The Devil's Cocktail (31 page)

‘But it nodings make clear. Novar simply says, “into hiding we have gone, in order that no shadow of susbicion there can be.” Why a shadow of susbicion should there be? I think that if Novar and Rahtz and Hudson out and about as usual went, much safer it would be.'

‘The fact is that in Lahore there is an Englishman called Shannon and his valet, whom we think are connected with the British Secret Service—'

Oppenheimer nodded.

‘Yes; already of him I know.' Then he looked at Cousins anxiously. ‘Do you mean that these Englishmen anything of imbortance have discovered?'

Cousins laughed and shook his head.

‘No,' he said, ‘they're both absolute fools. But in order to be on the safe side Novar and Rahtz decided that it would be better to give out that they were going away for the Christmas holidays, so that in no way would there be any risk of the meeting being discovered.'

Oppenheimer waved his hand.

‘It unnecessary was, mine friend,' he said. ‘However, to be too cautious instead of not enough cautious much better is. So!'

He took a well-filled cigar case from his pocket and selected a cigar, then he looked at Cousins and back at the case, and after a second's reflection he sighed and offered his companion one. Cousins helped himself.

‘Now, Herr Oppenheimer,' he said, when the cigar was going to his satisfaction, ‘I suppose you understand perfectly how to get into the College tomorrow night?'

‘But of course. The instructions very clear were.'

‘Quite so, but as one of our friends wrote to have them repeated even more clearly, I have been instructed by Novar to call on every – emissary shall I say? – and make sure that there is no shadow of doubt in anyone's mind.'

Cousins waited anxiously for the result of his masterstroke. Oppenheimer waved his hand again – it appeared to be a habit of his when he approved of anything – and nodded solemnly.

‘A good brecaution to take it is,' he said. ‘But for me no necessity there is – every word in my brain buried has been.'

‘I am glad to hear that,' smiled Cousins genially. ‘Therefore it will be unnecessary for you to repeat the instructions to me in order that I can check you as Rahtz insisted I should. I'm afraid he is very anxious in case anyone makes a mistake.'

The German rubbed his chin reflectively.

‘Well, no harm there can be in making quite sure,' he said. ‘And
berhaps a little detail from my mind has gone. Carefully listen, Mr—' He stopped and looked inquiringly at Cousins.

‘Kamper!' said the little man on the spur of the moment.

Oppenheimer stared at him. He began to look a little anxious.

‘But Mr Kamper in Bombay I did meet,' he said, ‘and—'

‘I'm his brother,' said Cousins calmly. ‘You met Paul; I am Ivan!'

‘Ah! Then it exblained is. You very much like your brother are, but at once I knew the man I met you were not, hein?'

Cousins smiled and nodded, but inwardly he felt very sore at being told that he was like the Russian Jew.

‘Now,' went on Oppenheimer, ‘my instructions I will like the schoolboy rebeat; so!' He leant forward. ‘Into the Mozang College grounds I will enter by the small gate which at the back of the College is. I will a Sikh meet there and to him I will say “Gym”. He will to the gymnasium take me. Another Sikh there I will see and he will say, “the moon rises”. To him I will answer, “eagles rise higher”. I will then my paper to him show and he will to the room in the College take me. So! Have I not every word remembered; no?'

‘Exactly!' said Cousins. ‘I hope everyone will be as word perfect as you. My brother is sharing the job of going round to everyone with me.'

‘Tell him with me to come and talk,' said Oppenheimer.

‘Certainly,' replied Cousins, ‘but I doubt if he will have time. We are anxious to get back with Novar, Rahtz and Hudson as soon as possible.'

‘Our confrères all have arrived, hein?'

‘Not all,' smiled. Cousins. ‘And now I must go.'

‘My friend, I am to see you with pleasure filled. Before you go, there is one question I would ask.'

The little man looked at him, wondering what was coming.

‘How that I was really Oppenheimer did you know?' asked the German, ‘since you and I before never have met? Surely a great risk you have been taking!'

Cousins shook his head.

‘We never take risks, Herr Oppenheimer,' he replied. ‘My brother and I watched your arrival and we followed you to this hotel.'

‘So!' said the fat man. ‘I am answered.'

He shook hands with Cousins.

‘Revenge for many years' humiliation draws near, hein?' he said. ‘Go, mine friend! Tomorrow the dawn of great things will be!'

As soon as Cousins was out of sight of the hotel, he took a large notebook from his pocket and wrote therein the instructions Oppenheimer had repeated so innocently to him. Then he shut the book and his face creased into a large grin.

‘Now may the gods grant that he is not visited by my – er – brother,' he murmured. ‘But I don't think he will be, otherwise Novar would not have sent the note by the Sikh.'

Hugh and Miles were greatly pleased with the success of Cousins' interview with the German, and after a lot of discussion it was decided not to change their plans, except to ask the Deputy Commissioner to detail some men specially to watch the gymnasium and the small gate, which they knew to be some distance from the main gates of the College. Shannon and the American intended to disguise themselves slightly in case of recognition and, if no other way of hearing and seeing what went on was possible, to penetrate actually into the room as emissaries. Cousins was to adhere to his original plan of entering the College at an early hour and concealing himself on the roof.

That afternoon Hugh had a long talk with Rainer and told him of Cousins' fresh discovery. The plans for surrounding the College were not materially altered, but Rainer agreed to watch the small gate with
his picked men, and to place others in the vicinity of the gymnasium. When the signal came for the main body to enter the grounds and surround the College they were to do so by way of the large gates. If the latter were locked – as in all likelihood they would be – the men would have to clamber over the wall, which was not a very high one.

Hugh asked Rainer where they could find Abdul Rahim, as they were all so anxious to thank him for what he had done for Joan. Rainer smiled.

‘I couldn't tell you where he is at present,' he said, ‘but you will probably see him in the course of the next few days; in fact, he has definitely stated that he intends on seeing you.'

‘That's all right then,' said Hugh, ‘but I was afraid that he might disappear as suddenly as he came, and I owe him far more than I shall ever be able to repay.'

‘He doesn't need any repayment,' remarked Rainer. ‘In fact, he'll probably be very fed-up if you start thanking him.'

‘I can't understand the fellow,' said Hugh. ‘There is something about him that puzzles me. Who on earth is he?'

Rainer laughed.

‘I have already told you,' he replied, ‘that he is one of the greatest detectives in the world.'

Tuesday, December the twenty-first, passed very quietly. Shannon and Miles spent the day in doing nothing, and in the society of Joan the American practically forgot that there were such things as plots and Russians, wars and rumours of wars. Cousins, on the other hand, was very busy. He and his friend Spink, who was now a little in his confidence, took turns in keeping a cautious eye on the movements of Oppenheimer. Between them they noted the arrival of nearly every man who came to the hotel, and compared notes whenever they met. The result was that when Cousins returned to the bungalow at half past five, he was as certain as he could well be that none of the Russians had called on, or sent any further message to, the German.

The little man partook of a kind of high tea and as soon as it was dusk set off for Mozang College. It was dark when he reached the place and, as he expected, the main gates were locked and bolted. Looking round cautiously to see if he were observed, he climbed over the wall and disappeared, feeling certain that nobody had watched his
movements. But he was mistaken. A moment after he was lost to view, Abdul Rahim emerged from among the bushes in Rahtz's garden. He, too, glanced round carefully, then followed Cousins over the wall.

Joan had gone to spend the night with Mrs and Miss Rainer, and Hugh and Oscar took a very early dinner. Before she went the girl looked anxiously at the two men.

‘Oh, my dears,' she said, the light of unshed tears in her eyes, ‘be very, very careful! You two are all I have in the world and if anything happened to you, I would die I think. I shall be terribly anxious until I see you again, but I am so proud of – my men!'

At a quarter to eight a tall Persian and a powerfully built Turk arrived in a car a little distance from Mozang College and left their motor in charge of a sergeant of police, who had been instructed to look out for them by the Deputy Commissioner himself. They walked on down the road and stood close to the gate of a bungalow just beyond Rahtz's, as though wondering if they had reached the right spot. Presently the Persian spoke quietly, and his voice was the voice of Miles.

‘Say, Mr Commissioner,' he said, ‘have you seen our friends go in yet?'

‘No,' came in a whisper from Rainer, who was hidden close behind them. ‘We have watched three men enter during the last five minutes, but unless they were disguised none of them was Novar or Rahtz.'

‘Good!' murmured the Turk, in the voice of Shannon. ‘If we get in first our chances will be increased.'

‘Good luck!' whispered the Commissioner.

The two men walked across to the small gate, as though they had decided it was the place they were seeking. It was locked, but they dimly discerned a bearded face looking through at them.

‘Gym,' they said almost together.

The gate was unlocked, and as soon as they had entered, locked again. Without a word the man with the beard beckoned to them to follow him. The gymnasium was reached, the door opened, and they were ushered inside. The place was in complete darkness.

‘The moon rises,' said a voice in very laboured English.

‘Eagles rise higher!' replied Miles and Hugh.

An electric torch was switched right on their faces, causing them to blink owlishly, and they were subjected to a severe scrutiny. They could not see the man who held it, but apparently he was satisfied, for after a moment or two he lowered the torch. They immediately produced their precious passports, which he took and examined with great care, the while their hearts beat rapidly in suspense.

‘Come!' he said at length, and gave them back the papers.

Hugh could have cried out his relief, and the American's hand caught his and squeezed it hard. He returned the pressure. The first part of their job was over, but the most difficult part was to come.

They followed their guide to the other end of the gymnasium where he unlocked another door and leading them through, locked it behind them. They found themselves in the open air and apparently crossing the College grounds towards the main building. Here another locked door barred their way and the precaution was taken again of locking it as soon as they had entered. It occurred to Hugh that extraordinary care was being taken, but he wondered why there were not more men to assist the two Sikhs, as he knew Novar had more than two in his employment and confidence. If all this time was taken over everyone who arrived, the meeting could not commence at eight o'clock.

They were taken along several dark corridors, up a flight of stone steps, then along more corridors. Suddenly their guide
stopped at the entrance to a narrow passage which ended in a closed door. This passage like all the rest was in darkness, but a shaft of light shone through a fanlight over the door from the room beyond. The Sikh pointed to the lighted room, and turning went back the way he had come. They waited until his footsteps died away in the distance, then:

‘What a bit of Heaven-sent luck!' breathed Hugh. ‘I hadn't hoped for this even in my wildest dreams. The very room we guessed at, and left on our own outside! What more could heart of man desire? Oscar, I feel like singing in triumph.'

‘Then don't!' said Miles shortly. ‘We've got to get busy right now – there isn't too much time, and if we can't squeeze between those blame beams up there, there won't be a whole lot to sing about.'

‘We'll get through all right,' said Hugh; ‘they're not so close together as that. Give me the rope!'

The American lifted up the long coat he was wearing and unwound a length of stout rope, which Hugh placed over his shoulder.

‘Now,' said the latter, ‘bend down!'

Miles placed his hands against the wall and bent his back. Shannon climbed on to it as gently as he could and stood up, but although he stretched his arms up as far as he could, his fingers were still several inches from the beams.

‘You'll have to straighten yourself and let me get on to your shoulders,' he whispered. ‘I can't reach.'

With a suppressed groan his companion gradually raised himself until he was standing straight with Hugh balancing himself on his shoulders. The Englishman could reach a beam easily now and, taking a firm hold on it, he drew himself up. He wriggled through, and in a couple of minutes was lying on the top tying one end of the rope securely to one of the rafters. He let the other end fall to Miles,
who was able to hoist himself up with ease. Then Hugh drew up the rope and untied it.

‘That's that,' he whispered with satisfaction. ‘Now so long as no one takes it into his head to flash a light up in this direction we're all right.'

‘All right!' muttered Miles. ‘You may be, but I guess I'm not. Gee I think my back's broken. For the love of Mike what is your weight?'

‘Only twelve stone and a bit!'

‘Only! Golly!'

‘S'sh! There's someone coming!'

They heard the sound of footsteps in the distance. It grew louder and presently the Sikh appeared at the end of the passage; with him were three men. As before, he indicated the door of the room and disappeared. The newcomers walked along beneath Shannon and Miles and, entering the apartment, closed the door behind them. Then the two secret agents crawled along the beams until they were lying with their heads against the wall and the fan-light directly beneath them. They found that they had a splendid view of practically the whole room.

It was a large place, brilliantly lighted by half a dozen powerful electric lights. In the centre was a long table covered by a black cloth, with about ten chairs on either side of it, and one at the head. A few large pictures hung on the walls and a sombre-looking durrie covered the floor. On the left-hand side of the room were rows of bookshelves tightly crammed with volumes and, on the other, an enormous cupboard, which probably contained all books and documents relative to the affairs of the College. Unlike most rooms in India, especially on the plains, this one had a plastered ceiling, and it was above this plaster, among the rafters, that Cousins lay.

There were six men already seated at the table, and Hugh and his
companion looked at them with interest. Two of them were obviously Chinamen, a third looked like a Turk, while the other three were Persians. The latter were talking to the Turk, but the two Chinamen held themselves aloof. Hugh reached down and pushed the fan-light open a few inches, in order that he and Miles would be able to hear what was being said when presently the conference actually started.

Every few minutes now fresh arrivals were escorted to the room, and took their places by the table. Two stately Afghans were followed shortly afterwards by Oppenheimer, the German, who looked at his companions as though they were rather beneath his notice. Then came two well-dressed Indians with beautifully-wound turbans. After them entered a fussy little white man in evening dress, wearing pince-nez, and with hands glittering with rings.

‘Now who can that be?' murmured Hugh.

‘I guess he's a representative from Southern Europe somewhere,' whispered Miles; ‘probably an Austrian.'

There was an interval of nearly ten minutes and some of the men at the table began to fidget. Then four men arrived together: one was a Turk and joined his compatriot, another was a Chinaman and apparently of some importance, for on seeing him his two countrymen rose to their feet and bowed profoundly. The other two were Indians.

‘Four Indians, three Chinese, two Turks, three Persians, two Afghans, one German and one doubtful,' muttered Hugh.

‘I'm beginning to wonder when Hudson, Novar, and Rahtz are going to appear,' said Miles. ‘I hope those guys didn't get the wind up and beat it after Joan was rescued.'

He was answered almost immediately, for three men came quickly down the passage and, as they entered the room, the watchers saw that two of them were the Russians – the third was a stranger. Novar
and Rahtz greeted the company and led their companion to the chair at the head of the table. He was a man with a sallow face, rather long nose, piercing eyes, surmounted by heavy black eyebrows, and a small black beard and moustache. He had very short black hair, turning grey at the temples, and was rather inclined to be stout. He looked round the table and every now and again consulted a paper which he held in his hand. Apparently satisfied, he spoke to Novar, and his deep voice could be plainly heard by Hugh and Miles, but as he spoke in Russian they were at a loss to understand what he said until Novar crossed to the door and locked it. Then returning the Russian took his seat on the right-hand side of the bearded man, Rahtz being already in the chair on his left. Hugh noticed how ill the Principal of Mozang College looked, and it filled him with an unholy joy.

Then proceedings commenced. Novar rose to his feet.

‘Gentlemen,' he said, ‘as we are of so many nationalities, I think it will be necessary for us to speak in English, a language which, I presume, we all know.' He looked round inquiringly, and then went on. ‘As we are shortly going to bring Britain to her knees there is a touch of delightful irony in using the language of that country to lay our plans against her.' There was a short laugh and Novar looked pleased. ‘I have great pleasure,' he continued, ‘in giving you a very happy surprise! I notice you are all casting inquiring looks at the gentleman who has taken the chair, and it is my privilege to introduce him to you. Gentlemen, allow me to present to you Comrade Bukharin, the Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has journeyed secretly from Moscow specially to attend this meeting!'

There were cries of excited wonder from the men round the table and somebody started to clap, an effort which was immediately suppressed. Hugh whistled under his breath.

‘Gee!' whispered Miles. ‘What a coup!'

Bukharin rose and bowed right and left.

‘Gentlemen,' he said in slow and careful English, ‘it is a very great pleasure to be with you. I arrived only today and I leave again tomorrow. But as this meeting was of such vital importance I felt it would be of assistance to you if I were to be present myself, so that I could place before you certain matters with which my friends, Comrades Novar and Rahtz, are not acquainted. I will have the satisfaction presently of shaking hands with each one of you, and when Comrade Novar has finished I will speak.'

He sat down with an air of great importance, and Novar continued.

‘In the first place,' he said, ‘you all know that this conference is being held in India, partly because India is the key to the coming situation, but chiefly because it is the most convenient country for at least fourteen of us to reach. A meeting here, in the capital of the Punjab, is not without its dangers, surrounded as we are by our enemies but such precautions have been taken that not a whisper of even the mildest activity has reached the ears of anyone but the company here assembled and one or two of our agents outside.'

‘Liar!' murmured Miles.

Oppenheimer rose.

‘Mr Chairman,' he said, ‘with your bermission, I would one question ask.'

Bukharin nodded.

‘Two chairs empty are. Is it that all representatives bresent are not?'

‘Those two chairs were placed for Mr Kam and Mr Hudson, whom you know,' replied Novar. ‘Alas I Mr Hudson is no more – he died very suddenly the other night—'

‘Good Lord!' muttered Hugh, and gripped Miles by the arm.

‘Mr Kamper is wandering round the College and on the roof to ensure us against any trespassers.'

‘I hope he doesn't butt into Jerry,' said Miles.

‘Is there then danger?' asked the fussy little man excitedly.

‘Not the least,' replied Novar blandly, ‘but we always take every precaution.'

‘Goot!' said Oppenheimer, and sat down.

‘Now, gentlemen,' went on Novar, taking a sheaf of papers from his pocket, which he consulted occasionally, ‘I will present every feature of our plans to you, so that you can convey the whole situation to your respective governments. If I err in any particular I hope the agent interested will put me right. If I am uninterrupted I shall know that no query is to be raised. Before proceeding I may state that China has done us the honour to send no less a personage than Doctor Sun Chien Lung as one of her representatives.'