Contraras spoke in his most authoritative tones. "You have no choice.
You took a solemn oath to obey the orders of the Chiefs of the
organisation. As your Chief, I call upon you to do this."
Violet Hargrave bowed her head submissively. She remembered there was a
terrible penalty attached to hesitation or disobedience. She also
recalled the fate of Valerie Delmonte, and her face went white.
Moreno thought to himself, "Infernal old scoundrel, he doesn't care whom
he sacrifices. And in the meanwhile he is living in luxury, and getting
us poor devils to run all the risk."
Aloud he said: "And what will you do with Guy Rossett when I deliver him
to you?"
Contraras reflected before he spoke. "As I told you just now, I have
not quite made up my mind." He paused, and struck an imposing attitude.
"You know, Moreno, it has always been my policy to strike at the head
and heart of this effete system. The humbler members, mere tools of
their superiors--well, I would be inclined to show them mercy."
"I know that has always been your generous inclination," replied Moreno,
masking his loathing of this fanatical creature. "Well, I should say
Rossett was quite a tool, very poor game."
"I am inclined to agree with you. Still, he is active and dangerous,
and a menace to the Cause. He knows too much about many of us."
"Quite true, quite true," said Moreno. He had an object in humouring
this venerable visionary. He wanted to know what was at the back of his
mind, what dark scheme he was working out in his subtle brain!
Contraras spoke in a meditative voice. "These Englishmen are strange
people; they have a great respect for their word."
"It is one of their peculiarities," admitted Moreno drily.
"If he would take a solemn oath to resign his post, and withdraw himself
from any further opposition to the brotherhood, I think I would accept
that, and let him go free."
"And that, I am afraid, is just the thing you will never induce an
Englishman to do," said Moreno bluntly. "I know the type too well.
Better death than dishonour, all that sort of thing, you know. It's in
their blood."
Contraras smiled oddly. "In that case, I think there is only one
course. It is regrettable, it is repugnant to me. But the safety of
the brotherhood is my first consideration."
Moreno had learned all he wanted to know. He knew now what was working
in that fanatical brain.
"I understand," he said quietly. He added with the most apparent
sincerity. "The safety of the brotherhood must always be the first
thought. I quite agree."
Shortly after, Contraras left to return to his luxurious hotel. He
parted from the two with many expressions of good-will. He was disposed
to confirm Lucue's high opinion of Moreno. There was a confident
bearing about the young man that impressed him. He was sure that he
would prove a valuable recruit to the brotherhood.
They were left alone--the man quite young, the woman still comparatively
youthful.
Moreno spoke first. "We have been assigned a post of honour, but it is
also a post of danger. Don't you think so?"
Mrs Hargrave shivered. "When I remember poor Valerie Delmonte, I must
confess I don't feel very brave. But you spoke very confidently of
being able to snare Rossett."
"I am quite confident of being able to do that."
"I suppose you won't tell me why you are so confident of the fact?"
Moreno shook his head. "No, I certainly won't. In this business, never
let your left hand know what your right hand doeth."
She shot at him a rather coquettish glance, which thrilled him just a
little. She was certainly a very pretty and fascinating woman.
"I am to be trusted, really, you know," she pleaded. "I can be as close
as wax."
"I will tell you some day," he answered. He thought, as he spoke, the
day might be a very long one.
"But you will tell Contraras and everybody then," she pouted. "I
thought we had been such pails."
It suddenly dawned upon him that this adventuress, as he had always
looked upon her, was falling in love with him. He was not quite certain
that he was not falling in love a little bit with her. If he were only
certain that in her were the makings of a good woman! But he would
require great proofs of that.
He broke a rather embarrassed silence.
"Well, now you will get your revenge on Guy Rossett."
"I am not quite so certain that I want it now." She spoke in a very low
voice.
"But this is a very different mood from that of a certain night at Mount
Street."
"I know, I know." Violet spoke a little wildly. "I was very bitter
then. Things seemed changed somehow."
"You know that Guy Rossett has to be `removed,' in obedience to the
orders of our revered chief?"
"I know, I know." Suddenly she burst into bitter sobbing. Presently
she lifted her tear-stained face. "You think I am a very bad woman,
don't you? I am not really, only hard and embittered with my early
life. If I could only find somebody who really cared for me!"
It was a clear invitation. Moreno took her hand in his; he could not
disguise from himself that he was attracted. But, at the same time, he
did not lose his head. Could he trust her--would she be useful for his
purpose?
"Suppose that I said I cared?"
Violet sobbed afresh. "No, no, it is impossible. You would never
believe in me, you could never trust me."
And then Moreno leaned forward and spoke to her, very gravely.
"I think, before you leave, we must have a little conversation together.
When it is finished, I will tell you whether I trust you or not."