GATHERING CLUES.
Claire had been absent all the morning, had gone to make some call; at
least she had said to Olive, at breakfast, "I think I will take the
ponies, Olive, and drive into the city this morning. It is nice out of
doors, and I have made no calls since I came here."
Olive Girard sat alone in her cosy drawing-room. She had been reading,
but the book was somehow not in tune with her mind or mood. She had
allowed it to fall at her feet, where it lay, half opened, while she
drifted away from the present in sorrowful reverie. Lifting her eyes,
she saw a cab drive away from the villa gate, and a form hurrying
along the marble pathway. Springing up, Olive herself threw open the
door, and clasped her arms about--Miss Arthur's French maid! who
returned the caress with much enthusiasm.
"Madeline, my dear child, how glad I am to see you!"
"Even in this disguise?" laughed the girl.
"Even in blue glasses, and that horrid jacket," smiled Olive. "What an
ugly thing it is. Come and take it off, _ma belle_; do," leading the
way up the stairs.
"I come, autocrat, and I shall much enjoy getting out of this
head-gear," shaking her bewigged head. Then abruptly, "Where's
Claire?"
"Out for a drive and some calls," without looking back. "How surprised
and glad she will be to see you. Now, come in and make a lady of
yourself once more." She led the way into Madeline's room. "Are you
tired, dear?"
"Not at all."
"Then come into my boudoir when you are dressed, and we will have a
cosy chat while waiting for Claire."
"I won't be long," responded the girl. "I have a good many things to
say to you, which had better be said before Claire comes."
"Very well; I await your ladyship," and Olive closed the door, leaving
Miss Arthur's maid alone.
"I thought so," muttered she, tearing off the blue glasses; "she has
gone to meet Edward Percy. Poor dupe! it is indeed time to act."
She discarded the ill-fitting jacket, flung away the ugly black wig,
and, in a very few moments, stood arrayed in a pretty, neatly fitting
gown, glowing and lovely,--Madeline Payne once more.
"I wonder if I shall see or hear of _him_," she whispered to herself
as she crossed to Olive's boudoir. "Oh, if I could! It would be one
ray of sunlight only to clasp his hand!"
Olive had been informed of all that Madeline herself knew, of the
doings at Bellair, at the time when the girl went down, disguised as
Celine Leroque. Now, therefore, Madeline lost no time in making Olive
acquainted with, at least a part of, the events that had transpired
during her sojourn in the Oakley mansion, in the capacity of maid. Of
Edward Percy she said not a word, for reasons of her own, wishing to
keep all knowledge of him from Olive for the present.
"You see, I was just in time, Olive," she supplemented, when Mrs.
Girard had expressed her astonishment at the startling revelations of
the past four weeks. "I had not an hour to lose in setting my snare
for these plotters. They little dream what is in store for them. Poor
Kitty! I feel like a wretch when I think of the advantage I took of
her, by making her poor dead body a weapon, as one might say, against
a villain whom she would never have lifted a finger to injure in her
life. But I could see no other way. Do you know, Olive, they are going
to erect a stone over her, bearing my name?"
Olive looked up in surprise. "No! is it possible?"
"Yes, quite. I fancy John Arthur thinks he will feel more thoroughly
assured of my demise, when he can see my name on a marble slab."
"Now, tell me what especial purpose brought you up to town to-day."
Madeline moved restlessly in her chair. "A medley," she said, laughing
uneasily. "A woman's reason; things being quiet, I wanted recreation,
and to tell you of my success thus far. Then, a detective's reason; to
get from you some information bearing upon your own affairs, as
connected with Lucian Davlin. Then I want to see Dr. Vaughan, in his
professional capacity. But mind, Olive, not a word to him of my
discoveries just yet."
"Certainly not, if you do not wish it."
And this was all the mention made by either of Clarence Vaughan.
"You see," began Madeline, after a brief silence, "Mrs. John Arthur
and her quondam brother, hold occasional private interviews. As they
generally prove interesting, I make it a point to be present whenever
possible. Now, from some chance words dropped at different times, I
have been led to think that if I were more fully informed in regard to
this Percy, I might find the missing link. Indeed, I may tell you I
have found a clue, just the shadow of something that, if I could
develop it, might prove of wonderful value to both of us."
"Oh! if you could find out anything that would throw light upon this
dark wrong they have done Philip, these men--"
"Well, Olive, I think we may hope. Now, may I begin to cross-question
you?"
Olive smiled sadly. "Go on, my little lawyer."
"First, then, were you personally acquainted with this Percy?"
"No."
"You have seen him?"
"At the trial; yes."
"Describe him."
"A blonde man, handsome, some would call him, with a soft, languid
voice. I did not observe further."
"Would you know him if you saw him again?"
"Certainly. His was a rather uncommon face, and then the
association--"
"Just so," interrupting her; "and would he know you?"
"I think not. I was heavily veiled, by Philip's order."
"Now, try to recall all that Philip has told you of this man."
"They were college students together. Philip said that Percy was
indolent and vain, and too fond of female society of any sort or
grade. He made wonderful progress in such studies as he chose to apply
himself to, and, had he been less of a sybarite, might have obtained
high rank as a scholar. But he was erratic, full of queer conceits,
and never made himself popular with either professors or students."
"Social standing not good, eh? Now, as to his finances."
Olive looked somewhat surprised at this question, but replied: "His
parents were not well to do, but he was a favorite with a rich old
uncle, who paid his college expenses and made him a liberal allowance.
However, he fell into disgrace just before his class graduated, and
his uncle cast him off. He never took his degree."
"What was the occasion of his disgrace?"
"Some scandalous affair with a mechanic's daughter; the particulars I
did not learn."
"Of course not. They are of no consequence. This happened how long
ago?"
Olive mused. "Philip is now thirty-three; this was twelve years ago."
"Good! Did he hear of Mr. Percy after that?"
"Yes; in less than a year, he married a wealthy woman, ten years his
senior, and a widow, so it was reported. Percy, it is said, denied
this marriage, and continued to live and go and come, like a bachelor.
If the marriage ever occurred, it was kept, for some reason, very much
under the rose. Be this as it may, Percy was always provided with
money from some source. He used to gamble sometimes, but was not an
habitual gamester. Philip said he was too much of a sybarite and
ladies' man to be wedded to such sports."
"Yet he played with Lucian Davlin, and lost heavily?"
"True."
"Well, is this all you have to tell of Mr. Percy?"
"Not quite. About a year before the catastrophe of the hunting party,
the uncle who had cared for him during his college career, died. Percy
inherited his wealth, the old man, after all, making his will in favor
of his graceless nephew." Olive paused for a moment, then added, "I
believe that is all I can tell you of this man. I have not seen or
heard of him since poor Philip was sent to prison."
Madeline sat gazing abstractedly into the grate fire, her hands
clasped in her lap, working restlessly, as was their habit, when she
was thinking deeply. Suddenly a sharp exclamation broke from her lips,
and Olive turned towards her a look of surprised inquiry. But Madeline
was clasping and unclasping her hands nervously, with eyelashes
lowered, and brow knitted in a frown.
"Olive," she said, after a long cogitation, "you have put into my
hands another thread, a very valuable one. Don't ask me any questions
now; I want to get my ideas in shape."
Olive's face wore an anxious look, but she had learned the lesson of
patient waiting, so she quietly acquiesced, and then a long silence
fell between them.
Madeline resumed the conversation, or rather recommenced it. She made
no further mention of that part of the subject nearest the heart of
Olive Girard. She made inquiries as to affairs and recent events at
the village, talked of Claire, and finally said:
"Olive, I want you to go out with me during the day, and perhaps we
had better go early. I must return to Bellair by to-morrow morning's
train, you know."
"Yes; and I am sorry that you stay with us such a very short time.
Where do you intend going, Madeline?"
"To a detective,--that is, if you will repeat your generous offer,
which I so cavalierly declined not long ago, to be my banker for an
indefinite time."
"Gladly, dear child; now you are beginning to be sensible. But the
detective,--may I venture to inquire?" with assumed hesitation.
"You may," laughed Madeline. "And don't give me credit for all the
ingenuity. True, I have racked my poor feminine brain and feminine
instinct, coupled with the knowledge obtained by some keen experience
with Treachery, Despair, and Hate. These grim but very efficient
instructors have aided me materially, simple, inexperienced girl as I
was so recently--or so long ago, as it seems to me. And good old Aunt
Hagar, who has been in this woful world many years--years full of
vicissitudes and sharp life-lessons--is my counsellor and adviser. She
aids me greatly with her shrewdness, and knowledge of the world and
the folk in it. So we have discussed this point together and concluded
that, in order to leave no loopholes open in our nice little net, we
had better have the movements of Mr. Lucian Davlin closely watched
while he is in the city."
"To discover--"
"Who he calls upon, and what manner of man he will choose to assume
the _role_ of 'physician from Europe,' etc. Without putting the full
facts of the case into the hands of the officer, we will arrange to
know all about the man who will help Davlin carry out their last
scheme. No train shall leave the city on which he would, by any
possibility, set out for Bellair accompanied by this sham physician,
without the knowledge of our man, or men, of skill. All discoveries
made are to be reported, through you, to Mademoiselle Celine Leroque,
who will receive said reports in _propria persone_, at the Bellair
post-office. Then I must proffer a request, that Doctor Vaughan will
hold himself in readiness to come to Oakley, should I find it
necessary to summon him, accompanied by another physician, or not, as
shall be hereafter decided."
"I don't just see how all this is to end, but these two steps appear
to me to be in the right direction. I am ready to undertake your
commissions, and to act as your banker to the fullest extent of your
needs."
After a few more words they decided that, as Claire did not return,
and time was precious, they would order a carriage immediately after
luncheon, and pay a visit to the detective forthwith. Accordingly,
half an hour earlier than usual, a light repast was served, and
sparingly partaken of. Then having left a message for Miss Keith, who
was momentarily expected, the two friends drove into the city.