Diane of the Green Van Page 7

  CHAPTER VII

  THEMAR

  The door which led into the Baron's bedroom from his own was slightlyajar. Philip, about to close it, fancied he heard the stealthy rustleof paper beyond and swung it noiselessly back, halting in silentinterest upon the threshold.

  Themar, the Baron's Houdanian valet, was intently transcribing upon hisshirt-cuff, the contents of a paper which lay uppermost in the drawerof a small portable desk.

  Catlike, Philip stole across the room. The man's hand was laboriouslyreproducing upon the linen an intricate message in cipher.

  "Difficult, too, isn't it?" sympathized Philip smoothly at his elbow.

  With a sharp cry, Themar wheeled, his small, shifting eyes black withhate. They wavered and fell beneath the level, icy stare of theAmerican. Philip's fingers slipped viselike along the other's wristsand Philip's voice grew more acidly polite.

  "My dear Themar," he regretted, falling unconsciously into the languageof his chief, "I must spoil the symmetry of your wardrobe. Thehieroglyphical cuff, if you please."

  Themar's snarl was unintelligible. Smiling, Philip unbuttoned thestiff band of linen and drew it slowly off.

  "A pity!" said he with gentle, sarcastic apology in his eyes. "Suchperfect work! And after all that infernal bother of stealing the key!"

  Philip lightly dropped the cuff into the pocket of his coat.

  "And the key, Themar," he reminded gently, "the key to the Baron'sdesk? . . . Ah, so it's still here. Excellent! And now that thedrawer is locked again--"

  The hall door creaked. Simultaneously Themar and Philip wheeled. TheBaron stood in the doorway.

  Philip smiled and bowed.

  "Excellency," said he, "Themar in an over-zealous desire to rearrangeyour private papers has acquired your private key and I have taken theliberty of confiscating it, knowing that you prize its possession.Permit me to return it now."

  "Thank you, Poynter!" said the Baron and glanced keenly at Themar. "Itis but now that I had missed it."

  "Excellency," burst forth Themar desperately, "I found it this morningon the rug."

  "But," purred the Baron, "why seek a keyhole?"

  Themar's dark face was ashen.

  Philip, with a wholesome distaste for scenes, slipped away.

  "Excellency," burst forth Themar passionately as the door closed, "itis unfair--"

  The Baron raised his hand in a gesture of warning.

  "Permit me, Themar," he said coldly as the sound of Philip's footstepsdied away, "permit me to remind you that my secretary is quite unawareof our peculiar relations. He is laboring at present under thenecessary delusion that your arrival here was entirely the result of myfastidious distaste for the personal services of anyone but a fellowcountryman. Presumably I had cabled home for you. I prefer," headded, "that he continue to think so."

  Themar's eyes flashed resentfully.

  "Excellency," he said sullenly, "it is unfair that I am denied theknowledge of detail that I need. That is why I sought to read thecipher."

  "And yet, Themar," said the Baron softly, "I fancy Ronador has toldyou--something--enough!" He shrugged, his impenetrable eyes narrowingslowly. "But that I need you," he said evenly, "but that yourknowledge of English makes you an invaluable ally--and one not easilyreplaced--I would send you back to Houdania--disgraced! As it is, weare hedged about with peculiar difficulties and I must use--and watchyou."

  He glanced significantly at the desk drawer and thence to Themar'sdark, unscrupulous face, resentful and defiant.

  "Now as for the cryptogram which tempted you so sorely," went on theBaron smoothly. "Its chief mission, as I have repeatedly assured you,was to convert my journey of pleasure in America into one ofimmediate--hum--service. I have spoken to you of a certain paper--"

  "There was more," said Themar sullenly.

  "Merely," smiled the Baron with engaging candor, "that you are fullyequipped with definite instructions which I am to see are fulfilled."

  "There is a girl," said Themar bluntly.

  The Baron stared.

  "What?" he rumbled sharply.

  "I--I learned of her and of the cipher in Houdania!" stammered Themar.

  "You know something more of detail than you need to know," said theBaron dryly. "Moreover," he added icily, "you will confine yourprofessional attentions to the other sex. You are sure about thepaper?"

  "Yes."

  "Your trip to New York last night was--hum--uneventful?"

  "Yes."

  "You will go again to-night?"

  "It is unnecessary. Granberry is at the Westfall farm."

  "Ah!"

  "But, Excellency," reminded Themar glibly, "there is still the girl--"Deep, compelling, Tregar's eyes burned steadily into menace.

  "Must I repeat--"

  "Excellency," stammered Themar blanching.

  "You may go!" said the Baron curtly.

  There had been no word of the scribbled cuff, Themar remembered. Andsurely one may steal away one's own.