CHAPTER XXXII
Berrington was at a loss to know whether to be pleased or not at hisdiscovery. It might prove to be an important clue, on the other hand itmight point to more violence than Berrington had anticipated. It was notan old collar, as Berrington could see by the date of it; apparently ithad only been worn once, for there was no laundry mark upon it, thoughit was dirty, more dirty than a fastidious man like Sir Charles wouldhave used.
There was absolutely nothing further to be seen in the vault, soBerrington climbed thoughtfully out of it again. He readjusted thefloor, for he had no wish for his handiwork to remain. He would wait nowfor Beatrice to emerge and see her safely on her way home. A littlelater on, perhaps, and he would have a great deal of useful informationto impart to Inspector Field.
He opened the door of the dining-room and listened. It seemed to himthat the voices in the study had been raised a little. If he could giveBeatrice a warning he would do so. Very quietly he pushed back theswinging baize door and looked in. At the same moment Beatrice wasadjusting her hat before the mirror. Their eyes met and Berrington wassatisfied. He had told Beatrice as plainly as if he had spoken in words,that he was close by and that she was to look to him for protection ifnecessary. That being so, he crept silently away again.
It was a wise precaution, for the front door opened and two people camein, giving Berrington hardly time to get in the shelter of thedining-room. He was at no loss to identify the newcomers, for had he notmet them in that very room when he had discovered the gang who were moreor less instrumental in the disappearance of Sir Charles Darryll?
That the precious pair were after no good, needed no saying. Berringtongrimly congratulated himself on the fact that Sartoris had provided himwith a weapon which was in his pocket at the very moment. He wouldlounge in the vicinity of the study, and if anything happened, ifBeatrice called out for assistance or anything of that kind, he would bein a position to render efficient service. It was no part of his game toshow himself to these people without urgent reasons for so doing.
He waited there while Beatrice was confronting the trio; she had madeher discovery, and the others were aware of the fact. Beatrice wasconscious that her heart was beating faster. She looked around for someavenue of escape. Then her courage rose again as she remembered thatBerrington was close at hand and ready to assist her.
"I will not stay here any longer," the girl said. "It seems to me that Iam in the way. Please to step aside and let me pass. Do you hear me?"
The man called Reggie grinned. He did not make the smallest attempt tomove from the door. He would have touched Beatrice had she not drawnback.
"I do not desire to detain you," he said. "Only you made a certainremark just now that calls for an explanation. You mean that this ladyand myself----"
"You know exactly what I mean," Beatrice cried. She was getting angrynow, and the sneering smile on the face of Sartoris did not tend tosoothe her. "Out of your own mouth you have proved what I did notknow--that you are dangerous thieves."
"Oh, indeed. Do you not know that such language is actionable?"
"I know that it is true," Beatrice said coldly. "There are yourphotographs up there. Did you not say so only a moment ago? I am greatlyobliged for the information."
The girl stepped across the room and removed the two photographs fromtheir places. Nobody interfered; as a matter of fact, they were allsecretly admiring the girl's courage.
"These two faces I know," she said. "That is Countess de la Moray, andthat is the man who called himself General Gastang. They were staying atthe hotel on the night that my poor dear father's body so strangelydisappeared. The Countess was so good as to extend to me her deepestsympathy; she asked me to go and stay with her in Paris."
The woman called Cora laughed. The comedy of it appealed to her and shecould not help it. She was thinking of the easy way in which she haddeceived Beatrice. Something like an oath came from Sartoris. He had hisown very good reasons why Beatrice should be deceived in this matter.
"I assure you that you are quite mistaken," he said.
"Indeed I am nothing of the kind," Beatrice cried. "Now that I know thetruth, I can see the likeness plainly enough. I don't say that I shouldhave done so had I not had so strong a hint a little while ago, but youcannot disguise features out of recognition. And I say that those twopeople are no more than vulgar swindlers."
Again the woman laughed, but the man's face grew dark.
"You are very bold," the man called Reggie growled. "If you have anyfriends near----"
It was on the tip of Beatrice's tongue to say that she had, but shewisely restrained herself. At the same time it was good to be remindedthat Berrington was close by and that perhaps he was listening to theconversation at the present moment.
"I am stating no more than the truth," Beatrice went on. "The so-calledCountess came to me and she pretended sympathy. She made me believe thatshe was an old friend of my father. Then she went away, leaving GeneralGastang to talk to me. I will tell you presently what she was going todo. I have been finding out things for myself."
The woman did not laugh this time; there was an angry spot on eithercheek.
"You are piquante and interesting," she said. "Pray believe that I amlistening to you with the deepest attention. It is good to have one'sthoughts read for one in this fashion."
"I was alone with the General," said Beatrice, ignoring the last speakeraltogether. "Fortunately for me, the General recognized someacquaintance--probably a police officer--for he disappeared discreetlyand left me to myself and my suspicions. My suspicions led me to mybedroom presently, where I had left some extremely valuable diamonds."
"The same that you have in your pocket at the present moment," the womanCora exclaimed. "If----"
A furious oath rang out from the man Reggie. Just for a moment it lookedas if he were about to strike the incautious speaker. She reddened andgrew confused. Sartoris listened, with an evil grin on his face. Heseemed to be amused at something.
"It is good of my friends to come here to-night," he said. "So kind anddisinterested. I shall know how to thank them later on. Pray proceed."
"In my bedroom was the Countess," Beatrice cried. She was so staggeredto find that her possession of the gems was known to this couple thatshe could hardly proceed. "The Countess had evidently been overhaulingmy belongings. But I was just in time."
"Call me a thief at once," the woman burst out furiously. "Why don't youdo it?"
"As yet I have no legal proofs to justify me in so doing," Beatricesaid. "But I have not the least doubt in my own mind. You were goodenough to come back and pretend that your maid was ill, and you weregood enough to let me smell that scent, so that you gave me a sleep thatrendered me insensible to the strange things that were taking place sonear me."
"You seem to know a great deal," the woman Cora sneered.
"Indeed I do," Beatrice went on. "I know that you were in my bedroomplanning some villainy with my husband; I know that you took waximpressions of the seals of my father's room; I know the part you bothplayed afterwards. Then you disappeared, leaving no signs behind. Butyou have been so kind as to confess your own identity. You will be welladvised to stand aside and let me pass."
Just for a moment it looked as if Beatrice's audacity was going to carryher through. But it was Sartoris who interfered this time. His face hadgrown black; he had thrown aside all traces of amiability now.
"You are a very clever young lady," he said with a dry sneer. "A mostexceedingly and remarkably clever young lady. But you are too proud ofyour discoveries, you talk too much. You see, these good people arefriends of mine."
"I know that," Beatrice retorted. "But one thing I am certain of--hadyou known what was going to happen, those photographs would never havebeen left for me to see. You need not have been under the necessity oflying about them, and I should have gone away, never dreaming that I hadmet the Countess and the General again."
"Do I understand that you drag me into your cha
rge?" Sartoris demandedangrily.
"Certainly I do," Beatrice cried. Her blood was up now; anger had gotthe better of discretion. She was furious to feel that she had beenlured into a den of swindlers, and so all her sagacity and prudence hadgone to the winds. "Those people are accomplices of yours; the very liethat you told me proves the fact. And you, the lame man in the hansomcab----"
Beatrice got no further, for a howl of rage from Sartoris prevented morewords. The cripple wheeled his chair across the room and barred thedoor.
"You shall pay for this," he said furiously. "You know too much. Thatanybody should dare to stand there before me and say what you have saidto me----"
He seemed to be incapable of further speech. The man called Reggie bentover Beatrice and whispered something in her ear. She caught the wordsmechanically----
"Give me what you have in your pocket," he said, "and I will see youthrough. Don't hesitate--what are a few paltry diamonds compared withyour life? For that is in danger, and far greater danger than you know.Pass those stones over, quick."
But Beatrice was not going to be bullied like that. Above allthings--the knowledge stood out before her that Berrington was not faroff. She had only to call for assistance, and he would be by her side atonce. The girl's eyes dilated, but not with fear as the man imagined.
"I am not so helpless as you imagine," Beatrice said. "And you willnever get what you want unless you resort to violence. Now youunderstand me."
The man smiled. He had an eye for beauty and courage, rogue though hewas. But he had to reckon with Sartoris, who seemed to be recovering hisself-possession.
"What are you muttering about?" he asked suspiciously. "Ah, what wasthat? Did you hear it?"
The trio stood listening, quivering with excitement, tense in everylimb. With a loud cry Beatrice flung herself at the door and beat uponit madly.