CHAPTER XXXV.
THE ORIGINAL OF THE PORTRAIT.
CLAUDE LARCHER was blessed with the best of tempers, and strongly giftedwith self-control. He found these virtues very necessary in hisprofession, especially when in command of a body of men in the wilds.There no trouble ruffled him, no disappointment depressed his spirits;he was always serene and amiable, so that among his comrades his goodtemper had become proverbial. Had they seen him at this moment theywould have found reason to alter their opinion.
The case wore out his patience; he saw no end to the complicationsarising therefrom. No sooner was one obstacle surmounted than anotherblocked up the path. But for Tait he would have taken Hilliston's advicelong ago, and let the matter lie; but the little man was bent on solvingthis particularly tantalizing mystery, and so urged his friend topersevere in what seemed to be futile attempts. So far Claude had heldto his resolve, but this last letter of Tait's with its budget of newcomplications threw him into a rage. He vowed that he would throw up thematter as soon as Tait returned. His father was dead, and there was anend of it; after five-and-twenty years nothing whatever could bediscovered; and above all there was Jenny.
Claude was too clear-sighted to disguise from himself the fact that hewas in love; and now enlightened by Mrs. Hilliston regarding thefeelings of the young lady, he was doubly anxious to make her his wife.Before he could do so he had to remove an obstacle in the shape of herfather, and that was no easy matter. Who Mr. Paynton was he did notknow; whether he was implicated in the Larcher affair he could notguess; but of one thing he was certain: that Mr. Paynton resented hisprosecution of the case. While he continued to investigate the mysterythe recluse would continue inimical, and would therefore refuse topermit him to pay attentions to his daughter.
Regarding Linton and his love, Claude had no fears. He had been assuredby Mrs. Hilliston that Jenny liked him best, and taking advantage of thehint he had thrown himself as frequently as possible into the society ofhis beloved. Did Jenny go to the vicarage, Claude was there under thepretense of questioning the clergyman concerning the architecture of thechurch; did she practice on the organ, Claude was always waiting at thedoor to carry her music-book to Rose Cottage. A walk in the morning, hewas in the vicinity; a stroll in the evening, and he appearedunexpectedly round the nearest corner. In driving, riding, walking,visiting, this persistent young man was constantly to be found near MissJenny Paynton. All this meant infatuation.
Availing himself of the opportunities thus afforded, he learned hersecret, and betrayed his own. Without a word being said on eitherside--with the shadow of the case between them--these two young peoplefell in love with one another. When Tait returned two days after hislast letter, he was confronted by Claude with the intimation that hewished to stop further investigations. Tait, who was devoured by anunappeasable curiosity to find out the truth, resented this backsliding,and told Claude his opinion very plainly. But for their long friendshipthey would have quarreled over the matter; as it was Tait argued out thequestion, and induced Claude to come round to his way of thinking. Butit was a hard task.
"You are not going to turn back after putting your hand to the plow?" hesaid, when Claude first broached the subject of abandoning the case.
"Why not, if the plow won't move?" returned the young man flippantly.
"The plow will move," returned Tait vehemently. "You got my lastletter?"
"I did. But I don't see that it contains anything likely to elucidatethe mystery. Your Dick Pental is a madman; your Miss Pike anuntrustworthy gossip."
"That is your opinion, not mine. I have made a discovery since writingmy last letter, of which I have not yet had time to inform you."
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you later on. Meanwhile is it on account of this girl thatyou have decided to abandon the case?"
"Partly, and partly because I think we are wasting time. Ourinvestigation can lead to no result."
"We may find out who killed your father."
"I doubt that," replied Larcher coolly. "You suspect Hilliston; yoususpect Jeringham; you suspect Mona Bantry. Why, in your last letter youhinted at the guilt of Denis, simply because a drunken lunatic told youa wild story; yet, so far as I can see, you have not a morsel ofevidence against any one of the four."
"You are wrong," said Tait, in an argumentative manner. "The misfortuneis that there is too much evidence against them all. I could furnish youwith a case against each which--so far as circumstantial evidence isconcerned--would convince you of their individual guilt."
"Theory, Tait, theory!"
"We'll prove that soon, my boy," said Tait, with exasperating coolness,"if you back out of the case, I at least am determined to see itthrough. I suppose you are bent on marrying the young lady."
"If she'll have me--yes."
"Humph! There's another obstacle which you have overlooked. The consentof her father--our mysterious friend, Paynton."
"I have not overlooked the obstacle. I will obtain his consent from hisown lips."
"And how do you intend to see him?"
"Through the agency of Mr. Hilliston," replied Larcher calmly. "He hasagreed to introduce me to Paynton to-morrow. Here is his letter."
The little man fairly bounded from his chair, and he took the letterfrom his friend's hand with an air of bewilderment. After mastering thecontents he returned it with a satisfied nod.
"I congratulate you, Claude," he said, with a good-humored air. "Thoughyou failed with the man, you may succeed with the matter. But how in thename of Olympian Jove did you induce Hilliston to do this?"
"Why, he saw that I was in love with Jenny, and for some inexplicablereason has agreed to forward my suit, by introducing me to plead mycause with the father."
"Not so inexplicable as you think," said Tait sagaciously. "I see hisidea. He thinks you will be so occupied with love-making as to abandonthe case."
"I don't know that he isn't right."
"Oh, I see you are bent on getting quit of the matter, Claude. But," andTait shook a reproving forefinger, "you will change your mind after thisinterview with our hermit friend."
"Why so?"
"You will learn something which will astonish you. I only wish I couldbe present with you to see what occurs."
"But if I make no reference to the case," said Larcher seriously.
Tait waxed indignant on the instant, and spoke his mind freely. "Claude,my friend, I went into this matter solely on your account, and you oweit to me to see it through. If you find further investigation a bar toyour marriage I will agree to let the matter drop. But first," addedTait, with emphasis, "you must make an effort to get the truth out ofthis man. Swear to him that you are resolved to push the matter to theend. Tell him that I have learned something new at Horriston. Mentionthe name of Louisa Sinclair. Then see the result. After hearing thestory of Dicky Pental I am convinced that this man is Jeringham."
"I will do all you say," replied Claude, after some hesitation, "but Iam afraid that my pertinacity in this matter will prejudice my wooing."
"If, at the end of the interview, you see that, withdraw your intentionto go on with the case. Then out of gratitude he may give you hisdaughter. Bluff him first--yield afterward. In that way we may discoverwho Paynton is--what he has to do with the case, and why he is connectedwith Hilliston. Do you agree? Good! Give me your hand on that."
The two men shook hands, though it was not without a secret qualm thatClaude thus sealed the compact. After a pause he said:
"And who is this Louisa Sinclair you make such a point of my mentioningto Paynton?"
"Ah! That is my discovery," said Tait, rubbing his hands. "When Iinterviewed Mrs. Bezel I showed her a portrait of Mrs. Hilliston, whomcuriously enough she had never seen--no doubt Hilliston has his reasonstherefor. She seemed startled, but said nothing. Then she wrote to youabout Louisa Sinclair."
"But what has Louisa Sinclair to do with Mrs. Hilliston?"
"Can't you guess? Miss Pike showed me a portrait of Louisa Sinclairtaken twenty-five years ago. I did not then wonder at Mrs. Bezel'sstart, or that Hilliston had refrained from letting her see the pictureof his wife. In a word, Louisa Sinclair and Mrs. Hilliston are one andthe same woman."
"Ah!" cried Claude, with a sudden recollection, "it was for that she wasso afraid of your going to Horriston."
"Yes. She thought I might learn too much. This is the beginning of theend, Claude."
"What! Do you think Mrs. Hilliston knows anything of the case?"
"According to your mother she knows a good deal. According to Miss Pikeshe is in possession of certain facts. Yes, I think Mrs. Hilliston canhelp us if she will."
"But, my dear Tait," said Claude quietly, "Mrs. Hilliston is anAmerican."
"Ah! Louisa Sinclair went to America, and probably became a naturalizedsubject of the Stars and Stripes."
"But," objected Larcher, "she was a widow when she married Hilliston."
"So I believe. A Mrs. Derrick. No doubt she came by all her moneythrough that first marriage. Oh, I can put the puzzle easily together.No wonder Hilliston wanted the case dropped, both on his own account andon that of his wife."
"What do you mean, Tait? Do you suspect that----"
"Say no more," said Tait, rising, "I will tell you what I mean after youhave seen Paynton. But then," added he significantly, "I don't think youwill need any explanation."