In Search of the Unknown

by Robert W. Chambers

  XXV

  "It was nearly ten o'clock and our train was rapidly approachingParis. We passed village after village wrapped in mist, station afterstation hung with twinkling red and blue and yellow lanterns, thensped on again with the echo of the switch-bells ringing in our ears.

  "When at length the train slowed up and stopped, I opened the windowand looked out upon a long, wet platform, shining under the electriclights.

  "A guard came running by, throwing open the doors of each compartment,and crying, 'Paris next! Tickets, if you please.'

  "I handed him my book of coupons, from which he tore several andhanded it back. Then he lifted his lantern and peered into thecompartment, saying, 'Is monsieur alone?'

  "I turned to Wilhelmina.

  "'He wants your ticket--give it to me.'

  "'What's that?' demanded the guard.

  "I looked anxiously at Wilhelmina.

  "'If your father has the tickets--' I began, but was interrupted bythe guard, who snapped:

  "'Monsieur will give himself the trouble to remember that I do notunderstand English.'

  "'Keep quiet!' I said, sharply, in French. 'I am not speaking toyou.'

  "The guard stared stupidly at me, then, at my luggage, and finally,entering the car, knelt down and peered under the seats. Presently hegot up, very red in the face, and went out slamming the door. He hadnot paid the slightest attention to Wilhelmina, but I distinctly heardhim say, 'Only Englishmen and idiots talk to themselves!'

  "'Wilhelmina,' I faltered, 'do you mean to say that that guard couldnot see you?'

  "She began to look so serious again that I merely added, 'Never mind,I don't care whether you are invisible or not, dearest.'

  "'I am not invisible to you,' she said; 'why should you care?'

  "A great noise of bells and whistles drowned our voices, and, amid thewhirring of switch-bells, the hissing of steam, and the cries of'Paris! All out!' our train glided into the station.

  "It was the professor who opened the door of our carriage. There hestood, calmly adjusting his yellow night-cap and drawing hisdressing-gown closer with the corded tassels.

  "'Where have you been?' I asked.

  "'On the engine.'

  "'_In_ the engine, I suppose you mean,' I said.

  "'No, I don't; I mean _on_ the engine--on the pilot. It was veryrefreshing. Where are we going now?'

  "'Do you know Paris?' asked Wilhelmina, turning to me.

  "'Yes. I think your father had better take you to the Hotel Normandieon the Rue de l'Echelle--'

  "'But you must stay there, too!'

  "'Of course--if you wish--'

  "She laughed nervously.

  "'Don't you see that my father and I could not take rooms--now? Youmust engage three rooms for yourself.'

  "'Why?' I asked, stupidly.

  "'Oh, dear--why, because we are invisible.'

  "I tried to repress a shudder. The professor gave Wilhelmina his arm,and, as I studied his ensemble, I thanked Heaven that he wasinvisible.

  "At the gate of the station I hailed a four-seated cab, and we rattledaway through the stony streets, brilliant with gas-jets, and in a fewmoments rolled smoothly across the Avenue de l'Opera, turned into theRue de l'Echelle, and stopped. A bright little page, all over buttons,came out, took my luggage, and preceded us into the hallway.

  "I, with Wilhelmina on my arm and the professor shuffling along besideme, walked over to the desk.

  "'Room?' said the clerk. 'We have a very desirable room on the second,fronting the Rue St. Honore--'

  "'But we--that is, I want three rooms--three separate rooms!' I said.

  "The clerk scratched his chin. 'Monsieur is expecting friends?'

  "'Say yes,' whispered Wilhelmina, with a suspicion of laughter in hervoice.

  "'Yes,' I repeated, feebly.

  "'Gentlemen, of course?' said the clerk, looking at me narrowly.

  "'One lady.'

  "'Married, of course?'

  "'What's that to you?' I said, sharply. 'What do you mean by speakingto us--'

  "'Us!'

  "'I mean to me,' I said, badly rattled; 'give me the rooms and let meget to bed, will you?'

  "'Monsieur will remember,' said the clerk, coldly, 'that this is anold and respectable hotel.'

  "'I know it,' I said, smothering my rage.

  "The clerk eyed me suspiciously.

  "'Front!' he called, with irritating deliberation. 'Show thisgentleman to apartment ten.'

  "'How many rooms are there!' I demanded.

  "'Three sleeping-rooms and a parlor.'

  "'I will take it,' I said, with composure.

  "'On probation,' muttered the clerk, insolently.

  "Swallowing the insult, I followed the bell-boy up the stairs, keepingbetween him and Wilhelmina, for I dreaded to see him walk through heras if she were thin air. A trim maid rose to meet us and conducted usthrough a hallway into a large apartment. She threw open all thebedroom-doors and said, 'Will monsieur have the goodness to choose?'

  "'Which will you take,' I began, turning to Wilhelmina.

  "'I? Monsieur!' cried the startled maid.

  "That completely upset me. 'Here,' I muttered, slipping some silverinto her hand; 'now, for the love of Heaven, run away!'

  "When she had vanished with a doubtful 'Merci, monsieur!' I handed theprofessor the keys and asked him to settle the thing with Wilhelmina.

  "Wilhelmina took the corner room, the professor rambled into the nextone, and I said good-night and crept wearily into my own chamber. Isat down and tried to think. A great feeling of fatigue weighted myspirits.

  "'I can think better with my clothes off,' I said, and slipped thecoat from my shoulders. How tired I was! 'I can think better in bed,'I muttered, flinging my cravat on the dresser and tossing myshirt-studs after it. I was certainly very tired. 'Now,' I yawned,grasping the pillow and drawing it under my head--'now I can think abit.' But before my head fell on the pillow sleep closed my eyes.

  "I began to dream at once. It seemed as though my eyes were wide openand the professor was standing beside my bed.

  "'Young man,' he said, 'you've won my daughter and you must pay thepiper!'

  "'What piper?' I said.

  "'The Pied Piper of Hamelin, I don't think,' replied the professor,vulgarly, and before I could realize what he was doing he had drawn areed pipe from his dressing-gown and was playing a strangely annoyingair. Then an awful thing occurred. Cats began to troop into the room,cats by the hundred--toms and tabbies, gray, yellow, Maltese, Persian,Manx--all purring and all marching round and round, rubbing againstthe furniture, the professor, and even against me. I struggled withthe nightmare.

  "'Take them away!' I tried to gasp.

  "'Nonsense!' he said; 'here is an old friend.'

  "I saw the white tabby cat of the Hotel St. Antoine.

  "'An old friend,' he repeated, and played a dismal melody on hisreed.

  "I saw Wilhelmina enter the room, lift the white tabby in her arms,and bring her to my side.

  "'Shake hands with him,' she commanded.

  "To my horror the tabby deliberately extended a paw and tapped me onthe knuckles.

  "'Oh!' I cried, in agony; 'this is a horrible dream! Why, oh, whycan't I wake!'

  "'Yes,' she said, dropping the cat, 'it is partly a dream, but some ofit is real. Remember what I say, my darling; you are to go to-morrowmorning and meet the twelve-o'clock train from Antwerp at the Gare duNord. Papa and I are coming to Paris on that train. Don't you knowthat we are not really here now, you silly boy? Good-night, then. Ishall be very glad to see you.'

  "I saw her glide from the room, followed by the professor, playing agay quick-step, to which the cats danced two and two.

  "'Good-night, sir,' said each cat as it passed my bed; and I dreamedno more.

  "When I awoke, the room, the bed had vanished; I was in the street,walking rapidly; the sun shone down on the broad, white pavements ofParis, and the streams of busy life flowed past me on either si
de. Howswiftly I was walking! Where the devil was I going? Surely I hadbusiness somewhere that needed immediate attention. I tried toremember when I had awakened, but I could not. I wondered where I haddressed myself; I had apparently taken great pains with my toilet, forI was immaculate, monocle and all, even down to a long-stemmed rosenestling in my button-hole. I knew Paris and recognized the streetsthrough which I was hurrying. Where could I be going? What was myhurry? I glanced at my watch and found I had not a moment to lose.Then, as the bells of the city rang out mid-day, I hastened into therailroad station on the Rue Lafayette and walked out to the platform.And as I looked down the glittering track, around the distant curveshot a locomotive followed by a long line of cars. Nearer and nearerit came, while the station-gongs sounded and the switch-bells beganringing all along the track.

  "'Antwerp express!' cried the sous-chef de gare, and as the trainslipped along the tiled platform I sprang upon the steps of afirst-class carriage and threw open the door.

  "'How do you do, Mr. Kensett?' said Wilhelmina Wyeth, springinglightly to the platform. 'Really it is very nice of you to come to thetrain.' At the same moment a bald, mild-eyed gentleman emerged fromthe depths of the same compartment, carrying a large, covered basket.

  "'How are you, Kensett?' he said. 'Glad to see you again. Rather warmin that compartment--no, I will not trust this basket to anexpressman; give Wilhelmina your arm and I'll follow. We go to theNormandie, I believe?'

  "All the morning I had Wilhelmina to myself, and at dinner I satbeside her, with the professor opposite. The latter was cheerfulenough, but he nearly ruined my appetite, for he smelled strongly ofcatnip. After dinner he became restless and fidgeted about in hischair until coffee was brought, and we went up to the parlor of ourapartment. Here his restlessness increased to such an extent that Iventured to ask him if he was in good health.

  "'It's that basket--the covered basket which I have in the next room,'he said.

  "'What's the trouble with the basket?' I asked.

  "'The basket's all right--but the contents worry me.'

  "'May I inquire what the contents are?' I ventured.

  "The professor rose.

  "'Yes,' he said, 'you may inquire of my daughter.' He left the room,but reappeared shortly, carrying a saucer of milk.

  "I watched him enter the next room, which was mine.

  "'What on earth is he taking that into my room for?' I askedWilhelmina. 'I don't keep cats.'

  "'But you will,' she said.

  "'I? Never!'

  "'You will if I ask you to.'

  "'But--but you won't ask me.'

  "'But I do.'

  "'Wilhelmina!'

  "'Harold!'

  "'I detest cats.'

  "'You must not.'

  "'I can't help it.'

  "'You will when I ask it. Have I not given myself to you? Will you notmake a little sacrifice for me?'

  "'I don't understand--'

  "'Would you refuse my first request?'

  "'No,' I said, miserably, 'I will keep dozens of cats--'

  "'I do not ask that; I only wish you to keep one.'

  "'Was that what your father had in that basket?' I asked,suspiciously.

  "'Yes, the basket came from Antwerp.'

  "'What! The white Antwerp cat!' I cried.

  "'Yes.'

  "'And you ask me to keep that cat? Oh, Wilhelmina!'

  "'Listen!' she said. 'I have a long story to tell you; come nearer,close to me. You say you love me?'

  "I bent and kissed her.

  "'Then I shall put you to the proof,' she murmured.

  "'Prove me!'

  "'Listen. That cat is the same cat that ran out of the apartment inthe Waldorf when your great-aunt ceased to exist--in human shape. Myfather and myself, having received word from the Mahatmas of the TrustCompany, sheltered and cherished the cat. We were ordered by theMahatmas to convert you. The task was appalling--but there is no suchthing as refusing a command, and we laid our plans. That man with awhite spot in his hair was my father--'

  "'What! Your father is bald.'

  "'He wore a wig then. The white spot came from dropping chemicals onthe wig while experimenting with a substance which you could notcomprehend.'

  "'Then--then that clew was useless; but who could have taken theCrimson Diamond? And who was the man with the white spot on his headwho tried to sell the stone in Paris?'

  "'That was my father.'

  "'He--he--st--took the Crimson Diamond!' I cried, aghast.

  "'Yes and no. That was only a paste stone that he had in Paris. Itwas to draw you over here. He had the real Crimson Diamond also.'

  "'Your father?'

  "'Yes. He has it in the next room now. Can you not see how itdisappeared, Harold? Why, the cat swallowed it!'

  "'Do you mean to say that the white tabby swallowed the CrimsonDiamond?'

  "'By mistake. She tried to get it out of the velvet bag, and, as thebag was also full of catnip, she could not resist a mouthful, andunfortunately just then you broke in the door and so startled the catthat she swallowed the Crimson Diamond.'

  "There was a painful pause. At last I said:

  "'Wilhelmina, as you are able to vanish, I suppose you also are ableto converse with cats.'

  "'I am,' she replied, trying to keep back the tears of mortification.

  "'And that cat told you this?'

  "'She did.'

  "'And my Crimson Diamond is inside that cat?'

  "'It is.'

  "'Then,' said I, firmly, 'I am going to chloroform the cat.'

  "'Harold!' she cried, in terror, 'that cat is your great-aunt!'

  "I don't know to this day how I stood the shock of that announcement,or how I managed to listen while Wilhelmina tried to explain thetransmigration theory, but it was all Chinese to me. I only knew thatI was a blood relation of a cat, and the thought nearly drove me mad.

  "'Try, my darling, try to love her,' whispered Wilhelmina; 'she mustbe very precious to you--'

  "'Yes, with my diamond inside her,' I replied, faintly.

  "'You must not neglect her,' said Wilhelmina.

  "'Oh no, I'll always have my eye on her--I mean I will surround herwith luxury--er, milk and bones and catnip and books--er--does sheread?'

  "'Not the books that human beings read. Now, go and speak to youraunt, Harold.'

  "'Eh! How the deuce--'

  "'Go; for my sake try to be cordial.'

  "She rose and led me unresistingly to the door of my room.

  "'Good Heavens!' I groaned; 'this is awful.'

  "'Courage, my darling!' she whispered. 'Be brave for love of me.'

  "I drew her to me and kissed her. Beads of cold perspiration startedin the roots of my hair, but I clenched my teeth and entered the roomalone. The room was dark and I stood silent, not knowing where toturn, fearful lest I step on my aunt! Then, through the drearysilence, I called, 'Aunty!'

  "A faint noise broke upon my ear, and my heart grew sick, but I strodeinto the darkness, calling, hoarsely:

  "'Aunt Tabby! It is your nephew!'

  "Again the faint sound. Something was stirring there among theshadows--a shape moving softly along the wall, a shade which glided byme, paused, wavered, and darted under the bed. Then I threw myself onthe floor, profoundly moved, begging, imploring my aunt to come tome.

  "'Aunty! Aunty!' I murmured. 'Your nephew is waiting to take you tohis heart!'

  "At last I saw my great-aunt's eyes shining in the dark."

  The young man's voice grew hushed and solemn, and he lifted his handin silence:

  "Close the door. That meeting is not for the eyes of the world! Closethe door upon that sacred scene where great-aunt and nephew are unitedat last."

  * * * * *

  A long pause followed; deep emotion was visible in Miss Barrison'ssensitive face. She said:

  "Then--you are married?"

  "No," replied Mr. Kensett, in a mortified voice.

  "Why not?" I ask
ed, amazed.

  "Because," he said, "although my fiancee was prepared to accept a catas her great-aunt, she could not endure the complications thatfollowed."

  "What complications?" inquired Miss Barrison.

  The young man sighed profoundly, shaking his head.

  "My great-aunt had kittens," he said, softly.

  * * * * *

  The tremendous scientific importance of these experiences excited mebeyond measure. The simplicity of the narrative, the elaborateattention to corroborative detail, all bore irresistible testimony tothe truth of these accounts of phenomena vitally important to theentire world of science.

  We all dined together that night--a little earnest company ofknowledge-seekers in the vast wilderness of the unexplored; and welingered long in the dining-car, propounding questions, advancingtheories, speculating upon possibilities of most intense interest.Never before had I known a man whose relatives were cats and kittens,but he did not appear to share my enthusiasm in the matter.

  "You see," he said, looking at Miss Barrison, "it may be interestingfrom a purely scientific point of view, but it has already proved abar to my marrying."

  "Were the kittens black?" I inquired.

  "No," he said, "my aunt drew the color-line, I am proud to say."

  "I don't see," said Miss Barrison, "why the fact that your great-auntis a cat should prevent you from marrying."

  "It wouldn't prevent _me_!" said the young man, quickly.

  "Nor me," mused Miss Barrison--"if I were really in love."

  Meanwhile I had been very busy thinking about Professor Farrago, and,coming to an interesting theory, advanced it.

  "If," I began, "he marries one of those transparent ladies, what aboutthe children?"

  "Some would be, no doubt, transparent," said Kensett.

  "They might be only translucent," suggested Miss Barrison.

  "Or partially opaque," I ventured. "But it's a risky marriage--not tobe able to see what one's wife is about--"

  "That is a silly reflection on women," said Miss Barrison, quietly."Besides, a girl need not be transparent to conceal what she'sdoing."

  This observation seemed to end our postprandial and tripartiteconference; Miss Barrison retired to her stateroom presently; after alast cigar, smoked almost in silence, the young man and I bade eachother a civil good-night and retired to our respective berths.

  I think it was at Richmond, Virginia, that I was awakened by the negroporter shaking me very gently and repeating, in a pleasant, monotonousvoice: "Teleg'am foh you, suh! Teleg'am foh Mistuh Gilland, suh. 'Donecall you 'lev'm times sense breakfass, suh! Las' call foh luncheon,suh. Teleg'am foh--"

  "Heavens!" I muttered, sitting up in my bunk, "is it as late as that!Where are we?" I slid up the window-shade and sat blinking at a floodof sunshine.

  "Telegram?" I said, yawning and rubbing my eyes. "Let me have it. Allright, I'll be out presently. Shut that curtain! I don't want theentire car to criticise my pink pajamas!"

  "Ain' nobody in de cyar, 'scusin yo'se'f, suh," grinned the porter,retiring.

  I heard him, but did not comprehend, sitting there sleepily unfoldingthe scrawled telegram. Suddenly my eyes flew wide open; I scanned thedespatch with stunned incredulity:

  "ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

  "We couldn't help it. Love at first sight. Married this morning in Atlanta. Wildly happy. Forgive. Wire blessing.

  "(Signed) HAROLD KENSETT, "HELEN BARRISON KENSETT."

  "Porter!" I shouted. "Porter! Help!"

  There was no response.

  "Oh, Lord!" I groaned, and rolled over, burying my head in theblankets; for I understood at last that Science, the most jealous,most exacting of mistresses, could never brook a rival.

  THE END

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