| Show BANNER SERIAL FICTION she painted ai 0 anted her er face I 1 ace ri A astow dw of ae and ibue 0 DORNFORD T YATES ATES 0 Dorn loid batol CHAPTER XI 22 11 I 1 bad told winter winte r to call me at nine oi lock but tired as I 1 was I 1 awoke at a quarter to eight and after r trying in vain to go back to sleep I 1 presently th throve to my hand end and began to get up my state ot bf mind was uneasy U I 1 could no not reach my lady because I 1 had given her back the key of her suite yet since ahad I 1 had her chemise my shirt must be in her bedroom if she found it well and good but if some servant found it ln fact I 1 need not have worried cabout Ka about bout ten minutes to nine a manservant came to my room bearing a noti note and spariel ap a parcel ariel addressed to me from his lordship sir he be said laid and nd bowed himself out with starting eyes I 1 read the following words mr exon I 1 have the honor to return you the shirt which you dropped this morning on leaving my daush da term suite per perhaps mg aps you will make it convenient to leave the castle at once brief I 1 remember that I 1 stared at the paper as though it belonged to some dream then leat down and put my head beaden in my hands and then I 1 stood up again because something had bad tobe to be done As I 1 made imade for the door this was opened and winter came into the room loom find mr parish I 1 said and ask him to come here at once As htwa it was a I 1 was more than half dressed dresse d and as I 1 got into my jacket t the englishman entered the room parish I 1 said how soon can I 1 see her grace i perhaps at ten sim sir but certain 0 biot ot before that i glanced at i t my watch the time was five min minutes tates past nine very welli well I 1 must see the count I 1 dont think hell want to receive me but it iou you can get hold of bertram perhaps you can bring it off ill mariage it sir said parish do you wish to see him at once immediately then cozewith come with me sir said parish 1 I think I 1 know where he is I 1 thrust the note into my pocket and left the room the respect with which parish was treated by the servants of brief was very nearly is as deep as that they were pleased to accord to the duchess herself and before two minutes had passed I 1 was ushered announced into an elegant libra As ane door closed behind me what does this mean said the count getting up to his feet I 1 answered him slowly enough it means I 1 said that we are to clear theair the air ill see bee a bout about that said the man and m made add straight tor for the beu bell 1 I strongly advise you I 1 said notto try to have roe me removed it if you do you will force my hand and io so lordie lord ferdinand virgil cut your throat t I 1 saw the shaft go home my use of hisiro his proper per title ditl e hit him beneath the heart if more more revelations were coming better that th they should come whilst ie we were alone for all thethis th that athis his eyes were burning 1 I was richard exon and not the Duch duchess essof of whelp As a servant answered his summons he be turned on his heel beel I 1 watched him curiously th there e re was a moments silence then 1 your lordship rang bangt said the ser servant vint the ilie other spoke over his bis shoulder yes he said thickly has bashas has Q P percy ercy returned not at yet my lord desire him to come here the moment he enters the house very good my lord said the man and made himself scarce As thedoor the door closed behind him 1 I do no think I 1 said that your son is going to come back lord ferdinand started about my son Is this blackmail it its not avei even bluff i said ald 4 I 1 but listen tome to me asay I 1 have reason to think that your son is not coming back in ia vi view I 1 e w of what I 1 last night I 1 think he will find it convenient to disappear the man was staring as I 1 though I 1 were not of his world of what boulo you lold ld him who are you nathe a question flamed im a plainclothes plain clothes man said laid i and fm im working for foi sc scotland atland yard I 1 watched the blood flow put out of the the fellows face at length he be moistened his lips does the duchess know this he said no said 1 I nobody knows except the austrian police 1 I saw his mouth twitch at tle the word why why the austrian police Beca because useI I 1 could not arrest you without their leave its a question of you broke your ball bail in england twenty years year ago so you say may 13 but you arranged your flight with your brother he booked your passage for you and went alone to the station taking your tickets and money to see you off and when he was gone you went to paris instead and the police mistook him tor for you and sent him down twenty two years ago and hes done his time but the charge against you ie remains mains lord ferdinand virgil and I 1 have been sent from england to clear things U up P his fingers were plucking at his trousers as those of a dying man will pluck athis at his sheets what ayou mean clear things up ill tell you plainly said 1 I because of the mistake that was wai made another warrant must issue as a matter of form before that warrant con can issue a further information has to be sworn I 1 am here to complete that information 4 Z 0 I 1 it means I 1 said that we are to clear the air thanks to what happened last night it asvery is very nearly complete and then then I 1 shall return to london and when the warrant Is issued ishall come back 11 there was a deathly silence then the fellow turned round and made his way to a chair I 1 saw that thai he went heavily as a man that is tired after a little he spoke why do you tell me these things I 1 I 1 took out the note he had written and held it up up P because of this letter it seems that one of your people saw me leaving the lady elizabeths suite I 1 had to convince you therefore that I 1 was there on duty and nothing else he let out a laugh at tha that tand and the blood came into my face it if you doubt me I 1 said 1 I can prove it id a man outside her door the whole of the time A man he cried starting up A man said 1 I dont think im working alone the man in question qui stion is playing the part of my servant hes really a sergeant out of the C 1 I D he quailed to the words as a beast will quail to the whip and then as a berst beast will turn he was showing fight so you say bay he snarled so you say you prate ot of warrants warrant and duty and wheres where your badge his voice rose into a scream show me your badge you its in my dispatch case I 1 said with other things would you luce like to know the duty which took me into her suite what hit then I 1 raised my eyebrows 1 11 I wanted a word with her malda gerlof the name of odelsa fesa fhsa ashes wanted for forgery la 14 bristol perhaps you I 1 know that 1 and there ther ewhen when I 1 stood dio to lose it I 1 wort won my game with a shaft that percy virgil had bad set in my band hand tor for I 1 ilawan saw in bis fathers eyes that he diew knew the truth about elsa and how could I 1 have known it unless I 1 belonged to the police polliet the evil that men do lives after them the son had delivered the father into my hand lord ferdinands ferdinand head bead was shaking i As he felt for bior hl his s chair 1 I swear that I 1 didel I 1 swear JI you worry you wont be accused of that thai but that nearly all I 1 go just to see elsa I 1 wanted to see your niece for one thing I 1 wanted to speak of her mothers motherly mo therla jewels the fellows head stopped shaking and a hand went up to his mouth what of her mothers lewels jewels this said 1 I bourson Yo urson percy virgil stole them six weeks ago the fellow sat back in his chair with a hand to his throat you say that hes gone he said bothi both he and elsa have gone you sei see I 1 had instructions to give thim them their choice that is sometimes doneit the injured party consents it it tends to avoid a scandal candal be I 1 gave them both until dawn to be clear of brief and both have availed themselves of the chance which they had bad personally I 1 think they were wise and I 1 must confess that elsa eiji got back on me for she Pi packed licked a suitcase lle whilst I 1 was engaged with your niece and when she went it went with her but by the way in id fact this Is all by the way for I 1 have so far said nothing of the most significant duty I 1 did last night I 1 proved your brothers brothel 3 statement that he be is the count of brief my words brought him up to his bis feet 1 I defy you he mouthed its a ile he he clawed at the air there is no proof because some old doddering servant imagines vain things 1 I am not a doddering servant and I 1 have no memories yet I 1 can prove the statement your brother makes I 1 was sent to see if I 1 could prove lt it I 1 told you just edw now I 1 was sent to complete the information upon which the warrant wl will 11 issue the day after I 1 get back then prove I 1 it t prove it to me with pleasure said L I 1 the lady elizabeth virgil Is twenty four she is also the next in line it if you are the count indeed why have you never shown her the secret of brief beside this my other blows were so many flicks on the face before my eyes lord ferdinand seemed to shrink and he be took a step back and then sideways and put out a hand to find something on which he cc could uld lean Li listen to me said 1 I he lifted his head bead following your brothers directions I 1 found the way to the chamber eight hours ago I 1 took his daughter with me and now she knows tor for herself the secret of brief both of us therefore can swear that we have seen with our eyes what your brother said laid we should see ace which means that as I 1 warned you the information is very nearly complete though I 1 heard no sound I 1 saw his upa lips frame fr amethe the words very nearly very nearly my lord I 1 have proved all your brother said except one thing he declared that if I 1 were to ask you to toll tell me the secret of brief I 1 should ask you in vain and so I 1 ask you t to 0 give me one single detail of whit what your father revealed to his first born son the man inan was trembling and the sweat washout was out on his face my b brother he quavered 1 I think if I 1 could see him I 1 mea mean without his statement the the warrant could not issue and could not be he has made his statement I 1 said 1 I have a copy upstairs but my son is tree free statements statement s were made in his case but he has gone tree free you said that you had bad instructions 11 atthe the injured party consents 17 bats what I 1 say cried the man M an my brother would never subscribe to my to proceedings proceeding against his fathers son II 11 1 I 1 know he be exon he bear malice like that and then the scan bean dal you said yourself that rather than have a scandal your son has gone said L I 1 there can be no scandal there percy elbirt elbert virgil has disappeared 1 I can disappear he was panting now and his eyes were half out of 61 his head yet he ha did what he could t to 10 wreathe his bis face into a smile as a though to do me pleasure and make me his bis friend 1 I can make no promise I 1 said until I 1 have reported to those who sent me here the case Is too grave but ill tell you what I 1 will do it if you will indorse the statement your brother has made ill take it to london tonight and recommend my people to let you go to be honest I 1 dont think do it but how soon will you know on friday and on sunday I 1 shall be back with or without the warrant tor for your arrest this is upon condition that you indorse the statement to which I 1 refer otherwise w ise 11 yes in view ol of what you have a admitted I 1 shall lay an information at gabble without delay that will III insure tw your detention until the he demand tor for your extradition is made but it if I 1 sign 1 I can make no promise I 1 said ill take the statement to london and do what I 1 can you can take it or leave it my lord sign and I 1 leave for london dont sign and I 1 leave tor for gabble within the hour the fellow was biting hl his lingers fingers we with his eyes on my face the signing stuck in his gullet as well it might and then he threw in his hand AU all right he be said give me the statement and do your best for me exon im rm im not as young as I 1 was I 1 stepped to the bell and rang it 1 I want my servant I 1 said with a shaking hand lord alord fei dinand wiped his face and then still holding the table he made his bit way round the oak and took his seat in a chair when my summons was answered one hand was shading his hi eyes and the other was toying with a paper that lay on a blotting blott in g pa pad d 1 I want my dispatch case winter TO BE CONTINUED |
