Yes," he went on, "Red Mullet is infear of his enemies! It's no good denying it. Hitherto he's alwaysdefied them, even at the muzzle of a gun! But recently they've becomejust one too many for him!"
He paused and lit a cigarette. Then with a sudden gesture of despair heasked himself aloud: "How can I assist the little girl to get back herlover? Frank Farquhar is a good fellow, I've discovered. And he'sdevoted to her. How can I compel him to believe in her?"
When he entered his chambers, he flung himself again into the armchairin which Gwen had sat.
"It would be a cursed shame if ever the sacred relics of Israel fellinto the hands of such a blackguardly hypocrite as Challas. What doeshe care for their antiquity, or their religious significance? Nothing.The gold he'd melt down and sell at its market value per ounce, whilethe sacred objects of the Holy of Holies he would wantonly destroy, inface of the Jews and in order to laugh them to scorn. He shan't dothat! By Heaven! he shan't. If the treasure is still there it shall berecovered by the Doctor and Griffin. I'll help them, and I'll stillremain little Gwen's protector, even if it costs me my liberty to do so.Besides--"
His fierce words of determination were interrupted by a ring at thefront door bell, and he went along the small hall to open it.
Jim Jannaway, in a light overcoat and crush hat, stood upon the mat.
"By Jove, Charlie!" he cried, "I'm jolly glad you're at home, old chap!"
"Why?" asked Mullet admitting him, and closing the door.
"Well, my dear fellow," he said in a breathless voice. "Something uglyhas happened. You've been given away. Somebody has recognised thatyou're back in London!"
"Who?" gasped the red-haired man.
"Ah! that we don't know yet. The `boss' has just sent me round to tellyou to clear out at once--this instant!"
"H'm," remarked "Red Mullet." "Now that's deuced funny! Why didn't hekeep his fears to himself, and let me take the consequences--eh?"
"Why, of course he wouldn't do that. He never lets us down--you surelyknow him too well for that," remarked the other.
"And he gives me the tip to clear out!" said Charlie Mullet. "It'sreally very kind and considerate of him."
"Well, my dear fellow. You don't seem to appreciate his kindness verymuch."
"I never appreciate the solicitude of my enemies, my dear Jim," hereplied with perfect nonchalance. "It's my failing, I suppose."
Jannaway disregarded the sarcasm, and said:
"I was with him only half an hour ago round in Berkeley Square, and hetold me to come along at once to you, and urge you to get away. He gaveme these for you," and from his pocket he produced three thousand-francnotes.
"My dear Jim, both you and Felix seem to take me for a silly mug,"laughed Red Mullet defiantly, "but you must please remember that I'vebeen mug-hunting too long to be bluffed like this. The exemplaryBaronet is desirous that I should leave London, and sends you, hisemissary, to give me timely warning. Well, my dear boy. I want nowarning," he said, for he was now on his mettle. "I shall simply remainhere. If they send anybody from Scotland Yard--well, here's a drink forthem," and he indicated the tantalus and glasses upon a side table.
"But surely you don't wish to remain here, and give the whole gameaway!" cried Jannaway, anxiously, standing in the centre of the room,his hat pushed slightly to the back of his head.
"What does it matter to me? I never move without just cause. I'mgrowing rather sceptical in my old age. What proof have I of thisextraordinary _contretemps_?"
"What proof do you want? I'm here to warn you. Are you a fool,Charlie?"
"Yes. Until I know why this warning has been given me. How does Felixknow?"
"He has a pal down at Scotland Yard--a sergeant whom he helped `over thestile' a few years ago. He gives him valuable tips sometimes. One ofthem is that you've been recognised, and that the warrant has been givenfor your arrest to-night."
"Ah, my boy," replied "Red Mullet," lighting a fresh cigarette withoutturning a hair, "that's really interesting. And if I go down to BowStreet depend upon it I shan't go alone. So you can just go back toBerkeley Square, and tell Felix what I say."
"Why--what's the matter with you to-night, Charlie?" asked the other,looking at him in surprise.
What could the man know, he wondered? He seemed to scent the betrayalintended as soon as he was across the Channel.
"Matter?" he echoed. "Why, my dear Jim, I merely keep my eyes skinned,that's all."
"And you refuse to heed Felix's warning?"
"Yes, I'm very comfortable at home here--and here I mean to stay. Letthe police come along if they like and I'll entertain them with a veryinteresting story. They re fond of hearing stories from men likemyself, Jim."
"What the devil is the matter with you!" cried Jannaway, turning uponhim fiercely.
"Nothing, I'm only surprised to find you such a fool, Jim. I thoughtbetter of you," was the other's calm response. "Do you know," he added,"you people who live in London want the moss scraped off you. We boyson the Continent are a lot sharper. We see the word danger written up,even when it's beyond the horizon and the detective is still off themap. You people here deliberately run your heads into nooses."
"How?"
"Well, you and Felix have arranged the little loop for yourselves inthis affair, my dear boy. So do go home and sleep on it," he laughedmerrily.
"You're a fool!" declared the other, turning from him impatiently.
"Of course. I'm a fool for not falling into the very clever trap whichSir Felix Challas and his sharp `cat's-paw', Jim Jannaway, have laid forme," he answered, looking the fellow straight in the face.
"Bah! All this quarrel arises over a girl--a little chit of a girl who,after all, hasn't much of a reputation to lose."
"And to whom do you refer, pray?" asked Charlie, indignantly.
"To Griffin's girl, of course--the girl who was with you so long inthese chambers, and whom you pretended to regard with such paternalcare," he sneered.
"You cast a slur upon the poor girl who was your victim!" cried thered-haired man angrily.
"I cast no slur. I speak the truth."
"Then you're an accursed liar!" cried Mullet, angrily. "Having failedto entrap her, you come here to-night to try and have me! But your ruseis a little bit too thin! Let the police come and learn from me thetruth concerning our beautiful Birthday Baronet! I'll welcome them. Sofirst go back with my compliments to Berkeley Square."
"Then your intention, now you're in danger, is to give us away--eh?"exclaimed Jannaway, now flushed and excited. And in a second he hadsnatched up a heavy bronze ornament from the mantelshelf, intending tobring it down upon the other's head with a blow that must have crushedhim.
In an instant, however, Mullet was on his guard. He was not a man to betaken by surprise.
"Now put that down at once, Jim, and clear out of my rooms," he cried,and Jannaway found himself looking down the plated barrel of aserviceable-looking Smith-Wesson revolver.
"Curse you!" cried the man, and he cast the ornament heavily upon thefloor.
"My dear Jim," said the other, "the best place for you would really beon the Continent. You would learn wisdom, and would never attempt abluff on a pal like this. You can't attempt a four-flush with me, youknow. So first go back to the `Birthday Money-Spinner' and tell him`Red Mullet's' decision is to remain in London, and if necessary--totell Scotland Yard the tale!"
"But--"
"Curse you! There are no buts!" cried Red Mullet, his eyes now flashingwith anger while he held his revolver straight at his enemy's head."Out of my rooms with you, or by Gad! I'll plug you! I see throughyour clever little game. Once I'm over there, then you'd send me toprison without the least compunction--because I let the girl slipthrough your blackguardly fingers. But no more gas. I mean businessto-night. Out you go--and quick!"
"You wouldn't say this if I had a gun!" remarked Jannaway between histeeth.
"I care less for your gun than I do
for you, my dear boy," laughed "RedMullet;" "go back to Challas, and tell him that to-night he's tried tobluff the wrong man, and that he'll have to pay heavily for losing thegame."
"You talk like an idiot."
"And you've acted as one. Out and begone!"
And the man who, when he had entered,