CHAPTER IX.
THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.
"Come," said my cicerone, "we are already very late."
A rapid walk of a few minutes brought us to the entrance of a handsomehouse, having the appearance of a private residence, and standing on afashionable street.
"Why," said I, inclined to draw back, as he ascended the steps, "yousurely would not think of disturbing the people here at this hour ofthe night? There is not a light to be seen, even in the chambers."
Mr. Burton's low laugh made me blush at my own "greenness." His ring atthe bell was followed by a knock, which I was quick-witted enough, inspite of my verdancy, to perceive had something significant about it.The door immediately swung a little open, my friend said a few wordswhich had the effect to unclose the mysterious portals still wider, andwe entered a modest hall, which a single gas-burner, half-turned off,dimly illuminated. The man-servant who admitted us was sable as ebony,muscular, much above the medium size, dressed in a plain livery, andwith manners as polished as his own shining skin--an African leopard,barring the spots, smooth and powerful.
"Is Bagley still here?" asked my companion.
"Yes, sir. In de library, jus' where you lef' him."
"Very well. You need not disturb him. I've brought my young friend into introduce him to the house, in view of further acquaintance."
The ebony man smiled respectfully, bowing for us to pass into theparlor. I thought I saw in that quiet smile a lurking ray ofsatisfaction--a gloating, as it were, over my prospective intimacy atthis respectable house. He had probably been usher to the maelstromlong enough to know that those whose feet were once caught in the slow,delightful waltz of the circling waters never withdrew them, after thecircle grew narrow and swift, and the rush of the whirlpool sounded upfrom the bottomless pit.
We entered a suit of rooms in no manner differing from the parlors of aprivate house. They were richly furnished and well lighted, close innerblinds, hidden by heavy silk curtains, shutting in the light from theobservation of the street. There were three rooms in this suit; the twofirst were now deserted, though the odor of wine, and scented hair andhandkerchiefs, showed that they had been recently occupied. In thesetwo the chandeliers were partially obscured, but the third room wasstill brilliantly illuminated. We walked toward it. Magnificentcurtains of amber silk depended from the arch which separated it fromthe parlors. Only one of these curtains was now drawn back, the otherstrailing on the carpet, and closing the apartment from our observation.Mr. Burton placed me in the shadow of the curtains, where I couldsee--myself unseen. The room was furnished as a library, two of itswalls being covered with books; I particularly noticed a marble bust ofShakspeare, very fine. A severe, yet liberal, taste marked the choiceand arrangement of every thing. A painting of Tasso reading his poemsto the Princess, hung between the two back windows.
It was a well-arranged library, certainly; yet the four occupants wereengrossed in a study more fascinating than that of any of the books bywhich they were surrounded. If Mephistophiles could have stepped fromhis binding of blue and gold, and made the acquaintance of the company,he would have been quite charmed. Two couples sat at two tables playingcards. All the other visitors to the establishment had gone away, someof them to theft or suicide, perhaps, save those four, who stilllingered, wrapped up in the dread enchantment of the hour. The two atthe table I first glanced at, were both strangers to me; at the second,I could not see the face of one of the players, whose back was towardme; but the face of the other was directly in front of me, and underthe full light of the chandelier. This person was James Argyll. Myastonishment was profound. That I had never fraternized with him, Iconsidered partly my own fault--there are persons so naturallyantagonistic as to make real friendship between them impossible--and Ihad often blamed myself for our mutual coldness. But, with all mydislike of some of his qualities--as, for instance, his indolentacceptance of his uncle's bounty, which, in the eyes of a person of mydisposition, took away half his manliness--with all my unfriendlyaversion to him, I had never suspected him of absolutely bad habits.
I had to look twice to assure myself of his identity. And havinglooked, I could not take away my eyes from the strange attraction of acountenance transformed by the excitement of the gaming-table. His darkcomplexion had blanched to a sallow paleness; cheeks and lips were ofthe same color; his nose seemed to have sharpened, and was drawn inabout the face with a pinched look; his eyebrows were very slightlycontracted, but fixed, as if cut in marble, while underneath them thelids were drawn together, so that only a line of the eye was visible--anarrow line, letting out a single steady ray from the lurid worldwithin. The lids appeared as if the eyeballs had shrunken in theintensity of their gaze.
Silently the cards were dealt and played. It was evidently the closinggame, upon which much depended--_how_ much, for James, I could onlyguess by the increasing pallor and absorption of his countenance.
"I wish I could see his opponent's face," I whispered to my companion.
"You would see nothing but the face of the devil coolly amusinghimself. Bagley never gets excited. He has ruined a dozen young menalready."
The last card was thrown down; the two players arose simultaneously.
"Well, Bagley," said James, with a desperate laugh, "you will have towait for the money until I--"
"Marry the young lady," said the other; "that is the agreement, Ibelieve; but don't consent to a long engagement."
"I shall find some means to pay these last two debts before that happyconsummation, I hope. You shall hear from me within a month."
"We will make a little memorandum of them," said his opponent; and asthey went together to a writing-desk, Mr. Burton drew me away.
I could hardly breathe when we got into the street, I was so suffocatedwith rage at hearing the reference made by those two men, under thatunholy roof, to the woman so revered and sacred in my thoughts. I wascertain that Miss Argyll was the young lady whose fortune was to paythese "debts of honor," contracted in advance upon such security. Ifhis strong hand had not silently withheld me, I do not know but Ishould have made a scene, which would have been as unwise as useless. Iwas thankful, afterward, that I was prevented, though I chafed underthe restraint at the time. Neither of us spoke until we were in thehouse of my host, where a fire in the library awaited us. Before thiswe seated ourselves, neither of us feeling sleepy after our night'sadventures.
"How did you know that Argyll was at that house? I had no idea that heintended coming to the city to-day," I said.
"He had no intention until he learned of your sudden departure. He camedown in the next train, to see what _you_ were about. He is uneasyabout you, Mr. Redfield, didn't you know it? As he could ascertainnothing satisfactory about your doings, or mine, he had nothing betteron his hands, this evening, than to look up his friend Bagley."
"How do you know all this?"
The detective half smiled, his piercing eyes fixed reflectively on thefire.
"I should be poorly able to support my pretensions, if I could not keepthe circle of my acquaintance under my observation. I was informed ofhis arrival in town, upon my return from Brooklyn, and have known ofhis whereabouts since. I could tell you what he had for supper, if itwould interest you."
The uneasy feeling which I had several times experienced in Mr.Burton's society, came over me again. I spoke a little quickly:
"I wonder if you have your secret agents--spirits of the air, orelectricity, they might almost seem to be--hovering always on _my_steps."
He laughed, but not unpleasantly, looking me through with thosesteel-blue rays:
"Would it trouble you to fancy yourself under surveillance?"
"I never liked fetters, of any kind. I yield my choice of will andaction to nobody. However, if any one finds satisfaction in playing thepart of my shadow, I don't know that I shall suffer any restraint uponthat account."
"I don't think it would disturb you seriously," he sa
id.
"No one likes to be watched, Mr. Burton."
"We are all watched by the pure and penetrating eye of the All-seeingOne, and if we are not fearful before Him, whom need we shrink from?"
I looked up to see whether it was the secret-police-agent who waspreaching to me, or whether my host, in his power of varying the outermanifestations of his character, had not dropped the mystic star forthe robe of the minister; he was gazing into the fire with a sad,absorbed expression, as if he saw before him a long procession ofmortal crimes, walking in the night of earth, but, in reality, underthe full brightness of infinite day. I had seen him before in thesesolemn, almost prophetic moods, brought on him by the revelation ofsome new sin, which seemed always in him to awaken regret, rather thanthe exultation of a detective bent on the successful results of hismission. So soft, so gentle he appeared then, I inwardly wondered thathe had the sternness to inflict disgrace and exposure upon the"respectable" guilty--which class of criminals he was almostexclusively employed with--but I had only to reflect upon the admirableequipoise of his character, to realize that with him justice was whathe loved best. For those who prowled about society in the garb of lambsand shepherd-dogs, seeking whom they might devour, and laying, perhaps,the proofs of guilt at the doors of the innocent, he had no mercy ofthe "let us alone" type. A little time we were silent; the dropping ofan ember from the grate startled us.
"Why do you think that James watches me? What does he watch me for?"
I asked this, going back to the surprise I had felt when he made theremark.
"You will know soon enough."
It was useless for me to press the question, since he did not wish tobe explicit.
"I did not know," I continued, "I never dreamed, that James had badassociates in the city. I know that his uncle and cousins do notsuspect it. It pains me more than I can express. What shall I do? Ihave no influence over him. He dislikes me, and would take the mostbrotherly remonstrance as an insult."
"I do not wish you, at present, to hint your discovery to him. As foryour not suspecting his habits, those habits themselves are recent. Idoubt if he had ever ventured a dollar on cards three months ago. Hehad some gay, even dissolute companions in the city, of whom the worstand most dangerous was Bagley. But he had not joined them in theirworst excesses--he was only idle and fond of pleasure--a mothfluttering around the flames. Now he has scorched his wings. He has notspent more than three or four nights as he spent this; and the onlymoney he has lost has been to the person you saw him with to-night.Bagley is one of the vampires who fatten on the characters and pursesof young men like James Argyll."
"Then ought we not to make some earnest effort to save him before it istoo late? Oh, Mr. Burton, you who are wise and experienced--tell mewhat to do."
"Why do you feel so much interest in him? You do not like him."
"I could not see the merest stranger go down toward destruction withoutstretching forth my hand. There is no great friendship between us, itis true; but James is nearly connected with the happiness andreputation of the family I honor most on earth. For its sake, I wouldmake the utmost endeavor."
"For the interests of justice, then, it is well that I am not relatedto the Argylls by the personal ties which affect you. I will tell youone thing--James does not gamble so much from weakness of will toresist temptation, as he does to forget, for a time, under theinfluence of the fascinating excitement, an anxiety which he carriesabout with him."
"You're a close observer, Mr. Burton. James has, indeed, been deeplytroubled lately. I have noticed the change in him--in his appetite,complexion, manners, in a thousand trifles--a change which grows uponhim daily. He is gnawed upon by secret doubts--now raised by hopes, nowdepressed by fears, until he is fitful and uncertain as a light carriedin an autumn wind. But I can tell you that he is all wrong in indulgingthis vain hope, which creates the doubt. I know what it is, and howutterly without foundation. It is weakness, wickedness in him to allowa passion which ought only to ennoble him and teach him self-control,to chase him to such ruin as I saw to-night."
"That is _your_ way of viewing the matter, Mr. Redfield. We all seethings according to the color of the spectacles we happen to wear. Thenyou think it is a growing certainty that Miss Argyll, even under herpresent relief from past vows, will never favor his suit, nor that ofany man, which is driving her cousin to these reckless habits?"
I was half-offended with him for mentioning her name in that manner;but I knew that mine was an extreme, if not a morbid sensitiveness,where she was concerned, and I swallowed my resentment, answering,
"I fear it is."
"That may explain his disquiet to you--so be it."
Still Mr. Burton was keeping something back from me--always keepingsomething back. I did not feel at all sleepy. I was full of eagerthought. I reviewed, with a lightning glance, all that he had eversaid--all James had recently done or said--and, I swear, had it notbeen for the almost affectionate kindness of his general manner to me,and my belief in his candor, which would not allow him to play the partof a friend while acting the part of an enemy, I should have felt thatMr. Burton suspected _me_ of that appalling crime which I was so busilyseeking to fix upon the head of a frail, frightened woman! Again theidea, and not for the first time, crept through my veins, chilling mefrom head to foot. I looked him full in the eyes. If he _had_ such athought, I would pluck it out from behind that curtain of deception,and make him acknowledge it. If he had such a thought, James hadintroduced it to his mind. I knew that James had had some interviewswith him, of which I was only cognizant by casual observations droppedby my host. How many more conclaves they may have held, was left to myimagination to conjecture. What was this man before me playing thisdouble part for?--a friend to each, but never to both together. Thereader may smile, and answer that it is the very calling and existenceof a detective to play a double part; and that I ought not to bechagrined to find him exercising his fine talents upon me. PerhapsJames also had reason to fancy himself this man's confidant and friend,who was playing us, one against the other, for purposes of his own. Itwas the thought that Mr. Burton, before whom more than any other personin this world, except my mother, I had been wiled to lay open my soul,could suspect me of any hidden part in that dark tragedy, which chilledme to the marrow.
But no!--it was impossible! I saw it now in the frank and smiling eyeswhich met my searching and lengthy gaze.
"There!" he cried, gayly, "there is a ray of actual sunrise. The fireis out; the room is chilly--the morning has come upon us. We have satout the night, Richard! Let me show you to your room; we will notbreakfast until nine o'clock, and you can catch a couple of hours'repose in the mean time." He took up a lamp, and we ascended thestairs. "Here is your chamber. Now, remember, I bid you sleep, and letthat clock in your brain run down. It is bad for the young to think toodeeply. Good--morning."
He passed on, as I closed the door of my chamber. His tone had beenthat of an elder friend, speaking to a young man whom he loved; I hadwronged him by that unpleasant idea which had shivered through me.
Closed shutters and thick curtains kept out the broadening light ofdawn; yet I found it difficult to compose myself to sleep. Thathaunting shadow which had flitted from Henry's grave as I approached ityesterday--the dream which I had in the little chamber, awakening tothe reality of the sewing-girl's escape--I could not banish these anymore than I could the discovery made in that house of sin, where thebloated spider of Play weaves his glittering net, and sits on the watchfor the gay and brilliant victims who flutter into its meshes.
One feeling I had, connected with that discovery, which I had notbetrayed to Mr. Burton--which I would not fairly acknowledge to my ownsoul--which I quarreled with--drove out--but which persisted inreturning to me now, banishing slumber from my eyelids. When I hadstood behind those silken curtains, and beheld James Argyll losingmoney in play, I had experienced a sensation of relief--I might say ofabsolute gladness--a sensation entirely apart from my sorrow at findinghim in such
society, with such habits. Why? Ah, do not ask me; I cannot tell you yet. Do not wrong me by saying that it was triumph overthe fall of my rival in Mr. Argyll's affections, in business, possibly,and in the regards of those two noble girls whose opinions we bothprized so highly. Only do not accuse me of this most apparent reasonfor my gladness, and I will abide my time in your judgment. But no! Iwill confess this much to-night myself.
If this stealthy and flying creature whom we two men were hunting fromone hiding-place to another, whose wild face had been seen pressingtoward the library window on that night of nights, and whosehandkerchief the very thorns of the roses had conspired to steal fromher, and hold as a witness against her--if this doubtful, eludingcreature, flitting darkly in the shadows of this tragedy, had notabstracted that money from Mr. Argyll's desk, I had dared to guess whomight have taken it. Simply and solely--not because I did not likehim--but because, to go back to the Friday before that fatal Saturday,I had been late in the parlors. The girls were singing and playing atthe piano; I left turning the music for them to go for a volume in thelibrary which I desired to carry off with me to read in my room thatnight; I opened the door suddenly, and startled James, who was leaningover that desk.
"Have you seen my opera-glass?" said he. "I left it on the desk here."
I answered him that I had not seen it, got my book, and returned to themusic, thinking no more of that trifling occurrence--which I never moreshould have recalled had it not been for a peculiar expression inJames' face, which I was afterward forced to remember against my will.Yet so little did I wish to wrong him, even in my secret thoughts, thatwhen the investigations were taking place, I was convinced, with allthe others, that the unlawful visitor of the garden had, in somemanner, possessed herself of the money. It only came back to me as Iwatched James this night, in the gambling saloon, that, if he ever hadbeen tempted to rob from his uncle more than the unfailing generosityof that good gentleman allowed him, I was glad that it was _play_ whichhad tempted him to the wrongful act. This was the shadowy nature of mypleasure. Who has complete mastery of his thoughts? Who does notsometimes find them evil, unwarrantable, uncomfortable, and to beashamed of?
From the perplexity of all these things I sunk into a slight slumber,from which I was almost immediately aroused by the tinkling of thebreakfast-bell. I arose, dressed, and, upon descending to the library,was met by a servant, who ushered me at once into a cheerful apartment,where my host sat by the window, reading the morning paper, and wherethe table only waited my appearance to be graced by a well-ordered meal.
"Lenore usually presides over the tea-urn," said Mr. Burton, as we satdown. "We have a little affair which answers for two, and which isadapted to the strength of her little hands. It seems pleasantest so;and we both like it--but she has not arisen this morning."
"I hope she is not more unwell than usual," I said, with realsolicitude.
"To tell you the truth, she was not at all benefited by what occurredyesterday. She is nervous and exhausted; I have been up to see her. Iknow that when the doctor comes to-day, he will guess what I have beenabout, and blame me. I mean it shall be the last time in which Iexperiment upon her."
"I shall regret it, if she is really injured by it, despite my intensedesire to learn what she revealed. Perhaps it was from our selfishnessin making use of this exquisite instrument for purposes so earthly thatwe are punished by the fruitlessness of the results."
Mr. Burton laughed.
"Perhaps. Punishment, however, seldom appears fitly meted out, thisside the Stygian river. My Lenore will be better this afternoon; and Ihave strong hopes that, with the light now before us, we shall secureour prize. If that woman escapes me now, I shall set her down as alunatic--only an insane person could have the consummate cunning tothwart me so long."
"There never was one less insane," I said. "The impression which shemade upon me was that of one in whom the emotions and intellect wereboth powerful. Her will and cunning are well-nigh a match for yours.You will have to look sharp."
"It is easier to pursue than to evade pursuit. She has much the mostdifficult strategy to conceive and execute. I tell you, Mr. Redfield,I'm bound to see that woman. I shall be so piqued at my failure, as togo into a decline, if I'm disappointed." He seemed two-thirds inearnest, through his jocular assertion.
We did not linger long over the breakfast, being anxious to get back toBrooklyn. After we had withdrawn from the table, he gave me the paperto look over, while he ran up a moment to say something to hisdaughter. While he was absent, the door-bell rung, and the servantshowed a gentleman into the room where I was.
"Well, really," were the first words I heard, "has Mr. Burton taken youfor an apprentice, and do you lodge with your employer?"
It was James--as usual, when addressing me, with the gay smile coveringthe sneer. He did not even extend his hand, but stood looking at me amoment, with a sort of defiant menace, which ended with an uneasyglance about the place. If he had been conscious of my secret visit tohis haunts, he would have worn something such an expression; Iconstrued it that his restless conscience made him suspicious of hisfriends.
"I came down, unexpectedly, yesterday morning, at his request. We gotsome trace of Leesy Sullivan; and I shall stay until we do somethingabout it."
"Indeed!"--he seemed relieved, putting off his ugly look andcondescending to be gentlemanly again. "Have you found out where thewretched creature has hidden herself? Upon my word, I think if Eleanorknew the case in all its bearings, it might be useful in keeping herfrom quite killing herself of grief."
It was now my turn to be angry; I turned upon him with a flushed face:
"For God's sake, don't slander the dead, even by imputation, howeverslight. Whoever put Henry where he lies now, and for what purpose, thismuch I believe--that no injustice nor sin of his own brought that highheart low. And the villain, I say the villain, who could breathe such awhisper in Eleanor's ear would be base enough to--to--"
"Speak out," smiled James, holding me with his softly glittering gaze.
"I will say no more," I ended, abruptly, as I heard Mr. Burton's stepsapproaching. It was evident to me that there was to be no peace betweenus two.
I watched my host while he greeted the new arrival; I wished to satisfymyself if there was a difference in his manner of treating us whichwould justify my belief that Mr. Burton was not playing a part with me.He was courteous, affable, every thing that was desirable or to beexpected in a gentleman receiving a friendly acquaintance--that wasall; again I assured myself that it was only toward me that hedisplayed real liking and affection. But this he did not now display.His face had on its mask--that conventional smile and polish, that airof polite interest, than which nothing is more impenetrable. It wasbecause, in our intercourse alone together, Mr. Burton laid this maskaside, that I flattered myself I was his friend and confidant.
"Richard got the start of me," observed James, after the compliments ofthe day were over; "I had not the least idea that he was in town. Icame down yesterday to buy myself an overcoat--important business,wasn't it?--and stayed over to the opera, last night being the openingof the new season. Did either of you attend? I did not see you, ifthere. He tells me that he left in the early morning train, before theone I took. Have you any information of importance, Mr. Burton?"
"We have seen Miss Sullivan."
"Is it possible? And have you really made up your mind that the poorthing is guilty? If so, I hope you will not fail to have her arrested.I should like, very much indeed, to have the affair sifted to thedregs."
"Yes, I suppose so. It is quite natural that you should take aninterest in having it sifted, as you say. I assure you that if I havereason enough to warrant an indictment, I shall have one gotten out. Inthe mean time we must be cautious--the interests involved are tooserious to be played with."
"Certainly, they are, indeed. And unless that young woman is really thedreadful being we believe her, we ought not to ruin her by openaccusation. Still, I must say she acts extremely lik
e a guilty person."
"She does, Mr. Argyll; I see but one explanation of her conduct--she isherself _particeps criminis_, or she knows who is."
"Quite likely. Indeed, we can not well think otherwise. Did you say youhad actually seen the girl, Mr. Burton?"
"We saw her yesterday--that is, Mr. Redfield did."
"May I inquire the result? or am I not supposed to be sufficientlyinterested in the case to have any right to ask questions? If so, I begyou, don't trouble yourselves. There are doubtless others who havedeeper and different reasons from mine, for being conspicuous in thematter." As James said this, he looked directly at me. "You know, Mr.Burton, I have intimated as much before; and, if I am sometimesimprudent in my speech, you must know how hard it is for me to controlmyself always."
I was conscious that I grew pale, as Mr. Burton glanced swiftly at me,I felt so certain that James meant something personal, yet so uncertainhow to accuse him of it, or to compel him to explain himself, when hewould probably deny there was any thing to explain.
"I don't think there's any one has a deeper interest in the matter thanyou, Mr. Argyll," said Mr. Burton, with a kind of smooth distinctnessof tone which might seem to be impressive, or mean nothing, as thelistener chose to understand it. "About seeing the girl, Redfield hasnot half so much to tell as I wish he had. In fact, he let her slipthrough his fingers."
A dry laugh was James' comment upon this avowal. Mr. Burton saw that wewere inwardly chafing, ready, as it were, to spring upon each other; hetook up his hat and gloves.
"Come, gentlemen, we have business on hand of too much importance topermit of ceremony. Mr. Argyll, I must excuse myself. But if you'lljoin us, we shall be glad of your aid and company. We are going over toBrooklyn, to seek for another glimpse of Leesy Sullivan."
James slightly started as Brooklyn was mentioned. He had no reason tosuppose that any thing but courtesy prompted the invitation hereceived; yet he did not hesitate to accept it. Whether from merecuriosity, or jealousy at being kept out of the detective's fullconfidence, or a desire to pry into my actions and motives, or apraiseworthy interest--whatever it was prompted him, he kept with usall day, expressing regret as deep as our own when another night camewithout any results. Being belated, we took our supper in a saloon, aswe had done our dinner. I could not but notice that Mr. Burton did notinvite James to the house to spend the night, nor converse with him atall about his daughter or his personal affairs.
The next morning James returned home; but I remained in the cityseveral days, all this time the guest of Mr. Burton, and becoming moreattached to him and his beautiful child. After the first day, Lenorerecovered pretty rapidly from the ill effects of the trance; I was, asthe ladies say, "perfectly charmed" with her. A gayer, more airy littlesprite never existed than she, when her health permitted her naturalspirit to display itself. Her grace and playfulness were befitting herage--childish in an eminent degree, yet poetized, as it were, by anethereal spirituality, which was all her own. To hear her sing would beto wonder how such a depth and hight and breadth, such an infinity ofmelody, could be poured from so young and slender a throat--as I hadoften wondered, when gazing at the swelling breast of some littletriumphant bird, where was hidden the mechanism for all that marvelouspower of music.
It is said that children know who are their true friends. I do notthink that "flitting, fairy" Lenore doubted for an instant that I washers. We acknowledged a mutual attraction, which it seemed to give herfather pleasure to observe. She was, to both of us, a delight and arest, to which we looked forward after the vexations anddisappointments of the day--vexations and disappointments whichincreased upon us; for every night we had the dissatisfaction offinding some slender thread of probability, which we had industriouslyunraveled and followed, either abruptly broken off, leaving usstanding, perplexed and foolish, or else leading to persons andpurposes most irrelevant. I should dislike to say how many pale,dark-eyed young women, with pretty babies, made our unexpectedacquaintance during the following week--an acquaintance as brief as itwas unsolicited on their part.