AN EVENING VISIT
For once Sir George Haredale did not seem to be in the least pleased to
see Fielden. He was standing on the lower steps of the stand talking to
Major Carden with the air of one who is conversing with an old
acquaintance. By Carden's side was his daughter, eager and interested,
following all that was going on around her with the zest and enjoyment
of a child.
"Oh, here you are," Sir George said fussily. "I was beginning to wonder
what had become of you. Carden, this is my daughter. Major Carden and I
were at Eton together. We used to do a good deal of racing before you
were born."
The Major took off his hat with a flourish.
"Charmed to meet the daughter of my old friend," he said, "charmed. Ah,
those were pleasant days when one had youth and strength and a banking
account which appeared to be inexhaustible. Now I deem myself fortunate
if I can steal a day off occasionally to get down to a suburban
racecourse. Let me present you to my daughter. My dear Alice----"
"But I know her already," May Haredale cried. "We were at school
together. I had no idea that my father and yours knew one another. I am
so pleased to see you again. Father, Alice Carden was my greatest friend
all the years I was at Eastbourne. We parted promising to write to one
another regularly, but somehow or another we have never corresponded.
But now that I have met you I won't lose sight of you any more. Major
Carden, you really must let Alice come and stay at Haredale Park with
me. I want her for a long visit."
Carden professed himself to be delighted, and this in all sincerity. He
began to see visions of a snug and comfortable time, away from dingy
lodgings and vilely-cooked food to which he had never become accustomed.
The two girls paired off, and the Major strolled towards the paddock
gates, for he had noticed Phillips there, evidently waiting for a chance
to speak to him.
"Got any instructions?" the Major asked.
"Nothing fresh," Phillips explained. "I want you to do exactly as I
asked you, and if you can manage it this evening, after you get back to
town, so much the better. I have written my address on the back of this
card, and it is possible I may be here for two or three days longer. I
want you to find out what wagering there was to big money with Selwyn at
the Post Club to-day, and wire to the address on this card. It is more
than probable that, before the week is out, I may be able to put a good
thing in your way. I suppose I can come round and see you whenever I
like."
The Major thought that would be all right. It would be just as well,
perhaps, to get his daughter out of the way. With diplomacy he might
contrive to expedite the invitation to Haredale Park, so that he could
have the ground clear without fear of interruption. He returned to the
place where his daughter was waiting for him.
At a sign from Phillips, Fielden came forward.
"Well," he asked, "how are you getting on?"
"Splendidly," Phillips replied. "I have been far more fortunate than I
anticipated. We will get some fun out of Copley and Foster yet. From
your point of view I daresay you may think I am wrong. But I mean to
make money out of this. I will expose Copley and fill my purse at the
same time. You wonder what I am driving at? Can you manage to stay here
over to-morrow?"
"I think so," Fielden said.
"That's good. In that case we can push our investigations farther and,
with any luck, before the week is out we shall not only know where
Copley gets his money, but how he makes it. Of course, we know that he
doesn't even begin as a millionaire; we know that he is an unscrupulous
adventurer. But he has the command of ready money, and we wish to know
how he makes it. As a matter of fact, I know that already. But there are
a few weak points in my case, and we can't make a definite move till
these are cleared up. Now I want you to have dinner with me in my
lodgings. I told my landlady I might have a friend staying with me, and
she will be ready to put a bedroom at your disposal."
"Why this mystery?" Fielden asked.
"Oh, it is no mystery. I only want to interest you. After dark we shall
indulge in a little quiet burglary, that is, if you don't object."
"It is not an alluring prospect," Fielden said.
"Of course it isn't," Phillips agreed. "But when you are dealing with
scoundrels it is necessary to use their own weapons. I presume you are
as interested as I am in the exposure of Copley and Foster and all their
methods."
"Up to the hilt," Fielden said between his teeth. "Poor as I am, I would
give all I possess to bring that about. I would give five years of my
life to manage that between now and Derby Day. And if necessary I can
find some money. I am better off than I expected, but I intended to keep
the money for a start in life later. Still, if you want it and will
promise to put it to a good use, I will give you every farthing
cheerfully. You have only to say the word."
Phillips chuckled.
"Oh, there's no occasion to do that, sir," he said. "Keep the money in
your pocket. I shall have enough and to spare before long. I mean to
drag Copley's plunder from between his teeth. I will take all I can get
from him, and when the time comes we shall drop a hint in the proper
quarter, and there will be an end to Raymond Copley. Within three months
you will see that man in gaol. You needn't be alarmed for Miss Haredale.
She is as safe from that man as if she were the daughter of the King. I
had better be going, because it is as well that we should not be seen
talking together for too long. I have scribbled my address on the back
of this card, and shall expect you about half-past seven."
Fielden asked no more questions, but returned to his friends with a
vivid sense of curiosity. He listened to Major Carden's flamboyant talk,
and as he bowed to Alice Carden could not help thinking what a pretty
and refined girl she was. He made his excuses for not returning to
Haredale, and was faintly amused to see how relieved Sir George appeared
to be.
"No, I can't get back to-night," he explained. "I have several things to
do here. But I hope to see you on Sunday, if I may be allowed to come
over."
"Of course, you may," May smiled, as she held out her hand. "Miss Carden
is coming to stay with me to-morrow. I have persuaded her to come at
once. I am ashamed to have neglected her so long."
Fielden finished his business, saw the stud-groom and the horses safely
on the rail, and then went to the retired part of the village where
Phillips' lodgings were situated. It was little more than a cottage, but
the place was neat and clean, and the cooking left nothing to be
desired.
"It is only a bit of fish and a steak," Phillips said cheerfully, "but
you will find it beautifully served, and as to the wine, well, I got
that myself, and I know it is everything it should be. Please sit down
and make yourself at home. We can discuss matters over our cigars.
There's nothing like racing to give you an appetite. I only hope it
won't snow before morning."
"I hope not," Fielden said. "To all intents and purposes the racing was
spoilt this afternoon by the snow, and it is very odd that no one saw a
yard from start to finish of the three o'clock race. It was most
annoying."
"Was it?" Phillips asked. "Well, I confess I didn't find it so.
Yesterday at the time of the three o'clock race I was at the Post Club,
and, singular to say, we had the same blinding snowstorm in Covent
Garden. Now it surprises you, but from your point of view and mine that
snowstorm was the most fortunate thing that could have happened. When I
sat smoking my cigar in the Post Club there came to me the inspiration
of a lifetime. I seemed to see in a flash exactly what had happened, and
soon I shall know to a dead certainty. You must restrain your curiosity
for a little longer. You will probably know all about it before you go
to bed. Try one of these cigars. They are excellent."
Fielden had hardly got his cigar aglow before the landlady came in with
a telegram, which Phillips opened eagerly. There was a smile of triumph
on his face as he handed it to Fielden.
"What do you make of that?" he asked.
"I can make nothing of it," Fielden said. "It is a wire to the effect
that no important wager was made this afternoon on the three o'clock
race at the Post Club, and is signed Carden. I presume that is our stout
friend with the florid face and ingratiating manner, who was talking to
you this afternoon. But how it helps us I haven't the ghost of an idea."
Phillips rose and threw his cigar in the fire.
"Come," he said. "It is time to start. You haven't much longer to
wait."