“You don’t mind, I suppose,” said Bundle after a minute or two, “if I drive rather fast? I started later than I meant to do.”
It had seemed to Anthony that they were proceeding1 at a terrific speed already, but he soon saw that that was nothing compared to what Bundle could get out of the Panhard if she tried.
“Some people,” said Bundle, as she slowed down momentarily to pass through a village, “are terrified of my driving. Poor old father, for instance. Nothing would induce him to come up with me in this old bus.”
Privately2, Anthony thought Lord Caterham was entirely3 justified4. Driving with Bundle was not a sport to be indulged in by nervous, middle-aged5 gentlemen.
“But you don’t seem nervous a bit,” continued Bundle approvingly, as she swept round a corner on two wheels.
“I’m in pretty good training, you see,” explained Anthony gravely. “Also,” he added, as an afterthought, “I’m rather in a hurry myself.”
“Good Lord, no,” said Anthony hastily. “We’re averaging about fifty as it is.”
“I’m burning with curiosity to know the reason of this sudden departure,” said Bundle, after executing a fanfare7 upon the Klaxon which must temporarily have deafened8 the neighbourhood. “But I suppose I mustn’t ask? You’re not escaping from justice, are you?”
[Pg 223]
“I’m not quite sure,” said Anthony. “I shall know soon.”
“That Scotland Yard man isn’t as much of a rabbit as I thought,” said Bundle thoughtfully.
“Battle’s a good man,” agreed Anthony.
“You ought to have been in diplomacy,” remarked Bundle. “You don’t part with much information, do you?”
“Oh! Boy! You’re not eloping with Mademoiselle Brun, by any chance?”
“Not guilty!” said Anthony with fervour.
There was a pause of some minutes during which Bundle caught up and passed three other cars. Then she asked suddenly:
“How long have you known Virginia?”
“That’s a difficult question to answer,” said Anthony, with perfect truth. “I haven’t actually met her very often, and yet I seem to have known her a long time.”
Bundle nodded.
“Virginia’s got brains,” she remarked abruptly10. “She’s always talking nonsense, but she’s got brains all right. She was frightfully good out in Herzoslovakia, I believe. If Tim Revel11 had lived he’d have had a fine career—and mostly owing to Virginia. She worked for him tooth and nail. She did everything in the world she could for him—and I know why, too.”
“Because she cared for him?” Anthony sat looking very straight ahead of him.
“No, because she didn’t. Don’t you see? She didn’t love him—she never loved him, and so she did everything on earth she could to make up. That’s Virginia all over. But don’t you make any mistake about it. Virginia was never in love with Tim Revel.”
“You seem very positive,” said Anthony, turning to look at her.
Bundle’s little hands were clenched12 on the steering[Pg 224] wheel, and her chin was stuck out in a determined13 manner.
“I know a thing or two. I was only a kid at the time of her marriage, but I heard one or two things, and knowing Virginia I can put them together easily enough. Tim Revel was bowled over by Virginia—he was Irish, you know, and most attractive, with a genius for expressing himself well. Virginia was quite young—eighteen. She couldn’t go anywhere without seeing Tim in a state of picturesque14 misery15, vowing16 he’d shoot himself or take to drink if she didn’t marry him. Girls believe these things—or used to—we’ve advanced a lot in the last eight years. Virginia was carried away by the feeling she thought she’d inspired. She married him—and she was an angel to him always. She wouldn’t have been half as much of an angel if she’d loved him. There’s a lot of the devil in Virginia. But I can tell you one thing—she enjoys her freedom. And anyone will have a hard time persuading her to give it up.”
“I wonder why you tell me all this?” said Anthony slowly.
“It’s interesting to know about people, isn’t it? Some people, that is.”
“I’ve wanted to know,” he acknowledged.
“And you’d never have heard from Virginia. But you can trust me for an inside tip from the stables. Virginia’s a darling. Even women like her because she isn’t a bit of a cat. And anyway,” Bundle ended, somewhat obscurely, “one must be a sport, mustn’t one?”
“Oh, certainly,” Anthony agreed. But he was still puzzled. He had no idea what had prompted Bundle to give him so much information unasked. That he was glad of it, he did not deny.
“Here are the trams,” said Bundle, with a sigh. “Now, I suppose, I shall have to drive carefully.”
“It might be as well,” agreed Anthony.
His ideas and Bundle’s on the subject of careful driving hardly coincided. Leaving indignant suburbs behind[Pg 225] them, they finally emerged into Oxford17 Street.
“Not bad going, eh?” said Bundle, glancing at her wrist watch.
“Where do you want to be dropped?”
“Anywhere. Which way are you going?”
“Knightsbridge way.”
“All right, drop me at Hyde Park Corner.”
“Good-bye,” said Bundle, as she drew up at the place indicated. “What about the return journey?”
“I’ll find my own way back, thanks very much.”
“I have scared him,” remarked Bundle.
“I shouldn’t recommend driving with you as a tonic20 for nervous old ladies, but personally I’ve enjoyed it. The last time I was in equal danger was when I was charged by a herd21 of wild elephants.”
“I think you’re extremely rude,” remarked Bundle. “We’ve not even had one bump to-day.”
“I’m sorry if you’ve been holding yourself in on my account,” retorted Anthony.
“I don’t think men are really very brave,” said Bundle.
“That’s a nasty one,” said Anthony. “I retire, humiliated22.” Bundle nodded and drove on. Anthony hailed a passing taxi. “Victoria Station,” he said to the driver as he got in.
When he got to Victoria he paid off the taxi and inquired for the next train to Dover. Unfortunately he had just missed one.
Resigning himself to a wait of something over an hour, Anthony paced up and down, his brows knit. Once or twice he shook his head impatiently.
The journey to Dover was uneventful. Arrived there, Anthony passed quickly out of the station, and then, as though suddenly remembering, he turned back again. There was a slight smile on his lips as he asked to be directed to Hurstmere, Langly Road.
The road in question was a long one, leading right out of the town. According to the porter’s instructions, Hur[Pg 226]stmere was the last house. Anthony trudged23 along steadily24. The little pucker25 had reappeared between his eyes. Nevertheless there was a new elation26 in his manner, as always when danger was near at hand.
Hurstmere was, as the porter had said, the last house in Langly Road. It stood well back, enclosed in its own grounds, which were ragged27 and overgrown. The place, Anthony judged, must have been empty for many years. A large iron gate swung rustily28 on its hinges, and the name on the gatepost was half obliterated29.
“A lonely spot,” muttered Anthony to himself, “and a good one to choose.”
He hesitated a minute or two, glanced quickly up and down the road—which was quite deserted—and then slipped quietly past the creaking gate into the overgrown drive. He walked up it a little way, and then stood listening. He was still some distance from the house. Not a sound could be heard anywhere. Some fast yellowing leaves detached themselves from one of the trees overhead and fell with a soft rustling30 sound that was almost sinister31 in the stillness. Anthony started; then smiled.
“Nerves,” he murmured to himself. “Never knew I had such things before.”
He went on up the drive. Presently, as the drive curved, he slipped into the shrubbery and so continued his way unseen from the house. Suddenly he stood still, peering out through the leaves. Some distance away a dog was barking, but it was a sound nearer at hand that had attracted Anthony’s attention.
His keen hearing had not been mistaken. A man came rapidly round the corner of the house, a short square, thickset man, foreign in appearance. He did not pause but walked steadily on, circling the house and disappearing again.
Anthony nodded to himself.
As soon as he had passed, Anthony went on, diverging[Pg 227] to the left, and so following in the footsteps of the sentry.
His own footsteps were quite noiseless.
The wall of the house was on his right, and presently he came to where a broad blur33 of light fell on the gravelled walk. The sound of several men talking together was clearly audible.
“My God! what double-dyed idiots,” murmured Anthony to himself. “It would serve them right to be given a fright.”
He stole up to the window, stooping a little so that he should not be seen. Presently he lifted his head very carefully to the level of the sill and looked in.
Half a dozen men were sprawling34 round a table. Four of them were big thickset men, with high cheek-bones, and eyes set in Magyar slanting35 fashion. The other two were rat-like little men with quick gestures. The language that was being spoken was French, but the four big men spoke36 it with uncertainty37 and a hoarse38 guttural intonation39.
“Any time now.”
“About time, too,” growled the first man. “I have never seen him, this Boss of yours, but, oh, what great and glorious work might we not have accomplished42 in these days of idle waiting!”
“Fool,” said the other little man bitingly. “Getting nabbed by the police is all the great and glorious work you and your precious lot would have been likely to accomplish. A lot of blundering gorillas43?”
“Aha!” roared another big thickset fellow. “You insult the Comrades? I will soon set the sign of the Red Hand round your throat.”
He half rose, glaring ferociously44 at the Frenchman, but one of his companions pulled him back again.
“No quarreling,” he grunted45. “We’re to work together. From all I heard this King Victor doesn’t stand for being disobeyed.”
[Pg 228]
In the darkness, Anthony heard the footsteps of the sentry coming his round again, and he drew back behind a bush.
“Who’s that?” said one of the men inside.
“Carlo—going his rounds.”
“Oh! What about the prisoner?”
“He’s all right—coming round pretty fast now. He’s recovered well from the crack on the head we gave him.”
Anthony moved gently away.
“God! what a lot,” he muttered. “They discuss their affairs with an open window, and that fool Carlo goes his round with the tread of an elephant, and the eyes of a bat. And to crown all, the Herzoslovakians and the French are on the point of coming to blows. King Victor’s headquarters seem to be in a parlous46 condition. It would amuse me, it would amuse me very much, to teach them a lesson.”
He stood irresolute47 for a minute, smiling to himself.
Anthony looked up. The groan came again.
Anthony glanced quickly from left to right. Carlo was not due round again just yet. He grasped the heavy Virginia creeper and climbed nimbly till he reached the sill of a window. The window was shut, but with a tool from his pocket he soon succeeded in forcing up the catch.
He paused a minute to listen, then sprang lightly inside the room. There was a bed in the far corner and on that bed a man was lying, his figure barely discernible in the gloom.
Anthony went over to the bed, and flashed his pocket torch on the man’s face. It was a foreign face, pale and emaciated50, and the head was swathed in heavy bandages.
The man was bound hand and foot. He stared up at Anthony like one dazed.
Anthony bent51 over him, and as he did so he heard a sound behind him and swung round, his hand travelling to his coat pocket.
But a sharp command arrested him.
[Pg 229]
“Hands up, sonny. You didn’t expect to see me here, but I happened to catch the same train as you at Victoria.”
It was Mr. Hiram Fish who was standing52 in the doorway53. He was smiling and in his hand was a big blue automatic.
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1
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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7
fanfare
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| n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布 | |
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8
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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9
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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10
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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11
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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12
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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14
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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15
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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16
vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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pucker
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| v.撅起，使起皱；n.（衣服上的）皱纹，褶子 | |
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elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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rustily
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| 锈蚀地，声音沙哑地 | |
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obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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33
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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38
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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39
intonation
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| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
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40
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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41
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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43
gorillas
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| n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 )；暴徒，打手 | |
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44
ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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45
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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46
parlous
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| adj.危险的，不确定的，难对付的 | |
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47
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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48
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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49
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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50
emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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51
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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52
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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53
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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