Part 39 (1/2)

”Shall you be here all day, Mr. Dory?” he asked. ”There's just a word or two I should like to have with you.”

Dory turned away. He had forced himself, in the excitement of the moment, to speak to his ancient enemy, but in this hour of his humility the man's presence was distasteful to him.

”I am not sure,” he said, shortly. ”It depends on how things may turn out.”

The daily life at Clenarvon Court proceeded exactly as usual. Breakfast was served early, as there was to be big day's shoot. The Marquis de Sogrange and Peter Ruff smoked their cigarettes together afterwards in the great hall. Then it was that Peter Ruff took the plunge.

”Marquis,” he said, ”I should like to know exactly how I stand with you--the 'Double-Four,' that is to say--supposing I range myself for an hour or so on the side of the law?”

Sogrange smiled.

”You amuse yourself, Mr. Ruff,” he remarked genially.

”Not in the least,” Peter Ruff answered. ”I am serious.”

Sogrange watched the blue cigarette smoke come down his nose.

”My dear friend,” he said, ”I am no amateur at this game. When I choose to play it, I am not afraid of Scotland Yard. I am not afraid,” he concluded, with a little bow, ”even of you!”

”Do you ever bet, Marquis?” Peter Ruff asked.

”Twenty-five thousand francs,” Sogrange said, smiling, ”that your efforts to aid Mr. John Dory are unavailing.”

Peter Ruff entered the amount in his pocketbook. ”It is a bargain,” he declared. ”Our bet, I presume, carries immunity for me?”

”By all means,” Sogrange answered, with a little bow.

The Marquis beckoned to Lord Sotherst, who was crossing the hall.

”My dear fellow,” he said, ”do tell me the name of your hatter in London. Delions failed me at the last moment, and I have not a hat fit for the ceremony to-morrow.”

”I'll lend you half-a-dozen, if you can wear them,” Lord Sotherst answered, smiling. ”The governor's sure to have plenty, too.”

Sogrange touched his head with a smile.

”Alas!” he said. ”My head is small, even for a Frenchman's. Imagine me--otherwise, I trust, suitably attired--walking to the church to-morrow in a hat which came to my ears!”

Lord Sotherst laughed.

”Scotts will do you all right,” he said. ”You can telephone.”

”I shall send my man up,” Sogrange determined. ”He can bring me back a selection. Tell me, at what hour is the first drive this morning, and are the places drawn yet?”

”Come into the gun-room and we'll see,” Lord Sotherst answered.

Peter Ruff made his way to the back quarters of the house. In a little sitting-room he found the man he sought, sitting alone. Peter Ruff closed the door behind him.

”John Dory,” he said, ”I have come to have a few words with you.”

The detective rose to his feet. He was in no pleasant mood. Though the telephone wires had been flas.h.i.+ng their news every few minutes, it seemed, indeed, as though the car which they had chased had vanished into s.p.a.ce.

”What do you want to say to me?” he asked gruffly.