Strange noises aroused me slowly to a sense of my helplessness. My head
seemed heavy as lead, my brain incapable of receiving any impression, my
throat contracted as though by a diphtheritic swelling.
A low continued roaring sounded in my ears, accompanied by a curious
unusual jarring. Slow to fully realise my position, it was some moments
before I became convinced that the regular throbbing beneath my head was
caused by machinery, and that the steady motion to and fro was the
rocking of the waves.
I opened my eyes and found that it was broad daylight. To the left was
a round opening closed by glass--a porthole through which the summer sun
was shining, its rays being shut out now and then by the bright green
water that rose against it as the waves hissed past. I was on board a
ship at sea. The cabin was a narrow, rather dirty place, and the
mattress on which I was lying was hard, being filled with straw. It was
not a passenger cabin, that was certain, for the beams across were black
and dirty, and swinging on a nail were a set of unclean yellow oil-skins
and a sou'-wester.
So sudden and unaccountable had been my transition from the bed-chamber
in that mysterious house of the Wynds', wherein my wife had been
murdered, to that narrow pallet out at sea, that at first I could not
believe it possible. I raised myself and looked around in wonder, half
inclined to believe that the past events had been but a dream.
In that instant all the curious circumstances which had followed my call
to the house with the big portico came vividly before me in rapid
succession, the crafty actions of the Tempter and my wife's marvellous
beauty most of all. With her, I had fallen a victim to the two
ingenious conspirators, her father and the Major. It had, no doubt,
been intended that I should die; yet certain of the Tempter's actions
seemed out of keeping with the others, thus rendering the enigma more
complete.
The pains in my head and the swelling in my mouth and throat were
sufficient, however, to prove that the past was no chimera of the
imagination. I had met with an adventure stranger, perhaps, than that
experienced by any other man, for I had been both bridegroom and widower
within an hour.
With some little difficulty I rose, but my legs were weak and cramped,
and this, combined with the rolling of the ship, caused me to quickly
seat myself on the edge of the narrow berth. My nerves were unstrung,
my brain dulled, and the giddiness that seized me was such as I had
never before experienced. It was not _mal de mer_, for I had travelled
much by sea and had never experienced nausea, even in roughest weather.
No; I had, by moistening the cigarette with the saliva, absorbed a
strong dose of some anaesthetic, and its effect had been to a great
extent irritant as well. Only my robust constitution had succeeded in
throwing it off; the dose must, I felt confident, have killed a weaker
man.
In a few minutes I succeeded in standing erect, and struggled to the
cabin door. I turned the handle, but could not open it. I was locked
in.
Again I seated myself upon my mattress and tried to calmly review the
situation. Of a sudden I bethought myself of the amulet I had taken
from the neck of my dead wife, and thrusting my hand into my pocket, was
gratified to find it still there, together with a pair of white gloves
that the Tempter had given me.
I took it out and carefully examined it. The chain was a very fine but
strong one, and the curious little charm of plain gold on that side that
would lay against the skin, was beautifully set with diamonds which now
sparkled and flashed with a thousand fires in the brilliant sunset.
About an inch and a half long, it was of most delicate workmanship. I
had seen in jewellers' windows in Bond Street and Regent Street many
articles of jewellery--brooches, breast-pins, and the like--in the form
of a note of interrogation, but never one made in this manner. It was
different to all the others, a costly ornament without doubt, for all
the stones were well matched, and, as far as I could judge, not being an
expert, of the first water.
What was its significance, I wondered, as it lay in the palm of my hand.
It was a souvenir of her--a souvenir of the woman who was my legal
wife, and who had fallen a victim beneath the cruel hand of an assassin.
The crumpled scrap of paper I had also secured I brought from my pocket
and likewise examined. The words upon it were in a man's hand without a
doubt--an educated hand which, by its angularity and the formation of
the letters might possibly have been acquired on the Continent.
"I have seen La Gioia!"
The words conveyed some distinct message or warning which I could not
determine. One fact was, however, plain; if I could discover this
mysterious "La Gioia," be she a woman or an object, I might perhaps
ascertain the true meaning of the words, the reason they were penned,
and the motive Beryl had in thus treasuring them beneath her pillow.
A desire possessed me to escape from that narrow place wherein the air
was stifling. The porthole was screwed down so tightly that I could not
move it without a wrench, and the place seemed hermetically sealed.
By the terrible racket of the machinery and the strong smell of tar and
oil I felt certain that it was no passenger steamer by which I was
travelling. Everywhere were traces of black dust. I dipped my finger
in some of it, examining it closely; it was coal dust. The ship was a
collier.
I rose again, and taking up a stout piece of wood lying on the floor,
battered heavily at the door, demanding release. But the clash and roar
of the rickety engines drowned my voice, and I feared that no one could
hear me above the din.
A strong sea was running, although the sun shone brightly. We were
evidently somewhere in the Channel, but from my porthole I could see no
land.
Again and again I battered furiously, until of a sudden I heard gruff
voices, and the door was unlocked and opened cautiously, disclosing two
rough-looking bronzed seamen, dark-bearded and dressed in patched and
faded dungareen.
"Well, mister," exclaimed the elder of the two, "what's the fuss?"
"No fuss at all," I responded. "I only want to be let out."
"No doubt," he responded, with a grin at his companion. "You'd like a
breath of fresh air--eh?"
"Yes, I should."
"But sea-air ain't good for your constitution mister, so you'll have to
stop here. You've got a cabin all to yourself, so what more do you
want? Perhaps you'd like a bloomin' saloon?"
"Look here, my man," I said, as calmly as I could, "just do me a favour
and ask your captain to step down here. I'd like to speak to him before
the farce proceeds further. You're only obeying orders by locking me up
here, of that I'm sure. But just tell the captain that I'm better, and
want to have a word with him."
Both men looked somewhat surprised.
"We were goin' to have a look at you in a few minutes, and see whether
you'd come to, if you hadn't have kicked up such a confounded row."
"Well, go and tell the captain I want to see him," I said, endeavouring
to smile.
"All right, sir, I will," answered the man; "but I'll have to lock the
door again."
"Very well," I laughed. "Only don't starve me, remember." The
situation seemed humorous.
Both men grinned broadly; the door was closed, and I heard one remark to
the other in true cockney English--
"'E ain't such a vi'lent fellow, after all, Bill." Five minutes later
the door was again opened, and a burly, full-bearded, black-eyed man in
a pea-jacket and peaked cap entered the cabin.
"You are the captain, I presume?" I said.
"That's me," he answered, leaning against the wooden partition opposite
my bunk.
"Well," I said, "I'd like to know by what right you lock me up here?
I've been unconscious for a long time, and on coming to myself, I find
I'm here onboard your ship at sea, imprisoned, and not allowed out."
"You're in here for the benefit of your health," he answered roughly.
"A sea voyage'll do you good."
"Then perhaps you'll tell me the name of the ship on board which I'm
taking this pleasure trip?" I said sarcastically.
"Better find that out."
"No very difficult matter, I suppose," I answered quite coolly. "Only I
should like to point out that even though you may be skipper of this
coal hulk, you have no right to imprison me here."
"I shall do just as I like, cocky," he responded. "And further, you'd
best be quiet and keep a still tongue, or perhaps you won't see land
again."
"That's certainly a very genteel speech," I said; "and perhaps the
British Consul at your port of destination will have something to say
regarding your conduct."
"I don't care a brass button for all the blanked consuls in the whole
Consular Service," he replied, with a coarse laugh. "You are on board
my ship, and I'll give you to understand now, once and for all, that I'm
master here."
"Perhaps you'll pipe to a different tune when your master's certificate
is suspended for a year or two."
"It 'ud take a better man than you to suspend it. While you're on board
this craft, it'll be a wise policy to keep a still tongue in your head."
"And it will be wiser if you allow me my liberty, and just tell me how
and why I came aboard here."
"You were brought here, but for what reason I don't know."
"And who brought me here?"
"I don't know. I wasn't on board when you arrived."
"The ship was lying in the Thames, wasn't it?"
"Yes," he answered. "It wasn't on Clapham Common, that's a certainty."
"And where are we now?"
"At sea."
"I'm aware of that, but in what sea--the Channel, the North Sea, or the
Atlantic?"
"You'll know soon enough. Just breathe the ozone, and make yourself
comfortable. That's all you have to do," he responded, with his bearded
chin thrust forward, in an air of unconcern.
"Well, you haven't provided many creature comforts for me," I remarked,
with a glance round the stuffy little place.
"No, this isn't exactly a Cunarder," he admitted. "But I'll tell the
men to bring you some grub, at any rate. Like some duff?"
"You're very kind; but I'd rather take a walk on deck in order to get an
appetite."
"No; the sun's a bit too strong," he answered waggishly. "You might get
sunstroke, you know."
"I shall be asphyxiated if I remain here."
"Well, that's a comfortable death, I believe. More than one chap has
died for want o' breath in the hold of this ship when we've been
trimmin' coal."
"Then you refuse me my liberty?" I said, feeling that to argue
pleasantly was useless.
"Yes, you've got to stay 'ere."
"By whose orders?"
"That's my own business," he growled.
"And mine also," I responded firmly. "You may be skipper of this craft,
but you are not a gaoler, you know."
"I'm your gaoler, at any rate."
"That remains to be seen," I answered. "I suppose you've been paid to
take me out of the country, like this; but I may as well warn you that
you are aiding and abetting a murder, and that when you get ashore
you'll find yourself in a very nasty position."
"With the Consul, eh?" he laughed. "Well, they're a decent lot, as a
rule. We don't get much trouble with 'em if we deposit our papers in
order."
"But if I demanded your arrest for illegal imprisonment?"
"I don't fancy you'd do that, mister," he responded with sarcasm. "It
might be a bit of a bother for me in England, but the foreign police are
a bit chary of touching a British capt'n."
There was, I knew, some truth in that. Yet I did not intend to remain
cooped up there, a prisoner, for the remainder of the voyage.
"Well, now, look here," I said, in a more conciliatory tone. "Why are
you not frank with me?"
"Because you ain't responsible for your actions."
"And that's why you won't allow me on deck?" He nodded.
"Then I suppose when I was handed over to your tender charge they told
you I was a lunatic?"
"Well, they said you'd better be kept under restraint. I was told that
you'd had a bad touch of the blues, it seems."
"And yet you took me aboard while I was unconscious," I said. "That was
scarcely a wise proceeding was it?"
"You were here when I returned; I've told you I found you here."
"Then you mean to tell me that you don't know who paid you to take me on
this pleasure trip?"
"No, I don't. I've only received orders, and just observed them."
"Orders from whom?"
"From my owners."
"Your owners! What possible interest could your owners have in shipping
me aboard while I was unconscious? Who are they?"
"Hanways, of Newcastle."
"And what ship is this?"
"The _Petrel_, of Newcastle."
"Bound for where?"
"No," he replied. "I've strict orders to keep you confined in the
cabin, to treat you as well as your behaviour will allow, and to tell
you nothing."
"Well, captain, you're a sensible man, and surely you'll listen to
reason."
"What reason? I've got my orders. That's enough for me."
"But I tell you that by this action you are aiding in the concealment of
a terrible crime--the dastardly murder of a lady in London," I burst
forth.
"Of course. That's the yarn they said you'd spin. Well, you can stow
that for the present. I'll come down and hear it over a pipe, when I
want a bit of relaxation. For the time being, just you sniff the ozone,
and fancy yourself in a drawin'-room."
Then, without more ado, the burly fellow made his exit, slammed the
heavy door and bolted it, leaving me still a prisoner within that tiny
cabin.