THE POLISH JEWESS
There was a silence of some minutes' duration. Lord Lashmore sat
staring straight before him, his fists clenched upon his knees. Then:
"It was after death that the third baron developed--certain
qualities?" inquired Dr. Cairn.
"There were six cases of death in the district within twelve months,"
replied Lashmore. "The gruesome cry of 'vampire' ran through the
community. The fourth baron--son of Paul Dhoon--turned a deaf ear to
these reports, until the mother of a child--a child who had
died--traced a man, or the semblance of a man, to the gate of the
Dhoon family vault. By night, secretly, the son of Paul Dhoon visited
the vault, and found....
"The body, which despite twelve months in the tomb, looked as it had
looked in life, was carried to the dungeon--in the Middle Ages a
torture-room; no cry uttered there can reach the outer world--and was
submitted to the ancient process for slaying a vampire. From that hour
no supernatural visitant has troubled the district; but--"
"But," said Dr. Cairn quietly, "the strain came from Mirza, the
sorceress. What of her?"
Lord Lashmore's eyes shone feverishly.
"How do you know that she was a sorceress?" he asked, hoarsely. "These
are family secrets."
"They will remain so," Dr. Cairn answered. "But my studies have gone
far, and I know that Mirza, wife of the third Baron Lashmore,
practised the Black Art in life, and became after death a ghoul. Her
husband surprised her in certain detestable magical operations and
struck her head off. He had suspected her for some considerable time,
and had not only kept secret the birth of her son but had secluded
the child from the mother. No heir resulting from his second marriage,
however, the son of Mirza became Baron Lashmore, and after death
became what his mother had been before him.
"Lord Lashmore, the curse of the house of Dhoon will prevail until the
Polish Jewess who originated it has been treated as her son was
treated!"
"Dr. Cairn, it is not known where her husband had her body concealed.
He died without revealing the secret. Do you mean that the taint, the
devil's taint, may recur--Oh, my God! do you want to drive me mad?"
"I do not mean that after so many generations which have been free
from it, the vampirism will arise again in your blood; but I mean that
the spirit, the unclean, awful spirit of that vampire woman, is still
earth-bound. The son was freed, and with him went the hereditary
taint, it seems; but the mother was _not_ freed! Her body was
decapitated, but her vampire soul cannot go upon its appointed course
until the ancient ceremonial has been performed!"
Lord Lashmore passed his hand across his eyes.
"You daze me, Dr. Cairn. In brief, what do you mean?"
"I mean that the spirit of Mirza is to this day loose upon the world,
and is forced, by a deathless, unnatural longing to seek incarnation
in a human body. It is such awful pariahs as this, Lord Lashmore, that
constitute the danger of so-called spiritualism. Given suitable
conditions, such a spirit might gain control of a human being."
"Do you suggest that the spirit of the second lady--"
"It is distinctly possible that she haunts her descendants. I seem to
remember a tradition of Dhoon Castle, to the effect that births and
deaths are heralded by a woman's mocking laughter?"
"I, myself, heard it on the night--I became Lord Lashmore."
"That is the spirit who was known, in life, as Mirza, Lady Lashmore!"
"But--"
"It is possible to gain control of such a being."
"By what means?"
"By unhallowed means; yet there are those who do not hesitate to
employ them. The danger of such an operation is, of course, enormous."
"I perceive, Dr. Cairn, that a theory, covering the facts of my recent
experiences, is forming in your mind."
"That is so. In order that I may obtain corroborative evidence, I
should like to call at your place this evening. Suppose I come
ostensibly to see Lady Lashmore?"
Lord Lashmore was watching the speaker.
"There is someone in my household whose suspicions you do not wish to
arouse?" he suggested.
"There is. Shall we make it nine o'clock?"
"Why not come to dinner?"
"Thanks all the same, but I think it would serve my purpose better if
I came later."
* * * * *
Dr. Cairn and his son dined alone together in Half-Moon Street that
night.
"I saw Antony Ferrara in Regent Street to-day," said. Robert Cairn. "I
was glad to see him."
Dr. Cairn raised his heavy brows.
"Why?" he asked.
"Well, I was half afraid that he might have left London."
"Paid a visit to Myra Duquesne in Inverness?"
"It would not have surprised me."
"Nor would it have surprised me, Rob, but I think he is stalking other
game at present."
Robert Cairn looked up quickly.
"Lady Lashmore," he began--
"Well?" prompted his father.
"One of the Paul Pry brigade who fatten on scandal sent a veiled
paragraph in to us at _The Planet_ yesterday, linking Ferrara's name
with Lady Lashmores.' Of course we didn't use it; he had come to the
wrong market; but--Ferrara was with Lady Lashmore when I met him
to-day."
"What of that?"
"It is not necessarily significant, of course; Lord Lashmore in all
probability will outlive Ferrara, who looked even more pallid than
usual."
"You regard him as an utterly unscrupulous fortune-hunter?"
"Certainly."
"Did Lady Lashmore appear to be in good health?"
"Perfectly."
"Ah!"
A silence fell, of some considerable duration, then:
"Antony Ferrara is a menace to society," said Robert Cairn. "When I
meet the reptilian glance of those black eyes of his and reflect upon
what the man has attempted--what he has done--my blood boils. It is
tragically funny to think that in our new wisdom we have abolished the
only laws that could have touched him! He could not have existed in
Ancient Chaldea, and would probably have been burnt at the stake even
under Charles II.; but in this wise twentieth century he dallies in
Regent Street with a prominent society beauty and laughs in the face
of a man whom he has attempted to destroy!"
"Be very wary," warned Dr. Cairn. "Remember that if you died
mysteriously to-morrow, Ferrara would be legally immune. We must wait,
and watch. Can you return here to-night, at about ten o'clock?"
"I think I can manage to do so--yes."
"I shall expect you. Have you brought up to date your record of those
events which we know of, together with my notes and explanations?"
"Yes, sir, I spent last evening upon the notes."
"There may be something to add. This record, Rob, one day will be a
weapon to destroy an unnatural enemy. I will sign two copies to-night
and lodge one at my bank."