Devil's Cocktail (Wallace of the Secret Service Series)

by Alexander Wilson

  She greeted Joan with a simper, while Rahtz shook hands with Hugh in a bluff hearty manner that somewhat belied his appearance.

  ‘We heard you were settled in your bungalow, my dear,’ said Mrs Rahtz, ‘and thought we would be among the first to call on you. I hope we have not called too soon?’

  ‘Not at all,’ replied Joan, ‘but as a matter of fact, we only came in this morning.’

  ‘Really! I thought you had been here for three or four days. You seem to have settled down very quickly.’

  ‘We have a very efficient man,’ said Joan, ‘and it was mainly through his efforts that the house was ready before we took possession.’

  ‘You are lucky to have been able to bring an English manservant with you, Shannon,’ said Rahtz. ‘Most of us have to put up with natives, and they are very slow and not altogether trustworthy.’

  ‘As a matter of fact,’ replied Hugh, ‘I was going to leave him behind, but he wanted to come so much that I hadn’t the heart to refuse him. You see he has been with us so long. Luckily I have an income of my own, so there was no real reason why he should stay at home.’

  ‘No, of course not!’

  ‘Mr Abdullah told us all about you,’ simpered Mrs Rahtz, ‘and naturally we were eager to meet you. Such a charming man, don’t you think?’ she added to Joan.

  ‘Mr Abdullah?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘Yes, he is. I like him very much, and so does Hugh.’

  ‘Of course, when we heard of your arrival, my husband was a wee bit jealous of Mr Abdullah’s luck in getting you. He badly wants a first-class man at the head of his own English department.’

  Rahtz nodded.

  ‘Yes,’ he said; ‘I am not too well served in that direction in my college. I have three or four Indian professors, who have specialised in the English language, but that is not the same thing as an Englishman, and like all Indians who teach English, they are inflated with their own importance and imagine they know a lot more than they do. I contend,’ he went on, ‘that in order to teach a language properly, the professor should be a native of the country whose language he teaches. Even I, though I was educated and partially brought up in England, do not feel myself a master of English.’

  ‘Are you not an Englishman?’ asked Hugh innocently.

  ‘No, I am a Russian!’ He looked at Hugh keenly as he spoke.

  ‘Are you really?’ asked the latter, with an appearance of quiet interest.

  ‘I would never have taken you for anything but an absolute Englishman,’ said Joan.

  Rahtz smiled.

  ‘Of course I spent many years in England,’ he said; ‘and I have been in the education department of the Punjab for ten years.’

  ‘Mr Miles described you as a regular Englishman,’ said Joan naïvely. ‘You met him in Bombay, didn’t you?’

  For a moment a startled expression appeared on Rahtz’s face, and he glanced hurriedly at his wife.

  ‘Miles?’ he said, as though trying to remember the name. ‘Oh, yes! He’s the toll American, isn’t he? A most charming fellow. I happened to be in Bombay with a friend of mine for a conference a couple of weeks ago, and we met Hudson, who introduced us to him. They were fellow passengers of yours, were they not?’

  Hugh nodded.

  ‘I remember now he spoke about you. For a moment his name eluded me. That is the young man I told you about, my dear,’ he added turning to his wife.

  ‘Oh, yes, I remember,’ she said. ‘You asked him to call, did you not?’

  ‘Yes.’ He turned to Hugh. ‘He must have arrived in Lahore already then?’

  ‘He called on us today,’ replied Shannon, ‘and we invited him to stay here. I believe he is unpacking his bags at the moment. He’ll be delighted to see you again – he spoke so highly of you. I’ll go and get him!’

  A puzzled expression crossed Rahtz’s face, as Hugh left the room. He looked like a man who was not quite sure of his ground. Mrs Rahtz and Joan chatted amiably.

  ‘Of course you will become members of the club?’ said the former. ‘You will meet most charming people there. Life is very slow out here, unless one belongs to a club.’

  ‘We have already been nominated,’ replied Joan. ‘I expect we shall be elected in a day or two.’

  ‘Really! That is unusually quick work. Generally it takes such a long time to become a member. They are so particular, you know.’

  ‘Surely you are not a Russian, Mrs Rahtz?’ asked Joan suddenly.

  The other woman looked questioningly at her, then smiled. ‘No, dear,’ she said. ‘I was born in Australia, but have lived most of my life in India.’

  Miles came in, followed by Hugh. He shook hands cordially with Rahtz.

  ‘This is a great pleasure, Mr Rahtz!’ he said. ‘I’m very glad to meet you again.’

  He was introduced to Mrs Rahtz, and bowed low over her hand.

  ‘I was looking forward to calling on you, Mrs Rahtz,’ he said gallantly. ‘Your husband gave me an invitation, of which I intended to avail myself in a day or two.’

  ‘We shall be delighted to welcome you at our home, Mr Miles,’ she replied with another of her girlish simpers.

  ‘I was surprised to find that you had already arrived, Miles,’ said Rahtz.

  ‘I came up sooner than I first intended. And I surely did not expect such a welcome as I got. Miss Shannon and her brother have insisted on my staying here.’

  ‘So she told us. She has anticipated an invitation which it would have been our pleasure to have given you.’

  ‘It’s very good of you, Mr Rahtz. I kinder feel that I have almost come home, with all this kindness flowing about.’

  Rahtz looked at him sharply, as though he half suspected that the American was laughing at him, but all he saw in the latter’s face was a look of bland innocence. Tea was served shortly, and Cousins brought in the things and waited on them with a gravity and thoroughness that made Joan want to laugh. He wore a dark suit with a black bow and looked every inch the well-trained manservant.

  Shortly after tea Mr and Mrs Rahtz rose to take their leave, and invited the Shannons and Miles to dine with them one day during the week, an invitation that was accepted apparently with pleasure by all. When they had gone, Miles threw himself into an armchair, and chuckled.

  ‘Old Rahtz made an early call,’ he said. ‘I suppose he wanted to see you for himself, Shannon, and perhaps find out a thing or two. I bet that man’s mind was mighty busy all the time he was here.’

  ‘He had a surprise when he heard that you were staying with us,’ said Hugh.

  ‘Did I do right in mentioning that Mr Miles had spoken of Mr Rahtz?’ asked Joan.

  Hugh grinned.

  ‘There was no harm in it,’ he said. ‘He’d be bound to know sooner or later that Miles was here, and it made everything look above board. As a matter of fact, Joan, it was clever of you to mention our friend here in the way you did. I told Miles when I called him, and he roared with laughter.’

  ‘Sure!’ said the American. ‘I was tickled to death.’

  Cousins came in, and stood respectfully by the door.

  ‘May I sit down, miss?’ he asked humbly.

  Hugh pushed him into a chair.

  ‘You old humbug,’ he said, ‘I know I shall laugh one of these days when you’re acting the well-disciplined servant.’

  ‘Why? Don’t I do it all right?’

  ‘You do it as though you were born to it, Jerry,’ said the American.

  ‘I was in your service for six years remember!’

  ‘I just forgot that – so you were!’

  Hugh looked at Miles seriously.

  ‘Are you really coming into this business with us?’ he asked.

  ‘I sure am! It’s to the interest of the USA that I should ally myself with you.’

  ‘Good! I’m rather handicapped by being at the College most of the day, and besides I appear to be a carefully watched man, so a lot will depend upon Cousins.’


  ‘I guess he’s going to be mighty closely watched too,’ said Miles. ‘It’ll take him all his time to shake off his watchers. That leaves me – I’ll have to get busy.’

  ‘If I can’t shake off any little fellow who’s got his eye on my movements,’ said Cousins with contempt, ‘this hand has lost its cunning and this brain its power. No, Oscar, my lad, you needn’t think that you’re going to do all the dirty work, while I’m about.’

  ‘Well, I’ll call on our friend Hudson tomorrow – there may be some information to be gained from him somehow. Say, I don’t think a whole lot of that fellow; he’s an all-fired traitor, and there’s a whole lot of trouble coming to him later on.’

  ‘There is,’ said Hugh, through set teeth, ‘and I hope it will be my job to bring it to him. Well, we all know pretty well what we are going to do – I must get that report of mine off tonight.’

  ‘Say,’ said Miles suddenly, ‘I must get a bearer. I knew there was something I had to do.’

  ‘I have half a dozen coming tomorrow for selection,’ said Hugh. ‘Perhaps you’ll find one to suit you among them.’

  ‘Sure thing! But what do you want a bearer for? Isn’t Jerry the goods?’

  ‘Look here, Miles—’ began that worthy.

  ‘Now then, little man, don’t get sore!’ chuckled Miles. ‘I was thinking that you were the best manservant that ever was. You ought to take that as a compliment!’

  Cousins threw a cushion at him, and then apologised to Joan for throwing her furniture about. There came another knock at the door.

  ‘If that is another caller,’ said the little man, ‘I’ll jam him in the door, and dance with glee at his agony.’

  He went out and came back with a telegram in his hand.

  ‘Telegram!’ he said laconically.

  Tearing open the envelope, Shannon glanced hurriedly through the wire.

  ‘Cable from the Chief,’ he said. ‘Get the code book, Cousins, like a good chap!’

  The small book was brought quickly from the despatch case, in which it was always kept locked and, while the others talked in subdued voices, Hugh carefully decoded the cablegram. When he had finished he threw down his pencil and whistled. Three pairs of eyes looked at him eagerly.

  ‘Just listen to this!’ he said.

  ‘Wait a minute, Shannon,’ said Miles, and rising from his chair, he walked quickly to the windows, and out on to the veranda. Presently he returned and, shutting the windows carefully, resumed his seat.

  ‘I thought I saw a shadow pass by. It might have been the sweeper or somebody harmless, but it’s just as well not to take any risks, especially as we know this house is watched.’

  Hugh nodded, and Joan looked round apprehensively.

  ‘It is sent direct from the Chief,’ said Shannon, ‘and reads:

  Believe Kamper has got through – watch carefully – understand events may be developing – arrange meet two men – Novar – Rahtz – both prominent Lahore of Russian nationality – deeply suspect them – report – Chief.

  ‘I take off my hat to your Chief,’ said Miles. ‘How in the name of all that’s holy did he cotton on to Novar and Rahtz?’

  ‘The British Secret Service is a live organisation,’ said Cousins. ‘We do not spin, neither do we sew, but we get there all the same!’

  ‘Well, anyway,’ said Hugh, ‘we have already got on to Rahtz and Novar and know Kamper is in Lahore, so we’re well prepared.’

  ‘You also know that events are developing,’ said Joan.

  ‘We sure do!’ murmured Miles.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Cousins Has a Busy Evening

  For several days nothing of importance took place.

  Joan and Hugh duly received a letter from the secretary of the Club informing them that they were elected as members and asking politely for their entrance fee. Hugh and Miles each engaged a bearer, and Cousins’ domestic duties were considerably lessened in consequence, and in fact became practically nil. Miles called on Hudson, as he had determined, only to find him out, so he left his card and received an invitation to dine with the civil servant a week later. Joan had several callers, and was invited with Hugh to numberless teas and dinner parties. She was a very fine tennis player, and in consequence found it very easy to get a game whenever she wanted one. Of course, as Miles had prophesied, the men began to crowd round her, and Hugh found himself remarkably popular all of a sudden, a popularity which he reflected cynically was due to the possession of a beautiful sister.

  It was not long before the young secret agent began to feel almost an admiration for his enemies. He knew he was watched, and yet, try as he would, he could never discover anybody following him, or taking the least interest in his movements. Even in the College where he had information that two men had been placed as students to shadow him, he was quite unable to find out who the two were. Kamper appeared to have entirely disappeared, and neither Hugh, Miles nor Cousins were able to come across the slightest clue as to his whereabouts, yet they knew that he must be very close at hand.

  Hugh had sent a long cabled report to the Chief in code telling him of Miles’ discoveries, and in return, received the following:

  Your information of immense value – acting on it immediately – am informing authorities Lahore in secret of your position – they will communicate with you later – hope you will succeed in attending meeting – very important.

  ‘All very well,’ murmured Hugh to himself, as he read the cable over again before destroying it; ‘but how am I to be present at the meeting! I’ve got to find out where it will take place first.’

  The dinner party at Rahtz’s house was attended by several other people besides themselves, and Hugh and Joan were introduced to Novar, who in his smug way laid himself out to be pleasant to them. Miles, on this occasion, rather gave emphasis to the fact that he was a wealthy, amusing American with a love for travel and a very ordinary amount of intelligence. Hugh smiled to himself as he noticed the impression the American was deliberately creating, and wondered what Rahtz and Novar would think if they found out who he really was.

  A week went by. On the night that Miles was dining with Hudson, Joan also was fulfilling a dinner engagement with some friends, to which Hugh had been invited, but was unable to accept owing to having previously promised to take the chair at a lecture in the College. Cousins went out at half past nine and strolled in the direction of Novar’s house, a beautiful, large bungalow lying well back in extensive grounds, and situated on the Mall. Knowing that he was probably followed, the little man walked slowly in order to give an impression that he was merely out for a stroll. He entered the Lawrence Gardens – Lahore’s beauty spot – and passing the zoo, turned sharply up a path that was so overhung with trees that it was in pitch darkness. Then suddenly stepping behind a fine old banyan he crouched low and waited. At once he became aware of the soft, almost imperceptible tread of someone approaching. The individual crept by, and the footsteps receded – it was so dark that Cousins was only aware of the vaguest outline. He immediately went back the way he had come, and hurried along the Mall to Novar’s bungalow.

  He waited in the shadow of the gate for nearly half an hour before venturing to move, watching the road anxiously the while to find out if he had been followed again. Satisfied at last he took a pair of socks from his pocket, and pulling them over his shoes to deaden the sound of his movements he drew quietly towards the house. There appeared to be nobody about, so after waiting again for some time, he commenced to encircle the building, looking for some means of entry.

  All the windows were covered by the wire mosquito netting, which is to be seen in almost every house in India, and the doors also were protected by the same fine mesh. Cousins had almost encircled the building when he found a small service door which by some accident had been left open. Merging himself into the shadows round it, the secret agent worked his way along, then with a sudden glide was inside with such rapidity that it would have taken a quick-eyed man
to have noticed him.

  ‘Well, I’m in!’ he muttered with satisfaction. ‘“Audaces fortuna juvat!” Now for the most ticklish part of the job!’

  The lights were on all over the bungalow, which made his task all the greater, because he could be seen so easily from outside as well as by anyone within. But such considerations did not worry Cousins much. He found his way past the service rooms to the main corridor. On his right was apparently the dining room, and next to that the drawing room, both of which he decided were not at all likely to contain anything of interest to him. They were both empty, and taking a deep breath he stepped out into the corridor, and hurried along to the first room beyond the drawing room. This was obviously a lady’s bedroom, and giving a rapid look round he stood behind the heavy curtains which hung by the door for a minute and listened intently for any sound indicative of an alarm being raised. As the silence remained undisturbed, he emerged once more into the corridor, and went along to another room. Just as he was about to enter it he heard the sound of subdued voices, and carefully looked in. It was another bedroom, and two Indian servants were apparently engaged in folding clothes in the little dressing room adjoining it.

  ‘That looks as though it might be Novar’s bedroom,’ muttered Cousins. ‘Dash those bearers!’

  He moved on, and came to another bedroom, which was obviously a guest chamber. He spent very little time there, and continued his way along the corridor. Presently he came to a narrow passage, which led to a room in darkness. He entered this, and feeling for the door closed it upon himself, and stood for a moment breathing deeply like a man who has been through a nerve racking experience. Then taking an electric torch from his pocket he held it downwards and flashed it on for a moment. The illumination thus afforded enabled him to see a large window, by the side of which hung long thick curtains. He went forward and drew them together so that not a vestige of light could penetrate to the outside world, and returning to the door repeated the performance with the curtains which hung there. That done he uttered a sigh of relief, and switching on his torch looked round him with curiosity.