A MYSTERIOUS COMMISSION.
The underground noises continued for about a quarter of an hour, during
which time my companion busied himself by removing from the club-room
various articles--the false top of a table marked out in a curious
fashion, several mahogany boxes, and other contrivances strange to me,
but presumably gambling appliances, with all of which he disappeared
through the door by which de Cartienne had made his exit, returning again
directly.
At last everything was quiet, ominously quiet; then the door from the
hall was thrown suddenly open, and the Count entered, followed by four or
five other men. They were all apparently gentlemen, and in evening
clothes, but terribly soiled and disordered. Some were splashed with mud
from head to foot, some had their shirt-fronts blackened and crumpled,
and the hands of all of them were black with grease and dirt. All looked
more or less pale and nervous--in fact, M. de Cartienne was the only one
who thoroughly retained his composure.
There was a lavatory on the other side of the staircase, towards which
the whole of the little party trooped, M. de Cartienne being the last. As
he disappeared he looked round and beckoned me to follow him. I did so
and stood by his side, while he plunged his head into some cold water,
and then began to wash his hands.
"I'm sorry this should have happened to-night, Morton," he said. "Marx
was here, but has bolted in a fright."
"Couldn't I catch him up?" I asked.
de Cartienne shook his head.
"No; he's in the train by this time. He comes here every night, though.
I'll bring you down to-morrow, perhaps."
"Are you coming back now?" I asked.
"No; I must see this thing through. You can go and at once, though. My
carriage will take you back. I shall return by train. By the by, there's
a small favour I want to ask you."
"Certainly."
"I have kept a few private papers here, which I should not care to have
examined should the search really take place. I want you to take them
back to the hotel for me. The box is a little too heavy for me to carry,
so I have told them to put it in the carriage as a footstool for you. You
won't mind that?"
"Not in the least," I replied. "When shall I see you again?"
"At the hotel some time to-morrow. Come along now," he added, putting on
his coat.
He strolled with me to the front door and, throwing it open, listened
intently.
There was no sound save the moaning of the wind in the bare trees which
stood by the side of the house and the patter of the fast-falling rain. I
stepped into the carriage and the Count came to the window to me.
"Don't forget," he said, pointing to a long, oblong box secured by a
strong lock. "Draw the rug a little more over your knees--so."
I obeyed him and let it hang down to hide the box, which I began to see
was his object.
"And if you should meet anyone and they should be impertinent enough to
ask you where you are going, don't tell them. Give them your card and
tell them to go to the devil. If they are very pressing indeed, you must
tell a lie. Say that you've been to dine with Sir Sedgwick Bromley at
Hatherly Hall. Don't forget the name."
"Very well. Are you coming back to the Metropole to-night?" I asked.
"I think so. But if you don't mind I should be glad if you would have the
box taken up into your room and keep it for me. I shouldn't like anything
to happen to it."
I promised, but without much alacrity. We shook hands and the carriage
drove off.