Part 57 (1/2)

”You were kind enough to give me one of your cards,” I reminded him.

”Why, yes, to be sure; so I did--so I did.” Again he paused and gazed at me with a sort of incredulous amazement. ”You must have nerves of steel, sir. Most men in such a situation would have been paralysed with terror.”

The idea of Sir George paralysing anybody with terror struck me as so delightful that I almost burst out laughing, but by a great effort I just managed to restrain myself.

”As an escaped convict,” I said, ”one becomes used to rather desperate situations.”

Lammersfield, the corner of whose mouth was twitching suspiciously, broke into the conversation.

”It was a remarkable coincidence,” he said, ”but you see how it confirms Cas.e.m.e.nt's story if any further confirmation were needed.”

Sir George nodded. ”Yes, yes,” he said. ”I suppose there can be no doubt about it. The proofs of it all seem beyond question.” He turned to me. ”Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Lyndon, you appear to have acted in a most creditable and patriotic manner. I understand that the moment you discovered the nature of the plot in which you were involved you placed yourself entirely at the disposal of the Secret Service. That is right, Mr. Latimer, is it not?”

Latimer stepped forward. ”If Mr. Lyndon had chosen to do it, sir,” he said, ”he could have sold his invention to Germany and escaped with the money. At that time he had no proof to offer that he had been wrongly convicted. Rather than betray his country, however, he was prepared to return to prison and serve out his sentence.”

As an accurate description of my att.i.tude in the matter it certainly left something to be desired, but it seemed to have a highly satisfactory effect upon Sir George. He took a step towards me, and gravely and rather pompously shook me by the hand.

”Sir,” he said, ”permit me to congratulate you both on your conduct and on the dramatic establishment of your innocence. It will be my pleasant duty as Home Secretary to see that every possible reparation is made to you for the great injustice that you have suffered.”

Lammersfield, who had gone back to his seat at the table, again interrupted.

”You agree with me, don't you, Frinton, that, pending any steps you and the Prime Minister choose to take in the matter, Mr. Lyndon may consider himself a free man?”

Sir George seemed a trifle embarra.s.sed. ”Well--er--to a certain extent, most decidedly. I have informed Scotland Yard that he has voluntarily surrendered himself to the Secret Service, so there will be no further attempt to carry out the arrest. I--I presume that Mr.

Cas.e.m.e.nt and Mr. Latimer will be officially responsible for him?”

The former gave a rea.s.suring nod. ”Certainly, Sir George,” he observed.

”I am entirely in your hands, sir,” I put in. ”There are one or two little things I wanted to do, but if you prefer that I should consider myself under arrest--”

”No, no, Mr. Lyndon,” he interrupted; ”there is no necessity for that--no necessity at all. Strictly speaking, of course, you are still a prisoner, but for the present it will perhaps be best to avoid any formal proceedings. I understand that both Lord Lammersfield and Mr.

Cas.e.m.e.nt consider it advisable to keep the whole matter as quiet as possible, at all events until the return of the Prime Minister. After that we must decide what steps it will be best to take.”

”I am very much obliged to you,” I said. ”There is one question I should like to ask if I may.”

He took off his spectacles and polished them with his pocket-handkerchief. ”Well?” he observed encouragingly.

”I should like to know whether Savaroff's daughter is in custody--the girl who gave the police their information about me.”

”Ah!” he said, with some satisfaction, ”that is a point on which you all appear to have been misled. I have just enlightened Mr. Cas.e.m.e.nt in the matter. The information on which the police acted was not supplied by a girl.” He paused. ”It was given them by your cousin and late partner, Mr. George Marwood.”

”What!” I almost shouted; and I heard Tommy indulge in a half-smothered exclamation which was not at all suited to our distinguished company.

Sir George, who was evidently pleased with our surprise, nodded his head.

”Mr. Marwood rang up Scotland Yard at half-past ten last night. He told them he had received an anonymous letter giving two addresses, at one of which you would probably be found. He also gave a full description of the alterations in your appearance.”

I turned to Latimer. ”I suppose it was Sonia,” I said. ”I never dreamed of her going to him, though.”

”It was very natural,” he replied in that unconcerned drawl of his.

”She knew that your cousin would do everything possible to get you under lock and key again, and at the same time she imagined she would avoid the risk of being arrested herself.”