The Blood-Red Cross | Page 7

Her crooked eyes favoured us with many shifty glances.
"Now, then, have the goodness to begin, Rebecca Curt," said Vandeleur. "Tell us everything you can."
She swallowed hard, and said:--
"You have forced me----"
"We won't mind that part," interrupted Vandeleur. "The story, please, Mrs. Curt."
If looks could kill, Rebecca Curt would have killed Vandeleur then. He gave her in return a gentle, bland glance, and she started on her narrative.
"Madame knows a secret about Antonia Ripley."
"Of what nature?"
"It concerns her parentage."
"And that is?"
The woman hesitated and writhed.
"The names of her parents, please," said Vandeleur, in a voice cold as ice and hard as iron.
"Her father was Italian by birth."
"His name?"
"Count Gioletti. He was unhappily married, and stabbed his English wife in an access of jealousy when Antonia was three years old. He vas executed for the crime on the 20th of June, 18--. The child was adopted and taken out of the country by an English lady who was present in court--her name was Mrs. Studley. Madame Sara was also present. She was much interested in the trial, and had an interview afterwards with Mrs. Studley. It was arranged that Antonia should be called by the surname of Ripley--the name of an old relative of Mrs. Studley's--and that her real name and history were never to be told to her."
"I understand," said Vandeleur, gently. "This is of deep interest, is it not, Druce?"
I nodded, too much absorbed in watching the face of the woman to have time for words.
"But now," continued Vandeleur, "there are reasons why Madame should change her mind with regard to keeping the matter a close secret---is that not so, Mrs. Curt?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Curt.
"You will have the kindness to continue."
"Madame has an object--she blackmails the signora. She wants to get the signora completely into her power."
"Indeed! Is she succeeding?"
"Yes."
"How has she managed? Be very careful what you say, please."
"The mode is subtle--the young lady had a disfiguring mole or wart on her neck, just below the throat. Madame removed the mole."
"Quite a simple process, I doubt not," said Vandeleur, in a careless tone.
"Yes, it was done easily--I was present. The young lady was conducted into a chamber with a red light."
Vandeleur's extraordinary eyes suddenly leapt into fire. He took a chair and drew it so close to Mrs. Curt's that his face was within a foot or two of hers.
"Now, you will be very careful what you say," he remarked. "You know the consequence to yourself unless this narrative is absolutely reliable."
She began to tremble, but continued:--
"I was present at the operation. Not a single ray of ordinary light was allowed to penetrate. The patient was put under chloroform. The mole was removed. Afterwards Madame wrote something on her neck. The words were very small and neatly done--they formed a cross on the young lady's neck. Afterwards I heard what they were."
"Repeat them."
"I can't. You will know in the moment of victory."
"I choose to know now! A detective from my division at Westminster comes here early to-morrow morning--he brings hand-cuffs--and----"
"I will tell you,' interrupted the woman. "The words were these:--
"'I AM THE DAUGHTER OF PAOLO GIOLETTI, WHO WAS EXECUTED FOR THE MURDER OF MY MOTHER, JUNE 20TH, 18--.'"
"How were the words written?"
"With nitrate of silver."
"Fiend!" muttered Vandeleur.
He jumped up and began to pace the room. I had never seen his face so black with ungovernable rage.
"You know what this means?" he said at last to me. "Nitrate of silver eats into the flesh and is permanent. Once exposed to the light the case is hopeless, and the helpless child becomes her own executioner."
The nurse looked up restlessly.
"The operation was performed in a room with a red light," she said, "and up to the present the words have not been seen. Unless the young lady exposes her neck to the blue rays of ordinary light they never will be. In order to give her a chance to keep her deadly secret Madame has had a large carbuncle on the deepest red cut and prepared. It is in the shape of a cross, and is suspended to a fine gold, almost invisible, thread. This the signora is to wear when in full evening dress. It will keep in its place, for the back of the cross will be dusted with gum."
"But it cannot be Madame's aim to hide the fateful words," said Vandeleur. "You are concealing something, nurse."
Her face grew an ugly red. After a pause the following words came out with great reluctance:--
"The young lady wears the carbuncle as a reward."
"Ah," said Vandeleur, "now we are beginning to see daylight. As a reward for what?"
"Madame wants something which the signora can give her. It is a case of exchange; the carbuncle which hides the fatal secret is given in exchange for that which the signora can transfer to Madame."
"I understand