Wallace Intervenes by Alexander Wilson

Author:Alexander Wilson [Alexander Wilson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749018856
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2016-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Remorse

Still disguised as a round-faced, jolly-looking naval officer, Sir Leonard Wallace left the Esplanade Hotel at half past ten and, hiring a taxicab, directed the chauffeur to drive him to the Grunewald quarter. During the journey he sat for the most part with his chin sunk on his breast, a deeply thoughtful figure. Nobody realised better than he the stupendous task he and Cousins would have, if they were to rescue the Baroness von Reudath. Gottfried would be required to help, of course, but his part would have, of necessity, to be performed from the background. Sir Leonard made it a rule that men who represented the firm of Lalére et Cie must on no account expose themselves to risk of recognition when acting for the British Secret Service. No suspicion must be allowed to fall on the great Parisian scent corporation. Still, with his influence, Gottfried would prove almost indispensable. He it was who had discovered for Sir Leonard the orders of von Strom concerning the Baroness von Reudath. She was to be tried for treason in a room of the prison in which she was confined. The trial was to be in camera, and would start at ten o’clock on the following morning. Wallace had hoped to have been able to plan to rescue her when being conveyed to or from the courts of justice. It would have been a desperate venture, of course, but nothing like as desperate as it would now prove to get her away from a strongly guarded fortress. Even his great heart fell a little at thought of the stupendous task before him and Cousins. He wished now that he had made the attempt when she was being taken by Colonel Schönewald to the prison. But there had been no time to plan anything, and he well knew that to attempt an enterprise of a nature so desperate it is imperative to have the whole scheme cut and dried beforehand. Every contingency must be provided for, the whole thing planned down to the smallest detail, alternatives arranged in case of an unexpected alteration in some particular, possibilities of failure through some unseen cause guarded against. Entire secrecy was absolutely essential. Once the slightest suspicion was sown in the minds of the authorities that an attempt might be made to rescue the baroness all hope of success would automatically be destroyed. At present it was unlikely that thoughts of such a nature had occurred to them. The only person who, to their knowledge, would have been likely to have tried anything so hare-brained was Foster, and he had been certified and, by that time, was in a place as safe as a prison. They would, therefore, be in a state of unsuspicious equanimity. Sir Leonard intended that they should remain in that frame of mind. He was resolved that he would move heaven and earth, if necessary, to free the girl. In a sense he felt responsible for her terrible predicament. If he

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