A Bid for Fortune, Guy Boothby [easy books to read TXT] 📗

we set off down the street. Up one thoroughfare and down another we passed, until I lost all count of our direction. Throughout the drive my companion talked away in his best style; commented on the architecture of the houses, had many queer stories to tell of the passersby, and in many other ways kept my attention engaged till the carriage came to a standstill before a small but pretty villa in a quiet street.

“Mr. Draper immediately alighted, and when I had done so, dismissed his coachman, who drove away as we passed through the little garden and approached the dwelling. The front door was opened by a dignified manservant, and we entered. The hall, which was a spacious one for so small a dwelling, was filled with curios and weapons, but I had small time for observing them, as my host led me towards a room at the back. As we entered it he said, ‘I make you welcome to my house, my lord. I hope, now that you have taken the trouble to come, I shall be able to show you something that will repay your visit.’ Thereupon, bidding me seat myself for a few moments, he excused himself and left the room. When he returned he began to do the honours of the apartment. First we examined a rack of Australian spears, nulla-nullas, and boomerangs, then another containing New Zealand hatchets and clubs. After this we crossed to a sort of alcove where reposed in cases a great number of curios collected from the further islands of the Pacific. I was about to take up one of these when the door on the other side of the room opened and someone entered. At first I did not look round, but hearing the newcomer approaching me I turned, to find myself, to my horrified surprise, face to face with no less a person than Dr. Nikola. He was dressed entirely in black, his coat was buttoned and displayed all the symmetry of his peculiar figure, while his hair seemed blacker and his complexion even paler than before. He had evidently been prepared for my visit, for he held out his hand and greeted me without a sign of astonishment upon his face.

“ ‘This is indeed a pleasure, my lord,’ he said, still with his hand outstretched, looking hard at me with his peculiar cat-like eyes. ‘I did not expect to see you again so soon. And you are evidently a little surprised at meeting me.’

“ ‘I am more than surprised,’ I answered bitterly, seeing how easily I had been entrapped. ‘I am horribly mortified and angry. Mr. Draper, you had an easy victim.’

“Mr. Draper said nothing, but Dr. Nikola dropped into a chair and spoke for him.

“ ‘You must not blame my old friend Draper,’ he said suavely. ‘We have been wondering for the last twenty-four hours how we might best get hold of you, and the means we have employed so successfully seemed the only possible way. Have no fear, my lord, you shall not be hurt. In less than twenty-four hours you will enjoy the society of your energetic friend Mr. Hatteras again.’

“ ‘What is your reason for abducting me like this?’ I asked. ‘You are foolish to do so, for Mr. Hatteras will leave no stone unturned to find me.’

“ ‘I do not doubt that at all,’ said Dr. Nikola quietly; ‘but I think Mr. Hatteras will find he will have all his work cut out for him this time.’

“ ‘If you imagine that your plans are not known in Sydney you are mistaken,’ I cried. ‘The farce you are playing at Government House is detected, and Mr. Hatteras, directly he finds I am lost, will go to Lord Amberley and reveal everything.’

“ ‘I have not the slightest objection,’ returned Dr. Nikola quietly. ‘By the time Mr. Hatteras can take those steps⁠—indeed, by the time he discovers your absence at all, we shall be beyond the reach of his vengeance.’

“I could not follow his meaning, of course, but while he had been speaking I had been looking stealthily round me for a means of escape. The only way out of the room was, of course, by the door, but both Nikola and his ally were between me and that. Then a big stone hatchet hanging on the wall near me caught my eye. Hardly had I seen it before an idea flashed through my brain. Supposing I seized it and fought my way out. The door of the room stood open, and I noticed with delight that the key was in the lock on the outside. One rush, armed with the big hatchet, would take me into the passage; then before my foes could recover their wits I might be able to turn the key, and, having locked them in, make my escape from the house before I could be stopped.

“Without another thought I made up my mind, sprang to the wall, wrenched down the hatchet, and prepared for my rush. But by the time I had done it both Nikola and Draper were on their feet.

“ ‘Out of my way!’ I cried, raising my awful weapon aloft. ‘Stop me at your peril!’

“With my hatchet in the air I looked at Nikola. He was standing rigidly erect, with one arm outstretched, the hand pointing at me. His eyes glared like living coals, and when he spoke his voice came from between his teeth like a serpent’s hiss.

“ ‘Put down that axe!’ he said.

“With that the old horrible fear of him which had seized me on board ship came over me again. His eyes fascinated me so that I could not look away from them. I put down the hatchet without another thought. Still he gazed at me in the same hideous fashion.

“ ‘Sit down in that chair,’ he said quietly. ‘You cannot disobey me.’ And indeed I could not. My heart was throbbing painfully, and an awful dizziness was creeping over me. Still I could not get away from those terrible eyes. They seemed to be growing larger and fiercer every moment. Oh! I can feel the