AN EX-CONVICT'S STORY.
We last saw Leicester passing from the alcove where he had overheard
Fitz's proposal to Violet.
With a tempest of jealousy and injured love he returned to his humble
lodgings, to brood over all he had heard.
The moment he entered the little sitting-room Stumpy came to meet him,
a smile of welcome on his rough face, which soon lengthened to an
expression of sympathy.
"Here you are, sir," he said; "and you've been at it again, I see."
"What do you mean?" said Leicester.
"You've been making yourself unhappy with the grand folks again," said
Stumpy, shaking his head. "I knows it by the look o' ye. Now, I've been
among old folks, and it ain't made me unhappy, not a bit o' it; but
there, that's different. Come, cheer up, sir," and he drew a chair to
the table for Leicester, who sank into it wearily. "I've been among
the old folks, sir, and I've got my advice--and good enough it is,
and no mistake. It's a wonderful thing, it is, how we drop upon lucky
meetings. How this afternoon I met an old friend who used to be in our
line--smuggling, you know, sir--and be blest if he didn't just give me
a regular hint as is worth a bad half-crown."
"What was it?" said Leicester, rousing himself.
"Just this here," said Stumpy, setting some food before Leicester as
he spoke. "But I shan't tell you if you don't eat, sir. Come, just to
please me.
"And myself, too," said Leicester, "for I am sick and hungry."
"What this old friend of mine advises is to take the whole gang down
at Penruddie by storm. Go down yourself, only dead and alive again--a
regular ghost, you know--and work upon 'em."
"I see," said Leicester, sadly. "A good idea, but there still remains
another and a worse point to defeat. How do you propose to overcome
the villain who has worked all this mischief? I have seen him to-night
again, Stumpy, and victorious, and wealthy, and triumphant--ruling the
destinies of those I love, and holding them in his talons. Now I am
fragile and helpless--no, not helpless, for I have you, my friend--to
do battle with him."
"I should like to see this great gentleman," mused Stumpy. "I've a sort
o' curiosity to see a man who works the oracle so nicely as he does.
When can I see him, guv'nor?"
"You can see him in another hour," looking at the clock. "If you
care to mix in a crowd and watch and hang about for him. There will
be plenty to tell you his name and point him out. His name is Howard
Murpoint.
"Hem!" said Stumpy, "I don't mind a crowd, master. I've been in a good
many. I've faced one as I don't want to see again, and that was at the
Old Bailey."
He glanced at Leicester as he spoke, and muttered:
"I'll keep him alive and jaw to him, just to keep his thoughts away.
They're black enough to-night."
"Yes, that was awkward, master, that was, to see the judge and all the
other fellows in wigs a-staring you out of countenance, and a-trying
to make you out wus than you was. And to think when they gives me
transportation for life! for life! that I didn't deserve it, and should
never have had it but for another man."
"Another man?" repeated Leicester, half unconsciously.
"Ah!" said Stumpy, delighted to see that he had drawn Leicester
from his thoughts, and throwing himself down upon the hearthrug
with his knees up to his nose, so that he might continue his tale
more comfortably and with his face turned from Leicester. "Yes, all
through another person. I was honest enough till I met him. I was a
costermonger, a steady chap, as costers go, and I got my living, and
was tolerably comfortable; but you see I was a bit proud, and they says
as pride is allus one too many for you. I was very strong in the arm.
Look here, guv'nor," he broke off, jumping up and seizing the poker;
"I can bend that poker in two--so," and he did it, dropping on to the
floor again, as if there had been no interruption.
"I was very strong, and I could do a'most anything with my arms, like
a monkey; and I was, of course, very much given to dropping into pubs.
Sometimes they'd ask me in a friendly way to show 'em a few tricks,
and I used to--such as knockin' a man from one end o' the room to
the other with a little tap on the nose, or lifting six chairs slung
together with my elbow, and pleasin' things o' that sort. One night I
was showing off in this manner at a small pub in Whitechapel, and when
they was closing and I was going home, very much the worse for liquor,
a chap comes to me all soft and smooth, and asks me if I'd join a
little party as was goin' on at his house. I said I would, and I went
with him, and he was the pleasantest-spoken chap you ever see, with
a soft voice like a musical snuff-box, and a pair o' eyes as looked
through you and made you do what they liked. Well, I went with him
and joined his party. They was all different to him, though he warn't
dressed any better than the likes o' us, but I know'd some on 'em for
bein' no better than they should be, but I'd never seen him before.
And his friends, when they had all got friendly like; they calls him
'General,' and whispers and nods their heads at me. O' course I see
something was up, and I warn't much took about when this general, in a
pretty little whisper, asks me to join his friends in a little joke on
a gentleman's house in the country. I was half drunk--I swear I was,
sir--and I yielded. They wanted me, being so strong in the arm, to do
some climbing, and when I'd said I'd join 'em they never let me out o'
their sight. Day and night that general was always in the way, purring
like a cat, and 'ticing the others on. Oh! he was a false-hearted 'un,
he was. Well, to cut a long story short, we does the trick, or very
nearly. I spoiled it. You see, they'd made me nearly drunk before
we started, and when it came to holding on to a window-grating for
ten minutes, half drunk, I failed it. I come down with a run, made a
clatter, and give the alarm. We was caught, every man o' us--me with a
broken leg. Then there was the trial, and then the general showed his
teeth. He wasn't soft-spoken then, be sure. He turned on us all in his
defence, and ruined us. He was so savage it should all a' been spoiled,
and him there in the dock, through me, that in the most natural,
mournful sort o' way possible he pitched a tale about me being the
ringleader and drawin' the rest on, that the jury gives me as much as
it does him--transportation for life! That was my only affair, master,
excepting the smuggling, and I was drove to that."
Leicester nodded.
"And you escaped?" he said.
"Yes," nodded Stumpy, with a laugh, "and there I was luckier than the
general. He made a shy at it, killed a man in the attempt, but him and
another chap as tried it with him was drowned off the coast. Drowned in
the pitch dark! It warn't a pleasant ending, but it was better than he
deserved, for of all the false, smooth-faced villains he was the worst."
Leicester seemed lost in thought. He roused suddenly and looked up at
the timepiece.
"If you want to see the most successful man and the greatest rogue in
London to-night, or rather this morning, you must be quick, my friend.
Light your pipe and run away. While you are gone I will turn over your
friend's advice, for I think I see a chance of adopting it."
"I'm off," said Stumpy, and after Leicester had directed him to the
mansion he started.
It was the night of the great ball.
Fitz had made his proposal and gone home, before Stumpy had reached the
house and taken up his position in the shadow of the huge portico.
The guests were coming out, and for a while Stumpy almost forgot
the object of his watch in his admiration for and astonishment at
the dresses and jewels. But suddenly a footman's voice called "Mrs.
Mildmay's and Mr. Murpoint's carriage," and Stumpy was suddenly aroused
to a sense of his purpose.
Crouching unseen against the iron railings he could see the face of
every individual as it came out into the bright light pouring from the
gas lamps at the door.
In twos and threes the brilliantly dressed people came out talking,
laughing, and gathering their cloaks and wraps round them.
Presently there was a little excitement in the crowd of footmen, and
two or three in handsome liveries called out, "Make way, make way,"
and Stumpy staring with all his might saw an old lady descending the
staircase leaning on the arm of a tall gentleman.
"That's the earl and Mrs. Mildmay," said a footman, who had been
telling the names of the various guests to a friend near him. "And here
comes Mr. Murpoint, the M. P.--great man, you know--with Miss Mildmay,
the heiress, on his arm. Get out of the way; he don't like a crowd
round the door----Here he comes."
As he spoke the dark, handsome face of Howard Murpoint came into the
light.
Violet was leaning on his arm, her pale face more sad and dreamy than
usual.
They stepped on to the light, and Stumpy stared for a moment, then
sprang forward so close to the railings that he struck his nose a
severe blow.
He stared with open mouth and distended eyes, as if he were going
into a fit, and as the great individual passed him--so closely as to
touch him with his clothes--he gasped for breath, and dashing the
perspiration from his face, muttered hoarsely and with an air of the
most tremendous amazement.
"It's the general!"
Then he set off running as hard as he could and did not stop until he
had burst into the sitting-room of Leicester's lodgings.
He found Leicester dead asleep on his chair, his head resting upon his
arms on the table.
The sight of his exhausted master somewhat subdued Stumpy's excitement,
and as he stared down at him thoughtfully he made a resolution not to
communicate his discovery to his master too suddenly.
So when Leicester awoke he said:
"Been asleep, sir? Quite right. To my knowledge you haven't slept a
wink for three nights."
"Well," said Leicester, "have you seen him?"
"Yes, I have," said Stumpy, evading Leicester's glance, "and a very
handsome man he is. Lord! he looks as innocent as a lamb and as sweet
as a sucking-pig! Quite the swell, sir; all the flunkeys made as much
fuss as if it was the Emperor of Rooshia coming out to his carriage."
"Ay," said Leicester, "the wicked flourish nowadays, Stumpy; it is
bad policy to be honest. Even your friends cannot forgive you that;
see how all mine have forgotten me! If I had done anything bad enough
they would have remembered me, but I was passing honest and so--but
no matter. I have been thinking over your advice, and I am determined
to adopt it. Look on that table; there is a letter addressed to a
solicitor whom I used to know. He was an honest man, and we shall want
an honest man to help us. To-morrow you shall take that to his office,
and then we'll start off to Penruddie. If we win and succeed it will
not be for the last time, but if we fail I shall set sail for the
tropics and leave England forever more to the rogues who rule it."
* * * * *
The next morning the eminent and respectable Mr. Thaxton received a
short--a very short--and very mysterious letter.
"DEAR SIR: If you have any desire to learn more of the mystery of
Penruddie you may satisfy your curiosity to some extent by meeting the
writer of this letter at the ruined chapel in Mildmay Park. Should you
decide to come, make your way there to-morrow night unseen and conceal
yourself behind the middle pillar near the turret, where you may see
and hear much that will astonish and enlighten you."
The letter was unsigned and the handwriting was a strange one to Mr.
Thaxton.
He sat and turned the letter over several times, reread and reread it,
and at last he muttered:
"I knew that mystery would turn up again. I felt certain of it, and
here it is. I will go."
Thereupon he rang the office bell and issued an order for the packing
of his traveling-case.
That next day the Penruddie train bore three passengers important to
this history--Mr. Thaxton, Leicester and Stumpy.
Leicester saw Mr. Thaxton alight and knew that his letter had taken
effect; he carefully avoided the keen eyes of the old lawyer, and he
and Stumpy cut across a field near the station and left the village
behind them.
Toward midday Stumpy cut out toward the village and found a boy loafing
about. He gave him a letter for Job, the carrier, and told him to take
it to him and give it him quietly.
The lad, delegated with a sixpence, tore off, and soon slipped into
Job's hand this note:
"Be at the old chapel to-night at midnight. H. M."
Job read it and asked the boy who had given it to him.
The lad told him a gentleman, and described Stumpy.
Job at once concluded that the captain had disguised himself, and
determined to obey the mysterious missive.
The night fell dark and cheerless.
Toward midnight Mr. Thaxton carefully picked his way to the old chapel,
and, not without sundry shudders and quakings, took up his place behind
the center pillar.
For some time the silence and awful solitude of the place was unbroken
save by the whizz of the bat and the subdued screech of the owl.
Mr. Thaxton began to grow cold and shivery, and had almost decided to
return to the inn when a slight noise attracted his attention and he
saw a light approaching.
It was carried by a short man, whom he at once, by the aid of the
light, distinguished as Job, the carrier.
Here, at least, was something tangible and corroborative of the letter.
He dared scarcely breathe, so eagerly curious was he, and he watched
Job, who looked round cautiously, and at length seated himself upon the
tomb and shaded his lantern.
Midnight struck in solemn, monotonous tones, and immediately there
appeared a blue, misty light from among the pillars.
Job started to his feet with an oath.
"Come, no larks with me, lads!" he said, savagely. "This is a stale
game----"
The words died out on his lips, for as the light approached nearer it
disclosed the form of the long-lost Leicester Dodson.
There was his pale face and lank hair, all dripping with water, sea
weed clung to his white shroud and hung at his elbows.
He looked as if he had just risen from his watery grave.
Job's knees shook and he fell to the ground; the spirit drew nearer and
scowled down upon him with fierce eyes, which glowed like fire from
the chalky-hued cheeks. Job's fear grew almost to madness. Here was a
ghost indeed! One to make his heart quake and his soul shudder to its
innermost core.
"Maester Leicester!" he grasped. "Maester Leicester! have mercy on my
soul! Have mercy!"
The fearful words rolled through the chapel, and the ghost seemed to
hear them, for in a sepulchral voice, it formed the word, "Confess!"
"I will, I will," gasped Job. "I'll confess all--before a magistrate,
Maester Leicester, dear Maester Leicester--oh, Heaven, how terrible!
Oh, Maester Leicester, I didn't think you'd be drowned! I'd never a
done! I'll confess all! I'll confess what I've seen, I'll tell how the
captain put the paper in the old bureau! I see him do it--I see him and
Jem Starling; and I know who killed Jem! I know! I know! Oh, Maester
Leicester, have mercy on a live man and I'll tell all!"
"Confess!" said the ghostly voice.
"I will," said Job. "I'm a smuggler, we are all smugglers, but the
captain is the chief; he drives us to it and takes the money--oh,
mercy, Maester Leicester!--and knows a secret way through the dead
squire's room to the beach! The captain knows! and the captain sent you
away Maester Leicester, and murdered you as he did Jem Starling. Spare
me, Maester Leicester, and I'll tell all if they hang me for it. I've
meant to do it many a time, but now your ghost has come I'll do it, or
you'd never leave me! Oh, Lord! oh, Lord!"
"Confess," said the ghost, drawing near.
"I will! I will!" screamed Job, and then he fell face downward upon the
earth in a swoon of horror.
At that moment two figures sprang out from the darkness.
One was Stumpy with a lantern, the other Mr. Thaxton.
Both rushed at the prostrate man, over whom the ghost was bending.
Stumpy seized Job, Mr. Thaxton seized the ghost, and commenced tearing
off its shroud.
"Stop!" said a voice. "Stay your hand, Mr. Thaxton. I am indeed
Leicester Dodson."
"What!" exclaimed Mr. Thaxton, falling back with astonishment. "What!
you alive!" and then he snatched at the linen-bandaged hand, and shook
it like a madman.
"Yes, me," said Leicester, with a thrill of triumph and exultation in
his voice. "I have not come back to the world a moment too soon," he
added, significantly. "You have heard this man's confession."
"I have," said Mr. Thaxton.
"And believe it?" asked Leicester, slowly.
"As I believe that there is a sky above us," said Mr. Thaxton. "I
always knew that Howard Murpoint was a villain, and I was waiting for
a Nemesis to track him down. Little did I think that you would be that
Nemesis! And who is this?" he asked, motioning toward Stumpy.
"My best and truest friend," said Leicester.
"Then give me your hand," said Mr. Thaxton, and, to Stumpy's
astonishment, the respectable lawyer grasped the ex-convict's hand and
shook it heartily.
"And now what is to be done with this fellow? He is too precious to be
lost sight of."
"I have a cart near here," said Leicester, "and I thought that if you
would stand my friend you would not mind taking charge of him till the
morning."
"Certainly," said Mr. Thaxton, eagerly. "A capital plan! He shall not
leave my sight, and to-morrow he shall be before the magistrate."
"Lend a hand, sir," said Stumpy, "for he's coming to."
The three carried the senseless Job to the cart, jumped in themselves,
and Stumpy drove to Tenby, while Leicester removed his ghostly disguise
and reassumed his Spanish one.