Part 3 (1/2)
The loneliness of the upper deck offered its attractions to the Mauravanian and to Margot, and in the emptiness of it they met again--within earshot of the lifeboat where Narkom and the boy lay hidden--for one brief word before they went ash.o.r.e.
”So, you have read: you understand how useless it was?” the Mauravanian said, joining her again at the deckhouse, where she stood with the crumpled newspaper in her hand. ”His Majesty's purse cannot be lightened of all that promised sum for any such bungle as this. Speak quickly; where may we go to talk in safety? I cannot risk it here--I will not risk it in the train. Must we wait until we reach Paris, mademoiselle? Or have you a lair of your own here?”
”I have 'lairs,' as you term them, in half the cities of France, Monsieur le Comte,” she answered with a vicious little note of resentment in her voice. ”And I do not work for nothing--no, not I! I paid for my adherence to his Majesty's Prime Minister and I intend to be paid for my services to his Majesty's self, even though I have this once failed. It must be settled, that question, at once and for all--now--to-night.”
”I guessed it would be like that,” he answered, with a jerk of his shoulders. ”Where shall it be, then? Speak quickly. They are making the landing and I must not be seen talking with you after we go ash.o.r.e. Where, then?”
”At the Inn of the Seven Sinners--on the Quai d'Lorme--a gunshot distant. Any cocher will take you there.”
”Is it safe?”
”All my 'lairs' are safe, monsieur. It overhangs the water. And if strangers come, there is a trap with a bolt on the under side. One way: to the town and the sewers and forty other inns. The other: to a motor boat, always in readiness for instant use. You could choose for yourself should occasion come. You will not find the place shut--my 'lairs' never are. A pa.s.sword? No, there is none--for any but the Brotherhood. Nor will you need one. You remember old Marise of the 'Twisted Arm' in Paris? Well, she serves at the Seven Sinners now. I have promoted Madame Serpice to the 'Twisted Arm'.
She will know you, will Marise. Say to her I am coming shortly. She and her mates will raise the roof with joy, and--la! la! The gangway is out. They are calling all ash.o.r.e. Look for me and my lads close on your heels when you arrive. Au revoir.”
”Au revoir,” he repeated, and slipping by went below and made his way ash.o.r.e.
She waited that he might get well on his way--that none might by any possibility a.s.sociate them--then turning, went down after him and out to the pier, where her crew were already forgathering; and when or how she pa.s.sed the word to them that it was not Paris to-night but the Inn of the Seven Sinners, neither Narkom nor Dollops could decide, close as they came on after her, for she seemed to speak to no one.
”No Inn of the Seven Sinners for you to-night, my lady, if my friend M. Ducroix has attended to that wireless message properly,” muttered Narkom as he followed her. ”Look sharp, Dollops, and if you see a Sergeant de Ville let me know. They've no luggage, that lot, and, besides, they are natives, so they will pa.s.s the customs in a jiffy. Hullo! there goes that pedler chap--and without his fez or his draperies, b'gad! Through the customs like a flash, the bounder!
And there go the others, too. And she after them--she, by James! G.o.d!
Where are Ducroix and his men? Why aren't they here?”--looking vainly about for some sign of the Chief of Police. ”I can't do anything without _him_--here, on foreign soil. Why in heaven's name doesn't the man come?”
”Maybe he hasn't had time, guv'ner--maybe he wasn't on hand when the message arrived,” hazarded Dollops. ”It's not fifteen minutes all told since it was dispatched. So if----”
”There she goes! there she goes! Pa.s.sed, and through the customs in a wink, the Jezebel!” interposed Narkom, in a fever of excitement, as he saw Margot go by the inspector at the door and walk out into the streets of the city. ”Lord! if she slips me now----”
”She shan't!” cut in Dollops, jerking down his hat brim and turning up his collar. ”Wait here till the cops come. I'll nip out after her and see where she goes. Like as not the cops'll know the place when you mention it; but if they don't--watch out for me; I'll come back and lead 'em.”
Then he moved hurriedly forward, pa.s.sed the inspector, and was gone in a twinkling.
For ten wretched minutes after he, too, had pa.s.sed the customs and was at liberty to leave, Narkom paced up and down and fretted and fumed before a sound of clanking sabres caught his ear and, looking round, he saw M. Ducroix enter the place at the head of a detachment of police. He hurried to him and in a word made himself known.
”Ten million pardons, m'sieur; but I was absent when the message he shall be deliver,” exclaimed Ducroix in broken English. ”I shall come and shall bring my men as soon as he shall be receive. M'sieur, who shall it be this great criminal you demand of me to arrest? Is he here?”
”No, no. A moment, Ducroix. Do you know a place called the Inn of the Seven Sinners?”
”Perfectly. It is but a stone's throw distant--on the Quai d'Lorme.”
”Come with me to it, then. I'll make you the most envied man in France, Ducroix: I'll deliver into your hands that witch of the underworld, Margot, the Queen of the Apaches!”
Ducroix's face lit up like a face transfigured.
”M'sieur!” he cried. ”That woman? You can give me that woman? You know her? You can recognize her? But, yes, I remember! You shall have her in your hands once in your own country, but she shall slip you, as she shall slip everybody!”
”She won't slip _you_, then, I promise you that!” said Narkom.
”Reward and glory, both shall be yours. I have followed her across the channel, Ducroix. I know where she is to be found for a certainty. She is at the Inn of the Seven Sinners. Just take me there and I'll turn the Jezebel over to you.”
Ducroix needed no urging. The prospect of such a capture made him fairly beside himself with delight. In twenty swift words he translated this glorious news to his men--setting them as wild with excitement as he was himself--then with a sharp, ”Come, m'sieur!” he turned on his heel and led the breathless race for the goal.