COMING VERY CLOSE
If they had possessed extraordinarily good eyes, any one of the three,
they might have detected a head peering at them over a hedge about two
fields off, in the direction of Trevlyn Hold. The head was Mr.
Chattaway's. That gentleman rode home from the lodge, after hearing old
Canham's account of the mysterious visit, in a state not to be
described. Encountering Miss Diana, he despatched her with Octave to the
lodge to see after his wife; he met George Ryle, and told him _his_
services were no further needed--Madam wanted neither him nor the
brandy; he sent his horse to the stable, and went indoors: all in a
confused state of agitation, as if he scarcely knew what he was about.
Dinner was ready; the servants were perplexed at no one's coming in for
it, and they asked if the Squire would sit down without Madam. _He_ sit
down to dinner--in that awful uncertainty? No; rather would he steal out
and poke and pry about until he had learned something.
He left the house and plunged into the fields. He did not go back down
the avenue, openly past the lodge into the road: cowards, with their
fear upon them, prowl about stealthily--as Chattaway was doing now. Very
grievously was the fear upon him.
He walked hither and thither: he stood for some minutes in the field
which had once been so fatal to poor Mr. Ryle; his arms were folded, his
head was bent, his newly-awakened imagination was in full play. He crept
to the outer field, and walked under cover of its hedge until he came
opposite all that hubbub and confusion. There he halted, found himself a
peep-hole, and took in by degrees all that was to be seen: the
razor-grinder and his machine, the dog-cart and its dilapidations, and
the mob. Eagerly, anxiously did his restless eyes scan that mob; but he,
upon whom they hoped to rest, was not amongst them. For you may be sure
Mr. Chattaway was searching after none but the dreaded stranger. Miserly
as he was, he would have given a ten-pound note out of his pocket to
obtain only a moment's look at him. He had been telling over all the
enemies he had ever made, as far as he could remember them. Was it one
of those?--some one who owed him a grudge, and was taking this way of
paying it? Or was it a danger coming from a totally unknown quarter? Ten
pounds! Chattaway would have given fifty then for a good view of the
stranger; and his eyes were unmindful of the unfriendly thorns, in their
feverish anxiety to penetrate to the very last of that lazy throng,
idling away the summer's afternoon.
The stranger was certainly not amongst them. Chattaway knew every
chattering soul there. Some of his unconscious labourers made a part,
and he only wished he dared appear and send them flying. But he did not
care to do so. If ever there was a cautious man where he and his
interests were concerned, it was Chattaway; and he would not run the
risk of meeting this man face to face. No, no; rather let him get a
bird's-eye view of him first, that he might be upon his guard.
The state of the dog-cart did not by any means tend to soothe his
feelings; neither did the sight of George Ryle, who passed through the
crowd in the direction of his own home. He could see what a pretty penny
it would take to repair the one; he knew not how many pounds it might
take to set right any mischief being hatched by the other. Mr. Chattaway
turned away. He bore along noiselessly by the side of the hedge, and
then over a stile into a lower field, and then into another. That
brought Trevlyn Farm under his vision, and--and--what did his restless
eyes catch sight of?
Leaning on the fold-yard gate, dressed in a style not often seen, stood
Nora Dickson; on the other side was George Ryle, and with him one who
might be recognised at the first glance--the strange-looking man, with
his white hair, his red umbrella, and his queer hat, as described by old
Canham. There could be no mistake about it; he it was: and the
perspiration poured off the master of Trevlyn Hold in his mortal fear.
What were they hatching, those three? That it looked suspicious must be
confessed, to one whose fears were awakened as were Chattaway's; for
their heads were in close contact, and their attention was absorbed. Was
he stopping at Trevlyn Farm, this man of treason? Undoubtedly: or why
should Nora Dickson be decked out in company attire? Chattaway had
always believed George Ryle to be a rogue, but now he knew him to be
one.
It was a pity Chattaway could not be listening as well as peeping. He
would only have heard the gentleman explain to George Ryle who he was;
his name, his calling, and where he was visiting in Barbrook. So far,
Chattaway's doubts would have been at rest; but he would have heard no
worse. George was less impulsive than Nora, and would not be likely to
enter on the discussion of the claims of Rupert Trevlyn _versus_
Chattaway, with a new acquaintance.
A very few minutes, and they separated. The conversation had been
general since George came up; not a word having been said that could
have alarmed intruding ears. Nora hastened indoors; George turned off to
his rick-yard; and the stranger stood in the road and gazed leisurely
about him, as though considering the points for a sketch. Presently he
disappeared from Chattaway's view.
That gentleman, taking a short time to recover himself, came to the
conclusion that he might as well disappear also, in the direction of his
home; where no doubt dinner was arrested, and its hungry candidates
speculating upon what could have become of the master. It was of no use
remaining where he was. He had ascertained one point--the dreaded enemy
was an utter stranger to him. More than that he did not see that he
could ascertain, in this early stage.
He wiped his damp face and set forth on his walk home, stepping out
pretty briskly. It was as inadvisable to make known his fears abroad as
to proclaim them at home. Were only an inkling to become known, it
seemed to Chattaway that it would be half the business towards wresting
Trevlyn Hold from him.
As he walked on, his courage partially came back to him, and the
reaction once set in, his hopes went up, until he almost began to
despise his recent terror. It was absurd to suppose this stranger could
have anything to do with himself and Rupert Trevlyn. He was merely an
inquisitive traveller looking about the place for his amusement, and in
so doing had picked up bits of gossip, and was seeking further
information about them--all to while away an idle hour. What a fool he
had been to put himself into a fever for nothing.
These consoling thoughts drowning the mind's latent dread--or rather
making pretence to do so, for that the dread was there still, Chattaway
was miserably conscious--he went on increasing his speed. At last, in
turning into another field, he nearly knocked down a man running in the
same direction, who had come up at right angles with him: a labourer
named Hatch, who worked on his farm.
It was a good opportunity to let off a little of his ill-humour, and he
demanded where the man had been skulking, and why he was away from his
work. Hatch answered that, hearing of the accident to Madam and the
young Squire, he and his fellow-labourers had been induced to run to the
spot in the hope of affording help.
"Help!" said Mr. Chattaway. "You went off to see what there was to be
seen, and for nothing else, leaving the rick half made. I have a great
mind to dock you of a half-day's pay. Is there so much to look at in a
broken dog-cart, that you and the rest of you must neglect my work?"
The man took off his hat and rubbed his head gently: his common resort
in a quandary. They _had_ hindered a great deal more time than was
necessary; and had certainly not bargained for its coming to the
knowledge of the Squire. Hatch, too simple or too honest to invent
excuses, could only make the best of the facts as they stood.
"'Twasn't the dog-cart kept us, Squire. 'Twas listening to a
strange-looking gentleman; a man with a white beard and a red
umberellar. He were talking about Trevlyn Hold, saying it belonged to
Master Rupert, and he were going to help him to it."
Chattaway turned away his face. Instinct taught him that even this
stolid serf should not see the cold moisture that suddenly oozed from
every pore. "_What_ did he say?" he cried, in accents of scorn.
Hatch considered. And you must not too greatly blame the exaggerated
reply. Hatch did not purposely deceive his master; but he did what a
great many of us are apt to do--he answered according to the impression
made on his imagination. He and the rest of the listeners had drawn
their own conclusions, and in accordance with those conclusions he now
spoke.
"He said for one thing, Squire, as he didn't like you----"
"How does he know me?" Mr. Chattaway interrupted.
"Nora Dickson asked him, but he wouldn't answer. He's a lawyer, and----"
"How do you know he's a lawyer?" again interrupted Mr. Chattaway.
"Because he said it," was the prompt reply. And the man had no idea that
it was an incorrect one. He as much believed the white-bearded stranger
to be a lawyer as that he himself was a day-labourer. "He said he had
come to help Master Rupert to his rights, and displace you from 'em. Our
hairs stood on end to hear him, Squire."
"Who is he?--where does he come from?" And to save his very life
Chattaway could not have helped the words issuing forth in gasps.
"He never said where he come from--save he hadn't been in England for
many a year. We was a wondering among ourselves where he come from,
after he walked off with Nora Dickson."
"Does she know?"
"No, she don't, Squire. He come up while she were standing there, and
she wondered who he were, as we did. 'Twere through her asking him
questions that he said so much."
"But--what has he to do with my affairs?--what has he to do with Rupert
Trevlyn?" passionately rejoined Mr. Chattaway.
It was a query Hatch was unable to answer. "He said he were a friend of
the dead heir, Mr. Joe--I mind well he said that--and he had come to
this here place partly to see Master Rupert. He didn't seem to know
afore as Master Rupert had not got the Hold, and Nora Dickson asked if
he'd lived in a wood not to know that. So then he said he should help
him to his rights, and Nora said, 'What! displace Chattaway?' and he
said, 'Yes.' We was took aback, Squire, and stopped a bit longer maybe
than we ought. It was that kep' us from the rick."
Every pulse beating, every drop of blood coursing in fiery heat, the
master of Trevlyn Hold reached his home. He went in, and left his hat in
the hall, and entered the dining-room, as a man in some awful dream. A
friend of Joe Trevlyn's!--come to help Rupert to his rights!--to
displace _him_! The words rang their changes on his brain.
They had not waited dinner. It had been Miss Diana's pleasure that it
should be commenced, and Mr. Chattaway took a seat mechanically.
Mechanically he heard that his wife had declined partaking of it--had
been ill when she reached home; that Rupert, after a hasty meal, had
gone upstairs to lie down, at the recommendation of Miss Diana; that
Cris had now gone off to the damaged dog-cart. He was as a man stunned,
and felt utterly unnerved. He sat down, but found he could not swallow a
mouthful.
The cloth was removed and dessert placed upon the table. After taking a
little fruit, the younger ones dispersed; Maude went upstairs to see how
Mrs. Chattaway was; the rest to the drawing-room. The master of Trevlyn
Hold paced the carpet, lost in thought. The silence was broken by Miss
Diana.
"Squire, I am not satisfied with the appearance of Rupert Trevlyn. I
fear he may be falling into worse health than usual. It must be looked
to, and more care taken of him. I intend to buy him a pony to ride to
and fro between here and Blackstone."
Had Miss Diana expressed her intention of purchasing ten ponies for
Rupert, it would have made no impression then on Chattaway. In his
terrible suspense and fear, a pony more or less was an insignificant
thing, and he received the announcement in silence, to the intense
surprise of Miss Diana, who had expected to see him turn round in a
blaze of anger.
"Are you not well?" she asked.
"Well? Quite well. I--I over-heated myself riding, and--and feel quite
chilly now. What should hinder my being well?" he continued,
resentfully.
"I say I shall buy a pony for Rupert. Those walks to Blackstone are too
much for him. I think it must be that which is making him feel so ill."
"I wish you'd not bother me!" peevishly rejoined Chattaway. "Buy it, if
you like. What do I care?"
"I'll thank you to be civil to _me_, Mr. Chattaway," said Miss Diana,
with emphasis. "It is of no use your being put out about this business
of Cris and the accident; and that's what you are, I suppose. Fretting
over it won't mend it."
Mr. Chattaway caught at the mistake. "It was such an idiotic trick, to
put an untried horse into harness, and let it smash the dog-cart!" he
cried. "Cris did it in direct disobedience, too. I had told him he
should not buy that horse."
"Cris does many things in disobedience," calmly rejoined Miss Diana. "I
hope it has not injured Edith."
"She must have been foolish----"
A ring at the hall-bell--a loud, long, imperative ring--and Mr.
Chattaway's voice abruptly stopped. _He_ stopped: stopped and stood
stock still in the middle of the room, eyes and ears open, his whole
senses on the alert. A prevision rushed over him that the messenger of
evil had come.
"Are you expecting any one?" inquired Miss Diana.
"Be still, can't you?" almost shrieked Chattaway. Her voice hindered his
listening.
They were opening the hall-door, and Chattaway's face was turning livid.
James came into the room.
"A gentleman, sir, is asking to see Mr. Rupert."
"What gentleman?" interposed Miss Diana, before Chattaway could move or
look.
"I don't know him, ma'am. He seems strange to the place; has a white
beard, and looks foreign."
"He wants Mr. Rupert, did you say?"
"When I opened the door, first, ma'am, he asked if he could see young
Squire Trevlyn; so I wanted to know who he meant, and said my master,
Mr. Chattaway, was the Squire, and he replied that he meant Master
Rupert, the son of Squire Trevlyn's heir, Mr. Joe, who had died abroad.
He is waiting, ma'am."
Chattaway turned his white face upon the man. His trembling hands, his
stealthy movements, showed his abject terror; even his very voice, which
had dropped to a whisper.
"Mr. Rupert's in bed, and can't be seen, James. Go and say so."
Miss Diana had stood in amazement--first, at James's message; secondly,
at Mr. Chattaway's strange demeanour. "Why, who is it?" she cried to the
servant.
"He didn't give his name, ma'am."
"Will you go, James?" hoarsely cried Mr. Chattaway. "Go and get rid of
the man."
"But he shall not get rid of him," interrupted Miss Diana. "I shall see
the man. It is the strangest message I ever heard in my life. What are
you thinking of, Squire?"
"Stop where you are!" returned Mr. Chattaway, arresting Miss Diana's
progress. "Do you hear, James? Go and get rid of this man. Turn him out,
at any cost."
Did Mr. Chattaway fear the visitor had come to take possession of the
house in Rupert's name? Miss Diana could only look at him in
astonishment. His face wore the hue of death; he was evidently almost
beside himself with terror. For once in her life she did not assert her
will, but suffered James to leave the room and "get rid" of the visitor
in obedience to Mr. Chattaway.
He appeared to have no trouble in accomplishing it. A moment, and the
hall-door was heard to close. Chattaway opened that of the dining-room.
"What did he say?"
"He said nothing, sir, except that he'd call again."
"James, does he--does he look like a madman?" cried Mr. Chattaway, his
tone changing to what might almost be called entreaty. "Is he insane, do
you think? I could not let a madman enter the house, you know."
"I don't know, sir, I'm sure. His words were odd, but he didn't seem
mad."
Mr. Chattaway closed the door and turned to his sister-in-law, who was
more puzzled than she had ever been in her life.
"I think it is you who are mad, Chattaway."
"Hush, Diana! I have heard of this man before. Sit down, and I will tell
you about him."
He had come to a rapid conclusion that it would be better to confide to
her the terrible news come to light. Not his own fears, or the dread
which had lain deep in his heart: only this that he had heard.
We have seen how the words of the stranger had been exaggerated by Hatch
to Mr. Chattaway, and perhaps he now unconsciously exaggerated Hatch's
report. Miss Diana listened in consternation. A lawyer!--come down to
depose them from Trevlyn Hold, and institute Rupert in it! "I never
heard of such a thing!" she exclaimed. "He can't do it, you know,
Chattaway."
Chattaway coughed ruefully. "Of course he can't. At least I don't see
how he can, or how any one else can. My opinion is that the man must be
mad."
Miss Diana was falling into thought. "A friend of Joe's?" she mused
aloud. "Chattaway, could Joe have left a will?"
"Nonsense!" said Chattaway. "If Joe Trevlyn did leave a will, it would
be null and void. He died in his father's lifetime, and the property was
not his to leave."
"True. There can be no possibility of danger," she added, after a pause.
"We may dismiss all fear as the idle wind."
"I wonder whether Rupert knows anything about this?"
"Rupert! What should he know about it?"
"I can't say," returned Mr. Chattaway, significantly. "I think I'll go
up and ask him," he added, in a sort of feverish impulse.
Without a moment's pause he hastened upstairs to Rupert's room. But the
room was empty!
Mr. Chattaway stood transfixed. He had fully believed Rupert to be in
bed, and the silent bed, impressed, seemed to mock him. A wild fear came
over him that Rupert's pretence of going to bed had been a _ruse_--he
had gone out to meet that dangerous stranger.
He flew down the stairs as one possessed; shouting "Rupert! Rupert!" The
household stole forth to look at him, and the walls echoed the name. But
from Rupert himself there came no answer. He was not in the Hold.