Part 31 (2/2)
I convinced him. I represent those measures!”
”But the matter can be arranged,” Major Jones insisted, with a little shudder, ”I am perfectly certain it can be arranged. Mr. Ruff, you are not an ordinary police officer--I am sure of that. Give me a chance of having an interview with Sir Richard before anything more is done.
I will satisfy him, I promise you that. Why, if we leave the place together like this, every one here will get to know about it!”
”Be reasonable,” Peter Ruff answered. ”Of course everyone will get to know about it! Blackmailing cases always excite a considerable amount of interest. Your photograph will probably be in the Daily Mirror tomorrow or the next day. In the meantime, I must trouble you to pay your respects to Mrs. Bognor and to come with me.”
”To Sir Richard's house?” Major Jones asked, eagerly.
”To the police-stations,” Peter Ruff answered.
Major Jones did not rise. He sat for a few moments with his head buried in his hands.
”Mr. Ruff,” he said hoa.r.s.ely, ”listen to me. I have been fortunate lately in some investments. I am not so poor as I was. I have my check-book in my pocket, and a larger balance in the bank now than I have ever had before. If I write you a check for, say, a hundred--no, two!--five!” he cried, desperately, watching Peter Ruff's unchanging face--”five hundred pounds, will you come round with me to Sir Richard's house in a hansom at once?”
Peter Ruff shook his head.
”Five thousand pounds would not buy your liberty from me, Major Jones,”
he said.
The man became abject.
”Have pity, then,” he pleaded. ”My health is not good--I couldn't stand imprisonment. Think of what it means to a man of my age suddenly to leave everything worth having in life just because he may have imposed a little on the generosity of a friend! Think how you would feel, and be merciful!”
Peter Ruff shook his head slowly. His face was immovable, but there was a look in his eyes from which the other man shrank.
”Major Jones,” he said, ”you ask me be merciful. You appeal to my pity.
For such as you I have no pity, nor have I ever shown any mercy. You know very well, and I know, that when once the hand of the law touches your shoulder, it will not be only a charge o' blackmail which the police will bring against you!”
”There is nothing else--nothing else!” he cried. ”Take half my fortune, Mr. Ruff. Let me get away. Give me a chance--just a sporting chance!”
”I wonder,” Peter Ruff said, ”what chance that poor old lady in Weston had? No, I am not saying you murdered her. You never had the pluck. Your confederate did that, and you handled the booty. What were the initials inside that ring you showed us to-night, Major Jones?”
”Let me go to my bedroom,” he said, in a strange, far-away tone. ”You can come with me and stand outside.”
Peter Ruff a.s.sented.
”To save scandal,” he said, ”yes!”
Three flights of stairs they climbed. When at last they reached the door, the trembling man made one last appeal.
”Mr. Ruff,” he said, ”have a little mercy. Give me an hour's start--just a chance for my life!”
Peter Ruff pushed him in the door.
”I am not a hard man,” he said, ”but I keep my mercy for men!”
He took the key from the inside of the door, locked it, and with the key in his pocket descended to the drawing-room. The young lady who had sat on Major Jones's right was singing a ballad. Suddenly she paused in the middle of her song. The four people who were playing bridge looked up.
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