The Saint Meets His Match (She was a Lady)

It was the fourth or fifth time that Lord Essenden had repeated similar instructions in his fussy and hesitant way, and the Snake's sunken black eyes regarded their employer with a certain contempt.

"We heard you," he said.

"All right."

Essenden fidgeted with his tie, and looked at his watch for the twentieth time.

"I think you'd better go to your posts," he said.

Ganning rose, uncoiling his long length like a slowed-up jack-in-the-box.

"C'mon," he said.

Arne and Keld rose to follow him, but Red Harver sat where he was. Ganning tapped him on the shoulder.

"C'mon, Beef."

Harver rose slowly, without looking round. His eyes were fixed intently on something behind Essenden. Be­hind Essenden was a window, with the heavy curtains drawn.

The others, looking curiously at Harver, grasped what he was staring at, and followed his gaze. But they saw nothing. Essenden himself turned, with an abrupt jumpy movement. Then he turned round again.

"What's the matter, Harver?" he croaked.

Harver's huge arm and fist shot out, pointing.

"Did you shut that window?" he demanded.

"Of course I did," said Essenden. "You saw me shut it."

"You shut it properly?"

"Of course I did," repeated Essenden.

Harver pushed the table out of his path with a sweep of one arm.

"Well, if it hasn't blown open," he said, "somebody's opened it. I've just seen those curtains move!"

He stood in the centre of the group, a red-headed giant, and the others instinctively checked their breath.

Essenden shifted away.

Ganning's right hand sidled round to his hip pocket, and Flash Arne buttoned his coat deliberately.

Harver stepped cautiously forward on tiptoe.

The stealthy movement ended in a quick rush. Harver's huge, ape-like arms gathered up all the curtains in one wide sweep, and he held something in the enveloping folds of the curtains like a fish in a net.

He carried his whole capture bodily back into the centre of the room, tearing the curtains down as if they had been held with thin cotton. There he threw the bundle down, and stood back while the intruder struggled into view.

"Well, who are you?" barked Essenden feebly, from the outskirts of the group.