Part 43 (2/2)

Suddenly his interest was aroused.

”Bless my soul!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. ”That's funny. It wasn't there half a minute ago.”

Under the heat of the now glowing fire letters. .h.i.therto invisible took semblance upon the warm paper. To his utter surprise the name ”Barcroft” appeared in view.

Hardly able to credit his senses Peter read the d.a.m.ning evidence of the supposed Andrew Norton's treachery. It was written in German, for, owing to Entwistle having on a previous visit taken possession of the cypher (a circ.u.mstance that had caused the spy hours of uneasiness until he had been lulled into a sense of false security), he had been obliged to resort to ordinary writing pending the arrival of another code-book.

”Your request for immediate action noted,” read Peter. ”Expect Barcroft's removal to-day. Notifying impending accident to substantiate claim. Also hope to secure his ma.n.u.script to-night.

Will destroy it if unable to retain without exciting suspicion.”

There were also statistical particulars of the output of one of the Barborough munition factories, including the number of new gigantic sh.e.l.ls, but Peter had not time to read that far.

A reverberating report filled the room. A bullet, whizzing close to the head of the startled man, shattered into a thousand pieces a mirror on the wall.

The spy, awaking from his sleep, had seen Barcroft poring over his secret--the same paper that he had been compelled to take hurriedly to his room that very morning when Peter disturbed him at his work.

Von Eitelwurmer realised that the game was up. Visions of a firing party in the moat of The Tower gripped his mind. Anything but that: he would make Barcroft pay for his discovery, and afterwards send a shot through his own head.

Under his pillow the spy habitually kept a Service revolver. This he fumbled for with his partly crippled right hand, and taking aim fired at Peter's head.

In his weak state von Eitelwurmer had not taken into sufficient consideration the ”kick” of the powerful weapon. At the first shot the revolver jerked itself from his feeble grasp and clattered upon the floor.

”Thank you,” said Peter firmly, as he stooped to pick up the weapon.

He was surprised at his own almost unnatural calmness. ”Might I ask the reason for this--er--outrage?”

”You have discovered everything,” muttered the spy. ”That was sufficient reason.”

”Accidentally,” added Barcroft. ”Even then why should you seek my life and, what is almost as important to me, to destroy my labour--my writings? Look here, Norton, the position is this. You are a spy, caught redhanded, and the penalty is, as you know, death.”

”And I meant to settle you before that,” hissed the recreant.

”But Providence decided otherwise,” continued Peter. ”I thought you a totally different kind of person. You partook of my hospitality, yet descend to attempted a.s.sa.s.sination. Yet I do not forget that yesterday you saved my life. I wonder why? However, we are now quits, but I feel inclined to do you a favour. In ordinary circ.u.mstances you would be nursed back to health merely for the purpose of undergoing trial and suffering execution. There is yet another way.”

”How?” asked the spy eagerly.

”By this,” answered Peter holding up the revolver. ”I will extract all but one cartridge and return you the weapon. If you are still intent upon my life the instrument is in your hands--only, remember, you cannot fire a second shot. Here you are. I give you five minutes to decide.”

Slowly Barcroft crossed the room and descended the stairs. Only then did his calmness give way--and it required plenty of courage to deliberately turn away from a loaded weapon in the hands of a vindictive spy.

Entering the dining-room Peter sank into a chair and rested his head on his hands. Only the loud ticking of the grandfather clock disturbed the silence until the door was pushed open and Philip Entwistle entered.

”Hullo!” he exclaimed. ”What's wrong now? Has Norton----?”

”I have made a very remarkable discovery,” said Peter. ”Andrew Norton is a German spy.”

”Indeed?” was Entwistle's rejoinder.

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