THE PROFESSOR'S COURTING
Disappointed of the fortune, Bocaros had to keep on teaching at the
suburban school. He disliked the drudgery of the task, and hated the
boys who did not always treat him respectfully. The poor man had a
miserable time, and the loneliness of his life at the Refuge did not
tend to cheer him. What with his disappointment, the dampness of his
house, his straitened circumstances, let alone the fact that he was in
love, Professor Bocaros found life very hard.
He really adored Emily Doon. As she had told Jasher, Bocaros had
rescued her from the insults of a ruffian, and since then she had been
kind to the lawman. At first it did not enter her head to marry him,
as she knew how desperately poor he was. But Bocaros was a gentleman,
and Emily warmly desired to marry above her rank. She was a handsome,
ambitious girl with some education, and from reading novels such as
Mrs. Baldwin loved, she became imbued with the idea that she was
destined for a romantic life. Her visions included a title, a large
income, beautiful dresses, and the envy of every one she knew. She
painted a picture of her calling as a countess on Mrs. Fane and of
crushing that stately lady with patronage. Emily did not like Mrs.
Fane very much, as she found her a somewhat severe mistress. Therefore
she was anxious to marry as soon as possible. But those who sought her
hand were in trade, and Bocaros was the only gentleman who seemed to
admire her in a genteel and respectful way.
The conversation with Jasher put a different complexion on the affair.
According to the professor's man of business, who certainly must know
what he was talking about, Bocaros was a baron, and was likely to come
in for money. It was true that no details had been given, but the mere
hint was sufficient for Emily. She at once decided to encourage the
professor instead of snubbing him, and to this end, having dressed
herself in her best things, she went to pay a visit shortly after five
o'clock, an hour when she knew Bocaros would be within.
The professor was seated over a small fire, staring darkly into its
red heart, with folded arms. Outside, the twilight was darkening to
night and the wind was rising. But Bocaros did not pay any attention
to the doings of nature. He was wrapped up in the contemplation of his
own troubles. Already he had finished his frugal meal and had put away
the dishes as was his custom. Usually, having lighted his big pipe, he
would read, but on this evening the book lay unopened and the pipe was
laid aside. He began to feel keenly his poverty now that he was in
love. There seemed to be no chance of his marrying Emily, and so far
as he could see, unless he could bend his pride to accept money from
Calvert he would have to pass the rest of his days in that damp house
until too old to earn his bread. Then the wolf would rush in at the
door and drive him to the workhouse. No wonder the poor man was
angered by the good fortune of Arnold.
When a sharp knock came to the door, Bocaros, wrapped in his gloomy
thoughts, took no notice. Again came the knock in a still more
peremptory manner. This time he heard, and wondering who was calling
on such a recluse as himself, he went to the door. Here he expected to
find Tracey or Mrs. Baldwin, who were the only people who ever came to
the dull little house in the fields. But when he saw Emily fashionably
arrayed, smirking at the door and flashing her great eyes on him, the
poor man was so amazed that he fell back a step and gasped.
"I hope I'm not unwelcome," said Miss Doon, with dignity.
"Ah, my dear young lady, enter my humble home," gasped the professor,
wondering if this was all "a beautiful dream. How can you think but
what I am honoured far beyond my worth."
"The foreign style of compliment," simpered Emily entering, "is what I
would expect from one of the nobility."
"Bocaros did not hear. He conducted her to the study and made her sit
in the big armchair. Then he heaped on coals and wood in reckless
profusion, and volunteered to make his fair visitor a cup of tea.
"The English love tea," said the professor, hastening to the kitchen.
"In a moment you shall have some, mademoiselle."
"How sweet," sighed Emily, who liked the foreign title. But when alone
she cast her eyes round the room, and mentally decided that Bocaros
was even harder up than she expected to find him. Emily was a shrewd
girl where her vanity was not concerned, and had no notion of throwing
herself away. Unless she knew for certain that Bocaros was a baron and
that the money would really come to him, she decided that she would
never permit him to make her his wife. She was fond of fine dress, in
which her wages did not permit her to indulge. Already she was in
debt, and should the professor propose she knew not how she would be
able to get a trousseau together worthy of the occasion. "But I can
get Fanny to help," thought the astute Emily. Fanny was Mrs. Varney.
"She will do anything when she hears I have decided to marry a foreign
nobleman like Count Fosco in the _Woman in White!_" which comparison
was rather hard on the guileless Bocaros.
Shortly he returned with a cup of tea. Emily accepted the attention
graciously. But the tea was inferior, the china was thick, so she made
a wry face and drank very little of the comforting beverage. The
professor did not notice her distaste. He closed the window, drew the
threadbare curtains and lighted the lamp. Having made the room as
comfortable as was possible he sat down and poked the fire into a
brighter blaze, then smiled cheerfully at Miss Doon. She was secretly
amazed at the result produced by her visit in the man's looks. He
appeared to be years younger--there was a colour in his face, a softer
light in his aggressive eyes, and his demeanour was almost gay. She
thought that if he were better dressed and had more flesh on his poor
bones, he might be a handsome man after a sort. She might do worse
than marry him, always presuming that he really had a title, and was
possessed--in the near future--of money.
"You have no idea what pleasure it gives me to see you seated at my
poor hearth," said Bocaros, smiling brightly.
"It's very nice," replied Emily, also smiling. "But I suppose some day
you will be able to afford a better house?"
"I might. One never knows, as you English say. And were I rich, do you
know what I should do?"
"Marry, I suppose. When a gentleman has a house he always looks for a
lady to share it."
"The difficulty is to get the lady."
"Oh, really, sir, in your case there should be no difficulty."
Bocaros brightened still more. "Do you really think so, mademoiselle? I
am old, I am poor, I have no position, and----"
"But a baron has a position!"
"Who told you I was a baron?" asked Bocaros suspiciously.
"Mr. Jasher, your man of business. Isn't it true?"
"Yes," said the Greek slowly, and with his eyes on the fire, "it is
strictly true. I am a baron in my country, as I come of a noble
family. But I dropped the title when I came to teach in England. Yes!
I told Jasher I was a baron. How did he come to tell you?"
"There was no need for Bocaros to ask this question. Jasher had
reported the conversation to him, and had advised him to resume his
title if he wished to make an impression on Miss Doon's worldly heart.
As a matter of fact Bocaros was really entitled to the title he
claimed. He belonged to a decayed family and the title was all that
remained. As it was out of keeping in his position, and the man was
proud, he never gave any one to understand that he had this rank, and
was contented with the appellation of professor. Unused to the ways of
women, it had never struck him that the title would be of value in
Miss Doon's eyes when it was not gilded with money. But he saw from
her looks that she really thought a great deal of it, and mentally
thanked Jasher for having supplied him with this bird-lime to lure his
fowl.
"How delightful!" said Miss Doon. "And your wife will be a baroness?"
"Oh yes. But where am I to find a wife?"
Emily's eyes told him, but with the ineradicable coquetry of a woman
her tongue contradicted her glances. "Good gracious me, baron"--she
rolled the sweet morsel on her tongue--"how should I know? Really I
wish you would not look at me like that. It's hardly proper for a
young lady to call on a foreign nobleman. I believe they are not to be
trusted. The noblemen, you know--so gay and dashing they are."
Bocaros laughed a little sadly. "I fear I am anything but that," he
said. "Not at all the bridegroom for you."
"Really, professor--I must call you by the dear old name--I hope you
are not making a proposal."
"Does it offend you?" asked Bocaros timidly.
"I'm sure I don't know. I have never been proposed to before, as I
have always been hard to suit."
"Would I suit you?"
"Miss Doon having extracted a direct question got to business at once,
but veiled her common-sense under a delightful confusion. I really
don't know, baron--I must call you by that name, it sounds so
high-class--really I don't know. Of course I was born for a coronet."
"It would look well on that delicate head."
"I'm sure it would," replied Miss Doon, with conviction. "But you see,
baron, I must have a gold coronet, and you"--she looked round the
room.
"Yes," said Bocaros sadly. "I am poor--miserably poor. But," his eyes
blazed so suddenly that she drew back startled, "you may be able to
make me rich."
"Baron, I do not grasp your meaning."
Bocaros looked at her doubtfully. "Are you a strong-minded woman?" he
asked; "are you willing to do something for money?"
Emily grew nervous. "What do you mean, professor?"
"I mean that I can obtain an income of some thousands a year if you
will help me to get it."
The bait was too tempting for Miss Doon to resist, so she nibbled.
"So long as it is anything a lady can do," she observed modestly. "And
I am confident, baron, that you would not like the future bearer of
your noble coronet to do anything wrong."
"You could never do wrong in my eyes."
"Ah, but there are other eyes one has to consider," said Emily in a
shrewd manner. "You had better speak plainly."
"I will, if you promise to hold your tongue. If what I am about to say
gets abroad, farewell to the money and to my resuming my title."
"It's nothing wrong, I hope," faltered Emily, rather taken aback by
this earnestness. "Although I am not a prude I should never think of
doing anything to----"
"No, no! All I ask you to do is to give me some information."
"Information! Good gracious! what information can I give you?"
"Bocaros rose and began to walk with his hands in his pockets. I
suppose you remember the White Room crime," he said slowly.
Miss Doon shrieked. "Oh, don't talk of it, baron. It has ruined my
nerves. I can't----"
The professor interrupted ruthlessly. "Has it ruined the nerves of
your mistress?" he asked sharply.
Emily sat up and became more of a servant and an artful woman. "What's
that?"
"Must I put the matter plainly?" sneered the professor?
"Yes," she replied quietly, "if you wish me to understand."
"Then I will. The woman who was murdered was my cousin. She left me
ten thousand a year--hush, don't interrupt. Arnold Calvert, however,
got round her in some way and she altered her will, leaving the money,
which was rightfully mine, to him. I hate him, and I want half the
money at least. I have reason to believe that he killed this
woman--hush, don't interrupt--and if I can bring the crime home to
him, I can make him hush it up by his giving me five thousand a year.
If you will help me to prove his guilt, I will marry you and make you
a baroness as soon as the income is safe."
"Emily stared, and in her clever mind calculated the chances of
benefiting by this confidence. I don't see how I can help," she said,
to gain time.
"I do. Did you read the case as reported in the papers?"
"Yes. But it said nothing about Mr. Calvert."
"He was the young man who spoke to the constable. Now, when he left
the house my cousin was lying dead in the White Room, and a woman, to
distract the attention of the police, was singing. The song that she
sung is a favourite of Mrs. Fane's."
Emily now began to see whither these remarks tended. "Yes?"
"Yes!" repeated the professor impatiently. "Is that all you have to
say? Do you not understand?"
"No, I don't, really, I don't."
"Bah!" he turned his back roughly on her. "You are of no use to me."
"But I may be," said Miss Doon meaningly.
"Yes. If you like. Do you know what I want?"
"You want to make out that Mrs. Fane was singing in the room."
Bocaros nodded. "I know Mrs. Fane was supposed to be at the seaside.
But you told Jasher that you did something for Mrs. Fane, and would
not betray her. What was it you did?"
"I said I would not betray her," said Emily, not seeing how the affair
would turn out to her advantage.
"Then you will never be my wife."
"If you loved me----"
"It is not a question of love," he interrupted imperiously. "How can I
marry you and bring you to this hovel?"
"I should not come. Give me a good home and----"
"Well," he interrupted again impatiently, "the chance of obtaining a
good home lies in your hands. I swear I will make you a baroness if
you will help me to get the money."
Emily fenced. "Do you think Mr. Calvert is guilty?" she asked.
"Yes, decidedly. I am as sure of that, as I am that Mrs. Fane was in
the room assisting him to escape."
"But why should she do that?"
"Because she loves him----"
"Oh, good gracious!" Miss Doon started from her seat. "Really, that is
impossible."
"I tell you she loves him," repeated Bocaros grimly, "and that is why
she is so averse to her sister marrying him. Calvert got to know that
the will was made in his favour, and lured Flora to the White Room.
There Calvert or Mrs. Fane killed her--don't shriek."
"I must," said Miss Doon excitedly. "Do you think that Mrs. Fane--Oh,
I can't believe--And yet----"
"Ah! Then she _was_ up in town on that night?"
"I never said so," retorted Emily promptly.
"What is the use of fencing in this way?" cried Bocaros roughly. "I am
sure that my guess is correct. I was certain after what you let slip
to Jasher, and----"
"She has been a good mistress to me," said Emily, crying.
"Because she chose to. But she is a hard and cruel woman!"
"She's all that. She would kill me, did she know that I told."
"Bah! Once in the hands of the law she can do nothing. Come, Emily, my
dear wife that is to be, tell me. She was in town."
"Yes," confessed Emily. Then, having taken the leap, she hurried on:
"I will tell you all now, but mind you keep your promise. If you
don't, I will deny everything; and you can't do without me."
The professor kissed her hand gravely. "I have no wish to do without
you, my dear," he said. "Go on; tell me all."
"When we were at the seaside," said Miss Doon, sitting down again, "I
noticed that the mistress was worried. She got worse and worse, and
always quarrelled with her husband."
"Was he with her all the time?"
"Yes. On the twenty-fourth----"
"The time of the murder," said Bocaros, under his breath.
"Mr. Fane received a letter which made him turn pale. I took the
letters up to him in the morning-room, as the man asked me to. When he
opened the letter he turned pale, and put it into his pocket. Mrs.
Fane was in the room. She looked sharply at him, but said nothing. But
when I left they had a quarrel. At all events, Mrs. Fane looked
furious all the day. Mr. Fane said he was ill with a cold----"
"Was he really ill?" asked the professor suspiciously.
"Well, he had a cold, but not a bad enough one to make him go to bed
as he did. He took to his room, and Mrs. Fane attended to him herself.
All day she was with him. Just before six she came out of his room,
and told his man that he was asleep and was not to be disturbed. She
then called me into her room, and told me that she had to go away on
business. She did not want it to be known that she was out of the
house, and asked me to put on one of her dresses and sit all the
evening in the drawing-room till she came back."
"Did she explain why she went to town?"
"No. Nor did I ask. I never thought that anything was wrong. I fancied
she might have gone up to see Mr. Frederick Mason, as she was always
calling on him. She had quarrelled with her husband, so I thought the
letter he received was about some business that was wrong----"
"What business?"
"The business of Mason & Son. Mr. Fane is a partner with Mr. Mason,
but Mrs. Fane attends to matters. As I say, she often went to see her
brother, and I thought she did so on this night unbeknown to Mr. Fane.
For that reason, as I supposed, she wanted me to pretend to be her, so
that neither he nor the servants would think she had been out of the
house. I said Mr. Fane might want me, but she said he would not, as
she had given him a sleeping-draught, and he would not awaken till the
morning. Well, she paid me so well that I agreed. I put on her dress
and sat in the drawing-room. She told the servants to go to bed when
they liked, as she would require nothing more. So all the evening I
was not disturbed, and the servants, thinking I had gone out--I made
up a story for them," said Emily artfully--"never came near me. My
mistress caught the six train up."
"At what time did she come back?"
"After midnight. She caught the last train down."
"Did she seem disturbed?"
"Not at all. She simply came in and said that she had done her
business. Then she paid me the money and sent me to bed, after hearing
that all was well, and that the other servants suspected nothing. Then
she remained in the drawing-room looking over some papers."
"You suspected nothing wrong?"
"I did not," replied Miss Doon, with assurance. "Not until you spoke
of her singing the song did I think anything wrong."
"Yet you read the report at the inquest."
"I did. But it never struck me that----"
"I see," interrupted Bocaros, rubbing his hands. "Well, you can be
quite sure, Emily, that Mrs. Fane came to Ajax Villa on that night.
Can she drive a motor-car?"
"Yes. She had one down at Westcliff-on-Sea."
"Then it's her, without a doubt. She stole Tracey's motor-car, and
leaving it in Charing Cross station-yard, went along by the
underground to Liverpool Street, where she caught the last train.
Jasher told me that Tracey's own idea is, that a woman did this, and
that a woman killed Mrs. Brand. Ah! with your evidence we'll have
her."
"What will you do?"
"Do?" said the professor. "I'll get five thousand a year from Calvert,
or have both him and Mrs. Fane arrested. Your evidence will hang her
and give him a life-sentence."