Part 46 (2/2)

On Rebekah's outcry all set to search wood, path, river--she was gone; but after five minutes a voice a long way off in the wood, singing:

”O what a pretty place, And what a graceful city....”

on which the two youths flew toward the sound, and presently the rest, following, heard a shout, a cry, then silence, till one of the young men came running back, his face washed in blood: he had seen some forms, and, as he had approached, been struck on the brow, his brother felled.

When all came to where the brother lay insensible, no sign of Margaret; nor could villagers and police, searching through the night, find her.

She had gone without surprise with her four captors, who had carried her to a cottage of boarded-up windows: and the same hour Hogarth had the news.

The next morning the four received detailed instructions at the village _poste restante_: the lady-attendant at the cottage was to ask the prisoner if she would go to London, try to persuade her, and, if she consented, make her sign pledge of honour (enclosed) to go without any attempt at escape during three days.

The men were surprised: for that Margaret was deranged they had seen at once, and supposed that the Regent must know it: what, then, could her pledge do? Their business, however, was to obey: and when Margaret was asked: ”Will you go quietly to the Palace in London with us?” she answered: ”Yes!” and sang:

”Here we go to London-town: Tri-de-laddie! Tri-de-laddie!

See the King with his golden crown, Tri-de-laddie, O!”

By noon the Abrahams and Rebekah were being tugged out of harbour, to the hand-wavings and G.o.d-speeds of seven emigrant-boats by the quay; but it was not till five that the Regent's emissaries could obtain a special train on the thronged lines; and not till after seven did they arrive with Margaret at the Palace-gates.

Now, that night the Lord Regent and the Prince of Wales were attending a banquet at the Guildhall, given in honour of sea-rent reduction on British s.h.i.+ps, and at the moment when Margaret arrived Hogarth, already _en route_, thinking of Rebekah, muttered: ”By now she is here!”

But since Frankl, on getting news of the disappearance of Margaret, had at once conjectured the hand of Hogarth, as Margaret was being handed from the cab at the Palace-gates, she saw two terrible eyes, and, s.n.a.t.c.hing her hand free, flew screaming down the street--eyes of Frankl, who, conjecturing that hither she would be brought, had taken stand there half the afternoon, knowing precisely the effect upon her of the sight of his face; and said he: ”You see, you haven't got her yet--though you _shall_ have her to your heart's content....”

As she could only run southward or northward, he had posted two motor-cars, one containing a clerk to south, the other Harris, to north, so that, as she ran, one or other should catch her, hustle her in, and dash away.

In fact, she ran north, right into the arms of Harris, her surprised guardians still ten yards behind; and ”Quick!” hissed Harris, ”come with me, or 'e'll 'ave you!” and was off with her.

Upon which Frankl drove to the Market Street house, where he found Harris and Margaret; and again, with screams, she sought to fly, though her first terrors gave place to a quiet subservience after some minutes of his presence.

”Oh Lawd!” said Harris, ”she started singing in the car, you know. Sing me songs of Araby, it _is_. Enough to give anybody the sicks”.

”You see this gentleman here?” said Frankl to Margaret.

”Yes”, she whispered: ”oh my!”

”Well, it so happens that very likely you are going to live in the same house as him--a big Palace with all gold and silver, where the King with his crown lives, and all. So while you are there, I want you to be his friend as if it was myself, and do everything he tells you, same as myself, in fact. Do you see?”

”Yes”, she whispered, her large form towering above Frankl's, yet awe of him widening her eyes.

”What's your name?” said he.

”My name is Rachel Oppenheimer”, said she.

”All right: come up and dress”.

She followed him up to a back room, where was a lamp, a gla.s.s, etc., and on an old settee evening-dress complete, shoes, roses, head-wrap.

”Now”, said Frankl, leaving her, he, too, in evening-dress, ”I give you ten minutes to rig yourself out in that lot: a second more, and you catch it”.

And in fifteen minutes they two were in a cab, _en route_ for the Guildhall, Frankl, who had invitations for himself and daughter, saying: ”You understand? you keep your eye fixed upon me the whole time--never mind about eating--and when I hold up my finger _so_, you rise and give them a little song....”

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