The Five Knots
Page 35
*CHAPTER XXXV*
*JANSEN AT HOME*
"Is the information worth five pounds?" Goatley asked.
"The information is worth five pounds," Russell said emphatically."Especially as I take it that you can put your hand upon our man at anymoment. Now what happened afterwards?"
"Well, I walked the streets till late in the morning, never losing sightof the Dutchman until he returned to the neighbourhood of Gower Street.The second time he called at Flower's house he was more successful, forhe was inside the place for an hour before he came out again, on thebest of terms with himself, and went off towards Gray's Inn Road. Itracked him to a house there, where I presume he lives, for he lethimself in with a latch-key, and presently I saw a light in one of thewindows over the shop. The place is a small bird-fancier's, and fromwhat I could see I should say that Jansen has a couple of rooms and doesfor himself. I have the name and address. If you think it is likely tobe of any use to you----"
"So far so good," Russell exclaimed. "But do you think that Jansen isthere now?"
"He was there half an hour ago, because I came straight from Gray's InnRoad," Goatley explained.
Russell rose abruptly and took some money out of his pocket which hehanded over to Goatley.
"There are the five pounds to go on with," he said. "And it is for youto say whether they shall be the last I shall ever give you, or whetherthey shall be multiplied a hundredfold. It is entirely in your hands,and if you can keep off the drink you ought to do very well over this."
"Never fear about that," Goatley laughed. "I would do much for money,but I would do a great deal more for revenge. But for that scoundrellycousin of mine, I should have been in a good position to-day. Look atme now, and contrast me with what I was when you first knew me. If Istopped the first gentleman I met in the street and told him that I wasan old University man he would laugh me to scorn. And yet you know Ishould be speaking the truth. But I am wasting your time. What do youwant me to do? I don't suppose you made me a present of that fivepounds."
"I didn't," Russell said curtly. "I want you to go back and keep an eyeupon Jansen, and when he leaves his rooms, as he will probably do soon,you must follow him and ascertain where he goes. Then you can come andsee me at the Wanderers' Club in Piccadilly where I shall be tillmidnight. After that I can dispense with your services for the present,but you had better keep in touch with me. But you will do that for yourown sake as well as mine. I think that is all."
Goatley departed, feeling all the better for his meal, having alsoinformed Russell of Flower's departure for Maldon Grange. Russellthought he could be trusted. Now he had to look up Uzali.
The latter was dressed. He had recently dined, for the things werestill on the table and the occupant of the room was seated before thefire reading an evening paper. There was a shrewd smile on his face ashe welcomed Russell.
"You mustn't take any notice of me," he said. "I have had an accidentwhich accounts for the marks on my face, but I am feeling myself again.Have you anything fresh to tell me? I am all curiosity."
"Don't you think you had better be candid with me?" Russell asked. "Ifwe are going to work together in this matter you should explain how youreceived those marks on your face."
"Quite right," Uzali agreed. "Anyway, if I don't tell you, WilfridMercer will. I am like a colonel commanding a regiment whose men havebeen fired on by his own troops. But sit down and take a cigarette, andI will tell you all about it."
Russell listened to the story without comment, though the situation wasgrave enough.
"It doesn't seem to trouble you much," he said by and by. "But doesn'tit strike you as ominous that your fellow-countrymen should attack youin this way?"
"Well, you see, it might have been an accident," Uzali explained. "Ihaven't met those men face to face yet, at least not in such a way thatrecognition might be mutual. And they may be priests. If they are, Ishould have no more command over them than you would. Honestly, thesituation is somewhat alarming. I suppose all we can do is to try tocatch one of my countrymen red-handed in his next attack on Mr. Flower."
"Well, that won't be in London," Russell answered. "I have just had aman named Goatley with me. I don't suppose you have ever heard of him,but it was he, in the first place, who induced Samuel Flower toundertake a voyage to Borneo. He knows as much about the whole thing aswe do, and he tells me that Samuel Flower has gone back to Maldon Grangewithin the last two hours. There is no doubt that Flower has been madethe subject of a second attack, for he was conveyed to Maldon Grange ina motor-ambulance, which points to another step in the tragedy. Ithought you would like to know this because it is important."
Uzali rose excitedly to his feet.
"It is important," he cried. "Then those people were more or lesssuccessful in their attempt last night. We must get down to MaldonGrange without delay lest a worse thing happen. I suppose it is too lateto think about going there to-night?"
Russell said the thing was impossible before morning.
"I couldn't manage it," he went on. "Besides, there are matters whichneed an explanation. We have not got to the bottom of things yet, and Iwant you to see Goatley."
Uzali announced himself as ready to do whatever Russell required of him.It was getting on towards twelve o'clock when they left the flat andmade their way along Piccadilly to the Wanderers' Club. An inquiry ofthe porter elicited the fact that nobody had been asking for Mr.Russell, so that they were fain to wait in the smoking-room. About halfan hour later a message came to Russell that some one wanted to see himoutside on pressing business, whereupon he rose and signed Uzali tofollow him. Goatley stood waiting patiently upon the pavement, thoughhis manner was eager and excited. One glance at his face showed Russellthat he had not forgotten his promise as to alcohol.
"Have you any news for us?"
"'Hextra speshul,'" Goatley replied. "I had to wait outside his roomsso long that my patience was nearly exhausted. He has gone to amusic-hall over the river. I forget the name, but I can take you."
A cab was called and the music-hall was soon reached, a shabby concernleading out of one of the streets off Waterloo Road. Late as it was theplace was still fairly well filled with a rabble of men and womenenjoying themselves after the fashion of their kind, though most peoplewould have found the entertainment dreary to the last degree. A momentor two later as the smoke cleared, the form of Jansen was to be seen atone of the small tables, where he was talking earnestly to a companionwhose face was partially hidden behind a big ulster overcoat the hood ofwhich he had drawn over his head. Russell, however, recognized thefeatures of the man he was in search of.
"I have made no mistake, sir?" Goatley asked.
"You have made no mistake," Russell said in tones of satisfaction. "Ishould know that rascal anywhere. You have done an exceedingly goodnight's work and can go back to your rooms with the feeling that youhave earned your money. See me in the morning and I will tell you whatto do next. And if you could effect a change for the better in yourwardrobe----"
Goatley nodded and went his way, so that Russell was free to take stockof the man whom he had been looking for so long. He was not moreinterested than Uzali, who kept his eyes fixed upon the two intently;indeed, Russell had to speak to him more than once before he could get areply from his companion.
"Yes, yes," Uzali whispered. "But it is nearly one, and all thesepeople will be going soon. Let us get outside and wait. I have aparticular reason for wishing to see who it is that Jansen has in hiscompany."
The request was so significant that Russell rose without furtherprotest. They stood together in the shade waiting till the audiencepoured out. Jansen and a little man in an ulster were almost the last toappear. Russell saw Uzali's eyes glisten.
"Let us follow them," the latter whispered. "It is as I thought. Theman in the coat is one of my countrymen."