CHAPTER XXII

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 71

CHAPTER XXII

As Jessie s?t there by the bedside of her new-found fiiend she hardly knew what to vaj. It was impossible, after all that Jessie hod seen and heard, to believe that the papers so boldly purloined by Vera Galloway were not of the least importance. Otherwise there would not have been all those alarms and excursions, and most assuredly Countess Saens would have made no attempt to- get into the hospital. Vera had handled the missing Foreign Office documents beyond a doubt. "Cannot you recollect anything about them?" Jessie urged. "Absolutely nothing at all," Vera replied. "You see, I was so utterly overcome by the success of my daring exploit that I was half dazed. I had saved the situation, and I had saved Charlie Maxwell also. I suppose I must have crossed Piccadilly in a dream. Then there was a violent chock, and I came to my senses ; but only for a moment, and then I was utterly "unconscious till I arrived here. I had just sense enough left to r-emember that I was called 'Harcourt,' and there it ended." "And yet I suppose all your underlineu is marked?" Jessie suggested. "Only with a monogram, one of those intricate things that nobody could possibly understand. But look round, and see if you can find any trace of these pajaers. In a vague way I remember clutching them tightly in my hand as the cab struck me." But there were no papers to be seen. The nurse know nothing of them, and the hall porter was equally sure that the patient carried nothing as she entered the hospital. Doubtless they had fallen in the road, and had been picked up by somebody who would not have the slightest idea of the value of their <ontents It was so cruelly hard that the tears rose to Vera's eyes. '"It does seem terrible," she said, "after all the risk and all the danger. I could cry out when I think of it ; I could sit up in bed and scream. And to think that those documents are perhaps lying in the gutter at this very moment ! Jessie, is there nothing you can do?" "I can have faith and courage," Jessie replied. "I w'll ask Dr Varney what is best to be done. A.X, anyrate there is one way in which we have the better of our foec. They know that the papers are stolen, but they don't know that they have bseu lost again. I dare say Dr Varney will think of a, plan. But I cannot believe that Mr Maxwell was guilty. I saw him just now, as I told you, and I am quite certain that he is no traitor to his country.'' "I hope not." Vera said. '"It seems almost incredible. When Charlie's face rises up before me, I feel that I have been dreaming. Yet I know that he has been exceedingly friendly wfth the Countess Saens. There was assuredly a kind of flirtation between them. I tried to believe that I was needlessly jealous. I should have thought no more about it until I received that anonymous letter " "Anonymous letter !" Jessie exclaimed. "That is the first time that you haA r e mentioned it at all to me." "Because I forget. As a matter &i fact, I had no opportunity. It was only just before I wrote to you in my distress and trouble. The letter was beautifully written on very good paper. lam quite sure that it emanated from a lady of education. It simply said that if I would save the man I loved from ruin I had bettsr con- ; trive to find my way into the Countess 1 Saeiis's bedroom to-night between the horns of 9 and 11. Also, I was to open the second drawer of the Dutch cabinet, the .key of which I should find on the top of the clock. You see, I had heard my uncle mention this Asturian trouble. The Queen was a friend of mine, and I divined what was gong to happen. I tried to see Charlie, but I was baffled there. "Then you came into my mind, and I determined to put a desperate resolve into execution. I knew Oountess Saens's house well ; she took it furnished from some friends of ours, and I had been in every 100 m, there. I knew the Countess wps coming to my aunt's party. And when I started out on my errand I was more or less in the dark until I heard those dreadful newsboys proclaiming the tragedy. Then one or two hints dropped by the Queen of Asturia came back to me, and I knew then the import of my mission. That mission was accomplished, as you know. How I failed at t tie very l?st moment you likewise krow." "But I am not going to admit that you have failed." Jessie mged. "There can be no question of the fact that you dropped those papers. It is equally certain thai somebody picked them up. They would be nothing to an outsider, who would prob- j ably take them to Scotland Yard. I decline to admit that we are beaten yet." I "It is very good of you to say so," Vera eaid, gratefully. "You will have to play my part till to-moirow,. when Dr Varney must contiive to come and see me. He will have to certify that I nn quite well enough to be moved, and then I shall proceed in a cab to your lodgings, still passing as Jessie Haicourl. You will write to your sister and a&k her to be prepared. I'hen you vrill come home f*nd we will

chanae clothes once more, «) that nobody v ill be any the wi'-er. Don't worry about anything ; be prepared and silent, and letue matters to my maid. And never again so long as I live i^hall you wont ? fiiend, Jessie. God ble&^ you!"' Jessie lose and kissed the tearful face of the speaker. The muse was hoveling about again with <n suggestion that it was high time the visitor departed. Je^ie bkfiscd the long black wrap and hood that Varney 's foresight had provided her with, seeing lhat site woukl have to walk JiMne. She would not have been afraid under ordinaiy circumstances, but the spectacle of a well-dressed woman w alking in that guise at dead of night was likely to attract attention. As a matter of fact, v did attract attention, for a man passed Jcsiie at the hospital door. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "It is I— Charles Maxwell. Glad to find i.'xd a tviiiPtl-up collar and hat pulled over tha eyes makes so much difference. How is she Miss — Miss " Maxwell bogjrled over the nam?. aiid Jessie did not help him. Miss Galloway, was going on very v>ell indeed, lut she Lad had hei perilous errand foi nothing. There was no object whatever in Mr Maxwell committing a second attack on the hou^e of the Countess, seeing that the precious documents had already been abstracted by Vera Galloway. That Miss Galloway had lost the papers made rto difference. '•That's very unfortunate." Maxwell said vi ith a little sigh. '"A brave and daring_ action like that should have been fully lewaided. Still, it gives us breathing time; it enables me to defy the foe. Let me walk hick with you ds fai as the garden gate of Merehaven House. W e shall pass the re^dence of Counfess Saens on the way, and we may notice something." Jessio had v.c objection to make. On the contrary, she was glad of a male companion. Usually she did not mind being out late ; but then she was not dressed for society, and the shoes she wore were not satin ones with old paste buckles. Very silently they walked along the now deserted streets. Then Maxwell paused, and indicated a house on the opposite side of the read. A brilliant light burned in the hall, and in the dining room the electric lights were fully on. The lace blinds were half dovrii; and beyond the bank of Parma violets an-d maidenhair fern in the window boxes it was possible to obtain a glnipse into the room. '"The Countess is at home,'" Maxwel' whispered. "I know that for certain. I don't fancy she has gone out again, for a messenger boy was summoned to the house. Ah, there she is !'' By stooping a little it was possible ta see the figure of the Countess, the had discarded her jew els and her flowers ; she had, a tiny igarette in her mouth. She took her place- at a table, and seemed tobe writing something. Presently a man entered the room — a slight man, with pale face and a mass of flame-coloured hair on his head ;' across his gleaming white shirt an order or two glittered. Maxwell grasped Jessie's arm ; he spoke with a fierce indrawing of his breath. '"Do yon see that?" he whispered. '"Do you recognise a^-body in that figure standing there — the man, I mean?" '"The King of Asturia," Jessie replied promptly. It was not possible to be quite certain at that distance, but the dining room was flooded with light. BeyoH'J doubt here was the niler of Asturia, whom Jessie had left not so long before in a state of collapse. "Look at him!" Maxwell s.iid in tones of the deepest contempt. ''Look at tLe smiling scoundrel. And vet to save him and his kingdom one of the noblest women, in England is risking har all For Ms sake General Maxgregor does outrage to his feelings and conceals his passionate love foil the Queen. I would give ten yeajrs of my life to known what is going on theie." It was impossible to hear, how:.«7sr. It was also impossible to see anything from the near side of the load. Jessie's anger was almost as passionate as that oi her companion. It seemed a lamentable iLing that the King of Asturia should be «o 'oatto all sense of /his position. And he must have known that he was making himself quite at home in the house of his t'e.idiiest enemy.