Rush was moving— I heard the scrape of his chair as he thrust it back. An instant later he opened the sitting-room door.
For a moment he stood in the doorway, lighting a cigarette. Then he let out a filthy belch, lounged to the head of the steps and made his way out of the house.
I heard him say something to Bugle and I saw him turn to the right.
As neither reappeared or started the car it looked very much as though they were sitting down on the bench to the right of the steps. If I was right, then a man at the sitting-room window would be above and behind them and able, if they were talking, to overhear every word.
It seemed that my chance had come.
Trembling with excitement, I began to steal down the passage, over the flags.
"YES, I know that bit," said Rush. "I've 'eard it before. But if he's such a — marvel, where's Bohun gone? Bohun was boun' to be here on Monday night. 'Cos why? 'Cos Pharaoh'd wired him— 'cos Pharaoh desired 'is presence. Well, that's three days ago, an' he ain't here yet."
"What's Bohun matter?" said Bugle. '"Er grace the Duchess of Sheba is what we want."
"Who said he mattered?" said Rush. "I never said he mattered. Wot I said was that Pharaoh knows 'ow to slip up. 'Oh, don't talk silly,' you says. 'Pharaoh's a — genius, and geniuses don't slip up.' 'All right,' I says. 'Where's Bohun?'" In manifest dudgeon he sucked his cigarette. "Pharaoh said he'd be here on Monday night. He — near told us the soot of clothes he'd have on. Well, he' isn't here, is he? I don't say Bohun matters, but I'd just as soon know where he is. He may be a — artist, but he knows how to use a gun."
"Now, look 'ere, Rush," said Bugle, crossing his legs. '"Ow many you can mention could of done wot Pharaoh's done. Oh, —," said he, and spat on the flags. "He crooked his finger at you, an' you came to heel."
The other sprang to his feet with a filthy oath, but before he could answer Bugle was standing, too.
"Sit down," he ordered. "You know why I was took on. If I was to hit you once, you wouldn't open no doors for the nex' three weeks." Rush subsided, muttering, and Bugle resumed his seat. "Tell the tale if you like, but don't try an' tell it to me. You was, took on as I was, just as glad of the job. 'I want you,' says Pharaoh— that's all."
"All?" yelped Rush. "Why—"
"All right, all right," said Bugle, as though he were sick and tired of the other's complaints. "Call it a game. Sign on with 'im, an' you've got to take wot's comin'— that's all I meant."
Encouraged by this surrender—
"Yes, an' wot is comin'?" said Rush. "That's wot I want to know. I judge a man by results. Three weeks tomorrow we've been here, an' wot's your Napoleon done? I'll tell you." Bugle groaned. "In the firs' place he's been beat by a girl an' a groom. He knew they was comin', an' he knew they was carryin' gold: an' they got away.
"IF we'd roped the road, we'd of had them; but when I made the suggestion he tells me to shut my face. An' wot else has he done— that counts? He's let us all in for murder— that's wot he's done. As long as young Arthur walks, there's a rope round each of our necks."
"He won't walk long," said Bugle.
At this Rush let himself go. A jet of blasphemous filth seemed to spurt from his lips— to play on the absent Pharaoh and all his works, but I think all three of us knew that for all its force and fury, if Pharaoh had stepped from the shadows, the fountain would have stopped dead.
At length Bugle got to his feet and crossed to the car. Then, to my great surprise, he opened a door and sat down in the driver's seat. I watched him start the engine and switch on his lights, while Rush sat still below me, winding his watch. Bugle drove the car slowly forward, as though to go down to the bridge. Then he brought her to rest and got out, leaving his engine running and both of his headlights on.
As he sat down again below me, I understood his action and saw why the car was there.
The stone bridge was bathed in brilliance. No one could possibly cross it without being seen.
Rush yawned luxuriously.
"Ten minutes more," he announced, "an' I'm goin' off. I've 'ad enough o' late nights. When I've nothin' to do, I like to do it in bed."
"I should keep your boots on," said Bugle. "He's comin' back."
There was a moment's silence. Then: "Comin' back?" screamed Rush. "That's wot I said," said Bugle.
With studied deliberation Bugle lighted his pipe. Then
"Dewdrop's back," he said.
"Where from?" said Rush. "I didn't know he was gone."
"Of course you didn't." said Bugle. "When Bohun never showed up, you'd 'ave dropped that line. But that isn't Pharaoh. That wire didn't bring Bohun 'ere, but it fetched 'im out of his digs." He paused to exhale luxuriously. "Dewdrop's back from Salzburg— with a letter young Arthur's wrote."
"Wot, not sayin' where he is?"
"An' the Duchess of Sheba," said Bugle. "Pharaoh's gone off this evenin' to rope the two of them in."
I WAS transfixed with horror, for the nightmare which I had rejected had become an accomplished fact.
Though Bugle and Rush were still speaking, I had no idea what they said, and when I looked at my watch I could not tell the time, because my wrist was shaking and the dial seemed a great way off.
Then the disorder passed as quickly as it had come and my brain seemed to leap into life.
There was the car all ready.
I almost cried out with delight.
For an instant I glanced about me. Then I picked up the lamp and hurled it into the grate.
The base of the lamp was of china and heavily built; the crash of its fall was frightful, and the flames leaped up like streamers, to lick the breast of the chimney within and without.
Now I had expected that Bugle and Rush would, both of them, make for the sitting-room door. And Bugle did. But Rush stood up on the bench, to look, instead, through the window which I was proposing to use.
I suppose the fellow was lazy, and laziness brings no luck. Be that as it may, I hit him between the eyes before he could think and vaulted out of the casement on to the flags. I landed so close to my victim that had his wits been more ready, he might have caught my ankle and brought me down: but he was, I think, obsessed with his misfortune, for I heard the first words of the sentence with which he opened his comments on what had occurred.
And then I was in the closed car and was storming down to the bridge.
I did not drive to Witchcraft. Instead I drove for the track which Helena and I had taken when we left the Rolls in the road. The mouth of the track was twenty miles closer than Witchcraft— by the only ways that I knew. From the mouth of the track to the cottage was nearer six miles than five, but for four of those miles I could drive, and that would leave less than two miles to be covered on foot.
My journey may be imagined— I drove in a mist of fear. At every bend of the road I could see the sinister shadow of some mishap. I feared to run out of petrol, I feared for my tyres; I was frightened stiff, as they say, of losing my way; but I wrung from that car a pace that she had not been built to give.
Enough that I entered the track at five minutes past ten and that eight minutes later I was stumbling across the clearing, to find the path to the cottage by the light of my torch.
"Do what you like," said Freda. "I tell you she's gone."
"You know where she is," said Pharaoh, and lighted a cigarette.
The man was sitting half on the table, swinging a leg; Freda was standing at the foot of the little staircase, with one of her hands behind her and the other up to her breast; Max lay asleep in his cradle; and Dewdrop stood quiet and blinking, with his back to the mighty grate. Stuck upon an arm of the settle, three candles with swaying flames were dispensing light.
"You know where she is," said Pharaoh, quietly enough.
"That I do not," said Freda, and flung up her head. "Her man was gone, and she was but waiting for me, to give over the child."
"Did she take the path to Witchcraft?"
"Nay," said the fo
rester's wife, "she took the path that she knew."
"Think again," said Pharaoh smoothly, with his eyes upon Freda's face.
Crouching without the casement, I saw the girl wince before the ice of his tone; but though she was now very pale, she gave him back look for look. As I drew my pistol I heard her steady reply.
"I tell you she took that path," and, as she spoke, she pointed out of the window, directly over my head. And, as she pointed, she looked in the same direction— and saw my face.
She started ever so slightly, but that was more than enough.
As I levelled my weapon Pharaoh swung round and fired, but his pistol was yet in his pocket and his bullet went wide of my ear. And then, in a flash, he had flung himself off the table, and all the candles were out.
So I threw away a chance in a million.
That the foresters wife should have seen me was sheer bad luck, and Pharaoh's lightning action would have beaten, I firmly believe, my cousin himself. Remembering his record, I have no doubt that his life had often depended on his taking effective action before his opponent could think; for all that, if I had not seen it happen, I never would have believed that perception, decision and action could make but one blinding flash. And Dewdrop was a fine squire; it was he, of course, who had sent the candles flying. But I should have shot Pharaoh at sight. That was the error I made, and I have no excuse to offer, save that I had been running as hard as I could and was waiting for my hand to grow steady, in case I should miss.
There was only one thing to be done, for the moonlight was all about me, and Pharaoh and Dewdrop could see me without being seen.
I fell on my face, writhed my way into the shadows and darted across to a tree that stood some twelve paces off. And there, flat against the trunk, I took my stand, with my eyes on the door of the cottage, which was full in the light.
I was ready now, at last, and the moment I saw the door move I fired at the latch. This had the effect I desired, for the door did not move again.
I WAS now as composed as I had been distracted, for the knowledge that my darling was safe had made me another man. My nerves were steady, my brain was clear. I felt like a giant refreshed; and I saw at once that my lady must be at Witchcraft, where she was waiting to stay me from hastening back to the cottage and so into Pharaoh's arms.
One minute later I was behind the cottage and was running as fast as I could for the Witchcraft path.
I was more than half-way to the cross roads when Sabre touched my hand. With a leaping heart I at once took hold of his collar and ran by his side. Thirty yards on he stopped.
"Nell," I said quietly. "Nell."
There was a rustle behind me. As I turned round, her arms went about my neck.
"I heard shots," she breathed. "You're not hurt?"
"Not a scratch, my queen."
"Thank Heaven, thank Heaven!" She clung to me desperately. "Oh, John, I can't spare you again. Ever since you left I've been half out of my mind. You see . . . without you I'm beggared . . . you're all I've got."
Her tears were wet on my lips as I strained her against my heart.
"I've come out of Hell," I whispered. "We'll never do it again."
"Promise, my darling."
"I promise— never again. And now we must fly." I kissed her and let her go. "We must find the Rolls and—"
"I've found her. I don't think there's anyone with her, but—"
"I know there isn't," said I. "But come along, my lady. We'll talk when we're out of the wood."
Less than ten minutes later I lifted the Rolls from a thicket and on to the road.
Chapter 13
"FREDA appeared," said Helena, "at a quarter to eight. It seems that she missed her train in a final, frantic endeavour to do as we said. We told her to deliver the letter to Geoffrey or Barley alone. Ten times she took that letter to your cousin's Salzburg address; ten times she was asked to leave it; and ten times the poor girl refused. When she had missed her train she determined to try once more, and this time they managed to bluff her into giving it up. Well, the moment I heard her story I knew that the damage was done, so Sabre and I made for Witchcraft as fast as ever we could. I confess I was rather worried. You see, though you didn't know it, you and Pharaoh had now the same objective. It seemed extremely likely that you would use the same roads. And even when Pharaoh arrived— as he did, about half past nine— I couldn't be sure that he'd missed you, for he might have dealt with you and come on for me. I watched him take the path, with Dewdrop, like some familiar, padding behind. Their silence was rather dreadful; they never exchanged one word. When they'd gone I made sure of the Rolls and came back to watch—and pray. The darkness was very trying, for the path, as you know, was in shadow, and I had to watch for you both. And then, far away in the forest I heard two shots ..."
When I told her what I had learned, which, except that my cousin was safe, was little enough:
"We must make for Yorick," she said. "Pharaoh's stranded, and that will give me a chance— with my brother, I mean. If Valentine's bored enough, I may be able to get him to go away. If I offer him the Carlotta, he may see the point of a month at Juan-les-Pins. Besides, if we want your cousin, Yorick is where he will be. He's certain to be watching the castle— it's all he can do. He probably visits Plumage, as you did today. But he knows that when we return, it will be to Yorick itself."
"Very good," said I "I take it we drive to the door."
"Oh, yes. It's safe enough now. Here's Sabbot, where we turn to the left." She studied the map. "Left again at Arudy, and then straight on."
I whipped the Rolls round a corner and put down my foot.
"If Pharaoh listens to Freda, he'll find his car. It won't move like this, but it's better than running to Sabbot and hiring what he can get. I speak from experience, my sweet."
Helena shook her head.
"I don't think he'll listen to Freda. I think that by now he's at Witchcraft, raging at the loss of the Rolls and looking high and low for your car." She let out a ripple of laughter that did my heart good. "I feel quite sorry for Dewdrop. Fancy combing those thickets by night for a car that was never there! Have you plenty of petrol, John?"
"To burn," said I. "Pharaoh's a careful man."
I felt her hand on my sleeve.
"If you'd been 'careful,' we shouldn't have found the cottage, and we should have missed— our dream."
As her face touched my shoulder I carried her hand to my lips.
"And when Valentine's gone?" I said.
Helena's chin went up.
"I'm not the Countess for nothing. The flag will be flown tomorrow, as though the Count was still there. That should be enough for 'Captain Faning.' And when he walks in with his servant, old Florin shall have the pleasure of laying the two of them low."
"You think you'll get Valentine off by an early train?"
"He keeps late hours. If I let him have the Carlotta I might get him off tonight. He's a creature of impulse, you know. Paint the toy bright enough, and he'll want it at once. He simply must be gone before Pharaoh comes back."
I glanced at my watch.
Five minutes to eleven, and fifty three miles to go. We should be at the castle by midnight; but unless he had the luck of the devil, Pharaoh could hardly reach Yorick before five o'clock. To get from the cottage to Plumage had taken me more than six hours and that was by day. But if he was there at five, would the Count be gone? Since I did not know her brother, I could not weigh the chances of Helena's gaining her end, but I had an uneasy feeling that she was attempting too much. Her brother might well consent to be gone the next day, but to leave bag and baggage, at once, in the midst of the night . . .
At length—
"Why not go to Pommers?" I said. "And use your original plan? We've only to find my cousin, and that should be easy enough. Let Pharaoh go back to Yorick. And then one night we'll cross the moat by the footbridge and do him in."
"I'm afraid to wait, my darling. If Pharaoh gets his foot in ag
ain, I think he'll play the card in his sleeve. He doesn't want to play it, but after tonight he'll feel that the luck's against him— and out it'll come. And the card that he's got in his sleeve is putting my brother wise." She drew in her breath. "Once Valentine knows of the gold, it's no good killing Pharaoh, for three weeks later another will reign in his stead. My brother will talk right and left. What's almost worse, he'll never leave me alone as long as there's twenty pounds left. So you see, for that reason alone, Valentine must be gone before Pharaoh comes back."
AFTER this there was no more to be said, but I know that I made up my mind that if we came safe through this pass, the gold must be disposed of without delay. Oath or no, this terribly dangerous cargo must be discharged. Otherwise, though all four rogues were silenced, the secret which had leaked out would leak out again. And then— more havoc: more lust and strife and bloodshed, and my darling's hair going grey.
The miles streamed by in silence, and I think it was just past midnight when I switched the Rolls off the road and into the entrance drive.
This rose through the woods, and had it been day, we could not have seen the castle before the last of the bends. The instant, however, that I had taken this turn the lights of the rooms that opened on to the ramparts filled our eyes. The moon was certainly gone, and the night was dark, but the flood of light was abnormal, and for one short moment I thought that the rooms were on fire. As though some ball were in progress, all six great casements were ablaze, and the battlements stood against the brilliance as though they were part of some theatrical "set." Except for a gleam here and there, the rest of the castle was black.
Helena laughed dryly.
"I told you he kept late hours."
Of the blaze of light she said nothing: that the Count preferred casinos to castles was obvious enough.
I drove the Rolls through the meadows and over the bridge.
As our headlights illumined the gateway I saw that the curtains were gone and the gates shut, but a wicket in one of the leaves was open, and a servant was standing beside it, shading his eyes. He had, of course, seen our lights from the porter's lodge, and had opened for "Captain Faning," as no doubt he had done before. As I brought the Rolls up to the wicket I saw him start. Then he opened the door for his mistress and bowed to the ground.
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