Fire Below Read online

  For such apprehension I had, I think, just cause.

  Riechtenburg is ancient and modern as is no other country that I have ever seen. Immemorial habits and customs march with the mode. Abuses are not apparent, but it would be strange indeed if no tares sprouted in so rare a field of wheat. There survives one dangerous abuse. While law and order are honoured, the old back stairs which led from arrest to sentence have never been shut; and the stranger that is taken that way may give up hope.

  Leonie, George and I had offended Prince Paul – lay under the man’s displeasure, for what it was worth. Beyond the borders of Riechtenburg, his displeasure was nothing worth: but in his own country, where he was the ‘Colonel-in-Chief’ of every Department of State – well, Madame Dresden was in trouble, and all the sin she had done was to stay our friend.

  If we were to help the Countess, we must clearly avoid the condition of having to help ourselves. Once we were known to be in Vigil, we could no more save Madame Dresden than we could raise the dead. More. We should have our work cut out to save our own skins.

  Now I do not seek to imply that every citizen of Vigil knew us by sight: but the police of the city knew us, and, as strangers are very rare there and we had no sort of disguise, our appearance was perfectly certain to be remarked. And once we had been noticed, official cognizance was only a matter of hours.

  The freight yard of Vigil’s station was, therefore, almost the last place in which we should choose to alight, for, strangers apart, any unauthorized person was sure to be challenged at once.

  It follows that when another ten minutes had hastened by, we were all three thoroughly alarmed, ‘for, by thunder,’ said George, ‘we didn’t bargain for this. They’re sure to have this car off the moment we dock, and once we’re bolted, they’ll pull us down in an hour.’

  By now we were out of the car and were looking under the canvas to see what we could. But none of us knew the railway, but only the road, and even as we were peering, the rising walls of a cutting began to obscure our view. We were waiting in some impatience for the grass-grown walls to subside, when the engine let out a screech and we rumbled into a tunnel which might have been the entrance to Hell itself, for, another train happening to pass, the noise was frightful and a volume of filthy smoke offended our eyes and throats.

  Now the tunnel would have made such fine shelter that, noisy and foul as it was, we would thankfully have alighted before the train had emerged, but, though it promised to be endless, we seemed to be running downhill and our speed to be increasing with every yard. What was worse, I had now no doubt that we were fast descending to the level of Vigil itself and were actually threading the hills that keep the aged city to north and east. If that were so, we should presently issue from the tunnel clean into the station yards, for the latter lay under the hills north-east of the town.

  And so we did.

  As the train ran into daylight the brakes were applied. The next moment we banged across points and lurched to the left. Then we heard shouts and whistling and the crunch of steps upon the ballast and the hissing of steam, and two minutes later the train was brought to a standstill in an atmosphere of excitement which showed there was something amiss.

  Here let me say that if ever three men were unlucky I think it was we, for I afterwards learned that the driver of the train was in error in not slowing down before, that he should have passed through the tunnel at five miles an hour, that had he not had a clear run, we must have been smashed and that, as it was, he overran the point at which the train should have rested by more than a quarter of a mile.

  Such negligence drew to the train the attention of every employee that heard or saw it arrive, and, to judge from the scrambling and hubbub, our passage into our siding was watched and attended by most of the station’s staff.

  This reception was trying enough, but when I perceived we were running alongside a platform my heart sank into my boots, for so long as the train was not berthed, they could not discharge the car, but once they could take her off, I was sure that, as George had said, they would do so without delay.

  Something had to be done – and done at once.

  I turned to Bell.

  ‘The consignment note,’ I said. ‘Get it off the windscreen as best you can.’

  He was back in the car before I had George by the arm.

  ‘Bluff,’ said I. ‘We must bluff them. You and Bell and I have come down in charge of the car – by royal command. Engineer, tester and mechanic, specially sent. We supervise the off-loading and deliver to the palace ourselves. You must do the talking – you’re better than me. Take a high line.’

  ‘It’s a chance in a million,’ said George. ‘Give me the note.’

  With his words the train stopped with a jerk and I turned to Bell.

  ‘Come,’ said I. ‘We’re under Mr Hanbury’s orders and we’re going to off-load the car. Take notice of no one, and if anyone gets excited refer him to me.’

  Then I took a deep breath, pulled aside the canvas and slid down on to the rails…

  We had the car uncovered before an official arrived, and before two minutes were past I think he was sorry he came.

  George was magnificent.

  He vouchsafed no explanation – there were the Royal Arms on the doors of the car, and had the bonnet open and Bell had found a duster and was rubbing the silver plate. He did not so much as produce the consignment note. But he fell upon the man as a panther falls upon its prey.

  He cursed the line and the driver and he cursed the pace we had come: he cursed the platform and the station and the tunnel through which we had passed: he cursed the absence of helpers and skates and ramps: and he shouted and stamped till the fellow, now thoroughly rattled, began to reflect the censure and to scold his astonished underlings into some show of life.

  In that moment the trick was won.

  Men fell over each other to fetch the ramps, and when no skates were forthcoming, no one dared say as much, but a superintendent was sent for to break the news. George fed upon the delay with a hideous zest, and when out of pity I said we could do without them, he turned upon me and rent me till the blood came into my face. When two superintendents arrived without any skates, he gave such an exhibition of insolent rage and scorn that, though I had feared their arrival, I think they would sooner have questioned the devil himself, and I have never seen the saying ‘Attack is the best method of defence’ so vividly justified.

  The truck being long, we were able to manoeuvre the car and, by exercising great care, to bring her on to the platform without any skates, but this delicate operation gave George such a scope for contumely, that by the time it was over both superintendents had gone and the helpers stood huddled together like frightened sheep.

  When he called for petrol, his demand was frantically echoed a score of times, and four or five went running to fetch the fuel; and water was brought before he had thought to ask it, on the ground, no doubt, that prevention is better than cure.

  The car was of German make and bore a good name, and though I had never used one, its engine seemed simple enough. Indeed, the latter started without any fuss, but I had to endure a volume of execration, because I had used the self-starter instead of taking the trouble to swing the crankshaft by hand.

  We let her run for five minutes while George passed about the car, pointing out invisible scratches and breathing out dreadful threatenings against everybody concerned. Then he asked the whereabouts of the palace and took his seat at the wheel and ordering Bell and me to sit by his side, drove the car out of the freight yard and into the streets.

  The temptation to leave the city and take to the countryside was very strong, for so we could have rested all day in some remote spot, yet have been in Vigil without effort as soon as night fell: but that would have laid us open to a charge of stealing the car, and would have made us the quarry of a hue and cry so shocking to contemplate, that after a hasty discussion we decided that we had no option but to drive to the palace at o
nce.

  We did not relish such a visit, but the day was young, and the palace was guarded by sentries and not by police, and once the car was safely within the forecourt, all that we had to do was to beat a retreat.

  Indeed, what danger there was lay in the streets we must use, and I think we should have done better to leave the car at the station when once she was off the truck: but, as I have shown, we had had no time for reflection, and when one is using shock tactics it is easy enough to be carried away oneself.

  ‘But we needn’t all go,’ said George. ‘In fact it’s far better that I should appear alone. Where shall I drop you and Bell? And where shall we meet?’

  This conclusion was plainly sound. Bell and I could do nothing, for George, who could speak like a German, must play the hand. The question was where we could shelter the livelong day.

  I think our late misadventure must have disordered my wits, for not until then did I suddenly see the folly of wasting the hours which had fallen clean into our lap.

  We had come to help Madame Dresden, and here we were at her gates a full day before our time.

  ‘Go by the Lessing Strasse,’ I said. ‘It’s sure to be empty now, and Bell and I can go over the garden wall.’

  ‘Of course,’ said George. ‘And with luck I should be with you in a quarter of an hour.’

  Danger is a curious thing, and I have often proved that the ground which one seeks to avoid may be crossed in safety, while the quarter one has never suspected is the covert of Peril itself.

  All the way we saw but one policeman, and he was busy discussing the size of some fruit: no notice was paid to our passing, and we met with no sort of check: the Lessing Strasse was empty except for a watering-cart; and Bell and I were within the Countess’ garden before George was out of the street.

  I did not like his going to the palace, still less his going alone, but, recalling his success at the station, I felt that his wit could be trusted to bring him safe through. He would then have to walk half a mile by the riverside, but, since it was not yet eight, I could not believe that he would be so unlucky as to meet with someone that knew him in those ten minutes of time.

  I, therefore, gave my attention to the back of the house, for though Madame Dresden might be gone, her servants knew me by sight and I was depending on finding some one of them there. Indeed, if the house was empty I did not know what we should do, for I knew no other source of which we could make inquiry with any hope of success.

  The heavy shutters were closed and this had an ominous look, but since the weather was hot and the rooms faced south, I hoped very hard that the windows they hid were open and the shutters themselves but fastened against the heat of the day.

  Desiring to learn the truth, I bade Bell stay under cover and crossed the lawn, for the garden was very private and not at all overlooked.

  I had left the grass and the gravel surrounding the house and was halfway up the steps which led to the terrace, when, as though by magic, the shutters of the salon were parted, and a man stepped on to the terrace, duster in hand.

  It was the Countess’ butler.

  For a moment we stared at each other. Then—

  ‘Good morning, Carol,’ I said. ‘Where is Madame?’

  ‘Madame is abed, sir.’

  I thought very fast.

  ‘Is the salon empty?’ I said. ‘I’d like to write her a note, but I must not be seen.’

  He found me paper and pencil and stood to the door.

  I wrote as fast as I could.

  Dear Marya,

  Carol knows I am here, but no one else. Walk in the garden before breakfast – as soon as you can.

  Richard Chandos.

  As I sealed the envelope—

  ‘Madame must have this at once, Carol.’

  ‘Immediately, sir. I shall tell her maid that I found it beneath the front door.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  As I stepped on to the terrace, he left the room.

  I was upon the edge of descending the steps when the clack of shutters thrown open came to my ears.

  I shrank back instantly. I had put my faith in Carol, but I had no mind to put it in anyone else.

  As I stood waiting, I heard more shutters opened and then the flick of a duster being emptied into the air.

  The servants were about their business, and my retreat was cut off.

  I stood back in the salon, chafing.

  Then I heard a sudden rustle, and there was Marya Dresden beside me, with a dressing-gown over her nightdress and her small feet in slippers and fright in her eyes.

  ‘What is it, Richard?’ she breathed. ‘Why are you here? Don’t say Leonie–’

  ‘She wanted to come,’ said I. ‘But I couldn’t risk that. But you didn’t think we’d sit still and watch you drown?’

  Marya stared and stared.

  ‘“Watch me drown”?’ she repeated. ‘My dear, what on earth do you mean?’

  I took out her telegram and gave it into her hand. As she read it, a hand went up to her head. Then – ‘I never sent this,’ she said.

  2: High Misdemeanour

  Madame Dresden’s words were so confounding and had unmasked so abruptly such a flood of sinister light that it took me a moment or two to focus the new situation and generally marshal my wits.

  ‘You never sent this?’ I repeated.

  She shook her head.

  ‘Did you send any wire?’

  She nodded, twisting her hands.

  ‘On Monday. I said Expect me Wednesday as arranged.’

  ‘That’s right,’ I said slowly. ‘And that telegram was taken, but this was sent. I must say Prince Paul is well served.’

  Madame Dresden had me by the arm.

  ‘It was sent to bring you,’ she breathed. ‘He–’

  ‘It was sent to bring us both, Marya. It was sent to bring Leonie and me. Thank God I had the sense to spoil that.’

  ‘But it’s brought you, Richard. It’s brought you into his power.’ She clapped her hands to her face. ‘Oh, my God, why on earth did I send that wire? Everyone knows he’s rabid at Leonie’s loss. He won’t have her Regiment at the palace, and–’

  ‘You can’t blame yourself,’ said I. ‘If one can’t trust the Post Office – well… If I were you, Marya, I should leave Vigil for good. And Riechtenburg. I mean, the fellow’s not safe.’

  ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I never see him now, but I hear a good deal. It doesn’t affect the country – Sully sees to that. He’s really afraid of Sully–’

  ‘Who is away just now.’

  Marya caught her breath.

  ‘You must go,’ she cried. ‘You must go. With Sully out of the country, and Grieg–’

  ‘Grieg?’ I cried sharply. ‘What of Grieg?’

  The man was our implacable enemy – had nearly been the death of George Hanbury and would have killed me.

  ‘Three days after Sully was gone, the Prince took Grieg back. Not into the Army: he’s been given some job in the police.’

  There was a little silence. Then—

  ‘You’re right,’ said I. ‘We must go.’

  ‘“We”?’ says she. ‘I thought–’

  ‘George Hanbury is with me. And Bell.’

  ‘But how can you go, Richard?’

  ‘As we came,’ said I. ‘By night. Till then we must lie up somewhere, and–’

  ‘Here, of course,’ cried the Countess. ‘And then I can drive you–’

  ‘Not on your life,’ said I. ‘You’re deep enough in. I take it you’re ready to go this afternoon.’

  ‘My big baggage has gone,’ she said.

  ‘Then today you must leave for Salzburg, and leave by train. We’ll come and get you there as soon as we can.’

  ‘I can’t go till I know you’re safe.’

  ‘You must,’ said I. ‘Don’t you see you must keep to what you said in your wire? If you don’t they’ll know in an instant that we’ve been in touch with you.’

  ‘How can
they know that you haven’t telephoned?’

  ‘We did,’ said I. ‘And were told there was no reply. And we sent you two wires.’

  The Countess stifled a cry.

  ‘It shows the lengths,’ I continued, ‘our friends are prepared to go. Happily they don’t know we’re here. And if you don’t alter your plans, there’s no reason why they should. I assume they don’t know that you were to travel by road.’

  ‘The servants know, Richard. I have told the chauffeur that he is to take me to Bariche and then return.’

  I bit my lip.

  ‘Then you must go by road. You mustn’t alter one jot of the arrangements you’ve made. Once you’re out of the country, that’s different. You must take in petrol at Bariche and drive straight on. Don’t go to the lodge – stop at Littai. Leonie’s gone to the farm.’

  ‘But you and George,’ cried the Countess. ‘I can’t leave you here. I mean, I’m in no danger, but you…’

  ‘You certainly are,’ said I. ‘And you’ll go in up to the neck, if they can establish liaison between you and us. Can you trust your servants, Marya? I mean, you’re most certainly watched.’

  ‘I trust Carol,’ she said, ‘and my maid.’

  ‘What of your gardeners?’

  ‘I have only one, and he is gone to some flower-show and will not be here today.’

  ‘Then we will stay in the garden until you are up. Can you have the shutters shut? Because then I can cross the lawn.’

  ‘At once,’ said she. ‘You promise you will wait till I come?’

  ‘I promise,’ said I. ‘And don’t worry. We’ll give them a run for their money – but nothing else.’

  ‘Please God,’ says she softly.

  Then she smiled her old, charming smile, slipped through the salon, and stood with her ear to the door. For a moment she waited, listening. Then she waved a slim hand and disappeared.

  Two minutes later I heard the shutters closed.

  I found Bell where I had left him under the trees.

  Now George was not yet due, for, though what had passed since we parted has taken some time to tell, I could hardly expect him till five minutes more had gone by. But what I had learned from the Countess had made me very uneasy on his account, and when twenty minutes had passed, but he had not appeared, I was ready to swear that he had been laid by the heels.