She Painted her Face (4 page)

This was sheer common sense, so I said no more. For all that, I had a feeling that Virgil was up to no good and I left him behind with reluctance, and thinking all the time of the puzzle which we had been set.

Wire, a change of clothes and a dog on a lead— at half-past four in the morning— in the midst of a private park. And a closed and numberless car— and the clothes had been marked

I think I may be forgiven for wondering what was toward.

Ten minutes, perhaps, had gone by when the drive curled between the foothills and then swung round to the left and began to climb. Almost at once the woods on Its right fell away, and there was the castle before us, perhaps three hundred yards off.

It made a lovely picture, lit by the rising sun, for its tower and its seven turrets stood out most bold and brilliant against the blue of the sky, and these and every projection that caught the light were throwing shadows so vivid that the castle looked heraldic and might have been a blazon of black and gold. It was built of grey stone and must once have been a fortress of considerable strength, but windows had later been set in its massive walls, and chimney-stacks had been added to make it a residence.

No smoke arose from the chimneys, nor could we see any movement within or about the house, and since we could hardly have wished for a finer view we left the drive for some bushes a few yards off to settle down to the business of searching the tops of the foothills which stood to the south. These were the lesser heights over which we had been looking the day before. If we could occupy them, without being seen, we should overlook the castle from end to end, and since their opposite sides ran down very close to the road, they would be more easy of access than any other position commanding the house.

Herrick. I think, was more excited than I, for, now that he saw the castle which he had seen and known when he was twelve years old, he began at once to remember the plan of the house: since this was all to the good, I let him be and myself began to survey the heights which we hoped to use.

Almost at once I remarked that on one of these three firs were standing together to thrust a grey-green steeple into the sky: this, I was sure, could be seen from the farther side and so would make us a landmark for future use. The next thing I saw was a path which slanted up from the meadows into the woods, and when I had taken my glasses I found that it led to an elegant belvedere.

THIS looked unfrequented, and but for my glasses I could not have picked it out, for the trees which had been cut back had put forth new boughs. Because of the veil of foliage, nobody standing there could ever be seen from below, yet he could see as much as he wished by peering between the leaves. To reach this spot from above looked easy enough, for it hung a short thirty feet below the crest of the hill and the ground between was covered with beech and fir.

This was enough for me. As a matter of form I raked the neigh- boring heights, but though they offered good cover I saw no spot to compare with the belvedere. And this, of course, was natural, for the belvedere had been made to the end which we had in view, that is, to command the castle; and though in the old, quiet days it might have been used, I found it hard to believe that man or woman today could be bothered to climb so high for the sake of a pretty prospect and nothing more. My one idea, in fact, was to make for the Rolls and then to go round by road and get to the belvedere as soon as ever I could. But Herrick, deep in memory, would not be moved.

"Why rush your fences?" he said. "We've plenty of time, I'm doing lovely work— I can even remember a picture that hung in the dining room. That's the dining-room at the end. You can't see the stables from here— they're behind to the left. But what I'm on now is the tower. I think it rises from the courtyard I'm almost sure. But I know that it had a door on the second floor. The courtyard's beyond that archway— not very big. You go on, if you like— I shan't be long. But I don't want to drop the thread, in case I can't find it again. The belvedere's gorgeous, of course; but I never saw the castle from there. It's because this view is familiar that everything's coming back."

I had a sudden idea.

"All right," I said. "I'll go on. And on the way I'll see what Percy's up to."

"What could be better?" said Herrick. "But don't get involved. We're here to find out— not give battle. Don't forget that."

"I promise," said I. "Don't be long," and, with that, I was gone.

Retracing my steps I did not use the drive, but moved by its side through the bracken beneath the trees. This, because I was sure that Virgil would make his way home as soon as his business was done. I had marked that he was unshaved and was wearing a scarf for a collar about his throat, and from what I knew of the man he meant to return before breakfast and rise in his regular way. And though I might now be too late to see what his business was, at least I saw no occasion for meeting him face to face. However, he did not appear and, as I approached that track, I saw that the car was still there and had not been moved.

Now all I knew was that Virgil and his companions had passed up the track out of sight. How far they had gone or whether they had kept the track I had no idea, but since it seemed pretty clear that they would not be very far off, from now I took greater precautions against being seen. When I moved, I did so gently and went on my hands and knees, and whenever I rose to look round, I did so against a tree trunk, as though, Indeed, I were stalking some wary prey.

First of all I took a good look at the car. This was roomy and powerful and somewhat the worse for wear. Its number-plates had been oiled and were coated with dust. One of its doors was ajar, and within I could see an old suitcase, no doubt containing "the clothes." But that was all, and after a long look round I went on my way.

I dared not use the track, although I followed the line which it took, and what with the care which I showed, and the many halts which I made, my progress was very slow. For all that, I dared not hasten in case the four I was. seeking were close at hand, for it must not be forgotten that if they had come to rest the cover which served me so well would stand them In just as good stead. Then, again, they had a dog with them.

I went on, picking my way.

It was nearly six o'clock, and I had been gone from Herrick a full half-hour when the track beside which I was moving came to an end. This, to my dismay, for now I had nothing to go on, although, of course, the track might have led me wrong.

In vain I sought for a broken stem of bracken which might declare the trail which my friends had left; in vain I scanned the forest and strained my ears; but for the birds and the squirrels I might have had the world to myself.

Flat against the trunk of an oak tree I wiped the sweat from my face. Five paces ahead a ride had been cut through the woods; though this was thick with bracken, it gave me a pretty clear view to right and to left, but the flood stretched smooth and unbroken and I could see no sign of its having been crossed.

Loath to admit defeat, I tried to think what to do. To proceed was easy enough, but, for all I knew, with every step that I took I might be going away from the party I sought. Yet to stay where I was was useless.

If only there had been a hillock to add a few feet to my height, I could have looked down upon the bracken and that point of view might have shown me the traces the others had left. I But there was no hillock; the ground hereabouts was sloping, but nothing more.

Suddenly I thought of the oak tree and lifted my eyes.

If I could reach it there was the coign I desired. One of the mighty branches was stretching out over the ride— a branch twice as thick as my loins, some twenty feet up. If I were there I could see for a quarter of a mile, while the leaves of the lesser boughs would save me from being seen.

After a long look about me I leaped for a sturdy sucker and swung myself up. My branch was not easy to come to, because what handhold there was was so far between, and I must confess that, while I fought my way up, I could not help wondering how I should ever get down. However, I would not turn back, and after two or three minutes I flung a leg over the perch upon which I had set my heart.

I now had a very good view of the whole of the ride, which sloped, on the left, to the meadows south-west of the house, and rose, on the right, to a circus, whence three other rides ran out, as spokes from a hub.

Across the ride two definite trails had been left— or, rather, one and a half. The first, which stretched right across, was thirty paces away, to the left of the oak; and the second, which stretched out halfway, as far to the left again. At the end of this second trail, full in the midst of the ride, the woman was sitting alone, with her back towards me.

To say that I felt bewildered means nothing at all. What on earth she was doing there I could not conceive, and at last I made up my mind that she must be hiding from Virgil, with whom she had had some fuss. Of him or the other two men I could see no sign.

Now, but for the sight of the woman I should have at once descended and taken the other trail, but while I was still considering whether to follow this course the woman got to her feet and stood perfectly still.

When I saw her do this it came to me in a flash that, unless the woman were mad, she must be acting in concert with somebody else. And so she was. Before two minutes had passed, the chauffeur appeared.

He made his way straight to her side, when the woman handed him something and then hurried out of the ride and so out of my view.

I now felt bound to admit that Herrick must have been right when he made his idle suggestion that "Percy was making a film." The behaviour which I had just witnessed was not consistent with the manners of a workaday world, but the screen is above convention, as every schoolboy knows.

The early hour and the talk of a change of clothes supported this point of view, and, though I could see no apparatus, I had no doubt that this was somewhere at hand. And since I had no Interest in such goings on, I began at once to consider how best to get down from my oak.

I had turned about and was standing upon the branch with my hands on the trunk, when the scream of a dog in agony rent the ear. Half turning again, I saw the chauffeur standing where I had seen him last, holding the dog at arm's length by the scruff of its neck and flogging the luckless creature with all his might.

I was just about to cry out— for, film or no film, such cruelty was not to be borne— when I heard a galloping horse coming down from the right; that is to say, from the circus from which the four rides ran out.

Because of the leaves before me I could not see it go by, but an instant later a bay flashed into my view. On his back was a girl, and the two were going full tilt down the midst of the ride and making straight for the chauffeur still thrashing the dog.

So for a second or less. Then the bay turned head over heels and the girl went flying beyond him, as though shot out of a gun.

I NEVER saw such a fall in all my life but before I had time to think, much less to descend, a man and a woman were rushing to where the girl lay. They were, of course, the two that came out of the car, and they must have been standing directly in line with the bay when he came to the ground. And the chauffeur, too, was running as fast as he could.

The bay was up now and was moving off through the bracken with heaving flanks, but the girl lay crumpled up and perfectly still. To my surprise. Instead of attending to her, the man and the woman between them lifted her up and began to stumble with her towards my oak.

They passed directly beneath me, seeming to think of nothing but getting their burden along. Had this been the carcase of a dog they could scarce have used it with less propriety. The girl was dead or senseless— I could not tell which; but instead of supporting her head they let this hang, and one of her legs was suffered to trail on the ground.

This was too much for me, and at once I began to go down; but, for all my indignation, I could not make haste, because, as I had feared, the descent was twice as stiff as the climb I had made.

I was, of course, wholly bewildered by what I had seen. An accident had occurred— I supposed In the course of the "picture" then being made. But I could not under- stand any number of things. Where was Virgil? And what of the beaten dog? And what had become of the chauffeur? And why was the girl being hustled out of the way?

And then I looked over my shoulder, still twelve feet up, to see the man and the woman lay the girl down in the track which led to the car.

They paid her no sort of attention but after a hurried word the man turned back to the ride and the woman ran down the track and out of my sight.

I think it was then that I thought they meant her ill, for both of them need not have left her in any case. Be that as it may, I hung where I was for an Instant, to let the fellow go by.

Had he looked up he must have seen me, for I was fully exposed, but his eyes were fixed on something I could not see.

I leaped the last six feet, and before I turned to the girl I looked after the man. In so doing I saw the chauffeur walking across the ride— at the spot where the bay took his fall— hastily coiling the wire which had brought him down.

For a moment I stared, unable to credit my eyes.

Then I whipped to the girl, who was yet lying still as death, and, picking her up in my arms, ran out of the track and into the thick of the bracken until I could run no more.

I afterwards found I had run a quarter of a mile, which shows, I think, that fear can lend a man strength which he does not possess Be that as it may, I lay the girl down as gently as I knew how— and then lay down beside her to get my breath.

Of course I knew who she was and I knew I had seen an attempt to carry her off. And I knew that I had been sent to bring that attempt to naught. I prayed that I had succeeded— with all my heart.

And here, before going on, I will render unto Destiny the things that are his. When I remember the manifold changes and chances that steered me gradually into the nick of time, I never fail to worship the wonderful workings of Fate.

I perceive that I was a puppet now moved, now held, now switched and now thrust upon the stage, that it was not I but my Master that brought me from the County of Surrey into an Austrian oak tree that morning at six o'clock.

Had I not been there at that moment, though I had contrived to move mountains, my efforts must have been vain and Lady Caroline Virgil have gone to a doom more shocking than that which her father knew.

From the way she had lain in my arms I was sure that she was not dead, but I felt that she ought to have water, to bring her to life. And then I heard the speech of a rill.

Two minutes later, perhaps, a hand went up to her head.

"It’s all right," said I, "lie still You took the deuce of a toss."

Lady Caroline Virgil opened two large, grey eyes.

"The dog." she said. "Who was it beating that dog in that merciless way?"

"It's all right," said I. "He stopped when he saw you come down."

"And Caesar?" she cried, sitting up. "Where's Caesar— the horse I was riding?"

"Unhurt," said I. "He may be going spare, but he's not going short And now will you please lie down and let me look round?"

After a steady stare, she did as I said.

I got to my knees and peered through the tops of the bracken, but all was still.

As I sat back on my heels:

"Why did you want to look round?"

"Because you are still in danger. You were brought down on purpose— A wire was across the ride."

Lady Caroline looked at me very hard.

"How do you know?"

"I saw it taken away. I saw the whole thing. The fellow was thrashing the dog to draw you that way."

There was a little silence. Then

"Who arranged this— melodrama?"

"Your cousin Percy," said I. "I saw him at work."

After a long silence she let out a little laugh.

"That rings true," she said shortly. And then:

"Who are you?"

"My name s Richard Exon," I said. "A— a friend of yours told me about you."

"I didn't know I had any friends."

"You've Herrick and me," I said quickly. "His mother was a friend of your mother's, and I was a friend of— of the friend I mentioned just now."

The girl regarded me straitly.

"I can't remember my mother."

"I know," said I. "The Countess Rudolph was killed before you were two years old."

With that, I got again to my knees, to throw a look round.

As I did so, I heard a car coming, gathering speed, Till then I had had no idea that we were so close to the drive, and for one distracting moment it I seemed as though the closed car were heading directly for us. Then it switched to its right a short six paces away, and before ten seconds had passed we could hear it no more.

"Was that they?" said Lady Caroline.

I nodded.

"That's right. Gone empty away."

"What do you mean-empty?"

"They were to have taken you with them— I don't know where."

My lady sat up.

"Are you sure of this?"

"Quite sure. I'll tell you everything later."

Cautiously I got to my feet.

"D'you think you could manage to walk? My car's not very I far off."

"There's nothing the matter with me, but why should I walk to your car?"

I hesitated. Then

"Because I beg you," I said. "I'll tell you everything later— Indeed I will. But now we've not a moment to lose. Directly Caesar gets in, the alarm will be raised; and I don't want you to be found until after you've heard my tale. Please trust me till then. You really are in danger— what happened just now must show you that your cousin will stick at nothing to put you out of the way."

Finger to lip, Lady Caroline Virgil appeared to reflect. At length she rose to her feet.

"All right," she said. "I trust you. Where is this car?"

When I told her, she glanced about her. Then she pointed across the drive.

"That's our quickest way. But how do we come to be here? I came off in the Golden Ride."

"I carried you here," said I "They left you half-way to the car, so I picked you up and cleared out before they came back."

A hand went up to her head.

"So far as I can make out, I've a great deal to thank you for. But I can't think as straight as I should. And when we get to your car, are you going to drive me to Brief?"

"I'd like to drive you to Raven."

"To Raven? Do you know Raven?"

"That's where we're staying," said I.

"All right. I don't care. I'd like to see Brenda again. I’ll lie down there for a while. When you've been knocked out you're never quite right till you've slept."

Though she seemed to have taken no hurt, she was not fit to walk as far as the Rolls; yet I was afraid to offer to fetch the car in case, before I got back, the hunt should be up. There was, therefore, nothing for it. Fortune had laid on my anvil a red-hot iron. If I did not strike it now When she had stumbled twice, without a word I took her right arm and set it about my neck, then I put my left arm about her and held her up.

"Thank you," she said. And then: "You're awfully strong."

"You're not very heavy," said I, and spoke the truth.

With that we went forward in silence as fast as we could. She, I think, was thankful to hold her peace and I could think of nothing but of getting her clear of the park. For al that, I should not have been human if I had not been aware of her beauty and the grace of the slim, straight figure that swayed in the crook of my arm.

Her head was bare, and she won a soft, silk shirt, now smudged with green, and Jodhpur riding trouser very well cut; but thus unadorned and shaken she filled the eye.

I am given to understand that she had her mother's looks, but I find it hard to believe that the Countess Rudolph had all of her daughter's charm. I have said before that her eyes were large and grey, but I despair of disclosing the exquisite light which made them so very rare. This was a very soft brilliance which could leap into a flame, but, once you had seen it, you never could forget it, because for ever after all other eyes seemed dull. Her hair was soft and shining and black as night, and the face which it framed was strong and proud and fearless, but somewhat sad. I think it was the droop of her lips that gave her this wistful air, but you could not have wished it absent, because that might have altered the shape of her faultless mouth. Her skin was very white and her colour was high, and she made you think of some mistress of medieval days of whose beauty troubadours sang, whose favour was sought and fought for by famous men. I have seen such great ladies presented on stage and screen; but, though these had the advantage of raiment, scene and surroundings to set them off, I never saw one that looked the part so well as did Caroline Virgil, no matter where she was or how she was dressed. Times have changed and knights and queens of beauty have long been dust, but the Count and the Countess Rudolph were both of proud descent, and I think that their daughter threw back to one of those lovely ghosts that fanned to a flame the flush of chivalry

TWENTY minutes had passed and I had had to carry her over a stream before I saw through the trees the flash of the Rolls. I never was so thankful, for though she made no complaint, I knew it was all she could do to stay upon her feet, and I had a dreadful fear that to strive with the effects of concussion might do her some serious ill.

Winter saw us coming and had a door open for her to get into the car. This she did without speaking and at once lay back on the cushions and closed her eyes.

"D'you feel very rotten?" I asked

"I'm done," she said. "That's all. I'll be all right as soon as I've had some sleep."

Herrick was not to be seen, but since he was sure to return by the entrance drive and the road, I bade Winter take the wheel and make for the spot at which he had set us down. If he was not in sight whee we got there I meant to go on to Raven and then return, but, as luck would have it, we met him at the mouth of the track.

He was plainly bursting with news, but I was down in the road before he could speak.

"I've got her," I breathed. "She's coming with us to Raven. But don't say a word in the car: she's not too well."

Then we both got Into the Rolls and Winter let in his clutch.

"It's very seldom," said Herrick "that Fortune makes up her mind to do a thing really well. She almost, always leaves you with two or three little knots, and you have to try to untie them as best you can. As a rule, you can't, and so you have to cut them. But here she's excelled herself, for I came upon the scene of the outrage as you went off, and so I can complete the astonishing tale you've just told.

"But before I do that, let's go back. Between us, we saw the whole thing; We saw Percy meet his bullies to lead them off to the ride. There, of course, he told them exactly what they were to do, watched them fix the wire and placed them in the positions which they were to occupy— the chauffeur at the end of the ride to watch for my lady's approach and the woman to show him his place as soon as he'd seen her go by And when Percy had posted them he went back to the house. That’s not guesswork. I saw him. Two minutes after you'd left me he whipped through the fields below me, up to the house, and in by the door at the foot of a staircase-turret. Back to bed, of course— and there's his alibi. Nobody saw him go out and nobody saw him come in.

"My lady must have appeared Just after I'd made up my mind to return to the Rolls, Anyway, I didn't see her. But I saw the closed car, as you did; and, as you did, I crawled up to have a good look Before I was through I heard that unfortunate dog, and, without thinking what I was doing, I started along the track. Then the dog stopped screaming and I re-entered the bracken just about ten paces in rear of the car.

"I was wondering where you were and whether to follow the track or go back to the Rolls," said Herrick, "when I saw the woman approaching between the trees. She was blowzed and out of breath and went by at a shambling run, and when she got to the car she swung the door wide open and then stood biting her nails and staring the way she had come.

"Presently along comes the chauffeur, sweating great drops, with a coil of rebellious wire, and going as fast as he knew.

" 'Where is she?' he cries. 'Have you got her?'

"The woman lets out a gasp.

" 'Me?' she bleats. "Max has got her. He sent me on.'

" 'Max hasn't got her,' cries the chauffeur, and the woman goes white as a sheet.

"The next moment, up comes Max, with his eyes bulging out of his head.

"When they told him she wasn't there he threw the best part of a fit before my eyes. Then they all ran back in a bunch, like so many frantic beasts, to where she ought to have been. Less than two minutes elapsed before they came stumbling back, all three disputing hoarsely and, naturally, blaming each other for what had occurred.

Bang opposite where I was lying the woman fell upon Max and scratched his face to glory before the chauffeur was able to pull her off. Then she fell down in a heap and burst into tears, and Max did his best to kick her till the chauffeur landed a good one and knocked him down. But for him they'd have been there now, for he was the only one that wasn't beside himself.