Lord John in New York.
by C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson.
EPISODE I
THE KEY
"More letters and flowers for you, Lord John," said my nurse.
Not that I needed a nurse; and, above all things, I needed no more letters or flowers. The waste-paper basket was full. The room smelt like a perfume factory. The mantelpiece and all other receptacles having an army of occupation, vases and bowls were mobilising on the floor. This would, of course, not be tolerated in hospital; but I was off the sick list, recovering in a private convalescent home. I was fed up with being a wounded hero; the fragrance of too many flowers, and the kindness of too many ladies, was sapping and mining my brain power; consequently, I could invent no excuse for escape.
The nurse came in, put down the lilies, and gave me three letters.
My heart beat, for I was expecting a note from a woman to whom somehow or other I was almost engaged, and to whom I didn"t in the least wish to be engaged. She would not have looked at me before the war, when I was only a younger brother of the Marquis of Haslemere--and the author of a successful detective story called _The Key_. Now, however; simply because I"d dropped a few bombs from a monoplane on to a Zeppelin hangar in Belgium, had been wounded in one arm and two legs, and through sheer instinct of self-preservation had contrived to escape, I was a toy worth playing with. She wanted to play with me. All the women I knew, not busy with better toys, wanted to play with me. My brother Haslemere, who had been ashamed of my extremely clever, rather successful book, and the undoubted detective talent it showed, was proud of me as a mere bomb-dropper. So, too, was my sister-in-law. I was the princ.i.p.al object of attraction at the moment in Violet"s zoo--I mean her convalescent home. She had cried because men were not being wounded fast enough to fill its expensively appointed rooms; I was captured, therefore, to make up for deficiencies and shown off to Violet"s many friends, who were duly photographed bending beautifully over me.
There was, as I had feared, a letter from Irene Anderson; there was also--even worse--one from Mrs. Allendale. But the third letter was from Carr Price. On the envelope was the address of the New York theatre where the play he had dramatised from my book would shortly be produced. He had come to England a million years ago, before the war, to consult me about his work, which would have been brought out in London if the war had not upset our manager"s plans. I like Carr Price, who is as much poet as playwright; a charming, sensitive, nervous, wonderful fellow. I gave his letter precedence.
"DEAR LORD JOHN," he began, and I judged from the scrawl that he wrote in agitation--"for goodness" sake, what have you done to Roger Odell that he should have a grouch on you? It must have been something pretty bad. I wish to Heaven you"d given me the tip last summer that you"d made an enemy of him. Roger Odell, of all men in America! I suppose the brother of a marquis can stand on his own feet in his own country, but even if his brother"s an archangel his feet are apt to get cold in New York if Roger Odell turns the heat off.
"The facts--as I"ve just heard from Julius Felborn--are these.
Yesterday Odell sent for Julius, who went like a bird, for he and Odell are friends. Odell"s money and influence put Julius where he is now, as a manager, up at the top, though still young. What was Julius"s horror, however, when Odell blurted out a warning not to produce any play dramatised from a book of yours, because he--Odell--would do his best to ruin it! Julius asked what the d.i.c.kens he meant. Odell wouldn"t explain. All he"d say was, that he"d be sorry to hurt Julius and had nothing against me, but _The Key_ would get no chance in New York or any old town in the United States where Roger Odell had a finger in the pie.
"Well, you must have heard enough about Odell to know what such a threat amounts to. There are mighty few pies he hasn"t got a finger in. Not that he"s a man who threatens as a rule. He"s _made_ a good many men. I never heard of his _breaking_ one. But when he decides to do a thing, he does it. Julius is in a blue funk. He"s not a coward, but even if he felt strong enough to fight Odell"s newspapers and other influence, he says it would be an act of "base ingrat.i.tude" to do so, as he"d be "walking on his uppers" now but for Odell"s help, tiding over rough places in the past. Julius took all night to reflect, and rang me up this morning. I"m writing in his office at the theatre now, after our interview. He says Odell would have put him wise before, but he saw the pars (in his own papers!) for the first time yesterday morning on the way back from the West Indies, where he"d been on a short business trip. Queer place for such a man to go on a business trip! But the whole thing is dashed queer. Now he"s off again like a whirlwind to England for _another_ "short business trip," so he told Julius. But J. let drop one little item of information about a woman, or rather a girl. _Can_ that be where _you_ come in on this? _Have you taken this girl away_? Anyhow, whatever you"ve done, the consequences seem likely to be serious. Julius is inclined to call a halt, bribe, wheedle or bl.u.s.ter the star into throwing up his part at the first rehearsal, by way of an excuse, and to put on Chumley Reed"s _Queen Sweetheart_, which he kept up his sleeve in case _The Key_ failed. But, of course, it _couldn"t_ fail, unless it was burked. The whole cast was wild over _The Key_. Julius himself was wild, and is sick at having to turn it down. But Odell"s too big for him. And I guess O---- has offered to stand the racket for the loss of wasted scenery, which has been begun on an elaborate scale. (Think of the great casino act at Monte Carlo!) Unfortunately, I"m const.i.tuted so I can"t help seeing both sides of the shield and putting myself in others" places. I"m sorry for Julius. But I"m twenty times sorrier for Carr Price. For you, too, my dear fellow, of course. But I stand to lose more than you do on this deal.
"I told you confidentially last June just what depends on the success of _The Key_, and I"ve counted on that success as certain. So did _she_. I wish to Heaven she weren"t so conscientious--yet no, I love her all the better for what she is. I shan"t ask her to break the promise she gave her father, who, you may remember, is Governor of my own State, not to be engaged definitely till I"ve made good. But if I"m to have even my _chance_ to make good s.n.a.t.c.hed away, it"s hard lines. I wish to the Lord my dear girl weren"t such a howling swell, with such an important parent! No use hustling around to other managers. Your book went like hot cakes here. So would your play, but no man will pit himself against Roger Odell, if Odell means fighting.
And there"s no doubt he does mean it--unless you can undo whatever the fool thing is you"ve done.
"Probably this letter will go to England in the same ship with Odell.
If you"re well enough by the time it reaches you, to crawl about, can"t you see him? I"ve told Felborn that when you set your wits to work you"re as much of a wonder as your Prime Minister in _The Key_. I"ve worked him up to some sort of superst.i.tious belief in you. The next thing is, to make him merely _put off_ the rehearsal on some pretext, and do nothing one way or the other till I get a cable. I shan"t sleep or eat till I hear whether there"s any hope of your straightening things with Odell.--Yours, C.P.".
"Straightening things with Odell!" That might have been simple, if things had ever been crooked with Odell. But I had never met, I had never seen him. All I knew was what I had read, and vaguely heard from Americans: that Roger Odell was a millionaire, still a young man, a popular fellow who had made most of his money out of mines and had bought up an incredible number of newspapers in order to make his power felt in the world. But what grudge had he against me? How did he know that I existed? I decided that I owed it to myself as an expert even more than to Price and his girl, who was a "governor"s daughter," to turn on the searchlight.
It was nearly my time for an outing. Lady Emily Boynton was coming in about an hour to collect me in her car, take me to the park and there let me try a combination of legs and crutches. But in my room was a telephone. In general I cursed the noisy thing. To-day I blessed it.
I "phoned to the doctor that, instead of his coming to me, I should prefer to call on him, explaining my reason when we met. Next I rang up Lady Emily to say that I was going to Harley Street. She mustn"t trouble to send, as I was ordering a taxi in a hurry. And lest she should disobey, I hobbled off before her car could arrive--my first independent expedition since I had been interned by Violet.
I hoped that Roger Odell might be caught at some hotel in London, and resolved not to stop going till I found him. I began at the Savoy, and it seemed that luck was with me when I learned that he had arrived the night before. He had gone out, however, directly after breakfast, leaving no word as to his return. This was a blow, especially as it appeared that he had hired a powerful automobile; and even American millionaires do not hire powerful automobiles to run about town.
They take taxis.
I gave myself a minute"s reflection, and decided that it would be tempting Providence to intern myself again before seeing Odell, or else definitely failing to see him. I refused to leave my name, saying that I would call later; and on the way to keep my Harley Street appointment stopped my taxi at a post office. Thence I sent a cable to Carr Price--
"Count on me to make everything right with Odell. Postpone rehearsals if necessary, but a.s.sure Felborn he can safely prepare production.
Will wire further details.--JOHN HASLE."
Perhaps Price and Felborn would have considered this a.s.surance premature had they known the little I possessed to go upon. But I had confidence in myself, and felt justified in rushing off a cheerful message. Delay and uncertainty were the two fatal obstacles to our scheme. It seemed fair to presume that, as I"ve never met nor harmed Odell, his objection to me must be founded on some misunderstanding which a few frank words ought to clear up. All I had to do was to see him; and I _would_ see him if I had to camp at his door for a week.
Having got off my cable I called oh the doctor, explaining to him, as man to man, that I was being killed with kindness, buried under flowers and jellies, as Tarpeia was buried under shields and bracelets. "I must get out from under," I said, "or I shall fade like a flower or dissolve into a jelly myself. Can"t you save me?"
"I thought you were enjoying life," he replied. "You"re well enough, as a matter of fact, to do almost anything except go back to the front.
Your legs won"t run to that, my boy, for the next six months at least.
If you"re such an ungrateful beggar that you want to leave Lady Haslemere"s paradise and all its lovely houris, save yourself. Don"t put the responsibility on me."
"Coward!" I said. (I would have hissed it, but, except in novels, it is physically impossible to hiss the word "coward.")
"The same to you," he retorted. "Get someone to send you on some mission and I"ll back you up. I"ll certify that you"re strong enough to undertake it, if it doesn"t depend on your legs, and is not too strenuous."
"I may need to run over to America," it suddenly occurred to me to say, as if by inspiration. "I should have to depend on brains, not legs.
Would New York be too strenuous?"
"I hear they"re pretty strenuous over there, but--well----"
"You don"t know what I go through every day at that confounded home for milksops when your back is turned," I pleaded, as he hesitated. That settled it. We both laughed, and I knew he"d see me through. Five minutes before nothing had been further from my mind than a trip to New York; but now I felt that it had been my secret intention from the first. It was strongly impressed upon me that I should have to go.
Why, I could not tell. But the thing would happen.
It was two o"clock and luncheon time when I got back to the Savoy, but Odell had not returned. I wired (I would not "phone lest I should be unearthed like a fox from his hole) to the convalescent home, saying that all was well and I had the doctor"s authority to stop out as long as I liked. I then ate a substantial meal and inquired again at the desk. No Odell. I said I would wait. Would they kindly let me know, in the reading-room, when Mr. Odell arrived? I being wounded and in khaki, they waived suspicion of a nameless caller. I was given the freedom of the Savoy, and I waited. I waited three hours, and read all the magazines and papers. Then I wandered into the foyer and ordered tea. While I was having it, up trotted a sympathetic clerk with a flurried manner to inform me that Mr. Odell was not coming back at all.
A telegram had just been received, saying that important business called him home at once. He was on his way by automobile to Liverpool, whence he would sail next morning on the _Monarchic_. His luggage was to be forwarded by messenger in time to go on board the ship.
For a few seconds I felt as if what remained of my tea had been flung in my face, scalding hot. But by the time I"d thanked my informant, paid my waiter and picked up my crutches, I knew why I had had that presentiment. I taxied to Cook"s and learned that, owing to the war, I could get a cabin on any ship I liked. From Cook"s to the doctor"s; found him going out, dragged him home with me, and utilised his services in wrestling with the matron and nurses. "The play of my book is being produced in New York, and I must be there, dead or alive," I explained. This seemed to them important, even unanswerable. It would not to my sister-in-law. But she was having influenza at home, and I sneaked off before she knew (having got leave from the War Office), sending her a grateful, regretful telegram from Liverpool.
Even the amateur sleuth doesn"t let a ship carry him away to sea without making sure that his quarry is on board. Roger Odell"s name was not on the pa.s.senger list, but neither was mine; we were late comers. Nevertheless, I knew he was certain to have a good cabin, and I inquired casually of a steward on the promenade deck whether he had "Seen Mr. Odell yet?" He fell into my trap and answered that he had not, but his "mate" would be looking after the gentleman who was in the bridal suite.
I p.r.i.c.ked up my ears, remembering that, according to Carr Price, there was a girl in the case. Something unexpected had happened to upset Odell"s plans in England. Could he be running off with anybody"s wife or daughter?
"I didn"t know that Mr. Odell was on his honeymoon," I ventured as a feeler.
The steward looked nonplussed, then grinned. "Oh, you"re thinking of the bridal suite, sir!" he patronised my ignorance. "There"s nothing in _that_. Probably the gentleman wired for the best there was. He"s alone, sir. Do you wish to send word to him? I can fetch my mate----"
I broke in with thanks, saying that I would see Mr. Odell later. No doubt I would do so; but how I should recognise him was the question.
Meanwhile, I limped about the deck, hoping to come across a chair labelled "Odell," and vainly searching I met a deck-steward. He took pity on my lameness, and offered to get me a chair at once. "Where would you like to sit, sir?"
I wanted to say, "Put me next to Mr. Roger Odell," but that was too crude a means towards the end. I looked around, hesitating and hoping--in a way I have which sometimes works well--for an inspiration, and my wandering eyes arrived at a girl. Then they ceased to wander.
She was extraordinarily pretty, and therefore more important than twenty Roger Odells. She was just settling into her deck-chair. To the right was another chair, with a rug and a pillow on it. To the left was an unfilled s.p.a.ce.
"There"s room over there," I said. "It seems a well-sheltered place."
"It is, sir," replied the steward. Without allowing an eye to twinkle, he solemnly plumped down my chair at the left of the girl, not too near, yet not too far distant. She glanced up, as if faintly annoyed at being given a neighbour, but seeing my crutches, melted and gave me a brief yet angelic look of sympathy. If she had been a nurse in my sister-in-law"s home I should never have left it. For she was one of those girls who, if there were only half a dozen men remaining in the world at the end of the war, would be certain to receive proposals from at least five. She was the type of the Eternal Feminine, the woman of our dreams, the face in the sunset and moonbeams. Perhaps you have seen such a face in real life--just once.
The girl had on a small squirrel toque and a long squirrel coat. She was wrapped in a squirrel rug to match. She had reddish-brown hair.
All the girls who can take the last men in the world away from all the other women have more or less of that red glint in their hair. Yet she seemed far from anxious to take the man who came striding along the deck and stopped in front of her as the ship got under way.
What she did was to look up and cry out a horrified "Oh!" Her cheeks, which had been pale, flamed red. She half threw off her fur rug, and would have struggled out of her chair if the man had not appealed to her mercy.
"Don"t run away from me, Grace," he said, "after all these months."