A TEMPTING OFFER
The small boy brought in the card and laid it on Brooks' desk with a
flourish.
"He's outside, sir--in Mr. Barton's room. Shall I show him in?"
Brooks for a moment hesitated. He glanced at a letter which lay open
upon the desk before him, and which he had read and re-read many times.
The boy repeated his inquiry.
"Yes, of course," he answered. "Show him in at once."
Lord Arranmore, more than usually immaculate, strolled in, hat in hand,
and carefully selecting the most comfortable chair, seated himself on
the other side of the open table at which Brooks was working.
"How are you, Brooks?" he inquired, tersely. "Busy, of course. An
aftermath of work, I suppose."
"A few months ago," Brooks answered, "I should have considered myself
desperately busy. But after last week anything ordinary in the shape of
work seems restful."
Lord Arranmore nodded.
"I must congratulate you, I suppose," he remarked. "You got your man
in."
"We got him in all right," Brooks assented. "Our majority was less than
we had hoped for, though."
Lord Arranmore shrugged his shoulders.
"It was large enough," he answered, "and after all it was a clear gain
of a seat to your party, wasn't it?"
"It was a seat which we Radicals had a right to," Brooks declared. "Now
that the storm of Imperialism is quieting down and people are beginning
to realize that matters nearer home need a little attention, I cannot
see how the manufacturing centres can do anything save return Radicals.
We are the only party with a definite home policy."
Lord Arranmore nodded.
"Just so," he remarked, indifferently. "I needn't say that I didn't
come here to talk politics. There was a little matter of business which
I wished to put before you."
Brooks looked up in some surprise.
"Business!" he repeated, a little vaguely.
"Yes. As you are aware, Mr. Morrison has had the control of the Enton
estates for many years. He was a very estimable man, and he performed
his duties so far as I know quite satisfactorily. Now that he is dead,
however, I intend to make a change. The remaining partners in his firm
are unknown to me, and I at once gave them notice of my intention.
Would you care to undertake the legal management of my estates in this
part of the world?"
Brooks felt the little colour he had leave his cheeks. For a moment he
was quite speechless.
"I scarcely know how to answer, or to thank you, Lord Arranmore," he
said at last. "This is such a surprising offer. I scarcely see how you
can be in earnest. You know so little of me."
Lord Arranmore shrugged his shoulders.
"Really," he said, "I don't see anything very surprising in it.
Morrisons have a large practice, and without the old man I scarcely see
how they could continue to give my affairs the attention they require.
You, on the other hand, are only just starting, and you would be able to
watch over my interests more closely. Then--although I cannot pretend
that I am much influenced by sentimental reasons--still, I knew your
father, and the strangeness of our few years of life as neighbours
inclines me to be of service to you provided I myself am not the
sufferer. As to that I am prepared to take the risk. You see mine is
only the usual sort of generosity--the sort which provides for an
adequate quid pro quo. Of course, if you think that the undertaking of
my affairs would block you in other directions do not hesitate to say
so. This is a matter of business between us, pure and simple."
Brooks had recovered himself. The length of Lord Arranmore's speech and
his slow drawl had given him an opportunity to do so. He glanced for a
moment at the letter which lay upon his desk, and hated it.
"In an ordinary way, Lord Arranmore," he answered, "there could be only
one possible reply to such an offer as you have made me--an immediate
and prompt acceptance. If I seem to hesitate, it is because, first--I
must tell you something. I must make something--in the nature of a
confession."
Lord Arranmore raised his eyebrows, but his face remained as the face of
a Sphinx. He sat still, and waited.
"On the occasion of my visit to you," Brooks continued, "you may
remember the presence of a certain Mr. Lacroix? He is the author, I
believe, of several books of travel in Western Canada, and has the
reputation of knowing that part of the country exceedingly well."
Brooks paused, but his visitor helped him in no way. His face wore
still its passive expression of languid inquiry.
"He spoke of his visit to you," Brooks went on "in Canada, and he twice
reiterated the fact that there was no other dwelling within fifty miles
of you. He said this upon his own authority, and upon the authority of
his Indian guide. Now it is only a few days ago since you spoke of my
father as living for years within a few miles of you."
Lord Arranmore nodded his head thoughtfully.
"Ah! And you found the two statements, of course, irreconcilable.
Well, go on!"
Brooks found it difficult. He was grasping a paperweight tightly in one
hand, and he felt the rising colour burn his cheeks.
"I wrote to Mr. Lacroix," he said.
"A perfectly natural thing to do," Lord Arranmore remarked, smoothly.
And his answer is here!
"Suppose you read it to me," Lord Arranmore suggested.
Brooks took up the letter and read it.
"TRAVELLERS' CLUB, December 10.
"DEAR SIR,
"Replying to your recent letter, I have not the slightest hesitation in
reaffirming the statement to which you refer. I am perfectly convinced
that at the time of my visit to Lord Arranmore on the bank of Lake Quo,
there was no Englishman or dwelling-place of any sort within a radius of
fifty miles. The information which you have received is palpably
erroneous.
"Why not refer to Lord Arranmore himself? He would certainly confirm
what I say, and finally dispose of the matter.
"Yours sincerely,
"VICTOR LACROIX."
"A very interesting letter," Lord Arranmore remarked. "Well?"
Brooks crumpled the letter up and flung it into the waste-paper basket.
"Lord Arranmore," he said, "I made this inquiry behind your back, and in
a sense I am ashamed of having done so. Yet I beg you to put yourself
in my position. You must admit that my father's disappearance from the
world was a little extraordinary. He was a man whose life was more than
exemplary--it was saintly. For year after year he worked in the
police-courts amongst the criminal classes. His whole life was one long
record of splendid devotion. His health at last breaks down, and he is
sent by his friends for a voyage to Australia. He never returns. Years
afterwards his papers and particulars of his death are sent home from
one of the loneliest spots in the Empire. A few weeks ago you found me
out and told me of his last days. You see what I must believe. That he
wilfully deserted his wife and son--myself. That he went into lonely
and inexplicable solitude for no apparent or possible reason. That he
misused the money subscribed by his friends in order that he might take
this trip to Australia. Was ever anything more irreconcilable?"
"From your point of view--perhaps not," Lord Arranmore answered. "You
must enlarge it."
"Will you tell me how?" Brooks demanded.
Lord Arranmore stifled a yawn. He had the air of one wearied by a
profitless discussion.
"Well," he said, "I might certainly suggest a few things. Who was your
trustee or guardian, or your father's man of business?
"Mr. Ascough, of Lincoln's Inn Fields."
"Exactly. Your father saw him, of course, prior to his departure from
England."
"Yes."
"Well, is it not a fact that instead of making a will your father made
over by deed of gift the whole of his small income to your mother in
trust for you?"
"Yes, he did that," Brooks admitted.
Lord Arranmore shrugged his shoulders.
"Think that over," he remarked. "Doesn't that suggest his already
half-formed intention never to return?"
"It never struck me in that way," Brooks answered. "Yet it is obvious,"
Lord Arranmore said. "Now, I happen to know from your father himself
that he never intended to go to Australia, and he never intended to
return to England. He sailed instead by an Allan liner from Liverpool
to Quebec under the name of Francis. He went straight to Montreal, and
he stayed there until he had spent the greater part of his money. Then
he drifted out west. There is his history for you in a few words."
A sudden light flashed in Brooks' eyes.
"He told you that he left England meaning never to return? Then you
have the key to the whole thing. Why not? That is what I want to know.
Why not?"
"I do not know," Lord Arranmore answered, coolly. "He never told me."
Brooks felt a sudden chill of disappointment. Lord Arranmore rose
slowly to his feet.
"Mr. Brooks," he said, "I have told you all that I know. You have
asked me a question which I have not been able to answer. I can,
however, give you some advice which I will guarantee to be
excellent--some advice which you will do well to follow. Shall I go
on?"
"If you please!"
"Do not seek to unravel any further what may seem to you to be the
mystery of your father's disappearance from the world. Depend upon it,
his action was of his own free will, and he had excellent reasons for
it. If he had wished you to know them he would have communicated with
you. Remember, I was with your father during his last days--and this is
my advice to you."
Brooks pointed downward to the crumpled ball of paper.
"That letter!" he exclaimed.
Lord Arranmore shrugged his shoulders.
"I scarcely see its significance," he said. "It is not even my word
against Lacroix'. I sent you all your father's papers, I brought back
photographs and keepsakes known to belong to him. In what possible way
could it benefit me to mislead you?"
The telephone on Brooks' table rang, and for a moment or two he found
himself, with mechanical self-possession, attending to some unimportant
question. When he replaced the receiver Lord Arranmore had resumed his
seat, but was drawing on his gloves.
"Come," he said, "let us resume our business talk. I have made you an
offer. What have you to say?"
Brooks pointed to the waste-paper basket.
"I did a mean action," he said. "I am ashamed of it. Do you mean that
your offer remains open?"
"Certainly," Lord Arranmore answered. "That little affair is not worth
mentioning. I should probably have done the same."
"Well, I am not altogether a madman," Brooks declared, smiling, "so I
will only say that I accept your offer gratefully--and I will do my very
best to deserve your confidence."
Lord Arranmore rose and stood with his hands behind him, looking out of
the window.
"Very good," he said. "I will send for Ascough to come down from town,
and we must meet one day next week at Morrisons' office, and go into
matters thoroughly. That reminds me. Busher, my head bailiff, will be
in to see you this afternoon. There are half-a-dozen leases to be seen
to at once, and everything had better come here until the arrangements
are concluded."
"I shall be in all the afternoon," Brooks answered, still a little
dazed.
"And Thursday," Lord Arranmore concluded, "you dine and sleep at Enton.
I hope we shall have a good day's sport. The carriage will fetch you at
6:30. Good-morning."
Lord Arranmore walked out with a little nod, but on the threshold he
paused and looked back.
"By the bye, Brooks," he said, "do you remember my meeting you in a
little tea-shop almost the day after I first called upon you?"
"Quite well," Brooks answered.
"You had a young lady with you."
"Yes. I was with Miss Scott."
Lord Arranmore's hand fell from the handle. His eyes seemed suddenly
full of fierce questioning. He moved a step forward into the room.
"Miss Scott? Who is she?"
Brooks was hopelessly bewildered, and showed it.
"She lives with her uncle in Medchester. He is a builder and timber
merchant."
Lord Arranmore was silent for a moment.
"Her father, then, is dead?" he asked.
"He died abroad, I think," Brooks answered, "but I really am not sure.
I know very little of any of them."
Lord Arranmore turned away.
"She is the image of a man I once knew," he remarked, "but after all,
the type is not an uncommon one. You won't forget that Busher will be
in this afternoon. He is a very intelligent fellow for his class, and
you may find it worth your while to ask him a few questions. Until
Thursday, then."
"Until Thursday," Brooks repeated, mechanically.