CHAPTER X
--AND THE LADY
And this was the extraordinary chain of events which brought youngMerriton into Mr. Narkom's office that day while Cleek was sitting there,and on being introduced as "Mr. Headland" heard the story from SirNigel's lips.
As he came to the last "And no trace of either body has ever been found,"Cleek suddenly switched round in his chair and exclaimed:
"An extraordinary rigmarole altogether!" Meeting Merriton's astonishedeyes with his own keen ones, he went on: "The flames, of course, are aplant of some sort. That goes without saying. But the thing to find outis what they're there for to hide. When you've discovered that, you'llhave got half way to the truth, and the rest will follow as a matter ofcourse.... What's that, Mr. Narkom? Yes, I'll take the case, Sir Nigel.My name's Cleek--Hamilton Cleek, at your service. Now let's hear thething all over again, please. I've one or two questions I'd like to ask."
Merriton left Scotland Yard an hour later, lighter in heart than hehad been for some time--ever since, in fact, Dacre Wynne's tragicdisappearance had cast such a gloom over his life's happiness. He hadunburdened his soul to Cleek--absolutely. And Cleek had treated theconfession with a decent sort of respect which was enough to win any chapover to him. Merriton in fact had found in Cleek a friend as well as adetective. He had been a little astonished at his general get-up andappearance, but Merriton had heard of his peculiar birthright, and feltthat the man himself was capable of almost anything. Certainly he provedfull of sympathetic understanding.
Cleek understood the ground upon which he stood with regard to hisfriendship with Dacre Wynne. He had, with a wonderful intuition, sensedthe peculiar influence of the man upon Nigel--this by look and gesturerather than by use of tongue and speech. And Cleek had already drawn hisown conclusions. He heard of Nigel's engagement to Antoinette Brellier,and of how Dacre Wynne had taken it, heard indeed all the little personalthings which Merriton had never told to any man, and certainly hadn'tintended telling to this one.
But that was Cleek's way. He secured a man's confidence and by thatmethod got at the truth. A bond of friendship had sprung up between them,and Cleek and Mr. Narkom had promised that before a couple of days wereover, they would put in an appearance at Fetchworth, and look into thingsmore closely. It was agreed that they were to pose as friends of SirNigel, since Cleek felt that in that way he could pursue hisinvestigations unsuspected, and make more headway in the case.
But there was but one thing Nigel hadn't spoken of, and that was the veryfoolish and ridiculous action of his upon that fateful evening of thedinner party. Only he and Doctor Bartholomew--who was as close-mouthedas the devil himself over some things--knew of the incident of thepistol-shooting, so far as Merriton was aware. And the young man was tooashamed of the whole futile affair and what it very apparently proved tothe listener--that he had certainly drunk more than was good for him--towish any one else to share in the absurd little secret. It could have nobearing upon the affair, and if 'Toinette got to hear of it, well, he'dlook all sorts of a fool, and possibly be treated to a sermon--a prospectwhich he did not relish in the slightest.
As he left the Yard and turned into the keen autumn sunshine, he liftedhis face to the skies and thanked the stars that he had come to Londonafter all and placed things in proper hands. There was nothing now forhim to do but to go back to Merriton Towers and as expeditiously aspossible make up for the day lost from 'Toinette.
So, after a visit to a big confectioners in Regent Street, and another toa little jeweller in Piccadilly, Merriton got into the train at Waterloo,carrying his parcels with a happy heart. He got out at Fetchworth stationthree hours later, hailed the only hack that stood there--for he hadforgotten to apprise any one at the Towers of his quick return--and drovestraightway to Withersby Hall.
'Toinette was at the window as he swung open the great gate. When she sawhim she darted away and came flying down the drive to meet him.
The contents of the various packages made her happy as a child, and itwas some time after they reached the house that Nigel asked some questionconcerning her uncle.
Her face clouded ever so little, and for the first time Nigel noticedthat she was pale.
"Uncle has gone away for a few days," she replied. "He said it wasbusiness--what would you? But I told him I should be lonesome in thisgreat house, and I--I am so frightened at those horrible little flamesthat twinkle twinkle all night long. I cannot sleep when I am alone,Nigel. I am a baby I know, but I cannot help it. It makes me feel soafraid!"
As was usual in moments of emotion with 'Toinette, her accent became morepronounced. He stroked her hair with a gentle hand, as though she were invery truth the child she tried not to be.
"Poor little one! I wish I could come across and put up here for thenight. Hang conventions, anyway! And then too I have to make ready forsome visitors who will be down to-morrow or the next day."
"Visitors, Nigel?"
"Yes, dear. I've a couple of--friends coming to spend a short time withme. Chaps I met in London to-day."
"What did you go up for, Nigel--really?"
He coloured a little, and was thankful that she turned away at thatmoment to straighten the collar of her blouse. He didn't like lying tothe woman he was going to marry. But he had given his word to Cleek.
"Oh," he said off-handedly, "I--I went to my tailor's. And then steppedin to buy you that little trinket and your precious chocs, and camealong home again. Met these fellows on my way across town. Rather nicechaps--one of 'em, anyhow. Used to know some friends of friends of his,girl called Ailsa Lorne. And the other one happened to be there so Iasked him, too. They won't worry you much, 'Toinette. They're frightfullykeen about the country, and will be sure to go out shootin' and snuffin'round like these town johnnies always do when they get in places likethis.... Well, as Mr. Brellier isn't here I suppose I'd better be makingmy way home again. Wish we were married, 'Toinette. There'd be no more ofthese everlasting separations then. No more nightmares for you, littleone. Only happiness and joy, and--and heaps of other rippin' things.Never mind, we'll make it soon, won't we?"
She raised her face suddenly and her eyes met his. There was a hauntedlook in them that made him draw closer, his own face anxious.
"What is it, dear?" he said in a low, worried tone.
"Only--Dacre Wynne. Always Dacre Wynne these days," she repliedunsteadily. "Do you know, Nigel, I am a silly girl, I know, but somehow Idare not think of marriage with you until--everything is finally clearedup, and his death or disappearance, or whatever the dreadful affair was,discovered. I feel in some inexplicable way responsible. It is as if hisspirit were standing between us and our happiness. Tell me I am foolish,please."
"You are more than foolish," said Nigel obediently, and laughedcarelessly to show her how he treated the thing. But in his heart he knewher feelings, knew them and fully understood. It was exactly as he hadfelt about it also. The bond that bound Dacre Wynne's life to his had notyet been snapped, the mystery of his disappearance seemed only tostrengthen it. He wondered dully when he would ever feel free again, andthen laughed inwardly at himself for making a farce of the whole thing,for building a mountain out of a stupid little molehill. And 'Toinettewas helping him. They were both unutterably foolish. Anyhow, Cleek wascoming soon to clear matters up. He wished with all his heart that hemight tell 'Toinette, and thus relieve the tension of her mind, but hehad given his word to Cleek, and with a man of his type his word wassacred.
So he kissed her good-bye and laughed, and went back to Merriton Towersto prepare for their coming. But the cloud had dropped across his horizonagain, and the sun was once more obscured. There was no smile upon hislips as he clanged the great front door to behind him.