The Crime Club

by W. Holt-White

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE CAPTURE OF LADY KATHLEEN

  It was for very excellent reasons that Melun had not driven up toSt. John's Wood to fetch Mme. Estelle to the Empire; and his cautionin other matters thus saved him from an unpleasant cross-examinationconcerning Kathleen.

  It is true that when Westerham had left the box Madame made severalefforts to broach the subject, but Melun succeeded in steering clear ofthe matter until after they had left the theatre. As, however, the cabproceeded to Davies Street she made a further attempt to pin him downto the subject. But again Melun evaded it.

  Few men knew better than Melun the damage that could be done one by ajealous woman, and as he sat alone that night over his whisky-and-soda,the obvious signs of jealousy which Marie had shown him caused himgreat disquiet.

  From Madame, however, he turned to the more important business ofdeciding what he should do to bring the Premier to his knees withoutfurther delay. And it was a strange coincidence that just as Westerhamwas explaining to Lord Dunton his scheme for kidnapping the PrimeMinister, Melun hit upon the plan of abducting Lady Kathleen as thesurest means of inducing Lord Penshurst to surrender.

  So each man in different parts of London worked out two similarschemes, which on the morrow were to clash and to produce anextraordinary sequence of events.

  Melun sat till late perfecting his plan of abducting Lady Kathleen,but, turn and twist the matter though he might, he saw no means ofcarrying it through unless he sought Mme. Estelle's assistance.

  Therefore he rose early in the morning, and was ringing at the bellof the villa in St. John's Wood before the neighbouring clocks werestriking nine. He knew that the most favourable opportunity for hisproject would come shortly after noon, and even though Mme. Estelleconsented to lend her aid there was still much to be done.

  He entered the morning-room without ceremony, and, scarcely pausing tosay "Good-morning," drew a chair to the table at which Madame sat atbreakfast.

  "Marie," he said, "the crisis in our fortunes has arrived to-day. Iwant all the help you can give me, and you will want all your nerve."

  Mme. Estelle eyed him calmly.

  "Indeed," she said. "But even though the crisis in our fortunes arrivedwithin the next ten minutes there are certain questions which I mustask you first."

  Melun fidgeted impatiently. He realised that he could no longer baulkthe question of Lady Kathleen, and the sooner he got himself out of thedifficulty the better for his day's work.

  "George," said Madame, stretching out her right hand and brushingMelun's lightly with her fingers, "George, are you playing me false?"

  "Playing you false?" he cried, with a fine show of indignation. "Whatdo you mean?"

  "I mean that either you have told me too much or too little. If I am tobelieve you, the Premier's secret which we hold is worth at least halfa million of pounds. You say you are certain of the money, and that themoment it is yours we are to be married and leave this miserable modeof life. If this is so I am content. But now I hear other news. I hearthat this is not the only price which you are asking for the return ofthe Premier's papers. I am told that as part of the bargain you are tobe permitted to marry Lady Kathleen."

  Melun jumped out of his chair.

  "It's a lie!" he shouted, "and I'll take my oath that thatrattle-brained fool Westerham is responsible for your stupid fancies."

  "But are they fancies?" urged Madame.

  "Fancies! Of course they are fancies. What good do you think it woulddo me to be tied to a girl like that? Surely half a million shouldcontent any man. I wish to be free to pursue my life with you. Thesooner indeed I am free from all this business the better.

  "Bagley and the rest of them can say what they please and shout as theyplease. They know nothing that can possibly betray me, and certainlynothing that can harm me. When he has paid the price you may be surethat Lord Penshurst will look to that."

  Madame Estelle looked greatly troubled.

  "Are you sure, George," she asked again, "that this is absolutelytrue? Oh! be sure that I dislike to distress you in this way, but Icannot help it. Up to the present I have found Sir Paul Westerhama most truthful man, and I don't see why he should be telling mefalsehoods now."

  "You don't see why?" echoed Melun, with splendidly simulated scorn;"you don't see why? Of course you don't, because you are blind! Blind!You are blind with suspicion and distrust, and he, for his own ends, issimply playing on your fears. He wants to upset you, to put me out ofcourt with you.

  "If he can break our friendship, if he can sever the ties which bindus, then his task is the easier. Has it not occurred to you that he hasbeen trying to turn your mind against me simply that he may, for hisown ends, call you to his aid? Is it not so?"

  For several minutes Mme. Estelle pulled her roll to pieces and madelittle pellets of the dough with her nervous fingers.

  "Yes," she said at last; "perhaps that is so. I have not looked at itin that light."

  "My dear Marie," cried Melun, with a greater show of tenderness than hehad yet exhibited, "surely I have been true enough and faithful enoughall these years for you to believe me now. Indeed, you must believe inme, because if you don't believe in me and give me your support the cupof happiness which is so near our lips may be dashed away from them.

  "Listen!" he went on, "and see whether I am speaking the truth or not.

  "It is impossible for this business to drag on in this way any longer.I must bring matters to a head at once, and I see only one way to doit--I shall kidnap Lady Kathleen."

  Mme. Estelle started and looked at him, half in terror, half inadmiration.

  "It is a bold plan," she said.

  "A bold plan," Melun agreed, "and a plan which must succeed if you willhelp me. The difficulty is to get the girl away, and I shall have toleave that entirely to you. What is more, there is very little time tobe lost. The Cabinet meets at noon, and for a couple of hours afterthat Lord Penshurst will be busy with his colleagues. Consequentlyduring that time Lady Kathleen will be alone.

  "Fortunately I managed to put young Hilden out of the way, at leastfor a time, so that we shall be free of his prying and peeping andofficiousness when you call to-day."

  "When I call to-day!" repeated Madame in tones of wonderment.

  "Yes, yes," continued Melun; "it is you who will have to call. Asthings are at present it is naturally impossible for me to show my facenear Downing Street. With you, however, the matter is quite different.No one there knows you.

  "Now I have left nothing to chance. Westerham, if you please, must gonosing around the garage in Rupert Street to find out where his car is.It had gone, of course, to Holyhead as the result of my instructions.The manager wired to the chauffeur at Chester to return to town atonce. But I wired to Birmingham to stop it there. Crow went down anddismissed the chauffeur, saying that he came from Westerham. The car isnow in Chelsea, and we shall have the pleasure of using it to-day. Itis just the car we want, because for some reason or other Westerham hadit fitted with blind shutters."

  Madame nodded her head.

  "We will telephone to Westminster and get the car to meet us at OxfordCircus. You can go down to Downing Street, and I will take a taxicab tothe Star and Garter, Richmond. When you get to No. 10 simply ask forthe Lady Kathleen, but give no name and refuse your business. That willmerely arouse her curiosity, and the fact that you come in such a carwill certainly obtain you an audience."

  Melun then went on to give Madame various instructions, enjoining hernot to talk to Lady Kathleen on the way down to Richmond.

  They then took a cab to Oxford Circus together and telephoned from theDistrict Messengers' office to the garage at Chelsea for the car tocome on to them at once at Pagani's.

  It was shortly after twelve o'clock when Westerham's car reached thefamous restaurant in Great Portland Street.

  Melun, as he took leave of Mme. Estelle, again enjoined her to silence;and though Madame promised that she would not discuss his affairs withLady Kath
leen, she was, if the truth were told, not quite decidedwhether she would keep her word.

  Her arrival in Downing Street occasioned a little surprise and not alittle curiosity on the part of the doorkeeper when she refused to giveher name. Without much delay, however, she was shown into the long,old-fashioned drawing-room, and it was not many minutes before LadyKathleen appeared.

  Kathleen came into the room very quietly. The sudden alarms andexcursions amid which she had lately lived were accustoming her tostrange and unexpected events, and she instinctively guessed that thewoman who awaited her in the drawing-room was in some way connectedwith her father's secret.

  As she entered the room Mme. Estelle rose from her seat and bowed. Shedid not attempt to shake hands, nor, indeed, did Lady Kathleen make anydemonstration of friendship.

  During the short drive from Oxford Street Madame had rehearsed herlittle part to herself. Now she played it perfectly.

  "Russia needs you," she said.

  Kathleen's face paled, and she drew back a step.

  "I don't quite understand," she said.

  Madame smiled in quite a charming way. "Lady Kathleen," she said,"I cannot explain very much, for I know very little. I was simplyrequested by the Russian Embassy to inform you that a special emissaryfrom St. Petersburg asks to see you at once. Who he is," Madamecontinued, shrugging her shoulders, "I really cannot say. Sometimes,you know, the Russian officials are mysterious, and I have only my workto do. I ask no questions; it is not my business.

  "But this gentleman, whoever he may be, is seemingly fearful of beingseen in London, and he has asked you to meet me at Richmond in anhour's time."

  "Whereabouts in Richmond?" asked Kathleen.

  "At the Star and Garter Hotel. I was asked to assure you that in allprobability he would not detain you long."

  Kathleen's heart now beat faster with hope and now slowly with fear.When she had left the Czar's cousin at Rouen that great personage hadgiven no indication that there was anything further to be discussed.He had simply delivered his ultimatum and taken his way back to St.Petersburg.

  Kathleen looked at the clock.

  "I suppose," she asked, "you do not know whether this gentleman wouldbe likely to wait?"

  "I am instructed," replied Mme. Estelle, "that he cannot possibly wait.He is catching the three-o'clock mail back to France."

  It was certainly an exceedingly awkward position for a girl to be in.Hitherto she had undertaken no negotiations with the Czar's agentsexcept on the advice of her father, and it seemed a remarkable thingthat she should be sent for in this way in person.

  That she could disturb her father was, of course, out of the question,and with some misgivings she decided that it would be best to accompanyher mysterious visitor without further delay.

  "I will be with you in a few moments," she said, and passed out of theroom to put on her outdoor things.

  When she returned she found Madame already on her feet, as thoughanxious to depart--and anxious to depart she was.

  From the beginning Mme. Estelle had cherished no liking for hermission, and the sight of Kathleen's pale and troubled beauty hadunnerved her not a little. The place oppressed her.

  She admitted to herself that her notions were entirely fanciful, butstill the whole atmosphere of the rather sombre and old-fashioneddrawing-room seemed charged with tragedy.

  Kathleen preceded her visitor down the stairs, and then they enteredthe car. It was the Premier's official attendant who opened and shutthe door of the motor for them. The chauffeur was apparently busy withthe machinery, his head inside the bonnet.

  Whatever small trouble the man was encountering with the engines was ofshort duration, for Kathleen had scarcely settled herself in her seatbefore the car began to move.

  As the big motor car swung round into Whitehall a second car enteredDowning Street and had to draw up short in order to avoid a collision.Kathleen, thinking that an accident was unavoidable, leant forward andlooked out of the window, and, to her astonishment, she discerned theface of Westerham in the other car.

  She drew back again with an exclamation, and though she set it down asimagination at the time, she had no doubt afterwards that as a matterof fact Mme. Estelle had become deathly pale.

  The car proceeded at a rapid rate up Whitehall and turning along PallMall made its way into Piccadilly.

  The run to Richmond was a smooth one, unmarked by any incident, and forthe most part, both the women were profoundly silent.

  Each, indeed, was occupied with her own thoughts. Mme. Estelle, asshe cast furtive and sidelong glances at Lady Kathleen, became morejealous and a little more disinclined to believe Melun's protestationsat every mile.

  She would have given much to be able to ask Lady Kathleen point-blankwhether or not Melun had made a marriage with her one of the conditionswhich he was seeking to foist on the Prime Minister. But she had thegood sense to see that even a tentative question of this sort wouldinstantly arouse Lady Kathleen's suspicions. Even as the pseudo agentof the Russian Government her knowledge of affairs could not besupposed to include a matter such as this.

  Kathleen, for her part, had spent the time in trying to account forWesterham's presence in Downing Street. Presumably he was about to makesome further effort to persuade her father of his _bona fides_. And shegrew more unhappy as she thought what her father's answer would againinevitably be, and could only pray that Westerham might have sufficientforbearance to persevere in spite of the Premier's certain rudeness.

  Presently Kathleen, watching from the window, saw the familiar shapeof the Star and Garter come into view. Slightly to her surprise themotor-car did not slacken its speed, but went on through the gatesof Richmond Park. Then, almost for the first time, she spoke to hercompanion.

  "The man must have made a mistake," she said; "he has passed the hotel."

  "Has he?" asked Madame, with an air of astonishment. "That is ratherstrange. He must know the way. Perhaps there is something wrong withthe machinery."

  But Lady Kathleen shook her head, for she knew enough of motoring toappreciate the steady purr of an engine which is running well.

  Suddenly the brakes were applied with considerable force and the carcame to a rapid standstill.

  Then the door swung open and a man leaped in.

  Almost instantly he pulled up the blind shutters which covered theglass and shut out all the light, so that the interior of the car wasin complete darkness.

  Kathleen gave a little cry and shrank back against the cushions. For inthe darkness she felt the car give a great bound onwards and rush downthe hill.

  She heard a low laugh, and then the scraping of a hand as it fumbledfor the electric button.

  The hand groping in the darkness found the switch and flooded the carwith light.

  Kathleen sat bolt upright and uttered a second cry as she saw grinningat her from the opposite side of the car the evil face of Melun.