Red Shadow Read Online Free

whom you wish to consult—or, shall we say, to the Foreign Office? I am willing to give you some confidential information, but I am not willing that you should pass it on.” He smiled slightly and added, “You need not be alarmed, Miss Cameron—I am not going to tell you anything that will burden your conscience—it is merely a matter of trade secrets. You need have no objection to giving me your promise.”
    â€œWhat has all this to do with Jim?” said Laura in a grave, slow voice.
    â€œI will tell you when you have promised that you will not repeat—to anyone—what I am going to say.”
    â€œI hardly know you,” said Laura. “I don’t know what you are going to say. I can’t promise.”
    His straight, short eyebrows drew together in a frown. Then he made a gesture with his right hand.
    â€œVery well, I won’t ask you to promise—I will only tell you that if you talk, you will kill Mackenzie. That is not a threat—it is just a plain statement of fact.”
    â€œYes,” said Laura. “Will you tell me please?”
    Basil Stevens leaned back in his chair.
    â€œDo you know the name of Bertram Hallingdon?”
    Laura had wondered what he could possibly be going to say. His question took her completely by surprise. Her lips parted in an involuntary exclamation.
    â€œYou know the name, Miss Cameron?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid you know the man?”
    â€œNo, I don’t know him. Everyone knows him by name.”
    â€œYet he is a relation of yours.”
    â€œA distant one.”
    â€œYour grandfather’s half brother. That is not such a very distant relationship.”
    â€œI’ve never met him—there was a family quarrel—I don’t suppose he knows of my existence.”
    Basil Stevens smiled slightly.
    â€œHave you any objection to telling me what you know about Bertram Hallingdon?”
    â€œI really know very little—just what everyone knows.”
    â€œGo on, please, Miss Cameron.”
    â€œWell, there’s nothing to tell. He’s very—rich. He’s the head of a big engineering firm, isn’t he?”
    â€œThe head of the Hallingdon combine. That means a little more than being the head of an engineering firm. Hallingdons controls a number of firms engaged in various branches of engineering. Is that all you know about Bertram Hallingdon?”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œYou did not know that he was dead?”
    She was startled, but without knowing why.
    â€œNo—I didn’t know.”
    â€œHe died this morning. He had been ill for some time.”
    He was regarding her intently, and something in this regard set her heart beating. She waited for him to speak with a curious sense of fear.
    â€œYou are Bertram Hallingdon’s heiress,” said Basil Stevens.
    Laura’s heart beat so hard that it shook her.
    She said “No!” and saw that he was smiling again.
    â€œYou succeed to a very important position, Miss Cameron. May I be the first to congratulate you?”
    Laura recovered herself.
    â€œHow do you know this?”
    â€œDoes that matter? I can assure you that my information is correct. Now, Miss Cameron—a little while ago you asked me what all this had to do with Jim Mackenzie? Do you begin to see what the connection may be?”
    She said, “Go on.”
    Basil Stevens went on.
    â€œI told you that it was in your power to offer something which would induce the Russian Government to give up their claim against Mackenzie. The head of the Hallingdon combine has certainly got it in her power to make it worth their while to let Jim Mackenzie go. That’s plain talking—isn’t it?”
    Laura lifted her hands and pressed them against her breast. A brilliant flame of colour sprang into her cheeks. She did not speak. Her eyes searched his face.
    â€œIt only remains for you to come to terms with them,” said