CHAPTER IX--_The Strategy of the General_
Some five hours later General Sadgrove, at his house in GrosvenorGardens, was taking his morning tub, when a servant tapped at the doorof the bathroom and informed him that Mr. Alec Forsyth wanted to see himvery urgently. The General as speedily as possible donned hisdressing-gown and descended to his sanctum. His keen eyes just glancedat the troubled face of the young man standing on the hearth-rug; then,in his laconic way, he asked:
"What's wrong, laddie? Your chum Beaumanoir been in the wars?"
Forsyth favored him with a startled stare, and then broke into an uneasylaugh.
"You seem to have been exercising your faculty of second-sight already,Uncle Jem," he said.
"The man was being _stalked_," said the General. "Has anyone caughthim?"
"Very nearly," replied Forsyth; and he proceeded to narrate the eventsof the night, and also what Beaumanoir had told him of the previousattempts on his life. At mention of the Duke's absolute refusal todisclose the cause of the vendetta and to invoke the protection of thepolice, General Sadgrove drew a long breath. On hearing that he had inthe small hours of that morning, thanks to the vigilance of SybilHanbury, held one of his would-be assassins at his mercy, but hadquietly escorted him to the door and let him go, the whilom hunter ofDacoits uttered inarticulate grunts.
"And now, Uncle Jem, I have come to you for help," Forsyth proceededearnestly. "I have persuaded the Duke to permit me to tell you instrictest confidence as much as he has told me, and I think if you canmake any suggestions for baffling these unknown malefactors that he willadopt them--always provided your advice does not entail going to thepolice. He has given me his word of honor to remain at Beaumanoir Houseuntil I return; but the odds are they'll have another shy at himdirectly he pokes his nose outside."
The General had been absently toying with a tray of Indian curios, buthe now looked sharply up at his nephew.
"You are not exactly blind, Alec, and can read between the lines," hesaid. "Reluctance on the part of a man threatened with murder tocommunicate with the authorities must mean that he has got an ugly sortof secret himself."
"You know his record, sir. Charles Hanbury was never anyone's enemy buthis own, and I expect the Duke of Beaumanoir is much the same," repliedForsyth with a warmth which left the General quite unmoved. The oldwarrior reverted to his curios and spent a couple of minutes inbalancing an Afghan dagger on his finger, till, apparently inspired bythe performance, he laid the venomous blade aside.
"I agree with you in one aspect of the case," he said. "An insurancecompany, knowing what we know, would be ill-advised to take a risk onhis Grace's life. The chances are in favor of his being a dead manwithin twenty-four hours of his quitting his present shelter. I presumethat precautions have been taken against any more bogus detectives, orbogus anything else, gaining access to him during your absence?"
Forsyth replied that the Duke had promised to remain in his own roomtill he returned, and that the butler had been instructed to admit noone into the house on any pretence whatever. Moreover, he added, with aproud note in his voice, Sybil was co-operating, and was thoroughlyalive to the emergency.
"Then," said the General, briskly, "I will finish dressing, and when wehave had a mouthful of breakfast I will go back with you to BeaumanoirHouse. We must get your Duke into the interior of a safer zariba than aPiccadilly mansion before we can open parallel trenches against such apersistent enemy."
General Sadgrove and Alec breakfasted alone together, the former,indeed, hurrying the meal purposely so as to get away before the ladiesappeared. He had seen enough the previous day, when the Duke was callingon the Shermans, to make him shy of explaining to his guests that he wasbound for Beaumanoir House at nine o'clock in the morning, both Mrs.Sherman and Leonie being aware that his acquaintance with the Duke onlydated from yesterday. He shrewdly suspected that the young people whohad been fellow-passengers on the _St. Paul_ took more than a platonicinterest in each other, and he did not want to stimulate that interestinto anxiety until he was better informed.
He pursued the subject apologetically as soon as he was in the cab withhis nephew.
"Sorry I made you bolt your food," he said. "I hate lying to women if itcan be avoided. The Shermans, who are staying with me, knowBeaumanoir--traveled in the same ship with him. It would have excitedremark to mention our destination."
Forsyth, who had experience of his uncle's methods, perceived that hewas being pumped, and he had no objection. Having summoned this wilyman-hunter to his assistance, he was not foolish enough to expectresults without full disclosure.
"I understand your reluctance to disturb the Shermans," he replied."Beaumanoir has spoken several times about them--in fact, he seemedrather unduly excited when he first heard from me that they were at yourhouse. I have thought that he might be _epris_ of Leonie, though, as Ihave not seen them together, I can form no opinion whether theattraction is mutual."
The General, having acquired his information, relapsed into silence,which was only broken by Forsyth as the cab turned into Piccadilly. Theshort drive was nearly over, but before the cab stopped he contrived todescribe briefly his chance meeting with the Duke, on the day of thelatter's arrival in England, at the Hotel Cecil, and with an effort ofmemory he recalled the name of the man--Clinton Ziegler--whom the Dukehad been to see.
"I dare say it's not important, but it just occurred to me that I hadbetter mention it while there was an opportunity," he concluded,stealing a sidelong glance at his uncle's face, which, as usual, wasillegible. But a movement of the General's well-gloved right hand in thedirection of his left shirt-cuff, coupled with the gleam of a goldpencil-case, suggested that the name of Mr. Clinton Ziegler had beendeemed worthy of record.
They were admitted to the ducal residence by Prince, whose dignitybarely enabled him to stifle the inward curiosity with which he wasdevoured. In common with the other servants, he had not been told of themidnight alarm, and his orders to put the house practically into a stateof siege had naturally mystified him. The damage to the bedroom door wasnot visible except under close examination, and Sybil having swept upthe sawdust, none of the household had yet discovered it.
"No one has called, sir, except one or two of the usuals to thetradesmen's entrance, and they were kept outside," the butler remarkedas he relieved the two gentlemen of their hats and canes.
At Forsyth's request they were shown into the smoking-room--a cozy den,with only one window overlooking Piccadilly, to which the Generalimmediately walked. His gaze roved over the crowded thoroughfare,comprehending pedestrians and passing vehicles in one swift scrutiny,and, apparently satisfied, he turned away just as Sybil entered, lookingas fresh and sprightly as though she had slept the clock round. TheGeneral greeted her in the curt manner he affected to all womenimpartially, but an extra pressure of her hand may have had reference toher vigilant gallantry.
"His Grace is sulking," she said, with a smile. "At least, he refuses toleave his room until he has seen you, General Sadgrove. I tapped at hisdoor and told him you were here, but he said that if you want to see himyou had better go upstairs. Very rude of him, isn't it?"
"Very sensible," replied the General. "I would prefer to see him alone,if you will be so good as to escort me, Miss Hanbury. Alec," he added,"while I am gone just sit on this ottoman behind the window-curtain andkeep your eye on that apple-woman under the railings of the Green Park.When I come back, be prepared to tell me exactly what she has done andhow many customers she has had."
Forsyth nodded, and the General went away with Sybil, who conducted himup the grand staircase and left him at the door of the Duke's room. Itwas characteristic of the man that, having heard all there was to hearof her proceedings from his nephew, he forbore to waste words on whathad occurred, but dismissed her with an injunction.
"Now run away and help Alec, but don't let the apple-woman know thatthose sharp eyes are observing her," he said, unbending so far as togive her a playful push.
> His knock and mention of his name was followed by the sound of footstepsas the occupant of the room remembered that he had turned the key andhastened to admit the visitor. Beaumanoir was fully dressed, and hadjust finished breakfast.
"Don't think me a coward for locking the door, General," he said, as heshook hands. "This is a pretty bad gang that I am dodging."
The General's comment was to turn and re-lock the door himself, after acritical glance at the sawn panel. "I have spent my life in breaking upbad gangs," he said, when he had taken the chair indicated. "I am a bitrusty with disuse, but I should very much like to try conclusions withthis one. From what I hear, they must be worthy of anyone's steel."
Beaumanoir indulged in a careworn smile.
"Three attempts in forty-eight hours speaks to their zeal, at any rate,"he replied. "But seriously, General, you start badly handicapped," hewent on. "I don't even know that I want them broken up, as you call it,for there must be no publicity. I can give you no clues nor answer anyquestions. All I ask of your great experience is how to thwart adetermined hankering after my poor life--a hankering which may possiblycease if I survive for another week."
"You positively decline to give me any assistance?"
"Positively; the honor of my house forbids it."
The General tried to look pensive--a difficult matter to a gentleman ofiron visage and bushy eyebrows.
"I am not going to ask questions," he said almost plaintively, withoutmentioning that there were some he had no need to ask and others whichhe fully intended to answer himself. "I am here to give advice, and itis to get out of London into the open, so that your friends can lookafter you. Professors of crime find their art more difficult in thecountry, where every gossiping woman in the village street is a possiblewitness. I want your Grace to go down to Prior's Tarrant, and allow methe honor of accompanying you as a guest."
The suggestion was met by a blank negative, and caused the Duke to riseand pace the room in more agitation than he had yet shown.
"Why, the very place is hateful to me since last Sunday night," heexclaimed. "You would realize that yourself, General, if you had beenintroduced to those silent fumes stealing down the chimney. I wasthinking of going to some hotel by the sea when Forsyth and Sibylinduced me to remain here for the night, with such lively consequences.Come with me as my guest anywhere else, but not to Prior's Tarrant."
"Nevertheless, I should feel surer of your safety there than anywhere,and I do not speak without reason," replied the General, with a metallicsnap in his voice. "I should wish at least to be accorded the privilegeof finishing my proposition."
Beaumanoir promptly apologized very gracefully for his discourteousinterruption, excusing it on the score of the strain on his nerves. Hewould be delighted to listen to any proposals, but nothing would shakehis determination not to go back to Prior's Tarrant.
"My dear sir, the tangled woodland of the park there is the ideal spotfor a lurking assassin. Mediaeval architecture provided the house withnooks and corners which it would tax even your foresight to patrol," heinsisted.
"But," said the General, "there is safety in numbers; and I was going topropose--rather coolly, perhaps--that you should have a house-partythere. If I might bring Mrs. Sadgrove, and Alec and Sybil Hanbury wouldalso give us their company, it would lend color to my own presence. Thelast two-named, as you have occasion to know, form a valuablebody-guard."
The Duke stared at his visitor with something like horrified amazement.
"You forget, General, in your kind eagerness to serve me, that you haveguests staying in your own house whom you cannot desert," he said,wondering how even an old man with his years behind him could suffersuch lapse of memory when Leonie Sherman was one of the guests. He wasalmost angry that his visitor, being thus reminded, did not instantlyabase himself.
But instead of shame General Sadgrove had only justification tooffer--not profuse, because that was not his way--but complete.
"I had not forgotten the Shermans," he replied, in a tone of oddlycontrasted reproof and apology. "I had it in my mind that if youentertained my view you would stretch a point, and make matters easy forme by inviting my guests as well." And the shrewd old diplomatistsucceeded in looking as though the barefaced bait he was dangling was apiece of effrontery he only dared moot under stress of the emergency.
Beaumanoir, flushing scarlet, stopped short in his restless pacing andswallowed the hook.
"I never thought of that," he said, looking down at the General withmore interest than he had yet shown. "And," he added, with unaffectedmodesty, "I very much doubt if they would come."
This was virtual surrender, and the General had an easy task to brushaway objections obviously raised in the hopes of their demolition. Shortnotice? Well, perhaps; but Americans were used to a less formalhospitality than ours, and would take it as a compliment. Briefshipboard acquaintance? Nonsense. Five days' association on a "liner"was equivalent to a friendship of years. The chance of the Shermansbeing involved in a tragedy in which they had no concern? The Generalpledged his word that, whatever happened at Prior's Tarrant, no harmshould befall the Senator's wife and daughter or breath of scandalassail them.
Before he left the room the General had arranged to return later in theday, possibly bringing with him his Pathan servant, Azimoolah Khan,whose aid he meant to enlist in securing the Duke's safety at hiscountry-seat. In the meanwhile, he would go home and prepare the ladiesfor joining the party on the morrow, Beaumanoir's formal invitationsfollowing by post.
On his way down the broad staircase General Sadgrove chuckled audibly tohimself: "I thought the prospect of entertaining Leonie in his ancestralhalls would fetch him. Mustn't have her falling in love with him,though, till he can show a clean sheet." A little lower down he stoppedand stared at a huge canvas of the third Duke, but without heeding thebewigged and lace-ruffled counterfeit of the Georgian courtier."Concentration!" he muttered. "The first axiom in a crime-problem is toconcentrate the items. I shall have two of 'em now, by George, rightunder the same blanket--and with luck I'll have three."
In the hall Prince was hovering fatuously, assisted by a brace of tallflunkeys who fell under the General's critical gaze. One of them was theabsent-minded William, all unconscious that he had allowed "InspectorChantrey's" understudy to slip upstairs the night before. Him Sadgroveseverely rejected, selecting his colleague.
"There's an apple-woman under the rails opposite," he said, producing asovereign. "Run across and offer this for her basket and its contents.If she refuses, the chances are that she will almost immediately moveaway. In that case, if you can follow her a little distance, withoutletting her observe you, bring me back word directly she stops andspeaks to anyone."
The well-trained servant, with scarcely the blink of an eyelash for hisextraordinary mission, started to fulfil it, and the General hastened onto the smoking-room, where Forsyth and Sybil were still on guard at thewindow.
"Has the woman been doing any business?" he asked as he entered.
"She has only had one customer, who got off a Hammersmith 'bus andwalked on," replied Sybil, without removing her gaze. "And now--why,it's one of our liveries--Steptoe, the first footman, is going up toher. Oh, but this is interesting. He is offering her a coin, and she isshaking her head."
"Go on," said the General.
"Steptoe is recrossing the road towards the house without buyinganything, and--yes, the woman has taken up her basket and is leaving herpitch, don't you call it? She too is crossing to this side of the road,but higher up. Steptoe has turned and is looking after her, and--now Ican't see any more without putting my head out of window."
Sybil stopped, breathless; and, without comment on the episode she hadjust witnessed, the General informed her and Forsyth of the proposedmove to Prior's Tarrant. As was to be expected, neither of the engagedcouple had any objection to an arrangement which would bring themtogether under the same roof, Sybil remarking naively that it was onething to be allowed solitary house-room a
s a poor relation, and quiteanother to stay with the Duke as a guest. She promised to hold herselfin readiness to join Mrs. Sadgrove and the Shermans on the morrow and godown with them, while Forsyth was to wait for his orders until theGeneral returned in the afternoon.
"We may have a ticklish job in getting our noble convoy from one laagerto the other, and I shall want you as an aide-de-camp, Alec, as well asAzimoolah Khan for the more serious work," the General explained.
"Azimoolah!" Forsyth exclaimed, remembering certain blood-curdlingstories of his uncle's old orderly, who had exchanged the fierce joys ofThug-hunting for the milder enjoyment of valeting his beloved Sahib inBelgravia. "Surely his methods smack too much of the jungle and thenullah for this country."
"That's why I want to cart the whole bag of tricks into the jungle,"said the General, grimly. "Well?" he added, as Steptoe entered andtendered the sovereign on a salver.
"The woman wouldn't take it, sir," was the reply. "She got up and wentround the corner into Air Street, where she was met by the person whocalled here last night dressed as a clergyman, only he was dressed as aworking-man to-day. They went away together in a four-wheeler."
"Thank you--that simplifies things considerably," said the General, and,announcing his intention of returning later, he bade the footman call acab and followed him out of the room.
"I wonder what he has got up his sleeve," Forsyth mused aloud, as he andSibyl watched the wiry figure into the cab. "The spirit of the chase hasgripped him tight, and he's in full cry already."