CHAPTER XV
THE MICE IN A TRAP
They had a table in a cool, shady corner of the broad porch overlookingthe Place d'Armes and the Seine and its vociferous ferries. To theright runs the gleaming roadway that leads to the hills and gladesthrough which pomp and pride once strode with such fatal arrogance.Blue coated servitors attended them on their arrival, and watched overthem during their stay. It was as if Miss Guile were the fairy princesswho had but to wish and her slightest desire was gratified. Her guest,a real prince, marvelled not a little at the complete sway sheexercised over this somewhat autocratic army of menials. They bowed andscraped, and fetched, and carried, and were not Swiss but slaves inBagdad during the reign of its most illustrious Caliph, Al-harounRaschid the great. The magic of Araby could have been no more potentthan the spell this beautiful girl cast over the house of Mammon. Shelaid her finger upon a purse of gold and wished, and lo! the wonders ofthe magic carpet were repeated.
Robin remembered that Maud Applegate Blithers had spent the greaterpart of her life in Paris, and it was therefore not unreasonable tosuppose that she had spent something else as well. At any rate, thePavilion Bleu was a place where it _had_ to be spent if one wanted theattention accorded the few.
She had removed her veil, but he was not slow to perceive that she satwith her back to the long stretch of porch.
"Do you prefer this place to Armenonville or the Paillard at PreCatelan, Miss Guile?" he inquired, quite casually, but with a secretpurpose.
"No, it is stupid here, as a rule, and common. Still every one goes tothe other places in the afternoon and I particularly wanted to be asnaughty as possible, so I came here to-day."
"It doesn't strike me as especially naughty," he remarked.
"But it was very, very naughty before you and I were born, Mr. Schmidt.The atmosphere still remains, if one possesses a comprehensiveimagination."
"I daresay," said he, "but the imagination doesn't thrive on tea. Thosewere the days of burgundy and a lot of other red things."
"One doesn't need to be in shackles, to expatiate on the terrors of theBridge of Sighs," she said.
"Are you going to take me up to the park?"
"Yes. Into the Shadows."
"Oh, that's good! I'm sure my imagination will work beautifully when itisn't subdued by all these blue devils. I--_Que voulez vous?_" Thequestion was directed rather sharply to a particularly deferential"blue devil" who stood at his elbow.
"Monsieur Schmidt?"
"Yes. What's this? A letter! 'Pon my soul, how the deuce could anyone--" He got no farther, for Miss Guile's action in pulling down herveil and the subsequent spasmodic glance over her shoulder betrayedsuch an agitated state of mind on her part that his own sensations werechecked at the outset.
"There must be some one here who knows you, Mr. Schmidt," she saidnervously. "See what it says, please,--at once. I--perhaps we should bestarting home immediately."
Robin tore open the envelope. A glance showed him that the brief notewas from Gourou. A characteristic G served as a signature. As he read,a hard line appeared between his eyes and his expression grew serious.
"It is really nothing, Miss Guile," he said and prepared to tear thesheet into many pieces. "A stupid, alleged joke of a fellow who happensto know me, that's all."
"Don't tear it up!" she cried sharply. "What does it say? I have aright to know, Mr. Schmidt, even though it is only a joke. What hasthis friend of yours to say about me? What coarse, uncalled-for commenthas he to make about--"
"Let me think for a moment, Miss Guile," he interrupted, suddenlyrealising that it was time for reflection. After a moment he saidsoberly: "I think it would be wise if we were to leave instantly. Thereis nothing to be alarmed about, I assure you, but--well, we'd bettergo."
"Will you allow me to see that letter?" she asked, extending her hand.
"I'd rather not, if you don't mind."
"But I insist, sir! I'll not go a step from this place until I knowwhat all this is about."
"As it happens to concern you even more than it does me, I supposeyou'd better see what it says." He passed the letter over to her andwatched her narrowly as she read. Again the veil served as a competentmask.
"Who wrote this letter, Mr. Schmidt?" she demanded. Even through theveil he could see that her eyes were wide with--was it alarm or anger?
"A man named Gourou. He is a detective engaged on a piece of work forMr. Totten."
"Is it a part of his duty to watch your movements?" she asked, leaningforward.
"No. He is my friend, however," said Robin steadily. "According to thisepistle, it would appear that it is a part of his duty to keep track ofyou, not me. May I ask why you should be shadowed by two of his kind?"
She did not answer at once. When she spoke, it was with a determinedeffort to maintain her composure.
"I am sorry to have subjected you to all this, Mr. Schmidt. We willdepart at once. I find that the cat is never away, so we can't be mice.What a fool I've been." There was something suspiciously suggestive oftears in her soft voice.
He laid a hand upon the small fingers that clutched the crumpled sheetof paper. To have saved his life, he could not keep the choked, huskytremor out of his voice.
"The day is spoiled for you. That is my only regret. As for me, MissGuile, I am not without sin, so I may cast no stones. Pray regard me asa fellow culprit, and rest assured that I have no bone to pick withyou. I too am watched and yet I am no more of a criminal than you. Willyou allow me to say that I am a friend whose devotion cannot be shakenby all the tempests in the world?"
"Thank you," she said, and turned her hand under his to give it aquick, convulsive clasp. Her spirits seemed to revive under theresponsive grip. "You might have said all the tempests in a tea pot,for that is really what it amounts to. My father is a very foolish man.Will you send for the car?"
He called an attendant and ordered him to find Miss Guile's footman atonce. When he returned to the table, she was reading the note once more.
"It is really quite thrilling, isn't it?" she said, and there was stilla quaver of indignation in her voice. "Are you not mystified?"
"Not in the least," said he promptly, and drew a chair up close besidehers. "It's as plain as day. Your father has found you out, that's all.Let's read it again," and they read it together.
"A word to the wise," it began. "Two men from a private detectiveconcern have been employed since yesterday in watching the movements ofyour companion, for the purpose of safe-guarding her againstgood-looking young men, I suspect. I have it from the most reliable ofsources that her father engaged the services of these men almostsimultaneously with the date of our sailing from New York. It mayinterest you to know that they followed you to St. Cloud in ahigh-power car and no doubt are watching you as you read this messagefrom your faithful friend, who likewise is not far away."
"I should have anticipated this, Mr. Schmidt," she said ruefully. "Itis just the sort of thing my father would do."
"You seem to take it calmly enough."
"I am quite used to it. I would be worth a great deal to anyenterprising person who made it his business to steal me. There is nolimit to the ransom he could demand."
"You alarm me," he declared. "No doubt these worthy guardians look uponme as a kidnapper. I am inclined to shiver."
"'All's well that ends well,'" quoth she, pulling on her gloves, "Ishall restore you safely to the bosom of the Ritz and that will be theend of it."
"I almost wish that some one would kidnap you, Miss Guile. It wouldafford me the greatest pleasure in the world to snatch you from theirclutches. Your father would be saved paying the ransom but I shouldhave to be adequately rewarded. I fancy, however, that he wouldn't mindpaying the reward I should hold out for."
"I am quite sure he would give you anything you were to ask for, Mr.Schmidt," said she gaily. "You would be reasonable, of course."
"I might ask for the most precious of his possessions," said he,leaning forward to look dir
ectly into eyes that wavered and refused tomeet his.
"Curiosity almost makes me wish that I might be kidnapped. I shouldthen find out what you consider to be his most precious possession,"she said, and her voice was perilously low.
"I think I could tell you in advance," said he, his eyes shining.
"I--I prefer to find out in my own way, Mr. Schmidt," she stammeredhurriedly. Her confusion was immensely gratifying to him. There is notelling what might have happened to the Prince of Graustark at thatmoment if an obsequious attendant had not intervened with the earthlyinformation that the car was waiting.
"Good Lord," Robin was saying to himself as he followed her to thesteps, "was I about to go directly against the sage advice of oldGourou? Was I so near to it as that? In another minute--Gee, but it wasa close shave. She is adorable, she is the most adorable creature inthe world, even though she is the daughter of old man Blithers, andI--'gad I wonder what will come of it in the end? Keep a tight grip onyourself, Bobby, or you're a goner, sure as fate."
They were painfully aware of the fact that their progress down the longverandah was made under the surveillance of two, perhaps three pairs ofunwavering eyes, and because of it they looked neither to right norleft but as those who walk tight-ropes over dangerous places. There wassomething positively uncanny in the feeling that their every movementwas being watched by secret observers. Once inside the car, Miss Guilesank back with a long sigh of relief.
"Did you feel it, too?" she asked, with a nervous little catch in hervoice.
"I did," said he, passing his hand over his brow. "It was like beingalone in the dark with eyes staring at one from all sides of the room."
The car shot across the bridge and was speeding on its way toward theBois when Robin ventured a glance behind. Through the little window inthe back of the car he saw a big, swift-moving automobile not more thana quarter of a mile in their rear.
"Would you like to verify the report of my friend Gourou?" he asked,his voice quick with exhilaration. She knelt with one knee upon theseat and peered back along the road.
"There they are!" she cried. She threw the veil back over her hat asshe resumed her seat in the corner. Her eyes were fairly dancing withexcitement. The warm red lips were parted and she was breathingquickly. Suddenly she laid her hand over her heart as if to check itslively thumping. "Isn't it splendid? We are being pursued--actuallychased by the man-hunters of Paris! Oh, I was never so happy in mylife. Isn't it great?"
"It is glorious!" he cried exultantly. "Shall I tell the chauffeur tohit it up a bit? Let's make it a real chase."
"Yes, do! We'll see if we can foil them, as they say in the books. Oh,wouldn't it be wonderful if we were to--to--what do you call it? Givethem the slip, isn't that it?"
"I'm game," said he, with enthusiasm. For a second or two they lookedstraight into each other's eyes and a message was exchanged that nevercould have been put into words. No doubt it was the flush of eagerexcitement that darkened their cheeks. In any case, it came swiftly andwent as quickly, leaving them paler than before and vastlyself-conscious. And after that brief, searching look they knew thatthey could never be as they were before the exchange. They were nolonger strangers to each other, but shy comrades and filled with adelicious sense of wonder.
Robin gave hurried directions through the speaking tube to theattentive footman, and so explicit were these directions that thegreatest excitement prevailed upon the decorous front seat of thecar--first the footman looked back along the road, then the chauffeur,after which a thrill of excitement seemed to fairly race up and downtheir liveried backs. The car itself took a notion to quiver with thepromise of joy unrestrained. In less than a minute they were going morethan a mile a minute over a short stretch of the Avenue de Longchamp.At the Porte de Hippodrome they slowed down and ran into the Bois,taking the first road to the left. In a few minutes they were scuddingpast Longchamp at a "fair clip" to quote R. Schmidt. Instead ofdiverging into the Allee de Longchamp, the car took a sharp turn intothe Avenue de l'Hippodrome and, at the intersection, doubled back overthe Allee de la Heine Marguerite, going almost to the Boulogne gate,where again it was sent Parisward over the Avenue de St. Cloud.
Miss Guile was in command of the flight. She called out theinstructions to the driver and her knowledge of the intricate routesthrough the park stood them well in hand. Purposely she evaded theCascades, circling the little pools by narrow, unfrequented roads,coming out at last to the Porte de la Muette, where they left the parkand took to the Avenue Henri Martin. It was her design to avoid thecustomary routes to the heart of the city, and all would have gone wellwith them had not fate in the shape of two burly _sergents de ville_intervened at a time when success seemed most certain. It was quiteclear to the pursued that the car containing their followers had beensuccessfully eluded and was no doubt in the Champs Elysees by thistime. For some time there had been a worried look in the Prince's eyes.Once he undertook to remonstrate with his fair companion.
"My dear Miss Guile, we'll land in jail if we keep up this hair-raisingspeed. There wouldn't be any fun in that, you know."
She gave him a scornful look. "Are you afraid, Mr. Schmidt?"
"Not on my own account," said he, "but yours. I've heard that the newregulations are extremely rigid."
"Pooh! I'm not afraid of the police. They--why, what's the matter? Oh,goodness!"
The car had come to a somewhat abrupt stop. Two policemen, dismountedfrom their bicycles, formed an insurmountable obstruction. They werealmost in the shade of the Trocadero.
"Do not be alarmed," whispered Robin to the fast paling girl, intowhose eyes the most abject misery had leaped at the sight of the twoofficers. "Leave it to me. I can fix them all right. There's nothing tobe worried about--well, _sergent_, what is it?"
The polite officers came up to the window with their little note-books.
"I regret, m'sieur, that we shall be obliged to conduct yourself andmademoiselle to the office of a magistrate. Under the new regulationsset forth in the order of last May, motorists may be given a hearing atonce. I regret to add that m'sieur has been exceeding the speed limit.A complaint came in but a few minutes ago from the Porte de la Muetteand we have been ordered to intercept the car. You may follow us to theoffice of the magistrate, m'sieur. It will soon be over, mademoiselle."
"But we can explain--" she began nervously.
The _sergent_ held up his hand. "It is not necessary to explain,mademoiselle. Too many motorists have explained in the past but thatdoes not restore to life the people they have killed in the pursuit ofpleasure. Paris is enforcing her laws."
"But, _sergent_, I alone am to blame for any violation of the law,"said Robin suavely. "Surely it is only necessary that I shouldaccompany you to the magistrate. The young lady is in no wayresponsible--"
"Alas, m'sieur," said the man firmly but as if he were quitebroken-hearted, "it is not for me to disobey the law, even though youmay do so. It is necessary for the lady to appear before the Judge, andit is our duty to convey her there. The new law explicitly says thatall occupants of said car shall be subject to penalty under the lawwithout reprieve or pardon!"
"Where are your witnesses?" demanded Robin.
The two men produced their watches and their notebooks, tapping themsignificantly.
"M'sieur will not think of denying that he has been running morerapidly than the law allows," said the second officer. "It will goharder with him if he should do so."
"I shall insist upon having an advocate to represent me before--"
"As you like, m'sieur," said the first officer curtly. "Proceed!" heuttered as a command to the chauffeur, and forthwith mounted his wheel.A score of people had gathered round them by this time, and Miss Guilewas crouching back in her corner. Her veil was down. In single file, soto speak, they started off for the office of the nearest magistrateappointed under the new law governing automobiles. A policeman pedaledahead of the car and another followed.
"Isn't it dreadful?" whispered Miss Guile.
"What do you think they willdo to us? Oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Schmidt, to have dragged you into thishorrid--"
"I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world," said he soearnestly that she sat up a little straighter and caught her breath."After all, they will do no more than assess a fine against us. Ahundred francs, perhaps. That is nothing."
"I am not so sure of that," said she gloomily. "My friends were sayingonly yesterday that the new law provides for imprisonment as well.Paris has constructed special prisons for motorists, and people arecompelled to remain in them for days and weeks at a time. Oh, I hope--"
"I'll inquire of the footman," said Robin. "He will know." The footman,whose face was very long and serious, replied through the tube thatvery few violators escaped confinement in the "little prisons." He alsosaid "Mon dieu" a half dozen times, and there was a movement of thedriver's pallid lips that seemed to indicate a fervent echo.
"I shall telephone at once--to my friends," said Miss Guile, a note ofanger in her voice. "They are very powerful in Paris. We shall putthose miserable wretches in their proper places. They--"
"We must not forget. Miss Guile, that we _were_ breaking the law," saidRobin, who was beginning to enjoy the discomfiture of this spoiledbeauty, this girl whose word was a sort of law unto itself.
"It is perfect nonsense," she declared. "We did no harm. Goodness! Whatis this?"
Four or five policemen on wheels passed by the car, each with aforbidding glance through the windows.
"They are the boys we left behind us," paraphrased Robin soberly. "Thepark policemen. They've just caught us up, and, believe me, they lookserious, too. I dare say we are in for it."
In a very few minutes the procession arrived at a low, formidablelooking building on a narrow side street. The cavalcade of policemendismounted and stood at attention while Mademoiselle and Monsieur gotdown from the car and followed a polite person in uniform through thedoors. Whereupon the group of _sergents de ville_ trooped in behind,bringing with them the neatly liveried servants with the golden letterL on their cuffs.
"I believe there is a jail back there," whispered the slim culprit, aquaver in her voice. She pointed down the long, narrow corridor at theend of which loomed a rather sinister looking door with thickbolt-heads studding its surface.
An instant later they were ushered into a fair-sized room on the leftof the hall, where they were commanded to sit down. A lot of chairsstood about the room, filling it to the farthest corners, while at theextreme end was the Judge's bench.
"I insist on being permitted to telephone to friends--to my legaladvisors,--" began Miss Guile, with praiseworthy firmness, only to besilenced by the attendant, who whispered shrilly that a trial was inprogress, couldn't she see?
Two dejected young men were standing before the Judge, flanked by three_sergents de ville_. Robin and Miss Guile stared wide-eyed at theirfellow criminals and tried to catch the low words spoken by the fatMagistrate. Once more they were ordered to sit down, this time notquite so politely, and they took seats in the darkest corner of theroom, as far removed from justice as possible under the circumstances.
Presently a young man approached them. He was very nice looking andastonishingly cheerful. The hopes of the twain went up with a bound.His expression was so benign, so bland that they at once jumped to theconclusion that he was coming to tell them that they were free to go,that it had all been a stupid mistake. But they were wrong. Hesmilingly introduced himself as an advocate connected with the court byappointment and that he would be eternally grateful to them if theywould tell him what he could do for them.
"I'd like to have a word in private with the Magistrate," said thePrince of Graustark eagerly.
"Impossible!" said the advocate, lifting his eyebrows and his smartlittle mustachios in an expression of extreme amazement. "It isimposs--" A sharp rapping on the Judge's desk reduced the remainder ofthe sentence to a delicate whisper--"ible. M'sieur."
"Will you conduct me to a telephone booth?" whispered Miss Guile,tearfully.
"Pray do not weep, Mademoiselle," implored the advocate, profoundlymoved, but at the same time casting a calculating eye over the lucklesspair.
"Well, what's to be done?" demanded Robin. "We insist on having our ownlegal advisors here."
"The court will not delay the hearing, M'sieur," explained the youngman. "Besides, the best legal advisor in Paris could do no more than toadvise you to plead guilty. I at least can do that quite as ably as thebest of them. No one ever pretends to defend a case in the automobilecourts, M'sieur. It is a waste of time, and the court does not approveof wasting time. Perhaps you will feel more content if I introduce theassistant public prosecutor, who will explain the law. That is his onlyduty. He does not prosecute. There is no need. The _sergents_ testifyand that is all there is to the case."
"May I inquire what service you can be to us if the whole business iscut and dried like that?" asked Robin.
"Not so loud, M'sieur. As I said before, I can advise you in respect toyour plea, and I can tell you how to present your statement to thecourt. I can caution you in many ways. Sometimes a prisoner, who iswell-rehearsed, succeeds in affecting the honourable Magistrate nicely,and the punishment is not so severe."
"So you advise us to plead guilty as delicately as possible?"
"I shall not advise you, M'sieur, unless it pleases you to retain me asyour counsellor. The fee is small. Ten francs. Inasmuch as the amountis charged against you in the supplemental costs, it seems foolish notto take advantage of what you are obliged to pay for in any event. Youwill have to pay my fee, so you may as well permit me to be of serviceto you."
"My only concern is over Mademoiselle," said the Prince. "You may sendme to jail if you like, if you'll only--"
"Mon dieu! I am not the one who enjoys the distinguished honour ofbeing permitted to send people to jail, but the Judge, M'sieur."
"It is ridiculous to submit this innocent young lady to the humiliationof--"
"It is not only ridiculous but criminal," said the advocate, with amagnificent bow. "But what is one to do when it is the law? Of late,the law is peculiarly sexless. And now here is where I come in. It is Iwho shall instruct you--both of you, Mademoiselle--how to conductyourselves before the Magistrate. Above all things, do not attempt tocontradict a single statement of the police. Admit that all they say istrue, even though they say that you have run over a child or an oldwoman with mortal results. It will go much easier with you. Exercisethe gravest politeness and deference toward the honourable Magistrateand to every officer of the court. You are Americans, no doubt. Thecourts are prone to be severe with the Americans because they sometimesundertake to tell them how easy it is to get the right kind of justicein your wonderfully progressive United States. Be humble, contrite,submissive, for that is only justice to the court. If you have killedsome one in your diversions, pray do not try to tell the magistratethat the idiot ought to have kept his eyes open. Another thing: do notinform the court that you require a lawyer. That is evidence of extremeculpability and he will consider you to be inexcusably guilty. Are youattending? Pray do not feel sorry for the two young men who are nowbeing led away. See! They are weeping. It is as I thought. They aregoing to prison for--But that is their affair, not ours. I advised themas I am advising you, but they insisted on making a statement of theircase. That was fatal, for it failed in many respects to corroborate theinformation supplied by the police. It-"
"What was the charge against them?" whispered Miss Guile, quaking. Shehad watched the exit of the tearful young men, one of whom was sobbingbitterly, and a great fear possessed her.
"Of that, Mademoiselle, I am entirely ignorant, but they wereunmistakably guilty of denying it, whatever it was."
"Are they going to prison?" she gasped.
"It is not that which causes them to weep so bitterly, but theknowledge that their names are to be posted on the bulletin boards inthe Place de l'Opera, the Place de l'Concorde, the--"
"Good Lord!" gasped Robin. "Is _t
hat_ being done?"
"It is M'sieur, and the effect is marvellous. Three months ago theboards were filled with illustrious names; to-day there are but few tobe found upon them. The people have discovered that the courts are inearnest. The law is obeyed as it never was before. The prisons werecrowded to suffocation at one time; now they are almost empty. It is agood law. To-day a mother can wheel her baby carriage in the thickestof the traffic and run no risk of--Ah, but here is the assistantprosecutor coming. Permit me to further warn you that you will beplaced under oath to tell the absolute truth. The prosecutor will askbut three questions of you: your age, your name and your place ofresidence. All of them you must answer truthfully, especially as toyour names. If it is discovered that you have falsely given a name notyour own, the lowest penalty is sixty days in prison, imposedafterwards in addition to the sentence you will receive for violatingthe traffic laws. I have performed my duty as required by thecommissioner. My fee is a fixed one, so you need not put your hand intoyour pocket, M'sieur. Good day. Mademoiselle--good day, M'sieur." Hebowed profoundly and gave way to the impatient prosecutor, who hadconsiderately held himself aloof while the final words were beinguttered, albeit he glanced at his watch a couple of times.
"Come," he said, and he did not whisper; "let us be as expeditious aspossible. Approach the court. It is--"
"See here," said Robin savagely, "this is too damned high-handed. Arewe to have no chance to defend ourselves? We--"
"Just as you please, M'sieur," interrupted the prosecutor patiently."It is nothing to me. I receive my fee in any event. If you care todefy the law in addition to what you have already done, it is not forme to object."
"Well, I insist on having--"
A thunderous pounding on the bench interrupted his hot-headed speech.
"Attend!" came in a sharp, uncompromising voice from the bench. "Whatis the delay? This is no time to think. All that should have been donebefore. Step forward! _Sergent_, see that the prisoners step forward."
Robin slipped his arm through Miss Guile's, expecting her to droopheavily upon it for support. To his surprise she drew herself up,dis-engaged herself, and walked straight up to the bench, without fearor hesitation. It was Robin who needed an example of courage andfortitude, not she. The chauffeur and footman, shivering in theirelegance, already stood before the bench.
"Will you be so kind as to raise your veil, Madam?" spake the court.
She promptly obeyed. He leaned forward with sudden interest. Theprosecutor blinked and abruptly overcame the habitual inclination toappear bored. Such ravishing beauty had never before found its way intothat little court-room. Adjacent moustaches were fingered somewhatconvulsively by several _sergents de ville._
"Ahem!" said the court, managing with some difficulty to regain hisjudicial form. "I am compelled by law, Mademoiselle, to warn you beforeyou are placed under oath that the lowest penalty for giving a falsename in answer to the charge to be brought against you is imprisonmentfor not less than sixty days. I repeat this warning to you, young man.Be sworn, if you please."
Robin experienced a queer sense of exultation, not at all lessened bythe knowledge that he would be forced to reveal his own identity. "Wouldshe call herself Bedelia Guile or would she--"
"State your name, Mademoiselle," said the prosecutor.