May 15, 2025 • 27 mins
Experience an enthralling journey through time and geography with this captivating series by Guy Newell Boothby, an Australian writer who gained fame during his years in London. Embark on the first of five books that delve into the mysterious world of Dr. Nikola, a criminal mastermind with an intriguing touch of occult. The narrative isnt just about Dr. Nikola, but about the characters who find themselves ensnared in his intricate web. This tale of adventure and romance takes you from Australia to the Middle East, the South Seas, and rural Hampshire, as the protagonist battles against Dr. Nikola and his accomplices. Boothbys vivid portrayal of exotic locations and the underlying sense of mystery transports you back to the era of hardened empire builders and imperialists, offering a nostalgic appeal.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter nine of A Bid for Fortune by Guy Boothby.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. Chapter nine, Doctor Nicholer permits us a
free passage. The old saying don't count our chickens before
they're hatched is as good a warning as any I know.
(00:22):
For if we had not been so completely occupied filing
through the staples of our collars, we should not have
omitted to take into consideration the fact, and even when
we should have removed the change that bound us, we
would still be prisoners in the room. I am very
much afraid. However, even have we remembered this point, we
should only ever considered it of minor importance, and one
(00:44):
easily to be overcome.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
As it was.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
The unwelcome fact remained that the door was locked, and
what was worse, that the lock itself had, for security sake,
been placed on the outside, so that there was no
chance of our being able to pick it, even had
our accomplishments lain in that direction. Try the window, whispered Beckenham,
in answer to the heavy sigh which followed my last discovery.
(01:09):
Accordingly we crossed the room, and I put my hands
upon one of the boards and pulled. But I might
as well have tried to tow a troop ship with
a piece of cotton, for all the satisfactory result I got.
The planks were trebly screwed to the window frame, and
each in turn defied me. When I was tired, Beckonham
put his strength to it, but even our united efforts
(01:30):
were of no avail, and, panting and exhausted, we were
at length obliged to.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Give it up as hopeless.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
This is a pretty fix we've got ourselves into, I said,
as soon as I've recovered sufficient breath to speak. How
on earth are we to escape? I can't say unless
we managed to burst that door and fight our way out.
I wonder if that could be done. First, let's look
at the door. We crossed the room again, and I
examined the door carefully. It was not a very strong one,
(01:58):
but I was sufficient of a carpenter to know that
it would withstand a good deal of pressure before it
would give way. I'll a good mind to try it,
I said, But in that case, remember it will probably
mean a hand to hand fight on the other side,
and unarmed and weak as we are, we should be
pretty sure to get the worst of it. Never mind
that my intrepid companion replied with a confidence in his voice,
(02:20):
and I was very far from feeling in for a penny,
in for a pound. Even if we're killed, it couldn't
be worse than being buried alive. That's so, And if
fighting's your idea, I'm your man, I answered. Let me
first take my bearings, and then I'll see what I
can do against it. You get out of the way,
but be sure to stand by to rush the passage
directly the door goes again. I felt the door and
(02:42):
wall in order that I might be sure where it lay, and,
having done so, crossed the room. My heart was beating
like a naysmith hammer, and it was nearly a minute
before I could pull myself together sufficiently for my rush. Then,
summoning every muscle in my body to my assistance, I
dashed a cross and at it with all the strength
my frame was capable of. Considering the darkness of the room,
(03:06):
my steering was not so bad, for my shoulder caught
the door just above its center. There was a great crash,
a noise of breaking timbers, and amid a shower of
splinters and general debris. I fell headlong into the passage.
By the time it would have taken me to count five.
Beckenham was beside me, helping me to rise. Now for
(03:26):
big trouble, I said, rubbing my shoulder, and every moment
expecting to see a door open and a crowd of
prendigas Ruffians come rushing out. We shall have them on
us in a minute. But of our intense astonishment was
all dead silence. Not a sound of any single kind
save our excited breathing greeted our ears. We might have
broken into an empty house, for all we knew the difference.
(03:49):
For nearly five minutes we stood side by side, waiting
for the battle, which did not come. What on earth
does it mean? I asked my companion, that crash of
mine was loud enough to wake the dead? Can they
have deserted the place, think you, and left us to starve?
I can't make it out any more than you can,
he answered, But don't you think we'd better take advantage
of they're not coming to find a way out. Of course,
(04:12):
one of us had better creep down the passage and
discover how the land lies. As I'm the stronger, I'll go.
You wait here. I crept along the passage, treading cautiously
as a cat, for I knew that both our lives
depended on it. Though it could not have been more
than sixty feet, it seemed of interminable length and was
as black as night, not a glimmer of light. However,
(04:34):
fate met my eyes on and on I stole, expecting
every minute to be pounced upon and seized. But no
such fate awaited me. If, however, our dangers did not appear,
another danger was.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
In store for me.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
In the middle of my walk, my feet suddenly went
from under me, and I found myself falling.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I knew not where.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
In reality, it was only a drop of about three
feet down a short flight of same steps. Such a
noise as my fall made, however, was surely never heard.
But still no sound came. Then Beckenham fumbled his way
cautiously down the steps to my side and whispered an
inquiry as to what had happened. I told him in
as few words as possible, then struggled to my feet again.
(05:20):
Just as I did so, my eyes detected a faint
glimmer of light low down on the floor ahead of us.
From its position, it evidently emanated from the doorway of
a room. Oh if only we had a match, I whispered.
It's no good wishing, said Beckenham.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
What do you advise?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Difficult to say, I answered, But I should think we'd
better listen at that door and try to discover if
there's any one inside. If there is, and he's alone,
we must steal in upon him. Let him see that
we are desperate, and willy nilly force him to show
us a way out. It's ten chances to one if
we go on prowling about here, we shall stumble upon
a whole nest of them.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Then we'll be caught like rats in a trap.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
What do you think I agree with? You go on
without further ado. We crept towards the light, which, as
I expected, came from under a door, and listened. Some
one was plainly moving about inside. But though we waited
for what seemed a quarter of an hour, it must
in reality have been less than a minute and a half,
we could.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Hear no voices.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Whoever he is, he's alone, that's certain, whispered my companion.
Open the door softly and will creep in upon him.
In answer, and little by little, a cold shiver running
down my back lest it should creak, and so give
warning to the person within. I turned the handle, pushed
open the door, and we looked inside. Then. But my gracious,
(06:41):
if I lived to be a thousand, I shall never
forget the sight that.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Met my eyes.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
The room itself was a long and low one, its
measurements possibly sixty feet by fifteen. The roof, for there
was no ceiling, was of wood, crossed by heavy rafters,
and much begrimed.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
With and smoke.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
The floors of some highly polished wood closely resembling oak,
and was completely bare. But the shape or construction of
the room itself were as nothing compared with the strangeness
of its furniture and occupants. Words would fail me if
I tried to give you a true and accurate description
of it. I only know that, strong man as I was,
(07:24):
and used to the horrors of life and death, what
I saw before me then made my blood run cold
and my flesh creep as it had never done before.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
To begin with.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Round the walls were arranged at regular intervals more than
a dozen enormous bottles, each of which contained what looked
to me only too much like human specimens pickled in
some light colored fluid resembling spirits of wine. Between these
gigantic but more than horrible receptacles were numberless smaller ones
(07:55):
holding other and even more dreadful remains. While on pedestals
and stands, bolt upright and reclining were skeletons of men, monkeys,
and quite a hundred sort of animals. The intervening spaces
were filled with skulls, bones, and the apparatus for every
kind of murder known to the fertile brain of man.
(08:17):
There were European rifles, revolvers, bayonets and swords, Italian stilettos,
Turkish scimitars, Greek knives, Central African spears and poisoned arrows,
Zulu knobkelles, Afghan yatagans, Malay crises, Samatra blow pipes, Chinese dirks,
(08:37):
new guinea head catching implements, Australian spears and boomerangs, polonies
and stone hatchets, and numerous other weapons the names of
which I cannot now remember. Mixed Up with them were
implements for every sort of wizardry known to the superstitious,
from old fashioned English love charms to African obie sticks.
(08:58):
From spiritualist it planchettes to the most horrible of Fijian
death potions. In the center of the wall, opposite to
where we stood was a large fireplace of the fashion
usually met within old English manor houses, and on either
side of it a figure that nearly turned me sick
with horror, that, on the right hand, was apparently a
(09:19):
native of northern India, if one might judge by his
dress and complexion. He sat on the floor in a
constrained attitude, accounted for by the fact that his head,
which was at least three times too big for his body,
was so heavy as to require an iron tripod with
a ring or collar in the top of it to
keep it from overbalancing and bringing him to the floor.
(09:41):
To add to the horror of this awful head, it
was quite bald, The skin was drawn tensely over the bones,
and upon this vein stood out as large as macaroni stems.
On the other side of the hearth was a creature
half ape and half man, the like of which I
remember once to have seen in a museum of monstrosities
in Sydney, where, if my memory serves me, he was
(10:04):
described upon the catalog as a Burmese monkey boy. He
was chained to the wall in somewhat the same fashion
as we had been, and was chattering and scratching for
all the world like a monkey in a zoo. But
horrible as these things were, the greatest surprise of war
was yet to come. For standing at the heavy oaken
(10:25):
table in the center of the room was a man
I should have known anywhere if I had been permitted
half a glance at him. It was Doctor Nicola. When
we entered, he was busily occupied with the scapel, dissecting
an animal strangely resembling a monkey on the table, and
watching the work upon which his master was engaged. Sat
(10:45):
his constant companion, the same fiendish black cat I had
mentioned elsewhere. While at the end, nearest us, standing on
tiptoe the better to see what was going on, was
an albino dwarf, scarcely more than two feet eight inches
of I. So stealthily, however, had our approach been made,
and so carefully had I opened the door, that we
(11:07):
were well into the room before our appearance was discovered,
and also before I had realized into whose presence we
had stumbled. Then my foot touched aboard that creaked, and
Dr Nicholer looked up from the work upon which he
was engaged. His pale, thin face did not show the
slightest sign of surprise, as he said in his usual
placid tone, So you've managed to escape from your room, gentlemen,
(11:30):
and well and pray what do you want for a moment?
I was so much overcome with surprise that my tongue
refused to perform its office, then I said, advancing towards
him as I spoke, closely followed by the marquis. So,
Dr Nicholer, we have met at last, at last, mister
hatteras as you say this singular being replied still without
(11:52):
showing the sign of either interest or embarrassment, all things considered,
I suppose you would deem me ironical if I ventured
to say that I'm pleased to see you about again. However,
don't let me keep you standing. Won't you sit down?
My lord?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Let me offer you a chair.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
All this time we were edging up alongside the table.
I was making ready for a rush at him, but
he was not to be taken off his guard. His
extraordinary eyes had been watching me intently, taking in my
every movement, and a curious effect they had upon me.
Doctor nikola Is said, the game is up. You beat
me last time, but now you must own I come
(12:28):
out on top. Don't utter a word a call for assistance.
If you do, you're a dead man. Now drop that
knife you hold in your hand and show us the
way out.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Marquis was on his right, I was on his left,
and we were close upon him as I spoke. Still,
he showed no sign of fear, though he must have
known the danger of his position. But his eyes glowed
in his head like living coals. You will ask why
we did not rush him. Well, if I'm obliged to
own it, I must. The truth was, such was the
(13:00):
that emanated from this extraordinary man, that, though we both
knew the crucial moment of our enterprise that arrived while
his eyes were fixed upon us, neither of us could
stir an inch. When he spoke, his voice seemed to
cut like a knife. So you think the game is up,
mister hatteras do you. I'm afraid once more I was
differ from you. Look behind you. I did so, and
(13:23):
that glance showed me how cleverly we'd been trapped leaning
against the door, watching us with cruel yet smiling eyes,
was our old enemy, Prendigast revolver in hand. Just behind
me were two powerful Soudanese, while near the marquess was
a man looking like a Greek, and a very stalwart
Greek at that Observing our discomfiture, Nicholas seated himself in
(13:48):
a big chair near the fireplace and folded his hands
in the curious fashion I have before described. As he
did so, his black cat sprang to his shoulder and
sat there walls all dtor Nicola was the first to speak,
mister hatteras he said, with a devilish clearness in deliberation,
(14:09):
you should really know me better by this time, And
to think you could outwhip me so easily is my reputation,
after all, so small? And when I think of it, pray,
let me have the pleasure of returning to you your
five pound note and your letters. Your mice were perfect messengers,
were they not? As he spoke, he handed me the
self same Bank of England note I had dispatched through
(14:31):
the pipe that very morning in payment for the file.
Then he shook from a box he had taken from
the chimney piece all the communications I had written imploring
assistance from the outside world. To properly estimate my chagrin
and astonishment would be very difficult. I could only sit
and stare first at the money and then at the
letters in blankists amazement. So we had not been rescued
(14:54):
by the cripple after all? Was it possible that while
we had been so busy arranging our escape, we had
in reality been all the time under the closest surveillance.
If that were so, then this knowledge of our doings
would account for the silence with which my attack upon
the door had been received. Now we were in an
even worse position than before. I looked at Beckenham, but
(15:16):
his head was down and his right hand was picking
idly at the table edge. He was evidently waiting for
what was coming next. In sheer despair, I turned to Niccola.
Since you have outwitted us again, Doctor Nicoler, do not
play with us. Tell us straight out what our fate
is to be. If it means going back to that
room again, said Beckenham, in a voice I hardly recognized.
(15:37):
I would rather die and be done with it. Do
not fear, my lord, you shall not die, Nicola said,
turning to him with a bow. Believe me, you will
live to enjoy many happier hours than those you had
been compelled to spend under my roof.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
What do you mean?
Speaker 1 (15:53):
The doctor did not answer for nearly a moment. Then
he took what looked to me suspiciously like a cablegram
from his pocket and carefully examined it. Having done so,
he said quietly, gentlemen, you ask what I mean, well,
I mean this. If you wish to leave this house
this very minute, you are free to do so on
one condition, and that condition is that you allow yourselves
(16:17):
to be blindfolded in this room and conducted by my
servants to the harbor side. I must furthermore ask your
words of honor that you will not seek to remove
your bandages until you are given permission to do so.
Do you agree to this? Needless to say, we both
signified our assent. This free permission to leave the house
was a second surprise, and one for which we were
(16:39):
totally unprepared.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Believe me, my.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Lord Marquis, and you, mister Hatteras is with the utmost
pleasure that I restore your liberty to you again. He
made a sign to Prendergast, who instantly stepped forward, but
I had something to say before we were removed. One
word first, Doctor Nichola, you have, mister hatteras if you
will be guided by me, you will keep a silent
tongue in your head. Let well alone, take warning by
(17:05):
the proverb, and beware how you disturb a sleeping dog.
Why I have acted as I have done towards you,
you may someday learn. In the meantime, rest assured it
was from no idle motive. Now take me at my
word and go while you have the chance. I may
change my mind in a moment. And then he stopped
and did not say anymore. At a sign, Prendergas clapped
(17:28):
a thick bandage over my eyes, while another man did
the same for Beckenham. A man on either side of
me took my arms, and next moment we had passed
out of the room, and before I could have counted,
fifty were in the cool air of the street. How
long we were walking after leaving the house, I could
not say, But at last our escort called a halt.
(17:48):
Prendergast was evidently in command, for he said, gentlemen, before
we leave you, you will renew your words of honor
not to remove your bandages for a full five minutes.
We complied with his request, and instantly our arms were released.
A moment later we heard our captors leaving us. The
minutes went by slowly presently. Beckenham said, how long do
(18:11):
you think we've been standing here? Nearly the stipulated time.
I should fancy, I answered, however, we'd better give them
a little longer to avoid any chance of mistake. Again,
a silence fell on us. Then I tore off my
bandage to find Beckenham doing the same. They're gone, and
we're free again, he cried, Hurrah. We shook hands warmly
(18:32):
on our escape, and having done so, looked about us.
The ship's fell out in the stream chimed half an
hour after midnight, and a precious dark night. It was
a number of vessels were to be seen, and from
the noise that came from them, it was evident that
they were busy colding. What's to be done now, asked Beckenham.
Find a hotel, I think, I answered, Get a good
(18:54):
night's rest, and first thing in the morning, hunt up
our consul and the steamship authorities.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Come on.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Then let's looked for a place I noticed one that
should suit us close to where we came ashore that day.
Five minutes walking brought us to the house we sought.
The proprietor was not very fastidious, and whatever he may
have thought of our appearances, he took us in without demure.
A bath and a good meal followed, and then after
a thorough overhauling of all the details connected with our imprisonment,
(19:21):
we turned into bed and resolved to thrash it out
upon the morrow next morning through to our arrangement. As
soon as breakfast was over, I set off for the
steamship company's office, leaving the marquis behind me at the hotel.
For reasons which had begun to commend themselves to me,
and which will be quite apparent to you, I found
(19:42):
the Saratoga's agent hard at work in his private office.
It was a tall, thin man, slightly bald, wearing a
pair of heavy gold pisones, and very slow and deliberate
in speech. I beg your pardon, he began, when I
had taken possession of his profit chair. Did I understand
my clerk to say that your name was Hatteras, and
(20:02):
as my name? I answered, I was a passenger in
the Saratoga for Australia three weeks ago. I had the
misfortune to be left behind when she sailed. Ah, I
remember the circumstances thoroughly, he said. The young Marquess had
beckon and went ashore with you, I think, and came
within an ace of being also left behind. Within the ace,
I cried, But he was left behind. Oh no, there
(20:25):
you are mistaken, was the astounding reply. He would have
been left behind had not his tutor and I had
gone ashore at the last moment to look for him,
and found him wandering about on the outskirts of Arab Town.
I don't remember ever having seen a man more angry
than the tutor was, and no wonder or they only
just got out to the boat again as the gangway
was being hauled aboard.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Then you mean to.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Tell me that the marquis went on to Australia after all?
I cried and pray, how did this interesting young gentleman
explain the fact of his losing sight of me? He
lost you in a crowd, he said. The agent continued.
It was the most extraordinary business altogether, certainly was, and
even more extraordinary than he imagined. I could hardly believe
my ears. The world seemed to be turned upside down.
(21:10):
I was so bewildered that I stumbled out a few
lame inquiries about the next boat sailing for Australia and
what would be done with my baggage, and made my
way best as I could out of the office, hastening
back to the hotel. I told my story from beginning
to end to my astonished companion, who sat on his
bed listening, open mouthed. When I had finished, he said, feebly,
(21:32):
what does.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
It all mean? Tell me that what does it mean?
It means?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
I answered, and our notion about Nicholas abducting us in
order to blackmail your father was altogether wrong. And if
you ask me, I should say not half picturesque enough. No, No,
this mystery is a bigger one, by a hundred times
than even we expected, and there are more men in
it than those we have yet seen. It remains with
(21:56):
you to say whether you will assist in the attempt
to unravel it or not. What do you mean by
saying it remains with me? Do I understand that you
intend following it? Up?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Course I do.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Niccola and Baxter, between them, have completely done me now
I am going to do my best to do them.
By jove, what is it now? I see it all
as plain as a pike staff. I understand exactly now
why Baxter came for you, Why he telegraphs that the
train was laid, why I was drugged in Plymouth, why
you were sea sick between Naples and this place, and
(22:28):
why we were both kidnapped. Then explain, for mercy's sake,
I will see here. In the first place, remember your
father's peculiar education of yourself. If you consider that, you
will see that you are the only young nobleman of
high rank whose face is not well known to his
brother Peers. That being so, Niccola wants to procure you
(22:49):
for some purpose of his own in Australia. Your father
advertises for a tutor. He sends one of his agents, Baxter,
to secure the position. Baxter, at Nichol's instruction, puts into
your head a desire for travel. You pester your father
for the necessary permission. Just as this is granted, I
come upon the scene, Baxter suspects me. He telegraphs to
(23:11):
Nicola the train is laid, which means that he has
begun to sow the seat of a desire for travel
when a third party steps in. In other words, I
am the new danger that has arisen. He ranges your
sailing and all promises to go.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Well.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Then doctor Nicola finds out I intend going in the
same boat. He tries to prevent me, and I, by
jove see another thing. Why did Baxter suggest that you
should cross the continent and join the boat at Naples.
Why simply because if you had started from Plymouth you
would have soon got over your sickness, if you had
ever been ill at all, And in that case, the
(23:47):
passengers would have become thoroughly familiar with a face by
the time you reach Port, sayde that would never have done.
So he takes you to Naples, drugs you next morning,
for you must remember you were ill after the coffee
go and by that means kept you ill and confined
to your cabin throughout the entire passage to Port. Said,
(24:07):
then he persuades you to go ashore with me. You
do so, with what result? You know? Presently he begins
to bewail your nun return, invites the agent to help
in the search. They set off and eventually find you
near the Arab quarter. You must remember that neither the agent,
the captain or the passengers have seen you, save at night.
(24:28):
So the substitute, who are certain to have been well
chosen and schooled for the party is to play, is
not detected. Then the boat goes on our way, while
we are left behind languishing endurance vile. What do you
advise me to do? Remember Baxter has let us to
the different governess from my father. I know what I
should do myself. Go to the consul and get him
(24:49):
to warn the authorities in Australia. I suppose know that
would do little or no good. Remember they've got three
weeks start of us. Then what should we do? I'm
in your hands entirely, and whatever you advise, I promise
you I'll do. If I were you, I should doff
my title, take another name, and set sail with me
for Australia. Once there, we'll put up in some quiet
(25:10):
place and set ourselves to unmask these rascals and to
defeat their little game, whatever it might be. Are you
prepared for so much excitement as that? Of course I am.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Come what may?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
I'll go with you, and there's my hand on it.
Then we'll catch the next boat. Not a male steamer
that sails for an Australian port, and once ashore there
will set the ball rolling with a vengeance. That's scoundrel, Baxter.
I'm not vindictive as a rule, but I feel I
should like to punish him. Where if they've not flown
by the time we reach Australia, you'll probably gratify your wish.
(25:42):
It's Nicola, however, I want Beckenham shuddered as I mentioned
the doctor's name. So to change the subject, I said,
I'm thinking of taking a little walk. Would you care
to accompany me? Where are you going? He asked, I'm
going to try and find the house where we were
shut up, I answered, I want to be able to
locate it for future reference if necessary. Is it safe
(26:04):
to go near it, do you think in broad daylight?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (26:07):
But just to make sure we're by a couple of
revolvers on the way, and what's more, if it becomes necessary,
we'll use them.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Come along.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Then with that, we left our hotel and set off
in the direction of the casino, stopping however, on the
way to make the purchases above referred to. We passed
down one thoroughfare and up another, and at last reached
a spot where I had commented on the sign boards
and where we had been garrotted. Surely the house must
be near at hand now. But though we hunted high
(26:36):
and low, up one street and down another, not a
single trace of any building answering the description of the
one we wanted, could we discover at last? After nearly
an hour's search, we were obliged to give it up
and returned to our hotel unsuccessful. As we finished lunch,
a large steamer made her appearance in the harbor and
(26:57):
brought up opposite the town, and we questioned our landlord,
who was an authority on the subject. He informed us
that she was the s S. Pescador of Hull, bound
to Melbourne. Hearing this, we immediately charted a boat, pulled
off to her and interviewed the captain. As good luck
would have it, he had room for a couple of passages.
We therefore paid the passage money, went ashore again and
(27:20):
provided ourselves with a few necessaries, rejoined her, and shortly
before nightfall steamed into the canal.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Bort said was a thing of the past.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Our eventful journey was resumed, and what was the end
of it all?
Speaker 2 (27:35):
To be end of chapter nine,
Chapter nine of A Bid for Fortune by Guy Boothby.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. Chapter nine, Doctor Nicholer permits us a
free passage. The old saying don't count our chickens before
they're hatched is as good a warning as any I know.
(00:22):
For if we had not been so completely occupied filing
through the staples of our collars, we should not have
omitted to take into consideration the fact, and even when
we should have removed the change that bound us, we
would still be prisoners in the room. I am very
much afraid. However, even have we remembered this point, we
should only ever considered it of minor importance, and one
(00:44):
easily to be overcome.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
As it was.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
The unwelcome fact remained that the door was locked, and
what was worse, that the lock itself had, for security sake,
been placed on the outside, so that there was no
chance of our being able to pick it, even had
our accomplishments lain in that direction. Try the window, whispered Beckenham,
in answer to the heavy sigh which followed my last discovery.
(01:09):
Accordingly we crossed the room, and I put my hands
upon one of the boards and pulled. But I might
as well have tried to tow a troop ship with
a piece of cotton, for all the satisfactory result I got.
The planks were trebly screwed to the window frame, and
each in turn defied me. When I was tired, Beckonham
put his strength to it, but even our united efforts
(01:30):
were of no avail, and, panting and exhausted, we were
at length obliged to.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Give it up as hopeless.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
This is a pretty fix we've got ourselves into, I said,
as soon as I've recovered sufficient breath to speak. How
on earth are we to escape? I can't say unless
we managed to burst that door and fight our way out.
I wonder if that could be done. First, let's look
at the door. We crossed the room again, and I
examined the door carefully. It was not a very strong one,
(01:58):
but I was sufficient of a carpenter to know that
it would withstand a good deal of pressure before it
would give way. I'll a good mind to try it,
I said, But in that case, remember it will probably
mean a hand to hand fight on the other side,
and unarmed and weak as we are, we should be
pretty sure to get the worst of it. Never mind
that my intrepid companion replied with a confidence in his voice,
(02:20):
and I was very far from feeling in for a penny,
in for a pound. Even if we're killed, it couldn't
be worse than being buried alive. That's so, And if
fighting's your idea, I'm your man, I answered. Let me
first take my bearings, and then I'll see what I
can do against it. You get out of the way,
but be sure to stand by to rush the passage
directly the door goes again. I felt the door and
(02:42):
wall in order that I might be sure where it lay, and,
having done so, crossed the room. My heart was beating
like a naysmith hammer, and it was nearly a minute
before I could pull myself together sufficiently for my rush. Then,
summoning every muscle in my body to my assistance, I
dashed a cross and at it with all the strength
my frame was capable of. Considering the darkness of the room,
(03:06):
my steering was not so bad, for my shoulder caught
the door just above its center. There was a great crash,
a noise of breaking timbers, and amid a shower of
splinters and general debris. I fell headlong into the passage.
By the time it would have taken me to count five.
Beckenham was beside me, helping me to rise. Now for
(03:26):
big trouble, I said, rubbing my shoulder, and every moment
expecting to see a door open and a crowd of
prendigas Ruffians come rushing out. We shall have them on
us in a minute. But of our intense astonishment was
all dead silence. Not a sound of any single kind
save our excited breathing greeted our ears. We might have
broken into an empty house, for all we knew the difference.
(03:49):
For nearly five minutes we stood side by side, waiting
for the battle, which did not come. What on earth
does it mean? I asked my companion, that crash of
mine was loud enough to wake the dead? Can they
have deserted the place, think you, and left us to starve?
I can't make it out any more than you can,
he answered, But don't you think we'd better take advantage
of they're not coming to find a way out. Of course,
(04:12):
one of us had better creep down the passage and
discover how the land lies. As I'm the stronger, I'll go.
You wait here. I crept along the passage, treading cautiously
as a cat, for I knew that both our lives
depended on it. Though it could not have been more
than sixty feet, it seemed of interminable length and was
as black as night, not a glimmer of light. However,
(04:34):
fate met my eyes on and on I stole, expecting
every minute to be pounced upon and seized. But no
such fate awaited me. If, however, our dangers did not appear,
another danger was.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
In store for me.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
In the middle of my walk, my feet suddenly went
from under me, and I found myself falling.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I knew not where.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
In reality, it was only a drop of about three
feet down a short flight of same steps. Such a
noise as my fall made, however, was surely never heard.
But still no sound came. Then Beckenham fumbled his way
cautiously down the steps to my side and whispered an
inquiry as to what had happened. I told him in
as few words as possible, then struggled to my feet again.
(05:20):
Just as I did so, my eyes detected a faint
glimmer of light low down on the floor ahead of us.
From its position, it evidently emanated from the doorway of
a room. Oh if only we had a match, I whispered.
It's no good wishing, said Beckenham.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
What do you advise?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Difficult to say, I answered, But I should think we'd
better listen at that door and try to discover if
there's any one inside. If there is, and he's alone,
we must steal in upon him. Let him see that
we are desperate, and willy nilly force him to show
us a way out. It's ten chances to one if
we go on prowling about here, we shall stumble upon
a whole nest of them.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Then we'll be caught like rats in a trap.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
What do you think I agree with? You go on
without further ado. We crept towards the light, which, as
I expected, came from under a door, and listened. Some
one was plainly moving about inside. But though we waited
for what seemed a quarter of an hour, it must
in reality have been less than a minute and a half,
we could.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Hear no voices.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Whoever he is, he's alone, that's certain, whispered my companion.
Open the door softly and will creep in upon him.
In answer, and little by little, a cold shiver running
down my back lest it should creak, and so give
warning to the person within. I turned the handle, pushed
open the door, and we looked inside. Then. But my gracious,
(06:41):
if I lived to be a thousand, I shall never
forget the sight that.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Met my eyes.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
The room itself was a long and low one, its
measurements possibly sixty feet by fifteen. The roof, for there
was no ceiling, was of wood, crossed by heavy rafters,
and much begrimed.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
With and smoke.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
The floors of some highly polished wood closely resembling oak,
and was completely bare. But the shape or construction of
the room itself were as nothing compared with the strangeness
of its furniture and occupants. Words would fail me if
I tried to give you a true and accurate description
of it. I only know that, strong man as I was,
(07:24):
and used to the horrors of life and death, what
I saw before me then made my blood run cold
and my flesh creep as it had never done before.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
To begin with.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Round the walls were arranged at regular intervals more than
a dozen enormous bottles, each of which contained what looked
to me only too much like human specimens pickled in
some light colored fluid resembling spirits of wine. Between these
gigantic but more than horrible receptacles were numberless smaller ones
(07:55):
holding other and even more dreadful remains. While on pedestals
and stands, bolt upright and reclining were skeletons of men, monkeys,
and quite a hundred sort of animals. The intervening spaces
were filled with skulls, bones, and the apparatus for every
kind of murder known to the fertile brain of man.
(08:17):
There were European rifles, revolvers, bayonets and swords, Italian stilettos,
Turkish scimitars, Greek knives, Central African spears and poisoned arrows,
Zulu knobkelles, Afghan yatagans, Malay crises, Samatra blow pipes, Chinese dirks,
(08:37):
new guinea head catching implements, Australian spears and boomerangs, polonies
and stone hatchets, and numerous other weapons the names of
which I cannot now remember. Mixed Up with them were
implements for every sort of wizardry known to the superstitious,
from old fashioned English love charms to African obie sticks.
(08:58):
From spiritualist it planchettes to the most horrible of Fijian
death potions. In the center of the wall, opposite to
where we stood was a large fireplace of the fashion
usually met within old English manor houses, and on either
side of it a figure that nearly turned me sick
with horror, that, on the right hand, was apparently a
(09:19):
native of northern India, if one might judge by his
dress and complexion. He sat on the floor in a
constrained attitude, accounted for by the fact that his head,
which was at least three times too big for his body,
was so heavy as to require an iron tripod with
a ring or collar in the top of it to
keep it from overbalancing and bringing him to the floor.
(09:41):
To add to the horror of this awful head, it
was quite bald, The skin was drawn tensely over the bones,
and upon this vein stood out as large as macaroni stems.
On the other side of the hearth was a creature
half ape and half man, the like of which I
remember once to have seen in a museum of monstrosities
in Sydney, where, if my memory serves me, he was
(10:04):
described upon the catalog as a Burmese monkey boy. He
was chained to the wall in somewhat the same fashion
as we had been, and was chattering and scratching for
all the world like a monkey in a zoo. But
horrible as these things were, the greatest surprise of war
was yet to come. For standing at the heavy oaken
(10:25):
table in the center of the room was a man
I should have known anywhere if I had been permitted
half a glance at him. It was Doctor Nicola. When
we entered, he was busily occupied with the scapel, dissecting
an animal strangely resembling a monkey on the table, and
watching the work upon which his master was engaged. Sat
(10:45):
his constant companion, the same fiendish black cat I had
mentioned elsewhere. While at the end, nearest us, standing on
tiptoe the better to see what was going on, was
an albino dwarf, scarcely more than two feet eight inches
of I. So stealthily, however, had our approach been made,
and so carefully had I opened the door, that we
(11:07):
were well into the room before our appearance was discovered,
and also before I had realized into whose presence we
had stumbled. Then my foot touched aboard that creaked, and
Dr Nicholer looked up from the work upon which he
was engaged. His pale, thin face did not show the
slightest sign of surprise, as he said in his usual
placid tone, So you've managed to escape from your room, gentlemen,
(11:30):
and well and pray what do you want for a moment?
I was so much overcome with surprise that my tongue
refused to perform its office, then I said, advancing towards
him as I spoke, closely followed by the marquis. So,
Dr Nicholer, we have met at last, at last, mister
hatteras as you say this singular being replied still without
(11:52):
showing the sign of either interest or embarrassment, all things considered,
I suppose you would deem me ironical if I ventured
to say that I'm pleased to see you about again. However,
don't let me keep you standing. Won't you sit down?
My lord?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Let me offer you a chair.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
All this time we were edging up alongside the table.
I was making ready for a rush at him, but
he was not to be taken off his guard. His
extraordinary eyes had been watching me intently, taking in my
every movement, and a curious effect they had upon me.
Doctor nikola Is said, the game is up. You beat
me last time, but now you must own I come
(12:28):
out on top. Don't utter a word a call for assistance.
If you do, you're a dead man. Now drop that
knife you hold in your hand and show us the
way out.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Marquis was on his right, I was on his left,
and we were close upon him as I spoke. Still,
he showed no sign of fear, though he must have
known the danger of his position. But his eyes glowed
in his head like living coals. You will ask why
we did not rush him. Well, if I'm obliged to
own it, I must. The truth was, such was the
(13:00):
that emanated from this extraordinary man, that, though we both
knew the crucial moment of our enterprise that arrived while
his eyes were fixed upon us, neither of us could
stir an inch. When he spoke, his voice seemed to
cut like a knife. So you think the game is up,
mister hatteras do you. I'm afraid once more I was
differ from you. Look behind you. I did so, and
(13:23):
that glance showed me how cleverly we'd been trapped leaning
against the door, watching us with cruel yet smiling eyes,
was our old enemy, Prendigast revolver in hand. Just behind
me were two powerful Soudanese, while near the marquess was
a man looking like a Greek, and a very stalwart
Greek at that Observing our discomfiture, Nicholas seated himself in
(13:48):
a big chair near the fireplace and folded his hands
in the curious fashion I have before described. As he
did so, his black cat sprang to his shoulder and
sat there walls all dtor Nicola was the first to speak,
mister hatteras he said, with a devilish clearness in deliberation,
(14:09):
you should really know me better by this time, And
to think you could outwhip me so easily is my reputation,
after all, so small? And when I think of it, pray,
let me have the pleasure of returning to you your
five pound note and your letters. Your mice were perfect messengers,
were they not? As he spoke, he handed me the
self same Bank of England note I had dispatched through
(14:31):
the pipe that very morning in payment for the file.
Then he shook from a box he had taken from
the chimney piece all the communications I had written imploring
assistance from the outside world. To properly estimate my chagrin
and astonishment would be very difficult. I could only sit
and stare first at the money and then at the
letters in blankists amazement. So we had not been rescued
(14:54):
by the cripple after all? Was it possible that while
we had been so busy arranging our escape, we had
in reality been all the time under the closest surveillance.
If that were so, then this knowledge of our doings
would account for the silence with which my attack upon
the door had been received. Now we were in an
even worse position than before. I looked at Beckenham, but
(15:16):
his head was down and his right hand was picking
idly at the table edge. He was evidently waiting for
what was coming next. In sheer despair, I turned to Niccola.
Since you have outwitted us again, Doctor Nicoler, do not
play with us. Tell us straight out what our fate
is to be. If it means going back to that
room again, said Beckenham, in a voice I hardly recognized.
(15:37):
I would rather die and be done with it. Do
not fear, my lord, you shall not die, Nicola said,
turning to him with a bow. Believe me, you will
live to enjoy many happier hours than those you had
been compelled to spend under my roof.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
What do you mean?
Speaker 1 (15:53):
The doctor did not answer for nearly a moment. Then
he took what looked to me suspiciously like a cablegram
from his pocket and carefully examined it. Having done so,
he said quietly, gentlemen, you ask what I mean, well,
I mean this. If you wish to leave this house
this very minute, you are free to do so on
one condition, and that condition is that you allow yourselves
(16:17):
to be blindfolded in this room and conducted by my
servants to the harbor side. I must furthermore ask your
words of honor that you will not seek to remove
your bandages until you are given permission to do so.
Do you agree to this? Needless to say, we both
signified our assent. This free permission to leave the house
was a second surprise, and one for which we were
(16:39):
totally unprepared.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Believe me, my.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Lord Marquis, and you, mister Hatteras is with the utmost
pleasure that I restore your liberty to you again. He
made a sign to Prendergast, who instantly stepped forward, but
I had something to say before we were removed. One
word first, Doctor Nichola, you have, mister hatteras if you
will be guided by me, you will keep a silent
tongue in your head. Let well alone, take warning by
(17:05):
the proverb, and beware how you disturb a sleeping dog.
Why I have acted as I have done towards you,
you may someday learn. In the meantime, rest assured it
was from no idle motive. Now take me at my
word and go while you have the chance. I may
change my mind in a moment. And then he stopped
and did not say anymore. At a sign, Prendergas clapped
(17:28):
a thick bandage over my eyes, while another man did
the same for Beckenham. A man on either side of
me took my arms, and next moment we had passed
out of the room, and before I could have counted,
fifty were in the cool air of the street. How
long we were walking after leaving the house, I could
not say, But at last our escort called a halt.
(17:48):
Prendergast was evidently in command, for he said, gentlemen, before
we leave you, you will renew your words of honor
not to remove your bandages for a full five minutes.
We complied with his request, and instantly our arms were released.
A moment later we heard our captors leaving us. The
minutes went by slowly presently. Beckenham said, how long do
(18:11):
you think we've been standing here? Nearly the stipulated time.
I should fancy, I answered, however, we'd better give them
a little longer to avoid any chance of mistake. Again,
a silence fell on us. Then I tore off my
bandage to find Beckenham doing the same. They're gone, and
we're free again, he cried, Hurrah. We shook hands warmly
(18:32):
on our escape, and having done so, looked about us.
The ship's fell out in the stream chimed half an
hour after midnight, and a precious dark night. It was
a number of vessels were to be seen, and from
the noise that came from them, it was evident that
they were busy colding. What's to be done now, asked Beckenham.
Find a hotel, I think, I answered, Get a good
(18:54):
night's rest, and first thing in the morning, hunt up
our consul and the steamship authorities.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Come on.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Then let's looked for a place I noticed one that
should suit us close to where we came ashore that day.
Five minutes walking brought us to the house we sought.
The proprietor was not very fastidious, and whatever he may
have thought of our appearances, he took us in without demure.
A bath and a good meal followed, and then after
a thorough overhauling of all the details connected with our imprisonment,
(19:21):
we turned into bed and resolved to thrash it out
upon the morrow next morning through to our arrangement. As
soon as breakfast was over, I set off for the
steamship company's office, leaving the marquis behind me at the hotel.
For reasons which had begun to commend themselves to me,
and which will be quite apparent to you, I found
(19:42):
the Saratoga's agent hard at work in his private office.
It was a tall, thin man, slightly bald, wearing a
pair of heavy gold pisones, and very slow and deliberate
in speech. I beg your pardon, he began, when I
had taken possession of his profit chair. Did I understand
my clerk to say that your name was Hatteras, and
(20:02):
as my name? I answered, I was a passenger in
the Saratoga for Australia three weeks ago. I had the
misfortune to be left behind when she sailed. Ah, I
remember the circumstances thoroughly, he said. The young Marquess had
beckon and went ashore with you, I think, and came
within an ace of being also left behind. Within the ace,
I cried, But he was left behind. Oh no, there
(20:25):
you are mistaken, was the astounding reply. He would have
been left behind had not his tutor and I had
gone ashore at the last moment to look for him,
and found him wandering about on the outskirts of Arab Town.
I don't remember ever having seen a man more angry
than the tutor was, and no wonder or they only
just got out to the boat again as the gangway
was being hauled aboard.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Then you mean to.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Tell me that the marquis went on to Australia after all?
I cried and pray, how did this interesting young gentleman
explain the fact of his losing sight of me? He
lost you in a crowd, he said. The agent continued.
It was the most extraordinary business altogether, certainly was, and
even more extraordinary than he imagined. I could hardly believe
my ears. The world seemed to be turned upside down.
(21:10):
I was so bewildered that I stumbled out a few
lame inquiries about the next boat sailing for Australia and
what would be done with my baggage, and made my
way best as I could out of the office, hastening
back to the hotel. I told my story from beginning
to end to my astonished companion, who sat on his
bed listening, open mouthed. When I had finished, he said, feebly,
(21:32):
what does.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
It all mean? Tell me that what does it mean?
It means?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
I answered, and our notion about Nicholas abducting us in
order to blackmail your father was altogether wrong. And if
you ask me, I should say not half picturesque enough. No, No,
this mystery is a bigger one, by a hundred times
than even we expected, and there are more men in
it than those we have yet seen. It remains with
(21:56):
you to say whether you will assist in the attempt
to unravel it or not. What do you mean by
saying it remains with me? Do I understand that you
intend following it? Up?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Course I do.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Niccola and Baxter, between them, have completely done me now
I am going to do my best to do them.
By jove, what is it now? I see it all
as plain as a pike staff. I understand exactly now
why Baxter came for you, Why he telegraphs that the
train was laid, why I was drugged in Plymouth, why
you were sea sick between Naples and this place, and
(22:28):
why we were both kidnapped. Then explain, for mercy's sake,
I will see here. In the first place, remember your
father's peculiar education of yourself. If you consider that, you
will see that you are the only young nobleman of
high rank whose face is not well known to his
brother Peers. That being so, Niccola wants to procure you
(22:49):
for some purpose of his own in Australia. Your father
advertises for a tutor. He sends one of his agents, Baxter,
to secure the position. Baxter, at Nichol's instruction, puts into
your head a desire for travel. You pester your father
for the necessary permission. Just as this is granted, I
come upon the scene, Baxter suspects me. He telegraphs to
(23:11):
Nicola the train is laid, which means that he has
begun to sow the seat of a desire for travel
when a third party steps in. In other words, I
am the new danger that has arisen. He ranges your
sailing and all promises to go.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Well.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Then doctor Nicola finds out I intend going in the
same boat. He tries to prevent me, and I, by
jove see another thing. Why did Baxter suggest that you
should cross the continent and join the boat at Naples.
Why simply because if you had started from Plymouth you
would have soon got over your sickness, if you had
ever been ill at all, And in that case, the
(23:47):
passengers would have become thoroughly familiar with a face by
the time you reach Port, sayde that would never have done.
So he takes you to Naples, drugs you next morning,
for you must remember you were ill after the coffee
go and by that means kept you ill and confined
to your cabin throughout the entire passage to Port. Said,
(24:07):
then he persuades you to go ashore with me. You
do so, with what result? You know? Presently he begins
to bewail your nun return, invites the agent to help
in the search. They set off and eventually find you
near the Arab quarter. You must remember that neither the agent,
the captain or the passengers have seen you, save at night.
(24:28):
So the substitute, who are certain to have been well
chosen and schooled for the party is to play, is
not detected. Then the boat goes on our way, while
we are left behind languishing endurance vile. What do you
advise me to do? Remember Baxter has let us to
the different governess from my father. I know what I
should do myself. Go to the consul and get him
(24:49):
to warn the authorities in Australia. I suppose know that
would do little or no good. Remember they've got three
weeks start of us. Then what should we do? I'm
in your hands entirely, and whatever you advise, I promise
you I'll do. If I were you, I should doff
my title, take another name, and set sail with me
for Australia. Once there, we'll put up in some quiet
(25:10):
place and set ourselves to unmask these rascals and to
defeat their little game, whatever it might be. Are you
prepared for so much excitement as that? Of course I am.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Come what may?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
I'll go with you, and there's my hand on it.
Then we'll catch the next boat. Not a male steamer
that sails for an Australian port, and once ashore there
will set the ball rolling with a vengeance. That's scoundrel, Baxter.
I'm not vindictive as a rule, but I feel I
should like to punish him. Where if they've not flown
by the time we reach Australia, you'll probably gratify your wish.
(25:42):
It's Nicola, however, I want Beckenham shuddered as I mentioned
the doctor's name. So to change the subject, I said,
I'm thinking of taking a little walk. Would you care
to accompany me? Where are you going? He asked, I'm
going to try and find the house where we were
shut up, I answered, I want to be able to
locate it for future reference if necessary. Is it safe
(26:04):
to go near it, do you think in broad daylight?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (26:07):
But just to make sure we're by a couple of
revolvers on the way, and what's more, if it becomes necessary,
we'll use them.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Come along.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Then with that, we left our hotel and set off
in the direction of the casino, stopping however, on the
way to make the purchases above referred to. We passed
down one thoroughfare and up another, and at last reached
a spot where I had commented on the sign boards
and where we had been garrotted. Surely the house must
be near at hand now. But though we hunted high
(26:36):
and low, up one street and down another, not a
single trace of any building answering the description of the
one we wanted, could we discover at last? After nearly
an hour's search, we were obliged to give it up
and returned to our hotel unsuccessful. As we finished lunch,
a large steamer made her appearance in the harbor and
(26:57):
brought up opposite the town, and we questioned our landlord,
who was an authority on the subject. He informed us
that she was the s S. Pescador of Hull, bound
to Melbourne. Hearing this, we immediately charted a boat, pulled
off to her and interviewed the captain. As good luck
would have it, he had room for a couple of passages.
We therefore paid the passage money, went ashore again and
(27:20):
provided ourselves with a few necessaries, rejoined her, and shortly
before nightfall steamed into the canal.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Bort said was a thing of the past.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Our eventful journey was resumed, and what was the end
of it all?
Speaker 2 (27:35):
To be end of chapter nine,
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