At twenty minutes to six I sent Rowley off, with orders to send back Carson, take the car to the lane and wait there until we came.
Carson then watched with me for over an hour; but when dusk began to come in, yet Forecast had not returned, I told him to follow me and go down to the inn: “for,” said I, “I should like to see them arrive; and if we stay here, we shall only see the lights of a car.”
But I hoped in my heart that we should do more than that. In a word, I wanted to learn how Forecast had fared, and, if he related what had happened, to overhear what he said.
It was a fine, warm night, but the sky was overcast; and as we approached the inn, we heard two men talking English, and they were without the house. In fact, it was China and Gulf, sitting, smoking and drinking, and waiting for Forecast to return.
They were sitting at one of the tables, to the left of the door of the inn, for though we could not see them, the glow of their cigarettes declared where they were. Since no one in Latchet could talk English – or so, no doubt, they supposed – they did not lower their voices or seem to care what they said, and as we stole into earshot, I heard Gulf mention ‘the hostel’ and then ‘Biretta and Cain.’
Except for these two, we could hear or see no one at all, but Latchet was never busy, and after dark it was dead. And I think the truth is that, except for the people of the inn, the inhabitants rose with the dawn and were glad to retire with the dusk.
Now, glorious chance as this was, I could not forget that Forecast was overdue; and that if, when he did return, Boney drove the car up to the door, as he very well might, its lights would illumine the forecourt and make this as bright as day. Yet, if we were to hear what was said, we should have to enter the forecourt: for from where we now were standing – that is to say, in the road – we could only catch words here and there, and the conversation itself was out of our reach.
It was then that I remembered the benches, on one of which Gulf and China were sitting now. I had noticed these benches, when first I had seen the inn, and had marked that they were ‘coffered’ – that is to say, their fronts and their sides had been boarded from seat to ground. They were low, of course, but some seven or eight feet long, and, since they stood away from the wall, a man could lie down behind one and not be seen. As I have said before, one of these benches had been set on either side of the door. Between them, the steps ran down, so that the two were only some twelve feet apart. If, then, I could reach the bench to the right of the door, I should be able to hear what China and Gulf were saying, yet, if the car came in, I should not be seen.
The door of the inn was wide open, and a lamp, which we could not see, was burning within the hall; but this was not very bright, and the light which it shed only reached the head of the steps.
I breathed in Carson’s ear.
“I’m going into the forecourt. There’s cover enough for one, but not for two. So you go along to the path and get up to the coach-house hatch. They may drive straight into the coach-house. And wait there for me.”
“Have you got your pistol, sir?”
“I have.”
“Then take the safety-catch off. You don’t want to take any risks, sir, with men like this.”
“I’ll be all right, Carson.”
“I know, sir. But don’t you wait. If you’re seen, you throw your lead as quick as you can.”
My shoes, being soled with rubber, made no sound, and ninety seconds later I was standing at the end of the table to the right of the door of the inn.
China was speaking.
“I know, I know,” he said. “I’ve heard talk of things before that was goin’ to come out in the wash. But I don’t want my washin’ done in no Austrian jug. I want my — passport – that’s wot I want. This ain’t my line o’ country, an’ never was. He says he can fix the Dook. Well, Dooks ain’t fixed, my lad. At least, not by trash like Forecast. Don’t you make no mistake. I saw Forecast’s face when he saw that them papers was stole. White as a — sheet. He knew wot he done all right. An’ if only he’d got his passport, you wouldn’t have seen him for dust. But now he’s — well stuck. An’ so are we.”
“That,” said Gulf, “is where the Dook comes in. He don’t want us goin’ to Consuls to try an’ get home. So he’ll use his influence to get us tempory papers to take us away.”
“Sez you,” said China. “If he’s the big pot you say, I can see him vouchin’ for us. More likely to send some butcher to take us out for a ride. God knows it’s easy enough in country like this. An’ why didn’ he do in Bowshot?”
I suppose it was natural to stay where I was to hear the argument out. But it was very foolish. And I might have paid dear for such folly, for in that instant I heard the sound of a car.
Now I had expected that, since the night was so still, I should hear the car coming some time before it arrived: but the sound of Latchet’s water had smothered the sound it made, and, as my head went round, I saw the beam of its headlights illuminating the road.
“Here they are,” said Gulf, and got to his feet.
I felt for the bench and found it, and dropped like a stone. As the car swept into the forecourt, I dragged myself out of sight.
The car drew up to the steps, and somebody opened a door.
“You ain’t so early,” said Gulf. “We’d — near given you up.”
“The — was shooting,” said Forecast. “He never got in till six. But I saw him all right. Not for very long, but just long enough.”
The man’s voice was triumphant. I dared not think what he knew.
“Go on,” said Gulf: “go on.”
“He knows who stole those papers and laid me out. He didn’t mention names, but he gave me a map. We’re to meet him on Sunday evening – he showed me where. ‘An’ then,’ he says, ‘I’ll deliver him into your hands.’
There was a pregnant silence.
Then—
“Yes, but wot about our passports?” said China.
Boney laughed.
“Well, he mayn’t have them on ’im,” he said: “but, before we’re through with him, I guess he’ll be ready an’ willin’ to cough them up. Oh, an’ tell ’em about the farm.”
“Upstairs,” said Forecast, setting a foot on the steps. “Besides, that may be a wash-out. But he must be staying somewhere, and they used to have people to lodge there before the war.”
With that, he passed into the house, and China followed him in. But Gulf got in beside Boney, who let in his clutch and moved off.
As the car turned out of the forecourt, I got to my feet…
Carson had little to add to what I had heard, for, whilst they were in the coach-house, Boney had talked of the castle and nothing else.
But, as we walked back to the car, I kept thinking of Mansel in Salzburg and wondering at what time tomorrow he and George would get back.
We stayed at the farm the next day, for to watch the inn any longer would have been waste of time. Besides, I was not at all sure that the rogues would not visit Goschen: and if they were to do that, I felt it was better that we should be found at home. What line to take, if they came, I could not think; but I told the servants to be on the tips of their toes and that, though, if Forecast appeared, I would play the hand, they had better be within earshot, but out of sight.
I confess that I hoped against hope that Mansel would be back before any visit was paid, for, though I should have been very happy to offer the utmost violence to any that came, I was sure that Mansel would deal with them better than that. And so would George. Indeed, of us three, I was by far the least fitted for such an interview. Still, there was nothing to be done; so I spent my time at the trout-stream, cleaning a jolly sluice, and doing my best to divine the plans which the Duke was making for Sunday night.
This was an unsatisfactory exercise.
‘He knows who stole those papers and laid me out… We’re to meet him on Sunday evening – he showed me where. An’ then, he says, I’ll deliver him into your hands.’
This was a positive statement, strongly suggesting that the man was sure of his ground. And yet I could not see how he could be sure of his ground…
He might have reason to know that the Duchess meant to drive out upon Sunday night. He could not know where she was going, and he could no longer rely on the trail of oil. True, he could follow her closely; but, if he did that, how could he communicate with Forecast? He could, of course, place the latter at the mouth of one of the drives; but how could he tell which drive my lady would take? And of one thing I was quite sure – Duke Saul had no intention of being involved. He would set Forecast on, but he would not appear himself.
To and fro my mind went, discussing these facts and fancies as best it could, but I never got very far, although I toyed with the thought of putting Forecast’s car out of action on Sunday afternoon.
And then at half-past two that blackguard, with Gulf and Boney, drove up to the farm’s front door.
Since he could speak no German, he had no change at all of the farmer’s wife; but after some hesitation, he strolled across the meadows to where I stood in the stream.
“Good afternoon,” he said. “I don’t think I know your name.”
I looked him up and down.
“That may be,” said I, and went on with my work.
He threw back his head and laughed.
“It looks as though I’m unwelcome.”
“Well, I am rather busy,” I said, “and this is private ground.”
“So’s my room at Latchet,” he said.
I straightened my back.
“Then I should go back there,” I said. “I don’t know where Latchet is and I care rather less. But at least you’d be chez vous, if you understand French.”
I saw his eyes narrow at that.
“You don’t seem to understand that I’ve come to call.”
“If you understood German, you’d know that I wasn’t receiving this afternoon.”
“Cut it out,” he said, biting his lip.
I frowned.
“Look here,” I said. “I’ve come all the way from England to get away from people and be by myself. Does that make you think at all?”
“It makes me wonder why you should keep late hours.”
“I retire at ten,” I said, “if that’s any good.”
“And you don’t know Latchet?”
I stared.
“I’ve never heard of the place.”
He screwed a glass into his eye.
“I can’t quite believe that,” he said.
I stepped out of the trout-stream, turned my trousers down and stepped into my shoes.
As I bent to fasten my laces—
“Is my action suggestive?” I said.
“You’d better not try any rough stuff.”
“What do you do,” said I, “when a stranger first forces his company upon you and then calls you a liar, because you don’t agree with the statements he chooses to make?”
Forecast’s eyes burned in his head.
“I bide my time,” he said.
“That’s the difference between us,” I said. “I deal with the matter at once.” I raised my voice. “Bell.”
“Sir?” said Bell, stepping out from behind an oak, seven paces away.
“Stand perfectly still,” snapped Forecast, pistol in hand.
Carson was directly behind him, but not within reach.
“As you please,” said I, with my eyes on his feet. “But I think if I were you I’d look out for that snake.”
As the fellow started backward, Carson flung himself forward and caught his wrist; and, as he fired into the ground, Bell hit him on the point of the jaw and laid him out.
“Quick,” said I. “His pockets – before he comes to.”
Out of his inside breast-pocket, Bell plucked a map.
This was of a very large scale, and since it had been folded inside out, all ready for use, I saw in an instant the markings which no doubt the Duke had made. These were done in blue pencil, and showed the way from Latchet to a point between five and six miles from the castle itself. The point itself was a building, which stood in a wood, and was in fact approached from the road which Bell and I had taken when we were driving to Varvic on Thursday night.
I noted it carefully. Then I gave the map to Bell and he thrust it back into the pocket from which he had taken it out.
As he stood up and away—
“Nothing else, Bell?”
“No, sir. Nothing at all.”
“Have you got his pistol?” I asked.
“In my pocket, sir,” said Carson.
“All right. You two go and comfort Rowley. I’ll watch him wake up.”
(As I afterwards learned, they found Rowley holding the others on the edge of the drive. When the shot had been fired, they had turned to make for the meadows, only to find him facing them, pistol in hand. And there the three had stood, till Carson and Bell arrived and ordered Gulf and Boney into the car. But first they searched them for arms and took a pistol from Gulf.)
Forecast came to slowly, and then sat up with a start.
First his hands flew to his pockets. Then he looked hard at me: and then he looked over his shoulder and round about.
A hand went up to his chin.
“Three to one,” he said. “No wonder you got me down. Never mind. I’ll know you again.” He began to search the grass just about him. “You don’t see my eye-glass, do you?”
I shook my head.
“Well, if you should see it, keep it. I’m sure to be back.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Well, you’ll have to be quick,” said I. “I’ll give you till midday Monday. If you’re not out of Latchet by then, I go to the police. I think we come under Villach.”
His eyes still searching the grass—
“I don’t think you will,” said Forecast. “If you weren’t shy of the police, you’d go to them now.”
“If I wasn’t a fool, I should. But I came to this place to be quiet – not to get involved in proceedings which might keep me here for two months.”
Forecast stood up and looked me full in the eye.
“You’ll stay longer than that, my son. A whole heap longer than that. Unless, of course, they take you back to England – to bury you there.”
“That’ll do,” said I. “You’d better be going now. Back the way you came. I’ll see you into the car.”
Forecast glared. Then he turned on his heel and made his way back to the drive.
In the car were Gulf and Boney, sitting with folded arms. The expression upon their faces was good to see. Gulf was sweating profusely, and Boney’s lips were moving as though in prayer. They were sitting side by side in the front of the car, and Carson was standing by the window, also with folded arms. But, whereas their hands were empty, in Carson’s right hand was the pistol which Forecast had used.
Without another word, their leader let himself into the back of the car.
As he slammed the door behind him, Carson glanced at me, and I nodded my head.
“Start her up and drive off,” he snapped.
Boney’s hands sprang to life…
Forecast leaned to his window.
“Don’t forget that eye-glass,” he said.
Then the clutch went in with a bang and pitched him back on his seat.
Two and a half hours later the Rolls, bringing Mansel and Hanbury, entered the stableyard.
They had with them two telegrams.
Both were addressed to WENSLEY, and one was four days old.
Instructions not received as arranged stop if you have not already done so you will post these to me immediately
BAUCHEN
The other was eight hours old.
Arriving Latchet myself Monday stop do nothing till then stop on no account go to castle
And this was signed CAIN.
When Mansel had heard my tale, he called for the map.
“Show me exactly,” he said, “th
e spot at which Forecast proposes to meet Duke Saul.”
I showed him.
“And now the way there from Latchet, as it was marked in blue.”
I showed him that.
After a moment’s calculation—
“I make the distance from Latchet just about eighteen miles. That means half an hour by car. The meeting is to be ‘in the evening’; and that means ‘not before six.’ So they’ll turn out the car about five. We must try and put their car out of action about four o’clock. You see my point. If we do in their car too soon – and they find it out, they will have time to keep their appointment without the use of their car. And I do not want them to do that, because it is so much better that we should keep it instead.
“This may precipitate matters, but not very much. When Forecast rolled up here, you were quite right to put up a bluff. But he is dead certain to call it. He can have no doubt at all that the seat of opposition is here at this farm. When Rowley produced his pistol, that settled that – for tourists don’t carry pistols and hold callers up. But Rowley could have done nothing else, for he couldn’t take risks with blokes like Boney and Gulf.
“What worries me is the Duchess. She’s safe at the moment, because the Duke means to use her tomorrow night. But, after that…I mean, he can have no doubt that she knows a great deal too much. However, we’ll see what she says tomorrow night.”
“Will he let her come? “ said I.
“I’m sure he will. He means her to be their guide.”
“But if we meet him at six?”
“If we meet him at six,” said Mansel, “Duke Saul will stay where he is, till the Duchess has left the castle en route for the lane.” He rose to his feet and started to pace the room. “It’s on the drastic side, but I don’t see another way out; for if Forecast keeps his appointment, he will also keep the appointment the Duchess has made with you. Of course, you know, if Forecast was worth his salt, he would drive to Varvic tonight – or, at latest, tomorrow morning. But he isn’t worth his salt, so I don’t think he will.”
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