The Zeppelin's Passenger

by E. Phillips Oppenheim

  CHAPTER IX

  "Captain Griffiths to see your ladyship."

  Philippa's fingers rested for a moment upon the keyboard of the pianobefore which she was seated, awaiting Lessingham's arrival. Then sheglanced at the clock. It was ten minutes to eight.

  "You can show him in, Mills, if he wishes to see me."

  Captain Griffiths was ushered into the room--awkward, unwieldly, nervousas usual. He entered as though in a hurry, and there was nothing in hismanner to denote that he had spent the last few hours making up his mindto this visit.

  "I must apologise for this most untimely call, Lady Cranston," he said,watching the closing of the door. "I will not take up more than fiveminutes of your time."

  "We are very pleased to see you at any time, Captain Griffiths,"Philippa said hospitably. "Do sit down, please."

  Captain Griffiths bowed but remained standing.

  "It is very near your dinner-time, I know, Lady Cranston," he continuedapologetically. "The fact of it is, however, that as Commandant hereit is my duty to examine the bona fides of any strangers in the place.There is a gentleman named Lessingham staying at the hotel, who Iunderstand gave your name as reference."

  Philippa's eyes looked larger than ever, and her face more innocent, asshe gazed up at her visitor.

  "Why, of course, Captain Griffiths," she said. "Mr. Lessingham was atcollege with my brother, and one of his best friends. He has shot downat my father's place in Cheshire."

  "You are speaking of your brother, Major Felstead?"

  "My only brother."

  "I am very much obliged to you, Lady Cranston," Captain Griffithsdeclared. "I can see that we need not worry any more about Mr.Lessingham."

  Philippa laughed.

  "It seems rather old-fashioned to think of you having to worry aboutany one down here," she observed. "It really is a very harmlessneighbourhood, isn't it?"

  "There isn't much going on, certainly," the Commandant admitted. "Verydull the place seems at times."

  "Now be perfectly frank," Philippa begged him. "Is there a single factof importance which could be learnt in this place, worth communicatingto the enemy? Is the danger of espionage here worth a moment'sconsideration?"

  "That," Captain Griffiths replied in somewhat stilted fashion, "is not aquestion which I should be prepared to answer off-hand."

  Philippa shrugged her shoulders and appealed almost feverishly to Helen,who had just entered the room.

  "Helen, do come and listen to Captain Griffiths! He is making me feelquite creepy. There are secrets about, it seems, and he wants to knowall about Mr. Lessingham."

  Helen smiled with complete self-possession.

  "Well, we can set his mind at rest about Mr. Lessingham, can't we?" sheobserved, as she shook hands.

  "We can do more," Philippa declared. "We can help him to judge forhimself. We are expecting Mr. Lessingham for dinner, Captain Griffiths.Do stay."

  "I couldn't think of taking you by storm like this," Captain Griffithsreplied, with a wistfulness which only made his voice sound hoarser andmore unpleasant. "It is most kind of you, Lady Cranston. Perhaps youwill give me another opportunity."

  "I sha'n't think of it," Philippa insisted. "You must stay and dineto-night. We shall be a partie carrie, for Nora goes to bed directlyafter dinner. I am ringing the bell to tell Mills to set an extraplace," she added.

  Captain Griffiths abandoned himself to fate with a little shiver ofcomplacency. He welcomed Lessingham, who was presently announced, withvery much less than his usual reserve, and the dinner was in every waya success. Towards its close, Philippa became a little thoughtful.She glanced more than once at Lessingham, who was sitting by her side,almost in admiration. His conversation, gay at times, always polished,was interlarded continually with those little social reminiscencesinevitable amongst men moving in a certain circle of English society.Apparently Richard Felstead was not the only one of his college friendswith whom he had kept in touch. The last remnants of Captain Griffiths'suspicions seemed to vanish with their second glass of port, althoughhis manner became in no way more genial.

  "Don't you think you are almost a little too daring?" Philippa asked herfavoured guest as he helped her afterwards to set out a bridge table.

  "One adapts one's methods to one's adversary," he murmured, with asmile, "Your friend Captain Griffiths had only the very conventionalsuspicions. The mention of a few good English names, acquaintance withthe ordinary English sports, is quite sufficient with a man like that."

  Helen and Griffiths were talking at the other end of the room. Philipparaised her eyes to her companion's.

  "You become more of a mystery than ever," she declared. "You are makingme even curious. Tell me really why you have paid us this visit from theclouds?"

  She was sorry almost as soon as she had asked the question. For a momentthe calm insouciance of his manner seemed to have departed. His eyesglowed.

  "In search of new things," he answered.

  "Guns? Fortifications?"

  "Neither."

  A spirit of mischief possessed her. Lessingham's manner was bafflingand yet provocative. For a moment the political possibilities of hispresence faded away from her mind. She had an intense desire to breakthrough his reserve.

  "Won't you tell me--why you came?"

  "I could tell you more easily," he answered in a low tone, "why it willbe the most miserable day of my life when I leave."

  She laughed at him with perfect heartiness.

  "How delightful to be flirted with again!" she sighed. "And I thoughtall German men were so heavy, and paid elaborate, underdone compliments.Still, your secret, sir, please? That is what I want to know."

  "If you will have just a little patience!" he begged, leaning so closeto her that their heads almost touched, "I promise that I will not leavethis place before I tell it to you."

  Philippa's eyes for the first time dropped before his. She knewperfectly well what she ought to have done and she was singularlyindisposed to do it. It was a most piquant adventure, after all, andit almost helped her to forget the trouble which had been sitting soheavily in her heart. Still avoiding his eyes, she called the others.

  "We are quite ready for bridge," she announced.

  They played four or five rubbers. Lessingham was by far the most expertplayer, and he and Philippa in the end were the winners. The two menstood together for a moment or two at the sideboard, helping themselvesto whisky and soda. Griffiths had become more taciturn than ever, andeven Philippa was forced to admit that the latter part of the eveninghad scarcely been a success.

  "Do you play club bridge in town, Mr. Lessingham?" Griffiths asked.

  "Never," was the calm reply.

  "You are head and shoulders above our class down here."

  "Very good of you to say so," Lessingham replied courteously. "I heldgood cards to-night."

  "I wonder," Griffiths went on, dropping his voice a little and keepinghis eyes fixed upon his companion, "what the German substitute forbridge is."

  "I wonder," Lessingham echoed.

  "As a nation," his questioner proceeded, "they probably don't waste asmuch time on cards as we do."

  Lessingham's interest in the subject appeared to be non-existent. Hestrolled away from the sideboard towards Philippa. She, for her part,was watching Captain Griffiths.

  "So many thanks, Lady Cranston," Lessingham murmured, "for yourhospitality."

  "And what about that secret?" she asked.

  "You see, there are two," he answered, looking down at her. "One I shallmost surely tell you before I leave here, because it is the one secretwhich no man has ever succeeded in keeping to himself. As for theother--"

  He hesitated. There was something almost like pain in his face. Shebroke in hastily.

  "I did not call you away to ask about either. I happened to noticeCaptain Griffiths just now. Do you know that he is watching you veryclosely?"

  "I had an idea of it," Lessingham admitted indifferently. "He is rathera clums
y person, is he not?"

  "You will be careful?" she begged earnestly. "Remember, won't you, thatHelen and I are really in a most disgraceful position if anything shouldcome out."

  "Nothing shall," he promised her. "I think you know, do you not, that,whatever might happen to me, I should find some means to protect you."

  For the second time she felt a curious lack of will to fittingly reprovehis boldness. She had even to struggle to keep her tone as careless asher words.

  "You really are a delightful person!" she exclaimed. "How long is itsince you descended from the clouds?"

  "Sometimes I think that I am there still," he answered, "but I haveknown you about seventy-six hours."

  "What precision?" she laughed. "It's a national characteristic, isn'tit? Captain Griffiths," she continued, as she observed his approach, "ifyou really must go, please take Mr. Lessingham with you. He is makingfun of me. I don't allow even Dick's friends to do that."

  Lessingham's disclaimer was in quite the correct vein.

  "You must both come again very soon," their hostess concluded, as sheshook hands. "I enjoyed our bridge immensely."

  The two men were already on their way to the door when a sudden ideaseemed to occur to Captain Griffiths. He turned back.

  "By-the-by, Lady Cranston," he asked, "have you heard anything from yourbrother?"

  Philippa shook her head sadly. Helen, who, unlike her friend, had nothad the advantage of a distinguished career upon the amateur dramaticstage, turned away and held a handkerchief to her eyes.

  "Not a word," was Philippa's sorrowful reply.

  Captain Griffiths offered a clumsy expression of his sympathy.

  "Bad luck!" he said. "I'm so sorry, Lady Cranston. Good night oncemore."

  This time their departure was uninterrupted. Helen removed herhandkerchief from her eyes, and Philippa made a little grimace at theclosed door.

  "Do you believe," Helen asked seriously, "that Captain Griffiths has anysuspicions?"

  Philippa shrugged her shoulders.

  "If he has, who cares?" she replied, a little defiantly. "The very ideaof a duel of wits between those two men is laughable."

  "Perhaps so," Helen agreed, with a shade of doubt in her tone.