A Cabinet Secret : Chapter 4

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter four of A Cabinet Secret by Guy Boothby this
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Reading by Matperrard,
Chapter four. Some idea of the wave of consternation which
swept over England when it became known that the right

(00:22):
Honorable Benjamin Castellan, Secretary of State for the Colonies, had disappeared,
as mysteriously as Sir William Waller had done before him,
will be derived when I say that edition after edition
of the evening Papers had been sold by three o'clock
in the afternoon. It was in every sense a grave

(00:46):
national calamity, for, as we all know, at this particular
juncture in the country's history, Benjamin Castellan, of all others,
was the man who could least be spared. You are sure,
I suppose, Sir George, that Castellan intended going home after

(01:07):
you parted in Cockspur Street. The Prime Minister inquired, looking
at me along the table. As certain as I am
of anything, I replied. He complained of feeling tired, and
laughingly declared his intention of going to bed early in
order that he might be fresh for our meeting this morning.

(01:30):
He did not seem depressed in any way I suppose
put in the first Lord of the Admiralty. He was
naturally extremely downcast by the news we had received concerning
the Sultan of Sa'dan, But in no other sense, I answered,
I am sorry now that I did not walk with

(01:50):
him to his door, as I originally intended doing. It
is perhaps as well that you did not asserted one
of the others, for in that case we might have
lost you too. Surely, my lord, he continued, addressing the
Prime Minister, the police authorities should be able to obtain

(02:11):
some clue respecting his disappearance deserted, as the passage usually
is at that hour of the night. For I have
passed through it myself. There must have been some one
in the main thoroughfares at either end who would have
given the alarm had they noticed anything out of the common.

(02:31):
It is not altogether certain that the crime, if crime
it is, and of that we have as yet no
evidence was perpetrated in the passage of which you speak,
said the Prime Minister. But wherever or however the deed
was committed, the police, I am sure, will do their

(02:52):
utmost to unravel the mystery. The mere fact that General
Waller's disappearance has not yet been accounted for. Is giving
rise to a vast amount of uneasiness that the same
fate should have befallen. Mister Castellan will not be likely
to add to the public peace of mind. I am

(03:12):
sure the Secretary of State for the Home Department will
do all that lies in his power to see that
no time is lost in bringing the offenders to justice.
When the meeting broke up, I made my way with
all haste to Carleton House Terrace, in order to assure
my friend's wife of my sympathy and to help her

(03:34):
in any way that lay in my power. Prostrated with
reef though she was, she consented to see me, and
I was accordingly admitted to her presence. Oh, Sir George,
she cried, hastening forward to greet me. Is it possible
that you bring news of him? Ah, I can see

(03:56):
you do not. She threw herself into a chair with
a little crow of despair, and for a moment I
scarcely knew what to say to comfort her. We must
hope for the best, Missus Castolene, I said at last,
and then added with an assurance that my heart was
far from sharing. No one knows what the next few

(04:17):
hours may bring forth. But where can he be, she cried,
And who can have been base enough to harm him?
I know that he has enemies, as every man who
has made a great name for himself must have, But
I cannot think of one who would go so far

(04:37):
as to rob me of him. Oh, it is too cruel,
too cruel. We were still talking when news reached us
that two members of the police department had arrived and
were anxious for an interview. I cannot see them, the
poor lady, declared. I can tell them nothing that they

(04:59):
do not know. Then let me see them for you,
I said, I think I can answer any questions they
may ask, and at the same time it will spare
you the pain in such an interview would entail. God
bless you for your kindness. You are a true friend.

(05:21):
I thereupon left her and followed my colleague secretary along
the hall in the direction of the study. This is
a sad affair, indeed, mister gatch I said, after we
had left the morning room. I presume you have never
heard mister castell And say anything as to his being
shadowed by any one. Never, he replied, though I will

(05:44):
confess that I have suggested to him on numerous occasions
the advisability of having a companion with him when he
walked home late at night from the house that you
remember was a favorite habit of his. He used to
say that the fresh air revived him after a long debate,

(06:05):
and he was quite right, I replied, Now let us
hear what the police have to say. The two members
of the Detective Force who had been detailed to take
charge of the case rose as we entered the room.
They seemed somewhat surprised at singing me, but upon my
informing them how I came to be connected with the matter,

(06:29):
willingly excused Missus Castellan from attendance. Do I understand you
to say that you were the last of his friends
to see mister Castellan before his disappearance, asked the taller
of the two men, who looked more like a burly
Yorkshire farmer than a member of the Scotland Yard Detective Force.

(06:52):
It would appear, so, I replied. We left Wiltshire House
on hearing the news of the disaster to the Sultan
of Sadang, drove to the Admiralty to learn the latest
particulars and then, having dismissed the carriage, strolled as far
as Coxburth Street in each other's company, and you parted

(07:14):
at the passage that leads from Coxburth Street into Carlton
House Terrace. I believe, said the other man, you did
not happen to notice whether any person was following you.
I suppose. I don't fancy either of us looked round
during the whole distance. I answered, with an inward wish
that I had been suspicious enough to have taken that

(07:37):
simple precaution. We had too much to occupy our thoughts
without observing the actions of other people. And how long
did you remain on the pavement? I should be obliged
if you would endeavor to be as accurate as possible, sir,
in your answer to this question. I considered a moment

(07:58):
before I replied, between eight and ten minutes, I should say, certainly,
not more. I remember comparing my watch with a clock
above the chop window at the corner, and remarking, as
I did so, that I was nearly three minutes slow.
In that case, you should be able to fix the
time of his leaving you two within a minute or two,

(08:22):
said the elder of the two men, taking a note
book and pencil from his pocket as he spoke, I
can do so exactly. It was five minutes past twelve
when we bade each other good night. Was any one
near you on the pavement while you were standing talking?
No one. The street was almost deserted. I notice that

(08:46):
you say almost deserted, sir. Then there were other people
in sight. Do you happen to remember if any one
was standing near you, that is to say, within fifty
feet or so. I recollect that there was a policeman
on the opposite side of the road. Two youths in
evening dress, both far from sober, passed at the moment

(09:10):
that we stopped. Say, now, I come to think of it,
there was an old woman near us just before we
said good night to each other, And if my memory
serves me, she disappeared down the narrow passage. It is
strange that I should have forgotten the circumstance an old woman.

(09:31):
Can you give me a rather more detailed description of her?
Of what class? Was she? Of the very poorest? I
should say, aunt half witted. She was in rags and
was muttering some gibberish to herself. I am afraid I
cannot tell you any more about her. That is rather

(09:51):
a pity, said his companion, I should like to have
a little conversation with that good lady. You surely don't
think she had anything to do with the Colonial secretary's disappearance,
I replied, with some surprise. Why she couldn't have had
sufficient strength to harm a child, much less a strong,

(10:12):
active man such as mister Castellan was, perhaps not, sir.
It's just possible, however, that she may have had friends
to do the work for her. I don't say, of course,
that she had anything to do with it, but it
is our duty to look at every detail, and my

(10:34):
experience has taught me that the most unexpected places often
provide the most likely clues. Let us suppose, for instance,
that she was only the decoy bird, and that the
real perpetrators of the crime were concealed in the passage.
As soon as she had discovered mister Castellan, she passed

(10:55):
into the lane and had her confederates beyond the alert.
Then when he appeared, they would be ready to effect
his capture. Doesn't that plot seem feasible enough, sir, Very feasible,
I felt compelled to admit, But your case, like the
proverbial figures can be made to prove anything. However, if

(11:18):
you think the old woman had anything to do with it,
what action do you propose to take. I shall try
the streak first, and endeavor to discover whether any one
hert to scuffle or prize for help last night. Then
it's possible the police on the beat may know something
of the old woman and be able to give us

(11:40):
an insight into her character and identity. In the meantime,
if Missus Castellin will permit it, I will interview the
servants and endeavor to discover whether they noticed any suspicious
characters loitering about near the house. I am sure, Missus
Castellan will be only too pleased if you will do

(12:02):
what you deem necessary, I replied. The men thanked me,
and the necessary orders were given for the servants to
be ushered into the room. One by one. They were
subjected to a rigorous cross examination at the hands of
the two detectives. Neither the butler nor any of the

(12:22):
men servants had noticed anything suspicious in the front of
the house, nor had they seen any old woman answering
to my description hanging about the premises. The housekeeper and
cook were equally positive in their assertions. Indeed, the only
person who had noticed anything peculiar was a young housemaid,

(12:43):
who declared that she had seen two well dressed men
pass the house on three different occasions during the day.
Each time they used the small passage to which reference
has been so often made. When pressed to describe them
more accurate, she was unable to do so. They were
just ordinary gentlemen, she said, dressed in frock coats and

(13:07):
silk hats, and they might have or might not have
carried umbrellas in their hands. Further than this, she declared,
she could not go, not if her life depended upon it.
What makes you so sure that they passed three times,
asked the smaller of the two detectives. Because I saw

(13:29):
them fast after breakfast, sir, the girl replied, then in
the middle of the morning, and the last time just
before dinner. This being all that could be extract from her.
The girl was dismissed from the room, and mister Castelen's
valet was recalled from him. An exact description of the

(13:50):
clothes the missing man was wearing, and a record of
the jewelry he had about his person was obtained. This
is no ordinary case of robbery, said the elder detective.
But it is always as well to know these things.
One never knows how useful they may prove. Later on,
after asking a few more questions, they thanked me for

(14:14):
the information I had given them, and prepared to leave
the house. You will be sure to acquaint missus Costellon
with any discovery you may make, I said, I should
like to be able to assure her of that you may, sir,
She shall know directly we hear of anecdom. Then they

(14:35):
bowed themselves out, and I was at liberty to make
my missing colleague's wife acquainted with the result of our interview.
I found her still prostrated with grief and anxiety, a
prey to the most agonizing thoughts. I did what I
could to comfort her, though I felt that my ministrations
could do her no good. In my own heart, I

(14:56):
was quite certain that Castellan had been spirited away by
the same mysterious agency that had deprived us of Waller.
What that agency was, however, was more than I or
any of us could determine. When I left Carlton House Terrace,
I drove to the Foreign Office, where I had a
consultation with the Prime Minister, which lasted upwards of an hour,

(15:20):
after which I returned to my residence. I had intended
going into the country that afternoon, but in the light
of this new calamity, I changed my mind and resolved
to remain in town. Accordingly, after lunch, I drove to
my office and remained there until towards evening. By three o'clock,

(15:41):
as I have already said, the terrible intelligence was known
all over the town. In all my experience, I cannot
remember a scene of greater excitement. Downing Street, in particular,
was filled with an enormous crowd, eager to learn the
latest news. In the public mind, Castellan's disappearance figured as

(16:03):
the work of an enemy, very probably by reason of
the prominent part he had played in the history and
development of the war. The wildest rumors were afloat concerning
the affair, and every edition of the evening papers contained
some new item connected with it. At four o'clock I
bade my secretary telephone to Scotland Yard and inquire whether

(16:27):
they had any information to impart. The reply was to
the effect that their labors had so far been entirely fruitless.
As in poor Waller's case, not a trace of the
missing man could be discovered. Castellan could not advanished more
completely had he been caught up to the sky at

(16:48):
the very moment that I had said good bye to him.
It is really most uncomfortable for every one concerned. My
secretary remarked, if this sort of thing is to continue,
one does not know who the next victim may be.
He was quite right, One certainly did not know this much. However,

(17:11):
was quite certain, whoever the persons might be who perpetrated
the crime. They were past masters of their art. Their
arrangements and the general conduct of the affair was perfection itself,
and against such science it was almost impossible to guard
for my own part. And I don't think my worst

(17:31):
enemies can accuse me of cowardice. I must confess to
a distinct feeling of uneasiness when I reflected that this
mysterious individual or band might possibly try his or their
hand upon me. The suggestion emanating from Scotland Yard to
the effect that we should avail ourselves of the offer

(17:55):
of police protection. I politely but firmly decline the idea
of being shadowed night and day by detectives was more
than distasteful to me. Yet we do not desire to
lose you, Sir George, said the Prime Minister later, and
in saying it, he was kind enough to pay me

(18:16):
a compliment which my modesty will not permit me to
repeat here. I owe him an apology in this matter, however,
for I now see that he was right. If I
should have to go through it all again, however, I
feel that I should act as I did that at
half past four o'clock. I left the office by the

(18:39):
back door this time, for I have no desire to
be recognized by the crowd. And when I had crossed
the horse Guard's parade set off in the direction of
Marlborough House. As I walked along, I thought of Castellan,
and of our meeting on the previous night. How little
he had dreamt when he had carried on his airy

(19:00):
badanitch with Madame de Vanetsa, that in less than three
hours he would be gone from the sight of men.
This naturally led me to think of the Countess. I
recalled the expression upon her face and the look in
her eyes when she had invited me to visit her again.
And though as I have said before, I do not

(19:23):
in any way consider myself a ladies man. I am
willing to confess that the recollection of her condescension gave
me considerable satisfaction, not feeling in the humor for Piccadilly
and the raucous voices of the newsboy's shouting disappearance of
the Secretary of State, or the colonnaise disappearance of mister Castellan.

(19:47):
I continued my walk across the green park in the
direction of Hyde Park Corner. It was a beautiful evening,
and in the twilight the park presented as peaceful a
scene as the soul of man could desire. Reaching the
exit opposite Hamilton Place, I stood for a moment, wondering

(20:08):
whether I should cross into Hyde Park or stroll leisurely home.
What it was I cannot say, but for some reason
or another I had a strange desire for the companionship
of my fellow men or women. It may have been
that the sudden disappearance of Castellan had upset me more
than I supposed. At any rate, I was far from

(20:31):
being myself. As I stood there, an idea struck me,
and I wondered why it had not occurred to me before.
What was there to prevent my visiting the Countess that evening?
She had declared that she would be very glad to
see me whenever I might call. My mind was no
sooner made up than I crossed the road and steered

(20:53):
a course for Wiltshire House. On the way, many friends
would have stopped me, had I permitted them to do so,
but I strode resolutely along, paying no heed to them
beyond returning their salutations. At last I reached the Countess's
house and learnt that she was not only at home,
but would receive visitors. I found her in her boudoir,

(21:16):
seated before a bright fire, though the day had been
comparatively warm. It is kind, indeed of you to take
pity upon my loneliness, Sir George, she said, as she
rose to receive me. No one could be more welcome.
I have been feeling so very sad this afternoon, and

(21:36):
now your society will cheer me up. You have heard
of mister Cascallon's disappearance, I suppose, I remarked, as I
seated myself in the chair. She indicated, it has shocked you,
as it has done all of us. Have you any
way of accounting for it, she asked, None, whatever, I replied.

(22:00):
The whole affair is shrouded in mystery. The police are
unable to discover the faintest clue to work upon. It
will have a very serious effect upon the country, will
it not, She inquired. He has played such a conspicuous
part in politics of late he will be missed. I fear,

(22:21):
I answered, and stopped there, for I had no desire
to discuss current politics. Just then, putting the topics of
the day on one side, we at last came to
the duration of her stay in London. I scarcely know
how long we shall remain, she said. I fancy my
father is growing tired of London already. The war is

(22:44):
perhaps accountable for it, but England is too sad just now.
I do not like sad places. I prefer the sun,
the warmth, the glitter, and to have some smiling faces
about me. I am afraid I must be peculiarly constituted,
for the least thing is sufficient to raise or depress me. Then,

(23:09):
suddenly brightening up, she continued, but there, what a foolish
hostess I am to talk to you in this fashion.
I shall frighten you away, and then you will not
come and see me any more. I have no desire
to lose so good a friend man of the world,
though I was, the compliment tickled my vanity, and I

(23:29):
hastened to reply in a suitable fashion. Then I congratulated
her upon the success which had attended her at home
on the previous evening. In the matter of an at home,
it is not so very difficult to be successful, she replied.
Only has one to give carte blanche to one's cook,

(23:51):
and how steward dressed oneself in one's best and stand
at the head of the stairs to receive one's guests
with any smile upon one's face. A dinner is a
somewhat more difficult affair, And there, I think, without vanity,
I may justly pride myself upon my ability a cozy

(24:13):
little dinner for let us say not more than eight
people each to be most carefully selected. Will you make
one of them? I shall be delighted, I replied, But may.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
It not be a competition. My man has ambition. Why
not let me try to equal your effort, even if
I cannot excel it, Try by all means, and the
prize the knowledge of success. What prize could be more
worth whenning it is settled? Then she returned, we are

(24:49):
sure to give a dinner and to endeavor to outdo
each other. I shall make my arrangements accordingly. After that
we drifted into a discussion upon books, pictures, and by
the natural transition of things, came at last to music.
On this subject she was as well informed as upon

(25:10):
every other. It is my passion, she said. In explanation,
My piano is the greatest treasure I possess.

Speaker 1 (25:19):
I could not live without it. I felt certain from
the first that you were a musician, I replied, I
wonder if I could induce you to play to me.
I will do so with pleasure, if you wish it,
she answered, and accordingly crossed the room to the corner
where the piano stood. Prepared as I was to find

(25:41):
her a good pianist. I did not dream for a
moment that her talent was so great as it was.
She fascinated me from the moment that her fingers touched
the keys. In explanation, I might here remark that I
am particularly susceptible to music, and now under her influence

(26:02):
I sat spellbound. The work was Sassan's danced macap and
in her hands. The fierce madness of that remarkable composition
was brought out with more than its usual diableret. In
order to understand what is to follow, it must be
remembered that I was seated near the fireplace, and that

(26:23):
her piano was at the further end of the room,
so that placed as I was, I could not see
my hostess. Having once felt the divine afflatus, she played
on and on without stopping to inquire whether I was tired,
wandering from master to master as the fancy seized her.

(26:44):
Such was the effect of the music upon me that
in a short time I became scarcely conscious of mundane affairs.
A delicious languor was stealing over me, and little by
little I felt my eyes closing. The music here to
be growing gradually fainter, until it could scarcely be heard.

(27:04):
I tried to rouse myself, but wasn't able to do so.
At last, even the inclination to battle with the feeling
of drowsiness left me, and I abandoned myself to my fate.
Whether I fell asleep and dreamt what I am about
to describe, or whether the Countess, in the exercise of
a deadly power which I feel convinced she possessed, had

(27:29):
hypnotized me. I cannot say. The fact remains that in
my mind's eye, for my eyes were closed, I saw
her rise from the instrument and approach me. Then she
came closer, stopped, and stooped over me until her eyes
were close to mine. There was light in them that
pierced my eyelids and penetrated to the center of my brain.

(27:53):
It is useless for you to strive with me, she said.
You are mine and must do my bidding. Then she
began to question me on certain matters connected with the
war and with European politics. I appeared to be telling
her secrets so vitally in their importance that to have
breathed them aloud to the world would have been to

(28:14):
run the risk of causing the most serious international complications. Yet,
still powerless to resist, I answered the questions as they
were put to me, keeping nothing back. When she had
learnt all that she wanted to know, she moved away
from me and returned to the piano. Then once more

(28:34):
she began to play the music, growing louder and more
distinct as it progressed. Then I woke to find her
still playing the same piece as when I had closed
my eyes. When she had finished it, she rose from
her seat. I think, of all the great masters, I
prefer Chopin, she said, as she crossed the room. Yes

(28:59):
I am, and that he stands first in my admiration.
Her manner was so open, so sincere, that the suspicion
I had been tempted to entertain against her vanished in
a trice. It was all imagination, I told myself, under
the influence of her music, I must have fallen asleep

(29:20):
and dropped it all had I not good proof of this,
Had it really happened, it would have taken nearly a
quarter of an hour from me to impart the information
she had asked of me. Yet the long hand of
the clock upon the mantelpiece had only advanced three minutes
since I had last looked at it. How comforting this

(29:42):
assurance was to me. I must leave you to understand.
It was the most singularly vivid dream, however, I had
had in my life, And but for the evidence of
the clock and the sincerity of the Countess's manner, I
could have sworn that the incident I have just described
had really occurred. Yet there was another side to the question.

(30:06):
I had fallen asleep while paying an afternoon call, and
the idea disquieted me more than I cared to admit.
Then a servant entered with tea, and under the influence
of the Countess's pico and fashionable chick chat, my powers
of conversation returned me. At last, I rose to take leave.

(30:30):
I fear I have paid you an unconscionably long visit,
I said. Your beautiful music, however, must be blamed for
my overstepping the bounds of politeness. I hope you will
forgive me. It has been a pleasure to me to
play to you. She answered, one does not always have
such a sympathetic audience. With that, I left her, and,

(30:53):
on reaching the street, turned in the direction of the park.
I should have just time enough or a sharp walk
before I dress, I said to myself, and took my
watch from my pocket and glanced at the dial. The
clock on the mantelpiece of the Countess's boudoir when I
had said good bye to her, had pointed to half

(31:14):
past five. My watch showed a quarter to six. This
was very singular. For I remembered looking at my watch
as I stood in the portico after ringing the bell,
and also my laughing remark to the Countess to the
effect that I was glad to have found her at
home at such an hour, glancing at the clock as

(31:36):
I did so. Yet now there was a difference of
rather more than a quarter of an hour between the two.
What did this signify? Could the Countess's clock have stopped
while she was playing and then have gone on again
of its own accord? It was scarcely likely that while
I was asleep, she had risen from the piano and

(31:57):
had set it going for going it, sir, only was
when I bade her good bye. The remembrance of the
dream I had had still weighed heavily upon my mind,
and do what I would, I could not throw it off, yet,
how absurd it was. Moreover, though I had more than
once suspected her of taking an interest in European politics,

(32:21):
she had always denied the fact to me. Besides, even
if this were so, and granted that she had the power,
what reason could she possibly have had for extracting secrets
from me? At this point? The remembrance of her eyes
and the singular influence that they had had over me

(32:42):
in Paris returned to me. What does it all mean?
I asked myself, as if in despair of arriving at
a definite conclusion. I was to find that out, however,
in good time. End of chapter four,