H. Bedford-Jones

“ Probably in the course of the morning Marmont had caught that registered letter. That he had secured it, whether by bribery or strategy, in the face of the stringent postal regulations was proof enough of his ability.
“When you set out to measure swords with me, Ogilvy, you picked the wrong man!” said Marmont, a hint of steel in his voice. “I picked the wrong man when I secured your passport, I admit; but I'm equal to coping with errors. You're not. You ran your head into a game that's far beyond you, and you know what to expect.” ”

“ Marmont glanced around the circle and met none. “The motion is approved.”
“And how,” demanded Ogilvy, with sarcasm, “do you propose to carry it out? By putting cyanide in my coffee, or by staking me out on the sands to drown with the tide?”
“Neither,” said Marmont, and chuckled. “You will be put in a certain room. After dinner tonight the room will be flooded with a certain gas; when your body is found, it will be seen clearly that you died by drowning. We can even manage to flood the lungs with water by a simple device invented by M. de Nesle yonder, who is a physician.” ”

“ Ogilvy struck his head against a stone, and for an instant was dazed. He dug one hand into his pocket, trying to get out the Luger, while both his assailants wrenched at him. Even in this moment, their manner of fighting struck him with contemptuous amusement,
“They're like a couple of old women and——”
As though in response to his unspoken thought, a pistol roared, but left him untouched. He had his own Luger now, but for an instant more could not use it. One of the two men had him by the coat and was jerking him aside with desperate wrenches. ”

“ The tiny, narrow streets are lined with boozing dens, the doorways know blowsy, beckoning women; here are money-changers and pallid, furtive-eyed men with faces of preying birds, and worse. This town is a center for many things—sea-trade, traffic with America and England, the coast resorts lying all around—and is on the line between Paris and London and New York. Havre in the west, like Marseilles in the south, has its finger on the very pulse of France.
“Why not?” Ogilvy laughed suddenly. ”

“ But John Ogilvy had no intention of doing anything of the sort.
“It is human nature,” said Marmont suavely, “to desire the inaccessible, to seek what is unattainable, from a superficial viewpoint. That is why, for example, a bad man usually loves a good woman. That is why I fastened my desires upon certain things, and attained them despite obstacles. That is why our friend Ogilvy was tempted to take over single-handed a task at which all the police of Europe had failed ignominiously.” ”

“ Not so Keene, however, the fourth of the quartette. A hard-bitten man of fifty, Keene had been all over the world and had done everything, spoke half a dozen languages, and now very frankly made a large living in the racing game. He played polo and had a horse-raising outfit in India for the game, and was now on a leisurely return to the Far East after a year spent at home. Crude in some ways, he was in others astonishingly cultured, and Ogilvy had long since marked him down as that rarest of men—utterly dependable and a good sport. ”

“ The column was now transformed into a spike; the electric bulb had become a weapon. Fragile, true, yet far less fragile than human life.
As he contemplated his work, then put it under the pillow of the cot, Ogilvy suddenly straightened up, listening. On the wall beside him had come a sharp tap, not loud but distinct. It came again and again, with pauses. Someone, then, was in an adjoining room or chamber—no doubt a similar death-cell to this one—and had heard the report of the bursting bulb! And as he listened, Ogilvy suddenly recognized what those taps were saying, over and over, in Morse. ”

“ Then a spat-spat of fists, heavy pounding blows, merciless, unguarded, the two men slugging with every ounce of strength.
Neither of them could stand such furious expenditure for long. Human flesh and muscle could not stand it. Twice Marmont opened his mouth, drew back his head to utter a shout; each time Ogilvy smashed him square in the teeth. His face was a white-and-red mask. Abruptly he got in a straight left to the chin and Ogilvy was hurled backward. In this instant Marmont got out one hoarse, panting shout ”

“ Marmont got out, took one of his suitcases, and entered the place. It was anything but a choice establishment, being a hang-out of chauffeurs.
Ogilvy's driver went on to the next corner, turned up the street, turned around and came back, and waited. Almost immediately Marmont's car passed—the count must have taken in the suitcase and then left at once. Now his taxi headed back to the square at the end of the yacht-basin, and turned down for the Quai de Southampton. At the shed devoted to the Trouville-Deauville ferry, he alighted with all his baggage. ”

“ He was easily the most distinguished of the four in appearance—one of the most distinguished men aboard, in fact. He was French-Hungarian, an exiled noble of Hungary domiciled in France; tall, dark, proudly handsome, he was instinct with courtesy and had a winning smile which made friends for him on all sides. It was generally understood he had been in the diplomatic service. He seemed little over thirty-five, of extremely powerful build, and was an excellent bridge player.
It was this man whom Ogilvy half suspected—without any real basis. ”

“ When the big Renault halted, she turned and scurried into the house. The two men came forward, and the man sent from Blonville made report.
“Well, we found Foucher just where you said, Master. Sacred name of a pipe! The whole back of his head was stove in.”
“Eh?” Marmont, in the act of leaving the car, halted. Ogilvy heard the words with astounded incredulity. “The bullet had stove in his head?”
“Hardly. Something bigger than a bullet!” The other laughed. “He's dead enough. Not a bullet in him, either.”
Marmont alighted and turned to Ogilvy. ”

“ IX IF OGILVY were disconcerted and aghast at finding Keene also in this trap, he was more put out by the inopportune coming of Marmont and Tsing Li. Given a little time, he would have been able to exchange stories with Keene, at least; and the very possession of his fragile weapon, good only for one blow, had heartened him enormously.
On the other hand, here Marmont had come to him, when he had been pondering how he would get the man to his prison-room. Well, why not take the plunge now? There was nothing to be gained except a fighting end, and that was well worth the effort. ”

“ The Norman's scowl did not lighten as Ogilvy drank his coffee.
“Exactly,” he said. “There is nothing of a maggot about you, my Georges Picard, and I never heard of you before, Certainly, the master did not mention you.”
“How should he, when he has been in America?” said Ogilvy. Then he regarded the other seriously. “Listen, mon gars! I am in a hurry, for I have to catch the rapide for Paris and there is not too much time. Here's the master's card, if that will convince you. ”

“ He left the office and made his way to the Potinière, the café across the street from the casino, where the so-called society of Deauville gathered each day. Ogilvy knew that in this assemblage of actresses, society loafers and pleasure-seekers, he was effectually concealed, so he made himself comfortable at a table beneath the trees, had a drink and a bite to eat, and presently paid his score and sauntered over to the casino. ”

“ He then laid information with the Paris police against us, and this is the first charge against him.”
M. Bacqueville spoke up gravely.
“If we war against society, we cannot blame that society for arming itself against us. He did his duty as he saw it. I move the charge be dismissed.”
There was a murmur of assent.
“Approved,” went on Marmont, and gave Ogilvy his winning but dangerous smile. “M Ogilvy then opened a campaign against us, came here, looted my correspondence——”
“You forget,” put in Ogilvy suddenly, “that this was after you tried to entrap me by means of M. Bacqueville yonder.” ”

“ Perhaps Marmont suspected his real purpose and would not trust himself alone in the room with Ogilvy.
“Bah! I can't afford to be stubborn,” replied the American. “Come in, and leave the door open, if you will. It's devilish hot in this room.”
Marmont turned to the yellow man. The panel in the door clicked shut. A moment later, the door opened and Marmont entered. As Ogilvy had foreseen, his very request that the door be left open reached in the minds of the two men so that when Tsing Li came in, he swung the door shut—as Ogilvy wanted it. ”

“ I left the stones in Trouville.”
“Not in your room at the Hotel Fonduc, certainly.”
“No. You see, I did not want to be connected with the affair, so I turned them over to a friend, who will, I believe, give them to the police. Probably he has already done so.”
“A friend? Keene?”
“Eh? Keene?” Ogilvy concealed his alarm at this deadly shot. “I haven't seen Keene since landing, or heard from him. He's only a boat acquaintance. No, believe me, the stones are beyond recovery. You deserve it, Marmont. One who makes errors, must pay!” ”

“ A moment later the chauffeur appeared. The very fact that he did not bring Ogilvy's bag, showed that he had heard all the conversation and was managing the matter very quietly. He held the coat for Ogilvy, then turned to Marmont.
“Here, m'sieu, is your notebook. I believe you left it in the car this morning.”
Marmont nodded, pocketed it, gave Ogilvy a significant glance, then took him by the arm with an air of friendliness and they turned to the door.
“Good player, eh?” he observed. “Well, our car's waiting—another Renault. I do not depend on one alone, be it cars or men.” ”

“ If Marmont had a chateau down the coast at Villers, he would be known in Havre, and Ogilvy wanted some information about the man. As he waited, he reflected on Keene's invitation. Today was Friday—well, why not? He liked Keene. If Monday found him in Deauville, he might keep that appointment.
“There's our man!” Ogilvy tapped on the window, the driver nodded, the car moved. It wheeled into line behind that of Marmont—no easy task, for there was now a solid stream of vehicles leaving the quay. ”

“ His fist took the man accurately at the angle of the heavy jaw, and the workman limply collapsed. Ogilvy tapped on the glass, the driver glanced around, and then put on his brakes.
“Mon Dieu m'sieu, what has happened!” he exclaimed, staring at the senseless figure.
“Listen to me,” said Ogilvy curtly. “This man was one of a gang that tried to rob me, you comprehend? They misjudged their prey. Now if I turn him over to the police, you and I will both be questioned and caused trouble. So I propose that we leave him here beside the road and let it end there. ”

“ He chucked in the suitcase, settled back on the cushions, and was soon rolling along the main street of Trouville, with the walled river-channel on his right. Crossing the bridge, the carriage took him to the side door of the station, and Ogilvy got out.
“Now,” he said to the driver, “there is a noon train for Paris, eh? Good. You know the chalet of Count de Marmont, at Viller?”
The driver shrugged.
“One can always find, m'sieu.”
“Here's a hundred francs. Drive there and deliver this suitcase at the chalet. Any time this afternoon will do.” ”

“ Once this delicate point is settled the rest can be determined. You have learned far too much to be permitted to go at liberty, as you can readily understand.”
Ogilvy made no response, for on this point could be no argument. Marmont had, indeed, only one course. In self defense, he must shut the mouth of this American who had pried open his coffer of secrecy.
Ahead of them now showed the villa, its gates open, The Citroen had been pulled out of the ditch long since; indeed, it or a sister car now stood before the entrance of the villa, with three figures around it. One was a Chinaman. ”

“ Ogilvy knew perfectly welt that he dared not take any chances at the present stage of the game; he was, as yet, absolutely in the dark on many heads, and needed information. So he inquired as to the Paris express, found it left in ten minutes, bought a ticket, passed through the gates to the platform—and then promptly doubled on his tracks. He emerged through the side entrance of the restaurant, found a taxi-cab ten feet away, and climbed in.
“American Express,” he said, and then bent over in order to conceal himself until the taxi had left the station square. ”

“ My dear Keene: This should reach you Monday. on your arrival. Go to my room at the Fonduc, open the second window on the left, and you will find a number of small boxes on the window sill. Pocket them and bring them along to me at the White Horse Tavern in Blonville. You will probably find a gentleman seeking some word of me at the Fonduc. Sound him out with great care. If he is from the Paris prefecture, bring him along. But do not open your head to another soul about me—deny that you know me! And if you haven't a pistol, get one.
Ogilvy. ”

“ Since Ogilvy very rarely named himself as a newspaperman, preferring the rôle of tourist, Marmont had no reason to guess the fact. Certainly the thief did not know it, for in France a journalist of any standing is not a man to be lightly played with. He can usually pull too many strings. ”

“ Slight attention is paid by the customs to the tourists who arrive from America, and the chances were ten thousand to one against any customs searcher giving a grip filled with soiled things a second glance, even if he opened it at all. As for considering that such a bag could have a false bottom, that was out of the question. The French have no organized system of rewards and reports such as the American government puts into play on its returning tourists, and Marmont could carry the thing off with practically no danger whatever. ”

“ As Marmont paused, Ogilvy perceived that the farce was ended, the crisis at hand.
“This,” went on the Hungarian, “is in my opinion a most dangerous situation. We cannot silence this man without keeping him imprisoned and thus causing a search to be made. We are of course unable to turn him loose with such information in his possession. M. Tsing, what is your opinion in the matter?”
“I think,” said Tsing Li, staring unblinkingly at the American, “that the body of M. Ogilvy should be found tomorrow morning on the sands of Deauville. ”