Speaker 1: The game played in the dark by Ernest Brammer. It's
a funny thing, Sir, said Inspector Beadle, regarding mister Carrados,
with the pensive respect that he always extended towards the
blind amateur. It's a funny thing, but nothing seems to
go on abroad. Are but what you'll find some trace
of it here in London if you take trouble to
look in the right quarter, contributed Carrados. Why yes, agreed
the inspector. But nothing comes of it nine times out
of ten, cause it thou wants particular business to look here.
All the thing's been taken up and finished from the
other end. I don't mean ordinary murders or single handed burglaries,
of course, but a modest ring of professional pride betrayed
the quiet enthusiast. We'll first class crimes the state Antonio
five percent bond coupons, suggested Cardos. Oh you're right, mister
Carandors Beadle shook his head sadly, as though perhaps on
that occasion someone ought to have looked. A man has
a fit in the Inquiry Office of the Agent General
for British Equatoria and two hundred and fifty thousand pounds
worth of fake securities is the result in Mexico. Then
look at that jade phil Fox charm pawn for one
and three down the basin, and the use that could
have been made of it at the Carkoff whichual murder
trial the West Hampstead had lost memory puzzle, and the
barry Per bomb conspiracy that might have been smothered if
one had known quite true, sir, and the three children
of that Chicago millionaire Cyrus V. Bunting, wasn't it kidnapped
him broad daylight outside the New York Lyric And here,
three weeks later the dumb girl who chalked the ball
at Charing Cross. The reading on in a financial article
that every piece of foreign gold had a string from
it leading to thread Needle Street A vigorous speech, so,
of course, but apt enough, I don't doubt well. It
seems to me that every big crime done abroad leaves
a finger print here in London, if only, as you say,
we look in the right quarter and at the right moment,
added Carrados, the time is often the present, the place,
the spot between our very noses. We take a step,
and the chance has gone forever the inspector nodded and
contributed a weighty monosterable of sympathetic agreement, the most prosaic
of men, in the pursuit of his ordinary duties. It
nevertheless subtly appealed to some half dormant streak of vanity
to have his profession taken romantically when there was no
serious work on hand. No, perhaps not for ever in
one case in a thousand, after all, amended the blind
man thoughtfully. This perpetual duel between the law and the
criminal has sometimes appeared to me in the terms of
a game of cricket. Inspector, Law is in the field,
the criminal at the wicked. If Law makes a mistake,
sends down a loose ball or drops a catch, the
criminal scores a little or has another lease of life.
But if he makes a mistake, if he lets a
straight ball pass or spoons towards a steady man, he's done.
For his mistakes are fatal. Those of the law are
only temporary and retrievable. Very good, Sir, said mister Beadle rising.
The conversation had taken place in the study at the Turrets,
where Beadle had found occasion to present himself very apt. Indeed,
I must remember that well, Sir, I hope that this
Guido the Razor Lot will send a catch in our direction,
that this delicately marked Inspector Beadle's instinctive contempt for Guido.
As a craftsman, he was compelled on his reputation to
respect him, and he had accordingly availed himself of Carrados's
friendship for a confabulation. As a man, he was a foreigner,
worse an Italian, and if left to his own resources,
the Inspector would have proposed, to his sinuous flexibility, those rigid,
essentially Britannia metal methods of the force that strike the
impartial observers so ponderous, so amateurish and conventional, and it
must be admitted, often so curiously and inexplicably successful. The
offense that had circuitously brought il Rasojo and his Lot
within the cognizance of Scotland Yard outlines the kind of
story that is discreetly hinted at by the society paragraphist
of the day, politely disbelieved by the astute reader, and
then at last laid indiscreetly bare in all its details
by the inevitable princessly recollections of a generation later. It
centered round an impending royal marriage in Vienna, a certain
jealous countess X. There you have the discretion of a
paragrapher and a document or two that might be relied
upon the aristocratic biographer will impartially sum up the contingencies
to play the deuce with the approaching nuptials. To procure
the evidence of these papers, the countess enlisted the services
of Guido, as reliable as scoundrel as she could probably
have selected for the commission to a certain point to
the abstraction of the papers. In fact, he succeeded, but
it was with pursuit close upon his heels. There was
that disadvantage of employing a rogue to do the work
that implicated roguery. For whatever moral right the countess had
to the property, her accomplice had no legal right whatever
to his liberty. On half a dozen charges, at least
he could be arrested on site in as many capitals
of Europe. He slipped out of Vienna by the Nord Barn,
with his destination known, resourcefully stopped the express outside Sasslau
and got away across to Khrudin. By this time the
game and the moves were pretty well understood in more
than one keenly interested quarter. Diplomacy supplemented justice, and the
immediate history of Guido became that of a fox hunted
from covert to covert, with all the familiar earths stopped
against him. From partu Bits, he passed on to Glatz,
reached Breslau, and went down the Odor to Schetin, out
of the liberality who his employer's advances, he had ample
funds to keep going, and he dropped and rejoined his
accomplices as the occasion ruled. A week's harrying found him
in Copenhagen, still with no time to spare, and he
missed his purpose. There. He crossed to Malmo by ferry,
took the connecting night train to Stockholm, and the same
morning sailed down the SATs Yon, ostensibly bound for Obo,
intending to cross the Ravow and so get back to
Central Europe by the less frequented routes. But in this
move again luck was against him, and receiving warning just
in time, and by the mysterious agency that had so
far protected him, he contrived to be dropped from the
steamer by boat among the islands of the crowded archipelago,
made his way to Helsingfor, and within forty eight hours
was back again on the Friehaven, with pursuit for the
moment blinked and a breathing time to the good. To
appreciate the exact significance of these wanderings, it is necessary
to recall the conditions. Guido was not zigzagging a course
across Europe in an aimless search for the picturesque, still
less inspired by any love of the melodramatic. To him,
every step was vital, each tangent or rebound, the necessary
outcome of his much badgered plans. In his pocket reposed
the papers for which he had run grave risks. The
price agreed upon for the service was sufficiently lavished to
make the risks worth taking time after time. But in
order to consummate the transaction, it was necessary that the
booty should be put into his employer's hand. Halfway across Europe.
That employer was waiting with such patience as she could maintain, herself,
watched and shadowed at every step. The Countess X was
sufficiently exalted to be personally immune from the high handed
methods of her country's secret service, but every approach to
her was tapped. The problem for Guido was to earn
a long enough respite to enable him to communicate his
position to the Countess, and for her to go to
reach him by her trusty hand. Then the whole fabric
of intrigue could fall to pieces. But so far Guido
had been kept successfully on the run, and in the
meanwhile time was pressing. They lost him after the utoler
Bedell reported in explaining the circumstances to Max Carrados. Three
days later they found that he had been back again
in Copenhagen, but by that time he'd flown. Now they're
without a trace except the inference of these orange peach
blossom agonies in the times. But the Countess has gone
hurriedly to Paris, and Lava Yard thinks it all points
to London. I suppose the Foreign Office is anxious to
oblige just now. I expect so, sir, agreed Bidell. But
of course my instructions don't come from that quarter. What
a be used to us is that it would be
a feather in our caps. They are still a little
sore up at the Yard about hands the piper naturally
assented Carrados, Well, I'll see what I can do. If
there's any real occasion, let me know anything, And if
you see your chance yourself, come round for a talk
if you like, on today's Wednesday. I shall be in
at any rate on Friday evening. Without being a precision,
the blind man was usually exact in such matters. There
are those who hold that an engagement must be kept
at all hazard, men who would miss a deathbed message
in order to keep literal faith with a beggar. Cardos
took lower, if more substantial ground. My word, he sometimes
had occasion to remark, is subject to contingencies, like everything
else about me. If I make a promise, it is
conditional on nothing which seems more important to rising to
counteract it. And that among men of sense is understood.
And as it happened, something did occur. On this occasion.
He was summoned to the telephone just before dinner on
Friday evening to receive a message personally greater X. His
secretary had taken the call, but came in to say
that the caller would give him nothing beyond his name, Bredna.
The name was unknown to Carrados, but such incidents were
not uncommon, and he proceeded to comply. Yes, he responded,
I am Max Cardoff speaking what is it? Oh, it's
you Sorr is it er? Mister Brickwill told me to
get to you direct. Well are you all right, Brickwill?
Are you the British Museum? Yes, yes, I am Brebner
in the Chaldean art department, the agreed stew here. We
just found out that some one has managed to get
access to the second inner Greek room and looted some
of the cabinets there. It's all a mystery as yet.
What is missing? Asked Cardos. It's so far we we
can only definitely speak of about the six trays of
Greek coins one hundred tow one hundred and twenty roughly important.
The line conveyed a caustic bark of tragic amusement. Why yes,
I should say so. The beggar seems to have known
his business, all fine specimens for the best period Syracuse
Misana croton amphipholis Eanese, the Vientos kimmons. The chief quite wept.
Carados groaned. There was not a peace among them that
he had not handled lovingly. What are you doing, he demanded.
Mister Brickwell has been to Scotland Yard and our advice.
We are not making it public as yet. We don't
want a hint of it to be dropped anywhere. If
you don't mind, sir, that will be all right. It
was for that reason that I was to speak with
you personally. We're notifying the chief dealers and likely collectors
to whom the coins or some of them may be
offered at once if it is thought. We haven't found
out yet. Judging from the expertness displayed in the selection,
we don't think there's any danger of the lot being
sold to a pawnbroker or metal dealer, so that we're
running very little real risk in not advertising the loss. Yes,
probably it is as well, replied Kardos. Is there anything
that mister Brickwell wishes me to do? Only this, sir.
If you are offered a suspicious lot of Greek coins,
or hear of them, would you have a look, I
mean ascertain whether they are likely to be ours, and
if you think they are, communicate with us in Scotland
Yard at once. Certainly, replied the blind man. Tell mister
Brickwall that he can rely on me. If any indication
comes my way, convey my regrets to him and tell
him that I feel the loss quite as a personal one.
I don't think that you and I have met as yet,
mister Brebner, No, sir, said the voice diffidently, But I
have looked forward to the pleasure. Perhaps it's unfor at
business will bring me an introduction. Your very kind was
Carrados's acknowledgment of the compliment. Any time, I was going
to say that, perhaps you don't know my weakness, but
I have spent many pleasant hours over your wonderful collection
that ensures the personal element. Good Bye. Carrados was really
disturbed by the loss, although his concern was tempered by
the reflection that the coins would inevitably, in the end
find their way back to the museum. That their restitution
might involve ransom to the extent of several thousand pounds
was the least poignant detail of the situation. The one
harrowing thought was that the booty might, through stress or ignorance,
find its way into the melting pot. That dreadful contingency,
remote but insistent, was enough to affect the appetite of
the blind enthusiast. He was expecting Inspector Beadle, who would
be full of his own case. But he could not
altogether dismiss the aspects of possibility that Brebner's communication opened
before his mind. He was still concerned with the chances
of destruction, and a very indifferent companion for Greater ex
who alone sat with him. When Parkinson presented himself. Dinner
was over, but Carrados had remained rather longer than his custom,
smoking his mild Turkish cigarette in silence. A lady wishes
to see you, sir. She said, you would not know
her name, but that her business would interest you. The
form of message was sufficiently unusual to take the attention
of both men. You don't know her, of course, Parkinson
inquired his master. For just a second, the immaculate Parkinson
seemed tongue tied. Then he delivered himself in his most
ceremonial strain. I regret to say that I cannot claim
the advantage, sir, he replied. Better let me tackle her, Sir,
suggested Greater X with easy confidence. It's probably a sub
The sportive offer was declined by a smile and a
shake of the head. Carrados turned to his attendant I
shall be in the study. Parkinson, show her there. In
three minutes you stay and have another cigarette greater X.
By that time she'll either have gone nor have interested me.
In three minutes time, Parkinson threw open the studied door.
The lady sir, he announced, Could he have seen Karados
would have received the impression of a plainly, almost dowdily
dressed young woman of buxom figure. She wore a light veil,
but it was ineffective in concealing the unattraction of the
face beneath. The features were fought, and the upper lip
darkened with the more than incipient mustache of the southern brunette.
The worse remained for a disfiguring rash had assailed patches
of her skin. As she entered. She swept the room
and its occupant with a quiet but comprehensive survey. Please
take a chair, madam, you wish to see me. The
ghost of a demure smile flickered about her mouth as
she complied, and in that moment her face seemed less uncomely.
Her eye lingered for a moment on a cabinet above
the desk, and one might have noticed that her eye
was very bright. Then she replied, you are Signor Carrados
in the person. Carrados made his smiling admission and changed
his position of fraction, possibly to catch her curiously pitched voice.
The better. They are great collector of the antiquities. I
do collect a little, he admitted guardedly. Though you will
forgive me, Signora, if my language is not altogether good.
And when I live at the Naples with my mother,
we let boardings her chiefly to English and American. Sir,
I pick up the words a bit, since I many
and gotti living Callaria. My English has gone nor read them. No,
you say an ARSTI yes, that is it, quite a rusty.
It is excellent, said Carrados. I am sure we shall
understand one another perfectly. The lady shot a penetrating glance,
but the blind man's expression was merely suave and courteous.
Then she continued, my husband is of the name of Raga,
Michhael Fraga. We have a vignyard and a little proverty
near Foranzanna. She paused to examine the tips of her
gloves for quite an appreciable moment. Signor, she burst out,
with some vehemence, the laws of my country are not
good at all from what I hear on all sides,
said Carrados, I am afraid that your country is not alone,
that is in Forranzana, poor laborer jia Verde of name,
continued the visitor, dashing volubly into her narrative. He is
a one day a digging in the vignyard, the vineyard
of my husband, when his spade strikes itself upon an abstraction.
AHAs is Yan, what have we here? And he goes
down upon his knees to see it is an oil
jar of rederta signor such as once anciently used, and
in it is filled with the silver money. Yan is poor,
but he is the wiser. Does he call upon the authorities?
And no, no, he understands that they are all corrupt.
He carries what he has found to my usband, for
he knows him to be a man of great honor.
My husband also is of brief decision. His mind is
made up, Yan, He says, keep your mouth shut, this
will be your ultimate profit. Yan understands, for he can't
trust my husband. He makes a sign of a mutual implication.
Then he goes back to the spade digging my osband,
and he understands a little of these things, but are
not enough. We go to the collections of messina and
apples and ifanoroma, and there we see other pieces of
silver manny similar and learn that they are of great value.
They are of different sizes, but most will covering clearer
and of the thickness of two And on one side,
imagine the great head of a peg and a deity,
none the other, nor so many things I cannot remember
what a gesture of circumferential despair indicated, the hopeless variety
of design A bigger or quadriga of mules suggested karadas,
an eagle carrying off a hair, a figure flying with
a wreath, a trophy of arms. Some of those perhaps
see is he man cried Madame farraja A. You understand
that I perceive a signor and we are very cautious,
for on a reside is extocon and an unjust law.
See it is even forbidden to take these things out
of the country. Yet if we try to dispose of
them at home, they will be seized and we punished.
A rare trestora robato, what you call tresure troven and
belonging to the state. These coins, which are the industry
of Yan discovered and which had learned for so long
in the ground of my husbands a vignyard. So you
brought them to England as he is in your It
is a spoken of us, a land of justice, and
a rich and nobility who buy these things at highest prices. Also,
my speaking a dittle of the language would serve us here.
I suppose you have the coins for disposal, then you
can show them to me. My husband retains them. I
will take you, but you must first give up para
pola do noorre of an English signor not to betray us, sir,
or to speak of the circumstances to another. Carrados had
already foreseen this eventuality and decided to accept it. Whether
a promise exacted on the plea of treasure Trove would
bind him to respect the despoilers of the British Museum
was a point for subsequent consideration. Prudence demanded that he
should investigate the offer at once, and to cavil over.
Madame Ferraja's conditions would be fatal to that object. If
the coins were as there seemed little reason to doubt
the proceeds of the robbery. A modest ransom might be
the safest way of preserving irreplaceable treasures, and in that
case Carrados could offer his services as the necessary intermediary.
I give you the promise you require, Madame, he accordingly declared.
It is soficiente assented, Madame. I will now take you
to the spot. It is necessary that you alone should
accompany me, For my husband is so distraught in the
country where he understands not a word of what is spoken,
that his poor spirit would cry, we are surrounded if
he thought tool strangers approached the house. Oh, he is
become most dreadful in his anxiety. My husband, imagine only
he keeps under fire a chuldron of molten lead, and
he would not hesitate to plunge into it at this
treasure and obliterate it existence, Sir, if he imagined himself endangered,
so speculated Karrados inwardly, a likely precaution for a simple
vine grower of Calabria. Very well, he assented aloud, I
will go with you alone. Where is the place? Madame
Vraja searched in the ancient purse that she discovered in
her rusty hand bag and produced a scrap of paper.
People do not understand sometimes my ear my way of
saying it. She explained, Sit dear Ingbourne, May, I said Karados.
Stretching out his hand. He took the paper and touched
the writing with his fingertiss. Oh, yes, seven Heronsbourne Place.
That is on the edge of Heronsbourne Park, is it not?
He transferred the paper casually to his desk as he
spoke and stood up. How did you come, Madame Ferrajes.
Madame Farage followed the curl of action with a discreet
smile that did not touch her voice. By a motor bus,
sir first to one and then another, inquiring at every turning,
Oh but it trous in Termindaubler sighed the lady. My
driver is off for the evening. I did not expect
to be going out, but I will phone up a
taxi and it will be at the gate as soon
as we are. He despatched the message, and then turning
to the house teller, switched on to Greater Ex. I
am just going round to Heronsbourne Park, he explained, don't
stay Greater X. But if anyone calls expecting to see me,
they can say that I don't anticipate being away more
than an hour. Parkinson was hovering about the hall with
quite novel officiousness. He pressed upon his master a succession
of articles that were not required. Over this usually complacent attendant,
the unattractive features of Madame Varraga appeared to exercise a
stealthy fascination. For a dozen times the lady detected his
eyes questioning her face, and a dozen times he looked
guiltily away again. But his incongruities could not delay for
more than a few minutes the opening of the door.
I do not accompany you, sir, he inquired, with the
suggestion plainly tendered in his voice. But it would be
much better if he did not this time. Parkinson very well, sir.
Is there any particular address which we can telephone in
case you are required? Sir? Mister greater X has instructions.
Parkinson stood aside, his resources exhausted. Madame Farage laughed a
little mockingly as they walked down the drive. Yon a man, sir,
venteth I may eat your signor Carrados, sir, she declared vivaciously. Carrados,
who held the key of his usually exact attendants perturbation,
for he himself had recognized in Madame Farrage the angelic
Nina Brun of the Sicilian Tetradram incident from the moment
she opened her mouth admitted to himself the humor of
her audacity. But it was not until half an hour
later that enlightenment rewarded Parkinson. Inspector Beadle had just arrived
and was speaking with greater x when the conscientious valet,
who had been winnowing his memory in solitude, broke in
upon them, more distressed than either had ever seen him
in his life before, and with the breathless introduction it
was the ears, Sir, I have her ears at last
poured out his tale of suspicion, recognition and his present fears.
In the meantime, the two objects of his concern had
reached the gate. As the summoned taxicab drew up. Seven
heronsbourn Place called carrados to the driver, and no No
interposed the lady with decision and let him stop out
the beginning of the street. Her it is not far
to walk, and my husband would be on the verge
of distraction if he thought in the dark that it
was the arrival of the police, who knows Black Edge Road,
opposite the end of Heron's Bourn Place amended Carrados. Heron's
Born Place had the reputation, among those who were curious
in such matters of being the most reclusive residential spot
inside the four mile circle. To earn that distant action,
it was needless to say a cul de sac. It
bounded one side of Heronsbourne Park, but did not, at
any point of its length give access to that pleasence.
It was entirely devoted to unostentatious little houses, something between
the villa and the cottage, some detached and some in pairs,
but all possessing the endowment of larger, more umbrageous gardens
than can generally be secured within the radius. The local
house agent described them as delightfully old world or completely modernized,
according to the requirement of the applicant. The cab was
dismissed at the corner, and Madame Farrage guided her companion
along the silent and deserted way. She had begun to
talk with renewed animation, but her ceaseless chatter only served
to emphasize the Carrados. The one fact that it was
contrived to disguise. I am not causing you to miss
the house with looking after me. Number seven, Madame Farage,
he interposed, No, certainly, she replied readily. It is a
little further. The numbers are from the upper winder, but
we are there. Cho She stopped at the gate and
opened it, still guiding him. They passed into a garden
moist and sweet, scented with distillate odors of a dewy evening.
As she turned to relatch the gate, the blind man
endeavored politely to anticipate her. Between them, his hat fell
to the ground. My clumsiness, he apologized, recovering it from
the step. My old impulses and my present helplessness, alas
Madame Perraja wonder Len's appuldance by experience, Sir, said Madame sagely.
She was scarcely to know, poor lady. But even as
she uttered this triteaphorism under cover of darkness and his hat,
mister Karados had just ruined his signaturing by blazoning a
golden seven upon her garden step, to establish its identity
if need be. A cul de sac that numbered from
the closed end seemed to demand some investigation. Seldom he
replied to her remark, but one goes on taking risks,
So we are there. Madame Farraga had opened the front
door with the natch key. She dropped the latch and
led Carados forward along the narrow hall. The room they
entered was at the back of the house, and from
the position of the road, it therefore overlook the park. Again,
the door was knocked behind them, they celebrated. Mister Ricard
does sir, announced Madame Farraga, with a sparkle of triumph
in her voice. She waved her hand towards a lean
dark man who had stood beside the door as they entered.
And my asbander beneath our poor Ruth in the most
fraternal manner, commented the dark man in the same derisive spirit.
But it is wonderful, the even more celebrated Monsieur Danpierre.
Unless I am mistaken, retorted Carrados, blandly, I bow on
our first real meeting, you knew, exclaimed the Danpierre of
the earlier incident. Incredulously, Stoker, you were right, and I
owe you a hundred lira. Who recognized unina ma? How
should I know? Demanded the real Madame Danpierre. Crossly this
blind man himself. By chance, you pay a poor compliment
to your charming wife's personality to imagine that one could
forget her so soon. Put in Carrados, and you are
Frenchman Danpierre. You knew Monsieur Carrados, and yet you ventured here.
You are either a fool or a hero an enthusiast.
It is the same as both interposed. The lady, what
did I tell you? What does it matter? If he
ignized you see, surely you exaggerate, Monsieur Danpierre contributed Carrados.
I may yet pay tribute to your industry. Perhaps I
regret the circumstance and the necessity, but I am here
to make the best of it. Let me see the
things Madame has spoken of, and then we can consider
the detail of their price, either for myself or on
behalf of others. There was no immediate reply. From Don Pierre.
Came a saturnine chuckle, and from Madame Danpierre a titter
that accompanied a grimace. For one of the rare occasions
in his life, Cardos found himself wholly out of touch
with the atmosphere of the situation. Instinctively, he turned his
face towards the other occupant of the room, the man
addressed as Stoker, whom he knew to be standing near
the window. This unfortunate business has brought me an introduction,
said a familiar voice. For one dreadful moment, the universe
stood still round Carrados. Then, with the crash and grind
of overwhelming mental tumult, the whole stratagy revealed itself, like
the sections of a gigantic puzzle, falling into place before
his eyes. There had been no robbery at the British Museum.
That plausible concoction was as fictitious as the intentionally transparent
tale of treasure Trove. Carrados recognized now how ineffective the
one device would have been without the other in drawing him,
how convincing the two together, and whilst smarting at the
humiliation of his plight, he could not restrain a dash
of admiration at the ingenuity, the accurately conjectured line of
inference of the plot. It was again the familiar artifice
of the cunning pitfall, masked by the clumsily contrived trap
just beyond it and straightway into it. He had blundered,
And this continued the same voice is Carrados, Max Carrados,
on whose perspicuity a government only the present government, emmy
injustice say, depends to outwit the undesirable alien. My country,
oh my country? Is it really, Monsieur Carrados, inquired Dompierre
in polite sarcasm. Are you sure, Nina that you have
not brought a man from Scotland yard instead? Maaster, he
is here. What more do you want? Do not mark
the poor, sightless and gentlemen? Answered Madame Dompierre in doubtful sympathy.
That's exactly what I was wondering, ventured Carrados mildly. I
am here. What more do you want? Perhaps you, mister Stoker,
excuse me. Stoker is a mere colloquial appellation based on
a trifling incident of my career in connection with the
disabled Liner. The title illustrates the childish weakness of the
criminal classes for nicknames, together with their pitiable baldness invention.
My real name is A Montmorency, mister Carrados, Eustace Montmorency.
Thank you, mister Montmorency, said Carrados gravely. We are on
opposite sides of the table here to night. But I
should be proud to have been with you in the
stokehold of the Benvenuto. That was pleasure, muttered the Englishman.
This is business, oh quite so, agreed Carrados. So far
I am not exactly complaining, but I think it is
high time to be told. And I addressed myself to
you why I have been decoyed here? And what your
purpose is? Mister Montmorency turned to his accomplice Dampierre. He remarked,
with great clearness, why the devil is mister Carrados kept standing?
Oh oh heaven, exclaimed Madame Danpierre with tragic resignation, and
flung herself down on a couch. A scoozy grinned the
lean man, and with burlesque grace, he placed a chair
for their guest's acceptance. Your curiosity is natural, continued mister Montmorency,
with a cold eye towards Dompierre's antics. Although I rarely
think that by this time you ought to have guessed
the truth. In fact, I don't doubt that you have guessed,
mister Carrados, and that you are only endeavoring to gain
time for that reason, because it will perhaps convince you
that we have nothing to fear. I don't mind obliging
you better, Ason, murmured Dompierre uneasily. Thank you, Bill, said
the Englishman, with genial effrontery. I won't fail to report
your intelligence to the rassujour. Yes, mister Carrados, as you
have already conjectured, it is the affair of the Countess
X to which you owe this inconvenience. You will appreciate
the compliment that underlies your temporary seclusion. I'm sure. When circumstance,
chance has favored our plans and London became the inevitable
place of meeting you and you alone stood in the way.
We guessed that you would be consulted, and we frankly
feared your intervention. You were consulted. We know that Inspector
Beadle visited you two days ago, and he has no
other case in hand. Your quiescence for just three days
had to be obtained at any cost. So here you are,
I see, assented Carrados. And having got me here, how
do you propose to keep me? Of course, that detail
has received consideration. In fact, we secured this furnished house
solely with that in view. There are three courses before us.
The first quite pleasant hangs on your acquiescence. The second,
more drastic, comes into operation if you decline the third.
But really, mister Cardoss, I hope you wonn't obliged me
even to discuss the third. You will understand that it
is rather objectionable for me to contemplate the necessity of
two able bodied men having to use even the smallest
amount of physical compulsion to one who is blind and helpless.
I hope you will be reasonable and accept the inevitable.
The inevitable is the one thing that I invariably accept,
replied Carradoss. What does it involve? You will write a
note to your secretary explaining that what you have learned
at seven Heron's born Place makes it necessary for you
to go immediately abroad for a few days. And, by
the way, mister Carradoss, although this is Heron's born place,
it is not number seven. Dear dear me, sighed the
prisoner you seem to have had me at every turn,
Mister Montmorency an obvious precaution, the wider course of giving
you a different street. Altogether, we reject it as being
too risky in getting you here to continue to give
conviction to the message. You will direct your man Parkinson
to follow by the first boat train tomorrow with all
the requirements for a short stay, and to put up
at Mascots as usual, waiting your arrival there and very convincing, agreed, Karados,
Where shall I be in reality in a charming though
rather isolated bungalow on the south coast. Your wants will
be attended to. There's a boat you can row or fish.
You will be run down by motor car and brought
back to your own gate. It's really very pleasant for
a few days. I've often stayed there myself. Your recommendation
carries way to suppose, for the sake of curiosity, that
I decline. You will still go there, but your treatment
will be commensurate with your behavior. The car to take
you is at this moment waiting in a convenient spot
on the other side of the park. We shall go
down the garden at the back, cross the park and
put you in the car. Anyway, And if I resist,
the man whose pleasantry it had been to call himself
Eustace Montmorency shrugged his shoulders. Don't be a fool, he said, tolerantly.
You know who you are. Dealing with, and the kind
of risks we run. If you call out or endanger
us at a critical point, we shall not hesitate to
silence you effectively. The blind man knew that it was
no idle threat. In spite of a cloak of humor
and fantasy thrown over the proceedings. He was in the
power of coolly desperate men. The window was curtained and
shuttered against sight and sound. The door behind him locked.
Possibly at that moment a revolver threatened him. Certainly, weapons
lay within reach of both his keepers. Tell me what
to write, he asked, with capitulation in his voice. Don
Pierre twirled his mustachios in relieved approval. Madame laughed from
her place on the couch and picked up a book,
watching Montmorency over the cover of its pages. As for
that gentleman, he masked his satisfaction by the practical business
of placing on the table before Carrados. The accessories of
the letter put into your own words the message that
I outline just now, perhaps are to make it altogether natural.
I had better write on a page of the notebook
that I always use, suggested Carrados. Do you wish to
make it natural, demanded Montmorency, with latent suspicion. If the
miscarriage of your plan is to result in my head
being not, yes, I do, was the reply. Good chuckled Dompierre,
and sought to avoid mister Montmorenc's cold glance by turning
on the electric table lamp for the blind man's benefit.
Madame Dompierre laughed shrilly. Thank you, monsieur, said Cardos, you
have done quite right. What is like you is warmth
to me, heat, energy, inspiration. Now to business. He took
out the pocket book he had spoken of and leisurely
proceeded to flatten it down upon the table before him,
as his tranquil, pleasant eyes ranged the room. Meanwhile, it
was hard to believe that the shutters of an impenetrable
darkness lay between them and the world. They rested for
a moment on The two accomplices who stood beyond the
table picked out Madame Danpierre, lolling on the sofa to
his right, and measured the proportions of the long, narrow room.
They seemed to note the positions of the window at
the one end and the door almost at the other,
and even to take into account the single pendent electric light,
which up till then had been the sole illuminant. You
prefer pencil, asked Montmorency. I generally use it for casual purposes,
but not, he added, touching the point critically like this,
alert for any sign of retaliation. They watched him take
an insignificant penknife from his pocket and begin to trim
the pencil. Was there in his mind any mad impulse
to force conclusions with that puny weapon. Don Pierre worked
his face into a fiercer expression and touched reassuringly the
handle of his knife. Montmorency looked on for a moment,
and then, whistling softly to himself, turned his back on
the table and strolled towards the window, avoiding Madame Nina's
pursuant eye. Then, with overwhelming suddenness, it came, and its
form altogether unexpected. Carrados had been putting the last strokes
to the pencil, whittling it down upon the table. There
had been no hasty movement, no violent act to give
them warning. Only the little blade had pushed itself nearer
and nearer to the electric light cord lying there, and
suddenly and instantly the room was plunged into absolute darkness
to the door. Tom shouted Montmorency in a flash. I'm
at the window. Don't let him pass, and we are
all right. I am here, replied Don Pierre from the door.
He will not attempt to pass. Came the quiet voice
of Carrodors from across the room. You are now all
exactly where I want you. You are both covered. If
either moves an inch, I fire, and remember that I
shoot by sound, not sight. But but what does it mean,
stammered Montmorency, above the despairing wail of Madame Don Pierre.
It means that we are now on equal terms, three
blind men in a dark room. The numerical advantage that
you possess is counterbalance by the fact that you are
out of your element. I am in mine, dom, whispered
Montmorency across the dark space. Strike a match I have none.
I would not, Don Pierre, if I were, you, advised
Carados with a short laugh, it might be dangerous. At once,
his voice seemed to leap into a passion. Drop that
match box, he cried. You are standing on the brink
of your grave, you fool. Drop it, I say, let
me hear it fall a breath of thought, almost too
short to call a pause. Then a little thud of
surrender sounded from the carpet by the door. The two
conspirators seemed to hold their breath. That's right, the clacid
voice once more resumed its sway. Why cannot things be agreeable?
I hate to have to shout, but you seem far
from grasping the situation. Yet, remember that I do not
take the slightest risk. Also, please remember, mister Montmorency, that
the action, even of a hair trigger automatic, scrapes slightly
as it comes up. And remind you of that for
your own good, Because if you are so ill advised
to think of trying to pot me in the dark,
that noise gives me a fifth of a second's start.
Of you were any chance know Zinghi's in Mercer Street
the shooting gallery, asked mister Montmorency, A little sulkany the same,
If you happen to come through this alive and are interested,
you might ask Zinghi to show you a target of
mine that he keeps seven shots at twenty yards, the
target indicated by four watches, none of them so loud
as the one you are wearing. He keeps it as
a curiosity. I wear no watch, muttered Dompierre, expressing his
thought aloud. No, Monsieur Danpierre, but you wear a heart,
and that's not on your sleeve, said Carrados. Just now
it is quite as loud as mister Montmorence's watch. It
is more central too. I shall not have to allow
any margin. That's right. Breathe naturally for the unhappy Danpierre
had given a gasp of apprehension. It does not make
any difference to me. And after a time holding one's breath,
because I am really painful, monsieur, declared Dampierre earnestly. There
was no intention of submitting you injury. I swear this
englishman did but speak within his act, and the most
extreme you would have been but bound and gagged. Take care.
Killing is a dangerous game for you, not for me,
was the bland rejoinder. If you kill me, you will
be hanged for it. If I kill you, I shall
be honorably acquitted. You can imagine seeing the sympathetic court,
the recital of your villainies, the story of my indignities. Then,
with stumbling feet and groping hands, the helpless blind man
is led forward to give evidence sensation. No, no, it
isn't really fair, but I can kill you both with
absolute certainty, and Providence will be saddled with all the responsibility.
Please don't fidget with your feet, Monsieur Danpierre. I know
that you aren't moving, but one is liable to make
mistakes before or I die, said Montmorency, and for some
reason laughed unconvincingly in the dark before I die, mister Carrados,
I should really like to know what has happened to
the light that surely isn't Providence. Would it be ungenerous
to suggest that you are trying to gain time? You
ought to know what has happened. But as it may
satisfy you that I have nothing to fear from delay,
I don't mind telling you. In my hand was a
sharp knife, contemptible. You were satisfied as a weapon. Beneath
my nose the flex of the electric lamp. It was
only necessary for me to draw the one across the other,
and the system was short circuited. Every lamp on that
fuse is cut off, and in the distributing box in
the hall you will find a burned out wire. You perhaps,
but Monsieur Dantierre's experience in plaiting ought to have put
him up to simple electricity. How did you know that
there is a distributing box? In all? Asked dom? With
dull resentment, My dear Dampierre, why beat the air with
futile questions, replied Max Carrados. What does it matter? Have
it in the cellar if you like? True, interposed Montmorency.
The only thing that need concern us now, but it
is in the all nine feet high, muttered Dompierre in bitterness.
Yet he this blind man, the only thing that need
concern us, repeated the Englishman, severely ignoring the interruption. Is
what you intend doing in the end, mister Carrados. The
end is a little difficult to foresee, was the admission.
So far? I am all for maintaining the status quo.
Will the first gray light of morning find us still
in this impasse? No, For between us we have condemned
the room to eternal darkness. Probably about daybreak Dompierre will
drop off to sleep and roll against the door. Aye,
unfortunate mistaking his attention will send a bullet through. Pardon, madame,
I should have remembered, But pray don't mouse a protest, monsieur,
don't protest, just sit still. Very likely it will be
mister Montmorency who will fall off to sleep the first.
After all, then we will anticipate that difficulty, said the
one in question, speaking with renewed decision. We will play
the last hand with our cards upon the table. If
you like Nina, mister Carrados will not injure you. Whatever happens.
Be sure of that when the moment comes, you will
rise one word put in cardos with determination. My position
is precarious, and I take no risks. As you say,
I cannot injure Madam Danpierre and you two men are
therefore my hostages for her good behavior. If she rises
from the couch, you Dompierre fall. If she advances another step,
mister Montmorency follows, you do nothing, rash Curissima urged her
husband with passionate solicitude. You might get hit in place
of me. We will yet find a better way. You
dare not, mister Karados flung out Montmorency for the first time,
beginning to show signs of wear in this duel of
the temper, He dare not. Don Pierre in cold blood
and unprovoked. No jury would acquit you another who fails
to do you justice. Madam Nina, said the blind man,
with ironic gallantry. The action might be a little high handed,
one admits, But when you appropriately clothed and in your
right complexion, stepped into the witness box, and I said,
gentlemen of the jury, what is my crime that I
made Madame Danpierre a widow? Can you doubt their gratitude
and my acquittal? Truly, my countrymen are not all bats
or monks. Madame Dompierre was breathing with perfect freedom now,
while from the couch came the sounds of stifled emotion.
But whether the lady was involved in a paroxysm of
sobs or of laughter, it might be difficult to swear.
It was perhaps an hour after the flourish of the
introduction with which Madame dan Pierre had closed the door
of the trap upon the blind man's entrance. The minutes
had passed, but the situation remained unchanged, though the ingenuity
of certainly two of the occupants of the room had
been tormented into shreds to discover a means of turning
it to their advantage. So far the terrible omniscience of
the blind man in the dark, and the respect for
his marksmanship with which his coolness had inspired them dominated
the group. But one strong card yet remained to be played,
and at last the moment came upon which the conspirators
had pinned their despairing hopes. There was the sound of
movement in the hall outside, not the first about the house,
but was the new complication. Carrados had been strangely unobservant. True.
Montmorency had talked rather loudly to carry over the dangerous moments.
But now there came an unmistakable step, and to the
accomplices it could only mean one thing. Montmorency was ready
on the instant. Down Tom. He cried, throw yourself down,
Break in, Guido, break in the door. We are held up.
There was an immediate response. The door, under the pressure
of a human battering ram, burst open with a crash
on the threshold. The intruders, four or five in number,
stopped starkly for a moment, held in astonishment by the
extraordinary scene that the light from the hall and their
own bull's eyes revealed flat on their faces to present
the least possible surface to Carradoss's aim. Dompierre and Montmorency
lay extended beside the window and behind the door on
the couch, with her head buried beneath the cushions. Madame
Danpierre sought to shut out the sight and sound of
violence Carados Carrados had not moved, but with arms resting
on the table and fingers placidly locked together, he smiled
benignly on the new arrivals. His attitude, compared with the
extravagance of those around him, gave the impression of a
complaisant modern deity presiding over some grotesque ceremonial of pagan worship. So, Inspector,
you could not wait for me, after all, was his greeting.
End of the game played in the dark.