CHAPTER XLIII.
THE STRANGER.
A few weeks after Langhetti's visit Potts had a new visitor at the bank.The stranger entered the bank parlor noiselessly, and stood quietlywaiting for Potts to be disengaged. That worthy was making some entriesin a small memorandum-book. Turning his head, he saw the newcomer. Pottslooked surprised, and the stranger said, in a peculiar voice, somewhatgruff and hesitating,
"Mr. Potts?"
"Yes," said Potts, looking hard at his visitor.
He was a man of singular aspect. His hair was long, parted in themiddle, and straight. He wore dark colored spectacles. A thick, blackbeard ran under his chin. His linen was not over-clean, and he wore along surtout coat.
"I belong to the firm of Bigelow, Higginson, & Co., Solicitors,London.--I am the Co."
"Well!"
"The business about which I have come is one of some importance. Are wesecure from interruption?"
"Yes," said Potts, "as much as I care about being. I don't know anything in particular that I care about locking the doors for."
"Well, you know best," said the stranger. "The business upon which Ihave come concerns you somewhat, but your son principally."
Potts started, and looked with eager inquiry at the stranger.
"It is such a serious case," said the latter, "that my seniors thought,before taking any steps in the matter, it would be best to consult youprivately."
"Well," returned Potts, with a frown, "what is this wonderful case?"
"Forgery," said the stranger.
Potts started to his feet with a ghastly face, and stood speechless forsome time.
"Do you know who you're talking to?" said he, at last.
"John Potts, of Brandon Hall, I presume," said the stranger, coolly. "Mybusiness concerns him somewhat, but his son still more."
"What the devil do you mean?" growled Potts, in a savage tone.
"Forgery," said the stranger. "It is an English word, I believe.Forgery, in which your son was chief agent. Have I made myselfunderstood?"
Potts looked at him again, and then slowly went to the door, locked it,and put the key in his pocket.
"That's right," said the stranger, quietly.
"You appear to take things easy," rejoined Potts, angrily; "but let metell you, if you come to bully me you've got into the wrong shop."
"You appear somewhat heated. You must be calm, or else we can not get tobusiness; and in that case I shall have to leave."
"I don't see how that would be any affliction," said Potts, with asneer.
"That's because you don't understand my position, or the state of thepresent business. For if I leave it will be the signal for a number ofinterested parties to make a combined attack on you."
"An attack?"
"Yes."
"Who is there?" said Potts, defiantly.
"Giovanni Cavallo, for one; my seniors, Messrs. Bigelow & Higginson, andseveral others.
"Never heard of any of them before."
"Perhaps not. But if you write to Smithers & Co. they will tell youthat Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. are their solicitors, and do theirconfidential business."
"Smithers & Co.?" said Potts, aghast.
"Yes. It would not be for your interest for Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. toshow Smithers & Co. the proofs which they have against you, would it?"
Potts was silent. An expression of consternation came over his face. Heplunged his hands deep in his pockets and bowed his head frowningly.
"It is all bosh," said he, at last, raising his head. "Let them show andbe d---d. What have they got to show?"
"I will answer your question regularly," said the stranger, "inaccordance with my instructions"--and, drawing a pocket-book from hispocket, he began to read from some memoranda written there.
"1st. The notes to which the name of Ralph Brandon is attached, 150 innumber, amounting to L93,500."
"Pooh!" said Potts.
"These forgeries were known to several besides your son and yourself,and one of these men will testify against you. Others who know Brandon'ssignature swear that this lacks an important point of distinction commonto all the Brandon signatures handed down from father to son. You werefoolish to leave these notes afloat. They have all been bought up on aspeculation by those who wished to make the Brandon property a littledearer."
"I don't think they'll make a fortune out of the speculation," saidPotts, who was stifling with rage. "D--n them! who are they?"
"Well, there are several witnesses who are men of such character that ifmy seniors sent them to Smithers & Co. Smithers & Co. would believe thatyou were guilty. In a court of law you would have no better chance. Oneof these witnesses says he can prove that your true name is Briggs."
At this Potts bounded from his chair and stepped forward with a terrificoath.
"You see, your son's neck is in very considerable danger."
"Yours is in greater," said Potts, with menacing eyes.
"Not at all. Even supposing that you were absurd enough to offerviolence to an humble subordinate like me, it would not interfere withthe policy of Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co., who are determined tomake money out of this transaction. So you see it's absurd to talk ofviolence."
The stranger took no further notice of Potts, but looked again athis memoranda; while the latter, whose face was now terrific from thefurious passions which it exhibited, stood like a wild beast in a cage,"willing to wound, but yet afraid to strike."
"The next case," said the stranger, "is the Thornton forgery."
"Thornton!" exclaimed Potts, with greater agitation.
"Yes," said the stranger. "In connection with the Despard murder therewere two sets of forgeries; one being the Thornton correspondence, andthe other your correspondence with the Bank of Good Hope."
"Heavens! what's all this?" cried Potts. "Where have you been unearthingthis rubbish?"
"First," said the stranger, without noticing Potts's exclamation, "thereare the letters to Thornton, Senior, twenty years ago, in which anattempt was made to obtain Colonel Despard's money for yourself. OneClark, an accomplice of yours, presented the letter. The forgery wasat once detected. Clark might have escaped, but he made an effort atburglary, was caught, and condemned to transportation. He had beenalready out once before, and this time received a new brand in additionto the old ones."
Potts did not say a word, but sat stupefied.
"Thornton, Junior, is connected with us, and his testimony is valuable,as he was the one who detected the forgery. He also was the one who wentto the Cape of Good Hope, where he had the pleasure of meeting with you.This brings me to the third case," continued the stranger.
"Letters were sent to the Cape of Good Hope, ordering money to be paidto John Potts. Thornton, Senior, fearing from the first attempt thata similar one would be made at the Cape, where the deceased had funds,sent his son there. Young Thornton reached the place just before youdid, and would have arrested you, but the proof was not sufficient."
"Aha!" cried Potts, grasping at this--"not sufficient proof! I shouldthink not." His voice was husky and his manner nervous.
"I said 'was not'--but Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. have informedme that there are parties now in communication with them who can provehow, when, where, and by whom the forgeries were executed."
"It's a d----d infernal lie!" roared Potts, in a fresh burst of anger.
"I only repeat what they state. The man has already written out astatement in full, and is only waiting for my return to sign it beforea magistrate. This will be a death-warrant for your son; for Messrs.Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. will have him arrested at once. You are awarethat he has no chance of escape. The amount is too enormous, and theproof is too strong."
"Proof!" cried Potts, desperately; "who would believe any thing againsta man like me, John Potts--a man of the county?"
"English law is no respecter of persons," said the stranger. "Rank goesfor nothing. But if it did make class distinctions, the witnesses aboutthese docu
ments are of great influence. There is Thornton of Holby,and Colonel Henry Despard at the Cape of Good Hope, with whom Messrs.Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. have had correspondence. There are alsoothers."
"It's all a lie!" exclaimed Potts, in a voice which was a littletremulous. "Who is this fool who has been making out papers?"
"His name is Philips; true name Lawton. He tells a very extraordinarystory; very extraordinary indeed."
The stranger's peculiar voice was now intensified in its odd, harshintonations. The effect on Potts was overwhelming. For a moment he wasunable to speak.
"Philips!" he gasped, at length.
"Yes. You sent him on business to Smithers & Co. He has not yetreturned. He does not intend to, for he was found out by Messrs.Bigelow, Higginson, & Co., and you know how timid he is. They havesucceeded in extracting the truth from him. As I am in a hurry, and you,too, must be busy," continued the stranger, with unchanged accents, "Iwill now come to the point. These forged papers involve an amount to theextent of--Brandon forgeries, L93,500; Thornton papers, L5000; Bank ofGood Hope, L4000; being in all L102,500. Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, &Co. have instructed me to say that they will sell these papers to youat their face without charging interest. They will hand them over to youand you can destroy them, in which case, of course, the charge must bedropped."
"Philips!" cried Potts. "I'll have that devil's blood!"
"That would be murder," said the stranger, with a peculiar emphasis.
His tone stung Potts to the quick.
"You appear to take me for a born fool," he cried, striding up and down.
"Not at all. I am only an agent carrying out the instructions ofothers."
Potts suddenly stopped in his walk.
"Have you all those papers about you?" he hissed.
"All."
Potts looked all around. The door was locked. They were alone. Thestranger easily read his thought.
"No use," said he, calmly. "Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. wouldmiss me if any thing happened. Besides, I may as well tell you that I amarmed."
The stranger rose up and faced Potts, while, from behind his darkspectacles, his eyes seemed to glow like fire. Potts retreated with acurse.
"Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. instructed me to say that if I am notback with the money by to-morrow night, they will at once begin action,and have your son arrested. They will also inform Smithers & Co., towhom they say you are indebted for over L600,000. So that Smithers & Co.will at once come down upon you for payment."
"Do Smithers & Co. know any thing about this?" asked Potts, in a voiceof intense anxiety.
"They do business with you the same as ever, do they not?"
"Yes."
"How do you suppose they can know it?"
"They would never believe it"
"They would believe any statement made by Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson,& Co. My seniors have been on your track for a long time, and have comeinto connection with various parties. One man who is an Italian theyconsider important. They authorize me to state to you that this man canalso prove the forgeries."
"Who?" grasped Potts.
"His name is Cigole."
"Cigole!"
"Yes."
"D--- him!"
"You may damn him, but that won't silence him," remarked the other,mildly.
"Well, what are you going to do?" growled Potts.
"Present you the offer of Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co.," said theother, with calm pertinacity. "Upon it depend your fortune and yourson's life."
"How long are you going to wait?"
"Till evening. I leave to-night. Perhaps you would like to think thisover. I'll give you till three o'clock. If you decide to accept, allwell; if not, I go back."
The stranger rose, and Potts unlocked the door for him.
After he left Potts sat down, buried in his own reflections. In about anhour Clark came in.
"Well, Johnnie!" said he, "what's up? You look down--any trouble?"
At this Potts told Clark the story of the recent interview. Clark lookedgrave, and shook his head several times.
"Bad! bad! bad!" said he, slowly, when Potts had ended. "You're in atight place, lad, and I don't see what you've got to do but to knockunder."
A long silence followed.
"When did that chap say he would leave?"
"To-night."
Another silence.
"I suppose," said Clark, "we can find out how he goes?"
"I suppose so," returned Potts, gloomily.
"Somebody might go with him or follow him," said Clark, darkly.
Potts looked at him. The two exchanged glances of intelligence.
"You see, you pay your money, and get your papers back. It would befoolish to let this man get away with so much money. One hundred and twothousand five hundred isn't to be picked up every day. Let us pick it upthis time, or try to. I can drop down to the inn this evening, andsee the cut of the man. I don't like what he said about me. I call itbackbiting."
"You take a proper view of the matter," said Potts. "He's dangerous.He'll be down on you next. What I don't like about him is hiscold-bloodedness."
"It does come hard."
"Well, we'll arrange it that way, shall we?"
"Yes, you pay over, and get your documents, and I'll try my hand atgetting the money back. I've done harder things than that in my time andso have you--hey, lad!"
"I remember a few."
"I wonder if this man knows any of them."
"No," said Potts, confidently. "He would have said something."
"Don't be too sure. The fact is, I've been troubled ever since that girlcame out so strong on us. What are you going to do with her?"
"Don't know," growled Potts. "Keep her still somehow."
"Give her to me."
"What'll you do with her?" asked Potts, in surprise.
"Take her as my wife," said Clark, with a grin. "I think I'll followyour example and set up housekeeping. The girl's plucky; and I'd like totake her down."
"We'll do it; and the sooner the better. You don't want a minister, doyou?"
"Well, I think I'll have it done up ship-shape, marriage in high life;papers all full of it; lovely appearance of the bride--ha, ha, ha!I'll save you all further trouble about her--a husband is better thana father in such a case. If that Italian comes round it'll be his lastround."
Some further conversation followed, in which Clark kept making perpetualreferences to his bride. The idea had taken hold of his mind completely.
At one o'clock Potts went to the inn, where he found the agent. Hehanded over the money in silence. The agent gave him the documents.Potts looked at them all carefully.
Then he departed.