A TERRIBLE CRIME
Scarcely awake, I sprang from my couch in time to see de Pintra’s form
disappear through the doorway. A moment later I was in the study, which
was beginning to lighten with the dawn of a new day.
The trap in the floor was open, and the chief threw himself into the
aperture and quickly descended. At once I followed, feeling my way down
the iron staircase and along the passage. Reaching the domed chamber a
strange sight met our view. Both traps had been raised, the second one
standing upright upon its hinged edge, and from the interior of the
vault shone a dim light.
While we hesitated the light grew stronger, and soon Madam Izabel came
slowly from the vault with a small lamp in one hand and a great bundle
of papers in the other. As she reached the chamber Dom Miguel sprang
from out the shadow and wrenched the papers from her grasp.
“So, madam!” he cried, “you have betrayed yourself in seeking to betray
us. Shame! Shame that a daughter of mine should be guilty of so vile an
act!” As he spoke he struck her so sharply across the face with the
bundle of papers that she reeled backward and almost dropped the lamp.
“Look to her, Robert,” he said, and leaped into the vault to restore the
papers to their place.
Then, while I stood stupidly by, not thinking of any further danger,
Madam Izabel sprang to the trap and with one quick movement dashed down
the heavy plate of steel. I saw her place the ring in its cavity and
heard the shooting of the bolts; and then, suddenly regaining my senses,
I rushed forward and seized her arm.
“The ring!” I gasped, in horror; “give me the ring! He will suffocate in
that dungeon in a few minutes.”
I can see yet her cold, serpent-like eyes as they glared venomously into
my own. The next instant she dashed the lamp into my face. It shivered
against the wall, and as I staggered backward the burning oil streamed
down my pajamas and turned me into a living pillar of fire.
Screaming with pain, I tore the burning cloth from my body and stamped
it into ashes with my bare feet. Then, smarting from the sting of many
burns, I looked about me and found myself in darkness and alone.
Instantly the danger that menaced Dom Miguel flashed upon me anew, and I
stumbled up the iron stairs until I reached the study, where I set the
alarm bell going so fiercely that its deep tones resounded throughout
the whole house.
In my chamber I hastily pulled my clothing over my smarting flesh, and
as the astonished servants came pouring into the study, I shouted to
them:
“Find Senhora de Mar immediately and bring her to me—by force if
necessary. She has murdered Dom Miguel!”
Over the heads of the stupidly staring group I saw a white, startled
face, and Lesba’s great eyes met my own with a quick look of
comprehension. Then she disappeared, and I turned again to the wondering
servants.
“Make haste!” I cried. “Can you not understand? Every moment is
precious.”
But the frightened creatures gazed upon each other silently, and I
thrust them aside and ran through the house in frantic search for the
murderess. The rooms were all vacant, and when I reached the entrance
hall a groom stopped me.
“Senhora de Mar left the house five minutes ago, sir. She was mounted
upon our swiftest horse, and knows every inch of the country. It would
be useless to pursue her.”
While I glared at the fellow a soft hand touched my elbow.
“Come!” said Lesba. “Your horse is waiting—I have saddled him myself.
Make for the station at Cruz, for Izabel will seek to board the train
for Rio.”
She had led me through the door across the broad piazza; and as,
half-dazed, I mounted the horse, she added, “Tell me, can I do anything
in your absence?”
“Nothing!” I cried, with a sob; “Dom Miguel is locked up in the vault,
and I must find the key—the key!”
Away dashed the horse, and over my shoulder I saw her still standing on
the steps of the piazza staring after me.
The station at Cruz! I must reach it as soon as possible—before Izabel
de Mar should escape. Almost crazed at the thought of my impotency and
shuddering at the knowledge that de Pintra was slowly dying in his tomb
while I was powerless to assist him, I lashed the good steed until it
fairly flew over the uneven road.
“Halt!” cried a stern voice.
The way had led me beneath some overhanging trees, and as I pulled the
horse back upon his haunches I caught the gleam of a revolver held by a
mounted man whose form was enveloped in a long cloak.
Then came a peal of light laughter.
“Why, ‘tis our Americano!” said the horseman, gayly; “whither away, my
gallant cavalier?”
To my delight I recognized Paola’s voice.
“Dom Miguel is imprisoned in the vault!” I almost screamed in my
agitation; “and Madam Izabel has stolen the key.”
“Indeed!” he answered. “And where is Senhora Izabel?”
“She has fled to Rio.”
“And left her dear father to die? How unfilial!” he retorted, laughing
again. “Do you know, Senhor Harcliffe, it somehow reminds me of a story
my nurse used to read me from the ‘Arabian Nights,’ how a fond daughter
planned to—”
“For God’s sake, sir, the man is dying!” I cried, maddened at his
indifference.
He drew out a leathern case and calmly selected a cigarette.
“And Madam Izabel has the key,” he repeated, striking a match. “By the
way, senhor, where are you bound?”
“To overtake the murderess before she can board the train at Cruz.”
“Very good. How long has Dom Miguel been imprisoned in the vault?”
“Twenty minutes, a half-hour, perhaps.”
“Ah! He may live in that foul and confined atmosphere for two hours;
possibly three. But no longer. I know, for I planned the vault myself.
And the station at Cruz is a good two hours’ ride from this spot. I
know, for I have just traveled it.”
I dropped my head, overwhelmed by despair as the truth was thus brutally
thrust upon me. For Dom Miguel there was no hope.
“But the records, sir! We must save them, even if our chief is lost.
Should Madam Izabel deliver the key to her husband or to the Emperor
every leader of the Cause may perish upon the gallows.”
“Well thought of, on my word,” commented the strange man, again laughing
softly. “I wonder how it feels to have a rope around one’s neck and to
kick the empty air?” He blew a cloud of smoke from his mouth and watched
it float away. “But you are quite right, Senhor Harcliffe. The lady must
be found and made to give up the ring.”
He uttered a low whistle, and two men rode out from the shadow of the
trees and joined us.
“Ride with Senhor Harcliffe to the station at Cruz. Take there the train
for Rio. Present the American to Mazanovitch, who is to obey his
instructions.”
The men bowed silently.
“But you, senhor,” I said, eagerly, “can you not yourself assist us in
this search?”
“I never work,” was the reply, drawled in his mincing manner. “But the
men I have given you will do all that can be done to assist you. For
myself, I think I shall ride on to de Pintra’s and kiss my sister good
morning. Perhaps she will give me a bite of breakfast, who knows?”
Such heartlessness amazed me. Indeed, the man was past my comprehension.
“And General Fonseca?” said I, hesitating whether or no to put myself
under Paola’s command, now that the chief was gone.
“Let Fonseca go to the devil. He would cry ‘I told you so!’ and refuse
to aid you, even though his own neck is in jeopardy.” He looked at his
watch. “If you delay longer you will miss the train at Cruz. Good
morning, senhor. How sad that you cannot breakfast with us!”
Touching his hat with a gesture of mock courtesy he rode slowly on, and
the next moment, all irresolution vanishing, I put spurs to my horse and
bounded away, the two men following at my heels.
Presently I became tortured with thoughts of Dom Miguel, stifling in his
tomb of steel. And under my breath I cursed the heartless _sang froid_
of Francisco Paola, who refused to be serious even when his friend was
dying.
“The cold-blooded scoundrel!” I muttered, as I galloped on; “the cad!
the trifling coxcomb! Can nothing rouse him from his self-complaisant
idiocy?”
“I imagine you are apostrophizing my master, senhor,” said one of the
men riding beside me.
Something in his voice caused me to turn and scrutinize his face.
“Ah!” I exclaimed, “you are Sergeant Marco.”
“The same, senhor. And I shall not arrest you for the death of our dear
lieutenant.” A low chuckling laugh accompanied the grim pleasantry. “But
if you were applying those sweet names to Senhor Paola, I assure you
that you wrong him. For three years I have been his servant, and this I
have learned: in an emergency no man can think more clearly or act more
swiftly than his Majesty’s Minister of Police.”
“I have been with him four years,” announced the other man, in a hoarse
voice, “and I agree with you that he is cold and heartless. Yet I never
question the wisdom of his acts.”
“Why did he not come with us himself?” I demanded, angrily. “Why should
he linger to eat a breakfast and kiss his sister good morning, when his
friend and chief is dying, and his Cause is in imminent danger?”
Marco laughed, and the other shrugged his shoulders, disdaining a reply.
For a time we rode on in unbroken silence, but coming to a rough bit of
road that obliged us to walk the horses, the sergeant said:
“Perhaps it would be well for you to explain to us what has happened. My
friend Figgot, here, is a bit of a detective, and if we are to assist
you we must know in what way our services are required.”
“We are both patriots, senhor,” said the other, briefly.
So I told them the story of Madam Izabel’s treachery and her theft of
the ring, after locking her father within the vault. At their request I
explained minutely the construction of the steel doors and described the
cutting of the emerald that alone could release the powerful bolts. They
heard all without comment, and how much of my story was new to them I
had no knowledge. But of one thing I felt certain: these fellows were
loyal to the Cause and clever enough to be chosen by Paola as his
especial companions; therefore they were just the assistants I needed in
this emergency.
It was a weary ride, and the roads became worse as we progressed toward
Cruz. The sun had risen and now spread a marvelous radiance over the
tropical landscape. I noted the beauty of the morning even while
smarting from the burns upon my breast and arms, and heart-sick at the
awful fate of my beloved leader—even now perishing amid the records of
the great conspiracy he had guided so successfully. Was all over yet, I
wondered? Paola had said that he might live in his prison for two or
three hours. And the limit of time had nearly passed. Poor Dom Miguel!
My horse stepped into a hole, stumbled, and threw me headlong to the
ground.
For a few minutes I was unconscious; then I found myself sitting up and
supported by Sergeant Marco, while the other man dashed water in my
face.
“It is a dangerous delay,” grumbled Marco, seeing me recovering.
Slowly I rose to my feet. No bones were broken, but I was sadly bruised.
“I can ride, now,” I said.
They lifted me upon one of their horses and together mounted the other.
My own steed had broken his leg. A bullet ended his suffering.
Another half-hour and we sighted the little station at Cruz. Perhaps I
should have explained before that from Cuyaba to Cruz the railway made a
long sweep around the base of the hills. The station nearest to de
Pintra’s estate was Cuyaba; but by riding straight to Cruz one saved
nearly an hour’s railway journey, and the train for Rio could often be
made in this way when it was impossible to reach Cuyaba in time to
intercept it. And as the station at Cruz was more isolated than that at
Cuyaba, this route was greatly preferred by the revolutionists visiting
de Pintra.
My object in riding to Cruz upon this occasion was twofold. Had Madam
Izabel in her flight made for Cuyaba to catch the train, I should be
able to board the same train at Cruz, and force her to give up the ring.
And if she rode to Cruz she must await there the coming of the train we
also hoped to meet. In either event I planned, as soon as the ring was
in my possession, to hasten back to the mansion, open the vault and
remove the body of our chief; after which it would be my duty to convey
the records and treasure to the safe-keeping of Senhor Bastro.
I had no expectation of finding Dom Miguel still alive. With everything
in our favor the trip would require five hours, and long before that
time the prisoner’s fate would have overtaken him. But the chief’s dying
wish would be to save the records, and that I intended to do if it were
possible.
However, the delays caused by meeting with Paola and my subsequent
unlucky fall had been fatal to my plans. We dashed up to the Cruz
station in time to see the train for Rio disappearing in the distance,
and to complete my disappointment we found standing beside the platform
a horse yet panting and covered with foam.
Quickly dismounting, I approached the horse to examine it. The station
master came from his little house and bowed with native politeness.
“The horse? Ah, yes; it was from the stables of Dom Miguel. Senhora de
Mar had arrived upon the animal just in time to take the express for
Rio. The gentleman also wanted the train? How sad to have missed it! But
there would be another at eleven o’clock, although not so fast a train.”
For a time I stood in a sort of stupor, my mind refusing to grasp the
full horror of the situation. Until then, perhaps, a lingering hope of
saving Dom Miguel had possessed me. But with the ring on its way to Rio
and the Emperor, and I condemned to inaction at a deserted way-station,
it is no wonder that despair overwhelmed me.
When I slowly recovered my faculties I found that my men and the station
master had disappeared. I found them in the little house writing
telegrams, which the official was busily ticking over the wires.
Glancing at one or two of the messages I found them unintelligible.
“It is the secret cypher,” whispered Figgot. “We shall put Madam Izabel
in the care of Mazanovitch himself. Ah, how he will cling to the dear
lady! She is clever—ah, yes! exceedingly clever is Senhora de Mar. But
has Mazanovitch his match in all Brazil?”
“I do not know the gentleman,” I returned.
“No? Perhaps not. But you know the Minister of Police, and Mazanovitch
is the soul of Francisco Paola.”
“But what are we to do?” I asked, impatiently.
“Why, now that our friends in Rio are informed of the situation, we have
transferred to them, for a time, all our worries. It only remains for us
to await the eleven o’clock train.”
I nodded, staring at him through a sort of haze. I was dimly conscious
that my burns were paining me terribly and that my right side seemed
pierced by a thousand red-hot needles. Then the daylight faded away, the
room grew black, and I sank upon the floor unconscious.