A DRAMATIC EXIT
May had taken her fortune in her own hands. She had, as she thought,
shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever. There was no
reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.
Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected. She had disposed
of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate
future. But she was miserable enough. Lodgings seemed to cramp and
confine her. She missed the pure air of the Downs, and longed once more
to feel the exhilarating stride of a good horse under her. At the end of
three days she would have given her pride and all her possessions to be
back at Haredale. Already she was trying to think of some excuse for
returning home.
She did not know how near her wishes were to being gratified. She was
not aware that Fielden was looking for her all over London. He had
jumped to the correct conclusion that he would find her near to Alice
Carden, but the trouble was to obtain Miss Carden's address. It was not
till the Saturday morning that he ran against Phillips, who fortunately
knew where Carden lived.
"You won't find him at home," he said.
"I don't want him," Fielden smiled. "Thank you very much. I'll see you
later in the day, perhaps."
"I'm busy," Phillips said darkly. "I've a good many things to do this
morning. I've to interview Selwyn and other big plungers. After that, I
have an appointment with one of the leading men of Scotland Yard, which
will take us down to Mirst Park with a view to going over a certain
house we wot of."
Phillips bustled away and Fielden lost no time in seeking out the modest
residence of Major Carden. He was disappointed to hear that Miss Carden
was out, but it was gratifying to be told that Miss Carden's friend was
in the house. Without waiting for further information, Fielden walked
upstairs into the room where May was seated. She had pulled a chair up
dejectedly in front of the fire and started at the sound of Fielden's
voice. There were tears in her eyes.
"So you have found me out."
"Oh, yes, I have run you to earth," Fielden smiled. "I have been looking
for you for three days. I had some difficulty in getting the Major's
address, but felt quite sure that when I had that you would not be far
off. Like me, May, you have not many friends. And now, don't you think
you have been foolish?"
May smiled through her tears.
"But what else could I do?" she asked. "Oh, my dear boy, if you knew
everything you would not blame me."
"I think I do know everything," Fielden said gravely. "At any rate, I
know why you left home. I had a long interview with your father,
and--well, I won't blame him. None of us know what we would do in a
temptation like that. That scoundrel Copley had him entirely in his
power. Now, tell me, do you know anything of the great conspiracy? Were
you in the library the night before you left home, and did you hear Sir
George and Copley----"
"I heard everything," May exclaimed. "I must tell you, Harry; I must
tell somebody. I never felt so ashamed and humiliated in my life. It was
bad enough to be turned out of the house because I refused to marry that
man, but when I found that my father had entered into a plot with Mr.
Copley to do a disgraceful thing, I felt I could not stay at home any
longer. I suppose the mischief is done and the Blenheim colt has been
struck out of the Derby. But though the public will never know how they
have been swindled, I shall always feel that my father----"
The girl broke down.
"You need not worry about that," Fielden said. "I quite understand what
your feelings are. But what you so greatly dread will never happen.
Disgrace will be spared you and yours, because your father has not the
power to interfere with the colt. Possibly before the day is out Copley
will be as helpless as a child. You look surprised and I don't wonder. I
am going to tell you something in the nature of a romance. To begin
with, the Blenheim colt belongs to me."
May was too surprised to speak. She sat on the arm of Fielden's chair.
She did not seem to notice that his arm was around her, and that her
head was very near his shoulder. She did not seem to care about anything
now that Fielden was with her, and there was a link between the past and
the present. It was a fascinating story which Fielden had to tell, much
more remarkable than anything May had ever read of between the covers of
a sporting novel. When the recital was finished she wiped the tears from
her eyes, and a happy smile broke over her face. On the spur of the
moment she bent down and kissed her companion.
"Did any one ever hear the like of it?" she exclaimed. "It seems almost
too good to be true. It is more like a fairy story than literal fact.
But I am glad for your sake, for my sake, and for my father's sake. For
he is my father, and it is possible that in his position I might have
acted in a like heedless and foolish way. It would have been a terrible
blow for him to leave Haredale Park. It is only since I have been in
lodgings that I have come to realize what it means to have no home, what
it was to turn out of such a dear old place as Haredale. But, Harry, we
don't appear to be out of the wood yet. It will be a bitter
disappointment to Mr. Copley and his colleague to be deprived of their
chance of swindling the public. I am sure Mr. Copley will be none the
less vindictive against my father, because this was no fault of his. I
am afraid we shall have to leave Haredale in any case."
"I don't think so," Fielden said. "Before long Copley will be powerless.
We shall be able to hang on till Derby Day; then the gallant colt will
win fortunes for all of us, and I shall be a rich man again. I shall be
able to restore the old house and buy back the land, and then I shall
have a home fit to ask my wife to. After that we shall be happy, only
there won't be any more betting and gambling, because I have learnt my
lesson, and it will be all the more effectual and lasting because it has
been bitter. Meanwhile nobody knows anything about your trouble with
your father except myself and, I presume, Miss Carden. You are supposed
to be on a visit to London for a few days. It is lucky you have no maid
to make mischief. I must return to Haredale this evening. Let me tell
your father that I have explained everything to you, that you are coming
back on Monday or Tuesday, and that Miss Carden will accompany you. I
know Sir George will be glad to see you. He told me he could not
understand how he spoke to you as he did. And, you see, as there is no
one to follow your father, as the title will die out with him, Haredale
Park will be your own some day. I know you love the place."
"I couldn't tell you how much," May said unsteadily. "It is only during
the last few days that I have realized the depth of my affection. I will
come back. You may tell father I said so. I will return on Monday as
early as possible and I hope you will be there to meet me. I thought I
was going to be brave and strong and earn my own living; I thought that
wanted no more than the pluck one has to exhibit in the hunting-field.
But it is quite different. It must be a matter of custom and
surroundings. It is all very well to run up to London to spend a few
days with friends, but when you are alone, as I have been, the very size
of the place frightens one. You don't know how glad I shall be to be
home again. Why, twenty-four hours after I came here I began to cast
about for reasons and excuses for going back."
An hour later Fielden left, at peace with all mankind and inclined to
take a roseate view of the future. Everything depended on the Blenheim
colt. The path was clear and those chiefly concerned were going to have
a straight run for their money. The poisonous influence of Copley would
be removed. There would be peace and happiness at Haredale Park once
more and, above all, May was coming home.
Fielden flung himself down in the corner of his carriage and proceeded
to open a late edition of an evening paper. He read the racing news of
interest, then turned to the news items on the fifth page. Two headlines
caught his attention at once and held him fascinated. They were
sensational enough even to the ordinary person, but to Fielden they were
pregnant with meaning.
"ALLEGED GREAT TURF FRAUDS.
"ARREST OF MR. COPLEY AND MR. FOSTER.
"Late this afternoon, the well-known financier, Mr. Raymond
Copley, and his private secretary, Mr. Foster, were arrested in
London on a warrant in connection with some alleged turf frauds
which took place recently at the Post Club. We understand that
the warrant was granted at the instance of Mr. Selwyn."