CHAPTER XIX
STILL WITH A SMILE
The five stared at the three, then, after momentary inspection, as iffor the purpose of satisfying herself on certain points by visualinspection, Miss Bewicke moved towards Mr Holland.
'Oh, Guy, I am so glad to see you better! I do hope that you're allright.'
The words were, perhaps, a trifle banal, possibly because, for once,the nimble-witted lady was doubtful as to what was exactly the properthing to say. Apparently, however, it was of little consequence whatshe said. The gentleman was still incapable of appreciating at theirjust value either words or phrases. That he knew she spoke to him wasprobable, for he turned and regarded her with vacant looks and glassyeyes; but that he realised who she was, or what she meant, was morethan doubtful. Mumbled words proceeded from his stammering lips.
'All right--yes--quite all right--nothing wrong.'
Miss Broad looked at Miss Bewicke with eyes in which the tears stilltrembled. She appealed to her in a whisper, in tones which quivered.
'Won't you let them fetch a doctor?'
'Let them! Stevens, fetch the man at once.'
This time Stevens went in search of medical aid.
Mr Dumville had been observing Mr Holland with undisguised amazement.Now he clothed his thoughts with speech.
'Holland, what on earth's the matter with you? May, what does all thismean?'
Miss Bewicke explained; that is, she told as much as she thought itnecessary and advisable that Mr Dumville should know in the fewestwords at her command. Mr Dumville professed himself to be, what heplainly was, amazed. The tale was very far from being complete in allits details, or he would probably have been yet more surprised, in adirection, as things were, which he little suspected.
'And do you mean that that man Burton is still upon these premises?'
'He was in my bedroom, when I turned the key, with his two friends.'Mr Dumville strode forward. She caught him by the arm. 'What are yougoing to do?'
'Slaughter him!'
'I would rather you did not do that. It would make such a mess uponthe floor.'
'Do you think that scoundrel's behaviour is a thing to laugh at? I'llshow you and him, too, where the laughter comes in.'
'My dear Bryan, I know very well that there's nothing laughable aboutMr Horace Burton or his proceedings. He is--oh, he's all sorts ofthings. I'd rather not tell you all the things I think he is.'
'I know.'
'Of course, you know. But, at the same time, when you have made surethat neither he nor either of his friends is taking away any of myproperty upon his person, I should be obliged if you would let themgo.'
'Let them go! May, you're mad!'
'Believe me, Bryan, I am comparatively sane. I will tell you all myreasons later on. At present the thing is to get them gone. You maytake my word for it that for Mr Horace Burton the day of reckoning isclose at hand, and that it will be as terrible an one as even you candesire.'
'That won't be the same as if I'd killed him.'
'No, it won't be the same; it will be better. Could I creep betweenyour arms if I knew that your hands were red with that man's blood? Ifyou don't mind, as I locked the door, I'll open it. Please keep yourhands off him as he comes out--for my sake, dear.'
She gave him a glance which possibly constrained him to obedience. Shewas famous in the theatre for the skill with which she used her eyes.Turning the key, throwing the bedroom door wide open, she stood beforeit with a little gesture of invitation.
'Pray, gentlemen, come out.'
And they came out, the hang-dog three, for, though each endeavoured tobear himself with an air of unconcern, in no case did the endeavourquite succeed. As regards Mr Thomas Cox, the failure was complete. Helooked like nothing so much as the well-whipped cur which only asks tobe allowed to take itself away with its tail between its legs. TheFlyman, who was probably more habituated to positions of the kind,succeeded a trifle better. He looked defiance, as if he were preparedto match himself, at less than a moment's notice, against whoevercame. Mr Horace Burton it was, however, who might claim to face thesituation with the most imperturbable front. He looked about him, notjauntily so much as calmly, with his unceasing smile.
'More visitors, Miss Bewicke, I perceive. Ah! Guy, how are you? You'relooking dicky. Louise, my dearest girl!'
Of its kind, his impudence was glorious. Mr Dumville strode up to him,as if forgetful of the lady's prohibition.
'By gad! I'd like to kill you!'
Mr Burton, glancing up at the speaker, did not turn a hair.
'I'm afraid I haven't the honour. Miss Bewicke, may I ask you tointroduce me to the gentleman?'
'With pleasure. Mr Horace Burton, this is Mr Dumville. It is only atmy urgent request that he refrains from breaking every bone in yourbody, as he easily could. But you know, and I know, that for youthere's such a very bad time coming that I feel it's quite safe toleave you to the tender mercies of those to whom mercy is unknown.Turn out your pockets!'
'Charmed! I quite appreciate the motive which actuates your request,Miss Bewicke. Nothing could be more natural. But I give you my word ofhonour that neither of us has anything which belongs to you.'
Notwithstanding, Mr Burton turned his pockets inside out, smiling allthe time. His companions followed suit, though scarcely with so muchgrace. So far as could be seen, neither of them was in possession ofanything to which Miss Bewicke could lay claim, as she herselfadmitted.
'I really do believe you, Mr Burton, when you say that you--none ofyou--have property of mine. It sounds odd, and you may wonder why, butI do. Good-night.'
'Good-night I am indebted to you, Miss Bewicke, for a pleasantevening's entertainment.'
'Don't mention it. When the time comes to balance your accounts,you'll find the sum-total of your indebtedness altogether beyond yourcapacity to meet. Go.'
And they went. At least Mr Thomas Cox and the Flyman went--thefirst-named gentleman with an undignified rush, the second not veryfar from his heels; but Mr Burton lingered on the threshold to waft akiss on his finger-tips to Miss Casata.
'Best love, Louise.'
The lady made a dash at him, inarticulate with rage.
'You--you!'
Miss Bewicke stayed her progress.
'Louise!'
Mr Burton laughed.
'My dearest girl, you can't expect to embrace me before all thesepeople! Propriety forbids.'
When he had disappeared, Mr Dumville gave voice to his sentiments.
'I wish you'd let me kill him!'
Miss Bewicke nodded her head, with an air of the profoundest wisdom,as she laid her little hands on his two arms.
'My dear Bryan, before very long he'll be wanting to kill himself;that'll be so much nicer for us and so much worse for him.'
CHAPTER XX
HOW THE CHASE WAS ENDED
Mr Samuel Collyer was seated in his office. Spread open on the tablein front of him was Mr George Burton's will, which apparently he hadjust been studying. The study seemed to have afforded him amusement.Leaning back in his chair, he smiled. He referred to his watch.
'Twenty minutes past; they will soon be here. On these occasions,punctuality ought to be the rule, and generally is. George Burton wasa curious man, and left a curious will. And yet I don't know. Whyshould I, or anyone, call it curious? By what right? When a man hasneither wife nor children, and his only kindred are a couple ofnephews to whom he is not particularly attached, surely he has a rightto do as he likes with his own. It is his own--as yet. And if hechooses to attach to the succession certain conditions which appeal,we'll say, to his sense of humour, what title has anyone, lawyer orlayman, to comment adversely on the expression of his wishes? So longas they are not in opposition to the general welfare of the bodypolitic, it seems to me none. In a sense, most wills are curious, whenyou get right into them and understand their ins and outs. I daresaymine wi
ll be. I'm a bachelor. Upon my word, I don't know who has thebest claim to the few pence I shall leave. Why shouldn't I ornament mytestamentary dispositions with a few characteristic touches? Why not?'
While the lawyer propounded to himself this knotty problem, twovisitors were shown in--Mr Holland, again upon Miss Broad's arm. Hestill was not himself. The effects of the sand-bag, which the Flymanhad used with more enthusiasm than he had perhaps intended, had notyet all vanished. He seemed uncertain about his capacity to steerhimself. He did not carry himself so upright as was his wont. Therewas a look upon his face which it had not previously worn--ofindecision, irresolution, as if he was not quite master of his mentalfaculties. That sandbag had landed on the brain. Miss Broad seemed toregard him as if he were a child; she watched over him as if he wereone, and it must be allowed that he appeared to appreciate to the fullher tender care.
The diplomatic lawyer chose not to see the things which were patent.His greeting was,--
'I am glad to see you, Mr Holland, looking so much yourself. I wasgrieved to hear that you had had an accident.'
'Accident!' The reiteration was Miss Broad's. 'You call it accident!'
'My dear young lady, the words which lawyers use are not alwaysintended to bear their strict dictionary significance.'
Another visitor was announced--Mr Horace Burton, as much at his easeas ever. Miss Broad blazed up at sight of him.
'You dare to come here!'
'Dare! Collyer, who's this young lady? Oh, it's Miss Broad, my futurecousin. May I ask, Letty--you'll let me call you Letty?--why youshould speak of my "daring" to come to my own lawyer's office? Hallo,Guy, you look squiffy! Buck up, my boy!'
He would have saluted his cousin with his open palm upon the back hadnot Miss Broad caught his arm as it was descending and flung it away.He gazed at her with what was meant for admiration.
'You are a warm one, Letty, really now! If you propose to slang Guy,as you seem fond of slanging me, you ought to have a pot of money tomake it worth his while. He's likely to find marriage with you anexpensive luxury, my dear.'
Mr Holland half rose from the chair on which Miss Broad had placedhim. He spoke with hesitating tongue.
'You had better be careful--what you say.'
His relative laughed.
'You'd better be careful what you say, or you'll tumble down.'
Miss Broad laid her hand on Mr Holland's shoulder.
'Never mind what he says. I don't. He's not worth noticing.'
'Do you hear that, Collyer? Isn't she severe? But let's to business.I'm not come to engage in a tongue-match with a lady. The three monthsare up. Where's the ruby?'
Mr Collyer spoke.
'May I ask, Mr Holland, if you're in possession of the ring inquestion?'
It was Miss Broad who answered.
'No, he is not. Miss Bewicke calls herself his friend, and she evenpretends to be mine, but her friendship does not go far enough toinduce her to hand over property to its rightful owner which was neverhers.'
Comment from Mr Burton,--
'How sad! That's very wrong of her. Shows such deplorablemoral blindness, doesn't it? She is a wicked woman, is MayBewicke--heartless, hypocritical, selfish to the core. Well, Collyer,anyhow that settles it. The money's mine, and I give you my personalassurance I can do with it.'
'I have not the slightest doubt of that, Mr Burton; but, before weconclude, there is something which I have been instructed to hand toMr Holland. It was for that purpose I requested your presence here.Permit me, Mr Holland, to hand you this.'
From a drawer in his writing-table the lawyer produced a small parcel.When Mr Holland had undone, with somewhat shaky fingers, the outercovering, it was seen that within was a leather-covered case. Insidewas a note, which he unfolded.
'Dear Guy,' it ran, 'this is a wedding present from yours, MAYBEWICKE.'
'This' was a ring--the ring--the famous ruby.
While they gathered round it, with a babble of voices, and Mr Burtonshowed himself disposed to bluster, Miss Bewicke herself appeared atthe door with Mr Bryan Dumville. She advanced to Mr Holland and MissBroad.
'My dear children, how are you both? So you have the ring? That's allright. Directly I heard of the will, I sent it to Mr Collyer--he's myuncle, don't you know? I thought it would be safer with him than itwould be with me. A lone, lorn woman's rooms are always open to themachinations of the most dreadful characters, and you never know whatmay happen--burglaries and all sorts of things. And you see I do callmyself Guy's friend, and I even pretend, Letty, to be yours. Don't I,Bryan, dear?'
Some of the latter words suggested that the little lady had beenlistening outside the door. Mr Dumville confined his attention to MrHorace Burton.
'So it's you again? I shall have to kill you after all.'
Actually Mr Burton did not seem altogether at his ease.
'I suppose, Guy, you couldn't let me have a thousand pounds to getaway with?' He laughed. 'No; it's no good. You'd better let me have itwhen I come out. They're waiting for me outside. A thousand would onlybe a drop in the sea. They wouldn't let me make a bolt of it forthat.'
As he said, certain persons were waiting for him in the street. Whenhe appeared, and it was discovered that he was not to have his uncle'smoney, within an hour he was arrested on a charge of forgery. It was aremarkable case, and not a savoury one. Neither prosecutors norprisoner showed to advantage; but as it was clearly proved that MrHorace Burton had forged, and put into circulation, a large number ofacceptances and other legal documents, the jury had no option but tofind him guilty. A hard-headed judge sent him to penal servitude forfourteen years.
The Flyman soon followed him, it was understood, to the same prison.His was a charge of robbery with violence in the City Road. Thesand-bag again. As there were previous convictions against him, hesuffered badly.
Mr Thomas Cox is still at large. He was seen lately on the cliff atMargate, with his wife and daughter, lounging on a chair listening tothe band. He looked well and flourishing--an illustration of a soundmind in a sound body. But one never knows.
Mr Guy Holland and Mr Bryan Dumville were married at the same church,at the same time, on the same day. They are the best of friends. Theirwives swear by one another. Mrs Guy Holland is convinced that MrsBryan Dumville is the most charming woman on the English stage, justas Mrs Bryan Dumville is certain that Mrs Guy Holland is thealtogether most delightful person off it.
THE END
EDINBURGH COLSTON AND COY. LIMITED PRINTERS
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