CHAPTER XII
BARON DE STREUSS' PROPOSAL
The Baron adjusted his eyeglass with shaking fingers. His face nowwas waxen-white as he spread out the newspaper upon the table andread the paragraph word by word.
TERRIBLE CRIME IN THE CITY
Early this morning the body of a man was discovered in a narrow passageway leading from Crooked Friars to Royal Street, under circumstances which leave little doubt but that the man's death was owing to foul play. The deceased had apparently been stabbed, and had received several severe blows about the head. He was shabbily dressed but was well supplied with money, and he was wearing a gold watch and chain when he was found.
LATER
There appears to be no further doubt but that the man found in the entry leading from Crooked Friars had been the victim of a particularly murderous assault. Neither his clothes nor his linen bore any mark by means of which he could be identified. The body has been removed to the nearest mortuary, and an inquest will shortly be held.
Streuss looked up from the newspaper and the reality of his surprisewas apparent. He had all the appearance of a man shaken with emotion.While he looked at his two companions wonderingly, strange thoughtswere forming in his mind.
"Von Behrling dead!" he muttered. "But who--who could have donethis?"
"Until this moment," Bellamy answered dryly, "it was not a matterconcerning which we had any doubt. The only wonder to us was thatit should have been done too late."
"You mean," Streuss said slowly, "that he was murdered after he hadcompleted his bargain with you?"
"Naturally."
"I suppose," the Baron continued, "there is no question but that itwas done afterwards? You smile," he exclaimed, "but what am I tothink? Neither I nor my people had any hand in this deed. How aboutyours?"
Bellamy shook his head.
"We do not fight that way," he replied. "I had bought Von Behrling.He was of no further interest to me. I did not care whether helived or died."
"There is something very strange about this," the Baron said. "Ifneither you nor I were responsible for his death, who was?"
"That I can't tell you. Perhaps later in the day we shall hear fromthe police. It is scarcely the sort of murder which would remainlong undetected, especially as he was robbed of a large sum inbank-notes."
"Supplied by His Majesty's Government, I presume?" Streuss remarked.
"Precisely," Bellamy assented, "and paid to him by me."
"At any rate," Streuss said grimly, "we have now no more secretsfrom one another. I will ask you one last question. Where is thatpacket at the present moment?"
Bellamy raised his eyebrows.
"It is a question," he declared, "which you could scarcely expect meto answer."
"I will put it another way," Streuss continued. "Supposing youdecide to accept my offer, how long will it be before the packet canbe placed in my hands?"
"If we decide to accept," Bellamy answered, "there is no reason whythere should be any delay at all."
Streuss was silent for several moments. His hands were thrust deepdown into the pockets of his overcoat. With eyes fixed upon thetablecloth, he seemed to be thinking deeply, till presently he raisedhis head and looked steadily at Bellamy.
"You are sure that Von Behrling has not fooled you? You are surethat you have that identical packet?"
"I am absolutely certain that I have," Bellamy answered, withoutflinching.
"Then accept my price and have done with this matter," Streussbegged. "I will sign a draft for you here, and I will undertaketo bring you the money, or honor it wherever you say, withintwenty-four hours."
"I cannot decide so quickly," said Bellamy, shaking his head."Mademoiselle Idiale and I must talk together first. I am not sure,"he added, "whether I might not find a higher bidder."
Streuss laughed mirthlessly.
"There is little fear of that," he said. "The papers are of nouse except to us and to England. To England, I will admit that theforeknowledge of what is to come would be worth much, although theeventful result would be the same. It is for that reason that I amhere, for that reason that I have made you this offer."
"Mademoiselle and I must discuss it," Bellamy declared. "It is nota matter to be decided upon off-hand. Remember that it is not onlythe packet which you are offering to buy, but also my career and myhonor."
"One hundred thousand pounds," Streuss said slowly. "From your ownside you get nothing--nothing but your beggarly salary and anoccasional reprimand. One hundred thousand pounds is not immensewealth, but it is something."
"Your offer is a generous one," admitted Bellamy, "there is no doubtabout that. On the other hand, I cannot decide without furtherconsideration. It is a big thing for us, remember. I have workedvery hard for the contents of that packet."
Once more Streuss felt an uneasy pang of incredulity. After all,was this Englishman playing with him? So he asked: "You are quitesure that you have it?"
"There is no means of convincing you of which I care to make use.You must be content with my word. I have the packet. I paid VonBehrling for it and he gave it to me with his own hands."
"I must accept your word," Streuss declared. "I give you three daysfor reflection. Before I go, Mr. Bellamy, forgive me if I referonce more to this,"--touching the newspaper which still lay uponthe table. "Remember that Rudolph Von Behrling moved about a markedman. Your spies and mine were most of the time upon his heels. Yetin the end some third person seems to have intervened. Are youquite sure that you know nothing of this?"
"Upon my honor," Bellamy replied, "I have not the slightestinformation concerning Von Behrling's death beyond what you can readthere. It was as great a surprise to me as to you."
"It is incomprehensible," Streuss murmured.
"One can only conclude," Bellamy remarked thoughtfully, "that someonemust have seen him with those notes. There were people moving aboutin the little restaurant where we met. The rustle of bank-notes hascost more than one man his life.
"For the present," Streuss said, "we must believe that it was so.Listen to me, both of you. You will be wiser if you do not delay.You are young people, and the world is before you. With money onecan do everything. Without it, life is but a slavery. The worldis full of beautiful dwelling-places for those who have the meansto choose. Remember, too, that not a soul will ever know of thistransaction, if you should decide to accept my offer."
"We shall remember all those things," Bellamy assured him.
Streuss took up his hat and gloves.
"With your permission, then, Mademoiselle," he concluded, turning toLouise, "I go. I must try and understand for myself the meaning ofthis thing which has happened to Von Behrling."
"Do not forget," Bellamy said, "that if you discover anything, weare equally interested."...
They heard him go out. Bellamy purposely held the door open untilhe saw the lift descend. Then he closed it firmly and came backinto the room. Louise and he looked at each other, their faces fullof anxious questioning.
"What does it mean?" Louise cried. "What can it mean?"
"Heaven alone knows!" Bellamy answered. "There is not a gleam ofdaylight. My people are absolutely innocent of any attempt upon VonBehrling. If Streuss tells the truth, and I believe he does, hispeople are in the same position. Who, then, in the name of all thatis miraculous, can have murdered and robbed Von Behrling?"
"In London, too," Louise murmured. "It is not Vienna, this, orBelgrade."
"You are right," Bellamy agreed. "London is one of the mostlaw-abiding cities in Europe. Besides, the quarter where the murderoccurred is entirely unfrequented by the criminal classes. It issimply a region of great banks and the offices of merchant princes.
"Is it possible that there is some one else who knew about thatdocument?" Louise asked,--"some one
else who has been watching VonBehrling?"
Bellamy shook his head.
"How can that be? Besides, if any one else were really on his track,they must have believed that he had parted with it to me. I shallgo back now to Downing Street to ask for a letter to the Chief ofScotland Yard. If anything comes out, I must have plenty of warning."
"And I," she said, with an approving nod, "shall go back to bedagain. These days are too strenuous for me. Won't you stay and takeyour coffee with me?"
Bellamy held her hand for a moment in his.
"Dear," he said, "I would stay, but you understand, don't you, whata maze this is into which we have wandered. Von Behrling has beenmurdered by some person who seems to have dropped from the skies.Whoever they may be, they have in their possession my twentythousand pounds and the packet which should have been mine. I musttrace them if I can, Louise. It is a poor chance, but I must domy best. I myself am of the opinion that Von Behrling was murderedfor the money, and for the money only. If so, that packet may bein the hands of people who have no idea what use to make of it.They may even destroy it. If Streuss returns and you are forced tosee him, be careful. Remember, we have the document--we arehesitating. So long as he believes that it is in our possession,he will not look elsewhere."
"I will be careful," Louise promised, with her arms around his neck."And, dear, take care. When I think of poor Rudolph Von Behrling,I tremble, also, for you. It seems to me that your danger is noless than his."
"I do not go about with twenty thousand pounds in my pocket-book,"with a smile.
She shook her head.
"No, but Streuss believes that you have the document which he ispledged to recover. Be careful that they do not lead you into atrap. They are not above anything, these men. I heard once of aBulgarian in Vienna who was tortured--tortured almost to death--beforehe spoke. Then they thrust him into a lunatic asylum. Remember,dear, they have no consciences and no pity."
"We are in London," he reminded her.
"So was Von Behrling," she answered quickly,--"not only in Londonbut in a safe part of London. Yet he is dead."
"It was not their doing," he declared. "In their own country, theyhave the whole machinery of their wonderful police system at theirbacks, and no fear of the law in their hearts. Here they must needsgo cautiously. I don't think you need be afraid," he added, smiling,as he opened the door. "I think I can promise you that if you willdo me the honor we will sup together to-night."
"You must fetch me from the Opera House," Louise insisted. "It isa bargain. I have suffered enough neglect at your hands. One thing,David,--where do you go first from here?"
"To find the man," Bellamy answered gravely, "who was watching VonBehrling when he left me. If any man in England knows anything ofthe murder, it must be he. He should be at my rooms by now."