There was mention of it in the program at the Palace.That was the business which kept me in England.The project has been abandoned now and I am free to go back home.
Thus you see that when you granted me the privilege of those seven letters you played into my hands.So, said I, she longs for mystery and romance.Then, by the Lord Harry, she shall have them!
And it was the tramp of Captain Fraser-Freer's boots above my head that showed me the way.A fine, stalwart, cordial fellow - the captain - who has been very kind to me since I presented my letter of introduction from his cousin, Archibald Enwright.Poor Archie!
A meek, correct little soul, who would be horrified beyond expression if he knew that of him I had made a spy and a frequenter of Limehouse!
The dim beginnings of the plot were in my mind when I wrote that first letter, suggesting that all was not regular in the matter of Archie's note of introduction.Before I wrote my second, I knew that nothing but the death of Fraser-Freer would do me.I recalled that Indian knife I had seen upon his desk, and from that moment he was doomed.At that time I had no idea how I should solve the mystery.But I had read and wondered at those four strange messages in the Mail, and I resolved that they must figure in the scheme of things.
The fourth letter presented difficulties until I returned from dinner that night and saw a taxi waiting before our quiet house.
Hence the visit of the woman with the lilac perfume.I am afraid the Wilhelmstrasse would have little use for a lady spy who advertised herself in so foolish a manner.Time for writing the fifth letter arrived.I felt that I should now be placed under arrest.I had a faint little hope that you would be sorry about that.Oh, I'm a brute, I know!
Early in the game I had told the captain of the cruel way in which I had disposed of him.He was much amused; but he insisted, absolutely, that he must be vindicated before the close of the series, and I was with him there.He had been so bully about it all.A chance remark of his gave me my solution.He said he had it on good authority that the chief of the Czar's bureau for capturing spies in Russia was himself a spy.And so - why not a spy in Scotland Yard?
I assure you, I am most contrite as I set all this down here.You must remember that when I began my story there was no idea of war.
Now all Europe is aflame; and in the face of the great conflict, the awful suffering to come, I and my little plot begin to look - well, I fancy you know just how we look.
Forgive me.I am afraid I can never find the words to tell you how important it seemed to interest you in my letters - to make you feel that I am an entertaining person worthy of your notice.That morning when you entered the Canton breakfast room was really the biggest in my life.I felt as though you had brought with you through that doorway - But I have no right to say it.I have the right to say nothing save that now - it is all left to you.If Ihave offended, then I shall never hear from you again.
The captain will be here in a moment.It is near the hour set and he is never late.He is not to return to India, but expects to be drafted for the Expeditionary Force that will be sent to the Continent.I hope the German Army will be kinder to him than I was!
My name is Geoffrey West.I live at nineteen Adelphi Terrace - in rooms that look down on the most wonderful garden in London.That, at least, is real.It is very quiet there to-night, with the city and its continuous hum of war and terror seemingly a million miles away.
Shall we meet at last? The answer rests entirely with you.But, believe me, I shall be anxiously waiting to know; and if you decide to give me a chance to explain - to denounce myself to you in person - then a happy man will say good-by to this garden and these dim dusty rooms and follow you to the ends of the earth - aye, to Texas itself!
Captain Fraser-Freer is coming down the stairs.Is this good-by forever, my lady? With all my soul, I hope not.
YOUR CONTRITE STRAWBERRY MAN.
