CHAPTER XX. ELLA'S WARNING
Ella did not say anything more, and in their character of touristsvisiting the place, they were admitted to the Abbey and passed on throughits magnificent rooms, where was stored a collection rich and rare evenfor one of the stateliest homes of England.
"What a wonderful place!" Ella sighed wistfully. Yet she could not enjoythe spectacle of all these treasures as she would have done at anothertime, for she was always watching Allen, who hung about a good deal, andseemed to look more at the locks of the cases that held some of themore valuable of the objects shown than at the things themselves,and generally spent fully half the time in each room at the window,admiring the view, he said; but for quite another reason, Ellasuspected.
"I shall speak when I get back," she said to herself, pale andresolute. "I don't care what happens; I don't care if I have to tellmother--perhaps she knows already. Anyhow, I shall speak."
Having come to this determination, she grew cheerful and more interestedapparently in what they were seeing, as well as less watchful of hercompanion. When, presently, they left the house to go into the gardens,it happened that they noticed an old gentleman walking at a littledistance behind a gate marked "Private," and leaning on the arm of atall, thin, clean-shaven man of middle-age.
"Lord Chobham, the old gentleman," whispered a tourist, who was standingnear. "I saw him once in the House of Lords. That's his secretary withhim, Mr. Dunsmore, one of the family; he manages everything now the oldgentleman is getting so feeble."
Ella walked on frowning and a little worried, for she thought she hadseen the secretary before and yet could not remember where. Soon shenoticed Dunn, who had apparently been obeying Deede Dawson's orders tolook round outside and get to know the lie of the land.
He seemed at present to be a good deal interested in Lord Chobham andhis companion, for he went and leaned on the gate and stared at them sorudely that one or two of the other tourists noticed it and frowned athim. But he took no notice, and presently, as if not seeing that thegate was marked "Private," he pushed it open and walked through.
Noticing the impertinent intrusion almost at once, Mr. Dunsmore turnedround and called "This is private."
Dunn did not seem to hear, and Mr. Dunsmore walked across to him witha very impatient air, while the little group of tourists watched,with much interest and indignation and a very comforting sense ofsuperiority.
"He ought to be sent right out of the grounds," they told each other."That's the sort of rude behaviour other people have to suffer for."
"Now, my man," said Mr. Dunsmore sharply, "this is private, you've nobusiness here."
"Sorry, sir; beg pardon, I'm sure," said Dunn, touching his hat, and ashe did so he said in a sharp, penetrating whisper: "Look out--trouble'sbrewing--don't know what, but look out, all the time."
He had spoken so quickly and quietly, in the very act of turning away,that none of the onlookers could have told that a word had passed,but for the very violent start that Walter Dunsmore made and his quickmovement forward as if to follow the other. Immediately Dunn turned backtowards him with a swift warning gesture of his hand.
"Careful, you fool, they're looking," he said in a quick whisper, andin a loud voice: "Very sorry, sir; beg pardon--I'm sure I didn't meananything."
Walter Dunsmore swung round upon his heel and went quickly back to whereLord Chobham waited; and his face was like that of one who has gazedinto the very eyes of death.
"Lord in Heaven," he muttered, "it's all over, I'm done." And his handfelt for a little metal box he carried in his waistcoat pocket andthat held half a dozen small round tablets, each of them a strong man'sdeath.
But he took his hand away again as he rejoined his cousin, patron, andemployer, old Lord Chobham.
"What's the matter, Walter?" Lord Chobham asked. "You look pale."
"The fellow was a bit impudent; he made me angry," said Waltercarelessly. He fingered the little box in his waistcoat pocket andthought how one tablet on his tongue would always end it all. "By theway, oughtn't Rupert to be back soon?" he asked.
"Yes, he ought," said Lord Chobham severely. "It's time he married andsettled down--I shall speak to his father about it. The boy is alwaysrushing off somewhere or another when he ought to be getting to know theestate and the tenants."
Walter Dunsmore laughed.
"I think he knows them both fairly well already," he said. "Not a tenanton the place but swears by Rupert. He's a fine fellow, uncle."
"Oh, you always stick up for him; you and he were always friends,"answered Lord Chobham in a grumbling tone, but really very pleased. "Iknow I'm never allowed to say a word about Rupert."
"Well, he's a fine fellow and a good friend," said Walter, and the twodisappeared into the house by a small side-door as Dunn pushed his waythrough the group of tourists who looked at him with marked and severedisapproval.
"Disgraceful," one of them said quite loudly, and another added: "Ibelieve he said something impudent to that gentleman. I saw him go quitewhite, and look as if he were in two minds about ordering the fellowright out of the grounds." And a third expressed the general opinionthat the culprit looked a real ruffian with all that hair on his face."Might be a gorilla," said the third tourist. "And look what a clumsysort of walk he has; perhaps he's been drinking."
But Dunn was quite indifferent to, and indeed unaware of this popularcondemnation as he made his way back to the hotel garage where he hadleft their car. He seemed rather well pleased than otherwise as hewalked on.
"Quite a stroke of luck for once," he mused, and he smiled to himself,and stroked the thick growth of his untidy beard. "It's been worthwhile, for he didn't recognize me in the least, and had quite a shock,but, all the same, I shan't be sorry to shave and see my own faceagain."
He had the car out and ready when Ella and Allen came back. Allen atonce made an excuse to leave them, and went into the hotel bar to geta drink of whisky, and when they were alone, Ella, who was looking verytroubled and thoughtful, said to Dunn,
"We saw Lord Chobham in the garden with a gentleman some one told us wasa relative of his, a Mr. Walter Dunsmore. Did you see them?"
"Yes," answered Dunn, a little surprised, and giving her a quick andsearching look from his bright, keen eyes. "I saw them. Why--"
"I think I've seen the one they said was Mr. Walter Dunsmore before,and I can't think where," she answered, puckering her brows. "I can'tthink--do you know anything about him?"
"I know he is Mr. Walter Dunsmore," answered Dunn slowly, "and I knowhe is one of the family, and a great friend of Rupert Dunsmore's. RupertDunsmore is Lord Chobham's nephew, you know, and heir, after his father,to the title and estates. His father, General Dunsmore, brought him andWalter up together like brothers, but recently Walter has lived at theAbbey as Lord Chobham's secretary and companion. The general likesto live abroad a good deal, and his son Rupert is always away on somesporting or exploring expedition or another."
"It's very strange," Ella said again. "I'm sure I've seen WalterDunsmore before but I can't think where."
Allen came from the bar, having quenched his thirst for the time being,and they started off, arriving back at Bittermeads fairly early in theevening, for Dunn had brought them along at a good rate, and apparentlyremembered the road so well from the afternoon that he never once hadoccasion to refer to the map.
He took the car round to the garage, and Allen and Ella went into thehouse, where Allen made his way at once to the breakfast-room, searchingfor more whisky and cigars, while Ella, after a quick word with hermother to assure her of their safe return, went to find Deede Dawson.
"Ah, dear child, you are back then," he greeted her. "Well, how have youenjoyed yourself? Had a pleasant time?"
"It was not for pleasure we went there, I think," she said listlessly.
He looked up quickly, and though his perpetual smile still played asusual about his lips, his eyes were hard and daunting as they fixedthemselves on hers. Before that sinister stare h
er own eyes sank, andsought the little travelling set of chessmen and board that were beforehim.
"See," he said, "I've just brought off a mate. Neat isn't it?Checkmate."
She looked up at him, and her eyes were steadier now.
"I've only one thing to say to you," she said. "I came here to say it.If anything happens at Wreste Abbey I shall go straight to the police."
"Indeed," he said, "indeed." He fingered the chessmen as though all hisattention were engaged by them. "May I ask why?" he murmured. "For whatpurpose?"
"To tell them," she answered quietly, "what I--know."
"And what do you know?" he asked indifferently. "What do you know thatis likely to interest the police?"
"I ought to have said, perhaps," she answered after a pause, "what Isuspect."
"Ah, that's so different, isn't it?" he murmured gently. "So verydifferent. You see we all of us suspect so many things."
She did not answer, for she had said all she had to say and she wasafraid that her strength would not carry her further. She began to walkaway, but he called her back.
"Oh, how do you think your mother is today?" he asked. "Do you know,her condition seems to me quite serious at times. I wonder if you areoveranxious?"
"She is better--much better!" Ella answered, and added with a suddenburst of fiercest, white-hot passion: "But I think it would be better ifwe had both died before we met you."
She hurried away, for she was afraid of breaking down, and Deede Dawsonsmiled the more as he again turned his attention to his chessmen, takingthem up and putting them down in turn.
"She's turning nasty," he mused. "I don't think she'll dare--but shemight. She's only a pawn, but a pawn can cause a lot of troubleat times--a pawn may become a queen and give the mate. When a pawnthreatens trouble it's best to--remove it."
He went out and came back a little late and busied himself with afour-move chess problem which absorbed all his attention, and whichhe did not solve to his satisfaction till past midnight. Then he wentupstairs to bed, but at the door of his room he paused and went on verysoftly up the narrow stairs that led to the attics above.
Outside the one in which Dunn slept, he waited a little till theunbroken sound of regular breathing from within assured him that theoccupant slept.
Cautiously and carefully he crept on, and entered the one adjoining,where he turned the light of the electric flashlight he carried on alarge, empty packing-case that stood in one corner.
With a two-foot rule he took from his pocket he measured it carefullyand nodded with great satisfaction.
"A little smaller than the other," he said to himself. "But, then, ithasn't got to hold so much." He laughed in his silent, mirthless way, asat something that amused him. "A good deal less," he thought. "And Dunnshall drive."
He laughed again, and for a moment or two stood there in the darkness,laughing silently to himself, and then, speaking aloud, he called out:
"You can come in, Dunn."
Dunn, whom a creaking board had betrayed, came forward unconcernedly inhis sleeping attire.
"I saw it was you," he remarked. "At first I thought something waswrong."
"Nothing, nothing," answered Deede Dawson. "I was only looking at thispacking-case. I may have to send one away again soon, and I wanted to besure this was big enough. If I do, I shall want you to drive."
"Not Miss Cayley?" asked Dunn.
"No, no," answered Deede Dawson. "She might be with you perhaps, but shewouldn't drive. Night driving is always dangerous, I think, don't you?"
"There's things more dangerous," Dunn remarked.
"Oh, quite true," answered Deede Dawson. "Well, did you enjoy your visitto Wreste Abbey?"
"No," answered Dunn roughly. "I didn't see Rupert Dunsmore, and itwouldn't have been any good if I had with all those people about."
"You're too impatient," Deede Dawson smiled. "I'm getting everythingready; you can't properly expect to win a game in a dozen moves. Youmust develop your pieces properly and have all ready before you startyour attack. As soon as I'm ready--why, I'll act--and you'll have to dothe rest."
"I see," said Dunn thoughtfully.