The Mystery of Tunnel 51

by Alexander Wilson

  ‘Thanks. Goodbye!’

  Maddison departed and Wallace rang the bell. Lady Wallace came in quickly.

  ‘I’m so sorry to be late, dear,’ she said.

  ‘My darling, it is your privilege. But I’m afraid I can’t come out after all. You see Billy and I are going to start on a flight to India this afternoon!’

  ‘Leonard!’

  ‘I’m not joking, dear. Something has gone wrong out there, and the Viceroy has cabled for me to go out at once.’

  ‘Oh, my dear, how awful! And you announce it as calmly as though you were going to Maidenhead.’

  He smiled.

  ‘I don’t know quite how long we shall be, but I hope to settle the business in a fortnight, and come back.’

  There was silence for a moment and then:

  ‘Oh, Leonard, this is a shock,’ she said.

  ‘I know, dear, but these things do happen and it will be a relief for you perhaps to be on your own for a little while.’

  ‘Don’t say such awful things. You know I shall miss you terribly. Phyllis and I will have to comfort each other.’

  He kissed her.

  ‘Bless you!’ he said. ‘You’re a wonderful woman! Will you ring up Sims and ask him to tell Batty to get ready to come with me and pack a couple of suitcases with some things – only necessaries – and the majority of them suitable for the tropics, and say that lunch must be sharp at one! I’m just going along the corridor to give a few final instructions. I won’t be long!’

  He got as far as the door when:

  ‘Tell Billy to bring Phyllis round to lunch,’ said Molly, ‘and we can all motor to – where are you starting from?’

  ‘Croydon!’

  ‘We can all drive to Croydon, and Phyllis and I can see you off!’

  ‘Good idea!’ he said heartily, and went out.

  She immediately got on the telephone, and gave Sims the necessary orders, and was just replacing the receiver when Brien walked in.

  ‘Good morning, Molly,’ he said. ‘What do you think of Leonard’s latest escapade?’

  ‘I’m awfully upset about it. I hate the idea of his going away again. It’s only a month since he came back from Egypt, and you know what happened there?’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t think there’s likely to be any danger in this affair, and besides he’ll have me to look after him!’

  She smiled.

  ‘What did Phil think of it?’

  ‘She just shrieked in her surprise. I told her I’d be coming along at once, so I am going home now.’

  ‘You’re bringing her to lunch, aren’t you? We’ll have a little farewell affair, and then drive to Croydon.’

  ‘Yes, thanks very much. About one, I suppose?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘Right-ho! We’ll be there sharp to time. Cheerio!’

  ‘Goodbye, Billy.’

  He left the room, and presently Leonard came in carrying a large map of India. He spread it out on the desk. Molly joined him, and the two of them looked at it.

  ‘What has happened, Leonard?’ she asked. ‘Is it a secret?’

  ‘Not exactly, dear. They have had some very important plans stolen, and the officer who made them has been murdered.’

  ‘But haven’t they got anybody out there they can trust to search for the plans? Why send all this way for you?’

  ‘Well, I suppose it’s my job – it’s secret service work you see.’

  ‘I know, but surely the Indian police are capable enough, and they have a special branch, haven’t they?’

  ‘Yes, but Lord Oundle apparently thinks it is a matter for my department!’

  ‘Well, why won’t some of your men do? Mr Maddison, for instance, with another?’

  ‘I don’t know; he specially asked for me. I dare say there is a lot behind this business that we know nothing about. It sounds as though it might be interesting.’

  ‘And dangerous! Oh, dear, am I always to go about with my heart in my mouth?’

  He looked at her and smiled.

  ‘I don’t suppose there will be much danger in it,’ he remarked. ‘Probably it will mean my sitting down most of the time with a wet towel round my head.’

  ‘I hope so! I shall tell Lord Oundle next time I see him that he has no consideration for a wife’s feelings.’

  ‘He’ll retort in that dry way of his, that duty comes before other considerations.’

  ‘Oh, duty, duty!’ she exclaimed in exasperation. ‘I’m tired of the word. I did my duty during the War like other women, trying to be brave and smile and look cheerful while my husband was fighting in France. I did my duty when you were in danger routing out those spies at Kimmeridge. But unlike other women who have had their reward since in knowing their husbands and brothers and sons are now in some safe occupation, I have to go on – doing my duty! Oh, Leonard dear, will there never be any real peace for me in my happiness?’

  ‘You know you glory in it, darling!’

  ‘I glory in it for your sake, because I am proud of the work you are doing for the country. But, oh, I want my husband to myself always – I want to know he is never in any danger, never likely to be killed suddenly. What should I do if that happened, dear?’

  Her beautiful eyes were brimful of tears, and he kissed her with a great tenderness.

  ‘There isn’t going to be any danger of that sort this time, Molly – I feel pretty certain of that.’

  ‘But there might be – you never know. And there will be the other times!’

  ‘Perhaps not! Perhaps I shall just chain myself to the office when I get back and get fat and lazy like the other heads of departments.’

  ‘Oh, Leonard, if you only would!’

  ‘What! Get fat and lazy?’

  ‘No, stupid. Keep to the office and let the others do the outside work under your instructions. Would you do it?’

  ‘For your sake, dear!’

  ‘You darling!’ She flung her arms round his neck and kissed him, then stepped back and smiled. ‘Wouldn’t people think it was bad form of me to show my feelings so, if they had seen me then?’ she said.

  ‘Blow people! And please continue your bad form, Molly.’

  ‘Your brother always says we are like a couple of children.’

  ‘Well, I hope we always shall be! Can you imagine Victoria throwing her arms around his neck?’

  They laughed in unison, and he returned to his contemplation of the map.

  ‘I suppose you don’t remember a certain incident that happened here?’ he said, putting his finger on a spot on the map. She looked at it.

  ‘Delhi!’ she breathed. ‘How could I ever forget – our wedding day! I should love to visit the place again and go into the cathedral, and just conjure everything up!’

  ‘That’s an idea!’ he said. ‘Why not come out and join us there?’

  ‘Oh, Leonard, how splendid!’

  ‘Borrow the Governor’s yacht, he’s not using it, and come as soon as you can! She’s a fast boat, and won’t take long to get to Bombay. Bring Phyllis with you. Lady Oundle and Doreen will be delighted.’

  A look of real pleasure spread over her face.

  ‘I’ll go and see your father as soon as you’re gone. Won’t it be lovely? I feel much happier now.’

  ‘By Jove! What an idea! I’m glad I thought of it!’

  He studied the map for a minute or two longer, and then rolled it up and rang for the clerk.

  ‘Take this back to the map room,’ he said, giving it to the man, then turned to Molly.

  ‘I’m ready to come now, dear.’

  She helped him into his overcoat, and together they descended to the waiting car below, and were soon back in their home in Piccadilly.

  Wallace gave a few instructions to his man Batty, an ex-naval seaman, and had a last glorious romp with his son, and then descended from the nursery just as Brien and his wife entered the hall, with Sims, looking more solemn than ever, bowing them in.

  Phyllis Brien w
as not quite what the world would describe as beautiful, but she possessed a most bewitching pair of soft grey eyes, an abundance of wavy hair, which she had kept its own natural length, and never had bobbed or shingled in the prevailing mode, a small retroussé nose, very much like Molly’s, a nicely shaped mouth with full red lips, delicately pencilled eyebrows, and above all charm and vivacity.

  ‘Hullo, you two!’ sang out Leonard.

  Phyllis hurried forward and placed her two hands in his.

  ‘What are you two going to do in India?’ she demanded. ‘Billy assures me that there will be no murder and sudden death or anything like that. Is it true, Leonard?’

  ‘You women are the limit,’ said Wallace. ‘I’ve just been telling Molly that we are not going into any danger, and now you come bothering me! Don’t you know yet that Billy and I are the most careful people in the world?’

  ‘No, I don’t!’

  ‘Well be assured; we are! This is merely a little flying picnic we’re having. You ought to be glad to be relieved of his company for a bit.’

  ‘What’s that?’ demanded Billy coming up. ‘Don’t put Bolshevik notions into her head, or I shan’t get a moment’s peace in future.’

  ‘Oh, Leonard, do be serious!’ pleaded Phyllis. ‘This has been an awful shock to me!’

  ‘My dear little woman, you’ll only be parted from him for three weeks, so don’t worry!’

  ‘Are you sure it will be only three weeks?’ she asked eagerly.

  ‘Of course! You and Molly are going out in the yacht to join us at Delhi!’

  ‘What’s that?’ demanded Billy and his wife in one breath.

  ‘Oh dear, how persistent you are! Molly is going to borrow the yacht and bring Phyllis out with her, and we’ll all come home together.’

  ‘By Jove!’ cried Brien. ‘What an idea!’ He beamed all over his good-natured face.

  Phyllis impulsively kissed Leonard.

  ‘What dears you two are!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Mrs Brien,’ said a silvery voice from the stairs. ‘Did I see you kiss my husband?’ And Molly looked down on them.

  ‘You did, darling!’ said Phyllis, ‘and I’m coming to kiss you!’ Which she did forthwith.

  ‘That’s all very well,’ said Molly and they joined the men. ‘But a kiss is a kiss and—’

  ‘It’s the first one I’ve given Leonard since Billy and I were married and he was best man.’

  ‘And then you didn’t kiss me,’ put in Wallace, ‘I kissed you, but got none in return.’

  ‘Yes, you did, fibber!’ retorted Phyllis. ‘Because I kissed you for giving me him.’

  ‘I didn’t give him to you – you took him!’

  ‘O – oh!’ she said. ‘What an awful story!’ She frowned a little in thought. ‘But if Molly and I come to India, what about the children?’

  ‘Bring them too, bless you!’ said Leonard. ‘The trip will do them good!’

  A solemn voice boomed across the hall.

  ‘Luncheon is served, my lady,’ announced Sims.

  Lunch was quite a cheery affair. The fact that they were following their husbands out to India made a big difference to the spirits of the two wives and when a note of despondency threatened to creep in, Wallace came to the rescue with his usual humorous nonsense. Adrian, who had been permitted to come to the table as a special favour, also helped to keep the conversation brisk and lively, and so altogether it was a very merry meal.

  At half past two the car was at the door, and the four took their places inside. Adrian pleaded to come to see his Daddy off, a request which was at once granted, and he squeezed in between the driver and Batty, and proceeded to give directions, imagining that he was the captain of a ship, and the chauffeur the steersman.

  Croydon aerodrome was reached in good time, and upon enquiry it was found that the Air Ministry had gone one better than expected. A large Handley-Page aeroplane awaited them which would have comfortably carried fourteen. Two of the finest pilots of the Royal Air Force, Wing Commander James Forsyth and Squadron Leader Gerald Hallows, had been provided with two very competent and experienced mechanics. There were stores on board to last the whole trip and almost sufficient petrol, and altogether, as Billy remarked, ‘The Air Ministry has done us proud!’

  Molly and Phyllis, now that the time had arrived for parting, were a bit glum, but Adrian was full of delight. He had never been so close to an aeroplane before, and he jumped in and out, and had twice to be hauled from somewhat perilous positions.

  Wing Commander Forsyth had already flown to Karachi and back, and Wallace had a talk with him before starting. He was a fair, freckled-face young man with steely grey eyes and a determined chin. He grinned cheerfully at Leonard.

  ‘We’ve had a bit of a rush, sir,’ he said, ‘but we got here well up to time. The old bus was ready, luckily.’

  ‘What is the quickest time in which you can get to Delhi without taking any undue risks?’ asked Leonard.

  ‘Four days, perhaps a little less. It is just about four thousand, eight hundred miles by the route I propose to go. Of course if we could fly all night, as well as by day, we could do it much sooner, but as there would be no landing lights to guide us in the event of our having to come down, I suppose we must stick to daylight.’

  Wallace nodded.

  ‘If you’ll step inside I’ll show you the route, Sir Leonard!’

  He led the way into the plane and produced a chart on which he had mapped out the route.

  ‘We shall cross the Channel and head due south to the Mediterranean, follow the coast along here, cross Italy and the Adriatic, then through Greece and Mesopotamia, down the Persian Gulf to Karachi, and thence straight to Delhi. I propose to stop just south of Paris tonight. Is that agreeable, sir?’

  ‘Quite! I am entirely in your hands; you are the captain. All I insist on is getting to Delhi as soon as possible.’

  ‘Right! Are you ready to start now, sir?’

  ‘Quite!’

  ‘Very well. We’ll get away at once!’

  He went off to give the necessary orders and have a final look round the machine with his colleague and the two mechanics.

  Leonard returned to the ladies. Batty had placed the suitcases, bedding and his own kit on board, so nothing remained but to say the ‘goodbyes’, which were naturally somewhat prolonged. At last they were said. Leonard lifted his small son in his arms and whispered,

  ‘Look after Mummy, old man! And when you get back home give her a big kiss, and say Daddy sent it!’

  ‘Yes, Daddy,’ said the little fellow bravely, though two big tears glistened in his eyes.

  ‘And don’t forget that you must take care of her and bring her to India quite safely!’

  ‘Yes, Daddy!’ Then turning to his father he covered his face with kisses before he was set on the ground.

  There were a few additional softly spoken and somewhat husky ‘goodbyes’. Then the two men climbed, into the aeroplane.

  ‘Right-ho! Let her go!’ sang out Forsyth. The huge propeller in front was swung round twice without result, then, with a roar, the engine started, the mechanics climbed aboard and the aeroplane glided across the ground and rose beautifully into the air. Twice she circled above, while Billy and Leonard waved their handkerchiefs in response to those waved below, and then, with her nose pointing due south, the great man-made bird started on her long flight to India.

  It is not proposed to weary the reader with a detailed account of Sir Leonard Wallace’s trip to Delhi. Aeroplane travel is such an accomplished fact in these days that a very great number of people have experienced the delights of flying. Nothing sensational happened, and the two splendid pilots Forsyth and Hallows, with the able assistance of their mechanics, kept well up to the time that Forsyth had set himself.

  At Athens and Busra they renewed their supplies of petrol and oil and in the Persian city they were almost mobbed by a screaming, smelly, altogether oriental crowd of men, women and children. It took For
syth and his assistants all their time to prevent the children carrying away parts of the aeroplane as keepsakes. However they got away without accident and flew down the Perisan Gulf towards Karachi. Although so high up they felt the heat intensely and were very relieved when the rugged, barren shores of the Gulf were left behind and they turned the bend and came into view of the third seaport of India.

  ‘India at last!’ said Leonard, as they glided over the city and circled round preparatory to landing. ‘I wonder what we are going to find here – murder and sudden death, as Phyllis said, or – what? Do you know,’ he added, turning sharply to his companion, ‘I have a feeling that Caxton has put the key of this business into our hands, and that Karachi may have a lot to do with the solution!’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  An Episode in Karachi

  One cannot fly halfway round the world in record time without causing a certain amount of interest and publicity, and although the India Office had endeavoured to keep the matter secret, it had leaked out, and when Wallace and Brien arrived in Karachi there was quite a large, well-dressed crowd waiting to greet them, as well as a collection of the lower strata of Indian humanity.

  ‘Good Lord!’ muttered Billy with disgust. ‘What are we supposed to be – a triumphant air feat or a secret mission?’

  ‘We had to take the risk of this,’ he said, ‘when we came by air. If we had been able to spare the time to come in a liner, we might have had a better chance, but even then I doubt if we could have reached India without our Russian friends knowing all about it – that is, if the Russians are involved in this business, and we haven’t proved that they are yet!’

  ‘Then you think they’ll know what we came for?’

  ‘Of course they will! I never had the slightest doubt on that score. Billy, my lad, we start beautifully handicapped! From the time we land at Delhi we shall be watched as mice watch cats and they will have the additional advantage of knowing us. Oh, yes; taking it for granted that we are up against agents of the Russian Soviet, they start with all the trump cards in their hands. You and I have had so many dealings with Bolsheviks in England that our names must be anathema to them, and I think we shall possibly be in for a lively and interesting time out here!’