took the pen he handed her and commenced to write in a round childish scrawl.
Doctor Tisch suddenly stood up. For some moments past he had been torn between fear and indignation. There was to be no bloodshed after all, it seemed, which was a great weight off his conscience, but what about the other part of the bargain which he had made in order to save his expedition? Surely this criminal could not mean to cheat him after he had made this tremendous coup possible by his complaisance.
'I wish to speak with you,' he shot out at 'Kate'.
'All right—go ahead.'
'With you alone.'
'Sorry. I've no time to give you,' Kate replied curtly.
'But how, if you send me to the Falkland Isles, can I make my great exploration?'
'You'll have a week. You must do your best in that.'
'A week—a week! What is a week after so many years of waiting,' cried the Doctor indignantly. 'Come please 1 must speak with you alone.'
'Anything you have to say you can say quite well here, but you will be wasting your breath anyway so if I were you I should say nothing. You might regret it afterwards.'
The little Doctor's face went a shade deeper purple but after a second he plumped himself down in his chair again. He was caught. He saw that clearly now. They had no intention of carrying out their bargain with him and if he claimed it as a right they would still refuse, while he would have to suffer the ignominy of exposing himself as having been in league with these crooks to bring Camilla to her present pass which, so far at least, had been spared him.
'There 1' cried Camilla throwing down her pen and staring angrily at Kate.
'Thanks,' he picked up the letter and read it through carefully. 'That's all right. Now Slinger, the will.'
Slinger produced a bulky document from an attach^ case and handed it across.
'You're sure it's all in order?' Kate fixed him for a second.
'Certain, Chief. I've vetted it to the last detail and believe me it's a gem for plausibility. That was a great idea of yours having the codicil added. Just the sort of thing Camilla would do to her will the day after she'd made it.'
'Kate' did not reply and they all waited in silence for a good ten minutes while he examined each clause in the lengthy document.
At last he looked up and addressed them again: 'As you heard Slinger say this will has been drawn up with very great care and forethought. A young man who is in the office of the Duchess's lawyer was persuaded to give certain information to an associate of mine. Having been employed clerically on the Duchess's last will, made after her divorce, the particulars he supplied have enabled us to draft this new will on very similar lines. Miss Hart, as you may know, is her only near relative, but all those distant connections who were beneficiaries under the old will retain their interest under this, for similar amounts so far as my informant could remember. Any slight variations are unlikely to cause comment since the Duchess, not having the original before her when she presumably gave Slinger his instructions, would probably not remember all the amounts previously stated. The same remarks apply with regard to legacies to old family servants and present employees. All these have been allowed to stand and the faithful Slinger's name added for a substantial but not spectacular honorarium, which, however, he will unfortunately be compelled to forfeit through not having been in the Duchess's service for three years—a nice touch that. In the matter of the various charities we have again adhered as closely as possible to the Duchess's intentions, the only considerable alteration being that, instead of the residue of her estate, which of course comprises the great bulk of her fortune, going to the Hart Institute, it will pass to the St. Protea Bible and Tract Society. For your information I may add that the Saint Protea Bible and Tract Society has been in existence for some years and its activities are quite beyond reproach. It has been built up at considerable cost and with much care for just such an occasion as this, but it will cease to function a few weeks after this extremely handsome bequest has been paid into its account, because, of course, I am the Saint Protea Bible and Tract Society myself.'
'Oh God,' murmured Sally, 'you've certainly thought of everything.'
He favoured her for a second with the bleak smile which 99
never lit his eyes. 'I hope so—now Duchess will you sign here.'
Camilla took up the pen and scrawled her signature.
'Now witnesses,' Kate glanced round. 'Will you oblige us, Captain McKay?'
'Not me!' rapped out the McKay. 'I'll see you to blazes first.'
'An unnecessary rudeness, Captain. It seems that vinegar has mingled with the salt which makes the old sea dog so crusty eh? But I have a liking for brave men and you're a V.C. they tell me so I'll excuse you. Doctor you will not refuse I know.'
Doctor Tisch rose to his feet without a murmur. He saw no reason why he should suffer the ignominy of having the part he had played exposed now, to no purpose.
When the Doctor had signed his name 'Kate' looked round again and his glance fell on Sally.
'It's no good asking me,' she said firmly.
'I had no intention of doing so,' he replied tartly. 'You cannot witness this will because you are a beneficiary under it. Which brings me to a further point that I must mention. The Duchess' fortune is so very large that I felt I could afford to be generous. Despite my remarks a little time ago it was not my intention to leave her entirely penniless and, as she could hardly inherit a sum under her own will, it occurred to me that if I increased the amount of fifty thousand, which you were down for, to one hundred thousand dollars, it would enable you to make some provision for her when you return from your official "travels". They may be a little long I fear as you are accompanying the others to the Falklands but it was for that reason your name alone of the party is not to appear among those of the dead. Captain Ardow will you sign as the second witness please.'
As Captain Ardow took the pen Camilla looked at the man who was robbing her of her fortune in such a calm businesslike manner, with new interest. 'Well, I must say that was decent of you,' she exclaimed in some surprise.
'No. That one of you at least should officially escape the "accident" gives additional plausibility to the whole scheme. However, I am happy to be able to arrange it in this way from an inherent dislike for seeing a woman of my own class on her uppers—engendered by this rag, I suppose.'
Once more he fingered the 'old school tie', then picked up the will and gave a final look round him.
'Slinger, Captain Ardow, men, you will come on deck with me to receive your final instructions. Ladies and gentlemen, all things considered you have given me very little trouble— far less than I anticipated—I am grateful to you. Goodnight!'
As his compact broad-shouldered figure was hidden from view by the little crowd of his associates who hurried from the lounge after him Sally suddenly sat back and gave way to shrieks of hysterical laughter.
'I see nothing to laugh at,' said the McKay grimly.
'Don't you—oh don't you?' Sally rocked helplessly from side to side. 'Wouldn't you laugh if you'd just been left a hundred thousand dollars?'
Captives in Conference
It was a silent and gloomy party which met some hours later for luncheon. Camilla and her friends had all been roused from their sleep at a little after three that morning; sustained nearly two hours of tense emotion in which fear, anger, and distress had been uppermost, while Oxford Kate unfolded his intentions to them; then crept miserably back to their beds round about five. They had slept therefore, with the exception of the McKay who had freshened himself up by ten minutes noisy splashing in the swimming pool and lain for an hour baking what he was pleased to term 'the imperial carcass' a shade more golden brown.
While the stewards were present there was a natural disinclination to discuss the situation, so conversation became strained to such an absurdly forced degree that after a few fatuous remarks about the excellence of the weather all further attempts were abandoned and Camilla told the steward to switch on the
radio.
Slinger's chair remained empty, so it looked as if their principal gaoler did not intend to inflict his presence on them, but meant to take his meals in future with his confederate, the bleak-faced taciturn Captain Ardow. That at least was a relief, particularly to Count Axel and the McKay to both of whom it had occurred that if he put in an appearance they would have their work cut out in preventing Prince Vladimir from murdering him. Moreover, his absence enabled them to break into a free discussion of their plight immediately coffee had been served and the two stewards left the dining-room.
'Well,' said Camilla acidly, 'how do all my champions feel this morning?'
'I am ashamed quite,' declared Vladimir sadly. 'One fellow I broke only with the smashing fist. Then I was sprung upon too much.'
'Not you, my dear,' Camilla laid her hand gently upon his. 'I was enquiring after all these other heroes. A pretty picture they made last night.'
'Yes, yes,' Vladimir nodded quickly. 'We are five men. If all of us had broken one of these bandits where would they be now perhaps. After, we would have together minced up the other three—for they are eight only.'
'My dear Prince, you seem to have forgotten "Oxford Kate" himself—and Slinger—and Captain Ardow—and his crew,' the McKay protested sarcastically. 'Personally I consider you were thunderin' lucky not to get a bullet in you when you started in on those toughs.'
'You've said it,' agreed Nicky with unusual cordiality.
'Still, I think Camilla's right. The five of you together might have put up some sort of show,' remarked Sally coldly.
'M'dear, we weren't together,' the McKay muttered irritably. 'Each of us was woken and fetched from our cabins by a couple of gunmen. If we had all cut up rough as the Prince did—separately—it's pretty certain that the five of us wouldn't be sitting here now.'
Count Axel nodded. 'That is so. We had no chance then, or later, and, however unpleasant the situation is in which we find ourselves, we must at least give it to this man "Kate" that the whole coup was admirably organised.'
'If you are throwing bouquets you might as well hand one to Slinger,' the McKay remarked.
'That rati' exclaimed Sally angrily.
'Yes. He must have arranged this little picnic by cable before we started out from Madeira.'
'Before that,' declared Axel. 'As you have remarked yourself, Captain Ardow and his crew are also in this thing. Slinger may be a very clever person but it is hardly likely that he could have bribed them all during our brief voyage. Moreover sea captains are usually honourable men. The presence of this taciturn Russian, who turns out to be a willing accomplice of these crooks as well as commander of this ship, can hardly be chance alone.'
'But they could have had no idea that I meant to make 103
this trip until it was arranged in Madeira,* Camilla protested. 'I didn't even know myself.'
The McKay smiled grimly. 'Have you ever seen a trick merchant pass a card? You think you're choosing from the pack but all the same you take the one he intends you to. Well, that's what happened to you.'
'You mean they guessed I'd fall for this expedition."
'That's it. You were jollied into it. Pretty skilfully I admit because Slinger was clever enough not to appear interested at the time. But that's about what happened.'
There was a general murmur of assent, then, Count Axel, whose lazy glance had been fixed on the Doctor's face, sat forward suddenly.
'I think that Herr Doctor Tisch could elucidate the point for us—if he cared to do so.
The little German started guiltily then shook his round bristling head in quick denial. 'It is not so! I know nothing. Only that I go to meet Herr Farquason at Madeira. Then I receive his radio and become desperate till the Gnddige Hertzogin agrees to save my great exploration.'
'I see,' said the Count silkily. 'So you became desperate Doctor, when you learned that Farquason had failed you. Are you quite certain that you did not receive that information and become desperate, before you left Paris!'
'You impute—what?' the Doctor bluffed angrily, getting to his feet.
In Count Axel's view 'Oxford Kate' was so obviously the dominant personality in the whole affair and his campaign had been worked out in such careful detail that both Slinger and Captain Ardow must have received their instructions from him long before the ship arrived at Madeira. It seemed to follow therefore that the Doctor must also have had at least some suspicion, if not guilty knowledge of their intentions.
'I impute nothing,' he said bowing slightly. 'I was only thinking that had my surmise been correct, and had you chanced to run into our friend Slinger, who must also have been in Paris at the time—it would explain quite a lot of things.'
Little beads of perspiration broke out on the Doctor's forehead. He was not a good liar and he had never anticipated being placed in his present awkward situation. Slinger had led him to suppose that once they reached the Azores Camilla's party would be removed from the ship and he would be allowed to proceed untroubled, except for some slight pangs of conscience, upon his expedition. Now he found himself not only tricked but left suspended with a foot in either camp and, all his inclinations being towards the present company rather than the crooks, he was desperately anxious that his criminal complaisance should not be discovered.
He stuttered awkwardly for a moment under the battery of eyes rivetted upon his face then, like a flash of light, he saw that this latest misfortune to his ill-fated enterprise could at least be utilised to counter Axel's shrewd innuendoes.
'The Herr Count imputes that I, for bringing you here, am in some way responsible,' he blurted. 'But I haf no interest except in my life work to find Atlantis. Explain please Herr Count how I shall accomplish that if I am to be taken with you as a prisoner to the distant Falkland Islands?'
Count Axel's suspicions of the Doctor's complicity were not entirely set at rest by this potent argument, but he had no answer to it so he replied even more suavely, 'My dear Doctor, as I have said, I impute nothing. I voiced only an ingenious theory and as a practising scientist you will know how often theories are entirely wrong.'
'Danke schon Herr Count.' The Doctor thought it best to accept this half apology with as good a grace as he could put upon it, and sat down.
'Where are these Falkland Islands anyway?' Nicky enquired.
'In the South Atlantic off the coast of Patagonia,' volunteered the McKay.
'The hell they are!' said Nicky.
'Yes. It either snows or rains there ten months in every year, and only the two large ones are inhabited.' At the sight of Nicky's face, the McKay could not resist adding, with a chuckle: 'The rest, on one of which they mean to land us, are nothing but barren rocks sticking up out of the sea to the north-west of the group.'
'I see nothing to laugh at,' Camilla cut in sharply.
'Neither do I really,' he apologised.
'Do you think they'll let us take the servants?'
'What, your maid and Nicky's man? Yes, certain to. "Kate" wouldn't allow them to get back to civilisation before us, in case they blow the gaff.'
'Well that is some comfort.'
'Perhaps. I hope you've both treated them decently for your own sakes. Otherwise they may not choose to continue as servants, without pay, once they find themselves on those barren rocks.'
'Oh stop it,' Sally abruptly stubbed out a half smoked cigarette. 'Aren't we in a bad enough mess without your trying to depress us further.'
'Sorry m'dear,' the McKay apologised again, 'but when I'm in a nasty hole I always try and face up to the blackest aspect of the case. Things may not turn out so badly but it would be silly to start off by deluding ourselves.'
'God we're in a hole all right!' Nicky hit the table viciously. 'I wish to hell I'd never heard of this damn place Atlantis!'
The others ignored his outburst and the McKay went on: 'What happened to the servants last night—by the way?'
'My fellow Bimber was locked in his cabin,' Nicky muttered.
; 'Oscar—my telephonist also,' volunteered the Doctor.
Camilla nodded. 'My maid was locked in too. Oh, this is awful!'
'Yes, you're hit worst in this,' Nicky said with sudden sympathy. 'It's going to be hell's own trip for all of us as far as I can see, and I just hate to think how long we may be parked on that filthy rock before we can get back to land, but when we do hit New York again you'll have lost every cent of your fortune. God! Just to think of that great fair-haired brute getting away with all that money!'
'There is just a chance the lawyers may not act on that faked will,' said Sally.
'Why?' shot out the McKay.
'Oh, I don't know. I've just a hunch that way—that's all.'
'The whole scheme seemed pretty watertight to me.'
'Perhaps, but Camilla feels the same as I do. Don't you, Camilla?'
Camilla nodded. 'Yes, I was talking to Sally about it in my cabin before lunch and we both feel that there may be a
slip in it somewhere. You see old Simon John, our lawyer, has known us since we were children and that letter I was made to write was very clever but it wasn't quite in my usual style, so he may refuse to act until he gets some confirmation.'
'Besides,' Sally added, 'the bulk of the estate was to go to the Hart Institute. That's for pensions, and libraries, and sanatoriums, for the workpeople in the factories from which the family made all their money. This sudden cutting out of that to leave it to a Bible Society instead is such a drastic sort of change that it is almost certain to make someone suspect that something queer's been going on.'
The McKay shrugged. 'Granted all that m'dear I hardly see how Camilla's lawyer could get a stay of execution of the will—even if he does suspect that there's been dirty work afoot. You see the publicity which will be given to the announcement of her death will be so enormous that no one will dream of questioning it. That's what's so monstrous clever. Her relatives, however remote they are, will be certain to call for the immediate production of her will in the hope of receiving large legacies. The executors will be bound to publish its contents and the representative of this fake Bible Society will arrive to claim the dough. The lawyers and the Hart Institute people, who'll naturally be mad as hatters, may enter a caveat against its execution but, immediately it comes into court, what proof have they got that it's not genuine. Camilla signed the bally thing and what's more she wrote the letter that accompanied it in her own fair hand. Whatever he may feel about it personally her lawyer would never dare to suppress such a vital piece of evidence. All the relatives and other beneficiaries will be backing the Bible Society of course to get their whack, and as far as the judge is concerned Camilla will be dead and that document the last expression of her wishes. What possible grounds will he have for refusing to let the share out take place. Get me?'
They Found Atlantis lw-1 Page 11
