“That gives you,” said Mansel, “no shadow of right to be here. Unless I’m behind with my rent, you can’t set a foot on this land—for fifty years.”
At this there was a great uproar, and I slipped into the road and up as close as I dared, to see that all was well.
Rose Noble and Punter were holding back Ellis, while Mansel was sitting still upon the rim of the well, with one leg cocked over the other, and a pipe in his mouth.
Presently the storm abated, and Ellis suffered Punter to lead him away to the car, on the step of which he sat down and mopped his face, while Rose Noble continued to play the hand.
“Leases and whatnot,” he said, “don’t cut much ice with me. The Law’s well enough in its place, but I guess we can do without it this afternoon.”
“If you mean,” said Mansel, “that you want to stay here and talk, I won’t ask you to withdraw for a quarter of an hour.”
“That,” said Rose Noble quietly, “is exactly what I meant.”
With that, he took out a cigar and leaned his back against a tree.
“Do you seriously think,” he said, “that we’re going to sit right down and let you lift that treasure under our eyes?”
“Not for one moment,” said Mansel cheerfully.
“Then,” said Rose Noble, “why don’t you face the facts? We’re five to one and two boys: this isn’t exactly Holborn: and we’re not afraid to strike.”
“I know Ellis isn’t,” said Mansel.
At that Ellis started up with a volley of oaths, but Rose Noble cursed him into silence, and returned to the charge.
“You know where that treasure is?”
“I do and I don’t,” said Mansel. “To be perfectly frank, I was going to start looking today, but this infernal well has upset my plans. You must have water, you know.”
“Quit that line,” said the other sharply. “And tell me—what do you know?”
“Yes, I see the firearm,” said Mansel. “But it doesn’t faze me. Unless I misjudge you, you’re not going to make the mistake which was made not far from Chartres three weeks ago.”
Ellis leapt to his feet.
“How long are we going to stand this?” he cried. “Put it across the ⸻ once for all. Shove the cards on the table. I’m sick of being chewed.”
Rose Noble disregarded him.
“You drew on me,” he said quietly, “by the side of the railway line. You made a hole in my car.”
“Two,” said Mansel. “Two holes, counting the petrol-tank.”
The other lighted his cigar.
“Two holes,” he said slowly. “And Punter was knocked down. And in spite of all that, I’m going to give you your choice.” He threw away the match and folded his arms. “Give us your map or plan or note or whatever it is: give up possession quietly: give me your word to keep out of Austria for the next six months, and I’ll let the three of you go.”
“I see,” said Mansel. “What’s the alternative?”
“We take possession,” said Rose Noble, “here and now: you will stay as our guests until the treasure is found. How long that period will be will depend upon your ability to withstand the inclination to drink. When it has been found, and we are gone, your future will depend upon how long it is before somebody passes this way.”
I never heard words uttered in a tone so cold and merciless, and Ellis appeared almost genial beside this sinister man.
He was a big, hook-nosed fellow with sandy hair. His face was grey and flabby, and he was very fat. He had a curious way of hooding his eyes, but when he drew back his lids—and this was seldom—you seemed to be looking upon two coals of fire, that were consumed with hatred of everything they saw.
When he had spoken, there was a little silence.
Then:
“That’s the stuff,” said Punter, with half a laugh.
“You think so?” said Mansel swiftly. “Well, we shall see.” He rose. “And now I’m going to be less generous than you. I’m going to give you no choice—except to withdraw. I’m not going to look for that treasure while you sit and watch me do it. I’m in no hurry: in fact, I’ve time to burn. I’ve taken a lease of this place for fifty years; the fishing round about here is such as I love, and at the present moment, though it doesn’t seem to interest you, I’ve got my hands full with this well. But don’t think, from what I say, that you’re free of these grounds. I’ve a right to order you off, and I’m going to do it right now. If after this, you return, you’ll return as trespassers, and you can take it from me that, so far as this estate is concerned, trespassers will be shot.”
With that, he looked round the courtyard, and, seeing, I suppose, something in his movement which they did not understand, the five men followed his gaze.
Asprawl in the mouth of the loft, Bell was covering Rose Noble: each of the two open windows was framing a rifle-barrel, with a head and shoulders behind: and Hanbury stood in the gateway, and I was in the mouth of the road.
There was a long silence.
At length:
“That’s two tricks to you,” said Rose Noble, rubbing his nose. “But I don’t think you’ll get any more. An ace and a King look pretty, but they only take one trick each, and I’d rather hold the rest of the suit.”
“Are you quite sure you do?” said Mansel.
“Yes,” said Rose Noble, “and let me tell you this. Before the game’s over you’ll remember this afternoon … and the sunshine … and the air … and the pretty, bright blue sky … And when you remember them, you’ll curse the ⸻ that bore you, and—”
Mansel had knocked him down, and, pistol in hand, was flat against the trunk of the lime-tree against which Rose Noble had lately been leaning, before a man could cry out or a shot could be fired. I have never seen any movements so
