NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK.
The first thing that Doctor Vaughan did on returning from Bellair, was
to seek an interview with Henry, the dark servant of Lucian Davlin.
It was a mixed motive that had first prompted Henry to espouse the
cause of a helpless, friendless girl; a motive composed of one part
inward wrath, long nourished, against the haughty and over-exacting
Lucian, and one part pity for the young girl who, as his experienced
eyes told him, was not such as were the women who had usually been
entertained by his master.
He had expected to assist her to escape from the place, to enjoy his
master's chagrin, and to see the matter end there. But Madeline's
illness had changed the current of events, and strengthened his
determination to stand her friend, if need be, more especially when
Olive, pressing upon him a generous gift, had signified her wish that
he should continue in Madeline's service. She had added that when he
chose to leave his present master, she would see that he fell into no
worse hands, for so long as the sick girl remained under that shelter,
Olive felt that the man must be their servant, not Davlin's. And, to
do him justice, Henry had long since become truly attached to the two
ladies.
He lost no time in responding to the summons of Doctor Vaughan, and
was eager to know of the welfare of the "young lady" and Mrs. Girard.
Doctor Vaughan satisfied him on this point, and then said:
"I am authorized by Miss Payne to see you, and ask some questions that
she thinks you may be able to answer. First, then," said the doctor,
in his kindly manner, "how long have you been with your present
master?"
"Nearly three years, sir."
"And how long has the woman whom he calls Cora been known to you?"
"She has been known to me all that time, sir," replied Henry.
"You first saw her in company with Davlin?"
"No, sir; she came to his rooms when I had been there but a few days,
and ordered me about like a countess. I didn't know the ropes then,
but she made me know my duty soon enough," dryly.
"Evidently, then, she and your master were friends of long standing,
even at that time?"
"Yes, sir."
"You used to hear them talk often, I suppose?"
"I used to hear parts of their talks. They seemed not to care to have
even so much of a machine as I, hear them at all times."
"Now, will you try and recall some of these fragments of talk? Think
if you heard them speak of their travels, together or separately; and
if you can recall the names of any persons or places they have
mentioned."
Henry pondered. "I think," he said, after a time, "that they have been
in Europe together. In fact, I am sure of it."
Doctor Vaughan started. "Oh! that is to the point. You don't recall
any time mentioned?"
"No, sir. They used to talk of luck with the cards, and sometimes
spoke of operas or plays, and almost always disagreed. Sometimes I
would hear him describing men to her, and she seemed to be getting
ready for a part in some 'game' that he was trying to play."
"Very likely."
"Once I heard them having high words about some old man that she had
been fleecing, and he said that she had carried the thing too far; and
that if she did not keep out of the old man's way, she might get into
trouble. I heard the name," putting a forefinger to his forehead and
wrinkling his brows; "it was--was--Verage; 'Old Verage,' she called
him."
"Verage!"
"That was the name; I am sure, sir."
Clarence took out a note-book, and made an entry.
"When did this conversation take place?" he asked.
"Not more than two months before the young lady was brought there,
sir."
"Ah!" Evidently a fresh glimmer of light had been thrown on the
subject. "And you heard nothing more about this old man?"
"No, sir. I think she must have gone away from town at that time, for
I did not see her again, until--" here Henry seemed to catch at some
new thought.
"Until when?" asked Doctor Vaughan, with some eagerness.
"The day before the young lady came," said Henry, in a low tone, and
moving a step nearer the doctor. "Madame Cora came dashing up in a
close carriage, and she wore a heavy veil. I noticed that because she
was rather fond of displaying her face and hair, and I hardly ever saw
her wear anything that would hide them. She came up-stairs and ordered
me to send a telegram, which she had already written, to my master. I
sent it, and she stayed there all day. She sent me out for her meals,
and I served them in the large room. She spent the most of the time in
walking up and down--that was her way when she was worried or
angry--and looking out between the curtains. My master answered the
telegram, but when the midnight train came in, a man who went down in
the country with him, a sort of tool and hanger-on of his, came to me
while I was waiting below, and told me to tell Mistress Cora that the
train was a few minutes late."
"Stop a moment. This man, who was Davlin's companion,--what was his
name?"
"I never heard him called anything but 'The Professor.'"
"The Professor! And how did he look?" making another entry in the
note-book.
"He was a middle-aged man, sir, not so tall as master, rather square
in the shoulders, and stout built. He wore no beard, and was always
smoking a pipe."
"Very good," writing rapidly. "Now, then, let us return to the lady."
"Well, sir, she was very impatient until my master came, and then they
had a long talk. I heard him speak of the old man Verage again, and
she seemed a little afraid, or annoyed, I don't know which. Then he
seemed to be telling her of some new scheme, and there was a great
deal of planning and some chaffing about her going into the country.
Just at daybreak they sent me for a carriage, and she went away in it,
closely veiled as before. He told her he would join her without fail.
I have not seen her since. That same morning he brought the beautiful
young lady to his rooms, and," smiling so as to show all his white
teeth, "I think you know all the rest, sir."
Clarence nodded and then appeared lost in thought. Finally, he lifted
his head from the hand that had supported it, and said:
"Since your master has returned to town, how does he employ his time?"
"Very much as usual."
"And that is in--"
"Gaming."
"Is it true, Henry, that the room below your master's apartments is
fitted up for private gambling?"
Henry stirred uneasily, and looked his answer.
Doctor Vaughan smiled. "I see how it is," he said. "Well, then, this
man, the Professor, do you see much of him of late?"
"A great deal, sir; he is very often with my master at his rooms, but
they never go out together. They have had a great deal of privacy
lately; something new is afoot."
"The man is a sort of decoy-duck, I fancy?"
"Yes; what the gamblers call a capper, or roper-in."
"Well, Henry, I think I won't detain you longer now. Take this,"
putting into his hand a twenty-dollar bill, "and keep your eyes and
ears open. If your master leaves town, observe if the Professor
disappears at the same time."
Henry expressed his gratitude and his entire willingness to keep an
eye upon the doings of Mr. Davlin and the Professor, and bowed himself
out, muttering as he went: "They will make it lively for my fine
master before very long, and I think I am on the side that will win."
Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, quick in thought and action, was hurrying
on his gloves preparatory to a sally forth on a new mission. Henry had
given him a hint that might turn out of much value, for among the
patients then on the young doctor's visiting list, was one Verage,
old, ugly, and fabulously rich.
First of all, Clarence Vaughan called at the Agency which had been
decided upon as the best one to entrust with the investigation
relative to Mr. Edward Percy. He gave his man no clue to the present
whereabouts of his subject, but set him back ten years or more,
sending him to visit the scenes of school episode, and bidding him
trace the life of the man, with the aid of such clues as he thought
best to give, up to that time. Next, he visited another Agency, and
placed a man upon the track of Lucian Davlin.
Then he called a carriage and drove straight to the residence of old
Samuel Verage. It was early in the day for a professional visit or for
a visit of any kind. Nevertheless, Doctor Vaughan was admitted without
delay, to the presence of the master of the house.
Old Samuel Verage sat in his large, softly-cushioned armchair, in a
gorgeously beflowered dressing gown.
He was glowering over the dainty dishes which had lately contained a
bountiful breakfast. Evidently he fancied that the doctor had called
in anticipation of a serious morning attack, or to choke off his too
greedy appetite, for he chuckled maliciously as Clarence entered the
room, and greeted him with,
"Oh! You thought you were ahead of me this time, didn't you? I say,
now, _did_ you think I would be worse this morning?"
Clarence surveyed his patient with considerable amusement.
"You won't suffer from a hearty breakfast. It is the supper that you
must look out for. But my call this morning was, in part, to inquire
about a lady."
"About a lady! Of course, of course; go ahead; who is she?"
"That's precisely what I want to know. The fact is, my business is
rather peculiar, and delicate."
The old man rubbed his hands gleefully. "Good! very good! A mystery
about a woman! Come out with it; don't be backward."
"Very well; the woman that I want to inquire about has been known as
Cora Weston."
Old Verage fairly bounced out of his seat as he yelled: "Cora Weston!
Where is she? What do you know about her?"
"Not quite enough, or I should not have ventured to inquire of you,"
said Clarence, calmly.
Old Verage tumbled into his chair again. "Then you don't know where
she is?" sharply.
"What could you do if I put her in your power?"
"Lock her up in jail, if I wanted to," fiercely.
Little by little Clarence Vaughan extracted from the old man the
details of the plausible scheme by which Davlin and Cora had succeeded
in transferring a very considerable amount of cash from his pockets to
their own. He felt elated at the result of this interview. It placed a
weapon in his hands that might be wielded with telling effect when
time served.
"Well, you may be able to get even with her yet," he said, rising to
go, after Verage had concluded his tirade; "many thanks for giving me
some information. I may be able to return the compliment soon."
"But hold on!" cried Verage, as if seized by a new thought; "I say,
now, what is all this questioning about?"
"Some of her sharp practice has come to my knowledge, and she has
made a little trouble for one of my friends. I want to know all that I
can about her, for it may be necessary to put a stop to her career."
With a renewed expression of his thanks for the information given,
Clarence bowed himself out of the old man's presence, with a sense of
relief at inhaling the fresh, pure air of the outer world. Then he
turned his steps homeward, assured that it had been a good day's work
well done.