CHAPTER XVIII
A COMMON ENEMY
David idly mixed himself some whisky and soda water in the dining-room,where he finished his cigarette. He was tired and ready for bed now, sotired that he could hardly find energy enough to remove his boots and getinto the big carpet slippers that were so old and worn. He put down thedining-room lights and strolled into the study. Just for a moment he satthere contemplating with pleased, tired eyes the wilderness of bloombefore him.
Then he fell into a reverie, as he frequently did. An idea for afascinating story crept unbidden into his mind. He gazed vaguely aroundhim. Some little noise outside attracted his attention, the kind of noisemade by a sweep's brushes up a chimney. David turned idly towards theopen window. The top of it was but faintly illuminated by the light ofthe conservatory gleaming dully on the transparency over the glass. ButDavid's eyes were keen, and he could see distinctly a man's thumb crookeddownwards over the frame of the ash. Somebody had swarmed up thetelephone holdfasts and was getting in through the window. Steel slippedwell into the shadow, but not before an idea had come to him. He removedthe rolled-up Rembrandt from the table and slipped it behind a row ofbooks in the book-case. Then he looked up again at the crooked thumb.
He would recognise that thumb again anywhere. It was flat like the headof a snake, and the nail was no larger than a pea--a thumb that hadevidently been cruelly smashed at one time. The owner of the thumb mighthave been a common burglar, but in the light of recent events David wasnot inclined to think so. At any rate he felt disposed to give his theoryevery chance. He saw a long, fustian-clad arm follow the scarred thumb,and a hand grope all over the table.
"Curse me," a foggy voice whispered, hoarsely. "It ain't here. And thebloke told me--"
The voice said no more, for David grabbed at the arm and caught the wristin a vice-like grip. Instantly another arm shot over the window and anugly piece of iron piping was swung perilously near Steel's head.Unfortunately, he could see no face. As he jumped back to avoid a blowhis grasp relaxed, there was a dull thud outside, followed by the tearingscratch of boots against a wall and the hollow clatter of flying feet.All David could do was to close the window and regret that hisimpetuosity had not been more judiciously restrained.
"Now, what particular thing was he after?" he asked himself. "But I hadbetter defer any further speculations on the matter till the morning.After the fright he had my friend won't come back again. And I'm just astired as a dog."
But there were other things the next day to occupy David's attentionbesides the visit of his nocturnal friend. He had found out enough theprevious evening to encourage him to go farther. And surely Miss RuthGates could not refuse to give him further information.
He started out to call at 219, Brunswick Square, as soon as he deemed itexcusable to do so. Miss Gates was out, the solemn butler said, but shemight be found in the square gardens. David came upon her presently witha book in her lap and herself under a shady tree. She was not reading,her eyes were far away. As she gave David a warm greeting there was atender bloom on her lovely face.
"Oh, yes, I got home quite right," she said. "No suspicion was aroused atall. And you?"
"I had a night thrilling enough for yellow covers, as Artemus Ward says.I came here this morning to throw myself on your mercy, Miss Gates. WereI disposed to do so, I have information enough to force your hand. But Iprefer to hear everything from your lips."
"Did Enid tell you anything?" Ruth faltered.
"Well, she allowed me to know a great deal. In the first place, I knowthat you had a great hand in bringing me to 218 the other night. I knowthat it was you who suggested that idea, and it was you who facilitatedthe use of Mr. Gates's telephone. How the thing was stage-managed mattersvery little at present. It turns out now that your friend and Dr. Belland myself have a common enemy."
Ruth looked up swiftly. There was something like fear in her eyes.
"Have--have you discovered the name of that enemy?" she asked.
"Yes, I know now that our foe is Mr. Reginald Henson."
"A man who is highly respected. A man who stands wonderfully high inpublic estimation. There are thousands and thousands of people who lookupon him as a great and estimable creature. He gives largely incharities, he devotes a good deal of his time to the poor. My uncle, who_is_ a good man, if you like, declares that Reginald Henson is absolutelyindispensable to him. At the next election that man is certain to bereturned to Parliament to represent an important northern constituency.If you told my uncle anything about him, he would laugh at you."
"I have not the slightest intention of approaching your uncle on thismatter at present."
"Because you could prove nothing. Nobody can prove anything."
"But Christiana Henson may in time."
Once more Ruth flashed a startled look at her companion.
"So you have discovered something about that?" she whispered.
"I have discovered everything about it. Legally speaking, the young ladyis dead. She died last night, as Dr. Walker will testify. She passed awayin the formula presented by me the night that I met her in the darknessat 218, Brunswick Square. Now, will you be so good as to tell me howthose girls got hold of my synopsis?"
"That came about quite naturally. Your synopsis and proof in an openenvelope were accidentally slipped into a large circular envelope used bya firm of seed merchants and addressed to Longdean Grange, sent out nodoubt amongst thousands of others. Chris saw it, and, prompted bycuriosity, read it. Out of that our little plot was gradually evolved.You see, I was at school with those two girls, and they have few secretsfrom me. Naturally, I suggested the scheme because I see a great deal ofReginald Henson. He comes here; he also comes very frequently to ourhouse in Prince's Gate. And yet I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart,that I ever touched the thing, for your sake."
The last words were spoken with a glance that set David's pulses beating.He took Ruth's half-extended hand in his, and it was not withdrawn.
"Don't worry about me," he said. "I shall come out all right in the end.Still, I shall look eagerly forward to any assistance that you can affordme. For instance, what hold has Henson got on his relatives?"
"That I cannot tell you," Ruth cried. "You must not ask me. But we wereacting for the best; our great object was to keep you out of danger."
"There is no danger to me if I can only clear myself," Steel replied. "Ifyou could only tell me where those bank-notes came from! When I think ofthat part of the business I am filled with shame. And yet if you onlyknew how fond I am of my home.... At the same time, when I found that Iwas called upon to help ladies in distress I should have refused alloffers of reward. If I had done so I should have had no need of yourpity. And yet--and yet it is very sweet to me."
He pressed the hand in his, and the pressure was returned. David forgetall about his troubles for the time; and it was very cool and pleasantand quiet there.
"I am afraid that those notes were forced upon us," she said. "Though Ifrankly believe that the enemy does not know what we have learnt to dofrom you. And as to the cigar-case: would it not be easy to settle thatmatter by asking a few questions?"
"My dear young lady, I have done so. And the more questions I ask theworse it is for me. The cigar-case I claimed came from Walen's, beyondall question, and was purchased by the mysterious individual now in thehospital. I understood that the cigar-case was the very one I admired atLockhart's some time ago, and--"
"If you inquire at Lockhart's you will find such to be the case."
David looked up with a puzzled expression. Ruth spoke so seriously, andwith such an air of firm conviction, that he was absolutely staggered.
"So I did," he said. "And was informed in the most positive way by thejunior partner that the case I admired had been purchased by an Americancalled Smith and sent to the Metropole after he had forwardeddollar-notes for it. Surely you don't suppose that a firm like Lockhart'swould be guilty of anything--"
Ruth rose to her feet, her fac
e pale and resolute.
"This must be looked to," she said. "The cigar-case sent to you on thatparticular night was purchased at Lockhart's by myself and paid for withmy own money!"