VIII + 

The High Hand + 

Evidently his first move toward departure was signalled; for as he passed out through LтАЩAbbayeтАЩs doors the carriage-porter darted forward and saluted. + 

тАЬMonsieur LanyarrтАЩ?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes?тАЭ + 

тАЬMonsieurтАЩs car is waiting.тАЭ + 

тАЬIndeed?тАЭ Lanyard surveyed briefly a handsome black limousine that, at pause beside the curb, was champing its bits in the most spirited fashion. Then he smiled appreciatively. тАЬAll the same, I thank you for the compliment,тАЭ he said, and forthwith tipped the porter. + 

But before entrusting himself to this gratuitous conveyance, he put himself to the trouble of inspecting the chauffeurтБатАФa capable-looking mechanic togged out in a rich black livery which, though relieved by a vast amount of silk braiding, was like the car guiltless of any sort of insignia. + 

тАЬI presume you know where I wish to go, my man?тАЭ + 

The chauffeur touched his cap: тАЬBut naturally, monsieur.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen take me there, the quickest way you know.тАЭ + 

Nodding acknowledgement of the porterтАЩs salute, Lanyard sank gratefully back upon uncommonly luxurious upholstery. The fatigue of the last thirty-six hours was beginning to tell on him a bit, though his youth was still so vital, so instinct with strength and vigour, that he could go as long again without sleep if need be. + 

None the less he was glad of this opportunity to snatch a few minutesтАЩ rest by way of preparation against the occult culmination of this adventure. No telling what might ensue of this violation of all those principles which had hitherto conserved his welfare! And he entertained a gloomy suspicion that he would be inclined to name another ass, who proposed as he did to beard this Pack in its den with nothing more than his wits and an automatic pistol to protect ten thousand-francs, the jewels of Madame Omber, the Huysman plans, and (possibly) his life. + 

However, he stood committed to his folly, if folly it were: he would play the game as it lay. + 

As for curiosity concerning his immediate destination, there was little enough of that in his temper; a single glance round on leaving the car would fix his whereabouts beyond dispute, so thorough was his knowledge of Paris. + 

He contemplated briefly, with admiration, the simplicity with which that affair at LтАЩAbbaye had been managed, finding no just cause to suspect anyone there of criminal complicity in the plans of the Pack: a forged order for a table to the maitre-dтАЩh├┤tel, ten francs to the carriage-porter and twenty more to the dancing woman to play parts in a putative practical jokeтБатАФand the thing had been arranged without implicating a soul!тБатАКтБатАж + 

Of a sudden, ending a ride much shorter than Lanyard would have liked, the limousine swung in toward a curb. + 

Bending forward, he unlatched the door and, glancing through the window, uttered a grunt of profound disgust. + 

If this were the best that Pack could doтБатАКтБатАжтАК! + 

He had hoped for something a trifle more original from men with wit and imagination enough to plot the earlier phases of this intrigue. + 

The car had pulled up in front of an institution which he knew wellтБатАФfar too well, indeed, for his own good. + 

None the less, he consented to get out. + 

тАЬSure youтАЩve come to the right place?тАЭ he asked the chauffeur. + 

Two fingers touching the visor of his cap: тАЬBut certainly, monsieur!тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, all right!тАЭ Lanyard grumbled resignedly; and tossing the man a five-franc piece, applied his knuckles to the door of an outwardly commonplace h├┤tel particulier in the rue Chaptal between the impasse of the Grand Guignol and the rue Pigalle. + 

Now the neophyte needs the introduction of a trusted sponsor before he can win admission to the clubhouse of the exclusive Circle of Friends of Humanity; but LanyardтАЩs knock secured him prompt and unquestioned right of way. The unfortunate fact is, he was a member in the best of standing; for this society of pseudo-altruistic aims was nothing more nor less than one of those several private gambling clubs of Paris which the French Government tolerates more or less openly, despite adequate restrictive legislation; and gambling was LanyardтАЩs ruling passionтБатАФa legacy from Bourke no less than the rest of his professional equipment. + 

To every man his vice (the argument is BourkeтАЩs, in defence of his failing). And perhaps the least mischievous vice a professional cracksman can indulge is that of gambling, since it can hardly drive him to lengths more desperate than those whereby he gains a livelihood. + 

In the esteem of Paris, Count Remy de Morbihan himself was scarcely a more lighthearted plunger than Monsieur Lanyard. + 

Naturally, with this reputation, he was always free of the handsome salons wherein the Friends of Humanity devoted themselves to roulette, auction bridge, baccarat and chemin-de-fer: and of this freedom he now proceeded to avail himself, with his hat just a shade aslant on his head, his hands in his pockets, a suspicion of a smile on his lips and a glint of the devil in his eyesтБатАФin all an expression accurately reflecting the latest phase of his humour, which was become largely one of contemptuous toleration, thanks to what he chose to consider an exhibition of insipid stupidity on the part of the Pack. + 

Nor was this humour in any way modified when, in due course, he confirmed anticipation by discovering Monsieur le Comte Remy de Morbihan lounging beside one of the roulette tables, watching the play, and now and again risking a maximum on his own account. + 

A flash of animation crossed the unlovely mask of the Count when he saw Lanyard approaching, and he greeted the adventurer with a gay little flirt of his pudgy dark hand. + 

тАЬAh, my friend!тАЭ he cried. тАЬIt is you, then, who have changed your mind! But this is delightful!тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd what has become of your American friend?тАЭ asked the adventurer. + 

тАЬHe tired quickly, that one, and packed himself off to TroyonтАЩs. Be sure I didnтАЩt press him to continue the grand tour!тАЭ + 

тАЬThen you really did wish to see me tonight?тАЭ Lanyard enquired innocently. + 

тАЬAlwaysтБатАФalways, my dear Lanyard!тАЭ the Count declared, jumping up. тАЬBut come,тАЭ he insisted: тАЬIтАЩve a word for your private ear, if these gentlemen will excuse us.тАЭ + 

тАЬDo!тАЭ Lanyard addressed in a confidential manner those he knew at the table, before turning away to the tug of the CountтАЩs hand on his armтБатАФтАЬI think he means to pay up twenty pounds he owes me!тАЭ + 

Some derisive laughter greeted this sally. + 

тАЬI mean that, however,тАЭ Lanyard informed the other cheerfully as they moved away to a corner where conversation without an audience was possibleтБатАФтАЬyou ruined that Bank of England note, you know.тАЭ + 

тАЬCheap at the price!тАЭ the Count protested, producing his billfold. тАЬFive hundred francs for an introduction to Monsieur the Lone Wolf!тАЭ + 

тАЬAre you joking?тАЭ Lanyard asked blanklyтБатАФand with a magnificent gesture abolished the proffered banknote. + 

тАЬJoking? I! But surely you donтАЩt mean to denyтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬMy friend,тАЭ Lanyard interrupted, тАЬbefore we assert or deny anything, let us gather the rest of the players round the table and deal from a sealed deck. Meantime, let us rest on the understanding that I have found, at one end, a message scrawled on a banknote hidden in a secret place, at the other end, yourself, Monsieur le Comte. Between and beyond these points exists a mystery, of which one anticipates elucidation.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou shall have it,тАЭ De┬аMorbihan promised. тАЬBut first, we must go to those others who await us.тАЭ + 

тАЬNot so fast!тАЭ Lanyard interposed. тАЬWhat am I to understand? That you wish me to accompany you to theтБатАФahтБатАФden of the Pack?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhere else?тАЭ De┬аMorbihan grinned. + 

тАЬBut where is that?тАЭ + 

тАЬI am not permitted to sayтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬStill, one has oneтАЩs eyes. Why not satisfy me here?тАЭ + 

тАЬYour eyes, by your leave, monsieur, will be blindfolded.тАЭ + 

тАЬImpossible.тАЭ + 

тАЬPardonтБатАФit is an essentialтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬCome, come, my friend: we are not in the Middle Ages!тАЭ + 

тАЬI have no discretion, monsieur. My confr├иresтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬI insist: there will be trust on both sides or no negotiations.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut I assure you, my dear friendтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear Count, it is useless: I am determined. Blindfold? I should say not! This is notтБатАФneed I remind you again?тБатАФthe Paris of Balzac and that wonderful Dumas of yours!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat do you propose, then?тАЭ De┬аMorbihan enquired, worrying his moustache. + 

тАЬWhat better place for the proposed conference than here?тАЭ + 

тАЬBut not here!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy not? Everybody comes here: it will cause no gossip. I am hereтБатАФI have come halfway; your friends must do as much on their part.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt is not possible.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬThen, I beg you, tender them my regrets.тАЭ + 

тАЬWould you give us away?тАЭ + 

тАЬNever that: one makes gifts to oneтАЩs friends only. But my interest in yours is depreciating so rapidly that, should you delay much longer, it will be on sale for the sum of two sous.тАЭ + 

тАЬOтБатАФdamn!тАЭ the Count complained peevishly. + 

тАЬWith all the pleasure in life.тБатАКтБатАж But now,тАЭ Lanyard went on, rising to end the interview, тАЬyou must forgive me for reminding you that the morning wanes apace. I shall be going home in another hour.тАЭ + 

De Morbihan shrugged. тАЬOut of my great affection for you,тАЭ he purred venomously, тАЬI will do my possible. But I promise nothing.тАЭ + 

тАЬI have every confidence in your powers of moral suasion, monsieur,тАЭ Lanyard assured him cheerfully. тАЬAu revoir!тАЭ + 

And with this, not at all ill-pleased with himself, he strutted off to a table at which a high-strung session of chemin-de-fer was in process, possessed himself of a vacant chair, and in two minutes was so engrossed in the game that the Pack was quite forgotten. + 

In fifteen minutes he had won thrice as many thousands of francs. + 

Twenty minutes or half an hour later, a hand on his shoulder broke the grip of his besetting passion. + 

тАЬOur table is made up, my friend,тАЭ De┬аMorbihan announced with his inextinguishable grin. тАЬWeтАЩre waiting for you.тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite at your service.тАЭ + 

Settling his score and finding himself considerably better off than he had imagined, he resigned his place gracefully, and suffered the Count to link arms and drag him away up the main staircase to the second storey, where smaller rooms were reserved for parties who preferred to gamble privately. + 

тАЬSo it appears you succeeded!тАЭ he chaffed his conductor good-humouredly. + 

тАЬI have brought you the mountain,тАЭ De┬аMorbihan assented. + 

тАЬOne is grateful for small miracles.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

But De┬аMorbihan wouldnтАЩt laugh at his own expense; for a moment, indeed, he seemed inclined to take umbrage at LanyardтАЩs levity. But the sudden squaring of his broad shoulders and the hardening of his features was quickly modified by an uneasy sidelong glance at his companion. And then they were at the door of the cabinet particulier. + 

De Morbihan rapped, turned the knob, and stood aside, bowing politely. + 

With a nod acknowledging the courtesy, Lanyard consented to precede him, and entered a room of intimate proportions, furnished chiefly with a green-covered card-table and five easy-chairs, of which three were occupiedтБатАФtwo by men in evening dress, the third by one in a well-tailored lounge suit of dark grey. + 

Now all three men wore visors of black velvet. + 

Lanyard looked from one to the other and chuckled quietly. + 

With an aggrieved air De┬аMorbihan launched into introductions: + 

тАЬMessieurs, I have the honour to present to you our confr├иre, Monsieur Lanyard, best known as тАШThe Lone Wolf.тАЩ Monsieur LanyardтБатАФthe Council of our Association, known to you as тАШThe Pack.тАЩтАКтАЭ + 

The three rose and bowed ceremoniously, Lanyard returned a cool, good-natured nod. Then he laughed again and more openly: + 

тАЬA pack of knaves!тАЭ + 

тАЬMonsieur doubtless feels at ease?тАЭ one retorted acidly. + 

тАЬIn your company, Popinot? But hardly!тАЭ Lanyard returned in light contempt. + 

The fellow thus indicated, a burly rogue of a Frenchman in rusty and baggy evening clothes, started and flushed scarlet beneath his mask; but the man next him dropped a restraining hand upon his arm, and Popinot, with a shrug, sank back into his chair. + 

тАЬUpon my word!тАЭ Lanyard declared gracelessly, тАЬitтАЩs as good as a play! Are you sure, Monsieur le Comte, thereтАЩs no mistakeтБатАФthat these gay masqueraders havenтАЩt lost their way to the stage of the Grand Guignol?тАЭ + 

тАЬDamn!тАЭ muttered the Count. тАЬTake care, my friend! You go too far!тАЭ + 

тАЬYou really think so? But you amaze me! You canтАЩt in reason expect me to take you seriously, gentlemen!тАЭ + 

тАЬIf you donтАЩt, it will prove serious business for you!тАЭ growled the one he had called Popinot. + 

тАЬYou mean that? But you are magnificent, all of you! We lack only the solitary illumination of a candle-endтБатАФa grinning skullтБатАФa cup of blood upon the tableтБатАФto make the farce complete! But as it is.тБатАКтБатАж Messieurs, you must be rarely uncomfortable, and feeling as foolish as you look, into the bargain! Moreover, IтАЩm no child.тБатАКтБатАж Popinot, why not disembarrass your amiable features? And you, Mr.┬аWertheimer, IтАЩm sure, will feel more at ease with an open countenanceтБатАФas the saying runs,тАЭ he said, nodding to the man beside Popinot. тАЬAs for this gentleman,тАЭ he concluded, eyeing the third, тАЬI havenтАЩt the pleasure of his acquaintance.тАЭ + 

With a short laugh, Wertheimer unmasked and exposed a face of decidedly English type, fair and well-modelled, betraying only the faintest traces of Semitic cast to account for his surname. And with this example, Popinot snatched off his own black visorтБатАФand glared at Lanyard: in his shabby dress, the incarnate essence of bourgeoisie outraged. But the third, he of the grey lounge suit, remained motionless; only his eyes clashed coldly with the adventurerтАЩs. + 

He seemed a man little if at all LanyardтАЩs senior, and built upon much the same lines. A close-clipped black moustache ornamented his upper lip. His chin was square and strong with character. The cut of his clothing was conspicuously neither English nor Continental. + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know you, sir,тАЭ Lanyard continued slowly, puzzled to account for a feeling of familiarity with this person, whom he could have sworn he had never met before. тАЬBut you wonтАЩt let your friends here outdo you in civility, I trust?тАЭ + 

тАЬIf you mean you want me to unmask, I wonтАЩt,тАЭ the other returned brusquely, in fair French but with a decided transatlantic intonation. + 

тАЬAmerican, eh?тАЭ + 

тАЬNative-born, if it interests you.тАЭ + 

тАЬHave I ever met you before?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou have not.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear Count,тАЭ Lanyard said, turning to De┬аMorbihan, тАЬdo me the favour to introduce this gentleman.тАЭ + 

тАЬYour dear Count will do nothing like that, Mr.┬аLanyard. If you need a name to call me by, SmithтАЩs good enough.тАЭ + 

The incisive force of his enunciation assorted consistently with the general habit of the man. Lanyard recognized a nature no more pliable than his own. Idle to waste time bickering with this one.тБатАКтБатАж + 

тАЬIt doesnтАЩt matter,тАЭ he said shortly; and drawing back a chair, sat down. тАЬIf it did, I should insistтБатАФor else decline the honour of receiving the addresses of this cosmopolitan committee. Truly, messieurs, you flatter me. Here we have Mr.┬аWertheimer, representing the swell-mobsmen across Channel; Monsieur le Comte standing for the gratin of Paris; Popinot, spokesman for our friends the Apaches; and the well-known Mr.┬аGoodenough Smith, ambassador of the gunmen of New YorkтБатАФno doubt. I presume one is to understand you wait upon me as representing the fine flower of the European underworld?тАЭ + 

тАЬYouтАЩre to understand that I, for one, donтАЩt relish your impudence,тАЭ the stout Popinot snapped. + 

тАЬSorry.тБатАКтБатАж But I have already indicated my inability to take you seriously.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy not?тАЭ the American demanded ominously. тАЬYouтАЩd be sore enough if we took you as a joke, wouldnтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou misapprehend, Mr.тБатАФahтБатАФSmith: it is my first aim and wish that you do not take me in any manner, shape or form. It is you, remember, who requested this interview andтБатАФerтБатАФdressed your parts so strikingly!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat are we to understand by that?тАЭ De┬аMorbihan interposed. + 

тАЬThis, messieursтБатАФif you must know.тАЭ Lanyard dropped for the moment his tone of raillery and bent forward, emphasizing his points by tapping the table with a forefinger. тАЬThrough some oversight of mine or cleverness of yoursтБатАФI canтАЩt say whichтБатАФperhaps bothтБатАФyou have succeeded in penetrating my secret. What then? You become envious of my success. In short, I stand in your light: IтАЩm always getting away with something you might have lifted if youтАЩd only had wit enough to think of it first. As your American accomplice, Mr.┬аMysterious Smith, would say, I тАШcramp your style.тАЩтАКтАЭ + 

тАЬYou learned that on Broadway,тАЭ the American commented shrewdly. + 

тАЬPossibly.тБатАКтБатАж To continue: so you get together, and bite your nails until you concoct a plan to frighten me into sharing my profits. IтАЩve no doubt youтАЩre prepared to allow me to retain one-half the proceeds of my operations, should I elect to ally myself with you?тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs the suggestion we are empowered to make,тАЭ De┬аMorbihan admitted. + 

тАЬIn other words, you need me. You say to yourselves: тАШWeтАЩll pretend to be the head of a criminal syndicate, such as the silly novelists are forever writing about, and weтАЩll threaten to put him out of business unless he comes to our terms.тАЩ But you overlook one important fact: that you are not mentally equipped to get away with this amusing impersonation! What! Do you expect me to accept you as leading spirits of a gigantic criminal systemтБатАФyou, Popinot, who live by standing between the police and your murderous rats of Belleville, or you, Wertheimer, sneak-thief and blackmailer of timid women, or you, De┬аMorbihan, because you eke out your income by showing a handful of second-storey men where to seek plunder in the homes of your friends!тАЭ + 

He made a gesture of impatience, and lounged back to wait the answer to this indictment. His gaze, ranging the four faces, encountered but one that was not darkly flushed with resentment; and this was the AmericanтАЩs. + 

тАЬArenтАЩt you overlooking me?тАЭ this last suggested gently. + 

тАЬOn the contrary: I refuse to recognize you as long as you lack courage to show your face.тАЭ + 

тАЬAs you will, my friend,тАЭ the American chuckled. тАЬMake your profit out of that any way you like.тАЭ + 

Lanyard sat up again: тАЬWell, IтАЩve stated your case, messieurs. It amounts to simple, clumsy blackmail. IтАЩm to split my earnings with you, or youтАЩll denounce me to the police. ThatтАЩs about it, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot of necessity,тАЭ De┬аMorbihan softly purred, twisting his moustache. + 

тАЬFor my part,тАЭ Popinot declared hotly, тАЬI engage that Monsieur of the High Hand, here, will either work with us or conduct no more operations in Paris.тАЭ + 

тАЬOr in New York,тАЭ the American amended. + 

тАЬEngland is yet to be heard from,тАЭ Lanyard suggested mockingly. + 

To this Wertheimer replied, almost with diffidence: тАЬIf you ask me, I donтАЩt think youтАЩd find it so jolly pleasant over there, if you mean to cut up nasty at this end.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen what am I to infer? If youтАЩre afraid to lay an information against meтБатАФand it wouldnтАЩt be wise, I admitтБатАФyouтАЩll merely cause me to be assassinated, eh?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot of necessity,тАЭ the Count murmured in the same thoughtful tone and mannerтБатАФas one holding a hidden trump. + 

тАЬThere are so many ways of arranging these matters,тАЭ Wertheimer ventured. + 

тАЬNone the less, if I refuse, you declare war?тАЭ + 

тАЬSomething like that,тАЭ the American admitted. + 

тАЬIn that caseтБатАФI am now able to state my position definitely.тАЭ Lanyard got up and grinned provokingly down at the group. тАЬYou canтБатАФall four of youтБатАФgo plumb to hell!тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear friend!тАЭ the Count cried, shockedтБатАФтАЬyou forgetтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬI forget nothing!тАЭ Lanyard cut in coldlyтБатАФтАЬand my decision is final. Consider yourselves at liberty to go ahead and do your damnedest! But donтАЩt forget that it is you who are the aggressors. Already youтАЩve had the insolence to interfere with my arrangements: you began offensive operations before you declared war. So now if youтАЩre hit beneath the belt, you mustnтАЩt complain: youтАЩve asked for it!тАЭ + 

тАЬNow just what do you mean by that?тАЭ the American drawled ironically. + 

тАЬI leave you to figure it out for yourselves. But I will say this: I confidently expect you to decide to live and let live, and shall be sorry, as youтАЩll certainly be sorry, if you force my hand.тАЭ + 

He opened the door, turned, and saluted them with sarcastic punctilio. + 

тАЬI have the honour to bid adieu to Messieurs the Council ofтБатАФтАШThe PackтАЩ!тАЭ + 