THE OTHER BANK ROBBER.
I called Captain Synders and Waddie from their hiding-place, and
hastened to the hotel, intending to reach it about as soon as Mr.
Overton, for I was rather fearful that his lordship would take the
alarm, and leave before I had an opportunity to introduce him to the
constable.
“I promised to tell Lord Palsgrave where Miss Dornwood is,” said I, as
we hurried towards the rear entrance of the hotel, while Mr. Overton
had gone to the front door. “Have you any objection, Waddie?”
“I don’t know that I have. It is useless to try to hide her from him,”
he replied, as we entered the hotel.
I saw Mr. Overton go into the parlor; and, after placing the constable
where he would be available when his services were needed, Waddie and
I followed the anxious guardian. We found him talking to an elegantly
dressed lady, who, I concluded, was his wife.
“Lord Palsgrave is not here just now,” said Mr. Overton, as we
approached the spot where he stood.
“He has gone up stairs to dress for dinner,” added the lady. “He said
he would be down in a few moments.”
“We are somewhat in a hurry,” I continued, anxiously; for I was afraid
his lordship might obtain a hint of the presence of a constable on the
premises.
“If you are in a hurry, it will be quite as proper for you to impart
your information to me,” said Mr. Overton.
“I promised to give it to Lord Palsgrave only,” I added, wishing him to
understand that I would give it to no other person.
I was very much afraid of making a blunder. Of course his lordship,
having just returned from robbing a bank, would naturally be very
excitable and suspicious. I walked across the room with Waddie, in
order to obtain an opportunity to speak with him in private.
“Go to the office, Waddie, and ascertain the number of Lord Palsgrave’s
room, and don’t let him leave the house,” I said to him, in a low tone.
“Don’t say anything unless he attempts to leave.”
“I understand,” replied Waddie, as he left the parlor to execute his
mission.
“I hope you will not leave till you have seen Lord Palsgrave,” said
Mr. Overton, perhaps afraid that I should follow the example of my
companion.
“I will not, sir,” I answered, walking with him over to the place where
the lady was seated.
“We are very anxious indeed about Miss Dornwood,” he added; “but more
for her own sake than for any other reason. She is young and giddy.”
“I think you need not be disturbed about her.”
“How can we help being worried about her?” said the lady.
“Well, madam, I can assure you she is with excellent people, who will
be very careful of her.”
“Did I understand you to say that you conveyed Miss Dornwood away in
your boat?” asked Mr. Overton.
“Whatever the facts may be, I did not say so. Did I understand you to
say that Miss Dornwood is engaged to Lord Palsgrave?”
“I did say so.”
“I suppose you have been acquainted with his lordship for a long time,
then?”
“No, only a few weeks.”
“Of course you are satisfied that he is what he represents himself to
be.”
“What, Lord Palsgrave?” demanded Mr. Overton, with a frown. “Why do you
ask such a question?”
“I suppose you are aware, sir, that all people who pass themselves off
as noblemen in the United States are not really so.”
“I think such a suggestion is an insult to his lordship. Did Miss
Dornwood intimate to you that Lord Palsgrave was an impostor?”
“She did not. On the contrary, I am confident that she believes he is
just what he claims to be.”
“There can be no doubt about that. May I ask if you know anything about
Lord Palsgrave?”
“I do know something about him, though I have not yet even met his
lordship.”
“I think you ask rather remarkable questions concerning him. But here
comes his lordship,” added he, as an elegantly-dressed young gentleman
entered the parlor.
Mr. Overton hastened to meet Lord Palsgrave, and spoke to him for
a moment in private. While they were thus engaged, Waddie entered
the room, and came to my side. We had an opportunity to examine his
lordship’s elegantly-fitting garments, which were certainly very
creditable to his tailor. I had obtained a single glance at his face,
and if his voice had been familiar to me, there was also something in
his looks which seemed to remind me that I had seen him before, though
I did not then recognize him.
Lord Palsgrave was in full dress, with a white vest and black dress
coat. His patent-leather boots were unexceptionable, and his pants
were a capital fit. From his neck an eye-glass dangled at the end of a
silken cord. He wore a light mustache, which had evidently been colored
within a recent period, and every hair on his head was adjusted with
the nicest care. If I had met him in the street I should have called
him a dandy without any compunction of conscience. I wish to say that I
have since seen a live duke and a live earl; but both of them, though
they looked and acted like gentlemen, were very plainly dressed.
“He’s a swellish-locking fellow--isn’t he?” said Waddie, as he joined
me in the parlor.
“The chief end of man with him is to keep up appearances,” I replied.
“I think I have seen that fellow before.”
“So do I, but I can’t make him out.”
“Did you get a good view of him, Wolf?”
“I only obtained a single glance at his face when he came in; but I
pity Miss Dornwood if she is compelled to throw herself away upon such
a puppy as he.”
“That match will be broken up, I think.”
“Did you see him up stairs, Waddie?”
“No. I knocked at his door, and satisfied myself he was in his room;
but I cleared out as soon as he answered me. I did not let him see me
when he came out.”
“Where is Captain Synders now?” I asked.
“I told him to stand by the door when I came in, and he is all ready to
pounce upon his victim.”
“Here comes Mr. Overton,” I added, as his lordship turned and walked
over to the place where Mrs. Overton was seated.
“Excuse me, but I have not your name,” said Mr. Overton.
“Captain Penniman,” I replied.
[Illustration: THE INTRODUCTION. Page 227.]
I walked with him into the immediate presence of his august lordship.
“Lord Palsgrave, Captain Penniman,” said Mr. Overton.
His lordship had adjusted his eye-glass as he raised his head from the
lady.
“Captain Penniman!” exclaimed he; and his face turned as red as a blood
beet.
“Nick Van Wolter!” I almost shouted, as I recognized the distinguished
nobleman. “I hope your lordship is quite well.”
“By the great horn spoon! It is Nick Van Wolter!” cried Waddie.
“Do you know these persons, Mr. Overton?” said his lordship, recovering
his self-possession, and adjusting his eye-glass with particular care.
“I do not.”
“Don’t you know me, Lord Nick Van Wolter?” I asked, laughing heartily
at the airs of his lordship.
“Certainly not,” he answered.
“Then I have the advantage of your lordship.”
“So have I,” added Waddie; “and that’s two against one.”
“Who are these persons?” demanded his lordship, still squinting at us
through his eye-glass.
“I don’t know them; but one of them informs me that he knows where
Miss Dornwood is, and is willing to inform your lordship,” replied Mr.
Overton.
“I am that person, and I shall be happy to give his lordship all the
information in my power,” I answered.
“What do you know of the lady?” asked his lordship, in supercilious
tones.
“She went down the lake in the Belle last night--his lordship knows the
Belle very well.”
“The belle--pray, sir, do you refer to Miss Dornwood?” said Lord
Palsgrave, squinting at me through the glass.
“I do not. I refer to the sloop boat Belle, in which your lordship has
sailed more than once.”
“What do you mean by that, fellow?”
“Come, Nick, this farce is played out.”
“Nick! What do you mean, fellow, by applying such an insulting epithet
to me?” exclaimed his lordship.
“I hope you will treat Lord Palsgrave with proper respect,” interposed
Mr. Overton.
“Well, sir, I happen to know that Lord Palsgrave and Nick Van Wolter,
the son of the present captain of the steamer Ucayga, are one and the
same person. In other words, Mr. Overton, he is a humbug.”
“Fellow!” ejaculated his lordship. “How dare you insult me?”
“O, I dare, it you call the simple truth an insult,” I replied.
“I will not endure this insolence,” said his lordship, rushing towards
the door.
“Yes, you will,” I interposed, placing myself before him.
“I will call the landlord, and have you ejected from the premises.”
“Not yet. I will send for the landlord, and save you that trouble.
Waddie, will you call him?” and I nodded to him to indicate that
Captain Synders might also be introduced.
By this time there was a great excitement in the parlor. The guests
of the house who were waiting for dinner had become interested in the
affair. Nick Van Wolter, while he still attempted to maintain his
assumed character, was evidently very much disconcerted, and was
thinking how he should get out of the room, and make his escape. When
Captain Synders entered the parlor, his jaw fell.
“Nick Van Wolter, as true as you live,” said the constable, as he came
in, Waddie having previously informed him who the victim was.
“Captain Penniman, you promised to tell his lordship where Miss
Dornwood is,” interposed Mr. Overton.
“I am entirely willing to do so,” I replied. “But I am surprised to
find that his lordship does not remember the Belle. Why, when his
lordship and the other gentleman--who, I believe, does not pretend to
be a lord--were crossing the lake last night, after midnight, the Belle
actually ran into his boat. I will add that Miss Dornwood was on board
of the Belle at the time, though she was asleep in the cabin.”
“His lordship in a boat?” repeated Mr. Overton.
“Exactly so; and if his lordship will pardon the freedom of my speech,
he and the other gentleman--who is not a lord--robbed the Centreport
Bank of fifty or sixty thousand dollars.”
“Robbed a bank!” exclaimed Mr. Overton.
Lord Palsgrave’s face was deadly pale, and his frame quivered with
emotion.
“His lordship is well acquainted with Captain Synders, constable of
Centreport, who is here for the purpose of arresting him.”
“O, yes! I know his lordship like a book,” replied the constable. “I
have known him for a good many years, and I’m sorry to say, I never
knew much good of him.”
At this moment the gong for dinner sounded; but none of the guests in
the parlor manifested any disposition to regard the summons.
“I have heard enough of this nonsense. Mrs. Overton, allow me to escort
you to the table,” said his lordship, trying to stiffen his joints
again, as he stepped up to the lady, and extended his arm to her.
“I hope Mrs. Overton will excuse your lordship, for we have not
finished our business yet,” I remarked, as the constable stepped up to
his victim.
His lordship was evidently very much disgusted and disheartened.