SETTING A TRAP
Mallien, by telling his daughter a half truth instead of the whole
truth, had made her very nervous, and although she asked for a more
detailed explanation he had refused to give it to her. Dorinda was
therefore much relieved when Sophy conducted her to The Big House and
hidden matters were made more plain. When in possession of facts she
quickly recognized that the position of her father was highly
dangerous, should Carrington speak to the police. But the girl agreed
with Rupert that he would not do so, until all chance of getting money
for his silence had disappeared. Even if Mallien was willing, such
money could not be obtained until the property passed from the Squire
to his cousin, so if Rupert refused to give up the same, Carrington
would be forced to wait. It was not likely that he would kill the
goose with the golden eggs by speaking prematurely.
And there was, as Rupert pointed out to Dorinda, a grave doubt whether
he would speak at all, when informed that his presence in Barship on
the night of the murder was known. Hendle intended to question the
barrister on this point and hear what defense he could offer, but
before doing so, desired to see his cousin and enlist his aid. It was
even more to Mallien's interest than to Rupert's to bring Carrington
to book, and only by the cousins joining forces could they accomplish
their end. And that was, to learn for certain who had murdered the
vicar. It assuredly seemed as though the barrister was the guilty
person, and should the crime be brought home to him, his evil scheme
to acquire money by blackmail would be frustrated. Instead of accusing
Mallien to the police, it was probable that Carrington would be forced
to fly lest Lawson should lay hands on him. Dorinda returned home in a
much more comfortable frame of mind, since Rupert thus placed matters
in a better light. She was also more content because affairs were in
her lover's hands. He, if anyone, would be able to make the crooked
straight.
One of Hendle's last injunctions to the girl was that she should say
nothing to her father about her visit to The Big House. He warned her
not to repeat what she had heard, and not to question her father in
any way regarding his dealings with Carrington. Rupert arranged
matters thus because he intended to call on his cousin next day and
have a complete understanding with him. Mallien therefore was much
annoyed, and very illogically so, when his daughter no longer implored
him to be plain with her. On Sunday evening and Monday morning she saw
him looking gloomy and disturbed, yet made no effort to cheer him, or,
as he put it, to bear his burden. Dorinda laughed outright when her
father made this last remark.
"Really, father, you are unreasonable," she observed, when putting on
her hat to go shopping in the village. "How can I bear your burden
when you won't tell me what it is?"
"I have told you," growled the little man crossly, "that blackguard
Carrington dares to accuse me of murdering Leigh."
"Well," said Dorinda lightly, "as you didn't murder him what does it
matter?"
"You talk rubbish. Carrington can tell serious lies which may endanger
my liberty."
"What are those lies, father?"
"I shan't tell you," snapped Mallien.
Dorinda shrugged her shoulders and took up her sunshade. "Then how can
you expect me to bear your burden, as you put it? You tell me enough
to make me anxious, yet not enough to enable me to help you."
"You can't help me."
"In that case there is no more to be said."
This speech was so unanswerable that Mallien could find no reply
and retreated to his own particular room, feeling--rather
inconsequently--that he was not receiving the attention and sympathy
which was his due. It never seemed to strike him that his daughter
could scarcely administer to his comfort while she was ignorant of
necessary information. But nothing irritates an unreasonable man more
than being treated reasonably, and Mallien scowled blackly when he saw
from the window Dorinda tripping lightly in the direction of the
village. He was quite sorry for himself.
"I did think that my own daughter had some decent feeling in her," he
meditated sadly; "but she's like everyone else--selfish in the
extreme. Oh, it's no wonder that I hate everyone. People think only of
themselves. Now what the dickens do you want? Hang you!"
This last question he asked aloud, being still at the window, he saw
Rupert open the little garden gate and walk briskly up to the door. As
Dorinda had gone one way and Rupert had come another, Mallien never
dreamed that there was any understanding between them, or that his
daughter had departed so as to afford her lover a chance of speaking
to her very egotistic parent. This had been arranged between the two
on the previous day, and to carry out the scheme Hendle knocked at the
door of his cousin with the will in his pocket. Before he left the
cottage he was determined to force Mallien into plain speaking. Things
were much too dangerous to permit any further beating about the bush.
"Well, and what do you want?" said Mallien, repeating his former
question as he opened the door to the visitor.
"I want to see you," said Hendle very pointedly. "It is time we had an
explanation."
"About what?"
"About this," and Rupert pulled the soiled and crumpled parchment out
of his pocket--"the will of John Hendle."
"Oh! So you have it. And how did you get it, may I ask?"
"You can ask in your own room," said Rupert politely. "I can scarcely
give you an explanation on the door-step."
"Afraid of consequences to yourself," grumbled Mallien, nevertheless
yielding so far as to lead the way into his sanctum.
"Oh, dear me, no," replied the visitor, seating himself. "Afraid of
consequences to you."
"To me!" Mallien dropped into a chair before his desk. "What do you
mean?"
"I think you know very well."
"I don't," said the man doggedly and determined to leave all necessary
explanation to his cousin. "You speak in riddles."
"We must solve them together." Rupert spoke dryly, then thrust the
will under Mallien's nose, "Read that, and tell me what you think."
Out of sheer contrariety the host would have refused, but his
curiosity and greed got the better of him, and he eagerly read the
document to learn if indeed the Hendle property would come to him. The
Squire leaned back in his chair, filling his pipe and watching the
various emotions expressing themselves on Mallien's face. Doubt,
amazement, satisfaction and exultation all appeared in turn, and when
he had mastered the will, he looked at Rupert with an expression of
triumph. Mallien felt that he was top-dog at last, and took a
malicious delight in emphasizing the agreeable position.
"The property comes to me," he said, beaming with self-satisfaction.
"There isn't the least doubt about it."
"So I gather after reading that will," answered Rupert calmly. "John
Hendle certainly left everything to Eunice and her descendants.
Frederick was illegally in possession of the property."
"And it follows that _you_ are illegally in possession."
"I admit that. But of course as the younger branch, represented by me,
has been in possession of the estates for nearly one hundred years, it
is quite within my rights to take advantage of the Statute of
Limitations."
"Oh, no, you shan't," said Mallien, rolling up the will and thrusting
it into his desk, "I am not going to be done out of my rights."
"Am I the man to try and do you out of them?"
"Yes, you are," retorted the other unjustly, "since you talk about
this Statute of Limitations."
"Why should I not take advantage of the Statute, when I run a chance
of being made a pauper, and not through my own fault?"
"Because it isn't honest," said Mallien virtuously. "You and yours
have been wrongfully in possession of what belongs to me. I'm going to
have my own, if I spend the last sixpence in the law-courts. I thought
you were honourable, Rupert, yet here you talk of putting me to a lot
of expense to get my own estates."
Hendle stared at the greedy heir, for such selfishness in taking
advantage of an innocent person's misfortune was inconceivable to him.
But he knew only too well that argument was useless. Mallien could
only see things in his own way, and did not care who suffered so long
as he benefited. However, he made one effort "Put yourself in my
place, Mallien," he remarked mildly. "Would you surrender everything
without a struggle?"
"That is not the question," retorted Mallien, evading a reply after
his usual fashion. "The property is mine, and I intend to have it. I
shall keep the will, as it is not safe in your hands."
"Indeed. Why not?"
"You would benefit too much by its destruction."
Rupert laughed. "I could have destroyed it while it was in my
possession and without your knowing anything about it. Instead of
doing so, I have brought it to you. Does that look like dishonesty on
my part?"
"You bring it to me because you are aware that I know all about it,"
said Mallien doggedly. "Mrs. Beatson told me about the will, as you
know. If she hadn't, you would have thrown it into the fire."
"Oh, would I? Well,"--Rupert shrugged his big shoulders,--"you
are such a misanthrope that you can believe no good of your
fellow-creatures, so have it your own way."
"How can I believe any good when everyone is so selfish?" said this
amazing man. "Even Dorinda leaves me to bear my troubles alone. I
wanted her to comfort me this morning, and she went out shopping."
"How could she comfort you when you refuse to explain things to her?"
"What things?" demanded Mallien alertly and frowning. "How do you know
that I have anything to explain?"
"I know more than you think," replied Hendle dryly. "I know that you
told her how Carrington was threatening you and--hold on--yet refused
to supply details. How then can you expect her to sympathize with you
and help you when there is not perfect confidence between you?"
Mallien did not answer directly, as he was too surprised by his
cousin's mention of the barrister. "Who told you that Carrington
threatened me?"
"Dorinda told me yesterday, and for that reason I arranged that she
should go out this morning and allow me to have an uninterrupted
conversation with you. Now don't lose your temper, Mallien. I am here
to have an explanation, and I don't leave this place until I get it."
"I shall make no explanation," shouted the other savagely; "and
Dorinda had no right to tell you about my private affairs."
"She told very little, as she knows very little."
"I don't care how much she knows, or how much she doesn't know," raged
the angry little man, shaking with wrath. "I shan't have you meddle in
my affairs."
"Will you prefer Lawson to meddle instead of me?"
"Lawson won't dare," answered Mallien, but in a more subdued tone.
"Oh, yes, he will, when Carrington tells him what he knows."
"Carrington knows nothing."
"He does. If he didn't he would scarcely have had that interview with
you at _The Hendle Arms_ after I kicked him out."
"You kicked him out, did you?"
"Yes, I did, because he wanted me to bribe him into holding his tongue
about the will. Failing getting the money from me, he attempted to get
it from you at that interview. Dorinda told me that you had one, since
you informed her about Carrington's threats. Come now, Mallien, the
time has come for plain speaking if you wish to keep your liberty. Did
Carrington ask you for five thousand pounds? That was the sum he asked
from me."
Mallien was forced to give in, and did so sullenly. "He did ask for
that sum."
Rupert nodded. "I thought so. And what did you say?"
"I didn't say anything. I have taken a week to think matters over."
"I see," Rupert pondered; "and at the end of the week, if you don't
agree to give Carrington five thousand pounds when you get the
property, he will tell Lawson that you murdered Leigh."
"He says he will, but how can he prove it?" sneered the other
uneasily.
"Well, you see, you lost that opal in the matrix which I found on the
verge of the hole where the will had been buried."
"What does that prove?"
"That you were in the grounds of the vicarage on that night."
"I might have lost it on another occasion," argued Mallien
desperately.
Rupert smiled dryly. "I don't think Lawson will be of that opinion.
Come now, don't you think it is best for us to join forces and crush
Carrington? For Dorinda's sake I don't want you to get into trouble."
"If we join forces, what will you ask for your services?" demanded
Mallien, suspiciously. "That I should surrender my claim to the
property, I suppose?"
"I ask nothing. What do you take me for?" Rupert looked highly
indignant. "Do you think that everyone is so sordid as you are,
Mallien? We can fight out the question of the will on its own merits.
But, for Dorinda's sake, I wish to save you from Carrington's
machinations. It is little use your getting the property if you are in
danger of arrest."
"I am not."
"You are. Carrington is aware that Mrs. Beatson told you about the
will; he was with me when we found the opal. He says that you are
guilty, and when in London sent that anonymous letter--but I forgot
you don't know about the letter."
"Yes, I do," snarled Mallien, wiping the perspiration from his
forehead. "Carrington was very explicit at the interview." He paused
for a moment, then continued: "I may as well tell you everything,
since you know so much. But I warn you, Rupert, that nothing you can
say or do to crush Carrington and help me will prevent my claiming the
property."
Hendle waved his hand lightly. "That's all right. I am aware that you
are a thoroughly ungrateful man. Let that pass."
"I am not ungrateful," cried Mallien hotly. "What have I to be
grateful for?"
"In the first place for many sums of money I have given you; in the
second for my offer to save your liberty and perhaps your life. Were
it only for your own sake, Mallien," added Rupert with scorn, "I
should leave you to Carrington's tender mercies. As it is, I must
consider Dorinda. Now, no more talk, if you please. Let me know
exactly what took place between you and that blackmailing thief."
Mallien did not argue further. Not that he felt any shame, but he saw
that Rupert was too strong for him, and felt that his cousin had right
on his side. Mallien would never have admitted the right, as his
nature was too ungracious to ascribe honor to anyone but himself. In a
sulky manner, and as if Rupert was trying to do him harm instead of
good, he related what had passed between himself and the barrister at
_The Hendle Arms_. The Squire thus learned for the first time that
Mallien had been in the Vicarage grounds on the night of the murder,
and had lost the opal ornament during the struggle with the unknown
man in the avenue. "And I believed that the fellow was you," protested
Mallien earnestly. "You had every right to murder Leigh."
"Every right," echoed Rupert angrily.
"I mean every reason," said Mallien, correcting himself hurriedly,
"and, after the man ran away, I went to look in through the Vicarage
windows. There was a light in the study, and, as you know, the window
had neither curtains nor blinds. I saw Leigh lying dead on the floor,
and went home without saying a word, lest I should be accused."
"You acted the part of a brave man, I must say," said Rupert
contemptuously, "but it appears that you didn't murder Leigh."
"No, I certainly did not. Why, I only left this cottage as the church
clock chimed eleven, and, as Leigh was murdered at that hour, he must
have been dead before I reached the Vicarage. I expect the man was
hunting for the will, and only managed to escape with it when I ran up
against him in the avenue."
"But who was he? I don't suppose Mrs. Beatson dressed herself as a man
to----"
"No! No! That is ridiculous. Mrs. Beatson was made a catspaw by the
same man to get the will without throwing suspicions on him."
"I didn't write that anonymous letter, if that is what you mean," said
Mallien tartly and uneasily.
"I am aware of that. It was Carrington who----"
"Carrington!" Mallien started to his feet. "Impossible! He was in town
on the night of the murder."
"He was in Barship, and he was the man you ran across in the avenue,"
said Rupert grimly. "No wonder he pointed out your opal on the verge
of the hole wherein the will had been buried. He dropped it there
while my back was turned and allowed me to find it, so as to
incriminate you."
Mallien was thunderstruck. "Carrington!" he muttered, sitting down
again. "Oh, it is impossible."
"Not at all. Dr. Tollart came down with Carrington in the train which
arrives at Barship shortly after nine. He wasn't with him, you
understand; but he saw him both at Liverpool Street and at Barship."
"Then why didn't Tollart say so at the inquest?"
"Why should he? Tollart never connected Carrington with the crime. He
believed that he came down to see me, and, as Carrington was with me
the next day, of course that gave color to Tollart's belief. However,
he mentioned the matter to Sophy, and she told me and Dorinda. For
that reason Dorinda came to see me yesterday, and we arranged that I
should see you. Now you can understand, Mallien, that we must join
forces to have Carrington arrested. I have not the least doubt but
what he murdered Leigh to get the will and extort money for it, either
from you or from me."
"The scoundrel!" cried Mallien, highly indignant; "and to think that
he should have dared to accuse me--me--me!"
"I was in equal danger of being accused," observed Rupert coolly.
"Oh, I don't care about you," retorted the other selfishly. "I must
look to myself. I shall see Lawson and have Carrington arrested."
"If you do you are sure to make a mess of things," warned Hendle,
accepting his cousin's egotism with a shrug. "We must lay a trap for
Carrington and get him down here. Otherwise he may escape and then
matters concerning the murder will never be cleared up."
"What sort of a trap?"
"You must write to Carrington asking him to come down here--to The Big
House--for an interview with yourself and with me. Say that you and I
wish to adjust the rights of the property. Carrington knows that you
cannot give him his pound of flesh until we are agreed about the will.
Also he will never suspect that he was seen in Barship on the night of
the murder, or that we have put two and two together regarding the
opal. He will come down."
"Will he enter The Big House seeing that you have kicked him out?"
asked the host doubtfully.
"Oh, Carrington has no shame where his own interests are concerned,
Mallien," replied the Squire quietly. "He wants money, and is prepared
to go to any lengths to get money. Let us get him to ourselves and
force him to confess. Meanwhile, we will send Kit to Tarhaven for
Lawson, and when the Inspector arrives we can have Carrington
arrested. Do you understand?"
"Yes," said Mallien, in a rather subdued tone, for Rupert dominated
him at the moment. "I shall write as you suggest, and you may be sure
that I shall so word my letter as to trap the beast. What a
scoundrel," cried Mallien in a state of virtuous anger, "to try and
accuse me of a crime which he has committed himself."
"He looks after Number One, as other people do, Mallien."
"Self! Self! Everyone is eaten up with self, Rupert. No wonder I hate
the human race. When I get the money, I shan't give anyone a single
penny."
"Oh, I am aware of that," rejoined Hendle, contemptuously; "and I
shouldn't throw stones at other people if I were you, seeing in what a
glass house you live yourself, Mallien. Now don't argue, but do what I
tell you. If you don't, I shall wash my hands of the whole affair, and
leave you to extricate yourself as best you can."
Mallien grunted an assent and scowled as Rupert left the cottage. He
was not in the least grateful for the help thus afforded, as he hated
the idea of his cousin doing anything for him. Besides, being
extraordinarily vain, Mallien never liked anyone to be sharper than
himself. And Rupert had proved to be sharper, as he had so cleverly
solved the mystery of the vicar's murder.
"You think you are a fine fellow, don't you?" growled Mallien, shaking
his fist at the retreating form of his cousin; "but you won't get a
penny out of me, and you shan't marry Dorinda if I can help it. I'm
not going to have you crowing over me"; and thus grumbling
ungratefully he retired to his room to write the letter which was to
trap Carrington.
Meanwhile, Rupert returned toward The Big House through the village in
the hope of meeting Dorinda. He came across her just near his own
gates, and in a few words reported all that had taken place. The girl
listened attentively, and when her lover mentioned some of Mallien's
selfish speeches she looked pained.
"I wonder you do anything for my father," she said sadly.
"I don't do anything for him, dear. I do it for you. Besides," added
Rupert with a shrug, "how can one be angry with a child--and a greedy
child at that."
"Will you give up the property, Rupert?"
"I fear I shall have to, dear. However, we can discuss that matter
when this question of Carrington's guilt is settled."
"Father shall do you justice, Rupert," said Dorinda determinedly. "I
shall not allow him, if I possibly can prevent it, to leave you
without a penny. And, then"--she broke off with a shrug--"well, it
doesn't matter. As you say, we can talk of these matters later. Just
now I have something to tell you Rupert. I met old Titus Ark."
"Yes!"
"You know that he was Mr. Leigh's shadow. Well, he tells me now that
he was lurking about the Vicarage on the night of the murder and that
he saw Mr. Carrington there."
"The deuce! Why didn't he say so before?"
Dorinda shook her head. "He refuses to say."
"I shall question him myself, then," said Hendle briskly; "anyhow, he
will be a new and important witness. I am afraid Carrington's goose is
cooked."
"Poor creature!" sighed Dorinda, always tender-hearted. "Oh, poor
creature!"