NEARER
To Geoffrey the position was a strange one. There was something unreal
about the whole thing. Nor was it pleasant to remember that by this time
the family had missed him, and were doubtless bewailing him for dead.
"I am afraid there is no help for it," said Tchigorsky. "I could not see
my way to certain conclusions and ends without inconvenience."
"Something more than inconvenience," Geoffrey murmured.
"Anxiety, troubles, what you like," Tchigorsky replied coolly. "It is
necessary. I want to have the castle cleared for a time, and I could
think of no better and less suspicious way of doing it. The anxiety and
suspense will not last long and by daylight your people shall see you
again. And the one who is most likely to suffer has been already
relieved."
So Geoffrey was fain to wait in the cave listening to Tchigorsky's
piquant conversation, and waiting for the time to come for action.
"There will be plenty to do presently," the Russian said. "Meanwhile I
am going to leave you to yourself for a space. The woman who regards me
as her servant may need me. And, remember, you are not to leave the cave
in any circumstances, else all my delicately laid plans will be blown to
the winds."
So saying Tchigorsky disappeared. It seemed hours before anything
happened. It was safe in the cave. Nobody was likely to come there, and
if they did there was not the slightest chance of discovery, for the
cave went far under the cliff and was dark as the throat of a wolf.
By and by there came the sound of voices on the beach, and Rupert
Ravenspur, followed by the two fishermen, appeared. Geoffrey's heart
smote him as he saw his grandfather. Then they found the boat, and
directly afterwards the two fishermen rushed away, leaving Ravenspur
behind.
It was only the strongest self-control that prevented Geoffrey from
making his presence known to the figure gazing so sadly at the boat. But
he remembered Tchigorsky's warning.
After all, he reflected, it would only be for a little time. And the
head of the family knew nothing of the great conspiracies working
themselves out around him. His open honorable nature would have shrunk
from the subtle diplomacy and cunning that appealed so powerfully to
Tchigorsky.
Rupert Ravenspur would not have tolerated the position for a moment. He
would have insisted upon going to Mrs. May and having the matter out at
once, or he would have called in the police. And that course would be
fatal.
So Geoffrey was constrained to stay and watch. Presently he saw the
fishermen return, followed by the family. There was a gathering about
the foundered boat, and then Geoffrey turned his eyes away, ashamed to
witness the emotion caused by what they regarded as his untimely death.
He had seen them all and beheld their grief. He could see Marion bent
down with a handkerchief to her streaming eyes and the head of the
family comforting her. He saw Vera apart from the rest, gazing out to
sea.
Beyond, a fleet of boats were coming round the point. They were small
fishing smacks in search of the drowned Ravenspur.
Geoffrey pinched himself to make sure he was awake. It is not often
that a live man sits watching people search for his dead body.
But there was comfort in the knowledge that Vera was aware of
everything. Geoffrey could see that she had been told. That was why she
kept apart from the rest. She walked along the sands past the mouth of
the cave, her head bent down.
Flesh and blood could stand it no longer; in the mouth of the cave
Geoffrey stood and called Vera softly by name.
The girl started and half turned.
"Don't be alarmed," Geoffrey whispered. "I am in the cave. It is safe
here. Watch your opportunity and come in, for I must have a few words
with you. Only do it naturally and don't let anybody suspect."
Vera had turned her back to the cave, and appeared to be sadly gazing
over the sea. Gradually she slipped back, watching the others, who
apparently had forgotten her, until she was lost in the gloom of the
cavern.
A moment later and Geoffrey had her in his arms. It was good to feel her
heart beating against his, to feel her kisses warm on his lips.
"Did Tchigorsky tell you?" he asked.
"No, Uncle Ralph. Oh, I am so glad to see you again, Geoffrey. I knew
you were not lost, that you would be safe after what uncle said, and yet
all the time there was a strange void in my heart."
"But my darling, I am safe."
Vera laid her head restfully on his shoulder.
"I know, I know!" she said. "But I have had a foretaste of what might
have been. When Wass and Watkins came and told me that your overturned
boat had been found, I began to realize what it might be to live without
you. Dear Geoff, will it be long before all this anxiety is disposed
of?"
Geoffrey kissed her trembling lips.
"Not long, so Tchigorsky says, and I have implicit faith in him. The
present situation is all part of the plot of our salvation. And the
others?"
"Are heartbroken. My poor grandfather looks ten years older. You know
how entirely he has been wrapped up in us. I feel sure that if he could
have saved us by sacrificing the rest, himself included, he would have
done so."
"I know," Geoffrey said hoarsely. "I know, dear. And Marion?"
"Marion is sorely disturbed. I hardly know what to make of Marion. For
the first time she positively appears to be frightened. And Marion is
not the girl who cries. I was alarmed about her a little time ago,"
replied Vera.
"Ah, well, it won't be very long," Geoffrey said consolingly. "To-morrow
morning Tchigorsky has promised that I shall be safe and sound in the
bosom of the family again. What are they going to do now?"
"They are going to search until they find you. All the boats from the
village are out, even the servants are assisting. You can understand how
I should feel if I did not know everything. I could not stay in the
house; I could do no more than wander along the shore feeling that I was
helping. It would be impossible to remain in the house and that is what
they all feel. There is a full moon to-night, and they will be here till
they are exhausted."
Geoffrey nodded. He was wondering how he was going to account for his
absence and for the manner in which he was finally to turn up safe and
sound again. He would have to concoct some story of being picked up by a
passing boat and landed some way down the coast.
"They guess I am a victim to the vendetta?" he asked.
"Of course. They say the mast and oars were partly sawn away. It will be
the talk of the country in a few hours. Geoffrey, I must go. Don't you
see that they have missed me?"
Vera had been missed. Already Marion was calling her. There was just
the chance that she might be yet another victim. Vera slipped out of the
cave, walking backwards as if she were looking for something.
"You won't betray yourself?" said Geoffrey.
"I'll try not to, dear. I understand how necessary it is that the truth
should be concealed. And yet it is hard not to be able to ease their
minds."
Vera was clear of the cave by this time, and her voice ceased. A few
yards farther on and Marion came up to her. She was looking pale and
ghastly; there were rings under her eyes; her nerves had had a terrible
shock.
"I couldn't imagine where you had got to," she said. "I looked round,
and you had disappeared. I feared you had been spirited away."
"By the cruel foe, Marion? One by one we go. It may be your turn next."
"Would to Heaven that it was!" Marion whispered vehemently. "A little
time ago I fancied that I was strong enough to bear up against anything.
Now I know what a feeble creature I am. Before this happened I would a
thousand times have been the victim myself. And I--I----"
She paused and beat the air impotently. Vera wondered. Could this really
be the strong, self-reliant Marion who had uplifted them in so many
troubles, this the girl who always had a smile on her face and words of
comfort on her lips? This was a weak, frightened creature, with eyes
that were haunted.
"Be brave," said Vera, "and be yourself. What should we do without you?
Why, you are so full of remorse you might have been responsible for
Geoffrey's death yourself."
Marion looked up swiftly and then her eyes fell.
"It is because I love him," she said.
"And I love him, too. But I try to be brave."
Marion was silent under the reproof. Vera was calm and collected. What a
reaction there would be later, Marion thought.
"You have not given up all hope?" she asked.
"No, I cannot. It would be too cruel. I cannot imagine that anything
really serious has happened to Geoffrey. I cannot feel anything for the
present, save for you. And my heart is full for you, Marion."
"Ay," Marion said drearily. "It need be."
Vera turned and walked swiftly across the sands. She wanted to be alone
now that no danger threatened.
Then presently the moon rose and shone upon the people gathered on the
fringe of the sea. To the impatient Geoffrey came Ralph Ravenspur with a
cloak and slouched hat over his arm.