CHAPTER IX
HATS OFF TO ST TRYPHON!
A man's mind can move on more than one line; even the most engrossingselfish care may fail entirely to occupy it or to shut out intrudingrivals. Not only should I have been wise, but I should have chosen, inthat risky walk of mine through the wood that covered the hill-slope,to think of nothing but its risk. Yet countless other things exacted ashare of my thoughts and figured amongst my brain's images. SometimesI was with Denny and his faithful followers, threading dark anddevious ways in the bowels of the earth, avoiding deep waters on theone side, sheer falls on the other, losing the track, finding itagain, deluded by deceptive glimmers of light, finding at last thetrue outlet; now received hospitably by the Cypriote fishermen, nowfiercely assailed by them, again finding none of them; now makingallies of them, now carried prisoners by them to Constantine, againscouring the sea with vain eagerness for a sight of their sails. ThenI was off, far away, to England, to my friends there, to the gaiety ofLondon now in its full rushing tide, to Mrs Hipgrave's exclusivereceptions, to Beatrice's gay talk and pretty insolence, to Hamlyn'sgilded dulness, in rapid survey of all the panorama that I knew sowell. Then I would turn back to the scene I had left, and again bid myfarewell under the quiet sky, in prospect of the sea that turned togold. So I passed back and forward till I seemed myself hardly athinking man, but rather a piece of blank glass, across which themyriad mites of the kaleidoscope chased one another, covering it withvarying colours, but none of them imparting their hue to it. Yet allthis time, by the strange division of mental activity of which I havespoken, I was crawling cautiously but quickly up the mountain side,with eyes keen to pierce the dusk that now fell, with ears apt to findan enemy in every rustling leaf and a hostile step in every woodlandsound. Of real foes I had as yet seen none. Ah! Hush! I dropped on myknees. Away there on the right--what was it leaning against thattree-trunk? It was a tall lean man; his arms rested on a long gun, andhis face was towards the old grey house. Would he see me? I crouchedlower. Would he hear me? I was as still as dead Spiro had lain in thepassage. But then I felt stealthily for the butt of my revolver, anda recollection so startling came to me that I nearly betrayed myselfby some sudden movement. In the distribution of burdens for ourproposed journey, Denny had taken the case containing the sparecartridges which remained after we had all reloaded. Now I had onebarrel only loaded, one shot only left. That one shot and Hogvardt'slance were all my resources. I crouched yet lower. But the man wasmotionless, and presently I ventured to move on my hands and knees,sorely inconvenienced by the long lance, but determined not to leaveit behind me. I passed another sentry a hundred yards or so away onthe left; his head was sunk on his breast and he took no notice of me.I breathed a little more freely as I came within fifty feet of thecottage.
Immediately about the house nobody was in sight. This however, inNeopalia, did not always mean that nobody was near, and I abated noneof my caution. But the last step had to be taken; I crawled out fromthe shelter of the trees, and crouched on one knee on the level spacein front of the cottage. The cottage door was open. I listened butheard nothing. Well, I meant to go in; my entrance would be none theeasier for waiting. A quick dart was safest; in a couple of bounds Iwas across, in the verandah, through the entrance, in the house. Iclosed the door noiselessly behind me, and stood there, Hogvardt'slance ready for the first man I saw; but I saw none. I was in a narrowpassage; there were doors on either side of me. Listening again, Iheard no sound from right or left. I opened the door to the right. Isaw a small square room: the table was spread for a meal, three placesbeing laid, but the room was empty. I turned to the other door andopened it. This room was darker, for heavy curtains, drawn, no doubt,earlier in the day to keep out the sun, had not been drawn back, andthe light was very dim. For a while I could make out little, but, myeyes growing more accustomed to the darkness, I soon perceived that Iwas in a sitting-room, sparsely and rather meanly furnished. Then myeyes fell on a couch which stood against the wall opposite me. On thecouch lay a figure. It was the figure of a woman. I heard now theslight but regular sound of her breath. She was asleep. This must bethe woman I sought. But was she a sensible woman? Or would she screamwhen I waked her, and bring those tall fellows out of the wood? Inhesitation I stood still and watched her. She slept like one who wasweary, but not at peace: restless movements and, now and again,broken incoherent exclamations witnessed to her disquiet. Presentlyher broken sleep passed into half-wakeful consciousness, and she satup, looking round her with a dazed glance.
'Is that you, Constantine?' she asked, rubbing her hands across hereyes. 'Or is it Vlacho?'
With a swift step I was by her.
'Neither. Not a word!' I said, laying my hand on her shoulder.
I was, I daresay, an alarming figure, with the butt of my revolverpeeping out of my pocket and Hogvardt's lance in my right hand. Butshe did not cry out.
'I am Wheatley. I have escaped from the house there,' I went on; 'andI have come here because there's something I must tell you. Youremember our last meeting?'
She looked at me still in amazed surprise, but with a gleam ofrecollection.
'Yes, yes. You were--we went to watch you--yes, at the restaurant.'
'You went to watch and to listen? Yes, I supposed so. But I've beennear you since then. Do you remember the man who was on yourverandah?'
'That was you?' she asked quickly.
'Yes, it was. And while I was there I heard--'
'But what are you doing here? This house is watched. Constantine maybe here any moment, or Vlacho.'
'I'm as safe here as I was down the hill. Now listen. Are you thisman's wife, as he called you that night?'
'Am I his wife? Of course I'm his wife. How else should I be here?'The indignation expressed in her answer was the best guarantee of itstruth, and became her well. And she held her hand up to me, as she hadto the man himself in the restaurant, adding, 'There is his ring.'
'Then listen to me, and don't interrupt,' said I brusquely. 'Time'svaluable to me, and even more, I fear, to you.'
Her eyes were alarmed now, but she listened in silence as I bade her.I told her briefly what had happened to me, and then I set before hermore fully the conversation between Constantine and Vlacho which I hadoverheard. She clutched the cushions of the sofa in her clenched hand;her breathing came quick and fast; her eyes gleamed at me even in thegloom of the curtained room. I do not believe that in her heart shewas surprised at what she heard. She had mistrusted the man; hermanner, even on our first encounter, had gone far to prove that. Shereceived my story rather as a confirmation of her own suspicions thanas a new or startling revelation. She was fearful, excited, strung toa high pitch; but astonished she was not, if I read her right. Andwhen I ended, it was not astonishment that clenched her lips andbrought to her eyes a look which I think Constantine himself wouldhave shrunk from meeting. I had paused at the end of my narrative, butI recollected one thing more. I must warn her about the secretpassage; for that offered her husband too ready and easy a way ofrelieving himself of his burden. But now she interrupted me.
'This girl?' she said. 'I have not seen her. What is she like?'
'She is very beautiful,' said I simply. 'She knows what I have toldyou, and she is on her guard. You need fear nothing from her. It isyour husband whom you have to fear.'
'He would kill me?' she asked, with a questioning glance.
'You've heard what he said,' I returned. 'Put your own meaning on it.'
She sprang to her feet.
'I can't stay here; I can't stay here. Merciful heaven, they may comeany moment! Where are you going? How are you going to escape? You arein as much danger as I am.'
'I believe in even greater,' said I. 'I was going straight from heredown to the sea. If I can find my friends, we'll go through with thething together. If I don't find them, I shall hunt for a boat. If Idon't find a boat--well, I'm a good swimmer, and I shall live as longin the water as in Neopalia, and die easier, I fancy.'
She was standing now, facing me, and she laid her hand on my arm.
'You stand by women, you Englishmen,' she said. 'You won't leave me tobe murdered?'
'You see I am here. Doesn't that answer your question?'
'My God, he's a fiend! Will you take me with you?'
What could I do? Her coming gave little chance to her and robbed me ofalmost all prospect of escape. But of course I could not leave her.
'You must come if you can see no other way,' said I.
'Why, what other is there? If I avoid him he will see I suspect him.If I appear to trust him, I must put myself in his power.'
'Then we must go,' said I. 'But it's a thousand to one that we don'tget through.'
I had hardly spoken when a voice outside said, 'Is all well?' and aheavy step echoed in the verandah.
'Vlacho!' she hissed in a whisper. 'Vlacho! Are you armed?'
'In a way,' said I, with a shrug. 'But there are at least two besideshim. I saw them in the wood.'
'Yes, yes, true. There are four generally. It would be death. Here,hide behind the curtains. I'll try to put him off for the moment.Quick, quick!'
She was hurried and eager, but I saw that her wits were clear. Istepped behind the curtains and she drew them close. I heard her flingherself again on the couch. Then came the innkeeper's voice, itsroughness softened in deferential greeting.
At the same time a strong smell of eau de Cologne pervaded the room.
'Am I well?' said Madame Stefanopoulos fretfully. 'My good Vlacho, Iam very ill. Should I sit in a dark room and bathe my head with thisstuff if I were well?'
'My lady's sickness grieves me beyond expression,' said Vlachopolitely. 'And the more so because I am come from my Lord Constantinewith a message for you.'
'It is easier for him to send messages than to come himself,' sheremarked, with an admirable pretence of resentment.
'Think how occupied he has been with this pestilent Englishman!' saidthe plausible Vlacho. 'We have had no peace. But at last I hope ourtroubles are over. The house is ours again.'
'Ah, you have driven them out?'
'They fled themselves,' said Vlacho. 'But they are separated and weshall catch them. Oh, yes, we know where to look for most of them.'
'Then you've not caught any of them yet? How stupid you are!'
'My lady is severe. No, we have caught none yet.'
'Not even Wheatley himself?' she asked. 'Has he shown you a clean pairof heels?'
Vlacho's voice betrayed irritation as he answered:
'We shall find him also in time, though heaven knows where the rascalhas hidden himself.'
'You're really very stupid,' said Francesca. I heard her sniff herperfume. 'And the girl?' she went on.
'Oh, we have her safe and sound,' laughed Vlacho. 'She'll give no moretrouble.'
'Why, what will you do with her?'
'You must ask my lord that,' said Vlacho. 'If she will give up theisland, perhaps nothing.'
'Ah, well, I take very little interest in her. Isn't my husband comingto supper, Vlacho?'
'To supper here, my lady? Surely no. The great house is ready now.That is a more fitting place for my lady than this dog-hole. I amhere to escort you there. There my lord will sup with you. Oh, it's agrand house!'
'A grand house!' she echoed scornfully. 'Why, what is there to see init?'
'Oh, many things,' said Vlacho. 'Yes, secrets, my lady! And my lordbids me say that from love to you he will show you to-night the greatsecret of his house. He desires to show his love and trust in you, andwill therefore reveal to you all his secrets.'
When I, behind the curtain, heard the ruffian say this, I laid firmerhold on my lance. But the lady was equal to Vlacho.
'You're very melodramatic with your secrets,' she said contemptuously.'I am tired, and my head aches. Your secrets will wait; and if myhusband will not come and sup with me, I'll sup alone here. Tell him Ican't come, please, Vlacho.'
'But my lord was most urgent that you should come,' said Vlacho.
'I would come if I were well,' said she.
'But I could help you. If you would permit, I and my men would carryyou down all the way on your couch.'
'My good Vlacho, you are very tedious, you and your men. And myhusband is tedious also, if he sent all these long messages. I am illand I will not come. Is that enough?'
'My lord will be very angry if I return alone,' pleaded Vlacho humbly.
'I'll write a certificate that you did your best to persuade me,' shesaid with a scornful laugh.
I heard the innkeeper's heavy feet move a step or two across thefloor. He was coming nearer to where she lay on the couch.
'I daren't return without you,' said he.
'Then you must stay here and sup with me.'
'My lord does not love to be opposed.'
'Then, my good Vlacho, he should not have married me,' she retorted.
She played the game gallantly, fencing and parrying with admirabletact, and with a coolness wonderful for a woman in such peril. Myheart went out to her, and I said to myself that she should not wantany help that I could give.
She had raised her voice on the last words, and her defiant taunt rangout clear and loud. It seemed to alarm Vlacho.
'Hush, not so loud!' he said hastily. There was the hint of a threatin his voice.
'Not so loud!' she echoed. 'And why not so loud? Is there harm in whatI say?'
I wondered at Vlacho's sudden fright. The idea shot into my head--andthe idea was no pleasant one--that there must be people withinearshot, perhaps people who had not been trusted with Constantine'ssecrets, and would, for that reason, do his bidding better.
'Harm! No, no harm; but no need to let every one hear,' said Vlacho,confusedly and with evident embarrassment.
'Every one? Who is here, then?'
'I have brought one or two men to escort my lady,' said he. 'Withthese cut-throat Englishmen about' (Bravo, bravo, Vlacho!) 'one mustbe careful.'
A scornful laugh proclaimed her opinion of his subterfuge, and she methim with a skilful thrust.
'But if they don't know--yes, and aren't to know that I am the wife ofConstantine, how can I go to the house and stay with him?' she asked.
'Oh,' said he, ready again with his plausible half-truths, 'that isone of the secrets. Must I tell my lady part of it? There is anexcellent hiding-place in the house, where my lord can bestow you mostcomfortably. You will want for nothing, and nobody will know that youare there, except the few faithful men who have guarded you here.'
'Indeed, if I am still to be a stowaway, I'll stay here,' said she.'If my lord will announce me publicly to all the island as his wife,then I will come and take my place at the head of his house; butwithout that I will not come.'
'Surely you will be able to persuade him to that yourself,' saidVlacho. 'But dare I make conditions with my lord?'
'You will make them in my name,' she answered. 'Go and tell him what Isay.'
A pause followed. Then Vlacho said in sullen obstinate tones:
'I'll not go without you. I was ordered to bring you, and I will.Come.'
I heard the sudden rustle of her dress as she drew back; then a littlecry: 'You're hurting me.'
'You must come,' said Vlacho. 'I shall call my men and carry you.'
'I will not come,' she said in a low voice, resolute and fierce.
Vlacho laughed. 'We'll see about that,' said he, and his heavy stepssounded on the floor.
'What are you going to the window for?' she cried.
'To call Demetri and Kortes to help me,' said he; 'or will you come?'
I drew back a pace, resting against the windowsill. Hogvardt's lancewas protruded before me. At that moment I asked nothing better than tobury its point in the fat innkeeper's flesh.
'You'll repent it if you do what you say,' said she.
'I shall repent it more if I don't obey my lord,' said Vlacho. 'See,my hand is on the curtains. Will you come, my lady?'
'I will not come,' said sh
e.
There was one last short interval. I heard them both breathing, and Iheld my own breath. My revolver rested in my pocket; the noise of ashot would be fatal. With God's help I would drive the lance home withone silent sufficient thrust. There would be a rogue less in the worldand another chance for her and me.
'As you will, then,' said the innkeeper.
The curtain-rings rattled along the rod; the heavy hangings gave back.The moon, which was newly risen, streamed full in Vlacho's eyes and onthe pale strained face behind him. He saw me; he uttered one lowexclamation: 'Christ!' His hand flew to his belt. He drew a pistol outand raised it; but I was too quick for him. I drove the greathunting-knife on the end of the sapling full and straight into hisbreast. With a groan he flung his arms over his head and fellsideways, half-supported by the curtain till the fabric was rent awayfrom the rings and fell over his body, enveloping him in a thick pall.I drew my lance back. The force of the blow had overstrainedHogvardt's wire fastenings; the blade was bent to an angle with theshaft and shook loosely from side to side. Vlacho's blood began tocurl in a meandering trickle from beneath the curtain. MadameStefanopoulos glared at me, speechless. But my eyes fell from her tothe floor; for there I saw two long black shadows. A sudden anddesperate inspiration seized me. She was my ally, I hers. If both wereheld guilty of this act we could render no service to each other. Ifshe were still unsuspected--and nobody except myself had heard hertalk with Vlacho--she might yet help herself and me.
'Throw me over,' I whispered in English. 'Cry for help.'
'What?'
'Cry. The men are there. You may help me afterwards.'
'What, pretend--?'
'Yes. Quick.'
'But they'll--'
'No, no. Quick, for God's sake, quick!'
'God help us,' she whispered. Then she cried loudly, 'Help! help!help!'
I sprang towards her. There was the crash of a man leaping through theopen window. I turned. Behind him I saw Demetri standing in themoonlight. Other figures hurried up; feet pattered on the hard ground.The man who had leaped in--a very tall, handsome and athletic fellow,whom I had not seen before--held to my head a long old-fashionedpistol. I let my hands drop to my side and faced him with a smile onmy lips. It must be death to resist--death to me and death to my newfriend; surrender might open a narrow way of safety.
'I yield,' said I.
'Who are you?' he cried.
'I am Lord Wheatley,' I answered.
'But did you not fly to the--?' He stopped.
'To the passage?' said I. 'No, I came here. I was trying to escape. Icame in while Madame here was asleep and hid behind the curtain.'
'Yes, yes,' said she. 'It is so, Kortes, it is as he says; and thenVlacho came--'
'And,' said I, 'when the lady had agreed to go with Vlacho, Vlachocame to the window to call you; and by misadventure, sir, he came onme behind the curtain. And--won't you see whether he's dead?'
'Kill him, Kortes, kill him!' cried Demetri, fiercely and suddenly,from the window.
Kortes turned round.
'Peace!' said he. 'The man has yielded. Do I kill men who haveyielded? The Lady of the island and my Lord Constantine must decidehis fate; it is not my office. Are you armed, sir?'
It went to my heart to give up that last treasured shot of mine. Buthe was treating me as an honourable man. I handed him my revolver witha bow, saying:
'I depend on you to protect me from that fellow and the rest till youdeliver me to those you speak of.'
'In my charge you are safe,' said Kortes, and he stooped down andlifted the curtain from Vlacho's face. The innkeeper stirred andgroaned. He was not dead yet. Kortes turned round to Demetri.
'Stay here and tend him. Do what you can for him. When I am able, Iwill send aid to him; but I don't think he will live.'
Demetri scowled. He seemed not to like the part assigned to him.
'Are you going to take this man to my Lord Constantine?' he asked.'Leave another with Vlacho, and let me come with you to my lord.'
'Who should better stay with Vlacho than his nephew Demetri?' askedKortes with a smile. (This relationship was a new light to me.) 'I amgoing to do what my duty is. Come, no questioning. Do not I command,now Vlacho is wounded?'
'And the lady here?' asked Demetri.
'I am not ordered to lay a finger on the lady,' answered Kortes.'Indeed I don't know who she is.'
Francesca interposed with great dignity:
'I will come with you,' said she. 'I have my story to tell when thisgentleman is put on his trial. Who I am you will know soon.'
Demetri had climbed in at the window. He passed me with a savagescowl, and I noticed that one side of his head was bound with abloodstained bandage. He saw me looking at it.
'Aye,' he growled, 'I owe you the loss of half an ear.'
'In the passage?' I hazarded, much pleased.
'I shall pay the debt,' said he, 'or see it paid handsomely for me bymy lord.'
'Come,' said Kortes, 'let us go.'
Fully believing that the fact of Kortes being in command instead ofDemetri had saved me from instant death, I was not inclined to disputehis orders. I walked out of the house and took the place he indicatedto me in the middle of a line of islanders, some ten or twelve innumber. Kortes placed himself by my side, and Madame Stefanopouloswalked on his other hand. The islanders maintained absolute silence. Ifollowed their example, but my heart (I must confess) beat as Iwaited to see in what direction our column was to march. We starteddown the hill towards the house. If we were going to the house I hadperhaps twenty minutes to live, and the lady who was with us would notlong survive me. In vain I scanned Kortes's comely grave features. Hemarched with the impassive regularity of a grenadier and displayedmuch the same expressionless steadiness of face. Nearer to the fatalhouse we came; but my heart gave a sudden leap of hope and excitement,for Kortes cried softly, 'To the right.' We turned down the path thatled up from the town, leaving the house on the left. We were not goingstraight to death then, and every respite was pregnant with unforeseenchances of escape. I touched Kortes on the shoulder.
'Where are we going?' I asked.
'To the town,' he answered.
Again in silence we pursued our way down the hillside. The pathbroadened and the incline became less steep; a few lights twinkledfrom the sea, which now spread before us. Still we went on. Then Iheard the bell of a church strike twelve. The strokes ended, butanother bell began to ring. Our escort stopped with one accord. Theytook off their caps and signed the cross on their breasts. Kortes didthe same as the rest. I looked at him in question, but he saidnothing till the caps were replaced and we were on our way again. Thenhe said:
'To-day is the feast of St Tryphon. Didn't you know?'
'No,' said I. 'St Tryphon I know, but his feast is not kept always onthis day.'
'Always on this day in Neopalia,' he answered, and he seemed to lookat me as though he were asking me some unspoken question.
The feast of St Tryphon might have interested me very much at anyordinary time, but just now my study of the customs of the islandershad been diverted into another channel, and I did not pursue thesubject. Kortes walked in silence some little way farther. We had nowreached the main road and were descending rapidly towards the town. Isaw again the steep narrow street, empty and still in the moonlight.We held on our way till we came to a rather large square building,which stood back from the road and had thus escaped my notice when wepassed it on the evening of our arrival. Before this Kortes halted.'Here you must lodge with me,' said he. 'Concerning the lady I have noorders.'
Madame Stefanopoulos caught my arm.
'I must stay too,' said she. 'I can't go back to my house.'
'It is well,' said Kortes calmly. 'There are two rooms.'
The escort ranged themselves outside the building, which appeared tobe either a sort of barrack or a place of confinement. We threeentered. At a sign from Kortes, Madame Stefanopoulos passed into alarge room on the right. I followed him
into a smaller room, scantilyfurnished, and flung myself in exhaustion on a wooden bench that ranalong the wall. For an instant Kortes stood regarding me. His faceseemed to express hesitation, but the look in his eyes was notunfriendly. The bell, which had continued to ring till now, ceased.Then Kortes said to me in a low voice:
'Take courage, my lord. For a day you are safe. Nor even Constantinewould dare to kill a man on the feast of St Tryphon.'
Before I could answer he was gone. I heard the bolt of the door runhome. I was a prisoner.
Yet I took courage as he bade me. Four-and-twenty hours' life was morethan I had been able to count on for some time past. So I also doffedmy hat in honour of the holy St Tryphon. And presently I lifted mylegs on to the bench, took off my coat and made a pillow of it, andwent to sleep.