The Seven Dials mystery
Caterham tiptoed out into the hall, seized a hat and made a hurried
exit by the side door. In the distance he observed Bill streaking down
the drive in his car.
"That young man will have an accident," he thought.
Bill, however, reached London without any mischance, and proceeded to
park his car in St. James's Square. Then he sought out Jimmy Thesiger's
rooms. Jimmy was at home.
"Hullo, Bill. I say, what's the matter? You don't look your usual
bright little self."
"I'm worried," said Bill. "I was worried anyway, and then something
else turned up and gave me a jolt."
"Oh!" said Jimmy. "How lucid. What's it all about? Can I do anything?"
Bill did not reply. He sat staring at the carpet and looking so puzzled
and uncomfortable that Jimmy felt his curiosity aroused.
"Has anything very extraordinary occurred, William?" he asked gently.
"Something damned odd. I can't make head or tail of it."
"The Seven Dials business?"
"Yes--the Seven Dials business. I got a letter this morning."
"A letter? What sort of a letter?"
"A letter from Ronny Devereux's executors."
"Good Lord! After all this time!"
"It seems he left instructions. If he was to die suddenly, a certain
sealed envelope was to be sent to me exactly a fortnight after his
death."
"And they've sent it to you?"
"Yes."
"You've opened it?"
"Yes."
"Well--what did it say?"
Bill turned a glance upon him, such a strange and uncertain one that
Jimmy was startled.
"Look here," he said. "Pull yourself together, old man. It seems to
have knocked the wind out of you, whatever it is. Have a drink."
He poured out a stiff whisky and soda and brought it over to Bill, who
took it obediently. His face still bore the same dazed expression.
"It's what's in the letter," he said. "I simply can't believe it,
that's all."
"Oh, nonsense," said Jimmy. "You must get into the habit of believing
six impossible things before breakfast. I do it regularly. Now then,
let's hear all about it. Wait a minute."
He went outside.
"Stevens?"
"Yes, sir."
"Just go out and get me some cigarettes, will you? I've run out."
"Very good, sir."
Jimmy waited till he heard the front door close. Then he came back into
the sitting-room. Bill was just in the act of setting down his empty
glass. He looked better, more purposeful and more master of himself.
"Now then," said Jimmy. "I've sent Stevens out so that we can't be
overheard. Are you going to tell me all about it?"
"It's so incredible."
"Then it's sure to be true. Come on, out with it."
Bill drew a deep breath.
"I will. I'll tell you everything."
CHAPTER XXX
AN URGENT SUMMONS
Loraine, playing with a small and delectable puppy, was somewhat
surprised when Bundle rejoined her after an absence of twenty minutes,
in a breathless state and with an indescribable expression on her face.
"Whoof," said Bundle, sinking on to a garden seat. "Whoof."
"What's the matter?" asked Loraine, looking at her curiously.
"George is the matter--George Lomax."
"What's he been doing?"
"Proposing to me. It was awful. He spluttered and he stuttered, but
he would go through with it--he must have learnt it out of a book, I
think. There was no stopping him. Oh, how I hate men who splutter! And,
unfortunately, I didn't know the reply."
"You must have known what you wanted to do."
"Naturally I'm not going to marry an apoplectic idiot like George. What
I mean is, I didn't know the correct reply from the book of etiquette.
I could only just say flatly: 'No, I won't.' What I ought to have said
was something about being very sensible of the honour he had done me
and so on and so on. But I got so rattled that in the end I jumped out
of the window and bolted."
"Really, Bundle, that's not like you."
"Well, I never dreamt of such a thing happening. George--who I always
thought hated me--and he did too. What a fatal thing it is to pretend
to take an interest in a man's pet subject. You should have heard the
drivel George talked about my girlish mind and the pleasure it would be
to form it. My mind! If George knew one quarter of what was going on in
my mind, he'd faint with horror!"
Loraine laughed. She couldn't help it.
"Oh, I know it's my own fault. I let myself in for this. There's Father
dodging round that rhododendron. Hallo Father."
Lord Caterham approached with a hangdog expression.
"Lomax gone, eh?" he remarked with somewhat forced geniality.
"A nice business you let me in for," said Bundle. "George told me he
had your full approval and sanction."
"Well," said Lord Caterham, "what did you expect me to say? As a matter
of fact, I didn't say that at all, or anything like it."
"I didn't really think so," said Bundle. "I assumed that George had
talked you into a corner and reduced you to such a state that you could
only nod your head feebly."
"That's very much what happened. How did he take it? Badly?"
"I didn't wait to see," said Bundle. "I'm afraid I was rather abrupt."
"Oh, well," said Lord Caterham, "perhaps that was the best way. Thank
goodness in the future Lomax won't always be running over as he has
been in the habit of doing, worrying me about things. Everything is for
the best they say. Have you seen my jigger anywhere?"
"A mashie shot or two would steady my nerves, I think," said Bundle.
"I'll take you on for sixpence, Loraine."
An hour passed very peacefully. The three returned to the house in a
harmonious spirit. A note lay on the hall table.
"Mr. Lomax left that for you, my lord," explained Tredwell. "He was
much disappointed to find that you had gone out."
Lord Caterham tore it open. He uttered a pained ejaculation and turned
upon his daughter. Tredwell had retired.
"Really, Bundle, you might have made yourself clear, I think."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, read this."
Bundle took it and read:
"MY DEAR CATERHAM--
"I am sorry not to have had a word with you. I thought I made
it clear that I wanted to see you again after my interview with
Eileen. She, dear child, was evidently quite unaware of the
feelings I entertained towards her. She was, I am afraid, much
startled. I have no wish to hurry her in any way. Her girlish
confusion was very charming, and I entertain an even higher regard
for her, as I much appreciate her maidenly reserve. I must give her
time to become accustomed to the idea. Her very confusion shows
that she is not wholly indifferent to me and I have no doubts of my
ultimate success.
"Believe me, dear Caterham,
"Your sincere friend,
"GEORGE LOMAX."
"Well," said Bundle. "Well, I'm damned!"
Words failed her.
"The man must be mad," said Lord Caterham. "No one could write those
things about you, Bundle, unless they were slightly touched in the
head. Poor chap, poor chap. But what persistence! I don't wonder he
got into the Cabinet. It would serve him right if you did marry him,
Bundle."
The telephone rang and Bundle moved forward to answer it. In another
minute George and his proposal were forgotten, and she was beckoning
eagerly to Loraine. Lord Caterham went off to his own sanctum.
"It's Jimmy," said Bundle. "And he's tremendously excited about
something."
"Thank goodness I've caught you," said Jimmy's voice. "There's no time
to be lost. Loraine's there, too?"
"Yes, she's here."
"Well, look here, I haven't got time to explain everything--in fact, I
can't through the telephone. But Bill has been round to see me with the
most amazing story you ever heard. If it's true--well, if it's true,
it's the biggest scoop of the century. Now, look here, this is what
you've got to do. Come up to town at once, both of you. Garage the car
somewhere and go straight to the Seven Dials Club. Do you think that
when you get there you can get rid of that footman fellow?"
"Alfred? Rather. You leave that to me."
"Good. Get rid of him and watch out for me and Bill. Don't show
yourselves at the windows, but when we drive up, let us in at once.
See?"
"Yes."
"That's all right then. Oh, Bundle, don't let on that you're going up
to town. Make some other excuse. Say you're taking Loraine home. How
would that do?"
"Splendidly. I say, Jimmy, I'm thrilled to the core."
"And you might as well make your will before starting."
"Better and better. But I wish I knew what it was all about."
"You will as soon as we meet. I'll tell you this much. We're going to
get ready the hell of a surprise for No. 7!"
Bundle hung up the receiver and turned to Loraine, giving her a rapid
résumé of the conversation. Loraine rushed upstairs and hurriedly
packed her suitcase, and Bundle put her head round her father's door.
"I'm taking Loraine home, Father."
"Why? I had no idea she was going to-day."
"They want her back," said Bundle vaguely. "Just telephoned. Bye-bye."
"Here, Bundle, wait a minute. When will you be home?"
"Don't know. Expect me when you see me."
With this unceremonious exit Bundle rushed upstairs, put a hat on,
slipped into her fur coat and was ready to start. She had already
ordered the Hispano to be brought round.
The journey to London was without adventure, except such as was
habitually provided by Bundle's driving. They left the car at a garage
and proceeded direct to the Seven Dials Club.
The door was opened to them by Alfred. Bundle pushed her way past him
without ceremony and Loraine followed.
"Shut the door, Alfred," said Bundle. "Now, I've come here especially
to do you a good turn. The police are after you."
"Oh, my lady!"
Alfred turned chalk white.
"I've come to warn you because you did me a good turn the other night,"
went on Bundle rapidly. "There's a warrant out for Mr. Mosgorovsky,
and the best thing you can do is to clear out of here as quick as you
can. If you're not found here, they won't bother about you. Here's ten
pounds to help you get away somewhere."
In three minutes' time an incoherent and badly scared Alfred had left
14 Hunstanton Street with only one idea in his head--never to return.
"Well, I've managed that all right," said Bundle with satisfaction.
"Was it necessary to be so--well, drastic?" Loraine demurred.
"It's safer," said Bundle. "I don't know what Jimmy and Bill are up to,
but we don't want Alfred coming back in the middle of it and wrecking
everything. Hallo, here they are. Well, they haven't wasted much time.
Probably watching round the corner to see Alfred leave. Go down and
open the door to them, Loraine."
Loraine obeyed. Jimmy Thesiger alighted from the driving seat.
"You stop there for a moment, Bill," he said. "Blow the horn if you
think anyone's watching the place."
He ran up the steps and banged the door behind him. He looked pink and
elated.
"Hallo, Bundle, there you are. Now then, we've got to get down to it.
Where's the key of the room you got into last time?"
"It was one of the downstairs keys. We'd better bring the lot up."
"Right you are, but be quick. Time's short."
The key was easily found, the baize-lined door swung back and the three
entered. The room was exactly as Bundle had seen it before, with the
seven chairs grouped round the table. Jimmy surveyed it for a minute or
two in silence. Then his eye went to the two cupboards.
"Which is the cupboard you hid in, Bundle?"
"This one."
Jimmy went to it and flung the door open. The same collection of
miscellaneous glassware covered the shelves.
"We shall have to shift all this stuff," he murmured. "Run down and
get Bill, Loraine. There's no need for him to keep watch outside any
longer."