When Greek Meets Greek.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 15, 10 April 1912, Page 59

When Greek Meets Greek.

By

J. MORTON LEWIS.

THERE are s> many incidents whieh flock to my mind when 1 think of Verulam and the exciting years j '■ I spent serving under him in the Secret Service that it is hard to give them place of .honour. Perhaps the one which showed uis cleverness, the ever-present thought he_gave to his profession, most. was one that occurred nearly seven years ago. We were nearing the end of a very enjoyable month- holiday—one which we had started at Paris, -pending the time wandering, -xnetsmes by rail, sometimes on foot, wherever our fancy plea-el us. We were -trying at a small hotel at Emstadt. .Verulam had been. out. and I was sitting in or private r-*om. sm<kmg and reading Balza.. when he sudden’.y entered. There was a look of excitement on his face. “The arsenal at Villestadi is on fire." he said; “over a thousand soldiers have been called out to help get it under Control.” ’ * He laid his hat on the table and looked fet me. ; -“The fire start-si in the offices of the arsenal, where ti •• plans of the new gun phould be." He smiled a* he saw hrs words conveyed no meaning to me. “■You do not know as much a* I do, or you would be able to put two and two together. I have found out to-day that by some means or other Du Cro : x. of t’>e French Secret Service —you remember him*—has been employed at the arsenal. i->r. ;• knows be managed to evade detection." Instantly I understood. At the arsenal at Villestadt there lay tae plans of a new gun. invented by one of the officers in the Sanubian army, a weapon •which the .Sanubian expert prophes:e>d ■would revolutionise modern warfare. “And he has started tins fire so as do trv and get possession of. the plans during the ensuing excitement ?" “That i- my belief." sai l Verulam. “I do not know if I am right or not. but I have ordered a motor to lie brought lotinl here at once." “Why?” ‘■"Because, if he has stolen the plans from dillestadt. I am going to steal .them from him. They are as essential to Englans as they are to Fran:?. Dne of our men should have got possession of them. I cannot understand how they failed.” Practically incapable of failure himself. Verulam could not understand s-. K-h a shortcoming in another man. He drew out his watch. “The ear will l>e here in half an hour. An hour ago Du Croix was still in the arsenal. So an hour ago he bad not succeeded. ‘•How do you know all this?” I asked. “I haxe ’ieen in telegraphic’communication with Ijtinier. and have to! I him to have Du Croix most carefully watehed. I have also had two Sanubian uniforms got ready for us. Let me see. your chest measurement is thirty-eight, is it not?” He laughed. “At any rate. I told Latimer that was the size. Now I want you to get our ?»xgs and everything ready. We shall not have a moment io spare. And the moment we have those pGns in our possession we shall carry our lives in onr hands until we reach England.” There was a glow in Verulam'* eye. The adventure was one after his own heart. I: promised excitement, and it wromiaed. moreover, to be a great coup for the country he serve-1 if we succeeded. He poured himself ont a glass of wine and lighted » cigar, while T went info the adjoining room to make the final preparations. t By the time the car had arrived onr logs Mood in the hall of the hotel, and we had settled our bill. Kmstadt is not many mile* from Villes’alt— thirty at the outside. Tn a little over an hour we were in the Sanubian garrison town. Tt was not by any means our first visit. Verulam knew it as well as a native. Tearing the car on the outskirts, rv'tb Irutruclioua to take our luggage to a

certain hotel. Verulam led me through devious side roads to where a column of >moke and fire showed the arsenal to be. Huge crowds thronged the adjacent streets. approaching near a> the cordons of police would allow them. Verulam turned to me with a >mi!e. “Du Croix has varied a conflagrat ion that may end in a European war.” he said quietly. We were in a narrow street a’.out half a mile from the arsenal. the Vollcn >tra-<e. It was erm-led with people jostling us in their endeavour to push a way nearer to the fire. Questions were upon everyone’s tongue; half a dozen language- were spoken in our immediate vicinity. I saw a man push his way through the crowd towards us. li was Latimer of : e secret Service. He whispered a few words to Verulam. I could not cat h them, but Verulam drew roe back. “We m.K get out of this as quickly as pos-Hde.” he sa= i. He took my arm. and. followed by Latimer, we hurried through some hair a dozen streets to the Garten Strasse. There we entered an hotel at which Verulam and I had stopped on numerous occasions. It was the one he usually patronised, for a reason well-known t > himself. I: was kept by a Frenchman. We were expected- Ga*ton Meuvaine, the proprietor, bowed us into the hall. ‘•Your raom is ready, m’sieu.” he sail to Verulam. “I had it prepared upon M’sieu Larimer's instructions.” “Good!” VeruLam hurried me up the stairs to a room upon the first floor overlooking the Garten >trasse. “We have not a moment to base.” he -ail. On the lied lay a couple of the dark green uniforms of the Sanubian Guards. Verulam took off hi» eoat‘*AVe must change into these as soon as possible,’’ he said. I looked at the clothes, then at him, in as:onishment. “For the nonce we are soldiers in the employ of the Sanubian Government. It will lie our duty to arrest M’sieu Du

Croix, and take those plans fr.»m him. Afterwards ” He smiled. In a quarter of an hour we h«d changed, and looked t wo m pre sen table soldiers fin the Sanubian army. Il is a uniform, and thpeak of the helmet, coming low dowr over our forehead, ast a shadow ah- h would m?st effectually disguise us should we meet anyone who would l»e likely to recognise us. Verulam luickled on his sword. IL' had assumed the rank of colonel, while I wore the less gorgeous uniform of a lieutenant. There was a smile upon Latimer’s fare while he surveyed us as we ao’emnly marched down int > the hall. “You - think we pass ni-i.-t-T?” sijj Verulam. “You are superb—splend. I.” “Good! You <iy Du Cro x went into the hotel facing the Menvhen Platz* ’ “Ye>. I hive posted Franklin :n » position where he van command :h-' entrance; he will tell you if Du (r » x is still there.” Solemnly* and not without a lift • misgiving upon my part. • • ' ’’k.-d m*<» t..e street. It was comical ♦■» no:h« how the civilians made ' iv f »r :s if everv step. The t m in in Skuiubia- Representing t - Tin »ne he is treated with mark -; j -*«. »- we passed a co iple of pr>. »• e>. T se:r hands flew to the sabrio. while they stepped into th-' rovlwiy - » is f » give :ts ro.»m to pass. Verulam acknowledg'd the sai.dp with a majestic inclination of the heal -My boy,” he said, “w*' have a position to uphold. We must remeniljer thv the dignity of the Sanubian irmy re*.-* upon our shoulders.” Not withstanding the grave iss which depended upon our enterprise, unentered into the ludicrous side *»f t with all the gusto of a schoolboy. His eyes twinkled with merri.nen* as he spoke. A few minutes’ walk brought us to the Mencken Platz. In the shadow of a brick wall stood Franklin, a junior, but very efficient member -»f th-' ~?rvi .• -Have you seen Du < roix come out a*ked Verulam. “No. he was standing befs»re that window upon the first fl-»or a iv-a m;n tries ago.” ‘•fiood! Then the plans '•’non' I !••• in oiir possession within ’ e next : - v minutes, if we do not make a mistake. .We crossed the road to the hotel. Veralam swept grandly up t.e -tv In

th* hall were met by the proprietor. who I veqi>ii»rdy mi our wants. • Y ’ ha. ' » I retrdunan staying here a M ’I D i tf »ix. I wis t t • <exr a his r • »m“I know no one of th.it name.” sa* 1 the proprietor. He was a I'rea hm.m. <;d rtpoke with » fjrct' of gesture s» exj.re-.-. y»' ’a* it . i I • ib* upon the truth »f his sta: 'ment. “V » i may n•’ kno x him under that name.' said V?'v»ilam. “But he is here nevertheless. He is »n a room up -n th first fl > «r. and I demand to search tlut room. If von da not sh<>w me up I shall be obliged to for - my vly ‘ Verulam’s acting > .»s magni:'?en-. Her mj bis many stay- in \ '.il’ ?•? had had the oppart».ni* v of s: idyir.g ' f the Sa n a fjmed them t » j»erf? n. With*’-- further ado the pr- ,-; led us up 1 - stairs • io »r of the sitting-i \ man tnnsed ri mJ and :’’ "d us. It was Du Croix. ■ Y Msi-IDu 1 r ■ x s 3 >-l Ae ; • . . . rexson 1 .. .... . ■ ■ ■ i certain -'iiu. I- =h.v. ....... tion m practically impost!?. The -...’ . - • - i»erfev’i»' unawar ' •: *‘r. i 3. ‘ 5 “I: is absurd,” hr- ”iid ‘I .uve no th? pl.im >n my p »n Verulam shrugged his should must permit me i • -**-ar'h v »ar Dn bowed. - - rtainlv. i: d\ • prove th' truth <rf my words. You will not «>'<» them here I Ji.l "•’ e "‘' k:1 were ..tolen" He -mile,! Ar.l whv sh.uld you pi k upon me for ywr suspicions?” Verulam returned the smile. "You pay yourself .» poir compliment. XF-ieu Du'vro:x.” A thorough sear h of the room an I the one adjoining ,h . ed u- nothing. We turned out every drawer, ransa. k e I every corner. Th pl in w -renowhere t-o be found. There was a frown up m Verulam * fare the search n-<i ■' its completion. •■He h-is liken them, of that I am certain: but what iu the name o’ creation has he done with them?" h? whiskered to me. A sudden thought -tru k him. IL- ad vanced where Du (TSix -- .-d watching ‘.is. a smile --.i b.~ t.s, "Xi sieu." he sai l. "1 >m sorry, but I shall have to — hj ■ i

At lir-t M’sieu Du Croix refused. I thought vie <hould have to use violence. “1 am sorry.” said Vrrulam, “but duty i'i duty. You. a member of the French 8«i ret S<-r\. •. niu<t know that only b o w»!l. I* IH y to find those plans. If vvu have not got them upon you. you need show no rvluctance.” At that Mseu Du Croix assented vi.'.h a readiness that I could see surprised Verulam. We examined hi* clothing, we searched through the L- tiers iu his pockets, and we found nothing. “M’sieu.” sa d Verulam,. when we had fii'.shed. “F owe you an apology.’’ Da Croix waved the remark aside with a genial *:tule. “As y« a *aid. colonel—duty is duty. But one tiling I should like to know: why did suspi l«*n fall upon mef “Recau-e t has U--».-n known for the past s;x weeks that y* u have been employed at the ai>sii.il as a common workman.*’ I saw Du Croix tarn pale. “The Sanubian authorities have shot up n h - e-tlmaii *n. I think.*’ said Verula.!s - a* we retired downstairs. Ther vas a frown upon his face. “Eith-T I have mad. th? greatest mistake of isy life. ■ r Du Croix is a ninth clever* ;■ . n than I ever thought him.*’ “You -till ;hi:.k he the plans'!” “Certain < i t. although I do n-»t even . <. Bat the way he received . y last remark showed me hp kiie« • ’ *y well where they were.” He turr.-.i to i? - . “Thev are not in the h< - e tl We found Franklin where we bad left him. fa. -ig the hotel. ' \ : have the n. sir?” he asked eagerly “I hav» nt.:.” replied Verulam tersely Xs v I want y ■» to t* l! me exactly uha: has transpired Iron the first monies you met M’sieu Da Croix.” “Al= :* two and a half hours ago he left th” arsen?.’ aad hurried through the *:r*et«. toward* the market place.” “He -as dress d ju his working el. the s'.” “Yes” Verulam nodded. ‘I i ? OU.*’ “Ha I f wa y do wn the Li nden !5t rasee he m t a friend. and they stopped and chatted lor a few minutes. 0 “Did you >ee anything pass between them? 9 asked Verulam eagerly. “X’« . hut I could not see them all the time. Their backs were turned to me. and the | eopk passing to and fro made it d ilium! t to observe the n closely.” Verulam nodded. “MV. •: I. < r« x .am? straight on to the h. tel” ~

“And changed. Could you describe the friend he met?” "He was a tall, fair man. with a little moustache waxed up at the corners.” I knew Verulam would recognise him at onve. "Lavernee,” he said, turning to me. M’sieu Lavernee was a rising young member of the French Se.ret Service. Verulam turned to Franklin. “lon need net stay here any longer. You can do no good; it is this Lavernee we must find.” We walked up the street together. For a moment Verulam was silent. Suddenly he gave a quick ejaculation. “What a fool I have been! We must hurry." He quickened his pace. "It is now teu minutes to three: at three o’clock the Vollenstroon leaves Villestadt, and I expect Lavernee will be on board. We have not a moment to lose.” Verulam knows Villestadt as well as

he know s Lo -don. He led the way down all the niai.. turnings which formed a short cut rom where we were to the quay, nearly 1 mile distant. We reac-ln I it to see the Vollenstroon -teaming a mile up the river. "We are beaten." said Verulam. "Nothing can -p tho-e plans going to France now." Then a sudden idea seized him. The colossal impertinence, the risk of it. dumbfounded me as I look back up>on it. At the time he did not give me time to think. Moored against the side of the quay, with her steam up. lay a small Sanubian torpedo boat, No. 39. In a moment Verulam was on board, demanding to -ee the captain. He was below. "Then I must -ee him at once. It is a matter of national importance, and there is not a moment to l<e lost."

The sailor hurried below with the message, and in a couple of minutes the captain appeared leisurely up the companion way. Verulam hurried to meet him, while I stood by flabbergasted. Failure meant anything up to ten years in a Sanubian fortress. He seized the astonished captain by the shoulders. “Certain plans have been stolen.” he said, "and the man who has taken them on board the Vollenstrocn. How soou can you overtake her 1” The captain was a young man. and I could see Verulam had made au impression upon him. “What are the plans’” he asked. "The plans of the new gun. The fire at the arsenal is all part of a plot to obtain possession of them. It has succeeded. It is our business to recover them.”

Tatriotism surged high in the captain's breast. Within ten minutes torpedo boat No. 39 had started in pursuit of the Vollenstroon. The spray ran high over the bows of the little vessel as she sped through the water. It soaked ns to the skin, but Verulam took no notice. His mind was absorbed with the one idea. “I do not think we ean fail now,” he said in one of the brief intervals that the captain left us. "Have you thought what it means if we do?" I said. He laughed. "I have thought what it means if we succeed,” he answered. The Vollenstroon had vanished from sight when we started. It very soon reappeared in sight again, leaving a trail of 1-lavk smoke upon the horizon. Conversation was difficult; it needed all our

attention to prevent ourselves being thrown overboard as we sped through the water. We were travelling twice as fast as the steamer, and every moment she grew larger. Evening was setting in. and with it a fine drizzling rain, blown into our faces by the wind. The captain came to our side. “In another half an hour we shall be alongside.’’ he said. "You would like some of my men?” Yerulam shook his head. “This lieutenant and I will be .-*ble to manage all the business. It will not take long." “You will bring him back to Villesiadt?" Verulam did not hesitate. The game we were playing was a dangerous one. The slightest mistake and we were lost. “Most certainly," he replied. While we were -peaking we had come «o near to the Vollenstroon that we could see the few passengers upon the decks. A few moments and the captain hailed her. At first there was no reply. "If she dsies not -top I shall fire a shot across her bows." I saw a twinkle in Verulam’s eyrs as the captain pointed to a couple of diminutive guns on the foredeek of the vessel. He hailed her again, and a voice came back asking us what we wanted. "Are you the Vollenstroon?” "Yes." “We are torpedo boat No. 39 of the Sanubian Navy. YVe are coming alongside. and must a-k you to stop at once. You have on board a man we want." There was a pause, then the engines slowed down, and we drew alongside. Tlie next moment Verulam and I had slung ourselves on board the Vollenstroon. The captain came forward to meet us. He listened respectfully to what Verulam had to say. "The passengers are nearly all below having tea.” he said. “If you would like to eome dow n." We followed him down the companion way. The Vollenstroon had about one hundred and fifty passengers on board. They were seated round the tables in the saloon. In a second we saw I-avernce. I erulam walked up to him. "Excuse me." he sail in French. The ni.,n leapt to his feet, while the eyes of everyone in the saloon were fixed upon us. "I have reason to believe that you have certain plans on your person given to you by M’-ieu Du Croix." The man was a splendid actor, almost as good as Vemlam himself. "It is absurd," he said. "I have no plans. I do not know a M’sieu Du Croix. I am a gentleman travelling upon business." •

•'Perhaps you will <ume on deck with Us. I am sorry, but we shall be obliged to search you.” Verulam motioned to me to take one of the Frenchman’s arms while he took the other, and. expostulating volubly, we led him up the companion way. On deck, Verulam faced him. “M’sieu Lavenice." he said, “you wi I kindly give me the plans you have in your possession.” “Sacre! I tell you I have no plans. I am a gentleman travelling upon business. Your Government shall hear of this insult.” J“You shall hive every opportunity to lay your claim before them, since you are coining back to Villestadt with us.” “To Villestadt!” The man’s face blanched. Verulam bowed gravely. “And now. m’sieu. we shall be obliged to search you. 1 regret the indignity, but I am only a servant of my Government.” In a few seconds we had found the plans, sewn into the lining of his coat, lie gave a muttered exclamation when he saw we had discovered them, and made a frantic effort to recover them. Carefully Verulam placed them in an inner pocket of his coat. “Now, m’sieu.” he said, “you will have to accompany us back to Villestadt.” He turned to the captain of the. Vollenstroon. “We have no need to detain you any longer. You will accept my apologies on behalf of the Sanubian Government for the inconvenience to which we hive put you.” lie took M’sieu Lavemee’s arm. and we escorted him over the side, down the ladder, on to the deck of torpedo boat No. 39. “You have the plans?” asked the commander anxiously. Verulam nodded and tapped his coat pocket. I will not attempt to describe the journey back to ViHestadt. It occupied little over an hour. While a couple of sailors kept guard over our prisoner, Verulam stood leaning against the side of the boat gazing at the water. The most difficult part lay before us. and 1 knew that he wa> busy formulating some plan. The moment we reached the quay at Villestadt he hurried up to the captain and expressed hi- thanks for the assistance he had given us. “You would like an escort?” Verulam shook hU head. “It is not necessary. See. like most Frenchmen, he is ill ?fier hi- short journey upon the sea.” Indeed. M’sieu Lavernee looked the picture of misery. “And you will have other work for your men to do.” He advanced to the Frenchman’s side. “Come, m’sieu!” Dazedly M’sieu Lavernee stepped over the side. Visions of a lengthy incarceration in a Sanubian fortress must have been in hi- mind. Kach keeping hold of an arm. we marched along the quay and up a number of streets until we came to one that was deserted. Then on a sign from Verulam we both loosed our hold. For a moment the Frenchman "still walked between us, and I began to have fears that we should find it difficult to rid ourselves of our prisoner. Suddenly he gave a spring and ran like a hare up the street. . For a few yards we followed him, then Verulam turned down a side street. “Quick!” he said. “The hotel! We must l»e out of Vi! lest ad t in an hour.” At the hotel Latimer awaited us. '* You have succeeded?” he said. Ve ml a m n odd• d. “How ?” “My dear fellow, you must get us a motor, while we take off these things. Meet us at the market place in half a?, hour. I will tell you everything then.” Within ten minutes we had changed into our ordinary clothes again, and were on our way to meet Latimer. On the way to the market place we met a couple of sailor** from torpedo lx»at No. 39. We passed them with heads erect, carefully looking upon the other side of the street. “I shall l»e glad when wp are out of Villestadt,” said Verulam in a low voice. In a dark corner of the market place We found Latimer awaiting us with a powerful car. “Where to?” he asked. “We must l»e over the Dutch frontier by daylight. There is a l»oat sailing from Amsterdam tomorrow afternoon. Wo must eatch it somehow.” All through the night we sped across Sa nubia aa fast as the ear, and our own uncertain knowledge of the road, Would m.

Breakfast w e had in Holland, while X erulem told Latimer how we had obtained the plana. The younger m’.n looked at him admiringly. “I do not wonder they oil you the Prince of Secret Service Agents,’ he said. But the greatest praise came from Lord Farquharson when the plans lay before him on the table. His face was still wreathed in smiles at the colossal impertinence of the story Verulam told him, as he held out his band. "leu are a most extraordin try man. Even in your holidays you find time t = place us in your debt.” ' And no praise could have pleased X erulam more, 1 know.