XV + 

Chelmsford + 

They took Manfred back to Wandsworth Gaol on the night of the trial. The governor, standing in the gloomy courtyard as the van drove in with its clanking escort, received him gravely. + 

вАЬIs there anything you want?вАЭ he asked when he visited the cell that night. + 

вАЬA cigar,вАЭ said Manfred, and the governor handed him the case. Manfred selected with care, the prison-master watching him wonderingly. + 

вАЬYouвАЩre an extraordinary man,вАЭ he said. + 

вАЬAnd I need to be,вАЭ was the reply, вАЬfor I have before me an ordeal which is only relieved of its gruesomeness by its uniqueness.вАЭ + 

вАЬThere will be a petition for reprieve, of course,вАЭ said the governor. + 

вАЬOh, IвАЩve killed that,вАЭ laughed Manfred, вАЬkilled it with icy blast of satireвБ†вАФalthough I trust I havenвАЩt discouraged the вАШRational FaithersвАЩ for whom I have made such handsome posthumous provision.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are an extraordinary man,вАЭ mused the governor again. вАЬBy the way, Manfred, what part does the lady play in your escape?вАЭ + 

вАЬThe lady?вАЭ Manfred was genuinely astonished. + 

вАЬYes, the woman who haunts the outside of this prison; a lady in black, and my chief warder tells me singularly beautiful.вАЭ + 

вАЬAh, the woman,вАЭ said Manfred, and his face clouded. вАЬI had hoped she had gone.вАЭ + 

He sat thinking. + 

вАЬIf she is a friend of yours, an interview would not be difficult to obtain,вАЭ said the governor. + 

вАЬNo, no, no,вАЭ said Manfred hastily, вАЬthere must be no interviewвБ†вАФat any rate here.вАЭ + 

The governor thought that the interview вАЬhereвАЭ was very unlikely, for the Government had plans for the disposal of their prisoner, which he did not feel his duty to the State allowed him to communicate. He need not, had he known, have made a mystery of the scheme. + 

Manfred kicked off the clumsy shoes the prison authorities had provided him withвБ†вАФhe had changed into convict dress on his return to the gaolвБ†вАФand laid himself down dressed as he was, pulling a blanket over him. + 

One of the watching warders suggested curtly that he should undress. + 

вАЬIt is hardly worth while,вАЭ he said, вАЬfor so brief a time.вАЭ + 

They thought he was referring again to the escape, and marvelled a little at his madness. Three hours later when the governor came to the cell, they were dumbfounded at his knowledge. + 

вАЬSorry to disturb you,вАЭ said the Major, вАЬbut youвАЩre to be transferred to another prisonвБ†вАФwhy, you arenвАЩt undressed!вАЭ + 

вАЬNo,вАЭ said Manfred, lazily kicking off the cover, вАЬbut I thought the transfer would be earlier.вАЭ + 

вАЬHow did you know?вАЭ + 

вАЬAbout the transferвБ†вАФoh, a little bird told me,вАЭ said the prisoner, stretching himself. вАЬWhere is it to beвБ†вАФPentonville?вАЭ + 

The governor looked at him a little strangely. + 

вАЬNo,вАЭ he said. + 

вАЬReading?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo,вАЭ said the governor shortly. + 

Manfred frowned. + 

вАЬWherever it is, IвАЩm ready,вАЭ he said. + 

He nodded to the attendant warder as he left and took an informal but cheery farewell of the governor on the deserted railway station where a solitary engine with brake van attached stood waiting. + 

вАЬA special, I perceive,вАЭ he said. + 

вАЬGoodbye, Manfred,вАЭ said the governor and offered his hand. + 

Manfred did not take itвБ†вАФand the Major flushed in the dark. + 

вАЬI cannot take your hand,вАЭ said Manfred, вАЬfor two reasons. The first is that your excellent chief warder has handcuffed me, behindвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬNever mind about the other reason,вАЭ said the governor with a little laugh, and then as he squeezed the prisonerвАЩs arm he added, вАЬI donвАЩt wish the other man any harm, but if by chance that wonderful escape of yours materializes, I know a respected officer in the Prison Service who will not be heartbroken.вАЭ + 

Manfred nodded, and as he stepped into the train he said: + 

вАЬThat ladyвБ†вАФif you see her, tell her I am gone.вАЭ + 

вАЬI willвБ†вАФbut IвАЩm afraid I may not tell her where.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat is at your discretion,вАЭ said Manfred as the train moved off. The warders drew down the blinds, and Manfred composed himself to sleep. + 

He woke with the chief warderвАЩs hand on his arm and stepped out on to the platform as the day was breaking. His quick eye searched the advertisement boards on the station. He would have done this ordinarily, because they would tell him where he was, supposing for some reason the authorities had wished to keep his destination a secret from him. But he had a particular interest in advertising just then. The station was smothered with the bills of a travelling cheap jackвБ†вАФan unusual class of advertisement for the austere notice boards of a railway station. Huge flaming posters that said вАЬEverything is Right,вАЭ and in smaller type underneath вАЬUp to-date.вАЭ Little bills that said, вАЬWrite to your cousin in LondonвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ and tell her that Gipsy JackвАЩs bargain,вАЭ etc. вАЬGo by the book!вАЭ said another. Marching down the stairs he observed opposite the station yet further evidence of this extravagant cheap jackвАЩs caprice, for there were big illuminated signs in evidence, all to the same effect. In the shuttered darkness of the cab, Manfred smiled broadly. There was really no limit to the ingenuity of Leon Gonsalez. Next morning when the governor of Chelmsford Gaol visited him, Manfred expressed his intention of writing a letter to his cousinвБ†вАФin London. + 

вАЬDid you see him?вАЭ asked Poiccart. + 

вАЬJust a glimpse,вАЭ said Leon. He walked over to the window of the room and looked out. Right in front of him rose the grim fa√Іade of the gaol. He walked back to the table and poured himself out a cup of tea. It was not yet six oвАЩclock, but he had been up the greater part of the night. + 

вАЬThe Home Secretary,вАЭ he said between gasps as he drank the scalding hot liquid, вАЬis indiscreet in his correspondence and is generally a most careless man.вАЭ + 

It was apropos of ManfredвАЩs coming. + 

вАЬI have made two visits to the right honourable gentlemanвАЩs house in this past fortnight, and I am bursting with startling intelligence. Do you know that Willington, the President of the Board of Trade, has had an вАШaffair,вАЩ and that a junior Lord of the Admiralty drinks like a sponge, and the Chancellor hates the War Secretary, who will talk all the time, andвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬKeeps a diary?вАЭ asked Poiccart, and the other nodded. + 

вАЬA diary full of thousands of poundsвАЩ worth of gossip, locked with a sixpenny-haвАЩpenny lock. His house is fitted with the Magno-Sellie system of burglar alarms, and he keeps three servants.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are almost encyclopaedic,вАЭ said Poiccart. + 

вАЬMy dear Poiccart,вАЭ said Leon resentfully, вАЬyou have got a trick of accepting the most wonderful information from me without paying me the due of adopting the following flattering attitudes: primary, incredulous surprise; secondary, ecstatic wonder; tertiary, admiration blended with awe.вАЭ + 

Poiccart laughed outright: an unusual circumstance. + 

вАЬI have ceased to wonder at your cleverness, illustrious,вАЭ he said, speaking in Spanish, the language these two men invariably used when alone. + 

вАЬAll these things are beyond me,вАЭ Poiccart went on, вАЬyet no man can say for all my slow brain that I am a sluggard in action.вАЭ + 

Leon smiled. + 

The work of the last few weeks had fallen heavily on them both. It was no light task, the preparation of Three Months in Morocco. The first word of every seventh paragraph formed the message that he had to convey to ManfredвБ†вАФand it was a long message. There was the task of printing it, arranging the immediate publication, the placing of the book in the list, and generally thrusting it under the noses of an unappreciative public. As sailors store lifebelts for possible contingencies, so, in every country had the Four Just Men stored the equipment of rescue against their need. Poiccart, paying many flying visits to the Midlands, brought back with him from time to time strange parts of machinery. The lighter he carried with his luggage, the heavier parts he smuggled into Chelmsford in a strongly-built motorcar. + 

The detached house facing the prison was fortunately for sale, and the agent who conducted the rapid negotiations that resulted in its transfer had let fall the information that the clients hoped to establish a garage on the Colchester Road that would secure a sensible proportion of the Essex motor traffic. The arrival of two rough-painted chassis supported this view of the new ownersвАЩ business. They were enterprising people, these new arrivals, and it was an open secret вАЬon the road,вАЭ that Gipsy Jack, whose caravan was under distress, and in the hands of the bailiff, had found financial support at their hands. Albeit Jack protested vigorously at the ridiculous suggestion that he should open in Chelmsford at an unpropitious season, and sniffed contemptuously at the extravagant billing of the town. Nor did he approve of the wording of the posters, which struck him as being milder than the hilarious character of his business-entertainment called for. + 

вАЬThem Heckfords are going to make a failure,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Peter Sweeney in the bosom of his family. He occupied вАЬFaith Home,вАЭ an ornate villa on the Colchester Road. Before his momentous conception of the вАЬRational Faithers,вАЭ it had borne the more imposing title of вАЬPalace Lodge,вАЭ this by the way. + 

вАЬTheyвАЩve got no business ability, and theyвАЩre a bit gone on the sherbet.вАЭ For a high-priest of a new cult, PeterвАЩs language was neither pure nor refined. вАЬAnd they havenвАЩt got the common politeness of pigs,вАЭ he added ambiguously. вАЬI took the petition there today,вАЭ Peter went on indignantly, вАЬand the chap that come to the door! Oh, what a sight! Looked as if heвАЩd been up all night, eyes red, face white, and all of a shake.вАЭ + 

вАЬвАКвАШGood morninвАЩ, Mr.¬†Heckford,вАЩ says I, вАШIвАЩve come about the petition.вАЩ + 

вАЬвАКвАШWhat petition?вАЩ says he. + 

вАЬвАКвАШThe petition for the poor creature now lyinвАЩ in Chelmsford,вАЩ says I, вАШunder sentence of deathвБ†вАФwhich is legal murder,вАЩ I says. + 

вАЬвАКвАШGo to the devil!вАЩ he says; they were his exact words, вАШGo to the devil.вАЩ I was that upset that I walked straight away from the doorвБ†вАФhe didnвАЩt even ask me inвБ†вАФanвАЩ just as I got to the bottom of the front garden, he shouts, вАШWhat do you want him reprieved forвБ†вАФhasnвАЩt he left you a pot of moneyвАЩ?вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†Peter Sweeney was very much agitated as he repeated this callous piece of cynicism. + 

вАЬThat idea,вАЭ said Peter solemnly and impressively, вАЬMust Not be Allowed to Grow.вАЭ + 

It was to give the lie to the wicked suggestion that Peter arranged his daily demonstration, from twelve to two. There had been such functions before, вАЬMassвАЭ meetings with brass bands at the very prison gates, but they were feeble mothersвАЩ meetings compared to these demonstrations on behalf of Manfred. + 

The memory of the daily вАЬserviceвАЭ is too fresh in the minds of the public, and particularly the Chelmsford public, to need any description here. Crowds of three thousand people were the rule, and PeterвАЩs band blared incessantly, whilst Peter himself grew hoarse from the effect of railing his denunciation of the barbarous methods of a medieval system. + 

Heckford Brothers, the new motorcar firm, protested against the injury these daily paraders were inflicting on their business. That same dissipated man, looking more dissipated than ever, who had been so rude to him, called upon Peter and threatened him with injunctions. This merely had the effect of stiffening Peter SweeneyвАЩs back, and next day the meeting lasted three hours. + 

In the prison, the pandemonium that went on outside penetrated even to the seclusion of ManfredвАЩs cell, and he was satisfied. + 

The local police were loath to interfere and reopen the desperate quarrel that had centred around such demonstrations before. + 

So Peter triumphed, and the crowd of idlers that flocked to the midday gathering grew in proportion as the interest in the condemned manвАЩs fate arose. + 

And the augmented band blared and the big drum boomed the louder and Rational Faith gained many new converts. + 

A sightseer, attracted by curiosity, was standing on the fringe of the crowd one day. He could not see the band from where he stood but he made a remarkable observation; it was nothing less than a gross reflection upon a valued member of the orchestra. + 

вАЬThat chap,вАЭ said this unknown critic, вАЬis beating out of timeвБ†вАФor else thereвАЩs two drums going.вАЭ + 

The man to whom he addressed his remarks listened attentively, and agreed. + 

The crowd had swayed back to the railings before the premises of the motor manufacturers, and as it dispersedвБ†вАФPeterвАЩs party вАЬprocessedвАЭ magnificently to the town before breaking upвБ†вАФone of the new tenants came to the door and stood, watching the melting crowd. He overheard this remark concerning the big drummerвАЩs time, and it vexed him. When he came back to the sitting-room, where a pallid Poiccart lay supinely on a couch, he said: + 

вАЬWe must be careful,вАЭ and repeated the conversation. + 

Until six oвАЩclock these men restedвБ†вАФas men must rest who have been working under a monstrous pressure of airвБ†вАФthen they went to clear away the results of their working. + 

At midnight they ceased, and washed away the stains of their labours. + 

вАЬLuckily,вАЭ said Poiccart, вАЬwe have many rooms to fill yet; the drawing-room can hold little more, the dining-room we need, the morning-room is packed. We must start upstairs tomorrow.вАЭ + 

As the work proceeded, the need for caution became more and more apparent; but no accident marred their progress, and three days before the date fixed for the execution, the two men, coming to their barely furnished living-room, looked at each other across the uncovered table that separated them, and sighed thankfully, for the work was almost finished. + 

вАЬThose fellows,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Peter Sweeney, вАЬare not so Bad as I thought they was. One of вАЩem come to me today and Apologized. He was lookinвАЩ better too, and offered to sign the petition.вАЭ Peter always gave you the impression in speaking that he was using words that began with capital letters. + 

вАЬPa,вАЭ said his son, who had a mind that dealt in material issues, вАЬwhat are you going to do with ManfredвАЩs money?вАЭ + 

His parent looked at him sternly. + 

вАЬI shall Devote it to the Cause,вАЭ he said shortly. + 

вАЬThatвАЩs you, ainвАЩt it?вАЭ asserted the innocent child. + 

Peter disdained to answer. + 

вАЬThese young men,вАЭ he went on, вАЬmight do worse than they have done. They are more businesslike than I thought. Clarker, the town electrician, tells me that they had got a power current in their works, they have got a little gas-engine too, and from the way one of them was handling a big car today on the London road, it strikes me they know something about the business of motorcar running.вАЭ + 

Gonsalez, coming back from a trial trip on his noisy car, had to report a disquieting circumstance. + 

вАЬSheвАЩs here,вАЭ he said, as he was washing the grime from his hands. + 

Poiccart looked up from his workвБ†вАФhe was heating something in a crucible over an electric stove. + 

вАЬThe Woman of Gratz?вАЭ he asked. + 

Leon nodded. + 

вАЬThat is natural,вАЭ Poiccart said, and went on with his experiment. + 

вАЬShe saw me,вАЭ said Leon calmly. + 

вАЬOh!вАЭ said the other, unconcerned. вАЬManfred saidвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬThat she would betray no moreвБ†вАФI believe that, and George asked us to be good to her, that is a command.вАЭ + 

(There was a great deal more in ManfredвАЩs letter to вАЬhis cousin in LondonвАЭ than met the governorвАЩs eye.) + 

вАЬShe is an unhappy woman,вАЭ said Gonsalez gravely; вАЬit was pitiable to see her at Wandsworth, where she stood day after day with those tragic eyes of hers on the ugly gate of the prison; here, with the result of her work in sight, she must be suffering the tortures of the damned.вАЭ + 

вАЬThen tell her,вАЭ said Poiccart. + 

вАЬThatвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬThat George will escape.вАЭ + 

вАЬI thought of that. I think George would wish it.вАЭ + 

вАЬThe Red Hundred has repudiated her,вАЭ Leon went on. вАЬWe were advised of that yesterday; I am not sure that she is not under sentence. You remember Herr Schmidt, he of the round face? It was he who denounced her.вАЭ + 

Poiccart nodded and looked up thoughtfully. + 

вАЬSchmidtвБ†вАФSchmidt,вАЭ he puzzled. вАЬOh yesвБ†вАФthere is something against him, a cold-blooded murder, was it not?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes,вАЭ said Leon very quietly, and they did not speak again of Herr Schmidt of Prague. Poiccart was dipping thin glass rods into the seething, bubbling contents of the crucible, and Leon watched idly. + 

вАЬDid she speak?вАЭ Poiccart asked after a long interval of silence. + 

вАЬYes.вАЭ + 

Another silence, and then Leon resumed: + 

вАЬShe was not sure of meвБ†вАФbut I made her the sign of the Red Hundred. I could not speak to her in the open street. FalmouthвАЩs people were in all probability watching her day and night. You know the old glove trick for giving the hour of assignation. Drawing on the glove slowly and stopping to admire the fit of one, two, or three fingersвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ so I signalled to her to meet me in three hoursвАЩ time.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhere?вАЭ + 

вАЬAt WivenhoeвБ†вАФthat was fairly simple tooвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ imagine me leaning over the side of the car to demand of the willing bystanders how long it would take me to reach WivenhoeвБ†вАФthe last word loudlyвБ†вАФwould it take me three hours? Whilst they volunteered their counsel, I saw her signal of assent.вАЭ + 

Poiccart hummed as he worked. + 

вАЬWellвБ†вАФare you going?вАЭ he asked. + 

вАЬI am,вАЭ said the other, and looked at his watch. + 

After midnight, Poiccart, dozing in his chair, heard the splutter and the Gatling-gun explosions of the car as it turned into the extemporized garage. + 

вАЬWell?вАЭ he asked as Leon entered. + 

вАЬSheвАЩs gone,вАЭ said Gonsalez with a sigh of relief. вАЬIt was a difficult business, and I had to lie to herвБ†вАФwe cannot afford the risk of betrayal. Like the remainder of the Red Hundred, she clings to the idea that we have thousands of people in our organization; she accepted my story of storming the prison with sheer brute force. She wanted to stay, but I told her that she would spoil everythingвБ†вАФshe leaves for the continent tomorrow.вАЭ + 

вАЬShe has no money, of course,вАЭ said Poiccart with a yawn. + 

вАЬNoneвБ†вАФthe Red Hundred has stopped suppliesвБ†вАФbut I gave herвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬNaturally,вАЭ said Poiccart. + 

вАЬIt was difficult to persuade her to take it; she was like a mad thing between her fear of George, her joy at the news I gave herвБ†вАФand remorse. + 

вАЬI think,вАЭ he went on seriously, вАЬthat she had an affection for George.вАЭ + 

Poiccart looked at him. + 

вАЬYou surprise me,вАЭ he said ironically, and went to bed. + 

Day found them working. There was machinery to be dismantled, a heavy open door to be fixed, new tires to be fitted to the big car. An hour before the midday demonstration came a knock at the outer door. Leon answered it and found a polite chauffeur. In the roadway stood a car with a solitary occupant. + 

The chauffeur wanted petrol; he had run himself dry. His master descended from the car and came forward to conduct the simple negotiation. He dismissed the mechanic with a word. + 

вАЬThere are one or two questions I would like to ask about my car,вАЭ he said distinctly. + 

вАЬCome inside, sir,вАЭ said Leon, and ushered the man into the sitting-room. + 

He closed the door and turned on the fur-clad visitor. + 

вАЬWhy did you come?вАЭ he asked quickly; вАЬit is terribly dangerousвБ†вАФfor you.вАЭ + 

вАЬI know,вАЭ said the other easily, вАЬbut I thought there might be something I could doвБ†вАФwhat is the plan?вАЭ + 

In a few words Leon told him, and the young man shivered. + 

вАЬA gruesome experience for George,вАЭ he said. + 

вАЬItвАЩs the only way,вАЭ replied Leon, вАЬand George has nerves like ice.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd afterвБ†вАФyouвАЩre leaving that to chance?вАЭ + 

вАЬYou mean where shall we make forвБ†вАФthe sea, of course. There is a good road between here and Clacton, and the boat lies snug between there and Walton.вАЭ + 

вАЬI see,вАЭ said the young man, and he made a suggestion. + 

вАЬExcellentвБ†вАФbut you?вАЭ said Leon. + 

вАЬI shall be all right?вАЭ said the cheerful visitor. + 

вАЬBy the way, have you a telegraph map of this part of the world?вАЭ + 

Leon unlocked a drawer and took out a folded paper. + 

вАЬIf you would arrange that,вАЭ he said, вАЬI should be grateful.вАЭ + 

The man who called himself Courtlander marked the plan with a pencil. + 

вАЬI have men who may be trusted to the very end,вАЭ he said. вАЬThe wires shall be cut at eight oвАЩclock, and Chelmsford shall be isolated from the world.вАЭ + 

Then, with a tin of petrol in his hand, he walked back to his car. + 