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peril!'
"With my hatchet in the air I looked at Nikola. He was standing rigidly erect,
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with one arm outstretched, the hand pointing at me. His eyes glared like
living coals, and when he spoke his voice came from between his teeth like a
serpent's hiss.
"'Put down that axe!' he said.
"With that the old horrible fear of him which had seized me on board ship came
over me again. His eyes fascinated me so that I could not look away from them.
I put down the hatchet without another thought. Still he gazed at me in the
same hideous fashion.
"'Sit down in that chair,' he said quietly. 'You cannot disobey me.' And
indeed I could not. My heart was throbbing painfully, and an awful dizziness
was creeping over me. Still I could not get away from those terrible eyes.
They seemed to be growing larger and fiercer every moment. Oh! I can feel the
horror of them even now. As I gazed his white right hand was moving to and fro
before me with regular sweeps, and with each one I felt my own will growing
weaker and weaker. That I was being mesmerised, I had no doubt, but if
I had been going to be murdered I could not have moved a finger to save
myself.
'Then there came a sudden but imperative knock at the door, and both Nikola
and Draper rose. Next moment the man whom we had noticed in the train as we
came up from Melbourne, and against whom you, Mr
Hatteras, had warned me in Sydney, entered the room. He crossed and stood
respectfully before Nikola.
"'Well, Mr Eastover, what news?' asked the latter. 'Have you done what I told
you?'
"'Everything,' the man answered, taking an envelope from his pocket. 'Here is
the letter you wanted.'
"Nikola took it from his subordinate's hand, broke the seal, and having
withdrawn the contents, read it carefully. All this time, seeing resistance
was quite useless, I did not move. I felt too sick and giddy for anything.
When he had finished his correspondence Nikola said something in an undertone
to Draper, who immediately left the room. During the time he was absent none
of us spoke. Presently he returned, bringing with him a wine glass filled with
water, which he presented to Nikola.
"'Thank you,' said that gentleman, feeling in his waistcoat pocket. Presently
he found what he wanted and produced what looked like a small silver
scentbottle. Unscrewing the top, he poured from it into the wine glass a few
drops of some darkcoloured liquid. Having done this he smelt it carefully and
then handed it to me.
"'I must ask you to drink this, my lord,' he said. 'You need have no fear of
the result: it is perfectly harmless.'
"Did ever man hear such a cool proposition? Very naturally I declined to do as
he wished.
"'You mast drink it!' he reiterated. 'Pray do so at once. I have no time to
waste bandying words with you.'
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
104
"'I will not drink it!' I cried, rising to my feet, and prepared to make a
fight for it if need should be.
"Once more those eyes grew terrible, and once more that hand began to make the
passes before my face.
Again I felt the dizziness stealing over me. His will was growing every moment
too strong for me. I could not resist him. So when he once more said, 'Drink!'
I took the glass and did as I was ordered. After that I
remember seeing Nikola, Draper, and the man they called Eastover engaged in
earnest conversation on the other side of the room. I remember Nikola crossing
to where I sat and gazing steadfastly into my face, and after that I recollect
no more until I came to my senses in this room, to find myself bound and
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gagged. For what seemed like hours I lay in agony, then I heard footsteps in
the verandah, and next moment the sound of voices. I tried to call for help,
but could utter no words. I thought you would go away without discovering me,
but fortunately for me you did not do so. Now, Mr Hatteras, I have told you
everything; you know my story from the time you left me up to the present
moment."
For some time after the Marquis had concluded his strange story both the
Inspector and I sat in deep thought.
That Beckenham had been kidnapped in order that he should be out of the way
while the villainous plot for abducting Phyllis was being enacted there could
be no doubt. But why had he been chosen? and what clues were we to gather from
what he had told us? I turned to the Inspector and said, "What do you think
will be the best course for us to pursue now?"
"I have been wondering myself. I think, as there is nothing to be learned from
this house, the better plan would be for you two gentleman to go back to Mr
Wetherell, while I return to the detective office and see if anything has been
discovered by the men there. As soon as I have found out I will join you at
Potts Point.
What do you think?"
I agreed that it would be the best course; so, taking the Marquis by the arms
(for he was still too weak to walk alone), we left the house and were about to
step into the street when I stopped, and asking them to wait for me ran back
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