He drove the car to the civil servant’s bungalow, but, as they expected, there was no one there but the servants, who were obviously surprised at their master’s absence and could not tell where he had gone. They searched the house as they had done the other two, but found nothing to give them a clue as to his whereabouts. At last, when dawn was breaking in the eastern sky, they returned home worn-out in body and mind, and full of the most dire forebodings.
None of them went to bed, and soon after seven o’clock Hugh, dressed and shaved, drove to the Deputy Commissioner’s bungalow, and asked to see him. Mr Rainer was already up and in a very short time he was with Shannon, listening to his tale.
‘Good God!’ he exclaimed, when the latter had finished, and his face had become as white and drawn as the younger man’s. ‘What on earth is to be done?’
‘It is time you took a hand in the game, Mr Rainer,’ said Hugh. ‘Will you send out search parties all over Lahore to look for Joan? It is going to be a difficult matter I know and doubly difficult as neither Rahtz nor Novar must be arrested if they are discovered.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because the meeting must not be interfered with in any way and it takes place the day after tomorrow. As soon as it is over we’ll trail either, or both of them. The Chief must have received my despatch long before this and I’m hoping that I’ll get a cable before Tuesday telling us to arrest every one who attends the conference. Then I’ll leave all arrangements about surrounding the place to you. But I cannot act without official instructions.’
‘Then all I can do is to search for clues of Miss Shannon’s whereabouts,’ said Rainer.
‘That’s all, I’m afraid. If recovering her means preventing Rahtz and Novar from attending the meeting, then she must be left in their hands until afterwards. It’s a case of duty, you see.’
Rainer put his hand on Hugh’s shoulder.
‘Poor old chap,’ he said ‘I know how you feel, and I can’t express my sympathy – it would sound too banal anyway. I’ll get hold of the superintendent of police and explain matters to him at once.’
‘I’m afraid I’ve given you a very delicate job,’ said Hugh, and smiled wanly, ‘but you, of course, understand how things are. I think a clue might be found if a careful watch is kept on Rahtz’s house.’
‘Mrs, Rahtz is still there you say?’
‘Yes; and I gave her to understand that if she left the premises you would arrest her. I’ll leave that to you though.’
Rainer nodded.
‘You don’t think she knows the whereabouts of her husband?’ he asked.
‘I feel sure she doesn’t, and certainly she knew nothing about the kidnapping of Joan.’
‘All the same I think I’ll go and have a talk with her myself some time this morning. Have you any objection?’
‘Not the slightest.’
A few minutes later Hugh took his departure, having refused breakfast and even a cup of coffee. Rainer at once drove to the bungalow of the superintendent of police. He was closeted with that official for half an hour, and when he departed he left an exceedingly astonished man behind him.
The Deputy Commissioner breakfasted with his wife and daughter and smoked a pipe in his study before starting off to interview Mrs Rahtz. As he puffed at his favourite Dunhill his thoughts were long and profound, and it was with a feeling of annoyance that he heard his bearer announce that a man was waiting to see him.
‘Who is he?’ asked Rainer irritably.
‘A Mahommedan, sahib. His name is Abdul Rahim.’
‘What is his business?’
‘He did not say.’
‘Tell him I cannot see him today, and that if his business is pressing he must go to Brooks sahib.’
‘I do not want to see Brooks sahib,’ said a voice in perfect English and, swinging round, Rainer beheld a slightly-built Indian standing at the door in a careless attitude, his left hand thrust into the pocket of his coat.
The newcomer was dressed with great care in the broad, spotlessly white trousers affected by the Muslim community, a long black coat buttoned up to the neck and a red cap with a silver tassel. He possessed a most attractive face, the humorous curves of which were seldom seen on the face of an Indian.
The Deputy Commissioner gazed at him wrathfully. ‘How dare you enter my house without permission? Go at once!’
‘Don’t be hasty, Mr Rainer,’ said the other calmly. ‘It grieves me that you do not recognise an old friend.’
‘Your face is certainly familiar,’ said Rainer, ‘but old friend or not, you have no right to intrude in this manner. If you have business with my department, go and see Mr Brooks, my assistant.’
‘I am very sorry I intruded,’ said Abdul Rahim, ‘and I ask your pardon. I am afraid I took advantage of our past friendship.’
‘You talk about friendship, but I have no recollection of any friendship between you and me, and certainly there is no Abdul Rahim on my visiting list. So go!’
He turned his back on his visitor. Apparently that did not daunt the latter, who will be recognised as the man who watched Novar, enter The Retreat the night before after having had a ride on the luggage carrier of the Russian’s car. He smiled for a moment at the Deputy Commissioner’s back, then:
‘Perhaps you will be more prepared to listen to me,’ he said, ‘if I am permitted to whisper two words in your ear.’
‘Haven’t you gone yet?’ thundered Rainer, and there was an ominous frown on his brow, as he once more glanced round.
‘Not yet!’ And with a laugh he strode forward and, bending down, said something very softly.
A remarkable change came over the other’s face.
‘Good Lord above!’ he ejaculated.
Lahore’s esteemed Deputy Commissioner proceeded to give a splendid imitation of a country bumpkin for fully fifteen seconds, his mouth being open to its widest extent, and his eyes apparently doing their best to burst from their sockets. Then he bounded from his chair, and grasped the Indian’s hand.
‘This is one of the biggest surprises in my life!’ he exclaimed. ‘How did—’
‘S’sh!’ warned Rahim. ‘Walls have ears you know, at least you English very often say so.’
Rainer laughed, and turning to his servant, who had regarded his master’s transformation with rank amazement, ordered him from the room. After that he locked the door and for over an hour was engaged in close conversation with his visitor.
Hugh was in a terrible state of mind when he arrived at the College that morning. The examinations were still on, which was a lucky thing for him, for it is certain that he could never have lectured. On the following day the College closed for the Christmas holidays, otherwise he would have taken the morning off. He tried every means he could think of to take his mind away from his trouble but failed entirely, and several of the young Muslims seated before him looked up from their papers and wondered why the Englishman’s face was so pale and so set in its expression.
The morning dragged on its weary way and to Hugh every minute seemed an hour, every hour a day, and when he glanced at his watch and saw that it was only twelve, with another hour still to be borne, he cursed savagely under his breath, a thing that was, as a rule, foreign to the nature of Hugh Shannon.
Five minutes later an interruption came. The Principal himself appeared at the door of the room and beckoned to him. With a sense of relief Hugh left his seat on the rostrum.
‘Come with me!’ said Abdullah. ‘Aziz will take your place.’
The athletic young professor came along the corridor at that moment and, smiling at the other two, entered the room. Abdullah took Hugh by the arm, in his habitual manner, and led him to his office. Once inside:
‘I have received a telephone message from Government House,’ he said, looking at his companion rather curiously. ‘His Excellency desires your presence there at once!’
‘Oh!’ said Hugh without enthusiasm.
Apparently the Principal expecte
d his announcement to cause Shannon some excitement, for he looked disappointed.
‘You do not seem very interested,’ he said. ‘Were you expecting the summons?’
‘Not exactly,’ replied Hugh. ‘I had better go now,’ he added.
‘Yes; the message was most urgent.’
Hugh left the office, and a highly intrigued Principal. Abdullah was a very nice fellow, but he was not without curiosity and it was unusual for the Governor to ring up a college and summon a professor to Government House on an urgent matter of business.
On this occasion Shannon did not trouble to ascertain whether he was followed or not. He drove there rapidly and on the way, strangely enough, his mind was temporarily relieved of its burden of sorrow. He was thinking of the College and Abdullah, the man who stood at the helm in the face of overwhelming obstacles and who was fighting bravely to raise his institution to the level of other colleges belonging to the group under the University of Northern India.
Hugh disliked Sheranwala College, disliked the governing body with its petty meannesses, its hypocrisy, and its narrow outlook; he could not get on with the staff – except Aziz the sportsman – because of its jealousies, its intrigues for favour, its deceit, and above all its insincerity. But he liked Abdullah. He had an admiration for the genuineness of the man and the latter’s belief in his power to raise the Muslim standard of education; and he felt sorry for him in the knowledge that his task was a hopeless one in face of the smugly sanctimonious and utterly incompetent people with whom he had to deal on the board of governors.
‘He is true blue,’ murmured Hugh to himself, as he swung round a tonga that seemed bent on collision. ‘He is a sahib in the true sense of the word. This city seems to consist of a few sahibs, such as the Governor, Rainer and a dozen others, and hosts of snobs! I don’t know how to describe Novar, Rahtz and their kind, unless it is as sinners.’ The alliteration rather pleased him. ‘Sahibs, snobs and sinners!’ he muttered.
The thought of Novar and Rahtz took his mind back to Joan’s peril, and the hard, fierce, wretched expression returned to his face.
‘Oh, Joan, Joan,’ he groaned, ‘to think that I have brought you out to India to this. May God forgive me!’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A Letter from the Chief
Sir Reginald Scott paced his study, his hands behind his back, his face reflecting the sternness of his thoughts. Hugh sat in a chair watching him. Presently the Governor ceased his walking and stood looking down at him.
‘What you tell me is awful – horrible!’ he said. ‘And you have no clue to your sister’s whereabouts?’
‘None whatever, sir! Of course I shall be able to track Novar and Rahtz on Tuesday night after the conference, but in the meantime—’ He stopped and the pain in his eyes was reflected in the other’s.
‘Yes,’ said the Governor almost mechanically; ‘what is going to happen in the meantime.’ His teeth clenched. ‘Is there nothing we can do at all? Has Rainer no suggestions to offer?’
Hugh shook his head.
‘I feel myself to blame for openly defying Novar last night,’ he groaned. ‘My disclosure that I knew him must have made the man desperate, and this is the result.’
‘But how does he think that kidnapping your sister will help him?’
‘I daresay I shall receive a letter warning me that if I take any action against him or his companions harm will come to her.’
‘Then if you appear to do nothing perhaps Miss Shannon will be safe.’
‘She’ll never be safe while that brute Hudson is near her, sir. I told you what happened on the ship coming out.’
His Excellency nodded moodily.
‘What step is Rainer taking?’ he asked.
‘He is having the whole district searched, and both Miles and Cousins are out making enquiries, but I have very little hope that anything will come of their efforts. Novar and Rahtz are far too clever to leave any trace.’
‘Then you think they are still in the environs of Lahore?’
‘I’m sure of it, sir. They would not go far away with this meeting so imminent; besides Rahtz must be too ill to travel far. Personally I have a feeling that they are quite close to Mozang College, and Cousins is devoting himself to that neighbourhood.’
‘It is a terrible thing,’ said Sir Reginald, ‘and I only wish I could do something to help your sister and relieve you of the agony you must be suffering.’
‘You are very kind,’ murmured Hugh.
The Governor turned on him almost irritably.
‘The matter is too serious for banalities, Shannon,’ he snapped, then smiled. ‘I am afraid my inability to think of any way to confound these scoundrels has made me irritable,’ he went on. ‘But I must explain why I sent for you.’ He sat down at his desk and unlocking a drawer took out a large official envelope. ‘This arrived yesterday morning from England by air. The pilot made a record trip and left within five days of the receipt of your despatch to Sir Leonard Wallace. It will please you to know that the British Government acted immediately; the American and French Ambassadors were shown the two letters from the Soviet Foreign Minister to Novar, and the whole plot was reported at once to Washington and Paris, with the result that the United States and France are taking action with us. I have the whole report here in this letter which is from Sir Leonard through the India office. He asks me to arrange for your release from the contract with Sheranwala College. Therefore, instead of three years as a professor your term will be reduced to three months.’
Hugh started to his feet, a smile of pleasure on his face. ‘Then he considers that there is no longer any necessity for me to remain in India, sir?’ he asked.
‘I cannot say anything about that, but there certainly is no reason for you to remain a professor. You have accomplished in three months what he expected would take a considerable time; besides your real profession may come to light in the course of the next week or so. During that time, Shannon, very stirring events are going to take place. I think you may consider yourself the saviour of your country.’
‘I am afraid I have done very little, sir,’ said Hugh modestly. ‘The credit belongs to Miles and Cousins. But I am delighted that I need no longer work as a professor of English literature. It isn’t that I dislike the work, but I loathe the College and those in authority who call themselves the governing board.’
His Excellency laughed.
‘I know quite a lot about them myself,’ he said. ‘Their methods are certainly not to be commended, but all the same from what I have heard of you, you will be badly missed. I must have a talk this afternoon with Mahommed Abdullah about your leaving. By the way, to revert to our former discussion, there will be no need for you to track Novar and Rahtz on Tuesday night. Your instructions are to surround the building and permit nobody to escape – but read Sir Leonard’s enclosure to you!’
He took a letter from the envelope and handed it to Hugh. It was in the Chief’s own writing, and was dated from his private address.
Dear Shannon (it ran),
Your communication with enclosures arrived in good time, and I am glad you took such precautions to get it here safely. I need not say that your information is of the most tremendous importance, and was immediately placed before the Government with the result that action is imminent.
Your association with Mr Miles of the United States Intelligence Department is a happy accident, and I congratulate both you and him, and of course Cousins, on the wonderful results which have accrued from your efforts. The country owes a great debt of gratitude to you, and I am more than delighted that you have proved so worthy of my confidence in your ability. In sending you out to India I was aware that an event of some magnitude was pending, but had no idea that it would prove to be a colossal plot against Great Britain, almost ready to burst into a conflagration that would have had results too awful to contemplate: I fully expected that you would have been occupied in your inquiries for very nearly, if not quite, three yea
rs. As it is there is no necessity for you to stay in Sheranwala College, and I have asked Sir Reginald Scott to obtain your release on plea of some Government employment.
I desire you to be present at the conference which is due to take place on the 21st December. Make arrangements for the building to be surrounded and everybody present arrested. There are likely to be some very important men there and I want you to take them all. My old friend Rainer, the Deputy Commissioner, will help in arranging details and you could not have a better man. But wait till the meeting is finished before disclosing your presence. I want everything that is said to be reported by cable the same night. As soon as the report is received, Great Britain, the United States and France will move.
I will cable further instructions to you through His Excellency after Tuesday.
The Prime Minister has asked me to convey his appreciation to you and your companions.
Please give my regards and thanks to Messrs. Miles and Cousins.
Sincerely yours,
Leonard Wallace
A glow of genuine pleasure filled Shannon when he had read the letter. It was most unusual for the Chief to write to any of his agents in such a congratulatory vein, and Hugh knew that he would rather receive such a communication than any number of decorations and honours. Sir Leonard Wallace had the power of making his assistants adore him. There was not a member of the Secret Service who would not gladly give his, or her, life for the rather mild-looking man who controlled the department which was Great Britain’s eyes and ears. Hugh realised with a thrill that the receipt of such a document would make him the envied of his colleagues.
The Governor smiled, as he noticed the delight depicted on his companion’s face.
‘I can see that Sir Leonard has expressed his appreciation,’ he said. ‘And I can guarantee that it was deserved. If you are an example of the men of the Intelligence Department, Shannon, there is no doubt that it must be a remarkably efficient service.’
Devil's Cocktail (Wallace of the Secret Service Series) Page 29