Doctor Fox called to see his patient early next morning, so early that
he met Mr. Stafford and Carden coming down to breakfast.
"Well, how is the patient this morning?" he asked.
"I'm afraid you will have to go up-stairs to ascertain that," replied
Mr. Stafford. "Oh yes! We inquired--" he added, noticing the curious
glance of the physician. "We inquired just now, but were told you were
coming early, and we could learn his condition from you."
"Sensible girl," said the doctor. "I will not keep you waiting long, I
imagine."
In two or three minutes the doctor reappeared and motioned them to come
up. At the door he cautioned them not to excite his patient adding--"He
is now fully conscious!"
This was pleasing news, even coupled with the doctor's proviso that
there must be only a word.
Martin was awake and expecting them, and returned the warm clasp of his
friends' hands. Kate sat somewhat in the background, smiling and
looking happy notwithstanding her all-night vigil in the sick room.
When the doctor departed she was to exchange with her predecessor,
Julia, for a few hours, by order of the doctor.
When the gentlemen descended to the bar and informed Mrs. Moran of this,
she at once notified Julia, who proceeded to Martin's room only to
return again in a few minutes.
The young lady was reading to Mr. Martin, she said, and would not want
her for half an hour.
"That's good!" commented Mrs. Moran, to whom the information was
conveyed. "She'll have him asleep by that time and you'll have nothing
to do for awhile, so if you have any sewing or knitting ye better take
it with ye."
When Julia returned at the expiration of the half hour she found Mrs.
Moran's prediction correct. Martin was asleep and Kate awaiting her.
As the doctor was about leaving he again warned Carden and Mr. Stafford
against exciting Martin.
"Your friend," he said, "has some weighty matter on his mind. What it is
I, of course, do not know. Possibly you may. But whatever it is, all
reference to it must be avoided."
In view of this positive prohibition Carden remained silent regarding
the letter he received next day from Miss Fleming in relation to the
locket picture. He would have liked to have consulted Martin, but this
being impossible at present he decided to return at once to London, and
felt relieved to learn when about starting that his friend was asleep.
Kate could explain or avoid explaining his absence better than he could
himself.
At the Bow Street station Carden met Inspector Prime, and read to him
that part of Miss Fleming's letter relating to the locket.
After making careful note of this the inspector informed Carden that
Blount had returned and was working on an advertisement which had
appeared lately in the various London and Liverpool newspapers. He would
have Blount call at Carden's hotel that evening, as there might be some
questions to ask which did not occur to him (the inspector) at that
time.
As appointed, Blount called at the Bridge Hotel that evening. He had
only seen Carden once and barely knew him, but knowing the friendship
existing between Martin and Carden, had no reluctance about giving the
latter a detailed account of his work since leaving London for Dublin
and Antwerp.
On reaching Dublin he found without the slightest trouble that Mr. Hall
had just returned from Antwerp, but the most thorough search in
Amsterdam--that city of diamond dealers and cutters--whence he had gone
from Antwerp, failed to show that Hall had had dealings with any of
them. He did find that a man answering Hall's description had been
there--but that was all.
Blount then showed Carden the two advertisements, at the same time
informing him that he knew them to be Hall's.
"You see--he's getting anxious!" said Blount. "In the second he names a
specific sum--and quite a large one too. Then again, he omits reference
to that mysterious undergarment. I expect to receive full information
regarding the missing property to-night. The chambermaid and his valet
whom he engaged in Dublin, both belong to us. Yes," he continued, noting
Carden's surprise, "yes, they both belong to us, and yet I don't believe
we could stop him if he wished to leave the country to-morrow."
"Then you don't regard this locket affair as of much importance?" asked
Carden, very much disappointed.
"Not alone. You see, Mr. Carden, he frankly acknowledges that he found
it and lately lost it. It may have been stolen or lost from the chain.
Still taken in connection with other points, it may prove of the
greatest importance."
Shortly after Blount left to meet Hall's valet, and Carden made a flying
visit to Hanley Hall. They arranged to meet the following day, for the
purpose of informing Carden, up to the last moment before he returned to
Ireland, of what had occurred.
Carden arrived late and was surprised to find that neither Mrs. Stafford
nor Miss Fleming had retired. The former look troubled and the latter
had evidently been trying to console her.
Carden soon learned the cause of the trouble. A letter from Hall to Mrs.
Stafford had been received that evening. It enclosed another to Mr.
Stafford, which she was requested to forward to him. The letter to Mr.
Stafford was unsealed--probably left so purposely--and Mrs. Stafford,
unfortunately for her peace of mind, read it.
The letter set forth in plain terms that the writer had returned from
Ireland for the purpose of marrying Kate Stafford, and with the
expectation of finding everything ready for the marriage; whereas, on
his arrival, he not only found no preparations being made, but father
and daughter were gone on an indefinite visit.
Mr. Stafford could take his choice of seeing the engagement fulfilled
at once, or of having the overdue mortgages held by Hall foreclosed and
Hanley Hall in the possession of a stranger.
Mrs. Stafford was in great distress. It was the first intimation she had
received of her husband's financial troubles, and a woman almost
invariably loses her head in anything of that kind.
Carden's arrival was most fortunate. Finding his aunt knew nothing of
the matter, he told her he would take charge of the letter, as he was
returning to Ireland next day, and assured her there was no occasion to
worry. Finding it impossible to convince her in regard to this, he
finally revealed what he had intended to keep secret until after his
marriage to Miss Fleming; namely, that since meeting Martin he had
become very wealthy.
"And Aunt," he continued, "Dick--I mean Mr. Martin, could buy the place
twice over, so don't worry! He has risked his life for mine, and if my
money is not sufficient I know his is at my command. As for this fellow,
I shall write to him for you that as the time for the marriage has not
arrived he need not complain. When the time comes he will find
everything prepared!"
Carden's words did much to reassure Mrs. Stafford, and she retired in a
fairly good frame of mind. Miss Fleming accompanied her, pausing at the
door to shake her finger threateningly at her disconsolate lover.
Next morning, immediately after breakfast, and after a short but not all
stormy interview with Miss Fleming, Carden left for London.
At Bow Street he found that nothing had been heard from Blount since the
previous day. Being anxious to get back to Naas, Carden left a note for
Blount and started at once for Liverpool.