A MISSING LINK.
It was practically daylight now, so that the greatest caution was
absolutely necessary. It was possible to obtain cover behind a group
of thorn bushes and take observations of the house. But even that did
not lack risk, all the more so because of the presence of the dog. The
great hound had served his purpose, and it was essential that he
should be got rid of, for the present at any rate.
The house itself was quite a good one. The grounds were neat and trim.
The flower boxes in the windows ablaze with bloom. The place spoke for
itself as the residence of some prosperous individual who, in all
probability, was somebody of importance in the City. It was the last
place in the world to associate with crime and violence. In front of
the house was a fairly large lawn, shaded by shrubs and trees. A
kitchen garden at the back was bounded by a lane, and on the far side
of this stretched a wide open common covered with gorse and bracken.
"Have you any idea where we are?" Lord Ravenspur asked.
"Not the faintest,'" Walter confessed. "I have never been here before.
The only thing I am sure of is that Vera is in yonder house. But let
us get away from here and talk it over. The further this thing goes,
the more sure I am that we have foes to deal with who are clever as
they are unscrupulous."
"But where shall we go?" Ravenspur asked.
Walter suggested skirting round the back of the house, and so on to
the common. Once there, they found shelter enough, for the gorse was
high and the bracken was deep. Indeed, a regiment of soldiers might
have hidden there with perfect safety.
"I think I begin to see my way," Walter said. "One of us must stay
here and the other get back to London without delay. If you don't
mind, I should like to consult my friend Venables about this business.
He is very clever and courageous, and, besides, he has a decided
fondness for detective business. I think you will agree with me that
we want another hand?"
"We want half a dozen," Ravenspur murmured. "What we really ought to
do is to place the matter in the hands of the police and have yonder
house searched at once. Yet, I am very loth to do that. I am
exceedingly anxious to prevent anything like a scandal, and this is
the very sort of thing to appeal to the cheap Press. But what are we
going to do about our journey to Weymouth? What would the officials at
Waterloo think when we didn't turn up last night? And, again, there
are all the servants in Park Lane. If you can only show me some way to
stop the mouths of these people I shall be grateful. You know what
servants are."
"I think that can be managed," Walter said after a thoughtful pause.
"You stay here while I go back to London. I will return as soon as
possible. Oh, of course, I will bring a change of clothing with me. It
would be madness to hang about a suburb like this in evening dress. We
should be spotted in a moment."
It seemed to Ravenspur that there was no help for it. Anxious and
troubled and worn out as he was, he could not be altogether blind to
the absurdity of the situation. The idea of a man in his position
hiding himself on a London common, dressed as he was, seemed
ridiculous. He had no more than a dust coat over his evening dress; he
was wearing the collar of an Order. Still, as he looked about him he
took fresh heart of grace. The common appeared to be little
frequented. There were deep hollows here and there, full of bracken
and brambles, under which it was possible to hide. There was no
prospect of Walter getting back within the next three hours. There was
nothing for it but to make the best of the situation.
Meanwhile, Walter was hurrying back to London. He made a wide _détour_
of the common, so that it was not possible for him to be seen from the
house. Then presently he struck a main road on the far side of which
ran a railway line. He could see in the distance the buildings and
signals that marked a station. At any rate, he would be able to find
out where he was without displaying his ignorance by asking questions.
It was still quite early, only a little past five o'clock, as Walter
found on consulting his watch. After all said and done, the station
was not much use to him, for probably no train would run within the
next couple of hours. Presently there was a clatter of hoofs behind,
and an empty hansom came along. The sight of the cab was proof to
Walter that he was not very far outside the radius. A happy idea came
to him.
"Are you going back to town?" he asked the cabman.
"Well, yes, sir," the cabman explained. "I have been taking a fare out
to Cannon Green."
"Then you are just the man for me," Walter exclaimed. "My man has
failed to turn up, and I was going to try the station. I suppose that
is Cannon Green station just at the end of the road?"
"That's right, sir," the cabman said civilly. "But you'll get no train
yet. Drive you anywhere you like, sir, for half-a-sovereign."
Walter jumped into the cab without further hesitation. A ride of a
little over an hour brought him to Park Lane. A sleepy footman opened
the door, and regarded Walter in amazement. He had his story all
ready. There had been misunderstanding on the previous evening, and
Lord Ravenspur and Miss Rayne had gone on to Weymouth by an early
train. There was something very paltry about this deception, but at
the same time it seemed to Walter to be absolutely necessary. He
roused his own man; together they packed a couple of portmanteaux,
which Walter gave directions should be taken to Waterloo Station
without delay, and left in the cloakroom. Once he had satisfied the
curiosity of the household in Park Lane, he went on promptly to
Venables' rooms. Over a hasty breakfast he explained everything that
had happened to his companion. As he expected, Venables at once threw
himself heart and soul into the adventure.
"I quite understand your point of view," he exclaimed. "What you want
to do is to hang about all day and take observations. At the same
time, it is absolutely necessary that we should arouse no suspicions.
I think I can see my way. This is a matter of disguise. We can pick up
all we want in this direction in Covent Garden on our way to the
station."
"There is only one thing that worries me," Walter said, "and that is
Bruno. What shall we do with him?"
"Oh, that's all right," Venables cried. "Very well-trained dog, isn't
he? So much the better. You see, in the course of my adventures I have
come across some pretty shady specimens of humanity, though I am bound
to say that I have found many of this class pretty faithful when they
are well paid. Now I know a fellow at Cannon Green who will look after
the dog for us for a consideration. He is a fancier himself, and
always has a few animals for sale. What more natural than that he
should have a bloodhound on the premises? Mr. Bill Perks is more than
suspected of being a receiver of stolen goods, and on two occasions
has been in trouble. Still, he knows me, and will do anything I like,
provided I pay him handsomely. Don't let us waste any more time."
An hour later and the two adventurers left the train at Cannon Green,
bearing a set of instruments such as those used by surveyors when they
are planning and laying out new land. Their disguise was slight
enough, but quite sufficient for the purpose. Both wore smart looking
caps, edged with gold, so that their appearance was sufficiently
formal and official. In addition to this Walter carried a bulky bag,
which contained a complete change of clothing for Lord Ravenspur. The
latter was glad enough to see Walter and Venables. He breathed a
little more freely when he found himself clad at length in a Norfolk
suit. He rather rebelled against a showy white helmet and a set of
long grey whiskers which Venables proceeded to attach dexterously to
his face. A few touches of grease paint and pencil, together with a
pair of big spectacles, rendered the disguise complete. Walter
expressed his admiration.
"I can hardly believe that it is you, uncle," he said.
"And you are changed almost out of recognition," Ravenspur said.
"Really, I must compliment Mr. Venables. And now, I suppose I had
better hide the bag in these bushes. We have a very anxious day before
us, I am afraid, but that does not prevent one feeling the call of
Nature. I don't think I was ever so ravenously hungry in my life.
Where can we get some breakfast?"
Venables, who seemed to have thought of everything, had already solved
the problem. There was a very fair hotel not far from the station, and
it would be an easy matter to hide the surveying outfit till it was
needed. In the first place, they could skirt round the edge of the
common, and pay a call on the man Perks, who would look after the dog
till his services were needed again.
They came at length to Perks' house, a rather dilapidated looking
place, with a large, untidy garden around it. There were sheds and
huts and kennels at the back, so that the intruders were greeted with
a terrible din of barking as they went up the path.
"Cunning hand, Perks," Venables explained. "It is very little he makes
out of dog-fancying. But see how useful these animals are. Day or
night the police can never approach the place with the object of raid
without Perks having ample notice. But come along, and you shall see
the man for yourselves. Oh, you needn't trouble yourself about your
disguise. Perks is not in the least suspicious nor will he ask any
questions. He will only think that you are a couple of amateur
detectives like myself."