"Mademoiselle sees n.o.body except by appointment," was the man"s polite but firm reply.
"I think she will see me if you give her this card," answered Hugh in a strained, unusual voice.
The man took it hesitatingly, glanced at it, placed it upon a silver salver, and, leaving the visitor standing on the mat, pa.s.sed through the gla.s.s swing-doors into the house.
For some moments the servant did not reappear.
Hugh, standing there, entertained just a faint suspicion that he heard a woman"s shrill exclamation of surprise. And that sound emboldened him.
At last, after an age it seemed, the man returned, saying:
"Mademoiselle will see you, Monsieur. Please come this way."
He left his hat and stick and followed the man along a corridor richly carpeted in red to a door on the opposite side of the house, which the servant threw open and announced the visitor.
Mademoiselle had risen to receive him. Her countenance was, Hugh saw, blanched almost to the lips. Her black dress caused her pallor to be more apparent.
"Well, sir? Pray what do you mean by resorting to this ruse in order to see me? Who are you?" she demanded.
Hugh was silent for a moment. Then in a hard voice he said:
"I am the son of the dead man whose card is in your hands, Mademoiselle!
And I am here to ask you a few questions!"
The handsome woman smiled sarcastically and shrugged her half-bare shoulders, her fingers trembling with her jade beads.
"Oh! Your father is dead--is he?" she asked with an air of indifference.
"Yes. _He is dead_," Hugh said meaningly, as he glanced around the luxurious little room with its soft rose-shaded lights and pale-blue and gold decorations. On her right as she stood were long French windows which opened on to a balcony. One of the windows stood ajar, and it was apparent that when he had called she had been seated in the long wicker chair outside enjoying the balmy moonlight after the stifling atmosphere of the Rooms.
"And, Mademoiselle," he went on, "I happen to be aware that you knew my father, and--that you are cognizant of certain facts concerning his mysterious end."
"I!" she cried, raising her voice in sudden indignation. "What on earth do you mean?" She spoke in perfect English, though he had hitherto spoken in French.
"I mean, Mademoiselle, that I intend to know the truth," said Hugh, fixing his eyes determinedly upon hers. "I am here to learn it from your lips."
"You must be mad!" cried the woman. "I know nothing of the affair. You are mistaken!"
"Do you, then, deny that you have ever met a man named Charles Benton?"
demanded the young fellow, raising his voice. "Perhaps, however, that is a bitter memory, Mademoiselle--eh?"
The strikingly handsome woman pursed her lips. There was a strange look in her eyes. For several moments she did not speak. It was clear that the sudden appearance of the dead man"s son had utterly unnerved her.
What could he know concerning Charles Benton? How much of the affair did he suspect?
"I have met many people, Mr.--er--Mr. Henfrey," she replied quietly at last. "I may have met somebody named Benton."
"Ah! I see," the young man said. "It is a memory that you do not wish to recall any more than that of my dead father."
"Your father was a good man. Benton was not."
"Ah! Then you admit knowing both of them, Mademoiselle," cried Hugh quickly.
"Yes. I--well--I may as well admit it! Why, indeed, should I seek to hide the truth--_from you_," she said in a changed voice. "Pardon me. I was very upset at receiving the card. Pardon me--will you not?"
"I will not, unless you tell me the truth concerning my father"s death and his iniquitous will left concerning myself. I am here to ascertain that, Mademoiselle," he said in a hard voice.
"And if I tell you--what then?" she asked with knit brows.
"If you tell me, then I am prepared to promise you on oath secrecy concerning yourself--provided you allow me to punish those who are responsible. Remember, my father died by foul means. _And you know it!_"
The woman faced him boldly, but she was very pale.
"So that is a promise?" she asked. "You will protect me--you will be silent regarding me--you swear to be so--if--if I tell you something.
I repeat that your father was a good man. I held him in the highest esteem, and--and--after all--it is but right that you, his son, should know the truth."
"Thank you Mademoiselle. I will protect you if you will only reveal to me the devilish plot which resulted in his untimely end," Hugh a.s.sured her.
Again she knit her brows and reflected for a few moments. Then in a low, intense, unnatural voice she said:
"Listen, Mr. Henfrey. I feel that, after all, my conscience would be relieved if I revealed to you the truth. First--well, it is no use denying the fact that your father was not exactly the man you and his friends believed him to be. He led a strange dual existence, and I will disclose to you one or two facts concerning his untimely end which will show you how cleverly devised and how cunning was the plot--how----"
At that instant Hugh was startled by a bright flash outside the half-open window, a loud report, followed by a woman"s shrill shriek of pain.
Then, next moment, ere he could rush forward to save her, Mademoiselle, with the truth upon her lips unuttered, staggered and fell back heavily upon the carpet!
THIRD CHAPTER
IN THE NIGHT
Hugh Henfrey, startled by the sudden shot, shouted for a.s.sistance, and then threw himself upon his knees beside the prostrate woman.
From a bullet wound over the right ear blood was slowly oozing and trickling over her white cheek.
"Help! Help!" he shouted loudly. "Mademoiselle has been shot from outside! _Help!_"
In a few seconds the elderly manservant burst into the room in a state of intense excitement.
"Quick!" cried Hugh. "Telephone for a doctor at once. I fear your mistress is dying!"
Henfrey had placed his hand upon Mademoiselle"s heart, but could detect no movement. While the servant dashed to the telephone, he listened for her breathing, but could hear nothing. From the wall he tore down a small circular mirror and held it against her mouth. There was no clouding.
There was every apparent sign that the small blue wound had proved fatal.
"Inform the police also!" Hugh shouted to the elderly Italian who was at the telephone in the adjoining room. "The murderer must be found!"
By this time four female servants had entered the room where their mistress was lying huddled and motionless. All of them were in _deshabille_. Then all became excitement and confusion. Hugh left them to unloosen her clothing and hastened out upon the veranda whereon the a.s.sa.s.sin must have stood when firing the shot.