A DAMAGING PROMISE.
With the close of Miss James's testimony, the noon recess was called,
and to the relief of every one the mental strain and tension was laid
aside for an hour.
Miss Hildreth walked out of the court-room with the same firm tread and
upright bearing with which she had entered it; Judge Anstice disappeared
through a private door, and his withdrawal was followed by the
instantaneous appearance, on every side, of sandwich-boxes and
lunch-baskets. The ladies under George Newbold's escort regaled
themselves on chickens' wings and "cup;" the humbler crowd making
audible comments thereon over their humbler fare.
The silence was broken by a Babel of voices all raised to concert pitch,
all going together, and all discussing volubly the events of the
morning.
The public pulse stood at fever height, and public opinion, with its
usual consistency, was veering round in favour of Vladimir Mellikoff.
Miss Hildreth had been chief favourite when the inquiry opened, but Miss
Hildreth's chances for keeping that position looked scarcely favourable
now, judging from public expressions.
The refreshment hour passed all too quickly, and with the prompt return
of Judge Anstice, the crowd settled itself down, re-nerved and
fortified, for the long afternoon's work that evidently lay before it.
Once more Miss Hildreth took her place within the railed-off space, and
those nearest to her were quick to perceive the additional pallor of her
face, and the troubled look in her dark blue eyes.
Almost imperceptibly the _modus operandi_ of this informal inquiry had
assumed the proportions and importance of a legal trial; and so
exceptional and perplexing were the circumstances surrounding the case,
the usual manner of procedure was tacitly waived, and the investigation
carried on on broader lines. The dramatic element so predominated, it
insensibly bore both the Bench and the crowd along with it, breaking
down all ordinary barriers of legal treatment.
The stipulated point at issue was of course the examination of the
warrant papers, and if Judge Anstice stretched the cordon in this
respect it was scarcely to be wondered at. The case virtually had no
precedent; it was only in deference to that unwritten code of the
courtesy of common law between nations that any such inquiry took place
at all, and had the charge been a less grave one than that of murder, no
proceedings would have been entered upon. But, as has been said,
exceptional cases demand exceptional remedies, and since an arrest and
inquiry had been granted, the lines for the carrying out of the latter
could not be too broad and comprehensive.
Mr. Munger reappeared like a giant refreshed, and immediately called up
Mrs. Newbold as his next ally. Esther's fair, pretty face, flushed and
anxious, looked as much out of keeping with its surroundings as did her
costume of lace and muslin. She glanced appealingly at Miss Hildreth
before speaking, and that silent appeal called up a ghost of a smile to
Patricia's lips.
Despite the soft prettiness of her blonde colouring, however, Mrs.
Newbold could lay claim to plenty of self-possession, and Mr. Munger
found her not quite so malleable as he had imagined. She answered any
question put directly to her as briefly as possible, but she would not
advance any detail or explanation. Notwithstanding the neutrality of her
replies, however, her evidence was gravely important, for it established
beyond question the fact that Miss Hildreth and Marianne's governess,
known at the Folly as Adèle Lamien, were one and the same person. Esther
did not attempt to deny this, nor did she vouchsafe any explanation
concerning it. When asked if she had always been cognisant of this fact,
she answered, simply:
"Yes."
"Had she then assisted Miss Hildreth in the deception?"
"Yes."
"Had she told the story purporting to be that of Adèle Lamien, as
recounted by Miss James?"
"Yes."
"Was she present when Miss Hildreth indicated that of Adèle Lallovich?"
"Yes."
"Did she endeavour to stop her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she thought Miss Hildreth was indiscreet."
"Was she acquainted with Miss Hildreth's reasons for wishing to keep her
identity with Adèle Lamien secret?"
Mrs. Newbold's face flushed, and she turned another appealing look upon
Patricia before she replied, slowly:
"Yes."
"Would she state those reasons?"
"No, she could not."
"Why?"
"She was under a promise."
"To whom?"
"She would rather not say."
"To Miss Hildreth?"
"Yes."
"Had she agreed with Miss Hildreth's reasons?"
"Not altogether."
"Yet she assisted her to carry them out. Why?"
"She would rather not say."
"Had those reasons anything to do with Mr. Tremain?"
Mrs. Newbold was silent, and, with a snort and a smile, Mr. Munger
continued:
"Did Mrs. Newbold know Adèle Lamien, or Lallovich, to have committed a
crime at some period of her life?"
"Yes, she had been told so."
"And Mrs. Newbold was perfectly sure that the lady calling herself Miss
Hildreth was the same person who, at the Folly, was known as Adèle
Lamien?"
"Yes."
"Then Mrs. Newbold believed her friend--Miss Hildreth--to be guilty of
murder?"
Clear and sharp came the answer:
"No, I do not."
"What then did Mrs. Newbold believe?"
And Esther, her face flushing and paling alternately, her blue eyes
fixed dauntlessly upon her tormenter, replied, that while forced to
admit that Patricia Hildreth and the person purporting to be Adèle
Lamien were to her certain knowledge one and the same, to the best of
her belief this was not the whole truth. Miss Hildreth had reasons,
grave reasons, for what she had done, and she, Mrs. Newbold, had
consented to help her, never foreseeing the grave and terrible
consequences that might ensue. She was not at liberty to state those
reasons; but she was as certain as she stood before them then, that Miss
Hildreth was absolutely guiltless of the crime of which she was accused.
"How did Mrs. Newbold account for the two handkerchiefs marked _A. de
L._?"
"She could not account for them."
"Had Miss Hildreth ever spoken to her concerning her life
abroad--especially her life at St. Petersburg?"
"No; Miss Hildreth had always been uncommunicative on all such topics."
This closed Mrs. Newbold's statement; and Esther could not but feel, as
her husband handed her to a seat not far from Patricia, that she had
done more to injure her friend's cause than to help it.
"Oh, if she would but have let me speak!" she said to her husband, the
tears dimming the brightness of her blue eyes.
Patricia caught the half whispered exclamation, and saw the glistening
tear-drops; but she only folded her hands more closely together, and
waited with a look of quiet endurance on her pale face.
Dick Darling was next interrogated, and her violent partisanship was
decidedly refreshing to the excited listeners. She indignantly denied
any possible connection between Miss Hildreth and Adèle Lallovich; but
when pinned down to say why, she could only shake her brown head and
declare she was sure of it from a moral point of view.
Yes, she had received the pink note from Mdlle. Lamien, on the evening
of the 3rd of May. She could not say if the handwriting was that of Miss
Hildreth, or if it was the same as that on the handkerchief. She was not
familiar with Miss Hildreth's calligraphy. She had never had the
smallest suspicion of Miss Hildreth's identity with Mdlle. Lamien; she
didn't believe it. She was not given to looking for suspicious motives
in every-day life; thank goodness she was not a sneak, and hoped she
never might be; this last with a malevolent glance at Miss James. Miss
Hildreth had told the story of Adèle Lallovich at her special request.
Yes, she had used both names in telling it, Lamien and Lallovich.
Miss Darling finished with an open scowl at Mr. Munger, and a smile at
Patricia, and fluttered off to Esther's side, where she kept up a
running commentary on all subsequent events.
Once more there was a few moments' interval or breathing space, and then
Mr. Munger played his trump card by requesting Philip Tremain to step
forward. It had been, undoubtedly, a disagreeable surprise publicly when
it transpired that Mr. Tremain was not to appear as Miss Hildreth's
solicitor; but it created a still greater sensation that he should be
called in evidence against her; and, for a few moments, as he stood
there, composed, dignified, and impassive, such a silence fell upon the
assemblage that even the dropping of the proverbial pin would have
resounded loudly.
And in that brief interval Philip lost all sight or knowledge of those
around him; he saw only the pale, proud face of the woman he loved, the
close-shut curve of her lips, the anxious expectancy of her eyes. Was
she fearful of him then, and of what he might say? he asked himself a
little bitterly. She had never rightly estimated his love, why should he
expect her to do so now?
Perhaps, since she had deceived him, she judged him by her standpoint of
deception.
Then he lost touch with the more personal elements of the scene, and
remembered only where he was, and why he stood there. That woman yonder,
that dark, silent, motionless figure, with the clasped hands and the
pallid beautiful face, was Patricia Hildreth--the woman of his life-long
devotion, the love of his youth and his manhood--and she was charged
with what? Murder!
And he? He could do nothing to exonerate her, nothing; he was helpless,
powerless. She had refused even to give him an explanation of her
position, and should Vladimir Mellikoff come off triumphant and she be
taken from him, taken away to that Russia whose hand is as iron, whose
vengeance is of blood, whose retribution stern as death, he should never
know--never, never--how much of truth, how much of falsehood, she had
kept back from him; or what was the secret that not all his passionate
pleadings could wrest from her.
Patricia had not lifted her eyes from her folded hands, or apparently
taken any notice of Philip's appearance; only for one brief moment a
faint wave of colour tinged her cheeks and faded slowly away.
Mr. Munger's harsh voice broke the silence, and with an audible sigh of
relief the audience fixed its attention upon Mr. Tremain. In replying to
the lawyer's questions, Philip made his statement as brief as possible.
He had gone to the Folly by invitation, and had had no expectation of
meeting Miss Hildreth there; he had not seen Miss Hildreth for ten years
previous to his meeting her at the Folly. He had not found her
particularly changed; and had not had much intercourse with her. Yes, he
acted in the same play with her--_The Ladies' Battle_--on the evening of
Mr. Newbold's birthday, but as Miss Hildreth did not arrive until the
afternoon of the day before, they had not rehearsed together. He had
first met Mdlle. Lamien the evening of his arrival at the Folly; she had
interested him at once, and increased that interest by her courage on
the occasion of the carriage accident. He had never for a moment
suspected Mdlle. Lamien and Miss Hildreth of being the same person; he
could see no resemblance between them beyond height and certain tones of
voice. No, he had never seen Mdlle. Lamien in full daylight; at the time
of the accident she wore a thick black veil drawn closely over her
face.
Miss Hildreth had never spoken to him of her absence abroad, or
volunteered any information concerning it. He had known Miss Hildreth
for ten years; yes, at one time they had been engaged to be married. The
interview described by Miss James had certainly taken place between him
and Mdlle. Lamien; he had no wish to repudiate his position; at the end
of the interview he considered himself engaged to Mdlle. Lamien; nothing
had since occurred to alter his relations towards her. He had been out
of town from August to September; his orders were that no letters or
papers should be forwarded to him. He returned to New York on the
evening of the 8th of September; he had only just reached his rooms when
Miss Hildreth's arrest was made known to him; it was Miss Darling who
told him. He had gone at once to Ludlow Street but was denied
admittance; he then went to Mrs. Newbold's house in Madison Avenue. It
was only two days ago that he had learned that Miss Hildreth and Mdlle.
Lamien were supposed to be one and the same person. Yes, he had asked
Miss Hildreth either to confirm or negative the charge, but she had
declined to do so. He had no reason to believe that Miss Hildreth had
contracted an unhappy alliance while abroad, nor had he any for denying
the possibility of her having done so. Miss Hildreth was his friend, he
would not therefore insult her by protesting his belief in her
innocence. He had never seen Count Vladimir Mellikoff before meeting him
at the Folly, on the evening of the 2nd of May.
With the termination of Mr. Tremain's statement further inquiry was
adjourned until the following morning. The long, hot day had run its
course at last, and as the pent-up crowd surged out into the mellow,
lambent atmosphere of the summer evening, and melted away in all
directions, twilight and desertion settled down upon the empty
court-room.
Patricia, turning for one last look, as she passed out of the private
door, smiled sadly at the change wrought in so short a time. Would it be
so when she too had passed out of the lives of those who surrounded her
now? Would her name--her place--become but an empty memory--a
recollection to be put aside with all haste? Would he forget her,
too--he, Philip, for whose love she had played so hazardous a game?
Would _he_ forget her, as these people forgot her, glad to rush away
from the excitement of looking at her to the greater excitement of
condemning her? Must she, too, like Adèle Lallovich, drink to the very
dregs the bitter cup of humiliation and desertion?
When all this grim comedy--this farce that touched so close on
tragedy--was over, when Russia's hand had closed upon her, would he
think of her then? Would he come to know her better when she had passed
from out his life for ever, and, perchance, give now and then one
backward look, one sigh, to the days that were no more?
"Ah, Philip," she murmured, "I would rather far you should never know,
lest in knowing you should come to despise me for my weakness and my
love!"