On leaving Salon No. 17 I descended to the ground floor, seeking the
smoking-room and a little stimulant to assist me in deciding the best
course of action for the following day.
As I passed along the corridor I caught sight of l'Echelle, whom I
considered my man, in close confabulation with Falfani in a quiet
corner. They could hardly have seen me, at least l'Echelle made no
reference to the fact when he came to me presently and asked if I had
any orders for the morning. I answered him sternly:
"What was Falfani saying to you just now? The truth, please, or you
get nothing more from me."
"He is a _vaurien_ and _fainéant_, and thinks others as bad as
himself; said my lord would give me five hundred francs to know what
you were doing, and find out whether the lady who travelled with us to
Basle last Sunday is here in this house."
"I've no objection to your taking his money if you will tell me
something. How long does my lord mean to stay here? Have you any
idea?"
"They all go on by the early train to Culoz or farther. A pressing
telegram has come from their man at Amberieu."
"Ah! Indeed. Then you may say that I am also going by that early
train. They're not going to shake me off very easily. Tell them that,
and that if they want the lady they'd better look for her. She isn't
here."
I lied in a good cause, for a lady, as a gentleman is bound to do. I
shall be forgiven, I think, under the circumstances.
The free use of coin had the desired effect at the railway station.
Soon after 5 A.M. I was met at a private door and escorted,
with my precious party, by a circuitous route to where the 5.48 was
shunted, waiting the moment to run back to the departure platform.
There was a coupé ready for Lady Claire, and she took her place
quietly, observed by no one but the obsequious official who had
managed it all.
As for me, I walked boldly to the hotel and hung about the hall till
the Blackadder party appeared and had left for the station. Then I
asked the hotel clerk for Lady Claire's bill, paid it, with my own,
and went over to the train, selecting a compartment close to the
coupé. As I passed it I knocked lightly on the window pane, giving a
signal previously arranged between us.
I do not think that Lord Blackadder saw me then, at the start. But at
Bellegarde, the Swiss frontier, where there was a wait of half an hour
for the Customs examination, an irritating performance always, but
carried out here with the most maddening and overbearing
particularity, everyone was obliged to alight from the train, and for
the moment I trembled for Lady Claire. But the appeal addressed to the
French brigadier, "_un galant homme_," of an invalid lady, too ill to
be disturbed, was effectual, especially when backed by two five-franc
pieces.
Lord Blackadder was on the platform with the rest, and directly he saw
me he came up with the same arrogant air, curiously blended with
aggrieved helplessness.
"This will end badly, Colonel Annesley. I give you fair warning. I
shall appeal to the authorities. We shall be on French soil directly,
and I know something of French law. It affords protection to all who
claim it against such people as you."
"If you talk like that I'll give you some reason to seek the
protection of the gendarmes or police," I cried, but checked myself at
once.
I had made up my mind how to deal with him, but the time was not yet.
"Your insolence, sir, outsteps all bounds, and you shall answer for
it, I tell you."
But now the cry was raised "_En voiture! en voiture!_" and we were
peremptorily hustled back to our seats. Lord Blackadder hurried to his
compartment at the end of the train some way from mine and the coupé.
As I passed the latter, seeing the road clear, I gave the signal, and,
taking out my railway carriage key, quickly slipped in.
She received me with her rare sweet smile, that was the richest
payment a man could ask.
"The critical moment is at hand, Lady Claire," I said, speaking
mysteriously. "It is essential that we should have a few last words
together. Naturally we must now be guided very much by the way things
happen, but so far as possible we must prepare for them. We have
managed capitally so far. I don't believe Lord Blackadder has any idea
you are in the train, and I much doubt that he expects to find Lady
Henriette at Culoz. You think she will really be there?"
"I feel sure of it. It is just what she would do."
"Then everything will depend on you. You must be alert and prompt, on
the _qui vive_ to seize your opportunity. It will be your business to
make your way to her with the dummy the instant the train stops."
"I shall have to find her."
"That is the first and chief thing on your part. You _must_ find her
at once. There are very few minutes for the whole job. Find her,
exchange burthens, send her to the train for Aix-les-Bains. It will be
waiting there. You hurry back to this coupé, lie low, and, if all goes
well, you will be travelling on toward Amberieu before the enemy has
the least notion what has occurred."
"But one word, please. What will the enemy have been doing at Culoz?
Say they catch sight of Henriette as soon as we do?"
"I hope and trust they may. I count upon that as part of my
programme."
"But they will catch her, stop her, deprive her of our dear little
Ralph."
"Wait, wait. You will see. It will be settled in a moment now. But
before it is too late let us arrange how you may communicate with me.
We shall both be moving about, and the best address I can give will be
in London. Telegraph to me there to my club, the Mars and Neptune,
Piccadilly. I will send instructions there to have all telegrams
opened and retelegraphed to me at once. They shall be kept informed of
my whereabouts daily. But now, here we are, close to Culoz and already
slowing down. Look out, please."
It could not have suited me better. There, standing under the shadow
of the dwarf plane-trees, but with not the slightest suggestion of
concealment, was the exact counterpart of Lady Claire, her twin
sister, Lady Henriette Standish, till lately Lady Blackadder. She was
staring intently at our train as it ran in, deeply anxious, no doubt,
to note the arrival of her sister.
"Give me a short start," I said to Lady Claire as I jumped out of the
coupé. "You will see why."
Even as I spoke I was satisfied that the pursuing party had recognized
the object of their journey. They had all alighted and were coming up
the platform in great haste to where she stood. Had any doubt
remained, it would have been removed by the appearance of a man who
ran out from some back part of the station and waved them forward with
much gesticulation.
Here I interposed, and, rushing forward with all the ardour of a
football player entering a scrimmage, I took Lord Blackadder by the
throat and shook him.