Part 15 (2/2)

With tottering steps I approached the door, only to find, as I expected, that it was locked. I looked at the skylight above my head and reflected that by placing a chair on the chest of drawers it might be possible to reach it; in my present weak state, however, such a feat was out of the question. Even this brief inspection of my surroundings taxed my strength severely, and I accordingly once more laid myself down to rest.

I had one source of comfort, however. Captive though I was, I should at least be able to solve a problem which the great world had given up as hopeless. In other words I should be able to fathom the mystery that surrounded the disappearance of General Woller, of the Colonial Secretary, and also of the Commander-in-Chief. I should know something of the members of that power which had for so long a time past been exercising its malignant influence upon England. The unfortunate part of it was that when I had obtained the knowledge it would be of no use to me.

All this time the feeling of hunger, to which I have already alluded, was gradually growing stronger; imprisonment was bad enough in its way, but imprisonment combined with starvation was intolerable. Unable at last to bear it any longer, I rose from my bed, and beat upon the door with my fists in the hope of attracting attention. Loud, however, as was the noise I made, it elicited no response. The house might have been deserted for all the answer I received. I beat upon the panels again and again, continuing my efforts until I was exhausted. Still no attention rewarded me. At last, tired out by my efforts, I returned to my bed and sat down upon it. I had scarcely done so, before the sound of footsteps in the corridor on the other side of the door reached my ears. A key was placed in the lock and turned, the door opened, and a man entered the room.

It would be difficult for me to express the surprise I felt at seeing him. You will be in a position to realize something of my feelings, when I say that the man before me was no less a person than the impoverished music-master I had seen appealing to the Countess de Venetza in the Park, and whom I had offered to help. That I was not deceived I was quite certain. I should have known him anywhere by reason of his extraordinary dark eyes and hair.

”Good afternoon, monsieur,” he said in French, with an a.s.surance that showed me he was aware of my familiarity with that language. ”What may I have the pleasure of doing for you?”

His calm insolence surprised me. I had expected rough treatment, possibly abuse; to be a prisoner and yet to be treated with such elaborate politeness was not at all what I had pictured for my portion.

”I desire to be set at liberty at once,” I replied, with as much firmness as I could muster up. ”If you have had a hand in this business, which it seems only right to suppose, let me inform you that it is likely to prove an expensive amus.e.m.e.nt for you. What treatment you may afterwards receive at my hands will be estimated by the expedition you show in releasing me.”

”I sincerely trust, monsieur, that no violence has been used towards you,” he said. ”The instructions were merely to bring you here with as little inconvenience to yourself as possible. You may rest a.s.sured that if those instructions have not been complied with, the offenders will be punished. In the meantime, perhaps it is possible that I can be of some service to you?”

”You can provide me with food,” I answered angrily; ”and, since my watch has stopped, perhaps you will be good enough to tell me the time.”

”I will do so with pleasure,” he said. ”If Monsieur will permit me, I will arrange that dinner shall be served at once; at the same time I will inform him as to the state of the clock.”

Having said this he bowed and left me.

Ten minutes or so later I again caught the sound of footsteps in the corridor, the key was turned in the lock, and the door opened. This time he carried in his hand a tray, upon which were set out the various necessaries for a meal. He laid the table in silence, and then again withdrew. When next he returned he brought with him a number of covered dishes, and, what was more, an ice-bucket, in which stood a bottle of champagne.

”I trust Monsieur will find everything to his satisfaction,” he said, as he removed the covers. ”If the cooking is not exactly what Monsieur has a right to expect, perhaps he will remember the inconveniences under which we are labouring. Should he need anything further, there is a bell, which Monsieur has not noticed, beside the fire-place, and the summons will be instantly obeyed.”

”But, my good fellow,” I cried, ”this sort of thing is all very well in its way, you know, but----”

”If Monsieur will take my advice, he will dine before his food gets cold,” the man replied. ”The kitchen is in the bas.e.m.e.nt; the viands have, therefore, been already some time upon the road.”

I saw that it was useless to argue, or to attempt to extract any information from him. I accordingly allowed him to bow himself out without further words. When he had gone, and the door had been locked behind him, I approached the table and lifted the covers. On the first dish was a pheasant roasted to a nicety; the potato chips were exquisitely crisp, the bread-crumbs just what they should be.

”It is very evident that they do not intend to starve me,” I said to myself as I drew up my chair. ”If ever I get out of this mess, what a tale I shall have to tell! Last night the guest of the Countess de Venetza at Wilts.h.i.+re House: to-night the guest of----well, of whom? Can it be possible that this is the head-quarters of a secret society, and that my unfortunate friends are concealed in it?”

This should have afforded me food for reflection, but, strangely enough, it did not interfere with my enjoyment of the meal. I could not remember ever to have tasted so delicious a bird. Never before had I drunk champagne with such a keen appreciation of its delicacy. When at last I put down my knife and fork I was a different man, and was able to look my affairs in the face with a greater amount of equanimity than I had yet felt.

By this time night was drawing in and very soon it would be dark. I accordingly rang my bell in order that the table might be cleared. The summons was answered with a sufficient promptness to suggest the idea that the man who had brought the meal to me had been waiting outside.

”I trust his dinner has been to Monsieur's satisfaction,” he said, as he placed the various articles upon the tray.

”Upon that score I have no fault to find,” I replied. ”And now perhaps you will be kind enough to let me have a little talk with you?”

”It will give me the greatest pleasure to talk with Monsieur, provided he does not touch upon forbidden subjects,” he answered. ”Should he do that, my lips will be immediately sealed.”

”I have yet to find out what those forbidden subjects are,” I said, affecting a coolness I was far from feeling. ”I presume you mean with regard to my detention here?”

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