Cleek of Scotland Yard: Detective Stories

  CHAPTER XXXI

  "No, Mr. Narkom, no. As an instrument of death the icicle is _not_new," said Cleek, answering the superintendent's question as thelimousine swung out through the gates of Heatherington Hall andfaced the long journey back to London. "If you will look up therecords of that energetic female, Catherine de Medici, Queen ofFrance, you will find that she employed it in that capacity upontwo separate occasions; and coming down to more modern times, youwill also find that in the year 1872 the Russian, Lydia Bolorfska,used it at Galitch, in the province of Kostroma, to stab hersleeping husband. But as a projectile, it _is_ new--as a _successful_projectile, I mean--for there have been many attempts made, owingto its propensity to dissolve after use, to discharge it fromfirearms, but never in one single instance have those attemptsresulted in success. The explosion has always resulted in shiveringand dispersing it in a shower of splinters as it leaves the muzzleof the weapon. There can be no doubt, however, that could it bepropelled in a perfectly horizontal position, the power behindit would, in spite of its brittle nature, drive it through a pineboard an inch thick. But, as I have said, the motive power alwaysdefeats the object by landing it against the target in a mass ofsplinters."

  "I see. And the Jap got over that by employing a cross-bow; and that,of course, did the trick."

  "No. I doubt if he would have been able to put enough power behindthat to drive it into the man's body with deadly effect, if, indeed,he could make it enter it at all. Where Ojeebi scored over allothers lay in the fact that with his plan there was no necessityto have the icicle enter the victim's body at all. He requirednothing more than just sufficient power of propulsion to break theskin and establish contact with the blood, and then that hellishcompound on the point of the projectile could be depended upon todo the rest. It did, as you know, and then dropped to the floorand melted away, leaving nothing but a little puddle of waterbehind it."

  "But, Cleek, my dear chap, how do you account for the fact thatwhen the doctor came to analyze that water he found no trace ofthe poison in it?"

  "He did, Mr. Narkom, only that he didn't recognize it. Woorali isextremely volatile, for one thing, and evaporates rapidly. Foranother, there was a very small quantity used--a very small quantitynecessary, so malignant it is--and the water furnished by the meltingicicle could dilute that little tremendously. It would not beable to obliterate all trace of it, however, but the infinitesimalportion remaining would make spring water give the same answer inanalysis as that given by the water resulting from melted snow. Itwas when Doctor Hague mentioned the fact that if it wasn't for theutter absurdity of looking for such a substance in England inJuly, he should have said it _was_ melted snow, that I really got myfirst clue. Later, however, when----But come, let's chuck it! I'vehad enough of murder and murderers for one day--let's talk ofsomething else. Our new 'turnout,' here, for instance. You have'done yourself proud' this time and no mistake--she certainly _is_a beauty, Mr. Narkom. By the way, what have you done with the oldred one? Sold it?"

  "Not I, indeed. I know a trick worth two of that. I send it out,empty, every day, in the hope of having those Apache johnnies followit, and have a plain-clothes man trailing along behind in a taxi,ready to nip in and follow them if they do. But they don't--that is,they haven't up to the present; but there's always hope, you know."

  "Not in that direction, I'm afraid. Waldemar's a better general thanthat, believe me. Knowing that we have discovered his little planof following the red limousine just as we discovered his other, offollowing me, he will have gone off on another tack, believe me."

  "Scotland! You don't think, do you, that he can possibly have foundout anything about the new one and has set in to follow _this_?"

  "No, I do not. As a matter of fact I fancy he has started to dowhat he ought to have done in the beginning--that is, to keep aclose watch on the criminal news in the papers day by day, andevery time a crime of any importance crops up, pay his respectsto the theatre of it and find out who is the detective handlingthe case. A ducat to a doughnut he'd have been on our heels downhere to-day if this little business of the Stone Drum had been madepublic in time to get into the morning papers. He means to haveme, Mr. Narkom, if having me is possible; and he's down to thelast ditch and getting desperate. Yesterday's cables from Mauravaniaare anything but reassuring."

  "I know. They say that unless something happens very shortly to turnthe tide in Ulric's favour and quell the cries for 'Restoration,' theKing's downfall and expulsion are merely a matter of a few days atmost. But what's that got to do with it that you suggest its bearingupon any need for haste on Waldemar's part?"

  "Only that, with matters in such a state, he cannot long defer hisreturn to the army of his country and the defence of its king,"replied Cleek, serenely. "And every day he loses in failing to payhis respects to your humble servant in the manner he desires to doincreases the strain of the situation and keeps him from the serviceof his royal master."

  "Well, I wish to God something would happen to blow him and hisroyal master and their blooming royal country off the map, dammem!"blazed out Narkom, too savage to be choice of words. "We've never hada moment's peace, you and I, since the dashed combination cameinto the game. And for what, I should like to know? Not that it'sany use asking _you_. You're so devilish close-mouthed a man mightas well ask questions of a ton of coal for all answer he may hopeto get. I shall always believe, however, that you did somethingpretty dashed bad to the King of Mauravania that time you were overthere on that business about the Rainbow Pearl, to make the beggarturn against you, as I believe he _has_."

  "Then, you will always believe what isn't true," replied Cleek,lighting a fresh cigarette. "I simply restored the pearl and hisMajesty's letter to the hands of Count Irma, and did not so muchas see the King while I was there. Why should I?--a mere policedetective, who had been hired to do a service and paid for it likeany other hireling. I took my money and I went my way; that's allthere was about it. If it has pleased Count Waldemar to entertain anugly feeling of resentment toward me, I can't help that, can I now?"

  "Oh, then, it's really a personal affair between you and him, afterall?"

  "Something like that. He doesn't approve of my--er--knowing thingsthat I do know; and it would be the end of a very promising futurefor him if I told. Here--have a cigarette and smoke yourself intoa better temper. You look savage enough to bite a nail in two."

  "I'd bite it in four if it looked anything like that Waldemarjohnnie, by James!" asserted the superintendent, vigorously. "And ifever he lays a hand on _you_----Look here, Cleek: I know it soundsun-English, very Continental, rotten 'soft' from one man to another,but--dammit, Cleek, I love you! I'd go to hell for you! I'd diefighting for you! Do you understand?"

  "Perfectly," said Cleek; then he put out his hand and took Mr.Narkom's in a hard, firm grip, and added, gently: "My friend, mycomrade, my _pal_! Side by side--together--to the end." And the carran on for a good half mile before either spoke again.