"I will certainly do what I can," responded Wyndham, in his grave,
courteous voice.
He was leaning against the window-ledge in a careless attitude; Helps,
looking up at him anxiously, noticed how pale and wan his face was.
"Ah," he responded, rising from his seat, and going up to the younger
man. "'Tis them as bears burdens knows how to pity. Thank the Lord
there's compensation in all things. Now look here, Mr. Wyndham, this is
how things are. You have seen my Essie, she's troublesome and
spirited--oh, no one more so."
Helps paused.
"Yes," answered Gerald, in a quiet, waiting voice. He was not
particularly interested in the discussion of Esther Helps' character.
"And she's beautiful, Mr. Wyndham. Aye, there's her curse. Beautiful
and hambitious and not a lady, and dying to be one. You understand, Mr.
Wyndham--you must understand."
Wyndham said nothing.
"Well, a month or so ago I found out there was a gentleman--at least a
man who called himself a gentleman--walking with her, and filling her
head with nonsense. His name was Herriot, a captain in the Hussars. I
told her she was to have nought to say to him, but I soon found that
she disobeyed me. Then I had to spy on her--you may think how I felt,
but it had to be done. I found that she walked with him, and met him at
all hours. I made inquiries about his character, and I found he was a
scoundrel, a bad fellow out and out. He'd be sure to break my Essie's
heart if he did no worse. Then I was in a taking, for the girl kept
everything in, and would scarcely brook me so much as to look at her. I
was that upset that I took Cherry into my confidence. She's a very good
girl, is Cherry--the Lord hasn't cursed her with no beauty. Last week
she brought me word that Esther was going to the Gaiety with Captain
Herriot, that he had taken two stalls and they were to have a fine
time. She said Esther was almost out of her mind with delight, as it
was always her dream to be seen at the theatre, beautifully dressed,
with a real gentleman. She had shown the tickets to Cherry, and Cherry
was smart enough to take the numbers and keep them in the back of her
head. She told me, and I can tell you, Mr. Wyndham, I was fit to kill
someone. I went straight off to the Gaiety office, and by good luck or
the grace of God, I found there was a vacant stall next to
Esther's--just one, and no more. I paid for that stall, here's the
ticket in my pocket."
"Yes," said Wyndham, "and you mean to go with Esther to-night? A very
good idea--excellent. But how will she take it?"
"How will she take it, Mr. Wyndham? I feel fit to pull my grey hairs
out. How would she have taken it, you mean? For it's all a thing of the
past, sir. Oh, I had it all planned fine. I was to wait until she and
that fellow had taken their places, and then I'd come in quite natural,
and sit down beside her, and answer none of her questions, only never
leave her, no, not for a quarter of a minute. And if he spoke up, the
ruffian, I had my reply for him. I'd stay quiet enough till we got
outside, and then just one blow in the middle of his face--yes, just
one, to relieve a father's feelings. Then home with my girl, and I
think it's more than likely we wouldn't have been troubled with no more
of Captain Herriot's attentions."
Helps paused again.
"You speak in the past tense," said Gerald. "Why cannot you carry out
this excellent programme?"
"That's it, sir, that's what about maddens me. I came to the office
this morning, and what has happened hasn't happened this three months
past. There's business come in of a nature that no one can tackle but
myself. Business of a private character, and yet what may mean the loss
or gain of thousands. Oh, I can't explain it, Mr. Wyndham, even though
you are a partner; there are things that confidential clerks know that
are hid from junior partners. I can't leave here till eleven o'clock
to-night, Mr. Wyndham, and if you don't help me Esther may be a lost
girl. Yes, there's no mincing matters--lost, beyond hope. Will you help
me, Mr. Wyndham? I'll go mad if my only girl, my beautiful girl, comes
to that."
"I? Can I help you?" asked Wyndham. There was hesitation and distress
in his voice. He saw that he was going to be asked to do something
unpleasant.
"You can do this, sir. You can make it all right. Bless you, sir, who's
there to see? And you go with the best intentions. You go in a noble
cause. You can afford to risk that much, Mr. Wyndham. I want you to
take my place at the Gaiety to-night; take my ticket and go there. Talk
pleasant to Esther: not much, but just a little, nothing to rouse her
suspicions. Let her think it was just a coincidence your being there.
Then, just at the end, give her this letter from me. I've said a thing
in it that will startle her. She'll get a fright and turn to you. Put
her into a cab then, and bring her here. You can sit on the box if you
like. That's all. Put her into my arms and your task is done. Here's
the ticket and the letter. Do it, Mr. Wyndham, and God will bless you.
Yes, yes, my poor young sir--He'll bless you."
"Don't talk of God when you speak of me," said Wyndham. "Something has
happened which closes the door of religion for me. The door between
God and me is closed. I am still open, however, to the call of
humanity. You want me to go to the Gaiety to-night to save your
daughter. It is very probable that if I went I should save her. I am
engaged, however, for to-night. My sister is in town. We are going to
make a party to the Haymarket."
"Oh, sir, what of that? Send a telegram to say you have an engagement.
Think of Esther. Think what it means if you fail me now."
"I do think of it, Helps. I will do what you want. Give me the letter
and the theatre ticket."