The Red Widow; or, The Death-Dealers of LondonLe Queux, William
General
The Red Widow; or, The Death-Dealers of London
Le Queux, William
Mystery fiction
"No," he said. "Some of these houses are the legations of the smaller
States of Europe. Over there is the Serbian Legation."
"Well, we’ll wait in patience," she said. "Fortunately it’s a fine
night."
"The last time I watched, last week, it came on terribly wet about
eleven o’clock," he said, "and I hadn’t my mackintosh. When I started
out it seemed a perfect night. But just now the weather is so
changeable."
On the darker side of the street by the railings, the young people idled
together, with a watchful eye upon the long flight of steps which Boyne
had ascended. Though the blinds were drawn, it was evident that the
comfortable West End house was well lighted, and it was, no doubt, the
residence of someone of considerable means. Indeed, it requires a good
income to run a house even in Pont Street in these post-bellum days.
The traffic had died down. Few taxis were passing, for as yet the
home-coming pleasure seekers were not on their way from the theatres.
For half an hour the pair waited in the shadow, full of eager curiosity.
The movements of the mystery-man of Hammersmith were, to say the least,
suspicious.
Suddenly, from the basement a young footman appeared, and hurrying along
to the end of the road, hailed a taxi and brought it to the door.
Then, as they watched, they saw, a few seconds later, the front door
open, and a man in evening dress descended the steps and entered the
taxi.
The light from the open door shone upon his face as he halted to speak
to the servant, and then, to their amazement, they recognised the man to
be Bernard Boyne.
His chameleon-like change staggered them both for a second, but Gerald,
ever quick to act, whispered:
"Go home, Marigold. This is very funny. I’ll try to follow," and a
moment later he had sped away noiselessly into the darkness.
The fact was that his quick eyes had espied a taxi which at that moment
had driven up on a stand a little farther down, and without delay he
told the man that he wanted him to follow the taxi in front, and that he
would give him treble fare for doing so.
"Right y’are, sir!" replied the young Cockney driver, who instantly
entered into the spirit of the chase, and already his cab was on the
move as Boyne left.
Gerald saw Marigold standing watching the departure, and knowing that
she would make the best of her way to Wimbledon, kept his eyes upon the
taxi, which was soon out into Knightsbridge, going in the direction of
Hyde Park Corner.
Why Boyne, the humble collector of insurance premiums, should possess a
latchkey to a house in Pont Street, and emerge from there dressed in
evening clothes as a gentleman of means, sorely puzzled Gerald Durrant.
He felt instinctively that he was on the track of some very remarkable
sequence of events. This man who disguised himself every night before
he took food and drink up to his imprisoned friend, evidently lived a
double life. In Pont Street he was a rich man, while in Hammersmith he
was poor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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