“One on the first floor. It had never entered our heads that was what they might do.”
“So what happened, my Lord?”
“We were waiting for them as soon as my guests had retired to bed and my butler knew that the household had done the same.”
Shana was listening intently and he went on,
“The footman they had bribed slept in the pantry and when he retired we knew who was intending to betray me and hand over the key of the safe.”
“He had it in his possession?”
“Dawkins found it was missing from the place where he always kept it, but it was not taken until just before he would have gone to his bedroom.”
Shana could see the plot was thickening and then she asked breathlessly,
“Do go on! What happened next?”
“We waited for perhaps a little over half-an-hour and then to our surprise instead of coming as we expected from a window on the ground floor, the two Italians came down the stairs which led directly to the kitchen quarters. They crept along the passage into the pantry and when we thought we had them cornered, we advanced in a body towards them.”
“They were out-numbered,” Shana said as if thinking to herself.
“At the first movement we made they were on the alert. They turned and one of them drew from his pocket what I thought was a bottle. Attached to it was a spray and he sprayed us in the face as we came through the door.”
“A spray? But what was it, my Lord? What did it do?”
“It blinded us! And those who swallowed any of it started coughing uncontrollably.” Shana gave a deep sigh. “So they escaped.”
“They escaped, but as they passed the footman who was waiting in the pantry to help them, they thrust a stiletto into him.”
Shana let out a cry of horror.
“Is he dead?”
“Not dead but badly wounded. Then as they passed me, I managed, although I was coughing badly, to tear out of one of the Italian’s hands a small case containing a plan of the house and some other papers.”
“But they got away?”
“They got away,” the Marquis repeated. “But I travelled to London first thing yesterday morning and visited the Italian Ambassador.”
Shana stared at him in surprise.
“Why did you call on him?”
“Because this is a far more important incident that just two Italian rogues trying to steal my silver. In fact from what I learned from the Ambassador, you have, Miss Davis, stumbled onto something which is important internationally. Not only England and Italy are involved, but other countries as well.”
For a moment Shana was silent before asking,
“I do not understand, my Lord. How could your burglary possibly be of international importance?”
The Marquis had been speaking in a low voice, but now he spoke even lower still as he replied,
“What I learned from the Ambassador was that for some time the authorities have been extremely worried concerning a gang of thieves who have concentrated on the most important treasures in every European country.”
Shana gave a gasp, but she did not interrupt the Marquis.
“Top security agencies have been alerted in most European Capitals, but this was actually the first attempt, as far as they know, which has been made in England.”
The Marquis glanced over his shoulder as if he was afraid someone was listening before he continued,
“Some very valuable pictures have been stolen in France, silver and irreplaceable porcelain in Germany, and it is the same story, I am told, in Spain.”
“By these two Italians?” Shana asked. “I do not believe it.”
“They are just part of a gang, and what is so serious is that it is thought that someone of standing, who has breeding and of course good taste, is at the head of it all.”
Now Shana understood and she thought it was a very frightening scenario.
“Have they any idea,” she asked, “of the nationality of the head man or where he lives?”
“They rather suspect he might be an Italian, but it could easily be someone in any of the other countries. All they know is that in a great number of cases, most of which have been hushed-up, priceless antiques have been stolen so cleverly and competently that no one has had the slightest idea until now what the thieves look like or indeed which country they come from.”
“What a pity you did not catch them,” Shana remarked.
There was a moment’s silence and then the Marquis said,
“That, Miss Davis, is what you and I have to do.”
Shana stared at him.
“I do not understand. What can – you do now that they have – gone?”
“They have indeed gone,” the Marquis responded, “but for the first time someone concerned in a burglary has seen them, spoken to them and knows what they look like.”
“Do you mean – me?”
“Exactly!” the Marquis exclaimed. “You are the one person, Miss Davis, who might be able to bring them to justice.”
Shana made a gesture with her hands.
“I think that is impossible,” she said. “Even if I described them to you, I doubt if it would be accurate enough to identify them and they have not actually taken anything which belongs to you.”
“They attempted to do so and half-killed a man in the process,” the Marquis responded quietly. “He may live but he is very badly hurt. That, as you well know, is a criminal offence for which his attackers should be arrested and brought to trial.”
There was silence and then Shana said,
“I suppose so. But I expect by this time they have gone back to Italy.”
“That is what the Ambassador thinks. So you will understand that we have to follow them.”
Shana was very still.
“Did you say ‘we’?”
“I told the Ambassador exactly what had happened and he asked me to beg you to help in every way you can. Apparently in Italy they have already lost a great many national treasures from private houses and from museums. The same applies in France and Germany.”
The Marquis became more positive as he continued,
“We have never, until this moment, had anything to go on. These thieves are so clever that they have made it impossible for them to be identified. In fact I forgot to tell you that they both wore masks on Saturday night.”
“Masks!” Shana exclaimed.
“Although one was taller than the other,” the Marquis said. “I could never recognise either of them or be able to describe anything unusual about them.”
“I am sure I can say the same,” Shana came in quickly.
The Marquis shook his head.
“That is not true, Miss Davis, and you know it. You saw the men, you talked to them and as I already know you are very intelligent, I am sure, if you think carefully, you would know them if you met them again.”
“I might do, but then it is very unlikely – I should meet them – again.”
The Marquis bent forward.
“Now listen to me, Miss Davis. You have the chance of helping not only our own country but almost every other country in Europe. You are in a unique position which no man or woman has been in before. Is it really possible that you can say no?”
“I do not know – exactly what you are – asking me to do,” Shana replied weakly.
“What I have arranged with the Ambassador, if you will agree, is that you and I will leave for Italy as swiftly as possible. Tomorrow if you can manage it.”
Shana made a little sound of horror, but he continued,
“In Italy we will see a number of people who will tell us a lot about this gang which not even their Ambassador knows. He thinks that there is some place in Rome where they meet.”
‘But how could we find it?’ Shana wanted to say but she could not stop the Marquis.
“The Italians suspect that the top man is an aristocrat,” he announced. “In which case I might be able to meet him. If you are with me, thr
ough him we might come into contact with the two men you have already seen.”
“You are being very plausible,” Shana managed to remark. “But you know, my Lord, you must be aware that this is just wishful thinking. It is only a million to one chance that I should ever get near those two thieves again.”
She made a gesture with her hands before she added,
“If they are sensible they will disappear and if you are honest the only thing you have which is unusual about them is what you found in their case.”
“I have not yet told you what was in the case. There were plans of houses and museums containing national treasures throughout England which would mean utter catastrophe if they were stolen.”
“And you really think I can prevent it?” Shana asked. “You cannot be serious.”
“I am very serious,” the Marquis answered. “I can only plead with you to be patriotic and realise that as English citizens we cannot, either of us, refuse to help the Italians.”
“But I – cannot go with you. It is – impossible.”
“Why?” the Marquis asked. “Let me speak to your parents and I am sure they will agree that it is your duty, a desperate request which you cannot refuse.”
When he mentioned her parents, Shana thought of her father.
If he had been there she knew he would have been only too willing to take her himself as he had solved so many problems for so many countries.
She recognised, because he had told her so much about intrigues and crimes which had taken place, but had been hushed up as it would be too upsetting and dangerous for the population as a rule to be aware of what had occurred.
‘Papa would go,’ she thought, ‘and of course I would love to go with him.’
There was, however, no chance of her father returning to England for at least two or three weeks.
He had quite enough difficulties to solve wherever he was without having any more thrust upon him.
Almost as if he guessed what she was thinking, the Marquis said,
“I cannot believe that your father is not a very intelligent man. Therefore let me talk to him.”
Shana drew in her breath.
“He is abroad, so we cannot consult him at the moment.”
“And your mother?”
“My mother is dead.”
“If I promise to look after you, protect you and make certain you will come to no harm, will you trust me?”
Shana did not answer and the Marquis went on,
“As the Ambassador has just said, if we can help to capture this gang we shall have the eternal gratitude of all the major countries in Europe. Not forgetting our own of course.”
“You are very persuasive. But I don’t know what to say.”
“Then trust me,” the Marquis entreated her. “As you can understand, it is very important that no one should know where we are going or why. When we arrive in Rome we will just be ordinary tourists until we have seen the Chief of Police and everyone else concerned with tracking down these clever, and until you unmask them, unidentified thieves.”
The way he spoke was so impressive that Shana could not think of an answer.
“So that is settled,” the Marquis exclaimed. “And I cannot believe you will let me down.”
“I have not really – agreed,” Shana protested.
The Marquis smiled.
“You know it is something you have to do just as if you were a soldier who has to obey his call to duty.”
Shana thought he was talking like a General before a major battle.
“We have no choice,” he continued, “but to agree that this is a demand of principle and patriotism.”
Shana felt as if she was being swept off her feet, but equally she could not think of any good reason why she should refuse to help the Italians.
She knew how much they valued all the treasures which had accumulated in their highly artistic country over the centuries. She and her father had discussed this subject so often and the same applied to all the other countries the Marquis had mentioned.
The French had suffered from losing so many great works of art and furniture during the Revolution and they would certainly have no wish to lose any more.
The Germans had always been avaricious and they wanted to possess more treasures in Berlin than other countries possessed in their Capital cities.
She knew how much her father appreciated the works of art his family had collected and at the same time he talked proudly about treasures in the British Museum and the National Gallery almost as if he owned them himself.
Shana next quizzed the Marquis,
“When they steal these treasures what do the thieves do with them?”
“No one knows exactly where they go to, but the Ambassador told me they suspect that one man may be making a huge collection for himself. A number of treasures are certainly going to America because they have the money to pay for them.”
Shana stared at him.
“America!” she exclaimed. “I never thought of that.”
“It may be just an idea, but at the same time as they are exploring Europe, they are openly buying pictures from our ancestral homes.”
The Marquis rose to his feet.
“I expect, Miss Davis, you will want to pack some clothes. I will pick you up here early tomorrow morning, unless you wish me to collect you elsewhere.”
It was impossible, Shana thought, to go on arguing with him.
For a moment she felt angry as he was pushing her into doing something which was intimidating and frightening.
He had already made it impossible for her to refuse him outright and she wanted to have time to think. Perhaps even to find a way she could identify the men without having to travel to Italy.
Once again the Marquis read her thoughts.
“There is no way out. And perhaps it will not be as unpleasant as it appears at this moment.”
He twisted his lips as he spoke and he was thinking there was no other woman of his acquaintance who would refuse to go with him anywhere he might suggest.
Shana did not reply.
“My yacht, at the moment, is moored in the Thames just below the House of Commons. I have already sent a messenger to tell them that we will be coming aboard tomorrow morning.”
“You have – already done that?” Shana asked in astonishment. “How could you know that I would agree to do what you are demanding?”
“I could not believe that you would refuse,” the Marquis replied. “I have realised you are most intelligent and I was convinced that you would understand how important our mission is. It would be impossible for us as British citizens to refuse such a cry for help.”
He saw Shana’s eyes flicker and continued,
“The Ambassador has told me they are desperate and this is the first ray of hope they have had in two years.”
“Two years!” Shana cried. “Is that how long this thieving has been taking place?”
“They did not realise at first that it was the same people. Now they are convinced that thefts carried out in the Royal Palace in Vienna two years ago, when the criminals carried away some of the Crown Jewels and a dozen irreplaceable pictures, are connected with important thefts in other Capital cities.”
“How can they be sure?”
“Because they always work in the same way and take only valuables of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.”
“They might have taken more from you than they had intended.”
“I can assure you that if they had succeeded, which they would have done without your warning, they would have been very proud to possess what was in my safe. The jewellery alone, which is seldom worn, is worth nearly a hundred thousand pounds.”
Shana’s eyes widened.
“Then surely it was very casual of you not to keep it in a safer place.”
“I had always imagined that my own home was safe and the staff in it were faithful to me.”
His voice was sharp as he added,
“I shall not make the same mistake again. Most of the silver and jewellery in the safe has now been moved to my bank in London.
“That is most wise of you,” Shana remarked.
“If it had not been for you, Miss Davis, I might have been devastated by losing it all. Quite frankly, I want to save other people from losing what they value most in the world.”
Again Shana realised she could not argue with him. “What – time,” she asked in a small voice, “shall I be here waiting – for you tomorrow morning?”
The Marquis’s eyes lit up.
“So you are really coming?”
“You leave me with no alternative. I think it is – something I should not do and I hope no one will ever know – where I have gone.”
“I will make quite sure that our journey is completely secret. If I pick you up here, my servants at the Hall will not know you are travelling with me. I thought we would tell Bob Grimes that, as I am driving to London tomorrow morning, I have offered you a lift as you are going to stay with friends.”
Shana nodded.
“I am sure he will believe it.”
The Marquis held out his hand.
“Thank you, Miss Davis, for trusting me and for being very patriotic. We must not forget those criminals left behind them a man they thought was dead.”
Shana shuddered.
“If he recovers, he may be able to tell us a little about them. But I doubt if he knows much more than we know ourselves.”
“I have a horrible feeling,” Shana told him, “that they may have intended to kill him – anyway before removing their – spoils.”
“I thought that too and from what I have heard they are completely merciless and usually leave a number of dead bodies behind after they have taken what they want.”
“In that case,” Shana murmured, “I hope we survive.”
“I hope so too,” the Marquis said. “And I promise that whatever happens, I will not allow you to go into any danger.”
“I doubt if you could really prevent it, but of course I would like you to try.”
She looked up at him as she spoke and when their eyes met she knew they were appraising her.
She had the feeling that he was finding her very different from what he had expected and he was trying to puzzle out what she was really like.
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