Mr. Harker, having arranged things to his liking at Lawrence Lane,
returned to Miss Lester and reminded her of her promise to assist him to
unmask Jasper Vermont. He found her more than willing to accompany him
to Barminster, and accordingly it was arranged that they should travel
down together on the following day, accompanied also by Jessica. Upon
the rare occasions that Vermont and Harker had met during the past week
the latter had made no sign of his recently acquired emancipation from
Jasper's rule, and that gentleman was in blissful unconsciousness of the
sword hanging over him.
Arrived at Windleham, the nearest station to Barminster, Mr. Harker left
the two women at the little hotel facing the railway, there to await his
return or instructions to come on to the Castle. Then he made his way to
Barminster. Here he delivered a note into the care of the footman,
bidding him to take it to his master without delay. In it he had begged
Lord Barminster to grant him an interview on important personal
business, hinting that by so doing he might avert future peril for
Adrien and himself.
In a very short time the man returned, with the message that Lord
Barminster would see him at once; and Mr. Harker was shown into the Blue
Room, in which Adrien Leroy had been arrested little more than a week
before.
"His lordship will be with you in a few moments," said the man as he
left the room.
Almost immediately Lord Barminster appeared, accompanied by Mortimer
Shelton. Harker rose respectfully and rather nervously, but Lord
Barminster at once put him at his ease.
"Pray be seated, Mr. Harker," he said politely, as he and Shelton set
the example. "This is my son's friend, Mr. Shelton, and I should like
him to be present at our interview."
Mr. Harker bowed.
"I presume you are the Mr. Harker into whose possession came the forged
bill?" continued his lordship.
"As a mere servant--yes, my lord," answered Mr. Harker. "I have become
aware of the identity of the man who committed the actual forgery, and
also of the fact that he is now preparing to bring further trouble on
yourself and Mr. Adrien Leroy."
Lord Barminster started as if to speak, but Mr. Harker continued:
"Fortunately, I am able to avert this, because I have brought the forged
bills with me; and I will explain all fully, if your lordship will hear
me through. It will take some little time, but I ask your patience."
Lord Barminster nodded and said quietly:
"Go on."
With a dry cough, Mr. Harker opened the little black bag he invariably
carried with him, and drew from it a roll of papers. With slow
precision, the old man unfastened it and looked across at his listeners.
"Five years ago," he commenced, "my master--for, as I said before, I was
merely a servant, a machine, acting under instructions--ordered me to
buy up any bills bearing your son's name. Furthermore, I was to lend the
money to any amount within my master's credit to those who brought his
name as guarantee. I did so, and every bill and liability which was
contracted either in his own name or in yours, my lord, by Mr. Leroy,
fell into the hands of this man, who carried on the business under cover
of my name. He posed as the friend of Mr. Leroy, and by means of
forgeries, and cooked accounts, he has managed to acquire control of
your entire revenue."
"Jasper Vermont!" exclaimed Shelton involuntarily; while Lord Barminster
leaned forward eagerly.
Mr. Harker bowed his head. "You are aware," he continued, "that all
matters of business, even the tradesmen's bills, passed through his
hands. That confidence he has abused, to how great an extent I alone can
prove; for I was his tool and slave, and held his secrets. Not a bill
was paid without his receiving his commission and adding to its amount.
He it was who lent the money to Mr. Leroy's friends, after he had
procured his name with which to back them; and he it was who, behind the
screen which I supplied, gradually, yet surely, drew your son into his
net. What object he had, besides that of gain, I know not; but he
certainly desired his utter ruin in wealth and honour, and compelled me
to help him in his schemes. Among other bills we held was one,
presumably, indorsed by Mr. Mortimer Shelton----"
Shelton started up; but Lord Barminster said quietly:
"Let us hear the whole story first, Mortimer."
"That signature was a forgery," continued Mr. Harker, "double forgery
indeed; for it imitated Mr. Leroy's handwriting as well as that of Mr.
Shelton."
"I knew it," murmured his lordship in a low tone. "But pray continue,
Mr. Harker."
"The double forgery," went on the dry voice, "I now know was executed by
my employer's hand; but instructions were given in the name of the firm
to charge Mr. Adrien Leroy with the crime. The particular day was fixed
on the twenty-second simply because my master had found out that Mr.
Leroy had been somewhere else, and in the company of a lady whom he knew
Mr. Leroy would never betray. But this part you already know from
yesterday's trial. False evidence was brought to bear, in the statement
that your son had been in our office, and it was only owing to a plea of
illness that I escaped being made a witness also. This was but one
forgery, and I have here large numbers of bills all forged by the same
hand, and which, if presented, will amount to more than the sale of
three such estates as this could liquidate."
Lord Barminster uttered an exclamation of horror.
"I will leave them here with you," went on Mr. Harker, "and when the
scoundrel has been unmasked, you need have no fear of any future danger.
In my master's chain of villainy there was a single flaw; but that flaw
has broken the whole chain. The poor tool, whom he had had so long
beneath his thumb, whom he had trodden under his foot remorselessly,
suddenly regained his freedom--which he had bartered for the safety of
his only child."
He raised his head and looked steadily into the stern eyes of Lord
Barminster.
"My child and I," he continued, "are now freed from the chains that
bound us, and are willing to bear any results that may follow from this
exposure. Besides these bills, my lord, I have additional proof. A young
girl whom I have brought with me was fortunate enough to see Mr.
Vermont----"
Lord Barminster's face shone with triumph, as the actual name of his
master at last fell from Harker's lips.
"--My master--drop a roll of papers. These she picked up, and later,
when by a strange coincidence she was befriended by my daughter, showed
them to me. They clearly prove, by the many attempts to imitate the
writing, whose hand it was who eventually committed these forgeries."
"I knew it!" cried Shelton, unable to keep silence any longer. "I knew
we should catch the snake! But, pardon my interrupting you, Mr. Harker;
you see, Mr. Leroy is my best friend."
Mr. Harker inclined his head and proceeded steadily.
"These forged deeds I will now, my lord, hand over to your charge, if
you prefer it. But if you will have sufficient confidence in my efforts
to save you from further trouble, I will hold them at your command until
after Vermont is dealt with, in order not to implicate you in any way;
for, of course, these bills belong to Vermont, until either he gives
them up voluntarily, or they are confiscated by law."
"Keep them in your possession," said Lord Barminster quietly. "It would
not do for them to be in my hands just at present. I will have
confidence in you, and you shall have no cause to regret this day's
work, I assure you."
Mr. Harker looked at him gratefully.
"Thank you, my lord," he said. "Your confidence is not misplaced;
indeed, it is not my fault that you have not been placed in possession
of the real facts of the case before this. I certainly think it would be
best for me to retain them for the present. I would suggest now that we
arrange a plan by which Jasper Vermont shall expose his villainy in the
actual presence of your son; otherwise, we shall have difficulty,
perhaps, to convince him on my bare word."
"That's true enough," put in Mortimer Shelton. "Adrien is so set on the
man, that even with these proofs we shall hardly convince him of his
treachery other than from Vermont's own mouth."
"Yes," said Lord Barminster with a sigh. "I think you are right. But how
is this to be managed?"
"I have brought with me the girl, Jessica, to whom I referred just now,
and her aunt, Miss Ada Lester," said Mr. Harker. "Both of them will be
able to assist us, and I would suggest to your lordship that they be
sent for, and brought into the Castle quietly. We should then be able to
confront Vermont."
"Certainly," agreed Lord Barminster; and, crossing the room, he rang for
his own confidential man.
"Simpson," he said, when the servant appeared, "I want you to drive
down, yourself, to the station."
"The Windleham Hotel, your lordship," interrupted Mr. Harker
respectfully. "I think, too, if your lordship would have no objection, a
short note from me would be advisable."
"Certainly," agreed Lord Barminster. He directed Harker to a small desk,
then turned once more to the waiting servant. "Bring the ladies back
with you. Take them into the Octagon Room, and ask them to wait there."
Then, as Mr. Harker came forward with the note, he added, "Give this to
a Miss Lester."
"Yes, my lord," said Simpson, and taking the letter with a deep bow, he
departed on his mission.