*CHAPTER XI*
*ON THE WAY HOME*
"I was just going," Wilfrid replied. "But, of course, if there isanything that I can do for you----"
"I want to know if anything serious has happened," Beatrice went on. "Icould get nothing out of Cotter. The man is paralyzed with fright. AllI could learn was that my uncle's life is in danger. What does itmean?"
"I only wish I could tell you," Wilfrid replied, "but I will not resttill I get to the bottom of it. Beyond question, your uncle's life wasin danger, and I have no hesitation in telling you so. And I fear youare going to have more trouble before the danger is removed. But thereis one thing you must bear in mind--you are perfectly safe yourself.And as far as your uncle is concerned, he seems to be himself again,because you heard him call for Cotter just now."
Wilfrid might have said more, but he had no desire to alarm Beatricefurther. He did not want her to know that if he had been less prompt inbreaking in the library door the career of the ship-owner would havebeen at an end by this time. He tried to close the incident with asmile.
"You must go to bed and sleep," he said. "Your uncle and Cotter will situp all night, and I understand that to-morrow the case is going to beplaced in the hands of a detective. It is a good thing that theservants know nothing about the matter. I suppose you saw nothing toalarm you when you were in the garden?"
"No, I was not afraid," Beatrice said simply, "but I did see a thingwhich puzzled me exceedingly. I saw two of those strange little figuresrun along the drive closely followed by a gigantic negro, who was plyinga whip about their shoulders unmercifully. They didn't seem to resentit in the least; in fact, they behaved just like refractory hounds whohad been misbehaving themselves. They passed out of sight in a flash,and then I saw them no more. If you had not known so much I should havebeen almost ashamed to tell you this, for fear you should laugh at me."
Wilfrid did not laugh. He did not even smile. So the thing that he hadput down as a figment of Cotter's diseased brain really was a fact. Itwas as well to know this, too. The small figures might be illusive.They might even obliterate themselves, but a stalwart negro, standingsix feet six in his stockings, was another matter altogether.
"I am glad you told me this," Wilfrid said thoughtfully, "because herewe have something like a tangible clue. And now I must be going. I willsee your uncle again to-morrow."
Beatrice held out her two hands impulsively.
"How can I thank you for all your kindness?" she said. "How good andbrave and patient you are!"
Wilfrid carried one of the hands to his lips.
"I would do anything for you," he said, "and you know it, Beatrice.Perhaps the time may come some day when I can speak more freely. But Ifeel convinced that there is no occasion to tell you----"
Wilfrid might have said more but for the heightened colour on Beatrice'sface, and the way in which she shrank suddenly from him. A littledismayed and chilled he followed the direction of her eyes, and noticedFlower standing in the doorway. The latter betrayed nothing on hisface. He merely inquired somewhat coldly if it would not be better forBeatrice to retire. His expression changed when the big hall doorclosed finally upon Wilfrid Mercer.
"That young man will get on," he said grimly. "He has the necessaryassurance. But I should have thought that a stranger would hardlyventure to go so far----"
"Mr. Mercer is not exactly a stranger," Beatrice said confusedly. "Isaw a good deal of him when I was in London. I should have told youthis before only I had no opportunity."
"Oh, really! Quite a romance. He is a clever young man, but I think hemust be taught his place. You will not ask him here again, after he hasdone with me."
"I promised to call upon his mother," Beatrice protested.
Flower was on the verge of an angry retort, but checked himself andsmiled in his own sinister fashion.
"As you please," he said. "It really doesn't matter either way. Beforemany weeks have passed--but it is late to be talking here like this. Goto bed, child."
Meanwhile Mercer was making his way back to Oldborough, his mind full ofthe events of the evening. The more he thought over them, the morepuzzling and bewildering they became. He emerged upon the high roadpresently, and went on steadily until he reached the cross-roads leadingto Oldborough on the one hand, and Castlebridge on the other. Then hebecame aware that a group of people were standing in the road close bythe sign-post. They were gesticulating and talking so fast as to beutterly unconscious of the newcomer. Wilfrid came to an abruptstandstill, then suddenly stepped off the road into the shadow of thehedge. He had ocular proof now that Beatrice and Cotter had beenspeaking the truth. Here were the two small figures, no doubt the verysame he had seen over their incantations in the woods, and toweringabove them was a gigantic individual with a face black and shining asebony. For some time the controversy went on until it was broken atlength by the thud of a horse's hoofs and the jingling of a bell.Presently a flashy-looking dogcart drove up, driven by a still moreflashy-looking driver. The horse was pulled up, and the man in the carthailed the negro in tones of satisfaction.
"So you've got them at last, Gordon," he said.
"Indeed, I have, mister," the negro said, "and a nice dance they've ledme. I never expected to see Castlebridge before morning. What shall Ido with them, sir?"
"Tie them up behind and let them run," the man in the cart saidbrutally. "A gentle trot won't do them any harm. You can rideyourself. Now then, hurry up!"
A moment later and the strangely assorted group were out of sight, andWilfrid was trudging homewards. He was too tired and worn out to thinkof much else beside bed and rest, and for once in a way a busy morningfollowed. It was late in the afternoon before he found time to go toMaldon Grange again, and then he was informed that Mr. Flower had leftfor London on important business, which would probably detain him intown till the end of the week. He hesitated before inquiring for MissGalloway, but she, too, had accompanied her uncle, and the butler hadnot the least idea when she would be home again. It was disappointing,but Wilfrid had to make the best of it.
There was, too, a sense of dulness and reaction after the bustle andexcitement of the last four-and-twenty hours. It was hard to drop backinto the humdrum life of Oldborough, and as Wilfrid went about his workhe found himself regretting that he had abandoned the old adventurousexistence for the stale commonplaces of respectability. Then he had nocares and worries. Now every post began to bring them along. Certainof the local tradesmen were beginning to press him, and he dared not asyet ask for any money from such patients as had required his services.There was quite a little pile of these missives as he came in tired andweary to his frugal dinner. He tossed them aside impatiently.
"I think I'll wait till I have had something to eat, mother," he said."I know what they are."
Mrs. Mercer glanced affectionately at her son. Generally he treatedthese things lightly enough, and took a cheerful view of the future.But to-night everything seemed to oppress and weigh him down. He had nodesire his mother should see how he was feeling the strain. It was nottill he had finished his dinner and could make a decent excuse to getaway to the surgery that he opened his letters. They were just as hehad expected. Nearly every one of them contained a request for money,from a polite suggestion to a curt threat of legal proceedings. Butthese were small matters compared with the last letter which bore theLondon postmark. It was short and business-like and, though courteous,there was no mistaking its meaning.
"DEAR SIR (it ran),--We have this day taken over from Messrs. Darton andCo. certain securities and bills upon which they have advanced money tovarious persons, yourself amongst the number. We notice that anacceptance of yours for L175 becomes due on Saturday. As thecircumstances of the case call for a clearance of these outstandingmatters, we have to request that your cheque for the above amount bepaid to us on Saturday morning, otherwise we shall with great regrethave to plac
e it in other hands for collection. At the present momentwe have no funds available to renew your acceptance.
"Yours obediently, "FOWLER & Co."
"Fowler and Co., indeed," Wilfrid murmured bitterly. "They have got mein their net surely enough. Now I wonder what this means? I wonderwhat these fellows are driving at? They faithfully promised me to renewif I needed it; in fact, that was one of the conditions of the loan. Andnow I shall lose everything. All my efforts will have been in vain. Itseems very hard just when I was making a little headway. But for mymother I would not care."