The general nodded. “To continue then: As if all this were not sufficient, you charge that Lord Collington, an exceeding wealthy man, was so ruthless as to kidnap his own daughter and demand the miniature figures in exchange for her safety. Truly, a most reprehensible act! Am I then to infer that Lord Collington is this dastardly Squire?”
“If he is not the ringleader, he is most assuredly deeply involved, sir. And his Christian name is Simon.”
“Ah. TheSfigure.” Smiling faintly, Underhill said, “Do you know, I rather hesitate to mention it, but—er,myfirst name is Samuel.”
Gideon flushed, and one hand clenched. “I certainly do not imply—”
“And mine,” put in the major, “is Stephen.”
The general said genially, “I trust you do not look upon us with disfavour by reason of that circumstance, Rossiter?”
“We might,” snapped Falcon, “an we considered this a joking matter.”
Underhill’s mild gaze turned to meet a scorching glare from eyes of midnight blue. There was a brief but excruciating silence, while four men held their collective breath. The general disdained a direct response, however, and returned his attention to Rossiter. “In the event we do not consider this a joking matter, Captain, whatarewe to consider it? Attempted murder? A treasonable plot? I trust youdorealize what you imply? And what the possible results of such implications could be?”
“Unfortunately—I do, sir.”
Underhill nodded and went back to his chair. He snapped his fingers and held out one hand. His aide rose immediately and gave him the papers, and for some minutes Underhill scanned them frowningly. When he looked up, Falcon was making no great effort to stifle a yawn. A glint came into the general’s mild eyes, but if he was irritated, he concealed it. Leaning back, he looked at them thoughtfully, one after the other.
A slow smile dawned. “Gentlemen,” he said, “my congratulations. You have done exceeding well. Not only have you exposed a treacherous scheme, but you have rescued a lady of birth and breeding from a horrible fate. Now, you place before me a warning that well may stand our England in good stead. The nature of your suspicions, however, renders it vital that we proceed with great caution. To accuse a gentleman of rank and fortune of kidnapping his own daughter might plunge us all into very hot water indeed. I fancy you realize that we have nothing tangible with which to prosecute the Earl of Collington. Captain Rossiter was the sole witness to his—depravity. ’Tis very obvious that the ruffians you apprehended fear their ‘Squire’ more than they fear deportation or the gallows. Whoever hired them likely holds a threat over their families. We shall get nothing from them, and even if we did, the statements of such commoners would scarce influence any jury sitting in judgment on a peer of the realm.”
He leaned forward, linking his hands and looking at Gideon earnestly. “We must have proof not only of Collington’s part in the kidnapping, but of the further plot you believe he hatches. And in order to obtain such proof he must be given plenty of rope and watched day and night. I do not mean to charge you with such a task, Captain. Not only would it place you in a most unenviable position because of your personal involvement with his family, but you have done your share—and done it magnificently. Rest assured that I shall put my very best men on the case. Meanwhile, I must have your word, gentlemen, that you will discuss this matter with no one. It is to remain a closely guarded secret that goes no farther than this room. You will oblige me?”
They all swore to keep silent, whereupon the general stood once more, and came around the desk. “Captain Rossiter, you are a fine gentleman and a credit to your family and to your country. Will you do me the honour to shake my hand?”
Very red in the face, Gideon shared a firm handclasp.
General Underhill proceeded to shake the hands of Lord Horatio, Lieutenant Morris, and Mr. Falcon. He hesitated for the fraction of a second prior to that final handclasp, and Falcon’s lip curled as he permitted his fingers barely to brush the general’s outstretched hand.
Sufficiently embarrassed, Gideon refused the offer of a glass of sherry before departing, and with smiles and more words of praise, the colonel ushered them from the building.
In silence, they began to stroll along Whitehall.
After a minute or two, Morris said, “Well, that’s done, thank the Lord!”
Rossiter muttered, “I wish I did not feel such a treacherous cur.”
“Why should you?” drawled Falcon. “The old dodderer believed not a word you said.”
“What the devil d’you mean by that?” demanded Gideon.
“He don’t know what he means,” said Morris. “Pay him no heed.”
Falcon shrugged. “As you wish.” He started to cross the street.
Glendenning caught his arm and hauled him back. “Oh, no you don’t! Why did Underhill praise us, an he thinks we lied? And for that matter, why should he think so?”
Morris threw out his arms, bringing their stroll to an abrupt halt. “Every man at attention to hear the genius among us,” he commanded.
Falcon tapped his chin with his quizzing glass and said thoughtfully, “Is time you owned it. Very well. I judge our general to be convinced Rossiter has pigeons in his loft. Morris, I fancy he justifiably deems a dense clod blinded by loyalty to a friend. You, my poor Tio, he undoubtedly believes to be supporting this drama only so as to throw smoke in the eyes of those looking into your evil past. And as for me,” he finished, smiling his cynical twisted smile as they all broke into laughter, “my reasons were not even considered, since I am beneath contempt and of no consequence.”
“An you were right,” said Gideon, grinning broadly, “a man such as Underhill would scarce have let us off so easy. More likely I would be transferred to Bedlam, Tio would rusticate in the Tower, and Morris could revel in a promotion to corporal!”
Chuckling, Glendenning asked, “You did not really believe any of that stuff, did you, August?”
A rare twinkle lit Falcon’s dark eyes. He said with a grin, “Does your sense of self-preservation nag you, perchance? Pay it heed whilst you can! As for the rest, my assessment served to banish the self-satisfaction in which you all wallowed. Besides, who can explain so devious a mind as that of a general?”
“You certainly cannot,” said Morris, all righteous indignation. “If ever I met a fellow so eager to slip a cockroach into the pudding bag!” The others laughed, but Morris went on, “Deuce take you, Lord Haughty-Snort, I wish you’d not come with us.”
