SAM LEE DISCOVERS A FARO GAME.
A hard thing it is to recall to another
The seeds of wrong doing our brother has sown
But harder it is, our proud spirits to smother
And confess to a harvest so largely our own.
It was long past midnight before the ladies thought of retiring, so
great was the excitement consequent upon the evening's revelations. But
at last the Doctor and Sir Frederic were left alone. The fire was
growing dim, but neither of the gentlemen thought to have it
replenished. The physician's mind was so intent upon the identity of
Lawrence Maynard that it seemed at last to react with unconscious
cerebration upon the thoughts of Sir Frederic, for he paced the room
thoughtfully a few moments, then pausing directly before his companion,
said anxiously, "Dr. Seward, have you any theory whatever regarding this
man,--this imposter?"
Like one confronted by the utterance of his own private thoughts Dr.
Seward started and was for a moment embarrassed, but controlling
himself, he said briefly, "Yes, Sir Frederic, I have a theory, but it is
so vague and so intensely disagreeable that I dread to give it
utterance."
Then, as Sir Frederic turned away without further questioning, he too,
rose excitedly and began pacing the floor.
"Sir Frederic I _will_ tell you my suspicion," he said suddenly, after a
short silence. "It may be but a foolish fancy, yet I cannot shake it
off." Then he told him fully, but with deep remorse, of the episode in
his early life in which the Lady Van Tyne figured so conspicuously, but
with the determination to shield his patient to the last, he told the
entire story without mentioning a name, still to make his theory well
founded, he was obliged to state that the two boys were as alike as
brothers, and Sir Frederic, with a sinking heart, gave a shrewd guess as
to the children's parentage.
He was only a few years younger than the Lady Van Tyne and he now
recalled many instances of her imprudent demeanor when a girl, but the
reflection cast upon Archibald Sinclair's morality by the Doctor's
story, was a source of deep regret when he thought of the patient, still
worshiping, wife.
In another moment his mode of action was decided, and placing his hand
upon Dr. Seward's shoulder, he said sadly, "Doctor, I will respect your
story as I have no doubt as to the truth of the facts you have stated,
but unless this matter can be handled without one word of her husband's
treachery coming to Mrs. Sinclair's ears, I shall quietly withdraw from
the search and allow that masquerading rascal to go 'scot free,' so far
as I am personally concerned."
"And I will gladly close my lips," answered Dr. Seward, "if you so
advise, but find him, we must, for it is more than possible that my
suspicions are unfounded and I can never rest until the matter is
settled."
Sir Frederic had no time to reply, for after a hurried rap upon the
door, the portly butler, red with excitement, entered, and beckoning
Sir Frederic aside, said apologetically:
"There's a Chinaman down at the basement door that says 'e must see you
hat once, Sir! I hordered 'im away, but 'twas no use. 'E says 'e's bound
and determined to see you!"
Sir Frederic had not seen Sam Lee since the day of his arrival in the
city, but he recalled him instantly, and feeling sure that _his_ was an
errand of importance, he dismissed the indignant butler and listened
with great eagerness for what the Mongolian had to say.
Sam Lee had improved his time while in New York and could now
communicate quite fluently in his funny, broken English, but now, in the
intensity of his emotions, his newly acquired learning forsook him and
for at least five minutes he poured forth a succession of abbreviated
words and sentences that were positively maddening to a man so seriously
interested as was Sir Frederic.
But at last he seemed to comprehend the situation, and ceasing his
voluble chatter, repeated, over and over again the words, "Me find him!
Me find him! Melican man come klick,--Chinaman show way!"
Sir Frederic, sure that the words were true, motioned for Sam Lee to
wait and then ran back to the parlor where he hurriedly explained the
news to the physician and requested him to act his pleasure about
accompanying him on so disagreeable an errand.
Dr. Seward was eager to go, and in a few seconds both men were ready for
the street.
Thinking Stella might be alarmed at his protracted absence, Sir Frederic
mounted the stairs and turned the latch of her sleeping room as softly
as possible.
The light was burning dimly, and as he surmised, his wife was far in the
land of dreams. Her fair hair fell upon the pillow, while the coverlid,
slipping from her shoulders, exposed her tender loveliness, and almost
with tears in his eyes, Sir Frederic bent and touched his lips to a
wandering curl while he covered the dimpled shoulders, and then with
another look at the beautiful, childish face, turned and passed
noiselessly from the room. The thought that his fair and innocent
darling had once been held within the power of this unprincipled
villain, sent his blood tingling through his veins, and with a sudden
thirst for vengeance in his soul, he quickly rejoined the others, and
following closely upon the heels of the excited Chinaman, was, an hour
later, in the actual presence of the man who for nearly three years had
succeeded in evading justice and escaping the penalty of his guilty
deeds.