CHAPTER XXV
PAUL'S FINAL SUCCESS
Mrs. Montgomery impatiently awaited the return of her husband. Meanwhileshe commenced packing the single trunk which answered both for herhusband and herself. She was getting tired of New York, and anxious toleave for Philadelphia, being fearful lest certain little transactionsin which she and her husband had taken part should become known to thepolice.
She had nearly completed her packing when Paul rang the doorbell.
The summons was answered by the landlady in person.
"Is Mrs. Montgomery at home?" asked Paul.
"No such lady lives here," was the answer.
It occurred to Paul as very possible that Mr. Montgomery might passunder a variety of names. He accordingly said, "Perhaps I have got thename wrong. The lady I mean is tall. I come with a message from herhusband, who is a stout man with black hair and whiskers. He gave methis number."
"Perhaps you mean Mr. Grimsby. He and his wife live here."
"Probably that is the name," said Paul.
"I will give Mrs. Grimsby your message," returned the landlady, whosecuriosity was excited to learn something further about her boarders.
"Thank you," said Paul; "but it is necessary for me to see the ladymyself."
"Well, you can follow me, then," said the landlady, rather ungraciously.
She led the way upstairs, and knocked at the door of Mrs. Grimsby, oras we will still call her, Mrs. Montgomery, since that name is morefamiliar to the reader, and she was as much entitled to the one as theother.
Mrs. Montgomery opened the door, and regarded our hero suspiciously, forher mode of life had taught her suspicion of strangers.
"Here's a boy that wants to see you," said the landlady.
"I come with a message from your husband," said Paul.
Mrs. Montgomery remembered Paul as the boy who was the real owner of thediamond ring, and she eyed him with increased suspicion.
"Did my husband send you? When did you see him."
"Just now, at Tiffany's," answered Paul, significantly.
"What is his message?" asked Mrs. Montgomery, beginning to feel uneasy.
Paul glanced at the landlady, who, in the hope of gratifying hercuriosity, maintained her stand by his side.
"The message is private," he said.
"I suppose that means that I am in the way," remarked the landlady,sharply. "I don't want to pry into anybody's secrets. Thank Heaven, Ihaven't got any secrets of my own."
"Walk in, young man," said Mrs. Montgomery.
Paul entered the room, and she closed the door behind him. Meanwhile thelandlady, who had gone part way downstairs, retraced her steps, softly,and put her ear to the keyhole. Her curiosity, naturally strong, hadbeen stimulated by Paul's intimation that there was a secret.
"Now," said Mrs. Montgomery, impatiently, "out with it! Why does myhusband send a message by you, instead of coming himself?"
"He can't come himself."
"Why can't he?"
"I am sorry to say that I am the bearer of bad news," said Paul,gravely. "Your husband has been arrested for robbing me of a diamondring."
"Where is he?" demanded Mrs. Montgomery, not so much excited or overcomeas she would have been had this been the first time her husband hadfallen into the clutches of the law.
"At the street station-house. He wants you to come and see him."
"Have you got the ring back?"
"Yes."
Mrs. Montgomery was sorry to hear it. She hoped her husband mightbe able to secrete it, in which case he would pass it over to her todispose of. Now she was rather awkwardly situated, being without money,or the means of making any.
"I will go," she said.
Paul, who was sitting next to the door, opened it suddenly, withunexpected effort, for the landlady, whose ear was fast to the keyhole,staggered into the room involuntarily.
"So you were listening, ma'am, were you?" demanded Mrs. Montgomery,scornfully.
"Yes, I was," said the landlady, rather red in the face.
"You were in good business."
"It's a better business than stealing diamond rings," retorted thelandlady, recovering herself. "I've long suspected there was somethingwrong about you and your husband, ma'am, and now I know it. I don't wantno thieves nor jail birds in my house, and the sooner you pay your billand leave, the better I'll like it."
"I'll leave as soon as you like, but I can't pay your bill."
"I dare say," retorted the landlady. "You're a nice character to cheatan honest woman out of four weeks' board."