CHAPTER XV
A NEW COMPLICATION
Leo was so surprised by this unexpected sight that for the moment hestood still. Then he made up his mind to interview the pair. Mrs Gabrieland Pratt evidently understood one another, and the two of them togethermight probably tell him more about himself than one would do. Moreover,Leo was angry at the way in which Pratt had let him lie under theimputation of being a thief when he could have lifted the disgrace fromoff his shoulders. Certainly Pratt could have done so only at the riskof incriminating himself, but at the time Leo was too much annoyed tothink of this. He saw that there was some mystery, and thinking it mighthave to do with Mrs Gabriel's enmity towards himself, he interruptedwhat seemed to be a furious conversation by knocking at the window.
Mrs Gabriel and Pratt turned in the direction where the sound came, shewith a pale face, and Pratt with a levelled revolver which he took fromhis breast pocket. Leo might have been in danger of his life, but thathe chanced to remember a peculiar tune which Pratt had taught him, inorder to announce his coming while he was staying at The Nun's House. Atthe time Leo had thought this was only a freak of the old man's, butnow that he knew who Pratt was, he saw that there was use in it, toPratt if not to himself. At all events, he began to whistle.
Hardly had he got through the first few bars before Pratt's watchfulattitude relaxed, and he tossed the revolver on to the table. MrsGabriel still continued to look agitated, but Pratt stepped towards thewindow and opened it coolly.
"I knew it was you," he said, pulling Leo into the room and shutting thewindow. "It is a lucky thing you remembered my signal, else I might havedrilled a hole in you. You come at a happy moment." Here he stopped andlooked suspiciously at the young man. "Have you that infernal Martonwith you?" he asked, with a glance at the window and a movement towardsthe revolver.
"No, no," replied Leo, hastily. "I am all alone."
"That's a good thing," said Pratt, grimly. "I won't be taken alive, Ipromise you. But I knew you would not give me away. I said so to MrsGabriel. She said you would--speaking the worst of you as usual."
Leo was too much taken aback by the discovery that Pratt was in thecastle to reply immediately. Moreover, the man was so cool and composedthat he felt as though he were in the wrong. He tried to collect hisscattered thoughts, but before he could open his mouth Mrs Gabriel spokein her usual domineering tones.
"What are you doing here, Leo?" she asked. "How did you get on to theterrace? No one can get on without the key of the gate."
"I happen to have the key," said Leo, showing it. "You gave it to meyourself some years ago. When I left you I took it with me by mistake.It has come in useful to-night. You may thank your stars, both of you,that I did not bring Marton back with me. He left me at the foot of thehill with a story that you were ill, Mrs Gabriel."
"Leo," said Pratt in an agitated tone, "surely you would not havebrought the man here to get me into trouble?"
"I did not know you were here," said Haverleigh, carelessly, for he wasstill angered at the man.
"I have been here ever since the night I fled from Raston's house. Itwas Adam who went on to London and cut the wire."
"And the letter in which you said you had stolen the cup?"
"I wrote that here and posted it to Adam that he might send it fromLondon. Mrs Gabriel helped me to hide. No one knows that I am in thishouse save herself, and now you are a sharer in our secret."
"It must be difficult to keep your presence here a secret from theservants," said Leo, wondering how the man had forced Mrs Gabriel tohelp.
Here the lady herself interfered. "It is not difficult at all," she saidin her most offensive tones. "You know nothing of what you are talkingabout. Pratt is up in the tower room, and I take him food myself from myown meals. It is impossible that anyone can guess."
"Well, my dear aunt," said Haverleigh, emphatically, "I know that Prattis here. I think, therefore, you had better behave towards me in a morecivil manner."
"Ha!" scoffed Mrs Gabriel, folding her arms and looking defiant. "Youwould not dare to state the truth."
"How do you know that?" said Leo, dryly. "Pratt is wanted by the law. Hecommitted a theft here and allowed me to lie under suspicion. Why shouldI not give him up and accuse you of being an accessory to hisconcealment?"
Mrs Gabriel frowned and her black eyes flashed, but Pratt, who had takena seat, did not move. He merely laughed. "I don't think you will giveaway, Leo," he said. "I admit that Mrs Gabriel is enough to irritate asaint; but if you punish her you punish me also."
"And you deserve punishment," retorted Leo.
"Probably I do; but I have my own opinion of the matter. All I ask youto do is to hold your tongue until such a time as I can get away."
"When are you going away?"
"Soon, I hope," cried Mrs Gabriel, spitefully. "I am rather tired ofhaving a jail-bird in my house."
"Oh! you refer to that American affair," said Pratt, airily. "I hadquite forgotten it. Well, my dear lady, I do not intend to burden youwith my presence after to-morrow. By this time no one will be watchingfor me hereabouts, as I am supposed to be in London. I shall goto-morrow night and return to my London quarters, where Adam awaits me.By the way, Haverleigh, has that fool of a detective gone?"
"He is going to-morrow," said Leo in a surly tone.
"All the better. We can travel to London together. Ah, you smile, mydear Leo, but I assure you that if I chose to travel with Marton Ishould do so. I can disguise myself so effectively that even _he_ wouldnot know me. It is not the first time I have baffled him."
"Look here, Mr Pratt, or whatever you choose to call yourself," said theyoung man, calmly, "you have been kind to me in your own way, and I donot want to take advantage of your present unfortunate position. At thesame time, you are a thief and a criminal, and I want to have nothing todo with you. Mrs Gabriel may approve of your company, but I do not wishto have you for a friend. I shall hold my tongue, but I recommend you toleave this place as soon as possible."
Mrs Gabriel glared at Leo, as she could ill brook his references toherself. She half rose as though she would have flown at him, but aglance from Pratt quelled her, and she sat down with more meekness thancould have been expected from such a redoubtable termagant. Pratt, stillkeeping his temper, turned to Leo. "It is very good of you to interestyourself in my movements," he said in silky tones, "but I can look aftermyself. It is a grief, my dear fellow, a great grief, that I should becompelled to leave this neighbourhood. I like the place, and the peopleare fairly agreeable. I was nicely settled in The Nun's House, and--"
"Surrounded with stolen goods," interrupted Leo, wrathfully.
Pratt sighed. "I had some charming things," he said; "how I shall missthem! I am too old to make another such collection. I suppose they haveall returned to the people I took them from, I fear the stupid creatureswill not appreciate them as I have done."
Pratt's impudence was so consummate that Leo could not help laughing,but Mrs Gabriel rose in a black fury and shook her fist in the man'sface. "How dare you boast of your iniquities in my house?" she cried.
"In your house, my dear lady?" queried Pratt, blandly. Mrs Gabriel gotvery white and sat down again. Apparently Pratt had some power over her,which she was afraid he might use. Leo had never seen the woman socowed.
"Well, well," continued Pratt, stretching his legs; "I have to go,thanks to that wretched man Marton. How was it he appeared sounexpectedly?"
"Raston sent for him to London to find out who committed the robbery."
"Ah!" Pratt laughed. "I hope Mr Marton is satisfied now. My lettershould have pleased him."
"It pleased me more," said Leo, bluntly; "my name is now clear! And youwill be glad to hear," he added, turning to Mrs Gabriel, "that Hale, inthe presence of Marton and his sister, confessed that he lent me themoney. I am afraid your plot against me has failed, my dear aunt."
"Hold your tongue!" said Mrs Gabriel, angrily.
"No. The time has passed for that. I
am no longer in your power. Iintend to make my own way in the world."
"With assistance from Mrs Gabriel," said Pratt, quietly. "She will startyou with a thousand pounds, my dear Leo."
"I won't give one penny," said Mrs Gabriel, glaring. "You can do yourvery worst, Pratt. I have been your milch cow long enough."
"I would not take anything from her," said Leo, interposing; "and I'llthank you, Mr Pratt, to leave my affairs alone. If you will persist inmeddling with them, I shall not keep my promise of silence."
"Oh, yes, you will!" chimed in Pratt, fixing him with his eye. "You darenot betray me, Leo."
"_Dare_ not!" echoed the young man, angrily.
"Not unless you want to be called an unnatural son, my boy!" Leo stared,not taking in the meaning of this speech. "For you are my son, Leo,"added Pratt in low tones, his eyes never leaving Haverleigh's face.
"Your--your--Great Heavens!"
Mrs Gabriel burst into a taunting laugh. "Ah, you know it at last!" shecried triumphantly. "And he has told you after threatening me with allsorts of things to keep me silent."
"It's--it's not true!" gasped Leo.
"It is perfectly true," said the woman, jeeringly. "You are the son ofthe cleverest thief in the three kingdoms."
"Hold your tongue, you hag!" shouted Pratt, angrily, for Leo was aswhite as ashes and his face wore an expression of terrible agony.
"I won't be quiet. You told him yourself, and now he shall know all--asthe vicar does," finished Mrs Gabriel, laughing fiercely.
Leo started to his feet. "Sybil!" he cried out, staring at his enemy. "Iknow now why the vicar will not let me marry her. You--you--"
"Told him you were an illegitimate son," said Mrs Gabriel, rapidly. "Idid not say who was your father, but now that Pratt's true character isknown I shall tell Tempest everything. Then we shall see if he will letyou speak to Sybil again."
"You dare say a word, Mrs Gabriel, and I--"
But the woman was not to be stopped. She turned like a fury on Pratt,who had risen angrily. "Hold your tongue," she said savagely; "I havehad about enough of you and your precious son. You made me take him tomy home and tell everyone that he was the son of my dead brother. A lie,as you well know. And you," she added, turning on Haverleigh, "you knownow why I have hated you all these years. That man knows a secret ofmine and he forced me to do his bidding. I took you here. I brought youup, I gave you money, and I let you take a position to which you werenot entitled. Position!" Mrs Gabriel laughed scornfully. "Your positionshould be in the gutter, where you were born. You are no kith or kin ofmine, thank God!"
"And I do thank God," said Leo, vehemently. "You are a bad, evil-mindedwoman. Although my father is a thief, I would rather be his son thanconnected with you in any way. For years you have made my life a hell onearth with your vile temper. Terrible as is what you have told me, Iprefer the thief to the righteous woman."
The mistress of the castle recoiled aghast before this outbreak ofanger. Never had the usually good-tempered young man spoken so fiercelyto her. As he advanced towards her she believed that he was going tostrike her, and put up her arm with a look of terror in her eyes. Foronce the bully was cowed.
"Bravo, my boy!" cried Pratt, laughing at her discomfiture, and clappingLeo on the back. The young man started away.
"Don't touch me," he said harshly. "Is it not enough that I should havethe shame of being your son, but that you should approve of any action Ido? But I do not believe that you are my father. Where is the proof?"
"In London," said Pratt, very quietly, and wincing at the tone of Leo'sspeech. "If you come with me to London I can show you sufficient proofto make you believe."
"My mother?" Leo, with a sudden thought, cast a look at Mrs Gabriel.
"_I_ am not your mother," she said scornfully. "Didn't I say there wasno blood of mine in your veins?"
"Your mother is dead, Leo," said Pratt in a low voice.
Mrs Gabriel laughed insultingly. "And I daresay she was some--"
"If you dare to say another word," growled Pratt, casting a bitter lookat her, "I'll give your secret to the world."
"I don't care if you do," retorted Mrs Gabriel; but Leo saw that shequailed. What could she have done to give a man like Pratt--he could notcall him father--a power over her?
"You _do_ care," said Pratt, quietly; "but if you don't I'll begin bytelling Leo. Here goes. Leo, my son--"
In a moment Mrs Gabriel's defiant attitude became one of supplication.She sprang forward and caught Pratt by the arm. "Don't! don't," she saidfaintly. "I'll do whatever you wish."
"Will you dare to speak again as you have done?"
"No, no; I know you are the stronger. I could kill you," she muttered,with a flash of her old temper. "But I have to give in--I have to!"
"Well," drawled Pratt, taking a pleasure in bringing her to her knees, aposition to which she was quite unaccustomed. "You have persecuted mypoor son so that I think he should have something to hold over yourhead. It would serve you right."
"I don't want to know your wicked secrets," said Leo, very pale, butotherwise calm. "It seems to me that you are an evil couple. AndI--Heaven help me!--have a father who is a thief."
"What of that!" said Mrs Gabriel, getting angry again. "You are a thiefas well, are you not? The cup--"
"I did not steal it," said Leo, proudly. "You know as well as I do thatthis--this"--he winced--"father of mine took it away from the chapel."
"That is just where you are wrong. He did not--"
"Mrs Gabriel!" Pratt's voice sounded dangerous. She was quiet at once,and looked at him in a frightened way. But Leo had heard enough toarouse his suspicions. He turned on Pratt and seized him by the arm.
"Have you been telling a lie?" muttered the unhappy young man.
His father shook him off. "It's no use telling another one," he said in adogged way; "now you know so much you may as well know all. I knownothing about the cup; but, to clear you, I took the blame on myself.You see, Leo," he said calmly, "my character is already so bad that arobbery more or less does not matter. I did it for you, my boy, as Ihave done everything else. I wanted you to be a gentleman and marry thegirl of your heart. Sybil loves you, and I thought when the vicar knewyou were innocent that he would let you marry her."
"He might have done so," said Leo, sitting down in absolute despair;"but since Mrs Gabriel told him that I was illegitimate, he has neverbeen the same. He is a proud man."
"Too proud to let the son of a thief marry his child!" taunted thewoman.
"He doesn't know that Leo is my son," said Pratt, fiercely.
"I intend to tell him as soon as you are away," she said.
"You will do nothing of the sort," said Pratt in a slow, venomous waywhich made her shrink back. "By speaking to the vicar and telling a lieyou have caused trouble enough. He must know no more."
"I did _not_ tell a lie."
"You did. My son was born in lawful wedlock."
"Then why didn't you bring him up yourself?" said Mrs Gabriel, with asneer. "You gave him to me in London, and made me adopt him. I had tosay that he was my nephew. Oh, how you have used me!"
"And I have not done using you. Hold your tongue, or it will be theworse for you. You know the power I have. I will not scruple to use itif you dare to do anything against my orders. Now, you can go. I want tospeak to my son alone."
Mrs Gabriel seemed inclined to dispute this order, but a look from hertyrant cowed her. With a defiant flinging up of the head she walked outof the room, and closed the door.
"She will tell the servants," said Leo.
"Oh, no, she won't," said Pratt coolly. "You don't know the power I haveover her. She will not dare."
"I don't want to know anything," said Leo, looking down on the ground,with folded arms. "I know quite enough. Are you speaking truly?"
Pratt met his gaze in a perfectly composed manner. "I am speaking thetruth," he said; "you are my son, and your mother died two years afteryou were born. I was then in some da
nger from a--Well, no matter. Tomake a long story short, I wanted to procure a home for you where youwould be brought up like a gentleman. Having a certain power over MrsGabriel, I fixed upon her, and made her tell the story of your being hernephew. She did all I wished, but had I known how she treated you," hemuttered, clenching his fist, "I should soon have brought her to herbearings."
"And it was this power that made her introduce you into Colestersociety?"
"Yes. I can do what I like with the woman. I know it is a terrible thingfor you to find out what I am. But I took to bad courses early, Leo, andI went from bad to worse. It is a second nature for me to steal--"
"Oh!" Leo rose with a sickening sensation of disgust. "Don't tell me anyof your evil doings. I know that you are my father; that you are athief; I want to know no more. You have ruined my life."
"I have not," said Pratt. "How can you say such a thing! What you haveheard to-night need go no further. I shall say nothing, and Mrs Gabrielwill be forced to hold her tongue. Your name is cleared of this theft."
"Did you not steal the cup?" broke in Leo, looking at his father.
"No; I did not. If I had stolen it I should say so. But I do not knowwho took it. I am going to London to find out. Old Penny, thepawnbroker, is a friend of mine. I know enough to get him into troubleas a receiver of stolen goods, so he will have to tell me who it wasimpersonated you."
"You said in your letter that Adam--"
Pratt interrupted impatiently. "Adam had nothing to do with it," hesaid. "I invented all that to throw dust in Marton's eyes. I suspectthat Hale has something to do with the stealing of the cup. He may havetaken it himself, for all I know. But Old Penny will tell me. I'll getto the bottom of this, you may be sure. As to you, Leo, hold your tongueabout being my son and come back to Mrs Gabriel. She will be quitewilling to receive you, and I can force her to make you her heir. Thenyou can marry Sybil. When you are rich and have an assured position, thevicar will overlook the stain on your birth. It is a lie, certainly,"added Pratt, with a shrug, "but to tell the truth would be to makematters worse, so we must leave things as they are. For once Mrs Gabrielhas got the better of me. But it won't occur again. You stay with her,and I promise you she will be as polite as possible to you. You will bemaster here."
Leo listened to this long speech with his aching head between his hands.When Pratt had finished, he looked up quietly. "It is good of you totake all this trouble," he said, "but I cannot come back to MrsGabriel. Even if she loved, instead of hating me, I could not come backon those terms. I can never marry Sybil either. Do you think that Iwould let her become my wife, knowing who I am? Your sins must bevisited on me, Pratt--I can't call you father. You say you are myfather, and you declare that you can prove it. When you are in London Iexpect you to do so. Let me know your address, and I'll come up. But forthe moment I assume that you are speaking the truth. In that case thereis nothing for me to do but to go to South Africa and seek a soldier'sdeath. I would rather die than marry Sybil now."
"Don't talk like that, Leo," said Pratt, much moved, and wincing at thecontempt of the young man. "I am not so bad as you think. I have donemany a kind action. I can--"
"Oh, don't defend yourself," said Leo, rising to go. "I must get away bythe same way I came. I shall say nothing, but I hope you will be out ofColester by to-morrow night. Marton leaves in the morning, so the coastwill be clear. I'm going now, and I hope to hear from you, so that youmay give me proof of the truth of this story."
"You don't believe me?"
"I do--in a way. It seems to be true. You say so, and Mrs Gabriel also.I suppose I am your son. But I am hoping against hope that you may notbe able to prove the truth."
"Leo," said Pratt, following him to the window, "I am your father, andif you intend to leave Sybil you may as well come with me. I can go withyou to South America, and there I can lead a new life. I am rich inspite of losing The Nun's House. I have a belt of jewels!--thousands ofpounds of the most valuable--"
"And all stolen," cried Leo, thrusting him back in disgust. "For God'ssake don't speak to me any more, or I shall forget that you are myfather! If you only knew how I loathe myself for being your son! I neverthought it would come to this. Let me go--let me go!" and Leo, pullinghis arm from the grasp of Pratt, rushed out on to the terrace.
In another ten minutes Mrs Gabriel re-entered. She found Pratt with hishead buried in his arms, sobbing like a child. At the sight she burstout laughing. Then she locked the window Leo had left open.
"Get to bed, Pratt," she said, contemptuously, "and pleasant dreams toyou!"