The Secret of Chimneys Read Free Page A

night. He said he knew the gang that was after him. They were King Victor's people, he said.'
    'What?' Anthony wheeled round suddenly.
    A short grin widened on McGrath's face.
    'Just a mite excited, aren't you, Gentleman Joe?' he drawled.
    'Don't be an ass, Jimmy. You've just said something rather important.'
    He went over to the window and stood there looking out.
    'Who is this King Victor, anyway?' demanded Jimmy. 'Another Balkan monarch?'
    'No,' said Anthony slowly. 'He isn't that kind of a king.'
    'What is he, then?'
    There was a pause, and then Anthony spoke. 'He's a crook, Jimmy. The most notorious jewel thief in the world. A fantastic, daring fellow, not to be daunted by anything. King Victor was the nickname he was known by in Paris. Paris was the headquarters of his gang. They caught him there and put him away for seven years on a minor charge. They couldn't prove the more important things against him. He'll be out soon - or he may be out already.'
    'Do you think Count Stylptitch had anything to do with putting him away? Was that why the gang went for him? Out of revenge?'
    'I don't know,' said Anthony. 'It doesn't seem likely on the face of it. King Victor never stole the crown jewels of Herzoslovakia as far as I've heard. But the whole thing seems rather suggestive, doesn't it? The death of Stylptitch, the memoirs, and the rumours in the paper - all vague but interesting. And there's a further rumour to the effect that they've found oil in Herzoslovakia. I've a feeling in my bones, James, that people are getting ready to be interested in that unimportant little country.'
    'What sort of people?'
    'Hebraic people. Yellow-faced financiers in city offices.'
    'What are you driving at with all this?'
    'Trying to make an easy job difficult, that's all.'
    'You can't pretend there's going to be any difficulty in handing over a simple manuscript at a publisher's office?'
    'No,' said Anthony regretfully. 'I don't suppose there'll be anything difficult about that. But shall I tell you, James, where I propose to go with my two hundred and fifty pounds?'
    'South America?'
    'No, my lad, Herzoslovakia. I shall stand in with the republic, I think. Very probably I shall end up as president.'
    'Why not announce yourself as the principal Obolovitch and be a king whilst you're about it?'
    'No, Jimmy. Kings are for life. Presidents only take on the job for four years or so. It would quite amuse me to govern a kingdom like Herzoslovakia for four years.'
    'The average for kings is even less, I should say,' interpolated Jimmy.
    'It will probably be a serious temptation to me to embezzle your share of the thousand pounds. You won't want it, you know, when you get back weighed down with nuggets. I'll invest it for you in Herzoslovakian oil shares. You know, James, the more I think of it, the more pleased I am with this idea of yours. I should never have thought of Herzoslovakia if you hadn't mentioned it. I shall spend one day in London, collecting the booty, and then away by the Balkan Express!'
    'You won't get off quite as fast as that. I didn't mention it before, but I've got another little commission for you.'
    Anthony sank into a chair and eyed him severely.
    'I knew all along that you were keeping something dark. This is where the catch comes in.'
    'Not a bit. It's just something that's got to be done to help a lady.'
    'Once and for all, James, I refuse to be mixed up in your beastly love affairs.'
    'It's not a love affair. I've never seen the woman. I'll tell you the whole story.'
    'If I've got to listen to more of your long, rambling stories, I shall have to have another drink.'
    His host complied hospitably with this demand, then began the tale. 'It was when I was up in Uganda. There was a dago there whose life I had saved -'
    'If I were you, Jimmy, I should write a short book entitled “Lives I Have Saved”. This is the second I've heard of this evening.'
    'Oh, well, I didn't really do anything this time. Just pulled the dago out