Dennis Wheatley - The Rape Of Venice

Roger's wide experience of women had made him cynical about them. He knew that even the most stupid were capable of laying plans to ensnare a man better than most generals could plan a battle, and that their natural ability for acting was a thing to marvel at. Memories flashed into his mind of lovely, seemingly innocent faces listening, apparently with eager interest, to a husband's wearisome discourse, while their owners were, in fact, counting the minutes until they could give themselves to a lover and most people present, except the husbands, had known it. There were times when, being the lover, he had watched such little comedies with special amusement. Now, it seemed for some weeks past, he must have been the victim of just such a pretty deception, and the odds were that Calcutta society had been laughing at him behind his back.

The shock had cleared the last fumes of wine from his brain. Just as when surprised by some sudden danger, it had become cold, swift, calculating. He wasted no time in mawkish self-​pity, or senselessly berating Chudda Gya; instead he questioned the still kneeling servant quickly and to the point. But Chudda Gya's replies threw little fresh light on the situation.

He did not know the Sahib with whom the Memsahib had gone away; had never seen him before. The stranger sahib had arrived in a handsome palanquin; he was richly dressed but not young, of medium height, with broad shoulders and a commanding manner. He had given no name but said only that he was a friend of the Memsahib's and she would be pleased to see him. That was soon, after the siesta hour. He had been asked to wait, and the Memsahib had come downstairs to him. She had taken him through to the veranda lounge and sent for drinks. About an hour later she had gone upstairs and ordered her woman to pack for her. Meanwhile, her visitor had sent one of his people down the road out of sight, but the man had not gone far as he shortly returned with others leading pack horses. Onto these, the Memsahib's baggage had been loaded. Then, without a word to Chudda Gya or any of the other servants, who had watched these proceedings with considerable surprise, she had allowed herself to be helped into the palanquin and carried away.

Roger had Chudda Gya bring all the other servants and questioned them in turn, but got little further. It emerged that the visitor spoke Urdu fluently, had been wearing a number of valuable jewels, and that his servants had given the impression that they went in fear of him. Clarissa had appeared calm and collected. She had not been seen or heard to laugh with her visitor; but, on the other hand, she had not cried, or shown the least sign of distress when leaving. Strangest of all, as it seemed to Roger, she had left no farewell note for him or even a message with one of her women.

It occurred to him that they might have been bribed to give him the minimum of information and so make it more difficult for him to get on her track. Promptly, he offered any or all of them a year's wages if they would help him to solve the mystery of her disappearance; but they only shook their heads and protested that they knew nothing more. Chudda Gya even assured him that, as he had proved a kind master and the Memsahib a kind mistress, they would have risked their lives in her defence, had it appeared to them that she was being taken away against her will; but her departure had been as unforced and deliberate as if she had been setting out with him, her lord, to spend a week-​end with friends in the country.

Clearly, no more could be learnt from them, so Roger strode out of the house, remounted his horse and set off at a canter for the city. With Hickey and the others he had come down river that afternoon by barge as far as Barangar on the outskirts of Calcutta, only then collected the mount that he had left stabled there over the week-​end. So the horse was fairly fresh, and carried him to Hickey's town residence within a quarter of an hour. The lawyer was engaged with his chief clerk, running through the major cases being handled by the firm during the current week, but at Roger's urgent request he postponed further business and had him shown in.

As soon as they were alone, Roger asked, 'Will, am I right in counting you a friend who would not lie to me?'

'Why yes, my dear Roger,' replied the astonished lawyer. 'But, Heavens alive, man, what's come over you? You're as white as if you'd seen a ghost.'

'Maybe! No matter! You know more of what goes on in Calcutta than any man. No beating about the bush now! I want the name of the man who has been pursuing Clarissa these past three weeks or more,

Hickey would have smiled, had not Roger's face been so black and threatening, As it was, he shrugged and replied quietly. 'My dear fellow, would you have me name half the bucks of the town, Mrs. Brook is the loveliest woman in it, and 'twould be against nature did not every gallant who sets eyes on her try his luck to intrigue her while you are engaged with others in more serious conversation.'

'To the devil with that!' exclaimed Roger. 'I mean some man of parts and wealth who has been making the running with her in such a way that could not have escaped your notice.'

'No, no.' Hickey shook his head. 'Many have tried and their endeavours have been evident enough; but all have been shortly chilled into desisting. Your sweet Clarissa does not seek to disguise the fact that your smile has the power to make her warmly human; but for all other men she is an icicle.'

'You're wrong in that!' Roger burst out. 'Utterly wrong! On my return home I found her gone. And gone bag and baggage with some other man who came to fetch her on Friday evening.'

Hickey came to his feet, staring at Roger in astonishment, 'You say she's left you? Damne I'd never have believed it!'

'It's true enough. She eloped with some wealthy nabob within a few hours of my setting out for Chinsurah; and she'd never have done that unless they had had some previous understanding. Surely you must at least have heard by rumour the name of some man with whom she has been carrying on an intrigue?'

'I have not. That I swear to you. But why should she do this? Had you quarrelled?'

'No; at least, no more than that she had complained somewhat of late that I've spent so many evenings away from home. Maybe I am to blame for that; though not overmuch, unless you grant a woman the right to become plaguey dictatorial.'

'Did she not leave a letter giving her reasons for leaving you?'

'Nay, not a thing.'

'Then all is not lost. It may be that she is only giving you a fright to punish you for your neglect of her. When you get home again you may find her there, and learn that she spent the week-​end quite innocently with friends,'

'I would I could think it; but I can't. In such a case she would never have removed all her belongings from the house even to her pets. No, no; some soft tongued schemer has taken advantage of her temporary disgruntlement and persuaded her to leave me for him. And once her mind's made up about a thing, nothing will turn her from it. But I'll be even with him. By the time I've done with him his body will be as full of holes as a garden sieve.'

'Of course. Quite right,' declared the tactful Hickey, seeking to pacify his scowling visitor. 'But first we must find him. Sit down, my dear friend, and tell me all you can about this unfortunate affair.'

With an effort Roger controlled the anger that was shaking him, sat down and gave a detailed account of all that had happened when he arrived home. As he finished Hickey said:

' Twould add to your distress to return there tonight; so you had best sleep here. After our week-​end I had planned a quiet evening; but if you'd prefer it, and it would take your mind off this trouble, I'll get a few cronies in to sup with us.'