The Uncollected Cases of Solar Pons, page 19
"We have had a good deal of trouble with poachers, Mr. Bassington," he said awkwardly. "My gamekeepers have dealt with the problem. We called the police, of course, but unfortunately the rogues got clean away without a trace. The neighborhood has been much plagued with the rascals."
"Oh, well, that would appear to dispose of the matter," said Pons with a disarming smile. "I am glad it was no worse. And now, if we could just say goodbye to our young companion, we will be on our way."
"Certainly, Mr. Bassington. And a thousand thanks again for all your trouble."
We had just re-entered the hall when our client came hurrying down the stairs, the worry and strain of the past time still showing plainly on her face.
"Going so soon, gentlemen? I had hoped you would be staying to lunch."
"We have to get back to London immediately, Miss Helstone. But we leave you in safe hands, I'm sure."
Basden beamed in the background, one of the dark-coated men holding the hall door ajar for us.
"You may rely on that, Mr. Bassington."
Pons bent his head over Miss Helstone's fingertips in a courteous gesture. I was close to him but even I had difficulty in making out the words he breathed to the girl.
"Have no fear, Miss Helstone. You are not in any danger. The doctor and I will be just outside the estate. Make sure you show yourself in the grounds tonight at about eight o'clock."
"Goodbye, gentlemen. And thank you."
There was relief on Miss Helstone's face as she and Basden said goodbye. The latter shook hands with us briefly and the two of them stood on the front steps watching us as we drove away. I had noticed previously that there were other cars in front of the house, and Pons seemed to snow great interest in a gleaming Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that was parked near the steps. As soon as we had passed through the entrance gates and were rolling back toward Clitherington, Pons became less reticent.
"Well done, Parker. You played your part well. What did you think of The Priory?"
"Miss Helstone had not done it justice, Pons. But I judge it to be an elaborate façade."
"Excellent, Parker! You improve all the time. If Basden is master there, I will devour my hat in the traditional manner. Just pull onto the side of the road here like a good fellow, will you? I have a mind to engage in conversation the owner of that Rolls-Royce when he comes out."
"But how do you know he is coming this way, Pons?" I protested.
Solar Pons chuckled, his face wreathed in aromatic blue smoke as he puffed at his pipe.
"Because, unless I am very much mistaken, the gentleman concerned is staying at the very same hostelry as ourselves. I assume that he would have remained at The Priory in order to let us get well clear."
"What on earth are you talking about, Pons?"
Pons vouchsafed no answer, so pulled the car up in a small rest area at the end of the estate wall, where the road curved a little. We had not been sitting there more than ten minutes when Pons, who had been studying the road keenly in the rear view mirror, which he had adjusted to suit himself, gave a brief exclamation.
"Ah, here is our man now. Just start the engine and turn the vehicle around to block the road, will you?"
I was startled but did as he bid, and a few seconds later the big gray car glided up behind us and came to a halt with an imperious blaring of the horn. An irate figure at the wheel got out, and I recognized the tall man in the frock coat whom Pons had pointed out in the bar of The Roebuck.
Pons bounded out of the passenger seat with great alacrity and beamed at the furious figure.
"Good morning, Sir Clifford. Sir Clifford Ayres, is it not? How goes your patient's health?"
The tall, cadaverous man's jaw dropped and he looked at Pons sharply, tiny spots of red etched on his white cheeks.
"How dare you block the road, sir? So far as I am concerned, I do not know you. And I 'certainly do not discuss the private affairs of my patients with strangers."
"Come, Sir Clifford, you are remarkably obtuse for such an eminent man. If you do not remember me, you must recall my distinguished colleague, Dr. Parker?"
Sir Clifford made a little gobbling noise like a turkey and stepped forward with white features, as though he would have struck Pons.
"By God, sir, if this is a joke I do not like it. My presence here was confidential. If you are press, you will regret printing anything about me. I'll have you horsewhipped and thrown into prison. Clear the road or I will drive to the police immediately."
Pons chuckled and motioned to me to remove the car.
"Well, well, it does not suit your purpose to remember the Prince's Gate Reception last month, Sir Clifford. No matter. We shall meet again. Good day, sir."
And he politely tipped his hat to the apoplectic figure of Ayres, who got back in his car, and watched him drive on in silence. He was laughing openly as he rejoined me.
"Sir Clifford is noted for his fiery temper and bad manners, and he is running true to form today. Either he genuinely did not recognize me, or it obviously suits his purpose to plead ignorance. But it merely strengthens my suspicions about his patient."
"What is all this about, Pons?" I said as we drove on. "I must confess, the matter becomes more confusing by the minute."
"All in good time, my dear fellow. I must contact Brother Bancroft when we get back to the inn and then I must purchase a daily paper. We shall have a busy evening if I am not mistaken."
And with these cryptic utterances, I had to be content for the time being. We lunched well at the Roebuck, and though Pons was obviously on the lookout for Sir Clifford, the tall doctor did not put in an appearance. We were eating our dessert before Pons again broke silence.
"Come, Parker, I need your help. You are obviously more au fait than I with Sir Clifford. Just what is his forte?"
"In truth I have never met the man, Pons," I said. "Though you seemed to think he should know me. I do not move in such exalted circles. As a humble G.P.
"Tut, Parker, you are being too modest. My remark was merely meant to inform him that you were a fellow physician. We were introduced at the reception I spoke of, but there were many people there; we were face-to-face for only a few seconds; and I relied on the traditional obtuseness of the medical profession and felt confident that he would not recall me."
"Come, Pons," I protested. "That is a definite slur." Solar Pons chuckled with satisfaction.
"You are too easily ruffled, my dear fellow. You must practice indifference in such matters. But you have not answered my question."
"Sir Clifford? I know of his work, of course. He is one of the country's foremost specialists in heart disease and strokes."
"Indeed. I find that singularly interesting. This may not be so difficult as I had thought. If you will forgive me, I must telephone Bancroft. I will rejoin you for coffee in the lounge."
5
"Now, Parker, let us just put a few things together. In addition to the other small points we have already discussed, we have an eminent medical specialist staying in this small place and in attendance to someone within The Priory. Does not that suggest a fruitful line of inquiry?"
Solar Pons sat back in a comfortable leather chair in the coffee room at the Roebuck and regarded me through a cloud of blue pipe smoke. It was early evening and the place was quiet, only the occasional rumble of a cart or the higher register of a car penetrating the thick curtains.
"Certainly, Pons. The invalid in the sealed wing suffers from heart trouble."
"Elementary, Parker. But why?"
Pons' brows were knotted with thought, and his piercing eyes were fixed upon a corner of the ceiling as he pulled reflectively at the lobe of his right ear.
"I do not follow the question, Pons."
"It is no matter, Parker. Things are becoming clearer, and I should be able to arrive at some definite conclusion before the evening is out.
"You surprise me, Pons."
Solar Pons looked at me languidly, little sparks of humor dancing in his eyes.
"I have often heard you say so, Parker. I have spoken to Brother Bancroft and he has given me some interesting information on affairs in Eastern Europe."
"I should have thought this was hardly the time for it, Pons."
"Would you not? However, it is no matter. My thoughts were directed to the subject by the events of the last day's newspapers. Apparently things in Dresdania are not going too well. Her Highness is out of the country, and there is a concerted effort to unseat the government in her absence. Bancroft is most concerned."
"I must confess I am completely bewildered by your line of thought, Pons."
"Perhaps this will clarify matters."
Pons handed me a bundle of newspapers, among them The Times and The Daily Telegraph. I perused them with mounting puzzlement. In each case Pons had heavily ringed or marked certain items in ink. I caught the large heading of The Daily Mail: PRINCE MIRKO APPEALS FOR CALM. Apparently things in the state Pons had mentioned were in serious disarray.
"I must admit that the Balkans have increasingly occupied the world's thoughts, Pons," I observed. "Matters are constantly in ferment there and it is certain that our own Foreign Office has a definite interest in maintaining peace in that area of the world. But I know little about such affairs. . ."
Solar Pons chuckled, holding his head to one side as he looked at me.
"Do you not see the connection, Parker? Oh, well, there is really no reason why you should. All will be made clear to you in due course. Now, you have your revolver handy, I trust?"
"It is in my valise in my room, Pons."
"Good. Just run along and fetch it, there's a good fellow. We may well have need of it before the night is out."
He paused and stared at me somberly.
"Pray heaven we are in time, Parker. Either she is already dead or so ill that she cannot sign documents."
"Good Lord, Pons!" I cried. "If anything has happened to Miss Helstone through our neglect . . ."
To my astonishment Pons burst out laughing.
"Do not distress yourself, my dear fellow. I was not referring to Miss Helstone at all. You are on entirely the wrong track."
He glanced at his watch.
"It has just turned six o'clock. We have plenty of time. It is a fine night and we will walk, I think. As long as we are at the estate by eight, we shall have ample room to maneuver."
It was a long and lonely walk, on a clear, moonlight night, though bitterly cold. As Pons and I, both heavily muffled, walked along the grass at the side of the road, with the wind whistling through the leafless branches of the trees that came down in thick belts of woodland close to the highway, I could not help reflecting on the anguish and terror that must have animated Miss Helstone when she ran along this same thoroughfare to catch the early morning train to bring her to Pons.
It was just a few minutes to eight when we arrived at the high wall of the estate belonging to The Priory. Pons' eyes were bright in the moonlight and his entire form seemed to radiate energy and determination.
"Now, Parker," he whispered, looking about him keenly. "We will just cast about for the side gate Miss Helstone mentioned. I have a feeling that it may be in use again this evening."
"I do not see how we are to get in, Pons. Basden's people may be watching the entrance there."
"We shall have to risk that, Parker. And I daresay I can get over the wall at a pinch, with the aid of your sturdy shoulders. But come what may, we must get inside The Priory tonight."
I followed Pons as he stepped off the road, and we skirted the wall for something like a quarter of a mile, beneath the dark boughs of overhanging trees.
"We must go carefully now." Pons breathed. "It cannot be far. I questioned Miss Helstone carefully about this gate and it should be somewhere here, according to her description."
As he spoke the moonlight shimmered on a gap in the wall; a few strides more brought us to the gate in question. I looked at Pons swiftly but he had already noted what I had seen. The portal was slightly ajar. I had my revolver out and we crept forward quietly. Pons bent to examine the chain and padlock.
"Our friends are already in the grounds," he whispered. "Cut through with a hacksaw. They must have made some noise. It is my opinion, Parker, that Basden's employers mean to bring the game to them. Which merely substantiates my conclusions."
"I wish I knew what on earth you were talking about, Pons," I murmured irritably.
Solar Pons smiled thinly.
"Just keep your revolver handy, friend Parker, and follow me."
He disappeared quietly through the small gate that pierced.the massive wall and I followed him quickly, finding myself in almost total darkness, the shrubbery grew so thickly and so close to the boundary the other side.
But as we went farther in, treading carefully and taking care to see we made as little noise as possible, the trees fell away and soon we found ourselves near the estate road along which we had driven earlier in the day. There was a strange light in the sky ahead and as we rounded a bend, skirting the drive and keeping well into the tnick undergrowth, the façade of The Priory suddenly sprang sharply into view, clearly etched in the floodlights.
"The little charade seems to be successful," said Pons drily. "Now, just keep a sharp lookout, Parker. You are an excellent shot and I would not like the men who have preceded us through that wicket gate to come upon us unaware."
knelt by his side and looked around somewhat uneasily. We were well concealed here but through the fringe of leafless branches, we had a good view of the house with its lawns and statuary. Even as we settled, the slim figure of Miss Helstone and two small children were descending the steps.
"Ah, they are early this evening, Parker," said Pons with satisfaction. "It seems that things are expected to happen. If I were you, I would just throw off the safety catch of your revolver, there's a good fellow."
I obeyed Pons' injunction, secretly puzzled at his remarks. Our client, after pausing initially at the foot of the steps, was now coming toward us across the grass, while the children shouted and ran in circles about her. Their shadows, caught by the glare of the floodlighting, cast long replicas before them across the lawn.
I was shifting my position when I was almost thrown off balance by my companion seizing my arm.
"There, Parker, there! We are just in time to avert tragedy."
I followed his pointing finger and saw the bushes move at the other side of the drive. Then I became fully aware of what his keen eyes had already discerned. A thin, dark man with a pointed beard, down on one knee, crouched over a black rectangle that glinted as he moved. Pons was up like a flash and running back down the verge, away from the figure in the bushes. I was only a yard away as we crossed the roadway behind him.
"Your bird, I think, Parker," Pons called as the bearded man turned. The flare of light was followed by the slap of the shot, and I heard the bullet whistle somewhere through the bare branches. I was cool now and sighted the revolver carefully as I squeezed the trigger. The rifle went off in the air as the man dropped.
The night was suddenly full of cries and noise; heavy bodies blundered about the bushes. I saw Miss Helstone frozen in mid-stride, the two children running from her. I dropped to the gravel as more shots sounded. Then Pons was beside me and urging me up.
"We must get to the young lady, Parker."
A group of dark figures had jumped down from the terrace and were running down the grass; I heard a whistle shrill. Miss Helstone's face was white as we drew near. But the children were before her. The little girl's face was twisted. I saw the knife glint and was astonished to see Pons fell her with a deft blow from the flat of his hand. The knife fell on the grass and I leveled my revolver at the little boy who was barking orders in a strange, guttural language. He sullenly let the barrel of the pistol in his hand sag toward the ground.
"What does all this mean, Mr. Pons?"
Helen Helstone's face was white, her eyes wide in astonishment.
"That the charade is over, Miss Helstone. You are quite safe now and have nothing to fear."
"I do not understand, Mr. Pons. The children . . ."
Solar Pons smilingly shook his head and went to help the little girl up. She was quite unhurt and kicked him on the shin for his pains.
"Not children, but midgets, Miss Helstone," said Pons gravely. "Evidently to guard your safety. I will give the prince that much, at any rate."
"What is all this, Pons?" I began when a sullen ring of dark figures closed in on us. Others appeared behind, bringing with them three roughly dressed men with beards; one was wounded and had a bloodstained handkerchief clapped to his wrist. A tall man detached himself from the group that had come from the terrace. He had a commanding air and his eyes glittered.
"Drop that revolver!" he ordered me. "You will find it is a good deal easier to get in than to get out."
Solar Pons smiled pleasantly.
"On the contrary. I beg you not to be foolish. Just inform Prince Mirko that we are here and that we have averted a tragedy."
The big man's face was puzzled. His English was almost perfect but his sudden agitation made him stumble over the words as he replied.
"Who are you?'
"My name is Solar Pons. Just give the prince my card, will you, and tell him that the British Foreign Office knows we are here and will hold him responsible for our safety and that of Miss Helstone."
The tall man stood in silence for a moment, studying the card Pons had given him, while the floodlights beat down their golden light on the melodramatic tableau on the broad lawn, turning the faces of ourselves and the guards into ashen masks.
"Very well, Mr. Pons," the tall man said at last, lowering his pistol. "We will all go into the house."
6
"I think you owe me an explanation, Mr. Pons."
The tall man with the quavering voice took a step forward and regarded Solar Pons with indignation. The big room with the opulent appointments seemed full of people; apart from ourselves there were a number of armed guards and the sullen captives. Only Solar Pons seemed supremely at ease as he stood, an elegant, spare figure, and regarded our host thoughtfully.
