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diff --git a/33695-h/33695-h.htm b/33695-h/33695-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c2da705 --- /dev/null +++ b/33695-h/33695-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3297 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of XYZ A Detective Story, by Anna Katharine Green + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + + ins {text-decoration:none; + border-bottom: thin dotted gray; +} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.right {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em;} + +.nt {margin-top: 0em;} + +.nb {margin-bottom: 0em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of X Y Z, by Anna Katharine Green + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: X Y Z + A Detective Story + +Author: Anna Katharine Green + +Release Date: September 10, 2010 [EBook #33695] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK X Y Z *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Julia Neufeld and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p> +<a href="#X_Y_Z"><b>X. Y. Z.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#I"><b>I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#II"><b>II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#III"><b>III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#IV"><b>IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#V"><b>V.</b></a><br /> +</p> + + +<h1>X Y Z</h1> + +<h3>A DETECTIVE STORY</h3> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ANNA KATHARINE GREEN</h2> + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF "THE LEAVENWORTH CASE," "A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE," ETC.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> + +G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS<br /> + +27 & 29 WEST 23D STREET<br /> + +1883</div> + + + + + +<div class='center'>COPYRIGHT BY<br /> +G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS<br /> +1883<br /></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X_Y_Z" id="X_Y_Z"></a>X. Y. Z.</h2> + +<div class='center'>A STORY TOLD BY A DETECTIVE.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<h4>THE MYSTERIOUS RENDEZVOUS.</h4> + +<p>Sometimes in the course of his experience, +a detective, while engaged in +ferreting out the mystery of one crime, runs +inadvertently upon the clue to another. But +rarely has this been done in a manner more +unexpected or with attendant circumstances of +greater interest than in the instance I am now +about to relate.</p> + +<p>For some time the penetration of certain +Washington officials had been baffled by the +clever devices of a gang of counterfeiters who +had inundated the western portion of Massachusetts +with spurious Treasury notes. Some +of the best talent of the Secret Service had been +expended upon the matter, but with no favorable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +result, when, one day, notice was received +at Washington that a number of suspicious-looking +letters, addressed to the simple initials, +X. Y. Z., Brandon, Mass., were being daily +forwarded through the mails of that region; +and it being deemed possible that a clue had at +last been offered to the mystery in hand, I was +sent northward to investigate.</p> + +<p>It was in the middle of June, 1881, and the +weather was simply delightful. As I stepped +from the cars at Brandon and looked up the +long straight street with its double row of +maple trees sparkling fresh and beautiful in the +noonday sun, I thought I had never seen a +prettier village or entered upon any enterprise +with a lighter or more hopeful heart.</p> + +<p>Intent on my task, I went straight to the +post-office, and after coming to an understanding +with the postmaster, proceeded at once to +look over the mail addressed to the mysterious +X. Y. Z.</p> + +<p>I found it to consist entirely of letters. They +were about a dozen in number, and were, with +one exception, similar in general appearance +and manner of direction, though inscribed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +widely different handwritings, and posted from +various New England towns. The exception +to which I allude had these few extra words +written in the lower left-hand corner of the +envelope: "<i>To be kept till called for.</i>" As I +bundled up the letters preparatory to thrusting +them back into the box, I noticed that the latter +was the only one in a blue envelope, all the +others being in the various shades of cream-color +and buff.</p> + +<p>"Who is in the habit of calling for these +letters?" I asked of the postmaster.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I don't know his name. +The fact is nobody knows him around here. +He usually drives up in a buggy about nightfall, +calls for letters addressed to X. Y. Z., and +having got them, whips up his horse and is off +again before one can say a word."</p> + +<p>"Describe him," said I.</p> + +<p>"Well, he is very lean and very lank. In +appearance he is both green and awkward. His +complexion is pale, almost sickly. Were it +not for his eye, which is keen and twinkling, I +should call him an extremely inoffensive-looking +person."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>The type was not new to me. "I should like +to see him," said I.</p> + +<p>"You will have to wait till nightfall, then," +returned the postmaster. "He never comes +till about dusk. Drop in here, say at seven +o'clock, and I will see that you have the opportunity +of handing him his mail."</p> + +<p>I nodded acquiescence to this and sauntered +out of the enclosure devoted to the uses of the +post-office. As I did so I ran against a young +man who was hurriedly approaching from the +other end of the store.</p> + +<p>"Your pardon," he cried; and I turned to +look at him, so gentlemanly was his tone, and +so easy the bow with which he accompanied +this simple apology.</p> + +<p>He was standing before the window of the +post-office, waiting for his mail; a good-looking, +well-made young man, of a fine countenance, +but with a restless eye, whose alert yet +anxious expression I could not but note even in +the casual glance I gave him. There appeared +to be some difficulty in procuring him his +mail, and each minute he was kept waiting +seemed to increase his impatience almost beyond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +the bounds of endurance. I saw him lean +forward and gasp out a hurried word to the +postmaster, and was idly wondering over his +anxiety and its probable causes, when I heard +a hasty exclamation near me, and looking +around, saw the postmaster himself beckoning +to me from the door of the enclosure. I immediately +hastened forward.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what it means," he whispered; +"but here is a young man, different from any +who have been here before, asking for a letter +addressed to X. Y. Z."</p> + +<p>"A letter?" I repeated.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a letter."</p> + +<p>"Give him the whole batch and see what he +does," I returned, drawing back where I could +myself watch the result of my instructions. The +postmaster did as I requested. In another +moment I saw the young man start with amazement +as a dozen letters were put in his hand. +"These are not all for me!" he cried, but even +as he made the exclamation, drew to one side, +and with a look of mingled perplexity and +concern, began opening them one after another, +his expression deepening to amazement as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +glanced at their contents. The one in the blue +envelope, however, seemed to awaken quite +different emotions. With an unconscious look +of relief, he hastily read the short letter it contained, +then with a quick gesture, folded it up +and thrust it back into the envelope he held, +together with the other letters, in his left hand.</p> + +<p>"There must be another X. Y. Z.," said he, +approaching the window of the post-office and +handing back all the letters he had received, with +the exception of the one in the blue envelope, +which with a quick movement he had separated +from the rest and thrust into his coat-pocket. +"I can lay claim to none of these." And with +a repetition of his easy bow he turned away and +hurriedly quitted the store, followed by the eyes +of clerks and customers, to whom he was evidently +as much of a stranger as he was to me. +Without hesitation I went to the door and looked +after him. He was just crossing the street to +the tavern on the other side of the way. I saw +him enter, felt that he was safe to remain there +for a few minutes, and conscious of the great +opportunity awaiting me, hastened back to the +postmaster.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," cried I, in secret exultation, "our +plan has worked admirably. Let me see the +letters. As they have been opened, and through +no fault of ours, a peep at them now in the cause +of justice will harm none but the guilty."</p> + +<p>The postmaster demurred, but I soon overcame +his scruples; and taking down the letters +once more, hastily investigated their contents. +I own that I was considerably disappointed at +the result. In fact, I found nothing that pointed +toward the counterfeiters; only in each letter +a written address, together with fifty cents' +worth of stamps.</p> + +<p>"Some common fraud," I exclaimed. "One +of those cheap affairs where, for fifty cents enclosed, +a piece of information calculated to insure +fortune to the recipient is promised by return +of mail."</p> + +<p>And disgusted with the whole affair I bundled +up the letters, and was about to replace them in +the box for the third time when I discovered +that it still held a folded paper. Drawing this +out, I opened it and started in fresh amazement. +If I was not very much mistaken in the +appearance of the letter in the blue envelope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +which I had seen the young man read with so +much interest, this was certainly it. But how +came it here? Had I not seen him thrust it +back into its envelope and afterward put envelope +and all into his pocket? But here was no +envelope, and here was the letter. By what freak +of necromancy had it been transferred from its +legitimate quarters to this spot? I could not +imagine. Suddenly I remembered that his hand +had been full of the other letters when he put, +or endeavored to put, this special one back into +its envelope, and however unaccountable it may +seem, it must be that from haste or agitation he +had only succeeded in thrusting it between two +letters instead of into the envelope, as he supposed. +Whether or not this explanation be true, +there was no doubt about my luck being in the +ascendant. Mastering my satisfaction, I read +these lines written in what appeared to be a +disguised hand.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="nb">"All goes well. The time has come; every +thing is in train, and success is certain. Be in +the shrubbery at the northeast corner of the +grounds at 9 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> precisely; you will be given +a mask and such other means as are necessary +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>to insure you the accomplishment of the end you +have in view. He cannot hold out against a +surprise. The word, by which you will know +your friends, is</p> + +<p class="right nt"><span class="smcap">Counterfeit."</span><br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Ah, ha!" thought I, "this is more like it." +And moved by a sudden impulse, I hastily +copied the letter into my memorandum-book, +and then returning to the original, scratched out +with my penknife the word northeast and carefully +substituting that of southwest put the letter +back into the box, in the hope that when he +came to consult the envelope in his pocket (as +he would be sure to do sooner or later) he +would miss its contents and return to the post-office +in search of it.</p> + +<p>Nor was I mistaken. I had scarcely accomplished +my task, when he reëntered the store, +asked to see the letters he had returned, and +finding amongst them the one he had lost, +disappeared with it back to the tavern. "If he +is surprised to read southwest this time instead +of northeast, he will think his memory played +him false in the first instance," cried I, in inward +comment over my last doubtful stroke of policy; +and turning to the postmaster, I asked him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +what place there was in the vicinity which +could be said to possess grounds and a shrubbery.</p> + +<p>"There is but one," he returned, "Mr. Benson's. +All the rest of the folks are too poor to +indulge in any such gimcracks."</p> + +<p>"And who is Mr. Benson?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he is Mr. Benson, the richest man in +these parts and the least liked as I take it. He +came here from Boston two years ago and +built a house fit for a king to live in. Why, +nobody knows, for he seems to take no pleasure +in it. His children do though, and that is all +he cares for I suppose. Young Mr. Benson +especially seems to be never tired of walking +about the grounds, looking at the trees and +tying up the vines. Miss Carrie is different; +all she wants is company. But little of that has +her father ever allowed her till this very day. +He seems to think nobody is good enough +to sit down in his parlors; and yet he don't +sit there himself, the strange man! but is +always shut up in his library or some other out-of-the-way +place."</p> + +<p>"A busy man?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose so, but no one ever sees any +thing he does."</p> + +<p>"Writes, perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; he never talks about himself."</p> + +<p>"How did he get his money?"</p> + +<p>"That we don't know. It seems to accumulate +without his help or interference. When he +came here he was called rich, but to-day he +is said to be worth three times what he was +then."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he speculates?"</p> + +<p>"If he does, it must be through his son, for +he never leaves home himself."</p> + +<p>"Has two children, you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a son and a daughter: a famous young +man, the son; not so much liked, perhaps, as +universally respected. He is too severe and +reticent to be a favorite, but no one ever found +him doing any thing unworthy of himself. He +is the pride of the county, and if he were a bit +suaver in manner might have been in Congress +at this minute."</p> + +<p>"How old?"</p> + +<p>"Thirty, I should say."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And the girl?"</p> + +<p>"Twenty-five, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"A mother living?"</p> + +<p>"No; there were some strange stories of her +having died a year or so before they came here, +under circumstances of a somewhat distressing +nature, but they themselves say nothing +about it."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me they don't say much about +any thing."</p> + +<p>"That's just it; they are the most reserved +people you ever saw. It isn't from them we +have heard there is another son floating somewhere +about the world. They never speak of +him, and what's more, they never write to him; +as who should know better than myself?"</p> + +<p>An interruption here occurred, and I took the +opportunity to saunter out into the crowd of +idlers always to be found hanging around a +country store at mail-time. My purpose was, +as you may conceive, to pick up any stray bits +of information that might be floating about concerning +these Bensons. Not that I had as yet +discovered any thing definite connecting this respectable +family with the gang of counterfeiters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +upon whose track I had been placed; but business +is business, and no clue, however slight or +unpromising in its nature, is to be neglected +when the way is as dark as that which lay before +me. With an easy smile, therefore, calculated +to allay apprehension and awaken confidence, I +took my stand among these loungers. But I soon +found that I need do nothing to start the wheel +of gossip on the subject of the Bensons. It was +already going, and that with a force and spirit +that almost took my breath away.</p> + +<p>"A fancy ball!" were the first words I heard. +"The Bensons give a fancy ball, when they never +had three persons at a time in their house +before!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and what's more, they are going to +have folks over from Clayton and Lawrence and +Hollowell and devil knows where. It's to be a +smash up, a regular fandango, with masks and +all that kind of nonsense."</p> + +<p>"They say Miss Carrie teased her father till +he had to give in in self-defence. It's her birthday +or something like that, and she <i>would</i> have +a party."</p> + +<p>"But such a party! who ever heard the like in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +a respectable town like this! It's wicked, that's +what I call it, downright wicked to cover up the +face God has given you and go strutting around +in clothes a Christian man might well think borrowed +from the Evil One if he had to wear them +in any decent company. All wrong, I say, all +wrong, and I am astonished at Mr. Benson. To +keep his doors shut as he has, and then to open +them in a burst to all sorts of folly. We are not +invited at our house."</p> + +<p>"Nor we, nor we," shouted some half dozen.</p> + +<p>"And I don't know of any one in this town +who is," cried a burly man, presumably a butcher +by trade. "We are not good enough for the +Bensons. They say he is even going to be +mean enough to shut the gates and not let a +soul inside who hasn't a ticket. And they are +going to light up the grounds too!"</p> + +<p>"We can peep through the fence."</p> + +<p>"Much we will see that way. If you had said +climb it—"</p> + +<p>"We can't climb it. Big John is going to be +there and Tom Henshaw. They mean to keep +their good times to themselves, just as they have +kept every thing else. It's a queer set they are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +anyway, and the less we have to do with them +the better."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see Hartley Benson in masquerade +costume, I would."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he won't wear any of the fol-de-rol; he's +too dignified." And with that there fell a sudden +hush over the crowd, for which I was at a +loss to account, till, upon looking up, I saw approaching +on horseback, a young man in whom +I had no difficulty in recognizing the subject of +the last remark.</p> + +<p>Straight, slight, elegant in appearance, but +with an undoubted reserve of manner apparent +even at a distance, he rode up to where I stood, +and casting a slight glance around, bowed almost +imperceptibly, and alighted. A boy caught the +bridle of his horse, and Mr. Benson, without a +word or further look, passed quickly into the +office, leaving a silence behind him that was not +disturbed till he returned with what was evidently +his noonday mail. Remounting his horse, +he stopped a moment to speak to a man who +had just come up, and I seized the opportunity +to study his face. I did not like it. It was +handsome without doubt; the features were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +regular, the complexion fair, the expression gentlemanly +if not commanding; but I did not like +it. It was too impenetrable perhaps; and to a +detective anxious to probe a man for his motives, +this is ever a most fatal defect. His smile was +without sunshine; his glance was an inquiry, a +rebuke, a sarcasm, every thing but a revelation. +As he rode away he carried with him the thought +of all, yet I doubt if the admiration he undoubtedly +inspired, was in a single case mixed with +any warmer feeling than that of pride in a fellow +townsman they could not understand. +"Ice," thought I; "ice in all but its transparency!" +So much for Benson the son.</p> + +<p>The ball was to take place that very night; +and the knowledge of this fact threw a different +light over the letter I had read. The word <i>mask</i> +had no longer any special significance, neither the +word <i>counterfeit</i>, and yet such was the tenor of +the note itself, and such the exaggerated nature +of its phrases, I could not but feel that some +plot of a reprehensible if not criminal nature +was in the process of formation, which, as a rising +young detective engaged in a mysterious and +elusive search, it behooved me to know. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +moved by this consideration, I turned to a new +leaf in my memorandum-book, and put down in +black and white the following facts thus summarily +collected:</p> + +<p>"A mysterious family with a secret.</p> + +<p>"Rich, but with no visible means of wealth.</p> + +<p>"Secluded, with no apparent reason for the +same.</p> + +<p>"A father who is a hermit.</p> + +<p>"A son who is impenetrable.</p> + +<p>"A daughter whose tastes are seldom gratified.</p> + +<p>"The strange fact of a ball being given by this +family after years of reserve and non-intercourse +with their neighbors.</p> + +<p>"The still stranger fact of it being a masquerade, +a style of entertainment which, from its +novelty and the opportunities it affords, makes +this departure from ordinary rules seem marked +and startling.</p> + +<p>"The discovery of a letter appointing a rendezvous +between two persons of the male sex, +in the grounds of the party giving this ball, in +which the opportunities afforded by a masquerade +are to be used for forwarding some long-cherished +scheme."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the bottom of this I wrote a deduction:</p> + +<p>"Some connection between one or more +members of this family giving the ball, and the +person called to the rendezvous; the entertainment +being used as a blind if not as a means."</p> + +<p>It was now four o'clock, five hours before the +time of rendezvous. How should I employ the +interval? A glance at the livery-stable hard by, +determined me. Procuring a horse, I rode out +on the road toward Mr. Benson's, for the purpose +of reconnoitring the grounds; but as I proceeded +I was seized by an intense desire to +penetrate into the midst of this peculiar household, +and judge for myself whether it was worth +while to cherish any further suspicions in regard +to this family. But how to effect such an +entrance? What excuse could I give for my +intrusion that would be likely to serve me on a +day of such tumult and preoccupation? I looked +up and down the road as if for inspiration. It did +not come. Meanwhile, the huge trees that surrounded +the house had loomed in sight, and +presently the beauties of lawn and parterre +began to appear beyond the high iron fence, +through which I could catch now and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +short glimpses of hurrying forms, as lanterns +were hung on the trees and all things put in +readiness for the evening's entertainment. Suddenly +a thought struck me. If Mr. Benson was +the man they said, he was not engaged in any +of these arrangements. Mr. Benson was a +hermit. Now what could I say that would +interest a hermit? I racked my brains; a +single idea came. It was daring in its nature, +but what of that! The gate must be passed, +Mr. Benson must be seen—or so my adventurous +curiosity decided,—and to do it, something +must be ventured. Taking out my card, which +was simply inscribed with my name, I wrote +on it, "<i>Business private and immediate</i>," and +assuming my most gentlemanly and inoffensive +manner, rode calmly through the gate to the +front of the house. If I had been on foot I +doubt if I would have been allowed to pass by +the servant lounging about in that region, but +the horse carried me through in more senses +than one, and almost before I realized it, I found +myself pausing before the portico, in full view of +a dozen or more busy men and boys.</p> + +<p>Imitating the manner of Mr. Benson at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +post-office, I jumped from my horse and threw +the bridle to the boy nearest me. Instantly and +before I could take a step, a servant issued from +the open door, and with an expression of anxiety +somewhat surprising under the circumstances, +took his stand before me in a way to hinder my +advance.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson does not receive visitors to-day," +said he.</p> + +<p>"I am not a visitor," replied I; "I have business +with Mr. Benson," and I handed him my +card, which he looked at with a doubtful expression.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson's commands are not to be disobeyed," +persisted the man. "My master sees +no one to-day."</p> + +<p>"But this is an exceptional case," I urged, my +curiosity rising at this unexpected opposition. +"My business is important and concerns him. +He cannot refuse to see me."</p> + +<p>The servant shook his head with what +appeared to me to be an unnecessary expression +of alarm, but nevertheless retreated a step, +allowing me to enter. "I will call Mr. Hartley," +cried he.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>But that was just what I did not wish. It was +Benson the father I had come to see, and I was +not to be baffled in this way.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hartley won't do," said I, in my lowest +but most determined accents. "If Mr. Benson +is not ill, I must beg to be admitted to his +presence." And stepping inside the small reception +room at my right, I sat down on the +first chair I came to.</p> + +<p>The man stood for a moment confounded at +my pertinacity, then with a last scrutinizing look, +that took in every detail of my person and apparel, +drew slowly off, shaking his head and +murmuring to himself.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the mingled splendor and elegance +of my surroundings were slowly making their +impression upon me. The hall by which I had +entered was spacious and imposing; the room +in which I sat, a model of beauty in design and +finish. I was allowing myself the luxury of +studying its pictures and numerous works of +art, when the sound of voices reached my ear +from the next room. A man and woman were +conversing there in smothered tones, but my +senses are very acute, and I had no difficulty in +overhearing what was said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, what an exciting day this has been!" cried +the female voice. "I have wanted to ask you +a dozen times what you think of it all. Will +he succeed this time? Has he the nerve to +embrace his opportunity, or what is more, the +tact to make one? Failure now would be fatal. +Father—"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" broke in the other voice, in a masculine +tone of repressed intensity. "Do not +forget that success depends upon your prudence. +One whisper of what you are about, and the +whole scheme is destroyed."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful; only do you think that all +is going well and as we planned it?"</p> + +<p>"It will not be my fault if it does not," was the +reply, uttered with an accent so sinister I was +conscious of a violent surprise when, in the next +instant, the other, with a burst of affectionate +fervor, cried in an ardent tone:</p> + +<p>"Oh, how good you are, and what a comfort +you are to me!"</p> + +<p>I was just pondering over the incongruity +thus presented, when the servant returned with +my card.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson wishes to know the nature of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +your business," said he, in a voice I was uncomfortably +conscious must penetrate to the +next room and awake its inmates to a knowledge +of my proximity.</p> + +<p>"Let me have the card," said I; and taking it, +I added to my words the simple phrase, "<i>On +behalf of the Constable of the town</i>," remembering +I had heard the postmaster say this position +was held by his brother. "There," said I, +"carry that back to your master."</p> + +<p>The servant took the card, glanced down at +the words I had written, started and hastily +drew back. "You had better come," said he, +leading the way into the hall.</p> + +<p>I was only too glad to comply; in fact, escape +from that room seemed imperative. But just +as I was crossing the threshold, a sudden, quick +cry, half joyful, half fearful, rose behind me, and +turning, I met the eyes of a young lady peering +upon me from a lifted <i>portière</i>, with an expression +of mingled terror and longing that would +have astonished me greatly, if it had not instantly +disappeared at the first sight of my face.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," she exclaimed, drawing back +with an embarrassed movement into the room<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +from which she had emerged. But soon recovering +herself, she stepped hastily forward, +and ignoring me, said to the servant at my side: +"Jonas, who is this gentleman, and where are +you taking him?"</p> + +<p>With a bow, Jonas replied: "He comes on +business, miss, and Mr. Benson consents to see +him."</p> + +<p>"But I thought my father had expressly commanded +that no one was to be allowed to enter +the library to-day," she exclaimed, but in a +musing tone that asked for no response. And +hastily as we passed down the hall, I could not +escape the uneasy sense that her eager eyes +were following us as we went.</p> + +<p>"Too much emotion for so small a matter, +and a strange desire on the part of every one to +keep Mr. Benson from being intruded upon to-day," +was my mental comment. And I was +scarcely surprised when upon our arrival at the +library door we found it locked. However, a +knock, followed by a few whispered words on +the part of the servant, served to arouse the +hermit within, and with a quick turn of the key, +the door flew back on its hinges, and the master +of the house stood before me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a moment to be remembered: first, +because the picture presented to my eyes was +of a marked and impressive character; and +secondly, because something in the expression +of the gentleman before me showed that he had +received a shock at my introduction which was +not to be expected after the pains which had +been taken to prepare his mind for my visit. +He was a tall, remarkable-looking man, with a +head already whitened, and a form which, if not +bowed, had only retained its upright carriage by +means of the indomitable will that betrayed +itself in his eyes. Seen against the rich background +of the stained-glass window that +adorned one end of the apartment, his stern, +furrowed face and eagerly repellant aspect imprinted +itself upon me like a silhouette, while +the strong emotion I could not but detect in his +bearing, lent to the whole a poetic finish that +made it a living picture which, as I have said, I +have never been able to forget.</p> + +<p>"You have come from the constable of the +town," said he, in a firm, hard tone, impressive +as his look. "May I ask for what purpose?"</p> + +<p>Looking around, I saw the servant had disappeared.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +"Sir," said I, gathering up my +courage, as I became convinced that in this +case I had a thoroughly honest man to deal +with, "you are going to give a fancy ball to-night. +Such an event is a novelty in these +parts, and arouses much curiosity. Some of +the men about town have even been heard to +threaten to leap the fences and steal a look at +your company, whether you will or not. Mr. +White wants to know whether you need any +assistance in keeping the grounds clear of all +but your legitimate guests; if so, he is ready +to supply whatever force you may need."</p> + +<p>"Mr. White is very kind," returned Mr. Benson, +in a voice which, despite his will-power, +showed that his agitation had in some unaccountable +way been increased by my communication. +"I had not thought of any such contingency," +he murmured, moving over to a window +and looking out. "An invasion of rowdies would +not be agreeable. They might even find their +way into the house." He paused and cast a +sudden look at me. "Who are you?" he +abruptly asked.</p> + +<p>The question took me by surprise, but I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +answered bravely if not calmly: "I am a man +who sometimes assists Mr. White in the performance +of his duties, and in case you need it, +will be the one to render you assistance to-night. +A line to Mr. White, if you doubt +me——"</p> + +<p>A wave of his meagre hand stopped me. +"Do you think you could keep out of my house +to-night, any one I did not wish to enter?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"I should at least like to try."</p> + +<p>"A ticket is given to every invited guest; +but if men are going to climb the fences, tickets +will amount to but little."</p> + +<p>"I will see that the fences are guarded," cried +I, gratified at the prospect of being allowed +upon the scene of action. "I can hinder any +one from coming in that way, if——" Here I +paused, conscious of something, I could hardly +say what, that bade me be cautious and weigh +my words well. "If you desire it and will give +me the authority to act for you," I added in a +somewhat more indifferent tone.</p> + +<p>"I do desire it," he replied shortly, moving +over to the table and taking up a card. "Here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +is a ticket that will insure you entrance into the +grounds; the rest you will manage without +scandal. I do not want any disturbance, but if +you see any one hanging about the house or +peering into the windows or attempting to enter +in any way except through the front door, you +are to arrest them, no matter who they are. I +have an especial reason for desiring my wishes +attended to in this regard," he went on, not +noticing the preoccupation that had seized me, +"and will pay well if on the morrow I find that +every thing has gone off according to my +desires."</p> + +<p>"Money is a powerful incentive to duty," I +rejoined, with marked emphasis, directing a sly +glance at the mirror opposite, in whose depths I +had but a moment before been startled by the +sudden apparition of the pale and strongly +agitated face of young Mr. Benson, who was +peering from a door-way half hidden by a screen +at our back. "I will be on hand to-night." +And with what I meant to be a cynical look, I +made my bow and disappeared from the room.</p> + +<p>As I expected, I was met at the front door by +Mr. Hartley. "A word with you," said he.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +"Jonas tells me you are from the constable of +the town. May I ask what has gone amiss +that you come here to disturb my father on +a day like this?"</p> + +<p>His tone was not unkind, his expression not +without suavity. If I had not had imprinted on +my memory the startling picture of his face as I +had seen it an instant before in the mirror, I +should have been tempted to believe in his +goodness and integrity at this moment. As it +was, I doubted him through and through, yet +replied with frankness and showed him the +ticket I had received from his father.</p> + +<p>"And you are going to make it your business +to guard the grounds to-night?" he asked, +gloomily glancing at the card in my hand as if +he would like to annihilate it.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said I.</p> + +<p>He drew me into a small room half filled with +plants.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "see here. Such a piece +of interference is entirely uncalled for, and you +have been alarming my father unnecessarily. +There are no rowdies in this town, and if one +or two of the villagers should get into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +grounds, where is the harm? They cannot get +into the house even if they wanted to, which +they don't. I do not wish this, our first show +of hospitality, to assume a hostile aspect, and +whatever my father's expectations may be, I +must request you to curtail your duties as much +as possible and limit them to responding by +your presence when called upon."</p> + +<p>"But your father has a right to expect the +fullest obedience to his wishes," I protested. +"He would not be satisfied if I should do no +more than you request, and I cannot afford to +disappoint him."</p> + +<p>He looked at me with a calculating eye, and +I expected to see him put his hand in his pocket; +but Hartley Benson played his cards better +than that. "Very well," said he, "if you persist +in regarding my father's wishes as paramount, +I have nothing to say. Fulfil your duties as +you conceive them, but don't look for my support +if any foolish misadventure makes you +ashamed of yourself." And drawing back, he +motioned me out of the room.</p> + +<p>I felt I had received a check, and hurried out +of the house. But scarcely had I entered upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +the walk that led down to the gate, when I +heard a light step behind me. Turning, I +encountered the pretty daughter of the house, +the youthful Miss Carrie.</p> + +<p>"Wait," she cried, allowing herself to display +her emotion freely in face and bearing. "I +have heard who you are from my brother," she +continued, approaching me with a soft grace +that at once put me upon my guard. "Now, +tell me who are the rowdies that threaten to +invade our grounds?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know their names, miss," I responded; +"but they are a rough-looking set +you would not like to see among your guests."</p> + +<p>"There are no very rough-looking men in +our village," she declared; "you must be mistaken +in regard to them. My father is nervous +and easily alarmed. It was wrong to arouse +his fears."</p> + +<p>I thought of that steady eye of his, of force +sufficient to hold in awe a regiment of insurgents, +and smiled at her opinion of my understanding.</p> + +<p>"Then you do not wish the grounds guarded," +I said, in as indifferent a tone as I could assume.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do not consider it necessary."</p> + +<p>"But I have already pledged myself to fulfil +your father's commands."</p> + +<p>"I know," she said, drawing a step nearer, +with a most enchanting smile. "And that was +right under the circumstances; but we, his +children, who may be presumed to know more +of social matters than a recluse,—I, especially," +she added, with a certain emphasis, "tell you it +is not necessary. We fear the scandal it may +cause; besides, some of the guests may choose +to linger about the grounds under the trees, +and would be rather startled at being arrested +as intruders."</p> + +<p>"What, then, do you wish me to do?" I asked, +leaning toward her, with an appearance of +yielding.</p> + +<p>"To accept this money," she murmured, +blushing, "and confine yourself to-night to remaining +in the background unless called upon."</p> + +<p>This was a seconding of her brother's proposition +with a vengeance. Taking the purse she +handed me, I weighed it for a moment in my +hand, and then slowly shook my head. "Impossible," +I cried; "but"—and I fixed my eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +intently upon her countenance—"if there is any +one in particular whom you desire me to ignore, +I am ready to listen to a description of his +person. It has always been my pleasure to +accommodate myself as much as possible to the +whims of the ladies."</p> + +<p>It was a bold stroke that might have cost me +the game. Indeed, I half expected she would +raise her voice and order some of the men +about her to eject me from the grounds. But +instead of that she remained for a moment blushing +painfully, but surveying me with an unfaltering +gaze that reminded me of her father's.</p> + +<p>"There <i>is</i> a person," said she, in a low, restrained +voice, "whom I am especially anxious +should remain unmolested, whatever he may or +may not be seen to do. He is a guest," she +went on, a sudden pallor taking the place of her +blushes, "and has a right to be here; but I +doubt if he at once enters the house, and I even +suspect he may choose to loiter awhile in the +grounds before attempting to join the company. +I ask you to allow him to do so."</p> + +<p>I bowed with an appearance of great respect. +"Describe him," said I.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>For a moment she faltered, with a distressed +look I found it difficult to understand. Then, +with a sudden glance over my person, exclaimed: +"Look in the glass when you get home and +you will see the <i>fac-simile</i> of his form, though +not of his face. He is fair, whereas you are +dark." And with a haughty lift of her head calculated +to rob me of any satisfaction I might +have taken in her words, she stepped slowly +back.</p> + +<p>I stopped her with a gesture. "Miss," said +I, "take your purse before you go. Payment +of any service I may render your father will +come in time. This affair is between you and +me, and I hope I am too much of a gentleman +to accept money for accommodating a lady in +so small a matter as this."</p> + +<p>But she shook her head. "Take it," said +she, "and assure me that I may rely on you."</p> + +<p>"You may rely on me without the money," +I replied, forcing the purse back into her hand.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall rest easy," she returned, and +retreated with a lightsome air toward the house.</p> + +<p>The next moment I was on the highway with +my thoughts. What did it all mean? Was it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +then, a mere love affair across which I had +foolishly stumbled, and was I busying myself +unnecessarily about a rendezvous that might +mean no more than an elopement from under a +severe father's eye? Taking out the note which +had led to all these efforts on my part, I read it +for the third time.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="nb">"All goes well. The time has come; every +thing is in train, and success is certain. Be in +the shrubbery at the northeast corner of the +grounds at 9 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> precisely; you will be given +a mask and such other means as are necessary +to insure you the accomplishment of the end +you have in view. He cannot hold out against +a surprise. The word by which you will know +your friends is</p> + +<p class="right nt"><span class="smcap">Counterfeit."</span><br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>A love-letter of course; and I had been a +fool to suppose it any thing else. The young +people are to surprise the old gentleman in the +presence of their friends. They have been +secretly married perhaps, who knows, and take +this method of obtaining a public reconciliation. +But that word "<i>Counterfeit</i>," and the +sinister tone of Hartley Benson as he said: +"It shall not fail through lack of effort on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +part!" Such a word and such a tone did not +rightly tally with this theory. Few brothers +take such interest in their sister's love affairs as +to grow saturnine over them. There was, +beneath all this, something which I had not yet +penetrated. Meantime my duty led me to remain +true to the one person of whose integrity +of purpose I was most thoroughly convinced.</p> + +<p>Returning to the village, I hunted up Mr. +White and acquainted him with what I had +undertaken in his name; and then perceiving +that the time was fast speeding by, strolled over +to the tavern for my supper.</p> + +<p>The stranger was still there, walking up and +down the sitting-room. He joined us at the +table, but I observed he scarcely tasted his food, +and both then and afterward manifested the same +anxious suspense that had characterized his +movements from the time of our first encounter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<h4>THE BLACK DOMINO.</h4> + + +<p>At half past eight I was at my post. The +mysterious stranger, still under my direct +surveillance, had already entered the grounds +and taken his stand in the southwest corner of +the shrubbery, thereby leaving me free to exercise +my zeal in keeping the fences and gates +free of intruders. At nine the guests were +nearly if not all assembled; and promptly at the +hour mentioned in the note so often referred to, +I stole away from my post and hid myself amid +the bushes that obscured the real place of rendezvous.</p> + +<p>It was a retired spot, eminently fitted for a +secret meeting. The lamps, which had been +hung in profusion through the grounds, had +been studiously excluded from this quarter. +Even the broad blaze of light that poured from +the open doors and windows of the brilliantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +illuminated mansion, sent no glimmer through +the broad belt of evergreens that separated this +retreat from the open lawn beyond. All was +dark, all was mysterious, all was favorable to the +daring plan I had undertaken. In silence I +awaited the sound of approaching steps.</p> + +<p>My suspense was of short duration. In a few +moments I heard a low rustle in the bushes near +me, then a form appeared before my eyes, and +a man's voice whispered:</p> + +<p>"Is there any one here?"</p> + +<p>My reply was to glide quietly into view.</p> + +<p>Instantly he spoke again, this time with more +assurance.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready for a counterfeit?"</p> + +<p>"I am ready for any thing," I returned, in +smothered tones, hoping by thus disguising my +voice, to lure him into a revelation of the true +purpose of this mysterious rendezvous.</p> + +<p>But instead of the explanations I expected, +the person before me made a quick movement, +and I felt a domino thrown over my shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Draw it about you well," he murmured; +"there are lynx eyes in the crowd to-night." +And while I mechanically obeyed, he bent down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +to my ear and earnestly continued: "Now +listen, and be guided by my instructions. You +will not be able to enter by the front door, as it +is guarded, and you cannot pass without removing +your mask. But the window on the left-hand +balcony is at your service. It is open, and +the man appointed to keep intruders away, has +been bribed to let you pass. Once inside the +house, join the company <i>sans céremonie</i>; and do +not hesitate to converse with any one who +addresses you by the countersign. Promptly +at ten o'clock look around you for a domino in +plain black. When you see him move, follow +him, but with discretion, so that you may not +seem to others to be following. Sooner or later +he will pause and point to a closed door. Notice +that door, and when your guide has disappeared, +approach and enter it without fear or hesitation. +You will find yourself in a small apartment connecting +with the library.</p> + +<p>"There is but one thing more to say. If the +wineglass you will observe on the library table +smells of wine, you may know your father has +had his nightly potion and gone to bed. But +if it contains nothing more than a small white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +powder, you may be certain he has yet to return +to the library, and that by waiting, you will have +the long-wished-for opportunity of seeing him."</p> + +<p>And pausing for no reply, my strange companion +suddenly thrust a mask into my hand +and darted from the circle of trees that surrounded +us.</p> + +<p>For a moment I stood dumbfounded at the +position in which my recklessness had placed +me. All the folly, the impertinence even, of the +proceeding upon which I had entered, was revealed +to me in its true colors, and I mentally +inquired what could have induced me to thus +hamper myself with the details of a mystery so +entirely removed from the serious matter I had +in charge. Resolved to abandon the affair, I +made a hasty attempt to disengage myself from +the domino in which I had been so unceremoniously +enveloped. But invisible hands +seemed to restrain me. A vivid remembrance +of the tone in which these final instructions had +been uttered returned to my mind, and while I +recognized the voice as that of Hartley Benson, +I also recognized the almost saturnine intensity +of expression which had once before imbued his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +words with a significance both forcible and surprising. +The secret, if a purely family one, was +of no ordinary nature; and at the thought I felt +my old interest revive. All the excuses with +which I had hitherto silenced my conscience +recurred to me with fresh force, and mechanically +donning my mask, I prepared to follow out my +guide's instructions to the last detail.</p> + +<p>The window to which I had been directed +stood wide open. Through it came the murmur +of music and the hum of gay voices. Visions of +a motley crowd decked in grotesque costumes +passed constantly before my eyes. Sight and +sound combined to allure me. Hurrying to the +window, I stepped carelessly in.</p> + +<p>A low guttural "Hugh!" at once greeted me. +It was from a mask in full Indian costume, whom +I saw leaning with a warrior's well-known dignity +against the embrasure of the window by +which I had entered. Giving him a scrutinizing +glance, I came to the conclusion he was a young +and not inelegant man; and impelled by a +reasonable curiosity as to how I looked myself, +I cast my eyes down upon my own person. I +found my appearance sufficiently striking. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +domino, in which I was wrapped was of a brilliant +yellow hue, covered here and there with +black figures representing all sorts of fantastic +creatures, from hobgoblins of a terrible type, to +merry Kate Greenaway silhouettes. "Humph!" +thought I, "it seems I am not destined to glide +unnoticed amid the crowd."</p> + +<p>The first person who approached me was a +gay little shepherdess.</p> + +<p>"Ah, ha!" was the sportive exclamation with +which she greeted me. "Here is one of my +wandering sheep!" And with a laugh, she endeavored +to hook me to her side by means of +her silver crook.</p> + +<p>But this blithesome puppet possessed no interest +for me. So with a growl and a bound I +assured her I was nothing more than a wolf in +sheep's clothing, and would eat her up if she +did not run away; at which she gayly laughed +and vanished, and for a moment I was left alone. +But only for a moment. A masked lady, whom +I had previously observed standing upright and +solitary in a distant corner of the room, now approached, +and taking me by the arm, led me +eagerly to one side.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Joe!" she whispered, "is it you? How +glad I am to have you here, and how I hope we +are going to be happy at last!"</p> + +<p>Fearing to address a person seemingly so +well acquainted with the young man whose +place I had usurped, I merely pressed, with most +perfidious duplicity, the little hand that was so +confidingly clasped in mine. It seemed to +satisfy her, for she launched at once into ardent +speech.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Joe, I have been so anxious to have +you with us once again! Hartley is a good +brother, but he is not my old playmate. Then +father will be so much happier if you only +succeed in making him forget the past."</p> + +<p>Seeing by this that it was Miss Carrie Benson +with whom I had to deal, I pressed the little +hand again, and tenderly drew her closer to my +side. That I felt all the time like a villain of the +blackest dye, it is quite unnecessary for me to +state.</p> + +<p>"Has Hartley told you just what you are to +do?" was her next remark. "Father is very +determined not to relent and has kept himself +locked in his library all day, for fear you should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +force yourself upon his presence. I could never +have gained his consent to give this ball if I had +not first persuaded him it would serve as a +means to keep you at a distance; that if you +saw the house thronged with guests, natural +modesty would restrain you from pushing yourself +forward. I think he begins to distrust his +own firmness. He fears he will melt at the +sight of you. He has been failing this last +year and—" A sudden choke stopped her +voice.</p> + +<p>I was at once both touched and alarmed; +touched at the grief which showed her motives +to be pure and good, and alarmed at the position +in which I had thrust myself to the apparent +detriment of these same laudable motives. +Moved by a desire to right matters, I ventured +to speak:</p> + +<p>"And do you think," I whispered, in purposely +smothered accents, "that if he sees me he will +relent?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it. He yearns over you, Joe; +and if he had not sworn never to speak to you +again, he would have sent for you long ago. +Hartley believes as well as I that the time for +reconciliation has come."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And is Hartley," I ventured again, not without +a secret fear of the consequences, "really +anxious for reconciliation?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Joe! can you doubt it? Has he not +striven from the first to make father forget? +Would he encourage you to come here to-night, +furnish you with a disguise, and consent to act +both as your champion and adviser, if he did not +want to see you and father friends again? You +don't understand Hartley; you never have. +You would not have repelled his advances so +long, if you had realized how truly he had forgiven +every thing and forgotten it. Hartley has the +pride of a person who has never done wrong +himself. But even pride gives way before +brotherly affection; and you have suffered so +much and so long, poor Joe!"</p> + +<p>"So, so," thought I, "Joe is then the aggressor!" +And for a moment, I longed to be the man +I represented, if only to clasp this dear little sister +in my arms and thank her for her goodness. +"You are a darling," I faintly articulated, inwardly +determined to rush forthwith into the garden, +hand over my domino to the person for whom +it was intended, and make my escape from a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +scene which I had so little right to enjoy. But +at this instant an interruption occurred which +robbed me of my companion, but kept me effectually +in my place. A black domino swept by +us, dragging Miss Benson from my side, while +at the same time a harsh voice whispered in my +ear:</p> + +<p>"To counterfeit wrong when one is right, +necessarily opens one to misunderstanding."</p> + +<p>I started, recognizing in this mode of speech +a <i>friend</i>, and therefore one from whom I could +not escape without running the risk of awakening +suspicion.</p> + +<p>"That is true," I returned, hoping by my +abrupt replies to cut short this fresh colloquy +and win a speedy release.</p> + +<p>But something in my answer roused the interest +of the person at my side, and caused a +display of emotion that led to quite an opposite +result from what I desired.</p> + +<p>"You awaken a thousand conjectures in my +mind by that reply," exclaimed my friend, edging +me a little farther back from the crowd. "I +have always had my doubts about—about—" +he paused, hunting for the proper phrase—"about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +your having done what they said," he +somewhat lamely concluded. "It was so unlike +you. But now I begin to see the presence +of a possibility that might perhaps explain much +we never understood. Joe, my boy, you never +said you were innocent, but——"</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" I asked boldly, peering into +the twinkling eyes that shone upon me from his +sedate mask. "In the discussion of such matters +as these, it would be dreadful to make a +mistake."</p> + +<p>"And don't you recognize your Uncle Joe?" +he asked, with a certain plaintive reproach somewhat +out of keeping with his costume of "potent, +grave, and reverend signior." "I came over +from Hollowell on purpose, because Carrie intimated +that you were going to make one final +effort to see your father. Edith is here too," he +murmured, thrusting his face alarmingly near +mine. "She would not stay away, though we +were all afraid she might betray herself; her +emotions are so quick. Poor child! <i>she</i> never +doubted you; and if my suspicions are correct——"</p> + +<p>"Edith?" I interrupted,—"Edith?" An Edith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +was the last person I desired to meet under these +circumstances. "Where is she?" I tremulously +inquired, starting aside in some dismay at the +prospect of encountering this unknown quantity +of love and devotion.</p> + +<p>But my companion, seizing me by the arm, +drew me back. "She is not far away; of that +you may be sure. But it will never do for you +to try and hunt her up. You would not know +her in her mask. Besides, if you remain still +she will come to you."</p> + +<p>That was just what I feared, but upon looking +round and seeing no suspicious-looking damsel +anywhere near me, I concluded to waive my +apprehensions on her account and proceed to +the development of an idea that had been +awakened by the old gentleman's words.</p> + +<p>"You are right," I acquiesced, edging, in my +turn, toward the curtained recess of a window +near by. "Let us wait here, and meantime you +shall tell me what your suspicions are, for I feel +the time has come for the truth to be made +known, and who could better aid me in proclaiming +it than you who have always stood my +friend?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is true," he murmured, all eagerness +at once. Then in a lower tone and with a significant +gesture: "There <i>is</i> something, then, +which has never been made known? Edith +was right when she said you did not steal the +bonds out of your father's desk?"</p> + +<p>As he paused and looked me in the face, I +was obliged to make some reply. I chose one +of the non-committal sort.</p> + +<p>"Don't ask me!" I murmured, turning away +with every appearance of profound agitation.</p> + +<p>He did not suspect the ruse.</p> + +<p>"But, my boy, I shall have to ask you; if I +am to help you out of this scrape, I must know +the truth. Yet if it is as I suspect, I can see +why you should hesitate even now. You are a +generous fellow, Joe, but even generosity can be +carried past its proper limits."</p> + +<p>"Uncle," I exclaimed, leaning over him and +whispering tremulously in his ear, "what are +your suspicions? If I hear you give utterance +to them, perhaps it will not be so hard for me +to speak."</p> + +<p>He hesitated, looked all about us with a +questioning glance, put his mouth to my ear, +and whispered:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I should use the name of Hartley in connection +with what I have to say, would you be +so very much surprised?"</p> + +<p>With a quick semblance of emotion, I drew +back.</p> + +<p>"You think—" I tremulously commenced, +and as suddenly broke off.</p> + +<p>"That it was he who did it, and that you, +knowing how your father loved him and built +his hopes upon him, bore the blame of it yourself."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" I exclaimed, with a deep breath as of +relief. The suspicions of Uncle Joe were worth +hearing.</p> + +<p>He seemed to be satisfied with the ejaculation, +and with an increase of eagerness in his +tone, went quickly on:</p> + +<p>"Am I not right, my boy? Is not this the +secret of your whole conduct from that dreadful +day to this?"</p> + +<p>"Don't ask me," I again pleaded, taking care, +however, to draw a step nearer and exclaim in +almost the same breath: "Why should you +think it must necessarily have been one of us? +What did <i>you</i> know that you should be so positive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +it was either he or I who committed this +dishonest action?"</p> + +<p>"What did I know? Why, what everybody +else did. That your father, hearing a noise in +his study one night, rose up quietly and slipped +to the door of communication in time to hear a +stealthy foot leave the room and proceed down +the hall toward the apartment usually occupied +by you and your brother; that, alarmed and +filled with vague distrust, he at once lit the +lamp, only to discover his desk had been forcibly +broken into and a number of coupon bonds +taken out; that, struck to the heart, he went +immediately to the room where you and your +brother lay, found him lying quiet, and to all +appearance asleep, while you looked flushed +and with difficulty met his eye; that without +hesitation he thereupon accused you of theft, +and began to search the apartment; that he +found the bonds, as we both know, in a cupboard +at the head of your bed, and when you +were asked if you had put them there you +remained silent, and neither then nor afterward +made any denial of being the one who stole +them."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>A mournful "Yes" was all the reply I ventured +upon.</p> + +<p>"Now it never seemed to occur to your +father to doubt your guilt. The open window +and the burglar's jimmy found lying on the floor +of the study, being only so many proofs, to his +mind, of your deep calculation and great duplicity. +But I could not help thinking, even on +that horrible morning, that your face did not +wear a look of guilt so much as it did that of +firm and quiet resolution. But I was far from +suspecting the truth, my boy, or I should never +have allowed you to fall a victim to your father's +curse, and be sent forth like a criminal from +home and kindred. If only for Edith's sake I +would have spoken—dear, trusting, faithful girl +that she is!"</p> + +<p>"But—but—" I brokenly ejaculated, anxious +to gain as much of the truth as was possible in +the few minutes allotted me; "what has awakened +your suspicions at this late day? Why +should you doubt Hartley now, if you did not +then?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I cannot really say. Perhaps Edith's +persistent aversion to your brother has had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +something to do with it. Then he has grown +cold and hard, while you have preserved your +boyish freshness and affection. I—I don't like +him, that is the truth; and with my dislike +arose doubts, and—and—well, I cannot tell how +it is, but I will believe you if you say he was +the one to blame in this matter; and what is +more, your father will believe you too; for he +does not feel the same satisfaction in Hartley's +irreproachable character that he used to, and—and—"</p> + +<p>A sudden movement in the crowd stopped +him. A tall, graceful-looking woman clad entirely +in white had just entered the room and +seemed to be making her way toward us.</p> + +<p>"There is Edith!" he declared. "She is +hunting for the yellow domino ornamented with +black that she has been told conceals her lover. +Shall I go and fetch her here, or will you wait +until she spies you of her own accord?"</p> + +<p>"I will wait," I uneasily replied, edging +nearer to the window with the determination of +using it as a means of escape if my companion +only gave me the chance. "See! she is in the +hands of an old Jew, who seems to be greatly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +taken with the silver trimmings on her sleeves. +Suppose you improve the opportunity to slip +away," I laughingly suggested. "Lovers' +meetings are not usually of an order to interest +third parties."</p> + +<p>"Aren't they, you rogue!" retorted the old +gentleman, giving me a jocose poke in the ribs. +"Well, well, I suppose you are right. But you +have not told me—"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you every thing in an hour," I +hastily assured him. "I am going to meet my +father in the library, and after he has heard the +truth, you shall be admitted and all will be +explained."</p> + +<p>"That is only fair," he replied. "Your father +has the first rights, of course. But Joe, my +boy, remember I am not over and above patient +of disposition, and don't keep me waiting too +long." And with an affectionate squeeze of my +hand, he stepped out from the recess where we +stood and made his way once more into the +throng.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he left my side than I threw +up the window. "Now is the time for the real +Joe to appear upon the scene," was my mental<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +decision. "I have done for him what he as a +gentleman would probably never do for himself—pumped +this old party and got every thing in +trim for Hartley's discomfiture. But the courting +business is another matter; also the interview +with the outraged father in the library. +That cannot be done by proxy; so here goes +for a change of actors."</p> + +<p>And with reckless disregard of consequences, +I prepared to jump from the window, when +a sudden light flashed over the lawn beneath +and I saw I was at least twelve feet from the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Well," I exclaimed, drawing hastily back; +"such a leap as that is too much to expect of +any man!" And with the humiliating consciousness +of being caught in a trap, I proceeded +to close the window.</p> + +<p>"Joe!"</p> + +<p>'Twas a low whisper, but how thrilling! +Turning, I greeted, with the show of fervor I +considered necessary to the occasion, the white-veiled +lady who had glided into my retreat.</p> + +<p>"Did you think I was never coming, Joe? +Everybody who could get in my way certainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +managed to do so. Then Hartley is so suspicious, +and followed me with his eyes so persistently, +I did not dare show my designs too +plainly. It is only this minute he left my side. +If you had been anywhere else I do not know +as I should have succeeded even now in getting +a word with you—oh!"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was called forth by a sudden +movement that took place near us. The curtain +was drawn back and a tall man dressed in +a black domino glanced in, gave us a scrutinizing +look, bowed, and dropped the curtain +again.</p> + +<p>"Hartley," she whisperingly explained.</p> + +<p>I took her by the hand; there was no help +for it; gesture and a lover-like demeanor must, +in this case, supply the place of speech.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" she entreated. (Not that I had +spoken.) "I dare not stay. When you have +seen your father, perhaps I will have courage +to join you; but now it would be better for me +to go." And her eyes roamed toward the curtain, +while the little hand I held in mine grew +cold and slightly trembled.</p> + +<p>I pressed that little hand, but, as you may well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +believe, did not urge her to remain. Yet she +did not seem in a hurry to depart, and I do not +know what complications might have ensued, if +another movement in the curtain had not reawakened +her fears and caused her, notwithstanding +her evident reluctance, to start quickly +away.</p> + +<p>I did not linger long behind her. Scarcely +had the curtain fallen from her hand than I +stepped hastily forth. But alas for my hopes of +escape! No sooner had I joined the group of +merry-makers circling about the open door, than +I felt a touch on my arm, and looking up, saw +before me the Black Domino. The hour of ten +had struck and my guide to the library was at +hand. There was no alternative left me but +to follow him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<h4>AN UNEXPECTED CALAMITY.</h4> + + +<p>Five minutes passed, during which I +threaded more laughing groups and sauntered +down more mysterious passage-ways than +I would care to count. Still the mysterious +Black Domino glided on before me, leading me +from door to door till my patience was nearly +exhausted, and I had well-nigh determined to +give him the slip and make my way at once to +the garden, and the no-doubt-by-this-time-highly-impatient +Joe.</p> + +<p>But before I had the opportunity of carrying +out this scheme, the ominous Black Domino +paused, and carelessly pointing to a door at the +termination of a narrow corridor, bowed, and +hastily withdrew.</p> + +<p>"Now," said I, as soon as I found myself +alone, "shall I proceed with this farce, or shall +I end it? To go on means to interview Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +Benson, acquaint him with what has come to my +knowledge during the last half hour in which I +have so successfully personified his son, and by +these means perhaps awake him to the truth +concerning this serious matter of Joseph's innocence +or Hartley's guilt; while to stop now +implies nothing more nor less than a full explanation +with his son, a man of whose character, +manners, and disposition I know little or +nothing."</p> + +<p>Either alternative presented infinite difficulties, +but of the two the former seemed to me +more feasible and less embarrassing. At all +events, in talking with Mr. Benson, I should not +have the sensibilities of a lover to contend with, +and however unfortunate in its results our interview +might be, would be at the mercy of old +blood instead of young, a point always to be +considered in a case where one's presumption +has been carried beyond the bounds of decorum.</p> + +<p>Unlocking the door, I stepped, as I had been +told I should, into a small room adjoining the +library. All around me were books. Even the +door by which I had entered was laden with +them, so that when it was closed, all vestige of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +the door itself disappeared. Across the opening +into the library stood a screen, and it was +not until I had pushed this somewhat aside that +I was able to look into that room.</p> + +<p>My first glance assured me it was empty. +Stark and bare of any occupant, the high-backed +chairs loomed in the funereal gloom, while on +the table, toward which I inadvertently glanced, +stood a decanter with a solitary wineglass at its +side. Instantly I remembered what had been +told me concerning that glass, and stepping forward, +I took it up and looked at it.</p> + +<p>Immediately I heard, or thought I heard, an +exclamation uttered somewhere near me. But +upon glancing up and down the room and perceiving +no one, I concluded I was mistaken, and +deliberately proceeded to examine the wineglass +and assure myself that no wine had as yet +been poured upon the powder I found in it. +Satisfied at last that Mr. Benson had not yet +taken his usual evening potion, I put the glass +back and withdrew again to my retreat.</p> + +<p>I do not think another minute could have +elapsed, before I heard a step in the room behind +me. A door leading into an adjoining apartment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +had opened and Mr. Benson had come in. +He passed immediately to the table, poured out +the wine upon the powder, and drank it off without +a moment's hesitation. I heard him sigh as +he put the glass down.</p> + +<p>With a turn of my hand I slipped off both +domino and mask, and prepared to announce +my presence by tapping on the lintel of the door +beside which I stood. But a sudden change in +Mr. Benson's lofty figure startled me. He was +swaying, and the arms which had fallen to his +side were moving with a convulsive action that +greatly alarmed me. But almost instantly he +recovered himself, and paced with a steady step +toward the hall door, which at that moment resounded +with a short loud knock.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he asked, with every +appearance of his usual sternness.</p> + +<p>"Hartley," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Are you alone?" the old gentleman again +queried, making a move as if to unlock the door.</p> + +<p>"Carrie is with me; no one else," came in +smothered accents from without.</p> + +<p>Mr. Benson at once turned the key, but no +sooner had he done so than he staggered back.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +For an instant or two of horror he stood oscillating +from side to side, then his frame succumbed, +and the terrified eyes of his children +beheld his white head lying low, all movement +and appearance of life gone from the form that +but a moment before towered so proudly before +them.</p> + +<p>With a shriek, the daughter flung herself down +at his side, and even the cheek of Hartley +Benson grew white as he leaned over his father's +already inanimate body.</p> + +<p>"He is dead!" came in a wild cry from her +lips. "See! he does not breathe. Oh! Hartley, +what could have happened? Do you think +that Joe—"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" he exclaimed, with a furtive glance +around him. "He may be here; let me look. +<i>If Joe has done this</i>—" He did not continue, +but rose, and with a rapid tread began to cross +the floor in my direction.</p> + +<p>In a flash I realized my situation. To be +found by him now, without a domino, and in the +position of listener, would be any thing but +desirable. But I knew of no way of escape, or +so for the moment it seemed. But great emergencies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +call forth sudden resources. In the +quick look I inadvertently threw around me, I +observed that the <i>portière</i> hanging between me +and the library was gathered at one side in very +heavy folds. If I could hide behind them perhaps +I might elude the casual glance he would +probably cast into my place of concealment. At +all events it was worth trying, and at the thought +I glided behind the curtain. I was not disappointed +in my calculations. Arrived at the +door, he looked in, perceived the domino lying +in a heap on the floor, and immediately drew +back with an exclamation of undoubted satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"He is gone," said he, crossing back to his +sister's side. Then in a tone of mingled irony +and bitterness, hard to describe, cried aloud with +a glance toward the open door: "He has first +killed his father and then fled. Fool that I +was to think he could be trusted!"</p> + +<p>A horrified "Hartley!" burst from his sister's +lips and a suppressed but equally vehement +"Villain!" from mine; but neither of us had +time for more, for almost at the same instant +the room filled with frightened guests, among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +which I discerned the face and form of the old +servant Jonas, and the flowing robes and the +white garments of Uncle Joe and the graceful +Edith.</p> + +<p>To describe the confusion that followed would +be beyond my powers, especially as my attention +was at the time not so much directed to the +effect produced by this catastrophe, as to the +man whom, from the moment Mr. Benson fell to +the floor, I regarded as my lawful prey. He +did not quake and lose his presence of mind in +this terrible crisis. He was gifted with too much +self-control to betray any unseemly agitation +even over such a matter as his father's sudden +death. Once only did I detect his lip tremble, +and that was when an elderly gentleman (presumably +a doctor) exclaimed after a careful +examination of the fallen man:</p> + +<p>"This is no case of apoplexy, gentlemen!"</p> + +<p>Then indeed Mr. Hartley Benson shivered, +and betrayed an emotion for which I considered +myself as receiving a due explanation when, a +few minutes later, I observed the same gentleman +lay his hand upon the decanter and glass +that stood on the table, and after raising them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +one after the other to his nose, slowly shake +his head, and with a furtive look around him, +lock them both in a small cupboard that opened +over the mantel-piece.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<h4>IN THE LIBRARY.</h4> + + +<p>Mr. Benson was really dead. The fact +being announced, most of the guests +withdrew. In ten minutes after he fell, the +room was comparatively clear. Only the various +members of the family, together with the gentleman +I have already mentioned, remained +behind; and, even of these, the two ladies were +absent, they having followed the body into the +adjoining room, where it had been reverently +carried by the attached Jonas and another servant +whose face I did not see.</p> + +<p>"A most unlooked-for catastrophe," burst +from the lips of Uncle Joe. "Did you ever +suspect he was a victim to heart disease?" he +now asked, this time with looks directed toward +the doctor.</p> + +<p>"No," came from that gentleman in a short, +sharp way, which made Hartley Benson's pale<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +face flush, though his eye did not waver from +its steady solemn look toward the door through +which his father's form had just been carried. +"Mr. Benson was sound through and through a +month ago. I know, because I examined him +previous to his making his will. There was no +heart disease then; that I am ready to take my +oath upon."</p> + +<p>Hartley Benson's rigid look unfastened itself +from the door and turned slowly toward the +sombre face of the speaker, while Uncle Joe, +with an increased expression of distress, looked +slowly around as if he half hoped, half feared to +behold his favorite nephew advance upon them +from some shadowy corner.</p> + +<p>"My father consulted you, then?" said the +former, in his slow, reserved way. "Did not +that evince some suspicion of disease on his +part?"</p> + +<p>"Possibly; a man in a despondent frame of +mind will often imagine he has some deadly +complaint or other. But he was quite sound; +too sound, he seemed to think. Your father +was not a happy man, Mr. Benson."</p> + +<p>There was meaning in the tone, and I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +not surprised to observe Hartley draw back. +"Why," said he, "do you think—"</p> + +<p>"I think nothing," broke in the doctor; +"only"—and here he brought down his hand +vigorously upon the table—"there has been +prussic acid in the glass from which Mr. Benson +drank this evening. The smell of bitter almonds +is not to be mistaken."</p> + +<p>An interval of silent horror followed this announcement, +then a vehement "Great Heaven!" +broke from the lips of Uncle Joe, while Hartley +Benson, growing more and more rigid in his +bearing, fixed his eyes on the doctor's face and +barely ejaculated:</p> + +<p>"Poison?"</p> + +<p>"I say this," continued the doctor, too intent +upon his own theory to notice either the growth +of a terrible fear on the face of Uncle Joe, +or the equally remarkable expression of subdued +expectation on that of the son, "because +long experience has taught me the uselessness +of trying to hide such a fact as suicide, and also +because, being the coroner of the county, it is +my duty to warn you that an investigation will +have to take place which will require certain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +precautions on my part, such as the sealing up +of his papers, etc."</p> + +<p>"That is true," came from the lips of both +brother and son, over whom a visible change +had passed at the word "suicide."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot think—" the former began in +an agitated voice.</p> + +<p>"That my father would do such a deed," +interposed the latter. "It does not seem probable, +and yet he was a very wretched man, and +grief will often drive the best of us to despair."</p> + +<p>Uncle Joe gave his nephew a strange look, +but said no more. The doctor went quietly on:</p> + +<p>"I do not know what your father's troubles +were, but that he committed suicide I greatly +fear, unless it can be proved the acid was taken +by mistake, a conclusion which does not seem +probable, for from the smell of the decanter it +is evident the acid was mixed with the wine, in +which I now remember advising him to take +the nightly powder I prescribed to him for quite +a trivial disorder a few days ago. The only +thing that puzzles me is, why, if he meditated +death, he should have troubled himself to take +this powder. And yet it is certain he did take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +it, for there is still some of the sediment of it +remaining in the bottom of the glass."</p> + +<p>"He took the powder because it was already +in the glass," broke in Hartley, in a heavy tone +of voice. "My sister put it there before she +went up stairs to dress. I think she was afraid +he would forget it. My father was very careless +about small matters."</p> + +<p>"He was careful enough not to poison any +one else in the family," quoth the doctor. +"There was scarcely a drop left in the decanter; +he took the whole dose."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sirs, but is it suicide +you are talking about?" cried a voice suddenly +over their shoulders, making them all start. +Jonas, the servant, had entered from the inner +room, and unseen by all but myself, had been +listening to the last few words as if his life +depended upon what they had to say. "If it +is, why I have a bit of an observation of my +own to make that may help you to settle the +matter."</p> + +<p>"You! What have you to say?" quoth +the doctor, turning in surprise at the confident +tone of voice in which the man spoke.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not much, I am sure," cried Hartley, to +whom the appearance at that moment of his +father's old servant was evidently most unwelcome.</p> + +<p>"That is for you to judge, gentlemen. I can +only tell you what I've seen, and that not ten +minutes ago. Mr. Hartley, do you mind the +man in the yellow dress that was flitting about +the parlors all the evening?"</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" burst in uncontrollable +agitation from Uncle Joe; and he caught his +nephew by the arm with a look that called +back the old rigid expression to the latter's +face.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the quiet reply; "I remember +seeing such a person."</p> + +<p>"Well, sirs, I don't know as you will think +any thing of it, but a little while ago I was +walking up and down the balcony outside +there, when I happened to look into this room, +and I saw that man in the yellow dress leaning +over this very table, looking into the wineglass +Miss Carrie had put there for master. +He had it in his hand, and his head was down +very close to it, but what he did to it or to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +decanter either, I am sure, sirs, I don't know, +for I was that frightened at seeing this spectre +in the room master had kept locked all day, +that I just slipped off the balcony and ran +round the house to find Mr. Hartley. But you +wasn't in the parlors, sir, nor Miss Carrie +neither, and when I got to this room, there +was master lying dead on the floor, and everybody +crowding around him horror-struck."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" ejaculated the doctor, looking at +Uncle Joe, who had sunk in a heap into the +arm-chair his nephew abstractedly pushed toward +him.</p> + +<p>"You see, sirs," Jonas resumed, with great +earnestness, "Mr. Benson, for some reason or +other, had been very particular about keeping +his own room to-day. The library door was +locked as early as six this morning, and he +would let no one in without first asking who +was there. That's why I felt so dumbfoundered +at seeing this yellow man in the room; +besides——"</p> + +<p>But no sooner had the good man arrived at +this point than he stopped, with a gasp, and +after a quick look at Hartley, flushed, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +drew back in a state of great agitation and +embarrassment. Evidently a suspicion had +just crossed the mind of this old and attached +servant as to whom the Yellow Domino might +be.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," cried the doctor, "go on; let +us hear the rest."</p> + +<p>"I—I have nothing more to say," mumbled +the man, while Hartley, with an equal display +of embarrassment, motioned the discomfited +servant to withdraw, and turned as if to hide +his face over some papers on the table.</p> + +<p>"I think the man in the yellow domino had +better be found," quoth the physician, dryly, +glancing from Hartley to the departing form +of the servant, with a sharp look. "At all +events it would be well enough for us to know +who he is."</p> + +<p>"I don't see—" began Uncle Joe, but stopped +as he perceived the face of Hartley Benson +slowly composing itself. Evidently he was as +much interested as myself in observing what +this not-easily-to-be-understood man would +say and do in this sudden crisis.</p> + +<p>We were not long left in doubt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Doctor," he began, in a slow, hesitating +tone, well calculated to produce the effect he +desired, "we unfortunately already know who +wore a yellow domino this evening. My brother +Joe——"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" implored his uncle, laying a hand +on his nephew's arm with a quick look of +distress not lost on the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Brother?" repeated the latter. "Pardon +me, I did not know——Ah, but I do remember +now to have heard that Mr. Benson had +another son."</p> + +<p>The face of Hartley grew graver and graver. +"My brother has been alienated from my +father for some time, so you have never seen +him here. But to-night he hoped, or made me +think he hoped, to effect a reconciliation; so I +managed, with my sister, to provide him with +the domino necessary to insure him an entrance +here. Indeed, I did more; I showed him a +private door by which he could find his way +into the library, never suspecting any harm +could come of son and father meeting even in +this surreptitious way. I—I loved my brother, +and notwithstanding the past, had confidence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +in him. Nor can I think now he had any thing +to do with the——" Here the voice of this +inimitable actor broke in well-simulated distress. +He sank on a chair and put his hands +before his face.</p> + +<p>The doctor had no reason to doubt this man. +He therefore surveyed him with a look of grave +regard.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson," said he, "you have my profoundest +sympathy. A tragedy like this in a +family of such eminent respectability, is enough +to overwhelm the stoutest heart. If your brother +is here——"</p> + +<p>"Dr. Travis," broke in the other, rising and +grasping the physician's hand with an appearance +of manly impulse impressive in one usually +so stern and self contained, "you are, or +were, my father's friend; can you or will you +be ours? Dreadful as it is to think, my father +undoubtedly committed suicide. He had a +great dread of this day. It is the anniversary +of an occurrence harrowing for him to remember. +My brother—you see I shall have to +break the secrecy of years—was detected by +him in the act of robbing his desk three years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +ago to-night, and upon each and every recurrence +of the day, has returned to his father's +house to beg for the forgiveness and restoration +to favor which he lost by that deed of crime. +Hitherto my father has been able to escape his +importunities, by absence or the address of his +servants, but to-day he seemed to have a premonition +that his children were in league against +him, notwithstanding Carrie's ruse of the ball, +and the knowledge may have worked upon him +to that extent that he preferred death to a sight +of the son that had ruined his life and made +him the hermit you have seen."</p> + +<p>The doctor fell into the trap laid for him with +such diabolical art.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps; but if that is so, why is your +brother not here? Only a few minutes could +have elapsed between the time that Jonas saw +him leaning over the table with the glass in his +hand and the moment when you and your +sister entered this room in face of your father's +falling form. He must have been present, +therefore, when your father came from his bedroom, +if not when he drank the fatal glass; why, +then, did he take such pains to escape, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +actuated by no keener emotion than horror at a +father's suicide?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, I cannot say; but that he +himself put the poison in the decanter I will not +believe. A thief is not necessarily a parricide. +Even if he were in great straits and needed +the money my father's will undoubtedly leaves +him, he would think twice before he ran the +risk of making Carrie and myself his natural +enemies. No, no, if my father has died from +poison, it was through a mistake, or by the +administration of his own hand, never by that +of Joe Benson's."</p> + +<p>"Ah, and has anybody here present dared to +charge <i>him</i> with such a deed!"</p> + +<p>With a start both gentlemen turned; an +accusing spirit stood before them.</p> + +<p>"Edith!" broke from Hartley's lips. "This +is no place for you! Go back! go back!"</p> + +<p>"My place is where the name of Joseph Benson +is uttered," she proudly answered, "whether +the words be for good or evil. I am his +betrothed wife as you know, and again I ask, +who has dared to utter an insinuation, however +light, that he, the tender son and generous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +brother, has had a criminal hand in his father's +awful death?"</p> + +<p>"No one! no one!" essayed Hartley, taking +her hand with a weak attempt at soothing. "I +was but saying——"</p> + +<p>But she turned from him with a gesture of +repugnance, and taking a step toward the doctor, +looked him entreatingly in the face. "You +have not been expressing doubts of Mr. Benson's +youngest son, because he happened to +wear a disguise and be present when Mr. Benson +fell? You do not know Joe, sir; nobody +in this town knows him. His own father was +ignorant of his worth; but we know him, +Uncle Joe and I, and we know he could never +do a deed that could stamp him either as a +dishonorable or a criminal man. If Mr. Benson +has died from poison, I should as soon think +<i>this</i> man had a hand in it as his poor exiled +brother." And in a burst of uncontrollable +wrath and indignation, she pointed, with a sudden +gesture, at the startled Hartley.</p> + +<p>But that worthy, though evidently taken +aback, was not to be caught so easily.</p> + +<p>"Edith, you forget yourself," said he, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +studied self-possession. "The horrors of this +dreadful occurrence have upset you. I do not +wonder at it myself, but the doctor will not so +readily understand you. Miss Underhill has +been strangely attached to my brother," he +went on, turning to the latter with an apologetic +smile that made Uncle Joe grind his teeth in +silent wrath. "They were engaged previous to +the affair of which I have just made mention, +and naturally she could never bring herself to +consider him guilty of a crime which, once +acknowledged, must necessarily act as a bar of +separation between them. She calls him a +martyr, a victim, an exile, any thing but what +he actually is. Indeed, she seems really to +believe in his innocence, while we,"—he +paused and looked up at his sister Carrie who +had entered the room,—"while we," he went on +slowly and sadly, taking this new ally softly by +the hand, "know only too well that the unhappy +boy was in every respect guilty of the crime for +which his father exiled him. But that is neither +here nor there; the dreadful subject before us +is not what he once did, but whether his being +here to-night has had any thing to do with my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +father's death. I cannot think it has, and +yet——"</p> + +<p>The subtle inflection of his voice spoke +volumes. This great actor had evidently been +driven to bay.</p> + +<p>"O Hartley!" came in a terrified cry from +his sister; "what is this? You cannot think, +they cannot think, Joe could do any thing so +dreadful as that?" while over the face of +Edith passed a look of despair, as she saw the +countenance of the doctor slowly fill with the +gloom of suspicion, and even the faithful Uncle +Joe turn away as if he too had been touched +by the blight of a secret doubt.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I wish Joe were here himself!" she +cried with startling emphasis. "He should +speak, even if it brought ruin amongst us."</p> + +<p>But the doctor was a man not to be moved +by so simple a thing as a woman's unreasoning +emotion.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Yellow Domino would be very +welcome just now," he allowed, with grim decision.</p> + +<p>"That he is not here is the most damning +fact of all," Hartley slowly observed. "He fled +when he saw our father fall."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But he shall come back," Edith vehemently +declared.</p> + +<p>"If he does, I shall need no further proof of +his innocence," said Uncle Joe.</p> + +<p>"Nor I, so that he comes to-night," returned +the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Then be satisfied, for here he is," I exclaimed +from my retreat; and drawing the mask over +my face, and hastily enveloping myself in the +yellow domino, I stepped forth into full view +of the crowd around the table.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V.</h2> + +<h4>THE YELLOW DOMINO.</h4> + + +<p>A mingled sound of shrieks and exclamations +greeted me.</p> + +<p>"Joe!" cried Edith, bounding forward.</p> + +<p>But I waved her back, and turned with a +severe gesture toward Hartley Benson.</p> + +<p>"What are your reasons," I demanded, "for +thinking the poisoning that has taken place +here was the work of the Yellow Domino?"</p> + +<p>"Do you ask me?" he retorted, after a +moment's pause, during which my voice +echoed through the room, waking strange +gleams of doubt on the faces of more than +one person present. "You wish to dare me, +then?" he hissed, coming a step nearer.</p> + +<p>"I wish to know what the Yellow Domino +has done that you or any one should consider +him as responsible for the tragedy that has +here taken place," I steadily replied.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you not my brother, then?" he cried, +in mingled rage and anxiety. "Was it not you +I met under the evergreens and supplied with +a yellow domino, in order to give you the +opportunity of seeing our father to-night and +effecting the reconciliation which you had so +long desired? Are you not he who afterward +followed me to this room and hid himself in the +closet from which you have just come, all for +the purpose, as you said, of throwing yourself +at your father's feet and begging pardon for a +past of which you had long ago repented? Or +are you some reckless buffoon who has presumed +to step into the domino my brother left +behind him, and careless of the terrible trouble +that has overwhelmed this family, come here +with your criminal jests to puzzle and alarm +us?"</p> + +<p>"I am the man to whom you gave the +domino, if that is what you wish to know, +Hartley Benson; and I am the man whom +you led into the ambush of this closet, for such +reasons as your own conscience must inform +you. If the Yellow Domino put poison into +Mr. Benson's wine, then upon me must lie the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +burden of the consequences, for I alone have +worn the disguise of this mask from the +moment we met under the evergreens till +now, as I think may be proved by this gentleman +you call Uncle Joe, and this lady you +address as Edith."</p> + +<p>This mode of attack had the desired effect.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" burst from Hartley's lips, +now blanched to the color of clay. "Unmask +him, doctor; let us see the man who dares to +play us tricks on such a night as this!"</p> + +<p>"Wait!" cried I, motioning back not only the +doctor, but Uncle Joe and the ladies—the whole +group having started forward at Hartley's words. +"Let us first make sure I am the Yellow +Domino who has been paraded through the +parlors this evening. Miss Benson, will you +pardon me if I presume to ask you what were +the words of salutation with which you greeted +me to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she cried, in a tremble of doubt and +dismay, "I do not know as I can remember; +something about being glad to see you, I +believe, and my hope that your plans for the +evening might succeed."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To which," said I, "I made no audible +reply, but pressed your hand in mine, with the +certainty you were a <i>friend</i> though you had +not used the word 'Counterfeit.'"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," she returned, blushing and wildly +disturbed, as she had reason to be.</p> + +<p>"And you, Uncle Joe," I went on; "what +were your words? How did you greet the man +you had been told was your erring nephew?"</p> + +<p>"I said: 'To counterfeit wrong when one is +right, necessarily opens one to a misunderstanding.'"</p> + +<p>"To which ambiguous phrase I answered, +as you will remember, with a simple, 'That is +true,' a reply by the way that seemed to arouse +your curiosity and lead to strange revelations."</p> + +<p>"God defend us!" cried Uncle Joe.</p> + +<p>The exclamation was enough. I turned to +the trembling Edith.</p> + +<p>"I shall not attempt," said I, "to repeat or +ask you to repeat any conversation which may +have passed between us, for you will remember +it was too quickly interrupted by Mr. Benson +for us to succeed in uttering more than a dozen +or so words. However, you will do me the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +kindness to acknowledge your belief that I am +the man who stood with you behind the parlor +curtains an hour ago."</p> + +<p>"I will," she replied, with a haughty lift of +her head that spoke more loudly than her +blushes.</p> + +<p>"It only remains, then, for Mr. Benson to assure +himself I am the person who followed him +to the closet. I know of no better way of his +doing this than to ask him if he remembers the +injunctions which he was pleased to give me, +when he bestowed upon me this domino."</p> + +<p>"No,—that is,—whatever they were, they +were given to the man I supposed to be my +brother."</p> + +<p>"Ha, then; it was to your <i>brother</i>," I rejoined, +"you gave that hint about the glass I +would find on the library table; saying that if +it did not smell of wine I would know your +father had not had his nightly potion and +would yet come to the library to drink it;—an +intimation, as all will acknowledge, which +could have but the one result of leading me to +go to the table and take up the glass and look into +it in the suspicious manner which has been reported +to you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was caught in his own toils and saw it. +Muttering a deep curse, he drew back, while a +startled "Humph!" broke from the doctor, followed +by a quick, "Is that true? Did you tell +him that, Mr. Benson?"</p> + +<p>For reply the now thoroughly alarmed villain +leaped at my throat. "Off with that toggery! +Let us see your face! I shall and will know +who you are."</p> + +<p>But I resisted for another moment while I +added: "It is, then, established to your satisfaction +that I am really the man who has worn the +yellow domino this evening. Very well, now +look at me, one and all, and say if you think I +am likely to be a person to destroy Mr. Benson." +And with a quick gesture I threw aside +my mask, and yielded the fatal yellow domino +to the impatient hands of Mr. Hartley Benson.</p> + +<p>The result was a cry of astonishment from those +to whom the face thus revealed was a strange +one, and a curse deep and loud from him to +whom the shock of that moment's surprise must +have been nearly overwhelming.</p> + +<p>"Villain!" he shrieked, losing his self-possession +in a sudden burst of fury; "spy! informer!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +I understand it all now. You have been set +over me by my brother. Instructed by him, you +have dared to enter this house, worm yourself +into its secrets, and by a deviltry only equalled +by your presumption, taken advantage of your +position to poison my father and fling the dreadful +consequences of your crime in the faces of +his mourning family. It was a plot well laid; +but it is foiled, sir, foiled, as you will see when I +have you committed to prison to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Benson," I returned, shaking him loose +as I would a feather, "this is all very well; but +in your haste and surprise you have made a +slight mistake. You call me a spy; so I am; +but a spy backed by the United States Government +is not a man to be put lightly into prison. +I am a detective, sir, connected at present with +the Secret Service at Washington. My business +is to ferret out crime and recognize a rogue +under any disguise and in the exercise of any +vile or deceptive practices." And I looked him +steadily in the face.</p> + +<p>Then indeed his cheek turned livid, and the +eye which had hitherto preserved its steadiness +sought the floor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A detective!" murmured Miss Carrie, shrinking +back from the cringing form of the brother +whom, but a few hours before, she had deemed +every thing that was noble and kind.</p> + +<p>"A detective!" echoed Edith, brightening like +a rose in the sunshine.</p> + +<p>"In government employ!" repeated Uncle +Joe, honoring me with a stare that was almost +comic in its mingled awe and surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I rejoined; "if any one doubts me, +I have papers with me to establish my identity. +By what means I find myself in this +place, a witness of Mr. Benson's death and the +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'repositor'">repository</ins> of certain family secrets, it is not necessary +for me to inform you. It is enough that +I am here, have been here for a good hour, +posted behind that curtain; that I heard Jonas' +exclamation as he withdrew from the balcony, +saw Mr. Benson come in from his bedroom, +drink his glass of wine, and afterward fall at the +feet of his son and daughter; and that having +been here, and the witness of all this, I can swear +that if Mr. Benson drank poison from yonder +decanter, he drank poison that was put into +it before either he or the Yellow Domino entered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +this room. Who put it there, it is for you to +determine; my duty is done for to-night." And +with a bow I withdrew from the group about +me and crossed to the door.</p> + +<p>But Miss Carrie's voice, rising in mingled +shame and appeal, stopped me. "Don't go," +said she; "not at least until you tell me where +my brother Joseph is. Is he in this town, or +has he planned this deception from a distance? +I—I am an orphan, sir, who at one blow has +lost not only a dearly beloved father but, as I +fear, a brother too, in whom, up to this hour, +I have had every confidence. Tell me, then, if +any support is left for a most unhappy girl, or +whether I must give up all hopes of even my +brother Joe's sympathy and protection."</p> + +<p>"Your brother Joe," I replied, "has had +nothing to do with my appearance here. He +and I are perfect strangers; but if he is a tall, +broad-shouldered, young man, shaped something +like myself, but with a ruddy cheek and light +curling hair, I can tell you I saw such a person +enter the shrubbery at the southwest corner of +the garden an hour or so ago."</p> + +<p>"No, he is here!" came in startling accents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +over my shoulders. And with a quick leap +Joe Benson sprang by me and stood handsome, +tall, and commanding in the centre of the room. +"Hartley! Carrie! Edith! what is this I hear? +My father stricken down, my father dying or +dead, and I left to wander up and down through +the shrubbery, while you knelt at his bedside +and received his parting blessing? Is this the +recompense you promised me, Hartley? this +your sisterly devotion, Carrie? this your love +and attention to my interests, Edith?"</p> + +<p>"O Joe, dear Joe, do not blame us!" Carrie +made haste to reply. "We thought you were +here. A man <i>was</i> here, that man behind you, +simulating you in every regard, and to him we +gave the domino, and from him we have +learned——"</p> + +<p>"What?" sprang in thundering tones from +the young giant's throat as he wheeled on his +heel and confronted me.</p> + +<p>"That your brother Hartley is a villain," I +declared, looking him steadily in the eye.</p> + +<p>"God!" was his only exclamation as he turned +slowly back and glanced toward his trembling +brother.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir," said I, taking a step toward Uncle +Joe, who, between his eagerness to embrace the +new-comer and his dread of the consequences +of this unexpected meeting, stood oscillating +from one side to the other in a manner ridiculous +enough to see, "what do you think of +the propriety of uttering aloud and here, the +suspicions which you were good enough to +whisper into my ears an hour ago? Do you see +any reason for altering your opinion as to which +of the two sons of Mr. Benson invaded his desk +and appropriated the bonds afterward found in +their common apartment, when you survey the +downfallen crest of the one and compare it with +the unfaltering look of the other?"</p> + +<p>"No," he returned, roused into sudden energy +by the start given by Hartley. And advancing +between the brothers, he looked first at +one and then at the other with a long, solemn +gaze that called out the color on Hartley's pale +cheek and made the crest of Joe rise still higher +in manly pride and assertion. "Joe," said +he, "for three years now your life has lain +under a shadow. Accused by your father of a +dreadful crime, you have resolutely refused to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +exonerate yourself, notwithstanding the fact +that a dear young girl waited patiently for the +establishment of your innocence in order to +marry you. To your family this silence meant +guilt, but to me and mine it has told only a tale +of self-renunciation and devotion. Joe, was I +right in this? was Edith right? The father +you so loved, and feared to grieve, is dead. +Speak, then: Did you or did you not take the +bonds that were found in the cupboard at the +head of your bed three years ago to-night? The +future welfare, not only of this faithful child but +of the helpless sister, who, despite her belief in +your guilt, has clung to you with unwavering +devotion, depends upon your reply."</p> + +<p>"Let my brother speak," was the young +man's answer, given in a steady and nobly +restrained tone.</p> + +<p>"Your brother will not speak," his uncle +returned. "Don't you see you must answer +for yourself? Say, then: Are you the guilty man +your father thought you, or are you not? Let +us hear, Joe."</p> + +<p>"I am not!" avowed the young man, bowing +his head in a sort of noble shame that must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +have sent a pang of anguish through the heart +of his brother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I knew it, I knew it!" came from Edith's +lips in a joyous cry, as she bounded to his side +and seized him by one hand, just as his sister +grasped the other in a burst of shame and +contrition that showed how far she was removed +from any participation in the evil machinations +of her elder brother.</p> + +<p>The sight seemed to goad Hartley Benson to +madness. Looking from one to the other, he +uttered a cry that yet rings in my memory: +"Carrie! Edith! do you both forsake me, and +all because of a word which any villain might +have uttered? Is this the truth and constancy +of women? Is this what I had a right to expect +from a sister, a—a friend? Carrie, you at +least always gave me your trust,—will you take +it away because a juggling spy and a recreant +brother have combined to destroy me?"</p> + +<p>But beyond a wistful look and a solemn +shake of the head, Carrie made no response, +while Edith, with her eyes fixed on the agitated +countenance of her lover, did not even seem to +hear the words of pleading that were addressed +to her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>The shock of the disappointment was too +much for Hartley Benson. Clenching his hand +upon his breast, he gave one groan of anguish +and despair and sank into a chair, inert and +helpless. But before we could any of us take a +step toward him, before the eyes of the doctor +and mine could meet in mutual understanding, +he had bounded again to his feet, and in a burst +of desperation seized the chair in which he sat, +and held it high above his head.</p> + +<p>"Fools! dotards!" he exclaimed, his eyes +rolling in frenzy from face to face, but lingering +longest on mine, as if there he read the true +secret of his overthrow, as well as the promise +of his future doom. "You think it is all over +with me; that there is nothing left for you to +do but to stand still and watch how I take my +defeat. But I am a man who never acknowledges +defeat. There is still a word I have to +say that will make things a little more even +between us. Listen for it, you. It will not be +long in coming, and when you hear it, let my +brother declare how much enjoyment he will +ever get out of his victory."</p> + +<p>And whirling the chair about his head, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +plunged through our midst into the hall +without.</p> + +<p>For an instant we stood stupefied, then +Carrie Benson's voice rose in one long, thrilling +cry, and with a bound she rushed toward the +door. I put out my hand to stop her, but it +was not necessary. Before she could cross the +threshold the sudden, sharp detonation of a +pistol-shot was heard in the hall, and we knew +that the last dreadful word of that night's +tragedy had been spoken.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The true secret of Hartley Benson's action in +this matter was never discovered. That he +planned his father's violent death, no one who +was present at the above interview ever doubted. +That he went further than that, and laid his +plans in such a manner that the blame, if blame +ensued, should fall upon his innocent brother, +was equally plain, especially after the acknowledgment +we received from Jonas, that he went +out on the balcony and looked in the window +at the special instigation of his young master. +But why this arch villain, either at his own risk +or at that of the man he hated, felt himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +driven to such a revolting crime, will never be +known; unless, indeed, the solution be found +in his undoubted passion for the beautiful Edith, +and in the accumulated pressure of certain +secret debts for whose liquidation he dared not +apply to his father.</p> + +<p>I never revealed to this family the true +nature of the motives which actuated me in my +performance of the part I played that fatal +night. It was supposed by Miss Carrie and the +rest, that I was but obeying instructions given +me by Mr. Benson; and I never undeceived +them. I was too much ashamed of the curiosity +which was the mainspring of my action to publish +each and every particular of my conduct +abroad; though I could not but congratulate +myself upon its results when, some time afterward, +I read of the marriage of Joe and Edith.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The counterfeiters were discovered and taken, +but not by me.</p> + +<h4> +FINIS.<br /> +</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> <p>Punctuation has been standardised.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of X Y Z, by Anna Katharine Green + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK X Y Z *** + +***** This file should be named 33695-h.htm or 33695-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/6/9/33695/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Julia Neufeld and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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