"The last twenty-four hours, no longer. I arrived at Sarek twenty-four hours ago."
"And you're determined to go on to the end?"
"Yes; and farther still, if possible."
"Why? And in what capacity?"
"As a sportsman; and because you fill me with disgust."
"So there's no arrangement to be made?"
"No."
"Would you refuse to go shares with me?"
"Ah, now you're talking!"
"You can have half, if you like."
[Pg 298]"I'd rather have the lot."
"Meaning that the God-Stone…"
"The God-Stone belongs to me."
Further speech was idle. An adversary of that quality has to be made away with; if not, he makes away with you. Vorski had to choose between the two endings; there was not a third.
Don Luis remained impassive, leaning against the pillar. Vorski towered a head above him: and at the same time Vorski had the profound impression that he was equally Don Luis' superior in every other respect, in strength, muscular power and weight. In these conditions, there was no need to hesitate. Moreover, it seemed out of the question that Don Luis could even attempt to defend himself or to evade the blow before the dagger fell. His parry was bound to come late unless he moved at once. And he did not move. Vorski therefore struck his blow with all certainty, as one strikes a quarry that is doomed beforehand.
And yet-it all happened so quickly and so inexplicably that he could not tell what occurred to bring about his defeat-and yet, three or four seconds later, he was lying on the ground, disarmed, defeated, with his two legs feeling as though they had been broken with a stick and his right arm hanging limp and paining him till he cried out.
Don Luis did not even trouble to bind him. With one foot on the big, helpless body, half-bending over his adversary, he said:
"For the moment, no speeches. I'm keeping one in reserve for you. It'll strike you as a bit long, but it'll show you that I understand the whole business from start to finish, that is to say, much better[Pg 299] than you do. There's one doubtful point: and you're going to clear it up. Where's your son Francois d'Hergemont?"
Receiving no reply, he repeated:
"Where's Francois d'Hergemont?"
Vorski no doubt considered that chance had placed an unexpected trump in his hands and that the game was perhaps not absolutely lost, for he maintained an obstinate silence.
"You refuse to answer?" asked Don Luis. "One… two… three times: do you refuse?… Very well!"
He gave a low whistle.
Four men appeared from a corner of the hall, four men with swarthy faces, resembling Moors. Like Don Luis, they wore jackets and sailor's caps with shiny peaks.
A fifth person arrived almost immediately afterwards, a wounded French officer, who had lost his right leg and wore a wooden leg in its place.
"Ah, is that you, Patrice?" said Don Luis.
He introduced him formally:
"Captain Patrice Belval, my greatest friend; Mr. Vorski, a Hun."
Then he asked:
"No news, captain? You haven't found Francois?"
"No."
"We shall have found him in an hour and then we'll be off. Are all our men on board?"
"Yes."
"Everything all right there?"
"Quite."
He turned to the three Moors:
[Pg 300]"Pick up the Hun," he ordered, "and carry him up to the dolmen outside. You needn't bind him: he couldn't move a limb if he tried. Oh, one minute!"
He leant over Vorski's ear:
"Before you start, have a good look at the God-Stone, between the flags in the ceiling. The ancient Druid wasn't lying to you. It is the miraculous stone which people have been seeking for centuries… and which I discovered from a distance… by correspondence. Say good-bye to it, Vorski! You will never see it again, if indeed you are ever to see anything in this world."
He made a sign with his hand.
The four Moors briskly took up Vorski and carried him to the back of the hall, on the side opposite the communicating passage.
Turning to Otto, who had stood throughout this scene without moving:
"I see that you're a reasonable fellow, Otto, and that you understand the position. You won't get up to any tricks?"
"No."
"Then we shan't touch you. You can come along without fear."
He slipped his arm through Belval's and the two walked away, talking.
They left the hall of the God-Stone through a series of three crypts, each of which was on a higher level than the one before. The last of them also led to a vestibule. At the far side of the vestibule, a ladder stood against a lightly-built wall in which an opening had been newly made. Through this they emerged into the open air, in the middle of a[Pg 301] steep path, cut into steps, which wound about as it climbed upwards in the rock and which brought them to that part of the cliff to which Francois had taken Veronique on the previous morning. It was the Postern path. From above they saw, hanging from two iron davits, the boat in which Veronique and her son had intended to take flight. Not far away, in a little bay, was the long, tapering outline of a submarine.
Turning their backs to the sea, Don Luis and Patrice Belval continued on their way towards the semicircle of oaks and stopped near the Fairies' Dolmen, where the Moors were waiting for them. They had set Vorski down at the foot of the tree on which his last victim had died. Nothing remained on the tree to bear witness to the abominable torture except the inscription, "V. d'H."
"Not too tired, Vorski?" asked Don Luis. "Legs feeling better?"
Vorski gave a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders.
"Yes, I know," said Don Luis. "You're pinning your faith to your last card. Still, I would have you know that I also hold a few trumps and that I have a rather artistic way of playing them. The tree behind you should be more than enough to tell you so. Would you like another instance? While you're getting muddled with all your murders and are no longer sure of the number of your victims, I bring them to life again. Look at that man coming from the Priory. Do you see him? He's wearing a blue reefer with brass buttons, like myself. He's one of your dead men, isn't he? You locked him up in one of the torture-chambers, intending to[Pg 302] cast him into the sea; and it was your sweet cherub of a Raynold who hurled him down before Veronique's eyes. Do you remember? Stephane Maroux his name was. He's dead, isn't he? No, not a bit of it! A wave of my magic wand; and he's alive again. Here he is. I take him by the hand. I speak to him."
Going up to the newcomer, he shook hands with him and said:
"You see, Stephane? I told you that it would be all over at twelve o'clock precisely and that we should meet at the dolmen. Well, it is twelve o'clock precisely."
Stephane seemed in excellent health. He showed not a sign of a wound. Vorski looked at him in dismay and stammered:
"The tutor… Stephane Maroux…"
"The man himself," said Don Luis. "What did you expect? Here again you behaved like an idiot. The adorable Raynold and you throw a man into the sea and don't even think of leaning over to see what becomes of him. I pick him up… And don't be too badly staggered, old chap. It's only the beginning; and I have a few more tricks in my bag. Remember, I'm a pupil of the ancient Druid's!… Well, Stephane, where do we stand? What's the result of your search?"
"Nothing."
"Francois?"
"Not to be found."
"And All's Well? Did you send him on his master's tracks, as we arranged?"
"Yes, but he simply took me down the Postern path to Francois' boat."
[Pg 303]"There's no hiding-place on that side?"
"Not one."
Don Luis was silent and began to pace up and down before the dolmen. He seemed to be hesitating at the last moment, before beginning the series of actions upon which he had resolved. At last, addressing Vorski, he said:
"I have no time to waste. I must leave the island in two hours. What's your price for setting
Francois free at once?"
"Francois fought a duel with Raynold," Vorski replied, "and was beaten."
"You lie. Francois won."
"How do you know? Did you see them fight?"
"No, or I should have interfered. But I know who was the victor."
"No one knows except myself. They were masked."
"Then, if Francois is dead, it's all up with you."
Vorski took time to think. The argument allowed of no debate. He put a question in his turn:
"Well, what do you offer me?"
"Your liberty."
"And with it?"
"Nothing."
"Yes, the God-Stone."
"Never!"
Don Luis shouted the word, accompanying it with a vehement gesture of the hand, and he explained:
"Never! Your liberty, yes, if the worst comes to the worst and because I know you and know that, denuded of all resources, you will simply go and get yourself hanged somewhere else. But the God[Pg 304]-Stone would spell safety, wealth, the power to do evil…"
"That's exactly why I want it," said Vorski; "and, by telling me what it's worth, you make me all the more difficult in the matter of Francois."
"I shall find Francois all right. It's only a question of patience; and I shall stay two or three days longer, if necessary."
"You will not find him; and, if you do, it will be too late."
"Why?"
"Because he has had nothing to eat since yesterday."
This was said coldly and maliciously. There was a silence; and Don Luis retorted:
"In that case, speak, if you don't want him to die."
"What do I care? Anything rather than fail in my task and stop midway when I've got so far. The end is within sight: those who get in my way must look out for themselves."
"You lie. You won't let that boy die."
"I let the other die right enough!"
Patrice and Stephane made a movement of horror, while Don Luis laughed frankly:
"Capital! There's no hypocrisy about you. Plain and convincing arguments. By Jingo, how beautiful to see a Hun laying bare his soul! What a glorious mixture of vanity and cruelty, of cynicism and mysticism! A Hun has always a mission to fulfil, even when he's satisfied with plundering and murdering. Well, you're better than a Hun: you're a Superhun!"
And he added, still laughing:
[Pg 305]"So I propose to treat you as Superhun. Once more, will you tell me where Francois is?"
"No."
"All right."
He turned to the four Moors and said, very calmly:
"Go ahead, lads."
It was a matter of a second. With really extraordinary precision of gesture and as though the act had been separated into a certain number of movements, learnt and rehearsed beforehand like a military drill, they picked up Vorski, fastened him to the rope which hung to the tree, hoisted him up without paying attention to his cries, his threats or his shouts and bound him firmly, as he had bound his victim.
"Howl away, old chap," said Don Luis, serenely, "howl as much as you like! You can only wake the sisters Archignat and the others in the thirty coffins! Howl away, my lad! But, good Lord, how ugly you are! What a face!"
He took a few steps back, to appreciate the sight better:
"Excellent! You look very well there; it couldn't be better. Even the inscription fits: 'V. d'H.,' Vorski de Hohenzollern! For I presume that, as the son of a king, you are allied to that noble house. And now, Vorski, all you have to do is to lend me an attentive ear: I'm going to make you the little speech I promised you."
Vorski was wriggling on the tree and trying to burst his bonds. But, since every effort merely served to increase his suffering, he kept still and, to vent his fury, began to swear and blaspheme most hideously and to inveigh against Don Luis:
[Pg 306]"Robber! Murderer! It's you that are the murderer, it's you that are condemning Francois to death! Francois was wounded by his brother; it's a bad wound and may be poisoned…"
Stephane and Patrice pleaded with Don Luis. Stephane expressed his alarm:
"You can never tell," he said. "With a monster like that, anything is possible. And suppose the boy's ill?"
"It's bunkum and blackmail!" Don Luis declared. "The boy's quite well."
"Are you sure?"
"Well enough, in any case, to wait an hour. In an hour the Superhun will have spoken. He won't hold out any longer. Hanging loosens the tongue."
"And suppose he doesn't hold out at all?"
"What do you mean?"
"Suppose he himself expires, from too violent an effort, heart-failure, a clot of blood to the head?"
"Well?"
"Well, his death would destroy the only hope we have of learning where Francois is hidden, his death would be Francois' undoing!"
But Don Luis was inflexible:
"He won't die!" he cried. "Vorski's sort doesn't die of a stroke! No, no, he'll talk, he'll talk within an hour. Just time enough to deliver my lecture."
Patrice Belval began to laugh in spite of himself:
"Have you a lecture to deliver?"
"Rather! And such a lecture!" exclaimed Don Luis. "The whole adventure of the God-Stone! An historical treatise, a comprehensive view extending from prehistoric times to the thirty murders[Pg 307] committed by the Superhun! By Jove, it's not every day that one has the opportunity of reading a paper like that; and I wouldn't miss it for a kingdom! Mount the platform, Don Luis, and fire away with your speech!"
He took his stand opposite Vorski:
"You lucky dog, you! You're in the front seats and you won't lose a word. I expect you're glad, eh, to have a little light thrown upon your darkness? We've been floundering about so long that it's time we had a definite lead. I assure you I'm beginning not to know where I am. Just think, a riddle which has lasted for centuries and centuries and which you've merely muddled still further."
"Thief! Robber!" snarled Vorski.
"Insults? Why? If you're not comfortable, let's talk about Francois."
"Never! He shall die."
"Not at all, you'll talk. I give you leave to interrupt me. When you want me to stop, all you've got to do is to whistle a tune: 'En r'venant de la r'vue,' or Tipperary. I'll at once send to see; and, if you've told the truth, we'll leave you here quietly, Otto will untie you and you can be off in Francois' boat. Is it agreed?"
He turned to Stephane and Patrice Belval:
"Sit down, my friends," he said, "for it will take rather long. But, if I am to be eloquent, I need an audience… and an audience who will also act as judges."
"We're only two," said Patrice.
"You're three."
"With whom?"
"Here's your third."
[Pg 308]It was All's Well. He came trotting along, without hurrying more than usual. He frisked round Stephane, wagged his tail to Don Luis, as though to say, "I know you: you and I are pals," and squatted on his hind-quarters, with the air of one who does not wish to disturb people.
"That's right, All's Well!" cried Don Luis. "You also want to hear all about the adventure. Your curiosity does you honour; and I won't disappoint you."
Don Luis appeared to be delighted. He had an audience, a full bench of judges. Vorski was writhing on his tree. It was an exquisite moment.
He cut a sort of caper which must have reminded Vorski of the ancient Druid's pirouettes and, drawing himself up, bowed, imitated a lecturer taking a sip of water from a tumbler, rested his hands on an imaginary table and at last began, in a deliberate voice:
"Ladies and Gentlemen:
"On the twenty-fifth of July, in the year seven hundred and thirty-two B. C…"
[Pg 309]
CHAPTER XVI
THE HALL OF THE KINGS OF BOHEMIA
Don Luis interrupted himself after delivering his opening sentence and stood enjoying the effect produced. Captain Belval, who knew his friend, was laughing heartily. Stephane continued to look anxious. All's Well had not budged.
Don Luis continued:
"Let me begin by confessing, ladies and gentlemen, that my object in fixing my date so precisely was to some extent to stagger you. In reality I could not tell you within a few centuries the exact date of the scene which I shall have the honour of describing to you. But what I can guarantee is that it is laid in that country of Europe which to-day we call Bohemia and at the spot where the little industrial town of Joachimsthal now stands. That, I hope, is fairly circumstantial. Well, on the morning of the day when my story begins, there was great excitement among one of those Celtic tribes which had settled a century or two earlier between the banks of the Danube and the sources of the Elbe, amidst the Hyrcanian forests. The warriors, assisted by their wives, were striking their tents, collecting the sacred axes, the bows and arrows, gathering up the pottery, the bronze and tin implements, loading the horses and the oxen.
[Pg 310]"The chiefs were here, there and everywhere, attending to the smallest details. There was neither tumult nor disorder. They started early in the direction of a tributary of the Elbe, the Eger, which they reached towards the end of the day. Here boats were waiting, guarded by a hundred of the picked warriors who had been sent ahead. One of these boats was conspicuous for its size and the richness of its decoration. A long yellow cloth was stretched from side to side. The chief of chiefs, the King, if you prefer, climbed on the stern thwart and made a speech which I will spare you, because I do not wish to shorten my own, but which may be summed up as follows: the tribe was emigrating to escape the cupidity of the neighbouring populations. It is always sad to leave the places where one has dwelt. But it made no difference to the men of the tribe, because they were carrying with them their most valuable possession, the sacred inheritance of their ancestors, the divinity that protected them and made them formidable and great among the greatest, in short, the stone that covered the tomb of their kings.
"And the chief of chiefs, with a solemn gesture, drew the yellow cloth and revealed a block of granite in the shape of a slab about two yards by one, granular in appearance and dark in colour, with a few glittering scales gleaming in its substance.
"There was a single shout raised by the crowd of men and women; and all, with outstretched arms, fell flat on their faces in the dust.
The Secret of Sarek (arsene lupin) Page 23