India Black and the Gentleman Thief (24 page)

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Authors: Carol K. Carr

Tags: #Historical, #Mystery, #Romance

BOOK: India Black and the Gentleman Thief
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“No proof,” he whispered into mine.

I’ve no problem with securing evidence, but I do think it somewhat overrated as an effective means of solving a problem. What the devil were we doing here, if we weren’t going to take Welch and his compatriots prisoners and present them to Dizzy wrapped in a bow? We might never have another chance like this. I fumed and blustered (as well as one can when one must remain silent) and French waved me off and put his eye to the crack in the door, ostentatiously ignoring me.

A chair grated on the floor and French jerked back his head. He seized my arm and we slunk away down the corridor to the dining room. French pulled the door behind us, leaving an opening just wide enough for us to peer out into the entry hall. I had to crouch under French’s arm to see, but I had a good view. Yellow light flooded the hall as Welch opened the door. He was dressed in a dark suit and carrying a grey bowler.

“Then I shall hear from you soon?” He turned the hat in his hand nervously.

“You shall. In the meantime, you must keep your head.” The voice was a honeyed tenor with the faintest of accents. “Those two who are nosing around have nothing on you and cannot tie you to the thefts. As long as you remain silent, you are safe.”

“I’m glad you think so, but I feel damned uneasy about the matter.” The captain clapped the bowler on his head.

“You shall contact me if the investigation gets any closer?” his companion asked. He stepped into the light. From my vantage point I caught a glimpse of a slender old coot, with a wrinkled face and a slight stoop. One of those Levantine types, I said to myself, for his skin had an olive tone and his eyes looked almost black in the dim light. He was a foreigner, which would account for the accent I’d detected.

Welch laughed, but there was no humour in it. “Yes, I will contact you. In fact, I’ll be on your doorstep. You did say you could smuggle me out of England on a moment’s notice, didn’t you?”

“I can arrange all sorts of things,” said the older man. “Transportation poses no problem. Rest assured, Captain Welch. I shall look after you.” He clapped a hand on Welch’s shoulder. “Speaking of transportation, how do you plan to return to London?”

“There’s an inn down the road. I’ll walk there and spend the night, then catch the first train in the morning.”

“There is a train back to town tonight, leaving at nine o’clock. I shall have Dudley harness the horses and drive you to the station. You should make it with time to spare.”

“That’s very good of you,” said Welch.

“It is my pleasure.”

The two men shook hands and walked out to the verandah facing the gravel drive. I heard the older man call to the guard, Dudley, and direct him to make haste and see that the captain made the last train to the city. I heard the crunch of footsteps as Dudley walked off quickly to the rear of the house, making for the stables. The older man offered Welch a cigar and they smoked in companionable silence until the clatter of hooves and the jingle of harness heralded the arrival of Dudley in the brougham. Welch thanked his host and climbed into the carriage. French and I waited quietly while the sound of the brougham disappeared down the drive. The slender fellow entered the house and returned to the room where he’d met Welch. I heard his chair creak as he settled into it. The faint smell of cigar smoke reached my nostrils.

French pulled at my sleeve and I stood aside as he eased open the dining room door. We crept stealthily away, quiet as two Apaches looking for scalps. I didn’t take an easy breath until we were well away from the building and were hunkered down in the deep shadows cast by a line of trees.

“I suppose we’ve improved our skills at breaking and entering, but I’ll be damned if we accomplished anything else tonight.” I tend to get fractious when I’m hungry, and I was starving.

“We’ve confirmed that Welch is involved in the thefts although we haven’t a shred of evidence to prove it,” French said. “Frankly, I’m not terribly worried about rounding up Welch. He’s a mere puppet. The chap we want is that foreign fellow back there.”

“We could have picked up both of them tonight.”

“I know that you’re itching to haul out that Bulldog, but as I said, we’ve no proof against either of them.”

“Then we’re no further along than when we left London. And I’ve missed my dinner.”

“We have made progress tonight. We have a new lead to follow. We’ll walk to the Duke of Wellington and I shall buy you a meal. We’ll catch the first train back to London in the morning and I’ll make arrangements to watch the house and our mysterious foreigner.”

“Are you sure this man and Dudley are actually living in the house? It may only serve as a meeting place. Dudley could return from dropping Welch at the station and he and the old chap could be gone before dawn. As much as I’d like to eat, I think we should stay here and watch the place.”

French thought it over. “You’re right. We’ll stay.”

“The next time we dash out of London, remind me to fill a flask with whisky. It’s going to be a long night.”

Our revised plan required that we return to the house, so reluctantly we left the shelter of the trees and cautiously retraced our steps. We settled ourselves among some rhododendron bushes. From here we could see the drive and the front entrance to the house. It was growing chilly and a fine mist had started to fall. I cursed Colonel Mayhew, Martini-Henrys, Captain Welch, all foreigners and French. I suppose there are rules of etiquette governing how ladies are to sit upon the ground, perhaps when they are at a picnic beside a stream on a sunny day, with servants in attendance to hand out finger sandwiches and such, but I wasn’t in a mind to follow any rules. I just plopped down on my bum, drew up my knees, wrapped my arms around them and rested my check on my arms. My stomach sounded like Mount Vesuvius just before it blew and I’d developed a headache.

There was a moment of excitement when Dudley returned. French and I both sat up straight, our discomfort forgotten. The guard did not stop at the house but drove around to the stables and we heard the distinct noises of harness being removed and hung up and the stall doors being shut. Dudley swung into view and crossed over to the verandah, entering the door without knocking. Obviously, the men weren’t leaving tonight. That fact was confirmed a quarter hour later when the lights were extinguished.

“Gone to bed,” French muttered.

“I wonder if there’s any food in the house. I’m tempted to sneak in and see if there’s a crust in the larder.”

“If they’re still inside in the morning, I’ll go to the village and send a telegram to the prime minister. I’ll bring you back something to eat.”

“Why can’t I walk to the village?”

“You’re a vain woman, India. I can’t imagine that you’ll want to go anywhere in a stained dress and with your hair in a tangle.”

He had a point. I acquiesced to his plan, though it meant he’d be wolfing down some clabber well before I got my hands on any. I added a comb to the list of items I needed to bring on our next outing.

The hours passed slowly. I tried a number of tricks to stay awake: counting to one thousand (I wouldn’t recommend that as it had a pronounced soporific effect), devising schemes for ejecting the marchioness and contemplating the contents of my next meal. I gave that last one up as it was too painful and finally decided that it didn’t much matter if I fell asleep as our quarry surely would be driving the brougham if they left and the sound would wake me. I was just nodding off when someone stuck the barrel of a revolver in my ear.

“Don’t say a word,” a voice hissed.

Next to me French’s head jerked. He must have been dozing as well.

“If you’ve got a weapon, take it out slowly and toss it behind you.”

French was turning round.

“Don’t move,” said the voice.

“Homer?”

“French?”

SIXTEEN

A
t least this chap had a flask of whisky and a thermos of tea, and he proved very generous with both as well he should have, being, as it turned out, an old acquaintance of French’s from army days. We’d retreated to the end of the drive, out of earshot of anyone who may have been in the house, and gathered in a tight huddle.

“Homer, may I present Miss India Black? India, this is Tom Homer. We served together in the Forty-second.”

The clouds had obscured the moon and it was too dark to see all of Homer’s face, but I could tell he was a stocky chap with a full beard, and could hear his cheerful voice.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Black. Now then, French, you must tell me what the devil you and this young lady are doing prowling around an old farm in the middle of the night.”

“Very much the same as you, I suspect. We’re on the trail of thieves who’ve been helping themselves to rifles and ammunition from British armouries. I’ve a feeling you’re here on the same mission. Are you working for the India Office?”

Homer chuckled. “There’s no moss on you, French. How is it that you know who I’m working for and what I’m doing here, but I had no idea that you were involved in this matter? And pardon my impertinence, miss, but what is your role is this affair?”

French summarized the events of the last few days (skating over the fact that Colonel Mayhew had deposited his envelope into the care of this madam) while Homer listened attentively. He started involuntarily and shot a glance at me when French told him I was a bona fide agent of Her Majesty’s government. I didn’t mind; it’s sometimes difficult for me to get used to the notion that I am a spy.

“So you see,” French concluded, “the prime minister asked Miss Black and me to look into the matter. Your chap in the India Office told us his man had sailed for England following a lead. I anticipated that we would run into him at some point in our investigation. Of course, I wasn’t expecting the India Office’s man to be you, Homer. You always said you were going to retire to the country and farm after your stint in the Forty-second.”

“One day I will, but after I left the regiment I knocked around India for a bit. I’ve a fondness for the country and wasn’t quite ready to leave it yet. I knew some fellows in the civil service and it turns out they needed someone who spoke Hindi and Urdu and who knew about intelligence work. They hired me to keep an eye on activities in the princely states.”

“We’ve heard about Ganipur. Your superior at the India Office seems to think there’s a Russian hand in the rebellion there.”

“You know the government. They see Russians everywhere. But in this case, it’s true. There’s a fellow named Mirov who’s been chumming around with the rajah of Ganipur, urging him to expel the British, which he’s done, and assuring him of Russian backing. We believe Mirov has supplied the money to buy the British weapons that have been stolen.”

“How did Mirov suborn Welch?” I asked.

“He didn’t, not directly anyway. I believe Mirov hired a Greek, Aristotle Vasapoulis, to supply the arms. That was Vasapoulis in the farmhouse, and he’s the man I’ve followed to England from Calcutta. I’d done some digging there and I knew that he was the registered owner of the South Indian Railway Company. When he left India, I was on his trail. I was hoping he would lead me to his contact in the army and now he’s done so. I reckoned it would be a long haul once I got here but what a stroke of luck I’ve had tonight with this Captain Welch turning up and then running into the two of you. We’ve closed the pincers neatly.”

“Tell me more about Vasapoulis,” said French.

Homer obliged. “He’s an arms dealer with a vast network of contacts. If a client wants the latest Mauser
Gewehr
71 rifle, then Vasapoulis calls on his friends in Germany. Mauser Brothers and Company is a new enterprise and eager to find clients for their munitions. But when a client wants the Martini-Henry, Vasapoulis must find sources other than the manufacturer. The rifle is only made by the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, which is owned by the government.”

“And thus Vasapoulis must find someone in the military who will provide the rifles to him,” I said. “That’s where Welch entered the equation.”

“India and I have been trying to collect evidence against Welch but we’ve found nothing solid yet,” said French. “But given what you know about Vasapoulis, I suppose we have reasonable grounds for military officials to detain the captain.”

“That will halt the thefts, but it won’t stop Vasapoulis.” Homer paused for a drink of whisky. “He’ll merely find another source, although I think he’ll avoid recruiting at the quartermaster general’s office. You know the army. There’ll be a whole raft of new regulations and procedures put in place. You won’t be able to get a nail without an order signed in triplicate by five generals.”

“Then what of Vasapoulis? We’ve nothing on him, other than the fact that he met with Welch. Would Welch give evidence against him?” I asked.

“The method of Colonel Mayhew’s death must have shocked the captain,” said French. “If we can assure him that he’ll be safe, he may give evidence against Vasapoulis.”

“I wouldn’t want to be Welch. Vasapoulis has survived this long because he’s utterly ruthless.” Homer sounded grim. “He’ll find a way to get to Welch, and he’ll be sure that Welch knows it.”

We stood about for a minute, passing the flask among us and contemplating our next move.

As I wanted my dinner, I made the first suggestion. “We should have Welch arrested. But it should be done quietly. As soon as Vasapoulis gets wind of it, he’ll leave the country and we’ll miss our chance at him.”

“I’d like a crack at Vasapoulis,” said Homer. “I’ve been chasing the bloody man from Calcutta to Surrey and some of our best lads are dead because of the rifles he has supplied to the rajah. I’ve a score to settle with him.”

“But what proof can we hope to find?” I asked.

“He’s got a case with him,” said Homer. “I saw it on the ship. It never leaves his side. I’d be willing to bet there are some interesting documents in there.”

“If he keeps it with him at all times, how were you planning to get a look inside?”

“He’s got to sleep sometime. That’s why I was at the house tonight. I was planning on burglarizing the place.”

“Vasapoulis would make for the nearest port if he woke up to find his case gone,” said French.

“No doubt. But if I were lucky enough to find some hard evidence of the thefts, I’d immediately alert the authorities and place a watch on the coast.”

“And if there is no evidence in the case?”

“There will be something of value in there, something I can use as leverage against him. I’ll stay after the man until I bring him down.”

“We’ll do everything in our power to help you do that,” said French. “I suggest that India and I return to London and have Welch taken into custody immediately. If he is willing to provide evidence against Vasapoulis then we’ll arrest the man. If the captain won’t speak against Vasapoulis then we’ll watch the Greek until we have the opportunity to examine the contents of the case. Should we send some reinforcements for you?”

“I think not. Too many strangers in the neighborhood will attract attention. I’m used to discomfort. I’ll keep watch and wait to hear from you. In the meantime, I’ll look for a chance to get my hands on that case.”

“Be careful, Homer. I’ve told you what these chaps did to Mayhew. Vasapoulis won’t hesitate to kill you.”

We bid adieu to Homer and watched as he crept away into the night. By now it was getting on toward dawn and French and I faced a long hike to the station. I was hungry, tired and chilled to the bone. My clothes were damp and my hair was in knots. I was certain my skirt was ruined from sitting on the grass. To take my mind off my condition, and to pass the time, I proposed to have a friendly conversation with my companion.

“I should like to discuss our ancestry, cousin. Just how is it that we are related?”

French took a moment to light a cheroot. “I’m afraid I stretched the truth a bit when I told Bunny Alcock that we were cousins. There are no blood ties between us. We share a great-aunt in the marchioness, but I’m descended from her husband’s side of family. My grandmother was a sister of the Marquess of Tullibardine, the marchioness’s husband.”

“He’s dead, I suppose, as the marchioness carries the title of Dowager.”

“He died some years ago. They had a son, David, who assumed the title of Marquess. I don’t think Aunt Margaret thinks much of the poor chap. He’s a bookish fellow who can’t shoot, can’t ride and can’t abide dogs.”

“He must have taken after the marchioness’s husband.”

“He did. I don’t think she cared much for him either.”

“Have you been to Strathkinness?” I asked.

“Strathkinness? Oh, your family seat. Yes, I have been once. I went there as a small boy.”

“I suppose there’s a great house?”

“Um, yes, I think it was quite distinguished.” French puffed on his cheroot and added, “In its day.”

“The marchioness says it needs a new roof.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” said French. “Tell me, do you think you’ll ever be able to think of the marchioness as family? I’ve noticed that you don’t call her ‘Aunt.’”

“This is all so sudden. One minute I’m the owner of a brothel, the next a spy and now I’m the Countess of Strathkinness. It makes my head hurt just to think of it. And I don’t know if I’ll ever reconcile myself to being kin to the marchioness, although she’s certainly acting like an annoying relative, popping into Lotus House and usurping my position. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of a way to get her to leave London. Any ideas?”

“If I know Aunt Margaret, she’ll leave when she’s ready and not a moment before. And there’s Maggie to consider. I don’t think your houseguest will be going until those pups are ready to travel.”

“Vincent seems quite taken with those creatures.”

“I’ve noticed that. I have a feeling that one of those puppies may be staying behind when the marchioness leaves.”

“What? With Vincent? How’s he going to take care of an animal? Half the time he sleeps on the street and the only time he eats a meal is when he cadges one from me.”

“He might leave the dog with a sympathetic friend.”

I stopped in the road and grabbed French by the sleeve. “Oh, no. You tell Vincent that I refuse to keep a puppy at Lotus House.”

“The little fellows are awfully cute.”

“I run a business. I can’t have a dog underfoot, humping the customers’ legs and leaving bones about the parlour.”

“Then I suppose Vincent will have to seek companionship elsewhere. It’s a shame, really. There’s one little pup in particular that he dotes on.”

I could see I was going to have to nip this plan in the bud, just as soon as I returned to Lotus House.

We had passed the Duke of Wellington by then and still had a mile to travel before we reached the station.

“French, I want to talk with you about something. Please try not to explode when you hear what I have to say.”

“This is about Lady Daphne, isn’t it?” The poor fellow sounded resigned.

“It is. I want to be absolutely clear about my position regarding your engagement.” I’d given quite a lot of thought to this and I think you’ll be jolly well pleased to find that I intended to take the high road, at least for the moment. Well, there really wasn’t an alternate route, to be honest, what with French insisting on playing the gentleman and being torn between his duty (marriage to a dull wench) and his base desires (represented by yours truly, in case you were wondering). I’d been riding the chap pretty hard, encouraging him to indulge both his honour and his lust, but I could see that French was mighty uncomfortable at the notion. I found that hard to fathom, frankly, but then my morals have an elasticity that French’s do not. In truth, it’s one of the things I find most endearing about him, if a little frustrating.

“I realize you feel honour bound to go through with the marriage.”

French said nothing but drew deeply on his cigar and expelled a stream of smoke.

“I’ve made it clear to you that neither your engagement nor your impending marriage is an obstacle to me, but I know that you feel differently. I propose that in the future we merely regard each other as friends and associates.”

Now I had no intention of giving up on the poncy bastard. You may think less of me (though I don’t care if you do) when you hear that I consider French to be a particularly well-defended fortress which could be worn down by an unremitting siege. Even the most priggish of chaps is bound to succumb to my charms if exposed to them constantly, and I intended to bombard French until his walls crumbled. In the meantime, I had the added advantage of appearing to sacrifice my personal feelings so that French wouldn’t have to violate his bloody principles. I felt rather pleased with myself for thinking of this stratagem, though it would be difficult to chase villains with French when I wanted nothing more than to disarrange the bedclothes with him. This would call for a great deal of patience on my part, and I have frequently made the point that I possess very little of that characteristic. I would have to exert all my will to keep my hands off the man, but the game should be worth the candle.

French had stopped in the middle of the road. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that, India. I had been thinking the same thing.”

Bloody hell. I hadn’t seen that coming. I thought he would protest for form’s sake, capitulate reluctantly to my plan and spend the next few months fighting his lust for me until in a moment of weakness he gave in. I felt as if I’d received a blow to the solar plexus, but I’d be damned if I would let French know that his words had affected me so.

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