CHAPTER XIII.
My spirits rose with my release, but there was still more than freedomto encourage my light-heartedness. I heard now and definitely of myfugitive lady. Falloon had come upon undoubted evidence that she hadnever left the great Jura-Simplon station, but had remained quietlyout of sight in the "ladies' waiting-room" until the next train leftfor Geneva. This was at 1.35 P.M., and she must have slipped awayright under my eyes into the very train which had brought me back fromVevey. So near are the chances encountered in such a profession asours.
Falloon had only ascertained this positively on the second day of mydetention, but with it the information that only two first-classtickets, both for Geneva, had been issued by that train. To make itall sure he had taken the precaution to ask at all the stations alongthe line at which the train had stopped, seven in number, and hadlearned that no persons answering to my ladies had alighted at any ofthem. So my search was carried now to Geneva, and it might be possibleto come upon my people there, although I was not oversanguine. I knewsomething of the place. I had been there more than once, had stayedsome time, and I knew too well that it is a city with many issues,many facilities for travelling, and, as they had so much reason formoving on rapidly, the chances were that they would have alreadyescaped me.
However, with Falloon I proceeded to Geneva without delay, and began asystematic search. We made exhaustive inquiries at the Cornavinstation, where we arrived from Lausanne, and heard something.
The party had certainly been seen at this very station. Two ladies,one tall, the other short, with a baby. They had gone no further then;they had not returned to the station since. So far good. But there wasa second station, the Gare des Vollondes, at the opposite end of thecity, from which ran the short line to Bouveret on the south shore ofthe lake, and I sent Falloon there to inquire, giving him a rendezvousan hour later at the Cafe de la Couronne on the Quai du Lac. MeanwhileI meant to take all the hotels in regular order, and began with thoseof the first class on the right bank, the Beau Rivage, the Russie, dela Paix, National, Des Bergues, and the rest. As I drew blankeverywhere I proceeded to try the hotels on the left bank, and madefor the Pont de Mont Blanc to cross the Rhone, pointing for theMetropole.
Now my luck again greatly favoured me. Just as I put my foot upon thebridge I saw a figure approaching me, coming from the oppositedirection.
I recognized it instantly. It was the lady herself.
She must have seen me at the very same moment, for she halted deadwith the abruptness of one faced with a sudden danger, an openedprecipice, or a venomous snake under foot. She looked hurriedly toright and left, as if seeking some loophole of escape.
At that moment one of the many electric trams that overspread Genevawith a network of lines came swinging down the Rue de Mont Blanc fromthe Cornavin station, and slackened speed at the end of the bridge. Mylady made up her mind then and there, and as it paused she boarded itwith one quick, agile spring.
With no less prompt decision I followed her, and we entered the caralmost simultaneously.
There were only two seats vacant and, curiously enough, face to face.I took my place, not ill pleased, for she had already seen me, and Iwas anxious to know how my sudden reappearance would affect her. Itwas clear she did not relish it, or she would not have turned tail atour unexpected meeting.
I had not long to wait. She chose her line at once, and withouthesitation addressed me, smiling and unabashed. Her self-possession, Ihad almost said her effrontery, took me quite aback.
"Surely I am not mistaken?" she began quite coolly. "Have I not tothank you for your courtesy in the train a couple of days ago?"
I stammered a halting affirmative.
"I am afraid you must have thought me very rude. I ran off without aword, didn't I? The truth was my child had been suddenly taken ill andthe nurse had to leave the train hurriedly. She had only just time tocatch me and prevent me from going on. I am sorry. I should have likedto say good-bye."
"Make no apologies, I beg," I hastened to say courteously. But in myheart I trembled. What could this mean? Some fresh trick? She was sodesperately full of guile!
"But I thought you were bound for the other end of the lake," shecontinued. "Do you make a long stay at Geneva?"
"No. Do you?" I retorted.
"Probably. I begin to like the place, and I have found verycomfortable quarters at the Hotel Cornavin, near the station. You mayknow it."
Could this be really so? Her perfect frankness amazed me. I could notcredit it, much less understand it. There was surely some pitfall,some trap concealed for my abounding credulity.
"I also propose to stay some days, but am not yet established." I madeso bold as to suggest that I had a great mind to try her HotelCornavin.
"Why not?" she replied heartily. "The accommodation is good, nicerooms, civil people, decent _cuisine_. It might suit you."
She could not possibly have been more civil and gracious. Too civil byhalf, a more cautious man might have told himself.
The tram-car by this time had run through the Place Molard, theAllemand Marche, and was turning into the Rue de la Corraterie,pointing upward for the theatre and the Promenade des Bastions. Wherewas my involuntary companion bound?
She settled the question by getting out at the Place Neuve with a fewparting words.
"I have a call to make near here. I had forgotten it. Perhaps I mayhope to see you again. Do try the Cornavin. If so, _sans adieu_."
Was it good enough? I could not allow her to slip through my fingerslike this. What if her whole story was untrue, what if there was noHotel Cornavin, and no such guests there? I could not afford to lether out of my sight, and with one spring I also left the car and,catching a last glimpse of her retreating skirts, gave chase.
I cannot say whether she realized that I was following, but she led mea pretty dance. In and out, and round and round, by narrow streets anddark passages, backwards and forwards, as adroitly as any practisedthief eluding the hot pursuit of the police. At last she paused andlooked back, and thinking she had shaken me off (for knowing the gamewell I had hastily effaced myself in a doorway) plunged into theentrance of a small unpretending hotel in a quiet, retired square--theHotel Pierre Fatio, certainly not the Cornavin.
The door in which I had taken shelter was that of a dark third-ratecafe well suited to my purpose, and well placed, for I was in fullview of the Hotel Pierre Fatio, which I was resolved to watch at leastuntil my lady came out again. As I slowly absorbed an absinthe,revolving events past and to come, I thought it would be well to drawFalloon to me. It was past the hour for our meeting.
I scribbled three lines of a note and despatched it to the Cafe de laCouronne by a messenger to whom I fully described my colleague'sappearance, desiring him to show the addressed envelope beforedelivery, but having no doubt that it would reach its destination.
Presently Falloon joined me, and as my lady had as yet made no sign, Ibade him continue the watch, while I left the cafe openly andostentatiously, so that it might be seen by any one curious to knowthat I had given up the game.
Far from it. I designed only to try the Hotel Cornavin to ascertainthe real facts; and if, as I shrewdly suspected, I had been fooled,to return forthwith and rejoin Falloon at the true point of interest,taking such further steps as might seem desirable. I was chieflyanxious to regain touch and combine forces with Falfani.
There was no mistake, however, at the Cornavin Hotel. I had not beenfooled. I was told directly I asked at the bureau that a Mrs. Blair,accompanied by her maid and child, was staying in the house. Could Isee her? If monsieur would send up his card, it should be given her onher return. She was not at home for the moment. (I knew that.) Wouldmonsieur call again?
I was slow to congratulate myself on what seemed a point gained, for Ihad still my misgivings, but I would make the most of the chances thatoffered to my hand. I secured a room at the Cornavin Hotel, andbespoke another for Falfani, whom I should now summon at once. Withthis idea I took the earl
iest opportunity of telegraphing to him asfollows:
"Detained by unfortunate _contretemps_ at Lausanne, happily surmounted, clue lost and regained. Desire your cooeperation. Come instantly, Hotel Cornavin. She is here.
"LUDOVIC."
I noted the time of despatch, 4.17 P.M. It would surely reachFalfani before the last train left Brieg coming my way, and I hardlytrusted myself to anticipate the comfort and relief his appearancewould bring me. Combined we could tie ourselves to our quarry, andnever let her out of sight until our principals could take over andsettle the business.
Then hailing a cab, I drove to a point close by where I had leftFalloon, and found the situation entirely unchanged. No one had comeout of the Hotel Pierre Fatio. Mrs. Blair was paying a very long call,and I could not understand it. All the time I was haunted with a vagueand ever present idea that she meant to sell me. The more I torturedmy brain to consider how, the less I was able to fathom herintentions.
The time ran on, and I thought it would be prudent to return to my ownhotel. Mrs. Blair might have given us the slip, might have left bysome other issue, and I felt that my place was at the Cornavin, whereat least I knew she was staying. Falloon should stand his groundwhere he was, but I fully impressed upon him the importance of theduty entrusted to him.
I blessed my stars that I so decided. Mrs. Blair had not returned whenthe _table d'hote_ bell rang at the Cornavin, but I had hardlyswallowed the first spoonful of soup when Falloon appeared, hot andflurried, with very startling news.
"_Elle se sauve._ She is saving herself; she is running away," hecried. "Already her carriage enters the station--without doubt sheseeks the train for somewhere."
I jumped up, rushed from the room, caught up my hat, and hurriedacross the Square of Place Cornavin into the station. It was a clearcase of bolt. There she was ahead of me, quite unmistakable, walkingquickly, with her fine upright figure clad in the same pearl grayulster she had worn in the tram-car. She passed through the open doorsof the waiting-room on to the platform where the train was waitingwith engine attached.
"The 7.35 for Culoz and beyond by Amberieu to Paris," I was informedon inquiry.
"A double back," I concluded on the spot. She had had enough of it,and was going home again. In another minute or two she would haveeluded me once more.
My only chance now lay in prompt action. I, too, must travel by thistrain. To secure a ticket and board it was soon done. I chose acarriage at no great distance from that she had entered; a throughcarriage to Macon, and which I was resolved to watch closely, but yetI did not mean to show myself to its occupants if it could be helped.
As we were on the point of starting, I scribbled a few lines on a leaftorn from my pocket-book to inform Falfani of my hasty departure andthe reason for it. This I folded carefully and addressed to him,entrusting it to Falloon, who was to seek out my colleague at theHotel Cornavin after the arrival of the late train from Brieg, anddeliver it. At the same time I handed Falloon a substantial fee, butdesired him to offer his services to Falfani.
I saw no more of the lady. She did not show at Bellegarde when theFrench Customs' examination took place, nor yet at Culoz, and Ibelieved she was now committed to the journey northward. But as I wasdozing in my place and the train slowed on entering Amberieu, theguard whom I had suborned came to me with a hurried call.
"Monsieur, monsieur, you must be quick. Madame has descended and isjust leaving the station. No doubt for the Hotel de France, justopposite."
There she was indeed with all her belongings. (How well I knew them bythis time!) The maid with her child in arms, the porter with the lightbaggage.
I quickened my pace and entered the hotel almost simultaneously withher. Ranging up alongside I said, not without exultation:
"Geneva was not so much to your taste, then? You have left ratherabruptly."
"To whom are you speaking, sir?" she replied in a stiff, strangevoice, assumed, I felt sure, for the occasion. She was so closelyveiled that I could not see her face, but it was the same figure, thesame costume, the same air. Lady Blackadder that was, Mrs. Blair asshe now chose to call herself, I could have sworn to her among athousand.
"It won't do, madame," I insisted. "I'm not to be put off. I know allabout it, and I've got you tight, and I'm not going to leave go again.No fear." I meant to spend the night on guard, watching and waitingtill I was relieved by the arrival of the others, to whom Itelegraphed without delay.