Part 37 (2/2)

”For Heaven's sake come here at once. A terrible thing has happened.

I am beside myself with horror.

”HENRIETTE D'ARTELLE.”

The writer's distracted state of mind would account for any discrepancies in the handwriting; and I succeeded at the third or fourth attempt in producing something like a resemblance to her signature.

This letter I sent by James Perry; and with it another to General von Erlanger.

I gave him the address, ”Unter den Linden,” and wrote:--

”I shall probably be in great danger here at about eleven o'clock this morning. Will you be near this house at that time so that at need the servant who brings this may find you and bring you to me. You will please know nothing except that you have been asked to come to your former governess who is in trouble.

”Your friend who trusts in you, ”CHRISTABEL VON DRESCHLER.”

I told James to get an answer from his Excellency; and despatched him upon his errand at an hour which I calculated would bring Count Gustav to the house by about ten o'clock. I allowed an hour for the interview to reach the crisis to which I intended to work.

In the meanwhile, I told the elder Perry to drive to my own house and ascertain that all was well with Gareth.

Then I went into the room in which Colonel Katona had been and pulled down the blinds, closed the shutters and drew the curtains so that it should be as dark as possible; and coming out locked the door behind me and put the key in my pocket.

Having thus set matters in train I sat down and made an excellent breakfast, antic.i.p.ating considerable enjoyment from the little comedy I had designed.

I was going to fool Count Gustav and then anger and mystify him. He was, I knew, a dangerous person to play tricks with; but I had no cause to be afraid of him. I was quite prepared to be arrested, and I wished to lull his suspicions and foster his over-confidence.

Thinking things over, another point occurred to me. If the two Perrys remained in the house, they would be arrested with me. Therefore, when the father returned with the good news that all was well with Gareth, I sent him home at once and told him not to come back.

James Perry arrived just before ten o'clock. He brought me a very satisfactory a.s.surance that the General would do just as I asked; and said that the Count Gustav had told him he would come to the house immediately.

”Now, James, things are going to happen here this morning,” I said, explaining an idea which had occurred to me. ”I shall probably be arrested, and you will share that arrest if you are in the house. You are a very shrewd, quick-witted fellow, and you must manage not to be seen, but to remain near enough to the front of the house to hear a window broken. I may not be able to show myself at the window and signal to you; but I am sure to be able to manage to throw something through the window; and the moment you hear the crash of the gla.s.s, you are to fetch General von Erlanger to me, and then hurry off to my house.”

I calculated that it would be a very simple matter for me to pretend to fly into a pa.s.sion at the moment of any crisis, and to so work myself up that it would seem a natural enough thing for me to hurl something solid at Gustav and, missing him, to break the window. Hooked round for a suitable missile, and selected a very solid gla.s.s ink bottle.

Count Gustav kept his word and arrived a few minutes after I had sent James Perry away. I had left the front door partly open, so that he might not have to ask for Madame d'Artelle; and he walked right in, tried the door of the room I had locked, and then entered that where I was waiting for him.

His surprise at seeing me was complete. Had I been a ghost, he could not have stared at me in greater amazement.

”Good-morning, Count Gustav, I am glad you have come.”

”Where is Madame d'Artelle?” he asked, very sharply.

”It is scant courtesy not to return my greeting. You are probably so surprised as to forget your manners. You had better find her for yourself,” and affecting irritation, I turned away and picked up a book.

”Good-morning, Miss--what name shall I use now?” he replied with a sneer.

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