Part 54 (1/2)
”Twenty.”
”Good night, sir.”
”Fifty.”
”Good night and good morning!”
”A hundred!”
”Now you've got me interested. What kind of a joy ride do you want?”
”No joy ride. Listen.”
Briefly the conspirator outlined his needs, and finally the chauffeur nodded. Five twenties were pressed into his hand and he curled up in his seat again.
Servan entered his box. In the box next to his sat a handsomely gowned young woman. He threw her an idle glance, which was repaid in kind.
Later, Braine came in and sat down beside Olga.
”Everything looks like plain sailing,” he whispered.
Olga shrugged slightly.
During the intermission between the first and second acts, Servan took the rear chair of his box, near the curtains. Braine, watching with the eyes of a lynx, suddenly observed the curtains stirring. A hand was thrust through. In that hand was a packet of papers. With seeming indifference Servan reached back and took the papers, stowing them away in a pocket.
Braine rose at the beginning of the second act.
”Where are you going?” asked Olga nervously.
”To see Otto.”
A bold attempt was made to rob Servan while in the box, but the timely arrival of Jim frustrated this plan. So Braine was forced to rely on the chauffeur of the limousine.
As Farrar's last thrilling note died away Braine and Olga rose.
”Be careful. And come to the apartments just as soon as you can.”
”I'll be careful,” Braine declared easily. ”You can watch the play if you wish.”
When Servan entered the limousine he was quietly but forcibly seized by two men who had been lying in wait for him, due to the apparent treachery of the chauffeur. Servan fought valiantly, for all that he knew what the end of this exploit was going to be. One of the men succeeded in getting the doc.u.ments from Servan's pocket.
”Done, my boy!” cried the victor. ”Give him a crack on the coco and we'll beat it.”
”Just a minute, gentlemen!” said a voice from the seat at the side of the chauffeur. ”I'll take those papers!” And the owner of the voice, backed by a cold, sinister-looking automatic, reached in and confiscated the spoils of war. ”And I shouldn't make any attempt to slip out by the side door.”
”Thanks, my friend,” said Servan, shaking himself free from his captors.
”Don't mention it,” said Norton amiably. ”We thought something like this would happen. Keep perfectly quiet, you chaps. Drive on, chauffeur; drive on!”
”Yes, my lord! To what particular police station shall I head this omnibus?”