CHAPTER XXIX
LASSEN'S TREACHERY DISCOVERED
About twenty minutes past six on the same evening, Bellamy, hisclothes thick with dust, his face dark with anger, jumped lightlyfrom a sixty horse-power car and rang the bell of the lift at number15, Dover Street. Arrived on the first floor, he was confrontedalmost immediately by the sad-faced man-servant of MademoiselleIdiale.
"Mademoiselle is in?" Bellamy asked quickly.
The man's expression was one of sombre regret.
"Mademoiselle is spending the day in the country, sir. Bellamytook him by the shoulders and flung him against the wall.
"Thank you," he said, "I've heard that before."
He walked down the passage and knocked softly at the door of Louise'ssleeping apartment. There was no answer. He knocked again andlistened at the key-hole. There was some movement inside but noone spoke.
"Louise," he cried softly, "let me in. It is I--David."
Again the only reply was the strangest of sounds. Almost it seemedas though a woman were trying to speak with a hand over her mouth.Then Bellamy suddenly stiffened into rigid attention. There werevoices in the small reception room,--the voice of Henri, the butler,and another. Reluctantly he turned away from the closed door andwalked swiftly down the passage. He entered the reception room andlooked around him in amazement. It was still in disorder. Lassensat in an easy-chair with a tumbler of brandy by his side. Henriwas tying a bandage around his head, his collar was torn, therewere marks of blood about his shirt. Bellamy's eyes sparkled. Heclosed the door behind him.
"Come," he exclaimed, "after all, I fancy that my arrival issomewhat opportune!"
Henri turned towards him with a reproachful gesture.
"Monsieur Lassen has been unwell, Monsieur," he said. "He has hada fit and fallen down."
Bellamy laughed contemptuously.
"I think I can reconstruct the scene a little better than that," hedeclared. "What do you say, Mr. Lassen?"
The man glared at him viciously.
"I do not know what you are talking about," he said. "I do notwish to speak to you. I am ill. You had better go and persuadeMademoiselle to return. She is at Dover, waiting."
"You are a liar!" Bellamy answered. "She is in her room now,locked up--guarded, perhaps, by one of your creatures. I have beenhalf-way to Dover, but I tumbled to your scheme in time, Mr. Lassen.You found our friend Laverick a trifle awkward, I fancy."
Lassen swore through his teeth but said nothing.
"From your somewhat dishevelled appearance," Bellamy continued, "Ithink I may conclude that you were not able to come to any amicablearrangement with Mademoiselle's visitor. He declined to accept youas her proxy, I imagine. Still, one must make sure."
He advanced quickly. Lassen shrank back in his chair.
"What do you mean?" he asked gruffly. "Keep him away from me,Henri. Ring the bell for your other man. This fellow will do mea mischief."
"Not I," Bellamy answered scornfully. "Stay where you are, Henri.To your other accomplishments I have no doubt you include that ofvaleting. Take off his coat."
"But, Monsieur!" Henri protested.
"I'm d--d if he shall!" the man in the chair snarled.
Bellamy turned to the door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket.
"Look here," he said, "I do not for one moment believe that Laverickhanded over to you the document you were so anxious to obtain. Onthe other hand, I imagine that your somewhat battered appearance isthe result of fruitless argument on your part with a view to inducinghim to do so. Nevertheless, I can afford to run no risks. The coatfirst, please, Henri. It is necessary that I search it thoroughly."
There was a brief hesitation. Bellamy's hand went reluctantly intohis pocket.
"I hate to seem melodramatic," he declared, "and I never carryfirearms, but I have a little life-preserver here which I havelearned how to use pretty effectively. Come, you know, it isn't afair fight. You've had all you want, Lassen, and Henri there hasn'tthe muscle of a chicken."
Lassen rose, groaning, to his feet and allowed his coat to beremoved. Bellamy glanced through the pockets, holding one letterfor a moment in his hands as he glanced at the address.
"The writing of our friend Streuss," he remarked, with a smile."No, you need not fear, Lassen! I am not going to read it. Thereis plenty of proof of your treachery without this."
Lassen's face was livid and his eyes seemed like beads. Bellamyhanded back the coat.
"That's all right," he said. "Nothing there, I am glad to see--orin the waistcoat," he added, passing his hands over it. "I'lltrouble you to stand up for a moment, Mr. Lassen."
The man did as he was bid and Bellamy felt him all over. When hehad finished, he held in his hand a key.
"The key of Mademoiselle's chamber, I have no doubt," he announced,"I will leave you, then, while I see what deviltry you have beenup to."
He walked calmly to the table which stood by the window anddeliberately cut the telephone wire. With the instrument under hisarm, he left the room. Lassen blundered to his feet as though tointercept him, but Bellamy's eyes suddenly flashed red fury, andthe life-preserver of which he had spoken glittered above his head.Lassen staggered away.
"I'm a long-suffering man," Bellamy said, "and if you don't remembernow that you're the beaten dog, I may lose my temper."
He locked them in, walked down the passage and opened the door ofLouise's bedchamber with fingers that trembled a little. With asmothered oath he cut the cord from the arms of the maid and thegag from her mouth. Louise, clad in a loose afternoon gown, waslying upon the bed, as though asleep. Bellamy saw with an impulseof relief that she was breathing regularly.
"This is Lassen's work, of course!" he exclaimed. "What have theydone to her?"
The maid spoke thickly. She was very pale, and unsteady upon herfeet.
"It was something they put in her wine," she faltered. "I heard Mr.Lassen say that it would keep her quiet for three or four hours. Ithink--I think that she is waking now."
Louise opened her eyes and looked at them with amazement. Bellamysat by the side of the bed and supported her with his arm.
"It is only a skirmish, dear," he whispered, "and it is a drawnbattle, although you got the worst of it."
She put her hand to her head, struggling to remember.
"Mr. Laverick has been here?" she asked.
"He has. Your friend Lassen has been taking a hand in the game. Icame here to find you like this and Annette tied up. Henri is inwith him. What has become of your other servants I don't know."
"Henri asked for a holiday for them," she said, the color slowlyreturning to her cheeks. "I begin to understand. But tell me, whathappened when Mr. Laverick came?"
"I can only guess," Bellamy answered, "but it seems that Lassen musthave received him as though with your authority."
"And what then?" she asked quickly.
"I am almost certain," Bellamy declared, "that Laverick refused tohave anything to do with him. I received a wire from Dover to saythat you were on your way home, and asking me to meet you at theLord Warden Hotel. I borrowed Montresor's racing-car, but I senttelegrams, and I was pretty soon on my way back. When I arrivedhere, I found Lassen in your little room with a broken head.Evidently Laverick and he had a scrimmage and he got the worst ofit. I have searched him to his bones and he has no paper. Laverickbrought it here, without a doubt, and has taken it away again."
She rose to her feet.
"Go and let Lassen out," she said. "Tell him he must never comehere again. I will see him at the Opera House to-night or to-morrownight--that is, if I can get there. I do not know whether I shallfeel fit to sing."
"I shall take the liberty, also," remarked Bellamy, "of kickingHenri out."
Louise sighed.
"He was such a good servant. I think it must have cost our friendStreuss a good deal to buy Henri. You will come back to me whenyou have finished with them?"
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Bellamy made short work of his discomfited prisoners. Lassen wassurly but only eager to depart Henri was resigned but tearful.Almost as they went the other servants began to return from theirvarious missions. Bellamy went back to Louise, who was lying downagain and drinking some tea. She motioned Bellamy to come over toher side.
"Tell me," she asked, "what are you going to do now?"
"I am going to do what I ought to have done before," Bellamy answered."Laverick's connection with this affair is suspicious enough, butafter all he is a sportsman and an Englishman. I am going to tellhim what that envelope contains--tell him the truth."
"You are right!" she exclaimed. "Whatever he may have done, if youtell him the truth he will give you that document. I am sure of it.Do you know where to find him?"
"I shall go to his rooms," Bellamy declared. "I must be quick, too,for Lassen is free--they will know that he has failed."
"Come back to me, David," she begged, and he kissed her fingers andhurried out.