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shall stop until the Saharas are floated on Monday； if I have to lock
it in the strongroom and throw the keys into the Thames。 Afterwards
Vernon can take it； as he has a right to do； and I am sure that with
it will go our luck。〃
〃Then the sooner our luck goes； the better；〃 replied Haswell； with a
mere ghost of his former whistle。 〃Life is better than luck； and
Aylward； that Yellow God you are so fond of means to murder us。 We are
being fatted for the sacrifice； that is all。 I remember now； that was
one of the things I saw written in its eyes！〃
CHAPTER III
JEEKIE TELLS A TALE
The Court； Mr。 Champers…Haswell's place； was a very fine house indeed；
of a sort。 That is； it contained twenty…nine bedrooms； each of them
with a bathroom attached； a large number of sitting…rooms； ample
garages； stables； and offices； the whole surrounded by several acres
of newly…planted gardens。 Incidentally it may be mentioned that it was
built in the most atrocious taste and looked like a suburban villa
seen through a magnifying glass。
It was in this matter of taste that it differed from Sir Robert
Aylward's home； Old Hall； a few miles away。 Not that this was old
either； for the original house had fallen down or been burnt a hundred
years before。 But Sir Robert； being gifted with artistic perception；
had reared up in place of it a smaller but really beautiful dwelling
of soft grey stone； long and low； and built in the Tudor style with
many gables。
This house； charming as it was； could not of course compare with
Yarleys； the ancient seat of the Vernons in the same neighbourhood。
Yarleys was pure Elizabethan； although it contained an oak…roofed hall
which was said to date back to the time of King John； a remnant of a
former house。 There was no electric light or other modern convenience
at Yarleys； yet it was a place that everyone went to see because of
its exceeding beauty and its historical associations。 The moat by
which it was surrounded； the grass court within； for it was built on
three sides of a square； the mullioned windows； the towered gateway of
red brick； the low…panelled rooms hung with the portraits of departed
Vernons； the sloping park and the splendid oaks that stood about；
singly or in groups； were all of them perfect in their way。 It was one
of the most lovely of English homes； and oddly enough its neglected
gardens and the air of decay that pervaded it； added to rather than
decreased its charm。
But it is with The Court that we have to do at present； not with
Yarleys。 Mr。 Champers…Haswell had a week…end party。 There were ten
guests； all men； and with the exception of Alan； who it will be
remembered was one of them； all rich and in business。 They included
two French bankers and three Jews； everyone a prop of the original
Sahara Syndicate and deeply interested in the forthcoming flotation。
To describe them is unnecessary； for they have no part in our story；
being only financiers of a certain class； remarkable for the riches
they had acquired by means that for the most part would not bear
examination。 The riches were evident enough。 Ever since the morning
the owners of this wealth had arrived by ones or twos in their costly
motorcars； attended by smart chauffeurs and valets。 Their fur coats；
their jewelled studs and rings； something in their very faces
suggested money； which indeed was the bond that brought and held them
together。
Alan did not come until it was time to dress for dinner； for he knew
that Barbara would not appear before that meal； and it was her society
he sought； not that of his host or fellow guests。 Accompanied by his
negro servant； Jeekie； for in a house like this it was necessary to
have someone to wait upon him； he drove over from Yarleys； a distance
of ten miles； arriving about eight o'clock。
〃Mr。 Haswell as gone up to dress； Major； and so have the other
gentlemen；〃 said the head butler； Mr。 Smith； 〃but Miss Champers told
me to give you this note and to say that dinner is at half…past
eight。〃
Alan took the note and asked to be shown to his room。 Once there；
although he had only five and twenty minutes； he opened it eagerly；
while Jeekie unpacked his bag。
〃Dear Alan；〃 it ran： 〃Don't be late for dinner； or I may not be
able to keep a place next to me。 Of course Sir Robert takes me in。
They are a worse lot than usual this time； odiousodious！and I
can't stand one on the left hand as well as on the right。 Yours；
〃B。
〃P。S。 What /have/ you been doing？ Our distinguished guests； to say
nothing of my uncle； seem to be in a great fuss about you。 I
overheard them talking when I was pretending to arrange some
flowers。 One of them called you a sanctimonious prig and an
obstinate donkey； and another answeredI think it was Sir Robert
'No doubt； but obstinate donkeys can kick and have been known to
upset other people's applecarts ere now。' Is the Sahara Syndicate
the applecart？ If so； I'll forgive you。
〃P。P。S。 Remember that we will walk to church together to…morrow；
but come down to breakfast in knickerbockers or something to put
them off； and I'll do the sameI mean I'll dress as if I were
going to golf。 We can turn into Christians later。 If we don't
dress like that； I meanthey'll guess and all want to come to
church； except the Jews； which would bring the judgment of Heaven
on us。
〃P。P。P。S。 Don't be careless and leave this note lying about； for
the under…footman who waits upon you reads all the letters。 He
steams them over a kettle。 Smith the butler is the only
respectable man in this house。〃
Alan laughed outright as he finished this peculiar and outspoken
epistle； which somehow revived his spirits； that since the previous
day had been low enough。 It refreshed him。 It was like a breath of
frosty air from an open window blowing clean and cold into a scented；
overheated room。 He would have liked to keep it； but remembering
Barbara's injunctions and the under…footman； threw it onto the fire
and watched it burn。 Jeekie coughed to intimate that it was time for
his master to dress； and Alan turned and looked at him in an absent…
minded fashion。
He was worth looking at； was Jeekie。 Let the reader imagine a very
tall and powerfully…built negro with a skin as black as a well…
polished boot； woolly hair as white as snow； a little tufted beard
also white； a hand like a leg of mutton； but with long delicate
fingers and pink； filbert…shaped nails； an immovable countenance； but
set in it beneath a massive brow； two extraordinary humorous and
eloquent black eyes which expressed every emotion passing through the
brain behind them； that is when their owner chose to allow them to do
so。 Such was Jeekie。
〃Shall I unlace your boots； Major？〃 he said in his full； melodious
voice and speaking the most perfect English。 〃I expect that the gong
will sound in nine and a half minutes。〃
〃Then let it sound and be hanged to it；〃 answered Alan； 〃no； I forgot
I must hurry。 Jeekie； put that fire out and open all the windows as
soon as I go down。 This room is like a hot…house。〃
〃Yes； Major； the fire shall be extinguished and the sleeping…chamber
ventilated。 The other boot；