CHAPTER XIX
THE QUEST OF THE PAPERS
"I suppose I shall be able to take it all in presently," Maxwell saidfeebly. "Vera is a patient here, and the countess has come to see her.But would you mind explaining to me why Vera is here, what has happenedto her, and what that fiend of a woman desires to know?"
"It was a case of cruel misfortune," Jessie said. "Miss Galloway wasknocked down by a passing cab in Piccadilly and brought here. She wasnot so badly hurt, because she had the sense to call herself by my name.Besides, Dr. Varney saw her here. And Dr. Varney discovered my secret,so that I was obliged to confide in him. Now do you see?"
"I can't see where the Countess Saens comes in," Maxwell murmured.
"You are not very wise or long sighted for a diplomatist," Jessie saidwith a faint smile. "Don't you see that the countess's maid's suspicionsfell on fruitful soil? When she left Merehaven House for her own, shediscovered the full significance of her loss. Then she began to putthings together. She had an idea that a trick had been played upon her.She had the police in----"
"Yes, but how did she discover that anybody answering to Vera'sdescription was _here_?"
"Easily enough. Her maid gave the description of the thief. Then thepolice began to make inquiries. They discover that a girl in blackanswering to the maid's description has been brought here after anaccident. They tell the countess as much. The police don't worry aboutthe matter for the present, because their bird is quite safe. But thatis not good enough for the countess. She comes here to make sure forherself; she suspects the trick."
"I confess that you are too clever for me," Maxwell sighed. "And yeteverything you say is absolutely clear and convincing. I am afraid thatthere is still further trouble looming ahead. How did you get to knowwhat had happened?"
"Miss Galloway sent me a message by a district boy. The idea was that Iwas to try and see her without delay, and go on playing my part until wecould resume our respective personalities. Without some further coachingsuch a thing was impossible. I took Dr. Varney into my confidence, andhe gave me a permit to see Vera Galloway to-night. I am here atconsiderable risk, as you understand, though I have prepared for myreturn to Merehaven House. Ah, she has failed."
The countess was standing up and gesticulating wildly before the littleman in the gold-rimmed glasses. He seemed to be profoundly sorry, but hewas quite firm. He signalled the porter, who opened one of the big glassdoors and signified that the countess could depart.
"Even her fascinations have failed," Jessie said. "Please let me go, Mr.Maxwell. If I am recognized now everything is ruined. And you had betternot be seen, either."
"Every word that you say is replete with wisdom," Maxwell said. "Onemoment. I must see you again to-night and know how things are going.Will you meet me in an hour's time in the garden at the back ofMerehaven House? Don't say no."
"If it can possibly be managed," said Jessie. "Now I must go. You hadbetter get into the shadow across the road. I feel that all is going tobe well yet."
Maxwell lounged away, and Jessie passed quickly along as the countesscame down the steps and stepped into her brougham. Jessie waited to seethe flashing equipage drive away before she turned again and in her turnmounted the steps of the hospital.
Jessie boldly demanded to see a patient named Harcourt, and thrust herpermit into the porter's hand. He looked a little suspicious over thisfuss about a mere patient, but the name on the permit had its force, andpresently Jessie found herself entering one of the wards under thecharge of a nurse. The nurse glanced at Jessie's half-concealed face,and came to the natural conclusion that here was a sister of the latestaccident case. Under the circumstances, she had no hesitation in leavingJessie and Vera Galloway together.
"Thank Heaven you have come!" Vera whispered. "No, there is not much thematter. I suppose I must have fainted at the shock and the pain, but thedoctor says I shall be out in two or three days at the outside. It is acase of bruised tendons more than anything else. You dear, brave girl!"
The dear, brave girl forced a smile to her lips. All the same, theprospect was alarming. It was one thing to carry this imposture throughfor an hour or two, but quite another to keep the comedy going for somedays longer. But audacity carries such things through.
"Tell me everything that has happened," Vera went on. "Don't let usdwell on this cruel misfortune. Everything seemed going so well whenthat wretched cab came along. Perhaps I was dazed by my success. I knowthat I was shaking from head to foot ... but that mattered to nobody butmyself. Tell me."
Jessie proceeded with her story. She had a deeply interested listener.Vera turned from side to side and her face grew pale as she listened tothe amazing story that Jessie told her.
"So I am in danger," she said. "The countess suspects. And it was alltrue, all about Charles and Captain Lancing. I heard that as I camealong. If I could only see Charlie----"
"I saw him not five minutes ago," Jessie said. "Perhaps I had betterfinish my story, and then you can ask any questions you likeafterwards."
Vera composed herself to listen with what patience she could. Her whiteface was flushed and hot before Jessie had finished. The latter lookeduneasy.
She was evidently uneasy in her mind about something.
"I am afraid that I must ask you to confide in me more fully," Jessiesaid. "Presently I will ask you to give me a few simple instructionswhereby I can keep in touch with my position. But you will recognize thedanger, both to you and myself. The countess has her suspicions aroused,as I have told you. Now tell me, did you visit her house to-night? Wereyou the burglar, so to speak, who----"
"I was. I may as well admit it to you. It was the matter of the papers.You see I knew----"
"Yes, but how did you know?" Jessie persisted. "You saw me this eveningquite early. At that time those papers were quite safe at the ForeignOffice. How could you tell _then_ that they were going to be stolen, orrather, conveyed to Countess Saens? And if you knew that the robbery wasgoing to take place, why did you not warn Lord Merehaven? Or betterstill, tell Mr. Maxwell what you had discovered?"
"I could not get in touch with Charlie at that moment," Vera said,speaking as if with difficulty. The tears had gathered in her eyes."There was no time to be lost."
"I am still very much at sea," Jessie said gently. "What aroused yoursuspicions?"
"Yes, I had better tell you everything," Vera said in a firmer tone."You have been so good to me, you are so loyal and brave. There neverwas anybody so good to a stranger before."
"No, no. I did it all for money. It was because I was so desperatelyplaced----"
"It is nothing of the kind, Jessie, and you know it. You would have donethe same for me in any case--I feel certain that you would. My firstsuspicions were aroused by a letter which came into my hands. It wasevidently sent in mistake, and written by Charlie to Countess Saens. Itseems as if the two had struck up a violent flirtation together. If Icared less than I do for Charlie----"
"I would not let your mind dwell on that," Jessie said soothingly. "Whenyou get to the bottom of this business you will find that there is someplan on the part of that infamous woman. May I ask you whether thatletter was an admission of guilt on the part of Mr. Maxwell, or----"
"It might have been. In the light of recent events it certainly lookslike it. But pretty well everything is capable of explanation, as youknow. I shall possess my soul in patience.... I am so dazed and confusednow that I do not seem able to think clearly. But when I sent for you Icould see everything as clear as crystal before my eyes. If I had notmet that cab everything would have been all right, and you would havebeen back at home by this time and nobody any the wiser."
"Then you were quite successful?" Jessie asked eagerly.
"Absolutely successful. I can't think now how I had courage to do it.Once I got going, my nerves never failed me for a moment. You see, Iknow that house where the countess lives; I have been there so manytimes before. And I felt so strong and resolute, especially when Ipassed the porter
and he did not make any protest. But the rest youalready have from the Countess Saens's maid. It was a sheer piece of badluck finding her there at all."
"And you got safely out of the house with those papers? That was a bitof good luck indeed."
Vera Galloway smiled. A sudden idea came to her--the idea seemed to cometo both girls at the same time. It was Jessie who put the question.
"And where are the papers now?" she asked. "You had better let me havethem."
"Have them!" Vera echoed blankly. "Where are they? Don't say they werelost after I fell under the cab!"
There were no papers anywhere to be found.