CHAPTER XXIII
SECRET SERVICE
Next morning after breakfast I wheeled over to Crom, bringing in mybicycle bag the revolver and ammunition for Marjory. I could not butfeel alarmed for her safety as I rode through the wood which surroundedthe house. It would need a regiment to guard one from a stray assassin.For myself I did not have any concern; but the conviction grew and grewon me to the point of agony that harm which I should be powerless toprevent might happen here to Marjory. When I was inside the house thefeeling was easier. Here, the place was to all intents and purposesfortified, for nothing short of cannon or dynamite could make anyimpression on it.
Marjory received my present very graciously; I could see from the waythat she handled the weapon that she had little to learn of its use. Isuppose the thought must have crossed her that I might think it strangeto find her so familiar with a lethal weapon, for she turned to me andsaid with that smoothness of tone which marks the end rather than thebeginning of a speech:
"Dad always wished me to know how to use a gun. I don't believe he wasever without one himself, even in his bed, from the time he was a smallboy. He used to say 'It never does any one any harm to be ready toget the drop first, in case of a scrap!' I have a little beauty in mydressing-case that he got made for me. I am doubly armed now."
I stayed to lunch, but went away immediately after as I was anxious tofind if Adams had sent me any message. Before going, I asked Marjoryto be especially careful not to be out alone in the woods round thehouse, for a few days at any rate. She demurred at first; but finallyagreed--'to please you' as she put it--not to go out at all till Ihad come again. I told her that as I was coming to breakfast the nextmorning if I might, it was not a very long time of imprisonment.
When I asked for telegrams at the post-office, which was in the hotel,I was told that a gentleman was waiting to see me in the coffee room. Iwent in at once and found Sam Adams reading an old newspaper. He startedup when he saw me and straightway began:
"I hurried over to tell you that we have had further news. Nothing verydefinite to-day; but the Washington people hope to have a lot of detailby to-morrow night. So be ready, old chap!" I thanked him, but even inthe act of doing so it struck me that he had taken a deal of trouble tocome over when he could have sent me a wire. I did not say so, however;doubts of an act of this kind can always wait.
Sam had tea with me, and then we smoked a cigar outside on the littleterrace before the hotel. There were some fishermen and workmen, asusual sitting on or leaning against the wall across the road, and threemen who were lounging about, evidently trippers waiting for their tea tobe served. When we came out and had passed them, the little group wentinto the coffee room. They were, all three, keen-looking, alert men, andI had a passing wonder what they were doing in Cruden as they had nogolf bags with them. Sam did not remain long but caught the six-tentrain back to Aberdeen.
I cannot say that my night was an easy one. Whilst I lay awake Iimagined new forms of danger to Marjory; and when I fell asleep Idreamt them. I was up early, and after a sharp ride on my bicycle cameto Crom in time for breakfast.
As we had a long forenoon, Marjory took me over the house. It was all ofsome interest, as it represented the life and needs of life in the laterdays of Queen Elizabeth in a part of the country where wars and feudshad to be prepared for. The Castle was arranged for siege, even to thewater supply; there was a well of immense depth situated in a deepdungeon under the angle of the castle which they called the Keep. Theydid not, however, ordinarily depend on this, as there was otherwise anexcellent water supply. In the dungeon were chains and manacles and someimplements of torture, all covered with the rust of centuries. We hopedthat they had not been used. Marjory consoled herself with the thoughtthat they had been placed there at the time of the building as part ofthe necessary furnishing of a mediaeval castle. One room, the library,was of great interest. It had not been built for the purpose, for therewas no provision of light; but it must have been adapted to this use notlong after the place was built. The woodwork of carved oak was earlyseventeenth century. I did not have time to look over the books, andthere was no catalogue; but from the few which I glanced at I could seethat whoever had gathered the library must have been a scholar and anenthusiast.
In the course of our survey of the castle, Marjory showed me the partswhich were barred up and the rooms which were locked. That such a thingshould be in a house in which she lived was a never-ending source ofcuriosity. There was a dozen times as much room as she could possiblywant; but here was something unknown and forbidden. She being a woman,it became a Tree of Knowledge and a Bluebeard's Chamber in one. She wasso eager about it that I asked if she could not get permission from theagent to go through the shut rooms and places so as to satisfy herself.She replied that she had already done so, the very day after she hadarrived, and had had an answer that the permission could not be givenwithout the consent of the owner; but that as he was shortly expectedin Scotland her request would be forwarded to him and his reply whenreceived would be at once communicated to her. Whilst we were talking ofthe subject a telegram to Mrs. Jack came from the agent, saying that theowner had arrived and was happy to give permission required and thatfurther he would be obliged if the tenant would graciously accord himpermission to go some day soon through the house which he had notseen for many years. A telegram was at once sent in Mrs. Jack's name,thanking him for the permission and saying that the owner would be mostwelcome to go through the house when he pleased.
As I was anxious to hear if there was any news from Adams I saidgood-bye at the door, and rode back on my bicycle. I had asked Marjoryto renew her promise of not going out alone for another day, and she hadacceded; 'only to please you,' she said this time.
I found a wire from Adams sent at six o'clock:
"Important news. Come here at once." I might catch the train if Ihurried, so jumped on my bicycle and got to the station just in time.
I found Adams in his room at the Palace Hotel, walking up and down likea caged panther. When I came in he rushed over to me and said eagerly ashe handed me a sheet of note paper:
"Read that; it is a translation of our cipher telegram. I thought youwould never come!" I took it with a sinking heart; any news that was sopressing could not be good, and bad must affect Marjory somehow. I readthe document over twice before I fully understood its meaning. It ran asfollows:
"Secret Service believe that Drake plot is to kidnap and ransom. Realplotters are understood to be gang who stole Stewart's body. Are usingcertain Spanish and other foreigners as catspaw. Heads of plot nowin Europe, Spain, England, Holland. Expect more details. Use allprecautions."
"What do you think of that?" said Adams when I had taken my eyes off thepaper.
"I hardly know yet. What do you make of it? You have thought of itlonger than I have."
"Just what I have thought all along. The matter is serious, veryserious! In one way that wire is something of a relief. If thatkidnapping gang are behind it, it doesn't mean political vengeance, butonly boodle; so that the fear of any sudden attack on her life is not soimminent. The gang will take what care they can to keep from killing thegoose that lays the golden eggs. But then, the political desperadoes whowould enter on such a matter are a hard crowd; if they are in power, orat any rate in numerical force, they may not be easy to keep back.Indeed, it is possible that they too may have their own game to play,and may be using the blackmailers for their own purpose. I tell you, oldman, we are in a very tight place, and must go to work pretty warily.The whole thing swings so easily to one side or the other, that anyfalse move on the part of any of us may give the push to the side wewould least care should win. By the way, I take it that you are of thesame mind still regarding Miss Drake's wishes."
"Now and always! But as you can guess I am anxious to know all I canthat can help me to guard her." Somewhat to my astonishment he answeredheartily:
"All right, old chap, of course I will tell you; but I will depend onyour letting m
e know of anything you are free to tell which might serveme in my work."
"Certainly! I say," I added, "you don't mind my not having worked withyou about finding her address."
"Not a bit! I have to find it in my own way; that is all!" There wasa sort of satisfaction, if not of triumph, in his tone which set methinking.
"Then you know it already?" I said.
"Not yet; but I hope to before the night is over."
"Have you a clue?" He laughed.
"Clue? a hundred. Why, man, none of us were born yesterday. There isn'ta thing on God's earth that mayn't be a clue now and again if it isproperly used. You are a clue yourself if it comes to that." In aflash I saw it all. Adams had come to Cruden to point me out to hisdetectives. These were the keen-looking men who were at Cruden when hewas. Of course they had followed me, and Marjory's secret was no secretnow. I said nothing for a little while; for at the first I was angrythat Adams should have used me against my will. Then two feelings strovefor mastery; one of anxiety lest my unconscious betrayal of her secretmight hurt me in Marjory's eyes, the other relief that now she was in ameasure protected by the resources of her great country. I was easier inmy mind concerning her safety when I thought of those keen, alert menlooking after her. Then again I thought that Adams had done nothingwhich I could find fault with. I should doubtless have done the samemyself had occasion arisen. I was chagrined, however, to think that ithad all been so childishly simple. I had not even contemplated such acontingency. If I couldn't plot and hide my tracks better than that,I should be but a poor ally for Marjory in the struggle which she hadvoluntarily undertaken against her unknown foes.
Before I left Adams, I told him that I would come back on the to-morrowevening. I went to bed early in the Palace hotel, as I wanted to catchthe first train back to Cruden.