What reason? Ive got my orders. Thats enough for me.
But I tell you that by this action you are aiding in the concealment of a terrible crime the dastardly murder of a lady in London, I burst forth.
Of course. Thats the yarn they said youd spin. Well, you can stow that for the present. Ill come down and hear it over a pipe, when I want a bit of relaxation. For the time being, just you sniff the ozone, and fancy yourself in a drawin-room.
Then, without more ado, the burly fellow made his exit, slammed the heavy door and bolted it, leaving me still a prisoner within that tiny cabin.
Chapter Six
Captain Banfield Explains
The hours passed but slowly. The man who had first answered my summons brought me some food but to all my arguments he remained obdurate.
The capn says youre to stay ere, he responded, and if I let you out hed put me in irons. Old Banfield aint a skipper to be trifled with, I can tell yer.
So I remained there, filled with gloomy thoughts, and wondering where I was being taken, and what possible interest Messrs Hanway, the owners of the Petrel, could have in my forcible abduction.
I sat there, helpless and puzzled, until it grew quite dark, then my head feeling heavy, and my limbs exhausted on account of the drug that had been so ingeniously administered to me, I threw myself down, and the motion of the vessel soon lulled me to sleep.
The long green waves were sweeping past in the sunlight when I again opened my eyes, and from the porthole I could see a large steamer with a pair of red and black funnels in the distance, leaving a long trail of smoke behind her. Soon, however, she was beyond the range of my vision, and I could do nothing except sit there and review the whole situation.
The beautiful face of my murdered wife arose ever before me. It seemed to cry to me for vengeance. I was her husband, and I alone knew the truth.
Yet it was evident that I was still in the hands of enemies, and, imprisoned there, I could do nothing.
The day passed, and fortunately I found myself feeling better. The effect of the noxious drug was slowly wearing off; yet the strain upon my nerves was terrible, and the imprisonment, coupled with uncertainty as to the future, was driving me to desperation.
A third day passed, much as the second. The only person I saw was the sailor who brought me food from the cooks galley in the morning and at evening badly cooked sailors fare that I could scarcely touch. As the sun was sinking, we suddenly approached a blue line of coast, and continued to skirt it until it became swallowed up in the night mists. Then, wearied, I again lay down to sleep.
I was awakened by the sudden stoppage of the engines, and found that it was already day again, and that we were in calm water. Outside my porthole was a flat stone wall which shut out everything.
Much shouting and tramping sounded above, and I knew that we were being made fast at a quay.
My opportunity for escape had arrived. If only I could break open the door, and slip up on deck unobserved, I might regain my freedom.
Now, I had during the past two days made a most careful examination of my cabin and of the door, during which I had noticed that, supporting the box-like berth beneath, was an iron stay, the lower end of which was flattened out so that it could be more easily screwed down to the floor. The screws were loose, like most of the fittings of the badly kept craft; therefore, after some little trouble, I managed to remove it, and found that I held in my hand a capital crowbar.
Presently I managed to work the thin end between the door and the lintel, and then, throwing my whole weight against it, endeavoured to force the outer bolt from its fastenings.
My first attempt was abortive, but I saw that the screws were giving away; therefore I continued my efforts carefully so as not to attract attention, until, of a sudden, the socket of the bolt flew off, and the door was burst open. Then, holding my iron bar in self-defence, I stepped along to the foot of a ladder, by which I climbed on deck.
The vessel, it seemed, was not a large one, and of a particularly dirty and forbidding appearance. With care I crept round the deck-house unobserved, until I reached the gangway, and just as my presence was discovered by the captain, I slipped across it nimbly, and was on the quay amid a crowd of labourers, custom officers, and the usual motley assemblage which gathers to watch an arriving vessel.
I heard the skipper shouting violently, and a couple of the crew started in pursuit; but, taking to my heels I soon outdistanced them, and after some little time found myself walking in a large handsome street lined with fine shops and showy cafés. I was in Christiania.
I inquired in French of several persons the whereabouts of the British Consulate, and about an hour later found myself in the private office of the representative of her Majesty, a tall, good-looking man in a cool suit of white linen.
To him I related the whole circumstances. He listened, but smiled now and then with an air of incredulity. I told him of the murder, of the manner in which my life had been twice attempted, and of the remarkable circumstances of my abduction.
And you say that you were taken on board the Petrel, he said reflectively. I know Captain Banfield quite well. He is a strict disciplinarian, an excellent sailor, and is held in high esteem by his men. We must hear his explanation of the affair at once. If what you have said is true, it is certainly most remarkable.
I drew the trinket with the golden chain from my pocket, together with the crumpled note, and showed them to him.
Strange, he remarked. Most extraordinary! Ill send down to the docks for Banfield at once; and, calling a clerk, he dispatched him in a cab.
In the meantime, in response to his questions, I gave him the most minute details of the startling affairs, as well as the ingenious manner in which Beryl Wynd had been murdered. I knew that the story when related sounded absolutely incredible; but it was equally certain that the Consul, at first inclined to doubt my statement, had now become highly interested in it.
I remarked upon the extraordinary mystery, and its features which seemed to stagger belief.
But you are a medical man of considerable attainment, I notice from your card, he resumed. I have no reason to doubt your story. It is rather a matter which should be strictly inquired into. Any person abducted from England, in the manner you have been, has a right to seek protection and advice of his consul.
And we continued chatting until, after a lapse of nearly half an hour, the captain of the Petrel, wearing his shore-going clothes, was ushered in.
Good morning, sir! he exclaimed, addressing the representative of the Foreign Office, but taking no notice of my presence. Youve sent for me?
Yes, Captain, the Consul responded rather severely. Kindly sit down. There is a little matter upon which you can throw some light. You know this gentleman? and he indicated myself.
Yes, sir. I know im.
Well, he has lodged a very serious complaint against you, namely, that you have held him a prisoner on board your ship without any just cause; and, further, that contrary to the regulations of the Board of Trade, you carried him from port while in an unconscious condition. The skipper remained quite unabashed.
Well, sir, he answered, as Ive already told the gentleman, Ive only acted under strict orders from my owners. I suppose theyll take all the responsibility?
No; the responsibility rests upon yourself. Youve held a masters certificate a good many years, and you are fully acquainted with the Board of Trade regulations.
Of course, I dont deny that, the other responded.
But my orders were quite precise.
And now, tell me, how came this gentleman on board your ship?
To tell the truth, sir, I dont know exactly. We were lying in the St. Katherine Docks, and my last evening ashore I spent at home with my wife, over at Victoria Park. We were to sail at four oclock in the morning, but I didnt get aboard before about ten past four. When I did so, orders from the owners were put into my hand, and I was told that there was a passenger whod been brought aboard, lying asleep below. Eres the letter; and he drew it from his pocket and handed it to the Consul.
The latter read it through, then, with an exclamation of surprise, handed it over to me.
It certainly increased the mystery, for it was from the office of the owners, Messrs Hanway Brothers, in Leadenhall Street, ordering that I should be taken on the round voyage to the Baltic, well cared for, but kept looked in a cabin, as I had developed homicidal tendencies.
The gentleman, whose name is Doctor Colkirk, continued the letter, is subject to fits, in which he remains unconscious for some hours; therefore there is no cause for alarm if he is not conscious when he reaches you. He is under an hallucination that he has been witness of some remarkable crime, and will, no doubt, impress upon you the urgent necessity of returning to London for the prosecution of inquiries. If he does this, humour him, but on no account allow him to go on deck, or to hold conversation with any one. The gentleman is a source of the greatest anxiety to his friends, and, we may add, that if the present orders are strictly carried out, the gentlemans friends have promised the payment of a handsome bonus to yourself. We therefore place him on board the Petrel, in preference to any other vessel of our fleet, because of the confidence we entertain that you will strictly carry out your orders.
The letter was signed by the firm.
It seems very much as though the owners had some object in sending you aboard, observed the Consul.
Then, turning to the skipper, he asked, How was the gentleman brought on board?
He was brought in a private carriage about six oclock in the evening, my men say. Two gentlemen carried him on board. The dock police stopped them, but they told the constable that the gentleman was drunk.
And when you received this letter, what did you do?
Well, I put him in the second mates cabin, and left him alone till two days later, when he came to. Then I just carried out my orders.
Where are you bound for?
The round trip Stockholm, Riga, St. Petersburg, Drammen, Christiansund, and home.
That means a month.
More six weeks.
Your owners, therefore, were anxious that the doctor should be absent from England during that time. There is some mystery here, on the face of it. Doctor Colkirk has related to me a very remarkable story, and the most searching inquiry should be instituted.
Well, sir, Banfield said apologetically, I hope you dont consider my conduct bad. Ive only carried out my orders to the letter. You see I didnt know that the gentleman was on board until wed actually left the quay; and the letter says, quite distinctly, that hes subject to fits, therefore I let him remain quiet until he regained consciousness. Then, turning to me, he added, I trust, sir, that youll accept my apology.
Thats all very well, interposed the Consul; but you know that you did entirely wrong in sailing with an unconscious stranger on board.
I admit that. But you see I had my orders, sir.
Who delivered them to you? I inquired.
The two gentlemen who brought you on board, he responded.
Have any of your men described them to you?
They only said that they were both well dressed, and about middle age.
They were, without doubt, the Tempter and his accomplice. The conspiracy had been conceived and carried out with amazing ingenuity.
And they brought the doctor on board and delivered this letter?
Yes, sir. They afterwards re-entered the carriage and drove away.
Well, said the Consul, the only course I see is for the doctor to take this letter, return to London, and seek an explanation of your owners.
No, sir, I shant give up the letter. Its written to me, demurred the captain.
But it is in my hands, responded the Consul. I am making inquiries into this affair, and I shall act as I think best in the interest of all parties concerned. The letter is your property, certainly; but recollect that this affair may prove very awkward for your owners. Therefore, take my advice, Captain, and assist this gentleman in his inquiries.
I protest against you keeping the letter.
Very well, I will see that your protest is forwarded to your owners, replied the Consul; and he handed me the letter, saying
Your best course. Doctor, is to return by the Wilson boat to Hull. She sails this afternoon at four. Then go down to Leadenhall Street and, make inquiries it seems a strange affair, to say the least.
It is entirely unaccountable, I said. There seems to have been a widespread plot against me, with a single motive the concealment of the murder of Beryl Wynd.
But in that case why not let me telegraph to Scotland Yard? suggested the Consul, as the sudden idea occurred to him. They would watch the house until your return. To-day is Tuesday. Youll be in London on Thursday night, or early on Friday morning.
The proposal was an excellent one, and I gladly acceded. Next instant, however, the bewildering truth flashed across my mind. I had not hitherto realised my position. My heart sank within me.
Would that your suggestion could be carried out, I replied. But, truth to tell, I dont know the house, for I took no notice of its situation, and am unable to tell the name of the road.
Ah! how extremely unfortunate. London is a big place, and there are thousands of houses that are outwardly the same. Didnt the servant who called at your surgery give you the address?
No; she gave it to the cabman, but I did not catch it. Men of my profession take little heed of the exterior of houses. We make a note of the number in our visiting-books thats all.
Then you really havent any idea of the situation of the house in which the tragedy occurred?
None whatever, I replied. A moment later a further thought occurred to me, and I added, But would not the registry of marriages give the address of my bride?
Why, of course it would! cried the Consul excitedly. An excellent idea. Return to London as quickly as you can, and search the marriage register. From that Im certain youll obtain a clue.
Chapter Seven
My New Patient
On Friday morning I entered the office of Messrs Hanway Brothers in Leadenhall Street, and after a short wait was accorded an interview with the manager.
I demanded, of course, an explanation why I had been shipped away from London in such a summary manner, whereupon he apparently regarded me as a lunatic.
I really had no knowledge of the affair, he replied, smiling incredulously. Do you actually allege you were taken on board the Petrel and kept imprisoned in a cabin by Captain Banfield? A most extraordinary story, to say the least.