May 15, 2025 • 25 mins
Step into the world of Victorian London, filled with humor, crime, and adventure. Follow a unique group of men who, having exhausted lifes pleasures, form a Burglars Club for some much-needed excitement. Here, membership comes with a price - a city burglary as an entrance fee, set by their president. Every other year, each member needs to maintain his subscription through a provincial line. This gripping tale skillfully intertwines the thrill of crime with the charm of camaraderie.
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Chapter eleven of The Burglars Club, a romance in twelve chronicles.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Read by Wayne Cook, The Burglars
(00:21):
Club by Henry Augustus Herring, The Victoria Cross. It seems
to me, said His Grace of Dorchester, that the army
has been abominably neglected by us. On looking through our archives,
I do not come across the record of a single
military achievement in the church and in the state. In
(00:44):
diplomacy and commerce, in science, art and literature, our activities
are marked, but we have unaccountably left the services alone.
Our enemies, if such there be, might unkindly suggest that
we have purposely refrained from interfering with the most vigorous
portion of the community. To avoid this reproach, and to
(01:07):
make good the omission, I therefore propose a series of
three military raids, the first to be immediately undertaken by
mister Maxwell Pitt, who will have the opportunity of renewing
his subscription at our next meeting. By the production of
the last Victoria Cross bestowed by his majesty. As the
(01:28):
result of inquiries, mister maxwell Pitt learned that the last
Victoria Cross had been given to Captain Septon Richards, who
had rescued a wounded soldier from the Somali and single
handed had kept the enemy at bay till support arrived.
Hm reflected Maxwell Pitt, here'll be a tough customer to tackle.
(01:51):
It strikes me if I pull this off, I shall
have earned the blue riband of the club. I wonder
where the beggar is stationed. Further inquiries elicited the fact
that Captain Richards was at present spending his well earned
leave with his sister, who lived in Bamburn in Lincolnshire.
The next meeting of the club had been fixed for
(02:12):
the twenty second of the month. On the nineteenth, Maxwell
Pitts set out for Bramburn. It was an ancient country town.
Once it had been an ecclesiastical center, as his Minster
still bore witness, but now it was given up to
the sale of sheep and the manufacture of chocolate. In
(02:32):
its outskirts was a number of highly eligible residences, and
in one of these, the bequest of an uncle who
was the inventor of chocolate caramels lived Miss Richards. Maxwell
Pitt learnt some of this from the local directory and
some from the waiter at the inn the night of
his arrival, and on the following morning he made his
(02:55):
way to the neighborhood of Burgoyne Lodge so Miss Richard's
house was styled, and sat down on a seat thoughtfully
provided by the local district council. He waited there for
a long time, apparently deeply absorbed in the columns of
a sporting paper, but in reality rarely taking his eyes
(03:15):
from the house. At eleven o'clock, his patience was rewarded.
The gate opened and two people came out. The man, tall,
straight and bronzed, was obviously Captain Richards, the lady probably
his sister. Mister maxwell Pitt saw them disappear along the
road in the direction of the town, and then he
(03:36):
approached the house to take its bearings. It was the
last building on the road, and it was closely surrounded
by a belt of trees. Behind the trees were thick bushes.
This screen effectually concealed the house from the road. For
the inventor of chocolate caramels had been recluse by nature,
so in order to obtain a better view of it,
(03:58):
Maxwell Pitt got over the wall and peered through the bushes.
It was a solid Georgian dwelling with two windows on
each side of the door. Which window should he attempt
to force the end ones would be farthest from the
hall and perhaps the safest, or would it be better
to try the back confound it. His eyes had been
(04:20):
so intently fixed on the house that it omitted to
notice an occupant of the garden. But now he was
aware that a trimly and plainly gowned little woman who
was engaged in cutting flowers had stopped her work and
was watching him. The position was ridiculous. What excuse could
he offer? He turned round, got over the wall again
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and walked quickly away, with a conviction that he had
made a blunder, criminal and a professional and impardonable even
for an amateur. During the afternoon, while he was walking
down the main street of the town, wondering at the
number of sheep that land contained, for it was market day,
he came face to face with the same good looking,
(05:07):
dapper little person he had seen in the grounds of
Burgoyne Lodge. She had appeared from a side street, and
no escape was open for him. He fixed his eyes
on the celebrated perpendicular architecture of the Minster Tower, hoping
to escape her attention. But to his surprise, she stopped him.
Pardon me, I think we have seen one another before,
(05:33):
she said, slowly, with a marked foreign intonation. Of course
we have, he replied, as he took off his hat.
I remember the occasion perfectly. How do you do, then,
he added, unblushingly, and how was your sister? I thank you,
she answered. My sister would no doubt to be quite
(05:53):
well if I had one. But please do not make
a romances. I saw you this morning Atgoing Large. I
know what you want that dickn't you do, he exclaimed
in blank amazement. And pray what is it? I think
it is something that does not belong to you, she said,
(06:15):
her dark eyes looking steadily at him. Indeed, and how
do you know that? She shrugged her shoulders expressively. She answered,
if you please, I let us walk on so that
we do not Yes, I know what you want, and
I think that I can assist you a little. It
(06:37):
is very good of you to suggest, it, said Maxwell
Pitt as they walked along the street. And I'm sure
I am much obliged to you. I am not accustomed
to this sort of business. You know you have made
the same business once before, She said. You really are
remarkably well informed. He replied. The least you can do
(06:59):
is to tell me how you come to know these things?
Do not always there's a time, she said, impatiently. I
am a daily missus Richard's maid. She is in towns
whistle Broil as the capitaine. They must not see us.
To Gazelle, when do you intend to to, she hesitated,
(07:20):
to pick mushrooms? Shall we call it? He answered? Two
pig mushrooms, she repeated with a puzzled look. Then she smiled,
I understand that, yes, sir, when do you intend to pigs?
The fine mushrooms? As soon as I know where they
are and how to get them, If you will assist me,
(07:40):
it will of course make matters easy for me tonight. Mademoiselle,
you are a thought reader. You anticipate my wishes tonight
by all means. Then I will see that one of
the windows he's left unlatched. Mon Dieu meets me here
this place at nine o'clock. With this, she turned abruptly
(08:02):
round the corner they were passing, and disappeared into a shop.
Maxwell Pitt glanced ahead and saw Captain and Miss Richards approaching.
They might not have seen him with the maid, for
they were in earnest conversation. Captain Richards only glanced casually
at him in passing. Well, m this is what I
(08:22):
call remarkable, simply remarkable, said Maxwell Pitt to himself as
he walked to his hotel. How on earth should she
know of the v C business? And what is more,
that I had to pay my entrance fee by a
previous burglary who could have told her. I wonder why
any member should be so extremely anxious to assist me stop,
(08:47):
Was it really a member? There's that man Marvel, the detective.
He has been present at two former burglaries called in
by accident, certainly, but he has his eye on us,
and perhaps he now has some means of finding out
in advance the task set to members. The remarkably obliging
(09:10):
Adele may be merely a female detective. She may assist
me to get into the house and show me where
the VC is, and then when I get it, her
friend Marvel will appear. In that case, Richard and his
sister are in the know, and this apparently casual meeting
(09:32):
just now and Adele's annoyance was pre arranged to throw
me off the scent. It seems to me, Maxwell Pitt,
that you'll have to be very careful what you're about
or you'll be landed to night and by a woman
(09:52):
that evening. He kept his appointment at the street corner.
The maid was late. The clocks had chimed the quarter before.
She came, hot and breathless, not a cool, nonchalant self
of the morning. It has been so difficult to leave,
she explained. Mister Chell's would have met Agay to her
after Daniel well to Scott, and me a dying all
(10:16):
the time to be here. Mister WHI shall I call you? Jones?
Said Maxwell Pitt. It's a dreamy, romantic name, very suitable
for a mushroom picker. Yes, sir Jones is a beautiful name,
she replied. Have you decided to pickle tonight? Mister Jones?
(10:38):
I should like to you wish me to leave that
window open, if you will? And what do you give
me if you please? Sir? I beg your pardon. What
am I going to have of it? All? All that
is a rather big word for the little mushroom I
shall take away. But if you are like some momento
(11:01):
of the occasion, what shall it be? A bracelet? A bracelet?
Comme absurd with my head, monsieur, it will not be
a little mushroom postetous for me myself, I demand fifty pounds.
Maxwell Pitt stared at her blankly. What is it now,
(11:24):
she cried angrily. Why you are too stupid, more stupid
than the ordinary englishman. Miss Rachels has sympine pearls. Her
diamonds are magnifigue, and I can give them to you.
This is not to be another Wenderburne mistake. Ah quite so,
Quite so, replied Maxwell Pitt, who was absolutely nonplussed by
(11:49):
the turn the conversation had taken. Then he drew his
bow at a venture. Whider burn made a bit of
a mistake, didn't he? He said? She looked at him sharply.
He who's he? You know? It is precisely that I
speak of see burglay at what de bone ouse last week?
(12:09):
For you are not vere Clairville. Oh of course, of
course I understand, said Maxwell Pitt. Of course you do understand.
Why do you so pretend me. I knew it was
you when I saw you sneaking around our else. I
saw you a big and dark with a long mustache
like Sie. But leo at what you blon? Ou said?
(12:31):
How whlst do you think I could have known you?
A Burglio? You are to look at only like a gentleman. Ah,
I see, I see, said Maxwell Pitt, the light at
last breaking in upon him. It seems that I have
done friend marvel and injustice. I do not know who
(12:52):
your friend is. Know what you talk about, said Mademoiselle Adelle.
I must return at once. Is it to be a
bug in or not? Fifty pounds is a little compelled
to your share, Mademoiselle, said Maxwell Pitt. You are not
only an accomplished thought reader, but you appear to have
(13:13):
the business instincts strongly developed as well. You can understand
when I plan this or botanical expedition, I did not
anticipate such a drain on my resources. In plain words,
I haven't fifty pounds on me. You can get it,
and I'll come tomorrow night. Instead. There will still be time,
(13:35):
said Maxwell Pitt thoughtfully. Of course they will. Now I go.
Is it setteled? Yes, I'll come tomorrow night and bring
fifty pounds with me in gold. Saveillance please in gold
if you wish it good, And I'll have the jewelry ready,
Zeppel necklace, cosmos and a thousand salvenes. There will be
(13:57):
no need to take anything else. I hope is that
the big macroom should satisfy you enough. Amply. I don't
want any more jewels. But where does Captain Richards keep
his decorations? His Victoria Cross? For instance? You thought was
that I do? It? Is only us a few sent
(14:18):
teams and not half a franc they tell me, never
mind its value. I am a collector of such trifles
and want this specimen particularly he want it in the battle.
It would be cruel abondabla to take it. You cannot
have it, Mademoiselle A Dell. Your scruples do you credit?
(14:39):
But after all are mushroom pickers the people that talk
about scruples. Here you are planning what is in plain English,
the robbery of your employer, So why stick to a
trifle like that? And Comte missus Jones, you're only a bugliar,
so your opinion is no matter. But I shall tell
you why I do this thing. I come to your
(15:02):
country to get riches. I am a clavier, but there
are no riches even for cleverer people in my own
valley of de Dun. First I was a mail to
one lady with a title so long, and she extended
her arms to their forewidth. I was happy. Then I
met the area or not you understand, the one who
(15:22):
makes icenions in a balloon, who I talked to my
language like myself. He persuades me that I will leave
my place send the marry him. I was ida to
do so. And then one day he goes up and
it's a balloon that what do you call it? A
Birmingham for a brief voyage, but he disappears in the clouds.
(15:43):
He sends me a postcard from Austenna to tell me
that he is landed. All right. Then I never found
him again, She paused dramatically. Maxwell Pitt felt that something
was demanded of him, and he hastened to murderer some
words sympathy, but she did not listen. Then I took
(16:03):
a place again as a lady's maid. She went on.
There was tombelle or some jewels. They blamed me. I
was zo sent, but they say no, you are caught
once and no character. So I may learn in England
with no money and montm way gone. I'll come here
and I think these lady is so kind to take
(16:24):
me without a character over at ten then I find
that the ones who have the characters Retten will not
stay with her, not one month. So that is why
she takes me. She has lacked slave driver and her
temper mon dieu it is this chrice. Well, it is
a horrible time here. Then there's Alphonse, who is a
(16:45):
waiter at La Palace, who wants me to marry him
and assist him to found a restaurant. And I must
continually tell him wait, when I see you, mister Jones,
I see my way to escape from it all. I
came at one jumper that I will help him, and
he will give me fifty Coldsavians, and I shall go
(17:07):
to Belgium at once. My husband is either dead or
if I may tell him what I think of him
and get a divorce, and then return and marry the
good Alphonse who adores me. So you see it is
that I am no common The teeth bah for the
Madame Juliet Sineverion. She rich I shall be glad to
have annoyed her. But once I tell you shall not
(17:30):
have the Victoria Medel that is not to be. Captain
Ya Charles is the only man in this miss Albert
country who has been kind to me, and here he
praves o jail. I shall not permit you to annoy him.
I promise to return it, then, for why do you
take it? That is my affair. I will bring the
(17:50):
fifty pounds tomorrow night. But I must have the cross,
whether you help me get it or not. Where does
he keep it? Keep it? Attender in this strong box
I located in his bedroom. He has a man who
shoot a certain and he always has his pistolet hand.
You will give me some money instantly you'll get in
(18:12):
the house, for if you go upstairs, you will be
a dead man at once. I tell you so myself.
That's an extremely unpleasant prospect. I must see my lawyer,
my mortiere mademoiselle in the morning and arrange my affairs.
Which window will you unlatch for me? So wonder's the
(18:33):
ivante signor as to where you stood when I saw you?
If you will come at one o'clock, I will be
in same with the beautiful perels now. I must have
lied once where Sir mister Jones. On the following morning,
Maxwell Pitt paid his hotel bill and went up to town.
In the evening, he returned with his bicycle, getting out
(18:54):
at the station beyond Bamburn. At a few minutes to
one o'clock. He entered the grounds of lodge and made
his way stealthily to the window fixed on. It opened noiselessly,
and he clambered through. Mademoiselle Adele was not there. Perhaps
she was reading Sir Walter Scott to Miss Richards. He
(19:15):
would wait for half an hour at any rate before
making any move. Perhaps Adele had thought better of her
determination about the cross and would bring it with her
rather than risk trouble. He sat down and mused a
queer life, that of a burglar. Reminiscences of detective tales
came back to him. He thought of Sherlock Holmes, the
(19:38):
doings that the Burglars Club would have puzzled him at first.
Then there was his great predecessor, Poe's Dupin, the detective
of their murders in the rue Morgue of the Mystery
of Marie Rogett. And the purloined letter, Ah, the purloined letter.
They were searching for that all over, probing every inch
(19:59):
of space in the house for it. And there it was,
all the time, underneath their noses, hanging in a card wreck,
beneath the mantelpiece. Maxwell Pitt rose and flashed his light
over the mantelpiece. There was the usual assortment of odds
and ends, But the VC was not there. No, it
was too much to expect. What did Richards keep it?
(20:23):
Adele It hesitated, before replying that it was in the
strong box in his bedroom. It might be or it
might not. Here. At any rate were obvious traces of
its owner, his letters and pipe on a side table,
his service magazines on the chair. If the VC wasn't
on the mantelpiece, it might be elsewhere. In the room.
(20:45):
There was a bookcase with a cupboard and drawers. He
opened the bookcase, but closed it quickly at the sight
of the serried ranks and with the Encyclopedia Britannica. He
had no better luck in the cupboard, But in the
first drawer he pulled out, his eye was at once
caught by two small cases. He eagerly opened one to
(21:08):
find the South African metal. But in the second, ye, gods,
it was the Victoria Cross. Maxwell Pitt's fingers closed over it.
At this moment the door opened it gently. Who is there,
whispered a voice. By this time he had moved to
the table. He turned his light on again. Adele was there,
(21:32):
pale and excited. From a pocket which he must have
specially constructed. She produced a large case. She opened it,
disclosing a necklace of large pearls. Here it is, she whispered, Well,
i'll see fifty at sauvelles. Maxil Pitt drew out a
bag and gave it to her. She opened it and
(21:53):
looked at the contents, and then put it in her pocket.
Now go, she said, fite. Maxwell Pitt moved toward the window.
I don't want this, he said, pointing to the case.
You don't want it, she exclaimed in astonishment. For a
moment they stood there, facing one another. Then a sudden
(22:15):
thought struck her. She went to the bookcase, opened the
drawer and saw only one case. There. You are mont clever, then,
I thought, she said, I wish to take these away
upstairs to night. But the captain here remained your late
madame wanted me. You have got the medel, but you
(22:35):
shall not go away with it. Give it back to me.
Maxwell Pitt shook his head, her eyes blayed in anger.
You will not mon dieu, then I will sund the alarm.
How will you account for this, said Maxwell Pitt, pointing
to the case on the table. I do not know,
I do not care, she answered, Give me the middle
(22:56):
oil ring. Her hand clutched the bell rope. Shall I
ling or not? She demanded again. There was a sound
at the door. Once more, he turned off his light.
The door opened wide, and Captain Richards entered, carrying a
lighted candle in his hand. Maxwell Pitt and Adele stood
(23:17):
there transfixed. The light shone full on them, but Captain
Richards took no heed of them. His eyes were fixed
staring ato space. He was walking in his sleep, conscious
of nothing that was going on around him. He placed
his candle on the side table, sat down in his
easy chair, drew his book rest towards him, and leaned back,
(23:42):
staring vacantly at the pages of the open book. Adele
released the bell rope and held a warning finger to
her lips. She stepped lightly to Maxwell Pitt. Sh it
was angel us to awaken him. She whispered, once they
awakened by closelle, so that when he walked like that
in his sleep, he was never the same again. And
(24:05):
she tapped her forehead now go at a once, but softly.
He clambered out and then looked back through the window
into the room. Adele picked up the jewel case and
put it in her pocket. There she touched the bag
of gold. She pulled it out, looked at it for
a moment, and then stepped hastily to the window and
(24:26):
flung it from her into the garden. She leaned out
and whispered vindictively, take your money. I shall help the police.
They shall catch you before the clock is round. Then
she stepped gently to the door. It closed behind her,
and the sleep walker was alone in the room. Maxwell
Pitt picked up the bag of gold and then cycled
(24:48):
thirty miles. He caught an early train to London, and
that evening he renewed his subscription to the Brigglars Club
by exhibiting the Victoria Cross lightly bestowed on Captain Sefton
Richards by his majesty. On the following day, to his
great astonishment, Captain Richards received the cross in a registered
(25:10):
postal packet, with no word to explain the reason for
his temporary absence. And a few days later a larger
postal packet came from Mademoiselle Adele, which, on being opened,
disclosed to her, in raptured eyes fifty sovereigns. Thus did
Maxwell Pitt attempt to atone for the burglary had perpetuated.
(25:33):
After all, he thought, the only person who will have
been seriously inconvenienced by this transaction is the balloonist in Belgium,
and he deserves it. End of Chapter eleven.
Chapter eleven of The Burglars Club, a romance in twelve chronicles.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Read by Wayne Cook, The Burglars
(00:21):
Club by Henry Augustus Herring, The Victoria Cross. It seems
to me, said His Grace of Dorchester, that the army
has been abominably neglected by us. On looking through our archives,
I do not come across the record of a single
military achievement in the church and in the state. In
(00:44):
diplomacy and commerce, in science, art and literature, our activities
are marked, but we have unaccountably left the services alone.
Our enemies, if such there be, might unkindly suggest that
we have purposely refrained from interfering with the most vigorous
portion of the community. To avoid this reproach, and to
(01:07):
make good the omission, I therefore propose a series of
three military raids, the first to be immediately undertaken by
mister Maxwell Pitt, who will have the opportunity of renewing
his subscription at our next meeting. By the production of
the last Victoria Cross bestowed by his majesty. As the
(01:28):
result of inquiries, mister maxwell Pitt learned that the last
Victoria Cross had been given to Captain Septon Richards, who
had rescued a wounded soldier from the Somali and single
handed had kept the enemy at bay till support arrived.
Hm reflected Maxwell Pitt, here'll be a tough customer to tackle.
(01:51):
It strikes me if I pull this off, I shall
have earned the blue riband of the club. I wonder
where the beggar is stationed. Further inquiries elicited the fact
that Captain Richards was at present spending his well earned
leave with his sister, who lived in Bamburn in Lincolnshire.
The next meeting of the club had been fixed for
(02:12):
the twenty second of the month. On the nineteenth, Maxwell
Pitts set out for Bramburn. It was an ancient country town.
Once it had been an ecclesiastical center, as his Minster
still bore witness, but now it was given up to
the sale of sheep and the manufacture of chocolate. In
(02:32):
its outskirts was a number of highly eligible residences, and
in one of these, the bequest of an uncle who
was the inventor of chocolate caramels lived Miss Richards. Maxwell
Pitt learnt some of this from the local directory and
some from the waiter at the inn the night of
his arrival, and on the following morning he made his
(02:55):
way to the neighborhood of Burgoyne Lodge so Miss Richard's
house was styled, and sat down on a seat thoughtfully
provided by the local district council. He waited there for
a long time, apparently deeply absorbed in the columns of
a sporting paper, but in reality rarely taking his eyes
(03:15):
from the house. At eleven o'clock, his patience was rewarded.
The gate opened and two people came out. The man, tall,
straight and bronzed, was obviously Captain Richards, the lady probably
his sister. Mister maxwell Pitt saw them disappear along the
road in the direction of the town, and then he
(03:36):
approached the house to take its bearings. It was the
last building on the road, and it was closely surrounded
by a belt of trees. Behind the trees were thick bushes.
This screen effectually concealed the house from the road. For
the inventor of chocolate caramels had been recluse by nature,
so in order to obtain a better view of it,
(03:58):
Maxwell Pitt got over the wall and peered through the bushes.
It was a solid Georgian dwelling with two windows on
each side of the door. Which window should he attempt
to force the end ones would be farthest from the
hall and perhaps the safest, or would it be better
to try the back confound it. His eyes had been
(04:20):
so intently fixed on the house that it omitted to
notice an occupant of the garden. But now he was
aware that a trimly and plainly gowned little woman who
was engaged in cutting flowers had stopped her work and
was watching him. The position was ridiculous. What excuse could
he offer? He turned round, got over the wall again
(04:43):
and walked quickly away, with a conviction that he had
made a blunder, criminal and a professional and impardonable even
for an amateur. During the afternoon, while he was walking
down the main street of the town, wondering at the
number of sheep that land contained, for it was market day,
he came face to face with the same good looking,
(05:07):
dapper little person he had seen in the grounds of
Burgoyne Lodge. She had appeared from a side street, and
no escape was open for him. He fixed his eyes
on the celebrated perpendicular architecture of the Minster Tower, hoping
to escape her attention. But to his surprise, she stopped him.
Pardon me, I think we have seen one another before,
(05:33):
she said, slowly, with a marked foreign intonation. Of course
we have, he replied, as he took off his hat.
I remember the occasion perfectly. How do you do, then,
he added, unblushingly, and how was your sister? I thank you,
she answered. My sister would no doubt to be quite
(05:53):
well if I had one. But please do not make
a romances. I saw you this morning Atgoing Large. I
know what you want that dickn't you do, he exclaimed
in blank amazement. And pray what is it? I think
it is something that does not belong to you, she said,
(06:15):
her dark eyes looking steadily at him. Indeed, and how
do you know that? She shrugged her shoulders expressively. She answered,
if you please, I let us walk on so that
we do not Yes, I know what you want, and
I think that I can assist you a little. It
(06:37):
is very good of you to suggest, it, said Maxwell
Pitt as they walked along the street. And I'm sure
I am much obliged to you. I am not accustomed
to this sort of business. You know you have made
the same business once before, She said. You really are
remarkably well informed. He replied. The least you can do
(06:59):
is to tell me how you come to know these things?
Do not always there's a time, she said, impatiently. I
am a daily missus Richard's maid. She is in towns
whistle Broil as the capitaine. They must not see us.
To Gazelle, when do you intend to to, she hesitated,
(07:20):
to pick mushrooms? Shall we call it? He answered? Two
pig mushrooms, she repeated with a puzzled look. Then she smiled,
I understand that, yes, sir, when do you intend to pigs?
The fine mushrooms? As soon as I know where they
are and how to get them, If you will assist me,
(07:40):
it will of course make matters easy for me tonight. Mademoiselle,
you are a thought reader. You anticipate my wishes tonight
by all means. Then I will see that one of
the windows he's left unlatched. Mon Dieu meets me here
this place at nine o'clock. With this, she turned abruptly
(08:02):
round the corner they were passing, and disappeared into a shop.
Maxwell Pitt glanced ahead and saw Captain and Miss Richards approaching.
They might not have seen him with the maid, for
they were in earnest conversation. Captain Richards only glanced casually
at him in passing. Well, m this is what I
(08:22):
call remarkable, simply remarkable, said Maxwell Pitt to himself as
he walked to his hotel. How on earth should she
know of the v C business? And what is more,
that I had to pay my entrance fee by a
previous burglary who could have told her. I wonder why
any member should be so extremely anxious to assist me stop,
(08:47):
Was it really a member? There's that man Marvel, the detective.
He has been present at two former burglaries called in
by accident, certainly, but he has his eye on us,
and perhaps he now has some means of finding out
in advance the task set to members. The remarkably obliging
(09:10):
Adele may be merely a female detective. She may assist
me to get into the house and show me where
the VC is, and then when I get it, her
friend Marvel will appear. In that case, Richard and his
sister are in the know, and this apparently casual meeting
(09:32):
just now and Adele's annoyance was pre arranged to throw
me off the scent. It seems to me, Maxwell Pitt,
that you'll have to be very careful what you're about
or you'll be landed to night and by a woman
(09:52):
that evening. He kept his appointment at the street corner.
The maid was late. The clocks had chimed the quarter before.
She came, hot and breathless, not a cool, nonchalant self
of the morning. It has been so difficult to leave,
she explained. Mister Chell's would have met Agay to her
after Daniel well to Scott, and me a dying all
(10:16):
the time to be here. Mister WHI shall I call you? Jones?
Said Maxwell Pitt. It's a dreamy, romantic name, very suitable
for a mushroom picker. Yes, sir Jones is a beautiful name,
she replied. Have you decided to pickle tonight? Mister Jones?
(10:38):
I should like to you wish me to leave that
window open, if you will? And what do you give
me if you please? Sir? I beg your pardon. What
am I going to have of it? All? All that
is a rather big word for the little mushroom I
shall take away. But if you are like some momento
(11:01):
of the occasion, what shall it be? A bracelet? A bracelet?
Comme absurd with my head, monsieur, it will not be
a little mushroom postetous for me myself, I demand fifty pounds.
Maxwell Pitt stared at her blankly. What is it now,
(11:24):
she cried angrily. Why you are too stupid, more stupid
than the ordinary englishman. Miss Rachels has sympine pearls. Her
diamonds are magnifigue, and I can give them to you.
This is not to be another Wenderburne mistake. Ah quite so,
Quite so, replied Maxwell Pitt, who was absolutely nonplussed by
(11:49):
the turn the conversation had taken. Then he drew his
bow at a venture. Whider burn made a bit of
a mistake, didn't he? He said? She looked at him sharply.
He who's he? You know? It is precisely that I
speak of see burglay at what de bone ouse last week?
(12:09):
For you are not vere Clairville. Oh of course, of
course I understand, said Maxwell Pitt. Of course you do understand.
Why do you so pretend me. I knew it was
you when I saw you sneaking around our else. I
saw you a big and dark with a long mustache
like Sie. But leo at what you blon? Ou said?
(12:31):
How whlst do you think I could have known you?
A Burglio? You are to look at only like a gentleman. Ah,
I see, I see, said Maxwell Pitt, the light at
last breaking in upon him. It seems that I have
done friend marvel and injustice. I do not know who
(12:52):
your friend is. Know what you talk about, said Mademoiselle Adelle.
I must return at once. Is it to be a
bug in or not? Fifty pounds is a little compelled
to your share, Mademoiselle, said Maxwell Pitt. You are not
only an accomplished thought reader, but you appear to have
(13:13):
the business instincts strongly developed as well. You can understand
when I plan this or botanical expedition, I did not
anticipate such a drain on my resources. In plain words,
I haven't fifty pounds on me. You can get it,
and I'll come tomorrow night. Instead. There will still be time,
(13:35):
said Maxwell Pitt thoughtfully. Of course they will. Now I go.
Is it setteled? Yes, I'll come tomorrow night and bring
fifty pounds with me in gold. Saveillance please in gold
if you wish it good, And I'll have the jewelry ready,
Zeppel necklace, cosmos and a thousand salvenes. There will be
(13:57):
no need to take anything else. I hope is that
the big macroom should satisfy you enough. Amply. I don't
want any more jewels. But where does Captain Richards keep
his decorations? His Victoria Cross? For instance? You thought was
that I do? It? Is only us a few sent
(14:18):
teams and not half a franc they tell me, never
mind its value. I am a collector of such trifles
and want this specimen particularly he want it in the battle.
It would be cruel abondabla to take it. You cannot
have it, Mademoiselle A Dell. Your scruples do you credit?
(14:39):
But after all are mushroom pickers the people that talk
about scruples. Here you are planning what is in plain English,
the robbery of your employer, So why stick to a
trifle like that? And Comte missus Jones, you're only a bugliar,
so your opinion is no matter. But I shall tell
you why I do this thing. I come to your
(15:02):
country to get riches. I am a clavier, but there
are no riches even for cleverer people in my own
valley of de Dun. First I was a mail to
one lady with a title so long, and she extended
her arms to their forewidth. I was happy. Then I
met the area or not you understand, the one who
(15:22):
makes icenions in a balloon, who I talked to my
language like myself. He persuades me that I will leave
my place send the marry him. I was ida to
do so. And then one day he goes up and
it's a balloon that what do you call it? A
Birmingham for a brief voyage, but he disappears in the clouds.
(15:43):
He sends me a postcard from Austenna to tell me
that he is landed. All right. Then I never found
him again, She paused dramatically. Maxwell Pitt felt that something
was demanded of him, and he hastened to murderer some
words sympathy, but she did not listen. Then I took
(16:03):
a place again as a lady's maid. She went on.
There was tombelle or some jewels. They blamed me. I
was zo sent, but they say no, you are caught
once and no character. So I may learn in England
with no money and montm way gone. I'll come here
and I think these lady is so kind to take
(16:24):
me without a character over at ten then I find
that the ones who have the characters Retten will not
stay with her, not one month. So that is why
she takes me. She has lacked slave driver and her
temper mon dieu it is this chrice. Well, it is
a horrible time here. Then there's Alphonse, who is a
(16:45):
waiter at La Palace, who wants me to marry him
and assist him to found a restaurant. And I must
continually tell him wait, when I see you, mister Jones,
I see my way to escape from it all. I
came at one jumper that I will help him, and
he will give me fifty Coldsavians, and I shall go
(17:07):
to Belgium at once. My husband is either dead or
if I may tell him what I think of him
and get a divorce, and then return and marry the
good Alphonse who adores me. So you see it is
that I am no common The teeth bah for the
Madame Juliet Sineverion. She rich I shall be glad to
have annoyed her. But once I tell you shall not
(17:30):
have the Victoria Medel that is not to be. Captain
Ya Charles is the only man in this miss Albert
country who has been kind to me, and here he
praves o jail. I shall not permit you to annoy him.
I promise to return it, then, for why do you
take it? That is my affair. I will bring the
(17:50):
fifty pounds tomorrow night. But I must have the cross,
whether you help me get it or not. Where does
he keep it? Keep it? Attender in this strong box
I located in his bedroom. He has a man who
shoot a certain and he always has his pistolet hand.
You will give me some money instantly you'll get in
(18:12):
the house, for if you go upstairs, you will be
a dead man at once. I tell you so myself.
That's an extremely unpleasant prospect. I must see my lawyer,
my mortiere mademoiselle in the morning and arrange my affairs.
Which window will you unlatch for me? So wonder's the
(18:33):
ivante signor as to where you stood when I saw you?
If you will come at one o'clock, I will be
in same with the beautiful perels now. I must have
lied once where Sir mister Jones. On the following morning,
Maxwell Pitt paid his hotel bill and went up to town.
In the evening, he returned with his bicycle, getting out
(18:54):
at the station beyond Bamburn. At a few minutes to
one o'clock. He entered the grounds of lodge and made
his way stealthily to the window fixed on. It opened noiselessly,
and he clambered through. Mademoiselle Adele was not there. Perhaps
she was reading Sir Walter Scott to Miss Richards. He
(19:15):
would wait for half an hour at any rate before
making any move. Perhaps Adele had thought better of her
determination about the cross and would bring it with her
rather than risk trouble. He sat down and mused a
queer life, that of a burglar. Reminiscences of detective tales
came back to him. He thought of Sherlock Holmes, the
(19:38):
doings that the Burglars Club would have puzzled him at first.
Then there was his great predecessor, Poe's Dupin, the detective
of their murders in the rue Morgue of the Mystery
of Marie Rogett. And the purloined letter, Ah, the purloined letter.
They were searching for that all over, probing every inch
(19:59):
of space in the house for it. And there it was,
all the time, underneath their noses, hanging in a card wreck,
beneath the mantelpiece. Maxwell Pitt rose and flashed his light
over the mantelpiece. There was the usual assortment of odds
and ends, But the VC was not there. No, it
was too much to expect. What did Richards keep it?
(20:23):
Adele It hesitated, before replying that it was in the
strong box in his bedroom. It might be or it
might not. Here. At any rate were obvious traces of
its owner, his letters and pipe on a side table,
his service magazines on the chair. If the VC wasn't
on the mantelpiece, it might be elsewhere. In the room.
(20:45):
There was a bookcase with a cupboard and drawers. He
opened the bookcase, but closed it quickly at the sight
of the serried ranks and with the Encyclopedia Britannica. He
had no better luck in the cupboard, But in the
first drawer he pulled out, his eye was at once
caught by two small cases. He eagerly opened one to
(21:08):
find the South African metal. But in the second, ye, gods,
it was the Victoria Cross. Maxwell Pitt's fingers closed over it.
At this moment the door opened it gently. Who is there,
whispered a voice. By this time he had moved to
the table. He turned his light on again. Adele was there,
(21:32):
pale and excited. From a pocket which he must have
specially constructed. She produced a large case. She opened it,
disclosing a necklace of large pearls. Here it is, she whispered, Well,
i'll see fifty at sauvelles. Maxil Pitt drew out a
bag and gave it to her. She opened it and
(21:53):
looked at the contents, and then put it in her pocket.
Now go, she said, fite. Maxwell Pitt moved toward the window.
I don't want this, he said, pointing to the case.
You don't want it, she exclaimed in astonishment. For a
moment they stood there, facing one another. Then a sudden
(22:15):
thought struck her. She went to the bookcase, opened the
drawer and saw only one case. There. You are mont clever, then,
I thought, she said, I wish to take these away
upstairs to night. But the captain here remained your late
madame wanted me. You have got the medel, but you
(22:35):
shall not go away with it. Give it back to me.
Maxwell Pitt shook his head, her eyes blayed in anger.
You will not mon dieu, then I will sund the alarm.
How will you account for this, said Maxwell Pitt, pointing
to the case on the table. I do not know,
I do not care, she answered, Give me the middle
(22:56):
oil ring. Her hand clutched the bell rope. Shall I
ling or not? She demanded again. There was a sound
at the door. Once more, he turned off his light.
The door opened wide, and Captain Richards entered, carrying a
lighted candle in his hand. Maxwell Pitt and Adele stood
(23:17):
there transfixed. The light shone full on them, but Captain
Richards took no heed of them. His eyes were fixed
staring ato space. He was walking in his sleep, conscious
of nothing that was going on around him. He placed
his candle on the side table, sat down in his
easy chair, drew his book rest towards him, and leaned back,
(23:42):
staring vacantly at the pages of the open book. Adele
released the bell rope and held a warning finger to
her lips. She stepped lightly to Maxwell Pitt. Sh it
was angel us to awaken him. She whispered, once they
awakened by closelle, so that when he walked like that
in his sleep, he was never the same again. And
(24:05):
she tapped her forehead now go at a once, but softly.
He clambered out and then looked back through the window
into the room. Adele picked up the jewel case and
put it in her pocket. There she touched the bag
of gold. She pulled it out, looked at it for
a moment, and then stepped hastily to the window and
(24:26):
flung it from her into the garden. She leaned out
and whispered vindictively, take your money. I shall help the police.
They shall catch you before the clock is round. Then
she stepped gently to the door. It closed behind her,
and the sleep walker was alone in the room. Maxwell
Pitt picked up the bag of gold and then cycled
(24:48):
thirty miles. He caught an early train to London, and
that evening he renewed his subscription to the Brigglars Club
by exhibiting the Victoria Cross lightly bestowed on Captain Sefton
Richards by his majesty. On the following day, to his
great astonishment, Captain Richards received the cross in a registered
(25:10):
postal packet, with no word to explain the reason for
his temporary absence. And a few days later a larger
postal packet came from Mademoiselle Adele, which, on being opened,
disclosed to her, in raptured eyes fifty sovereigns. Thus did
Maxwell Pitt attempt to atone for the burglary had perpetuated.
(25:33):
After all, he thought, the only person who will have
been seriously inconvenienced by this transaction is the balloonist in Belgium,
and he deserves it. End of Chapter eleven.
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