A Bid for Fortune | Page 4

all had dealings with him for several years, but what those
dealings were they were careful not to describe. It was more than
possible that they hardly liked to remember them themselves.
When coffee had been served and the servants had withdrawn, Dr.
Nikola rose from the table, and went across to the massive sideboard.
On it stood a basket of very curious shape and workmanship. This he
opened, and as he did so, to the astonishment of his guests, an
enormous cat, as black as his master's coat, leaped out on to the floor.
The reason for the saucer and jug of milk became evident.
Seating himself at the table again, the host followed the example of his
guests and lit a cigar, blowing a cloud of smoke luxuriously through his
delicately chiselled nostrils. His eyes wandered round the cornice of the
room, took in the pictures and decorations, and then came down to
meet the faces of his companions. As they did so, the black cat, having
finished its meal, sprang on to his shoulder to crouch there, watching
the three men through the curling smoke drift with its green blinking,
fiendish eyes. Dr. Nikola smiled as he noticed the effect the animal had
upon his guests.
"Now shall we get to business?" he said briskly.

The others almost simultaneously knocked the ashes off their cigars
and brought themselves to attention. Dr. Nikola's dainty, languid
manner seemed to drop from him like a cloak, his eyes brightened, and
his voice, when he spoke, was clean cut as chiselled silver.
"You are doubtless anxious to be informed why I summoned you from
all parts of the globe to meet me here to-night? And it is very natural
you should be. But then, from what you know of me, you should not be
surprised at anything I do."
His voice dropped back into its old tone of gentle languor. He drew in a
great breath of smoke and then sent it slowly out from his lips again.
His eyes were half closed, and he drummed with one finger on the table
edge. The cat looked through the smoke at the three men, and it seemed
to them that he grew every moment larger and more ferocious.
Presently his owner took him from his perch, and seating him on his
knee fell to stroking his fur, from head to tail, with his long slim fingers.
It was as if he were drawing inspiration for some deadly mischief from
the uncanny beast.
"To preface what I have to say to you, let me tell you that this is by far
the most important business for which I have ever required your help.
(Three slow strokes down the centre of the back, and one round each
ear.) When it first came into my mind I was at a loss who to trust in the
matter. I thought of Vendon, but I found Vendon was dead. I thought of
Brownlow, but Brownlow was no longer faithful. (Two strokes down
the back and two on the throat.) Then bit by bit I remembered you. I
was in Brazil at the time. So I sent for you. You came. So far so good."
He rose, and crossed over to the fireplace. As he went the cat crawled
back to its original position on his shoulder. Then his voice changed
once more to its former business-like tone.
"I am not going to tell you very much about it. But from what I do tell
you, you will be able to gather a great deal and imagine the rest. To
begin with, there is a man living in this world to-day who has done me
a great and lasting injury. What that injury is is no concern of yours.
You would not understand if I told you. So we'll leave that out of the

question. He is immensely rich. His cheque for £300,000 would be
honoured by his bank at any minute. Obviously he is a power. He has
had reason to know that I am pitting my wits against his, and he flatters
himself that so far he has got the better of me. That is because I am
drawing him on. I am maturing a plan which will make him a poor and
a very miserable man at one and the same time. If that scheme succeeds,
and I am satisfied with the way you three men have performed the parts
I shall call on you to play in it, I shall pay to each of you the sum of
£10,000. If it doesn't succeed, then you will each receive a thousand
and your expenses. Do you follow me?"
It was evident from their faces that they hung upon his every word.
"But, remember, I demand from you