Chronicles of the Secret Service (14 page)

The sergeant nodded.

‘Very well, sir.’

‘Good. I want you to send someone to point out the way to the Intelligence and Special Branch men. You need only direct them to the gates. They will wait there for me.’ He held out his hand, which the other grasped warmly. ‘Thanks for the help you have given me, Sergeant, and excuse the dirty paw.’

‘It’s a privilege to shake it, sir,’ was the hearty reply.

‘Nice of you,’ grinned Cousins, adding with an exaggerated bow: ‘Mine is the privilege. “But oh! For the grip of the bobby’s hand.”’ He walked to the door; glanced back. ‘There’s a car standing nearly outside. Take charge of it, will you? It belongs
to an adventurous young man who, by now, probably longs for the existence he left rather abruptly and rudely. He’ll claim it later on. And, by the way, it’s been left in gear.’

Outside he became aware that dawn was beginning to break.

‘Dash it!’ he muttered. ‘I forgot that, I’ll have to hurry.’

The feelings of Sonia Hardinge and Anthony Anstruther can perhaps be much better imagined than described. The agony of that journey from Soho on the floor of a car, their bodies twisted and bent in a manner that would have been painful to a contortionist, well nigh suffocated by the gags over their mouths and the thick rug covering them, and the added indignity of the legs of the men in the car resting none too gently on them, all combined to produce in them a feeling of utter hopelessness. Up to the very moment of their removal from the house in Soho Square they had pinned their faith on the word of the man masquerading as a drunken tramp. It was all they could do. When they were jammed agonisingly into the car, and felt themselves being borne rapidly away, they lost hope completely. Of the two, Anstruther suffered the more, not because of the pain caused by the unnatural position of his body, though, being taller and bigger altogether, he must have endured absolute torture, but on account of his mental anguish. He blamed himself entirely for the fact that the girl he loved was undergoing such a terrible ordeal. He would have gladly welcomed even greater torment, or death itself, if he could have bargained for her release and security. But he had not even been given the opportunity of making a proposal by which she could be ransomed.

Sonia was desperately frightened, but she did her utmost to fight against the dread tormenting her that at the end of all the suffering, all the humiliation and insults, she and Tony would only be murdered. She, for her part, took all the responsibility for the desperate position to which her desire for something out of the ordinary had condemned them.
She
had accepted Karen’s invitation to enter the house. Tony had concurred, it was true, but she could not blame him for a foolish impulse which had primarily influenced her. During the journey she fainted, due to the pain and the suffocating atmosphere, but recovered consciousness when they were carried into the house near Loughton. Neither, of course, had the slightest idea where they were. They did not care much. Their minds were too troubled and their bodies too racked with agony for them to be concerned with their whereabouts just then. It was a wonderful relief when they were deposited on a bed, and could lie at full length, even though their bonds and gags were not removed. The cords cutting into their wrists and ankles were forgotten for a while in the luxury of feeling their limbs and bodies in natural positions.

The repulsive man with the horrible, lashless eyes, and hairless head left to watch over them, sat looking at them until Sonia wanted to scream from very loathing. It was a relief when he rose and searched them, even though he subjected the girl to the most insulting indignities. He pocketed her rings, Anstruther’s watch, ring, and pocket case. When Gortschakoff entered the room and took him away, she felt intensely grateful. She and Tony turned on their sides, and lay facing each other, their eyes expressing all their lips were unable to utter.
In that time, her indecision about marrying him evaporated completely. She longed with all her soul for the event that she felt now would never take place. They had both become suddenly changed, from two rather bored, light-hearted, gay, and irresponsible young people to a man and a woman who desperately wanted to live – just for each other. All this they read in each other’s eyes which contained the promise that, if they ever escaped from their terrible predicament, they would devote themselves to that ideal.

Karen entered the room; gazed mockingly at them.

‘Like the lovebirds you look,’ he commented. ‘It is so pretty picture. I am ver’ sorry I am compel to leave you like this so tied. But soon, when the cheque has been sign, you will be free. I will come back at eight of the clock. Goodnight, Mademoiselle – and Monsieur. I hope you have the good sleep.’

With a laugh that sounded diabolical to them, he switched off the light, and left the room. The door closed behind him. Then commenced desperate attempts by both to remove their bonds or, at least, to loosen them, but they were tied too skilfully, apart from which their arms and legs were by then completely numb and incapable of action. Forced to desist from their useless efforts, they lay close together, seeking the consolation of their nearness to each other. To them both there was an infinite amount of happiness in this. Time passed with dreadful slowness. They longed for and yet feared the coming of daylight. Neither of them believed Karen’s assertion that, when the cheque was signed, they would be free. A monster who could treat them as he had done would not stop at that. Also, would he not fear to let them go now, because of their
information they could give the police regarding him and his associates? Anstruther would give the cheque, but only in the desperate and forlorn hope that it would, at least, save Sonia.

Neither, of course, could sleep. Their minds, for one thing, were in too much of a ferment, while their bodies, particularly the cruelly-bound wrists and ankles, hurt abominably. A faint light began to steal through the uncurtained lattice window. Dawn was breaking. It was then that Sonia caught a slight sound. She held her breath in order to listen better. For some time she heard nothing further then it came again. She was lying facing the door, and presently, although it was still far too dark to see much, was certain it was gradually opening. Before long she had no doubt at all. Her fear became greater than ever. What was going to happen now? All kinds of terrible fancies flitted through her mind. Mentally she visualised the faces of the five loathesome men in whose power she and Tony were and, in none of them, could she remember a spark of anything but cruelty, wickedness, and lust.

A form entered the room; the door began to close again. In her utter distraction, Sonia nudged Tony desperately, realising at the same time that he could do nothing. They were both entirely at the mercy of the ‘thing’ that was in the room now with them. She wondered if her lover had heard. He could not have seen, because he was lying with his back to the door. Straining her eyes and ears she was unable to find out where the creature was, yet she knew he was there. Silence, utter and complete, reigned in that little chamber. It was to her, the most terrible, nerve-racking moment of all that horrible night. Then, all at once, the most tremendous joy possessed her. She almost fainted with relief.

‘Don’t be startled,’ whispered a voice close to their ears. ‘It is only I – the tramp. I am going to cut the cords and move your wretched gags, but before I do so, I must warn you. For God’s sake, don’t groan, give vent to your relief, or make any sound whatever. Now, here goes!’

Skilful fingers started working at the gag over Anstruther’s mouth. Quickly it was unfastened, the cords round his wrists were cut through by a knife – the same broken and rusty implement that Turgenev had ignored – those binding his ankles suffered the same fate. Anstruther was free. A similar service was rapidly performed for Sonia. Cousins then commenced gently and soothingly to massage the girl’s aching wrists and ankles.

‘Excuse the liberty, miss,’ he whispered with a soft little chuckle. ‘It isn’t a habit of mine to caress a lady’s ankles.’ She could have laughed and cried together in her wonderful relief. It took all her resolution to obey his injunction. ‘There, how’s that?’ he asked after some time. ‘Better?’

‘Much, thank you,’ she breathed, taking for granted he expected an answer, despite his warning.

He turned his attention to Anstruther, who had already been engaged in performing a like office to his own wrists and ankles but without the skilful touch that Cousins now applied to them. It was not long before the young man indicated that feeling had completely returned. The Secret Service man sat himself quietly on the bed.

‘Listen carefully,’ he exhorted them. ‘It’s not going to be an easy job getting you out of the house. I thought at first of releasing you and concealing you somewhere inside, until the raid takes place, but that’s impracticable. Besides, there’s
no knowing what might happen, if they are alarmed. Bullets and what not will be flying all over the show. So I’ve got to get you out. First of all, take off your shoes, both of you.’ They obeyed. ‘Outside, to the right,’ he went on, ‘is a steepish staircase, descending to a corridor. Several rooms open on to that, and I believe are occupied by the owner of the house and the men who brought you here. We shall have to pass three doors before we reach the main staircase to the hall. Once there, things should be easy enough. The trouble will be getting there. Fellows like Karen generally sleep with one eye open. You’ll have to move like ghosts. A little way along the passage outside is another attic, and I strongly suspect Voronoff’s henchmen are slumbering within.’

‘Who is Voronoff?’ whispered Anstruther.

‘He is the owner or renter of this desirable country residence – a fat little fellow, but whether with or without his mammy’s eyes, I can’t say.’

‘How on earth did you get here?’ pursued the young man.

‘S’sh,’ warned Sonia, ‘there’ll be time enough for questions afterwards, Tony. We were told to make no sound.’

Cousins smiled in the darkness.

‘As Vaughan in
The Provoked Husband
put in,’ he murmured, ‘“The flat simplicity of that reply was admirable.” Are you ready? Then let us go.’

They stood up. Sonia found and clasped Tony’s hand. Gone was all her terror. She only felt now a tremendous sense of thrill and also deep gratitude to the little man who, she realised, must have risked his life to reach them. They crept silently to the door. Cousins had hold of the handle; was about to pull it open.
Instead, he suddenly pushed them back, muttering an order to return to the bed and lie down. They obeyed, their pulses racing madly. The little man must have possessed acute hearing; neither of them had heard a sound. Straining their eyes through the gloom, they could just discern his form posed rigidly by the door. A cry almost broke from Sonia’s lips; she only succeeded in stifling it with a great effort of will. The door was opening by slow degrees. As slowly, a short round figure insinuated itself into the room; began to creep towards the bed. It had almost reached its objective, when Cousins, from behind, hit it skilfully and scientifically upon the head with the butt of his heavy automatic. It collapsed with a grunt; was caught as it fell, and eased softly to the floor.

‘“I am as poor as Job, my Lord, but not so patient,”’ quoted the little man. ‘You asked,’ he added to Anstruther, ‘who was Voronoff. This is he. A nasty piece of work with a foul mind. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions as Dr Johnson is reported to have said, I should like to know where he thought the bad ones lead to.’ There was no mistaking his interpretation of Voronoff’s stealthy appearance, and Sonia shuddered, while Tony’s teeth snapped together angrily with a distinct click. ‘We’d better tie him up and gag him before we go,’ decided Cousins. ‘He won’t be unconscious long.’

With the help of Anstruther, the fellow was lifted on to the bed, tied securely with the ropes that had bound the young man and girl, and gagged. Tony took a vicious pleasure in assuring himself that ropes and gag were as tight as he could make them. ‘I hope this chokes the swine,’ he muttered, referring to the latter.

‘It probably will when he comes to, and finds what has happened to him,’ commented the Secret Service man. ‘He looks an apopletic subject. If he’d had more sense we’d be in queer street now. Either he was too intent on what he meant to do, or lacks grey matter, otherwise his suspicions would have been roused by the fact that the door was unlocked. Anyhow, we’ll lock him in. It was fortunate the key was left there. Unintentional kindness on Fish-eyes part. Now, come on. If we’re waylaid, Miss Hardinge, run down the stairs, get out of the house somehow, and make for the gate. You’ll find a dozen or so men there – send ’em along. Anstruther and I will hold the fort until they arrive, won’t we?’ he added to Tony.

‘Rather,’ whispered that young man enthusiastically.

‘“But when the blast of war blows in our ears,”’ quoted Cousins. ‘“Let us be tigers in our fierce deportment.”’

His companions, rendered calm and without qualms on account of his supreme coolness, were greatly amused at his proclivity for quotations. They were, more than ever, burning to know who he really was.

By now, it was getting quite light, and they had little difficulty in seeing their way. This time they managed to get out of the attic without any further alarms, Tony and Sonia carrying their shoes in their hands. Cousins locked the door; stood listening intently for a few moments then, with great caution, led them down the narrow, rather steep stairs to the corridor below. Again he stood straining his ears, but nothing of an alarming nature reached them, and presently on he went, the other two creeping along behind him. Sonia marvelled at the easy manner in which he moved, without making the slightest sound, despite the fact
that he had not removed his dilapidated footwear. She and Tony found the going extremely difficult, even in their stockinged feet. They discovered how hard it is to move without sound; were in agony all the time lest they caused a board to creak or made any other noise. They reached the broad, well-carpeted, main staircase, descended in Indian file; had almost reached the hall when, in a moment of carelessness, Anstruther allowed the shoes he was carrying to hit against the banisters with a distinct clatter. To their ears the noise was almost deafening. Sonia came to an abrupt halt, frozen with dismay; Anstruther felt himself go hot and cold all over; he knew his face was scarlet with shame and self-mortification. Cousins quickly brought them to the realisation that standing still on the stairs was hardly wise in the light of that which had happened.