Part 31 (1/2)

”They threaten me,” said Wethermill. ”They give me a month to restore the money. Otherwise there will be disgrace, imprisonment, penal servitude.”

Helene Vauquier walked calmly on. No sign of the intense joy which she felt was visible in her face, and only a trace of it in her voice.

”Monsieur will, perhaps, meet me to-morrow in Geneva,” she said. And she named a small cafe in a back street. ”I can get a holiday for the afternoon.” And as they were near to the villa and the lights, she walked on ahead.

Wethermill loitered behind. He had tried his luck at the tables and had failed. And--and--he must have the money.

He travelled, accordingly, the next day to Geneva, and was there presented to Adele Tace and Hippolyte.

”They are trusted friends of mine,” said Helene Vauquier to Wethermill, who was not inspired to confidence by the sight of the young man with the big ears and the plastered hair. As a matter of fact, she had never met them before they came this year to Aix.

The Tace family, which consisted of Adele and her husband and Jeanne, her mother, were practised criminals. They had taken the house in Geneva deliberately in order to carry out some robberies from the great villas on the lake-side. But they had not been fortunate; and a description of Mme. Dauvray's jewellery in the woman's column of a Geneva newspaper had drawn Adele Tace over to Aix. She had set about the task of seducing Mme. Dauvray's maid, and found a master, not an instrument.

In the small cafe on that afternoon of July Helene Vauquier instructed her accomplices, quietly and methodically, as though what she proposed was the most ordinary stroke of business. Once or twice subsequently Wethermill, who was the only safe go-between, went to the house in Geneva, altering his hair and wearing a moustache, to complete the arrangements. He maintained firmly at his trial that at none of these meetings was there any talk of murder.

”To be sure,” said the judge, with a savage sarcasm. ”In decent conversation there is always a reticence. Something is left to be understood.”

And it is difficult to understand how murder could not have been an essential part of their plan, since---But let us see what happened.

CHAPTER XVI

THE FIRST MOVE

On the Friday before the crime was committed Mme. Dauvray and Celia dined at the Villa des Fleurs. While they were drinking their coffee Harry Wethermill joined them. He stayed with them until Mme. Dauvray was ready to move, and then all three walked into the baccarat rooms together. But there, in the throng of people, they were separated.

Harry Wethermill was looking carefully after Celia, as a good lover should. He had, it seemed, no eyes for any one else; and it was not until a minute or two had pa.s.sed that the girl herself noticed that Mme. Dauvray was not with them.

”We will find her easily,” said Harry.

”Of course,” replied Celia.

”There is, after all, no hurry,” said Wethermill, with a laugh; ”and perhaps she was not unwilling to leave us together.”

Celia dimpled to a smile.

”Mme. Dauvray is kind to me,” she said, with a very pretty timidity.

”And yet more kind to me,” said Wethermill in a low voice which brought the blood into Celia's cheeks.

But even while he spoke he soon caught sight of Mme. Dauvray standing by one of the tables; and near to her was Adele Tace. Adele had not yet made Mme. Dauvray's acquaintance; that was evident. She was apparently unaware of her; but she was gradually edging towards her. Wethermill smiled, and Celia caught the smile.

”What is it?” she asked, and her head began to turn in the direction of Mme. Dauvray.

”Why, I like your frock--that's all,” said Wethermill at once; and Celia's eyes went down to it.

”Do you?” she said, with a pleased smile. It was a dress of dark blue which suited her well. ”I am glad. I think it is pretty.” And they pa.s.sed on.

Wethermill stayed by the girl's side throughout the evening. Once again he saw Mme. Dauvray and Adele Tace. But now they were together; now they were talking. The first step had been taken. Adele Tace had sc.r.a.ped acquaintance with Mme. Dauvray. Celia saw them almost at the same moment.