out!
“I’d never known what fear–really sickening fear–was before! Once they
came to look at me. I shut my eyes and pretended to be still unconscious, but I
was afraid they’d hear the beating of my heart. However, they went away again.
I began thinking madly. What could I do? I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand up
against torture very long.
“Suddenly something put the thought of loss of memory into my head. The
subject had always interested me, and I’d read an awful lot about it. I had the
whole thing at my finger-tips. If only I could succeed in carrying the bluff
through, it might save me. I said a prayer, and drew a long breath. Then I
opened my eyes and started babbling in FRENCH!
“Mrs. Vandemeyer came round the screen at once. Her face was so wicked I
nearly died, but I smiled up at her doubtfully, and asked her in French where I
was.
“It puzzled her, I could see. She called the man she had been talking to.
He stood by the screen with his face in shadow. He spoke to me in French. His
voice was very ordinary and quiet, but somehow, I don’t know why, he scared me
worse than the woman. I felt he’d seen right through me, but I went on playing
my part. I asked again where I was, and then went on that there was something I
MUST remember–MUST remember–only for the moment it was all gone. I worked
myself up to be more and more distressed. He asked me my name. I said I didn’t
know–that I couldn’t remember anything at all.
“Suddenly he caught my wrist, and began twisting it. The pain was awful. I
screamed. He went on. I screamed and screamed, but I managed to shriek out
things in French. I don’t know how long I could have gone on, but luckily I
fainted. The last thing I heard was his voice saying: ‘That’s not bluff!
Anyway, a kid of her age wouldn’t know enough.’ I guess he forgot American girls
are older for their age than English ones, and take more interest in scientific
subjects.
“When I came to, Mrs. Vandemeyer was sweet as honey to me. She’d had her
orders, I guess. She spoke to me in French–told me I’d had a shock and been
very ill. I should be better soon. I pretended to be rather dazed–murmured
something about the ‘doctor’ having hurt my wrist. She looked relieved when I
said that.
“By and by she went out of the room altogether. I was suspicious still, and
lay quite quiet for some time. In the end, however, I got up and walked round
the room, examining it. I thought that even if anyone WAS watching me from
somewhere, it would seem natural enough under the circumstances. It was a
squalid, dirty place. There were no windows, which seemed queer. I guessed the
door would be locked, but I didn’t try it. There were some battered old pictures
on the walls, representing scenes from Faust.”
Jane’s two listeners gave a simultaneous “Ah!” The girl nodded.
“Yes–it was the place in Soho where Mr. Beresford was imprisoned. Of
course, at the time I didn’t even know if I was in London. One thing was
worrying me dreadfully, but my heart gave a great throb of relief when I saw my
ulster lying carelessly over the back of a chair. AND THE MAGAZINE WAS STILL
ROLLED UP IN THE POCKET!
“If only I could be certain that I was not being overlooked! I looked
carefully round the walls. There didn’t seem to be a peep-hole of any
kind–nevertheless I felt kind of sure there must be. All of a sudden I sat down
on the edge of the table, and put my face in my hands, sobbing out a ‘Mon Dieu!
Mon Dieu!’ I’ve got very sharp ears. I distinctly heard the rustle of a dress,
and slight creak. That was enough for me. I was being watched!
“I lay down on the bed again, and by and by Mrs. Vandemeyer brought me some
supper. She was still sweet as they make them. I guess she’d been told to win