*CHAPTER VIII.*
*THE WEAKER VESSEL.*
Like most men of his class, Frobisher had a perfect knowledge of the artof using others. To study their weakness was always the first stage ofthe game, and therefore in an early stage of their acquaintance thelittle baronet learnt the fact that Paul Lopez was criminallyextravagant with his money. How Lopez got rid of it Frobisher neitherknew nor cared, the weakness paid him, and there was an end of it.
Therefore Frobisher paid his henchman liberally. There was no generosityabout it, nothing but policy. That was the secret of Lopez's life, andbeyond that Frobisher never attempted to penetrate. Perhaps he knewthat Lopez must not be pushed too far.
Paul Lopez had contented himself with the result of his labours for theday. He was a plain, simply-dressed man himself, and gave no suggestionof a liking for the luxuries and good things of this life. All thesame, he was seated now at a most perfectly-appointed table, clad inmost immaculate evening-dress, and looking across a table in the centreof which was a veritable bank of flowers. Two opal electric swansfloated upon what was meant to resemble a miniature lake, and these gavethe only light to the dinner-table.
The dining-room was small but exquisitely furnished, for Lopez had apretty taste that way. There were no servants in the room now, forcoffee had been served, and Lopez was leaning back with the air of onewho has dined wisely and well.
On the other side of the table a girl sat. She was slight and fair,with a pretty, petulant face, the spoilt look not in the leastdetracting from her Greuze-like beauty. Her eyes were the eyes of awoman, and her expression that of a child. Lopez called her simplyCara--not even his most intimate acquaintances knew her other name--andshe was popularly supposed to be the child of some dead and gone friend.No daughter had ever had more care and love bestowed upon her than Cara,she was the one soft spot in Lopez's life. Perhaps she cared for him ina way; perhaps she had come to regard him and all these luxuries as amatter of course; certain it was that Cara lacked nothing many timeswhen Lopez had to go without.
There was a queer, half-ashamed look on his face now, as he pulled athis cigarette. Cara had been scolding him, and he looked like adetected schoolboy.
"You have been gambling again," she said, sharply. "Why do you do it?You would be a rich man by this time if you would only let thosewretched cards alone. And you always lose. You are so headstrong andrash, you seem to lose your senses over the card-tables. And youdistinctly promised to take me to Pau this year."
Lopez admitted the fact with a sigh. Nobody else under the sun wouldhave dared to speak to him as Cara was doing at this moment. It neveroccurred to him to suggest that Cara might be doing something for aliving. He had promised her a good time at Pau, instead of which he hadbeen gambling, and had lost all his money.
"No trouble at all getting cash," he murmured.
Cara crushed a grape between her white, strong teeth. "That sounds verypretty," she said. "But I have had no money for a week, and some of thetradespeople are beginning to ask about their books. If I am to beworried I shall go away. Did you get those tickets for the operato-morrow night?"
Lopez nodded. He had not forgotten them; in fact, he never forgotanything of that kind. He looked furtively at the clock, and Carasighed.
"You are going out?" she demanded. "Which means that I am to have along, dull evening at home. I am sick of these long, dull evenings athome."
"How long since you had one?" Lopez asked, good-naturedly. "My dear,there are few girls who have as good a time as you. And business mustbe attended to. I have to go out for a little time, but I shall be backby eleven o'clock. And when I come back I'll take you to the Belgrave tosupper."
A little smile broke out on Cara's pretty, petulant face. Already shewas debating in her mind what dress she should wear. When Lopez made apromise of that kind he always fulfilled it. Cara rose, and now gaveher guardian a loving embrace. She smiled engagingly as she lighted acigarette for him.
"Then be off at once," she cried, "and then you will have no excuse forbeing late. It will save time if I meet you at the Belgrave. You areto get that little table opposite the door for 10.45. And you will waitfor me in the corridor."
Cara issued her commands in the most imperial way, and Lopez listenedmeekly. He had been used to command and make use of men all hislifetime, but he never rebelled when Cara was concerned. He passed intothe road leading to Regent's Park presently, and hailed a passing taxi.In the course of time he was set down at the corner of Greenacre Street.
A little way down that quiet, dignified thoroughfare he stopped, andtook a latchkey from his pocket. The door of the house where he pausedwas closed, a feeble light glimmered over the fan, everything lookedmost quiet and respectable and decorous.
In the hall was an umbrella-stand, two carved oak chairs and a Turkeycarpet. Beyond it was a dull baize door, and beyond that an inner hallmagnificently furnished. A gorgeous footman took Lopez's hat and coat,and he proceeded to make his way up the marble staircase. There weremore baize doors, and as Lopez paused, the murmur of voices grew louder.Lopez came at length to a magnificent double drawing-room, where theelectric lights were low and dim under crimson shades, and where a scoreor two of men were gambling. There was a roulette-table, which was wellpatronised, with tables for other games. There was no laughter orbadinage; from the players' faces the stakes were evidently high;indeed, the proprietor of the Spades' Club looked with a cold eye uponthe gambler who preferred moderate stakes. The place was comparativelynew, and as yet the police had no idea of its establishment, and only afavoured few knew where heavy play was to be found.
Lopez helped himself to an excellent cup of coffee and a liqueur, andstood smoking placidly, and waiting for a chance to join theroulette-table. Most of the men round were well known to him as greatlights in the world of fashion, who were killing an hour or so afterdinner before proceeding to one social function or another. They would,most of them, return in the small hours.
Another man was waiting, a little, lithe, active man, who suggested theEast. His dress was quite modern and Western, but his dark eyes anddusky skin told their own tale. Lopez gently touched the spectator onthe shoulder, and he turned round sharply.
"Haven't you been playing at all?" Lopez asked.
"I had my turn," the other man said. "I'm dead out of luck, Lopez. Ishall have to help myself to some of my master's jewels if this goeson."
"Only unfortunately, he of Koordstan has already anticipated you," Lopezlaughed. "You will have to think of a better plan than that, HamidKhan."
Hamid Khan smiled sourly. On the staff of the Shan and sent over on asecret, political mission, the dark-eyed man was a deadly enemy of theman he called his master. He had all the vices and extravagances of hisimperial employer, and he would have done anything for the wherewithalto carry on the campaign. Lopez and he had been more or less friendsfor many years, and many a piece of shady business had they transactedtogether.
"The Shan is hard up?" Lopez suggested.
"The Shan is at the end of his resources," Hamid Khan growled. "Ofcourse, it is always possible for him to raise money on thoseconcessions. But for the present he's what you call hard up. Still,he's not without brains, and he may be worth backing."
"If I were you I should back him for all he is worth," Lopez said, as hethoughtfully watched the rolling marble on the roulette-table. "I knowthat you are in the opposite camp, and that you have elected to throwyour lot in with what is called the progressives in Koordstan. But theman you want to make Shan is a friend of Russia, and the EnglishGovernment may not stand it. Besides, the present Shan is no fool, andI happen to know that he is well advised here. If you can, get a grip onhim."
"Oh, I've got the grip fast enough!" Hamid Khan said moodily. "PerhapsI should like to do what you suggest, but I'm too deeply plunged to theother side now. I am forcing the old man's hand now; I came over onpurpos
e. The Blue Stone----"
Lopez suppressed a little cry. He affected not to be listening.
"If you will favour me with your attention," Hamid Khan said stiffly.
"My dear fellow, I beg your pardon. But red has turned up ten times insuccession, and I was counting up the theory of chance. Do you mean tosay the Shan had sold the Blue Stone?"
It was cleverly done, and the shot was an admirable one. Hamid Khanfell into the trap at once.
"The Shan's not quite such a fool as that," he said. "If he did thatand the fact became public property he wouldn't be on the throne for aweek. But I happen to know that he hasn't got the stone at present, andI'm going to work that fact."
Lopez listened to all that Hamid had to say; indeed, he went further,and made several suggestions as if he had been advising a friend in themost disinterested manner possible. At the same time, he had learnt avaluable piece of news, and he was trying to find some way to use it tothe best advantage. There came a gap in the table presently and Lopezchanged a handful of notes into counters. These notes were all themoney in his possession, but the fact troubled Lopez not at all. Oncethe gambling fever possessed him, common sense went to the winds.
He played on for some time with varying success, everything elseforgotten. He was fairly temperate at first, but the fever began toturn in his veins, and he started gambling in earnest. Surely it wastime for black to have a turn after so marvellous a run of the red. Butaccording to scientific authorities, this is nothing to go by, and thechances are quite equal even after a record run, and the end of an hoursaw the last of Lopez's gold-lettered counters swept with a carelessmovement into the clutches of the bank, and he rose with a sigh.
The proprietor of the club, a tall man, with the bland air of a cabinetminister, came up to him and proffered his condolences. Lopez lighted acigarette with a steady hand.
"I thought you were playing very well," the proprietor said.
"Nobody plays very well at this game," Lopez said with a smile. "Thereare some of England's best intellects gathered here, well knowing thatthe odds are on the bank. And yet such is the egotism of the humannature that every individual expects that he is going to be morefortunate than his fellows, and get the best of a dead certainty. Mydear Bishop, if it came to a battle of wits between you and myself, thedisaster to you would be great. And yet we come here and you growricher and richer at our expense!"
"If a small cheque is any good?" the other insinuated.
"It would go the same way. Besides, I cannot stay to-night. I have acall elsewhere. I am taking a lady to supper at the Belgrave, whereunhappily they give no credit. In the temporary insanity of the momentI have gambled myself dry. A five-pound note----"
The note was immediately forthcoming, with an urgent request that Lopezwould take what he liked. He took a further note, and rammed itcarelessly into his pocket. Hamid Khan rose at the same time from theother side of the table, his dark eyes gleaming. He helped himselfsomewhat liberally to champagne from the side-table.
"You also, my friend," Lopez laughed. "Let us depart and consoleourselves upon the road. If you have not anything better to do walkwith me as far as the Belgrave. I can't ask you to join me, because itis my privilege to be supping with a lady there. Come along."
They passed presently into Piccadilly, and from thence by degreesthrough Grosvenor Square. A great party was going on in one of the bighouses there, and the road was blocked with smart conveyances. Thelights shined on many lovely women, and Lopez carelessly admired them.There was one lady in a car alone, a tall woman with a wonderfullyregular face and black hair glowing with diamonds.
"My word, but she is lovely!" Hamid Khan exclaimed. "Who is she? LooksEnglish, but there is a decided suggestion of the East about her."
"A wonderful woman," Lopez said. "Unless I am greatly mistaken, she isgoing to be one of the big sensations of the world here. She is thewife of Aaron Benstein, the financier. The old chap is in his dotagenow, and, of course, she married him for his money. As a matter offact----"
Lopez broke off suddenly; he was going to say that he had known Mrs.Benstein pretty intimately at one time, but there was no reason to tellHamid that much. The block of carriages broke up at once, and thedazzling beauty with the diamonds in her hair was gone.
"I know the name of Benstein," Hamid said. "He is the old man whom theShan has had so many dealings with lately. I shouldn't wonder----"
It was the turn of Hamid to break off suddenly, and Lopez smiled. Underthe big portico of the Belgrave, the curiously-assorted couple parted.Lopez lingered a moment to finish his cigarette. In an ordinary way hewatched the well-dressed crowd flutter up the steps.
"By no means a bad night's work," he muttered. "I've picked up a pieceof priceless information, at least I hope so. Unless I am greatlymistaken my dear little Cara is going to ruffle it with the best of themat Pau yet."