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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..514b214 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #55305 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55305) diff --git a/old/55305-0.txt b/old/55305-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0068ff0..0000000 --- a/old/55305-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10050 +0,0 @@ -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 55305 *** - -Transcriber's Notes: - 1. Page Scan Source: Google Books - https://books.google.com/books?id=f0g2AQAAMAAJ - (University of Wisconsin--Madison) - - - - - - - -The Black Patch - - - - - - - -By the same Author - - -THE SILENT HOUSE IN PIMLICO -THE CRIMSON CRYPTOGRAM -THE BISHOP'S SECRET -THE JADE EYE -THE TURNPIKE HOUSE -A TRAITOR IN LONDON -THE GOLDEN WANG-HO -WOMAN THE SPHINX -THE SECRET PASSAGE -THE LONELY CHURCH -THE OPAL SERPENT -THE SILVER BULLET - - - - -JOHN LONG, Publisher, London - - - - - - - -The Black Patch - - - - -By -Fergus Hume -Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc. - - - - - -London -John Long -13 and 14 Norris Street, Haymarket - - -[All rights reserved] - - - - - - - -First Published in 1906 - - - - - - - -CONTENTS -CHAP. - -1. -IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. -2. -THE HINTS OF DURBAN. -3. -MR. ALPENNY'S PROPOSAL. -4. -SEEN IN THE LIGHTNING. -5. -MRS. SNOW'S DISCOVERY. -6. -THE INQUEST. -7. -THE INQUEST--continued. -8. -THE WILL. -9. -LADY WATSON. -10. -MRS. LILLY'S STORY. -11. -MAJOR RUCK. -12. -VIVIAN EXPLAINS. -13. -THE EX-BUTLER. -14. -MRS. SNOW'S PAST. -15. -A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE. -16. -AN INTERRUPTION. -17. -A STORY OF THE PAST. -18. -WHAT ORCHARD KNEW. -19. -DURBAN SPEAKS AT LAST. -20. -A GREAT SURPRISE. -21. -LADY WATSON'S STORY. -22. -REVELATION. -23. -NEMESIS. -24. -THE NECKLACE. -25. -WATERLOO. -26. -WHAT TOOK PLACE. - - - - - - - -The Black Patch - - - - - -CHAPTER I -IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN - - -"Of course he's a wretch, dear; but oh!"--with an ecstatic -expression--"what a nice wretch!" - -"I see; you marry the adjective." - -"The man, Beatrice, the man. Give me a real man and I ask for nothing -better. But the genuine male is so difficult to find nowadays." - -"Really! Then you have been more successful than the majority." - -"How sarcastic, how unfriendly! I did look for sympathy." - -Beatrice embraced her companion affectionately. "You have it, Dinah. I -give all sympathy and all good wishes to yourself and Jerry. May you be -very happy as Mr. and Mrs. Snow!" - -"Oh, we shall, we shall! Jerry would make an undertaker happy!" - -"Undertakers generally are--when business is good." - -"Oh! you are quite too up-to-date in your talk, Beatrice Hedge." - -"That is strange, seeing how I live in a dull country garden like a -snail, or a cabbage." - -"Like a wild rose, dear. At least Vivian would say so." - -"Mr. Paslow says more than he means," responded Beatrice, blushing -redder than the flower mentioned, "and I dare say Jerry does also." - -"No, dear. Jerry hasn't sufficient imagination." - -"He ought to have, being a journalist." - -"Those are the very people who never imagine anything. They find their -facts on every hedge." - -"Is that an unworthy pun on my name?" - -"Certainly not, Miss Hedge," said the other with dignity; "Jerry -shan't find anything on you, or in you, save a friend, else I shall -be horribly jealous. As to Vivian, he would murder his future -brother-in-law if he caught him admiring you; and I don't want to begin -my married life with a corpse." - -"Naturally. You wisely prefer the marriage service to the burial ditto, -my clever Dinah." - -"I'm not clever, and I really don't know how to answer your sharp -speeches, seeing that I am a plain country girl." - -"Not plain--oh! not plain. Jerry doesn't think so, I'm sure." - -"It's very sweet and flattering of Jerry, but he's mercifully -colour-blind and short-sighted. I am plain, with a pug nose, drab -hair, freckles, and teeny-weeny eyes. You are the reverse, Beatrice, -being all that is lovely--quite a gem." - -"Don't tell my father that I am any sort of jewel," remarked Beatrice -dryly, "else he will want to sell me at an impossible price." - -Dinah laughed, but did not reply. Her somewhat flighty brain could -not concentrate itself sufficiently to grasp the subtle conversation -of Miss Hedge, so she threw herself back on the mossy stone seat and -stared between half-closed eyelids at the garden. This was necessary, -for the July sunshine blazed down on a mass of colour such as is -rarely seen in sober-hued England. The garden might have been that of -Eden, as delineated by Martin or DorĂ©, from the tropical exuberance -of flower and leaf. But the buildings scattered about this pleasance -were scarcely of the primitive type which Adam and his spouse would -have inhabited: rather were they expressions of a late and luxurious -civilisation. - -And again, they could scarcely be called buildings in the accepted -sense of the word, as they had been constructed to run on iron rails, -at the tail of a locomotive. To be plain, seven railway carriages, with -their wheels removed, did duty for dwellings, and very odd they looked -amidst surroundings alien to their original purpose. A Brixton villa -would scarcely have seemed more out of place in the Desert of Sahara. - -Placed in an irregular circle, like Druidical stones, the white-painted -woodwork of these derelicts was streaked fantastically with creepers, -which, spreading even over the arched roofs, seemed to bind them to the -soil. Titania and her fastidious elves might have danced on the smooth -central sward, in the middle of which appeared a chipped sundial, -upheld by three stone ladies, unclothed, battered, and unashamed. -At the back of these ingeniously contrived huts bloomed flowers in -profusion: tall and gaudy hollyhocks, vividly scarlet geraniums, lilies -of holy whiteness, and thousands--as it truly seemed--of many-hued -poppies. The wide beds, whence these blossoms sprang, stretched back -to a girdle of lofty trees, and were aglow with the brilliant flowers -of the nasturtium. The trees which shut in this sylvan paradise from -the crooked lane rose from a tangled jungle of coarse grasses, nettles, -darnels, and oozy weedy plants, whose succulence betrayed the presence -of a small pond gorgeous with water-lilies. Paths led through the -miniature forest, winding in and out and round about, so as to make -the most of the small space; and the whole was bounded by a high brick -wall, mellow and crumbling, but secure for all that, seeing it was -topped with iron spikes and bits of broken bottles. One heavy wooden -gate, at present bolted and barred, admitted the outside world from the -lane into this Garden of Alcinous. - -Almost the entire population of the Weald knew of this Eden--that is, -by hearsay--for no one entered the jealous gate, unless he or she -came to do business with the eccentric character who had created the -domain. Jarvis Alpenny was a miser, hence the presence of disused rail -carriages, which saved him the trouble and cost of building a house. -In The Camp--so the place was called--he had dwelt for fifty years, -and he was as much a recluse as a man well could be, who made his -income by usury. It seemed odd, and was odd, that a money-lender -should not only dwell in, but carry on his peculiarly urban profession -in, so rural a locality as the Weald of Sussex. Nevertheless, Alpenny -did as large a business as though he had occupied some grimy office -in the heart of London. Indeed, he really made more money, as the -very seclusion of the place attracted many needy people who wished -to borrow money secretly. As the local railway station was but three -miles distant, these secretive clients came very easily to this rustic -Temple of Mammon. Any one could stay in Brighton without arousing the -curiosity of friends; and it was surely natural to make excursions -into the bowels of the land! Jarvis Alpenny showed a considerable -knowledge of human nature in thus isolating his habitation; for the -more difficult people find it to obtain what they want, the more do -they value that which they obtain. - -Alpenny called Beatrice his daughter. He would have spoken more -correctly had he called her his stepdaughter, for that she was. And -apart from the difference in the name, no one would have believed that -the wizen, yellow-faced, sharp-featured miser was the father of so -beautiful a girl. She dwelt in The Camp like an imprisoned princess, -and no dragon could have guarded her more fiercely than did Durban, -the sole servant and factotum of the settlement, as it might truly be -called. Alpenny himself might have passed for the wicked magician who -held the aforesaid princess spell-bound in his enchanted domain. But -as the Fairy Prince always discovers Beauty, however closely confined, -so had Beatrice Hedge been discovered by Vivian Paslow. He was a poor -country gentleman who dwelt in a two-miles distant grange; and his only -sister, confessing to the biblical name of Dinah, was the decidedly -plain girl who had just whispered to Beatrice how she had become -engaged, on the previous day, to Gerald Snow. That Gerald was the son -of a somewhat needy vicar, and possessed an objectionable mother, made -no difference to Dinah, who was very much in love and very voluble on -the subject. - -"Of course," resumed Miss Paslow, after a pause in the conversation, "I -and Jerry will be horribly poor. Vivian has no money and I have less. -Mr. Snow the vicar has only a fifth-rate living, and Mrs. Snow is a -screw like your father." - -"Dinah!" Beatrice winced and coloured at these plain words. - -"Well, Mr. Alpenny is a screw, and only your stepfather after all. As -to Mrs. Snow--oh, my gracious"--with expressive pantomime--"I'm glad -Jerry and I won't have to depend upon her for food. Whenever the poor -famished darling comes to Convent Grange, I simply rush to make him a -glass of egg and milk in case he tumbles off his chair." - -"That may be emotion, caused by the sight of you Dinah." - -"How nasty, how untrue! No! I did the tumbling when he proposed -yesterday. He proposed so beautifully that I think he must have been -reading up. I was in the parlour and Jerry came in. He looked at me -like that, and I looked at him in this way, and afterwards----" Here -Dinah, who was at the silly boring stage of love, told the wonderful -story for the fifth time, ending with the original remark that for -quite three hours after Jerry left her, Jerry's kisses were warm on her -maiden lips. - -"Why didn't you bring Mr. Snow in, Dinah?" asked Beatrice, who had -listened most patiently to these rhapsodies. - -"Oh, my dear!" fanning a red and freckled face with a flimsy -handkerchief, "he's much better in the lane, minding the horses. -You see he will make me blush with his looks and smiles and -hand-squeezings, when he thinks that no one is looking--which they -usually are," finished Miss Paslow ungrammatically. - -"And you came over to tell me. That is sweet of you." - -"Well, I did and I didn't, dear, to be perfectly candid. You see, Jerry -and I were going for a ride this morning, just to see if we entirely -understood how serious marriage is; but Vivian is such a prig----" - -"He isn't!" contradicted Beatrice indignantly. - -"Oh yes, he is," insisted Dinah obstinately; "he doesn't think it quite -the thing that I and Jerry should be too much alone--as though we could -make love in company! He wouldn't like it himself, though he did insist -on my coming here with him, and rode in the middle, so as to part Jerry -and me. So poor, dear, darling Jerry is holding the horses in the lane, -while Vivian is doing business with your father in there," and Miss -Paslow pointed a gloved finger at a distant railway carriage, which was -so bolted and barred and locked and clamped that it looked like a small -dungeon. - -A grave expression appeared on the face of Beatrice. "Do you know what -kind of business Mr. Paslow is seeing my father about?" - -"Oh, my dear, as though your father--which he isn't--ever did any sort -of business save lend money to people who haven't got any, as I'm sure -we Paslows haven't. We've got birth and blood and a genuine Grange -with a ghost, and Vivian has good looks even if I haven't, in spite of -Jerry's nonsense; but there isn't a sixpence between us. How Mrs. Lilly -manages to feed us, I really don't know, unless she steals the food. -Our ancestors had the Paslow money and spent it, the mean pigs!--just -as though our days weren't more expensive than their days, with their -feathers and lace and port wine." - -"Then Mr. Paslow is borrowing money?" remarked Beatrice, when she could -get in a word, which was not easy. - -"Mr. Paslow!--how cold you are, Beatrice, when you know Vivian worships -the ground you tread on, though he doesn't say much. Borrowing money, -do you say? I expect he is, although he never tells me his business. So -different to Jerry, who lets me know every time he has a rise in his -salary on the Morning Planet, which isn't often. I think the editor -must be a kind of Mrs. Snow, and she--well----" Dinah again expressed -herself in pantomime. - -It was quite useless speaking to Miss Paslow, who was only nineteen -and a feather-head. Besides, she was too deeply in love to bother -about commonplace things. Beatrice felt nervous to hear that Vivian -contemplated borrowing money, as she knew how dangerous it was for -anyone to become entangled in the nets of her stepfather. She would -have liked to question Dinah still further, but thinking she would -get little information from so lovelorn a damsel, it occurred to her -that Jerry Snow should be brought on the scene. Then the lovers could -chatter nonsense, and Beatrice could think her own thoughts, which were -greatly concerned with Mr. Alpenny's client. The means of obliging -Dinah and gaining time for reflection suggested themselves, when a -bulky man showed himself at the door of the carriage which served as -a kitchen. He wore, as he invariably did, summer and winter, a suit -of white linen, and on this occasion an apron, to keep the steaming -saucepan he held from soiling his clothes. - -"There's Durban," said Beatrice, rising and crossing over; "he can hold -the horses and Mr. Snow can come in." - -Dinah gave a faint squeal of delight, and shook the dust from her -shabby riding-habit while Beatrice explained what she wanted. - -Durban was of no great height, and so extremely stout that he looked -even less than he really was. His lips were somewhat thick, his nose -was a trifle flat, and his hair had that frizzy kink which betrays -black blood. Even a casual observer could have told that Durban had -a considerable touch of the tar-brush--was a mulatto, or perhaps one -remove from a mulatto. Apparently he possessed the inherent good-humour -of the negro, for while listening to his young mistress he smiled -expansively, and displayed a set of very strong white teeth. Nor was -he young, for his hair was touched at the temples with grey, and his -body was stout with that stoutness which comes late in life from a -good digestion and an easy conscience. He aped youth, however, for he -carried himself very erect, and walked--as he now did to the gate--in -an alert and springy manner surprising in one who could not be less -than fifty years of age. It seemed remarkable that so kindly a creature -as the half-caste should serve a sour-faced old usurer; but, in truth, -Beatrice was his goddess, and her presence alone reconciled him to an -ill-paid post where he was overworked, and received more kicks than -halfpence. He would have died willingly for the girl, and showed his -devotion even in trifles. - -Before returning to Dinah, whose eyes were fixed in an hypnotic way -on the gate through which her beloved would shortly pass, Beatrice -cast an anxious glance at the dungeon which did duty as Mr. Alpenny's -counting-house. The girl had never been within, as Jarvis was not -agreeable that she should enter his Bluebeard chamber. For the rest he -allowed her considerable freedom, and she could indulge in any fancy -so long as the fancy was cheap. But she was forbidden to set foot in -Mammon's shrine, and whether the priest was without, or within, the -door was kept locked. It was locked now, and Vivian Paslow was closeted -with the usurer, doubtless handing over to Alpenny the few acres that -remained to him for a sum of money at exorbitant interest. That the man -she loved should be a fly in the parlour of the money-lending spider -annoyed Beatrice not a little. Her attention was distracted by another -squeal from Dinah, whose emotions were apt to be noisy. - -"Jerry! oh Jerry!" sighed the damsel, clasping her hands, and in came -Mr. Snow, walking swiftly across the grass, apparently as frantic for -Dinah as Dinah was for him. At the moment neither lunatic took notice -of the amused hostess. - -"My Dinah! my own!" gasped Jerry, devouring his Dulcinea with two -ardent eyes, the light of which was hidden by pince-nez. - -Jerry assuredly was no beauty, save that his proportions were good, -and he dressed very smartly. He possessed a brown skin which matched -well with brown hair and moustache, and had about him the freshness of -twenty-two years, which is so charming and lasts so short a time. Dinah -with her freckles, her drab hair, and nose "tip-tilted like the petal -of a flower"--to mercifully quote Tennyson--suited him very well in -looks. And then love made both of them look quite interesting, although -not even the all-transforming passion could render them anything but -homely. Beside the engaged damsel, Beatrice, tall, slender, dark-locked -and dark-eyed, looked like a goddess, but Jerry the devoted had no -eye for her while Dinah was present. Had he been Paris, Miss Paslow -decidedly would have been awarded the apple. Not having one, he stared -at Dinah and she at him as though they were meeting for the first time. -Beatrice, impatient of this oblivion to her presence, brought them from -Heaven to earth. - -"I have to congratulate you, Mr. Snow," she remarked. - -"Mr. Snow!" echoed Dinah, jumping up as though a wasp had stung her; -"you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Beatrice! Haven't you known Jerry -for--oh! for ever so long? - -"For quite three years, dear; but, you see, I don't visit at the -Vicarage," and Beatrice spoke with some bitterness, as Jerry's mother -had always been unkind to the lonely girl, for reasons connected with -what Mrs. Snow regarded as her anomalous position. - -Jerry coloured and blinked behind his glasses. "I know what you mean, -Miss Hedge," he said regretfully, "but don't worry. Call me Jerry as -usual; what does it matter what mother thinks?" - -"Ah," said Dinah, quivering with alarm, "what does she think of us?" - -"Well, she"--Jerry hesitated, and finally answered the question with a -solemn warning--"I don't think I'd call at the Vicarage for a few days, -Dinah sweetest. She--she--well, you know mother." - -"Why does Mrs. Snow object?" asked Beatrice very directly. - -"I know oh, none better!" almost shouted Dinah; "no money!" - -Jerry nodded, with an admiring glance at her cleverness. "No money." - -"I thought so; and Mrs. Snow wants you to marry a millionairess?" - -Jerry nodded again. "As though a millionairess would look at the likes -of me!" said he, with the chuckle of a nestling. - -"I wouldn't give even the plainest of them a chance!" cried Dinah -jealously; "you could marry anyone with the way you have, Jerry dear." - -Miss Hedge laughed gaily. "Show me the way you have, Jerry dear!" she -mimicked, whereat the young lover blushed redder than the poppies. - -"Oh, what rot! See here, girls both, we're all pals." - -"Dinah is something more than a pal since yesterday," observed Beatrice -pointedly. - -"Oh, you know what I mean. Well, then father is pleased and would marry -us himself, to save fees; but mother--oh, Lord!" - -"Will she part us, Jerry?" demanded Dinah in a small voice. - -Bashful as he was, Mr. Snow rose to the occasion, and taking her in his -strong arms kissed her twice. - -"That's what I think!" said he, with the air of Ajax defying the -lightning. "We'll be cut off with a shilling by mother; but we shall -marry all the same, and live on the bread and cheese and kisses -provided by the Morning Planet." - -"Thank you," said Miss Paslow tartly, "I provide my own kisses." - -"No, darling heart!" gurgled the ardent Jerry, "I do that!" and was -about to repeat his conduct when the ceremony was interrupted. - -From the dungeon came the sound of a shrill voice indulging in abusive -language. A few moments later and the narrow door was flung violently -open. Vivian Paslow came out quietly enough, and was followed by a -bent, dried-up ape of a man who was purple with fury. The contrast -between the money-lender and his client was most marked. Alpenny was -the missing link itself, and Vivian appeared beside him like one of a -higher and more human race. Without taking any notice of the furious -old creature, he walked towards the startled Beatrice and shook her by -the hand. - -"Good-bye, Miss Hedge," he said loudly; then suddenly sank his voice to -a hurried whisper. "Meet me to-night at seven, under the Witches' Oak." - -"Leave my place!" cried Alpenny, hobbling up, to interrupt this -leave-taking; "you shall not speak to her." - -Paslow took his amazed sister on his arm and crossed to the gate, while -Jerry, blinking and puzzled, followed after. Beatrice, as startled by -Paslow's request as she was by the scene, remained where she was, and -her stepfather chased his three visitors into the lane with opprobrious -names. But before he could close the gate, Vivian turned suddenly on -the abusive old wretch. - -"I came to do you a service," said he, "but you would not listen." - -"You came to levy blackmail. You asked----" - -"Silence!" cried Paslow, with a gesture which reduced Alpenny to a -stuttering, incoherent condition. "I never threatened you." - -"You did--you do! You want your property back, and----" - -Vivian, with a swift glance at Beatrice, silenced the man again. "If I -lose my property, I lose it," said he sternly; "but the other thing I -refuse to lose. And, remember, your life is in danger." - -Alpenny spluttered. "My life, you--you scoundrel!" - -"Father! Father!" pleaded Beatrice, approaching anxiously. - -Paslow took no notice, but still looked at the angry old man with a -firm and significant expression. "Remember the Black Patch," said he -in a clear, loud voice. The effect was instantaneous. Alpenny, from -purple, turned perfectly white; from swearing volubility, he was -reduced to a frightened silence. - -Beatrice looked at him in amazement, and so--strange to say--did -Vivian, who had spoken the mysterious words. For a moment he stared at -the shaking, pale-faced miser, who was casting terrified looks over his -shoulder, and then went out of the gate. Alpenny stood as though turned -into stone until he heard the clatter of the retreating horses. Then he -raised his head and looked wildly round. - -"The third time!" he muttered; and Beatrice was sufficiently near to -notice his abject fear. "The third time!" - - - - - -CHAPTER II -THE HINTS OF DURBAN - - -Beatrice meditated in the parlour-carriage on the scene which had taken -place at noon between her stepfather and Paslow. Without vouchsafing -the least explanation, Alpenny had crept back to his den and was there -still, with the door locked as usual. Twice and thrice did Durban call -him to the midday meal, but he declined to come out. Beatrice had -therefore eaten alone, and was now enjoying a cup of fragrant coffee -which Durban had lately brought in. At the moment, he was washing up -dishes in the kitchen, to the agreeable accompaniment of a negro song, -which he was whistling vigorously. The girl, as she wished to be, was -entirely alone. Durban could not explain the reason for the quarrel, -and Alpenny would not; so Beatrice was forced to search her own -thoughts for a possible explanation. So far she had been unsuccessful. - -The tiny parlour was entirely white in its decorations, and looked -extremely cool on this hot, close day. The walls were hung with snowy -linen, the furniture was upholstered with the same, and the carpet, -the curtains, the ornaments, even the cushions were all pearly white. -Everything, when examined, was cheap in quality and price, but the -spotlessly clean look of the room--if it could be called so--made up -for the marked want of luxury. Beatrice herself wore a white muslin, -with cream-hued ribbons, therefore no discordant colour broke the -Arctic tone of the parlour. Only through the open door could be seen -the brilliant tints of the flowers, blazing against a background of -emerald foliage. The Snow Parlour was the name of this fantastic -retreat, and the vicar's wife took the appellation as a personal -insult. Rather should she have regarded it a compliment of the highest, -as this maiden's bower was infinitely prettier than she was or ever -could be. - -Since it was impossible to learn anything definite from Durban or his -master, Beatrice was striving to possess her soul in peace until seven -o'clock: at that hour she intended to meet Vivian by the Witches' Oak, -and there ask him bluntly what he had said or done to make stepfather -so furious. Having settled this in her own mind, she lay back in the -deep chair, sipping her coffee, and allowing her thoughts to wander; -they took her back over some five-and-twenty years, and into a life -barren and uneventful enough. Beatrice should have been happy, for, -like the oft-quoted nation, she had no history. - -All her life Beatrice had never known a mother's love. According to -Alpenny, who supplied the information grudgingly enough, Mrs. Hedge -with her one-year-old baby had married him, only to die within three -months after the ceremony. Then Durban had taken charge of the child; -since the miser, for monetary and other reasons, would not engage a -nurse. For two years the old servant had tenderly cared for the orphan, -and it was a great pain to him when Alpenny placed the little Beatrice -in charge of a Brighton lady, called Miss Shallow. The spinster was in -reduced circumstances, and apparently under Alpenny's thumb as regards -money matters. She received the child unwillingly enough, although -she feared to disobey a tyrant who could make things disagreeable for -her; but later, she grew to love her charge, and behaved towards the -orphan with a devotion scarcely to be expected from a nature soured by -misfortune. - -For twenty years Beatrice had lived with the old gentlewoman in the -poky little Hove house, and from her had received the education and -upbringing of a lady. Every week Durban came over to see his darling, -and Beatrice grew attached to the kind, good-natured old servant, -who lavished all his affection on her. Alpenny, not anxious to be -bothered, and having little love for his stepdaughter, whom he regarded -as an encumbrance, visited Miss Shallow more rarely, and even when he -did, took scant notice of the tall and beautiful girl, who had been -instructed to call him "father." This she did unwillingly enough, as -there was always an antagonism between the cold nature of the one and -the warm humanity of the other. When Miss Shallow died, the girl was -ill-pleased to take up her abode at The Camp, in close association -with a man she mistrusted and disliked, although she could assign no -tangible reason for the feeling of abhorrence which possessed her. - -How well Beatrice remembered her first sight of the place. It was then -but a neglected wilderness, and she recoiled at the sight of such -uncivilised surroundings. Alpenny slept in one carriage, and Durban in -another; two other carriages were used as counting-house and kitchen; -while the remaining three were in a rusty, ruinous state, almost buried -in rank grass and coarse vegetation. And it was a wet day, too, when -the girl, grieving for her dear friend, came to view her future home, -so that everything was dripping with moisture, and the outlook was -infinitely dreary. She could have cried at the idea of living amidst -such desolation; but her courage was too high, and her pride too -great, to admit of her indulging in such futile lamentation before the -cold-eyed usurer. - -Durban, always sympathetic and watchful, was quick to see her grief, -although she tried to conceal it, and at once began to suggest -interesting work, so that she should have the less time to eat her -heart out in the wilderness. He deftly pointed out how she and he could -make the place a paradise, and how Nature could solace the sorrow -of the girl for the loss of her guardian. Having obtained unwilling -consent from Alpenny, the kind-hearted servant painted and repaired -the ruined carriages, and turning one into a dainty bedroom, made the -remaining two into a parlour and dining-room. In some way sufficient -money was extorted from Alpenny to admit of cheap furnishing, and -Beatrice, more contented, came to take up her abode in the strange -locality. She was now twenty-five, and for three years had dwelt in -this hermitage. - -The garden afforded her endless delight and occupation: Durban was -the fairy who procured the seeds, and who turned up the coarse, weedy -ground for the planting of the same; Durban had dug the pond, and had -conducted the water thereto through cunningly contrived pipes; and -Durban had planned the paradise with her aid. The smooth lawn, the beds -of brilliant blossoms, the pond with its magnificent water-lilies, the -many winding paths, and the mossy nooks which afforded cool retreats -on hot days, were all the work of herself and Durban. No millionaire -could have created a more delightful spot than had these two by their -indefatigable industry and eye for the picturesque. A portion of the -wood Beatrice left to Nature, so that its uncultured look might enhance -the civilised appearance of the blossoms; and the contrast was really -charming. But that Jarvis Alpenny jealously kept the gates closed, The -Camp would have become a show place, as everyone in the neighbourhood -had heard of its rare floral beauties; and not a few young men had -heard of another beauty still more rare and desirable. - -It was at this point that Beatrice began to think of Vivian and his -sister, who were the only friends she possessed. Jerry certainly might -be included, seeing that he was a constant visitor at Convent Grange, -and the future husband of Dinah Paslow; but there was no one else in -the parish of Hurstable with whom she cared to exchange a friendly -word. She had met Mr. and Mrs. Snow once or twice; but although the -vicar was willing enough to speak with so pretty a girl, the vicar's -wife objected. She was the tyrant of the place, and ruled her husband, -her son, "her" parish---as she called it--and her friends with a rod -of iron. But for this aggressive despotism, Mr. Snow might have called -at The Camp; but the vicaress ordered her vicar not to waste his time -in visiting a girl who rarely came to church, and who occupied what -the lady described as "a degraded position." On the several occasions -upon which Mrs. Snow had met the usurer's daughter, she had behaved -disagreeably, and had never said a kind word. Yet Mrs. Snow called -herself a religious woman; but like many a self-styled Christian, she -read her own meaning into the Gospel commandments, and declined to obey -them when they clashed with her own snobbish, sordid nature. Beatrice -Hedge, according to Mrs. Snow, was beyond the social pale, seeing that -her father was a money-lender; so she paid no attention to her, and -many of "her" parishioners followed her example. It is to be feared -that the lady and her followers quite forgot that one of the apostles -was a tax-gatherer and a publican. - -Beatrice cared very little for this boycotting; she was accustomed to a -lonely life, and, indeed, preferred it, for she found the conversation -of Mrs. Snow and her friends extremely wearisome--as it was bound to -be, from its aggressive egotism and self-laudation. She had books to -read, the garden to tend, Vivian to think of, and sometimes could -indulge in a visit to Convent Grange, the home of the Paslows. Dinah -she liked; Vivian she loved, and she was certain in her own mind that -Vivian loved her; but of this, strange to say, she could not be sure, -by reason of his attitude. It was a dubious attitude: at times he -would pay her marked attentions, and frequently seemed to be on the -verge of a proposal; then he would draw back, shun her society, and -turn as chilly as an Arctic winter, for no known reason. Beatrice -fancied that it might be her relationship to Alpenny that caused this -young gentleman of old descent to draw back; and then, again, she felt -sure that he was above such a mean spirit. Moreover--and this might -be his excuse--Vivian was but an impoverished country squire, and -might hesitate to conduct a wife to the half-ruinous Grange. Had he -only known how gladly Beatrice would have shared his bread and cheese -when sweetened by kisses, surely, as she often thought, he would have -proposed. But something kept him silent, and seeing how he changed from -hot to cold in his wooing--if it could be called so--she had too much -pride to inveigle him into making a plain statement, such as her heart -and her ears longed to hear. The position was odd and uncomfortable. -Both the man and the woman could not mistake each other's feelings, -yet the man, who could have arranged matters on a reasonable basis, -refused to open his mouth; and it was not the woman's right to usurp -the privilege of the stronger sex, by breaking the ice. - -The appointed meeting for this night puzzled her more than ever. Never -before had she met him save at the Grange or at The Camp, and more -often than not in the presence of Dinah. Now he asked her to talk -with him in a lonely spot, and under an ill-omened tree, where, it -was locally reported, the witches of old days had held their Satanic -revels. In answer to his request she had nodded, being taken by -surprise; but now she began to question the propriety of her proposed -action. She was a modest girl, and occupied a difficult position, so it -was scarcely the thing to meet a young gentleman on a romantic summer -night, and under a romantic tree. But her curiosity was extremely -strong. She wished to know why Alpenny had grown so white and had -appeared so terrified when Paslow pronounced four mysterious words. -What was the "Black Patch"? and why did it produce such an effect on -the usurer, who, as a rule, feared nothing but the loss of money? -Vivian could explain, since he had brought about the miser's terror, -therefore did Beatrice make up her mind to keep the appointment; but -she smiled to think what Mrs. Snow would say did that severe lady know -of the bold step she was taking. - -"Some more coffee?" said a voice at the door, and she looked up to see -the smiling servant. - -"No thank you, Durban," she replied absently, and setting down the -empty cup; then, seeing that he was about to withdraw, she recalled her -scattered thoughts and made him pause, with a question. "What is the -Black Patch?" asked Beatrice, facing round to observe the man's dark -face. - -Durban spread out his hands in quite a foreign way, and banished all -emotion from his dark features. "I do not know." - -"My father appeared to be startled by the words." - -"He did, missy, he did!" - -"Do you know the reason?" - -"I am not in your father's confidence, missy." - -"That is strange, seeing that you have been with him for over twenty -years, Durban." - -"For twenty-four years, missy." - -"You never told me the exact time before, Durban." - -The man shrugged his shoulders. "You never asked me, missy." - -"That is true." Beatrice leaned back again in her chair, and remembered -that she and Durban had talked but little about the past. "I should -like to know about my mother," she said after a pause. - -"There is nothing to know, missy. She married master--and died." - -"I was then about a year old?" - -"Yes, missy." - -"I am twenty-five now, and you have been with Mr. Alpenny for -four-and-twenty years; so it seems, Durban, that you first came here -with my mother, and remained in Mr. Alpenny's service." - -"It is so, missy; I remained for your sake." - -"Then you were my mother's servant?" - -Durban's face might have been that of a wax doll for all the expression -it showed. "I was, missy." - -"And you know all about my parents?" - -"What there is to know, missy, which is very little. You have never -asked about them before; why do you question me now?" - -Beatrice mused. "I hardly know," she confessed. "I suppose Mr. Paslow's -remark about the Black Patch, whatever that may be, made me ask now. -Mr. Alpenny was afraid when Mr. Paslow spoke." - -"So you said before, missy; and, as I replied, I do not know the reason -at all. I am simply a servant." - -"And my friend," said Beatrice, extending her hand. - -Durban's face lighted up with passionate devotion, and his dark eyes -blazed with light. Falling on one knee he imprinted a reverential kiss -on the small white hand: "I love you with all my heart, missy. I love -you as a father--as a mother; as the Great God Himself, do I love you, -my dear mistress." - -"Then you will help me?" - -"You have but to ask, and I obey," said Durban simply, and rose to -his feet with a light bound, strangely out of keeping with his stout -person. "What would you have?" - -"The key of the little gate." - -Durban stared, for Beatrice was making a very serious request. There -were two gates to The Camp, a large one opening on to the lane, and a -smaller one hidden in a corner of the wall, through which admittance -could be gained to a narrow woodland path, which arrived, after devious -windings, at the cross-roads. Alpenny's clients usually entered from -the lane, but were always dismissed through the--so to speak--secret -path. The miser kept the key of this small gate, and, indeed, of the -larger one also, so that if any one had to go out, or come in, Alpenny -had to be applied to. It was therefore no easy matter for Durban to -oblige his young mistress. - -"Why do you want the key, missy?" - -Beatrice did not answer at once. It suddenly crossed her mind that if -she acknowledged how she intended to question Vivian about the Black -Patch, that Durban would make some difficulty over obtaining the key. -After his admission that he knew nothing, she had no reason to think -that he would raise any objections; but the thought came uninvited, and -she obeyed it. Wishing to tell the truth, and yet keep Durban in the -dark as to her real errand, she determined to go to the Grange and see -Dinah; then she could meet Vivian there, and could question him at her -leisure. "Miss Paslow is engaged," she said suddenly. - -Durban nodded and grinned. "To young Mr. Snow," he replied. "I saw." - -"Well, I want to go to Convent Grange this evening at six, to see Miss -Paslow, and talk over the matter." - -Durban shook his head. "Master is angry with Mr. Paslow for some -reason, and will not let you go. Besides, at night----" Durban shook -his head again very sagely. - -"That's just it," said Beatrice, rising; "I know that my father would -object, therefore I wish to slip out of the small gate secretly, and -return about nine; he will never know." - -"He will never know, certainly, missy; but the way to Convent Grange is -dark and lonely." - -"Not on a summer night; the moon is out, and there will be plenty of -people on the road." - -"Would you like me to come, missy?" - -"If you will," assented Beatrice carelessly. She would rather have gone -alone, but since the Grange was now her goal, and not the Witch Oak, -Durban's presence did not matter. "But there is no need." - -"Oh, I think so; there will be a storm to-night, and then it will grow -dark. Besides, people may not be about, and the path to Convent Grange -is lonely. I shall come also." - -"Very good; and the key---- - -"I can get it. Master keeps it hanging up in the counting-house, but I -can get it." Durban grinned and nodded, and then was about to go away, -when he suddenly stopped, and his dark face grew serious. "One thing -tell me, missy, and do not be angry." - -"I could never be angry with you, Durban. What is it?" - -"Do you love Mr. Paslow, missy?" - -"Yes," replied Beatrice without hesitation. She knew that whatever she -said to her faithful servant would never be repeated by him. - -"And does he love you?" - -This time she coloured. "I think so--I am not sure," was her faint -reply, as she cast down her eyes. - -Durban came a step nearer. "Does he love any one else?" he asked. - -Beatrice raised her head sharply, and sent a flaming glance towards the -questioner. "What do you mean?" - -"If he doesn't love you, does he love any one else?" persisted Durban. - -Beatrice twisted her hands. "I am sure he loves me, and no one else!" -she cried passionately. "I can see it in his eyes--I can read it in -his face. Yet he--yet he--oh!" she broke off, unwilling to remark upon -Paslow's strange, wavering wooing, to a servant, even though that -servant was one who would readily have died to save her a moment's -pain. "Do you think he loves any one else?" she asked evasively. - -"No." Durban's eyes were fixed on her face. "I have no reason to think -so. If he loves my missy, he can never be fond of other women; but if -he plays you false, missy "--Durban's face grew grim and darker than -ever--"you have a dog who can bite." - -"No! no!" said Beatrice, alarmed--since Durban could make himself -unpleasant on occasions, and, from the look on his face, she feared for -Vivian--"he loves me, and me only; I am sure of that!" - -The man's face cleared. "Then we will go to the Grange this evening, -and you can see him." - -"But if my stepfather hates him, Durban, he will place some obstacle in -the way, should Mr. Paslow ask me to marry him." - -"If he asks you to be his wife, you shall marry him, missy." - -"But my father----" - -"He will say nothing." - -"Are you sure? When Mr. Alpenny takes an idea into his head----" - -"He will take no idea of stopping your marriage, missy. You shall be -happy. I promised him that." - -"Promised who?" - -"Your real father," said Durban, and departed without another word. It -would seem as though he were unwilling to be questioned. Beatrice began -to think that there was some mystery connected with her parents, which -Durban knew, but which Durban would not reveal. - - - - - -CHAPTER III -MR. ALPENNY'S PROPOSAL - - -Shortly after Durban resumed work, Beatrice received a surprise which -rather pleased her. This was none other than an invitation to enter the -counting-house. She had always desired to do so, being filled with that -curiosity which led her grandmother Eve to eat apples, but hitherto -Alpenny had declined to admit her. Now the door of the dungeon was -open, and Alpenny, standing before it, beckoned that she should come -in. In the bright sunshine he looked more decrepit and wicked than -usual. He could not have been less than eighty years of age, and his -spare figure was bowed with Time. That same Time had also robbed him of -every hair on his head, and had even taken away eyebrows and eyelashes. -As the old man was clean shaven, his gleaming head and hairless yellow -wrinkled face looked rather repulsive. Nor did his dress tend to -improve his appearance, for it was a shepherd's-plaid suit cut in the -style of the early fifties, when he had been young, and presumably -something of a dandy. In spite of the antiquity of the clothes, there -was a suggestion of juvenility about them which matched badly with his -Methuselah looks. Like an aged ghost he beckoned in the sunshine, and -the white-painted erection behind him assumed, in the eyes of Beatrice, -the look of a tomb. - -Wondering that she should be invited into Mammon's Shrine, the girl -walked across the lawn. In her white dress, with her beautiful face -shaded by a coarse straw hat, she appeared the embodiment of youth and -grace, contrasting markedly with the senile old villain, who croaked -out his orders. - -"Come in," said Alpenny testily, and with the screech of a peacock, as -he pointed to the open door. "I wish to speak to you seriously." - -Beatrice, ever sparing of words with crabbed age, nodded and entered -the counting-house, glancing comprehensively around to take in her -surroundings--as a woman always does--with a single look. The space -naturally was limited. All the windows had been boarded up save one, -which opened immediately over a rather large desk of mahogany which -was piled with papers. The walls were hung with faded red rep. In one -corner stood a large green-painted safe; in another stood a pile of -tin boxes which reached quite to the roof. A paraffin lamp dangled -by brass chains from a somewhat smoky ceiling; and at the far end of -the carriage, in front of a dilapidated bookcase, was an oil stove, -crudely set on a sheet of galvanised tin. A ragged carpet, disorderly -in colour and much faded, covered the floor; and there were only two -chairs, one before the desk, and another beside it, probably for the -use of clients. The one window was barred, but not covered with any -curtain; the others were sheathed in iron and barred strongly outside. -From without, as has been said, the carriage looked like a dungeon: -within, its appearance suggested the home of a recluse, who cared very -little for the pomps and vanities of civilisation. This barren room -represented very fairly the bare mind of the miser, who cared more for -money itself, than for what money could do. - -Motioning Beatrice to the client's chair, Alpenny seated himself -before his desk, and from habit presumably, began to fiddle with some -legal looking documents. Apparently he had got over the shock caused -by Vivian's strange speech, and looked much the same as he always -did--cold, unsympathetic, and cunning as an old monkey. In the dungeon -Beatrice bloomed like a rose, while Alpenny resembled a cold, clammy -toad, uncanny and repulsive. He began to speak almost immediately, and -his first words amazed the girl. They were the last she expected to -hear from the lips of one who had always treated her with indifference, -and almost with hostility. - -"Have you ever thought of marriage?" asked the usurer, examining his -visitor's face with two small sharp eyes, chilly and grey. - -"Marriage!" she gasped, doubting if she had heard aright. - -"Yes, marriage. Young girls think of such things, do they not?" - -Wishing to find out what he meant, Beatrice fenced. "I have no chance -of marrying, father," she observed, regaining her composure. - -"I grant that, unless you have fallen in love with Jerry Snow; and I -credit you with too much sense, to think you could love a fool." - -"Mr. Snow is to marry Miss Paslow," announced Beatrice coldly, and kept -her eyes on the wizen face before her. - -"Oh," sneered Alpenny, "Hunger wedding Thirst. And how do they intend -to live, may I ask?" - -"That is their business, and not ours." - -"Paslow hasn't a penny to give to his giggling sister, and very soon he -won't have a roof over his head." - -"What do you mean by that, father?" - -"Mean!" The usurer stretched out a skinny hand, which resembled the -claw of a bird of preys as he looked like. "Why, I mean, my girl, that -I hold Vivian Paslow there," and he tapped his palm. - -"Still I don't understand," said Beatrice, her blood running cold at -the malignant look on his face. - -"There is no need you should," rejoined her stepfather coolly. "He is -not for you, and you are not for him. Do you understand that?" - -It was unwise for Alpenny to meddle with a maiden's fancies, for the -girl's outraged womanhood revolted. "I understand that you mean to be -impertinent, Mr. Alpenny," she said, with a flaming colour. - -"'Mr. Alpenny'? Why not 'father,' as usual?" - -"Because you are no father of mine, and I thank God for it." - -He gave her a vindictive look, and rubbed his hands together, with the -croak of a hungry raven. "I brought you up, I educated you, I fed you, -I housed you, I----" - -Beatrice waved her hand impatiently. "I know well what you have done," -said she; "as little as you could." - -"Here's gratitude!" - -"And common sense, Mr. Alpenny. I know nothing, save that you married -my mother and promised to look after me when she died." - -"I promised nothing," snapped Alpenny. - -"Durban says that you did." - -"Durban is, what he always was, a fool. I promised nothing to your -mother--at all events, concerning you. Why should I? You are not my own -flesh and blood." - -"Anyone can tell that," said Beatrice disdainfully. - -"No impertinence, miss. I have fed and clothed you, and educated you, -and housed you----" - -"You said that before." - -"All at my own expense," went on the miser imperturbably, "and out -of the kindness of my heart. This is the return you make, by giving -me sauce! But you had better take care," he went on menacingly, and -shaking a lean yellow finger, "I am not to be trifled with." - -"Neither am I," retorted Beatrice, who felt in a fighting humour. "I am -sorry to have been a burden to you, and for what you have done I thank -you; but I am weary of stopping here. Give me a small sum of money and -let me go." - -"Money!" screeched the miser, touched on his tenderest point. "Money to -waste?" - -"Money to keep me in London until I can obtain a situation as a -governess or as a companion. Come, father," she went on coaxingly, "you -must be sick of seeing me about here. And I am so tired of this life!" - -"It's the wickedness in your blood, Beatrice. Just like your -mother--oh, dear me, how very like your mother!" - -"Leave my mother's character alone!" said Beatrice impatiently, "she is -dead and buried." - -"She is--in Hurstable churchyard, under a beautiful tomb I got -second-hand at a bargain. See how I loved her." - -"You never loved anyone in your life, Mr. Alpenny," said the girl, -freezing again. - -Alpenny's brow grew black, and he looked at her with glittering eyes. -"You are mistaken, child," he said, quietly. "I have loved and lost." - -"My mother----?" - -"Perhaps," said he enigmatically, and passed his hand over his bald -head in a weary manner. Then he burst out unexpectedly: "I wish I had -never set eyes on your mother. I wish she had been dead and buried -before she crossed my path!" - -"She is dead, so----" - -"Yes, she is dead, stone dead," he snarled, rising, much agitated, "and -don't think you'll ever see her again. If I----" He was about to speak -further; then seeing from the wondering look on the girl's face that -he was saying more than was wise, he halted, stuttered, and sat down -again abruptly, moving the papers with trembling hands. "Leave the past -alone," he said hoarsely. "I can't speak of it calmly. It is the past -that makes the future," he continued, drumming feverishly on the table -with his fingers, "the past that makes the future." - -Beatrice wondered what he meant, and noticed how weary and worn and -nervous he seemed. The man did not love her; he had not treated her as -he should have done; and between them there was no feeling in common. -Yet he was old, and, after all, had sheltered her in his own grudging -way, so Beatrice laid a light hand on his arm. "Mr. Alpenny, you are -not young----" - -"Eighty and more, my dear." - -The term startled her, and she began to think he must indeed be near -the borders of the next world when he spoke so gently. - -"Well, then, why don't you go to church, and feed the hungry, and -clothe the naked? Remember, you have to answer for what you have done, -some day soon." - -Alpenny rose vehemently and flung off her arm. "I don't ask you to -teach me my duty, girl," he said savagely. "What I have done is done, -and was rightly done. Everyone betrayed me, and money is the only thing -that did not. Money is power, money is love, money is joy and life and -hope and comfort to me. No! I keep my money until I die, and then----" -He cast a nervous look round, only to burst out again with greater -vehemence. "Why do you talk of death? I am strong; I eat heartily. I -drink little. I sleep well. I shall live for many a long day yet. And -even if I die," he snapped, "don't expect to benefit by my death. You -don't get that!" and he snapped his fingers within an inch of her nose. - -"I don't want your money," said Beatrice quietly; "Durban will look -after me. Still, you might let me have enough to keep me while I try to -find work." - -"I won't!" - -"But if you die, I'll be a pauper." - -"Without a sixpence!" said Alpenny exultingly. - -"Have I no relatives who will help me?" - -"No. Your mother came from I know not where, and where she has gone I -don't exactly know. She married me and then died. I have kept you----" - -"Yes--yes. But if my mother was poor and came from where you knew not, -why did you marry her?" - -"My kind heart----" - -"You haven't got one; it's in your money-chest" - -"It might be in a woman's keeping, which is a much worse place." - -Beatrice grew weary of this futile conversation, and rose. "You asked -me to see you," she said, with a fatigued air; "what is it you have to -say?" - -"Oh yes." He seemed to arouse himself from a fit of musing. "Yes! I -have found a husband for you." - -Beatrice started. He announced this startling fact as -though it were the most natural thing in the world. -"You--have--found--a--husband--for--me?" she drawled slowly. - -"Yes. You won't have my money, and I may die." He cast a look over -his shoulder nervously. "I don't want to, but I may: one never knows, -do they? You will be poor, so I think it best to get you married and -settled in life." - -"Thank you," she returned icily. "It is very good of you to take so -much trouble. And my future husband?" - -"Ruck! Major Ruck--Major Simon Ruck, a retired army officer, and a -handsome man of fifty, very well preserved, and with a fine fortune." - -"How alluring! And suppose I refuse?" - -"You can't--you daren't!" He grasped her arm entreatingly. "Don't be -a fool, my dear. Ruck is handsome and well off. He is coming down on -Saturday to see you. This is Wednesday, so you will have time to think -over the matter. You must marry him--you must, I tell you!" and he -shook her arm in his agitation. - -Beatrice removed her arm in a flaming temper. "Must I indeed?" said -she, flashing up into righteous anger. "Then I won't!" - -"Beatrice!" - -"I won't. I have never seen the man, and I don't wish to see him. -You have no right to make any arrangements about my marriage without -consulting me. You are neither kith nor kin of mine, and I am of age. I -deny your right to arrange my future." - -"Do you wish to be left to starve?" - -"I shall not starve; but I would rather do so, than marry a man of -fifty, whom I have never set eyes on." - -"If you don't marry Ruck, you'll be a pauper sooner than you expect, my -girl. Marry him for my sake?" - -"No! You have done as little as you could for me: you have always hated -me. I decline." - -Alpenny rose in his turn--Beatrice had already risen to her feet--and -faced her in a black fury, the more venomous for being quiet. "You -shall marry him!" - -"I shall not." - -They faced one another, both angry, both determined, both bent upon -gaining the victory. But if Alpenny had an iron will, Beatrice had -youth and outraged womanhood on her side, and in the end his small -cruel eyes fell before her flashing orbs. - -"I want you to marry Ruck--really I do," he whimpered piteously. - -"Why?" - -"Because"---- he swallowed something, and told what was evidently a -lie, so glibly did it slip out. "Because I should be sorry to leave you -to starve." - -"I shall not starve. I am well educated, and can teach. At the worst I -can become a nursery governess, or be a companion." - -"Better marry Major Ruck." - -"No. It is foolish of you to ask me." - -"If you don't marry him I shall be ruined. I shall be killed. No"--he -broke off suddenly--"I don't mean that. Who would kill a poor old man -such as I am? But"--his voice leaped an octave--"you must marry the -husband I chose for you." - -"I chose for myself." - -"Ah!"--the miser was shaking with rage--"it's Vivian Paslow: no -denial--I can see he is the man; a penniless scoundrel, who is at my -mercy!" - -"Don't dare to speak of him like that," flamed out Beatrice. "As to -marrying him--he has not asked me yet." - -"And never will, if I can stop him. I know how to do so--oh yes, I do. -He will not dare to go against me. I can ruin him. He----" At this -moment there came a sharp rap at the door, which made Alpenny's face -turn white and his lips turn blue. - -"Who is there?" - -"A telegram," said the voice of Durban; and Alpenny, with a smothered -ejaculation of pleasure, went to open the door. As he did so, Beatrice -noticed on the wall near the desk two keys, one large and one small. -The little one she knew to be the key of the postern gate, and without -hesitation she took it down and slipped it into her pocket. As Alpenny -turned round with the telegram and no very pleasant expression of -countenance, she felt that she would at least be able to see Vivian -Paslow on that evening without arousing the suspicions of her -stepfather. It was unlikely that any one would come that night, and he -would not miss the key, which she could get Durban to replace the next -day. As this thought flashed into her mind, she saw the face of the -servant at the door. He looked puzzled, but probably that was because -he beheld her in the sanctum of his master, hitherto forbidden ground -both to him and to her. The next moment Alpenny had closed the door, -and Durban went away. - -"This telegram is from Major Ruck," said Alpenny. "He is coming down on -Saturday, so be ready to receive him." - -"I shall leave the place if he comes." - -"You won't: you'll wait and see him--and accept him also. If you don't, -I'll make things hot for Vivian Paslow." - -This was, as Beatrice conceived, a game of bluff; so she replied boldly -enough, "Mr. Paslow is able to look after himself. I decline to speak -to Major Ruck, whosoever he may be, or even to see him." - -"Saturday! Saturday!" said Alpenny coldly, and opened the door. "Now -you can go. If you leave The Camp, or if you refuse Ruck as your -husband, Vivian Paslow will reap the reward of his crimes." And he -pushed her out, locking the door after her with a sharp click. - -Crimes! Beatrice stood in the sunlight, stunned and dazed. What did -Alpenny mean? What crimes could the man she loved have committed? -Almost before she could collect her thoughts she felt a light touch on -her shoulder, and turned to behold Durban. - -"Wasn't master in his counting-house all this afternoon?" asked the -servant. "You should know, missy, as the parlour is opposite." - -"Yes, he was," she replied with an effort. "I never saw him come out." - -Durban wrinkled his dark brows. "Then how did he send the telegram, to -which he has just now had an answer?" he demanded. - -"How do you know that this wire is an answer, Durban?" - -"The reply was prepaid, missy. How did master do it?" - -Beatrice was equally puzzled. Alpenny had not been away from The Camp -all the afternoon, yet had contrived to send a telegram, and prepay the -reply. - - - - - -CHAPTER IV -SEEN IN THE LIGHTNING - - -It was truly a mystery. So far as Beatrice knew, there were but two -ways of getting out of The Camp--by the large gate and the smaller one. -Yet she in the parlour-carriage, facing Alpenny's counting-house, had -not seen him emerge; nor had Durban, busy in the kitchen, the door of -which commanded a view of the postern, beheld his master depart. The -telegraph office was at the railway station three miles away, and there -was no one in The Camp save Durban and his young mistress to send with -a wire. Yet the wire had been sent, and the reply had been received. -Beatrice ventured an explanation. - -"Perhaps my father sent the telegram yesterday." - -"No, missy. I took none, and master did not leave the place. No -telegram has been sent from here for the last month." - -"Is there a third way out, Durban?" - -"Not that I know of, missy, and yet----" - -What Durban would have said in the way of explanation it is impossible -to say, for at this moment the querulous voice of Alpenny was heard -calling snappishly. Durban hastened to the door of the counting-house, -and it was opened so that he could speak with his master. But he was -not admitted within. Beatrice retired to her bedroom-carriage, which -was near the parlour, and had only been there a few minutes when Durban -came over with a crest-fallen face. - -"We must put off going to Convent Grange, missy," said he rapidly; -"master wishes me to go to town. He is writing a letter which I have to -take up at once. I shall catch the six train." - -"Very well, Durban. We can wait." - -The servant looked and hesitated, but before he could speak again Mr. -Alpenny interrupted. Appearing at the door of his dungeon he waved a -letter. "Come at once!" he cried; "don't lose time. What do you mean by -chattering there?" - -Durban gave Beatrice a significant look and hastened away. In another -ten minutes he had left The Camp by the great gates and was on his -way to the railway station. Alpenny saw him off the premises and then -crossed over to his stepdaughter. - -"What were you saying to Durban?" he asked suspiciously. - -"You mean what was Durban saying to me?" she replied quietly; "you can -surely guess. He was saying that you wished him to go to town." - -"There was no need of him to tell you my business," grumbled the miser, -looking ill-tempered. "What are you doing this evening?" - -Had he any suspicions of her intention? Beatrice thought not. The -question was put in a snarling way, and simply--as she judged--to show -his authority. - -"I intend to read," she answered simply, "and perhaps I shall take a -walk"--in the grounds, she ostensibly meant. - -"Better not," warned the usurer, looking up. "Clouds are gathering. I -am sure there will be a storm." - -"Very well," was her indifferent reply, although she wondered if he had -missed the key of the smaller gate. "Will I come and say good-night to -you as usual at ten?" - -Alpenny nodded in an absent way, and walked into his counting-house -with his hands behind him, and his form more bent than usual. Beatrice -watched him cross the smooth sward, and then went to sit down in the -parlour and meditate. In some way, which she could scarcely define, she -scented a mystery. The episode of the telegram, the hasty departure -of Durban, the proposal of marriage, all these things hinted--as she -thought--at schemes against her peace of mind. And then, again, the -words of Vivian Paslow. Those were indeed mysterious, and she was -anxious to know what they meant. Finally, the hint that Alpenny had -given as to Vivian having committed crimes, alarmed the girl. She felt -that Alpenny was trying to inveigle Paslow into some trap, and from his -words it was plain that he would stop at nothing to prevent the young -man declaring the passion he felt for the girl. Also, from another -hint, it would seem that the miser held--as, indeed, he had plainly -stated--"Vivian in the hollow of his hand." - -These thoughts made Beatrice very uncomfortable, the more so as never -before had any mystery come into her life. Hitherto it had been serene -and uneventful, one day being exactly the same as another. But with the -visit of Vivian on that afternoon everything had changed, for since -he had heard those mysterious words, Alpenny had not been himself. In -some queer way he had forwarded a telegram, and in a hurry he had sent -Durban to London, which he had not done for months past. Undoubtedly -something sinister was in the wind, and Beatrice shivered with a vague -apprehension of dread. - -It certainly might have been the weather which made her feel so ill -at ease, for the hot day had ended in an even hotter evening. The air -was close, the sky was clouded, and there was not a breath of wind to -stir the leaves of the surrounding trees. Ever and again a flicker of -lightning would leap across the sky--summer lightning which portended -storm and rain. Beatrice, trying to breathe freely in the suffocating -air, wished that the storm would come to clear the atmosphere. There -was electricity in the dry air, and she felt as uncomfortable as a -cat which has its hair smoothed the wrong way. On some such night as -this must Lady Macbeth have received Duncan, and Nature hinted at a -repetition of the storm which took place when the guileless king was -done to death in the shambles. - -Beatrice could not rest within doors. She put on a hat, and draped a -long black cloak over her white dress. Attired thus, she walked up -and down on the dry grass, trying to compose herself. Around gloomed -the girdle of trees, without even a leaf stirring. The colours of the -flowers were vague in the hot twilight, and the white forms of the -seven railway carriages stood here and there like tombs in a cemetery. -As she lingered near the sundial, she cast a look upward at the Downs, -which rose vast and shadowy to be defined clearly against a clear sky. -The foot of them was but a stone-throw away from The Camp, and almost -it was in her mind to climb their heights in order to get a breath of -fresh air. Here in the hollow, embosomed in woods, she felt stifling; -but up there surely a sweet, fresh wind must be blowing, full of -moisture from the Channel. Then the thought of a possible walk recalled -her to a remembrance of her appointment: she intended to keep it, even -though Durban had gone away. The key was in her pocket, and she could -slip out of the small gate for an hour, and get back again without -Alpenny being any the wiser. Already a light gleamed from the solitary -window of the dungeon, as it had gleamed ever since she could remember -when the darkness came on. Behind the discoloured blind the miser -laboured at his books, and counted his gains. So far as she knew all -his money was banked and invested, and he kept no gold in the dungeon. -Perhaps he feared robbery; and it really was remarkable that, seeing -he was supposed to be a millionaire, The Camp had never been marked -by the fraternity of London thieves. A visit there would surely have -proved successful, if all the tales of Alpenny were to be believed. But -perhaps the thieves had heard, as the miser had vaguely hinted, of his -cleverness in keeping no specie in his retirement. But be this as it -may, Alpenny, all these years, had never hinted at a possible burglary. - -After a glance at the Downs and at Alpenny's lighted window, behind -which he would sit until midnight, Beatrice entered one of the winding -paths in the little wood and took her way to the gate. The large gates -were locked, and Alpenny alone possessed the key; but she could open -the smaller gate, and now proceeded to do so. - -The lock was freshly oiled, and the postern swung open noiselessly. -Standing on the threshold within The Camp, Beatrice paused for a -moment. Some feeling seemed to hold her back. Into her mind flashed -the sudden thought that if she went out, she would leave behind her -not only The Camp, but the old serene life. It was like crossing -the Rubicon; but with an impatient ejaculation at her own weakness, -she shook herself and passed out, leaving the gate locked behind -her. Then she stole through the glimmering wood, fully committed to -the adventure. As she did so, a distant growl of thunder seemed to -her agitated mind like the voice of the angel thrusting her out of -Paradise. Truly, she had never before felt in this strange mood. - -By a narrow path she gained the lane, and here the light was a trifle -stronger, although it was rapidly dying out of the hot, close sky. -It was close upon half-past six, so Beatrice knew that if she walked -quickly she could arrive at the Witches' Oak almost at the time -appointed. Owing to the late hour of starting she had quite given up -the idea of going to Convent Grange, which was two miles away. She -would meet Vivian, as she now arranged in her own mind, at the Witches' -Oak, and would ask for an explanation. When he gave it, she could -return rapidly to The Camp escorted by him; then slipping in, she would -be able to say good-night to Alpenny at ten o'clock, and go to bed. For -a moment, she wondered if Durban would return that night, or stop in -town. If he came back, he would be angry if he found that she had left -The Camp unattended and in the twilight. But she would be in bed even -if Durban did return, and then she could decide whether to tell him -or not. Also, the chances were that as he had gone to town so late he -would remain there till the next morning to execute Alpenny's business, -whatever that might be. - -Passing along the lane, Beatrice had to run by the great gates, which -were locked securely. In the twilight she thought she saw a small -figure crouching before them, but in the semi-darkness could not be -certain. However, the sight of the figure, if figure it was, troubled -her very little. Probably it was that of some tramp, as there were -many in the Weald of Sussex. But if the tramp was waiting at the gates -in the hope of getting a crust or penny from the miser, he would be -woefully disappointed. Beatrice, passing swiftly, hardly gave the -matter a thought, but sped rapidly along under the deep shadows of the -trees, and along the white dusty lane, between the wilted hedges, dry -with summer heat. A quarter of a mile brought her to a side path, and -down this she went calmly, congratulating herself that she had met -neither tramp, nor neighbour on the road. The path wound deviously -through ancient trees, and at length emerged into a rather large glade -in the centre of which was a pond, green with duckweed. Over this -spread the branches of the Witches' Oak, an old old tree, which must -have been growing in the time of the Druids, and which had probably -played its part in their mystic rites. A fitful moonlight gleamed -occasionally on this, as the planet showed her haggard face, and under -the tree Beatrice saw a tall figure waiting patiently. She crossed the -glade in the moonlight, but the clouds swept over the face of the orb, -as Beatrice paused under the oak. Then again came a growl of distant -thunder, as if in warning. - -"I knew you would come," said Paslow, stepping forward, and for the -moment it seemed as though he would take her in his arms. - -In the darkness the cheeks of the girl flushed, and she stepped lightly -aside, evading his clasp. Her heart told her to throw herself into -those strong arms and be protected for ever from the coming storms of -life, but a sense of modesty prevented such speedy surrender. When she -spoke, her voice was steady and cool. There was no time to be lost, and -she began hurriedly in the middle of things. - -"Yes, I have come," she said quickly; "because I want to know the -meaning of the words you used to my father to-day." - -"I don't know what they mean," confessed Paslow calmly. - -"Then why did you use them?" - -"I received a hint to do so." - -"From whom?" - -"I can't tell you that. Miss Hedge--Beatrice--I asked you to meet me -here, so that no one should interrupt our conversation. If you came -to the Grange, Dinah would have prevented my speaking; and now that -Mr. Alpenny is angry with me, I cannot come to The Camp. You must -forgive me for having asked you to meet me here at this hour, and in -so ill-omened a spot, but I have something to say to you which must be -said at once." - -"What is it?" Her heart beat rapidly as she spoke, for although she -could not see his face in the darkness, she guessed from the tones of -his voice that he was about to say all which she desired to hear. - -"Can't you guess?" He came a step nearer and spoke softly. - -Beatrice, feeling strange, as was natural considering the circumstance, -laughed in an embarrassed manner. "How can I guess?" - -"Because you must have seen what I meant in my eyes, Beatrice. I want -you to be my wife." - -Her heart beat loudly as though it would give Vivian its answer without -speech. - -"I don't understand," she said abruptly. - -"Surely you must have seen----" - -"Oh yes, I saw," she interrupted rapidly, "I saw that you loved me. I -also saw that you held back from asking me to marry you." - -"I had a reason," he said, after a pause; "that reason is now removed, -and I can ask you, as I do with all my heart and soul, to be my wife. -Dearest, I love you." - -"Can I believe that?" - -"I swear it!" he breathed passionately. - -"But the reason?" - -Paslow hesitated. "It was connected with money," he confessed at last. -"Your father--or, rather, your stepfather--had a mortgage on nearly the -whole of my property. I have lately inherited a small sum of money, and -went to-day to ask Mr. Alpenny to arrange about paying off part of the -mortgage. He accused me of wishing to rob him." - -"But why, when you desired to pay off the mortgage?" - -"I can't say. I think"--Vivian hesitated--"I think that he wishes to -get possession of the Grange." - -"And his reason?" - -"I can't tell you that. But the moment I offered to pay the money he -burst out into a rage and said that I wanted to rob him. Then I warned -him as to something I had heard against him in London." - -"What is that?" she asked in startled tones. - -"I dare not tell you just now." - -"Is it connected with the Black Patch?" - -"Not that I know of. And what do you know of the Black Patch?" - -"I know nothing. I heard it mentioned--whatever it is--for the first -time to-day, and by you. The effect on Mr. Alpenny was so strange that -I wish to know what the Black Patch means." - -"I do not know myself," said Vivian earnestly. "Listen, my dear girl. -The other night I found on my desk a scrap of paper, and on it was -written--or, rather, I should say printed, for the person who wrote -printed the letters--'If Alpenny objects, say "Remember the Black -Patch."'" - -Beatrice listened, bewildered. "What does that mean?" - -"I can't say. But when driven into a corner by his language I used the -very words on the scrap of paper. You saw their effect." - -"It is strange," said Beatrice; then remembering what the miser had -said to her, she grasped her lover's arm. "Vivian, he told me that you -had committed crimes." - -"What a liar! I have committed no crimes, save that I have indulged in -the usual follies of a young man whose parents died before they could -guide him properly. What does he mean?" - -"I can't say. But I think he wished to make me mistrust you." - -"I can guess that, for I asked him to-day if I could marry you. He -refused, and raged worse than ever. It was then that he turned me out -of his counting-house, and--well, you saw what happened. I suppose he -wants you to marry someone else?" - -"Yes. He told me so to-day. Major Ruck." - -"Who is he?" demanded Paslow in a tone of anger. - -"I don't know. Major Simon Ruck, a retired army officer with a fine -fortune, and who is fifty years of age, and----" - -Here there came a flash of blue lightning, and then a loud crash of -thunder. Afterwards the strong wind hurtled towards them, bearing on -its wings the drenching rain. Vivian was startled, and caught Beatrice -to his breast in the darkness. - -"Darling, will you marry me?" he asked, although she was scarcely -mistress yet of her emotions in the storm and gloom. - -Before she could answer, the pent-up feelings of the day found relief -in a burst of hysterical tears. Pulling out her handkerchief she -pressed it to her eyes, and at the moment felt the key, entangled in -the handkerchief, fall out. - -"Oh," she gasped, "the key! it has fallen out of my pocket!" - -"I'll find it!" and Paslow dropped on to the grass, now wet, while the -rain came down in torrents. "I have it!" he said, wondering at this -queer disconnected wooing, and rose with the key in his hand. "My dear, -let us stand further under the tree, and then we can talk." - -"No! no!" Beatrice was quite unstrung by this time. "I must go home at -once. It is late, and my father--my--ah! who is that?" - -Flash after flash of lightning, blue and vivid, illuminated the haunted -tree, as though once again the witches were holding their demoniac -revels. A short distance away stood a small man. Neither of the lovers -could see his features in the fitful illumination. Vivian, with a -cry of anger, ran straight towards the figure, and it disappeared. -Tales of the spectres said to haunt the tree occurred to the mind of -Beatrice, and, unstrung, and not mistress of herself, she left the oak -and hurried across the glade. The lightning was flashing incessantly, -and the thunder roared like artillery, while the steady rain spattered -through the trees' tops. Trying to find the path which led to the lane, -Beatrice ran on. She fancied she heard the voice of Paslow shouting, -but again pealed the thunder to drown what he said. Losing her -head--and small wonder, so terrific was the storm--Beatrice scrambled -on through many paths, and finally, when there came an unusually vivid -flash, she sank with a cry of terror under some bushes, and fainted on -the streaming ground. How long she remained unconscious she did not -know. - -When she did regain her senses, a mighty wind was blowing through the -woods, bending the stoutest trees like saplings. Through the swaying -boughs, the girl could see the flicker of lightning racing across the -sky; and every now and then boomed sullen thunder, loud and menacing. -With an effort she gathered her aching limbs together and staggered -forward blindly through the wood. She could not tell what the hour -was, or guess where she was going, but by some miracle she managed to -arrive at the lane. Even then, she did not recognise where she was, but -ran blindly along in the hope of finding The Camp. There was no sign -of Vivian, or of the man who had been watching them under the Witches' -Oak. All around was the roaring darkness, laced with vivid lightning -and alive with furious rain and wind. Like a demented creature, -Beatrice sped along in mud and slush, kilting up her petticoats to run -the faster. And ever overhead screamed the storm, while the wild winds -tore and buffeted the tormented trees. - -She bitterly regretted having kept the appointment She had learned -little save that Vivian loved her, which she had known long ago. And -now she had lost the key: Paslow possessed it, since he had not given -it back to her before he ran after the watcher. So how was she to -re-enter the jealously-guarded Camp? Alpenny would know that she had -been out, that she had met Vivian, and there would be great trouble. -These thoughts made the head of the girl reel as she ran along blind -and breathless. - -Then came several flashes, and before her, unexpectedly, she beheld -the gate of The Camp. It was wide open, but, without thinking, she -ran in at once, only too thankful to arrive home. As she passed the -posts, she sprang unseeingly into the arms of a man. With a cry she -tore herself away, and stared. In a flash of lightning she saw that he -was tall, lean, clothed in black, and--the sight made her shriek--over -his left eye he wore a Black Patch. Then the darkness closed down and -she heard him brush past into gloom, running swiftly out of the gate, -which he closed after him. She heard the click, and in some way managed -to scramble across the wet lawn to her own bedroom-carriage. As she -dropped on the threshold she saw that the light in the counting-house -was extinguished. What did it all mean? she asked herself; and who was -the tall man with the dark patch over his left eye? - - - - - -CHAPTER V -MRS. SNOW'S DISCOVERY - - -After a few minutes' lying on the threshold of her carriage-bedroom -with the rain beating upon her soaking dress, Beatrice rose with an -effort and opened the door. It was never locked, as no one would be -likely to enter. The matches and a candle were on a table by the -bed, where she had left them, and soon she had a light. Beside the -candlestick lay a folded piece of paper, and opening this, she read a -line or two in Alpenny's crabbed handwriting. - -"I find you have gone out. I am going also, and will not be back for -three days. Durban will return to-morrow and look after you." - -There was no signature, but of course she recognised the calligraphy -easily, as it had a distinctive character of its own. The contents -of the note rather surprised the girl. In the first place, Alpenny -made no remark as to her having taken the key; and in the second, it -was strange that he should depart thus unexpectedly, leaving The Camp -absolutely unguarded, even by a dog. Beatrice knew well enough that -her stepfather frequently went away on business, and at times very -unexpectedly, but she had never known him to take so hasty a departure. -However, after a glance at the note, she determined to go to bed, being -too weary to think of anything; too weary even to reflect that she was -alone in that lonely Camp, and that the gate had been open when she -arrived. A memory of the stranger with the black patch over his eye -certainly made her lock her door, and see that the windows were well -fastened; but when she had accomplished this for her own safety, she -had only sufficient strength remaining to throw off her wet clothes and -get into bed. And there she speedily fell into a deep and dreamless -sleep, while the storm raged louder than ever. Her last thought was a -hope, that Vivian had reached the Grange in safety. - -When she awoke next morning it was ten, as the tiny cuckoo clock on the -wall told her, and the sun was streaming in through the chinks of the -window-shutters. She still felt weary, and her limbs ached a trifle, -but for a moment or so she could not think how she came to be so tired. -Then the memory of all that had happened rushed in on her brain, and -she sprang from bed to open the door and windows. In a minute the -sunlight was pouring cheerfully into the bedroom, and Beatrice was -rapidly dressed, feeling hungry, yet at the same time anxious. - -And much need she had to be. Her stepfather knew that she had gone out, -and must have known that she had taken the key of the smaller gate, -for which he would immediately look. He would certainly make himself -most unpleasant, and she anticipated a bad quarter of an hour when he -returned. Also, Vivian might have got into trouble with the man who had -watched them meet under the Witches' Oak. Then, again, the gate of The -Camp had been open when she returned, and a stranger had left the place -hurriedly. All these things were very strange and disquieting, and -Beatrice ardently wished that Durban was back, so that she might speak -to him and be reassured. But it was probable that Vivian would come -to The Camp that morning in order to learn if she had arrived safely; -then they could renew the interrupted conversation, and come to an -understanding. - -The interview with Paslow perplexed Beatrice when she thought over -it. Vivian's talk had been disjointed, and he had given her no -satisfaction, answering her questions in a vague manner. That he should -have proposed at so awkward a moment, and in so awkward a manner, -also puzzled the girl. From what she could recall of the scrappy -conversation it had been like one in a nightmare; and, indeed, the -whole episode was far removed from the commonplace. The meeting-place -under the ill-omened tree--the few hurried words--the rush of Vivian -towards the strange man--and then her own headlong flight through the -damp, dark woods--these thoughts made her very uncomfortable. It was -more like romance than real life, and Beatrice did not care for such -sensational events. - -When dressed, she said her prayers and felt more composed; then stepped -out into the broad, bright sunshine. After the storm everything looked -fresh and vividly green: the world had a newly washed look, and the -air seemed to be filled with vital energy, as though it were indeed -the breath of life. But Beatrice soon saw evidence of the storm's -fury. Huge boughs were stripped from the trees round The Camp, the -flower-beds presented a draggled appearance, and the sundial had been -blown down. For the rest, everything looked the same at usual. When -she glanced at the dungeon, she saw that the door was closed and the -blind was down, although this latter was a trifle askew. Beatrice could -have gratified her curiosity by looking into the counting-house through -the twisted blind; but she had seen sufficient of it on the previous -day, and felt more inclined to eat than to waste her time peering into -Alpenny's sanctum. With the idea of getting breakfast, she went to the -kitchen, and speedily had the fire alight. Durban never locked the door -of the kitchen carriage, so there was no difficulty in entering. - -Beatrice found plenty of food in the cupboard, and made herself some -strong coffee and an appetising dish of bacon and eggs. It was too much -trouble to take the food to the dining-car, so she spread a cloth on -the kitchen table, and made a very good meal. When she had finished, -she washed the dishes and put them away; then went out again, feeling -much better, and all signs of fatigue disappeared from her young and -elastic frame. But for the evidences of the storm, she would have -thought the past events of the night, those of a dream. - -To pass the time, Beatrice swept out her bedroom and made the bed, -then attended to the garden. Every now and then she would glance at -the gate, expecting that Vivian Paslow would enter. But by twelve -o'clock he had not come, and she felt very disappointed. Then she began -to feel alarmed. What if he had met the man and had fought with him? -What if the man had hurt him? She asked herself these questions, and -half determined to go over to Convent Grange in order to get answers. -But she did not wish to leave The Camp until Durban came back, since -Alpenny was absent. Still the desire to hear and see Paslow was -overwhelming, and she was just about to yield to her curiosity and -leave The Camp to look after itself when she heard the rapid vibration -of the electric bell, and knew that someone was at the gate. In a -moment she was flying across the lawn, her heart beating and her colour -rising. - -"Vivian! Vivian!" sang her heart, and she threw open the gate, which -was still unlocked. To her surprise, she beheld outside no less a -person than Mrs. Snow! - -The vicar's wife looked more amiable than usual and less grim. She was -not very tall, and was dressed in dull slate-coloured garments very -ugly and inexpensive, and likely to wear well. A straw hat trimmed with -ribbons of the same sad hue surmounted her sharp, thin face, which was -that of the miser species, hard and sour. Mrs. Snow had never been a -pretty woman, and never an agreeable one, and as she faced Beatrice -with what was meant to be a smile, she looked like a disappointed -spinster. Yet she was the wife of the vicar, and the mother of Jerry, -so she certainly should have looked more pleasant. But Mrs. Snow was -a woman who took life hard, and made it hard for others also. If she -could not enjoy herself, she was determined that no one else should. -Whatever sins the vicar had committed--if any--the poor man was -bitterly punished by having such a household fairy at his fireside. - -"Mrs. Snow!" gasped Beatrice, who was immensely astonished, as well she -might be, seeing that the vicaress had never before deigned to pay The -Camp a visit. - -"Yes, my dear Miss Hedge," said the lady, with a suavity she was far -from feeling, as the girl's fresh beauty annoyed her. "You are no doubt -surprised to see me. But I have come to see Mr. Alpenny as my husband's -richest parishioner. Last night's storm has damaged the spire of our -church, so I have started out at once to collect subscriptions for its -repair. There is nothing like taking Time by the forelock, Miss Hedge." - -"My father is out," said Beatrice coldly, "and will not be back for a -few days. Then you can ask him, Mrs. Snow." - -"May I not put you down for a trifle?" - -"I have no money," replied Beatrice, annoyed by the greed and -persistence of her visitor. "Will you come in?" - -She did not wish to invite the lady in, but Mrs. Snow showed so very -plainly that she intended to enter, that Beatrice could do no less. In -silence she led the way to the Snow Parlour, and the vicar's wife was -presently seated on the linen-covered sofa, glancing with sharp eyes -round the pretty place. It need hardly be said that she glanced with -inward disapproval and outward praise. She wanted money for the spire, -and therefore had to be polite; but that did not withhold her from -inwardly finding all the fault she could. - -"A most charming place," said Mrs. Snow, still trying to make herself -agreeable. - -"I am glad you think so," replied Beatrice, wondering why her -unexpected visitor was so very polite; and mindful of Mrs. Snow's -past behaviour, the girl could not think that the vicaress was making -herself thus pleasant in order to get money for the spire. Besides, -the spire had only been damaged on the previous night, and it seemed -strange that the woman should begin to hunt for subscriptions for its -restoration already. No! Beatrice came to the conclusion, and very -rightly, that Mrs. Snow had another motive in paying attention to the -girl she had so severely snubbed. - -"I have intended to call ever so many times," went on Mrs. Snow, not -to be daunted by the frosty manner of her hostess, "but my husband, -poor man, is not very well, and I have to attend to a great deal of the -parish work." - -"There is no need to apologise, Mrs. Snow. I see very few people." - -"But those you see are really charming!" gushed the vicaress. "I, of -course, allude to Mr. and Miss Paslow." - -"They are friends of mine." - -"And of mine also, Miss Hedge. Though I will say that this engagement -of my son to Miss Paslow does not please me. I really thought"--here -Mrs. Snow cast a searching look on the girl's face--"that my son -admired you." - -"Oh no. He has always been devoted to Miss Paslow." - -"His devotion is misplaced," snapped Mrs. Snow, some of the veneer of -her gracious manner wearing away. "I shall never consent to such a -marriage." - -"You must tell that to Miss Paslow and to your son," said Beatrice -coldly; "I have nothing to do with it." - -"Well"--Mrs. Snow hesitated--"I thought that you, being a friend of -Miss Paslow's, might point out how foolish her conduct is." - -"It is not my place to interfere," said Miss Hedge in a frosty manner, -and beginning to gain an inkling as to why the vicaress had paid this -unforeseen visit. - -"Of course not. I should never ask you to do anything disagreeable, -Miss Hedge. I hope you will come and see me at the Vicarage. Now that I -have found you out, I really must see more of you." - -"It is very kind of you, Mrs. Snow; but I never go out. My father does -not wish me to." - -"So eccentric dear Mr. Alpenny is!" murmured the vicaress. "I was in -town only two weeks ago, and Lady Watson mentioned how strange he was. -You know Lady Watson, of course?" - -"I never set eyes on her. I don't even know the name." - -"That is strange," and Mrs. Snow really did look puzzled; "she knew all -about you." - -Beatrice started. "What is there to know about me?" - -"Oh, nothing--really and truly nothing. Only that Mr. Alpenny married -your mother and adopted you when she died. I was not here when Mrs. -Alpenny died, but I believe she is buried in our churchyard." - -"I have seen the tombstone," said Beatrice coldly. "And how does this -Lady Watson come to know about me?" - -"She was a school friend of your mother's--so she said." - -"Oh!" Beatrice felt her face flush. Here was a chance of learning -something that neither Durban nor Alpenny would tell her. "I should -like to meet Lady Watson." - -"You shall, my dear Miss Hedge. She is coming in a few weeks to stop at -the Vicarage." - -"I shall be happy to see her." Beatrice had to swallow her pride before -she could say this, as Mrs. Snow had really treated her very badly. -But she was anxious to learn something of her mother, and to find out -if she had any relatives, as she was determined not to marry Ruck, -and knew that if she did not, Alpenny was quite capable of turning -her out of doors. Of course Durban would always look after her, but -Beatrice wished to be independent even of Durban. At the moment she -never thought of Vivian and his hasty proposal, but it came back to her -memory when Mrs. Snow introduced his name. - -"I hear that Mr. Paslow is thinking of moving from this place," said -Mrs. Snow. "Such a pity! so old a family. The Paslows have been in the -Grange since the reign of Henry VIII. It was originally a convent, -you know, and the Paslow of those days was presented with it, by the -king--so shocking, wasn't it? He turned out the nuns and lived in the -place himself. That is why it is called Convent Grange." - -"So Miss Paslow told me," responded Beatrice, rather weary of this -small-talk, and wondering why it was being manufactured. - -"But Mr. Paslow is poor," pursued Mrs. Snow, "and can't keep the place -up. I expect he'll go to the colonies, or some such place. So you can -easily see why I don't want my son to marry his sister." - -Beatrice felt very much inclined to tell her garrulous visitor that -Vivian had inherited money, and would probably clear off the mortgages -and live in the style of his forefathers. But she restrained her -inclination, as it was none of her business, and rose to intimate that -the interview was at an end. But Mrs. Snow still sat on. - -"Really a lovely place, Convent Grange," she chattered, "although sadly -out of repair. Haunted, too, they say, although I don't believe in -ghosts myself. But I hear an Indian colonel was murdered there some -twenty-four years ago, and his ghost is said to haunt the room he was -killed in." - -"I never heard that," said Beatrice, wondering why Dinah had never -imparted so comparatively modern a tragedy to her. - -"I dare say not," said Mrs. Snow tartly; "the Paslows don't like -talking about the matter. I heard about it from an old shepherd who -keeps sheep on the Downs. Orchard is his name, and he was the butler of -Mr. Paslow's father, who was alive when Colonel Hall was murdered." - -"I never heard of a shepherd being a butler." - -"You mean that you never heard of a butler turning a shepherd," said -Mrs. Snow; "neither did I. But I understand that the poor man's nerves -were so wrecked by the sight of the dead body that the doctors of those -days ordered him to take the open-air cure. So he became a shepherd. A -most superior man." - -"Who murdered Colonel Hall?" - -"No one ever found out. His throat was cut, and he was discovered dead -in his bed. I believe a casket of jewels was stolen at the time, and -was never found. But even if the Paslows didn't tell you about this, -I wonder your father did not, dear Miss Hedge, as he was here at the -time, and a visitor at the Grange." - -"My stepfather never tells me anything." - -"How dull you must be. He really is so eccentric. Lady Watson knew him -years and years ago, and says that he is quite a gentleman. He was -at Rugby with her husband, Sir Reginald, who is dead. But he took up -this money-lending business, which really is not respectable, besides -which, it is quite forbidden by the Mosaic law. Well, I must be going." -Mrs. Snow rose, still smiling. "But you really must come over to the -Vicarage, and let me make your life more gay. I shall also try and -induce your father--no, stepfather--to come over." - -"I don't think you'll be able to manage that," said Beatrice dryly, and -wondering what all this alarming sweetness meant; "my stepfather never -goes out." - -"He did over twenty years ago. Ask him about his visit to Convent -Grange, and about Colonel Hall's murder. It caused a great sensation, -although the criminal was never found. But who is this?" Mrs. -Snow stepped out into the sunshine as she spoke, and pointed her -slate-coloured parasol towards Durban, who was standing near. He -must have approached very softly, and must have heard every word -the vicaress said for the last few minutes. His dark face looked -unnaturally white, and he cast a nervous glance at the visitor. -Beatrice noticed nothing, however, and ran to him at once. - -"Oh, Durban, I am so pleased to see you. Father has gone away. See, he -left this note, and----" - -"I'll take my leave, so as not to interrupt you," said Mrs. Snow -graciously; "then you can talk to the man. What a charming place!" She -looked round severely and walked from one carriage to another. "Your -bedroom, a dining-room, another bedroom"; then she stopped at the -dungeon and tried the door. "Oh, Bluebeard's chamber! I must not look -in here." - -"It is the master's counting-house, lady," said Durban, who was close -at her heels and seemed anxious for her to go. - -"How delightful! A counting-house in a dark wood--just like 'Alice in -Wonderland.' May I look in at the window? Mr. Alpenny is from home, so -he can't object," and before any one could stop her she was peeping -through the window, where the blind was askew. Then she gave a cry of -alarm. "Miss Hedge, your father is within. He is lying on the floor." -She stood on tiptoe. "Oh! he is dead. I see blood!" - -"Impossible!" cried Beatrice, rushing forward and pushing the meddling -woman aside.--"Yes Durban!--Oh, great Heavens!" - -The servant came running up and also glanced in. Then, with an -exclamation of horror, he ran into the kitchen and came out with a -bunch of skeleton keys. Both the women, pale and terrified, stood -beside him while he fitted these into the lock. None would open the -door, and he flung them away with a smothered oath. For a moment he -paused, then ran into the wood. Mrs. Snow turned to Beatrice. - -"Your father has been murdered. I shall tell the police." - -"Yes, do!" said Beatrice, clasping her hands. "I never knew. When I -came home last night, he left a note saying that he would go away for a -few days, and----" - -"Here is the man with a log," interrupted Mrs. Snow. - -Indeed, it was Durban who came, dragging after him a large beam. With -a strength of which Beatrice had never thought so stout a man was -capable, he caught this in the middle, and, retiring for a few paces, -made a run at the door. It burst open with the shock, and, dropping the -beam, Durban went inside. Mrs. Snow drew Beatrice back. - -"It is not for you to see," she said sharply. - -"How dare you stop me!" said the girl, angry at the liberty, and -pushing Mrs. Snow away, she ran forward. - -Durban tried to keep her out, but she managed to gain a glimpse of a -stiff figure lying on the floor under the mahogany desk. - -"Oh, good Heavens!" shrieked the girl; "his throat has been cut!" - -"So was Colonel Hall's!" muttered Mrs. Snow, and stole a glance at -Durban, which made the man turn even greyer than he already was. - - - - - -CHAPTER VI -THE INQUEST - - -After eighty years, halting Nemesis had at last caught up with Jarvis -Alpenny. He had buried himself in seclusion; he had surrounded himself -with bolts and bars and other precautions; but the order that his -sordid career should end had come from the Powers that deal with -evil-doers, and he was as dead as a door-nail. And very unpleasantly he -had died too, for his wrinkled throat had been cut from ear to ear. Who -had done it no one seemed to know. - -Beatrice might have supplied a clue; but for reasons connected with -the Paslow family she held her tongue, and feigned ignorance when the -rural police came on the scene, which they did very speedily, owing -to the zeal of Mrs. Snow. The sergeant of the district questioned and -cross-questioned Miss Hedge, with very little success. She told him -that, on the previous evening, she had gone for a walk in the woods -round The Camp, but did not mention with what object. There, as she -stated very truly, she had been caught in the storm, and at some -unknown time had stumbled home wet and weary, and so tired that she had -at once slipped into bed. The note from her stepfather was produced, -and confiscated by the sergeant; the details of Mrs. Snow's curiosity -leading to a discovery of a crime, were given; and then Beatrice -professed that she could tell no more. The bucolic constable believed -her readily enough, and informed his Inspector who came that Miss Hedge -had told the truth and nothing but the truth. This might have been so, -but she certainly had not told the whole truth, else might the sergeant -have added to the note left by the dead man, a certain gentleman's -handkerchief, marked with three initials--"V.R.P." - -This piece of evidence Beatrice had picked up so near the body, that a -corner of the handkerchief was soaked in the life-blood of the miser. -Her quick eye had seen it almost the moment she had entered the dungeon -at Durban's heels, and when falling on her knees by the dead she had -mechanically picked it up, without lynx-eyed Mrs. Snow seeing the -action. Durban would only allow the women to remain for two minutes in -that place of death. Then he drove them out, and insisted that Beatrice -should retire to her parlour. She did so while he reclosed the door of -the counting-house, and while Mrs. Snow, almost too excited to speak, -ran for the nearest constable, who in his turn summoned his sergeant. - -Alone in the parlour, Beatrice, still mechanically grasping the -handkerchief, suddenly remembered how she had found it, and at once -examined the corners. It was with a gasp of terror that she realised to -whom it belonged. "V.R.P." could only stand for Vivian Robert Paslow, -and he--as she knew only too well--was the enemy of the deceased. -Could it be that Vivian had killed the miser to settle the question -of marriage, and secure his threatened property from getting into the -cruel clutches of his victim? In that first moment of horror Beatrice -was inclined to think so. Then, with a revulsion of feeling, she -recoiled with horror from so base an idea. The man she loved was not a -midnight assassin: however much he may have hated Alpenny, he certainly -would not have put the old man to death in so barbarous a fashion. -Finally, he had been with her under the Witches' Oak last night, and -could not possibly be guilty. - -Then, again, on further thought it occurred to her that such an alibi -could scarcely serve in this case. The meeting at the haunted tree -had taken place about seven o'clock, and had lasted, so far as she -could reckon from confused recollection, for a quarter of an hour. -Then had come the episode of the pursuit of the watcher by Paslow, -her own flight through the woods, the breaking of the storm, and her -fainting-fit. She might have been hours unconscious; she might have -been hours getting home, for she had very little recollection of that -mad passage through the furious wind and rain. Only she remembered -reaching The Camp between the gates, and blindly falling into the arms -of a lean, tall man with a black patch over his left eye. Had that man -been Vivian? Was it truly her lover who, in the intervening time, had -stolen to the deserted Camp, and using the key of the small gate (which -she knew he possessed) had gained access to the dungeon, there to -commit his crime? No! It was impossible. If she could only remember the -time when she came back! This was hard to do, and yet it was done, for -chance came to her aid. - -Besides the cuckoo-clock which had awakened her, Beatrice possessed an -old silver watch, given to her on some far-distant birthday by Durban. -It stood on a small stand beside the bed, and she remembered that in -slipping between the sheets, weary and half asleep, she had knocked -this down between the table it stood on and the wall. Some instinct -must have directed her to look for it at the moment. She thrust the -incriminating handkerchief into her pocket, and ran to the bedroom -carriage. There she found the watch--found also that it had stopped at -the hour of nine o'clock. It was just possible that the stoppage had -occurred when she had knocked it over. She certainly had wound it up -as usual on the previous night, and twice before, when knocked off its -stand, it had stopped dead. - -"Yes," thought the girl, inspecting the yellow dial, "it must have been -stopped by the fall, unless"--she shook it vigorously--"unless it has -run down"; but a steady ticking told her that the main-spring was not -yet fully unwound, and she replaced the watch on its stand, with a firm -conviction that she had entered the bedroom at nine on the previous -evening. Vivian had left her to follow the spy at a quarter past -seven, so he could easily have committed the crime, so far as time and -opportunity went, as one hour and three-quarters had been taken up by -her in getting home. An alibi, therefore, was little good in this case, -and on the evidence of the handkerchief he would assuredly be hanged. - -"No! no! no!" murmured Beatrice with rising inflection, and speaking -aloud in her agitation; "it is untrue. Vivian would never commit so -cowardly a deed as to kill an old man of eighty, however much he may -have hated him. I shall hide the handkerchief--but where? The police -are sure to search the place, and--and----" A sudden thought struck -her. "I'll keep it in my pocket," she decided, and thrust it, neatly -folded up, to the very bottom of that receptacle. Later, she intended -to cautiously question Paslow, and learn if he had been to The Camp on -that night. But the conversation would be between their two selves. She -would tell no one else of the handkerchief she had picked up, not even -Durban, faithful servant though he was. - -It was at this moment, and as though in response to her mental mention -of his name, that Durban appeared. He looked much shaken by the -tragedy, and was green with scarcely concealed fright. Beatrice eyed -him with astonishment, as she had never deemed him to be much attached -to the old tyrant who had gone so violently to his long rest. Durban -evaded her searching glance, which was perhaps fortunate, as the girl -herself did not wish her own countenance to be too closely scrutinised. - -"I've shut it up in the counting-house," said Durban, his eyes on the -ground, and jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "The police will be -here soon. Mrs. Snow will tell them; she'll be glad of the chance." - -"Why? Did she know my--the late Mr. Alpenny?" - -"That's right, missy." Durban raised his eyes with approval, and -dropped them again. "Never call him your father." - -"He was my stepfather," Beatrice reminded him. - -"Ah--hum--yes," gurgled Durban. "Yes, missy, Mrs. Snow knew master -before you were born--at Convent Grange." - -"I heard her say that Colonel Hall's throat had also been cut." - -Durban shuddered, and leaned against the door. "Yes," he whispered -faintly, "that was so, missy." - -"Mr. Alpenny's throat has been cut in the same way." - -Durban half smiled, but his expression was wry and twisted. "There is -only one way to cut a throat, missy." - -"Ugh!" Beatrice turned pale, and threw up her hand. "Don't!" - -"It is a nasty subject, missy. I--I'm sorry for the master. And yet," -he added, half to himself; "if ever a man deserved what he got, master -was that man." - -"What do you mean?" asked Beatrice, taking a step towards him. - -"Master had many enemies," went on Durban, again casting his eyes on -the ground; "a money-lender always has." - -"Then you know----" - -"I know nothing," snapped the man angrily, and wiping his swarthy face -with a duster. "Master sent me to London last night, as you knew, -missy. I only came down by the morning train, and walked here, in time -to find you with Mrs. Snow. What did she want?" - -Beatrice smiled faintly in her turn. "Subscriptions for the church -spire, which was blown down last night." - -"Oh! That was the excuse?" - -"Excuse for what, Durban?" - -"To see you, missy, and learn---- But there!" Durban turned away. "She -came here to make mischief between you and master. Thank Heaven he is -dead, and you will get the money. Mrs. Snow can't harm you now." - -"Why should she wish to harm me, Durban?" - -"That's a long story, missy. Now that the master is dead, I can tell it -to you. But first we must learn who killed----" - -"I know," interrupted Beatrice quickly; "a tall man, with a black patch -over his left eye." - -Durban turned greener than ever. "How do you know that, missy?" he -asked in a strangled voice. - -"I saw him when the gates were open, about nine o'clock last night." - -Durban looked at her sharply. "Then you did go for that walk, missy?" - -"Yes, I had to. Mr. Paslow wished to see me. Durban"--she made a step -forward, and clutched his arm tightly--"I'll tell you what I don't -intend to tell any one else," and without giving the man time to -make an observation, she related the whole story of her adventure, -suppressing only the episode of the handkerchief. This she did, so as -to avert any possible suspicion from Vivian, since Durban, knowing that -Paslow had been with her, would not connect him with the crime--that -is, if he was stupid enough not to calculate the time, and thus prove -the futility of the alibi. - -Durban listened quietly enough. "I am glad that Mr. Paslow will marry -you, missy," he said at last, and removed her grasp from his arm. "You -will inherit a lot of money from the dead master. It ought to be twenty -thousand a year!" - -"But, Durban, Mr. Alpenny told me very plainly that if he died, I would -be a pauper." - -"I don't believe it," burst out the half-caste; "he would not dare -to--to----" Here he halted and stammered, "C--c--curse him!" - -"Durban!" She stepped back a pace in sheer amazement at the savagery of -the tone. - -"Dead, or alive, curse him!" cried Durban, his voice gathering strength -from the intensity of his hate. "He was a scoundrel--you don't know how -great a scoundrel. Missy"--he grasped her arm in his turn--"you shall -have the money, I swear it. Then marry Mr. Paslow, and go away for a -few years, till all blows over." - -"Till what blows over?" asked Beatrice anxiously. - -"Hush!" Durban let go her arm, and controlled himself by a violent -effort. "The police! Say as little as you can. You know nothing--I know -nothing." - -"Durban, are you afraid?" - -"Of Mrs. Snow. Hush!" - -The last words were scarcely out of his mouth when the two policemen, -who had entered the gates left open by Mrs. Snow, came up to them with -important airs. The sergeant was stout and short, the constable lean -and tall. - -"We take possession of this place, miss," said the stout man -breathlessly. - -"In the name of the King and the law," finished the lean person. - -"And anything you say will be used in evidence against you," they both -murmured in a breath, then stared sternly at the startled girl and the -green-hued half-caste. - -"Do what you like," said Beatrice, drawing herself up; "neither myself -nor Durban know anything." - -"But----" began the sergeant, snorting with excitement. - -"I will answer all questions at the proper time, and at the proper -place," said Miss Hedge, cutting the plethoric man short. Then she -retired into her bedroom and shut the door. - -The constables grumbled at her sharpness of speech, but went to work. -They examined the body, searched every inch of The Camp, made plans, -took notes, asked innumerable questions of Durban, and finally insisted -that Beatrice should submit to an examination. This she did composedly -enough, but said as little as she well could. It was her intention to -reserve an account of what she had seen for the inquest. She did not -even tell the Inspector, when he arrived to take charge of the case. - -There was immense excitement in Hurstable. The quiet little Sussex -village had never before been defiled by a crime of this brutal kind. -Sparsely populated as the district was, a great number of agricultural -labourers gathered in a remarkably short space of time. Their wives and -children came also, and the police had much difficulty in keeping them -out of the precincts of The Camp. Then by next day the news had reached -Brighton, and crowds of tourists--it being the holiday season--poured -into the Weald on foot, on bicycles, in motor cars and carriages, and -by train. With them came the reporters from various newspapers, London -and local, and the whole place buzzed like a hive at swarming-time. - -Beatrice remained in The Camp under charge of Durban. Dinah Paslow -came to offer her the hospitality of Convent Grange; but, much to the -surprise of Beatrice, the man who had proposed to her on that fatal -night never made his appearance. Without any embarrassment, Dinah -told her friend that Vivian had gone to town as soon as he heard that -Alpenny was dead. - - - - - -CHAPTER VII -THE INQUEST--continued - - -Beatrice was both surprised and alarmed when she heard of Vivian's -abrupt departure without seeing her. It argued that he was guilty, and -feared to face her. Yet, try as she might, it was impossible for her to -believe him to be a murderer. - -"Why didn't he come to see me?" she asked Dinah. - -"He wanted to," replied the freckled girl. "But then he said that he -had important business to attend to, connected with you, and went up -to town the day before yesterday. I have not heard from him since, and -don't know when he is coming back." - -"Business connected with me!" repeated Miss Hedge, much perplexed. "I -don't understand." - -"Neither do I, dear. But don't worry. Vivian loves you, and whatever -he does will be for your benefit. I do wish you'd come to the Grange, -Beatrice, and let Mrs. Lilly look after you--she knows about herbs and -things, and you look so pale. And no wonder, seeing what a shock you -have had. I wouldn't stop in this place for anything, seeing ghosts and -spooks--ugh!" and Dinah ended her somewhat incoherent speech with a -shudder. - -"I cannot come until the inquest is over," said Beatrice, rapidly -surveying the situation. - -"And then?" - -"Then, perhaps. It depends upon Mr. Paslow." - -"Vivian, you mean," said Dinah quickly. - -"I have no right to call him Vivian," replied Beatrice proudly. - -"Yes, you have. Vivian told me that he had asked you to be his wife, -and that you had accepted." - -"Dinah"--Beatrice looked directly at the girl "did he tell you where he -proposed?" - -"Yes; under the----" - -"Hush!" Miss Hedge sank her voice to a whisper as she saw a blue-coated -constable moving heavily round the garden, and gradually drawing -nearer. "Not a word. Hold your tongue about that meeting." - -"But why?" asked the amazed Dinah. - -"I'll tell you later," said Beatrice hurriedly; "that is, when I have -seen Vivian. Have you his address?" - -"No. He went away, and said he would be back soon. Oh dear!" cried -Dinah fretfully; "there is such a lot of mystery about Vivian, and -has been for ages and ages. Sometimes he's jolly, and then he's as -dismal as a sick cow. I thought it was love, for Jerry often is the -same--silly boy. But I don't believe it is love," concluded Dinah -decidedly. "Vivian has something on his mind." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Something horrid. I don't know what it is, but I fear the worst." - -"Don't be a fool, Dinah," said Beatrice impatiently, for she winced at -hearing her own doubts put into speech. "It's money troubles that annoy -him, and probably, now that Mr. Alpenny is dead, he has gone to see the -executors, to know how his mortgage will stand." - -"As if he couldn't ask you," cried Dinah, rising and throwing her -riding-skirt over her arm. "You'll get the money, of course. It -ought to be a lot, Beatrice, for Jerry, who has had dealings with -money-lenders, says they make heaps and heaps." - -"I know nothing until the will is read. Go away, dear, and come back -after poor Mr. Alpenny is buried." - -"Poor Mr. Alpenny!" mocked Dinah. "Well, you are forgiving, Beatrice. -He was a nasty old man, and never did any good in his life. He is more -useful to me and Jerry dead than alive." - -"Dinah!" - -"Oh, I know it's horrid of me," said Miss Paslow penitently, "but we -must live--I mean Jerry and I must think about our marriage. His father -won't allow him any money, and Mrs. Snow is a cat. Our only chance of -getting married, and living in a tweeny-weeny house, with a general -servant, is for Jerry to get a rise. Now, if Jerry writes something -picturesque about this murder, he'll get the rise and----" - -"Oh, go away," cried Beatrice, for this disconnected talk grated on her -over-strung nerves, "and don't tell even Jerry that I met Vivian--I -mean Mr. Paslow--under the Witches' Oak." - -"I won't say anything," promised Dinah firmly; "and I suppose it was -improper for you to meet Vivian so late without a chaperone. But you -will marry Vivian, darling, won't you?" she went on coaxingly. "He -is so poor, and loves you; and then Mr. Alpenny's money--I mean your -money--can set up the family again, and----" - -The patience of Beatrice was at an end. She took Dinah firmly by the -arm and led her out of the gates past the sleepy policeman, who blinked -in the sunshine like an over-fed cat. "Go and assist Jerry to write -paragraphs," she said sharply; "you are a tiresome girl." - -"It's your nerves," said Dinah, not at all annoyed by this abrupt -dismissal. "I feel that way myself, when Jerry is irritating. He is -such a---- Well, I'm going. There's Tommy Tibbs holding Fly-by-Night. -Hi, Tommy, bring her here. Good-bye, darling: keep your spirits up. -I'll come and see you later. You must come to the Grange, and----" - -Beatrice closed the babbling lips with a kiss, and went inside, while -Dinah argued with Tommy about the price of holding her horse for one -long hour. The policeman opened his eyes and looked at the tall, -slim young lady with approval as she went past him. He thought she -was a trifle too pale, and she had black circles under her eyes; but -otherwise he approved, and smiled graciously. Beatrice took no notice -of him, but went to her parlour, to think over the strange conduct of -Vivian Paslow. - -Dinah was right He certainly had something on his mind, and did not -seem to be a free agent. Something hampered him in every way. He -had long desired to propose to her, and yet had only done so when -some cause, which he declined to explain, had been removed. Again, -he had gone up to town on hearing of Alpenny's murder, and without -ascertaining whether she had reached home, or not, on that fearful -night. He had not even left a message; and then in her pocket was his -handkerchief, dyed with the life-blood of the miser. These things were -strange and disquieting, and Beatrice resolved that before reaffirming -her decision to marry him, he would have to explain what underhand -causes were at work to make him behave so mysteriously. - -No time was lost in holding the inquest on the body of Jarvis Alpenny. -The weather was hot, and it was just as well to place the remains -underground as speedily as possible. A doctor was summoned from -Hurstable to examine the body, and pronounce if possible the hour -when the murder had taken place. Then the corpse was conveyed to the -solitary inn of Hurstable, a few miles away, and there the jury looked -it over. Afterwards the Coroner summoned them into the inn parlour, and -Inspector Grove related all that had been discovered by the police. - -It was not much, and threw no light on the authorship of the crime. -The deceased--so ran the official narrative--was a money-lender of -great repute, and that none of the best. He possessed a small office -in London--52 Trunk Street, Cheapside--but seldom went there, as he -preferred the quiet of the country--probably on account of his age, -which was considerable. Nevertheless, from habit apparently, Mr. Jarvis -continued to do business up to the very hour of his death. He died in -harness, as might be said; for on the table, whereunder he lay, were -letters from people--who need not be mentioned--asking for loans of -money. These he was apparently considering, when he was struck down. - -"I understood, and I have seen," said the Coroner emphatically, "that -the deceased's throat was cut." - -Inspector Jones assented, but pointed out that the old man was first -felled by a blow from behind, as was apparent from a wound at the back -of the head. The assassin had evidently entered stealthily, and had -taken his victim by surprise. The murder was very deliberate, as the -criminal had first stunned the old man, and then had cut his throat -in a most brutal and thorough fashion. Therefore, as the Inspector -suggested, the motive of the crime was more than mere robbery. A -robber, having stunned his victim, could have taken what he desired, -and escaped before Mr. Jarvis regained consciousness. But the death had -taken place from the throat-cutting, and not from the blow on the head. - -"Has anything been taken from the room?" asked a juryman. - -"You mean the railway carriage," corrected the Inspector, who was -pedantic in speech, and particular as to facts. "Yes; the safe was -opened with the keys of the deceased--probably taken by the assassin -from the dead body--and all the papers have been taken away." - -"What do you mean, exactly?" asked the Coroner. - -Inspector Jones held up his right hand. "I mean," he declared -emphatically, "that the safe was as bare as the palm of my hand. -All papers were removed, the drawers were emptied, and nothing was -left--absolutely nothing." - -"The assassin must have carried quite a load?" - -"As the safe is a large one, and probably was fairly filled, it is -extremely likely," replied the Inspector. Then he went on to state that -the fact of the death was discovered the next morning by Mrs. Snow, the -vicar's wife, who was paying a visit to Miss Hedge. The police were -called in, and everything had been done to discover the whereabouts of -the assassin, but in vain. Villagers, labourers, railway officials, -chance folk travelling in carts and motor-cars and on bicycles had -been questioned, but no suspicious character had been observed. The -assassin had stolen in upon the old man out of the night; and when his -detestable task had been executed, he had again vanished into the night -with his plunder, leaving not a footprint behind by which he could be -traced. - -"Yet the night was rainy," said the Coroner sapiently. - -"And the grassy sward," retorted Jones, "runs right up to the railway -carriage wherein the crime was executed. I have inquired at the Trunk -Street office, and cannot learn from the confidential clerk there -that Mr. Alpenny was threatened in any way, or feared for his life or -property. The affair is a mystery." - -"And is likely to remain so, with such an ass as you at the head of -affairs," murmured the Coroner, as the Inspector, severely official, -stepped down to give place to a rosy little man.--"Well, doctor," he -asked aloud, "what do you know about this sad business?" - -Dr. Herman knew very little, save from a medical standing-point He -lived in Hurstable, some miles distant from the scene of the crime, -and drove round all the surrounding district to see his patients. A -constable stopped him on the day after the crime had been committed, -and he had been asked to examine the corpse. He found that it was that -of an old man. The body was badly nourished, but healthy enough for a -man who certainly was over eighty. The blow on the head would not have -killed a man with such vitality, old as he was. Death had ensued from -the cutting of the throat. "Which was neatly done," said the doctor, -with professional approval. "I should think a very sharp instrument was -used, and a very dexterous hand had used it. No bungling about that -affair," concluded Dr. Herman. - -"Humph!" said the Coroner doubtfully; "and what does that mean? Do you -insinuate that a doctor cut the throat and used a surgical instrument -to do so?" - -"I insinuate nothing of the sort," said Herman hotly, for he did not -like the sneer of the Coroner; "it might have been a butcher, who is -quite as dexterous with a knife as a medical man, although not quite in -the same way." - -"Pooh! pooh! We're all animals, doctor," laughed the Coroner, "and you -are all butchers, whether you are called so or not. Come, now, at what -time did Mr. Jarvis Alpenny meet his death?" - -"I cannot be sure of that--I cannot commit myself to an exact opinion," -said the little doctor doubtfully. "I should say the crime was -committed between eight and nine of the previous night But, as I say, I -cannot be quite certain." - -"Between eight and nine of the previous night," wrote the Coroner, and -called the next witness. - -This was Mrs. Snow, who gave her evidence with much volubility. She -had called on Miss Hedge to ask for money in order to get the spire -of Hurstable Church mended. Miss Hedge had stated that her stepfather -was from home, but she--witness--had glanced into the railway carriage -which was called the counting-house of Mr. Alpenny. There she had seen -the deceased--dead, lying in a pool of blood. At once she gave the -alarm, and Durban, the servant, burst open the door with a beam. - -"The door of the carriage was locked, then?" - -"Oh yes," assented Mrs. Snow. "I tried it myself. I expect the assassin -killed poor Mr. Alpenny, and after robbing the safe, went out with his -plunder, and locked the door after him. He had the keys." - -"One moment," said Durban, rising in the body of the room. "My master -carried the keys--all the keys, including that of the counting-house, -on a single ring. The keys were in the safe, and----" - -"We'll hear you later," said the Coroner sharply.--"Go on, Mrs. Snow." - -"I have nothing further to say," said the vicar's wife, trying to -convey a sympathetic look in her eyes, "save that I am sorry for Miss -Hedge. And I may add," she continued, after a moment of hesitation, -"that Colonel Hall was murdered at Convent Grange twenty-five years -ago, in the same way." - -"I remember the case," said the Coroner, who was an old resident of the -neighbourhood. "And what do you infer?" - -"That the assassin of Colonel Hall and the assassin of Mr. Alpenny are -one and the same," said Mrs. Snow promptly. - -"Why should you connect the two?" asked the Coroner coldly, and very -much puzzled. - -"Colonel Hall and Mr. Alpenny had much to do with one another," said -Mrs. Snow, "and did some business together. That their two throats -should be cut, is a coincidence." - -"Only that and nothing more, Mrs. Snow. I cannot see what the old crime -has to do with the new one." - -"I am sure there is some connection," snapped the sour woman, and then -stepped down from the witness-box with a triumphant glance in the -direction of Beatrice. Why that glance, and one of such a nature, was -sent, Beatrice could not guess. But then the conduct of Mrs. Snow was -perplexing her more and more. - -Durban's evidence was to the effect that he had been absent when the -crime took place. Mr. Alpenny had sent him to town with a letter, and -he had returned the next morning to find the old man dead. Mrs. Snow -had first informed him of the fact. He had burst open the door with -a beam, as it was locked, and then had discovered that Mr. Alpenny's -throat was slit from ear to ear. "And I saw," added the witness -quickly, "that the keys of the deceased, including the key of the -counting-house, were on the ring which dangled from the key used to -open the safe." - -"Then you do not think that the assassin could have locked the door -after him?" - -"Certainly not, seeing that the key was left behind." - - -"Was there not another key?" - -"No. My master had the only key of the counting-house; it was one of -a most peculiar make, and there was no duplicate. Mr. Alpenny was -always careful to lock up his papers, and to keep the door of the -counting-house locked." - -"Then there must be another way of getting into the counting-house." - -Inspector Jones rose to assure the Coroner that the place had been -thoroughly examined. "There is no way of entering the railway carriage -which is called the counting-house, save by the door." - -"But if the door was locked, and the key inside, the assassin must have -got out by another way. What about the window?" - -"It's so small and so barred that a child could not get through it." - -The Coroner scratched his head, and looked at Durban. "You were the -confidential servant of the deceased," he said helplessly; "perhaps you -can explain?" - -"I can explain nothing," said Durban promptly, and quite at his ease; -"certainly I was Mr. Alpenny's servant, but he made no confidant of me. -I took letters to the London office, but what was in them I never knew. -I was cook and general servant--that is all." - -"You were often in the counting-house?" - -"I was never in the counting-house in my life, sir. Mr. Alpenny would -not allow either Miss Hedge or myself to enter." - -"Humph!" said the Coroner again; "the whole mystery seems to centre -round the counting-house. Had Mr. Alpenny enemies?" - -"The usual sort a money-lender is bound to have," said Durban, with a -shrug. "People sometimes came and called him names; and he told me that -many borrowers objected to the high interest he charged." - -"Did the deceased ever give you to understand that his life was in -danger?" - -"Never. He appeared quite happy in his own way." - -"Was he expecting any one on the night he was murdered?" - -"I cannot say. He sent me to town with the letter, and I was to come -back next morning--which," added the witness pointedly, "I did." - -"Mr. Alpenny did not expect to be killed?" - -"No. He would have taken some precautions had he thought that, as he -feared death." - -After this several jurymen asked questions, and the Coroner -cross-examined the half-caste. But he could tell nothing likely to lead -to a discovery of the assassin. He simply declared that he was not in -his late master's confidence, and knew nothing: that he had gone to -town on the night of the murder, and had only learned of it through -Mrs. Snow. The Coroner and, incidentally, Inspector Jones were annoyed; -they had quite counted on a solution of the mystery when Durban was -examined. But he could tell nothing, and they saw no reason to doubt -his evidence. - -Beatrice was called as the final witness, and told very much the same -story as she had related to the sergeant. Only on this occasion she -stated the time when she had returned. The Coroner asked her how she -knew that she had entered at nine, whereupon she detailed the episode -of the fallen watch. "I am sure that when I knocked it down, it stopped -at nine," she said; "at that hour I returned." - -"Why did you not go in and see Mr. Alpenny?" - -"In the first place, I was worn out," said the witness; "in the second, -there was no light in the window of the counting-house; and in the -third, I found the note left by Mr. Alpenny, which I handed to the -sergeant. And in the fourth place," added Beatrice, before the Coroner -could make an observation, which he seemed inclined to do, "I saw the -assassin!" - -Everyone was startled, and a confused murmur filled the room. "You saw -the assassin?" said the Coroner, aghast. - -"When I entered the gates of The Camp at nine o'clock. He is a tall -man, with a black patch over the left eye." - -"A black patch!" cried Mrs. Snow, rising, much excited. "Colonel Hall -was also murdered by a man with a black patch. I swear it." - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII -THE WILL - - -The words rang piercingly through a dead silence. Beatrice, startled -by persistent introduction of a bygone crime, stared at the lean-faced -woman who made the outcry. The Coroner blinked furiously, and nursed -his chin in his hand, considering what to say and what to do. Finally, -he made up his mind to rebuke Mrs. Snow. "You have given your -evidence," said he, frowning a trifle, "and now you must be silent." - -"You should note what I have told you," said Mrs. Snow calmly, but her -bosom heaved impatiently; "the one crime may help the other." - -"As how?" asked the Coroner politely. - -"Because you may strike down two birds with one stone." - -"I should rather put it, if what you say is true, Mrs. Snow, that we -may strike down one bird with two stones. I understand that you say the -man who murdered Colonel Hall--I remember him well--also murdered Mr. -Alpenny?" - -"You heard what Miss Hedge said about the black patch, Dr. Arne: and -you know that Colonel Hall's throat was also cut. - -"There was some stealing also," said Dr. Arne musingly, "which makes -the parallel more complete." - -"There was a diamond necklace stolen," said Mrs. Snow quietly; "at -least I remember that. I was not married then, and Mrs. Hall was my -dear friend." - -"I never saw her," said the Coroner coldly, and a trifle rudely. "All -this is not to the point--Miss Hedge, will you go on?" - -"What would you have me tell you?" asked the witness, who had been -listening eagerly to Mrs. Snow's account of the earlier crime. - -"How could you see this man, seeing that the night was dark and very -stormy?" - -"I saw his face in a flash of lightning," explained Beatrice, and -then related the momentary meeting. But she suppressed the fact that -on the same night she had met Vivian under the Witches' Oak. It was -not pertinent to the case, she thought. Moreover, with the knowledge -of whose handkerchief was in her pocket, she thought it best to keep -Paslow's name out of the matter. - -"The gates were open?" asked the Coroner, when she ended. - -"Wide open." - -"Mr. Alpenny had the key, I believe?" - -"Yes; but that key was not on the ring to which the others were -attached. It hung on the wall." - -"Along with the key of the smaller gate," put in Durban. - -Then Inspector Jones spoke. "The key of the large gate," said he, "I -found in the lock the next morning, where it had been left." - -"The man with the black patch closed the large gate after him, as he -ran out," said Beatrice. - -"Ah! then, probably he opened the gate from the inside, and when he met -you he was too startled to take it out of the lock.--And the smaller -key--that belonging to the little gate, Mr. Inspector?" - -"It is hanging on the wall of the counting-house now." - -Beatrice started, and grasped the chair near which she stood to keep -herself from falling. Vivian had picked up the key when she dropped it -under the Witches' Oak. He must have replaced it in the counting-house -himself, when he was inside. He had also left the handkerchief which -she had in her pocket. Surely he was guilty, and yet--and yet--oh! it -was too terrible. A word from the Coroner recalled her. - -"You look pale, Miss Hedge?" he remarked suspiciously. - -"And no wonder," said the girl faintly; "the whole affair is so very -terrible." - -"Well, well!" said Arne, relenting, and believing this excuse, which -was feasible enough. "I shan't keep you much longer. Why did you not -see Mr. Alpenny on that night?" - -"I have told you: the note----" - -"Ah! yes. I was about to remark on that when you spoke last--Mr. -Inspector, why has not this note been put in evidence?" - -Inspector Jones, with profuse apologies, laid the note on the table. - -"I quite forgot," he said, looking ashamed, "but here it is. As you -will see, Mr. Alpenny says that he is going away for three days." - -"Where did you find the note, Miss Hedge?" - -"Beside my bed on that night. I naturally thought that, as the light -was out in the counting-house, and the note explained, that Mr. Alpenny -had gone away as he intended." - -"Quite right--very natural--hum--hum. When you found the body"--he -spoke to Durban--"what clothes was it dressed in?" - -"Mr. Alpenny always wore one suit," and Durban explained the -old-fashioned dress; "but when I found the body, it was clothed in a -loose cloak which he used to wear in rough weather." - -"And a hat?" - -"The hat was on the desk, sir." - -"Humph!" said Dr. Arne thoughtfully; "then it would seem that he was -struck down, just as he was going up to town. Could Mr. Alpenny have -caught a train so late?" - -"Yes, sir, if he left The Camp at nine o'clock. There was a train at -half-past ten to Brighton; and he could have caught a late one on the -main line, or he could have stopped at Brighton all night. He sometimes -did." - -"It is nearly three miles to our local station," said Dr. Arne. "Could -an old man like Mr. Alpenny walk that distance?" - -"He often did," declared Durban emphatically; "he had a wonderful -constitution, had the master." - -"Marvellous vitality," cried Dr. Herman from his seat, and was rebuked -by his enemy the Coroner. - -Arne asked a few more questions, and then addressed the jury. He -pointed out that, on the evidence before them, they could not arrive at -any conclusion as to who was the actual murderer. - -"The man who murdered Colonel Hall," cried Mrs. Snow. - -"Quite so," said the Coroner smoothly; "but that man escaped, and was -never discovered. If it is the same man--and certainly, Mrs. Snow, it -seems as though your surmise is right--he may escape again. Mr. Alpenny -apparently was about to start on his journey, after leaving the note -for Miss Hedge, and probably was turning over some necessary papers, -when he was struck down. Regarding the locked door, I can offer no -explanation: nor have the police been able to find this masked man, -who assuredly must be the assassin. The case is full of mystery, and I -do not see what can be done, save that the jury should return an open -verdict." - -He made a few more observations, but what he said was not very much -to the point. The jury--what else could be done?--returned a verdict -of murder against a person or persons unknown, with an observation to -the effect that the police should hunt down the man with the black -patch. This last remark was rather irregular; but, to say the truth, -everyone was so puzzled over the aspect of the case that no one had any -very clear idea of what to say or do. However, the verdict--such as it -was--resolved itself into the terms above stated, and the jury betook -themselves severally to their homes, there to puzzle over the matter. -Beatrice went back to The Camp with Durban, and both felt glad that the -corpse was still left in an outhouse of the hotel. Neither wished that -gruesome relic of mortality to remain in The Camp. - -"That is all right, missy," said Durban, when the two were walking -along the lane towards The Camp; "master will be buried to-morrow, and -we won't think of him any more." - -"I'll never get the sight of that body out of my head," said Beatrice, -with a shudder. "Durban, who could have killed him?" - -"I cannot say, missy," said the half-caste stolidly; "you heard what -evidence I gave." - -"Yes. But did you speak truly?" - -"I spoke what I spoke," said Durban sullenly; "the least said, the -soonest mended." - -Beatrice felt a qualm of terror at the memory of the replaced key and -the handkerchief in her pocket. "Then you have some idea who killed Mr. -Alpenny?" - -"No, I have not, missy--that is, I cannot lay my finger on the man." - -"Then it was a man?" - -"It might have been two men or three, missy. Master had dealings with -very strange and dangerous people: I don't wonder he was killed. And," -cried the half-caste, stopping to emphasise his words, "if I knew who -killed him, I would shake that man's hand." - -"Durban! Why, in Heaven's name?" - -"Because--because--missy," he broke off abruptly, "let the past alone, -my dear young lady. Mr. Alpenny was a bad man, and came to a deserved -end. I did not kill him, you did not kill him, so we had better think -no more of him. When he is buried, you will have the money, and then -you can marry Mr. Paslow and be happy." - -"I shall never marry Mr. Paslow--never, never," cried Beatrice -bitterly, and lifted a wan face to the mocking blue sky. - -"But he loves you." - -"And I love him. All the same--Durban," she broke off in her turn, "I -want to hear all you know about Mr. Paslow. - -"I know nothing, missy," said Durban, looking profoundly surprised; "he -is poor but good-hearted, and I like him." - -"You don't think that he--he would commit a crime?" asked Miss Hedge -faintly, and clinging to the servant. - -"No!" cried Durban, with great assurance. "What makes you think that?" - -"Mr. Alpenny said----" - -Durban did not give her time to finish. "Master would accuse any one of -anything, to gain his ends," he said quietly. "He did not wish you to -marry Mr. Paslow, because it was to his interest that you should marry -Major Ruck." - -"So he said. Do you know this Major?" - -"Yes," said Durban, with some hesitation, "and a wicked man he is. If -he comes to marry you, missy, tell Mr. Paslow, and he'll settle him." - -"I don't expect that I shall see Major Ruck." - -"I don't know," muttered the servant doubtfully; "the Major won't let -you slip through his fingers if he can help it." - -"Durban, you seem to know much that you will not tell me?" - -"I do know a lot; but it is useless to tell you, missy." - -"Not even about Colonel Hall's death, Durban?" - -The half-caste turned green, and winced. "Not even about that, missy," -he said coldly. "Get the money, marry Mr. Paslow, and go away from this -place." - -"Do you think Mrs. Snow is right?" persisted Beatrice, wondering at his -nervous looks. "Did the man who killed Colonel Hall, kill Mr.----" - -"I don't know--I can't say," interrupted Durban, gloomily; "it might -have been another one of them." - -"Are there then two men who wear black patches over the----" - -Durban clenched his long, nervous hand. "You'll drive me mad with these -questions," he said fiercely, and with less of his usual respect. "I -tell you, missy, I know much, and yet I know nothing which it would do -any good for you to hear. I have watched over you in the past, and I -shall watch over you in the future. You have been surrounded by devils. -Master was the worst; but now that he is dead, all danger is at an end. -You have the money, and you can go away." - -"You speak in riddles." - -"Let them remain riddles if you have any love for me," said Durban -moodily; and Beatrice, although anxious to hear more, held her peace. - -After all, she had her own cross to bear. In some way Vivian was mixed -up with this horrible crime. He could not possibly be guilty of it, in -spite of the evidence. Moreover, Mrs. Snow said that the assassin was -the same as he who had killed Colonel Hall, which would put Vivian's -innocence beyond a doubt. In spite of her desire to obey Durban to whom -she owed so much, Beatrice had to insist on an answer to this question. -"I won't ask you anything more," she said to the sullen man--and he -was sullen--"only this: Is the assassin of Colonel Hall the assassin -of Mr. Alpenny?" - -"I think so," muttered the man, "but I cannot be sure." - -"You must be sure, for my peace of mind, Durban." - -"Your peace of mind, missy?" he asked, surprised. - -"Yes. I must tell you, as I know you will hold your tongue. But I -think--I believe--no, I don't: but I fancy, that is. Durban"--she -caught the man's shoulders and shook him in the roadway--"did Vivian -Paslow murder Mr. Alpenny?" - -"Missy!" Durban looked startled, but his eyes sparkled. "No! no! One -thousand times no! What makes you think that?" - -"The handkerchief--the key," and Beatrice, producing the handkerchief, -told Durban the whole of what had happened. "And I am thankful that -Mrs. Snow did not see me pick it up," she finished. - -"Wait till we get to The Camp, missy," said the old servant kindly, and -led her along the short distance that intervened between where they -had stopped and The Camp itself. Once there, Durban took her to the -parlour-carriage and went away. He returned with some orange-blossom -water, which is a good nerve tonic, and made her take it. When the girl -was more composed, he stood before her with raised finger. - -"Missy," he said gravely, "I have been, and I am, a good friend to you." - -"Yes--yes, I know you are," she said, with a sigh. - -"The reason of my fidelity you shall know some day," he went on, "and -a good reason it is. But you must ask me no more questions until I -voluntarily tell you all that it is needful you should know. With -regard to Mr. Paslow, you can set your mind at rest. He is quite -innocent. The handkerchief you found was left behind by him on the day -he had that quarrel with Mr. Alpenny." - -"Are you sure?" - -"I am absolutely certain. I saw it on master's desk when I went in to -get that letter which I was to take to town. As to the key, I got it -from Mr. Paslow himself." - -"When did you see him?" - -"Later on in the day--on that day when we found out the murder," -explained Durban fluently. "I went outside, and found that Mr. Paslow -was coming in, to see if you had got home safely. He told me that he -possessed the key of the small gate, which you had dropped, and gave -it to me. I replaced it on the nail in the counting-house, where the -Inspector found it. Mr. Paslow went to London whenever he heard of the -crime, and at my request." - -"But why, Durban?" asked Beatrice, relieved to find that Vivian had not -been so callous or neglectful as she had thought. - -"I wanted him to see Mr. Alpenny's lawyer, and look after the will," -said Durban steadily. "He wanted to see you; I would not allow that, as -you were quite worried enough." - -"But the sight of Vivian would have done me good," protested the poor -girl faintly, for she was quite worn out. - -"I can see that now," said Durban regretfully, "but I thought at the -time that it was wiser to keep you quiet. If I had thought that you -suspected him, I should have spoken before: but you never mentioned his -name, so I deemed it best to be silent. But he is perfectly innocent, -and, when he comes back, will be able to tell you where he went after -he left you on that night. Meanwhile he is seeing after the will." - -"Is there any need?" - -"Every need. I tell you, missy, that even though Mr. Alpenny is dead, -you are surrounded by scoundrels. But if you get the money--and master -swore to me that he would leave you the fortune--you will be absolutely -safe." - -"From what, Durban?" - -"From the wicked schemes of these people. Major Ruck----" Here Durban -checked himself and spoke softly and soothingly. "There! there, missy, -ask no more questions. Some day your foolish, old, silly Durban will -make things plain. Just now, think only that you will be rich, that you -will marry Mr. Paslow, and that everything will go well with you." - -Beatrice raised her arms, and dropped them with a helpless air. She -seemed to be more than ever surrounded by mysteries, and Durban, who -was able to explain, insisted upon holding his tongue. At all events, -her mind was set at rest regarding the honesty of Vivian; and she -thought it best to take the old servant's advice, and possess her soul -in patience until such time as he chose to tell her the truth, whatever -that might be. But it was all very puzzling, and her head ached with -the effort to think matters out. After a time Durban persuaded her to -lie down, which she did very willingly, being quite prostrate after the -terrors of the past few days. - -She fell into an uneasy doze, and was awakened by the sound of a -much-loved voice. At once she put on her dressing-gown and opened the -door. Vivian, looking weary and dispirited, was talking to Durban near -at hand, where she could overhear plainly. - -"Yes," he was saying, "Beatrice gets nothing. All the money--quite -twenty thousand a year--has been left by Alpenny to Lady Watson." - -"Lady Watson!" cried Beatrice, opening the door; "my mother's friend?" - -Vivian turned away. Durban changed to his usual green pallor, and -seemed deeply agitated. - -"Yes," said Durban, "your mother's friend." He paused, and then spat on -the ground. "Curse her!" said Durban fiercely. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX -LADY WATSON - - -Beatrice stared. At Vivian's grey drawn face, bereft of youth, and at -Durban's savage green countenance, she looked spell-bound. A pause -ensued. Beatrice did not know what to make of the men: Paslow's averted -looks, and worn paleness; Durban's curse for Lady Watson. Would the -fact that she did not inherit the money account for such emotions? She -thought not, and so requested information. - -"What is it?" she asked, looking from one to the other; but she looked -longest at Vivian. - -"You have heard, missy," said Durban, recovering himself somewhat. "We -have lost the money." - -"I can bear that, if I lose nothing else," said Beatrice, her eyes -still on Paslow's grey face. - -"But that she should get it!" cried Durban, shaking impotent fists -in the air, "after all she has done. And I can do nothing to force -her to be fair. Who would have thought the foul old thief would have -squandered his gold on her silly face? I could----" Here he caught -sight of the frightened looks of Beatrice, and let his hands fall. As -he walked past Vivian towards the kitchen, he breathed a sentence in -the young man's ear. "She may know much," said Durban imperatively, -"but not all." - -"Great Heaven! Could I tell her all, do you think?" groaned the man. - -Beatrice caught the drift, if not the exact words of these whispers, -and came towards Vivian. Durban was already within the kitchen, and -had shut the door. The two were alone--she eager to know the worst; -he silent, and tortured with much that he could not explain. "Vivian, -Vivian," she continued, and laid her hand on his arm. He shook it off -with a shudder. "My dear!" said Beatrice, shrinking back; "oh! my -dear," and she stared with fast-locked hands. - -"Not that," whispered the man, with dry lips. "You might have called me -so when we stood under the Witches' Oak, but now"--he made a despairing -gesture--"that is all at an end." - -"Do you take back your proposal of marriage?" asked the girl, colouring. - -"I do, because I must." Vivian looked at her hungrily, as though he -would have given his life to take her in his arms--as was, indeed, the -case. "If I did not love you so much," he said hoarsely, "I would lie; -but loving you as I do, I must speak the truth." - -"The whole of it?" she asked bitterly. - -"So much as I may tell Miss Hedge." - -"Miss Hedge?" - -"I have no right to call you otherwise now," said Paslow sadly. "I told -you of a bar which prevented my asking you to be my wife?" - -"Yes; and you said that it had been removed." - -"I was wrong. It is not removed. I had no right to speak." - -"What is this bar?" - -"I cannot tell you, Beatrice." He caught suddenly at her hands. "If -I could lie down and die at your dear feet, I would, for my heart is -sick within me. I have sinned, and bitterly I am paying for my sin. -When I spoke to you under the oak, I was then able to be your true -lover, and hoped to be your loving husband. But now"--he flung away her -hands--"that barrier which I thought removed, is still between us. I am -not a free agent. I dare not ask you to be my wife." - -"But you have asked me, and I have consented," she panted, red with -shame and anger. "Why are you playing with me like this?" - -"Why are the gods playing with both of us, you mean," he said, with a -mirthless laugh. "Were you and I on the other side of the world, we -might be happy--and yet, even then it would be impossible. I love you, -but you have every right to hate me." - -"I don't understand one word you are talking about," said Beatrice -sharply, and tried to resolve some sense out of his wild words. "Is it -that you committed this crime?" - -"I!" He started back amazed. "Beatrice, I may be bad, but I am not so -evil as that. I hated Alpenny, and had every reason to hate him, but -I never laid a finger on the poor wretch. I did not kill him myself, -nor can I tell you who killed him. Ah," he went on, half to himself, -"Durban said something of this--about the key of the small gate--but he -explained." - -"Is what he said true?" - -"Perfectly true. I am innocent. It is not the murder that is a bar to -divide us. I could face that out; but there are other things which -prevent my being a free agent." - -"Have you a master, then?" - -"I have those about me who know too much," said Vivian fiercely, "and -if anything would make me stain my hands with blood, it would be the -knowledge that I am the sport of thieves and vagabonds. How it will -all end I do not know--for me, that is. But for you, my best and -dearest"--he made a step forward, but she evaded him.--"for you, I know -the end. You must come to Convent Grange and----" - -"Go to the Grange, after what you have said?" she flamed out. - -"I shall not trouble you. I shall go to town. You can stay with Dinah -and with Mrs. Lilly for a time. Then Durban and I will see if we cannot -get you some money from Mrs.--that is, from Lady Watson." - -"Why should she give it to me?" asked Beatrice, shrugging. - -"Because"--he began, then ended abruptly--"I cannot tell you." - -"Vivian"--Beatrice moved swiftly forward and laid a firm hand on his -shoulder--"I do not understand all this. Mr. Alpenny, poor wretch, -hinted at crimes on your part." - -"Do you believe him?" asked Vivian, turning his haggard young face -towards her. - -"No," she said firmly. "I love you too well for that." - -"God bless you!" A tear dropped on the hand, which he kissed. - -She drew it away. "But you are not open with me; you are not honest -with me. If you have troubles, I have a right to share them. Tell me of -this barrier." - -"No," said Vivian firmly. "I cannot. I dare not. All I can say is that -the barrier may be removed in time. Only trust me." - -"Has the barrier to do with this crime?" - -"In some ways." - -"And with the death of Colonel Hall?" - -"What do you know of that?" asked Paslow, amazed. - -"Very little; but Mrs. Snow hinted----" - -"That woman! She'll make mischief if she can. Don't trust her. She -hates you, Beatrice." - -"Why should she? I hardly know her." - -"But she knows you--that is, she knows of you. To explain what it -all means would be to tell you much that I would rather you did not -know--that you must never know." - -"I am not a child----" - -"You are the woman I love, and therefore I shall not allow your mind -to be tainted with--with--with what I could tell you," he ended rather -weakly. - -Beatrice reflected for a few minutes. Apparently Vivian was in some -trouble connected with other people; possibly--as she guessed--with -those scoundrels who surrounded Alpenny, and of whom Durban had talked. -For some reason, which she could not guess, he was trying to keep -from her things which were vile and evil. She could not think how a -young country squire could be involved in Alpenny's rogueries--which -it seemed he was. And then his--but she gave up trying to solve the -problem on such evidence as was before her. It only remained that she -should use her own eyes, her own intelligence, and maybe, sooner or -later, she would arrive at an understanding of things. Then, perhaps, -she would be enabled to remove this barrier which stood between them. -Strange though Paslow's conduct was, and open to dire suspicion, she -still loved him, and knew in her heart of hearts that she would love -him until he died. This being the case, she made up her mind with the -swiftness of a woman who is fighting for what she loves best, and -looked at him searchingly. He was watching her with anxious eyes, but -shifted his gaze to the ground when she looked at him. - -"Will you answer me a few questions?" she asked quietly. - -"If I can," he replied, hesitating. - -Her lip curled in spite of herself. "You need not be afraid. I shall -respect your secret, whatever it is--for the present, that is. -Meanwhile, perhaps you will tell me if you know who killed Mr. Alpenny?" - -"No. I told you before that I did not know." - -"Have you any suspicion?" - -"Not even a suspicion," he answered frankly, and he looked at her as he -spoke, so serenely, that she believed him. - -"Will you tell me about Colonel Hall's murder?" - -"I know very little about it. I was a child at the time. Mrs. Lilly can -tell you anything you wish to know. Why do you ask?" - -"Because, from what Mrs. Snow said, I believe that the first murder of -Colonel Hall is connected with the second murder of Mr. Alpenny." - -"I don't believe that," muttered Vivian, uneasily. - -"I do. The murders--both of them--were committed by the man with the -black patch. What do you know of that?" - -"Nothing, save that I used the words to frighten Alpenny, and found -them on the paper laid on my desk." - -"Do you know who laid that paper there?" - -"I have not the least idea. The desk is near the window, and that was -open. Any one could have passed the paper through the window. I asked -Dinah and Mrs. Lilly, but neither one of them knew how the paper came -to be there." - -"If you remember," continued Beatrice slowly, "Mr. Alpenny muttered -something about it being the third time. Well, then, I truly believe -that the words you used unconsciously were a warning. Twice he was -warned, and on the third warning he expected to be killed. That was -why, I believe, he arranged to go up to town, when he was struck down. -You were used by someone as the unconscious instrument to give him the -warning." - -"I might have been, but----" - -"That is," she added, coming so close to him that he felt her breath on -his cheek, "if you really and truly are ignorant of the meaning of the -words." - -"I swear that I am," stammered Vivian, turning red. "Then your secret -has nothing to do with the black patch?" - -"No. I am as puzzled as you are over that. Well?" - -"Well," said Beatrice, looking over her shoulder--she had moved towards -the door of her bedroom as he spoke--"I intend to go to the Grange, and -I do not care whether you stop there or not. The worst is over now. I -know that you love me----" - -"God knows that I do," he said hurriedly. - -"And He knows that I love you," she went on steadily. "I don't care -what crimes you have committed, or what stops you from again asking me -to be your wife. I love you, and I intend to marry you----" - -"Beatrice!" - -She threw up her hand to keep him at his distance. "Wait! I intend to -solve the mystery of these murders myself. The two are connected; and -when I find out who killed these two men, I shall be able to marry you. -Is that not so?" - -"Possibly--that is----" - -"You need say no more. Tell Dinah that I shall come to the Grange this -evening. For the present, good-day." And she went in and shut the door. - -Paslow stood where he was for a moment, then flung himself forward -to kiss the wood of the door. "Oh! my love--my love--my heart!" he -murmured; "what a dreary, weary way you have marked out for yourself. -But I shall follow you along the path of shadows, and perhaps we two -will emerge at length into the sunshine." - -He turned away, and, passing the kitchen carriage, knocked at the door -sharply. Durban appeared. "I heard everything," said the servant, who -was now more composed. - -"And what do you say, knowing what you do know?" - -"I say, let missy go on. It may be that God intends her to learn the -truth, and right matters." - -"But Lady Watson has the money," Vivian reminded him. - -"She has everything," said Durban bitterly; "she always did have -everything." Then, with an afterthought, "But what she really wanted, -she never got, Mr. Paslow." - -"And what was that?" - -"Never mind. Least said, soonest mended. I will tell missy nothing, and -you must hold your tongue also. Only let us guard her from danger." - -"I don't think there is danger for her, Durban." - -"Ah--hum--one never knows. There are those--but no matter. Let her -go her ways. It may be that she may learn the truth, and put things -straight." - -"She can never put them straight for me," said Vivian bitterly. - -"I can do that," said Durban. "Let missy go to the Grange. I go to -London. You will have news from me." - -Paslow caught his arm as he turned to go. "You will not----" - -"I am too fond of my neck for that," said Durban, and went into his -kitchen, while Vivian, full of sore thoughts and yet with a certain -glimmer of hope, now that Beatrice was to take a hand in the game, went -home to Dinah. - -Beatrice packed her boxes and got ready to go. By five o'clock she was -hatted and cloaked, and a trap was waiting at the gates to take her -to Convent Grange along with her luggage. Alpenny was to be buried on -the morrow, but it was just as well that Miss Hedge should leave The -Camp to-night. But she was not to go yet for an hour, for scarcely had -she reached the open gates, when a small lady, fashionably dressed, -entered, and came straight towards her. When Durban saw her, he -frowned. "Lady Watson!" he breathed in the ear of his young mistress. - -"She seems anxious to take possession of her property," said the girl -bitterly, and looked carefully at the woman who had supplanted her in -the race for Alpenny's wealth. - -Lady Watson looked--in the distance--like a child, so small and -delicate and slender did she appear. But when she came close, which -she did, with an engaging smile, Beatrice saw that her face was -covered with innumerable fine wrinkles, and that she was painted and -powdered, and made up--as the saying is--to within an inch of her -life. Her hair was dyed a golden colour; she wore a veil to hide the -too obvious make-up of her face; and the only young thing about her -were a pair of sparkling eyes, of a bright brown. At one time she had -been--without the aid of art--an extremely pretty woman: even now--with -the aid of art--she looked attractive and youthful, providing she was -looked at from a safe distance, like an oil-painting. Her dress was -ultra-fashionable, and she wore it with the air of a woman accustomed -to spend no end of money in drapers' shops. Her teeth were good, but -probably were false, as was her smile. Beatrice, a straightforward -person herself, took an instinctive dislike to this gushing little mass -of affectation, which came mincing towards her. She had no wish to -cultivate the acquaintance. But Lady Watson gave her no time to express -her dislike, either by looks or in words. - -"My dear child--my sweet Beatrice," she cried, in a rather shrill -voice, and sailing forward with eager, outstretched hands, "how glad I -am to see you at last! That dreadful Mr. Alpenny--he never would allow -me to come and see you, although I was your mother's dearest--very -dearest and closest friend. But then the poor creature is dead; and he -really wasn't a nice person, when all is said and done." - -"Mrs. Snow told me that you were my mother's friend," replied Beatrice -gravely, and surrendering her hands to the eager grasp. "I am glad to -see you, as I wish to talk about my mother." - -"Oh!" Lady Watson started, and cast a suspicious look on the grave -young face. "Then you are not glad to see me on my own account?" - -"I scarcely know you, Lady Watson." - -"Ah, but you will soon. I am a very easy person to get on with, as -Durban knows. Dear old Durban"--she turned a smiling glance at the -half-caste, who looked gloomily at the ground--"he is as young as -ever.--It is long since we met, Durban?" - -"Very long, madam," said Durban coldly, his eyes still on the ground, -and Beatrice saw his hands opening and shutting as though he could -scarcely keep them from Lady Watson's throat. - -"Well, well, we won't talk of the past just yet--it is unpleasant, my -dear Durban," and she gave a pretty little shudder. Durban made no -reply in words, but, raising his eyes, looked at her meaningly. She -shuddered again, this time with genuine terror, and turned pale under -her rouge. Beatrice wondered what secret there could be between the -two--the fashionable lady and the poor servant. - -"Still the same gloomy thing," tittered Lady Watson, passing her flimsy -handkerchief across a pair of dry lips; "you always were, you know, -Durban. The Colonel--but there"--as Durban looked at her again--"we'll -not talk of the past, but of the future.--Of course, dear Miss Hedge, -you know that poor Mr. Alpenny left me his money?" - -"I understand so," said Beatrice coldly. - -"And, naturally, you are annoyed?" - -"No. Before his death Mr. Alpenny gave me to understand that he would -not leave me any money. You perhaps had a greater claim on him than I, -Lady Watson." - -The other tittered, and avoided Durban's eyes. "Oh dear me, no. The -poor creature--Mr. Alpenny, you know--was in love with me ages and -ages ago, long before I married Sir Reginald. But Reginald is dead, -and so is Mr. Alpenny--everyone seems to die--so dreadful, you know, -Miss Hedge--or rather I should say Beatrice. I shall call you Beatrice, -since we are to be friends, and live together." - -"Live together?" - -"Oh! haven't I told you? I am such a feather-head. Yes. Whenever I -found that poor Mr. Alpenny--queer creature, wasn't he?--had left me -his money, I said I would come down and ask you to be my companion--my -child, in fact, if I may put it so. You shall have everything you want. -I must have someone to look after the house, as the servants are so -tiresome, and I am a lonely woman without a chick or child." - -"Miss Hedge is going to Convent Grange," said Durban thickly. - -Lady Watson started and again turned pale. "That horrid place!" she -said faintly. - -"Why do you call it that?" asked Beatrice quickly. - -"There was a horrid murder committed there ages ago. I was in the house -at the time, and----" - -"Madam," interposed Durban sharply; "please do not tell Miss Hedge -anything more. She has had enough horrors for the time being." - -Lady Watson looked straight at Durban, and he looked straight at her. -The situation was adjusted between them without words, and although -Beatrice protested that she wished to hear about the earlier crime, the -frivolous little woman declined to say another word. - -"How can one talk of such things in the midst of such lovely scenery -as you have here?" she cried, and put up a tortoise-shell lorgnette -to survey The Camp. "Quite delicious. I shall make this a kind of -country-house. So odd, you know, with all these railway carriages. -Dear Mr. Alpenny! he was so very queer in his tastes. But I'll come -here with you, dearest Beatrice, and we'll garden and live like -milkmaids--like Marie Antoinette, you know. Rural life--delicious." - -"I am going to live at the Grange, Lady Watson." - -"But I want you to be my companion. I insist." Lady Watson spoke with -some sharpness, as apparently she was a lady not accustomed to be -thwarted in her wishes. - -"I have arranged to live at the Grange," said Beatrice, and Durban -nodded his approval; "for a time, that is. Afterwards, I intend to go -out as a governess." - -"What! With that face and figure? You foolish girl, I won't allow it. -You must enter society on my money--or rather on that poor creature's, -Alpenny's, money--and marry and----" - -"I don't think you have any right to tell me what to do, Lady Watson," -said Beatrice, annoyed by this imperious air. - -"As your mother's dearest friend?" - -"I don't recognise that as an authority. But if you will give me your -address in town, I'll come and see you and talk about my dear mother. I -want to know everything about her." - -"I can tell you nothing," said Lady Watson tartly; "that is, I won't, -unless you come as my companion." - -"Lady Watson, I thank you very much for your offer; but I go to the -Grange, and as I am already overdue, I must leave you now. Good-day." - -She held out her hand, which Lady Watson waved aside. "You provoking -girl, I won't say good-day. I am stopping with Mrs. Snow, and will -come and see you at the Grange. Give me a kiss"; and before Beatrice -could stop her, Lady Watson kissed her warmly. When the little woman -drew back, Beatrice saw to her surprise that the bright brown eyes were -filled with tears. - - - - - -CHAPTER X -MRS. LILLY'S STORY - - -The funeral was over, and Jarvis Alpenny was buried beside the -wife whom--according to rumour--he had so cruelly neglected. The -excitement about his mysterious death was apparently buried with him, -and Hurstable again became a somnolent hamlet, devoid of news and -intelligence. In spite of every effort, the police were unable to trace -the man with the black patch. No one seemed to know anything about him, -and he had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed -him up. The local and London papers made their usual crass remarks -about the inactivity and uselessness of the police, and, save in a rare -paragraph, ceased to notice the matter. The murder was only a nine -hours' wonder after all. - -Lady Watson went away from the Rectory without calling upon Beatrice, -as she had promised. Perhaps this was because she had unpleasant -recollections of Convent Grange, or perhaps on account of a short -conversation she had with Durban after Beatrice left The Camp. But -whatever might be her reason, she did not again ask Miss Hedge to -become her companion, nor did she call or even write. With her twenty -thousand a year she returned to London, and left The Camp in charge of -Durban, who still continued to inhabit his old quarters. Sometimes he -came over to see Beatrice, and appeared to be more devoted than ever -to the girl. But he said nothing about the various mysteries he had -hinted at, nor did Beatrice inquire very closely what they might be. -She saw very plainly that both Durban and Vivian were determined that -she should know as little as possible--for what reason she could not -imagine--and therefore, in pursuance of her determination, she cast -about to find some path which might lead to a discovery of the truth, -whatever that might be. She wished to learn who had killed Alpenny, and -thought that, by examining into his past life, she might be able to -learn something of his enemies. Once she discovered who disliked him, -and the reason of such dislike, she fancied that she might lay her hand -on the assassin. But there was no one to tell her of Alpenny's past, as -both Durban and Vivian kept silent. But as, according to Mrs. Snow, the -murderer of Colonel Hall was the assassin of Jarvis Alpenny, Beatrice -determined to learn all she could about the earlier crime, in the hope -that her discoveries in that direction might enable her to elucidate -the mystery of the later murder. - -Mrs. Lilly was the best person to apply to for a history of Colonel -Hall's untimely fate, as she had been housekeeper to the Paslows for -many, many years. Beatrice, during the first fortnight of her stay, -hinted that she would like to hear about the tragedy, and Mrs. Lilly, -after some hesitation, promised to tell her what she knew. Accordingly, -Beatrice, two weeks after the burial of her stepfather, was seated in -the Grange garden waiting for the housekeeper. Mrs. Lilly had first -to attend to her work, but promised that as soon as it was ended she -would come out and chat. As Dinah had gone over to the Rectory to see -Mrs. Snow, Beatrice was quite alone. She did not count Vivian, as he -scarcely stopped an entire day at the Grange, and very rarely a night. -Some business took him constantly to London, but what it might be the -girl could not guess. After that abrupt conversation in The Camp, the -two said very little to one another. It was a strange wooing, and -extremely unsatisfactory. - -The garden of Convent Grange was delightful, as was the house, although -both were somewhat dilapidated. The ancient red brick mansion had -been--as Mrs. Snow had informed Beatrice--a convent in the reign of -that arch-iconoclast, Henry VIII. When his greedy hand was laid upon -ecclesiastical property, he had bestowed the convent on Amyas Paslow, -who promptly turned out the nuns, to house himself and his family. -But there was some curse on the place and on the race, for the family -never prospered overmuch, and when the property came to Vivian Paslow, -he was as poor as an English gentleman of long descent well can be. -Nevertheless, he still clung to the old mansion, although he could -have sold it at an advantageous price to an American millionaire. In -some wonderful way he managed to scrape enough money together to pay -the interest on the mortgage to Alpenny, and thus had kept a roof over -his head and that of Dinah. Lately, as he had told Beatrice under the -oak, he had inherited a small sum of money from an aunt, and thus -things were easier with him. The girl fancied that it must be business -connected with the paying-off of the mortgage that took him so often to -London; but on this point he gave her no information. - -The day was hot and drowsy, and Beatrice, clothed in black--for she -paid her stepfather the compliment of wearing mourning--sat on an -old stone seat, between two yew trees cut in the shape of peacocks. -Before her, on a slight rise, rose the mellow brick walls of the -Grange, covered with ivy. A terrace ran along the front of the house, -and over the door was the mouldering escutcheon of the Paslow family. -What with the queer pointed roofs, the twisted stacks of chimneys, -the diamond-paned casements, and the prim gardens, the place looked -particularly delightful. A poet could have dreamed away his days in -this rustic paradise, and Beatrice felt as though she were in the land -of the Lotus-eaters. But even as she slipped into vague dreams, she -pulled herself up, and shunned the enchanted ground. There was sterner -work to do than dreaming. Before she could become the mistress of this -castle of indolence, and wife of its master, it was necessary to lift -the cloud which rested on the place. To do so, she would have to begin -by questioning Mrs. Lilly, and impatiently awaited the arrival of that -worthy soul. - -Towards noon Mrs. Lilly appeared on the terrace, and sailed down the -broad garden-path between the lines of brilliant flowers. She was stout -and comely, with white hair and a winter-apple face. A very honest, -pleasant old woman was Mrs. Lilly, but behind the times. It was her -boast that she had never been away from the Weald of Sussex for one -solitary day out of a long length of years; and she had no patience--as -she frequently stated--with the new-fangled notions of modern life (of -which, it may be remarked incidentally, she knew no more than a child -unborn!). Beatrice looked at the housekeeper's worn black silk dress, -at her lace cap and voluminous apron, and acknowledged that Mrs. Lilly -was a picturesque figure, who might have stepped out of the pages of a -Christmas Number. The very model of a pompous, narrow-minded, honest, -kindly old English servant. - -"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Lilly, who looked on the three young people -as children and addressed them accordingly, "I've got through my work. -And a wonder it is, seeing that Polly and Molly"--these were the two -servants--"are so lazy. But I have had the rooms brushed, and the -dinner is ordered, and everything is in apple-pie order; so here I -am ready for a rest." And she sat down beside Beatrice with a groan, -remarking on the stiffness of her joints. - -"You won't have much rest with me, Mrs. Lilly," laughed Beatrice, who, -knowing the old lady well for some years, was quite familiar with her. -"Have you got your knitting?" Mrs. Lilly was always knitting when off -domestic duty. "Oh! here it is. Now make yourself comfortable, you dear -old thing, and talk." - -"What about?" asked Mrs. Lilly, mounting her spectacles, and beginning -to click the needles. - -"Colonel Hall's death." - -"Oh! my dear," said the housekeeper with dismay; "do you really wish me -to tell you about that horrid thing?" - -"Of course; and you promised to do so." - -"But wouldn't you rather hear about the ghost?" said Mrs. Lilly in -coaxing tones; "that's an old family legend, and ever so much nicer." - -"No. Colonel Hall's death, or nothing." - -"Why do you wish to know?" - -Beatrice evaded this question dexterously, not thinking it wise to -admit Mrs. Lilly into her confidence too largely. "Oh! Mrs. Snow talked -a lot about it at the inquest." - -"I heard about that, my dear. Strange that your stepfather should have -been murdered by a man with a black patch over his left eye!" - -"You agree with Mrs. Snow, then?" - -"That the same man committed the other murder?" queried Mrs. Lilly -musingly. "I can hardly say that. Certainly a black patch, that could -have been worn over an eye, was found on the grass under Colonel Hall's -window the morning after his murder, but----" - -"The man was not seen, then?" interrupted Beatrice. - -"No. Only from the presence of the black patch, the detective who -had charge of the case thought it had been worn for the purpose of -disguise. There was a great stir about the matter, as Colonel Hall was -well known as a Government official. He came from some West Indian -island, I believe, where he was Administrator or something," ended Mrs. -Lilly vaguely. - -"Well, then, tell me all from the beginning. Mrs. Snow has very little -to go on, if that is all about the black patch. I saw Mr. Alpenny's -murderer wearing it, you know; but neither Mrs. Snow nor any one else -saw Colonel Hall's assassin with it on." - -Mrs. Lilly nodded. "I heard of your experience. My dear, you should not -run about the woods at night: it isn't ladylike. I wonder you didn't -faint with horror when you saw the man!" - -"I should have, had I known of this theory about Colonel Hall having -been killed by such a man. As it was, I felt too worn-out to be -startled by anything. Where ignorance is bliss. Go on, Mrs. Lilly; tell -me all Mrs. Snow does not know." - -"I think she knows a very great deal," remarked the housekeeper -viciously. "I never could bear that lady--a sour, bad-tempered woman -if ever there was one. She was a governess, you know. Yes; she and -Mrs. Hall were at school together, and Mrs. Hall made her a kind of -companion. After the murder, and when Mrs. Hall went back to the West -Indies, Mrs. Snow--a Miss Duncan she was then--stopped on and married -the rector, who was a fool. I am quite sure he has regretted ever since -that he made her his wife." - -"I don't like Mrs. Snow myself," said Beatrice thoughtfully. "And who -is this Lady Watson who knew my mother?" - -"I cannot tell you. I have never set eyes on her. Some school friend -of Mrs. Snow's, I dare say. Mrs. Snow always said everybody had been -to school with her. I believe she told lies," finished Mrs. Lilly with -great contempt. - -"Tell me about Mrs. Hall and the Colonel?" - -"He was a tall, handsome man, very kind, and stately in his bearing, my -dear. Mr. Paslow--the father of Master Vivian--knew him very well, and -asked him to stop here." - -"With Mrs. Hall?" - -"Yes. But Mrs. Hall only came for one night, and that was the night of -the murder. I don't think she got on well with her husband." - -"What was she like to look at?" - -"A small dark woman, very grave, and sparing of words. I think she -had something on her mind. She seemed to be very much afraid of her -husband, and rarely spoke to him. She came down with a one-year-old -baby, and a nurse--a delicate-looking woman, far gone in consumption, -poor soul." - -"Just like my mother," said Beatrice; "she died of consumption, you -know, Mrs. Lilly. At least Mr. Alpenny said so." - -"I never saw your mother, my dear. Mr. Alpenny married a few weeks -after the murder, and took Mrs. Hedge, as I understand she was called, -to The Camp. She never came out, and no one ever saw her. When she -was buried, everyone was quite amazed to hear that Mr. Alpenny had a -wife--though, of course, it was hinted that he had married. He was -deeply in love with Mrs. Hall, you know." - -"Lady Watson says he was deeply in love with her." - -"I don't believe the man was deeply in love with any one save himself," -declared Mrs. Lilly sharply. "I detested him, and say so, even though -he is dead and your father." - -"My stepfather," corrected Miss Hedge. "I did not like him myself, Mrs. -Lilly. He was a cruel man." - -"He was, and had far too much influence with the old master. It was -then that he got the mortgage on the Grange, which is such a trouble to -Master Vivian. But perhaps Lady Watson will not be so hard to satisfy -as Mr. Alpenny, and Master Vivian may be able to arrange, as he has -inherited this little sum of money from his aunt. I wish he was clear -of all these difficulties," ended Mrs. Lilly, with a sigh. - -"Go on. You have not said a thing about the murder." - -"I wonder Durban did not tell you about the matter. He was Colonel -Hall's servant, you know." - -Beatrice started to her feet, quite amazed by this intelligence. "Do -you mean to say that Durban was Colonel Hall's servant?" she asked. - -"Didn't you hear me say so?" said Mrs. Lilly tartly. - -"Yes; but he never explained that to me." - -"There was no need to. Besides, Durban doesn't like to speak of the -murder of his master. He was the Colonel's servant, and came with him -from the West Indies. Any one can see that Durban has black blood in -him." - -"It is all very strange," murmured the girl, sitting down again. - -"Well, I thought so myself, as Durban never liked Mr. Alpenny. However, -when the Colonel was buried, and Mrs. Hall went back to the West Indies -with the baby, Durban stopped on, and when Mr. Alpenny married Mrs. -Hedge, went to serve at The Camp." - -"He has been a good friend to me," said Beatrice ponderingly. "I wonder -why?" - -"He was a good friend to your mother also, I heard. I asked Durban -about your mother's marriage, and about your real father, Mr. Hedge, -but he never would tell me anything." - -"It is strange,--strange," mused Beatrice, quite perplexed over this -tangled story. "And the murder?" - -Mrs. Lilly wasted no more time, but plunged at once into the middle of -the story, which Beatrice heard to the end without interrupting her -more than was absolutely necessary. "Colonel Hall came down here to -stop, as I said," resumed the old lady, "being a dear friend of my late -master. Durban was with him, and Mr. Alpenny was in the house at the -time. Later on, Mrs. Hall came down with the baby and the nurse, and -with Mrs. Snow, who was then Miss Duncan; but that was not for a week. -Colonel Hall had a necklace of diamonds that he had brought from the -West Indies; it was valued at ten thousand pounds, and was called the -Obi necklace, as there was some legend attached to it." - -"Obi is African witchcraft," said Beatrice. - -"Like enough," said Mrs. Lilly indifferently. "Colonel Hall had a lot -to do with the black people. My master, Mr. Paslow, warned the Colonel -that he might have the necklace stolen; but the Colonel laughed at him. -It was in a green box which he kept beside his bed. The box contained -official papers, and also the Obi necklace. I understand that Colonel -Hall intended to give it to his wife; but as there was some difference -between them, he did not give it to her. But when she came down, she -asked him for it. He refused, and was sharp with her, so she went -to bed in tears. Colonel Hall also retired at ten o'clock. The next -morning he was found dead in his bed with his throat cut, and the Obi -necklace was gone." - -"What happened, then?" asked Beatrice, breathlessly. - -"The police were called in. Mrs. Hall was in a fright, and grew so -ill that she had to be taken up to town and put in some hospital. I -know that she went from one fainting fit into another, and the doctor -said that she would die unless she was taken out of the house. So she -and the baby and the nurse were bundled off to town. Mrs. Snow--Miss -Duncan, that is--stopped on with Durban. The police could find nothing." - -"They found the black patch?" - -"Yes; and there were rumours of a man wearing such a patch having been -seen in the neighbourhood. Colonel Hall always slept with his window -open, as he was mad on the subject of fresh air. His bedroom was on the -first floor of the west wing, and the ivy offered a foothold to any -one who wanted to climb up. As the black patch was found on the grass -below the window, it was believed that the assassin climbed up the ivy -and tried to steal the necklace. Colonel Hall must have awakened: but -before he could give the alarm, he was stunned in some way." - -"Just like Mr. Alpenny," murmured Beatrice. - -"When he was stunned, the assassin cut the poor man's throat," -continued Mrs. Lilly, shuddering. "Ugh! it was a sight. Then the -murderer went off with the necklace. The police tried to trace him by -that, but could not do so. I expect the necklace was broken up and the -stones were sold separately." - -"The assassin was never caught?" - -"Never. And it is nearly five-and-twenty years ago, so I don't expect -he ever will be caught." - -"He may be, now that he has committed a second crime." - -Mrs. Lilly laid down her knitting and removed her spectacles. "Do you -believe it is the same man?" - -"The crimes are so similar, that I believe it is," said the girl -earnestly. "Colonel Hall was stunned, and then his throat was cut; -Mr. Alpenny was treated in the same way. Colonel Hall was robbed of -this necklace; Mr. Alpenny was robbed also. And yet," added Beatrice, -looking at Mrs. Lilly, "I don't believe that in either case robbery was -the motive for the crime." - -"What other motive could there be?" asked Mrs. Lilly, amazed. - -"Revenge of some sort, in both cases. Both the victims were stunned, -and so the plunder could have been easily carried off safely. But in -each case the assassin cut the throats of his victims. That looks like -revenge." - -Mrs. Lilly resumed her knitting and shook her head. "I can tell you -nothing more," she said, after a pause. "Orchard might know a lot--I -always thought that he did." - -"Who is Orchard?" - -"He was our butler at the time, and afterwards went to be a shepherd -on the Downs yonder," and Mrs. Lilly nodded towards the high range of -hills spreading fair and green in the sunlight. - -Beatrice started. "Mrs. Snow said something about that," she observed, -thoughtfully. "Why did the man become a shepherd? So odd!" - -"It is odd--I always thought it was odd," said Mrs. Lilly; "but, you -see, the sight of the body--Colonel Hall's body--gave poor Orchard a -kind of fit, and the doctor said he would have to live in the open air. -At all events he left the house, and when we next heard of him he was a -shepherd on the Downs. He is well known, I believe, and is alive still. -I have never seen him from that day to this, but I daresay if you went -up yonder and inquired, you would see him. He may know something more -than I do." - -"I shall certainly see him," said Beatrice. "I want to learn all I can -about this case." - -Before Mrs. Lilly could reply, a shadow fell on the sward before them. -They looked up to see a small, dirty, red-haired man leering at them in -an affable way. - -"Morning, lydies," said this creature; "I'm Waterloo!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XI -MAJOR RUCK - - -"A tramp!" said Mrs. Lilly, with dignified disgust. "However did he get -in here?" - -"I ain't no tramp, lydies," said the man, twisting a piece of straw in -his rabbit mouth. "I've got a 'ouse in town, an' a box in Scotlan', an' -a yatsh at Cowes, I 'ave. Blimme me, if I ain't a gent at large, and -devoted"--he bowed and leered--"to the genteel sect." - -Beatrice looked at him with a shiver. He wore a suit of clothes too -large for him, a dirty red wisp round his lean throat, and carpet -slippers bound with string to his large feet. He was of no great -height, and his shock of red hair made him look even smaller. His face -was clean-shaven, or rather it ought to have been, for apparently it -had not been touched by a razor for quite a week. Twisting the straw in -his mouth, and a ragged cricketing cap in his hairy hands, he straddled -with his short legs and leered impudently. It was the animal eyes of -the man that made Beatrice shiver: they were green and shallow, like -those of a bird, and the expression in them was evil in the extreme. -The creature evidently had been steeped in iniquity from his cradle, -and the foulness of his presence marred the perfect beauty of that -still garden sleeping in the sunshine, so clean and wholesome. - -"What do you want?" asked Miss Hedge sharply and shortly. - -"I wos jest atellin' y'," said Waterloo--as he called himself--and his -voice rasped like a file. "I wants t'see Mr. Paslow." - -"He is in town," snapped Mrs. Lilly, surveying the creature with still -deeper disgust. "Have you a message for him?" - -Waterloo laid a warty finger on one side of his pug nose, and winked in -a horribly familiar manner. "Thet's tellin's," said he, grinning, "an' -not evin' to th' sect I'm so fond of, does I give myself away. Oh no, -not at all, by no means, you dear things." - -"Go away," cried Beatrice, putting her handkerchief to her nose, for -the atmosphere was tainted by the presence of the man; "if you don't, -I'll call Durban." This was a happy inspiration, as she knew that -Durban was on the premises. - -The man's eyes flashed still more wickedly. "Ho, yuss! by all means, -miss. Call 'im, and you'll see wot you'll see." He spat out the straw, -and produced a black pipe, which he stuck in his mouth. "I kin wyte." - -"You'll be ducked in the horse-pond, you beast," said Mrs. Lilly, -growing red with anger. "I'll hand you over to the police, and----" - -"Durban! Durban!" called out Beatrice, who caught a glimpse of the -servant round the corner of the terrace, and at once he came running -down the steps. "Who is this man, Durban?" - -"How dare you come here?" said Durban, advancing threateningly on the -small man, who cringed and whined. "You were told not to come here at -least a dozen times." - -"Lor'!" whimpered the little man, now subdued and servile; "wot a fuss -you do meke, Mr. Durban, sir. I come fur Mr. Paslow, I does." - -"Send him away, Durban," cried Beatrice with great disgust. - -Durban lifted one finger, and at once the tramp went slinking away like -a dog with its tail between its legs. And like a dog he halted at the -hedge which divided the drive from the garden, and showed his teeth in -an evil snarl. Beatrice could see the flash of white, and could guess -that he was snapping like a mad cur. - -"Who on earth is that?" she asked Durban, when the man finally -disappeared behind the hedge. - -Durban looked pale, and wiped his face with a shaking hand. "He's a -creature who did some dirty work for the late master." - -"For Mr. Paslow?" demanded Mrs. Lilly, who always spoke of Vivian's -father in that way. - -"For Mr. Alpenny," explained Durban, becoming more himself. "He is an -old scoundrel of nearly sixty years of age." - -"He doesn't look it," said Beatrice. - -"Strange as it may seem to you, missy, Waterloo has his vanity. He -wears a wig, and his teeth are false. But he is old and wicked, and has -been no end of times in prison. Mr. Alpenny employed him to do some -business in the slums, and he was several times down at The Camp. I -think he's a thief." - -"I never saw him before, Durban." - -"And you'll never see him again, missy," said the old servant -emphatically. "Mr. Alpenny, as I told you, had to do with a lot of -rogues and vagabonds, as many a money-lender has. But that sort of -thing is all done with. Waterloo will never trouble you again." - -"I am glad of that," said the girl, who was quite pale. "His presence -seemed to taint the air. What a horrible man!" - -"Why does he want to see Mr. Vivian?" asked Mrs. Lilly sharply. - -Durban wheeled quickly. "He wants to see Mr. Paslow, does he? H'm! I -wonder why that is?" - -"I am quite sure you can explain," said Beatrice, who was piqued at -being always kept in the dark. - -Durban cast a look of pain on her, but replied quietly enough, "Perhaps -I do, missy. Mr. Paslow, as I told you, had something to do with my -late master's business." - -"I never knew that," said Beatrice, remembering what Alpenny had hinted -about Vivian's crimes. - -"Ridiculous!" cried Mrs. Lilly, bristling. "Master Vivian -is a gentleman, and would not meddle with your Alpennys and -Waterloos.--Begging your pardon, my young lady, since Mr. Alpenny was -your father." - -"My stepfather," corrected Beatrice again.--"Well, Durban, if you won't -tell me, I'll ask Mr. Paslow myself." - -"Do, missy; I am quite sure he can explain. And don't trouble your -pretty head any more about Waterloo, as there is trouble enough in the -house now." - -"What do you mean by that?" asked the girl, her heart giving a bound. - -Durban pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "I was coming to look -for you," he said, "and I am glad that you called me. Major Ruck is in -the drawing-room." - -"Who is he?" asked Mrs. Lilly. - -"He was a friend of my late master's." - -"Then I hope he is a more respectable friend than the one we have -seen," said the housekeeper indignantly. "Mercy me and all the silver -and china ornaments in the drawing-room!" and she hurried towards the -house. - -"It is all right, Mrs. Lilly; you will find Major Ruck quite a -gentleman, and very presentable. He is a friend of Lady Watson's too." - -But Mrs. Lilly never waited to hear this explanation. As fast as her -stoutness would allow her, she ran up the steps of the terrace and -disappeared round the corner. Left alone with Durban, Beatrice asked -the question which had been burning her lips ever since she heard that -the Major was within. "Why has he come, Durban?" - -"To ask you to marry him," said Durban grimly. - -"But I don't know him," said Beatrice, alarmed. - -"He knows you, missy--that is, he has seen your picture. Mr. Alpenny -promised him that you should be his wife, and, as I told you, he will -not let you slip through his fingers if he can help it." - -"Durban," said the girl, after a pause, "I quite understand that Major -Ruck wanted to marry me when I was supposed to be the heiress of Mr. -Alpenny; but now that I am poor----" - -"He has seen your photograph," said Durban again, and meaningly. - -"And you think that he is in love with me?" - -"He did," said Beatrice, resolved to say as little as possible. - -"Will you not permit me to offer you a chair?" said Ruck, casting an -admiring glance at her beautiful face. Beatrice, seeing no good reason -to refuse, accepted the seat he brought forward. Then Ruck sat down on -a near sofa with his back to the window, and resumed the conversation -with great coolness. Beatrice, although prejudiced against him from -what her stepfather had said, liked his voice and the well-bred manner -he possessed. All the same she was on her guard. No doubt Major Ruck -would betray the cloven hoof before the interview was at an end. - -"Poor Alpenny!" said the Major, leaning back on the sofa and twisting -his gloves idly. "I was at school with him, and with Mr. Paslow also." - -"Vivian?" asked Beatrice involuntarily. - -Major Ruck laughed. "With his father. My dear young lady, I am old -enough to have Vivian for a son. Paslow, Alpenny and myself were at -Rugby a very long time ago. I am old enough to be your father, and -yet," said the Major insinuatingly, as he leaned forward with a smile, -"I have come to offer myself as a husband." - -"Mr. Alpenny told me before he died that you were likely to do so," -said Beatrice, quite at her ease, and mistress of the situation; "but I -cannot guess, Mr. Ruck----" - -"Major Ruck--retired!" said that gentleman. - -"I cannot guess, Major," replied Beatrice, making the amendment, "why -you should wish to marry me, whom you have never seen." - -"Pardon me. I have seen your photograph, which was shown to me by my -late friend, poor Alpenny. Also," said the Major, with emphasis, "one -day I came to The Camp, and Alpenny showed you to me." - -"That is impossible," said Beatrice, wondering if he was lying. "I have -always been at The Camp, and I never saw you." - -"You were asleep, my dear young lady--asleep in a hammock under the -trees. My friend Alpenny," added the Major, smiling, "was good enough -to offer me a sight of the Sleeping Beauty. I fell in love with you on -the spot. Mr. Alpenny, as we were old friends, was not averse to my -asking you to be my wife; and, indeed, but for his untimely death, I -should have come down to propose in a more reasonable way." - -"No way can be reasonable in this case, Major. You say you know me?" - -"From a sight of you in the hammock, from your photograph, and from the -fact that my late friend, poor Alpenny, gave me a very vivid conception -of your charming character." - -"You seemed to have talked me over thoroughly between you," said the -girl, her face flushing. - -"We did," confessed Ruck candidly. "I wanted to know if your character -was as charming as your face, and as fine as your figure. I was told by -Mr. Alpenny that your character transcended both." - -"I think you must be Irish, Major, you speak so glibly" - -"I was quartered in Ireland once," said Ruck coolly, "and not far from -the celebrated Blarney Stone. At least, Miss Hedge, I hope I speak -sufficiently glibly to explain thoroughly the reason I wish you to be -my wife." - -In spite of her vexation, Beatrice could not be angry with the man. -His manners were so charming, his voice so fascinating, and his whole -attitude so devoid of anything approaching rudeness, that she was -compelled to keep her temper. "I don't think I quite understand," she -said at length, and suppressed a smile. - -Ruck lifted his eyebrows. "Surely, my dear young lady, your glass tells -you the reason? I have an eye for beauty. I have also an independent -income of two thousand a year, and a small house in Yorkshire. I -belonged to a good club; and you will find my career is well known, as -regards the army." - -"You are a very eligible suitor!" said Beatrice, with some scorn. - -"In that case, I trust you will accept me," said the Major, with easy -assurance, "and especially as your late father wished that the marriage -should take place." - -"I must decline, Major. Mr. Alpenny was my stepfather, and no blood -relation of mine. There was little love lost between us. Again, I am -poor--Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money." - -"A very charming lady, whom I know intimately. I am glad she has the -money and not you, Miss Hedge, as you can acquit me of mercenary -motives." - -"Yes. But I don't see why you wish to marry me." - -"I can give you three reasons. Your beauty, one"--the Major checked off -his remarks on his fingers; "the wish of my late friend, poor Alpenny, -two; and the strong desire of Lady Watson, three." - -"What has Lady Watson to do with my marriage?" asked Beatrice in a -fiery tone. - -"She was your mother's best friend, and----" - -"That gives her no right to interfere," cried Miss Hedge, rising. "I -thank you, Major Ruck, for your proposal, but I must decline." - -"No! no! Don't send me away with a broken heart, Miss Hedge." - -"Men like you do not break their hearts, Major." - -"There's some truth in that," admitted the Major; "our hearts are too -tough. But, seriously speaking," he added, and his jovial countenance -became grave, "you will be wise to marry me." - -"On the three grounds you mentioned?" asked Beatrice disdainfully. - -"On a fourth ground--or rather, I should say, for a fourth reason, Miss -Hedge--I can protect you." - -"From what?" - -"I'll tell you when you are Mrs. Ruck." - -"I have no intention of being Mrs. Ruck," retorted the girl, her -courage rising, as she felt that she was being driven into a corner; -"and I do not understand these hints of danger, which are given to me -so freely." - -"I gave you only one hint," said Ruck, his eyes on her face. - -"Mr. Paslow and Durban have given me others. What does it all mean?" - -"I should advise you to ask the two men you have mentioned," said Ruck, -taking up his hat, "unless, indeed, you will change your mind and -become the star of my life. As my wife, you will know everything; as -Miss Hedge, I fear you must be kept in the dark. Come now, Miss Hedge, -be advised. I am speaking for your good. I am a gentleman, well-off and -passable in looks. Why do you refuse me?" - -"I can explain very shortly. I am engaged to Mr. Paslow." - -"You will never marry Mr. Paslow," said Ruck, his face darkening. - -Before Beatrice could ask the reason for this remark, the door opened, -and Vivian, very pale and defiant, entered. "I heard your last words, -Ruck," he said calmly, "and beg to tell you that you are quite wrong. -Miss Hedge will become my wife in two weeks--that is"--he bowed to -Beatrice--"if she will accept me as her husband." - - - - - -CHAPTER XII -VIVIAN EXPLAINS - - -Major Ruck made no remark, but stood silent and motionless, ever -smiling, according to his custom. Beatrice, on the contrary, uttered an -exclamation of surprise, and ran forward to throw herself into Vivian's -arms. Suddenly she stopped. - -"Do you mean what you say?" she asked, hesitating. - -"I do," he replied firmly. "The obstacle I spoke of has finally been -removed, and I am free to marry you." - -"Can I believe this?" murmured Beatrice, clasping her hands and looking -down doubtfully. "For a long time you held back from asking me to be -your wife, although you must have seen that I loved you. On the night -Mr. Alpenny was killed you proposed, and I accepted you." - -"Ah!" said Major Ruck, smiling more broadly than ever. - -"Then," continued Beatrice, still addressing Paslow, "you again changed -your mind, and said that some obstacle, which you then declared was -removed, again prevented our marriage. Now you come once more and say -much the same as you said before. How do I know but what you may change -your mind again?" - -"I have never changed my mind throughout," cried Vivian impetuously; -"there was an obstacle. I thought that it was removed, and then I -discovered that it still remained: Now I have made strict inquiries, -and I learn that I am free." - -"What is the obstacle?" asked Beatrice, very pale, and still doubtful. - -"I can tell you that," remarked Major Ruck, changing his attitude for -the first time; "this young gentleman is married." - -"I was married," said Paslow, as Beatrice shrank back with a cry of -amazement, and, as Vivian thought, of anger; "but my wife is dead." - -Ruck shrugged his shoulders. "So you say!" - -"So Durban says--so this death certificate says. I heard all about my -wife's illness, as I went to the house where she died. I have seen -her grave, and the doctor gave me this." He held out a certificate to -Beatrice. "Do you not believe me?" - -"It is so strange," she murmured, taking the paper, and glancing at it -in a scared manner. - -"And so untrue," said Major Ruck coolly. - -"You lie!" - -"I am not accustomed to be told that I lie," said Ruck, and his eyes -narrowed to pin-points. - -Paslow turned his back on him contemptuously. "I care very little for -that," he said. "You and your creatures betrayed me into difficulties, -for which I have suffered bitterly. But now I am free, and you can harm -me no longer." - -"Don't be too sure of that, Mr. Paslow." - -Beatrice saw Vivian wince, and came forward. "Whatever Mr. Paslow has -done," she said, with dignity, "I am certain that he is an honourable -man." - -"Bless you for those words, my darling." - -Major Ruck gave a short laugh, and did not seem so good-tempered as he -had been. "An honourable man!" he repeated. "I fear if you knew all Mr. -Paslow's life, you would see fit to change your opinion." - -Vivian restrained himself from violent words. "Of course you talk like -that, because it is to your interest to stop my marriage. But I trust -to a woman's instinct," and he stretched out his hands toward Beatrice -with an anxious smile. - -She waved him back. "I must have an explanation first" - -"Beatrice!" - -"Vivian, I love you, I shall always love you; but can you expect me to -blindly believe, when I am so much in the dark as to what all these -things mean? There must be an end to these hints and mysteries. If you -really love me, you will explain fully, so that I know where I stand." - -"I think I can do that," said Ruck, fondling his moustache. - -"Then do so," said Paslow, throwing back his head. "We know a great -deal of one another, Major, so it may be to your interest to speak the -truth," and he looked meaningly at the other man. - -"I never tell lies, unless they are necessary," said Ruck calmly. "In -this instance the truth will suit me very well." - -Beatrice sat down, still holding the certificate of Mrs. Paslow's -death, which seemed to be quite in order. "I am waiting to hear the -truth," she said, "and hear it I will." - -Without any invitation, Major Ruck sat down. "I may as well be -comfortable," he said lazily, and smiled in his most genial manner. -Vivian did not sit down, but stood near the window looking out at -the fair prospect unseeingly. Knowing that his past was about to be -revealed, he seemed nervous, and did not look at the girl he loved. -Major Ruck was much the coolest of the trio. - -"I can tell you the truth very briefly," said Ruck, stretching out his -legs. "As I said, I was at school with Mr. Paslow's father, and also -with Alpenny. Some eight years ago this gentleman"--he glanced towards -the silent Vivian--"came to town. I did what I could to give him -pleasure, as his father was dead, and I desired to do what I could for -the son of my old friend.--That is true, I think?" he added, turning -politely to Paslow. - -"You were extremely kind," said Vivian, stiffly and guardedly. - -"Thank you. Mr. Paslow then had money, and I think I showed him London -very thoroughly. We had a great time." - -"Pray go on with your story," said Beatrice, icily. - -"Oh, it's the truth," replied Ruck, with a genial chuckle "I think Mr. -Paslow will bear me out in that." - -"I have yet to hear what you have to say." - -Ruck raised his eyebrows. "What can I say, save that which happened, my -dear fellow?--Mr. Paslow"--he now addressed himself to Beatrice--"met -in town at the house of a friend of mine, a certain young lady called -Maud Ellis. He fell in love with her----" - -"I was trapped by a scheming woman, you mean," put in Paslow brusquely. - -"Fie! fie! fie!" said Ruck good-humouredly. "Don't blame the woman, my -dear fellow; that is mean. But trapped, or not, you married her." - -"I did; and found that she only married me because she thought that I -had money." - -"So you should have had, and a great deal of it, but that Alpenny -managed to collar the estates. But you loved her." - -"I did not, save in the way one loves such women at an early age." - -"Oh!" sneered Ruck; "she was perfectly respectable." - -"I should not have married her else," said Vivian quickly, and not -daring to glance at Beatrice. "I have nothing to say against her, save -that she was heartless, and left me within six months. But I repeat -that I was young and foolish at the time, and that she schemed to marry -me. I fell into her toils, and bitterly have I had to pay for doing so; -but for her I should have long ago have married Miss Hedge." - -"I don't think Alpenny would have permitted that, Paslow." - -"Perhaps not; but he is dead, and cannot harm me now." - -"The evil that men do lives after them," scoffed Ruck. "Alpenny had the -power when alive; someone else may have the power now." - -"Not you, at all events, Ruck." - -Beatrice rose quickly. "Am I to hear the rest of the story?" she asked -Ruck. "Is this all you have to bring against Mr. Paslow?--that while a -young man he was entrapped into marriage by an adventuress?" - -"Oh, Maud Ellis was no adventuress," said the Major, easily, "but a -very nice girl. Lady Watson knew her well." - -"Lady Watson seems to know everyone," retorted Beatrice; "but who knows -Lady Watson?" - -"I do, very well," said Ruck quietly; "but we are not discussing her. -Later on, should you desire to learn about her, I can supply you with -all necessary information. Meanwhile----" - -"Meanwhile," repeated Beatrice, "I should like to hear what Mr. Paslow -has to say." - -"What can I say?" said Vivian, with a look of despair. "I married Maud -Ellis, as I said, and she left me after six months of a miserable life. -Some times since I saw her, but she never would come back to me." - -"Did you wish her?" said Beatrice quickly. - -"She was my wife," said Vivian calmly, "and I wished to behave as her -husband, little as I loved her; but she always refused to come back to -me. I met you, and said nothing about my fatal marriage. There was no -need to." - -"It would have been better had you been open." - -"I see that now; I did not see it at the time. But you know that I -loved you always, and you know now why I did not dare to ask you to -be my wife. A few weeks ago I heard that Maud was ill. I went to -see her, and found that she was suffering from influenza. I saw her -several times: then I heard that she was dead. I proposed to you, -Beatrice, under the oak. Later on, when I went to town to look after -your property, and learn if Alpenny had done you justice, I again went -to the house, and learned that what I had heard was false. Maud was -extremely ill, but still alive. Then I came down, and you know what -took place between us. I went again and again to town, and saw the -doctor." - -"And your wife also?" - -"No--yes, once; but she was so ill, and my presence disturbed her so -much, that the doctor would not let me see her again. Then I went one -day, and heard that she was dead and buried." - -"Why did you not go to the funeral?" asked Ruck sneeringly. - -"I did not know that she was dead. I remained away from the house--it -was in Kensington--for a long time, as it was useless for me to go and -see her; and the doctor always kept me advised as to how she was going -on. However, he gave me no notice of her death, and she was buried when -I next heard news." - -Beatrice expressed surprise. "But surely the doctor was wrong in not -telling you she was dying? You should have been with her." - -"I should; but the doctor neglected to inform me. I had a row with him -about the matter. However, I got the certificate, which you hold, and -saw the grave; so I am now free to marry you--that is, if you will have -me after what you have heard." - -Beatrice did not reply immediately to this question. "We can talk of -that when we are alone," she said, and glanced towards Ruck, who still -lounged in his chair. - -"That is a hint for me to go," he said, rising lazily. "Well, I shall -go--unless you will marry me?" - -"Were you the last man in the world I should not marry you," said the -girl quietly; "and I do not see why you wish to." - -"We talked about that before," said Ruck, taking up his hat; "but now -that the real Prince Charming has come on the scene, I see that there -is no chance for me. I will allow you to marry Paslow----" - -"Allow me!" cried Miss Hedge indignantly. "Allow me!" echoed Vivian, -clenching his fists. - -"I will allow you," repeated the Major smoothly, "on condition that you -give me the Obi necklace." - -"What?" asked Beatrice, starting back, "Colonel Hall's----" - -"It was his property. I knew him very well," interrupted Ruck. "He gave -that necklace to Mrs. Hedge." - -"To my mother? Impossible! The necklace was stolen when Colonel Hall -was murdered in this very house." - -"So it was thought, but I know otherwise. Colonel Hall gave the -necklace to Mrs. Hedge, who was his cousin, just before the murder. I -learned that from Alpenny, who was in the house at the time; and that -was why Alpenny married Mrs. Hedge--he wanted the necklace. And that is -why I wished to marry you," added Ruck, smiling blandly, "as I want -the necklace. It is valued at ten thousand pounds, and Alpenny promised -to give it to you when we married." - -"I don't know how much of this is true, or how much is not," said -Beatrice, looking puzzled, and pressing her hands to her head; "but -I have not got the necklace. I never knew that my stepfather had it. -There is no need for you to get angry, Major Ruck. I know nothing about -the necklace save what I heard from Mrs. Lilly; and she told me that -Colonel Hall was murdered, and the necklace was stolen." - -"The necklace was given to Mrs. Hedge," said Ruck, who was now very -angry, "and Alpenny promised to give it to you. If you give it to me, I -will go out of your life and you can marry Paslow; if not, I can stop -this marriage." - -"I defy you to do your worst," said Paslow savagely. - -"Don't do that; it might be dangerous," said Ruck, with a meaning look. -"Well, Miss Hedge?" He turned to Beatrice. - -"I know nothing about the necklace," she replied. "If you married me -you would marry a pauper. Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money; and if -he did receive the necklace from my mother, he certainly never gave it -to me, or even spoke of its existence." - -Ruck turned pale and looked at the ground. "Can Lady Watson have -secured it?" he muttered. - -"You had better ask her. And now, Major Ruck, that I know your real -reason for wishing to marry me, I may tell you that I would willingly -have given the Obi necklace to escape such a match!" and she turned her -back on him scornfully. - -The Major, notwithstanding that he was in the house, and in the -presence of a lady, put on his hat. He had quite lost his suave -manners, and looked thoroughly angry. "I shall take my leave, Miss -Hedge," he said, bowing ironically. "Marry Paslow Whenever you choose; -he is free now, as he says; but if trouble comes of your marriage, do -not say that I did not warn you." - -"What trouble can come?" asked Beatrice, turning like a lioness. - -"Don't say that you have not been warned," said Ruck, backing towards -the door. "As to myself, I shall search for the necklace, and get it. -Lady Watson may know of its whereabouts.--Paslow, I congratulate you on -a possible marriage----" - -"You cannot stop it, Ruck," said Vivian coolly. - -"Oh, I have no desire to do so. All I wanted from this lady was the Obi -necklace. As she has not got it, there is no need for me to sacrifice -my freedom. Miss Hedge, good-day; Paslow, good-day;" and with a bow, -the Major took his gigantic figure out of the room. - -The two young people looked at one another in silence. "What does it -all mean?" asked Beatrice helplessly. - -"You heard what Ruck said," answered Vivian. "He wanted to marry you -for the necklace. As you have not got it, he will trouble you no more." - -"In any case, he would not trouble me," cried Beatrice indignantly. -"Does Major Ruck think me a child to be driven into a match about -which I care nothing? What influence can he have to make me do what he -wanted?" - -"He was playing a game of bluff," said Vivian eagerly. "He cannot force -you to marry him, nor can he stop my marriage. He could have done so -before, because he knew that my wife was alive; but now that she is -dead, his power ceases. And, Beatrice"--he paused and looked down--"how -can I ask you to be my wife after what you have heard?" - -The girl looked at him in silence. Had she loved him less, she might -have refused to answer his appeal. As it was, her love overcame the -momentary anger which she felt at having been kept in the dark. At once -she moved towards him, and placed her arms round his neck. - -"We are all sinners," she whispered; "and I love you too well to let -you go." - -"God bless you, my darling," faltered Vivian, pressing her to his -breast. - -"Let the past alone," said Beatrice, kissing him. "We shall marry, and -live for one another. Look with me, Vivian, to a happy future." - -"My darling--my darling!" and Paslow fell on his knees. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII -THE EX-BUTLER - - -It really did seem as though the course of this true love was about to -run smooth. Durban, to whom Beatrice explained all that had taken place -during Ruck's visit, heard what she had to say in silence, and seemed -relieved when he heard the whole. - -"I am glad that Mr. Paslow arrived at the moment," said Durban, when -the story was ended. "He and the Major now understand one another." - -"I never knew that Vivian was acquainted with Major Ruck." - -"He met him at Mr. Alpenny's town office, missy." - -"The Major seemed to threaten Vivian," observed the girl thoughtfully. - -Durban shrugged his fat shoulders. "That is so like the Major," he -retorted carelessly; "he is all stage thunder. Now that he knows you -have not the necklace, he will trouble you no more. Mr. Paslow is not -rich, missy; and you have lost the master's money; still, I should like -you to marry the man you love, and go away." - -"Why do you want me to go away?" she demanded peremptorily. - -"It will be better," murmured Durban, uneasily. - -"You are still keeping something from me, Durban?" - -"Nothing that is necessary for you to know, missy." - -Beatrice saw very well that the old servant was fencing, and wondered -what it was that he feared. "The necklace?" she said suddenly. - -"I do not know where it is, missy." - -"Did you ever see it?" - -"Once. Colonel Hall showed it to me--a very fine set of diamonds." - -"Where did Colonel Hall get it?" - -"I cannot say--somewhere in the West Indies, I think." - -"You were Colonel Hall's servant in the West Indies, Durban?" - -"I was, missy." Durban looked at her with fire in his dark eyes. "He -was the best of masters, and I loved him. He brought me to this place -with him, and here he met with his death." - -"Do you know who killed him?" - -"No, missy, I do not." - -"Why did you take service with Mr. Alpenny?" - -"I was poor," said Durban, with a shrug, "and my master, the Colonel, -was dead. I had no home, and I was thankful to accept the situation. I -might not have stayed in it for so long, missy, but that Mr. Alpenny -married. It was you who have kept me at The Camp all these years." - -"And what about Mrs. Hall?" - -"Nothing, missy. She was a silent lady. I know very little about her." - -"Durban"--Beatrice looked at him keenly--"are you telling me the truth?" - -"I am, missy. Why should I tell you a lie? All I know of Mrs. Hall is, -that she was the daughter of a West Indian planter, who was my father's -master in the time of slavery. I was born on the estate, and afterwards -entered the service of Colonel Hall--a captain he was then--to whom -I became greatly attached. He saw Mrs. Hall, and fell in love with -her. They married, but did not get on well together, for what reason I -cannot tell you. They came here to see Mr. Paslow's father, who was an -old friend of the Colonel's. Mrs. Hall stopped in London for a time, -and then came down for one night with the nurse and her child. My -master was murdered, and the necklace disappeared. That is all I know." - -"But, Durban, Major Ruck says that the Colonel gave the necklace to my -mother before his death." - -"That is not true," cried Durban vehemently, and his eyes blazed. -"There was no reason why he should give it to--to--Mrs. Hedge. And I -saw the necklace in the Colonel's hands on the very night the crime was -committed. Yes, and I saw him place it in the green box beside his bed. -Next morning the window was open, the Colonel was lying dead with a cut -throat, and the Obi necklace was gone. I can tell you no more, and I -don't know why you wish to know all this." - -"Because," said Beatrice slowly, "it is my belief that the same man -with the black patch who murdered Colonel Hall murdered Mr. Alpenny; -and in both cases I believe that the murder was committed for the sake -of this necklace." - -"I did not know that Mr. Alpenny had it, missy." - -"Major Ruck says that he had, and married my mother for the sake of the -necklace, which doubtless--as it has not been found after his death--he -turned into money." - -"It might be so," murmured Durban moodily. "Major Ruck knew a great -deal about Mr. Alpenny which I did not know. He was a kind of decoy -duck to the master--a man about town who brought foolish youths to -borrow money. A dangerous man, missy, and one you are well rid of. -Missy"--he laid his hand on her arm--"be advised; seek to know no more. -Mr. Alpenny's life was not a good one or a clean one. Marry Mr. Paslow, -and go away." - -"I'll think of it, Durban," said Beatrice, after a few moments of -thought, and there the conversation ended for the time being. - -All the same, Beatrice had no idea of going away. She even thought that -she would not marry Vivian Paslow until things were made clear, and -she--so to speak--knew where she stood. What with Vivian's marriage -to Maud Ellis, and the late Mr. Alpenny's hints that the young man -had committed crimes, there was much in Paslow's life which she did -not understand. Had she loved him less, she would have had nothing -more to do with him. But she did love him with all her heart and soul; -consequently she believed that he was more sinned against than sinning. -It was nothing out of the common that a young man in London should be -entrapped into such a marriage; and, after all, it was not unusual that -Vivian should strive to hide from her--the woman he really loved--the -folly of which he had been guilty eight years ago. That she could -forgive, and did forgive, and was ready to marry her lover as soon as -he wished. But she could not rid herself of a vague fear that if she -did marry him, it would only be the beginning of fresh misery. Durban's -desire that the young couple should go away, seemed to her ominous; -and Vivian, although under stress of circumstances had confessed -the marriage, did not seem to be communicative regarding the other -mysteries. What if at the back of all these things lurked some terrible -scandal which might ruin her happiness and that of Paslow's? - -While thinking thus, it occurred to Beatrice that she had never learned -what Vivian had done on that night when he left her under the Witches' -Oak. They were together walking in the garden after dinner when she -considered this question, and she asked Vivian at once to explain. He -removed his cigar and looked at her searchingly. - -"What a woman you are to ask questions!" he said, with a forced laugh. - -"I want them answered," said Beatrice rather imperiously. - -Vivian shrugged his shoulders. "I am not averse to doing so," he said -in a weary manner. "Well, on that night I left you and ran to see -who was watching. It was a red-headed little beast called Waterloo, -employed as a spy by Mr. Alpenny!" - -"I know him--I have seen him." - -"Seen him?" Vivian started and looked uneasy. "When?--where?" - -"In this very garden." And Beatrice related how the tramp had suddenly -appeared to mar the beauty of the scene. "He wanted to see you," she -concluded, "but Durban sent him away." - -"Had I seen the brute I should have horsewhipped him," cried the young -man angrily. "He was a spy of Alpenny's." - -"On me?--on you?" - -"On us both. Alpenny knew that I loved you, and did not want us to -meet. He told Waterloo, who was hanging round The Camp, to keep his eye -on you and on me. Waterloo confessed----" - -"Did you catch him?" - -"Yes, I did, and nearly broke his neck. He confessed that he had been -set to watch by Mr. Alpenny, and had been lurking outside the great -gates of The Camp." - -"I saw him," said Beatrice, recalling the vague shadow which she had -seen crouching in the shade on that fatal night. - -"He saw you go past," went on Paslow, "and followed to the Witches' Oak -like your shadow. When I caught him he told me all this, so I gave him -a kicking and let him go. The dog was not worth fouling my hands with. -Then I went back to the Oak to find you. You had gone, so I fancied -that you had gone home. I did not follow, as I thought that I might run -up against Alpenny and that there would be more trouble. I went home to -the Grange, and then was coming along the next morning to see you, and -give you the key, when I met Durban." - -"It was then that you heard of the murder?" - -"Yes; and afterwards went up to town to see Alpenny's lawyer about your -chances of getting the money. You see, Beatrice, Major Ruck, and other -creatures employed by Alpenny, were quite capable of destroying the -will, so as to get the money themselves." - -"But how could they do that?" - -"By bribing or blackmailing the lawyer of Alpenny. The man is not above -reproach, as he did much dirty work for Alpenny. Ruck knows of many -of these underhanded dealings; and on hearing of Alpenny's death, it -struck me that Ruck might try to force the lawyer--Tuft is his name--to -destroy any will that might be made in your favour, by threatening to -communicate with the police. However, I saw Tuft, and he produced the -will. It was genuine enough, as I know Alpenny's handwriting very well. -The money was left, as you know, to Lady Watson. I believe that years -ago Alpenny admired her, although I do not see why he should leave her -such a large fortune and cut you out." - -"He hated me," said Beatrice sadly; "he always did. Before he died he -told me to expect nothing, and I am a pauper, as you know. Vivian," she -said suddenly, "let us put off our marriage for a time. I can go out as -a governess, and we can wait." - -"Why should we wait?" he asked quickly, and his arms went round her in -a firm embrace. - -"Are you sure," murmured Beatrice, "that if I marry you, all trouble -will be at an end?" - -"Quite sure. My first wife is dead, so I can take a second. Ruck and -those other beasts cannot harm me now. No, Beatrice, we shall marry in -a week as you promised." - -"I have no wedding-dress!" - -"That does not matter. I marry you and not your clothes. If we postpone -our marriage, it may never take place." - -"Why not?" - -"Because there are those who would stop me from marrying you. Not -Ruck--he can do nothing. Beatrice,"--he caught her hands and looked -deep into her eyes--"I own to you that I have been a fool. My marriage -with that adventuress introduced me into strange company. I will not -tell you now what straits I have been in and what trouble I have -undergone. Only trust me and marry me. I shall then tell you the whole -of my life's history. Believe me, there is nothing in it for which you -will cease to love me. My worst sin is having kept this first marriage -from you." - -"I will trust you," whispered Beatrice, who was much perplexed; "but is -it not possible to clear up these mysteries?" - -"You may clear them up," said Vivian, after a moment's hesitation. "I -cannot help you--I dare not," he ended, and abruptly left her. - -What did it all mean? Beatrice asked herself that question again and -again, but without receiving any answer. But for her overwhelming -love, she would have hesitated to step forward in the dark, as she -really was doing when consenting to this marriage. But she felt that -Vivian needed her aid, and that only when they were man and wife would -that aid be of any real service. She made no attempt to continue the -conversation when they met again in the drawing-room, nor did she seek -out the old servant to ask questions. But since Vivian hinted that by -her own unaided efforts she might arrive at the truth, whatever it -might be, she determined to search on. In one way or another she was -resolved with all the force of her strong nature to put an end to these -provoking mysteries. - -It was for this reason that the next morning found her climbing the -Downs. Vivian had gone with Dinah into Brighton, and Beatrice, alleging -the death of her stepfather as a reason for retirement, had remained at -home. In reality, she wanted to trace out Orchard the ex-butler, who -had turned shepherd, and whom Mrs. Lilly had told her of. From that -elderly dame Beatrice obtained the information that Orchard lived on -the Downs in a little wooden hut, like the savage maid in the popular -song, and having gained a fair notion of its whereabouts, she set -out to seek the man. He had been in the house at the time of Colonel -Hall's murder, and apparently had seen something. Had he not done so, -his nerves certainly would not have been so shattered as to make him -give up the comfortable profession of a butler for the hard life of a -shepherd. Certainly he might refuse to speak out, as he assuredly had -not told the police anything likely to lead to the discovery of Colonel -Hall's assassin. But Beatrice had great faith in her woman's wiles and -in the power of her tongue to get what she wanted. It was the sole way -in which she could do so, as she had no money wherewith to tempt the -old man. But then so patriarchal a person might be above bribery and -corruption. - -It was a divine day, and the breezes were blowing freshly across the -spacious Downs from the distant Channel. Beatrice loved to look on -these wide spaces of green, and to watch the sheep moving across the -close-shorn turf, which they kept in such good order. A mile's walk -brought her into the vicinity where Mrs. Lilly had informed her that -Orchard watched his flock, and she speedily saw the hut, a tiny box of -a house roofed with turf and standing on the Downs, without railing, or -fence, or garden round it--just like a house that had lost its way. - -Fate favoured her, and she took it as a good omen when she saw the -old man seated at the door eating his midday meal. He was bent and -white-headed, and had a long white beard. In fact, he might have passed -for Father Christmas had he been appropriately dressed. His eyes were -faded, blue and mild, and he seemed in no wise disturbed when she -approached. "Good day, miss," said the ex-butler. - -"Good day," responded Beatrice. "Will you let me sit down? I have been -walking for some time." - -"Certainly, miss," said Orchard, with the deference of a former indoor -servant; "but the air will do you good. I suppose, miss, you are one of -the gentry from Brighton? They often come up here to breathe the air -and get appetites. Sit down, miss." - -By this time he had brought out a stool, and Beatrice sat down with a -weary air, for she really was tired. "I come from the Weald," she said, -waving her hand towards the luxurious verdure of the valley below. "I -live there." - -"A very nice place, miss. I lived there once myself." - -"At Convent Grange?" said Beatrice, glad to see that Orchard was -disposed to be communicative. - -He turned a mild look of surprise on her, and considered her face -attentively. "Why, yes, miss," he replied, "although I don't know how -you come to know that." - -"Mrs. Lilly told me." - -Orchard let a glimmering smile rest on his pale lips. "Sarah Lilly?" he -said musingly. "Ah, I have not seen her since we were fellow-servants -together--and that was long ago. I might have married her, miss, as -we liked one another. But she was married and I was married, so we -couldn't come together." - -"I should think not," said Beatrice, smiling at the grave way in which -the old shepherd spoke. "Mrs. Lilly is a great friend of mine." - -"Is she, miss? And no doubt"--he considered her still more -attentively--"Mrs. Lilly told you how I came to be a shepherd?" - -"Yes, she told me that." - -"I did it for my nerves," said Orchard, looking away at the treeless -green expanse; "they were shattered by the terrible calamity which -happened in that house. The air here cured me." - -"Do you know who killed Colonel Hall?" - -"You are the first person who has asked me that question for many -years, miss. Time was when many did so, but the Colonel has been buried -these five-and-twenty years, and his terrible death is quite forgotten. -I don't know who killed him--for certain, that is, miss." - -"Have you no suspicion?" - -"Oh yes," said Orchard calmly. "I believe that Mr. Alpenny murdered -Colonel Hall to get a certain necklace." - -"That cannot be true," said Beatrice aghast; "a Major Ruck----" - -"I don't know him," interpolated Orchard. - -"Well, he says that Colonel Hall gave the necklace to my mother." - -"And who was your mother, miss?" - -"Mrs. Hedge----" - -"Who married Mr. Alpenny?" cried Orchard, rising suddenly to his feet -and really startled out of his mildness. - -"Yes. Mr. Alpenny is now dead, and----" - -"I know--I know," said Orchard, waving his hand; "he met with the due -reward of his wickedness. I can talk of him later, and I'll tell you -why I suspect him. Mrs. Hedge's daughter--the Colonel's child----" - -"What?" cried Beatrice, springing to her feet. - -"Mr. Alpenny never told you, I suppose," said Orchard coolly; "but he -married Mrs. Hall, who took the name of Mrs. Hedge because she was -suspected of being concerned in the crime. You are Miss Hall--Miss -Beatrice Hall!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV -MRS. SNOW'S PAST - - -Beatrice waited to hear no more. As a sensible woman, she should have -remained where she was to question the old shepherd, and learn why -he stated so firmly that she was the daughter of Colonel Hall who -had been murdered so cruelly at the Grange; but the mere fact of the -announcement startled her, and without pausing, she rushed away, as -though to escape from her thoughts. Orchard looked after her in mild -surprise, but did not call her back, although her action must have -puzzled him. The ex-butler seemed to have outlived all curiosity, or -else the Downs had cured his nerves so thoroughly that he did not feel -startled. However, be this as it may, he returned to his dinner, and -sat watching the slowly-moving sheep without giving a thought to the -young lady who had called upon him. - -How Beatrice descended the slope of the Downs into the valley she never -knew. Her brain was filled with the information she had so strangely -gained. She was not Beatrice Hedge, but Beatrice Hall, the daughter of -the dead man who had owned the necklace. Ruck asserted that the Colonel -had given the necklace to his wife before the murder. As Mrs. Alpenny, -who called herself Mrs. Hedge and who really was Mrs. Hall, had been -the wife of the Colonel, this was not unlikely. Alpenny, finding that -she possessed the necklace, might have married her to gain possession -of the same. But what Beatrice could not understand was, why her mother -should have married the usurer. It was true that he had always been her -admirer, as Durban himself had stated; but from accepting attentions to -marrying the man who paid them, was a long step. Mrs. Hall had taken -it, under the name of Mrs. Hedge, and again Beatrice wondered what the -reason could be. - -Durban must have known this truth. He had been the faithful servant of -Colonel Hall, and had always spoken of him with love and admiration. -If she--Beatrice--were the Colonel's child, the adoration of Durban -for herself would be explained. He loved her, because he had loved her -dead father. But why had Durban held his tongue over the marriage, and -had allowed everyone to think that Alpenny had married a Mrs. Hedge? -Durban, as Beatrice well knew, had no love for Alpenny, yet he had -said nothing likely to prevent such a match. Certainly Durban might -not have had the power; but there appeared no reason why he should -have concealed the truth from his dead master's child. Beatrice was -beginning to see light. There was some mystery concerning her, which -had to do with her father's murder, with the missing necklace, and -probably with the murder of Alpenny himself. Durban now might tell the -truth and explain matters seeing that she already knew so much. Then, -again, he might refuse to speak out, and she would be as much in the -dark as ever. - -Major Ruck doubtless knew the truth from Alpenny, although he had -declared that Mrs. Hedge was the cousin of Colonel Hall. But Beatrice, -remembering his hesitation in making the statement, was certain that -Ruck was cognisant of the real state of affairs. Was Vivian Paslow -likewise enlightened? She could not be certain of this. Vivian might -or might not know, but he assuredly had some secret on his mind which -he refused to impart to her until the marriage took place. Had that -secret to do with her real parentage which had been revealed to her by -Orchard? Beatrice was minded, then and there, to ask Vivian for the -truth. But she could not do so on the spur of the moment, much as she -wished to since Vivian was at Brighton with Dinah and would not be back -for some hours. Durban certainly was at The Camp, but Beatrice, very -naturally, considering his attitude, was doubtful if he would speak out -At the foot of the Downs, and when on the road leading to Hurstable -village, she paused to think what was best to be done. She half -regretted that she had not stopped with Orchard to learn more. It would -be just as well, she thought, to go back: but a glance at the steep -wall of the Downs led her to change her mind. She could not face that -weary climb again, as her nerves were shattered by the communication -which had changed her life. - -Then it occurred to her that Mrs. Snow knew her mother. Mrs. Snow--then -Miss Duncan--had been at Convent Grange when Colonel Hall was murdered. -She must have known that the so-called Mrs. Hedge was really Mrs. Hall, -and must have known also the reason why Mrs. Hall under a feigned name -had married Jarvis Alpenny. Mrs. Snow declared herself to be a dear -friend of Mrs. Hall. Why, then, did she hate Beatrice, who was the -daughter of that same dear friend? That Mrs. Snow hated her Beatrice -was convinced, as she had pointedly neglected her throughout five and -twenty years. Yes Mrs. Snow would be the best person to question; and -having made up her mind rapidly, the girl took her way to the Vicarage -of Hurstable. - -Mrs. Snow, looking more sour and elderly than ever, was in the garden, -engaged in the Arcadian pastime of gathering roses for decorative -purposes. She was a good housekeeper, and liked to see a dainty -dinner-table. Notwithstanding her disagreeable nature, she made the -vicar and his son comfortable enough, and really loved them both in her -sour way. Jerry, indeed, was the apple of her eye, and it was for this -reason that she resented his engagement to Dinah Paslow. With any other -girl it would have been the same. It was not the individual maiden that -Mrs. Snow hated, but the girl who took her son to be a husband. For -the sake of her own selfishness, which she miscalled maternal love, -she would have liked Jerry to remain a bachelor all his life, just to -please her, and bestow all his affection on his dear mother. But the -young man himself had not found that affection, although it really -existed, strong enough to fill his life. Therefore he had asked Dinah -to marry him, and so strongly had he held his own on the subject, that -Mrs. Snow had been won over so far as to receive Dinah as a future -daughter-in-law. - -"Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice, when she entered the pretty grounds of the -Vicarage, "I wish to speak to you particularly." - -The vicar's wife looked sourly at her visitor. She hated Beatrice -because of her beauty, amongst other things; and when she saw that same -beauty was somewhat worn and haggard, that the girl looked ill and had -lost her vivacity, she felt pleased. "Quite washed out," said Mrs. Snow -to herself, and thus became more amiable. Laying down the scissors, -with which she had been clipping the flowers, she advanced with what -was meant to be an ingratiating smile. "My dear Miss Hedge, I am so -pleased to see you. This is the first time that you have called. Come -inside, please." - -"Thank you. I prefer to remain in the garden and take up as little of -your time as possible." - -Mrs. Snow stiffened. "What an extraordinary tone to take with me," -she said, with the offended air of a thorough egotist. - -"Can you wonder at it? We know so little of one another." - -"That is, as it may be," snapped Mrs. Snow, wondering what her visitor -had come to see her about. "I may know more of you than you think." - -"For that reason I come to see you," said Beatrice calmly. - -Her hostess started, but speedily recovered her calmness. "I really do -not know what you mean, Miss Hedge," she said composedly. - -"I think you know this much, that I am not Miss Hedge." - -"Oh!" said Mrs. Snow, her sallow face flushing an uneasy red. "Will you -not be seated?" - -"Thank you." Beatrice moved towards a garden seat at the far end of the -lawn; but Mrs. Snow touched her arm, and pointed to a side-path. - -"I have a very secluded arbour there," she said significantly, "where -we cannot be overheard." And she led the way down the path. - -"The whole world may hear what I have to say," declared Beatrice -boldly, and resolved to be a party to no mystery. - -"But the whole world," said Mrs. Snow, stopped with a disagreeable -smile, "may not hear what I may have to say--that is, if you press me." - -"I want to hear everything," said the girl sharply; "for that reason I -have come to you." - -"I fear you will go away less easy in your mind than you came." - -Beatrice shrugged her shoulders. "My mind has been uneasy ever since -the death of my stepfather," she retorted. "Is this the place?" - -"This is the place," assented the vicaress. - -It was--as Mrs. Snow had stated--a very secret place. The path ended -In a kind of semicircular enclosure surrounded by a high hedge of -hawthorn. The arbour faced the path, so that any one seated therein -could see an intruder advancing along the path. The haven of rest was -of light trellis-work overgrown with roses, and had a comfortable -wooden seat at the back, and two basket chairs in front of this, with -a small green-painted table between. Beatrice sank into one of the -chairs, and Mrs. Snow subsided into the other. The table was between -them, and the two glanced at one another when seated. Mrs. Snow looked -as sour as ever: but there lurked a watchful look in her eyes, which -a more discerning person than the visitor would have seen at once. -Beatrice on her part, having nothing to conceal, was perfectly open; -and caring very little for what Mrs. Snow had to say, resolved that, -whatever it might be, she would bind herself to no secrecy. The scene -being set, the actresses spoke. Beatrice politely waited to give -Mrs. Snow a chance of opening the conversation, while Mrs. Snow was -equally determined that her visitor should speak first. Under these -circumstances a silence ensued which lasted for quite two minutes. Mrs. -Snow, being the most impatient, yielded first to the desire to use her -tongue. - -"You spoke very strangely just now, Miss Hedge," she said, and -purposely uttered the name to evoke frank speech from Beatrice. - -"Miss Hall, if you please," said the girl, falling into the trap. - -"Oh! Miss Hall," replied the other, flushing. "I never knew that your -mother was called Hall." - -"As she was your dearest friend--you told me as much--I fancy you must -have had some idea." - -"Perhaps," said Mrs. Snow, looking down uneasily. Then she raised her -face with a frown. "Who told you this?" - -"A man called Orchard. You may know of him, Mrs. Snow?" - -"I have no reason to deny that I know of him. He was the late Mr. -Paslow's butler, and became a shepherd on the Downs, because the doctor -said he would have to live in the open air." - -"Why?" - -"Did he not tell you? His nerves were so shattered by that horrid -murder which took place at the Grange twenty-five years ago." - -"You allude to the murder of my father?" - -"To the murder of Colonel Hall," corrected Mrs. Snow snappishly. - -"My father was Colonel Hall." - -"So this man Orchard says?" sneered the other, her face flushing and -her hands opening and shutting. - -"And so I believe. Come now, Mrs. Snow, you must tell me what you know -of this matter?" - -"I know nothing." - -"Perhaps Miss Duncan may be able to tell me?" - -"Ah!"--the vicar's wife laughed carelessly--"you know my maiden name, -and perhaps my occupation before I married my husband?" - -"I heard that you were a governess." - -"Who said so?" - -"Durban." - -"In that case, since he has been so frank, I wonder that he did not -tell you how Mrs. Hall--your mother--killed the Colonel." - -Beatrice started to her feet. "You dare to say that?" - -"Yes, I do," cried Mrs. Snow venomously. "She killed your father to -gain possession of a diamond necklace, and married Alpenny because he -could have accused her of the murder." - -"That is not true," said Beatrice, closing her eyes with horror. - -"It is true. I can prove it." - -"Why did you not do so twenty-five years ago?" - -"Because your mother was my friend." - -"Mrs. Snow"--Beatrice opened her eyes, and leaned across the -table--"you were never my mother's friend." - -The woman moved uneasily, and her hands were restless. "Had I not been -so, your mother would have stood in the dock." - -"Ah! you had your own reason for keeping quiet." - -"Do you mean to accuse me of being her accomplice?" said Mrs. Snow, -rising, and scowling. - -"Sit down, please." Beatrice pushed her back into the chair. - -"How dare you!" gasped Mrs. Snow. "I was never treated before so in the -whole course of my life!" And she made to rise again. - -Again Beatrice pushed her back. "I am stronger than you, Mrs. Snow," -she said scornfully; "you shall sit down, and you shall tell me -everything you know." - -"And if I do not?" - -"I'll go at once to the police." - -Mrs. Snow turned white. "To the police?" - -"Yes. Listen. I believe that the man with the black patch who murdered -my father, Colonel Hall, also murdered Mr. Alpenny. My mother is -entirely innocent, and were she alive she would say so." Mrs. Snow -laughed at this remark, but in a hollow manner. "Yes, you may laugh, -Mrs. Snow, but what I say is true," resumed Beatrice firmly; "and if -you don't tell me all you know, I shall tell the police that you accuse -my mother and say that you can substantiate your accusation. When -arrested, you may be forced to speak out." - -"Arrested? How dare you!" Mrs. Snow was furious. "How can I be arrested -when the murder of your father took place twenty-five years ago? It is -ridiculous." - -"Oh no; this second murder has to do with the first, so that will -bring the death of my father up-to-date. Speak out, or I go at once to -Brighton, and then----" - -"You will not dare----" gasped the vicaress in a cowed tone. - -"I give you three minutes to make up your mind, Mrs. Snow." - -"I don't want one minute. I shall tell you all I know--all I believe to -be true: your mother is guilty." - -"Was guilty, since she is dead," corrected Beatrice quietly; "and I -do not believe one word. You hated her, in spite of the fact that she -was--as you say--your dearest friend." - -"You are right!" cried Mrs. Snow with hysterical vehemence; "I did hate -her--always--always! She took from me the man I loved. Yes, you may -look and look, but I loved George Hall, your father, with all my heart. -I was only a governess, poor and plain; your mother was a planter's -daughter, rich and beautiful. We were at school together. I was her -companion afterwards; but I always detested her, and now----" - -"Now you detest her daughter," finished Beatrice. - -"You have your mother's beauty," said Mrs. Snow, and cast a venomous -look on the girl's pale face. - -"So this is the reason you kept away from The Camp, and spoke of me to -others so bitterly as you did?" - -"Yes. You may as well know the truth: I hate you. You have the beauty -of your mother, who stole George Hall away from me. But you have not -the money; I saw to that." - -"How could you prevent my inheriting the money? I suppose you allude to -Mr. Alpenny's fortune." - -"Because I told Mr. Alpenny if he left the money to you that I would -accuse him of being an accomplice of Mrs. Hall in her murder of the -Colonel. Miss Hedge, or Miss Hall, or whatever you like to call -yourself, I hate you so much that I would like to put the rope round -your neck." - -"Yet I am the daughter of the man you loved!" said Beatrice, wondering -at this bitterness. - -"All the more reason I should hate you. His daughter--yes, and the -daughter of Amy Hall, whom I loathed with all my soul." - -"If so, why did you not accuse her of the murder?" - -"I gave her a chance of repentance." - -"No, Mrs. Snow, that was not the reason. You did not tell the police, -because you could not prove your accusation. For all I know--for all -the police know--you may have murdered my father yourself." - -Mrs. Snow laughed scornfully. "I murder George Hall? Why, I loved the -very ground he trod on. You can prove nothing against me." - -"Nor can you prove anything against my mother." - -"Can I not?" Mrs. Snow rose and flung her arms about exultingly. "I was -stopping at the Grange. I was lying awake on that night, wondering when -my misery would end." - -"What misery?" - -"The misery of loving your father, and of seeing him with your mother. -But I sowed dissension between them: they were never happy." - -"You wicked woman!" - -"I am a woman, and that answers all," said Mrs. Snow sullenly. "I -don't mind telling you all this, as you cannot accuse me of anything. -If you did say that I told you what I am now telling you, I should deny -it; and who would believe you, against a respectable woman like me?" - -"You are a wicked woman!" said Beatrice again. "Go on with what you -have to say. I want to get away from you as soon as possible." - -"You may not be in such a hurry to leave me on a future occasion," -retorted Mrs. Snow. "You and I have not done with one another yet. I -know much that you would like to know." - -"What is that?" - -"I'll tell you later. Meanwhile, I tell you that I was lying awake -and heard a noise. I stole out, and saw Mrs. Hall ready dressed to -go out into the passage. She was at the head of the stairs, and with -her was old Alpenny, for he was old even then. They stopped talking -for a time, as I saw, and he apparently was persuading her to do -something. Then they went along towards the wing where Colonel Hall -slept. I went back to bed, wondering what Mrs. Hall meant by keeping -a midnight appointment with old Alpenny. I never suspected the truth. -Next morning the necklace was gone and George Hall murdered. And she -did it!" shouted Mrs. Snow savagely; "she--you mother! Alpenny was -her accomplice. He wished to get the necklace. He was afraid to kill -George Hall himself, and made a woman do it. Then she got the necklace -after she cut poor George's throat, and Alpenny made her marry him -under a threat of denouncing her as what she was, a murderess--a -murderess--you--you daughter of one!" jeered Mrs. Snow, pointing a -mocking finger at the pale girl. - -"You lie!" said Beatrice, shaken but not convinced. - -"A black patch was found under the window of my father's room. It was -open; and now that a man with a black patch killed Mr. Alpenny (for the -necklace, for all I know), I believe he also killed my father." - -"You admit that Mr. Alpenny had the necklace. How did he get it?" - -"Orchard said that Alpenny killed my father." - -"No; your mother did. Alpenny was merely the accomplice." - -"Wait. Major Ruck declared that Colonel Hall gave the necklace before -his death to Mrs. Hedge. Now I know that Mrs. Hedge was really Mrs. -Hall, I believe him. Father gave my mother the necklace, and doubtless -what else you say is true. My mother was forced to marry Alpenny, -because he threatened to denounce her, She must have been suspected of -the crime. I can see that plainly, else she would not have changed her -name to Hedge. I wonder she was not recognised." - -"No one knew her here," said Mrs. Snow gloomily. "She was only one -night at Convent Grange, and on that night her husband was murdered. -Pshaw! She is guilty." - -"I don't believe it," insisted Beatrice, rising defiantly; "but I will -prove the truth of what you say. Durban must speak out now." - -"And he will accuse your mother as I accuse her. Why did Durban go to -serve Alpenny for nothing? Because Alpenny, wishing to get a faithful -servant for nothing, said he would denounce Mrs. Hall unless she -married him and brought Durban with her. Durban knows the truth, but he -has kept silent all these years because he dared not speak out without -hanging Mrs. Hall." - -"She is dead now, so nothing can be done," said Beatrice sadly; "but at -least her memory can be cleared, and I shall clear it." - -"If you delve into your mother's past, you will find more things than -murder in it," said Mrs. Snow sneeringly. "She loved Major Ruck." - -"What?" - -"She loved Major Ruck, I tell you. He also was at Convent Grange on the -night the crime was committed, and I believe that your mother was about -to elope with him when I saw her dressed at midnight, with Alpenny -talking to her." - -"Oh," said Beatrice coldly, "I thought that she was there--as you -say--to murder my father." - -"She intended to do so, and then elope with Ruck; but Alpenny caught -her in his toils. For all I know, I may have seen her talking after -the murder, and Alpenny may have gone with her to get the necklace." - -"You make out a very pretty case, Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice, her heart -beating loudly and quickly, for the weight of evidence did seem to be -against Mrs. Hall. "However, I shall see Durban, and then come again to -see you. Good day," and she moved away, while Mrs. Snow laughed. - - - - - -CHAPTER XV -A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE - - -It was all very strange, thought Beatrice, as she walked towards -Convent Grange. She had learned much from Orchard and from Mrs. Snow, -yet apparently there was more to learn. Who had killed Colonel Hall? -Who had murdered Jarvis Alpenny? Was the assassin one and the same? And -if she found the assassin, would she learn who possessed the necklace, -which seemed to account for both crimes? Finally, did she discover the -identity of the assassin and the necklace, would she be able to learn -the mystery which lurked in the background of Vivian's life? These were -the questions which Beatrice asked herself on the way home. - -In spite of Mrs. Snow's assertion and significant tale of the midnight -meeting with Alpenny, the girl could not bring herself to believe that -her mother was guilty. A woman would never think of cutting a man's -throat, and probably when a frail little woman such as Mrs. Hall was -reported to have been, would not have the power. Then again, Alpenny -was murdered in the same way, and Mrs. Hall had been lying in Hurstable -churchyard for years. Also, if Mrs. Hall was guilty, what had the black -patch which had reappeared in the second crime to do with the first -one? It seemed impossible that these riddles could be answered. - -On arriving at the Grange, Beatrice found Dinah and Jerry Snow walking -down the avenue. Apparently they had been quarrelling, for they did not -walk arm in arm as usual, and Jerry was as sulky as Dinah was tearful. -"Whatever is the matter?" asked Beatrice, stopping. - -"It's Jerry's cruelty," mourned Dinah, whose sorrow made her look even -plainer than usual. - -"It's Dinah's foolishness," retorted Jerry, and walked on. - -"Come back," cried the girl, "or I'll never, never, never speak to you -again. Do you wish to break my heart?" - -"You're breaking it yourself," grumbled the young man. All the same, he -returned to where the two girls were standing. - -"And after all I have put up with from your mother," complained Dinah. - -"Oh! leave my mother alone." - -"I wish she would leave me alone. She is always highly disagreeable -to me. I believe it is a family failing," concluded Dinah spitefully. - -"Don't marry me, then." - -"I don't intend to--you--you bear!" - -Beatrice listened to all this with covert amusement. She knew that the -two loved one another too well to think of parting, whatever might be -the grounds of their quarrel. "Come, come," she said soothingly, and -prepared to play the part of peacemaker. "What is the matter? Is Jerry -jealous?" - -"No," snapped Dinah. "I am--very jealous. He"--she pointed to Jerry, -who still looked sulky--"has been flirting with another girl. I was in -the village an hour ago, and there was Jerry as bold as brass talking -to a red-haired minx, who squinted." - -"She doesn't squint," growled Jerry. - -"There, you see; he defends her." - -"Dinah!" cried Jerry in desperation, "how can you be so silly? I love -you and you only." - -"You love that horrid girl. I saw her looking at you." - -"A cat may look at a king." - -"She certainly is a cat, though you're not a king." - -"Well," said Beatrice, preparing to move on, "I am going back to the -house, and you two can settle it yourselves." - -Dinah clung to her friend. "No. I won't be left alone with Jerry." - -"Well, then, explain," said Beatrice impatiently, for she had too many -worries of her own to take any profound interest in the frivolous ones -of these milk-and-water lovers. - -"I'll explain," said Mr. Snow defiantly. "There is a young lady I know -in London----" - -"Young!" cried Dinah; "she's thirty-five, and painted." - -"Well, then, she came down here to the inn, and I met her outside. She -exchanged a few words with me, and said that she wanted to know the -nearest way to the Downs. It seems that her father is a shepherd on the -Downs--a man called Orchard." - -"What?" cried Beatrice, disengaging herself from Dinah's too fond -embrace. She could scarcely believe her ears. That she should come -from seeing the ex-butler for the first time, to stumble--so to -speak--across his daughter, was indeed an extraordinary coincidence. - -Jerry looked at her amazed, as he could not understand her tone. "Why -do you look so astonished?" he asked. - -"I have only lately come down from seeing Orchard," she said. "Oh, by -the way, Dinah," she added, turning to the girl, "Vivian came back with -you from Brighton?" - -"No," said Dinah crossly; "he had to see someone, and will not be back -until late. I came home myself, and passed through the village to see -Jerry making love to that horrid girl. And Jerry had the coolness to -follow me." - -"Only to explain," urged Jerry. "Come, Dinah, don't be silly. I know -the lady only a little; she is on one of the papers belonging to our -editorial firm, and does the fashion column." - -"She might dress better, then," retorted Dinah crossly, and determined -not to be appeased. "I saw cheapness in every line of her dress." - -"Ah," said Jerry artfully, "she cannot set off a dress like you." - -"Don't be silly," cried Miss Paslow, but smiled for all that. - -"What is this lady's name?" asked Beatrice. - -"Lady!"--Dinah tossed her head--"when her father is a shepherd, and, I -dare say, a very bad one." - -"Miss Maud Carr is her name," said Mr. Snow, ignoring Dinah, much to -her wrath. - -"Maud!" Beatrice remembered that this was also the name of Vivian's -dead wife, and again wondered at the long arm of coincidence. - -"I know very little about it or her," said Jerry in an injured -tone, "save that she writes about women's fashions. We have met at -journalistic clubs in London, and, of course, when I saw her I passed -the time of day with her." - -"You passed an hour," snapped Dinah, "and very pleasantly, I'm sure." - -"She's not a bit ashamed of her birth," continued Jerry, still ignoring -Dinah as a punishment. "I never knew her father was a shepherd in -London, but she confessed it to me here quite easily." - -"That's her artfulness," commented Dinah. "Why are you so curious about -this woman?" she asked Beatrice. - -The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I am not curious," she denied; "but -as I have just seen old Orchard, it is strange that his daughter should -have been speaking to Jerry." - -"Not at all, Beatrice. Jerry is always fond of these painted, horrid -women, who never pay for their dresses because they write for fashion -papers. I should be ashamed to earn my living in that way.--Well"--she -faced round to the impenitent Mr. Snow--"and what have you to say?" - -"Nothing," said Jerry crossly. "You are always nagging, Dinah." - -"After that!" cried Miss Paslow, looking up to see why the heavens did -not fall. "Well, I'm--I'm----" Words failed her, and she turned her -back. "I'm going home. All is at an end!" and she sped up the avenue, -glancing back meanwhile on occasions to see if Jerry followed. - -But Jerry did nothing of the sort, and explained to Beatrice why he -stood his ground. "Dinah needs a lesson," he said gravely. "You have no -idea how she nags at me. I can't speak to any one without her getting -into a pelting rage." - -"It shows how she loves you," said Beatrice soothingly. - -"I don't want to be loved in that selfish way. It's just like mother: -she wants all one's affection, and nags the whole time, saying it is -for my good. I've had quite enough of that in mother, without taking -it on in a wife. I want a woman who will cheer me up, and look upon -me as something to be looked up to. But I'll punish her," said Jerry -wrathfully. "She expects me to run after her. I won't; I'll stay here -and talk to you." - -"I'm busy," said Beatrice, taking a step or two away. "I have to go to -The Camp to see Durban." - -"You needn't. He's at Convent Grange looking for you." - -"Oh! Then I'll go to him at once." - -"Better wait to hear what I have to say," urged Jerry; "it's about the -murder of Mr. Alpenny." - -Beatrice stopped short, wondering what she was about to hear. "Have you -discovered anything?" she asked breathlessly. - -"I can't say if what I have discovered is of any use," explained Mr. -Snow, "but it might put the police on the track of the assassins." - -"What have you found out?" - -"Well, I was down Whitechapel the other night," said Jerry, "making an -inquiry into some robbery that has taken place. There was a detective -with me, and we saw all manner of queer things; also, we heard all -manner of queer talk. In one way and another we picked up information -about the Black Patch Gang." - -"The Black Patch Gang!" echoed Beatrice. "Yes!--yes?" - -"It's a gang of rogues, thieves, and vagabonds," went on Mr. Snow. "The -police have never been able to lay hands on the head of the gang, or -break it up. This gang goes about committing burglaries, and stealing -things, and picking pockets. They must have a kind of academy like -Fagin's," mused Jerry, "and they know one another by a black patch worn -over the left eye." - -"Just like the man I saw?" - -"Yes. I thought of that when I heard the story," said Jerry, "and the -detective thought the same. He is going to hunt out this gang and learn -the whereabouts of their headquarters. And, Beatrice"--he moved forward -to place a cautious hand on her arm--"it struck me--I don't know if -it struck the detective, but it struck me, that Alpenny, who was a -precious scoundrel--I beg your pardon----" - -"Go on," she said impatiently. "I know he was my stepfather, but I -always thought him a wicked man myself." - -"I believe he was a fence," said Jerry solemnly. - -"What is that?" - -"The chap who disposes of stolen goods. Yes; I really believe that was -why Alpenny lived in the country. The Black Patch Gang brought their -stolen goods down here, and he got rid of them in some way. I expect -the police will come down and make a thorough search throughout The -Camp. There may be all manner of secret hiding-places." - -"But, Jerry," protested Beatrice, who was very pale, as various -thoughts rushed through her mind, "I never saw any London thieves in -The Camp, or, indeed, any one disreputable." - -"Did you ever see any client?" asked Jerry impressively. - -"No. Mr. Alpenny kept his business very quiet." - -"He had need to if he was a fence. Beatrice, remember how the keys were -in the counting-house, where the man was murdered, and how the assassin -could not have got out unless he used the keys. I believe there is -another entrance to that railway carriage, and the assassin came in by -that way, along with the rest of Alpenny's precious clients. I am quite -sure the old man was the head of the gang." - -"There was Waterloo----" - -"I know," said Jerry quickly. "Dinah told me about him, and Mrs. Lilly -told her. Waterloo is a blackguard. The detective in Whitechapel -explained what a scoundrel he was--one of the worst. Why did he come -down here?" - -"I don't know," murmured Beatrice, and then it flashed across her -mind that the tramp had come to see Vivian. Coupling this desire with -the speech of the late Jarvis Alpenny regarding Vivian's crimes and -Vivian's secret troubles, which she was so anxious to find out, the -girl suddenly turned pale. She wondered if Paslow himself was one of -the Black Patch Gang. "It's impossible," said Beatrice, with a gasp, -and leaned against a tree to support herself. - -"What is impossible?" asked Jerry. "Here, hold up." - -"It's all right," she said, recovering herself with a violent effort; -"a little weariness, that is all. I have been on the Downs, remember. I -don't see how you can connect this gang with Mr. Alpenny." - -"Remember, he was murdered by a man with a black patch over his eye." - -"Yes, but----" the girl broke off. "I hope the police won't come down -here," she said, with pale-lips, and wondering if Vivian's conduct -would bear investigation. - -"They just will," said Jerry bluntly, "and I hope so. I'll be able to -make a lot out of the matter, if any loot is found. Why, the editor may -raise my salary." - -"You aren't worth it," cried an indignant voice near at hand, and Dinah -appeared from amongst the trees. "How dare you treat me in this way, -Jerry Snow? Why didn't you come after me, and why didn't----" - -"Dinah," asked Beatrice hurriedly, "have you been listening long?" - -"No. All I heard was that Jerry wanted his salary raised. What has he -been talking about?" and she eyed the two suspiciously. - -"Are you jealous of Beatrice?" demanded Mr. Snow scornfully. - -"What nonsense, when you know she is going to marry Vivian! And I -really don't think I'll marry you. Take back your ring, and----" - -Beatrice waited to hear no more. Leaving Dinah pouring out her voluble -wrath on the devoted head of her lover, she ran up the avenue, -wondering what further revelations she would hear. This was a day of -wonders. She had learned that she was the daughter of Colonel Hall; she -had heard her dead mother accused of murder by Mrs. Snow; and now she -discovered that Alpenny--as was probably the case--had been connected -with a gang of rogues. What would be the end of all these terrible -things? She could not tell, and ran on, anxious to reach her own room -in order to think matters over. - -She quite forgot that Jerry had told her Durban was waiting to see -her. But the old servant was on the watch. Hardly had she set foot on -the terrace when he issued from the house; and came towards her with a -smile. It died away, however, when he saw her pale face. - -"Whatever is the matter, missy?" he asked anxiously, Beatrice looked at -him calmly, and wasted no time in explaining herself. "I have learned -at last what you would not tell me." - -"Missy!" cried Durban, and his swarthy face grew green, as it always -did when he was startled. - -"I am the daughter of Colonel Hall, who was murdered here. My mother -was really Mrs. Hall, who called herself Mrs. Hedge and married -Alpenny!" - -Durban gasped. "Who told you this?" - -"Orchard, who was the butler here, and now is a shepherd on the Downs." - -"It is true," said Durban, flinging wide his hands. "I knew you would -find out. I am glad you have found out." - -"Why did you not tell me?" - -"I was prevented." - -"By whom?" - -"First by Alpenny, and then by Major Ruck." - -"The man with whom my mother was about to elope?" - -Durban looked at her swiftly. "Orchard never told you that?" - -"No. Mrs. Snow told me." - -"You have seen her. Then you know?" - -"I know that she accuses my mother of the crime--of the murder of my -father, Colonel Hall." - -"That is a lie," said Durban between his teeth. "But she would not -stick at a lie to harm your mother." - -"How can she harm the dead?" - -"She might harm the memory of the dead," said Durban evasively. "And -what else have you heard?" - -"From Mr. Jerry Snow, I have just heard that there is a gang of thieves -in London called the Black Patch Gang." - -"Augh!" groaned Durban, casting down his eyes. "Go on." - -"Mr. Alpenny is connected with them. Mr. Snow says that he was a fence -who disposed of stolen goods." - -"Where did Mr. Snow hear this story?" - -"From various people in Whitechapel." - -"Rumours only," said Durban, striving to appear calm; "there is not a -word of truth in it. Mr. Alpenny was wicked, but not so bad as that, -missy. I swear it." - -"I believe that Mr. Snow has spoken the truth," said Beatrice sharply. -"You are still trying to keep me in the dark." - -"For your good, missy--for your good." - -"Or for Mr. Paslow's safety--which?" - -"I don't know what you mean," gasped Durban hoarsely. - -"I don't know myself exactly, since you will not be candid," said the -girl wearily; "but I have found out much, and I shall find more. When I -discover that necklace----" - -"The Obi necklace? You have never found that?" - -"No. But I am looking for it." - -"Missy, do not. I implore you, do not. There is a curse on that -necklace. It caused the death of your father, the disgrace of your -mother, and the murder of Mr. Alpenny." - -"How do you know that? Had Mr. Alpenny the necklace?" - -"Yes. Your mother gave it to Alpenny for you." - -"Then where is it?" - -"I don't know--I cannot tell. And if I did know I would never tell, -missy. Enough sorrow and trouble has come about over that necklace--the -accursed thing! I--I----" Durban broke down, and, with a groan, fairly -ran away, leaving the amazed Beatrice mistress of the field. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI -AN INTERRUPTION - - -There was certainly enough to think about. Beatrice retreated to her -room, and proceeded to reason out the meaning of all she had heard. It -was evident that both Vivian and Durban were in some way connected with -criminality in connection with Mr. Alpenny's vocation of "fence," since -both refused to speak. Waterloo, apparently, was a member of the Black -Patch Gang, and had come down the other day to see Vivian. Beatrice -remembered now how Vivian had hinted that he was connected with rogues -and vagabonds, and how he appeared to be fearful as to what Major -Ruck might say. Ruck himself probably was a member of this criminal -association. In any case, as Durban had confessed, he was a decoy duck -to lure the unwary into the late Mr. Alpenny's nets. - -But the question which now presented itself to the puzzled girl was, -whether, Alpenny being dead, the organisation would end. The old usurer -had been extremely clever, and, wanting his brains, this association -might disband for want of a competent head. Ruck certainly,--as he -appeared to have some authority,--might become the moving spirit; but -from what Beatrice had seen of him, she did not think he was capable -of handling such difficult matters. And she did not much care. All she -desired was to learn what Paslow had to do with these rascalities,--if -Durban was implicated in the rogueries,--and, if so, to rescue both. -She could not believe that either of these kind men, and whom she loved -so dearly, would act in a blackguardly way. In some manner the two had -become entangled in Alpenny's nets, and knowing this, Ruck was making -capital out of the knowledge. This was the conclusion which Beatrice -arrived at, and she determined to force Vivian to explain. - -"I love him dearly," she assured herself, as she stared at her pale -drawn face in the looking-glass; "but I cannot marry him until I know -exactly what part he has taken in all these terrible doings." With this -resolve she went down to dinner, and found Vivian there in a very happy -state of mind. Lately the cloud had passed away from his brow, and he -seemed more like his old self, of the days when she had never guessed -what an abyss there was under her feet--under their feet, indeed, as -she could not separate herself, even in thought, from Vivian Paslow. - -"My dear Beatrice," he said, coming towards her with a smile: and then, -when he saw her face, he stopped short, just as Durban had done. "Why, -my darling, what have you been doing with yourself?" - -"Nothing," replied Beatrice quietly. "After dinner I'll tell you." - -"Then there is something," said Paslow, seeing how she contradicted -herself, and trying to make her speak out. - -"Yes," she answered with an effort, "there is some thing. I have -learned much to-day." - -"About what?--from whom?" Paslow gasped out the questions, and his -heart beat violently. He felt sick with apprehension. What had she -heard, and why did she look at him in this way? - -"I'll tell you after dinner." - -"But I want you to tell me now." - -"No," said Beatrice very directly, and was spared further speech, for -at that moment Dinah came into the room, followed by Jerry in evening -dress. - -"I've made it up with Jerry. He has asked my pardon," she said in a -cheerful voice, "so I invited him to dinner as a reward." - -"I hope it is a good dinner," said Jerry blandly. "I deserve a big -reward for having given in to you." - -"It is always a man's duty to give in to a woman," said Miss Paslow. - -"I hope you don't think it is the wife's duty to bully the husband?" - -"On occasions. A little storm clears the air." - -Further argument was cut short by the sound of the gong. Vivian, who -had been watching Beatrice all the time, gave her his arm, and they -led the way into the dining-room, while the lovers wrangled behind. -The table looked dainty and neat, as it was brilliant with flowers and -glittered with old silver and cut crystal. In spite of his difficulties -Paslow had always kept up a certain state at the Grange, and, looking -at the table, no one would have guessed that its owner was nearly -bankrupt. Dinah, who with Mrs. Lilly was responsible for the meal, -pointed out to Jerry the various dishes set down on the menu, and -described what share she had taken in preparing the same. "So you see, -Jerry darling, I am a magnificent housekeeper." - -"On your brother's income," said Jerry, with a shrug, and enjoying the -soup. "What will you be on mine?" - -"On ours," corrected Dinah. "I'll be splendid, of course. Your income -cannot be very much less than Vivian's. We live here like Elijah, who -was fed by ravens." - -"I am fed by a dove," said Mr. Snow gallantly. - -"How sweet!" sighed Dinah sentimentally. Then feeling really hungry -after her argument with Jerry, she began to eat, and laid all sentiment -aside: that could come afterwards in the moonlight. - -Beatrice and Vivian exchanged few words during the meal. They talked -about the weather, about the various trifles in the newspapers which -interested idle people, and made a light meal. But at the back of their -thoughts lay the consciousness that a crisis was approaching in their -lives, and neither one knew how it would end. Would love be strong -enough to make the girl overlook youthful folly? That was what Vivian -asked himself. And Beatrice wondered if Vivian's love would be powerful -enough to make him confess plainly what was the meaning of all these -mysterious things which raised a barrier between them. The dinner was -a mere farce so far as they were concerned; but Dinah and Jerry ate -enough for four, and chatted meanwhile so gaily that any silence on the -part of the remaining two was overlooked. - -The meal ended, Vivian and Jerry did not linger over the bottle of -old port which the host placed before his guest. Jerry was at an age -when love was preferable to strong drink, and Vivian wished to have -a confidential conversation with Beatrice as speedily as possible. -Therefore by common consent they adjourned to the drawing-room, -and found the two girls drinking coffee on the terrace. It was a -deliciously warm night with a full moon, and countless stars gemming -the heavens. Quite a night for Romeo and Juliet, meet for love and -for soft whisperings. Nightingales sang in the thickets, and the -trees were absolutely still owing to the want of the faintest breath -of wind. Dinah, finishing her coffee, began to get sentimental again -and beckoned to Jerry. The two went down the steps into the sleeping -gardens, and Beatrice was left seated at the small table on the terrace -with Vivian smoking at her elbow. - -She glanced at him in the ivory moonlight while she made up her mind -what to say. He looked slim and handsome in his well-cut clothes--a -dark and somewhat stern man with a finely-featured face, Greek in its -perfect lines. It seemed impossible that such a man could be involved -in sordid roguery. He looked what Beatrice, in spite of circumstances, -always believed him to be--an honourable English gentleman who was her -lover and who would be her adoring husband. Vivian was staring at the -retreating forms of Jerry and Dinah as they vanished down the avenue; -but he became conscious that Beatrice was looking at him, and turned to -look at her. - -Surely a lover never saw a fairer maid. In her black dress, with her -white neck and arms shining in the moonlight, she looked wonderfully -beautiful. The pale glimmer of the moon concealed all the ravages which -trouble had made, and she appeared like an angel ready to take flight. -It was with difficulty that Paslow prevented himself pressing her in -his arms; but until matters were cleared up between them, there was -no chance that she would allow him to embrace her. He could see that, -in the sad, stern way in which she looked at him, and so restrained -himself with a violent effort "Well?" he said stiffly, and prepared to -listen. - -"What is it you wish to know?" she asked in a low voice. - -"I wish to know what has changed you?" - -"Am I changed?" - -"Very much. This morning when I went to Brighton with Dinah, you were -bright and happy; now you are sad, and look as though you had received -bad news." - -"Only you can give me bad news," said Beatrice in an embarrassed -manner. "I want you to be plain with me to-night, Vivian. I have -promised to marry you. I take that promise back----" - -"Beatrice--oh Beatrice!" - -"Unless you satisfy me that you really and truly love me." - -"Oh, my darling, is there any question of that?" - -"There is every question. It is easy for a man to say that he loves a -woman; it is not so easy to prove it." - -"I can prove it, in any way you will." - -"Good," said Beatrice, leaning forward and placing her arms on the -small table between them. "I shall tell you what I have heard to-day; -and then you must tell me what you know." - -"About what?" asked Paslow, lighting another cigarette with shaking -hands, and not daring to look at her. - -"In the first place, about my parentage." - -This time he did look at her, and in much amazement. "You are the -stepdaughter of Alpenny," he said quietly, "and the daughter of Mrs. -Hedge, whomsoever she may be." - -"Is that all you know?" she asked, looking at him. - -"Yes. I have never heard anything else." - -"But I have. I heard this day, and from Orchard the shepherd, who was -your father's servant, that I am the daughter of Colonel Hall." - -Vivian dropped his cigarette and jumped up with an exclamation of -genuine surprise. "Did Orchard tell you that?" he asked. - -"He did. Mrs. Hedge, my mother, was really Mrs. Hall, and married Mr. -Alpenny because--because----" She hesitated. - -"Because why? She must have had a strong reason to marry that old -rascal." - -"She had. Alpenny, according to Mrs. Snow----" - -"What does Mrs. Snow know about your affairs?" asked Vivian angrily. - -"A great deal. She was my mother's best friend,--so she says--and -her bitterest enemy, as I have found out. Mrs. Snow declared that my -mother married Alpenny to prevent Alpenny accusing her of murdering her -husband, and my father." - -"Oh! It is incredible," muttered Vivian, clutching his hair. - -"Wait till you hear details. I think my mother is innocent myself, but -certainly the evidence seems to be against her," and Beatrice, without -giving Vivian time to intervene, told him all that she had heard from -the old shepherd and from Mrs. Snow. He listened in silence, although -his amazement was too profound and too openly expressed, to be anything -else than genuine. "What do you think?" said Beatrice, when she had -finished. - -"I don't know what to think," he muttered, glancing sideways at her and -then away into the shadowy garden. "I believe Orchard is right, and -that you are the daughter of the man who was murdered in this house. -But I do not believe what Mrs. Snow says. Your mother--or, indeed, -any woman--would never commit a crime in so brutal a manner. I don't -believe any woman unless an Amazon would have the strength, for one -thing." - -"So I think," said Beatrice heartily; "and I am glad that you agree -with me. However, the discovery of my parentage does not make any -difference to my position." - -"I don't know so much about that," said Paslow, meditatively. "It might -be that Colonel Hall left money. As he is dead, and your mother is -dead--as Alpenny's wife, any money that there is should come to you." - -"Well," said Beatrice, watching the effect of her words, "it seems to -me that the necklace is mine. I understand that it is valued--so Major -Ruck said--at ten thousand pounds. If I can find that, I certainly will -be an heiress. But Durban wants me to leave it alone." - -"For what reason?" - -"He declares that the necklace is accursed." - -"Pooh!" said Vivian, with supreme contempt. "That is his African -superstition. You must not forget, Beatrice, that Durban is half a -negro. If the necklace can be found, it certainly must be given back to -you, for your own sake. Not for mine," he added quickly; "I don't care -if you are an heiress or a pauper. I marry you because I love you, my -darling." - -He offered to take her in his arms, but she drew back. "One moment, -Vivian," she said rapidly. "Can you tell me where the necklace is to be -found?" - -"I!" He started back in great surprise, and met her gaze frankly but -with a puzzled look. "How should I know?" - -"Mr. Alpenny, I truly believe, was killed for the sake of that -necklace, as was my father before him. I do not believe that my father -gave it to my mother. He was killed and robbed--so was Alpenny." - -"Beatrice, do you imply that I know anything of this murder?" - -"I can explain," she said, and came closer. "Alpenny was killed by a -man who wore a black patch over his left eye. A black patch was found -under the window of the room in which my father, Colonel Hall, was -murdered. Both crimes were committed, if not by the same man, as I have -hitherto believed, at least by a member of the Black Patch Gang to -which Alpenny belonged." - -Paslow covered his face with a groan, unable to meet the vivid -lightning of her eyes. "What do you know about the Black Patch Gang?" -he asked in stifled tones. - -"All that Jerry Snow could tell me. He was in Whitechapel, and heard -many remarks about this gang of thieves which the police are always -trying to break up. Now that the gang is concerned in murder as well as -in thievery, the police will make every effort to capture the man who -heads them. What is his name?" - -"How should I know?" demanded Paslow hoarsely. "Because you do know. -Alpenny hinted that you had committed crimes." - -"He lied--he lied," said Vivian passionately. "I am as innocent of -evil-doing as you are; folly, perhaps, but never crime." - -"I believe that. I am certain that the man I love would never descend -to sordid crime. But you have been drawn into the toils of this gang. I -believe that Alpenny was the head--he decoyed you into his snares; or -else Ruck--Major Ruck, his decoy-duck." - -"There is some truth in what you say, but----" - -"No; you must speak out. I will stand by you to the end, and do all I -can to reveal my love more and more. But I refuse"--she drew herself -upright--"to marry you unless you tell me the whole truth." - -"Give me time," he panted, and clenched his hands. - -"No. You must tell me now, or to-night we part for ever." - -Paslow uttered a groan, and moved forward two or three steps as though -about to seek safety in flight. "Beatrice!" he said brokenly. - -"Your answer?" she demanded, making every effort to appear calm. - -But the answer was not to come from Paslow. Even while he opened his -mouth to speak, Jerry appeared on the lawn with two ladies. One was -Dinah, as they could see by the evening-dress; the other a tall, -slim, fair-haired woman, fashionably arrayed in walking-costume. The -moonlight was strong, but neither Beatrice nor Paslow could tell who -the strange woman was. - -"Hullo, Vivian!" shouted Jerry; "here is Miss Carr, who wants to see -you." - -He would have said more, but was drawn back by Dinah, who apparently -was still jealous of the stranger. Beatrice remembered that this was -the woman with whom Jerry had been speaking during the day, the same -that had awakened the jealousy of Dinah. Also, she was the daughter -of the ex-butler. She advanced with gliding steps, and looked like a -beautiful lithe tigress stealing towards her prey. - -With Dinah, still jealous, Jerry after that one abrupt introduction -disappeared down the avenue, probably to be scolded. But Beatrice did -not look at the retreating lovers, nor indeed at the advancing Miss -Carr, whose foot was now on the lowest step of the terrace. All her -attention was concentrated on Vivian Paslow, who stood at the top of -the steps as though frozen into stone. The woman came up the steps, and -was now so near that Beatrice could see the smile on her fair face. - -"You!" said Vivian hoarsely, and fell back a pace. - -"Myself," said Miss Carr, "and no ghost either." - -Beatrice rose with a bound, and felt a sudden jealous anger surge in -her heart. She looked from one to the other imperiously. "Who is this -woman?" she asked the cowering man. - -"My--my--wife," he said in low, broken tones. "God help me, my wife -come back from the dead!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII -A STORY OF THE PAST - - -Miss Carr, or Miss Orchard, or Mrs. Paslow--Beatrice thought of her -by all these three names--smiled quietly when her husband made the -confession, and sank gracefully into the seat he had vacated. She -was certainly a handsome woman, and if not entirely a lady, was an -extremely good imitation of the same. Vivian still stood as in a dream, -staring at the wife he had believed to be dead and buried, and Beatrice -stared alternately at him and at the strange woman. A silence ensued, -for each of the three was thinking hard. Beatrice was the first to -break silence. - -"Will you explain?" she asked Vivian quietly. - -"I think," he answered in a harsh, dry tone, "that my wife had better -explain. I have the certificate of her death, and----" - -"And you can consider it so much waste-paper. The woman who was buried -was my double," said Mrs. Paslow composedly. - -"You cannot deceive me in that way, Maud. I saw you ill in bed." - -"And so I was. I had a bad attack of influenza," said his wife, with -a calm smile. "Oh, my illness was genuine enough; but I did not -die,--although I appeared to do so, for reasons connected with a second -marriage." - -"With Mr. Paslow's marriage to me?" asked Beatrice, striving to regain -her calmness, and emulate the sang-froid of this cold, audacious -woman, who appeared to have no feelings. - -"Well, no," drawled Mrs. Paslow, "not exactly. I never did care to -benefit my fellow-creatures to that extent. I refer to a marriage I -wished to make with a rich American. However, his mother stopped the -marriage, and I found myself without a natural protector. Therefore, as -I heard from Major Ruck that Vivian proposed to make you his wife, I -came here to save you, and stop him from committing bigamy." - -"Which you just now proposed to commit yourself?" said Beatrice, with -cold contempt. - -Mrs. Paslow looked at her between half-closed eyelids, and shrugged her -finely moulded shoulders. "Quite so," she said politely; "but I have my -reasons for risking imprisonment." - -"Reasons connected with money," sneered Vivian. - -"Connected with over a million--pounds, not dollars. Well?" - -"Well,"--he faced her squarely--"and what do you propose to do now?" - -"One moment," interposed Beatrice, now perfectly calm, and determined -to break down this woman's composure; "I should like to know how you -carried out this plot of a feigned death." - -There was a case of cigarettes on the table belonging to Vivian: -Mrs. Paslow cast a disdainful, and rather amused look on Beatrice, -and lighted one of the little rolls of tobacco. When the smoke was -wreathing round her fashionable hat, she spoke with great calmness -and appeared in no way upset by the imperious tone of the woman whom -her husband loved. "Certainly," she replied in a low, sweet voice, -which seemed to be one of her greatest charms, and she had many. "As -I explained, I wanted to be free of Vivian to marry a richer man than -he was, or is likely to be. When I was ill, and he came to see me, the -plan suggested itself. I took the doctor into my confidence, and he -agreed, for a consideration, to forward my aims. My double was really -ill,--oh yes, with consumption; she could not live, so----" - -"What do you mean by your double?" asked Beatrice abruptly. - -"Vivian can tell you. He knew of my double." - -"I did,--I do: but I did not think you would pass her off as yourself, -Maud." - -Mrs. Paslow removed the cigarette from her mouth and smiled. "It was a -capital plot," she said musingly; "and but that I want you to be again -my husband, would have succeeded." - -"What about your double?" asked Beatrice pertinaciously. - -"Oh, she was not a twin sister, as you seem to think. I am the only -daughter and only child of Joseph Orchard, who was a butler, and -is a shepherd. You see," she added, leaning her arms on the table -and addressing her rival in an amused tone, "I have no false pride -about me. When occasion serves I can say that I am the daughter of an -army officer, or of a clergyman, or of anyone with a position. I have -done such things in my time. But to you I can be frank, since there is -nothing to be gained by telling lies." - -"Your double--your double, Miss Carr, or Miss Orchard?" - -"Neither name is mine. Mrs. Paslow, if you please. Unless"--she glanced -contemptuously at Vivian--"my husband denies----" - -"I deny nothing. I cannot," he said savagely. "Say what you have to -say, Maud, and then I shall tell Miss Hall how we met and into what -troubles you led me." - -"Miss Hall!" echoed Mrs. Paslow, with a glance at Beatrice. "Then you -know that, do you?" - -"How do you know?" asked Beatrice, pointedly. - -"Oh, my father told me long ago. Later I might have made capital out of -the affair, but now----" She shrugged again. - -"I believe that you are a bad woman," said Beatrice hotly. - -"I am--what God made me," retorted Mrs. Paslow, in no wise disturbed -by the speech. "But about my double. She was a girl on the stage -extremely like me: in fact we might have passed for twins. I also went -on the stage--I have done most things in my time; and we--that is Miss -Arthur my double and myself--appeared in a play as twins. If you knew -anything of the theatre, Miss Hall, you would be surprised to hear -how successful that play was. The author was unknown and Major Ruck -financed the play, and----" - -"I want to hear nothing about that, Mrs. Paslow. I know now how you -carried out the deception, though it seems to me that as you did not -let Vivian see the dead body, it was needless to have this double." - -"Well," admitted Mrs. Paslow apologetically, as though excusing a -fault, "it was necessary to make sure. Vivian, after a few visits, -never came near me----" - -"The doctor would not let me," said her husband quickly. - -"Good old doctor," murmured Mrs. Paslow, selecting a fresh cigarette; -"he knew what I wanted. However, to make a long story short, Miss -Arthur died in my place and was buried under my name. You have the -certificate, my dear Vivian, so all is well. You were so easily -deceived that there was no fun in deceiving you. A clever man would -have made more certain of his wife's death before arranging to take -another one, especially as you were cheated once before." - -"I did hear that you were dead before Mr. Alpenny was murdered, -and I then asked Miss Hall here to be my wife," confessed Vivian; -"afterwards, Major Ruck told me that you were alive, but ill. I went to -see you, and you really seemed to be dying----" - -"I am a good actress, Vivian. I was on the stage, remember." - -"So I thought, when I saw the doctor and got the certificate, that you -were really and truly dead. Oh, I shall see that the doctor is punished -for this deception." - -"I think not," said Mrs. Paslow, narrowing her eyes and looking at him -very directly. "No doubt he will be punished in time, but not by your -will, Vivian dear." - -The tone and words were so peculiar and significant that Beatrice -looked straight at the woman, who now had a mocking smile on her face, -and spoke quietly: "You have some power over Mr. Paslow?" - -"Why not call him Vivian?" sneered the stranger. "He was"--she -emphasised the word--"to be your husband, remember." - -"If you speak like that," said Paslow standing over her and speaking in -a low, angry voice, "I shall forget that I am your husband." - -His wife glanced slightingly at Beatrice. "It seems to me that you have -forgotten," she scoffed. - -What the infuriated man would have said or done on the spur of the -moment, it is impossible to say; but he was dangerous. Beatrice saw -that, and drew him back with an exclamation. "Don't," she said quickly; -"let her say what she will. It cannot hurt me. And let me remind you, -Mrs. Paslow, that you have not answered my question." - -"Nor do I intend to," said the woman, rising and throwing aside the -cigarette. The contemptuous words of Beatrice stung her not a little. -"This is my husband, and I want him to return to town with me." - -"You are my wife," said Vivian in quiet anger, "and you were willing to -commit bigamy after deceiving me by a feigned death. I refuse to have -anything more to do with you." - -"The law will make you!" she threatened. - -"The law will do nothing of the sort. As my wife, I will allow you -enough to live on; but no law will ever make me have anything to do -with you again." - -"Then I shall make you!" - -"Ah," interposed Beatrice, "you exercise this power?" - -"I want my husband," said the woman sullenly. - -"I refuse to have anything to do with you," retorted Paslow once -more. His wife was rapidly losing her temper. She had come prepared -for victory; and, meeting with this opposition, all the disdainful -certainty of her assumed nature wore away, and the coarser feelings -became apparent. Her face flushed a dark red, the expression changed, -and instead of a quiet, ladylike person, Beatrice saw before her a -virago of the worst. "You shall come!" she shouted, "or rather, I shall -stay here. This is my house, and you,"--she turned on Beatrice,--"you -shall leave it." - -"I am here with Mr. Paslow's sister, and I decline to leave it at the -word of a disgraced wife." - -"I!" Mrs. Paslow sprang forward with upraised fist. "You dare to say -that to me, you----" Before she could strike, Vivian caught her arm, -and flung her back with such force that she fell against the balustrade -of the terrace. "Do you want me to commit murder?" he said savagely. - -"Why not another, since you killed Alpenny?" she panted, and glared at -him like a tigress losing her prey. - -"That is a lie!" cried Beatrice before Vivian could speak. "Mr. Paslow -was with me on that night, and about the time the crime was committed." - -"Oh!" sneered the woman, seizing her advantage, "Vivian was with you, -indeed? And what would be said were that known, Miss Hall, as you call -yourself?" - -"Be silent," said her husband, catching her arm in an iron grip, and -his face whiter than that of the dead; "you shameless creature! Go away -at once, and cease your insults." - -"Leave me alone!" cried Mrs. Paslow, wrenching herself free. "I intend -to stop in my own house." - -"My house--not yours." - -"I am your wife." - -"And just now you confessed to a feigned death to commit bigamy? I have -a great mind to give my lawyers instructions to apply for a divorce." - -"Give them to Tuft, then," cried Mrs. Paslow, her fair face convulsed -with fury. "He is Alpenny's lawyer, and knows all about me, and all -about you. See! see!"--she pointed a mocking finger at Vivian who had -turned away with a gesture of despair--"he dare not face the law!" - -"If you mean that you will denounce him for having killed Mr. Alpenny," -said Beatrice in a clear low voice, "you are wrong. I can clear Mr. -Paslow's character. I can save him, and I will!" - -"Indeed! Why?" - -"Because I love him. Why he married you, how he married you, I do not -know; but I believe that you trapped him into----" - -"Trapped him, indeed!" shouted Mrs. Paslow. "I could have married a -dozen better men than he. He is a coward--a milksop--a--a thief! Ah!" -she cried as Beatrice recoiled with a shudder, "you know the truth now. -This dainty, well-born gentleman--this honourable man--is a thief, who -was tried for shoplifting." - -"And who was acquitted," said Paslow, deadly pale. "It was you who were -condemned, and rightly: God forgive me for saying so. After all, bad as -you are, you are my wife." - -"Vivian," said Beatrice, with her face drawn with agony, "is what this -woman says true?" - -"True--quite true. And I'll thank you to speak of me more -respectfully," snapped Mrs. Paslow. - -"Is it true?" asked Beatrice again, paying no attention to this -spiteful speech. - -"Quite true," said Vivian, drawing a long breath and prepared to face -the worst; "this is the power she has held over me. That she can send -me to prison is a lie; but she can disgrace my name, by telling my -friends that I was accused of shoplifting." - -"But was it not in the papers?" asked Beatrice anxiously. - -"No. I was accused under another name, Beatrice. I married that -woman"--he pointed to Mrs. Paslow, who was still fuming with -rage--"when my father was alive. She was the daughter of our old -servant, who became a shepherd. Afterwards, when a child, and when I -was a child, she came here, and Mrs. Lilly helped her for the sake of -her father. I was a boy and foolish. She was clever and unscrupulous. -She grew weary of this quiet life, and went to town. I thought that I -loved her----" - -"And you did," panted Mrs. Paslow. - -"I did not," said Vivian sternly. "I was entrapped, as you know -well.--It was a year later that I met her, when in town, and then she -was the associate of thieves and rogues. Alpenny had seen her here; he -inveigled her into his nets, and used her in the West End as a decoy in -the same way as he used Major Ruck. She met me. I believed that she was -good--that she was still my old playfellow. I married her under my own -name, but in order to save the feelings of my father, I lived with her -as my wife under another name." - -"I wanted to take my own and come down here," said the woman. - -"I know you did, but I would not allow it," said Vivian, and continued -his story rapidly, while Beatrice, perfectly still, listened intently. -"It would have broken my father's heart. And then," he added, turning -to Beatrice, "I found out how vile she was." - -"I never deceived you--never," said Mrs. Paslow. - -"No. You had that redeeming point," said her husband; "as a wife I -could find no fault with you in that way. Had you been good and kind, I -might have come to love you, as I did when we were children together. -But your nature was essentially false and wicked. Under the tuition of -Alpenny you developed into an adventuress, and made the worst use of -your talents." - -"But for Alpenny we should have starved," she reminded him. - -"I did not know that," he retorted. "You said that the money had been -left to you by your god-mother; only when it was too late did I learn -that Alpenny gave you the money for having stolen things. And then I -was dragged into your evil ways." - -"You did steal," insisted Mrs. Paslow. - -"I did not. Beatrice, one day we were in a draper's shop in the West -End. This woman stole some lace; she was arrested, and I was arrested -also as her accomplice." - -"Oh Vivian!" - -"Oh Vivian!" mocked Mrs. Paslow. "You see he is a thief." - -"You lie," said Paslow angrily. "Beatrice does not believe that." - -"No! no! I would never believe it," said Beatrice. - -"You fool!" scoffed Mrs. Paslow. - -"You angel!" cried Vivian fervently, and then proceeded rapidly with -his nauseous story. "Under my feigned name I was tried--and thus, -thank God! I was enabled to save my father from dying of a broken -heart. I was accused, but Tuft, Alpenny's lawyer, defended me--not from -kindness. No. Alpenny, by this accusation of theft, secured a hold over -me, which he used after my father's death to extort the property from -me. This is why I am so poor. Alpenny and my wife"--he laid a scornful -emphasis on the word--"got all my money." - -"And we had a right to," said Mrs. Paslow. "I am your wife, and -Alpenny, through Tuft, saved you from going to gaol." - -"For his own ends merely," retorted Vivian. "I had to pay bitterly for -his aid.--This woman"--he again pointed to Maud--"was condemned, as it -was proved that she was an expert thief, and she was sentenced to a few -months' imprisonment." - -"To five months," said Mrs. Paslow shamelessly. - -"I was acquitted; but the judge read me a lecture on the kind of -society I kept. And Heaven help me!" cried Vivian, "then was the first -time that I knew what sort of society my marriage had led me into." - -"You were always a greenhorn," said Mrs. Paslow, patting her hair into -shape, and arranging her ruffled plumes. - -Vivian turned his back on her. "I left the court without a stain on my -character," he said quickly; "and left England for the five months, -telling my father that I was going abroad for my health. And my health -was bad," he added. "I broke down under the vileness of it all. My -father never knew the truth; nor did any of my friends. The case, since -I was accused under another name, passed unnoticed. But Maud knew the -truth, and so did Alpenny; so did Tuft his creature, and Major Ruck, -another of his minions. They tried to make me vile by threats of -exposure; but so long as I could bribe Alpenny by giving him money, no -action was taken by him or Ruck. Maud I also kept----" - -"I had a right to the money. I am your wife." - -"I admit that you had the right," he said. "Wicked as you were, I -acknowledged you as my wife." - -"Not to the world," she said sharply. - -"Because that would have made the marriage known to my father, and -he would have cut me off without a shilling. After his death, when -you found that Alpenny had the money, you refused to be acknowledged, -although I asked you to come here as my wife. I had not then met with -Miss Hall," ended Vivian significantly. - -"I see. You love her?" - -"With all my heart and soul." - -"And I love him," acknowledged Beatrice. "From what I have heard, I can -see that Vivian is not to blame, you wicked woman." - -"Here," said Mrs. Paslow, advancing, "get out of my house. I have come -here to take up my rightful position. The house is mine." - -"You will leave this place at once," said Vivian, his face dark with -anger; "you can tell what you like and do what you like. Alpenny is -dead, and I decline to be under your thumb any longer." - -"I shall stop here," said Mrs. Paslow, and sat down firmly. - -Vivian placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped up in a fury and -struck at him. "You dare to touch me, you thief!" she stormed. "You -have spoilt my life--you have--you have!" Her anger choked her, and she -tore at the lace round her neck; in doing so, she ripped the dress, and -her hand caught unknowingly at something within. To the amazement of -Beatrice, a chain of glittering gems was pulled from its hiding-place -round her neck, and fell on the pavement. The jewels were diamonds, and -they flashed, pools of liquid light, in the moonlight. - -"Oh!" cried Beatrice, guessing at once. "The Obi necklace!" - -Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Mrs. Paslow had snatched -up the necklace and was flying across the lawn. Vivian would have -followed, but Beatrice stopped him. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII -WHAT ORCHARD KNEW - - -"Let her go," said Beatrice, holding back the angered husband by main -force; "only in this way can you keep her out of the house." - -"But the necklace," said Vivian, pausing, while his wife vanished -amongst the shadows of the trees. "Are you sure?" - -"No. How can I be sure? I have never seen the necklace. But the -diamonds were too lovely to be paste. You know I have seen many -jewels pass through Alpenny's hands, and sometimes he explained their -particular beauties and values to me. I am sure the gems in that -necklace are real: they flashed so wonderfully in the moonlight." - -"Diamond necklaces are rare in the Weald," mused Vivian thoughtfully, -"and Maud is not likely to possess such jewels, for she has little -money. It must be the famous Obi necklace. Where could she have got it, -Beatrice?" - -"Who knows?" she replied, her cheek slightly paling. "Is she one of the -members of this Black Patch Gang?" - -"So far as I know anything of her life, she is," replied Paslow, his -eyes averted. Then he turned and seized her hands with vehemence, "Oh! -my heart's darling what can you think of me after this revelation?" - -Beatrice did not pause an instant in making reply. "I think you were -very foolish to keep the truth from me." - -"But how could I tell you of my sinful folly?" he pleaded, and his -voice was very sweet in her ears. "See what a sordid tale it is: a -foolish boy, and a clever woman! Yet God knows"--he broke off and cast -away her hands--"it is not right that I should blame the woman, as men -usually do. After all, Maud has some good points about her." - -"I did not see them," responded Beatrice, with the bitterness with -which one woman will always talk about another she hates. - -"But, believe me, she has," insisted Vivian quickly. "She has been a -burden to me; she did her best to drag me down to her level of thievery -and roguery; but I cannot forget that I knew her here, as a child--when -she really was good and kind. And, Beatrice," he added, with a flush, -"on my soul I believe that in some things she is not what one might -think her. You heard her say that she had been a true wife to me?" - -"Yes," answered the girl, not to be outdone in justice even to a rival; -"and I believe what she said. But if you love her----" - -"Don't say that." He sprang towards her, all his heart in his eyes and -passion in every note of his voice. "I love you and you only; no other -woman has ever made me feel what you have. I met Maud in London, and -even before, I had a kind of boy and girl passion for her. Then we -were playmates, remember, in spite of the difference of our position. -I was sorry when she told me how lonely she was in London. I did not -know that she lied in saying so. I was young and inexperienced, and she -caught me with a tearful eye and a quivering voice and a tale of woe. -I married at haste to repent at leisure. But, oh Heavens!"--he broke -off, pressing his hands against his aching brow--"when I think of that -horrible police-court, and the way in which I was accused of what I -never did, I hardly dare to look you in the face. I am soiled with the -mire of criminality. I must be an outcast, a scoundrel in your eyes." - -"You are in my eyes what you always have been," replied Beatrice in a -soft tone--"the man I love." - -"Still, still--you--you love me?" he stammered. - -"Yes. No, do not touch me," she added hastily, as Vivian flung himself -forward. "You had a right before she came, as you were ignorant, and I -see from her own confession how you were deceived; but now, she is your -wife--she is alive. Until that barrier is removed, we can be nothing -but friends to one another. I cannot stay here." - -"Beatrice! Beatrice!" - -"I cannot," she answered steadily. "I love you, and I cannot see you -day after day with calmness." - -"You can remain as Dinah's companion," he said entreatingly. "I shall -pay you a salary, and then you will be independent." - -"No. Dinah has Jerry; she wants no companion. I will go to town, and to -Lady Watson. She was my mother's friend, and will be able to help me." - -"You will go as her companion?" - -"Oh no. I don't like her sufficiently for that. But she may be able to -get me a position as a governess or something else. And also, I wish to -ask her about my mother, whom she knew. Mrs. Snow gives a cruel version -of what my mother was. Lady Watson may be more truthful. And some day," -she added, drawing so near to Vivian that it took him all his powers of -self-repression to refrain from taking her in his arms--"some day, when -the barrier is removed, we may come together." - -Vivian shook his head. "Maud will never give me a chance of divorce, -my dear," said he bitterly. "She is too clever and--I may say it to -you--too passionless." - -"Never mind, we can remain friends." - -Paslow groaned aloud with anguish. "Can there be friendship between us -after all that has come and gone?" - -"Yes," said Beatrice quietly, "because we are soul friends, and do -not love entirely after the physical. Come, Vivian,"--she placed a -gentle hand on his shoulder--"let us commence our friendship by talking -sensibly of these matters." - -"What matters?" he asked listlessly, for the man was worn out with the -struggle which was going on in his breast. - -"About the murders of my father and of Alpenny. We must learn who -committed them." - -"What good will that do?" - -"This much: it will destroy the power which this gang holds over your -head. Major Ruck knows that you were accused of theft, so does Tuft -the lawyer and your wife. For their own ends they will hold this in -terrorem over you." - -"They have always done so," said Vivian sadly. "They cannot hurt me so -far as the police are concerned, as I left the court without a stain on -my character. But socially, if they told my friends----" - -"If your friends turn their backs on you, they are not worthy to be -called friends," said Beatrice quickly. "You must face this gang -of people. Do you not know their secrets, and thus may be able to -counterplot them?" - -"I know nothing about them; but Durban may. The paper which was on -my desk, and which told me to threaten Alpenny with the black patch, -was--now I feel sure--in Durban's handwriting." - -"It probably was," said Beatrice thoughtfully. "I shall see Durban and -ask him to be open with me. But did you not know anything about the -Black Patch Gang, Vivian?" - -"No," he said earnestly; "I swear I did not. I fancied from what Maud -let drop at times that Alpenny and herself and Ruck were all connected -with some criminal organisation; but I never knew anything about -the black patch, which seems to be their badge. I used the words on -Durban's paper--if Durban did write them--quite unknowingly. And now -when I remember their effect, and remember also how your father was -murdered, and how you also saw a man issuing from The Camp with a black -patch over his eye, I feel sure that there is such a gang, and that -Alpenny was connected with it. Probably I was used to warn him that he -would be killed, for some reason. He may have betrayed them, or made -personal use of the goods he received. But whatever it was, I certainly -unconsciously gave him the warning; and he was killed--I am convinced -of this--by a member of the gang." - -"I agree with you," said Beatrice promptly. "Well, I shall see Durban -to-morrow, and he may speak out. I shall insist on his doing so. Also, -I shall see old Orchard." - -"Why?" - -"Because I believe she got that necklace from him--your wife, I mean. -That was why she came down, and why she acknowledged the relationship -to Orchard." - -"You don't think he killed Alpenny, Beatrice?" - -"No. The man is too old, and, moreover, would not have the courage. -But he may know something of the murder. In any case, if the necklace -was in his possession, he will have to account for having it. Major -Ruck insisted that my mother had it and left it to Alpenny, who should -have given it to me. And he would have done so, in order to close Major -Ruck's mouth." - -"But how could he do that if he gave you the necklace?" - -"Oh," said Beatrice calmly, "it was to be my dowry, and I was to be -made to marry Major Ruck. You heard yourself, Vivian, how the Major -confessed that it was the Obi necklace he wanted. Perhaps he will make -your wife give it up to him." - -"He will indeed be clever if he can manage that," said Vivian, grimly. -"My wife will not readily part with diamonds like that, and I fancy she -knows enough about the Major to keep him silent. Well, Beatrice, let it -be as you say: see Durban in the morning, and then Orchard. But I wish -you would stay here." - -"No, you do not, Vivian," said the girl, determinedly. "You love me too -well for that." - -"Perhaps I do. I shall always love you. Oh Beatrice, if you can only -get at the truth of these murders and bring home the crime to the Black -Patch Gang, you will lift from my shoulders the burden of years. I will -work also. I have been a weak fool, allowing myself to be blackmailed -and humbled by these rogues. But you have put fresh life into me, my -darling. I shall now assert my manhood." - -"I quite understand how you shrank from publicity," she said in a -soothing tone. "You are brave and manly, I know: but a man who would -face a cannon's mouth would, in a case like this, be fearful for his -good name. Let me search out the matter." - -"But you will allow me to help?" - -"When I want your help I shall ask it of you," she replied. "And now, -as our relations are changed,--for the present, at all events,--let us -shake hands on the bargain of being friends." - -Vivian did so without a sigh. The position was a hard one for him, but -he recognised that it was harder for the girl. And when he saw how -bravely she faced these difficult matters, he cursed himself for the -moral cowardice which had made him submit for long years to extortion -and concealment. "You put new heart into me," he said again, and they -shook hands as friends, as Dinah came up with Jerry. - -"Jerry and I have been talking about our new flat in London," cried -Dinah, long before she arrived on the terrace. "And we will live in -West Kensington. I shall keep a saloon, and be a literary woman." - -"A drinking saloon?" asked Vivian, glad of the diversion. - -"No, you stupid! A thing like Madame de Rambouillet--collecting all the -wits of London, you know." - -"Goodness knows where you'll find them," said Jerry bluffly; "wit is an -extinct art.--I say, Vivian, where is Miss Carr?" - -"That horrid girl!" interpolated Dinah. - -"You didn't think her horrid once, Dinah, when you played with her." - -"I never did," said Dinah, opening her eyes and following her brother -into the well-lighted drawing-room; "a painted----" - -"She was not painted then," interrupted Vivian impatiently. "And what -Jerry told you about Orchard being her father ought to have----" - -"Oh!" cried Dinah, starting, "now I remember, Maud Orchard of course. -She was a housemaid or something." - -"Not quite that. She attended on Mrs. Lilly, who behaved like a mother -to her." - -"Yes, yes. And then she went to London, and Mrs. Lilly was very angry. -So that was her! Why did she call herself Carr?" - -"It's a journalistic name," said Jerry. - -"Oh!" said Dinah again. "I hope Snow is your real name?" - -"My very own," said Jerry, with a grimace. "I would certainly have -chosen a different name had I selected one. But I am born a Snow, and -have to put up with it." - -"Where has Maud Orchard gone?" asked Dinah, irrelevantly. - -"She had to see after some business and went away," said Beatrice, as -Vivian found it difficult to answer this question. "She only came here -to see your brother and remind him who she was." - -"Well, I am stupid," said Dinah, swallowing this white fib; "but I -have such a bad memory for faces. I can only remember Jerry's because -it is so very plain." - -"I call that hard," said Jerry plaintively. - -"I call it silly," retorted Dinah, tapping him on the face with her -fan. "Now have a whisky and soda with Vivian, and go home. Beatrice -and I are going to bed. And I am sure you want to sleep," she said, -glancing at her friend's pale face; "you look quite worn out." - -"I am all right," said Beatrice somewhat impatiently. - -"Good night, Jerry--good night, Vivian," and the two girls went up to -their rooms; while Vivian played host to Jerry, and got rid of him as -speedily as he could. He was in no mood for the young journalist's -aimless chatter. - -Next morning Beatrice awoke at five o'clock. She could not sleep -longer, although, owing to being worn out on the previous night, she -had slumbered very soundly. It was a lovely fresh morning, and she felt -inclined for a walk. It was too early to see Durban, as he would not -yet be up, early riser though he was. After a few minutes' thought, -Beatrice decided to walk up to the Downs and see if old Orchard was -about. She would get there about the time he was starting off with his -flock, and in any event would be certain to find him in his hut at -the morning meal. Hastily scribbling a note that she would return to -breakfast and had gone for a stroll, Beatrice dressed herself and stole -downstairs. Leaving the note on the dining-room table where it would -certainly be found by Mrs. Lilly, the girl went out of the back door. -The house-dog in the yard barked joyously at her coming, as she was a -favourite of his. Beatrice, for the sake of company, let him loose, and -took him with her. - -She literally danced along the road in spite of the troubles which -environed her. She was young, and the morning air was like champagne. -Also she felt a conviction that things would surely come right, and -that she and Vivian would become man and wife. She did not wish for the -death of Mrs. Paslow, wicked as the woman was, nor did she wish Vivian -to divorce her, which--as he had said--he could not do. But she felt -that in some way the barrier would be removed, and that its removal -lay in her own hands. Thus her heart began to grow light, and as she -climbed the Downs amidst the glory of the dawn, she breathed a prayer -to God that He would take all these troubles out of her life, and bring -her to a safe haven. - -Orchard was at the door of his hut as usual, and also he was eating, -just as he had been when she saw him last. He might have been seated -there all the time, for all she knew. The sheep were nibbling the dewy -grass, and the sun was rising in splendour, when the old shepherd -beheld her. He turned his mild eyes on her, and greeted her quietly. - -"You're the young lady as called to see me the other day?" he said. - -"Colonel Hall's daughter," explained Beatrice, taking the stool he -offered, "and I have come to see you about yours." - -"About my what?" asked Orchard quietly. - -"About your daughter Maud. She came last night to see Mr. Paslow." - -"Ah yes," said Orchard, with such composure that Beatrice was certain -that he knew nothing about the marriage, or his daughter's life. "Maud -and Master Vivian were playmates together. She's a pretty girl." - -"She is," assented Beatrice cordially; for no one could deny the beauty -of Maud Paslow, marred as it was by artificial aids. - -"And a good girl," said the old man, slightly warming. "She ain't -ashamed of her old father, although she writes books and lives like a -fine lady in London." - -"Yes, I hear she is a journalist," said Beatrice, and then abruptly -added: "She must make a lot of money to have so fine a diamond necklace -as she showed Mr. Paslow and myself." - -"Did she show that?" said Orchard, with a slight cloud on his brow. "It -was foolish of her. It is a necklace like one that Colonel Hall had -years and years ago. Durban said that there was some witchcraft about -that necklace, else why should it have been missing for so long, only -to turn up here two days ago on the neck of a sheep?" - -"What?" asked Beatrice, amazed. - -"And now I come to think of it," said Orchard, whose memory was -apparently going, "Colonel Hall was murdered by Alpenny for that -necklace." - -"It is the same?" - -"Of course it is, miss. I recognised the setting when I took it off the -sheep's neck." - -"But how could such a set of jewels get on a sheep's neck?" - -"Ah!" said old Orchard, with great mildness, "that's what I want to -find out. Mr. Alpenny had the necklace, I am sure. Perhaps, as Durban -said, there was bad luck about it, and Mr. Alpenny put it on a sheep's -neck to get rid of the spell." - -"What rubbish!" said Beatrice impatiently. - -"Rubbish or not, miss, I found that necklace on the neck of one of my -sheep. The poor thing had broken its leg, and I went to put it out of -its pain. The diamond necklace was round its neck, and I gave it to -Maud, as it was no use to me. I hope it won't bring her bad luck, since -it is the Obi necklace." - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX -DURBAN SPEAKS AT LAST - - -Beatrice did not remain long with Orchard, after she had learned how -Maud Paslow became possessed of the Obi necklace. She was convinced -that the old shepherd was speaking the truth, as he did not appear to -have sufficient brains to be inventive, and, moreover, was rapidly -growing senile. But on her way down to the Weald she thought it strange -that the necklace should have been discovered by the man, round the -neck of a sheep. Who had placed the gems there? and why had they -been attached to the animal? An attempt to solve this problem lasted -Beatrice all the way to The Camp. - -It was now nearly ten o'clock, but Beatrice was too excited to think -about breakfast. She found the great gates of The Camp wide open, and -indeed since Alpenny's death they had been rarely closed. The gardens -looked as beautiful as ever, but the railway carriages appeared a -little deserted and forlorn. Beatrice walked at once towards the -kitchen carriage, where she hoped to find Durban preparing his morning -meal. He certainly was there, and with him was a red-headed, dirty -little man in whom she recognised Waterloo. - -"Oh!" said Beatrice, recoiling from the door, for the mere sight of -that evil face made her sick. - -"Blimme!" cried Waterloo, turning his rat-like eyes on her, "if it -ain't old Alpenny's gal!" - -"Hold your tongue," said Durban in a low, fierce voice.--"What is it, -missy?" - -"I have come to ask you for some breakfast," said Beatrice, retreating -still further, so as to get away from Waterloo, "and to have a chat." - -"We'll all have a jaw," cried Waterloo enthusiastically; "we're all -pals in the same boat." - -"What does this horrible creature mean?" asked Beatrice, looking -appealingly at her old servant. - -"'Orrible critture!" yelped Waterloo. "Well, I likes that, I does. Oh -yuss, not at all, by no means. Why, me an' your par were old pals." - -"Are you talking of Colonel Hall or of Mr. Alpenny?" asked Beatrice, -taking a sudden step towards the man. - -The result of her remark and action surprised her not a little, and -indeed seemed to surprise Durban also. "Colonel 'All!" muttered -Waterloo, and his red hair rose on end over a rapidly paling face. "Oh! -my stars, if you knows about him, it's time fur me to cut my lucky." - -"You know something?" cried Beatrice. - -"I know as old Alpenny murdered--murdered---- Here!" cried Waterloo, -with a snarl, "you lemme out!" and before Beatrice could stop him--she -was blocking the doorway--he had darted under her arm, and was running -noiselessly out of The Camp. Apparently he was frightened out of his -wits. Yet the girl wondered that so bold a thief, and a man accustomed -to being in tight places, should be seized by so sudden an access of -genuine terror. - -"What does it mean?" she asked Durban, but making no attempt to follow -the man. - -"I know no more than you do, missy." - -"Durban," said Beatrice, entering the kitchen and taking a seat, "you -have kept me in the dark long enough. You ran away just as this man has -done, when I asked you about the Obi necklace. Now you must speak out, -as I am leaving Hurstable." - -"Leaving this place, missy?" said Durban, startled. "Are you not to -marry Mr. Paslow?" - -"How can I marry him when he has a wife living?" - -Durban did not seem to be so surprised at this news as she expected. -"So you have found that out, missy?" he said slowly. - -"You knew about it?" - -"Yes, I knew; but I thought--I thought that she was dead." - -"No. She pretended to die, for her own purposes. In fact she intended, -in that way, to get rid of Vivian, and marry an American millionaire. -But she is alive,--her double was buried." - -"Miss Arthur!" cried the servant quickly. - -"You know that also?" - -"I know everything. But I thought that Mrs. Paslow was dead, and so I -wanted you to marry Mr. Paslow and be happy." - -"Durban," said the girl quietly, "the discovery of this, which you -should have told me, alters the position of myself and Mr. Paslow. I -can no longer remain at Convent Grange. To-morrow I go up to town to -see Lady Watson." - -Durban's face took on its greenish pallor. He made one stride forward -and spoke to Beatrice with dry lips. "You must not; you dare not. Do -not go, missy." - -"Take your hand from my arm, Durban," said Beatrice sharply; and when -he did so she resumed in hard tones, "Why should I not go?" - -"Oh! how can I tell you?" Durban clapped his hands together in a -helpless sort of way, like a great child. "She is bad: she will do you -harm. She has got Alpenny's money, which ought to be yours. For all -I know, she may have the Obi necklace also. I hope she has, for its -possession will bring her the worst of luck." - -"She has not got the necklace, Durban. Mrs. Paslow has it. Yes, you may -well look surprised, Durban. Mr. Paslow and myself saw it on her neck -last night, when she came to see him and prevent our marriage." - -"How could she have got it?" murmured Durban, but more to himself than -to his mistress. - -"She obtained it from her father." - -"Old Orchard the butler?" - -"Old Orchard the shepherd. I saw him this morning. He recognised the -necklace as having belonged to my father--to Colonel Hall; it seems the -setting is peculiar." - -"But how did it come into his possession, missy?" - -"He found it on the neck of a sheep." - -Durban did not look at all surprised. "I thought he would," was his -strange reply. - -"You thought he would what?" - -"I thought he would find it there." - -"Durban, did you know it was on a sheep's neck?" - -"Yes. I--well, missy, I may as well make a clean breast of it--I placed -it on the sheep's neck myself." - -"You? And where did you get it?" - -"Come with me, missy, and I'll show you." - -In silent amazement Beatrice followed the stout man out of the kitchen. -He led the way across the lawn to the counting-house, and opened the -door with a key which he took from the pocket of his white suit. She -beheld the counting-house in exactly the same state as she had seen it -when Alpenny had insisted on the marriage with Major Ruck. But much -water had flowed under Westminster Bridge since that time, which now -seemed so far away. - -"Missy," said Durban, pointing to the seat in front of the mahogany -desk, "sit down and let us talk. I have much to tell you, for the time -has come when you must know what I know." - -"Why have you kept information from me all this time?" said Beatrice, -sitting down, while Durban stood at the door, his bulky form blocking -up all exit. - -"Why? Missy, I ask you, would it have been right for me, who love you, -to overshadow your young life by telling you of the murder of your -father, of the rascality of Alpenny, and of the terrible position in -which Mr. Paslow was placed?" Durban spoke vehemently, and with the -very greatest earnestness. - -"I am not a child," said Beatrice. "I should have been told." - -"You were a child for a long time, and I loved you," said Durban with -exquisite sadness. "I wished to keep you in ignorance of the evil that -surrounded you. I wished you to marry Mr. Paslow, and go away, never to -learn what the evil was. But, I knew--for I learned it from Major Ruck, -who wished to marry you and get the Obi necklace--that Mr. Paslow had -married Maud Orchard (or Maud Carr, as she calls herself in town). When -she died--or pretended to die--I thought that all would be well, and -so kept silence. But you were determined to search out these matters -for yourself. I placed no bar in the way of your doing so, as I thought -that perhaps you were the chosen instrument to put all right. Since, -unaided, you have found out so much, I think you are that instrument, -so I am now going to make much plain, which has hitherto puzzled you." - -Beatrice crossed her feet and hands. "I shall be glad to hear what you -have to say," she said coldly. - -"Ah, missy, do not be angry," said Durban caressingly; "it was love -that made me keep you in the dark." - -He was so genuinely moved that a large tear rolled down his dark -face, and a profound emotion stirred him to the depths of his being. -Beatrice was annoyed at the way in which she had been treated, but she -was just enough to recognise that the man had kept silence out of pure -affection. Impulsively stretching out her hand, she caught his, which -hung listlessly by his side, and shook it heartily. "I believe you love -me, Durban, and that you acted for the best." - -"Oh! missy--missy!" - -"Hush! Be quiet, and tell me what you know." - -Durban wiped his face with the duster which he carried, and, leaning -against the door, spoke slowly and to the point. Indeed, he seemed glad -that after his years of silence he was at last able to confess freely, -and to a sympathetic listener. - -"I was born in the West Indies, missy," he said, "and knew your mother -and father----" - -"You told me that you were born on my mother's estate. Begin from the -time you came to Convent Grange." - -"Very well, missy. I came to Convent Grange with my master to see Mr. -Paslow's father, who was an old friend of the Colonel's. Master and -your mother had quarrelled. He was severe, and kept your mother too -quiet. She liked gaiety and pleasure, yet so severely had he trained -her that she was always silent and demure. She came down with you and -your nurse for one night. Then my master was murdered, as you know." - -"Can you tell who murdered him?" - -"No, missy." Durban spoke very earnestly. "I swear that I do not know -who did that. But your mother was suspected. She cleared herself; but -people still looked at her askance, so she changed her name to Hedge -and married Mr. Alpenny. Here"--Durban glanced out of doors"--in this -quiet place she was safe, and here she lived until she died, worn out -with grief, a few months later. Mr. Alpenny then sent you to Miss -Shallow at Brighton, and you know all your life since then." - -"Why did my mother marry Mr. Alpenny?" - -"Because she had the Obi necklace. Your father gave it to her, she told -me." - -"And Major Ruck said the same thing." - -"It must be true, then," muttered Durban, half to himself, "although I -was never sure. But Alpenny said that he would accuse your mother of -the murder unless she married him. She did so, and then died. Alpenny -kept the necklace, and, being fond of jewels, he could not make up his -mind to part with it even for money, of which he was equally fond. He -kept it by him in this place." - -"In the safe?" - -"No, missy. The safe--as Mr. Alpenny, an associate of thieves, knew -very well--was the first place where thieves would look. See here, -missy"--Durban advanced to the wall, and pulled aside the faded red rep -which hung there as a kind of arras--"here is a pocket behind this, -made in the rep. The necklace was kept here, for no one would think of -feeling the hangings. It was safer here than in the safe." - -Beatrice examined the pocket, and admired the ingenuity of the -hiding-place, which--so to speak--was so public that even the most -expert thief would never think of looking here for a valuable necklace -of gems. An ordinary man would have kept the jewels in the safe; but -Mr. Alpenny, who must have got the hint from Poe's story of "The -Purloined Letter," chose the least likely place to be searched. - -"And you found the necklace here, Durban?" - -"Yes, missy. I will tell you how I did. Mr. Alpenny was a member, and -the chief one, of the Black Patch Gang." - -"Durban! Then you wrote that paper which was on Mr. Paslow's desk?" - -"I did, missy," he admitted quietly. "Mr. Alpenny, wanting all the -money to himself, had several times played the Gang false. Twice he was -warned, and was told that at the third warning he would be killed." - -"I remember how Mr. Alpenny shivered when Vivian spoke," said Beatrice, -recalling the scene; "and he spoke of the third warning." - -"I was told to give him the warning," said Durban calmly; "and I wanted -to make Mr. Paslow use it, in the hope that Mr. Alpenny would be -frightened into consenting to your marriage with Mr. Paslow." - -"But you knew that Maud Paslow was alive?" - -"She pretended to die twice," said Durban, "and I was equally deceived -along with Mr. Paslow. He did not know what the warning of the Black -Patch Gang meant; but I did, and made Mr. Paslow unconsciously use it. -But it proved useless." - -"Not to Mr. Alpenny. He was murdered." - -"Yes, missy, and I believe by a member of the Black Patch Gang; but I -do not know who. Listen, missy. I am about to place my life in your -hands!" and the man looked cautiously round. - -"Durban!" she exclaimed, frightened, "are you going to tell me that you -were a member of the Gang?" - -"No, missy, I was not. They tried to get me to join, but being an -honest man, I refused. But I held my tongue for your sake. I loved you, -and the Gang declared if I told the police about them, that they would -kidnap you. Therefore I was silent." - -"Kidnap me!" cried Beatrice indignantly. "How could they?" - -"The Gang are very clever, and could do what they wanted to," said -Durban drily; "and as Alpenny hated you, he certainly would have put -no bar in the way of your being carried off. It was only I who stood -between you and this danger." - -"Oh, Durban, how much I owe you!" - -"Missy"--he kissed her hand--"you do not owe me so much as I owed your -good father, who saved me from being lynched in the States. But we can -talk of that afterwards," he added hastily. "Let me go on. I was here -on the night of the murder." - -"You! Why, you went to town?" - -"I pretended to. But after the warning, Mr. Alpenny intended to bolt, -as he feared for his life--that was why he left the note on your table. -But I came back here before you returned in the wind and the rain, -and looked through the window of the counting-house, in which a light -burned. I saw Alpenny lying dead, and knew that the Black Patch Gang -had accomplished their vengeance." - -"Did you meet any one?" - -"No, I saw no one. Then I entered the counting-house by the secret way, -missy." - -"Is there a secret way, Durban?" - -"Yes. I found it by chance. See!" Durban advanced to the end of -the carriage and touched a spring which was concealed behind the -rep hangings. At once there was a creaking noise, and the sheet of -galvanised tin, upon which rested the stove, swung aside, to reveal -a narrow flight of stone steps. "These," said Durban, "lead along an -underground passage into the shrubbery, and from there one can go out -by the great gates, or the small one. I entered by this way, as I had -a duplicate key of the great gates. I searched for the Obi necklace, -and found it by looking everywhere for it. I felt the hangings, and so -discovered the pocket. Then I left The Camp and climbed the Downs. On -to the neck of the first sheep I could catch, I tied the necklace, and -let it stray away." - -"But why did you do that?" asked Beatrice, astonished. - -"Because there was a curse on the necklace," said Durban with all the -intensity of his negro nature. "And I did not want that curse to come -upon you. You might have got the necklace, and then you would have had -nothing but misery. Therefore, instead of throwing it away, for there -was always the chance that it might be found, I bound it on the neck -of the sheep, and lightly, thinking that the animal might lose it on -the pathless Downs. I did it, missy, to save you from the curse. Well," -said Durban, throwing out his hands, "old Orchard found it, and has -given it to his daughter. She will be unlucky for evermore, unless -she gives it to another person. And I hope," finished the half-caste -vindictively, "that she will give it to Major Ruck in order that he may -come to the gallows, as he has long deserved them." - -"What a strange story! And you do not know who killed Alpenny?" - -"No more than I know who killed Colonel Hall. But, missy, now that I -have told you this, you will not go to Lady Watson?" - -"I must, Durban. I have to earn my living." - -"Then go to any one, but not to that woman"; and Durban fell on his -knees. "I implore you!" - -But the more he implored the more Beatrice was determined to go, and -learn, if possible, why Durban feared Lady Watson so much. "I go -to-morrow," she said quietly, and twitched her dress from his grasp. - -"It is Fate! Fate! Fate!" muttered Durban gloomily. - - - - - -CHAPTER XX -A GREAT SURPRISE - - -Beatrice kept her word in spite of all Durban's protestation that her -visit to Lady Watson would lead to trouble. Frank as the old servant -had apparently been, Beatrice could not rid herself of the idea than -even now he had not told everything. There was some mystery concerning -Lady Watson which had a bearing on the other mysteries, and this she -was determined to find out. Only by knowing everything would her mind -be set at rest. - -The girl was sufficiently unhappy in these days. The discovery of the -evil by which she was surrounded made her recoil from everyone in -terror. All people seemed to have skeletons in their various cupboards, -and Beatrice dreaded the chance of becoming friendly with any one -else who had a secret. Also, it was pain and anguish to her to stand -aside, and know that Maud Orchard possessed Vivian. Of course Maud had -returned to London, and Vivian--so he said--had heard nothing about -her from the time she had fled with the Obi necklace. All the same -this woman, wicked and lawless, was his wife, and, while she lived, -Beatrice knew that Vivian could never be anything to her but a friend. -Loving him as she did, and in spite of his manifold weaknesses, her -heart ached as she thought of the long, dreary, desolate life that -necessarily was before her when deprived, by a prior claim, of his -society. But recent events had hardened the girl's character, and she -grasped her nettle firmly. In other words, she made all arrangements -to go to London and see Lady Watson, on the chance of obtaining work. -So long as she could earn her living, nothing else seemed to matter. -Beatrice felt very unhappy and lonely. - -What she greatly desired was a confidant. Dinah, being a scatter-brain, -and wrapped up in Jerry, was useless, while, owing to the changed -circumstances, she could not feel easy in the company of Vivian. -Durban, after the short interview she had with him in The Camp, had -vanished; for when Beatrice went again to question him still further, -she found the place deserted and locked up. Where Durban had gone she -did not know, and, needing him as she did, her state of mind was one of -wretchedness and foreboding. However, as she greatly desired advice and -comfort, she induced Vivian to come to the lonely Camp, and there told -him all that Durban had told her. - -Vivian heard her in silence, and wondered at the queer story. Durban, -he thought, was deeper implicated in the doings of the Black Patch Gang -than he chose to acknowledge, and he said this to Beatrice after some -thought. The girl vigorously refused to believe in the guilt of the man. - -"Durban has always been my best friend, Vivian," she said, with a look -of pain. "How can you accuse him, without evidence?" - -"It seems to me that there is a great deal of evidence upon which to -accuse him," said Paslow grimly. "He had the necklace, and the crime -was committed for the sake of the necklace." - -"No. It was a case of revenge. Alpenny evidently betrayed the Gang in -some way, or took more than his fair share of the plunder, therefore he -was sentenced to death; and you were used by Durban as the unconscious -instrument to give him warning. You saw how terrified old Alpenny was, -and how he muttered about the third time. Also, the note he wrote to me -was a trick, to give him time to get away. He would have fled, but that -he was killed." - -"Had he fled," said Vivian judiciously, "or had he intended to fly, he -would have taken his jewels with him. According to Major Ruck, he had a -great many jewels." - -"I saw some," replied Beatrice. "Well, perhaps he did make up a parcel -of jewels, and these were stolen by the thief who killed him." - -"No," insisted Vivian. "The necklace was left behind, or would have -been. Had Alpenny intended to fly to the Continent with his plunder -in order to escape death he certainly would have packed up the Obi -necklace at once. As it was, he left it in its hiding-place, and -Durban--as he says--found it there." - -"How do you mean--as he says?" questioned Beatrice, struck by the -peculiar tone in which Paslow uttered the words. - -"I mean that Durban may be telling a lie. Alpenny may have got the -necklace ready to go away. Durban, coming back, as he confessed to you -he did, probably killed him, and stole the necklace." - -"Nonsense!" said Beatrice quickly. "For what reason should he steal the -necklace, and then hang it on the neck of a sheep?" - -"Ah, that is Orchard's story. You told it to Durban, and he seized the -idea. Orchard's daughter is connected with the Gang--my wife, that is," -added Vivian, with a grimace, "so it is probable that Orchard also is -a member. Probably Durban, after killing Alpenny, went up the Downs -and gave the necklace to Orchard for safe keeping. No one would expect -to find it in the possession of the old man. I think that Orchard was -to have returned it to Durban, so that money could be made; only his -daughter--my wife--saw it and wheedled it out of him for herself. But I -don't think she'll keep it long if Major Ruck sees it." - -"I don't agree with you at all," said Beatrice, defending Durban. "As -Durban was supposed to be in town, he could have come back." - -"Which he did, remember." - -"Yes, but only to find Alpenny dead. Had he killed Alpenny for the sake -of the necklace, he could have slipped it into his pocket and have gone -away in safety. No, Vivian, I believe that Durban really believes that -there is some spell attached to the necklace, and placed it on the neck -of the sheep to prevent its doing further harm to anyone, especially to -me. Had I found it, I certainly should have claimed it." - -"Lady Watson would have claimed it." - -"I know that, since she inherits all under the will. And that is one of -the reasons why I go up to town to see her. I'll tell her all that we -know, and she will get the necklace from your wife." - -"That is if Major Ruck doesn't get it in the meantime," said Vivian -coolly. "Maud is a clever woman, but she won't be able to get the -better of Major Ruck. Let us have a look at the secret passage." - -"We cannot open the door," objected Beatrice. - -"Durban opened it with a beam when the body was found dead," said the -young man, "and here is the beam left near the carriage all the time." -He picked up the heavy log of wood, and poised it against the door. -The lock, mended but lightly, gave way at once, and the two had little -difficulty in entering. - -"Here is the spring," explained Beatrice, and walked to the end of the -carriage, followed closely by Vivian. In another minute the galvanised -tin upon which the stove stood, slipped aside, and disclosed the damp -steps. "Isn't it ingenious?" said she, admiringly. - -"Very," assented Vivian. "Let us go down. Come on!" - -"But a light. Oh"--she caught sight of a candle on the table--"here is -one. You lead, Vivian." - -With the lighted candle the pair went down into the unwholesome -passage. It descended by means of the steps for some distance, and then -there was a trend to the right. The passage was perfectly straight, and -had been dug out of the soft earth. Part of it was roofed with brick, -but the whole was much dilapidated, and showed signs of collapse. -Vivian, seeing this, and fearing a fall of earth, wished the girl to -return, but this she refused to do. "I want to see where it leads to," -she said. "Go on, Vivian." - -Thus urged, he cautiously felt his way by the feeble glimmer of the -candle. In a shorter time than either expected, they came to a second -flight of steps, and scrambled upward. The steps ended at a kind of -trap-door. Vivian placed his shoulder beneath this, and with a vigorous -push, forced it outward and upward. The next moment he had leaped -lightly on to the surface of the earth, and found himself in the wood, -just outside the walls of The Camp. - -"Oh," said Beatrice, when she was assisted out of the bole, and began -to recognise her surroundings, "Durban said that the exit was within -The Camp." - -"Ah," replied Vivian, with much significance, "Durban has told another -lie. He is not to be trusted, Beatrice." - -"I am certain he is, although appearances are against him," declared -the girl impetuously. "He is cautious in speaking even to me, as he -fears the vengeance of the Gang. Close the trap-door, Vivian. See!" she -added, when he did this, "the surface is masked with moss." - -And so it was. The wood was ingeniously covered with ragged moss; -and when the trap was down and a few leaves fell on the moss, no one -could have told that a passage lay underneath. It was a most clever -arrangement, and doubtless had been often used by the scoundrelly -gang of which Alpenny, undoubtedly, had been a prominent member. The -respectable clients, however, who had come to borrow money and be -swindled by the old rascal, had always entered by the great gates, or, -if they wished for especial privacy, by the smaller one. - -"What a dangerous lot of people I have lived amongst," said Beatrice, -who was rather pale when they reclosed the door of the counting-house -and left The Camp. - -"Undoubtedly," assented Vivian rather grimly; "it is a mercy that the -police never came down here. You might have been implicated." - -"I can see that, and for the same reason I refuse to believe that -Durban is mixed up with these rascalities. He served Mr. Alpenny for -my sake, and for my sake he held his tongue about the roguery which he -must have known went on. But I do not believe that he took any part in -the same, Vivian." - -"Well," said Paslow, after a pause, "you may learn more when you see -Lady Watson." - -"But she can have nothing to do with these things. She is a lady of -rank and fashion." - -"She was a friend of Alpenny's, or he would not have left her his -money," said Vivian, "and is the friend of Major Ruck. I don't know a -bigger blackguard in London." - -Beatrice said nothing more. She quite agreed with her lover, and -began to be afraid as to what she might discover when she was in the -presence of Lady Watson. All the same, as she was determined to learn -everything, and if possible, to so get to know the doings of the Gang -that Vivian would be safe from their threats, she left early the next -morning for town. Vivian accompanied her to the local station, and took -a formal farewell of her. It had to be formal, because of the publicity -of the platform, and also because their relations with one another, -since the appearance of the supposed dead wife, were so very difficult. -So Vivian coldly shook hands, although his face belied the formal -action, and Beatrice watched him through tearful eyes as the train -steamed towards Brighton. - -Dinah had given her a couple of pounds, or rather Beatrice had borrowed -these from her, with the intention of repaying her out of the first -instalment of a possible salary. This was all the money she had in the -world, and she prayed on the way to London, that Heaven would see fit -to make Lady Watson well-disposed towards her. At Victoria Station the -girl sent a wire to the address which she had procured from Dinah, who -got it from Mrs. Snow. This telegram intimated that Miss Hedge,--she -thought it best to keep to the name,--was coming to see Lady Watson on -business. It was rather a strange thing to do; but Beatrice was new to -social ways, and, moreover, could not, by reason of her scanty purse, -run the risk of having to wait long in town without seeing her probable -patroness. - -Lady Watson lived in Kensington, and there Beatrice, not knowing -the intricacies of the underground railway, drove all the way in a -four-wheeler. But first, she went to a small and quiet hotel which was -kept by a sister of Mrs. Lilly's. Here, thanks to the housekeeper's -letter, Beatrice was received by the counterpart of Mrs. Lilly, and -felt quite at home. - -"You can stay here as long as you like, miss," said the landlady, when -Beatrice asked for cheap apartments. "My sister has told me all about -you, miss. A bedroom and sitting-room are waiting for you, miss; and -we'll talk of payment on some future occasion." - -Beatrice, worn out and feeling intensely lonely, could have wept -because of the kindness of this reception. But she restrained her -tears, as she had no desire to make her eyes red for the meeting with -Lady Watson. She had some luncheon, and then dressed herself in her -best mourning and took her way to the great lady's house, which was not -very far away in a quiet square. Mrs. Quail, the landlady, sent a small -servant to show Beatrice where the square was, and once there, the girl -soon found the house by its number. But when she rang the bell, and -stood alone on the doorstep, she felt very nervous. All the same her -courage did not give way. The interview meant much to her, and she was -determined to carry it through, cost what it might. - -The footman who opened the door said that his mistress was within, and -conducted Beatrice up a well-carpeted flight of wide, shallow stairs -into the drawing-room. The house was well furnished, and in a rather -frivolous way, which reflected the spirit of its mistress. On all -hands in the drawing-room Beatrice saw evidence of waste of money in -little things. Lady Watson apparently liked comfort, and spent with a -lavish hand. In the midst of this modern splendour the girl felt lost, -accustomed as she was to the plainest of houses. (And, indeed, as a -carping critic might have said, she was not accustomed even to houses, -seeing that she lived in a disused railway carriage!) However, Beatrice -had little time for thought. Hardly had she cast a glance round the -apartment when Lady Watson entered with a rush. She looked as young and -wrinkled as ever, and was dressed in a soft tea-gown exquisitely made. -At the distance she looked twenty, but when near, and in spite of the -blinds being down, she looked nearly forty. However her eyes, brown and -bright, twinkled as merrily as ever, and, to Beatrice's surprise, she -flung her arms round her visitor's neck. - -"My dear child," she rattled on, "I am glad to see you. I received -your telegram, and stopped in, on purpose to see you. Of course you -have come to be my companion? Your room is ready, and we will be such -friends. Ah, you don't know how I love you!" - -"Why should you?" asked Beatrice, rather surprised by this gushing -reception, and mistrusting its truth. - -"Oh, there are a thousand reasons. I'll tell you them later. Come, my -dearest child, take off your jacket and hat, and----" - -"No, Lady Watson. I have only come for a short visit I want you to get -me a situation as a governess, and----" - -"A governess with your beauty!" cried the little woman; "what nonsense! -Let me look at you, dearest"; and she pulled up the near blind to let -in the sunlight on the girl. It made Beatrice look like an angel, and -Lady Watson aged in the golden splendour at least a dozen years. - -"Oh, you are lovely, lovely! Why, what are you looking at? Oh, at my -necklace! Beautiful diamonds are they not?" - -"Yes." Beatrice, with white lips, recognised the necklace at once as -that stolen by Maud Paslow. "But where did you get it?" - -"Why do you ask that?" questioned Lady Watson sharply. - -"It is the Obi necklace. You got it from Maud Orchard--from Vivian's -wife." - -"I--that is--what do you mean?" stammered Lady Watson, growing pale -under her rouge. "It is mine--mine. Mr. Alpenny gave it to me." - -"No. You are in this plot too. You know about the murder. I shall tell -the police, I shall----" Beatrice, hardly knowing what she did, was -about to rush from the room when Lady Watson stopped her. - -"Wait," she said in a cracked scream; "if you denounce me, you -ruin--your mother!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI -LADY WATSON'S STORY - - -"My mother!" Beatrice stopped short at the door, and caught hold of a -chair to support herself. The shock of this discovery came upon her -with overwhelming force. "Impossible!" - -"It is true," said Lady Watson, advancing towards her with outstretched -arms. "I am your most unhappy mother." - -The girl suffered the little woman to embrace her, but did not return -the caress. "My mother!" she repeated again faintly; "it is impossible, -Lady Watson." - -"Don't call me Lady Watson. I am your mother. I should not have -told you: I promised Durban that I would not. But Nature is too, -too strong," cried Lady Watson theatrically; "my heart spoke, and -I responded. Darling! darling!" She embraced Beatrice still more -affectionately, and guided her to a low armchair, into which the -bewildered girl sank unresistingly. - -Was Lady Watson in earnest? Was she really her mother? Were these -violent demonstrations genuine? Beatrice could not tell. The whole -thing seemed to be beyond the bounds of possibility. What of the -supposed mother who was buried in Hurstable churchyard? Revolving these -things in a much-puzzled brain, Beatrice sat silently staring at the -artificial little woman who claimed so sacred a relationship. Lady -Watson, seeing the girl's coldness--as she thought it was--squeezed out -a few serviceable tears. - -"Oh, cruel, cruel!" she wept. "My own child--the baby that I carried in -my arms--to act like this! It is wicked, it is incredible." - -"Mother!" said Beatrice blankly. "Are you really and truly my mother?" - -"Of course I am," snapped the elder woman, drying her tears. "How -often do you wish me to repeat it? I am not in the habit of calling -other people's children my children. Can't you say something more -affectionate, you cold-hearted girl?" - -"It is all so strange--so new," gasped Beatrice. "Tell me how it came -about that I never knew this until now." - -"It's Durban's fault," said Lady Watson sullenly. "Durban always hated -me, though I'm sure I was always kind to him--the beast!" - -"Durban is a good man," said Beatrice quickly. - -"Oh! dear me, that is exactly the exasperating sort of thing your -father would have said. He was a good man also--the kind of man I most -particularly hate. Never mind, I'll make everything plain to you. I've -held my tongue long enough. Now I am going to speak out, and take back -to my hungry heart the baby girl I loved." - -"Did you really love me?" asked Beatrice doubtfully. - -"Yes--really I did. You were all that I had to love, as my husband--the -first one, your father--was a kind of stone image with no feelings -and no affections. I loved you fondly, and wanted to be your dearest -mother--which I certainly am--but that Durban and that horrid Alpenny -were too strong for me. No, it wasn't Alpenny. I don't think he wanted -to bring you up; but Durban insisted, and I gave way." - -"Why did you?" - -"There were reasons," said Lady Watson evasively, and a spot of red -burned on either cheek. - -"They must have been strong reasons to make a mother surrender her -child to the care of strangers." - -"Durban wasn't a stranger. He was in the house when you were born; and -really you might have been his own child, from the fuss he made over -you. But Colonel Hall--your father, my dear--saved Durban from being -lynched in America, and Durban always pretended that he loved him -dearly." - -"I am sure Durban did," insisted Beatrice. "He is not a man who says -one thing and does another." - -"That is just what he does do," cried Lady Watson, fanning herself with -a flimsy handkerchief all lace and scent. "Look at the way he has kept -you in the dark all these years. And I am quite sure that he has told -you heaps and heaps of lies! These niggers never can tell the truth." - -"Durban told me as little as he could," confessed Beatrice; "but he -never told me a deliberate lie, I am sure. But if you are my mother, -who is the woman who is buried as you?" - -"Not as me--the idea!" protested Lady Watson; "as Alpenny's wife--and -a nice bargain she got in that old scoundrel! She was Amelia Hedge, -and called herself Mrs. Hedge when she married Alpenny, to account -for you. It wasn't my fault. I'm sure I always liked to have you with -me, Beatrice, as you were such a pretty child, and it looks well to -have one's children about one, nowadays. But Durban would insist that -I should give you up--and perhaps he was right after all," ended Lady -Watson candidly "as Sir Reginald--my second husband--would never have -married a widow with a child." - -So the weak little woman babbled on, and Beatrice felt her heart sink -as she at last beheld her mother. To think that this frivolous and -weak creature should have given her birth! Then a thought came to her. -"Durban said that my mother was quiet and silent." - -"And so I was, for years and years and years. Colonel Hall--I never -could call him George, he was so military and stiff--made my life a -perfect burden, and never would give me any pleasure. I was crushed, -Beatrice, perfectly crushed, and held my tongue because I could not be -natural. I was a dull, dowdy thing in those days. But now I really am -something to look at and to listen to!" and Lady Watson smirked in a -near mirror at her artificial beauty. - -"Mother," said Beatrice, accepting what appeared to be the inevitable -with a good grace, although the discovery of the relationship did not -please her, "will you tell me if you had anything to do with the murder -of my father?" - -"Oh, dear me! no," said Lady Watson perfectly calmly, and showing no -signs of indignation at the accusation,--which it was, in a way. "Of -course Durban made capital out of it, and forced me to part with you -and the necklace because of that horrid death. But I've got back the -necklace"--Lady Watson fingered it fondly--"and you." - -"How did you get the necklace?" - -"A friend of mine called Miss Carr gave it to me. She got it from her -father, though I don't know how he got it, I'm sure. Major Ruck--you -know the man, dear?--wanted Maud--that is Miss Carr--to give it up, and -would have killed her for it. He's just the sort of bully who would -kill a woman to get money, and I don't mind saying it, although he was -my friend. So Maud, to spite him, gave it to me, and----" - -"Wait one moment, mother. Were you not going to elope with Major----" - -Lady Watson interrupted in her turn, and uttered an embarrassed scream. -"Yes, I was, my dear. Your father was a bear--there's no good saying -anything else. He was a bear! I couldn't stand his Puritan airs any -longer, and on the very night he was murdered I intended to elope with -him, to pay your father out. But Alpenny met me----" - -"At the head of the stairs?" - -"Who told you that?" - -"Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice promptly. - -"Julia Duncan? Ah, she always was a false-hearted cat. Why, the very -last time I saw her, and that was when I went down to get Alpenny's -money, she promised to hold her tongue." - -"I forced her to speak." - -"And you have forced me, you clever girl. I promised Durban never to -reveal who I really was but I did so, through natural affections; and -now you know. I'm sure I don't care," added Lady Watson with a reckless -air. "Durban can do his worst." - -"What can he do?" - -"Accuse me of your father's murder, although I'm as innocent as a -child. But I dare say he'll hold his tongue if I pay him well. He was -always fond of money, and Alpenny's legacy has made me rich." - -"I don't think Durban can be bribed, nor do I think he is fond of -money," said Beatrice with decision. "But for my sake, he may hold his -tongue." - -"Well, I shan't give up the Obi necklace," muttered Lady Watson. "The -Colonel bought it for me; he got it from a Brazilian negro, and said -there was a curse on it,--at least the negro did. For that reason your -father--who really was fond of me, I suppose, although he had a horrid, -dull way of showing his love--would not give it to me. He kept it in a -green box along with his papers beside his bed, and I got it from there -when he was lying dead." - -"Did you see him dead?" asked Beatrice, horrified. "Of course I did. -That is why Durban says that I killed him. He always did hate me, the -beast!" - -Beatrice passed her hand wearily across her forehead. "I cannot gather -much from these scraps of information," she said irritably; "please -tell me all connectedly and from the beginning." - -"Oh, dear me, how very like your father you are!" said Lady Watson, -with an affected shudder. "He was always so very precise: I don't know -how I came to marry so dull a man. But my father made the match. He was -a planter in Jamaica, and Colonel Hall was stationed at Port Royal I -was merely a child--seventeen, in fact--and the Colonel fell in love -with me. I married him, although I liked twenty other men better. Sir -Reginald was one; but he went to England, on leave, and my father made -me marry the Colonel while Reginald was away. He was in a rage when -he came back. Afterwards, when the Colonel died so dreadfully, Sir -Reginald married me, as he knew--if no one else did--that I had nothing -to do with that horrid murder." - -"Tell me the events of that night," said Beatrice keeping the voluble -little woman to the point. - -"Well, I'm doing it, if you will only let me speak," snapped Lady -Watson; "but you are like your father, and want me to hold my tongue -as he did. I'm sure I never opened my mouth for years with that man. -Shortly after you were born we went to England. Amelia and Durban came -also, as Durban would never leave the Colonel; and Amelia was brought -for your sake, you being a baby--and a very pretty one too. Colonel -Hall went down to see Mr. Paslow at Convent Grange, as they were great -friends. I stopped in London for a time, as I was so sick of the -Colonel's stiffness. Then I came down because he insisted on it. Major -Ruck--who was really a nice man in those days--followed, and stopped at -The Camp, as he wished me to elope with him. On the night of the murder -I arranged to do so." - -"Had the Major anything to do with the murder?" asked Beatrice -hurriedly. - -"He said he hadn't, but he might have told a lie. He never could tell -the truth," said Lady Watson vaguely. "But as I was saying--and don't -interrupt again, please--I dressed late at night I knew that Mr. -Paslow, and Alpenny, and the Colonel had gone to bed. Your father and -I were in different rooms, because we had quarrelled. I came out into -the passage, and intended to meet Major Ruck at The Camp, where he had -a carriage waiting. Alpenny should have been at The Camp also, only -he stopped at the Grange--to spite me, I believe, as he loved me, and -wanted to prevent my elopement." - -"Did he know about it?" - -"Yes. He wheedled the information out of the Major, and learned also -that I intended to bring the Obi necklace with me. It was because of -the necklace, as well as because of his love for me, that he stopped at -the Grange to thwart me." - -"But the necklace was in my father's possession?" - -"In a green dispatch box beside his bed," explained Lady Watson. "You -are quite right, dear; so it was. I stole out into the passage, and -there I met at the head of the stairs that horrid Alpenny, who was on -the watch. Julia Snow was watching also, as she told me afterwards. The -horrid woman, she loved George, and----" - -"I know--I know--please go on." - -"I am going on," cried Lady Watson in despair; "but you will -interrupt. Alpenny said he wanted to help me to get away, which -was a lie. I believed him, and we went to the Colonel's chamber. I -could easily make some excuse, you know; that I had the toothache or -something, and George would believe me." - -"But your dress--your hat?" - -"Oh, I took those off and gave them to Alpenny, who remained outside -the bedroom door. When I went in I nearly screamed, for the Colonel -did look so horrid, lying in bed with his throat cut. I could see it -and him, plainly in the moonlight. I called Alpenny, and we were both -afraid. Then I saw the box, and got out the necklace." - -"Ugh!" said Beatrice, disgusted at this callous behaviour. "Why didn't -you call for help?" - -"What! and be arrested? Everyone knew that George and I were on bad -terms; and besides, with the necklace in my possession, I might have -been accused of killing him. Alpenny said we had better take the -necklace and go away. The window was open, and I suppose the man who -killed the Colonel got in there. I took the necklace, and went out into -the passage with Alpenny, closing the door after me. I put on my hat -and cloak, and then he refused to let me go to The Camp to meet the -Major unless I gave him the necklace. I had to, and then went back to -bed." - -"Why didn't you elope?" asked Beatrice sarcastically. - -"My dear, my nerves were shattered, and it would have been most -dangerous. I went to bed, and pretended to be horrified when I heard of -the murder. The Major would not marry me when he found that I hadn't -got the necklace; so after the inquest I came to town, and met Reginald -Watson. I told him everything, and he married me." - -"But how did my nurse marry Mr. Alpenny?" - -"Durban arranged that," said Lady Watson promptly. "He was almost mad -when he found the Colonel was dead, and he forced the truth out of me. -I believe Julia Snow told him what she had seen. I knew Durban would -say nothing, because if he hated me, he loved you and your father. -He did hold his tongue, but he insisted that Alpenny should give the -necklace to him in trust for you. Of course Alpenny would not do so, -and Durban threatened to inform the police. Then Durban, who didn't -know much about English law, thought that he might get into trouble and -be accused. I really don't know," added Lady Watson, pondering, "if I -didn't threaten to accuse him." - -"Oh, how could you?" - -"Well, he might be guilty. Niggers always prefer to cut throats, and -your father certainly died in that horrid way." - -"The man with the black patch killed him?" - -"Did he? I heard something about that; but I'm not sure. However, to -make a long story short, Durban arranged that you should be taken -charge of by Alpenny, and that he should look after you along with -Amelia, who was consumptive." - -"But why?" - -Lady Watson rose wrathfully. "You may well ask that, Beatrice. Why? -Because, if you please, this nigger didn't think I was a proper person -to look after you. Then Amelia refused to go to The Camp unless she -went--as she said, respectably. Alpenny, who was in love with me, and -knew that I intended to marry Sir Reginald, agreed to marry her in -order to keep the necklace. Amelia died shortly afterwards, and for the -sake of safety was buried as your mother: you took her name of Hedge, -you know. That's the story." - -"It is a very horrible one," said Beatrice, rising in her turn. - -Lady Watson burst into tears. "It is not my fault," she sobbed. "I'm -sure, in spite of Reginald's objections, I would have kept you beside -me; only Durban took you away, and Amelia also, because she wanted to -marry a rich man, as Alpenny was supposed. They knew too much; I had to -yield; and then Reginald thought you were dead. But I have always loved -and longed for my pretty baby. Kiss me, darling!" - -"No," said Beatrice sternly. - -The little woman looked up aghast. "Your own mother?" - -"I do not look upon you as my mother," said the girl coldly. "You -deserted me in the most heartless manner. I don't know how much of your -story is true----" - -"It is all true--I swear it." - -"It may be, and you may be innocent. But to see my father lying dead, -and not give the alarm, was wicked. The assassin might have been caught -and----" - -"I would have been caught!" cried Lady Watson vehemently. "As it was, -people thought that I had something to do with the horrid thing. I was -quite innocent," she protested, sobbing. "Beatrice!" - -Her voice rose to a scream as the girl walked to the door for the -second time. "I am going," said Beatrice quietly. "You must give me -time to think over our new relationship. I'll see you again soon." - -"Oh!" wailed Lady Watson, as the door closed on the daughter who -rejected her; "how like your father--how very like!" - -Beatrice walked calmly down the stairs, and opening the front door -herself, returned to the hotel to think over the matter. At the door of -the little inn she found the stout landlady arguing with a red-haired, -foxy man. - -"Waterloo!" said Beatrice, drawing back. - -"There," chuckled the rogue, grinning at the landlady, "she knows me -does the young lydy.--Miss, come at once--Durban's dying." - -"Durban dying!" - -"He'll be dead in a jiffy," said Waterloo, grinning. "You come, miss." -Then dropping his voice, "He wants to tell you who killed your father." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII -REVELATIONS - - -"Don't go with him, miss," urged Mrs. Quail. "He's a bad one: look at -his eyes." - -Beatrice had no need to look at them. She knew well the evil that they -held, and shrank, as she always did, from contact with this creature -of the night. Certainly Waterloo was much better dressed than when she -had seen him last. He wore a somewhat shabby frock coat, a pair of -smart patent-leather boots, a fashionable collar, and a silk hat which -glistened like the sun. The tramp actually reeked of some fashionable -scent, and swung a dandy cane with a genteel air. He wore a wig, from -under which his natural red hair peeped; and his false teeth looked -aggressively white and new. On the whole, Waterloo evidently considered -that he was now a perfect buck, and ogled the comely landlady and the -shrinking girl with an assured air. - -"You are not deceiving me?" asked Beatrice, forcing herself to be civil -to the man, for obvious reasons. - -"S'elp me Bob! no," leered the rejuvenated wreck. "Durban, he come -up t'town t'other day, an' wos run h'over by a bus as wos drivin' -motor-car fashions--more miles an hour than sense, miss. He ses -t'me--an ole pal of his--as he wanted to see you, and tell you wot -y'should know. He ses es he'll tell you who killed your par an' th' ole -Alpenny bloke." - -This remark decided Beatrice. Come what may, she determined to learn -the truth at last. Also, Durban was her best and oldest friend, and -from what Lady Watson had said he had evidently been a better friend -to her than she knew. After a moment or two she made up her mind, -and turned to Mrs. Quail, who was gazing disdainfully at the leering -Waterloo. - -"I must go, Mrs. Quail," she said decisively; "if Durban is ill I must -help him." - -"But with this man?" - -"Oh! I'm saif, laidy. No 'arm about me. Oh no, not at all." - -"If Mr. Paslow comes," said Beatrice, addressing the landlady, and -taking no notice of Waterloo, "tell him I have gone with Waterloo to -see Durban.--Where is he?" she asked the man. - -"In a room in a 'ouse, Malta Street, Stepney--No. 50," said Waterloo -quickly, and passed along a scrap of dirty paper to Mrs. Quail. "If the -young laidy don't come back saif an' sound, you'll find me 'ere." - -"If she's not back by nine to-night," retorted Mrs. Quail, putting the -paper in her pocket, "I'll see the police about the matter.--And after -all, miss, I wouldn't go with him." - -"I must," said Beatrice quickly; "there is so much at stake." And -giving the landlady no further time to remonstrate, she walked away -with Waterloo, who swaggered like the buck he thought he was. - -"How do we get to Stepney?" asked Beatrice while they walked along -Kensington High Street. - -"Underground," said Waterloo glibly. "Underground to Bishopgate, an' -then we taike th' Liverpool Street train to Stepney, an'----" - -"That is enough," said Beatrice, cutting him short, and walking very -fast; "speak as little to me as you can." - -Waterloo scowled, and his scowl was not a pleasant sight. However, -he held his tongue until they were safe in a first-class underground -carriage--Beatrice did not want to go with this creature in a -third-class, and luckily there were three or four ladies in the -compartment. While the train was steaming through the tunnels, Waterloo -held a whispered conversation with Beatrice. At first she was inclined -to stop him; but when she heard what he had to say, she listened -attentively. - -"I saiy," murmured the rogue confidentially, "you're a clipper; y'are -tryin' to find out all about us. But y'won't. There's only one cove es -can put things straight, an' thet is Waterloo Esquire." - -"What do you mean by that?" - -"Ah, thet's tellin's, miss. Don't you arsk any questing, an' no lies -will be tole. But if y'meke it wuth me while, I'll git you the young -gent all t'yourself." - -"Mr. Paslow?" - -"Thet's him. Not a bad cove--oh, by no means--but a greenhorn, miss, es -anyone kin see. If he don't do wot the Major wants him to do, he's a -goner--saime es your par an' the Alpenny cove." - -"What does the horrible creature mean?" Beatrice asked herself half -aloud, and he heard her. - -"Don' call naimes, miss. Th' king comes the cadger's waiy sometime, -es I knows, an' you may 'ave to meke use of me some daiy. It's all a -questing of money." - -"Of money?" - -"Yuss"--he leaned forward and whispered hoarsely in her ear--"or of -thet there necklace." - -"It is not mine--it is----" - -"But it are yours, miss, and you git it. Wen y'arsked everyone to try -an' git t'know wot y'want t'know, and fail," said Waterloo, with great -emphasis, "you pass along the necklace t'me, and then I'll tell y' -wot's wot. I'm a oner, I am." - -"But why do you wish to betray your friends for me?" - -"Ah, their toime's acomin' to an end, miss, an' I don't want t'be in -et th' finish, which is in th' dock. Wen ole Alpenny wos alive, he 'ad -a 'ead, he 'ad; but this Major Ruck cove's spilin' things as quick es -jimmy, oh." - -"But in what way?" - -"Oh, I ain't agoin' to saiy any more. Wen th' bust comes y'think of -me, miss," and with this final remark, Waterloo lay back luxuriously -against the soft cushions. Beatrice saw the necessity of enlisting this -traitor on her side, and saw also that he was open to bribery, although -the bribe of the necklace was a very costly one. But in spite of all -her endeavours, she could not get the man to talk. Waterloo only winked -and leered, and thrust his tongue in his cheek, much to the disgust of -the ladies opposite, who apparently could not understand how such a -quiet, ladylike girl came to be in the society of such a raffish animal. - -With the utmost gravity Waterloo conducted Beatrice to the Liverpool -Street Station, and placed her in another first-class carriage. -This time he got the tickets himself, and she wondered where he had -procured the money to do so. From what she had seen of the man, he was -a genuine tramp, and more used to walking than to riding. But it was -evident that he belonged to the Black Patch Gang, and apparently the -gang had been successful lately. Waterloo himself declined to impart -further information, but leered and winked as usual, so Beatrice held -her peace, and tried to steel herself to the adventure. She recognised -that she was acting foolishly in going into the slums with Waterloo, -but since Vivian was lost to her, she felt that she cared very little -what happened. Besides, desperate diseases require desperate remedies, -and in that proverb she found ground for believing that she was acting -rightly. Finally, she was certain that whatever was intended, her life -would be safe, and while she lived she could always get out of any -difficulty by exercising her strong will and undaunted spirit. - -Alighting at Stepney Station, Waterloo conducted her to a four-wheeler, -and this drove off down the street Then Waterloo engaged her in -conversation, and hinted that he knew everything about the Black Patch -Gang. Beatrice, listening to his half hints, became so interested -that she did not notice that the cab was passing down a series of -mean streets; and only when it drew up with a jerk before a most -disreputable-looking house, did she see that she was in a very low and -dangerous neighbourhood. However, she had gone too far to retreat, and -therefore stepped out with great coolness. The cab drove off without -payment. "One of us," said Waterloo, jerking his thumb over his -shoulder with a wink. - -They were admitted through a closely barred door into a narrow passage -dimly lighted. On ascending the stairs Beatrice noted how foul the -walls were with grime and grease. Various small rooms, some of which -had open doors, revealed raffish individuals, and various states of -disorder. The place was a den as foul as that inhabited by Mr. Fagin, -and Beatrice, used to the fresh air of the country, felt ill with the -tainted atmosphere. However, she suppressed all signs of disgust, as -these would have made Waterloo angry, and for apparent reasons she -wished to cultivate his good will. - -He led her to the very top of the house, and came to another door -sheeted with iron. In response to a touch on a button this opened, and -pushing Beatrice in he closed it again, remaining on the outside. The -girl, who was taken by surprise, tried to reopen the door, but it was -fast closed, and she heard the little brute chuckle on the other side. -She was caught, like a rat in a trap. It only remained for her to see -if Durban was caught also--or if he exercised sufficient authority over -the gang to release her when she wished to return to Kensington. - -The surroundings amazed her. The corridor--it was not a narrow passage -this time--was spacious, and decorated with velvet hangings. The carpet -was velvet pile, and the ceiling was painted in a most delicate and -artistic manner. While she was marvelling at this sight, so unexpected, -a side door opened, and she beheld Major Ruck, as gigantic as ever, -arrayed in a smart smoking suit. - -"Just in time for afternoon tea," said the Major gallantly, and threw -open the door. "Please to enter a bachelor's den, Miss Hedge." - -"But Durban?" she asked, drawing back. - -"I will tell you all about him," said the big man, with a bland smile. -"In the meantime, as we have much to talk about and you must be faint -after your long journey into these wilds, perhaps you will enter and -accept my hospitality." - -Beatrice cast one look at him, and entered without another word. The -room was not large, but furnished with a splendour which startled her -when she remembered the exterior of the house. The walls were hung -with green silk, and the hangings were drawn back here and there by -silver cords to show choice pictures. The ceiling was also painted, -the floor was stained and covered with valuable Persian praying mats, -and the furniture would have done credit to a West End drawing-room. -It really looked rather like a woman's room, as there were plenty of -flowers about, and on a tiny table of carved wood stood a tea equipage -of silver and delicate egg-shell china. - -"I have made ready for you," said the Major, drawing forward a chair to -the table, and near a window which was filled in with stained glass. -"I hope you like my crib. It is not so comfortable as that in the West -End; but in these wilds"--he shrugged his big shoulders--"one has to -put up with hardship. Will you have some tea?" - -"No, thank you. I want to see Durban." - -"He will be in presently." - -Beatrice started to her feet. "Is he not ill?" - -"He never was better in all his life. Pardon the ruse that was used to -bring you here, but I knew well that you wouldn't come of your own free -will." - -"Allow me to go away," said Beatrice, walking towards the door, - -"When we have had a talk and understand one another--not before," said -Ruck, rising and standing before the fireplace. He was still smiling -and bland and genial, and looked very spruce in his well-cut clothes. -It was difficult to imagine such a man in such a room, when one -recollected the vile neighbourhood. - -"You will not dare to detain me against my will?" - -"Oh yes, if it be necessary," said Ruck easily; "but I trust"--with a -graceful bow--"that it will not be necessary." - -"If you keep me here, my landlady in Kensington has the address of this -place and will tell the police." - -"I fear the police will waste their time, Miss Hedge. The address was a -wrong one, with which Waterloo was purposely furnished." - -"The address was Stepney----" - -"But not Malta Street. This is in a different locality. Come, Miss -Hedge, you must see that you are in my power. But I am a gentleman, so -do not be afraid." - -"Afraid!" The sound of the word made Beatrice fling back her head with -a proud gesture. "I am afraid of nothing and no one, Major Ruck. I know -how to protect myself." - -"I hope you will know how to protect Mr. Paslow." - -"What do you mean?" - -"That can be explained after tea. Do pour out the tea, Miss Hedge; it -is so pleasant to see a lady officiate." - -Beatrice deliberately walked to the table and poured out a cup of tea -for the Major, which she handed to him along with a plate of delicate -cakes. "Will you not take one yourself?" said Ruck winningly; "it is -not drugged." - -Beatrice, although her heart was beating loudly, walked back to the -table with a gay laugh. "You do not give me time," she said. "I am not -at all afraid of drugs," and she filled herself a cup which she sipped -with great enjoyment. When she also began to eat a cake, the Major -smacked his leg with a look of admiration. - -"Upon my word, Miss Hedge, you are plucky and no mistake. I wish you -would marry me." - -"Thanks; but I have no wish to." - -"We should do great things together," urged Ruck. - -"Doubtless; but you see I have an aversion to appearing in a -police-court, Major Ruck. By the way, why did you not tell me that Mr. -Paslow had appeared in one?" - -"I very nearly did," said Ruck with great frankness, "as I thought it -might frighten you into refusing him. But then I thought it would be -better to send his wife along." - -"Is she really his wife?" asked Beatrice doubtfully. - -"Really and truly. Paslow always was a moral man. You can never marry -him now." - -"No. But I can always love him." - -"The shadow without the substance," said Ruck, with a shrug; "you will -find that unsatisfactory, Miss Hedge." - -"That is entirely my affair, Major. And why don't you give me my proper -name of Miss Hall?" - -"Oh yes. I forgot that you knew all about that matter." - -"I know more than you think, since I have seen Lady Watson." - -Ruck started. "She told you nothing?" he said in vexed tones. - -"Everything--even to the fact that she was about to run away with you -on the night my father was murdered." - -Ruck's brow grew dark, and he uttered something which was not exactly a -blessing. However, he speedily recovered his good humour, and asked for -a second cup of tea, which Beatrice just as good-humouredly handed to -him. It was an odd interview. - -"Well," said Beatrice after a pause, "and what do you wish to see me -about, Major? I don't want to stay long." - -"You seem to forget that you are in my power," said Ruck, nettled by -this coolness. - -"Oh no, I don't; but I am not afraid. Come now, Major, you can speak -glibly enough when it suits you. I pay you the compliment of saying -that you don't want to make love?" - -"I don't. All the same, I admire you so much that I am mighty near -insisting upon your becoming my wife. We have a clergyman who belongs -to the Black Patch Gang, you know." - -"Ah! Then you are a member of that Gang?" - -"Yes," said the Major, with an embarrassed air. "I am a poor gentleman, -who has taken to bad ways instead of earning an honest living." - -"That is a pity," replied Beatrice, "for, in spite of your behaviour, -Major, I like you. I wish you would turn over a new leaf." - -"I doubt if I have one to turn," muttered Ruck, flushing a brick-red at -her words. "However, if you will give me that necklace, I shall try and -lead a better life. I have to," he confessed candidly, "as I don't mind -telling you that the course of the Black Patch Gang is nearly run. The -police have got to know too much, and at any moment may raid us." - -"I have not got the necklace," said Beatrice coldly. - -"I know that. Maud Carr had it, and told me how her father had found -it. But instead of giving it to me, she passed it along to your mother." - -"To whom," said Beatrice with emphasis, "it rightfully belongs." - -"Well, yes; but also it belongs to me. Lady Watson will not give it -to me, but she will to you. And, as a matter of fact, your father the -Colonel left you the necklace." - -"You contradict yourself, Major: you said it belonged to my mother." - -"Possession is nine points of the law," said the big man, with a shrug, -"and Lady Watson has the necklace, sure enough. But you can insist on -her giving it to you, and then hand it to me. I'll vanish out of your -life and trouble you no more. There is a wide field for the exercise of -a gentleman's abilities in the States." - -"And suppose I decline?" asked Beatrice disdainfully. - -"In that case," replied Ruck, regarding her attentively, "I shall be -compelled to accuse Mr. Vivian Paslow of having murdered Alpenny." - -"That is a lie," cried Beatrice, starting to her feet. "It is the -truth," retorted the Major, "the real truth." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII -NEMESIS - - -Beatrice sank back in the chair and fixed her eyes fearfully on the man -who thus accused Vivian of a terrible crime. "You say that to frighten -me," she gasped. - -Major Ruck made no direct reply, but touched a bell. In response to its -sound an old woman neatly dressed, but as evil-looking as the tramp, -appeared. "Send Waterloo to me," said the Major. - -The old woman vanished, and Major Ruck strolled to the window, -whistling, with his hands behind his back. Beatrice, grasping the arms -of her chair with the perspiration beading her forehead, wondered what -Waterloo had to do with the accusation. She remembered the tramp's -hint, and fancied that perhaps after all he really knew the truth; -but that the truth should place Vivian in the position of an assassin -appeared too terrible for words. While she thus meditated and the Major -whistled, Waterloo with his familiar leer appeared. In the presence of -his master the old man--for he was very old, as Durban had said, in -spite of his attempts to renew his youth--seemed meaner than ever, and -very much afraid. - -"Yuss, Major," said Waterloo meekly. - -Ruck wheeled sharply. "Tell this young lady what you saw of Alpenny's -murder," he commanded. - -"Why, lor' bless me, I sawr very little, sir," whined the tramp. - -"Tell what you did see, and how Vivian Paslow killed the man." - -"I don't believe it--I can't believe it!" muttered Beatrice, twisting -her hands in agony. - -"Wait till you hear what Waterloo has to say," said Ruck grimly. - -"It wos this waiy, miss," said the tramp, addressing himself to the -pale girl. "The Alpenny cove, he set me to watch you an' Mr. Paslow -seein' as you loved one another." - -"And do still, in spite of all," murmured Beatrice, while the Major -raised his eyebrows superciliously. - -"I wos awatchin' the pair of you on thet night," went on Waterloo in a -cringing way, "and follered you, miss, to th' oak." - -"You were the man crouching near the gates of The Camp?" - -"Yuss, miss. I guessed you sawr me. I follered y'; and then wen Mr. -Paslow sawr me, he follered me. He got 'old of me and kicked me, and I -tuck out my knife to stab him. But he went away and back to the oak; -I pulled myself together, and follered to knife him if I could. You -had gone, miss, and Mr. Paslow he went to The Camp to see if you wos -back, miss. I didn't keep quiet enough in the follering, and Mr. Paslow -he caught me agin near The Camp and kicked me 'ard. I tried to use my -knife," said Waterloo with a venomous look, "but he took it off me, and -climbed over the big gates. I follered." - -"Why did Mr. Paslow enter The Camp?" questioned Beatrice. - -"To see if you wos back, miss," explained the tramp, while the Major -smiled graciously. "I follered to git back me knife. I sawr the door of -the counting-house open, an' the ole cove Alpenny come out hollering -'Thieves!' He was dressed in his hat an' cloak to go away----" - -"That," interpolated the Major, "will be explained later." - -"Wen he sawr Mr. Paslow he made for him, and Mr. Paslow held out my -knife--unthinking, like. Alpenny fell on it, and then he struck Mr. -Paslow. I never sawr any cove go so mad es Mr. Paslow did. He fair -raged, and got the ole man down an' cut his throat." - -"No, no, no!" cried Beatrice fiercely; "you lie!" - -"I don't lie, now," said Waterloo sullenly; "it's the truth. And -wen Mr. Paslow sawr me comin' over the gate, he bolted, leaving his -handkerchief behind." - -"Ah!" Beatrice remembered what Durban had said about the handkerchief. -"Mr. Paslow left that with Mr. Alpenny on the day he quarrelled with -him, previous to the death." - -"Did Mr. Paslow explain that himself?" asked Ruck sneeringly. - -"No. Durban gave me the explanation. I never spoke to Mr. Paslow of the -handkerchief, as I believed Durban." - -"And Durban told that lie to save your asking Mr. Paslow. Though, I -dare say," added the Major with a shrug, "that Paslow would have lied -also had you spoken to him." - -"Go on," said Beatrice, speaking to Waterloo with grey lips. The -conviction was forcing itself upon her that, after all, he might be -telling the terrible truth. - -"Wen Mr. Paslow slung his 'ook," said Waterloo, leering, and more -at his ease, "he got over the big gate. I dragged Alpenny into the -counting-house and laid him out. Then I locked the door, and got away -by the underground passage. Outside I heard voices, and saw the Major -here." - -"Quite so," said Ruck courteously; "and now I can tell the remainder -of the story. I came down, Miss Hedge, to punish Alpenny, who had been -betraying the organisation of which he was the founder." - -"The Black Patch Gang?" said Beatrice faintly. She felt very ill. - -"Exactly. Alpenny founded it thirty years ago, and I was one of the -earliest members, as was Waterloo here. When Alpenny was stopping at -Convent Grange with your father and Mr. Paslow's father, he was even -then a receiver of stolen goods, although the operations of the Gang -were not so wide then as they have been since. We include all classes -amongst us. Tuft the lawyer, who acted for Alpenny, and who got Mr. -Paslow out of trouble when he was accused of shoplifting, is one of -us; so is his wife, Miss Carr--or, as I should say, Mrs. Paslow. I am -the head of the lot. The cabman who drove you here is a member; so -is the doctor who attended Miss Carr's double, and who gave a false -certificate by my direction." - -"Why?" asked Beatrice quickly. - -"Well, if you had procured me the necklace, I would have allowed you to -marry Paslow. And then if Miss Carr had married this American, we would -have got money out of him. I always," added the Major with a smile, -showing his white teeth, "believe in killing two birds with one stone. -However, to resume. We are bound by a death-oath not to betray one -another. Alpenny made a lot of money, and found that the police were -getting to know too much. He decided to bolt. I warned him twice, and -the third time the warning was conveyed by Durban, through Mr. Paslow." - -"Wait. Is Durban one of the Gang?" - -"No," scowled the Major with a sudden change of tone, "he is too -honest. But he knows everything about us. Because we threatened to -kidnap you, he held his peace. However, Alpenny received his third -warning, and instead of profiting by it he prepared to bolt. I thought -he would do it, and went down with another man to kill him." - -"Kill him!" screamed Beatrice. "Oh no, no!" - -"Oh yes, yes!" said the Major coolly; "we had to make an example of -him. However, Mr. Paslow saved us the trouble. When Waterloo here -heard my voice, he came out and told us the truth. I entered by the -great gates, as I had a duplicate key. Waterloo went through the -underground passage and let us into the counting-house. We saw the -body, and searched for the Obi necklace, which, however we were unable -to discover." - -"It was in a pocket behind the rep curtains," said Beatrice. - -"And Durban found it. I know all about that. But at the moment we -could not find the necklace, and as you might be back at any moment, -according to Waterloo here, we had to go away. But I picked up Mr. -Paslow's handkerchief where he left it on the ground while struggling -with his victim, and, soaking it in the blood, I left it beside the -body in the counting-house." - -"I found it," said Beatrice. "Why did you do that?" - -"I wanted Paslow to be accused, since he would not join us. However, -you found it, and Durban explained its presence there by a lie. -Waterloo and the other man, whose name need not be mentioned, as he is -our executioner----" - -"Ah! You did not intend to kill Mr. Alpenny yourself?" - -"No," said Ruck, with an expression of disgust. "I have done many -criminal things in my time, but my hands are free from blood. This man -was always employed to punish any traitor. I took him down to kill -Alpenny, but Mr. Paslow, as I say, saved us the trouble. I was alone -outside the counting-house as Waterloo and the other man locked the -door from the inside, and then escaped by the underground passage. When -I was going away amidst the storm I saw you enter the great gates----" - -"Ah!" Beatrice started up. "You were the tall man in the cloak with the -black patch?" - -"I was," admitted the Major coolly; "so now you know the whole -story.--Waterloo, you can go." - -The little man seemed glad to get away from the calm, searching eye of -the Major, and with a final leer at Beatrice he slunk out of the door. -When alone with the girl, Ruck turned to her again. "Well?" he asked. - -"What do you want me to do?" - -"You must get your mother to return the necklace to you, and go back to -The Camp. I shall meet you there in a couple of days--in the evening. -At any moment the police may get to know of the Gang's movements, and -then we will be raided. I have had several warnings. There are traitors -about; but I won't punish them. Since Alpenny's death things have gone -wrong. I have not the head to command, as had that old scoundrel; I -confess it freely. However, I have collected what money I could, and -I am going to America. I want the Obi necklace also, which will bring -me in ten thousand pounds. I'll settle in Mexico and live a decent -life--retire, as it were," said the Major jocularly, "on my money." - -"And if I get the necklace?" - -"Then I'll say nothing about Vivian Paslow's guilt, or about your -mother's complicity in the death of your father." - -"She never killed him," said Beatrice weakly. "She felt crushed by the -things she had been told." - -"I am not so sure of that. If she did not kill him herself, she knows -who did. I wanted the necklace," said the Major brutally, "and not her. -However, Alpenny got ahead of me. But he's dead; and now you know my -terms. I must have that necklace." - -"You will hold your tongue?" - -Ruck bowed gracefully. "I promise you," he said in a smooth voice. -"You can easily see that if you do not accept my terms that I can make -myself very unpleasant." - -"You forget that if the Gang is found out the police will arrest you," -said Beatrice, trying to get out of the dilemma in which he had placed -her. - -"I admit that, and so I intend to do what Alpenny designed, namely, -to bolt--with the necklace, of course. But even if arrested I could -denounce Paslow, and get him hanged. I could also tell Lady Watson's -friends what she is, and how she helped to kill her husband. I could -make things very unpleasant. Now, if you accept my terms, I'll hold my -tongue, and then you can marry Vivian Paslow." - -"That is impossible; he is married already. I don't suppose you intend -to kill Mrs. Paslow with that executioner of yours?" - -"Oh no,"--the Major shuddered,--"I can fix matters without going so -far. Believe me, Miss Hedge--or, rather, Miss Hall--I can do all I say. -You will marry Paslow--that is, if you are willing to take a hand which -is stained with blood." - -"I don't believe that he is guilty." - -"What! Not after all the evidence?" - -"No. I cannot believe that Vivian would act in such a way." - -"Well, well," said Ruck impatiently; "believe it or not as you like, -Miss Hall. Time is precious with me. Accept my terms, and you can -return to get the necklace. I don't want to keep you here." - -"I accept," said Beatrice faintly. "There is nothing else for me to do, -Major Ruck." - -"Really, I don't think there is," said the Major pleasantly. "Well, -then, I'll expect you in the counting-house, where that old scoundrel -was murdered, within two days--in the evening. If you play me false, -I'll send a letter to the police, and Mr. Paslow will find himself in -the dock instead of at the altar. And now, Miss Hall, permit me to -escort you to the four-wheeler, which will be waiting." - -He held out his long white hand with a polite smile; but Beatrice, -ignoring the courtesy, walked alone towards the door. Ruck frowned and -winced, and followed with a shrug. All the same, scoundrel as the man -was, he did not like the implied slight. As the two emerged into the -corridor there came a ring at the door. With a stifled exclamation of -anger the Major opened it, and there on the threshold stood Durban, -looking green with rage. The half-caste entered hurriedly and closed -the door. - -"Waterloo told me that missy was here," he said in an imperious tone, -"and I have come to take her away." - -"Oh, Durban, Durban!" cried the girl, and seized his arm. - -"It's all right, missy." He patted her hand. "You are safe with me." - -"She is safe in any case," said Ruck contemptuously. "She has accepted -my terms, and she has my leave to go. As to Waterloo, I will punish him -for telling you what he had no right to tell you." - -"He has told many other things he has no right to tell," said Durban -significantly, "and to the police." - -"What?" The Major's face became ghastly, and he reeled against the wall -with an oath. - -"The game is up, Major," said Durban, holding the hand of Beatrice -still tighter. "All I want to do is to get Miss Hall away before the -police come to arrest the lot of you." - -"I believe you told the police yourself," said the Major, choking with -fury. "Waterloo would never dare----" - -"Pshaw! I come to give you warning, Major, as you have always been kind -to me. Waterloo was in league with my dead master to cheat you and the -rest of the Gang." - -"Is this true?" asked the Major of himself, biting his carefully-tended -nails. "It is impossible! I could have staked my life on Waterloo's -truth." - -"Then you would lose your wager," said Durban. "The man is, and always -was, a scoundrel.--Come, missy." - -"One moment," said Ruck, recovering himself. "I am ready to get away, -and have placed all my money safely abroad. When do the police come?" - -"This night, I believe," said Durban. "I came up from town a few days -ago to see if I could find out who killed Alpenny. I guessed it was one -of the Black Patch Gang, especially as you gave him warning through -me--or rather through Mr. Paslow. In making enquiries, I heard enough -to convince me that Waterloo was in correspondence with the police, and -was prepared to turn King's evidence to save his skin." - -"And the beast was here only a few moments ago. Where is he?" - -"Where you won't find him. He met me down the stairs a short time -since, and told me what I now tell you--that the police were going to -break up the Gang. He hates you, Major, because you once horsewhipped -the poor wretch. He also told me that missy was here, and I came to -save her from being taken along with your scoundrels. Waterloo has -hidden himself; where he is, I don't know. He guessed that I would tell -you, I suppose, as I let him know that I knew of his treachery. You -won't get him, Major." - -"Oh yes, I shall," said Ruck grimly. "I'm not going to be betrayed by -a reptile like that without revenging myself. All the same, Miss Hall, -I hold you to my terms. Remember, The Camp in two days--seven in the -evening of the second day." - -Beatrice bowed her head, being too weak to speak. Durban, with a -surprised glance at the Major--for he could not understand the reason -of this appointment--drew the girl away, and together they descended -the grimy stairs, leaving the Major arranging for immediate flight. -The four-wheeler was waiting, sure enough, and Durban told the man to -drive to the station. When in the cab with his young mistress, Durban -questioned her about the interview and the appointment. Beatrice told -him the truth and concealed nothing. "And, I fear," she said with a -shudder, "that the Major will betray Vivian, in spite of everything." - -"No," said Durban quietly; "when he gets the necklace he will hold his -peace. The Major is not a cruel man, in spite of his surroundings and -follies--criminal follies. He will hold his tongue, but I doubt if -Waterloo will." - -"He wants the necklace also," said Beatrice faintly. - -"I don't care if he gets it, or if the Major secures it, or if Lady -Watson keeps it, missy," said Durban gloomily; "it will bring bad luck -to either one of the three. But the Major said that you could marry Mr. -Paslow?" - -"Yes. I don't know how he intends to arrange. But I cannot marry Mr. -Paslow. I believe him to be innocent, but I cannot be sure. There was -the handkerchief, you know." - -"I lied about that to save you pain, missy," said Durban sadly. "But it -really seems as though Mr. Paslow was guilty. But he is not." - -"How do you know?" - -"Because I know who killed Mr. Alpenny." - -"You, Durban?" she said, astonished. - -"Yes. You can marry Mr. Paslow with a clear conscience, missy, because -you love him, and he is innocent of this crime." - -"Then who is guilty, Durban?" - -"I am, missy. I killed the master." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV -THE NECKLACE - - -In spite of her regard for the old servant, Beatrice shrank from him as -far as the space of the four-wheeler would permit. It was not agreeable -to be cooped up with a self-confessed murderer, especially when the -crime had been of so terrible a nature. Durban saw the movement and -his eyes filled with tears. He was always emotional, and wept at very -slight provocation. - -"Don't shrink from me, missy," he implored, much agitated. "I did it -for you, missy--for you." - -"Why for me?" asked Beatrice, controlling herself with an effort. - -"I'll tell you when we are in the train," replied the man, as the cab -stopped at the station. He assisted her to alight, and she strove to -suppress the shudder which almost overcame her as she touched his hand. -Shortly they were seated in the train which was going to Liverpool -Street. As the distance was very short, Durban commenced to tell the -story of his crime at once. Fortunately there was no one else in the -carriage. - -"Missy," he said solemnly, "your dear father saved me from being hanged -in the States. I was accused of stealing a horse, and although it -was utterly false, the white men wanted to lynch me on account of my -colour. The Colonel, however, came upon the scene, and he saved me. The -real culprit confessed a few days later; but had it not been for the -Colonel, I should now have been dead. Since that day to the hour of his -death I never left him, and he always trusted me." - -"You did not kill him, Durban?" faltered Beatrice, pale with fear. - -"Missy," he exclaimed vehemently, "I would rather have killed myself -than the good man who saved me! No, I did not kill him; but I believe -Alpenny did for the sake of the diamond necklace." - -"No, no!" cried Beatrice quickly. "My mother told me that she took -the necklace from the green box; and as she was in the company of Mr. -Alpenny all the time, he must be innocent." - -"It might be so," said Durban gloomily; "but I never did trust your -mother." - -"Why do you dislike her so?" asked Beatrice wonderingly. In the -interest of the conversation she quite forgot the earlier confession of -the old servant. - -"Why?" asked Durban fiercely. "Because she's a wicked woman, and made -my dear Colonel's life a misery. She was always fond of admiration, -and she broke his heart. But for the sake of his name, and but that -he loved you, missy, as I love you, the Colonel would have separated -from her many and many a time. She was always flirting with other men. -She would have run away with Alpenny had he been willing to settle a -good income on her: she would have eloped with Major Ruck but that he -refused when he found that she had not the Obi necklace. And Alpenny -left her the money--I was angry at that." - -"Yes, I remember how angry you were." - -"Because she deserved it so little," said the servant, with a gesture -of rage. "But everything has gone well with her. She may not have -killed the Colonel, but she knows who did; and I believe she and -Alpenny between them are guilty. But she went away, as I arranged to -keep things quiet for your sake, missy. I could not bear that there -should be a blot upon your name. I intended to tell you one day who -you were, and about the money you ought to have; but you found out -things for yourself. I let you do so, as I thought that you might be -the chosen instrument to put things right. You have proved yourself to -be so; for now the Black Patch Gang, which has been the cause of these -troubles, will be broken up, and everything will be right." - -"Durban, I cannot believe that a good man like yourself would murder -Mr. Alpenny." - -"God bless you for that thought, missy! But I did kill him, and for -your sake. He was about to force you into a marriage with Major Ruck, -whom I knew to be a scoundrel. You would have killed yourself had you -married him." - -"I should never have married him," said Beatrice firmly. - -"Yes, you would," insisted Durban. "Alpenny would have threatened to -accuse your mother to the police. In order to save her you would have -consented to become the wife of that wretch." - -"Perhaps," said Beatrice, hesitating. "Is he a wretch, Durban?" - -"Yes. He is also a gentleman, and was in the army. But he has no moral -principles: he never had. He was kicked out of the army for cheating: -he has been twice or thrice suspected of card-sharping, but the charges -could not be brought home to him. There is not a club in London will -have him for a member; and he knows only the wicked, needy people who -hang on to the skirts of society." - -"He knows Lady--I mean my mother." - -"Yes. But he knew too much about her for her to refuse to acknowledge -his acquaintance. Lady Watson knows very good people, as her husband, -Sir Reginald Watson, was a rich and well-known sporting officer. -Nothing is known in society about Lady Watson's past, or her connection -with the death of Colonel Hall, her first husband. That is an old -story, and people forget very easily nowadays, when a lady is rich. -What with Sir Reginald's money and Mr. Alpenny's, your mother must be -very wealthy." - -"Did she inherit nothing from my father?" - -"No, she did not. The money--and there was a great deal of it--was left -to you, missy, with your mother as guardian. But I knew that if your -mother brought you up, she would ruin you in some way, as she is so -wicked. I therefore threatened to tell the police what Miss Duncan (who -now is Mrs. Snow) told to me--that is, about the midnight meeting with -Mr. Alpenny on the stairs. I insisted that you should be given into my -care, so that I could look after you." - -"And you have done it like a father," said Beatrice, giving him her -hand gently. - -Durban bent down and kissed it, with tears in his eyes. "I have done -my best for your father's sake, missy, and at least I have saved you -from your mother. I would have worked for you, and would have taken you -from Hurstable, but I insisted on getting the diamond necklace which -rightfully belonged to you. But Mr. Alpenny refused to give it up in -spite of all threats, so I arranged that Amelia Hedge should marry him, -and take charge of you. Alpenny promised that when he died he would -leave the money and the diamond necklace to you. But he left the money -to your mother, whom he always loved; and the necklace I got rid of, as -I told you, as I feared for its luck. But it must be got back from your -mother. We will go to her house now." - -By this time they were at Liverpool Street Station, and the -conversation was interrupted for a time. But shortly they were seated -in a cab, as Durban thought he could talk more freely in one than if -the two returned to Kensington by the underground railway. As the -hansom rolled down Ludgate Hill, and on to the Embankment, the old -servant renewed the conversation. - -"We will meet Major Ruck at The Camp, missy, and give him the necklace, -as I don't want you to have it." - -"But could we not break it up and destroy the bad luck?" argued the -girl. "It seems a pity to throw away ten thousand pounds on Major Ruck, -especially as Mr. Paslow needs money." - -"You will have your father's money," said Durban obstinately. "I shall -make your mother give it to you. Of course, as you were thought to be -dead, Lady Watson got the money, and no doubt has spent it. But she -will have to refund it out of Alpenny's legacy. There will be no need -to employ lawyers: I can force her to do what I want." - -"Does she know that--that----" Beatrice hesitated. - -"That I killed Alpenny? No; she does not know that. But she thinks that -I killed my master--as though I would have hurt a hair of his dear -head!" - -"And I don't believe that you killed Alpenny either." - -"Yes I did, missy," said Durban obstinately. "He wanted to make your -life a misery, and I was right to kill him." - -Beatrice said nothing for a few moments. With a white man it would have -been different; but Durban had negro blood in his veins, and did not -look upon murder as a more civilised person would have done. Beatrice -was horrified inwardly, but she controlled herself sufficiently to keep -quiet. After all, Durban had committed the crime for her sake; and much -as she reprobated his wickedness--if wickedness it could be called, to -kill so evil-living a man as the usurer--she could not find it in her -heart to condemn him to the uttermost. - -"How did you kill him?" she asked in a low voice. - -"I did not go to town that night. I returned to see him, and had a -quarrel in the counting-house. He was violent and flew at me. I had a -struggle with him, and killed him. That is all!" he ended with apparent -indifference. - -Durban spoke as though he were saying a lesson. Beatrice looked at him -attentively, and saw that his face had resumed the usual green colour -it always took on when he was excited. The story was plausible enough. -All the same, she did not believe that he was guilty any more than she -believed in the guilt of Vivian. "You are innocent!" she said sharply. -"Don't deny it. You accuse yourself to screen Mr. Paslow." - -"Do you believe that he is guilty?" asked Durban hoarsely. - -"No. I don't care what Waterloo says." - -"What did he say?" - -Beatrice related the whole accusation with the evidence, as detailed by -Waterloo. Durban listened attentively, and wiped his face. "Guilty or -innocent," he said in a strangled voice, "that evidence is sufficient -to hang Mr. Paslow. I am guilty, missy." - -"I don't believe it," retorted Beatrice. "Everything connected with -these matters has been sordid and evil; but that you, who have always -been so kind, should kill even so wicked a man as Mr. Alpenny, is -ridiculous. Nothing will ever make me believe in your guilt. But here -we are," she broke off abruptly; "say nothing more until we have seen -my mother. We will get the necklace, and close the Major's mouth. I -will question Vivian and hear what he has to say." - -"No, no, missy!" - -"Yes, yes!" retorted Beatrice imperiously. "I will not let you, my -oldest friend--my almost father--accuse yourself of a vile crime, when -I know that you would not hurt a fly." - -Durban would have answered, but that they had to alight. The cab was -dismissed, and Durban rang the bell. As Lady Watson proved to be -at home, they were shown up into the drawing-room. The mistress of -the house might have refused herself to Durban, whom she hated, but -the footman said that he had been given orders to admit Miss Hedge -whenever she called. This showed Beatrice two things. Firstly, that her -mother really wanted to see her as often as possible, and might have -some small affection left; and secondly, that she did not intend to -acknowledge her as her daughter, seeing that she had given the servant -the name of Miss Hedge instead of Miss Hall. - -Lady Watson expressed surprise at seeing Durban, and joy at beholding -Beatrice. "You dear girl!" she said, embracing her; "you did make me -so miserable this afternoon. I am just going out to dinner, and can -only give you ten minutes.--I am surprised to see you, Durban." - -"And not very pleased, Mrs. Hall." - -"Give me my title, if you please," said the little woman sharply. "Say -what you have to say, and go away. I wish to speak with my child--the -child of whom you robbed me." - -Durban shrugged his stout shoulders and turned away, while Beatrice -looked at her mother steadily. Lady Watson was arrayed in a very -fashionable dinner-gown worn very low, and her complexion was coloured -to match. Her jewels were many and rich, and conspicuous amongst them -was the diamond necklace which they had come to take away. She really -looked very well in the rose-hued light of the drawing-room, and -wonderfully pretty. No one would have thought that she was the mother -of this noble, sad girl arrayed in deep black. - -"Ten minutes," said Lady Watson, consulting a tiny jewelled watch. "But -you can come to-morrow, darling." - -"I am going down to Hurstable to-morrow," said her daughter coldly--"to -The Camp." - -"The horrid place!" said Lady Watson, fastening her glove. "I shall -sell it, I think." - -"No," said Durban, coming close to her; "you will give it to Miss -Beatrice along with the money she inherits from her father." - -"She inherits nothing." - -"Yes, she does. The money of my dead master was left to you for her -use. She was supposed to be dead----" - -"That was your fault," burst out Lady Watson savagely. - -"And you used the money," went on Durban, as though he had not heard -her speak; "but Mr. Alpenny's legacy will provide funds for you to -restore the money. There is sufficient to give Miss Beatrice two -thousand a year." - -"I won't give her a penny!" said the little woman, setting her teeth -and looking extremely ugly. "I want all my money to myself." - -"You must return this money," said Durban coldly; "and also, this very -moment, you must give back the diamond necklace." - -Lady Watson placed her gloved hand on the jewel which flashed on her -neck. "This?" she gasped. "Never! it is mine. It was bought for me." - -"Quite so, madam," said Durban; "but when the Colonel found that you -were flirting with Major Ruck, he determined to keep it for his child. -By the will--of which I have a copy--Miss Beatrice inherits that -necklace." - -"Child!" said Lady Watson tragically, "will you see your mother robbed -by this--this--this low nigger?" - -"If the necklace is mine, I intend to have it," said Beatrice coldly; -"it is my intention to make some use of it, otherwise I would leave it -to you. I want to have nothing to do with you, Lady Watson." - -Lady Watson dashed the fan she held on the table, and broke it to -pieces. "I am your mother!" - -"No," said Beatrice steadily, "you never loved me, or you would not -have given me into the care of strangers." - -"He made me--he made me," and she pointed to Durban. - -"For the sake of my dead master," said Durban calmly. "Come now, madam, -you must give up the necklace. I will see your lawyer to-morrow about -the transfer of Miss Beatrice's money to herself." - -"I refuse--I refuse!" - -"Take care," said Durban fiercely, and again coming close to her. "I -can make Mrs. Snow tell what she saw on that night." - -"I have told all that to my child," quivered Lady Watson, crying with -fear. - -"But not to the police." - -"The police!" echoed the little woman, growing pale under her carefully -coloured face, and sinking into a chair. - -"Yes. If you did not kill the Colonel, Alpenny did." - -"No. I swear he was with me the whole time: he is as innocent as I am. -You can do nothing." - -"I perhaps cannot prove you guilty," said Durban steadily, "but I can -tell the police what Mrs. Snow saw, and get the whole case into the -papers." - -"Who will care, when the Colonel died so long ago?" - -"His death is evidently connected with this Alpenny crime," said Durban -harshly, "and so the public will be quite glad to read all about the -earlier one. What will your friends say?--who will take your hand when -he or she knows what I have to tell about that midnight meeting, and of -your projected elopement with the notorious Major Ruck?" - -Lady Watson trembled and burst into tears, which, streaming down her -face, aged her in a few minutes. "Beatrice, what am I to do?" she wept. - -"Give up the necklace," said the girl, keeping aloof--she could not -find it in her heart to pity a mother who had behaved so badly to her -child, a wife who had tricked her husband so often--"then we will leave -you, and say nothing." - -"But if I give up the necklace, will you come and see me?" - -"Yes," said Beatrice with an effort; "after all, you are my mother." - -"You horrid girl! you are just like your father. Oh, well, if I am -to be blackmailed by an unnatural child and a nigger, I must pay the -price, and you may be glad that I don't give you both in charge." - -Durban crossed to the bell. "I will ring if you like. There is a -constable outside." - -"No!" shrieked Lady Watson, and unfastened the necklace with trembling -fingers. Durban took it from her in silence, and then she rallied -sufficiently to rage. "You horrible black creature!" she cried, "you -have stolen my property, and have turned from me the heart of my dear -child. Go away, I hate the sight of you." - -"Come, missy," said Durban, holding open the door. - -"Yes, go--go, Beatrice. You've made me quite ill. I shan't enjoy my -dinner a bit to-night, and there is such a good cook. I'll have to -look after my face again--it's quite ruined." She tripped to the mirror -and looked in perfectly calmly. While she did this Beatrice, sad at -heart at such frivolity under such circumstances, withdrew with Durban, -and they took their way to Mrs. Quail's hotel. - -"I'm glad you saved me from my mother, Durban," was all the girl said; -but in the seclusion of her bedroom she wept bitterly. In those days, -at that moment, the world was very grey and dismal. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXV -WATERLOO - - -Having finished her business in London, Beatrice returned to Hurstable -with Durban. They went back to The Camp, as the girl did not wish -to again take up her abode in Convent Grange until her relations -with Vivian Paslow were more settled. What Major Ruck meant by his -mysterious hints, she could not imagine, but deep in her heart she -cherished a hope that everything would yet be made smooth, and that all -these troubles which desolated her life would be finally ended by her -marriage with the man she loved. - -It may seem strange that she should dwell at The Camp along with one -who had confessed himself guilty of a terrible crime. But Beatrice, -as she had said in London, and repeated frequently afterwards, did -not believe Durban to be guilty. In an excess of zeal, and in order -to secure her happiness, he professed himself to be the criminal. Had -Waterloo and Major Ruck not accused Vivian, the girl felt very certain -that Durban would not have accused himself. The man still insisted that -he was guilty, and Beatrice still refused to believe him. After much -thought she determined to give Vivian a chance of clearing himself, and -believed that could he prove his innocence, Durban would not proceed -with his self-sacrifice. With this in her mind, she wrote a note to -Paslow the day after she arrived at The Camp. Durban was not with her -at the time, as he had gone to the station to get the newspapers. -It was necessary to see if the Black Patch Gang's quarters had been -raided, and if Major Ruck had been arrested; if so, the appointment -which the Major had made for the next evening at seven need not be kept. - -Paslow, looking anxious and eager, arrived about three in the -afternoon, and with him came Dinah. Without giving her brother time to -speak, the girl flew at Beatrice and kissed her several times. - -"Oh, Beatrice, I have such heaps and heaps to tell you," she gasped, -with a flushed face and very bright eyes. "Jerry and I are going to be -married in three months." - -"That is indeed good news," said Beatrice cordially, and did not -seek to stop the flow of Miss Paslow's confidences. After the sordid -scoundrels with whom she had been mixed up lately she was more than -delighted to be in the company of this homely, honest maiden, and to -hear her artless prattle. Vivian cast an inquiring look at Beatrice, as -he was anxious to know how she had sped with Lady Watson, and could not -understand why she had returned with Durban. But the girl merely smiled -to reassure him, although she felt far from smiling, and demanded the -news from Dinah. That damsel was only too glad to lead the conversation. - -"It's this way," she declared, sitting down, and breathing hard: "Jerry -has had his salary raised, and we'll have enough to rent a tweeny house -at Fulham, or Bedford Park, or somewhere nice. Jerry is writing a -novel, and I'm going to help him. And Mr. Snow has been made a Dean of -some place in Wales." - -"I am glad to hear that," said Beatrice quickly, for she thought that -this preferment would remove Mrs. Snow from the neighbourhood--a thing -devoutly to be wished for, since the woman disliked her. - -"So am I, because Mr. Snow will get a large salary; and, in spite of -Mrs. Snow (who is a cat!), Mr. Snow intends to allow Jerry and me one -hundred a year. Vivian (who is a dear!) intends to allow me the same, -so what with this and Jerry's salary we'll have about four or five -hundred a year to begin life on. I really don't know if I am standing -on my head or my heels," cried Dinah, clapping her hands, and with her -freckled face aglow with lively joy. - -"So you see, Beatrice," said Vivian, with a smile on his dark face, -"her happiness and life are settled. She will marry Jerry, and help him -to become the Shakespeare of his generation." - -"Oh no. Shakespeare only wrote plays!" said Dinah contemptuously. -"Or was it Bacon? Jerry is to write novels, like Thackeray or George -Eliot--but she was a woman, wasn't she? We'll be so happy; and I intend -to furnish the drawing-room in cherry-colour, which always----" - -"My dear Dinah," said Vivian impatiently, "can't you leave these minor -details to some future occasion?" - -"Ah! wait till you and Beatrice consult about the refurnishing of the -Grange," said Dinah reprovingly; "then you'll find how important all -these things are. Mr. and Mrs. Snow go to Wales in a month, Beatrice, -and I shan't be sorry. I want to be miles and miles away from my -future mother-in-law. But I must go." Dinah rose in a hurry. "I am -on my way to the station to meet Jerry. I only called in to tell you -how delicious everything is. Good-bye, good-bye!" and Dinah, kissing -Beatrice twice, took herself off rapidly, while Vivian shrugged his -shoulders. - -"What a whirlwind in petticoats!" said he good-humouredly. - -"I am glad she is to be happy with her lover," said Beatrice in a -pensive manner. "And I am also glad," she added, looking attentively at -Paslow, "to know that Mrs. Snow is leaving the neighbourhood." - -"So am I," said Paslow, with a sigh. "That woman hates you, Beatrice." - -"She cannot do me any harm," replied the girl, and then looked again at -Vivian. She noted with a pang how worn and thin he appeared: noted also -that there were white hairs amongst his thick black locks. "My poor -boy," she said tenderly, "you have suffered!" - -Vivian looked at her in a startled way, and put out his hand as though -to keep her off. "Don't," he said hoarsely, "or else I shall forget -myself and take you in my arms." - -"Vivian"--she touched his arm and he winced, with a flush of colour, at -the tenderness--"we may come together after all." - -"Beatrice!" he said breathlessly, then dropped the hand which he had -seized. "You know who stands between us." - -"She may not always stand between us, Vivian." - -"What! Is she dead?" - -"No. But Major Ruck---- Wait, Vivian; let us sit down and talk. I have -much to tell you, dear." - -"Yes, yes. Sit here!" Vivian hurriedly led her towards a garden seat -near the battered sundial, and fixing his eyes on her tired face, -waited impatiently for what she had to say. But Beatrice did not begin -at once: she wanted to startle him into telling the truth. - -"Major Ruck and Waterloo both accuse you of killing Alpenny," she said -bluntly, and looking straightly at him. - -Vivian jumped up with a suppressed oath. "What a lie!" - -"Tell me," she said quickly--"tell me exactly what you did on that -night." - -"I have told you. I caught Waterloo and kicked him; then I looked for -you, and not finding you, went home. Next morning I called to see how -you were getting on, and gave the key of the smaller gate to Durban, -who hung it up in the counting-house, as he told you." - -"You were not near this place on that night?" - -"No. I swear I was not." - -Beatrice saw from his earnest, puzzled look that he really spoke the -truth. Without wasting further time in skirting round the subject, she -related what had taken place at the Black Patch Gang's den in Stepney. -Vivian listened with growing surprise, and jumping up, began to walk -backwards and forwards, much agitated. When she had finished, he -stopped before her with an angry air. - -"The whole story is a lie!" he declared decisively. "I certainly caught -Waterloo, and kicked him: he certainly threatened me with a very -ugly-looking knife; but he got away before I could take it off him. I -wish I had found it before I tied his hands." - -"You tied his hands?" - -"Yes, with my handkerchief." - -Beatrice rose suddenly, and caught her lover's arm with so much force -that he winced. "What is it?" he asked, puzzled by her look. - -"Did--did--Waterloo get away with the handkerchief?" - -"Yes. I knocked him down and tied his hands. I was going away, when he -got rid of the handkerchief, and ran at me with a knife. I dodged him, -and then tried to seize him again; but he showed no more fight, and ran -away. He held the handkerchief in one hand and the knife in another." - -"Vivian," cried Beatrice, with a pale face, "Waterloo killed Mr. -Alpenny!--yes, he killed him, I am certain." - -"What do you mean? How can you explain?" - -"Listen. I found your handkerchief soaking in the blood of Alpenny, and -lying near the body in the counting-house yonder. I thought for the -moment that you were guilty. I spoke to Durban, and he told me that you -had given him the handkerchief--no, that wasn't it. He said that you -had left the handkerchief behind when you quarrelled with Mr. Alpenny, -when you last met him." - -"I never did. And----" - -"Wait, wait. Of course you didn't. To save my feelings Durban told a -lie." - -"Why didn't you speak to me?" - -"I didn't think of doing so; you explained about the key. I forgot, -I suppose, with all the troubles that we had. But you can see now: -this man, Waterloo, had the knife, he had the handkerchief, and he was -a member of the Black Patch Gang. Alpenny, because he betrayed the -Gang, was condemned to death, and Waterloo is the man whom Major Ruck -called the executioner. He left you to return to The Camp and kill Mr. -Alpenny; then he escaped by the secret passage." - -Vivian walked about in an excited manner. "By Jupiter! Beatrice, I do -believe that you are right. We'll have the little beast arrested." - -"I dare say, if the police have raided the Stepney den, that he has -already been arrested. Oh, how I wish those papers would come!" - -"What papers?" - -"The daily newspapers. Durban went to the station to get them, as we -expect to read about the raid. And I want to clear your character--so -that Durban's life may be saved." - -"What do you mean?" asked Vivian, utterly puzzled. - -"He accuses himself of the crime to clear you. He knows that I love -you, and, thinking your loss would break my heart, intended to answer -for you." - -"But I have not committed any crime." - -"No. But the Major and Waterloo can build up an accusation against you; -it will be difficult to disprove, and----" - -"It will not be difficult," said Vivian determinedly; "the -handkerchief will prove Waterloo's guilt. Does Durban believe that I am -the guilty person?" - -"I think so, or he would not take the guilt upon himself." - -"Then I forgive his doubts of me, because he is so ready to take my -supposed crime on his own shoulders. But do you believe me to----" - -"Vivian"--she stretched out her hands--"I never have believed you to be -guilty. You know that; and now we both know the truth--Waterloo is the -criminal." - -"And Waterloo will soon be in the hands of the police. Beatrice, I -shall go and see the constable at Hurstable. He will send for the -Inspector who had charge of the case. We'll tell him everything, and -when Major Ruck comes here to-morrow at seven, he can be arrested." - -"But he is not guilty?" - -"He is an accomplice. Waterloo apparently killed Alpenny by his -order--and, indeed, the Major probably was present at the time, since -he admits himself to have been the man you saw leaving The Camp. -I shall go at once. Wait here, Beatrice; I'll come back with the -constable. And meantime, when Durban returns with the papers, you can -see if the Gang's den has been raided." - -"Yes, yes. Go at once!" - -The face of Beatrice was aglow with joy, and she went with her lover to -the great gates, which now usually stood wide open. And she had every -cause for joy. They now knew that Waterloo was the assassin who had -murdered old Alpenny. Vivian was guiltless, and so was Durban, who, to -save the tears of his young mistress, had so nobly taken upon himself -the burden of shame. When Vivian departed post-haste to see the village -constable, and to put all things in train for the capture of Major Ruck -and his accomplices, Beatrice walked to and fro much excited. - -"Dear Durban, good Durban!" she murmured again and again. "What a -friend he has been to me! But there will be no need for this sacrifice. -Vivian's character can be cleared, and then----" She hesitated, and -wondered again if Major Ruck could fulfil his promise and remove the -obstacle to her marriage with Vivian. She could not think of how this -could be done, save by the death of Maud Paslow; and yet she did -not think that Ruck, villain as he was, would kill a woman. All the -same, he had certainly killed Alpenny through the instrumentality of -Waterloo. "I must give Major Ruck the necklace in any case," said -Beatrice, quite forgetting that when Vivian told the police, Ruck -would need no necklace and would be in the dock. She went to her -bedroom-carriage and got out the necklace, which flashed bravely in the -sun. It was certainly a magnificent ornament, and Beatrice was woman -enough to regret parting with it, especially to such a scamp as the -Major. However, as she recollected Vivian's errand, it might be that it -would not need to be given up. "But then," she thought, "if Major Ruck -is arrested, he will certainly not forward my marriage with Vivian, as -out of revenge he will hold his tongue." - -With the necklace in her hand, she went across to the counting-house -carriage in order to make a packet of it and seal it up. The place -was chill and dismal in its desolation. Beatrice closed the door and -seated herself at the desk, looking about for a sufficiently thick -sheet of paper in which to wrap the jewel. Hardly had she found one -when she heard a grating noise, and turned her head to see the sheet -of galvanised tin, upon which stood the stove, slip aside. The next -moment, and she saw the red head of Waterloo protrude from the hole. - -"You!" cried Beatrice, starting to her feet, and her blood ran cold -when she thought of what the reptile had done. - -"Yuss," said Waterloo, who looked haggard and white. "The Major is -after me. I cut away from Stepney when the plaice was raided by the -perlice. The Major cove got away too, and has been follering me. He -come down by the saime train----" - -"He is here?" cried Beatrice interrogatively, bending forward. - -She had the necklace dangling from her hand, and in bending down it was -brought within reach of Waterloo. He snatched at it at once and growled -like a dog over a bone. "Yuss," he said hoarsely, while the girl -remained paralysed by his sudden move; "he's after this, and me. He's -goin' to kill me, becas I set the peelers on to the Gang. But he'll not -come by this passage, and I'll slip away. Don't you give the alarm, -miss, or I'll cut your throat." - -"The same as you did Mr. Alpenny's?" - -"Ho! you knows that, does you?" yelped Waterloo. "Yuss, I did; an' I'll -kill you if----" - -Beatrice ran to the door and opened it. "Help! help!" she cried, not -thinking of the mad thing she was doing to provoke this murderer to -wrath. There was no help near--The Camp was completely isolated, and -unless Durban came back at once, or Vivian returned, she was at the -mercy of this wild beast in the lonely place. Waterloo apparently -guessed that he could do what he liked, for he made a spring to get out -of the passage. As he did so he was pulled back, and gave a yell of -alarm. - -"Oh lor', who's got me? 'Elp! 'elp! Ah! ow--ow--it's the -Major--it's----" Here he was pulled out of sight. Apparently the -Major, on the track of the man who had betrayed him, had entered the -secret passage also, and was pulling the traitor down into the depths. -Beatrice stared at the gaping black hole, and heard sounds of snarling -and worrying and swearing and fighting going on in the bowels of the -earth. Suddenly she heard the shriek of a man in mortal agony. With an -effort she opened wide the counting-house door, anxious only to escape -from the horrible place; but as the sunshine streamed on her face, -everything seemed to grow black round her, and she fell down in a dead -faint. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI -WHAT TOOK PLACE - - -It was quite two months before Beatrice Hall recovered sufficiently -to hear after-events. For a long time she remained unconscious, and -then came to herself only to suffer from a severe attack of brain -fever. The poor girl had gone through so much--she had borne up with -such bravery--that the long-continued strain had sapped her strength, -and she was seriously ill for weeks. Even when she recovered her -reason--which she did, owing to the careful and assiduous nursing -of Vivian and his sister--the doctor would not allow her to be told -anything. And, indeed, Beatrice did not seem anxious to hear: it -appeared as though her mind was a blank. All she cared to do was to lie -on her bed, and listen to Vivian reading some soothing book. - -Dr. Herman (the same who had examined the corpse of Alpenny, and -had given evidence at the inquest) was her medical attendant, -and he conducted the treatment with great care. With such a -delicately-balanced brain as Beatrice possessed, and after she had -undergone such terrible experiences, the doctor seemed to be doubtful -if she would be quite sane when she got back her physical strength. -He went about with a grave face, and Vivian's heart was wrung with -anguish as he thought of what might happen. It seemed terrible that he -should, for once, have a chance of happiness with the woman he loved, -only to find that she would suffer from something worse than death. In -those long days of suspense Vivian turned more to God than he had ever -done before in his careless life. And God rewarded his faith. Slowly -but surely Beatrice recovered, and when the doctor permitted her to be -taken on to the terrace in the mild autumn weather, the peace and fresh -air completed her cure. She felt her brain becoming much steadier, and -again began to take an interest in life. But always she desired to -have Vivian by her side, and was never so happy as when he sat beside -her couch holding her hand. In two months she was quite her old self, -although paler and thinner. But the troubles she had passed through -left their marks on her lovely face and in her sad eyes. - -"Let me tell her everything now," Vivian urged to Dr. Herman one day; -"she is beginning to ask questions, and will not be satisfied with -being put off with vague replies." - -"Ah," said the doctor with much satisfaction, "she is asking questions, -is she? Then you can take it from me, Mr. Paslow, that she will recover -completely. It is that renewed interest in life which I wished to see. -Wait for a week, and then she will be strong enough to hear what you -have to say. But when she once knows," added the doctor, raising his -finger gravely, "never let her hear of the subject again." - -"Never, never!" said Vivian, with a shudder, as he also was only too -anxious to bury the past which had tormented him for so long. And then -he went to tell the joyful news to Durban. - -Needless to say, Durban also had been watching everlastingly beside the -couch and bed of the creature whom he held dearest on earth. He was -like a dog, and when not within the sick-room would lie on the mat at -the door. When he heard that his dear young mistress was out of danger, -he almost went out of his mind, and vehemently embraced Mrs. Lilly, -much to the indignation of that portly female. But when she saw his -dog-like devotion, she forgave that exuberant expression of the man's -feelings. - -So things slowly worked themselves out to a joyful issue. Beatrice -was told that in a few days she would be informed of all that had -taken place since she fainted in the counting-house, and obeyed the -orders of Vivian that, until the time came, she was not to ask any -questions. Then one glorious autumn day, when the sun was shining with -a summer-like force, and everything seemed to revive under its royal -beams, Vivian carried her down the stairs as usual and out on to the -terrace. Here, in her favourite nook, she rested contentedly on a soft -couch, and a small table was placed beside her. Dinah and Jerry, who -were also faithful attendants, hovered round with shawls and rugs and -reviving drinks, and such-like things. When Beatrice was comfortably -established, she took Vivian's hand softly. - -"How good it is to be loved!" she said sweetly. - -"Who could help loving you, my own?" said Paslow tenderly. "We are all -your slaves here." - -"Where is Durban?" - -"He will come shortly. And Dinah and Jerry can go away?" - -"Why?" demanded Dinah quickly, and rather offended. - -"Because Dr. Herman says that I can tell Beatrice everything, and it -will be better that we should be alone." - -"Oh, Vivian"--the face of the invalid flushed a rose colour--"am I to -know everything now?" - -"Yes"--he bent down and kissed her--"as a reward for obedience. Then -Durban will come and see you; and Jerry can escort Dinah back, unless -they forget us in love-making." - -"Well," said Jerry very shrewdly, and taking Dinah's hand, "I expect -you really won't want us, as you will be love-making yourselves. -Besides, I have to read a letter to Dinah." - -"From your mother?" asked Dinah rather nervously. - -"From my father. He is now settled comfortably in Wales, and likes -everything immensely, and----" - -"Oh, come away," interrupted Dinah, tugging him by the hand; "don't -give me the gist of the letter here. Can't you see that Beatrice and -Vivian are dying to be alone? And I want to consult you again about -that study of ours. I really don't think that green hangings will suit -your complexion, and then--" Here Dinah dragged the willing Jerry down -the shallow steps and across the lawn, babbling all the time of their -future home. - -Beatrice, left alone with Vivian, put out her hand, and heaved a sigh -of pleasure when she felt his warm fingers close on that frail member. -A thrill ran through her, and everything she beheld before her seemed -to take on a brighter hue, because the man she loved was beside her. -Yet as she felt his touch and looked into his bright face--for bright -it seemed, though sadly worn and thin--a recollection of the barrier -between them disturbed her pleasant thoughts. - -"Why do you wish to take your hand away?" asked Vivian, as he felt her -exert a weak strength. - -"Your--your--wife," faltered Beatrice faintly. - -"You are to be my wife, dearest," he answered gravely. "No," in reply -to her startled look, "Maud is not dead. But she never was my wife." - -"Vivian! She said that she was." - -"Of course, to gain her own ends. But she is really the wife of Major -Ruck: she married him when she first went to town. I believe old -Alpenny arranged the marriage, as Major Ruck being a member of his -Gang, he wished to secure so clever a woman as Maud also." - -"Is this true?" - -"Perfectly true; so you can leave your hand in mine for ever." - -"That would be a long time," said Beatrice, with a weak laugh of joy. -But all the same she allowed her little white hand to rest within -Vivian's, and then looked at him inquiringly. - -"You wish to ask how we found out?" said Paslow, smiling. "Easily -enough. Major Ruck redeemed his promise, and removed the obstacle to -our marriage by leaving on the desk in the counting-house a certificate -of marriage between himself and Maud Orchard. We--that is, Durban and -myself--went to the church where the marriage was solemnised, and found -that the certificate was genuine. Major Ruck and Maud Orchard were man -and wife some months before I came on the scene, and she entrapped me -into that unhappy marriage." - -"But what was Major Ruck doing in the counting-house?" said Beatrice, -puzzled. "He was not due until the next evening at seven." - -"You forget, my darling, what has happened. Waterloo----" - -"Yes, yes! I remember now," cried Beatrice, half raising herself in her -excitement. "He was coming out to kill me with that horrible knife, -when someone pulled him down, and I fainted." - -"It was the Major who pulled him down," said Vivian, gently pushing her -back. "Be calm, Beatrice, and I'll tell you everything." - -"But I remember a lot," she insisted. "Waterloo said that the den at -Stepney had been raided, and that he had got away--the Major also. Then -because he knew--the Major, I mean--that Waterloo had betrayed the -Gang, he followed him down to kill him." - -"The Major did not kill him, however, darling. Waterloo was----" - -"Wait a moment, Vivian," she entreated. "I want to see how much I -remember. Waterloo said that the Major had followed him down by the -same train. I suppose the Major came by the secret passage----" - -Vivian placed his arms round her so that her head could rest on his -breast. "Darling, darling, you must allow me to speak. What you say -is true, and you have remembered much. Major Ruck was after Waterloo -to kill him, because of his treachery. How he found that the man was -coming to Hurstable I do not know. But the den was certainly raided: -Tuft and the doctor who attended my wife's double are in custody--the -Gang is broken up. The police have examined Durban and myself, and -everything has been made clear. While you have been ill the newspapers -have been full of the business, and Jerry Snow has made quite a -reputation in writing sensational articles." - -"Go on," said Beatrice, much interested. - -"I will, if it will not excite you too much." - -"No, no; I am perfectly calm. Feel my pulse, dear." - -Vivian did so, and caressed her fondly. "Speak as little as you can, -my dear," he said softly, and then continued his story. "Waterloo knew -that Ruck would kill him if he could, and never thinking that the Major -would suspect his coming to The Camp--into the jaws of the lion, as it -were--he came down here, and the Major--as Waterloo told you--followed -him." - -"Waterloo got the necklace?" said Beatrice, thinking with an effort. - -"He did for a time; but the Major has it now. Hush, dear! The Major, -as he wanted to escape, could not wait until the next evening to see -you. He came down at once, or perhaps he followed Waterloo. However, -he tracked him to The Camp, and saw him go down the secret passage. -Ruck went down also, and listened below while Waterloo was talking to -you. He knew or guessed that he had the necklace, and when Waterloo was -about to kill you--which he would have done in that deserted Camp--the -Major saved you by pulling Waterloo into the passage. Waterloo fought -like a wild cat, I believe--at least he says that he did----" - -"What! Did Waterloo confess?" - -"On his dying bed he did." - -"Is he dead, then?" - -"Quite dead. God punished him. Do listen, my own. Waterloo fought, -not only for his life but for the necklace. But Ruck, as you know, -is a big man of great strength. He dragged him along the passage and -strove to strangle him. Waterloo tried to use his knife, but could not -do so at first. Then Ruck secured the necklace, and Waterloo made a -violent effort to strike. To escape the wound, Ruck threw him as far -as he could along the passage. Waterloo struck against the brickwork, -and tried to rise. But the passage as you know, Beatrice, was in bad -repair; the blow loosened the earth overhead where it was not bricked -in, and a mass of earth fell which buried Waterloo under it. Then -Ruck, seeing that the villain was punished, entered the counting-house -and found you insensible. He did not wait to revive you, as he knew -that the police were on his track; he simply left on the desk the -certificate of his marriage with Maud Orchard, and bolted." - -"Where has he gone?" - -"I can't tell you that. But he vanished, and his wife Maud has vanished -also. They managed to get a boat at Brighton, and rowed out at night to -a passing tramp. It seems that the captain was in the pay of the Black -Patch Gang to take the stolen goods abroad. However, the steamer was -waiting off-shore, and Ruck escaped with his wife and the necklace in -that way. Nothing has been heard of him up to date, and I don't expect -anything ever will be heard of the two. Maud is clever, and so is her -rightful husband, so I expect, now that they have money, they will live -in some tropical clime in the odour of sanctity. At all events, my -darling, they have passed out of our lives." - -"Thank God for that!" said Beatrice fervently. "And Waterloo?" - -"Durban came back and tried to revive you. I returned with the -constable, and saw that something terrible had taken place. While -Durban and Dinah took you back to Convent Grange, I and the constable -searched. We went down the secret passage, as we found the trap in the -counting-house open. We heard groans, and got some men to dig Waterloo -out. He was taken to the Brighton Hospital, and Inspector Jones--who -had to do with the inquest, you remember?--was sent for. Waterloo made -a full confession." - -"About Alpenny's murder?" - -"Yes, and about the doings of the Black Patch Gang. You were right, -my dear. Waterloo was the member Ruck called the executioner, and I -will not shock your feelings by telling you how many people the wretch -murdered. But he killed Alpenny almost in the way he accused me of -killing him. That is, he went back to The Camp and there met Ruck. They -entered through the large gates, and Alpenny, dressed for his flight, -came out. He cried for mercy, but Waterloo cut his throat." - -Beatrice shivered. "Don't tell me any more." - -"Only this, darling--that Waterloo gave Ruck my handkerchief, and he -placed it near the body to incriminate me. Ruck walked to Brighton -after making an ineffectual search for the necklace--which was the real -reason for the crime; and Waterloo escaped by the secret passage and -loafed up to London as a tramp." - -"And Durban?" - -"He arrived later, and found Alpenny dead. He told you all about that. -He then found the necklace and placed it on the sheep's neck, to get -rid of it for ever. He returned the next morning pretending to know -nothing, as he was fearful lest he should be accused." - -"Then Ruck was the man I saw at the gate?" - -"Yes. He wore the black patch over the left eye, as a member of the -Gang. That is their mark--or rather it was, as the Gang is now but a -name. Those caught have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, -although Ruck and Maud have escaped, and Waterloo is dead." - -"The Black Patch?" mused Beatrice. "Vivian," she added suddenly, "did -Waterloo kill my father?" - -"He did," said Vivian quickly. "I thought you would guess that. It -seems that Alpenny found out about your mother's intended elopement, -and told Ruck that he would prevent it unless he got the necklace. -As that was all Ruck wanted--for he had no love for your mother--he -induced Waterloo to try and steal it, promising him a share. Waterloo -assumed the black patch so that, if possible, the blame might be put on -to Alpenny." - -"How do you mean?" - -"Waterloo threw away the patch when he escaped, so that Alpenny, if the -doings of the Gang ever came to light, might be suspected." - -"I see. Go on, Vivian; I am much interested." - -"I hope it is not too much for you, dearest," said Paslow earnestly. -"But to make a long story short, Waterloo entered by the window and -tried to steal the green box, where Ruck had told him the necklace -was placed. The box, however, was chained to the bed. The noise that -Waterloo made woke your father; but before any struggle could take -place, and while the Colonel was but half awake, Waterloo sprang on him -and cut his throat. Then while he was trying to wrench open the green -box and get the necklace, he heard voices." - -"Those of my mother and Alpenny?" - -"Yes. But they spoke so low that he did not know who they were, or he -might have remained. As it was he ran away, fearful of being caught. -He dropped the black patch to incriminate Alpenny, as I told you. Next -day Ruck learned that Alpenny had the necklace, and how he had forced -it from Mrs. Hall--that is from Lady Watson, your mother. The rest you -know." - -"How terrible!" said Beatrice with a sigh. "And my mother?" - -"She saw the police, and substantiated Waterloo's dying confession. But -the police acquit her of complicity in the crime. However, although as -little as possible was published in the papers, she has gone to the -Continent, and talks of entering a convent. And I hope she will like -it," ended Vivian grimly. - -"I am not sorry, for I never could have loved her, Vivian. But she is -my mother after all, so I shall see her when we go abroad." - -"You shall do what you like, dearest. We will be married as soon as -possible and go to Italy for a year." - -"Can you afford it, Vivian?" - -"You can," he said, laughing. "Don't you know that you have two -thousand a year inherited from your father? Lady Watson had spent it, -but at Durban's request she refunded it out of Alpenny's legacy. We -will not be rich, dearest, but we will be able to pay off the mortgage -and restore the Grange, and live a quiet life together." - -"That is all I wish for," said Beatrice, putting her arms round his -neck. "I want peace after all this storm." - -"You will have, darling," said Vivian, kissing her; "but we will first -go abroad so that your cure may be completed. Jerry and Dinah will be -married on the same day as ourselves." - -"Not by Mr. Snow?" said Beatrice, shuddering. "I have no grudge against -him: but his wife----" - -"She cannot harm you, dear, now. The police gave Mrs. Snow a pretty -talking to for withholding the evidence she could have given. She is a -very subdued woman now, and, I think, is glad to bury herself in Wales -as the wife of that rural Dean, Mr. Snow. He will be master in his own -house at last, for he knows so much about her that she will not dare to -contradict him." - -"And Durban?" - -"Here he comes. Durban, come here." - -The half-caste, his face shining with joy, rolled towards them as -stout as ever in spite of his grief. At the expression on the face -of his young mistress he stopped short. "She knows?" he asked Vivian -timorously. - -"Everything," said Beatrice, before Vivian could speak. "And I thank -God, Durban, for having given me such a friend!" - -"Missy, I loved your father." He dropped on his knees beside the couch -and took her hand. "And you do not blame me for having kept you in -ignorance?" - -"No. The situation was a difficult one. You and Mr. Paslow here were -both surrounded by rogues and many dangers. And all your concealments -and reluctant confessions were made to save me anxiety, so I thank you, -my dear friend, for your kindness I knew you were a good man, even when -you accused yourself to save Vivian." - -"I could not let him be hanged when you loved him," said Durban, -hanging his head. - -"You see, Beatrice," said Vivian, smiling, "it is only of you that -Durban thinks. I am nowhere." - -"When you marry Miss Beatrice," said Durban, rising, with a grave -smile, "you will be one with her, and I'll love you both equally. I -know you will be happy, missy. After much storm has come the sunshine." - -"And that," said Vivian gaily, "will endure for the rest of our lives." - -Beatrice took the old servant's hand. "There is only one thing to -settle," she said sweetly: "Durban is to give me to you at the altar." - -"Oh, missy--me--no--no--a black--a half black!" - -"You are a whole white," said Vivian quickly, and taking the good old -fellow's other hand. "Beatrice is right. You have stood to her in -the place of her father and mother, and you have shielded her from a -thousand dangers. You shall come to the wedding and give your treasure -to me." - -"Sir--missy----" Durban could say nothing more; his eyes filled with -tears and he hastily retreated. - -"Joyful tears, good old soul!" said Vivian, again gathering Beatrice -to his breast. "He'll come and live with us, Beatrice, and we'll turn -that horrible Camp into a jungle. Never more will we talk of the past, -and--and----" - -"Vivian, Vivian! How you run on!" - -"I am too happy to be sensible. What are those birds we hear singing, -saying, my sweetest?" - -"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!" was the unexpected answer -of Beatrice. - -Vivian's face grew grave. "I think we will, and now," he said; and with -his future wife in his arms he breathed a prayer of thankfulness to the -merciful Father who had brought them both to a safe haven. - - - - - -THE END - - - - - -PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., EDINBURGH. - - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Patch, by Fergus Hume - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 55305 *** diff --git a/old/55305-8.txt b/old/55305-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1f995fb..0000000 --- a/old/55305-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10445 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Patch, by Fergus Hume - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Black Patch - -Author: Fergus Hume - -Release Date: August 8, 2017 [EBook #55305] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK PATCH *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by -Google Books (University of Wisconsin--Madison) - - - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - 1. Page Scan Source: Google Books - https://books.google.com/books?id=f0g2AQAAMAAJ - (University of Wisconsin--Madison) - - - - - - - -The Black Patch - - - - - - - -By the same Author - - -THE SILENT HOUSE IN PIMLICO -THE CRIMSON CRYPTOGRAM -THE BISHOP'S SECRET -THE JADE EYE -THE TURNPIKE HOUSE -A TRAITOR IN LONDON -THE GOLDEN WANG-HO -WOMAN THE SPHINX -THE SECRET PASSAGE -THE LONELY CHURCH -THE OPAL SERPENT -THE SILVER BULLET - - - - -JOHN LONG, Publisher, London - - - - - - - -The Black Patch - - - - -By -Fergus Hume -Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc. - - - - - -London -John Long -13 and 14 Norris Street, Haymarket - - -[All rights reserved] - - - - - - - -First Published in 1906 - - - - - - - -CONTENTS -CHAP. - -1. -IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. -2. -THE HINTS OF DURBAN. -3. -MR. ALPENNY'S PROPOSAL. -4. -SEEN IN THE LIGHTNING. -5. -MRS. SNOW'S DISCOVERY. -6. -THE INQUEST. -7. -THE INQUEST--continued. -8. -THE WILL. -9. -LADY WATSON. -10. -MRS. LILLY'S STORY. -11. -MAJOR RUCK. -12. -VIVIAN EXPLAINS. -13. -THE EX-BUTLER. -14. -MRS. SNOW'S PAST. -15. -A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE. -16. -AN INTERRUPTION. -17. -A STORY OF THE PAST. -18. -WHAT ORCHARD KNEW. -19. -DURBAN SPEAKS AT LAST. -20. -A GREAT SURPRISE. -21. -LADY WATSON'S STORY. -22. -REVELATION. -23. -NEMESIS. -24. -THE NECKLACE. -25. -WATERLOO. -26. -WHAT TOOK PLACE. - - - - - - - -The Black Patch - - - - - -CHAPTER I -IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN - - -"Of course he's a wretch, dear; but oh!"--with an ecstatic -expression--"what a nice wretch!" - -"I see; you marry the adjective." - -"The man, Beatrice, the man. Give me a real man and I ask for nothing -better. But the genuine male is so difficult to find nowadays." - -"Really! Then you have been more successful than the majority." - -"How sarcastic, how unfriendly! I did look for sympathy." - -Beatrice embraced her companion affectionately. "You have it, Dinah. I -give all sympathy and all good wishes to yourself and Jerry. May you be -very happy as Mr. and Mrs. Snow!" - -"Oh, we shall, we shall! Jerry would make an undertaker happy!" - -"Undertakers generally are--when business is good." - -"Oh! you are quite too up-to-date in your talk, Beatrice Hedge." - -"That is strange, seeing how I live in a dull country garden like a -snail, or a cabbage." - -"Like a wild rose, dear. At least Vivian would say so." - -"Mr. Paslow says more than he means," responded Beatrice, blushing -redder than the flower mentioned, "and I dare say Jerry does also." - -"No, dear. Jerry hasn't sufficient imagination." - -"He ought to have, being a journalist." - -"Those are the very people who never imagine anything. They find their -facts on every hedge." - -"Is that an unworthy pun on my name?" - -"Certainly not, Miss Hedge," said the other with dignity; "Jerry -shan't find anything on you, or in you, save a friend, else I shall -be horribly jealous. As to Vivian, he would murder his future -brother-in-law if he caught him admiring you; and I don't want to begin -my married life with a corpse." - -"Naturally. You wisely prefer the marriage service to the burial ditto, -my clever Dinah." - -"I'm not clever, and I really don't know how to answer your sharp -speeches, seeing that I am a plain country girl." - -"Not plain--oh! not plain. Jerry doesn't think so, I'm sure." - -"It's very sweet and flattering of Jerry, but he's mercifully -colour-blind and short-sighted. I am plain, with a pug nose, drab -hair, freckles, and teeny-weeny eyes. You are the reverse, Beatrice, -being all that is lovely--quite a gem." - -"Don't tell my father that I am any sort of jewel," remarked Beatrice -dryly, "else he will want to sell me at an impossible price." - -Dinah laughed, but did not reply. Her somewhat flighty brain could -not concentrate itself sufficiently to grasp the subtle conversation -of Miss Hedge, so she threw herself back on the mossy stone seat and -stared between half-closed eyelids at the garden. This was necessary, -for the July sunshine blazed down on a mass of colour such as is -rarely seen in sober-hued England. The garden might have been that of -Eden, as delineated by Martin or Doré, from the tropical exuberance -of flower and leaf. But the buildings scattered about this pleasance -were scarcely of the primitive type which Adam and his spouse would -have inhabited: rather were they expressions of a late and luxurious -civilisation. - -And again, they could scarcely be called buildings in the accepted -sense of the word, as they had been constructed to run on iron rails, -at the tail of a locomotive. To be plain, seven railway carriages, with -their wheels removed, did duty for dwellings, and very odd they looked -amidst surroundings alien to their original purpose. A Brixton villa -would scarcely have seemed more out of place in the Desert of Sahara. - -Placed in an irregular circle, like Druidical stones, the white-painted -woodwork of these derelicts was streaked fantastically with creepers, -which, spreading even over the arched roofs, seemed to bind them to the -soil. Titania and her fastidious elves might have danced on the smooth -central sward, in the middle of which appeared a chipped sundial, -upheld by three stone ladies, unclothed, battered, and unashamed. -At the back of these ingeniously contrived huts bloomed flowers in -profusion: tall and gaudy hollyhocks, vividly scarlet geraniums, lilies -of holy whiteness, and thousands--as it truly seemed--of many-hued -poppies. The wide beds, whence these blossoms sprang, stretched back -to a girdle of lofty trees, and were aglow with the brilliant flowers -of the nasturtium. The trees which shut in this sylvan paradise from -the crooked lane rose from a tangled jungle of coarse grasses, nettles, -darnels, and oozy weedy plants, whose succulence betrayed the presence -of a small pond gorgeous with water-lilies. Paths led through the -miniature forest, winding in and out and round about, so as to make -the most of the small space; and the whole was bounded by a high brick -wall, mellow and crumbling, but secure for all that, seeing it was -topped with iron spikes and bits of broken bottles. One heavy wooden -gate, at present bolted and barred, admitted the outside world from the -lane into this Garden of Alcinous. - -Almost the entire population of the Weald knew of this Eden--that is, -by hearsay--for no one entered the jealous gate, unless he or she -came to do business with the eccentric character who had created the -domain. Jarvis Alpenny was a miser, hence the presence of disused rail -carriages, which saved him the trouble and cost of building a house. -In The Camp--so the place was called--he had dwelt for fifty years, -and he was as much a recluse as a man well could be, who made his -income by usury. It seemed odd, and was odd, that a money-lender -should not only dwell in, but carry on his peculiarly urban profession -in, so rural a locality as the Weald of Sussex. Nevertheless, Alpenny -did as large a business as though he had occupied some grimy office -in the heart of London. Indeed, he really made more money, as the -very seclusion of the place attracted many needy people who wished -to borrow money secretly. As the local railway station was but three -miles distant, these secretive clients came very easily to this rustic -Temple of Mammon. Any one could stay in Brighton without arousing the -curiosity of friends; and it was surely natural to make excursions -into the bowels of the land! Jarvis Alpenny showed a considerable -knowledge of human nature in thus isolating his habitation; for the -more difficult people find it to obtain what they want, the more do -they value that which they obtain. - -Alpenny called Beatrice his daughter. He would have spoken more -correctly had he called her his stepdaughter, for that she was. And -apart from the difference in the name, no one would have believed that -the wizen, yellow-faced, sharp-featured miser was the father of so -beautiful a girl. She dwelt in The Camp like an imprisoned princess, -and no dragon could have guarded her more fiercely than did Durban, -the sole servant and factotum of the settlement, as it might truly be -called. Alpenny himself might have passed for the wicked magician who -held the aforesaid princess spell-bound in his enchanted domain. But -as the Fairy Prince always discovers Beauty, however closely confined, -so had Beatrice Hedge been discovered by Vivian Paslow. He was a poor -country gentleman who dwelt in a two-miles distant grange; and his only -sister, confessing to the biblical name of Dinah, was the decidedly -plain girl who had just whispered to Beatrice how she had become -engaged, on the previous day, to Gerald Snow. That Gerald was the son -of a somewhat needy vicar, and possessed an objectionable mother, made -no difference to Dinah, who was very much in love and very voluble on -the subject. - -"Of course," resumed Miss Paslow, after a pause in the conversation, "I -and Jerry will be horribly poor. Vivian has no money and I have less. -Mr. Snow the vicar has only a fifth-rate living, and Mrs. Snow is a -screw like your father." - -"Dinah!" Beatrice winced and coloured at these plain words. - -"Well, Mr. Alpenny is a screw, and only your stepfather after all. As -to Mrs. Snow--oh, my gracious"--with expressive pantomime--"I'm glad -Jerry and I won't have to depend upon her for food. Whenever the poor -famished darling comes to Convent Grange, I simply rush to make him a -glass of egg and milk in case he tumbles off his chair." - -"That may be emotion, caused by the sight of you Dinah." - -"How nasty, how untrue! No! I did the tumbling when he proposed -yesterday. He proposed so beautifully that I think he must have been -reading up. I was in the parlour and Jerry came in. He looked at me -like that, and I looked at him in this way, and afterwards----" Here -Dinah, who was at the silly boring stage of love, told the wonderful -story for the fifth time, ending with the original remark that for -quite three hours after Jerry left her, Jerry's kisses were warm on her -maiden lips. - -"Why didn't you bring Mr. Snow in, Dinah?" asked Beatrice, who had -listened most patiently to these rhapsodies. - -"Oh, my dear!" fanning a red and freckled face with a flimsy -handkerchief, "he's much better in the lane, minding the horses. -You see he will make me blush with his looks and smiles and -hand-squeezings, when he thinks that no one is looking--which they -usually are," finished Miss Paslow ungrammatically. - -"And you came over to tell me. That is sweet of you." - -"Well, I did and I didn't, dear, to be perfectly candid. You see, Jerry -and I were going for a ride this morning, just to see if we entirely -understood how serious marriage is; but Vivian is such a prig----" - -"He isn't!" contradicted Beatrice indignantly. - -"Oh yes, he is," insisted Dinah obstinately; "he doesn't think it quite -the thing that I and Jerry should be too much alone--as though we could -make love in company! He wouldn't like it himself, though he did insist -on my coming here with him, and rode in the middle, so as to part Jerry -and me. So poor, dear, darling Jerry is holding the horses in the lane, -while Vivian is doing business with your father in there," and Miss -Paslow pointed a gloved finger at a distant railway carriage, which was -so bolted and barred and locked and clamped that it looked like a small -dungeon. - -A grave expression appeared on the face of Beatrice. "Do you know what -kind of business Mr. Paslow is seeing my father about?" - -"Oh, my dear, as though your father--which he isn't--ever did any sort -of business save lend money to people who haven't got any, as I'm sure -we Paslows haven't. We've got birth and blood and a genuine Grange -with a ghost, and Vivian has good looks even if I haven't, in spite of -Jerry's nonsense; but there isn't a sixpence between us. How Mrs. Lilly -manages to feed us, I really don't know, unless she steals the food. -Our ancestors had the Paslow money and spent it, the mean pigs!--just -as though our days weren't more expensive than their days, with their -feathers and lace and port wine." - -"Then Mr. Paslow is borrowing money?" remarked Beatrice, when she could -get in a word, which was not easy. - -"Mr. Paslow!--how cold you are, Beatrice, when you know Vivian worships -the ground you tread on, though he doesn't say much. Borrowing money, -do you say? I expect he is, although he never tells me his business. So -different to Jerry, who lets me know every time he has a rise in his -salary on the Morning Planet, which isn't often. I think the editor -must be a kind of Mrs. Snow, and she--well----" Dinah again expressed -herself in pantomime. - -It was quite useless speaking to Miss Paslow, who was only nineteen -and a feather-head. Besides, she was too deeply in love to bother -about commonplace things. Beatrice felt nervous to hear that Vivian -contemplated borrowing money, as she knew how dangerous it was for -anyone to become entangled in the nets of her stepfather. She would -have liked to question Dinah still further, but thinking she would -get little information from so lovelorn a damsel, it occurred to her -that Jerry Snow should be brought on the scene. Then the lovers could -chatter nonsense, and Beatrice could think her own thoughts, which were -greatly concerned with Mr. Alpenny's client. The means of obliging -Dinah and gaining time for reflection suggested themselves, when a -bulky man showed himself at the door of the carriage which served as -a kitchen. He wore, as he invariably did, summer and winter, a suit -of white linen, and on this occasion an apron, to keep the steaming -saucepan he held from soiling his clothes. - -"There's Durban," said Beatrice, rising and crossing over; "he can hold -the horses and Mr. Snow can come in." - -Dinah gave a faint squeal of delight, and shook the dust from her -shabby riding-habit while Beatrice explained what she wanted. - -Durban was of no great height, and so extremely stout that he looked -even less than he really was. His lips were somewhat thick, his nose -was a trifle flat, and his hair had that frizzy kink which betrays -black blood. Even a casual observer could have told that Durban had -a considerable touch of the tar-brush--was a mulatto, or perhaps one -remove from a mulatto. Apparently he possessed the inherent good-humour -of the negro, for while listening to his young mistress he smiled -expansively, and displayed a set of very strong white teeth. Nor was -he young, for his hair was touched at the temples with grey, and his -body was stout with that stoutness which comes late in life from a -good digestion and an easy conscience. He aped youth, however, for he -carried himself very erect, and walked--as he now did to the gate--in -an alert and springy manner surprising in one who could not be less -than fifty years of age. It seemed remarkable that so kindly a creature -as the half-caste should serve a sour-faced old usurer; but, in truth, -Beatrice was his goddess, and her presence alone reconciled him to an -ill-paid post where he was overworked, and received more kicks than -halfpence. He would have died willingly for the girl, and showed his -devotion even in trifles. - -Before returning to Dinah, whose eyes were fixed in an hypnotic way -on the gate through which her beloved would shortly pass, Beatrice -cast an anxious glance at the dungeon which did duty as Mr. Alpenny's -counting-house. The girl had never been within, as Jarvis was not -agreeable that she should enter his Bluebeard chamber. For the rest he -allowed her considerable freedom, and she could indulge in any fancy -so long as the fancy was cheap. But she was forbidden to set foot in -Mammon's shrine, and whether the priest was without, or within, the -door was kept locked. It was locked now, and Vivian Paslow was closeted -with the usurer, doubtless handing over to Alpenny the few acres that -remained to him for a sum of money at exorbitant interest. That the man -she loved should be a fly in the parlour of the money-lending spider -annoyed Beatrice not a little. Her attention was distracted by another -squeal from Dinah, whose emotions were apt to be noisy. - -"Jerry! oh Jerry!" sighed the damsel, clasping her hands, and in came -Mr. Snow, walking swiftly across the grass, apparently as frantic for -Dinah as Dinah was for him. At the moment neither lunatic took notice -of the amused hostess. - -"My Dinah! my own!" gasped Jerry, devouring his Dulcinea with two -ardent eyes, the light of which was hidden by pince-nez. - -Jerry assuredly was no beauty, save that his proportions were good, -and he dressed very smartly. He possessed a brown skin which matched -well with brown hair and moustache, and had about him the freshness of -twenty-two years, which is so charming and lasts so short a time. Dinah -with her freckles, her drab hair, and nose "tip-tilted like the petal -of a flower"--to mercifully quote Tennyson--suited him very well in -looks. And then love made both of them look quite interesting, although -not even the all-transforming passion could render them anything but -homely. Beside the engaged damsel, Beatrice, tall, slender, dark-locked -and dark-eyed, looked like a goddess, but Jerry the devoted had no -eye for her while Dinah was present. Had he been Paris, Miss Paslow -decidedly would have been awarded the apple. Not having one, he stared -at Dinah and she at him as though they were meeting for the first time. -Beatrice, impatient of this oblivion to her presence, brought them from -Heaven to earth. - -"I have to congratulate you, Mr. Snow," she remarked. - -"Mr. Snow!" echoed Dinah, jumping up as though a wasp had stung her; -"you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Beatrice! Haven't you known Jerry -for--oh! for ever so long? - -"For quite three years, dear; but, you see, I don't visit at the -Vicarage," and Beatrice spoke with some bitterness, as Jerry's mother -had always been unkind to the lonely girl, for reasons connected with -what Mrs. Snow regarded as her anomalous position. - -Jerry coloured and blinked behind his glasses. "I know what you mean, -Miss Hedge," he said regretfully, "but don't worry. Call me Jerry as -usual; what does it matter what mother thinks?" - -"Ah," said Dinah, quivering with alarm, "what does she think of us?" - -"Well, she"--Jerry hesitated, and finally answered the question with a -solemn warning--"I don't think I'd call at the Vicarage for a few days, -Dinah sweetest. She--she--well, you know mother." - -"Why does Mrs. Snow object?" asked Beatrice very directly. - -"I know oh, none better!" almost shouted Dinah; "no money!" - -Jerry nodded, with an admiring glance at her cleverness. "No money." - -"I thought so; and Mrs. Snow wants you to marry a millionairess?" - -Jerry nodded again. "As though a millionairess would look at the likes -of me!" said he, with the chuckle of a nestling. - -"I wouldn't give even the plainest of them a chance!" cried Dinah -jealously; "you could marry anyone with the way you have, Jerry dear." - -Miss Hedge laughed gaily. "Show me the way you have, Jerry dear!" she -mimicked, whereat the young lover blushed redder than the poppies. - -"Oh, what rot! See here, girls both, we're all pals." - -"Dinah is something more than a pal since yesterday," observed Beatrice -pointedly. - -"Oh, you know what I mean. Well, then father is pleased and would marry -us himself, to save fees; but mother--oh, Lord!" - -"Will she part us, Jerry?" demanded Dinah in a small voice. - -Bashful as he was, Mr. Snow rose to the occasion, and taking her in his -strong arms kissed her twice. - -"That's what I think!" said he, with the air of Ajax defying the -lightning. "We'll be cut off with a shilling by mother; but we shall -marry all the same, and live on the bread and cheese and kisses -provided by the Morning Planet." - -"Thank you," said Miss Paslow tartly, "I provide my own kisses." - -"No, darling heart!" gurgled the ardent Jerry, "I do that!" and was -about to repeat his conduct when the ceremony was interrupted. - -From the dungeon came the sound of a shrill voice indulging in abusive -language. A few moments later and the narrow door was flung violently -open. Vivian Paslow came out quietly enough, and was followed by a -bent, dried-up ape of a man who was purple with fury. The contrast -between the money-lender and his client was most marked. Alpenny was -the missing link itself, and Vivian appeared beside him like one of a -higher and more human race. Without taking any notice of the furious -old creature, he walked towards the startled Beatrice and shook her by -the hand. - -"Good-bye, Miss Hedge," he said loudly; then suddenly sank his voice to -a hurried whisper. "Meet me to-night at seven, under the Witches' Oak." - -"Leave my place!" cried Alpenny, hobbling up, to interrupt this -leave-taking; "you shall not speak to her." - -Paslow took his amazed sister on his arm and crossed to the gate, while -Jerry, blinking and puzzled, followed after. Beatrice, as startled by -Paslow's request as she was by the scene, remained where she was, and -her stepfather chased his three visitors into the lane with opprobrious -names. But before he could close the gate, Vivian turned suddenly on -the abusive old wretch. - -"I came to do you a service," said he, "but you would not listen." - -"You came to levy blackmail. You asked----" - -"Silence!" cried Paslow, with a gesture which reduced Alpenny to a -stuttering, incoherent condition. "I never threatened you." - -"You did--you do! You want your property back, and----" - -Vivian, with a swift glance at Beatrice, silenced the man again. "If I -lose my property, I lose it," said he sternly; "but the other thing I -refuse to lose. And, remember, your life is in danger." - -Alpenny spluttered. "My life, you--you scoundrel!" - -"Father! Father!" pleaded Beatrice, approaching anxiously. - -Paslow took no notice, but still looked at the angry old man with a -firm and significant expression. "Remember the Black Patch," said he -in a clear, loud voice. The effect was instantaneous. Alpenny, from -purple, turned perfectly white; from swearing volubility, he was -reduced to a frightened silence. - -Beatrice looked at him in amazement, and so--strange to say--did -Vivian, who had spoken the mysterious words. For a moment he stared at -the shaking, pale-faced miser, who was casting terrified looks over his -shoulder, and then went out of the gate. Alpenny stood as though turned -into stone until he heard the clatter of the retreating horses. Then he -raised his head and looked wildly round. - -"The third time!" he muttered; and Beatrice was sufficiently near to -notice his abject fear. "The third time!" - - - - - -CHAPTER II -THE HINTS OF DURBAN - - -Beatrice meditated in the parlour-carriage on the scene which had taken -place at noon between her stepfather and Paslow. Without vouchsafing -the least explanation, Alpenny had crept back to his den and was there -still, with the door locked as usual. Twice and thrice did Durban call -him to the midday meal, but he declined to come out. Beatrice had -therefore eaten alone, and was now enjoying a cup of fragrant coffee -which Durban had lately brought in. At the moment, he was washing up -dishes in the kitchen, to the agreeable accompaniment of a negro song, -which he was whistling vigorously. The girl, as she wished to be, was -entirely alone. Durban could not explain the reason for the quarrel, -and Alpenny would not; so Beatrice was forced to search her own -thoughts for a possible explanation. So far she had been unsuccessful. - -The tiny parlour was entirely white in its decorations, and looked -extremely cool on this hot, close day. The walls were hung with snowy -linen, the furniture was upholstered with the same, and the carpet, -the curtains, the ornaments, even the cushions were all pearly white. -Everything, when examined, was cheap in quality and price, but the -spotlessly clean look of the room--if it could be called so--made up -for the marked want of luxury. Beatrice herself wore a white muslin, -with cream-hued ribbons, therefore no discordant colour broke the -Arctic tone of the parlour. Only through the open door could be seen -the brilliant tints of the flowers, blazing against a background of -emerald foliage. The Snow Parlour was the name of this fantastic -retreat, and the vicar's wife took the appellation as a personal -insult. Rather should she have regarded it a compliment of the highest, -as this maiden's bower was infinitely prettier than she was or ever -could be. - -Since it was impossible to learn anything definite from Durban or his -master, Beatrice was striving to possess her soul in peace until seven -o'clock: at that hour she intended to meet Vivian by the Witches' Oak, -and there ask him bluntly what he had said or done to make stepfather -so furious. Having settled this in her own mind, she lay back in the -deep chair, sipping her coffee, and allowing her thoughts to wander; -they took her back over some five-and-twenty years, and into a life -barren and uneventful enough. Beatrice should have been happy, for, -like the oft-quoted nation, she had no history. - -All her life Beatrice had never known a mother's love. According to -Alpenny, who supplied the information grudgingly enough, Mrs. Hedge -with her one-year-old baby had married him, only to die within three -months after the ceremony. Then Durban had taken charge of the child; -since the miser, for monetary and other reasons, would not engage a -nurse. For two years the old servant had tenderly cared for the orphan, -and it was a great pain to him when Alpenny placed the little Beatrice -in charge of a Brighton lady, called Miss Shallow. The spinster was in -reduced circumstances, and apparently under Alpenny's thumb as regards -money matters. She received the child unwillingly enough, although -she feared to disobey a tyrant who could make things disagreeable for -her; but later, she grew to love her charge, and behaved towards the -orphan with a devotion scarcely to be expected from a nature soured by -misfortune. - -For twenty years Beatrice had lived with the old gentlewoman in the -poky little Hove house, and from her had received the education and -upbringing of a lady. Every week Durban came over to see his darling, -and Beatrice grew attached to the kind, good-natured old servant, -who lavished all his affection on her. Alpenny, not anxious to be -bothered, and having little love for his stepdaughter, whom he regarded -as an encumbrance, visited Miss Shallow more rarely, and even when he -did, took scant notice of the tall and beautiful girl, who had been -instructed to call him "father." This she did unwillingly enough, as -there was always an antagonism between the cold nature of the one and -the warm humanity of the other. When Miss Shallow died, the girl was -ill-pleased to take up her abode at The Camp, in close association -with a man she mistrusted and disliked, although she could assign no -tangible reason for the feeling of abhorrence which possessed her. - -How well Beatrice remembered her first sight of the place. It was then -but a neglected wilderness, and she recoiled at the sight of such -uncivilised surroundings. Alpenny slept in one carriage, and Durban in -another; two other carriages were used as counting-house and kitchen; -while the remaining three were in a rusty, ruinous state, almost buried -in rank grass and coarse vegetation. And it was a wet day, too, when -the girl, grieving for her dear friend, came to view her future home, -so that everything was dripping with moisture, and the outlook was -infinitely dreary. She could have cried at the idea of living amidst -such desolation; but her courage was too high, and her pride too -great, to admit of her indulging in such futile lamentation before the -cold-eyed usurer. - -Durban, always sympathetic and watchful, was quick to see her grief, -although she tried to conceal it, and at once began to suggest -interesting work, so that she should have the less time to eat her -heart out in the wilderness. He deftly pointed out how she and he could -make the place a paradise, and how Nature could solace the sorrow -of the girl for the loss of her guardian. Having obtained unwilling -consent from Alpenny, the kind-hearted servant painted and repaired -the ruined carriages, and turning one into a dainty bedroom, made the -remaining two into a parlour and dining-room. In some way sufficient -money was extorted from Alpenny to admit of cheap furnishing, and -Beatrice, more contented, came to take up her abode in the strange -locality. She was now twenty-five, and for three years had dwelt in -this hermitage. - -The garden afforded her endless delight and occupation: Durban was -the fairy who procured the seeds, and who turned up the coarse, weedy -ground for the planting of the same; Durban had dug the pond, and had -conducted the water thereto through cunningly contrived pipes; and -Durban had planned the paradise with her aid. The smooth lawn, the beds -of brilliant blossoms, the pond with its magnificent water-lilies, the -many winding paths, and the mossy nooks which afforded cool retreats -on hot days, were all the work of herself and Durban. No millionaire -could have created a more delightful spot than had these two by their -indefatigable industry and eye for the picturesque. A portion of the -wood Beatrice left to Nature, so that its uncultured look might enhance -the civilised appearance of the blossoms; and the contrast was really -charming. But that Jarvis Alpenny jealously kept the gates closed, The -Camp would have become a show place, as everyone in the neighbourhood -had heard of its rare floral beauties; and not a few young men had -heard of another beauty still more rare and desirable. - -It was at this point that Beatrice began to think of Vivian and his -sister, who were the only friends she possessed. Jerry certainly might -be included, seeing that he was a constant visitor at Convent Grange, -and the future husband of Dinah Paslow; but there was no one else in -the parish of Hurstable with whom she cared to exchange a friendly -word. She had met Mr. and Mrs. Snow once or twice; but although the -vicar was willing enough to speak with so pretty a girl, the vicar's -wife objected. She was the tyrant of the place, and ruled her husband, -her son, "her" parish---as she called it--and her friends with a rod -of iron. But for this aggressive despotism, Mr. Snow might have called -at The Camp; but the vicaress ordered her vicar not to waste his time -in visiting a girl who rarely came to church, and who occupied what -the lady described as "a degraded position." On the several occasions -upon which Mrs. Snow had met the usurer's daughter, she had behaved -disagreeably, and had never said a kind word. Yet Mrs. Snow called -herself a religious woman; but like many a self-styled Christian, she -read her own meaning into the Gospel commandments, and declined to obey -them when they clashed with her own snobbish, sordid nature. Beatrice -Hedge, according to Mrs. Snow, was beyond the social pale, seeing that -her father was a money-lender; so she paid no attention to her, and -many of "her" parishioners followed her example. It is to be feared -that the lady and her followers quite forgot that one of the apostles -was a tax-gatherer and a publican. - -Beatrice cared very little for this boycotting; she was accustomed to a -lonely life, and, indeed, preferred it, for she found the conversation -of Mrs. Snow and her friends extremely wearisome--as it was bound to -be, from its aggressive egotism and self-laudation. She had books to -read, the garden to tend, Vivian to think of, and sometimes could -indulge in a visit to Convent Grange, the home of the Paslows. Dinah -she liked; Vivian she loved, and she was certain in her own mind that -Vivian loved her; but of this, strange to say, she could not be sure, -by reason of his attitude. It was a dubious attitude: at times he -would pay her marked attentions, and frequently seemed to be on the -verge of a proposal; then he would draw back, shun her society, and -turn as chilly as an Arctic winter, for no known reason. Beatrice -fancied that it might be her relationship to Alpenny that caused this -young gentleman of old descent to draw back; and then, again, she felt -sure that he was above such a mean spirit. Moreover--and this might -be his excuse--Vivian was but an impoverished country squire, and -might hesitate to conduct a wife to the half-ruinous Grange. Had he -only known how gladly Beatrice would have shared his bread and cheese -when sweetened by kisses, surely, as she often thought, he would have -proposed. But something kept him silent, and seeing how he changed from -hot to cold in his wooing--if it could be called so--she had too much -pride to inveigle him into making a plain statement, such as her heart -and her ears longed to hear. The position was odd and uncomfortable. -Both the man and the woman could not mistake each other's feelings, -yet the man, who could have arranged matters on a reasonable basis, -refused to open his mouth; and it was not the woman's right to usurp -the privilege of the stronger sex, by breaking the ice. - -The appointed meeting for this night puzzled her more than ever. Never -before had she met him save at the Grange or at The Camp, and more -often than not in the presence of Dinah. Now he asked her to talk -with him in a lonely spot, and under an ill-omened tree, where, it -was locally reported, the witches of old days had held their Satanic -revels. In answer to his request she had nodded, being taken by -surprise; but now she began to question the propriety of her proposed -action. She was a modest girl, and occupied a difficult position, so it -was scarcely the thing to meet a young gentleman on a romantic summer -night, and under a romantic tree. But her curiosity was extremely -strong. She wished to know why Alpenny had grown so white and had -appeared so terrified when Paslow pronounced four mysterious words. -What was the "Black Patch"? and why did it produce such an effect on -the usurer, who, as a rule, feared nothing but the loss of money? -Vivian could explain, since he had brought about the miser's terror, -therefore did Beatrice make up her mind to keep the appointment; but -she smiled to think what Mrs. Snow would say did that severe lady know -of the bold step she was taking. - -"Some more coffee?" said a voice at the door, and she looked up to see -the smiling servant. - -"No thank you, Durban," she replied absently, and setting down the -empty cup; then, seeing that he was about to withdraw, she recalled her -scattered thoughts and made him pause, with a question. "What is the -Black Patch?" asked Beatrice, facing round to observe the man's dark -face. - -Durban spread out his hands in quite a foreign way, and banished all -emotion from his dark features. "I do not know." - -"My father appeared to be startled by the words." - -"He did, missy, he did!" - -"Do you know the reason?" - -"I am not in your father's confidence, missy." - -"That is strange, seeing that you have been with him for over twenty -years, Durban." - -"For twenty-four years, missy." - -"You never told me the exact time before, Durban." - -The man shrugged his shoulders. "You never asked me, missy." - -"That is true." Beatrice leaned back again in her chair, and remembered -that she and Durban had talked but little about the past. "I should -like to know about my mother," she said after a pause. - -"There is nothing to know, missy. She married master--and died." - -"I was then about a year old?" - -"Yes, missy." - -"I am twenty-five now, and you have been with Mr. Alpenny for -four-and-twenty years; so it seems, Durban, that you first came here -with my mother, and remained in Mr. Alpenny's service." - -"It is so, missy; I remained for your sake." - -"Then you were my mother's servant?" - -Durban's face might have been that of a wax doll for all the expression -it showed. "I was, missy." - -"And you know all about my parents?" - -"What there is to know, missy, which is very little. You have never -asked about them before; why do you question me now?" - -Beatrice mused. "I hardly know," she confessed. "I suppose Mr. Paslow's -remark about the Black Patch, whatever that may be, made me ask now. -Mr. Alpenny was afraid when Mr. Paslow spoke." - -"So you said before, missy; and, as I replied, I do not know the reason -at all. I am simply a servant." - -"And my friend," said Beatrice, extending her hand. - -Durban's face lighted up with passionate devotion, and his dark eyes -blazed with light. Falling on one knee he imprinted a reverential kiss -on the small white hand: "I love you with all my heart, missy. I love -you as a father--as a mother; as the Great God Himself, do I love you, -my dear mistress." - -"Then you will help me?" - -"You have but to ask, and I obey," said Durban simply, and rose to -his feet with a light bound, strangely out of keeping with his stout -person. "What would you have?" - -"The key of the little gate." - -Durban stared, for Beatrice was making a very serious request. There -were two gates to The Camp, a large one opening on to the lane, and a -smaller one hidden in a corner of the wall, through which admittance -could be gained to a narrow woodland path, which arrived, after devious -windings, at the cross-roads. Alpenny's clients usually entered from -the lane, but were always dismissed through the--so to speak--secret -path. The miser kept the key of this small gate, and, indeed, of the -larger one also, so that if any one had to go out, or come in, Alpenny -had to be applied to. It was therefore no easy matter for Durban to -oblige his young mistress. - -"Why do you want the key, missy?" - -Beatrice did not answer at once. It suddenly crossed her mind that if -she acknowledged bow she intended to question Vivian about the Black -Patch, that Durban would make some difficulty over obtaining the key. -After his admission that he knew nothing, she had no reason to think -that he would raise any objections; but the thought came uninvited, and -she obeyed it. Wishing to tell the truth, and yet keep Durban in the -dark as to her real errand, she determined to go to the Grange and see -Dinah; then she could meet Vivian there, and could question him at her -leisure. "Miss Paslow is engaged," she said suddenly. - -Durban nodded and grinned. "To young Mr. Snow," he replied. "I saw." - -"Well, I want to go to Convent Grange this evening at six, to see Miss -Paslow, and talk over the matter." - -Durban shook his head. "Master is angry with Mr. Paslow for some -reason, and will not let you go. Besides, at night----" Durban shook -his head again very sagely. - -"That's just it," said Beatrice, rising; "I know that my father would -object, therefore I wish to slip out of the small gate secretly, and -return about nine; he will never know." - -"He will never know, certainly, missy; but the way to Convent Grange is -dark and lonely." - -"Not on a summer night; the moon is out, and there will be plenty of -people on the road." - -"Would you like me to come, missy?" - -"If you will," assented Beatrice carelessly. She would rather have gone -alone, but since the Grange was now her goal, and not the Witch Oak, -Durban's presence did not matter. "But there is no need." - -"Oh, I think so; there will be a storm to-night, and then it will grow -dark. Besides, people may not be about, and the path to Convent Grange -is lonely. I shall come also." - -"Very good; and the key---- - -"I can get it. Master keeps it hanging up in the counting-house, but I -can get it." Durban grinned and nodded, and then was about to go away, -when he suddenly stopped, and his dark face grew serious. "One thing -tell me, missy, and do not be angry." - -"I could never be angry with you, Durban. What is it?" - -"Do you love Mr. Paslow, missy?" - -"Yes," replied Beatrice without hesitation. She knew that whatever she -said to her faithful servant would never be repeated by him. - -"And does he love you?" - -This time she coloured. "I think so--I am not sure," was her faint -reply, as she cast down her eyes. - -Durban came a step nearer. "Does he love any one else?" he asked. - -Beatrice raised her head sharply, and sent a flaming glance towards the -questioner. "What do you mean?" - -"If he doesn't love you, does he love any one else?" persisted Durban. - -Beatrice twisted her hands. "I am sure he loves me, and no one else!" -she cried passionately. "I can see it in his eyes--I can read it in -his face. Yet he--yet he--oh!" she broke off, unwilling to remark upon -Paslow's strange, wavering wooing, to a servant, even though that -servant was one who would readily have died to save her a moment's -pain. "Do you think he loves any one else?" she asked evasively. - -"No." Durban's eyes were fixed on her face. "I have no reason to think -so. If he loves my missy, he can never be fond of other women; but if -he plays you false, missy "--Durban's face grew grim and darker than -ever--"you have a dog who can bite." - -"No! no!" said Beatrice, alarmed--since Durban could make himself -unpleasant on occasions, and, from the look on his face, she feared for -Vivian--"he loves me, and me only; I am sure of that!" - -The man's face cleared. "Then we will go to the Grange this evening, -and you can see him." - -"But if my stepfather hates him, Durban, he will place some obstacle in -the way, should Mr. Paslow ask me to marry him." - -"If he asks you to be his wife, you shall marry him, missy." - -"But my father----" - -"He will say nothing." - -"Are you sure? When Mr. Alpenny takes an idea into his head----" - -"He will take no idea of stopping your marriage, missy. You shall be -happy. I promised him that." - -"Promised who?" - -"Your real father," said Durban, and departed without another word. It -would seem as though he were unwilling to be questioned. Beatrice began -to think that there was some mystery connected with her parents, which -Durban knew, but which Durban would not reveal. - - - - - -CHAPTER III -MR. ALPENNY'S PROPOSAL - - -Shortly after Durban resumed work, Beatrice received a surprise which -rather pleased her. This was none other than an invitation to enter the -counting-house. She had always desired to do so, being filled with that -curiosity which led her grandmother Eve to eat apples, but hitherto -Alpenny had declined to admit her. Now the door of the dungeon was -open, and Alpenny, standing before it, beckoned that she should come -in. In the bright sunshine he looked more decrepit and wicked than -usual. He could not have been less than eighty years of age, and his -spare figure was bowed with Time. That same Time had also robbed him of -every hair on his head, and had even taken away eyebrows and eyelashes. -As the old man was clean shaven, his gleaming head and hairless yellow -wrinkled face looked rather repulsive. Nor did his dress tend to -improve his appearance, for it was a shepherd's-plaid suit cut in the -style of the early fifties, when he had been young, and presumably -something of a dandy. In spite of the antiquity of the clothes, there -was a suggestion of juvenility about them which matched badly with his -Methuselah looks. Like an aged ghost he beckoned in the sunshine, and -the white-painted erection behind him assumed, in the eyes of Beatrice, -the look of a tomb. - -Wondering that she should be invited into Mammon's Shrine, the girl -walked across the lawn. In her white dress, with her beautiful face -shaded by a coarse straw hat, she appeared the embodiment of youth and -grace, contrasting markedly with the senile old villain, who croaked -out his orders. - -"Come in," said Alpenny testily, and with the screech of a peacock, as -he pointed to the open door. "I wish to speak to you seriously." - -Beatrice, ever sparing of words with crabbed age, nodded and entered -the counting-house, glancing comprehensively around to take in her -surroundings--as a woman always does--with a single look. The space -naturally was limited. All the windows had been boarded up save one, -which opened immediately over a rather large desk of mahogany which -was piled with papers. The walls were hung with faded red rep. In one -corner stood a large green-painted safe; in another stood a pile of -tin boxes which reached quite to the roof. A paraffin lamp dangled -by brass chains from a somewhat smoky ceiling; and at the far end of -the carriage, in front of a dilapidated bookcase, was an oil stove, -crudely set on a sheet of galvanised tin. A ragged carpet, disorderly -in colour and much faded, covered the floor; and there were only two -chairs, one before the desk, and another beside it, probably for the -use of clients. The one window was barred, but not covered with any -curtain; the others were sheathed in iron and barred strongly outside. -From without, as has been said, the carriage looked like a dungeon: -within, its appearance suggested the home of a recluse, who cared very -little for the pomps and vanities of civilisation. This barren room -represented very fairly the bare mind of the miser, who cared more for -money itself, than for what money could do. - -Motioning Beatrice to the client's chair, Alpenny seated himself -before his desk, and from habit presumably, began to fiddle with some -legal looking documents. Apparently he had got over the shock caused -by Vivian's strange speech, and looked much the same as he always -did--cold, unsympathetic, and cunning as an old monkey. In the dungeon -Beatrice bloomed like a rose, while Alpenny resembled a cold, clammy -toad, uncanny and repulsive. He began to speak almost immediately, and -his first words amazed the girl. They were the last she expected to -hear from the lips of one who had always treated her with indifference, -and almost with hostility. - -"Have you ever thought of marriage?" asked the usurer, examining his -visitor's face with two small sharp eyes, chilly and grey. - -"Marriage!" she gasped, doubting if she had heard aright. - -"Yes, marriage. Young girls think of such things, do they not?" - -Wishing to find out what he meant, Beatrice fenced. "I have no chance -of marrying, father," she observed, regaining her composure. - -"I grant that, unless you have fallen in love with Jerry Snow; and I -credit you with too much sense, to think you could love a fool." - -"Mr. Snow is to marry Miss Paslow," announced Beatrice coldly, and kept -her eyes on the wizen face before her. - -"Oh," sneered Alpenny, "Hunger wedding Thirst. And how do they intend -to live, may I ask?" - -"That is their business, and not ours." - -"Paslow hasn't a penny to give to his giggling sister, and very soon he -won't have a roof over his head." - -"What do you mean by that, father?" - -"Mean!" The usurer stretched out a skinny hand, which resembled the -claw of a bird of preys as he looked like. "Why, I mean, my girl, that -I hold Vivian Paslow there," and he tapped his palm. - -"Still I don't understand," said Beatrice, her blood running cold at -the malignant look on his face. - -"There is no need you should," rejoined her stepfather coolly. "He is -not for you, and you are not for him. Do you understand that?" - -It was unwise for Alpenny to meddle with a maiden's fancies, for the -girl's outraged womanhood revolted. "I understand that you mean to be -impertinent, Mr. Alpenny," she said, with a flaming colour. - -"'Mr. Alpenny'? Why not 'father,' as usual?" - -"Because you are no father of mine, and I thank God for it." - -He gave her a vindictive look, and rubbed his hands together, with the -croak of a hungry raven. "I brought you up, I educated you, I fed you, -I housed you, I----" - -Beatrice waved her hand impatiently. "I know well what you have done," -said she; "as little as you could." - -"Here's gratitude!" - -"And common sense, Mr. Alpenny. I know nothing, save that you married -my mother and promised to look after me when she died." - -"I promised nothing," snapped Alpenny. - -"Durban says that you did." - -"Durban is, what he always was, a fool. I promised nothing to your -mother--at all events, concerning you. Why should I? You are not my own -flesh and blood." - -"Anyone can tell that," said Beatrice disdainfully. - -"No impertinence, miss. I have fed and clothed you, and educated you, -and housed you----" - -"You said that before." - -"All at my own expense," went on the miser imperturbably, "and out -of the kindness of my heart. This is the return you make, by giving -me sauce! But you had better take care," he went on menacingly, and -shaking a lean yellow finger, "I am not to be trifled with." - -"Neither am I," retorted Beatrice, who felt in a fighting humour. "I am -sorry to have been a burden to you, and for what you have done I thank -you; but I am weary of stopping here. Give me a small sum of money and -let me go." - -"Money!" screeched the miser, touched on his tenderest point. "Money to -waste?" - -"Money to keep me in London until I can obtain a situation as a -governess or as a companion. Come, father," she went on coaxingly, "you -must be sick of seeing me about here. And I am so tired of this life!" - -"It's the wickedness in your blood, Beatrice. Just like your -mother--oh, dear me, how very like your mother!" - -"Leave my mother's character alone!" said Beatrice impatiently, "she is -dead and buried." - -"She is--in Hurstable churchyard, under a beautiful tomb I got -second-hand at a bargain. See how I loved her." - -"You never loved anyone in your life, Mr. Alpenny," said the girl, -freezing again. - -Alpenny's brow grew black, and he looked at her with glittering eyes. -"You are mistaken, child," he said, quietly. "I have loved and lost." - -"My mother----?" - -"Perhaps," said he enigmatically, and passed his hand over his bald -head in a weary manner. Then he burst out unexpectedly: "I wish I had -never set eyes on your mother. I wish she had been dead and buried -before she crossed my path!" - -"She is dead, so----" - -"Yes, she is dead, stone dead," he snarled, rising, much agitated, "and -don't think you'll ever see her again. If I----" He was about to speak -further; then seeing from the wondering look on the girl's face that -he was saying more than was wise, he halted, stuttered, and sat down -again abruptly, moving the papers with trembling hands. "Leave the past -alone," he said hoarsely. "I can't speak of it calmly. It is the past -that makes the future," he continued, drumming feverishly on the table -with his fingers, "the past that makes the future." - -Beatrice wondered what he meant, and noticed how weary and worn and -nervous he seemed. The man did not love her; he had not treated her as -he should have done; and between them there was no feeling in common. -Yet he was old, and, after all, had sheltered her in his own grudging -way, so Beatrice laid a light hand on his arm. "Mr. Alpenny, you are -not young----" - -"Eighty and more, my dear." - -The term startled her, and she began to think he must indeed be near -the borders of the next world when he spoke so gently. - -"Well, then, why don't you go to church, and feed the hungry, and -clothe the naked? Remember, you have to answer for what you have done, -some day soon." - -Alpenny rose vehemently and flung off her arm. "I don't ask you to -teach me my duty, girl," he said savagely. "What I have done is done, -and was rightly done. Everyone betrayed me, and money is the only thing -that did not. Money is power, money is love, money is joy and life and -hope and comfort to me. No! I keep my money until I die, and then----" -He cast a nervous look round, only to burst out again with greater -vehemence. "Why do you talk of death? I am strong; I eat heartily. I -drink little. I sleep well. I shall live for many a long day yet. And -even if I die," he snapped, "don't expect to benefit by my death. You -don't get that!" and he snapped his fingers within an inch of her nose. - -"I don't want your money," said Beatrice quietly; "Durban will look -after me. Still, you might let me have enough to keep me while I try to -find work." - -"I won't!" - -"But if you die, I'll be a pauper." - -"Without a sixpence!" said Alpenny exultingly. - -"Have I no relatives who will help me?" - -"No. Your mother came from I know not where, and where she has gone I -don't exactly know. She married me and then died. I have kept you----" - -"Yes--yes. But if my mother was poor and came from where you knew not, -why did you marry her?" - -"My kind heart----" - -"You haven't got one; it's in your money-chest" - -"It might be in a woman's keeping, which is a much worse place." - -Beatrice grew weary of this futile conversation, and rose. "You asked -me to see you," she said, with a fatigued air; "what is it you have to -say?" - -"Oh yes." He seemed to arouse himself from a fit of musing. "Yes! I -have found a husband for you." - -Beatrice started. He announced this startling fact as -though it were the most natural thing in the world. -"You--have--found--a--husband--for--me?" she drawled slowly. - -"Yes. You won't have my money, and I may die." He cast a look over -his shoulder nervously. "I don't want to, but I may: one never knows, -do they? You will be poor, so I think it best to get you married and -settled in life." - -"Thank you," she returned icily. "It is very good of you to take so -much trouble. And my future husband?" - -"Ruck! Major Ruck--Major Simon Ruck, a retired army officer, and a -handsome man of fifty, very well preserved, and with a fine fortune." - -"How alluring! And suppose I refuse?" - -"You can't--you daren't!" He grasped her arm entreatingly. "Don't be -a fool, my dear. Ruck is handsome and well off. He is coming down on -Saturday to see you. This is Wednesday, so you will have time to think -over the matter. You must marry him--you must, I tell you!" and he -shook her arm in his agitation. - -Beatrice removed her arm in a flaming temper. "Must I indeed?" said -she, flashing up into righteous anger. "Then I won't!" - -"Beatrice!" - -"I won't. I have never seen the man, and I don't wish to see him. -You have no right to make any arrangements about my marriage without -consulting me. You are neither kith nor kin of mine, and I am of age. I -deny your right to arrange my future." - -"Do you wish to be left to starve?" - -"I shall not starve; but I would rather do so, than marry a man of -fifty, whom I have never set eyes on." - -"If you don't marry Ruck, you'll be a pauper sooner than you expect, my -girl. Marry him for my sake?" - -"No! You have done as little as you could for me: you have always hated -me. I decline." - -Alpenny rose in his turn--Beatrice had already risen to her feet--and -faced her in a black fury, the more venomous for being quiet. "You -shall marry him!" - -"I shall not." - -They faced one another, both angry, both determined, both bent upon -gaining the victory. But if Alpenny had an iron will, Beatrice had -youth and outraged womanhood on her side, and in the end his small -cruel eyes fell before her flashing orbs. - -"I want you to marry Ruck--really I do," he whimpered piteously. - -"Why?" - -"Because"---- he swallowed something, and told what was evidently a -lie, so glibly did it slip out. "Because I should be sorry to leave you -to starve." - -"I shall not starve. I am well educated, and can teach. At the worst I -can become a nursery governess, or be a companion." - -"Better marry Major Ruck." - -"No. It is foolish of you to ask me." - -"If you don't marry him I shall be ruined. I shall be killed. No"--he -broke off suddenly--"I don't mean that. Who would kill a poor old man -such as I am? But"--his voice leaped an octave--"you must marry the -husband I chose for you." - -"I chose for myself." - -"Ah!"--the miser was shaking with rage--"it's Vivian Paslow: no -denial--I can see he is the man; a penniless scoundrel, who is at my -mercy!" - -"Don't dare to speak of him like that," flamed out Beatrice. "As to -marrying him--he has not asked me yet." - -"And never will, if I can stop him. I know how to do so--oh yes, I do. -He will not dare to go against me. I can ruin him. He----" At this -moment there came a sharp rap at the door, which made Alpenny's face -turn white and his lips turn blue. - -"Who is there?" - -"A telegram," said the voice of Durban; and Alpenny, with a smothered -ejaculation of pleasure, went to open the door. As he did so, Beatrice -noticed on the wall near the desk two keys, one large and one small. -The little one she knew to be the key of the postern gate, and without -hesitation she took it down and slipped it into her pocket. As Alpenny -turned round with the telegram and no very pleasant expression of -countenance, she felt that she would at least be able to see Vivian -Paslow on that evening without arousing the suspicions of her -stepfather. It was unlikely that any one would come that night, and he -would not miss the key, which she could get Durban to replace the next -day. As this thought flashed into her mind, she saw the face of the -servant at the door. He looked puzzled, but probably that was because -he beheld her in the sanctum of his master, hitherto forbidden ground -both to him and to her. The next moment Alpenny had closed the door, -and Durban went away. - -"This telegram is from Major Ruck," said Alpenny. "He is coming down on -Saturday, so be ready to receive him." - -"I shall leave the place if he comes." - -"You won't: you'll wait and see him--and accept him also. If you don't, -I'll make things hot for Vivian Paslow." - -This was, as Beatrice conceived, a game of bluff; so she replied boldly -enough, "Mr. Paslow is able to look after himself. I decline to speak -to Major Ruck, whosoever he may be, or even to see him." - -"Saturday! Saturday!" said Alpenny coldly, and opened the door. "Now -you can go. If you leave The Camp, or if you refuse Ruck as your -husband, Vivian Paslow will reap the reward of his crimes." And he -pushed her out, locking the door after her with a sharp click. - -Crimes! Beatrice stood in the sunlight, stunned and dazed. What did -Alpenny mean? What crimes could the man she loved have committed? -Almost before she could collect her thoughts she felt a light touch on -her shoulder, and turned to behold Durban. - -"Wasn't master in his counting-house all this afternoon?" asked the -servant. "You should know, missy, as the parlour is opposite." - -"Yes, he was," she replied with an effort. "I never saw him come out." - -Durban wrinkled his dark brows. "Then how did he send the telegram, to -which he has just now had an answer?" he demanded. - -"How do you know that this wire is an answer, Durban?" - -"The reply was prepaid, missy. How did master do it?" - -Beatrice was equally puzzled. Alpenny had not been away from The Camp -all the afternoon, yet had contrived to send a telegram, and prepay the -reply. - - - - - -CHAPTER IV -SEEN IN THE LIGHTNING - - -It was truly a mystery. So far as Beatrice knew, there were but two -ways of getting out of The Camp--by the large gate and the smaller one. -Yet she in the parlour-carriage, facing Alpenny's counting-house, had -not seen him emerge; nor had Durban, busy in the kitchen, the door of -which commanded a view of the postern, beheld his master depart. The -telegraph office was at the railway station three miles away, and there -was no one in The Camp save Durban and his young mistress to send with -a wire. Yet the wire had been sent, and the reply had been received. -Beatrice ventured an explanation. - -"Perhaps my father sent the telegram yesterday." - -"No, missy. I took none, and master did not leave the place. No -telegram has been sent from here for the last month." - -"Is there a third way out, Durban?" - -"Not that I know of, missy, and yet----" - -What Durban would have said in the way of explanation it is impossible -to say, for at this moment the querulous voice of Alpenny was heard -calling snappishly. Durban hastened to the door of the counting-house, -and it was opened so that he could speak with his master. But he was -not admitted within. Beatrice retired to her bedroom-carriage, which -was near the parlour, and had only been there a few minutes when Durban -came over with a crest-fallen face. - -"We must put off going to Convent Grange, missy," said he rapidly; -"master wishes me to go to town. He is writing a letter which I have to -take up at once. I shall catch the six train." - -"Very well, Durban. We can wait." - -The servant looked and hesitated, but before he could speak again Mr. -Alpenny interrupted. Appearing at the door of his dungeon he waved a -letter. "Come at once!" he cried; "don't lose time. What do you mean by -chattering there?" - -Durban gave Beatrice a significant look and hastened away. In another -ten minutes he had left The Camp by the great gates and was on his -way to the railway station. Alpenny saw him off the premises and then -crossed over to his stepdaughter. - -"What were you saying to Durban?" he asked suspiciously. - -"You mean what was Durban saying to me?" she replied quietly; "you can -surely guess. He was saying that you wished him to go to town." - -"There was no need of him to tell you my business," grumbled the miser, -looking ill-tempered. "What are you doing this evening?" - -Had he any suspicions of her intention? Beatrice thought not. The -question was put in a snarling way, and simply--as she judged--to show -his authority. - -"I intend to read," she answered simply, "and perhaps I shall take a -walk"--in the grounds, she ostensibly meant. - -"Better not," warned the usurer, looking up. "Clouds are gathering. I -am sure there will be a storm." - -"Very well," was her indifferent reply, although she wondered if he had -missed the key of the smaller gate. "Will I come and say good-night to -you as usual at ten?" - -Alpenny nodded in an absent way, and walked into his counting-house -with his hands behind him, and his form more bent than usual. Beatrice -watched him cross the smooth sward, and then went to sit down in the -parlour and meditate. In some way, which she could scarcely define, she -scented a mystery. The episode of the telegram, the hasty departure -of Durban, the proposal of marriage, all these things hinted--as she -thought--at schemes against her peace of mind. And then, again, the -words of Vivian Paslow. Those were indeed mysterious, and she was -anxious to know what they meant. Finally, the hint that Alpenny had -given as to Vivian having committed crimes, alarmed the girl. She felt -that Alpenny was trying to inveigle Paslow into some trap, and from his -words it was plain that he would stop at nothing to prevent the young -man declaring the passion he felt for the girl. Also, from another -hint, it would seem that the miser held--as, indeed, he had plainly -stated--"Vivian in the hollow of his hand." - -These thoughts made Beatrice very uncomfortable, the more so as never -before had any mystery come into her life. Hitherto it had been serene -and uneventful, one day being exactly the same as another. But with the -visit of Vivian on that afternoon everything had changed, for since -he had heard those mysterious words, Alpenny had not been himself. In -some queer way he had forwarded a telegram, and in a hurry he had sent -Durban to London, which he had not done for months past. Undoubtedly -something sinister was in the wind, and Beatrice shivered with a vague -apprehension of dread. - -It certainly might have been the weather which made her feel so ill -at ease, for the hot day had ended in an even hotter evening. The air -was close, the sky was clouded, and there was not a breath of wind to -stir the leaves of the surrounding trees. Ever and again a flicker of -lightning would leap across the sky--summer lightning which portended -storm and rain. Beatrice, trying to breathe freely in the suffocating -air, wished that the storm would come to clear the atmosphere. There -was electricity in the dry air, and she felt as uncomfortable as a -cat which has its hair smoothed the wrong way. On some such night as -this must Lady Macbeth have received Duncan, and Nature hinted at a -repetition of the storm which took place when the guileless king was -done to death in the shambles. - -Beatrice could not rest within doors. She put on a hat, and draped a -long black cloak over her white dress. Attired thus, she walked up -and down on the dry grass, trying to compose herself. Around gloomed -the girdle of trees, without even a leaf stirring. The colours of the -flowers were vague in the hot twilight, and the white forms of the -seven railway carriages stood here and there like tombs in a cemetery. -As she lingered near the sundial, she cast a look upward at the Downs, -which rose vast and shadowy to be defined clearly against a clear sky. -The foot of them was but a stone-throw away from The Camp, and almost -it was in her mind to climb their heights in order to get a breath of -fresh air. Here in the hollow, embosomed in woods, she felt stifling; -but up there surely a sweet, fresh wind must be blowing, full of -moisture from the Channel. Then the thought of a possible walk recalled -her to a remembrance of her appointment: she intended to keep it, even -though Durban had gone away. The key was in her pocket, and she could -slip out of the small gate for an hour, and get back again without -Alpenny being any the wiser. Already a light gleamed from the solitary -window of the dungeon, as it had gleamed ever since she could remember -when the darkness came on. Behind the discoloured blind the miser -laboured at his books, and counted his gains. So far as she knew all -his money was banked and invested, and he kept no gold in the dungeon. -Perhaps he feared robbery; and it really was remarkable that, seeing -he was supposed to be a millionaire, The Camp had never been marked -by the fraternity of London thieves. A visit there would surely have -proved successful, if all the tales of Alpenny were to be believed. But -perhaps the thieves had heard, as the miser had vaguely hinted, of his -cleverness in keeping no specie in his retirement. But be this as it -may, Alpenny, all these years, had never hinted at a possible burglary. - -After a glance at the Downs and at Alpenny's lighted window, behind -which he would sit until midnight, Beatrice entered one of the winding -paths in the little wood and took her way to the gate. The large gates -were locked, and Alpenny alone possessed the key; but she could open -the smaller gate, and now proceeded to do so. - -The lock was freshly oiled, and the postern swung open noiselessly. -Standing on the threshold within The Camp, Beatrice paused for a -moment. Some feeling seemed to hold her back. Into her mind flashed -the sudden thought that if she went out, she would leave behind her -not only The Camp, but the old serene life. It was like crossing -the Rubicon; but with an impatient ejaculation at her own weakness, -she shook herself and passed out, leaving the gate locked behind -her. Then she stole through the glimmering wood, fully committed to -the adventure. As she did so, a distant growl of thunder seemed to -her agitated mind like the voice of the angel thrusting her out of -Paradise. Truly, she had never before felt in this strange mood. - -By a narrow path she gained the lane, and here the light was a trifle -stronger, although it was rapidly dying out of the hot, close sky. -It was close upon half-past six, so Beatrice knew that if she walked -quickly she could arrive at the Witches' Oak almost at the time -appointed. Owing to the late hour of starting she had quite given up -the idea of going to Convent Grange, which was two miles away. She -would meet Vivian, as she now arranged in her own mind, at the Witches' -Oak, and would ask for an explanation. When he gave it, she could -return rapidly to The Camp escorted by him; then slipping in, she would -be able to say good-night to Alpenny at ten o'clock, and go to bed. For -a moment, she wondered if Durban would return that night, or stop in -town. If he came back, he would be angry if he found that she had left -The Camp unattended and in the twilight. But she would be in bed even -if Durban did return, and then she could decide whether to tell him -or not. Also, the chances were that as he had gone to town so late he -would remain there till the next morning to execute Alpenny's business, -whatever that might be. - -Passing along the lane, Beatrice had to run by the great gates, which -were locked securely. In the twilight she thought she saw a small -figure crouching before them, but in the semi-darkness could not be -certain. However, the sight of the figure, if figure it was, troubled -her very little. Probably it was that of some tramp, as there were -many in the Weald of Sussex. But if the tramp was waiting at the gates -in the hope of getting a crust or penny from the miser, he would be -woefully disappointed. Beatrice, passing swiftly, hardly gave the -matter a thought, but sped rapidly along under the deep shadows of the -trees, and along the white dusty lane, between the wilted hedges, dry -with summer heat. A quarter of a mile brought her to a side path, and -down this she went calmly, congratulating herself that she had met -neither tramp, nor neighbour on the road. The path wound deviously -through ancient trees, and at length emerged into a rather large glade -in the centre of which was a pond, green with duckweed. Over this -spread the branches of the Witches' Oak, an old old tree, which must -have been growing in the time of the Druids, and which had probably -played its part in their mystic rites. A fitful moonlight gleamed -occasionally on this, as the planet showed her haggard face, and under -the tree Beatrice saw a tall figure waiting patiently. She crossed the -glade in the moonlight, but the clouds swept over the face of the orb, -as Beatrice paused under the oak. Then again came a growl of distant -thunder, as if in warning. - -"I knew you would come," said Paslow, stepping forward, and for the -moment it seemed as though he would take her in his arms. - -In the darkness the cheeks of the girl flushed, and she stepped lightly -aside, evading his clasp. Her heart told her to throw herself into -those strong arms and be protected for ever from the coming storms of -life, but a sense of modesty prevented such speedy surrender. When she -spoke, her voice was steady and cool. There was no time to be lost, and -she began hurriedly in the middle of things. - -"Yes, I have come," she said quickly; "because I want to know the -meaning of the words you used to my father to-day." - -"I don't know what they mean," confessed Paslow calmly. - -"Then why did you use them?" - -"I received a hint to do so." - -"From whom?" - -"I can't tell you that. Miss Hedge--Beatrice--I asked you to meet me -here, so that no one should interrupt our conversation. If you came -to the Grange, Dinah would have prevented my speaking; and now that -Mr. Alpenny is angry with me, I cannot come to The Camp. You must -forgive me for having asked you to meet me here at this hour, and in -so ill-omened a spot, but I have something to say to you which must be -said at once." - -"What is it?" Her heart beat rapidly as she spoke, for although she -could not see his face in the darkness, she guessed from the tones of -his voice that he was about to say all which she desired to hear. - -"Can't you guess?" He came a step nearer and spoke softly. - -Beatrice, feeling strange, as was natural considering the circumstance, -laughed in an embarrassed manner. "How can I guess?" - -"Because you must have seen what I meant in my eyes, Beatrice. I want -you to be my wife." - -Her heart beat loudly as though it would give Vivian its answer without -speech. - -"I don't understand," she said abruptly. - -"Surely you must have seen----" - -"Oh yes, I saw," she interrupted rapidly, "I saw that you loved me. I -also saw that you held back from asking me to marry you." - -"I had a reason," he said, after a pause; "that reason is now removed, -and I can ask you, as I do with all my heart and soul, to be my wife. -Dearest, I love you." - -"Can I believe that?" - -"I swear it!" he breathed passionately. - -"But the reason?" - -Paslow hesitated. "It was connected with money," he confessed at last. -"Your father--or, rather, your stepfather--had a mortgage on nearly the -whole of my property. I have lately inherited a small sum of money, and -went to-day to ask Mr. Alpenny to arrange about paying off part of the -mortgage. He accused me of wishing to rob him." - -"But why, when you desired to pay off the mortgage?" - -"I can't say. I think"--Vivian hesitated--"I think that he wishes to -get possession of the Grange." - -"And his reason?" - -"I can't tell you that. But the moment I offered to pay the money he -burst out into a rage and said that I wanted to rob him. Then I warned -him as to something I had heard against him in London." - -"What is that?" she asked in startled tones. - -"I dare not tell you just now." - -"Is it connected with the Black Patch?" - -"Not that I know of. And what do you know of the Black Patch?" - -"I know nothing. I heard it mentioned--whatever it is--for the first -time to-day, and by you. The effect on Mr. Alpenny was so strange that -I wish to know what the Black Patch means." - -"I do not know myself," said Vivian earnestly. "Listen, my dear girl. -The other night I found on my desk a scrap of paper, and on it was -written--or, rather, I should say printed, for the person who wrote -printed the letters--'If Alpenny objects, say "Remember the Black -Patch."'" - -Beatrice listened, bewildered. "What does that mean?" - -"I can't say. But when driven into a corner by his language I used the -very words on the scrap of paper. You saw their effect." - -"It is strange," said Beatrice; then remembering what the miser had -said to her, she grasped her lover's arm. "Vivian, he told me that you -had committed crimes." - -"What a liar! I have committed no crimes, save that I have indulged in -the usual follies of a young man whose parents died before they could -guide him properly. What does he mean?" - -"I can't say. But I think he wished to make me mistrust you." - -"I can guess that, for I asked him to-day if I could marry you. He -refused, and raged worse than ever. It was then that he turned me out -of his counting-house, and--well, you saw what happened. I suppose he -wants you to marry someone else?" - -"Yes. He told me so to-day. Major Ruck." - -"Who is he?" demanded Paslow in a tone of anger. - -"I don't know. Major Simon Ruck, a retired army officer with a fine -fortune, and who is fifty years of age, and----" - -Here there came a flash of blue lightning, and then a loud crash of -thunder. Afterwards the strong wind hurtled towards them, bearing on -its wings the drenching rain. Vivian was startled, and caught Beatrice -to his breast in the darkness. - -"Darling, will you marry me?" he asked, although she was scarcely -mistress yet of her emotions in the storm and gloom. - -Before she could answer, the pent-up feelings of the day found relief -in a burst of hysterical tears. Pulling out her handkerchief she -pressed it to her eyes, and at the moment felt the key, entangled in -the handkerchief, fall out. - -"Oh," she gasped, "the key! it has fallen out of my pocket!" - -"I'll find it!" and Paslow dropped on to the grass, now wet, while the -rain came down in torrents. "I have it!" he said, wondering at this -queer disconnected wooing, and rose with the key in his hand. "My dear, -let us stand further under the tree, and then we can talk." - -"No! no!" Beatrice was quite unstrung by this time. "I must go home at -once. It is late, and my father--my--ah! who is that?" - -Flash after flash of lightning, blue and vivid, illuminated the haunted -tree, as though once again the witches were holding their demoniac -revels. A short distance away stood a small man. Neither of the lovers -could see his features in the fitful illumination. Vivian, with a -cry of anger, ran straight towards the figure, and it disappeared. -Tales of the spectres said to haunt the tree occurred to the mind of -Beatrice, and, unstrung, and not mistress of herself, she left the oak -and hurried across the glade. The lightning was flashing incessantly, -and the thunder roared like artillery, while the steady rain spattered -through the trees' tops. Trying to find the path which led to the lane, -Beatrice ran on. She fancied she heard the voice of Paslow shouting, -but again pealed the thunder to drown what he said. Losing her -head--and small wonder, so terrific was the storm--Beatrice scrambled -on through many paths, and finally, when there came an unusually vivid -flash, she sank with a cry of terror under some bushes, and fainted on -the streaming ground. How long she remained unconscious she did not -know. - -When she did regain her senses, a mighty wind was blowing through the -woods, bending the stoutest trees like saplings. Through the swaying -boughs, the girl could see the flicker of lightning racing across the -sky; and every now and then boomed sullen thunder, loud and menacing. -With an effort she gathered her aching limbs together and staggered -forward blindly through the wood. She could not tell what the hour -was, or guess where she was going, but by some miracle she managed to -arrive at the lane. Even then, she did not recognise where she was, but -ran blindly along in the hope of finding The Camp. There was no sign -of Vivian, or of the man who had been watching them under the Witches' -Oak. All around was the roaring darkness, laced with vivid lightning -and alive with furious rain and wind. Like a demented creature, -Beatrice sped along in mud and slush, kilting up her petticoats to run -the faster. And ever overhead screamed the storm, while the wild winds -tore and buffeted the tormented trees. - -She bitterly regretted having kept the appointment She had learned -little save that Vivian loved her, which she had known long ago. And -now she had lost the key: Paslow possessed it, since he had not given -it back to her before he ran after the watcher. So how was she to -re-enter the jealously-guarded Camp? Alpenny would know that she had -been out, that she had met Vivian, and there would be great trouble. -These thoughts made the head of the girl reel as she ran along blind -and breathless. - -Then came several flashes, and before her, unexpectedly, she beheld -the gate of The Camp. It was wide open, but, without thinking, she -ran in at once, only too thankful to arrive home. As she passed the -posts, she sprang unseeingly into the arms of a man. With a cry she -tore herself away, and stared. In a flash of lightning she saw that he -was tall, lean, clothed in black, and--the sight made her shriek--over -his left eye he wore a Black Patch. Then the darkness closed down and -she heard him brush past into gloom, running swiftly out of the gate, -which he closed after him. She heard the click, and in some way managed -to scramble across the wet lawn to her own bedroom-carriage. As she -dropped on the threshold she saw that the light in the counting-house -was extinguished. What did it all mean? she asked herself; and who was -the tall man with the dark patch over his left eye? - - - - - -CHAPTER V -MRS. SNOW'S DISCOVERY - - -After a few minutes' lying on the threshold of her carriage-bedroom -with the rain beating upon her soaking dress, Beatrice rose with an -effort and opened the door. It was never locked, as no one would be -likely to enter. The matches and a candle were on a table by the -bed, where she had left them, and soon she had a light. Beside the -candlestick lay a folded piece of paper, and opening this, she read a -line or two in Alpenny's crabbed handwriting. - -"I find you have gone out. I am going also, and will not be back for -three days. Durban will return to-morrow and look after you." - -There was no signature, but of course she recognised the calligraphy -easily, as it had a distinctive character of its own. The contents -of the note rather surprised the girl. In the first place, Alpenny -made no remark as to her having taken the key; and in the second, it -was strange that he should depart thus unexpectedly, leaving The Camp -absolutely unguarded, even by a dog. Beatrice knew well enough that -her stepfather frequently went away on business, and at times very -unexpectedly, but she had never known him to take so hasty a departure. -However, after a glance at the note, she determined to go to bed, being -too weary to think of anything; too weary even to reflect that she was -alone in that lonely Camp, and that the gate had been open when she -arrived. A memory of the stranger with the black patch over his eye -certainly made her lock her door, and see that the windows were well -fastened; but when she had accomplished this for her own safety, she -had only sufficient strength remaining to throw off her wet clothes and -get into bed. And there she speedily fell into a deep and dreamless -sleep, while the storm raged louder than ever. Her last thought was a -hope, that Vivian had reached the Grange in safety. - -When she awoke next morning it was ten, as the tiny cuckoo clock on the -wall told her, and the sun was streaming in through the chinks of the -window-shutters. She still felt weary, and her limbs ached a trifle, -but for a moment or so she could not think how she came to be so tired. -Then the memory of all that had happened rushed in on her brain, and -she sprang from bed to open the door and windows. In a minute the -sunlight was pouring cheerfully into the bedroom, and Beatrice was -rapidly dressed, feeling hungry, yet at the same time anxious. - -And much need she had to be. Her stepfather knew that she had gone out, -and must have known that she had taken the key of the smaller gate, -for which he would immediately look. He would certainly make himself -most unpleasant, and she anticipated a bad quarter of an hour when he -returned. Also, Vivian might have got into trouble with the man who had -watched them meet under the Witches' Oak. Then, again, the gate of The -Camp had been open when she returned, and a stranger had left the place -hurriedly. All these things were very strange and disquieting, and -Beatrice ardently wished that Durban was back, so that she might speak -to him and be reassured. But it was probable that Vivian would come -to The Camp that morning in order to learn if she had arrived safely; -then they could renew the interrupted conversation, and come to an -understanding. - -The interview with Paslow perplexed Beatrice when she thought over -it. Vivian's talk had been disjointed, and he had given her no -satisfaction, answering her questions in a vague manner. That he should -have proposed at so awkward a moment, and in so awkward a manner, -also puzzled the girl. From what she could recall of the scrappy -conversation it had been like one in a nightmare; and, indeed, the -whole episode was far removed from the commonplace. The meeting-place -under the ill-omened tree--the few hurried words--the rush of Vivian -towards the strange man--and then her own headlong flight through the -damp, dark woods--these thoughts made her very uncomfortable. It was -more like romance than real life, and Beatrice did not care for such -sensational events. - -When dressed, she said her prayers and felt more composed; then stepped -out into the broad, bright sunshine. After the storm everything looked -fresh and vividly green: the world had a newly washed look, and the -air seemed to be filled with vital energy, as though it were indeed -the breath of life. But Beatrice soon saw evidence of the storm's -fury. Huge boughs were stripped from the trees round The Camp, the -flower-beds presented a draggled appearance, and the sundial had been -blown down. For the rest, everything looked the same at usual. When -she glanced at the dungeon, she saw that the door was closed and the -blind was down, although this latter was a trifle askew. Beatrice could -have gratified her curiosity by looking into the counting-house through -the twisted blind; but she had seen sufficient of it on the previous -day, and felt more inclined to eat than to waste her time peering into -Alpenny's sanctum. With the idea of getting breakfast, she went to the -kitchen, and speedily had the fire alight. Durban never locked the door -of the kitchen carriage, so there was no difficulty in entering. - -Beatrice found plenty of food in the cupboard, and made herself some -strong coffee and an appetising dish of bacon and eggs. It was too much -trouble to take the food to the dining-car, so she spread a cloth on -the kitchen table, and made a very good meal. When she had finished, -she washed the dishes and put them away; then went out again, feeling -much better, and all signs of fatigue disappeared from her young and -elastic frame. But for the evidences of the storm, she would have -thought the past events of the night, those of a dream. - -To pass the time, Beatrice swept out her bedroom and made the bed, -then attended to the garden. Every now and then she would glance at -the gate, expecting that Vivian Paslow would enter. But by twelve -o'clock he had not come, and she felt very disappointed. Then she began -to feel alarmed. What if he had met the man and had fought with him? -What if the man had hurt him? She asked herself these questions, and -half determined to go over to Convent Grange in order to get answers. -But she did not wish to leave The Camp until Durban came back, since -Alpenny was absent. Still the desire to hear and see Paslow was -overwhelming, and she was just about to yield to her curiosity and -leave The Camp to look after itself when she heard the rapid vibration -of the electric bell, and knew that someone was at the gate. In a -moment she was flying across the lawn, her heart beating and her colour -rising. - -"Vivian! Vivian!" sang her heart, and she threw open the gate, which -was still unlocked. To her surprise, she beheld outside no less a -person than Mrs. Snow! - -The vicar's wife looked more amiable than usual and less grim. She was -not very tall, and was dressed in dull slate-coloured garments very -ugly and inexpensive, and likely to wear well. A straw hat trimmed with -ribbons of the same sad hue surmounted her sharp, thin face, which was -that of the miser species, hard and sour. Mrs. Snow had never been a -pretty woman, and never an agreeable one, and as she faced Beatrice -with what was meant to be a smile, she looked like a disappointed -spinster. Yet she was the wife of the vicar, and the mother of Jerry, -so she certainly should have looked more pleasant. But Mrs. Snow was -a woman who took life hard, and made it hard for others also. If she -could not enjoy herself, she was determined that no one else should. -Whatever sins the vicar had committed--if any--the poor man was -bitterly punished by having such a household fairy at his fireside. - -"Mrs. Snow!" gasped Beatrice, who was immensely astonished, as well she -might be, seeing that the vicaress had never before deigned to pay The -Camp a visit. - -"Yes, my dear Miss Hedge," said the lady, with a suavity she was far -from feeling, as the girl's fresh beauty annoyed her. "You are no doubt -surprised to see me. But I have come to see Mr. Alpenny as my husband's -richest parishioner. Last night's storm has damaged the spire of our -church, so I have started out at once to collect subscriptions for its -repair. There is nothing like taking Time by the forelock, Miss Hedge." - -"My father is out," said Beatrice coldly, "and will not be back for a -few days. Then you can ask him, Mrs. Snow." - -"May I not put you down for a trifle?" - -"I have no money," replied Beatrice, annoyed by the greed and -persistence of her visitor. "Will you come in?" - -She did not wish to invite the lady in, but Mrs. Snow showed so very -plainly that she intended to enter, that Beatrice could do no less. In -silence she led the way to the Snow Parlour, and the vicar's wife was -presently seated on the linen-covered sofa, glancing with sharp eyes -round the pretty place. It need hardly be said that she glanced with -inward disapproval and outward praise. She wanted money for the spire, -and therefore had to be polite; but that did not withhold her from -inwardly finding all the fault she could. - -"A most charming place," said Mrs. Snow, still trying to make herself -agreeable. - -"I am glad you think so," replied Beatrice, wondering why her -unexpected visitor was so very polite; and mindful of Mrs. Snow's -past behaviour, the girl could not think that the vicaress was making -herself thus pleasant in order to get money for the spire. Besides, -the spire had only been damaged on the previous night, and it seemed -strange that the woman should begin to hunt for subscriptions for its -restoration already. No! Beatrice came to the conclusion, and very -rightly, that Mrs. Snow had another motive in paying attention to the -girl she had so severely snubbed. - -"I have intended to call ever so many times," went on Mrs. Snow, not -to be daunted by the frosty manner of her hostess, "but my husband, -poor man, is not very well, and I have to attend to a great deal of the -parish work." - -"There is no need to apologise, Mrs. Snow. I see very few people." - -"But those you see are really charming!" gushed the vicaress. "I, of -course, allude to Mr. and Miss Paslow." - -"They are friends of mine." - -"And of mine also, Miss Hedge. Though I will say that this engagement -of my son to Miss Paslow does not please me. I really thought"--here -Mrs. Snow cast a searching look on the girl's face--"that my son -admired you." - -"Oh no. He has always been devoted to Miss Paslow." - -"His devotion is misplaced," snapped Mrs. Snow, some of the veneer of -her gracious manner wearing away. "I shall never consent to such a -marriage." - -"You must tell that to Miss Paslow and to your son," said Beatrice -coldly; "I have nothing to do with it." - -"Well"--Mrs. Snow hesitated--"I thought that you, being a friend of -Miss Paslow's, might point out how foolish her conduct is." - -"It is not my place to interfere," said Miss Hedge in a frosty manner, -and beginning to gain an inkling as to why the vicaress had paid this -unforeseen visit. - -"Of course not. I should never ask you to do anything disagreeable, -Miss Hedge. I hope you will come and see me at the Vicarage. Now that I -have found you out, I really must see more of you." - -"It is very kind of you, Mrs. Snow; but I never go out. My father does -not wish me to." - -"So eccentric dear Mr. Alpenny is!" murmured the vicaress. "I was in -town only two weeks ago, and Lady Watson mentioned how strange he was. -You know Lady Watson, of course?" - -"I never set eyes on her. I don't even know the name." - -"That is strange," and Mrs. Snow really did look puzzled; "she knew all -about you." - -Beatrice started. "What is there to know about me?" - -"Oh, nothing--really and truly nothing. Only that Mr. Alpenny married -your mother and adopted you when she died. I was not here when Mrs. -Alpenny died, but I believe she is buried in our churchyard." - -"I have seen the tombstone," said Beatrice coldly. "And how does this -Lady Watson come to know about me?" - -"She was a school friend of your mother's--so she said." - -"Oh!" Beatrice felt her face flush. Here was a chance of learning -something that neither Durban nor Alpenny would tell her. "I should -like to meet Lady Watson." - -"You shall, my dear Miss Hedge. She is coming in a few weeks to stop at -the Vicarage." - -"I shall be happy to see her." Beatrice had to swallow her pride before -she could say this, as Mrs. Snow had really treated her very badly. -But she was anxious to learn something of her mother, and to find out -if she had any relatives, as she was determined not to marry Ruck, -and knew that if she did not, Alpenny was quite capable of turning -her out of doors. Of course Durban would always look after her, but -Beatrice wished to be independent even of Durban. At the moment she -never thought of Vivian and his hasty proposal, but it came back to her -memory when Mrs. Snow introduced his name. - -"I hear that Mr. Paslow is thinking of moving from this place," said -Mrs. Snow. "Such a pity! so old a family. The Paslows have been in the -Grange since the reign of Henry VIII. It was originally a convent, -you know, and the Paslow of those days was presented with it, by the -king--so shocking, wasn't it? He turned out the nuns and lived in the -place himself. That is why it is called Convent Grange." - -"So Miss Paslow told me," responded Beatrice, rather weary of this -small-talk, and wondering why it was being manufactured. - -"But Mr. Paslow is poor," pursued Mrs. Snow, "and can't keep the place -up. I expect he'll go to the colonies, or some such place. So you can -easily see why I don't want my son to marry his sister." - -Beatrice felt very much inclined to tell her garrulous visitor that -Vivian had inherited money, and would probably clear off the mortgages -and live in the style of his forefathers. But she restrained her -inclination, as it was none of her business, and rose to intimate that -the interview was at an end. But Mrs. Snow still sat on. - -"Really a lovely place, Convent Grange," she chattered, "although sadly -out of repair. Haunted, too, they say, although I don't believe in -ghosts myself. But I hear an Indian colonel was murdered there some -twenty-four years ago, and his ghost is said to haunt the room he was -killed in." - -"I never heard that," said Beatrice, wondering why Dinah had never -imparted so comparatively modern a tragedy to her. - -"I dare say not," said Mrs. Snow tartly; "the Paslows don't like -talking about the matter. I heard about it from an old shepherd who -keeps sheep on the Downs. Orchard is his name, and he was the butler of -Mr. Paslow's father, who was alive when Colonel Hall was murdered." - -"I never heard of a shepherd being a butler." - -"You mean that you never heard of a butler turning a shepherd," said -Mrs. Snow; "neither did I. But I understand that the poor man's nerves -were so wrecked by the sight of the dead body that the doctors of those -days ordered him to take the open-air cure. So he became a shepherd. A -most superior man." - -"Who murdered Colonel Hall?" - -"No one ever found out. His throat was cut, and he was discovered dead -in his bed. I believe a casket of jewels was stolen at the time, and -was never found. But even if the Paslows didn't tell you about this, -I wonder your father did not, dear Miss Hedge, as he was here at the -time, and a visitor at the Grange." - -"My stepfather never tells me anything." - -"How dull you must be. He really is so eccentric. Lady Watson knew him -years and years ago, and says that he is quite a gentleman. He was -at Rugby with her husband, Sir Reginald, who is dead. But he took up -this money-lending business, which really is not respectable, besides -which, it is quite forbidden by the Mosaic law. Well, I must be going." -Mrs. Snow rose, still smiling. "But you really must come over to the -Vicarage, and let me make your life more gay. I shall also try and -induce your father--no, stepfather--to come over." - -"I don't think you'll be able to manage that," said Beatrice dryly, and -wondering what all this alarming sweetness meant; "my stepfather never -goes out." - -"He did over twenty years ago. Ask him about his visit to Convent -Grange, and about Colonel Hall's murder. It caused a great sensation, -although the criminal was never found. But who is this?" Mrs. -Snow stepped out into the sunshine as she spoke, and pointed her -slate-coloured parasol towards Durban, who was standing near. He -must have approached very softly, and must have heard every word -the vicaress said for the last few minutes. His dark face looked -unnaturally white, and he cast a nervous glance at the visitor. -Beatrice noticed nothing, however, and ran to him at once. - -"Oh, Durban, I am so pleased to see you. Father has gone away. See, he -left this note, and----" - -"I'll take my leave, so as not to interrupt you," said Mrs. Snow -graciously; "then you can talk to the man. What a charming place!" She -looked round severely and walked from one carriage to another. "Your -bedroom, a dining-room, another bedroom"; then she stopped at the -dungeon and tried the door. "Oh, Bluebeard's chamber! I must not look -in here." - -"It is the master's counting-house, lady," said Durban, who was close -at her heels and seemed anxious for her to go. - -"How delightful! A counting-house in a dark wood--just like 'Alice in -Wonderland.' May I look in at the window? Mr. Alpenny is from home, so -he can't object," and before any one could stop her she was peeping -through the window, where the blind was askew. Then she gave a cry of -alarm. "Miss Hedge, your father is within. He is lying on the floor." -She stood on tiptoe. "Oh! he is dead. I see blood!" - -"Impossible!" cried Beatrice, rushing forward and pushing the meddling -woman aside.--"Yes Durban!--Oh, great Heavens!" - -The servant came running up and also glanced in. Then, with an -exclamation of horror, he ran into the kitchen and came out with a -bunch of skeleton keys. Both the women, pale and terrified, stood -beside him while he fitted these into the lock. None would open the -door, and he flung them away with a smothered oath. For a moment he -paused, then ran into the wood. Mrs. Snow turned to Beatrice. - -"Your father has been murdered. I shall tell the police." - -"Yes, do!" said Beatrice, clasping her hands. "I never knew. When I -came home last night, he left a note saying that he would go away for a -few days, and----" - -"Here is the man with a log," interrupted Mrs. Snow. - -Indeed, it was Durban who came, dragging after him a large beam. With -a strength of which Beatrice had never thought so stout a man was -capable, he caught this in the middle, and, retiring for a few paces, -made a run at the door. It burst open with the shock, and, dropping the -beam, Durban went inside. Mrs. Snow drew Beatrice back. - -"It is not for you to see," she said sharply. - -"How dare you stop me!" said the girl, angry at the liberty, and -pushing Mrs. Snow away, she ran forward. - -Durban tried to keep her out, but she managed to gain a glimpse of a -stiff figure lying on the floor under the mahogany desk. - -"Oh, good Heavens!" shrieked the girl; "his throat has been cut!" - -"So was Colonel Hall's!" muttered Mrs. Snow, and stole a glance at -Durban, which made the man turn even greyer than he already was. - - - - - -CHAPTER VI -THE INQUEST - - -After eighty years, halting Nemesis had at last caught up with Jarvis -Alpenny. He had buried himself in seclusion; he had surrounded himself -with bolts and bars and other precautions; but the order that his -sordid career should end had come from the Powers that deal with -evil-doers, and he was as dead as a door-nail. And very unpleasantly he -had died too, for his wrinkled throat had been cut from ear to ear. Who -had done it no one seemed to know. - -Beatrice might have supplied a clue; but for reasons connected with -the Paslow family she held her tongue, and feigned ignorance when the -rural police came on the scene, which they did very speedily, owing -to the zeal of Mrs. Snow. The sergeant of the district questioned and -cross-questioned Miss Hedge, with very little success. She told him -that, on the previous evening, she had gone for a walk in the woods -round The Camp, but did not mention with what object. There, as she -stated very truly, she had been caught in the storm, and at some -unknown time had stumbled home wet and weary, and so tired that she had -at once slipped into bed. The note from her stepfather was produced, -and confiscated by the sergeant; the details of Mrs. Snow's curiosity -leading to a discovery of a crime, were given; and then Beatrice -professed that she could tell no more. The bucolic constable believed -her readily enough, and informed his Inspector who came that Miss Hedge -had told the truth and nothing but the truth. This might have been so, -but she certainly had not told the whole truth, else might the sergeant -have added to the note left by the dead man, a certain gentleman's -handkerchief, marked with three initials--"V.R.P." - -This piece of evidence Beatrice had picked up so near the body, that a -corner of the handkerchief was soaked in the life-blood of the miser. -Her quick eye had seen it almost the moment she had entered the dungeon -at Durban's heels, and when falling on her knees by the dead she had -mechanically picked it up, without lynx-eyed Mrs. Snow seeing the -action. Durban would only allow the women to remain for two minutes in -that place of death. Then he drove them out, and insisted that Beatrice -should retire to her parlour. She did so while he reclosed the door of -the counting-house, and while Mrs. Snow, almost too excited to speak, -ran for the nearest constable, who in his turn summoned his sergeant. - -Alone in the parlour, Beatrice, still mechanically grasping the -handkerchief, suddenly remembered how she had found it, and at once -examined the corners. It was with a gasp of terror that she realised to -whom it belonged. "V.R.P." could only stand for Vivian Robert Paslow, -and he--as she knew only too well--was the enemy of the deceased. -Could it be that Vivian had killed the miser to settle the question -of marriage, and secure his threatened property from getting into the -cruel clutches of his victim? In that first moment of horror Beatrice -was inclined to think so. Then, with a revulsion of feeling, she -recoiled with horror from so base an idea. The man she loved was not a -midnight assassin: however much he may have hated Alpenny, he certainly -would not have put the old man to death in so barbarous a fashion. -Finally, he had been with her under the Witches' Oak last night, and -could not possibly be guilty. - -Then, again, on further thought it occurred to her that such an alibi -could scarcely serve in this case. The meeting at the haunted tree -had taken place about seven o'clock, and had lasted, so far as she -could reckon from confused recollection, for a quarter of an hour. -Then had come the episode of the pursuit of the watcher by Paslow, -her own flight through the woods, the breaking of the storm, and her -fainting-fit. She might have been hours unconscious; she might have -been hours getting home, for she had very little recollection of that -mad passage through the furious wind and rain. Only she remembered -reaching The Camp between the gates, and blindly falling into the arms -of a lean, tall man with a black patch over his left eye. Had that man -been Vivian? Was it truly her lover who, in the intervening time, had -stolen to the deserted Camp, and using the key of the small gate (which -she knew he possessed) had gained access to the dungeon, there to -commit his crime? No! It was impossible. If she could only remember the -time when she came back! This was hard to do, and yet it was done, for -chance came to her aid. - -Besides the cuckoo-clock which had awakened her, Beatrice possessed an -old silver watch, given to her on some far-distant birthday by Durban. -It stood on a small stand beside the bed, and she remembered that in -slipping between the sheets, weary and half asleep, she had knocked -this down between the table it stood on and the wall. Some instinct -must have directed her to look for it at the moment. She thrust the -incriminating handkerchief into her pocket, and ran to the bedroom -carriage. There she found the watch--found also that it had stopped at -the hour of nine o'clock. It was just possible that the stoppage had -occurred when she had knocked it over. She certainly had wound it up -as usual on the previous night, and twice before, when knocked off its -stand, it had stopped dead. - -"Yes," thought the girl, inspecting the yellow dial, "it must have been -stopped by the fall, unless"--she shook it vigorously--"unless it has -run down"; but a steady ticking told her that the main-spring was not -yet fully unwound, and she replaced the watch on its stand, with a firm -conviction that she had entered the bedroom at nine on the previous -evening. Vivian had left her to follow the spy at a quarter past -seven, so he could easily have committed the crime, so far as time and -opportunity went, as one hour and three-quarters had been taken up by -her in getting home. An alibi, therefore, was little good in this case, -and on the evidence of the handkerchief he would assuredly be hanged. - -"No! no! no!" murmured Beatrice with rising inflection, and speaking -aloud in her agitation; "it is untrue. Vivian would never commit so -cowardly a deed as to kill an old man of eighty, however much he may -have hated him. I shall hide the handkerchief--but where? The police -are sure to search the place, and--and----" A sudden thought struck -her. "I'll keep it in my pocket," she decided, and thrust it, neatly -folded up, to the very bottom of that receptacle. Later, she intended -to cautiously question Paslow, and learn if he had been to The Camp on -that night. But the conversation would be between their two selves. She -would tell no one else of the handkerchief she had picked up, not even -Durban, faithful servant though he was. - -It was at this moment, and as though in response to her mental mention -of his name, that Durban appeared. He looked much shaken by the -tragedy, and was green with scarcely concealed fright. Beatrice eyed -him with astonishment, as she had never deemed him to be much attached -to the old tyrant who had gone so violently to his long rest. Durban -evaded her searching glance, which was perhaps fortunate, as the girl -herself did not wish her own countenance to be too closely scrutinised. - -"I've shut it up in the counting-house," said Durban, his eyes on the -ground, and jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "The police will be -here soon. Mrs. Snow will tell them; she'll be glad of the chance." - -"Why? Did she know my--the late Mr. Alpenny?" - -"That's right, missy." Durban raised his eyes with approval, and -dropped them again. "Never call him your father." - -"He was my stepfather," Beatrice reminded him. - -"Ah--hum--yes," gurgled Durban. "Yes, missy, Mrs. Snow knew master -before you were born--at Convent Grange." - -"I heard her say that Colonel Hall's throat had also been cut." - -Durban shuddered, and leaned against the door. "Yes," he whispered -faintly, "that was so, missy." - -"Mr. Alpenny's throat has been cut in the same way." - -Durban half smiled, but his expression was wry and twisted. "There is -only one way to cut a throat, missy." - -"Ugh!" Beatrice turned pale, and threw up her hand. "Don't!" - -"It is a nasty subject, missy. I--I'm sorry for the master. And yet," -he added, half to himself; "if ever a man deserved what he got, master -was that man." - -"What do you mean?" asked Beatrice, taking a step towards him. - -"Master had many enemies," went on Durban, again casting his eyes on -the ground; "a money-lender always has." - -"Then you know----" - -"I know nothing," snapped the man angrily, and wiping his swarthy face -with a duster. "Master sent me to London last night, as you knew, -missy. I only came down by the morning train, and walked here, in time -to find you with Mrs. Snow. What did she want?" - -Beatrice smiled faintly in her turn. "Subscriptions for the church -spire, which was blown down last night." - -"Oh! That was the excuse?" - -"Excuse for what, Durban?" - -"To see you, missy, and learn---- But there!" Durban turned away. "She -came here to make mischief between you and master. Thank Heaven he is -dead, and you will get the money. Mrs. Snow can't harm you now." - -"Why should she wish to harm me, Durban?" - -"That's a long story, missy. Now that the master is dead, I can tell it -to you. But first we must learn who killed----" - -"I know," interrupted Beatrice quickly; "a tall man, with a black patch -over his left eye." - -Durban turned greener than ever. "How do you know that, missy?" he -asked in a strangled voice. - -"I saw him when the gates were open, about nine o'clock last night." - -Durban looked at her sharply. "Then you did go for that walk, missy?" - -"Yes, I had to. Mr. Paslow wished to see me. Durban"--she made a step -forward, and clutched his arm tightly--"I'll tell you what I don't -intend to tell any one else," and without giving the man time to -make an observation, she related the whole story of her adventure, -suppressing only the episode of the handkerchief. This she did, so as -to avert any possible suspicion from Vivian, since Durban, knowing that -Paslow had been with her, would not connect him with the crime--that -is, if he was stupid enough not to calculate the time, and thus prove -the futility of the alibi. - -Durban listened quietly enough. "I am glad that Mr. Paslow will marry -you, missy," he said at last, and removed her grasp from his arm. "You -will inherit a lot of money from the dead master. It ought to be twenty -thousand a year!" - -"But, Durban, Mr. Alpenny told me very plainly that if he died, I would -be a pauper." - -"I don't believe it," burst out the half-caste; "he would not dare -to--to----" Here he halted and stammered, "C--c--curse him!" - -"Durban!" She stepped back a pace in sheer amazement at the savagery of -the tone. - -"Dead, or alive, curse him!" cried Durban, his voice gathering strength -from the intensity of his hate. "He was a scoundrel--you don't know how -great a scoundrel. Missy"--he grasped her arm in his turn--"you shall -have the money, I swear it. Then marry Mr. Paslow, and go away for a -few years, till all blows over." - -"Till what blows over?" asked Beatrice anxiously. - -"Hush!" Durban let go her arm, and controlled himself by a violent -effort. "The police! Say as little as you can. You know nothing--I know -nothing." - -"Durban, are you afraid?" - -"Of Mrs. Snow. Hush!" - -The last words were scarcely out of his mouth when the two policemen, -who had entered the gates left open by Mrs. Snow, came up to them with -important airs. The sergeant was stout and short, the constable lean -and tall. - -"We take possession of this place, miss," said the stout man -breathlessly. - -"In the name of the King and the law," finished the lean person. - -"And anything you say will be used in evidence against you," they both -murmured in a breath, then stared sternly at the startled girl and the -green-hued half-caste. - -"Do what you like," said Beatrice, drawing herself up; "neither myself -nor Durban know anything." - -"But----" began the sergeant, snorting with excitement. - -"I will answer all questions at the proper time, and at the proper -place," said Miss Hedge, cutting the plethoric man short. Then she -retired into her bedroom and shut the door. - -The constables grumbled at her sharpness of speech, but went to work. -They examined the body, searched every inch of The Camp, made plans, -took notes, asked innumerable questions of Durban, and finally insisted -that Beatrice should submit to an examination. This she did composedly -enough, but said as little as she well could. It was her intention to -reserve an account of what she had seen for the inquest. She did not -even tell the Inspector, when he arrived to take charge of the case. - -There was immense excitement in Hurstable. The quiet little Sussex -village had never before been defiled by a crime of this brutal kind. -Sparsely populated as the district was, a great number of agricultural -labourers gathered in a remarkably short space of time. Their wives and -children came also, and the police had much difficulty in keeping them -out of the precincts of The Camp. Then by next day the news had reached -Brighton, and crowds of tourists--it being the holiday season--poured -into the Weald on foot, on bicycles, in motor cars and carriages, and -by train. With them came the reporters from various newspapers, London -and local, and the whole place buzzed like a hive at swarming-time. - -Beatrice remained in The Camp under charge of Durban. Dinah Paslow -came to offer her the hospitality of Convent Grange; but, much to the -surprise of Beatrice, the man who had proposed to her on that fatal -night never made his appearance. Without any embarrassment, Dinah -told her friend that Vivian had gone to town as soon as he heard that -Alpenny was dead. - - - - - -CHAPTER VII -THE INQUEST--continued - - -Beatrice was both surprised and alarmed when she heard of Vivian's -abrupt departure without seeing her. It argued that he was guilty, and -feared to face her. Yet, try as she might, it was impossible for her to -believe him to be a murderer. - -"Why didn't he come to see me?" she asked Dinah. - -"He wanted to," replied the freckled girl. "But then he said that he -had important business to attend to, connected with you, and went up -to town the day before yesterday. I have not heard from him since, and -don't know when he is coming back." - -"Business connected with me!" repeated Miss Hedge, much perplexed. "I -don't understand." - -"Neither do I, dear. But don't worry. Vivian loves you, and whatever -he does will be for your benefit. I do wish you'd come to the Grange, -Beatrice, and let Mrs. Lilly look after you--she knows about herbs and -things, and you look so pale. And no wonder, seeing what a shock you -have had. I wouldn't stop in this place for anything, seeing ghosts and -spooks--ugh!" and Dinah ended her somewhat incoherent speech with a -shudder. - -"I cannot come until the inquest is over," said Beatrice, rapidly -surveying the situation. - -"And then?" - -"Then, perhaps. It depends upon Mr. Paslow." - -"Vivian, you mean," said Dinah quickly. - -"I have no right to call him Vivian," replied Beatrice proudly. - -"Yes, you have. Vivian told me that he had asked you to be his wife, -and that you had accepted." - -"Dinah"--Beatrice looked directly at the girl "did he tell you where he -proposed?" - -"Yes; under the----" - -"Hush!" Miss Hedge sank her voice to a whisper as she saw a blue-coated -constable moving heavily round the garden, and gradually drawing -nearer. "Not a word. Hold your tongue about that meeting." - -"But why?" asked the amazed Dinah. - -"I'll tell you later," said Beatrice hurriedly; "that is, when I have -seen Vivian. Have you his address?" - -"No. He went away, and said he would be back soon. Oh dear!" cried -Dinah fretfully; "there is such a lot of mystery about Vivian, and -has been for ages and ages. Sometimes he's jolly, and then he's as -dismal as a sick cow. I thought it was love, for Jerry often is the -same--silly boy. But I don't believe it is love," concluded Dinah -decidedly. "Vivian has something on his mind." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Something horrid. I don't know what it is, but I fear the worst." - -"Don't be a fool, Dinah," said Beatrice impatiently, for she winced at -hearing her own doubts put into speech. "It's money troubles that annoy -him, and probably, now that Mr. Alpenny is dead, he has gone to see the -executors, to know how his mortgage will stand." - -"As if he couldn't ask you," cried Dinah, rising and throwing her -riding-skirt over her arm. "You'll get the money, of course. It -ought to be a lot, Beatrice, for Jerry, who has had dealings with -money-lenders, says they make heaps and heaps." - -"I know nothing until the will is read. Go away, dear, and come back -after poor Mr. Alpenny is buried." - -"Poor Mr. Alpenny!" mocked Dinah. "Well, you are forgiving, Beatrice. -He was a nasty old man, and never did any good in his life. He is more -useful to me and Jerry dead than alive." - -"Dinah!" - -"Oh, I know it's horrid of me," said Miss Paslow penitently, "but we -must live--I mean Jerry and I must think about our marriage. His father -won't allow him any money, and Mrs. Snow is a cat. Our only chance of -getting married, and living in a tweeny-weeny house, with a general -servant, is for Jerry to get a rise. Now, if Jerry writes something -picturesque about this murder, he'll get the rise and----" - -"Oh, go away," cried Beatrice, for this disconnected talk grated on her -over-strung nerves, "and don't tell even Jerry that I met Vivian--I -mean Mr. Paslow--under the Witches' Oak." - -"I won't say anything," promised Dinah firmly; "and I suppose it was -improper for you to meet Vivian so late without a chaperone. But you -will marry Vivian, darling, won't you?" she went on coaxingly. "He -is so poor, and loves you; and then Mr. Alpenny's money--I mean your -money--can set up the family again, and----" - -The patience of Beatrice was at an end. She took Dinah firmly by the -arm and led her out of the gates past the sleepy policeman, who blinked -in the sunshine like an over-fed cat. "Go and assist Jerry to write -paragraphs," she said sharply; "you are a tiresome girl." - -"It's your nerves," said Dinah, not at all annoyed by this abrupt -dismissal. "I feel that way myself, when Jerry is irritating. He is -such a---- Well, I'm going. There's Tommy Tibbs holding Fly-by-Night. -Hi, Tommy, bring her here. Good-bye, darling: keep your spirits up. -I'll come and see you later. You must come to the Grange, and----" - -Beatrice closed the babbling lips with a kiss, and went inside, while -Dinah argued with Tommy about the price of holding her horse for one -long hour. The policeman opened his eyes and looked at the tall, -slim young lady with approval as she went past him. He thought she -was a trifle too pale, and she had black circles under her eyes; but -otherwise he approved, and smiled graciously. Beatrice took no notice -of him, but went to her parlour, to think over the strange conduct of -Vivian Paslow. - -Dinah was right He certainly had something on his mind, and did not -seem to be a free agent. Something hampered him in every way. He -had long desired to propose to her, and yet had only done so when -some cause, which he declined to explain, had been removed. Again, -he had gone up to town on hearing of Alpenny's murder, and without -ascertaining whether she had reached home, or not, on that fearful -night. He had not even left a message; and then in her pocket was his -handkerchief, dyed with the life-blood of the miser. These things were -strange and disquieting, and Beatrice resolved that before reaffirming -her decision to marry him, he would have to explain what underhand -causes were at work to make him behave so mysteriously. - -No time was lost in holding the inquest on the body of Jarvis Alpenny. -The weather was hot, and it was just as well to place the remains -underground as speedily as possible. A doctor was summoned from -Hurstable to examine the body, and pronounce if possible the hour -when the murder had taken place. Then the corpse was conveyed to the -solitary inn of Hurstable, a few miles away, and there the jury looked -it over. Afterwards the Coroner summoned them into the inn parlour, and -Inspector Grove related all that had been discovered by the police. - -It was not much, and threw no light on the authorship of the crime. -The deceased--so ran the official narrative--was a money-lender of -great repute, and that none of the best. He possessed a small office -in London--52 Trunk Street, Cheapside--but seldom went there, as he -preferred the quiet of the country--probably on account of his age, -which was considerable. Nevertheless, from habit apparently, Mr. Jarvis -continued to do business up to the very hour of his death. He died in -harness, as might be said; for on the table, whereunder he lay, were -letters from people--who need not be mentioned--asking for loans of -money. These he was apparently considering, when he was struck down. - -"I understood, and I have seen," said the Coroner emphatically, "that -the deceased's throat was cut." - -Inspector Jones assented, but pointed out that the old man was first -felled by a blow from behind, as was apparent from a wound at the back -of the head. The assassin had evidently entered stealthily, and had -taken his victim by surprise. The murder was very deliberate, as the -criminal had first stunned the old man, and then had cut his throat -in a most brutal and thorough fashion. Therefore, as the Inspector -suggested, the motive of the crime was more than mere robbery. A -robber, having stunned his victim, could have taken what he desired, -and escaped before Mr. Jarvis regained consciousness. But the death had -taken place from the throat-cutting, and not from the blow on the head. - -"Has anything been taken from the room?" asked a juryman. - -"You mean the railway carriage," corrected the Inspector, who was -pedantic in speech, and particular as to facts. "Yes; the safe was -opened with the keys of the deceased--probably taken by the assassin -from the dead body--and all, the papers have been taken away." - -"What do you mean, exactly?" asked the Coroner. - -Inspector Jones held up his right hand. "I mean," he declared -emphatically, "that the safe was as bare as the palm of my hand. -All papers were removed, the drawers were emptied, and nothing was -left--absolutely nothing." - -"The assassin must have carried quite a load?" - -"As the safe is a large one, and probably was fairly filled, it is -extremely likely," replied the Inspector. Then he went on to state that -the fact of the death was discovered the next morning by Mrs. Snow, the -vicar's wife, who was paying a visit to Miss Hedge. The police were -called in, and everything had been done to discover the whereabouts of -the assassin, but in vain. Villagers, labourers, railway officials, -chance folk travelling in carts and motor-cars and on bicycles had -been questioned, but no suspicious character had been observed. The -assassin had stolen in upon the old man out of the night; and when his -detestable task had been executed, he had again vanished into the night -with his plunder, leaving not a footprint behind by which he could be -traced. - -"Yet the night was rainy," said the Coroner sapiently. - -"And the grassy sward," retorted Jones, "runs right up to the railway -carriage wherein the crime was executed. I have inquired at the Trunk -Street office, and cannot learn from the confidential clerk there -that Mr. Alpenny was threatened in any way, or feared for his life or -property. The affair is a mystery." - -"And is likely to remain so, with such an ass as you at the head of -affairs," murmured the Coroner, as the Inspector, severely official, -stepped down to give place to a rosy little man.--"Well, doctor," he -asked aloud, "what do you know about this sad business?" - -Dr. Herman knew very little, save from a medical standing-point He -lived in Hurstable, some miles distant from the scene of the crime, -and drove round all the surrounding district to see his patients. A -constable stopped him on the day after the crime had been committed, -and he had been asked to examine the corpse. He found that it was that -of an old man. The body was badly nourished, but healthy enough for a -man who certainly was over eighty. The blow on the head would not have -killed a man with such vitality, old as he was. Death had ensued from -the cutting of the throat. "Which was neatly done," said the doctor, -with professional approval. "I should think a very sharp instrument was -used, and a very dexterous hand had used it. No bungling about that -affair," concluded Dr. Herman. - -"Humph!" said the Coroner doubtfully; "and what does that mean? Do you -insinuate that a doctor cut the throat and used a surgical instrument -to do so?" - -"I insinuate nothing of the sort," said Herman hotly, for he did not -like the sneer of the Coroner; "it might have been a butcher, who is -quite as dexterous with a knife as a medical man, although not quite in -the same way." - -"Pooh! pooh! We're all animals, doctor," laughed the Coroner, "and you -are all butchers, whether you are called so or not. Come, now, at what -time did Mr. Jarvis Alpenny meet his death?" - -"I cannot be sure of that--I cannot commit myself to an exact opinion," -said the little doctor doubtfully. "I should say the crime was -committed between eight and nine of the previous night But, as I say, I -cannot be quite certain." - -"Between eight and nine of the previous night," wrote the Coroner, and -called the next witness. - -This was Mrs. Snow, who gave her evidence with much volubility. She -had called on Miss Hedge to ask for money in order to get the spire -of Hurstable Church mended. Miss Hedge had stated that her stepfather -was from home, but she--witness--had glanced into the railway carriage -which was called the counting-house of Mr. Alpenny. There she had seen -the deceased--dead, lying in a pool of blood. At once she gave the -alarm, and Durban, the servant, burst open the door with a beam. - -"The door of the carriage was locked, then?" - -"Oh yes," assented Mrs. Snow. "I tried it myself. I expect the assassin -killed poor Mr. Alpenny, and after robbing the safe, went out with his -plunder, and locked the door after him. He had the keys." - -"One moment," said Durban, rising in the body of the room. "My master -carried the keys--all the keys, including that of the counting-house, -on a single ring. The keys were in the safe, and----" - -"We'll hear you later," said the Coroner sharply.--"Go on, Mrs. Snow." - -"I have nothing further to say," said the vicar's wife, trying to -convey a sympathetic look in her eyes, "save that I am sorry for Miss -Hedge. And I may add," she continued, after a moment of hesitation, -"that Colonel Hall was murdered at Convent Grange twenty-five years -ago, in the same way." - -"I remember the case," said the Coroner, who was an old resident of the -neighbourhood. "And what do you infer?" - -"That the assassin of Colonel Hall and the assassin of Mr. Alpenny are -one and the same," said Mrs. Snow promptly. - -"Why should you connect the two?" asked the Coroner coldly, and very -much puzzled. - -"Colonel Hall and Mr. Alpenny had much to do with one another," said -Mrs. Snow, "and did some business together. That their two throats -should be cut, is a coincidence." - -"Only that and nothing more, Mrs. Snow. I cannot see what the old crime -has to do with the new one." - -"I am sure there is some connection," snapped the sour woman, and then -stepped down from the witness-box with a triumphant glance in the -direction of Beatrice. Why that glance, and one of such a nature, was -sent, Beatrice could not guess. But then the conduct of Mrs. Snow was -perplexing her more and more. - -Durban's evidence was to the effect that he had been absent when the -crime took place. Mr. Alpenny had sent him to town with a letter, and -he had returned the next morning to find the old man dead. Mrs. Snow -had first informed him of the fact. He had burst open the door with -a beam, as it was locked, and then had discovered that Mr. Alpenny's -throat was slit from ear to ear. "And I saw," added the witness -quickly, "that the keys of the deceased, including the key of the -counting-house, were on the ring which dangled from the key used to -open the safe." - -"Then you do not think that the assassin could have locked the door -after him?" - -"Certainly not, seeing that the key was left behind." - - -"Was there not another key?" - -"No. My master had the only key of the counting-house; it was one of -a most peculiar make, and there was no duplicate. Mr. Alpenny was -always careful to lock up his papers, and to keep the door of the -counting-house locked." - -"Then there must be another way of getting into the counting-house." - -Inspector Jones rose to assure the Coroner that the place had been -thoroughly examined. "There is no way of entering the railway carriage -which is called the counting-house, save by the door." - -"But if the door was locked, and the key inside, the assassin must have -got out by another way. What about the window?" - -"It's so small and so barred that a child could not get through it." - -The Coroner scratched his head, and looked at Durban. "You were the -confidential servant of the deceased," he said helplessly; "perhaps you -can explain?" - -"I can explain nothing," said Durban promptly, and quite at his ease; -"certainly I was Mr. Alpenny's servant, but he made no confidant of me. -I took letters to the London office, but what was in them I never knew. -I was cook and general servant--that is all." - -"You were often in the counting-house?" - -"I was never in the counting-house in my life, sir. Mr. Alpenny would -not allow either Miss Hedge or myself to enter." - -"Humph!" said the Coroner again; "the whole mystery seems to centre -round the counting-house. Had Mr. Alpenny enemies?" - -"The usual sort a money-lender is bound to have," said Durban, with a -shrug. "People sometimes came and called him names; and he told me that -many borrowers objected to the high interest he charged." - -"Did the deceased ever give you to understand that his life was in -danger?" - -"Never. He appeared quite happy in his own way." - -"Was he expecting any one on the night he was murdered?" - -"I cannot say. He sent me to town with the letter, and I was to come -back next morning--which," added the witness pointedly, "I did." - -"Mr. Alpenny did not expect to be killed?" - -"No. He would have taken some precautions had he thought that, as he -feared death." - -After this several jurymen asked questions, and the Coroner -cross-examined the half-caste. But he could tell nothing likely to lead -to a discovery of the assassin. He simply declared that he was not in -his late master's confidence, and knew nothing: that he had gone to -town on the night of the murder, and had only learned of it through -Mrs. Snow. The Coroner and, incidentally, Inspector Jones were annoyed; -they had quite counted on a solution of the mystery when Durban was -examined. But he could tell nothing, and they saw no reason to doubt -his evidence. - -Beatrice was called as the final witness, and told very much the same -story as she had related to the sergeant. Only on this occasion she -stated the time when she had returned. The Coroner asked her how she -knew that she had entered at nine, whereupon she detailed the episode -of the fallen watch. "I am sure that when I knocked it down, it stopped -at nine," she said; "at that hour I returned." - -"Why did you not go in and see Mr. Alpenny?" - -"In the first place, I was worn out," said the witness; "in the second, -there was no light in the window of the counting-house; and in the -third, I found the note left by Mr. Alpenny, which I handed to the -sergeant. And in the fourth place," added Beatrice, before the Coroner -could make an observation, which he seemed inclined to do, "I saw the -assassin!" - -Everyone was startled, and a confused murmur filled the room. "You saw -the assassin?" said the Coroner, aghast. - -"When I entered the gates of The Camp at nine o'clock. He is a tall -man, with a black patch over the left eye." - -"A black patch!" cried Mrs. Snow, rising, much excited. "Colonel Hall -was also murdered by a man with a black patch. I swear it." - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII -THE WILL - - -The words rang piercingly through a dead silence. Beatrice, startled -by persistent introduction of a bygone crime, stared at the lean-faced -woman who made the outcry. The Coroner blinked furiously, and nursed -his chin in his hand, considering what to say and what to do. Finally, -he made up his mind to rebuke Mrs. Snow. "You have given your -evidence," said he, frowning a trifle, "and now you must be silent." - -"You should note what I have told you," said Mrs. Snow calmly, but her -bosom heaved impatiently; "the one crime may help the other." - -"As how?" asked the Coroner politely. - -"Because you may strike down two birds with one stone." - -"I should rather put it, if what you say is true, Mrs. Snow, that we -may strike down one bird with two stones. I understand that you say the -man who murdered Colonel Hall--I remember him well--also murdered Mr. -Alpenny?" - -"You heard what Miss Hedge said about the black patch, Dr. Arne: and -you know that Colonel Hall's throat was also cut. - -"There was some stealing also," said Dr. Arne musingly, "which makes -the parallel more complete." - -"There was a diamond necklace stolen," said Mrs. Snow quietly; "at -least I remember that. I was not married then, and Mrs. Hall was my -dear friend." - -"I never saw her," said the Coroner coldly, and a trifle rudely. "All -this is not to the point--Miss Hedge, will you go on?" - -"What would you have me tell you?" asked the witness, who had been -listening eagerly to Mrs. Snow's account of the earlier crime. - -"How could you see this man, seeing that the night was dark and very -stormy?" - -"I saw his face in a flash of lightning," explained Beatrice, and -then related the momentary meeting. But she suppressed the fact that -on the same night she had met Vivian under the Witches' Oak. It was -not pertinent to the case, she thought. Moreover, with the knowledge -of whose handkerchief was in her pocket, she thought it best to keep -Paslow's name out of the matter. - -"The gates were open?" asked the Coroner, when she ended. - -"Wide open." - -"Mr. Alpenny had the key, I believe?" - -"Yes; but that key was not on the ring to which the others were -attached. It hung on the wall." - -"Along with the key of the smaller gate," put in Durban. - -Then Inspector Jones spoke. "The key of the large gate," said he, "I -found in the lock the next morning, where it had been left." - -"The man with the black patch closed the large gate after him, as he -ran out," said Beatrice. - -"Ah! then, probably he opened the gate from the inside, and when he met -you he was too startled to take it out of the lock.--And the smaller -key--that belonging to the little gate, Mr. Inspector?" - -"It is hanging on the wall of the counting-house now." - -Beatrice started, and grasped the chair near which she stood to keep -herself from falling. Vivian had picked up the key when she dropped it -under the Witches' Oak. He must have replaced it in the counting-house -himself, when he was inside. He had also left the handkerchief which -she had in her pocket. Surely he was guilty, and yet--and yet--oh! it -was too terrible. A word from the Coroner recalled her. - -"You look pale, Miss Hedge?" he remarked suspiciously. - -"And no wonder," said the girl faintly; "the whole affair is so very -terrible." - -"Well, well!" said Arne, relenting, and believing this excuse, which -was feasible enough. "I shan't keep you much longer. Why did you not -see Mr. Alpenny on that night?" - -"I have told you: the note----" - -"Ah! yes. I was about to remark on that when you spoke last--Mr. -Inspector, why has not this note been put in evidence?" - -Inspector Jones, with profuse apologies, laid the note on the table. - -"I quite forgot," he said, looking ashamed, "but here it is. As you -will see, Mr. Alpenny says that he is going away for three days." - -"Where did you find the note, Miss Hedge?" - -"Beside my bed on that night. I naturally thought that, as the light -was out in the counting-house, and the note explained, that Mr. Alpenny -had gone away as he intended." - -"Quite right--very natural--hum--hum. When you found the body"--he -spoke to Durban--"what clothes was it dressed in?" - -"Mr. Alpenny always wore one suit," and Durban explained the -old-fashioned dress; "but when I found the body, it was clothed in a -loose cloak which he used to wear in rough weather." - -"And a hat?" - -"The hat was on the desk, sir." - -"Humph!" said Dr. Arne thoughtfully; "then it would seem that he was -struck down, just as he was going up to town. Could Mr. Alpenny have -caught a train so late?" - -"Yes, sir, if he left The Camp at nine o'clock. There was a train at -half-past ten to Brighton; and he could have caught a late one on the -main line, or he could have stopped at Brighton all night. He sometimes -did." - -"It is nearly three miles to our local station," said Dr. Arne. "Could -an old man like Mr. Alpenny walk that distance?" - -"He often did," declared Durban emphatically; "he had a wonderful -constitution, had the master." - -"Marvellous vitality," cried Dr. Herman from his seat, and was rebuked -by his enemy the Coroner. - -Arne asked a few more questions, and then addressed the jury. He -pointed out that, on the evidence before them, they could not arrive at -any conclusion as to who was the actual murderer. - -"The man who murdered Colonel Hall," cried Mrs. Snow. - -"Quite so," said the Coroner smoothly; "but that man escaped, and was -never discovered. If it is the same man--and certainly, Mrs. Snow, it -seems as though your surmise is right--he may escape again. Mr. Alpenny -apparently was about to start on his journey, after leaving the note -for Miss Hedge, and probably was turning over some necessary papers, -when he was struck down. Regarding the locked door, I can offer no -explanation: nor have the police been able to find this masked man, -who assuredly must be the assassin. The case is full of mystery, and I -do not see what can be done, save that the jury should return an open -verdict." - -He made a few more observations, but what he said was not very much -to the point. The jury--what else could be done?--returned a verdict -of murder against a person or persons unknown, with an observation to -the effect that the police should hunt down the man with the black -patch. This last remark was rather irregular; but, to say the truth, -everyone was so puzzled over the aspect of the case that no one had any -very clear idea of what to say or do. However, the verdict--such as it -was--resolved itself into the terms above stated, and the jury betook -themselves severally to their homes, there to puzzle over the matter. -Beatrice went back to The Camp with Durban, and both felt glad that the -corpse was still left in an outhouse of the hotel. Neither wished that -gruesome relic of mortality to remain in The Camp. - -"That is all right, missy," said Durban, when the two were walking -along the lane towards The Camp; "master will be buried to-morrow, and -we won't think of him any more." - -"I'll never get the sight of that body out of my head," said Beatrice, -with a shudder. "Durban, who could have killed him?" - -"I cannot say, missy," said the half-caste stolidly; "you heard what -evidence I gave." - -"Yes. But did you speak truly?" - -"I spoke what I spoke," said Durban sullenly; "the least said, the -soonest mended." - -Beatrice felt a qualm of terror at the memory of the replaced key and -the handkerchief in her pocket. "Then you have some idea who killed Mr. -Alpenny?" - -"No, I have not, missy--that is, I cannot lay my finger on the man." - -"Then it was a man?" - -"It might have been two men or three, missy. Master had dealings with -very strange and dangerous people: I don't wonder he was killed. And," -cried the half-caste, stopping to emphasise his words, "if I knew who -killed him, I would shake that man's hand." - -"Durban! Why, in Heaven's name?" - -"Because--because--missy," he broke off abruptly, "let the past alone, -my dear young lady. Mr. Alpenny was a bad man, and came to a deserved -end. I did not kill him, you did not kill him, so we had better think -no more of him. When he is buried, you will have the money, and then -you can marry Mr. Paslow and be happy." - -"I shall never marry Mr. Paslow--never, never," cried Beatrice -bitterly, and lifted a wan face to the mocking blue sky. - -"But he loves you." - -"And I love him. All the same--Durban," she broke off in her turn, "I -want to hear all you know about Mr. Paslow. - -"I know nothing, missy," said Durban, looking profoundly surprised; "he -is poor but good-hearted, and I like him." - -"You don't think that he--he would commit a crime?" asked Miss Hedge -faintly, and clinging to the servant. - -"No!" cried Durban, with great assurance. "What makes you think that?" - -"Mr. Alpenny said----" - -Durban did not give her time to finish. "Master would accuse any one of -anything, to gain his ends," he said quietly. "He did not wish you to -marry Mr. Paslow, because it was to his interest that you should marry -Major Ruck." - -"So he said. Do you know this Major?" - -"Yes," said Durban, with some hesitation, "and a wicked man he is. If -he comes to marry you, missy, tell Mr. Paslow, and he'll settle him." - -"I don't expect that I shall see Major Ruck." - -"I don't know," muttered the servant doubtfully; "the Major won't let -you slip through his fingers if he can help it." - -"Durban, you seem to know much that you will not tell me?" - -"I do know a lot; but it is useless to tell you, missy." - -"Not even about Colonel Hall's death, Durban?" - -The half-caste turned green, and winced. "Not even about that, missy," -he said coldly. "Get the money, marry Mr. Paslow, and go away from this -place." - -"Do you think Mrs. Snow is right?" persisted Beatrice, wondering at his -nervous looks. "Did the man who killed Colonel Hall, kill Mr.----" - -"I don't know--I can't say," interrupted Durban, gloomily; "it might -have been another one of them." - -"Are there then two men who wear black patches over the----" - -Durban clenched his long, nervous hand. "You'll drive me mad with these -questions," he said fiercely, and with less of his usual respect. "I -tell you, missy, I know much, and yet I know nothing which it would do -any good for you to hear. I have watched over you in the past, and I -shall watch over you in the future. You have been surrounded by devils. -Master was the worst; but now that he is dead, all danger is at an end. -You have the money, and you can go away." - -"You speak in riddles." - -"Let them remain riddles if you have any love for me," said Durban -moodily; and Beatrice, although anxious to hear more, held her peace. - -After all, she had her own cross to bear. In some way Vivian was mixed -up with this horrible crime. He could not possibly be guilty of it, in -spite of the evidence. Moreover, Mrs. Snow said that the assassin was -the same as he who had killed Colonel Hall, which would put Vivian's -innocence beyond a doubt. In spite of her desire to obey Durban to whom -she owed so much, Beatrice had to insist on an answer to this question. -"I won't ask you anything more," she said to the sullen man--and he -was sullen--"only this: Is the assassin of Colonel Hall the assassin -of Mr. Alpenny?" - -"I think so," muttered the man, "but I cannot be sure." - -"You must be sure, for my peace of mind, Durban." - -"Your peace of mind, missy?" he asked, surprised. - -"Yes. I must tell you, as I know you will hold your tongue. But I -think--I believe--no, I don't: but I fancy, that is. Durban"--she -caught the man's shoulders and shook him in the roadway--"did Vivian -Paslow murder Mr. Alpenny?" - -"Missy!" Durban looked startled, but his eyes sparkled. "No! no! One -thousand times no! What makes you think that?" - -"The handkerchief--the key," and Beatrice, producing the handkerchief, -told Durban the whole of what had happened. "And I am thankful that -Mrs. Snow did not see me pick it up," she finished. - -"Wait till we get to The Camp, missy," said the old servant kindly, and -led her along the short distance that intervened between where they -had stopped and The Camp itself. Once there, Durban took her to the -parlour-carriage and went away. He returned with some orange-blossom -water, which is a good nerve tonic, and made her take it. When the girl -was more composed, he stood before her with raised finger. - -"Missy," he said gravely, "I have been, and I am, a good friend to you." - -"Yes--yes, I know you are," she said, with a sigh. - -"The reason of my fidelity you shall know some day," he went on, "and -a good reason it is. But you must ask me no more questions until I -voluntarily tell you all that it is needful you should know. With -regard to Mr. Paslow, you can set your mind at rest. He is quite -innocent. The handkerchief you found was left behind by him on the day -he had that quarrel with Mr. Alpenny." - -"Are you sure?" - -"I am absolutely certain. I saw it on master's desk when I went in to -get that letter which I was to take to town. As to the key, I got it -from Mr. Paslow himself." - -"When did you see him?" - -"Later on in the day--on that day when we found out the murder," -explained Durban fluently. "I went outside, and found that Mr. Paslow -was coming in, to see if you had got home safely. He told me that he -possessed the key of the small gate, which you had dropped, and gave -it to me. I replaced it on the nail in the counting-house, where the -Inspector found it. Mr. Paslow went to London whenever he heard of the -crime, and at my request." - -"But why, Durban?" asked Beatrice, relieved to find that Vivian had not -been so callous or neglectful as she had thought. - -"I wanted him to see Mr. Alpenny's lawyer, and look after the will," -said Durban steadily. "He wanted to see you; I would not allow that, as -you were quite worried enough." - -"But the sight of Vivian would have done me good," protested the poor -girl faintly, for she was quite worn out. - -"I can see that now," said Durban regretfully, "but I thought at the -time that it was wiser to keep you quiet. If I had thought that you -suspected him, I should have spoken before: but you never mentioned his -name, so I deemed it best to be silent. But he is perfectly innocent, -and, when he comes back, will be able to tell you where he went after -he left you on that night. Meanwhile he is seeing after the will." - -"Is there any need?" - -"Every need. I tell you, missy, that even though Mr. Alpenny is dead, -you are surrounded by scoundrels. But if you get the money--and master -swore to me that he would leave you the fortune--you will be absolutely -safe." - -"From what, Durban?" - -"From the wicked schemes of these people. Major Ruck----" Here Durban -checked himself and spoke softly and soothingly. "There! there, missy, -ask no more questions. Some day your foolish, old, silly Durban will -make things plain. Just now, think only that you will be rich, that you -will marry Mr. Paslow, and that everything will go well with you." - -Beatrice raised her arms, and dropped them with a helpless air. She -seemed to be more than ever surrounded by mysteries, and Durban, who -was able to explain, insisted upon holding his tongue. At all events, -her mind was set at rest regarding the honesty of Vivian; and she -thought it best to take the old servant's advice, and possess her soul -in patience until such time as he chose to tell her the truth, whatever -that might be. But it was all very puzzling, and her head ached with -the effort to think matters out. After a time Durban persuaded her to -lie down, which she did very willingly, being quite prostrate after the -terrors of the past few days. - -She fell into an uneasy doze, and was awakened by the sound of a -much-loved voice. At once she put on her dressing-gown and opened the -door. Vivian, looking weary and dispirited, was talking to Durban near -at hand, where she could overhear plainly. - -"Yes," he was saying, "Beatrice gets nothing. All the money--quite -twenty thousand a year--has been left by Alpenny to Lady Watson." - -"Lady Watson!" cried Beatrice, opening the door; "my mother's friend?" - -Vivian turned away. Durban changed to his usual green pallor, and -seemed deeply agitated. - -"Yes," said Durban, "your mother's friend." He paused, and then spat on -the ground. "Curse her!" said Durban fiercely. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX -LADY WATSON - - -Beatrice stared. At Vivian's grey drawn face, bereft of youth, and at -Durban's savage green countenance, she looked spell-bound. A pause -ensued. Beatrice did not know what to make of the men: Paslow's averted -looks, and worn paleness; Durban's curse for Lady Watson. Would the -fact that she did not inherit the money account for such emotions? She -thought not, and so requested information. - -"What is it?" she asked, looking from one to the other; but she looked -longest at Vivian. - -"You have heard, missy," said Durban, recovering himself somewhat. "We -have lost the money." - -"I can bear that, if I lose nothing else," said Beatrice, her eyes -still on Paslow's grey face. - -"But that she should get it!" cried Durban, shaking impotent fists -in the air, "after all she has done. And I can do nothing to force -her to be fair. Who would have thought the foul old thief would have -squandered his gold on her silly face? I could----" Here he caught -sight of the frightened looks of Beatrice, and let his hands fall. As -he walked past Vivian towards the kitchen, he breathed a sentence in -the young man's ear. "She may know much," said Durban imperatively, -"but not all." - -"Great Heaven! Could I tell her all, do you think?" groaned the man. - -Beatrice caught the drift, if not the exact words of these whispers, -and came towards Vivian. Durban was already within the kitchen, and -had shut the door. The two were alone--she eager to know the worst; -he silent, and tortured with much that he could not explain. "Vivian, -Vivian," she continued, and laid her hand on his arm. He shook it off -with a shudder. "My dear!" said Beatrice, shrinking back; "oh! my -dear," and she stared with fast-locked hands. - -"Not that," whispered the man, with dry lips. "You might have called me -so when we stood under the Witches' Oak, but now"--he made a despairing -gesture--"that is all at an end." - -"Do you take back your proposal of marriage?" asked the girl, colouring. - -"I do, because I must." Vivian looked at her hungrily, as though he -would have given his life to take her in his arms--as was, indeed, the -case. "If I did not love you so much," he said hoarsely, "I would lie; -but loving you as I do, I must speak the truth." - -"The whole of it?" she asked bitterly. - -"So much as I may tell Miss Hedge." - -"Miss Hedge?" - -"I have no right to call you otherwise now," said Paslow sadly. "I told -you of a bar which prevented my asking you to be my wife?" - -"Yes; and you said that it had been removed." - -"I was wrong. It is not removed. I had no right to speak." - -"What is this bar?" - -"I cannot tell you, Beatrice." He caught suddenly at her hands. "If -I could lie down and die at your dear feet, I would, for my heart is -sick within me. I have sinned, and bitterly I am paying for my sin. -When I spoke to you under the oak, I was then able to be your true -lover, and hoped to be your loving husband. But now"--he flung away her -hands--"that barrier which I thought removed, is still between us. I am -not a free agent. I dare not ask you to be my wife." - -"But you have asked me, and I have consented," she panted, red with -shame and anger. "Why are you playing with me like this?" - -"Why are the gods playing with both of us, you mean," he said, with a -mirthless laugh. "Were you and I on the other side of the world, we -might be happy--and yet, even then it would be impossible. I love you, -but you have every right to hate me." - -"I don't understand one word you are talking about," said Beatrice -sharply, and tried to resolve some sense out of his wild words. "Is it -that you committed this crime?" - -"I!" He started back amazed. "Beatrice, I may be bad, but I am not so -evil as that. I hated Alpenny, and had every reason to hate him, but -I never laid a finger on the poor wretch. I did not kill him myself, -nor can I tell you who killed him. Ah," he went on, half to himself, -"Durban said something of this--about the key of the small gate--but he -explained." - -"Is what he said true?" - -"Perfectly true. I am innocent. It is not the murder that is a bar to -divide us. I could face that out; but there are other things which -prevent my being a free agent." - -"Have you a master, then?" - -"I have those about me who know too much," said Vivian fiercely, "and -if anything would make me stain my hands with blood, it would be the -knowledge that I am the sport of thieves and vagabonds. How it will -all end I do not know--for me, that is. But for you, my best and -dearest"--he made a step forward, but she evaded him.--"for you, I know -the end. You must come to Convent Grange and----" - -"Go to the Grange, after what you have said?" she flamed out. - -"I shall not trouble you. I shall go to town. You can stay with Dinah -and with Mrs. Lilly for a time. Then Durban and I will see if we cannot -get you some money from Mrs.--that is, from Lady Watson." - -"Why should she give it to me?" asked Beatrice, shrugging. - -"Because"--he began, then ended abruptly--"I cannot tell you." - -"Vivian"--Beatrice moved swiftly forward and laid a firm hand on his -shoulder--"I do not understand all this. Mr. Alpenny, poor wretch, -hinted at crimes on your part." - -"Do you believe him?" asked Vivian, turning his haggard young face -towards her. - -"No," she said firmly. "I love you too well for that." - -"God bless you!" A tear dropped on the hand, which he kissed. - -She drew it away. "But you are not open with me; you are not honest -with me. If you have troubles, I have a right to share them. Tell me of -this barrier." - -"No," said Vivian firmly. "I cannot. I dare not. All I can say is that -the barrier may be removed in time. Only trust me." - -"Has the barrier to do with this crime?" - -"In some ways." - -"And with the death of Colonel Hall?" - -"What do you know of that?" asked Paslow, amazed. - -"Very little; but Mrs. Snow hinted----" - -"That woman! She'll make mischief if she can. Don't trust her. She -hates you, Beatrice." - -"Why should she? I hardly know her." - -"But she knows you--that is, she knows of you. To explain what it -all means would be to tell you much that I would rather you did not -know--that you must never know." - -"I am not a child----" - -"You are the woman I love, and therefore I shall not allow your mind -to be tainted with--with--with what I could tell you," he ended rather -weakly. - -Beatrice reflected for a few minutes. Apparently Vivian was in some -trouble connected with other people; possibly--as she guessed--with -those scoundrels who surrounded Alpenny, and of whom Durban had talked. -For some reason, which she could not guess, he was trying to keep -from her things which were vile and evil. She could not think how a -young country squire could be involved in Alpenny's rogueries--which -it seemed he was. And then his--but she gave up trying to solve the -problem on such evidence as was before her. It only remained that she -should use her own eyes, her own intelligence, and maybe, sooner or -later, she would arrive at an understanding of things. Then, perhaps, -she would be enabled to remove this barrier which stood between them. -Strange though Paslow's conduct was, and open to dire suspicion, she -still loved him, and knew in her heart of hearts that she would love -him until he died. This being the case, she made up her mind with the -swiftness of a woman who is fighting for what she loves best, and -looked at him searchingly. He was watching her with anxious eyes, but -shifted his gaze to the ground when she looked at him. - -"Will you answer me a few questions?" she asked quietly. - -"If I can," he replied, hesitating. - -Her lip curled in spite of herself. "You need not be afraid. I shall -respect your secret, whatever it is--for the present, that is. -Meanwhile, perhaps you will tell me if you know who killed Mr. Alpenny?" - -"No. I told you before that I did not know." - -"Have you any suspicion?" - -"Not even a suspicion," he answered frankly, and he looked at her as he -spoke, so serenely, that she believed him. - -"Will you tell me about Colonel Hall's murder?" - -"I know very little about it. I was a child at the time. Mrs. Lilly can -tell you anything you wish to know. Why do you ask?" - -"Because, from what Mrs. Snow said, I believe that the first murder of -Colonel Hall is connected with the second murder of Mr. Alpenny." - -"I don't believe that," muttered Vivian, uneasily. - -"I do. The murders--both of them--were committed by the man with the -black patch. What do you know of that?" - -"Nothing, save that I used the words to frighten Alpenny, and found -them on the paper laid on my desk." - -"Do you know who laid that paper there?" - -"I have not the least idea. The desk is near the window, and that was -open. Any one could have passed the paper through the window. I asked -Dinah and Mrs. Lilly, but neither one of them knew how the paper came -to be there." - -"If you remember," continued Beatrice slowly, "Mr. Alpenny muttered -something about it being the third time. Well, then, I truly believe -that the words you used unconsciously were a warning. Twice he was -warned, and on the third warning he expected to be killed. That was -why, I believe, he arranged to go up to town, when he was struck down. -You were used by someone as the unconscious instrument to give him the -warning." - -"I might have been, but----" - -"That is," she added, coming so close to him that he felt her breath on -his cheek, "if you really and truly are ignorant of the meaning of the -words." - -"I swear that I am," stammered Vivian, turning red. "Then your secret -has nothing to do with the black patch?" - -"No. I am as puzzled as you are over that. Well?" - -"Well," said Beatrice, looking over her shoulder--she had moved towards -the door of her bedroom as he spoke--"I intend to go to the Grange, and -I do not care whether you stop there or not. The worst is over now. I -know that you love me----" - -"God knows that I do," he said hurriedly. - -"And He knows that I love you," she went on steadily. "I don't care -what crimes you have committed, or what stops you from again asking me -to be your wife. I love you, and I intend to marry you----" - -"Beatrice!" - -She threw up her hand to keep him at his distance. "Wait! I intend to -solve the mystery of these murders myself. The two are connected; and -when I find out who killed these two men, I shall be able to marry you. -Is that not so?" - -"Possibly--that is----" - -"You need say no more. Tell Dinah that I shall come to the Grange this -evening. For the present, good-day." And she went in and shut the door. - -Paslow stood where he was for a moment, then flung himself forward -to kiss the wood of the door. "Oh! my love--my love--my heart!" he -murmured; "what a dreary, weary way you have marked out for yourself. -But I shall follow you along the path of shadows, and perhaps we two -will emerge at length into the sunshine." - -He turned away, and, passing the kitchen carriage, knocked at the door -sharply. Durban appeared. "I heard everything," said the servant, who -was now more composed. - -"And what do you say, knowing what you do know?" - -"I say, let missy go on. It may be that God intends her to learn the -truth, and right matters." - -"But Lady Watson has the money," Vivian reminded him. - -"She has everything," said Durban bitterly; "she always did have -everything." Then, with an afterthought, "But what she really wanted, -she never got, Mr. Paslow." - -"And what was that?" - -"Never mind. Least said, soonest mended. I will tell missy nothing, and -you must hold your tongue also. Only let us guard her from danger." - -"I don't think there is danger for her, Durban." - -"Ah--hum--one never knows. There are those--but no matter. Let her -go her ways. It may be that she may learn the truth, and put things -straight." - -"She can never put them straight for me," said Vivian bitterly. - -"I can do that," said Durban. "Let missy go to the Grange. I go to -London. You will have news from me." - -Paslow caught his arm as he turned to go. "You will not----" - -"I am too fond of my neck for that," said Durban, and went into his -kitchen, while Vivian, full of sore thoughts and yet with a certain -glimmer of hope, now that Beatrice was to take a hand in the game, went -home to Dinah. - -Beatrice packed her boxes and got ready to go. By five o'clock she was -hatted and cloaked, and a trap was waiting at the gates to take her -to Convent Grange along with her luggage. Alpenny was to be buried on -the morrow, but it was just as well that Miss Hedge should leave The -Camp to-night. But she was not to go yet for an hour, for scarcely had -she reached the open gates, when a small lady, fashionably dressed, -entered, and came straight towards her. When Durban saw her, he -frowned. "Lady Watson!" he breathed in the ear of his young mistress. - -"She seems anxious to take possession of her property," said the girl -bitterly, and looked carefully at the woman who had supplanted her in -the race for Alpenny's wealth. - -Lady Watson looked--in the distance--like a child, so small and -delicate and slender did she appear. But when she came close, which -she did, with an engaging smile, Beatrice saw that her face was -covered with innumerable fine wrinkles, and that she was painted and -powdered, and made up--as the saying is--to within an inch of her -life. Her hair was dyed a golden colour; she wore a veil to hide the -too obvious make-up of her face; and the only young thing about her -were a pair of sparkling eyes, of a bright brown. At one time she had -been--without the aid of art--an extremely pretty woman: even now--with -the aid of art--she looked attractive and youthful, providing she was -looked at from a safe distance, like an oil-painting. Her dress was -ultra-fashionable, and she wore it with the air of a woman accustomed -to spend no end of money in drapers' shops. Her teeth were good, but -probably were false, as was her smile. Beatrice, a straightforward -person herself, took an instinctive dislike to this gushing little mass -of affectation, which came mincing towards her. She had no wish to -cultivate the acquaintance. But Lady Watson gave her no time to express -her dislike, either by looks or in words. - -"My dear child--my sweet Beatrice," she cried, in a rather shrill -voice, and sailing forward with eager, outstretched hands, "how glad I -am to see you at last! That dreadful Mr. Alpenny--he never would allow -me to come and see you, although I was your mother's dearest--very -dearest and closest friend. But then the poor creature is dead; and he -really wasn't a nice person, when all is said and done." - -"Mrs. Snow told me that you were my mother's friend," replied Beatrice -gravely, and surrendering her hands to the eager grasp. "I am glad to -see you, as I wish to talk about my mother." - -"Oh!" Lady Watson started, and cast a suspicious look on the grave -young face. "Then you are not glad to see me on my own account?" - -"I scarcely know you, Lady Watson." - -"Ah, but you will soon. I am a very easy person to get on with, as -Durban knows. Dear old Durban"--she turned a smiling glance at the -half-caste, who looked gloomily at the ground--"he is as young as -ever.--It is long since we met, Durban?" - -"Very long, madam," said Durban coldly, his eyes still on the ground, -and Beatrice saw his hands opening and shutting as though he could -scarcely keep them from Lady Watson's throat. - -"Well, well, we won't talk of the past just yet--it is unpleasant, my -dear Durban," and she gave a pretty little shudder. Durban made no -reply in words, but, raising his eyes, looked at her meaningly. She -shuddered again, this time with genuine terror, and turned pale under -her rouge. Beatrice wondered what secret there could be between the -two--the fashionable lady and the poor servant. - -"Still the same gloomy thing," tittered Lady Watson, passing her flimsy -handkerchief across a pair of dry lips; "you always were, you know, -Durban. The Colonel--but there"--as Durban looked at her again--"we'll -not talk of the past, but of the future.--Of course, dear Miss Hedge, -you know that poor Mr. Alpenny left me his money?" - -"I understand so," said Beatrice coldly. - -"And, naturally, you are annoyed?" - -"No. Before his death Mr. Alpenny gave me to understand that he would -not leave me any money. You perhaps had a greater claim on him than I, -Lady Watson." - -The other tittered, and avoided Durban's eyes. "Oh dear me, no. The -poor creature--Mr. Alpenny, you know--was in love with me ages and -ages ago, long before I married Sir Reginald. But Reginald is dead, -and so is Mr. Alpenny--everyone seems to die--so dreadful, you know, -Miss Hedge--or rather I should say Beatrice. I shall call you Beatrice, -since we are to be friends, and live together." - -"Live together?" - -"Oh! haven't I told you? I am such a feather-head. Yes. Whenever I -found that poor Mr. Alpenny--queer creature, wasn't he?--had left me -his money, I said I would come down and ask you to be my companion--my -child, in fact, if I may put it so. You shall have everything you want. -I must have someone to look after the house, as the servants are so -tiresome, and I am a lonely woman without a chick or child." - -"Miss Hedge is going to Convent Grange," said Durban thickly. - -Lady Watson started and again turned pale. "That horrid place!" she -said faintly. - -"Why do you call it that?" asked Beatrice quickly. - -"There was a horrid murder committed there ages ago. I was in the house -at the time, and----" - -"Madam," interposed Durban sharply; "please do not tell Miss Hedge -anything more. She has had enough horrors for the time being." - -Lady Watson looked straight at Durban, and he looked straight at her. -The situation was adjusted between them without words, and although -Beatrice protested that she wished to hear about the earlier crime, the -frivolous little woman declined to say another word. - -"How can one talk of such things in the midst of such lovely scenery -as you have here?" she cried, and put up a tortoise-shell lorgnette -to survey The Camp. "Quite delicious. I shall make this a kind of -country-house. So odd, you know, with all these railway carriages. -Dear Mr. Alpenny! he was so very queer in his tastes. But I'll come -here with you, dearest Beatrice, and we'll garden and live like -milkmaids--like Marie Antoinette, you know. Rural life--delicious." - -"I am going to live at the Grange, Lady Watson." - -"But I want you to be my companion. I insist." Lady Watson spoke with -some sharpness, as apparently she was a lady not accustomed to be -thwarted in her wishes. - -"I have arranged to live at the Grange," said Beatrice, and Durban -nodded his approval; "for a time, that is. Afterwards, I intend to go -out as a governess." - -"What! With that face and figure? You foolish girl, I won't allow it. -You must enter society on my money--or rather on that poor creature's, -Alpenny's, money--and marry and----" - -"I don't think you have any right to tell me what to do, Lady Watson," -said Beatrice, annoyed by this imperious air. - -"As your mother's dearest friend?" - -"I don't recognise that as an authority. But if you will give, me your -address in town, I'll come and see you and talk about my dear mother. I -want to know everything about her." - -"I can tell you nothing," said Lady Watson tartly; "that is, I won't, -unless you come as my companion." - -"Lady Watson, I thank you very much for your offer; but I go to the -Grange, and as I am already overdue, I must leave you now. Good-day." - -She held out her hand, which Lady Watson waved aside. "You provoking -girl, I won't say good-day. I am stopping with Mrs. Snow, and will -come and see you at the Grange. Give me a kiss"; and before Beatrice -could stop her, Lady Watson kissed her warmly. When the little woman -drew back, Beatrice saw to her surprise that the bright brown eyes were -filled with tears. - - - - - -CHAPTER X -MRS. LILLY'S STORY - - -The funeral was over, and Jarvis Alpenny was buried beside the -wife whom--according to rumour--he had so cruelly neglected. The -excitement about his mysterious death was apparently buried with him, -and Hurstable again became a somnolent hamlet, devoid of news and -intelligence. In spite of every effort, the police were unable to trace -the man with the black patch. No one seemed to know anything about him, -and he had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed -him up. The local and London papers made their usual crass remarks -about the inactivity and uselessness of the police, and, save in a rare -paragraph, ceased to notice the matter. The murder was only a nine -hours' wonder after all. - -Lady Watson went away from the Rectory without calling upon Beatrice, -as she had promised. Perhaps this was because she had unpleasant -recollections of Convent Grange, or perhaps on account of a short -conversation she had with Durban after Beatrice left The Camp. But -whatever might be her reason, she did not again ask Miss Hedge to -become her companion, nor did she call or even write. With her twenty -thousand a year she returned to London, and left The Camp in charge of -Durban, who still continued to inhabit his old quarters. Sometimes he -came over to see Beatrice, and appeared to be more devoted than ever -to the girl. But he said nothing about the various mysteries he had -hinted at, nor did Beatrice inquire very closely what they might be. -She saw very plainly that both Durban and Vivian were determined that -she should know as little as possible--for what reason she could not -imagine--and therefore, in pursuance of her determination, she cast -about to find some path which might lead to a discovery of the truth, -whatever that might be. She wished to learn who had killed Alpenny, and -thought that, by examining into his past life, she might be able to -learn something of his enemies. Once she discovered who disliked him, -and the reason of such dislike, she fancied that she might lay her hand -on the assassin. But there was no one to tell her of Alpenny's past, as -both Durban and Vivian kept silent. But as, according to Mrs. Snow, the -murderer of Colonel Hall was the assassin of Jarvis Alpenny, Beatrice -determined to learn all she could about the earlier crime, in the hope -that her discoveries in that direction might enable her to elucidate -the mystery of the later murder. - -Mrs. Lilly was the best person to apply to for a history of Colonel -Hall's untimely fate, as she had been housekeeper to the Paslows for -many, many years. Beatrice, during the first fortnight of her stay, -hinted that she would like to hear about the tragedy, and Mrs. Lilly, -after some hesitation, promised to tell her what she knew. Accordingly, -Beatrice, two weeks after the burial of her stepfather, was seated in -the Grange garden waiting for the housekeeper. Mrs. Lilly had first -to attend to her work, but promised that as soon as it was ended she -would come out and chat. As Dinah had gone over to the Rectory to see -Mrs. Snow, Beatrice was quite alone. She did not count Vivian, as he -scarcely stopped an entire day at the Grange, and very rarely a night. -Some business took him constantly to London, but what it might be the -girl could not guess. After that abrupt conversation in The Camp, the -two said very little to one another. It was a strange wooing, and -extremely unsatisfactory. - -The garden of Convent Grange was delightful, as was the house, although -both were somewhat dilapidated. The ancient red brick mansion had -been--as Mrs. Snow had informed Beatrice--a convent in the reign of -that arch-iconoclast, Henry VIII. When his greedy hand was laid upon -ecclesiastical property, he had bestowed the convent on Amyas Paslow, -who promptly turned out the nuns, to house himself and his family. -But there was some curse on the place and on the race, for the family -never prospered overmuch, and when the property came to Vivian Paslow, -he was as poor as an English gentleman of long descent well can be. -Nevertheless, he still clung to the old mansion, although he could -have sold it at an advantageous price to an American millionaire. In -some wonderful way he managed to scrape enough money together to pay -the interest on the mortgage to Alpenny, and thus had kept a roof over -his head and that of Dinah. Lately, as he had told Beatrice under the -oak, he had inherited a small sum of money from an aunt, and thus -things were easier with him. The girl fancied that it must be business -connected with the paying-off of the mortgage that took him so often to -London; but on this point he gave her no information. - -The day was hot and drowsy, and Beatrice, clothed in black--for she -paid her stepfather the compliment of wearing mourning--sat on an -old stone seat, between two yew trees cut in the shape of peacocks. -Before her, on a slight rise, rose the mellow brick walls of the -Grange, covered with ivy. A terrace ran along the front of the house, -and over the door was the mouldering escutcheon of the Paslow family. -What with the queer pointed roofs, the twisted stacks of chimneys, -the diamond-paned casements, and the prim gardens, the place looked -particularly delightful. A poet could have dreamed away his days in -this rustic paradise, and Beatrice felt as though she were in the land -of the Lotos-eaters. But even as she slipped into vague dreams, she -pulled herself up, and shunned the enchanted ground. There was sterner -work to do than dreaming. Before she could become the mistress of this -castle of indolence, and wife of its master, it was necessary to lift -the cloud which rested on the place. To do so, she would have to begin -by questioning Mrs. Lilly, and impatiently awaited the arrival of that -worthy soul. - -Towards noon Mrs. Lilly appeared on the terrace, and sailed down the -broad garden-path between the lines of brilliant flowers. She was stout -and comely, with white hair and a winter-apple face. A very honest, -pleasant old woman was Mrs. Lilly, but behind the times. It was her -boast that she had never been away from the Weald of Sussex for one -solitary day out of a long length of years; and she had no patience--as -she frequently stated--with the new-fangled notions of modern life (of -which, it may be remarked incidentally, she knew no more than a child -unborn!). Beatrice looked at the housekeeper's worn black silk dress, -at her lace cap and voluminous apron, and acknowledged that Mrs. Lilly -was a picturesque figure, who might have stepped out of the pages of a -Christmas Number. The very model of a pompous, narrow-minded, honest, -kindly old English servant. - -"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Lilly, who looked on the three young people -as children and addressed them accordingly, "I've got through my work. -And a wonder it is, seeing that Polly and Molly"--these were the two -servants--"are so lazy. But I have had the rooms brushed, and the -dinner is ordered, and everything is in apple-pie order; so here I -am ready for a rest." And she sat down beside Beatrice with a groan, -remarking on the stiffness of her joints. - -"You won't have much rest with me, Mrs. Lilly," laughed Beatrice, who, -knowing the old lady well for some years, was quite familiar with her. -"Have you got your knitting?" Mrs. Lilly was always knitting when off -domestic duty. "Oh! here it is. Now make yourself comfortable, you dear -old thing, and talk." - -"What about?" asked Mrs. Lilly, mounting her spectacles, and beginning -to click the needles. - -"Colonel Hall's death." - -"Oh! my dear," said the housekeeper with dismay; "do you really wish me -to tell you about that horrid thing?" - -"Of course; and you promised to do so." - -"But wouldn't you rather hear about the ghost?" said Mrs. Lilly in -coaxing tones; "that's an old family legend, and ever so much nicer." - -"No. Colonel Hall's death, or nothing." - -"Why do you wish to know?" - -Beatrice evaded this question dexterously, not thinking it wise to -admit Mrs. Lilly into her confidence too largely. "Oh! Mrs. Snow talked -a lot about it at the inquest." - -"I heard about that, my dear. Strange that your stepfather should have -been murdered by a man with a black patch over his left eye!" - -"You agree with Mrs. Snow, then?" - -"That the same man committed the other murder?" queried Mrs. Lilly -musingly. "I can hardly say that. Certainly a black patch, that could -have been worn over an eye, was found on the grass under Colonel Hall's -window the morning after his murder, but----" - -"The man was not seen, then?" interrupted Beatrice. - -"No. Only from the presence of the black patch, the detective who -had charge of the case thought it had been worn for the purpose of -disguise. There was a great stir about the matter, as Colonel Hall was -well known as a Government official. He came from some West Indian -island, I believe, where he was Administrator or something," ended Mrs. -Lilly vaguely. - -"Well, then, tell me all from the beginning. Mrs. Snow has very little -to go on, if that is all about the black patch. I saw Mr. Alpenny's -murderer wearing it, you know; but neither Mrs. Snow nor any one else -saw Colonel Hall's assassin with it on." - -Mrs. Lilly nodded. "I heard of your experience. My dear, you should not -run about the woods at night: it isn't ladylike I wonder you didn't -faint with horror when you saw the man!" - -"I should have, had I known of this theory about Colonel Hall having -been killed by such a man. As it was, I felt too worn-out to be -startled by anything. Where ignorance is bliss. Go on, Mrs. Lilly; tell -me all Mrs. Snow does not know." - -"I think she knows a very great deal," remarked the housekeeper -viciously. "I never could bear that lady--a sour, bad-tempered woman -if ever there was one. She was a governess, you know. Yes; she and -Mrs. Hall were at school together, and Mrs. Hall made her a kind of -companion. After the murder, and when Mrs. Hall went back to the West -Indies, Mrs. Snow--a Miss Duncan she was then--stopped on and married -the rector, who was a fool. I am quite sure he has regretted ever since -that he made her his wife." - -"I don't like Mrs. Snow myself," said Beatrice thoughtfully. "And who -is this Lady Watson who knew my mother?" - -"I cannot tell you. I have never set eyes on her. Some school friend -of Mrs. Snow's, I dare say. Mrs. Snow always said everybody had been -to school with her. I believe she told lies," finished Mrs. Lilly with -great contempt. - -"Tell me about Mrs. Hall and the Colonel?" - -"He was a tall, handsome man, very kind, and stately in his bearing, my -dear. Mr. Paslow--the father of Master Vivian--knew him very well, and -asked him to stop here." - -"With Mrs. Hall?" - -"Yes. But Mrs. Hall only came for one night, and that was the night of -the murder. I don't think she got on well with her husband." - -"What was she like to look at?" - -"A small dark woman, very grave, and sparing of words. I think she -had something on her mind. She seemed to be very much afraid of her -husband, and rarely spoke to him. She came down with a one-year-old -baby, and a nurse--a delicate-looking woman, far gone in consumption, -poor soul." - -"Just like my mother," said Beatrice; "she died of consumption, you -know, Mrs. Lilly. At least Mr. Alpenny said so." - -"I never saw your mother, my dear. Mr. Alpenny married a few weeks -after the murder, and took Mrs. Hedge, as I understand she was called, -to The Camp. She never came out, and no one ever saw her. When she -was buried, everyone was quite amazed to hear that Mr. Alpenny had a -wife--though, of course, it was hinted that he had married. He was -deeply in love with Mrs. Hall, you know." - -"Lady Watson says he was deeply in love with her." - -"I don't believe the man was deeply in love with any one save himself," -declared Mrs. Lilly sharply. "I detested him, and say so, even though -he is dead and your father." - -"My stepfather," corrected Miss Hedge. "I did not like him myself, Mrs. -Lilly. He was a cruel man." - -"He was, and had far too much influence with the old master. It was -then that he got the mortgage on the Grange, which is such a trouble to -Master Vivian. But perhaps Lady Watson will not be so hard to satisfy -as Mr. Alpenny, and Master Vivian may be able to arrange, as he has -inherited this little sum of money from his aunt. I wish he was clear -of all these difficulties," ended Mrs. Lilly, with a sigh. - -"Go on. You have not said a thing about the murder." - -"I wonder Durban did not tell you about the matter. He was Colonel -Hall's servant, you know." - -Beatrice started to her feet, quite amazed by this intelligence. "Do -you mean to say that Durban was Colonel Hall's servant?" she asked. - -"Didn't you hear me say so?" said Mrs. Lilly tartly. - -"Yes; but he never explained that to me." - -"There was no need to. Besides, Durban doesn't like to speak of the -murder of his master. He was the Colonel's servant, and came with him -from the West Indies. Any one can see that Durban has black blood in -him." - -"It is all very strange," murmured the girl, sitting down again. - -"Well, I thought so myself, as Durban never liked Mr. Alpenny. However, -when the Colonel was buried, and Mrs. Hall went back to the West Indies -with the baby, Durban stopped on, and when Mr. Alpenny married Mrs. -Hedge, went to serve at The Camp." - -"He has been a good friend to me," said Beatrice ponderingly. "I wonder -why?" - -"He was a good friend to your mother also, I heard. I asked Durban -about your mother's marriage, and about your real father, Mr. Hedge, -but he never would tell me anything." - -"It is strange,--strange," mused Beatrice, quite perplexed over this -tangled story. "And the murder?" - -Mrs. Lilly wasted no more time, but plunged at once into the middle of -the story, which Beatrice heard to the end without interrupting her -more than was absolutely necessary. "Colonel Hall came down here to -stop, as I said," resumed the old lady, "being a dear friend of my late -master. Durban was with him, and Mr. Alpenny was in the house at the -time. Later on, Mrs. Hall came down with the baby and the nurse, and -with Mrs. Snow, who was then Miss Duncan; but that was not for a week. -Colonel Hall had a necklace of diamonds that he had brought from the -West Indies; it was valued at ten thousand pounds, and was called the -Obi necklace, as there was some legend attached to it." - -"Obi is African witchcraft," said Beatrice. - -"Like enough," said Mrs. Lilly indifferently. "Colonel Hall had a lot -to do with the black people. My master, Mr. Paslow, warned the Colonel -that he might have the necklace stolen; but the Colonel laughed at him. -It was in a green box which he kept beside his bed. The box contained -official papers, and also the Obi necklace. I understand that Colonel -Hall intended to give it to his wife; but as there was some difference -between them, he did not give it to her. But when she came down, she -asked him for it. He refused, and was sharp with her, so she went -to bed in tears. Colonel Hall also retired at ten o'clock. The next -morning he was found dead in his bed with his throat cut, and the Obi -necklace was gone." - -"What happened, then?" asked Beatrice, breathlessly. - -"The police were called in. Mrs. Hall was in a fright, and grew so -ill that she had to be taken up to town and put in some hospital. I -know that she went from one fainting fit into another, and the doctor -said that she would die unless she was taken out of the house. So she -and the baby and the nurse were bundled off to town. Mrs. Snow--Miss -Duncan, that is--stopped on with Durban. The police could find nothing." - -"They found the black patch?" - -"Yes; and there were rumours of a man wearing such a patch having been -seen in the neighbourhood. Colonel Hall always slept with his window -open, as he was mad on the subject of fresh air. His bedroom was on the -first floor of the west wing, and the ivy offered a foothold to any -one who wanted to climb up. As the black patch was found on the grass -below the window, it was believed that the assassin climbed up the ivy -and tried to steal the necklace. Colonel Hall must have awakened: but -before he could give the alarm, he was stunned in some way." - -"Just like Mr. Alpenny," murmured Beatrice. - -"When he was stunned, the assassin cut the poor man's throat," -continued Mrs. Lilly, shuddering. "Ugh! it was a sight. Then the -murderer went off with the necklace. The police tried to trace him by -that, but could not do so. I expect the necklace was broken up and the -stones were sold separately." - -"The assassin was never caught?" - -"Never. And it is nearly five-and-twenty years ago, so I don't expect -he ever will be caught." - -"He may be, now that he has committed a second crime." - -Mrs. Lilly laid down her knitting and removed her spectacles. "Do you -believe it is the same man?" - -"The crimes are so similar, that I believe it is," said the girl -earnestly. "Colonel Hall was stunned, and then his throat was cut; -Mr. Alpenny was treated in the same way. Colonel Hall was robbed of -this necklace; Mr. Alpenny was robbed also. And yet," added Beatrice, -looking at Mrs. Lilly, "I don't believe that in either case robbery was -the motive for the crime." - -"What other motive could there be?" asked Mrs. Lilly, amazed. - -"Revenge of some sort, in both cases. Both the victims were stunned, -and so the plunder could have been easily carried off safely. But in -each case the assassin cut the throats of his victims. That looks like -revenge." - -Mrs. Lilly resumed her knitting and shook her head. "I can tell you -nothing more," she said, after a pause. "Orchard might know a lot--I -always thought that he did." - -"Who is Orchard?" - -"He was our butler at the time, and afterwards went to be a shepherd -on the Downs yonder," and Mrs. Lilly nodded towards the high range of -hills spreading fair and green in the sunlight. - -Beatrice started. "Mrs. Snow said something about that," she observed, -thoughtfully. "Why did the man become a shepherd? So odd!" - -"It is odd--I always thought it was odd," said Mrs. Lilly; "but, you -see, the sight of the body--Colonel Hall's body--gave poor Orchard a -kind of fit, and the doctor said he would have to live in the open air. -At all events he left the house, and when we next heard of him he was a -shepherd on the Downs. He is well known, I believe, and is alive still. -I have never seen him from that day to this, but I daresay if you went -up yonder and inquired, you would see him. He may know something more -than I do." - -"I shall certainly see him," said Beatrice. "I want to learn all I can -about this case." - -Before Mrs. Lilly could reply, a shadow fell on the sward before them. -They looked up to see a small, dirty, red-haired man leering at them in -an affable way. - -"Morning, lydies," said this creature; "I'm Waterloo!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XI -MAJOR RUCK - - -"A tramp!" said Mrs. Lilly, with dignified disgust. "However did he get -in here?" - -"I ain't no tramp, lydies," said the man, twisting a piece of straw in -his rabbit mouth. "I've got a 'ouse in town, an' a box in Scotlan', an' -a yatsh at Cowes, I 'ave. Blimme me, if I ain't a gent at large, and -devoted"--he bowed and leered--"to the genteel sect." - -Beatrice looked at him with a shiver. He wore a suit of clothes too -large for him, a dirty red wisp round his lean throat, and carpet -slippers bound with string to his large feet. He was of no great -height, and his shock of red hair made him look even smaller. His face -was clean-shaven, or rather it ought to have been, for apparently it -had not been touched by a razor for quite a week. Twisting the straw in -his mouth, and a ragged cricketing cap in his hairy hands, he straddled -with his short legs and leered impudently. It was the animal eyes of -the man that made Beatrice shiver: they were green and shallow, like -those of a bird, and the expression in them was evil in the extreme. -The creature evidently had been steeped in iniquity from his cradle, -and the foulness of his presence marred the perfect beauty of that -still garden sleeping in the sunshine, so clean and wholesome. - -"What do you want?" asked Miss Hedge sharply and shortly. - -"I wos jest atellin' y'," said Waterloo--as he called himself--and his -voice rasped like a file. "I wants t'see Mr. Paslow." - -"He is in town," snapped Mrs. Lilly, surveying the creature with still -deeper disgust. "Have you a message for him?" - -Waterloo laid a warty finger on one side of his pug nose, and winked in -a horribly familiar manner. "Thet's tellin's," said he, grinning, "an' -not evin' to th' sect I'm so fond of, does I give myself away. Oh no, -not at all, by no means, you dear things." - -"Go away," cried Beatrice, putting her handkerchief to her nose, for -the atmosphere was tainted by the presence of the man; "if you don't, -I'll call Durban." This was a happy inspiration, as she knew that -Durban was on the premises. - -The man's eyes flashed still more wickedly. "Ho, yuss! by all means, -miss. Call 'im, and you'll see wot you'll see." He spat out the straw, -and produced a black pipe, which he stuck in his mouth. "I kin wyte." - -"You'll be ducked in the horse-pond, you beast," said Mrs. Lilly, -growing red with anger. "I'll hand you over to the police, and----" - -"Durban! Durban!" called out Beatrice, who caught a glimpse of the -servant round the corner of the terrace, and at once he came running -down the steps. "Who is this man, Durban?" - -"How dare you come here?" said Durban, advancing threateningly on the -small man, who cringed and whined. "You were told not to come here at -least a dozen times." - -"Lor'!" whimpered the little man, now subdued and servile; "wot a fuss -you do meke, Mr. Durban, sir. I come fur Mr. Paslow, I does." - -"Send him away, Durban," cried Beatrice with great disgust. - -Durban lifted one finger, and at once the tramp went slinking away like -a dog with its tail between its legs. And like a dog he halted at the -hedge which divided the drive from the garden, and showed his teeth in -an evil snarl. Beatrice could see the flash of white, and could guess -that he was snapping like a mad cur. - -"Who on earth is that?" she asked Durban, when the man finally -disappeared behind the hedge. - -Durban looked pale, and wiped his face with a shaking hand. "He's a -creature who did some dirty work for the late master." - -"For Mr. Paslow?" demanded Mrs. Lilly, who always spoke of Vivian's -father in that way. - -"For Mr. Alpenny," explained Durban, becoming more himself. "He is an -old scoundrel of nearly sixty years of age." - -"He doesn't look it," said Beatrice. - -"Strange as it may seem to you, missy, Waterloo has his vanity. He -wears a wig, and his teeth are false. But he is old and wicked, and has -been no end of times in prison. Mr. Alpenny employed him to do some -business in the slums, and he was several times down at The Camp. I -think he's a thief." - -"I never saw him before, Durban." - -"And you'll never see him again, missy," said the old servant -emphatically. "Mr. Alpenny, as I told you, had to do with a lot of -rogues and vagabonds, as many a money-lender has. But that sort of -thing is all done with. Waterloo will never trouble you again." - -"I am glad of that," said the girl, who was quite pale. "His presence -seemed to taint the air. What a horrible man!" - -"Why does he want to see Mr. Vivian?" asked Mrs. Lilly sharply. - -Durban wheeled quickly. "He wants to see Mr. Paslow, does he? H'm! I -wonder why that is?" - -"I am quite sure you can explain," said Beatrice, who was piqued at -being always kept in the dark. - -Durban cast a look of pain on her, but replied quietly enough, "Perhaps -I do, missy. Mr. Paslow, as I told you, had something to do with my -late master's business." - -"I never knew that," said Beatrice, remembering what Alpenny had hinted -about Vivian's crimes. - -"Ridiculous!" cried Mrs. Lilly, bristling. "Master Vivian -is a gentleman, and would not meddle with your Alpennys and -Waterloos.--Begging your pardon, my young lady, since Mr. Alpenny was -your father." - -"My stepfather," corrected Beatrice again.--"Well, Durban, if you won't -tell me, I'll ask Mr. Paslow myself." - -"Do, missy; I am quite sure he can explain. And don't trouble your -pretty head any more about Waterloo, as there is trouble enough in the -house now." - -"What do you mean by that?" asked the girl, her heart giving a bound. - -Durban pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "I was coming to look -for you," he said, "and I am glad that you called me. Major Ruck is in -the drawing-room." - -"Who is he?" asked Mrs. Lilly. - -"He was a friend of my late master's." - -"Then I hope he is a more respectable friend than the one we have -seen," said the housekeeper indignantly. "Mercy me and all the silver -and china ornaments in the drawing-room!" and she hurried towards the -house. - -"It is all right, Mrs. Lilly; you will find Major Ruck quite a -gentleman, and very presentable. He is a friend of Lady Watson's too." - -But Mrs. Lilly never waited to hear this explanation. As fast as her -stoutness would allow her, she ran up the steps of the terrace and -disappeared round the corner. Left alone with Durban, Beatrice asked -the question which had been burning her lips ever since she heard that -the Major was within. "Why has he come, Durban?" - -"To ask you to marry him," said Durban grimly. - -"But I don't know him," said Beatrice, alarmed. - -"He knows you, missy--that is, he has seen your picture. Mr. Alpenny -promised him that you should be his wife, and, as I told you, he will -not let you slip through his fingers if he can help it." - -"Durban," said the girl, after a pause, "I quite understand that Major -Ruck wanted to marry me when I was supposed to be the heiress of Mr. -Alpenny; but now that I am poor----" - -"He has seen your photograph," said Durban again, and meaningly. - -"And you think that he is in love with me?" - -"He did," said Beatrice, resolved to say as little as possible. - -"Will you not permit me to offer you a chair?" said Ruck, casting an -admiring glance at her beautiful face. Beatrice, seeing no good reason -to refuse, accepted the seat he brought forward. Then Ruck sat down on -a near sofa with his back to the window, and resumed the conversation -with great coolness. Beatrice, although prejudiced against him from -what her stepfather had said, liked his voice and the well-bred manner -he possessed. All the same she was on her guard. No doubt Major Ruck -would betray the cloven hoof before the interview was at an end. - -"Poor Alpenny!" said the Major, leaning back on the sofa and twisting -his gloves idly. "I was at school with him, and with Mr. Paslow also." - -"Vivian?" asked Beatrice involuntarily. - -Major Ruck laughed. "With his father. My dear young lady, I am old -enough to have Vivian for a son. Paslow, Alpenny and myself were at -Rugby a very long time ago. I am old enough to be your father, and -yet," said the Major insinuatingly, as he leaned forward with a smile, -"I have come to offer myself as a husband." - -"Mr. Alpenny told me before he died that you were likely to do so," -said Beatrice, quite at her ease, and mistress of the situation; "but I -cannot guess, Mr. Ruck----" - -"Major Ruck--retired!" said that gentleman. - -"I cannot guess, Major," replied Beatrice, making the amendment, "why -you should wish to marry me, whom you have never seen." - -"Pardon me. I have seen your photograph, which was shown to me by my -late friend, poor Alpenny. Also," said the Major, with emphasis, "one -day I came to The Camp, and Alpenny showed you to me." - -"That is impossible," said Beatrice, wondering if he was lying. "I have -always been at The Camp, and I never saw you." - -"You were asleep, my dear young lady--asleep in a hammock under the -trees. My friend Alpenny," added the Major, smiling, "was good enough -to offer me a sight of the Sleeping Beauty. I fell in love with you on -the spot. Mr. Alpenny, as we were old friends, was not averse to my -asking you to be my wife; and, indeed, but for his untimely death, I -should have come down to propose in a more reasonable way." - -"No way can be reasonable in this case, Major. You say you know me?" - -"From a sight of you in the hammock, from your photograph, and from the -fact that my late friend, poor Alpenny, gave me a very vivid conception -of your charming character." - -"You seemed to have talked me over thoroughly between you," said the -girl, her face flushing. - -"We did," confessed Ruck candidly. "I wanted to know if your character -was as charming as your face, and as fine as your figure. I was told by -Mr. Alpenny that your character transcended both." - -"I think you must be Irish, Major, you speak so glibly" - -"I was quartered in Ireland once," said Ruck coolly, "and not far from -the celebrated Blarney Stone. At least, Miss Hedge, I hope I speak -sufficiently glibly to explain thoroughly the reason I wish you to be -my wife." - -In spite of her vexation, Beatrice could not be angry with the man. -His manners were so charming, his voice so fascinating, and his whole -attitude so devoid of anything approaching rudeness, that she was -compelled to keep her temper. "I don't think I quite understand," she -said at length, and suppressed a smile. - -Ruck lifted his eyebrows. "Surely, my dear young lady, your glass tells -you the reason? I have an eye for beauty. I have also an independent -income of two thousand a year, and a small house in Yorkshire. I -belonged to a good club; and you will find my career is well known, as -regards the army." - -"You are a very eligible suitor!" said Beatrice, with some scorn. - -"In that case, I trust you will accept me," said the Major, with easy -assurance, "and especially as your late father wished that the marriage -should take place." - -"I must decline, Major. Mr. Alpenny was my stepfather, and no blood -relation of mine. There was little love lost between us. Again, I am -poor--Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money." - -"A very charming lady, whom I know intimately. I am glad she has the -money and not you, Miss Hedge, as you can acquit me of mercenary -motives." - -"Yes. But I don't see why you wish to marry me." - -"I can give you three reasons. Your beauty, one"--the Major checked off -his remarks on his fingers; "the wish of my late friend, poor Alpenny, -two; and the strong desire of Lady Watson, three." - -"What has Lady Watson to do with my marriage?" asked Beatrice in a -fiery tone. - -"She was your mother's best friend, and----" - -"That gives her no right to interfere," cried Miss Hedge, rising. "I -thank you, Major Ruck, for your proposal, but I must decline." - -"No! no! Don't send me away with a broken heart, Miss Hedge." - -"Men like you do not break their hearts, Major." - -"There's some truth in that," admitted the Major; "our hearts are too -tough. But, seriously speaking," he added, and his jovial countenance -became grave, "you will be wise to marry me." - -"On the three grounds you mentioned?" asked Beatrice disdainfully. - -"On a fourth ground--or rather, I should say, for a fourth reason, Miss -Hedge--I can protect you." - -"From what?" - -"I'll tell you when you are Mrs. Ruck." - -"I have no intention of being Mrs. Ruck," retorted the girl, her -courage rising, as she felt that she was being driven into a corner; -"and I do not understand these hints of danger, which are given to me -so freely." - -"I gave you only one hint," said Ruck, his eyes on her face. - -"Mr. Paslow and Durban have given me others. What does it all mean?" - -"I should advise you to ask the two men you have mentioned," said Ruck, -taking up his hat, "unless, Indeed, you will change your mind and -become the star of my life. As my wife, you will know everything; as -Miss Hedge, I fear you must be kept in the dark. Come now, Miss Hedge, -be advised. I am speaking for your good. I am a gentleman, well-off and -passable in looks. Why do you refuse me?" - -"I can explain very shortly. I am engaged to Mr. Paslow." - -"You will never marry Mr. Paslow," said Ruck, his face darkening. - -Before Beatrice could ask the reason for this remark, the door opened, -and Vivian, very pale and defiant, entered. "I heard your last words, -Ruck," he said calmly, "and beg to tell you that you are quite wrong. -Miss Hedge will become my wife in two weeks--that is"--he bowed to -Beatrice--"if she will accept me as her husband." - - - - - -CHAPTER XII -VIVIAN EXPLAINS - - -Major Ruck made no remark, but stood silent and motionless, ever -smiling, according to his custom. Beatrice, on the contrary, uttered an -exclamation of surprise, and ran forward to throw herself into Vivian's -arms. Suddenly she stopped. - -"Do you mean what you say?" she asked, hesitating. - -"I do," he replied firmly. "The obstacle I spoke of has finally been -removed, and I am free to marry you." - -"Can I believe this?" murmured Beatrice, clasping her hands and looking -down doubtfully. "For a long time you held back from asking me to be -your wife, although you must have seen that I loved you. On the night -Mr. Alpenny was killed you proposed, and I accepted you." - -"Ah!" said Major Ruck, smiling more broadly than ever. - -"Then," continued Beatrice, still addressing Paslow, "you again changed -your mind, and said that some obstacle, which you then declared was -removed, again prevented our marriage. Now you come once more and say -much the same as you said before. How do I know but what you may change -your mind again?" - -"I have never changed my mind throughout," cried Vivian impetuously; -"there was an obstacle. I thought that it was removed, and then I -discovered that it still remained: Now I have made strict inquiries, -and I learn that I am free." - -"What is the obstacle?" asked Beatrice, very pale, and still doubtful. - -"I can tell you that," remarked Major Ruck, changing his attitude for -the first time; "this young gentleman is married." - -"I was married," said Paslow, as Beatrice shrank back with a cry of -amazement, and, as Vivian thought, of anger; "but my wife is dead." - -Ruck shrugged his shoulders. "So you say!" - -"So Durban says--so this death certificate says. I heard all about my -wife's illness, as I went to the house where she died. I have seen -her grave, and the doctor gave me this." He held out a certificate to -Beatrice. "Do you not believe me?" - -"It is so strange," she murmured, taking the paper, and glancing at it -in a scared manner. - -"And so untrue," said Major Ruck coolly. - -"You lie!" - -"I am not accustomed to be told that I lie," said Ruck, and his eyes -narrowed to pin-points. - -Paslow turned his back on him contemptuously. "I care very little for -that," he said. "You and your creatures betrayed me into difficulties, -for which I have suffered bitterly. But now I am free, and you can harm -me no longer." - -"Don't be too sure of that, Mr. Paslow." - -Beatrice saw Vivian wince, and came forward. "Whatever Mr. Paslow has -done," she said, with dignity, "I am certain that he is an honourable -man." - -"Bless you for those words, my darling." - -Major Ruck gave a short laugh, and did not seem so good-tempered as he -had been. "An honourable man!" he repeated. "I fear if you knew all Mr. -Paslow's life, you would see fit to change your opinion." - -Vivian restrained himself from violent words. "Of course you talk like -that, because it is to your interest to stop my marriage. But I trust -to a woman's instinct," and he stretched out his hands toward Beatrice -with an anxious smile. - -She waved him back. "I must have an explanation first" - -"Beatrice!" - -"Vivian, I love you, I shall always love you; but can you expect me to -blindly believe, when I am so much in the dark as to what all these -things mean? There must be an end to these hints and mysteries. If you -really love me, you will explain fully, so that I know where I stand." - -"I think I can do that," said Ruck, fondling his moustache. - -"Then do so," said Paslow, throwing back his head. "We know a great -deal of one another, Major, so it may be to your interest to speak the -truth," and he looked meaningly at the other man. - -"I never tell lies, unless they are necessary," said Ruck calmly. "In -this instance the truth will suit me very well." - -Beatrice sat down, still holding the certificate of Mrs. Paslow's -death, which seemed to be quite in order. "I am waiting to hear the -truth," she said, "and hear it I will." - -Without any invitation, Major Ruck sat down. "I may as well be -comfortable," he said lazily, and smiled in his most genial manner. -Vivian did not sit down, but stood near the window looking out at -the fair prospect unseeingly. Knowing that his past was about to be -revealed, he seemed nervous, and did not look at the girl he loved. -Major Ruck was much the coolest of the trio. - -"I can tell you the truth very briefly," said Ruck, stretching out his -legs. "As I said, I was at school with Mr. Paslow's father, and also -with Alpenny. Some eight years ago this gentleman"--he glanced towards -the silent Vivian--"came to town. I did what I could to give him -pleasure, as his father was dead, and I desired to do what I could for -the son of my old friend.--That is true, I think?" he added, turning -politely to Paslow. - -"You were extremely kind," said Vivian, stiffly and guardedly. - -"Thank you. Mr. Paslow then had money, and I think I showed him London -very thoroughly. We had a great time." - -"Pray go on with your story," said Beatrice, icily. - -"Oh, it's the truth," replied Ruck, with a genial chuckle "I think Mr. -Paslow will bear me out in that." - -"I have yet to hear what you have to say." - -Ruck raised his eyebrows. "What can I say, save that which happened, my -dear fellow?--Mr. Paslow"--he now addressed himself to Beatrice--"met -in town at the house of a friend of mine, a certain young lady called -Maud Ellis. He fell in love with her----" - -"I was trapped by a scheming woman, you mean," put in Paslow brusquely. - -"Fie! fie! fie!" said Ruck good-humouredly. "Don't blame the woman, my -dear fellow; that is mean. But trapped, or not, you married her." - -"I did; and found that she only married me because she thought that I -had money." - -"So you should have had, and a great deal of it, but that Alpenny -managed to collar the estates. But you loved her." - -"I did not, save in the way one loves such women at an early age." - -"Oh!" sneered Ruck; "she was perfectly respectable." - -"I should not have married her else," said Vivian quickly, and not -daring to glance at Beatrice. "I have nothing to say against her, save -that she was heartless, and left me within six months. But I repeat -that I was young and foolish at the time, and that she schemed to marry -me. I fell into her toils, and bitterly have I had to pay for doing so; -but for her I should have long ago have married Miss Hedge." - -"I don't think Alpenny would have permitted that, Paslow." - -"Perhaps not; but he is dead, and cannot harm me now." - -"The evil that men do lives after them," scoffed Ruck. "Alpenny had the -power when alive; someone else may have the power now." - -"Not you, at all events, Ruck." - -Beatrice rose quickly. "Am I to hear the rest of the story?" she asked -Ruck. "Is this all you have to bring against Mr. Paslow?--that while a -young man he was entrapped into marriage by an adventuress?" - -"Oh, Maud Ellis was no adventuress," said the Major, easily, "but a -very nice girl. Lady Watson knew her well." - -"Lady Watson seems to know everyone," retorted Beatrice; "but who knows -Lady Watson?" - -"I do, very well," said Ruck quietly; "but we are not discussing her. -Later on, should you desire to learn about her, I can supply you with -all necessary information. Meanwhile----" - -"Meanwhile," repeated Beatrice, "I should like to hear what Mr. Paslow -has to say." - -"What can I say?" said Vivian, with a look of despair. "I married Maud -Ellis, as I said, and she left me after six months of a miserable life. -Some times since I saw her, but she never would come back to me." - -"Did you wish her?" said Beatrice quickly. - -"She was my wife," said Vivian calmly, "and I wished to behave as her -husband, little as I loved her; but she always refused to come back to -me. I met you, and said nothing about my fatal marriage. There was no -need to." - -"It would have been better had you been open." - -"I see that now; I did not see it at the time. But you know that I -loved you always, and you know now why I did not dare to ask you to -be my wife. A few weeks ago I heard that Maud was ill. I went to -see her, and found that she was suffering from influenza. I saw her -several times: then I heard that she was dead. I proposed to you, -Beatrice, under the oak. Later on, when I went to town to look after -your property, and learn if Alpenny had done you justice, I again went -to the house, and learned that what I had heard was false. Maud was -extremely ill, but still alive. Then I came down, and you know what -took place between us. I went again and again to town, and saw the -doctor." - -"And your wife also?" - -"No--yes, once; but she was so ill, and my presence disturbed her so -much, that the doctor would not let me see her again. Then I went one -day, and heard that she was dead and buried." - -"Why did you not go to the funeral?" asked Ruck sneeringly. - -"I did not know that she was dead. I remained away from the house--it -was in Kensington--for a long time, as it was useless for me to go and -see her; and the doctor always kept me advised as to how she was going -on. However, he gave me no notice of her death, and she was buried when -I next heard news." - -Beatrice expressed surprise. "But surely the doctor was wrong in not -telling you she was dying? You should have been with her." - -"I should; but the doctor neglected to inform me. I had a row with him -about the matter. However, I got the certificate, which you hold, and -saw the grave; so I am now free to marry you--that is, if you will have -me after what you have heard." - -Beatrice did not reply immediately to this question. "We can talk of -that when we are alone," she said, and glanced towards Ruck, who still -lounged in his chair. - -"That is a hint for me to go," he said, rising lazily. "Well, I shall -go--unless you will marry me?" - -"Were you the last man in the world I should not marry you," said the -girl quietly; "and I do not see why you wish to." - -"We talked about that before," said Ruck, taking up his hat; "but now -that the real Prince Charming has come on the scene, I see that there -is no chance for me. I will allow you to marry Paslow----" - -"Allow me!" cried Miss Hedge indignantly. "Allow me!" echoed Vivian, -clenching his fists. - -"I will allow you," repeated the Major smoothly, "on condition that you -give me the Obi necklace." - -"What?" asked Beatrice, starting back, "Colonel Hall's----" - -"It was his property. I knew him very well," interrupted Ruck. "He gave -that necklace to Mrs. Hedge." - -"To my mother? Impossible! The necklace was stolen when Colonel Hall -was murdered in this very house." - -"So it was thought, but I know otherwise. Colonel Hall gave the -necklace to Mrs. Hedge, who was his cousin, just before the murder. I -learned that from Alpenny, who was in the house at the time; and that -was why Alpenny married Mrs. Hedge--he wanted the necklace. And that is -why I wished to marry you," added Ruck, smiling blandly, "as I want -the necklace. It is valued at ten thousand pounds, and Alpenny promised -to give it to you when we married." - -"I don't know how much of this is true, or how much is not," said -Beatrice, looking puzzled, and pressing her hands to her head; "but -I have not got the necklace. I never knew that my stepfather had it. -There is no need for you to get angry, Major Ruck. I know nothing about -the necklace save what I heard from Mrs. Lilly; and she told me that -Colonel Hall was murdered, and the necklace was stolen." - -"The necklace was given to Mrs. Hedge," said Ruck, who was now very -angry, "and Alpenny promised to give it to you. If you give it to me, I -will go out of your life and you can marry Paslow; if not, I can stop -this marriage." - -"I defy you to do your worst," said Paslow savagely. - -"Don't do that; it might be dangerous," said Ruck, with a meaning look. -"Well, Miss Hedge?" He turned to Beatrice. - -"I know nothing about the necklace," she replied. "If you married me -you would marry a pauper. Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money; and if -he did receive the necklace from my mother, he certainly never gave it -to me, or even spoke of its existence." - -Ruck turned pale and looked at the ground. "Can Lady Watson have -secured it?" he muttered. - -"You had better ask her. And now, Major Ruck, that I know your real -reason for wishing to marry me, I may tell you that I would willingly -have given the Obi necklace to escape such a match!" and she turned her -back on him scornfully. - -The Major, notwithstanding that he was in the house, and in the -presence of a lady, put on his hat. He had quite lost his suave -manners, and looked thoroughly angry. "I shall take my leave, Miss -Hedge," he said, bowing ironically. "Marry Paslow Whenever you choose; -he is free now, as he says; but if trouble comes of your marriage, do -not say that I did not warn you." - -"What trouble can come?" asked Beatrice, turning like a lioness. - -"Don't say that you have not been warned," said Ruck, backing towards -the door. "As to myself, I shall search for the necklace, and get it. -Lady Watson may know of its whereabouts.--Paslow, I congratulate you on -a possible marriage----" - -"You cannot stop it, Ruck," said Vivian coolly. - -"Oh, I have no desire to do so. All I wanted from this lady was the Obi -necklace. As she has not got it, there is no need for me to sacrifice -my freedom. Miss Hedge, good-day; Paslow, good-day;" and with a bow, -the Major took his gigantic figure out of the room. - -The two young people looked at one another in silence. "What does it -all mean?" asked Beatrice helplessly. - -"You heard what Ruck said," answered Vivian. "He wanted to marry you -for the necklace. As you have not got it, he will trouble you no more." - -"In any case, he would not trouble me," cried Beatrice indignantly. -"Does Major Ruck think me a child to be driven into a match about -which I care nothing? What influence can he have to make me do what he -wanted?" - -"He was playing a game of bluff," said Vivian eagerly. "He cannot force -you to marry him, nor can he stop my marriage. He could have done so -before, because he knew that my wife was alive; but now that she is -dead, his power ceases. And, Beatrice"--he paused and looked down--"how -can I ask you to be my wife after what you have heard?" - -The girl looked at him in silence. Had she loved him less, she might -have refused to answer his appeal. As it was, her love overcame the -momentary anger which she felt at having been kept in the dark. At once -she moved towards him, and placed her arms round his neck. - -"We are all sinners," she whispered; "and I love you too well to let -you go." - -"God bless you, my darling," faltered Vivian, pressing her to his -breast. - -"Let the past alone," said Beatrice, kissing him. "We shall marry, and -live for one another. Look with me, Vivian, to a happy future." - -"My darling--my darling!" and Paslow fell on his knees. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII -THE EX-BUTLER - - -It really did seem as though the course of this true love was about to -run smooth. Durban, to whom Beatrice explained all that had taken place -during Ruck's visit, heard what she had to say in silence, and seemed -relieved when he heard the whole. - -"I am glad that Mr. Paslow arrived at the moment," said Durban, when -the story was ended. "He and the Major now understand one another." - -"I never knew that Vivian was acquainted with Major Ruck." - -"He met him at Mr. Alpenny's town office, missy." - -"The Major seemed to threaten Vivian," observed the girl thoughtfully. - -Durban shrugged his fat shoulders. "That is so like the Major," he -retorted carelessly; "he is all stage thunder. Now that he knows you -have not the necklace, he will trouble you no more. Mr. Paslow is not -rich, missy; and you have lost the master's money; still, I should like -you to marry the man you love, and go away." - -"Why do you want me to go away?" she demanded peremptorily. - -"It will be better," murmured Durban, uneasily. - -"You are still keeping something from me, Durban?" - -"Nothing that is necessary for you to know, missy." - -Beatrice saw very well that the old servant was fencing, and wondered -what it was that he feared. "The necklace?" she said suddenly. - -"I do not know where it is, missy." - -"Did you ever see it?" - -"Once. Colonel Hall showed it to me--a very fine set of diamonds." - -"Where did Colonel Hall get it?" - -"I cannot say--somewhere in the West Indies, I think." - -"You were Colonel Hall's servant in the West Indies, Durban?" - -"I was, missy." Durban looked at her with fire in his dark eyes. "He -was the best of masters, and I loved him. He brought me to this place -with him, and here he met with his death." - -"Do you know who killed him?" - -"No, missy, I do not." - -"Why did you take service with Mr. Alpenny?" - -"I was poor," said Durban, with a shrug, "and my master, the Colonel, -was dead. I had no home, and I was thankful to accept the situation. I -might not have stayed in it for so long, missy, but that Mr. Alpenny -married. It was you who have kept me at The Camp all these years." - -"And what about Mrs. Hall?" - -"Nothing, missy. She was a silent lady. I know very little about her." - -"Durban"--Beatrice looked at him keenly--"are you telling me the truth?" - -"I am, missy. Why should I tell you a lie? All I know of Mrs. Hall is, -that she was the daughter of a West Indian planter, who was my father's -master in the time of slavery. I was born on the estate, and afterwards -entered the service of Colonel Hall--a captain he was then--to whom -I became greatly attached. He saw Mrs. Hall, and fell in love with -her. They married, but did not get on well together, for what reason I -cannot tell you. They came here to see Mr. Paslow's father, who was an -old friend of the Colonel's. Mrs. Hall stopped in London for a time, -and then came down for one night with the nurse and her child. My -master was murdered, and the necklace disappeared. That is all I know." - -"But, Durban, Major Ruck says that the Colonel gave the necklace to my -mother before his death." - -"That is not true," cried Durban vehemently, and his eyes blazed. -"There was no reason why he should give it to--to--Mrs. Hedge. And I -saw the necklace in the Colonel's hands on the very night the crime was -committed. Yes, and I saw him place it in the green box beside his bed. -Next morning the window was open, the Colonel was lying dead with a cut -throat, and the Obi necklace was gone. I can tell you no more, and I -don't know why you wish to know all this." - -"Because," said Beatrice slowly, "it is my belief that the same man -with the black patch who murdered Colonel Hall murdered Mr. Alpenny; -and in both cases I believe that the murder was committed for the sake -of this necklace." - -"I did not know that Mr. Alpenny had it, missy." - -"Major Ruck says that he had, and married my mother for the sake of the -necklace, which doubtless--as it has not been found after his death--he -turned into money." - -"It might be so," murmured Durban moodily. "Major Ruck knew a great -deal about Mr. Alpenny which I did not know. He was a kind of decoy -duck to the master--a man about town who brought foolish youths to -borrow money. A dangerous man, missy, and one you are well rid of. -Missy"--he laid his hand on her arm--"be advised; seek to know no more. -Mr. Alpenny's life was not a good one or a clean one. Marry Mr. Paslow, -and go away." - -"I'll think of it, Durban," said Beatrice, after a few moments of -thought, and there the conversation ended for the time being. - -All the same, Beatrice had no idea of going away. She even thought that -she would not marry Vivian Paslow until things were made clear, and -she--so to speak--knew where she stood. What with Vivian's marriage -to Maud Ellis, and the late Mr. Alpenny's hints that the young man -had committed crimes, there was much in Paslow's life which she did -not understand. Had she loved him less, she would have had nothing -more to do with him. But she did love him with all her heart and soul; -consequently she believed that he was more sinned against than sinning. -It was nothing out of the common that a young man in London should be -entrapped into such a marriage; and, after all, it was not unusual that -Vivian should strive to hide from her--the woman he really loved--the -folly of which he had been guilty eight years ago. That she could -forgive, and did forgive, and was ready to marry her lover as soon as -he wished. But she could not rid herself of a vague fear that if she -did marry him, it would only be the beginning of fresh misery. Durban's -desire that the young couple should go away, seemed to her ominous; -and Vivian, although under stress of circumstances had confessed -the marriage, did not seem to be communicative regarding the other -mysteries. What if at the back of all these things lurked some terrible -scandal which might ruin her happiness and that of Paslow's? - -While thinking thus, it occurred to Beatrice that she had never learned -what Vivian had done on that night when he left her under the Witches' -Oak. They were together walking in the garden after dinner when she -considered this question, and she asked Vivian at once to explain. He -removed his cigar and looked at her searchingly. - -"What a woman you are to ask questions!" he said, with a forced laugh. - -"I want them answered," said Beatrice rather imperiously. - -Vivian shrugged his shoulders. "I am not averse to doing so," he said -in a weary manner. "Well, on that night I left you and ran to see -who was watching. It was a red-headed little beast called Waterloo, -employed as a spy by Mr. Alpenny!" - -"I know him--I have seen him." - -"Seen him?" Vivian started and looked uneasy. "When?--where?" - -"In this very garden." And Beatrice related how the tramp had suddenly -appeared to mar the beauty of the scene. "He wanted to see you," she -concluded, "but Durban sent him away." - -"Had I seen the brute I should have horsewhipped him," cried the young -man angrily. "He was a spy of Alpenny's." - -"On me?--on you?" - -"On us both. Alpenny knew that I loved you, and did not want us to -meet. He told Waterloo, who was hanging round The Camp, to keep his eye -on you and on me. Waterloo confessed----" - -"Did you catch him?" - -"Yes, I did, and nearly broke his neck. He confessed that he had been -set to watch by Mr. Alpenny, and had been lurking outside the great -gates of The Camp." - -"I saw him," said Beatrice, recalling the vague shadow which she had -seen crouching in the shade on that fatal night. - -"He saw you go past," went on Paslow, "and followed to the Witches' Oak -like your shadow. When I caught him he told me all this, so I gave him -a kicking and let him go. The dog was not worth fouling my hands with. -Then I went back to the Oak to find you. You had gone, so I fancied -that you had gone home. I did not follow, as I thought that I might run -up against Alpenny and that there would be more trouble. I went home to -the Grange, and then was coming along the next morning to see you, and -give you the key, when I met Durban." - -"It was then that you heard of the murder?" - -"Yes; and afterwards went up to town to see Alpenny's lawyer about your -chances of getting the money. You see, Beatrice, Major Ruck, and other -creatures employed by Alpenny, were quite capable of destroying the -will, so as to get the money themselves." - -"But how could they do that?" - -"By bribing or blackmailing the lawyer of Alpenny. The man is not above -reproach, as he did much dirty work for Alpenny. Ruck knows of many -of these underhanded dealings; and on hearing of Alpenny's death, it -struck me that Ruck might try to force the lawyer--Tuft is his name--to -destroy any will that might be made in your favour, by threatening to -communicate with the police. However, I saw Tuft, and he produced the -will. It was genuine enough, as I know Alpenny's handwriting very well. -The money was left, as you know, to Lady Watson. I believe that years -ago Alpenny admired her, although I do not see why he should leave her -such a large fortune and cut you out." - -"He hated me," said Beatrice sadly; "he always did. Before he died he -told me to expect nothing, and I am a pauper, as you know. Vivian," she -said suddenly, "let us put off our marriage for a time. I can go out as -a governess, and we can wait." - -"Why should we wait?" he asked quickly, and his arms went round her in -a firm embrace. - -"Are you sure," murmured Beatrice, "that if I marry you, all trouble -will be at an end?" - -"Quite sure. My first wife is dead, so I can take a second. Ruck and -those other beasts cannot harm me now. No, Beatrice, we shall marry in -a week as you promised." - -"I have no wedding-dress!" - -"That does not matter. I marry you and not your clothes. If we postpone -our marriage, it may never take place." - -"Why not?" - -"Because there are those who would stop me from marrying you. Not -Ruck--he can do nothing. Beatrice,"--he caught her hands and looked -deep into her eyes--"I own to you that I have been a fool. My marriage -with that adventuress introduced me into strange company. I will not -tell you now what straits I have been in and what trouble I have -undergone. Only trust me and marry me. I shall then tell you the whole -of my life's history. Believe me, there is nothing in it for which you -will cease to love me. My worst sin is having kept this first marriage -from you." - -"I will trust you," whispered Beatrice, who was much perplexed; "but is -it not possible to clear up these mysteries?" - -"You may clear them up," said Vivian, after a moment's hesitation. "I -cannot help you--I dare not," he ended, and abruptly left her. - -What did it all mean? Beatrice asked herself that question again and -again, but without receiving any answer. But for her overwhelming -love, she would have hesitated to step forward in the dark, as she -really was doing when consenting to this marriage. But she felt that -Vivian needed her aid, and that only when they were man and wife would -that aid be of any real service. She made no attempt to continue the -conversation when they met again in the drawing-room, nor did she seek -out the old servant to ask questions. But since Vivian hinted that by -her own unaided efforts she might arrive at the truth, whatever it -might be, she determined to search on. In one way or another she was -resolved with all the force of her strong nature to put an end to these -provoking mysteries. - -It was for this reason that the next morning found her climbing the -Downs. Vivian had gone with Dinah into Brighton, and Beatrice, alleging -the death of her stepfather as a reason for retirement, had remained at -home. In reality, she wanted to trace out Orchard the ex-butler, who -had turned shepherd, and whom Mrs. Lilly had told her of. From that -elderly dame Beatrice obtained the information that Orchard lived on -the Downs in a little wooden hut, like the savage maid in the popular -song, and having gained a fair notion of its whereabouts, she set -out to seek the man. He had been in the house at the time of Colonel -Hall's murder, and apparently had seen something. Had he not done so, -his nerves certainly would not have been so shattered as to make him -give up the comfortable profession of a butler for the hard life of a -shepherd. Certainly he might refuse to speak out, as he assuredly had -not told the police anything likely to lead to the discovery of Colonel -Hall's assassin. But Beatrice had great faith in her woman's wiles and -in the power of her tongue to get what she wanted. It was the sole way -in which she could do so, as she had no money wherewith to tempt the -old man. But then so patriarchal a person might be above bribery and -corruption. - -It was a divine day, and the breezes were blowing freshly across the -spacious Downs from the distant Channel. Beatrice loved to look on -these wide spaces of green, and to watch the sheep moving across the -close-shorn turf, which they kept in such good order. A mile's walk -brought her into the vicinity where Mrs. Lilly had informed her that -Orchard watched his flock, and she speedily saw the hut, a tiny box of -a house roofed with turf and standing on the Downs, without railing, or -fence, or garden round it--just like a house that had lost its way. - -Fate favoured her, and she took it as a good omen when she saw the -old man seated at the door eating his midday meal. He was bent and -white-headed, and had a long white beard. In fact, he might have passed -for Father Christmas had he been appropriately dressed. His eyes were -faded, blue and mild, and he seemed in no wise disturbed when she -approached. "Good day, miss," said the ex-butler. - -"Good day," responded Beatrice. "Will you let me sit down? I have been -walking for some time." - -"Certainly, miss," said Orchard, with the deference of a former indoor -servant; "but the air will do you good. I suppose, miss, you are one of -the gentry from Brighton? They often come up here to breathe the air -and get appetites. Sit down, miss." - -By this time he had brought out a stool, and Beatrice sat down with a -weary air, for she really was tired. "I come from the Weald," she said, -waving her hand towards the luxurious verdure of the valley below. "I -live there." - -"A very nice place, miss. I lived there once myself." - -"At Convent Grange?" said Beatrice, glad to see that Orchard was -disposed to be communicative. - -He turned a mild look of surprise on her, and considered her face -attentively. "Why, yes, miss," he replied, "although I don't know how -you come to know that." - -"Mrs. Lilly told me." - -Orchard let a glimmering smile rest on his pale lips. "Sarah Lilly?" he -said musingly. "Ah, I have not seen her since we were fellow-servants -together--and that was long ago. I might have married her, miss, as -we liked one another. But she was married and I was married, so we -couldn't come together." - -"I should think not," said Beatrice, smiling at the grave way in which -the old shepherd spoke. "Mrs. Lilly is a great friend of mine." - -"Is she, miss? And no doubt"--he considered her still more -attentively--"Mrs. Lilly told you how I came to be a shepherd?" - -"Yes, she told me that." - -"I did it for my nerves," said Orchard, looking away at the treeless -green expanse; "they were shattered by the terrible calamity which -happened in that house. The air here cured me." - -"Do you know who killed Colonel Hall?" - -"You are the first person who has asked me that question for many -years, miss. Time was when many did so, but the Colonel has been buried -these five-and-twenty years, and his terrible death is quite forgotten. -I don't know who killed him--for certain, that is, miss." - -"Have you no suspicion?" - -"Oh yes," said Orchard calmly. "I believe that Mr. Alpenny murdered -Colonel Hall to get a certain necklace." - -"That cannot be true," said Beatrice aghast; "a Major Ruck----" - -"I don't know him," interpolated Orchard. - -"Well, he says that Colonel Hall gave the necklace to my mother." - -"And who was your mother, miss?" - -"Mrs. Hedge----" - -"Who married Mr. Alpenny?" cried Orchard, rising suddenly to his feet -and really startled out of his mildness. - -"Yes. Mr. Alpenny is now dead, and----" - -"I know--I know," said Orchard, waving his hand; "he met with the due -reward of his wickedness. I can talk of him later, and I'll tell you -why I suspect him. Mrs. Hedge's daughter--the Colonel's child----" - -"What?" cried Beatrice, springing to her feet. - -"Mr. Alpenny never told you, I suppose," said Orchard coolly; "but he -married Mrs. Hall, who took the name of Mrs. Hedge because she was -suspected of being concerned in the crime. You are Miss Hall--Miss -Beatrice Hall!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV -MRS. SNOW'S PAST - - -Beatrice waited to hear no more. As a sensible woman, she should have -remained where she was to question the old shepherd, and learn why -he stated so firmly that she was the daughter of Colonel Hall who -had been murdered so cruelly at the Grange; but the mere fact of the -announcement startled her, and without pausing, she rushed away, as -though to escape from her thoughts. Orchard looked after her in mild -surprise, but did not call her back, although her action must have -puzzled him. The ex-butler seemed to have outlived all curiosity, or -else the Downs had cured his nerves so thoroughly that he did not feel -startled. However, be this as it may, he returned to his dinner, and -sat watching the slowly-moving sheep without giving a thought to the -young lady who had called upon him. - -How Beatrice descended the slope of the Downs into the valley she never -knew. Her brain was filled with the information she had so strangely -gained. She was not Beatrice Hedge, but Beatrice Hall, the daughter of -the dead man who had owned the necklace. Ruck asserted that the Colonel -had given the necklace to his wife before the murder. As Mrs. Alpenny, -who called herself Mrs. Hedge and who really was Mrs. Hall, had been -the wife of the Colonel, this was not unlikely. Alpenny, finding that -she possessed the necklace, might have married her to gain possession -of the same. But what Beatrice could not understand was, why her mother -should have married the usurer. It was true that he had always been her -admirer, as Durban himself had stated; but from accepting attentions to -marrying the man who paid them, was a long step. Mrs. Hall had taken -it, under the name of Mrs. Hedge, and again Beatrice wondered what the -reason could be. - -Durban must have known this truth. He had been the faithful servant of -Colonel Hall, and had always spoken of him with love and admiration. -If she--Beatrice--were the Colonel's child, the adoration of Durban -for herself would be explained. He loved her, because he had loved her -dead father. But why had Durban held his tongue over the marriage, and -had allowed everyone to think that Alpenny had married a Mrs. Hedge? -Durban, as Beatrice well knew, had no love for Alpenny, yet he had -said nothing likely to prevent such a match. Certainly Durban might -not have had the power; but there appeared no reason why he should -have concealed the truth from his dead master's child. Beatrice was -beginning to see light. There was some mystery concerning her, which -had to do with her father's murder, with the missing necklace, and -probably with the murder of Alpenny himself. Durban now might tell the -truth and explain matters seeing that she already knew so much. Then, -again, he might refuse to speak out, and she would be as much in the -dark as ever. - -Major Ruck doubtless knew the truth from Alpenny, although he had -declared that Mrs. Hedge was the cousin of Colonel Hall. But Beatrice, -remembering his hesitation in making the statement, was certain that -Ruck was cognisant of the real state of affairs. Was Vivian Paslow -likewise enlightened? She could not be certain of this. Vivian might -or might not know, but he assuredly had some secret on his mind which -he refused to impart to her until the marriage took place. Had that -secret to do with her real parentage which had been revealed to her by -Orchard? Beatrice was minded, then and there, to ask Vivian for the -truth. But she could not do so on the spur of the moment, much as she -wished to since Vivian was at Brighton with Dinah and would not be back -for some hours. Durban certainly was at The Camp, but Beatrice, very -naturally, considering his attitude, was doubtful if he would speak out -At the foot of the Downs, and when on the road leading to Hurstable -village, she paused to think what was best to be done. She half -regretted that she had not stopped with Orchard to learn more. It would -be just as well, she thought, to go back: but a glance at the steep -wall of the Downs led her to change her mind. She could not face that -weary climb again, as her nerves were shattered by the communication -which had changed her life. - -Then it occurred to her that Mrs. Snow knew her mother. Mrs. Snow--then -Miss Duncan--had been at Convent Grange when Colonel Hall was murdered. -She must have known that the so-called Mrs. Hedge was really Mrs. Hall, -and must have known also the reason why Mrs. Hall under a feigned name -had married Jarvis Alpenny. Mrs. Snow declared herself to be a dear -friend of Mrs. Hall. Why, then, did she hate Beatrice, who was the -daughter of that same dear friend? That Mrs. Snow hated her Beatrice -was convinced, as she had pointedly neglected her throughout five and -twenty years. Yes Mrs. Snow would be the best person to question; and -having made up her mind rapidly, the girl took her way to the Vicarage -of Hurstable. - -Mrs. Snow, looking more sour and elderly than ever, was in the garden, -engaged in the Arcadian pastime of gathering roses for decorative -purposes. She was a good housekeeper, and liked to see a dainty -dinner-table. Notwithstanding her disagreeable nature, she made the -vicar and his son comfortable enough, and really loved them both in her -sour way. Jerry, indeed, was the apple of her eye, and it was for this -reason that she resented his engagement to Dinah Paslow. With any other -girl it would have been the same. It was not the individual maiden that -Mrs. Snow hated, but the girl who took her son to be a husband. For -the sake of her own selfishness, which she miscalled maternal love, -she would have liked Jerry to remain a bachelor all his life, just to -please her, and bestow all his affection on his dear mother. But the -young man himself had not found that affection, although it really -existed, strong enough to fill his life. Therefore he had asked Dinah -to marry him, and so strongly had he held his own on the subject, that -Mrs. Snow had been won over so far as to receive Dinah as a future -daughter-in-law. - -"Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice, when she entered the pretty grounds of the -Vicarage, "I wish to speak to you particularly." - -The vicar's wife looked sourly at her visitor. She hated Beatrice -because of her beauty, amongst other things; and when she saw that same -beauty was somewhat worn and haggard, that the girl looked ill and had -lost her vivacity, she felt pleased. "Quite washed out," said Mrs. Snow -to herself, and thus became more amiable. Laying down the scissors, -with which she had been clipping the flowers, she advanced with what -was meant to be an ingratiating smile. "My dear Miss Hedge, I am so -pleased to see you. This is the first time that you have called. Come -inside, please." - -"Thank you. I prefer to remain in the garden and take up as little of -your time as possible." - -Mrs. Snow stiffened. "What an extraordinary tone to take with me," -she said, with the offended air of a thorough egotist. - -"Can you wonder at it? We know so little of one another." - -"That is, as it may be," snapped Mrs. Snow, wondering what her visitor -had come to see her about "I may know more of you than you think." - -"For that reason I come to see you," said Beatrice calmly. - -Her hostess started, but speedily recovered her calmness. "I really do -not know what you mean, Miss Hedge," she said composedly. - -"I think you know this much, that I am not Miss Hedge." - -"Oh!" said Mrs. Snow, her sallow face flushing an uneasy red. "Will you -not be seated?" - -"Thank you." Beatrice moved towards a garden seat at the far end of the -lawn; but Mrs. Snow touched her arm, and pointed to a side-path. - -"I have a very secluded arbour there," she said significantly, "where -we cannot be overheard." And she led the way down the path. - -"The whole world may hear what I have to say," declared Beatrice -boldly, and resolved to be a party to no mystery. - -"But the whole world," said Mrs. Snow, stopped with a disagreeable -smile, "may not hear what I may have to say--that is, if you press me." - -"I want to hear everything," said the girl sharply; "for that reason I -have come to you." - -"I fear you will go away less easy in your mind than you came." - -Beatrice shrugged her shoulders. "My mind has been uneasy ever since -the death of my stepfather," she retorted. "Is this the place?" - -"This is the place," assented the vicaress. - -It was--as Mrs. Snow had stated--a very secret place. The path ended -In a kind of semicircular enclosure surrounded by a high hedge of -hawthorn. The arbour faced the path, so that any one seated therein -could see an intruder advancing along the path. The haven of rest was -of light trellis-work overgrown with roses, and had a comfortable -wooden seat at the back, and two basket chairs in front of this, with -a small green-painted table between. Beatrice sank into one of the -chairs, and Mrs. Snow subsided into the other. The table was between -them, and the two glanced at one another when seated. Mrs. Snow looked -as sour as ever: but there lurked a watchful look in her eyes, which -a more discerning person than the visitor would have seen at once. -Beatrice on her part, having nothing to conceal, was perfectly open; -and caring very little for what Mrs. Snow had to say, resolved that, -whatever it might be, she would bind herself to no secrecy. The scene -being set, the actresses spoke. Beatrice politely waited to give -Mrs. Snow a chance of opening the conversation, while Mrs. Snow was -equally determined that her visitor should speak first. Under these -circumstances a silence ensued which lasted for quite two minutes. Mrs. -Snow, being the most impatient, yielded first to the desire to use her -tongue. - -"You spoke very strangely just now, Miss Hedge," she said, and -purposely uttered the name to evoke frank speech from Beatrice. - -"Miss Hall, if you please," said the girl, falling into the trap. - -"Oh! Miss Hall," replied the other, flushing. "I never knew that your -mother was called Hall." - -"As she was your dearest friend--you told me as much--I fancy you must -have had some idea." - -"Perhaps," said Mrs. Snow, looking down uneasily. Then she raised her -face with a frown. "Who told you this?" - -"A man called Orchard. You may know of him, Mrs. Snow?" - -"I have no reason to deny that I know of him. He was the late Mr. -Paslow's butler, and became a shepherd on the Downs, because the doctor -said he would have to live in the open air." - -"Why?" - -"Did he not tell you? His nerves were so shattered by that horrid -murder which took place at the Grange twenty-five years ago." - -"You allude to the murder of my father?" - -"To the murder of Colonel Hall," corrected Mrs. Snow snappishly. - -"My father was Colonel Hall." - -"So this man Orchard says?" sneered the other, her face flushing and -her hands opening and shutting. - -"And so I believe. Come now, Mrs. Snow, you must tell me what you know -of this matter?" - -"I know nothing." - -"Perhaps Miss Duncan may be able to tell me?" - -"Ah!"--the vicar's wife laughed carelessly--"you know my maiden name, -and perhaps my occupation before I married my husband?" - -"I heard that you were a governess." - -"Who said so?" - -"Durban." - -"In that case, since he has been so frank, I wonder that he did not -tell you how Mrs. Hall--your mother--killed the Colonel." - -Beatrice started to her feet. "You dare to say that?" - -"Yes, I do," cried Mrs. Snow venomously. "She killed your father to -gain possession of a diamond necklace, and married Alpenny because he -could have accused her of the murder." - -"That is not true," said Beatrice, closing her eyes with horror. - -"It is true. I can prove it." - -"Why did you not do so twenty-five years ago?" - -"Because your mother was my friend." - -"Mrs. Snow"--Beatrice opened her eyes, and leaned across the -table--"you were never my mother's friend." - -The woman moved uneasily, and her hands were restless. "Had I not been -so, your mother would have stood in the dock." - -"Ah! you had your own reason for keeping quiet." - -"Do you mean to accuse me of being her accomplice?" said Mrs. Snow, -rising, and scowling. - -"Sit down, please." Beatrice pushed her back into the chair. - -"How dare you!" gasped Mrs. Snow. "I was never treated before so in the -whole course of my life!" And she made to rise again. - -Again Beatrice pushed her back. "I am stronger than you, Mrs. Snow," -she said scornfully; "you shall sit down, and you shall tell me -everything you know." - -"And if I do not?" - -"I'll go at once to the police." - -Mrs. Snow turned white. "To the police?" - -"Yes. Listen. I believe that the man with the black patch who murdered -my father, Colonel Hall, also murdered Mr. Alpenny. My mother is -entirely innocent, and were she alive she would say so." Mrs. Snow -laughed at this remark, but in a hollow manner. "Yes, you may laugh, -Mrs. Snow, but what I say is true," resumed Beatrice firmly; "and if -you don't tell me all you know, I shall tell the police that you accuse -my mother and say that you can substantiate your accusation. When -arrested, you may be forced to speak out." - -"Arrested? How dare you!" Mrs. Snow was furious. "How can I be arrested -when the murder of your father took place twenty-five years ago? It is -ridiculous." - -"Oh no; this second murder has to do with the first, so that will -bring the death of my father up-to-date. Speak out, or I go at once to -Brighton, and then----" - -"You will not dare----" gasped the vicaress in a cowed tone. - -"I give you three minutes to make up your mind, Mrs. Snow." - -"I don't want one minute. I shall tell you all I know--all I believe to -be true: your mother is guilty." - -"Was guilty, since she is dead," corrected Beatrice quietly; "and I -do not believe one word. You hated her, in spite of the fact that she -was--as you say--your dearest friend." - -"You are right!" cried Mrs. Snow with hysterical vehemence; "I did hate -her--always--always! She took from me the man I loved. Yes, you may -look and look, but I loved George Hall, your father, with all my heart. -I was only a governess, poor and plain; your mother was a planter's -daughter, rich and beautiful. We were at school together. I was her -companion afterwards; but I always detested her, and now----" - -"Now you detest her daughter," finished Beatrice. - -"You have your mother's beauty," said Mrs. Snow, and cast a venomous -look on the girl's pale face. - -"So this is the reason you kept away from The Camp, and spoke of me to -others so bitterly as you did?" - -"Yes. You may as well know the truth: I hate you. You have the beauty -of your mother, who stole George Hall away from me. But you have not -the money; I saw to that." - -"How could you prevent my inheriting the money? I suppose you allude to -Mr. Alpenny's fortune." - -"Because I told Mr. Alpenny if he left the money to you that I would -accuse him of being an accomplice of Mrs. Hall in her murder of the -Colonel. Miss Hedge, or Miss Hall, or whatever you like to call -yourself, I hate you so much that I would like to put the rope round -your neck." - -"Yet I am the daughter of the man you loved!" said Beatrice, wondering -at this bitterness. - -"All the more reason I should hate you. His daughter--yes, and the -daughter of Amy Hall, whom I loathed with all my soul." - -"If so, why did you not accuse her of the murder?" - -"I gave her a chance of repentance." - -"No, Mrs. Snow, that was not the reason. You did not tell the police, -because you could not prove your accusation. For all I know--for all -the police know--you may have murdered my father yourself." - -Mrs. Snow laughed scornfully. "I murder George Hall? Why, I loved the -very ground he trod on. You can prove nothing against me." - -"Nor can you prove anything against my mother." - -"Can I not?" Mrs. Snow rose and flung her arms about exultingly. "I was -stopping at the Grange. I was lying awake on that night, wondering when -my misery would end." - -"What misery?" - -"The misery of loving your father, and of seeing him with your mother. -But I sowed dissension between them: they were never happy." - -"You wicked woman!" - -"I am a woman, and that answers all," said Mrs. Snow sullenly. "I -don't mind telling you all this, as you cannot accuse me of anything. -If you did say that I told you what I am now telling you, I should deny -it; and who would believe you, against a respectable woman like me?" - -"You are a wicked woman!" said Beatrice again. "Go on with what you -have to say. I want to get away from you as soon as possible." - -"You may not be in such a hurry to leave me on a future occasion," -retorted Mrs. Snow. "You and I have not done with one another yet. I -know much that you would like to know." - -"What is that?" - -"I'll tell you later. Meanwhile, I tell you that I was lying awake -and heard a noise. I stole out, and saw Mrs. Hall ready dressed to -go out into the passage. She was at the head of the stairs, and with -her was old Alpenny, for he was old even then. They stopped talking -for a time, as I saw, and he apparently was persuading her to do -something. Then they went along towards the wing where Colonel Hall -slept. I went back to bed, wondering what Mrs. Hall meant by keeping -a midnight appointment with old Alpenny. I never suspected the truth. -Next morning the necklace was gone and George Hall murdered. And she -did it!" shouted Mrs. Snow savagely; "she--you mother! Alpenny was -her accomplice. He wished to get the necklace. He was afraid to kill -George Hall himself, and made a woman do it. Then she got the necklace -after she cut poor George's throat, and Alpenny made her marry him -under a threat of denouncing her as what she was, a murderess--a -murderess--you--you daughter of one!" jeered Mrs. Snow, pointing a -mocking finger at the pale girl. - -"You lie!" said Beatrice, shaken but not convinced. - -"A black patch was found under the window of my father's room. It was -open; and now that a man with a black patch killed Mr. Alpenny (for the -necklace, for all I know), I believe he also killed my father." - -"You admit that Mr. Alpenny had the necklace. How did he get it?" - -"Orchard said that Alpenny killed my father." - -"No; your mother did. Alpenny was merely the accomplice." - -"Wait. Major Ruck declared that Colonel Hall gave the necklace before -his death to Mrs. Hedge. Now I know that Mrs. Hedge was really Mrs. -Hall, I believe him. Father gave my mother the necklace, and doubtless -what else you say is true. My mother was forced to marry Alpenny, -because he threatened to denounce her, She must have been suspected of -the crime. I can see that plainly, else she would not have changed her -name to Hedge. I wonder she was not recognised." - -"No one knew her here," said Mrs. Snow gloomily. "She was only one -night at Convent Grange, and on that night her husband was murdered. -Pshaw! She is guilty." - -"I don't believe it," insisted Beatrice, rising defiantly; "but I will -prove the truth of what you say. Durban must speak out now." - -"And he will accuse your mother as I accuse her. Why did Durban go to -serve Alpenny for nothing? Because Alpenny, wishing to get a faithful -servant for nothing, said he would denounce Mrs. Hall unless she -married him and brought Durban with her. Durban knows the truth, but he -has kept silent all these years because he dared not speak out without -hanging Mrs. Hall." - -"She is dead now, so nothing can be done," said Beatrice sadly; "but at -least her memory can be cleared, and I shall clear it." - -"If you delve into your mother's past, you will find more things than -murder in it," said Mrs. Snow sneeringly. "She loved Major Ruck." - -"What?" - -"She loved Major Ruck, I tell you. He also was at Convent Grange on the -night the crime was committed, and I believe that your mother was about -to elope with him when I saw her dressed at midnight, with Alpenny -talking to her." - -"Oh," said Beatrice coldly, "I thought that she was there--as you -say--to murder my father." - -"She intended to do so, and then elope with Ruck; but Alpenny caught -her in his toils. For all I know, I may have seen her talking after -the murder, and Alpenny may have gone with her to get the necklace." - -"You make out a very pretty case, Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice, her heart -beating loudly and quickly, for the weight of evidence did seem to be -against Mrs. Hall. "However, I shall see Durban, and then come again to -see you. Good day," and she moved away, while Mrs. Snow laughed. - - - - - -CHAPTER XV -A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE - - -It was all very strange, thought Beatrice, as she walked towards -Convent Grange. She had learned much from Orchard and from Mrs. Snow, -yet apparently there was more to learn. Who had killed Colonel Hall? -Who had murdered Jarvis Alpenny? Was the assassin one and the same? And -if she found the assassin, would she learn who possessed the necklace, -which seemed to account for both crimes? Finally, did she discover the -identity of the assassin and the necklace, would she be able to learn -the mystery which lurked in the background of Vivian's life? These were -the questions which Beatrice asked herself on the way home. - -In spite of Mrs. Snow's assertion and significant tale of the midnight -meeting with Alpenny, the girl could not bring herself to believe that -her mother was guilty. A woman would never think of cutting a man's -throat, and probably when a frail little woman such as Mrs. Hall was -reported to have been, would not have the power. Then again, Alpenny -was murdered in the same way, and Mrs. Hall had been lying in Hurstable -churchyard for years. Also, if Mrs. Hall was guilty, what had the black -patch which had reappeared in the second crime to do with the first -one? It seemed impossible that these riddles could be answered. - -On arriving at the Grange, Beatrice found Dinah and Jerry Snow walking -down the avenue. Apparently they had been quarrelling, for they did not -walk arm in arm as usual, and Jerry was as sulky as Dinah was tearful. -"Whatever is the matter?" asked Beatrice, stopping. - -"It's Jerry's cruelty," mourned Dinah, whose sorrow made her look even -plainer than usual. - -"It's Dinah's foolishness," retorted Jerry, and walked on. - -"Come back," cried the girl, "or I'll never, never, never speak to you -again. Do you wish to break my heart?" - -"You're breaking it yourself," grumbled the young man. All the same, he -returned to where the two girls were standing. - -"And after all I have put up with from your mother," complained Dinah. - -"Oh! leave my mother alone." - -"I wish she would leave me alone. She is always highly disagreeable -to me. I believe it is a family failing," concluded Dinah spitefully. - -"Don't marry me, then." - -"I don't intend to--you--you bear!" - -Beatrice listened to all this with covert amusement. She knew that the -two loved one another too well to think of parting, whatever might be -the grounds of their quarrel. "Come, come," she said soothingly, and -prepared to play the part of peacemaker. "What is the matter? Is Jerry -jealous?" - -"No," snapped Dinah. "I am--very jealous. He"--she pointed to Jerry, -who still looked sulky--"has been flirting with another girl. I was in -the village an hour ago, and there was Jerry as bold as brass talking -to a red-haired minx, who squinted." - -"She doesn't squint," growled Jerry. - -"There, you see; he defends her." - -"Dinah!" cried Jerry in desperation, "how can you be so silly? I love -you and you only." - -"You love that horrid girl. I saw her looking at you." - -"A cat may look at a king." - -"She certainly is a cat, though you're not a king." - -"Well," said Beatrice, preparing to move on, "I am going back to the -house, and you two can settle it yourselves." - -Dinah clung to her friend. "No. I won't be left alone with Jerry." - -"Well, then, explain," said Beatrice impatiently, for she had too many -worries of her own to take any profound interest in the frivolous ones -of these milk-and-water lovers. - -"I'll explain," said Mr. Snow defiantly. "There is a young lady I know -in London----" - -"Young!" cried Dinah; "she's thirty-five, and painted." - -"Well, then, she came down here to the inn, and I met her outside. She -exchanged a few words with me, and said that she wanted to know the -nearest way to the Downs. It seems that her father is a shepherd on the -Downs--a man called Orchard." - -"What?" cried Beatrice, disengaging herself from Dinah's too fond -embrace. She could scarcely believe her ears. That she should come -from seeing the ex-butler for the first time, to stumble--so to -speak--across his daughter, was indeed an extraordinary coincidence. - -Jerry looked at her amazed, as he could not understand her tone. "Why -do you look so astonished?" he asked. - -"I have only lately come down from seeing Orchard," she said. "Oh, by -the way, Dinah," she added, turning to the girl, "Vivian came back with -you from Brighton?" - -"No," said Dinah crossly; "he had to see someone, and will not be back -until late. I came home myself, and passed through the village to see -Jerry making love to that horrid girl. And Jerry had the coolness to -follow me." - -"Only to explain," urged Jerry. "Come, Dinah, don't be silly. I know -the lady only a little; she is on one of the papers belonging to our -editorial firm, and does the fashion column." - -"She might dress better, then," retorted Dinah crossly, and determined -not to be appeased. "I saw cheapness in every line of her dress." - -"Ah," said Jerry artfully, "she cannot set off a dress like you." - -"Don't be silly," cried Miss Paslow, but smiled for all that. - -"What is this lady's name?" asked Beatrice. - -"Lady!"--Dinah tossed her head--"when her father is a shepherd, and, I -dare say, a very bad one." - -"Miss Maud Carr is her name," said Mr. Snow, ignoring Dinah, much to -her wrath. - -"Maud!" Beatrice remembered that this was also the name of Vivian's -dead wife, and again wondered at the long arm of coincidence. - -"I know very little about it or her," said Jerry in an injured -tone, "save that she writes about women's fashions. We have met at -journalistic clubs in London, and, of course, when I saw her I passed -the time of day with her." - -"You passed an hour," snapped Dinah, "and very pleasantly, I'm sure." - -"She's not a bit ashamed of her birth," continued Jerry, still ignoring -Dinah as a punishment. "I never knew her father was a shepherd in -London, but she confessed it to me here quite easily." - -"That's her artfulness," commented Dinah. "Why are you so curious about -this woman?" she asked Beatrice. - -The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I am not curious," she denied; "but -as I have just seen old Orchard, it is strange that his daughter should -have been speaking to Jerry." - -"Not at all, Beatrice. Jerry is always fond of these painted, horrid -women, who never pay for their dresses because they write for fashion -papers. I should be ashamed to earn my living in that way.--Well"--she -faced round to the impenitent Mr. Snow--"and what have you to say?" - -"Nothing," said Jerry crossly. "You are always nagging, Dinah." - -"After that!" cried Miss Paslow, looking up to see why the heavens did -not fall. "Well, I'm--I'm----" Words failed her, and she turned her -back. "I'm going home. All is at an end!" and she sped up the avenue, -glancing back meanwhile on occasions to see if Jerry followed. - -But Jerry did nothing of the sort, and explained to Beatrice why he -stood his ground. "Dinah needs a lesson," he said gravely. "You have no -idea how she nags at me. I can't speak to any one without her getting -into a pelting rage." - -"It shows how she loves you," said Beatrice soothingly. - -"I don't want to be loved in that selfish way. It's just like mother: -she wants all one's affection, and nags the whole time, saying it is -for my good. I've had quite enough of that in mother, without taking -it on in a wife. I want a woman who will cheer me up, and look upon -me as something to be looked up to. But I'll punish her," said Jerry -wrathfully. "She expects me to run after her. I won't; I'll stay here -and talk to you." - -"I'm busy," said Beatrice, taking a step or two away. "I have to go to -The Camp to see Durban." - -"You needn't. He's at Convent Grange looking for you." - -"Oh! Then I'll go to him at once." - -"Better wait to hear what I have to say," urged Jerry; "it's about the -murder of Mr. Alpenny." - -Beatrice stopped short, wondering what she was about to hear. "Have you -discovered anything?" she asked breathlessly. - -"I can't say if what I have discovered is of any use," explained Mr. -Snow, "but it might put the police on the track of the assassins." - -"What have you found out?" - -"Well, I was down Whitechapel the other night," said Jerry, "making an -inquiry into some robbery that has taken place. There was a detective -with me, and we saw all manner of queer things; also, we heard all -manner of queer talk. In one way and another we picked up information -about the Black Patch Gang." - -"The Black Patch Gang!" echoed Beatrice. "Yes!--yes?" - -"It's a gang of rogues, thieves, and vagabonds," went on Mr. Snow. "The -police have never been able to lay hands on the head of the gang, or -break it up. This gang goes about committing burglaries, and stealing -things, and picking pockets. They must have a kind of academy like -Fagin's," mused Jerry, "and they know one another by a black patch worn -over the left eye." - -"Just like the man I saw?" - -"Yes. I thought of that when I heard the story," said Jerry, "and the -detective thought the same. He is going to hunt out this gang and learn -the whereabouts of their headquarters. And, Beatrice"--he moved forward -to place a cautious hand on her arm--"it struck me--I don't know if -it struck the detective, but it struck me, that Alpenny, who was a -precious scoundrel--I beg your pardon----" - -"Go on," she said impatiently. "I know he was my stepfather, but I -always thought him a wicked man myself." - -"I believe he was a fence," said Jerry solemnly. - -"What is that?" - -"The chap who disposes of stolen goods. Yes; I really believe that was -why Alpenny lived in the country. The Black Patch Gang brought their -stolen goods down here, and he got rid of them in some way. I expect -the police will come down and make a thorough search throughout The -Camp. There may be all manner of secret hiding-places." - -"But, Jerry," protested Beatrice, who was very pale, as various -thoughts rushed through her mind, "I never saw any London thieves in -The Camp, or, indeed, any one disreputable." - -"Did you ever see any client?" asked Jerry impressively. - -"No. Mr. Alpenny kept his business very quiet." - -"He had need to if he was a fence. Beatrice, remember how the keys were -in the counting-house, where the man was murdered, and how the assassin -could not have got out unless he used the keys. I believe there is -another entrance to that railway carriage, and the assassin came in by -that way, along with the rest of Alpenny's precious clients. I am quite -sure the old man was the head of the gang." - -"There was Waterloo----" - -"I know," said Jerry quickly. "Dinah told me about him, and Mrs. Lilly -told her. Waterloo is a blackguard. The detective in Whitechapel -explained what a scoundrel he was--one of the worst. Why did he come -down here?" - -"I don't know," murmured Beatrice, and then it flashed across her -mind that the tramp had come to see Vivian. Coupling this desire with -the speech of the late Jarvis Alpenny regarding Vivian's crimes and -Vivian's secret troubles, which she was so anxious to find out, the -girl suddenly turned pale. She wondered if Paslow himself was one of -the Black Patch Gang. "It's impossible," said Beatrice, with a gasp, -and leaned against a tree to support herself. - -"What is impossible?" asked Jerry. "Here, hold up." - -"It's all right," she said, recovering herself with a violent effort; -"a little weariness, that is all. I have been on the Downs, remember. I -don't see how you can connect this gang with Mr. Alpenny." - -"Remember, he was murdered by a man with a black patch over his eye." - -"Yes, but----" the girl broke off. "I hope the police won't come down -here," she said, with pale-lips, and wondering if Vivian's conduct -would bear investigation. - -"They just will," said Jerry bluntly, "and I hope so. I'll be able to -make a lot out of the matter, if any loot is found. Why, the editor may -raise my salary." - -"You aren't worth it," cried an indignant voice near at hand, and Dinah -appeared from amongst the trees. "How dare you treat me in this way, -Jerry Snow? Why didn't you come after me, and why didn't----" - -"Dinah," asked Beatrice hurriedly, "have you been listening long?" - -"No. All I heard was that Jerry wanted his salary raised. What has he -been talking about?" and she eyed the two suspiciously. - -"Are you jealous of Beatrice?" demanded Mr. Snow scornfully. - -"What nonsense, when you know she is going to marry Vivian! And I -really don't think I'll marry you. Take back your ring, and----" - -Beatrice waited to hear no more. Leaving Dinah pouring out her voluble -wrath on the devoted head of her lover, she ran up the avenue, -wondering what further revelations she would hear. This was a day of -wonders. She had learned that she was the daughter of Colonel Hall; she -had heard her dead mother accused of murder by Mrs. Snow; and now she -discovered that Alpenny--as was probably the case--had been connected -with a gang of rogues. What would be the end of all these terrible -things? She could not tell, and ran on, anxious to reach her own room -in order to think matters over. - -She quite forgot that Jerry had told her Durban was waiting to see -her. But the old servant was on the watch. Hardly had she set foot on -the terrace when he issued from the house; and came towards her with a -smile. It died away, however, when he saw her pale face. - -"Whatever is the matter, missy?" he asked anxiously, Beatrice looked at -him calmly, and wasted no time in explaining herself. "I have learned -at last what you would not tell me." - -"Missy!" cried Durban, and his swarthy face grew green, as it always -did when he was startled. - -"I am the daughter of Colonel Hall, who was murdered here. My mother -was really Mrs. Hall, who called herself Mrs. Hedge and married -Alpenny!" - -Durban gasped. "Who told you this?" - -"Orchard, who was the butler here, and now is a shepherd on the Downs." - -"It is true," said Durban, flinging wide his hands. "I knew you would -find out. I am glad you have found out." - -"Why did you not tell me?" - -"I was prevented." - -"By whom?" - -"First by Alpenny, and then by Major Ruck." - -"The man with whom my mother was about to elope?" - -Durban looked at her swiftly. "Orchard never told you that?" - -"No. Mrs. Snow told me." - -"You have seen her. Then you know?" - -"I know that she accuses my mother of the crime--of the murder of my -father, Colonel Hall." - -"That is a lie," said Durban between his teeth. "But she would not -stick at a lie to harm your mother." - -"How can she harm the dead?" - -"She might harm the memory of the dead," said Durban evasively. "And -what else have you heard?" - -"From Mr. Jerry Snow, I have just heard that there is a gang of thieves -in London called the Black Patch Gang." - -"Augh!" groaned Durban, casting down his eyes. "Go on." - -"Mr. Alpenny is connected with them. Mr. Snow says that he was a fence -who disposed of stolen goods." - -"Where did Mr. Snow hear this story?" - -"From various people in Whitechapel." - -"Rumours only," said Durban, striving to appear calm; "there is not a -word of truth in it. Mr. Alpenny was wicked, but not so bad as that, -missy. I swear it." - -"I believe that Mr. Snow has spoken the truth," said Beatrice sharply. -"You are still trying to keep me in the dark." - -"For your good, missy--for your good." - -"Or for Mr. Paslow's safety--which?" - -"I don't know what you mean," gasped Durban hoarsely. - -"I don't know myself exactly, since you will not be candid," said the -girl wearily; "but I have found out much, and I shall find more. When I -discover that necklace----" - -"The Obi necklace? You have never found that?" - -"No. But I am looking for it." - -"Missy, do not. I implore you, do not. There is a curse on that -necklace. It caused the death of your father, the disgrace of your -mother, and the murder of Mr. Alpenny." - -"How do you know that? Had Mr. Alpenny the necklace?" - -"Yes. Your mother gave it to Alpenny for you." - -"Then where is it?" - -"I don't know--I cannot tell. And if I did know I would never tell, -missy. Enough sorrow and trouble has come about over that necklace--the -accursed thing! I--I----" Durban broke down, and, with a groan, fairly -ran away, leaving the amazed Beatrice mistress of the field. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI -AN INTERRUPTION - - -There was certainly enough to think about. Beatrice retreated to her -room, and proceeded to reason out the meaning of all she had heard. It -was evident that both Vivian and Durban were in some way connected with -criminality in connection with Mr. Alpenny's vocation of "fence," since -both refused to speak. Waterloo, apparently, was a member of the Black -Patch Gang, and had come down the other day to see Vivian. Beatrice -remembered now how Vivian had hinted that he was connected with rogues -and vagabonds, and how he appeared to be fearful as to what Major -Ruck might say. Ruck himself probably was a member of this criminal -association. In any case, as Durban had confessed, he was a decoy duck -to lure the unwary into the late Mr. Alpenny's nets. - -But the question which now presented itself to the puzzled girl was, -whether, Alpenny being dead, the organisation would end. The old usurer -had been extremely clever, and, wanting his brains, this association -might disband for want of a competent head. Ruck certainly,--as he -appeared to have some authority,--might become the moving spirit; but -from what Beatrice had seen of him, she did not think he was capable -of handling such difficult matters. And she did not much care. All she -desired was to learn what Paslow had to do with these rascalities,--if -Durban was implicated in the rogueries,--and, if so, to rescue both. -She could not believe that either of these kind men, and whom she loved -so dearly, would act in a blackguardly way. In some manner the two had -become entangled in Alpenny's nets, and knowing this, Ruck was making -capital out of the knowledge. This was the conclusion which Beatrice -arrived at, and she determined to force Vivian to explain. - -"I love him dearly," she assured herself, as she stared at her pale -drawn face in the looking-glass; "but I cannot marry him until I know -exactly what part he has taken in all these terrible doings." With this -resolve she went down to dinner, and found Vivian there in a very happy -state of mind. Lately the cloud had passed away from his brow, and he -seemed more like his old self, of the days when she had never guessed -what an abyss there was under her feet--under their feet, indeed, as -she could not separate herself, even in thought, from Vivian Paslow. - -"My dear Beatrice," he said, coming towards her with a smile: and then, -when he saw her face, he stopped short, just as Durban had done. "Why, -my darling, what have you been doing with yourself?" - -"Nothing," replied Beatrice quietly. "After dinner I'll tell you." - -"Then there is something," said Paslow, seeing how she contradicted -herself, and trying to make her speak out. - -"Yes," she answered with an effort, "there is some thing. I have -learned much to-day." - -"About what?--from whom?" Paslow gasped out the questions, and his -heart beat violently. He felt sick with apprehension. What had she -heard, and why did she look at him in this way? - -"I'll tell you after dinner." - -"But I want you to tell me now." - -"No," said Beatrice very directly, and was spared further speech, for -at that moment Dinah came into the room, followed by Jerry in evening -dress. - -"I've made it up with Jerry. He has asked my pardon," she said in a -cheerful voice, "so I invited him to dinner as a reward." - -"I hope it is a good dinner," said Jerry blandly. "I deserve a big -reward for having given in to you." - -"It is always a man's duty to give in to a woman," said Miss Paslow. - -"I hope you don't think it is the wife's duty to bully the husband?" - -"On occasions. A little storm clears the air." - -Further argument was cut short by the sound of the gong. Vivian, who -had been watching Beatrice all the time, gave her his arm, and they -led the way into the dining-room, while the lovers wrangled behind. -The table looked dainty and neat, as it was brilliant with flowers and -glittered with old silver and cut crystal. In spite of his difficulties -Paslow had always kept up a certain state at the Grange, and, looking -at the table, no one would have guessed that its owner was nearly -bankrupt. Dinah, who with Mrs. Lilly was responsible for the meal, -pointed out to Jerry the various dishes set down on the menu, and -described what share she had taken in preparing the same. "So you see, -Jerry darling, I am a magnificent housekeeper." - -"On your brother's income," said Jerry, with a shrug, and enjoying the -soup. "What will you be on mine?" - -"On ours," corrected Dinah. "I'll be splendid, of course. Your income -cannot be very much less than Vivian's. We live here like Elijah, who -was fed by ravens." - -"I am fed by a dove," said Mr. Snow gallantly. - -"How sweet!" sighed Dinah sentimentally. Then feeling really hungry -after her argument with Jerry, she began to eat, and laid all sentiment -aside: that could come afterwards in the moonlight. - -Beatrice and Vivian exchanged few words during the meal. They talked -about the weather, about the various trifles in the newspapers which -interested idle people, and made a light meal. But at the back of their -thoughts lay the consciousness that a crisis was approaching in their -lives, and neither one knew how it would end. Would love be strong -enough to make the girl overlook youthful folly? That was what Vivian -asked himself. And Beatrice wondered if Vivian's love would be powerful -enough to make him confess plainly what was the meaning of all these -mysterious things which raised a barrier between them. The dinner was -a mere farce so far as they were concerned; but Dinah and Jerry ate -enough for four, and chatted meanwhile so gaily that any silence on the -part of the remaining two was overlooked. - -The meal ended, Vivian and Jerry did not linger over the bottle of -old port which the host placed before his guest. Jerry was at an age -when love was preferable to strong drink, and Vivian wished to have -a confidential conversation with Beatrice as speedily as possible. -Therefore by common consent they adjourned to the drawing-room, -and found the two girls drinking coffee on the terrace. It was a -deliciously warm night with a full moon, and countless stars gemming -the heavens. Quite a night for Romeo and Juliet, meet for love and -for soft whisperings. Nightingales sang in the thickets, and the -trees were absolutely still owing to the want of the faintest breath -of wind. Dinah, finishing her coffee, began to get sentimental again -and beckoned to Jerry. The two went down the steps into the sleeping -gardens, and Beatrice was left seated at the small table on the terrace -with Vivian smoking at her elbow. - -She glanced at him in the ivory moonlight while she made up her mind -what to say. He looked slim and handsome in his well-cut clothes--a -dark and somewhat stern man with a finely-featured face, Greek in its -perfect lines. It seemed impossible that such a man could be involved -in sordid roguery. He looked what Beatrice, in spite of circumstances, -always believed him to be--an honourable English gentleman who was her -lover and who would be her adoring husband. Vivian was staring at the -retreating forms of Jerry and Dinah as they vanished down the avenue; -but he became conscious that Beatrice was looking at him, and turned to -look at her. - -Surely a lover never saw a fairer maid. In her black dress, with her -white neck and arms shining in the moonlight, she looked wonderfully -beautiful. The pale glimmer of the moon concealed all the ravages which -trouble had made, and she appeared like an angel ready to take flight. -It was with difficulty that Paslow prevented himself pressing her in -his arms; but until matters were cleared up between them, there was -no chance that she would allow him to embrace her. He could see that, -in the sad, stern way in which she looked at him, and so restrained -himself with a violent effort "Well?" he said stiffly, and prepared to -listen. - -"What is it you wish to know?" she asked in a low voice. - -"I wish to know what has changed you?" - -"Am I changed?" - -"Very much. This morning when I went to Brighton with Dinah, you were -bright and happy; now you are sad, and look as though you had received -bad news." - -"Only you can give me bad news," said Beatrice in an embarrassed -manner. "I want you to be plain with me to-night, Vivian. I have -promised to marry you. I take that promise back----" - -"Beatrice--oh Beatrice!" - -"Unless you satisfy me that you really and truly love me." - -"Oh, my darling, is there any question of that?" - -"There is every question. It is easy for a man to say that he loves a -woman; it is not so easy to prove it." - -"I can prove it, in any way you will." - -"Good," said Beatrice, leaning forward and placing her arms on the -small table between them. "I shall tell you what I have heard to-day; -and then you must tell me what you know." - -"About what?" asked Paslow, lighting another cigarette with shaking -hands, and not daring to look at her. - -"In the first place, about my parentage." - -This time he did look at her, and in much amazement. "You are the -stepdaughter of Alpenny," he said quietly, "and the daughter of Mrs. -Hedge, whomsoever she may be." - -"Is that all you know?" she asked, looking at him. - -"Yes. I have never heard anything else." - -"But I have. I heard this day, and from Orchard the shepherd, who was -your father's servant, that I am the daughter of Colonel Hall." - -Vivian dropped his cigarette and jumped up with an exclamation of -genuine surprise. "Did Orchard tell you that?" he asked. - -"He did. Mrs. Hedge, my mother, was really Mrs. Hall, and married Mr. -Alpenny because--because----" She hesitated. - -"Because why? She must have had a strong reason to marry that old -rascal." - -"She had. Alpenny, according to Mrs. Snow----" - -"What does Mrs. Snow know about your affairs?" asked Vivian angrily. - -"A great deal. She was my mother's best friend,--so she says--and -her bitterest enemy, as I have found out. Mrs. Snow declared that my -mother married Alpenny to prevent Alpenny accusing her of murdering her -husband, and my father." - -"Oh! It is incredible," muttered Vivian, clutching his hair. - -"Wait till you hear details. I think my mother is innocent myself, but -certainly the evidence seems to be against her," and Beatrice, without -giving Vivian time to intervene, told him all that she had heard from -the old shepherd and from Mrs. Snow. He listened in silence, although -his amazement was too profound and too openly expressed, to be anything -else than genuine. "What do you think?" said Beatrice, when she had -finished. - -"I don't know what to think," he muttered, glancing sideways at her and -then away into the shadowy garden. "I believe Orchard is right, and -that you are the daughter of the man who was murdered in this house. -But I do not believe what Mrs. Snow says. Your mother--or, indeed, -any woman--would never commit a crime in so brutal a manner. I don't -believe any woman unless an Amazon would have the strength, for one -thing." - -"So I think," said Beatrice heartily; "and I am glad that you agree -with me. However, the discovery of my parentage does not make any -difference to my position." - -"I don't know so much about that," said Paslow, meditatively. "It might -be that Colonel Hall left money. As he is dead, and your mother is -dead--as Alpenny's wife, any money that there is should come to you." - -"Well," said Beatrice, watching the effect of her words, "it seems to -me that the necklace is mine. I understand that it is valued--so Major -Ruck said--at ten thousand pounds. If I can find that, I certainly will -be an heiress. But Durban wants me to leave it alone." - -"For what reason?" - -"He declares that the necklace is accursed." - -"Pooh!" said Vivian, with supreme contempt. "That is his African -superstition. You must not forget, Beatrice, that Durban is half a -negro. If the necklace can be found, it certainly must be given back to -you, for your own sake. Not for mine," he added quickly; "I don't care -if you are an heiress or a pauper. I marry you because I love you, my -darling." - -He offered to take her in his arms, but she drew back. "One moment, -Vivian," she said rapidly. "Can you tell me where the necklace is to be -found?" - -"I!" He started back in great surprise, and met her gaze frankly but -with a puzzled look. "How should I know?" - -"Mr. Alpenny, I truly believe, was killed for the sake of that -necklace, as was my father before him. I do not believe that my father -gave it to my mother. He was killed and robbed--so was Alpenny." - -"Beatrice, do you imply that I know anything of this murder?" - -"I can explain," she said, and came closer. "Alpenny was killed by a -man who wore a black patch over his left eye. A black patch was found -under the window of the room in which my father, Colonel Hall, was -murdered. Both crimes were committed, if not by the same man, as I have -hitherto believed, at least by a member of the Black Patch Gang to -which Alpenny belonged." - -Paslow covered his face with a groan, unable to meet the vivid -lightning of her eyes. "What do you know about the Black Patch Gang?" -he asked in stifled tones. - -"All that Jerry Snow could tell me. He was in Whitechapel, and heard -many remarks about this gang of thieves which the police are always -trying to break up. Now that the gang is concerned in murder as well as -in thievery, the police will make every effort to capture the man who -heads them. What is his name?" - -"How should I know?" demanded Paslow hoarsely. "Because you do know. -Alpenny hinted that you had committed crimes." - -"He lied--he lied," said Vivian passionately. "I am as innocent of -evil-doing as you are; folly, perhaps, but never crime." - -"I believe that. I am certain that the man I love would never descend -to sordid crime. But you have been drawn into the toils of this gang. I -believe that Alpenny was the head--he decoyed you into his snares; or -else Ruck--Major Ruck, his decoy-duck." - -"There is some truth in what you say, but----" - -"No; you must speak out. I will stand by you to the end, and do all I -can to reveal my love more and more. But I refuse"--she drew herself -upright--"to marry you unless you tell me the whole truth." - -"Give me time," he panted, and clenched his hands. - -"No. You must tell me now, or to-night we part for ever." - -Paslow uttered a groan, and moved forward two or three steps as though -about to seek safety in flight. "Beatrice!" he said brokenly. - -"Your answer?" she demanded, making every effort to appear calm. - -But the answer was not to come from Paslow. Even while he opened his -mouth to speak, Jerry appeared on the lawn with two ladies. One was -Dinah, as they could see by the evening-dress; the other a tall, -slim, fair-haired woman, fashionably arrayed in walking-costume. The -moonlight was strong, but neither Beatrice nor Paslow could tell who -the strange woman was. - -"Hullo, Vivian!" shouted Jerry; "here is Miss Carr, who wants to see -you." - -He would have said more, but was drawn back by Dinah, who apparently -was still jealous of the stranger. Beatrice remembered that this was -the woman with whom Jerry had been speaking during the day, the same -that had awakened the jealousy of Dinah. Also, she was the daughter -of the ex-butler. She advanced with gliding steps, and looked like a -beautiful lithe tigress stealing towards her prey. - -With Dinah, still jealous, Jerry after that one abrupt introduction -disappeared down the avenue, probably to be scolded. But Beatrice did -not look at the retreating lovers, nor indeed at the advancing Miss -Carr, whose foot was now on the lowest step of the terrace. All her -attention was concentrated on Vivian Paslow, who stood at the top of -the steps as though frozen into stone. The woman came up the steps, and -was now so near that Beatrice could see the smile on her fair face. - -"You!" said Vivian hoarsely, and fell back a pace. - -"Myself," said Miss Carr, "and no ghost either." - -Beatrice rose with a bound, and felt a sudden jealous anger surge in -her heart. She looked from one to the other imperiously. "Who is this -woman?" she asked the cowering man. - -"My--my--wife," he said in low, broken tones. "God help me, my wife -come back from the dead!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII -A STORY OF THE PAST - - -Miss Carr, or Miss Orchard, or Mrs. Paslow--Beatrice thought of her -by all these three names--smiled quietly when her husband made the -confession, and sank gracefully into the seat he had vacated. She -was certainly a handsome woman, and if not entirely a lady, was an -extremely good imitation of the same. Vivian still stood as in a dream, -staring at the wife he had believed to be dead and buried, and Beatrice -stared alternately at him and at the strange woman. A silence ensued, -for each of the three was thinking hard. Beatrice was the first to -break silence. - -"Will you explain?" she asked Vivian quietly. - -"I think," he answered in a harsh, dry tone, "that my wife had better -explain. I have the certificate of her death, and----" - -"And you can consider it so much waste-paper. The woman who was buried -was my double," said Mrs. Paslow composedly. - -"You cannot deceive me in that way, Maud. I saw you ill in bed." - -"And so I was. I had a bad attack of influenza," said his wife, with -a calm smile. "Oh, my illness was genuine enough; but I did not -die,--although I appeared to do so, for reasons connected with a second -marriage." - -"With Mr. Paslow's marriage to me?" asked Beatrice, striving to regain -her calmness, and emulate the sang-froid of this cold, audacious -woman, who appeared to have no feelings. - -"Well, no," drawled Mrs. Paslow, "not exactly. I never did care to -benefit my fellow-creatures to that extent. I refer to a marriage I -wished to make with a rich American. However, his mother stopped the -marriage, and I found myself without a natural protector. Therefore, as -I heard from Major Ruck that Vivian proposed to make you his wife, I -came here to save you, and stop him from committing bigamy." - -"Which you just now proposed to commit yourself?" said Beatrice, with -cold contempt. - -Mrs. Paslow looked at her between half-closed eyelids, and shrugged her -finely moulded shoulders. "Quite so," she said politely; "but I have my -reasons for risking imprisonment." - -"Reasons connected with money," sneered Vivian. - -"Connected with over a million--pounds, not dollars. Well?" - -"Well,"--he faced her squarely--"and what do you propose to do now?" - -"One moment," interposed Beatrice, now perfectly calm, and determined -to break down this woman's composure; "I should like to know how you -carried out this plot of a feigned death." - -There was a case of cigarettes on the table belonging to Vivian: -Mrs. Paslow cast a disdainful, and rather amused look on Beatrice, -and lighted one of the little rolls of tobacco. When the smoke was -wreathing round her fashionable hat, she spoke with great calmness -and appeared in no way upset by the imperious tone of the woman whom -her husband loved. "Certainly," she replied in a low, sweet voice, -which seemed to be one of her greatest charms, and she had many. "As -I explained, I wanted to be free of Vivian to marry a richer man than -he was, or is likely to be. When I was ill, and he came to see me, the -plan suggested itself. I took the doctor into my confidence, and he -agreed, for a consideration, to forward my aims. My double was really -ill,--oh yes, with consumption; she could not live, so----" - -"What do you mean by your double?" asked Beatrice abruptly. - -"Vivian can tell you. He knew of my double." - -"I did,--I do: but I did not think you would pass her off as yourself, -Maud." - -Mrs. Paslow removed the cigarette from her mouth and smiled. "It was a -capital plot," she said musingly; "and but that I want you to be again -my husband, would have succeeded." - -"What about your double?" asked Beatrice pertinaciously. - -"Oh, she was not a twin sister, as you seem to think. I am the only -daughter and only child of Joseph Orchard, who was a butler, and -is a shepherd. You see," she added, leaning her arms on the table -and addressing her rival in an amused tone, "I have no false pride -about me. When occasion serves I can say that I am the daughter of an -army officer, or of a clergyman, or of anyone with a position. I have -done such things in my time. But to you I can be frank, since there is -nothing to be gained by telling lies." - -"Your double--your double, Miss Carr, or Miss Orchard?" - -"Neither name is mine. Mrs. Paslow, if you please. Unless"--she glanced -contemptuously at Vivian--"my husband denies----" - -"I deny nothing. I cannot," he said savagely. "Say what you have to -say, Maud, and then I shall tell Miss Hall how we met and into what -troubles you led me." - -"Miss Hall!" echoed Mrs. Paslow, with a glance at Beatrice. "Then you -know that, do you?" - -"How do you know?" asked Beatrice, pointedly. - -"Oh, my father told me long ago. Later I might have made capital out of -the affair, but now----" She shrugged again. - -"I believe that you are a bad woman," said Beatrice hotly. - -"I am--what God made me," retorted Mrs. Paslow, in no wise disturbed -by the speech. "But about my double. She was a girl on the stage -extremely like me: in fact we might have passed for twins. I also went -on the stage--I have done most things in my time; and we--that is Miss -Arthur my double and myself--appeared in a play as twins. If you knew -anything of the theatre, Miss Hall, you would be surprised to hear -how successful that play was. The author was unknown and Major Ruck -financed the play, and----" - -"I want to hear nothing about that, Mrs. Paslow. I know now how you -carried out the deception, though it seems to me that as you did not -let Vivian see the dead body, it was needless to have this double." - -"Well," admitted Mrs. Paslow apologetically, as though excusing a -fault, "it was necessary to make sure. Vivian, after a few visits, -never came near me----" - -"The doctor would not let me," said her husband quickly. - -"Good old doctor," murmured Mrs. Paslow, selecting a fresh cigarette; -"he knew what I wanted. However, to make a long story short, Miss -Arthur died in my place and was buried under my name. You have the -certificate, my dear Vivian, so all is well. You were so easily -deceived that there was no fun in deceiving you. A clever man would -have made more certain of his wife's death before arranging to take -another one, especially as you were cheated once before." - -"I did hear that you were dead before Mr. Alpenny was murdered, -and I then asked Miss Hall here to be my wife," confessed Vivian; -"afterwards, Major Ruck told me that you were alive, but ill. I went to -see you, and you really seemed to be dying----" - -"I am a good actress, Vivian. I was on the stage, remember." - -"So I thought, when I saw the doctor and got the certificate, that you -were really and truly dead. Oh, I shall see that the doctor is punished -for this deception." - -"I think not," said Mrs. Paslow, narrowing her eyes and looking at him -very directly. "No doubt he will be punished in time, but not by your -will, Vivian dear." - -The tone and words were so peculiar and significant that Beatrice -looked straight at the woman, who now had a mocking smile on her face, -and spoke quietly: "You have some power over Mr. Paslow?" - -"Why not call him Vivian?" sneered the stranger. "He was"--she -emphasised the word--"to be your husband, remember." - -"If you speak like that," said Paslow standing over her and speaking in -a low, angry voice, "I shall forget that I am your husband." - -His wife glanced slightingly at Beatrice. "It seems to me that you have -forgotten," she scoffed. - -What the infuriated man would have said or done on the spur of the -moment, it is impossible to say; but he was dangerous. Beatrice saw -that, and drew him back with an exclamation. "Don't," she said quickly; -"let her say what she will. It cannot hurt me. And let me remind you, -Mrs. Paslow, that you have not answered my question." - -"Nor do I intend to," said the woman, rising and throwing aside the -cigarette. The contemptuous words of Beatrice stung her not a little. -"This is my husband, and I want him to return to town with me." - -"You are my wife," said Vivian in quiet anger, "and you were willing to -commit bigamy after deceiving me by a feigned death. I refuse to have -anything more to do with you." - -"The law will make you!" she threatened. - -"The law will do nothing of the sort. As my wife, I will allow you -enough to live on; but no law will ever make me have anything to do -with you again." - -"Then I shall make you!" - -"Ah," interposed Beatrice, "you exercise this power?" - -"I want my husband," said the woman sullenly. - -"I refuse to have anything to do with you," retorted Paslow once -more. His wife was rapidly losing her temper. She had come prepared -for victory; and, meeting with this opposition, all the disdainful -certainty of her assumed nature wore away, and the coarser feelings -became apparent. Her face flushed a dark red, the expression changed, -and instead of a quiet, ladylike person, Beatrice saw before her a -virago of the worst. "You shall come!" she shouted, "or rather, I shall -stay here. This is my house, and you,"--she turned on Beatrice,--"you -shall leave it." - -"I am here with Mr. Paslow's sister, and I decline to leave it at the -word of a disgraced wife." - -"I!" Mrs. Paslow sprang forward with upraised fist. "You dare to say -that to me, you----" Before she could strike, Vivian caught her arm, -and flung her back with such force that she fell against the balustrade -of the terrace. "Do you want me to commit murder?" he said savagely. - -"Why not another, since you killed Alpenny?" she panted, and glared at -him like a tigress losing her prey. - -"That is a lie!" cried Beatrice before Vivian could speak. "Mr. Paslow -was with me on that night, and about the time the crime was committed." - -"Oh!" sneered the woman, seizing her advantage, "Vivian was with you, -indeed? And what would be said were that known, Miss Hall, as you call -yourself?" - -"Be silent," said her husband, catching her arm in an iron grip, and -his face whiter than that of the dead; "you shameless creature! Go away -at once, and cease your insults." - -"Leave me alone!" cried Mrs. Paslow, wrenching herself free. "I intend -to stop in my own house." - -"My house--not yours." - -"I am your wife." - -"And just now you confessed to a feigned death to commit bigamy? I have -a great mind to give my lawyers instructions to apply for a divorce." - -"Give them to Tuft, then," cried Mrs. Paslow, her fair face convulsed -with fury. "He is Alpenny's lawyer, and knows all about me, and all -about you. See! see!"--she pointed a mocking finger at Vivian who had -turned away with a gesture of despair--"he dare not face the law!" - -"If you mean that you will denounce him for having killed Mr. Alpenny," -said Beatrice in a clear low voice, "you are wrong. I can clear Mr. -Paslow's character. I can save him, and I will!" - -"Indeed! Why?" - -"Because I love him. Why he married you, how he married you, I do not -know; but I believe that you trapped him into----" - -"Trapped him, indeed!" shouted Mrs. Paslow. "I could have married a -dozen better men than he. He is a coward--a milksop--a--a thief! Ah!" -she cried as Beatrice recoiled with a shudder, "you know the truth now. -This dainty, well-born gentleman--this honourable man--is a thief, who -was tried for shoplifting." - -"And who was acquitted," said Paslow, deadly pale. "It was you who were -condemned, and rightly: God forgive me for saying so. After all, bad as -you are, you are my wife." - -"Vivian," said Beatrice, with her face drawn with agony, "is what this -woman says true?" - -"True--quite true. And I'll thank you to speak of me more -respectfully," snapped Mrs. Paslow. - -"Is it true?" asked Beatrice again, paying no attention to this -spiteful speech. - -"Quite true," said Vivian, drawing a long breath and prepared to face -the worst; "this is the power she has held over me. That she can send -me to prison is a lie; but she can disgrace my name, by telling my -friends that I was accused of shoplifting." - -"But was it not in the papers?" asked Beatrice anxiously. - -"No. I was accused under another name, Beatrice. I married that -woman"--he pointed to Mrs. Paslow, who was still fuming with -rage--"when my father was alive. She was the daughter of our old -servant, who became a shepherd. Afterwards, when a child, and when I -was a child, she came here, and Mrs. Lilly helped her for the sake of -her father. I was a boy and foolish. She was clever and unscrupulous. -She grew weary of this quiet life, and went to town. I thought that I -loved her----" - -"And you did," panted Mrs. Paslow. - -"I did not," said Vivian sternly. "I was entrapped, as you know -well.--It was a year later that I met her, when in town, and then she -was the associate of thieves and rogues. Alpenny had seen her here; he -inveigled her into his nets, and used her in the West End as a decoy in -the same way as he used Major Ruck. She met me. I believed that she was -good--that she was still my old playfellow. I married her under my own -name, but in order to save the feelings of my father, I lived with her -as my wife under another name." - -"I wanted to take my own and come down here," said the woman. - -"I know you did, but I would not allow it," said Vivian, and continued -his story rapidly, while Beatrice, perfectly still, listened intently. -"It would have broken my father's heart. And then," he added, turning -to Beatrice, "I found out how vile she was." - -"I never deceived you--never," said Mrs. Paslow. - -"No. You had that redeeming point," said her husband; "as a wife I -could find no fault with you in that way. Had you been good and kind, I -might have come to love you, as I did when we were children together. -But your nature was essentially false and wicked. Under the tuition of -Alpenny you developed into an adventuress, and made the worst use of -your talents." - -"But for Alpenny we should have starved," she reminded him. - -"I did not know that," he retorted. "You said that the money had been -left to you by your god-mother; only when it was too late did I learn -that Alpenny gave you the money for having stolen things. And then I -was dragged into your evil ways." - -"You did steal," insisted Mrs. Paslow. - -"I did not. Beatrice, one day we were in a draper's shop in the West -End. This woman stole some lace; she was arrested, and I was arrested -also as her accomplice." - -"Oh Vivian!" - -"Oh Vivian!" mocked Mrs. Paslow. "You see he is a thief." - -"You lie," said Paslow angrily. "Beatrice does not believe that." - -"No! no! I would never believe it," said Beatrice. - -"You fool!" scoffed Mrs. Paslow. - -"You angel!" cried Vivian fervently, and then proceeded rapidly with -his nauseous story. "Under my feigned name I was tried--and thus, -thank God! I was enabled to save my father from dying of a broken -heart. I was accused, but Tuft, Alpenny's lawyer, defended me--not from -kindness. No. Alpenny, by this accusation of theft, secured a hold over -me, which he used after my father's death to extort the property from -me. This is why I am so poor. Alpenny and my wife"--he laid a scornful -emphasis on the word--"got all my money." - -"And we had a right to," said Mrs. Paslow. "I am your wife, and -Alpenny, through Tuft, saved you from going to gaol." - -"For his own ends merely," retorted Vivian. "I had to pay bitterly for -his aid.--This woman"--he again pointed to Maud--"was condemned, as it -was proved that she was an expert thief, and she was sentenced to a few -months' imprisonment." - -"To five months," said Mrs. Paslow shamelessly. - -"I was acquitted; but the judge read me a lecture on the kind of -society I kept. And Heaven help me!" cried Vivian, "then was the first -time that I knew what sort of society my marriage had led me into." - -"You were always a greenhorn," said Mrs. Paslow, patting her hair into -shape, and arranging her ruffled plumes. - -Vivian turned his back on her. "I left the court without a stain on my -character," he said quickly; "and left England for the five months, -telling my father that I was going abroad for my health. And my health -was bad," he added. "I broke down under the vileness of it all. My -father never knew the truth; nor did any of my friends. The case, since -I was accused under another name, passed unnoticed. But Maud knew the -truth, and so did Alpenny; so did Tuft his creature, and Major Ruck, -another of his minions. They tried to make me vile by threats of -exposure; but so long as I could bribe Alpenny by giving him money, no -action was taken by him or Ruck. Maud I also kept----" - -"I had a right to the money. I am your wife." - -"I admit that you had the right," he said. "Wicked as you were, I -acknowledged you as my wife." - -"Not to the world," she said sharply. - -"Because that would have made the marriage known to my father, and -he would have cut me off without a shilling. After his death, when -you found that Alpenny had the money, you refused to be acknowledged, -although I asked you to come here as my wife. I had not then met with -Miss Hall," ended Vivian significantly. - -"I see. You love her?" - -"With all my heart and soul." - -"And I love him," acknowledged Beatrice. "From what I have heard, I can -see that Vivian is not to blame, you wicked woman." - -"Here," said Mrs. Paslow, advancing, "get out of my house. I have come -here to take up my rightful position. The house is mine." - -"You will leave this place at once," said Vivian, his face dark with -anger; "you can tell what you like and do what you like. Alpenny is -dead, and I decline to be under your thumb any longer." - -"I shall stop here," said Mrs. Paslow, and sat down firmly. - -Vivian placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped up in a fury and -struck at him. "You dare to touch me, you thief!" she stormed. "You -have spoilt my life--you have--you have!" Her anger choked her, and she -tore at the lace round her neck; in doing so, she ripped the dress, and -her hand caught unknowingly at something within. To the amazement of -Beatrice, a chain of glittering gems was pulled from its hiding-place -round her neck, and fell on the pavement. The jewels were diamonds, and -they flashed, pools of liquid light, in the moonlight. - -"Oh!" cried Beatrice, guessing at once. "The Obi necklace!" - -Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Mrs. Paslow had snatched -up the necklace and was flying across the lawn. Vivian would have -followed, but Beatrice stopped him. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII -WHAT ORCHARD KNEW - - -"Let her go," said Beatrice, holding back the angered husband by main -force; "only in this way can you keep her out of the house." - -"But the necklace," said Vivian, pausing, while his wife vanished -amongst the shadows of the trees. "Are you sure?" - -"No. How can I be sure? I have never seen the necklace. But the -diamonds were too lovely to be paste. You know I have seen many -jewels pass through Alpenny's hands, and sometimes he explained their -particular beauties and values to me. I am sure the gems in that -necklace are real: they flashed so wonderfully in the moonlight." - -"Diamond necklaces are rare in the Weald," mused Vivian thoughtfully, -"and Maud is not likely to possess such jewels, for she has little -money. It must be the famous Obi necklace. Where could she have got it, -Beatrice?" - -"Who knows?" she replied, her cheek slightly paling. "Is she one of the -members of this Black Patch Gang?" - -"So far as I know anything of her life, she is," replied Paslow, his -eyes averted. Then he turned and seized her hands with vehemence, "Oh! -my heart's darling what can you think of me after this revelation?" - -Beatrice did not pause an instant in making reply. "I think you were -very foolish to keep the truth from me." - -"But how could I tell you of my sinful folly?" he pleaded, and his -voice was very sweet in her ears. "See what a sordid tale it is: a -foolish boy, and a clever woman! Yet God knows"--he broke off and cast -away her hands--"it is not right that I should blame the woman, as men -usually do. After all, Maud has some good points about her." - -"I did not see them," responded Beatrice, with the bitterness with -which one woman will always talk about another she hates. - -"But, believe me, she has," insisted Vivian quickly. "She has been a -burden to me; she did her best to drag me down to her level of thievery -and roguery; but I cannot forget that I knew her here, as a child--when -she really was good and kind. And, Beatrice," he added, with a flush, -"on my soul I believe that in some things she is not what one might -think her. You heard her say that she had been a true wife to me?" - -"Yes," answered the girl, not to be outdone in justice even to a rival; -"and I believe what she said. But if you love her----" - -"Don't say that." He sprang towards her, all his heart in his eyes and -passion in every note of his voice. "I love you and you only; no other -woman has ever made me feel what you have. I met Maud in London, and -even before, I had a kind of boy and girl passion for her. Then we -were playmates, remember, in spite of the difference of our position. -I was sorry when she told me how lonely she was in London. I did not -know that she lied in saying so. I was young and inexperienced, and she -caught me with a tearful eye and a quivering voice and a tale of woe. -I married at haste to repent at leisure. But, oh Heavens!"--he broke -off, pressing his hands against his aching brow--"when I think of that -horrible police-court, and the way in which I was accused of what I -never did, I hardly dare to look you in the face. I am soiled with the -mire of criminality. I must be an outcast, a scoundrel in your eyes." - -"You are in my eyes what you always have been," replied Beatrice in a -soft tone--"the man I love." - -"Still, still--you--you love me?" he stammered. - -"Yes. No, do not touch me," she added hastily, as Vivian flung himself -forward. "You had a right before she came, as you were ignorant, and I -see from her own confession how you were deceived; but now, she is your -wife--she is alive. Until that barrier is removed, we can be nothing -but friends to one another. I cannot stay here." - -"Beatrice! Beatrice!" - -"I cannot," she answered steadily. "I love you, and I cannot see you -day after day with calmness." - -"You can remain as Dinah's companion," he said entreatingly. "I shall -pay you a salary, and then you will be independent." - -"No. Dinah has Jerry; she wants no companion. I will go to town, and to -Lady Watson. She was my mother's friend, and will be able to help me." - -"You will go as her companion?" - -"Oh no. I don't like her sufficiently for that. But she may be able to -get me a position as a governess or something else. And also, I wish to -ask her about my mother, whom she knew. Mrs. Snow gives a cruel version -of what my mother was. Lady Watson may be more truthful. And some day," -she added, drawing so near to Vivian that it took him all his powers of -self-repression to refrain from taking her in his arms--"some day, when -the barrier is removed, we may come together." - -Vivian shook his head. "Maud will never give me a chance of divorce, -my dear," said he bitterly. "She is too clever and--I may say it to -you--too passionless." - -"Never mind, we can remain friends." - -Paslow groaned aloud with anguish. "Can there be friendship between us -after all that has come and gone?" - -"Yes," said Beatrice quietly, "because we are soul friends, and do -not love entirely after the physical. Come, Vivian,"--she placed a -gentle hand on his shoulder--"let us commence our friendship by talking -sensibly of these matters." - -"What matters?" he asked listlessly, for the man was worn out with the -struggle which was going on in his breast. - -"About the murders of my father and of Alpenny. We must learn who -committed them." - -"What good will that do?" - -"This much: it will destroy the power which this gang holds over your -head. Major Ruck knows that you were accused of theft, so does Tuft -the lawyer and your wife. For their own ends they will hold this in -terrorem over you." - -"They have always done so," said Vivian sadly. "They cannot hurt me so -far as the police are concerned, as I left the court without a stain on -my character. But socially, if they told my friends----" - -"If your friends turn their backs on you, they are not worthy to be -called friends," said Beatrice quickly. "You must face this gang -of people. Do you not know their secrets, and thus may be able to -counterplot them?" - -"I know nothing about them; but Durban may. The paper which was on -my desk, and which told me to threaten Alpenny with the black patch, -was--now I feel sure--in Durban's handwriting." - -"It probably was," said Beatrice thoughtfully. "I shall see Durban and -ask him to be open with me. But did you not know anything about the -Black Patch Gang, Vivian?" - -"No," he said earnestly; "I swear I did not. I fancied from what Maud -let drop at times that Alpenny and herself and Ruck were all connected -with some criminal organisation; but I never knew anything about -the black patch, which seems to be their badge. I used the words on -Durban's paper--if Durban did write them--quite unknowingly. And now -when I remember their effect, and remember also how your father was -murdered, and how you also saw a man issuing from The Camp with a black -patch over his eye, I feel sure that there is such a gang, and that -Alpenny was connected with it. Probably I was used to warn him that he -would be killed, for some reason. He may have betrayed them, or made -personal use of the goods he received. But whatever it was, I certainly -unconsciously gave him the warning; and he was killed--I am convinced -of this--by a member of the gang." - -"I agree with you," said Beatrice promptly. "Well, I shall see Durban -to-morrow, and he may speak out. I shall insist on his doing so. Also, -I shall see old Orchard." - -"Why?" - -"Because I believe she got that necklace from him--your wife, I mean. -That was why she came down, and why she acknowledged the relationship -to Orchard." - -"You don't think he killed Alpenny, Beatrice?" - -"No. The man is too old, and, moreover, would not have the courage. -But he may know something of the murder. In any case, if the necklace -was in his possession, he will have to account for having it. Major -Ruck insisted that my mother had it and left it to Alpenny, who should -have given it to me. And he would have done so, in order to close Major -Ruck's mouth." - -"But how could he do that if he gave you the necklace?" - -"Oh," said Beatrice calmly, "it was to be my dowry, and I was to be -made to marry Major Ruck. You heard yourself; Vivian, how the Major -confessed that it was the Obi necklace he wanted. Perhaps he will make -your wife give it up to him." - -"He will indeed be clever if he can manage that," said Vivian, grimly. -"My wife will not readily part with diamonds like that, and I fancy she -knows enough about the Major to keep him silent. Well, Beatrice, let it -be as you say: see Durban in the morning, and then Orchard. But I wish -you would stay here." - -"No, you do not, Vivian," said the girl, determinedly. "You love me too -well for that." - -"Perhaps I do. I shall always love you. Oh Beatrice, if you can only -get at the truth of these murders and bring home the crime to the Black -Patch Gang, you will lift from my shoulders the burden of years. I will -work also. I have been a weak fool, allowing myself to be blackmailed -and humbled by these rogues. But you have put fresh life into me, my -darling. I shall now assert my manhood." - -"I quite understand how you shrank from publicity," she said in a -soothing tone. "You are brave and manly, I know: but a man who would -face a cannon's mouth would, in a case like this, be fearful for his -good name. Let me search out the matter." - -"But you will allow me to help?" - -"When I want your help I shall ask it of you," she replied. "And now, -as our relations are changed,--for the present, at all events,--let us -shake hands on the bargain of being friends." - -Vivian did so without a sigh. The position was a hard one for him, but -he recognised that it was harder for the girl. And when he saw how -bravely she faced these difficult matters, he cursed himself for the -moral cowardice which had made him submit for long years to extortion -and concealment. "You put new heart into me," he said again, and they -shook hands as friends, as Dinah came up with Jerry. - -"Jerry and I have been talking about our new flat in London," cried -Dinah, long before she arrived on the terrace. "And we will live in -West Kensington. I shall keep a saloon, and be a literary woman." - -"A drinking saloon?" asked Vivian, glad of the diversion. - -"No, you stupid! A thing like Madame de Rambouillet--collecting all the -wits of London, you know." - -"Goodness knows where you'll find them," said Jerry bluffly; "wit is an -extinct art.--I say, Vivian, where is Miss Carr?" - -"That horrid girl!" interpolated Dinah. - -"You didn't think her horrid once, Dinah, when you played with her." - -"I never did," said Dinah, opening her eyes and following her brother -into the well-lighted drawing-room; "a painted----" - -"She was not painted then," interrupted Vivian impatiently. "And what -Jerry told you about Orchard being her father ought to have----" - -"Oh!" cried Dinah, starting, "now I remember, Maud Orchard of course. -She was a housemaid or something." - -"Not quite that. She attended on Mrs. Lilly, who behaved like a mother -to her." - -"Yes, yes. And then she went to London, and Mrs. Lilly was very angry. -So that was her! Why did she call herself Carr?" - -"It's a journalistic name," said Jerry. - -"Oh!" said Dinah again. "I hope Snow is your real name?" - -"My very own," said Jerry, with a grimace. "I would certainly have -chosen a different name had I selected one. But I am born a Snow, and -have to put up with it." - -"Where has Maud Orchard gone?" asked Dinah, irrelevantly. - -"She had to see after some business and went away," said Beatrice, as -Vivian found it difficult to answer this question. "She only came here -to see your brother and remind him who she was." - -"Well, I am stupid," said Dinah, swallowing this white fib; "but I -have such a bad memory for faces. I can only remember Jerry's because -it is so very plain." - -"I call that hard," said Jerry plaintively. - -"I call it silly," retorted Dinah, tapping him on the face with her -fan. "Now have a whisky and soda with Vivian, and go home. Beatrice -and I are going to bed. And I am sure you want to sleep," she said, -glancing at her friend's pale face; "you look quite worn out." - -"I am all right," said Beatrice somewhat impatiently. - -"Good night, Jerry--good night, Vivian," and the two girls went up to -their rooms; while Vivian played host to Jerry, and got rid of him as -speedily as he could. He was in no mood for the young journalist's -aimless chatter. - -Next morning Beatrice awoke at five o'clock. She could not sleep -longer, although, owing to being worn out on the previous night, she -had slumbered very soundly. It was a lovely fresh morning, and she felt -inclined for a walk. It was too early to see Durban, as he would not -yet be up, early riser though he was. After a few minutes' thought, -Beatrice decided to walk up to the Downs and see if old Orchard was -about. She would get there about the time he was starting off with his -flock, and in any event would be certain to find him in his hut at -the morning meal. Hastily scribbling a note that she would return to -breakfast and had gone for a stroll, Beatrice dressed herself and stole -downstairs. Leaving the note on the dining-room table where it would -certainly be found by Mrs. Lilly, the girl went out of the back door. -The house-dog in the yard barked joyously at her coming, as she was a -favourite of his. Beatrice, for the sake of company, let him loose, and -took him with her. - -She literally danced along the road in spite of the troubles which -environed her. She was young, and the morning air was like champagne. -Also she felt a conviction that things would surely come right, and -that she and Vivian would become man and wife. She did not wish for the -death of Mrs. Paslow, wicked as the woman was, nor did she wish Vivian -to divorce her, which--as he had said--he could not do. But she felt -that in some way the barrier would be removed, and that its removal -lay in her own hands. Thus her heart began to grow light, and as she -climbed the Downs amidst the glory of the dawn, she breathed a prayer -to God that He would take all these troubles out of her life, and bring -her to a safe haven. - -Orchard was at the door of his hut as usual, and also he was eating, -just as he had been when she saw him last. He might have been seated -there all the time, for all she knew. The sheep were nibbling the dewy -grass, and the sun was rising in splendour, when the old shepherd -beheld her. He turned his mild eyes on her, and greeted her quietly. - -"You're the young lady as called to see me the other day?" he said. - -"Colonel Hall's daughter," explained Beatrice, taking the stool he -offered, "and I have come to see you about yours." - -"About my what?" asked Orchard quietly. - -"About your daughter Maud. She came last night to see Mr. Paslow." - -"Ah yes," said Orchard, with such composure that Beatrice was certain -that he knew nothing about the marriage, or his daughter's life. "Maud -and Master Vivian were playmates together. She's a pretty girl." - -"She is," assented Beatrice cordially; for no one could deny the beauty -of Maud Paslow, marred as it was by artificial aids. - -"And a good girl," said the old man, slightly warming. "She ain't -ashamed of her old father, although she writes books and lives like a -fine lady in London." - -"Yes, I hear she is a journalist," said Beatrice, and then abruptly -added: "She must make a lot of money to have so fine a diamond necklace -as she showed Mr. Paslow and myself." - -"Did she show that?" said Orchard, with a slight cloud on his brow. "It -was foolish of her. It is a necklace like one that Colonel Hall had -years and years ago. Durban said that there was some witchcraft about -that necklace, else why should it have been missing for so long, only -to turn up here two days ago on the neck of a sheep?" - -"What?" asked Beatrice, amazed. - -"And now I come to think of it," said Orchard, whose memory was -apparently going, "Colonel Hall was murdered by Alpenny for that -necklace." - -"It is the same?" - -"Of course it is, miss. I recognised the setting when I took it off the -sheep's neck." - -"But how could such a set of jewels get on a sheep's neck?" - -"Ah!" said old Orchard, with great mildness, "that's what I want to -find out. Mr. Alpenny had the necklace, I am sure. Perhaps, as Durban -said, there was bad luck about it, and Mr. Alpenny put it on a sheep's -neck to get rid of the spell." - -"What rubbish!" said Beatrice impatiently. - -"Rubbish or not, miss, I found that necklace on the neck of one of my -sheep. The poor thing had broken its leg, and I went to put it out of -its pain. The diamond necklace was round its neck, and I gave it to -Maud, as it was no use to me. I hope it won't bring her bad luck, since -it is the Obi necklace." - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX -DURBAN SPEAKS AT LAST - - -Beatrice did not remain long with Orchard, after she had learned how -Maud Paslow became possessed of the Obi necklace. She was convinced -that the old shepherd was speaking the truth, as he did not appear to -have sufficient brains to be inventive, and, moreover, was rapidly -growing senile. But on her way down to the Weald she thought it strange -that the necklace should have been discovered by the man, round the -neck of a sheep. Who had placed the gems there? and why had they -been attached to the animal? An attempt to solve this problem lasted -Beatrice all the way to The Camp. - -It was now nearly ten o'clock, but Beatrice was too excited to think -about breakfast. She found the great gates of The Camp wide open, and -indeed since Alpenny's death they had been rarely closed. The gardens -looked as beautiful as ever, but the railway carriages appeared a -little deserted and forlorn. Beatrice walked at once towards the -kitchen carriage, where she hoped to find Durban preparing his morning -meal. He certainly was there, and with him was a red-headed, dirty -little man in whom she recognised Waterloo. - -"Oh!" said Beatrice, recoiling from the door, for the mere sight of -that evil face made her sick. - -"Blimme!" cried Waterloo, turning his rat-like eyes on her, "if it -ain't old Alpenny's gal!" - -"Hold your tongue," said Durban in a low, fierce voice.--"What is it, -missy?" - -"I have come to ask you for some breakfast," said Beatrice, retreating -still further, so as to get away from Waterloo, "and to have a chat." - -"We'll all have a jaw," cried Waterloo enthusiastically; "we're all -pals in the same boat." - -"What does this horrible creature mean?" asked Beatrice, looking -appealingly at her old servant. - -"'Orrible critture!" yelped Waterloo. "Well, I likes that, I does. Oh -yuss, not at all, by no means. Why, me an' your par were old pals." - -"Are you talking of Colonel Hall or of Mr. Alpenny?" asked Beatrice, -taking a sudden step towards the man. - -The result of her remark and action surprised her not a little, and -indeed seemed to surprise Durban also. "Colonel 'All!" muttered -Waterloo, and his red hair rose on end over a rapidly paling face. "Oh! -my stars, if you knows about him, it's time fur me to cut my lucky." - -"You know something?" cried Beatrice. - -"I know as old Alpenny murdered--murdered---- Here!" cried Waterloo, -with a snarl, "you lemme out!" and before Beatrice could stop him--she -was blocking the doorway--he had darted under her arm, and was running -noiselessly out of The Camp. Apparently he was frightened out of his -wits. Yet the girl wondered that so bold a thief, and a man accustomed -to being in tight places, should be seized by so sudden an access of -genuine terror. - -"What does it mean?" she asked Durban, but making no attempt to follow -the man. - -"I know no more than you do, missy." - -"Durban," said Beatrice, entering the kitchen and taking a seat, "you -have kept me in the dark long enough. You ran away just as this man has -done, when I asked you about the Obi necklace. Now you must speak out, -as I am leaving Hurstable." - -"Leaving this place, missy?" said Durban, startled. "Are you not to -marry Mr. Paslow?" - -"How can I marry him when he has a wife living?" - -Durban did not seem to be so surprised at this news as she expected. -"So you have found that out, missy?" he said slowly. - -"You knew about it?" - -"Yes, I knew; but I thought--I thought that she was dead." - -"No. She pretended to die, for her own purposes. In fact she intended, -in that way, to get rid of Vivian, and marry an American millionaire. -But she is alive,--her double was buried." - -"Miss Arthur!" cried the servant quickly. - -"You know that also?" - -"I know everything. But I thought that Mrs. Paslow was dead, and so I -wanted you to marry Mr. Paslow and be happy." - -"Durban," said the girl quietly, "the discovery of this, which you -should have told me, alters the position of myself and Mr. Paslow. I -can no longer remain at Convent Grange. To-morrow I go up to town to -see Lady Watson." - -Durban's face took on its greenish pallor. He made one stride forward -and spoke to Beatrice with dry lips. "You must not; you dare not. Do -not go, missy." - -"Take your hand from my arm, Durban," said Beatrice sharply; and when -he did so she resumed in hard tones, "Why should I not go?" - -"Oh! how can I tell you?" Durban clapped his hands together in a -helpless sort of way, like a great child. "She is bad: she will do you -harm. She has got Alpenny's money, which ought to be yours. For all -I know, she may have the Obi necklace also. I hope she has, for its -possession will bring her the worst of luck." - -"She has not got the necklace, Durban. Mrs. Paslow has it. Yes, you may -well look surprised, Durban. Mr. Paslow and myself saw it on her neck -last night, when she came to see him and prevent our marriage." - -"How could she have got it?" murmured Durban, but more to himself than -to his mistress. - -"She obtained it from her father." - -"Old Orchard the butler?" - -"Old Orchard the shepherd. I saw him this morning. He recognised the -necklace as having belonged to my father--to Colonel Hall; it seems the -setting is peculiar." - -"But how did it come into his possession, missy?" - -"He found it on the neck of a sheep." - -Durban did not look at all surprised. "I thought he would," was his -strange reply. - -"You thought he would what?" - -"I thought he would find it there." - -"Durban, did you know it was on a sheep's neck?" - -"Yes. I--well, missy, I may as well make a clean breast of it--I placed -it on the sheep's neck myself." - -"You? And where did you get it?" - -"Come with me, missy, and I'll show you." - -In silent amazement Beatrice followed the stout man out of the kitchen. -He led the way across the lawn to the counting-house, and opened the -door with a key which he took from the pocket of his white suit. She -beheld the counting-house in exactly the same state as she had seen it -when Alpenny had insisted on the marriage with Major Ruck. But much -water had flowed under Westminster Bridge since that time, which now -seemed so far away. - -"Missy," said Durban, pointing to the seat in front of the mahogany -desk, "sit down and let us talk. I have much to tell you, for the time -has come when you must know what I know." - -"Why have you kept information from me all this time?" said Beatrice, -sitting down, while Durban stood at the door, his bulky form blocking -up all exit. - -"Why? Missy, I ask you, would it have been right for me, who love you, -to overshadow your young life by telling you of the murder of your -father, of the rascality of Alpenny, and of the terrible position in -which Mr. Paslow was placed?" Durban spoke vehemently, and with the -very greatest earnestness. - -"I am not a child," said Beatrice. "I should have been told." - -"You were a child for a long time, and I loved you," said Durban with -exquisite sadness. "I wished to keep you in ignorance of the evil that -surrounded you. I wished you to marry Mr. Paslow, and go away, never to -learn what the evil was. But, I knew--for I learned it from Major Ruck, -who wished to marry you and get the Obi necklace--that Mr. Paslow had -married Maud Orchard (or Maud Carr, as she calls herself in town). When -she died--or pretended to die--I thought that all would be well, and -so kept silence. But you were determined to search out these matters -for yourself. I placed no bar in the way of your doing so, as I thought -that perhaps you were the chosen instrument to put all right. Since, -unaided, you have found out so much, I think you are that instrument, -so I am now going to make much plain, which has hitherto puzzled you." - -Beatrice crossed her feet and hands. "I shall be glad to hear what you -have to say," she said coldly. - -"Ah, missy, do not be angry," said Durban caressingly; "it was love -that made me keep you in the dark." - -He was so genuinely moved that a large tear rolled down his dark -face, and a profound emotion stirred him to the depths of his being. -Beatrice was annoyed at the way in which she had been treated, but she -was just enough to recognise that the man had kept silence out of pure -affection. Impulsively stretching out her hand, she caught his, which -hung listlessly by his side, and shook it heartily. "I believe you love -me, Durban, and that you acted for the best." - -"Oh! missy--missy!" - -"Hush! Be quiet, and tell me what you know." - -Durban wiped his face with the duster which he carried, and, leaning -against the door, spoke slowly and to the point. Indeed, he seemed glad -that after his years of silence he was at last able to confess freely, -and to a sympathetic listener. - -"I was born in the West Indies, missy," he said, "and knew your mother -and father----" - -"You told me that you were born on my mother's estate. Begin from the -time you came to Convent Grange." - -"Very well, missy. I came to Convent Grange with my master to see Mr. -Paslow's father, who was an old friend of the Colonel's. Master and -your mother had quarrelled. He was severe, and kept your mother too -quiet. She liked gaiety and pleasure, yet so severely had he trained -her that she was always silent and demure. She came down with you and -your nurse for one night. Then my master was murdered, as you know." - -"Can you tell who murdered him?" - -"No, missy." Durban spoke very earnestly. "I swear that I do not know -who did that. But your mother was suspected. She cleared herself; but -people still looked at her askance, so she changed her name to Hedge -and married Mr. Alpenny. Here"--Durban glanced out of doors"--in this -quiet place she was safe, and here she lived until she died, worn out -with grief, a few months later. Mr. Alpenny then sent you to Miss -Shallow at Brighton, and you know all your life since then." - -"Why did my mother marry Mr. Alpenny?" - -"Because she had the Obi necklace. Your father gave it to her, she told -me." - -"And Major Ruck said the same thing." - -"It must be true, then," muttered Durban, half to himself, "although I -was never sure. But Alpenny said that he would accuse your mother of -the murder unless she married him. She did so, and then died. Alpenny -kept the necklace, and, being fond of jewels, he could not make up his -mind to part with it even for money, of which he was equally fond. He -kept it by him in this place." - -"In the safe?" - -"No, missy. The safe--as Mr. Alpenny, an associate of thieves, knew -very well--was the first place where thieves would look. See here, -missy"--Durban advanced to the wall, and pulled aside the faded red rep -which hung there as a kind of arras--"here is a pocket behind this, -made in the rep. The necklace was kept here, for no one would think of -feeling the hangings. It was safer here than in the safe." - -Beatrice examined the pocket, and admired the ingenuity of the -hiding-place, which--so to speak--was so public that even the most -expert thief would never think of looking here for a valuable necklace -of gems. An ordinary man would have kept the jewels in the safe; but -Mr. Alpenny, who must have got the hint from Poe's story of "The -Purloined Letter," chose the least likely place to be searched. - -"And you found the necklace here, Durban?" - -"Yes, missy. I will tell you how I did. Mr. Alpenny was a member, and -the chief one, of the Black Patch Gang." - -"Durban! Then you wrote that paper which was on Mr. Paslow's desk?" - -"I did, missy," he admitted quietly. "Mr. Alpenny, wanting all the -money to himself, had several times played the Gang false. Twice he was -warned, and was told that at the third warning he would be killed." - -"I remember how Mr. Alpenny shivered when Vivian spoke," said Beatrice, -recalling the scene; "and he spoke of the third warning." - -"I was told to give him the warning," said Durban calmly; "and I wanted -to make Mr. Paslow use it, in the hope that Mr. Alpenny would be -frightened into consenting to your marriage with Mr. Paslow." - -"But you knew that Maud Paslow was alive?" - -"She pretended to die twice," said Durban, "and I was equally deceived -along with Mr. Paslow. He did not know what the warning of the Black -Patch Gang meant; but I did, and made Mr. Paslow unconsciously use it. -But it proved useless." - -"Not to Mr. Alpenny. He was murdered." - -"Yes, missy, and I believe by a member of the Black Patch Gang; but I -do not know who. Listen, missy. I am about to place my life in your -hands!" and the man looked cautiously round. - -"Durban!" she exclaimed, frightened, "are you going to tell me that you -were a member of the Gang?" - -"No, missy, I was not. They tried to get me to join, but being an -honest man, I refused. But I held my tongue for your sake. I loved you, -and the Gang declared if I told the police about them, that they would -kidnap you. Therefore I was silent." - -"Kidnap me!" cried Beatrice indignantly. "How could they?" - -"The Gang are very clever, and could do what they wanted to," said -Durban drily; "and as Alpenny hated you, he certainly would have put -no bar in the way of your being carried off. It was only I who stood -between you and this danger." - -"Oh, Durban, how much I owe you!" - -"Missy"--he kissed her hand--"you do not owe me so much as I owed your -good father, who saved me from being lynched in the States. But we can -talk of that afterwards," he added hastily. "Let me go on. I was here -on the night of the murder." - -"You! Why, you went to town?" - -"I pretended to. But after the warning, Mr. Alpenny intended to bolt, -as he feared for his life--that was why he left the note on your table. -But I came back here before you returned in the wind and the rain, -and looked through the window of the counting-house, in which a light -burned. I saw Alpenny lying dead, and knew that the Black Patch Gang -had accomplished their vengeance." - -"Did you meet any one?" - -"No, I saw no one. Then I entered the counting-house by the secret way, -missy." - -"Is there a secret way, Durban?" - -"Yes. I found it by chance. See!" Durban advanced to the end of -the carriage and touched a spring which was concealed behind the -rep hangings. At once there was a creaking noise, and the sheet of -galvanised tin, upon which rested the stove, swung aside, to reveal -a narrow flight of stone steps. "These," said Durban, "lead along an -underground passage into the shrubbery, and from there one can go out -by the great gates, or the small one. I entered by this way, as I had -a duplicate key of the great gates. I searched for the Obi necklace, -and found it by looking everywhere for it. I felt the hangings, and so -discovered the pocket. Then I left The Camp and climbed the Downs. On -to the neck of the first sheep I could catch, I tied the necklace, and -let it stray away." - -"But why did you do that?" asked Beatrice, astonished. - -"Because there was a curse on the necklace," said Durban with all the -intensity of his negro nature. "And I did not want that curse to come -upon you. You might have got the necklace, and then you would have had -nothing but misery. Therefore, instead of throwing it away, for there -was always the chance that it might be found, I bound it on the neck -of the sheep, and lightly, thinking that the animal might lose it on -the pathless Downs. I did it, missy, to save you from the curse. Well," -said Durban, throwing out his hands, "old Orchard found it, and has -given it to his daughter. She will be unlucky for evermore, unless -she gives it to another person. And I hope," finished the half-caste -vindictively, "that she will give it to Major Ruck in order that he may -come to the gallows, as he has long deserved them." - -"What a strange story! And you do not know who killed Alpenny?" - -"No more than I know who killed Colonel Hall. But, missy, now that I -have told you this, you will not go to Lady Watson?" - -"I must, Durban. I have to earn my living." - -"Then go to any one, but not to that woman"; and Durban fell on his -knees. "I implore you!" - -But the more he implored the more Beatrice was determined to go, and -learn, if possible, why Durban feared Lady Watson so much. "I go -to-morrow," she said quietly, and twitched her dress from his grasp. - -"It is Fate! Fate! Fate!" muttered Durban gloomily. - - - - - -CHAPTER XX -A GREAT SURPRISE - - -Beatrice kept her word in spite of all Durban's protestation that her -visit to Lady Watson would lead to trouble. Frank as the old servant -had apparently been, Beatrice could not rid herself of the idea than -even now he had not told everything. There was some mystery concerning -Lady Watson which had a bearing on the other mysteries, and this she -was determined to find out. Only by knowing everything would her mind -be set at rest. - -The girl was sufficiently unhappy in these days. The discovery of the -evil by which she was surrounded made her recoil from everyone in -terror. All people seemed to have skeletons in their various cupboards, -and Beatrice dreaded the chance of becoming friendly with any one -else who had a secret. Also, it was pain and anguish to her to stand -aside, and know that Maud Orchard possessed Vivian. Of course Maud had -returned to London, and Vivian--so he said--had heard nothing about -her from the time she had fled with the Obi necklace. All the same -this woman, wicked and lawless, was his wife, and, while she lived, -Beatrice knew that Vivian could never be anything to her but a friend. -Loving him as she did, and in spite of his manifold weaknesses, her -heart ached as she thought of the long, dreary, desolate life that -necessarily was before her when deprived, by a prior claim, of his -society. But recent events had hardened the girl's character, and she -grasped her nettle firmly. In other words, she made all arrangements -to go to London and see Lady Watson, on the chance of obtaining work. -So long as she could earn her living, nothing else seemed to matter. -Beatrice felt very unhappy and lonely. - -What she greatly desired was a confidant. Dinah, being a scatter-brain, -and wrapped up in Jerry, was useless, while, owing to the changed -circumstances, she could not feel easy in the company of Vivian. -Durban, after the short interview she had with him in The Camp, had -vanished; for when Beatrice went again to question him still further, -she found the place deserted and locked up. Where Durban had gone she -did not know, and, needing him as she did, her state of mind was one of -wretchedness and foreboding. However, as she greatly desired advice and -comfort, she induced Vivian to come to the lonely Camp, and there told -him all that Durban had told her. - -Vivian heard her in silence, and wondered at the queer story. Durban, -he thought, was deeper implicated in the doings of the Black Patch Gang -than he chose to acknowledge, and he said this to Beatrice after some -thought. The girl vigorously refused to believe in the guilt of the man. - -"Durban has always been my best friend, Vivian," she said, with a look -of pain. "How can you accuse him, without evidence?" - -"It seems to me that there is a great deal of evidence upon which to -accuse him," said Paslow grimly. "He had the necklace, and the crime -was committed for the sake of the necklace." - -"No. It was a case of revenge. Alpenny evidently betrayed the Gang in -some way, or took more than his fair share of the plunder, therefore he -was sentenced to death; and you were used by Durban as the unconscious -instrument to give him warning. You saw how terrified old Alpenny was, -and how he muttered about the third time. Also, the note he wrote to me -was a trick, to give him time to get away. He would have fled, but that -he was killed." - -"Had he fled," said Vivian judiciously, "or had he intended to fly, he -would have taken his jewels with him. According to Major Ruck, he had a -great many jewels." - -"I saw some," replied Beatrice. "Well, perhaps he did make up a parcel -of jewels, and these were stolen by the thief who killed him." - -"No," insisted Vivian. "The necklace was left behind, or would have -been. Had Alpenny intended to fly to the Continent with his plunder -in order to escape death he certainly would have packed up the Obi -necklace at once. As it was, he left it in its hiding-place, and -Durban--as he says--found it there." - -"How do you mean--as he says?" questioned Beatrice, struck by the -peculiar tone in which Paslow uttered the words. - -"I mean that Durban may be telling a lie. Alpenny may have got the -necklace ready to go away. Durban, coming back, as he confessed to you -he did, probably killed him, and stole the necklace." - -"Nonsense!" said Beatrice quickly. "For what reason should he steal the -necklace, and then hang it on the neck of a sheep?" - -"Ah, that is Orchard's story. You told it to Durban, and he seized the -idea. Orchard's daughter is connected with the Gang--my wife, that is," -added Vivian, with a grimace, "so it is probable that Orchard also is -a member. Probably Durban, after killing Alpenny, went up the Downs -and gave the necklace to Orchard for safe keeping. No one would expect -to find it in the possession of the old man. I think that Orchard was -to have returned it to Durban, so that money could be made; only his -daughter--my wife--saw it and wheedled it out of him for herself. But I -don't think she'll keep it long if Major Ruck sees it." - -"I don't agree with you at all," said Beatrice, defending Durban. "As -Durban was supposed to be in town, he could have come back." - -"Which he did, remember." - -"Yes, but only to find Alpenny dead. Had he killed Alpenny for the sake -of the necklace, he could have slipped it into his pocket and have gone -away in safety. No, Vivian, I believe that Durban really believes that -there is some spell attached to the necklace, and placed it on the neck -of the sheep to prevent its doing further harm to anyone, especially to -me. Had I found it, I certainly should have claimed it." - -"Lady Watson would have claimed it." - -"I know that, since she inherits all under the will. And that is one of -the reasons why I go up to town to see her. I'll tell her all that we -know, and she will get the necklace from your wife." - -"That is if Major Ruck doesn't get it in the meantime," said Vivian -coolly. "Maud is a clever woman, but she won't be able to get the -better of Major Ruck. Let us have a look at the secret passage." - -"We cannot open the door," objected Beatrice. - -"Durban opened it with a beam when the body was found dead," said the -young man, "and here is the beam left near the carriage all the time." -He picked up the heavy log of wood, and poised it against the door. -The lock, mended but lightly, gave way at once, and the two had little -difficulty in entering. - -"Here is the spring," explained Beatrice, and walked to the end of the -carriage, followed closely by Vivian. In another minute the galvanised -tin upon which the stove stood, slipped aside, and disclosed the damp -steps. "Isn't it ingenious?" said she, admiringly. - -"Very," assented Vivian. "Let us go down. Come on!" - -"But a light. Oh"--she caught sight of a candle on the table--"here is -one. You lead, Vivian." - -With the lighted candle the pair went down into the unwholesome -passage. It descended by means of the steps for some distance, and then -there was a trend to the right. The passage was perfectly straight, and -had been dug out of the soft earth. Part of it was roofed with brick, -but the whole was much dilapidated, and showed signs of collapse. -Vivian, seeing this, and fearing a fall of earth, wished the girl to -return, but this she refused to do. "I want to see where it leads to," -she said. "Go on, Vivian." - -Thus urged, he cautiously felt his way by the feeble glimmer of the -candle. In a shorter time than either expected, they came to a second -flight of steps, and scrambled upward. The steps ended at a kind of -trap-door. Vivian placed his shoulder beneath this, and with a vigorous -push, forced it outward and upward. The next moment he had leaped -lightly on to the surface of the earth, and found himself in the wood, -just outside the walls of The Camp. - -"Oh," said Beatrice, when she was assisted out of the bole, and began -to recognise her surroundings, "Durban said that the exit was within -The Camp." - -"Ah," replied Vivian, with much significance, "Durban has told another -lie. He is not to be trusted, Beatrice." - -"I am certain he is, although appearances are against him," declared -the girl impetuously. "He is cautious in speaking even to me, as he -fears the vengeance of the Gang. Close the trap-door, Vivian. See!" she -added, when he did this, "the surface is masked with moss." - -And so it was. The wood was ingeniously covered with ragged moss; -and when the trap was down and a few leaves fell on the moss, no one -could have told that a passage lay underneath. It was a most clever -arrangement, and doubtless had been often used by the scoundrelly -gang of which Alpenny, undoubtedly, had been a prominent member. The -respectable clients, however, who had come to borrow money and be -swindled by the old rascal, had always entered by the great gates, or, -if they wished for especial privacy, by the smaller one. - -"What a dangerous lot of people I have lived amongst," said Beatrice, -who was rather pale when they reclosed the door of the counting-house -and left The Camp. - -"Undoubtedly," assented Vivian rather grimly; "it is a mercy that the -police never came down here. You might have been implicated." - -"I can see that, and for the same reason I refuse to believe that -Durban is mixed up with these rascalities. He served Mr. Alpenny for -my sake, and for my sake he held his tongue about the roguery which he -must have known went on. But I do not believe that he took any part in -the same, Vivian." - -"Well," said Paslow, after a pause, "you may learn more when you see -Lady Watson." - -"But she can have nothing to do with these things. She is a lady of -rank and fashion." - -"She was a friend of Alpenny's, or he would not have left her his -money," said Vivian, "and is the friend of Major Ruck. I don't know a -bigger blackguard in London." - -Beatrice said nothing more. She quite agreed with her lover, and -began to be afraid as to what she might discover when she was in the -presence of Lady Watson. All the same, as she was determined to learn -everything, and if possible, to so get to know the doings of the Gang -that Vivian would be safe from their threats, she left early the next -morning for town. Vivian accompanied her to the local station, and took -a formal farewell of her. It had to be formal, because of the publicity -of the platform, and also because their relations with one another, -since the appearance of the supposed dead wife, were so very difficult. -So Vivian coldly shook hands, although his face belied the formal -action, and Beatrice watched him through tearful eyes as the train -steamed towards Brighton. - -Dinah had given her a couple of pounds, or rather Beatrice had borrowed -these from her, with the intention of repaying her out of the first -instalment of a possible salary. This was all the money she had in the -world, and she prayed on the way to London, that Heaven would see fit -to make Lady Watson well-disposed towards her. At Victoria Station the -girl sent a wire to the address which she had procured from Dinah, who -got it from Mrs. Snow. This telegram intimated that Miss Hedge,--she -thought it best to keep to the name,--was coming to see Lady Watson on -business. It was rather a strange thing to do; but Beatrice was new to -social ways, and, moreover, could not, by reason of her scanty purse, -run the risk of having to wait long in town without seeing her probable -patroness. - -Lady Watson lived in Kensington, and there Beatrice, not knowing -the intricacies of the underground railway, drove all the way in a -four-wheeler. But first, she went to a small and quiet hotel which was -kept by a sister of Mrs. Lilly's. Here, thanks to the housekeeper's -letter, Beatrice was received by the counterpart of Mrs. Lilly, and -felt quite at home. - -"You can stay here as long as you like, miss," said the landlady, when -Beatrice asked for cheap apartments. "My sister has told me all about -you, miss. A bedroom and sitting-room are waiting for you, miss; and -we'll talk of payment on some future occasion." - -Beatrice, worn out and feeling intensely lonely, could have wept -because of the kindness of this reception. But she restrained her -tears, as she had no desire to make her eyes red for the meeting with -Lady Watson. She had some luncheon, and then dressed herself in her -best mourning and took her way to the great lady's house, which was not -very far away in a quiet square. Mrs. Quail, the landlady, sent a small -servant to show Beatrice where the square was, and once there, the girl -soon found the house by its number. But when she rang the bell, and -stood alone on the doorstep, she felt very nervous. All the same her -courage did not give way. The interview meant much to her, and she was -determined to carry it through, cost what it might. - -The footman who opened the door said that his mistress was within, and -conducted Beatrice up a well-carpeted flight of wide, shallow stairs -into the drawing-room. The house was well furnished, and in a rather -frivolous way, which reflected the spirit of its mistress. On all -hands in the drawing-room Beatrice saw evidence of waste of money in -little things. Lady Watson apparently liked comfort, and spent with a -lavish hand. In the midst of this modern splendour the girl felt lost, -accustomed as she was to the plainest of houses. (And, indeed, as a -carping critic might have said, she was not accustomed even to houses, -seeing that she lived in a disused railway carriage!) However, Beatrice -had little time for thought. Hardly had she cast a glance round the -apartment when Lady Watson entered with a rush. She looked as young and -wrinkled as ever, and was dressed in a soft tea-gown exquisitely made. -At the distance she looked twenty, but when near, and in spite of the -blinds being down, she looked nearly forty. However her eyes, brown and -bright, twinkled as merrily as ever, and, to Beatrice's surprise, she -flung her arms round her visitor's neck. - -"My dear child," she rattled on, "I am glad to see you. I received -your telegram, and stopped in, on purpose to see you. Of course you -have come to be my companion? Your room is ready, and we will be such -friends. Ah, you don't know how I love you!" - -"Why should you?" asked Beatrice, rather surprised by this gushing -reception, and mistrusting its truth. - -"Oh, there are a thousand reasons. I'll tell you them later. Come, my -dearest child, take off your jacket and hat, and----" - -"No, Lady Watson. I have only come for a short visit I want you to get -me a situation as a governess, and----" - -"A governess with your beauty!" cried the little woman; "what nonsense! -Let me look at you, dearest"; and she pulled up the near blind to let -in the sunlight on the girl. It made Beatrice look like an angel, and -Lady Watson aged in the golden splendour at least a dozen years. - -"Oh, you are lovely, lovely! Why, what are you looking at? Oh, at my -necklace! Beautiful diamonds are they not?" - -"Yes." Beatrice, with white lips, recognised the necklace at once as -that stolen by Maud Paslow. "But where did you get it?" - -"Why do you ask that?" questioned Lady Watson sharply. - -"It is the Obi necklace. You got it from Maud Orchard--from Vivian's -wife." - -"I--that is--what do you mean?" stammered Lady Watson, growing pale -under her rouge. "It is mine--mine. Mr. Alpenny gave it to me." - -"No. You are in this plot too. You know about the murder. I shall tell -the police, I shall----" Beatrice, hardly knowing what she did, was -about to rush from the room when Lady Watson stopped her. - -"Wait," she said in a cracked scream; "if you denounce me, you -ruin--your mother!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI -LADY WATSON'S STORY - - -"My mother!" Beatrice stopped short at the door, and caught hold of a -chair to support herself. The shock of this discovery came upon her -with overwhelming force. "Impossible!" - -"It is true," said Lady Watson, advancing towards her with outstretched -arms. "I am your most unhappy mother." - -The girl suffered the little woman to embrace her, but did not return -the caress. "My mother!" she repeated again faintly; "it is impossible, -Lady Watson." - -"Don't call me Lady Watson. I am your mother. I should not have -told you: I promised Durban that I would not. But Nature is too, -too strong," cried Lady Watson theatrically; "my heart spoke, and -I responded. Darling! darling!" She embraced Beatrice still more -affectionately, and guided her to a low armchair, into which the -bewildered girl sank unresistingly. - -Was Lady Watson in earnest? Was she really her mother? Were these -violent demonstrations genuine? Beatrice could not tell. The whole -thing seemed to be beyond the bounds of possibility. What of the -supposed mother who was buried in Hurstable churchyard? Revolving these -things in a much-puzzled brain, Beatrice sat silently staring at the -artificial little woman who claimed so sacred a relationship. Lady -Watson, seeing the girl's coldness--as she thought it was--squeezed out -a few serviceable tears. - -"Oh, cruel, cruel!" she wept. "My own child--the baby that I carried in -my arms--to act like this! It is wicked, it is incredible." - -"Mother!" said Beatrice blankly. "Are you really and truly my mother?" - -"Of course I am," snapped the elder woman, drying her tears. "How -often do you wish me to repeat it? I am not in the habit of calling -other people's children my children. Can't you say something more -affectionate, you cold-hearted girl?" - -"It is all so strange--so new," gasped Beatrice. "Tell me how it came -about that I never knew this until now." - -"It's Durban's fault," said Lady Watson sullenly. "Durban always hated -me, though I'm sure I was always kind to him--the beast!" - -"Durban is a good man," said Beatrice quickly. - -"Oh! dear me, that is exactly the exasperating sort of thing your -father would have said. He was a good man also--the kind of man I most -particularly hate. Never mind, I'll make everything plain to you. I've -held my tongue long enough. Now I am going to speak out, and take back -to my hungry heart the baby girl I loved." - -"Did you really love me?" asked Beatrice doubtfully. - -"Yes--really I did. You were all that I had to love, as my husband--the -first one, your father--was a kind of stone image with no feelings -and no affections. I loved you fondly, and wanted to be your dearest -mother--which I certainly am--but that Durban and that horrid Alpenny -were too strong for me. No, it wasn't Alpenny. I don't think he wanted -to bring you up; but Durban insisted, and I gave way." - -"Why did you?" - -"There were reasons," said Lady Watson evasively, and a spot of red -burned on either cheek. - -"They must have been strong reasons to make a mother surrender her -child to the care of strangers." - -"Durban wasn't a stranger. He was in the house when you were born; and -really you might have been his own child, from the fuss he made over -you. But Colonel Hall--your father, my dear--saved Durban from being -lynched in America, and Durban always pretended that he loved him -dearly." - -"I am sure Durban did," insisted Beatrice. "He is not a man who says -one thing and does another." - -"That is just what he does do," cried Lady Watson, fanning herself with -a flimsy handkerchief all lace and scent. "Look at the way he has kept -you in the dark all these years. And I am quite sure that he has told -you heaps and heaps of lies! These niggers never can tell the truth." - -"Durban told me as little as he could," confessed Beatrice; "but he -never told me a deliberate lie, I am sure. But if you are my mother, -who is the woman who is buried as you?" - -"Not as me--the idea!" protested Lady Watson; "as Alpenny's wife--and -a nice bargain she got in that old scoundrel! She was Amelia Hedge, -and called herself Mrs. Hedge when she married Alpenny, to account -for you. It wasn't my fault. I'm sure I always liked to have you with -me, Beatrice, as you were such a pretty child, and it looks well to -have one's children about one, nowadays. But Durban would insist that -I should give you up--and perhaps he was right after all," ended Lady -Watson candidly "as Sir Reginald--my second husband--would never have -married a widow with a child." - -So the weak little woman babbled on, and Beatrice felt her heart sink -as she at last beheld her mother. To think that this frivolous and -weak creature should have given her birth! Then a thought came to her. -"Durban said that my mother was quiet and silent." - -"And so I was, for years and years and years. Colonel Hall--I never -could call him George, he was so military and stiff--made my life a -perfect burden, and never would give me any pleasure. I was crushed, -Beatrice, perfectly crushed, and held my tongue because I could not be -natural. I was a dull, dowdy thing in those days. But now I really am -something to look at and to listen to!" and Lady Watson smirked in a -near mirror at her artificial beauty. - -"Mother," said Beatrice, accepting what appeared to be the inevitable -with a good grace, although the discovery of the relationship did not -please her, "will you tell me if you had anything to do with the murder -of my father?" - -"Oh, dear me! no," said Lady Watson perfectly calmly, and showing no -signs of indignation at the accusation,--which it was, in a way. "Of -course Durban made capital out of it, and forced me to part with you -and the necklace because of that horrid death. But I've got back the -necklace"--Lady Watson fingered it fondly--"and you." - -"How did you get the necklace?" - -"A friend of mine called Miss Carr gave it to me. She got it from her -father, though I don't know how he got it, I'm sure. Major Ruck--you -know the man, dear?--wanted Maud--that is Miss Carr--to give it up, and -would have killed her for it. He's just the sort of bully who would -kill a woman to get money, and I don't mind saying it, although he was -my friend. So Maud, to spite him, gave it to me, and----" - -"Wait one moment, mother. Were you not going to elope with Major----" - -Lady Watson interrupted in her turn, and uttered an embarrassed scream. -"Yes, I was, my dear. Your father was a bear--there's no good saying -anything else. He was a bear! I couldn't stand his Puritan airs any -longer, and on the very night he was murdered I intended to elope with -him, to pay your father out. But Alpenny met me----" - -"At the head of the stairs?" - -"Who told you that?" - -"Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice promptly. - -"Julia Duncan? Ah, she always was a false-hearted cat. Why, the very -last time I saw her, and that was when I went down to get Alpenny's -money, she promised to hold her tongue." - -"I forced her to speak." - -"And you have forced me, you clever girl. I promised Durban never to -reveal who I really was but I did so, through natural affections; and -now you know. I'm sure I don't care," added Lady Watson with a reckless -air. "Durban can do his worst." - -"What can he do?" - -"Accuse me of your father's murder, although I'm as innocent as a -child. But I dare say he'll hold his tongue if I pay him well. He was -always fond of money, and Alpenny's legacy has made me rich." - -"I don't think Durban can be bribed, nor do I think he is fond of -money," said Beatrice with decision. "But for my sake, he may hold his -tongue." - -"Well, I shan't give up the Obi necklace," muttered Lady Watson. "The -Colonel bought it for me; he got it from a Brazilian negro, and said -there was a curse on it,--at least the negro did. For that reason your -father--who really was fond of me, I suppose, although he had a horrid, -dull way of showing his love--would not give it to me. He kept it in a -green box along with his papers beside his bed, and I got it from there -when he was lying dead." - -"Did you see him dead?" asked Beatrice, horrified. "Of course I did. -That is why Durban says that I killed him. He always did hate me, the -beast!" - -Beatrice passed her hand wearily across her forehead. "I cannot gather -much from these scraps of information," she said irritably; "please -tell me all connectedly and from the beginning." - -"Oh, dear me, how very like your father you are!" said Lady Watson, -with an affected shudder. "He was always so very precise: I don't know -how I came to marry so dull a man. But my father made the match. He was -a planter in Jamaica, and Colonel Hall was stationed at Port Royal I -was merely a child--seventeen, in fact--and the Colonel fell in love -with me. I married him, although I liked twenty other men better. Sir -Reginald was one; but he went to England, on leave, and my father made -me marry the Colonel while Reginald was away. He was in a rage when -he came back. Afterwards, when the Colonel died so dreadfully, Sir -Reginald married me, as he knew--if no one else did--that I had nothing -to do with that horrid murder." - -"Tell me the events of that night," said Beatrice keeping the voluble -little woman to the point. - -"Well, I'm doing it, if you will only let me speak," snapped Lady -Watson; "but you are like your father, and want me to hold my tongue -as he did. I'm sure I never opened my mouth for years with that man. -Shortly after you were born we went to England. Amelia and Durban came -also, as Durban would never leave the Colonel; and Amelia was brought -for your sake, you being a baby--and a very pretty one too. Colonel -Hall went down to see Mr. Paslow at Convent Grange, as they were great -friends. I stopped in London for a time, as I was so sick of the -Colonel's stiffness. Then I came down because he insisted on it. Major -Ruck--who was really a nice man in those days--followed, and stopped at -The Camp, as he wished me to elope with him. On the night of the murder -I arranged to do so." - -"Had the Major anything to do with the murder?" asked Beatrice -hurriedly. - -"He said he hadn't, but he might have told a lie. He never could tell -the truth," said Lady Watson vaguely. "But as I was saying--and don't -interrupt again, please--I dressed late at night I knew that Mr. -Paslow, and Alpenny, and the Colonel had gone to bed. Your father and -I were in different rooms, because we had quarrelled. I came out into -the passage, and intended to meet Major Ruck at The Camp, where he had -a carriage waiting. Alpenny should have been at The Camp also, only -he stopped at the Grange--to spite me, I believe, as he loved me, and -wanted to prevent my elopement." - -"Did he know about it?" - -"Yes. He wheedled the information out of the Major, and learned also -that I intended to bring the Obi necklace with me. It was because of -the necklace, as well as because of his love for me, that he stopped at -the Grange to thwart me." - -"But the necklace was in my father's possession?" - -"In a green dispatch box beside his bed," explained Lady Watson. "You -are quite right, dear; so it was. I stole out into the passage, and -there I met at the head of the stairs that horrid Alpenny, who was on -the watch. Julia Snow was watching also, as she told me afterwards. The -horrid woman, she loved George, and----" - -"I know--I know--please go on." - -"I am going on," cried Lady Watson in despair; "but you will -interrupt. Alpenny said he wanted to help me to get away, which -was a lie. I believed him, and we went to the Colonel's chamber. I -could easily make some excuse, you know; that I had the toothache or -something, and George would believe me." - -"But your dress--your hat?" - -"Oh, I took those off and gave them to Alpenny, who remained outside -the bedroom door. When I went in I nearly screamed, for the Colonel -did look so horrid, lying in bed with his throat cut. I could see it -and him, plainly in the moonlight. I called Alpenny, and we were both -afraid. Then I saw the box, and got out the necklace." - -"Ugh!" said Beatrice, disgusted at this callous behaviour. "Why didn't -you call for help?" - -"What! and be arrested? Everyone knew that George and I were on bad -terms; and besides, with the necklace in my possession, I might have -been accused of killing him. Alpenny said we had better take the -necklace and go away. The window was open, and I suppose the man who -killed the Colonel got in there. I took the necklace, and went out into -the passage with Alpenny, closing the door after me. I put on my hat -and cloak, and then he refused to let me go to The Camp to meet the -Major unless I gave him the necklace. I had to, and then went back to -bed." - -"Why didn't you elope?" asked Beatrice sarcastically. - -"My dear, my nerves were shattered, and it would have been most -dangerous. I went to bed, and pretended to be horrified when I heard of -the murder. The Major would not marry me when he found that I hadn't -got the necklace; so after the inquest I came to town, and met Reginald -Watson. I told him everything, and he married me." - -"But how did my nurse marry Mr. Alpenny?" - -"Durban arranged that," said Lady Watson promptly. "He was almost mad -when he found the Colonel was dead, and he forced the truth out of me. -I believe Julia Snow told him what she had seen. I knew Durban would -say nothing, because if he hated me, he loved you and your father. -He did hold his tongue, but he insisted that Alpenny should give the -necklace to him in trust for you. Of course Alpenny would not do so, -and Durban threatened to inform the police. Then Durban, who didn't -know much about English law, thought that he might get into trouble and -be accused. I really don't know," added Lady Watson, pondering, "if I -didn't threaten to accuse him." - -"Oh, how could you?" - -"Well, he might be guilty. Niggers always prefer to cut throats, and -your father certainly died in that horrid way." - -"The man with the black patch killed him?" - -"Did he? I heard something about that; but I'm not sure. However, to -make a long story short, Durban arranged that you should be taken -charge of by Alpenny, and that he should look after you along with -Amelia, who was consumptive." - -"But why?" - -Lady Watson rose wrathfully. "You may well ask that, Beatrice. Why? -Because, if you please, this nigger didn't think I was a proper person -to look after you. Then Amelia refused to go to The Camp unless she -went--as she said, respectably. Alpenny, who was in love with me, and -knew that I intended to marry Sir Reginald, agreed to marry her in -order to keep the necklace. Amelia died shortly afterwards, and for the -sake of safety was buried as your mother: you took her name of Hedge, -you know. That's the story." - -"It is a very horrible one," said Beatrice, rising in her turn. - -Lady Watson burst into tears. "It is not my fault," she sobbed. "I'm -sure, in spite of Reginald's objections, I would have kept you beside -me; only Durban took you away, and Amelia also, because she wanted to -marry a rich man, as Alpenny was supposed. They knew too much; I had to -yield; and then Reginald thought you were dead. But I have always loved -and longed for my pretty baby. Kiss me, darling!" - -"No," said Beatrice sternly. - -The little woman looked up aghast. "Your own mother?" - -"I do not look upon you as my mother," said the girl coldly. "You -deserted me in the most heartless manner. I don't know how much of your -story is true----" - -"It is all true--I swear it." - -"It may be, and you may be innocent. But to see my father lying dead, -and not give the alarm, was wicked. The assassin might have been caught -and----" - -"I would have been caught!" cried Lady Watson vehemently. "As it was, -people thought that I had something to do with the horrid thing. I was -quite innocent," she protested, sobbing. "Beatrice!" - -Her voice rose to a scream as the girl walked to the door for the -second time. "I am going," said Beatrice quietly. "You must give me -time to think over our new relationship. I'll see you again soon." - -"Oh!" wailed Lady Watson, as the door closed on the daughter who -rejected her; "how like your father--how very like!" - -Beatrice walked calmly down the stairs, and opening the front door -herself, returned to the hotel to think over the matter. At the door of -the little inn she found the stout landlady arguing with a red-haired, -foxy man. - -"Waterloo!" said Beatrice, drawing back. - -"There," chuckled the rogue, grinning at the landlady, "she knows me -does the young lydy.--Miss, come at once--Durban's dying." - -"Durban dying!" - -"He'll be dead in a jiffy," said Waterloo, grinning. "You come, miss." -Then dropping his voice, "He wants to tell you who killed your father." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII -REVELATIONS - - -"Don't go with him, miss," urged Mrs. Quail. "He's a bad one: look at -his eyes." - -Beatrice had no need to look at them. She knew well the evil that they -held, and shrank, as she always did, from contact with this creature -of the night. Certainly Waterloo was much better dressed than when she -had seen him last. He wore a somewhat shabby frock coat, a pair of -smart patent-leather boots, a fashionable collar, and a silk hat which -glistened like the sun. The tramp actually reeked of some fashionable -scent, and swung a dandy cane with a genteel air. He wore a wig, from -under which his natural red hair peeped; and his false teeth looked -aggressively white and new. On the whole, Waterloo evidently considered -that he was now a perfect buck, and ogled the comely landlady and the -shrinking girl with an assured air. - -"You are not deceiving me?" asked Beatrice, forcing herself to be civil -to the man, for obvious reasons. - -"S'elp me Bob! no," leered the rejuvenated wreck. "Durban, he come -up t'town t'other day, an' wos run h'over by a bus as wos drivin' -motor-car fashions--more miles an hour than sense, miss. He ses -t'me--an ole pal of his--as he wanted to see you, and tell you wot -y'should know. He ses es he'll tell you who killed your par an' th' ole -Alpenny bloke." - -This remark decided Beatrice. Come what may, she determined to learn -the truth at last. Also, Durban was her best and oldest friend, and -from what Lady Watson had said he had evidently been a better friend -to her than she knew. After a moment or two she made up her mind, -and turned to Mrs. Quail, who was gazing disdainfully at the leering -Waterloo. - -"I must go, Mrs. Quail," she said decisively; "if Durban is ill I must -help him." - -"But with this man?" - -"Oh! I'm saif, laidy. No 'arm about me. Oh no, not at all." - -"If Mr. Paslow comes," said Beatrice, addressing the landlady, and -taking no notice of Waterloo, "tell him I have gone with Waterloo to -see Durban.--Where is he?" she asked the man. - -"In a room in a 'ouse, Malta Street, Stepney--No. 50," said Waterloo -quickly, and passed along a scrap of dirty paper to Mrs. Quail. "If the -young laidy don't come back saif an' sound, you'll find me 'ere." - -"If she's not back by nine to-night," retorted Mrs. Quail, putting the -paper in her pocket, "I'll see the police about the matter.--And after -all, miss, I wouldn't go with him." - -"I must," said Beatrice quickly; "there is so much at stake." And -giving the landlady no further time to remonstrate, she walked away -with Waterloo, who swaggered like the buck he thought he was. - -"How do we get to Stepney?" asked Beatrice while they walked along -Kensington High Street. - -"Underground," said Waterloo glibly. "Underground to Bishopgate, an' -then we taike th' Liverpool Street train to Stepney, an'----" - -"That is enough," said Beatrice, cutting him short, and walking very -fast; "speak as little to me as you can." - -Waterloo scowled, and his scowl was not a pleasant sight. However, -he held his tongue until they were safe in a first-class underground -carriage--Beatrice did not want to go with this creature in a -third-class, and luckily there were three or four ladies in the -compartment. While the train was steaming through the tunnels, Waterloo -held a whispered conversation with Beatrice. At first she was inclined -to stop him; but when she heard what he had to say, she listened -attentively. - -"I saiy," murmured the rogue confidentially, "you're a clipper; y'are -tryin' to find out all about us. But y'won't. There's only one cove es -can put things straight, an' thet is Waterloo Esquire." - -"What do you mean by that?" - -"Ah, thet's tellin's, miss. Don't you arsk any questing, an' no lies -will be tole. But if y'meke it wuth me while, I'll git you the young -gent all t'yourself." - -"Mr. Paslow?" - -"Thet's him. Not a bad cove--oh, by no means--but a greenhorn, miss, es -anyone kin see. If he don't do wot the Major wants him to do, he's a -goner--saime es your par an' the Alpenny cove." - -"What does the horrible creature mean?" Beatrice asked herself half -aloud, and he heard her. - -"Don' call naimes, miss. Th' king comes the cadger's waiy sometime, -es I knows, an' you may 'ave to meke use of me some daiy. It's all a -questing of money." - -"Of money?" - -"Yuss"--he leaned forward and whispered hoarsely in her ear--"or of -thet there necklace." - -"It is not mine--it is----" - -"But it are yours, miss, and you git it. Wen y'arsked everyone to try -an' git t'know wot y'want t'know, and fail," said Waterloo, with great -emphasis, "you pass along the necklace t'me, and then I'll tell y' -wot's wot. I'm a oner, I am." - -"But why do you wish to betray your friends for me?" - -"Ah, their toime's acomin' to an end, miss, an' I don't want t'be in -et th' finish, which is in th' dock. Wen ole Alpenny wos alive, he 'ad -a 'ead, he 'ad; but this Major Ruck cove's spilin' things as quick es -jimmy, oh." - -"But in what way?" - -"Oh, I ain't agoin' to saiy any more. Wen th' bust comes y'think of -me, miss," and with this final remark, Waterloo lay back luxuriously -against the soft cushions. Beatrice saw the necessity of enlisting this -traitor on her side, and saw also that he was open to bribery, although -the bribe of the necklace was a very costly one. But in spite of all -her endeavours, she could not get the man to talk. Waterloo only winked -and leered, and thrust his tongue in his cheek, much to the disgust of -the ladies opposite, who apparently could not understand how such a -quiet, ladylike girl came to be in the society of such a raffish animal. - -With the utmost gravity Waterloo conducted Beatrice to the Liverpool -Street Station, and placed her in another first-class carriage. -This time he got the tickets himself, and she wondered where he had -procured the money to do so. From what she had seen of the man, he was -a genuine tramp, and more used to walking than to riding. But it was -evident that he belonged to the Black Patch Gang, and apparently the -gang had been successful lately. Waterloo himself declined to impart -further information, but leered and winked as usual, so Beatrice held -her peace, and tried to steel herself to the adventure. She recognised -that she was acting foolishly in going into the slums with Waterloo, -but since Vivian was lost to her, she felt that she cared very little -what happened. Besides, desperate diseases require desperate remedies, -and in that proverb she found ground for believing that she was acting -rightly. Finally, she was certain that whatever was intended, her life -would be safe, and while she lived she could always get out of any -difficulty by exercising her strong will and undaunted spirit. - -Alighting at Stepney Station, Waterloo conducted her to a four-wheeler, -and this drove off down the street Then Waterloo engaged her in -conversation, and hinted that he knew everything about the Black Patch -Gang. Beatrice, listening to his half hints, became so interested -that she did not notice that the cab was passing down a series of -mean streets; and only when it drew up with a jerk before a most -disreputable-looking house, did she see that she was in a very low and -dangerous neighbourhood. However, she had gone too far to retreat, and -therefore stepped out with great coolness. The cab drove off without -payment. "One of us," said Waterloo, jerking his thumb over his -shoulder with a wink. - -They were admitted through a closely barred door into a narrow passage -dimly lighted. On ascending the stairs Beatrice noted how foul the -walls were with grime and grease. Various small rooms, some of which -had open doors, revealed raffish individuals, and various states of -disorder. The place was a den as foul as that inhabited by Mr. Fagin, -and Beatrice, used to the fresh air of the country, felt ill with the -tainted atmosphere. However, she suppressed all signs of disgust, as -these would have made Waterloo angry, and for apparent reasons she -wished to cultivate his good will. - -He led her to the very top of the house, and came to another door -sheeted with iron. In response to a touch on a button this opened, and -pushing Beatrice in he closed it again, remaining on the outside. The -girl, who was taken by surprise, tried to reopen the door, but it was -fast closed, and she heard the little brute chuckle on the other side. -She was caught, like a rat in a trap. It only remained for her to see -if Durban was caught also--or if he exercised sufficient authority over -the gang to release her when she wished to return to Kensington. - -The surroundings amazed her. The corridor--it was not a narrow passage -this time--was spacious, and decorated with velvet hangings. The carpet -was velvet pile, and the ceiling was painted in a most delicate and -artistic manner. While she was marvelling at this sight, so unexpected, -a side door opened, and she beheld Major Ruck, as gigantic as ever, -arrayed in a smart smoking suit. - -"Just in time for afternoon tea," said the Major gallantly, and threw -open the door. "Please to enter a bachelor's den, Miss Hedge." - -"But Durban?" she asked, drawing back. - -"I will tell you all about him," said the big man, with a bland smile. -"In the meantime, as we have much to talk about and you must be faint -after your long journey into these wilds, perhaps you will enter and -accept my hospitality." - -Beatrice cast one look at him, and entered without another word. The -room was not large, but furnished with a splendour which startled her -when she remembered the exterior of the house. The walls were hung -with green silk, and the hangings were drawn back here and there by -silver cords to show choice pictures. The ceiling was also painted, -the floor was stained and covered with valuable Persian praying mats, -and the furniture would have done credit to a West End drawing-room. -It really looked rather like a woman's room, as there were plenty of -flowers about, and on a tiny table of carved wood stood a tea equipage -of silver and delicate egg-shell china. - -"I have made ready for you," said the Major, drawing forward a chair to -the table, and near a window which was filled in with stained glass. -"I hope you like my crib. It is not so comfortable as that in the West -End; but in these wilds"--he shrugged his big shoulders--"one has to -put up with hardship. Will you have some tea?" - -"No, thank you. I want to see Durban." - -"He will be in presently." - -Beatrice started to her feet. "Is he not ill?" - -"He never was better in all his life. Pardon the ruse that was used to -bring you here, but I knew well that you wouldn't come of your own free -will." - -"Allow me to go away," said Beatrice, walking towards the door, - -"When we have had a talk and understand one another--not before," said -Ruck, rising and standing before the fireplace. He was still smiling -and bland and genial, and looked very spruce in his well-cut clothes. -It was difficult to imagine such a man in such a room, when one -recollected the vile neighbourhood. - -"You will not dare to detain me against my will?" - -"Oh yes, if it be necessary," said Ruck easily; "but I trust"--with a -graceful bow--"that it will not be necessary." - -"If you keep me here, my landlady in Kensington has the address of this -place and will tell the police." - -"I fear the police will waste their time, Miss Hedge. The address was a -wrong one, with which Waterloo was purposely furnished." - -"The address was Stepney----" - -"But not Malta Street. This is in a different locality. Come, Miss -Hedge, you must see that you are in my power. But I am a gentleman, so -do not be afraid." - -"Afraid!" The sound of the word made Beatrice fling back her head with -a proud gesture. "I am afraid of nothing and no one, Major Ruck. I know -how to protect myself." - -"I hope you will know how to protect Mr. Paslow." - -"What do you mean?" - -"That can be explained after tea. Do pour out the tea, Miss Hedge; it -is so pleasant to see a lady officiate." - -Beatrice deliberately walked to the table and poured out a cup of tea -for the Major, which she handed to him along with a plate of delicate -cakes. "Will you not take one yourself?" said Ruck winningly; "it is -not drugged." - -Beatrice, although her heart was beating loudly, walked back to the -table with a gay laugh. "You do not give me time," she said. "I am not -at all afraid of drugs," and she filled herself a cup which she sipped -with great enjoyment. When she also began to eat a cake, the Major -smacked his leg with a look of admiration. - -"Upon my word, Miss Hedge, you are plucky and no mistake. I wish you -would marry me." - -"Thanks; but I have no wish to." - -"We should do great things together," urged Ruck. - -"Doubtless; but you see I have an aversion to appearing in a -police-court, Major Ruck. By the way, why did you not tell me that Mr. -Paslow had appeared in one?" - -"I very nearly did," said Ruck with great frankness, "as I thought it -might frighten you into refusing him. But then I thought it would be -better to send his wife along." - -"Is she really his wife?" asked Beatrice doubtfully. - -"Really and truly. Paslow always was a moral man. You can never marry -him now." - -"No. But I can always love him." - -"The shadow without the substance," said Ruck, with a shrug; "you will -find that unsatisfactory, Miss Hedge." - -"That is entirely my affair, Major. And why don't you give me my proper -name of Miss Hall?" - -"Oh yes. I forgot that you knew all about that matter." - -"I know more than you think, since I have seen Lady Watson." - -Ruck started. "She told you nothing?" he said in vexed tones. - -"Everything--even to the fact that she was about to run away with you -on the night my father was murdered." - -Ruck's brow grew dark, and he uttered something which was not exactly a -blessing. However, he speedily recovered his good humour, and asked for -a second cup of tea, which Beatrice just as good-humouredly handed to -him. It was an odd interview. - -"Well," said Beatrice after a pause, "and what do you wish to see me -about, Major? I don't want to stay long." - -"You seem to forget that you are in my power," said Ruck, nettled by -this coolness. - -"Oh no, I don't; but I am not afraid. Come now, Major, you can speak -glibly enough when it suits you. I pay you the compliment of saying -that you don't want to make love?" - -"I don't. All the same, I admire you so much that I am mighty near -insisting upon your becoming my wife. We have a clergyman who belongs -to the Black Patch Gang, you know." - -"Ah! Then you are a member of that Gang?" - -"Yes," said the Major, with an embarrassed air. "I am a poor gentleman, -who has taken to bad ways instead of earning an honest living." - -"That is a pity," replied Beatrice, "for, in spite of your behaviour, -Major, I like you. I wish you would turn over a new leaf." - -"I doubt if I have one to turn," muttered Ruck, flushing a brick-red at -her words. "However, if you will give me that necklace, I shall try and -lead a better life. I have to," he confessed candidly, "as I don't mind -telling you that the course of the Black Patch Gang is nearly run. The -police have got to know too much, and at any moment may raid us." - -"I have not got the necklace," said Beatrice coldly. - -"I know that. Maud Carr had it, and told me how her father had found -it. But instead of giving it to me, she passed it along to your mother." - -"To whom," said Beatrice with emphasis, "it rightfully belongs." - -"Well, yes; but also it belongs to me. Lady Watson will not give it -to me, but she will to you. And, as a matter of fact, your father the -Colonel left you the necklace." - -"You contradict yourself, Major: you said it belonged to my mother." - -"Possession is nine points of the law," said the big man, with a shrug, -"and Lady Watson has the necklace, sure enough. But you can insist on -her giving it to you, and then hand it to me. I'll vanish out of your -life and trouble you no more. There is a wide field for the exercise of -a gentleman's abilities in the States." - -"And suppose I decline?" asked Beatrice disdainfully. - -"In that case," replied Ruck, regarding her attentively, "I shall be -compelled to accuse Mr. Vivian Paslow of having murdered Alpenny." - -"That is a lie," cried Beatrice, starting to her feet. "It is the -truth," retorted the Major, "the real truth." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII -NEMESIS - - -Beatrice sank back in the chair and fixed her eyes fearfully on the man -who thus accused Vivian of a terrible crime. "You say that to frighten -me," she gasped. - -Major Ruck made no direct reply, but touched a bell. In response to its -sound an old woman neatly dressed, but as evil-looking as the tramp, -appeared. "Send Waterloo to me," said the Major. - -The old woman vanished, and Major Ruck strolled to the window, -whistling, with his hands behind his back. Beatrice, grasping the arms -of her chair with the perspiration beading her forehead, wondered what -Waterloo had to do with the accusation. She remembered the tramp's -hint, and fancied that perhaps after all he really knew the truth; -but that the truth should place Vivian in the position of an assassin -appeared too terrible for words. While she thus meditated and the Major -whistled, Waterloo with his familiar leer appeared. In the presence of -his master the old man--for he was very old, as Durban had said, in -spite of his attempts to renew his youth--seemed meaner than ever, and -very much afraid. - -"Yuss, Major," said Waterloo meekly. - -Ruck wheeled sharply. "Tell this young lady what you saw of Alpenny's -murder," he commanded. - -"Why, lor' bless me, I sawr very little, sir," whined the tramp. - -"Tell what you did see, and how Vivian Paslow killed the man." - -"I don't believe it--I can't believe it!" muttered Beatrice, twisting -her hands in agony. - -"Wait till you hear what Waterloo has to say," said Ruck grimly. - -"It wos this waiy, miss," said the tramp, addressing himself to the -pale girl. "The Alpenny cove, he set me to watch you an' Mr. Paslow -seein' as you loved one another." - -"And do still, in spite of all," murmured Beatrice, while the Major -raised his eyebrows superciliously. - -"I wos awatchin' the pair of you on thet night," went on Waterloo in a -cringing way, "and follered you, miss, to th' oak." - -"You were the man crouching near the gates of The Camp?" - -"Yuss, miss. I guessed you sawr me. I follered y'; and then wen Mr. -Paslow sawr me, he follered me. He got 'old of me and kicked me, and I -tuck out my knife to stab him. But he went away and back to the oak; -I pulled myself together, and follered to knife him if I could. You -had gone, miss, and Mr. Paslow he went to The Camp to see if you wos -back, miss. I didn't keep quiet enough in the follering, and Mr. Paslow -he caught me agin near The Camp and kicked me 'ard. I tried to use my -knife," said Waterloo with a venomous look, "but he took it off me, and -climbed over the big gates. I follered." - -"Why did Mr. Paslow enter The Camp?" questioned Beatrice. - -"To see if you wos back, miss," explained the tramp, while the Major -smiled graciously. "I follered to git back me knife. I sawr the door of -the counting-house open, an' the ole cove Alpenny come out hollering -Thieves!' He was dressed in his hat an' cloak to go away----" - -"That," interpolated the Major, "will be explained later." - -"Wen he sawr Mr. Paslow he made for him, and Mr. Paslow held out my -knife--unthinking, like. Alpenny fell on it, and then he struck Mr. -Paslow. I never sawr any cove go so mad es Mr. Paslow did. He fair -raged, and got the ole man down an' cut his throat." - -"No, no, no!" cried Beatrice fiercely; "you lie!" - -"I don't lie, now," said Waterloo sullenly; "it's the truth. And -wen Mr. Paslow sawr me comin' over the gate, he bolted, leaving his -handkerchief behind." - -"Ah!" Beatrice remembered what Durban had said about the handkerchief. -"Mr. Paslow left that with Mr. Alpenny on the day he quarrelled with -him, previous to the death." - -"Did Mr. Paslow explain that himself?" asked Ruck sneeringly. - -"No. Durban gave me the explanation. I never spoke to Mr. Paslow of the -handkerchief, as I believed Durban." - -"And Durban told that lie to save your asking Mr. Paslow. Though, I -dare say," added the Major with a shrug, "that Paslow would have lied -also had you spoken to him." - -"Go on," said Beatrice, speaking to Waterloo with grey lips. The -conviction was forcing itself upon her that, after all, he might be -telling the terrible truth. - -"Wen Mr. Paslow slung his 'ook," said Waterloo, leering, and more -at his ease, "he got over the big gate. I dragged Alpenny into the -counting-house and laid him out. Then I locked the door, and got away -by the underground passage. Outside I heard voices, and saw the Major -here." - -"Quite so," said Ruck courteously; "and now I can tell the remainder -of the story. I came down, Miss Hedge, to punish Alpenny, who had been -betraying the organisation of which he was the founder." - -"The Black Patch Gang?" said Beatrice faintly. She felt very ill. - -"Exactly. Alpenny founded it thirty years ago, and I was one of the -earliest members, as was Waterloo here. When Alpenny was stopping at -Convent Grange with your father and Mr. Paslow's father, he was even -then a receiver of stolen goods, although the operations of the Gang -were not so wide then as they have been since. We include all classes -amongst us. Tuft the lawyer, who acted for Alpenny, and who got Mr. -Paslow out of trouble when he was accused of shoplifting, is one of -us; so is his wife, Miss Carr--or, as I should say, Mrs. Paslow. I am -the head of the lot. The cabman who drove you here is a member; so -is the doctor who attended Miss Carr's double, and who gave a false -certificate by my direction." - -"Why?" asked Beatrice quickly. - -"Well, if you had procured me the necklace, I would have allowed you to -marry Paslow. And then if Miss Carr had married this American, we would -have got money out of him. I always," added the Major with a smile, -showing his white teeth, "believe in killing two birds with one stone. -However, to resume. We are bound by a death-oath not to betray one -another. Alpenny made a lot of money, and found that the police were -getting to know too much. He decided to bolt. I warned him twice, and -the third time the warning was conveyed by Durban, through Mr. Paslow." - -"Wait. Is Durban one of the Gang?" - -"No," scowled the Major with a sudden change of tone, "he is too -honest. But he knows everything about us. Because we threatened to -kidnap you, he held his peace. However, Alpenny received his third -warning, and instead of profiting by it he prepared to bolt. I thought -he would do it, and went down with another man to kill him." - -"Kill him!" screamed Beatrice. "Oh no, no!" - -"Oh yes, yes!" said the Major coolly; "we had to make an example of -him. However, Mr. Paslow saved us the trouble. When Waterloo here -heard my voice, he came out and told us the truth. I entered by the -great gates, as I had a duplicate key. Waterloo went through the -underground passage and let us into the counting-house. We saw the -body, and searched for the Obi necklace, which, however we were unable -to discover." - -"It was in a pocket behind the rep curtains," said Beatrice. - -"And Durban found it. I know all about that. But at the moment we -could not find the necklace, and as you might be back at any moment, -according to Waterloo here, we had to go away. But I picked up Mr. -Paslow's handkerchief where he left it on the ground while struggling -with his victim, and, soaking it in the blood, I left it beside the -body in the counting-house." - -"I found it," said Beatrice. "Why did you do that?" - -"I wanted Paslow to be accused, since he would not join us. However, -you found it, and Durban explained its presence there by a lie. -Waterloo and the other man, whose name need not be mentioned, as he is -our executioner----" - -"Ah! You did not intend to kill Mr. Alpenny yourself?" - -"No," said Ruck, with an expression of disgust. "I have done many -criminal things in my time, but my hands are free from blood. This man -was always employed to punish any traitor. I took him down to kill -Alpenny, but Mr. Paslow, as I say, saved us the trouble. I was alone -outside the counting-house as Waterloo and the other man locked the -door from the inside, and then escaped by the underground passage. When -I was going away amidst the storm I saw you enter the great gates----" - -"Ah!" Beatrice started up. "You were the tall man in the cloak with the -black patch?" - -"I was," admitted the Major coolly; "so now you know the whole -story.--Waterloo, you can go." - -The little man seemed glad to get away from the calm, searching eye of -the Major, and with a final leer at Beatrice he slunk out of the door. -When alone with the girl, Ruck turned to her again. "Well?" he asked. - -"What do you want me to do?" - -"You must get your mother to return the necklace to you, and go back to -The Camp. I shall meet you there in a couple of days--in the evening. -At any moment the police may get to know of the Gang's movements, and -then we will be raided. I have had several warnings. There are traitors -about; but I won't punish them. Since Alpenny's death things have gone -wrong. I have not the head to command, as had that old scoundrel; I -confess it freely. However, I have collected what money I could, and -I am going to America. I want the Obi necklace also, which will bring -me in ten thousand pounds. I'll settle in Mexico and live a decent -life--retire, as it were," said the Major jocularly, "on my money." - -"And if I get the necklace?" - -"Then I'll say nothing about Vivian Paslow's guilt, or about your -mother's complicity in the death of your father." - -"She never killed him," said Beatrice weakly. "She felt crushed by the -things she had been told." - -"I am not so sure of that. If she did not kill him herself, she knows -who did. I wanted the necklace," said the Major brutally, "and not her. -However, Alpenny got ahead of me. But he's dead; and now you know my -terms. I must have that necklace." - -"You will hold your tongue?" - -Ruck bowed gracefully. "I promise you," he said in a smooth voice. -"You can easily see that if you do not accept my terms that I can make -myself very unpleasant." - -"You forget that if the Gang is found out the police will arrest you," -said Beatrice, trying to get out of the dilemma in which he had placed -her. - -"I admit that, and so I intend to do what Alpenny designed, namely, -to bolt--with the necklace, of course. But even if arrested I could -denounce Paslow, and get him hanged. I could also tell Lady Watson's -friends what she is, and how she helped to kill her husband. I could -make things very unpleasant. Now, if you accept my terms, I'll hold my -tongue, and then you can marry Vivian Paslow." - -"That is impossible; he is married already. I don't suppose you intend -to kill Mrs. Paslow with that executioner of yours?" - -"Oh no,"--the Major shuddered,--"I can fix matters without going so -far. Believe me, Miss Hedge--or, rather, Miss Hall--I can do all I say. -You will marry Paslow--that is, if you are willing to take a hand which -is stained with blood." - -"I don't believe that he is guilty." - -"What! Not after all the evidence?" - -"No. I cannot believe that Vivian would act in such a way." - -"Well, well," said Ruck impatiently; "believe it or not as you like, -Miss Hall. Time is precious with me. Accept my terms, and you can -return to get the necklace. I don't want to keep you here." - -"I accept," said Beatrice faintly. "There is nothing else for me to do, -Major Ruck." - -"Really, I don't think there is," said the Major pleasantly. "Well, -then, I'll expect you in the counting-house, where that old scoundrel -was murdered, within two days--in the evening. If you play me false, -I'll send a letter to the police, and Mr. Paslow will find himself in -the dock instead of at the altar. And now, Miss Hall, permit me to -escort you to the four-wheeler, which will be waiting." - -He held out his long white hand with a polite smile; but Beatrice, -ignoring the courtesy, walked alone towards the door. Ruck frowned and -winced, and followed with a shrug. All the same, scoundrel as the man -was, he did not like the implied slight. As the two emerged into the -corridor there came a ring at the door. With a stifled exclamation of -anger the Major opened it, and there on the threshold stood Durban, -looking green with rage. The half-caste entered hurriedly and closed -the door. - -"Waterloo told me that missy was here," he said in an imperious tone, -"and I have come to take her away." - -"Oh, Durban, Durban!" cried the girl, and seized his arm. - -"It's all right, missy." He patted her hand. "You are safe with me." - -"She is safe in any case," said Ruck contemptuously. "She has accepted -my terms, and she has my leave to go. As to Waterloo, I will punish him -for telling you what he had no right to tell you." - -"He has told many other things he has no right to tell," said Durban -significantly, "and to the police." - -"What?" The Major's face became ghastly, and he reeled against the wall -with an oath. - -"The game is up, Major," said Durban, holding the hand of Beatrice -still tighter. "All I want to do is to get Miss Hall away before the -police come to arrest the lot of you." - -"I believe you told the police yourself," said the Major, choking with -fury. "Waterloo would never dare----" - -"Pshaw! I come to give you warning, Major, as you have always been kind -to me. Waterloo was in league with my dead master to cheat you and the -rest of the Gang." - -"Is this true?" asked the Major of himself, biting his carefully-tended -nails. "It is impossible! I could have staked my life on Waterloo's -truth." - -"Then you would lose your wager," said Durban. "The man is, and always -was, a scoundrel.--Come, missy." - -"One moment," said Ruck, recovering himself. "I am ready to get away, -and have placed all my money safely abroad. When do the police come?" - -"This night, I believe," said Durban. "I came up from town a few days -ago to see if I could find out who killed Alpenny. I guessed it was one -of the Black Patch Gang, especially as you gave him warning through -me--or rather through Mr. Paslow. In making enquiries, I heard enough -to convince me that Waterloo was in correspondence with the police, and -was prepared to turn King's evidence to save his skin." - -"And the beast was here only a few moments ago. Where is he?" - -"Where you won't find him. He met me down the stairs a short time -since, and told me what I now tell you--that the police were going to -break up the Gang. He hates you, Major, because you once horsewhipped -the poor wretch. He also told me that missy was here, and I came to -save her from being taken along with your scoundrels. Waterloo has -hidden himself; where he is, I don't know. He guessed that I would tell -you, I suppose, as I let him know that I knew of his treachery. You -won't get him, Major." - -"Oh yes, I shall," said Ruck grimly. "I'm not going to be betrayed by -a reptile like that without revenging myself. All the same, Miss Hall, -I hold you to my terms. Remember, The Camp in two days--seven in the -evening of the second day." - -Beatrice bowed her head, being too weak to speak. Durban, with a -surprised glance at the Major--for he could not understand the reason -of this appointment--drew the girl away, and together they descended -the grimy stairs, leaving the Major arranging for immediate flight. -The four-wheeler was waiting, sure enough, and Durban told the man to -drive to the station. When in the cab with his young mistress, Durban -questioned her about the interview and the appointment. Beatrice told -him the truth and concealed nothing. "And, I fear," she said with a -shudder, "that the Major will betray Vivian, in spite of everything." - -"No," said Durban quietly; "when he gets the necklace he will hold his -peace. The Major is not a cruel man, in spite of his surroundings and -follies--criminal follies. He will hold his tongue, but I doubt if -Waterloo will." - -"He wants the necklace also," said Beatrice faintly. - -"I don't care if he gets it, or if the Major secures it, or if Lady -Watson keeps it, missy," said Durban gloomily; "it will bring bad luck -to either one of the three. But the Major said that you could marry Mr. -Paslow?" - -"Yes. I don't know how he intends to arrange. But I cannot marry Mr. -Paslow. I believe him to be innocent, but I cannot be sure. There was -the handkerchief, you know." - -"I lied about that to save you pain, missy," said Durban sadly. "But it -really seems as though Mr. Paslow was guilty. But he is not." - -"How do you know?" - -"Because I know who killed Mr. Alpenny." - -"You, Durban?" she said, astonished. - -"Yes. You can marry Mr. Paslow with a clear conscience, missy, because -you love him, and he is innocent of this crime." - -"Then who is guilty, Durban?" - -"I am, missy. I killed the master." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV -THE NECKLACE - - -In spite of her regard for the old servant, Beatrice shrank from him as -far as the space of the four-wheeler would permit. It was not agreeable -to be cooped up with a self-confessed murderer, especially when the -crime had been of so terrible a nature. Durban saw the movement and -his eyes filled with tears. He was always emotional, and wept at very -slight provocation. - -"Don't shrink from me, missy," he implored, much agitated. "I did it -for you, missy--for you." - -"Why for me?" asked Beatrice, controlling herself with an effort. - -"I'll tell you when we are in the train," replied the man, as the cab -stopped at the station. He assisted her to alight, and she strove to -suppress the shudder which almost overcame her as she touched his hand. -Shortly they were seated in the train which was going to Liverpool -Street. As the distance was very short, Durban commenced to tell the -story of his crime at once. Fortunately there was no one else in the -carriage. - -"Missy," he said solemnly, "your dear father saved me from being hanged -in the States. I was accused of stealing a horse, and although it -was utterly false, the white men wanted to lynch me on account of my -colour. The Colonel, however, came upon the scene, and he saved me. The -real culprit confessed a few days later; but had it not been for the -Colonel, I should now have been dead. Since that day to the hour of his -death I never left him, and he always trusted me." - -"You did not kill him, Durban?" faltered Beatrice, pale with fear. - -"Missy," he exclaimed vehemently, "I would rather have killed myself -than the good man who saved me! No, I did not kill him; but I believe -Alpenny did for the sake of the diamond necklace." - -"No, no!" cried Beatrice quickly. "My mother told me that she took -the necklace from the green box; and as she was in the company of Mr. -Alpenny all the time, he must be innocent." - -"It might be so," said Durban gloomily; "but I never did trust your -mother." - -"Why do you dislike her so?" asked Beatrice wonderingly. In the -interest of the conversation she quite forgot the earlier confession of -the old servant. - -"Why?" asked Durban fiercely. "Because she's a wicked woman, and made -my dear Colonel's life a misery. She was always fond of admiration, -and she broke his heart. But for the sake of his name, and but that -he loved you, missy, as I love you, the Colonel would have separated -from her many and many a time. She was always flirting with other men. -She would have run away with Alpenny had he been willing to settle a -good income on her: she would have eloped with Major Ruck but that he -refused when he found that she had not the Obi necklace. And Alpenny -left her the money--I was angry at that." - -"Yes, I remember how angry you were." - -"Because she deserved it so little," said the servant, with a gesture -of rage. "But everything has gone well with her. She may not have -killed the Colonel, but she knows who did; and I believe she and -Alpenny between them are guilty. But she went away, as I arranged to -keep things quiet for your sake, missy. I could not bear that there -should be a blot upon your name. I intended to tell you one day who -you were, and about the money you ought to have; but you found out -things for yourself. I let you do so, as I thought that you might be -the chosen instrument to put things right. You have proved yourself to -be so; for now the Black Patch Gang, which has been the cause of these -troubles, will be broken up, and everything will be right." - -"Durban, I cannot believe that a good man like yourself would murder -Mr. Alpenny." - -"God bless you for that thought, missy! But I did kill him, and for -your sake. He was about to force you into a marriage with Major Ruck, -whom I knew to be a scoundrel. You would have killed yourself had you -married him." - -"I should never have married him," said Beatrice firmly. - -"Yes, you would," insisted Durban. "Alpenny would have threatened to -accuse your mother to the police. In order to save her you would have -consented to become the wife of that wretch." - -"Perhaps," said Beatrice, hesitating. "Is he a wretch, Durban?" - -"Yes. He is also a gentleman, and was in the army. But he has no moral -principles: he never had. He was kicked out of the army for cheating: -he has been twice or thrice suspected of card-sharping, but the charges -could not be brought home to him. There is not a club in London will -have him for a member; and he knows only the wicked, needy people who -hang on to the skirts of society." - -"He knows Lady--I mean my mother." - -"Yes. But he knew too much about her for her to refuse to acknowledge -his acquaintance. Lady Watson knows very good people, as her husband, -Sir Reginald Watson, was a rich and well-known sporting officer. -Nothing is known in society about Lady Watson's past, or her connection -with the death of Colonel Hall, her first husband. That is an old -story, and people forget very easily nowadays, when a lady is rich. -What with Sir Reginald's money and Mr. Alpenny's, your mother must be -very wealthy." - -"Did she inherit nothing from my father?" - -"No, she did not. The money--and there was a great deal of it--was left -to you, missy, with your mother as guardian. But I knew that if your -mother brought you up, she would ruin you in some way, as she is so -wicked. I therefore threatened to tell the police what Miss Duncan (who -now is Mrs. Snow) told to me--that is, about the midnight meeting with -Mr. Alpenny on the stairs. I insisted that you should be given into my -care, so that I could look after you." - -"And you have done it like a father," said Beatrice, giving him her -hand gently. - -Durban bent down and kissed it, with tears in his eyes. "I have done -my best for your father's sake, missy, and at least I have saved you -from your mother. I would have worked for you, and would have taken you -from Hurstable, but I insisted on getting the diamond necklace which -rightfully belonged to you. But Mr. Alpenny refused to give it up in -spite of all threats, so I arranged that Amelia Hedge should marry him, -and take charge of you. Alpenny promised that when he died he would -leave the money and the diamond necklace to you. But he left the money -to your mother, whom he always loved; and the necklace I got rid of, as -I told you, as I feared for its luck. But it must be got back from your -mother. We will go to her house now." - -By this time they were at Liverpool Street Station, and the -conversation was interrupted for a time. But shortly they were seated -in a cab, as Durban thought he could talk more freely in one than if -the two returned to Kensington by the underground railway. As the -hansom rolled down Ludgate Hill, and on to the Embankment, the old -servant renewed the conversation. - -"We will meet Major Ruck at The Camp, missy, and give him the necklace, -as I don't want you to have it." - -"But could we not break it up and destroy the bad luck?" argued the -girl. "It seems a pity to throw away ten thousand pounds on Major Ruck, -especially as Mr. Paslow needs money." - -"You will have your father's money," said Durban obstinately. "I shall -make your mother give it to you. Of course, as you were thought to be -dead, Lady Watson got the money, and no doubt has spent it. But she -will have to refund it out of Alpenny's legacy. There will be no need -to employ lawyers: I can force her to do what I want." - -"Does she know that--that----" Beatrice hesitated. - -"That I killed Alpenny? No; she does not know that. But she thinks that -I killed my master--as though I would have hurt a hair of his dear -head!" - -"And I don't believe that you killed Alpenny either." - -"Yes I did, missy," said Durban obstinately. "He wanted to make your -life a misery, and I was right to kill him." - -Beatrice said nothing for a few moments. With a white man it would have -been different; but Durban had negro blood in his veins, and did not -look upon murder as a more civilised person would have done. Beatrice -was horrified inwardly, but she controlled herself sufficiently to keep -quiet. After all, Durban had committed the crime for her sake; and much -as she reprobated his wickedness--if wickedness it could be called, to -kill so evil-living a man as the usurer--she could not find it in her -heart to condemn him to the uttermost. - -"How did you kill him?" she asked in a low voice. - -"I did not go to town that night. I returned to see him, and had a -quarrel in the counting-house. He was violent and flew at me. I had a -struggle with him, and killed him. That is all!" he ended with apparent -indifference. - -Durban spoke as though he were saying a lesson. Beatrice looked at him -attentively, and saw that his face had resumed the usual green colour -it always took on when he was excited. The story was plausible enough. -All the same, she did not believe that he was guilty any more than she -believed in the guilt of Vivian. "You are innocent!" she said sharply. -"Don't deny it. You accuse yourself to screen Mr. Paslow." - -"Do you believe that he is guilty?" asked Durban hoarsely. - -"No. I don't care what Waterloo says." - -"What did he say?" - -Beatrice related the whole accusation with the evidence, as detailed by -Waterloo. Durban listened attentively, and wiped his face. "Guilty or -innocent," he said in a strangled voice, "that evidence is sufficient -to hang Mr. Paslow. I am guilty, missy." - -"I don't believe it," retorted Beatrice. "Everything connected with -these matters has been sordid and evil; but that you, who have always -been so kind, should kill even so wicked a man as Mr. Alpenny, is -ridiculous. Nothing will ever make me believe in your guilt. But here -we are," she broke off abruptly; "say nothing more until we have seen -my mother. We will get the necklace, and close the Major's mouth. I -will question Vivian and hear what he has to say." - -"No, no, missy!" - -"Yes, yes!" retorted Beatrice imperiously. "I will not let you, my -oldest friend--my almost father--accuse yourself of a vile crime, when -I know that you would not hurt a fly." - -Durban would have answered, but that they had to alight. The cab was -dismissed, and Durban rang the bell. As Lady Watson proved to be -at home, they were shown up into the drawing-room. The mistress of -the house might have refused herself to Durban, whom she hated, but -the footman said that he had been given orders to admit Miss Hedge -whenever she called. This showed Beatrice two things. Firstly, that her -mother really wanted to see her as often as possible, and might have -some small affection left; and secondly, that she did not intend to -acknowledge her as her daughter, seeing that she had given the servant -the name of Miss Hedge instead of Miss Hall. - -Lady Watson expressed surprise at seeing Durban, and joy at beholding -Beatrice. "You dear girl!" she said, embracing her; "you did make me -so miserable this afternoon. I am just going out to dinner, and can -only give you ten minutes.--I am surprised to see you, Durban." - -"And not very pleased, Mrs. Hall." - -"Give me my title, if you please," said the little woman sharply. "Say -what you have to say, and go away. I wish to speak with my child--the -child of whom you robbed me." - -Durban shrugged his stout shoulders and turned away, while Beatrice -looked at her mother steadily. Lady Watson was arrayed in a very -fashionable dinner-gown worn very low, and her complexion was coloured -to match. Her jewels were many and rich, and conspicuous amongst them -was the diamond necklace which they had come to take away. She really -looked very well in the rose-hued light of the drawing-room, and -wonderfully pretty. No one would have thought that she was the mother -of this noble, sad girl arrayed in deep black. - -"Ten minutes," said Lady Watson, consulting a tiny jewelled watch. "But -you can come to-morrow, darling." - -"I am going down to Hurstable to-morrow," said her daughter coldly--"to -The Camp." - -"The horrid place!" said Lady Watson, fastening her glove. "I shall -sell it, I think." - -"No," said Durban, coming close to her; "you will give it to Miss -Beatrice along with the money she inherits from her father." - -"She inherits nothing." - -"Yes, she does. The money of my dead master was left to you for her -use. She was supposed to be dead----" - -"That was your fault," burst out Lady Watson savagely. - -"And you used the money," went on Durban, as though he had not heard -her speak; "but Mr. Alpenny's legacy will provide funds for you to -restore the money. There is sufficient to give Miss Beatrice two -thousand a year." - -"I won't give her a penny!" said the little woman, setting her teeth -and looking extremely ugly. "I want all my money to myself." - -"You must return this money," said Durban coldly; "and also, this very -moment, you must give back the diamond necklace." - -Lady Watson placed her gloved hand on the jewel which flashed on her -neck. "This?" she gasped. "Never! it is mine. It was bought for me." - -"Quite so, madam," said Durban; "but when the Colonel found that you -were flirting with Major Ruck, he determined to keep it for his child. -By the will--of which I have a copy--Miss Beatrice inherits that -necklace." - -"Child!" said Lady Watson tragically, "will you see your mother robbed -by this--this--this low nigger?" - -"If the necklace is mine, I intend to have it," said Beatrice coldly; -"it is my intention to make some use of it, otherwise I would leave it -to you. I want to have nothing to do with you, Lady Watson." - -Lady Watson dashed the fan she held on the table, and broke it to -pieces. "I am your mother!" - -"No," said Beatrice steadily, "you never loved me, or you would not -have given me into the care of strangers." - -"He made me--he made me," and she pointed to Durban. - -"For the sake of my dead master," said Durban calmly. "Come now, madam, -you must give up the necklace. I will see your lawyer to-morrow about -the transfer of Miss Beatrice's money to herself." - -"I refuse--I refuse!" - -"Take care," said Durban fiercely, and again coming close to her. "I -can make Mrs. Snow tell what she saw on that night." - -"I have told all that to my child," quivered Lady Watson, crying with -fear. - -"But not to the police." - -"The police!" echoed the little woman, growing pale under her carefully -coloured face, and sinking into a chair. - -"Yes. If you did not kill the Colonel, Alpenny did." - -"No. I swear he was with me the whole time: he is as innocent as I am. -You can do nothing." - -"I perhaps cannot prove you guilty," said Durban steadily, "but I can -tell the police what Mrs. Snow saw, and get the whole case into the -papers." - -"Who will care, when the Colonel died so long ago?" - -"His death is evidently connected with this Alpenny crime," said Durban -harshly, "and so the public will be quite glad to read all about the -earlier one. What will your friends say?--who will take your hand when -he or she knows what I have to tell about that midnight meeting, and of -your projected elopement with the notorious Major Ruck?" - -Lady Watson trembled and burst into tears, which, streaming down her -face, aged her in a few minutes. "Beatrice, what am I to do?" she wept. - -"Give up the necklace," said the girl, keeping aloof--she could not -find it in her heart to pity a mother who had behaved so badly to her -child, a wife who had tricked her husband so often--"then we will leave -you, and say nothing." - -"But if I give up the necklace, will you come and see me?" - -"Yes," said Beatrice with an effort; "after all, you are my mother." - -"You horrid girl! you are just like your father. Oh, well, if I am -to be blackmailed by an unnatural child and a nigger, I must pay the -price, and you may be glad that I don't give you both in charge." - -Durban crossed to the bell. "I will ring if you like. There is a -constable outside." - -"No!" shrieked Lady Watson, and unfastened the necklace with trembling -fingers. Durban took it from her in silence, and then she rallied -sufficiently to rage. "You horrible black creature!" she cried, "you -have stolen my property, and have turned from me the heart of my dear -child. Go away, I hate the sight of you." - -"Come, missy," said Durban, holding open the door. - -"Yes, go--go, Beatrice. You've made me quite ill. I shan't enjoy my -dinner a bit to-night, and there is such a good cook. I'll have to -look after my face again--it's quite ruined." She tripped to the mirror -and looked in perfectly calmly. While she did this Beatrice, sad at -heart at such frivolity under such circumstances, withdrew with Durban, -and they took their way to Mrs. Quail's hotel. - -"I'm glad you saved me from my mother, Durban," was all the girl said; -but in the seclusion of her bedroom she wept bitterly. In those days, -at that moment, the world was very grey and dismal. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXV -WATERLOO - - -Having finished her business in London, Beatrice returned to Hurstable -with Durban. They went back to The Camp, as the girl did not wish -to again take up her abode in Convent Grange until her relations -with Vivian Paslow were more settled. What Major Ruck meant by his -mysterious hints, she could not imagine, but deep in her heart she -cherished a hope that everything would yet be made smooth, and that all -these troubles which desolated her life would be finally ended by her -marriage with the man she loved. - -It may seem strange that she should dwell at The Camp along with one -who had confessed himself guilty of a terrible crime. But Beatrice, -as she had said in London, and repeated frequently afterwards, did -not believe Durban to be guilty. In an excess of zeal, and in order -to secure her happiness, he professed himself to be the criminal. Had -Waterloo and Major Ruck not accused Vivian, the girl felt very certain -that Durban would not have accused himself. The man still insisted that -he was guilty, and Beatrice still refused to believe him. After much -thought she determined to give Vivian a chance of clearing himself, and -believed that could he prove his innocence, Durban would not proceed -with his self-sacrifice. With this in her mind, she wrote a note to -Paslow the day after she arrived at The Camp. Durban was not with her -at the time, as he had gone to the station to get the newspapers. -It was necessary to see if the Black Patch Gang's quarters had been -raided, and if Major Ruck had been arrested; if so, the appointment -which the Major had made for the next evening at seven need not be kept. - -Paslow, looking anxious and eager, arrived about three in the -afternoon, and with him came Dinah. Without giving her brother time to -speak, the girl flew at Beatrice and kissed her several times. - -"Oh, Beatrice, I have such heaps and heaps to tell you," she gasped, -with a flushed face and very bright eyes. "Jerry and I are going to be -married in three months." - -"That is indeed good news," said Beatrice cordially, and did not -seek to stop the flow of Miss Paslow's confidences. After the sordid -scoundrels with whom she had been mixed up lately she was more than -delighted to be in the company of this homely, honest maiden, and to -hear her artless prattle. Vivian cast an inquiring look at Beatrice, as -he was anxious to know how she had sped with Lady Watson, and could not -understand why she had returned with Durban. But the girl merely smiled -to reassure him, although she felt far from smiling, and demanded the -news from Dinah. That damsel was only too glad to lead the conversation. - -"It's this way," she declared, sitting down, and breathing hard: "Jerry -has had his salary raised, and we'll have enough to rent a tweeny house -at Fulham, or Bedford Park, or somewhere nice. Jerry is writing a -novel, and I'm going to help him. And Mr. Snow has been made a Dean of -some place in Wales." - -"I am glad to hear that," said Beatrice quickly, for she thought that -this preferment would remove Mrs. Snow from the neighbourhood--a thing -devoutly to be wished for, since the woman disliked her. - -"So am I, because Mr. Snow will get a large salary; and, in spite of -Mrs. Snow (who is a cat!), Mr. Snow intends to allow Jerry and me one -hundred a year. Vivian (who is a dear!) intends to allow me the same, -so what with this and Jerry's salary we'll have about four or five -hundred a year to begin life on. I really don't know if I am standing -on my head or my heels," cried Dinah, clapping her hands, and with her -freckled face aglow with lively joy. - -"So you see, Beatrice," said Vivian, with a smile on his dark face, -"her happiness and life are settled. She will marry Jerry, and help him -to become the Shakespeare of his generation." - -"Oh no. Shakespeare only wrote plays!" said Dinah contemptuously. -"Or was it Bacon? Jerry is to write novels, like Thackeray or George -Eliot--but she was a woman, wasn't she? We'll be so happy; and I intend -to furnish the drawing-room in cherry-colour, which always----" - -"My dear Dinah," said Vivian impatiently, "can't you leave these minor -details to some future occasion?" - -"Ah! wait till you and Beatrice consult about the refurnishing of the -Grange," said Dinah reprovingly; "then you'll find how important all -these things are. Mr. and Mrs. Snow go to Wales in a month, Beatrice, -and I shan't be sorry. I want to be miles and miles away from my -future mother-in-law. But I must go." Dinah rose in a hurry. "I am -on my way to the station to meet Jerry. I only called in to tell you -how delicious everything is. Good-bye, good-bye!" and Dinah, kissing -Beatrice twice, took herself off rapidly, while Vivian shrugged his -shoulders. - -"What a whirlwind in petticoats!" said he good-humouredly. - -"I am glad she is to be happy with her lover," said Beatrice in a -pensive manner. "And I am also glad," she added, looking attentively at -Paslow, "to know that Mrs. Snow is leaving the neighbourhood." - -"So am I," said Paslow, with a sigh. "That woman hates you, Beatrice." - -"She cannot do me any harm," replied the girl, and then looked again at -Vivian. She noted with a pang how worn and thin he appeared: noted also -that there were white hairs amongst his thick black locks. "My poor -boy," she said tenderly, "you have suffered!" - -Vivian looked at her in a startled way, and put out his hand as though -to keep her off. "Don't," he said hoarsely, "or else I shall forget -myself and take you in my arms." - -"Vivian"--she touched his arm and he winced, with a flush of colour, at -the tenderness--"we may come together after all." - -"Beatrice!" he said breathlessly, then dropped the hand which he had -seized. "You know who stands between us." - -"She may not always stand between us, Vivian." - -"What! Is she dead?" - -"No. But Major Ruck---- Wait, Vivian; let us sit down and talk. I have -much to tell you, dear." - -"Yes, yes, Sit here!" Vivian hurriedly led her towards a garden seat -near the battered sundial, and fixing his eyes on her tired face, -waited impatiently for what she had to say. But Beatrice did not begin -at once: she wanted to startle him into telling the truth. - -"Major Ruck and Waterloo both accuse you of killing Alpenny," she said -bluntly, and looking straightly at him. - -Vivian jumped up with a suppressed oath. "What a lie!" - -"Tell me," she said quickly--"tell me exactly what you did on that -night." - -"I have told you. I caught Waterloo and kicked him; then I looked for -you, and not finding you, went home. Next morning I called to see how -you were getting on, and gave the key of the smaller gate to Durban, -who hung it up in the counting-house, as he told you." - -"You were not near this place on that night?" - -"No. I swear I was not." - -Beatrice saw from his earnest, puzzled look that he really spoke the -truth. Without wasting further time in skirting round the subject, she -related what had taken place at the Black Patch Gang's den in Stepney. -Vivian listened with growing surprise, and jumping up, began to walk -backwards and forwards, much agitated. When she had finished, he -stopped before her with an angry air. - -"The whole story is a lie!" he declared decisively. "I certainly caught -Waterloo, and kicked him: he certainly threatened me with a very -ugly-looking knife; but he got away before I could take it off him. I -wish I had found it before I tied his hands." - -"You tied his hands?" - -"Yes, with my handkerchief." - -Beatrice rose suddenly, and caught her lover's arm with so much force -that he winced. "What is it?" he asked, puzzled by her look. - -"Did--did--Waterloo get away with the handkerchief?" - -"Yes. I knocked him down and tied his hands. I was going away, when he -got rid of the handkerchief, and ran at me with a knife. I dodged him, -and then tried to seize him again; but he showed no more fight, and ran -away. He held the handkerchief in one hand and the knife in another." - -"Vivian," cried Beatrice, with a pale face, "Waterloo killed Mr. -Alpenny!--yes, he killed him, I am certain." - -"What do you mean? How can you explain?" - -"Listen. I found your handkerchief soaking in the blood of Alpenny, and -lying near the body in the counting-house yonder. I thought for the -moment that you were guilty. I spoke to Durban, and he told me that you -had given him the handkerchief--no, that wasn't it. He said that you -had left the handkerchief behind when you quarrelled with Mr. Alpenny, -when you last met him." - -"I never did. And----" - -"Wait, wait. Of course you didn't. To save my feelings Durban told a -lie." - -"Why didn't you speak to me?" - -"I didn't think of doing so; you explained about the key. I forgot, -I suppose, with all the troubles that we had. But you can see now: -this man, Waterloo, had the knife, he had the handkerchief, and he was -a member of the Black Patch Gang. Alpenny, because he betrayed the -Gang, was condemned to death, and Waterloo is the man whom Major Ruck -called the executioner. He left you to return to The Camp and kill Mr. -Alpenny; then he escaped by the secret passage." - -Vivian walked about in an excited manner. "By Jupiter! Beatrice, I do -believe that you are right. We'll have the little beast arrested." - -"I dare say, if the police have raided the Stepney den, that he has -already been arrested. Oh, how I wish those papers would come!" - -"What papers?" - -"The daily newspapers. Durban went to the station to get them, as we -expect to read about the raid. And I want to clear your character--so -that Durban's life may be saved." - -"What do you mean?" asked Vivian, utterly puzzled. - -"He accuses himself of the crime to clear you. He knows that I love -you, and, thinking your loss would break my heart, intended to answer -for you." - -"But I have not committed any crime." - -"No. But the Major and Waterloo can build up an accusation against you; -it will be difficult to disprove, and----" - -"It will not be difficult," said Vivian determinedly; "the -handkerchief will prove Waterloo's guilt. Does Durban believe that I am -the guilty person?" - -"I think so, or he would not take the guilt upon himself." - -"Then I forgive his doubts of me, because he is so ready to take my -supposed crime on his own shoulders. But do you believe me to----" - -"Vivian"--she stretched out her hands--"I never have believed you to be -guilty. You know that; and now we both know the truth--Waterloo is the -criminal." - -"And Waterloo will soon be in the hands of the police. Beatrice, I -shall go and see the constable at Hurstable. He will send for the -Inspector who had charge of the case. We'll tell him everything, and -when Major Ruck comes here to-morrow at seven, he can be arrested." - -"But he is not guilty?" - -"He is an accomplice. Waterloo apparently killed Alpenny by his -order--and, indeed, the Major probably was present at the time, since -he admits himself to have been the man you saw leaving The Camp. -I shall go at once. Wait here, Beatrice; I'll come back with the -constable. And meantime, when Durban returns with the papers, you can -see if the Gang's den has been raided." - -"Yes, yes. Go at once!" - -The face of Beatrice was aglow with joy, and she went with her lover to -the great gates, which now usually stood wide open. And she had every -cause for joy. They now knew that Waterloo was the assassin who had -murdered old Alpenny. Vivian was guiltless, and so was Durban, who, to -save the tears of his young mistress, had so nobly taken upon himself -the burden of shame. When Vivian departed post-haste to see the village -constable, and to put all things in train for the capture of Major Ruck -and his accomplices, Beatrice walked to and fro much excited. - -"Dear Durban, good Durban!" she murmured again and again. "What a -friend he has been to me! But there will be no need for this sacrifice. -Vivian's character can be cleared, and then----" She hesitated, and -wondered again if Major Ruck could fulfil his promise and remove the -obstacle to her marriage with Vivian. She could not think of how this -could be done, save by the death of Maud Paslow; and yet she did -not think that Ruck, villain as he was, would kill a woman. All the -same, he had certainly killed Alpenny through the instrumentality of -Waterloo. "I must give Major Ruck the necklace in any case," said -Beatrice, quite forgetting that when Vivian told the police, Ruck -would need no necklace and would be in the dock. She went to her -bedroom-carriage and got out the necklace, which flashed bravely in the -sun. It was certainly a magnificent ornament, and Beatrice was woman -enough to regret parting with it, especially to such a scamp as the -Major. However, as she recollected Vivian's errand, it might be that it -would not need to be given up. "But then," she thought, "if Major Ruck -is arrested, he will certainly not forward my marriage with Vivian, as -out of revenge he will hold his tongue." - -With the necklace in her hand, she went across to the counting-house -carriage in order to make a packet of it and seal it up. The place -was chill and dismal in its desolation. Beatrice closed the door and -seated herself at the desk, looking about for a sufficiently thick -sheet of paper in which to wrap the jewel. Hardly had she found one -when she heard a grating noise, and turned her head to see the sheet -of galvanised tin, upon which stood the stove, slip aside. The next -moment, and she saw the red head of Waterloo protrude from the hole. - -"You!" cried Beatrice, starting to her feet, and her blood ran cold -when she thought of what the reptile had done. - -"Yuss," said Waterloo, who looked haggard and white. "The Major is -after me. I cut away from Stepney when the plaice was raided by the -perlice. The Major cove got away too, and has been follering me. He -come down by the saime train----" - -"He is here?" cried Beatrice interrogatively, bending forward. - -She had the necklace dangling from her hand, and in bending down it was -brought within reach of Waterloo. He snatched at it at once and growled -like a dog over a bone. "Yuss," he said hoarsely, while the girl -remained paralysed by his sudden move; "he's after this, and me. He's -goin' to kill me, becas I set the peelers on to the Gang. But he'll not -come by this passage, and I'll slip away. Don't you give the alarm, -miss, or I'll cut your throat." - -"The same as you did Mr. Alpenny's?" - -"Ho! you knows that, does you?" yelped Waterloo. "Yuss, I did; an' I'll -kill you if----" - -Beatrice ran to the door and opened it. "Help! help!" she cried, not -thinking of the mad thing she was doing to provoke this murderer to -wrath. There was no help near--The Camp was completely isolated, and -unless Durban came back at once, or Vivian returned, she was at the -mercy of this wild beast in the lonely place. Waterloo apparently -guessed that he could do what he liked, for he made a spring to get out -of the passage. As he did so he was pulled back, and gave a yell of -alarm. - -"Oh lor', who's got me? 'Elp! 'elp! Ah! ow--ow--it's the -Major--it's----" Here he was pulled out of sight. Apparently the -Major, on the track of the man who had betrayed him, had entered the -secret passage also, and was pulling the traitor down into the depths. -Beatrice stared at the gaping black hole, and heard sounds of snarling -and worrying and swearing and fighting going on in the bowels of the -earth. Suddenly she heard the shriek of a man in mortal agony. With an -effort she opened wide the counting-house door, anxious only to escape -from the horrible place; but as the sunshine streamed on her face, -everything seemed to grow black round her, and she fell down in a dead -faint. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI -WHAT TOOK PLACE - - -It was quite two months before Beatrice Hall recovered sufficiently -to hear after-events. For a long time she remained unconscious, and -then came to herself only to suffer from a severe attack of brain -fever. The poor girl had gone through so much--she had borne up with -such bravery--that the long-continued strain had sapped her strength, -and she was seriously ill for weeks. Even when she recovered her -reason--which she did, owing to the careful and assiduous nursing -of Vivian and his sister--the doctor would not allow her to be told -anything. And, indeed, Beatrice did not seem anxious to hear: it -appeared as though her mind was a blank. All she cared to do was to lie -on her bed, and listen to Vivian reading some soothing book. - -Dr. Herman (the same who had examined the corpse of Alpenny, and -had given evidence at the inquest) was her medical attendant, -and he conducted the treatment with great care. With such a -delicately-balanced brain as Beatrice possessed, and after she had -undergone such terrible experiences, the doctor seemed to be doubtful -if she would be quite sane when she got back her physical strength. -He went about with a grave face, and Vivian's heart was wrung with -anguish as he thought of what might happen. It seemed terrible that he -should, for once, have a chance of happiness with the woman he loved, -only to find that she would suffer from something worse than death. In -those long days of suspense Vivian turned more to God than he had ever -done before in his careless life. And God rewarded his faith. Slowly -but surely Beatrice recovered, and when the doctor permitted her to be -taken on to the terrace in the mild autumn weather, the peace and fresh -air completed her cure. She felt her brain becoming much steadier, and -again began to take an interest in life. But always she desired to -have Vivian by her side, and was never so happy as when he sat beside -her couch holding her hand. In two months she was quite her old self, -although paler and thinner. But the troubles she had passed through -left their marks on her lovely face and in her sad eyes. - -"Let me tell her everything now," Vivian urged to Dr. Herman one day; -"she is beginning to ask questions, and will not be satisfied with -being put off with vague replies." - -"Ah," said the doctor with much satisfaction, "she is asking questions, -is she? Then you can take it from me, Mr. Paslow, that she will recover -completely. It is that renewed interest in life which I wished to see. -Wait for a week, and then she will be strong enough to hear what you -have to say. But when she once knows," added the doctor, raising his -finger gravely, "never let her hear of the subject again." - -"Never, never!" said Vivian, with a shudder, as he also was only too -anxious to bury the past which had tormented him for so long. And then -he went to tell the joyful news to Durban. - -Needless to say, Durban also had been watching everlastingly beside the -couch and bed of the creature whom he held dearest on earth. He was -like a dog, and when not within the sick-room would lie on the mat at -the door. When he heard that his dear young mistress was out of danger, -he almost went out of his mind, and vehemently embraced Mrs. Lilly, -much to the indignation of that portly female. But when she saw his -dog-like devotion, she forgave that exuberant expression of the man's -feelings. - -So things slowly worked themselves out to a joyful issue. Beatrice -was told that in a few days she would be informed of all that had -taken place since she fainted in the counting-house, and obeyed the -orders of Vivian that, until the time came, she was not to ask any -questions. Then one glorious autumn day, when the sun was shining with -a summer-like force, and everything seemed to revive under its royal -beams, Vivian carried her down the stairs as usual and out on to the -terrace. Here, in her favourite nook, she rested contentedly on a soft -couch, and a small table was placed beside her. Dinah and Jerry, who -were also faithful attendants, hovered round with shawls and rugs and -reviving drinks, and such-like things. When Beatrice was comfortably -established, she took Vivian's hand softly. - -"How good it is to be loved!" she said sweetly. - -"Who could help loving you, my own?" said Paslow tenderly. "We are all -your slaves here." - -"Where is Durban?" - -"He will come shortly. And Dinah and Jerry can go away?" - -"Why?" demanded Dinah quickly, and rather offended. - -"Because Dr. Herman says that I can tell Beatrice everything, and it -will be better that we should be alone." - -"Oh, Vivian"--the face of the invalid flushed a rose colour--"am I to -know everything now?" - -"Yes"--he bent down and kissed her--"as a reward for obedience. Then -Durban will come and see you; and Jerry can escort Dinah back, unless -they forget us in love-making." - -"Well," said Jerry very shrewdly, and taking Dinah's hand, "I expect -you really won't want us, as you will be love-making yourselves. -Besides, I have to read a letter to Dinah." - -"From your mother?" asked Dinah rather nervously. - -"From my father. He is now settled comfortably in Wales, and likes -everything immensely, and----" - -"Oh, come away," interrupted Dinah, tugging him by the hand; "don't -give me the gist of the letter here. Can't you see that Beatrice and -Vivian are dying to be alone? And I want to consult you again about -that study of ours. I really don't think that green hangings will suit -your complexion, and then--" Here Dinah dragged the willing Jerry down -the shallow steps and across the lawn, babbling all the time of their -future home. - -Beatrice, left alone with Vivian, put out her hand, and heaved a sigh -of pleasure when she felt his warm fingers close on that frail member. -A thrill ran through her, and everything she beheld before her seemed -to take on a brighter hue, because the man she loved was beside her. -Yet as she felt his touch and looked into his bright face--for bright -it seemed, though sadly worn and thin--a recollection of the barrier -between them disturbed her pleasant thoughts. - -"Why do you wish to take your hand away?" asked Vivian, as he felt her -exert a weak strength. - -"Your--your--wife," faltered Beatrice faintly. - -"You are to be my wife, dearest," he answered gravely. "No," in reply -to her startled look, "Maud is not dead. But she never was my wife." - -"Vivian! She said that she was." - -"Of course, to gain her own ends. But she is really the wife of Major -Ruck: she married him when she first went to town. I believe old -Alpenny arranged the marriage, as Major Ruck being a member of his -Gang, he wished to secure so clever a woman as Maud also." - -"Is this true?" - -"Perfectly true; so you can leave your hand in mine for ever." - -"That would be a long time," said Beatrice, with a weak laugh of joy. -But all the same she allowed her little white hand to rest within -Vivian's, and then looked at him inquiringly. - -"You wish to ask how we found out?" said Paslow, smiling. "Easily -enough. Major Ruck redeemed his promise, and removed the obstacle to -our marriage by leaving on the desk in the counting-house a certificate -of marriage between himself and Maud Orchard. We--that is, Durban and -myself--went to the church where the marriage was solemnised, and found -that the certificate was genuine. Major Ruck and Maud Orchard were man -and wife some months before I came on the scene, and she entrapped me -into that unhappy marriage." - -"But what was Major Ruck doing in the counting-house?" said Beatrice, -puzzled. "He was not due until the next evening at seven." - -"You forget, my darling, what has happened. Waterloo----" - -"Yes, yes! I remember now," cried Beatrice, half raising herself in her -excitement. "He was coming out to kill me with that horrible knife, -when someone pulled him down, and I fainted." - -"It was the Major who pulled him down," said Vivian, gently pushing her -back. "Be calm, Beatrice, and I'll tell you everything." - -"But I remember a lot," she insisted. "Waterloo said that the den at -Stepney had been raided, and that he had got away--the Major also. Then -because he knew--the Major, I mean--that Waterloo had betrayed the -Gang, he followed him down to kill him." - -"The Major did not kill him, however, darling. Waterloo was----" - -"Wait a moment, Vivian," she entreated. "I want to see how much I -remember. Waterloo said that the Major had followed him down by the -same train. I suppose the Major came by the secret passage----" - -Vivian placed his arms round her so that her head could rest on his -breast. "Darling, darling, you must allow me to speak. What you say -is true, and you have remembered much. Major Ruck was after Waterloo -to kill him, because of his treachery. How he found that the man was -coming to Hurstable I do not know. But the den was certainly raided: -Tuft and the doctor who attended my wife's double are in custody--the -Gang is broken up. The police have examined Durban and myself, and -everything has been made clear. While you have been ill the newspapers -have been full of the business, and Jerry Snow has made quite a -reputation in writing sensational articles." - -"Go on," said Beatrice, much interested. - -"I will, if it will not excite you too much." - -"No, no; I am perfectly calm. Feel my pulse, dear." - -Vivian did so, and caressed her fondly. "Speak as little as you can, -my dear," he said softly, and then continued his story. "Waterloo knew -that Ruck would kill him if he could, and never thinking that the Major -would suspect his coming to The Camp--into the jaws of the lion, as it -were--he came down here, and the Major--as Waterloo told you--followed -him." - -"Waterloo got the necklace?" said Beatrice, thinking with an effort. - -"He did for a time; but the Major has it now. Hush, dear! The Major, -as he wanted to escape, could not wait until the next evening to see -you. He came down at once, or perhaps he followed Waterloo. However, -he tracked him to The Camp, and saw him go down the secret passage. -Ruck went down also, and listened below while Waterloo was talking to -you. He knew or guessed that he had the necklace, and when Waterloo was -about to kill you--which he would have done in that deserted Camp--the -Major saved you by pulling Waterloo into the passage. Waterloo fought -like a wild cat, I believe--at least he says that he did----" - -"What! Did Waterloo confess?" - -"On his dying bed he did." - -"Is he dead, then?" - -"Quite dead. God punished him. Do listen, my own. Waterloo fought, -not only for his life but for the necklace. But Ruck, as you know, -is a big man of great strength. He dragged him along the passage and -strove to strangle him. Waterloo tried to use his knife, but could not -do so at first. Then Ruck secured the necklace, and Waterloo made a -violent effort to strike. To escape the wound, Ruck threw him as far -as he could along the passage. Waterloo struck against the brickwork, -and tried to rise. But the passage as you know, Beatrice, was in bad -repair; the blow loosened the earth overhead where it was not bricked -in, and a mass of earth fell which buried Waterloo under it. Then -Ruck, seeing that the villain was punished, entered the counting-house -and found you insensible. He did not wait to revive you, as he knew -that the police were on his track; he simply left on the desk the -certificate of his marriage with Maud Orchard, and bolted." - -"Where has he gone?" - -"I can't tell you that. But he vanished, and his wife Maud has vanished -also. They managed to get a boat at Brighton, and rowed out at night to -a passing tramp. It seems that the captain was in the pay of the Black -Patch Gang to take the stolen goods abroad. However, the steamer was -waiting off-shore, and Ruck escaped with his wife and the necklace in -that way. Nothing has been heard of him up to date, and I don't expect -anything ever will be heard of the two. Maud is clever, and so is her -rightful husband, so I expect, now that they have money, they will live -in some tropical clime in the odour of sanctity. At all events, my -darling, they have passed out of our lives." - -"Thank God for that!" said Beatrice fervently. "And Waterloo?" - -"Durban came back and tried to revive you. I returned with the -constable, and saw that something terrible had taken place. While -Durban and Dinah took you back to Convent Grange, I and the constable -searched. We went down the secret passage, as we found the trap in the -counting-house open. We heard groans, and got some men to dig Waterloo -out. He was taken to the Brighton Hospital, and Inspector Jones--who -had to do with the inquest, you remember?--was sent for. Waterloo made -a full confession." - -"About Alpenny's murder?" - -"Yes, and about the doings of the Black Patch Gang. You were right, -my dear. Waterloo was the member. Ruck called the executioner, and I -will not shock your feelings by telling you how many people the wretch -murdered. But he killed Alpenny almost in the way he accused me of -killing him. That is, he went back to The Camp and there met Ruck. They -entered through the large gates, and Alpenny, dressed for his flight, -came out. He cried for mercy, but Waterloo cut his throat." - -Beatrice shivered. "Don't tell me any more." - -"Only this, darling--that Waterloo gave Ruck my handkerchief, and he -placed it near the body to incriminate me. Ruck walked to Brighton -after making an ineffectual search for the necklace--which was the real -reason for the crime; and Waterloo escaped by the secret passage and -loafed up to London as a tramp." - -"And Durban?" - -"He arrived later, and found Alpenny dead. He told you all about that. -He then found the necklace and placed it on the sheep's neck, to get -rid of it for ever. He returned the next morning pretending to know -nothing, as he was fearful lest he should be accused." - -"Then Ruck was the man I saw at the gate?" - -"Yes. He wore the black patch over the left eye, as a member of the -Gang. That is their mark--or rather it was, as the Gang is now but a -name. Those caught have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, -although Ruck and Maud have escaped, and Waterloo is dead." - -"The Black Patch?" mused Beatrice. "Vivian," she added suddenly, "did -Waterloo kill my father?" - -"He did," said Vivian quickly. "I thought you would guess that. It -seems that Alpenny found out about your mother's intended elopement, -and told Ruck that he would prevent it unless he got the necklace. -As that was all Ruck wanted--for he had no love for your mother--he -induced Waterloo to try and steal it, promising him a share. Waterloo -assumed the black patch so that, if possible, the blame might be put on -to Alpenny." - -"How do you mean?" - -"Waterloo threw away the patch when he escaped, so that Alpenny, if the -doings of the Gang ever came to light, might be suspected." - -"I see. Go on, Vivian; I am much interested." - -"I hope it is not too much for you, dearest," said Paslow earnestly. -"But to make a long story short, Waterloo entered by the window and -tried to steal the green box, where Ruck had told him the necklace -was placed. The box, however, was chained to the bed. The noise that -Waterloo made woke your father; but before any struggle could take -place, and while the Colonel was but half awake, Waterloo sprang on him -and cut his throat. Then while he was trying to wrench open the green -box and get the necklace, he heard voices." - -"Those of my mother and Alpenny?" - -"Yes. But they spoke so low that he did not know who they were, or he -might have remained. As it was he ran away, fearful of being caught. -He dropped the black patch to incriminate Alpenny, as I told you. Next -day Ruck learned that Alpenny had the necklace, and how he had forced -it from Mrs. Hall--that is from Lady Watson, your mother. The rest you -know." - -"How terrible!" said Beatrice with a sigh. "And my mother?" - -"She saw the police, and substantiated Waterloo's dying confession. But -the police acquit her of complicity in the crime. However, although as -little as possible was published in the papers, she has gone to the -Continent, and talks of entering a convent. And I hope she will like -it," ended Vivian grimly. - -"I am not sorry, for I never could have loved her, Vivian. But she is -my mother after all, so I shall see her when we go abroad." - -"You shall do what you like, dearest. We will be married as soon as -possible and go to Italy for a year." - -"Can you afford it, Vivian?" - -"You can," he said, laughing. "Don't you know that you have two -thousand a year inherited from your father? Lady Watson had spent it, -but at Durban's request she refunded it out of Alpenny's legacy. We -will not be rich, dearest, but we will be able to pay off the mortgage -and restore the Grange, and live a quiet life together." - -"That is all I wish for," said Beatrice, putting her arms round his -neck. "I want peace after all this storm." - -"You will have, darling," said Vivian, kissing her; "but we will first -go abroad so that your cure may be completed. Jerry and Dinah will be -married on the same day as ourselves." - -"Not by Mr. Snow?" said Beatrice, shuddering. "I have no grudge against -him: but his wife----" - -"She cannot harm you, dear, now. The police gave Mrs. Snow a pretty -talking to for withholding the evidence she could have given. She is a -very subdued woman now, and, I think, is glad to bury herself in Wales -as the wife of that rural Dean, Mr. Snow. He will be master in his own -house at last, for he knows so much about her that she will not dare to -contradict him." - -"And Durban?" - -"Here he comes. Durban, come here." - -The half-caste, his face shining with joy, rolled towards them as -stout as ever in spite of his grief. At the expression on the face -of his young mistress he stopped short. "She knows?" he asked Vivian -timorously. - -"Everything," said Beatrice, before Vivian could speak. "And I thank -God, Durban, for having given me such a friend!" - -"Missy, I loved your father." He dropped on his knees beside the couch -and took her hand. "And you do not blame me for having kept you in -ignorance?" - -"No. The situation was a difficult one. You and Mr. Paslow here were -both surrounded by rogues and many dangers. And all your concealments -and reluctant confessions were made to save me anxiety, so I thank you, -my dear friend, for your kindness I knew you were a good man, even when -you accused yourself to save Vivian." - -"I could not let him be hanged when you loved him," said Durban, -hanging his head. - -"You see, Beatrice," said Vivian, smiling, "it is only of you that -Durban thinks. I am nowhere." - -"When you marry Miss Beatrice," said Durban, rising, with a grave -smile, "you will be one with her, and I'll love you both equally. I -know you will be happy, missy. After much storm has come the sunshine." - -"And that," said Vivian gaily, "will endure for the rest of our lives." - -Beatrice took the old servant's hand. "There is only one thing to -settle," she said sweetly: "Durban is to give me to you at the altar." - -"Oh, missy--me--no--no--a black--a half black!" - -"You are a whole white," said Vivian quickly, and taking the good old -fellow's other hand. "Beatrice is right. You have stood to her in -the place of her father and mother, and you have shielded her from a -thousand dangers. You shall come to the wedding and give your treasure -to me." - -"Sir--missy----" Durban could say nothing more; his eyes filled with -tears and he hastily retreated. - -"Joyful tears, good old soul!" said Vivian, again gathering Beatrice -to his breast. "He'll come and live with us, Beatrice, and we'll turn -that horrible Camp into a jungle. Never more will we talk of the past, -and--and----" - -"Vivian, Vivian! How you run on!" - -"I am too happy to be sensible. What are those birds we hear singing, -saying, my sweetest?" - -"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!" was the unexpected answer -of Beatrice. - -Vivian's face grew grave. "I think we will, and now," he said; and with -his future wife in his arms he breathed a prayer of thankfulness to the -merciful Father who had brought them both to a safe haven. - - - - - -THE END - - - - - -PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., EDINBURGH. - - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Patch, by Fergus Hume - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK PATCH *** - -***** This file should be named 55305-8.txt or 55305-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/3/0/55305/ - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by -Google Books (University of Wisconsin--Madison) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/55305-8.zip b/old/55305-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 817336f..0000000 --- a/old/55305-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55305-h.zip b/old/55305-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 74b9f63..0000000 --- a/old/55305-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55305-h/55305-h.htm b/old/55305-h/55305-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 5f092f9..0000000 --- a/old/55305-h/55305-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10117 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> -<html> -<head> -<title>The Black Patch | Project Gutenberg</title> -<meta name="Author" content="Fergus Hume"> - -<meta name="Publisher" content="John Long"> -<meta name="Date" content="1906"> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> -<style type="text/css"> -body {margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} - - -p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} - -p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} -p.center {text-align: center;} -p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} - -h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} - -span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:110%;} -span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} - -hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt} - -hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} - -hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} -hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} - -p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} -p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} - -</style> - -</head> - - -<body> -<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 55305 ***</div> - -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> -1. Page Scan Source: Google Books<br> -https://books.google.com/books?id=f0g2AQAAMAAJ<br> -(University of Wisconsin--Madison)</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>The Black Patch</h3> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><i>By the same Author</i></h4> -<hr class="W90"> -<br> -<h5>THE SILENT HOUSE IN PIMLICO</h5> -<h5>THE CRIMSON CRYPTOGRAM</h5> -<h5>THE BISHOP'S SECRET</h5> -<h5>THE JADE EYE</h5> -<h5>THE TURNPIKE HOUSE</h5> -<h5>A TRAITOR IN LONDON</h5> -<h5>THE GOLDEN WANG-HO</h5> -<h5>WOMAN THE SPHINX</h5> -<h5>THE SECRET PASSAGE</h5> -<h5>THE LONELY CHURCH</h5> -<h5>THE OPAL SERPENT</h5> -<h5>THE SILVER BULLET</h5> -<br> -<hr class="W90"> -<br> -<h5>JOHN LONG, <span class="sc">Publisher, London</span></h5> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>The Black Patch</h3> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h5>By</h5> -<h4>Fergus Hume</h4> - -<h5>Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc.</h5> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h5>London</h5> - -<h4>John Long</h4> - -<h5>13 and 14 Norris Street, Haymarket</h5> -<br> -<h5>[<i>All rights reserved</i>]</h5> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h5><i>First Published in 1906</i></h5> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<table cellpadding="10" style="width:90%; margin-left:5%; font-weight:bold"> -<colgroup><col style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:right"><col style="width:80%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left"></colgroup> -<tr> -<td colspan="2"><h3>CONTENTS</h3></td> -</tr><tr> -<td>CHAP.</td> -<td> </td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">1.</a></td> -<td>IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">2.</a></td> -<td>THE HINTS OF DURBAN.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">3.</a></td> -<td>MR. ALPENNY'S PROPOSAL.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">4.</a></td> -<td>SEEN IN THE LIGHTNING.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">5.</a></td> -<td>MRS. SNOW'S DISCOVERY.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">6.</a></td> -<td>THE INQUEST.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">7.</a></td> -<td>THE INQUEST--<i>continued</i>.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">8.</a></td> -<td>THE WILL.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">9.</a></td> -<td>LADY WATSON.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">10.</a></td> -<td>MRS. LILLY'S STORY.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">11.</a></td> -<td>MAJOR RUCK.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">12.</a></td> -<td>VIVIAN EXPLAINS.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">13.</a></td> -<td>THE EX-BUTLER.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">14.</a></td> -<td>MRS. SNOW'S PAST.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15">15.</a></td> -<td>A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16">16.</a></td> -<td>AN INTERRUPTION.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17">17.</a></td> -<td>A STORY OF THE PAST.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18">18.</a></td> -<td>WHAT ORCHARD KNEW.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19">19.</a></td> -<td>DURBAN SPEAKS AT LAST.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_20" href="#div1_20">20.</a></td> -<td>A GREAT SURPRISE.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_21" href="#div1_21">21.</a></td> -<td>LADY WATSON'S STORY.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_22" href="#div1_22">22.</a></td> -<td>REVELATION.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_23" href="#div1_23">23.</a></td> -<td>NEMESIS.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_24" href="#div1_24">24.</a></td> -<td>THE NECKLACE.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_25" href="#div1_25">25.</a></td> -<td>WATERLOO.</td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_26" href="#div1_26">26.</a></td> -<td>WHAT TOOK PLACE.</td> -</tr></table> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>The Black Patch</h3> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">CHAPTER I</a></h4> - -<h5>IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN</h5> -<br> - -<p>"Of course he's a wretch, dear; but oh!"--with an ecstatic -expression--"what a nice wretch!"</p> - -<p>"I see; you marry the adjective."</p> - -<p>"The man, Beatrice, the man. Give me a real man and I ask for nothing -better. But the genuine male is so difficult to find nowadays."</p> - -<p>"Really! Then you have been more successful than the majority."</p> - -<p>"How sarcastic, how unfriendly! I <i>did</i> look for sympathy."</p> - -<p>Beatrice embraced her companion affectionately. "You have it, Dinah. I -give all sympathy and all good wishes to yourself and Jerry. May you be -very happy as Mr. and Mrs. Snow!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, we shall, we shall! Jerry would make an undertaker happy!"</p> - -<p>"Undertakers generally are--when business is good."</p> - -<p>"Oh! you are quite too up-to-date in your talk, Beatrice Hedge."</p> - -<p>"That is strange, seeing how I live in a dull country garden like a -snail, or a cabbage."</p> - -<p>"Like a wild rose, dear. At least Vivian would say so."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Paslow says more than he means," responded Beatrice, blushing -redder than the flower mentioned, "and I dare say Jerry does also."</p> - -<p>"No, dear. Jerry hasn't sufficient imagination."</p> - -<p>"He ought to have, being a journalist."</p> - -<p>"Those are the very people who never imagine anything. They find their -facts on every hedge."</p> - -<p>"Is that an unworthy pun on my name?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not, Miss Hedge," said the other with dignity; "Jerry -shan't find anything on you, or in you, save a friend, else I shall -be horribly jealous. As to Vivian, he would murder his future -brother-in-law if he caught him admiring you; and I don't want to begin -my married life with a corpse."</p> - -<p>"Naturally. You wisely prefer the marriage service to the burial ditto, -my clever Dinah."</p> - -<p>"I'm not clever, and I really don't know how to answer your sharp -speeches, seeing that I am a plain country girl."</p> - -<p>"Not plain--oh! not plain. Jerry doesn't think so, I'm sure."</p> - -<p>"It's very sweet and flattering of Jerry, but he's mercifully -colour-blind and short-sighted. I <i>am</i> plain, with a pug nose, drab -hair, freckles, and teeny-weeny eyes. You are the reverse, Beatrice, -being all that is lovely--quite a gem."</p> - -<p>"Don't tell my father that I am any sort of jewel," remarked Beatrice -dryly, "else he will want to sell me at an impossible price."</p> - -<p>Dinah laughed, but did not reply. Her somewhat flighty brain could -not concentrate itself sufficiently to grasp the subtle conversation -of Miss Hedge, so she threw herself back on the mossy stone seat and -stared between half-closed eyelids at the garden. This was necessary, -for the July sunshine blazed down on a mass of colour such as is -rarely seen in sober-hued England. The garden might have been that of -Eden, as delineated by Martin or DorĂ©, from the tropical exuberance -of flower and leaf. But the buildings scattered about this pleasance -were scarcely of the primitive type which Adam and his spouse would -have inhabited: rather were they expressions of a late and luxurious -civilisation.</p> - -<p>And again, they could scarcely be called buildings in the accepted -sense of the word, as they had been constructed to run on iron rails, -at the tail of a locomotive. To be plain, seven railway carriages, with -their wheels removed, did duty for dwellings, and very odd they looked -amidst surroundings alien to their original purpose. A Brixton villa -would scarcely have seemed more out of place in the Desert of Sahara.</p> - -<p>Placed in an irregular circle, like Druidical stones, the white-painted -woodwork of these derelicts was streaked fantastically with creepers, -which, spreading even over the arched roofs, seemed to bind them to the -soil. Titania and her fastidious elves might have danced on the smooth -central sward, in the middle of which appeared a chipped sundial, -upheld by three stone ladies, unclothed, battered, and unashamed. -At the back of these ingeniously contrived huts bloomed flowers in -profusion: tall and gaudy hollyhocks, vividly scarlet geraniums, lilies -of holy whiteness, and thousands--as it truly seemed--of many-hued -poppies. The wide beds, whence these blossoms sprang, stretched back -to a girdle of lofty trees, and were aglow with the brilliant flowers -of the nasturtium. The trees which shut in this sylvan paradise from -the crooked lane rose from a tangled jungle of coarse grasses, nettles, -darnels, and oozy weedy plants, whose succulence betrayed the presence -of a small pond gorgeous with water-lilies. Paths led through the -miniature forest, winding in and out and round about, so as to make -the most of the small space; and the whole was bounded by a high brick -wall, mellow and crumbling, but secure for all that, seeing it was -topped with iron spikes and bits of broken bottles. One heavy wooden -gate, at present bolted and barred, admitted the outside world from the -lane into this Garden of Alcinous.</p> - -<p>Almost the entire population of the Weald knew of this Eden--that is, -by hearsay--for no one entered the jealous gate, unless he or she -came to do business with the eccentric character who had created the -domain. Jarvis Alpenny was a miser, hence the presence of disused rail -carriages, which saved him the trouble and cost of building a house. -In The Camp--so the place was called--he had dwelt for fifty years, -and he was as much a recluse as a man well could be, who made his -income by usury. It seemed odd, and <i>was</i> odd, that a money-lender -should not only dwell in, but carry on his peculiarly urban profession -in, so rural a locality as the Weald of Sussex. Nevertheless, Alpenny -did as large a business as though he had occupied some grimy office -in the heart of London. Indeed, he really made more money, as the -very seclusion of the place attracted many needy people who wished -to borrow money secretly. As the local railway station was but three -miles distant, these secretive clients came very easily to this rustic -Temple of Mammon. Any one could stay in Brighton without arousing the -curiosity of friends; and it was surely natural to make excursions -into the bowels of the land! Jarvis Alpenny showed a considerable -knowledge of human nature in thus isolating his habitation; for the -more difficult people find it to obtain what they want, the more do -they value that which they obtain.</p> - -<p>Alpenny called Beatrice his daughter. He would have spoken more -correctly had he called her his stepdaughter, for that she was. And -apart from the difference in the name, no one would have believed that -the wizen, yellow-faced, sharp-featured miser was the father of so -beautiful a girl. She dwelt in The Camp like an imprisoned princess, -and no dragon could have guarded her more fiercely than did Durban, -the sole servant and factotum of the settlement, as it might truly be -called. Alpenny himself might have passed for the wicked magician who -held the aforesaid princess spell-bound in his enchanted domain. But -as the Fairy Prince always discovers Beauty, however closely confined, -so had Beatrice Hedge been discovered by Vivian Paslow. He was a poor -country gentleman who dwelt in a two-miles distant grange; and his only -sister, confessing to the biblical name of Dinah, was the decidedly -plain girl who had just whispered to Beatrice how she had become -engaged, on the previous day, to Gerald Snow. That Gerald was the son -of a somewhat needy vicar, and possessed an objectionable mother, made -no difference to Dinah, who was very much in love and very voluble on -the subject.</p> - -<p>"Of course," resumed Miss Paslow, after a pause in the conversation, "I -and Jerry will be horribly poor. Vivian has no money and I have less. -Mr. Snow the vicar has only a fifth-rate living, and Mrs. Snow is a -screw like your father."</p> - -<p>"Dinah!" Beatrice winced and coloured at these plain words.</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Alpenny <i>is</i> a screw, and only your stepfather after all. As -to Mrs. Snow--oh, my gracious"--with expressive pantomime--"I'm glad -Jerry and I won't have to depend upon her for food. Whenever the poor -famished darling comes to Convent Grange, I simply rush to make him a -glass of egg and milk in case he tumbles off his chair."</p> - -<p>"That may be emotion, caused by the sight of you Dinah."</p> - -<p>"How nasty, how untrue! No! I did the tumbling when he proposed -yesterday. He proposed so beautifully that I think he must have been -reading up. I was in the parlour and Jerry came in. He looked at me -like that, and I looked at him in this way, and afterwards----" Here -Dinah, who was at the silly boring stage of love, told the wonderful -story for the fifth time, ending with the original remark that for -quite three hours after Jerry left her, Jerry's kisses were warm on her -maiden lips.</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you bring Mr. Snow in, Dinah?" asked Beatrice, who had -listened most patiently to these rhapsodies.</p> - -<p>"Oh, my dear!" fanning a red and freckled face with a flimsy -handkerchief, "he's much better in the lane, minding the horses. -You see he <i>will</i> make me blush with his looks and smiles and -hand-squeezings, when he thinks that no one is looking--which they -usually are," finished Miss Paslow ungrammatically.</p> - -<p>"And you came over to tell me. That is sweet of you."</p> - -<p>"Well, I did and I didn't, dear, to be perfectly candid. You see, Jerry -and I were going for a ride this morning, just to see if we entirely -understood how serious marriage is; but Vivian is such a prig----"</p> - -<p>"He isn't!" contradicted Beatrice indignantly.</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, he is," insisted Dinah obstinately; "he doesn't think it quite -the thing that I and Jerry should be too much alone--as though we could -make love in company! He wouldn't like it himself, though he did insist -on my coming here with him, and rode in the middle, so as to part Jerry -and me. So poor, dear, darling Jerry is holding the horses in the lane, -while Vivian is doing business with your father in there," and Miss -Paslow pointed a gloved finger at a distant railway carriage, which was -so bolted and barred and locked and clamped that it looked like a small -dungeon.</p> - -<p>A grave expression appeared on the face of Beatrice. "Do you know what -kind of business Mr. Paslow is seeing my father about?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, my dear, as though your father--which he isn't--ever did any sort -of business save lend money to people who haven't got any, as I'm sure -we Paslows haven't. We've got birth and blood and a genuine Grange -with a ghost, and Vivian has good looks even if I haven't, in spite of -Jerry's nonsense; but there isn't a sixpence between us. How Mrs. Lilly -manages to feed us, I really don't know, unless she steals the food. -Our ancestors had the Paslow money and spent it, the mean pigs!--just -as though our days weren't more expensive than their days, with their -feathers and lace and port wine."</p> - -<p>"Then Mr. Paslow is borrowing money?" remarked Beatrice, when she could -get in a word, which was not easy.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Paslow!--how cold you are, Beatrice, when you know Vivian worships -the ground you tread on, though he doesn't say much. Borrowing money, -do you say? I expect he is, although he never tells me his business. So -different to Jerry, who lets me know every time he has a rise in his -salary on the <i>Morning Planet</i>, which isn't often. I think the editor -must be a kind of Mrs. Snow, and she--well----" Dinah again expressed -herself in pantomime.</p> - -<p>It was quite useless speaking to Miss Paslow, who was only nineteen -and a feather-head. Besides, she was too deeply in love to bother -about commonplace things. Beatrice felt nervous to hear that Vivian -contemplated borrowing money, as she knew how dangerous it was for -anyone to become entangled in the nets of her stepfather. She would -have liked to question Dinah still further, but thinking she would -get little information from so lovelorn a damsel, it occurred to her -that Jerry Snow should be brought on the scene. Then the lovers could -chatter nonsense, and Beatrice could think her own thoughts, which were -greatly concerned with Mr. Alpenny's client. The means of obliging -Dinah and gaining time for reflection suggested themselves, when a -bulky man showed himself at the door of the carriage which served as -a kitchen. He wore, as he invariably did, summer and winter, a suit -of white linen, and on this occasion an apron, to keep the steaming -saucepan he held from soiling his clothes.</p> - -<p>"There's Durban," said Beatrice, rising and crossing over; "he can hold -the horses and Mr. Snow can come in."</p> - -<p>Dinah gave a faint squeal of delight, and shook the dust from her -shabby riding-habit while Beatrice explained what she wanted.</p> - -<p>Durban was of no great height, and so extremely stout that he looked -even less than he really was. His lips were somewhat thick, his nose -was a trifle flat, and his hair had that frizzy kink which betrays -black blood. Even a casual observer could have told that Durban had -a considerable touch of the tar-brush--was a mulatto, or perhaps one -remove from a mulatto. Apparently he possessed the inherent good-humour -of the negro, for while listening to his young mistress he smiled -expansively, and displayed a set of very strong white teeth. Nor was -he young, for his hair was touched at the temples with grey, and his -body was stout with that stoutness which comes late in life from a -good digestion and an easy conscience. He aped youth, however, for he -carried himself very erect, and walked--as he now did to the gate--in -an alert and springy manner surprising in one who could not be less -than fifty years of age. It seemed remarkable that so kindly a creature -as the half-caste should serve a sour-faced old usurer; but, in truth, -Beatrice was his goddess, and her presence alone reconciled him to an -ill-paid post where he was overworked, and received more kicks than -halfpence. He would have died willingly for the girl, and showed his -devotion even in trifles.</p> - -<p>Before returning to Dinah, whose eyes were fixed in an hypnotic way -on the gate through which her beloved would shortly pass, Beatrice -cast an anxious glance at the dungeon which did duty as Mr. Alpenny's -counting-house. The girl had never been within, as Jarvis was not -agreeable that she should enter his Bluebeard chamber. For the rest he -allowed her considerable freedom, and she could indulge in any fancy -so long as the fancy was cheap. But she was forbidden to set foot in -Mammon's shrine, and whether the priest was without, or within, the -door was kept locked. It was locked now, and Vivian Paslow was closeted -with the usurer, doubtless handing over to Alpenny the few acres that -remained to him for a sum of money at exorbitant interest. That the man -she loved should be a fly in the parlour of the money-lending spider -annoyed Beatrice not a little. Her attention was distracted by another -squeal from Dinah, whose emotions were apt to be noisy.</p> - -<p>"Jerry! oh Jerry!" sighed the damsel, clasping her hands, and in came -Mr. Snow, walking swiftly across the grass, apparently as frantic for -Dinah as Dinah was for him. At the moment neither lunatic took notice -of the amused hostess.</p> - -<p>"My Dinah! my own!" gasped Jerry, devouring his Dulcinea with two -ardent eyes, the light of which was hidden by pince-nez.</p> - -<p>Jerry assuredly was no beauty, save that his proportions were good, -and he dressed very smartly. He possessed a brown skin which matched -well with brown hair and moustache, and had about him the freshness of -twenty-two years, which is so charming and lasts so short a time. Dinah -with her freckles, her drab hair, and nose "tip-tilted like the petal -of a flower"--to mercifully quote Tennyson--suited him very well in -looks. And then love made both of them look quite interesting, although -not even the all-transforming passion could render them anything but -homely. Beside the engaged damsel, Beatrice, tall, slender, dark-locked -and dark-eyed, looked like a goddess, but Jerry the devoted had no -eye for her while Dinah was present. Had he been Paris, Miss Paslow -decidedly would have been awarded the apple. Not having one, he stared -at Dinah and she at him as though they were meeting for the first time. -Beatrice, impatient of this oblivion to her presence, brought them from -Heaven to earth.</p> - -<p>"I have to congratulate you, Mr. Snow," she remarked.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Snow!" echoed Dinah, jumping up as though a wasp had stung her; -"you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Beatrice! Haven't you known Jerry -for--oh! for ever so long?</p> - -<p>"For quite three years, dear; but, you see, I don't visit at the -Vicarage," and Beatrice spoke with some bitterness, as Jerry's mother -had always been unkind to the lonely girl, for reasons connected with -what Mrs. Snow regarded as her anomalous position.</p> - -<p>Jerry coloured and blinked behind his glasses. "I know what you mean, -Miss Hedge," he said regretfully, "but don't worry. Call me Jerry as -usual; what does it matter what mother thinks?"</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Dinah, quivering with alarm, "what does she think of us?"</p> - -<p>"Well, she"--Jerry hesitated, and finally answered the question with a -solemn warning--"I don't think I'd call at the Vicarage for a few days, -Dinah sweetest. She--she--well, you know mother."</p> - -<p>"Why does Mrs. Snow object?" asked Beatrice very directly.</p> - -<p>"I know oh, none better!" almost shouted Dinah; "no money!"</p> - -<p>Jerry nodded, with an admiring glance at her cleverness. "No money."</p> - -<p>"I thought so; and Mrs. Snow wants you to marry a millionairess?"</p> - -<p>Jerry nodded again. "As though a millionairess would look at the likes -of me!" said he, with the chuckle of a nestling.</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't give even the plainest of them a chance!" cried Dinah -jealously; "you could marry anyone with the way you have, Jerry dear."</p> - -<p>Miss Hedge laughed gaily. "Show me the way you have, Jerry dear!" she -mimicked, whereat the young lover blushed redder than the poppies.</p> - -<p>"Oh, what rot! See here, girls both, we're all pals."</p> - -<p>"Dinah is something more than a pal since yesterday," observed Beatrice -pointedly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, you know what I mean. Well, then father is pleased and would marry -us himself, to save fees; but mother--oh, Lord!"</p> - -<p>"Will she part us, Jerry?" demanded Dinah in a small voice.</p> - -<p>Bashful as he was, Mr. Snow rose to the occasion, and taking her in his -strong arms kissed her twice.</p> - -<p>"That's what I think!" said he, with the air of Ajax defying the -lightning. "We'll be cut off with a shilling by mother; but we shall -marry all the same, and live on the bread and cheese and kisses -provided by the <i>Morning Planet</i>."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," said Miss Paslow tartly, "I provide my own kisses."</p> - -<p>"No, darling heart!" gurgled the ardent Jerry, "I do that!" and was -about to repeat his conduct when the ceremony was interrupted.</p> - -<p>From the dungeon came the sound of a shrill voice indulging in abusive -language. A few moments later and the narrow door was flung violently -open. Vivian Paslow came out quietly enough, and was followed by a -bent, dried-up ape of a man who was purple with fury. The contrast -between the money-lender and his client was most marked. Alpenny was -the missing link itself, and Vivian appeared beside him like one of a -higher and more human race. Without taking any notice of the furious -old creature, he walked towards the startled Beatrice and shook her by -the hand.</p> - -<p>"Good-bye, Miss Hedge," he said loudly; then suddenly sank his voice to -a hurried whisper. "Meet me to-night at seven, under the Witches' Oak."</p> - -<p>"Leave my place!" cried Alpenny, hobbling up, to interrupt this -leave-taking; "you shall not speak to her."</p> - -<p>Paslow took his amazed sister on his arm and crossed to the gate, while -Jerry, blinking and puzzled, followed after. Beatrice, as startled by -Paslow's request as she was by the scene, remained where she was, and -her stepfather chased his three visitors into the lane with opprobrious -names. But before he could close the gate, Vivian turned suddenly on -the abusive old wretch.</p> - -<p>"I came to do you a service," said he, "but you would not listen."</p> - -<p>"You came to levy blackmail. You asked----"</p> - -<p>"Silence!" cried Paslow, with a gesture which reduced Alpenny to a -stuttering, incoherent condition. "I never threatened you."</p> - -<p>"You did--you do! You want your property back, and----"</p> - -<p>Vivian, with a swift glance at Beatrice, silenced the man again. "If I -lose my property, I lose it," said he sternly; "but the other thing I -refuse to lose. And, remember, your life is in danger."</p> - -<p>Alpenny spluttered. "My life, you--you scoundrel!"</p> - -<p>"Father! Father!" pleaded Beatrice, approaching anxiously.</p> - -<p>Paslow took no notice, but still looked at the angry old man with a -firm and significant expression. "Remember the Black Patch," said he -in a clear, loud voice. The effect was instantaneous. Alpenny, from -purple, turned perfectly white; from swearing volubility, he was -reduced to a frightened silence.</p> - -<p>Beatrice looked at him in amazement, and so--strange to say--did -Vivian, who had spoken the mysterious words. For a moment he stared at -the shaking, pale-faced miser, who was casting terrified looks over his -shoulder, and then went out of the gate. Alpenny stood as though turned -into stone until he heard the clatter of the retreating horses. Then he -raised his head and looked wildly round.</p> - -<p>"The third time!" he muttered; and Beatrice was sufficiently near to -notice his abject fear. "The third time!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">CHAPTER II</a></h4> - -<h5>THE HINTS OF DURBAN</h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice meditated in the parlour-carriage on the scene which had taken -place at noon between her stepfather and Paslow. Without vouchsafing -the least explanation, Alpenny had crept back to his den and was there -still, with the door locked as usual. Twice and thrice did Durban call -him to the midday meal, but he declined to come out. Beatrice had -therefore eaten alone, and was now enjoying a cup of fragrant coffee -which Durban had lately brought in. At the moment, he was washing up -dishes in the kitchen, to the agreeable accompaniment of a negro song, -which he was whistling vigorously. The girl, as she wished to be, was -entirely alone. Durban could not explain the reason for the quarrel, -and Alpenny would not; so Beatrice was forced to search her own -thoughts for a possible explanation. So far she had been unsuccessful.</p> - -<p>The tiny parlour was entirely white in its decorations, and looked -extremely cool on this hot, close day. The walls were hung with snowy -linen, the furniture was upholstered with the same, and the carpet, -the curtains, the ornaments, even the cushions were all pearly white. -Everything, when examined, was cheap in quality and price, but the -spotlessly clean look of the room--if it could be called so--made up -for the marked want of luxury. Beatrice herself wore a white muslin, -with cream-hued ribbons, therefore no discordant colour broke the -Arctic tone of the parlour. Only through the open door could be seen -the brilliant tints of the flowers, blazing against a background of -emerald foliage. The Snow Parlour was the name of this fantastic -retreat, and the vicar's wife took the appellation as a personal -insult. Rather should she have regarded it a compliment of the highest, -as this maiden's bower was infinitely prettier than she was or ever -could be.</p> - -<p>Since it was impossible to learn anything definite from Durban or his -master, Beatrice was striving to possess her soul in peace until seven -o'clock: at that hour she intended to meet Vivian by the Witches' Oak, -and there ask him bluntly what he had said or done to make stepfather -so furious. Having settled this in her own mind, she lay back in the -deep chair, sipping her coffee, and allowing her thoughts to wander; -they took her back over some five-and-twenty years, and into a life -barren and uneventful enough. Beatrice should have been happy, for, -like the oft-quoted nation, she had no history.</p> - -<p>All her life Beatrice had never known a mother's love. According to -Alpenny, who supplied the information grudgingly enough, Mrs. Hedge -with her one-year-old baby had married him, only to die within three -months after the ceremony. Then Durban had taken charge of the child; -since the miser, for monetary and other reasons, would not engage a -nurse. For two years the old servant had tenderly cared for the orphan, -and it was a great pain to him when Alpenny placed the little Beatrice -in charge of a Brighton lady, called Miss Shallow. The spinster was in -reduced circumstances, and apparently under Alpenny's thumb as regards -money matters. She received the child unwillingly enough, although -she feared to disobey a tyrant who could make things disagreeable for -her; but later, she grew to love her charge, and behaved towards the -orphan with a devotion scarcely to be expected from a nature soured by -misfortune.</p> - -<p>For twenty years Beatrice had lived with the old gentlewoman in the -poky little Hove house, and from her had received the education and -upbringing of a lady. Every week Durban came over to see his darling, -and Beatrice grew attached to the kind, good-natured old servant, -who lavished all his affection on her. Alpenny, not anxious to be -bothered, and having little love for his stepdaughter, whom he regarded -as an encumbrance, visited Miss Shallow more rarely, and even when he -did, took scant notice of the tall and beautiful girl, who had been -instructed to call him "father." This she did unwillingly enough, as -there was always an antagonism between the cold nature of the one and -the warm humanity of the other. When Miss Shallow died, the girl was -ill-pleased to take up her abode at The Camp, in close association -with a man she mistrusted and disliked, although she could assign no -tangible reason for the feeling of abhorrence which possessed her.</p> - -<p>How well Beatrice remembered her first sight of the place. It was then -but a neglected wilderness, and she recoiled at the sight of such -uncivilised surroundings. Alpenny slept in one carriage, and Durban in -another; two other carriages were used as counting-house and kitchen; -while the remaining three were in a rusty, ruinous state, almost buried -in rank grass and coarse vegetation. And it was a wet day, too, when -the girl, grieving for her dear friend, came to view her future home, -so that everything was dripping with moisture, and the outlook was -infinitely dreary. She could have cried at the idea of living amidst -such desolation; but her courage was too high, and her pride too -great, to admit of her indulging in such futile lamentation before the -cold-eyed usurer.</p> - -<p>Durban, always sympathetic and watchful, was quick to see her grief, -although she tried to conceal it, and at once began to suggest -interesting work, so that she should have the less time to eat her -heart out in the wilderness. He deftly pointed out how she and he could -make the place a paradise, and how Nature could solace the sorrow -of the girl for the loss of her guardian. Having obtained unwilling -consent from Alpenny, the kind-hearted servant painted and repaired -the ruined carriages, and turning one into a dainty bedroom, made the -remaining two into a parlour and dining-room. In some way sufficient -money was extorted from Alpenny to admit of cheap furnishing, and -Beatrice, more contented, came to take up her abode in the strange -locality. She was now twenty-five, and for three years had dwelt in -this hermitage.</p> - -<p>The garden afforded her endless delight and occupation: Durban was -the fairy who procured the seeds, and who turned up the coarse, weedy -ground for the planting of the same; Durban had dug the pond, and had -conducted the water thereto through cunningly contrived pipes; and -Durban had planned the paradise with her aid. The smooth lawn, the beds -of brilliant blossoms, the pond with its magnificent water-lilies, the -many winding paths, and the mossy nooks which afforded cool retreats -on hot days, were all the work of herself and Durban. No millionaire -could have created a more delightful spot than had these two by their -indefatigable industry and eye for the picturesque. A portion of the -wood Beatrice left to Nature, so that its uncultured look might enhance -the civilised appearance of the blossoms; and the contrast was really -charming. But that Jarvis Alpenny jealously kept the gates closed, The -Camp would have become a show place, as everyone in the neighbourhood -had heard of its rare floral beauties; and not a few young men had -heard of another beauty still more rare and desirable.</p> - -<p>It was at this point that Beatrice began to think of Vivian and his -sister, who were the only friends she possessed. Jerry certainly might -be included, seeing that he was a constant visitor at Convent Grange, -and the future husband of Dinah Paslow; but there was no one else in -the parish of Hurstable with whom she cared to exchange a friendly -word. She had met Mr. and Mrs. Snow once or twice; but although the -vicar was willing enough to speak with so pretty a girl, the vicar's -wife objected. She was the tyrant of the place, and ruled her husband, -her son, "her" parish---as she called it--and her friends with a rod -of iron. But for this aggressive despotism, Mr. Snow might have called -at The Camp; but the vicaress ordered her vicar not to waste his time -in visiting a girl who rarely came to church, and who occupied what -the lady described as "a degraded position." On the several occasions -upon which Mrs. Snow had met the usurer's daughter, she had behaved -disagreeably, and had never said a kind word. Yet Mrs. Snow called -herself a religious woman; but like many a self-styled Christian, she -read her own meaning into the Gospel commandments, and declined to obey -them when they clashed with her own snobbish, sordid nature. Beatrice -Hedge, according to Mrs. Snow, was beyond the social pale, seeing that -her father was a money-lender; so she paid no attention to her, and -many of "her" parishioners followed her example. It is to be feared -that the lady and her followers quite forgot that one of the apostles -was a tax-gatherer and a publican.</p> - -<p>Beatrice cared very little for this boycotting; she was accustomed to a -lonely life, and, indeed, preferred it, for she found the conversation -of Mrs. Snow and her friends extremely wearisome--as it was bound to -be, from its aggressive egotism and self-laudation. She had books to -read, the garden to tend, Vivian to think of, and sometimes could -indulge in a visit to Convent Grange, the home of the Paslows. Dinah -she liked; Vivian she loved, and she was certain in her own mind that -Vivian loved her; but of this, strange to say, she could not be sure, -by reason of his attitude. It was a dubious attitude: at times he -would pay her marked attentions, and frequently seemed to be on the -verge of a proposal; then he would draw back, shun her society, and -turn as chilly as an Arctic winter, for no known reason. Beatrice -fancied that it might be her relationship to Alpenny that caused this -young gentleman of old descent to draw back; and then, again, she felt -sure that he was above such a mean spirit. Moreover--and this might -be his excuse--Vivian was but an impoverished country squire, and -might hesitate to conduct a wife to the half-ruinous Grange. Had he -only known how gladly Beatrice would have shared his bread and cheese -when sweetened by kisses, surely, as she often thought, he would have -proposed. But something kept him silent, and seeing how he changed from -hot to cold in his wooing--if it could be called so--she had too much -pride to inveigle him into making a plain statement, such as her heart -and her ears longed to hear. The position was odd and uncomfortable. -Both the man and the woman could not mistake each other's feelings, -yet the man, who could have arranged matters on a reasonable basis, -refused to open his mouth; and it was not the woman's right to usurp -the privilege of the stronger sex, by breaking the ice.</p> - -<p>The appointed meeting for this night puzzled her more than ever. Never -before had she met him save at the Grange or at The Camp, and more -often than not in the presence of Dinah. Now he asked her to talk -with him in a lonely spot, and under an ill-omened tree, where, it -was locally reported, the witches of old days had held their Satanic -revels. In answer to his request she had nodded, being taken by -surprise; but now she began to question the propriety of her proposed -action. She was a modest girl, and occupied a difficult position, so it -was scarcely the thing to meet a young gentleman on a romantic summer -night, and under a romantic tree. But her curiosity was extremely -strong. She wished to know why Alpenny had grown so white and had -appeared so terrified when Paslow pronounced four mysterious words. -What was the "Black Patch"? and why did it produce such an effect on -the usurer, who, as a rule, feared nothing but the loss of money? -Vivian could explain, since he had brought about the miser's terror, -therefore did Beatrice make up her mind to keep the appointment; but -she smiled to think what Mrs. Snow would say did that severe lady know -of the bold step she was taking.</p> - -<p>"Some more coffee?" said a voice at the door, and she looked up to see -the smiling servant.</p> - -<p>"No thank you, Durban," she replied absently, and setting down the -empty cup; then, seeing that he was about to withdraw, she recalled her -scattered thoughts and made him pause, with a question. "What is the -Black Patch?" asked Beatrice, facing round to observe the man's dark -face.</p> - -<p>Durban spread out his hands in quite a foreign way, and banished all -emotion from his dark features. "I do not know."</p> - -<p>"My father appeared to be startled by the words."</p> - -<p>"He did, missy, he did!"</p> - -<p>"Do you know the reason?"</p> - -<p>"I am not in your father's confidence, missy."</p> - -<p>"That is strange, seeing that you have been with him for over twenty -years, Durban."</p> - -<p>"For twenty-four years, missy."</p> - -<p>"You never told me the exact time before, Durban."</p> - -<p>The man shrugged his shoulders. "You never asked me, missy."</p> - -<p>"That is true." Beatrice leaned back again in her chair, and remembered -that she and Durban had talked but little about the past. "I should -like to know about my mother," she said after a pause.</p> - -<p>"There is nothing to know, missy. She married master--and died."</p> - -<p>"I was then about a year old?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, missy."</p> - -<p>"I am twenty-five now, and you have been with Mr. Alpenny for -four-and-twenty years; so it seems, Durban, that you first came here -with my mother, and remained in Mr. Alpenny's service."</p> - -<p>"It is so, missy; I remained for your sake."</p> - -<p>"Then you were my mother's servant?"</p> - -<p>Durban's face might have been that of a wax doll for all the expression -it showed. "I was, missy."</p> - -<p>"And you know all about my parents?"</p> - -<p>"What there is to know, missy, which is very little. You have never -asked about them before; why do you question me now?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice mused. "I hardly know," she confessed. "I suppose Mr. Paslow's -remark about the Black Patch, whatever that may be, made me ask now. -Mr. Alpenny was afraid when Mr. Paslow spoke."</p> - -<p>"So you said before, missy; and, as I replied, I do not know the reason -at all. I am simply a servant."</p> - -<p>"And my friend," said Beatrice, extending her hand.</p> - -<p>Durban's face lighted up with passionate devotion, and his dark eyes -blazed with light. Falling on one knee he imprinted a reverential kiss -on the small white hand: "I love you with all my heart, missy. I love -you as a father--as a mother; as the Great God Himself, do I love you, -my dear mistress."</p> - -<p>"Then you will help me?"</p> - -<p>"You have but to ask, and I obey," said Durban simply, and rose to -his feet with a light bound, strangely out of keeping with his stout -person. "What would you have?"</p> - -<p>"The key of the little gate."</p> - -<p>Durban stared, for Beatrice was making a very serious request. There -were two gates to The Camp, a large one opening on to the lane, and a -smaller one hidden in a corner of the wall, through which admittance -could be gained to a narrow woodland path, which arrived, after devious -windings, at the cross-roads. Alpenny's clients usually entered from -the lane, but were always dismissed through the--so to speak--secret -path. The miser kept the key of this small gate, and, indeed, of the -larger one also, so that if any one had to go out, or come in, Alpenny -had to be applied to. It was therefore no easy matter for Durban to -oblige his young mistress.</p> - -<p>"Why do you want the key, missy?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice did not answer at once. It suddenly crossed her mind that if -she acknowledged how she intended to question Vivian about the Black -Patch, that Durban would make some difficulty over obtaining the key. -After his admission that he knew nothing, she had no reason to think -that he would raise any objections; but the thought came uninvited, and -she obeyed it. Wishing to tell the truth, and yet keep Durban in the -dark as to her real errand, she determined to go to the Grange and see -Dinah; then she could meet Vivian there, and could question him at her -leisure. "Miss Paslow is engaged," she said suddenly.</p> - -<p>Durban nodded and grinned. "To young Mr. Snow," he replied. "I saw."</p> - -<p>"Well, I want to go to Convent Grange this evening at six, to see Miss -Paslow, and talk over the matter."</p> - -<p>Durban shook his head. "Master is angry with Mr. Paslow for some -reason, and will not let you go. Besides, at night----" Durban shook -his head again very sagely.</p> - -<p>"That's just it," said Beatrice, rising; "I know that my father would -object, therefore I wish to slip out of the small gate secretly, and -return about nine; he will never know."</p> - -<p>"He will never know, certainly, missy; but the way to Convent Grange is -dark and lonely."</p> - -<p>"Not on a summer night; the moon is out, and there will be plenty of -people on the road."</p> - -<p>"Would you like me to come, missy?"</p> - -<p>"If you will," assented Beatrice carelessly. She would rather have gone -alone, but since the Grange was now her goal, and not the Witch Oak, -Durban's presence did not matter. "But there is no need."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I think so; there will be a storm to-night, and then it will grow -dark. Besides, people may not be about, and the path to Convent Grange -is lonely. I shall come also."</p> - -<p>"Very good; and the key----</p> - -<p>"I can get it. Master keeps it hanging up in the counting-house, but I -can get it." Durban grinned and nodded, and then was about to go away, -when he suddenly stopped, and his dark face grew serious. "One thing -tell me, missy, and do not be angry."</p> - -<p>"I could never be angry with you, Durban. What is it?"</p> - -<p>"Do you love Mr. Paslow, missy?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Beatrice without hesitation. She knew that whatever she -said to her faithful servant would never be repeated by him.</p> - -<p>"And does he love you?"</p> - -<p>This time she coloured. "I think so--I am not sure," was her faint -reply, as she cast down her eyes.</p> - -<p>Durban came a step nearer. "Does he love any one else?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Beatrice raised her head sharply, and sent a flaming glance towards the -questioner. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"If he doesn't love you, does he love any one else?" persisted Durban.</p> - -<p>Beatrice twisted her hands. "I am sure he loves me, and no one else!" -she cried passionately. "I can see it in his eyes--I can read it in -his face. Yet he--yet he--oh!" she broke off, unwilling to remark upon -Paslow's strange, wavering wooing, to a servant, even though that -servant was one who would readily have died to save her a moment's -pain. "Do you think he loves any one else?" she asked evasively.</p> - -<p>"No." Durban's eyes were fixed on her face. "I have no reason to think -so. If he loves my missy, he can never be fond of other women; but if -he plays you false, missy "--Durban's face grew grim and darker than -ever--"you have a dog who can bite."</p> - -<p>"No! no!" said Beatrice, alarmed--since Durban could make himself -unpleasant on occasions, and, from the look on his face, she feared for -Vivian--"he loves me, and me only; I am sure of that!"</p> - -<p>The man's face cleared. "Then we will go to the Grange this evening, -and you can see him."</p> - -<p>"But if my stepfather hates him, Durban, he will place some obstacle in -the way, should Mr. Paslow ask me to marry him."</p> - -<p>"If he asks you to be his wife, you shall marry him, missy."</p> - -<p>"But my father----"</p> - -<p>"He will say nothing."</p> - -<p>"Are you sure? When Mr. Alpenny takes an idea into his head----"</p> - -<p>"He will take no idea of stopping your marriage, missy. You shall be -happy. I promised him that."</p> - -<p>"Promised who?"</p> - -<p>"Your real father," said Durban, and departed without another word. It -would seem as though he were unwilling to be questioned. Beatrice began -to think that there was some mystery connected with her parents, which -Durban knew, but which Durban would not reveal.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">CHAPTER III</a></h4> - -<h5>MR. ALPENNY'S PROPOSAL</h5> -<br> - -<p>Shortly after Durban resumed work, Beatrice received a surprise which -rather pleased her. This was none other than an invitation to enter the -counting-house. She had always desired to do so, being filled with that -curiosity which led her grandmother Eve to eat apples, but hitherto -Alpenny had declined to admit her. Now the door of the dungeon was -open, and Alpenny, standing before it, beckoned that she should come -in. In the bright sunshine he looked more decrepit and wicked than -usual. He could not have been less than eighty years of age, and his -spare figure was bowed with Time. That same Time had also robbed him of -every hair on his head, and had even taken away eyebrows and eyelashes. -As the old man was clean shaven, his gleaming head and hairless yellow -wrinkled face looked rather repulsive. Nor did his dress tend to -improve his appearance, for it was a shepherd's-plaid suit cut in the -style of the early fifties, when he had been young, and presumably -something of a dandy. In spite of the antiquity of the clothes, there -was a suggestion of juvenility about them which matched badly with his -Methuselah looks. Like an aged ghost he beckoned in the sunshine, and -the white-painted erection behind him assumed, in the eyes of Beatrice, -the look of a tomb.</p> - -<p>Wondering that she should be invited into Mammon's Shrine, the girl -walked across the lawn. In her white dress, with her beautiful face -shaded by a coarse straw hat, she appeared the embodiment of youth and -grace, contrasting markedly with the senile old villain, who croaked -out his orders.</p> - -<p>"Come in," said Alpenny testily, and with the screech of a peacock, as -he pointed to the open door. "I wish to speak to you seriously."</p> - -<p>Beatrice, ever sparing of words with crabbed age, nodded and entered -the counting-house, glancing comprehensively around to take in her -surroundings--as a woman always does--with a single look. The space -naturally was limited. All the windows had been boarded up save one, -which opened immediately over a rather large desk of mahogany which -was piled with papers. The walls were hung with faded red rep. In one -corner stood a large green-painted safe; in another stood a pile of -tin boxes which reached quite to the roof. A paraffin lamp dangled -by brass chains from a somewhat smoky ceiling; and at the far end of -the carriage, in front of a dilapidated bookcase, was an oil stove, -crudely set on a sheet of galvanised tin. A ragged carpet, disorderly -in colour and much faded, covered the floor; and there were only two -chairs, one before the desk, and another beside it, probably for the -use of clients. The one window was barred, but not covered with any -curtain; the others were sheathed in iron and barred strongly outside. -From without, as has been said, the carriage looked like a dungeon: -within, its appearance suggested the home of a recluse, who cared very -little for the pomps and vanities of civilisation. This barren room -represented very fairly the bare mind of the miser, who cared more for -money itself, than for what money could do.</p> - -<p>Motioning Beatrice to the client's chair, Alpenny seated himself -before his desk, and from habit presumably, began to fiddle with some -legal looking documents. Apparently he had got over the shock caused -by Vivian's strange speech, and looked much the same as he always -did--cold, unsympathetic, and cunning as an old monkey. In the dungeon -Beatrice bloomed like a rose, while Alpenny resembled a cold, clammy -toad, uncanny and repulsive. He began to speak almost immediately, and -his first words amazed the girl. They were the last she expected to -hear from the lips of one who had always treated her with indifference, -and almost with hostility.</p> - -<p>"Have you ever thought of marriage?" asked the usurer, examining his -visitor's face with two small sharp eyes, chilly and grey.</p> - -<p>"Marriage!" she gasped, doubting if she had heard aright.</p> - -<p>"Yes, marriage. Young girls think of such things, do they not?"</p> - -<p>Wishing to find out what he meant, Beatrice fenced. "I have no chance -of marrying, father," she observed, regaining her composure.</p> - -<p>"I grant that, unless you have fallen in love with Jerry Snow; and I -credit you with too much sense, to think you could love a fool."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Snow is to marry Miss Paslow," announced Beatrice coldly, and kept -her eyes on the wizen face before her.</p> - -<p>"Oh," sneered Alpenny, "Hunger wedding Thirst. And how do they intend -to live, may I ask?"</p> - -<p>"That is their business, and not ours."</p> - -<p>"Paslow hasn't a penny to give to his giggling sister, and very soon he -won't have a roof over his head."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by that, father?"</p> - -<p>"Mean!" The usurer stretched out a skinny hand, which resembled the -claw of a bird of preys as he looked like. "Why, I mean, my girl, that -I hold Vivian Paslow there," and he tapped his palm.</p> - -<p>"Still I don't understand," said Beatrice, her blood running cold at -the malignant look on his face.</p> - -<p>"There is no need you should," rejoined her stepfather coolly. "He is -not for you, and you are not for him. Do you understand that?"</p> - -<p>It was unwise for Alpenny to meddle with a maiden's fancies, for the -girl's outraged womanhood revolted. "I understand that you mean to be -impertinent, Mr. Alpenny," she said, with a flaming colour.</p> - -<p>"'Mr. Alpenny'? Why not 'father,' as usual?"</p> - -<p>"Because you are no father of mine, and I thank God for it."</p> - -<p>He gave her a vindictive look, and rubbed his hands together, with the -croak of a hungry raven. "I brought you up, I educated you, I fed you, -I housed you, I----"</p> - -<p>Beatrice waved her hand impatiently. "I know well what you have done," -said she; "as little as you could."</p> - -<p>"Here's gratitude!"</p> - -<p>"And common sense, Mr. Alpenny. I know nothing, save that you married -my mother and promised to look after me when she died."</p> - -<p>"I promised nothing," snapped Alpenny.</p> - -<p>"Durban says that you did."</p> - -<p>"Durban is, what he always was, a fool. I promised nothing to your -mother--at all events, concerning you. Why should I? You are not my own -flesh and blood."</p> - -<p>"Anyone can tell that," said Beatrice disdainfully.</p> - -<p>"No impertinence, miss. I have fed and clothed you, and educated you, -and housed you----"</p> - -<p>"You said that before."</p> - -<p>"All at my own expense," went on the miser imperturbably, "and out -of the kindness of my heart. This is the return you make, by giving -me sauce! But you had better take care," he went on menacingly, and -shaking a lean yellow finger, "I am not to be trifled with."</p> - -<p>"Neither am I," retorted Beatrice, who felt in a fighting humour. "I am -sorry to have been a burden to you, and for what you have done I thank -you; but I am weary of stopping here. Give me a small sum of money and -let me go."</p> - -<p>"Money!" screeched the miser, touched on his tenderest point. "Money to -waste?"</p> - -<p>"Money to keep me in London until I can obtain a situation as a -governess or as a companion. Come, father," she went on coaxingly, "you -must be sick of seeing me about here. And I am so tired of this life!"</p> - -<p>"It's the wickedness in your blood, Beatrice. Just like your -mother--oh, dear me, how very like your mother!"</p> - -<p>"Leave my mother's character alone!" said Beatrice impatiently, "she is -dead and buried."</p> - -<p>"She is--in Hurstable churchyard, under a beautiful tomb I got -second-hand at a bargain. See how I loved her."</p> - -<p>"You never loved anyone in your life, Mr. Alpenny," said the girl, -freezing again.</p> - -<p>Alpenny's brow grew black, and he looked at her with glittering eyes. -"You are mistaken, child," he said, quietly. "I have loved and lost."</p> - -<p>"My mother----?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," said he enigmatically, and passed his hand over his bald -head in a weary manner. Then he burst out unexpectedly: "I wish I had -never set eyes on your mother. I wish she had been dead and buried -before she crossed my path!"</p> - -<p>"She is dead, so----"</p> - -<p>"Yes, she is dead, stone dead," he snarled, rising, much agitated, "and -don't think you'll ever see her again. If I----" He was about to speak -further; then seeing from the wondering look on the girl's face that -he was saying more than was wise, he halted, stuttered, and sat down -again abruptly, moving the papers with trembling hands. "Leave the past -alone," he said hoarsely. "I can't speak of it calmly. It is the past -that makes the future," he continued, drumming feverishly on the table -with his fingers, "the past that makes the future."</p> - -<p>Beatrice wondered what he meant, and noticed how weary and worn and -nervous he seemed. The man did not love her; he had not treated her as -he should have done; and between them there was no feeling in common. -Yet he was old, and, after all, had sheltered her in his own grudging -way, so Beatrice laid a light hand on his arm. "Mr. Alpenny, you are -not young----"</p> - -<p>"Eighty and more, my dear."</p> - -<p>The term startled her, and she began to think he must indeed be near -the borders of the next world when he spoke so gently.</p> - -<p>"Well, then, why don't you go to church, and feed the hungry, and -clothe the naked? Remember, you have to answer for what you have done, -some day soon."</p> - -<p>Alpenny rose vehemently and flung off her arm. "I don't ask you to -teach me my duty, girl," he said savagely. "What I have done is done, -and was rightly done. Everyone betrayed me, and money is the only thing -that did not. Money is power, money is love, money is joy and life and -hope and comfort to me. No! I keep my money until I die, and then----" -He cast a nervous look round, only to burst out again with greater -vehemence. "Why do you talk of death? I am strong; I eat heartily. I -drink little. I sleep well. I shall live for many a long day yet. And -even if I die," he snapped, "don't expect to benefit by my death. You -don't get that!" and he snapped his fingers within an inch of her nose.</p> - -<p>"I don't want your money," said Beatrice quietly; "Durban will look -after me. Still, you might let me have enough to keep me while I try to -find work."</p> - -<p>"I won't!"</p> - -<p>"But if you die, I'll be a pauper."</p> - -<p>"Without a sixpence!" said Alpenny exultingly.</p> - -<p>"Have I no relatives who will help me?"</p> - -<p>"No. Your mother came from I know not where, and where she has gone I -don't exactly know. She married me and then died. I have kept you----"</p> - -<p>"Yes--yes. But if my mother was poor and came from where you knew not, -why did you marry her?"</p> - -<p>"My kind heart----"</p> - -<p>"You haven't got one; it's in your money-chest"</p> - -<p>"It might be in a woman's keeping, which is a much worse place."</p> - -<p>Beatrice grew weary of this futile conversation, and rose. "You asked -me to see you," she said, with a fatigued air; "what is it you have to -say?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes." He seemed to arouse himself from a fit of musing. "Yes! I -have found a husband for you."</p> - -<p>Beatrice started. He announced this startling fact as -though it were the most natural thing in the world. -"You--have--found--a--husband--for--me?" she drawled slowly.</p> - -<p>"Yes. You won't have my money, and I may die." He cast a look over -his shoulder nervously. "I don't want to, but I may: one never knows, -do they? You will be poor, so I think it best to get you married and -settled in life."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," she returned icily. "It is very good of you to take so -much trouble. And my future husband?"</p> - -<p>"Ruck! Major Ruck--Major Simon Ruck, a retired army officer, and a -handsome man of fifty, very well preserved, and with a fine fortune."</p> - -<p>"How alluring! And suppose I refuse?"</p> - -<p>"You can't--you daren't!" He grasped her arm entreatingly. "Don't be -a fool, my dear. Ruck is handsome and well off. He is coming down on -Saturday to see you. This is Wednesday, so you will have time to think -over the matter. You must marry him--you must, I tell you!" and he -shook her arm in his agitation.</p> - -<p>Beatrice removed her arm in a flaming temper. "Must I indeed?" said -she, flashing up into righteous anger. "Then I won't!"</p> - -<p>"Beatrice!"</p> - -<p>"I won't. I have never seen the man, and I don't wish to see him. -You have no right to make any arrangements about my marriage without -consulting me. You are neither kith nor kin of mine, and I am of age. I -deny your right to arrange my future."</p> - -<p>"Do you wish to be left to starve?"</p> - -<p>"I shall not starve; but I would rather do so, than marry a man of -fifty, whom I have never set eyes on."</p> - -<p>"If you don't marry Ruck, you'll be a pauper sooner than you expect, my -girl. Marry him for my sake?"</p> - -<p>"No! You have done as little as you could for me: you have always hated -me. I decline."</p> - -<p>Alpenny rose in his turn--Beatrice had already risen to her feet--and -faced her in a black fury, the more venomous for being quiet. "You -<i>shall</i> marry him!"</p> - -<p>"I shall not."</p> - -<p>They faced one another, both angry, both determined, both bent upon -gaining the victory. But if Alpenny had an iron will, Beatrice had -youth and outraged womanhood on her side, and in the end his small -cruel eyes fell before her flashing orbs.</p> - -<p>"I want you to marry Ruck--really I do," he whimpered piteously.</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because"---- he swallowed something, and told what was evidently a -lie, so glibly did it slip out. "Because I should be sorry to leave you -to starve."</p> - -<p>"I shall not starve. I am well educated, and can teach. At the worst I -can become a nursery governess, or be a companion."</p> - -<p>"Better marry Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"No. It is foolish of you to ask me."</p> - -<p>"If you don't marry him I shall be ruined. I shall be killed. No"--he -broke off suddenly--"I don't mean that. Who would kill a poor old man -such as I am? But"--his voice leaped an octave--"you <i>must</i> marry the -husband I chose for you."</p> - -<p>"I chose for myself."</p> - -<p>"Ah!"--the miser was shaking with rage--"it's Vivian Paslow: no -denial--I can see he is the man; a penniless scoundrel, who is at my -mercy!"</p> - -<p>"Don't dare to speak of him like that," flamed out Beatrice. "As to -marrying him--he has not asked me yet."</p> - -<p>"And never will, if I can stop him. I know how to do so--oh yes, I do. -He will not dare to go against me. I can ruin him. He----" At this -moment there came a sharp rap at the door, which made Alpenny's face -turn white and his lips turn blue.</p> - -<p>"Who is there?"</p> - -<p>"A telegram," said the voice of Durban; and Alpenny, with a smothered -ejaculation of pleasure, went to open the door. As he did so, Beatrice -noticed on the wall near the desk two keys, one large and one small. -The little one she knew to be the key of the postern gate, and without -hesitation she took it down and slipped it into her pocket. As Alpenny -turned round with the telegram and no very pleasant expression of -countenance, she felt that she would at least be able to see Vivian -Paslow on that evening without arousing the suspicions of her -stepfather. It was unlikely that any one would come that night, and he -would not miss the key, which she could get Durban to replace the next -day. As this thought flashed into her mind, she saw the face of the -servant at the door. He looked puzzled, but probably that was because -he beheld her in the sanctum of his master, hitherto forbidden ground -both to him and to her. The next moment Alpenny had closed the door, -and Durban went away.</p> - -<p>"This telegram is from Major Ruck," said Alpenny. "He is coming down on -Saturday, so be ready to receive him."</p> - -<p>"I shall leave the place if he comes."</p> - -<p>"You won't: you'll wait and see him--and accept him also. If you don't, -I'll make things hot for Vivian Paslow."</p> - -<p>This was, as Beatrice conceived, a game of bluff; so she replied boldly -enough, "Mr. Paslow is able to look after himself. I decline to speak -to Major Ruck, whosoever he may be, or even to see him."</p> - -<p>"Saturday! Saturday!" said Alpenny coldly, and opened the door. "Now -you can go. If you leave The Camp, or if you refuse Ruck as your -husband, Vivian Paslow will reap the reward of his crimes." And he -pushed her out, locking the door after her with a sharp click.</p> - -<p>Crimes! Beatrice stood in the sunlight, stunned and dazed. What did -Alpenny mean? What crimes could the man she loved have committed? -Almost before she could collect her thoughts she felt a light touch on -her shoulder, and turned to behold Durban.</p> - -<p>"Wasn't master in his counting-house all this afternoon?" asked the -servant. "You should know, missy, as the parlour is opposite."</p> - -<p>"Yes, he was," she replied with an effort. "I never saw him come out."</p> - -<p>Durban wrinkled his dark brows. "Then how did he send the telegram, to -which he has just now had an answer?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"How do you know that this wire is an answer, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"The reply was prepaid, missy. How did master do it?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice was equally puzzled. Alpenny had not been away from The Camp -all the afternoon, yet had contrived to send a telegram, and prepay the -reply.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">CHAPTER IV</a></h4> - -<h5>SEEN IN THE LIGHTNING</h5> -<br> - -<p>It was truly a mystery. So far as Beatrice knew, there were but two -ways of getting out of The Camp--by the large gate and the smaller one. -Yet she in the parlour-carriage, facing Alpenny's counting-house, had -not seen him emerge; nor had Durban, busy in the kitchen, the door of -which commanded a view of the postern, beheld his master depart. The -telegraph office was at the railway station three miles away, and there -was no one in The Camp save Durban and his young mistress to send with -a wire. Yet the wire had been sent, and the reply had been received. -Beatrice ventured an explanation.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps my father sent the telegram yesterday."</p> - -<p>"No, missy. I took none, and master did not leave the place. No -telegram has been sent from here for the last month."</p> - -<p>"Is there a third way out, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Not that I know of, missy, and yet----"</p> - -<p>What Durban would have said in the way of explanation it is impossible -to say, for at this moment the querulous voice of Alpenny was heard -calling snappishly. Durban hastened to the door of the counting-house, -and it was opened so that he could speak with his master. But he was -not admitted within. Beatrice retired to her bedroom-carriage, which -was near the parlour, and had only been there a few minutes when Durban -came over with a crest-fallen face.</p> - -<p>"We must put off going to Convent Grange, missy," said he rapidly; -"master wishes me to go to town. He is writing a letter which I have to -take up at once. I shall catch the six train."</p> - -<p>"Very well, Durban. We can wait."</p> - -<p>The servant looked and hesitated, but before he could speak again Mr. -Alpenny interrupted. Appearing at the door of his dungeon he waved a -letter. "Come at once!" he cried; "don't lose time. What do you mean by -chattering there?"</p> - -<p>Durban gave Beatrice a significant look and hastened away. In another -ten minutes he had left The Camp by the great gates and was on his -way to the railway station. Alpenny saw him off the premises and then -crossed over to his stepdaughter.</p> - -<p>"What were you saying to Durban?" he asked suspiciously.</p> - -<p>"You mean what was Durban saying to me?" she replied quietly; "you can -surely guess. He was saying that you wished him to go to town."</p> - -<p>"There was no need of him to tell you my business," grumbled the miser, -looking ill-tempered. "What are you doing this evening?"</p> - -<p>Had he any suspicions of her intention? Beatrice thought not. The -question was put in a snarling way, and simply--as she judged--to show -his authority.</p> - -<p>"I intend to read," she answered simply, "and perhaps I shall take a -walk"--in the grounds, she ostensibly meant.</p> - -<p>"Better not," warned the usurer, looking up. "Clouds are gathering. I -am sure there will be a storm."</p> - -<p>"Very well," was her indifferent reply, although she wondered if he had -missed the key of the smaller gate. "Will I come and say good-night to -you as usual at ten?"</p> - -<p>Alpenny nodded in an absent way, and walked into his counting-house -with his hands behind him, and his form more bent than usual. Beatrice -watched him cross the smooth sward, and then went to sit down in the -parlour and meditate. In some way, which she could scarcely define, she -scented a mystery. The episode of the telegram, the hasty departure -of Durban, the proposal of marriage, all these things hinted--as she -thought--at schemes against her peace of mind. And then, again, the -words of Vivian Paslow. Those were indeed mysterious, and she was -anxious to know what they meant. Finally, the hint that Alpenny had -given as to Vivian having committed crimes, alarmed the girl. She felt -that Alpenny was trying to inveigle Paslow into some trap, and from his -words it was plain that he would stop at nothing to prevent the young -man declaring the passion he felt for the girl. Also, from another -hint, it would seem that the miser held--as, indeed, he had plainly -stated--"Vivian in the hollow of his hand."</p> - -<p>These thoughts made Beatrice very uncomfortable, the more so as never -before had any mystery come into her life. Hitherto it had been serene -and uneventful, one day being exactly the same as another. But with the -visit of Vivian on that afternoon everything had changed, for since -he had heard those mysterious words, Alpenny had not been himself. In -some queer way he had forwarded a telegram, and in a hurry he had sent -Durban to London, which he had not done for months past. Undoubtedly -something sinister was in the wind, and Beatrice shivered with a vague -apprehension of dread.</p> - -<p>It certainly might have been the weather which made her feel so ill -at ease, for the hot day had ended in an even hotter evening. The air -was close, the sky was clouded, and there was not a breath of wind to -stir the leaves of the surrounding trees. Ever and again a flicker of -lightning would leap across the sky--summer lightning which portended -storm and rain. Beatrice, trying to breathe freely in the suffocating -air, wished that the storm would come to clear the atmosphere. There -was electricity in the dry air, and she felt as uncomfortable as a -cat which has its hair smoothed the wrong way. On some such night as -this must Lady Macbeth have received Duncan, and Nature hinted at a -repetition of the storm which took place when the guileless king was -done to death in the shambles.</p> - -<p>Beatrice could not rest within doors. She put on a hat, and draped a -long black cloak over her white dress. Attired thus, she walked up -and down on the dry grass, trying to compose herself. Around gloomed -the girdle of trees, without even a leaf stirring. The colours of the -flowers were vague in the hot twilight, and the white forms of the -seven railway carriages stood here and there like tombs in a cemetery. -As she lingered near the sundial, she cast a look upward at the Downs, -which rose vast and shadowy to be defined clearly against a clear sky. -The foot of them was but a stone-throw away from The Camp, and almost -it was in her mind to climb their heights in order to get a breath of -fresh air. Here in the hollow, embosomed in woods, she felt stifling; -but up there surely a sweet, fresh wind must be blowing, full of -moisture from the Channel. Then the thought of a possible walk recalled -her to a remembrance of her appointment: she intended to keep it, even -though Durban had gone away. The key was in her pocket, and she could -slip out of the small gate for an hour, and get back again without -Alpenny being any the wiser. Already a light gleamed from the solitary -window of the dungeon, as it had gleamed ever since she could remember -when the darkness came on. Behind the discoloured blind the miser -laboured at his books, and counted his gains. So far as she knew all -his money was banked and invested, and he kept no gold in the dungeon. -Perhaps he feared robbery; and it really was remarkable that, seeing -he was supposed to be a millionaire, The Camp had never been marked -by the fraternity of London thieves. A visit there would surely have -proved successful, if all the tales of Alpenny were to be believed. But -perhaps the thieves had heard, as the miser had vaguely hinted, of his -cleverness in keeping no specie in his retirement. But be this as it -may, Alpenny, all these years, had never hinted at a possible burglary.</p> - -<p>After a glance at the Downs and at Alpenny's lighted window, behind -which he would sit until midnight, Beatrice entered one of the winding -paths in the little wood and took her way to the gate. The large gates -were locked, and Alpenny alone possessed the key; but she could open -the smaller gate, and now proceeded to do so.</p> - -<p>The lock was freshly oiled, and the postern swung open noiselessly. -Standing on the threshold within The Camp, Beatrice paused for a -moment. Some feeling seemed to hold her back. Into her mind flashed -the sudden thought that if she went out, she would leave behind her -not only The Camp, but the old serene life. It was like crossing -the Rubicon; but with an impatient ejaculation at her own weakness, -she shook herself and passed out, leaving the gate locked behind -her. Then she stole through the glimmering wood, fully committed to -the adventure. As she did so, a distant growl of thunder seemed to -her agitated mind like the voice of the angel thrusting her out of -Paradise. Truly, she had never before felt in this strange mood.</p> - -<p>By a narrow path she gained the lane, and here the light was a trifle -stronger, although it was rapidly dying out of the hot, close sky. -It was close upon half-past six, so Beatrice knew that if she walked -quickly she could arrive at the Witches' Oak almost at the time -appointed. Owing to the late hour of starting she had quite given up -the idea of going to Convent Grange, which was two miles away. She -would meet Vivian, as she now arranged in her own mind, at the Witches' -Oak, and would ask for an explanation. When he gave it, she could -return rapidly to The Camp escorted by him; then slipping in, she would -be able to say good-night to Alpenny at ten o'clock, and go to bed. For -a moment, she wondered if Durban would return that night, or stop in -town. If he came back, he would be angry if he found that she had left -The Camp unattended and in the twilight. But she would be in bed even -if Durban did return, and then she could decide whether to tell him -or not. Also, the chances were that as he had gone to town so late he -would remain there till the next morning to execute Alpenny's business, -whatever that might be.</p> - -<p>Passing along the lane, Beatrice had to run by the great gates, which -were locked securely. In the twilight she thought she saw a small -figure crouching before them, but in the semi-darkness could not be -certain. However, the sight of the figure, if figure it was, troubled -her very little. Probably it was that of some tramp, as there were -many in the Weald of Sussex. But if the tramp was waiting at the gates -in the hope of getting a crust or penny from the miser, he would be -woefully disappointed. Beatrice, passing swiftly, hardly gave the -matter a thought, but sped rapidly along under the deep shadows of the -trees, and along the white dusty lane, between the wilted hedges, dry -with summer heat. A quarter of a mile brought her to a side path, and -down this she went calmly, congratulating herself that she had met -neither tramp, nor neighbour on the road. The path wound deviously -through ancient trees, and at length emerged into a rather large glade -in the centre of which was a pond, green with duckweed. Over this -spread the branches of the Witches' Oak, an old old tree, which must -have been growing in the time of the Druids, and which had probably -played its part in their mystic rites. A fitful moonlight gleamed -occasionally on this, as the planet showed her haggard face, and under -the tree Beatrice saw a tall figure waiting patiently. She crossed the -glade in the moonlight, but the clouds swept over the face of the orb, -as Beatrice paused under the oak. Then again came a growl of distant -thunder, as if in warning.</p> - -<p>"I knew you would come," said Paslow, stepping forward, and for the -moment it seemed as though he would take her in his arms.</p> - -<p>In the darkness the cheeks of the girl flushed, and she stepped lightly -aside, evading his clasp. Her heart told her to throw herself into -those strong arms and be protected for ever from the coming storms of -life, but a sense of modesty prevented such speedy surrender. When she -spoke, her voice was steady and cool. There was no time to be lost, and -she began hurriedly in the middle of things.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I have come," she said quickly; "because I want to know the -meaning of the words you used to my father to-day."</p> - -<p>"I don't know what they mean," confessed Paslow calmly.</p> - -<p>"Then why did you use them?"</p> - -<p>"I received a hint to do so."</p> - -<p>"From whom?"</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you that. Miss Hedge--Beatrice--I asked you to meet me -here, so that no one should interrupt our conversation. If you came -to the Grange, Dinah would have prevented my speaking; and now that -Mr. Alpenny is angry with me, I cannot come to The Camp. You must -forgive me for having asked you to meet me here at this hour, and in -so ill-omened a spot, but I have something to say to you which must be -said at once."</p> - -<p>"What is it?" Her heart beat rapidly as she spoke, for although she -could not see his face in the darkness, she guessed from the tones of -his voice that he was about to say all which she desired to hear.</p> - -<p>"Can't you guess?" He came a step nearer and spoke softly.</p> - -<p>Beatrice, feeling strange, as was natural considering the circumstance, -laughed in an embarrassed manner. "How can I guess?"</p> - -<p>"Because you must have seen what I meant in my eyes, Beatrice. I want -you to be my wife."</p> - -<p>Her heart beat loudly as though it would give Vivian its answer without -speech.</p> - -<p>"I don't understand," she said abruptly.</p> - -<p>"Surely you must have seen----"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, I saw," she interrupted rapidly, "I saw that you loved me. I -also saw that you held back from asking me to marry you."</p> - -<p>"I had a reason," he said, after a pause; "that reason is now removed, -and I can ask you, as I do with all my heart and soul, to be my wife. -Dearest, I love you."</p> - -<p>"Can I believe that?"</p> - -<p>"I swear it!" he breathed passionately.</p> - -<p>"But the reason?"</p> - -<p>Paslow hesitated. "It was connected with money," he confessed at last. -"Your father--or, rather, your stepfather--had a mortgage on nearly the -whole of my property. I have lately inherited a small sum of money, and -went to-day to ask Mr. Alpenny to arrange about paying off part of the -mortgage. He accused me of wishing to rob him."</p> - -<p>"But why, when you desired to pay off the mortgage?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say. I think"--Vivian hesitated--"I think that he wishes to -get possession of the Grange."</p> - -<p>"And his reason?"</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you that. But the moment I offered to pay the money he -burst out into a rage and said that I wanted to rob him. Then I warned -him as to something I had heard against him in London."</p> - -<p>"What is that?" she asked in startled tones.</p> - -<p>"I dare not tell you just now."</p> - -<p>"Is it connected with the Black Patch?"</p> - -<p>"Not that I know of. And what do you know of the Black Patch?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing. I heard it mentioned--whatever it is--for the first -time to-day, and by you. The effect on Mr. Alpenny was so strange that -I wish to know what the Black Patch means."</p> - -<p>"I do not know myself," said Vivian earnestly. "Listen, my dear girl. -The other night I found on my desk a scrap of paper, and on it was -written--or, rather, I should say printed, for the person who wrote -printed the letters--'If Alpenny objects, say "Remember the Black -Patch."'"</p> - -<p>Beatrice listened, bewildered. "What does that mean?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say. But when driven into a corner by his language I used the -very words on the scrap of paper. You saw their effect."</p> - -<p>"It is strange," said Beatrice; then remembering what the miser had -said to her, she grasped her lover's arm. "Vivian, he told me that you -had committed crimes."</p> - -<p>"What a liar! I have committed no crimes, save that I have indulged in -the usual follies of a young man whose parents died before they could -guide him properly. What does he mean?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say. But I think he wished to make me mistrust you."</p> - -<p>"I can guess that, for I asked him to-day if I could marry you. He -refused, and raged worse than ever. It was then that he turned me out -of his counting-house, and--well, you saw what happened. I suppose he -wants you to marry someone else?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. He told me so to-day. Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"Who is he?" demanded Paslow in a tone of anger.</p> - -<p>"I don't know. Major Simon Ruck, a retired army officer with a fine -fortune, and who is fifty years of age, and----"</p> - -<p>Here there came a flash of blue lightning, and then a loud crash of -thunder. Afterwards the strong wind hurtled towards them, bearing on -its wings the drenching rain. Vivian was startled, and caught Beatrice -to his breast in the darkness.</p> - -<p>"Darling, will you marry me?" he asked, although she was scarcely -mistress yet of her emotions in the storm and gloom.</p> - -<p>Before she could answer, the pent-up feelings of the day found relief -in a burst of hysterical tears. Pulling out her handkerchief she -pressed it to her eyes, and at the moment felt the key, entangled in -the handkerchief, fall out.</p> - -<p>"Oh," she gasped, "the key! it has fallen out of my pocket!"</p> - -<p>"I'll find it!" and Paslow dropped on to the grass, now wet, while the -rain came down in torrents. "I have it!" he said, wondering at this -queer disconnected wooing, and rose with the key in his hand. "My dear, -let us stand further under the tree, and then we can talk."</p> - -<p>"No! no!" Beatrice was quite unstrung by this time. "I must go home at -once. It is late, and my father--my--ah! who is that?"</p> - -<p>Flash after flash of lightning, blue and vivid, illuminated the haunted -tree, as though once again the witches were holding their demoniac -revels. A short distance away stood a small man. Neither of the lovers -could see his features in the fitful illumination. Vivian, with a -cry of anger, ran straight towards the figure, and it disappeared. -Tales of the spectres said to haunt the tree occurred to the mind of -Beatrice, and, unstrung, and not mistress of herself, she left the oak -and hurried across the glade. The lightning was flashing incessantly, -and the thunder roared like artillery, while the steady rain spattered -through the trees' tops. Trying to find the path which led to the lane, -Beatrice ran on. She fancied she heard the voice of Paslow shouting, -but again pealed the thunder to drown what he said. Losing her -head--and small wonder, so terrific was the storm--Beatrice scrambled -on through many paths, and finally, when there came an unusually vivid -flash, she sank with a cry of terror under some bushes, and fainted on -the streaming ground. How long she remained unconscious she did not -know.</p> - -<p>When she did regain her senses, a mighty wind was blowing through the -woods, bending the stoutest trees like saplings. Through the swaying -boughs, the girl could see the flicker of lightning racing across the -sky; and every now and then boomed sullen thunder, loud and menacing. -With an effort she gathered her aching limbs together and staggered -forward blindly through the wood. She could not tell what the hour -was, or guess where she was going, but by some miracle she managed to -arrive at the lane. Even then, she did not recognise where she was, but -ran blindly along in the hope of finding The Camp. There was no sign -of Vivian, or of the man who had been watching them under the Witches' -Oak. All around was the roaring darkness, laced with vivid lightning -and alive with furious rain and wind. Like a demented creature, -Beatrice sped along in mud and slush, kilting up her petticoats to run -the faster. And ever overhead screamed the storm, while the wild winds -tore and buffeted the tormented trees.</p> - -<p>She bitterly regretted having kept the appointment She had learned -little save that Vivian loved her, which she had known long ago. And -now she had lost the key: Paslow possessed it, since he had not given -it back to her before he ran after the watcher. So how was she to -re-enter the jealously-guarded Camp? Alpenny would know that she had -been out, that she had met Vivian, and there would be great trouble. -These thoughts made the head of the girl reel as she ran along blind -and breathless.</p> - -<p>Then came several flashes, and before her, unexpectedly, she beheld -the gate of The Camp. It was wide open, but, without thinking, she -ran in at once, only too thankful to arrive home. As she passed the -posts, she sprang unseeingly into the arms of a man. With a cry she -tore herself away, and stared. In a flash of lightning she saw that he -was tall, lean, clothed in black, and--the sight made her shriek--over -his left eye he wore a Black Patch. Then the darkness closed down and -she heard him brush past into gloom, running swiftly out of the gate, -which he closed after him. She heard the click, and in some way managed -to scramble across the wet lawn to her own bedroom-carriage. As she -dropped on the threshold she saw that the light in the counting-house -was extinguished. What did it all mean? she asked herself; and who was -the tall man with the dark patch over his left eye?</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">CHAPTER V</a></h4> - -<h5>MRS. SNOW'S DISCOVERY</h5> -<br> - -<p>After a few minutes' lying on the threshold of her carriage-bedroom -with the rain beating upon her soaking dress, Beatrice rose with an -effort and opened the door. It was never locked, as no one would be -likely to enter. The matches and a candle were on a table by the -bed, where she had left them, and soon she had a light. Beside the -candlestick lay a folded piece of paper, and opening this, she read a -line or two in Alpenny's crabbed handwriting.</p> - -<p>"I find you have gone out. I am going also, and will not be back for -three days. Durban will return to-morrow and look after you."</p> - -<p>There was no signature, but of course she recognised the calligraphy -easily, as it had a distinctive character of its own. The contents -of the note rather surprised the girl. In the first place, Alpenny -made no remark as to her having taken the key; and in the second, it -was strange that he should depart thus unexpectedly, leaving The Camp -absolutely unguarded, even by a dog. Beatrice knew well enough that -her stepfather frequently went away on business, and at times very -unexpectedly, but she had never known him to take so hasty a departure. -However, after a glance at the note, she determined to go to bed, being -too weary to think of anything; too weary even to reflect that she was -alone in that lonely Camp, and that the gate had been open when she -arrived. A memory of the stranger with the black patch over his eye -certainly made her lock her door, and see that the windows were well -fastened; but when she had accomplished this for her own safety, she -had only sufficient strength remaining to throw off her wet clothes and -get into bed. And there she speedily fell into a deep and dreamless -sleep, while the storm raged louder than ever. Her last thought was a -hope, that Vivian had reached the Grange in safety.</p> - -<p>When she awoke next morning it was ten, as the tiny cuckoo clock on the -wall told her, and the sun was streaming in through the chinks of the -window-shutters. She still felt weary, and her limbs ached a trifle, -but for a moment or so she could not think how she came to be so tired. -Then the memory of all that had happened rushed in on her brain, and -she sprang from bed to open the door and windows. In a minute the -sunlight was pouring cheerfully into the bedroom, and Beatrice was -rapidly dressed, feeling hungry, yet at the same time anxious.</p> - -<p>And much need she had to be. Her stepfather knew that she had gone out, -and must have known that she had taken the key of the smaller gate, -for which he would immediately look. He would certainly make himself -most unpleasant, and she anticipated a bad quarter of an hour when he -returned. Also, Vivian might have got into trouble with the man who had -watched them meet under the Witches' Oak. Then, again, the gate of The -Camp had been open when she returned, and a stranger had left the place -hurriedly. All these things were very strange and disquieting, and -Beatrice ardently wished that Durban was back, so that she might speak -to him and be reassured. But it was probable that Vivian would come -to The Camp that morning in order to learn if she had arrived safely; -then they could renew the interrupted conversation, and come to an -understanding.</p> - -<p>The interview with Paslow perplexed Beatrice when she thought over -it. Vivian's talk had been disjointed, and he had given her no -satisfaction, answering her questions in a vague manner. That he should -have proposed at so awkward a moment, and in so awkward a manner, -also puzzled the girl. From what she could recall of the scrappy -conversation it had been like one in a nightmare; and, indeed, the -whole episode was far removed from the commonplace. The meeting-place -under the ill-omened tree--the few hurried words--the rush of Vivian -towards the strange man--and then her own headlong flight through the -damp, dark woods--these thoughts made her very uncomfortable. It was -more like romance than real life, and Beatrice did not care for such -sensational events.</p> - -<p>When dressed, she said her prayers and felt more composed; then stepped -out into the broad, bright sunshine. After the storm everything looked -fresh and vividly green: the world had a newly washed look, and the -air seemed to be filled with vital energy, as though it were indeed -the breath of life. But Beatrice soon saw evidence of the storm's -fury. Huge boughs were stripped from the trees round The Camp, the -flower-beds presented a draggled appearance, and the sundial had been -blown down. For the rest, everything looked the same at usual. When -she glanced at the dungeon, she saw that the door was closed and the -blind was down, although this latter was a trifle askew. Beatrice could -have gratified her curiosity by looking into the counting-house through -the twisted blind; but she had seen sufficient of it on the previous -day, and felt more inclined to eat than to waste her time peering into -Alpenny's sanctum. With the idea of getting breakfast, she went to the -kitchen, and speedily had the fire alight. Durban never locked the door -of the kitchen carriage, so there was no difficulty in entering.</p> - -<p>Beatrice found plenty of food in the cupboard, and made herself some -strong coffee and an appetising dish of bacon and eggs. It was too much -trouble to take the food to the dining-car, so she spread a cloth on -the kitchen table, and made a very good meal. When she had finished, -she washed the dishes and put them away; then went out again, feeling -much better, and all signs of fatigue disappeared from her young and -elastic frame. But for the evidences of the storm, she would have -thought the past events of the night, those of a dream.</p> - -<p>To pass the time, Beatrice swept out her bedroom and made the bed, -then attended to the garden. Every now and then she would glance at -the gate, expecting that Vivian Paslow would enter. But by twelve -o'clock he had not come, and she felt very disappointed. Then she began -to feel alarmed. What if he had met the man and had fought with him? -What if the man had hurt him? She asked herself these questions, and -half determined to go over to Convent Grange in order to get answers. -But she did not wish to leave The Camp until Durban came back, since -Alpenny was absent. Still the desire to hear and see Paslow was -overwhelming, and she was just about to yield to her curiosity and -leave The Camp to look after itself when she heard the rapid vibration -of the electric bell, and knew that someone was at the gate. In a -moment she was flying across the lawn, her heart beating and her colour -rising.</p> - -<p>"Vivian! Vivian!" sang her heart, and she threw open the gate, which -was still unlocked. To her surprise, she beheld outside no less a -person than Mrs. Snow!</p> - -<p>The vicar's wife looked more amiable than usual and less grim. She was -not very tall, and was dressed in dull slate-coloured garments very -ugly and inexpensive, and likely to wear well. A straw hat trimmed with -ribbons of the same sad hue surmounted her sharp, thin face, which was -that of the miser species, hard and sour. Mrs. Snow had never been a -pretty woman, and never an agreeable one, and as she faced Beatrice -with what was meant to be a smile, she looked like a disappointed -spinster. Yet she was the wife of the vicar, and the mother of Jerry, -so she certainly should have looked more pleasant. But Mrs. Snow was -a woman who took life hard, and made it hard for others also. If she -could not enjoy herself, she was determined that no one else should. -Whatever sins the vicar had committed--if any--the poor man was -bitterly punished by having such a household fairy at his fireside.</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Snow!" gasped Beatrice, who was immensely astonished, as well she -might be, seeing that the vicaress had never before deigned to pay The -Camp a visit.</p> - -<p>"Yes, my dear Miss Hedge," said the lady, with a suavity she was far -from feeling, as the girl's fresh beauty annoyed her. "You are no doubt -surprised to see me. But I have come to see Mr. Alpenny as my husband's -richest parishioner. Last night's storm has damaged the spire of our -church, so I have started out at once to collect subscriptions for its -repair. There is nothing like taking Time by the forelock, Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"My father is out," said Beatrice coldly, "and will not be back for a -few days. Then you can ask him, Mrs. Snow."</p> - -<p>"May I not put you down for a trifle?"</p> - -<p>"I have no money," replied Beatrice, annoyed by the greed and -persistence of her visitor. "Will you come in?"</p> - -<p>She did not wish to invite the lady in, but Mrs. Snow showed so very -plainly that she intended to enter, that Beatrice could do no less. In -silence she led the way to the Snow Parlour, and the vicar's wife was -presently seated on the linen-covered sofa, glancing with sharp eyes -round the pretty place. It need hardly be said that she glanced with -inward disapproval and outward praise. She wanted money for the spire, -and therefore had to be polite; but that did not withhold her from -inwardly finding all the fault she could.</p> - -<p>"A most charming place," said Mrs. Snow, still trying to make herself -agreeable.</p> - -<p>"I am glad you think so," replied Beatrice, wondering why her -unexpected visitor was so very polite; and mindful of Mrs. Snow's -past behaviour, the girl could not think that the vicaress was making -herself thus pleasant in order to get money for the spire. Besides, -the spire had only been damaged on the previous night, and it seemed -strange that the woman should begin to hunt for subscriptions for its -restoration already. No! Beatrice came to the conclusion, and very -rightly, that Mrs. Snow had another motive in paying attention to the -girl she had so severely snubbed.</p> - -<p>"I have intended to call ever so many times," went on Mrs. Snow, not -to be daunted by the frosty manner of her hostess, "but my husband, -poor man, is not very well, and I have to attend to a great deal of the -parish work."</p> - -<p>"There is no need to apologise, Mrs. Snow. I see very few people."</p> - -<p>"But those you see are really charming!" gushed the vicaress. "I, of -course, allude to Mr. and Miss Paslow."</p> - -<p>"They are friends of mine."</p> - -<p>"And of mine also, Miss Hedge. Though I will say that this engagement -of my son to Miss Paslow does not please me. I really thought"--here -Mrs. Snow cast a searching look on the girl's face--"that my son -admired you."</p> - -<p>"Oh no. He has always been devoted to Miss Paslow."</p> - -<p>"His devotion is misplaced," snapped Mrs. Snow, some of the veneer of -her gracious manner wearing away. "I shall never consent to such a -marriage."</p> - -<p>"You must tell that to Miss Paslow and to your son," said Beatrice -coldly; "I have nothing to do with it."</p> - -<p>"Well"--Mrs. Snow hesitated--"I thought that you, being a friend of -Miss Paslow's, might point out how foolish her conduct is."</p> - -<p>"It is not my place to interfere," said Miss Hedge in a frosty manner, -and beginning to gain an inkling as to why the vicaress had paid this -unforeseen visit.</p> - -<p>"Of course not. I should never ask you to do anything disagreeable, -Miss Hedge. I hope you will come and see me at the Vicarage. Now that I -have found you out, I really must see more of you."</p> - -<p>"It is very kind of you, Mrs. Snow; but I never go out. My father does -not wish me to."</p> - -<p>"So eccentric dear Mr. Alpenny is!" murmured the vicaress. "I was in -town only two weeks ago, and Lady Watson mentioned how strange he was. -You know Lady Watson, of course?"</p> - -<p>"I never set eyes on her. I don't even know the name."</p> - -<p>"That is strange," and Mrs. Snow really did look puzzled; "she knew all -about you."</p> - -<p>Beatrice started. "What is there to know about me?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, nothing--really and truly nothing. Only that Mr. Alpenny married -your mother and adopted you when she died. I was not here when Mrs. -Alpenny died, but I believe she is buried in our churchyard."</p> - -<p>"I have seen the tombstone," said Beatrice coldly. "And how does this -Lady Watson come to know about me?"</p> - -<p>"She was a school friend of your mother's--so she said."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" Beatrice felt her face flush. Here was a chance of learning -something that neither Durban nor Alpenny would tell her. "I should -like to meet Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"You shall, my dear Miss Hedge. She is coming in a few weeks to stop at -the Vicarage."</p> - -<p>"I shall be happy to see her." Beatrice had to swallow her pride before -she could say this, as Mrs. Snow had really treated her very badly. -But she was anxious to learn something of her mother, and to find out -if she had any relatives, as she was determined not to marry Ruck, -and knew that if she did not, Alpenny was quite capable of turning -her out of doors. Of course Durban would always look after her, but -Beatrice wished to be independent even of Durban. At the moment she -never thought of Vivian and his hasty proposal, but it came back to her -memory when Mrs. Snow introduced his name.</p> - -<p>"I hear that Mr. Paslow is thinking of moving from this place," said -Mrs. Snow. "Such a pity! so old a family. The Paslows have been in the -Grange since the reign of Henry VIII. It was originally a convent, -you know, and the Paslow of those days was presented with it, by the -king--so shocking, wasn't it? He turned out the nuns and lived in the -place himself. That is why it is called Convent Grange."</p> - -<p>"So Miss Paslow told me," responded Beatrice, rather weary of this -small-talk, and wondering why it was being manufactured.</p> - -<p>"But Mr. Paslow is poor," pursued Mrs. Snow, "and can't keep the place -up. I expect he'll go to the colonies, or some such place. So you can -easily see why I don't want my son to marry his sister."</p> - -<p>Beatrice felt very much inclined to tell her garrulous visitor that -Vivian had inherited money, and would probably clear off the mortgages -and live in the style of his forefathers. But she restrained her -inclination, as it was none of her business, and rose to intimate that -the interview was at an end. But Mrs. Snow still sat on.</p> - -<p>"Really a lovely place, Convent Grange," she chattered, "although sadly -out of repair. Haunted, too, they say, although I don't believe in -ghosts myself. But I hear an Indian colonel was murdered there some -twenty-four years ago, and his ghost is said to haunt the room he was -killed in."</p> - -<p>"I never heard that," said Beatrice, wondering why Dinah had never -imparted so comparatively modern a tragedy to her.</p> - -<p>"I dare say not," said Mrs. Snow tartly; "the Paslows don't like -talking about the matter. I heard about it from an old shepherd who -keeps sheep on the Downs. Orchard is his name, and he was the butler of -Mr. Paslow's father, who was alive when Colonel Hall was murdered."</p> - -<p>"I never heard of a shepherd being a butler."</p> - -<p>"You mean that you never heard of a butler turning a shepherd," said -Mrs. Snow; "neither did I. But I understand that the poor man's nerves -were so wrecked by the sight of the dead body that the doctors of those -days ordered him to take the open-air cure. So he became a shepherd. A -most superior man."</p> - -<p>"Who murdered Colonel Hall?"</p> - -<p>"No one ever found out. His throat was cut, and he was discovered dead -in his bed. I believe a casket of jewels was stolen at the time, and -was never found. But even if the Paslows didn't tell you about this, -I wonder your father did not, dear Miss Hedge, as he was here at the -time, and a visitor at the Grange."</p> - -<p>"My stepfather never tells me anything."</p> - -<p>"How dull you must be. He really is so eccentric. Lady Watson knew him -years and years ago, and says that he is quite a gentleman. He was -at Rugby with her husband, Sir Reginald, who is dead. But he took up -this money-lending business, which really is not respectable, besides -which, it is quite forbidden by the Mosaic law. Well, I must be going." -Mrs. Snow rose, still smiling. "But you really must come over to the -Vicarage, and let me make your life more gay. I shall also try and -induce your father--no, stepfather--to come over."</p> - -<p>"I don't think you'll be able to manage that," said Beatrice dryly, and -wondering what all this alarming sweetness meant; "my stepfather never -goes out."</p> - -<p>"He did over twenty years ago. Ask him about his visit to Convent -Grange, and about Colonel Hall's murder. It caused a great sensation, -although the criminal was never found. But who is this?" Mrs. -Snow stepped out into the sunshine as she spoke, and pointed her -slate-coloured parasol towards Durban, who was standing near. He -must have approached very softly, and must have heard every word -the vicaress said for the last few minutes. His dark face looked -unnaturally white, and he cast a nervous glance at the visitor. -Beatrice noticed nothing, however, and ran to him at once.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Durban, I am so pleased to see you. Father has gone away. See, he -left this note, and----"</p> - -<p>"I'll take my leave, so as not to interrupt you," said Mrs. Snow -graciously; "then you can talk to the man. What a charming place!" She -looked round severely and walked from one carriage to another. "Your -bedroom, a dining-room, another bedroom"; then she stopped at the -dungeon and tried the door. "Oh, Bluebeard's chamber! I must not look -in here."</p> - -<p>"It is the master's counting-house, lady," said Durban, who was close -at her heels and seemed anxious for her to go.</p> - -<p>"How delightful! A counting-house in a dark wood--just like 'Alice in -Wonderland.' May I look in at the window? Mr. Alpenny is from home, so -he can't object," and before any one could stop her she was peeping -through the window, where the blind was askew. Then she gave a cry of -alarm. "Miss Hedge, your father is within. He is lying on the floor." -She stood on tiptoe. "Oh! he is dead. I see blood!"</p> - -<p>"Impossible!" cried Beatrice, rushing forward and pushing the meddling -woman aside.--"Yes Durban!--Oh, great Heavens!"</p> - -<p>The servant came running up and also glanced in. Then, with an -exclamation of horror, he ran into the kitchen and came out with a -bunch of skeleton keys. Both the women, pale and terrified, stood -beside him while he fitted these into the lock. None would open the -door, and he flung them away with a smothered oath. For a moment he -paused, then ran into the wood. Mrs. Snow turned to Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Your father has been murdered. I shall tell the police."</p> - -<p>"Yes, do!" said Beatrice, clasping her hands. "I never knew. When I -came home last night, he left a note saying that he would go away for a -few days, and----"</p> - -<p>"Here is the man with a log," interrupted Mrs. Snow.</p> - -<p>Indeed, it was Durban who came, dragging after him a large beam. With -a strength of which Beatrice had never thought so stout a man was -capable, he caught this in the middle, and, retiring for a few paces, -made a run at the door. It burst open with the shock, and, dropping the -beam, Durban went inside. Mrs. Snow drew Beatrice back.</p> - -<p>"It is not for you to see," she said sharply.</p> - -<p>"How dare you stop me!" said the girl, angry at the liberty, and -pushing Mrs. Snow away, she ran forward.</p> - -<p>Durban tried to keep her out, but she managed to gain a glimpse of a -stiff figure lying on the floor under the mahogany desk.</p> - -<p>"Oh, good Heavens!" shrieked the girl; "his throat has been cut!"</p> - -<p>"So was Colonel Hall's!" muttered Mrs. Snow, and stole a glance at -Durban, which made the man turn even greyer than he already was.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">CHAPTER VI</a></h4> - -<h5>THE INQUEST</h5> -<br> - -<p>After eighty years, halting Nemesis had at last caught up with Jarvis -Alpenny. He had buried himself in seclusion; he had surrounded himself -with bolts and bars and other precautions; but the order that his -sordid career should end had come from the Powers that deal with -evil-doers, and he was as dead as a door-nail. And very unpleasantly he -had died too, for his wrinkled throat had been cut from ear to ear. Who -had done it no one seemed to know.</p> - -<p>Beatrice might have supplied a clue; but for reasons connected with -the Paslow family she held her tongue, and feigned ignorance when the -rural police came on the scene, which they did very speedily, owing -to the zeal of Mrs. Snow. The sergeant of the district questioned and -cross-questioned Miss Hedge, with very little success. She told him -that, on the previous evening, she had gone for a walk in the woods -round The Camp, but did not mention with what object. There, as she -stated very truly, she had been caught in the storm, and at some -unknown time had stumbled home wet and weary, and so tired that she had -at once slipped into bed. The note from her stepfather was produced, -and confiscated by the sergeant; the details of Mrs. Snow's curiosity -leading to a discovery of a crime, were given; and then Beatrice -professed that she could tell no more. The bucolic constable believed -her readily enough, and informed his Inspector who came that Miss Hedge -had told the truth and nothing but the truth. This might have been so, -but she certainly had not told the whole truth, else might the sergeant -have added to the note left by the dead man, a certain gentleman's -handkerchief, marked with three initials--"V.R.P."</p> - -<p>This piece of evidence Beatrice had picked up so near the body, that a -corner of the handkerchief was soaked in the life-blood of the miser. -Her quick eye had seen it almost the moment she had entered the dungeon -at Durban's heels, and when falling on her knees by the dead she had -mechanically picked it up, without lynx-eyed Mrs. Snow seeing the -action. Durban would only allow the women to remain for two minutes in -that place of death. Then he drove them out, and insisted that Beatrice -should retire to her parlour. She did so while he reclosed the door of -the counting-house, and while Mrs. Snow, almost too excited to speak, -ran for the nearest constable, who in his turn summoned his sergeant.</p> - -<p>Alone in the parlour, Beatrice, still mechanically grasping the -handkerchief, suddenly remembered how she had found it, and at once -examined the corners. It was with a gasp of terror that she realised to -whom it belonged. "V.R.P." could only stand for Vivian Robert Paslow, -and he--as she knew only too well--was the enemy of the deceased. -Could it be that Vivian had killed the miser to settle the question -of marriage, and secure his threatened property from getting into the -cruel clutches of his victim? In that first moment of horror Beatrice -was inclined to think so. Then, with a revulsion of feeling, she -recoiled with horror from so base an idea. The man she loved was not a -midnight assassin: however much he may have hated Alpenny, he certainly -would not have put the old man to death in so barbarous a fashion. -Finally, he had been with her under the Witches' Oak last night, and -could not possibly be guilty.</p> - -<p>Then, again, on further thought it occurred to her that such an alibi -could scarcely serve in this case. The meeting at the haunted tree -had taken place about seven o'clock, and had lasted, so far as she -could reckon from confused recollection, for a quarter of an hour. -Then had come the episode of the pursuit of the watcher by Paslow, -her own flight through the woods, the breaking of the storm, and her -fainting-fit. She might have been hours unconscious; she might have -been hours getting home, for she had very little recollection of that -mad passage through the furious wind and rain. Only she remembered -reaching The Camp between the gates, and blindly falling into the arms -of a lean, tall man with a black patch over his left eye. Had that man -been Vivian? Was it truly her lover who, in the intervening time, had -stolen to the deserted Camp, and using the key of the small gate (which -she knew he possessed) had gained access to the dungeon, there to -commit his crime? No! It was impossible. If she could only remember the -time when she came back! This was hard to do, and yet it was done, for -chance came to her aid.</p> - -<p>Besides the cuckoo-clock which had awakened her, Beatrice possessed an -old silver watch, given to her on some far-distant birthday by Durban. -It stood on a small stand beside the bed, and she remembered that in -slipping between the sheets, weary and half asleep, she had knocked -this down between the table it stood on and the wall. Some instinct -must have directed her to look for it at the moment. She thrust the -incriminating handkerchief into her pocket, and ran to the bedroom -carriage. There she found the watch--found also that it had stopped at -the hour of nine o'clock. It was just possible that the stoppage had -occurred when she had knocked it over. She certainly had wound it up -as usual on the previous night, and twice before, when knocked off its -stand, it had stopped dead.</p> - -<p>"Yes," thought the girl, inspecting the yellow dial, "it must have been -stopped by the fall, unless"--she shook it vigorously--"unless it has -run down"; but a steady ticking told her that the main-spring was not -yet fully unwound, and she replaced the watch on its stand, with a firm -conviction that she had entered the bedroom at nine on the previous -evening. Vivian had left her to follow the spy at a quarter past -seven, so he could easily have committed the crime, so far as time and -opportunity went, as one hour and three-quarters had been taken up by -her in getting home. An alibi, therefore, was little good in this case, -and on the evidence of the handkerchief he would assuredly be hanged.</p> - -<p>"No! no! no!" murmured Beatrice with rising inflection, and speaking -aloud in her agitation; "it is untrue. Vivian would never commit so -cowardly a deed as to kill an old man of eighty, however much he may -have hated him. I shall hide the handkerchief--but where? The police -are sure to search the place, and--and----" A sudden thought struck -her. "I'll keep it in my pocket," she decided, and thrust it, neatly -folded up, to the very bottom of that receptacle. Later, she intended -to cautiously question Paslow, and learn if he had been to The Camp on -that night. But the conversation would be between their two selves. She -would tell no one else of the handkerchief she had picked up, not even -Durban, faithful servant though he was.</p> - -<p>It was at this moment, and as though in response to her mental mention -of his name, that Durban appeared. He looked much shaken by the -tragedy, and was green with scarcely concealed fright. Beatrice eyed -him with astonishment, as she had never deemed him to be much attached -to the old tyrant who had gone so violently to his long rest. Durban -evaded her searching glance, which was perhaps fortunate, as the girl -herself did not wish her own countenance to be too closely scrutinised.</p> - -<p>"I've shut it up in the counting-house," said Durban, his eyes on the -ground, and jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "The police will be -here soon. Mrs. Snow will tell them; she'll be glad of the chance."</p> - -<p>"Why? Did she know my--the late Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"That's right, missy." Durban raised his eyes with approval, and -dropped them again. "Never call him your father."</p> - -<p>"He was my stepfather," Beatrice reminded him.</p> - -<p>"Ah--hum--yes," gurgled Durban. "Yes, missy, Mrs. Snow knew master -before you were born--at Convent Grange."</p> - -<p>"I heard her say that Colonel Hall's throat had also been cut."</p> - -<p>Durban shuddered, and leaned against the door. "Yes," he whispered -faintly, "that was so, missy."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny's throat has been cut in the same way."</p> - -<p>Durban half smiled, but his expression was wry and twisted. "There is -only one way to cut a throat, missy."</p> - -<p>"Ugh!" Beatrice turned pale, and threw up her hand. "Don't!"</p> - -<p>"It is a nasty subject, missy. I--I'm sorry for the master. And yet," -he added, half to himself; "if ever a man deserved what he got, master -was that man."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" asked Beatrice, taking a step towards him.</p> - -<p>"Master had many enemies," went on Durban, again casting his eyes on -the ground; "a money-lender always has."</p> - -<p>"Then you know----"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing," snapped the man angrily, and wiping his swarthy face -with a duster. "Master sent me to London last night, as you knew, -missy. I only came down by the morning train, and walked here, in time -to find you with Mrs. Snow. What did she want?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice smiled faintly in her turn. "Subscriptions for the church -spire, which was blown down last night."</p> - -<p>"Oh! That was the excuse?"</p> - -<p>"Excuse for what, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"To see you, missy, and learn---- But there!" Durban turned away. "She -came here to make mischief between you and master. Thank Heaven he is -dead, and you will get the money. Mrs. Snow can't harm you now."</p> - -<p>"Why should she wish to harm me, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"That's a long story, missy. Now that the master is dead, I can tell it -to you. But first we must learn who killed----"</p> - -<p>"I know," interrupted Beatrice quickly; "a tall man, with a black patch -over his left eye."</p> - -<p>Durban turned greener than ever. "How do you know that, missy?" he -asked in a strangled voice.</p> - -<p>"I saw him when the gates were open, about nine o'clock last night."</p> - -<p>Durban looked at her sharply. "Then you did go for that walk, missy?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I had to. Mr. Paslow wished to see me. Durban"--she made a step -forward, and clutched his arm tightly--"I'll tell you what I don't -intend to tell any one else," and without giving the man time to -make an observation, she related the whole story of her adventure, -suppressing only the episode of the handkerchief. This she did, so as -to avert any possible suspicion from Vivian, since Durban, knowing that -Paslow had been with her, would not connect him with the crime--that -is, if he was stupid enough not to calculate the time, and thus prove -the futility of the alibi.</p> - -<p>Durban listened quietly enough. "I am glad that Mr. Paslow will marry -you, missy," he said at last, and removed her grasp from his arm. "You -will inherit a lot of money from the dead master. It ought to be twenty -thousand a year!"</p> - -<p>"But, Durban, Mr. Alpenny told me very plainly that if he died, I would -be a pauper."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it," burst out the half-caste; "he would not dare -to--to----" Here he halted and stammered, "C--c--curse him!"</p> - -<p>"Durban!" She stepped back a pace in sheer amazement at the savagery of -the tone.</p> - -<p>"Dead, or alive, curse him!" cried Durban, his voice gathering strength -from the intensity of his hate. "He was a scoundrel--you don't know how -great a scoundrel. Missy"--he grasped her arm in his turn--"you shall -have the money, I swear it. Then marry Mr. Paslow, and go away for a -few years, till all blows over."</p> - -<p>"Till what blows over?" asked Beatrice anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Hush!" Durban let go her arm, and controlled himself by a violent -effort. "The police! Say as little as you can. You know nothing--I know -nothing."</p> - -<p>"Durban, are you afraid?"</p> - -<p>"Of Mrs. Snow. Hush!"</p> - -<p>The last words were scarcely out of his mouth when the two policemen, -who had entered the gates left open by Mrs. Snow, came up to them with -important airs. The sergeant was stout and short, the constable lean -and tall.</p> - -<p>"We take possession of this place, miss," said the stout man -breathlessly.</p> - -<p>"In the name of the King and the law," finished the lean person.</p> - -<p>"And anything you say will be used in evidence against you," they both -murmured in a breath, then stared sternly at the startled girl and the -green-hued half-caste.</p> - -<p>"Do what you like," said Beatrice, drawing herself up; "neither myself -nor Durban know anything."</p> - -<p>"But----" began the sergeant, snorting with excitement.</p> - -<p>"I will answer all questions at the proper time, and at the proper -place," said Miss Hedge, cutting the plethoric man short. Then she -retired into her bedroom and shut the door.</p> - -<p>The constables grumbled at her sharpness of speech, but went to work. -They examined the body, searched every inch of The Camp, made plans, -took notes, asked innumerable questions of Durban, and finally insisted -that Beatrice should submit to an examination. This she did composedly -enough, but said as little as she well could. It was her intention to -reserve an account of what she had seen for the inquest. She did not -even tell the Inspector, when he arrived to take charge of the case.</p> - -<p>There was immense excitement in Hurstable. The quiet little Sussex -village had never before been defiled by a crime of this brutal kind. -Sparsely populated as the district was, a great number of agricultural -labourers gathered in a remarkably short space of time. Their wives and -children came also, and the police had much difficulty in keeping them -out of the precincts of The Camp. Then by next day the news had reached -Brighton, and crowds of tourists--it being the holiday season--poured -into the Weald on foot, on bicycles, in motor cars and carriages, and -by train. With them came the reporters from various newspapers, London -and local, and the whole place buzzed like a hive at swarming-time.</p> - -<p>Beatrice remained in The Camp under charge of Durban. Dinah Paslow -came to offer her the hospitality of Convent Grange; but, much to the -surprise of Beatrice, the man who had proposed to her on that fatal -night never made his appearance. Without any embarrassment, Dinah -told her friend that Vivian had gone to town as soon as he heard that -Alpenny was dead.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">CHAPTER VII</a></h4> - -<h5>THE INQUEST--<i>continued</i></h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice was both surprised and alarmed when she heard of Vivian's -abrupt departure without seeing her. It argued that he was guilty, and -feared to face her. Yet, try as she might, it was impossible for her to -believe him to be a murderer.</p> - -<p>"Why didn't he come to see me?" she asked Dinah.</p> - -<p>"He wanted to," replied the freckled girl. "But then he said that he -had important business to attend to, connected with you, and went up -to town the day before yesterday. I have not heard from him since, and -don't know when he is coming back."</p> - -<p>"Business connected with me!" repeated Miss Hedge, much perplexed. "I -don't understand."</p> - -<p>"Neither do I, dear. But don't worry. Vivian loves you, and whatever -he does will be for your benefit. I do wish you'd come to the Grange, -Beatrice, and let Mrs. Lilly look after you--she knows about herbs and -things, and you look so pale. And no wonder, seeing what a shock you -have had. I wouldn't stop in this place for anything, seeing ghosts and -spooks--ugh!" and Dinah ended her somewhat incoherent speech with a -shudder.</p> - -<p>"I cannot come until the inquest is over," said Beatrice, rapidly -surveying the situation.</p> - -<p>"And then?"</p> - -<p>"Then, perhaps. It depends upon Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"Vivian, you mean," said Dinah quickly.</p> - -<p>"I have no right to call him Vivian," replied Beatrice proudly.</p> - -<p>"Yes, you have. Vivian told me that he had asked you to be his wife, -and that you had accepted."</p> - -<p>"Dinah"--Beatrice looked directly at the girl "did he tell you where he -proposed?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; under the----"</p> - -<p>"Hush!" Miss Hedge sank her voice to a whisper as she saw a blue-coated -constable moving heavily round the garden, and gradually drawing -nearer. "Not a word. Hold your tongue about that meeting."</p> - -<p>"But why?" asked the amazed Dinah.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you later," said Beatrice hurriedly; "that is, when I have -seen Vivian. Have you his address?"</p> - -<p>"No. He went away, and said he would be back soon. Oh dear!" cried -Dinah fretfully; "there is such a lot of mystery about Vivian, and -has been for ages and ages. Sometimes he's jolly, and then he's as -dismal as a sick cow. I thought it was love, for Jerry often is the -same--silly boy. But I don't believe it is love," concluded Dinah -decidedly. "Vivian has something on his mind."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Something horrid. I don't know what it is, but I fear the worst."</p> - -<p>"Don't be a fool, Dinah," said Beatrice impatiently, for she winced at -hearing her own doubts put into speech. "It's money troubles that annoy -him, and probably, now that Mr. Alpenny is dead, he has gone to see the -executors, to know how his mortgage will stand."</p> - -<p>"As if he couldn't ask you," cried Dinah, rising and throwing her -riding-skirt over her arm. "You'll get the money, of course. It -ought to be a lot, Beatrice, for Jerry, who has had dealings with -money-lenders, says they make heaps and heaps."</p> - -<p>"I know nothing until the will is read. Go away, dear, and come back -after poor Mr. Alpenny is buried."</p> - -<p>"Poor Mr. Alpenny!" mocked Dinah. "Well, you are forgiving, Beatrice. -He was a nasty old man, and never did any good in his life. He is more -useful to me and Jerry dead than alive."</p> - -<p>"Dinah!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I know it's horrid of me," said Miss Paslow penitently, "but we -must live--I mean Jerry and I must think about our marriage. His father -won't allow him any money, and Mrs. Snow is a cat. Our only chance of -getting married, and living in a tweeny-weeny house, with a general -servant, is for Jerry to get a rise. Now, if Jerry writes something -picturesque about this murder, he'll get the rise and----"</p> - -<p>"Oh, go away," cried Beatrice, for this disconnected talk grated on her -over-strung nerves, "and don't tell even Jerry that I met Vivian--I -mean Mr. Paslow--under the Witches' Oak."</p> - -<p>"I won't say anything," promised Dinah firmly; "and I suppose it was -improper for you to meet Vivian so late without a chaperone. But you -will marry Vivian, darling, won't you?" she went on coaxingly. "He -is so poor, and loves you; and then Mr. Alpenny's money--I mean your -money--can set up the family again, and----"</p> - -<p>The patience of Beatrice was at an end. She took Dinah firmly by the -arm and led her out of the gates past the sleepy policeman, who blinked -in the sunshine like an over-fed cat. "Go and assist Jerry to write -paragraphs," she said sharply; "you are a tiresome girl."</p> - -<p>"It's your nerves," said Dinah, not at all annoyed by this abrupt -dismissal. "I feel that way myself, when Jerry is irritating. He is -such a---- Well, I'm going. There's Tommy Tibbs holding Fly-by-Night. -Hi, Tommy, bring her here. Good-bye, darling: keep your spirits up. -I'll come and see you later. You must come to the Grange, and----"</p> - -<p>Beatrice closed the babbling lips with a kiss, and went inside, while -Dinah argued with Tommy about the price of holding her horse for one -long hour. The policeman opened his eyes and looked at the tall, -slim young lady with approval as she went past him. He thought she -was a trifle too pale, and she had black circles under her eyes; but -otherwise he approved, and smiled graciously. Beatrice took no notice -of him, but went to her parlour, to think over the strange conduct of -Vivian Paslow.</p> - -<p>Dinah was right He certainly had something on his mind, and did not -seem to be a free agent. Something hampered him in every way. He -had long desired to propose to her, and yet had only done so when -some cause, which he declined to explain, had been removed. Again, -he had gone up to town on hearing of Alpenny's murder, and without -ascertaining whether she had reached home, or not, on that fearful -night. He had not even left a message; and then in her pocket was his -handkerchief, dyed with the life-blood of the miser. These things were -strange and disquieting, and Beatrice resolved that before reaffirming -her decision to marry him, he would have to explain what underhand -causes were at work to make him behave so mysteriously.</p> - -<p>No time was lost in holding the inquest on the body of Jarvis Alpenny. -The weather was hot, and it was just as well to place the remains -underground as speedily as possible. A doctor was summoned from -Hurstable to examine the body, and pronounce if possible the hour -when the murder had taken place. Then the corpse was conveyed to the -solitary inn of Hurstable, a few miles away, and there the jury looked -it over. Afterwards the Coroner summoned them into the inn parlour, and -Inspector Grove related all that had been discovered by the police.</p> - -<p>It was not much, and threw no light on the authorship of the crime. -The deceased--so ran the official narrative--was a money-lender of -great repute, and that none of the best. He possessed a small office -in London--52 Trunk Street, Cheapside--but seldom went there, as he -preferred the quiet of the country--probably on account of his age, -which was considerable. Nevertheless, from habit apparently, Mr. Jarvis -continued to do business up to the very hour of his death. He died in -harness, as might be said; for on the table, whereunder he lay, were -letters from people--who need not be mentioned--asking for loans of -money. These he was apparently considering, when he was struck down.</p> - -<p>"I understood, and I have seen," said the Coroner emphatically, "that -the deceased's throat was cut."</p> - -<p>Inspector Jones assented, but pointed out that the old man was first -felled by a blow from behind, as was apparent from a wound at the back -of the head. The assassin had evidently entered stealthily, and had -taken his victim by surprise. The murder was very deliberate, as the -criminal had first stunned the old man, and then had cut his throat -in a most brutal and thorough fashion. Therefore, as the Inspector -suggested, the motive of the crime was more than mere robbery. A -robber, having stunned his victim, could have taken what he desired, -and escaped before Mr. Jarvis regained consciousness. But the death had -taken place from the throat-cutting, and not from the blow on the head.</p> - -<p>"Has anything been taken from the room?" asked a juryman.</p> - -<p>"You mean the railway carriage," corrected the Inspector, who was -pedantic in speech, and particular as to facts. "Yes; the safe was -opened with the keys of the deceased--probably taken by the assassin -from the dead body--and all the papers have been taken away."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, exactly?" asked the Coroner.</p> - -<p>Inspector Jones held up his right hand. "I mean," he declared -emphatically, "that the safe was as bare as the palm of my hand. -All papers were removed, the drawers were emptied, and nothing was -left--absolutely nothing."</p> - -<p>"The assassin must have carried quite a load?"</p> - -<p>"As the safe is a large one, and probably was fairly filled, it is -extremely likely," replied the Inspector. Then he went on to state that -the fact of the death was discovered the next morning by Mrs. Snow, the -vicar's wife, who was paying a visit to Miss Hedge. The police were -called in, and everything had been done to discover the whereabouts of -the assassin, but in vain. Villagers, labourers, railway officials, -chance folk travelling in carts and motor-cars and on bicycles had -been questioned, but no suspicious character had been observed. The -assassin had stolen in upon the old man out of the night; and when his -detestable task had been executed, he had again vanished into the night -with his plunder, leaving not a footprint behind by which he could be -traced.</p> - -<p>"Yet the night was rainy," said the Coroner sapiently.</p> - -<p>"And the grassy sward," retorted Jones, "runs right up to the railway -carriage wherein the crime was executed. I have inquired at the Trunk -Street office, and cannot learn from the confidential clerk there -that Mr. Alpenny was threatened in any way, or feared for his life or -property. The affair is a mystery."</p> - -<p>"And is likely to remain so, with such an ass as you at the head of -affairs," murmured the Coroner, as the Inspector, severely official, -stepped down to give place to a rosy little man.--"Well, doctor," he -asked aloud, "what do you know about this sad business?"</p> - -<p>Dr. Herman knew very little, save from a medical standing-point He -lived in Hurstable, some miles distant from the scene of the crime, -and drove round all the surrounding district to see his patients. A -constable stopped him on the day after the crime had been committed, -and he had been asked to examine the corpse. He found that it was that -of an old man. The body was badly nourished, but healthy enough for a -man who certainly was over eighty. The blow on the head would not have -killed a man with such vitality, old as he was. Death had ensued from -the cutting of the throat. "Which was neatly done," said the doctor, -with professional approval. "I should think a very sharp instrument was -used, and a very dexterous hand had used it. No bungling about that -affair," concluded Dr. Herman.</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said the Coroner doubtfully; "and what does that mean? Do you -insinuate that a doctor cut the throat and used a surgical instrument -to do so?"</p> - -<p>"I insinuate nothing of the sort," said Herman hotly, for he did not -like the sneer of the Coroner; "it might have been a butcher, who is -quite as dexterous with a knife as a medical man, although not quite in -the same way."</p> - -<p>"Pooh! pooh! We're all animals, doctor," laughed the Coroner, "and you -are all butchers, whether you are called so or not. Come, now, at what -time did Mr. Jarvis Alpenny meet his death?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot be sure of that--I cannot commit myself to an exact opinion," -said the little doctor doubtfully. "I should say the crime was -committed between eight and nine of the previous night But, as I say, I -cannot be quite certain."</p> - -<p>"Between eight and nine of the previous night," wrote the Coroner, and -called the next witness.</p> - -<p>This was Mrs. Snow, who gave her evidence with much volubility. She -had called on Miss Hedge to ask for money in order to get the spire -of Hurstable Church mended. Miss Hedge had stated that her stepfather -was from home, but she--witness--had glanced into the railway carriage -which was called the counting-house of Mr. Alpenny. There she had seen -the deceased--dead, lying in a pool of blood. At once she gave the -alarm, and Durban, the servant, burst open the door with a beam.</p> - -<p>"The door of the carriage was locked, then?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes," assented Mrs. Snow. "I tried it myself. I expect the assassin -killed poor Mr. Alpenny, and after robbing the safe, went out with his -plunder, and locked the door after him. He had the keys."</p> - -<p>"One moment," said Durban, rising in the body of the room. "My master -carried the keys--all the keys, including that of the counting-house, -on a single ring. The keys were in the safe, and----"</p> - -<p>"We'll hear you later," said the Coroner sharply.--"Go on, Mrs. Snow."</p> - -<p>"I have nothing further to say," said the vicar's wife, trying to -convey a sympathetic look in her eyes, "save that I am sorry for Miss -Hedge. And I may add," she continued, after a moment of hesitation, -"that Colonel Hall was murdered at Convent Grange twenty-five years -ago, in the same way."</p> - -<p>"I remember the case," said the Coroner, who was an old resident of the -neighbourhood. "And what do you infer?"</p> - -<p>"That the assassin of Colonel Hall and the assassin of Mr. Alpenny are -one and the same," said Mrs. Snow promptly.</p> - -<p>"Why should you connect the two?" asked the Coroner coldly, and very -much puzzled.</p> - -<p>"Colonel Hall and Mr. Alpenny had much to do with one another," said -Mrs. Snow, "and did some business together. That their two throats -should be cut, is a coincidence."</p> - -<p>"Only that and nothing more, Mrs. Snow. I cannot see what the old crime -has to do with the new one."</p> - -<p>"I am sure there is some connection," snapped the sour woman, and then -stepped down from the witness-box with a triumphant glance in the -direction of Beatrice. Why that glance, and one of such a nature, was -sent, Beatrice could not guess. But then the conduct of Mrs. Snow was -perplexing her more and more.</p> - -<p>Durban's evidence was to the effect that he had been absent when the -crime took place. Mr. Alpenny had sent him to town with a letter, and -he had returned the next morning to find the old man dead. Mrs. Snow -had first informed him of the fact. He had burst open the door with -a beam, as it was locked, and then had discovered that Mr. Alpenny's -throat was slit from ear to ear. "And I saw," added the witness -quickly, "that the keys of the deceased, including the key of the -counting-house, were on the ring which dangled from the key used to -open the safe."</p> - -<p>"Then you do not think that the assassin could have locked the door -after him?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not, seeing that the key was left behind."</p> - -<p>"Was there not another key?"</p> - -<p>"No. My master had the only key of the counting-house; it was one of -a most peculiar make, and there was no duplicate. Mr. Alpenny was -always careful to lock up his papers, and to keep the door of the -counting-house locked."</p> - -<p>"Then there must be another way of getting into the counting-house."</p> - -<p>Inspector Jones rose to assure the Coroner that the place had been -thoroughly examined. "There is no way of entering the railway carriage -which is called the counting-house, save by the door."</p> - -<p>"But if the door was locked, and the key inside, the assassin must have -got out by another way. What about the window?"</p> - -<p>"It's so small and so barred that a child could not get through it."</p> - -<p>The Coroner scratched his head, and looked at Durban. "You were the -confidential servant of the deceased," he said helplessly; "perhaps you -can explain?"</p> - -<p>"I can explain nothing," said Durban promptly, and quite at his ease; -"certainly I was Mr. Alpenny's servant, but he made no confidant of me. -I took letters to the London office, but what was in them I never knew. -I was cook and general servant--that is all."</p> - -<p>"You were often in the counting-house?"</p> - -<p>"I was never in the counting-house in my life, sir. Mr. Alpenny would -not allow either Miss Hedge or myself to enter."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said the Coroner again; "the whole mystery seems to centre -round the counting-house. Had Mr. Alpenny enemies?"</p> - -<p>"The usual sort a money-lender is bound to have," said Durban, with a -shrug. "People sometimes came and called him names; and he told me that -many borrowers objected to the high interest he charged."</p> - -<p>"Did the deceased ever give you to understand that his life was in -danger?"</p> - -<p>"Never. He appeared quite happy in his own way."</p> - -<p>"Was he expecting any one on the night he was murdered?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot say. He sent me to town with the letter, and I was to come -back next morning--which," added the witness pointedly, "I did."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny did not expect to be killed?"</p> - -<p>"No. He would have taken some precautions had he thought that, as he -feared death."</p> - -<p>After this several jurymen asked questions, and the Coroner -cross-examined the half-caste. But he could tell nothing likely to lead -to a discovery of the assassin. He simply declared that he was not in -his late master's confidence, and knew nothing: that he had gone to -town on the night of the murder, and had only learned of it through -Mrs. Snow. The Coroner and, incidentally, Inspector Jones were annoyed; -they had quite counted on a solution of the mystery when Durban was -examined. But he could tell nothing, and they saw no reason to doubt -his evidence.</p> - -<p>Beatrice was called as the final witness, and told very much the same -story as she had related to the sergeant. Only on this occasion she -stated the time when she had returned. The Coroner asked her how she -knew that she had entered at nine, whereupon she detailed the episode -of the fallen watch. "I am sure that when I knocked it down, it stopped -at nine," she said; "at that hour I returned."</p> - -<p>"Why did you not go in and see Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"In the first place, I was worn out," said the witness; "in the second, -there was no light in the window of the counting-house; and in the -third, I found the note left by Mr. Alpenny, which I handed to the -sergeant. And in the fourth place," added Beatrice, before the Coroner -could make an observation, which he seemed inclined to do, "I saw the -assassin!"</p> - -<p>Everyone was startled, and a confused murmur filled the room. "You saw -the assassin?" said the Coroner, aghast.</p> - -<p>"When I entered the gates of The Camp at nine o'clock. He is a tall -man, with a black patch over the left eye."</p> - -<p>"A black patch!" cried Mrs. Snow, rising, much excited. "Colonel Hall -was also murdered by a man with a black patch. I swear it."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">CHAPTER VIII</a></h4> - -<h5>THE WILL</h5> -<br> - -<p>The words rang piercingly through a dead silence. Beatrice, startled -by persistent introduction of a bygone crime, stared at the lean-faced -woman who made the outcry. The Coroner blinked furiously, and nursed -his chin in his hand, considering what to say and what to do. Finally, -he made up his mind to rebuke Mrs. Snow. "You have given your -evidence," said he, frowning a trifle, "and now you must be silent."</p> - -<p>"You should note what I have told you," said Mrs. Snow calmly, but her -bosom heaved impatiently; "the one crime may help the other."</p> - -<p>"As how?" asked the Coroner politely.</p> - -<p>"Because you may strike down two birds with one stone."</p> - -<p>"I should rather put it, if what you say is true, Mrs. Snow, that we -may strike down one bird with two stones. I understand that you say the -man who murdered Colonel Hall--I remember him well--also murdered Mr. -Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"You heard what Miss Hedge said about the black patch, Dr. Arne: and -you know that Colonel Hall's throat was also cut.</p> - -<p>"There was some stealing also," said Dr. Arne musingly, "which makes -the parallel more complete."</p> - -<p>"There was a diamond necklace stolen," said Mrs. Snow quietly; "at -least I remember that. I was not married then, and Mrs. Hall was my -dear friend."</p> - -<p>"I never saw her," said the Coroner coldly, and a trifle rudely. "All -this is not to the point--Miss Hedge, will you go on?"</p> - -<p>"What would you have me tell you?" asked the witness, who had been -listening eagerly to Mrs. Snow's account of the earlier crime.</p> - -<p>"How could you see this man, seeing that the night was dark and very -stormy?"</p> - -<p>"I saw his face in a flash of lightning," explained Beatrice, and -then related the momentary meeting. But she suppressed the fact that -on the same night she had met Vivian under the Witches' Oak. It was -not pertinent to the case, she thought. Moreover, with the knowledge -of whose handkerchief was in her pocket, she thought it best to keep -Paslow's name out of the matter.</p> - -<p>"The gates were open?" asked the Coroner, when she ended.</p> - -<p>"Wide open."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny had the key, I believe?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; but that key was not on the ring to which the others were -attached. It hung on the wall."</p> - -<p>"Along with the key of the smaller gate," put in Durban.</p> - -<p>Then Inspector Jones spoke. "The key of the large gate," said he, "I -found in the lock the next morning, where it had been left."</p> - -<p>"The man with the black patch closed the large gate after him, as he -ran out," said Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Ah! then, probably he opened the gate from the inside, and when he met -you he was too startled to take it out of the lock.--And the smaller -key--that belonging to the little gate, Mr. Inspector?"</p> - -<p>"It is hanging on the wall of the counting-house now."</p> - -<p>Beatrice started, and grasped the chair near which she stood to keep -herself from falling. Vivian had picked up the key when she dropped it -under the Witches' Oak. He must have replaced it in the counting-house -himself, when he was inside. He had also left the handkerchief which -she had in her pocket. Surely he was guilty, and yet--and yet--oh! it -was too terrible. A word from the Coroner recalled her.</p> - -<p>"You look pale, Miss Hedge?" he remarked suspiciously.</p> - -<p>"And no wonder," said the girl faintly; "the whole affair is so very -terrible."</p> - -<p>"Well, well!" said Arne, relenting, and believing this excuse, which -was feasible enough. "I shan't keep you much longer. Why did you not -see Mr. Alpenny on that night?"</p> - -<p>"I have told you: the note----"</p> - -<p>"Ah! yes. I was about to remark on that when you spoke last--Mr. -Inspector, why has not this note been put in evidence?"</p> - -<p>Inspector Jones, with profuse apologies, laid the note on the table.</p> - -<p>"I quite forgot," he said, looking ashamed, "but here it is. As you -will see, Mr. Alpenny says that he is going away for three days."</p> - -<p>"Where did you find the note, Miss Hedge?"</p> - -<p>"Beside my bed on that night. I naturally thought that, as the light -was out in the counting-house, and the note explained, that Mr. Alpenny -had gone away as he intended."</p> - -<p>"Quite right--very natural--hum--hum. When you found the body"--he -spoke to Durban--"what clothes was it dressed in?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny always wore one suit," and Durban explained the -old-fashioned dress; "but when I found the body, it was clothed in a -loose cloak which he used to wear in rough weather."</p> - -<p>"And a hat?"</p> - -<p>"The hat was on the desk, sir."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Dr. Arne thoughtfully; "then it would seem that he was -struck down, just as he was going up to town. Could Mr. Alpenny have -caught a train so late?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir, if he left The Camp at nine o'clock. There was a train at -half-past ten to Brighton; and he could have caught a late one on the -main line, or he could have stopped at Brighton all night. He sometimes -did."</p> - -<p>"It is nearly three miles to our local station," said Dr. Arne. "Could -an old man like Mr. Alpenny walk that distance?"</p> - -<p>"He often did," declared Durban emphatically; "he had a wonderful -constitution, had the master."</p> - -<p>"Marvellous vitality," cried Dr. Herman from his seat, and was rebuked -by his enemy the Coroner.</p> - -<p>Arne asked a few more questions, and then addressed the jury. He -pointed out that, on the evidence before them, they could not arrive at -any conclusion as to who was the actual murderer.</p> - -<p>"The man who murdered Colonel Hall," cried Mrs. Snow.</p> - -<p>"Quite so," said the Coroner smoothly; "but that man escaped, and was -never discovered. If it is the same man--and certainly, Mrs. Snow, it -seems as though your surmise is right--he may escape again. Mr. Alpenny -apparently was about to start on his journey, after leaving the note -for Miss Hedge, and probably was turning over some necessary papers, -when he was struck down. Regarding the locked door, I can offer no -explanation: nor have the police been able to find this masked man, -who assuredly must be the assassin. The case is full of mystery, and I -do not see what can be done, save that the jury should return an open -verdict."</p> - -<p>He made a few more observations, but what he said was not very much -to the point. The jury--what else could be done?--returned a verdict -of murder against a person or persons unknown, with an observation to -the effect that the police should hunt down the man with the black -patch. This last remark was rather irregular; but, to say the truth, -everyone was so puzzled over the aspect of the case that no one had any -very clear idea of what to say or do. However, the verdict--such as it -was--resolved itself into the terms above stated, and the jury betook -themselves severally to their homes, there to puzzle over the matter. -Beatrice went back to The Camp with Durban, and both felt glad that the -corpse was still left in an outhouse of the hotel. Neither wished that -gruesome relic of mortality to remain in The Camp.</p> - -<p>"That is all right, missy," said Durban, when the two were walking -along the lane towards The Camp; "master will be buried to-morrow, and -we won't think of him any more."</p> - -<p>"I'll never get the sight of that body out of my head," said Beatrice, -with a shudder. "Durban, who could have killed him?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot say, missy," said the half-caste stolidly; "you heard what -evidence I gave."</p> - -<p>"Yes. But did you speak truly?"</p> - -<p>"I spoke what I spoke," said Durban sullenly; "the least said, the -soonest mended."</p> - -<p>Beatrice felt a qualm of terror at the memory of the replaced key and -the handkerchief in her pocket. "Then you have some idea who killed Mr. -Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"No, I have not, missy--that is, I cannot lay my finger on the man."</p> - -<p>"Then it was a man?"</p> - -<p>"It might have been two men or three, missy. Master had dealings with -very strange and dangerous people: I don't wonder he was killed. And," -cried the half-caste, stopping to emphasise his words, "if I knew who -killed him, I would shake that man's hand."</p> - -<p>"Durban! Why, in Heaven's name?"</p> - -<p>"Because--because--missy," he broke off abruptly, "let the past alone, -my dear young lady. Mr. Alpenny was a bad man, and came to a deserved -end. I did not kill him, you did not kill him, so we had better think -no more of him. When he is buried, you will have the money, and then -you can marry Mr. Paslow and be happy."</p> - -<p>"I shall never marry Mr. Paslow--never, never," cried Beatrice -bitterly, and lifted a wan face to the mocking blue sky.</p> - -<p>"But he loves you."</p> - -<p>"And I love him. All the same--Durban," she broke off in her turn, "I -want to hear all you know about Mr. Paslow.</p> - -<p>"I know nothing, missy," said Durban, looking profoundly surprised; "he -is poor but good-hearted, and I like him."</p> - -<p>"You don't think that he--he would commit a crime?" asked Miss Hedge -faintly, and clinging to the servant.</p> - -<p>"No!" cried Durban, with great assurance. "What makes you think that?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny said----"</p> - -<p>Durban did not give her time to finish. "Master would accuse any one of -anything, to gain his ends," he said quietly. "He did not wish you to -marry Mr. Paslow, because it was to his interest that you should marry -Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"So he said. Do you know this Major?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Durban, with some hesitation, "and a wicked man he is. If -he comes to marry you, missy, tell Mr. Paslow, and he'll settle him."</p> - -<p>"I don't expect that I shall see Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"I don't know," muttered the servant doubtfully; "the Major won't let -you slip through his fingers if he can help it."</p> - -<p>"Durban, you seem to know much that you will not tell me?"</p> - -<p>"I do know a lot; but it is useless to tell you, missy."</p> - -<p>"Not even about Colonel Hall's death, Durban?"</p> - -<p>The half-caste turned green, and winced. "Not even about that, missy," -he said coldly. "Get the money, marry Mr. Paslow, and go away from this -place."</p> - -<p>"Do you think Mrs. Snow is right?" persisted Beatrice, wondering at his -nervous looks. "Did the man who killed Colonel Hall, kill Mr.----"</p> - -<p>"I don't know--I can't say," interrupted Durban, gloomily; "it might -have been another one of them."</p> - -<p>"Are there then two men who wear black patches over the----"</p> - -<p>Durban clenched his long, nervous hand. "You'll drive me mad with these -questions," he said fiercely, and with less of his usual respect. "I -tell you, missy, I know much, and yet I know nothing which it would do -any good for you to hear. I have watched over you in the past, and I -shall watch over you in the future. You have been surrounded by devils. -Master was the worst; but now that he is dead, all danger is at an end. -You have the money, and you can go away."</p> - -<p>"You speak in riddles."</p> - -<p>"Let them remain riddles if you have any love for me," said Durban -moodily; and Beatrice, although anxious to hear more, held her peace.</p> - -<p>After all, she had her own cross to bear. In some way Vivian was mixed -up with this horrible crime. He could not possibly be guilty of it, in -spite of the evidence. Moreover, Mrs. Snow said that the assassin was -the same as he who had killed Colonel Hall, which would put Vivian's -innocence beyond a doubt. In spite of her desire to obey Durban to whom -she owed so much, Beatrice had to insist on an answer to this question. -"I won't ask you anything more," she said to the sullen man--and he -<i>was</i> sullen--"only this: Is the assassin of Colonel Hall the assassin -of Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"I think so," muttered the man, "but I cannot be sure."</p> - -<p>"You must be sure, for my peace of mind, Durban."</p> - -<p>"Your peace of mind, missy?" he asked, surprised.</p> - -<p>"Yes. I must tell you, as I know you will hold your tongue. But I -think--I believe--no, I don't: but I fancy, that is. Durban"--she -caught the man's shoulders and shook him in the roadway--"did Vivian -Paslow murder Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"Missy!" Durban looked startled, but his eyes sparkled. "No! no! One -thousand times no! What makes you think that?"</p> - -<p>"The handkerchief--the key," and Beatrice, producing the handkerchief, -told Durban the whole of what had happened. "And I am thankful that -Mrs. Snow did not see me pick it up," she finished.</p> - -<p>"Wait till we get to The Camp, missy," said the old servant kindly, and -led her along the short distance that intervened between where they -had stopped and The Camp itself. Once there, Durban took her to the -parlour-carriage and went away. He returned with some orange-blossom -water, which is a good nerve tonic, and made her take it. When the girl -was more composed, he stood before her with raised finger.</p> - -<p>"Missy," he said gravely, "I have been, and I am, a good friend to you."</p> - -<p>"Yes--yes, I know you are," she said, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>"The reason of my fidelity you shall know some day," he went on, "and -a good reason it is. But you must ask me no more questions until I -voluntarily tell you all that it is needful you should know. With -regard to Mr. Paslow, you can set your mind at rest. He is quite -innocent. The handkerchief you found was left behind by him on the day -he had that quarrel with Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"Are you sure?"</p> - -<p>"I am absolutely certain. I saw it on master's desk when I went in to -get that letter which I was to take to town. As to the key, I got it -from Mr. Paslow himself."</p> - -<p>"When did you see him?"</p> - -<p>"Later on in the day--on that day when we found out the murder," -explained Durban fluently. "I went outside, and found that Mr. Paslow -was coming in, to see if you had got home safely. He told me that he -possessed the key of the small gate, which you had dropped, and gave -it to me. I replaced it on the nail in the counting-house, where the -Inspector found it. Mr. Paslow went to London whenever he heard of the -crime, and at my request."</p> - -<p>"But why, Durban?" asked Beatrice, relieved to find that Vivian had not -been so callous or neglectful as she had thought.</p> - -<p>"I wanted him to see Mr. Alpenny's lawyer, and look after the will," -said Durban steadily. "He wanted to see you; I would not allow that, as -you were quite worried enough."</p> - -<p>"But the sight of Vivian would have done me good," protested the poor -girl faintly, for she was quite worn out.</p> - -<p>"I can see that now," said Durban regretfully, "but I thought at the -time that it was wiser to keep you quiet. If I had thought that you -suspected him, I should have spoken before: but you never mentioned his -name, so I deemed it best to be silent. But he is perfectly innocent, -and, when he comes back, will be able to tell you where he went after -he left you on that night. Meanwhile he is seeing after the will."</p> - -<p>"Is there any need?"</p> - -<p>"Every need. I tell you, missy, that even though Mr. Alpenny is dead, -you are surrounded by scoundrels. But if you get the money--and master -swore to me that he would leave you the fortune--you will be absolutely -safe."</p> - -<p>"From what, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"From the wicked schemes of these people. Major Ruck----" Here Durban -checked himself and spoke softly and soothingly. "There! there, missy, -ask no more questions. Some day your foolish, old, silly Durban will -make things plain. Just now, think only that you will be rich, that you -will marry Mr. Paslow, and that everything will go well with you."</p> - -<p>Beatrice raised her arms, and dropped them with a helpless air. She -seemed to be more than ever surrounded by mysteries, and Durban, who -was able to explain, insisted upon holding his tongue. At all events, -her mind was set at rest regarding the honesty of Vivian; and she -thought it best to take the old servant's advice, and possess her soul -in patience until such time as he chose to tell her the truth, whatever -that might be. But it was all very puzzling, and her head ached with -the effort to think matters out. After a time Durban persuaded her to -lie down, which she did very willingly, being quite prostrate after the -terrors of the past few days.</p> - -<p>She fell into an uneasy doze, and was awakened by the sound of a -much-loved voice. At once she put on her dressing-gown and opened the -door. Vivian, looking weary and dispirited, was talking to Durban near -at hand, where she could overhear plainly.</p> - -<p>"Yes," he was saying, "Beatrice gets nothing. All the money--quite -twenty thousand a year--has been left by Alpenny to Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"Lady Watson!" cried Beatrice, opening the door; "my mother's friend?"</p> - -<p>Vivian turned away. Durban changed to his usual green pallor, and -seemed deeply agitated.</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Durban, "your mother's friend." He paused, and then spat on -the ground. "Curse her!" said Durban fiercely.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">CHAPTER IX</a></h4> - -<h5>LADY WATSON</h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice stared. At Vivian's grey drawn face, bereft of youth, and at -Durban's savage green countenance, she looked spell-bound. A pause -ensued. Beatrice did not know what to make of the men: Paslow's averted -looks, and worn paleness; Durban's curse for Lady Watson. Would the -fact that she did not inherit the money account for such emotions? She -thought not, and so requested information.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" she asked, looking from one to the other; but she looked -longest at Vivian.</p> - -<p>"You have heard, missy," said Durban, recovering himself somewhat. "We -have lost the money."</p> - -<p>"I can bear that, if I lose nothing else," said Beatrice, her eyes -still on Paslow's grey face.</p> - -<p>"But that she should get it!" cried Durban, shaking impotent fists -in the air, "after all she has done. And I can do nothing to force -her to be fair. Who would have thought the foul old thief would have -squandered his gold on her silly face? I could----" Here he caught -sight of the frightened looks of Beatrice, and let his hands fall. As -he walked past Vivian towards the kitchen, he breathed a sentence in -the young man's ear. "She may know much," said Durban imperatively, -"but not all."</p> - -<p>"Great Heaven! Could I tell her all, do you think?" groaned the man.</p> - -<p>Beatrice caught the drift, if not the exact words of these whispers, -and came towards Vivian. Durban was already within the kitchen, and -had shut the door. The two were alone--she eager to know the worst; -he silent, and tortured with much that he could not explain. "Vivian, -Vivian," she continued, and laid her hand on his arm. He shook it off -with a shudder. "My dear!" said Beatrice, shrinking back; "oh! my -dear," and she stared with fast-locked hands.</p> - -<p>"Not that," whispered the man, with dry lips. "You might have called me -so when we stood under the Witches' Oak, but now"--he made a despairing -gesture--"that is all at an end."</p> - -<p>"Do you take back your proposal of marriage?" asked the girl, colouring.</p> - -<p>"I do, because I must." Vivian looked at her hungrily, as though he -would have given his life to take her in his arms--as was, indeed, the -case. "If I did not love you so much," he said hoarsely, "I would lie; -but loving you as I do, I must speak the truth."</p> - -<p>"The whole of it?" she asked bitterly.</p> - -<p>"So much as I may tell Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"Miss Hedge?"</p> - -<p>"I have no right to call you otherwise now," said Paslow sadly. "I told -you of a bar which prevented my asking you to be my wife?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and you said that it had been removed."</p> - -<p>"I was wrong. It is not removed. I had no right to speak."</p> - -<p>"What is this bar?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot tell you, Beatrice." He caught suddenly at her hands. "If -I could lie down and die at your dear feet, I would, for my heart is -sick within me. I have sinned, and bitterly I am paying for my sin. -When I spoke to you under the oak, I was then able to be your true -lover, and hoped to be your loving husband. But now"--he flung away her -hands--"that barrier which I thought removed, is still between us. I am -not a free agent. I dare not ask you to be my wife."</p> - -<p>"But you have asked me, and I have consented," she panted, red with -shame and anger. "Why are you playing with me like this?"</p> - -<p>"Why are the gods playing with both of us, you mean," he said, with a -mirthless laugh. "Were you and I on the other side of the world, we -might be happy--and yet, even then it would be impossible. I love you, -but you have every right to hate me."</p> - -<p>"I don't understand one word you are talking about," said Beatrice -sharply, and tried to resolve some sense out of his wild words. "Is it -that you committed this crime?"</p> - -<p>"I!" He started back amazed. "Beatrice, I may be bad, but I am not so -evil as that. I hated Alpenny, and had every reason to hate him, but -I never laid a finger on the poor wretch. I did not kill him myself, -nor can I tell you who killed him. Ah," he went on, half to himself, -"Durban said something of this--about the key of the small gate--but he -explained."</p> - -<p>"Is what he said true?"</p> - -<p>"Perfectly true. I am innocent. It is not the murder that is a bar to -divide us. I could face that out; but there are other things which -prevent my being a free agent."</p> - -<p>"Have you a master, then?"</p> - -<p>"I have those about me who know too much," said Vivian fiercely, "and -if anything would make me stain my hands with blood, it would be the -knowledge that I am the sport of thieves and vagabonds. How it will -all end I do not know--for me, that is. But for you, my best and -dearest"--he made a step forward, but she evaded him.--"for you, I know -the end. You must come to Convent Grange and----"</p> - -<p>"Go to the Grange, after what you have said?" she flamed out.</p> - -<p>"I shall not trouble you. I shall go to town. You can stay with Dinah -and with Mrs. Lilly for a time. Then Durban and I will see if we cannot -get you some money from Mrs.--that is, from Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"Why should she give it to me?" asked Beatrice, shrugging.</p> - -<p>"Because"--he began, then ended abruptly--"I cannot tell you."</p> - -<p>"Vivian"--Beatrice moved swiftly forward and laid a firm hand on his -shoulder--"I do not understand all this. Mr. Alpenny, poor wretch, -hinted at crimes on your part."</p> - -<p>"Do you believe him?" asked Vivian, turning his haggard young face -towards her.</p> - -<p>"No," she said firmly. "I love you too well for that."</p> - -<p>"God bless you!" A tear dropped on the hand, which he kissed.</p> - -<p>She drew it away. "But you are not open with me; you are not honest -with me. If you have troubles, I have a right to share them. Tell me of -this barrier."</p> - -<p>"No," said Vivian firmly. "I cannot. I dare not. All I can say is that -the barrier may be removed in time. Only trust me."</p> - -<p>"Has the barrier to do with this crime?"</p> - -<p>"In some ways."</p> - -<p>"And with the death of Colonel Hall?"</p> - -<p>"What do you know of that?" asked Paslow, amazed.</p> - -<p>"Very little; but Mrs. Snow hinted----"</p> - -<p>"That woman! She'll make mischief if she can. Don't trust her. She -hates you, Beatrice."</p> - -<p>"Why should she? I hardly know her."</p> - -<p>"But she knows you--that is, she knows of you. To explain what it -all means would be to tell you much that I would rather you did not -know--that you must never know."</p> - -<p>"I am not a child----"</p> - -<p>"You are the woman I love, and therefore I shall not allow your mind -to be tainted with--with--with what I could tell you," he ended rather -weakly.</p> - -<p>Beatrice reflected for a few minutes. Apparently Vivian was in some -trouble connected with other people; possibly--as she guessed--with -those scoundrels who surrounded Alpenny, and of whom Durban had talked. -For some reason, which she could not guess, he was trying to keep -from her things which were vile and evil. She could not think how a -young country squire could be involved in Alpenny's rogueries--which -it seemed he was. And then his--but she gave up trying to solve the -problem on such evidence as was before her. It only remained that she -should use her own eyes, her own intelligence, and maybe, sooner or -later, she would arrive at an understanding of things. Then, perhaps, -she would be enabled to remove this barrier which stood between them. -Strange though Paslow's conduct was, and open to dire suspicion, she -still loved him, and knew in her heart of hearts that she would love -him until he died. This being the case, she made up her mind with the -swiftness of a woman who is fighting for what she loves best, and -looked at him searchingly. He was watching her with anxious eyes, but -shifted his gaze to the ground when she looked at him.</p> - -<p>"Will you answer me a few questions?" she asked quietly.</p> - -<p>"If I can," he replied, hesitating.</p> - -<p>Her lip curled in spite of herself. "You need not be afraid. I shall -respect your secret, whatever it is--for the present, that is. -Meanwhile, perhaps you will tell me if you know who killed Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"No. I told you before that I did not know."</p> - -<p>"Have you any suspicion?"</p> - -<p>"Not even a suspicion," he answered frankly, and he looked at her as he -spoke, so serenely, that she believed him.</p> - -<p>"Will you tell me about Colonel Hall's murder?"</p> - -<p>"I know very little about it. I was a child at the time. Mrs. Lilly can -tell you anything you wish to know. Why do you ask?"</p> - -<p>"Because, from what Mrs. Snow said, I believe that the first murder of -Colonel Hall is connected with the second murder of Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe that," muttered Vivian, uneasily.</p> - -<p>"I do. The murders--both of them--were committed by the man with the -black patch. What do you know of that?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing, save that I used the words to frighten Alpenny, and found -them on the paper laid on my desk."</p> - -<p>"Do you know who laid that paper there?"</p> - -<p>"I have not the least idea. The desk is near the window, and that was -open. Any one could have passed the paper through the window. I asked -Dinah and Mrs. Lilly, but neither one of them knew how the paper came -to be there."</p> - -<p>"If you remember," continued Beatrice slowly, "Mr. Alpenny muttered -something about it being the third time. Well, then, I truly believe -that the words you used unconsciously were a warning. Twice he was -warned, and on the third warning he expected to be killed. That was -why, I believe, he arranged to go up to town, when he was struck down. -You were used by someone as the unconscious instrument to give him the -warning."</p> - -<p>"I might have been, but----"</p> - -<p>"That is," she added, coming so close to him that he felt her breath on -his cheek, "if you really and truly are ignorant of the meaning of the -words."</p> - -<p>"I swear that I am," stammered Vivian, turning red. "Then your secret -has nothing to do with the black patch?"</p> - -<p>"No. I am as puzzled as you are over that. Well?"</p> - -<p>"Well," said Beatrice, looking over her shoulder--she had moved towards -the door of her bedroom as he spoke--"I intend to go to the Grange, and -I do not care whether you stop there or not. The worst is over now. I -know that you love me----"</p> - -<p>"God knows that I do," he said hurriedly.</p> - -<p>"And He knows that I love you," she went on steadily. "I don't care -what crimes you have committed, or what stops you from again asking me -to be your wife. I love you, and I intend to marry you----"</p> - -<p>"Beatrice!"</p> - -<p>She threw up her hand to keep him at his distance. "Wait! I intend to -solve the mystery of these murders myself. The two are connected; and -when I find out who killed these two men, I shall be able to marry you. -Is that not so?"</p> - -<p>"Possibly--that is----"</p> - -<p>"You need say no more. Tell Dinah that I shall come to the Grange this -evening. For the present, good-day." And she went in and shut the door.</p> - -<p>Paslow stood where he was for a moment, then flung himself forward -to kiss the wood of the door. "Oh! my love--my love--my heart!" he -murmured; "what a dreary, weary way you have marked out for yourself. -But I shall follow you along the path of shadows, and perhaps we two -will emerge at length into the sunshine."</p> - -<p>He turned away, and, passing the kitchen carriage, knocked at the door -sharply. Durban appeared. "I heard everything," said the servant, who -was now more composed.</p> - -<p>"And what do you say, knowing what you do know?"</p> - -<p>"I say, let missy go on. It may be that God intends her to learn the -truth, and right matters."</p> - -<p>"But Lady Watson has the money," Vivian reminded him.</p> - -<p>"She has everything," said Durban bitterly; "she always did have -everything." Then, with an afterthought, "But what she really wanted, -she never got, Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"And what was that?"</p> - -<p>"Never mind. Least said, soonest mended. I will tell missy nothing, and -you must hold your tongue also. Only let us guard her from danger."</p> - -<p>"I don't think there is danger for her, Durban."</p> - -<p>"Ah--hum--one never knows. There are those--but no matter. Let her -go her ways. It may be that she may learn the truth, and put things -straight."</p> - -<p>"She can never put them straight for me," said Vivian bitterly.</p> - -<p>"I can do that," said Durban. "Let missy go to the Grange. I go to -London. You will have news from me."</p> - -<p>Paslow caught his arm as he turned to go. "You will not----"</p> - -<p>"I am too fond of my neck for that," said Durban, and went into his -kitchen, while Vivian, full of sore thoughts and yet with a certain -glimmer of hope, now that Beatrice was to take a hand in the game, went -home to Dinah.</p> - -<p>Beatrice packed her boxes and got ready to go. By five o'clock she was -hatted and cloaked, and a trap was waiting at the gates to take her -to Convent Grange along with her luggage. Alpenny was to be buried on -the morrow, but it was just as well that Miss Hedge should leave The -Camp to-night. But she was not to go yet for an hour, for scarcely had -she reached the open gates, when a small lady, fashionably dressed, -entered, and came straight towards her. When Durban saw her, he -frowned. "Lady Watson!" he breathed in the ear of his young mistress.</p> - -<p>"She seems anxious to take possession of her property," said the girl -bitterly, and looked carefully at the woman who had supplanted her in -the race for Alpenny's wealth.</p> - -<p>Lady Watson looked--in the distance--like a child, so small and -delicate and slender did she appear. But when she came close, which -she did, with an engaging smile, Beatrice saw that her face was -covered with innumerable fine wrinkles, and that she was painted and -powdered, and made up--as the saying is--to within an inch of her -life. Her hair was dyed a golden colour; she wore a veil to hide the -too obvious make-up of her face; and the only young thing about her -were a pair of sparkling eyes, of a bright brown. At one time she had -been--without the aid of art--an extremely pretty woman: even now--with -the aid of art--she looked attractive and youthful, providing she was -looked at from a safe distance, like an oil-painting. Her dress was -ultra-fashionable, and she wore it with the air of a woman accustomed -to spend no end of money in drapers' shops. Her teeth were good, but -probably were false, as was her smile. Beatrice, a straightforward -person herself, took an instinctive dislike to this gushing little mass -of affectation, which came mincing towards her. She had no wish to -cultivate the acquaintance. But Lady Watson gave her no time to express -her dislike, either by looks or in words.</p> - -<p>"My dear child--my sweet Beatrice," she cried, in a rather shrill -voice, and sailing forward with eager, outstretched hands, "how glad I -am to see you at last! That dreadful Mr. Alpenny--he never would allow -me to come and see you, although I was your mother's dearest--very -dearest and closest friend. But then the poor creature is dead; and he -really wasn't a nice person, when all is said and done."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Snow told me that you were my mother's friend," replied Beatrice -gravely, and surrendering her hands to the eager grasp. "I am glad to -see you, as I wish to talk about my mother."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" Lady Watson started, and cast a suspicious look on the grave -young face. "Then you are not glad to see me on my own account?"</p> - -<p>"I scarcely know you, Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"Ah, but you will soon. I am a very easy person to get on with, as -Durban knows. Dear old Durban"--she turned a smiling glance at the -half-caste, who looked gloomily at the ground--"he is as young as -ever.--It is long since we met, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Very long, madam," said Durban coldly, his eyes still on the ground, -and Beatrice saw his hands opening and shutting as though he could -scarcely keep them from Lady Watson's throat.</p> - -<p>"Well, well, we won't talk of the past just yet--it is unpleasant, my -dear Durban," and she gave a pretty little shudder. Durban made no -reply in words, but, raising his eyes, looked at her meaningly. She -shuddered again, this time with genuine terror, and turned pale under -her rouge. Beatrice wondered what secret there could be between the -two--the fashionable lady and the poor servant.</p> - -<p>"Still the same gloomy thing," tittered Lady Watson, passing her flimsy -handkerchief across a pair of dry lips; "you always were, you know, -Durban. The Colonel--but there"--as Durban looked at her again--"we'll -not talk of the past, but of the future.--Of course, dear Miss Hedge, -you know that poor Mr. Alpenny left me his money?"</p> - -<p>"I understand so," said Beatrice coldly.</p> - -<p>"And, naturally, you are annoyed?"</p> - -<p>"No. Before his death Mr. Alpenny gave me to understand that he would -not leave me any money. You perhaps had a greater claim on him than I, -Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>The other tittered, and avoided Durban's eyes. "Oh dear me, no. The -poor creature--Mr. Alpenny, you know--was in love with me ages and -ages ago, long before I married Sir Reginald. But Reginald is dead, -and so is Mr. Alpenny--everyone seems to die--so dreadful, you know, -Miss Hedge--or rather I should say Beatrice. I shall call you Beatrice, -since we are to be friends, and live together."</p> - -<p>"Live together?"</p> - -<p>"Oh! haven't I told you? I am such a feather-head. Yes. Whenever I -found that poor Mr. Alpenny--queer creature, wasn't he?--had left me -his money, I said I would come down and ask you to be my companion--my -child, in fact, if I may put it so. You shall have everything you want. -I must have someone to look after the house, as the servants are so -tiresome, and I am a lonely woman without a chick or child."</p> - -<p>"Miss Hedge is going to Convent Grange," said Durban thickly.</p> - -<p>Lady Watson started and again turned pale. "That horrid place!" she -said faintly.</p> - -<p>"Why do you call it that?" asked Beatrice quickly.</p> - -<p>"There was a horrid murder committed there ages ago. I was in the house -at the time, and----"</p> - -<p>"Madam," interposed Durban sharply; "please do not tell Miss Hedge -anything more. She has had enough horrors for the time being."</p> - -<p>Lady Watson looked straight at Durban, and he looked straight at her. -The situation was adjusted between them without words, and although -Beatrice protested that she wished to hear about the earlier crime, the -frivolous little woman declined to say another word.</p> - -<p>"How can one talk of such things in the midst of such lovely scenery -as you have here?" she cried, and put up a tortoise-shell lorgnette -to survey The Camp. "Quite delicious. I shall make this a kind of -country-house. So odd, you know, with all these railway carriages. -Dear Mr. Alpenny! he was so very queer in his tastes. But I'll come -here with you, dearest Beatrice, and we'll garden and live like -milkmaids--like Marie Antoinette, you know. Rural life--delicious."</p> - -<p>"I am going to live at the Grange, Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"But I want you to be my companion. I insist." Lady Watson spoke with -some sharpness, as apparently she was a lady not accustomed to be -thwarted in her wishes.</p> - -<p>"I have arranged to live at the Grange," said Beatrice, and Durban -nodded his approval; "for a time, that is. Afterwards, I intend to go -out as a governess."</p> - -<p>"What! With that face and figure? You foolish girl, I won't allow it. -You must enter society on my money--or rather on that poor creature's, -Alpenny's, money--and marry and----"</p> - -<p>"I don't think you have any right to tell me what to do, Lady Watson," -said Beatrice, annoyed by this imperious air.</p> - -<p>"As your mother's dearest friend?"</p> - -<p>"I don't recognise that as an authority. But if you will give me your -address in town, I'll come and see you and talk about my dear mother. I -want to know everything about her."</p> - -<p>"I can tell you nothing," said Lady Watson tartly; "that is, I won't, -unless you come as my companion."</p> - -<p>"Lady Watson, I thank you very much for your offer; but I go to the -Grange, and as I am already overdue, I must leave you now. Good-day."</p> - -<p>She held out her hand, which Lady Watson waved aside. "You provoking -girl, I won't say good-day. I am stopping with Mrs. Snow, and will -come and see you at the Grange. Give me a kiss"; and before Beatrice -could stop her, Lady Watson kissed her warmly. When the little woman -drew back, Beatrice saw to her surprise that the bright brown eyes were -filled with tears.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">CHAPTER X</a></h4> - -<h5>MRS. LILLY'S STORY</h5> -<br> - -<p>The funeral was over, and Jarvis Alpenny was buried beside the -wife whom--according to rumour--he had so cruelly neglected. The -excitement about his mysterious death was apparently buried with him, -and Hurstable again became a somnolent hamlet, devoid of news and -intelligence. In spite of every effort, the police were unable to trace -the man with the black patch. No one seemed to know anything about him, -and he had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed -him up. The local and London papers made their usual crass remarks -about the inactivity and uselessness of the police, and, save in a rare -paragraph, ceased to notice the matter. The murder was only a nine -hours' wonder after all.</p> - -<p>Lady Watson went away from the Rectory without calling upon Beatrice, -as she had promised. Perhaps this was because she had unpleasant -recollections of Convent Grange, or perhaps on account of a short -conversation she had with Durban after Beatrice left The Camp. But -whatever might be her reason, she did not again ask Miss Hedge to -become her companion, nor did she call or even write. With her twenty -thousand a year she returned to London, and left The Camp in charge of -Durban, who still continued to inhabit his old quarters. Sometimes he -came over to see Beatrice, and appeared to be more devoted than ever -to the girl. But he said nothing about the various mysteries he had -hinted at, nor did Beatrice inquire very closely what they might be. -She saw very plainly that both Durban and Vivian were determined that -she should know as little as possible--for what reason she could not -imagine--and therefore, in pursuance of her determination, she cast -about to find some path which might lead to a discovery of the truth, -whatever that might be. She wished to learn who had killed Alpenny, and -thought that, by examining into his past life, she might be able to -learn something of his enemies. Once she discovered who disliked him, -and the reason of such dislike, she fancied that she might lay her hand -on the assassin. But there was no one to tell her of Alpenny's past, as -both Durban and Vivian kept silent. But as, according to Mrs. Snow, the -murderer of Colonel Hall was the assassin of Jarvis Alpenny, Beatrice -determined to learn all she could about the earlier crime, in the hope -that her discoveries in that direction might enable her to elucidate -the mystery of the later murder.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Lilly was the best person to apply to for a history of Colonel -Hall's untimely fate, as she had been housekeeper to the Paslows for -many, many years. Beatrice, during the first fortnight of her stay, -hinted that she would like to hear about the tragedy, and Mrs. Lilly, -after some hesitation, promised to tell her what she knew. Accordingly, -Beatrice, two weeks after the burial of her stepfather, was seated in -the Grange garden waiting for the housekeeper. Mrs. Lilly had first -to attend to her work, but promised that as soon as it was ended she -would come out and chat. As Dinah had gone over to the Rectory to see -Mrs. Snow, Beatrice was quite alone. She did not count Vivian, as he -scarcely stopped an entire day at the Grange, and very rarely a night. -Some business took him constantly to London, but what it might be the -girl could not guess. After that abrupt conversation in The Camp, the -two said very little to one another. It was a strange wooing, and -extremely unsatisfactory.</p> - -<p>The garden of Convent Grange was delightful, as was the house, although -both were somewhat dilapidated. The ancient red brick mansion had -been--as Mrs. Snow had informed Beatrice--a convent in the reign of -that arch-iconoclast, Henry VIII. When his greedy hand was laid upon -ecclesiastical property, he had bestowed the convent on Amyas Paslow, -who promptly turned out the nuns, to house himself and his family. -But there was some curse on the place and on the race, for the family -never prospered overmuch, and when the property came to Vivian Paslow, -he was as poor as an English gentleman of long descent well can be. -Nevertheless, he still clung to the old mansion, although he could -have sold it at an advantageous price to an American millionaire. In -some wonderful way he managed to scrape enough money together to pay -the interest on the mortgage to Alpenny, and thus had kept a roof over -his head and that of Dinah. Lately, as he had told Beatrice under the -oak, he had inherited a small sum of money from an aunt, and thus -things were easier with him. The girl fancied that it must be business -connected with the paying-off of the mortgage that took him so often to -London; but on this point he gave her no information.</p> - -<p>The day was hot and drowsy, and Beatrice, clothed in black--for she -paid her stepfather the compliment of wearing mourning--sat on an -old stone seat, between two yew trees cut in the shape of peacocks. -Before her, on a slight rise, rose the mellow brick walls of the -Grange, covered with ivy. A terrace ran along the front of the house, -and over the door was the mouldering escutcheon of the Paslow family. -What with the queer pointed roofs, the twisted stacks of chimneys, -the diamond-paned casements, and the prim gardens, the place looked -particularly delightful. A poet could have dreamed away his days in -this rustic paradise, and Beatrice felt as though she were in the land -of the Lotus-eaters. But even as she slipped into vague dreams, she -pulled herself up, and shunned the enchanted ground. There was sterner -work to do than dreaming. Before she could become the mistress of this -castle of indolence, and wife of its master, it was necessary to lift -the cloud which rested on the place. To do so, she would have to begin -by questioning Mrs. Lilly, and impatiently awaited the arrival of that -worthy soul.</p> - -<p>Towards noon Mrs. Lilly appeared on the terrace, and sailed down the -broad garden-path between the lines of brilliant flowers. She was stout -and comely, with white hair and a winter-apple face. A very honest, -pleasant old woman was Mrs. Lilly, but behind the times. It was her -boast that she had never been away from the Weald of Sussex for one -solitary day out of a long length of years; and she had no patience--as -she frequently stated--with the new-fangled notions of modern life (of -which, it may be remarked incidentally, she knew no more than a child -unborn!). Beatrice looked at the housekeeper's worn black silk dress, -at her lace cap and voluminous apron, and acknowledged that Mrs. Lilly -was a picturesque figure, who might have stepped out of the pages of a -Christmas Number. The very model of a pompous, narrow-minded, honest, -kindly old English servant.</p> - -<p>"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Lilly, who looked on the three young people -as children and addressed them accordingly, "I've got through my work. -And a wonder it is, seeing that Polly and Molly"--these were the two -servants--"are so lazy. But I have had the rooms brushed, and the -dinner is ordered, and everything is in apple-pie order; so here I -am ready for a rest." And she sat down beside Beatrice with a groan, -remarking on the stiffness of her joints.</p> - -<p>"You won't have much rest with me, Mrs. Lilly," laughed Beatrice, who, -knowing the old lady well for some years, was quite familiar with her. -"Have you got your knitting?" Mrs. Lilly was always knitting when off -domestic duty. "Oh! here it is. Now make yourself comfortable, you dear -old thing, and talk."</p> - -<p>"What about?" asked Mrs. Lilly, mounting her spectacles, and beginning -to click the needles.</p> - -<p>"Colonel Hall's death."</p> - -<p>"Oh! my dear," said the housekeeper with dismay; "do you really wish me -to tell you about that horrid thing?"</p> - -<p>"Of course; and you promised to do so."</p> - -<p>"But wouldn't you rather hear about the ghost?" said Mrs. Lilly in -coaxing tones; "that's an old family legend, and ever so much nicer."</p> - -<p>"No. Colonel Hall's death, or nothing."</p> - -<p>"Why do you wish to know?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice evaded this question dexterously, not thinking it wise to -admit Mrs. Lilly into her confidence too largely. "Oh! Mrs. Snow talked -a lot about it at the inquest."</p> - -<p>"I heard about that, my dear. Strange that your stepfather should have -been murdered by a man with a black patch over his left eye!"</p> - -<p>"You agree with Mrs. Snow, then?"</p> - -<p>"That the same man committed the other murder?" queried Mrs. Lilly -musingly. "I can hardly say that. Certainly a black patch, that could -have been worn over an eye, was found on the grass under Colonel Hall's -window the morning after his murder, but----"</p> - -<p>"The man was not seen, then?" interrupted Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"No. Only from the presence of the black patch, the detective who -had charge of the case thought it had been worn for the purpose of -disguise. There was a great stir about the matter, as Colonel Hall was -well known as a Government official. He came from some West Indian -island, I believe, where he was Administrator or something," ended Mrs. -Lilly vaguely.</p> - -<p>"Well, then, tell me all from the beginning. Mrs. Snow has very little -to go on, if that is all about the black patch. I saw Mr. Alpenny's -murderer wearing it, you know; but neither Mrs. Snow nor any one else -saw Colonel Hall's assassin with it on."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Lilly nodded. "I heard of your experience. My dear, you should not -run about the woods at night: it isn't ladylike. I wonder you didn't -faint with horror when you saw the man!"</p> - -<p>"I should have, had I known of this theory about Colonel Hall having -been killed by such a man. As it was, I felt too worn-out to be -startled by anything. Where ignorance is bliss. Go on, Mrs. Lilly; tell -me all Mrs. Snow does <i>not</i> know."</p> - -<p>"I think she knows a very great deal," remarked the housekeeper -viciously. "I never could bear that lady--a sour, bad-tempered woman -if ever there was one. She was a governess, you know. Yes; she and -Mrs. Hall were at school together, and Mrs. Hall made her a kind of -companion. After the murder, and when Mrs. Hall went back to the West -Indies, Mrs. Snow--a Miss Duncan she was then--stopped on and married -the rector, who was a fool. I am quite sure he has regretted ever since -that he made her his wife."</p> - -<p>"I don't like Mrs. Snow myself," said Beatrice thoughtfully. "And who -is this Lady Watson who knew my mother?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot tell you. I have never set eyes on her. Some school friend -of Mrs. Snow's, I dare say. Mrs. Snow always said everybody had been -to school with her. I believe she told lies," finished Mrs. Lilly with -great contempt.</p> - -<p>"Tell me about Mrs. Hall and the Colonel?"</p> - -<p>"He was a tall, handsome man, very kind, and stately in his bearing, my -dear. Mr. Paslow--the father of Master Vivian--knew him very well, and -asked him to stop here."</p> - -<p>"With Mrs. Hall?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. But Mrs. Hall only came for one night, and that was the night of -the murder. I don't think she got on well with her husband."</p> - -<p>"What was she like to look at?"</p> - -<p>"A small dark woman, very grave, and sparing of words. I think she -had something on her mind. She seemed to be very much afraid of her -husband, and rarely spoke to him. She came down with a one-year-old -baby, and a nurse--a delicate-looking woman, far gone in consumption, -poor soul."</p> - -<p>"Just like my mother," said Beatrice; "she died of consumption, you -know, Mrs. Lilly. At least Mr. Alpenny said so."</p> - -<p>"I never saw your mother, my dear. Mr. Alpenny married a few weeks -after the murder, and took Mrs. Hedge, as I understand she was called, -to The Camp. She never came out, and no one ever saw her. When she -was buried, everyone was quite amazed to hear that Mr. Alpenny had a -wife--though, of course, it was hinted that he had married. He was -deeply in love with Mrs. Hall, you know."</p> - -<p>"Lady Watson says he was deeply in love with her."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe the man was deeply in love with any one save himself," -declared Mrs. Lilly sharply. "I detested him, and say so, even though -he is dead and your father."</p> - -<p>"My stepfather," corrected Miss Hedge. "I did not like him myself, Mrs. -Lilly. He was a cruel man."</p> - -<p>"He was, and had far too much influence with the old master. It was -then that he got the mortgage on the Grange, which is such a trouble to -Master Vivian. But perhaps Lady Watson will not be so hard to satisfy -as Mr. Alpenny, and Master Vivian may be able to arrange, as he has -inherited this little sum of money from his aunt. I wish he was clear -of all these difficulties," ended Mrs. Lilly, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>"Go on. You have not said a thing about the murder."</p> - -<p>"I wonder Durban did not tell you about the matter. He was Colonel -Hall's servant, you know."</p> - -<p>Beatrice started to her feet, quite amazed by this intelligence. "Do -you mean to say that Durban was Colonel Hall's servant?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"Didn't you hear me say so?" said Mrs. Lilly tartly.</p> - -<p>"Yes; but he never explained that to me."</p> - -<p>"There was no need to. Besides, Durban doesn't like to speak of the -murder of his master. He was the Colonel's servant, and came with him -from the West Indies. Any one can see that Durban has black blood in -him."</p> - -<p>"It is all very strange," murmured the girl, sitting down again.</p> - -<p>"Well, I thought so myself, as Durban never liked Mr. Alpenny. However, -when the Colonel was buried, and Mrs. Hall went back to the West Indies -with the baby, Durban stopped on, and when Mr. Alpenny married Mrs. -Hedge, went to serve at The Camp."</p> - -<p>"He has been a good friend to me," said Beatrice ponderingly. "I wonder -why?"</p> - -<p>"He was a good friend to your mother also, I heard. I asked Durban -about your mother's marriage, and about your real father, Mr. Hedge, -but he never would tell me anything."</p> - -<p>"It is strange,--strange," mused Beatrice, quite perplexed over this -tangled story. "And the murder?"</p> - -<p>Mrs. Lilly wasted no more time, but plunged at once into the middle of -the story, which Beatrice heard to the end without interrupting her -more than was absolutely necessary. "Colonel Hall came down here to -stop, as I said," resumed the old lady, "being a dear friend of my late -master. Durban was with him, and Mr. Alpenny was in the house at the -time. Later on, Mrs. Hall came down with the baby and the nurse, and -with Mrs. Snow, who was then Miss Duncan; but that was not for a week. -Colonel Hall had a necklace of diamonds that he had brought from the -West Indies; it was valued at ten thousand pounds, and was called the -Obi necklace, as there was some legend attached to it."</p> - -<p>"Obi is African witchcraft," said Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Like enough," said Mrs. Lilly indifferently. "Colonel Hall had a lot -to do with the black people. My master, Mr. Paslow, warned the Colonel -that he might have the necklace stolen; but the Colonel laughed at him. -It was in a green box which he kept beside his bed. The box contained -official papers, and also the Obi necklace. I understand that Colonel -Hall intended to give it to his wife; but as there was some difference -between them, he did not give it to her. But when she came down, she -asked him for it. He refused, and was sharp with her, so she went -to bed in tears. Colonel Hall also retired at ten o'clock. The next -morning he was found dead in his bed with his throat cut, and the Obi -necklace was gone."</p> - -<p>"What happened, then?" asked Beatrice, breathlessly.</p> - -<p>"The police were called in. Mrs. Hall was in a fright, and grew so -ill that she had to be taken up to town and put in some hospital. I -know that she went from one fainting fit into another, and the doctor -said that she would die unless she was taken out of the house. So she -and the baby and the nurse were bundled off to town. Mrs. Snow--Miss -Duncan, that is--stopped on with Durban. The police could find nothing."</p> - -<p>"They found the black patch?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and there were rumours of a man wearing such a patch having been -seen in the neighbourhood. Colonel Hall always slept with his window -open, as he was mad on the subject of fresh air. His bedroom was on the -first floor of the west wing, and the ivy offered a foothold to any -one who wanted to climb up. As the black patch was found on the grass -below the window, it was believed that the assassin climbed up the ivy -and tried to steal the necklace. Colonel Hall must have awakened: but -before he could give the alarm, he was stunned in some way."</p> - -<p>"Just like Mr. Alpenny," murmured Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"When he was stunned, the assassin cut the poor man's throat," -continued Mrs. Lilly, shuddering. "Ugh! it was a sight. Then the -murderer went off with the necklace. The police tried to trace him by -that, but could not do so. I expect the necklace was broken up and the -stones were sold separately."</p> - -<p>"The assassin was never caught?"</p> - -<p>"Never. And it is nearly five-and-twenty years ago, so I don't expect -he ever will be caught."</p> - -<p>"He may be, now that he has committed a second crime."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Lilly laid down her knitting and removed her spectacles. "Do you -believe it is the same man?"</p> - -<p>"The crimes are so similar, that I believe it is," said the girl -earnestly. "Colonel Hall was stunned, and then his throat was cut; -Mr. Alpenny was treated in the same way. Colonel Hall was robbed of -this necklace; Mr. Alpenny was robbed also. And yet," added Beatrice, -looking at Mrs. Lilly, "I don't believe that in either case robbery was -the motive for the crime."</p> - -<p>"What other motive could there be?" asked Mrs. Lilly, amazed.</p> - -<p>"Revenge of some sort, in both cases. Both the victims were stunned, -and so the plunder could have been easily carried off safely. But in -each case the assassin cut the throats of his victims. That looks like -revenge."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Lilly resumed her knitting and shook her head. "I can tell you -nothing more," she said, after a pause. "Orchard might know a lot--I -always thought that he did."</p> - -<p>"Who is Orchard?"</p> - -<p>"He was our butler at the time, and afterwards went to be a shepherd -on the Downs yonder," and Mrs. Lilly nodded towards the high range of -hills spreading fair and green in the sunlight.</p> - -<p>Beatrice started. "Mrs. Snow said something about that," she observed, -thoughtfully. "Why did the man become a shepherd? So odd!"</p> - -<p>"It is odd--I always thought it was odd," said Mrs. Lilly; "but, you -see, the sight of the body--Colonel Hall's body--gave poor Orchard a -kind of fit, and the doctor said he would have to live in the open air. -At all events he left the house, and when we next heard of him he was a -shepherd on the Downs. He is well known, I believe, and is alive still. -I have never seen him from that day to this, but I daresay if you went -up yonder and inquired, you would see him. He may know something more -than I do."</p> - -<p>"I shall certainly see him," said Beatrice. "I want to learn all I can -about this case."</p> - -<p>Before Mrs. Lilly could reply, a shadow fell on the sward before them. -They looked up to see a small, dirty, red-haired man leering at them in -an affable way.</p> - -<p>"Morning, lydies," said this creature; "I'm Waterloo!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">CHAPTER XI</a></h4> - -<h5>MAJOR RUCK</h5> -<br> - -<p>"A tramp!" said Mrs. Lilly, with dignified disgust. "However did he get -in here?"</p> - -<p>"I ain't no tramp, lydies," said the man, twisting a piece of straw in -his rabbit mouth. "I've got a 'ouse in town, an' a box in Scotlan', an' -a yatsh at Cowes, I 'ave. Blimme me, if I ain't a gent at large, and -devoted"--he bowed and leered--"to the genteel sect."</p> - -<p>Beatrice looked at him with a shiver. He wore a suit of clothes too -large for him, a dirty red wisp round his lean throat, and carpet -slippers bound with string to his large feet. He was of no great -height, and his shock of red hair made him look even smaller. His face -was clean-shaven, or rather it ought to have been, for apparently it -had not been touched by a razor for quite a week. Twisting the straw in -his mouth, and a ragged cricketing cap in his hairy hands, he straddled -with his short legs and leered impudently. It was the animal eyes of -the man that made Beatrice shiver: they were green and shallow, like -those of a bird, and the expression in them was evil in the extreme. -The creature evidently had been steeped in iniquity from his cradle, -and the foulness of his presence marred the perfect beauty of that -still garden sleeping in the sunshine, so clean and wholesome.</p> - -<p>"What do you want?" asked Miss Hedge sharply and shortly.</p> - -<p>"I wos jest atellin' y'," said Waterloo--as he called himself--and his -voice rasped like a file. "I wants t'see Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"He is in town," snapped Mrs. Lilly, surveying the creature with still -deeper disgust. "Have you a message for him?"</p> - -<p>Waterloo laid a warty finger on one side of his pug nose, and winked in -a horribly familiar manner. "Thet's tellin's," said he, grinning, "an' -not evin' to th' sect I'm so fond of, does I give myself away. Oh no, -not at all, by no means, you dear things."</p> - -<p>"Go away," cried Beatrice, putting her handkerchief to her nose, for -the atmosphere was tainted by the presence of the man; "if you don't, -I'll call Durban." This was a happy inspiration, as she knew that -Durban was on the premises.</p> - -<p>The man's eyes flashed still more wickedly. "Ho, yuss! by all means, -miss. Call 'im, and you'll see wot you'll see." He spat out the straw, -and produced a black pipe, which he stuck in his mouth. "I kin wyte."</p> - -<p>"You'll be ducked in the horse-pond, you beast," said Mrs. Lilly, -growing red with anger. "I'll hand you over to the police, and----"</p> - -<p>"Durban! Durban!" called out Beatrice, who caught a glimpse of the -servant round the corner of the terrace, and at once he came running -down the steps. "Who is this man, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"How dare you come here?" said Durban, advancing threateningly on the -small man, who cringed and whined. "You were told not to come here at -least a dozen times."</p> - -<p>"Lor'!" whimpered the little man, now subdued and servile; "wot a fuss -you do meke, Mr. Durban, sir. I come fur Mr. Paslow, I does."</p> - -<p>"Send him away, Durban," cried Beatrice with great disgust.</p> - -<p>Durban lifted one finger, and at once the tramp went slinking away like -a dog with its tail between its legs. And like a dog he halted at the -hedge which divided the drive from the garden, and showed his teeth in -an evil snarl. Beatrice could see the flash of white, and could guess -that he was snapping like a mad cur.</p> - -<p>"Who on earth is that?" she asked Durban, when the man finally -disappeared behind the hedge.</p> - -<p>Durban looked pale, and wiped his face with a shaking hand. "He's a -creature who did some dirty work for the late master."</p> - -<p>"For Mr. Paslow?" demanded Mrs. Lilly, who always spoke of Vivian's -father in that way.</p> - -<p>"For Mr. Alpenny," explained Durban, becoming more himself. "He is an -old scoundrel of nearly sixty years of age."</p> - -<p>"He doesn't look it," said Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Strange as it may seem to you, missy, Waterloo has his vanity. He -wears a wig, and his teeth are false. But he is old and wicked, and has -been no end of times in prison. Mr. Alpenny employed him to do some -business in the slums, and he was several times down at The Camp. I -think he's a thief."</p> - -<p>"I never saw him before, Durban."</p> - -<p>"And you'll never see him again, missy," said the old servant -emphatically. "Mr. Alpenny, as I told you, had to do with a lot of -rogues and vagabonds, as many a money-lender has. But that sort of -thing is all done with. Waterloo will never trouble you again."</p> - -<p>"I am glad of that," said the girl, who was quite pale. "His presence -seemed to taint the air. What a horrible man!"</p> - -<p>"Why does he want to see Mr. Vivian?" asked Mrs. Lilly sharply.</p> - -<p>Durban wheeled quickly. "He wants to see Mr. Paslow, does he? H'm! I -wonder why that is?"</p> - -<p>"I am quite sure you can explain," said Beatrice, who was piqued at -being always kept in the dark.</p> - -<p>Durban cast a look of pain on her, but replied quietly enough, "Perhaps -I do, missy. Mr. Paslow, as I told you, had something to do with my -late master's business."</p> - -<p>"I never knew that," said Beatrice, remembering what Alpenny had hinted -about Vivian's crimes.</p> - -<p>"Ridiculous!" cried Mrs. Lilly, bristling. "Master Vivian -is a gentleman, and would not meddle with your Alpennys and -Waterloos.--Begging your pardon, my young lady, since Mr. Alpenny was -your father."</p> - -<p>"My stepfather," corrected Beatrice again.--"Well, Durban, if you won't -tell me, I'll ask Mr. Paslow myself."</p> - -<p>"Do, missy; I am quite sure he can explain. And don't trouble your -pretty head any more about Waterloo, as there is trouble enough in the -house now."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by that?" asked the girl, her heart giving a bound.</p> - -<p>Durban pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "I was coming to look -for you," he said, "and I am glad that you called me. Major Ruck is in -the drawing-room."</p> - -<p>"Who is he?" asked Mrs. Lilly.</p> - -<p>"He was a friend of my late master's."</p> - -<p>"Then I hope he is a more respectable friend than the one we have -seen," said the housekeeper indignantly. "Mercy me and all the silver -and china ornaments in the drawing-room!" and she hurried towards the -house.</p> - -<p>"It is all right, Mrs. Lilly; you will find Major Ruck quite a -gentleman, and very presentable. He is a friend of Lady Watson's too."</p> - -<p>But Mrs. Lilly never waited to hear this explanation. As fast as her -stoutness would allow her, she ran up the steps of the terrace and -disappeared round the corner. Left alone with Durban, Beatrice asked -the question which had been burning her lips ever since she heard that -the Major was within. "Why has he come, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"To ask you to marry him," said Durban grimly.</p> - -<p>"But I don't know him," said Beatrice, alarmed.</p> - -<p>"He knows you, missy--that is, he has seen your picture. Mr. Alpenny -promised him that you should be his wife, and, as I told you, he will -not let you slip through his fingers if he can help it."</p> - -<p>"Durban," said the girl, after a pause, "I quite understand that Major -Ruck wanted to marry me when I was supposed to be the heiress of Mr. -Alpenny; but now that I am poor----"</p> - -<p>"He has seen your photograph," said Durban again, and meaningly.</p> - -<p>"And you think that he is in love with me?"</p> - -<p>"He did," said Beatrice, resolved to say as little as possible.</p> - -<p>"Will you not permit me to offer you a chair?" said Ruck, casting an -admiring glance at her beautiful face. Beatrice, seeing no good reason -to refuse, accepted the seat he brought forward. Then Ruck sat down on -a near sofa with his back to the window, and resumed the conversation -with great coolness. Beatrice, although prejudiced against him from -what her stepfather had said, liked his voice and the well-bred manner -he possessed. All the same she was on her guard. No doubt Major Ruck -would betray the cloven hoof before the interview was at an end.</p> - -<p>"Poor Alpenny!" said the Major, leaning back on the sofa and twisting -his gloves idly. "I was at school with him, and with Mr. Paslow also."</p> - -<p>"Vivian?" asked Beatrice involuntarily.</p> - -<p>Major Ruck laughed. "With his father. My dear young lady, I am old -enough to have Vivian for a son. Paslow, Alpenny and myself were at -Rugby a very long time ago. I am old enough to be <i>your</i> father, and -yet," said the Major insinuatingly, as he leaned forward with a smile, -"I have come to offer myself as a husband."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny told me before he died that you were likely to do so," -said Beatrice, quite at her ease, and mistress of the situation; "but I -cannot guess, Mr. Ruck----"</p> - -<p>"Major Ruck--retired!" said that gentleman.</p> - -<p>"I cannot guess, Major," replied Beatrice, making the amendment, "why -you should wish to marry me, whom you have never seen."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me. I have seen your photograph, which was shown to me by my -late friend, poor Alpenny. Also," said the Major, with emphasis, "one -day I came to The Camp, and Alpenny showed you to me."</p> - -<p>"That is impossible," said Beatrice, wondering if he was lying. "I have -always been at The Camp, and I never saw you."</p> - -<p>"You were asleep, my dear young lady--asleep in a hammock under the -trees. My friend Alpenny," added the Major, smiling, "was good enough -to offer me a sight of the Sleeping Beauty. I fell in love with you on -the spot. Mr. Alpenny, as we were old friends, was not averse to my -asking you to be my wife; and, indeed, but for his untimely death, I -should have come down to propose in a more reasonable way."</p> - -<p>"No way can be reasonable in this case, Major. You say you know me?"</p> - -<p>"From a sight of you in the hammock, from your photograph, and from the -fact that my late friend, poor Alpenny, gave me a very vivid conception -of your charming character."</p> - -<p>"You seemed to have talked me over thoroughly between you," said the -girl, her face flushing.</p> - -<p>"We did," confessed Ruck candidly. "I wanted to know if your character -was as charming as your face, and as fine as your figure. I was told by -Mr. Alpenny that your character transcended both."</p> - -<p>"I think you must be Irish, Major, you speak so glibly"</p> - -<p>"I was quartered in Ireland once," said Ruck coolly, "and not far from -the celebrated Blarney Stone. At least, Miss Hedge, I hope I speak -sufficiently glibly to explain thoroughly the reason I wish you to be -my wife."</p> - -<p>In spite of her vexation, Beatrice could not be angry with the man. -His manners were so charming, his voice so fascinating, and his whole -attitude so devoid of anything approaching rudeness, that she was -compelled to keep her temper. "I don't think I quite understand," she -said at length, and suppressed a smile.</p> - -<p>Ruck lifted his eyebrows. "Surely, my dear young lady, your glass tells -you the reason? I have an eye for beauty. I have also an independent -income of two thousand a year, and a small house in Yorkshire. I -belonged to a good club; and you will find my career is well known, as -regards the army."</p> - -<p>"You are a very eligible suitor!" said Beatrice, with some scorn.</p> - -<p>"In that case, I trust you will accept me," said the Major, with easy -assurance, "and especially as your late father wished that the marriage -should take place."</p> - -<p>"I must decline, Major. Mr. Alpenny was my stepfather, and no blood -relation of mine. There was little love lost between us. Again, I am -poor--Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money."</p> - -<p>"A very charming lady, whom I know intimately. I am glad she has the -money and not you, Miss Hedge, as you can acquit me of mercenary -motives."</p> - -<p>"Yes. But I don't see why you wish to marry me."</p> - -<p>"I can give you three reasons. Your beauty, one"--the Major checked off -his remarks on his fingers; "the wish of my late friend, poor Alpenny, -two; and the strong desire of Lady Watson, three."</p> - -<p>"What has Lady Watson to do with my marriage?" asked Beatrice in a -fiery tone.</p> - -<p>"She was your mother's best friend, and----"</p> - -<p>"That gives her no right to interfere," cried Miss Hedge, rising. "I -thank you, Major Ruck, for your proposal, but I must decline."</p> - -<p>"No! no! Don't send me away with a broken heart, Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"Men like you do not break their hearts, Major."</p> - -<p>"There's some truth in that," admitted the Major; "our hearts are too -tough. But, seriously speaking," he added, and his jovial countenance -became grave, "you will be wise to marry me."</p> - -<p>"On the three grounds you mentioned?" asked Beatrice disdainfully.</p> - -<p>"On a fourth ground--or rather, I should say, for a fourth reason, Miss -Hedge--I can protect you."</p> - -<p>"From what?"</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you when you are Mrs. Ruck."</p> - -<p>"I have no intention of being Mrs. Ruck," retorted the girl, her -courage rising, as she felt that she was being driven into a corner; -"and I do not understand these hints of danger, which are given to me -so freely."</p> - -<p>"I gave you only one hint," said Ruck, his eyes on her face.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Paslow and Durban have given me others. What does it all mean?"</p> - -<p>"I should advise you to ask the two men you have mentioned," said Ruck, -taking up his hat, "unless, indeed, you will change your mind and -become the star of my life. As my wife, you will know everything; as -Miss Hedge, I fear you must be kept in the dark. Come now, Miss Hedge, -be advised. I am speaking for your good. I am a gentleman, well-off and -passable in looks. Why do you refuse me?"</p> - -<p>"I can explain very shortly. I am engaged to Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"You will never marry Mr. Paslow," said Ruck, his face darkening.</p> - -<p>Before Beatrice could ask the reason for this remark, the door opened, -and Vivian, very pale and defiant, entered. "I heard your last words, -Ruck," he said calmly, "and beg to tell you that you are quite wrong. -Miss Hedge will become my wife in two weeks--that is"--he bowed to -Beatrice--"if she will accept me as her husband."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">CHAPTER XII</a></h4> - -<h5>VIVIAN EXPLAINS</h5> -<br> - -<p>Major Ruck made no remark, but stood silent and motionless, ever -smiling, according to his custom. Beatrice, on the contrary, uttered an -exclamation of surprise, and ran forward to throw herself into Vivian's -arms. Suddenly she stopped.</p> - -<p>"Do you mean what you say?" she asked, hesitating.</p> - -<p>"I do," he replied firmly. "The obstacle I spoke of has finally been -removed, and I am free to marry you."</p> - -<p>"Can I believe this?" murmured Beatrice, clasping her hands and looking -down doubtfully. "For a long time you held back from asking me to be -your wife, although you must have seen that I loved you. On the night -Mr. Alpenny was killed you proposed, and I accepted you."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said Major Ruck, smiling more broadly than ever.</p> - -<p>"Then," continued Beatrice, still addressing Paslow, "you again changed -your mind, and said that some obstacle, which you then declared was -removed, again prevented our marriage. Now you come once more and say -much the same as you said before. How do I know but what you may change -your mind again?"</p> - -<p>"I have never changed my mind throughout," cried Vivian impetuously; -"there <i>was</i> an obstacle. I thought that it was removed, and then I -discovered that it still remained: Now I have made strict inquiries, -and I learn that I am free."</p> - -<p>"What is the obstacle?" asked Beatrice, very pale, and still doubtful.</p> - -<p>"I can tell you that," remarked Major Ruck, changing his attitude for -the first time; "this young gentleman is married."</p> - -<p>"I was married," said Paslow, as Beatrice shrank back with a cry of -amazement, and, as Vivian thought, of anger; "but my wife is dead."</p> - -<p>Ruck shrugged his shoulders. "So you say!"</p> - -<p>"So Durban says--so this death certificate says. I heard all about my -wife's illness, as I went to the house where she died. I have seen -her grave, and the doctor gave me this." He held out a certificate to -Beatrice. "Do you not believe me?"</p> - -<p>"It is so strange," she murmured, taking the paper, and glancing at it -in a scared manner.</p> - -<p>"And so untrue," said Major Ruck coolly.</p> - -<p>"You lie!"</p> - -<p>"I am not accustomed to be told that I lie," said Ruck, and his eyes -narrowed to pin-points.</p> - -<p>Paslow turned his back on him contemptuously. "I care very little for -that," he said. "You and your creatures betrayed me into difficulties, -for which I have suffered bitterly. But now I am free, and you can harm -me no longer."</p> - -<p>"Don't be too sure of that, Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>Beatrice saw Vivian wince, and came forward. "Whatever Mr. Paslow has -done," she said, with dignity, "I am certain that he is an honourable -man."</p> - -<p>"Bless you for those words, my darling."</p> - -<p>Major Ruck gave a short laugh, and did not seem so good-tempered as he -had been. "An honourable man!" he repeated. "I fear if you knew all Mr. -Paslow's life, you would see fit to change your opinion."</p> - -<p>Vivian restrained himself from violent words. "Of course you talk like -that, because it is to your interest to stop my marriage. But I trust -to a woman's instinct," and he stretched out his hands toward Beatrice -with an anxious smile.</p> - -<p>She waved him back. "I must have an explanation first"</p> - -<p>"Beatrice!"</p> - -<p>"Vivian, I love you, I shall always love you; but can you expect me to -blindly believe, when I am so much in the dark as to what all these -things mean? There must be an end to these hints and mysteries. If you -really love me, you will explain fully, so that I know where I stand."</p> - -<p>"I think I can do that," said Ruck, fondling his moustache.</p> - -<p>"Then do so," said Paslow, throwing back his head. "We know a great -deal of one another, Major, so it may be to your interest to speak the -truth," and he looked meaningly at the other man.</p> - -<p>"I never tell lies, unless they are necessary," said Ruck calmly. "In -this instance the truth will suit me very well."</p> - -<p>Beatrice sat down, still holding the certificate of Mrs. Paslow's -death, which seemed to be quite in order. "I am waiting to hear the -truth," she said, "and hear it I will."</p> - -<p>Without any invitation, Major Ruck sat down. "I may as well be -comfortable," he said lazily, and smiled in his most genial manner. -Vivian did not sit down, but stood near the window looking out at -the fair prospect unseeingly. Knowing that his past was about to be -revealed, he seemed nervous, and did not look at the girl he loved. -Major Ruck was much the coolest of the trio.</p> - -<p>"I can tell you the truth very briefly," said Ruck, stretching out his -legs. "As I said, I was at school with Mr. Paslow's father, and also -with Alpenny. Some eight years ago this gentleman"--he glanced towards -the silent Vivian--"came to town. I did what I could to give him -pleasure, as his father was dead, and I desired to do what I could for -the son of my old friend.--That is true, I think?" he added, turning -politely to Paslow.</p> - -<p>"You were extremely kind," said Vivian, stiffly and guardedly.</p> - -<p>"Thank you. Mr. Paslow then had money, and I think I showed him London -very thoroughly. We had a great time."</p> - -<p>"Pray go on with your story," said Beatrice, icily.</p> - -<p>"Oh, it's the truth," replied Ruck, with a genial chuckle "I think Mr. -Paslow will bear me out in that."</p> - -<p>"I have yet to hear what you have to say."</p> - -<p>Ruck raised his eyebrows. "What can I say, save that which happened, my -dear fellow?--Mr. Paslow"--he now addressed himself to Beatrice--"met -in town at the house of a friend of mine, a certain young lady called -Maud Ellis. He fell in love with her----"</p> - -<p>"I was trapped by a scheming woman, you mean," put in Paslow brusquely.</p> - -<p>"Fie! fie! fie!" said Ruck good-humouredly. "Don't blame the woman, my -dear fellow; that is mean. But trapped, or not, you married her."</p> - -<p>"I did; and found that she only married me because she thought that I -had money."</p> - -<p>"So you should have had, and a great deal of it, but that Alpenny -managed to collar the estates. But you loved her."</p> - -<p>"I did not, save in the way one loves such women at an early age."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" sneered Ruck; "she was perfectly respectable."</p> - -<p>"I should not have married her else," said Vivian quickly, and not -daring to glance at Beatrice. "I have nothing to say against her, save -that she was heartless, and left me within six months. But I repeat -that I was young and foolish at the time, and that she schemed to marry -me. I fell into her toils, and bitterly have I had to pay for doing so; -but for her I should have long ago have married Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"I don't think Alpenny would have permitted that, Paslow."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps not; but he is dead, and cannot harm me now."</p> - -<p>"The evil that men do lives after them," scoffed Ruck. "Alpenny had the -power when alive; someone else may have the power now."</p> - -<p>"Not you, at all events, Ruck."</p> - -<p>Beatrice rose quickly. "Am I to hear the rest of the story?" she asked -Ruck. "Is this all you have to bring against Mr. Paslow?--that while a -young man he was entrapped into marriage by an adventuress?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, Maud Ellis was no adventuress," said the Major, easily, "but a -very nice girl. Lady Watson knew her well."</p> - -<p>"Lady Watson seems to know everyone," retorted Beatrice; "but who knows -Lady Watson?"</p> - -<p>"I do, very well," said Ruck quietly; "but we are not discussing her. -Later on, should you desire to learn about her, I can supply you with -all necessary information. Meanwhile----"</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile," repeated Beatrice, "I should like to hear what Mr. Paslow -has to say."</p> - -<p>"What can I say?" said Vivian, with a look of despair. "I married Maud -Ellis, as I said, and she left me after six months of a miserable life. -Some times since I saw her, but she never would come back to me."</p> - -<p>"Did you wish her?" said Beatrice quickly.</p> - -<p>"She was my wife," said Vivian calmly, "and I wished to behave as her -husband, little as I loved her; but she always refused to come back to -me. I met you, and said nothing about my fatal marriage. There was no -need to."</p> - -<p>"It would have been better had you been open."</p> - -<p>"I see that now; I did not see it at the time. But you know that I -loved you always, and you know now why I did not dare to ask you to -be my wife. A few weeks ago I heard that Maud was ill. I went to -see her, and found that she was suffering from influenza. I saw her -several times: then I heard that she was dead. I proposed to you, -Beatrice, under the oak. Later on, when I went to town to look after -your property, and learn if Alpenny had done you justice, I again went -to the house, and learned that what I had heard was false. Maud was -extremely ill, but still alive. Then I came down, and you know what -took place between us. I went again and again to town, and saw the -doctor."</p> - -<p>"And your wife also?"</p> - -<p>"No--yes, once; but she was so ill, and my presence disturbed her so -much, that the doctor would not let me see her again. Then I went one -day, and heard that she was dead and buried."</p> - -<p>"Why did you not go to the funeral?" asked Ruck sneeringly.</p> - -<p>"I did not know that she was dead. I remained away from the house--it -was in Kensington--for a long time, as it was useless for me to go and -see her; and the doctor always kept me advised as to how she was going -on. However, he gave me no notice of her death, and she was buried when -I next heard news."</p> - -<p>Beatrice expressed surprise. "But surely the doctor was wrong in not -telling you she was dying? You should have been with her."</p> - -<p>"I should; but the doctor neglected to inform me. I had a row with him -about the matter. However, I got the certificate, which you hold, and -saw the grave; so I am now free to marry you--that is, if you will have -me after what you have heard."</p> - -<p>Beatrice did not reply immediately to this question. "We can talk of -that when we are alone," she said, and glanced towards Ruck, who still -lounged in his chair.</p> - -<p>"That is a hint for me to go," he said, rising lazily. "Well, I shall -go--unless you will marry me?"</p> - -<p>"Were you the last man in the world I should not marry you," said the -girl quietly; "and I do not see why you wish to."</p> - -<p>"We talked about that before," said Ruck, taking up his hat; "but now -that the real Prince Charming has come on the scene, I see that there -is no chance for me. I will allow you to marry Paslow----"</p> - -<p>"Allow me!" cried Miss Hedge indignantly. "Allow me!" echoed Vivian, -clenching his fists.</p> - -<p>"I will allow you," repeated the Major smoothly, "on condition that you -give me the Obi necklace."</p> - -<p>"What?" asked Beatrice, starting back, "Colonel Hall's----"</p> - -<p>"It was his property. I knew him very well," interrupted Ruck. "He gave -that necklace to Mrs. Hedge."</p> - -<p>"To my mother? Impossible! The necklace was stolen when Colonel Hall -was murdered in this very house."</p> - -<p>"So it was thought, but I know otherwise. Colonel Hall gave the -necklace to Mrs. Hedge, who was his cousin, just before the murder. I -learned that from Alpenny, who was in the house at the time; and that -was why Alpenny married Mrs. Hedge--he wanted the necklace. And that is -why I wished to marry you," added Ruck, smiling blandly, "as <i>I</i> want -the necklace. It is valued at ten thousand pounds, and Alpenny promised -to give it to you when we married."</p> - -<p>"I don't know how much of this is true, or how much is not," said -Beatrice, looking puzzled, and pressing her hands to her head; "but -I have not got the necklace. I never knew that my stepfather had it. -There is no need for you to get angry, Major Ruck. I know nothing about -the necklace save what I heard from Mrs. Lilly; and she told me that -Colonel Hall was murdered, and the necklace was stolen."</p> - -<p>"The necklace was given to Mrs. Hedge," said Ruck, who was now very -angry, "and Alpenny promised to give it to you. If you give it to me, I -will go out of your life and you can marry Paslow; if not, I can stop -this marriage."</p> - -<p>"I defy you to do your worst," said Paslow savagely.</p> - -<p>"Don't do that; it might be dangerous," said Ruck, with a meaning look. -"Well, Miss Hedge?" He turned to Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"I know nothing about the necklace," she replied. "If you married me -you would marry a pauper. Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money; and if -he did receive the necklace from my mother, he certainly never gave it -to me, or even spoke of its existence."</p> - -<p>Ruck turned pale and looked at the ground. "Can Lady Watson have -secured it?" he muttered.</p> - -<p>"You had better ask her. And now, Major Ruck, that I know your real -reason for wishing to marry me, I may tell you that I would willingly -have given the Obi necklace to escape such a match!" and she turned her -back on him scornfully.</p> - -<p>The Major, notwithstanding that he was in the house, and in the -presence of a lady, put on his hat. He had quite lost his suave -manners, and looked thoroughly angry. "I shall take my leave, Miss -Hedge," he said, bowing ironically. "Marry Paslow Whenever you choose; -he is free now, as he says; but if trouble comes of your marriage, do -not say that I did not warn you."</p> - -<p>"What trouble can come?" asked Beatrice, turning like a lioness.</p> - -<p>"Don't say that you have not been warned," said Ruck, backing towards -the door. "As to myself, I shall search for the necklace, and get it. -Lady Watson may know of its whereabouts.--Paslow, I congratulate you on -a possible marriage----"</p> - -<p>"<i>You</i> cannot stop it, Ruck," said Vivian coolly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I have no desire to do so. All I wanted from this lady was the Obi -necklace. As she has not got it, there is no need for me to sacrifice -my freedom. Miss Hedge, good-day; Paslow, good-day;" and with a bow, -the Major took his gigantic figure out of the room.</p> - -<p>The two young people looked at one another in silence. "What does it -all mean?" asked Beatrice helplessly.</p> - -<p>"You heard what Ruck said," answered Vivian. "He wanted to marry you -for the necklace. As you have not got it, he will trouble you no more."</p> - -<p>"In any case, he would not trouble me," cried Beatrice indignantly. -"Does Major Ruck think me a child to be driven into a match about -which I care nothing? What influence can he have to make me do what he -wanted?"</p> - -<p>"He was playing a game of bluff," said Vivian eagerly. "He cannot force -you to marry him, nor can he stop my marriage. He could have done so -before, because he knew that my wife was alive; but now that she is -dead, his power ceases. And, Beatrice"--he paused and looked down--"how -can I ask you to be my wife after what you have heard?"</p> - -<p>The girl looked at him in silence. Had she loved him less, she might -have refused to answer his appeal. As it was, her love overcame the -momentary anger which she felt at having been kept in the dark. At once -she moved towards him, and placed her arms round his neck.</p> - -<p>"We are all sinners," she whispered; "and I love you too well to let -you go."</p> - -<p>"God bless you, my darling," faltered Vivian, pressing her to his -breast.</p> - -<p>"Let the past alone," said Beatrice, kissing him. "We shall marry, and -live for one another. Look with me, Vivian, to a happy future."</p> - -<p>"My darling--my darling!" and Paslow fell on his knees.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">CHAPTER XIII</a></h4> - -<h5>THE EX-BUTLER</h5> -<br> - -<p>It really did seem as though the course of this true love was about to -run smooth. Durban, to whom Beatrice explained all that had taken place -during Ruck's visit, heard what she had to say in silence, and seemed -relieved when he heard the whole.</p> - -<p>"I am glad that Mr. Paslow arrived at the moment," said Durban, when -the story was ended. "He and the Major now understand one another."</p> - -<p>"I never knew that Vivian was acquainted with Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"He met him at Mr. Alpenny's town office, missy."</p> - -<p>"The Major seemed to threaten Vivian," observed the girl thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>Durban shrugged his fat shoulders. "That is so like the Major," he -retorted carelessly; "he is all stage thunder. Now that he knows you -have not the necklace, he will trouble you no more. Mr. Paslow is not -rich, missy; and you have lost the master's money; still, I should like -you to marry the man you love, and go away."</p> - -<p>"Why do you want me to go away?" she demanded peremptorily.</p> - -<p>"It will be better," murmured Durban, uneasily.</p> - -<p>"You are still keeping something from me, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing that is necessary for you to know, missy."</p> - -<p>Beatrice saw very well that the old servant was fencing, and wondered -what it was that he feared. "The necklace?" she said suddenly.</p> - -<p>"I do not know where it is, missy."</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see it?"</p> - -<p>"Once. Colonel Hall showed it to me--a very fine set of diamonds."</p> - -<p>"Where did Colonel Hall get it?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot say--somewhere in the West Indies, I think."</p> - -<p>"You were Colonel Hall's servant in the West Indies, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"I was, missy." Durban looked at her with fire in his dark eyes. "He -was the best of masters, and I loved him. He brought me to this place -with him, and here he met with his death."</p> - -<p>"Do you know who killed him?"</p> - -<p>"No, missy, I do not."</p> - -<p>"Why did you take service with Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"I was poor," said Durban, with a shrug, "and my master, the Colonel, -was dead. I had no home, and I was thankful to accept the situation. I -might not have stayed in it for so long, missy, but that Mr. Alpenny -married. It was you who have kept me at The Camp all these years."</p> - -<p>"And what about Mrs. Hall?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing, missy. She was a silent lady. I know very little about her."</p> - -<p>"Durban"--Beatrice looked at him keenly--"are you telling me the truth?"</p> - -<p>"I am, missy. Why should I tell you a lie? All I know of Mrs. Hall is, -that she was the daughter of a West Indian planter, who was my father's -master in the time of slavery. I was born on the estate, and afterwards -entered the service of Colonel Hall--a captain he was then--to whom -I became greatly attached. He saw Mrs. Hall, and fell in love with -her. They married, but did not get on well together, for what reason I -cannot tell you. They came here to see Mr. Paslow's father, who was an -old friend of the Colonel's. Mrs. Hall stopped in London for a time, -and then came down for one night with the nurse and her child. My -master was murdered, and the necklace disappeared. That is all I know."</p> - -<p>"But, Durban, Major Ruck says that the Colonel gave the necklace to my -mother before his death."</p> - -<p>"That is not true," cried Durban vehemently, and his eyes blazed. -"There was no reason why he should give it to--to--Mrs. Hedge. And I -saw the necklace in the Colonel's hands on the very night the crime was -committed. Yes, and I saw him place it in the green box beside his bed. -Next morning the window was open, the Colonel was lying dead with a cut -throat, and the Obi necklace was gone. I can tell you no more, and I -don't know why you wish to know all this."</p> - -<p>"Because," said Beatrice slowly, "it is my belief that the same man -with the black patch who murdered Colonel Hall murdered Mr. Alpenny; -and in both cases I believe that the murder was committed for the sake -of this necklace."</p> - -<p>"I did not know that Mr. Alpenny had it, missy."</p> - -<p>"Major Ruck says that he had, and married my mother for the sake of the -necklace, which doubtless--as it has not been found after his death--he -turned into money."</p> - -<p>"It might be so," murmured Durban moodily. "Major Ruck knew a great -deal about Mr. Alpenny which I did not know. He was a kind of decoy -duck to the master--a man about town who brought foolish youths to -borrow money. A dangerous man, missy, and one you are well rid of. -Missy"--he laid his hand on her arm--"be advised; seek to know no more. -Mr. Alpenny's life was not a good one or a clean one. Marry Mr. Paslow, -and go away."</p> - -<p>"I'll think of it, Durban," said Beatrice, after a few moments of -thought, and there the conversation ended for the time being.</p> - -<p>All the same, Beatrice had no idea of going away. She even thought that -she would not marry Vivian Paslow until things were made clear, and -she--so to speak--knew where she stood. What with Vivian's marriage -to Maud Ellis, and the late Mr. Alpenny's hints that the young man -had committed crimes, there was much in Paslow's life which she did -not understand. Had she loved him less, she would have had nothing -more to do with him. But she did love him with all her heart and soul; -consequently she believed that he was more sinned against than sinning. -It was nothing out of the common that a young man in London should be -entrapped into such a marriage; and, after all, it was not unusual that -Vivian should strive to hide from her--the woman he really loved--the -folly of which he had been guilty eight years ago. <i>That</i> she could -forgive, and did forgive, and was ready to marry her lover as soon as -he wished. But she could not rid herself of a vague fear that if she -did marry him, it would only be the beginning of fresh misery. Durban's -desire that the young couple should go away, seemed to her ominous; -and Vivian, although under stress of circumstances had confessed -the marriage, did not seem to be communicative regarding the other -mysteries. What if at the back of all these things lurked some terrible -scandal which might ruin her happiness and that of Paslow's?</p> - -<p>While thinking thus, it occurred to Beatrice that she had never learned -what Vivian had done on that night when he left her under the Witches' -Oak. They were together walking in the garden after dinner when she -considered this question, and she asked Vivian at once to explain. He -removed his cigar and looked at her searchingly.</p> - -<p>"What a woman you are to ask questions!" he said, with a forced laugh.</p> - -<p>"I want them answered," said Beatrice rather imperiously.</p> - -<p>Vivian shrugged his shoulders. "I am not averse to doing so," he said -in a weary manner. "Well, on that night I left you and ran to see -who was watching. It was a red-headed little beast called Waterloo, -employed as a spy by Mr. Alpenny!"</p> - -<p>"I know him--I have seen him."</p> - -<p>"Seen him?" Vivian started and looked uneasy. "When?--where?"</p> - -<p>"In this very garden." And Beatrice related how the tramp had suddenly -appeared to mar the beauty of the scene. "He wanted to see you," she -concluded, "but Durban sent him away."</p> - -<p>"Had I seen the brute I should have horsewhipped him," cried the young -man angrily. "He was a spy of Alpenny's."</p> - -<p>"On me?--on you?"</p> - -<p>"On us both. Alpenny knew that I loved you, and did not want us to -meet. He told Waterloo, who was hanging round The Camp, to keep his eye -on you and on me. Waterloo confessed----"</p> - -<p>"Did you catch him?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I did, and nearly broke his neck. He confessed that he had been -set to watch by Mr. Alpenny, and had been lurking outside the great -gates of The Camp."</p> - -<p>"I saw him," said Beatrice, recalling the vague shadow which she had -seen crouching in the shade on that fatal night.</p> - -<p>"He saw you go past," went on Paslow, "and followed to the Witches' Oak -like your shadow. When I caught him he told me all this, so I gave him -a kicking and let him go. The dog was not worth fouling my hands with. -Then I went back to the Oak to find you. You had gone, so I fancied -that you had gone home. I did not follow, as I thought that I might run -up against Alpenny and that there would be more trouble. I went home to -the Grange, and then was coming along the next morning to see you, and -give you the key, when I met Durban."</p> - -<p>"It was then that you heard of the murder?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and afterwards went up to town to see Alpenny's lawyer about your -chances of getting the money. You see, Beatrice, Major Ruck, and other -creatures employed by Alpenny, were quite capable of destroying the -will, so as to get the money themselves."</p> - -<p>"But how could they do that?"</p> - -<p>"By bribing or blackmailing the lawyer of Alpenny. The man is not above -reproach, as he did much dirty work for Alpenny. Ruck knows of many -of these underhanded dealings; and on hearing of Alpenny's death, it -struck me that Ruck might try to force the lawyer--Tuft is his name--to -destroy any will that might be made in your favour, by threatening to -communicate with the police. However, I saw Tuft, and he produced the -will. It was genuine enough, as I know Alpenny's handwriting very well. -The money was left, as you know, to Lady Watson. I believe that years -ago Alpenny admired her, although I do not see why he should leave her -such a large fortune and cut you out."</p> - -<p>"He hated me," said Beatrice sadly; "he always did. Before he died he -told me to expect nothing, and I am a pauper, as you know. Vivian," she -said suddenly, "let us put off our marriage for a time. I can go out as -a governess, and we can wait."</p> - -<p>"Why should we wait?" he asked quickly, and his arms went round her in -a firm embrace.</p> - -<p>"Are you sure," murmured Beatrice, "that if I marry you, all trouble -will be at an end?"</p> - -<p>"Quite sure. My first wife is dead, so I can take a second. Ruck and -those other beasts cannot harm me now. No, Beatrice, we shall marry in -a week as you promised."</p> - -<p>"I have no wedding-dress!"</p> - -<p>"That does not matter. I marry you and not your clothes. If we postpone -our marriage, it may never take place."</p> - -<p>"Why not?"</p> - -<p>"Because there are those who would stop me from marrying you. Not -Ruck--he can do nothing. Beatrice,"--he caught her hands and looked -deep into her eyes--"I own to you that I have been a fool. My marriage -with that adventuress introduced me into strange company. I will not -tell you now what straits I have been in and what trouble I have -undergone. Only trust me and marry me. I shall then tell you the whole -of my life's history. Believe me, there is nothing in it for which you -will cease to love me. My worst sin is having kept this first marriage -from you."</p> - -<p>"I will trust you," whispered Beatrice, who was much perplexed; "but is -it not possible to clear up these mysteries?"</p> - -<p>"You may clear them up," said Vivian, after a moment's hesitation. "I -cannot help you--I dare not," he ended, and abruptly left her.</p> - -<p>What did it all mean? Beatrice asked herself that question again and -again, but without receiving any answer. But for her overwhelming -love, she would have hesitated to step forward in the dark, as she -really was doing when consenting to this marriage. But she felt that -Vivian needed her aid, and that only when they were man and wife would -that aid be of any real service. She made no attempt to continue the -conversation when they met again in the drawing-room, nor did she seek -out the old servant to ask questions. But since Vivian hinted that by -her own unaided efforts she might arrive at the truth, whatever it -might be, she determined to search on. In one way or another she was -resolved with all the force of her strong nature to put an end to these -provoking mysteries.</p> - -<p>It was for this reason that the next morning found her climbing the -Downs. Vivian had gone with Dinah into Brighton, and Beatrice, alleging -the death of her stepfather as a reason for retirement, had remained at -home. In reality, she wanted to trace out Orchard the ex-butler, who -had turned shepherd, and whom Mrs. Lilly had told her of. From that -elderly dame Beatrice obtained the information that Orchard lived on -the Downs in a little wooden hut, like the savage maid in the popular -song, and having gained a fair notion of its whereabouts, she set -out to seek the man. He had been in the house at the time of Colonel -Hall's murder, and apparently had seen something. Had he not done so, -his nerves certainly would not have been so shattered as to make him -give up the comfortable profession of a butler for the hard life of a -shepherd. Certainly he might refuse to speak out, as he assuredly had -not told the police anything likely to lead to the discovery of Colonel -Hall's assassin. But Beatrice had great faith in her woman's wiles and -in the power of her tongue to get what she wanted. It was the sole way -in which she could do so, as she had no money wherewith to tempt the -old man. But then so patriarchal a person might be above bribery and -corruption.</p> - -<p>It was a divine day, and the breezes were blowing freshly across the -spacious Downs from the distant Channel. Beatrice loved to look on -these wide spaces of green, and to watch the sheep moving across the -close-shorn turf, which they kept in such good order. A mile's walk -brought her into the vicinity where Mrs. Lilly had informed her that -Orchard watched his flock, and she speedily saw the hut, a tiny box of -a house roofed with turf and standing on the Downs, without railing, or -fence, or garden round it--just like a house that had lost its way.</p> - -<p>Fate favoured her, and she took it as a good omen when she saw the -old man seated at the door eating his midday meal. He was bent and -white-headed, and had a long white beard. In fact, he might have passed -for Father Christmas had he been appropriately dressed. His eyes were -faded, blue and mild, and he seemed in no wise disturbed when she -approached. "Good day, miss," said the ex-butler.</p> - -<p>"Good day," responded Beatrice. "Will you let me sit down? I have been -walking for some time."</p> - -<p>"Certainly, miss," said Orchard, with the deference of a former indoor -servant; "but the air will do you good. I suppose, miss, you are one of -the gentry from Brighton? They often come up here to breathe the air -and get appetites. Sit down, miss."</p> - -<p>By this time he had brought out a stool, and Beatrice sat down with a -weary air, for she really was tired. "I come from the Weald," she said, -waving her hand towards the luxurious verdure of the valley below. "I -live there."</p> - -<p>"A very nice place, miss. I lived there once myself."</p> - -<p>"At Convent Grange?" said Beatrice, glad to see that Orchard was -disposed to be communicative.</p> - -<p>He turned a mild look of surprise on her, and considered her face -attentively. "Why, yes, miss," he replied, "although I don't know how -you come to know that."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Lilly told me."</p> - -<p>Orchard let a glimmering smile rest on his pale lips. "Sarah Lilly?" he -said musingly. "Ah, I have not seen her since we were fellow-servants -together--and that was long ago. I might have married her, miss, as -we liked one another. But she was married and I was married, so we -couldn't come together."</p> - -<p>"I should think not," said Beatrice, smiling at the grave way in which -the old shepherd spoke. "Mrs. Lilly is a great friend of mine."</p> - -<p>"Is she, miss? And no doubt"--he considered her still more -attentively--"Mrs. Lilly told you how I came to be a shepherd?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, she told me that."</p> - -<p>"I did it for my nerves," said Orchard, looking away at the treeless -green expanse; "they were shattered by the terrible calamity which -happened in that house. The air here cured me."</p> - -<p>"Do you know who killed Colonel Hall?"</p> - -<p>"You are the first person who has asked me that question for many -years, miss. Time was when many did so, but the Colonel has been buried -these five-and-twenty years, and his terrible death is quite forgotten. -I don't know who killed him--for certain, that is, miss."</p> - -<p>"Have you no suspicion?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes," said Orchard calmly. "I believe that Mr. Alpenny murdered -Colonel Hall to get a certain necklace."</p> - -<p>"That cannot be true," said Beatrice aghast; "a Major Ruck----"</p> - -<p>"I don't know him," interpolated Orchard.</p> - -<p>"Well, he says that Colonel Hall gave the necklace to my mother."</p> - -<p>"And who was your mother, miss?"</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Hedge----"</p> - -<p>"Who married Mr. Alpenny?" cried Orchard, rising suddenly to his feet -and really startled out of his mildness.</p> - -<p>"Yes. Mr. Alpenny is now dead, and----"</p> - -<p>"I know--I know," said Orchard, waving his hand; "he met with the due -reward of his wickedness. I can talk of him later, and I'll tell you -why I suspect him. Mrs. Hedge's daughter--the Colonel's child----"</p> - -<p>"What?" cried Beatrice, springing to her feet.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny never told you, I suppose," said Orchard coolly; "but he -married Mrs. Hall, who took the name of Mrs. Hedge because she was -suspected of being concerned in the crime. You are Miss Hall--Miss -Beatrice Hall!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">CHAPTER XIV</a></h4> - -<h5>MRS. SNOW'S PAST</h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice waited to hear no more. As a sensible woman, she should have -remained where she was to question the old shepherd, and learn why -he stated so firmly that she was the daughter of Colonel Hall who -had been murdered so cruelly at the Grange; but the mere fact of the -announcement startled her, and without pausing, she rushed away, as -though to escape from her thoughts. Orchard looked after her in mild -surprise, but did not call her back, although her action must have -puzzled him. The ex-butler seemed to have outlived all curiosity, or -else the Downs had cured his nerves so thoroughly that he did not feel -startled. However, be this as it may, he returned to his dinner, and -sat watching the slowly-moving sheep without giving a thought to the -young lady who had called upon him.</p> - -<p>How Beatrice descended the slope of the Downs into the valley she never -knew. Her brain was filled with the information she had so strangely -gained. She was not Beatrice Hedge, but Beatrice Hall, the daughter of -the dead man who had owned the necklace. Ruck asserted that the Colonel -had given the necklace to his wife before the murder. As Mrs. Alpenny, -who called herself Mrs. Hedge and who really was Mrs. Hall, had been -the wife of the Colonel, this was not unlikely. Alpenny, finding that -she possessed the necklace, might have married her to gain possession -of the same. But what Beatrice could not understand was, why her mother -should have married the usurer. It was true that he had always been her -admirer, as Durban himself had stated; but from accepting attentions to -marrying the man who paid them, was a long step. Mrs. Hall had taken -it, under the name of Mrs. Hedge, and again Beatrice wondered what the -reason could be.</p> - -<p>Durban must have known this truth. He had been the faithful servant of -Colonel Hall, and had always spoken of him with love and admiration. -If she--Beatrice--were the Colonel's child, the adoration of Durban -for herself would be explained. He loved her, because he had loved her -dead father. But why had Durban held his tongue over the marriage, and -had allowed everyone to think that Alpenny had married a Mrs. Hedge? -Durban, as Beatrice well knew, had no love for Alpenny, yet he had -said nothing likely to prevent such a match. Certainly Durban might -not have had the power; but there appeared no reason why he should -have concealed the truth from his dead master's child. Beatrice was -beginning to see light. There was some mystery concerning her, which -had to do with her father's murder, with the missing necklace, and -probably with the murder of Alpenny himself. Durban now might tell the -truth and explain matters seeing that she already knew so much. Then, -again, he might refuse to speak out, and she would be as much in the -dark as ever.</p> - -<p>Major Ruck doubtless knew the truth from Alpenny, although he had -declared that Mrs. Hedge was the cousin of Colonel Hall. But Beatrice, -remembering his hesitation in making the statement, was certain that -Ruck was cognisant of the real state of affairs. Was Vivian Paslow -likewise enlightened? She could not be certain of this. Vivian might -or might not know, but he assuredly had some secret on his mind which -he refused to impart to her until the marriage took place. Had that -secret to do with her real parentage which had been revealed to her by -Orchard? Beatrice was minded, then and there, to ask Vivian for the -truth. But she could not do so on the spur of the moment, much as she -wished to since Vivian was at Brighton with Dinah and would not be back -for some hours. Durban certainly was at The Camp, but Beatrice, very -naturally, considering his attitude, was doubtful if he would speak out -At the foot of the Downs, and when on the road leading to Hurstable -village, she paused to think what was best to be done. She half -regretted that she had not stopped with Orchard to learn more. It would -be just as well, she thought, to go back: but a glance at the steep -wall of the Downs led her to change her mind. She could not face that -weary climb again, as her nerves were shattered by the communication -which had changed her life.</p> - -<p>Then it occurred to her that Mrs. Snow knew her mother. Mrs. Snow--then -Miss Duncan--had been at Convent Grange when Colonel Hall was murdered. -She must have known that the so-called Mrs. Hedge was really Mrs. Hall, -and must have known also the reason why Mrs. Hall under a feigned name -had married Jarvis Alpenny. Mrs. Snow declared herself to be a dear -friend of Mrs. Hall. Why, then, did she hate Beatrice, who was the -daughter of that same dear friend? That Mrs. Snow hated her Beatrice -was convinced, as she had pointedly neglected her throughout five and -twenty years. Yes Mrs. Snow would be the best person to question; and -having made up her mind rapidly, the girl took her way to the Vicarage -of Hurstable.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Snow, looking more sour and elderly than ever, was in the garden, -engaged in the Arcadian pastime of gathering roses for decorative -purposes. She was a good housekeeper, and liked to see a dainty -dinner-table. Notwithstanding her disagreeable nature, she made the -vicar and his son comfortable enough, and really loved them both in her -sour way. Jerry, indeed, was the apple of her eye, and it was for this -reason that she resented his engagement to Dinah Paslow. With any other -girl it would have been the same. It was not the individual maiden that -Mrs. Snow hated, but the girl who took her son to be a husband. For -the sake of her own selfishness, which she miscalled maternal love, -she would have liked Jerry to remain a bachelor all his life, just to -please her, and bestow all his affection on his dear mother. But the -young man himself had not found that affection, although it really -existed, strong enough to fill his life. Therefore he had asked Dinah -to marry him, and so strongly had he held his own on the subject, that -Mrs. Snow had been won over so far as to receive Dinah as a future -daughter-in-law.</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice, when she entered the pretty grounds of the -Vicarage, "I wish to speak to you particularly."</p> - -<p>The vicar's wife looked sourly at her visitor. She hated Beatrice -because of her beauty, amongst other things; and when she saw that same -beauty was somewhat worn and haggard, that the girl looked ill and had -lost her vivacity, she felt pleased. "Quite washed out," said Mrs. Snow -to herself, and thus became more amiable. Laying down the scissors, -with which she had been clipping the flowers, she advanced with what -was meant to be an ingratiating smile. "My dear Miss Hedge, I am so -pleased to see you. This is the first time that you have called. Come -inside, please."</p> - -<p>"Thank you. I prefer to remain in the garden and take up as little of -your time as possible."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Snow stiffened. "What an extraordinary tone to take with <i>me</i>," -she said, with the offended air of a thorough egotist.</p> - -<p>"Can you wonder at it? We know so little of one another."</p> - -<p>"That is, as it may be," snapped Mrs. Snow, wondering what her visitor -had come to see her about. "I may know more of you than you think."</p> - -<p>"For that reason I come to see you," said Beatrice calmly.</p> - -<p>Her hostess started, but speedily recovered her calmness. "I really do -not know what you mean, Miss Hedge," she said composedly.</p> - -<p>"I think you know this much, that I am not Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Mrs. Snow, her sallow face flushing an uneasy red. "Will you -not be seated?"</p> - -<p>"Thank you." Beatrice moved towards a garden seat at the far end of the -lawn; but Mrs. Snow touched her arm, and pointed to a side-path.</p> - -<p>"I have a very secluded arbour there," she said significantly, "where -we cannot be overheard." And she led the way down the path.</p> - -<p>"The whole world may hear what I have to say," declared Beatrice -boldly, and resolved to be a party to no mystery.</p> - -<p>"But the whole world," said Mrs. Snow, stopped with a disagreeable -smile, "may not hear what I may have to say--that is, if you press me."</p> - -<p>"I want to hear everything," said the girl sharply; "for that reason I -have come to you."</p> - -<p>"I fear you will go away less easy in your mind than you came."</p> - -<p>Beatrice shrugged her shoulders. "My mind has been uneasy ever since -the death of my stepfather," she retorted. "Is this the place?"</p> - -<p>"This is the place," assented the vicaress.</p> - -<p>It was--as Mrs. Snow had stated--a very secret place. The path ended -In a kind of semicircular enclosure surrounded by a high hedge of -hawthorn. The arbour faced the path, so that any one seated therein -could see an intruder advancing along the path. The haven of rest was -of light trellis-work overgrown with roses, and had a comfortable -wooden seat at the back, and two basket chairs in front of this, with -a small green-painted table between. Beatrice sank into one of the -chairs, and Mrs. Snow subsided into the other. The table was between -them, and the two glanced at one another when seated. Mrs. Snow looked -as sour as ever: but there lurked a watchful look in her eyes, which -a more discerning person than the visitor would have seen at once. -Beatrice on her part, having nothing to conceal, was perfectly open; -and caring very little for what Mrs. Snow had to say, resolved that, -whatever it might be, she would bind herself to no secrecy. The scene -being set, the actresses spoke. Beatrice politely waited to give -Mrs. Snow a chance of opening the conversation, while Mrs. Snow was -equally determined that her visitor should speak first. Under these -circumstances a silence ensued which lasted for quite two minutes. Mrs. -Snow, being the most impatient, yielded first to the desire to use her -tongue.</p> - -<p>"You spoke very strangely just now, Miss Hedge," she said, and -purposely uttered the name to evoke frank speech from Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Miss Hall, if you please," said the girl, falling into the trap.</p> - -<p>"Oh! Miss Hall," replied the other, flushing. "I never knew that your -mother was called Hall."</p> - -<p>"As she was your dearest friend--you told me as much--I fancy you must -have had some idea."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," said Mrs. Snow, looking down uneasily. Then she raised her -face with a frown. "Who told you this?"</p> - -<p>"A man called Orchard. You may know of him, Mrs. Snow?"</p> - -<p>"I have no reason to deny that I know of him. He was the late Mr. -Paslow's butler, and became a shepherd on the Downs, because the doctor -said he would have to live in the open air."</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"Did he not tell you? His nerves were so shattered by that horrid -murder which took place at the Grange twenty-five years ago."</p> - -<p>"You allude to the murder of my father?"</p> - -<p>"To the murder of Colonel Hall," corrected Mrs. Snow snappishly.</p> - -<p>"My father was Colonel Hall."</p> - -<p>"So this man Orchard says?" sneered the other, her face flushing and -her hands opening and shutting.</p> - -<p>"And so I believe. Come now, Mrs. Snow, you must tell me what you know -of this matter?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps Miss Duncan may be able to tell me?"</p> - -<p>"Ah!"--the vicar's wife laughed carelessly--"you know my maiden name, -and perhaps my occupation before I married my husband?"</p> - -<p>"I heard that you were a governess."</p> - -<p>"Who said so?"</p> - -<p>"Durban."</p> - -<p>"In that case, since he has been so frank, I wonder that he did not -tell you how Mrs. Hall--your mother--killed the Colonel."</p> - -<p>Beatrice started to her feet. "You dare to say that?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I do," cried Mrs. Snow venomously. "She killed your father to -gain possession of a diamond necklace, and married Alpenny because he -could have accused her of the murder."</p> - -<p>"That is not true," said Beatrice, closing her eyes with horror.</p> - -<p>"It <i>is</i> true. I can prove it."</p> - -<p>"Why did you not do so twenty-five years ago?"</p> - -<p>"Because your mother was my friend."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Snow"--Beatrice opened her eyes, and leaned across the -table--"you were never my mother's friend."</p> - -<p>The woman moved uneasily, and her hands were restless. "Had I not been -so, your mother would have stood in the dock."</p> - -<p>"Ah! you had your own reason for keeping quiet."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to accuse me of being her accomplice?" said Mrs. Snow, -rising, and scowling.</p> - -<p>"Sit down, please." Beatrice pushed her back into the chair.</p> - -<p>"How dare you!" gasped Mrs. Snow. "I was never treated before so in the -whole course of my life!" And she made to rise again.</p> - -<p>Again Beatrice pushed her back. "I am stronger than you, Mrs. Snow," -she said scornfully; "you <i>shall</i> sit down, and you <i>shall</i> tell me -everything you know."</p> - -<p>"And if I do not?"</p> - -<p>"I'll go at once to the police."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Snow turned white. "To the police?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Listen. I believe that the man with the black patch who murdered -my father, Colonel Hall, also murdered Mr. Alpenny. My mother is -entirely innocent, and were she alive she would say so." Mrs. Snow -laughed at this remark, but in a hollow manner. "Yes, you may laugh, -Mrs. Snow, but what I say is true," resumed Beatrice firmly; "and if -you don't tell me all you know, I shall tell the police that you accuse -my mother and say that you can substantiate your accusation. When -arrested, you may be forced to speak out."</p> - -<p>"Arrested? How dare you!" Mrs. Snow was furious. "How can I be arrested -when the murder of your father took place twenty-five years ago? It is -ridiculous."</p> - -<p>"Oh no; this second murder has to do with the first, so that will -bring the death of my father up-to-date. Speak out, or I go at once to -Brighton, and then----"</p> - -<p>"You will not dare----" gasped the vicaress in a cowed tone.</p> - -<p>"I give you three minutes to make up your mind, Mrs. Snow."</p> - -<p>"I don't want one minute. I shall tell you all I know--all I believe to -be true: your mother is guilty."</p> - -<p>"<i>Was</i> guilty, since she is dead," corrected Beatrice quietly; "and I -do not believe one word. You hated her, in spite of the fact that she -was--as you say--your dearest friend."</p> - -<p>"You are right!" cried Mrs. Snow with hysterical vehemence; "I did hate -her--always--always! She took from me the man I loved. Yes, you may -look and look, but I loved George Hall, your father, with all my heart. -I was only a governess, poor and plain; your mother was a planter's -daughter, rich and beautiful. We were at school together. I was her -companion afterwards; but I always detested her, and now----"</p> - -<p>"Now you detest her daughter," finished Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"You have your mother's beauty," said Mrs. Snow, and cast a venomous -look on the girl's pale face.</p> - -<p>"So this is the reason you kept away from The Camp, and spoke of me to -others so bitterly as you did?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. You may as well know the truth: I hate you. You have the beauty -of your mother, who stole George Hall away from me. But you have not -the money; I saw to that."</p> - -<p>"How could you prevent my inheriting the money? I suppose you allude to -Mr. Alpenny's fortune."</p> - -<p>"Because I told Mr. Alpenny if he left the money to you that I would -accuse him of being an accomplice of Mrs. Hall in her murder of the -Colonel. Miss Hedge, or Miss Hall, or whatever you like to call -yourself, I hate you so much that I would like to put the rope round -your neck."</p> - -<p>"Yet I am the daughter of the man you loved!" said Beatrice, wondering -at this bitterness.</p> - -<p>"All the more reason I should hate you. His daughter--yes, and the -daughter of Amy Hall, whom I loathed with all my soul."</p> - -<p>"If so, why did you not accuse her of the murder?"</p> - -<p>"I gave her a chance of repentance."</p> - -<p>"No, Mrs. Snow, that was not the reason. You did not tell the police, -because you could not prove your accusation. For all I know--for all -the police know--you may have murdered my father yourself."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Snow laughed scornfully. "I murder George Hall? Why, I loved the -very ground he trod on. You can prove nothing against me."</p> - -<p>"Nor can you prove anything against my mother."</p> - -<p>"Can I not?" Mrs. Snow rose and flung her arms about exultingly. "I was -stopping at the Grange. I was lying awake on that night, wondering when -my misery would end."</p> - -<p>"What misery?"</p> - -<p>"The misery of loving your father, and of seeing him with your mother. -But I sowed dissension between them: they were never happy."</p> - -<p>"You wicked woman!"</p> - -<p>"I <i>am</i> a woman, and that answers all," said Mrs. Snow sullenly. "I -don't mind telling you all this, as you cannot accuse me of anything. -If you did say that I told you what I am now telling you, I should deny -it; and who would believe you, against a respectable woman like me?"</p> - -<p>"You are a wicked woman!" said Beatrice again. "Go on with what you -have to say. I want to get away from you as soon as possible."</p> - -<p>"You may not be in such a hurry to leave me on a future occasion," -retorted Mrs. Snow. "You and I have not done with one another yet. I -know much that you would like to know."</p> - -<p>"What is that?"</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you later. Meanwhile, I tell you that I was lying awake -and heard a noise. I stole out, and saw Mrs. Hall ready dressed to -go out into the passage. She was at the head of the stairs, and with -her was old Alpenny, for he was old even then. They stopped talking -for a time, as I saw, and he apparently was persuading her to do -something. Then they went along towards the wing where Colonel Hall -slept. I went back to bed, wondering what Mrs. Hall meant by keeping -a midnight appointment with old Alpenny. I never suspected the truth. -Next morning the necklace was gone and George Hall murdered. And she -did it!" shouted Mrs. Snow savagely; "she--you mother! Alpenny was -her accomplice. He wished to get the necklace. He was afraid to kill -George Hall himself, and made a woman do it. Then she got the necklace -after she cut poor George's throat, and Alpenny made her marry him -under a threat of denouncing her as what she was, a murderess--a -murderess--you--you daughter of one!" jeered Mrs. Snow, pointing a -mocking finger at the pale girl.</p> - -<p>"You lie!" said Beatrice, shaken but not convinced.</p> - -<p>"A black patch was found under the window of my father's room. It was -open; and now that a man with a black patch killed Mr. Alpenny (for the -necklace, for all I know), I believe he also killed my father."</p> - -<p>"You admit that Mr. Alpenny had the necklace. How did he get it?"</p> - -<p>"Orchard said that Alpenny killed my father."</p> - -<p>"No; your mother did. Alpenny was merely the accomplice."</p> - -<p>"Wait. Major Ruck declared that Colonel Hall gave the necklace before -his death to Mrs. Hedge. Now I know that Mrs. Hedge was really Mrs. -Hall, I believe him. Father gave my mother the necklace, and doubtless -what else you say is true. My mother was forced to marry Alpenny, -because he threatened to denounce her, She must have been suspected of -the crime. I can see that plainly, else she would not have changed her -name to Hedge. I wonder she was not recognised."</p> - -<p>"No one knew her here," said Mrs. Snow gloomily. "She was only one -night at Convent Grange, and on that night her husband was murdered. -Pshaw! She is guilty."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it," insisted Beatrice, rising defiantly; "but I will -prove the truth of what you say. Durban must speak out now."</p> - -<p>"And he will accuse your mother as I accuse her. Why did Durban go to -serve Alpenny for nothing? Because Alpenny, wishing to get a faithful -servant for nothing, said he would denounce Mrs. Hall unless she -married him and brought Durban with her. Durban knows the truth, but he -has kept silent all these years because he dared not speak out without -hanging Mrs. Hall."</p> - -<p>"She is dead now, so nothing can be done," said Beatrice sadly; "but at -least her memory can be cleared, and I shall clear it."</p> - -<p>"If you delve into your mother's past, you will find more things than -murder in it," said Mrs. Snow sneeringly. "She loved Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p>"She loved Major Ruck, I tell you. He also was at Convent Grange on the -night the crime was committed, and I believe that your mother was about -to elope with him when I saw her dressed at midnight, with Alpenny -talking to her."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said Beatrice coldly, "I thought that she was there--as you -say--to murder my father."</p> - -<p>"She intended to do so, and then elope with Ruck; but Alpenny caught -her in his toils. For all I know, I may have seen her talking <i>after</i> -the murder, and Alpenny may have gone with her to get the necklace."</p> - -<p>"You make out a very pretty case, Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice, her heart -beating loudly and quickly, for the weight of evidence <i>did</i> seem to be -against Mrs. Hall. "However, I shall see Durban, and then come again to -see you. Good day," and she moved away, while Mrs. Snow laughed.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">CHAPTER XV</a></h4> - -<h5>A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE</h5> -<br> - -<p>It was all very strange, thought Beatrice, as she walked towards -Convent Grange. She had learned much from Orchard and from Mrs. Snow, -yet apparently there was more to learn. Who had killed Colonel Hall? -Who had murdered Jarvis Alpenny? Was the assassin one and the same? And -if she found the assassin, would she learn who possessed the necklace, -which seemed to account for both crimes? Finally, did she discover the -identity of the assassin and the necklace, would she be able to learn -the mystery which lurked in the background of Vivian's life? These were -the questions which Beatrice asked herself on the way home.</p> - -<p>In spite of Mrs. Snow's assertion and significant tale of the midnight -meeting with Alpenny, the girl could not bring herself to believe that -her mother was guilty. A woman would never think of cutting a man's -throat, and probably when a frail little woman such as Mrs. Hall was -reported to have been, would not have the power. Then again, Alpenny -was murdered in the same way, and Mrs. Hall had been lying in Hurstable -churchyard for years. Also, if Mrs. Hall was guilty, what had the black -patch which had reappeared in the second crime to do with the first -one? It seemed impossible that these riddles could be answered.</p> - -<p>On arriving at the Grange, Beatrice found Dinah and Jerry Snow walking -down the avenue. Apparently they had been quarrelling, for they did not -walk arm in arm as usual, and Jerry was as sulky as Dinah was tearful. -"Whatever is the matter?" asked Beatrice, stopping.</p> - -<p>"It's Jerry's cruelty," mourned Dinah, whose sorrow made her look even -plainer than usual.</p> - -<p>"It's Dinah's foolishness," retorted Jerry, and walked on.</p> - -<p>"Come back," cried the girl, "or I'll never, never, never speak to you -again. Do you wish to break my heart?"</p> - -<p>"You're breaking it yourself," grumbled the young man. All the same, he -returned to where the two girls were standing.</p> - -<p>"And after all I have put up with from your mother," complained Dinah.</p> - -<p>"Oh! leave my mother alone."</p> - -<p>"I wish she would leave <i>me</i> alone. She is always highly disagreeable -to me. I believe it is a family failing," concluded Dinah spitefully.</p> - -<p>"Don't marry me, then."</p> - -<p>"I don't intend to--you--you bear!"</p> - -<p>Beatrice listened to all this with covert amusement. She knew that the -two loved one another too well to think of parting, whatever might be -the grounds of their quarrel. "Come, come," she said soothingly, and -prepared to play the part of peacemaker. "What is the matter? Is Jerry -jealous?"</p> - -<p>"No," snapped Dinah. "I am--very jealous. He"--she pointed to Jerry, -who still looked sulky--"has been flirting with another girl. I was in -the village an hour ago, and there was Jerry as bold as brass talking -to a red-haired minx, who squinted."</p> - -<p>"She doesn't squint," growled Jerry.</p> - -<p>"There, you see; he defends her."</p> - -<p>"Dinah!" cried Jerry in desperation, "how can you be so silly? I love -you and you only."</p> - -<p>"You love that horrid girl. I saw her looking at you."</p> - -<p>"A cat may look at a king."</p> - -<p>"She certainly is a cat, though you're not a king."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Beatrice, preparing to move on, "I am going back to the -house, and you two can settle it yourselves."</p> - -<p>Dinah clung to her friend. "No. I won't be left alone with Jerry."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, explain," said Beatrice impatiently, for she had too many -worries of her own to take any profound interest in the frivolous ones -of these milk-and-water lovers.</p> - -<p>"I'll explain," said Mr. Snow defiantly. "There is a young lady I know -in London----"</p> - -<p>"Young!" cried Dinah; "she's thirty-five, and painted."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, she came down here to the inn, and I met her outside. She -exchanged a few words with me, and said that she wanted to know the -nearest way to the Downs. It seems that her father is a shepherd on the -Downs--a man called Orchard."</p> - -<p>"What?" cried Beatrice, disengaging herself from Dinah's too fond -embrace. She could scarcely believe her ears. That she should come -from seeing the ex-butler for the first time, to stumble--so to -speak--across his daughter, was indeed an extraordinary coincidence.</p> - -<p>Jerry looked at her amazed, as he could not understand her tone. "Why -do you look so astonished?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"I have only lately come down from seeing Orchard," she said. "Oh, by -the way, Dinah," she added, turning to the girl, "Vivian came back with -you from Brighton?"</p> - -<p>"No," said Dinah crossly; "he had to see someone, and will not be back -until late. I came home myself, and passed through the village to see -Jerry making love to that horrid girl. And Jerry had the coolness to -follow me."</p> - -<p>"Only to explain," urged Jerry. "Come, Dinah, don't be silly. I know -the lady only a little; she is on one of the papers belonging to our -editorial firm, and does the fashion column."</p> - -<p>"She might dress better, then," retorted Dinah crossly, and determined -not to be appeased. "I saw cheapness in every line of her dress."</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Jerry artfully, "she cannot set off a dress like you."</p> - -<p>"Don't be silly," cried Miss Paslow, but smiled for all that.</p> - -<p>"What is this lady's name?" asked Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Lady!"--Dinah tossed her head--"when her father is a shepherd, and, I -dare say, a very bad one."</p> - -<p>"Miss Maud Carr is her name," said Mr. Snow, ignoring Dinah, much to -her wrath.</p> - -<p>"Maud!" Beatrice remembered that this was also the name of Vivian's -dead wife, and again wondered at the long arm of coincidence.</p> - -<p>"I know very little about it or her," said Jerry in an injured -tone, "save that she writes about women's fashions. We have met at -journalistic clubs in London, and, of course, when I saw her I passed -the time of day with her."</p> - -<p>"You passed an hour," snapped Dinah, "and very pleasantly, I'm sure."</p> - -<p>"She's not a bit ashamed of her birth," continued Jerry, still ignoring -Dinah as a punishment. "I never knew her father was a shepherd in -London, but she confessed it to me here quite easily."</p> - -<p>"That's her artfulness," commented Dinah. "Why are you so curious about -this woman?" she asked Beatrice.</p> - -<p>The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I am not curious," she denied; "but -as I have just seen old Orchard, it is strange that his daughter should -have been speaking to Jerry."</p> - -<p>"Not at all, Beatrice. Jerry is always fond of these painted, horrid -women, who never pay for their dresses because they write for fashion -papers. I should be ashamed to earn my living in that way.--Well"--she -faced round to the impenitent Mr. Snow--"and what have you to say?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," said Jerry crossly. "You are always nagging, Dinah."</p> - -<p>"After that!" cried Miss Paslow, looking up to see why the heavens did -not fall. "Well, I'm--I'm----" Words failed her, and she turned her -back. "I'm going home. All is at an end!" and she sped up the avenue, -glancing back meanwhile on occasions to see if Jerry followed.</p> - -<p>But Jerry did nothing of the sort, and explained to Beatrice why he -stood his ground. "Dinah needs a lesson," he said gravely. "You have no -idea how she nags at me. I can't speak to any one without her getting -into a pelting rage."</p> - -<p>"It shows how she loves you," said Beatrice soothingly.</p> - -<p>"I don't want to be loved in that selfish way. It's just like mother: -she wants all one's affection, and nags the whole time, saying it is -for my good. I've had quite enough of that in mother, without taking -it on in a wife. I want a woman who will cheer me up, and look upon -me as something to be looked up to. But I'll punish her," said Jerry -wrathfully. "She expects me to run after her. I won't; I'll stay here -and talk to you."</p> - -<p>"I'm busy," said Beatrice, taking a step or two away. "I have to go to -The Camp to see Durban."</p> - -<p>"You needn't. He's at Convent Grange looking for you."</p> - -<p>"Oh! Then I'll go to him at once."</p> - -<p>"Better wait to hear what I have to say," urged Jerry; "it's about the -murder of Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>Beatrice stopped short, wondering what she was about to hear. "Have you -discovered anything?" she asked breathlessly.</p> - -<p>"I can't say if what I have discovered is of any use," explained Mr. -Snow, "but it might put the police on the track of the assassins."</p> - -<p>"What have you found out?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I was down Whitechapel the other night," said Jerry, "making an -inquiry into some robbery that has taken place. There was a detective -with me, and we saw all manner of queer things; also, we heard all -manner of queer talk. In one way and another we picked up information -about the Black Patch Gang."</p> - -<p>"The Black Patch Gang!" echoed Beatrice. "Yes!--yes?"</p> - -<p>"It's a gang of rogues, thieves, and vagabonds," went on Mr. Snow. "The -police have never been able to lay hands on the head of the gang, or -break it up. This gang goes about committing burglaries, and stealing -things, and picking pockets. They must have a kind of academy like -Fagin's," mused Jerry, "and they know one another by a black patch worn -over the left eye."</p> - -<p>"Just like the man I saw?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I thought of that when I heard the story," said Jerry, "and the -detective thought the same. He is going to hunt out this gang and learn -the whereabouts of their headquarters. And, Beatrice"--he moved forward -to place a cautious hand on her arm--"it struck me--I don't know if -it struck the detective, but it struck me, that Alpenny, who was a -precious scoundrel--I beg your pardon----"</p> - -<p>"Go on," she said impatiently. "I know he was my stepfather, but I -always thought him a wicked man myself."</p> - -<p>"I believe he was a fence," said Jerry solemnly.</p> - -<p>"What is that?"</p> - -<p>"The chap who disposes of stolen goods. Yes; I really believe that was -why Alpenny lived in the country. The Black Patch Gang brought their -stolen goods down here, and he got rid of them in some way. I expect -the police will come down and make a thorough search throughout The -Camp. There may be all manner of secret hiding-places."</p> - -<p>"But, Jerry," protested Beatrice, who was very pale, as various -thoughts rushed through her mind, "I never saw any London thieves in -The Camp, or, indeed, any one disreputable."</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see any client?" asked Jerry impressively.</p> - -<p>"No. Mr. Alpenny kept his business very quiet."</p> - -<p>"He had need to if he was a fence. Beatrice, remember how the keys were -in the counting-house, where the man was murdered, and how the assassin -could not have got out unless he used the keys. I believe there is -another entrance to that railway carriage, and the assassin came in by -that way, along with the rest of Alpenny's precious clients. I am quite -sure the old man was the head of the gang."</p> - -<p>"There was Waterloo----"</p> - -<p>"I know," said Jerry quickly. "Dinah told me about him, and Mrs. Lilly -told her. Waterloo is a blackguard. The detective in Whitechapel -explained what a scoundrel he was--one of the worst. Why did he come -down here?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know," murmured Beatrice, and then it flashed across her -mind that the tramp had come to see Vivian. Coupling this desire with -the speech of the late Jarvis Alpenny regarding Vivian's crimes and -Vivian's secret troubles, which she was so anxious to find out, the -girl suddenly turned pale. She wondered if Paslow himself was one of -the Black Patch Gang. "It's impossible," said Beatrice, with a gasp, -and leaned against a tree to support herself.</p> - -<p>"What is impossible?" asked Jerry. "Here, hold up."</p> - -<p>"It's all right," she said, recovering herself with a violent effort; -"a little weariness, that is all. I have been on the Downs, remember. I -don't see how you can connect this gang with Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"Remember, he was murdered by a man with a black patch over his eye."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but----" the girl broke off. "I hope the police won't come down -here," she said, with pale-lips, and wondering if Vivian's conduct -would bear investigation.</p> - -<p>"They just will," said Jerry bluntly, "and I hope so. I'll be able to -make a lot out of the matter, if any loot is found. Why, the editor may -raise my salary."</p> - -<p>"You aren't worth it," cried an indignant voice near at hand, and Dinah -appeared from amongst the trees. "How dare you treat me in this way, -Jerry Snow? Why didn't you come after me, and why didn't----"</p> - -<p>"Dinah," asked Beatrice hurriedly, "have you been listening long?"</p> - -<p>"No. All I heard was that Jerry wanted his salary raised. What has he -been talking about?" and she eyed the two suspiciously.</p> - -<p>"Are you jealous of Beatrice?" demanded Mr. Snow scornfully.</p> - -<p>"What nonsense, when you know she is going to marry Vivian! And I -really don't think I'll marry you. Take back your ring, and----"</p> - -<p>Beatrice waited to hear no more. Leaving Dinah pouring out her voluble -wrath on the devoted head of her lover, she ran up the avenue, -wondering what further revelations she would hear. This was a day of -wonders. She had learned that she was the daughter of Colonel Hall; she -had heard her dead mother accused of murder by Mrs. Snow; and now she -discovered that Alpenny--as was probably the case--had been connected -with a gang of rogues. What would be the end of all these terrible -things? She could not tell, and ran on, anxious to reach her own room -in order to think matters over.</p> - -<p>She quite forgot that Jerry had told her Durban was waiting to see -her. But the old servant was on the watch. Hardly had she set foot on -the terrace when he issued from the house; and came towards her with a -smile. It died away, however, when he saw her pale face.</p> - -<p>"Whatever is the matter, missy?" he asked anxiously, Beatrice looked at -him calmly, and wasted no time in explaining herself. "I have learned -at last what you would not tell me."</p> - -<p>"Missy!" cried Durban, and his swarthy face grew green, as it always -did when he was startled.</p> - -<p>"I am the daughter of Colonel Hall, who was murdered here. My mother -was really Mrs. Hall, who called herself Mrs. Hedge and married -Alpenny!"</p> - -<p>Durban gasped. "Who told you this?"</p> - -<p>"Orchard, who was the butler here, and now is a shepherd on the Downs."</p> - -<p>"It is true," said Durban, flinging wide his hands. "I knew you would -find out. I am glad you have found out."</p> - -<p>"Why did you not tell me?"</p> - -<p>"I was prevented."</p> - -<p>"By whom?"</p> - -<p>"First by Alpenny, and then by Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"The man with whom my mother was about to elope?"</p> - -<p>Durban looked at her swiftly. "Orchard never told you that?"</p> - -<p>"No. Mrs. Snow told me."</p> - -<p>"You have seen her. Then you know?"</p> - -<p>"I know that she accuses my mother of the crime--of the murder of my -father, Colonel Hall."</p> - -<p>"That is a lie," said Durban between his teeth. "But she would not -stick at a lie to harm your mother."</p> - -<p>"How can she harm the dead?"</p> - -<p>"She might harm the memory of the dead," said Durban evasively. "And -what else have you heard?"</p> - -<p>"From Mr. Jerry Snow, I have just heard that there is a gang of thieves -in London called the Black Patch Gang."</p> - -<p>"Augh!" groaned Durban, casting down his eyes. "Go on."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny is connected with them. Mr. Snow says that he was a fence -who disposed of stolen goods."</p> - -<p>"Where did Mr. Snow hear this story?"</p> - -<p>"From various people in Whitechapel."</p> - -<p>"Rumours only," said Durban, striving to appear calm; "there is not a -word of truth in it. Mr. Alpenny was wicked, but not so bad as that, -missy. I swear it."</p> - -<p>"I believe that Mr. Snow has spoken the truth," said Beatrice sharply. -"You are still trying to keep me in the dark."</p> - -<p>"For your good, missy--for your good."</p> - -<p>"Or for Mr. Paslow's safety--which?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know what you mean," gasped Durban hoarsely.</p> - -<p>"I don't know myself exactly, since you will not be candid," said the -girl wearily; "but I have found out much, and I shall find more. When I -discover that necklace----"</p> - -<p>"The Obi necklace? You have never found that?"</p> - -<p>"No. But I am looking for it."</p> - -<p>"Missy, do not. I implore you, do not. There is a curse on that -necklace. It caused the death of your father, the disgrace of your -mother, and the murder of Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"How do you know that? Had Mr. Alpenny the necklace?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Your mother gave it to Alpenny for you."</p> - -<p>"Then where is it?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know--I cannot tell. And if I did know I would never tell, -missy. Enough sorrow and trouble has come about over that necklace--the -accursed thing! I--I----" Durban broke down, and, with a groan, fairly -ran away, leaving the amazed Beatrice mistress of the field.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">CHAPTER XVI</a></h4> - -<h5>AN INTERRUPTION</h5> -<br> - -<p>There was certainly enough to think about. Beatrice retreated to her -room, and proceeded to reason out the meaning of all she had heard. It -was evident that both Vivian and Durban were in some way connected with -criminality in connection with Mr. Alpenny's vocation of "fence," since -both refused to speak. Waterloo, apparently, was a member of the Black -Patch Gang, and had come down the other day to see Vivian. Beatrice -remembered now how Vivian had hinted that he was connected with rogues -and vagabonds, and how he appeared to be fearful as to what Major -Ruck might say. Ruck himself probably was a member of this criminal -association. In any case, as Durban had confessed, he was a decoy duck -to lure the unwary into the late Mr. Alpenny's nets.</p> - -<p>But the question which now presented itself to the puzzled girl was, -whether, Alpenny being dead, the organisation would end. The old usurer -had been extremely clever, and, wanting his brains, this association -might disband for want of a competent head. Ruck certainly,--as he -appeared to have some authority,--might become the moving spirit; but -from what Beatrice had seen of him, she did not think he was capable -of handling such difficult matters. And she did not much care. All she -desired was to learn what Paslow had to do with these rascalities,--if -Durban was implicated in the rogueries,--and, if so, to rescue both. -She could not believe that either of these kind men, and whom she loved -so dearly, would act in a blackguardly way. In some manner the two had -become entangled in Alpenny's nets, and knowing this, Ruck was making -capital out of the knowledge. This was the conclusion which Beatrice -arrived at, and she determined to force Vivian to explain.</p> - -<p>"I love him dearly," she assured herself, as she stared at her pale -drawn face in the looking-glass; "but I cannot marry him until I know -exactly what part he has taken in all these terrible doings." With this -resolve she went down to dinner, and found Vivian there in a very happy -state of mind. Lately the cloud had passed away from his brow, and he -seemed more like his old self, of the days when she had never guessed -what an abyss there was under her feet--under their feet, indeed, as -she could not separate herself, even in thought, from Vivian Paslow.</p> - -<p>"My dear Beatrice," he said, coming towards her with a smile: and then, -when he saw her face, he stopped short, just as Durban had done. "Why, -my darling, what have you been doing with yourself?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," replied Beatrice quietly. "After dinner I'll tell you."</p> - -<p>"Then there <i>is</i> something," said Paslow, seeing how she contradicted -herself, and trying to make her speak out.</p> - -<p>"Yes," she answered with an effort, "there is some thing. I have -learned much to-day."</p> - -<p>"About what?--from whom?" Paslow gasped out the questions, and his -heart beat violently. He felt sick with apprehension. What had she -heard, and why did she look at him in this way?</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you after dinner."</p> - -<p>"But I want you to tell me now."</p> - -<p>"No," said Beatrice very directly, and was spared further speech, for -at that moment Dinah came into the room, followed by Jerry in evening -dress.</p> - -<p>"I've made it up with Jerry. He has asked my pardon," she said in a -cheerful voice, "so I invited him to dinner as a reward."</p> - -<p>"I hope it is a good dinner," said Jerry blandly. "I deserve a big -reward for having given in to you."</p> - -<p>"It is always a man's duty to give in to a woman," said Miss Paslow.</p> - -<p>"I hope you don't think it is the wife's duty to bully the husband?"</p> - -<p>"On occasions. A little storm clears the air."</p> - -<p>Further argument was cut short by the sound of the gong. Vivian, who -had been watching Beatrice all the time, gave her his arm, and they -led the way into the dining-room, while the lovers wrangled behind. -The table looked dainty and neat, as it was brilliant with flowers and -glittered with old silver and cut crystal. In spite of his difficulties -Paslow had always kept up a certain state at the Grange, and, looking -at the table, no one would have guessed that its owner was nearly -bankrupt. Dinah, who with Mrs. Lilly was responsible for the meal, -pointed out to Jerry the various dishes set down on the menu, and -described what share she had taken in preparing the same. "So you see, -Jerry darling, I am a magnificent housekeeper."</p> - -<p>"On your brother's income," said Jerry, with a shrug, and enjoying the -soup. "What will you be on mine?"</p> - -<p>"On ours," corrected Dinah. "I'll be splendid, of course. Your income -cannot be very much less than Vivian's. We live here like Elijah, who -was fed by ravens."</p> - -<p>"I am fed by a dove," said Mr. Snow gallantly.</p> - -<p>"How sweet!" sighed Dinah sentimentally. Then feeling really hungry -after her argument with Jerry, she began to eat, and laid all sentiment -aside: that could come afterwards in the moonlight.</p> - -<p>Beatrice and Vivian exchanged few words during the meal. They talked -about the weather, about the various trifles in the newspapers which -interested idle people, and made a light meal. But at the back of their -thoughts lay the consciousness that a crisis was approaching in their -lives, and neither one knew how it would end. Would love be strong -enough to make the girl overlook youthful folly? That was what Vivian -asked himself. And Beatrice wondered if Vivian's love would be powerful -enough to make him confess plainly what was the meaning of all these -mysterious things which raised a barrier between them. The dinner was -a mere farce so far as they were concerned; but Dinah and Jerry ate -enough for four, and chatted meanwhile so gaily that any silence on the -part of the remaining two was overlooked.</p> - -<p>The meal ended, Vivian and Jerry did not linger over the bottle of -old port which the host placed before his guest. Jerry was at an age -when love was preferable to strong drink, and Vivian wished to have -a confidential conversation with Beatrice as speedily as possible. -Therefore by common consent they adjourned to the drawing-room, -and found the two girls drinking coffee on the terrace. It was a -deliciously warm night with a full moon, and countless stars gemming -the heavens. Quite a night for Romeo and Juliet, meet for love and -for soft whisperings. Nightingales sang in the thickets, and the -trees were absolutely still owing to the want of the faintest breath -of wind. Dinah, finishing her coffee, began to get sentimental again -and beckoned to Jerry. The two went down the steps into the sleeping -gardens, and Beatrice was left seated at the small table on the terrace -with Vivian smoking at her elbow.</p> - -<p>She glanced at him in the ivory moonlight while she made up her mind -what to say. He looked slim and handsome in his well-cut clothes--a -dark and somewhat stern man with a finely-featured face, Greek in its -perfect lines. It seemed impossible that such a man could be involved -in sordid roguery. He looked what Beatrice, in spite of circumstances, -always believed him to be--an honourable English gentleman who was her -lover and who would be her adoring husband. Vivian was staring at the -retreating forms of Jerry and Dinah as they vanished down the avenue; -but he became conscious that Beatrice was looking at him, and turned to -look at her.</p> - -<p>Surely a lover never saw a fairer maid. In her black dress, with her -white neck and arms shining in the moonlight, she looked wonderfully -beautiful. The pale glimmer of the moon concealed all the ravages which -trouble had made, and she appeared like an angel ready to take flight. -It was with difficulty that Paslow prevented himself pressing her in -his arms; but until matters were cleared up between them, there was -no chance that she would allow him to embrace her. He could see that, -in the sad, stern way in which she looked at him, and so restrained -himself with a violent effort "Well?" he said stiffly, and prepared to -listen.</p> - -<p>"What is it you wish to know?" she asked in a low voice.</p> - -<p>"I wish to know what has changed you?"</p> - -<p>"Am I changed?"</p> - -<p>"Very much. This morning when I went to Brighton with Dinah, you were -bright and happy; now you are sad, and look as though you had received -bad news."</p> - -<p>"Only you can give me bad news," said Beatrice in an embarrassed -manner. "I want you to be plain with me to-night, Vivian. I have -promised to marry you. I take that promise back----"</p> - -<p>"Beatrice--oh Beatrice!"</p> - -<p>"Unless you satisfy me that you really and truly love me."</p> - -<p>"Oh, my darling, is there any question of that?"</p> - -<p>"There is every question. It is easy for a man to say that he loves a -woman; it is not so easy to prove it."</p> - -<p>"I can prove it, in any way you will."</p> - -<p>"Good," said Beatrice, leaning forward and placing her arms on the -small table between them. "I shall tell you what I have heard to-day; -and then you must tell me what you know."</p> - -<p>"About what?" asked Paslow, lighting another cigarette with shaking -hands, and not daring to look at her.</p> - -<p>"In the first place, about my parentage."</p> - -<p>This time he did look at her, and in much amazement. "You are the -stepdaughter of Alpenny," he said quietly, "and the daughter of Mrs. -Hedge, whomsoever she may be."</p> - -<p>"Is that all you know?" she asked, looking at him.</p> - -<p>"Yes. I have never heard anything else."</p> - -<p>"But <i>I</i> have. I heard this day, and from Orchard the shepherd, who was -your father's servant, that I am the daughter of Colonel Hall."</p> - -<p>Vivian dropped his cigarette and jumped up with an exclamation of -genuine surprise. "Did Orchard tell you that?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"He did. Mrs. Hedge, my mother, was really Mrs. Hall, and married Mr. -Alpenny because--because----" She hesitated.</p> - -<p>"Because why? She must have had a strong reason to marry that old -rascal."</p> - -<p>"She had. Alpenny, according to Mrs. Snow----"</p> - -<p>"What does Mrs. Snow know about your affairs?" asked Vivian angrily.</p> - -<p>"A great deal. She was my mother's best friend,--so she says--and -her bitterest enemy, as I have found out. Mrs. Snow declared that my -mother married Alpenny to prevent Alpenny accusing her of murdering her -husband, and my father."</p> - -<p>"Oh! It is incredible," muttered Vivian, clutching his hair.</p> - -<p>"Wait till you hear details. I think my mother is innocent myself, but -certainly the evidence seems to be against her," and Beatrice, without -giving Vivian time to intervene, told him all that she had heard from -the old shepherd and from Mrs. Snow. He listened in silence, although -his amazement was too profound and too openly expressed, to be anything -else than genuine. "What do you think?" said Beatrice, when she had -finished.</p> - -<p>"I don't know what to think," he muttered, glancing sideways at her and -then away into the shadowy garden. "I believe Orchard is right, and -that you are the daughter of the man who was murdered in this house. -But I do not believe what Mrs. Snow says. Your mother--or, indeed, -any woman--would never commit a crime in so brutal a manner. I don't -believe any woman unless an Amazon would have the strength, for one -thing."</p> - -<p>"So I think," said Beatrice heartily; "and I am glad that you agree -with me. However, the discovery of my parentage does not make any -difference to my position."</p> - -<p>"I don't know so much about that," said Paslow, meditatively. "It might -be that Colonel Hall left money. As he is dead, and your mother is -dead--as Alpenny's wife, any money that there is should come to you."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Beatrice, watching the effect of her words, "it seems to -me that the necklace is mine. I understand that it is valued--so Major -Ruck said--at ten thousand pounds. If I can find that, I certainly will -be an heiress. But Durban wants me to leave it alone."</p> - -<p>"For what reason?"</p> - -<p>"He declares that the necklace is accursed."</p> - -<p>"Pooh!" said Vivian, with supreme contempt. "That is his African -superstition. You must not forget, Beatrice, that Durban is half a -negro. If the necklace can be found, it certainly must be given back to -you, for your own sake. Not for mine," he added quickly; "I don't care -if you are an heiress or a pauper. I marry you because I love you, my -darling."</p> - -<p>He offered to take her in his arms, but she drew back. "One moment, -Vivian," she said rapidly. "Can you tell me where the necklace is to be -found?"</p> - -<p>"I!" He started back in great surprise, and met her gaze frankly but -with a puzzled look. "How should I know?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Alpenny, I truly believe, was killed for the sake of that -necklace, as was my father before him. I do not believe that my father -gave it to my mother. He was killed and robbed--so was Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"Beatrice, do you imply that I know anything of this murder?"</p> - -<p>"I can explain," she said, and came closer. "Alpenny was killed by a -man who wore a black patch over his left eye. A black patch was found -under the window of the room in which my father, Colonel Hall, was -murdered. Both crimes were committed, if not by the same man, as I have -hitherto believed, at least by a member of the Black Patch Gang to -which Alpenny belonged."</p> - -<p>Paslow covered his face with a groan, unable to meet the vivid -lightning of her eyes. "What do you know about the Black Patch Gang?" -he asked in stifled tones.</p> - -<p>"All that Jerry Snow could tell me. He was in Whitechapel, and heard -many remarks about this gang of thieves which the police are always -trying to break up. Now that the gang is concerned in murder as well as -in thievery, the police will make every effort to capture the man who -heads them. What is his name?"</p> - -<p>"How should I know?" demanded Paslow hoarsely. "Because you <i>do</i> know. -Alpenny hinted that you had committed crimes."</p> - -<p>"He lied--he lied," said Vivian passionately. "I am as innocent of -evil-doing as you are; folly, perhaps, but never crime."</p> - -<p>"I believe that. I am certain that the man I love would never descend -to sordid crime. But you have been drawn into the toils of this gang. I -believe that Alpenny was the head--he decoyed you into his snares; or -else Ruck--Major Ruck, his decoy-duck."</p> - -<p>"There is some truth in what you say, but----"</p> - -<p>"No; you must speak out. I will stand by you to the end, and do all I -can to reveal my love more and more. But I refuse"--she drew herself -upright--"to marry you unless you tell me the <i>whole</i> truth."</p> - -<p>"Give me time," he panted, and clenched his hands.</p> - -<p>"No. You must tell me now, or to-night we part for ever."</p> - -<p>Paslow uttered a groan, and moved forward two or three steps as though -about to seek safety in flight. "Beatrice!" he said brokenly.</p> - -<p>"Your answer?" she demanded, making every effort to appear calm.</p> - -<p>But the answer was not to come from Paslow. Even while he opened his -mouth to speak, Jerry appeared on the lawn with two ladies. One was -Dinah, as they could see by the evening-dress; the other a tall, -slim, fair-haired woman, fashionably arrayed in walking-costume. The -moonlight was strong, but neither Beatrice nor Paslow could tell who -the strange woman was.</p> - -<p>"Hullo, Vivian!" shouted Jerry; "here is Miss Carr, who wants to see -you."</p> - -<p>He would have said more, but was drawn back by Dinah, who apparently -was still jealous of the stranger. Beatrice remembered that this was -the woman with whom Jerry had been speaking during the day, the same -that had awakened the jealousy of Dinah. Also, she was the daughter -of the ex-butler. She advanced with gliding steps, and looked like a -beautiful lithe tigress stealing towards her prey.</p> - -<p>With Dinah, still jealous, Jerry after that one abrupt introduction -disappeared down the avenue, probably to be scolded. But Beatrice did -not look at the retreating lovers, nor indeed at the advancing Miss -Carr, whose foot was now on the lowest step of the terrace. All her -attention was concentrated on Vivian Paslow, who stood at the top of -the steps as though frozen into stone. The woman came up the steps, and -was now so near that Beatrice could see the smile on her fair face.</p> - -<p>"You!" said Vivian hoarsely, and fell back a pace.</p> - -<p>"Myself," said Miss Carr, "and no ghost either."</p> - -<p>Beatrice rose with a bound, and felt a sudden jealous anger surge in -her heart. She looked from one to the other imperiously. "Who is this -woman?" she asked the cowering man.</p> - -<p>"My--my--wife," he said in low, broken tones. "God help me, my wife -come back from the dead!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">CHAPTER XVII</a></h4> - -<h5>A STORY OF THE PAST</h5> -<br> - -<p>Miss Carr, or Miss Orchard, or Mrs. Paslow--Beatrice thought of her -by all these three names--smiled quietly when her husband made the -confession, and sank gracefully into the seat he had vacated. She -was certainly a handsome woman, and if not entirely a lady, was an -extremely good imitation of the same. Vivian still stood as in a dream, -staring at the wife he had believed to be dead and buried, and Beatrice -stared alternately at him and at the strange woman. A silence ensued, -for each of the three was thinking hard. Beatrice was the first to -break silence.</p> - -<p>"Will you explain?" she asked Vivian quietly.</p> - -<p>"I think," he answered in a harsh, dry tone, "that my wife had better -explain. I have the certificate of her death, and----"</p> - -<p>"And you can consider it so much waste-paper. The woman who was buried -was my double," said Mrs. Paslow composedly.</p> - -<p>"You cannot deceive me in that way, Maud. I saw you ill in bed."</p> - -<p>"And so I was. I had a bad attack of influenza," said his wife, with -a calm smile. "Oh, my illness was genuine enough; but I did not -die,--although I appeared to do so, for reasons connected with a second -marriage."</p> - -<p>"With Mr. Paslow's marriage to me?" asked Beatrice, striving to regain -her calmness, and emulate the <i>sang-froid</i> of this cold, audacious -woman, who appeared to have no feelings.</p> - -<p>"Well, no," drawled Mrs. Paslow, "not exactly. I never did care to -benefit my fellow-creatures to that extent. I refer to a marriage I -wished to make with a rich American. However, his mother stopped the -marriage, and I found myself without a natural protector. Therefore, as -I heard from Major Ruck that Vivian proposed to make you his wife, I -came here to save you, and stop him from committing bigamy."</p> - -<p>"Which you just now proposed to commit yourself?" said Beatrice, with -cold contempt.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Paslow looked at her between half-closed eyelids, and shrugged her -finely moulded shoulders. "Quite so," she said politely; "but I have my -reasons for risking imprisonment."</p> - -<p>"Reasons connected with money," sneered Vivian.</p> - -<p>"Connected with over a million--pounds, not dollars. Well?"</p> - -<p>"Well,"--he faced her squarely--"and what do you propose to do now?"</p> - -<p>"One moment," interposed Beatrice, now perfectly calm, and determined -to break down this woman's composure; "I should like to know how you -carried out this plot of a feigned death."</p> - -<p>There was a case of cigarettes on the table belonging to Vivian: -Mrs. Paslow cast a disdainful, and rather amused look on Beatrice, -and lighted one of the little rolls of tobacco. When the smoke was -wreathing round her fashionable hat, she spoke with great calmness -and appeared in no way upset by the imperious tone of the woman whom -her husband loved. "Certainly," she replied in a low, sweet voice, -which seemed to be one of her greatest charms, and she had many. "As -I explained, I wanted to be free of Vivian to marry a richer man than -he was, or is likely to be. When I was ill, and he came to see me, the -plan suggested itself. I took the doctor into my confidence, and he -agreed, for a consideration, to forward my aims. My double was really -ill,--oh yes, with consumption; she could not live, so----"</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by your double?" asked Beatrice abruptly.</p> - -<p>"Vivian can tell you. He knew of my double."</p> - -<p>"I did,--I do: but I did not think you would pass her off as yourself, -Maud."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Paslow removed the cigarette from her mouth and smiled. "It was a -capital plot," she said musingly; "and but that I want you to be again -my husband, would have succeeded."</p> - -<p>"What about your double?" asked Beatrice pertinaciously.</p> - -<p>"Oh, she was not a twin sister, as you seem to think. I am the only -daughter and only child of Joseph Orchard, who <i>was</i> a butler, and -<i>is</i> a shepherd. You see," she added, leaning her arms on the table -and addressing her rival in an amused tone, "I have no false pride -about me. When occasion serves I can say that I am the daughter of an -army officer, or of a clergyman, or of anyone with a position. I have -done such things in my time. But to you I can be frank, since there is -nothing to be gained by telling lies."</p> - -<p>"Your double--your double, Miss Carr, or Miss Orchard?"</p> - -<p>"Neither name is mine. Mrs. Paslow, if you please. Unless"--she glanced -contemptuously at Vivian--"my husband denies----"</p> - -<p>"I deny nothing. I cannot," he said savagely. "Say what you have to -say, Maud, and then I shall tell Miss Hall how we met and into what -troubles you led me."</p> - -<p>"Miss Hall!" echoed Mrs. Paslow, with a glance at Beatrice. "Then you -know that, do you?"</p> - -<p>"How do <i>you</i> know?" asked Beatrice, pointedly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, my father told me long ago. Later I might have made capital out of -the affair, but now----" She shrugged again.</p> - -<p>"I believe that you are a bad woman," said Beatrice hotly.</p> - -<p>"I am--what God made me," retorted Mrs. Paslow, in no wise disturbed -by the speech. "But about my double. She was a girl on the stage -extremely like me: in fact we might have passed for twins. I also went -on the stage--I have done most things in my time; and we--that is Miss -Arthur my double and myself--appeared in a play as twins. If you knew -anything of the theatre, Miss Hall, you would be surprised to hear -how successful that play was. The author was unknown and Major Ruck -financed the play, and----"</p> - -<p>"I want to hear nothing about that, Mrs. Paslow. I know now how you -carried out the deception, though it seems to me that as you did not -let Vivian see the dead body, it was needless to have this double."</p> - -<p>"Well," admitted Mrs. Paslow apologetically, as though excusing a -fault, "it was necessary to make sure. Vivian, after a few visits, -never came near me----"</p> - -<p>"The doctor would not let me," said her husband quickly.</p> - -<p>"Good old doctor," murmured Mrs. Paslow, selecting a fresh cigarette; -"he knew what I wanted. However, to make a long story short, Miss -Arthur died in my place and was buried under my name. You have the -certificate, my dear Vivian, so all is well. You were so easily -deceived that there was no fun in deceiving you. A clever man would -have made more certain of his wife's death before arranging to take -another one, especially as you were cheated once before."</p> - -<p>"I did hear that you were dead before Mr. Alpenny was murdered, -and I then asked Miss Hall here to be my wife," confessed Vivian; -"afterwards, Major Ruck told me that you were alive, but ill. I went to -see you, and you really seemed to be dying----"</p> - -<p>"I am a good actress, Vivian. I was on the stage, remember."</p> - -<p>"So I thought, when I saw the doctor and got the certificate, that you -were really and truly dead. Oh, I shall see that the doctor is punished -for this deception."</p> - -<p>"I think not," said Mrs. Paslow, narrowing her eyes and looking at him -very directly. "No doubt he will be punished in time, but not by your -will, Vivian dear."</p> - -<p>The tone and words were so peculiar and significant that Beatrice -looked straight at the woman, who now had a mocking smile on her face, -and spoke quietly: "You have some power over Mr. Paslow?"</p> - -<p>"Why not call him Vivian?" sneered the stranger. "He <i>was</i>"--she -emphasised the word--"to be your husband, remember."</p> - -<p>"If you speak like that," said Paslow standing over her and speaking in -a low, angry voice, "I shall forget that I am your husband."</p> - -<p>His wife glanced slightingly at Beatrice. "It seems to me that you have -forgotten," she scoffed.</p> - -<p>What the infuriated man would have said or done on the spur of the -moment, it is impossible to say; but he was dangerous. Beatrice saw -that, and drew him back with an exclamation. "Don't," she said quickly; -"let her say what she will. It cannot hurt me. And let me remind you, -Mrs. Paslow, that you have not answered my question."</p> - -<p>"Nor do I intend to," said the woman, rising and throwing aside the -cigarette. The contemptuous words of Beatrice stung her not a little. -"This is my husband, and I want him to return to town with me."</p> - -<p>"You are my wife," said Vivian in quiet anger, "and you were willing to -commit bigamy after deceiving me by a feigned death. I refuse to have -anything more to do with you."</p> - -<p>"The law will make you!" she threatened.</p> - -<p>"The law will do nothing of the sort. As my wife, I will allow you -enough to live on; but no law will ever make me have anything to do -with you again."</p> - -<p>"Then <i>I</i> shall make you!"</p> - -<p>"Ah," interposed Beatrice, "you exercise this power?"</p> - -<p>"I want my husband," said the woman sullenly.</p> - -<p>"I refuse to have anything to do with you," retorted Paslow once -more. His wife was rapidly losing her temper. She had come prepared -for victory; and, meeting with this opposition, all the disdainful -certainty of her assumed nature wore away, and the coarser feelings -became apparent. Her face flushed a dark red, the expression changed, -and instead of a quiet, ladylike person, Beatrice saw before her a -virago of the worst. "You shall come!" she shouted, "or rather, I shall -stay here. This is my house, and you,"--she turned on Beatrice,--"you -shall leave it."</p> - -<p>"I am here with Mr. Paslow's sister, and I decline to leave it at the -word of a disgraced wife."</p> - -<p>"I!" Mrs. Paslow sprang forward with upraised fist. "You dare to say -that to me, you----" Before she could strike, Vivian caught her arm, -and flung her back with such force that she fell against the balustrade -of the terrace. "Do you want me to commit murder?" he said savagely.</p> - -<p>"Why not another, since you killed Alpenny?" she panted, and glared at -him like a tigress losing her prey.</p> - -<p>"That is a lie!" cried Beatrice before Vivian could speak. "Mr. Paslow -was with me on that night, and about the time the crime was committed."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" sneered the woman, seizing her advantage, "Vivian was with <i>you</i>, -indeed? And what would be said were that known, Miss Hall, as you call -yourself?"</p> - -<p>"Be silent," said her husband, catching her arm in an iron grip, and -his face whiter than that of the dead; "you shameless creature! Go away -at once, and cease your insults."</p> - -<p>"Leave me alone!" cried Mrs. Paslow, wrenching herself free. "I intend -to stop in my own house."</p> - -<p>"My house--not yours."</p> - -<p>"I am your wife."</p> - -<p>"And just now you confessed to a feigned death to commit bigamy? I have -a great mind to give my lawyers instructions to apply for a divorce."</p> - -<p>"Give them to Tuft, then," cried Mrs. Paslow, her fair face convulsed -with fury. "He is Alpenny's lawyer, and knows all about me, and all -about you. See! see!"--she pointed a mocking finger at Vivian who had -turned away with a gesture of despair--"he dare not face the law!"</p> - -<p>"If you mean that you will denounce him for having killed Mr. Alpenny," -said Beatrice in a clear low voice, "you are wrong. I can clear Mr. -Paslow's character. I can save him, and I will!"</p> - -<p>"Indeed! Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because I love him. Why he married you, how he married you, I do not -know; but I believe that you trapped him into----"</p> - -<p>"Trapped him, indeed!" shouted Mrs. Paslow. "I could have married a -dozen better men than he. He is a coward--a milksop--a--a thief! Ah!" -she cried as Beatrice recoiled with a shudder, "you know the truth now. -This dainty, well-born gentleman--this honourable man--is a thief, who -was tried for shoplifting."</p> - -<p>"And who was acquitted," said Paslow, deadly pale. "It was you who were -condemned, and rightly: God forgive me for saying so. After all, bad as -you are, you are my wife."</p> - -<p>"Vivian," said Beatrice, with her face drawn with agony, "is what this -woman says true?"</p> - -<p>"True--quite true. And I'll thank you to speak of me more -respectfully," snapped Mrs. Paslow.</p> - -<p>"Is it true?" asked Beatrice again, paying no attention to this -spiteful speech.</p> - -<p>"Quite true," said Vivian, drawing a long breath and prepared to face -the worst; "this is the power she has held over me. That she can send -me to prison is a lie; but she can disgrace my name, by telling my -friends that I was accused of shoplifting."</p> - -<p>"But was it not in the papers?" asked Beatrice anxiously.</p> - -<p>"No. I was accused under another name, Beatrice. I married that -woman"--he pointed to Mrs. Paslow, who was still fuming with -rage--"when my father was alive. She was the daughter of our old -servant, who became a shepherd. Afterwards, when a child, and when I -was a child, she came here, and Mrs. Lilly helped her for the sake of -her father. I was a boy and foolish. She was clever and unscrupulous. -She grew weary of this quiet life, and went to town. I thought that I -loved her----"</p> - -<p>"And you did," panted Mrs. Paslow.</p> - -<p>"I did not," said Vivian sternly. "I was entrapped, as you know -well.--It was a year later that I met her, when in town, and then she -was the associate of thieves and rogues. Alpenny had seen her here; he -inveigled her into his nets, and used her in the West End as a decoy in -the same way as he used Major Ruck. She met me. I believed that she was -good--that she was still my old playfellow. I married her under my own -name, but in order to save the feelings of my father, I lived with her -as my wife under another name."</p> - -<p>"I wanted to take my own and come down here," said the woman.</p> - -<p>"I know you did, but I would not allow it," said Vivian, and continued -his story rapidly, while Beatrice, perfectly still, listened intently. -"It would have broken my father's heart. And then," he added, turning -to Beatrice, "I found out how vile she was."</p> - -<p>"I never deceived you--never," said Mrs. Paslow.</p> - -<p>"No. You had that redeeming point," said her husband; "as a wife I -could find no fault with you in that way. Had you been good and kind, I -might have come to love you, as I did when we were children together. -But your nature was essentially false and wicked. Under the tuition of -Alpenny you developed into an adventuress, and made the worst use of -your talents."</p> - -<p>"But for Alpenny we should have starved," she reminded him.</p> - -<p>"I did not know that," he retorted. "You said that the money had been -left to you by your god-mother; only when it was too late did I learn -that Alpenny gave you the money for having stolen things. And then I -was dragged into your evil ways."</p> - -<p>"You did steal," insisted Mrs. Paslow.</p> - -<p>"I did not. Beatrice, one day we were in a draper's shop in the West -End. This woman stole some lace; she was arrested, and I was arrested -also as her accomplice."</p> - -<p>"Oh Vivian!"</p> - -<p>"Oh Vivian!" mocked Mrs. Paslow. "You see he is a thief."</p> - -<p>"You lie," said Paslow angrily. "Beatrice does not believe that."</p> - -<p>"No! no! I would never believe it," said Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"You fool!" scoffed Mrs. Paslow.</p> - -<p>"You angel!" cried Vivian fervently, and then proceeded rapidly with -his nauseous story. "Under my feigned name I was tried--and thus, -thank God! I was enabled to save my father from dying of a broken -heart. I was accused, but Tuft, Alpenny's lawyer, defended me--not from -kindness. No. Alpenny, by this accusation of theft, secured a hold over -me, which he used after my father's death to extort the property from -me. This is why I am so poor. Alpenny and my wife"--he laid a scornful -emphasis on the word--"got all my money."</p> - -<p>"And we had a right to," said Mrs. Paslow. "I am your wife, and -Alpenny, through Tuft, saved you from going to gaol."</p> - -<p>"For his own ends merely," retorted Vivian. "I had to pay bitterly for -his aid.--This woman"--he again pointed to Maud--"was condemned, as it -was proved that she was an expert thief, and she was sentenced to a few -months' imprisonment."</p> - -<p>"To five months," said Mrs. Paslow shamelessly.</p> - -<p>"I was acquitted; but the judge read me a lecture on the kind of -society I kept. And Heaven help me!" cried Vivian, "then was the first -time that I knew what sort of society my marriage had led me into."</p> - -<p>"You were always a greenhorn," said Mrs. Paslow, patting her hair into -shape, and arranging her ruffled plumes.</p> - -<p>Vivian turned his back on her. "I left the court without a stain on my -character," he said quickly; "and left England for the five months, -telling my father that I was going abroad for my health. And my health -<i>was</i> bad," he added. "I broke down under the vileness of it all. My -father never knew the truth; nor did any of my friends. The case, since -I was accused under another name, passed unnoticed. But Maud knew the -truth, and so did Alpenny; so did Tuft his creature, and Major Ruck, -another of his minions. They tried to make me vile by threats of -exposure; but so long as I could bribe Alpenny by giving him money, no -action was taken by him or Ruck. Maud I also kept----"</p> - -<p>"I had a right to the money. I am your wife."</p> - -<p>"I admit that you had the right," he said. "Wicked as you were, I -acknowledged you as my wife."</p> - -<p>"Not to the world," she said sharply.</p> - -<p>"Because that would have made the marriage known to my father, and -he would have cut me off without a shilling. After his death, when -you found that Alpenny had the money, you refused to be acknowledged, -although I asked you to come here as my wife. I had not then met with -Miss Hall," ended Vivian significantly.</p> - -<p>"I see. You love her?"</p> - -<p>"With all my heart and soul."</p> - -<p>"And I love him," acknowledged Beatrice. "From what I have heard, I can -see that Vivian is not to blame, you wicked woman."</p> - -<p>"Here," said Mrs. Paslow, advancing, "get out of my house. I have come -here to take up my rightful position. The house is mine."</p> - -<p>"You will leave this place at once," said Vivian, his face dark with -anger; "you can tell what you like and do what you like. Alpenny is -dead, and I decline to be under your thumb any longer."</p> - -<p>"I shall stop here," said Mrs. Paslow, and sat down firmly.</p> - -<p>Vivian placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped up in a fury and -struck at him. "You dare to touch me, you thief!" she stormed. "You -have spoilt my life--you have--you have!" Her anger choked her, and she -tore at the lace round her neck; in doing so, she ripped the dress, and -her hand caught unknowingly at something within. To the amazement of -Beatrice, a chain of glittering gems was pulled from its hiding-place -round her neck, and fell on the pavement. The jewels were diamonds, and -they flashed, pools of liquid light, in the moonlight.</p> - -<p>"Oh!" cried Beatrice, guessing at once. "The Obi necklace!"</p> - -<p>Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Mrs. Paslow had snatched -up the necklace and was flying across the lawn. Vivian would have -followed, but Beatrice stopped him.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h4> - -<h5>WHAT ORCHARD KNEW</h5> -<br> - -<p>"Let her go," said Beatrice, holding back the angered husband by main -force; "only in this way can you keep her out of the house."</p> - -<p>"But the necklace," said Vivian, pausing, while his wife vanished -amongst the shadows of the trees. "Are you sure?"</p> - -<p>"No. How can I be sure? I have never seen the necklace. But the -diamonds were too lovely to be paste. You know I have seen many -jewels pass through Alpenny's hands, and sometimes he explained their -particular beauties and values to me. I am sure the gems in that -necklace are real: they flashed so wonderfully in the moonlight."</p> - -<p>"Diamond necklaces are rare in the Weald," mused Vivian thoughtfully, -"and Maud is not likely to possess such jewels, for she has little -money. It must be the famous Obi necklace. Where could she have got it, -Beatrice?"</p> - -<p>"Who knows?" she replied, her cheek slightly paling. "Is she one of the -members of this Black Patch Gang?"</p> - -<p>"So far as I know anything of her life, she is," replied Paslow, his -eyes averted. Then he turned and seized her hands with vehemence, "Oh! -my heart's darling what can you think of me after this revelation?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice did not pause an instant in making reply. "I think you were -very foolish to keep the truth from me."</p> - -<p>"But how could I tell you of my sinful folly?" he pleaded, and his -voice was very sweet in her ears. "See what a sordid tale it is: a -foolish boy, and a clever woman! Yet God knows"--he broke off and cast -away her hands--"it is not right that I should blame the woman, as men -usually do. After all, Maud has some good points about her."</p> - -<p>"I did not see them," responded Beatrice, with the bitterness with -which one woman will always talk about another she hates.</p> - -<p>"But, believe me, she has," insisted Vivian quickly. "She has been a -burden to me; she did her best to drag me down to her level of thievery -and roguery; but I cannot forget that I knew her here, as a child--when -she really was good and kind. And, Beatrice," he added, with a flush, -"on my soul I believe that in some things she is not what one might -think her. You heard her say that she had been a true wife to me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered the girl, not to be outdone in justice even to a rival; -"and I believe what she said. But if you love her----"</p> - -<p>"Don't say that." He sprang towards her, all his heart in his eyes and -passion in every note of his voice. "I love you and you only; no other -woman has ever made me feel what you have. I met Maud in London, and -even before, I had a kind of boy and girl passion for her. Then we -were playmates, remember, in spite of the difference of our position. -I was sorry when she told me how lonely she was in London. I did not -know that she lied in saying so. I was young and inexperienced, and she -caught me with a tearful eye and a quivering voice and a tale of woe. -I married at haste to repent at leisure. But, oh Heavens!"--he broke -off, pressing his hands against his aching brow--"when I think of that -horrible police-court, and the way in which I was accused of what I -never did, I hardly dare to look you in the face. I am soiled with the -mire of criminality. I must be an outcast, a scoundrel in your eyes."</p> - -<p>"You are in my eyes what you always have been," replied Beatrice in a -soft tone--"the man I love."</p> - -<p>"Still, still--you--you love me?" he stammered.</p> - -<p>"Yes. No, do not touch me," she added hastily, as Vivian flung himself -forward. "You had a right before she came, as you were ignorant, and I -see from her own confession how you were deceived; but now, she is your -wife--she is alive. Until that barrier is removed, we can be nothing -but friends to one another. I cannot stay here."</p> - -<p>"Beatrice! Beatrice!"</p> - -<p>"I cannot," she answered steadily. "I love you, and I cannot see you -day after day with calmness."</p> - -<p>"You can remain as Dinah's companion," he said entreatingly. "I shall -pay you a salary, and then you will be independent."</p> - -<p>"No. Dinah has Jerry; she wants no companion. I will go to town, and to -Lady Watson. She was my mother's friend, and will be able to help me."</p> - -<p>"You will go as her companion?"</p> - -<p>"Oh no. I don't like her sufficiently for that. But she may be able to -get me a position as a governess or something else. And also, I wish to -ask her about my mother, whom she knew. Mrs. Snow gives a cruel version -of what my mother was. Lady Watson may be more truthful. And some day," -she added, drawing so near to Vivian that it took him all his powers of -self-repression to refrain from taking her in his arms--"some day, when -the barrier is removed, we may come together."</p> - -<p>Vivian shook his head. "Maud will never give me a chance of divorce, -my dear," said he bitterly. "She is too clever and--I may say it to -you--too passionless."</p> - -<p>"Never mind, we can remain friends."</p> - -<p>Paslow groaned aloud with anguish. "Can there be friendship between us -after all that has come and gone?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Beatrice quietly, "because we are soul friends, and do -not love entirely after the physical. Come, Vivian,"--she placed a -gentle hand on his shoulder--"let us commence our friendship by talking -sensibly of these matters."</p> - -<p>"What matters?" he asked listlessly, for the man was worn out with the -struggle which was going on in his breast.</p> - -<p>"About the murders of my father and of Alpenny. We must learn who -committed them."</p> - -<p>"What good will that do?"</p> - -<p>"This much: it will destroy the power which this gang holds over your -head. Major Ruck knows that you were accused of theft, so does Tuft -the lawyer and your wife. For their own ends they will hold this in -terrorem over you."</p> - -<p>"They have always done so," said Vivian sadly. "They cannot hurt me so -far as the police are concerned, as I left the court without a stain on -my character. But socially, if they told my friends----"</p> - -<p>"If your friends turn their backs on you, they are not worthy to be -called friends," said Beatrice quickly. "You must face this gang -of people. Do you not know their secrets, and thus may be able to -counterplot them?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing about them; but Durban may. The paper which was on -my desk, and which told me to threaten Alpenny with the black patch, -was--now I feel sure--in Durban's handwriting."</p> - -<p>"It probably was," said Beatrice thoughtfully. "I shall see Durban and -ask him to be open with me. But did you not know anything about the -Black Patch Gang, Vivian?"</p> - -<p>"No," he said earnestly; "I swear I did not. I fancied from what Maud -let drop at times that Alpenny and herself and Ruck were all connected -with some criminal organisation; but I never knew anything about -the black patch, which seems to be their badge. I used the words on -Durban's paper--if Durban did write them--quite unknowingly. And now -when I remember their effect, and remember also how your father was -murdered, and how you also saw a man issuing from The Camp with a black -patch over his eye, I feel sure that there is such a gang, and that -Alpenny was connected with it. Probably I was used to warn him that he -would be killed, for some reason. He may have betrayed them, or made -personal use of the goods he received. But whatever it was, I certainly -unconsciously gave him the warning; and he was killed--I am convinced -of this--by a member of the gang."</p> - -<p>"I agree with you," said Beatrice promptly. "Well, I shall see Durban -to-morrow, and he may speak out. I shall insist on his doing so. Also, -I shall see old Orchard."</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because I believe she got that necklace from him--your wife, I mean. -That was why she came down, and why she acknowledged the relationship -to Orchard."</p> - -<p>"You don't think he killed Alpenny, Beatrice?"</p> - -<p>"No. The man is too old, and, moreover, would not have the courage. -But he may know something of the murder. In any case, if the necklace -was in his possession, he will have to account for having it. Major -Ruck insisted that my mother had it and left it to Alpenny, who should -have given it to me. And he would have done so, in order to close Major -Ruck's mouth."</p> - -<p>"But how could he do that if he gave you the necklace?"</p> - -<p>"Oh," said Beatrice calmly, "it was to be my dowry, and I was to be -made to marry Major Ruck. You heard yourself, Vivian, how the Major -confessed that it was the Obi necklace he wanted. Perhaps he will make -your wife give it up to him."</p> - -<p>"He will indeed be clever if he can manage that," said Vivian, grimly. -"My wife will not readily part with diamonds like that, and I fancy she -knows enough about the Major to keep him silent. Well, Beatrice, let it -be as you say: see Durban in the morning, and then Orchard. But I wish -you would stay here."</p> - -<p>"No, you do not, Vivian," said the girl, determinedly. "You love me too -well for that."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I do. I shall always love you. Oh Beatrice, if you can only -get at the truth of these murders and bring home the crime to the Black -Patch Gang, you will lift from my shoulders the burden of years. I will -work also. I have been a weak fool, allowing myself to be blackmailed -and humbled by these rogues. But you have put fresh life into me, my -darling. I shall now assert my manhood."</p> - -<p>"I quite understand how you shrank from publicity," she said in a -soothing tone. "You are brave and manly, I know: but a man who would -face a cannon's mouth would, in a case like this, be fearful for his -good name. Let me search out the matter."</p> - -<p>"But you will allow me to help?"</p> - -<p>"When I want your help I shall ask it of you," she replied. "And now, -as our relations are changed,--for the present, at all events,--let us -shake hands on the bargain of being friends."</p> - -<p>Vivian did so without a sigh. The position was a hard one for him, but -he recognised that it was harder for the girl. And when he saw how -bravely she faced these difficult matters, he cursed himself for the -moral cowardice which had made him submit for long years to extortion -and concealment. "You put new heart into me," he said again, and they -shook hands as friends, as Dinah came up with Jerry.</p> - -<p>"Jerry and I have been talking about our new flat in London," cried -Dinah, long before she arrived on the terrace. "And we will live in -West Kensington. I shall keep a saloon, and be a literary woman."</p> - -<p>"A drinking saloon?" asked Vivian, glad of the diversion.</p> - -<p>"No, you stupid! A thing like Madame de Rambouillet--collecting all the -wits of London, you know."</p> - -<p>"Goodness knows where you'll find them," said Jerry bluffly; "wit is an -extinct art.--I say, Vivian, where is Miss Carr?"</p> - -<p>"That horrid girl!" interpolated Dinah.</p> - -<p>"You didn't think her horrid once, Dinah, when you played with her."</p> - -<p>"I never did," said Dinah, opening her eyes and following her brother -into the well-lighted drawing-room; "a painted----"</p> - -<p>"She was not painted then," interrupted Vivian impatiently. "And what -Jerry told you about Orchard being her father ought to have----"</p> - -<p>"Oh!" cried Dinah, starting, "now I remember, Maud Orchard of course. -She was a housemaid or something."</p> - -<p>"Not quite that. She attended on Mrs. Lilly, who behaved like a mother -to her."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes. And then she went to London, and Mrs. Lilly was very angry. -So that was her! Why did she call herself Carr?"</p> - -<p>"It's a journalistic name," said Jerry.</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Dinah again. "I hope Snow is your real name?"</p> - -<p>"My very own," said Jerry, with a grimace. "I would certainly have -chosen a different name had I selected one. But I am born a Snow, and -have to put up with it."</p> - -<p>"Where has Maud Orchard gone?" asked Dinah, irrelevantly.</p> - -<p>"She had to see after some business and went away," said Beatrice, as -Vivian found it difficult to answer this question. "She only came here -to see your brother and remind him who she was."</p> - -<p>"Well, I <i>am</i> stupid," said Dinah, swallowing this white fib; "but I -have such a bad memory for faces. I can only remember Jerry's because -it is so very plain."</p> - -<p>"I call that hard," said Jerry plaintively.</p> - -<p>"I call it silly," retorted Dinah, tapping him on the face with her -fan. "Now have a whisky and soda with Vivian, and go home. Beatrice -and I are going to bed. And I am sure you want to sleep," she said, -glancing at her friend's pale face; "you look quite worn out."</p> - -<p>"I am all right," said Beatrice somewhat impatiently.</p> - -<p>"Good night, Jerry--good night, Vivian," and the two girls went up to -their rooms; while Vivian played host to Jerry, and got rid of him as -speedily as he could. He was in no mood for the young journalist's -aimless chatter.</p> - -<p>Next morning Beatrice awoke at five o'clock. She could not sleep -longer, although, owing to being worn out on the previous night, she -had slumbered very soundly. It was a lovely fresh morning, and she felt -inclined for a walk. It was too early to see Durban, as he would not -yet be up, early riser though he was. After a few minutes' thought, -Beatrice decided to walk up to the Downs and see if old Orchard was -about. She would get there about the time he was starting off with his -flock, and in any event would be certain to find him in his hut at -the morning meal. Hastily scribbling a note that she would return to -breakfast and had gone for a stroll, Beatrice dressed herself and stole -downstairs. Leaving the note on the dining-room table where it would -certainly be found by Mrs. Lilly, the girl went out of the back door. -The house-dog in the yard barked joyously at her coming, as she was a -favourite of his. Beatrice, for the sake of company, let him loose, and -took him with her.</p> - -<p>She literally danced along the road in spite of the troubles which -environed her. She was young, and the morning air was like champagne. -Also she felt a conviction that things would surely come right, and -that she and Vivian would become man and wife. She did not wish for the -death of Mrs. Paslow, wicked as the woman was, nor did she wish Vivian -to divorce her, which--as he had said--he could not do. But she felt -that in some way the barrier would be removed, and that its removal -lay in her own hands. Thus her heart began to grow light, and as she -climbed the Downs amidst the glory of the dawn, she breathed a prayer -to God that He would take all these troubles out of her life, and bring -her to a safe haven.</p> - -<p>Orchard was at the door of his hut as usual, and also he was eating, -just as he had been when she saw him last. He might have been seated -there all the time, for all she knew. The sheep were nibbling the dewy -grass, and the sun was rising in splendour, when the old shepherd -beheld her. He turned his mild eyes on her, and greeted her quietly.</p> - -<p>"You're the young lady as called to see me the other day?" he said.</p> - -<p>"Colonel Hall's daughter," explained Beatrice, taking the stool he -offered, "and I have come to see you about yours."</p> - -<p>"About my what?" asked Orchard quietly.</p> - -<p>"About your daughter Maud. She came last night to see Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"Ah yes," said Orchard, with such composure that Beatrice was certain -that he knew nothing about the marriage, or his daughter's life. "Maud -and Master Vivian were playmates together. She's a pretty girl."</p> - -<p>"She is," assented Beatrice cordially; for no one could deny the beauty -of Maud Paslow, marred as it was by artificial aids.</p> - -<p>"And a good girl," said the old man, slightly warming. "She ain't -ashamed of her old father, although she writes books and lives like a -fine lady in London."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I hear she is a journalist," said Beatrice, and then abruptly -added: "She must make a lot of money to have so fine a diamond necklace -as she showed Mr. Paslow and myself."</p> - -<p>"Did she show that?" said Orchard, with a slight cloud on his brow. "It -was foolish of her. It is a necklace like one that Colonel Hall had -years and years ago. Durban said that there was some witchcraft about -that necklace, else why should it have been missing for so long, only -to turn up here two days ago on the neck of a sheep?"</p> - -<p>"What?" asked Beatrice, amazed.</p> - -<p>"And now I come to think of it," said Orchard, whose memory was -apparently going, "Colonel Hall was murdered by Alpenny for that -necklace."</p> - -<p>"It is the same?"</p> - -<p>"Of course it is, miss. I recognised the setting when I took it off the -sheep's neck."</p> - -<p>"But how could such a set of jewels get on a sheep's neck?"</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said old Orchard, with great mildness, "that's what I want to -find out. Mr. Alpenny had the necklace, I am sure. Perhaps, as Durban -said, there was bad luck about it, and Mr. Alpenny put it on a sheep's -neck to get rid of the spell."</p> - -<p>"What rubbish!" said Beatrice impatiently.</p> - -<p>"Rubbish or not, miss, I found that necklace on the neck of one of my -sheep. The poor thing had broken its leg, and I went to put it out of -its pain. The diamond necklace was round its neck, and I gave it to -Maud, as it was no use to me. I hope it won't bring her bad luck, since -it is the Obi necklace."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">CHAPTER XIX</a></h4> - -<h5>DURBAN SPEAKS AT LAST</h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice did not remain long with Orchard, after she had learned how -Maud Paslow became possessed of the Obi necklace. She was convinced -that the old shepherd was speaking the truth, as he did not appear to -have sufficient brains to be inventive, and, moreover, was rapidly -growing senile. But on her way down to the Weald she thought it strange -that the necklace should have been discovered by the man, round the -neck of a sheep. Who had placed the gems there? and why had they -been attached to the animal? An attempt to solve this problem lasted -Beatrice all the way to The Camp.</p> - -<p>It was now nearly ten o'clock, but Beatrice was too excited to think -about breakfast. She found the great gates of The Camp wide open, and -indeed since Alpenny's death they had been rarely closed. The gardens -looked as beautiful as ever, but the railway carriages appeared a -little deserted and forlorn. Beatrice walked at once towards the -kitchen carriage, where she hoped to find Durban preparing his morning -meal. He certainly was there, and with him was a red-headed, dirty -little man in whom she recognised Waterloo.</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Beatrice, recoiling from the door, for the mere sight of -that evil face made her sick.</p> - -<p>"Blimme!" cried Waterloo, turning his rat-like eyes on her, "if it -ain't old Alpenny's gal!"</p> - -<p>"Hold your tongue," said Durban in a low, fierce voice.--"What is it, -missy?"</p> - -<p>"I have come to ask you for some breakfast," said Beatrice, retreating -still further, so as to get away from Waterloo, "and to have a chat."</p> - -<p>"We'll all have a jaw," cried Waterloo enthusiastically; "we're all -pals in the same boat."</p> - -<p>"What does this horrible creature mean?" asked Beatrice, looking -appealingly at her old servant.</p> - -<p>"'Orrible critture!" yelped Waterloo. "Well, I likes that, I does. Oh -yuss, not at all, by no means. Why, me an' your par were old pals."</p> - -<p>"Are you talking of Colonel Hall or of Mr. Alpenny?" asked Beatrice, -taking a sudden step towards the man.</p> - -<p>The result of her remark and action surprised her not a little, and -indeed seemed to surprise Durban also. "Colonel 'All!" muttered -Waterloo, and his red hair rose on end over a rapidly paling face. "Oh! -my stars, if you knows about him, it's time fur me to cut my lucky."</p> - -<p>"You know something?" cried Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"I know as old Alpenny murdered--murdered---- Here!" cried Waterloo, -with a snarl, "you lemme out!" and before Beatrice could stop him--she -was blocking the doorway--he had darted under her arm, and was running -noiselessly out of The Camp. Apparently he was frightened out of his -wits. Yet the girl wondered that so bold a thief, and a man accustomed -to being in tight places, should be seized by so sudden an access of -genuine terror.</p> - -<p>"What does it mean?" she asked Durban, but making no attempt to follow -the man.</p> - -<p>"I know no more than you do, missy."</p> - -<p>"Durban," said Beatrice, entering the kitchen and taking a seat, "you -have kept me in the dark long enough. You ran away just as this man has -done, when I asked you about the Obi necklace. Now you must speak out, -as I am leaving Hurstable."</p> - -<p>"Leaving this place, missy?" said Durban, startled. "Are you not to -marry Mr. Paslow?"</p> - -<p>"How can I marry him when he has a wife living?"</p> - -<p>Durban did not seem to be so surprised at this news as she expected. -"So you have found that out, missy?" he said slowly.</p> - -<p>"You knew about it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I knew; but I thought--I thought that she was dead."</p> - -<p>"No. She pretended to die, for her own purposes. In fact she intended, -in that way, to get rid of Vivian, and marry an American millionaire. -But she is alive,--her double was buried."</p> - -<p>"Miss Arthur!" cried the servant quickly.</p> - -<p>"You know that also?"</p> - -<p>"I know everything. But I thought that Mrs. Paslow was dead, and so I -wanted you to marry Mr. Paslow and be happy."</p> - -<p>"Durban," said the girl quietly, "the discovery of this, which you -should have told me, alters the position of myself and Mr. Paslow. I -can no longer remain at Convent Grange. To-morrow I go up to town to -see Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>Durban's face took on its greenish pallor. He made one stride forward -and spoke to Beatrice with dry lips. "You must not; you dare not. Do -not go, missy."</p> - -<p>"Take your hand from my arm, Durban," said Beatrice sharply; and when -he did so she resumed in hard tones, "Why should I not go?"</p> - -<p>"Oh! how can I tell you?" Durban clapped his hands together in a -helpless sort of way, like a great child. "She is bad: she will do you -harm. She has got Alpenny's money, which ought to be yours. For all -I know, she may have the Obi necklace also. I hope she has, for its -possession will bring her the worst of luck."</p> - -<p>"She has not got the necklace, Durban. Mrs. Paslow has it. Yes, you may -well look surprised, Durban. Mr. Paslow and myself saw it on her neck -last night, when she came to see him and prevent our marriage."</p> - -<p>"How could she have got it?" murmured Durban, but more to himself than -to his mistress.</p> - -<p>"She obtained it from her father."</p> - -<p>"Old Orchard the butler?"</p> - -<p>"Old Orchard the shepherd. I saw him this morning. He recognised the -necklace as having belonged to my father--to Colonel Hall; it seems the -setting is peculiar."</p> - -<p>"But how did it come into his possession, missy?"</p> - -<p>"He found it on the neck of a sheep."</p> - -<p>Durban did not look at all surprised. "I thought he would," was his -strange reply.</p> - -<p>"You thought he would what?"</p> - -<p>"I thought he would find it there."</p> - -<p>"Durban, did you know it was on a sheep's neck?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I--well, missy, I may as well make a clean breast of it--I placed -it on the sheep's neck myself."</p> - -<p>"You? And where did you get it?"</p> - -<p>"Come with me, missy, and I'll show you."</p> - -<p>In silent amazement Beatrice followed the stout man out of the kitchen. -He led the way across the lawn to the counting-house, and opened the -door with a key which he took from the pocket of his white suit. She -beheld the counting-house in exactly the same state as she had seen it -when Alpenny had insisted on the marriage with Major Ruck. But much -water had flowed under Westminster Bridge since that time, which now -seemed so far away.</p> - -<p>"Missy," said Durban, pointing to the seat in front of the mahogany -desk, "sit down and let us talk. I have much to tell you, for the time -has come when you must know what I know."</p> - -<p>"Why have you kept information from me all this time?" said Beatrice, -sitting down, while Durban stood at the door, his bulky form blocking -up all exit.</p> - -<p>"Why? Missy, I ask you, would it have been right for me, who love you, -to overshadow your young life by telling you of the murder of your -father, of the rascality of Alpenny, and of the terrible position in -which Mr. Paslow was placed?" Durban spoke vehemently, and with the -very greatest earnestness.</p> - -<p>"I am not a child," said Beatrice. "I should have been told."</p> - -<p>"You were a child for a long time, and I loved you," said Durban with -exquisite sadness. "I wished to keep you in ignorance of the evil that -surrounded you. I wished you to marry Mr. Paslow, and go away, never to -learn what the evil was. But, I knew--for I learned it from Major Ruck, -who wished to marry you and get the Obi necklace--that Mr. Paslow had -married Maud Orchard (or Maud Carr, as she calls herself in town). When -she died--or pretended to die--I thought that all would be well, and -so kept silence. But you were determined to search out these matters -for yourself. I placed no bar in the way of your doing so, as I thought -that perhaps you were the chosen instrument to put all right. Since, -unaided, you have found out so much, I think you are that instrument, -so I am now going to make much plain, which has hitherto puzzled you."</p> - -<p>Beatrice crossed her feet and hands. "I shall be glad to hear what you -have to say," she said coldly.</p> - -<p>"Ah, missy, do not be angry," said Durban caressingly; "it was love -that made me keep you in the dark."</p> - -<p>He was so genuinely moved that a large tear rolled down his dark -face, and a profound emotion stirred him to the depths of his being. -Beatrice was annoyed at the way in which she had been treated, but she -was just enough to recognise that the man had kept silence out of pure -affection. Impulsively stretching out her hand, she caught his, which -hung listlessly by his side, and shook it heartily. "I believe you love -me, Durban, and that you acted for the best."</p> - -<p>"Oh! missy--missy!"</p> - -<p>"Hush! Be quiet, and tell me what you know."</p> - -<p>Durban wiped his face with the duster which he carried, and, leaning -against the door, spoke slowly and to the point. Indeed, he seemed glad -that after his years of silence he was at last able to confess freely, -and to a sympathetic listener.</p> - -<p>"I was born in the West Indies, missy," he said, "and knew your mother -and father----"</p> - -<p>"You told me that you were born on my mother's estate. Begin from the -time you came to Convent Grange."</p> - -<p>"Very well, missy. I came to Convent Grange with my master to see Mr. -Paslow's father, who was an old friend of the Colonel's. Master and -your mother had quarrelled. He was severe, and kept your mother too -quiet. She liked gaiety and pleasure, yet so severely had he trained -her that she was always silent and demure. She came down with you and -your nurse for one night. Then my master was murdered, as you know."</p> - -<p>"Can you tell who murdered him?"</p> - -<p>"No, missy." Durban spoke very earnestly. "I swear that I do not know -who did that. But your mother was suspected. She cleared herself; but -people still looked at her askance, so she changed her name to Hedge -and married Mr. Alpenny. Here"--Durban glanced out of doors"--in this -quiet place she was safe, and here she lived until she died, worn out -with grief, a few months later. Mr. Alpenny then sent you to Miss -Shallow at Brighton, and you know all your life since then."</p> - -<p>"Why did my mother marry Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"Because she had the Obi necklace. Your father gave it to her, she told -me."</p> - -<p>"And Major Ruck said the same thing."</p> - -<p>"It must be true, then," muttered Durban, half to himself, "although I -was never sure. But Alpenny said that he would accuse your mother of -the murder unless she married him. She did so, and then died. Alpenny -kept the necklace, and, being fond of jewels, he could not make up his -mind to part with it even for money, of which he was equally fond. He -kept it by him in this place."</p> - -<p>"In the safe?"</p> - -<p>"No, missy. The safe--as Mr. Alpenny, an associate of thieves, knew -very well--was the first place where thieves would look. See here, -missy"--Durban advanced to the wall, and pulled aside the faded red rep -which hung there as a kind of arras--"here is a pocket behind this, -made in the rep. The necklace was kept here, for no one would think of -feeling the hangings. It was safer here than in the safe."</p> - -<p>Beatrice examined the pocket, and admired the ingenuity of the -hiding-place, which--so to speak--was so public that even the most -expert thief would never think of looking here for a valuable necklace -of gems. An ordinary man would have kept the jewels in the safe; but -Mr. Alpenny, who must have got the hint from Poe's story of "The -Purloined Letter," chose the least likely place to be searched.</p> - -<p>"And you found the necklace here, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, missy. I will tell you how I did. Mr. Alpenny was a member, and -the chief one, of the Black Patch Gang."</p> - -<p>"Durban! Then you wrote that paper which was on Mr. Paslow's desk?"</p> - -<p>"I did, missy," he admitted quietly. "Mr. Alpenny, wanting all the -money to himself, had several times played the Gang false. Twice he was -warned, and was told that at the third warning he would be killed."</p> - -<p>"I remember how Mr. Alpenny shivered when Vivian spoke," said Beatrice, -recalling the scene; "and he spoke of the third warning."</p> - -<p>"I was told to give him the warning," said Durban calmly; "and I wanted -to make Mr. Paslow use it, in the hope that Mr. Alpenny would be -frightened into consenting to your marriage with Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"But you knew that Maud Paslow was alive?"</p> - -<p>"She pretended to die twice," said Durban, "and I was equally deceived -along with Mr. Paslow. He did not know what the warning of the Black -Patch Gang meant; but I did, and made Mr. Paslow unconsciously use it. -But it proved useless."</p> - -<p>"Not to Mr. Alpenny. He was murdered."</p> - -<p>"Yes, missy, and I believe by a member of the Black Patch Gang; but I -do not know who. Listen, missy. I am about to place my life in your -hands!" and the man looked cautiously round.</p> - -<p>"Durban!" she exclaimed, frightened, "are you going to tell me that you -were a member of the Gang?"</p> - -<p>"No, missy, I was not. They tried to get me to join, but being an -honest man, I refused. But I held my tongue for your sake. I loved you, -and the Gang declared if I told the police about them, that they would -kidnap you. Therefore I was silent."</p> - -<p>"Kidnap me!" cried Beatrice indignantly. "How could they?"</p> - -<p>"The Gang are very clever, and could do what they wanted to," said -Durban drily; "and as Alpenny hated you, he certainly would have put -no bar in the way of your being carried off. It was only I who stood -between you and this danger."</p> - -<p>"Oh, Durban, how much I owe you!"</p> - -<p>"Missy"--he kissed her hand--"you do not owe me so much as I owed your -good father, who saved me from being lynched in the States. But we can -talk of that afterwards," he added hastily. "Let me go on. I was here -on the night of the murder."</p> - -<p>"You! Why, you went to town?"</p> - -<p>"I pretended to. But after the warning, Mr. Alpenny intended to bolt, -as he feared for his life--that was why he left the note on your table. -But I came back here before you returned in the wind and the rain, -and looked through the window of the counting-house, in which a light -burned. I saw Alpenny lying dead, and knew that the Black Patch Gang -had accomplished their vengeance."</p> - -<p>"Did you meet any one?"</p> - -<p>"No, I saw no one. Then I entered the counting-house by the secret way, -missy."</p> - -<p>"Is there a secret way, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I found it by chance. See!" Durban advanced to the end of -the carriage and touched a spring which was concealed behind the -rep hangings. At once there was a creaking noise, and the sheet of -galvanised tin, upon which rested the stove, swung aside, to reveal -a narrow flight of stone steps. "These," said Durban, "lead along an -underground passage into the shrubbery, and from there one can go out -by the great gates, or the small one. I entered by this way, as I had -a duplicate key of the great gates. I searched for the Obi necklace, -and found it by looking everywhere for it. I felt the hangings, and so -discovered the pocket. Then I left The Camp and climbed the Downs. On -to the neck of the first sheep I could catch, I tied the necklace, and -let it stray away."</p> - -<p>"But why did you do that?" asked Beatrice, astonished.</p> - -<p>"Because there was a curse on the necklace," said Durban with all the -intensity of his negro nature. "And I did not want that curse to come -upon you. You might have got the necklace, and then you would have had -nothing but misery. Therefore, instead of throwing it away, for there -was always the chance that it might be found, I bound it on the neck -of the sheep, and lightly, thinking that the animal might lose it on -the pathless Downs. I did it, missy, to save you from the curse. Well," -said Durban, throwing out his hands, "old Orchard found it, and has -given it to his daughter. She will be unlucky for evermore, unless -she gives it to another person. And I hope," finished the half-caste -vindictively, "that she will give it to Major Ruck in order that he may -come to the gallows, as he has long deserved them."</p> - -<p>"What a strange story! And you do not know who killed Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"No more than I know who killed Colonel Hall. But, missy, now that I -have told you this, you will not go to Lady Watson?"</p> - -<p>"I must, Durban. I have to earn my living."</p> - -<p>"Then go to any one, but not to that woman"; and Durban fell -on his knees. "I implore you!"</p> - -<p>But the more he implored the more Beatrice was determined to go, and -learn, if possible, why Durban feared Lady Watson so much. "I go -to-morrow," she said quietly, and twitched her dress from his grasp.</p> - -<p>"It is Fate! Fate! Fate!" muttered Durban gloomily.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_20" href="#div1Ref_20">CHAPTER XX</a></h4> - -<h5>A GREAT SURPRISE</h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice kept her word in spite of all Durban's protestation that her -visit to Lady Watson would lead to trouble. Frank as the old servant -had apparently been, Beatrice could not rid herself of the idea than -even now he had not told everything. There was some mystery concerning -Lady Watson which had a bearing on the other mysteries, and this she -was determined to find out. Only by knowing everything would her mind -be set at rest.</p> - -<p>The girl was sufficiently unhappy in these days. The discovery of the -evil by which she was surrounded made her recoil from everyone in -terror. All people seemed to have skeletons in their various cupboards, -and Beatrice dreaded the chance of becoming friendly with any one -else who had a secret. Also, it was pain and anguish to her to stand -aside, and know that Maud Orchard possessed Vivian. Of course Maud had -returned to London, and Vivian--so he said--had heard nothing about -her from the time she had fled with the Obi necklace. All the same -this woman, wicked and lawless, was his wife, and, while she lived, -Beatrice knew that Vivian could never be anything to her but a friend. -Loving him as she did, and in spite of his manifold weaknesses, her -heart ached as she thought of the long, dreary, desolate life that -necessarily was before her when deprived, by a prior claim, of his -society. But recent events had hardened the girl's character, and she -grasped her nettle firmly. In other words, she made all arrangements -to go to London and see Lady Watson, on the chance of obtaining work. -So long as she could earn her living, nothing else seemed to matter. -Beatrice felt very unhappy and lonely.</p> - -<p>What she greatly desired was a confidant. Dinah, being a scatter-brain, -and wrapped up in Jerry, was useless, while, owing to the changed -circumstances, she could not feel easy in the company of Vivian. -Durban, after the short interview she had with him in The Camp, had -vanished; for when Beatrice went again to question him still further, -she found the place deserted and locked up. Where Durban had gone she -did not know, and, needing him as she did, her state of mind was one of -wretchedness and foreboding. However, as she greatly desired advice and -comfort, she induced Vivian to come to the lonely Camp, and there told -him all that Durban had told her.</p> - -<p>Vivian heard her in silence, and wondered at the queer story. Durban, -he thought, was deeper implicated in the doings of the Black Patch Gang -than he chose to acknowledge, and he said this to Beatrice after some -thought. The girl vigorously refused to believe in the guilt of the man.</p> - -<p>"Durban has always been my best friend, Vivian," she said, with a look -of pain. "How can you accuse him, without evidence?"</p> - -<p>"It seems to me that there is a great deal of evidence upon which to -accuse him," said Paslow grimly. "He had the necklace, and the crime -was committed for the sake of the necklace."</p> - -<p>"No. It was a case of revenge. Alpenny evidently betrayed the Gang in -some way, or took more than his fair share of the plunder, therefore he -was sentenced to death; and you were used by Durban as the unconscious -instrument to give him warning. You saw how terrified old Alpenny was, -and how he muttered about the third time. Also, the note he wrote to me -was a trick, to give him time to get away. He would have fled, but that -he was killed."</p> - -<p>"Had he fled," said Vivian judiciously, "or had he intended to fly, he -would have taken his jewels with him. According to Major Ruck, he had a -great many jewels."</p> - -<p>"I saw some," replied Beatrice. "Well, perhaps he did make up a parcel -of jewels, and these were stolen by the thief who killed him."</p> - -<p>"No," insisted Vivian. "The necklace was left behind, or would have -been. Had Alpenny intended to fly to the Continent with his plunder -in order to escape death he certainly would have packed up the Obi -necklace at once. As it was, he left it in its hiding-place, and -Durban--as he says--found it there."</p> - -<p>"How do you mean--as he says?" questioned Beatrice, struck by the -peculiar tone in which Paslow uttered the words.</p> - -<p>"I mean that Durban may be telling a lie. Alpenny may have got the -necklace ready to go away. Durban, coming back, as he confessed to you -he did, probably killed him, and stole the necklace."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense!" said Beatrice quickly. "For what reason should he steal the -necklace, and then hang it on the neck of a sheep?"</p> - -<p>"Ah, that is Orchard's story. You told it to Durban, and he seized the -idea. Orchard's daughter is connected with the Gang--my wife, that is," -added Vivian, with a grimace, "so it is probable that Orchard also is -a member. Probably Durban, after killing Alpenny, went up the Downs -and gave the necklace to Orchard for safe keeping. No one would expect -to find it in the possession of the old man. I think that Orchard was -to have returned it to Durban, so that money could be made; only his -daughter--my wife--saw it and wheedled it out of him for herself. But I -don't think she'll keep it long if Major Ruck sees it."</p> - -<p>"I don't agree with you at all," said Beatrice, defending Durban. "As -Durban was supposed to be in town, he could have come back."</p> - -<p>"Which he did, remember."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but only to find Alpenny dead. Had he killed Alpenny for the sake -of the necklace, he could have slipped it into his pocket and have gone -away in safety. No, Vivian, I believe that Durban really believes that -there is some spell attached to the necklace, and placed it on the neck -of the sheep to prevent its doing further harm to anyone, especially to -me. Had I found it, I certainly should have claimed it."</p> - -<p>"Lady Watson would have claimed it."</p> - -<p>"I know that, since she inherits all under the will. And that is one of -the reasons why I go up to town to see her. I'll tell her all that we -know, and she will get the necklace from your wife."</p> - -<p>"That is if Major Ruck doesn't get it in the meantime," said Vivian -coolly. "Maud is a clever woman, but she won't be able to get the -better of Major Ruck. Let us have a look at the secret passage."</p> - -<p>"We cannot open the door," objected Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"Durban opened it with a beam when the body was found dead," said the -young man, "and here is the beam left near the carriage all the time." -He picked up the heavy log of wood, and poised it against the door. -The lock, mended but lightly, gave way at once, and the two had little -difficulty in entering.</p> - -<p>"Here is the spring," explained Beatrice, and walked to the end of the -carriage, followed closely by Vivian. In another minute the galvanised -tin upon which the stove stood, slipped aside, and disclosed the damp -steps. "Isn't it ingenious?" said she, admiringly.</p> - -<p>"Very," assented Vivian. "Let us go down. Come on!"</p> - -<p>"But a light. Oh"--she caught sight of a candle on the table--"here is -one. You lead, Vivian."</p> - -<p>With the lighted candle the pair went down into the unwholesome -passage. It descended by means of the steps for some distance, and then -there was a trend to the right. The passage was perfectly straight, and -had been dug out of the soft earth. Part of it was roofed with brick, -but the whole was much dilapidated, and showed signs of collapse. -Vivian, seeing this, and fearing a fall of earth, wished the girl to -return, but this she refused to do. "I want to see where it leads to," -she said. "Go on, Vivian."</p> - -<p>Thus urged, he cautiously felt his way by the feeble glimmer of the -candle. In a shorter time than either expected, they came to a second -flight of steps, and scrambled upward. The steps ended at a kind of -trap-door. Vivian placed his shoulder beneath this, and with a vigorous -push, forced it outward and upward. The next moment he had leaped -lightly on to the surface of the earth, and found himself in the wood, -just outside the walls of The Camp.</p> - -<p>"Oh," said Beatrice, when she was assisted out of the bole, and began -to recognise her surroundings, "Durban said that the exit was <i>within</i> -The Camp."</p> - -<p>"Ah," replied Vivian, with much significance, "Durban has told another -lie. He is not to be trusted, Beatrice."</p> - -<p>"I am certain he is, although appearances are against him," declared -the girl impetuously. "He is cautious in speaking even to me, as he -fears the vengeance of the Gang. Close the trap-door, Vivian. See!" she -added, when he did this, "the surface is masked with moss."</p> - -<p>And so it was. The wood was ingeniously covered with ragged moss; -and when the trap was down and a few leaves fell on the moss, no one -could have told that a passage lay underneath. It was a most clever -arrangement, and doubtless had been often used by the scoundrelly -gang of which Alpenny, undoubtedly, had been a prominent member. The -respectable clients, however, who had come to borrow money and be -swindled by the old rascal, had always entered by the great gates, or, -if they wished for especial privacy, by the smaller one.</p> - -<p>"What a dangerous lot of people I have lived amongst," said Beatrice, -who was rather pale when they reclosed the door of the counting-house -and left The Camp.</p> - -<p>"Undoubtedly," assented Vivian rather grimly; "it is a mercy that the -police never came down here. You might have been implicated."</p> - -<p>"I can see that, and for the same reason I refuse to believe that -Durban is mixed up with these rascalities. He served Mr. Alpenny for -my sake, and for my sake he held his tongue about the roguery which he -must have known went on. But I do not believe that he took any part in -the same, Vivian."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Paslow, after a pause, "you may learn more when you see -Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"But she can have nothing to do with these things. She is a lady of -rank and fashion."</p> - -<p>"She was a friend of Alpenny's, or he would not have left her his -money," said Vivian, "and is the friend of Major Ruck. I don't know a -bigger blackguard in London."</p> - -<p>Beatrice said nothing more. She quite agreed with her lover, and -began to be afraid as to what she might discover when she was in the -presence of Lady Watson. All the same, as she was determined to learn -everything, and if possible, to so get to know the doings of the Gang -that Vivian would be safe from their threats, she left early the next -morning for town. Vivian accompanied her to the local station, and took -a formal farewell of her. It had to be formal, because of the publicity -of the platform, and also because their relations with one another, -since the appearance of the supposed dead wife, were so very difficult. -So Vivian coldly shook hands, although his face belied the formal -action, and Beatrice watched him through tearful eyes as the train -steamed towards Brighton.</p> - -<p>Dinah had given her a couple of pounds, or rather Beatrice had borrowed -these from her, with the intention of repaying her out of the first -instalment of a possible salary. This was all the money she had in the -world, and she prayed on the way to London, that Heaven would see fit -to make Lady Watson well-disposed towards her. At Victoria Station the -girl sent a wire to the address which she had procured from Dinah, who -got it from Mrs. Snow. This telegram intimated that Miss Hedge,--she -thought it best to keep to the name,--was coming to see Lady Watson on -business. It was rather a strange thing to do; but Beatrice was new to -social ways, and, moreover, could not, by reason of her scanty purse, -run the risk of having to wait long in town without seeing her probable -patroness.</p> - -<p>Lady Watson lived in Kensington, and there Beatrice, not knowing -the intricacies of the underground railway, drove all the way in a -four-wheeler. But first, she went to a small and quiet hotel which was -kept by a sister of Mrs. Lilly's. Here, thanks to the housekeeper's -letter, Beatrice was received by the counterpart of Mrs. Lilly, and -felt quite at home.</p> - -<p>"You can stay here as long as you like, miss," said the landlady, when -Beatrice asked for cheap apartments. "My sister has told me all about -you, miss. A bedroom and sitting-room are waiting for you, miss; and -we'll talk of payment on some future occasion."</p> - -<p>Beatrice, worn out and feeling intensely lonely, could have wept -because of the kindness of this reception. But she restrained her -tears, as she had no desire to make her eyes red for the meeting with -Lady Watson. She had some luncheon, and then dressed herself in her -best mourning and took her way to the great lady's house, which was not -very far away in a quiet square. Mrs. Quail, the landlady, sent a small -servant to show Beatrice where the square was, and once there, the girl -soon found the house by its number. But when she rang the bell, and -stood alone on the doorstep, she felt very nervous. All the same her -courage did not give way. The interview meant much to her, and she was -determined to carry it through, cost what it might.</p> - -<p>The footman who opened the door said that his mistress was within, and -conducted Beatrice up a well-carpeted flight of wide, shallow stairs -into the drawing-room. The house was well furnished, and in a rather -frivolous way, which reflected the spirit of its mistress. On all -hands in the drawing-room Beatrice saw evidence of waste of money in -little things. Lady Watson apparently liked comfort, and spent with a -lavish hand. In the midst of this modern splendour the girl felt lost, -accustomed as she was to the plainest of houses. (And, indeed, as a -carping critic might have said, she was not accustomed even to houses, -seeing that she lived in a disused railway carriage!) However, Beatrice -had little time for thought. Hardly had she cast a glance round the -apartment when Lady Watson entered with a rush. She looked as young and -wrinkled as ever, and was dressed in a soft tea-gown exquisitely made. -At the distance she looked twenty, but when near, and in spite of the -blinds being down, she looked nearly forty. However her eyes, brown and -bright, twinkled as merrily as ever, and, to Beatrice's surprise, she -flung her arms round her visitor's neck.</p> - -<p>"My dear child," she rattled on, "I am glad to see you. I received -your telegram, and stopped in, on purpose to see you. Of course you -have come to be my companion? Your room is ready, and we will be such -friends. Ah, you don't know how I love you!"</p> - -<p>"Why should you?" asked Beatrice, rather surprised by this gushing -reception, and mistrusting its truth.</p> - -<p>"Oh, there are a thousand reasons. I'll tell you them later. Come, my -dearest child, take off your jacket and hat, and----"</p> - -<p>"No, Lady Watson. I have only come for a short visit I want you to get -me a situation as a governess, and----"</p> - -<p>"A governess with your beauty!" cried the little woman; "what nonsense! -Let me look at you, dearest"; and she pulled up the near blind to let -in the sunlight on the girl. It made Beatrice look like an angel, and -Lady Watson aged in the golden splendour at least a dozen years.</p> - -<p>"Oh, you are lovely, lovely! Why, what are you looking at? Oh, at my -necklace! Beautiful diamonds are they not?"</p> - -<p>"Yes." Beatrice, with white lips, recognised the necklace at once as -that stolen by Maud Paslow. "But where did you get it?"</p> - -<p>"Why do you ask that?" questioned Lady Watson sharply.</p> - -<p>"It is the Obi necklace. You got it from Maud Orchard--from Vivian's -wife."</p> - -<p>"I--that is--what do you mean?" stammered Lady Watson, growing pale -under her rouge. "It is mine--mine. Mr. Alpenny gave it to me."</p> - -<p>"No. You are in this plot too. You know about the murder. I shall tell -the police, I shall----" Beatrice, hardly knowing what she did, was -about to rush from the room when Lady Watson stopped her.</p> - -<p>"Wait," she said in a cracked scream; "if you denounce me, you -ruin--your mother!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_21" href="#div1Ref_21">CHAPTER XXI</a></h4> - -<h5>LADY WATSON'S STORY</h5> -<br> - -<p>"My mother!" Beatrice stopped short at the door, and caught hold of a -chair to support herself. The shock of this discovery came upon her -with overwhelming force. "Impossible!"</p> - -<p>"It is true," said Lady Watson, advancing towards her with outstretched -arms. "I am your most unhappy mother."</p> - -<p>The girl suffered the little woman to embrace her, but did not return -the caress. "My mother!" she repeated again faintly; "it is impossible, -Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>"Don't call me Lady Watson. I am your mother. I should not have -told you: I promised Durban that I would not. But Nature is too, -too strong," cried Lady Watson theatrically; "my heart spoke, and -I responded. Darling! darling!" She embraced Beatrice still more -affectionately, and guided her to a low armchair, into which the -bewildered girl sank unresistingly.</p> - -<p>Was Lady Watson in earnest? Was she really her mother? Were these -violent demonstrations genuine? Beatrice could not tell. The whole -thing seemed to be beyond the bounds of possibility. What of the -supposed mother who was buried in Hurstable churchyard? Revolving these -things in a much-puzzled brain, Beatrice sat silently staring at the -artificial little woman who claimed so sacred a relationship. Lady -Watson, seeing the girl's coldness--as she thought it was--squeezed out -a few serviceable tears.</p> - -<p>"Oh, cruel, cruel!" she wept. "My own child--the baby that I carried in -my arms--to act like this! It is wicked, it is incredible."</p> - -<p>"Mother!" said Beatrice blankly. "Are you really and truly my mother?"</p> - -<p>"Of course I am," snapped the elder woman, drying her tears. "How -often do you wish me to repeat it? I am not in the habit of calling -other people's children my children. Can't you say something more -affectionate, you cold-hearted girl?"</p> - -<p>"It is all so strange--so new," gasped Beatrice. "Tell me how it came -about that I never knew this until now."</p> - -<p>"It's Durban's fault," said Lady Watson sullenly. "Durban always hated -me, though I'm sure I was always kind to him--the beast!"</p> - -<p>"Durban is a good man," said Beatrice quickly.</p> - -<p>"Oh! dear me, that is exactly the exasperating sort of thing your -father would have said. He was a good man also--the kind of man I most -particularly hate. Never mind, I'll make everything plain to you. I've -held my tongue long enough. Now I am going to speak out, and take back -to my hungry heart the baby girl I loved."</p> - -<p>"Did you really love me?" asked Beatrice doubtfully.</p> - -<p>"Yes--really I did. You were all that I had to love, as my husband--the -first one, your father--was a kind of stone image with no feelings -and no affections. I loved you fondly, and wanted to be your dearest -mother--which I certainly am--but that Durban and that horrid Alpenny -were too strong for me. No, it wasn't Alpenny. I don't think he wanted -to bring you up; but Durban insisted, and I gave way."</p> - -<p>"Why did you?"</p> - -<p>"There were reasons," said Lady Watson evasively, and a spot of red -burned on either cheek.</p> - -<p>"They must have been strong reasons to make a mother surrender her -child to the care of strangers."</p> - -<p>"Durban wasn't a stranger. He was in the house when you were born; and -really you might have been his own child, from the fuss he made over -you. But Colonel Hall--your father, my dear--saved Durban from being -lynched in America, and Durban always pretended that he loved him -dearly."</p> - -<p>"I am sure Durban did," insisted Beatrice. "He is not a man who says -one thing and does another."</p> - -<p>"That is just what he does do," cried Lady Watson, fanning herself with -a flimsy handkerchief all lace and scent. "Look at the way he has kept -you in the dark all these years. And I am quite sure that he has told -you heaps and heaps of lies! These niggers never can tell the truth."</p> - -<p>"Durban told me as little as he could," confessed Beatrice; "but he -never told me a deliberate lie, I am sure. But if you are my mother, -who is the woman who is buried as you?"</p> - -<p>"Not as me--the idea!" protested Lady Watson; "as Alpenny's wife--and -a nice bargain she got in that old scoundrel! She was Amelia Hedge, -and called herself Mrs. Hedge when she married Alpenny, to account -for you. It wasn't my fault. I'm sure I always liked to have you with -me, Beatrice, as you were such a pretty child, and it looks well to -have one's children about one, nowadays. But Durban would insist that -I should give you up--and perhaps he was right after all," ended Lady -Watson candidly "as Sir Reginald--my second husband--would never have -married a widow with a child."</p> - -<p>So the weak little woman babbled on, and Beatrice felt her heart sink -as she at last beheld her mother. To think that this frivolous and -weak creature should have given her birth! Then a thought came to her. -"Durban said that my mother was quiet and silent."</p> - -<p>"And so I was, for years and years and years. Colonel Hall--I never -could call him George, he was so military and stiff--made my life a -perfect burden, and never would give me any pleasure. I was crushed, -Beatrice, perfectly crushed, and held my tongue because I could not be -natural. I was a dull, dowdy thing in those days. But now I really am -something to look at and to listen to!" and Lady Watson smirked in a -near mirror at her artificial beauty.</p> - -<p>"Mother," said Beatrice, accepting what appeared to be the inevitable -with a good grace, although the discovery of the relationship did not -please her, "will you tell me if you had anything to do with the murder -of my father?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear me! no," said Lady Watson perfectly calmly, and showing no -signs of indignation at the accusation,--which it was, in a way. "Of -course Durban made capital out of it, and forced me to part with you -and the necklace because of that horrid death. But I've got back the -necklace"--Lady Watson fingered it fondly--"and you."</p> - -<p>"How did you get the necklace?"</p> - -<p>"A friend of mine called Miss Carr gave it to me. She got it from her -father, though I don't know how <i>he</i> got it, I'm sure. Major Ruck--you -know the man, dear?--wanted Maud--that is Miss Carr--to give it up, and -would have killed her for it. He's just the sort of bully who would -kill a woman to get money, and I don't mind saying it, although he was -my friend. So Maud, to spite him, gave it to me, and----"</p> - -<p>"Wait one moment, mother. Were you not going to elope with Major----"</p> - -<p>Lady Watson interrupted in her turn, and uttered an embarrassed scream. -"Yes, I was, my dear. Your father was a bear--there's no good saying -anything else. He was a bear! I couldn't stand his Puritan airs any -longer, and on the very night he was murdered I intended to elope with -him, to pay your father out. But Alpenny met me----"</p> - -<p>"At the head of the stairs?"</p> - -<p>"Who told you that?"</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Snow," said Beatrice promptly.</p> - -<p>"Julia Duncan? Ah, she always was a false-hearted cat. Why, the very -last time I saw her, and that was when I went down to get Alpenny's -money, she promised to hold her tongue."</p> - -<p>"I forced her to speak."</p> - -<p>"And you have forced <i>me</i>, you clever girl. I promised Durban never to -reveal who I really was but I did so, through natural affections; and -now you know. I'm sure I don't care," added Lady Watson with a reckless -air. "Durban can do his worst."</p> - -<p>"What can he do?"</p> - -<p>"Accuse me of your father's murder, although I'm as innocent as a -child. But I dare say he'll hold his tongue if I pay him well. He was -always fond of money, and Alpenny's legacy has made me rich."</p> - -<p>"I don't think Durban can be bribed, nor do I think he is fond of -money," said Beatrice with decision. "But for my sake, he may hold his -tongue."</p> - -<p>"Well, I shan't give up the Obi necklace," muttered Lady Watson. "The -Colonel bought it for me; he got it from a Brazilian negro, and said -there was a curse on it,--at least the negro did. For that reason your -father--who really was fond of me, I suppose, although he had a horrid, -dull way of showing his love--would not give it to me. He kept it in a -green box along with his papers beside his bed, and I got it from there -when he was lying dead."</p> - -<p>"Did you see him dead?" asked Beatrice, horrified. "Of course I did. -That is why Durban says that I killed him. He always did hate me, the -beast!"</p> - -<p>Beatrice passed her hand wearily across her forehead. "I cannot gather -much from these scraps of information," she said irritably; "please -tell me all connectedly and from the beginning."</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear me, how very like your father you are!" said Lady Watson, -with an affected shudder. "He was always so very precise: I don't know -how I came to marry so dull a man. But my father made the match. He was -a planter in Jamaica, and Colonel Hall was stationed at Port Royal I -was merely a child--seventeen, in fact--and the Colonel fell in love -with me. I married him, although I liked twenty other men better. Sir -Reginald was one; but he went to England, on leave, and my father made -me marry the Colonel while Reginald was away. He was in a rage when -he came back. Afterwards, when the Colonel died so dreadfully, Sir -Reginald married me, as he knew--if no one else did--that I had nothing -to do with that horrid murder."</p> - -<p>"Tell me the events of that night," said Beatrice keeping the voluble -little woman to the point.</p> - -<p>"Well, I'm doing it, if you will only let me speak," snapped Lady -Watson; "but you are like your father, and want me to hold my tongue -as he did. I'm sure I never opened my mouth for years with that man. -Shortly after you were born we went to England. Amelia and Durban came -also, as Durban would never leave the Colonel; and Amelia was brought -for your sake, you being a baby--and a very pretty one too. Colonel -Hall went down to see Mr. Paslow at Convent Grange, as they were great -friends. I stopped in London for a time, as I was so sick of the -Colonel's stiffness. Then I came down because he insisted on it. Major -Ruck--who was really a nice man in those days--followed, and stopped at -The Camp, as he wished me to elope with him. On the night of the murder -I arranged to do so."</p> - -<p>"Had the Major anything to do with the murder?" asked Beatrice -hurriedly.</p> - -<p>"He said he hadn't, but he might have told a lie. He never could tell -the truth," said Lady Watson vaguely. "But as I was saying--and don't -interrupt again, please--I dressed late at night I knew that Mr. -Paslow, and Alpenny, and the Colonel had gone to bed. Your father and -I were in different rooms, because we had quarrelled. I came out into -the passage, and intended to meet Major Ruck at The Camp, where he had -a carriage waiting. Alpenny should have been at The Camp also, only -he stopped at the Grange--to spite me, I believe, as he loved me, and -wanted to prevent my elopement."</p> - -<p>"Did he know about it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. He wheedled the information out of the Major, and learned also -that I intended to bring the Obi necklace with me. It was because of -the necklace, as well as because of his love for me, that he stopped at -the Grange to thwart me."</p> - -<p>"But the necklace was in my father's possession?"</p> - -<p>"In a green dispatch box beside his bed," explained Lady Watson. "You -are quite right, dear; so it was. I stole out into the passage, and -there I met at the head of the stairs that horrid Alpenny, who was on -the watch. Julia Snow was watching also, as she told me afterwards. The -horrid woman, she loved George, and----"</p> - -<p>"I know--I know--please go on."</p> - -<p>"I <i>am</i> going on," cried Lady Watson in despair; "but you <i>will</i> -interrupt. Alpenny said he wanted to help me to get away, which -was a lie. I believed him, and we went to the Colonel's chamber. I -could easily make some excuse, you know; that I had the toothache or -something, and George would believe me."</p> - -<p>"But your dress--your hat?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I took those off and gave them to Alpenny, who remained outside -the bedroom door. When I went in I nearly screamed, for the Colonel -did look so horrid, lying in bed with his throat cut. I could see it -and him, plainly in the moonlight. I called Alpenny, and we were both -afraid. Then I saw the box, and got out the necklace."</p> - -<p>"Ugh!" said Beatrice, disgusted at this callous behaviour. "Why didn't -you call for help?"</p> - -<p>"What! and be arrested? Everyone knew that George and I were on bad -terms; and besides, with the necklace in my possession, I might have -been accused of killing him. Alpenny said we had better take the -necklace and go away. The window was open, and I suppose the man who -killed the Colonel got in there. I took the necklace, and went out into -the passage with Alpenny, closing the door after me. I put on my hat -and cloak, and then he refused to let me go to The Camp to meet the -Major unless I gave him the necklace. I had to, and then went back to -bed."</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you elope?" asked Beatrice sarcastically.</p> - -<p>"My dear, my nerves were shattered, and it would have been most -dangerous. I went to bed, and pretended to be horrified when I heard of -the murder. The Major would not marry me when he found that I hadn't -got the necklace; so after the inquest I came to town, and met Reginald -Watson. I told him everything, and he married me."</p> - -<p>"But how did my nurse marry Mr. Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"Durban arranged that," said Lady Watson promptly. "He was almost mad -when he found the Colonel was dead, and he forced the truth out of me. -I believe Julia Snow told him what she had seen. I knew Durban would -say nothing, because if he hated me, he loved you and your father. -He did hold his tongue, but he insisted that Alpenny should give the -necklace to him in trust for you. Of course Alpenny would not do so, -and Durban threatened to inform the police. Then Durban, who didn't -know much about English law, thought that he might get into trouble and -be accused. I really don't know," added Lady Watson, pondering, "if I -didn't threaten to accuse him."</p> - -<p>"Oh, how could you?"</p> - -<p>"Well, he might be guilty. Niggers always prefer to cut throats, and -your father certainly died in that horrid way."</p> - -<p>"The man with the black patch killed him?"</p> - -<p>"Did he? I heard something about that; but I'm not sure. However, to -make a long story short, Durban arranged that you should be taken -charge of by Alpenny, and that he should look after you along with -Amelia, who was consumptive."</p> - -<p>"But why?"</p> - -<p>Lady Watson rose wrathfully. "You may well ask that, Beatrice. Why? -Because, if you please, this nigger didn't think I was a proper person -to look after you. Then Amelia refused to go to The Camp unless she -went--as she said, respectably. Alpenny, who was in love with me, and -knew that I intended to marry Sir Reginald, agreed to marry her in -order to keep the necklace. Amelia died shortly afterwards, and for the -sake of safety was buried as your mother: you took her name of Hedge, -you know. That's the story."</p> - -<p>"It is a very horrible one," said Beatrice, rising in her turn.</p> - -<p>Lady Watson burst into tears. "It is not my fault," she sobbed. "I'm -sure, in spite of Reginald's objections, I would have kept you beside -me; only Durban took you away, and Amelia also, because she wanted to -marry a rich man, as Alpenny was supposed. They knew too much; I had to -yield; and then Reginald thought you were dead. But I have always loved -and longed for my pretty baby. Kiss me, darling!"</p> - -<p>"No," said Beatrice sternly.</p> - -<p>The little woman looked up aghast. "Your own mother?"</p> - -<p>"I do not look upon you as my mother," said the girl coldly. "You -deserted me in the most heartless manner. I don't know how much of your -story is true----"</p> - -<p>"It is all true--I swear it."</p> - -<p>"It may be, and you may be innocent. But to see my father lying dead, -and not give the alarm, was wicked. The assassin might have been caught -and----"</p> - -<p>"I would have been caught!" cried Lady Watson vehemently. "As it was, -people thought that I had something to do with the horrid thing. I was -quite innocent," she protested, sobbing. "Beatrice!"</p> - -<p>Her voice rose to a scream as the girl walked to the door for the -second time. "I am going," said Beatrice quietly. "You must give me -time to think over our new relationship. I'll see you again soon."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" wailed Lady Watson, as the door closed on the daughter who -rejected her; "how like your father--how very like!"</p> - -<p>Beatrice walked calmly down the stairs, and opening the front door -herself, returned to the hotel to think over the matter. At the door of -the little inn she found the stout landlady arguing with a red-haired, -foxy man.</p> - -<p>"Waterloo!" said Beatrice, drawing back.</p> - -<p>"There," chuckled the rogue, grinning at the landlady, "she knows me -does the young lydy.--Miss, come at once--Durban's dying."</p> - -<p>"Durban dying!"</p> - -<p>"He'll be dead in a jiffy," said Waterloo, grinning. "You come, miss." -Then dropping his voice, "He wants to tell you who killed your father."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_22" href="#div1Ref_22">CHAPTER XXII</a></h4> - -<h5>REVELATIONS</h5> -<br> - -<p>"Don't go with him, miss," urged Mrs. Quail. "He's a bad one: look at -his eyes."</p> - -<p>Beatrice had no need to look at them. She knew well the evil that they -held, and shrank, as she always did, from contact with this creature -of the night. Certainly Waterloo was much better dressed than when she -had seen him last. He wore a somewhat shabby frock coat, a pair of -smart patent-leather boots, a fashionable collar, and a silk hat which -glistened like the sun. The tramp actually reeked of some fashionable -scent, and swung a dandy cane with a genteel air. He wore a wig, from -under which his natural red hair peeped; and his false teeth looked -aggressively white and new. On the whole, Waterloo evidently considered -that he was now a perfect buck, and ogled the comely landlady and the -shrinking girl with an assured air.</p> - -<p>"You are not deceiving me?" asked Beatrice, forcing herself to be civil -to the man, for obvious reasons.</p> - -<p>"S'elp me Bob! no," leered the rejuvenated wreck. "Durban, he come -up t'town t'other day, an' wos run h'over by a bus as wos drivin' -motor-car fashions--more miles an hour than sense, miss. He ses -t'me--an ole pal of his--as he wanted to see you, and tell you wot -y'should know. He ses es he'll tell you who killed your par an' th' ole -Alpenny bloke."</p> - -<p>This remark decided Beatrice. Come what may, she determined to learn -the truth at last. Also, Durban was her best and oldest friend, and -from what Lady Watson had said he had evidently been a better friend -to her than she knew. After a moment or two she made up her mind, -and turned to Mrs. Quail, who was gazing disdainfully at the leering -Waterloo.</p> - -<p>"I must go, Mrs. Quail," she said decisively; "if Durban is ill I must -help him."</p> - -<p>"But with this man?"</p> - -<p>"Oh! I'm saif, laidy. No 'arm about me. Oh no, not at all."</p> - -<p>"If Mr. Paslow comes," said Beatrice, addressing the landlady, and -taking no notice of Waterloo, "tell him I have gone with Waterloo to -see Durban.--Where is he?" she asked the man.</p> - -<p>"In a room in a 'ouse, Malta Street, Stepney--No. 50," said Waterloo -quickly, and passed along a scrap of dirty paper to Mrs. Quail. "If the -young laidy don't come back saif an' sound, you'll find me 'ere."</p> - -<p>"If she's not back by nine to-night," retorted Mrs. Quail, putting the -paper in her pocket, "I'll see the police about the matter.--And after -all, miss, I wouldn't go with him."</p> - -<p>"I must," said Beatrice quickly; "there is so much at stake." And -giving the landlady no further time to remonstrate, she walked away -with Waterloo, who swaggered like the buck he thought he was.</p> - -<p>"How do we get to Stepney?" asked Beatrice while they walked along -Kensington High Street.</p> - -<p>"Underground," said Waterloo glibly. "Underground to Bishopgate, an' -then we taike th' Liverpool Street train to Stepney, an'----"</p> - -<p>"That is enough," said Beatrice, cutting him short, and walking very -fast; "speak as little to me as you can."</p> - -<p>Waterloo scowled, and his scowl was not a pleasant sight. However, -he held his tongue until they were safe in a first-class underground -carriage--Beatrice did not want to go with this creature in a -third-class, and luckily there were three or four ladies in the -compartment. While the train was steaming through the tunnels, Waterloo -held a whispered conversation with Beatrice. At first she was inclined -to stop him; but when she heard what he had to say, she listened -attentively.</p> - -<p>"I saiy," murmured the rogue confidentially, "you're a clipper; y'are -tryin' to find out all about us. But y'won't. There's only one cove es -can put things straight, an' thet is Waterloo Esquire."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> - -<p>"Ah, thet's tellin's, miss. Don't you arsk any questing, an' no lies -will be tole. But if y'meke it wuth me while, I'll git you the young -gent all t'yourself."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Paslow?"</p> - -<p>"Thet's him. Not a bad cove--oh, by no means--but a greenhorn, miss, es -anyone kin see. If he don't do wot the Major wants him to do, he's a -goner--saime es your par an' the Alpenny cove."</p> - -<p>"What does the horrible creature mean?" Beatrice asked herself half -aloud, and he heard her.</p> - -<p>"Don' call naimes, miss. Th' king comes the cadger's waiy sometime, -es I knows, an' you may 'ave to meke use of me some daiy. It's all a -questing of money."</p> - -<p>"Of money?"</p> - -<p>"Yuss"--he leaned forward and whispered hoarsely in her ear--"or of -thet there necklace."</p> - -<p>"It is not mine--it is----"</p> - -<p>"But it are yours, miss, and you git it. Wen y'arsked everyone to try -an' git t'know wot y'want t'know, and fail," said Waterloo, with great -emphasis, "you pass along the necklace t'me, and then I'll tell y' -wot's wot. I'm a oner, I am."</p> - -<p>"But why do you wish to betray your friends for me?"</p> - -<p>"Ah, their toime's acomin' to an end, miss, an' I don't want t'be in -et th' finish, which is in th' dock. Wen ole Alpenny wos alive, he 'ad -a 'ead, he 'ad; but this Major Ruck cove's spilin' things as quick es -jimmy, oh."</p> - -<p>"But in what way?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I ain't agoin' to saiy any more. Wen th' bust comes y'think of -me, miss," and with this final remark, Waterloo lay back luxuriously -against the soft cushions. Beatrice saw the necessity of enlisting this -traitor on her side, and saw also that he was open to bribery, although -the bribe of the necklace was a very costly one. But in spite of all -her endeavours, she could not get the man to talk. Waterloo only winked -and leered, and thrust his tongue in his cheek, much to the disgust of -the ladies opposite, who apparently could not understand how such a -quiet, ladylike girl came to be in the society of such a raffish animal.</p> - -<p>With the utmost gravity Waterloo conducted Beatrice to the Liverpool -Street Station, and placed her in another first-class carriage. -This time he got the tickets himself, and she wondered where he had -procured the money to do so. From what she had seen of the man, he was -a genuine tramp, and more used to walking than to riding. But it was -evident that he belonged to the Black Patch Gang, and apparently the -gang had been successful lately. Waterloo himself declined to impart -further information, but leered and winked as usual, so Beatrice held -her peace, and tried to steel herself to the adventure. She recognised -that she was acting foolishly in going into the slums with Waterloo, -but since Vivian was lost to her, she felt that she cared very little -what happened. Besides, desperate diseases require desperate remedies, -and in that proverb she found ground for believing that she was acting -rightly. Finally, she was certain that whatever was intended, her life -would be safe, and while she lived she could always get out of any -difficulty by exercising her strong will and undaunted spirit.</p> - -<p>Alighting at Stepney Station, Waterloo conducted her to a four-wheeler, -and this drove off down the street Then Waterloo engaged her in -conversation, and hinted that he knew everything about the Black Patch -Gang. Beatrice, listening to his half hints, became so interested -that she did not notice that the cab was passing down a series of -mean streets; and only when it drew up with a jerk before a most -disreputable-looking house, did she see that she was in a very low and -dangerous neighbourhood. However, she had gone too far to retreat, and -therefore stepped out with great coolness. The cab drove off without -payment. "One of us," said Waterloo, jerking his thumb over his -shoulder with a wink.</p> - -<p>They were admitted through a closely barred door into a narrow passage -dimly lighted. On ascending the stairs Beatrice noted how foul the -walls were with grime and grease. Various small rooms, some of which -had open doors, revealed raffish individuals, and various states of -disorder. The place was a den as foul as that inhabited by Mr. Fagin, -and Beatrice, used to the fresh air of the country, felt ill with the -tainted atmosphere. However, she suppressed all signs of disgust, as -these would have made Waterloo angry, and for apparent reasons she -wished to cultivate his good will.</p> - -<p>He led her to the very top of the house, and came to another door -sheeted with iron. In response to a touch on a button this opened, and -pushing Beatrice in he closed it again, remaining on the outside. The -girl, who was taken by surprise, tried to reopen the door, but it was -fast closed, and she heard the little brute chuckle on the other side. -She was caught, like a rat in a trap. It only remained for her to see -if Durban was caught also--or if he exercised sufficient authority over -the gang to release her when she wished to return to Kensington.</p> - -<p>The surroundings amazed her. The corridor--it was not a narrow passage -this time--was spacious, and decorated with velvet hangings. The carpet -was velvet pile, and the ceiling was painted in a most delicate and -artistic manner. While she was marvelling at this sight, so unexpected, -a side door opened, and she beheld Major Ruck, as gigantic as ever, -arrayed in a smart smoking suit.</p> - -<p>"Just in time for afternoon tea," said the Major gallantly, and threw -open the door. "Please to enter a bachelor's den, Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"But Durban?" she asked, drawing back.</p> - -<p>"I will tell you all about him," said the big man, with a bland smile. -"In the meantime, as we have much to talk about and you must be faint -after your long journey into these wilds, perhaps you will enter and -accept my hospitality."</p> - -<p>Beatrice cast one look at him, and entered without another word. The -room was not large, but furnished with a splendour which startled her -when she remembered the exterior of the house. The walls were hung -with green silk, and the hangings were drawn back here and there by -silver cords to show choice pictures. The ceiling was also painted, -the floor was stained and covered with valuable Persian praying mats, -and the furniture would have done credit to a West End drawing-room. -It really looked rather like a woman's room, as there were plenty of -flowers about, and on a tiny table of carved wood stood a tea equipage -of silver and delicate egg-shell china.</p> - -<p>"I have made ready for you," said the Major, drawing forward a chair to -the table, and near a window which was filled in with stained glass. -"I hope you like my crib. It is not so comfortable as that in the West -End; but in these wilds"--he shrugged his big shoulders--"one has to -put up with hardship. Will you have some tea?"</p> - -<p>"No, thank you. I want to see Durban."</p> - -<p>"He will be in presently."</p> - -<p>Beatrice started to her feet. "Is he not ill?"</p> - -<p>"He never was better in all his life. Pardon the ruse that was used to -bring you here, but I knew well that you wouldn't come of your own free -will."</p> - -<p>"Allow me to go away," said Beatrice, walking towards the door,</p> - -<p>"When we have had a talk and understand one another--not before," said -Ruck, rising and standing before the fireplace. He was still smiling -and bland and genial, and looked very spruce in his well-cut clothes. -It was difficult to imagine such a man in such a room, when one -recollected the vile neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>"You will not dare to detain me against my will?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, if it be necessary," said Ruck easily; "but I trust"--with a -graceful bow--"that it will <i>not</i> be necessary."</p> - -<p>"If you keep me here, my landlady in Kensington has the address of this -place and will tell the police."</p> - -<p>"I fear the police will waste their time, Miss Hedge. The address was a -wrong one, with which Waterloo was purposely furnished."</p> - -<p>"The address was Stepney----"</p> - -<p>"But not Malta Street. This is in a different locality. Come, Miss -Hedge, you must see that you are in my power. But I am a gentleman, so -do not be afraid."</p> - -<p>"Afraid!" The sound of the word made Beatrice fling back her head with -a proud gesture. "I am afraid of nothing and no one, Major Ruck. I know -how to protect myself."</p> - -<p>"I hope you will know how to protect Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"That can be explained after tea. Do pour out the tea, Miss Hedge; it -is so pleasant to see a lady officiate."</p> - -<p>Beatrice deliberately walked to the table and poured out a cup of tea -for the Major, which she handed to him along with a plate of delicate -cakes. "Will you not take one yourself?" said Ruck winningly; "it is -not drugged."</p> - -<p>Beatrice, although her heart was beating loudly, walked back to the -table with a gay laugh. "You do not give me time," she said. "I am not -at all afraid of drugs," and she filled herself a cup which she sipped -with great enjoyment. When she also began to eat a cake, the Major -smacked his leg with a look of admiration.</p> - -<p>"Upon my word, Miss Hedge, you are plucky and no mistake. I wish you -would marry me."</p> - -<p>"Thanks; but I have no wish to."</p> - -<p>"We should do great things together," urged Ruck.</p> - -<p>"Doubtless; but you see I have an aversion to appearing in a -police-court, Major Ruck. By the way, why did you not tell me that Mr. -Paslow had appeared in one?"</p> - -<p>"I very nearly did," said Ruck with great frankness, "as I thought it -might frighten you into refusing him. But then I thought it would be -better to send his wife along."</p> - -<p>"Is she really his wife?" asked Beatrice doubtfully.</p> - -<p>"Really and truly. Paslow always was a moral man. You can never marry -him now."</p> - -<p>"No. But I can always love him."</p> - -<p>"The shadow without the substance," said Ruck, with a shrug; "you will -find that unsatisfactory, Miss Hedge."</p> - -<p>"That is entirely my affair, Major. And why don't you give me my proper -name of Miss Hall?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes. I forgot that you knew all about that matter."</p> - -<p>"I know more than you think, since I have seen Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>Ruck started. "She told you nothing?" he said in vexed tones.</p> - -<p>"Everything--even to the fact that she was about to run away with you -on the night my father was murdered."</p> - -<p>Ruck's brow grew dark, and he uttered something which was not exactly a -blessing. However, he speedily recovered his good humour, and asked for -a second cup of tea, which Beatrice just as good-humouredly handed to -him. It was an odd interview.</p> - -<p>"Well," said Beatrice after a pause, "and what do you wish to see me -about, Major? I don't want to stay long."</p> - -<p>"You seem to forget that you are in my power," said Ruck, nettled by -this coolness.</p> - -<p>"Oh no, I don't; but I am not afraid. Come now, Major, you can speak -glibly enough when it suits you. I pay you the compliment of saying -that you don't want to make love?"</p> - -<p>"I don't. All the same, I admire you so much that I am mighty near -insisting upon your becoming my wife. We have a clergyman who belongs -to the Black Patch Gang, you know."</p> - -<p>"Ah! Then you are a member of that Gang?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said the Major, with an embarrassed air. "I am a poor gentleman, -who has taken to bad ways instead of earning an honest living."</p> - -<p>"That is a pity," replied Beatrice, "for, in spite of your behaviour, -Major, I like you. I wish you would turn over a new leaf."</p> - -<p>"I doubt if I have one to turn," muttered Ruck, flushing a brick-red at -her words. "However, if you will give me that necklace, I shall try and -lead a better life. I have to," he confessed candidly, "as I don't mind -telling you that the course of the Black Patch Gang is nearly run. The -police have got to know too much, and at any moment may raid us."</p> - -<p>"I have not got the necklace," said Beatrice coldly.</p> - -<p>"I know that. Maud Carr had it, and told me how her father had found -it. But instead of giving it to me, she passed it along to your mother."</p> - -<p>"To whom," said Beatrice with emphasis, "it rightfully belongs."</p> - -<p>"Well, yes; but also it belongs to me. Lady Watson will not give it -to me, but she will to you. And, as a matter of fact, your father the -Colonel left you the necklace."</p> - -<p>"You contradict yourself, Major: you said it belonged to my mother."</p> - -<p>"Possession is nine points of the law," said the big man, with a shrug, -"and Lady Watson has the necklace, sure enough. But you can insist on -her giving it to you, and then hand it to me. I'll vanish out of your -life and trouble you no more. There is a wide field for the exercise of -a gentleman's abilities in the States."</p> - -<p>"And suppose I decline?" asked Beatrice disdainfully.</p> - -<p>"In that case," replied Ruck, regarding her attentively, "I shall be -compelled to accuse Mr. Vivian Paslow of having murdered Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"That is a lie," cried Beatrice, starting to her feet. "It is the -truth," retorted the Major, "the real truth."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_23" href="#div1Ref_23">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h4> - -<h5>NEMESIS</h5> -<br> - -<p>Beatrice sank back in the chair and fixed her eyes fearfully on the man -who thus accused Vivian of a terrible crime. "You say that to frighten -me," she gasped.</p> - -<p>Major Ruck made no direct reply, but touched a bell. In response to its -sound an old woman neatly dressed, but as evil-looking as the tramp, -appeared. "Send Waterloo to me," said the Major.</p> - -<p>The old woman vanished, and Major Ruck strolled to the window, -whistling, with his hands behind his back. Beatrice, grasping the arms -of her chair with the perspiration beading her forehead, wondered what -Waterloo had to do with the accusation. She remembered the tramp's -hint, and fancied that perhaps after all he really knew the truth; -but that the truth should place Vivian in the position of an assassin -appeared too terrible for words. While she thus meditated and the Major -whistled, Waterloo with his familiar leer appeared. In the presence of -his master the old man--for he was very old, as Durban had said, in -spite of his attempts to renew his youth--seemed meaner than ever, and -very much afraid.</p> - -<p>"Yuss, Major," said Waterloo meekly.</p> - -<p>Ruck wheeled sharply. "Tell this young lady what you saw of Alpenny's -murder," he commanded.</p> - -<p>"Why, lor' bless me, I sawr very little, sir," whined the tramp.</p> - -<p>"Tell what you did see, and how Vivian Paslow killed the man."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it--I can't believe it!" muttered Beatrice, twisting -her hands in agony.</p> - -<p>"Wait till you hear what Waterloo has to say," said Ruck grimly.</p> - -<p>"It wos this waiy, miss," said the tramp, addressing himself to the -pale girl. "The Alpenny cove, he set me to watch you an' Mr. Paslow -seein' as you loved one another."</p> - -<p>"And do still, in spite of all," murmured Beatrice, while the Major -raised his eyebrows superciliously.</p> - -<p>"I wos awatchin' the pair of you on thet night," went on Waterloo in a -cringing way, "and follered you, miss, to th' oak."</p> - -<p>"You were the man crouching near the gates of The Camp?"</p> - -<p>"Yuss, miss. I guessed you sawr me. I follered y'; and then wen Mr. -Paslow sawr me, he follered me. He got 'old of me and kicked me, and I -tuck out my knife to stab him. But he went away and back to the oak; -I pulled myself together, and follered to knife him if I could. You -had gone, miss, and Mr. Paslow he went to The Camp to see if you wos -back, miss. I didn't keep quiet enough in the follering, and Mr. Paslow -he caught me agin near The Camp and kicked me 'ard. I tried to use my -knife," said Waterloo with a venomous look, "but he took it off me, and -climbed over the big gates. I follered."</p> - -<p>"Why did Mr. Paslow enter The Camp?" questioned Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"To see if you wos back, miss," explained the tramp, while the Major -smiled graciously. "I follered to git back me knife. I sawr the door of -the counting-house open, an' the ole cove Alpenny come out hollering -'Thieves!' He was dressed in his hat an' cloak to go away----"</p> - -<p>"That," interpolated the Major, "will be explained later."</p> - -<p>"Wen he sawr Mr. Paslow he made for him, and Mr. Paslow held out my -knife--unthinking, like. Alpenny fell on it, and then he struck Mr. -Paslow. I never sawr any cove go so mad es Mr. Paslow did. He fair -raged, and got the ole man down an' cut his throat."</p> - -<p>"No, no, no!" cried Beatrice fiercely; "you lie!"</p> - -<p>"I don't lie, now," said Waterloo sullenly; "it's the truth. And -wen Mr. Paslow sawr me comin' over the gate, he bolted, leaving his -handkerchief behind."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" Beatrice remembered what Durban had said about the handkerchief. -"Mr. Paslow left that with Mr. Alpenny on the day he quarrelled with -him, previous to the death."</p> - -<p>"Did Mr. Paslow explain that himself?" asked Ruck sneeringly.</p> - -<p>"No. Durban gave me the explanation. I never spoke to Mr. Paslow of the -handkerchief, as I believed Durban."</p> - -<p>"And Durban told that lie to save your asking Mr. Paslow. Though, I -dare say," added the Major with a shrug, "that Paslow would have lied -also had you spoken to him."</p> - -<p>"Go on," said Beatrice, speaking to Waterloo with grey lips. The -conviction was forcing itself upon her that, after all, he might be -telling the terrible truth.</p> - -<p>"Wen Mr. Paslow slung his 'ook," said Waterloo, leering, and more -at his ease, "he got over the big gate. I dragged Alpenny into the -counting-house and laid him out. Then I locked the door, and got away -by the underground passage. Outside I heard voices, and saw the Major -here."</p> - -<p>"Quite so," said Ruck courteously; "and now I can tell the remainder -of the story. I came down, Miss Hedge, to punish Alpenny, who had been -betraying the organisation of which he was the founder."</p> - -<p>"The Black Patch Gang?" said Beatrice faintly. She felt very ill.</p> - -<p>"Exactly. Alpenny founded it thirty years ago, and I was one of the -earliest members, as was Waterloo here. When Alpenny was stopping at -Convent Grange with your father and Mr. Paslow's father, he was even -then a receiver of stolen goods, although the operations of the Gang -were not so wide then as they have been since. We include all classes -amongst us. Tuft the lawyer, who acted for Alpenny, and who got Mr. -Paslow out of trouble when he was accused of shoplifting, is one of -us; so is his wife, Miss Carr--or, as I should say, Mrs. Paslow. I am -the head of the lot. The cabman who drove you here is a member; so -is the doctor who attended Miss Carr's double, and who gave a false -certificate by my direction."</p> - -<p>"Why?" asked Beatrice quickly.</p> - -<p>"Well, if you had procured me the necklace, I would have allowed you to -marry Paslow. And then if Miss Carr had married this American, we would -have got money out of him. I always," added the Major with a smile, -showing his white teeth, "believe in killing two birds with one stone. -However, to resume. We are bound by a death-oath not to betray one -another. Alpenny made a lot of money, and found that the police were -getting to know too much. He decided to bolt. I warned him twice, and -the third time the warning was conveyed by Durban, through Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"Wait. Is Durban one of the Gang?"</p> - -<p>"No," scowled the Major with a sudden change of tone, "he is too -honest. But he knows everything about us. Because we threatened to -kidnap you, he held his peace. However, Alpenny received his third -warning, and instead of profiting by it he prepared to bolt. I thought -he would do it, and went down with another man to kill him."</p> - -<p>"Kill him!" screamed Beatrice. "Oh no, no!"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, yes!" said the Major coolly; "we had to make an example of -him. However, Mr. Paslow saved us the trouble. When Waterloo here -heard my voice, he came out and told us the truth. I entered by the -great gates, as I had a duplicate key. Waterloo went through the -underground passage and let us into the counting-house. We saw the -body, and searched for the Obi necklace, which, however we were unable -to discover."</p> - -<p>"It was in a pocket behind the rep curtains," said Beatrice.</p> - -<p>"And Durban found it. I know all about that. But at the moment we -could not find the necklace, and as you might be back at any moment, -according to Waterloo here, we had to go away. But I picked up Mr. -Paslow's handkerchief where he left it on the ground while struggling -with his victim, and, soaking it in the blood, I left it beside the -body in the counting-house."</p> - -<p>"I found it," said Beatrice. "Why did you do that?"</p> - -<p>"I wanted Paslow to be accused, since he would not join us. However, -you found it, and Durban explained its presence there by a lie. -Waterloo and the other man, whose name need not be mentioned, as he is -our executioner----"</p> - -<p>"Ah! You did not intend to kill Mr. Alpenny yourself?"</p> - -<p>"No," said Ruck, with an expression of disgust. "I have done many -criminal things in my time, but my hands are free from blood. This man -was always employed to punish any traitor. I took him down to kill -Alpenny, but Mr. Paslow, as I say, saved us the trouble. I was alone -outside the counting-house as Waterloo and the other man locked the -door from the inside, and then escaped by the underground passage. When -I was going away amidst the storm I saw you enter the great gates----"</p> - -<p>"Ah!" Beatrice started up. "You were the tall man in the cloak with the -black patch?"</p> - -<p>"I was," admitted the Major coolly; "so now you know the whole -story.--Waterloo, you can go."</p> - -<p>The little man seemed glad to get away from the calm, searching eye of -the Major, and with a final leer at Beatrice he slunk out of the door. -When alone with the girl, Ruck turned to her again. "Well?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"What do you want me to do?"</p> - -<p>"You must get your mother to return the necklace to you, and go back to -The Camp. I shall meet you there in a couple of days--in the evening. -At any moment the police may get to know of the Gang's movements, and -then we will be raided. I have had several warnings. There are traitors -about; but I won't punish them. Since Alpenny's death things have gone -wrong. I have not the head to command, as had that old scoundrel; I -confess it freely. However, I have collected what money I could, and -I am going to America. I want the Obi necklace also, which will bring -me in ten thousand pounds. I'll settle in Mexico and live a decent -life--retire, as it were," said the Major jocularly, "on my money."</p> - -<p>"And if I get the necklace?"</p> - -<p>"Then I'll say nothing about Vivian Paslow's guilt, or about your -mother's complicity in the death of your father."</p> - -<p>"She never killed him," said Beatrice weakly. "She felt crushed by the -things she had been told."</p> - -<p>"I am not so sure of that. If she did not kill him herself, she knows -who did. I wanted the necklace," said the Major brutally, "and not her. -However, Alpenny got ahead of me. But he's dead; and now you know my -terms. I must have that necklace."</p> - -<p>"You will hold your tongue?"</p> - -<p>Ruck bowed gracefully. "I promise you," he said in a smooth voice. -"You can easily see that if you do not accept my terms that I can make -myself very unpleasant."</p> - -<p>"You forget that if the Gang is found out the police will arrest you," -said Beatrice, trying to get out of the dilemma in which he had placed -her.</p> - -<p>"I admit that, and so I intend to do what Alpenny designed, namely, -to bolt--with the necklace, of course. But even if arrested I could -denounce Paslow, and get him hanged. I could also tell Lady Watson's -friends what she is, and how she helped to kill her husband. I could -make things very unpleasant. Now, if you accept my terms, I'll hold my -tongue, and then you can marry Vivian Paslow."</p> - -<p>"That is impossible; he is married already. I don't suppose you intend -to kill Mrs. Paslow with that executioner of yours?"</p> - -<p>"Oh no,"--the Major shuddered,--"I can fix matters without going so -far. Believe me, Miss Hedge--or, rather, Miss Hall--I can do all I say. -You will marry Paslow--that is, if you are willing to take a hand which -is stained with blood."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe that he is guilty."</p> - -<p>"What! Not after all the evidence?"</p> - -<p>"No. I cannot believe that Vivian would act in such a way."</p> - -<p>"Well, well," said Ruck impatiently; "believe it or not as you like, -Miss Hall. Time is precious with me. Accept my terms, and you can -return to get the necklace. I don't want to keep you here."</p> - -<p>"I accept," said Beatrice faintly. "There is nothing else for me to do, -Major Ruck."</p> - -<p>"Really, I don't think there is," said the Major pleasantly. "Well, -then, I'll expect you in the counting-house, where that old scoundrel -was murdered, within two days--in the evening. If you play me false, -I'll send a letter to the police, and Mr. Paslow will find himself in -the dock instead of at the altar. And now, Miss Hall, permit me to -escort you to the four-wheeler, which will be waiting."</p> - -<p>He held out his long white hand with a polite smile; but Beatrice, -ignoring the courtesy, walked alone towards the door. Ruck frowned and -winced, and followed with a shrug. All the same, scoundrel as the man -was, he did not like the implied slight. As the two emerged into the -corridor there came a ring at the door. With a stifled exclamation of -anger the Major opened it, and there on the threshold stood Durban, -looking green with rage. The half-caste entered hurriedly and closed -the door.</p> - -<p>"Waterloo told me that missy was here," he said in an imperious tone, -"and I have come to take her away."</p> - -<p>"Oh, Durban, Durban!" cried the girl, and seized his arm.</p> - -<p>"It's all right, missy." He patted her hand. "You are safe with me."</p> - -<p>"She is safe in any case," said Ruck contemptuously. "She has accepted -my terms, and she has my leave to go. As to Waterloo, I will punish him -for telling you what he had no right to tell you."</p> - -<p>"He has told many other things he has no right to tell," said Durban -significantly, "and to the police."</p> - -<p>"What?" The Major's face became ghastly, and he reeled against the wall -with an oath.</p> - -<p>"The game is up, Major," said Durban, holding the hand of Beatrice -still tighter. "All I want to do is to get Miss Hall away before the -police come to arrest the lot of you."</p> - -<p>"I believe you told the police yourself," said the Major, choking with -fury. "Waterloo would never dare----"</p> - -<p>"Pshaw! I come to give you warning, Major, as you have always been kind -to me. Waterloo was in league with my dead master to cheat you and the -rest of the Gang."</p> - -<p>"Is this true?" asked the Major of himself, biting his carefully-tended -nails. "It is impossible! I could have staked my life on Waterloo's -truth."</p> - -<p>"Then you would lose your wager," said Durban. "The man is, and always -was, a scoundrel.--Come, missy."</p> - -<p>"One moment," said Ruck, recovering himself. "I am ready to get away, -and have placed all my money safely abroad. When do the police come?"</p> - -<p>"This night, I believe," said Durban. "I came up from town a few days -ago to see if I could find out who killed Alpenny. I guessed it was one -of the Black Patch Gang, especially as you gave him warning through -me--or rather through Mr. Paslow. In making enquiries, I heard enough -to convince me that Waterloo was in correspondence with the police, and -was prepared to turn King's evidence to save his skin."</p> - -<p>"And the beast was here only a few moments ago. Where is he?"</p> - -<p>"Where you won't find him. He met me down the stairs a short time -since, and told me what I now tell you--that the police were going to -break up the Gang. He hates you, Major, because you once horsewhipped -the poor wretch. He also told me that missy was here, and I came to -save her from being taken along with your scoundrels. Waterloo has -hidden himself; where he is, I don't know. He guessed that I would tell -you, I suppose, as I let him know that I knew of his treachery. You -won't get him, Major."</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, I shall," said Ruck grimly. "I'm not going to be betrayed by -a reptile like that without revenging myself. All the same, Miss Hall, -I hold you to my terms. Remember, The Camp in two days--seven in the -evening of the second day."</p> - -<p>Beatrice bowed her head, being too weak to speak. Durban, with a -surprised glance at the Major--for he could not understand the reason -of this appointment--drew the girl away, and together they descended -the grimy stairs, leaving the Major arranging for immediate flight. -The four-wheeler was waiting, sure enough, and Durban told the man to -drive to the station. When in the cab with his young mistress, Durban -questioned her about the interview and the appointment. Beatrice told -him the truth and concealed nothing. "And, I fear," she said with a -shudder, "that the Major will betray Vivian, in spite of everything."</p> - -<p>"No," said Durban quietly; "when he gets the necklace he will hold his -peace. The Major is not a cruel man, in spite of his surroundings and -follies--criminal follies. He will hold his tongue, but I doubt if -Waterloo will."</p> - -<p>"He wants the necklace also," said Beatrice faintly.</p> - -<p>"I don't care if he gets it, or if the Major secures it, or if Lady -Watson keeps it, missy," said Durban gloomily; "it will bring bad luck -to either one of the three. But the Major said that you could marry Mr. -Paslow?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I don't know how he intends to arrange. But I cannot marry Mr. -Paslow. I believe him to be innocent, but I cannot be sure. There was -the handkerchief, you know."</p> - -<p>"I lied about that to save you pain, missy," said Durban sadly. "But it -really seems as though Mr. Paslow was guilty. But he is not."</p> - -<p>"How do you know?"</p> - -<p>"Because I know who killed Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"You, Durban?" she said, astonished.</p> - -<p>"Yes. You can marry Mr. Paslow with a clear conscience, missy, because -you love him, and he is innocent of this crime."</p> - -<p>"Then who is guilty, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"I am, missy. I killed the master."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_24" href="#div1Ref_24">CHAPTER XXIV</a></h4> - -<h5>THE NECKLACE</h5> -<br> - -<p>In spite of her regard for the old servant, Beatrice shrank from him as -far as the space of the four-wheeler would permit. It was not agreeable -to be cooped up with a self-confessed murderer, especially when the -crime had been of so terrible a nature. Durban saw the movement and -his eyes filled with tears. He was always emotional, and wept at very -slight provocation.</p> - -<p>"Don't shrink from me, missy," he implored, much agitated. "I did it -for you, missy--for you."</p> - -<p>"Why for me?" asked Beatrice, controlling herself with an effort.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you when we are in the train," replied the man, as the cab -stopped at the station. He assisted her to alight, and she strove to -suppress the shudder which almost overcame her as she touched his hand. -Shortly they were seated in the train which was going to Liverpool -Street. As the distance was very short, Durban commenced to tell the -story of his crime at once. Fortunately there was no one else in the -carriage.</p> - -<p>"Missy," he said solemnly, "your dear father saved me from being hanged -in the States. I was accused of stealing a horse, and although it -was utterly false, the white men wanted to lynch me on account of my -colour. The Colonel, however, came upon the scene, and he saved me. The -real culprit confessed a few days later; but had it not been for the -Colonel, I should now have been dead. Since that day to the hour of his -death I never left him, and he always trusted me."</p> - -<p>"You did not kill him, Durban?" faltered Beatrice, pale with fear.</p> - -<p>"Missy," he exclaimed vehemently, "I would rather have killed myself -than the good man who saved me! No, I did not kill him; but I believe -Alpenny did for the sake of the diamond necklace."</p> - -<p>"No, no!" cried Beatrice quickly. "My mother told me that she took -the necklace from the green box; and as she was in the company of Mr. -Alpenny all the time, he must be innocent."</p> - -<p>"It might be so," said Durban gloomily; "but I never <i>did</i> trust your -mother."</p> - -<p>"Why do you dislike her so?" asked Beatrice wonderingly. In the -interest of the conversation she quite forgot the earlier confession of -the old servant.</p> - -<p>"Why?" asked Durban fiercely. "Because she's a wicked woman, and made -my dear Colonel's life a misery. She was always fond of admiration, -and she broke his heart. But for the sake of his name, and but that -he loved you, missy, as I love you, the Colonel would have separated -from her many and many a time. She was always flirting with other men. -She would have run away with Alpenny had he been willing to settle a -good income on her: she would have eloped with Major Ruck but that he -refused when he found that she had not the Obi necklace. And Alpenny -left her the money--I was angry at that."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I remember how angry you were."</p> - -<p>"Because she deserved it so little," said the servant, with a gesture -of rage. "But everything has gone well with her. She may not have -killed the Colonel, but she knows who did; and I believe she and -Alpenny between them are guilty. But she went away, as I arranged to -keep things quiet for your sake, missy. I could not bear that there -should be a blot upon your name. I intended to tell you one day who -you were, and about the money you ought to have; but you found out -things for yourself. I let you do so, as I thought that you might be -the chosen instrument to put things right. You have proved yourself to -be so; for now the Black Patch Gang, which has been the cause of these -troubles, will be broken up, and everything will be right."</p> - -<p>"Durban, I cannot believe that a good man like yourself would murder -Mr. Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"God bless you for that thought, missy! But I did kill him, and for -your sake. He was about to force you into a marriage with Major Ruck, -whom I knew to be a scoundrel. You would have killed yourself had you -married him."</p> - -<p>"I should never have married him," said Beatrice firmly.</p> - -<p>"Yes, you would," insisted Durban. "Alpenny would have threatened to -accuse your mother to the police. In order to save her you would have -consented to become the wife of that wretch."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," said Beatrice, hesitating. "Is he a wretch, Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. He is also a gentleman, and was in the army. But he has no moral -principles: he never had. He was kicked out of the army for cheating: -he has been twice or thrice suspected of card-sharping, but the charges -could not be brought home to him. There is not a club in London will -have him for a member; and he knows only the wicked, needy people who -hang on to the skirts of society."</p> - -<p>"He knows Lady--I mean my mother."</p> - -<p>"Yes. But he knew too much about her for her to refuse to acknowledge -his acquaintance. Lady Watson knows very good people, as her husband, -Sir Reginald Watson, was a rich and well-known sporting officer. -Nothing is known in society about Lady Watson's past, or her connection -with the death of Colonel Hall, her first husband. That is an old -story, and people forget very easily nowadays, when a lady is rich. -What with Sir Reginald's money and Mr. Alpenny's, your mother must be -very wealthy."</p> - -<p>"Did she inherit nothing from my father?"</p> - -<p>"No, she did not. The money--and there was a great deal of it--was left -to you, missy, with your mother as guardian. But I knew that if your -mother brought you up, she would ruin you in some way, as she is so -wicked. I therefore threatened to tell the police what Miss Duncan (who -now is Mrs. Snow) told to me--that is, about the midnight meeting with -Mr. Alpenny on the stairs. I insisted that you should be given into my -care, so that I could look after you."</p> - -<p>"And you have done it like a father," said Beatrice, giving him her -hand gently.</p> - -<p>Durban bent down and kissed it, with tears in his eyes. "I have done -my best for your father's sake, missy, and at least I have saved you -from your mother. I would have worked for you, and would have taken you -from Hurstable, but I insisted on getting the diamond necklace which -rightfully belonged to you. But Mr. Alpenny refused to give it up in -spite of all threats, so I arranged that Amelia Hedge should marry him, -and take charge of you. Alpenny promised that when he died he would -leave the money and the diamond necklace to you. But he left the money -to your mother, whom he always loved; and the necklace I got rid of, as -I told you, as I feared for its luck. But it must be got back from your -mother. We will go to her house now."</p> - -<p>By this time they were at Liverpool Street Station, and the -conversation was interrupted for a time. But shortly they were seated -in a cab, as Durban thought he could talk more freely in one than if -the two returned to Kensington by the underground railway. As the -hansom rolled down Ludgate Hill, and on to the Embankment, the old -servant renewed the conversation.</p> - -<p>"We will meet Major Ruck at The Camp, missy, and give him the necklace, -as I don't want you to have it."</p> - -<p>"But could we not break it up and destroy the bad luck?" argued the -girl. "It seems a pity to throw away ten thousand pounds on Major Ruck, -especially as Mr. Paslow needs money."</p> - -<p>"You will have your father's money," said Durban obstinately. "I shall -make your mother give it to you. Of course, as you were thought to be -dead, Lady Watson got the money, and no doubt has spent it. But she -will have to refund it out of Alpenny's legacy. There will be no need -to employ lawyers: I can force her to do what I want."</p> - -<p>"Does she know that--that----" Beatrice hesitated.</p> - -<p>"That I killed Alpenny? No; she does not know that. But she thinks that -I killed my master--as though I would have hurt a hair of his dear -head!"</p> - -<p>"And I don't believe that you killed Alpenny either."</p> - -<p>"Yes I did, missy," said Durban obstinately. "He wanted to make your -life a misery, and I was right to kill him."</p> - -<p>Beatrice said nothing for a few moments. With a white man it would have -been different; but Durban had negro blood in his veins, and did not -look upon murder as a more civilised person would have done. Beatrice -was horrified inwardly, but she controlled herself sufficiently to keep -quiet. After all, Durban had committed the crime for her sake; and much -as she reprobated his wickedness--if wickedness it could be called, to -kill so evil-living a man as the usurer--she could not find it in her -heart to condemn him to the uttermost.</p> - -<p>"How did you kill him?" she asked in a low voice.</p> - -<p>"I did not go to town that night. I returned to see him, and had a -quarrel in the counting-house. He was violent and flew at me. I had a -struggle with him, and killed him. That is all!" he ended with apparent -indifference.</p> - -<p>Durban spoke as though he were saying a lesson. Beatrice looked at him -attentively, and saw that his face had resumed the usual green colour -it always took on when he was excited. The story was plausible enough. -All the same, she did not believe that he was guilty any more than she -believed in the guilt of Vivian. "You are innocent!" she said sharply. -"Don't deny it. You accuse yourself to screen Mr. Paslow."</p> - -<p>"Do you believe that he is guilty?" asked Durban hoarsely.</p> - -<p>"No. I don't care what Waterloo says."</p> - -<p>"What did he say?"</p> - -<p>Beatrice related the whole accusation with the evidence, as detailed by -Waterloo. Durban listened attentively, and wiped his face. "Guilty or -innocent," he said in a strangled voice, "that evidence is sufficient -to hang Mr. Paslow. <i>I</i> am guilty, missy."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it," retorted Beatrice. "Everything connected with -these matters has been sordid and evil; but that you, who have always -been so kind, should kill even so wicked a man as Mr. Alpenny, is -ridiculous. Nothing will ever make me believe in your guilt. But here -we are," she broke off abruptly; "say nothing more until we have seen -my mother. We will get the necklace, and close the Major's mouth. I -will question Vivian and hear what he has to say."</p> - -<p>"No, no, missy!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes!" retorted Beatrice imperiously. "I will not let you, my -oldest friend--my almost father--accuse yourself of a vile crime, when -I know that you would not hurt a fly."</p> - -<p>Durban would have answered, but that they had to alight. The cab was -dismissed, and Durban rang the bell. As Lady Watson proved to be -at home, they were shown up into the drawing-room. The mistress of -the house might have refused herself to Durban, whom she hated, but -the footman said that he had been given orders to admit Miss Hedge -whenever she called. This showed Beatrice two things. Firstly, that her -mother really wanted to see her as often as possible, and might have -some small affection left; and secondly, that she did not intend to -acknowledge her as her daughter, seeing that she had given the servant -the name of Miss Hedge instead of Miss Hall.</p> - -<p>Lady Watson expressed surprise at seeing Durban, and joy at beholding -Beatrice. "You dear girl!" she said, embracing her; "you <i>did</i> make me -so miserable this afternoon. I am just going out to dinner, and can -only give you ten minutes.--I am surprised to see you, Durban."</p> - -<p>"And not very pleased, Mrs. Hall."</p> - -<p>"Give me my title, if you please," said the little woman sharply. "Say -what you have to say, and go away. I wish to speak with my child--the -child of whom you robbed me."</p> - -<p>Durban shrugged his stout shoulders and turned away, while Beatrice -looked at her mother steadily. Lady Watson was arrayed in a very -fashionable dinner-gown worn very low, and her complexion was coloured -to match. Her jewels were many and rich, and conspicuous amongst them -was the diamond necklace which they had come to take away. She really -looked very well in the rose-hued light of the drawing-room, and -wonderfully pretty. No one would have thought that she was the mother -of this noble, sad girl arrayed in deep black.</p> - -<p>"Ten minutes," said Lady Watson, consulting a tiny jewelled watch. "But -you can come to-morrow, darling."</p> - -<p>"I am going down to Hurstable to-morrow," said her daughter coldly--"to -The Camp."</p> - -<p>"The horrid place!" said Lady Watson, fastening her glove. "I shall -sell it, I think."</p> - -<p>"No," said Durban, coming close to her; "you will give it to Miss -Beatrice along with the money she inherits from her father."</p> - -<p>"She inherits nothing."</p> - -<p>"Yes, she does. The money of my dead master was left to you for her -use. She was supposed to be dead----"</p> - -<p>"That was your fault," burst out Lady Watson savagely.</p> - -<p>"And you used the money," went on Durban, as though he had not heard -her speak; "but Mr. Alpenny's legacy will provide funds for you to -restore the money. There is sufficient to give Miss Beatrice two -thousand a year."</p> - -<p>"I won't give her a penny!" said the little woman, setting her teeth -and looking extremely ugly. "I want all my money to myself."</p> - -<p>"You must return this money," said Durban coldly; "and also, this very -moment, you must give back the diamond necklace."</p> - -<p>Lady Watson placed her gloved hand on the jewel which flashed on her -neck. "This?" she gasped. "Never! it is mine. It was bought for me."</p> - -<p>"Quite so, madam," said Durban; "but when the Colonel found that you -were flirting with Major Ruck, he determined to keep it for his child. -By the will--of which I have a copy--Miss Beatrice inherits that -necklace."</p> - -<p>"Child!" said Lady Watson tragically, "will you see your mother robbed -by this--this--this low nigger?"</p> - -<p>"If the necklace is mine, I intend to have it," said Beatrice coldly; -"it is my intention to make some use of it, otherwise I would leave it -to you. I want to have nothing to do with you, Lady Watson."</p> - -<p>Lady Watson dashed the fan she held on the table, and broke it to -pieces. "I am your mother!"</p> - -<p>"No," said Beatrice steadily, "you never loved me, or you would not -have given me into the care of strangers."</p> - -<p>"He made me--he made me," and she pointed to Durban.</p> - -<p>"For the sake of my dead master," said Durban calmly. "Come now, madam, -you must give up the necklace. I will see your lawyer to-morrow about -the transfer of Miss Beatrice's money to herself."</p> - -<p>"I refuse--I refuse!"</p> - -<p>"Take care," said Durban fiercely, and again coming close to her. "I -can make Mrs. Snow tell what she saw on that night."</p> - -<p>"I have told all that to my child," quivered Lady Watson, crying with -fear.</p> - -<p>"But not to the police."</p> - -<p>"The police!" echoed the little woman, growing pale under her carefully -coloured face, and sinking into a chair.</p> - -<p>"Yes. If you did not kill the Colonel, Alpenny did."</p> - -<p>"No. I swear he was with me the whole time: he is as innocent as I am. -You can do nothing."</p> - -<p>"I perhaps cannot prove you guilty," said Durban steadily, "but I can -tell the police what Mrs. Snow saw, and get the whole case into the -papers."</p> - -<p>"Who will care, when the Colonel died so long ago?"</p> - -<p>"His death is evidently connected with this Alpenny crime," said Durban -harshly, "and so the public will be quite glad to read all about the -earlier one. What will your friends say?--who will take your hand when -he or she knows what I have to tell about that midnight meeting, and of -your projected elopement with the notorious Major Ruck?"</p> - -<p>Lady Watson trembled and burst into tears, which, streaming down her -face, aged her in a few minutes. "Beatrice, what am I to do?" she wept.</p> - -<p>"Give up the necklace," said the girl, keeping aloof--she could not -find it in her heart to pity a mother who had behaved so badly to her -child, a wife who had tricked her husband so often--"then we will leave -you, and say nothing."</p> - -<p>"But if I give up the necklace, will you come and see me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Beatrice with an effort; "after all, you are my mother."</p> - -<p>"You horrid girl! you are just like your father. Oh, well, if I am -to be blackmailed by an unnatural child and a nigger, I must pay the -price, and you may be glad that I don't give you both in charge."</p> - -<p>Durban crossed to the bell. "I will ring if you like. There is a -constable outside."</p> - -<p>"No!" shrieked Lady Watson, and unfastened the necklace with trembling -fingers. Durban took it from her in silence, and then she rallied -sufficiently to rage. "You horrible black creature!" she cried, "you -have stolen my property, and have turned from me the heart of my dear -child. Go away, I hate the sight of you."</p> - -<p>"Come, missy," said Durban, holding open the door.</p> - -<p>"Yes, go--go, Beatrice. You've made me quite ill. I shan't enjoy my -dinner a bit to-night, and there <i>is</i> such a good cook. I'll have to -look after my face again--it's quite ruined." She tripped to the mirror -and looked in perfectly calmly. While she did this Beatrice, sad at -heart at such frivolity under such circumstances, withdrew with Durban, -and they took their way to Mrs. Quail's hotel.</p> - -<p>"I'm glad you saved me from my mother, Durban," was all the girl said; -but in the seclusion of her bedroom she wept bitterly. In those days, -at that moment, the world was very grey and dismal.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_25" href="#div1Ref_25">CHAPTER XXV</a></h4> - -<h5>WATERLOO</h5> -<br> - -<p>Having finished her business in London, Beatrice returned to Hurstable -with Durban. They went back to The Camp, as the girl did not wish -to again take up her abode in Convent Grange until her relations -with Vivian Paslow were more settled. What Major Ruck meant by his -mysterious hints, she could not imagine, but deep in her heart she -cherished a hope that everything would yet be made smooth, and that all -these troubles which desolated her life would be finally ended by her -marriage with the man she loved.</p> - -<p>It may seem strange that she should dwell at The Camp along with one -who had confessed himself guilty of a terrible crime. But Beatrice, -as she had said in London, and repeated frequently afterwards, did -not believe Durban to be guilty. In an excess of zeal, and in order -to secure her happiness, he professed himself to be the criminal. Had -Waterloo and Major Ruck not accused Vivian, the girl felt very certain -that Durban would not have accused himself. The man still insisted that -he was guilty, and Beatrice still refused to believe him. After much -thought she determined to give Vivian a chance of clearing himself, and -believed that could he prove his innocence, Durban would not proceed -with his self-sacrifice. With this in her mind, she wrote a note to -Paslow the day after she arrived at The Camp. Durban was not with her -at the time, as he had gone to the station to get the newspapers. -It was necessary to see if the Black Patch Gang's quarters had been -raided, and if Major Ruck had been arrested; if so, the appointment -which the Major had made for the next evening at seven need not be kept.</p> - -<p>Paslow, looking anxious and eager, arrived about three in the -afternoon, and with him came Dinah. Without giving her brother time to -speak, the girl flew at Beatrice and kissed her several times.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Beatrice, I have such heaps and heaps to tell you," she gasped, -with a flushed face and very bright eyes. "Jerry and I are going to be -married in three months."</p> - -<p>"That is indeed good news," said Beatrice cordially, and did not -seek to stop the flow of Miss Paslow's confidences. After the sordid -scoundrels with whom she had been mixed up lately she was more than -delighted to be in the company of this homely, honest maiden, and to -hear her artless prattle. Vivian cast an inquiring look at Beatrice, as -he was anxious to know how she had sped with Lady Watson, and could not -understand why she had returned with Durban. But the girl merely smiled -to reassure him, although she felt far from smiling, and demanded the -news from Dinah. That damsel was only too glad to lead the conversation.</p> - -<p>"It's this way," she declared, sitting down, and breathing hard: "Jerry -has had his salary raised, and we'll have enough to rent a tweeny house -at Fulham, or Bedford Park, or somewhere nice. Jerry is writing a -novel, and I'm going to help him. And Mr. Snow has been made a Dean of -some place in Wales."</p> - -<p>"I am glad to hear that," said Beatrice quickly, for she thought that -this preferment would remove Mrs. Snow from the neighbourhood--a thing -devoutly to be wished for, since the woman disliked her.</p> - -<p>"So am I, because Mr. Snow will get a large salary; and, in spite of -Mrs. Snow (who is a cat!), Mr. Snow intends to allow Jerry and me one -hundred a year. Vivian (who is a dear!) intends to allow me the same, -so what with this and Jerry's salary we'll have about four or five -hundred a year to begin life on. I really don't know if I am standing -on my head or my heels," cried Dinah, clapping her hands, and with her -freckled face aglow with lively joy.</p> - -<p>"So you see, Beatrice," said Vivian, with a smile on his dark face, -"her happiness and life are settled. She will marry Jerry, and help him -to become the Shakespeare of his generation."</p> - -<p>"Oh no. Shakespeare only wrote plays!" said Dinah contemptuously. -"Or was it Bacon? Jerry is to write novels, like Thackeray or George -Eliot--but she was a woman, wasn't she? We'll be so happy; and I intend -to furnish the drawing-room in cherry-colour, which always----"</p> - -<p>"My dear Dinah," said Vivian impatiently, "can't you leave these minor -details to some future occasion?"</p> - -<p>"Ah! wait till you and Beatrice consult about the refurnishing of the -Grange," said Dinah reprovingly; "then you'll find how important all -these things are. Mr. and Mrs. Snow go to Wales in a month, Beatrice, -and I shan't be sorry. I want to be miles and miles away from my -future mother-in-law. But I must go." Dinah rose in a hurry. "I am -on my way to the station to meet Jerry. I only called in to tell you -how delicious everything is. Good-bye, good-bye!" and Dinah, kissing -Beatrice twice, took herself off rapidly, while Vivian shrugged his -shoulders.</p> - -<p>"What a whirlwind in petticoats!" said he good-humouredly.</p> - -<p>"I am glad she is to be happy with her lover," said Beatrice in a -pensive manner. "And I am also glad," she added, looking attentively at -Paslow, "to know that Mrs. Snow is leaving the neighbourhood."</p> - -<p>"So am I," said Paslow, with a sigh. "That woman hates you, Beatrice."</p> - -<p>"She cannot do me any harm," replied the girl, and then looked again at -Vivian. She noted with a pang how worn and thin he appeared: noted also -that there were white hairs amongst his thick black locks. "My poor -boy," she said tenderly, "you have suffered!"</p> - -<p>Vivian looked at her in a startled way, and put out his hand as though -to keep her off. "Don't," he said hoarsely, "or else I shall forget -myself and take you in my arms."</p> - -<p>"Vivian"--she touched his arm and he winced, with a flush of colour, at -the tenderness--"we may come together after all."</p> - -<p>"Beatrice!" he said breathlessly, then dropped the hand which he had -seized. "You know who stands between us."</p> - -<p>"She may not always stand between us, Vivian."</p> - -<p>"What! Is she dead?"</p> - -<p>"No. But Major Ruck---- Wait, Vivian; let us sit down and talk. I have -much to tell you, dear."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes. Sit here!" Vivian hurriedly led her towards a garden seat -near the battered sundial, and fixing his eyes on her tired face, -waited impatiently for what she had to say. But Beatrice did not begin -at once: she wanted to startle him into telling the truth.</p> - -<p>"Major Ruck and Waterloo both accuse you of killing Alpenny," she said -bluntly, and looking straightly at him.</p> - -<p>Vivian jumped up with a suppressed oath. "What a lie!"</p> - -<p>"Tell me," she said quickly--"tell me exactly what you did on that -night."</p> - -<p>"I have told you. I caught Waterloo and kicked him; then I looked for -you, and not finding you, went home. Next morning I called to see how -you were getting on, and gave the key of the smaller gate to Durban, -who hung it up in the counting-house, as he told you."</p> - -<p>"You were not near this place on that night?"</p> - -<p>"No. I swear I was not."</p> - -<p>Beatrice saw from his earnest, puzzled look that he really spoke the -truth. Without wasting further time in skirting round the subject, she -related what had taken place at the Black Patch Gang's den in Stepney. -Vivian listened with growing surprise, and jumping up, began to walk -backwards and forwards, much agitated. When she had finished, he -stopped before her with an angry air.</p> - -<p>"The whole story is a lie!" he declared decisively. "I certainly caught -Waterloo, and kicked him: he certainly threatened me with a very -ugly-looking knife; but he got away before I could take it off him. I -wish I had found it before I tied his hands."</p> - -<p>"You tied his hands?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, with my handkerchief."</p> - -<p>Beatrice rose suddenly, and caught her lover's arm with so much force -that he winced. "What is it?" he asked, puzzled by her look.</p> - -<p>"Did--did--Waterloo get away with the handkerchief?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I knocked him down and tied his hands. I was going away, when he -got rid of the handkerchief, and ran at me with a knife. I dodged him, -and then tried to seize him again; but he showed no more fight, and ran -away. He held the handkerchief in one hand and the knife in another."</p> - -<p>"Vivian," cried Beatrice, with a pale face, "Waterloo killed Mr. -Alpenny!--yes, he killed him, I am certain."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean? How can you explain?"</p> - -<p>"Listen. I found your handkerchief soaking in the blood of Alpenny, and -lying near the body in the counting-house yonder. I thought for the -moment that you were guilty. I spoke to Durban, and he told me that you -had given him the handkerchief--no, that wasn't it. He said that you -had left the handkerchief behind when you quarrelled with Mr. Alpenny, -when you last met him."</p> - -<p>"I never did. And----"</p> - -<p>"Wait, wait. Of course you didn't. To save my feelings Durban told a -lie."</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you speak to me?"</p> - -<p>"I didn't think of doing so; you explained about the key. I forgot, -I suppose, with all the troubles that we had. But you can see now: -this man, Waterloo, had the knife, he had the handkerchief, and he was -a member of the Black Patch Gang. Alpenny, because he betrayed the -Gang, was condemned to death, and Waterloo is the man whom Major Ruck -called the executioner. He left you to return to The Camp and kill Mr. -Alpenny; then he escaped by the secret passage."</p> - -<p>Vivian walked about in an excited manner. "By Jupiter! Beatrice, I do -believe that you are right. We'll have the little beast arrested."</p> - -<p>"I dare say, if the police have raided the Stepney den, that he has -already been arrested. Oh, how I wish those papers would come!"</p> - -<p>"What papers?"</p> - -<p>"The daily newspapers. Durban went to the station to get them, as we -expect to read about the raid. And I want to clear your character--so -that Durban's life may be saved."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" asked Vivian, utterly puzzled.</p> - -<p>"He accuses himself of the crime to clear you. He knows that I love -you, and, thinking your loss would break my heart, intended to answer -for you."</p> - -<p>"But I have not committed any crime."</p> - -<p>"No. But the Major and Waterloo can build up an accusation against you; -it will be difficult to disprove, and----"</p> - -<p>"It will <i>not</i> be difficult," said Vivian determinedly; "the -handkerchief will prove Waterloo's guilt. Does Durban believe that I am -the guilty person?"</p> - -<p>"I think so, or he would not take the guilt upon himself."</p> - -<p>"Then I forgive his doubts of me, because he is so ready to take my -supposed crime on his own shoulders. But do you believe me to----"</p> - -<p>"Vivian"--she stretched out her hands--"I never have believed you to be -guilty. You know that; and now we both know the truth--Waterloo is the -criminal."</p> - -<p>"And Waterloo will soon be in the hands of the police. Beatrice, I -shall go and see the constable at Hurstable. He will send for the -Inspector who had charge of the case. We'll tell him everything, and -when Major Ruck comes here to-morrow at seven, he can be arrested."</p> - -<p>"But he is not guilty?"</p> - -<p>"He is an accomplice. Waterloo apparently killed Alpenny by his -order--and, indeed, the Major probably was present at the time, since -he admits himself to have been the man you saw leaving The Camp. -I shall go at once. Wait here, Beatrice; I'll come back with the -constable. And meantime, when Durban returns with the papers, you can -see if the Gang's den has been raided."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes. Go at once!"</p> - -<p>The face of Beatrice was aglow with joy, and she went with her lover to -the great gates, which now usually stood wide open. And she had every -cause for joy. They now knew that Waterloo was the assassin who had -murdered old Alpenny. Vivian was guiltless, and so was Durban, who, to -save the tears of his young mistress, had so nobly taken upon himself -the burden of shame. When Vivian departed post-haste to see the village -constable, and to put all things in train for the capture of Major Ruck -and his accomplices, Beatrice walked to and fro much excited.</p> - -<p>"Dear Durban, good Durban!" she murmured again and again. "What a -friend he has been to me! But there will be no need for this sacrifice. -Vivian's character can be cleared, and then----" She hesitated, and -wondered again if Major Ruck could fulfil his promise and remove the -obstacle to her marriage with Vivian. She could not think of how this -could be done, save by the death of Maud Paslow; and yet she did -not think that Ruck, villain as he was, would kill a woman. All the -same, he had certainly killed Alpenny through the instrumentality of -Waterloo. "I must give Major Ruck the necklace in any case," said -Beatrice, quite forgetting that when Vivian told the police, Ruck -would need no necklace and would be in the dock. She went to her -bedroom-carriage and got out the necklace, which flashed bravely in the -sun. It was certainly a magnificent ornament, and Beatrice was woman -enough to regret parting with it, especially to such a scamp as the -Major. However, as she recollected Vivian's errand, it might be that it -would not need to be given up. "But then," she thought, "if Major Ruck -is arrested, he will certainly not forward my marriage with Vivian, as -out of revenge he will hold his tongue."</p> - -<p>With the necklace in her hand, she went across to the counting-house -carriage in order to make a packet of it and seal it up. The place -was chill and dismal in its desolation. Beatrice closed the door and -seated herself at the desk, looking about for a sufficiently thick -sheet of paper in which to wrap the jewel. Hardly had she found one -when she heard a grating noise, and turned her head to see the sheet -of galvanised tin, upon which stood the stove, slip aside. The next -moment, and she saw the red head of Waterloo protrude from the hole.</p> - -<p>"You!" cried Beatrice, starting to her feet, and her blood ran cold -when she thought of what the reptile had done.</p> - -<p>"Yuss," said Waterloo, who looked haggard and white. "The Major is -after me. I cut away from Stepney when the plaice was raided by the -perlice. The Major cove got away too, and has been follering me. He -come down by the saime train----"</p> - -<p>"He is here?" cried Beatrice interrogatively, bending forward.</p> - -<p>She had the necklace dangling from her hand, and in bending down it was -brought within reach of Waterloo. He snatched at it at once and growled -like a dog over a bone. "Yuss," he said hoarsely, while the girl -remained paralysed by his sudden move; "he's after this, and me. He's -goin' to kill me, becas I set the peelers on to the Gang. But he'll not -come by this passage, and I'll slip away. Don't you give the alarm, -miss, or I'll cut your throat."</p> - -<p>"The same as you did Mr. Alpenny's?"</p> - -<p>"Ho! you knows that, does you?" yelped Waterloo. "Yuss, I did; an' I'll -kill you if----"</p> - -<p>Beatrice ran to the door and opened it. "Help! help!" she cried, not -thinking of the mad thing she was doing to provoke this murderer to -wrath. There was no help near--The Camp was completely isolated, and -unless Durban came back at once, or Vivian returned, she was at the -mercy of this wild beast in the lonely place. Waterloo apparently -guessed that he could do what he liked, for he made a spring to get out -of the passage. As he did so he was pulled back, and gave a yell of -alarm.</p> - -<p>"Oh lor', who's got me? 'Elp! 'elp! Ah! ow--ow--it's the -Major--it's----" Here he was pulled out of sight. Apparently the -Major, on the track of the man who had betrayed him, had entered the -secret passage also, and was pulling the traitor down into the depths. -Beatrice stared at the gaping black hole, and heard sounds of snarling -and worrying and swearing and fighting going on in the bowels of the -earth. Suddenly she heard the shriek of a man in mortal agony. With an -effort she opened wide the counting-house door, anxious only to escape -from the horrible place; but as the sunshine streamed on her face, -everything seemed to grow black round her, and she fell down in a dead -faint.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4><a name="div1_26" href="#div1Ref_26">CHAPTER XXVI</a></h4> - -<h5>WHAT TOOK PLACE</h5> -<br> - -<p>It was quite two months before Beatrice Hall recovered sufficiently -to hear after-events. For a long time she remained unconscious, and -then came to herself only to suffer from a severe attack of brain -fever. The poor girl had gone through so much--she had borne up with -such bravery--that the long-continued strain had sapped her strength, -and she was seriously ill for weeks. Even when she recovered her -reason--which she did, owing to the careful and assiduous nursing -of Vivian and his sister--the doctor would not allow her to be told -anything. And, indeed, Beatrice did not seem anxious to hear: it -appeared as though her mind was a blank. All she cared to do was to lie -on her bed, and listen to Vivian reading some soothing book.</p> - -<p>Dr. Herman (the same who had examined the corpse of Alpenny, and -had given evidence at the inquest) was her medical attendant, -and he conducted the treatment with great care. With such a -delicately-balanced brain as Beatrice possessed, and after she had -undergone such terrible experiences, the doctor seemed to be doubtful -if she would be quite sane when she got back her physical strength. -He went about with a grave face, and Vivian's heart was wrung with -anguish as he thought of what might happen. It seemed terrible that he -should, for once, have a chance of happiness with the woman he loved, -only to find that she would suffer from something worse than death. In -those long days of suspense Vivian turned more to God than he had ever -done before in his careless life. And God rewarded his faith. Slowly -but surely Beatrice recovered, and when the doctor permitted her to be -taken on to the terrace in the mild autumn weather, the peace and fresh -air completed her cure. She felt her brain becoming much steadier, and -again began to take an interest in life. But always she desired to -have Vivian by her side, and was never so happy as when he sat beside -her couch holding her hand. In two months she was quite her old self, -although paler and thinner. But the troubles she had passed through -left their marks on her lovely face and in her sad eyes.</p> - -<p>"Let me tell her everything now," Vivian urged to Dr. Herman one day; -"she is beginning to ask questions, and will not be satisfied with -being put off with vague replies."</p> - -<p>"Ah," said the doctor with much satisfaction, "she is asking questions, -is she? Then you can take it from me, Mr. Paslow, that she will recover -completely. It is that renewed interest in life which I wished to see. -Wait for a week, and then she will be strong enough to hear what you -have to say. But when she once knows," added the doctor, raising his -finger gravely, "never let her hear of the subject again."</p> - -<p>"Never, never!" said Vivian, with a shudder, as he also was only too -anxious to bury the past which had tormented him for so long. And then -he went to tell the joyful news to Durban.</p> - -<p>Needless to say, Durban also had been watching everlastingly beside the -couch and bed of the creature whom he held dearest on earth. He was -like a dog, and when not within the sick-room would lie on the mat at -the door. When he heard that his dear young mistress was out of danger, -he almost went out of his mind, and vehemently embraced Mrs. Lilly, -much to the indignation of that portly female. But when she saw his -dog-like devotion, she forgave that exuberant expression of the man's -feelings.</p> - -<p>So things slowly worked themselves out to a joyful issue. Beatrice -was told that in a few days she would be informed of all that had -taken place since she fainted in the counting-house, and obeyed the -orders of Vivian that, until the time came, she was not to ask any -questions. Then one glorious autumn day, when the sun was shining with -a summer-like force, and everything seemed to revive under its royal -beams, Vivian carried her down the stairs as usual and out on to the -terrace. Here, in her favourite nook, she rested contentedly on a soft -couch, and a small table was placed beside her. Dinah and Jerry, who -were also faithful attendants, hovered round with shawls and rugs and -reviving drinks, and such-like things. When Beatrice was comfortably -established, she took Vivian's hand softly.</p> - -<p>"How good it is to be loved!" she said sweetly.</p> - -<p>"Who could help loving you, my own?" said Paslow tenderly. "We are all -your slaves here."</p> - -<p>"Where is Durban?"</p> - -<p>"He will come shortly. And Dinah and Jerry can go away?"</p> - -<p>"Why?" demanded Dinah quickly, and rather offended.</p> - -<p>"Because Dr. Herman says that I can tell Beatrice everything, and it -will be better that we should be alone."</p> - -<p>"Oh, Vivian"--the face of the invalid flushed a rose colour--"am I to -know everything now?"</p> - -<p>"Yes"--he bent down and kissed her--"as a reward for obedience. Then -Durban will come and see you; and Jerry can escort Dinah back, unless -they forget us in love-making."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Jerry very shrewdly, and taking Dinah's hand, "I expect -you really won't want us, as you will be love-making yourselves. -Besides, I have to read a letter to Dinah."</p> - -<p>"From your mother?" asked Dinah rather nervously.</p> - -<p>"From my father. He is now settled comfortably in Wales, and likes -everything immensely, and----"</p> - -<p>"Oh, come away," interrupted Dinah, tugging him by the hand; "don't -give me the gist of the letter here. Can't you see that Beatrice and -Vivian are dying to be alone? And I want to consult you again about -that study of ours. I really don't think that green hangings will suit -your complexion, and then--" Here Dinah dragged the willing Jerry down -the shallow steps and across the lawn, babbling all the time of their -future home.</p> - -<p>Beatrice, left alone with Vivian, put out her hand, and heaved a sigh -of pleasure when she felt his warm fingers close on that frail member. -A thrill ran through her, and everything she beheld before her seemed -to take on a brighter hue, because the man she loved was beside her. -Yet as she felt his touch and looked into his bright face--for bright -it seemed, though sadly worn and thin--a recollection of the barrier -between them disturbed her pleasant thoughts.</p> - -<p>"Why do you wish to take your hand away?" asked Vivian, as he felt her -exert a weak strength.</p> - -<p>"Your--your--wife," faltered Beatrice faintly.</p> - -<p>"You are to be my wife, dearest," he answered gravely. "No," in reply -to her startled look, "Maud is not dead. But she never was my wife."</p> - -<p>"Vivian! She said that she was."</p> - -<p>"Of course, to gain her own ends. But she is really the wife of Major -Ruck: she married him when she first went to town. I believe old -Alpenny arranged the marriage, as Major Ruck being a member of his -Gang, he wished to secure so clever a woman as Maud also."</p> - -<p>"Is this true?"</p> - -<p>"Perfectly true; so you can leave your hand in mine for ever."</p> - -<p>"That would be a long time," said Beatrice, with a weak laugh of joy. -But all the same she allowed her little white hand to rest within -Vivian's, and then looked at him inquiringly.</p> - -<p>"You wish to ask how we found out?" said Paslow, smiling. "Easily -enough. Major Ruck redeemed his promise, and removed the obstacle to -our marriage by leaving on the desk in the counting-house a certificate -of marriage between himself and Maud Orchard. We--that is, Durban and -myself--went to the church where the marriage was solemnised, and found -that the certificate was genuine. Major Ruck and Maud Orchard were man -and wife some months before I came on the scene, and she entrapped me -into that unhappy marriage."</p> - -<p>"But what was Major Ruck doing in the counting-house?" said Beatrice, -puzzled. "He was not due until the next evening at seven."</p> - -<p>"You forget, my darling, what has happened. Waterloo----"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes! I remember now," cried Beatrice, half raising herself in her -excitement. "He was coming out to kill me with that horrible knife, -when someone pulled him down, and I fainted."</p> - -<p>"It was the Major who pulled him down," said Vivian, gently pushing her -back. "Be calm, Beatrice, and I'll tell you everything."</p> - -<p>"But I remember a lot," she insisted. "Waterloo said that the den at -Stepney had been raided, and that he had got away--the Major also. Then -because he knew--the Major, I mean--that Waterloo had betrayed the -Gang, he followed him down to kill him."</p> - -<p>"The Major did not kill him, however, darling. Waterloo was----"</p> - -<p>"Wait a moment, Vivian," she entreated. "I want to see how much I -remember. Waterloo said that the Major had followed him down by the -same train. I suppose the Major came by the secret passage----"</p> - -<p>Vivian placed his arms round her so that her head could rest on his -breast. "Darling, darling, you must allow me to speak. What you say -is true, and you have remembered much. Major Ruck was after Waterloo -to kill him, because of his treachery. How he found that the man was -coming to Hurstable I do not know. But the den was certainly raided: -Tuft and the doctor who attended my wife's double are in custody--the -Gang is broken up. The police have examined Durban and myself, and -everything has been made clear. While you have been ill the newspapers -have been full of the business, and Jerry Snow has made quite a -reputation in writing sensational articles."</p> - -<p>"Go on," said Beatrice, much interested.</p> - -<p>"I will, if it will not excite you too much."</p> - -<p>"No, no; I am perfectly calm. Feel my pulse, dear."</p> - -<p>Vivian did so, and caressed her fondly. "Speak as little as you can, -my dear," he said softly, and then continued his story. "Waterloo knew -that Ruck would kill him if he could, and never thinking that the Major -would suspect his coming to The Camp--into the jaws of the lion, as it -were--he came down here, and the Major--as Waterloo told you--followed -him."</p> - -<p>"Waterloo got the necklace?" said Beatrice, thinking with an effort.</p> - -<p>"He did for a time; but the Major has it now. Hush, dear! The Major, -as he wanted to escape, could not wait until the next evening to see -you. He came down at once, or perhaps he followed Waterloo. However, -he tracked him to The Camp, and saw him go down the secret passage. -Ruck went down also, and listened below while Waterloo was talking to -you. He knew or guessed that he had the necklace, and when Waterloo was -about to kill you--which he would have done in that deserted Camp--the -Major saved you by pulling Waterloo into the passage. Waterloo fought -like a wild cat, I believe--at least he says that he did----"</p> - -<p>"What! Did Waterloo confess?"</p> - -<p>"On his dying bed he did."</p> - -<p>"Is he dead, then?"</p> - -<p>"Quite dead. God punished him. Do listen, my own. Waterloo fought, -not only for his life but for the necklace. But Ruck, as you know, -is a big man of great strength. He dragged him along the passage and -strove to strangle him. Waterloo tried to use his knife, but could not -do so at first. Then Ruck secured the necklace, and Waterloo made a -violent effort to strike. To escape the wound, Ruck threw him as far -as he could along the passage. Waterloo struck against the brickwork, -and tried to rise. But the passage as you know, Beatrice, was in bad -repair; the blow loosened the earth overhead where it was not bricked -in, and a mass of earth fell which buried Waterloo under it. Then -Ruck, seeing that the villain was punished, entered the counting-house -and found you insensible. He did not wait to revive you, as he knew -that the police were on his track; he simply left on the desk the -certificate of his marriage with Maud Orchard, and bolted."</p> - -<p>"Where has he gone?"</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you that. But he vanished, and his wife Maud has vanished -also. They managed to get a boat at Brighton, and rowed out at night to -a passing tramp. It seems that the captain was in the pay of the Black -Patch Gang to take the stolen goods abroad. However, the steamer was -waiting off-shore, and Ruck escaped with his wife and the necklace in -that way. Nothing has been heard of him up to date, and I don't expect -anything ever will be heard of the two. Maud is clever, and so is her -rightful husband, so I expect, now that they have money, they will live -in some tropical clime in the odour of sanctity. At all events, my -darling, they have passed out of our lives."</p> - -<p>"Thank God for that!" said Beatrice fervently. "And Waterloo?"</p> - -<p>"Durban came back and tried to revive you. I returned with the -constable, and saw that something terrible had taken place. While -Durban and Dinah took you back to Convent Grange, I and the constable -searched. We went down the secret passage, as we found the trap in the -counting-house open. We heard groans, and got some men to dig Waterloo -out. He was taken to the Brighton Hospital, and Inspector Jones--who -had to do with the inquest, you remember?--was sent for. Waterloo made -a full confession."</p> - -<p>"About Alpenny's murder?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, and about the doings of the Black Patch Gang. You were right, -my dear. Waterloo was the member Ruck called the executioner, and I -will not shock your feelings by telling you how many people the wretch -murdered. But he killed Alpenny almost in the way he accused me of -killing him. That is, he went back to The Camp and there met Ruck. They -entered through the large gates, and Alpenny, dressed for his flight, -came out. He cried for mercy, but Waterloo cut his throat."</p> - -<p>Beatrice shivered. "Don't tell me any more."</p> - -<p>"Only this, darling--that Waterloo gave Ruck my handkerchief, and he -placed it near the body to incriminate me. Ruck walked to Brighton -after making an ineffectual search for the necklace--which was the real -reason for the crime; and Waterloo escaped by the secret passage and -loafed up to London as a tramp."</p> - -<p>"And Durban?"</p> - -<p>"He arrived later, and found Alpenny dead. He told you all about that. -He then found the necklace and placed it on the sheep's neck, to get -rid of it for ever. He returned the next morning pretending to know -nothing, as he was fearful lest he should be accused."</p> - -<p>"Then Ruck was the man I saw at the gate?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. He wore the black patch over the left eye, as a member of the -Gang. That is their mark--or rather it was, as the Gang is now but a -name. Those caught have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, -although Ruck and Maud have escaped, and Waterloo is dead."</p> - -<p>"The Black Patch?" mused Beatrice. "Vivian," she added suddenly, "did -Waterloo kill my father?"</p> - -<p>"He did," said Vivian quickly. "I thought you would guess that. It -seems that Alpenny found out about your mother's intended elopement, -and told Ruck that he would prevent it unless he got the necklace. -As that was all Ruck wanted--for he had no love for your mother--he -induced Waterloo to try and steal it, promising him a share. Waterloo -assumed the black patch so that, if possible, the blame might be put on -to Alpenny."</p> - -<p>"How do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Waterloo threw away the patch when he escaped, so that Alpenny, if the -doings of the Gang ever came to light, might be suspected."</p> - -<p>"I see. Go on, Vivian; I am much interested."</p> - -<p>"I hope it is not too much for you, dearest," said Paslow earnestly. -"But to make a long story short, Waterloo entered by the window and -tried to steal the green box, where Ruck had told him the necklace -was placed. The box, however, was chained to the bed. The noise that -Waterloo made woke your father; but before any struggle could take -place, and while the Colonel was but half awake, Waterloo sprang on him -and cut his throat. Then while he was trying to wrench open the green -box and get the necklace, he heard voices."</p> - -<p>"Those of my mother and Alpenny?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. But they spoke so low that he did not know who they were, or he -might have remained. As it was he ran away, fearful of being caught. -He dropped the black patch to incriminate Alpenny, as I told you. Next -day Ruck learned that Alpenny had the necklace, and how he had forced -it from Mrs. Hall--that is from Lady Watson, your mother. The rest you -know."</p> - -<p>"How terrible!" said Beatrice with a sigh. "And my mother?"</p> - -<p>"She saw the police, and substantiated Waterloo's dying confession. But -the police acquit her of complicity in the crime. However, although as -little as possible was published in the papers, she has gone to the -Continent, and talks of entering a convent. And I hope she will like -it," ended Vivian grimly.</p> - -<p>"I am not sorry, for I never could have loved her, Vivian. But she is -my mother after all, so I shall see her when we go abroad."</p> - -<p>"You shall do what you like, dearest. We will be married as soon as -possible and go to Italy for a year."</p> - -<p>"Can you afford it, Vivian?"</p> - -<p>"<i>You</i> can," he said, laughing. "Don't you know that you have two -thousand a year inherited from your father? Lady Watson had spent it, -but at Durban's request she refunded it out of Alpenny's legacy. We -will not be rich, dearest, but we will be able to pay off the mortgage -and restore the Grange, and live a quiet life together."</p> - -<p>"That is all I wish for," said Beatrice, putting her arms round his -neck. "I want peace after all this storm."</p> - -<p>"You will have, darling," said Vivian, kissing her; "but we will first -go abroad so that your cure may be completed. Jerry and Dinah will be -married on the same day as ourselves."</p> - -<p>"Not by Mr. Snow?" said Beatrice, shuddering. "I have no grudge against -him: but his wife----"</p> - -<p>"She cannot harm you, dear, now. The police gave Mrs. Snow a pretty -talking to for withholding the evidence she could have given. She is a -very subdued woman now, and, I think, is glad to bury herself in Wales -as the wife of that rural Dean, Mr. Snow. He will be master in his own -house at last, for he knows so much about her that she will not dare to -contradict him."</p> - -<p>"And Durban?"</p> - -<p>"Here he comes. Durban, come here."</p> - -<p>The half-caste, his face shining with joy, rolled towards them as -stout as ever in spite of his grief. At the expression on the face -of his young mistress he stopped short. "She knows?" he asked Vivian -timorously.</p> - -<p>"Everything," said Beatrice, before Vivian could speak. "And I thank -God, Durban, for having given me such a friend!"</p> - -<p>"Missy, I loved your father." He dropped on his knees beside the couch -and took her hand. "And you do not blame me for having kept you in -ignorance?"</p> - -<p>"No. The situation was a difficult one. You and Mr. Paslow here were -both surrounded by rogues and many dangers. And all your concealments -and reluctant confessions were made to save me anxiety, so I thank you, -my dear friend, for your kindness I knew you were a good man, even when -you accused yourself to save Vivian."</p> - -<p>"I could not let him be hanged when you loved him," said Durban, -hanging his head.</p> - -<p>"You see, Beatrice," said Vivian, smiling, "it is only of you that -Durban thinks. I am nowhere."</p> - -<p>"When you marry Miss Beatrice," said Durban, rising, with a grave -smile, "you will be one with her, and I'll love you both equally. I -know you will be happy, missy. After much storm has come the sunshine."</p> - -<p>"And that," said Vivian gaily, "will endure for the rest of our lives."</p> - -<p>Beatrice took the old servant's hand. "There is only one thing to -settle," she said sweetly: "Durban is to give me to you at the altar."</p> - -<p>"Oh, missy--me--no--no--a black--a half black!"</p> - -<p>"You are a whole white," said Vivian quickly, and taking the good old -fellow's other hand. "Beatrice is right. You have stood to her in -the place of her father and mother, and you have shielded her from a -thousand dangers. You shall come to the wedding and give your treasure -to me."</p> - -<p>"Sir--missy----" Durban could say nothing more; his eyes filled with -tears and he hastily retreated.</p> - -<p>"Joyful tears, good old soul!" said Vivian, again gathering Beatrice -to his breast. "He'll come and live with us, Beatrice, and we'll turn -that horrible Camp into a jungle. Never more will we talk of the past, -and--and----"</p> - -<p>"Vivian, Vivian! How you run on!"</p> - -<p>"I am too happy to be sensible. What are those birds we hear singing, -saying, my sweetest?"</p> - -<p>"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!" was the unexpected answer -of Beatrice.</p> - -<p>Vivian's face grew grave. "I think we will, and now," he said; and with -his future wife in his arms he breathed a prayer of thankfulness to the -merciful Father who had brought them both to a safe haven.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>THE END</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<hr class="W90"> -<h5>PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., EDINBURGH.</h5> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 55305 ***</div> -</body> -</html> - - - - |