When Martin and Carden reached the office of the London representatives
of the New York house, in or by which the former's entire fortune was
invested, they found quite a gathering about the doors, and inside an
excited crowd of investors clamoring for information.
Martin was well known to the clerks as being heavily interested, and his
coolness commanded sufficient admiration to procure him an interview
with a member of the firm.
"Better go to the hotel and wait for me, Fred," he said, as he passed
into the private office.
When he emerged at the end of ten or fifteen minutes, his unmoved
appearance, and the quiet smile with which he greeted the clerks with
whom he was acquainted, did much to re-assure those who had watched his
entrance. Carden, too, was deceived on meeting him.
"It's all right, I suppose?" he said.
"No, not exactly, but I suppose there will be enough recovered out of
the wreck to pay my debts. You know I have been speculating a little on
my own account, and I don't know how I stand."
Martin spoke slowly and thoughtfully, as though considering his
position, and Carden looked at him in amazement so great, that before he
could speak, Martin was continuing: "Of course, Fred, I shall have to
leave at once, by the next steamer."
"Dick, it can't be possible that you have lost everything!" exclaimed
Carden, excitedly.
"Looks like it. They tell me it's the worst smash in twenty years."
Carden looked disheartened, much more so than his friend, and asked when
the next steamer sailed.
"The day after to-morrow, the next fast one, so we will have a day to
ourselves before we part, Fred."
Martin spoke cheerily, which caused his friend to brighten a little and
ask if it would not be well to start back at once to Hanley Hall.
"No, Fred, not to-night. Perhaps I may be able to get there to-morrow if
I can arrange to leave then."
The two friends separated shortly afterwards--Carden returning to Hanley
Hall, where his arrival, and subsequent narration of Martin's trouble
caused great sympathy.
"Surprises are becoming the usual thing here. I wonder what will come
next!"
Mr. Stafford said this during a break in the conversation, but an answer
came sooner than he expected, and from an unexpected quarter.
"Papa, don't you think that, under the circumstances, Fred and I should
do something to help Mr. Martin out of this trouble? He has spent large
sums of money, I'm sure, in recovering those papers, and doubtless in
other matters."
It was Kate who spoke, and all looked at her in surprise. Not a
blushing, embarrassed girl, but a calm collected woman met their gaze.
"Of course, I know nothing about these matters," continued she, "but it
would seem that an immediate advance of a large sum would be likely to
be of assistance."
"I am afraid Dick would not care to accept assistance from friends,"
said Carden, slowly. "If he would, I should have proffered everything I
possessed, while in London, but I know he would accept nothing--at least
from _me_."
There was a marked emphasis in the last words, and significance in the
look accompanying them, but the effect was not visible. Kate simply
bowed in acquiescence, and said it was a pity they could not find a way
to aid him, and that ended the matter for the night--that is, in the
drawing-room.
Later, up-stairs, Miss Fleming entered Kate's room on some pretext, and
after a few minutes' conversation arose to leave, but before going
relieved herself of the object of her visit as follows:
"Kate Stafford! If any one should have told me that you were the
cold-blooded thing you are, I would have done something wicked to them!"
Miss Fleming was a brave little woman, but she was badly frightened, for
a moment, after she had finished speaking.
Maids were plentiful enough at Hanley Hall, but the two girls usually
dispensed with them when visiting each other.
Kate had just loosened her long black hair preparatory to brushing when
her friend finished, and as she swung around from the glass it fell in
masses about her. She looked like an angry Juno as she towered over
little Miss Fleming.
"Jennie," she cried, fiercely, "don't you dare torture me about that man
any more!"
Startled, frightened, Jennie cowered under the outburst, but the next
instant was playing the comforter and telling Kate she "didn't mean a
word of it!" for the latter suddenly sank into a chair, and began to
cry and sob as though her heart would break.
And through all the tears and all the comforting Jennie only obtained a
slight clue to the cause. It was when Kate said, with her head resting
on the other's breast:
"Jennie! Jennie! I can't give him another chance to throw back my love,
and I can't meet him kindly unless I do!"
* * * * *
Next morning's mail brought a letter from Martin, written after Carden's
departure, and addressed to the latter, and after perusing it himself he
read it to the others after breakfast. It ran as follows:
"My dear Fred: I have changed my mind about going to
New York and have cabled people there to see what can
be got out of the wreck. I am a young man yet, Africa
is looming up as a place to make something quickly,
and there is a ship sailing for the Cape to-morrow
night, or early next morning. I met the captain after
you left, and have made arrangements for my passage. I
will, of course, have to get a good many things, and
this will take all the time I have to spare, so I
cannot go to Hanley Hall as agreed. You must,
therefore, say good-bye for me. It will, also, take
nearly all I possess at present. I must, also,
therefore, ask you to do something for me, and I
believe you will get it back soon from the "wreck."
Make Julia a wedding present of five hundred pounds
for her goodness to me. I know you will do it gladly
enough, and the bank people surely ought to pay £500
on £200,000."
Julia, who since her arrival at Hanley Hall, had been made one of the
family, and was sitting facing the reader, here entered a vehement
protest:
"No, no, Mr. Carden, never! To think of him, with all his trouble,
thinking of me!
"That's worth five hundred more--just to hear it!" exclaimed Carden;
"and now let me get on, for we have no time to spare."
"I am sorry, Fred, I cannot be at your wedding," he
continued; "but you know, that even if circumstances
permitted, it would not be pleasant for your cousin. I
can't understand it--you know what I mean--but as it
is with me now, it is fortunate it is so. Not that I
would be afraid with her with me, but it is fortunate
for her at any rate.
"You can read part of this, if you like,--just enough
to account for my failure to appear, and come and see
me before we get away.
"Say good-bye to every one for me, for I am neither
good as a writer or talker, and I should not like
either your aunt or uncle, Miss Fleming, Julia, or
O'Brien, or the doctor too--or anyone else, to think I
parted without regret at not seeing them--yet, Fred, I
don't believe I could stand it if I did.
"It's a long letter, my boy, but it may be the
last--it's certainly the longest I've ever written."
Carden folded up the letter and placed it in his pocket. His eyes were
not exactly dry--nor were any others at the table--little Miss Fleming
and Julia were actually sobbing; Mr. Stafford, Doctor Fox and O'Brien
were vainly endeavoring to look through the open window; and Kate sat
dry-eyed, aye, and dry-lipped too, gazing intently before her, and
Carden became angry.
"I've violated Dick's confidence," he said, in hard tones and looking
straight at his cousin,--"only to show you the kind of a man we are
losing--for he's going to certain death, I firmly believe!"
Carden stopped and sprang up quickly, but not quick enough to prevent
Kate from falling heavily to the floor.
* * * * *
All was bustle and confusion aboard _The Albatross_. It lacked only an
hour of sailing-time, and still all the cargo was not aboard. The
captain was swearing at the stevedores, and they in turn at the men, but
it was all in vain, and the part of the cargo still to be stowed was so
valuable that the captain hated to leave it.
Whilst the captain was hesitating, a hansom came tearing down to the
pier.
Leaning over the taffrail of _The Albatross_ was Martin, and, even
before the cab door was thrown open, he murmured "Fred!"
"I was afraid something serious had happened, and you could not come!"
he said, returning the warm grasp of his friend.
"Something serious has happened!" replied Carden, "and you must come
back with me at once! It's just a matter of life or death with Kate, and
Fox says it depends on you! Come Dick! Why, what's the matter with you?
Come on! Hang the outfit! Let's get away!" and he dragged Martin ashore.
It was a week after the sailing date of _The Albatross_ when Doctor Fox
came into the dining-room just as dinner was being served, to say:
"Somebody might go up-stairs now and allow Julia to come down, for I
shall need her again by-and-by," looking straight at Martin, who
instantly arose and left the room.
It had been an anxious week at Hanley Hall, and at times Doctor Fox
despaired of saving the life of the patient.
"She will get along all right now," continued the doctor after Martin
left the room. "The fever has gone, and time and care will, I believe,
do the rest."
There was general rejoicing over this glad intelligence, but the doctor
forbade any undue excitement--"for a day or two."
Meantime Martin had reached Kate's room, and was admitted by Julia. Kate
turned her head on hearing him enter, and smiled as he approached and
took her hand.
"You came back on my account," she said.
"Yes," he answered, "but----"
"And you will not go away to that place?" she interrupted.
He wanted to tell her that he was now a poor man and could not afford to
act as he wished, but he had been warned of the result of argument. She
was very weak, and spoke scarcely above a whisper, but in her weakness
lay her strength, and he hesitated and she understood him. Her hand
still lay in his, and with a gentle pressure she drew him nearer to
catch her whisper:
"We have enough for both. You must not go away! Will you?" and he meekly
answered that he would not.
"Then you may kiss me," she whispered, and Julia came down-stairs
looking so radiantly happy that all felt the necessity of asking her the
reason.
* * * * *
Martin's affairs were not in such bad condition as he had been led to
believe, for when the day set for his wedding and that of Carden's and
O'Brien's, arrived, he was again quite wealthy. His own private
speculations had far surpassed his highest hopes, and aside from this
the financial crash was not so great as at first reported.
Hanley Hall, with its seven miles of enclosing walls, is no longer the
property of the Staffords, having passed into the hands of the British
Government, and is now devoted to the amusement and instruction of the
people; but the Martins, and the Cardens, and their descendants, are
still in the vicinity.
THE END.
* * * * *
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* * * * *
Transcriber's Note: The original copy of this text did not have a Table
of Contents. A Table of Contents has been created for this electronic
edition.
The following typographical errors present in the original text have
been corrected.
In Chapter III, "Breakfast, over Mr. Stafford strolled out" was changed
to "Breakfast over, Mr. Stafford strolled out", and a quotation mark was
added after "she must do as she pleases."
In Chapter VI, "mumured something not very angelic" was changed to
"mumured something not very angelic", "asserverated that he believed
himself" was changed to "asseverated that he believed himself", "some
cl-- something which would enable me" was changed to "some cl--something
which would enable me", and a quotation mark was added after "Mr. Henry
Hall, No. -- Harley St., London."
In Chapter VII, a missing quotation mark has been added after "he have
something?", an exclamation mark following "Here Mike" has been moved
from outside to inside a quotation mark, and a missing period was added
after "slipped through his fingers like quicksilver".
In Chapter IX, "all sorts of nice things about, you" was changed to "all
sorts of nice things about you", "You might as well go ahead Dick" was
changed to "You might as well go ahead, Dick", and a missing period was
added after "who took a great fancy to Hall".
In Chapter X, a missing quotation mark was added after "the Emperor of
Nowhere has died and left you a kingdom".
In Chapter XI, "Kate became embarassed and blushed" was changed to "Kate
became embarrassed and blushed", "aware he is an imposter" was changed
to "aware he is an impostor", and "Her's was the original" was changed
to "Hers was the original".
In Chapter XV, a missing period was added after "the two inns in Naas".
In Chapter XVI, "her all night vigil" was changed to "her all-night
vigil", and "Mext morning, immediately after breakfast" was changed to
"Next morning, immediately after breakfast".
In Chapter XVII, "if the matter was followed furthur" was changed to "if
the matter was followed further".
In Chapter XVIII, a missing quotation mark was added before "The party
wanted was our friend Hall", and "Mr. Jacobs, however, knew Mr. Blout"
was changed to "Mr. Jacobs, however, knew Mr. Blount".
In Chapter XIX, a quotation mark was added before "How blind you
fathers", and a quotation mark was deleted after "exclaimed the doctor".
In Chapter XX, a missing period was added after "laid two letters before
him", a quotation mark was removed after "The other is 'life,' or
worse.", "Such fellows as Jaggars and 'The Knifer'" was changed to "Such
fellows as Jaggers and 'The Knifer'", and "Thus communing with himself
Blount, walked rapidly" was changed to "Thus communing with himself,
Blount walked rapidly".
In Chapter XXII, "put himself out Blount's reach" was changed to "put
himself out of Blount's reach".
In Chapter XXIII, "Quirk, sir, And I heard" was changed to "Quirk,
sir, and I heard", and "an' would'nt give 'em to me" was changed to "an'
wouldn't give 'em to me".
In Chapter XXIV, quotation marks were added after "necessary to close in
on him" and before "I can't tell yet", "this dull indifferance" was
changed to "this dull indifference", and "she's being sacrified in the
affair" was changed to "she's being sacrificed in the affair".
In Chapter XXV, a quotation mark was added after "Here are your papers,
Mr. Martin."
In Chapter XXVI, "I found 'The Knifer' easy enough in Lieth" was changed
to "I found 'The Knifer' easy enough in Leith", and "at the risk of
being set down for a boar" was changed to "at the risk of being set down
for a boor".
In Chapter XXVII, a period was added after "£500 on £200,000".
In addition, the phrase "No.-- Harley St.", which appears frequently in
the text, has been changed to "No. -- Harley St." throughout.
In the advertisements, a period was added after "Birthday and Wedding
celebrations", and a comma was added after "dyspepsia".
End of Project Gutenberg's Harry Blount, the Detective, by T. J. Flanagan