"Excuse me, Miss Lorena, I do not," he declared quickly. "Only we have
heard so many threats of exposure that to cease to regard them
seriously. Mr Statham's high reputation is sufficient guarantee to the
public."
"I quite admit that," answered the girl. "It is not the present that is
in question, but the past."
"In these days of hustle, a man's past matters but little. It is what
he is, not what he was, which the public recognise."
"Personally," she said, "I hold Mr Statham in highest esteem. I have
never met him, it's true, but I have knowledge of certain kind and
generous actions on his part, actions which have brought happiness and
prosperity to those who have fallen upon misfortune. For that reason I
resolved to speak to you and warn you of the plot in progress. Do you
happen to know a certain Mr John Adams?"
Rolfe started, and stared at her. What could she know of the Damoclean
sword suspended over the house of Statham?
"Well," he answered guardedly, "I once met a man of that name, I think."
"Recently?"
"About a month ago."
"You knew nothing of him prior to that?"
Rolfe hesitated. "Well, no," he replied.
"He made pretence of being friendly with you."
"Yes. But to tell you the truth I was somewhat suspicions of him. What
do you know of him? Tell me."
"I happen to be well acquainted with him," the girl responded. "It is
he who has arisen like one from the grave, and intends to avenge the
wrong which he declares that Mr Statham had done him."
"Recently?"
"No, years ago, when they were abroad together--and Mr Statham was still
a poor man."
Charlie Rolfe was silent. He knew Adams; he knew, too, that evil was
intended. He had warned old Sam Statham, but the latter had not heeded.
Adams had had the audacity to approach him in confidence, believing
that he might be bought over. When he had discovered that the
millionaire's secretary was incorruptible, he openly declared his
sinister intentions.
"I had no idea you were acquainted with Adams," he said, still puzzled
to know who she was, and what was her motive.
"I happen to know certain details of the plot," she answered.
"And you will reveal them to me?" he asked in quick anxiety.
"Upon certain conditions."
"And what are they? I am all attention."
"The first is that you will not seek to learn the identity of the person
who is associated with Mr Adams in the forthcoming exposure; and the
second is that you say nothing to Mr Statham regarding our secret
meeting."
"Why?" he asked, not quite understanding the reason of her last
stipulation. "I thought you wished to warn Mr Statham?"
"No. I warn you. You can take measures of precaution, on Mr Statham's
behalf without making explanation."
"Mr Statham has already seen John Adams and recognised him. He is
already forewarned."
"And he has not taken any steps in self-defence?" she cried quickly.
"Why need he trouble?"
"Why, because that man Adams has sworn to hound him to
self-destruction."
Rolfe shrugged his shoulders, and replied:
"Mr Statham has really no apprehension of any unpleasantness, Miss
Lorena. It is true that in the old days the two men were friends, and,
apparently, they quarrelled. Adams was lost for years to all who knew
him, and now suddenly reappears to find his old acquaintance wealthy
beyond the dreams of avarice, and seeks, as many more before him have
done, to profit by his former friendship."
"Or enmity," added the girl, lowering her sunshade a little until for a
moment it hid her features. "I do not think you realise the dastardly
cunning of the plot in progress. It has not only as its object the ruin
of the credit of the house of Statham Brothers, but the creation of a
scandal which Mr Samuel Statham will not dare to face. He must either
fly the country, or commit suicide."
"Well?"
"The latter is expected by the two men who have combined and are now
perfecting their ingenious conspiracy. It is believed by them that he
will take his own life."
Charlie Rolfe reflected for a moment. He recollected old Sam's terrible
agitation on the day when he recognised John Adams leaning against the
railings of the Park. Of late, the great financier had betrayed signs
of unusual nervousness, and had complained several times of insomnia.
To his secretary knowledge he had spent two nights that very week in
walking the streets of London from midnight until dawn, ostensibly to do
charitable actions to the homeless, but in reality because his mind was
becoming unbalanced by the constant strain of not knowing from one
moment to another when Adams would deal his staggering blow.
Had there been any question of blackmail, the aid of solicitors and of
Scotland Yard could have been invoked. But there had been no threat
beyond the statement made openly to Rolfe by the man who intended to
encompass the ruin of the eccentric millionaire and philanthropist.
"I think, Miss Lorena, that we need have no fear of Mr Statham doing
anything rash," he said. "But why is it hoped that he will prefer to
take his life rather than face any exposure?"
"Because they will profit by his death--profit to an enormous degree."
"But how can Adams profit? He has had no dealings with Mr Statham of
late."
"Not Adams, but his friend. The latter will become wealthy."
"And may I not know his name?"
"No. That is the stipulation which I make. For the present it is
sufficient that you should be made aware of the broad lines of the plot,
and that its main object is the death of Samuel Statham."
"And you wish me to tell him all this?"
"Certainly, only without explaining that I was your informant."
"Why do you wish to conceal the fact, Miss Lorena?" he asked. "Surely
he would be only too delighted to be able to thank you for your
warning?"
She shook her head, saying:
"If it were known that I had exposed their plans it would place me in
peril. They are determined and relentless men, who would willingly
sacrifice a woman in order to gain their ends, which in this case is a
large fortune."
"And you will not tell me the name of Adams's associate in the matter?"
"No. I--I cannot do that. Please do not ask me," she answered
hurriedly.
Rolfe was again silent for a few moments. At last he asked:
"Cannot you tell me something of the past relations between Adams and
Statham? You seem to know all the details of the strange affair."
"Adams makes certain serious allegations which he can substantiate.
There is a certain witness whom Mr Statham believes to be dead, but who
is still alive, and is now in England."
"A witness--of what?" asked Rolfe quickly.
"Of the crime which Adams alleges."
"Crime--what crime?" ejaculated the young man in surprise, staring at
his pretty companion.
"Some serious offence, but of what nature I am not permitted to explain
to you."
"Why not, Miss Lorena? You must! Remember that Mr Statham is in
ignorance of this--I mean that Adams intends to charge him with a crime.
Surely the position is most serious! I imagined that Adams's charges
were criticism of Mr Statham's methods of finance."
"Finance does not enter into it at all," said the girl. "The delegation
is a secret crime by which the millionaire laid the foundation of his
fortune; a crime committed abroad, and of which there are two witnesses
still living, men who were, until a few weeks ago, believed to be dead.
"But you tell me that Adams's associate will, if Mr Statham commits
suicide, profit to an enormous amount. Will you not explain? If this
is so, why have they not attempted to levy blackmail? If the charge has
foundation--which I do not for one moment believe--then surely Mr
Statham would be prepared to make payment and hush up the affair? He
would not be human if he refused."
"The pair are fully alive to the danger of any attempt to procure money
by promise of secrecy," she replied. "They have already fully
considered the matter, and arrived at the conclusion that to compel Mr
Statham to take his own life is the wiser and easier course."
"You seem to be in their confidence, Miss Lorena?" he said, gazing at
the pretty girl at his side.
"Yes, I am. That is why I am unable to reveal to you the name of
Adams's companion," she replied. "All I can tell you is that the
intention is to make against him a terrible charge of which they possess
evidence which is, apparently, overwhelming."
"Then you know the charge it is intended to bring against him--eh?"
"Yes," was her prompt answer. "To me it seems outrageous,
incomprehensible--and yet--"
"Well?"
"And yet, if it is really true, it would account to a very great degree
for Mr Statham's eccentricity of which I've so often read in the
papers. No one enters his house in Park Lane. Is not that so?"
"He is shy, and does not care for strangers," was Rolfe's response.
"But it said in the paper only a week ago that nobody has ever been
upstairs in that house except himself. There is a door on the stairs,
they say, which is always kept locked and bolted."
"And if that is so?"
"Well--have you ever been upstairs, Mr Rolfe. Tell me; I'm very
anxious to know."
"I make no secret of it," was his reply, smiling the while. "I have
never been upstairs. Entrance there is forbidden."
"Even to you--his confidential secretary?"
"Yes, even to me."
"And yet there are signs of the upstairs' rooms being occupied," she
remarked. "I have seen lights there myself, as I've passed the house.
I was along Park Lane late one evening last week."
"So you have been recently in London?"
"London is my home. I am only here on a visit," was her reply. "And
ascertaining you were coming here, I resolved to see you."
"And has this serious allegation which Adams intends to bring any
connection with the mystery concerning the mansion?"
"Yes. It has."
"In what way?"
She paused, as though uncertain whether or not to tell the truth.
"Because," she said at last, "because I firmly believe, from facts known
to me, that confirmation of the truth of Adams's charge will be
discovered beyond that locked door!"