A TRIPLE ALLIANCE
He led the girl out of the house. At the corner of the street a taxi was
waiting. He opened the door.
"Where are we going?" she demanded suspiciously.
"To the Hotel Savoy, mademoiselle," he answered.
She hung back.
"Why should I go with you?" she asked defiantly. "I have never seen you
before. I don't know who you are."
"Mademoiselle," he replied, "your friend is in great danger. He will not
be able to help himself. If you do not come with me, you will not be
able to help him. And I assure you that he needs your help."
She got in without another word. He placed himself beside her, and the
car started.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"My name," he told her, "is Dupont--Victorien Dupont. I arrived in
London from Paris a few days ago."
"What have you to do with this?" she said doubtfully.
"That," he replied, "I cannot at the moment explain to you. I am
concerned in this case for reasons of my own, which must remain my own
for the present. I was in the garden when Christine Manderson was
killed."
She started, staring at him.
"You were in the garden too?" she cried.
"I was," he affirmed. "And I know that Monsieur Layton did not kill
her."
"He didn't!" she declared. "He couldn't kill anything. He spends his
time giving life--not taking it."
"The police will be satisfied that he did, and they will have a strong
case. Unless we can help him by discovering the truth in time, he will
not be able to clear himself. Are you prepared to work for him?"
"I told you," she repeated passionately, "I would die for him."
"It is well," he said. "There will be three people on his side. You--my
friend, Mr. Tranter, who was also in the garden--and myself. Together we
will save him. There will be separate tasks for us all. Mr. Tranter will
be waiting at the hotel when we arrive, and we will settle our plan of
campaign. Until then, mademoiselle, let us not refer to the subject
again. Do me the favor thoroughly to compose yourself. In these matters
coolness is of the utmost importance."
He compressed himself further into his corner, and closed his eyes. The
girl said nothing more. The rapidity of the whole catastrophe, and the
sudden appearance of this new adventure bewildered her. The huge
mysterious stranger almost frightened her. Though his eyes were shut and
he made neither sound nor movement, she felt that he was searching her,
that he was straining all his mental forces to steal the thoughts that
were throbbing through her mind. As they drew near to their destination,
she fiercely exerted the self-control that was one of her least
developed virtues, and by the time they reached the Savoy, and Monsieur
Dupont opened his eyes, she was steady and watchful.
"Mademoiselle," said Monsieur Dupont softly, "you will be of the
greatest assistance. Already you know the value of silence."
In his private sitting-room they found Tranter awaiting them.
"My friend," said Monsieur Dupont, "this lady will work with us. She is
much attached to James Layton, and her assistance will be most
valuable." He turned to her. "Mademoiselle, I have not the honor...."
"My name's Jenny West," she said, comprehending the request.
"Where is Layton?" Tranter asked, as Monsieur Dupont placed a chair for
the girl, and sat down himself.
"By this time," Monsieur Dupont replied, "he will have arrived at
Scotland Yard. Our friend Inspector Fay will question him, and he will
certainly be detained. As I have just explained to mademoiselle, he is
in great danger. Unless we succeed in our object, his position is
without hope."
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, but she checked them with an effort.
"I wish," Monsieur Dupont continued, with careful emphasis, "that my own
position also should be clearly understood, in so far as I am at liberty
to explain it. I cannot yet tell you how I come to be interested in this
affair. Soon I may do so--but until then you must be content to take me
on trust, and to accept my assurance that I am fully qualified to direct
you. Are you willing to follow my instructions without question--to save
this innocent man, who will be accused of a horrible crime which he did
not commit?"
"Yes, yes," the girl cried. "I am ready. I will do anything."
"And I," said Tranter.
"The directions I give may seem to be strange," Monsieur Dupont went on
impressively--"but they must be followed. The errands on which I send
you may seem to be unimportant and even foolish--but they must be
carried out. Do not look for explanations, until I make them. I give
account to no one. Those who work with me work much in the dark--but
they reach the light. There must be no hesitation. Is that understood?"
Again the others agreed.
"Then," said Monsieur Dupont confidently, "we shall succeed. Layton will
be saved--but it will be a hard and difficult task. The first law I have
to impose on you is--silence. Complete silence, to every one except
myself."
He turned to the girl.
"At three o'clock this afternoon, mademoiselle, unless you hear from me
to the contrary, you will go to Scotland Yard, where Mr. Layton will be
detained. That I shall verify by telephone. You will see him, and you
will tell him this: You will say that I, Dupont, know how and why
Christine Manderson died--that I, and those with me, will not allow the
innocent to suffer--and that he shall be delivered from this charge. And
say to him, also, anything from yourself that you may wish to say."
They were both gazing at him blankly.
"You know?" the girl gasped. "You know who killed her?"
The great Frenchman seemed to develop before their eyes into a figure
of tremendous menace, every inch of him alive with implacable,
relentless purpose.
"I know," he declared slowly, "just what I have told you--how and why
she died. Ask me no more. Remember our conditions. There must be no
questions until the time comes."
He rose, and took an envelope from his pocket.
"Certain things that I shall ask you to do, mademoiselle, may involve
expense. In this envelope you will find a sufficient sum. Do not
hesitate to accept it. Ample funds are at our command. When you return
from Scotland Yard, report to me here. If I am not in, wait for me. And,
above all, remember--silence."
He opened the door, and bowed her out. Then he turned to Tranter with a
faint smile.
"Well, my friend?" he asked quietly.
"Do you really mean," Tranter exclaimed, "that you know the truth of the
crime?"
Monsieur Dupont offered him a cigar, and lit one himself with great
composure.
"I know just as much about the crime, my friend, as I have said. I
repeat--I know how and why that unfortunate woman died. Who, or what,
caused her to die is another matter, which we are setting ourselves to
solve."
"You are certain that Layton is innocent?"
"James Layton did not commit the crime," Monsieur Dupont returned
firmly. "But he will be hanged for it--if we are not in time."
"Well," said Tranter, "what is there for me to do?"
"For you," replied Monsieur Dupont, "there is the most important task in
the case, so far. And the most dangerous. Within twenty-four hours you
must discover, and bring to me here, the secret of the Crooked House."
"Good Lord!" Tranter exclaimed, taken aback, "how on earth am I to do
that?"
"I do not know," Monsieur Dupont admitted. "Nor have I any helpful
suggestions to make. The method of procedure I leave to you."
"Housebreaking is entirely out of my province," Tranter objected. "And
the secret of that house, if there is one, is likely to be very well
guarded."
"Probably," agreed Monsieur Dupont. "But the fact remains that before
the end of the next twenty-four hours I must have that secret--and you
are the person who must bring it to me."
Tranter took up his hat and stick, without further protest.
"Very well," he said stoutly. "I will do my best."
Monsieur Dupont looked at his watch.
"It is one o'clock," he said, opening the door. "At one o'clock
to-morrow I shall be waiting for you in this room."