VIII
I took the precious satchel out of the manager's safe next morning, and saw the princess fasten it securely about her person. Since my discovery of the telegram to London, I had felt particularly uneasy about the jewels, and regretted that they had not been deposited in some safe place before we started on our journey. As we breakfasted that morning, I ventured to suggest to the princess that it would be quite possible to leave them in absolute security in Dublin; but on this point she was firm. She would not hear of parting with her jewels. As for the amethyst, she said, it was against all the traditions of her house to let it pass out of her possession for a moment.
“Besides,” she went on, “why are we going to Annalleen Castle if not for safety and protection? From Desmond's account of it, it is the sort of place one can defend if one finds it necessary to withstand a siege. Over its threshold no one shall pass without my permission—not even Adalbert himself!”
So there was no more to be said or done on that point. My duty now was to conduct my charges to the castle in safety.
We left Kingsbridge by the morning express, and shortly before three o'clock in the afternoon we found ourselves on the platform at Ennis. The journey had passed without incident of any sort. We had left the hotel very quietly. I failed to notice any one who seemed to be watching our movements; and yet I felt sure that we were under constant surveillance. I glanced at the people in the station, but I could not see any sign of the private detective or the professional spy.
Whoever was in charge of Sir Desmond Adare's household at Annalleen Castle had made every preparation for our reception. An elderly footman, who possessed a humorous type of Hibernian countenance, met us on the platform and informed us that a carriage awaited our pleasure, and that a cart had been sent for the luggage. Outside the station we found a barouche drawn by two splendid bays. They were driven by a coachman who was as ancient and as cheery of countenance as the footman, and who was attired in a severely plain dark livery.
Leaving Patty Moore to follow with the luggage, we entered the barouche and were driven off at a smart pace.
We got our first glimpse of Annalleen Castle as we swept down a long, gradually shelving drive which traversed the park, and which was shaded for at least half a mile by a magnificent avenue of limes. Sir Desmond Adare's ancestral home, seen from this point, presented a striking appearance. A four-square pile of gray stone, embattled and towered at the angles, it stood on the summit of a slight eminence, on the slopes of which ancient oaks and ashes provided a pleasant setting of greenery for the walls that rose above their topmost branches. The princess, having once caught sight of it, remained gazing at it intently and in silence. Nancy regarded it dreamily, as if struck by its romantic appearance.
At last we passed over a drawbridge and under a fine old gateway into a spacious courtyard. As the carriage drew up and the princess descended, numerous domestics gathered at the door. From their midst there advanced a motherly looking woman in a rustling silk gown, and a solemn-faced butler. Had the master of the house himself been present, we could not have been more impressively received. We entered the old stone hall with feelings of relief.
“I have a feeling that this is—home,” said the princess, as she sat down in one of the wide window seats. “Oh, if only Desmond had been here to welcome us, Nancy! Then it would have been perfect.”
“Princess,” I said, approaching her, “there is one thing I beg you to do without delay. There is doubtless a strong room in the castle—will you deposit your jewels in it at once?”
“Ah, but I may want some of them,” she objected, smiling.
“Can you not dispense with them until Sir Desmond arrives?” I asked.
“We shall all feel safer if they are in a safe place,” said Nancy, taking my cue.
“Then, of course, I will do as you ask,” said the princess. “Will you find out where the strong room is, please, Mr. Hanmer?”
The butler pulled himself up to attention as I addressed him.
“Is there a strong room in the castle?” I inquired.
“Oh, indeed there is, sir,” he replied.
“The princess wants to deposit some valuables in it,” I told him.
“Certainly, sir. I have the key with me now.”
Leaving Nancy to examine the old armor on the walls, the princess and I followed the butler down a long corridor into the heart of the castle. He ushered us at last into the butler's pantry, and pointed out a door.
“That is the strong room, sir,” he said. “It opens out of my pantry, and all the windows of the pantry are strongly barred. There is a quantity of gold and silver plate in the strong room, sir, and the family jewels, too. I sleep here always, sir, and her highness's valuables will be perfectly safe.”
“What a responsibility for any one!” exclaimed the princess. “Are you not afraid to sleep in so close proximity to such valuable property?”
“No, ma'am,” he replied. “There are good locks and bolts to the door, and we have a bulldog who sleeps in the little lobby every night. I pity any burglar who tried to get past him! My master is the only person besides myself who dares go near him.”
“Well, shall we deposit your satchel, princess?” I asked.
The butler opened the door of the strong room, and we entered. It was about twelve feet square, without windows.
“Here is a small safe, sir,” he said, “in which you might deposit the valuables. Her highness could keep the key.”
This satisfied the princess. She took off the satchel and tried the patent lock, to see that it was in order. The butler opened the safe, and the princess placed the satchel in it, locked it, and took the key.
I took the princess back to Nancy, and then returned to the pantry. The butler was sorting out silver when I entered.
“I want to have a word with you,” I said. “By the way, what is your name?”
“Deasy, sir.”
“Thank you. Well, Deasy, you are doubtless in your master's confidence?”
“I have served the family twenty years, sir.”
“No doubt you know what has brought Princess Amirel of Amavia here,” I said.
“Yes, sir. I received a cablegram from my master two days ago, and Sir Desmond told me a great deal before he sailed for South Africa,” he replied.
“That is well,” I said. “You know that it is quite probable that we may have some trouble from the princess's relatives and friends? Can we keep her safe until Sir Desmond arrives?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied calmly; “both the princess and the amethyst. Make yourself easy, sir!”