"Tell me all about it. How it began and when!" Miss Trelawny lookedat me appeallingly; and forthwith I told him all that I knew. Heseemed to make no motion during the whole time; but insensibly thebronze face became steel. When, at the end, I told him of Mr. Marvin'svisit and of the Power of Attorney, his look began to brighten. Andwhen, seeing his interest in the matter, I went more into detail as toits terms, he spoke:
"Good! Now I know where my duty lies!"
With a sinking heart I heard him. Such a phrase, coming at such atime, seemed to close the door to my hopes of enlightenment.
"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling that my question was a feeble one.
His answer emphasized my fears:
"Trelawny knows what he is doing. He had some definite purpose in allthat he did; and we must not thwart him. He evidently expectedsomething to happen, and guarded himself at all points."
"Not at all points!" I said impulsively. "There must have been a weakspot somewhere, or he wouldn't be lying here like that!" Somehow hisimpassiveness surprised me. I had expected that he would find a validargument in my phrase; but it did not move him, at least not in the wayI thought. Something like a smile flickered over his swarthy face ashe answered me:
"This is not the end! Trelawny did not guard himself to no purpose.Doubtless, he expected this too; or at any rate the possibility of it."
"Do you know what he expected, or from what source?" The questionerwas Miss Trelawny.
The answer came at once: "No! I know nothing of either. I canguess..." He stopped suddenly.
"Guess what?" The suppressed excitement in the girl's voice was akinto anguish. The steely look came over the swarthy face again; but therewas tenderness and courtesy in both voice and manner as he replied:
"Believe me, I would do anything I honestly could to relieve youanxiety. But in this I have a higher duty."
"What duty?"
"Silence!" As he spoke the word, the strong mouth closed like a steeltrap.
We all remained silent for a few minu
tes. In the intensity of ourthinking, the silence became a positive thing; the small sounds of lifewithin and without the house seemed intrusive. The first to break itwas Miss Trelawny. I had seen an idea--a hope--flash in her eyes; butshe steadied herself before speaking:
"What was the urgent subject on which you wanted to see me, knowingthat my Father was--not available?" The pause showed her mastery ofher thoughts.
The instantaneous change in Mr. Corbeck was almost ludicrous. Hisstart of surprise, coming close upon his iron-clad impassiveness, waslike a pantomimic change. But all idea of comedy was swept away by thetragic earnestness with which he remembered his original purpose.
"My God!" he said, as he raised his hand from the chair back on whichit rested, and beat it down with a violence which would in itself havearrested attention. His brows corrugated as he went on: "I quiteforgot! What a loss! Now of all times! Just at the moment ofsuccess! He lying there helpless, and my tongue tied! Not able toraise hand or foot in my ignorance of his wishes!"
"What is it? Oh, do tell us! I am so anxious about my dear Father!Is it any new trouble? I hope not! oh, I hope not! I have had suchanxiety and trouble already! It alarms me afresh to hear you speak so!Won't you tell me something to allay this terrible anxiety anduncertainty?"
He drew his sturdy form up to his full height as he said:
"Alas! I cannot, may not, tell you anything. It is his secret." Hepointed to the bed. "And yet--and yet I came here for his advice, hiscounsel, his assistance. And he lies there helpless.... And time isflying by us! It may soon be too late!"
"What is it? what is it?" broke in Miss Trelawny in a sort of passionof anxiety, her face drawn with pain. "Oh, speak! Say something!This anxiety, and horror, and mystery are killing me!" Mr. Corbeckcalmed himself by a great effort.
"I may not tell you details; but I have had a great loss. My mission,in which I have spent three years, was successful. I discovered allthat I sought--and more; and brought them home with me safely.Treasures, priceless in themselves, but doubly precious to him by whosewishes and instructions I sought them. I arrived in London only lastnight, and when I woke this morning my precious charge was stolen.Stolen in some mysterious way. Not a soul in London knew that I wasarriving. No one but myself knew what was in the shabby portmanteauthat I carried. My room had but one door, and that I locked andbolted. The room was high in the house, five stories up, so that noentrance could have been obtained by the window. Indeed, I had closedthe window myself and shut the hasp, for I wished to be secure in everyway. This morning the hasp was untouched.... And yet my portmanteauwas empty. The lamps were gone! ... There! it is out. I went to Egyptto search for a set of antique lamps which Mr. Trelawny wished totrace. With incredible labour, and through many dangers, I followedthem. I brought them safe home.... And now!" He turned away muchmoved. Even his iron nature was breaking down under the sense of loss.
Miss Trelawny stepped over and laid her hand on his arm. I looked ather in amazement. All the passion and pain which had so moved herseemed to have taken the form of resolution. Her form was erect, hereyes blazed; energy was manifest in every nerve and fibre of her being.Even her voice was full of nervous power as she spoke. It was apparentthat she was a marvellously strong woman, and that her strength couldanswer when called upon.
"We must act at once! My Father's wishes must be carried out if it ispossible to us. Mr. Ross, you are a lawyer. We have actually in thehouse a man whom you consider one of the best detectives in London.Surely we can do something. We can begin at once!" Mr. Corbeck tooknew life from her enthusiasm.
"Good! You are your Father's daughter!" was all he said. But hisadmiration for her energy was manifested by the impulsive way in whichhe took her hand. I moved over to the door. I was going to bringSergeant Daw; and from her look of approval, I knew that Margaret--MissTrelawny--understood. I was at the door when Mr. Corbeck called meback.
"One moment," he said, "before we bring a stranger on the scene. Itmust be borne in mind that he is not to know what you know now, thatthe lamps were the objects of a prolonged and difficult and dangeroussearch. All I can tell him, all that he must know from any source, isthat some of my property has been stolen. I must describe some of thelamps, especially one, for it is of gold; and my fear is lest thethief, ignorant of its historic worth, may, in order to cover up hiscrime, have it melted. I would willingly pay ten, twenty, a hundred, athousand times its intrinsic value rather than have it destroyed. Ishall tell him only what is necessary. So, please, let me answer anyquestions he may ask; unless, of course, I ask you or refer to eitherof you for the answer." We both nodded acquiescence. Then a thoughtstruck me and I said:
"By the way, if it be necessary to keep this matter quiet it will bebetter to have it if possible a private job for the Detective. If oncea thing gets to Scotland Yard it is out of our power to keep it quiet,and further secrecy may be impossible. I shall sound Sergeant Dawbefore he comes up. If I say nothing, it will mean that he accepts thetask and will deal with it privately." Mr. Corbeck answered at once:
"Secrecy is everything. The one thing I dread is that the lamps, orsome of them, may be destroyed at once." To my intense astonishmentMiss Trelawny spoke out at once, but quietly, in a decided voice: