XLI
Lady MacGregor had sat up in order to hear the news, and was delightedwith Nevill's plan, especially the part which concerned Stephen, and hisproposed adventure on the _Charles Quex_. Even to hear about it, madeher feel young again, she said. Nothing ever happened to her or toNevill when they were alone, and they ought to be thankful to Stephenfor stirring them up. Not one of the three had more than two hours'sleep that night, but according to her nephew, Lady MacGregor lookedsweet sixteen when she appeared at an unusually early hour next morning."No breakfast in bed for me to-day, or for days to come," said she."I'll have my hands full every instant getting through what I've got todo, I can tell you. Hamish and Angus are worried about my health, but Isay to them they needn't grudge me a new interest in life. It's verygood for me."
"Why, what have you got to do?" ventured Nevill, who was ready to gowith Stephen and buy a berth on board the _Charles Quex_ the moment theoffice opened.
Lady MacGregor looked at him mysteriously. "Being men, I suppose neitherof you _would_ guess," she replied. "But you shall both know afterStephen's adventure is over. I hope you'll like the idea. But if youdon't I'm sorry to say it won't make any difference."
The so-called "adventure" had less of excitement in it than had been inthe planning. It was faithfully carried out according to Nevill's firstsuggestion, with a few added details, but Stephen felt incrediblyfoolish, rather like a Guy Fawkes mummer, or a masked and bedizenedguest arriving by mistake the night after the ball. So far as he couldsee, no one was watching. All his trouble seemed to be for nothing, andhe felt that he had made a fool of himself, even when it was over, andhe had changed into civilized clothing, in a room in the old town, takenby Adolphe Roslin, the detective. It was arranged for Stephen to waitthere, until Roslin could give him news of Si Maieddine's movements,lest the Arab should be subtle enough to suspect a trick, after all.
Toward evening the news came. Maieddine had taken a ticket for Biskra,and a sleeping berth in the train which would leave at nine o'clock.Nevertheless, Roslin had a man watching Monsieur de Mora's house, incase the buying of the ticket were a "bluff," or Si Maieddine shouldchange his plans at the last minute.
Nevill had come in, all excitement, having bought cheap "antique"jewellery in a shop downstairs, by way of an excuse to enter the house.He was with Stephen when Roslin arrived, and they consulted together asto what should be done next.
"Roslin must buy me a ticket for Biskra, of course," said Stephen. "I'llhang about the station in an overcoat with my collar turned up and a capover my eyes. If Maieddine gets into the train I'll get in too, at arespectful distance of course, and keep an eye open to see what he doesat each stop."
"There's a change of trains, to-morrow morning," remarked Nevill."There'll be your difficulty, because after you're out of one train youhave to wait for the other. Easy to hide in Algiers station, and make adash for the end of the train when you're sure of your man. But in alittle open, road-side halting-place, in broad daylight, you'll have tobe sharp if you don't want him to spot you. Naturally he'll keep hiseyes as wide open, all along the line, as you will, even though he doesthink you're on the way to Marseilles."
"If you're working up to a burnous and painted legs for me again, mydear chap, it's no good," Stephen returned with the calmness ofdesperation. "I've done with that sort of nonsense; but I won't trustmyself out of the train till I see the Arab's back. Then I'll make abolt for it and dodge him, till the new train's run along the platformand he's safely in it."
"Monsieur has confidence in himself as a detective," smiled Roslin.
Knight could have given a sarcastic answer, since the young man fromMarseilles had not made much progress with the seemingly simple case putinto his hands a month ago. But both he and Nevill had come to thinkthat the case was not simple, and they were lenient with Roslin. "I hopeI'm not conceited," Stephen defended himself, "but I do feel that I canat least keep my end up against this nigger, anyhow till the game'splayed out so far that he can't stop it."
"And till I'm in it with you," Nevill finished. "By the way, thatreminds me. Some one else intends to play the game with us, whether welike or not."
"Who?" asked Stephen, surprised and half defiant.
"My aunt. That's the mystery she was hinting at. You know howunnaturally quiet she was while we arranged that you should look afterMaieddine, on your own, till the dinner-party was over, anyhow, and Icould get off, on a wire from you--wherever you might be?"
"Yes. She seemed interested."
"And busy. Her 'great work' was getting herself ready to follow you withme, in the car."
"Magnificent!" said Stephen. "And like her. Hurrah for Lady MacGregor!"
"I'm glad you take it that way. I wasn't sure you would, which mighthave made things awkward for me; because when my aunt wants to do athing, you know by this time as well as I do, it's as good as done."
"But it's splendid--if she can stand the racket. Of course her idea is,that if we find Miss Ray she oughtn't to come back alone with us,perhaps a long way, from some outlandish hole."
"You've got it. That's her argument. Or rather, her mandate. And Ibelieve she's quite able to stand the racket. Her state of mind is such,that if she looked sixteen in the morning, this afternoon she's goneback to fifteen."
"Wonderful old lady! But she's so fragile--and has nervousheadaches----"
"She won't have any in my motor car."
"But Hamish and Angus. Can she get on without them?"
"She intends to have them follow her by train, with luggage. She saysshe has a 'feeling in her bones' that they'll come in handy, either forcooking or fighting. And by Jove, she may be right. She often is. If yougo to Biskra and wire when you get there, I'll start at once--_we'll_start, I mean. And if Maieddine goes on anywhere else, and you follow tokeep him in sight, I'll probably catch you up with the car, because therailway line ends at Biskra, you know; and beyond, there are only horsesor camels."
"Can motors go farther?"
"They can to Touggourt--with 'deeficulty,' as the noble twins wouldsay."
"Maieddine may take a car."
"Not likely. Though there's just a chance he might get some Europeanfriend with a motor to give him a lift. In that case, you'd be ratherstuck."
"Motor cars leave tracks," said Stephen.
"Especially in the desert, where they are quite conspicuous," Nevillagreed. "My aunt will be enchanted with your opinion of her and herplan--but not surprised. She thinks you've twice my sense and knowledgeof the world."
Nevill usually enjoyed his own dinner-parties, for he was a born host,and knew that guests were happy in his house. That night, however, wasan exception. He was absent-minded, and pulled his moustache, and sawbeautiful things in the air over people's heads, so often that not onlyLady MacGregor but Angus and Hamish glared at him threateningly. He thendid his best to atone; nevertheless, for once he was delighted whenevery one had gone. At last he was able to read for the second time aletter from Roslin, sent in while dinner was in progress. There had beenonly time for a glance at it, by begging his friends' indulgence for aninstant, while he bolted the news that Stephen had followed Maieddine toBiskra. Now, Nevill and Lady MacGregor both hugely enjoyed the detailsgiven by Roslin from the report of an employe; how cleverly Monsieur hadkept out of sight, though the Arab had walked up and down the platform,with two friends, looking about keenly. How, when Maieddine was safelyhoused in his compartment, his companions looking up to his window for alast word, Monsieur Knight had whisked himself into a second-classcompartment at the other end of the train.
Next day, about four o'clock, a telegram was brought to Djenan elDjouad. It came from Biskra, and said: "Arrived here. Not spotted. Hewent house of French commandant with no attempt at concealment. Amwaiting. Will wire again soon as have news. Perhaps better not starttill you hear."
An hour and a half later a second blue envelope was put into Nevill'shand.
"He and an officer leave for Touggourt in private carriag
e three horsesrelays ordered. Have interviewed livery stable. They start at five willtravel all night. I follow."
"Probably some officer was going on military business, and Maieddine'sasked for a lift," Nevill said to Lady MacGregor. "Well, it's too latefor us to get away now; but we'll be off as early as you like to-morrowmorning."
"If I weren't going, would you start to-day?" his aunt inquired.
"Yes, I suppose so. But----"
"Then please give orders for the car. I'm ready to leave at fiveminutes' notice, and I can go on as long as you can. I'm looking forwardto the trip."
"But I've often offered to take you to Biskra."
"That's different. Now I've got an incentive."