Part 25 (2/2)

”I hardly know whether to regard that strange man, Severac Bablon, as a friend or a foe,” she said. ”He certainly seems to confine his outrages to those who have plenty but object to spending it.”

”Except on themselves! He's a friend right enough, Mary. I believe he is anxious to reveal all these rich people in a new light, to whitewash them. If only they would change their ideas and do some good with their money, I don't think they would be troubled any more by Severac Bablon.

You never hear of Mr. Elschild being robbed by him--nor any of the family suffering in any way.”

”Mr. Elschild received one of the mysterious cards, and he has sent a big cheque to the _Gleaner_ fund.”

”He has to keep up appearances, Mary, don't you see? But it is certain that he sent the money quite voluntarily. He did not wait to be squeezed. I wish Pa would come to his senses. If, instead of spending a small fortune on private detectives, he would start to use his money for good, he would have no further need for the Pinkerton men. Certainly he would not be made to buy airs.h.i.+ps for England!”

A smile dawned upon Lady Mary's face.

”Isn't it preposterous!” she said. ”The idea of raising money for such a purpose from people like Baron Hague!”

”Baron Hague left for Berlin this morning. We shall probably never know under what circ.u.mstances he issued his cheque for fifty thousand pounds!

Doesn't it seem just awful, with all this money floating about, that poor Sir Richard is nearly stranded for quite a trifle!”

”Oh, it is dreadful! And I can see no way out.”

”No,” murmured Zoe. ”Yet there must be a way.”

She walked to the window, and stood looking out thoughtfully upon the Embankment far below.

What a strange, complex drama moved about her! It was impossible even to determine for what parts some of the players were cast. Where, she wondered, was Inspector Sheffield now? And where was Severac Bablon? So far as she was aware, both were actually in the Astoria. There was something almost uncanny in the elusiveness of Severac Bablon. His disdain of all attempts to compa.s.s his downfall betokened something more than bravado. He must _know_ himself immune.

Why?

If what he had rather hinted than declared were true--and never for a moment did she doubt his sincerity--then his accomplices, his friends, his subjects (she knew not how to name them), must be numberless. Was she, herself, not of their ranks?

Of the thousands who moved beneath her, upon trams, in cabs, in cars, on foot, how many were servants of that mysterious master? It was fascinating, yet terrifying, this inside knowledge of a giant conspiracy, of which, at that moment, the civilised world was talking.

Mary Evershed's voice broke in upon her musing:

”Come along, Zoe. We shall never be back in time for lunch if we don't hurry.”

They descended in the lift and walked out to where Mr. Oppner's big car awaited them. A moment later, as the man turned out into the Strand, Sheard pa.s.sed close by upon the pavement. He raised his hat to the two pretty travellers. Clearly, he was bound for the Astoria.

And a few yards further on, un.o.btrusively walking behind a very large German tourist, appeared the person of Mr. A. X. Alden.

”Why!” whispered Zoe. ”I believe he is following Mr. Sheard.”

Her surmise was correct. The astute Mr. Alden had found himself at a loss to account for some of the exclusive items respecting the doings of Severac Bablon which latterly had been appearing in the _Gleaner_. By dint of judiciously oiling the tongue of a chatty compositor, he had learned that the unique copy was contributed by Mr. H. T. Sheard. Mr.

Oppner had advised him to keep a close watch upon the movements of Mr.

Antony Elschild. Although Alden found it hard to credit the idea that the great Elschild family should be in any way a.s.sociated with the campaign of brigandage, Mr. Oppner was more open-minded.

Now Alden, too, was beginning to wonder. There seemed to be a friends.h.i.+p between Elschild and the pressman; and Sheard, from some source evidently unopen to his fellow copy-hunters, obtained much curious information anent Severac Bablon. One of Alden's American colleagues accordingly was devoting some un.o.btrusive attention to whomsoever came and went at the Elschild establishment in Lombard Street, whilst Alden addressed himself to the task of shadowing Sheard.

When the latter walked into the lobby of the Astoria, Mr. Alden was not far away.

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