BELKNAP OUTWITTED.
"If you please, Mr. Lamotte," said that gentleman's coachman, appearing
before his master, less than an hour before the time appointed for the
moving of the funeral cortege, and looking much confused. "If you
please, sir, I've had a misfortune with my hand, sir; at least, my
wrist; it's sort of sprained, and I most fear I can't handle the reins
proper, for the horses is mighty full of life, bein' so little used of
late."
"Well, well," broke in Mr. Lamotte. "I suppose you can get a man to fill
your place?"
The man's countenance brightened at once.
"Oh, yes, sir; I've the very man right on hand. A friend of mine, and a
master one with horses."
"Let him take your place then, and see that every thing is in proper
order."
"It's all right," said the coachman, returning to the stables, and
addressing a man who leaned against the loose box, where two blooded
carriage horses were undergoing the currying process. "It's all right;
you can drive the horses."
"Cap'n you're a good fellow," said the man, enthusiastically, "and
here's your ten dollars. It's a favor I'll never forget, mind, for
many's the day I've driven the beauties, before Squire McInnis went up,
and we all had to go."
[Illustration: "Cap'n, you're a good fellow."]
"That was a big failure," replied the coachman, knowingly. "You just see
that the horses are done off all right, won't you? I must look after the
carriage."
"It was lucky for me that I happened to know the history of these
horses," mused Jerry Belknap, for he it was who leaned confidingly over
to stroke the sleek sides of one of the splendid bays, and who had
bribed Mr. Lamotte's coachman with a ten dollar bill. "If I drive the
Lamottes, I'm sure of a hearing, and no audience; at the worst if they
should take in a third party, but they won't, I can find a way to make
myself and my wants known." And he sauntered across to the carriage
house and critically inspected the splendid landau that was being rolled
out upon the gravel.
He had returned to W---- on foot, from a near railway station, reaching
the town within five hours from the time he left it.
During this time, however, his personal appearance had undergone a
marked change. He was rubicund, and more youthful of countenance;
shabbily smart in dress; excessively "horsey," and somewhat loud in
manner.
During his intercourse with the Lamottes he had learned, from Frank,
that their blooded bays had once been the property of a wealthy and
prominent citizen of New York, who having failed, after the modern
fashion, had given Jasper Lamotte the first bid for the valuable span.
Given thus much, the rest was easy. Representing himself as a former
coachman of this bankrupt New Yorker, he had told his little story. He
was looking about him for a place in which to open a "small, but neat"
livery stable, had wandered into W---- that morning, and having
considerable cash about him, all his savings in fact, he had not cared
to tempt robbers, by appearing too "high toned."
Of course he had heard at once of the murder, and then remembered that
Lamotte was the name of the gentleman who had bought his favorite horses
from his former master.
"I never pulled reins over a span equal to 'em," he said, with much
pathos. "I never had the same liking for any other pair of critters;
they was the apple of my eye, and I'd give just ten dollars to draw
reins over 'em once more--even to a funeral."
His little ruse was successful; the bait was instantly swallowed, and
Jerry Belknap glanced maliciously up at the closely curtained chamber
windows, and muttered, as he began to saunter slowly up and down before
the stable door:
"Miss Wardour, you won't find it so easy to outwit an old detective,
even with the odds in your favor."
Just as the horses were being led out from the stable, a quiet-looking
young man, with a somewhat rustic air, came into the yard, and
approached the group near the carriage house.
"Who comes here?" asked the disguised Belknap, in a low tone, addressing
the coachman.
"More than I know," replied that functionary. Then laying down a
halter, just removed from the head of one of the pawing, restless
horses, he turned toward the new comer, saying, patronizingly:
"Well, my man, can we do anything for you?"
The stranger appeared somewhat abashed.
"I hope I ain't in the way, gentlemen," he said, respectfully; "I came
from Wardour with a message for Miss Constance. It's from the old lady,
and as I see the carriages are coming and the hearse, I just thought I'd
wait till the funeral was gone before I intruded."
"Oh!" said the coachman, more graciously. "Well, you won't have long to
wait, then; the time's about up, and Mr. Lamotte is never behind time."
Then he turned to Mr. Belknap.
"You must keep a close eye over the off one," he said; "he's full of
Cain; and I say, what a lucky thing it is that your clothes are dark,
and that Mrs. Lamotte won't let us wear full liveries."
"Why, yes, it's very lucky, that's so; just throw over those reins, will
you. Don't be uneasy in your mind about that horse; I'll drive 'em safe
enough; just you tell me when to start."
Ten minutes later, all that remained of John Burrill was borne out in
its costly casket and placed in the splendid hearse at the door.
Just as he was about to cross his own threshold, Jasper Lamotte was
confronted by a young man who pressed into his hand a slip of paper, and
whispered in his ear:
"Read it at once, sir; it's of vital importance _to you_."
Stifling an exclamation, Jasper Lamotte unfolded and glanced at the slip
of paper. It contained these words:
The man who will drive your carriage is a cursed New York
detective, who has bribed your coachman.
Don't give him the opportunity he hopes to gain for watching and
listening to yourself and son.
The bearer of this can be trusted. BELKNAP.
By the time he had mastered the meaning of the note, the hearse had
moved forward and the pall-bearers were taking their places.
Then the Lamotte carriage came into view. Mr. Lamotte placed the note in
the hand of his son, who stood close beside him, and descended the
steps, a stern look on his face.
"My friend, come down off that box," he said to the self-satisfied
substitute procured him by his coachman.
[Illustration: "My friend, come down off that."]
The man on the box stared down at him in amazement.
"But, sir," he began.
"I want no words from you, sir; you can't drive my horses. Come down
instantly."
The discomfited Belknap writhed in his seat, and looked about him
helplessly.
Before were the pall-bearers, looking back from their open vehicle, and
noting the scene; on the steps, and within easy hearing distance, were
gathered the small knot of gentlemen, who, for courtesy's sake, or for
policy's sake, had gathered to do honor to Mr. Lamotte, rather than to
the poor rosewood shrouded thing that had never a mourner.
He could not explain; he could not make himself known.
"I will have you thrown off that box, sir; if you hesitate ten seconds
longer," exclaimed Mr. Lamotte, impatiently, at the same time moving
away and beckoning to the driver of the next carriage.
Fate was against him, and muttering curses, "not loud but deep," Jerry
Belknap began to clamber reluctantly down.
Seeing this, Mr. Lamotte turned toward the bearer of the mischievous
note, who had withdrawn a few paces from the group near the carriage,
and beckoned him to approach.
He came forward promptly.
"Can you drive, my man?"
"Yes, sir," respectfully.
"Then do me the favor to mount that box and drive my horses this
afternoon."
"And you, sir," turning to poor Belknap, "get off my premises and keep
off."
And so it came about that Jerry Belknap, private detective, found
himself once more outwitted, and "Mr. Smith, the book-peddler," drove
the carriage containing John Burrill's chief mourners.
"Pardon this little scene, gentlemen," said Mr. Lamotte, turning to his
friends, "but I happen to know that the man I dismissed is drunk."
Half an hour later a servant tapped softly at the door where Constance
kept watch, and said:
"There's a boy below, Miss Wardour, who says he has an important message
for you, and must deliver it in person."
Constance went immediately down to find our old friend George, the image
boy, in the hall below.
She smiled at sight of him, hoping to obtain some news of Bathurst. But
he only bowed, as if to a queen, placed in her hand a small, sealed
envelope; and before she could utter a word, she was standing alone in
the crape-hung hall, while the boy's steps could be heard ringing on the
stones outside.
Standing there, Constance hastily opened the envelope. It contained a
letter and a scrap of paper. Glancing first at the scrap, she read these
words:
MISS WARDOUR--
Enclosed find a letter, which, for reasons which I shall explain
later, I pilfered from you on the night of our first meeting. It
has accomplished the purpose for which I took it, and I hasten to
restore it.
BATHURST.
Constance turned her eye once more upon the paper in her hand, looked
closer and exclaimed: "It is; it is Sybil's lost letter!"