As he started on his rapid walk back to Kenlisle at a very brisk pace,
for the distance was between four and five miles, and business hours
were approaching, Horace put together rapidly the information he had
obtained. Perhaps a mind of different calibre might have rejected the
pitman's inference, and benevolently trusted, with the defrauded Squire,
that Pouncet and his partner were only "confoonded looky" in their land
speculation--such things have happened ere now honestly enough. Horace,
however, was not the man to have any doubt on such a subject. His mind
glanced, with a realization of the truth, quick and certain as the
insight of genius, along the whole course of the affair, which appeared
to him so clear and evident. How cautious, slow Mr. Pouncet, in most
matters a man of the usual integrity, had been pounced upon by the
sudden demon which appeared by his side in the shape of his clever
clerk: how his mind had been dazzled by all the sophisms that naturally
suggested themselves on this subject: how he had been persuaded that it
was a perfectly legitimate proceeding to buy from the needy Squire these
lands which at present to all the rest of the world were only worth so
little, and which concealed, with all the cunning of nature, the secret
of their own wealth. The Squire wanted the money, and was disposed to
sell this portion of his estate to any bidder; and even if he were aware
of the new discovery, had _he_ either money or energy to avail himself
of it? Horace knew, as if by intuition, all the arguments that must have
been used, and could almost fancy he saw the triumphant tempter reaping
the early harvest of his knavery, and stepping into a share of his
victim's business, and of the new purchase which was made in their joint
names. These coal-pits were now a richer and more profitable property
than the whole of Mr. Pouncet's business, satisfactory as his
"connection" was; but Horace was very well able to explain to himself
how it was that the career of Mr. Stenhouse at Kenlisle had been very
brief, how all Mr. Pouncet's influence had been exerted to further the
views of his partner elsewhere, and how it happened that the stranger's
reception showed so much ceremonious regard and so little cordiality.
With a certain sense of envy and emulation, the young man regarded this
new comer, who held another man, repugnant and unwilling, fast in his
gripe, and had him in his power. It is _chacun a son gout_ in matters of
ambition as well as in other matters. There was something intoxicating
to the mind of Horace in this species of superiority. To have command
secretly, by some undisclosable means, of another individual's will and
actions: to domineer secretly over his victim by a spell which he dared
neither resist nor acknowledge; this was something more than a mere
means of advancement; independent of all results, there was a
fascination indescribable in the very sensation of this power.
And it was this power which he himself had acquired over these two men,
so totally unlike each other, who would see him to-day, unsuspicious of
his enlightenment, and this evening meet him at the social table, which
already won such influence, put under a painful constraint. Horace
exulted as he thought of it, and brushed past the early Kenlisle
wayfarers with such a colour on his cheek, and a step so brisk and
energetic, that not one of them believed the tales to his disadvantage,
and furtive hints of having been seen in unnameable places, which began
to be dropped about the little gossiping town. He had only time to make
a hurried toilette, deferring to that more important necessity, the
breakfast, which he had no leisure to take, and to hasten to "the
office," where he sat punctual and composed at his desk, for full two
hours before his companion of the previous night appeared, nervous and
miserable, at his post, with an aching head and trembling fingers.
Horace glanced across with cool contempt at this _miserable_ as he
entered. He was conscious that he himself, in his iron force of youth
and selfishness, looked rather better and more self-controlled than
usual under the inspiration of his new knowledge, and he looked at his
weaker compeer with a half-amused, contemptuous smile. This very smile
and disdain had their effect on the little circle of spectators, who all
observed it with an involuntary respect, and forgot to think what might
be the heart and disposition of this lofty comrade of theirs, in
admiring homage to the coolness of his insolence and the strength of his
head.
Meanwhile, thoughts at which they would have stood aghast mingled in the
busy brain of Horace with the drier matters of daily work which passed
through his hands. Upon which of these two men who were in his power
should he exercise that unlooked-for empire? Should he frighten Mr.
Pouncet out of his wits by disclosing to him his new discovery? He was
certainly the most likely person to be frightened with ease; but this
did not suit the ideas of Horace. He was tired of Kenlisle, and found
no advantage in a residence there, and he felt in Mr. Stenhouse a
kindred spirit with whom he could work, and under whom his fortune was
secure. Thus the virtuous young man reasoned as he sat at his desk, the
bland object of his thoughts passing him occasionally with smiles upon
that wide mouth which the old pitman remembered so well. It might not be
possible for Horace to refrain from waving his whip over the head of his
present employer, but it was the stranger upon whom for his own
advancement he fixed his eyes. Mr. Stenhouse was a man much more able to
understand his gifts, and give them their due influence, than Mr.
Pouncet would ever be; and in the excitement and exaltation of his
present mood Horace thrust from his mind more consciously than ever
before that anxiety about his father's secret which had moved him to so
much eagerness ere he began to have affairs and prospects of his own. He
became contemptuous of it in his youthful self-importance and sense of
power. He was dazzled to see how his own cool head and unimpressionable
spirit, the undeviating iron confidence of his supreme self-love, had
imposed upon his comrades in the town--if comrades they could be called,
who won no confidence and received no friendship from him; and he was
elated with the new power he had gained, and ready to believe himself
one of those conquerors of fortune before whose promptitude and skill
and unfailing acuteness every obstacle gives way.
In this mood he filled his place in Mr. Pouncet's office during that
day, meditating the means by which he should open proceedings in the
evening. Mr. Pouncet, meanwhile, as it happened, by way of diverting his
conversation with his former partner from matters more intimate and less
manageable, had been pointing out to his notice the singular qualities
of Horace, his remarkable position and subtle cleverness. Perhaps Mr.
Pouncet would not have been very sorry to transfer his clever clerk to
hands which could manage him better; at all events, it was a subject
ready and convenient, which staved off the troublesome business
explanations which had to be made between them. Mr. Pouncet had
committed himself once in his life, and betrayed his client; but he was
a strictly moral man notwithstanding, and disapproved deeply of the
craft of his tempter, even though he did not hesitate to avail himself
of the profits of the mutual deceit. Twenty years had passed since the
purchase of that "most valuable property," but still the attorney, whose
greatest failure of integrity this was, remained shy of the man who had
led him into it, reluctant to receive his periodical visits, and most
reluctant to enter into any discussion with him of their mutual
interest. So Mr. Pouncet talked against time when necessity shut him up
_tête-à-tête_ with Mr. Stenhouse, and told the stranger all about
Horace; while Horace outside, all his head buzzing with thoughts on the
same subject, pondered how to display his occult knowledge safely, and
to open the first parallels of his siege. For which purpose the young
man made his careful toilette in preparation for Mr. Pouncet's
dinner-table, where the attorney's important wife, and even Mr. Pouncet
himself, received the young clerk with great affability, as people
receive a guest who is much honoured by their hospitality. How he
laughed at them in his heart!