‘Mon Dieu!’ cried the girl in exasperated tones. ‘I have squeezed her as one squeezes a lemon, but she knows nothing. Of that I am convinced. Her husband tells her nothing. We are said to be on a tour of pleasure. I suppose Signora Bruno and Madame Bikelas are with the party for the purpose of giving such an impression. They believe it, poor dears. I could not be a wife of that type, Captain Shannon. If I had a husband who treated me in the manner one treats a doll, I should leave him. I would wish to be a real companion to him, and in his confidence. I know there must come times when a husband cannot confide altogether in his wife, but to be kept, as a man might keep a mistress, just for pleasure and for no other reason is, I think, degrading. Do you not agree?’
He smiled.
‘To a certain extent, yes. When did you arrive in Rome?’
He watched her keenly, as he asked the question, alert for any sign that she was aware he already knew. But she returned his regard quite frankly, and replied at once.
‘Only today. It was said that we were to stay in Cyprus for some weeks, but we left suddenly, as though there had been a happening which made it necessary to leave the island at once. There was much agitation to be seen on the faces of the men, but I could not find out what it was that caused it. We all left with much abruptness on the Messageries Maritimes ship which was going to Marseilles. Kyprianos pretended that he was not of the party. He travelled separately to the port of Famagusta, and joined the rest of us on the boat. Our tickets were for Marseilles, but we disembarked at Naples early this morning, and came here by train. Is it not significant that we had tickets for one place, and landed at another?’
‘It certainly would seem so. What hotel are you residing at?’
‘We are not in a hotel, m’sieu. Signor Bruno possesses a very luxurious flat in the Ludovisi quarter. On our arrival in Rome we drove to the agent, who came with us. Through him we have engaged three flats in the same building. There are many vacant. Monsieur and Madame Bikelas, his secretary, and I are in one flat; Messieurs Doreff, and Plasiras and his secretary are in another; the third is occupied by General Radoloff, Messieurs Michalis and Kyprianos.’
‘They are to remain in Rome for at least a month then?’
‘It would seem to be the case. There is now anxiety because the customs at Naples would not let through a box belonging to Kyprianos. I heard him say that without it he could do nothing.’
‘Do you know what is in the case?’
‘It contains many bottles and jars filled with liquids. There are also measures and retorts.’
‘I see. It appears that he is engaged on some chemical experiments in which they are all interested.’ She nodded. ‘How can those experiments be connected with your theory that Plasiras and Bikelas are plotting against Greece?’
‘I do not know, and I—’ she paused, and looked up at him with eyes in which seemed to lurk the shadow of a great fear. ‘Monsieur Shannon,’ she cried impulsively, ‘I am in much anxiety. I am afraid to permit myself to think, for it is in my mind that Kyprianos has devised some terrible poison gas which it is intended to use in order to obtain great power.’
A similar theory had been vaguely exercising Shannon’s mind all day, ever since he had observed the anxiety with which Kyprianos and his companions had regarded the refusal of the customs authorities at Naples to pass the case. Her frankness seemed to him proof positive that she was genuinely seeking his advice. There may have been reason of a treacherous nature for divulging her other items of information, but there could be no object antagonistic to him in the betrayal of a secret that she and her companions would wish to remain hidden under all circumstances. She may, of course, have been purposely misleading him suggesting an explanation of Kyprianos’ connection to his mind in order to divert it from any possibility of hitting on the correct reason. Shannon was worried. If he felt he could rely on this girl, he would have a helper whose position in the household would render her a most valuable assistant in his investigations. She had apparently been so honest with him that he was by that time more than half inclined to trust her. Everything she had told him coincided with his own knowledge. There had not been one item which had, in any way, clashed with the information he had acquired. Yet the memory of her father, of her own part in the events of a year before, persisted. He, like his colleagues, had formed his opinion of her then. It seemed to him that, in order to believe in her now, he must accept the incredible fact that there had been a complete volte-face in her character. She startled him by putting his thoughts into words.
‘You are thinking,’ she declared, ‘that it is impossible to alter the opinion of me you had formed, is it not so? You are wondering how it can be that I, whom you judged so wicked a woman, could be now any different, and if there is any motive antagonistic to you in my visit. Oh, Captain Shannon, why cannot you try, at least, to believe in me? What possible purpose could I have in coming thus to you at risk so great to myself and confiding these things to you? Even if they are untrue, as perhaps you think, what object can be behind lies so useless? You are not fair to me, mon ami. You have no right to judge by the circumstances in which you first met me. I was then not my own mistress. I was under the influence of a man who though, as you say, a scoundrel was, after all, my father. You say in English that blood is thicker than water. Perhaps I was not very reluctant to be with him, for there is no doubt a cruel streak in my nature – I do not try to deny it, though I think I have suppressed it – and I love the excitement. But, when he died, it was as though I had been released from captivity. Since then I have striven to lead the life which my mother would have approved. Now I am happy in working for my country’s welfare in the same way as you are working for England. Will you not give me the chance to prove myself? Will you not try to trust me?’
Her appeal went straight to his heart. Despite his misgivings, he felt inclined to cast, at least, some of his prejudices aside. He was about to reply, when abruptly the silence was shattered by a loud knocking on the door. At once they were both on their feet, eyeing each other in a startled fashion; he again suspicious, she with the hint of terror in her great lovely eyes.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Love at First Sight
A quiet which, to his mind, seemed pregnant with danger followed the knocking. Had she, after all, betrayed him? Was Signor Bruno outside with officials anxious to question a British Secret Service agent about the reason for his presence in Rome, or had it been arranged between her and her companions that he was to be caught in a compromising position with her for some ulterior purpose? She silently answered his thoughts herself, gliding to his side, and taking his arm as though seeking protection. The faint elusive scent which clung to her threatened to intoxicate his senses, he felt her tremble slightly. Looking down at her, he saw that she was really startled, unless it was that she was a consummate actress. There was no suggestion of hysterical fear, which would immediately have convinced him of its insincerity. She was alarmed, but calm, exactly as he would expect the daughter of her father to be; exactly as the Thalia Ictinos he knew would be expected to face an unpleasant emergency. He knew she possessed great courage. She was not the kind to whimper with fear or lose her head. She did neither now, and consequently his faith in her grew stronger. Suddenly, however, he gripped her by both shoulders; gazed deep into eyes that returned his burning, questioning gaze unflinchingly.
‘If this is a trick, Thalia Ictinos,’ he whispered tensely, ‘God help you. Do you know who is outside?’
‘No, Monsieur Shannon,’ she murmured, ‘I do not, but I fear it may be that I was watched and followed. If so, it is I who am in danger, not you.’
Her words made him feel a trifle ashamed of himself. Releasing her from a grip that he realised then must have hurt, though she had made no protest, he picked up her cloak, and handed it to her.
‘In here!’ he ordered, opening the door of the wardrobe.
She obeyed at once, while he removed his dressing gown from a peg and, tearin
g off his dinner jacket, donned the other garment. The knocking was repeated. He threw the jacket on a chair, closed the wardrobe, and sauntered across the room. Opening the door slowly, he confronted the individual standing outside. Immediately a great wave of relief surged through him. The man regarding him with a broad smile was Hill, one of his own colleagues, variously known as ‘Tubby’, ‘Ray’, or ‘The Doc’. Raymond Hill had qualified brilliantly as a doctor, but his spirit of adventure, a knack of picking up languages, patriotic instinct above the ordinary, and a first-class detective sense had shaped his career otherwise than had been the intention. He was now one of the men Sir Leonard regarded as his experts. About medium height, he was slightly inclined to corpulency. He was fair-haired, had a pair of ingenuous blue eyes, and a fresh, clear skin that would have been a credit to a certain excellent soap which, we are assured, helps people to obtain and retain schoolgirl complexions. Hill was subject to a great deal of chaff from his colleagues on account of his fresh, boyish face, but he took it all in good part. He possessed a sense of humour and a jolly personality, which helped to make him extremely popular.
‘By all that’s wonderful!’ exclaimed Shannon. ‘I’m jolly glad to see you, Tubby. But where have you blown in from? I thought you were in Madrid.’
‘So I was – returned yesterday. The chief gave orders this morning that I was to join you, and here I am; flew over to save time. Aren’t you going to ask me in?’
Shannon pushed him hastily away from the door; stepped outside, closing it behind him. Thalia Ictinos must not catch a glimpse of Hill, since the latter was to help him in his investigations.
‘What’s the big idea?’ queried the ex-doctor, and, grinning broadly, added: ‘You’re not carrying on an intrigue, are you? She was only a landlady’s daughter—’
‘Tubby, you’ve a coarse mind,’ interrupted Shannon, ‘There is a lady in my room I must confess, and thereby hangs a tale with which I shall thrill your ears anon. At present make yourself scarce; whatever happens she mustn’t see you. Come back in about half an hour. She’ll have gone by then.’
‘Tut! Tut!’ sighed Hill. ‘A lady in his room at this hour of the night! Hugh, I should be shocked to the marrow – if one could be shocked to the marrow – if I didn’t know you.’
‘Then it is fortunate you do. I couldn’t bear to shock you, Doc.’ Hill chuckled. He had a way of chuckling in a manner which can only be described as comfortable. ‘Beat it!’ ordered Shannon. ‘I’ll look out for you later.’
Hill obediently departed, and Hugh returned to his room, taking care to close the door tightly when he had entered. Thalia was still in the cupboard. Opening it, he bade her step out.
‘It is quite all right, Miss Ictinos,’ he assured her. ‘Our fears were groundless. The mysterious knocker was merely a friend of mine.’
She stepped forth with a sigh of relief.
‘Mon Dieu!’ she exclaimed. ‘I must admit that I had very much what you call the wind-up. It is a great easement to my mind to know that there was, after all, nothing to fear.’ His smile, she thought, was more friendly than it had yet been. ‘You were also glad to see it was but a friend, I think. For a little time you were very fierce with me.’ She lifted a beautiful white hand, and caressed her shoulder rather ruefully. ‘Your fingers are too strong, Captain Shannon; they hurt.’
He eyed the bruise on the satiny flesh with an air of dismay.
‘Good Lord!’ he ejaculated. ‘Did I do that? I’m awfully sorry.’
‘It is nothing,’ she returned, smiling up at him, ‘and I will consider it worthwhile, if now you have learnt to trust me a little.’
He regarded her in silence for some moments, rubbing a great hand reflectively to and fro on his powerful jaw.
‘I’m not going to be a hypocrite,’ he told her at length, ‘therefore, I will not pretend that my misgivings have been entirely eradicated. There is a possibility remaining in my mind, that for some reason, I cannot fathom, you have come to me with this tale – I mean a reason quite different from the one you have given me. But it is there now merely as a possibility. I am casting aside some of my prejudices regarding you, and am endeavouring to trust you. I warn you, however, that I remain on my guard.’
‘That is natural,’ she conceded. ‘It is something to know that you are trying to trust me and, for the future, will not be too prejudiced against me. And you will help me?’
‘In what way do you think I can be of assistance?’ She sank into the armchair again; accepted the cigarette he offered her.
‘Is it too much to ask you to – how would you put it? Ah! Take a hand in the game?’
‘I am not a free agent,’ he reminded her. ‘If I were, I should not hesitate at all.’
‘It is nice of you to say that,’ she returned gratefully. ‘Can you not spare a little of your time? If that is too much for which to hope, will you please advise me? I am obstructed all ways. There are seven men I am observing, and I am but one woman. They are so cautious that I am compelled to be so very, very careful. Is there anything else I can do to obtain the information I need that I have not done?’
‘What have you done?’
‘What have I not done?’ she retorted wearily. ‘I have pumped – that is the word, I think – I have pumped Madame Bikelas and Signora Bruno until I am assured they know very little. I have done the same thing with the two secretaries, but have failed. They are stones, not men,’ she added in disgusted tones. ‘I have tried to flirt with the others – ah! It was distasteful. Messieurs Bruno and Bikelas are either too full of their affairs or afraid of their wives to have much to do with me. Plasiras, Michalis, and Kyprianos have returned my smiles with looks I do not like, especially the scientist who I think is a devil – he frightens me. Sometimes he looks at me but I have told you that. Monsieur Doreff is a weakling; I do not think he is of much account. My hopes rest on General Radoloff. He is perhaps in love with me. I am trying to be very, very kind to him, because, if I let him make love to me, he may talk. It is what you call a forlorn hope, though. Never can I listen at doors or by windows to their discussions, for they guard themselves too well. It is all very difficult, m’sieu.’
‘It certainly sounds like it,’ agreed Shannon. ‘Look here, Miss Ictinos, I promise you this. I will think things over, and, if I discover a way of helping you or advising you, I will let you know somehow. Could you manage to see me again?’
She looked dubious.
‘I took a great risk when I came here tonight,’ she declared slowly. ‘Perhaps another time I might not be so fortunate, but, of course, I will endeavour to see you – I must, if you are to help me.’
He sat on the bed; contemplated his shoes thoughtfully. Presently he looked at her.
‘I suppose you sometimes go out for a walk by yourself?’ he asked.
‘But of course,’ she laughed. ‘I am not a prisoner. Often I walk alone.’
‘Well, take a stroll in the Pincio Gardens at sunset tomorrow. I also will walk there. I shall keep to the path at the edge of the hill, until I come to the terrace over the Piazza del Popolo. From there I shall contemplate the view. If you arrive on the terrace, and are assured you have not been followed, you will come and speak to me. If you do not, I shall know that you are being watched, and shall ignore you if I see you. In that case, you must send a message here appointing a fresh rendezvous. How will that do?’
‘It is excellent,’ she proclaimed, rising to her feet. ‘And are you still Captain Shannon in this hotel?’
He smiled, and nodded.
‘I am,’ he told her, as he helped her on with her coat, adding with a laugh: ‘English officers very often visit Rome, you know.’
She held out her hand, which he grasped readily enough.
‘You have relieved my anxieties very much, m’sieu,’ she declared. ‘When the time come that I know you trust me wholly, and have forgotten what is past, I shall be very happy. Goodnight, Captain Shannon, and thank you very much.’
He opened the door, glancing out to make certain there was no one about; then, assuring her the way was clear, let her out. He watched her go along the corridor, admiring her graceful figure as she tripped daintily away into the distance. When she had disappeared from view, he re-entered the room and, crossing to the armchair, threw himself into its well-upholstered depths, filling and lighting a great briar he took from his pocket. Thereafter, puffing away placidly, he gave himself up to deep thought.
Thalia descended the stairs in preference to taking one of the elevators. She had almost reached the ground floor, when a young man came running up. They both moved the same way, as people often will to avoid one another; then promptly veered in the other direction. At that, both stood still and laughed, and, for a moment, gazed into each other’s eyes. An expression of frank admiration came into the man’s face; the girl thought how attractive he was.
‘I beg your pardon, signor,’ she apologised in silvery tones that sent a thrill through Dr Raymond Hill.
He did not recover himself and his manners until she was passing on.
‘Forgive me, signorina,’ he stammered. ‘I – I am afraid you – you will think I am very rude.’
‘Not at all, signor,’ she replied sweetly. ‘It was one of those droll situations which one cannot avoid.’
Microbes of Power (Wallace of the Secret Service Series) Page 15