A Cabinet Secret : Chapter 9

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter nine of A Cabinet Secret by Guy boothby this
Libri box recording is in the public domain reading by
Maperart Chapter nine of all that occurred after I became unconscious.
I am quite ignorant. From the moment of my closing

(00:21):
my eyes until six o'clock next morning. My mind is
a perfect blank. All I remember is that little by
little I became aware of a strange oscillation. It was
as if my bed were being tossed violently about to
the accompaniment of a noise like the groaning of a
thousand tormented souls. It will go off if I lie still,

(00:44):
I said to myself. But instead every moment it grew worse.
At last, when I could bear it no longer, I
opened my eyes and looked about me. What I saw
was calculated to afford in considerable astonishment. I had imagined
myself to be lying in the room whence I had
escaped what I supposed to be a few hours before.

(01:05):
I was not there. However. The place in which I
was lying was the cabin of a ship, and was
some nine feet long by six in width. Opposite the
bunk in which I lay was the customary brass bound porthole,
with a cushioned settee or locker below it. The door
was at the foot of the bed. A washstand with

(01:27):
a mirror above it stood against the bulkhead. There was
a narrow strip of faded carpet upon the floor. And
when I have noted these things, I have furnished you
with a detailed description of the cabin, what the name
of the vessel was, and how I had got There
were questions I could not answer. One thing, however, was
quite certain, whatever else she might be, the ship was

(01:51):
not a good sea boat. She rolled abominably, and from
the pounding noise on deck I gathered that she was
taking a board more seas than was altogether comfortable. With
my head clanging like a ship's bell, I managed to
scramble out of my bunk and approach the porthole. Constantly
blurred though the glass was by the waves that dashed

(02:14):
against it, I was able to convince myself that there
was no land in sight. All I had before me
was a confused, humbling mass of water, an expense of
cloud covered sky. And once, when we rose upon a
particularly heavy sea, the fleeting picture of a bark making
extremely bad weather of it three miles or so distant.

(02:37):
Turning from the dismal scene, I tried the door to find,
as I had expected, that it was locked. It was
evident from this that though a decided change had come
over my affairs, I was still a prisoner. The situation
was both dispiriting and perplexing. My head, however, ached too
much to allow me to worry over it for very long.

(03:00):
I accordingly climbed back into my bunk and composed myself
for sleep. Once more. Success must have crowned my efforts,
for when I woke again, the comparative steadiness of the
vessel convinced me that the weather had taken a turn
for the better. From a ray of sunlight that danced
in and out through the porthole, it was plain the

(03:21):
clouds which had hitherto covered the sky had disappeared, and
that there were hopes of better weather. My headache had
almost left me, and I felt that if I could
procure something to eat, I should be almost myself once more.
On looking at my watch, I found my annoyance that
it had stopped at five minutes to six, so that

(03:43):
I was unable to tell what the hour was. Once more,
I climbed out of the bunk, and this time seated
myself upon the settee. I had not been there many
minutes before the sound of voices reached my ears. The
speakers were in the saloon, so I gathered, and one
of the voices sounded strangely familiar to me. I tried
to locate it, but for a time was unable to

(04:05):
do so. Then in a flash, it occurred to me,
and I wondered that I had not recognized it before.
It was the voice of Signor Sir Gastin, the Countess's father,
or at any rate, her reputed father. I am still
in their clutches, I said to myself, with something that
was very like despair as I realized the meaning of

(04:27):
this new discovery. But how on earth did they get
me aboard this boat? And what are they going to
do with me now that they have got me here?
The question was beyond me, However, I was compelled to
leave it unanswered. A few seconds later I heard the
sound of footsteps approaching my cabin. Then the door was

(04:47):
unlocked and opened, and the gray haired, military looking man
who had driven up with the Countess the hotel in Paris,
and who had been introduced to London society. As her
parent entered the cabin. Behind him was the young Count Conrad,
with the same supercilious smile upon his face. Good morning,
my dear Sir George, said the elder man, with one

(05:10):
of his extraordinary bows. I am rejoiced to find that
your adventure of last night has had no ill effect
upon you. Allow me to offer you a hearty welcome
to this gallant vessel. I fear that she has not
behaved herself altogether as she might have done since you
have been on board, But the north Sea as, at

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the best of times, a discourteous host. So I am
in the north Sea, am, I said I to myself,
as I registered that piece of information in my mind.
Then I continued aloud. You have played me a scurvy
trick between you, and one that if I ever get
out of this, will be likely to cause you a

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considerable amount of trouble. The smile widened on Conrad's face.
Evidently he thought the possibility of my regaining my freedom
was a very remote one. I am desolated to think
that we should have so much inconvenience to you, Sargusta replied,
But alas we had no option. However, we must do

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our best to make your stay with us as pleasant
as is compatible with the circumstances. Doubtless you are hungry
after your long fast. If so, will you permit me
to conduct you to the saloon, where you will find
that a meal has been prepared for you. You give
me liberty on board, then, I said, with some surprise,

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since we are clear of the coast, and provided of course,
that you do not abuse it, we will do so
to a certain extent. He replied, should you give us
a cause to regret our decision, nothing will remain but
for us to confine you to your captain once more. Pray,
let me lead the way. With a feeling of vague bewilderment,

(06:57):
almost impossible to describe, I fall them into the saloon,
where I discovered, as he had said, that a meal
had been arranged for me. In spite of my sorry position,
I found that I possessed an excellent appetite, and in
order that they might not think that they had overwawed me,
I fell to work upon the joint before me with

(07:18):
an avidity that I flattered myself considerably surprised them. Meanwhile,
the steamer rolled incessantly, until it looked as if even
the fiddles upon the table would be unable to keep
my plate and glass in position. Fortunately I am an
excellent sailor. Otherwise I am doubtful whether I should have
been able to continue my meal during its progress. The

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older man had seated himself near me, as if to
make sure that I did not cut my throat or
do myself any other mischief with the knife I held
in my hand. When I had finished, he pointed to
the deck above. Perhaps you would like to take a
little fresh air, he shouted politely, for the noise low
was such that we could scarcely make each other here,

(08:03):
if so permit me to be your escort. In reply,
I bowed and followed him along the saloon to the
small companion ladder which led to the deck above. It
was a fine scene that met our gaze as we
opened the door and stepped out. I have already said
that the violence of the gale had abated somewhat, but
there was still a sufficiently high sea running to make

(08:26):
it difficult to retain one's footing without holding on to something.
After the stuffiness of my cabin, however, the pure air
was vastly refreshing. As I stood in the hatch, I
took stock of the vessel. She could not have been
more than fifteen hundred tons, and was ancient a tub
as could be safely trusted to put to sea. She

(08:48):
was the possessor of an old fashioned poop, from which
two brass railed ladders led down on either side to
the deck below. On the small bridge forward I could
catch a glimpse of the officer of the Watch pacing
to and fro, but at the distance I was from him,
it was impossible to say whether I was acquainted with

(09:09):
him or not. I accordingly turned and staggered with him
as far as the taffrail, then forward again to the
sheltered side of the deck. Here a surprise to which
my discovery of the Countess in that suburban house was
as nothing was in store for me. You will realize
what I mean when I say that, comfortably stretched out

(09:31):
on the deck chairs on the lease side of the
hatch were three men, who one and all uttered exclamations
of astonishment on seeing me. As for me, I stood
clutching the rails and staring at them as if they
were spirits from the grave. Come to mock at me.
The man nearest to me was none other than the

(09:52):
Commander in Chief, who had disappeared so mysteriously from Lord
Beckingdale's residence on the night before the Alder Shot Review.
Next to him, with a rough Southwester tied under his chin,
was the Honorable Benjamin Castellon, Secretary of State for the Colonies,
who had vanished shortly after I had said good night

(10:13):
to him in Cockspur Street, and whom I had thought
never to see again. While furthest from me and nearest
the poop ladder, a stubby gray beard covering his usually
well shaven chen, was my old friend, General Waller, who
had apparently been caught up into space at Paddington Station

(10:35):
after his return from audience at Wendsor. The Colonial Secretary
was the first to speak, Good Heavens, Manderville, He shouted,
Is it you or your ghost? It is I Manderville,
I answered, as if the assertion was necessary. But you,
we thought you were dead. How in the name of

(10:55):
all that's wonderful did you get here? By this time
they were all on their feet, holding on to the
rail of the hatch by one hand, shaking my hand
by the other. That's too long a story to tell
you now, said the commander in chief. The question is
how did you get here? I could furnish them with

(11:16):
no answer to that question, but referred them to the
men who had kidnapped me. Meanwhile, the old Italian stood
a few paces away, holding on to the rail and
watching us. Even by this time I had not recovered
from my surprise in London. We had all looked upon
them as dead men, and now to find them my

(11:37):
companions on a small steamer on the high seas was
almost too great a surprise. It seems beyond belief to
find you here, I said, as we made our way
back to the shelter of the companion hatch, where there
was comparative silence. The almost universal belief in England is
that you have been murdered by anarchists. We might as

(11:59):
well have been, Walller replied, gloomily. Until Castellan came. I
was alone upon this tub, and you can imagine the
sort of life I led. I can imagine all sorts
of things, I replied, But I want to hear your story.
The others had doubtless told you how completely your disappearance
puzzled us. Waler we traced you as far as Paddington,

(12:23):
and then lost sight of you altogether. It was said
that you had taken a cap in the station yard
and had driven away in it, but no trace of
the driver could ever be discovered. In spite of the
large rewards we offered. No one saw me drive away
from Paddington, he answered, for the simple reason that I
walked from the station. They must have mistaken me for

(12:43):
some one else. The scheme which brought about my destruction was,
I must admit, a singularly ingenious one, if there is
any comfort to be derived from that fact. And yet
it was simplicity itself. As you are aware, that by
which I left Windsor after stopping at Slaw does not
do so again except for ticket collecting, until it reaches Paddington.

(13:09):
I should here mention that before leaving London that morning
for Windsor, I had received a note from my old friend,
Missus Marchingham, who is a great invalid and whose son
is at the front, asking me if I could possibly
spare the time to call upon her in order to
wish her good bye. On receipt of her letter, I
telegraphed to her saying that I would make every endeavor

(13:32):
to comply with her request. It would have been strange
had I not, for we had been playfellows as children,
and had always been on the most affectionate terms. One moment,
I said, for an idea had struck me. If you
telegraphed to her? How was it that the department did
not make us aware of the fact we caused every

(13:53):
inquiry to be made because I signed the telegram with
my Christian name, and I am quite certain that no
one recognized me at the post office, he replied, and
then continued his story. Well. As soon as I reached
Paddington on my return from Windsor, I alighted from the train, and,
remembering that Exminster Terrace, where my old friend's residence is situated,

(14:17):
is only a short distance from the station, I did
not take a cab. On reaching the house, the front
door was opened to me by a neat maid servant,
who informed me that missus Marchingham was at home and
was expecting me. I accordingly followed her upstairs to the
drawing room, where I waited while the maid informed me
that she would acquaint her mistress of my arrival. I

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might here explain that the drawing room is a double one,
and that the portion into which I was shown was
at the back of the house and overlooked the garden.
The double doors were closed and heavy curtains draped either
side of the window. Having no thought of treachery, I
was standing beside the fire, waiting for my old friend
to make her appear parents, when two men suddenly emerged

(15:02):
from behind the curtains and pointed revolvers at me. One
was the young Count Reefenberg, cousin to the famous Countess
de Venezza of Wiltchair House. The other I had never
seen before. In answer to my demands to be informed
what their conduct meant, they told me that I was
their prisoner, that Missus Marchingham was abroad, and that they

(15:23):
were her tenants for the time being. The letter I
had received was of porgery. Had there been the least
chance of escape, where had it been possible for me
to defy them, I should have done so. But one
glance was sufficient to show me that the case was hopeless.
That night I was drugged, and when I recovered my senses,

(15:44):
I found myself on board this vessel. Though how I
got here I cannot say, Such as the unvarnished record
of my adventures. Turning to the Colonial secretary, I asked
him to make me acquainted with his story. I am
afraid that mine is rather more prosaic, he answered. You
will remember that on the night of my disappearance, you

(16:05):
and I walked together as far as Cockspur's Street. There
we stood talking upon the pavement for a short time,
after which I wished you good night and went down
one of the side streets leading to Carlton House Terrace.
I do not know whether you can recall the occurrence,
but just before we bade each other good night, an
old woman passed us. I admitted that I remembered the fact,

(16:29):
whereupon he continued that old woman's presence in the passage
had escaped my memory. When I entered it, I had
not advanced twenty paces. However, before I saw her turn
and come towards me, I was quite prepared for her
to beg that I was not disappointed. She implored me
to give her a trifle in order that she might

(16:50):
obtain a lodging for the night. Producing a coin, I
was about to hand it to her when something was
slipped over my head from behind and tightened round my neck.
In such cases, thought is quicker than action, and in
a flash I realized that I was being garreted. I
have a vague recollection of being picked up and carried
into a house close by, and then my senses left me,

(17:13):
and I remembered no more until I found myself on
board this ship. My astonishment at finding Waller here to
greet me may be better imagined than described. One night
we came to anchor off the coast, though at what
particular spot I cannot say, And next morning we discovered
that the commander in chief had become one of our party.

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Now you had better ask him for his story. I
was about to do so when ser Gasta, who as
I have said, had all the time been standing near us,
stated that it was time for us to return to
our cabins. I wondered at the ready obedience that was
given to his orders. But my wonderment did not last
long when a man stepped from a spot alongside the mizzenmast,

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and I saw that he carried a rifle in his hand.
We accordingly descended the companion ladder in single file, and
once more entered the saloon. It was then that I
discovered that two of our state cabins were on one
side and two on the other, all of which, when
we were in them, were kept securely locked. When I

(18:20):
was once more a prisoner in my cabin, I sat
myself down upon the locker and endeavored to appreciate my position.
In whatever way one looked at it, it was far
from being an enviable one. What our fate was to
be it was difficult to see. Was it possible our
captors intended to maroon us in some desolate region, or

(18:42):
did they intend doing away with us altogether on the
high seas. In the latter case, we should perish without
a chance of helping ourselves, and our friends would remain
in ignorance of our fate forever. If we could only
manage to communicate with the outside world, it might then
be possible to capture the diabolical woman who was at

(19:03):
the head of the affair. I felt that I could
almost meet death complacently, were I able to bring about
that happy circumstance. When I thought of all that had
happened to me through her agency, I was nearly beside
myself with contempt for having allowed myself to be so
easily trapped, so old fashioned was the vessel that, when

(19:27):
darkness fell, instead of the electric light, an oil lamp
was inserted in the receptacle outside the door. It had
not been there very long before the door was unlocked,
and a man whom I had not before seen informed
me that supper was upon the table. Eager to meet
my comrades once more, I hastened into the saloon to

(19:48):
find the Commander in Chief seated on one side of
the table, with Conrad beside him. I was invited to
take my place on the other side, next to that
occupied by Signor Sagasta. The violence of the sea had
abated considerably, though the use of the fiddles had still
to be retained. I looked about me for a sign

(20:10):
of the Colonial Secretary and Waller, but as they were
not present, I came to the conclusion that our jailers
were adopting what must have struck them as being a
very necessary precaution, namely dividing our party into two portions.
This proved to be the case, for from that time
forward we were not permitted to take either our meals

(20:32):
or our exercise together. The Commander in Chief and I
were to be companions. The Colonial Secretary and waller following
the suit. By this time the danger of any rising
on our part was reduced by one half, while the
strain of guarding us was not nearly so great. During
the progress of the meal, scarcely a word was spoken.

(20:54):
We waited upon ourselves, and it was only when something
that did not happen to be on the table was
required that the man who had called me to the
meal made his appearance. After supper was over, we were
informed that we might go on deck if we pleased, and,
needless to say, we eagerly embraced the opportunity. Having donned

(21:16):
our hats, we once more made our way to the
companion ladder. It was a brilliant moonlight night. Scarcely a
cloud was to be seen in the sky, while the
wind and sea were abating every hour. Arm in arm,
we began to pace the deck at the same time
noticing the fact that the man with the rifle was,

(21:38):
as usual, stationed near the poop rail. It is evident
that no precaution is to be omitted, said the commander
in chief, with a bitter laugh. I wonder what our
friends in England would say if they could see us now,
I wonder what they would say, I replied, if they
knew who was at the bottom of it all. I

(21:59):
suppose the Countess de Vanezza is still giving her charming
little dinners at Wiltshire House, and is still talking so
regretfully of the losses England has sustained by reason of
the disappearance of her prominent officials. Heaven send that rotherhithe
finds her out in time. What do you mean, my

(22:19):
companion asked, why should he find her out? Then I
remembered that Rotherhide's engagement to the Countess had been announced
since the Commander in chief's disappearance. Whereupon I made him
acquainted with the facts of the case, and in doing so,
gave him a description of the dinner at Wiltshire House,
which had been the preliminary to my capture. If we

(22:41):
could only find some means of making the world aware
of what we have discovered, he said, after a few
moments silence, That's what I was thinking this afternoon, I replied.
It appears to be impossible. However, if we were to
throw a message overboard, it is a million to one
against its being picked up or believed. While if we

(23:04):
were in any way to attempt to attract the attention
of a passing vessel, we should, in all probability be
dead men before they could come to our assistance. Be
careful not to speak too loud, said my companion. That
fellow at the rail possesses sharp ears. You may be
sure he will report anything he may regard as suspicious

(23:26):
in our conversation or behavior. By the way I said,
I have not yet been told how your capture was effected.
Had the man I saw in the wood at his
presence I reported to Beckingdale anything to do with it,
I am quite sure he had, was the reply. In
point of fact, I inclined to the belief that he

(23:49):
was the ringleader in the whole affair. Taken altogether, it
was not a very brilliant piece of work, and I
have never ceased to be angry with myself for having
been taken in so easily. But that is our general complaint.
In its simplicity, however, lay its greatest chance of success.
I can see that now My own affair was simple enough.

(24:13):
Observe how it succeeded. Now give me the details. You
shall have them. Doubtless you remember the fact that I
was paying my first visit to Lord Beckingdale's new house.
I had stated his old residence before it was burnt down,
but had never been there since the restoration. That will
be sufficient to account for my ignorance of its general plan.

(24:36):
On the night of which I am speaking, I was located,
as you will recollect, in the south wing, where Beckingdale's
own quarters were. I have no idea, and as you
may suppose, since then, I have had no opportunity of
finding out. I forget whether I mentioned the fact to
you that I had brought a new man down with me.

(24:57):
Poor old Simmons no longer felt equal to his work,
and in consequence I had been compelled to engage a
new man, a thing I hate doing. The fresh importation, however,
seemed a very quiet and respectable fellow, and he had
just completed his first month's service with me. When my
visit to Aldershot was arranged on the evening in question,

(25:20):
I was tired and dismissed him as quickly as possible.
I don't think my head had been upon the pillow
for more than five minutes before I was fast asleep.
How long I slept, I have no idea. I only
know that I suddenly awoke to find my servant standing
beside my bed, looking as if he himself had been

(25:40):
hastily aroused from sleep. What is it, I asked, as
soon as I was able to say anything. What brings
you here at this hour of the night? A message
from his lordship? Sir? The man replied in a low voice.
His servant called me up to come and tell you
that his lordship would be glad if you would go

(26:01):
to him as soon as possible. In his study, a
messenger has arrived from London with most serious intelligence. The
other gentlemen have been roused, and his lordship begs that
you will not lose a moment in joining them. He
would ask you to be as quiet as possible in
order that the ladies may not be alarmed. Have you

(26:22):
any idea what the news is? I inquired as I
got out of bed, for I thought it was just
possible that Beckingdale's servant might have said something to him
when giving him the message. No, sir, he replied, I
have no notion except that it is very serious. His
lordship's man, Sir went so far as to say that

(26:42):
all London is in an uproar. Without more ado, I
sprang from my bed and commenced dressing. In a very
few minutes, I was sufficiently presentable to proceed on my
Errand where did you say, Lord Beckingdale Is? I asked,
as we prepared to leave the room in his study, Sir,
the man replied, if you will allow me, I will

(27:04):
take you to him, betting him step quietly so that
the rest of the household should not be disturbed. I
followed him from the room and down the passage in
the direction of the hall. A faint glimmer of light
illumined the passage so that we were able to make
our way along it without the assistance of a lamp
or candle. Having reached the gallery, my man did not

(27:26):
descend by the stairs to the hall below, but branched
off down a side passage into a portion of the
house I had not yet penetrated. Having passed along another corridor,
we approached a door before which he paused still with
the utmost respect. He opened it very quietly and bowed
as if for me to enter, Never for a moment

(27:49):
suspecting such a thing as treachery, I did so, and
a moment later had received a blow on the head
and was lying upon the floor insensible. I can leave
you Mandeville to estimate the daring of the trick that
had been played upon me. I have no doubt that
it was the deliberate intention of taking part in it,

(28:11):
that that wretched valet had entered my service. Little did
I think, when I congratulated myself upon having secured him,
that he was ultimately to bring about my ruin. But
do you mean to tell me that while we were
all asleep, the very man whom I had seen watching
the house from the plantation, and against whom I had

(28:33):
warned Beckingdale, had entered it and taken possession of one
of the rooms in order to kidnap his most important guest.
I do mean it, he replied, Improbable, Impossible though it
may appear, it was certainly the case. And what happened
to you afterwards, Remember the house was guarded by the police,

(28:56):
and that as soon as your disappearance was made known,
the country for miles around was scoured in search of you.
It was not of the least use, for I did
not leave the place until two days later, he replied.
As a matter of fact, for more than forty eight
hours I lay concealed, wishing myself dead between the roof

(29:18):
and the ceiling of that quaint old summer house on
the little knoll at the further end of the lake.
How they got me there I cannot say, but that
I was there and was prevented from making my presence known,
even though my friend searched the room below for me.
Is as true as I am talking to you now. Then,

(29:39):
when the search must have lost some of its energy,
I was brought down in the dead of the night,
carried through the wood, and placed in a conveyance of
some sort, which immediately drove away with me. Shortly before daybreak,
we arrived at a house standing a good distance back
from the road. From what I could see of it,
it was a ramshack old place, but the man who

(30:01):
owned it, or at any rate, the individual who came
out to meet us, seemed to be unfamiliar terms with
my guards. He helped them to escort me into the house,
and if I am not mistaken, he himself locked the
door of the small room in which I was to
be confined for the next twenty hours. At the end

(30:22):
of that time, still powerless to help myself, I was
once more brought down stairs and placed in the cart again.
We drove off, and for six hours I suffered every
imaginable torture. My hands and feet were tightly bound, and
my mouth was secured so that I could not utter
a cry for help. The cords used lacerated my wrists

(30:44):
and ankles, while my head ached from the violence of
the blow it had received on the night of my abduction.
At last the cart stopped and one of the men
sprang out. A voice asked a question in Italian. Then
there was the sound of some one moving away, after
which not a word was spoken for upwards of half
an hour. At the end of that time, the man

(31:06):
who had absent himself returned and said in English, it
is all right. An interval of whispering followed, and then
I was lifted out and placed upon the ground. Not
a word, as you value your life, said a voice,
which I recognized as belonging to Count Riefenberg. If you speak,

(31:27):
you are a dead man. Another man took his place
beside me, and we entered a small field, crossed it,
and then passed through a thick pine wood, which in
its turn led up to some sand hills, whence we
could see the moonlit waters of the bay. A fishing
boat was being put out, and towards it my captors

(31:48):
hurried me. Where the place was or whither they were
taking me. I could not imagine, nor did I dare
to offer any expostulation. I merely took my seat in
the boat and waited to see what would happen. A
quarter of an hour or so later, under the influence
of a steady breeze, we were outside the bay making

(32:09):
for the open sea. As the sun was in the
act of rising, we saw a steamer heading in our direction.
It proved to be this vessel, and when we were alongside,
I was immediately transferred to her Riefenberg. Returning to the shore,
you must picture for yourself my surprise at finding Waller
and Castelen aboard her. Now you know my story. If

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any one had told me a month ago that I
should figure in such an affair, I should not have
believed them. Another illustration of the old saying that the
unexpected always happens. I replied, if we are fortunate enough
to see our friends again, we shall have some extraordinary
stories to tell, said the commander in chief. The question is, however,

(32:57):
shall we ever see them again? That remains to be proved.
I answered, we must put our wits to work to
see what it can be done. The words had scarcely
left my lips before young Riefenberg appeared upon the scene
and abruptly informed us that our promenade was at an end,

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and that it behooved us to return to our cabins
in order that our companions, who had just finished their meal,
might take our places. We followed his instructions and made
our way slowly to the saloon below, half hoping that
we should have a chance of exchanging a few words
with our friends. They were not there, however, having been

(33:39):
ordered to their cabins so that we should not meet.
There was nothing for it, therefore, but to bid each
other good night and to retire to our respective staterooms
with as good grace as possible. Next morning, after breakfast,
we were allowed on deck again for an hour, also
after luncheon, and again in the evening. During the progress

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of the latter meil I was struck by the expression
on the Commander in Chief's face. It was as if
he were suffering from a severe attack of suppressed excitement.
He fidgeted uneasily in his seat and seemed to experience
great difficulty in eating the food set before him. This
excitement found vent while we were in the companion ladder

(34:25):
on our way to the deck above. Half way up,
he took me by the arm and said, in a
hoarse whisper, my God, Maddeville, quite by chance to day
I have discovered the most diabolical plot ever hatched by
mortal man. Then be careful, I returned, that they do
not suspect you of knowing it. Wait until we are

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safely out of earshot before you say anything to me
on the subject. When we reached the deck, we found
the sentry on guard. As usual. We accordingly walked aft
and had paced the poop two or three times before
I would permit the Commander in chief to unfold his tail. Then,
leaning upon the taffrail and looking at the white streak

(35:09):
of our wake, I asked him what he had discovered
the most villainous plot imaginable, he replied. You will remember
that Riefenberg left the saloon before we had finished luncheon
this afternoon, and that I was the first to go
up on deck. You will also recall the fact that
the fellow with the rifle kept close to us while

(35:31):
we were on deck. So that it was impossible for
me to tell you what I had heard. On reaching
the top of the companion, I found Riefenberg and the
dark man who acts as steward, and yet who seems
to be on such familiar terms with them in close
conversation beside the door. What were they talking about? Even

(35:52):
now I can only hazard a conjecture, He answered, What
I heard Riefenberg say was this word for word fully
wound up. She will run for an hour, then will
come the explosion sixty minutes, exactly after it has been
placed in the stoke hole. It will blow the bottom
out and she will go down like a stone. On

(36:14):
hearing this, the other paused for a moment, then he said,
when do you think it will be? The day after tomorrow?
Riefenberget replied, If all goes well and she keeps to
the arrangement, she should be in sight. When he had
said this, he strolled away towards the poop ladder, while
the other took up his position with his rifle alongside

(36:37):
the mizzenmast preparatory to our coming on deck. End of
chapter nine