CHAPTER XII.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 63

CHAPTER XII.

OTH as he might have been inclined to admit it, Dr Varney was by no means ill-pleased with his share of the adventure. He felt that a man like himself, who knew everything, would be decidedly use-" fui. And hew much he really

did know Jessie would have

been startled to learn. For here was a man who had a great practice amongst politicians, and statesmen especially. " He walked quietly back to tlie house now, and entered the saloon as if looking for somebody. His shrewd face was grave and thoughtful. He found his man at last — a. tall, grizzled man, who bore some kind of likenes-s to a greyhound. He Tras in a measure a greyhound, for lie had been a Queen's messenger for many years.

"I thought I should find you about somewhere," the doctor said. "I want- a few words with you, Lechmere. Let us go into the gaiden and smoke a cigarette."

"Always delighted to chat with you, Varney," Lechmiere said. "Come along. Now, what is it?"

"Ec tthe Countess Saens," Varney said. "You know ths woman I meant"' "Certainly "I <k>. Lives m a big house in Connaught Crescent. Nai her own house, by the way. Dresses magnificently, gives wonderful parties, and always has the hist new thing. Hanctaom;; woman, tco, and goes everywhere. But nobody knows anything about her."

"I came to you for a little- information on the point, Lechmere."

"Well, as a matter of fact, I can give it to you, Varney. There are veay few of the foreign coiony in London whose history I haven't x-eady for docketing. Many a useful hint I have given the Foreign Office and Scotland Yard. Ever hear of Saul Marx, the famous cosmopolitan spy — I mean, the man who saved that war between France and Germany?'"

"Of course I have heard of Marx. Who hasn't? But what has that to do with the business?"

'"Well, he told me all about tlie charming Countess. She began life in Warsaw in a company of strolling players. Afterwards she married one of the most noted scamps in Paris, who wanted a pretty wife as a pawn in some game of his. Tha fellow- ill-treaied her horribly, but he taught her everything in the way of the predatory life that was to be learnt. Finally, the husband died under very strange circumstances, and, between ourselves, Marx says that the woman murdered him. After that she narrowly escaped a long teim of imprisonment ove-r the Malcolm-Sizi diamond business, and then for a long time nothing was heard of hey till she turned uip ais Vera Olpheut, the famous anarchist sneaker. She was expelled from Russia, which was all a blind, seeing that she is one of the cleverest spies that the Russian police ever employed. Her ladyship is after a very big game now . or she would noL ba sjiending all that monej*. An adventuress like th.'it never pays 'her tradesmen as a rule, but I know for a fact that the household bills are discharged regularly every week."

"You are quite sure of those facts?" Varney asked. "My deyr fellow, you can take them ps Gospel. Marx never makes a mis Lake. Why do you ask?" 'T am merely a seeker after information. I may be in the way of putting a spoke in the lady's wheel a little later on, perhaps. Have you heard of that business at the Foreign Office?" "I heard of it just now ; in fact, I lool'tcT' in hero to see if JMerehaven could tell me anythino- abouib it. How those newspapers get hold of these things puzzles me. But I don't suppose it is true that poor old Dick Lancing committed suicide at his club, and "

"It's perfectly true, Lechmere, I was in the chub directly after, and I followed on to Charing Cioss Hospital, only to find that I was too late-. What you say about. the newspapers is absoiute''y correct. But unless I am greatly mistaken, ths rewspaper containing the startling reporb in quoction will help me over this matter. I am going to make a proposal to Lord Merehaven." "I've been trying to get at him j but

the Austrian Ambassador has held him tasfc for the last hour."

"Well, there is plenty of time." Varney went on. "\From what I can understand, papers of the utmost importance have been stolen from the Foreign Office, ov they have been sold by some official to the foe. On the face of it, the charge points to poor Lancing ; but one can never tell. Those papers relate to a kind of understanding with Asturia, and if Russia gets to know all about it, then we are done. Now, let ane tell you a little thing that happened to-night. There was a burglary at Countess Saens's house, and the thief took nothing but papers. The thief was a woman, who obviously went to the Countess's for the^very purpose of obtaining possession of those papers. Now, it is only a theory of mine, but I feel pretty sure that the papers have to do with the Foreign Office scandal. If we get to the bottom of it, we shall find that ths Counters inspired the paragraph that the Evening Mercury had tonight. Do you happen to know anything about the editor of that sheet?"

" Fellow named Hunt, an American," Lechmere replied. "As a matter of fact, the Mercury is an American paper, the first start of an attempt to capture the English press. You know how those fellows boast. I've met Hunt several times in society." 1 " Did you ever happen to meet him at Countess Saens's house?" Varney asked.

Lechmere turned over the question before he replied. On consideration he had seen Hunt twice at the house in question. Not that that was very material, because all starts and conditions of men flocked to the Countess's evening paitk*>. But Varney thought otherwise. "At anyrate, the fact fits in well with my theory," he said. "I s-Jiallbe greatly surprised if we fail to find a connection between the Countess and that sensational story in to-night's Mercury. I shall make it my business to meet this man Hunt. Well, what is the matter?" A breathless footman stood before Varney, and stammered out something to the -effect that Lord Merehaven had sent him here hotfoot in search of the doctor. A gentleman had been taken suddenly ill. The rest of the guests did not know anything about it, and the gentleman in question lay in a state of collapse in his lordship's study. Would Dr Varney come at once? Varney was on his way to thejiousa before the footman had finished his halting explanation.

The study door was locked, but it was opened immediately on Varney whispering his name. In a big armchair a whitehaired man lii evening dress was lying back in a state of\ollapse. By his side stood Lord Merehaven, looking anxious and bewildered, whilst Ronald Hope was trying to force a little brandy between the lips of the unconscious figure in the chair. " Thank goodness you have came, Varney !"' Lord Merehaven said, shakily. "It's poor old Reggie Lancing. He simply walked into here dragging on Hope's arm, and collapsed. He said something to the effect that his boy had committed suicide, and some rubbish about missing papers. What- does it mean?" Varney was too busy to answer the question. He removed Sir Reginald's collar and turned down the neckband. Meanwhile the patient was breathing heavily. "Put him flat on the floor,"' Varney said. "It's not quite so bad as it looks. _ A seizure from over-excitement, or something of that kind. Give me a pen and ink and paper." Varney hastily scribbled some formula on a sheet of note paper, and directed that it should be taken to a chemist and be made up at once. Till he could administer the drug he could do nothing. There was a wait of half an hour before the footman returned. Then the drug was coaxed between tho stricken man's teeth, and presently he opened his eyes once more. He was terribly white and shaky, and he seemed to have some difficulty in getting out his words.

" It's the disgrace, Merehaven," he said — "the dreadful disgrace. To think that a son of mine could have been guilty of such a thing ! I would not have believed it ; it cmxiG to me quite as a shoek — that paragraph in the late Mercury. I went to look for my son at once, but ihe had paid the penalty alerady. He had shot himself, Merehaven — shot himself — shot himself."

The old man repeated the last words again and again in a feeble kind of way. Lord Merehaven was sympathetic enough, but utterly puzzled. He looked at the other and shrugged his shoulders. "Is this a mere delusion?"' he asked. "You don't mean to fcay that Asturia business " •

The speaker paused, conscious that he was perhaps saying too much. Varney hastened to explain, to Merehaven's horror and astonishment. Positively, this was the fir&t thai he had heard of it. And if Gaptain Lancing had shot himself that was proof positive. "Good heavens! what a terrible business altogether !"' Lord Merehaven cried. "And the mischief that may have been done here ! I must see the King of Asturia at once, late as it is, though goodness knows where I am to look, seeing that the King is " The speaker paused, and Ronald Hope took up* the thread 1 of the conversation. "It may be possible, my lord," he said, '"that .his, Majesty is nearer at hand than you suppose.'' CHAPTER XIII. The old diplomatist looked coldly and suspiciously at the speaker. It was hardly the way for a young man to address a Cabinet Minister, and one who, moreover, was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Varney saw what was passing through Lord Merehaven's mind, and promptly interfered. ''For heaven's sake, don't stand on ceremony !'' -he said. "This is an exceedingly eeiious matter. Certain important) papers are missing fioic the Foreign Office. It is alleged that confidence hns been betrayed by Captain Lancing and Mr Charles Maxwell. Ihc boys are shouting it in the streets. Probably mo,-.t of your quests

1 know all about it by this time. Ihoso papers have been sold, or given to somebody who lias made use of them. This is ho canard to tell a few miserable papers." "The documents you refer to were in my hands at- 7 o'clock,'" Lord Merehavon said. '"I read them and made notes en. the margin of them in my office not long before dinner "' "And did you lock them up in your safe afterwaidsT' Varney as-ked. "Xo, I didn't. There' is no ?.ife in my office. I gave the papeis to Captain Lancing and Mr Maxwell, and as-ked them to see that they -n-ere securely placed away. Then I came home. Do you mean to sayi that this thing h»& been over London for the pasi hour and I never knew it?'' "So it seems," Vamey said, coolly. "How should you know it when you have not been out of the house all the evening? And none of your guests coukl get at yoif to ask questions, seeing that you have been closeted with one ambassador or another ever since dinner.'" '"That's quite tiue." Loid Merehavenadmitted moodily. "But what is to be done? You don't sugge&t that the contents of those papers is made public V "I fancy not," Varney replied. '"My dear Sir Reginald, you' have read that paragraph. What doe» it .say?"

The stricken man in the armchair looked up with dulled .eyes. It vias some little time before he could be mode to understand the drift of the quo>tior>.

"I am trying to remember." he said, passing his hand over his forehead. "As far as I can leeoiJect. thtie were no details given. The paiagrnjih &uid thot certain important papers lu>d bee.i stolen from the Foreign Office, and handed over to the enemies of tins cuur.lry. The editor of the Mercury was supposed to bo in a 1 position to vouch fur this, and he hinted very freely at the identity of the culprits. A resume of tho mining papers wvs promised for tie morning L-,-ue of the Mercury to-monow. Then there was a break in the report, and down below a short history of my so«"d sukide. Title waspointed to as "an absolute confirmation of the news, the suggestion being thot my son had s-lmt himself after leading the 9 o'clock edition of the Mercury, which contained the fust part of the repoil." "There is some foul and mysterious business hers," Ronald Hope said sternly. "It is only 20 minutes ago that I heard what the boys were calling out. 1 immediately took a hansom to Maxw ellV, rooms, to find that he had gone to Paris in a. great huriy. He had left no message behind him. He had not even taken his man, whom lie never travels without."'

'"He has fled," Meiehavcui said promptly. "This thing is absolutely true. What beats me is the prompt way in which these Jeremy people rollectcd the news."

''That is where I come in," Varney remarked. '"We'll get Lechmeie into this, if yoii don't mind? Sii Reginald "had better stay here for the present. Lechmera fcliall go and inteiview Hunt of the Mercury. And if he does not bring back some very startling news I shall be greatly mistaken."'

Lechmere came into the study, cool, coilected, and imperturbable as ever. He had quite lelinquklicd his old pursuits and' occupations now. but he vias delighted ta do anything to be of service to Lord' Merehaven and the Government : in point of fact, he would rather enjoy this adventure. What was he to do

"Find Hunt of the Mercury." Varney said. "Run him dow n in a corner, and let' him know that you are nor the man to be trifled with. And when you have done that make him tsll you the exact time that he got his information over those missing papers." Lechmere nodded without asking further questions. He knew that lie would be told everything in tinw. He would da what he could, and return and report progress as soon as possible. His hrst move was to take a hansom and go down to the office of the Merciuy and there a^k for Mr Hunt. But Hunt wa« rot in ; he had gone away about half-past 7, and had not returned yet. Usually b^ looked in a little after midnight to see that the evening edition of the paper was pio<rressing all right. So far as the chief sub-editor, could Lay, Mr Hunt had gene to the Carlton to supper. "Something gained." Leehmere muttered, as he drove to the Carlton. ''If that chap left the office at half-past 7 that sensational paragraph had already been passed for the press. No assistant editor would dare to shove that into a papt-r on his own responsibility. Very snwt of them to get Lancing's .-.mcide. But T expect some American repeater .-hadowvd the poor chap."' Mr Hunt had been to the Cailton: in fact, he had ju>t ariivecl theie. biit he was in a private room with a hidy. and had asked not to be disturbpd. Intimating that he would wait, Lednnei>? took his seat at a little table in oi.e of the public rooms and asked for something. He had a soveicign on the table by th<- side of his glass, and looked significantly at the waiter. . "This is for you to earn, he said, it you are smuit' and do your work properly In the first place, do you happen to know Uv Hunt, the editor of the MerThe man replied that he knew Mr Hunt quite well ; in f.ict, he was pretty intimately acquainted with all the American colony in London. Mr Hunt supped at the Carlton frequently ; he was supping now with a lady in a room upstan-. Lechmeie began to see his way. "Did you happen to see the lady V he asked. "If so, what was she like?" " T caw them come not many minutes ago. In fact, they looked in hcu-, and tho lady wanted to take the table l>y the door. But Mr Hunt said 'No.' They appeared to be in a great Ihurry. seeing that it is getting, late ; and it seemed to me that Mr Huntwas not so amiable as usual. The l.idy was tall and dark ; she had £> black wrap, and under it was a dress of yellow satin." "Good man!'" Lechmere said with genial warmth. "You have earned your money. All you have to do now is to k-t me know}

th© moment that Mr Hunt is leaving the Oiotel. In any case it can't be long, because it is nearly 20 minutes past 12 now." The waiter came back presently and pocketed his sovereign. Mr Hunt and the lady were just leaving the hotel. Lechmere sauntered into the hall and stood watching the other two. He smiled to hims-elf as he noted the face and features of Hunt's companion. Ahansom stood at the door, and into it the American handed his companion and raised his hat. "It will come out all right/ Lechmere heard the lady say. "Don't look so annoyed. Your paper is not going to be allowed to suffer. Good-night !" The hansom drove away, and Hunt trajeed his hat. As he stopped to light a cigarette, Lechmere crept up behind him and tapped' him on the shoulder. Th-a 'American turned in a startled -way. " Mr Lechmere !" he stammered. "Really, you gave me a start. If there is anything that I can do for you " " There is," Lechmere said, in a sharp, Stern way. "I want to know the exact time that your office received th& uniortupate news of the Foreign Office business." The directness of the attack took the 'American quite off his balance. The truth broke from him. , "About 10 minutes to 7," he stammered. .That is to say " But, confound it all, .what business is that of yours?" Lechm-ere smiled ; he could afford to let the other""bluster now that he had learnt Everything. He turned the matter aside fes a joke. He made some remark about the beauty of the night, and a minute ■later he was bowling back in a hansom to Merehaven House. "Yes, I have done pretty well," he said in reply to Varney's questioning gaze. "I 'have seen Hunt, whom "I traced to the Carlton, where he was supping tastily in company with Countess _ Saens. I sort of foolmated him over that paragraph, and he told me that the information reached the Mercury ■bluster afterwards, but it was too late. At i 0 minutes to 7 Hunt knew all about that icandal at the Foreign Office." Lord Merehaven threw up his hands with. y, gesture of astonishment. Varney smiled. " I kne-w that you would come back with jome amazing information,"' the latter said. "See how the mystery gets thicker. Lord Merehaven is going to say something." " I am going to say this," Merehaven "remarked sternly : "The Mercury knew of those missing papers before 7 o'clock. At 6 o'clock those papers were in my hands, and the scandal had not begun then. And yet tbe Mercury paragraph, written before the robbery, js absolutely true! What '4oes it mean?"