Detective and mystery stories; Hoodlums -- Fiction; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction
“I'll arrest him in the morning,” said Sowerby, writing furiously in his
notebook.
“Nom d'un p'tit bonhomme! M. Sowerby, you will do nothing of that
foolish description, my dear friend,” said Max; and Dunbar glared at the
unfortunate sergeant. “Nothing whatever must be done to arouse suspicion
between now and the moment of the raid. You must be circumspect--ah,
morbleu! so circumspect. By all means trace this Mr. Gianapolis; yes.
But do not let him SUSPECT that he is being traced”...
XXXV
TRACKER TRACKED
Helen Cumberly and Denise Ryland peered from the window of the former's
room into the dusk of the Square, until their eyes ached with the strain
of an exercise so unnatural.
“I tell you,” said Denise with emphasis, “that... sooner or later... he
will come prowling... around. The mere fact that he did not appear...
last night... counts for nothing. His own crooked... plans no doubt
detain him... very often... at night.”
Helen sighed wearily. Denise Ryland's scheme was extremely distasteful
to her, but whenever she thought of the pathetic eyes of Leroux she
found new determination. Several times she had essayed to analyze the
motives which actuated her; always she feared to pursue such inquiries
beyond a certain point. Now that she was beginning to share her friend's
views upon the matter, all social plans sank into insignificance, and
she lived only in the hope of again meeting Gianapolis, of tracing out
the opium group, and of finding Mrs. Leroux. In what state did she
hope and expect to find her? This was a double question which kept her
wakeful through the dreary watches of the night....
“Look!”
Denise Ryland grasped her by the arm, pointing out into the darkened
Square. A furtive figure crossed from the northeast corner into the
shade of some trees and might be vaguely detected coming nearer and
nearer.
“There he is!” whispered Denise Ryland, excitedly; “I told you he
couldn't... keep away. I know that kind of brute. There is nobody at
home, so listen: I will watch... from the drawing-room, and you... light
up here and move about... as if preparing to go out.”
Helen, aware that she was flushed with excitement, fell in with the
proposal readily; and having switched on the lights in her room and
put on her hat so that her moving shadow was thrown upon the casement
curtain, she turned out the light again and ran to rejoin her
friend. She found the latter peering eagerly from the window of the
drawing-room.
“He thinks you are coming out!” gasped Denise. “He has slipped...
around the corner. He will pretend to be... passing... this way... the
cross-eyed... hypocrite. Do you feel capable ... of the task?”
“Quite,” Helen declared, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. “You
will follow us as arranged; for heaven's sake, don't lose us!”
“If the doctor knew of this,” breathed Denise, “he would never...
forgive me. But no woman... no true woman... could refuse to
undertake... so palpable... a duty”...
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