Chapter 33 Chapter Thirty-Two

(reply to Annie's narrative) I had a big problem with Suzanne.It was only after arguing, pleading, and even tears that she would let me carry out my plan.Anyway, in the end I went with my plan.She promised to carry out the liaison as I asked, and to take me to the station to bid me a tearful farewell. Early the next morning, I arrived at my destination.A Dutchman with a short black beard, whom I had never seen before, came to fetch me.He had a car waiting there, and we got in and started.There was a strange rumbling noise in the distance, and I asked him what it was. "Cannon," he replied curtly.It turned out that there was fighting going on in Johannesburg.

I guess our destination is somewhere on the outskirts of the city.We got there after a long round and roundabout, while the cannon came closer and closer.That was an exciting journey.We finally stopped in front of a somewhat crumbling building.A little Native American boy came out to answer the door, and my bodyguard gestured for me to go in.I stood hesitantly in the dimly lit square hall.The man walked past me and opened a door. "A young lady wants to see Mr. Harry Raeburn," he said, laughing. After being so preached, I walked in.The room was bare and smelt of cheap tobacco.Behind a desk, a man sits and writes.He looked up, raising his eyebrows.

"By God," said he, "this ain't Miss Beddingfield!" "I must be dazzled," I said apologetically. "Is this Mr. Chichester, or Miss Pettigrew? They look so much alike." "Both are gone for a while now. I've taken off my petticoat--and the priest's gown. Sit down, will you?" I sat down calmly. "It seems," I said, "that I'm in the wrong place." "From your point of view, I suppose so. Indeed, Miss Beddingfield, once more into the trap!" "I'm not very bright," I admitted mildly.My attitude puzzled him.

"You don't seem worried at all," he said dryly. "If I exaggerate, does it matter to you?" I asked. "Of course not." "My Aunt Jenny always said that a real lady is neither shocked nor surprised by anything that might happen." I read Mr. Chichester-Pettigrew's thoughts clearly in his face, and I hastened on. "Your masquerade is marvelous," I said generously. "I never recognized you when you were Miss Pettigrew—even when you saw me jumping on a train in Cape Town. When I broke my pencil, I didn't recognize it either."

At this time, he tapped the table with the pencil in his hand. "Very well, but we must get back to business. Perhaps, Miss Beddingfield, you can guess why we have you here?" "I beg your pardon," I said, "but I never talk business to anyone but the boss." I picked up this phrase from a solicitation letter from a lender, and I think it works.This statement evidently had a devastating effect on Mr. Chichester-Pettigrew.He opened his mouth wide and then closed it again.I smiled happily at him. "That's my great-uncle George's motto," I added, pretending to be an afterthought, "my Aunt Jenny's husband, you know. He made brass bed handles."

I doubt Chichester-Pettigrew was ever so embarrassed.He didn't like it at all. "I think you'd better be wise and change your tone, young lady." There was no answer, but a yawn—a subtle little yawn that suggested intense boredom. "You—" he began aloud. I cut him off. "I'm telling you, it's no use yelling at me. We're just wasting time here. I'm not interested in talking to the minions. You'd better save your energy and time and take me straight to Eustace Peter Sir Le." "go--" He looked astonished. "Yes," said I, "Sir Eustace Butler."

"I—I—excuse me—" He jumped out like a rabbit.I leisurely used this time to open my purse and put some powder on my nose.Also tidied up the angle of my hat.Then sat patiently waiting for my enemy to return. He appeared with a subtly chastised expression. "Miss Beddingfield, this way, okay?" "I followed him up the stairs. He knocked on the door of a room and there was a brisk 'Come in' from inside and he opened it and asked me to come in. Sir Eustace Peterler jumped up and greeted me with a friendly smile. "Okay, okay, Miss Anne." He shook my hand warmly. "I'm glad to see you. Come, sit down. Aren't you tired from the journey? That's good."

He sat down facing me, still smiling happily.It puzzled me a little, his manner was so natural and unaffected. "You were right in insisting on coming to me directly," he went on. "Minks is a fool. A bright actor—but a fool. It was Minks you met downstairs." "Oh, really," I said weakly. "Now," said Sir Eustace cheerfully, "let's get down to business. How long have you known me as the 'Colonel'?" "Since Mr. Pagett told me he saw you at Marlowe, and you were supposed to be at Cannay." Sir Eustace nodded ruefully. "Yeah, I told that jerk he screwed me up, and of course he didn't know what I meant. His whole mind was wondering if I recognized him. He never seemed to suspect that I What to do there. It was my bad luck, I arranged everything so well, sent him to Florence, told the hotel people that I would go to Nice to spend a night or two. So, when the murder is done When I found out, I was already back in Cannes, and no one would have thought that I had ever left Riviera."

He still spoke in a rather calm and natural tone, and I had to be very attentive to see that it was all true—that the man before me was really the heinous Colonel.I go back and forth in my head. "So you were the one who tried to push me overboard on the Gilmorden Castle," I said slowly, "and you were the one that Pagett followed on deck that night?" He shrugged. "I apologize to you, my dear boy, I sincerely apologize. I've always liked you - but you got in my way so deeply. I can't let all my plans go to naught because of a slut .” "I think your plan in the Falls is one of the shrewdest," I said, trying to see it as a mere incidental incident. "I could swear at any moment that you were in a restaurant when I walked out. I'll never believe anything until I see it with my own eyes."

"Yes, Minkers is very successful as Miss Pettigrew, and he can imitate my voice very well." "There's one thing I want to know." "What's up?" "How did you induce Pagett to ask her to be your secretary?" "Oh, that's pretty simple. She bumped into him at the Bureau of Commerce or the Bureau of Mines, or wherever he went--told him I'd phoned, and the Administration had picked her, and Pagett was convinced. .” "You're so frank," I said, watching him. "I have no reason not to confess." I didn't like hearing this and interrupted him hastily.

"You think this revolution is going to succeed? You're dead." "It is very unwise of you to say that to a particularly intelligent young woman. No, my dear boy, I do not think this revolution will succeed. I will give it a day or two, and it will be disgracefully Finish." "Actually, it's not your success, is it?" I said harshly. "Like all women, you have no sense of business. My job is to supply arms and ammunition--sold at a high price--to arouse the crowd, and to incriminate someone. I have Completely fulfilled the contract, and they will pay me secretly and carefully in the future. I have handled the whole thing with extreme care, as I intend to treat this as my last business before I retire. As you said Say, I'm broke, I don't know what you mean. I'm not a rebel leader or something - I'm a well-known British visitor who had the misfortune to walk into a local produce shop, accidentally looked more, and was Kidnapped. Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, when circumstances permit, I shall be found bound somewhere, starved and frightened to death." "Ah!" I said slowly. "But what about me?" "That's it," said Sir Eustace mildly. "And you? I've got you here—I didn't mean to force you—I brought you here very skillfully. The point is, What am I going to do with you? The easiest way—and, I might add, the happiest to me—is to marry me. A wife can't sue her husband, you know, and I like a young The pretty lady came to shake my hand, and at the same time looked at me with clear and bright eyes—don't stare at me like that! You frighten me. I know you don't approve of this proposal?" "Not in favor." Sir Eustace sighed. "What a pity! But I'm not much of a villain either. It's a common problem, I suppose. You fall in love with someone else, like in a love story book, don't you?" "I love someone else." "I've thought about it a lot—at first I thought it was Rhys the tall donkey, but I guess it was the young hero who got you out of the Falls that night. Women don't have a clue. Neither of those two guys looked like I'm such a mind. I'm someone who is easily underestimated." I think he's right about that.Although I know exactly what kind of person he is.And it must be, but I just can't figure it out.He's tried to murder me more than once, he's killed another woman, and he's done countless other things that I don't know about, and yet I still can't bring myself to understand him.I couldn't think of him as anything more than our pleasant, gracious traveling companion.I can't even be afraid of him—yet I know he can murder me in cold blood if necessary. "Well, well," said this very special man, sitting back in his chair, "it's a pity you don't accept the title of Mrs. Peterler. It would be more vulgar in other ways." I feel a chill down my spine.Of course I always knew that I was taking a big risk, but it was worth it.Will things turn out as I expected? "As a matter of fact," continued Sir Eustace, "I have softened my heart when I met you. I really don't want to resort to extreme measures. Well, you tell me the whole story from the beginning, and let us see." Do what you can. But remember—I want the truth." I don't want to make any mistakes on this.I admire Sir Eustace's shrewdness.This is the time to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth can be added.I told him the whole story without missing anything, until I was rescued by Harry.Of course, when he finished speaking, he nodded with satisfaction. "Smart girl. You've spit it all out. And, let me tell you, if you keep anything, I can find out in no time. A lot of people won't believe your story anyway, especially It's the opening part, but I believe it. You're the kind of woman who would leave home like that—on a whim, with the most inadequate motives. Sure, you're lucky, but when the amateur meets the professional, the end It's predictable. I'm a professional, and in this kind of business, I started at a very young age. All things considered, it seemed like a get-rich-quick route to me. I've always It is the ability to conceive and devise clever plans—and I never make the mistake of 'executing the plan myself'.Always hire an expert - that's my motto.I violated it once, and I ended up regretting it—but also because I couldn't trust anyone to do it for me.Nadina knew too much.As long as I don't get in the way, I'm an easygoing, good-natured, nice guy.Nadina held me back and threatened me - just when my career success was at its peak.Once she's dead and the diamond is in my hands, then I'm safe.I can now conclude that I have screwed up my job.That idiot Pagett, and his wife, and his family!It's all my fault—his sixteenth-century Italian poisoner's face and his mid-Victorian brain struck a itch in my sense of humor and made me hire him.A motto for you by the way, my dear Anne, don't let your sense of humor carry you away.I've had a hunch for years that it would be wise to get rid of Pagett, but the guy was so conscientious I couldn't think of any reason to get rid of him.So I let it develop naturally. "We digress. Now the question is what to do with you. Your account is very clear, but there is one thing you didn't say. Where are those diamonds now?" "Harry Raeburn's," I said, watching him. He didn't change his face, still maintaining a humorous and mocking look. "Well, I want those diamonds." "I don't think you have much chance of getting them," I replied. "Don't you think? Now I do. I don't want to make it unpleasant, but I want to remind you that it is not unusual for a girl's body to be found in this area. There is a person downstairs who is concerned about this You're a clever girl. What I want to propose is this: you sit down and write to Harry Raeburn and ask him to come here with diamonds to find you—" "I wouldn't do that kind of thing." "Don't interrupt the elders. I want to make a deal with you. Use diamonds in exchange for your life. Also, don't play tricks, your life is completely in my hands." "What about Harry?" "I can't bear to separate two young lovers. He can also leave freely-only one condition, you two will not interfere with my affairs in the future." "Then what guarantee do I have that you will keep your lies?" "Nothing, my dear girl. You have to trust me and hope for the best. Of course, if you want to be a hero and prefer self-sacrifice, that's a different story of course." That's exactly what I hoped for.I was careful not to take the bait right away.I let myself appear to be threatened and coaxed into submission by him.I wrote as he instructed: "Dear Harry: I think I've found an opportunity to completely clear your name.Please follow my instructions immediately, go to the local product store in Agrasate, and ask them to see some 'special things', 'for special occasions'.The person will ask you to 'go to the back room'.follow him.You will meet a messenger who will bring you to me, do exactly what he tells you, but remember to bring diamonds and don't reveal them to anyone. " Sir Eustace stopped short. "Add the rest yourself," he said, "but remember, don't play tricks." "I thought 'forever yours, Annie' would be enough," I said. I wrote it down.Sir Eustace reached over, took the letter, and read it over. "Well, good. Now give me the address." I gave it to him.The place where the letters and telegrams were sent and received was a small shop. He rang the bell on the table with his hand.Chichester—Pettigrew, aka Minkes, came at the sound. "The letter is dispatched at once—by the usual route." "Yes, Colonel." He looked at the name on the envelope.Sir Eustace stared at him. "Your friend, I suppose?" "My friend?" He seemed startled. "You spoke to him yesterday in Johannesburg." "A man came and asked me about your whereabouts and Colonel Race, and I gave him wrong information." "Very well, very well," said Sir Eustace kindly, "I am only guessing." I was watching Chichester-Pettigrew just as he was leaving the room, and he looked deathly pale, as if terribly frightened.As soon as he was out, Sir Eustace took the walkie-talkie from his elbow and said, "Scott? Attention Minx, he must not leave the house without orders." He put down the microphone, frowned, and tapped on the table. "May I ask you a question, Sir Eustace," I said, after a minute or two of silence. "Certainly. Anne, you are very courageous! You can take an intellectual interest in things that most girls would just rub their hands and catch their breath." "Why did you make Harry your secretary instead of turning him over to the police?" "I need those cursed diamonds. Nadina, the little devil, played with your Harry against me. She threatened to sell them to him unless I paid her what she wanted. That was another mistake I made - I thought the diamond was with her. But she was too smart. Her husband Kathom died too - I had no clue where the diamond was hidden. Then I figured out Got a copy of a telegram someone sent to Nadina aboard the Gilmorden - it was either from Kathom or Harifah, I don't know which one. That's the copy of the note you picked up. "17--22" it said. I took it to be a date with Rayburn, and when he tried so desperately to get aboard the Gilmorden, I thought I was right. So I pretended Believed his words and let him come. I watched him closely and wished I knew better. Then I found out that Minks was trying to go it alone and hindered me. I stopped him quickly. He obeyed My orders. It's a hassle to get Cabin 17, and what worries me is not knowing who you are. You're as innocent a girl as you appear to be, or aren't you? When Rayburn the day When I was about to go out for an appointment at night, I asked Min Keshi to intercept him. Of course, Min Keshi made a mistake." "But why does that note say '17' instead of '71'?" "I figured it out later. Carton must have written it on one of his own memo papers and took it to the telegrapher, not directly on the telegram, and he didn't leave any more telegrams." Check it out. The operator made the same mistake we did and typed it as 17.1.22 instead of 1.71.22. What I don't understand is why Minkes insists on room seventeen, It must have been purely intuitive." "And what about the documents for General Simazi? Who did it?" "My dear Anne, you don't think I'm just letting my plans be ruined for nothing? With a fugitive secretary, I don't hesitate to replace it with a blank sheet of paper. No one will suspect poor old Peter Le." "What about Colonel Naris?" "By the way, that loathsome fellow. When Pagett told me he was a secret agent, I got a chill down my spine. I remember him spying on Nadina in Paris during the war--and I Suspect he was sent after me! I don't like the way he's staring at me. He's the kind of strong, silent guy with a life up his sleeve." A bell rang.Sir Eustace took up the receiver, and after listening for a minute or two, replied: "Fine, I'll see him now." "Business," said he, "Miss Anne, let me show you to your room." He led me into a dilapidated room, and a little black boy brought me my suitcase.And Sir Eustace, told me to say anything if I needed anything, and went away like a gracious host.There was a jug of hot water on the sink and I started getting out some essentials.There was something hard and unfamiliar in the suitcase in my sponge bag, which baffled me.I undo the strap and look inside. To my great surprise I produced a revolver with a jeweled grip, which had not been in the trunk when I set off from Kimberley.I checked it cautiously and found it loaded. I held it with the comforting feeling that it was such a useful thing in a house like this.But modern clothing is not suitable for carrying a weapon, and I ended up hiding it discreetly on the top of my sock.It made a big bulge in my sock, and every minute I feared it would go off and shoot me in the foot, yet it seemed like the only place to hide.