The Secret of Chimneys Chapter 32: Part 32

governess at vast trouble and some little expense.” “Is that what you went to France for?” inquired Virginia. “Yes, I went to Dinard and had an interview with the Comtesse de Breteuil, awfully pleased with my own cleverness, and fully expecting to be told that no such person as Mademoiselle Brun had ever been heard of. Instead of which I was given to understand that the lady in question had been the mainstay of the household for the last seven years. So, unless the Comtesse is also a crook, that ingenious theory of mine falls to the ground.” Virginia shook her head. “Madame de Breteuil is quite above suspicion. I know her quite well, and I fancy I must have come across Mademoiselle at the chateau. I certainly know her face quite well—in that vague way one does know governesses and companions and people one sits opposite to in trains. It’s awful, but I never really look at them properly. Do you?” “Only if they’re exceptionally beautiful,” admitted Anthony. “Well, in this case——” she broke off. “What’s the matter?” Anthony was staring at a figure which detached itself from the clump of trees and stood there rigidly at attention. It was the Herzoslovakian, Boris. “Excuse me,” said Anthony to Virginia, “I must just speak to my dog a minute.” He went across to where Boris was standing. “What’s the matter? What do you want?” “Master,” said Boris, bowing. “Yes, that’s all very well, but you mustn’t keep following me about like this. It looks odd.” Without a word, Boris produced a soiled scrap of paper, evidently torn from a letter, and handed it to Anthony. “What’s this?” said Anthony. There was an address scrawled on the paper, nothing else. “He dropped it,” said Boris. “I bring it to the Master.” “Who dropped it?” “The foreign gentleman.” “But why bring it to me?” Boris looked at him reproachfully. “Well, anyway, go away now,” said Anthony. “I’m busy.” Boris saluted, turned sharply on his heel, and marched away. Anthony rejoined Virginia, thrusting the piece of paper into his pocket. “What did he want?” she asked curiously. “And why do you call him your dog?” “Because he acts like one,” said Anthony, answering the last question first. “He must have been a retriever in his last incarnation, I think. He’s just brought me a piece of a letter which he says the foreign gentleman dropped. I suppose he means Lemoine.” “I suppose so,” acquiesced Virginia. “He’s always following me round,” continued Anthony. “Just like a dog. Says next to nothing. Just looks at me with his big round eyes. I can’t make him out.” “Perhaps he meant Isaacstein,” suggested Virginia. “Isaacstein looks foreign enough, Heaven knows.” “Isaacstein,” muttered Anthony impatiently. “Where the devil does he come in?” “Are you ever sorry that you’ve mixed yourself up in all this?” asked Virginia suddenly. “Sorry? Good Lord, no. I love it. I’ve spent most of my life looking for trouble, you know. Perhaps, this time, I’ve got a little more than I bargained for.” “But you’re well out of the wood now,” said Virginia, a little surprised by the unusual gravity of his tone. “Not quite.” They strolled on for a minute or two in silence. “There are some people,” said Anthony, breaking the silence, “who don’t conform to the signals. An ordinary well-regulated locomotive slows down or pulls up when it sees the red light hoisted against it. Perhaps I was born colour blind. When I see the red signal—I can’t help forging ahead. And in the end, you know, that spells disaster. Bound to. And quite right really. That sort of thing is bad for traffic generally.” He still spoke very seriously. “I suppose,” said Virginia, “that you have taken a good many risks in your life?” “Pretty nearly every one there is—except marriage.” “That’s rather cynical.” “It wasn’t meant to be. Marriage, the kind of marriage I mean, would be the biggest adventure of the lot.” “I like that,” said Virginia, flushing eagerly. “There’s only one kind of woman I’d want to marry—the kind who is worlds removed from my type of life. What would we do about it? Is she to lead my life, or am I to lead hers?” “If she loved you——” “Sentimentality, Mrs. Revel. You know it is. Love isn’t a drug that you take to blind you to your surroundings—you can make it that, yes, but it’s a pity—love can be a lot more than that. What do you think the King and his beggar maid thought of married life after they’d been married a year or two? Didn’t she regret her rags and her bare feet and her care-free life? You bet she did. Would it have been any good renouncing his Crown for her sake? Not a bit of good, either. He’d have made a damned bad beggar, I’m sure. And no woman respects a man when he’s doing a thing thoroughly badly.” “Have you fallen in love with a beggar maid, Mr. Cade?” inquired Virginia softly. “It’s the other way about with me, but the principle’s the same.” “And there’s no way out?” asked Virginia. “There’s always a way out,” said Anthony gloomily. “I’ve a theory that one can always get anything one wants if one will pay the price. And do you know what the price is, nine times out of ten? Compromise. A beastly thing, compromise, but it steals upon you as you near middle age. It’s stealing upon me now. To get the woman I want I’d—I’d even take up regular work.” Virginia laughed. “I was brought up to a trade, you know,” continued Anthony. “And you abandoned it?” “Yes.” “Why?” “A matter of principle.” “Oh!” “You’re a very unusual woman,” said Anthony suddenly, turning and looking at her. “Why?” “You can refrain from asking questions.” “You mean that I haven’t asked you what your trade was?” “Just that.” Again they walked on in silence. They were nearing the house now, passing close by the scented sweetness of the rose garden. “You understand well enough, I dare say,” said Anthony, breaking the silence. “You know when a man’s in love with you. I don’t suppose you care a hang for me—or for anyone else—but, by God, I’d like to make you care.” “Do you think you could?” asked Virginia, in a low voice. “Probably not, but I’d have a damned good try.” “Are you sorry you ever met me?” she said suddenly. “Lord no. It’s the red signal again. When I first saw you—that day in Pont Street, I knew I was up against something that was going to hurt like fun. Your face did that to me—just your face. There’s magic in you from head to foot—some women are like that, but I’ve never known a woman who had so much of it as you have. You’ll marry some one respectable and prosperous, I suppose, and I shall return to my disreputable life, but I’ll kiss you once before I go—I swear I will.” “You can’t do it now,” said Virginia softly. “Superintendent Battle is watching us out of the library window.” Anthony looked at her. “You’re rather a devil, Virginia,” he said dispassionately. “But rather a dear too.” Then he waved his hand airily to Superintendent Battle. “Caught any criminals this morning, Battle?” “Not as yet, Mr. Cade.” “That sounds hopeful.” Battle, with an agility surprising in so stolid a man, vaulted out of the library window and joined them on the terrace. “I’ve got Professor Wynward down here,” he announced in a whisper. “Just this minute arrived. He’s decoding the letters now. Would you like to see him at work?” His tone suggested that of the showman speaking of some pet exhibit. Receiving a reply in the affirmative, he led them up to the window and invited them to peep inside. Seated at a table, the letters spread out in front of him and writing busily on a big sheet of paper was a small red-haired man of middle age. He grunted irritably to himself as he wrote, and every now and then rubbed his nose violently until its hue almost rivalled that of his hair. Presently he looked up. “That you, Battle? What you want me down here to unravel this tomfoolery for? A child in arms could do it. A baby of two could do it on its head. Call this thing a cipher? It leaps to the eye, man.” “I’m glad of that, Professor,” said Battle mildly. “But we’re not all so clever as you are, you know.” “It doesn’t need cleverness,” snapped the Professor. “It’s routine work. Do you want the whole bundle done? It’s a long business, you know—requires diligent application and close attention, and absolutely no intelligence. I’ve done the one dated ‘Chimneys’ which you said was important. I might as well take the rest back to London and hand ’em over to one of my assistants. I really can’t afford the time myself. I’ve come away now from a real teaser, and I want to get back to it.” His eyes glistened a little. “Very well, Professor,” assented Battle. “I’m sorry we’re such small fry. I’ll explain to Mr. Lomax. It’s just this one letter that all the hurry is about. Lord Caterham is expecting you to stay for lunch, I believe.” “Never have lunch,” said the Professor. “Bad habit, lunch. A banana and a water biscuit is all any sane and healthy man should need in the middle of the day.” He seized his overcoat, which lay across the back of a chair. Battle went round to the front of the house, and a few minutes later Anthony and Virginia heard the sound of a car driving away. Battle rejoined them, carrying in his hand the half-sheet of paper which the Professor had given him. “He’s always like that,” said Battle, referring to the departed Professor. “In the very deuce of a hurry. Clever man, though. Well, here’s the kernel of Her Majesty’s letter. Care to have a look at it?” Virginia stretched out a hand, and Anthony read it over her shoulder. It had been, he remembered, a long epistle, breathing mingled passion and despair. The genius of Professor Wynward had transformed it into an essentially business-like communication. _Operations carried out successfully, but S. double crossed us. Has removed stone from hiding-place. Not in his room. I have searched. Found following memorandum which I think refers to it_: “RICHMOND SEVEN STRAIGHT EIGHT LEFT THREE RIGHT.” “S.?” said Anthony. “Stylptitch, of course. Cunning old dog. He changed the hiding-place.” “Richmond,” said Virginia thoughtfully. “Is the diamond concealed somewhere at Richmond, I wonder?” “It’s a favourite spot for Royalties,” agreed Anthony. Battle shook his head. “I still think it’s a reference