Strange Conflict by Dennis Wheatley Read Free Book Online Page B

I’mtalking nonsense, but in fairness to me you must await the outcome of my magical experiment.’
    â€˜What have you been up to?’ Simon inquired with sudden interest, but the others ignored him, as Sir Pellinore replied:
    â€˜Of course I will, if you wish, but honestly, my dear fellow, I don’t think anything you could do would really convince me. All this business about silver cords, spirits committing murder, and even one’s immortal soul not being safe in God’s keeping, is a bit too much for a man of my age to swallow.’
    At that moment there was another knock on the door and Max stood there again. ‘Excellency, Mr. Rex Van Ryn and Mr. Richard Eaton are here and wish to know if you will receive them.’
    â€˜Certainly,’ said the Duke. ‘Ask them to come in.’
    Rex, tall, broad-shouldered, in the uniform of an R.A.F. flight-lieutenant but leaning heavily on a stick, was the first to enter, and Sir Pellinore greeted him with hearty congratulations on his D.F.C. Richard, much slighter in build, followed him and was duly introduced.
    â€˜Well, well,’ laughed Sir Pellinore to his host, ‘it seems that you’re holding quite a reception tonight, and the four famous companions are now reunited.’
    A broad smile lit Rex’s ugly attractive face as he said to the Duke: ‘Richard and I had just negotiated a spot of dinner together round the corner, at the Dorchester, when we had a hunch, almost simultaneously, that after we’d finished our magnum it’d be a great idea to drop along and take a brandy off you.’
    De Richleau turned to Sir Pellinore. ‘The note that I gave you—would you produce it now?’
    Sir Pellinore fished in his pocket, brought out the envelope, ripped it open and read what the Duke had written half an hour before. It ran as follows:
    â€˜You will bear witness that since writing this note I have not left your presence, used the telephone, or communicated in any way with my servants. You expressed the wish, just after dinner, to meet my friends, Simon Aron, Rex Van Ryn, and Richard Eaton.
    â€˜If they are not in London the ceremony that I proposeto perform will not be successful, because they will not have time to reach here before you go home, but if, as I believe, they are, it is virtually certain that at least one of them will put in an appearance here before midnight.
    â€˜If any or all of them turn up I shall see to it that they testify, without prompting, that they have not called upon me by arrangement but have done so purely owing to a sudden idea that they would like to see me which came into their minds. That idea is no matter of mere chance but because
through a magical ceremony I have conveyed to them my will that they shall appear here.
    â€˜If the ceremony is successful I trust that this will convince you that the Nazis may use magic for infinitely more nefarious purposes and that it is
our
duty to conduct an investigation in this matter with the least possible delay.’
    Sir Pellinore lowered the note and glanced round the little circle. His blue eyes held a strange, puzzled look, as he exclaimed:
    â€˜By God, I’d never have believed it! You win, Duke, I’ve got to admit that. Mind you, that’s not to say I’m prepared to swallow all the extraordinary things you’ve said this evening. Still, in a case like this we can’t afford to neglect
any
avenue. Our Atlantic Life-line is our one weak spot and it may be—yes, it may be that in those slender hands of yours lies the Victory or Defeat of Britain.’

4
For Those in Peril on the Sea
    â€˜I shall need help,’ said the Duke gravely.
    â€˜Anything in reason for which you care to ask shall be given to you,’ Sir Pellinore replied at once.
    â€˜I meant
skilled
help—people who understand something of psychic lore—who can work with me and whom I can trust.’ De Richleau glanced