Microbes of Power (Wallace of the Secret Service Series) (18 page)

‘There is no reason why you should have fears, Monsieur Doreff,’ returned the suspicious Kyprianos, ‘if you do not try to investigate when I am not here. The bottles are very safely sealed. Of course, if any are knocked over and broken, the consequences might be deplorable, but in the case as they are they cannot be damaged.’ He laughed. ‘I do not think, Signor Bruno, that even you could have obtained for me the permit, if it had been thought what was in those bottles.’

‘Surely the glass is of a thickness that renders breaking impossible,’ persisted Doreff.

‘Unlikely but not impossible. Even very thick glass sometimes, under certain circumstances, is liable to become broken.’

Suddenly Shannon felt himself sliding. At last he had succeeded in releasing himself, and threatened to go down rather abruptly, especially as his foot missed the iron rung. However, by pressing his knees hard against the walls, he prevented his further descent. His foot sought for and found a bar, and he rested. The arm that had been above his head was absolutely numb, and he decided that there was nothing for it but to return to Thalia’s room. He would never be able to get the life restored to it in the close confines of the
chimney. He continued to descend, therefore, and was not very far from the bottom when he stopped abruptly. The sound of voices reached his ears, and it was coming from the girl’s bedroom. His teeth clenched, and his lips drew tightly together. To whom was she talking? It could only be one of the people with whom she had come to Rome. A dreadful suspicion that she had, after all, played him false entered his mind, and persisted. Heavens! What a trap! They would wait for him at the bottom, and he would be captured without being able to make the slightest attempt at resistance. Strangely enough his deepest emotion at that moment was a feeling of sorrow for Hill. What a terrible disillusionment for the man who loved Thalia Ictinos!

He remained where he was for some minutes, wondering what he was to do. The voices continued, and before long he decided that they both belonged to women. That brought a slight renewal of hope. Thalia’s visitor must either be Madame Bikelas or Signora Bruno; more probably the former. Anything, of course, might have been responsible for the employer visiting her companion, even at that late hour of the night, or rather early hour of the morning. Perhaps his thoughts of treachery on the part of the girl were unjustified, though he was inclined to think that she had called in whoever was with her. Reflection, however, quickly decided him that it was most unlikely, whereupon his feelings almost completely veered to the belief that she was innocent of the betrayal he had been so ready to impute to her. If she had intended treachery, she would have sent for the men, or at least Madame Bikelas would have done so, and the discussion above would certainly not have continued so complacently.

A great deal easier in his mind, Shannon strained his ears in an endeavour to hear what was being said. Then a worse feeling
of perturbation than before seized him. His hat had been left on a chair in the room; then there was the soot he must have caused to fall and the headphones. No doubt the person with Thalia had been disturbed, had demanded admittance, and was now engaged in questioning the girl. Poor Thalia, thought Shannon, he had involved her beyond hope of explanation. It would not be possible for her to clear herself of the suspicion that the man’s hat, the headphones, and the soot were bound to bring upon her. Somehow he must endeavour to save her. One girl had lost her life while in his company, and acting with him. He made a resolve that he would not allow Thalia to share the fate of Barbara Havelock. He was half-inclined to go down at once, and protect her, but the hope that she had possibly found some way out restrained him. The voices ceased. Several anxious moments went by; then came floating up to him:

‘It is quite safe, Hugh. You can come down.’

He was conscious of a feeling of surprise.How had she known he was close by? Descending to the bottom, he emerged from the fireplace to receive another surprise. Gone from her person were the necklace and earrings, while her hair was ruffled and a beautiful silk kimono was wrapped round her slender form. He noticed also that the bed had been rumpled as though it had been slept in. A soft little gurgle drew his attention back to her. She was endeavouring to stifle her laughter; something about him was obviously causing her amusement, which was not lessened by the questioning look he shot at her. She took him by an arm, and drew him before a mirror. He understood then why she was laughing. His face had a startlingly piebald appearance, while his hair and overalls were black with soot. He grinned at his reflection in the glass, but immediately afterwards glanced down at the carpet with dismay. It had been thoughtless of him to walk across the floor, leaving the impression
of his feet and dropping a little heap of soot at every step. Hastily he returned to the fireplace.

‘Do not worry, Hugh,’ she murmured, interpreting the reason for his action. ‘I will clean it before the morning.’ She had suddenly become very grave. ‘I have had a visitor,’ she announced. ‘You heard us talking?’

‘Yes. Who was it?’

‘Madame Bikelas. All the time you were in the chimney that black stuff was falling, but without any noise. A little while ago, though, there came down a great deal together which made a loud sound. I was listening by the wall, and I thought I heard Madame move. Quickly I made my hair untidy and the bed to look as if I had been sleeping there. Then I put on this kimono, hid away your hat and the paper, and put in the chimney the instrument for the ears with the wire that could be seen. I was only just in time, for I heard her door open, and at once came a knock on mine and her voice asking if I was awake. I told her I was very much awake, and was feeling dismayed, for there had been a fall of soot in my room. I let her in, feeling all the time very much anxious in case you came down, but it was all I could do to make certain she would not be suspicious.’

‘It was exceedingly quick-witted of you, Thalia,’ he approved feeling greatly ashamed of the thoughts he had entertained regarding her.

‘Madame told me she had heard the noise and it had worried her. She is a very nervous woman. She was relieved that it had but been caused by soot, and promised to see that the chimney is swept without delay. Then it was that I became full of fear, for I saw your foot. Fortunately Madame then was not looking at the fireplace, and I spoke loudly in the hope of giving you warning. To my great relief you did not come down any farther.’

‘No; I heard. But what a fool I was not to have thought that my feet might be seen! I have a lot to thank you for, Thalia.’

‘You have a lot for which to thank me!’ she echoed. ‘It is I who owe you thanks for what you are doing for me. I think, Hugh, that the microphone will have to come down. If it is left there, it will be found when the men come to sweep the chimney. I am sorry that—’

‘It is not there,’ he told her. ‘I stood listening to the conversation, and my right arm and shoulder became so numbed that I could do nothing. I came down to get life back into them, and intended ascending again.’

‘You were away a long time, and I was very much anxious.’ She inserted a cigarette in her long tube and lit it. ‘You will have one?’

‘Please.’

She selected, and lit it for him. She saw his eyes on an ashtray filled with cigarette ends.

‘You think I smoke too much; yes? It is good for the nerves to smoke, I think. You were up there so long that my nerves became not good. Did you hear anything of importance, Hugh?’

‘I have discovered everything, Thalia,’ he informed her grimly. ‘The plot being hatched is about the most diabolical it is possible to imagine.’

‘Oh, what is it? Tell me!’

‘I don’t think I had better stop now. Perhaps you will meet me somewhere during the morning, and I will then tell you all. It would be unwise to stop longer. Bikelas and his secretary and Bruno might descend from above at any moment. Madame might even bring her husband to see the soot.’

‘I think perhaps you are right. I will pour you some water to wash.’

‘No, don’t do that. I will have a bath when I get back to the hotel.’

‘But what of your face? It will be seen.’

He laughed softly.

‘I don’t think so.’ Quickly he stripped off the overalls. ‘The microphone is hardly necessary now,’ he went on. ‘I have heard all that is worthwhile hearing, and we can hardly learn much more. Now we will have to discuss the matter, and decide what to do. It is absolutely essential that we must act at once. If you like, I will leave the microphone with you, and come tomorrow night to fix it. But, when you hear what I have to tell you, I think you will agree with me that we can dispense with it.’

‘Perhaps it will be better if you take it with you. There would then not be the risk of them finding it. I do not think it is likely, but perhaps my room and my things sometimes get searched.’

He nodded. Retrieving the headphones, and winding up the flex, he wrapped up the microphone and its connections in the overalls, packing them in the paper in which he had brought them.

‘Is that which you heard very terrible, Hugh?’ she questioned, her great eyes fixed on his.

‘Devilish,’ he returned succinctly.

‘I shall be in much suspense until I hear from you what it is. It is dangerous for my country?’

‘Very, and not only for your country, but for others as well. Now will you please see if the way is clear?’

She nodded, and quietly opened the door, Shannon having first taken the precaution of switching off the light. The narrow corridor outside was still brilliantly illumined. He could see her as she crossed to the entrance door, and a feeling of deep anxiety took possession of him. At that moment she was taking a tremendous
risk. What could she possibly do to explain herself, if Bikelas and his secretary suddenly appeared? He wished now that he had not asked her to look out for him; he felt he was involving her in a danger that she should never have been called upon to face. It was with a feeling of intense relief that he saw her turn and come back to him.

‘It is all right,’ she whispered. ‘Go quickly, Hugh. I will shut the door after you.’ He muttered a hurried goodnight, was about to hasten quietly away, when she caught his arm. ‘You have not said where I am to meet you,’ she reminded him.

‘Oh, no! It’s lucky you remembered. The same place where we previously met – on the terrace of the Pincio between ten and eleven. Will that suit you?’

She nodded. It was only after he had gone that she recollected another appointment she had on the terrace of the Pincio at eleven. A little smile played softly round her lips.

Shannon passed out of the flat safely, and the door closed behind him. He hurried quietly to the stairs; suddenly stopped dead. The sound of voices had reached him from above. Apparently the meeting in Kyprianos’ room had terminated; Bikelas and Bruno would be coming down. As the light on the first floor was full on, Shannon knew he could hardly hope to descend the stairs without being seen by the men as they came down the upper flight. Yet there was no place capable of hiding him. If he switched off the light, they would be certain to grow suspicious; plotters of their kind were bound to be always on the
qui vive
, always distrustful of every incident, no matter how small or trivial it might have appeared to others. The Secret Service man momentarily felt he was in a hole, but, always resourceful, a way out occurred to him. It had nothing to recommend it; he would not have attempted it except
under the score of expediency. He walked along the corridor, to the end where the twin elevator shafts were situated. If one of the lifts was in position on that floor, it would be a simple matter to hide inside, unless the doors made too much noise when opening. On the other hand, if, as he expected, neither was stationed there, he would swing himself down the shaft, neither a pleasant nor easy job when both arms were damaged. The partially healed wounds, from which the stitches had so recently been drawn, were likely to be opened again. He already felt that he had torn one when climbing the chimney. However, his was a position in which account of such things could not be considered. He was unable to use an elevator because of the hum of the machinery. The men above still lingered talking, which was fortunate.

Glancing through the glass-panelled doors he saw, as he had anticipated, that neither elevator was there. He hoped that both were higher up. As they were worked by automatic means, it was likely they were. People ascending would naturally leave them at the floor to which they had taken them. By gradual degrees he opened one of the doors. It swung back silently, greatly to his relief, and he looked down. The roof of the lift was below him. That meant he would not be able to get out by that shaft; he must try the other. He was turning away, when there came a click and the little cabinet began to move upwards. He started back. He had not considered the possibility of the men coming down from the floor above by lift. If he had only known, he could have descended the stairs safely, and been well away by that time. Now he ran quietly back to the stairs, gave one sharp glance upward to make certain that he was unobserved, and went down. He had reached the bottom, was crossing the hall, when he heard the hum of the elevator descending, but it was coming right down. There was no doubt of
it. Hastily he looked round for a place in which to hide. There were several lounges, great palms, and chairs placed in various positions and, selecting one of the former, he went down behind it just as he heard the lift stop and the door open.

The sound of people talking in whispers reached his ears, and he wondered at the secrecy. What were they doing? When he heard footsteps moving across the hall with measured tread, as though carrying something heavy, his curiosity got the better of him, and he glanced cautiously out. A muttered exclamation broke from him at what he saw. Four men, two of whom he recognised as Radoloff and Bruno, even in that dim light, were carrying the inert body of a fifth. They placed it down near the porter’s little glass-enclosed office, and stood talking in whispers. Then one of them went out, returning after several minutes, and nodding to the others. The body was lifted again, and carried through the front entrance. Inclination urged Shannon to follow, caution bade him remain where he was. It was well he did so. In rather less than five minutes the four returned, and walked slowly in his direction on their way towards the stairs.

‘It was well we knew in time,’ Bruno was saying as they approached. ‘I hope Kyprianos is right, and that he will be found to have died of heart failure, and nothing else.’

‘Kyprianos does not make mistakes,’ declared another softly. ‘For a long time I have suspected that secretary of mine of being a traitor. Now his treacherous days are ended. Are you quite sure yours is trustworthy, Bikelas?’

‘I would answer for him with my life,’ came the reply from the man addressed as Bikelas.

‘I hope, my friend, that you are not compelled to do so,’ commented General Radoloff.

‘He has been with me for seven years and I knew him before that for—’

The remainder was lost to Shannon as the four passed on. He had squirmed his way round the lounge seat, as they went by, in order that he would not be seen by any who chanced to look back. Waiting until they had ascended the stairs, and disappeared from view, he rose, and hurried out of the building. Quickly withdrawing from the circle of light cast by the lamp over the entrance, he effaced himself in the darkness, his eyes searching for the form of the man who had been killed, and who would be found to have died of heart failure. But although he knew it could not be far away, he realised that the task of searching for it would probably take a long time in that darkness. He went on his way, therefore, reflecting on the fate that had overtaken the poor fellow, every thought causing him to understand the more what deadly peril Thalia Ictinos was in. Plasiras, Bikelas, Bruno and the rest were desperate, as was only to be expected of men who were nursing and guarding such a terrible secret. If suspicions, even of the slightest, were raised in their breasts against the girl, her life would not be worth a moment’s purchase. Already she had spoken as though she thought Kyprianos had doubts of her. It was his devilish ingenuity which had brought about the secretary’s death, making it appear, if Shannon had heard correctly, that it was due to natural causes. If one such death could so easily be contrived, another could take place with the same appearance of innocence.