CHAPTER XXXIII
MR. SABIN TRIUMPHS
Wolfenden, for perhaps the first time in his life, chose the inlandroad home. He was still feeling faint and giddy, and the fresh air onlypartially revived him. He walked slowly, and rested more than once. Ittook him almost half an hour to reach the cross roads. Here he sat on astile for a few minutes, until he began to feel himself again. Just ashe was preparing to resume his walk, he was aware of a carriage beingdriven rapidly towards him, along the private road from Deringham Hall.
He stood quite still and watched it. The roads were heavy after muchrain, and the mud was leaping up into the sunshine from the flyingwheels, bespattering the carriage, and reaching even the man who satupon the box. The horses had broken into a gallop, the driver wasleaning forward whip in hand. He knew at once whose carriage it was: itwas the little brougham which Mr. Sabin had brought down from London. Hehad been up to the hall, then! Wolfenden's face grew stern. He stoodwell out in the middle of the road. The horses would have to be checkeda little at the sharp turn before him. They would probably shy a little,seeing him stand there in the centre of the road; he would be able tobring them to a standstill. So he remained there motionless. Nearer andnearer they came. Wolfenden set his teeth hard and forgot hisdizziness.
They were almost upon him now. To his surprise the driver was making noeffort to check his galloping horses. It seemed impossible that theycould round that narrow corner at the pace they were going. A froth ofwhite foam was on their bits, and their eyes were bloodshot. They werealmost upon Wolfenden before he realised what was happening. Theymade no attempt to turn the corner which he was guarding, but flashedstraight past him along the Cromer road. Wolfenden shouted and waved hisarms, but the coachman did not even glance in his direction. He caughta glimpse of Mr. Sabin's face as he leaned back amongst the cushions,dark, satyr-like, forbidding. The thin lips seemed to part into atriumphant smile as he saw Wolfenden standing there. It was all over ina moment. The carriage, with its whirling wheels, was already a speck inthe distance.
Wolfenden looked at his watch. It was five-and-twenty minutes to one.Mr. Sabin's purpose was obvious. He was trying to catch the one o'clockexpress to London. To pursue that carriage was absolutely hopeless.Wolfenden set his face towards Deringham Hall and ran steadily along theroad. He was filled with vague fears. The memory of Mr. Sabin's smilehaunted him. He had succeeded. By what means? Perhaps by violence!Wolfenden forgot his own aching head. He was filled only with an intenseanxiety to reach his destination. If Mr. Sabin had so much as raised hishand, he should pay for it. He understood now why that blow had beengiven. It was to keep him out of the way. As he ran on, his teethclenched, and his breath coming fast, he grew hot with passionate anger.He had been Mr. Sabin's dupe! Curse the man.
He turned the final corner in the drive, climbed the steps and enteredthe hall. The servants were standing about as usual. There was no signof anything having happened. They looked at him curiously, but thatmight well be, owing to his dishevelled condition.
"Where is the Admiral, Groves?" he asked breathlessly.
"His lordship is in the billiard-room," the man answered.
Wolfenden stopped short in his passage across the hall, and looked atthe man in amazement.
"Where?"
"In the billiard-room, my lord," the man repeated. "He was inquiring foryou only a moment ago."
Wolfenden turned sharp to the left and entered the billiard-room. Hisfather was standing there with his coat off and a cue in his hand.Directly he turned round Wolfenden was aware of a peculiar change in hisface and expression. The hard lines had vanished, every trace of anxietyseemed to have left him. His eyes were soft and as clear as a child's.He turned to Wolfenden with a bland smile, and immediately began tochalk his cue.
"Come and play me a game, Wolf," he cried out cheerfully. "You'll haveto give me a few, I'm so out of practice. We'll make it a hundred, andyou shall give me twenty. Which will you have, spot, or plain?"
Wolfenden gulped down his amazement with an effort.
"I'll take plain," he said. "It's a long time, isn't it, since weplayed?"
His father faced him for a minute and seemed perplexed.
"Not so very long, surely. Wasn't it yesterday, or the day before?"
Wolfenden wondered for a moment whether that blow had affected hisbrain. It was years since he had seen the billiard-room at DeringhamHall opened.
"I don't exactly remember," he faltered. "Perhaps I was mistaken. Timegoes so quickly."
"I wonder," the Admiral said, making a cannon and stepping brisklyround the table, "how it goes at all with you young men who do nothing.Great mistake to have no profession, Wolf! I wish I could make you seeit."
"I quite agree with you," Wolfenden said. "You must not look upon me asquite an idler, though. I am a full-fledged barrister, you know,although I do not practise, and I have serious thoughts of Parliament."
The Admiral shook his head.
"Poor career, my boy, poor career for a gentleman's son. Take my adviceand keep out of Parliament. I am going to pot the red. I don't like thered ball, Wolf! It keeps looking at me like--like that man! Ah!"
He flung his cue with a rattle upon the floor of inlaid wood, andstarted back.
"Look, Wolf!" he cried. "He's grinning at me! Come here, boy! Tell methe truth! Have I been tricked? He told me that he was Mr. C. and I gavehim everything! Look at his face how it changes! He isn't like C. now!He is like--who is it he is like? C.'s face is not so pale as that, andhe does not limp. I seem to remember him too! Can't you help me? Can'tyou see him, boy?"
He had been moving backwards slowly. He was leaning now against thewall, his face blanched and perfectly bloodless, his eyes wild and hispupils dilated. Wolfenden laid his cue down and came over to his side.
"No, I can't see him, father," he said gently. "I think it must befancy; you have been working too hard."
"You are blind, boy, blind," the Admiral muttered. "Where was it I sawhim last? There were sands--and a burning sun--his shot went wide, but Iaimed low and I hit him. He carried himself bravely. He was anaristocrat, and he never forgot it. But why does he call himself Mr. C.?What has he to do with my work?"
Wolfenden choked down a lump in his throat. He began to surmise what hadhappened.
"Let us go into the other room, father," he said gently. "It is too coldfor billiards."
The Admiral held out his arm. He seemed suddenly weak and old. His eyeswere dull and he was muttering to himself. Wolfenden led him gently fromthe room and upstairs to his own apartment. There he made an excuse forleaving him for a moment, and hurried down into the library. Mr.Blatherwick was writing there alone.
"Blatherwick," Wolfenden exclaimed, "what has happened this morning? Whohas been here?"
Mr. Blatherwick blushed scarlet.
"Miss Merton called, and a gentleman with her, from the Home Office, Ib-b-believe."
"Who let him into the library?" Wolfenden asked sternly.
Mr. Blatherwick fingered his collar, as though he found it too tight forhim, and appeared generally uncomfortable.
"At Miss Merton's request, Lord Wolfenden," he said nervously, "Iallowed him to come in. I understood that he had been sent for by herladyship. I trust that I did not do wrong."
"You are an ass, Blatherwick," Wolfenden exclaimed angrily. "You seemto enjoy lending yourself to be the tool of swindlers and thieves. Myfather has lost his reason entirely now, and it is your fault. You hadbetter leave here at once! You are altogether too credulous for thisworld."
Wolfenden strode away towards his mother's room, but a cry from upstairsdirected his steps. Lady Deringham and he met outside his father's door,and entered the room together. They came face to face with the Admiral.
"Out of my way!" he cried furiously. "Come with me, Wolf! We must followhim. I must have my papers back, or kill him! I have been dreaming. Hetold me that he was C. I gave him all he asked for! We must have themback. Merciful heavens! if he publishes them
, we are ruined ... wheredid he come from?... They told me that he was dead.... Has he crawledback out of hell? I shot him once! He has never forgotten it! This ishis vengeance! Oh, God!"
He sank down into a chair. The perspiration stood out in great beadsupon his white forehead. He was shaking from head to foot. Suddenly hishead drooped in the act of further speech, the words died away upon hislips. He was unconscious. The Countess knelt by his side and Wolfendenstood over her.
"Do you know anything of what has happened?" Wolfenden asked.
"Very little," she whispered; "somehow, he--Mr. Sabin--got into thelibrary, and the shock sent him--like this. Here is the doctor."
Dr. Whitlett was ushered in. They all three looked down upon theAdmiral, and the doctor asked a few rapid questions. There was certainlya great change in his face. A strong line or two had disappeared, thecountenance was milder and younger. It was like the face of a child.Wolfenden was afraid to see the eyes open, he seemed already inimagination to picture to himself their vacant, unseeing light. Dr.Whitlett shook his head sadly.
"I am afraid," he said gravely, "that when Lord Deringham recovers hewill remember nothing! He has had a severe shock, and there is everyindication that his mind has given way."
Wolfenden drew his teeth together savagely. This, then, was the resultof Mr. Sabin's visit.