*CHAPTER XXIII*
*AN EXPECTED TROUBLE*
It was good to be out in the open air, to breathe the pure atmosphereonce more. For a long time the Chinaman stalked on ahead until thedocks were passed and the Tower Bridge loomed high against the sky. Itwanted little till daylight now, and already there was a red glow in theeast. But the Chinaman went on and on till he came to the Strand andthence across into Leicester Square, to Oxford Street and behind GowerStreet. There were gardens and trees looming ghostly in the morningmist, and before one of the gardens the Chinaman stopped and peeredthrough the high gate. He stood for a moment or two as still as statue,then suddenly he grasped Uzali's arm.
"There," he whispered. "You see yourself."
Without another word he turned and sped silently down the road as if hisfeet were shod with india-rubber. On Uzali, peeping through the bars ofthe gate, this defection was lost. He was too intent upon some objectwhich appeared to be creeping across the grass. In a low whisper hecalled Mercer's attention to it, but the latter could see nothing.
"I forgot you do not possess our eyesight," Uzali murmured. "But thereis one of the men I am in search of. What they are doing here I don'tknow. That is what I mean to find out. Now give me a lift over thisgate and stay till I come back. Oh, there is no danger."
In his heart of hearts Mercer did not feel so sure of it. But it wasnot for him to question Uzali's purpose. To lift the latter over thegate was easy, and a second or two later he was safe on the other side.
"One moment before I go," he said. "I am an utter stranger and havenever seen this place before. So far as I can judge this is a finesquare with a number of good houses round it. It is not difficult toguess that these fellow-countrymen of mine have their eye upon one ofthe residences. Now, do you think you could find out the names of someof the residents? Of course, I know it is rather a risky thing to tryat this time of the morning, but you might hit upon some unsuspiciouspoliceman who can give you all the information you want."
The request seemed ridiculous, almost farcical, but Mercer promised.Neither was he the less anxious to find out for himself, because ashrewd idea had come into his mind and he resolved to put it to thetest. He strode off down the road as if on some important errand andpresently he saw a policeman swinging silently along. There was anelement of risk in what he was about to do, but Mercer did not hesitate.
"I have been looking for an officer for some time," he said. "I wonderif you could be of assistance to me."
The policeman pulled up hurriedly and flashed his lantern full onMercer's face. He was not in the least disposed to be friendly.Evidently his suspicions were aroused.
"What can I do for you?" he asked curtly.
"Well, you see, I have just landed off a voyage," Mercer said, "and Ihave had the misfortune to mislay all my belongings. I could not thinkwhere to go until it struck me that I had, a friend who lived somewherenear here, a ship-owner by the name of Flower. Do you happen to knowhis name?"
The policeman shook his head slowly.
"I can't say as I do," he said. "You see, I haven't been on duty inthese parts very long, and anyway, I don't suppose your friend wouldcare to be knocked up at this time in the morning."
"Naturally enough," Wilfrid said coolly, "But, you see, I was notdisposed to do that. If I can only find the house it will be easy towalk about till daylight."
Once more the policeman hesitated. His suspicions were not altogetherlulled.
"You had better come with me and speak to my sergeant," he said. "Ihave got to meet him in five minutes at the top of Torrington Place. Hewill tell you about this Mr. Flower."
There was no help for it, so Mercer strode along carelessly by the sideof the constable until the sergeant made his appearance. He seemed tobe just as cold and suspicious as his colleague, but at the same timeWilfrid had the satisfaction of knowing that he had not drawn a bow at aventure altogether in vain, for at the mention of Samuel Flower's namethe sergeant's face changed.
"Oh, yes, I know Mr. Flower well enough," he said. "He lives at numbertwenty-three on the other side of the square. For the most part hespends his time in the country. But the family is in town to-night,because I was passing the house when they came home from a party. Butwhat do you want with Mr. Samuel Flower, young fellow? You don't looklike the sort of company he generally keeps."
"Very likely not," Wilfrid said coldly. "But the fact remains that Iwas once in Mr. Flower's service as doctor on one of his boats. I ammuch obliged to you for your information, which will save me a greatdeal of trouble in the morning."
Wilfrid strolled away quite naturally and easily; indeed, he was so cooland collected that the sergeant allowed him to depart with a curtgood-night. There was just the chance that the officer might change hismind, so that Mercer sped on rapidly back to Gower Street, nor did hebreathe freely till he stood once more outside the gate over which hehad helped Uzali to climb. It struck Wilfrid as being a good idea thathe should climb the gate himself and stay till the square keeper came inthe morning to unlock the gates. No sooner had this idea occurred tohim than he proceeded to put it into operation. He dropped quietly on tothe path on the other side and settled himself down to wait in patiencefor Uzali to reappear. Twice did he walk the circuit of the garden.Twice did he pass Samuel Flower's house; the brass numbers on the doorshone so steadily under the street lamp that there was no mistaking it.The house appeared to be in darkness save one light in an upper room,which flickered every now and again as if a window had been opened andthe draught had caused the gas to flare unsteadily. There was nothingfor it but to wait with what patience he possessed, although Wilfrid wasgetting tired of his adventure. He was wondering if it would be safe tolight a cigarette to pass the time away. He looked around him and saw inthe centre of the garden a dense mass of bushes where he might concealhimself and smoke without the faintest chance of detection.
He made his way across the grass, and as he reached the shelter of thethicket he seemed to hear some one breathing stertorously. Shading thevesta in his hand he swept the shining blue flame over the grass. Therewas the outline of a figure lying on its back with a pale face turned upto the sky.
"Good Heavens!" Mercer cried, "why, it's Uzali!"
At the mention of his name the Malay opened his eyes and looked drearilyabout him. There was a nasty cut on the side of his head and a bigblack bruise under the left eye. It did not take Mercer long todiscover that his companion was suffering from loss of blood, but so faras he could see no very great harm had come to him. A minute or twolater Uzali staggered to his feet.
"How did it happen?" Wilfrid exclaimed.
Uzali put the question aside impatiently.
"Don't ask me now," he whispered. "Get me home as soon as you can. Iwill tell you about it in the morning. No, you are not to come homewith me. You will put me in a cab and send me straight round to myflat. I can summon my own doctor by telephone and no one will be anythe wiser. Now do you think you could manage to get me over that gate?"
There was something so imperious in Uzali's manner that Wilfrid asked noquestions. By the great exertion of strength he managed to lift Uzaliover the gate and deposit him on the coping-stones outside. A sleepydriver of a hansom cab came plodding along and Mercer summoned himwithout delay.
"My friend has had an accident," he said. "Here is his card and address.I want you to get him home as soon as possible and see him into hisflat. You will have nothing more to do after that except to mind yourown business and ask no questions. Come, my good man, I don't supposeyou will mind earning a five-pound note like that. It isn't much forthe money."
"I'll do it," the cabman said hoarsely. "I haven't earned ten shillingsto-night. Now come on, sir."
Uzali was lifted bodily into the cab and as the driver reached the boxthe wounded man whispered a few, terse peremptory words to Wilfrid. Amoment later the cab was out of sight. Wilfr
id wondered what was goingto happen next. He made his way back into the square again to thethicket of evergreens where he had dropped his cigarette case. He couldsee the houses opposite now. He could see that a flare of light hadflashed upon the second floor in Samuel Flower's residence; quiteplainly against the blinds were the shadows of two men strugglingtogether. It was only for a moment, then all was thick darkness again.Wilfrid stood there rubbing his eyes in bewilderment.