THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17803, 31 January 1930, Page 3

THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED.

fMjjjf SERIAL STORY yfa

CHAPTER XXIX

MADAME AND HER CLIENTS

Oane was sitting in the smokingroom when this was handed to him. He,read it through, and struck 1 a handbell standing on the table beside him, and, on the servant answering it, said: "Bring me a telegraph form." Then, after having filled it up, he continued: "See that goes at once. You Can keep the change." , # . , . . It was three hours later, and he was again in the smoking-room, iand though he held a paper in his hand, it was evident it possessed no interest for him, for every ' time the door opened he raised his eyes and glanced at the person entering. / At length his* attention was re-, warded as Thompson was shown in. Caneg rose, at once, crossed the_ room and greeted him cordially. He did n,ot return to, his former seat, but drew his guest to a table in one corner, where, placing two of the luxurious chairs together, he invited him to be seated, while he ordered the waiter to bring whiskies'and sodas. For' an hour or more the men conversed in undertones, (hardly ever raising their voices above a murmur, so that no one in the .room could gain an inkling of the subject which seemed so all-engrossing to them. Once or twice they appeared to grow excited from their gestures and the movements of their hands, but they calmed down again, and continued as they had commenced. - v 1 At length the conversation" seemed to have reached its end-and both men rose*, but still continued talking while standing.. Cane was saying: "And you feel pretty certain, about this?" ■■■■'. • ~ ■ • .': "Yes, but not certain. I can make myself 'so in a day or two,, but untU. then T -will nob pledge my word. I mean to get into conversation with him, but as yet I haven't had the chance. When I do I will know the truth iii ten minutes, but as yet 1 haven't, had the chance. When I do I shall let you hear at once." "Do so. and you won't be the loser. And about the other?" "Go and see her. You must work that yourself. It would be no good me taking that on. Look at me," and, with a faint smile, the man glanced down at his very-much-worn but neat clothing, but which bore the unmistakable ' stamp of poverty under an attempted but thinly-veiled disguise. "They would not acini it me, for hers is a 'slap-up' show, and I am hardly in a Bond Street rig out.',' "Very well, I'll manage that for myself.- And look' here, you'll want something for expenses. Take this on account. I never expect, nor will I allow, a man to '-work forme for noth-

By' rWILLIAM LE .QUEUX. ' (Author of' "The Man from■ Downing Street," v 'The Under Secrej tary," etc, etc., 'V,

ing. You've beep of service to me already, and I'm grateful. I'll go tomorrow'morning. About eleven, 'lshould think, J would be . best. Her rush won't begin till .twelve or one." "No, I'd go early, for she does have a, crowd there in fhe afternoon. I've ascertained that." The following morning, as . the clocks were striking eleven, Roger Cane entered a .private door on the east side of New Bond Street, and, passing through- some curtains or Oriental' manufacture, which hung at the foot of the stairs, mounted to the first floor, and entered a small room mst luxuriously furnished in a quasiEastern fashion, where he found standing a small nigger boy, clad in brilliant-coloured (garments thickly embroidered with *gold thread. "Well, young man, is madame to he seen ?" he asked with easy familiarity, evidently not at all impressed by the garish colour of the surroundings, y \ . . ' . "I will see," said the imp. "What name shall I take to madame?'' "Tell her Mr';! Roger Cane would like a word or two with her if she is not engaged." * "The gentleman will wait here," and the boy disappeared through some hangings, and Cane heard ~the opening and shutting of a door, but no j sound of voices. ; "Claptrap humbug!" he muttered to himself as he took a survey of the apartment. "How cemmensense folk can be gulled by such rubbish as this T understand. Thev've nothing better to amuse themselves with, I suppose." He was looking at one of the brass and coloured glass Turkish lamps when he was startled by a voice behind him,' saying: /' "Madame will see the gentleman at once." and turning sharply he found the little nigger boy, whom he bad not beard return, standing behind

1 '"I wish all'boys were as quick as J you, you" young rascal!" he said with! ; a smile. "Which way am I, to go? j Through these bed curtains, eh?" .A broad grin came "over the features of the boy, and two rows or gleam- • in g white teeth became visible a s (the? j hangings were drawn back and, a | door opening noiselessly, he found ; himself in a room from which the. daylight, wa s excluded, and which depended for illumination on a soft, mysterious radiance, yj hich appeared to ascend from, the surface of a" table or some description of semi-transpar-ent marble or agate, supported on four thin, spiderlike legs," • Behind it was seated a woman, •dressed in a robe cut in. the fashion of the Greek kitone, of some soft black material, bordered all round with the key pattern. in gold; Though the light was anything butstrong, Cane had no difficulty in recognising the lady as the one he and Thompson had seen in George Street a short time previously. She rose as he entered and bent her head slowlf towards him by way of salutation.. "Good morning, madame, I believe. I have the pleasure of addressing Mme. Sphinxa—eh?" The lady bowed. "You're what you call a clairvoyant, I presume?" Again a bow. j "Weil, F shall be uncommonly obliged if you will tell me where I can put my hand on an old pal of mine called George Blades. If you want your crossing first,- I've no objection so long as you tell me you can give me a fair exchange for my money." > For/the first time the figure ..spoke. ! "The fee is two guineas. I can ' premise nothing." "That's honest, at any rate. Suppose I pay vou 'by result. That would be fair, I take it?" "The fee is two guineas. Have you anything belonging to your friend?" "Can't say I have. Not with me." "Then I fear.. I can be of. no service to you." "That's unfortunate. I wonder, now, ifVT. oould borrow anything 'belonging to him from Morton Scarfe. He knew him well." "Morton Soarfe!" and the figure started perceptibly. "Yes. Oh, I forgot. He's a friend

(To be continued.)

of yours. I saw you going into hi s office the other day. But you were more fortunate in finding him than I was. He's away on a little . business just now."