[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
The Governor rose to his feet and gave him his arm.
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
89
"I think you're right, Mr Wetherell," he said. "It is of course just probable
that you will find your daughter at her home when you arrive. God grant she
may be! But in case she is not I will communicate all I know to the
Police Commissioner on his arrival, and send him and his officers on to you.
We must lose no time if we wish to catch these scoundrels." Then turning to
me, he continued: "Mr Hatteras, it is owing to your promptness that we are
able to take such early steps. I shall depend upon your further assistance in
this matter."
"You may do so with perfect confidence, my lord," I answered. "If you knew all
you would understand that I
am more anxious perhaps than anyone to discover the whereabouts of the young
lady and my unfortunate friend."
If his Excellency thought anything he did not give utterance to it, and Mr
Wetherell's carriage being at the door we went out to it without another word.
As we stepped into it Mr Wetherell cried to the coachman:
Page 85
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Home, and as fast as you can go."
Next moment we were being whirled down the drive at a pace which at any other
time I should have thought dangerous. Throughout the journey we sat almost
silent, wrapped in our anxieties and forebodings; hoping almost against hope
that when we arrived at Potts Point we should find Phyllis awaiting us there.
At last we turned into the grounds, and on reaching the house I sprang out and
rang the bell, then I went down to help my companion to alight. The butler
opened the door and descended the steps to take the rugs. Wetherell stopped
him almost angrily, crying:
"Where is your mistress? Has she come home?"
The expression of surprise on the man's face told me, before he had time to
utter a word, that our hopes were not to be realized.
"Miss Phyllis, sir?" the man said. "Why, she's at the ball at Government
'Ouse."
Wetherell turned from him with a deep sigh, and taking my arm went heavily up
the steps into the hall.
"Come to my study, Mr Hatteras," he said, "and let me confer with you. For
God's sake don't desert me in my hour of need!"
"You need have no fear of that," I answered. "If it is bad for you, think what
it is for me' And then we went upstairs together.
Reaching his study, Mr Wetherell led the way in and sat down. On a side table
I noticed a decanter of whisky and some glasses. Without asking permission I
went across to them and poured out a stiff nobbler for him.
"Drink this," I said; "it will pull you together a little; remember you will
want all your strength for the work that lies before us."
Like a child he did as he was ordered, and then sank back into his chair. I
went across to the hearthrug and stood before him.
"Now," I said, "we must think this out from the very beginning, and to do that
properly we must consider every detail. Have you any objection to answering my
questions?"
"Ask any questions you like," he replied, "and I will answer them."
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
90
"In the first place, then, how soon after his arrival in the colony did your
daughter get to know this sham
Beckenham?"
"Three days," he answered.
"At a dance, dinner party, picnic, or what?"
"At none of these things. The young man, it appears, had seen my daughter in
the street, and having been struck with her beauty asked one of the
aidesdecamp at Government House, with whom we are on intimate terms, to bring
him to call. At the time, I remember, I thought it a particularly friendly
action on his part."
"I don't doubt it," I answered. "Well that, I think, should tell us one
thing."
"And what is that?"
"That his instructions were to get to know your daughter without delay"
"But what could his reason have been, do you think?"
"Ah, that I cannot tell you just yet. Now you must pardon what I am going to
say: do you think he was serious in his intentions regarding Phyllis I mean
your daughter?"
"Perfectly, as far as I could tell. His desire, he said, was, if she would
have him, to be allowed to marry her on his twentyfirst birthday, which would
be next week, and in proof of permission he showed me a cablegram from his
father."
"A forgery, I don't doubt. Well, then, the only construction I can put upon it
is that the arrival of the real
Page 86
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Beckenham in Sydney must have frightened him, thus compelling the gang to
resort to other means of obtaining possession of her at once. Now our next
business must be to find out how that dastardly act was accomplished. May I
ring the bell and have up the coachman who drove your daughter to the ball?"
"By all means. Please act in every way in this matter as if this house were
your own."
I rang the bell, and when the butler appeared to answer it Mr. Wetherell
instructed him to find the man I
wanted and send him up. The servant left the room again, and for five minutes
we awaited his reappearance in silence. When he did come back he said,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]