CHAPTER XV
THE SEARCH
Hunt's expression was not polite, nor was it intended for ears feminine.His almost eager face fell; he was evidently thinking of nothing elsebut his paper. He would have ruined every kingdom in the universe,including the State that gave him birth, to get a scoop on his rivals.Just for a moment it flashed across his mind that he had been betrayedfor higher money.
But that was hardly possible. No English paper would have dared to givethat information to the world. It would have aroused the indignation ofevery patriotic Briton, and the circulation of even the yellowest in theworld would have suffered. And the expression of the countess's face wasno acting.
"It seems almost incredible," Hunt said. "Please tell me all about it."
The countess proceeded to relate the story. It seemed to him that thecase was not quite hopeless after all. True, he would not be able toenjoy the prospective triumph of his paper over the others, but as anable and adroit journalist he would know how to get out of thedifficulty.
"Well, you have a clue anyway," he said. "Miss Galloway is a strikinglybeautiful girl, with a very marked type of loveliness, and if the thiefwas so like her as to make your maid certain that Miss Galloway was thereal thief, the culprit is not far to seek. You don't thinkyourself----"
"That Vera Galloway is the thief? Of course not. The thing is physicallyimpossible. Besides, Vera Galloway does not take the slightest interestin politics. She is quite a butterfly. And yet the whole thing is verystrange. What puzzles me most is the infinite acquaintance the thiefappears to have with my house. She could not have walked in like that tomy bedroom unless she had a fine knowledge of the geography of theplace."
"I'll make a stirring half column of it," Hunt said--"showing noconnection between your loss and that Asturian business, of course.We'll hint that the papers were stolen by somebody who fancied that shehad a claim on your vast Russian estates. See what I mean. And we'llmake fun of the fact that your maid recognized Miss Galloway as theculprit. That will set people talking. We'll offer a reward of L100 fora person who first finds the prototype of Miss Galloway. See? Unless I'mgreatly mistaken, we shall precious soon get to the bottom of thisbusiness."
The countess nodded and smiled approvingly. The cunning little schemeappealed to her. She pushed her plate and glass away with which she hadbeen toying. At the same moment a waiter came and handed her a note,which she opened and read with a flushed face.
"It appears as if the police had actually succeeded in doing somethingfor once," she said. "This is from one of the Scotland Yard men, sayingthat a woman in black dress and veil, answering to the description givenby Annette, has been taken to Charing Cross Hospital after being knockeddown by a passing cab. This may or may not mean anything, but it isdistinctly encouraging. I am told that I shall know more in themorning. But that is not good enough for me."
"Don't do anything impetuous," Hunt said anxiously.
"I am not in the habit of doing impulsive things," the countess replied."At the same time, I am going to Charing Cross Hospital to-night to makesure. It is quite time we finished this discussion, as you have to alteryour plans and write that paragraph. Let us be going."
A little later and the countess was proceeding in her broughameastwards. Hunt had parted from Lechmere, too, after the latter hadderived his useful piece of information from the startled editor. Butthe countess did not know anything of that. And as she was approachingthe well-known hospital, Jessie Harcourt was reaching it in anotherdirection in the motor-car of Lascelles, otherwise known as "Pongo." Thenearer she approached to her destination the more nervous did the girlbecome.
"Awfully jolly ride," Lascelles grinned. "Glad you put that black thingover your head, though. It's a pity to cut the thing short, but Isuppose the joke has gone far enough?"
"Not quite," Jessie said between her teeth. "I am going to confide inyou, Mr. Lascelles----"
"Called me 'Pongo' just now," the other said in tones of deep reproach."It seems to me----"
"Well, Pongo, then--dear Pongo, if you like," Jessie said desperately."I am going to confide in you. I want you to put me down close to thehospital, and then you go back without me. You may infer that I did notcare for the business, and that I returned home by the front door. Thenat the end of half an hour or so, you are to declare that the sport isover for the night and ride off as if seeking your chauffeur. After thatyou are to come here and fetch me back. You understand?"
It was quite plain, from the blank expression of Lascelles' face, thathe did not understand. The familiar air had left him; he had grown stiffand almost stern.
"I don't quite follow," he said. "Of course, if I choose to play theass--which, by the way, I am getting a little tired of--why, that hurtsnobody. But when a lady who I respect and admire asks me to become aparty, don't you know, to what looks like some--er--vulgarassignation----"
"You are wrong," Jessie cried. "You are a gentleman; you have more sensethan I expected. I pledge you my word of honour that this is noassignation. It is a case of life and death, a desperate case. I amgoing into the hospital; it is important that nobody should know of myvisit--none of my own friends, I mean. I could come back in a hansom,but danger lies that way. I have no money for one thing. Mr. Lascelles,please believe that I am telling the truth."
The girl's troubled eyes turned on the listener's face. Lascelles wouldhave been less than a man had he not yielded, sorely against hisjudgment as it was.
"I'll do it," he said. "No woman ever yet appealed to me in vain.Because I play the ass people think that I don't notice things, but theyare mistaken. I've never done anything yet to be ashamed of, anyway. AndI'm not going to begin now. It seems to me that you are making a greatsacrifice for somebody else. If I could feel quite sure that thatsomebody else was a----"
"Woman? It _is_ a woman! I felt quite sure that I could rely upon you.Now please go back and act exactly as I have suggested. When you come toknow the truth--as assuredly you shall some day--I am quite certain thatyou will never repent what you are doing to-night."
Lascelles was equally certain of it. He was quite convinced now that hewas no party to anything wrong. All the same, his face was very grave ashe helped Jessie from the car, and placed her wrap more carefully aroundher. It was a long black wrap, covering her head and face and reachingto the ground, so that the girl's rich dress was quite hidden.
"Half an hour," Jessie whispered. "It may be a little longer. I cantrust your discretion. At first I was a little afraid that perhaps youmight--but in your new character you are quite reliable. Do not stay anylonger or we shall attract attention."
Lascelles wheeled his car round and started westward once more. Jessiehesitated just a minute to make quite sure that she had her permit inher pocket, when a two-horse brougham dashed up. Evidently somefashionable doctor summoned in a hurry, Jessie thought. But when shelooked again at the perfectly appointed equipage, with its fine horsesand its silver harness, she knew better. The thing was too fashionableand glittering for a doctor; besides, no man in the profession would usesuch a turn-out at night. Then, as Jessie looked again, her heart beatmore violently as she recognized the face of the occupant. It was theCountess Saens. What did she want at this hour of the night? No errandof mercy, Jessie felt quite sure, for the Countess Saens did not bearthat reputation.
Then like a flash it came to the girl standing hesitatingly on thepavement. The countess had found some clue, possibly through theassertions of the maid Annette that the sham Miss Galloway was the thiefwho was responsible for the burglary. It was possible for such a trainof thought to be started and worked out logically in that brilliantbrain. But there was one other thing that Jessie would have given agreat deal to know--How had the countess discovered that the real MissGalloway was detained by an accident at Charing Cross Hospital?
Well, Jessie would know in a very few minutes. The countess stepped outof her carriage and made her way into the hall of the hospital. Shecould be seen talking to the porter, w
ho shook his head. Evidently thecountess was asking for something that was against the rules. Again theman shook his head. Jessie felt that a crisis was at hand. She stood onthe pavement hesitatingly, so eager that her hand fell from her face;her features were distinct and lovely in the strong rays of light. A manwalking past her in a great hurry stopped, and an exclamation broke fromhim.
"Vera!" he said hurriedly. "Vera, won't you speak to me? Great heavens!A chance like this----"
Instantly Jessie guessed what had happened. She was face to face withVera's lover, Charles Maxwell!