Adventure Magazine Cover — page 65: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The King in Check “Oh, you is it! I told you to come in the morning. I can’t see you now.” “Can’t see me, eh? Come in here and peel your eyes, cocky! Sit down and look at us. There, take a pew. Wonder where I learned such good English? Well, I used to shine the toe-nails of the Prince o’ Wales, and you have to pass a Civil Service exami- nation before they give you that good job. I talk any language except French and Jew- ish, but this master of mine turns out to be a Jew who talks French, and not a prize- fighter after all. “What did I tell you this eeningy Said he was a spy for the French, didn’t I? I tell you, I’m a dependable man. What I say you can bet on till you’ve lost all your money. Here he is, spying to beat the promised landers—just had tea with Feisul and learned all the inside facts—offered me a pound to come and find you, but I charged him two and got the money in advance. “You ought to pay me a commission, too, and then I’ll get married if there’s an honest woman left in Damascus. If either of you want my advice, you won’t believe a word the other says, but I expect you’re both too wilful to be guided. Anyhow, you'll have to talk in front of me, because my master is afraid of being murdered; he isn’t afraid of ghosts or bad smells, but the sight of a long knife turns his heart to water and sets him to praying so loud that you can’t get a word in edgewise. Go on, both of you—yellal Talk!” Does it begin to be obvious why kings used to employ court jesters? The modern cabinets should have them—men like Jeremy (though they’d be hard to find) to break the crust of situations. Suspicion weakens in the presence of incongruity. “This fellow seems less than half-witted,”’ I said, “but he’s shrewd, and I’ve found him useful. Unfortunately he has picked up a lot of information, so we’ll have to keep an eyeonhim. My business is to communicate with the French General Staff and I’m told you know how to manage it.”’ “Huh-huh? Who told you that?” “Those who gave me my instructions. If you don’t know who they are without my telling you, you’re the wrong man and I'll not waste time with you.” “Let us suppose that I know then. Pro- ceed.” ‘“Your name was given to me as that of a man who can be trusted to take necessary © 59 action in the interests of—er—you under- stand?” “Uh-huh!” “The plot for Feisul to be kidnaped by some Syrian members of his staff has been discovered at the last minute,” I said, look- ing hard at him; and he winced palpably. “Mon Dieul You mean dee ‘“‘That it is not too late to save the situa- tion. You have not been accused of connec- tion with it. I came here in pursuance of a different plan to kidnap him—a sort of re- serve plan, to be employed in case other means should fail. All arrangements are in working order except the one item of com- municating with the French General Staff. I require you to accompany me for that pur- pose, and to send off to them immediately a message at my dictation.” “Tschaa! Suppose you show me your authority!” “Certainly!” I answered. Realizing that he wasn’t in immediate danger of life he had returned his own pistol to his pocket. So I showed him the muzzle of mine, and he divined without a sermon on the subject that it would go off and shoot accurately unless he showed discretion. He didn’t offer to move when Jeremy’s agile fingers found his pocket and flicked out the mother-of-pear|-handled, rim-fire thing with which he had previously kept his courage warm. “TI was told not to trust you too far,” I explained. ‘I was warned in advance that you might question my credentials. You are said to be jealous of interference. Asa precaution against miscarriage of this plan through jealousy on your part, I was or- dered to oblige you to obey me.” ‘And if I refuse?”’ “Your widow will then be the individual most concerned. Be good enough to take pen and paper, and write a letter to my dictation.”’ Jeremy went to the door, which was partly open, made sure that the servant was out of earshot, and slammed it tight. René the banker went to his escritoire, took paper, and shook his fountain pen. ‘“‘How shall I commence the letter?” he asked me with a dry, sly smile. He thought he had me there. There are doubtless proper forms of address that serve to establish the genuineness of letters written by a spy. _ “Commence half-way down the page,” COMmMiCclboooks Cc C@