The Wiles of the Wicked Part 42

"Absolutely."

"And the loan for the Prince?" he said. "Have you raised it?"

"No; the thing is too dangerous in these circ.u.mstances. I have made a full report. You received it, I suppose?"

"No; I must have left Sofia before it arrived. Tell me."

"That very useful fool named Heaton has suddenly gone out of his mind."

"Insane?"

"Yes," she responded. "At least, he seems so to me. I placed the matter before him, but he refused to have anything whatever to do with it. His standing in the City has been utterly shattered by all sorts of rumours regarding the worthlessness of certain of the concessions, and as far as we are concerned our hopes of successfully raising the loan have now disappeared into thin air."

"What!" he cried. "Have you utterly failed?"

"Yes," she answered. "Heaton a.s.sisted us while all was square, but now, just when we want a snug little sum for ourselves, he has suddenly become obstinate and refuses to raise a finger."

"Curse him! He shall a.s.sist us--by Heaven! I'll--I'll compel him!"

cried her mysterious companion furiously.

"To talk like that is useless," she responded. "Remember that he knows something."

"Something, yes. But what?"

"He knows more than we think."

"Where is he now?"

"n.o.body can discover. I saw him once, but he has disappeared. They say he's a wandering lunatic. He left Denbury suddenly after showing signs of madness, and although that terror of a woman, his wife, strove to trace him, she was unsuccessful. His insanity, coupled with the fact that financial ruin overtook him suddenly, apparently preyed upon her mind. She fell ill, and according to a letter I received from Gedge a few days ago, she died suddenly of an aneurism, and was buried last Thursday at Budleigh-Salterton. The announcement of her death was in yesterday's papers."

I listened to those words open-mouthed. My wife was dead! Then I was free!

With my strained ear close to the thin wood of the door I stood breathless, fearing that they might distinguish the rapid beating of my heart.

"Your ingenuity has always been extraordinary, madame," he said reflectively, "but in this last affair you have not shown your usual tact."

"In what manner?"

"His Highness places confidence in you, yet you sit idly here, and profess yourself unable to a.s.sist him."

"A warrant is out against you; nevertheless, you still consider the Prince your friend. That is curious!" she remarked, with a touch of sarcasm.

"Most certainly. It was Oustromoff's doings. His Highness is powerless to control the Ministry of Police."

"And you believe that you will be safe in England?" she inquired dubiously.

"I believe so, providing that I exercise care," he responded. "After to-night it is best that we should remain strangers--you understand?"

"Of course."

"And Mrs Anson and her charge? Are they at a safe distance?"

"Yes. When I met Heaton he inquired after them. He particularly wished to discover them, and of course I a.s.sisted him."

They both laughed in chorus. But her words in themselves were sufficient proof that she feared the result of our re-union. They impressed upon me the truth of my suspicion, namely, that Mabel held the key to the enigma.

"What does he know?" asked the man, evidently referring to me.

"He is aware of the spot where the affair took place," she answered.

"What?" gasped her companion in alarm. "That can't be. He was stone blind, you said!"

"Certainly he was. But by some means--how I can't say--he has ascertained at least one fact."

"Did he make any remark to you?"

"Of course he did. He gave me to understand that he was acquainted with the details of the whole affair." A long silence fell between them.

The mention of Mrs Anson and her charge held me breathless. The "charge" referred to was evidently Mabel. I only hoped that from this conversation I might obtain some clue to the whereabouts of my darling.

"I wonder how much Heaton really does know?" observed her visitor reflectively at last.

"Too much, I fear," she answered. No doubt she recollected how I had expressed my determination to go to Scotland Yard.

Again there was a prolonged pause.

"Roesch has arrived in London. I must see him," exclaimed the man.

"In London? I thought he was still at his post in the Ministry at Sofia," she said in a tone of surprise.

"He was fortunate enough to obtain early intimation of Oustromoff's intentions, and after warning me, escaped the same evening. He took steamer, I heard, from Trieste to London."

"Why a.s.sociate yourself further with that man?" she urged. "Surely it will only add to the danger."

"What concerns myself likewise concerns him," he answered rather ambiguously.

"You have apparently of late become closer friends. For what reason?"

"You will see later."

"With some distinctly evil purpose, I have no doubt," she observed, "but remember that I have no further interest in any of your future schemes."

He grunted dubiously.

"Now that you think our fortunes have changed you contemplate deserting us, eh?" he snapped. "A single word to the Prince and you would conclude your career rather abruptly, I'm thinking."

"Is that intended as a threat?" she inquired in a calm voice.

"Take it as such, if you wish," the man responded angrily. "Through your confounded bungling you've brought exposure upon us. We have only you to thank for it. You know me quite well enough to be aware that when I make threats they are never idle ones."