Spies of the Kaiser: Plotting the Downfall of EnglandLe Queux, William
History
Spies of the Kaiser: Plotting the Downfall of England
Le Queux, William
Espionage, German -- Fiction; Great Britain -- History -- Invasions -- Fiction; Intelligence service -- Fiction; Spy stories
"Where's that?"
"Why, just off the Euston Road--close to Judd Street. I've told 'im the
way."
I entered a hansom and drove to the place in question, a semicircle of
dark-looking, old-fashioned houses of the Bloomsbury type--most of them
let out in apartments. Then alighting, I loitered for half an hour up
and down to await the arrival of the stranger.
He came at last, his tall, meagre figure looming dark in the lamp-light.
Very eagerly he walked round the Crescent, examining the numbers of the
houses, until he came to one rather cleaner than the others, of which he
took careful observation.
I, too, took note of the number.
Afterwards the stranger turned into the Euston Road, crossed to King's
Cross Station, where he sent a telegram, and then went to one of the
small uninviting private hotels in the neighbourhood. Having seen him
there, I returned to Burton Crescent, and for an hour watched the house,
wondering whether Julie Granier had taken up her abode there. To me it
seemed as though the stranger had overheard the directions she had given
the cabman.
The windows of the house were closed by green Venetian blinds. I could
see that there were lights in most of the rooms, while over the fanlight
of the front door was a small transparent square of glass. The front
steps were well kept, and in the deep basement was a well-lighted
kitchen.
I had been there about half an hour when the door opened, and a
middle-aged man in evening dress, and wearing a black overcoat and crush
hat, emerged. His dark face was an aristocratic one, and as he descended
the steps he drew on his white gloves, for he was evidently on his way
to the theatre. I took good notice of his face, for it was a striking
countenance, one which once seen could never be forgotten.
A man-servant behind him blew a cab-whistle, a hansom drew up, and he
drove away. Then I walked up and down in the vicinity, keeping a weary
vigil, for my curiosity was now much excited. The stranger meant
mischief. Of that I was certain.
The one point I wished to clear up was whether Julie Granier was
actually within that house. But though I watched until I became half
frozen in the drizzling rain, all was in vain. So I took a cab and drove
to Bruton Street.
That same night, when I got to my rooms, I wrote a line to the address
that Julie had given me, asking whether she would make an appointment to
meet me, as I wished to give her some very important information
concerning herself, and to this, on the following day, I received a
reply asking me to call at the house in Burton Crescent that evening at
nine o'clock.
Naturally I went. My surmise was correct that the house watched by the
stranger was her abode. The fellow was keeping observation upon it with
some evil intent.
The man-servant, on admitting me, showed me into a well-furnished
drawing-room on the first floor, where sat my pretty travelling
companion ready to receive me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account