THE RELEASE
"Now, who talks first?" Brett cried, once the door was fairly closed
behind them.
"I do," burst forth Fairholme. "My story will not take long to tell, and
if I do not get it off my chest, I shall simply explode."
"We must not have any more tragedies," said Brett, "so proceed."
"Well, thanks to your foresight, I found the two servants and your
ex-policeman waiting for me on the platform at Charing Cross. As I only
carried a handbag, I had no trouble with the Customs, and we walked
straight out of the station. In less than five minutes we were standing
outside the building which contained the invalid lady's flat. Your agent
told me that, so far as he knew, there were no other persons in the
place except the tenant and her two servants, an elderly French or
Italian married couple. Our collective wits could not devise a plausible
pretext for gaining access to the lady, so I determined to settle the
business in the brutal British fashion. We marched quietly up the stairs
to the second storey, and your assistant pointed out the right door.
There were only two flats on that landing, and the other one was
apparently empty. Your man had made a somewhat important discovery
since he wrote to you. This empty flat had been taken by the agent who
acted for the parties opposite, and although the place was not tenanted,
the landlord was, of course, satisfied, as the rent had been paid in
advance. This seemed to indicate that the place was left vacant simply
to prevent the others from being overlooked."
Brett marked his appreciation of Fairholme's sagacity by a nod, and the
earl continued--
"I rang the bell and promptly put my ear to the keyhole. It seemed to me
that a couple of doors were hastily closed, and then someone slowly
approached. The outer door was opened and a man's head appeared. I could
only see his face and a portion of his left shoulder, because the chain
was on the door, and the opening was not more than eight or ten inches.
Speaking in broken English he said--'Vat you vant?' His accent showed
that he was a Frenchman.
"I answered in my best French, 'I wish to see madame, your mistress, at
once.'
"'It is impossible,' he said in the same language, and simultaneously he
tried to shut the door in my face. I shoved my foot against the jamb and
prevented him. At the same instant my own servant and I--as, if there
was to be trouble, I thought it best to keep the others out of
it--applied our utmost force to the door and succeeded in snapping the
chain. It might have been a tough job, as you know that to force a way
through anything that yields slightly and yet holds fast is much more
difficult than to smash a lock or a couple of bolts. Luckily the flats
were jerry built, so the chain broke, and so suddenly that the Frenchman
was pitched violently backwards. We nearly fell after him. The
ex-policeman was a splendid chap. His first idea was to jump towards the
switch of the electric lights and turn on every lamp in the place.
"I shouted, 'Talbot, are you there? It is I, Fairholme.'
"I got no answer, but a woman darted out of a room which proved to be
the kitchen, screamed something which I could not catch, and handed a
revolver to the Frenchman, who was just struggling to his feet. That was
where my prize-fighting butler came in useful. Before you could say
'Wink' he gave the man an upper-cut that settled him effectually for the
next minute. Almost with the same movement he caught the woman a slap
over the ear that upset her nerves considerably. She had a revolver in
her hand too. It fell to the floor, and Smith, your servant, seized both
weapons.
"The ex-policeman called out--'I do not think we are making any mistake,
sir. They would not act after this manner if they were on the square.'
"I must say it seemed to me that so far it was we who had been acting in
an extraordinary way, but there was no time to discuss the ethics of the
case then. Whilst my butler and Smith took care of the couple, your
assistant and I hastily examined three rooms. They were empty, save for
a small quantity of furniture. The fourth door resisted our efforts, so,
of course, we burst it open. And the first thing that met our eyes was
poor old Jack lying on his back on the bed, and glaring at us in a way
that made me think at first he was mad."
"I should think so," interrupted Talbot. "I would like to see your face
if you were trussed up as I was--not able to speak a word--and a
fiendish row going on in the passage outside."
"You were gagged," questioned Brett, "and your wrists and ankles were
secured to the four corners of the bed, your limbs being distended in
the form of an X?"
Fairholme glanced round admiringly. "Of course," he cried delightedly,
"I knew you would guess it. That is the pleasant way these Turks have of
securing their prisoners."
"It is an awfully uncomfortable one," said Talbot. "My joints are still
stiff at the mere recollection of it. I have lain in that way, Mr.
Brett, for countless hours. Occasionally the brutes would allow me to
change my posture, but the moment anyone came to the door I was strapped
up in an instant and a gag slipped into my mouth. What used to make me
so furious was the knowledge that if only I got the chance of a second I
could have broken that Frenchman's neck and escaped, but he and his wife
always took such precautions that I never had the liberty to do more
than reach with some difficulty the food that they gave me. However, I
must not interrupt."
"I really have not much more to say," went on Fairholme. "You may be
sure it did not take me long to release Talbot, and what do you think
his first words were when he slowly sat up in bed and tried if his legs
would bend?"
"I cannot guess," said Brett.
"He said: 'Have they got the diamonds?'
"I answered 'Yes.'
"'But it was impossible,' he said. 'They could not have mastered all
those policemen.'
"'But they did,' I replied, and then and there, before he would budge an
inch, he made me tell him the whole story. Just as I had ended we heard
a scuffle in the passage. We went out, though Jack was hardly able to
walk at first. It was Smith wrestling with the woman, who was a regular
wild cat, and who would, even then, have done us any mischief in her
power. There was nothing for it but to tie her hands behind her back,
and then fasten her securely in a chair. After this was done we took
counsel as to our next movements."
"Wait a little," said Brett. "How many rooms were there in the flat? You
have accounted for four."
"I forgot," said Fairholme. "The place had six rooms. The small
apartment in which Jack was confined was a sort of dressing-room, and
the bedroom beyond looked out into the well of the block of flats. They
had carefully nailed the blind of this dressing-room, so that not even a
chance puff of wind could blow it aside and reveal its secret to anyone
in the flats on the opposite storey or higher. The remaining room was
empty. Your friend the policeman subsequently searched the place from
top to toe, but he found nothing. The only document of any importance
was an address on a card which he discovered in the Frenchman's pocket."
"Ah," said Brett, "what was that address?"
"Here it is."
The earl produced a small piece of pasteboard on which was scribbled,
"Monsieur Jean Beaujolais, chez Monsieur Henri de Lisle, 41, Rue
Bonnerie, Paris."
"That is important," said the barrister. "Why did you not wire it to me
last night?"
"I had a reason," said the earl eagerly, "but that comes in with Jack's
part of the story." And he turned towards Talbot, who, thus summoned to
the stage, began to explain matters.
"I understand, Mr. Brett," he said, "that you are accurately acquainted
with all that transpired until the moment when I entered the Albert Gate
mansion on that remarkable night?"
"That is so," said Brett.
"Well, when Inspector Sharpe met me at the door on my arrival he told me
that his Excellency Mehemet Ali, with three strange gentlemen and the
junior members of the commission, awaited me in the dining-room. I went
in and was surprised to find the three visitors, for during the
preceding month not a single stranger had entered the house save a
member of the Government and one or two important officials of the
Foreign Office, who came with me out of sheer curiosity to see a
collection of remarkable diamonds.
"The strangers bowed politely when I was introduced. Two of them spoke
neither French nor English, but the third man spoke French fluently. He
had, by the way, a somewhat peculiar accent, different from that to
which I was accustomed in the Turks. It was softer, more sibilant, and
impressed me as that of a man who was accustomed to speak Italian. He
was a good-looking chap, about my height and build, and were it not for
his brown skin, one would not have regarded him as a Turk. One side of
his face was deeply scarred with a sword-cut, but, if anything, this did
not detract from his appearance, and it gave a manly aspect to an
otherwise effeminate face."
Brett could not help smiling involuntarily.
"Are you sure it was a sword-cut?"
"It certainly looked like one."
"And his skin was very brown?"
"Oh, quite. Indeed it was a shade deeper than that of most Turks. I
have seen very many of them. Although dark-featured, they are often
pallid enough in reality, and their deep-hued complexion is due more to
their black hair and eyebrows than to the mere colour of the skin."
Brett smiled again.
"I think," he said, "I will show you the same gentleman in a somewhat
different aspect. But proceed."
"The explanation given to me by Mehemet Ali was both extraordinary and
disconcerting, especially at such a late hour. He told me that the three
gentlemen to whom I had been introduced--I am sorry, by the way, that I
cannot remember their names, as they were all Mohammeds, or Rasuls, or
Ibrahims, and the dramatic events of the night subsequently drove them
from my mind--had been sent post haste from Constantinople on a special
mission. They had only reached London that night, and they bore with
them a special mandate, signed by the Sultan himself, directing Mehemet
Ali to hand over the diamonds to their charge, and to at once return
with his assistants to Yildiz Kiosk.
"There could be no questioning the authenticity of the Sultan's
instructions. The document was in his own handwriting, was endorsed with
his private seal, and conveyed other distinguishing marks which rendered
his Excellency assured on this important point. He told me that he was
compelled to obey implicitly, and were it possible he would have started
from London that night. This, however, was out of the question, but he
had not lost a moment in sending for me and acquainting me with his
Majesty's wishes.
"You will readily perceive that the affair placed me in an awkward
predicament. I was, so to speak, representing the British Government in
the matter, and the Foreign Office had pledged itself, through our
Ambassador at Constantinople, to undertake all the precautions for
safeguarding the diamonds with which you are acquainted. It seemed to me
that notwithstanding the urgency of the Sultan's order, I should not be
doing my duty to permit the transfer to be made in such an irregular
manner. So I said quite plainly that the matter could not be settled
that night. They must all wait until the morning, when I would consult
my Department, and Mehemet Ali, together with his aides, could leave for
Constantinople by the evening train, after my superiors had been
acquainted with the Sultan's wishes.
"Turks are difficult people to understand. It seemed to me that my
decision gave some satisfaction to Mehemet Ali, who was undoubtedly very
much upset by the queer manner in which he had been deposed from his
important trust. At once an animated discussion took place."
"In French?" interrupted Brett.
"No; in Turkish."
"Did the gentleman with the sabre-cut on his face take any part
therein?"
"Not in the least. He sat and smoked cigarettes in the most unconscious
manner possible, leaving his two associates to carry on the
conversation."
As the barrister appeared to have no further question to ask at the
moment, Talbot continued--
"Several times Mehemet Ali appealed to me to change my mind and formally
ratify the transfer at once. I was quite firm in my refusal, and did not
hesitate to describe the Sultan's demands as ridiculous. I was rendered
more determined, if anything, in this attitude by a growing certainty
in my mind that his Excellency himself approved of my attitude.
Ultimately, it seems, they hit upon a compromise. The whole party would
remain together all night in a sort of dual control, and then the change
of guardianship would take place next day in accordance with my views as
to what was right and proper. I must admit I was intensely relieved when
this decision was arrived at. Looking back now over the events of the
night, I can perceive that from that moment the gang who effected the
murders and the robbery had me in their power, for they had completely
succeeded in allaying my suspicions, and I can only plead in extenuation
of my shortsightedness that Mehemet Ali himself, and the other gentlemen
with whom I had been acquainted during the past month, were willing
accessories to the arrangement."
"I do not see," said Brett, "that you have the slightest cause to
reproach yourself. You acted quite properly throughout, and I am sure
that when all the facts are known your status at the Foreign Office will
be improved rather than diminished by this incident."
The other man's face flushed with pleasure as he heard these words.
"Thank you," he replied simply. "I certainly took every precaution that
suggested itself to me. Subsequently I was the victim of circumstances.
The French-speaking Turk, as I have told you, took no part whatever in
the negotiations, and when he became aware of the _modus operandi_
determined upon----"
"By the way," said Brett, "how did he become aware of it?"
"Oh, Mehemet Ali told him in French."
"Didn't that strike you as curious?"
"Most certainly it did. But the scoundrel explained it afterwards by
telling me that although a Turkish subject, he had lived in Algiers and
France since he was a child, and had quite forgotten his mother tongue.
But he was employed in a confidential position in the Turkish Embassy at
Paris, owing not only to family influence, but to his intimate
acquaintance with the French language."
"Ah!" said Brett, "Monsieur Henri Dubois has a ready wit."
"What!" cried Edith, who naturally enough was following each word with
the utmost interest, "do you already know his name?"
"Not only his name," replied Brett, "but his identity, Miss Talbot. You
shall see him in another skin and without the sword-cut. It is possible,
however, that before we meet, this distinguishing mark may be replaced
by a fractured skull or a bullet wound."
Fairholme suddenly clenched his right fist and examined his knuckles,
his unconscious action causing the others to laugh.
"Is he a Frenchman, then?" said Talbot.
"Unquestionably--a most modern product."
"And his name is Dubois?"
"Yes."
"All right. In future I will allude to him by his proper title. Well,
Monsieur Dubois strolled towards me with the easy confidence of a man
who was sure of himself.
"'This affair bores me,' he said. 'I see no reason why I, who am in no
way concerned with the Sultan's collection of precious stones, should
sit up all night keeping guard over them with these very earnest
gentlemen here. I am going to my hotel. I have sent my portmanteau to
the Carlton. Will you honour me by driving there and telling me
something about your wonderful London as we go?'
"The man looked at me with a meaning in his eyes that conveyed quite
plainly the intimation--
"'We can talk quietly in the cab, and I can explain much that is at
present hidden.' Unfortunately I fell in with his suggestions.
"We crossed the dining-room together. We were searched by the police in
the hall, much to his apparent surprise, and then we drove off through
St. George's Place.
"He at once aroused my curiosity by telling me sensational details of a
widespread plot to dethrone the Sultan. An essential part of the
conspiracy was to obtain possession of the diamonds before they had been
cut, as they were an heirloom from the Prophet, and it would be a
terrible thing in the eyes of the more fanatical section of the
Mohammedans if they were tampered with in any way.
"This sounded reasonable enough, as the same story had been dinned in my
ears for several weeks.
"He made out that for reasons of State the Sultan had decided to change
the Minister Plenipotentiary charged with secret mission to London.
"Altogether he talked so candidly, and with such an air of treating the
whole business as the bugbear of a timid monarch, that I really believed
him.
"At last we reached the Carlton. We got out and he paid the cabman, who
drove off round the corner; then my new acquaintance explained to me
that he placed no greater trust in his fellow-countrymen than did their
ruler. Therefore he had led them to believe he was staying at that
hotel, whereas he had in reality taken up his abode in the flat of a
French family with whom he was acquainted. If I would come with him for
a moment he promised to place me in possession of certain documents
which would render easy my explanations to the Foreign Office next
morning.
"I accompanied him without hesitation, secure in the knowledge that a
strong force of police guarded my charge at Albert Gate, both inside and
outside the house. We went to the mansions where he said he lived. The
place had a perfectly respectable exterior, and is situated, as you
know, in a reputable thoroughfare. We ascended to the second floor,
entered the flat, and were ushered by a middle-aged Frenchwoman into a
sort of sitting-room.
"Dubois turned to a writing-desk and unlocked a drawer.
"'Here are the documents I promised you, Mr. Talbot,' he said; but, to
my amazement, he whipped out a revolver and held it within two feet of
my breast.
"'If you move, or attempt to cry out, you are a dead man!' he cried.
"At the same instant a door behind me opened and some three or four
persons entered. I was so furious at the trick that had been played upon
me that I disregarded his threat and sprang at him, but he did not fire.
Flinging the revolver behind him on the writing-table he closed with me.
Before I well knew what had happened I was tied hand and foot, gagged,
and placed helpless in a chair. A few minutes later, after a muttered
consultation between my captors, I was taken to the room in which
Fairholme found me, and I never left the place until nearly nine o'clock
last night.
"It was a most ghastly experience. I would sooner die than go through it
again.
"If ever I get within measurable distance of Monsieur Henri Dubois I
promise you that I will repay him with interest some of the agony he
inflicted on me. I never thought I should hate a man as I hate that
Frenchman. I do not want to kill him. I want to torture him!"
This was the first sign that Talbot had given of the anger that filled
his soul. For a moment no one spoke. Edith stifled a sob, and Sir Hubert
Fitzjames broke the tension by swearing as vehemently as ever did the
army in Flanders.
"You have suffered," said Brett quietly, "but not in vain. It is only by
the manner in which these blackguards treated you that we have obtained
so much knowledge. Your capture was a necessary part of their scheme. I
wonder now that after you had served their purpose they did not kill
you. It was not out of pity, believe me. The fact that you were spared
confirms me in the opinion that the Albert Gate murders were a gigantic
blunder, never contemplated by the expert criminal who planned the
theft. But continue. What happened afterwards?"
Talbot almost summoned up a smile as he said--"Really, the next thing
was so grotesque that were not the whole business so serious a one you
would be compelled to laugh at it.
"Looking back now to those first ghastly hours when I laid on the bed
tied hand and foot, I find it difficult to recall any definite
impressions. It would be absurd to say that I suffered, either mentally
or physically. I was sunk in a sort of stupor of rage, and my bonds did
not hurt me so long as I kept quiet. Curiously enough, my thoughts were
somewhat altruistic. Instead of speculating as to my own fate I rather
wondered what would be the outcome of the whole mysterious business. I
could not bring myself to believe that, cleverly as the rogues had
outwitted me, they would be able to similarly dupe a strong body of
Metropolitan police, not to mention Mehemet Ali and his assistants.
"At last I fell asleep, dozing fitfully at first, but finally giving way
to the deep slumber of exhaustion.
"I was awakened by someone shaking me, though not roughly. It took me
some time to recover my scattered senses, and at first I was almost
unable to move, owing to the constrained position of my limbs. As well
as I could judge it was not yet daylight, for the electric lamps were
turned on, and I subsequently found that such rays of natural light as
penetrated into my room during the day did not arrive for a considerable
time.
"Thenceforth, of course, my sole method of judging the progress of time
was by the alternation of meals and the difference of light between day
and night.
"Someone assisted me to assume a sitting posture, the cords attached to
my wrists were relaxed, and I was firmly held by two men--one a Turk
whom I had not seen before, the other a Frenchman whom you found in the
flat.
"At the foot of the bed were standing Dubois and a closely-veiled
female--a young woman, as well as I could judge, and a person of tall
and elegant stature, who, it would appear, spoke only French.
"Dubois addressed me calmly.
"'I hope,' he said, 'you are in a better temper, my dear Talbot?'
"'It does not appear to me that the state of my temper is of any
material significance,' I answered.
"'No,' he replied nonchalantly. 'The game is in my hands, and will
probably remain there for a considerable period. But I do not wish to be
unkind. You have, I am given to understand, a highly respectable uncle
and a very charming sister, who will no doubt suffer much perturbation
owing to your mysterious disappearance. Now, you may not think it, but I
am a very humane sort of fellow. Consequently, I am quite agreeable that
you should write them a brief note, omitting of course all superfluous
information, such as dates, addresses, and other embarrassing facts, but
simply telling them that you are well. I will guarantee its safe
delivery.'
"Naturally, I jumped at the offer. The veiled lady supplied me with a
sheet of notepaper and an envelope, and I scribbled the unfortunate
letter which was subsequently posted in Paris and caused such a
sensation. I had only one hand at liberty, so Dubois politely offered to
seal the envelope for me, first, however, reading carefully what I had
written.
"'That is quite correct,' he said; 'it will relieve their feelings and
prove at the same time highly serviceable to me, as the letter will be
posted in Paris and not in London. You see, my dear Talbot, how readily
you fall in with my plans. You are as putty in my hands. Now, I suppose,
being a brave Englishman, you would sooner have died than written this
letter if you had guessed it would prove of material assistance to me?'
"I fear I used some very bad language to Dubois, notwithstanding the
presence of the lady, but he paid little heed to me, and the pair at
once undertook the most curious proceedings I have ever witnessed.
"They had before them a table set out with all sorts of paint, paste,
and powders, such as one might expect to find in an actor's
dressing-room.
"Sitting himself astride a chair so that the light fell on his face,
Dubois submitted himself to the skilful hands of the woman, who
forthwith began to make him up in an exact resemblance to me. The right
side of his face was towards me, but when, in obedience to her
requirements, he turned somewhat, I noticed to my astonishment that the
scar which I have mentioned had completely disappeared, and then I saw
that his Turkish complexion had also vanished, leaving him a
particularly white-skinned Frenchman, with a high colour."
"Ah!" said Brett, leaning back in his chair and attentively surveying
the ceiling.
"You must remember," went on Talbot, "that my wits were somewhat
confused by the extraordinary circumstances of the hour. Having been so
suddenly awakened from a sound sleep, and subsequently annoyed by the
incident of the letter, it took me some moments to recognize these
discrepancies in his appearance. At first, so to speak, I knew him
immediately as Dubois, but the more I looked at him the less confident I
would have been were it not that his voice and manner supplied unerring
indications of his identity.
"The lady proceeded with her work in the most business-like fashion, and
to my intense amazement he quickly assumed a marked resemblance to
myself. Not such, perhaps, as would bear close scrutiny, but rather the
effect attained by a skilful artist in a rapid sketch, or caught by a
fleeting glance whilst passing a mirror.
"'What is the game now?' I cried, when the true nature of their purpose
dawned upon me.
"'Oh, just the same,' replied Dubois, grinning, 'I merely wish to puzzle
the thick-headed brains of you Englishmen a little more. That is all.'
"'Halloa!' I cried, 'you understand English?'
"'Yes,' he answered coolly. 'It is frequently necessary in my business.'
"'Well,' I said, 'there can be no doubt that you are an accomplished
villain. What you intend to achieve by masquerading in this fashion I
utterly fail to understand. You can never be such a fool as to think
that you will be able to gain admittance to Albert Gate by impersonating
me. Were you even to succeed you would still be as far off as ever from
securing your booty, which, I suppose, is the Imperial diamond and its
companions.'
"'Really,' he said, with a sneer, 'I thought that you, Mr. Talbot, were
endowed with a little more intelligence than the average. Pardon,
Mignon, _pour un moment_.'
"He rose from his chair, unfastened a case which he took from the
breast-pocket of his overcoat, and showed me the diamonds which had been
the object of so much care and solicitude on my part during many weeks.
"'You see,' he continued, seating himself again, whilst the lady resumed
her task without a word, 'the business has been satisfactorily
accomplished, Mr. Talbot. The diamonds are here; so are you.
Unfortunately his Excellency and the secretaries are with the Prophet.
You will, I am sure, express my regrets to the police, to the Foreign
Office, and to all concerned, that the Sultan's commissionaries should
have been so unceremoniously despatched to Paradise. It was not my
fault, believe me, nor was it altogether necessary. I am in no way
responsible for the bungling measures adopted by my Turkish assistants.
You see, in Constantinople they are accustomed to these drastic means of
settling disputes.'
"He rattled on so pleasantly that I hardly grasped the true significance
of his words, so I replied with almost equal flippancy--
"'I will be most pleased to convey your regrets to the proper
authorities. May I ask when I shall be at liberty to do so?'
"'Ah,' he said, 'there you puzzle even my intelligence. It will
certainly be days, it may be weeks, before you can communicate with your
friends.'"
"A sudden frenzy seized me at those words, and I endeavoured to smash
the heads of my two gaolers together by throwing them off their balance
outwards, and then rapidly contracting my arms. Thereupon I made another
discovery. A cord lying loosely round my neck was suddenly tightened,
and I was thrown back choking. A fourth man, of whose presence I was
unconscious, was stationed behind me and held the noose in his hands.
"It was some time before I recovered my breath or my speech.
"At last I was allowed to rise again, and Dubois said with a quiet smile
which was intensely irritating--
"'By this time, Mr. Talbot, you should have realized that you have not
fallen into the hands of children. We do not wish to do you a mischief.
Indeed, it would not suit our purpose. It is far from our desire to
quarrel with the British Government or to take the life of one of its
rising young diplomatists. The dispute in which you are unfortunately
involved is between a certain section of the Sultan's subjects and that
potentate himself. But really you must recognize the absolute
helplessness of your position. You have just received a stern reminder.
Let it be the last, for if you give us any more trouble we may end a
difficult situation by effectively cutting your throat. Such an
operation would be distasteful to us and most distressing to you. So
please do not compel us to perform it.'
"I glared at him viciously. Speak I could not, but he paid no further
attention to me, and his make-up was now pronounced to be perfect by his
critical companion.
"'_Vous etes un très bel Anglais, mon vieux,_' she cried, coquettishly
setting her head on one side and glancing first at him and then at me."
"The cat!" cried Edith. "She evidently thought you good-looking, Jack."
Talbot blushed and laughed at the involuntary slip.
"I am not responsible for her opinions," he said. "I am simply telling
you what happened.
"Dubois left the room," he continued, "and returned in a few moments,
dressed in an English tweed suit, with my overcoat and a deerstalker
cap. Upon my honour, he was so like me that, notwithstanding my rage, I
was compelled to smile at him. He caught my transient mood for an
instant.
"'_Tiens!_!' he cried, 'that is better. The surgical operation is
beginning to take effect. You see the joke?'
"'It is a somewhat bitter species of humour,' I replied. 'Perhaps in the
future it may have a sequel.'
"'Life is made up of sequels,' was the airy answer. 'Events generally
turn out to be so completely opposite to that which I anticipated that I
no longer give them a thought. I live only for the present, and at this
moment I am victorious. But now, Mr. Talbot, I purpose taking a little
trip to the Continent on your account. I hope, therefore, for your sake,
that the Channel will be smooth.'
"With a mock bow of much politeness he took his leave, carrying with him
the case of diamonds. I have never seen him since. Last night in the
Foreign Office I met Captain Gaultier, who told me of the _rencontre_ on
the steamer. I readily forgave him for the mistake he had made with
reference to my appearance, but it was too bad that he should imagine I
would bolt to Paris with a lady of theatrical appearance in broad
daylight."
"Yes," cried Fairholme, "if it had been the night steamer----"
"Bobby!" exclaimed Edith.
"Oh, I meant, of course," stammered Fairholme, "that by night Gaultier
might have been more easily mistaken."
"Well, and what happened at the Foreign Office?"
Brett's question recalled the younger people to the gravity of the
conclave.
"First of all," said Talbot, "Fairholme drove me straight home, where it
was necessary to give some slight preliminary explanation before I made
a too sudden appearance, so I remained in the cab outside whilst
Fairholme went in and found Edith."
"Ah!" said Brett, still surveying the ceiling; but there was so much
meaning in his voice that this time it was the turn of the young couple
to blush.
"We did not take long to explain matters," continued Talbot. "I sent off
messengers post-haste to the Under-Secretary and others suggesting that
if possible we should meet at the Foreign Office. Within an hour my
chiefs were good enough to fall in with my views, and therefore I had an
opportunity to tell them my story exactly as I have repeated it to you.
The result is that I carry with me a letter from the Under-Secretary in
which he explains his views. I am already acquainted with his reasons,
but I have no doubt that he puts them before you quite clearly."
He handed a letter to Brett. Its contents were laconic, but
unmistakable--
"The inquiry in which you are engaged," it read, "must be conducted with
the utmost secrecy and discretion. The gravest political importance is
attached to its outcome. No trouble or expense should be allowed to
interfere with the restoration of the diamonds to their rightful owner.
The British Government will regard this as a most valuable service to
the State, and Mr. Talbot is commissioned to place at your disposal the
full resources of the Foreign Office. You will also find that his
Majesty's Ministers throughout Europe have been advised to give you
every assistance, whilst there is little reason to doubt that the
various European Governments will be ready to offer you all possible
support. The first consideration is the restoration of the gems intact
to the Sultan; the second, absolute secrecy as to the whole of the
circumstances."
"Whew!" whistled Brett. "Read between the lines, this communication
shows the serious nature of our quest. If those diamonds are not
recovered, a revolution in Turkey is the almost certain outcome, and
Heaven alone knows what that means to the European Powers most
concerned."
"If you succeed," said Sir Hubert Fitzjames, "the Government will make
you a baronet."
"If you succeed," growled Talbot, "I will get even with that Frenchman."
"And when you succeed," said Fairholme, in a matter-of-fact tone that
indicated the wild improbability of any other outcome, "Edith and I will
get married!"