The Crime and the Criminal

  CHAPTER XL.

  MR. TOWNSEND REACHES HOME.

  The members, for the most part, stared at the Colonel. Then they staredat one another. They did not seem to understand. Mr. Townsend looked atthe Colonel, then at Mr. Pendarvon. Mr. Pendarvon, with twitching lipsand dilated eyes, was leaning, as if for support, against thedial-plate.

  "Pendarvon, I am waiting for you to contradict what Kendrick has said."

  Mr. Pendarvon was making an effort to control his faculty of speech.

  "It's false."

  Mr. Townsend turned to the Colonel.

  "You hear what he says?"

  The Colonel pointed at Mr. Pendarvon.

  "And you see how he says it." They did see. The disclosure of histreachery, being premature, had taken Mr. Pendarvon unawares. It had,unfortunately, caused him to lose his nerve. He stood crouching againstthe wall, trembling, like a cur, in terror of what might be to come.

  The man's guilt was self-confessed. They perceived that it was so witha stupefaction which made them dumb.

  Colonel Kendrick went on.

  "I have a cousin at Scotland Yard. He has just now told me that, thismorning, they received information of the existence of an organisationcalled the Murder Club. They had been told that the individual who wasactually responsible for the Three Bridges Tragedy was a member of theClub. His name was Reginald Townsend. I asked who was their informant.I was told that it was a man named Cecil Pendarvon. So, gentlemen, theperson who is responsible for the position in which we find ourselvesis the one who has given us away."

  One or two of the members made a half-unconscious movement forward.Mr. Pendarvon seemed to endeavour to huddle himself closer to thedial-plate.

  "My cousin informed me that the club was to meet tonight, and that acoup was to be made while the members were in actual assembly. I havehurried straight from my cousin here. I have some acquaintance with thepersonnel of Scotland Yard. As I approached these premises I recognisedone or two individuals whom I knew by sight. Mr. Townsend, the policeare at the door waiting to receive the signal to effect your capture."

  Of all those present Mr. Townsend seemed the least affected by theColonel's communication. It was the humorous side of the situationwhich seemed to strike him first.

  "It is the unexpected happens, my dear Kendrick. I do believe that allthe wisdom of the world is contained in that one phrase. The blow hascome from the quarter from which I least expected it. Mr. Pendarvon, Ipresume that you are acquainted with the rule which you yourselfframed, and which lays down the measure which is to be meted out totraitors."

  Mr. Townsend moved towards Mr. Pendarvon. Snatching a revolver from hispocket, Mr. Pendarvon pointed it in the face of the man he hadbetrayed. In an instant Colonel Kendrick had struck it from his hand.One barrel was discharged harmlessly as it fell. Immediately a dozenweapons were in a dozen hands. Mr. Townsend retained his appearance ofperfect ease. Standing in front of Mr. Pendarvon, he regarded thatgentleman with courteous contempt which caused him, literally, to seemto wither.

  "Well done!"

  The tranquil scorn of Mr. Townsend's tone seemed to affect Mr.Pendarvon as if it had been vitriol. He writhed.

  "You--you hound!" he spluttered.

  Mr. Townsend merely repeated his former commendation, which the otherreceived as if it had been a scorpion's lash.

  "Well done!"

  There was a click. Mr. Pendarvon's body was obscuring the dial-plate.With scant ceremony, the Colonel thrust him aside. The dial had made anew departure. It displayed the figure 3.

  The Colonel spoke.

  "I fancy we may take it that that is the signal which Mr. Pendarvon hasarranged with his policemen friends. It is they who have given it,being now outside the door. I imagine, gentlemen, that, so far as weare concerned, we have but little to fear. Be so good, some one, as totear that book and to burn it."

  The Colonel pointed to the manuscript book in the beautiful crimsoncover. Some one snatched it up. In a moment it was in pieces and thepieces were in flames. Mr. Pendarvon made a movement as if he wouldhave done something to check the destruction of so important a witness.The Colonel checked him with a word.

  "Stand still!" And Mr. Pendarvon was still. The Colonel turned to Mr.Townsend. "It is you who have most to fear. Can you suggest how you maybe able to effect your escape?"

  "Unless Mr. Pendarvon has romanced, he has not only provided the trap,but also the means of escape from the trap which he has baited--unless,I say, he has romanced. We shall see. Good-bye, Pendarvon."

  With a gesture of careless insolence, with his open palm, Mr. Townsendstruck Mr. Pendarvon lightly across the face. That was too much evenfor Mr. Pendarvon. He sprang at Mr. Townsend. Mr. Townsend knocked himdown. Being down, he seemed to deem it wiser, on the whole, to staythere.

  A voice was heard without--a peremptory voice, an official voice.

  "Open this door immediately, or we shall break it down!"

  Mr. Townsend gave a mocking rejoinder.

  "Break it down; by all means, break it down!" He went to the fireplace;he stood within it. He turned to the assembled company. "We shall meetagain--at Philippi!"

  He grasped the first two stanchions and was immediately out of sight.

  "Count twelve," he told himself as he climbed. "This is the twelfth.Put out your hand to the right, and you will feel a bolt. This doesfeel like a bolt, and a door. After all, Pendarvon, you're not such aliar as you might have been."

  Scrambling through the door which he had thrust open, Mr. Townsendfound himself standing on what was evidently thereof. It was flat justthere. In front of him was a high brick wall, which served as a basefor a stack of chimneys.

  He stood for some seconds listening. He could distinctly hear voicesascending from the room below.

  "I wonder what they will do to our friend Pendarvon, and how long theywill keep those dear policemen out--if I shall have time to do what Ihave to do. Keep moving, sir! The moments are all that you can callyour own."

  He went forward, keeping the stack of chimneys on his left.

  "Hallo! There's the edge of the roof! Yes, and here's a rail and abridge--all spoken of by our friend Pendarvon. To essay the great actof crossing the bridge!"

  He stepped on to the plank. It quivered beneath his weight.

  "This bridge is of somewhat rickety construction and the railunsteady."

  When about half-way across he paused. The plank seemed to be bendingdouble. He peered into the depths below.

  "It occurs to me that it would not be a difficult business to smashthis bridge into two clean halves as I stand here. That might be aneasy way to end it all. But it will not serve. There is that which Imust do."

  He moved on more rapidly. The frail planking shuddered and shook;it swung in the air. More than once it seemed as if the tall,quickly-moving figure was supported upon nothing. But the bridge becamefirmer as he approached the opposite side. He put out his hand to theleft, feeling for what Mr. Pendarvon told him he would find there.

  "The ladder! As he said, straight against the wall. Bravo! Now, if thehouse is only empty, the thing is done!"

  The house was empty, and the thing was done. It all happened as Mr.Pendarvon had said it would. He ascended the ladder, raised theunlatched window frame, struck a light, passed through the empty house,and into the street beyond. He found a cab, and, ere long, he was atAlbert Gate.

  As he stepped out of the cab some one touched him on the shoulder frombehind. He turned sharply round, thinking, perhaps, that he had butescaped from one pitfall to fall at once into another.

  But it was not so. The person whom he found himself confronting wasthat recalcitrant member of the Murder Club, Lord Archibald Beaupre.

  "You! Well?"

  This was Mr. Townsend's greeting. Lord Archibald's response was alittle delayed. When it did come it came in a hoarse whisper frombetween tremulous lips.

  "Why did you do it?"

  "D
o what?"

  Lord Archibald, leaning forward, whispered something into Mr.Townsend's ear.

  "I was afraid, my dear Archie, that you might be a quarter of an hourtoo late." Mr. Townsend paused, looking at, without seeming to notice,the other's ashen countenance. "Is she dead?"

  "No."

  "Will she die?"

  "No."

  There was silence. Then Lord Archibald went on, rendered almostvoiceless by contending emotions, "I was there in time; you should havewaited."

  "As I tell you, my dear Archie, it was a question of a quarter of anhour."

  "When I got there the house was in commotion. They had found her lyingin the hall, as you had left her. She was regaining consciousness as Iarrived. When she saw me she made me stoop down and she whispered tome. She told me that it was you who had done it, and that you did itjust as she was starting to save you."

  "She has, perhaps, her own notions of salvation."

  "I think she meant it. She said she was coming to warn you against aman named Haines."

  "Haines? Indeed! That is the second time I have been warned against aman named Haines. By the way, I have just come from Horseferry Road.Pendarvon has given the show away."

  "Pendarvon?"

  "Yes, Pendarvon. He has, what I believe old-fashioned thieves used tocall, blown the gaff. The place is in the hands of the police. Iescaped up the chimney. I expect that the gentlemen in blue will soonbe here. I have no doubt that already they have missed me and are hotupon my trail."

  "Reggie!"

  In Lord Archibald's voice there was something which sounded very like asob.

  "Don't worry about me, dear boy. For me, anyhow, all things are over.You'll be all right. After all, it was lucky for you that I was firstupon the scene." Having paused, he added, "Tell her, when she is allright again, as you seem to think she will be, that I am sorry I didit. She should have left me a wider option."

  "I don't believe she means to give you away. When the policemen askedher who had done it she said that the man was a stranger to her. Shehad never seen him in her life before."

  "Did she, indeed? How very odd! They tell you not to trust a woman. Myexperience teaches me not to trust a man. One thing I do regret. Ishould have liked to have killed Pendarvon. Archie, I want you to do mea favour--to take a message."

  "To whom?"

  "To Miss Jardine. Will you do it?"

  "Yes."

  The speaker's voice was even more husky than before.

  Mr. Townsend scribbled a few words on a page of his pocket-book.Tearing out the leaf, he handed it to Lord Archibald Beaupre.

  "Give her that. Not necessarily at once, but some time when the thing'sall over. And tell her----" He stopped; then, with a smile, went on,"Yes, tell her that I loved her, but that already, when my love for herwas born, it was too late."

  "I'll tell her. What are you going to do yourself?"

  "Do? Wait; they'll soon be here. I have one or two matters which willoccupy me till they come. Good-bye."

  He held out his hand. The other grasped it in his own.

  "By ----, Reggie, I had almost sooner that it had been I."

  "Don't be an ass, dear boy. Slip across the water till the wind hasblown a little of the dust away."

  He nodded, moved quickly across the pavement, and disappeared into thehouse. Lord Archibald Beaupre was left standing in the street,clutching the sheet of paper tightly in his hand.

  As Mr. Townsend entered a woman came forward to greet him. She wore anair of considerable concern.

  "Oh, Mr. Townsend, sir, I'm so glad it's you. Burton's out, andsomething has happened which has quite upset me.

  "I'm very sorry, Mrs. Lane, that you should have been upset. What hasupset you?"

  "There's been a man who wanted to see you--leastways, he didn't look asif he was a gentleman, and he didn't behave like one. I told him youweren't in, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He pushed right pastme and marched straight into your room, and said he'd wait until youcame. He's been there an hour or more; and I just went in to say that Ireally didn't think it was any use his waiting when I was taken quiteaback to find that the room was empty and that he wasn't there."

  "That, probably, was because he had gone. Let us trust that the spoonshave not gone too!"

  "Oh, sir, I do trust they haven't. But what makes it seem so queer tome is that I have been watching all the time, and haven't seen acreature leave the room."

  "Possibly, Mrs. Lane, he has vanished into air."

  Laughing at her as he passed, Mr. Townsend went into his room.