The Third Round

by Sapper

  Perhaps he’d go – leave the house when he found it empty. But no such luck, and Freyder, ensconced behind the curtain, cursed savagely under his breath, as Drummond sat down not two feet from him. Once he was sorely tempted to use his life- preserver then and there, but caution prevailed. Perhaps the call would be delayed; perhaps he would get tired of waiting and go. That was all Freyder wanted – to get him out of the house. A stunned or wounded man at that stage of the proceedings would complicate matters terribly, and when that man was Drummond it could only be done as a last resource. But if it was done, it would have to be done properly – no bungling, no faltering.

  And then came the ring. Freyder gripped his life-preserver a little tighter and waited. He heard the click of the receiver being taken off the hook; he heard Drummond’s preliminary “Hullo.” And the next moment he struck. It was an easy mark, and, as has been said, he was an expert. With a little sighing grunt Drummond pitched forward and lay motionless, and Freyder picked up the receiver. From it came the Chief’s voice vibrant with suspicion.

  “What’s happened? What was that I heard?”

  “It’s Freyder speaking, Chief. Drummond is here.”

  “What?” It was almost a shout from the other end of the wire.

  “He is asleep.” There was a peculiar inflection in Freyder’s voice, and he smiled grimly as he heard the long-drawn sigh of relief. “But I don’t think it would be wise in his present condition of health to leave him here.”

  “What does he know?”

  “That it is impossible to say at present. But Sir Raymond Blantyre has found out a lot.”

  The voice at the other end cursed thoughtfully.

  “I must have at least twenty-four hours, Freyder; if possible more. I’d like three days, but two might do.” There was a pause. “Will our friend sleep for long?”

  “Quite a time, I think,” said Freyder. “But I think he should be under supervision when he wakes. He might have concussion or be suffering from loss of memory.”

  “Ah!” Again came that long-drawn sigh of relief. “Then a sea voyage, Freyder, is clearly indicated. We will have two invalids instead of one. So bring our young friend here tonight.”

  With a faint smile Freyder replaced the receiver on its hook and bent over the unconscious figure of Drummond as it sprawled over the desk.

  “I trust you’ll enjoy the trip, you young devil,” he snarled.

  Chapter 8

  In which Drummond plays a little game of trains

  The blow that Drummond had received would have broken the neck of any ordinary man. But not being an ordinary man he was only badly stunned. And he was still unconscious when he was carried out of a motorcar at Mr William Robinson’s house in the New Forest. That his arrival was regarded as an important affair was evident from the fact that his host came himself to the front door to greet him. But from that moment it is to be feared that Mr Robinson’s knowledge of those excellent books on etiquette which deal with the whole duty of a host towards those who honour his roof with their presence went under a slight eclipse. Regrettable to state, he did not escort his guest personally to the old oak bedroom complete with lavender-scented sheets; in fact, he even forgot himself so far as to leave him lying in the hall with his head in the coal-scuttle. But it is pleasant to state that not for long was he so remiss. At a sign from him two men picked up Drummond and carried him into his own private room, where they dropped him on the floor.

  “I will make arrangements for the night later,” he remarked. “Just at present I would like to look at him from time to time, so leave him here.”

  The two men went out, leaving Freyder alone with his Chief. And though he had much to tell him of importance, for a while Freyder said nothing. For there was an expression of such incredible ferocity on the benign countenance of Mr Robinson as he stared at the motionless body on the floor that Freyder realised his presence was forgotten. For perhaps two minutes Mr Robinson’s eyes never left Drummond’s face; then he turned to his subordinate.

  “I don’t think I should ever have forgiven you, my dear Freyder,” he said softly, “if you’d had the misfortune to kill him. That supreme joy must be mine and mine alone.”

  With almost an effort he obliterated Drummond from his mind, and sat down at his desk.

  “Business first; pleasure afterwards. Things have evidently been happening in London. Tell me everything.”

  Clearly and concisely Freyder told him what had occurred, while Mr Robinson smoked his cigar in silence. Once or twice he frowned slightly, but otherwise he gave no sign of his feelings.

  “You have no idea, then, as to how Drummond and Sir Raymond Blantyre found the house?” he asked as Freyder finished.

  “Not the slightest, Chief,” he answered. “All I know is that it was Drummond who found it, and not Blantyre. Sir Raymond told me that much as I was rushing him out of the house.”

  “Did he make any objections to going?”

  “Not the slightest. In fact, when he realised that what he had been saying to Scheidstrun had been overheard by Drummond, his one desire was to get away as fast as he could. He apparently thought Drummond had left the house a quarter of an hour before.”

  Mr Robinson shrugged his shoulders.

  “The point really is immaterial,” he murmured. “That fool Blantyre dare not speak; Drummond can’t. By the way, what has become of Scheidstrun?”

  “I sent him and his wife off this evening,” said Freyder. “The pilot said he could make Brussels tonight, and finish the journey tomorrow.”

  “Excellent, Freyder – excellent,” said Mr Robinson. “And the slight inconvenience of Blantyre knowing that I have not destroyed the notes is amply compensated for by the possession of our young friend here.”

  “But it will mean altering our plans somewhat,” remarked Freyder doubtfully.

  For a while Mr Robinson smoked in silence, gently stroking his mutton-chop whiskers.

  “Yes,” he remarked at length, “it will. Not the plans so much as the timetable. The advent of Drummond at this stage of the proceedings I must confess I did not contemplate. And since I am under no delusions as to his infinite capacity for making a nuisance of himself, the sooner he is finally disposed of the better.”

  Freyder shrugged his shoulders.

  “Well, Chief,” he said callously, “there he is. And there’s no time like the present.”

  Mr Robinson raised a deprecating hand.

  “How coarse, my dear Freyder! – how almost vulgar! My feelings against this young man are of a purely personal type. And I assure you they would not be gratified in the smallest degree by disposing of him when he was in the condition he is in now. One might just as well assault a carcase in a butcher’s shop. No, no. It will be my earnest endeavour to restore Captain Drummond to perfect health before disposing of him. Or at any rate to such a condition that he realises what is taking place. But from my knowledge of him it is a matter that cannot be postponed indefinitely. As I said before, his capacity for making trouble when confined in any ordinary house is well-nigh unbelievable.”

  “Then what do you propose to do, Chief?” asked Freyder.

  Given his own way now that Drummond was safely out of London and in their power, he would have finished him off then and there. To his mind Drummond was one of those unpleasant individuals who can be regarded as really safe only when they’re dead. And once granted that he was going to be killed in the near future, Freyder would have wasted no further time about it. But he knew the absolute futility of arguing with his Chief once the latter’s mind was made up, so he resigned himself at once to the inevitable.

  “You are certain that you were not followed here,” said Mr Robinson.

  “As certain as anyone can ever be,” answered Freyder. “Twice I stopped the car at the end of a long, straight stretch of roa
d and turned into a lane. There was no sign of anyone. I didn’t bother to change the tyres, since most of the road is tarmacadam and there’s been no rain. And really there are so many Dunlop Magnums about now, that it’s only a waste of time.”

  “And as far as I could make out, the telephone operator had no suspicions,” went on his Chief. “You did it extremely skilfully and silently. So I think, Freyder, we can assume on twenty-four hours for certain before anyone even begins to take any notice. Drummond is a man of peculiar habits, and, somewhat naturally, when I realised be was coming here, I sent a letter in his writing to that inconceivable poop Longworth. A friend of his,” he explained, seeing the look of mystification on the other’s face, “who is engaged to Miss Goodman. It states that he is hot on the trail and the postmark will be Birmingham. So I think we can certainly rely on twenty-four hours, or even forty-eight before his friends begin to move. And that will give me plenty of time to ensure that our friend upstairs has not forgotten his process. Once I am assured of that, and he has written out in a legible hand the ingredients he uses, we will delay no longer. It’s a nuisance – for I detest manual labour and smells in a laboratory. And but for Drummond, as you know, we would have remained on here for six months or so, and let the old fool make the stones himself, before disposing of him finally. But since this slight contretemps has occurred, I shall have, much as I regret it, to dispense with that part of the programme. Once I know for certain that I can do it myself – and I shall devote tomorrow to that exclusively – we will give up this house forthwith and go on board the yacht. A good idea of mine – that yacht, Freyder. There is nothing like dying convincingly to enable one to live in comfort.”

  Freyder grinned, as he watched Mr Robinson help himself to a mild whisky and soda: undoubtedly the Chief was in an excellent humour.

  “We’ve run a pretty big risk this time, my dear fellow,” he went on thoughtfully. “And sometimes it almost staggers me when I think how wonderfully we’ve succeeded. But I am under no delusions as to the abilities of the English police. Once they get on to a thing they never let go – and sooner or later they are bound to get on to this. Probably they will do it through Drummond’s disappearance, and Scheidstrun. Sooner or later they will track our connection with this house, and the good ship Gadfly. And then when they find that the Gadfly left England and has never been heard of again, with true British phlegm they will assume that she has sunk with all hands. And Sir Raymond Blantyre will breathe again – unless they’ve put the scoundrel in prison for having suggested such an abominable crime to me; in fact, everyone will breathe again except Drummond and our friend upstairs. Oh! and Mr Lewisham. Did you attend the obsequies on Mr Lewisham, Freyder?”

  “I did not,” laughed Freyder; and Mr Robinson, contrary to his usual custom, helped himself to another whisky and soda.

  “Yes,” he continued dreamily, “it’s a wonderful end to what I may claim without conceit has been a wonderful career. Henceforward, Freyder, my life will be one of blameless virtue.”

  The other shook his head doubtfully.

  “You’ll find it a bit monotonous, Chief,” he said.

  Mr Robinson smiled.

  “Perhaps so – but I shall give it a trial. And whenever it becomes too monotonous, I shall merely remove more money from the pockets of those two villainous men Blantyre and Leibhaus. It almost makes one despair of human nature when one realises that such cold-blooded scoundrels exist.”

  “And Drummond! Have you made up your mind yet as to how you intend to dispose of him?”

  “Quite simply,” replied Mr Robinson genially. “I shall merely attach some heavy weights to his feet and drop him overboard. I am not anxious that his body should be recovered, any more than that of our other friend. That part of the affair presents no difficulties.” His eyes, grown suddenly hard and cruel, fastened on the motionless figure of Drummond, still sprawling on the floor. And suddenly he rose and bent over him with a look of anxiety on his face which changed to relief.

  “For a moment I thought he was dead,” he remarked, resuming his seat. “And that would have been a real grief to me. For him to die without knowing would rob this final coup of its crown. It is the one thing needed, Freyder, to make it perfect.”

  The other looked at him curiously.

  “How you must hate him, Chief!”

  A strange look came into Mr Robinson’s eyes, and involuntarily Freyder shuddered. Anger, rage, passion, he had seen on many men’s faces, but never before such cold-blooded ferocity as that which showed on the face of the man opposite.

  “We all have our weaknesses, Freyder, and I confess that Drummond is mine. And incredible though it may sound to you, if such a thing were possible as for me to have to choose between revenge on him and getting away with Professor Goodman’s secret, I believe I would choose the former.”

  For a while he sat silent; then with a short laugh he rose. Mr Robinson was his benevolent self once more.

  “Happily the alternative is not likely to arise. We have both, my dear fellow – thanks largely to your quickness and skill. And now I think I will go upstairs and see how our friend is getting on. By this time he should be very nearly ready to show me the result of his afternoon’s labours.”

  “And what about Drummond?” said Freyder, eyeing him professionally. “I don’t think he’s likely to give us any trouble for the present, but it’s just as well to be on the safe side.”

  Mr Robinson turned the unconscious man over with his foot.

  “Have him carried upstairs,” he ordered, “and put in one of the bedrooms. And tell off someone to look after him.” He paused by the door as a thought struck him. “And by the way – let me know the instant he recovers consciousness. I’d hate to postpone my first interview with the gentleman for one instant longer than necessary.”

  “Well, if I’m any judge of such matters, Chief, you’ll have to postpone it till tomorrow.”

  “Then it will be a refreshing interlude in my period of tuition.”

  And with a cheerful wave of his hand Mr Robinson made his way up the stairs. It was six hours since Professor Goodman had started, and by now the clinker in the metal retort should be quite cold enough to handle. Just at first the obstinate old fool had given a little trouble; in fact, he had even gone so far as to categorically refuse to carry out the experiment. But not for long – two minutes to be exact. At the end of that period a whimpering and badly hurt old man had started mixing the necessary ingredients under the watchful eye of Mr Robinson himself. And not till they were mixed and the retort placed in the electric furnace did he leave the room.

  Twice during the two hours that followed did he come back again, unexpectedly. But the old scientist’s feeble resistance was broken and the visits were unnecessary. Bent almost double he sat in his chair, with the white light from the glowing furnace falling on his face. And he was still in the same position when Mr Robinson opened the door and went in.

  The heat in the room was stifling, though the furnace had now been out for two or three hours, and he left the door open. Then without a glance at the huddled figure he strode over to the table, his eyes gleaming with suppressed excitement. For there was the retort, and after cautiously testing it with his hand to discover the temperature, he picked it up and examined it curiously.

  Though he had heard the experiment described in detail by Sir Raymond Blantyre, it was the first time he had actually seen it done. The retort, still warm, was full of an opaque, shaly substance which he realised was the clinker. And inside that, like the stone inside a cherry, was the diamond. For a moment his hands shook uncontrollably; then with feverish excitement he started to chip the clinker away with a small chisel.

  It broke up easily, coming off in great flakes. And as he got down deeper and deeper his excitement increased. Amongst his other accomplishments Mr Robinson was no bad judge of diamonds in t
he rough; in fact, if pushed to it, he could even cut and polish a stone for himself. Not, of course, with the wonderful accuracy of the expert, but sufficient to alter the appearance of any well-known historical diamond should it come into his possession. And in the past, it may be mentioned that many had. But in this case he had no intention of bothering over such trifles. Once satisfied that the diamond was there, and that Professor Goodman had forgotten nothing, he proposed to waste no time over that particular stone. Certainly he would put it aside for future use – but what was one paltry diamond to him? It was the process he wanted – and the certainty that he could carry out that process himself.

  Deeper and deeper went the chisel, and gradually a dreadful suspicion began to grip him. Surely by now he ought to have struck the stone itself? More than half of the clinker had come away, and still there was no sign of it. Could it be possible that the accursed old fool had made a mistake?

  Feverishly he went on chipping, and at length the suspicion became a certainty. There was no diamond in the retort; nothing but valueless grey powder. The experiment had failed.

  For a moment or two Mr Robinson stood motionless, staring at the now empty retort. This was the one thing for which he had not legislated. That owing to the unusual conditions, and the strain to which Professor Goodman had been subjected, the stones might prove indifferent, he had been prepared for. But not total failure. His eyes rested thoughtfully on the huddled figure in the chair, but in them there was no trace of mercy. He cared not one whit for the obvious exhaustion of the weary old man; his sole thought was blind, overmastering rage at this further hitch in his scheme. Especially now that time had again become a dominant factor.

  “This seems an unfortunate little effort on your part, my dear brother,” he remarked softly.

  Professor Goodman sat up with a start.