CHAPTER XXX.
MRS. BEZEL AGAIN.
ON returning home Claude found that Tait, contrary to his expressedintention, had gone out. Dormer, who was packing a portmanteau for theHorriston journey, could not inform Larcher when his master would beback, but ventured an opinion that he would certainly return toluncheon. Meanwhile, he handed to Claude some letters which had justarrived, and with these the young man managed to pass a fairlyuncomfortable hour. Uncomfortable, because one of the letters was fromMrs. Bezel, and proved of so puzzling a character that Larcher was in afever of impatience to discuss it with Tait.
The little man returned to luncheon, as was surmised by Dormer, and wasmet in the hall by Claude with the open letter of Mrs. Bezel in hishand.
"My dear fellow, why did you go out?" said Larcher complainingly. "Ihave so much to tell you. I have seen Kerry, and now here is a letterfrom Mrs. Bezel."
"What! is she on the stage again?" said Tait eagerly. "Let me see theletter."
"Not yet," replied Claude, putting it promptly behind his back. "Youmust first tell me why you left the house, when you ought to be packingup for Horriston."
Tait shrugged his shoulders, bowed to the inevitable, and went into thedining room. Here he sat at the table and began to carve some cold beef,thereby throwing Claude into a rage.
"You cold-blooded little monster," he cried, tapping on the table, "willyou satisfy my curiosity?"
"Why should I?" said Tait, grinning. "You won't satisfy mine."
"Then read the letter," retorted Claude, throwing it across the table.To his surprise Tait placed it on one side.
"Not yet!" he said, resuming his carving. "We must have a talk first.Have some beef."
"I don't want beef, but information."
"You shall have both," said Tait calmly. "Do you prefer beer or claret?"
"Beer!" replied Larcher resignedly, falling in with the tricksey humorof his friend. Tait was a man with whom it was impossible to quarrel.
"Dormer, fill Mr. Larcher's glass; put the claret jug beside me, andleave the room. We will wait on ourselves."
As stolid as a wooden image Dormer obeyed these instructions, andwheeled out of the room. Tait ate a few mouthfuls of beef, drank a glassof claret, and prepared to talk. His first remark was a bombshell.
"I have seen Paynton," said he slowly.
"The deuce you have!" cried Claude, in surprise; "and how did you manageto take his castle by storm?"
"Easily enough, by the help of a lie and a little strategy. I went outto see if you were at your post, and caught sight of Kerry crossing thefields. As I knew Jenny would be at the Lintons',--for she goes there tosee the old lady every morning,--I guessed that Rose Cottage would beundefended; so back I ran to the house, picked up a book which I hadpromised to lend the young lady, and went to pay my visit."
"How did you get inside the gate? It is generally locked."
"It wasn't on this occasion," replied Tait complacently. "I opened itand walked in, to find old Paynton strolling in the garden. Catchingsight of me, he turned back to re-enter the house, but, luckily, I wasbetween him and the door, so we met face to face."
"What kind of a man is he to look at?"
"Oh, a fine-looking old chap, with white hair and beard, a skullcap, anda dressing gown. Quite the get up of a necromancer."
"Did he speak to you," asked Claude, having considered this description.
"He asked me politely what my business was; whereupon I presented thebook, and mentioned that it was for his daughter. He replied that shewas at the Lintons', and would be back soon, when he would give her thebook himself. Then he asked me to excuse him, and bowed me out of thegate. But," added Tait, with emphasis, "not before I had mentioned thatMr. Claude Larcher was staying with me."
"Did my name produce any effect?"
"Rather! Paynton changed color, and mumbled something unintelligible.Then he turned his back and walked quickly into the house, leaving me toclose the gate myself. Depend upon it, he knows something, Claude."
"But his name isn't mentioned in connection with the case."
"Of course not. Paynton is a feigned one. And, as I have said before,there are, no doubt, actors in the tragedy of whom we know nothing."
"There is one of that sort mentioned here," said Larcher, picking upMrs. Bezel's letter. "Read that, Tait, and see what you make of it."
It proved to be a short note, hastily written, and ran as follows:
"MY DEAR CLAUDE: "If you are still in doubt as to who murdered your father, ask Mr. Hilliston to tell you about Louisa Sinclair, who lived at Horriston twenty-five years ago. She knows. "Your affectionate mother, "MARGARET BEZEL."
"Louisa Sinclair," repeated Tait slowly, having mastered the contents ofthis letter. "No, I never heard of her. It is strange that Hilliston hasnever mentioned her name."
"No doubt he had good reasons for not doing so," said Claude bitterly."You need not look so astonished, Tait. I have long ago come round toyour opinion of my old guardian. His intimacy with Paynton and theeffect of his visit on Kerry would convince me--not to speak of that'anonymous letter.'"
"Ah! Kerry refused to speak."
"He would not say a word, and, moreover, stated that he was not DenisBantry; that he had never heard of Horriston. In fact, he acted his partexcellently well till the last. Then he broke down, and, afraid ofletting the cat out of the bag, he ran away."
"Exactly what his master did," said Tait thoughtfully. "Depend upon it,Claude, we will learn the truth from one of those two."
"If you think so, why go to Horriston?"
"Because I want to learn the real name of Paynton, and, moreover, hereis an additional reason. I must find out Louisa Sinclair."
"There is no mention of her in the case."
"Quite true. And there is no mention of Paynton; but for all that heknows about it. Oh, you may be sure there are circumstances to bediscovered at Horriston which never came to light at the trial."
"My mother is anxious for the mystery to be cleared up."
"So I see, and I am glad of it," said Tait, with an affectation ofcarelessness. "I thought she was too ill to take an interest in thematter."
"Am I to ask Hilliston about this woman?" said Claude, looking up insome doubt.
"No," replied his friend, after a few moments' deliberation. "Oursuccess in this depends on keeping Hilliston in the dark concerning ourmovements. If we tell him too much he may thwart us, as he has donealready in this Paynton business. Say nothing about Louisa Sinclair, orabout my visit to Horriston. Tell him I have gone to town, and let himfigure out the reason for himself. By the way, when do you see him?"
"On Friday evening. Both he and his wife are coming to dine, and stopall night at the vicarage. You may be sure Hilliston will put me througha thorough cross-examination regarding your absence."
"Refer him to Mr. Linton," said Tait coolly. "I am writing to thatgentleman, telling him I am unexpectedly called to town on particularbusiness. What that business is Hilliston will be anxious to know. Idon't think he'll enjoy his evening at all. A guilty conscience mars allpleasure."
"When do you leave?"
"By the 4.20 train this afternoon. I'll write you about my discoveriesas soon as I find out anything worth scribbling about."
"You'll find nothing," said Claude dolefully; "after five-and-twentyyears."
"I'll find out who Louisa Sinclair is, and then astonish Hilliston withthe extent of my information. Regarding Paynton, I am not so certain.That discovery rests between you and Denis Bantry."
"I'll do my best, but I am doubtful," replied Claude, and so theconversation terminated for the time being. It left a lasting impressionon the two who took part in it.
Tait duly took his departure with Dormer, leaving Claude in possessionof the house. As he leaned out of the window of the smoking carriage, hesaid a
last word to his friend:
"Don't tell Hilliston about my going to Horriston," he saidsignificantly; "but if you get a chance inform his wife of the fact."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you that when I come back," said Tait, as the train movedslowly off. "Give her the information, and observe the effect; it willastonish you."
But Tait counted without his host; he was ignorant of Mrs. Hilliston'spowers of self-control.