The Rome Express

knowledge, I believe you will think otherwise. She willconfess,--you will make her, your skill is unrivalled,--and youwill then admit, M. le Juge, that I was right in my suspicions."

  "Ah, well, produce her! We shall see," said the Judge, somewhatmollified by M. Flocon's fulsome flattery.

  "I will bring her to your chamber of instruction within an hour,M. le Juge," said the detective, very confidently.

  But he was doomed to disappointment in this as he was in otherrespects.

  CHAPTER XV

  Let us go back a little in point of time, and follow the movementsof Sir Charles Collingham.

  It was barely 11 A.M. when he left the Lyons Station with hisbrother, the Reverend Silas, and the military attache, ColonelPapillon. They paused for a moment outside the station while thebaggage was being got together.

  "See, Silas," said the General, pointing to the clock, "you willhave plenty of time for the 11.50 train to Calais for London, butyou must hurry up and drive straight across Paris to the Nord. Isuppose he can go, Jack?"

  "Certainly, as he has promised to return if called upon."

  And Mr. Collingham promptly took advantage of the permission.

  "But you, General, what are your plans?" went on the attache.

  "I shall go to the club first, get a room, dress, and all that.Then call at the Hotel Madagascar. There is a lady there,--one ofour party, in fact,--and I should like to ask after her. She maybe glad of my services."

  "English? Is there anything we can do for her?"

  "Yes, she is an Englishwoman, but the widow of an Italian--theContessa di Castagneto."

  "Oh, but I know her!" said Papillon. "I remember her in Rome twoor three years ago. A deuced pretty woman, very much admired, butshe was in deep mourning then, and went out very little. I wishedshe had gone out more. There were lots of men ready to fall at herfeet."

  "You were in Rome, then, some time back? Did you ever come acrossa man there, Quadling, the banker?"

  "Of course I did. Constantly. He was a good deal about--a ratherfree-living, self-indulgent sort of chap. And now you mention hisname, I recollect they said he was much smitten by this particularlady, the Contessa di Castagneto."

  "And did she encourage him?" "Lord! how can I tell? Who shall sayhow a woman's fancy falls? It might have suited her too. They saidshe was not in very good circumstances, and he was thought to be arich man. Of course we know better than that now."

  "Why _now?_"

  "Haven't you heard? It was in the _Figaro_ yesterday, and in allthe Paris papers. Quadling's bank has gone to smash; he has boltedwith all the 'ready' he could lay hands upon."

  "He didn't get far, then!" cried Sir Charles. "You look surprised,Jack. Didn't they tell you? This Quadling was the man murdered inthe sleeping-car. It was no doubt for the money he carried withhim."

  "Was it Quadling? My word! what a terrible Nemesis. Well, _nilnisi bonum_, but I never thought much of the chap, and yourfriend the Countess has had an escape. But now, sir, I must bemoving. My engagement is for twelve noon. If you want me, mind yousend--207 Rue Miromesnil, or to the Embassy; but let us arrange tomeet this evening, eh? Dinner and a theatre--what do you say?"

  Then Colonel Papillon rode off, and the General was driven to theBoulevard des Capucines, having much to occupy his thoughts by theway.

  It did not greatly please him to have this story of the Countess'srelations with Quadling, as first hinted at by the police,endorsed now by his friend Papillon. Clearly she had kept up heracquaintance, her intimacy to the very last: why otherwise shouldshe have received him, alone, been closeted with him for an houror more on the very eve of his flight? It was a clandestineacquaintance too, or seemed so, for Sir Charles, although afrequent visitor at her house, had never met Quadling there.

  What did it all mean? And yet, what, after all, did it matter tohim?

  A good deal really more than he chose to admit to himself, evennow, when closely questioning his secret heart. The fact was, theCountess had made a very strong impression on him from the first.He had admired her greatly during the past winter at Rome, butthen it was only a passing fancy, as he thought,--the pleasantplatonic flirtation of a middle-aged man, who never expected toinspire or feel a great love. Only now, when he had shared aserious trouble with her, had passed through common difficultiesand dangers, he was finding what accident may do--how it may fan afirst liking into a stronger flame. It was absurd, of course. Hewas fifty-one, he had weathered many trifling affairs of theheart, and here he was, bowled over at last, and by a woman he wasnot certain was entitled to his respect.

  What was he to do?

  The answer came at once and unhesitatingly, as it would to anyother honest, chivalrous gentleman.

  "By George, I'll stick to her through thick and thin! I'll trusther whatever happens or has happened, come what may. Such a womanas that is above suspicion. She _must_ be straight. I should bea beast and a blackguard double distilled to think anything else.I am sure she can put all right with a word, can explaineverything when she chooses. I will wait till she does."

  Thus fortified and decided, Sir Charles took his way to the HotelMadagascar about noon. At the desk he inquired for the Countess,and begged that his card might be sent up to her. The man lookedat it, then at the visitor, as he stood there waiting ratherimpatiently, then again at the card. At last he walked out andacross the inner courtyard of the hotel to the office. Presentlythe manager came back, bowing low, and, holding the card in hishand, began a desultory conversation.

  "Yes, yes," cried the General, angrily cutting short allreferences to the weather and the number of English visitors inParis. "But be so good as to let Madame la Comtesse know that Ihave called."

  "Ah, to be sure! I came to tell Monsieur le General that madamewill hardly be able to see him. She is indisposed, I believe. Atany rate, she does not receive to-day."

  "As to that, we shall see. I will take no answer except directfrom her. Take or send up my card without further delay. I insist!Do you hear?" said the General, so fiercely that the managerturned tail and fled up-stairs.

  Perhaps he yielded his ground the more readily that he saw overthe General's shoulder the figure of Galipaud the detectivelooming in the archway. It had been arranged that, as it was notadvisable to have the inspector hanging about the courtyard of thehotel, the clerk or the manager should keep watch over theCountess and detain any visitors who might call upon her. Galipaudhad taken post at a wine-shop over the way, and was to be summonedwhenever his presence was thought necessary.

  There he was now, standing just behind the General, and for thepresent unseen by him.

  But then a telegraph messenger came in and up to the desk. He heldthe usual blue envelope in his hand, and called out the name onthe address:

  "Castagneto. Contessa Castagneto."

  At sound of which the General turned sharply, to find Galipaudadvancing and stretching out his hand to take the message.

  "Pardon me," cried Sir Charles, promptly interposing andunderstanding the situation at a glance. "I am just going up tosee that lady. Give me the telegram."

  Galipaud would have disputed the point, when the General, who hadalready recognized him, said quietly:

  "No, no, Inspector, you have no earthly right to it. I guess whyyou are here, but you are not entitled to interfere with privatecorrespondence. Stand back;" and seeing the detective hesitate, headded peremptorily:

  "Enough of this. I order you to get out of the way. And be quickabout it!"

  The manager now returned, and admitted that Madame la Comtessewould receive her visitor. A few seconds more, and the General wasadmitted into her presence.

  "How truly kind of you to call!" she said at once, coming up tohim with both hands outstretched and frank gladness in her eyes.

  Yes, she was very attractive in her plain, dark travelling dressdraping her tall, graceful figure; her beautiful, pale face wasenhanced by the rich tones of her dark brown, wavy hair, whilejust a narrow band of white muslin at her wrists and
neck set offthe dazzling clearness of her skin.

  "Of course I came. I thought you might want me, or might like toknow the latest news," he answered, as he held her hands in hisfor a few seconds longer than was perhaps absolutely necessary.

  "Oh, do tell me! Is there anything fresh?" There was a flash ofcrimson colour in her cheek, which faded almost instantly.

  "This much. They have found out who the man was."

  "Really? Positively? Whom do they say now?"

  "Perhaps I had better not tell you. It may surprise you, shock youto hear. I think you knew him--"

  "Nothing can well shock me now. I have had too many shocksalready. Who do they think it is?"

  "A Mr. Quadling, a banker, who is supposed to have absconded fromRome."

  She received the news so impassively, with such strange self-possession,that for a moment he was disappointed in her. But then, quick to excuse,he suggested:

  "You may have already heard?"

  "Yes; the police people at the railway station told me theythought it was Mr. Quadling."

  "But you knew him?"

  "Certainly. They were my bankers, much to my sorrow. I shall loseheavily by their failure."

  "That also has reached you, then?" interrupted the General,hastily and somewhat uneasily.

  "To be sure. The man told me of it himself. Indeed, he came to methe very day I was leaving Rome, and made me an offer--a mostobliging offer."

  "To share his fallen fortunes?"

  "Sir Charles Collingham! How can you? That creature!" The contemptin her tone was immeasurable.

  "I had heard--well, some one said that--"

  "Speak out, General; I shall not be offended. I know what youmean. It is perfectly true that the man once presumed to pester mewith his attentions. But I would as soon have looked at a courieror a cook. And now--"

  There was a pause. The General felt on delicate ground. He couldask no questions--anything more must come from the Countessherself.

  "But let me tell you what his offer was. I don't know why Ilistened to it. I ought to have at once informed the police. Iwish I had."

  "It might have saved him from his fate."

  "Every villain gets his deserts in the long run," she said, withbitter sententiousness. "And this Mr. Quadling is--But wait, youshall know him better. He came to me to propose--what do youthink?--that he--his bank, I mean--should secretly repay me theamount of my deposit, all the money I had in it. To join me in hisfraud, in fact--"

  "The scoundrel! Upon my word, he has been well served. And thatwas the last you saw of him?"

  "I saw him on the journey, at Turin, at Modane, at--Oh, SirCharles, do not ask me any more about him!" she cried, with asudden outburst, half-grief, half-dread. "I cannot tell you--I amobliged to--I--I--"

  "Then do not say another word," he said, promptly.

  "There are other things. But my lips are sealed--at least for thepresent. You do not--will not think any worse of me?"

  She laid her hand gently on his arm, and his closed over it withsuch evident good-will that a blush crimsoned her cheek. It stillhung there, and deepened when he said, warmly:

  "As if anything could make me do that! Don't you know--you maynot, but let me assure you, Countess--that nothing could happen toshake me in the high opinion I have of you. Come what may, I shalltrust you, believe in you, think well of you--always."

  "How sweet of you to say that! and now, of all times," shemurmured quite softly, and looking up for the first time, shyly,to meet his eyes.

  Her hand was still on his arm, covered by his, and she nestled soclose to him that it was easy, natural, indeed, for him to sliphis other arm around her waist and draw her to him.

  "And now--of all times--may I say one word more?" he whispered inher ear. "Will you give me the right to shelter and protect you,to stand by you, share your troubles, or keep them from you--?"

  "No, no, no, indeed, not now!" She looked up appealingly, thetears brimming up in her bright eyes. "I cannot, will not acceptthis sacrifice. You are only speaking out of your true-heartedchivalry. You must not join yourself to me, you must not involveyourself--"

  He stopped her protests by the oldest and most effectual methodknown in such cases. That first sweet kiss sealed the compact soquickly entered into between them.

  And after that she surrendered at discretion. There was no morehesitation or reluctance; she accepted his love as he had offeredit, freely, with whole heart and soul, crept up under hissheltering wing like a storm-beaten dove reentering the nest, andthere, cooing softly, "My knight--my own true knight and lord,"yielded herself willingly and unquestioningly to his tendercaresses.

  Such moments snatched from the heart of pressing anxieties aremade doubly sweet by their sharp contrast with a background oftrouble.

  CHAPTER XVI

  They sat there, these two, hand locked in hand, saying little,satisfied now to be with each other and their new-found love. Thetime flew by far too fast, till at last Sir Charles, with ahalf-laugh, suggested:

  "Do you know, dearest Countess--"

  She corrected him in a soft, low voice.

  "My name is Sabine--Charles."

  "Sabine, darling. It is very prosaic of me, perhaps, but do youknow that I am nearly starved? I came on here at once. I have hadno breakfast."

  "Nor have I," she answered, smiling. "I was thinking of itwhen--when you appeared like a whirlwind, and since then, eventshave moved so fast."

  "Are you sorry, Sabine? Would you rather go back to--to--before?"She made a pretty gesture of closing his traitor lips with hersmall hand.

  "Not for worlds. But you soldiers--you are terrible men! Who canresist you?"

  "Bah! It is you who are irresistible. But there, why not put onyour jacket and let us go out to lunch somewhere--Durand's,Voisin's, the Cafe de le Paix? Which do you prefer?"

  "I suppose they will not try to stop us?"

  "Who should try?" he asked.

  "The people of the hotel--the police--I cannot exactly say whom;but I dread something of the sort. I don't quite understand thatmanager. He has been up to see me several times, and he spokerather oddly, rather rudely."

  "Then he shall answer for it," snorted Sir Charles, hotly. "It isthe fault of that brute of a detective, I suppose. Still theywould hardly dare--"

  "A detective? What? Here? Are you sure?"

  "Perfectly sure. It is one of those from the Lyons Station. I knewhim again directly, and he was inclined to be interfering. Why, Icaught him trying--but that reminds me--I rescued this telegramfrom his clutches."

  He took the little blue envelope from his breast pocket and handedit to her, kissing the tips of her fingers as she took it fromhim.

  "Ah!"

  A sudden ejaculation of dismay escaped her, when, after rathercarelessly tearing the message open, she had glanced at it.

  "What is the matter?" he asked in eager solicitude. "May I notknow?"

  She made no offer to give him the telegram, and said in afaltering voice, and with much hesitation of manner, "I do notknow. I hardly think--of course I do not like to withholdanything, not now. And yet, this is a business which concerns meonly, I am afraid. I ought not to drag you into it."

  "What concerns you is very much my business, too. I do not wish toforce your confidence, still--"

  She gave him the telegram quite obediently, with a little sigh ofrelief, glad to realize now, for the first time after many years,that there was some one to give her orders and take the burden oftrouble off her shoulders.

  He read it, but did not understand it in the least. It ran: "Imust see you immediately, and beg you will come. You will findHortense here. She is giving trouble. You only can deal with her.Do not delay. Come at once, or we must go to you.--Ripaldi, HotelIvoire, Rue Bellechasse."

  "What does this mean? Who sends it? Who is Ripaldi?" asked SirCharles, rather brusquely.

  "He--he--oh, Charles, I shall have to go. Anything would be betterthan his coming here."

  "Ripaldi? Haven
't I heard the name? He was one of those in thesleeping-car, I think? The Chief of the Detective Police called itout once or twice. Am I not right? Please tell me--am I notright?"

  "Yes, yes; this man was there with the rest of us. A dark man, whosat near the door--"

  "Ah, to be sure. But what--what in Heaven's name has he to do withyou? How does he dare to send you such an impudent message asthis? Surely, Sabine, you will tell me? You will admit that I havea right to ask?"

  "Yes, of course. I will tell you, Charles, everything; but nothere--not now. It must be on the way. I have been very wrong, veryfoolish--but oh, come, come, do let us be going. I am so afraid hemight--"

  "Then I may go with you? You do not object to that?"

  "I much prefer it--much. Do let us make haste!"

  She snatched up her sealskin jacket, and held it to him prettily,that he might help her into it, which he did neatly and cleverly,smoothing her great puffed-out sleeves under each shoulder of thecoat, still talking eagerly and taking no toll for his trouble asshe stood patiently, passively before him.

  "And this Hortense? It is your maid, is it not--the woman who hadtaken herself off? How comes it that she is with that Italianfellow? Upon my soul, I don't understand--not a little bit."

  "I cannot explain that, either. It is most strange, mostincomprehensible, but we shall soon know. Please, Charles, pleasedo not get impatient."

  They passed together down into the hotel