Chapter IX: The Woman Involved

It was close upon noon when Nick Carter, after his interview with Senator Barclay, rejoined Patsy Garvan and hastened from the statesman’s residence. None could have appreciated more keenly the gravity of the situation, the delicate nature of what had been confided to him, and the quick and clever work that must be done to avert the impending calamity, if indeed it were possible.

Nick thought he already saw his way clearly, however, and he began with informing Patsy of as many of the circumstances as the case required.

“We’ve got a look in, Patsy, at least,” he added, pausing on a corner to hail a taxicab. “If Margate sizes up the letter and document as I think he will, he may undertake to blackmail Lady Deland before I can be seen by Senator Barclay and put on the case. He will reason, of course, that I cannot have yet discovered that he is alive, much less have tracked him to the medical college and to the Barclay residence.”

“Gee whiz!” exclaimed Patsy. “You’re the only man on earth, chief, who could have accomplished all that in so short a time. Margate will not believe it possible.”

“I am banking on that, Patsy, and that he will attempt to take advantage of my supposed ignorance. He will know, too, that any move to blackmail Lady Deland must be made immediately, both on my account and the fact that the document must be restored to her before to-morrow, when it will become useless as a lever to blackmail her.”

“I see both points, chief,” nodded Patsy.

“I have a countermove framed up in my mind,” Nick added.

“What’s that, chief?”

“I will inform you a little later. You go to the Willard as quickly as possible, now, and bring our make-up box to the Deland residence, wearing a disguise. I have one in my pocket that will enable me to go there without being recognized, assuming that the house is being watched, which I hardly think is probable. We’ll take no chances, however. Rejoin me there as soon as possible.”

“You can bank on that, chief,” declared Patsy, as he turned and hurried away.

Ten minutes later, and precisely ten minutes after Tony Selig ceased watching the Deland residence, Nick alighted in the disguise of an elderly man from his taxicab and rang the doorbell of the imposing stone mansion. The summons was answered by the butler, Hawley, to whom Nick said tentatively:

“Is Sir Edward Deland at home?”

“No, sir,” Hawley politely informed him. “He is in New York to-day. He is expected here to-morrow.”

“Lady Deland, then?”

“She is at home, sir. I will take in your card, sir, if----”

“Take this note to her, instead, and say that I would like to see her immediately,” Nick directed, interrupting.

“Walk in, sir.”

Nick had waited only a few moments in the reception hall, when the butler returned and conducted him to the library, where he found Lady Deland awaiting him--a stately, beautiful woman still in the twenties, whose pale cheeks and apprehensive eyes denoted with what misgivings she had read Senator Barclay’s note introducing the famous detective.

“Close the door when you go out,” she directed, with a glance at the butler.

“Yes, your ladyship.”

Hawley bowed himself from the room.

“I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Carter, and long have known you by name,” said Lady Deland, then shaking hands with the detective. “Tell me--what is the meaning of this visit? Has anything happened to Sir Edward Deland, or to----”

She hesitated, turning deathly white when Nick, removing his disguise, said gravely:

“You have anticipated what has happened, Lady Deland.”

“You know?” she gasped.

“Senator Barclay was forced to confide in me.”

“Oh, my God!”

The woman reeled as if about to faint, and Nick helped her to a chair, saying quickly:

“Do not be alarmed. Nothing confided to me, Lady Deland, ever goes farther. I know all of the circumstances and appreciate your position. I hope to accomplish all that is necessary to set you right. I really expect to do so, in fact, so try to be calm and give me your assistance. Both are imperative to what I have in view.”

Nick’s encouraging words were not without effect upon her. Lady Deland drew up in her chair, composing herself with an effort and replying gratefully:

“Thank you, thank you, Mr. Carter; but, oh, this is terrible. How could I have done such a thing? Tell me the worst. Let me know the worst.”

Nick then informed her as briefly as possible of the strange combination of circumstances resulting in the loss of the fateful document and her letter relating to it, adding, with convincing earnestness:

“Senator Barclay is in no sense to blame for the misfortune. He thought the safest place for the document during the single night he was to retain it was in the pocket of the coat in his own room.”

“Oh, I do not blame him, Mr. Carter,” said Lady Deland, who now had nerved herself to meet the trying situation. “Senator Barclay is a very dear friend, and a man in whom I have absolute confidence. Otherwise I never could have taken such a step, which I truly felt would be the best for all concerned.”

“I appreciate that, I assure you.”

“But what can be done? How can----”

“That is what I now wish to discuss with you, Lady Deland, and to point out what I require of you,” Nick interposed. “I think that we may yet thwart Andy Margate and recover the document in time to save you from exposure.”

“But that dreadful man! He must know----”

“Never mind what he knows about it,” Nick again interrupted. “If I can land him and recover the document, I will make very sure that neither he nor any of his confederates will afterward reveal anything. I will put them where they can accomplish nothing. Besides, Lady Deland, revelations on their part would fall flat when opposed with denials from persons of your character and that of Senator Barclay.”

“But what can be done, Mr. Carter?” she anxiously inquired.

Nick then proceeded to tell her of his suspicions, of the only way by which advantage of the document would probably be taken, and that it must be attempted that very day in order to be effective.

“I understand,” she bowed, after hearing him.

“There is only one way by which it could be done, Lady Deland, and only one method that really appears feasible,” Nick continued. “One is by the use of the telephone, which presents too many difficulties and contingencies for me to think that method will be adopted.”

“And the other?”

“The other is with a personal interview with you, possibly by Margate himself, though much more probably by one of his confederates,” Nick continued to explain. “Though a daring and desperate man, I doubt that Margate will venture here in person.”

“But what am I to do?”

“These rascals will have only one object in view, that of forcing you to pay them a large sum of money, or perhaps turn over your jewels to them. Just how they will attempt it remains to be seen, and I wish to be in a position to direct what occurs here. That must be accomplished without incurring the suspicions of the person whom Margate may send.”

“But how can you do that, Mr. Carter?” Lady Deland doubtfully inquired. “It will be necessary for me to see the person.”

“Very true,” Nick admitted, glancing around the room. “I think, however, that we can arrange it. Where does that door lead?” he added, pointing to one across which a portière was partly drawn.

“To Sir Edward’s private study,” said Lady Deland.

“Is there another door leading out of the room?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where?”

“Into the side hall.”

“Capital!” said Nick, with manifest satisfaction. “From where you sit, Lady Deland, by glancing into the mirror over the fireplace, I think you can see into the study.”

“Yes, sir, I can.”

“You can do so, I observe by merely turning your eyes in the direction of the mirror.”

“I can, Mr. Carter.”

“If you were to do so merely casually, a person seated here would have no idea that you were in communication with a person in the study,” said Nick. “By turning my chair in this direction, I can see the mirror, but not the study door, nor any reflection of it.”

“Oh, I now see what you mean,” Lady Deland exclaimed. “You wish to signal me from the study, by means of the mirror, while I am talking with the person you suspect will come here.”

“Exactly,” Nick replied. “I will stand so that you can see a reflection of me, and I will signify with a nod, or with a negative shake of my head, what course you must shape.”

“I understand you perfectly.”

“It will be necessary for you to yield to whatever design may be attempted.”

“Have you any idea of what it will consist?”

“I think you will be required to go somewhere, both to get and deliver a price for the document, and also in order to receive the letter.”

“I will go,” said Lady Deland quickly. “I shall not fear. I would dare anything, Mr. Carter, to recover it.”

“Something more will be necessary,” Nick replied. “I wish to go with you with one of my assistants, who will presently arrive here.”

“But will that be allowed?”

“We must fool whoever comes here into allowing it,” smiled Nick.

“Will that be possible?”

“I think so, in view of the fact that much is at stake, and that there is no time for other arrangements. You must insist upon going in your touring car, and taking your chauffeur and your maid.”

“Well?”

“You can state that they know nothing about the business engaging you, and that the crooks will incur no danger from your having these uninformed companions. They will have guarded against danger, all right, as a matter of fact. I know such rascals root and branch.”

“But I don’t understand,” Lady Deland said doubtfully. “What can my maid and chauffeur accomplish?”

“Leave that to me,” Nick replied, smiling again. “I shall be your chauffeur, Lady Deland, and your maid will be Patsy Garvan, my assistant, who can make up very cleverly as a girl in the twenties.”

“Oh, I now see at what you are driving,” cried Lady Deland, with countenance lighting.

“You must provide him with the necessary garments, however,” Nick added. “We have all else that will be required.”

“I will do so, Mr. Carter.”

“I also wish to take your butler’s place for a time, that I may determine whether any visitor warrants suspicion, and also take steps consistent with our design.”

“You may do so,” Lady Deland said readily. “I will give you all the assistance in my power.”

“We will make all of the necessary arrangements after my assistant arrives,” Nick rejoined. “I shall want a coat, cap, and gloves belonging to your chauffeur. We will put them in an adjoining room, where I can easily and quickly get them. I will wear a different disguise in the two characters I shall assume, and--ah, there is the doorbell. That should be Patsy. In half an hour, Lady Deland, we shall have completed our arrangements.”