The Devil Rides Out (15 page)

She nodded, confident now that once they reached their destination Mocata would exercise his powers to relieve her of restraint.

‘The place must be about seventy miles from here,' she told him, ‘and I should like to be there by sundown, so we ought to leave here by six.'

‘Wouldn't it be possible to start later?' A worried frown clouded Rex's face. ‘The truth is, that message Max gave us before lunch was phony–just a part of my plan for keeping you here. I never did count on De Richleau arriving much before the time you say we ought to start, and I'd just hate to leave without him.'

Tanith smiled to herself. This was an unexpected piece of luck. She had only met the Duke for a moment the night before, but his lean, cultured face and shrewd, grey eyes had impressed her. She felt that he would prove a far more difficult opponent than this nice, bronzed young giant, and if she could get away without having to face him after all it would be a real relief, so she made a wry face and proceeded to elaborate her story.

‘I'm sorry, but there are certain preparations which have to be made before the gathering. They begin at sunset, so I must be at–well, the place to which we are going by a quarter past eight. If I arrive later I shall not be eligible to participate, so I will not go at all.'

‘In that case I guess I'm in your hands. Anyhow, now we've settled things, let's get back to the house.' Rex untied the canoe and, setting the motor in motion, steered back to the landing stage.

His first thought was to inform De Richleau of the bargain he had made, but after pleading once more with the officials at the British Museum to have the Duke sought for, he learned that he was no longer there. And when he got through to the Curzon Street flat the servants could tell him nothing of De Richleau's whereabouts, so it was impossible to expedite his arrival.

For a time Rex strolled up and down the lawn with Tanith, then round the lovely garden, while he talked again of the places that they had both visited abroad and tried to recapture something of the gaiety which had marked their drive down from London in the morning.

Max brought them tea out onto the terrace, and afterwards they played the electric gramophone, but even that failed to relieve Rex of a steadily deepening anxiety that the Duke might not arrive in time.

The shadows of the lilacs and laburnums began to lengthen on the grass, Tanith went upstairs to tidy herself, and when she came down asked if he could find her a road map. He produced a set and for a time she studied two of them in silence, then she refolded them and said quietly: ‘I know so little of the English country but I am certain now that I can find it. We must be leaving soon.'

It was already six o'clock, and he had put off shaking a cocktail until the last moment in order to delay their departure as long as possible. Now, he rang for ice as he said casually: ‘Don't fuss, I'll get you there by a quarter after eight.'

‘I'll give you five minutes–no more.'

‘Well, listen now. Say De Richleau fails to make it. Won't you give me a break? Let me know the name of the place so as I can leave word for him to follow?'

She considered for a moment. ‘I will give you the name of a village five miles from it where he can meet you, on one condition.'

‘Let's hear it.'

‘That neither of you seek to restrain me in any way once we reach our destination.'

‘No. I'll not agree to that.'

‘Then I certainly will not give you any information which will enable your friend to appear on the scene and help you.'

‘I'll get him there some way, don't you worry.'

‘That leaves me a free hand to prevent you if I can, doesn't it?'

As he swallowed his cocktail she glanced at the clock. ‘It's ten past now, so unless you prefer not to go we must start at once.'

Consoling himself with the thought that De Richleau could have got no more out of her even if he had questioned her himself, Rex led her out and settled her in the Rolls. Then, before starting up the engine, he listened intently for a moment, hoping that even yet he might catch the low, steady purr of the big Hispano which would herald the Duke's eleventh hour arrival, but the evening silence brooded unbroken over the trees and lane. Reluctantly he set the car in motion and as they ran down the gravel sweep, Tanith said quietly, ‘Please drive to Newbury.'

‘But that's no more than twenty miles from here!'

‘Oh, I will give you further directions when we reach it,' she smiled, and for a little time they drove in silence through the quiet byways until they entered the main Bath road at Theale.

At Newbury, she gave fresh instructions. ‘To Hungerford now,' and the fast, low, touring Rolls sped out of the town eating up another ten miles of the highway to the west.

‘Where next?' he asked, scanning the houses of the market town for its most prosperous-looking inn and mentally registering
The Bear
. It was just seven o'clock–another few miles and they would be about half-way to the secret rendezvous. He did not dare to stop in the town in case she gave him the slip and hired another car or went on by train, but when they were well out in the country again he meant to telephone the Duke, who must have arrived at Pangbourne by this time, and urge him to follow as far as Hungerford at once–then sit tight at
The Bear
until he received further information.

Tanith was studying the map. ‘There are two ways from here,' she said, ‘but I think it would be best to keep to the main road as far as Marlborough.'

A few miles out of Hungerford the country became less populous with only a solitary farmhouse here and there, peaceful and placid in the evening light. Then these, too, were left behind and they entered a long stretch of darkening woodlands, the northern fringe of Savernake Forest.

Both were silent, thinking of the night to come which was now so close upon them and the struggle of wills that must soon take place. Rex brought the car down to a gentle cruising speed and watched the road-sides intently. At a deserted hair-pin bend, where a byway doubled back to the south-east, he found just what he wanted, a telephone call-box.

Turning the car off the main road he pulled up, and noted with quick
appreciation that they had entered one of the most beautiful avenues he had ever seen. As far as the eye could see it cut clean through the forest, the great branches meeting overhead in the sombre gloom of the falling night, it looked like the nave of some titanic cathedral deserted by mankind; but he had no leisure to admire it to the full, and stepping out, called to Tanith over his shoulder: ‘Won't be a minute–just want to put through a call.'

She smiled, but the strange look that he had seen earlier in the day came into her eyes again. ‘So you mean to trick me and let De Richleau know the direction we have taken?'

‘I wouldn't call it that,' he protested. ‘In order to get in touch with Simon I bargained to take you to this place you're so keen to get to, but I reserved the right to stop you taking any part yourself, and I need the Duke to help me.'

‘And I agreed, because it was the only way in which I could get away from Pangbourne, but I reserved the right to do all in my power to attend the meeting. However,' she shrugged lightly, ‘do as you will.'

‘Thanks.' Rex entered the box, spoke to the operator, and having inserted the necessary coins, secured his number. Next minute he was speaking to De Richleau. ‘Hullo! Rex here. I've got the girl and she's agreed–Oh, Hell!'

He dropped the receiver and leapt out of the box. While his back was turned Tanith had moved into the driver's seat. The engine purred, the Rolls slid forward. He clutched frantically at the rear mudguard but his fingers slipped and he fell sprawling in the road. When he scrambled to his feet the long blue car was almost hidden by a trail of dust as it roared down the avenue, and while he was still cursing his stupidity, it disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

At 7.20. Rex was through again to the Duke, gabbling out the idiotic way in which he had allowed Tanith to fool him and leave him stranded in Savernake Forest.

At 7.22. De Richleau had heard all he had to tell and was ordering him to return to Hungerford as best he could, there to await instructions at
The Bear.

At 7.25. Tanith was out of the Forest and on a good road again, some five miles south-east of Marlborough, slowing down to consult her map.

At 7.26. The Duke was through to Scotland Yard.

At 7.28. Rex was loping along at a steady trot through the gathering darkness, praying that a car would appear from which he could ask a lift.

At 7.30. De Richleau was speaking to the Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, a personal friend of his. ‘It's not the car that matters,' he said, ‘but the documents which are in it. Their immediate recovery is of vital importance to me and I should consider it a great personal favour if any reports which come in may be sent at once to the Police Station at Newbury.'

At 7.32. Tanith was speeding south towards Tidworth, having decided that to go round Salisbury Plain via Amesbury would save her time on account of the better roads.

At 7.38. Scotland Yard was issuing the following communiqué by wireless: ‘All stations. Stolen. A blue touring Rolls, 1934 model. Number OA 1217. Owner, Duke de Richleau. Last seen in Savernake Forest going south-east at 19 hours 15, but reported making for Marlborough. Driven by woman. Age twenty-three–attractive appearance–tall, slim, fair hair, pale face, large hazel eyes, wearing light green summer costume and small hat. Particulars required by Special Department. Urgent. Reports to Newbury.'

At 7.42. De Richleau received a telephone call at Pangbourne. ‘Speakin' fer Mister Clutterbuck,' said the voice, ‘bin tryin' ter get yer this lars' arf hour, sir. The green Daimler passed through Camberley goin' south just arter seven o'clock.'

At 7.44 Tanith was running past the military camp at Tidworth still going south.

At 7.45. Rex was buying a second-hand bicycle for cash at three times its value from a belated farm-labourer.

At 7.48. The Duke received another call. ‘I have a special from Mr Clutterbuck,' said a new voice. ‘The Yellow Sports Sunbeam passed Devizes going south at 7.42.'

At 7.49. Tanith reached the Andover-Amesbury road and turned west along it.

At 7.54. De Richleau climbed into his Hispano. ‘My night glasses–thank you,' he said as he took a heavy pair of binoculars from Max. ‘Any messages which come in for me up to 8.25 are to be relayed to the police at Newbury, after that to Mr Van Ryn at the
Bear Inn
, Hungerford, up till 8.40, and from then on to the police at Newbury again.'

At 7.55. Tanith was approaching a small cross-roads on the outskirts of Amesbury. A Police-Sergeant who had left the station ten minutes earlier spotted the number of her car, and stepping out into the road called on her to halt. She swerved violently, missing him by inches, but managed to swing the car into the by-road leading north.

At 7.56. Rex was pedalling furiously along the road to Hungerford with all the strength of his muscular legs.

At 7.58. Tanith, livid with rage that Rex should have put the police on to her as though she were a common car thief, had spotted another policeman near the bridge in Bulford village. Not daring to risk his holding her up in the narrow street, she switched up another side-road leading north-east.

At 7.59. The Amesbury Police-Sergeant dropped off a lorry beside the constable on duty at the main cross-roads of the town and warned him to watch out for a Blue Rolls, number OA 1217, recklessly driven by a young woman who was wanted by the Yard.

At 8.01. Tanith had slowed down and was wondering desperately if she dared risk another attempt to pass through Amesbury. Deciding against it she ran on, winding in and out through the narrow lanes, to the northeastward.

At 8.02. Rex had abandoned his bicycle outside the old Almshouses at Froxfield and was begging a lift from the owner of a rickety Ford who was starting into Hungerford.

At 8.03. The Amesbury Police-Sergeant was reporting to Newbury the
appearance of the ‘wanted' Rolls.

At 8.04. Tanith pulled up, hopelessly lost in a tangle of twisting lanes.

At 8.06. De Richleau swung his Hispano on to the main Bath road. His cigar tip glowed red in the twilight as he sank his chin into the collar of his coat and settled down to draw every ounce out of the great powerful car.

At 8.08. Tanith had discovered her whereabouts on the map and found that she had been heading back towards the Andover road.

At 8.09. The Amesbury Police-Sergeant was warning the authorities at Andover to keep a look-out for the stolen car in case it headed back in that direction.

At 8.10. Tanith had turned up a rough track leading north through some woods in the hope that it would enable her to get past the Military Camp at Tidworth without going through it.

At 8.12. Rex was hurrying into
The Bear
inn at Hungerford.

At 8.14. Tanith was stuck again, the track having come to an abrupt end at a group of farm buildings.

At 8.17. The Duke was hurtling along the straight, about five miles east of Newbury.

At 8.19. Tanith was back at the entrance of the track and turning into a lane that led due east.

At 8.20. The Amesbury Police-Sergeant left the station again. He had completed his work of warning Salisbury, Devizes, Warminster and Winchester to watch for the stolen Rolls.

At 8.21. Tanith came out on the main Salisbury-Marlborough road and, realising that there was nothing for it but to chance being held up at Tidworth, turned north.

At 8.22. Rex had sunk his second tankard of good Berkshire ale and took up his position in the doorway of
The Bear
to watch for the Duke.

At 8.23. Tanith, possessed now, it seemed, by some inhuman glee, chortled with laughter as a Military Policeman leapt from the road to let her flash past the entrance of Tidworth Camp.