CHAPTER XXVII
THE MILLIONAIRE, THE STRANGER, AND THE PRINCESS
As the three men threaded their way through the crowded Strand andapproached the Hotel Cecil, Fullaway suddenly drew their attention to aprivate automobile which was turning in at the entrance to the courtyard.
"There's Delkin, in his car," he exclaimed, "and, great Scott, there'sour Princess with him--Nastirsevitch! But who's the other man? Looks likea compatriot of ours, Van Koon, eh?"
Van Koon, who had been staring about him as they crossed over from thecorner of Wellington Street, turned and glanced at the occupants of thecar. Allerdyke was looking there, too. He had never seen Delkin as yet,and he was curious to set eyes on a man who had made several millions outof canning meat. He had no very clear conception of Americanmillionaires, and he scarcely knew what he expected to see. But therewere two men in the car with the Princess Nastirsevitch, and they wereboth middle-aged. One man was a tall, handsome, military-looking fellow,dressed in grey tweeds and wearing a Homburg hat of light grey with adarker band; his upturned, grizzled moustache gave him a smart, ratheraggressive appearance; the monocle in his eye added to his generalimpressiveness. The other man was not particularly impressive--a mediumsized, rather plump little man, with a bland, smiling countenance andmild eyes beaming through gold-rimmed spectacles; he sat with his back tothe driver, and was just then leaning forward to tell something to thePrincess and the man in the Homburg hat who were bending towards him and,smiling at what he said.
"Which of 'em is Delkin, then?" asked Allerdyke as the automobile sweptinto the courtyard. "Big or little?"
"The little fellow with the spectacles," replied Fullaway. "Quiet,unobtrusive man, Delkin--but cute as they're made. Know the other man,Van Koon?"
Van Koon had twisted round and was staring back in the direction fromwhich they had come, he shook his head, a little absent-mindedly.
"Not from Adam," he answered, "but there's a man--Bostonian--just gonealong there that I do know and want to see badly. Wait a bit for me inthe courtyard there, Fullaway--shan't be long."
He turned as he spoke, and darted off through the crowd, unusually denseat that moment because of the luncheon hour. Fullaway, making no comment,walked forward into the courtyard and looked about him. Suddenly henodded his head towards a far corner.
"There's Delkin and the Princess, and the man who was with them, sittingat a table over there," he said. "I didn't know that Delkin and thePrincess were acquainted. But then, of course, they're both staying inthis hotel, and they're both American. Well, shall we go to them now,Allerdyke, or shall we sit down here and wait a bit for Van Koon?"
"We'll wait," replied Allerdyke. He dropped into a chair and drew out hiscigarette-case. "Have a drink while we're waiting?" he suggested,beckoning a waiter who was passing. "What's it to be?"
"Oh--something small, then," said Fullaway. "Dry sherry. Better bringthree--Van Koon won't be long."
But the minutes passed and Van Koon was still absent. Ten minutes morewent, and still he did not come. And Fullaway pulled out his watch withan air of annoyance.
"Too bad of Van Koon," he said. "Time's going, and I know Delkin lunchesat two o'clock. Come on, Allerdyke," he continued, rising, "we'll go overto Delkin. If Van Koon comes, he'll find us. He's probably gone off withthat other man, though--he's an absent-minded chap in some things, andtoo much given to the affair of the moment. Come on--I'll introduce you."
The Chicago millionaire, once put in possession of Allerdyke's name,looked at him with manifest curiosity, and motioned him and Fullaway totake seats with himself and his two companions.
"We were just talking of your case, Mr. Allerdyke," he said quietly. "ThePrincess, of course, has told me about you. Fullaway, I don't know if youknow this gentleman--his name's well enough known, anyway. This gentlemanis Mr. Chilverton, the famous New York detective. Chilverton--Mr.Fullaway, Mr. Allerdyke."
Fullaway and Allerdyke both looked at the man in the Homburg hat withgreat interest as they shook hands with him. Fullaway at any rate knew ofhis world-wide reputation; Allerdyke faintly remembered that he had heardof him in connection with some great criminal affair.
"Been telling Mr. Chilverton about our business, Mr. Delkin?" askedFullaway pleasantly. "Asking his expert advice?"
"I've told him no more than what he could read for himself in thenewspapers," answered Delkin. "He's got stuff of his own to attend to,here in London. About our affair now, as you call it, Fullaway. It's notmy affair, or I guess I'd have been more into it by this time. ThePrincess here thinks things are going real slow, and so do I. What do youthink, Mr. Allerdyke!"
"It's a case in which things go slow of sheer necessity," repliedAllerdyke. "It's a case of widespread ramifications--to use a long word.But--we keep having developments, Mr. Delkin. There's been one thismorning. We came to see you about it--and perhaps you'll let Fullawaytell!--he'll put things into fewer words than I should."
"Sure!" answered the millionaire. "Go ahead, Fullaway--we're allinterested."
Fullaway briefly told the story of the discovery at the hotel in theDocks that morning, and explained the deductions which had been made fromit. He detailed the connection of Ebers, alias Federman or Herman, withhimself, and reported the conversation which had just taken place at hisown rooms. And then he turned to Allerdyke, with an expressive gesture.
"I'll let Allerdyke say why we came here," he said. "It was his idea andVan Koon's--not mine. Your turn, Allerdyke."
"I shan't be slow to take it," responded Allerdyke, stirring himself."I'm one business man--Mr. Delkin's another. I only want to ask you,Mr. Delkin, if you ever talked of this jewel transaction to anybodybeyond your own secretary? It's a plain question, and you'll understandwhy I ask it."
"Of course," replied Delkin genially. "Quite right to ask. I can answerit in one word. No! As to telling my secretary, Merrifield, who's beenwith me twelve years, and is a thoroughly trustworthy man, I merely toldhim sufficient for him to write and send that formal letter--he knew, andknows (at least, not from me) no details. No, sir!--never a word from megot about--not even to my own daughter. Of course, the Princess here andmyself have discussed matters--since she came. And now that you're here,Fullaway, I'll tell you what I think--straight out. I think this affairhas all been planned from your own office!"
Fullaway flushed and sat up in an attitude of sudden indignation.
"Oh, come, Mr. Delkin!" he exclaimed. "I--"
"Go softly, young man." said Delkin. "I mean no harm to you, and noreflections on you. But you know, I've been in your office a few times,and I have eyes in my head. What do you know about that fascinating youngwoman you have there? I'm a pretty good judge of human nature andcharacter, and I should say that young lady is as clever and deep as theymake 'em. Who is she? There's one thing sure from what you've just toldus, Fullaway--you let her know all your business secrets."
Fullaway made no attempt to conceal his chagrin and vexation.
"I've had Mrs. Marlow in my employ for three years," he answered. "Shecame to me with excellent testimonials and references. I've just asmuch reason to trust her as you have to trust Merrifield. If she'dbeen untrustworthy, she could have robbed or defrauded me many a timeover; she--"
"Did she ever have the chance of getting hold of a quarter of a million'sworth of jewels before?" asked Delkin with a shrewd glance at Allerdyke."Come, now! Even the most trusted people fall before a very bigtemptation. All business folk know that. What's Mr. Allerdyke think?"
Allerdyke was not going to say what he thought. He was wondering ifFullaway knew what he knew--that Mrs. Marlow was also Miss Slade, thatshe had some relations with a man who also bore two different names, thather actions were somewhat suspicious. But that was not the time to sayall this--he said something non-committal instead.
"There seems to be no doubt that the knowledge that my cousin wascarrying the jewels leaked out here--and from Fullaway's office,"he answered.
"Through this fellow Eb
ers!" broke in Fullaway excitedly. "It's all rotto think that Mrs. Marlow had anything to do with it! Great Scott!--doany of you mean to suggest that she engineered several murders, and--"
Delkin laughed--a soft, cynical laugh.
"You're lumping a lot of big stuff altogether, Fullaway," he remarkeddrily. "Do you know what I think of all this business? I think thateverybody's jumping at conclusions. There are lots of questions,problems, difficulties that want solving and answering before I come toany conclusion. I'll tell you what they are," he went on bending forwardin his lounge chair and looking from one to the other of the faces aroundhim and beginning to tick off his points on the tips of his fingers."Listen! One--Was James Allerdyke really murdered, or did he die anatural death? Two--Had James Allerdyke those jewels in his possessionwhen he entered that S---- Hotel at Hull! Three--Has the robbery, ordisappearance, of the Princess Nastirsevitch's jewels anything whateverto do with the theft of Mademoiselle de Longarde's property? Four--Wasthat man Lydenberg shot in Hull as a result of some connection witheither, or both, of these affairs, or was he murdered for private orpolitical reasons? Let me get a clear understanding of everything that'sbehind all these problems," he concluded, with a knowing smile, "and I'lltell you something!"
"You think it possible that the Nastirsevitch affair is the work of onelot, and the Lennard affair the work of another?" asked Allerdyke,thoughtfully. "In that case, I'll ask you a question, Mr. Delkin. How doyou account for the fact that my cousin James, the Frenchwoman, LisetteBeaurepaire, and his valet, Ebers, or Federman, or Herman, were all founddead under similar circumstances? Come, now!"
"Aye, but were they?" demanded Delkin, clapping his hands together with asmile of triumphantly suggestive doubt. "Were they? You don't know--andthe expert analysts don't know yet, and perhaps never will. I'll grantyou that there's a strong probability that Ebers and the French maid werevictims of the same murderer; but that doesn't prove that your cousinwas. No, sir!--my impression is that everybody is taking too much forgranted. And whether it offends you or not, Fullaway--and my intention'sgood--you ought to make drastic researches into your officeprocedure--you know what I mean. The leakage of the secret, sir, camefrom--there!"
Fullaway rose.
"Well, I shan't do any good by sitting here," he said, a little huffily."If I'm going to begin those drastic researches I'd better begin. Coming,Allerdyke?"
The two men walked away together after taking leave of the millionaireand the Princess. But before they were clear of the courtyard,Chilverton caught them and tapped Fullaway on the elbow.
"Say!" he said confidentially. "You won't mind my asking you--who's thisVan Koon that you mentioned?"
"Man from our side who's been here in London all this spring," answeredFullaway promptly. "He was coming with Allerdyke and me just now, but heturned back--just when you and Delkin drove in here."
Chilverton gave Fullaway a quick look.
"Did he see me?" he asked.
"Sure!" replied Fullaway. "Asked who you were--or I did."
"You did," remarked Allerdyke. "Then he went off."
"Describe him," said Chilverton. He listened attentively while Fullawaygave him a sketch of Van Koon's appearance. "Um!" he continued. "Do youmind my walking to your hotel with you? I believe I know that man, andI'd like to see him."
A hall-porter was standing at the door of the Waldorf who had beenthere when the three men went out together at one o'clock. Fullawaybeckoned him.
"Seen anything of Mr. Van Koon?" he asked.
"Mr. Van Koon?--yes, sir. He came back a few minutes after you and Mr.Allerdyke and he had gone out, got a suit-case from upstairs, left wordthat he'd be away for the night, and went off in a taxi, sir," answeredthe man. "Seemed to be in a great hurry, sir!"
Before Fullaway could speak, Chilverton seized the hall-porter's arm."Did you hear him give the cab-driver any direction?"
"Yes, sir," replied the man promptly. "St. Pancras Station, sir."
Without a word, Chilverton turned, hurried out to the pavement, andleapt into a taxi-cab that was standing there unengaged. In anotherinstant the taxi-cab was off, and Allerdyke and Fullaway turned to eachother. Then Allerdyke laughed.
"That's why Van Koon turned back, Fullaway," he said in a low voice. "Herecognized Chilverton. Now, then--why did that recognition make him run?And--who is he?"