MRS. HOLDFAST INSISTS UPON BECOMING AN ACTIVE PARTNER.
The following night--the night which Mr. Pelham had sworn should be
the last of his search, and the last upon which he would continue his
disguise as Richard Manx--this accomplished villain carried out his
intention of coming home to his garret in Mrs. Preedy's house much
earlier than usual. In fact, it was not more than half-past eight as he
turned one of the streets which branched into Great Porter Square. He
was in good spirits, despite that the night was as wretched and gloomy
as the most despondent mortal could maliciously--out of hatred for his
species--have desired. All day long the rain had continued without
intermission; the thoroughfares were in a deplorable condition of mud
and slush, and those persons whose avocations did not compel them to
be out in the streets, gladly availed themselves of the comforts of a
fireside at home. These are not the occasions, especially in a city so
crowded and selfish as London, when people are in the mood to be amiable
and obliging, and it was therefore the more remarkable that Richard
Manx, by no means a gracious being as a rule, should have walked to
his lodgings in a glad and pleasant frame of mind. The fact was, good
fortune had smiled upon him. He had had a long interview with Mrs.
Holdfast, who on this very day had come into possession of a large sum
of money, realised from certain of her late husband's securities--shares
in railway companies which had been delivered to her, as his sole heir
and executrix. It was, indeed, no less a sum than twelve thousand
pounds, and of this she had, in compliance with Mr. Pelham's urgent
demands, given him a cheque for fifteen hundred pounds, the exact sum,
as he declared, necessary to clear himself from pressing debts and
liabilities. This cheque he had forthwith converted into Bank of England
notes, and they were safe in his pocket, with his other savings, with
which he intended to make a large fortune at Monaco. Mrs. Holdfast had
also consented to sell off her London house, and accompany him on a tour
of pleasure. She, as well as he, was tired of the humdrum days; she
sighed for excitement and adventure; the pleasure grounds of Europe
were open to her, and now that she was a widow, and still young and
beautiful, and now that the terrible anxieties of the past twelve months
were at an end, she determined to enjoy her life as such a pretty woman
should. There was another reason why she wished to get away from London,
and indeed from England altogether, for a while. Since little Fanny had
accosted her by the name of Grace, she did not feel herself safe. There
was danger in the mere utterance of the name, and there was security in
absence from spots in which other persons, more cunning than a simple
child like Fanny, might by some chance recognise her. She thought it
would be as well to take the child with her; Fanny was a bright, clever
little creature, and might prove useful, and if she got tired of her, it
would be easy to lose her on the Continent, or place her in a situation
where her babbling, if she were inclined to babble, could do no harm.
Mr. Pelham had visited her at noon in a spirit the reverse of that in
which he left her. She had been most amiable and vivacious, and fell in
joyfully with his plans, when he had expected her to be obstinate and
ill-tempered, and inclined to thwart him. Then, he had intended to ask
her for a cheque for five hundred pounds, and improving the opportunity,
had obtained fifteen hundred. No wonder that he sang a little song to
himself as he turned into Great Porter Square. Had a beggar solicited
charity from him he might have obtained a small piece of silver, but
it is the misfortune of human affairs that fitting opposites are
rarely brought into fortunate conjunction, and the beggar not being
forthcoming, Richard Manx's charitable spell had no opportunity of
airing itself. He was within a few doors of his lodging-house when a
woman, who had walked quickly after him, and was out of breath with the
exertion, laid her hand on his arm, and wished him good evening.
[Decoration]