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- <!DOCTYPE html>
- <div><p class="subtitle">By <a class="reference external" href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/3587"><span class="caps">GUY</span> <span class="caps">BOOTHBY</span></a></p>
- <p>Author of “Dr. Nikola,” “The Beautiful White Devil,” etc., etc.</p>
- <figure>
- <img alt="/images/frontispiece.jpg" class="bookfig" src="/images/frontispiece.jpg">
- </figure>
- <aside class="topic">
- <p class="topic-title">The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bid for Fortune, by Guy Boothby</p>
- <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
- almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
- re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
- with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org</p>
- <p>Title: A Bid for Fortune
- or Dr. Nikola’s Vendetta</p>
- <p>Author: <a class="reference external" href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/3587">Guy Boothby</a></p>
- <p>Release Date: May 29, 2007 [EBook #21640]</p>
- <p>Language: English</p>
- <p>Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Mary Meehan and the
- Online Distributed Proofreading Team at <a class="reference external" href="https://www.pgdp.net">https://www.pgdp.net</a></p>
- <p>Originally published by:</p>
- <p><span class="caps">WARD</span>, <span class="caps">LOCK</span> <span class="amp">&</span> <span class="caps">CO</span>., <span class="caps">LIMITED</span>
- <span class="caps">LONDON</span>, <span class="caps">MELBOURNE</span> <span class="caps">AND</span> <span class="caps">TORONTO</span> 1918</p>
- </aside>
- <figure>
- <img alt="/images/illus_001.jpg" class="bookfig" src="/images/illus_001.jpg">
- </figure>
- <section id="part-i">
- <h1><span class="caps">PART</span> I</h1>
- <section id="prologue">
- <h2><span class="caps">PROLOGUE</span></h2>
- <p><span class="smallcaps">The</span> manager of the new Imperial Restaurant on the Thames Embankment went
- into his luxurious private office and shut the door. Having done so, he
- first scratched his chin reflectively, and then took a letter from the
- drawer in which it had reposed for more than two months and perused it
- carefully. Though he was not aware of it, this was the thirtieth time he
- had read it since breakfast that morning. And yet he was not a whit
- nearer understanding it than he had been at the beginning. He turned it
- over and scrutinized the back, where not a sign of writing was to be
- seen; he held it up to the window, as if he might hope to discover
- something from the water-mark; but there was nothing in either of these
- places of a nature calculated to set his troubled mind at rest. Then he
- took a magnificent repeater watch from his waistcoat pocket and glanced
- at the dial; the hands stood at half-past seven. He immediately threw
- the letter on the table, and as he did so his anxiety found relief in words.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>It’s really the most extraordinary affair I ever had to do with,” he
- remarked. “And as I’ve been in the business just three-and-thirty years
- at eleven a.m. next Monday morning, I ought to know something about it.
- I only hope I’ve done right, that’s all.”</p>
- <p>As he spoke, the chief bookkeeper, who had the treble advantage of being
- tall, pretty, and just eight-and-twenty years of age, entered the room.
- She noticed the open letter and the look upon her chief’s face, and her
- curiosity was proportionately excited.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>You seem worried, Mr. McPherson,” she said tenderly, as she put down
- the papers she had brought in for his signature.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>You have just hit it, Miss O’Sullivan,” he answered, pushing them
- farther on to the table. “I am worried about many things, but
- particularly about this letter.”</p>
- <p>He handed the epistle to her, and she, being desirous of impressing him
- with her business capabilities, read it with ostentatious care. But it
- was noticeable that when she reached the signature she too turned back
- to the beginning, and then deliberately read it over again. The manager
- rose, crossed to the mantelpiece, and rang for the head waiter. Having
- relieved his feelings in this way, he seated himself again at his
- writing-table, put on his glasses, and stared at his companion, while
- waiting for her to speak.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>It’s very funny,” she said. “Very funny indeed!”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>It’s the most extraordinary communication I have ever received,” he
- replied with conviction. “You see it is written from Cuyaba, Brazil. The
- date is three months ago to a day. Now I have taken the trouble to find
- out where and what Cuyaba is.”</p>
- <p>He made this confession with an air of conscious pride, and having done
- so, laid himself back in his chair, stuck his thumbs into the armholes
- of his waistcoat, and looked at his fair subordinate for approval. Nor
- was he destined to be disappointed. He was a bachelor in possession of a
- snug income, and she, besides being pretty, was a lady with a keen eye
- to the main chance.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>And where <em>is</em> Cuyaba?” she asked humbly.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Cuyaba,” he replied, rolling his tongue with considerable relish round
- his unconscious mispronunciation of the name, “is a town almost on the
- western or Bolivian border of Brazil. It is of moderate size, is
- situated on the banks of the river Cuyaba, and is considerably connected
- with the famous Brazilian Diamond Fields.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>And does the writer of this letter live there?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I cannot say. He writes from there—that is enough for us.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>And he orders dinner for four—here, in a private room overlooking the
- river, three months ahead—punctually at eight o’clock, gives you a list
- of the things he wants, and even arranges the decoration of the table.
- Says he has never seen either of his three friends before; that one of
- them hails from (here she consulted the letter again) Hang-chow, another
- from Bloemfontein, while the third resides, at present, in England. Each
- one is to present an ordinary visiting card with a red dot on it to the
- porter in the hall, and to be shown to the room at once. I don’t
- understand it at all.”</p>
- <p>The manager paused for a moment, and then said deliberately,—”Hang-chow
- is in China, Bloemfontein is in South Africa.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>What a wonderful man you are, to be sure, Mr. McPherson! I never can
- <em>think</em> how you manage to carry so much in your head.”</p>
- <p>There spoke the true woman. And it was a move in the right direction,
- for the manager was susceptible to her gentle influence, as she had
- occasion to know.</p>
- <p>At this juncture the head waiter appeared upon the scene, and took up a
- position just inside the doorway, as if he were afraid of injuring the
- carpet by coming farther.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Is No. 22 ready, Williams?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Quite ready, sir. The wine is on the ice, and cook tells me he’ll be
- ready to dish punctual to the moment.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>The letter says, ‘no electric light; candles with red shades.’ Have you
- put on those shades I got this morning?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Just seen it done this very minute, sir.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>And let me see, there was one other thing.” He took the letter from the
- chief bookkeeper’s hand and glanced at it. “Ah, yes, a porcelain saucer,
- and a small jug of new milk upon the mantelpiece. An extraordinary
- request, but has it been attended to?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I put it there myself, sir.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Who wait?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Jones, Edmunds, Brooks, and Tomkins.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Very good. Then I think that will do. Stay! You had better tell the
- hall porter to look out for three gentlemen presenting plain visiting
- cards with a little red spot on them. Let Brooks wait in the hall, and
- when they arrive tell him to show them straight up to the room.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>It shall be done, sir.”</p>
- <p>The head waiter left the room, and the manager stretched himself in his
- chair, yawned by way of showing his importance, and then said solemnly,—</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I don’t believe they’ll any of them turn up; but if they do, this Dr.
- Nikola, whoever he may be, won’t be able to find fault with my arrangements.”</p>
- <p>Then, leaving the dusty high road of Business, he and his companion
- wandered in the shady bridle-paths of Love—to the end that when the
- chief bookkeeper returned to her own department she had forgotten the
- strange dinner party about to take place upstairs, and was busily
- engaged upon a calculation as to how she would look in white satin and
- orange blossoms, and, that settled, fell to wondering whether it was
- true, as Miss Joyce, a subordinate, had been heard to declare, that the
- manager had once shown himself partial to a certain widow with reputed
- savings and a share in an extensive egg and dairy business.</p>
- <p>At ten minutes to eight precisely a hansom drew up at the steps of the
- hotel. As soon as it stopped, an undersized gentleman, with a clean
- shaven countenance, a canonical corporation, and bow legs, dressed in a
- decidedly clerical garb, alighted. He paid and discharged his cabman,
- and then took from his ticket pocket an ordinary white visiting card,
- which he presented to the gold-laced individual who had opened the
- apron. The latter, having noted the red spot, called a waiter, and the
- reverend gentleman was immediately escorted upstairs.</p>
- <p>Hardly had the attendant time to return to his station in the hall,
- before a second cab made its appearance, closely followed by a third.
- Out of the second jumped a tall, active, well-built man of about thirty
- years of age. He was dressed in evening dress of the latest fashion, and
- to conceal it from the vulgar gaze, wore a large Inverness cape of heavy
- texture. He also in his turn handed a white card to the porter, and,
- having done so, proceeded into the hall, followed by the occupant of the
- last cab, who had closely copied his example. This individual was also
- in evening dress, but it was of a different stamp. It was old-fashioned
- and had seen much use. The wearer, too, was taller than the ordinary run
- of men, while it was noticeable that his hair was snow-white, and that
- his face was deeply pitted with smallpox. After disposing of their hats
- and coats in an ante-room, they reached room No. 22, where they found
- the gentleman in clerical costume pacing impatiently up and down.</p>
- <p>Left alone, the tallest of the trio, who for want of a better title we
- may call the Best Dressed Man, took out his watch, and having glanced at
- it, looked at his companions. “Gentlemen,” he said, with a slight
- American accent, “it is three minutes to eight o’clock. My name is Eastover!”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I’m glad to hear it, for I’m most uncommonly hungry,” said the next
- tallest, whom I have already described as being so marked by disease.
- “My name is Prendergast!”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>We only wait for our friend and host,” remarked the clerical gentleman,
- as if he felt he ought to take a share in the conversation, and then, as
- an afterthought, he continued, “My name is Baxter!”</p>
- <p>They shook hands all round with marked cordiality, seated themselves
- again, and took it in turns to examine the clock.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting our host before?” asked Mr.
- Baxter of Mr. Prendergast.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Never,” replied that gentleman, with a shake of his head. “Perhaps Mr.
- Eastover has been more fortunate?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Not I,” was the brief rejoinder. “I’ve had to do with him off and on
- for longer than I care to reckon, but I’ve never set eyes on him up to date.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>And where may he have been the first time you heard from him?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>In Nashville, Tennessee,” said Eastover. “After that, Tahupapa, New
- Zealand; after that, Papeete, in the Society Islands; then Pekin, China.
- And you?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>First time, Brussels; second, Monte Video; third, Mandalay, and then
- the Gold Coast, Africa. It’s your turn, Mr. Baxter.”</p>
- <p>The clergyman glanced at the timepiece. It was exactly eight o’clock.
- “First time, Cabul, Afghanistan; second, Nijni Novgorod, Russia; third,
- Wilcannia, Darling River, Australia; fourth, Valparaiso, Chili; fifth,
- Nagasaki, Japan.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>He is evidently a great traveller and a most mysterious person.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>He is more than that,” said Eastover with conviction; “he is late for dinner!”</p>
- <p>Prendergast looked at his watch.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>That clock is two minutes fast. Hark, there goes Big Ben! Eight exactly.”</p>
- <p>As he spoke the door was thrown open and a voice announced “Dr. Nikola.”</p>
- <p>The three men sprang to their feet simultaneously, with exclamations of
- astonishment, as the man they had been discussing made his appearance.</p>
- <p>It would take more time than I can spare the subject to give you an
- adequate and inclusive description of the person who entered the room at
- that moment. In stature he was slightly above the ordinary, his
- shoulders were broad, his limbs perfectly shaped and plainly muscular,
- but very slim. His head, which was magnificently set upon his shoulders,
- was adorned with a profusion of glossy black hair; his face was
- destitute of beard or moustache, and was of oval shape and handsome
- moulding; while his skin was of a dark olive hue, a colour which
- harmonized well with his piercing black eyes and pearly teeth. His hands
- and feet were small, and the greatest dandy must have admitted that he
- was irreproachably dressed, with a neatness that bordered on the
- puritanical. In age he might have been anything from eight-and-twenty to
- forty; in reality he was thirty-three. He advanced into the room and
- walked with out-stretched hand directly across to where Eastover was
- standing by the fireplace.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Mr. Eastover, I feel certain,” he said, fixing his glittering eyes upon
- the man he addressed, and allowing a curious smile to play upon his face.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>That is my name, Dr. Nikola,” the other answered with evident surprise.
- “But how on earth can you distinguish me from your other guests?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Ah! it would surprise you if you knew. And Mr. Prendergast, and Mr.
- Baxter. This is delightful; I hope I am not late. We had a collision in
- the Channel this morning, and I was almost afraid I might not be up to
- time. Dinner seems ready; shall we sit down to it?” They seated
- themselves, and the meal commenced. The Imperial Restaurant has earned
- an enviable reputation for doing things well, and the dinner that night
- did not in any way detract from its lustre. But, delightful as it all
- was, it was noticeable that the three guests paid more attention to
- their host than to his excellent <em>menu</em>. As they had said before his
- arrival, they had all had dealings with him for several years, but what
- those dealings were they were careful not to describe. It was more than
- possible that they hardly liked to remember them themselves.</p>
- <p>When coffee had been served and the servants had withdrawn, Dr. Nikola
- rose from the table, and went across to the massive sideboard. On it
- stood a basket of very curious shape and workmanship. This he opened,
- and as he did so, to the astonishment of his guests, an enormous cat, as
- black as his master’s coat, leaped out on to the floor. The reason for
- the saucer and jug of milk became evident.</p>
- <p>Seating himself at the table again, the host followed the example of his
- guests and lit a cigar, blowing a cloud of smoke luxuriously through his
- delicately chiselled nostrils. His eyes wandered round the cornice of
- the room, took in the pictures and decorations, and then came down to
- meet the faces of his companions. As they did so, the black cat, having
- finished its meal, sprang on to his shoulder to crouch there, watching
- the three men through the curling smoke drift with its green blinking,
- fiendish eyes. Dr. Nikola smiled as he noticed the effect the animal had
- upon his guests.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Now shall we get to business?” he said briskly.</p>
- <p>The others almost simultaneously knocked the ashes off their cigars and
- brought themselves to attention. Dr. Nikola’s dainty, languid manner
- seemed to drop from him like a cloak, his eyes brightened, and his
- voice, when he spoke, was clean cut as chiselled silver.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>You are doubtless anxious to be informed why I summoned you from all
- parts of the globe to meet me here to-night? And it is very natural you
- should be. But then, from what you know of me, you should not be
- surprised at anything I do.”</p>
- <p>His voice dropped back into its old tone of gentle languor. He drew in a
- great breath of smoke and then sent it slowly out from his lips again.
- His eyes were half closed, and he drummed with one finger on the table
- edge. The cat looked through the smoke at the three men, and it seemed
- to them that he grew every moment larger and more ferocious. Presently
- his owner took him from his perch, and seating him on his knee fell to
- stroking his fur, from head to tail, with his long slim fingers. It was
- as if he were drawing inspiration for some deadly mischief from the
- uncanny beast.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>To preface what I have to say to you, let me tell you that this is by
- far the most important business for which I have ever required your
- help. (Three slow strokes down the centre of the back, and one round
- each ear.) When it first came into my mind I was at a loss who to trust
- in the matter. I thought of Vendon, but I found Vendon was dead. I
- thought of Brownlow, but Brownlow was no longer faithful. (Two strokes
- down the back and two on the throat.) Then bit by bit I remembered you.
- I was in Brazil at the time. So I sent for you. You came. So far so good.”</p>
- <p>He rose, and crossed over to the fireplace. As he went the cat crawled
- back to its original position on his shoulder. Then his voice changed
- once more to its former business-like tone.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I am not going to tell you very much about it. But from what I do tell
- you, you will be able to gather a great deal and imagine the rest. To
- begin with, there is a man living in this world to-day who has done me a
- great and lasting injury. What that injury is is no concern of yours.
- You would not understand if I told you. So we’ll leave that out of the
- question. He is immensely rich. His cheque for £300,000 would be
- honoured by his bank at any minute. Obviously he is a power. He has had
- reason to know that I am pitting my wits against his, and he flatters
- himself that so far he has got the better of me. That is because I am
- drawing him on. I am maturing a plan which will make him a poor and a
- very miserable man at one and the same time. If that scheme succeeds,
- and I am satisfied with the way you three men have performed the parts I
- shall call on you to play in it, I shall pay to each of you the sum of
- £10,000. If it doesn’t succeed, then you will each receive a thousand
- and your expenses. Do you follow me?”</p>
- <p>It was evident from their faces that they hung upon his every word.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>But, remember, I demand from you your whole and entire labour. While
- you are serving me you are mine body and soul. I know you are
- trustworthy. I have had good proof that you are—pardon the
- expression—unscrupulous, and I flatter myself you are silent. What is
- more, I shall tell you nothing beyond what is necessary for the carrying
- out of my scheme, so that you could not betray me if you would. Now for
- my plans!”</p>
- <p>He sat down again and took a paper from his pocket. Having perused it,
- he turned to Eastover.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>You will leave at once—that is to say, by the boat on Wednesday—for
- Sydney. You will book your passage to-morrow morning, first thing, and
- join her in Plymouth. You will meet me to-morrow evening at an address I
- will send you, and receive your final instructions. Good-night.”</p>
- <p>Seeing that he was expected to go, Eastover rose, shook hands, and left
- the room without a word. He was too astonished to hesitate or to say anything.</p>
- <p>Nikola took another letter from his pocket and turned to Prendergast.
- “<em>You</em> will go down to Dover to-night, cross to Paris to-morrow morning,
- and leave this letter personally at the address you will find written on
- it. On Thursday, at half-past two precisely, you will deliver me an
- answer in the porch at Charing Cross. You will find sufficient money in
- that envelope to pay all your expenses. Now go!”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>At half-past two you shall have your answer. Good-night.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Good-night.”</p>
- <p>When Prendergast had left the room, Dr. Nikola lit another cigar and
- turned his attentions to Mr. Baxter.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Six months ago, Mr. Baxter, I found for you a situation as tutor to the
- young Marquis of Beckenham. You still hold it, I suppose?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I do.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Is the father well disposed towards you?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>In every way. I have done my best to ingratiate myself with him. That
- was one of your instructions.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Yes, yes! But I was not certain that you would succeed. If the old man
- is anything like what he was when I last met him he must still be a
- difficult person to deal with. Does the boy like you?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I hope so.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Have you brought me his photograph as I directed?”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I have. Here it is.”</p>
- <p>Baxter took a photograph from his pocket and handed it across the table.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Good. You have done very well, Mr. Baxter. I am pleased with you.
- To-morrow morning you will go back to Yorkshire——”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>I beg your pardon, Bournemouth. His Grace owns a house near
- Bournemouth, which he occupies during the summer months.”</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>Very well—then to-morrow morning you will go back to Bournemouth and
- continue to ingratiate yourself with father and son. You will also begin
- to implant in the boy’s mind a desire for travel. Don’t let him become
- aware that his desire has its source in you—but do not fail to foster
- it all you can. I will communicate with you further in a day or two. Now go.”</p>
- <p>Baxter in his turn left the room. The door closed. Dr. Nikola picked up
- the photograph and studied it.</p>
- <p><span class="dquo">“</span>The likeness is unmistakable—or it ought to be. My friend, my very
- dear friend, Wetherell, my toils are closing on you. My arrangements are
- perfecting themselves admirably. Presently, when all is complete, I
- shall press the lever, the machinery will be set in motion, and you will
- find yourself being slowly but surely ground into powder. Then you will
- hand over what I want, and be sorry you thought fit to baulk Dr. Nikola!”</p>
- <p>He rang the bell and ordered his bill. This duty discharged, he placed
- the cat back in its prison, shut the lid, descended with the basket to
- the hall, and called a hansom. The porter inquired to what address he
- should order the cabman to drive. Dr. Nikola did not reply for a moment,
- then he said, as if he had been thinking something out: “The <em>Green
- Sailor</em> public-house, East India Dock Road.”</p>
- <hr class="docutils">
- <p>You can read the rest of “A Bid For Fortune; Or, Dr. Nikola’s Vendetta” at <a class="reference external" href="https://archive.org/stream/bidforfortunenov00bootiala#page/12/mode/2up">Open Library</a></p>
- </section>
- </section>
- </div>
|