CHAPTER XXII.—NEWS OF HONOR MARTIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2879, 19 May 1909, Page 71

CHAPTER XXII.— NEWS OF HONOR MARTIN.

As Belton drove to Bayswater he saw how the mistake had arisen about his supposed trip to Paris. He remembered that,\on leaving Mrs Musgrave, he had told Wharton in her hearing to follow him to th« Cecil, and see about registering the lugiigge through to Paris. But the valet had not heard the Cecil mentioned ; and as Belton generally stayed at Btowd's Hotel, in Dover street, when not using the house an Portman Square, he had taken the luggage there. 3?nddng that hotel full, and that his master had not been there, Wharton went to Portman Square. In this way the trail had been cut. Tims Dureski" and Mrs Musgrave had evidently jumped to th* conclusion that Belton .had gone straight to Paris, and ■were apparently under the impression that he had married Magdala on, the eve of departure. Dureski was not at his private house, and Belton could gain no information of his movements. He drove to the club, ■without any better result ; and then returned to Curzon street, disappointed and irritated by his failure, as well as perplexed by the incident of Darblay and Prinoe Guntski's representative. Why should the latter have merely followed instead of speaking to him ; and why, when he had taken the trouble to follow him, should he suddenly rush off at the moment when Darblay had disappeared?

Neither Lady Fremlingcou-rt nor he could make a guess at the puzzle, although they discussed it at great length. Neither of them knew the grim stoi;y of Prince Guntskii's disfigurement the long ago. Belton had scarcely ever heard of him ; his mother had died before the event ; and Lady Fremlingcourt had been in India with her husband at the time.

"Magdala , should not have broken her promise/ said Belton once. "She should at least have let me know bow to communicate with her. The promise was an unconditional one."

"I don't blame her. I can't. And I'm not sure that you need, if you think, Belton. Has she broken her promise?" "She promised to see me again." "Where V

"Nothing was said as to that." "But she has told you she is to leave for New York on Saturday. What she a-=ks is that you will not meet her and not seek her. Can't you read between the lines? How ,do people msually go to America?"

He brought his hand down -with a •vigorous slap on the table, and laughed. "By the lord Harry, I never thought of that. You mean I can hunt her up on the steamer she is to leave by. What a short-sighted idiot I am !" "I have done something while you've been in the city. I've found out all the steamers that leave for New York on Saturday. Th<ere are three — two from Liverpool and one from Southampton. On all the lists there are not more than twenty pairs — father and daughter ; and of these all but three were ruled out straight away. The passages were either booked long before Dr Darblay left the Gable House or were return passages. I went to Grayson, the private inquiry agent, and he helped me; and when I had narrowed down the possibles to three lie hunted up two of them within a couple of hours, by simply sending man at once to all people of similar name in the directory. "The inquiries confirmed the fact that two of them were- going to America, and going in their own names. The third pair he couldn't trace — " M. Eaoul Dufargue and Mdlle. Marie Dufargue. Do you see? — 'R.D. and 'M.D.' — same initials. You remember Magdala said they were living in an assumed name ? iWell, they sail in the Aucaria, which leaves Southampton on Saturday at 3 o'clock."

Belton rubbed his hands in delight. "By Jovej how splendid of you to think of that, Aunt Alice.- If they go in her I'll g0,. t00, if I have to work my passage. •In the meantime I'll see this little beggar, Dureski, and do what I can to get to the root of the mystery" ; and he was in excellent spirits when he left her to return to the flat in Jermyn street.

By 10 o'clock the next morning ne was at Dureski's office ; but he had to wait an Lout ; and when Dureski arrived he was in a very reticent mood.

Belton began by" asking why M. Dureski had. been inquiring for him. *•! don't think I have anything parti-

cular to say to yon, Sir Falconer," was the unexpected reply ; "amd our lost meeting was scarcely of a character to induce me to seek another."

"But your clerk told- me yesterday you ■vT-ere most ainxi-ous to see me — had even b&en inquiring for me in Paris."

"My clerk should hold! his tongue. But if you wish to make any communication to me I am prepared to listen."

"When we met before you were anxious to tell me something about Dr Daa-blay and his daughter which I did not wish to hear ; I do wish to hear it now, and I came to ask you to tell me."

' 'The situation has entirelj changed since then, of course. My object was to induce you. not to marry tlte jrouxtg lardy, t>r at any rate to postjxme the marriage. You persisted in refusing to hear me, and the young lady is now your wife. It would, therefore, be useless to say anything." "She is not my wife, M.* Dureski.' ? For a second the Jew could not concepl his surprise and satisfaction at the news • but he answered evenly, "Then I Xros misinformed. ' ' v «-r? Slt ? n had noticed k^ expression, iiie raot has obviously . given you pleasure. I cannot conceive why it. concerns j-ou. Will you tell me why?" "You a.re mistaken, Mr Falconer I ttrs merely surprised. I knew that you had obtained a special license, and that J if* a ti mom rr l nt the young lady left

"What young lady do you mean?" <Ji h. qUeS t iOn !! m 'P™ed Dureski, and he shrugged his shoulders . The young lady we a,re snealr.atfcPr ™ anSirer mj l uesfc wn-why this matter concerns you, and o-ive mi ih* SSTfT 7^ B«^a befot! «nd i refused to hear?" Dureski was thinking quickly. He was tnat Magdala vras not Belton's wife. It might mean nrucji to him in the form he most appreciatecU-money. But was it true.' It was part of his business creed to regard all men as liara wien seekino«lfs-; aD ? ! } e r<3ad Belto n's visit to meaS m h , lng had <> cc^red affecting him and Magdala which made it impjrati™ S? him to know all he could learn about her m™ w rr a f Ion S er to him. lie had had news that morning from the Russian, M. Felidoff, which had altered everything. He was now confident ot nnding Darblay within a few hoursand as success was practically assured what Belton might do in the meanwhile was a matter of indifference— unless he could get Magdala's whereabouts from him at once. "I was thinking the matter over, Mr b alconer. I admit that I had very strong reasons for preventing your marriage with Magdala Darblay, but they are no longer of such nnportance. Had you listened to me before I should have been perfectly candid with. you. But .you refused, and 1 do not now feel impelled to speak I will, however, do this. If you will take me to Miss Darblay I will tell you in her presence."

"I don't know where she is."

"Ah, this is very unfortunate," said Dureski, drily enough to make the awds a paraphrase for — "I don't believe you." Belton felt his temper beginning to rise. "If there is any other consideration which will induce yoiv to speak, M. Dureski, monetary or otherwise, I am quite willing to- meet your wishes." Dureski shook his head. "It is not a matter of money — at least of any such sum as you would probably consider ; but I will vary the condition. If you will take me to Dr Darblay I will tell you in his presence."

"I do not know where he is. I believe father and daughter are together. I have reason to say that; and I am even more anxious than you can be to find them." Dureski turned his head away quickly, and affected to search for a paper in one of the drawers of his table that Belton should not see the satisfaction with which he heard this. If Magdala were really with her father, then in tracking him he ! would secure them both.

"1 was searching for,a document there," he said, looking up from* the drawer, "which inclines me to doubt that, Mr Falconer. Of course, if the rumour you have heard is true it somewhat alters matters."

This had the intended effect. Belton read it to mean that it might induce Dureviki to speak, and he answered at once : "I can say positively that that is the case. It ;s; s no mere rumour."

"Then it would be extremely injudicious of me to &ay anything except in the presence of them both, or at leaat one of them," replied Dureski. Belton was of no use to liim ; so he closed the drawer, and picked up some of the letters on his desk, as if to intimate that the interview should close.

"There is another matter, M. Dureski. ■ When I was here yesterday, M_ Velidoff, a Russian, and' an agent of a relative of my late mother, Prince Guntski, was in the onico on some matter which your clerk said affected me. Do you know anything of it?" "JS'o," feaid Dureski bluntly. "M. Velidoff arrived from Moscow the night before Jast". He is rather an agent of the secret police than of your relative, and he came across in reply to a request of mine in regard to certain matters." "Concerning Mr Darblay?" "Oh. dear no," and Dureski smiled and shook his head.

This was clearly a lie, and Belton knew it. "Well, it's very singular. He followed me ironi the office. A mishap in the street led to my meeting Dr Darblay, who appeared to be hurt. I helped him, and after a time put him into a cab. He dis- j

appeared, and this Russian went off in pursuit of Mm."

Dureski knew all this beforehand. "As a matter of fact Darblay is reallj- a Pole — his real name is Count Stralinski ; he's a refugee, and it's quite probable that VelidofY may have recognised him. But, of course, I know nothing of that."

Belton rose. "I find that very difficult to believe, M. Dureski."

"I really can't help that. As a matter of fact I don't believe M - hat you have told me. Good morning." "You dare to tell me I don't speak the truth," said Belton angrily. Dureski sounded his table bell sharply, and at the same time picked up a heavy ruler. He saw a chance to pay back part ox tiie 01-cl score.

"Fetch a constable and have this man put out of the office," he told the clerk who entered.

For a moment Belton's bands itched to punish him; but he checked the impulse. "You will be well advised to keep clear of me for the future, M. Dxireski. If you don't " and with this unfinished threat he left the room.

As he ran dbwn the stairs he met Mrs Musgrave, who tried to detain him, but he would not stay. "I have no time now. You must excuse me," he &aid, and left the building. 'He had gained nothing by his visit to Dureski. Apparently the man knew no more where to find Magdala. and her father than he himself, and the sole result of the interview was the information that Ur Darblay -was &. Polish count and refugee who might be a subject of interest to the Russian police. The fact did not interest him ; and he hurried west, calling at the offices of the steamship company to book a berth m the Aucana. He was lucky there. A passenger had just returned his ticket, and Belton secured the berth. It was one of the worst, but he would have gone in the steerage if necessary. A very little time completed the few arrangements he had to make for the trip across" and, these completed, he went back to Curzon street and told Lady Flemlingcourt the result of his work. "Why, my dear Belton, the whole thing is beginning to get perfectly clear, but it's horrid complioa-tion," she exclaimed inconsistently. "Of course this wretched Dureski recognised Magdala's father as a refugee and has betrayed him to the Russian police, probably to get a reward. The man " "But why should he have wanted to prevent my marrying Magdala? That has nothing to do with it." • "Oh, my dear boy, I have a horrible thought. Suppose Magdiala is also a refugee and is wanted by them as well. "It's impossible. She's never been in Russia, and >sft Poland* when she was about a year old. ">he told me that some time ago." "Yes bat— oh, Belton, you must, go and get a lawyer's opinion or something. I expect Dureski was afraid that if she became your wife she'd be a British subiect, and so out of his reach. I loathed that horrid man from the moment I saw him. You see his object, and why wanted you to take him to Magdala. "Well, it's Friday to-day, and they haven't got him, and to-morrow we shall be on the Aucaria." "Not if they get them first, Belton, cried Lady -Fremlingcourt. "Oh, why on earth didn't we keep Magdala when we had her here, or insist- on knowing where to find her ? Do go and get that opinion. Belton went, and of course the legal opinion helped to confirm Lady Fremlingcourt's guess at Dureski's motive. But he learnt also that if it was only a political matter, neither Darblay nor Magdala could be touched in England. They were both greatly alarmed, however, and passed a miserable hour or two full of impotent regrets that they could not get to Magdala to put her on her guard. The}' could think and speak or nothing ol«e ; and at dinner Lady Fremlingcourt declared it was getting "on her nerves, and that Belton must take her to a theatre. "If I sit and mope here I shall go out of my mind," she de-clared. He consented, and passed a miserable evening trying vainly to drag hi^ thoughts from Magdala and fix his attention on the play. , • "I can't stand any ir.ore o. this, said Lady Fremlingcourt, after the second act. "Listening to the mock worries of others is worse than thinking of our own." "Same here," agreed Belton pithily ; and they left. "Oh, look what that wretched play has cost us, Belton. What an old fool I was to leave the house," cried Lady Fremlingcourt in dismay, as she handed him a slip of paper which was waiting for her at home. It was from Honor Martin, begging Lady Flemlingcourt to see her.

(To be continued.)