Seeing more and more that if an alteration was to be made in their
present position, the change must come from her urging, Louise attacked
her brother soon after breakfast the next morning. She was fully
convinced that Pradelle was determined to keep them in London for
reasons of his own--reasons the bare thought of which brought an
indignant flush into her cheek; and it was evident that he was gaining
greater influence over his old companion, who was just now in the stage
when it would be easy for one of strong mind to gain the mastery. This
being so, Louise determined that hers should be the strong will, not
Pradelle's. To this end she took three or four of the most likely of
her jewels, making a point of carefully wrapping them up and dwelling
upon the task till she caught her brother's attention.
"What are you doing there?" he said.
"Getting ready some things upon which to raise money."
He uttered an impatient ejaculation.
"Leave them till Pradelle comes."
"No, Harry; either you or I must part with these. Who is it to be?"
"Let Pradelle take them."
"No," she said firmly. "It is time that we acted for ourselves. Will
you go, or shall I?"
"But you heard what he said yesterday?"
"Yes, and I do not believe it. Come, Harry, for your own sake, for
mine."
"Yes, yes; but wait."
"You forced me into this compromising position to help you escape from
England."
"I could not help it."
"I am not blaming you; I only say act, or let me."
He started from his chair, and stood there swayed by the various
passions which pervaded his spirit.
"Harry."
"I cannot do it."
"Then let me go."
"No, no, no!" he cried. "I am not so lost to all manly feeling as that.
Here, give them to me, and let us get away."
"Yes," she said eagerly, "at once. You will go, Harry, and let us cross
to-night."
He nodded his head, and without another word swept the jewels into his
pocket, and made towards the door. As he laid his hand upon the lock he
turned sharply and came back.
"I'm like a curse to you, Louie," he said, kissing her; "but I'm going
to try, and you shall guide me now."
She clung to him for a few moments, and then loosened her grasp.
"I shall be ready when you come back," she said. "We can pay these
people, and it will be like breathing afresh to get away."
"Yes," he said. "But Pradelle?"
"Is our enemy, Harry. Your evil genius."
"No, no; he has been very kind."
"For his own ends. There, go."
He went off without a word; and after making the few trifling
preparations necessary, Louise put on her hat and cloak, and waited
impatiently for her brother's return. An hour passed, which seemed like
two, and then the blood mounted to her pale cheek, and she crossed
towards the door ready to admit her brother, for there was a step upon
the stair. She glanced round to see if she had forgotten anything, but
there was nothing to do, save to pay the landlady, and then they would
be free. She threw open the door as the step paused on the landing, and
then she ran back with her lips apart, and a look of repugnance and
dread in her eyes.
"Mr Pradelle!"
"Yes, Miss Louie, me it is, and you don't look best pleased to see me."
As she fell back he entered and closed the door.
"My brother is out, Mr Pradelle."
He nodded, and stood smiling at her.
"You can leave any message you wish for him."
"And go? Exactly. Hah! I should like to make you think differently of
me, Miss Louie. You know I always loved--"
"Mr Pradelle, I am alone here, and this visit is an intrusion."
"Intrusion? Ah, how hard you do keep on me; but I'm patient as a man
can be. What a welcome to one who has come to serve you! I am only
your brother's messenger, Miss Louie. He has been and done that
business."
"You know?"
"Of course I know. Harry is not so hard upon me as you are. I have
seen him, and he sent me on here with a cab. He wants you to join him."
"To join him?"
"Yes, at the station. He says it is not safe to come back here, and you
are to join him at the waiting-room."
"He sent that message by you?"
"Yes. It's all nonsense, of course, for I think he has not so much
cause to be alarmed. There is a risk, but he magnifies it. You are
ready, so let's go on at once."
"Why did not my brother return? There is the landlady to pay."
"He has commissioned me to do that. I am going to see you both off, and
if you'll only say a kind word to me, Miss Louie, I don't know but what
I'll come with you."
"Did my brother send that message to me, Mr Pradelle?" said Louise,
looking at him fixedly.
"Yes, and the cab's waiting at the door."
"It is not true," said Louise firmly.
"What?"
"I say, sir, it is not true. After what has passed between us this
morning, my brother would not send such a message by you."
"Well, if ever man had cause to be hurt I have," cried Pradelle. "Why,
you'll tell me next that he didn't go out to pawn some of your jewels."
Louise hesitated.
"There, you see, I am right. He has taken quite a scare, and daren't
come back. Perhaps you won't believe that. There, come along; we're
wasting time."
"It is not true."
"How can you be so foolish! I tell you I was to bring you along, and
you must come now. Hush! don't talk, but come."
He caught her hand and drew it through his arm so suddenly that,
hesitating between faith and doubt, she made no resistance; and, ready
to blame herself now for her want of trust, she was accompanying him
towards the door when it was opened quickly, and their way was blocked
by Leslie and Uncle Luke.
Pradelle uttered an angry ejaculation, and Louise shrank back
speechless, her eyes dilated, her lips apart, and a bewildering sense of
confusion robbing her of the power of speech, as she realised to the
full her position in the sight of those who had sought her out.
"Then he was right, Leslie," said Uncle Luke slowly, as he looked from
his niece to Pradelle, and back.
"Uncle!" she cried in agony, "what are you thinking?"
"That you are my niece--a woman," said the old man coldly; "and that
this is Mr Pradelle."
"Uncle, dear uncle, let me explain," cried Louise wildly, as she
shivered at the look of contempt cast upon her by Leslie.
"The situation needs no explanation," said Uncle Luke coldly.
"Not a bit," said Pradelle with a half laugh. "Well, gentlemen, what do
you want? This lady is under my protection. Please to let us pass."
"Yes," said Uncle Luke in the same coldly sarcastic tone of voice, "you
can pass, but, in spite of everything, the lady stays with me."
"No, sir, she goes with me," said Pradelle in a blustering tone. "Come
on," he whispered, "for Harry's sake."
"No," said Uncle Luke. "I think we will spare her the pain of seeing
you arrested. Mr Pradelle, the police are on the stairs."
Volume 3, Chapter XVIII.