Dennis Wheatley - They Found Atlantis

He favoured her for a second with the bleak smile which 99

never lit his eyes. 'I hope so—now Duchess will you sign here.'

Camilla took up the pen and scrawled her signature.

'Now witnesses,' Kate glanced round. 'Will you oblige us, Captain McKay?'

'Not me!' rapped out the McKay. 'I'll see you to blazes first.'

'An unnecessary rudeness, Captain. It seems that vinegar has mingled with the salt which makes the old sea dog so crusty eh? But I have a liking for brave men and you're a V.C. they tell me so I'll excuse you. Doctor you will not refuse I know.'

Doctor Tisch rose to his feet without a murmur. He saw no reason why he should suffer the ignominy of having the part he had played exposed now, to no purpose.

When the Doctor had signed his name 'Kate' looked round again and his glance fell on Sally.

'It's no good asking me,' she said firmly.

'I had no intention of doing so,' he replied tartly. 'You cannot witness this will because you are a beneficiary under it. Which brings me to a further point that I must mention. The Duchess' fortune is so very large that I felt I could afford to be generous. Despite my remarks a little time ago it was not my intention to leave her entirely penniless and, as she could hardly inherit a sum under her own will, it occurred to me that if I increased the amount of fifty thousand, which you were down for, to one hundred thousand dollars, it would enable you to make some provision for her when you return from your official "travels". They may be a little long I fear as you are accompanying the others to the Falklands but it was for that reason your name alone of the party is not to appear among those of the dead. Captain Ardow will you sign as the second witness please.'

As Captain Ardow took the pen Camilla looked at the man who was robbing her of her fortune in such a calm businesslike manner, with new interest. 'Well, I must say that was decent of you,' she exclaimed in some surprise.

'No. That one of you at least should officially escape the "accident" gives additional plausibility to the whole scheme. However, I am happy to be able to arrange it in this way from an inherent dislike for seeing a woman of my own class on her uppers—engendered by this rag, I suppose.'

Once more he fingered the 'old school tie', then picked up the will and gave a final look round him.

'Slinger, Captain Ardow, men, you will come on deck with me to receive your final instructions. Ladies and gentlemen, all things considered you have given me very little trouble— far less than I anticipated—I am grateful to you. Goodnight!'

As his compact broad-shouldered figure was hidden from view by the little crowd of his associates who hurried from the lounge after him Sally suddenly sat back and gave way to shrieks of hysterical laughter.

'I see nothing to laugh at,' said the McKay grimly.

'Don't you—oh don't you?' Sally rocked helplessly from side to side. 'Wouldn't you laugh if you'd just been left a hundred thousand dollars?'

Captives in Conference

It was a silent and gloomy party which met some hours later for luncheon. Camilla and her friends had all been roused from their sleep at a little after three that morning; sustained nearly two hours of tense emotion in which fear, anger, and distress had been uppermost, while Oxford Kate unfolded his intentions to them; then crept miserably back to their beds round about five. They had slept therefore, with the exception of the McKay who had freshened himself up by ten minutes noisy splashing in the swimming pool and lain for an hour baking what he was pleased to term 'the imperial carcass' a shade more golden brown.

While the stewards were present there was a natural disinclination to discuss the situation, so conversation became strained to such an absurdly forced degree that after a few fatuous remarks about the excellence of the weather all further attempts were abandoned and Camilla told the steward to switch on the radio.

Slinger's chair remained empty, so it looked as if their principal gaoler did not intend to inflict his presence on them, but meant to take his meals in future with his confederate, the bleak-faced taciturn Captain Ardow. That at least was a relief, particularly to Count Axel and the McKay to both of whom it had occurred that if he put in an appearance they would have their work cut out in preventing Prince Vladimir from murdering him. Moreover, his absence enabled them to break into a free discussion of their plight immediately coffee had been served and the two stewards left the dining-room.

'Well,' said Camilla acidly, 'how do all my champions feel this morning?'

'I am ashamed quite,' declared Vladimir sadly. 'One fellow I broke only with the smashing fist. Then I was sprung upon too much.'

'Not you, my dear,' Camilla laid her hand gently upon his. 'I was enquiring after all these other heroes. A pretty picture they made last night.'

'Yes, yes,' Vladimir nodded quickly. 'We are five men. If all of us had broken one of these bandits where would they be now perhaps. After, we would have together minced up the other three—for they are eight only.'

'My dear Prince, you seem to have forgotten "Oxford Kate" himself—and Slinger— and Captain Ardow— and his crew ,' the McKay protested sarcastically. 'Personally I consider you were thunderin' lucky not to get a bullet in you when you started in on those toughs.'

'You've said it,' agreed Nicky with unusual cordiality.

'Still, I think Camilla's right. The five of you together might have put up some sort of show,' remarked Sally coldly.

'M'dear, we weren't together,' the McKay muttered irritably. 'Each of us was woken and fetched from our cabins by a couple of gunmen. If we had all cut up rough as the Prince did—separately—it's pretty certain that the five of us wouldn't be sitting here now.'

Count Axel nodded. 'That is so. We had no chance then, or later, and, however unpleasant the situation is in which we find ourselves, we must at least give it to this man "Kate" that the whole coup was admirably organised.'

'If you are throwing bouquets you might as well hand one to Slinger,' the McKay remarked.

'That rati' exclaimed Sally angrily.

'Yes. He must have arranged this little picnic by cable before we started out from Madeira.'

'Before that,' declared Axel. 'As you have remarked yourself, Captain Ardow and his crew are also in this thing. Slinger may be a very clever person but it is hardly likely that he could have bribed them all during our brief voyage. Moreover sea captains are usually honourable men. The presence of this taciturn Russian, who turns out to be a willing accomplice of these crooks as well as commander of this ship, can hardly be chance alone.'

'But they could have had no idea that I meant to make 103

this trip until it was arranged in Madeira,* Camilla protested. 'I didn't even know myself.'

The McKay smiled grimly. 'Have you ever seen a trick merchant pass a card? You think you're choosing from the pack but all the same you take the one he intends you to. Well, that's what happened to you.'

'You mean they guessed I'd fall for this expedition."

'That's it. You were jollied into it. Pretty skilfully I admit because Slinger was clever enough not to appear interested at the time. But that's about what happened.'

There was a general murmur of assent, then, Count Axel, whose lazy glance had been fixed on the Doctor's face, sat forward suddenly.

'I think that Herr Doctor Tisch could elucidate the point for us—if he cared to do so.

The little German started guiltily then shook his round bristling head in quick denial. 'It is not so! I know nothing. Only that I go to meet Herr Farquason at Madeira. Then I receive his radio and become desperate till the Gnddige Hertzogin agrees to save my great exploration.'