Part 42 (1/2)

'”What did they want here, anyway?” said Walen; and Mankeltow says, ”We can't leave them in the open. Some one'll come. Carry 'em to Flora's Temple.”

We toted 'em again and laid 'em out on a stone bench. They were still dead in spite of our best attentions. We knew it, but we went through the motions till it was quite dark. 'Wonder if all murderers do that?

”We want a light on this,” says Walen after a spell. ”There ought to be one in the machine. Why didn't they light it?”

'We came out of Flora's Temple, and shut the doors behind us. Some stars were showing then--same as when Cain did his little act, I guess.

I climbed up and searched the machine. She was very well equipped, I found two electric torches in clips alongside her barometers by the rear seat.

'”What make is she?” says Mankeltow.

'”Continental Renzalaer,” I says. ”My engines and my Rush Silencer.”

'Walen whistles. ”Here--let me look,” he says, and grabs the other torch. She was sure well equipped. We gathered up an armful of cameras an' maps an' note-books an' an alb.u.m of mounted photographs which we took to Flora's Temple and spread on a marble-topped table (I'll show you to-morrow) which the King of Naples had presented to grandfather Marshalton. Walen starts to go through 'em. We wanted to know why our friends had been so prejudiced against our society.

'”Wait a minute,” says Lord Lundie. ”Lend me a handkerchief.”

'He pulls out his own, and Walen contributes his green-and-red bandanna, and Lundie covers their faces. ”Now,” he says, ”we'll go into the evidence.”

'There wasn't any flaw in that evidence. Walen read out their last observations, and Mankeltow asked questions, and Lord Lundie sort o'

summarised, and I looked at the photos in the alb.u.m. 'J'ever see a bird's-eye telephoto-survey of England for military purposes? It's interestin' but indecent--like turnin' a man upside down. None of those close-range panoramas of forts could have been taken without my Rush Silencer.

'”I wish _we_ was as thorough as they are,” says Mankeltow, when Walen stopped translatin'.

'”We've been thorough enough,” says Lord Lundie. ”The evidence against both accused is conclusive. Any other country would give 'em seven years in a fortress. We should probably give 'em eighteen months as first-cla.s.s misdemeanants. But their case,” he says, ”is out of our hands. We must review our own. Mr. Zigler,” he said, ”will you tell us what steps you took to bring about the death of the first accused?” I told him. He wanted to know specially whether I'd stretched first accused before or after he had fired at Mankeltow. Mankeltow testified he'd been shot at, and exhibited his neck as evidence. It was scorched.

'”Now, Mr. Walen,” says Lord Lundie. ”Will you kindly tell us what steps you took with regard to the second accused?”

'”The man ran directly at me, me lord,” says Walen. ”I said, 'Oh no, you don't,' and hit him in the face.”

'Lord Lundie lifts one hand and uncovers second accused's face. There was a bruise on one cheek and the chin was all greened with gra.s.s. He was a heavy-built man.

'”What happened after that?” says Lord Lundie.

'”To the best of my remembrance he turned from me towards your lords.h.i.+p.”

'Then Lundie goes ahead. ”I stooped, and caught the man round the ankles,” he says. ”The sudden check threw him partially over my left shoulder. I jerked him off that shoulder, still holding his ankles, and he fell heavily on, it would appear, the point of his chin, death being instantaneous.”

'”Death being instantaneous,” says Walen.

'Lord Lundie takes off his gown and wig--you could see him do it--and becomes our fellow-murderer. ”That's our case,” he says. ”I know how _I_ should direct the jury, but it's an undignified business for a Lord of Appeal to lift his hand to, and some of my learned brothers,” he says, ”might be disposed to be facetious.”

'I guess I can't be properly sensitised. Any one who steered me out of that trouble might have had the laugh on me for generations. But I'm only a millionaire. I said we'd better search second accused in case he'd been carryin' concealed weapons.

'”That certainly is a point,” says Lord Lundie. ”But the question for the jury would be whether I exercised more force than was necessary to prevent him from usin' them.” _I_ didn't say anything. He wasn't talkin'

my language. Second accused had his gun on him sure enough, but it had jammed in his hip-pocket. He was too fleshy to reach behind for business purposes, and he didn't look a gun-man anyway. Both of 'em carried wads of private letters. By the time Walen had translated, we knew how many children the fat one had at home and when the thin one reckoned to be married. Too bad! Ya-as.

'Says Walen to me while we was reb.u.t.tonin' their jackets (they was not in uniform): ”Ever read a book called _The Wreckers_, Mr. Zigler?”

'”Not that I recall at the present moment,” I says.

'”Well, do,” he says. ”You'd appreciate it. You'd appreciate it now, I a.s.sure you.”