*CHAPTER XIV.*
*"UNEASY LIES THE HEAD----"*
As a matter of fact, His Highness the Shan of Koordstan had not intendedto go to Lady Frobisher's dance at all, though he had been graciouslypleased to accept the invitation. His present intention was to go tobed early and be a little more careful for the future. There was ashakiness about the ruler of Koordstan that told its own tale, ashakiness that would not have conduced to his popularity with hissubjects in the Far East.
An interview with a recently-arrived minister of his had changed hisplans entirely. In place of bed he had a cold bath and a cup of strongcoffee, and sat down, as far as his aching head would allow him, toreview the situation. The final outcome was a fit of utter despair andan express letter to Harold Denvers, who fortunately was at home andready to respond to the invitation.
The Eastern potentate was smoking moodily as he arrived. Haroldsignificantly declined the offer of refreshment of a spirituousdescription.
"Meaning that I have had enough already," the Shan said moodily. "ButI'm sober as a judge now, had enough to make me. The shocking luck I'vehad lately!"
He tossed a cigarette across to Denvers, and lighted a fresh one of hisown.
"So I sent you to give me a leg up if you can. You are the only honestman of the lot. Denvers, I'm in a fine mess over the Blue Stone. If Idon't produce it at once I'm done for. It would be madness for me toshow my face at home again."
"Somebody has discovered that your Highness has parted with it?"
"That's it. Lefroy is the rogue in the play. The game is Koordstan; foryears he has been trying to get rid of me and put my cousin in my place.Even my own ministers are against me. And now I feel positive thatLefroy has given me away. They don't ask me to show the stone, oraccuse me of parting with it--they are too deep for that. A ministercomes with a lot of literature which he calls important documents ofState which require to be sealed immediately. That rascal has been inmy cousin's pay for years. And the worst of it is, the whole thing looksso natural and straightforward that I can't refuse, especially aseverything has my sanction."
"The document must be sealed with the Blue Stone?" Harold asked.
"Inevitably. It has been the custom for generations. Any deviationfrom this rule would do for me at once. Hamid Khan was here thisafternoon, and I put him off this time by saying I was ill, which was nomore than the truth. What shall I say when he comes back presently? Ifmy confounded head did not ache so, I might find some way out of thedifficulty, but as it is----"
The Shan smote his fist passionately on the table. Nothing was anygood, nothing could save the situation but the immediate production ofthe twenty thousand pounds needed to recover the jewel from Benstein.At the present moment the Shan had no resources whatever; he had alwaysmortgaged his income, and most of his personal property had beendissipated in his brilliant pursuit of pleasure.
"But that's more or less beyond the point," he groaned. "The stone mustbe redeemed at once. I could not possibly put Hamid Khan off afterto-night, even if I can manage that."
"That will give us time to think," said Harold. "Let your man know thatyou don't keep so sacred a jewel at your hotel. You have heard ofChancery Lane Safe Deposit?"
The Shan's eyes twinkled. His subtle mind rose to the suggesteddeception. For the present, at any rate, he saw his way to a pleasingsubterfuge. He was pondering over the matter when there came a timidknock at the door, and a slim brown figure came humbly in.
"Hamid Khan," the Shan explained. "Why do you worry me again to-night?Didn't I say I was too ill to be troubled with state business?"
Hamid prostrated himself at his master's feet. He was desolate andheart-broken; might any number of dogs defile his father's grave for hispresumption, but the thing had to be done.
"I haven't got the stone," the Shan said, "I haven't been well enough tofetch it myself, and I dare not trust anybody else. Dog, do you supposeI should keep the jewel here? There is a place of vaults and steelchambers and strong rooms guarded night and day by warders, where thewealthy keep their valuables. The place is called the Safe Deposit, andis hard by where the learned lawyers argue. That is where the stone is,in proof of which I show you the key."
The Shan gravely held up a latch-key. Acting though he was, there was adignity about him that quite impressed Denvers. Hamid was impressedalso, or his face belied him. He was sorry to have offended his royalmaster, but he was only obeying orders. Should he come again on themorrow?
"Ay, at midday," the Shan said loftily. "Now take your miserable bodyfrom my presence."
The Shan's dignity collapsed as the door closed behind Hamid Khan. Helooked to Harold for assistance. He had not more than fourteen hours orso--and most of them the hours of the night--to find salvation. All thetime Harold was leisurely turning over matters in his mind. If he couldmanage this thing for the Shan his future was made. He had his fingeron the centre of an international intrigue almost. The Shan had alwaysbeen favourable to England, his tastes and inclinations, his very vices,were English, whereas the new aspect leant towards Russia. The BritishGovernment doubtless would have stood by the Shan at this juncture hadthey known.
"There's only one thing for it," Harold said after a long pause. "Wemust try and work on Benstein's cupidity. He knows you, he is wellaware that your name is good for a large sum of money, only he will haveto wait for it. And of your integrity there is no doubt."
"Your Foreign Secretary does not think so," the Shan groaned.
"I am not speaking of morals now, but stability. For the time you arehard up. If you will eschew champagne for a time, not to mention otherthings, you could make it worth Benstein's while to wait for a fewweeks. Ask him to let you have the Blue Stone for a few days, afterwhich it will be returned to him until it is properly redeemed. For thisaccommodation you are prepared to pay a further two thousand pounds."
The Shan nodded greedily. He was prepared to promise anything. Hislips were twitching with excitement. He rose and put on his coat.
"Let us go at once," he said. "But stop, do you know where Bensteinlives? And if we do find him it's long odds that stone is depositedwith his bankers."
"Benstein lives in Berkeley Square," Denvers explained. "He is growingold and senile, he has come to that cunning stage when he does not trustanybody. He keeps all his valuables in a big strong-room at his house.That I know for certain. He is sure to be at home."
"Then we'll go at once. It's a forlorn hope, but still--come along."Denvers checked his impulsive companion. Common prudence must not beforgotten.
"Your Highness forgets that you are certain to be watched," he said."Your friend Hamid or some of his spies are sure to be pretty close.I'll go away from the hotel and wait for you in Piccadilly. Then yousteal out by the side door and meet me."
The Shan nodded approval. His head was too bad for him to think forhimself. Harold stood on the steps of Gardner's Hotel, and hailed thefirst taxi that passed. The cabman was to drive to Piccadilly and therewait.
Progress in Piccadilly was slow in consequence of the block of carriagesbefore Frobisher's house. The guests were arriving in a steady stream,and Denvers amused himself by identifying most of them. One of the lastcomers was Lord Rashburn, Foreign Secretary, and his wife. Haroldsmiled to himself as he wondered what his lordship would give for hisown private information. It might be necessary to appeal to Rashburnpresently, and it was a good thing to know where to find him. Only itwould be useless for Denvers to try and obtain admission to Frobisher'shouse.
The Shan came up presently, and Berkeley Square was reached at length.Benstein was at home, and the footman had no doubt that he would see hisvisitors, late as it was. Many a bit of business with people who neededmoney in a desperate hurry had Benstein done between the dinner-hour andmidnight. He was seated in his library now with a fat cigarette betweenhis teeth and poring over a mass of accounts. To reckon up his mo
neyand to gloat over his many securities was the one pleasure of Benstein'slife.
"Glad to see you, gentlemen--glad to see you," he said, rubbing hispuffy hands together. "If there is anything that I can do for yourHighness, it will be a pleasure."
"His Highness wants to put two thousand pounds into your pocket,"Denvers said. "It is the matter of the Blue Stone of----"
A queer sound came from Benstein's lips, and his mottled face turned aspale as it was possible.
"You don't mean to say that you want the stone to-night?" he gasped.
"Why else are we here?" Harold demanded. The air was full of suspicionand he had caught some of it. "It is absolutely necessary that weshould have it back, for a time at least. It was distinctly understood,I think, that the stone was to be returned at any hour of the day ornight that we required it?"
Benstein's big head swayed backwards and forwards pendulously, his thicklips were wide apart, and showing the gaps in the yellow teeth beyond.Harold's suspicions became a certainty. Benstein had parted with thestone.
"Do you want it now?" Benstein said, as if the words had been draggedfrom him.
Harold intimated that he did want the stone immediately. SlowlyBenstein was recovering. The rich red blood was creeping into his faceagain.
"It is impossible," he said. "Usually I keep most of my valuables here.But I recognised the political as well as the pecuniary value of theBlue Stone, and I did not dare. The stone is at the Bank of England,and I cannot get it before ten to-morrow. It is very unfortunate."
"Very," Harold said dryly. "But we must make the best of it. I have apretty shrewd idea where the stone is, but my guess would not have beenthe Bank of England. We don't propose to redeem the gem; we suggestthat you should let the Shan have it for two or three days on theunderstanding that when the business is completed your charge isincreased by the sum of two thousand pounds."
"But this is not business," Benstein pleaded. "Under the peculiarcircumstances----"
"Precisely," Harold interrupted dryly. "Under the peculiarcircumstances you are going to accommodate us. Mr. Benstein, I fancythat you and I understand one another."
Benstein's eyes dropped, and the fat cigarette between his fingerstrembled. He muttered the talisman word "business" again; but he wasunderstood to agree to the terms offered. He was shakily eager to offerhis distinguished guests refreshments of some kind, but Denvers draggedthe Shan away. Once in the street, the latter stopped and demanded toknow what the pantomime meant.
"It's pretty plain," Harold said. "Old Benstein hasn't got your jewelat this moment."
"Hasn't got it? Do you mean to say that he...? Preposterous! But inthe morning----"
"In the morning it will be all right again. In the morning you will seequite another Benstein--a Benstein who has changed his mind, and willrefuse to part with the Blue Stone so long as a single penny remainsunpaid. I startled him to-night. I got astride of that figment of aconscience of his. But I am going to help you to clench the business.Come along."
"Where are you going to?" the Shan asked feebly.
"Back to your hotel. You are going to dress up in your State war-paintand proceed at once to Lady Frobisher's dress-ball. I suppose you'veany amount of dresses and that kind of thing--I mean you could rig out astaff, if necessary?"
"I've got all the mummery for going to Court, if that is what you mean."
"Good," Harold cried. "I'll just step into this chemist's and get a fewpigments necessary to the successful performance of my little comedy.You are going to the dance as the Shan of Koordstan, and I am goingcarefully disguised as Aben Abdullah, your suite."