Lady Maud did not speak to Van Torp first, but to Griggs, and then to Logotheti, and the two men slipped away together and disappeared. Then she came back to Van Torp, smiling pleasantly. He was still talking with Lord Creedmore, but the latter, at a word from his daughter, went off to the elderly peeress whom Logotheti had abruptly left alone before the portrait.
Margaret did not hear what Lady Maud said to the American, but it was evidently not yet a warning, for her smile did not falter, and he looked pleased as he came back with her, and they pa.s.sed near the piano to go out through the open window upon the broad flagged terrace that separated the house from the flower-beds.
The Primadonna played a little louder now, so that every one heard the chords, even in the picture-gallery, and a good many men were rather bored at the prospect of music.
Then the Senorita da Cordova raised her head and looked over the grand piano, and her lips parted, and boredom vanished very suddenly; for even those who did not take much pleasure in the music were amazed by the mere sound of her voice and by its incredible flexibility.
She meant to astonish her hearers and keep them quiet, and she knew what to sing to gain her end, and how to sing it. Those who have not forgotten the story of her beginnings will remember that she was a thorough musician as well as a great singer, and was one of those very few primadonnas who are able to accompany themselves from memory without a false note through any great piece they know, from _Lucia_ to _Parsifal_.
She began with the waltz song in the first act of _Romeo and Juliet_.
It was the piece that had revealed her talent to Madame Bonanni, who had accidentally overheard her singing to herself, and it suited her purpose admirably. Such fireworks could not fail to astound, even if they did not please, and half the full volume of her voice was more than enough for the long drawing-room, into which the whole party gathered almost as soon as she began to sing. Such trifles as having just dined, or having just waked up in the morning, have little influence on the few great natural voices of the world, which begin with twice the power and beauty that the "built-up" ones acquire in years of study. Ordinary people go to a concert, to the opera, to a circus, to university sports, and hear and see things that interest or charm, or sometimes surprise them; but they are very much amazed if they ever happen to find out in private life what a really great professional of any sort can do at a pinch, if put to it by any strong motive. If it had been necessary, Margaret could have sung to the party in the drawing-room at Craythew for an hour at a stretch with no more rest than her accompaniments afforded.
Her hearers were the more delighted because it was so spontaneous, and there was not the least affectation about it. During these days no one had even suggested that she should make music, or be anything except the "daughter of Lord Creedmore"s old friend." But now, apparently, she had sat down to the piano to give them all a concert, for the sheer pleasure of singing, and they were not only pleased with her, but with themselves; for the public, and especially audiences, are more easily flattered by a great artist who chooses to treat his hearers as worthy of his best, than the artist himself is by the applause he hears for the thousandth time.
So the Senorita da Cordova held the party at Craythew spellbound while other things were happening very near them which would have interested them much more than her trills, and her "mordentini," and her soaring runs, and the high staccato notes that rang down from the ceiling as if some astounding and invisible instrument were up there, supported by an unseen force.
Meanwhile Paul Griggs and Logotheti had stopped a moment in the first of the rooms that contained the library, on their way to the old study beyond.
It was almost dark amongst the huge oak bookcases, and both men stopped at the same moment by a common instinct, to agree quickly upon some plan of action. They had led adventurous lives, and were not likely to stick at trifles, if they believed themselves to be in the right; but if they had left the drawing-room with the distinct expectation of anything like a fight, they would certainly not have stopped to waste their time in talking.
The Greek spoke first.
"Perhaps you had better let me do the talking," he said.
"By all means," answered Griggs. "I am not good at that. I"ll keep quiet, unless we have to handle them."
"All right, and if you have any trouble I"ll join in and help you.
Just set your back against the door if they try to get out while I am speaking."
"Yes."
That was all, and they went on in the gathering gloom, through the three rooms of the library, to the door of the old study, from which a short winding staircase led up to the two small rooms which Griggs was occupying.
Three quiet men in dark clothes were standing together in the twilight, in the bay window at the other side of the room, and they moved and turned their heads quickly as the door opened. Logotheti went up to them, while Griggs remained near the door, looking on.
"What can I do for you?" inquired the Greek, with much urbanity.
"We wished to speak with Mr. Van Torp, who is stopping here," answered the one of the three men who stood farthest forward.
"Oh yes, yes!" said Logotheti at once, as if a.s.senting. "Certainly!
Lady Maud Leven, Lord Creedmore"s daughter--Lady Creedmore is away, you know--has asked us to inquire just what you want of Mr. Van Torp."
"It"s a personal matter," replied the spokesman. "I will explain it to him, if you will kindly ask him to come here a moment."
Logotheti smiled pleasantly.
"Quite so," he said. "You are, no doubt, reporters, and wish to interview him. As a personal friend of his, and between you and me, I don"t think he"ll see you. You had better write and ask for an appointment. Don"t you think so, Griggs?"
The author"s large, grave features relaxed in a smile of amus.e.m.e.nt as he nodded his approval of the plan.
"We do not represent the press," answered the man.
"Ah! Indeed? How very odd! But of course--" Logotheti pretended to understand suddenly--"how stupid of me! No doubt you are from the bank. Am I not right?"
"No. You are mistaken. We are not from Threadneedle Street."
"Well, then, unless you will enlighten me, I really cannot imagine who you are or where you come from!"
"We wish to speak in private with Mr. Van Torp."
"In private, too?" Logotheti shook his head, and turned to Griggs.
"Really, this looks rather suspicious; don"t you think so?"
Griggs said nothing, but the smile became a broad grin.
The spokesman, on his side, turned to his two companions and whispered, evidently consulting them as to the course he should pursue.
"Especially after the warning Lord Creedmore has received," said Logotheti to Griggs in a very audible tone, as if explaining his last speech.
The man turned to him again and spoke in a gravely determined tone--
"I must really insist upon seeing Mr. Van Torp immediately," he said.
"Yes, yes, I quite understand you," answered Logotheti, looking at him with a rather pitying smile, and then turning to Griggs again, as if for advice.
The elder man was much amused by the ease with which the Greek had so far put off the unwelcome visitors and gained time; but he saw that the scene must soon come to a crisis, and prepared for action, keeping his eye on the three, in case they should make a dash at the door that communicated with the rest of the house.
During the two or three seconds that followed, Logotheti reviewed the situation. It would be an easy matter to trick the three men into the short winding staircase that led up to the rooms Griggs occupied, and if the upper and lower doors were locked and barricaded, the prisoners could not forcibly get out. But it was certain that the leader of the party had a warrant about him, and this must be taken from him before locking him up, and without any acknowledgment of its validity; for even the lawless Greek was aware that it was not good to interfere with officers of the law in the execution of their duty. If there had been more time he might have devised some better means of attaining his end than occurred to him just then.
"They must be the lunatics," he said to Griggs, with the utmost calm.
The spokesman started and stared, and his jaw dropped. For a moment he could not speak.
"You know Lord Creedmore was warned this morning that a number had escaped from the county asylum," continued Logotheti, still speaking to Griggs, and pretending to lower his voice.
"Lunatics?" roared the man when he got his breath, exasperated out of his civil manner. "Lunatics, sir? We are from Scotland Yard, sir, I"d have you know!"
"Yes, yes," answered the Greek, "we quite understand. Humour them, my dear chap," he added in an undertone that was meant to be heard.
"Yes," he continued in a cajoling tone, "I guessed at once that you were from police headquarters. If you"ll kindly show me your warrant--"
He stopped politely, and nudged Griggs with his elbow, so that the detectives should be sure to see the movement. The chief saw the awkwardness of his own position, measured the bony veteran and the athletic foreigner with his eye, and judged that if the two were convinced that they were dealing with madmen they would make a pretty good fight.
"Excuse me," the officer said, speaking calmly, "but you are under a gross misapprehension about us. This paper will remove it at once, I trust, and you will not hinder us in the performance of an unpleasant duty."
He produced an official envelope, handed it to Logotheti, and waited for the result.
It was unexpected when it came. Logotheti took the paper, and as it was now almost dark he looked about for the key of the electric light. Griggs was now close to him by the door through which they had entered, and behind which the k.n.o.b was placed.
"If I can get them upstairs, lock and barricade the lower door,"