"But it's impossible! You must have some one to help you, Sir Thomas! It
is madness to meet that devil alone in an empty house. It's absolutely
unnecessary, too. I _must_ go with you. I owe him one for the blow he
gave me when he escaped from the Safety-room at the City, and,
besides--"
"Bill Rolston," I said, "the essence of fidelity is to obey orders. I
owe more to you than I can possibly say! Without you, I dread to think
what might have happened to Miss Morse and her father. But on this
occasion I am adamant. You will be far more use to me waiting here,
ready to carry out any instructions that may come over the wire."
"Please, Sir Thomas, if I ever _have_ done anything, as you say, let me
come with you to-night."
His voice broke in a sob of entreaty, but I steeled myself and refused
him.
I must say he took it very well when he saw that there was no further
chance of moving me.
"Very well then, Sir Thomas," he said, "if it must be so, it must be. I
will be back here at seven, and wait all night if necessary."
With that, his face clouded with gloom, he went away and I was left
alone.
Doubtless you will have gathered my motive? It would have been criminal
to let Rolston, or any one else, have a share in this last adventure. To
put it in plain English, I determined, at whatever risk to myself, to
kill Mark Antony Midwinter.
There was nothing else for it. The law could not be invoked. While he
lived, my girl's life would be in terrible danger. The man had to be
destroyed, as one would destroy a mad dog, and it was my duty, and mine
alone, to destroy him. If I came off worst in the encounter, well, Morse
still had skilled defenders. The risk, I knew, was considerable, but it
seemed that I held the winning cards, for within two hours Midwinter
would step into a trap.
When I had killed him I had my own plans as to the disposal of the body.
It was arranged that a considerable number of Chinese servants from the
City should arrive at eleven. If I knew those bland, yellow ruffians, it
would not be a difficult thing to dispose of Midwinter's remains, either
on the spot or by conveyal to Richmond. Another alternative was that I
should shoot him in self-defense, as an ordinary burglar. Certainly the
law would come in here, but it would be justifiable homicide and be
merely a three days' sensation. I had to catch my hare first--the method
of cooking it could be left till afterwards.
In a drawer in my writing-table were letters to various people,
including my solicitor and my two friends, Pat Moore and Arthur
Winstanley. There was a long one, also, to Juanita. Everything was
arranged and in order. I am not aware that I felt any fear or any
particular emotion, save one of deep, abiding purpose. Nothing would now
have turned me from what I proposed to do. I had spent long thought over
it and I was perfectly convinced that it was an act of justice,
irregular, dangerous to myself, but morally defendable by every canon of
equity and right. The man was a murderer over and over again. To-night
he would receive the honor of a private execution. That was all.
When I left my chambers, with an automatic pistol, a case of sandwiches,
and a flask of whisky-and-water, the rain was descending in a torrent.
The street was empty and dismal, and Berkeley Square itself a desert. I
don't think I saw a single person, except one police-constable in
oilskins sheltering under an archway, till I arrived at Birmingham
House. The well-known facade of the mansion was blank and cheerless. All
the blinds were down; there was not a sign of occupation. I rang, the
door opened immediately, and I slipped in.
"I must be off, Sir Thomas," said Sliddim. "If you go through the door
on the far side of the inner hall beyond the grand staircase, you will
find yourself in a short passage with a baize door at the farther end.
Push this open, and you will be in a small lobby. The door immediately
to your left is that of the butler's pantry. It commands the service
stairs and lift to the kitchen and servants' rooms. Standing in the
doorway you will see the head of any one coming up the stairs, and--" he
gave a sickly grin and something approaching a reptilian wink. Sliddim
was an unpleasant person, and I never liked him less than at that
moment.
With another whisper he opened the door a few inches and writhed out.