Held At Bay (19 page)

“It's pretty close,” said Mannering. Lorna felt that she wanted to scream, Lenville wondered whether Mannering would go too far, Anita, Juan and Don Manuel were thinking only of the Crown of Castilla, those five precious gems.

“I don't know, though, the Baron's a funny customer, if he has them he might come to you—”

Don Manuel shrugged his shoulders.

“It is doubtful, I think.”

“You mean he won't expect you to buy?”

“Perhaps not,” said Don Manuel, and then Anita interrupted, as the Baron had hoped.

“But, John, if only he would offer them here! No one need know they are the separate jewels that have been stolen, need they? In the setting, in the Castilla Crown, they are themselves, they are
ours.”

“Perhaps your father doesn't think like that,” said Mannering. “He may think Van Royton and others bought them in good faith.”

There was a momentary silence before the Spaniard drew a deep breath.

“I have not heard that the Castilla Jewels have been stolen except from me,” said Don Manuel y Alvarez de Castilla softly. “Certain similar stones, yes, but who is to know they are the same? I made an offer to buy them back at twenty thousand pounds for each stone. I would ask no questions not even of the Baron. In addition, I would perhaps indemnify those men who have lost their jewels—”

Mannering laughed.

“If they ever came your way, I hope you wouldn't, Don Manuel. The insurance companies will have done that job. The buyers – Panneraude, Van Royton and the others, all knew they'd bought stolen goods. Some charity would be far better off with a gift. But good Lord, we're almost being serious! Anita, I can see you're dying to dance.”

“I will rest up here,” said Don Manuel quietly, “and perhaps you will spare me ten minutes a little later, Mr. Mannering?”

Mannering went to the de Castilla suite half an hour later, to find Don Manuel sitting in an easy chair with a cigar between his fingers.

“Don't get up,” said Mannering, pulling a chair near the Don's. “You wanted me?”

“I wanted to tell you,” said Don Manuel y Alvarez de Castilla, “that I believe I understand. You are—an emissary of the Baron on some matters?”

Mannering's eyes were glowing.

“I don't know who the Baron is,” he said, “but he once rendered me a considerable service. Whenever I can, I like to help him. Provided he can rely on you to keep the five stones for Anita, I think you will be soon getting an offer. Of course your silence is a condition.”

“For Anita,” said Don Manuel slowly. “Who else should I even think of? Sometimes I think I am getting too old, Mannering, for there was a time when I could have admired the Baron even more perhaps than I do now. As for silence – we shall keep the five Jewels of Castilla in their setting, hidden from all but the closest friends. No one who knows their description as single gems will ever recognise them together. Some people would say perhaps that it is dishonest, but the Baron would not.”

“I don't think he would, knowing Anita. When the offer comes, Don Manuel, you will send a cheque to the address the Baron will give, and another to that charity. The Baron will ask ten thousand for each stone, Don Manuel. Your price was twenty.”

“That is very generous,” said de Castilla. He leaned forward, and their hands were together as there came sharp, running footsteps in the passage. The door was flung open violently, and Anita stood there; a breathless, wild-eyed Anita with a flaming red ruby in her hand.

“Father – it is impossible, but look—the Flame! The
Flame
! It has come, a messenger brought it to me. I almost fainted and then I rushed up here!”

She paused for breath. The old man smiled at Mannering, but before either of them could speak Juan came hurrying. Juan, with his dark eyes angry and his fists clenched.

“Anita, you little idiot, why did you rush off like that? It was a sensation, people are talking even now. Lorna dancing with Ted, too.”

“The Flame!” said Anita simply.

The Baron saw his expression of disbelief, then saw the exultation in his eyes, the surging happiness in Anita's, and the contentment in the Don's. He knew then that the five Jewels of Castilla were more than precious stones.

He slipped outside, closing the door quietly as Lenville and Lorna came along. Lenville was looking worried, laughter was lurking in Lorna's eyes.

“I shouldn't go in at the moment,” advised Mannering. “Someone sent Anita the Flame Ruby, and I believe the Baron has made Don Manuel a proposal. It's surprising how many amoral folk there are in the world. Your prospective father-in-law, Ted, might almost be called an accessory after the fact.”

“You mean he's bought the others?” Lenville demanded. “From you, knowing that you—”

“I didn't make it quite as obvious as that,” said the Baron. “Don't go in for crime, Ted, it isn't your best medium. Try to give Anita something else to think about other than jewels, though, in—well, say ten minutes. Lorna and I won't be back tonight, but I think you'll manage without us.”

 

Published or to be published by

House of Stratus

 

Dates given are those of first publication

Alternative titles in brackets

 

‘The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

‘Department ‘Z'' (28 titles)

‘Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)

‘Gideon of Scotland Yard' (22 titles)

‘Inspector West' (43 titles)

‘Sexton Blake' (5 titles)

‘The Toff' (59 titles)

 

along with:

 

The Masters of Bow Street This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Meet the Baron 
   (The Man in the Blue Mask)
    
   (1937)
   
2. The Baron Returns 
   (The Return of the Blue Mask)
    
   (1937)
   
3. The Baron Again 
   (Salute Blue Mask)
    
   (1938)
   
4. The Baron at Bay 
   (Blue Mask at Bay)
    
   (1938)
   
5. Alias the Baron 
   (Alias Blue Mask)
    
   (1939)
   
6. The Baron at Large 
   (Challenge Blue Mask!)
    
   (1939)
   
7. Versus the Baron 
   (Blue Mask Strikes Again)
    
   (1940)
   
8. Call for the Baron 
   (Blue Mask Victorious)
    
   (1940)
   
9. The Baron Comes Back 
   (1943)
   
10. A Case for the Baron 
    (1945)
    
11. Reward for the Baron 
    (1945)
    
12. Career for the Baron 
    (1946)
    
13. Blood Diamond 
    (The Baron and the Beggar) (1947)
    
14. Blame the Baron 
    (1948)
    
15. A Rope for the Baron 
    (1948)
    
16. Books for the Baron 
    (1949)
    
17. Cry for the Baron 
    (1950)
    
18. Trap the Baron 
    (1950)
    
19. Attack the Baron 
    (1951)
    
20. Shadow the Baron 
    (1951)
    
21. Warn the Baron 
    (1952)
    
22. The Baron Goes East 
    (1953)
    
23. The Baron in France 
    (1953)
    
24. Danger for the Baron 
    (1953)
    
25. The Baron Goes Fast 
    (1954)
    
26. Nest-Egg for the Baron 
    (Deaf, Dumb and Blonde)
     
    (1954)
    
27. Help from the Baron 
    (1955)
    
28. Hide the Baron 
    (1956)
    
29. The Double Frame 
    (Frame the Baron)
     
    (1957)
    
30. Blood Red 
    (Red Eye for the Baron)
     
    (1958)
    
31. If Anything Happens to Hester 
    (Black for the Baron)
     
    (1959)
    
32. Salute for the Baron 
    (1960)
    
33. The Baron Branches Out 
    (A Branch for the Baron)
     
    (1961)
    
34. The Baron and the Stolen Legacy 
    (Bad for the Baron)
     
    (1962)
    
35. A Sword for the Baron 
    (The Baron and the Mogul Swords)
     
    (1963)
    
36. The Baron on Board 
    (The Mask of Sumi) (1964)
    
37. The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle 
    (1964)
    
38. Sport for the Baron 
    (1966)
    
39. Affair for the Baron 
    (1967)
    
40. The Baron and the Missing Old Masters 
    (1968)
    
41. The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait 
    (1969)
    
42. Last Laugh for the Baron 
    (1970)
    
43. The Baron Goes A-Buying 
    (1971)
    
44. The Baron and the Arrogant Artist 
    (1972)
    
45. Burgle the Baron 
    (1973)
    
46. The Baron - King Maker 
    (1975)
    
47. Love for the Baron 
    (1979)
    

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Traitor's Doom 
   (1942)
   
2. The Legion of the Lost 
   (1943)
   
3. The Valley of Fear 
   (The Perilous Country)
    
   (1943)
   
4. Dangerous Quest 
   (1944)
   
5. Death in the Rising Sun 
   (1945)
   
6. The Hounds of Vengeance 
   (1945)
   
7. Shadow of Doom 
   (1946)
   
8. The House of the Bears 
   (1946)
   
9. Dark Harvest 
   (1947)
   
10. The Wings of Peace 
    (1948)
    
11. The Sons of Satan 
    (1948)
    
12. The Dawn of Darkness 
    (1949)
    
13. The League of Light 
    (1949)
    
14. The Man Who Shook the World 
    (1950)
    
15. The Prophet of Fire 
    (1951)
    
16. The Children of Hate 
    (The Killers of Innocence; The Children of Despair)
     
    (1952)
    
17. The Touch of Death 
    (1954)
    
18. The Mists of Fear 
    (1955)
    
19. The Flood 
    (1956)
    
20. The Plague of Silence 
    (1958)
    
21. Dry Spell 
    (The Drought)
     
    (1959)
    
22. The Terror 
    (1962)
    
23. The Depths 
    (1963)
    
24. The Sleep 
    (1964)
    
25. The Inferno 
    (1965)
    
26. The Famine 
    (1967)
    
27. The Blight 
    (1968)
    
28. The Oasis 
    (1970)
    
29. The Smog 
    (1970)
    
30. The Unbegotten 
    (1971)
    
31. The Insulators 
    (1972)
    
32. The Voiceless Ones 
    (1973)
    
33. The Thunder-Maker 
    (1976)
    
34. The Whirlwind 
    (1979)
    

 

(Writing as JJ Marric)

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Gideon's Day 
   (Gideon of Scotland Yard)
    
   (1955)
   
2. Seven Days to Death 
   (Gideon's Week)
    
   (1956)
   
3. Gideon's Night 
   (1957)
   
4. A Backwards Jump
    (Gideon's Month) (1958)
   
5. Thugs and Economies 
   (Gideon's Staff) (1959)
   
6. Gideon Combats Influence 
   (Gideon's Risk) (1960)
   
7. Gideon's Fire 
   (1961)
   
8. A Conference for Assassins 
   (Gideon's March)
    
   (1962)
   
9. Travelling Crimes 
   (Gideon's Ride)
    
   (1963)
   
10. An Uncivilised Election 
    (Gideon's Vote)
     
    (1964)
    
11. Criminal Imports 
    (Gideon's Lot)
     
    (1965)
    
12. To Nail a Serial Killer 
    (Gideon's Badge) (1966)
    
13. From Murder to a Cathedral 
    (Gideon's Wrath)
     
    (1967)
    
14. Gideon's River 
    (1968)
    
15. Darkness and Confusion 
    (Gideon's Power) (1969)
    
16. Sport, Heat & Scotland Yard 
    (Gideon's Sport)
     
    (1970)
    
17. Gideon's Art 
    (1971)
    
18. No Relaxation at Scotland Yard 
    (Gideon's Men) (1972)
    
19. Impartiality Against the Mob 
    (Gideon's Press) (1973)
    
20. Not Hidden by the Fog 
    (Gideon's Fog) (1975)
    
21. Good and Justice 
    (Gideon's Drive) (1976)
    
22. Vigilantes & Biscuits 
    (Gideon's Force)
     
    (1978)
    

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Inspector West Takes Charge 
   (1942)
   
2. Go Away to Murder 
   (Inspector West Leaves Town)
    
   (1943)
   
3. An Apostle of Gloom 
   (Inspector West At Home)
    
   (1944)
   
4. Inspector West Regrets 
   (1945)
   
5. Holiday for Inspector West 
   (1946)
   
6. Battle for Inspector West 
   (1948)
   
7. The Case Against Paul Raeburn 
   (Triumph for Inspector West)
    
   (1948)
   
8. Inspector West Kicks Off 
   (Sport for Inspector West)
    
   (1949)
   
9. Inspector West Alone 
   (1950)
   
10. Inspector West Cries Wolf 
    (The Creepers)
     
    (1950)
    
11. The Figure in the Dusk 
    (A Case for Inspector West)
     
    (1951)
    
12. The Dissemblers 
    (Puzzle for Inspector West)
     
    (1951)
    
13. The Case of the Acid Throwers 
    (The Blind Spot; Inspector West at Bay)
     
    (1952)
    
14. Give a Man a Gun 
    (A Gun for Inspector West)
     
    (1953)
    
15. Send Inspector West 
    (1953)
    
16. So Young, So Cold, So Fair 
    (A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer)
     
    (1954)
    
17. Murder Makes Haste 
    (Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman)
     
    (1955)
    
18. Murder: One, Two, Three 
    (Two for Inspector West)
     
    (1955)
    
19. Death of a Postman 
    (Parcels for Inspector West)
     
    (1956)
    
20. Death of an Assassin 
    (A Prince for Inspector West)
     
    (1956)
    
21. Hit and Run 
    (Accident for Inspector West)
     
    (1957)
    
22. The Trouble at Saxby's 
    (Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death)
     
    (1957)
    
23. Murder, London - New York 
    (1958)
    
24. Strike for Death 
    (The Killing Strike)
     
    (1958)
    
25. Death of a Racehorse 
    (1959)
    
26. The Case of the Innocent Victims 
    (1959)
    
27. Murder on the Line 
    (1960)
    
28. Death in Cold Print 
    (1961)
    
29. The Scene of the Crime 
    (1961)
    
30. Policeman's Dread 
    (1962)
    
31. Hang the Little Man 
    (1963)
    
32. Look Three Ways at Murder 
    (1964)
    
33. Murder, London - Australia 
    (1965)
    
34. Murder, London - South Africa 
    (1966)
    
35. The Executioners 
    (1967)
    
36. So Young to Burn 
    (1968)
    
37. Murder, London - Miami 
    (1969)
    
38. A Part for a Policeman 
    (1970)
    
39. Alibi for Inspector West 
    (1971)
    
40. A Splinter of Glass 
    (1972)
    
41. The Theft of Magna Carta 
    (1973)
    
42. The Extortioners 
    (1974)
    
43. A Sharp Rise in Crime 
    (1978)
    

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Introducing the Toff  
   (It's the Toff!)
    
   (1938)
   
2. The Toff Goes On 
   (1939)
   
3. The Toff Steps Out 
   (1939)
   
4. Here Comes the Toff 
   (1940)
   
5. The Toff Breaks In 
   (1940)
   
6. Salute the Toff 
   (1941)
   
7. The Toff Proceeds 
   (1941)
   
8. The Toff Goes to Market 
   (1942)
   
9. The Toff Is Back 
   (1942)
   
10. The Toff on the Trail
    (short stories)
     
    (1942)
    
11. The Toff among the Millions 
    (1943)
    
12. Accuse the Toff 
    (1943)
    
13. The Toff and the Deadly Priest  
    (The Toff and the Curate)
     
    (1944)
    
14. The Toff and the Great Illusion 
    (1944)
    
15. Feathers for the Toff 
    (1945)
    
16. The Toff and the Lady 
    (1946)
    
17. Poison for the Toff 
    (The Toff on Ice)
     
    (1946)
    
18. Hammer the Toff 
    (1947)
    
19. The Toff in Town 
    (1948)
    
20. The Toff Takes Shares 
    (1948)
    
21. The Toff and Old Harry 
    (1949)
    
22. The Toff on Board 
    (1949)
    
23. Fool the Toff 
    (1950)
    
24. Kill the Toff 
    (1950)
    
25. A Knife for the Toff 
    (1951)
    
26. A Mask for the Toff
    (The Toff Goes Gay)
     
    (1951)
    
27. Hunt the Toff 
    (1952)
    
28. Call the Toff 
    (1953)
    
29. The Toff Down Under  
    (Break the Toff
    )  
    (1953)
    
30. Murder Out of the Past
    (short stories)
     
    (1953)
    
31. The Toff at Camp  
    (The Toff at Butlins)
     
    (1954)
    
32. The Toff at the Fair 
    (1954)
    
33. A Six for the Toff  
    (A Score for the Toff)
     
    (1955)
    
34. The Toff and the Deep Blue Sea 
    (1955)
    
35. Kiss the Toff  
    (Make-Up for the Toff)
     
    (1956)
    
36. The Toff in New York 
    (1956)
    
37. Model for the Toff 
    (1957)
    
38. The Toff on Fire 
    (1957)
    
39. The Toff and the Stolen Tresses 
    (1958)
    
40. Terror for the Toff 
    (The Toff on the Farm)
     
    (1958)
    
41. Double for the Toff 
    (1959)
    
42. The Toff and the Runaway Bride 
    (1959)
    
43. A Rocket for the Toff 
    (1960)
    
44. The Toff and the Kidnapped  
    (The Kidnapped Child)
     
    (1960)
    
45. Follow the Toff 
    (1961)
    
46. The Toff and the Toughs  
    (The Toff and the Teds)
     
    (1961)
    
47. A Doll for the Toff 
    (1963)
    
48. Leave It to the Toff 
    (1963)
    
49. The Toff and the Spider 
    (1965)
    
50. The Toff in Wax 
    (1966)
    
51. A Bundle for the Toff 
    (1967)
    
52. Stars for the Toff 
    (1968)
    
53. The Toff and the Golden Boy 
    (1969)
    
54. The Toff and the Fallen Angels 
    (1970)
    
55. Vote for the Toff 
    (1971)
    
56. The Toff and the Trip-Trip-Triplets 
    (1972)
    
57. The Toff and the Terrified Taxman 
    (1973)
    
58. The Toff and the Sleepy Cowboy 
    (1975)
    
59. The Toff and the Crooked Copper 
    (1977)