|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 23
I perceive that I had to deal with a bold adventuress, with a
consummate actress, who, finding herself in a dangerous situation,
had adopted this daring line of defence, and now by her personal
charm sought to lure me from my purpose.
But with the scimitar of Hassan of Aleppo stretched over me, with
the dangers of the night before me, I was in no mood for a veiled
duel of words, for an interchange of glances in thrust and parry,
however delightful such warfare might have been with so pretty an
adversary.
For a long time I looked sternly into her eyes; but their violet
mystery defied, whilst her red-lipped smile taunted me.
"Unfortunately," I said, with slow emphasis, "you are protected by
my promise, made on the occasion of our previous meeting. But
murder has been done, so that honour scarcely demands that I respect
my promise further--"
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Surely that depends upon the quality of the honour!" she said.
"I believe you to be a member of a murderous organization, and
unless you can convince me that I am wrong, I shall act accordingly."
At that she leaned toward me, laying her hand on my arm.
"Please do not be so cruel," she whispered, "as to drag me into a
matter with which truly I have no concern. Believe me, you are
utterly mistaken. Wait one moment, and I will prove it."
She rose, and before I could make move to detain her, quitted the
room; but the door scarcely had closed ere I was afoot. The
corridor beyond was empty. I ran on. The lift had just descended.
A dark man whom I recognized stood near the closed gate.
"Quick!" I said, "I am Cavanagh of the Report! Did you see a lady
enter the lift?"
"I did, Mr. Cavanagh," answered the hotel detective; for this was he.
In such a giant inn as this I knew full well that one could come and
go almost with impunity, though one had no right to the hospitality
of the establishment; and it was with a premonition respecting what
his answer would be, that I asked the man--
"Is she staying here?"
"She is not. I have never seen her before!"
The girl with the violet eyes had escaped, taking all her secrets
with her!
CHAPTER IX
SECOND ATTEMPT ON THE SAFE
"You see," said Bristol, "the Hashishin must know that the safe
won't remain here unopened much longer. They will therefore
probably make another attempt to-night."
"It seems likely," I replied; and was silent. Outside the open
windows whispered the shrubbery, as a soft breeze stole through the
bushes. Beyond, the moon made play in the dim avenue. From the
old chapel hard by the sweet-toned bell proclaimed midnight. Our
vigil was begun. In this room it was that Professor Deeping had
met death at the hands of the murderous Easterns; here it was that
Marden and West had mysteriously been struck down the night before.
To-night was every whit as hot, and Bristol and I had the windows
widely opened. My companion was seated where the detective, Marden,
had sat, in a chair near the westerly window, and I lay back in
the armchair that had been occupied by West.
I may repeat here that the house of the late Professor Deeping was
more properly a cottage, surrounded by a fairly large piece of
ground, for the most part run wild. The room used as a study was
on the ground floor, and had windows on the west and on the south.
Those on the west (French windows) opened on a loggia; those on the
south opened right into the dense tangle of a neglected shrubbery.
The place possessed an oppressive atmosphere of loneliness, for
which in some measure its history may have been responsible.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|