THE EAVESDROPPERS
To Fielden, waiting, it seemed that Phillips was a long time away. While
he stood looking over the banisters he learned that the fire had been
made up downstairs. With grim amusement he watched Foster open the
hamper and take from it certain delicacies which formed the foundation
of what promised to be an exceedingly good supper. There were sundry
bottles, too, with gold foil about the necks, and when the hamper had
been emptied Foster repaired to the kitchen and presently reappeared
with a tray laden with plates and dishes, the requisite number of
glasses and knives and forks, and a tablecloth. Judging from the smell,
Copley was smoking in the dining-room whilst his accomplice was
preparing the supper. Matters had progressed thus far when Phillips
stole gently back, carrying a long very thin slip of wood from a broken
board, the end of which he had whittled to a fine point.
"I've found it," he said. "If I lean over the banisters I can jam the
point of this stick into the eye of the burner, and put out the gas.
They won't be able to light it again for a while. Is it safe?"
The sudden pop of a cork was heard.
"Sounds like it," Fielden whispered. "I think Foster carried in
everything and they are at supper. Now is your time."
Phillips leant over the banisters, and at the second attempt thrust the
sharpened end of the long strip of wood into the eye of the burner.
There was a feeble flicker or two, and then the whole place was wrapped
in darkness. He was only just in time, for almost on the same instant
Foster came out of the dining-room. They heard him muttering that the
gas had gone wrong, and watched him, faintly outlined by a match, strive
in vain to light the gas once more. After the third attempt he abandoned
the effort with an oath and went back to the dining-room. Straining
their ears, the two men on the landing could hear Copley's reply.
"Choked up with dust, I suppose. But never mind so long as we are all
right. Sit down and eat. I daresay those other fellows will be some time
yet."
Phillips whispered in his companion's ear.
"I think we shall be safe. What do you say to creep away now we have the
opportunity? Or would it be worth while to stay outside the dining-room
and listen to what they're talking about? It is pitch dark, and we can
slope at any moment."
Fielden was feeling reckless. It did not matter what happened. Without
further ado they tiptoed into the hall where, by the aid of the intense
stillness and a door ajar, they commanded all that was going on. Copley
sat at one end of the table, facing Foster at the other. For some time
the two men ate steadily with an appetite sharpened by their drive
through the cold air. When the meal was finished Copley pushed his chair
aside and strode over to the fireplace. Would Foster remove the supper
things? He had begun to gather the plates and dishes together when
Copley stopped him.
"Oh, never mind the things," he said impatiently. "Let the man remove
them in the morning. He can finish up what is left. We have more
important matters to attend to. Take a cigar and sit down by the fire.
What is the next move?"
"We have had cruel bad luck," Foster replied. "Who would have expected
to have two race-days ruined by snowstorms? A prophet could not have
foreseen anything like this. I reckon we have lost twenty thousand
pounds the last two days."
"It's a bad start," Copley answered. "We didn't have the luck, and we
haven't made the money. I was on the roof yesterday and to-day, and I
declare to you I couldn't see a single incident in the race. I've never
seen two such blinding snow showers. It was simply maddening to stand
there and feel a fortune supping through your fingers, all on account of
the snow. And that's not the worst, Foster. It will be another month
before there will be two days' racing at Mirst Park, and we can't count
upon a single penny till then. I tell you frankly I don't know where to
turn for ready cash. It's all very fine to have tradesmen breaking their
necks to get my custom, but that doesn't fill my purse with the needful.
It's very odd that a man in my position can procure almost any article
of value he pleases, but when it comes to raising a bit of cash
everybody's suspicions are aroused at once."
"Well, philosophy won't help us," Foster said. "We must annex some ready
money to carry us over the next month, at any rate. The same ill luck
can't happen at the next meeting. Such a coincidence couldn't happen
twice. Don't forget that if we can manage to hang on for four weeks we
shall make enough to carry us on to the Derby, and after the big race is
run we shall be in clover. If you work your cards properly the Blenheim
colt is bound to lose, and with this knowledge we can lay against the
horse as long as anybody is fool enough to take our bets."
"I haven't forgotten that," Copley said. "Of course, I haven't spoken to
Sir George about it yet, but I have asked him to dine with me on Sunday
evening at Seton Manor, and I shall put on the screw then. He'll kick at
first. He'll talk about the blood of his ancestors and the honour of his
race and all that kind of rot, but he is bound to give in. If I asked
him to-night he would say he would rather leave Haredale Park and beg
his bread before he would do anything to be ashamed of. We have both
heard people talk like that before now, but when it comes to the point
Sir George will sing another tune. They all do."
"Provided the lady does not change her mind," Foster said with a grin,
which caused Fielden, listening at the door, to clench his fists. "You
mustn't lose sight of that fact, Copley. Miss Haredale dislikes and
despises you. But though she vows that nothing in the world will induce
her to marry you, circumstances alter cases, and when she knows she is
no longer mistress of Haredale Park, it is possible her frowns may turn
into smiles."
Copley laughed unpleasantly.
"I haven't lost sight of these things," he said. "Miss Haredale has the
bad taste to dislike me exceedingly. I would give anything if I could
induce her to change her mind. I believe I might even grow honest and
lead a respectable life. Still, that would be beastly monotonous. Your
plan is the best. I had better accept my dismissal and leave Miss
Haredale to go her own way. Then I can put the screw on Sir George and
compel him to find some excuse for scratching his colt. When he sees
that I mean to have my money and discovers the sheriff in possession, he
will not be long in inventing a reason why the Blenheim colt should not
run that shall be consistent with his confounded dignity. You can leave
that safely to me, Foster. My word, how cold it is! I wish you would
shut that door. The draught is cutting my legs off. I daresay----"
What Copley was about to say was lost to the listeners in the hall by
the closing of the door. They could hear nothing save a murmur of voices
which conveyed nothing to their ears. Phillips touched his companion's
shoulder.
"Here's our chance," he whispered. "The sooner we are off the better. We
cannot learn anything more this evening; indeed, there cannot be much
more to learn."
They stole cautiously along the hall, through the kitchen and outhouses,
and were soon outside safe under cover of the darkness. It was black
enough now that the moon had gone down, and they could move freely into
the road and across the heath to the village.
"Well, what do you think of these precious rascals?" Phillips asked.
"Don't you agree that we are deep in the secrets of a vile conspiracy?
We can't leave it where it is."
"Most certainly not," Fielden said. "At present I am thinking more about
Sir George Haredale than of anybody else. A year or two ago I should
have scorned the idea of his doing anything dishonourable. But I have
learnt worldly wisdom, and can imagine how it would be if Sir George
were suddenly face to face with poverty. He is completely under Copley's
thumb. If these two men bring off their coup, they will make an enormous
fortune. But it must be prevented at all costs, Phillips. Think out some
scheme of checkmate, and I shall be your debtor for the rest of my
life."
"I think I can manage that," Phillips said. "I'll tell you what my plan
is when we get back to my rooms."