The Yellow Claw

  XII

  MR. GIANAPOLIS

  It will prove of interest at this place to avail ourselves of anopportunity denied to the police, and to inquire into the activities ofMr. Soames, whilom employee of Henry Leroux.

  Luke Soames was a man of unpleasant character; a man ever seekingadvancement--advancement to what he believed to be an ideal state, viz.:the possession of a competency; and to this ambition he subjugated allconflicting interests--especially the interests of others. From narrowbut honest beginnings, he had developed along lines ever growingnarrower until gradually honesty became squeezed out. He formed theopinion that wealth was unobtainable by dint of hard work; and indeedin a man of his limited intellectual attainments, this was no more thantrue.

  At the period when he becomes of interest, he had just discoveredhimself a gentleman-at-large by reason of his dismissal from theservices of a wealthy bachelor, to whose establishment in Piccadilly hehad been attached in the capacity of valet. There was nothing definiteagainst his character at this time, save that he had never remained forlong in any one situation.

  His experience was varied, if his references were limited; he had servednot only as valet, but also as chauffeur, as steward on an ocean liner,and, for a limited period, as temporary butler in an American householdat Nice.

  Soames' banking account had increased steadily, but not at a ratecommensurate with his ambitions; therefore, when entering his name andqualifications in the books of a certain exclusive employment agencyin Mayfair he determined to avail himself, upon this occasion, ofhis comparative independence by waiting until kindly Fate should castsomething really satisfactory in his path.

  Such an opening occurred very shortly after his first visit to theagent. He received a card instructing him to call at the office in orderto meet a certain Mr. Gianapolis. Quitting his rooms in Kennington, Mr.Soames, attired in discreet black, set out to make the acquaintance ofhis hypothetical employer.

  He found Mr. Gianapolis to be a little and very swarthy man, who heldhis head so low as to convey the impression of having a pronouncedstoop; a man whose well-cut clothes and immaculate linen could notredeem his appearance from a constitutional dirtiness. A jet blackmustache, small, aquiline features, an engaging smile, and very darkbrown eyes, viciously crossed, made up a personality incongruous withhis sheltering silk hat, and calling aloud for a tarboosh and a linensuit, a shop in a bazaar, or a part in the campaign of commercialbrigandage which, based in the Levant, spreads its ramificationsthroughout the Orient, Near and Far.

  Mr. Gianapolis had the suave speech and smiling manner. He greetedSoames not as one greets a prospective servant, but as one welcomesan esteemed acquaintance. Following a brief chat, he proposed anadjournment to a neighboring saloon bar; and there, over cocktails, heconversed with Mr. Soames as one crook with another.

  Soames was charmed, fascinated, yet vaguely horrified; for thisman smilingly threw off the cloak of hypocrisy from his companion'sshoulders, and pretended, with the skill of his race, equally to nudifyhis own villainy.

  "My dear Mr. Soames!" he said, speaking almost perfect English, but withthe sing-song intonation of the Greek, and giving all his syllablesan equal value--"you are the man I am looking for; and I can make yourfortune."

  This was entirely in accordance with Mr. Soames' own views, and henodded, respectfully.

  "I know," continued Gianapolis, proffering an excellent Egyptiancigarette, "that you were cramped in your last situation--that you weremisunderstood"...

  Soames, cigarette in hand, suppressed a start, and wondered if he wereturning pale. He selected a match with nervous care.

  "The little matter of the silver spoons," continued Gianapolis, smilingfraternally, "was perhaps an error of judgment. Although"--patting thestartled Soames upon the shoulder--"they were a legitimate perquisite;I am not blaming you. But it takes so long to accumulate a really usefulbalance in that petty way. Now"--he glanced cautiously about him--"Ican offer you a post under conditions which will place you above theconsideration of silver spoons!"

  Soames, hastily finishing his cocktail, sought for words; butGianapolis, finishing his own, blandly ordered two more, and, tappingSoames upon the knee, continued:

  "Then that matter of the petty cash, and those trifling irregularitiesin the wine-bill, you remember?--when you were with Colonel Hewett inNice?"...

  Soames gripped the counter hard, staring at the newly arrived cocktailas though it were hypnotizing him.

  "These little matters," added Gianapolis, appreciatively sipping fromhis own glass, "which would weigh heavily against your other references,in the event of their being mentioned to any prospective employer"...

  Soames knew beyond doubt that his face was very pale indeed.

  "These little matters, then," pursued Gianapolis, "all go to prove to MEthat you are a man of enterprise and spirit--that you are the very manI require. Now I can offer you a post in the establishment of Mr. HenryLeroux, the novelist. The service will be easy. You will be requiredto attend to callers and to wait at table upon special occasions. Therewill be no valeting, and you will have undisputed charge of the pantryand wine-cellar. In short, you will enjoy unusual liberty. The salary,you would say? It will be the same as that which you received from Mr.Mapleson"...

  Soames raised his head drearily; he felt himself in the toils; he felthimself a mined man.

  "It isn't a salary," he began, "which"...

  "My dear Mr. Soames," said Gianapolis, tapping him confidentially uponthe knee again--"my dear Soames, it isn't the salary, I admit, which youenjoyed whilst in the services of Colonel Hewett in a similar capacity.But this is not a large establishment, and the duties are light.Furthermore, there will be--extras."

  "Extras?"

  Mr. Soames' eye brightened, and under the benignant influence of thecocktails his courage began to return.

  "I do not refer," smiled Mr. Gianapolis, "to perquisites! The extraswill be monetary. Another two pounds per week"...

  "Two pounds!"

  "Bringing your salary up to a nice round figure; the additional amountwill be paid to you from another source. You will receive the latterpayment quarterly"...

  "From--from"...

  "From me!" said Mr. Gianapolis, smiling radiantly. "Now, I know youare going to accept; that is understood between us. I will give you theaddress--Palace Mansions, Westminster--at which you must apply; and Iwill tell you what little services will be required from you in returnfor this additional emolument."

  Mr. Soames hurriedly finished his second cocktail. Mr. Gianapolis, intrue sporting fashion, kept pace with him and repeated the order.

  "You will take charge of the mail!" he whispered softly, one irregulareye following the movements of the barmaid, and the other fixed almostfiercely upon the face of Soames. "At certain times--of which you willbe notified in advance--Mrs. Leroux will pay visits to Paris. At suchtimes, all letters addressed to her, or re-addressed to her, will notbe posted! You will ring me up when such letters come into yourpossession--they must ALL come into your possession!--and I will arrangeto meet you, say at the corner of Victoria Street, to receive them. Youunderstand?"

  Mr. Soames understood, and thus far found his plastic consciencemarching in step with his inclinations.

  "Then," resumed Gianapolis, "prior to her departure on these occasions,Mrs. Leroux will hand you a parcel. This also you will bring to me atthe place arranged. Do you find anything onerous in these conditions?"

  "Not at all," muttered Soames, a trifle unsteadily; "it seems allright"--the cocktails were beginning to speak now, and his voice was aduet--"simply perfectly all right--all square."

  "Good!" said Mr. Gianapolis with his radiant smile; and the gaze ofhis left eye, crossing that of its neighbor, observed the entrance of astranger into the bar. He drew his stool closer and lowered his voice:

  "Mrs. Leroux," he continued, "will be in your confidence. Mr. Leroux andevery one else--EVERY ONE else--must not suspect the arrangement"...

  "
Certainly--I quite understand"...

  "Mrs. Leroux will engage you this afternoon--her husband is a merecipher in the household--and you will commence your duties on Monday.Later in the week, Wednesday or Thursday, we will meet by appointment,and discuss further details."

  "Where can I see you?"

  "Ring up this number: 18642 East, and ask for Mr. King. No! don'twrite it down; remember it! I will come to the telephone, and arrange ameeting."

  Shortly after this, then, the interview concluded; and later in theafternoon of that day Mr. Soames presented himself at Palace Mansions.

  He was received by Mrs. Leroux--a pretty woman with a pathetically weakmouth. She had fair hair, not very abundant, and large eyes; which,since they exhibited the unusual phenomenon, in a blonde, of long darklashes (Mr. Soames judged their blackness to be natural), would havebeen beautiful had they not been of too light a color, too small in thepupils, and utterly expressionless. Indeed, her whole face lackedcolor, as did her personality, and the exquisite tea-gown which shewore conveyed that odd impression of slovenliness, which is often anindication of secret vice. She was quite young and indisputably pretty,but this malproprete, together with a certain aimlessness of manner,struck an incongruous note; for essentially she was of a type which forits complement needs vivacity.

  Mr. Soames, a man of experience, scented an intrigue and a neglectfulhusband. Since he was engaged on the spot without reference to theinvisible Leroux, he was immediately confirmed in the latter part ofhis surmise. He departed well satisfied with his affairs, and withthe promise of the future, over which Mr. Gianapolis, the cherubic,radiantly presided.