His Excellency, Governor Wallace E-Book

Alexander Wilson

• Herausgeber: Allison & Busby
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Serie: Wallace of the Secret Service
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 544

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

BOOK 5 in the Wallace of the Secret Service series The government of Hong Kong has been systematically defrauded of 100 million dollars, state secrets have been sold and funds embezzled. The people who have investigated the crimes have wound up dead, so the British Prime Minister asks Sir Leonard Wallace to take up the post of Governor of Hong Kong and uncover the deadly organisation taking hold of the city.

Leseprobe

His Excellency, Governor Wallace

ALEXANDER WILSON

CONTENTS

Title Page1.A Cabinet Meeting2.Wallace Accepts the Appointment3.Enter Wun Cheng Lo4.Batty Goes Ashore5.The Intercepted Wireless Messages6.A Couple of Beachcombers7.The Genial José Tavares8.‘Too Muchee Big Pilate’9.The Sliding Panel10.A Tale of Two Knives11.In the Trap and Liking it12.The Queer Behaviour of Cousins13.A Change of Residence14.So Near and Yet—15.Momentous Discussions16.A Friar Visits the Hospital17.Sir Leonard Becomes a Dictator18.The Man Who Killed Himself19.Captain Ferrara Pays His Respects20.An Eventful Night21.Kenton Returns to Hospital22.Wun Cheng Lo is Shocked and Pained23.The End of a Great ConspiracyAbout the AuthorBy Alexander WilsonCopyright

CHAPTER ONE

A Cabinet Meeting

Sir Leonard Wallace sank back into the comfortable depths of his well-upholstered chair, and gave vent to a deep sigh of satisfaction. The great oak desk before him was piled high with decoded reports from his numerous agents abroad, and for three hours he had been engaged in reading them with the utmost care, bringing to bear on every document that power of thoughtful concentration which enables him to grapple with the most difficult and delicate problems. Innumerable marginal notes pencilled in in his small but easily read calligraphy gave promise of much work in the near future for that branch of his staff which dealt exclusively with records and reports relative to international intrigue. Not that that was an unusual state of affairs. Of all Government departments the Intelligence Service is the hardest worked, and day and night, year in and year out, its activities continue quietly, efficiently, thoroughly. It is the eye of Empire, ever watching, ever searching, never for one moment sleeping, or even relaxing, for on its vigilance depends the well-being of Great Britain, her dominions and dependencies.

In repose Sir Leonard rather gives the impression that he is of indolent, lackadaisical character. He seldom permits a hint of the dynamic driving power that is in him to show on the surface. But those who are intimately acquainted with him, who work with him and under him, know the force that lies behind that cool, unruffled exterior, the imagination and quick perception of that brilliant brain. His amazing self-control and unexcitable temperament have, on numerous occasions, brought him triumphant through situations in which more nervous or ebullient men would have gone under.

He is a slightly built man of middle height, with an attractive, good-humoured face. Quick to see the amusing side of anything, his intense, steel-grey eyes yet seem often to belie the humorous curves of his mouth. During the Great War he lost his left arm, but, with the aid of an artificial limb, has overcome the handicap in surprising fashion. With his right hand he accomplishes much for which any other man would require two. The counterfeit member is invariably covered by a glove, and kept unobtrusively in a pocket, but at times is brought into action very cleverly. He used it now as he lay back in his chair, and filled his pipe from a large bowl on the desk. But directly the tobacco was burning to his satisfaction, the artificial hand was returned to its pocket. He pressed one of the buttons under the ledge of the desk, and almost at once, after a preliminary knock, a small, grey-haired man with extremely sharp eyes entered the room. Sir Leonard waved his hand towards the mass of reports.

‘A nice little job that will keep your fellows going all night, Maddison,’ he commented. ‘A good many – those marked “Immediate” of course – must be dealt with without the slightest delay. By the way, Gottfried seems to be having as much work as he can cope with over that German–Czecho-Slovakian border affair. Is Cartright available?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then tell him to join Gottfried at Zwickau. He’d better leave tonight. There’s a pharmaceutical conference on and, as he’s an expert in drugs, can easily pass himself off as a chemist and the representative of one of our big houses. Major Brien will furnish him with his credentials. Cartright will know how to get in touch with Gottfried.’

He smiled a trifle grimly, and an answering smile appeared fleetingly on the lips of the other, as he turned towards the door, his arms loaded with the documents he had lifted from the desk.

‘Oh – er – Maddison, just a minute,’ called Sir Leonard. ‘Have we received any information concerning that Hong Kong scandal?’

The small, grey-haired man succeeded in getting one eye focused on Sir Leonard round the corner of his bundle.

‘Nothing officially, sir,’ he replied, ‘but I think we’ll soon be drawn in. As you know, there’s a very hush-hush sort of Cabinet meeting at number ten this afternoon, and I believe it is being held to discuss the Hong Kong affair. It commenced at three, and was still on ten minutes ago.’

Wallace glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece, and smiled.

‘Two and a half hours solid talk, and nothing accomplished for a bet,’ he remarked. ‘Oh, well, if they can’t come to a decision, we’ll be asked to suggest something – perhaps to take the affair in hand. Tell Shannon and Carter to stand by. They may have a trip to Hong Kong before them.’

Maddison departed with his load. Sir Leonard rose, strolled into the adjoining lavatory where he washed his hand, and prepared to leave for home. While he was thus engaged, the low hum of the buzzer on one of the telephones with which his desk was adorned reached his ears. He returned to the office, and eyed the instrument somewhat quizzically.

‘I thought so,’ he murmured, as he lifted the receiver to his ear. ‘Wallace speaking,’ he announced.

‘Can you come to Downing Street, Sir Leonard?’ asked an urgent voice, which he recognised as that of the Premier’s private secretary. ‘An emergency meeting of the Cabinet is being held here, and the Prime Minister wishes me to inform you that a point has arisen about which it is necessary to consult you.’

‘I’ll be there in five minutes,’ replied Wallace.

He replaced the receiver, knocked out the ashes of his pipe, and put on his hat.

‘So I am to face the whole Cabinet,’ he murmured. ‘How nice for me! But they must be perturbed.’

Five minutes later exactly he was admitted to the historic precincts of 10 Downing Street, and ushered into the chamber where the conference was being held. A dozen pairs of eyes regarded his advent with interest not unmixed, in most cases, with relief. At the head of a long, highly-polished table sat the Prime Minister, his clean-shaven, ruddy countenance giving him the appearance of a sporting squire. There was no indication whatever in his physiognomy that he possessed any particular intellectual gifts, statesmanlike or otherwise. One could imagine him, attired in riding apparel, jogging round a country estate or following hounds. As head of the Government, presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet, he looked peculiarly out of place. On either side of the table, ranged according to precedence, sat the ministers of state. Sir Leonard was quick to note that, though there were a few absentees, all the most important members of the Cabinet were present. The Prime Minister greeted him courteously, inviting him to take a chair at the other end of the table.

‘It was good of you to respond so promptly to my request to join us, Sir Leonard,’ he acknowledged in a bluff, hearty voice, and continued: ‘It is, as you are aware, rather unusual for anyone but a member of the Government to be present at a meeting of this nature. You, however, hold a privileged, I might add, unique position, and I believe I am correct in saying that this is not the first time you have been called into consultation at a conference of the Cabinet.’

Wallace felt inclined to ask him to come to the point, but tactfully made no comment. Verbosity, he well knew, was a disease which afflicted most members of Parliament. The Premier sat back in his chair, and folded his arms. He cleared his throat, as though about to launch into a lengthy oration.

‘We have met today,’ he went on, ‘to discuss a very serious matter. My Right Honourable friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has been the recipient of news of a most alarming nature from Hong Kong. For some time he has been receiving reports which caused him a great deal of unease, but only last night was he put in full possession of the startling facts. Sir Stanley Ferguson, His Majesty’s representative in the colony, has sent a very full and exhaustive statement. It is not my intention to read it to you – you will have full access to that and all other documents relative to the subject. I will content myself by giving you the bare outlines.’ He cleared his throat again, and Sir Leonard moved a little restlessly. ‘It is generally regarded,’ declared the leader of the Government, ‘that your activities are mostly bound up in affairs under the purview of the Foreign Office, but—’

‘Pardon me, sir,’ interrupted Wallace; ‘that is a misapprehension. It is true that most of the work accomplished by my department is in connection with foreign affairs and, therefore, I am in closer touch generally with the Foreign Secretary than with most other gentlemen of your Cabinet. May I remind you, however, that the Intelligence Service exists for the benefit of Great Britain not only in alien countries but at home, in the dominions, and the colonies as well. Some years ago there was a misunderstanding of that nature, as a result of which the functions of my department were clearly and succinctly outlined in a confidential memorandum to the heads of all Government offices.’

‘Quite so! Quite so!’ responded the Premier, smiling slightly as he turned his eyes momentarily in the direction of the Foreign Secretary. ‘Nevertheless, one or two of my Right Honourable friends were not quite clear on that point. Your statement, Sir Leonard, will have done much to remove the possibility of future misapprehensions.’

‘At the same time,’ interposed the Foreign Secretary, it must be understood that my department is entitled to priority.’

In consequence of his remark, a debate on the subject threatened to develop, but Sir Leonard had no intention of sitting there a mute listener of a controversy that had no actual bearing on the business in hand. He startled the Right Honourable gentlemen, scandalised some, by interrupting.

‘Gentlemen,’ he protested, ‘such a discussion is hardly relevant, if I am to be made acquainted with the matter for which I was summoned here. I have agents and assistants enough to undertake whatever duties are required, even if all of you were involved. It is only rarely that the exigencies of the service leave me in any way short-handed. At the moment, having heard something of the trouble in Hong Kong, I have given instructions for two of my most reliable men to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to China at a moment’s notice.’

‘You don’t quite understand the situation yet, Sir Leonard,’ observed the Foreign Secretary drily. ‘The suggestion is that you be asked to go to Hong Kong yourself for a period of at least six months.’

If he had expected to see Wallace show his surprise, he was disappointed, but probably because he knew the Chief of the Secret Service well, and had had more dealings with him than any of the others, he anticipated nothing of the sort. Sir Leonard merely leant a little forward, and addressed the Prime Minister.

‘Perhaps you will be good enough to give me the bare outlines of this Hong Kong affair, sir, as you intimated you were about to do.’

‘Certainly,’ was the reply, ‘but, before I proceed, it may save time, if you tell me how much you already know. You mentioned a moment ago that you had heard something of the trouble in Hong Kong.’

‘My knowledge amounts to little more than a rumour, sir, to the effect that there has been a serious embezzlement of funds, and that the secret of certain fortifications is known to Japan.’

The Premier inclined his head gravely.

‘That is the gist of our information,’ he admitted. ‘It appears that for some years the Government of Hong Kong has been systematically defrauded of large sums of money, the total amount of which is believed to be in the neighbourhood of a hundred million dollars – that is ten million pounds. Cleverly forged government bonds were responsible for the greater part of the leakage, but false contracts, fictitious loans, and various other criminal activities have also played their part. Some months ago it was brought to Sir Stanley Ferguson’s notice by the then Senior Assistant Treasurer, who, on the resignation of the Colonial Treasurer, took the latter’s place, that all was not well. He instituted an enquiry, as a result of which it was discovered that expenditure since the war had increased by two hundred per cent, when on paper only fifty per cent, a reasonable increase, had been shown. Various officials were suspended, and are awaiting trial, but it is obvious that they are merely catspaws. Everything pointed to the belief that a powerful organisation was manipulating the finances. It sounds incredible, but there can be little doubt that such was the case.

‘Sir Stanley ordered the most rigid investigation, and at last it was discovered that a wealthy Macanese, by name of Mathos, was involved. His arrest was immediately ordered, but when the police arrived to apprehend him he was found to have committed suicide. Certain papers were seized and, although no names were mentioned in these, they proved beyond doubt that there are certain members of the Legislative Council implicated. As you will see from a perusal of Sir Stanley’s report, various incidents, presumably having a bearing on the conspiracy, have taken place in rapid succession. A magistrate in Shanghai, who telegraphed that important information had come into his hands, was asked to repair to Hong Kong. On the voyage he disappeared over the side of the steamer, and was drowned. A Chinese banker who declared that he knew a great deal was found dead in bed. He had been poisoned. You will gather, therefore, how urgent it is that the truth must be discovered and the guilty unmasked. Absolute disaster looms ahead, unless the conspiracy is quickly and definitely crushed. The latest information includes the news that a Japanese merchant found in prohibited territory, and arrested, boasted that the Hong Kong fortifications were as an open book to the government of his country. He refused to say more, however. It appears likely that the betrayal of our military secrets is connected with the other affair, but of that, I understand, there is no absolute proof.

‘The police seem helpless; Sir Stanley Ferguson has done his utmost, but is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This is a matter, Sir Leonard, which we feel can only be dealt with by you. Experts sent out by you may accomplish much, but affairs are in such an extremely serious state that we are agreed that it is necessary for you to be on the spot with full executive power in your hands.’

He paused, and regarded Wallace earnestly.

‘You mean—’ began the latter.

‘I mean that my Right Honourable colleague, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, proposes, with our full sanction, to give Sir Stanley Ferguson six months’ leave of absence, to be extended if necessary, to enable him to recover fully his health, his place, while he is away, to be filled by you.’

As he finished speaking, all eyes in that famous apartment were turned on Sir Leonard; there fell an almost heavy silence as though everyone was endeavouring to breathe as quietly as possible. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, a man whose expression was habitually solemn, made no attempt to hide his anxiety. Several others were there who appeared just as concerned. The Foreign Secretary sat erect, a frown upon his ascetic countenance. He was torn between two emotions; the feeling that Sir Leonard’s absence in the Far East for such a long period might place activities nearer home at a serious disadvantage, and the knowledge that he was the only man at all likely to save the situation in Hong Kong and unmask the conspirators. Wallace himself sat calmly turning over the proposition in his mind. Presently a smile curved his lips.

‘I have never,’ he declared, ‘felt the slightest ambition to be governor of a colony.’

‘That is well known,’ returned the Colonial Secretary drily. ‘My predecessor took some time to recover from the shock of your point blank refusal, when you were offered Ceylon some two or three years ago. But,’ he added eagerly, ‘this is a different proposition. It will be only a temporary appointment. We realise that in asking you to abandon your headquarters for seven or eight months we are more or less jeopardising other national interests, but you can always keep in touch with the man you leave in charge in case of emergency.’

Again Sir Leonard smiled.

‘I am not worrying about that,’ he remarked. ‘I am not indispensable by any means. There are two or three men capable of taking my place. I am quite prepared to go to Hong Kong, but I am not convinced yet that it is necessary for me to go out as governor. I would prefer to undertake the mission without any official designation.’

‘We feel,’ the Prime Minister assured him, ‘that it is necessary you should have full executive power. Without it you may be gravely handicapped.’

Sir Leonard rose from his chair.

‘If you will let me have all documents relative to the conspiracy, sir,’ he observed, ‘I will study them tonight, and consider thoroughly my own position as possible investigator from every angle.’

‘They will be sent to you by special messenger within half an hour,’ promised the Premier.

‘If I accept, will I be given absolute carte blanche?’

‘You will.’

‘I presume the affair is to be kept as secret as possible? Nothing more than is absolutely necessary should be allowed to reach the press.’

‘Every precaution will be taken to ensure that,’ was the reply. ‘And when can I expect to hear from you, Sir Leonard?’

‘You will have my decision at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.’

Wallace bowed courteously, and walked from the room.

CHAPTER TWO

Wallace Accepts the Appointment

Sir Leonard retired to bed at a very late hour that night. It was the height of the London season, and he attended one or two functions with Lady Wallace before he felt himself at liberty to seek the seclusion of the study of his house in Piccadilly. There eventually, he removed his dress coat, donned an old smoking jacket and, having filled and lit a pipe, settled down to a careful perusal of the reports sent from Sir Stanley Ferguson, the Governor of Hong Kong, to the Colonial Secretary. Although of a lengthy nature they were distinctly discursive and prolix, and he learnt little more from them than he already knew. There was not the slightest doubt, however, that an exceedingly grave situation had arisen in the Far East, and it was not long before he decided that, if he were to cope with the conspiracy at all successfully, it was necessary for him to be on the spot himself. Whether it was politic that he should go out as Acting-Governor was a different matter, and he sat considering the point until well in to the small hours. Apart from his own dislike of holding a position in which he would necessarily be almost continually in the limelight, he felt at first that being so much in the public eye would be a distinct obstacle to his activities. On the other hand it would certainly be a definite advantage to possess full executive power, while it should be possible to shed the limelight on occasions if essential. Carefully he weighed up all the pros and cons and, at last, locking away the documents in his safe, went off to bed with his mind made up. He had decided to accept the Premier’s offer.

He told Lady Wallace at breakfast that he had been asked to act as Governor of Hong Kong while Sir Stanley Ferguson was on leave. She was astonished, especially when he went on to inform her that, on consideration, he had resolved to take the post. Molly longed ardently for the day to come when her husband would retire from his position as Chief of the Intelligence Service, and either accept an appointment of less danger, or settle down to the life of a country gentleman. Always when he left her on his hazardous missions, she suffered the most acute anxiety, and a good deal of her life, in consequence, was an ordeal of nerve-racking apprehension. She did her utmost to hide her solicitude from him, knowing that her duty as his wife lay in doing all she could to assist, and not interfere with or hinder him in his work. Her nobility of character was to be expected in a woman whose family had ever been noted for its intense patriotism, but that did not prevent her from suffering. Sir Leonard fully realised what she endured, but never commented. His pride in her was perhaps even greater than her pride in him. Theirs was a great devotion and a perfect understanding. That he should be prepared to accept what, at least on the surface, appeared to be an innocuous appointment, even if it were only for six months or thereabouts, gave her a good deal of surprise as well as unqualified delight. Of course, she understood that behind it must lie some urgent necessity for his presence in Hong Kong, but she argued to herself that a public appointment of such a nature would, at least, be assured of comparative freedom from the dangers he usually faced.

Without going very deeply into the circumstances that had led to such an appointment being offered to him, he told her there had been malpractices in the control of finance in the colony and certain other leakages, and that he would be required to investigate. She felt a glow of pleasure, when he went on with a smile to talk of the success she would undoubtedly prove as ‘The Governor’s Lady’. He impressed upon her the necessity of making her preparations for the voyage at once in order that they could sail at the earliest possible moment. Afterwards he gave instructions to Batty, his manservant, which caused that worthy to beam with hearty approval. During his career as a sailor, Batty had been stationed in Hong Kong for two years on HMS Tamar, which had then been the guardship. The prospect of returning to the Far East appealed to him immensely. A gentleman who viewed the imminent departure of his chief with less complacence was Major Brien. He did not relish being left in charge at headquarters for so long a period.

‘It will take you five weeks to go out and five weeks to return, on top of a sojourn out there of six months or more,’ he complained. ‘Hang it all, Leonard! You’ll be away for at least eight months.’

‘Well, what does that matter?’ asked Wallace. ‘I have perfect confidence in your ability to carry on.’

‘I haven’t. Suppose something requiring the brains and ingenuity that only you can provide turns up, what then?’

‘Your trouble, Bill, is that you suffer from an inferiority complex. You have become so used to leaving things to me that you’re afraid to rely upon yourself. But I rely upon you, so remember that. One of these days I may decide to retire. Then you would find yourself in charge permanently.’

‘God forbid!’ murmured Brien fervently. ‘When you go I go also.’

‘Nonsense! But reverting to the present situation: you have a splendid man in Maddison to support you, and several others, and you can always keep in touch with me in an emergency. Ten or twelve thousand miles means nothing in these days of wireless.’

Brien had perforce to be content with that but, as the time drew near for Sir Leonard’s departure, the frown upon his second in command’s brow grew more portentous, his fair hair seemed to become permanently ruffled. The Prime Minister had received Sir Leonard’s decision at the time promised, and had made no attempt to hide the satisfaction it gave him. The appointment duly appeared in the Gazette, and Sir Leonard had the honour of being received by the King at Buckingham Palace. His Majesty once again showed his great interest in the work of the Intelligence Service, and expressed the hope that, in his forthcoming investigations, Wallace would be as successful as he had been in the past.

Sir Leonard left nothing to chance. Thorough in everything he did, he took care to ensure that, as far as possible, Major Brien should have no reason to complain that any instructions or advice that could be of assistance to him, while left in charge, should be neglected. With that meticulous regard for detail and power of anticipation that had always been the admiration of his lifelong friend, he made easy the path the latter would have to tread during his absence abroad. Carter, one of his ablest assistants, a young man who had graduated to the Secret Service by way of the Criminal Investigation Department, was to accompany him ostensibly as secretary. Another man, perhaps the most brilliant of his agents, had a prolonged interview with him, as a result of which Mr Gerald Cousins, travelling under an assumed name, left London very hurriedly by airliner one bright morning for the East. At last, a couple of days before he and Lady Wallace were due to embark at Marseilles, satisfied that he had neglected nothing, Sir Leonard allowed himself to relax. It was then that he received a typewritten missive dated from the Charing Cross Hotel.

Sir,

You will be well advised to abandon your intention of proceeding to Hong Kong. It will be realised by certain people in that colony that you have accepted the appointment of Governor for reasons not unconnected with their nefarious activities. Those people will not stick at murder to safeguard themselves.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

John Baxter

The receipt of such a document naturally had no effect on Sir Leonard’s plans, but it afforded him a certain amount of elation. Here, he reflected, was one who perhaps could give him very important information. He and Maddison promptly visited the Charing Cross Hotel, and asked to see Mr Baxter. When the latter learnt who they were, he appeared terrified. He looked like a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Escorting them to his bedroom, and taking care to bolt the door, he declared that by accident he had discovered that a very prominent individual was concerned in the Hong Kong conspiracy. Since then he had gone in fear for his life. He had narrowly escaped assassination on several occasions, and eventually, giving up an important post that he had held for years, had left Hong Kong, and returned to England. Even then, he asserted, he was not safe. Only that morning he had discovered that the rooms on either side of his had been engaged by three Phillipinos, thought to be brothers – two being in one, and the third occupying the other apartment alone. Their name – Gochuico – was unfamiliar to him, but that meant nothing. The significant fact was that the important individual, of whose connection with the scandal he was aware, had Philippinos in his service.

He was extremely reluctant to divulge the name of the man, but, urged by Sir Leonard, he was about to do so when, from the direction of the window, came the sharp report of a revolver, followed by a groan as Baxter collapsed. Maddison at once sprang to his side, and bent over him. He was dead, a small hole in the centre of his forehead testifying to the accuracy of the shot that had been fired at him.

Heedless of his own danger, Wallace had darted across to the window. As far as he could see there was no one outside, but he quickly discovered how the assassin had come – and gone. The rooms below possessed bay windows, and thus extended some feet farther out than those of the floor above, forming a kind of balcony. The murderer had simply stepped out of the window of a neighbouring room, no doubt had listened to the conversation and, at the crucial moment, had killed Baxter, afterwards diving back from whence he had come. Shouting to Maddison to send for the manager, and telephone Scotland Yard, Sir Leonard tore across to the door, and stepped out into the corridor. He was just in time to observe three men hurry into an elevator. One glanced back. He was a small fellow with black hair, sallow complexion, and dark, almond-shaped eyes. The others were a little taller, but he could not see their faces. His shouts to the lift attendant were not heard, whereupon he raced desperately down the stairs. He was too late, of course, to intercept them, but he learnt the direction the men had taken.

For a long time, aided by the station police and several porters, Sir Leonard searched the neighbourhood without success. The Philippinos had vanished completely. He gave up the quest at last, returning to the hotel. Except in the neighbourhood of Baxter’s room, there appeared no excitement. Residents and members of the staff had either not heard the shot, or had mistaken it for something less thrilling. Inspector Graham of Scotland Yard was in charge; had already searched the adjoining rooms, finding several indications of a hurried flight. There was little doubt that the Gochuico brothers had followed Baxter to England, and that it was one of them who had murdered him.

The suitcases belonging to the Philippinos were opened, and carefully searched by Maddison and Wallace, but nothing was found to give a clue in any way to the identity of the man who had ordered Baxter’s death; nothing, in fact, of any help whatever. The dead man’s belongings proved equally negative. In the numerous letters and notebooks found in his trunk there was no mention at all of the Hong Kong scandal, and certainly of no one likely to be involved in it. Somewhat disappointed, Sir Leonard eventually gave up the search, and, as the police surgeon had arrived with another inspector, he and Maddison departed, leaving the police to take charge. He telephoned Scotland Yard for news that night after dinner. He was told that the three Gochuico brothers were still at large, and no clue to their whereabouts had been obtained. A description of them had been circulated, and all ports warned, but, as Sir Leonard remarked, there was not much hope. Men who had committed a crime so daring would be certain to have taken steps to ensure their getting away safely from England.

He felt that he had been robbed of an opportunity of obtaining some valuable information. However, the knowledge he possessed might be of great assistance in his efforts to unmask the Hong Kong conspirators. Whether or not the three men who had tracked Baxter to England were really brothers and their name Gochuico, it should not prove a very difficult task to discover what prominent citizen of Hong Kong employed men of their race. Wallace had not anticipated an easy task in Hong Kong, or one free from danger. Events would now cause him to be doubly cautious. He had had ample proof of the lengths to which the conspirators would go.

It was necessary, of course, that certain aspects of the murder of Baxter should be hushed up; that no mention of the Secret Service being interested should be permitted to come out at the inquest. The police handled the matter satisfactorily enough from Sir Leonard’s point of view. They furnished the press with the story of a vendetta which had ended in Baxter being traced to London and assassinated. The manager of the hotel was sworn to secrecy regarding the presence on the scene of the Chief of the Intelligence Corps and his assistant, Maddison. As the name of his hotel was not divulged, he was somewhat relieved. It is no advertisement for a hotel to be known as the scene of a murder.

Leaving Major Brien and Maddison to watch events, with instructions to learn all they could from the Gochuicos, in the event of the latter being captured, Wallace left London with his wife by the P&O special train. Their son, Adrian, remained in England at school, to his great disgust. Lady Wallace had been inclined to persuade her husband to allow the little fellow to accompany them, but he had pointed out that Adrian was getting on so well at school that it would have been a great pity to have interrupted his progress for so long a period as eight months. At the back of his mind was the feeling that, if danger arose in Hong Kong, it would be better if Adrian were not in the colony. He was not too happy about Molly accompanying him, but, short of telling her his fears, he was unable to furnish her with any reason why she should remain in England.

They had their first taste of the formality of the life of a governor of a British Colony, when they were officially received at Marseilles by the captain of the ship on which they were to travel. They embarked at once; Carter, who was to act as Sir Leonard’s secretary, following them up the gangway, leaving Batty and Lady Wallace’s maid to see to the disposal of the luggage. The captain entertained them in his cabin for half an hour before the Rawalpindi sailed, and Sir Leonard impressed on him that the less formality there was on the boat the better he would be pleased. Captain Taylor smiled with a good deal of relief.

‘I am glad to hear you insist on that, Sir Leonard,’ he admitted with bluff heartiness. ‘We get so many bigwigs – I beg your pardon,’ he interrupted himself with a grin, ‘I meant important people – travelling to and fro who insist on the strictest punctilio that it is a comfort to know you want none of it.’

When Lady Wallace had gone to her cabin to get settled in, as she put it, Captain Taylor became grave.

‘It’s none of my business, of course, Sir Leonard,’ he observed, ‘but, knowing who you are and something of affairs in Hong Kong, it doesn’t require a great deal of acumen to guess why you are going there as governor. If I may presume to give you a word of warning, I advise you to be continually on the quivive from the moment you set foot on the island.’

‘What do you know?’ questioned Wallace sharply.

‘Nothing. That is, nothing of any help to you. There is a gigantic conspiracy going on, aimed, it is believed, chiefly at Britain’s power in the Far East. It won’t cease because that wholesale embezzlement of government funds has been discovered. My knowledge merely amounts to what I have been told in the clubs, the office, and by the compradors who come aboard full of tales, and I suppose your official information is infinitely greater and more reliable than mine.’

‘I’m not so sure,’ commented Sir Leonard. ‘A Chinese comprador very often possesses a fund of private intelligence that is far more valuable than any amount of official information.’

Captain Taylor smiled.

‘Ah! You know the breed?’

‘Well enough to feel interested in anything you can repeat that has been told to you by them about affairs in Hong Kong.’

‘I’ll do my best, sir, to remember all I have been told during the voyage, and place it at your disposal.’

‘Thanks.’

There came a knock at the door; a young officer looked in.

‘Pilot’s aboard, sir,’ he announced, ‘and all’s ready for casting off.’

The captain nodded, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. He and Sir Leonard rose from their chairs.

‘Tell me,’ invited the latter; ‘why did you think it necessary to warn me to be on my guard in Hong Kong?’

Taylor shrugged his shoulders.

‘Your reputation is well-known all over the world,’ he replied, ‘and if it is so evident to me why you, of all men, should accept an appointment of such a nature, it is hardly likely that the men you are after will overlook the reason. They will fear your coming, Sir Leonard, and I’m afraid will do their utmost to – to—’

He hesitated.

‘Put me out of the way,’ supplied Wallace with a smile. ‘Perhaps you are right, Taylor, but for heaven’s sake keep your fears to yourself when my wife is about.’

‘Of course,’ returned the other, a suspicion of indignation in his tone. ‘I shall be glad,’ he went on, ‘if you and Lady Wallace will do me the honour of taking coffee with me up here after dinner, sir.’

‘We shall be delighted,’ responded Wallace, ‘if you’ll remember to refrain from being so confoundedly formal.’

The captain chuckled, and went up to the bridge. Descending to the promenade deck, Sir Leonard stood with the chattering throng watching the hawsers being cast off, as the tugs got into position, and began to warp the Rawalpindi from the P&O dock. The throb of the engines, the hoarse commands from the bridge, the excitable shouting of the French dockhands on the quay below gave him a sense of thrill. Lady Wallace found him, and they stood together watching the panorama of Marseilles, as the ship drew out from the docks and headed for the open sea. The great statue of the Virgin surmounting the belfry of Notre Dame de la Garde sparkled in the sunshine; every detail was visible. A funicular car could be seen clearly, as it made its way up the mountainside to the church which probably holds the most commanding position of any place of worship in the world. Several of their fellow passengers, the majority men, also stayed in the neighbourhood, but they had no eyes for the charms of the land they were rapidly leaving. Unobtrusively they were looking at and admiring the beautiful woman so close to them. Sir Leonard knew it, and smiled to himself. He was quite used to the sight of approving men and envious women studying the glorious chestnut hair waving so attractively round the shapely head, the deep blue eyes, perfectly formed lips, dainty nose, and clear unspoilt complexion of his wife. He felt no resentment; rather he approved. He was generous enough and humble enough to feel that he had no right to monopolise such beauty.

It was not until the Château d’If in its rocky fastness, and with its memories of Edmond Dantes, was left far astern that he and his wife moved. Lady Wallace went below, while Sir Leonard strolled along to the smoking room. There he found Carter, and invited that young man to have a drink with him. One or two of the girls on board had already noticed the tall, well-knit, good-looking man with the bronzed complexion, wavy brown hair and patrician features; had probably decided that he would be a distinct acquisition as companion and playmate to help pass away the tedious hours of the voyage. Carter, catching sight of the inviting smile on the lips of one young siren, had promptly retired to the safety of the smoke room.

‘You know, sir,’ he said in reply to a remark of Sir Leonard’s, ‘there’s something about a boat which makes it dangerous for a mere man who puts his job before everything else. Women seem to acquire some sort of enchantment that is hard to resist. If I ever get married – which the Lord forbid – it will be because of the atmosphere on board ship.’

Wallace laughed.

‘I’m afraid I cannot allow you to become romantic on this trip, Carter,’ he declared, ‘there is too much depending on it. I want a secretary with all his wits about him.’

The happy-go-lucky nature of Tommy Carter came to the rescue. He grinned broadly.

‘You can depend on me, sir,’ he proclaimed. ‘Can’t think what made me talk such rot.’

Sir Leonard watched the men thronging the smoke room, and calling loudly for drinks. Most of them, tanned by years spent under tropic suns, were easy to place. Members of the Indian Civil Service with their bored air of superiority, keen-eyed engineers, cheery soldiers were all among those present. Others there were whose occupations were more difficult to guess at, including specimens of that peculiar type of individual, so common in the East, who always seems to have plenty of money, is seen everywhere, yet has no definite employment as far as can be ascertained. Wallace finds a fascination in studying his fellow men. It is certain that he learns more about them in a casual glance than the majority of human beings would discover on fairly intimate acquaintance. Idly now he watched them as they sat at the small tables or crowded round the bar, waited upon by stewards or attended to by the barman and his mate.

Suddenly he stiffened. A man had entered the saloon, stood looking round somewhat self-consciously as though he had come to seek somebody, but was not in his own part of the ship. He was of medium height, thin, and sallow, with almond-shaped eyes, and black shiny hair. He bore a remarkable resemblance to the little Philippino of whom Wallace had obtained a glimpse in the Charing Cross Hotel, though taller and slimmer. Sir Leonard felt certain that this man was one of the Gochuico brothers, and a feeling of satisfaction shot through him. The newcomer presently caught sight of the man for whom he was searching; edged his way towards a stout, prosperous-looking Chinaman dressed in perfectly fitting European clothes. But before he reached the latter he was turned back by a peremptory shake of the head. Wallace, watching without appearing to do so, saw the Philippino disappear from the smoking saloon, observed the Chinaman quickly follow him, and noted the covert glance that the latter shot in his direction, before he, too, went out. Carter suddenly became aware of the curious smile on his chief’s lips.

‘Has anything happened, sir?’ he asked eagerly.

‘We are just entering upon the second act of our little play,’ was the quiet response.

CHAPTER THREE

Enter Wun Cheng Lo

Glorious weather favoured the Rawalpindi on her run to Port Said. The Mediterranean was at its calmest and bluest and, though the late August sun shone with fierce intensity, its heat was tempered by a slight head wind, strong enough and fresh enough to keep everybody comfortable and in good spirits. Deck games were quickly in full swing and, before long, Sir Leonard, mixing freely with his fellow passengers, and entering wholeheartedly into their pastimes, had proved himself extremely difficult to beat at deck tennis and quoits. He and Carter frequently partnered each other at doubles in the former game, and became known as the invincibles.

Captain Taylor and the Chief of the Intelligence Service became very good friends. The former spent as much time as he could spare with Sir Leonard, though never obtruding. He repeated all the information he had obtained of affairs in Hong Kong to Wallace, none of it, unfortunately, adding very materially to the knowledge the latter already possessed. It became the usual thing for them to take coffee together in the captain’s cabin after dinner at night, when they would discuss the conspiracy that, like a canker, was eating away the security of Great Britain in the Far East. Sometimes Lady Wallace would sit with them, but was generally too much in demand on the promenade deck, where dancing was indulged in nightly. Both men took care never to refer to the subject uppermost in their thoughts in her presence.

Inquiries elicited the fact that the stout Chinaman, who had roused Sir Leonard’s interest on the first day of the voyage, was a wealthy merchant of Kowloon. As far as could be ascertained, he was a man of unimpeachable character and integrity who, in many ways, had accomplished much of value in the social and economic life of the colony. But his behaviour in the smoking saloon and intimacy with a second class passenger, whom Wallace was convinced was one of the Gochuico brothers, made him suspect. Observation of the little happenings had, more than once, enabled the Secret Service man to discover events of far-reaching importance. From the moment that he had followed the presumed Philippino from the smoking room, the Chinaman was under observation. Acting on Sir Leonard’s instructions, Carter, in the most casual manner, began to cultivate his acquaintance. The Kowloon merchant, under the impression that it was he who had sought Carter’s company, would have been surprised to know the truth. In the same manner, though less subtly, Batty struck up a fair amount of intimacy with the Philippino in the second class. The latter’s name was down on the passenger list as Feodoro, he admitted to his nationality, and there were certainly no others of his breed on the boat. Nevertheless, Wallace felt certain he was one of the three who had been residents of the Charing Cross Hotel.

It was while the ship was running at reduced speed through the Straits of Messina that Wallace first had any conversation with the Chinaman. The beauty of that delectable spot was somewhat marred by a slight mist, but the passengers crowded the decks, eager to drink to the full the charm of one of the loveliest panoramas in the world. Etna was completely obscured, but the neighbouring hills, with Messina itself nestling coyly at the base, were plainly visible. The gentle slopes of Calabria on the other side, with the white walls of Reggio appearing to descend until they were embraced by the softly lapping waves, were at times shrouded in the filmy vapour, at others glistening in the sunshine. Men and women, sitting precariously in small boats rocked by the swell caused by the passing of the liner, waved handkerchiefs, and smiled happily up at the crowded decks. An Italian ship, the Genova, bound from Bombay to Naples and Genoa, passed, it seemed, within a stone’s throw. A white-clad figure flourished his arms from the bridge. Captain Taylor waved back. He informed Sir Leonard afterwards that the man he had saluted was Captain Ferrara, one of the most genial and best liked skippers who had ever sailed east of Suez.

Wallace noticed the exchange of friendly greetings, and focused his glasses on the bridge of the other vessel. He saw a stocky figure with fair hair and moustache whose round face was beaming with delight. A thoroughly good fellow, he decided, and turned away, little guessing that he was to meet the Italian under very different circumstances. The ferry was passing some distance ahead, and he was about to look at the long low boat carrying a train across the Straits, when his elbow hit a stanchion, and he dropped the glasses. At once a man close by stooped, picked them up, and handed them to him with a low bow. It was the Chinaman.

‘Permit, your Excellency,’ he said in perfect though somewhat flowery English, ‘this low-born hand to return the binoculars to your honourable keeping.’

‘Thank you,’ nodded Wallace. He was about to turn away, but changed his mind. The man obviously was eager to have speech with him. Sir Leonard decided to give him the opportunity.

‘I presume you are destined for China?’ he smiled. ‘Is it Hong Kong or Shanghai?’

‘Hong Kong, your Excellency,’ was the reply. ‘I have the privilege of being an insignificant merchant of that jewel of the sublime British Crown. It is my humble desire to be of service to your Excellency.’

‘That is very nice of you, Mr—’

‘Wun Cheng Lo is the name bestowed on their unimportant son by his honourable parents, illustrious sir.’

‘Well, in what way do you think you can be of service to me, Mr Wun Cheng Lo?’

‘In Hong Kong the times are inauspicious for a change of executive. I know, of course, that the present high-born and eminent Governor, Sir Stanley Ferguson, is ill—’

‘Oh, and how did you know that?’

The Chinaman shrugged his broad shoulders.

‘Even the humblest of your servants is acquainted with news that is common to all interested in Hong Kong.’

‘I see,’ commented Wallace. ‘I did not know that knowledge of Sir Stanley’s ill health was so universal.’

‘Your Excellency will pardon me, if I presume to remind you that, had the exalted Sir Stanley been in good health, there would have been no need for him to be relieved by your noble self.’

His face remained entirely impassive as he spoke, but Sir Leonard caught a gleam that looked distinctly cynical in his eyes.

‘That is quite true,’ agreed the Chief of the Secret Service. ‘But in what way are the times inauspicious for a change of governors?’

Again came a shrug of the shoulders.

‘Events are happening which it is unwise for a man of inquiring mind to investigate. Your magnificent reputation, your Excellency, will be known to the base dogs who live only for their own advancement to the detriment of the honourable nation they are supposed to serve. They will fear you, and with fear will go murderous designs.’

‘Look here,’ exclaimed Wallace sharply, ‘are you warning me against some imaginary danger?’

‘Not imaginary, your Excellency,’ Wun Cheng Lo shook his head solemnly. ‘I am afraid there are low-born wretches in Hong Kong who will seek your death to prevent your discovering their evil plots.’

‘Who are these people?’

The Chinaman shook his head.

‘That valuable knowledge is withheld from me. But I return to Hong Kong hoping that I shall be able to put my humble service at your disposal. It is my desire to seek until I can uncover these vile plotters who are making the colony stink with iniquity. I fear for you, illustrious Sir Leonard, therefore I go to aid you as far as in this poor insignificant body and brain lies.’

‘Do you actually mean to say that you are going back to Hong Kong especially for that purpose?’

‘That is so, your Excellency.’

‘But why?’

‘Because, though humble and of no account, I am not without influence, and am a loyal subject of the majestic might of Britain. It is my duty to do what I can.’

‘You must know something of importance.’

‘I know nothing, most honourable sir, but that which is known to all. But I have means by which it is possible I may glean information. My wretched servants are many, my lowly operations widespread. Everything I possess will be at your honourable disposal. In order to do my poor best for you, I make but one request.’

‘What is that?’

‘When in Hong Kong, I beg that I may have access to you at all hours – day or night. It may be necessary, your Excellency, if I am to be of real service to you.’

So that was what was behind all the assurances of loyalty and flowery protestation! Wun Cheng Lo wished to have access to Government House; to be able to come and go without question. He seemed to be rather transparent for a Chinaman. Yet, wondered Sir Leonard, would he have had any suspicions of the man, if he had not seen the incident in the smoking saloon? The expression on the Englishman’s face gave no indication of his thoughts; not a flicker of suspicion appeared in his eyes.

‘I appreciate your desire to be of help to me in the event, which I doubt, of help being necessary, Wun Cheng Lo,’ he observed. ‘But what you ask is rather unusual. Not being a member of my staff, it would seem hardly desirable that you should have access to me at any time. Then again what guarantees have I of your good faith?’

‘My name and reputation stand high,’ replied Wun Cheng Lo, forgetting to be flowery in his apparent earnestness. ‘Apart from that, your Excellency, I will always be alone, and members of your staff can be present when I have the honour of an interview with you.’

‘And you really think the position in Hong Kong is such that I shall require assistance from people who are as loyal as you?’

‘I know it, though my poverty-stricken mind has yet failed to suspect the direction from which danger will threaten your Excellency.’

‘Very well, Wun Cheng Lo, I will consider your offer. I am grateful to you for making it, and am disposed to accept. We will speak again.’

The Chinaman, despite his bulky proportions, bowed almost to the ground, and departed. A little later Wallace repeated the conversation he had had to Carter.

‘If I do get assassinated,’ he chuckled, ‘it will only be my fault with all the warnings I am getting.’

‘But if, as you think, sir,’ commented Carter, ‘Wun Cheng Lo is on the other side of the fence, I can’t see why he should give away his party’s fears and suspicions concerning you. After all, he is putting you on your guard, and that seems to me the very thing he would refrain from doing, if he is antagonistic to you.’

‘Not a bit of it,’ disagreed Sir Leonard. ‘He knows very well – they all know – that I am not merely replacing Ferguson because he is ill. He realises that, with all the information concerning the situation in Hong Kong that must have been placed at my disposal, I am already as suspicious and on my guard as I am ever likely to be. If I am not very much mistaken, he also knows that I was present at the tragedy in the Charing Cross Hotel, and that I learnt a lot there. Therefore, he is not doing anything subversive to the interests of his fellow conspirators. On the contrary, by obtaining my trust and confidence, he is going a long way towards helping them. He will think that by warning me, and offering his services, I am bound to think he is loyal and above suspicion. He will argue that I should never suspect a man who did his utmost to put me on my guard. Then, if I accept the offer of his services as a kind of spy, he is in the unique position of being persona grata in Government House itself, and able to carry out any mischief his confederates care to hatch.’

‘What do you intend to do, sir?’

‘Accept his offer. If Mr Wun Cheng Lo is in the pay of the organisation that is wrecking Hong Kong – and I feel certain he is – he should be very useful to us. We’ll let him think that we have the most touching faith in him. As time goes on, we’ll even take him into our confidence, and tell him that I have really become Governor in order to investigate and smash the conspiracy.’

Carter grinned cheerfully. He loved this chief of his who played the great game as though, in very truth, it were a game. He himself had been unable to find out anything of importance from the Chinaman. The latter had, however, cunningly attempted to pump Carter, much to that young man’s amusement. That had been the only cause for suspicion he had given, though at the time, Carter was disposed to look upon it as idle curiosity and nothing more.

‘Do you think he is likely to be a very important member of the organisation, sir?’ he asked.

Wallace shook his head.

‘No; but I believe he is the henchman of an important member, if not of the head himself. We’re rather lucky, Carter. We don’t altogether start with our eyes shut. Mr Wun Cheng Lo and the Philippino on board between them ought to give us considerable assistance, though they won’t know they’re doing it.’

‘They must have kept in pretty close touch with their principal or principals in China.’

‘Of course,’ nodded Wallace. ‘And I suspect that, now the Chinaman has left England, there will be no further cables of instructions. His job there has been accomplished. Every cable from Hong Kong since the murder of Baxter has been copied and sent to headquarters for examination to ascertain if it was in code. As there has been no wireless message from Maddison since we sailed, I presume nobody has been left behind for any reason. If there has, and instructions are sent to him, we’ll be told – Maddison will see to that.’

The weather continued fine after leaving Suez, but it was appallingly hot in the Red Sea. Deck games and sports were confined to the evenings, and then only indulged in by the younger and hardier among the passengers. The majority lay about in deck chairs on any part of the deck where a breath of air could be obtained. Iced drinks were in constant demand, and the swimming bath became quite the most popular part of the ship. A general sigh of relief went up once Aden had been left behind, for it was much cooler in the Arabian Sea.

Considerably more than half of the passengers disembarked at Bombay, while there were only a few fresh arrivals. In consequence, the ship appeared almost empty when she sailed for Colombo. There the Governor-elect of Hong Kong and his wife were given an official reception, and a tour of the district had been arranged for their benefit. They would have preferred to have done their sightseeing in a less formal manner. Sir Leonard, in fact, although appreciating the thought underlying the reception, felt distinctly bored at times, especially during a garden party held in the afternoon under the auspices of the legislative council. A drive in the evening through the avenues of beautiful trees, where the scent of the cinnamon was at times almost overpowering, to Mount Lavinia was, both to him and Molly, the most enjoyable event of the day. As the Rawalpindi was not sailing until the next morning, they stayed the night as guests of the Governor at Government House. A number of additional passengers embarked at Colombo. They were scrutinised carefully by Carter, and information respecting them obtained as far as possible from the purser, especially concerning those bound for Hong Kong. None of them seemed to be other than perfectly harmless travellers.

Since his initial talk with Wun Cheng Lo, Sir Leonard had had occasional conversations with the Chinaman, without, however, referring more than casually to the subject which had originally come under discussion. Wun Cheng Lo, although his face maintained the unemotional, impassive expression common to most Chinamen, was undoubtedly burning to receive a satisfactory answer to the request he had made to the Englishman. Sir Leonard once or twice caught the eager light in his eyes when his offer to be of service was mentioned, and smiled to himself. He knew the Kowloon merchant was unwilling to repeat the suggestion that he should have access at all times to the new Governor of Hong Kong for fear of giving himself away by appearing too anxious.