helena, would give her back her most prized possession. Yes, Helena! your Rudy is very intelligent, and he loves you! You will see how much he loves you when he gets out of this poisoned atmosphere and we two are alone together in the New World. I’ve won!
How should I go — about it — now? — Wait for Helena?
Tell her everything — and take her — away? — But Durin was here at Deauville and never let her out of his sight. And if he discovered the substitution there would be a battle. No. Better — leave at — once; go to — Paris; tell Helena; she would — join me — and — together — we would flee.
I rang for my bill; ordered a seat in the express. Feverishly I packed my baggage.
I was in Paris that night. Immediately I wrote Helena, “Come, I’m expecting you.”
She would have this message to-morrow and be here with me the day after.
“I have the necklace! I have the necklace!” A hundred times an hour I repeated those words.
The story of Mr. Flow was finished. I had the necklace! I had won!
Helena came.
“My Rudy, it was terribly hard to get away. Why did you send for me?”
“We’re going away — away. Come quickly. Where do you want to go? You said to me the other day... yes, to India?”
She looked at me, surprised.
“What’s the matter with you, Rudy? What’s happened?”
“Don’t you want to go? But, of course, you don’t want to go now.”
“To the end of the world with you, Rudy! But it was only a few days ago that you refused. Now I’m a little breathless. Now you want to go? Let’s leave.”
She was not as happy about it as I thought she would be. She didn’t sound very enthusiastic. Some of my joy vanished. But she had said yes, hadn’t she, so what more did I want?
“Helena, at last we shall belong to each other for ever!”
“For ever,” she echoed.
She was still uncertain; she wanted to find out why I was so excited.
“Helena, I’ve got the necklace!”
She started. “You have the necklace? How did you manage to get it?”
“It was very simple. I took your necklace from Durin. Now you ought to be happy. I have it. We’re going away.”
She sat down in the armchair, closed her eyes a moment, opened them. I noted her pallor as she asked:
“You say you have taken my necklace from Durin?”
“Yes. Yesterday I walked into his room. He was taking his bath. The necklace was on the table. I took it.”
“And you put the other, the false one, in its place?”
“Of course. He probably doesn’t know yet about the substitution.”
She shrugged her shoulders, and again fell into deep thought.
“Rudy, you’re a fool,” she said, rising. “You’ve taken the imitation!”
“Oh no, Helena. No more of that. Will you go with me, or won’t you?”
“Yes, if we go back to Deauville.”
“We’ve nothing to do in Deauville.”
“Oh, darling! I’ve a great deal to do in Deauville. I have to keep a watch on my necklace.”
She smiled.... I understood everything.
That woman wanted to keep a hold on me. I was useful to her. Just as I was the night I saved her from Sir Philip Skarlett and from Victor. She wanted to hold me with the promise of a life alone with her later. But she always had a reason to remain with Durin. I was a simpleton when it came to her. She wanted to overwhelm me with her so-called love, but I see too clearly through her game to allow it to continue.
“Your game is over, Helena. Go back to your Durin. Or wherever you want to. I’ll grant you more than pardon. I’ll assure you of my utter indifference, my love is dead. Isn’t there a train at twelve-thirty? If you hurry you’ll be able to catch it. Good-bye, Helena.”
But she didn’t make a move. She looked at me and smiled affectionately.
“Don’t be angry, Rudy. It’s not time to say good-bye; that time will never come. But you are making me unhappy, my darling. Let us merely say au revoir. You are not as intelligent now as you were night before last. But it’s all your fault; you have no faith. I’ll come back soon; wait for me here. And be good now and kiss me while you can.”
Silently I opened the door.
“You’re very mean, darling. Some day you will understand. Then you will love me wholly and completely. No kiss, really, darling? All right. Next time we’ll have twice as many.”
She exasperated me. Again I pointed to the door. She pouted a little, like a spoiled child, then left, without saying a word. —
This time the affair was closed. She was gone and I would not see her again. First, I was leaving Paris. I didn’t know where I was going... anywhere. I would tell the janitress she could dispose of my room. I would disappear — disappear with the necklace.
But how could she leave me now that I had the necklace? How was she so sure of seeing me again and being able to lay hands again on a priceless necklace? That was beyond me! I could understand her leaving if I had the imitation. But to go away laughing and leave the real one — that was a puzzle. Could she have taken it without my seeing her do it? She was quite capable of that.
No. It was in my inside vest pocket. I felt it.
I must look. I closed the door. There it was. But... was I dreaming?... or had I lost my mind? It was not the necklace I took yesterday; the twelfth pearl wasn’t spotted. It was not the real necklace! It was the imitation... the one which for a month lay hidden in my neighbours’ fireplace. It was the one I had stolen at the Cambridge!
I could swear I saw the spot there yesterday in Deauville, in my room. Helena hadn’t taken the necklace from my vest pocket. When a thief wants to empty a pocket quickly, he cuts the material with a razor blade. But my vest was not cut. Hence, this was the real necklace!
However, the twelfth pearl was not spotted. Not one of them was spotted. Either I couldn’t see, or the necklace was the false one. How and when did it get in the place of the real one? Who made the switch? Durin or Helena? How they must be laughing up their sleeves once more, those two!
Now I understood why Helena was so undisturbed when she left, and why she left so quickly, smiling as she closed the door.
I should have been on my guard. I should have thought, “She has the necklace.” But I’ll have my revenge, Helena!
For the time being there’s only one thing to do — stay right here and wait.
I stayed for one day. But it’s hard to change suddenly from a life of excitement without feeling depressed. I was like an habitual drunkard who had been denied his whisky. I needed opposition; the perpetual motion in which I had lived for the last three months. No longer could I be the simple Antonin Rose, modest lawyer of the rue des Bernardins.
Suppose I went on a trip? But where? I would buy an automobile. It might amuse me; moreover one never could tell when an automobile would come in handy.
I thought I would go to Gorshman for some practical advice. He was good at that. And he would be flattered to think I needed him. He wouldn’t be surprised since he had given me half of the 200,000 francs he won the other day. I would thank him warmly, and tell him that, th
anks to his luck and brains, I had the wherewithal to buy a beautiful car.
“I thought you were in Deauville?” he said when I ‘phoned him.
“No. After you left I got bored. How’s your uncle?”
“My uncle? Imagine, he wasn’t even ill. It was a joke. Some fool had telephoned my valet. Astonishing how some people have nothing to do.... When I got back I found my uncle in the best of health and on the eve of making his annual trip t« Switzerland.”
“Why didn’t you come back to Deauville, then?”
“I’m superstitious. I said to myself, maybe that joke was really Destiny at work. It’s fine to win 100,000 francs in an hour, but if you catch the gambling fever you can lose three times as much the next day. That’s what my uncle said, too, and he’s right.”
At my end of the telephone, I laughed. That telephone call must have been made by either Durin or an accomplice. Fate uses agreeable intermediaries when she wants to get rid of a little Gorshman.
“And that other passion of yours?”
“Oh, I talked that over with my uncle, too. He says I must go slowly. He never heard of the Sherfield family, and he knows all the important English families. He’s going to try to find out about them; in the meantime I must be careful.”
“Suppose he gets information that discredits them, would it influence you?”
“It certainly would. What i£ she should be an adventuress!”
Some people are lucky! If Gorshman learned that Helena was an adventuress he would stop loving her at once. And here was I, who knew she was a criminal, knew all about her scandalous life — I went right on chained to her. No matter what I did I loved her. I might berate her, put her out of my house, as I did night before last, but if two days passed without my having seen her, I began to think of her! Nothing else mattered!
Still, if Helena wanted to, she could make Gorshman love her, in spite of anything his uncle might say. At least I liked to think so; it partially excused me.
It was just as I had thought. Gorshman was full of good advice on the best makes of automobiles. He made me choose a roadster — so popular at present. He used his influence to get me a discount.
Collected Works of Gaston Leroux Page 485