CHAPTER XXII. PLOTS AND PLAYS
"Very wise of you," yawned Deede Dawson. "That's just what Ellasaid--what's that?"
For instinctively Dunn had raised his hand, but he lowered it again atonce.
"Oh, cut the cackle," he said impatiently. "Tell me what you want meto do, and make it plain, very plain, for I can tell you there's a gooddeal about all this I don't understand, and I'm not inclined to trustyou far. For one thing, what are you after yourself? Where do you comein? What are you going to get? And there's another thing I want to say.If you are thinking of playing any tricks on me don't do it, unless youare ready to take big risks. There's only one man alive who ever madea fool of me, and his name is Rupert Dunsmore, and I don't think he'stoday what insurance companies call a good risk. Not by any manner ofmeans." He paused to laugh harshly. "Let's get to business," he said."Look here, how do I know you mean all you say about Rupert Dunsmore?What's he to you?"
"Nothing," answered Deede Dawson promptly. "Nothing. But there's someone I'm acting for to whom he is a good deal."
"Who is that?" Dunn asked sharply.
"Do you think I'm going to tell you?" retorted the other, and laughedin his cold, mirthless manner. "Perhaps you aren't the only one who oweshim a grudge."
"That's likely enough, but I want to know where I'm standing," saidDunn. "Is this unknown person you say you are acting for anxious tobring about Rupert Dunsmore's death?"
"I'm not answering any questions, so you needn't ask them," repliedDeede Dawson.
"But I will tell you that there's something big going on. Or I shouldn'tbe in it, I don't use my brains on small things, you know. If it comesoff all right, I--" He paused, and for once a thrill of genuineemotion sounded in his voice. "Thousands," he said abruptly. "Yes, andmore--more. But there's an obstacle--Rupert Dunsmore. It's your placeto remove him. That'll suit you, and it'll mean good pay, as much as youlike to ask for in reason. And Ella, if you want her. The girl won'tbe any use to me when this is over, and you can have her if you like. Idon't think she'll object from what I can see--not that it would matterif she did. So there you are. Put Rupert Dunsmore out of the way andit'll be the best day's work you've ever done, and you shall have Ellainto the bargain--if you claim her. Makeweight."
He began to laugh again and Dunn laughed, too, for while he was not surewhat it was that amused Deede Dawson, there were certain aspects of allthis that bore for him a very curious and ironic humour.
"All right," he said. "You bring me face to face with Rupert Dunsmoreand you won't have to grumble about the result, for I swear only one ofus will go away alive. But how are you going to do it?"
"I've my plan, and it's simple enough," answered Deede Dawson. "ThoughI can tell you it took some working out. But the simplest problem isalways the best, whether in life or in chess." Again he indulged ina low and guarded outburst of his thin, mirthless laughter before hecontinued: "I suppose you know Rupert Dunsmore is one of those restlesspeople who are never content except when wandering about in some out ofthe way place or another, as often as not no one having the least ideaof his whereabouts. Then he turns up unexpectedly, only to disappearagain when the whim takes him. Lately he has been away on one of thesetrips, but I happen to know he is coming back almost at once--what's thematter?"
"I was only wondering how you knew that," answered Dunn, who had given asudden start.
"Oh, I know, never mind how," Deede Dawson said. "I know that tomorrowafternoon at four o'clock he will be waiting by the side of Brook BourneSpring in Ottom's Wood, near General Dunsmore's place. Which is as outof the way and quiet and lonely a spot as you could wish for."
"And you have information that he will be there?" Dunn saidincredulously. "How can you possibly be sure of that?"
"Never mind how," answered Deede Dawson. "I am sure. That's enough. Myinformation is certain."
"Oh, it is, is it?" Dunn muttered. "You are a wonderful man, Mr.Dawson. You know everything--or nearly everything. You are sure ofeverything--or nearly everything--but suppose he changes his mind at thelast moment and doesn't come after all?"
"He won't," answered Deede Dawson. "You be there and you'll find himthere all right."
"Well, perhaps," said Dunn slowly. "But what I want to know is why youare so sure? There's a good deal hangs on your being right, you know."
"I only wish I was as certain of everything else," Deede Dawson said.
"Oh, all right," exclaimed Dunn. "I suppose you know and you may beright."
"I am," Deede Dawson assured him. "Listen carefully now, there mustn'tbe any blunders. You are to make an early start tomorrow. I don't wantyou to take the car for fear of its being seen and identified. You musttake the train to London and then another train back immediately toDelsby. From Delsby you'll have an eighteen-mile walk through lonelycountry where you aren't likely to meet any one, and must try not to.The less you are seen the better. You know that for yourself, and foryour own sake you'll be careful. You'll have no time to spare, but youwill be able to get to the place I told you of by four all right--noearlier, no later. You must arrange to be there at four exactly. You mayspoil all if you are too early. Almost as soon as you get there, RupertDunsmore will arrive. You must do the rest for yourself, and then youmust strike straight across country for here. You can look up yourroutes on the map. There will be less risk of attracting attention ifyou come and go by different ways. You ought to be here again some timein the small hours. I'll let you in, and you'll have cleared your ownscore with Rupert Dunsmore and earned more money than you ever have hadin all your life before. Now, can I depend on you?"
"Yes--yes," answered Dunn, over whom there had come a new and strangesense of unreality as he stood and listened to cold-blooded murder beingthus calmly, coolly planned, as though it were some afternoon's pleasuretrip that was being arranged, so that he hardly knew whether he did, infact, hear this smooth, low, unceasing voice that from the darkness athis side laid down such a bloody road for his feet to travel.
"Oh, yes, you can depend on me," he said. "But can I depend on you, whenyou say Rupert Dunsmore will be there at that time and that place?"
It was a moment or two before Deede Dawson answered, and then his voicewas very low and soft and confident as he said:
"Yes, you can--absolutely. You see, I know his plans."
"Oh, do you?" Dunn said as though satisfied. "Oh, well then, it's nowonder you're so sure."
"No wonder at all," agreed Deede Dawson. "There's just one other thingI can tell you. Some one else will be there, too, at Brook Bourne Springin Ottam's Wood."
"Who's that?" asked Dunn sharply.
"The man," said Deede Dawson, "who is behind all this--the man you andI are working for--the man who's going to pay us, even better than hethinks."
"He--he will be there?" repeated Dunn, drawing a deep, breath.
"Yes, but you won't see him, and it wouldn't help you if you did," DeedeDawson told him. "Most likely he'll be disguised--a mask, perhaps; Idon't know. Anyhow, he'll be there. Watching. I'm not suggesting youwould do such a thing as never go near the place, loaf around a bit,then come back and report Rupert Dunsmore out of the way for good,draw your pay and vanish, and leave us to find out he was as livelyand troublesome as ever. I don't think you would do that, because yousounded as if you meant what you said when you told me he was yourworst enemy. But it's just as well to be sure, and so we mean to have awitness; and as it's what you might call a delicate matter, that witnesswill most likely be our employer himself. So you had better do the jobthoroughly if you want your pay."
"I see you take your precautions," remarked Dunn. "Well, that's allright, I don't mind."
"You understand exactly what you've got to do?" Deede Dawson asked.
Dunn nodded.
"What about Allen?" he asked. "Does he take any part in this show?"
"He and I are planning a little visit to Wreste Abbey rather early thesame night, during the dinner-hour most likely," answered Deede Dawsoncarelessly. "We ca
n get in at one of the long gallery windows quiteeasily, Allen says. He kept his eyes open that day you all went there.It may be helpful to give the police two problems to work on at once;and besides, big as this thing is, there's a shortage of ready money atpresent. But our little affair at Wreste Abbey will have nothing todo with you. You mind what you've got to do, and don't trouble aboutanything else. See?"
"I see," answered Dunn slowly. "And if you can arrange for RupertDunsmore to be there at that time all right, I'll answer for the rest."
"You needn't be uneasy about that," Deede Dawson said, and laughed."You see, I know his plans," he repeated, and laughed again; and stilllaughing that chill, mirthless way of his, he turned and walked backtowards the house.
Dunn watched him go through the darkness, and to himself he muttered:
"Yes, but I wonder if you do."