Mene tekel; a tale of strange happenings

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I Which Is in the Nature of an Introduction . . i

II The Midnight Visit 7

Chapter I Which Is In The Nature Of An Introduction

“ This is exceedingly interesting,” exclaimed Joseph Muller, drawing his chair nearer to the window, to obtain a better light upon the newspaper in his hand.

The well-known detective was enjoying an hour of unwonted leisure in his own rooms in Vienna. His modest lodgings were located in a quiet residential quarter of the town. Through the open window came a flood of warm sunshine, bringing a hint of spring, although the trees were still bare.* The chirping quarrels of the birds added to the sense of country quiet.

“ Most interesting,” murmured Muller again.

The item of news which had so caught his attention was a despatch from Stockholm.

“ Professor Clusius, the Wizard of Science, threw out hints of a remarkable new discovery in his lecture at the University yesterday. Without going into technical details, the noted scientist stated that he believed it possible to find some process by which faded writing or colours could be restored to a surface on which they had been impressed, and also, any shadows or light impressions thrown on the surface by forms passing over or near it at any time. Professor Clusius would not make any more definite statement concerning the process by I which such astonishing results could be obtained. _ But he told his hearers that he was about to start on a journey to the Orient, in the course of which he hoped to perfect his experiments sufficiently to give out decisive information on his return. Professor Clusius’ standing in the world of science makes such promises from him of vital importance. Even outside scientific circles, the world will eagerly await his return from his voyage of research.”

“ To bring back lost writing — to restore even the shadows of the forms which have passed before any surface — marvellous — hardly credible ! ” Muller spoke half aloud in his excitement. “ Why, it would be one of the greatest discoveries of all time! Think what I could do with such a process to help me in my work — ” Then he laughed aloud and his grey eyes twinkled. “ Still, I don’t know — if it should prove possible, where would I be? Anybody could do detective work then with the shadow-story of the crime unrolling itself before him. But the idea is fascinating — it would be a revealing of hidden mysteries such as has never been heard of before. ,,

The detective leaned back in his chair, looking up at the clear blue sky over which occasional fleecy white clouds floated. “ I wonder — if I had a chance in life — if I had been able to study, to delve into the mysteries of science — I wonder if then I could have done some little even of what this man does. I have imagination and the power to command its services — I can see what others do not see. But I feel so often the lack of early study. The thought of what the genius of a man like Clusius can do for the world is wonderful — wonderful.”

The jingle of a bell outside penetrated Muller’s reverie. He sat up and waited, and a moment or two later there was a tap at his door.

“ Some one for you, sir,” said his landlady, opening

AN INTRODUCTION the door sufficiently to admit the substantial form of an attendant from the police station.

“ Letter from Commissioner von Riedau, Mr. Muller,” said the man. “ I’m to take back a reply.”

Muller glanced hastily at the few lines of writing. “ Tell Commissioner von Riedau I will come over at once.”

When the messenger had bowed himself out, Muller took up the newspaper that had fallen to the floor. “ Sorry ! I should have enjoyed a few days of rest, and I think I should have spent them in studying up a little on what Professor Clusius has already done. The hall-mark of a genius like that is his intuition, his winged imagination that can bring light into darkness. And how enviable in that he doesn’t have to delve into the depths of human misery to do it either, or to destroy human life to prove his own ability. Well — I mustn’t keep the Commissioner waiting.”

“ Sorry to have to send for you, Muller, for you’ve earned a rest after your work on this last case,” said Commissioner von Riedau, when the detective stood before him. “ But it’s nothing very difficult this time. In fact you can look on it as a vacation with expenses paid. Sit down and I’ll explain.”

Muller took a seat with his usual expression of quiet deference.

“ This isn’t a case at all,” continued the Commissioner. “ It’s the sort of thing on which we don’t usually waste people like you. But there’s no one else at leisure who can be trusted, and I thought you might like a little jaunt. I have a private request here from London, from Scotland Yard, asking that a Secret Service man of trusted ability be sent to accompany the celebrated scientist, Professor Clusius, while the latter is passing through Austrian territory.”

“ Professor Clusius of Stockholm?” asked Muller quickly.

“ Yes, do you know him? ”

“ Only by reputation, as does all the world. I never saw him.’’

“ I wish you had seen him, for according to our information the Professor and his companions are likely to travel incognito to avoid publicity. The Professor is on his way to the Orient on a special mission of research.’’

“ Relating to his new discovery — the details of which have not yet been published,” said Muller.

“ Muller, you always manage to surprise me ! Now how did you know that? ”

“ Merest chance this time,” replied the detective with a cheery smile. “ I was reading about it in the papers just as you sent for me.”

“ Professor Clusius is so famous that his incognito is likely to be discovered. There’s always some crank ready to make such a well-known man a mark for his envy, or his crazy revenge. Even curiosity can sometimes prove harmful. Protection is asked for the Professor, but he must not know that he is being guarded, nor must any one else know it. I leave the choosing of your disguise to you, as usual.”

“ You said the request came from Scotland Yard, sir. Professor Clusius is a Swede. How come the English police to ask protection for him?”

“ It does sound queer, but the explanation is easy. The protection is asked not only for Professor Clusius, but for Lord Richard Tannemore, a well-known English nobleman, who is travelling with the Professor.”

“ Tannemore? Where have I heard that name?” said Muller. “ It was in connection with some recent police news.”

“ Good Heavens, Muller, don’t let any one hear you say such a thing!” exclaimed the Commissioner. “ Lord Tannemore is a brother of the Earl of Wrexham, and is a scholar of note himself, an arch-

AN INTRODUCTION geologist, I understand — with special knowledge of Assyrian antiquity/’

“ All the same — yes — Assyria, that’s it. It was in connection with the breakdown of Burton, one of the best detectives Scotland Yard ever had. I remember it now. Lord Tannemore — that is the man — proclaimed his belief that some collection of antiquities recently purchased by the British Museum was not genuine. It made talk and Burton was put on the case by Lord Tannemore. He could not bring any proof of the forgery and broke down completely over it, lost his mind. It wasn’t so very long ago — about a year, I think. I wonder if Professor Clusius’ journey has anything to do with this matter?”

“ I couldn’t say. There was nothing in the despatch from London to that effect.”

“ A little imagination can help even in reading despatches,” thought Muller. But he said nothing and listened as respectfully as before while his Chief continued :

“ The despatch states that information will be sent us by the Swedish police as soon as the actual route taken by the Professor and his party is known, and the names that they have chosen to travel under. They will be obliged to obtain their passports and thus make their intentions known to the Swedish authorities. Be ready to start at any moment. Thus far we know only that they intend to enter Syria by way of Bey rout. You need not go any further than that point with them.”

“ Please give me indefinite leave of absence, Commissioner. I may want to go further than Beyrout; something may turn up.”

“ It isn’t likely, but if you want the time, take it. You have earned a vacation. Our department has had secret orders for some time to pay particular attention to any request for assistance that might come from England. We are told to be particularly polite to English wishes. That’s another reason why I am sending you on this job. You don’t mind going, do you ? ” asked the Commissioner, somewhat anxiously.

“ Not in the least. In fact it will be most interesting to make the personal acquaintance, unofficially, of such a noted scholar. Have you read anything about the Professor’s newest discovery?”

“ No; what is it?”

“ Some process he has invented by which he hopes to restore lost writings — to make it possible even to call up on any surface the shadows of the figures which have passed between it and the light at any time, no matter how long before. You can imagine what that would mean for our department, Commissioner. If this thing is feasible we can see the whole process of a murder, for instance, worked out in shadows on the wall of the room where it occurred.”

“ Impossible,” declared the Commissioner. “ The thing can’t be done. These scientists have their visions, but precious few of them are ever translated into a form that will make them of use for us ordinary mortals. We of the police have to deal with facts, not visions.”

“ And yet even we need the vision. What would the world be without the Vision? ” murmured Muller.

Chapter II

Professor Clusius put down his pen and looked at his watch.

“ Midnight ! ” he murmured. “ I had no idea it was so late. I must not work any more to-night/’

With a half-regretful sigh the noted Swedish scientist pushed back his desk chair, rose and walked slowly to the window.

The great park-like garden surrounding Professor Clusius’ home on one of the islands of Stockholm was famed throughout his own city and far beyond its limits. Trees and flowers from every zone grew there, braving the northern climate as if sustained by some miraculous power. And indeed popular opinion ascribed miraculous power to the man who lived there, the great explorer in the realm of science, whose world- fame was his country’s proudest boast.

As he stood now at the broad window of his study looking out into the garden, the far-off hum of city traffic came faintly, even in the stillness of an early spring night. It was as if the busy bustling town were loath to disturb the labours or the repose of her greatest citizen.

Clusius pressed a button by the window. “ Put out the lights in the large drawing-room, Klaus,” he said to the servant who appeared. “ I am tired and can see no one this evening.”

“ There are three reporters waiting outside, sir,” replied Klaus. “ The gentleman from the New York

7 ,

Herald wants to cable some particulars about your latest discovery. What shall I tell them? ”

“ Ask Mr. Lund to receive the gentlemen. He may be able to give them the information they want. Do not let any one disturb me to-night — no one, you understand? And now good-night, Klaus.”

His subconscious mind still struggling with the problem that engrossed him, Clusius fell into an uneasy slumber. Scarce an hour later he became aware of a timid but persistent knocking at the door. He turned over, annoyed, and called out, “ What is it?”

Klaus entered apologetically.

“ There’s a gentleman come, sir. I told him you didn’t want to see any one else to-night — but he says it’s very important.”

“ Who is it ? ” asked Clusius angrily.

“Lord Tannemore, sir; he says that he must see you.”

Clusius sat up in bed.

“ That’s a different matter,” he exclaimed. “ I wouldn’t see His Majesty himself to-night, but I am always ready to see Lord Tannemore. Hand me those clothes, Klaus — then light up the study — quickly now.”

Ten minutes later, Professor Clusius entered his study, holding out both hands in eager welcome to the man who stood there. The visitor was a tall, finelooking Englishman, with the features and bearing of an aristocrat, but with the eyes and brow of a scholar. Lie was suffering from a depression of spirit which even his well-bred repose could not quite control. But his weary eyes lit with a smile of true pleasure as he stepped forward and clasped his host’s hands firmly in both his own.

“ Richard — I’m so glad, so glad you have come,” exclaimed Clusius heartily.

Tannemore’s fine face grew grave again as he gazed long and earnestly into the eyes of the great scientist.

“ Then your friendship for me is as warm as ever ? ’* he said. “But why should I ask? — a man like you cannot change. I have come now to make a demand on your friendship — I am in sore trouble — ”

“ My dear Richard ! ” replied Clusius eagerly. “ Our friendship did not spring from any need we might have for each other — but it would not be friendship if we did not know that we could depend upon one another in time of need. All that I am and have are at your service. Tell me your trouble.”

Clusius pulled an armchair close to the sofa, pushed his friend down into it and settled himself in the sofa corner. Now as the light fell clear on the handsome face opposite him, the scientist noted its lines of deep weariness, and noted also that Tannemore’s ease of manner was assumed. Beneath it the soul of the man was bearing some heavy burden.

Clusius laid his hand gently on the other’s arm. “ Tell me everything,” he murmured.

After a moment’s pause Tannemore began to speak, calmly and dispassionately.

“ I should not have come to you at this unseemly hour, without announcing my coming, had it not been important. I am helpless to save myself — I need your aid — it is a matter of life and death — nay, more than that. To-day is the fourth of March, is it not? Very well, then; on the 6th of August of this year, I shall find myself compelled, wherever I may be at that time, to send a message to my wife, telling her she may never see me alive again, telling her whether I can return to England — with the honour of my name free from stain.” He paused again and sat staring into blankness, his eyes heavy with despair.

“The honour of your name?” murmured Clusius surprised. “What could ever touch that — ?”

“ Yes, the honour of my name is in danger,” whispered Tannemore in a low tone.

Clusius shook his head and leaned back again in his sofa corner. “ You must exaggerate — no one who knows you could believe that you would ever do anything to cloud the honour of your proud name. But whatever the trouble is you may depend upon me for help. What is it that you want me to do?”

“ I want you to save my honour — my life, too, possibly, but that were the lesser matter. I am almost afraid to ask it of you, and yet if any one can do it you can, you who can work miracles. Let me tell you the story from the beginning that you may understand it clearly. In the British Museum, second story — ”

“ Mesopotamian antiquities,” cut in the Professor.

“ Yes. In room 7, second division — ”

“ District of the Lower Euphrates.” Clusius smiled in interested animation.

Tannemore smiled also. “ I see you are entirely at home there. Well, then, in the first row of glass cases, case 3, there are — ”

“ Clay tablets from Birs i Nimrud — ”

“ The tablets to the left — ”

“ Cuneiform inscriptions,” supplemented the Professor eagerly.

Tannemore nodded. “ Exactly. When were you there last? ”

“ Seven years ago.”

“ Oh, that’s too bad.”

“ Why?”

“ If you were there now you would see something — something monstrous.”

“ What?”

“ Babylonian tablets that — but let me go back again in my story. You know those modest-looking.

ii fascinating bricks in case 3, the tablets which bear on their surface the mystery of three millenniums? None of the great scholars, not even Rawlinson the peerless, can decipher them completely. You know how we all, we archaeologists, have been working over these stones, striving to wring from them the secret which they hide, the secret of a lost language. As you know, we have succeeded in part only. One thing we do know — ”

“ That the script is hieratic,” Clusius completed.

“ Yes, that is the point,” said Tannemore solemnly. “ We know that it is a style of cuneiform writing considered sacred in Mesopotamia, writing used only by priests and scholars. Now over a year ago, while I was in the Highlands, news came to me that the government had purchased, for an enormous sum, a collection of Babylonian antiquities, gold, gems and stones. The seller was William Bridgeport, an archaeologist of some repute. The price he asked was far beyond the cost of all other material ever found in the neighbourhood of Birs i Nimrud. He based his exorbitant demands on the contention that his tablets showed a new style of writing, the demotic cuneiform, something never before discovered in that region. The government had refused at first to pay so much and the hesitation cost dear. For when the decision to acquire the collection was finally made, Bridgeport’s business representative, a man by the name of Redfowles, demanded double the original sum asked.

“ I hurried to London at once on receipt of the news and went directly from the station to the Museum. The new stones filled my thoughts so completely that I found myself, as I ascended the stairs, looking into my own sister’s face without recognising her. Then at last I stood before the new wonder, and — at the very first glance — I felt — I knew beyond a doubt — that they were falsifications — that they were a blatent forgery.”

Tannemore paused, breathless, waiting for his friend to speak. But Clusius sat silent, his head resting on his hand, and the Englishman took up his story again.

“ For a whole week I tried to persuade myself that I had been mistaken. Then I called on our friend Kingsby, the new director of the Museum, and asked his permission to make an examination of the tablets.

‘ It has been done most thoroughly already,’ he told me. I revealed my doubts and he assured me that our leading Assyriologists had studied the bricks carefully before the purchase was made. But he had no objection to another examination and let me take the stones. Rumours of my doubts got about in scientific circles, and Redfowles, who had arranged the sale, called on me one day. Fie declared that I had insulted him and his friend Bridgeport by my expressed opinion, and challenged me to a duel.”

“ And you want me to be your second ? ” cried Clu- j sius looking up. “ Gladly — gladly — depend on me.”

“ No, that isn’t it,” replied Tannemore. “ I thank you deeply for your offer, my friend, but it is a greater service than that which I ask of you. What possible good could a duel serve? Should I fall, how could I prove the truth of my assertion? By a chance quiver of my hand Bridgeport and Redfowles would be vindicated, and could laugh all honest archaeologists to shame. No; I will not fight them in that absurd way — I will expose them ! — that is, I have hoped to expose . them.” A bitter smile wreathed his lips.

“ And in this hope I drew up a formal contract with Redfowles on August 6 of the year before last. By the terms of the contract I was to have two years to prove the truth of my assertion that the inscription on the tablets was a forgery. Could I prove it.

Redfowles was to make open acknowledgment of the fraud, and of course, the money should be restored to the Museum. If I could not prove it, I must acknowledge openly that — that I had made a false accusation.”

Lord Tannemore’s voice was even and steady when he reached this point in his story. With scarcely a perceptible pause he continued : “ And now, after

many months of work, I find myself compelled to acknowledge that I cannot prove the fraud, although I am as convinced as ever that it is a fraud. I know those stones are forged. And yet — on the 6th of next August I shall be compelled to confess myself guilty of public libel, an irrevocable stain on my name — a stain that — that I can scarcely outlive unless — ” Tannemore breathed deeply. “ Unless you — ”

“ Unless I can help you to expose the fraud,” Clusius said calmly.

“ That is what I came to ask of you — came at this hour. I should not have disturbed you for a lesser cause. For the first time in this year and a half of research I am worried and anxious — I will confess it to you. I left London on an impulse — in the press of an uncontrollable desire to see you. I took the quickest route and come now directly from the station to you — to your house — ”

“ That was right — you did right to come to me.” Clusius caught his friend’s hand. “ It was good of you to think of me in your trouble, Richard ; it shows me that you do indeed look on me as your friend. I will try to deserve your trust. Then I am to prove that you are right ? Surely, that’s my work — to discover what is hidden from others. I will prove that you are right — that is,” his voice grew graver, “if it can be proven.”

“ Yes — if it can be proven.” Tannemore’s smile was forced.

“ I know it can be proven,” declared Clusius brightly.

Tannemore pressed his friend’s hand warmly, and his intelligent eyes softened. “ If it had been a personal matter only I should never have troubled you. Even though my honour is at stake — the unspotted honour of my family name — and my own personal reputation as an archaeologist. But the tablets, the false tablets ! Is it not unendurable to think that they should lie there beside the true ones, equally honoured and admired ? — that unless the fraud can be exposed they will rest there for future generations to see?”

“ It must be exposed,” said the Professor calmly. “No such falsehood must endure to confuse science throughout the years.”

“ Exactly,” exclaimed Tannemore eagerly. “ Imagine our best men giving years to the effort to unriddle this writing; or — the thing has been done so cleverly — imagine letting this untruth be written into history.”

“ It must not be ! It must not be ! ” cried Clusius, the fire of the true scholar shining in his eyes.

The Englishman laid his arm affectionately about his famous friend’s shoulders, as he asked with grave tenderness, “Then you trust me fully? You believe what I say even when I tell you that I cannot find a single fact to prove my assertion ? ”

Clusius answered in the calm, balanced tone of a teacher laying down an axiomatic rule.

“ There are some statements, the truth of which must be judged partly by the mental and moral worth of him who makes them. There is something in intuition even in the field of exact science. I know you as a scholar of high repute. I should consider any opinion of yours worth a careful investigation.”

“ Then you will help me — you will ? ” Tannemore’s voice was hoarse with emotion.

“ I will help you,” declared Clusius definitely.

Tannemore rose, pressed his friend’s hand. His lips trembled and he did not trust himself to speak.

Into the tense silence of the room a clock struck sharply once. Another answered from the room beyond, and still another. The succession of sudden sounds roused Tannemore into self-control. He laughed and stepped back a pace.

“ Your clocks insist on being heard,” he said.

“ The hint is not intended for my friends,” said the Professor. “ It is designed for an excuse to rid myself of tiresome, formal visitors. We will send Klaus to the hotel for your man and your luggage, Richard. You must stop here while you are in Stockholm. I understand the gravity of this matter, my friend, but I trust you, and I will help you if it is in my power to do so.”

“ It looks now as if only a miracle could save me,” replied Tannemore gravely; “but you can work miracles.”

Chapter III Professor Clusius Throws Out A Hint

The following morning Professor Clusius and Lord Tannemore sat together over a late breakfast in the scientist’s favourite morning room. It was a light, airy apartment with walls and roof of glass. The tree-tops in the park outside arched over their heads, and through the bare branches the pale sunlight flashed a gleam from the near waters of Lake Malar.

There was a third man present, Hjalmar Lund, the Professor’s chief assistant. In spite of the very considerable attainments which had won him so favoured a position, Lund was not yet thirty years of age, and was furthermore very good to look upon. Whenever his presence was required at the Professor’s public lectures and demonstrations, the younger women of Stockholm society developed a noticeable and commendable desire for scientific knowledge. Lund’s personal triumphs were farthest from his thoughts this morning, however, as he sat with his clear honest blue eyes fixed on the face of the great scholar whose devoted disciple he was.

Clusius pushed back his chair a little from the table. “ Now we can begin,” he remarked.

His two companions sat up eagerly and waited in an attitude of respectful attention. Outside the faint sunshine grew paler still as a white sea-fog rolled slowly in over the lake. Clusius had fallen into deep meditation, and the others scarcely dared to breathe in fear of disturbing the train of his thoughts.

Finally he spoke: “Now we can begin,” he re- 16

CLUSIUS THROWS OUT A HINT 17

peated. “ Lund, I want you to take part in our conference. Lord Tannemore has told you of the matter in hand, I supposed

Lund nodded, and the Professor continued, turning to his guest : “ And now Richard, will you be so good

as to tell us in detail just what you have already done to prove the forgery of the inscription? Your first impulse, I suppose, was to enlist police assistance? ”

“ Exactly/' replied Tannemore. “ I engaged Burton, the cleverest Secret Service man in England, and sent to America for the famous Josiah Kingfleth to help him. They were liberally supplied with money and a big reward was the further price of success. For eight months these two men devoted themselves entirely to the case. At the end of that time Burton was committed to an asylum, hopelessly insane. Kingfleth gave up the case in despair and went home to resign his official position, in shame at his defeat."

“ And then your part of the work began."

“ Yes. Then I began my scientific investigation."

“ I am taking for granted that you went over the ground thoroughly? In Mesopotamia I mean."

“ Surely. I realised that I must first of all know positively whether or not real tablets bearing such script could be found in that neighbourhood. Had I found any, it would of course have been one proof less in my favour. But it would have diminished the value of Bridgeport's collection, a value based on the assumption that there were no more such stones in existence. This, of course, was his best security against exposure. For who could prove that the demotic writing did not exist at the period in question? I found no proof anywhere that it did exist — but that is no proof of its non-existence. My investigations did not give me a single proof that I needed — but they strengthened my own belief that these stones are forgeries."

i8

“ I agree with you there,” said the Professor.

“ I left literally no stone unturned in that region,” continued Tannemore. “ With thirty good men to help me I spent nearly a year of constant labour in Assyria, Media and Babylonia.”