Part 44 (1/2)

”I am exceedingly sorry to hear it,” Laverick answered. ”In that case, I will call again when Mademoiselle Idiale has recovered.”

”By all means, my dear sir!” Mr. La.s.sen exclaimed. ”Many times, let us hope. But in the meantime, there is a little affair of a doc.u.ment which you were going to deliver to Mademoiselle. She is most anxious that you should hand it to me--most anxious. She will tender you her thanks personally, tomorrow or the next day, if she is well enough to receive.”

Laverick shook his head firmly.

”Under no circ.u.mstances,” he declared, ”should I think of delivering the doc.u.ment into any other hands save those of Mademoiselle Idiale.

To tell you the truth, I had not fully decided whether to part with it even to her. I was simply prepared to hear what she had to say.

But it may save time if I a.s.sure you, Mr. La.s.sen, that nothing would induce me to part with it to any one else.”

There was no trace left of that ingratiating smile upon Mr. La.s.sen's face. He had the appearance now of an ugly animal about to show its teeth. Laverick was suddenly on his guard. More adventures, he thought, casting a somewhat contemptuous glance at the physique of the other man. He laid his fingers as though carelessly upon a small bronze ornament which reposed amongst others on a table by his side. If Mr. La.s.sen's fat and ugly hand should steal toward his pocket, Laverick was prepared to hurl the ornament at his head.

”I am very sorry to hear you say that, Mr. Laverick,” La.s.sen said slowly. ”I hope very much that you will see your way clear to change your mind. I can a.s.sure you that I have as much right to the doc.u.ment as Mademoiselle Idiale, and that it is her earnest wish that you should hand it over to me. Further, I may inform you that the doc.u.ment itself is a most incriminating one. Its possession upon your person, or upon the person of any one who was not upon his guard, might be a very serious matter indeed.”

Laverick shrugged his shoulders.

”As a matter of fact,” he declared, ”I certainly have no idea of carrying it about with me. On the other hand, I shall part with it to no one. I might discuss the matter with Mademoiselle Idiale as soon as she is recovered. I am not disposed--I mean no offence, sir--but I may say frankly that I am not disposed even to do as much with you.”

Laverick rose to his feet with the obvious intention of leaving.

La.s.sen followed his example and confronted him.

”Mr. Laverick,” he said, ”in your own interests you must not talk like that,--in your own interests, I say.”

”At any rate,” Laverick remarked, ”my interests are better looked after by myself than by strangers. You must forgive my adding, Mr. La.s.sen, that you are a stranger to me.”

”No more so than Mademoiselle Idiale!” the little man exclaimed.

”Mademoiselle Idiale has given me certain proof that she knew at least of the existence of this doc.u.ment,” Laverick answered. ”She has established, therefore, a certain claim to my consideration.

You announce yourself as Mademoiselle Idiale's deputy, but you bring me no proof of the fact, nor, in any case, am I disposed to treat with you. You must allow me to wish you good afternoon.”

La.s.sen shook his head.

”Mr. Laverick,” he declared, ”you are too impetuous. You force me to remind you that your own position as holder of that doc.u.ment is not a very secure one. All the police in this capital are searching to-day for the man who killed that unfortunate creature who was found murdered in Crooked Friars' Alley. If they could find the man who was in possession of his pocket-book, who was in possession of twenty thousand pounds taken from the dead man's body and with it had saved his business and his credit, how then, do you think?

I say nothing of the doc.u.ment.”

Laverick was silent for a moment. He realized, however, that to make terms with this man was impossible. Besides, he did not trust him. He did not even trust him so far as to believe him the accredited envoy of Mademoiselle.

”My unfortunate position,” Laverick said, ”has nothing whatever to do with the matter. Where you got your information from I cannot say. I neither accept nor deny it. But I can a.s.sure you that I am not to be intimidated. This doc.u.ment will remain in my possession until some one can show me a very good reason for parting with it.”

La.s.sen beat the back of the chair against which he was standing with his clenched fist.

”A reason why you should part with it!” he exclaimed fiercely. ”Man, it stares you there in the face! If you do not part with it, you will be arrested within twenty-four hours for the murder or complicity in the murder of Rudolph Von Behrling! That I swear! That I shall see to myself!”

”In which case,” Laverick remarked, ”the doc.u.ment will fall into the hands of the English police.”

The shot told. Laverick could have laughed as he watched its effect upon his listener. Mr. La.s.sen's face was black with unuttered curses. He looked as though he would have fallen upon Laverick bodily.

”What do you know about its contents?” he hissed. ”Why do you suppose it would not suit my purpose to have it fall into the hands of the English police?”