The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings | Page 8

I am afraid of him."
"Now that I have come, everything will be right," I said.
"And you will take me home to-morrow?"
"Certainly."
"But I should like to see Vesuvius first. Now that we are here it seems a pity that I should not see it. Can you take me to Vesuvius to-morrow morning, and home in the evening, and will you explain to Dr. Fietta?"
"I will explain everything. Now go to sleep. I am in the house, and you have nothing whatever to fear."
"I am very glad you have come," he said wearily. He flung himself back on his pillow; the exhausted look was very manifest on his small, childish face. I left the room, shutting the door softly.
To say that my blood boiled can express but little the emotions which ran through my frame ? the child was in the hands of a monster. He was in the very clutch of the Brotherhood, whose intention was to destroy his life. I thought for a moment. There was nothing now for it but to see Fietta, tell him that I had discovered his machinations, claim the boy, and take him away by force. I knew that I was treading on dangerous ground. At any moment my own life might be the forfeit for my supposed treachery to the cause whose vows I had so madly taken. Still, if I saved the boy nothing else really mattered.
I went downstairs into the great central hall, interviewed the concierge, who told me that Fietta had returned, asked for the number of his private sitting-room, and, going there, opened the door without knocking. At a writing-table at the farther end sat the doctor. He turned as I entered, and, recognising me, started up with a sudden exclamation. I noticed that his face changed colour, and that his beady eyes flashed all ugly fire. Then, recovering himself, he advanced quietly towards me.
"This is another of your unexpected surprises, Mr. Head," he said with politeness. "You have not, then, gone on to Cairo? You change your plans rapidly."
"Not more so than you do, Dr. Fietta," I replied, watching him as I spoke.
"I was obliged to change my mind," he answered. "I heard in Malta that cholera had broken out in Cairo. I could not therefore take my patient there. May I inquire why I have the honour of this visit? You will excuse my saying so, but this action of yours forces me to suspect that you are following me. Have you a reason?"
He stood with his hands behind him, and a look of furtive vigilance crept into his small eyes.
"This is my reason," I replied. I boldly drew the hypodermic syringe from my pocket as I spoke.
With an inconceivably rapid movement he hurried past me, locked the door, and placed the key in his pocket. As he turned towards me again I saw the glint of a long, bright stiletto which he had drawn and was holding in his right hand, which he kept behind him.
"I see you are armed," I said quietly, "but do not be too hasty. I have a few words to say to you." As I spoke I looked him full in the face, then I dropped my voice.
"I am one of the Brotherhood of the Seven King's!"
When I uttered these magical words he started back and looked at me with dilated eyes.
"Your proofs instantly, or you are a dead man," he cried hoarsely. Beads of sweat gleamed upon his forehead.
"Put that weapon on the table, give me your right hand, and you shall have the proofs you need," I answered.
He hesitated, then changed the stiletto to his left hand, and gave me his right. I grasped it in the peculiar manner which I had never forgotten, and bent my head close to his. The next moment I had uttered the pass-word of the Brotherhood.
"La Regina," I whispered.
"E la regina," he replied, flinging the stiletto on the carpet.
"Ah!" he continued, with an expression of the strongest relief, while he wiped the moisture from his forehead. "This is too wonderful. And now tell me, my friend, what your mission is? I knew you had stolen my syringe, but why did you do it? Why did you not reveal yourself to me before? You are, of course, under the Queen's orders?"
"I am," answered, "and her orders to me now are to take Lord Kairn home to England overland to-morrow morning."
"Very well. Everything is finished ? he will die in one month."
"From Mediterranean fever? But it is not necessarily fatal," I continued.
"That is true. It is not always fatal acquired in the ordinary way, but by our methods it is so."
"Then you have administered more of the micro-organisms since Malta?"
"Yes; I had another syringe in my case, and now nothing can save him. The fever will