May 15, 2025 • 28 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):
Part two, Chapter one of a Bid for Fortune by
Guy Boothby. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
are in the public domain. Chapter one. We reach Australia,
and the result the PESCADORI, if she was slow, was
certainly sure. And so the thirty sixth day after our
(00:24):
departure from Port Sayde, as recorded in the previous chapter,
she landed as safe and sound at Williamstown, which, as
all the Australian world knows, is one of the principal
railway termini, and within an hour's journey of Melbourne. Throughout
the voyage nothing occurred worth chronicling. If I accept the
(00:45):
curious behavior of Lord Beckenham, who, for the first week
or so seems sunk in deep lethargy, and which neither
chaff nor sympathy could rouse him. From morning till nine
he mooned aimlessly about the decks, had visibly pull himself
together to answer such questions as might be addressed to him,
and never by any chance sustained a conversation beyond a
(01:09):
few word sentences to such a pitch did this depression
at last bring him that the day after we left Aiden,
I felt it my duty to take him to task
and to try to bully or coax him out of it. Come,
I said, I want to know what's the matter with you. You've
been giving us all the miserables lately, and from the
look of your face at the present moment, I'm inclined
(01:29):
to believe it's going to continue out with it. Are
you homesick? Or has the monotony of this voyage been
too much for you? He looked into my face rather anxiously,
I thought, and then said, mister hatteras I'm afraid you'll
think me an awful idiot when I do tell you.
But the truth is, I've got doctor Nicholas's face on
my brain, and do what I will.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I cannot rid myself of it.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Those great searching eyes, as we saw them in that
terrible room, They've got on my nerves, and I can
think of nothing else. They haunt me night and day.
Oh that's all fancy, I cried, Why on earth should
you be frightened of him? Nicola, in spite of his
demoniacal cleverness, is only a man, And even then you
may consider that we've seen the last of him. So
(02:13):
cheer up, take as much exercise as you possibly can,
and believe me, you soon forget all about him.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
But it was no use arguing with him.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Nicola had an effect upon the youth that was little
short of marvelous, and it was not until we had
well turned into the Leoin and were safely on Australian
waters that he in any way recovered his former spirits.
And here, lest you should give me credit for bravery
I did not possess. I must own that I was
more than a little afraid of another meeting with Niccola.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Myself.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I had had four opportunities afforded me of judging his cleverness,
once in the restaurant off Oxford Street, once in the
Green Salor public House in the East India Dock Road,
once in the West of England Express, and last in
the house in Port Sade. I had no desire, therefore,
to come to close quarters with him again. Arriving in Melbourne,
(03:08):
we caught the afternoon Express for Sydney, reaching that city
the following morning a little after breakfast. By the time
we had arrived at our destination, we had held many
consultations over our future, and the result was a decision
to look for a quiet hotel on the outskirts of
the city, and then to attempt to discover what the
(03:29):
mystery in which we had been so deeply involved might mean.
The merits of all the various suburbs were severally discussed,
though I knew but a little about them, and the
marquis less Paramatta, Penrith, Wolhara, Balmain, and even many of
the bays and harbors received attention till we decided on
(03:49):
the last name as the most likely place to answer
our purpose. This settled, we crossed Darling Harbor, and after
a little hunting about, discovered a small but comfortab hotel
situated in the Seine Street, called the General Officer. Here
we booked rooms, deposited our meager baggage, and, having installed ourselves,
(04:09):
sat down and discussed the situation. So this is Sydney,
said Beckenham, stretching himself out comfortably upon the sofa as
he spoke. And now that we've got here, what's to
be done? First, have lunch, I answered promptly, and then
he continued. Hunt up the public library and take a
glimpse of the Morning Herald's back numbers.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
They will tell us a good deal.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Though not all we want to know, then we'll make
a few inquiries.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Tomorrow morning I.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Shall ask you to excuse me for a couple of hours.
But in the afternoon we ought to have acquired sufficient
information to enable us to make a definite start. Now
let's have lunch at once and be off. I'm all
eagerness to get to work. We accordingly ordered lunch, and
when it was finished, set off in search of a
public library. Having found it, and it was not a
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very difficult matter, we sought the reading room and made
maid for a stand of Sydney Morning Heralds in the corner. Somehow,
I felt as certain of finding what I wanted there
as any man could possibly be, and as it happened,
I was not disappointed. On the second page, beneath the
heading in bold type, was a long report of a
horse show held the previous afternoon, at which it appeared
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a large, vice regal and fashionable party were present. The
list included His Excellency, the Governor, the Countess of Amberley,
the Ladies Maude and Ermintrude, their daughters, the Marquess of Beckenham,
Captain Barredon, and an aide de camp, and mister Baxter.
In a voice that I hardly recognized as my own.
(05:42):
So shaken was it with excitement? I called Beckenham to
my side and pointed out to him his name. He stared,
looked away, then stared again, hardly able to believe his eyes.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
What does it mean?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
He whispered, just as he had done in Port, said
what does it mean? I led him out of the
building before I answered, and then clapped him on the shoulder.
It means, my boy, I said, that there's been a
hitch in their arrangements, and that we're not too late
to circumvent them after all. But where do you think
they are staying? These two scoundreals? The Government House? To
(06:16):
be sure? Didn't you see that? The report said the
Earl and Countess of Amberley and a distinguished party from
Government House, including the Marquess of Beckenham, etc. And let
us got the Government House at once and unmasked them.
That is our bounden duty to society. And all I
can say is, if it's our duty to society, society
(06:37):
will have to wait. No, no, we must find out
first what their little game is. That, once decided, the
unmasking will fall in as a natural consequence. Don't you
understand I'm afraid I don't quite. However, I expect you
all right. By this time we were back again at
the ferry. It was not time for the boat to start,
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so while we were waiting, we amused ourselves staring at
the placards pasted about on the wharf. Hoardings in a
large theatrical poster caught my eye and drew me towards it.
He announced a grand Vice Regal command knight at one
of the principal theaters for that very evening, and further
set forth the fact that the most noble Marquis of
(07:19):
Beckenham would be amongst the distinguished company. Here we are,
I called to my companion, who was a little distance.
We'll certainly go to this, as the Marquess of Beckenham
shall honor it with his patronage and presence. After all,
we went back to our hotel for dinner, and as
soon as it was eaten, returned to the city to
seek the theater. When we entered the building, it was
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crowded and the arrival of the Government House party was
momentarily expected. Presently, the Governor and a brilliant party entered
the Vice Regal blox. You may be sure, of all
that vast concourse of people, there were none who stared
harder than Beckenham and myself, And it was certainly enough
to make any mo and stare. For there, sitting on
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the Ladyship's right hand, faultlessly dressed, was the exact image
of the young man by my side. The lightness was
so extraordinary that for a moment I could hardly believe
that Beckenham had not left me to go up and
take his seat there. And if I was struck by
the resemblance, you may be sure that he was a
dozen times more so. Indeed, his bewilderment was most comical,
(08:25):
and must have struck those people round us who were
watching as something altogether extraordinary. I looked again and could
just discern behind the front row the smug, self satisfied
face of the Tutor Baxter. Then the play commenced him,
we were compelled to turn and give it our attention.
Here I must stop to chronicle one circumstance that throughout
(08:47):
the day had struck me as peculiar. When our vessel
arrived at Williamstown. It so happened that we had traveled
up in the train to Melbourne with a tall, handsome,
well dressed man about thirty years of age. Whether he,
like ourselves, was a new arrival in the colony and
only passing through Melbourne, I cannot say.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
At any rate.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
He went on to Sydney in the mail train wheels.
Then we lost sight of him, only to find him
standing near the public Library when we had emerged from
it that afternoon, And now hearing was sitting in the
stalls of the theater, not half a dozen chairs from us.
Whether this continual companionship was designed or only accidental, I
could not, of course say, but I must own that
(09:30):
I did not like the look of it. Could it
be possible, I asked myself that Nicola, learning of our
departure for Australia in the PESCADORI had cabled from ports
say to this man to watch us the performance over,
we left the theater and set off for the ferry,
only reaching it just as the boat was casting off.
As it was, I had to jump for it, and
(09:52):
on reaching the decks had fallen in a heap. But
for a helping hand that was stretched to me, I
looked up to tender my thank and to my surprise
I discovered that my benefactor was none other than the
man to whom I have just been referring.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
His surprise was even greater than.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Mine, and muttering something about a close shave, he turned
and walked quickly. After My mind was now made up,
and I accordingly reported my discovery to Beckenham, pointing out
the man and warning him to watch for him when
he was abroad without me. This he promised to do
next morning. I donned my best attire my luggage having
(10:30):
safely arrived, and shortly before eleven o'clock, bade Beckenham goodbye,
and took myself to Pott's Point to call upon the Weatherill's.
It would be impossible for me to say with what
varied emotions. I trod that well remembered street across the
garden and approached the ponderous front door, which somehow had
always seemed to me so typical of mister weather himself.
(10:52):
The same butler who had opened the door to me
on the previous occasion opened it now, and when I
asked if miss Weatherell were at home, he graved answered yes, sir,
and invited me to enter. I was shown into the
drawing room, a large double chamber beautifully furnished and possessing
an elegantly painted ceiling. While the butler went in search
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of his mistress. A few moments later, I heard a
light footstep outside. A hand was placed upon the handle
of the door, and before I could have counted ten, Phyllis,
my Phyllis was in the room and in my arms.
Over the next five minutes, gentle reader, we will draw
a curtain with your kind permission. If you have ever
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met your sweetheart after an absence of several months, you
will readily understand why. When we had become rational again,
I led her to a sofa, and, sitting myself beside her,
asked her if her father had in any way relented.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
At this, she.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Looked very unhappy, and for a moment I thought was
going to burst into tears. Why what is the matter, Phyllis,
my darling, I cried, in sincere alarm. What is troubling you? Ah,
I'm so unhappy, she replied. Dick. There is a gentleman
in Sydney now to whom Papa has taken an enormous fancy,
and he is exerting all his influence over me to
(12:10):
induce me to marry him. The deuce he is and
pray who may. But I got no further in my inquiries,
for at that moment I caught the sound of a
footstep in the hall, and next moment mister Weatherall opened
the door. He remained for a brief period, looking from
one to the other of us, without speaking. Then he advanced, saying,
(12:31):
mister Hatteras, please be so good as to tell me
when this persecution will cease. Am I not even to
be free of you in my own house? Flesh and
blood won't stand it, I tell you, sir, won't stand it.
He pursued my daughter to England in a most ungentlemanly fashion,
and now you have followed her out here again, just
as I shall continue to follow her all my life,
(12:53):
mister Weatherall, I replied warmly, wherever you may take her.
I told you on board the Orizaba months ago that
I loved her well. I love her ten thousand times more.
Now she loves me, won't you hear her?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Tell you so? Why then should you endeavor to keep
us apart?
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Because an alliance with you, sir, is distasteful to me
in every possible way.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I have other views for my daughter.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
You must learn here Phyllis could keep silence no longer
and broke in with if you mean by that you
will force me into this hateful marriage with a man
I despise, Papa, and you are mistaken. I will marry
no one but mister Hatteras, And so I warn you silence,
Miss how Daia dropped that tone with me. You'll do
as I wish in this and in all other method
(13:38):
and so we'll have no more talk about it. Now,
mister Hatteras, you have heard what I have to say,
and I warn you that if you persist in this conduct,
I'll see if something can't be found in the law
to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, if you show
yourself in my grounds again, I'll have my servants throw
you out into the street.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Good day. And just as his.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Conduct was to me, there was nothing for it but
to submit. So picking up my hat, I bade poor
little frightened Phyllis farewell and went towards the door. But
before taking my departure, I was determined to have one
final shot at her irascible parent. So I said, mister Weatherall,
I've warned you before, and I do so again. Your
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daughter loves me, and come what may, I will make
her my wife. She is her own mistress, and you
cannot force her into marrying anyone against her will. Neither
can you prevent her marrying me if she wishes it.
You will be sorry someday that you have behave like
this to me. But the only answer he uchsafed was
a stormy one. Leave my house this instant, he said,
(14:43):
not another word, sir, I'll call my servants to my assistance.
The stately old butler opened the front door for me, and,
assuming as dignified as the heir as was possible, I
went down the drive and passed out into the street.
When I reached home again, Beckenham was out, for which
I was not sorry, as I wanted to have a
(15:03):
good quiet think by myself, so lighting a cigar, I
pulled a chair into the verandah and fell to work.
But I could make nothing of the situation save that,
by my interview this morning, my position with the father was,
if possible, rendered even more hopeless than before. Who was
this more fortunate suitor? Would it be any use in
(15:25):
my going to him? But now that was clearly impossible,
Could I induce Phyliss to run away with me? As possible?
Of course, but I rather doubted if she would care
to take such an extreme step. Until every other means
had proved unsuccessful, and what was to be done? I
began to wish that Beckenham would return in order that
we might consult together. Half an hour later, our lunch
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was ready, but still no sign of the youth. Where
could he have got to? I waited an hour and
then fell to work. Three o'clock arrived and still no sign.
Four five, and even six. By this time I was
in a fever of anxiety. I remembered the existence of
the man who had followed us from Melbourne, and Beckenham's
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trust in good nature. Then and there I resolved, if
he did not return before past seven, to set off
for the nearest police station and have a search made
for him. Slowly the large hand of the clock went round,
and when at the time stated he had not appeared,
I donned my hat, and, inquiring away, set off for
the home of the law. On arriving there and stating
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my business, I was immediately conducted to the inspector in charge,
who questioned me very closely as to Beckenham's appearance, age, profession,
et cetera. Having done this, he said, but what reason
have you, sir, for supposing that the young man has
been done away with? He's only been absent from his abode.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
According to your statement, about eight or nine hours, simply
because I answered, I have the best of reasons for
knowing that ever since his arrival in Australia he has
been shadowed.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
This morning he said he would only go for a
short stroll before lunch, and I am positively certain, knowing
my anxiety about him, he would not have remained away
so long of his own accord without communicating with me.
Is there any motive you can assign for this shadowy?
My friend is an heir to an enormous property in England.
(17:20):
Perhaps that may assist you in discovering one, very possibly,
But still I am inclined to think you are a
little hasty in coming to so terrible a conclusion. Mister
Hatteras is my name, and I am staying at the
General Office, a hotel in Palgrave Street. Well, mister Hatteras,
if I were you, I go back to your hotel,
you will probably find your friend there, eating his dinner
(17:41):
and thinking about instituting a.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Search for you.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
If, however, he is not turned up and does not
do so by to morrow morning, call here again and
report the matter, and I will give you every assistance.
Thanking him for his courtesy, I left the station and
walk quickly back to the hotel, hoping to find Beckenham
safely returned and at his dinner. But when the landlady
met me in the verandah and asked if I had
(18:06):
any news of my friend, I realized that the disappointment
was in store for me. By this time, the excitement
and worry were getting too much for me. What with
Nicola the spy, Beckenham, Phyllis, the unknown lover, and old
mister Weatherall, I had more than enough to keep my
brain occupied. I sat down on a chair on the
veranda with a sigh, and reviewed the whole case. Nine
(18:29):
o'clock struck. By the time my reverie was finished. Just
as I did so, a newspaper boy came down the street, lustily,
crying his wares to divert my mind from its unpleasant thoughts.
I called him up and bought an evening mercury. Having
done so, I passed into my sitting room to read it.
The first, second, and third pages held nothing of much
(18:52):
interest to me. But on the fourth was an item
which was astonishing enough to almost make my hair stand
on end ran as follows important engagement in high life.
We have it on the very best authority that an
engagement will shortly be announced between a certain illustrious young nobleman,
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now a visitor in our city, and the beautiful daughter
of one of Sydney's most prominent politicians, who was lately
returned from a visit to England. The evening Mercury tenders
the young couple their sincereous congratulations. Could this be the
solution to the whole mystery? Could it be that the
engagement of Baxter, the telegram, the idea of travel, the drugging,
(19:35):
the imprisonment, import side the substitution of the false Marqus
were all means to this end. Was it possible that
this man, who was masquerading as a man of title
was to marry Phyllis? Where there could be no possible
doubt as to the person term the paragraph referred. The
very thought of such a thing was not to be endured.
(19:58):
There must be no delay, Now, I told my in
revealing all I knew, the villains must be unmasked this
very night, Weatherill should know all as soon as I
could tell him. As I came to this conclusion, I
crushed my paper into my pocket and set off without
a moment's delay. For Pott's point, the night was dark,
(20:18):
and now a thick drizzle was falling. Though it really
did not take me very long, it seemed an eternity
before I reached the house and rang the bell. The
butler opened the door and was evidently surprised to see me.
Is mister weather at home? I asked for a moment,
He looked doubtful as to what he should say. In
compromising matters, answered that he would see I know what
(20:42):
that means. I said in reply, mister Weatherill is in,
But you don't think he'll see me. But he must.
I have news for him of the very utmost importance.
Will you tell him that he left me and went
along the hall and upstairs. Presently he returned, shaking his head.
I'm very sorry, sir, But mister Weatherall's answer is if
you have anything to tell him, you must put it
(21:02):
in writing. He cannot see you, but he must. In
this case I can accept no refusal. Tell him, will
you that the matter upon which I wished to speak
to him has nothing whatsoever to do with the request
I made to him this morning. I pledge him my
word on that. Again, the butler departed, and once more
I was left to cool my heels in the portico.
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When he returned, it was with a smile upon his face.
Mister Weatherall, would be going if you will step this way, sir.
I followed him along the hall and up the massive
stone staircase. Arriving at the top, he opened the door
on the left hand side and announced, mister Hatteras I
found mister Weatherall seated in a low chair opposite the fire,
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and from the fact that his right foot was resting
on sort of a small trestle, I argued that he
was suffering from an attack of his old enemy the gout.
Be good not to take a chair, mister hatteras he said,
when the door had been closed, Stone, I am quite
at a loss to understand what you can have to
tell me of so much importance as to bring you
(22:06):
to my house at this time of nights. I think
I shall be able to satisfy you on that score,
mister Weatherall, I replied, taking the evening mercury from my
pocket and smoothing it out in the first place. Will
you be good enough to tell me if there's any
truth in the inference contained in that paragraph? I handed
the paper to him and pointed to the lines in question.
(22:26):
Having put on his glances, he examined it carefully. I
am sorry they should have made it public so soon,
I must admit, he said, But I don't deny that
there is a considerable amount of truth in what that
paragraph reports. Do you mean that you intend to try
to marry Phyllis to the Marcus of Beckenham. The young
man has paid her a very considerable amount of tension
(22:48):
ever since he arrived in the colony, and only last
week he did me the honor of confiding his views
to me. You see, I am candid with you. I
thank you for it too. I will be candid with
you whether or you may set your mind at rest
at once this marriage will never take place. And pray
be so good as to tell me your reason for
such a statement, if you want it bluntly, because the
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young man now staying at Government House is no more
than Marquis of Beckenham than I am is a fraud,
an impostor, a cheat of the first water put up
to player's part by one of the cleverest scoundrels. Unhung
mister Hatter asked, this is really going too far. I
can quite understand your being jealous of his lordship, but
(23:33):
I cannot understand you're having the audacity to bring such
a foolish charge against him. I, for one, must decline
to listen to it. If you had been the frauds
you make him out, how would his tutor have got
those letters from its grace, the Duke of glen Barth.
Do you imagine his excellency, the Governor, who has known
the family all his life, would not have discovered him
air this? No, no, sir, it won't do if you
(23:57):
think so. Who has schooled him so cleverly? Who is
the strings so wonderfully? Why Niccola? To be sure, had
I clapped a revolver in the old gentleman's head, or
had the walls opened and Nicola himself stepped into the room,
a greater effect of terror and consternation could not have
been produced in the old gentleman's face than did those
(24:19):
five simple words. He fell back in his chair, gasping
for breath. His complexion became ashen, its pallor and for
a moment his whole nervous system seemed done strung. I
sprang to his assistance, thinking he was going to have
a fit, but he waved me off, and when he
had recovered himself sufficiently to speak, said hoarsely, what do
(24:42):
you know of doctor Nicola? Tell me, for God's sake,
what do you know of him?
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Quick? Quick?
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Thereupon I set to work and told him my story
from the day of my arrival in Sydney, from Thursday
Island up to the moment of my reaching his house,
described my meeting and acquaintance with the real and all
the events consequent upon it. He listened with an awful
terror growing in his face, and when I had finished
my narrative with the disappearance of my friend, he nearly choked.
(25:12):
Mister hatteras he gasped, will you swear that this is
the truth you're telling me? I solemnly swear it, I answered,
and will do so in public when and where you please.
And before I do anything else, I beg your pardon
for my conduct to you. You have taken a noble revenge.
I cannot thank you sufficiently. But there is not a
moment to lose my daughter is at a ball at
(25:34):
Government House at the present moment. I should have accompanied her,
but my gout would not permit me. Will you oblige
me by ringing that bell? I rang the bell, requested,
and then asked him what he intended doing, going off
to his excellency at once gout or no gout, and
telling him what you have told me. If it is
as you have said, we must catch these scoundrels and
(25:57):
rescue your friend without an instant's still. Half an hour
later we were at Government House, waiting in his excellency
study for an interview. The music of the orchestra in
the ballroom came faintly into us, and when Lord Amberley
entered the room, he seemed surprised as well he might be,
to see us. But as soon as he had heard
what we had to tell him, his expression changed. Mister Weatherall,
(26:20):
this is a very terrible charge you bring against my guest.
Do you think it could possibly be true? I sadly
fear so, said mister Weatherall. But perhaps mister Hatteras will
tell you the story as he told it to me.
I did so, and when I'd finished, the Governor went
to the door and called a servant find Lord Beckenham
Johnson at once and ask him to be so good
(26:41):
as to come to me here. Stay on second thoughts,
I go and look for him myself.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
He went off, leaving.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Us alone again to listen to the ticking of the
clock upon the mantelpiece, and to wonder what was going
to happen. Next five minutes went by, then ten, but
Stilly did not return. When he did so, it was
with a still more serious countenance. You are evidently right, gentlemen,
neither the spurious marquis nor his tutor, mister Baxter, can
(27:09):
be found anywhere. I have discovered too, that all their
valuables and light luggage have been smuggled out of the
house tonight without the knowledge of my servants. This is
a terrible business, but I've given instructions and the police
will be communicated with at once. Now we must do
our best to find the real Beckonum. Lord Amberley, said
weatherin in a choking voice. You think one of your
(27:32):
servants could tell my daughter to come to me at once?
I'm not feeling very well. The governor hesitated for a
moment and then said, I'm sorry to say, mister weatherall
your daughter left the house an hour ago. A message
was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken
ill and needed her. She went off at once. Weatherall's
(27:52):
anxiety was piteous to see my God. He cried in
despair that as so I am ruined, this is nicholas revenge.
Then he uttered a curious little sigh, moved a step forward,
and fell in the dead fate upon the floor. End
Apart two, Chapter one
Part two, Chapter one of a Bid for Fortune by
Guy Boothby. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
are in the public domain. Chapter one. We reach Australia,
and the result the PESCADORI, if she was slow, was
certainly sure. And so the thirty sixth day after our
(00:24):
departure from Port Sayde, as recorded in the previous chapter,
she landed as safe and sound at Williamstown, which, as
all the Australian world knows, is one of the principal
railway termini, and within an hour's journey of Melbourne. Throughout
the voyage nothing occurred worth chronicling. If I accept the
(00:45):
curious behavior of Lord Beckenham, who, for the first week
or so seems sunk in deep lethargy, and which neither
chaff nor sympathy could rouse him. From morning till nine
he mooned aimlessly about the decks, had visibly pull himself
together to answer such questions as might be addressed to him,
and never by any chance sustained a conversation beyond a
(01:09):
few word sentences to such a pitch did this depression
at last bring him that the day after we left Aiden,
I felt it my duty to take him to task
and to try to bully or coax him out of it. Come,
I said, I want to know what's the matter with you. You've
been giving us all the miserables lately, and from the
look of your face at the present moment, I'm inclined
(01:29):
to believe it's going to continue out with it. Are
you homesick? Or has the monotony of this voyage been
too much for you? He looked into my face rather anxiously,
I thought, and then said, mister hatteras I'm afraid you'll
think me an awful idiot when I do tell you.
But the truth is, I've got doctor Nicholas's face on
my brain, and do what I will.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I cannot rid myself of it.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Those great searching eyes, as we saw them in that
terrible room, They've got on my nerves, and I can
think of nothing else. They haunt me night and day.
Oh that's all fancy, I cried, Why on earth should
you be frightened of him? Nicola, in spite of his
demoniacal cleverness, is only a man, And even then you
may consider that we've seen the last of him. So
(02:13):
cheer up, take as much exercise as you possibly can,
and believe me, you soon forget all about him.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
But it was no use arguing with him.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Nicola had an effect upon the youth that was little
short of marvelous, and it was not until we had
well turned into the Leoin and were safely on Australian
waters that he in any way recovered his former spirits.
And here, lest you should give me credit for bravery
I did not possess. I must own that I was
more than a little afraid of another meeting with Niccola.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Myself.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I had had four opportunities afforded me of judging his cleverness,
once in the restaurant off Oxford Street, once in the
Green Salor public House in the East India Dock Road,
once in the West of England Express, and last in
the house in Port Sade. I had no desire, therefore,
to come to close quarters with him again. Arriving in Melbourne,
(03:08):
we caught the afternoon Express for Sydney, reaching that city
the following morning a little after breakfast. By the time
we had arrived at our destination, we had held many
consultations over our future, and the result was a decision
to look for a quiet hotel on the outskirts of
the city, and then to attempt to discover what the
(03:29):
mystery in which we had been so deeply involved might mean.
The merits of all the various suburbs were severally discussed,
though I knew but a little about them, and the
marquis less Paramatta, Penrith, Wolhara, Balmain, and even many of
the bays and harbors received attention till we decided on
(03:49):
the last name as the most likely place to answer
our purpose. This settled, we crossed Darling Harbor, and after
a little hunting about, discovered a small but comfortab hotel
situated in the Seine Street, called the General Officer. Here
we booked rooms, deposited our meager baggage, and, having installed ourselves,
(04:09):
sat down and discussed the situation. So this is Sydney,
said Beckenham, stretching himself out comfortably upon the sofa as
he spoke. And now that we've got here, what's to
be done? First, have lunch, I answered promptly, and then
he continued. Hunt up the public library and take a
glimpse of the Morning Herald's back numbers.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
They will tell us a good deal.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Though not all we want to know, then we'll make
a few inquiries.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Tomorrow morning I.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Shall ask you to excuse me for a couple of hours.
But in the afternoon we ought to have acquired sufficient
information to enable us to make a definite start. Now
let's have lunch at once and be off. I'm all
eagerness to get to work. We accordingly ordered lunch, and
when it was finished, set off in search of a
public library. Having found it, and it was not a
(04:56):
very difficult matter, we sought the reading room and made
maid for a stand of Sydney Morning Heralds in the corner. Somehow,
I felt as certain of finding what I wanted there
as any man could possibly be, and as it happened,
I was not disappointed. On the second page, beneath the
heading in bold type, was a long report of a
horse show held the previous afternoon, at which it appeared
(05:20):
a large, vice regal and fashionable party were present. The
list included His Excellency, the Governor, the Countess of Amberley,
the Ladies Maude and Ermintrude, their daughters, the Marquess of Beckenham,
Captain Barredon, and an aide de camp, and mister Baxter.
In a voice that I hardly recognized as my own.
(05:42):
So shaken was it with excitement? I called Beckenham to
my side and pointed out to him his name. He stared,
looked away, then stared again, hardly able to believe his eyes.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
What does it mean?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
He whispered, just as he had done in Port, said
what does it mean? I led him out of the
building before I answered, and then clapped him on the shoulder.
It means, my boy, I said, that there's been a
hitch in their arrangements, and that we're not too late
to circumvent them after all. But where do you think
they are staying? These two scoundreals? The Government House? To
(06:16):
be sure? Didn't you see that? The report said the
Earl and Countess of Amberley and a distinguished party from
Government House, including the Marquess of Beckenham, etc. And let
us got the Government House at once and unmasked them.
That is our bounden duty to society. And all I
can say is, if it's our duty to society, society
(06:37):
will have to wait. No, no, we must find out
first what their little game is. That, once decided, the
unmasking will fall in as a natural consequence. Don't you
understand I'm afraid I don't quite. However, I expect you
all right. By this time we were back again at
the ferry. It was not time for the boat to start,
(06:57):
so while we were waiting, we amused ourselves staring at
the placards pasted about on the wharf. Hoardings in a
large theatrical poster caught my eye and drew me towards it.
He announced a grand Vice Regal command knight at one
of the principal theaters for that very evening, and further
set forth the fact that the most noble Marquis of
(07:19):
Beckenham would be amongst the distinguished company. Here we are,
I called to my companion, who was a little distance.
We'll certainly go to this, as the Marquess of Beckenham
shall honor it with his patronage and presence. After all,
we went back to our hotel for dinner, and as
soon as it was eaten, returned to the city to
seek the theater. When we entered the building, it was
(07:40):
crowded and the arrival of the Government House party was
momentarily expected. Presently, the Governor and a brilliant party entered
the Vice Regal blox. You may be sure, of all
that vast concourse of people, there were none who stared
harder than Beckenham and myself, And it was certainly enough
to make any mo and stare. For there, sitting on
(08:02):
the Ladyship's right hand, faultlessly dressed, was the exact image
of the young man by my side. The lightness was
so extraordinary that for a moment I could hardly believe
that Beckenham had not left me to go up and
take his seat there. And if I was struck by
the resemblance, you may be sure that he was a
dozen times more so. Indeed, his bewilderment was most comical,
(08:25):
and must have struck those people round us who were
watching as something altogether extraordinary. I looked again and could
just discern behind the front row the smug, self satisfied
face of the Tutor Baxter. Then the play commenced him,
we were compelled to turn and give it our attention.
Here I must stop to chronicle one circumstance that throughout
(08:47):
the day had struck me as peculiar. When our vessel
arrived at Williamstown. It so happened that we had traveled
up in the train to Melbourne with a tall, handsome,
well dressed man about thirty years of age. Whether he,
like ourselves, was a new arrival in the colony and
only passing through Melbourne, I cannot say.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
At any rate.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
He went on to Sydney in the mail train wheels.
Then we lost sight of him, only to find him
standing near the public Library when we had emerged from
it that afternoon, And now hearing was sitting in the
stalls of the theater, not half a dozen chairs from us.
Whether this continual companionship was designed or only accidental, I
could not, of course say, but I must own that
(09:30):
I did not like the look of it. Could it
be possible, I asked myself that Nicola, learning of our
departure for Australia in the PESCADORI had cabled from ports
say to this man to watch us the performance over,
we left the theater and set off for the ferry,
only reaching it just as the boat was casting off.
As it was, I had to jump for it, and
(09:52):
on reaching the decks had fallen in a heap. But
for a helping hand that was stretched to me, I
looked up to tender my thank and to my surprise
I discovered that my benefactor was none other than the
man to whom I have just been referring.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
His surprise was even greater than.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Mine, and muttering something about a close shave, he turned
and walked quickly. After My mind was now made up,
and I accordingly reported my discovery to Beckenham, pointing out
the man and warning him to watch for him when
he was abroad without me. This he promised to do
next morning. I donned my best attire my luggage having
(10:30):
safely arrived, and shortly before eleven o'clock, bade Beckenham goodbye,
and took myself to Pott's Point to call upon the Weatherill's.
It would be impossible for me to say with what
varied emotions. I trod that well remembered street across the
garden and approached the ponderous front door, which somehow had
always seemed to me so typical of mister weather himself.
(10:52):
The same butler who had opened the door to me
on the previous occasion opened it now, and when I
asked if miss Weatherell were at home, he graved answered yes, sir,
and invited me to enter. I was shown into the
drawing room, a large double chamber beautifully furnished and possessing
an elegantly painted ceiling. While the butler went in search
(11:13):
of his mistress. A few moments later, I heard a
light footstep outside. A hand was placed upon the handle
of the door, and before I could have counted ten, Phyllis,
my Phyllis was in the room and in my arms.
Over the next five minutes, gentle reader, we will draw
a curtain with your kind permission. If you have ever
(11:33):
met your sweetheart after an absence of several months, you
will readily understand why. When we had become rational again,
I led her to a sofa, and, sitting myself beside her,
asked her if her father had in any way relented.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
At this, she.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Looked very unhappy, and for a moment I thought was
going to burst into tears. Why what is the matter, Phyllis,
my darling, I cried, in sincere alarm. What is troubling you? Ah,
I'm so unhappy, she replied. Dick. There is a gentleman
in Sydney now to whom Papa has taken an enormous fancy,
and he is exerting all his influence over me to
(12:10):
induce me to marry him. The deuce he is and
pray who may. But I got no further in my inquiries,
for at that moment I caught the sound of a
footstep in the hall, and next moment mister Weatherall opened
the door. He remained for a brief period, looking from
one to the other of us, without speaking. Then he advanced, saying,
(12:31):
mister Hatteras, please be so good as to tell me
when this persecution will cease. Am I not even to
be free of you in my own house? Flesh and
blood won't stand it, I tell you, sir, won't stand it.
He pursued my daughter to England in a most ungentlemanly fashion,
and now you have followed her out here again, just
as I shall continue to follow her all my life,
(12:53):
mister Weatherall, I replied warmly, wherever you may take her.
I told you on board the Orizaba months ago that
I loved her well. I love her ten thousand times more.
Now she loves me, won't you hear her?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Tell you so? Why then should you endeavor to keep
us apart?
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Because an alliance with you, sir, is distasteful to me
in every possible way.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I have other views for my daughter.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
You must learn here Phyllis could keep silence no longer
and broke in with if you mean by that you
will force me into this hateful marriage with a man
I despise, Papa, and you are mistaken. I will marry
no one but mister Hatteras, And so I warn you silence,
Miss how Daia dropped that tone with me. You'll do
as I wish in this and in all other method
(13:38):
and so we'll have no more talk about it. Now,
mister Hatteras, you have heard what I have to say,
and I warn you that if you persist in this conduct,
I'll see if something can't be found in the law
to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, if you show
yourself in my grounds again, I'll have my servants throw
you out into the street.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Good day. And just as his.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Conduct was to me, there was nothing for it but
to submit. So picking up my hat, I bade poor
little frightened Phyllis farewell and went towards the door. But
before taking my departure, I was determined to have one
final shot at her irascible parent. So I said, mister Weatherall,
I've warned you before, and I do so again. Your
(14:20):
daughter loves me, and come what may, I will make
her my wife. She is her own mistress, and you
cannot force her into marrying anyone against her will. Neither
can you prevent her marrying me if she wishes it.
You will be sorry someday that you have behave like
this to me. But the only answer he uchsafed was
a stormy one. Leave my house this instant, he said,
(14:43):
not another word, sir, I'll call my servants to my assistance.
The stately old butler opened the front door for me, and,
assuming as dignified as the heir as was possible, I
went down the drive and passed out into the street.
When I reached home again, Beckenham was out, for which
I was not sorry, as I wanted to have a
(15:03):
good quiet think by myself, so lighting a cigar, I
pulled a chair into the verandah and fell to work.
But I could make nothing of the situation save that,
by my interview this morning, my position with the father was,
if possible, rendered even more hopeless than before. Who was
this more fortunate suitor? Would it be any use in
(15:25):
my going to him? But now that was clearly impossible,
Could I induce Phyliss to run away with me? As possible?
Of course, but I rather doubted if she would care
to take such an extreme step. Until every other means
had proved unsuccessful, and what was to be done? I
began to wish that Beckenham would return in order that
we might consult together. Half an hour later, our lunch
(15:47):
was ready, but still no sign of the youth. Where
could he have got to? I waited an hour and
then fell to work. Three o'clock arrived and still no sign.
Four five, and even six. By this time I was
in a fever of anxiety. I remembered the existence of
the man who had followed us from Melbourne, and Beckenham's
(16:07):
trust in good nature. Then and there I resolved, if
he did not return before past seven, to set off
for the nearest police station and have a search made
for him. Slowly the large hand of the clock went round,
and when at the time stated he had not appeared,
I donned my hat, and, inquiring away, set off for
the home of the law. On arriving there and stating
(16:31):
my business, I was immediately conducted to the inspector in charge,
who questioned me very closely as to Beckenham's appearance, age, profession,
et cetera. Having done this, he said, but what reason
have you, sir, for supposing that the young man has
been done away with? He's only been absent from his abode.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
According to your statement, about eight or nine hours, simply
because I answered, I have the best of reasons for
knowing that ever since his arrival in Australia he has
been shadowed.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
This morning he said he would only go for a
short stroll before lunch, and I am positively certain, knowing
my anxiety about him, he would not have remained away
so long of his own accord without communicating with me.
Is there any motive you can assign for this shadowy?
My friend is an heir to an enormous property in England.
(17:20):
Perhaps that may assist you in discovering one, very possibly,
But still I am inclined to think you are a
little hasty in coming to so terrible a conclusion. Mister
Hatteras is my name, and I am staying at the
General Office, a hotel in Palgrave Street. Well, mister Hatteras,
if I were you, I go back to your hotel,
you will probably find your friend there, eating his dinner
(17:41):
and thinking about instituting a.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Search for you.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
If, however, he is not turned up and does not
do so by to morrow morning, call here again and
report the matter, and I will give you every assistance.
Thanking him for his courtesy, I left the station and
walk quickly back to the hotel, hoping to find Beckenham
safely returned and at his dinner. But when the landlady
met me in the verandah and asked if I had
(18:06):
any news of my friend, I realized that the disappointment
was in store for me. By this time, the excitement
and worry were getting too much for me. What with
Nicola the spy, Beckenham, Phyllis, the unknown lover, and old
mister Weatherall, I had more than enough to keep my
brain occupied. I sat down on a chair on the
veranda with a sigh, and reviewed the whole case. Nine
(18:29):
o'clock struck. By the time my reverie was finished. Just
as I did so, a newspaper boy came down the street, lustily,
crying his wares to divert my mind from its unpleasant thoughts.
I called him up and bought an evening mercury. Having
done so, I passed into my sitting room to read it.
The first, second, and third pages held nothing of much
(18:52):
interest to me. But on the fourth was an item
which was astonishing enough to almost make my hair stand
on end ran as follows important engagement in high life.
We have it on the very best authority that an
engagement will shortly be announced between a certain illustrious young nobleman,
(19:13):
now a visitor in our city, and the beautiful daughter
of one of Sydney's most prominent politicians, who was lately
returned from a visit to England. The evening Mercury tenders
the young couple their sincereous congratulations. Could this be the
solution to the whole mystery? Could it be that the
engagement of Baxter, the telegram, the idea of travel, the drugging,
(19:35):
the imprisonment, import side the substitution of the false Marqus
were all means to this end. Was it possible that
this man, who was masquerading as a man of title
was to marry Phyllis? Where there could be no possible
doubt as to the person term the paragraph referred. The
very thought of such a thing was not to be endured.
(19:58):
There must be no delay, Now, I told my in
revealing all I knew, the villains must be unmasked this
very night, Weatherill should know all as soon as I
could tell him. As I came to this conclusion, I
crushed my paper into my pocket and set off without
a moment's delay. For Pott's point, the night was dark,
(20:18):
and now a thick drizzle was falling. Though it really
did not take me very long, it seemed an eternity
before I reached the house and rang the bell. The
butler opened the door and was evidently surprised to see me.
Is mister weather at home? I asked for a moment,
He looked doubtful as to what he should say. In
compromising matters, answered that he would see I know what
(20:42):
that means. I said in reply, mister Weatherill is in,
But you don't think he'll see me. But he must.
I have news for him of the very utmost importance.
Will you tell him that he left me and went
along the hall and upstairs. Presently he returned, shaking his head.
I'm very sorry, sir, But mister Weatherall's answer is if
you have anything to tell him, you must put it
(21:02):
in writing. He cannot see you, but he must. In
this case I can accept no refusal. Tell him, will
you that the matter upon which I wished to speak
to him has nothing whatsoever to do with the request
I made to him this morning. I pledge him my
word on that. Again, the butler departed, and once more
I was left to cool my heels in the portico.
(21:25):
When he returned, it was with a smile upon his face.
Mister Weatherall, would be going if you will step this way, sir.
I followed him along the hall and up the massive
stone staircase. Arriving at the top, he opened the door
on the left hand side and announced, mister Hatteras I
found mister Weatherall seated in a low chair opposite the fire,
(21:46):
and from the fact that his right foot was resting
on sort of a small trestle, I argued that he
was suffering from an attack of his old enemy the gout.
Be good not to take a chair, mister hatteras he said,
when the door had been closed, Stone, I am quite
at a loss to understand what you can have to
tell me of so much importance as to bring you
(22:06):
to my house at this time of nights. I think
I shall be able to satisfy you on that score,
mister Weatherall, I replied, taking the evening mercury from my
pocket and smoothing it out in the first place. Will
you be good enough to tell me if there's any
truth in the inference contained in that paragraph? I handed
the paper to him and pointed to the lines in question.
(22:26):
Having put on his glances, he examined it carefully. I
am sorry they should have made it public so soon,
I must admit, he said, But I don't deny that
there is a considerable amount of truth in what that
paragraph reports. Do you mean that you intend to try
to marry Phyllis to the Marcus of Beckenham. The young
man has paid her a very considerable amount of tension
(22:48):
ever since he arrived in the colony, and only last
week he did me the honor of confiding his views
to me. You see, I am candid with you. I
thank you for it too. I will be candid with
you whether or you may set your mind at rest
at once this marriage will never take place. And pray
be so good as to tell me your reason for
such a statement, if you want it bluntly, because the
(23:11):
young man now staying at Government House is no more
than Marquis of Beckenham than I am is a fraud,
an impostor, a cheat of the first water put up
to player's part by one of the cleverest scoundrels. Unhung
mister Hatter asked, this is really going too far. I
can quite understand your being jealous of his lordship, but
(23:33):
I cannot understand you're having the audacity to bring such
a foolish charge against him. I, for one, must decline
to listen to it. If you had been the frauds
you make him out, how would his tutor have got
those letters from its grace, the Duke of glen Barth.
Do you imagine his excellency, the Governor, who has known
the family all his life, would not have discovered him
air this? No, no, sir, it won't do if you
(23:57):
think so. Who has schooled him so cleverly? Who is
the strings so wonderfully? Why Niccola? To be sure, had
I clapped a revolver in the old gentleman's head, or
had the walls opened and Nicola himself stepped into the room,
a greater effect of terror and consternation could not have
been produced in the old gentleman's face than did those
(24:19):
five simple words. He fell back in his chair, gasping
for breath. His complexion became ashen, its pallor and for
a moment his whole nervous system seemed done strung. I
sprang to his assistance, thinking he was going to have
a fit, but he waved me off, and when he
had recovered himself sufficiently to speak, said hoarsely, what do
(24:42):
you know of doctor Nicola? Tell me, for God's sake,
what do you know of him?
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Quick? Quick?
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Thereupon I set to work and told him my story
from the day of my arrival in Sydney, from Thursday
Island up to the moment of my reaching his house,
described my meeting and acquaintance with the real and all
the events consequent upon it. He listened with an awful
terror growing in his face, and when I had finished
my narrative with the disappearance of my friend, he nearly choked.
(25:12):
Mister hatteras he gasped, will you swear that this is
the truth you're telling me? I solemnly swear it, I answered,
and will do so in public when and where you please.
And before I do anything else, I beg your pardon
for my conduct to you. You have taken a noble revenge.
I cannot thank you sufficiently. But there is not a
moment to lose my daughter is at a ball at
(25:34):
Government House at the present moment. I should have accompanied her,
but my gout would not permit me. Will you oblige
me by ringing that bell? I rang the bell, requested,
and then asked him what he intended doing, going off
to his excellency at once gout or no gout, and
telling him what you have told me. If it is
as you have said, we must catch these scoundrels and
(25:57):
rescue your friend without an instant's still. Half an hour
later we were at Government House, waiting in his excellency
study for an interview. The music of the orchestra in
the ballroom came faintly into us, and when Lord Amberley
entered the room, he seemed surprised as well he might be,
to see us. But as soon as he had heard
what we had to tell him, his expression changed. Mister Weatherall,
(26:20):
this is a very terrible charge you bring against my guest.
Do you think it could possibly be true? I sadly
fear so, said mister Weatherall. But perhaps mister Hatteras will
tell you the story as he told it to me.
I did so, and when I'd finished, the Governor went
to the door and called a servant find Lord Beckenham
Johnson at once and ask him to be so good
(26:41):
as to come to me here. Stay on second thoughts,
I go and look for him myself.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
He went off, leaving.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Us alone again to listen to the ticking of the
clock upon the mantelpiece, and to wonder what was going
to happen. Next five minutes went by, then ten, but
Stilly did not return. When he did so, it was
with a still more serious countenance. You are evidently right, gentlemen,
neither the spurious marquis nor his tutor, mister Baxter, can
(27:09):
be found anywhere. I have discovered too, that all their
valuables and light luggage have been smuggled out of the
house tonight without the knowledge of my servants. This is
a terrible business, but I've given instructions and the police
will be communicated with at once. Now we must do
our best to find the real Beckonum. Lord Amberley, said
weatherin in a choking voice. You think one of your
(27:32):
servants could tell my daughter to come to me at once?
I'm not feeling very well. The governor hesitated for a
moment and then said, I'm sorry to say, mister weatherall
your daughter left the house an hour ago. A message
was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken
ill and needed her. She went off at once. Weatherall's
(27:52):
anxiety was piteous to see my God. He cried in
despair that as so I am ruined, this is nicholas revenge.
Then he uttered a curious little sigh, moved a step forward,
and fell in the dead fate upon the floor. End
Apart two, Chapter one
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