"I suppose he has misled you into the belief that he has, Sir Mark.
He's a boaster--like many other men of his stamp."
"He's a boaster and a trifle eccentric, I admit. Yet I have myself had
experience of his undoubted influence. He's in some position of great
trust."
"There, I fear, I must differ, Sir Mark. I happen to know him well, and
I think one day ere long you'll discover that his powers are merely
imaginary."
The short, bald-headed man shrugged his shoulders dubiously, whereat, in
order not to go contrary to his opinion, I turned our conversation into
a different channel. I had already learned much of interest, but much,
too, that had caused me a twinge of despair.
We spoke of other things, and apparently impressed by the fact that I
was eager to meet Greer, he invited me to wait until he and Kirk
arrived.
"But they may not be coming, after all," I said. "They may have changed
their minds."
"I think that hardly probable," Sir Mark replied. "They have been
delayed, though I've ascertained that they left Birmingham to come
direct here."
I told him nothing of my visit to Alderman Pooley, but my only fear was
that, with the report of the bogus Professor's speech appearing in the
papers, the impostor had become alarmed and again made himself scarce.
To me it appeared much as though he and his accomplices had never
intended the announcement to get into the papers. Indeed, even Sir Mark
had expressed himself surprised at reading the report, understanding
that the meeting was a purely private one of the learned society which
had invited him to lecture.
I smoked a cigar with the affable little man, and then he left me, being
called to the telephone. When he re-entered the room, he said:
"I've been speaking to the Professor. It seems that he's at home, at
his house in London. He was recalled suddenly by telegram, and not
having been home since his return from the Continent he was compelled to
obey the summons. He promises to come here next Monday."
My heart sank once more within me. The truth was just as I had feared!
The report of his speech in the papers had alarmed him, and he was no
doubt on his way abroad again, having netted a goodly sum from Messrs.
Edwards and Sutton for a secret filched from the unfortunate man who had
been assassinated.
"Then I'll go back to London at once," I announced; and, without
betraying my anxiety to my bald-headed friend, who had been so cleverly
victimised, I bade him adieu, and an hour later left Bulwell for London.
In the grey March afternoon I alighted from a hansom before that
well-remembered door of the Professor's house in Sussex Place. I did
not for one moment believe him to be there. He had, of course, escaped
long ago. In Edinburgh and in Glasgow I had been close at his heels, as
I had also been in Birmingham, yet he had always cleverly evaded me.
To my amazement my ring was answered by Antonio--sleek, smiling, yet as
evil-faced as ever!
"Is your master at home?" I asked sharply, for I certainly had not
expected to meet the man who had escaped to Italy, and who had
afterwards threatened me.
"No, signore," was his bland reply. "He is out at present."
"Then he--he's at home again?"
"Yes, signore. He returned unexpectedly yesterday."
"And Miss Ethelwynn?"
"The signorina is still at Broadstairs; we expect her up to-morrow."
"And my wife, Antonio--where is she?" I inquired, looking him straight
in the face.
"Ah, how can I tell, Signor Holford? Have I not already told you that I
am entirely ignorant of her whereabouts?" And he exhibited his bony
palms.
"You have been with your master in Hungary or in Roumania, I hear?"
"Certainly! Why not?" he said, as we stood within the wide hall. "But
the Signor Kirk is upstairs in the study. Perhaps you will care to see
him? I believe he has been trying to telephone to you at Chiswick."