Part 46 (1/2)

He locked them in, walked down the pa.s.sage and opened the door of Louise's bedchamber with fingers that trembled a little. With a smothered oath he cut the cord from the arms of the maid and the gag from her mouth. Louise, clad in a loose afternoon gown, was lying upon the bed, as though asleep. Bellamy saw with an impulse of relief that she was breathing regularly.

”This is La.s.sen's work, of course!” he exclaimed. ”What have they done to her?”

The maid spoke thickly. She was very pale, and unsteady upon her feet.

”It was something they put in her wine,” she faltered. ”I heard Mr.

La.s.sen say that it would keep her quiet for three or four hours. I think--I think that she is waking now.”

Louise opened her eyes and looked at them with amazement. Bellamy sat by the side of the bed and supported her with his arm.

”It is only a skirmish, dear,” he whispered, ”and it is a drawn battle, although you got the worst of it.”

She put her hand to her head, struggling to remember.

”Mr. Laverick has been here?” she asked.

”He has. Your friend La.s.sen has been taking a hand in the game. I came here to find you like this and Annette tied up. Henri is in with him. What has become of your other servants I don't know.”

”Henri asked for a holiday for them,” she said, the color slowly returning to her cheeks. ”I begin to understand. But tell me, what happened when Mr. Laverick came?”

”I can only guess,” Bellamy answered, ”but it seems that La.s.sen must have received him as though with your authority.”

”And what then?” she asked quickly.

”I am almost certain,” Bellamy declared, ”that Laverick refused to have anything to do with him. I received a wire from Dover to say that you were on your way home, and asking me to meet you at the Lord Warden Hotel. I borrowed Montresor's racing-car, but I sent telegrams, and I was pretty soon on my way back. When I arrived here, I found La.s.sen in your little room with a broken head.

Evidently Laverick and he had a scrimmage and he got the worst of it. I have searched him to his bones and he has no paper. Laverick brought it here, without a doubt, and has taken it away again.”

She rose to her feet.

”Go and let La.s.sen out,” she said. ”Tell him he must never come here again. I will see him at the Opera House to-night or to-morrow night--that is, if I can get there. I do not know whether I shall feel fit to sing.”

”I shall take the liberty, also,” remarked Bellamy, ”of kicking Henri out.”

Louise sighed.

”He was such a good servant. I think it must have cost our friend Streuss a good deal to buy Henri. You will come back to me when you have finished with them?”

Bellamy made short work of his discomfited prisoners. La.s.sen was surly but only eager to depart Henri was resigned but tearful.

Almost as they went the other servants began to return from their various missions. Bellamy went back to Louise, who was lying down again and drinking some tea. She motioned Bellamy to come over to her side.

”Tell me,” she asked, ”what are you going to do now?”

”I am going to do what I ought to have done before,” Bellamy answered.

”Laverick's connection with this affair is suspicious enough, but after all he is a sportsman and an Englishman. I am going to tell him what that envelope contains--tell him the truth.”

”You are right!” she exclaimed. ”Whatever he may have done, if you tell him the truth he will give you that doc.u.ment. I am sure of it.

Do you know where to find him?”