Part 15 (2/2)

Von Hemelstein wavered no longer. From what Edestone told him, he argued that the inventor must have left his instrument with some of his subordinates, probably Black and Stanton, and relied upon them to protect it; and it stung him to think that the American should believe a German officer would falter at such odds--a couple of electricians, mere Yankee artisans.

”Yes,” he growled hoa.r.s.ely. ”I accept your terms. It is a bargain.”

”On your honour?”

”On my word of honour as a Prussian officer and a gentleman.”

”Well, then, hurry up and open this door. It is getting stifling in here; and, besides, Rebener will be growing anxious about me.”

”But, first, your information. Where is the instrument?”

”Oh, the instrument?” It was now Edestone's turn to laugh. ”Why, that is lying on the floor under the table in Mr. Rebener's dining-room. I dropped it there, when I came out to answer your telephone call, and I also gave instructions to the sentries on guard at the door of the apartment to shoot any one who attempted to pa.s.s in or out during my absence. You are doubtless a brave man, but I do not think you are prepared to tackle a whole company of British cavalry.

”And now,” he concluded, ”I have kept to my bargain. Will you kindly open the door?”

A muttered German imprecation, like a snarl of baffled chagrin, was his only answer. But a moment later the door to his booth swung open, and he was free.

As he stepped out, he found the lights in the room turned on, and the man at the switchboard gone. He also noticed that the door to the adjoining booth was shaking, as if someone had just jerked it open and had pa.s.sed out hurriedly, and, as he came out into the corridor, he thought he glimpsed the figure of a man hastily disappearing down the staircase. So far as any other evidence went, except for his wilted collar and heaving lungs, the whole experience might have been a dream.

He returned quietly to the dinner table, and stooping over, as if to pick up his napkin, recovered the instrument and slipped it into his trousers pocket.

”Lord Denton” and ”Karlbeck” kept staring at him with puzzled, almost incredulous faces.

”Did you find your friend on the wire?” finally ventured ”Lord Denton,” leaning across the table toward him.

”No; it was another gentleman speaking for him,” smiled Edestone, ”a mere visitor to England like myself. I took the liberty of asking him to join us, but he declined. He is, I fancy, leaving the country very shortly--probably going to Berlin.”

A little gasp from behind him caused him to turn in his seat. It came from the hotel proprietor who, entering the room by the rear door, stood rooted in amazement at the sight of Edestone, his jaw dropping, his eyes as big as saucers.

Edestone regarded him a moment; then turned to his host.

”What silly-looking waiters you have in this hotel, Rebener,” he said.

”That fellow yonder doesn't appear to have brains enough to be even a German spy.”

The real waiter, overhearing this compliment to his employer, clapped his hand over his mouth and dived for the pantry, just managing to get through the swinging door before he exploded.

The self-satisfied Bombiadi also overheard, and although he endeavoured to appear unconscious, a dull red flush crept up over his cheeks, and after s.h.i.+fting for a moment from one foot to the other, he left the room.

”Lord Denton” and ”Karlbeck” exchanged glances out of the corners of their eyes; and Rebener, although he made out to grin at the speech, s.h.i.+fted a little uneasily in his chair.

But Edestone, who, under his quiet exterior, possessed a rather mischievous spirit, was not yet through with them.

”As I was saying when I was called to the telephone,” he leaned across the table toward the _incognito_ Royal Duke, ”the desire of Your Royal Highness--pardon me, I mean, of 'Lord Denton'--is of course to see England victorious in this contest; but that may mean years of fighting and an appalling loss of men and money. Such true patriots as yourself and 'Mr. Karlbeck' must see that it would be far better to end the war now, provided that a lasting peace can be ensured, and that I think I can guarantee with my discovery. I should be delighted, therefore, to co-operate with you gentlemen to that end, and if you would advocate the proposition that England allow me to go to Berlin with something to show that she is willing to enter into _pour parlers_, I shall bring pressure to bear on Germany to make some liberal answer.”

”Lord Denton,” however, seemed no longer interested in the matter, and was unable to concentrate his attention; while ”Mr. Karlbeck” made no attempt to hide the fact that he was disgusted gusted with the evening, and wished to see it end as soon as possible.

Rebener, seeing his dinner a failure, although not quite understanding the cause, like many a nervous host compelled to face a tableful of distinguished guests who do not hesitate to show that they are bored, did the silliest thing possible under the circ.u.mstances, and drank more than he should.

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