Part 44 (2/2)
Curtis took an opportunity later to ask Steingall what those cryptic words meant, and the Chief of the Bureau set at rest a doubt which had long perplexed him.
”It was Clancy who prompted the idea of mixing up the two branches of the inquiry,” he said. ”Under that wizened skin of his he has a heart of gold. 'Why shouldn't those two young people be made happy?' he said. 'I haven't seen the girl,' nor had he, then, 'but I like Curtis, and she won't get a better husband if she searches the island of Manhattan.' So we allowed Lord Valletort and the Count to believe that it was their set of hirelings who killed poor Hunter, whereas Balusky and Viviadi only tied up de Courtois, and were quaking with fear when they heard of the murder, because they a.s.sumed he had been killed by some other scoundrels, and that they would be held responsible. It was they who gave us the names of Rossi and Martiny as the likely pair, and the bluff I threw with Lamotte came off.”
”For whom were Rossi and Martiny acting? You have never told me,” said Curtis.
”Don't ask, sir. But I don't mind giving you a sort of hint. You know, better than I do probably, that Hungary is seething with revolutionary parties, which are more bitter against each other than against the common enemy, Austria. Now, two of these organizations were keen to have Count Va.s.silan married to Lady Hermione, one because of a patriotic desire to draw her money into the war-chest, the other because they suspected him, and rightly, as a mere tool in the hands of Austria, and they believed, again with justice I think, that when he was married it would be Paris and the gay life for him rather than a throne which might be shattered by Austrian bullets. The Earl of Valletort has degenerated into little better than a company-promoter, and he had made his own compact with Va.s.silan. Add to these certain facts one other--Elizabeth Zapolya, whom Lady Hermione knows, married an attache in the Austrian Emba.s.sy in Paris last week. Tell her that.
She will be interested. For the rest, you must deduce your own theories.”
Curtis remained silent for a moment. Then he seized Steingall's hand and wrung it warmly.
”Hermione and I have been wondering what we can do to show our sense of grat.i.tude to you and Mr. Clancy,” he said.
”Nothing, sir,” broke in the detective. ”It was all in the way of business, so to speak.”
”Yes, and our recognition of your services will take shape in that direction,” said Curtis. ”Why, man, if it were not for you I might have been charged with murder, and if it were not for Clancy and you, Hermione might now be in Paris with her good-for-nothing father. . . .
I'll talk this over with Schmidt.”
”Schmidt is a good fellow, but he doesn't know everything, even though he may be a mighty fine guesser,” said Steingall.
”I'll tell him just as much as is good for any lawyer,” laughed Curtis.
”He is acting for my wife and myself now in the matter of providing for Hunter's relatives. We look forward to meeting Clancy and you when we return from the West.”
”Is that where you are going for the honeymoon?” asked the detective, with the amiable grin which invariably accompanies the question.
”Yes. We debated the point during a whole day, but some enterprising agent settled it for us by exhibiting a catchy sign--'Why not see America?' And we both cried 'Why not?' Mr. Devar senior, who has what you call a pull in such matters, has secured us the use of a railway president's car for the trip, and a whole lot of friends join us at Chicago. Can you come, too?”
Steingall shook his head.
”No, sir,” he said ruefully. ”I can't get away from headquarters. I have too much on hand. As for Clancy, he'll be carried out before he quits.”
So, for two people at least, a wonderful night merged into a more wonderful month, and the dawn of a new year found them on the threshold of a happy, and therefore, quite wonderful life.
THE END
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