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Mr. Newton's Dilemma · The Three Just Men

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Chapter twenty seven of The Three Just Men by Edgar Wallace. This LibriVox recording
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is in the public domain. Mister Newton's Dilemma, the most carefully guided streaks
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of luck may, in spite of all precautions, overflowing to the wrong channel.
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And this had happened to mister Montague Newton, producing an evening that was
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financially disastrous and a night from which sleep was almost banished. He had had
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one of his little card parties. But whether it was the absence of Joan
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and the inadequacy of her fluffy hair substitute, or whether the wine had disagreed
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with one of the most promising victims, the result was the same. They
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had played Chemin de Ferre and the Gilded Pigeon, whose feathers seemed already to
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be ornamenting the head dress of Monte. Newton had been successful, and when
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he should have been signing checks for large amounts, he was cashing his counters
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with a reluctant host. The night started wrong with Joan's substitute, whose name
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was Lisa. She had guided to the establishment via an excellent dinner at Merrow's.
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The son of an African millionaire Joan, of course, would have brought
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him alone. But Lisa less experience, had allowed a young looking friend of
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the victim to attach himself to the party, and she had even expected praise
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for her perspicacity and enterprise in producing two birds for the stone which mister Newton
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so effectively wielded instead of one. Monty did not resent the presence of the
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newcomer, and rather took the girl's view until he learned that Lisa's fine was
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not, as she had believed, an officer of the guards, but a
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sporting young lawyer with a large criminal practice, and one who had already as
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a junior conducted several prosecutions for the Crown. The moment his name was mentioned,
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Monty groaned in spirit. He was moreover painfully sober. This friend was
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not so favorably situated. That was the first of the awkward things to happen.
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The second was the bad temper of the player, who, when the
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bank was considerably over three thousand pounds, had first of all insisted upon the
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cards being reshuffled, and then had gone banco in the game being baccarat.
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Even this contra chomp might have been overcome, but after he had expressed his
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willingness to give it. The card which Monty had so industriously pawned, slipped
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from his hand to the table, and though the fact was unnoticed by the
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player's lawyer's attention being diverted at the moment, it was impossible to recover that
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very valuable piece of pasteboard, and Monty had done a silly thing. Instead
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of staging an artistic exhibition of annoyance at remarks which the millionaire's son had made,
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he decided to take a chance on the natural run of the cards,
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and he had lost. On top of that, the slightly inebriated player had
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decided that when a man had won a coup of three thousand pounds, it
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was time to stop playing. So Monty experienced the mortification of paying out money
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and accompanying his visitor to the door of the Smile. While it was so
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genial and so full of good fellowship that the young gentleman was compelled to apologize
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for his boorishness. Come along some other night and give me my revenge,
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said Monty. You bet, I will. I'm going to South Africa tomorrow,
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but I shall be back early next year, and I'll look you up.
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Monty watched him going down the steps and hoped he would break his neck.
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He was worried about Joan, more worried than he had thought it was
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possible for him to be about so light a girl. She was necessary to
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him in many ways. Lisa was a bungling fool, he decided, though
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he sent her home without hurting her feelings. She was a useful girl in
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many ways, and nothing spoils it tout quicker than constant nagging. He felt
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very lonely in the house and wandered from room to room, irritated with himself
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that the absence of this feather brained girl, who had neither the education nor
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the breed of his own class, should make such a big difference, and
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it did, he had to admit as much to himself. He hated the
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thought of that underground room. He knew something of her temperament and how soon
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her experience would get on her nerves in many respects. He wished he did
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not feel that way about her, because she had a big shock coming.
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And it was probably because he foresaw this hurt that he was anxious to make
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the present as happy as he could for her. After he had done what
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he was to do. There was no reason in the world why they should
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be bad friends, and he would give her a big present. Girls of
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that class soon forget their miseries if the present is large enough. Thus he
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argued, tossing from side to side in his bed, and all the time
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his thoughts playing about that infernal cellar, what she must be feeling. He
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did not worry at all about Mirabelle, because well, she was a principal
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in the case. To him, Joan was the real victim. Sleep did
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not come until daybreak, and he woke in his most irritable frame of mind.
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He had promised the girl he would call and see her, though he
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had privately arranged with Aberjean not to go to the house until the expiry of
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the five days. By lunchtime, he could stand the worry no longer,
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and, ordering his car, drove to a point between New Cross and Bermundsey,
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Walking on foot the remainder of the distance, mister Oberjon expected the visit.
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He had a shrewd knowledge of his confederate's mental outfit, and when he
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saw this well dressed man picking a dainty way across the littered ground, he
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strolled out on the steps to meet him. It is curious you should have
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come, he said. Why didn't you telephone, growled Newton. This was
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his excuse for the visit, Because there are human machines at the end of
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every wire, said Auberjean. If they were automatic and none could listen.
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But you and I, we would talk and talk and then talk all day
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long. Would I speak with you and find it a pleasure? But not
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with miss this and miss that, saying one moment, if you please,
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and saying to the Scotland yard man, now you cut in. Is Girther
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back? Girther is back, said the doctor soberly. Nothing happened to that
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bird, at least I saw nothing in the evening papers he has gone to
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Lisbon, replied the doctor indifferently. Perhaps he will get there, perhaps he
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will not. What does it matter. I should like to see the letter
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because it is data, and data has an irresistible charm for a poor old
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scientist. You will have a drink, Monty hesitated, as he always did
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when Aberjon offered him refreshment. He would never be sure with Aberjon. I'll
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have a whisky, he said, at last, a full bottle, one
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that hasn't been opened. I'll open it myself. The doctor chuckled, unevenly,
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you do not trust, he said, I think you are wise.
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For who is there in this world of whom a man can say he is
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my friend to the very end of my life. I will have confidence in
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him. Monty did not feel that the question called for an answer. He
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took the whisky bottle to the light, examined the cork, and drove in
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the corkscrew the soda. That also must be poisoned, said Doctor Jean pleasantly,
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And any other time he would not have made that observation. That he
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said it at all betrayed a subtle but ominous change in their relationships. If
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Monty noticed this, he did not say a word, but filled his glass
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and sat down on the sofa to drink. And all the time the doctor
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was watching him interestedly. Yes, girth is back. He failed, But
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you must excuse failure in a good man. The perfect agent has yet to
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be found, and the perfect principle also. The American Washington had left Paris
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when I last heard of him. He is to be congratulated. If I
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myself lived in Paris, I should always be leaving. It is a frivolous
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city. Monty lit a cigar and decided to arrive at the object of his
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visit by stages, for he had come to perform two important duties. He
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accounted as a duty, a call upon Joan. No less, was it
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a duty and something of a relief also to make his plan known to his
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partner. How are the girls, he asked. They are very happy,
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said doctor Roberjon, who had not resumed de sit, but stood in an
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attitude somewhat reminiscent of girtherr erect, staring motionless always my guests are happy in
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that dog hole, said the other contemptuously. I don't want Joan to be
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here, the hair doctor shrugged. Then take her away, my friend,
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he said, Why should she stay if you are unhappy? Because this woman
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is not with you, she serves no purpose. Possibly she is fretting.
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By all means, I will bring her to you. He moved to the
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door. Wait a moment, said Monty. I'll see her later and take
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her out perhaps, but I don't want her to be away permanently. Somebody
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ought to stay with that girl. Why am I not here, asked Auberjan
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blandly, you're here and gerthe's here. Monty was looking out the window and
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did not meet the doctor's eyes, especially Girther. That's why I think that
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Mirabel Lester should have somebody to look after her. Has that ever struck you
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that the best way out of this little trouble is marriage? I have thought
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that, said the doctor. You also have thought it. This is wonderful.
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You are beginning to think. The change of tone was noticeable enough.
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Now Monty snapped round at the man who had hitherto stood in apparent awe of
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him and his judgments. You can cut that sarcasm right out, Aberjon,
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he said, and without preamble. I'm going to marry that girl. Aberjon
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said, nothing to this. She's not engaged. She's got no love affairs
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at all, Joan told me. And Joan is a pretty shrewd girl.
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I don't know how I'm going to fix it, but I guess the best
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thing I can do is to pretend that I am a real friend and get
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her out of your cellar. She'll be so grateful that maybe she will agree
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to almost anything. Besides, I think I made an impression the first time
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I saw her, and I've got a position to offer her, Oberjon,
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a house in the thus part of London. My house, interrupted Auberjon's metallic
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voice. Your house, well, our house. Let us say we're not
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going to quarrel about terms. I also have a position to offer her,
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and I do not offer her any other man's. Auberjon was looking at him,
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wide eyed, a comical figure. His elongated face seemed to stand out
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in the gloom like a pantomime mask. You, Monty could hardly believe his
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ears. I baron, Eric aberjeon, A baron? Are you? The
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room shook with Monty's laughter. Why you damned old fool. You don't imagine
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she'd marry you, do you? Auberjon nodded, she would do any things
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what I tell her. In his agitation, his English was getting a little
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ragged. A girl may not like a man's, but she might hate something's
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worse. You understand A woman says death is noting, but a woman is
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afeared of death, isn't it? You're crazy, said Monty scornfully. I
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am crazy, am I? And a damned fool? Also? Yes,
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yet I shall marry her. There was a dead silence, and then Auberjon
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continued the conversation, but on a much calmer. Note, Perhaps I am
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what you call me, but it is not a thing worthy of two friends
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to quarrel. Tomorrow you shall come here and we will discuss this matter like
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a business proposition. Eh Monty examined him, as though he were a strange
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insect that had wandered into his ken. You're not a Swede, You're German,
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he said, that barren stuff gave you away. I am from the
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Baltic, but I have lived many years in Sweden, said Auberjon shortly.
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I am not German. I do not like them more than this, he
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would not say. Possibly, he shared Gerthu's repugnance towards his sometime neighbors.
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We shall not quarrel anyway, he continued. I am a fool. You
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are a fool. We are all fools. You wish to see your woman,
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I wish to see joan, said Monty gruffly. I don't like that
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your woman lyne of yours. I will go get her. You wait again.
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The long boots came from under the table, were dragged on to the
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doctor's awkward feet, and Monty watched him from the window as he crossed to
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the factory and disappeared. He was gone five minutes before he came out again
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alone. Monty frowned. What was the reason for this, my friend,
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panted Oberjean, to whom these exertions were becoming more and more irksome. It
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is not wise. I want to see her, began Monty gently. Gently,
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you shall see her. But on the canal bank, Gertha has also
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seen a stranger who has been walking up and down pretending to fish. Who
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can fish in a canal? I ask you, what has he to do
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with it? Would it be wise to bring her in daylight? I ask
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you again? Do not the men think that you're that this girl is in
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Brussels. This has not occurred to Monty. I have an idea for you.
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It is a good idea. The brain of old fool Auberjon sometimes works
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remarkably. This morning a friend sent me a ticket for a theater. Now
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you shall take her tonight. There was always a little fog when the sun
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is setting. You can leave the house in a car. Presently, I
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will send a man to attract this watcher's attention, and then I will bring
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her to the house and you can call for her. I will wait for
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her. Monty was dogged on this point and wait. He did, until
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an hour later a half crazed girl came flying into the room and into his
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arms. Doctor Aberjon witnessed the reunion unmoved. That is a pretty scene for
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me, he said, for when to be so soon married. And he
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left them alone, Monty, I can't possibly go back to that beastly place
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tonight. She'll have to stay by herself. And she's not a bad kid,
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Monty, but she doesn't know she's worth a lot of money. Have
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you been talking to her, he asked angrily. I told you no,
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I've only just asked her a questions. You can't be in a poky hole
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like that, thrown together day and night without talking, can you, Monty?
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You're absolutely sure nothing can happen to her, Monty cleared his throat.
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The worst thing that can happen to her, he said, is to get
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married. She opened her eyes at this. Does somebody want to marry her?
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Aberjon? He said that old thing? She scoffed again. He found
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it difficulty in speaking. I've been thinking it over, honey, he said.
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Marriage doesn't mean a whole lot to anybody. It'll mean a lot to
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me. She said quietly. Suppose I married her, he blurted you.
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She stepped back from him in horror, only just a Well, this is
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the truth, Joan. It may be the only way to get her money.
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Now you're in on this graft. And you know what you are to
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me? A marriage, a formal marriage for a year or two, and
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then a divorce and we could go away together, man and wife? Is
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that what he meant? She jerked her head to the door. About Mary's
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so soon he wants to marry her himself? Let him, she said,
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viciously. Do you think I care about money? Isn't there any other way
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of getting it? He was silent. There are too many other ways of
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getting it for him to advance a direct negative. Oh, Monty, you're
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not going to do that. I don't know what I'm going to do yet,
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he said, But not that, she insisted, clinging to him by
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his coat. We'll talk about it tonight. The old man's got his tickets
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for the theater. We'll have a bit of dinner up west and go on.
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And it really doesn't matter if anybody sees us, because they know very
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well you're not in Brussels. What is that queer scent you've got, Joone?
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Laughed forgetting for the moment the serious problem which faced her. Joss sticks.
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She said, the place got so close and stuffy, and I found
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them in the pantry with the provisions. As a matter of fact, it
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was a silly thing to do because we had the place full of smoke.
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It's gone now, though, Manty, you do these crazy things when you're
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locked up. She said, seriously, I don't think I can go back
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again. Go back tomorrow, he almost pleaded. It's only for two or
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three days, and it means a lot to me, especially now that Aubergean
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has ideas. You're not going to think any more about about marrying her,
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are you. We'll talk about it tonight at dinner. I thought you'd like
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the idea of the graft, he added, untruthfully. Joan had to return
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to her prison to collect some of her belongings. She found the girl lying
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on the bed reading, and Mirabel greeted her with a smile. Well as
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your term of imprisonment ended, Joan hesitated, not exactly, do you mind
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if I'm not here tonight? Mirabel shook her head. If the truth be
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told, she was glad to be alone. All that day she had been
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forced to listen to the plaints and weepings of this transfigured girl, and she
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felt that she could not well stand another twenty four you're sure you won't mind
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being alone? No, of course not. I shall miss you, added
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Mirabel, more in truth than in compliment. When will you return? The
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girl made a little grimace tomorrow. You don't want to come back naturally?
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Have you succeeded in persuading your friend to let me out too? Joan shook
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her head. He'll never do that, my dear, not till she looked
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at the girl. You're not engaged, are you? I know? Is
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that another story they've heard? Mirabel got up from the bed, laughing and
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heiress and engaged. No, they don't say you were engaged, Joan hastened
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to correct the wrong impression. There was genuine admiration in your voice when she
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said, you're a wonderful kid. If I were in your shoes, I'd
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be quaking. You're just as cheerful as though you were going to the funeral
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of her rich aunt. She did not know how near to her break down
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her companion had been that day, and Mirabel, who felt stronger insaner now
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than no desire to tell her you are rather splendid. Joan nodded and wish
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I had your pluck, And then impulsively she came forward and kissed the girl.
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Don't feel too sore at me, she said, and was gone.
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Before Mirabel could make a reply, the doctor was waiting for her in the
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factory. The spy has walked up to the canal bridge. We can go
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forward, he said. Besides, he has satisfaction out of this. He
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cannot see over high walls. What is this story about marrying Mirabelle Lester?
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So he has told you. Also, did he tell you that he is
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going to marry her? Yes, and I'll tell you something, doctor.
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And rather he married her than you, so said the doctor. I'd rather
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anybody else married her, except that snake of yours. Auberjean looked round sharply.
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She had used the word quite innocently, without any thought of its application,
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and uttered an oh of this when she realized her mistake. I meant
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girther, she said, Well, I know you meant gurtha, young miss,
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he said stiffly. To get back to the house, they had to
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make a half circle of the factory and passed between the canal wall and the
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building itself. The direct route would have taken them into a deep hollow into
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which the debris of years had been thrown, and which now nature, in
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her kindness, had hidden under a green mantle of wild convulvulus. It was
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typical of the place that the only beautiful picture in the grounds was out of
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sight. They were just turning the corner of the factory when the doctor stopped
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and looked up at the high wall, which was protected by a cheval the
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frieze of broken glass, all except in one spot about two feet wide.
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Were not only the glass, but the mortar which held it in place had
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been chipped off. There were fragments of the glass, and on the inside
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of the wall marks of some implement on the hard surface of the mortar.
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So said the doctor. He was examining the scratches on the wa wall.
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Wait, he ordered, and hurried back into the factory to return, carrying
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in each hand two large rusty contraptions, which he put on the ground.
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One by one. He forced open the jagged, rusty teeth until they were
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wide apart and held by a spring catch. She had seen things like that
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in a museum. They were man traps, relics, of the barbarous days
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when trespass was not only a sin but a crime. He fixed the second
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of the traps on the path between the factory and the wall. Now we
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shall see, he said forward. Monty was waiting for her impatiently. The
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rolls had been turned out in her honor, and the sulky looking driver was
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already in his place at the wheel. What is the matter with that chauffeur,
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she asked, as they bumped up the lane towards easier going. He
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looked so happy that I shouldn't be surprised to hear that his mother was hanged
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this morning. He sore with the old man, explained Monty. Auberjon has
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two drivers. They do a little looking round in the morning. The other
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fellow was supposed to come back to take over duty at three o'clock, and
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he hasn't turned up. He was the better driver of the two. The
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chauffeur was apparently seeking every pothole in the ground, and in the next five
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minutes she was alternately clutching the support of the armstrap and Monty. They were
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relieved when at last the car found a metal road and began its noiseless way
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towards the lights, and then her hands sought his, and for the moment
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this beautiful flower, which had grown in such foul soil, bloomed in the
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radiance of a love common to every woman, high and low, good and
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bad. End of Chapter twenty seven.