slight foreign cast in hisfeatures. His keen dark eyes were searching everywhere, while theclothes he wore were the clothes of a man of refined taste.
From time to time there played about his dark face a sinister smile--asmile of triumph. He was evidently not a man to be trifled with, and itseemed very much as though he held the owner of that comfortable housein resentment.
The words he muttered as he stood there pretending to read were, inthemselves, sufficient indication of this:
"They thought to trick him--to trick me--but by Jove, they'll findthemselves mistaken!" and his claw-like hand gripped the newspaper untilit trembled in his grasp.
He lit a cigarette, and twice crossed the road. Standing at the cornerof Pembridge Gardens, he again looked up the street, dark, misty, anddeserted on that winter's night.
"They laugh at us without a doubt," he muttered to himself. "Theylaugh, because they think he's fool enough to give away the secret.Yes, they take him for a blind idiot. Frank Farquhar has gone upon afool's errand to Denmark, intending to `freeze us out' of what is justlyours. When he returns, he will find that I have checkmated both him andhis friend Griffin, in a manner in which he little expects."
His countenance was full of craft and cunning; his smile was sufficientindex to his character.
Soon after ten o'clock, while standing at the corner of PembridgeGardens, he suddenly drew back into the shadow, turned upon his heel andcrossed the road to the station, in order to avoid notice.
Having gained the opposite pavement, he drew back again into the shadow,and saw a female figure in a short dark skirt, and wearing a handsomewhite fox boa, hurrying across the road in his direction.
She passed him, and he for the first time caught sight of her prettyface. It was Gwen Griffin.
Apparently she was in a frantic hurry, for she rushed into thebooking-office and in her haste to get a ticket, dropped her purse.Then, when she had run down the stairs to the platform, the silentwatcher followed leisurely, obtained a ticket for Earl's Court, but wascareful not to gain the platform until the girl had already left.
"I thought the story would alarm her," he laughed to himself as he stoodawaiting the next "Circle" train. "Ah, my fine young fellow, you'vemade a great and a most fatal error!" he added with a dry laugh, as hepaced the platform.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
IN WHICH OWEN BECOMES ANXIOUS.
When just on the point of retiring, the maid had brought Gwen up atelegram from Frank, stating that something serious had occurred, thathe had returned to London unexpectedly, and that he was unable to cometo the house as he preferred not to meet her father, and urging her tomeet him at Earl's Court Station at a quarter past ten that night.
In greatest alarm, and wondering what could possibly have occurred, thegirl had dipped on the first things that had come to her hand and haddashed out to meet her lover.
Before going forth she had taken the maid into her confidence, saying:
"I have to go out, Laura. You need not mention anything to my father.Leave the front door unbolted. I will take the latch-key."
The dark-eyed girl, with whom Miss Gwen was a great favourite, promisedto say nothing, and had let her young mistress quietly out.
Gwen was puzzled why Frank should appoint to meet her at Earl's Court.If the interview was to be a secret one, why had he not committed abreach of the _convenances_ and asked her to his rooms? She had beenthere to tea once--in strictest secrecy, of course--but in company witha girl friend.
What untoward circumstances could have arisen to bring Frank back beforehe reached Copenhagen? He could not have got further than Hamburg, shereflected--if as far.
At Earl's Court she alighted, and having ascended the stairs in eagerexpectation, passed through the booking-office into the Earl's CourtRoad, expecting her lover to meet her.
But she was disappointed. He was not there. She glanced at the railwaydock, and saw that it was already twenty-five minutes past ten. Thereceipt of the strange message had upset her. She felt that somethingterrible must have occurred if Frank "preferred" not to face her father.What could it be? She was half frantic with fear and apprehension.
From out the misty night the tall man standing in the shadow on theopposite side of the road was watching her every movement. At the kerbstood a taxi-cab which he had hailed, and now kept waiting. He hadremarked to the driver that he expected a lady and would wait until shearrived.
For fully a quarter of an hour he allowed the girl to pace up and downthe pavement outside the station, waiting with an impatience that wasapparent. That message which she believed to be from Frank had filledher mind with all sorts of grave apprehensions. He would surely neverappoint that spot as a meeting place if secrecy were not imperative.
She noticed that there were quiet deserted thoroughfares in thevicinity. There he no doubt intended to walk and explain the situation.
Yet why did he not come, she asked herself. Already he was half an hourlate, while she, agitated and anxious, could scarcely contain herself.
Suddenly, however, a tall good-looking man in a dark overcoat stoodbefore her and raised his silk hat. She was about to step aside andpass on when the man begged her pardon, and uttered her name, adding:
"I believe you are expecting my friend, Frank Farquhar?"
"Yes," she replied. "I--I am." And she regarded the strangerinquiringly.
"He has sent me, Miss Griffin, as he is unfortunately unable to keep theappointment himself?"
"Sent you--why?" asked the girl, looking him straight in the face.
"He has sent me to tell you that something unexpected has happened,"replied the man.
"What has occurred?" she gasped. "Tell me quickly."
"Well," he said with some deliberation. "I do not know whether you areaware that Mr Farquhar was interested in a great and remarkablesecret--a secret which he was occupied in investigating?"
"Yes," she answered quickly. "I know all about it. He told meeverything."
"The _contretemps_ which has occurred is in connection with that," thestranger said. "He was on his way to Copenhagen, but was compelled toreturn. He has, I believe, gained the key to some extraordinary cipheror other, and therefore he wishes to see you at once, and in secret. Hetold me that at present his return to London must be kept confidential,as there are other unscrupulous people most anxious to learn the truthupon which such enormous possibilities depend."
"He wants me to go to him," the girl cried. "Where is he then?"
"Not far away," the man replied. "If you will allow me to escort you, Iwill do so willingly, Miss Griffin."
The girl hesitated. She naturally mistrusted strange men. He saw herhesitation, and added:
"I trust you will forgive me for not being with you at the time Frankappointed, but--well, I don't wish to alarm you unduly, but he was notvery well. I was sitting with him."
"Then he's ill!" she cried in alarm. "Tell me. Oh! do tell me what hasoccurred."
"He will tell you himself," was the ingenious reply. "But," he added,as though in afterthought, "I ought to have given you my card." And heproduced one and handed it to her. The name upon it was "WilliamWetherton, Captain, 12th Lancers."
"Do relieve my anxiety, Captain Wetherton," the girl implored. "Tell mewhat has happened."
"As I have already said, Farquhar has made a great discovery, and wishesat once to consult you. His indisposition was only temporary--an attackof giddiness," he added, and he saw that she was wavering. "I'm an oldfriend of Frank's," he went on, "and he consulted me, as soon as thematter of the Hebrew secret came into his hands. Of course, he has veryoften mentioned you," he laughed.
He was a well-spoken man, and beneath his smile the girl did not detecthis cunning. Her natural caution was overcome by her frantic desire tosee Frank, and hear what he had discovered. An instant's reflectionshowed her that if he could not meet her it was only natural that heshould send his friend Captain Wetherton--a man of whom he had spoken ons
everal occasions. He was stationed at Hounslow, Frank had told her,and they often spent the evening together at the club and some "show"afterwards.
"There's a `taxi' across the way," the Captain pointed out. "Let ustake it--that is if I may be permitted to be your escort, Miss Griffin?"
"Is it far?"
"Oh, dear no," he laughed, and raising his hand he called the cab he hadalready in waiting. The vehicle drew across, and as he entered afterher he spoke to the man. He had already given him the address before hehad approached her. As he sat by her side, the man's face changed. Inthe semi-darkness she could not get a good look at his features, yet hischatter was gentlemanly and good-humoured.