ELEVENTH CHAPTER
MORE ABOUT THE SPARROW
A month of weary anxiety and nervous tension had gone by.
Yvonne Ferad had slowly struggled back to health, but the injury to thebrain had, alas! seriously upset the balance of her mind. Three ofthe greatest French specialists upon mental diseases had seen her andexpressed little hope of her ever regaining her reason.
It was a sad affair which the police of Monaco had, by dint of muchbribery and the telling of many untruths, successfully kept out of thenewspapers.
The evening after Hugh's disappearance, Monsieur Ogier had called uponDorise Ranscomb--her mother happily being away at the Rooms at the time.In one of the sitting-rooms of the hotel the official of police closelyquestioned the girl, but she, of course made pretense of completeignorance. Naturally Ogier was annoyed at being unable to obtain theslightest information, and after being very rude, he told the girl thecharge against her lover and then left the hotel in undisguised anger.
Lady Ranscomb was very much mystified at Hugh's disappearance, thoughsecretly she was very glad. She questioned Brock, but he, on his part,expressed himself very much puzzled. A week later, however, Walterreturned to London, and on the following night Lady Ranscomb and herdaughter took the train-de-luxe for Boulogne, and duly arrived home.
As day followed day, Dorise grew more mystified and still more anxiousconcerning Hugh. What was the truth? She had written to Brussels threetimes, but her letters had elicited no response. He might be alreadyunder arrest, for aught she knew. Besides, she could not rid herself ofthe recollection of the white cavalier, that mysterious masker who hadtold her of her lover's escape.
In this state of keen anxiety and overstrung nerves she was compelledto meet almost daily, and be civil to, her mother's friend, the odiousGeorge Sherrard.
Lady Ranscomb was for ever singing the man's praises, and never weary ofexpressing her surprise at Hugh's unforgivable behaviour.
"He simply disappeared, and nobody has heard a word of him since!" sheremarked one day as they sat at breakfast. "I'm quite certain he's donesomething wrong. I've never liked him, Dorise."
"You don't like him, mother, because he hasn't money," remarked the girlbitterly. "If he were rich and entertained you, you would call him adelightful man!"
"Dorise! What are you saying? What's the good of life without money?"queried the widow of the great contractor.
"Everyone can't be rich," the girl averred simply. "I think it'spositively hateful to judge people by their pockets."
"Well, has Hugh written to you?" snapped her mother.
Dorise replied in the negative, stifling a sigh.
"And he isn't likely to. He's probably hiding somewhere. I wonder whathe's done?"
"Nothing. I'm sure of that!"
"Well, I'm not so sure," was her mother's response. "I was chattingabout it to Mr. Sherrard last night, and he's promised to make inquiry."
"Let Mr. Sherrard inquire as much as he likes," cried the girl angrily."He'll find nothing against Hugh, except that he's poor."
"H'm! And he's been far too much in your company of late, Dorise. Peoplewere beginning to talk at Monte Carlo."
"Oh! Let them talk, mother! I don't care a scrap. I'm my own mistress!"
"Yes, but I tell you frankly that I'm very glad that we've seen the lastof the fellow."
"Mother! You are really horrid!" cried the girl, rising abruptly andleaving the table. When out of the room she burst into tears.
Poor girl, her heart was indeed full.
Now it happened that early on that same morning Hugh Henfrey steppedfrom a train which had brought him from Aix-la-Chapelle to the Gare duNord, in Brussels. He had spent three weeks with the Raveccas, in Genoa,whence he had travelled to Milan and Bale, and on into Belgium by way ofGermany.
From Lisette he had failed to elicit any further facts concerning hisfather's death, though it was apparent that she knew something aboutit--something she dared not tell.
On the day following their midnight stroll, he had done all in his powerto induce her to reveal something at least of the affair, but, alas! tono avail. Then, two days later, she had suddenly left--at orders of TheSparrow, she said.
Before Hugh left Ravecca had given him eighty pounds in English notes,saying that he acted at Il Passero's orders, for Hugh would no doubtneed the money, and it would be most dangerous for him to write to hisbankers.
At first Henfrey protested, but, as his funds were nearly exhausted, hehad accepted the money.
As he left the station in Brussels on that bright spring morning andcrossed the busy Place, he was wondering to what hotel he should go. Hehad left his scanty luggage in the _consigne_, intending to go out onfoot and search for some cheap and obscure hotel, there being many suchin the vicinity of the station. After half an hour he chose a smalland apparently clean little place in a narrow street off the Place deBrouckere, and there, later on, he carried his handbag. Then, after awash, he set out for the Central Post Office in the Place de la Monnaie.
He had not gone far along the busy boulevard when he was startled tohear his name uttered from behind, and, turning, encountered a short,thick-set little man wearing a brown overcoat.
The man, noticing the effect his words had upon him, smiledreassuringly, and said in broken English: "It is all right! I am nota police officer, Monsieur Henfrey. Cross the road and walk down thatstreet yonder. I will follow in a few moments."
And then the man walked on, leaving Hugh alone.
Much surprised, Hugh did as he was bid, and a few minutes later theBelgian met him again.
"It is very dangerous for us to be seen together," he said quickly,scarcely pausing as he walked. "Do not go near the Post Office, but gostraight to 14 Rue Beyaert, first floor. I shall be there awaiting you.I have a message for you from a friend. You will find the street closeto the Porte de Hal."
And the man continued on his way, leaving Hugh in wonder. He had been onthe point of turning from the boulevard into the Place de la Monnaie toobtain Dorise's long looked for letter. Indeed, he had been hasteninghis footsteps full of keen apprehension when the stranger had accostedhim.
But in accordance with the man's suggestion, he turned back towards thestation, where he entered a taxi and drove across the city to the cornerof Rue Beyaert, a highly respectable thoroughfare. He experienced nodifficulty in finding the house indicated, and on ascending the stairs,found the stranger awaiting him.
"Ah!" he cried. "Come in! I am glad that I discovered you! I have beenawaiting your arrival from Italy for the past fortnight. It is indeedfortunate that I found you in time to warn you not to go to the PosteRestante." He spoke in French, and had shown his visitor into a smallbut well furnished room.
"Why?" asked Hugh. "Is there danger in that quarter?"
"Yes, Monsieur Henfrey. The French police have, by some unknown means,discovered that you were coming here, and a strict watch is being keptfor anyone calling for letters addressed to Godfrey Brown."
"But how could they know?" asked Hugh.
"Ah! That is the mystery! Perhaps your lady friend has been indiscreet.She was told in strict confidence, and was warned that your safety wasin her hands."
"Surely, Dorise would be most careful not to betray me!" cried the youngEnglishman.
"Well, somebody undoubtedly has."
"I presume you are one of Il Passero's friends?" Hugh said with a smile.
"Yes. Hence I am your friend," was the reply.
"Have you heard of late how Mademoiselle Yvonne is progressing?"
The man, who told his visitor his name was Jules Vervoort, shook hishead.
"She is no better. I heard last week that the doctors have said that shewill never recover her mental balance."
"What! Is she demented?"
"Yes. The report I had was that she recognized nobody, except atintervals she knows her Italian manservant and calls him by name. I wasordered to tell you this."
"Ordered by Il Passero--eh?"
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The man Vervoort nodded in the affirmative. Then he went on to warnhis visitor that the Brussels police were on the eager watch for hisarrival. "It is fortunate that you were not recognized when you camethis morning," he said. "I had secret warning and was at the station,but I dared not approach you. You passed under the very nose of twodetectives, but luckily for you, their attention had been diverted to awoman who is a well-known pickpocket. I followed you to your hotel andthen waited for you to go to the Poste Restante."
"But I want my letters," said Hugh.
"Naturally, but it is far too dangerous to go near there. You, ofcourse, want news of your lady friend. That you will have by specialmessenger very soon. Therefore remain patient."
"Why are all these precautions being taken to prevent my arrest?" Hughasked. "I confess I don't understand it."
"Neither do I. But when Il Passero commands we all obey."
"You are, I presume, his agent in Brussels?"
"His friend--not his agent," Vervoort replied with a smile.
"Do you know Mademoiselle Lisette?" Hugh asked. "She was with me inGenoa."
"Yes. We have met. A very clever little person. Il Passero thinks veryhighly of her. She has been educated in the higher schools, and isperhaps one of our cleverest decoys."
Hugh Henfrey paused.
"Now look here, Monsieur Vervoort," he exclaimed at last, "I'm verymuch in the dark about all this curious business. Lisette knows a lotconcerning Mademoiselle Yvonne."
"Admitted. She acted once as her maid, I believe, in some big affair.But I don't know much about it."
"Well, you know what happened at the Villa Amette that night? Have youany idea of the identity of the person who shot poor Mademoiselle--thelady they call Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo?"
"Not in the least," was the reply. "All I know is that Il Passero hassome very keen and personal interest in the affair. He has sent furtherorders to you. It is imperative, he says, that you should get away fromBrussels. The police are too keen here."
"Where shall I go?"
"I suggest that you go at once to Malines. Go to Madame Maupoil, 208 Ruede Stassart, opposite the Military Hospital. It is far too dangerousfor you to remain here in Brussels. I have already written that youare coming. Her house is one of the sanctuaries of the friends of IlPassero. Remember the name and address."
"The Sparrow seems to be ubiquitous," Hugh remarked.
"He is. No really great robbery can be accomplished unless he plans andfinances it."
"I cannot think why he takes so keen an interest in me."
"He often does in persons who are quite ignorant of his existence."
"That is my own case. I never heard of him until I was in Genoa, afugitive," said Hugh. "But you told me I shall receive a message fromMiss Ranscomb by special messenger. When?"
"When you are in Malines."
"But all this is very strange. Will the mysterious messenger call uponMiss Ranscomb in London?"
"Of course. Il Passero has several messengers who travel to and fro insecret. Mademoiselle Lisette was once one of them. She has travelledmany times the length and breadth of Europe. But nowadays she is anindicator--and a very clever one indeed," he added with a laugh.
"I suppose I had better get away to Malines without delay?" Hughremarked.
"Yes. Go to your hotel, pay them for your room and get your valise. Ishall be waiting for you at noon in a car in the Rue Gretry, close tothe Palais d'Ete. Then we can slip away to Malines. Have you sufficientmoney? If not, I can give you some. Il Passero has ordered me to do so."
"Thanks," replied Hugh. "I have enough for the present. My only desireis to be back again in London."
"Ah! I am afraid that is not possible for some time to come."
"But I shall hear from Miss Ranscomb?"
"Oh, yes. The messenger will come to you in Malines."
"Who is the messenger?"
"Of that I have no knowledge," was Vervoort's reply. He seemed a veryrefined man, and was no doubt an extremely clever crook. He said littleof himself, but sufficient to cause Hugh to realize that his was one ofthe master minds of underground Europe.
The young Englishman was naturally eager to further penetrate the veilof mystery surrounding Mademoiselle Yvonne, but he learned little ornothing. Vervoort either knew nothing, or else refused to disclose whathe knew. Which, Hugh could not exactly decide.
Therefore, in accordance with the Belgian's instructions, he left thehouse and at noon carried his valise to the Rue Gretry, where he foundhis friend awaiting him in a closed car, which quickly moved off outof the city by the Laeken road. Travelling by way of Vilvorde theywere within an hour in old-world Malines, famous for its magnificentcathedral and its musical carillon. Crossing the Louvain Canal andentering by the Porte de Bruxelles, they were soon in an inartisticcobbled street under the shadow of St. Rombold, and a few minutes laterHugh was introduced to a short, stout Belgian woman, Madame Maupoil. Theplace was meagrely furnished, but scrupulously clean. The floor of theroom to which Hugh was shown shone with beeswax, and the walls werewhitewashed.
"I hope monsieur will make himself quite comfortable," madame said, abroad smile of welcome upon her round face.
"You will be comfortable enough under madame's care," Vervoort assuredhim. "She has had some well-known guests before now."
"True, monsieur. More than one of them have been world-famousand--well--believed to be perfectly honest and upright."
"Yes," laughed Vervoort. "Do you remember the English ex-member ofParliament?"
"Ah! He was with me nearly four months when supposed to be in SouthAmerica. There was a warrant out for him on account of some greatfinancial frauds--all of which was, of course, hushed up. But he stayedhere in strict concealment and his friends managed to get the warrantwithdrawn. He was known to Il Passero, and the latter aided him--inreturn for certain facilities regarding the English police."
"What do you think of the English police, madame?" Hugh asked. The fatwoman grinned expressively and shrugged her broad shoulders.
"Since the war they have been effete as regards serious crime. At least,that is what Il Passero told me when he was here a month ago."
"Someone is coming here to meet Monsieur Henfrey," Vervoort said. "Whois it?"
"I don't know. I only received word of it the day before yesterday. Amessenger from London, I believe."
"Well, each day I become more and more mystified," Hugh declared. "WhyIl Passero, whom I do not know, should take all this interest in me, Icannot imagine."
"Il Passero very often assists those against whom a false charge islaid," the woman remarked. "There is no better friend when one is introuble, for so clever and ubiquitous is he, and so many friends in highquarters does he possess, that he can usually work his will. His is themaster-mind, and we obey without question."