Part 34 (1/2)
”I know it!”
”They're bareheaded; and in the dark their shaven skulls look like nothing human. They're armed with those d.a.m.ned tubes, too. I'd give a thousand dollars--if I had it!--to know their mechanism.
Well, gentlemen, deeds speak. What am I here for, when I might be on the way to Liverpool, and safety?”
”You're here to try to make up for the past a bit!” said a soft, musical voice. ”Mr. Cavanagh's life is in danger.”
Carneta entered the room.
The light played in that wonderful hair of hers; and pale though she was, I thought I had never seen a more beautiful woman.
”Tell them,” she said quietly, ”what must be done.”
Soar glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes and s.h.i.+fted uneasily. Hilton stared as if fascinated.
”Now,” rapped Dexter, in his strident voice, ”putting aside all questions of justice and right (we're not policemen), what do we want--you and I, Mr. Cavanagh?”
”I can't think clearly about anything,” I said dully. ”Explain yourself.”
”Very well. Inspector Bristol, C.I.D., would want me and Ha.s.san arrested. I don't want that! What I want is peace; I want to be able to sleep in comfort; I want to know I'm not likely to be murdered on the next corner! Same with you?”
”Yes--yes.”
”How can we manage it? One way would be to kill Ha.s.san of Aleppo; but he wants a lot of killing--I've tried! Moreover, directly we'd done it, another Sheikh-al-jebal would be nominated and he'd carry on the b.l.o.o.d.y work. We'd be worse off than ever. Right!
we've got to connive at letting the blood-stained fanatic escape, and we've got to give up the slipper!”
”I'll do that with all my heart!”
”Sure! But you and I have both got little scores up against Ha.s.san, which it's not in human nature to forget. But I've got it worked out that there's only one way. It may nearly choke us to have to do it, I'll allow. I'm working on the Moslem character. Mr. Hilton, make up a fire in the grate here!”
Hilton stared, not comprehending.
”Do as he asks,” I said. ”Personally, I am resigned to mutilation, since I have touched the bag containing the slipper, but if Dexter has a plan--”
”Excuse me, sir,” Soar interrupted. ”I believe there's some coal in the coal-box, but I shall have to break up a packing-case for firewood--or go out into the yard!”
”Let it be the packing-case,” replied Hilton hastily.
Accordingly a fire was kindled, whilst we all stood about the room in a sort of fearful uncertainty; and before long a big blaze was roaring up the chimney. Dexter turned to me.
”Mr. Cavanagh,” said he, ”I want you to go right upstairs, open a first-floor window--I would suggest that of your bedroom--and invite Ha.s.san of Aleppo to come and discuss terms!”
Silence followed his words; we were all amazed. Then--
”Why do you ask me to do this?” I inquired.
”Because,” replied Dexter, ”I happen to know that Ha.s.san has some queer kind of respect for you--I don't know why.”
”Which is probably the reason why he tried to kill me to-night!”