The Great Secret

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The Great Secret

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Title: The Great Secret
Author: E. Phillips Oppenheim
Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9872] [This file was first posted on October 26, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE GREAT SECRET ***

E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

THE GREAT SECRET
BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
ROOM No. 317
II. A MIDNIGHT RAID
III. MISS VAN HOYT
IV. A MATCH AT LORD'S
V. ON THE TERRACE
VI. "MR. GUEST"
VII. A "T��TE-��-T��TE" DINNER
VIII. IN THE TOILS
IX. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
X. "WORTLEY FOOTE--THE SPY"
XI. A LEGACY OF DANGER
XII. OLD FRIENDS
XIII. THE SHADOW DEEPENS
XIV. GATHERING JACKALS
XV. A DYING MAN
XVI. I TAKE UP MY LEGACY
XVII. NAGASKI'S INSTINCT
XVIII. IN THE DEATH CHAMBER
XIX. AN AFFAIR OF STATE
XX. TRAVELLING COMPANIONS
XXI. "FOR YOU!"
XXII. "LOVED I NOT HONOR MORE"
XXIII. THE PRETENDER
XXIV. A PRACTICAL WOMAN
XXV. A CABLE FROM EUROPE
XXVI. FOR VALUE RECEIVED
XXVII. INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
XXVIII. DOUBLE DEALING
XXIX. I CHANGE MY NATIONALITY
XXX. THE "WAITERS' UNION"
XXXI. IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP
XXXII. SIR GILBERT HAS A SURPRISE
XXXIII. A REUNION OF HEARTS
XXXIV. RIFLE PRACTICE
XXXV. "HIRSCH'S WIFE"
XXXVI. AN URGENT WARNING
XXXVII. THE BLACK BAG
XXXVIII. A LAST RESOURCE
XXXIX. WORKING The Oracle XL. The Oracle SPEAKS
CHAPTER I
ROOM NO. 317
I laid my papers down upon the broad mahogany counter, and exchanged greetings with the tall frock-coated reception clerk who came smiling towards me.
"I should like a single room on the third floor east, about the middle corridor," I said. "Can you manage that for me? 317 I had last time."
He shook his head at once. "I am very sorry, Mr. Courage," he said, "but all the rooms in that corridor are engaged. We will give you one on the second floor at the same price."
I was about to close with his offer, when, with a word of excuse, he hurried away to intercept some one who was passing through the hall. A junior clerk took his place, and consulted the plan for a moment doubtfully.
"There are several rooms exactly in the locality you asked for," he remarked, "which are simply being held over. If you would prefer 317, you can have it, and I will give 217 to our other client."
"Thank you," I answered, "I should prefer 317 if you can manage it."
He scribbled the number upon a ticket and handed it to the porter, who stood behind with my dressing-case. A page caught up the key, and I followed them to the lift. In the light of things which happened afterwards, I have sometimes wondered what became of the unfortunate junior clerk who gave me room number 317.
* * * * *
It was six o'clock when I arrived at the Hotel Universal. I washed, changed my clothes, and was shaved in the barber's shop. Afterwards, I spent, I think, the ordinary countryman's evening about town--having some regard always to the purpose of my visit. I dined at my club, went on to the Empire with a couple of friends, supped at the Savoy, and, after a brief return visit to the club, a single game of billiards and a final whisky and soda, returned to my hotel contented and sleepy, and quite prepared to tumble into bed. By some chance--the history of nations, as my own did, will sometimes turn upon such slight events--I left my door ajar whilst I sat upon the edge of the bed finishing a cigarette and treeing my boots, preparatory to depositing them outside. Suddenly my attention was arrested by a somewhat curious sound. I distinctly heard the swift, stealthy footsteps of a man running at full speed along the corridor. I leaned forward to listen. Then, without a moment's warning, they paused outside my door. It was hastily pushed open and as hastily closed. A man, half clothed and panting, was standing facing me--a strange, pitiable object. The boots slipped from my fingers. I stared at him in blank bewilderment.
"What the devil--" I began.
He made an anguished appeal to me for silence. Then