*CHAPTER IX*
*BEHIND LOCKED DOORS*
"I cannot," Beatrice replied. Her voice was low, but to Wilfrid'srelief quite steady. "The door is locked on the outside. I am sothankful you have come."
Wilfrid turned the key. With a great thrill of delight he saw thatBeatrice was little the worse for what she had gone through. Heindulged in no idle talk, but reached out his hand in search of one ofthe electric switches. Beatrice grasped Wilfrid's meaning. Shestretched out her hand and immediately the corridor was flooded withlight.
"I cannot understand it," she murmured. "Dr. Mercer, what does it mean?"
"Perhaps you had better tell me your experience first," Wilfridsuggested. "If I can throw any light afterwards on this hideous mysteryI shall be glad."
"I'll tell you as collectedly as I can," Beatrice replied. "I hadalmost forgotten the alarm I had in the conservatory this afternoon whenI came up to bed. I sat for a while dreaming over the fire----"
Beatrice stopped and a little colour crept into her face. She wonderedwhat Wilfrid would say if he only knew what she had been thinking about.He nodded encouragingly.
"Then I suddenly recollected that I had not seen Annette. When Ireached her room I found her wide awake and as terrified as when shecame back from the village. I suppose she was too upset to take yourmedicine, for the bottle stood unopened on the table. After I had givenit to her she went off to sleep almost immediately, but not before shehad told me something which disturbed me very much. As she lay with thebedroom door open, the firelight shone upon the wall on the other sideof the corridor, and she declared she had seen a shadow on the wall likeone of the figures that had so frightened her in the wood. I pretendedto be angry and incredulous, but I confess that I was really ratherstartled. It seemed so strange that a quiet country house shouldsuddenly be invested with such an atmosphere of mystery. Why did thatman try to get into the conservatory? And why were those figures?--butI am wandering from the point."
"I think we had better have facts, first," Wilfrid said.
"Oh, yes. Well, I went back to my room after seeing Annette to sleep,and I fear I must own to feeling considerably frightened. It was arelief to find that somebody was still about downstairs, and to rememberthat there were so many dogs about the house. Then I remembered mylittle terrier who always sleeps on a mat at the end of the corridor.It is warm there, because I have had the place fitted with hot-waterpipes and turned it into a conservatory where I grow exotic plants. Itstruck me as singular that the dog should give no alarm if anybody werewandering about the house, and I went out to see if he were all right.I did not turn on the lights because I would not pander to my ownweakness. Besides, I could find my way about the corridor blindfolded.And then, in the darkness, I saw an amazing thing--a globe of flickeringblue fire, about the size of a football. It moved in the mostextraordinary way, and at first I thought the floor was alight. But Iabandoned that idea when I saw a long, lean arm thrust out and a brasscup held over the flame. Oh, I must tell you that before that I noticeda peculiar scent of the most strange and overpowering description. Ithought that one of my new plants had come into bloom and that this wasthe perfume of it. Then I saw how mistaken I was, and that the odourarose from the brass cup over the flame. After that I recollect nothingelse except that I became terribly drowsy and when I recovered I was inmy own room with the door locked on the outside. I cannot tell you howthankful I was to hear your voice."
"It is very strange," Wilfrid said. "Obviously you did not go back toyour room by yourself. Therefore, some one carried you there. I thinkyou may make your mind easy as far as you are personally concerned.Whoever these mysterious individuals may be, they bear no enmity toyou."
"Then whom do they want?" Beatrice asked.
Wilfrid was silent for a moment. He could give a pretty clear answer tothe question. But Beatrice was already terrified and troubled enoughwithout the addition of further worry. Cotter's incoherent terror andhis wild speech had given Wilfrid a clue to the motives which underlaythis strange business.
"We will discuss that presently," he said. "In the meantime, it will beas well to find out why your dog did not give an alarm."
The black and white terrier lay on his mat silent. He did not move whenBeatrice called. She darted forward and laid her hand upon the animal'scoat. Then an indignant cry came from her lips.
"The poor thing is dead," she exclaimed. "Beyond doubt the dog has beenpoisoned by those fumes. And look at my flowers, the beautiful flowersupon which I spent so much time and attention! They might have beenstruck by lightning."
Wilfrid could see no flowers. Across the great west window was a browntangled web hanging in shreds; in the big pots was a mass of blackenedfoliage. But there was nothing else to be seen.
"Do you mean to say these are your flowers?" Wilfrid asked.
"They were an hour ago," Beatrice said mournfully, "some of the rarestand most beautiful in the world. They have come from all parts of theglobe. It is easy to see what has happened. Oh, please take me away. Ishall be stifled if I remain. It is horrible!"
Beatrice was on the verge of hysteria. Her nerves had been tried toofar. It was necessary to get her into the open air without delay. Inhis quick, masterful way Wilfrid took her by the arm and led herdownstairs into the billiard-room. Beatrice was safe, however. It wasplain the visitors had no designs against her; indeed, they had provedso much by their actions. And, unworthy as he was of assistance,something would have to be done to save Samuel Flower. Wilfrid wouldhave to act for himself. He could expect no help from theterror-stricken Cotter, who appeared to have vanished, and it would notbe prudent to arouse the servants. He took Beatrice across thebilliard-room and motioned her into the open air.
"I will fetch a wrap for you," he said. "I shall find some in thehall."
"Am I to stay outside?" Beatrice asked.
"It will be better," Wilfrid said as he returned with a bundle of wraps."At any rate, you will be in the fresh air. And now I want you to bebrave and resolute. Don't forget that these mysterious strangers haveno grudge against you. Try to bear that in mind. Keep it before you andthink of nothing else. I believe I have a fair idea what is takingplace."
"But yourself," Beatrice murmured. "I should never know a moment'shappiness if anything happened to you. You have been so strong and kindthat--that----"
The girl faltered and tears came into her eyes. She held out her handsimpulsively and Wilfrid caught them in a tender grip. He forgoteverything else for the moment.
"For your sake as well as mine," he whispered. "And now I really mustact. Unless I am mistaken it is your uncle who is in most danger."
Wilfrid turned and passed into the hall. The library door was shut andhe seemed to hear voices from the room. Crouching behind a settee hemade out the form of Cotter, who rose as he approached and came forwardwrithing and rubbing his hands. The fellow's abject terror filledWilfrid with disgust.
"Where is your master?" he demanded.
"In there," Cotter whispered, "with _them_. He'll never come out again.We shall never see Samuel Flower alive. What are you going to do, sir?You wouldn't be as mad as that."
"I am going into the library," Wilfrid said curtly. As he spoke he laidhis hand upon the knob, but the key was turned inside and he could makeno approach. Cotter caught him round the shoulders.
"Don't do it," he whispered. "If you value your life stay where youare. And besides, it is too late to do any good. He has been locked inthere with them five minutes. And five minutes with them is eternity."
Cotter's voice broke off suddenly as a feeble cry came from within theroom. Wilfrid stepped back a pace or two.
"Stand clear," he said, "I am going to burst the door."