The Spiral Staircase (14 page)

She felt vaguely uneasy. One of her special guards was gone-and the other had changed. She had no longer the comforting assurance of Mrs. Oates’ protection.

A thread of meaning, however, ran through Mrs. Oates’ talk, and Helen found her attention gripped.

“I want’ to see Oates,” declared the woman, “and ask him just where he picked up that nurse. A baby could diddle Oates. If someone cut off his head, and stuck OR a cabbage, he’d never notice the difference, and no more would you.”

“But I’m sure he told us he took her from the Nursing Home,” Helen reminded her.

“Yes-and how? I know Oates. He’d drive up, and then, because he hadn’t me to hop out and ring the bell for him, he’d just sound the hooter, and wait for things to happen. The first body in a cloak and veil, what hopped inside the car, would be good enough for him.”

“Hum,” mused Helen. “Still even if she is an impostor, she couldn’t have committed the murder, because she was driving with him, in the car, when it was committed.”

“What murder?” asked Mrs. Oates.

Helen was human enough to relish the importance of announcing tragic news, which did not touch her personally.

But Mrs. Oates’ reception of Ceridwen’s death was disappointing. Instead of being thrilled with horror, she accepted it as though it were an item in the weekly schedule.

“You don’t say,” she muttered. “Well, you mark my words. There’ll be another murder before we’re one night older, if we’re spared to live as long.”

“Aren’t you a little ray of sunshine?” exclaimed Helen.

“Well, I don’t trust that nurse. Folks said as how the looney must have had a woman, what used to talk to the girls, and take off their notice, so as he could spring.”

“You mean-a decoy?” asked Helen. “I’ll promise you this. If the nurse invites me to go for a little walk with her, in the garden, tonight, I won’t go.”

“But she’s not here for that,” said Mrs. Oates. “She’s here to open the door to him.”

It was a most unpleasant idea, coming on the heels of Dr. Parry’s revelation. Helen awoke afresh to the loneliness of the storm-bound house. Even down in the basement, she could hear the fury of the gale, like a tidal-wave thudding against the shutters of the windows.

“I think I’ll go upstairs and see what the others are doing,” she said, feeling that she needed a change of company.

The first person she met in the hall was Stephen Rice. He had opened the door of the closet where the coats were hung, and had just unhooked his ancient Burberry from its peg.

“You’re never going’ out in this storm,” she cried. “Hush. I’m stealing off to the Bull. I need the company of my fellow working men to get the taste of this nasty affair out of my mouth. I might even try the experiment of a glass of beer. I’m the sort of desperate chap who’d try anything once.”

“I believe there’s one thing you wouldn’t,” said Helen, who felt strung up to a reckless pitch.

“Meaning?”

“Running off with another man’s wife.”

Stephen followed Helen’s glance towards the drawingroom.

“You never said a truer thing,” he nodded. “No women for me.” Then he held out his hand. “Sister, can you spare me a dime?”

Helen couldn’t believe that he was really borrowing money from her, until he explained.

“I want to settle my score at the Bull. Buying the pup cleaned me out.”

“Where is the pup?” asked Helen.

“Up in my room, asleep on the bed… . Sister, what about that dime?”

“I haven’t got it,” faltered Helen. “I don’t get paid until the end of my month.”

“Tough luck. Another country off the Gold Standard… Sorry I asked. Nothing for it, now, but to touch Simone. She’s plenty of chink.”

As he spoke Simone sauntered across the hall.

“Where are you going?” she demanded. “First of all, I’m going to you, my dear, to borrow some cash. Then, I’m going to the Bull, to hand over the said cash.”

Simone contracted her painted brows.

“You haven’t got to invent any excuse for going to the Bull,” she told him. “I know the special attraction.” “Whitey?” groaned Stephen. “For the love of Mike, stop harping on her. She’s a nice little girl. We’re friends, and that’s all.”

He broke off, as Newton came out of the study.

“Will you all come into the study!” he said. “The Chief has an announcement to make.”

The Professor was seated at his table, speaking in a low voice, to his sister. His face wore a look of exhaustion, which was not lost on Helen.

She noticed, too, the glass of water and the small bottle of white tablets which stood at his elbow.

“I have something to say,” he announced, “which applies to everyone. No one is to leave this house tonight.”

Simone flashed a look of triumph at Stephen, who began to splutter:

“Oh, but, sir, I have an important appointment.”

“Then you will not keep it,” the Professor informed him. “But I’m not a baby.”

“Prove it. If you are a man, you will realize that we are faced with a situation of actual danger and that it is the duty of every male member of this household to remain at home.”

Stephen continued to protest.

“I’d stay, like a shot, if there was any sense in it. But it’s such bally rot. Of course, no woman should go out. But they are safe, at home. The chap wouldn’t come inside the house.”

“Have you forgotten the girl who was murdered inside her bedroom?” broke in Miss Warren, in a dead voice.

“Her window was left open,” explained Stephen.

“But you heard what the doctor said?” insisted Miss Warren”.

“And you’ve heard what I’ve said,” remarked the Professor sternly. “I’m master of this house, and I will not have the safety of anyone here imperilled by disobedience.”

Helen felt his glance hover for one moment. over her, and her heart throbbed with gratitude.

“There is another precaution I wish observed,” went on the Professor. “No one is to be admitted to the house, tonight. If anyone knocks, or rings, he—or she—will remain outside. I forbid the doors being unbolted, on any pretext whatsoever.”

This time objection came from Newton.

“That’s rather drastic, Chief,” he said. “Anyone might come; the police, or someone with important news.” The Professor took up a paper as though he were weary of the discussion.

“Those are my orders,” he said. “I am only concerned, tonight, with the safety of those under my roof. But I warn you this. Anyone who goes outside the house-if only for a minute-Will not return. The door will be locked on him, or her, and it will not be opened again.”

A host of disturbing possibilities flitted across Helen’s mind. In particular, she had a vision of Dr. Parry—on a special mission which concerned herself—standing outside in the rain.

“But, if we recognize the voice, will that alter things?” she asked timidly.

“Certainly not,” said the Professor. “Voices can be imitated. I repeat. You are to open to no one, man, woman or child.”

“Oh, but, Professor, you can’t mean a child?” cried Helen. “If I heard baby crying outside I’d just have to take it in.”

The Professor smiled bleakly.

“You’d probably find your baby waiting to grip your throat,” he told her. Surely you’ve heard child-impersonators over the Wireless, whose imitations are faultless?”

“He could squeal his head off for all the effect he’d make on me,” said Stephen brutally. “I was done out of my chance of a fortune by an unexpected Blessed Event in my family… . And I promise you this, too. I wouldn’t cross the room for any woman alive.”

The look which Simione threw him was a challenge, which was .intercepted by Newton. He gave a faint hoot of laughter.

“Ever heard of Shakespeare, Rice?” he asked caustically.

“Or of a quotation-‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much’? We hear so much about your being a woman-hater, and see so little evidence.”

The Professor rapped the table, as though he would silence a noisy Session..

“That is all,” he said. “Miss Capel, will you please pass on my orders immediately to Mrs. Oates and Nurse Barker?”

“Yes, Professor,” said Helen.

Suddenly she was assailed by a fresh complication.

“What about Oates?” she asked.

“He will remain outside,” was the relentless reply. “He can garage the car, and remain there, until the dawn.”

“But Lady Warren might want her oxygen?”

“Lady Warren must take her chance with the rest. I am committed to a policy of Safety First. Perhaps I under. stand the situation better than the rest of you… . When I was in India, in my youth, I remember a tiger which prowled outside a cattle-enclosure. Again and again it broke through the defense, in spite of every precaution.”

He dropped his voice, as he added, “There is a tiger, outside this house, now.”

As he spoke, there was the sound of loud knocking on the front door.

SECRET INTELLIGENCE

The knocking ceased, and a bell was pealed which brought Helen instinctively to her feet.

“I’ll answer the door,” she said,

She crossed the room before she realized the significance of her action. No one else had moved; but all were looking at her—their expressions passive, scornful, or amused, according to temperament.

The Professor nodded at his sister—a sardonic gleam in his gleam in his eye.

“The weak link,” he observed, in an undertone.

The familiarity of the phrase brought home to Helen its special meaning, so that she colored to the rqots of her hair.

“I’m sorry,” she faltered, “but it’s second-nature for me to answer a bell.”

“You gave us a demonstration of that,” said the Professor acidly. “I don’t wish to be severe, but you must remember that forgetfulness, in this case, ranks with disobedience.”

The knocking was repeated, and again a bell pealed in the distance. Even although she was under observation, and on her guard, Helen found it an ordeal to stand by and do nothing.

“It’s like watching milk boil over,” she thought, “or seeing a child play with fire. Someone ought to do something. I’m sure it is all wrong.”

She noticed how the muscles of Miss Warren’s face quivered at every blow, and her own nerves twitched in sympathy.

A third assault was made on the door. This time Stephen seemed conscious of the tension.

“Look here, sir, with due deference to you and all that isn’t this going a bit too far? Cutting all the wires, I mean. That may be the postman, with an unstamped letter for me, to say my Cousin Fanny has passed out, and left me her heir.”

The Professor explained, with the dreary patience with which he enlightened a pupil’s ignorance. “I have just given an order, Rice. It would be reactionary conduct on my part to commit the same fault for which I’ve just rebuked Miss Capel. If once we begin to make exceptions to a precaution which is intended for the general safety, it ceases to have any value.”

“Yes, sir.” Stephen grimaced at a fourth, and louder assault on the knocker and bell. “But it gets my goat not knowing who’s outside.”

“Oh, my dear Rice, why didn’t you say that in the beginning?” The Professor’s smile flickered and went out. “Of course, it is the Police.”

“Police?” echoed Newton. “Why have they to come here?”

“A mere formality, since the Summit is in the radius of—of this affair. They will want to know if we can furnish them with any information. If they would accept. a negative answer, and go, I would relax my rule in their favor.”

“But you can’t keep them out, Sebastian,” cried Miss Warren.

“I have no intention of keeping them out. When they call tomorrow, they will be admitted. I’m master of my house, and I’ve wasted too much time already, tonight.”

Through his glasses, his eyes flashed hungrily over the. papers on his desk…

Helen hoped fervently that Mrs. Oates would answer the door, for the Police seemed a direct answer to prayer. She had a mental vision of a compact body of solid, uniformed men, bringing with them the protection of the Law.

Suddenly she thought that she might force the Pro fessor’s hand..

“But I could tell them something,” she said..

“Miss Capel,” he said, in measured tones, “have you any clear, concise knowledge that will be of definite use to the Police? For. instance—have you seen the criminal, so that you could describe him?”

“No,” replied Helen.

“Then, have you any idea as to who he is, or where he is?”

“No,” replied Helen, wishing she could sink into the floor.

“Well-have you any valuable theory?”

“No, but-but I think he hides behind trees.”

Simone led the suppressed laughter, in which even Miss Warren joined.

“Thank you, Miss Capel,” said the Professor. “I think the Police can wait for your help, until tomorrow morning.”

Helen’s heart sank, It seemed always “tomorrow,” and she still dreaded the night which divided her from the dawn.

The Professor, however, seemed to .have some pity for her confusion, for he spoke to her, in the voice of a considerate employer.

“Now, Miss Capel, will you be so kind as to tell Mrs. Oates and Nurse Barker, my decision.”

“Indeed, I will,” Helen assured him.

“I suppose Gran doesn’t know about the murder?” asked Newton.

“No,” replied Miss Warren, “neither she nor the nurse can know. I’m the only person who has been upstairs, since Dr. Parry brought us the news. And I should certainly not dream of alarming her.”

“She must not be told,” commanded the Professor.

The hall was silent when Helen passed through it. The Professor had worn down the patience of the Police, who happened to be in the singular person. After exposure to what was practically a water-spout, he drew his own conclusion from the barred windows, and decided to call bydaylight. Apparently the fear of the maniac had spread from the cottages to the big houses of the neighborhood.

When Helen reached the kitchen, to her surprise, she was unable to enter. At first, Mrs. Oates did not answer her tap; but presently, a huge distorted shadow crossed the frosted glass of the door, and a key clicked in the lock.

Mrs. Oates towered over her, with a confused red face and sleepy eyes.