"Guv'nor aboard?"
Glyddyr was seated in the cabin, restlessly smoking a cigar, and gazing
through the open window at the Fort, where it stood up grey and
glittering in the sunshine, and holding within it, protected by the
memory of its builder, the two objects for which Parry Glyddyr longed.
He had made up his mind a dozen times over to go straight to the place
and see Claude, but the recollection of that horrible night kept him
back, and he gave up, to go on pacing the little saloon, talking to
himself wildly.
For how, he said, could he approach Claude now--he, the destroyer of her
father's life--go and ask her to listen to him, talk to her and try to
lead her into thinking that, before long, she must become his wife--tell
her that it was her duty, that it was her father's wish, when all the
time it would seem to him that the mocking, angry spirit of the dead
would be pervading his old home, looking at him furtively from his
easy-chair, from his window and door, as he had seen him look a score of
times before.
No: it was too horrible; he dared not.
Three times since Gartram's death he had, with great effort, written
kindly letters--he could not go to the Fort and speak--telling Claude
that she was not to think him unfeeling for not calling upon her, but to
attribute it to a delicacy upon his part--a desire not to intrude upon
her at such a time; and that he was going away for a cruise, but would
shortly be back, then he would call.
Three times he did set sail, and as many times did he come back into the
harbour after being out for a few hours, to the disgust of the crew.
"The skipper's mad," they said; "drinks a deal too much, and he'll have
the `horrors' if he don't mind. He used to be able to cruise a bit, and
now, if there's a screw loose in the engine, she careens over, or
there's a cloud to wind'ard, he's back into port, and here we are
getting rusty for want of a run."
It was always so. So soon as they were a few miles away, Glyddyr saw
his rival taking advantage of his absence, and winning Claude over to
his side, and with her the wealth that was to have been his.
"If I hadn't been such a fool," he would mutter, "I might have had it
easy enough." And he would sit day after day watching the Fort with his
double glass, thinking of the wealth lying there--how easily it could be
snatched by foul means, seeing how well he knew the place.
But common sense would step in then, and remind him that everything
would be locked up now, perhaps sealed, and that Gartram's arrangements
were secure enough to set even burglars at defiance. No; it must be by
fair play. He must lose no more time, but go to the Fort, and quietly
show Claude that he was waiting, and contrive to make her confide in
him--let him help her, so that he might gradually strengthen his
position.
"And it wants no strengthening," he said angrily; "it was her father's
wish, and we are betrothed."
Then a fit of trembling assailed him, and he shrank from going up to the
place, where it would seem as if Gartram were standing at the entrance,
stern and forbidding, to keep him back.
He flew to brandy again, to steady his shaking nerves.
"No," he gasped, as he drained his glass; "I can't do it. I'm bad
enough, but I can't go and court the daughter after--"
"Curse you, be quiet!" he cried, smiting himself across the mouth. "Do
you want to blab to everybody the story of the accident?"
He seized the binocular again to watch the way up to the Fort, in
jealous dread lest Chris Lisle should go up there; but, though he was
constantly watching, and often saw Chris go out from his lodgings, it
was mostly with his rod upon his shoulder, and in the other direction--
toward the bridge and the glen.
And so the days glided by, till one morning, as he sat watching, longing
to go up to the Fort, but putting off his visit till time had made him
more confident and firm, he suddenly caught sight of a figure--the tall,
sturdy figure of a man--going up to the entrance-gate.
Glyddyr was all excitement on the instant. A stranger--a well-dressed
man--going up there! What could it mean?
He hardly left the little porthole through which he watched that day,
but was constantly directing his glasses at the grey building.
Towards afternoon he saw the tall man come out from the study window,
and begin walking up and down with his hands behind his back; then he
stopped in a corner sheltered from the wind, and directly after there
came a faint film of blue smoke rising, and Glyddyr looked on as the
stranger walked to and fro.
"One of the old man's best cigars, I'll be bound," muttered Glyddyr,
laying down the glass, and biting his nails. "Who can he be?"
Ten minutes after, as Glyddyr sat there, glass in hand, he saw two
figures in black come out of the front entrance, and go along the
terrace a little way, to stand watching the sea.
He had it all there in miniature within the double circle of those
glasses: Claude and Mary Dillon; and he could almost make out the
expression upon the two pale countenances, till they moved slowly away
and joined the tall gentleman who was walking up and down, and for the
next hour they were in his company, ending by going in together, and the
terrace was blank.
"A visitor--seems to be young--on familiar terms. There is no brother;
I never heard of a cousin. Who can it be?"
Glyddyr gnawed his moustache, for here was a fresh complication. He
could see no other reason for a visitor to be at Gartram's house than as
a fortune-hunter in search of Claude's hand. This, then, was a new
danger--from a man who was openly received there, and seemed quite at
home. So that, while he was watching for the dangers of an assault upon
the Fort by Chris Lisle, another had entered and taken possession.
"While I, like a cursed coward, have hung about, not daring to renew my
suit."
"Guv'nor aboard?"
Glyddyr had heard no splash of oars, nor the light jar of a boat
touching his yacht side, but that voice made him start to his feet, and
stand grinding his teeth.
"All right, I'll go down."
The next minute he was face to face with Gellow, dressed in a
jaunty-looking yachting suit, and smoking a very strong cigar.
"Well, Guvnor," he said, with an unpleasant grin, as he looked Glyddyr
in the face, "there's my hand if you like to take it; if you don't, you
can leave it alone, for it's all the same to me. We parted huffy and
short, and I'll own up I was going to be very nasty. You kicked out,
and it made me feel it. I was going to bite, Glyddyr, but I said to
myself: `No; we've been good friends, and I won't round upon him now.'"
"Why have you come down?"
"Now, come, don't talk like that to a man who wants to help you. Come
down to see you, of course."
"For money--to badger me for payment of some of your cursed bills."
"Oh, Glyddyr, my dear boy, what a fellow you are! No; I forgive you
your nastiness, and I haven't come down for money--there."
"Then why have you come?"
"Two reasons."
"Well?"
"To see how you were getting on."
"That's only one."
"To have a chat with you about a certain lady."
Glyddyr winced, and Gellow noticed it, but made no sign.
"We'll talk that over after a bit. But how are you getting on over
yonder?"
Glyddyr made an impatient gesture.
"Your digestion's wrong, dear boy--that's what's the matter with you.
But I congratulate you."
"Con--what?"
"Gratulate you, dear boy. Of course, I saw all about that poor old chap
dying of a drop too much."
Glyddyr shivered.
"But it's a grand thing for you. Easy for you to go and hang up your
hat behind the door of as nice a bit of property as I ever saw. Pretty
young wife, and your yacht, and a racehorse or two: you'll be able to do
that. By George, you're a lucky man."
Glyddyr drew a long breath, and Gellow threw himself on the padded seat.
"Might as well have shaken hands," he said; "but, bah! it's only form.
Very sad about the old chap, but a grand stroke of fate for you. I'm
glad you've stopped on here. Very wise: because, of course, there's
sure to be a shoal of poor relatives wanting to nibble the cake--your
cake--our cake, eh?"
"So that's why you've come down?"
"Yes. Been sooner, but a certain lady has taken up a lot of my time.
You didn't want her here now. I've plenty of time, though. I knew you
were on the spot, and that nothing would be done till the old gentleman
had been put away quietly, and the lady had time to order the mourning.
Oh, I say, Glyddyr! you'll excuse me, but--"
"But what, man?"
"Don't be so snaggy to a man who is helping you. But what bad form."
"I don't understand you."
"Look at yourself in the glass. Promised wife in deep mourning, and you
in blue serge and a red tie. Why, you ought to be as solemn looking as
an undertaker."
Glyddyr involuntarily glanced at himself in a mirrored panel at the side
of the saloon.
"Change all that, dear boy. That's where I come in so useful, you see."
Glyddyr moved impatiently.
"You see, I'm not a lawyer, but I'm quite as good, or better. There are
not many legal dodges I'm not up to, and you can take me with you to the
house, introduce me to the young lady, and I can put her up to saving
hundreds in rental on the estates. When are you going next?"
"I don't know."
"You'll want a bit of money, too. Don't stint yourself--I'm at your
back all ready, so that you may cut it fat right through. By George,
Glyddyr, you are lucky. The estate is about as good as a million of
money."
"How do you know?" said Glyddyr savagely.
"How do I know, man?" said Gellow, laughing. "Used my wits. Fine thing
wits. You began life with a pot of money. I began life with tuppence.
But it's you fellows who get the luck, and turn out millionaires."
"Look here, Mr Gellow--"
"Nonsense, nonsense, man. How huffy you will be to your best friend!
Come, you must want my help, so let's talk business over quietly. When
are you going over yonder?"
"I told you I don't know."
"Gammon! Don't be absurd, man, and talk rough just because we were a
little out last time I was down. That's all over. You talk as if you
wanted to throw me over, and get your millions without my help; but you
can't do it, my dear boy. Let alone what you owe me, you know, I must
stand in here."
"Stand in! What do you mean?"
"You know."
"Why, you scoundrel--"
"Now, there you go again. You force me to take up the cudgels in my
defence."
"Leave this room."
"Cabin, dear boy, cabin. But what for? To go ashore, walk up to
Gartram's Fort--I mean Glyddyr's Fort, if I like it to be--ask to see
the young lady, and tell her exactly what you are, and how you stand
with a certain person."
Glyddyr stared at him helplessly.
"No: you wouldn't drive me to do such a thing--such a cowardly thing as
it really would be--in self-defence. No, no, my dear boy; you are
really too hard on an old friend--far too hard."
Glyddyr's teeth grated together in his impotent rage.
"Come, come, come, shake hands, and let me help you to pay your debts
like a gentleman, and to drop into this good thing easily and nicely as
can be."
There was no response.
"Tell me how matters stand. I know pretty well, but I should like to
hear from you."
"You'll hear nothing from me."
"Very well. I'll tell you what I know. You can correct me where I am
wrong, eh? Now, then, to begin with. Papa told the young lady she was
to marry you. That ought to be good enough to carry the day, but--
there's your little but again--there's a gentleman, a Mr Christopher
Lisle--old friend, playmate, and the rest of it--whom the lady likes,
eh?"
Glyddyr uttered an ejaculation.
"And then there's something else on. Tall, big gent stopping at the
house. Young lady and he are shut up together a deal."
"How do you know all this?" cried Glyddyr, thrown off his guard by a
dread lest, after all, Claude should escape him.
"How do I know? Now, come; isn't there a tall, biggish gent staying at
the house?"
Glyddyr nodded.
"Of course there is. I don't say things unless they are right. Now,
what does he want?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know! Well, how long has he been there?"
"I don't know that either."
Gellow sat up suddenly, and glared at Glyddyr.
"Look here; you are not playing with a good thing, are you?"
Glyddyr shook his head.
"When were you there last?"
"Mr Gellow, I object to the line of cross-examination that you are
taking."
"Do you? Then look here, Mr Parry Glyddyr, you'll have to object. If
you don't know what's good for you, I must. Now, then: when were you
there last?"
"I have not been there since Mr Gartram died."
"Well, I am!" cried Gellow. "You're engaged to the young lady, and
haven't been since the father's death. Why?"
Glyddyr was silent.
"Good heavens, man, don't turn stunt like that. There isn't a tiff on,
is there?"
"I felt it better not to go near the house while the poor girl is in so
much trouble."
"Hark at him!" cried Gellow excitedly, "when every day he stops away may
mean ten thousand pounds."
"She may have been ill, and I have been unwell," said Glyddyr sullenly.
"And all the time the old man's money might be running down the sink
hole, or into the poor relatives' pockets. What are you at?"
"I tell you I couldn't go to the house with that old man lying there
dead," cried Glyddyr, with a half-suppressed shudder.
"Look at him!" cried Gellow angrily, "shivering and shaking as if he had
been on the drink for six months. Not afraid of a dead man, are you?"
"Your language is revolting," cried Glyddyr passionately.
"Well, ain't it enough to make any man revolt? Why, you ought to have
hold there; you ought to have taken possession and looked after
everything. It's as good as your own. Oh, where would you be if I
didn't look after you. Now, then: you'd better get over there at once."
"No," said Glyddyr, "not yet;" and, in spite of himself, he shuddered,
and then glanced at his visitor to see if it had been noticed.
"Look at him! Why, the old man isn't there now. There, I won't bully
you, dear boy. I see how it is. Ring the bell; have in the steward,
and let me mix you a pick-me-up. You're down, regularly down. I'll
soon wind you up, and set you going again. I'm like a father to you."
Glyddyr obeyed in a weak, helpless way, ringing for the steward, and
then ordering in the spirits.
"Bring in the _liqueurs_ too, my lad--Curacoa, Chartreuse, anything.--
You want me now, old fellow, but you must take care. You're as white as
wax, and your hand's all of a tremble. It won't do. You don't drink
fair. Now, as soon as your man brings in the tackle, I'll give you a
dose, and then you've got to go over yonder."
"No," said Glyddyr hoarsely, "no: not to-day."
"Yes, to-day. You don't want two chaps cutting the ground from under
your feet.--Hah, that's your sort, steward. Better than being aboard
ship, and having to put your hand in your pocket every time you want a
drink. Needn't wait."
The man left the little saloon, and Gellow deftly concocted a draught
with seltzer and _liqueurs_, which Glyddyr took with trembling hand, and
tossed off.
"Talk about making a new man!" cried Gellow. "You feel better already,
don't you?"
Glyddyr nodded.
"Of course you do. Now, then, let's take the boat and go over yonder.
I'm curious to see the place."
"No: impossible," said Glyddyr, flushing.
"Not a bit impossible. Come on, and I'll back you up."
"No: I will not take you there."
"Coming round more and more," said Gellow, laughing. "Well, will you go
alone?"
"Not to-day."
"You'll leave those two chaps to oust you out of what is your own?"
"No. I'll go and call."
"When?"
"Now: at once."
"That's your sort," cried Gellow. "Never you say I'm not your friend."
Ten minutes later the boat was manned, and Glyddyr was ready to step in,
but Gellow laid his hand upon his arm, and drew him back.
"Don't," he said, almost with tears in his eyes; "don't go like that,
dear boy."
"What do you mean?"
"Go and change that tie. If you haven't got a black one, put on a
white."
Glyddyr obeyed him sullenly, and changed his tie before starting, while
his visitor went down into the saloon, helped himself to a cigar, and
took up a glass and the brandy decanter.
"A nip wouldn't do me any harm," he said with a laugh, and, removing the
stopper, poured out a goodly dram.
It was half-way to his lips when he stopped, and poured it back.
"No," he said quickly, "I want a clear head now; I can enjoy myself when
I've got Master Glyddyr quite in trim."
He went on deck, to begin smoking and asking questions of the two men
left on board; but all the time he had an eye on Glyddyr's boat,
watching it till it reached the pier-steps, and then he was able to see
its owner at intervals, till he disappeared among the houses.
After this, Gellow went below and used the binocular, fixing it upon the
Fort till he made out Glyddyr approaching the house, where he stood in
the entry for a few moments talking to a servant, and then turned away.
Gellow set down the glass, thrust his hands in his pockets, and stood
with the cigar in the exact centre of his lips, puffing away
rapidly--"For all the world like a steam launch," said one of the men
left on board when talking about it afterwards--till Glyddyr came on
board.
"Out," said the latter laconically.
"Fashionable slang for engaged with another chap," said Gellow, with a
sneer.
Glyddyr turned upon him fiercely.
"Don't be waxey, dear boy," said Gellow; "but it was quite time I came
down."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The progress of affairs at the Fort had been business-like meanwhile.
"I beg your pardon, miss."
"It is nothing, Woodham; come in," said Claude quietly, as the woman was
withdrawing after giving an unheeded tap, and entering the room.
"Mr Trevithick's compliments, ma'am, and would you see him in the
study?"
"Yes, at once," said Claude; and both thought how she had seemed to
change during the past few weeks, from the slight girl into the
dignified woman. "Come, Mary."
"Isn't it private business?" said Mary, shrinking back strangely.
"Yes, dear; our private business," said Claude, and they passed out,
Sarah Woodham holding open the door.
Claude gave her an affectionate smile, and crossed to the study; and, as
the door closed after them, Sarah Woodham stood alone in the doorway,
with her hands clasped and eyes closed as she muttered softly--
"And let me live for her--die for her, grateful for her undeserved love,
in expiation--oh, my God, in expiation!"
"Ah!" said Trevithick, rising from a chair at the table covered with
papers, and looking like the great, heavy, bashful Englishman he was, as
he placed chairs opposite to where he had been seated, "I am sorry to
trouble you, Miss Gartram, Miss Dillon too," he said with a smile, as he
beamed upon her.
Mary gave him an angry, resentful look, and he turned chapfallen on the
instant, and became the man of business again, then cold, and seeming to
perspire figures.
"Miss Dillon takes part in our little conference, Miss Gartram?" he
said, rather stiffly.
"Of course. My cousin is, as it were, my sister, Mr Trevithick."
"Yes, of course," he said, as he slowly resumed his seat, pursed up his
lips a little, and then he took up a pen, with the holder of which he
scratched his head as he studied a paper before him on the table. "Are
you ready, Miss Gartram?"
"Quite."
"Well, then, I have very bad news for you, I am sorry to say."
"I am used to bad news, Mr Trevithick."
"My dear madam, I spoke too bluntly. I meant bad news as to money
matters. Forgive me my rough way. I am a man of business--a mere
machine."
Claude smiled her thanks, for the words were uttered with a manly
sympathy that was pleasant to her ears, and Mr Trevithick felt better,
and beamed again at Mary.
Mary once more resented that beam, and Trevithick passed his hand
through his hair, which more than ever resembled a brush, and sighed,
and said--
"I have gone over all papers and accounts, Miss Gartram, over and over
again, and an auditor may perhaps find an error, but for the life of me
I can't tell where, for I have studied the figures night and day ever
since I came here last, and I cannot bring them right. I was wrong to
the extent of one, seven, eight; but I found a receipt afterwards,
evidently carelessly thrown into the drawer before entering, and I wish
I could find the other."
"What other?" said Mary sharply.
"That other," said Mr Trevithick, beaming at her again, being silently
snubbed, and collapsing once more. "As I make it, Miss Gartram," he
continued, in the most stern and business way, "you inherit from my late
respected client, your father, the freehold quarry, this residence, also
freehold and of great value, while the quarry is almost inexhaustible;
the furniture and plate, good debts, etcetera, and five hundred and
twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and forty-nine pounds, seven
shillings and four-pence, including half-a-sheet of stamps."
"Indeed?" said Claude, with a sigh.
"What bad news!" said Mary, with preternatural solemnity.
"That is to come, Miss Dillon," said Trevithick, with a look of triumph
which met so sharp a glance that it was turned aside on the instant, and
he took refuge in his papers.
"Yes, madam," he repeated, "that is to come. There is a very serious
deficit, Miss Gartram. I find that there should have been five hundred
and sixty-eight thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine, seven and
four-pence--a deficit, you see, of forty-one thousand pounds--I need not
add, a very large sum."
"Yes," said Claude quietly.
"Yes," said Trevithick. "Well, madam, what have you to say?"
"Nothing, Mr Trevithick."
"But really, my dear madam, I think you ought to say something about
this sum, and give me some instructions what to do to recover it."
Claude shook her head gravely.
"No," she said, "I cannot regard this as a loss in the presence of one
so much greater. Thank you very much, Mr Trevithick, for all that you
have done; and now, pray, give me some advice as to what to do with this
money."
"Good, my dear madam, and that I am sure you will do."
"I mean as to its investment."
"To be sure. I was coming to that, for the sooner this heavy amount is
out of your hands the more comfortable you will be."
"I said something like this to my cousin a little while back, Mr
Trevithick," said Mary sharply. "Pray give her some better advice than
that."
The solicitor looked disconcerted, but he recovered himself.
"Well, Miss Gartram, I have plenty of clients who want money, and would
agree to pay five per centum; but, excuse me, you don't want to make
money, and, as your father's trusted legal adviser, I shall give his
daughter the most valuable advice I can."
"And what is that, Mr Trevithick?"
"Let me at once invest all this money for you in Consols. Only two and
a half now, but there will be no fluctuations, no heavy dividend one
year, nothing at all the next, and some day perhaps failure. It is very
poor advice, perhaps, but safe as the Bank of England."
"Take the necessary steps at once, Mr Trevithick," said Claude
decisively.
"Thank you, madam," making a note; "it shall be done."
"And that is all?" said Claude.
"Oh, no, my dear madam. The next question is this residence. If you
will part with it, I have a client who will give a very handsome sum--
its full value--and take it, furniture and all. Cash."
"And is that all?" said Claude quietly.
"No, madam, there is the quarry. I should advise you to sell that to a
small company. You can get your own price, for it is very valuable, and
retain shares in it if you liked; but I should say no--sell; add the
purchase money to that for this house, and let me invest it in Consols
also."
"No," said Claude, rising, and speaking firmly, though with tears in her
eyes; "the opening of that quarry was my father's dearest enterprise,
and the building of this house his greatest pleasure. While I live, his
quarry and his people shall be my life business, and nothing shall be
touched, nothing shall be changed in this his house."
"My dear Miss Gartram," said the lawyer, colouring like a girl, as he
rose and stretched out his hand to take Claude's, which he raised
reverently to his lips, "I feel proud of the confidence you placed in
me. I feel far more proud now, and I honour you for what you have just
said. Your wishes shall be carried out. One word more. You will
require some assistance over the commercial matters of the quarry--a
gentleman learned in stone, and--"
"No, Mr Trevithick, I shall only want help as to the monetary affairs
of the business. That I hope you will oblige me by supervising
yourself. The workpeople will help me in the rest."
The lawyer bowed, and once more beamed on Mary, but looked stern again.
"Now, have you done, Mr Trevithick?" said Claude.
"Not quite. The deficit."
"If, as you say, there is a deficit, it must remain. There is enough."
"But my late client would not have rested till it was put straight."
"No," said Claude dreamily; "but my father may have had some project of
which we are ignorant. We had better wait. You will stay with us a few
days longer?"
"I should say no," replied Trevithick; "but I cannot conscientiously
leave these premises till this money is safe. Till then, my dear madam,
I am your guest."
Claude would have spoken again, but the look she cast round the study
brought up such a flood of painful memories that she could only make a
sign to Mary to follow, as she hurried from the room.
"A woman any man might love," said the lawyer, as soon as he was alone.
"I hope no money-hunting scoundrel will catch her up. No; she is too
strong-minded and firm. Now, what have I done to offend little Mary?"
he added, with a sigh. "Bless her, I don't get along with her as I
could wish."
He was quiet and thoughtful for a few moments, and then began tapping
the table.
"Gartram had that forty--one thousand. His books say so, and he was
correct as an actuary. Some one knew the secret of this room, and got
at that cash."
"Yes. I should like to find that out. It would please little Mary,
too."
Volume Three, Chapter IV.