Part 41 (1/2)
XXIII
MADAME OMBER
Before the echo of that crash ceased to reverberate from room to room, Lanyard slipped to one side of the doorway, from which point he could command the perspective of the salons together with a partial view of the front doors. And he was no more than there, in the shadow of the portieres, when light from an electrolier flooded the reception-hall.
It showed him a single figure, that of a handsome woman, considerably beyond middle age but still a well-poised, vigorous, and commanding presence, in full evening dress of such magnificence as to suggest recent attendance at some State function.
Standing beneath the light, she was restoring a key to a brocaded hand-bag. This done, she turned her head and spoke indistinguishably over her shoulder. Promptly there came into view a second woman of about the same age, but even more strong and able of appearance--a serving-woman, in plain, dark garments, undoubtedly madame's maid.
Handing over the brocaded bag, madame unlatched the throat of her ermine cloak and surrendered it to the servant's care.
Her next words were audible, and rea.s.suring in as far as they indicated ignorance of anything amiss.
”Thank you, Sidonie. You may go to bed now.”
”Madame will not need me to undress her?”
”I'm not ready yet. When I am--I'm old enough to take care of myself.
Besides, I prefer you to go to bed, Sidonie. It doesn't improve your temper to lose your beauty sleep.”
”Many thanks, madame. Good night.”
”Good night.”
The maid moved off toward the main staircase, while her mistress turned deliberately through the salons toward the library.
At this, swinging back to the girl in a stride, and grasping her wrist to compel attention, Lanyard spoke in a rapid whisper, mouth close to her ear, but his solicitude so unselfish and so intense that for the moment he was altogether unconscious of either her allure or his pa.s.sion.
”This way,” he said, imperatively drawing her toward the window by which he had entered: ”there's a balcony outside--a short drop to the ground.” And unlatching the window, he urged her through it. ”Try to leave by the back gateway--the one I showed you before--avoiding Ekstrom----”
”But surely you are coming too?” she insisted, hanging back.
”Impossible: there's no time for us both to escape undetected. I shall keep madame interested only long enough for you to get away. But take this”--and he pressed his automatic into her hand. ”No--take it; I've another,” he lied, ”and you may need it. Don't fear for me, but go--O my heart!--go!”
The footfalls of Madame Omber were sounding dangerously near, and without giving the girl more opportunity to protest, Lanyard closed the windows, shot the latch and stole like a cat round the farther side of the desk, pausing within a few feet of the screen and safe.
The desk-lamp was still burning, where the girl had left it behind the cinnabar screen; and Lanyard knew that the diffusion of its rays was enough to render his figure distinctly and immediately visible to one entering the doorway.
Now everything hung upon the temper of the house-holder, whether she would take that apparition quietly, deceived by Lanyard's mumming into believing she had only a poor thievish fool to deal with, or with a storm of bourgeois hysteria. In the latter event, Lanyard's hand was ready planted, palm down, on the top of the desk: should the woman attempt to give the alarm, a single bound would carry the adventurer across it in full flight for the front doors.
In the doorway the mistress of the house appeared and halted, her quick bright eyes s.h.i.+fting from the light on the floor to the dark figure of the thief. Then, in a stride, she found a switch and turned on the chandelier, a blaze of light.
As this happened, Lanyard cowered, lifting an elbow as though to guard his face--as though expecting to find himself under the muzzle of a revolver.
The gesture had the calculated effect of focussing the attention of the woman exclusively to him, after one swift glance round had shown her a room tenanted only by herself and a cringing thief. And immediately it was made manifest that, whether or not deceived, she meant to take the situation quietly, if in a strong hand.
Her eyes narrowed and the muscles of her square, almost masculine jaw hardened ominously as she looked the intruder up and down. Then a flicker of contempt modified the grimness of her countenance. She took three steps forward, pausing on the other side of the desk, her back to the doorway.
Lanyard trembled visibly....