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44 chapters
She leaned across and with trembling fingers backed number fourteen en plein.
She leaned across and with trembling fingers backed number fourteen en plein.
CHAPTER I. An Unexpected Meeting CHAPTER II. By Accident or Design CHAPTER III. A Warning CHAPTER IV. Enter the American CHAPTER V. " Who is Mr. Grex ?" CHAPTER VI. Cakes and Counsels CHAPTER VII. The Effrontery of Richard CHAPTER VIII. Up the Mountain CHAPTER IX. In the Mists CHAPTER X. Signs of Trouble CHAPTER XI. Hints to Hunterleys CHAPTER XII. " I Cannot Go! " CHAPTER XIII. Miss Grex at Home CHAPTER XIV. Dinner for Two CHAPTER XV. International Politics CHAPTER XVI. A Bargain with Jean Coul
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AN UNEXPECTED MEETING
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING
The eyes of the man who had looked in upon a scene inordinately, fantastically brilliant, underwent, after those first few moments of comparative indifference, a curious transformation. He was contemplating one of the sights of the world. Crowded around the two roulette tables, promenading or lounging on the heavily cushioned divans against the wall, he took note of a conglomeration of people representing, perhaps, every grade of society, every nationality of importance, yet with a curious commo
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"For the last time, then—to Monte Carlo!"
"For the last time, then—to Monte Carlo!"
They drank the toast and a few minutes later Hunterleys slipped away. The two men looked after him. The smile seemed gradually to leave Selingman's lips, his face was large and impressive. "Run and fetch your cloak, dear," he said to the girl. She obeyed at once. Selingman leaned across the table towards his companion. "What does Hunterleys do here?" he asked. Draconmeyer shook his head. "Who knows?" he answered. "Perhaps he has come to look after his wife. He has been to Bordighera and San Remo
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A WARNING
A WARNING
Hunterleys dined alone at a small round table, set in a remote corner of the great restaurant attached to the Hotel de Paris. The scene around him was full of colour and interest. A scarlet-coated band made wonderful music. The toilettes of the women who kept passing backwards and forwards, on their way to the various tables, were marvellous; in their way unique. The lights and flowers of the room, its appointments and adornments, all represented the last word in luxury. Everywhere was colour, e
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ENTER THE AMERICAN
ENTER THE AMERICAN
Lady Weybourne was lunching on the terrace of Ciro's restaurant with her brother. She was small, dark, vivacious. Her friends, of whom she had thousands, all called her Flossie, and she was probably the most popular American woman who had ever married into the English peerage. Her brother, Richard Lane, on the other hand, was tall, very broad-shouldered, with a strong, clean-shaven face, inclined by disposition to be taciturn. On this particular morning he had less even than usual to say, and al
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"WHO IS MR. GREX?"
"WHO IS MR. GREX?"
Lady Weybourne insisted, after a reasonable amount of time spent over their coffee, that her brother should pay the bill and leave the restaurant. They walked slowly across the square. "What are you going to do about it?" he asked. "There is only one thing to be done," she replied. "I shall speak to every one I meet this afternoon—I shall be, in fact, most sociable—and sooner or later in our conversation I shall ask every one if they know Mr. Grex and his daughter. When I arrive at some one who
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CAKES AND COUNSELS
CAKES AND COUNSELS
The Sporting Club seemed to fill up that afternoon almost as soon as the doors were opened. At half-past four, people were standing two or three deep around the roulette tables. Selingman, very warm, and looking somewhat annoyed, withdrew himself from the front row of the lower table, and taking Mr. Grex and Draconmeyer by the arm, led them towards the tea-room. "I have lost six louis!" he exclaimed, fretfully. "I have had the devil's own luck. I shall play no more for the present. We will have
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THE EFFRONTERY OF RICHARD
THE EFFRONTERY OF RICHARD
Hunterleys took leave of his companion as soon as they arrived at the roulette rooms. "Take my advice, Lane," he said seriously. "Find something to occupy your thoughts. Throw a few hundred thousand of your dollars away at the tables, if you must do something foolish. You'll get into far less trouble." Richard made no direct reply. He watched Hunterleys depart and took up his place opposite the door to await his sister's arrival. It was a quarter to five before she appeared and found him waiting
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UP THE MOUNTAIN
UP THE MOUNTAIN
Richard, passing the Hotel de Paris that evening in his wicked-looking grey racing car, saw Hunterleys standing on the steps and pulled up. "Not going up to La Turbie, by any chance?" he enquired. Hunterleys nodded. "I'm going up to the dinner," he replied. "The hotel motor is starting from here in a few minutes." "Come with me," Richard invited. Hunterleys looked a little doubtfully at the long, low machine. "Are you going to shoot up?" he asked. "It's rather a dangerous road." "I'll take care
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IN THE MISTS
IN THE MISTS
Their first glimpse of the night, as Hunterleys and Lane passed out through the grudgingly opened door, was sufficiently disconcerting. A little murmur of dismay broke from the assembled crowd. Nothing was to be seen but a dense bank of white mist, through which shone the brilliant lights of the automobiles waiting at the door. Monsieur le Directeur hastened about, doing his best to reassure everybody. "If I thought it was of the slightest use," he declared, "I would ask you all to stay, but whe
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"Come on, you fellows!" he shouted.
"Come on, you fellows!" he shouted.
"And I've got him!" Hunterleys, who had been watching Lane closely, cried, suddenly swinging his arm around the man's neck and knocking his revolver up. There was a yell of pain from the man with the jewels, whose wrist Lane had broken, a howl of dismay from the others—pandemonium. "At 'em, Freddy!" Lane shouted, seizing the nearest of his assailants by the neck and throwing him out into the darkness. "To hell with you!" he added, just escaping a murderous blow and driving his fist into the face
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SIGNS OF TROUBLE
SIGNS OF TROUBLE
At ten o'clock the next morning, Hunterleys crossed the sunlit gardens towards the English bank, to receive what was, perhaps, the greatest shock of his life. A few minutes later he stood before the mahogany counter, his eyes fixed upon the half sheet of notepaper which the manager had laid before him. The words were few enough and simple enough, yet they constituted for him a message written in the very ink of tragedy. The notepaper was the notepaper of the Hotel de Paris, the date the night be
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HINTS TO HUNTERLEYS
HINTS TO HUNTERLEYS
Hunterleys, in accordance with his request, followed the Commissioner downstairs into one of the small private rooms on the ground floor. The latter was very polite but very official. "Now what is it that you want?" Hunterleys asked, a little brusquely, as soon as they were alone. The representative of the law was distinctly mysterious. He had a brown moustache which he continually twirled, and he was all the time dropping his voice to a whisper. "My first introduction to you should explain my m
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"I CANNOT GO!"
"I CANNOT GO!"
Hunterleys stood for several minutes, watching his wife's play from a new point of view. She was certainly playing high and with continued ill-fortune. For the first time, too, he noticed symptoms which disturbed him. She sat quite motionless, but there was an unfamiliar glitter in her eyes and a hardness about her mouth. It was not until he had stood within a few feet of her for nearly a quarter of an hour, that she chanced to see him. "Did you want me?" she asked, with a little start. "There i
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MISS GREX AT HOME
MISS GREX AT HOME
Richard Lane, as he made his way up the avenue towards the Villa Mimosa, wondered whether he was not indeed finding his way into fairyland. On either side of him were drooping mimosa trees, heavy with the snaky, orange-coloured blossom whose perfumes hung heavy upon the windless air. In the background, bordering the gardens which were themselves a maze of colour, were great clumps of glorious purple rhododendrons, drooping clusters of red and white roses. A sudden turn revealed a long pergola, s
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DINNER FOR TWO
DINNER FOR TWO
At a few minutes before eight o'clock that evening Lady Hunterleys descended the steps of the Casino and crossed the square towards the Hotel de Paris. She walked very slowly and she looked neither to the right nor to the left. She had the air of seeing no one. She acknowledged mechanically the low bow of the commissionaire who opened the door for her. A reception clerk who stood on one side to let her pass, she ignored altogether. She crossed the hall to the lift and pressed the bell. Draconmey
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INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
The Villa Mimosa flamed with lights from the top story to the ground-floor. The entrance gates stood wide-open. All along the drive, lamps flashed from unsuspected places beneath the yellow-flowering trees. One room only seemed shrouded in darkness and mystery, and around that one room was concentrated the tense life of the villa. Thick curtains had been drawn with careful hands. The heavy door had been securely closed. The French-windows which led out on to the balcony had been almost barricade
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"What we ask of France is that she looks the other way."
"What we ask of France is that she looks the other way."
There was a sudden glitter in the eyes of Monsieur Douaille. Selingman saw it and pressed on. "There are laurels to be won which will never fade," he continued, setting down his empty tumbler, "laurels to be won by that statesman of your country, the little boy France, who is big enough and strong enough to stand with his feet upon the earth and proclaim—'I am for France and my own people, and my own people only, and I will make them great through all the centuries by seeing the truth and leadin
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A BARGAIN WITH JEAN COULOIS
A BARGAIN WITH JEAN COULOIS
Selingman drew out his watch and held it underneath the electric light set in the back of the automobile. "Good!" he declared. "It is not yet half-past eleven." "Too early for the Austria," Draconmeyer murmured, a little absently. Selingman returned the watch to his pocket. "By no means," he objected. "Mademoiselle is doubtless amusing herself well enough, but if I go now and leave in an hour, she will be peevish. She might want to accompany us. To-night it would not be convenient. Tell your cha
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"That two hundred shall be five hundred, but it must be a cemetery to which they take him!"
"That two hundred shall be five hundred, but it must be a cemetery to which they take him!"
There was a moment's silence. Selingman sat back in his place. He was staring at his companion with wide-open eyes. Jean Coulois was moistening his lips with his tongue, his eyes were brilliant. "Five hundred louis!" he repeated under his breath. "Is it not enough?" Draconmeyer asked coldly. "I do not believe in half measures. The man who is wounded may be well before he is welcome. If five hundred louis is not enough, name your price, but let there be no doubt. Let me see what the Wolves can do
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DUTY INTERFERES AGAIN
DUTY INTERFERES AGAIN
Hunterleys sat that night alone in a seat at the Opera for a time and lost himself in a maze of recollections. He seemed to find himself growing younger as he listened to the music. The days of a more vivid and ardent sentimentality seemed to reassert themselves. He thought of the hours when he had sat side by side with his wife, the only woman to whom he had ever given a thought; of the thrill which even the touch of her fingers had given him, of the drive home together, the little confidences
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A MIDNIGHT CONFERENCE
A MIDNIGHT CONFERENCE
Hunterleys remained in the hotel only long enough to change his straw hat for a cap, put on a long, light overcoat and take an ash stick from his wardrobe. He left the place by an unfrequented entrance and commenced at once to climb to the back part of the town. Once or twice he paused and looked around, to be sure that he was not followed. When he had arrived as far as the Hotel de Prince de Galles, he crossed the road. From here he walked very quickly and took three turns in rapid succession.
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"TAKE ME AWAY!"
"TAKE ME AWAY!"
Richard presented himself the next morning at the Hotel de Paris. "Cheero!" he exclaimed, on being shown into Hunterleys' sitting-room. "All right up to date, I see." Hunterleys nodded. He had just come in from the bank and held his letters in his hand. Richard seated himself on the edge of the table. "I slept out on the yacht last night," he said. "Got up at six o'clock and had a swim. What about a round of golf at La Turbie? We can get down again by luncheon-time, before the people are about."
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WILY MR. DRACONMEYER
WILY MR. DRACONMEYER
They had skirted the wonderful bay and climbed the mountainous hill to the frontier before Violet spoke. All the time Draconmeyer leaned back by her side, perfectly content. A man of varied subtleties, he understood and fully appreciated the intrinsic value of silence. Whilst the Customs officer, however, was making out the deposit note for the car, she turned to him. "Will you tell me something, Mr. Draconmeyer?" "Of course!" "It is about my husband," she went on. "Henry isn't your friend—you d
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ASSASSINATION!
ASSASSINATION!
Selingman, a large cigar between his lips and a happy smile upon his face, stood in the square before the Casino, watching the pigeons. He had just enjoyed an excellent lunch, he was exceedingly pleased with a new light grey suit which he was wearing, and his one unsatisfied desire was for companionship. Draconmeyer was away motoring with Lady Hunterleys, Mr. Grex was spending the early part of the day in conclave with their visitor from France, and Mademoiselle Nipon had gone to Nice for the da
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THE WRONG MAN
THE WRONG MAN
Selingman came out into the sunlit streets very much as a man who leaves a dark and shrouded room. The shock of tragedy was still upon him. There was a little choke in his throat as he mingled with the careless, pleasure-loving throng, mostly wending their way now towards the Rooms or the Terrace. As he crossed the square towards the Hotel de Paris, his steps grew slower and slower. He looked at the building half-fearfully. Beautifully dressed women, men of every nationality, were passing in and
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TROUBLE BREWING
TROUBLE BREWING
The maître d'hôtel had presented his bill. The little luncheon party was almost over. "So I take leave," Hunterleys remarked, as he sat down his empty liqueur glass, "of one of my responsibilities in life." "I think I'd like to remain a sort of half ward, please," Felicia objected, "in case David doesn't treat me properly." "If he doesn't," Hunterleys declared, "he will have me to answer to. Seriously, I think you young people are very wise and very foolish and very much to be envied. What does
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HUNTERLEYS SCENTS MURDER
HUNTERLEYS SCENTS MURDER
The concierge of the Hotel de Paris was a man of great stature and imposing appearance. Nevertheless, when Hunterleys crossed the road and climbed the steps to the hotel, he seemed for a moment like a man reduced to pulp. He absolutely forgot his usual dignified but courteous greeting. With mouth a little open and knees which seemed to have collapsed, he stared at this unexpected apparition as he came into sight and stared at him as he entered the hotel. Hunterleys glanced behind with a slight f
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DRACONMEYER IS DESPERATE
DRACONMEYER IS DESPERATE
Draconmeyer stood before the window of his room, looking out over the Mediterranean. There was no finer view to be obtained from any suite in the hotel, and Monte Carlo had revelled all that day in the golden, transfiguring sunshine. Yet he looked as a blind man. His eyes saw nothing of the blue sea or the brown-sailed fishing boats, nor did he once glance towards the picturesque harbour. He saw only his own future, the shattered pieces of his carefully-thought-out scheme. The first fury had pas
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EXTRAORDINARY LOVE-MAKING
EXTRAORDINARY LOVE-MAKING
Fedora sauntered slowly around the rooms, leaning over and staking a gold plaque here and there. She was dressed as usual in white, with an ermine turban hat and stole and an enormous muff. Her hair seemed more golden than ever beneath its snow-white setting, and her complexion more dazzling. She seemed utterly unconscious of the admiration which her appearance evoked, and she passed Lane without apparently observing him. A moment afterwards, however, he moved to her side and addressed her. "Qui
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PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES
PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES
Violet glanced at her watch with an exclamation of dismayed annoyance. She leaned appealingly towards the croupier. "But one coup more, monsieur," she pleaded. "Indeed your clock is fast." The croupier shook his head. He was a man of gallantry so far as his profession permitted, and he was a great admirer of the beautiful Englishwoman, but the rules of the Club were strict. "Madame," he pointed out, "it is already five minutes past eight. It is absolutely prohibited that we start another coup af
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TO THE VILLA MIMOSA
TO THE VILLA MIMOSA
With feet that seemed to touch nothing more substantial than air, her eyes brilliant, a wonderful colour in her cheeks, Violet passed through the heavy, dingy rooms and out through the motley crowd into the portico of the Casino. She was right! She knew that she had been right! How wise she had been to borrow that money from Mr. Draconmeyer instead of sitting down and confessing herself vanquished! The last few hours had been hours of ecstatic happiness. With calm confidence she had sat in her p
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FOR HIS COUNTRY
FOR HIS COUNTRY
The minutes glided by as the two men sat together in the perfumed, shadowy darkness. From their feet the glittering canopy of lights swept upwards to the mountain-sides, even to the stars, but a chain of slowly drifting black clouds hung down in front of the moon, and until their eyes became accustomed to their surroundings it seemed to both of them as though they were sitting in a very pit of darkness. "It is possible," Hunterleys whispered, after some time, "that we may have to wait for anothe
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"SUPPOSING I TAKE THIS MONEY"
"SUPPOSING I TAKE THIS MONEY"
There was a momentary commotion in the Club. A woman had fainted at one of the roulette tables. Her chair was quickly drawn back. She was helped out to the open space at the top of the stairs and placed in an easy-chair there. Lady Weybourne, who was on the point of leaving with her husband, hastened back. She stood there while the usual restoratives were being administered, fanning the unconscious woman with a white ostrich fan which hung from her waist. Presently Violet opened her eyes. She re
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NEARING A CRISIS
NEARING A CRISIS
From the wilds of Scotland to Monte Carlo, as fast as motor-cars and train de luxe could bring him, came the right Honourable Meredith Simpson, a very distinguished member of His Majesty's Government. Hunterleys, advised of his coming by telegram from Marseilles, met him at the station, and together the two men made their way at once to Hunterleys' room across at the Hotel de Paris. Behind locked doors they spoke for the first time of important matters. "It's a great find, this of yours, Hunterl
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AN INTERESTING MEETING
AN INTERESTING MEETING
Hunterleys leaned suddenly forward across the little round table. "The question of whether or no you shall pay your respects to Monsieur Douaille," he remarked, "is solved. Unless I am very much mistaken, we are going to have an exceedingly interesting luncheon-party on our right." "Monsieur Douaille——" Mr. Simpson began, a little eagerly. "And the others," Hunterleys interrupted. "Don't look around for a moment. This is almost historical." Monsieur Ciro himself, bowing and smiling, was ushering
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Mr. Grex, with his daughter and Lady Hunterleys on one side and Monsieur Douaille on the other, were in the van.
Mr. Grex, with his daughter and Lady Hunterleys on one side and Monsieur Douaille on the other, were in the van.
"A luncheon-party for Douaille," Hunterleys murmured, as he bowed, to his wife and exchanged greetings with some of the others. "I wonder what they think of their neighbours! A little embarrassing for the chief guest, I am afraid." "I see your wife is in the enemy's camp," his companion observed. "Draconmeyer is coming to speak to me. This promises to be interesting." Draconmeyer and Selingman both came over to greet the English Minister. Selingman's blue eyes were twinkling with humour, his smi
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THE FATES ARE KIND
THE FATES ARE KIND
The Bar de Montmartre was many steps under the level of the street, dark, smelly, and dilapidated. Its only occupants were a handful of drivers from the carriage-stand opposite, who stared at Hunterleys in amazement as he entered, and then rushed forward, almost in a body, to offer their services. The man behind the bar, however, who had evidently been forewarned, intervened with a few sharp words, and, lifting the flap of the counter, ushered Hunterleys into a little room beyond. Frenhofer was
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COFFEE FOR ONE ONLY
COFFEE FOR ONE ONLY
The breaking up of Mr. Grex's luncheon-party was the signal for a certain amount of man[oe]uvring on the part of one or two of his guests. Monsieur Douaille, for instance, was anxious to remain the escort of Lady Hunterleys, whose plans for the afternoon he had ascertained were unformed. Mr. Grex was anxious to keep apart his daughter and Lady Weybourne, whose relationship to Richard Lane he had only just apprehended; while he himself desired a little quiet conversation with Monsieur Douaille be
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A NEW MAP OF THE EARTH
A NEW MAP OF THE EARTH
Selingman, who was leaning back in a leather-padded chair and smoking a very excellent cigar, looked around at his companions with a smile of complete approval. "Our host," he declared, bowing to Mr. Grex, "has surpassed himself. For a hired yacht I have seen nothing more magnificent. A Cabinet Moselle, Flor de Cuba cigars, the best of company, and an isolation beyond all question. What place could suit us better?" There was a little murmur of assent. The four men were seated together in the won
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CHECKMATE!
CHECKMATE!
Of the four men, Selingman was the first to recover himself. "Who the hell are you, and how did you get up there?" he roared. "I am Richard Lane," the young man explained affably, "and there's a way up from the music-room. You probably didn't notice it. And there's a way down, as you may perceive," he added, pointing to the spiral staircase. "I'll join you, if I may." There was a dead silence as for a moment Richard disappeared and was seen immediately afterwards descending the round staircase.
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AN AMAZING ELOPEMENT
AN AMAZING ELOPEMENT
The sun was shining brilliantly and the sky was cloudless as Richard turned his automobile into the grounds of the Villa Mimosa, soon after nine o'clock on the following morning. The yellow-blossomed trees, slightly stirred by the west wind, formed a golden arch across the winding avenue. The air was sweet, almost faint with perfume. On the terrace, holding a pair of field-glasses in her hand and gazing intently out to sea, was Fedora. At the sound of the motor-horn she turned quickly. She looke
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HONEYMOONING
HONEYMOONING
Hunterleys saw the Right Honourable Meredith Simpson and Monsieur Douaille off to Paris early that morning. Then he called round at the hospital to find that Sidney Roche was out of danger, and went on to the villa with the good news. On his way back he stayed chatting with the bank manager until rather later than usual, and afterwards strolled on to the Terrace, where he looked with some eagerness towards a certain point in the bay. The Minnehaha had departed. Mr. Grex and his friends, then, ha
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E. Phillips Oppenheim's Novels
E. Phillips Oppenheim's Novels
We do not stop to inquire into the measure of his art any more than we inquire into that of Alexander Dumas. We only realize that here is a benefactor of tired men and women seeking relaxation.— Independent , New York....
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