Double Cunning: the tale of a transparent mystery

Front matter

THE TALE OF A TRANSPARENT MYSTERY. BV GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON : CHAPMAN and HALL Limited 1886 [All Mights reserved.] WESTMINSTER : PRINTED BY NICHOLS AND SONS, 2."). PARLIAMENT STREET. CONTENTS. VOLUME II. CHAP. PAGE I. — Disloyal Plans ...... 1 II. — Sam Burton uses his Eyes . . . .20 III. — " Conscience makes Cowards " . .31 IV.—" Not Dead yet " 41 V. — A Load on a Man's Mind . . . .60 VI. — Doctor Parkins's Patient . . . .74 VII. — The Spider and the Fly . . . .89 VIIL — Clearing the Mist 97 IX. — Another Lady on the Scene . . . 106 X. — Lady Fanshaw's Threat . 119 XL — Conversation under Difficulties . . 134 XII.— A Quiet Chat 142 XIII. — A Glance in a Mirror 151 XIV. — Inside the Cage ...... 160 XV. — Outside the Cage 171 XVI. — Pannell as a Gardener .... 183 XVII.— Making an Enemy 189 XVIII. — Sam Burton is Uneasy CHAP. 1'AGE XIX. — Bess Retaliates ...... 204 XX. — A Pitched Battle . . . . • 218 XXI. — Knocking away a Hope .... 232 XXII. — Carleigh tries Chilled Shot . . . 244 XXIII. — " How to Silence the Dogs ?

" . . . 255 XXIV.— A Petition for a Pin 263 XXV. — A Dangerous Witness ..... 276 XXVI.— Sam Burton's Threat 283 XXVII.— Balm for Wounds CONTENTS. VOLUME II. chap. page I. — Disloyal Plans . . . . . . 1 II. — Sam Burton uses his Eyes .... 20 III. — " Conscience makes Cowards " . . .31 IV.—" Not Dead yet " 41 V. — A Load on a Man's Mind . . . .60 VI. — Doctor Parkins's Patient . . . .74 VII. — The Spider and the Fly . . ' . .89 VIIL — Clearing the Mist . . . . .97 IX. — Another Lady on the Scene . . . 106 X. — Lady Fanshaw's Threat . . . .119 XL — Conversation under Difficulties . . 134 XII.— A Quiet Chat 142 XIII. — A Glance in a Mirror 151 XIV. — Inside the Cage 160 XV. — Outside the Cage 171 XVI. — Pannell as a Gardener .... 183 XVII. — Making an Enemy 1S9 X VIIL — Sam Burton is Uneasy CHAP. PAGE XIX. — Bess Retaliates ...... 204 XX. — A Pitched Battle ..... 218 XXI. — Knocking away a Hope .... 232 XXII. — Carleigh tries Chilled Shot . . . 244 XXI1L— " How to Silence the Dogs?" . . . 255 XXIV. — A Petition for a Pin ..... 263 XXV. — A Dangerous Witness ..... 276 XXVI.— Sam Burton's Threat 283 XXVIL— Balm for Wounds

Chapter I

disloyal plans. " Not in his room ? " "He did not come back last night, Sir Harry," replied the butler. " Did not come back last night ! " " No, Sir Harry, I think not. The bed is untouched, and his portmanteau packed all but his dress-suit, Sir Harry." " It is very strange ! " " He told Frederick, Sir Harry, yesterday evening, I find, that he was to close up the portmanteau and send it to the station, for he was going away. There's an address label on all ready, Sir Harry, ' Grand Hotel.' " VOL. II. " We will have breakfast, my dear," said Sir Harry quietly, and he took his place, while Lady Fanshaw bent towards the urn, and Carleigh threw down the paper, saying smilingly, " That's right, I'm dying for a cup of tea." He looked full at Lady Fanshaw, who Avent on pouring out mechanically, feeling the while as if she were in a dream, and this terrible horror must be set aside by her waking.

Sir Robert looked angrily at Judith, but she avoided his gaze, and went on with her breakfast, very pale and quiet, but firm, and determined to show no sign of the pain she suffered. She even forced herself to eat and drink, though every morsel seemed as if it would choke her, and joined in the general conversation at the table, eating and speaking as if to ignore the incident of Range's sudden departure. No further allusion was made to it till the breakfast was at an end, when, as they rose, Sir Harry said quickly, " I think it would have been more gentlemanly if he had bidden us all good-bye." Carleigh moved to intercept Lady Fanshaw as she rose, but she glided by him without seeming aware of his presence, and left the room. Sir Harry, who was evidently annoyed, walked out into the garden, Carleigh's eyes following him as he took the direction of the Wilderness, and then, after seeming to have a battle with himself, he followed.

Judith had been sitting very still and thoughtful, and now she too rose to leave the room ; but Sir Robert, who had been watching, made her start by shouting, " Halt ! " " Uncle ? " " I said, Halt ! Here, young lady, I want a word with you ! " " Shall we go into the library, uncle ? " said Judith quietly. "Well, perhaps it would be better," replied Sir Robert. " Servants coming in to clear away, and that sort of thing. Come along." The grey-haired, fierce-looking old fellow stalked on before his niece as if he were escorting a prisoner, and as soon as they were in the great gloomy library he seated himself behind a writing table. Judith looked at him, and the tears started to her eyes as she recalled the fact that two days before she had come into this room and found Range seated in B that very place, busily writing a letter, which he had left to go out and play lawn-tennis with her, and sit down under a tree and talk about the hot season out in Malaypore instead.

" Now then, young lady," said Sir Robert, " court martial. I think I'll call in a colleague." " No, no, no ! " cried Judith. " I was not going to select George Carleigh, madam," said Sir Robert, sarcastically, "but General Sir Harry Fanshaw, to help me sit upon this important case. His opinions are opposed to mine, so that it would be all the more impartial for the prisoner." " Am I the prisoner, uncle, dear." " Of course you are ! Do you suppose I am ? No, of course you do not, and you don't want a prejudiced judgment. Go and call your uncle back." " Please no, uncle, dear. I'd rather be tried by Si you. " Very well — there, keep away ! I don't want to be kissed and cuddled by an ugly, wilful, obstinate girl. Sit down, miss, and hear what I've got to say." " Yes, uncle," said Judith, with assumed meekness ■ and she sat down, keeping herself very upright.

" Well, in the first place, introductory, preparatory and by way of prologue, I'm going to send a special messenger over to Brackley for the police to come and see if any harm has befallen Arthur Lincoln Range, your uncle's guest. What do you think of that ? " " That it would be very foolish, uncle, for no harm has come to Mr. Range." " Trapped into a confession ! " cried Sir Robert, giving the table a thump. " Then you know all about it ? " Judith shook her head, and the soft, golden, flowing hair seemed full of flashes of light. " Ah, fibs, fibs, fibs ! " cried Sir Robert. " I did not tell a fib," cried Judith. " I only know that Mr. Range said yesterday that he was going away, and I'm very glad he has gone." Judith spoke in a hurried, passionate tone, but checked herself as she saw a curious look in her uncle's eye.

" Well, all I can say," exclaimed Sir Robert, " is, that if he has gone off in this ungentlemanly, shabby manner, after the way in which we treated him, he is a mean, contemptible, Yankee humbug!" " Uncle ! How can you ? " cried Judith. " How can I ? Why, you don't care anything about him, and you're glad he has gone ! " " I don't think you ought to speak of Mr. Range like that," cried Judith. " I'm sure he would not be guilty of anything shabby or mean." " But he has gone off all at once like this. Or no — as you say, he would not do anything shabby or mean. There is something wrong, and I'll communicate with the police." " Oh, uncle ! " " He has tumbled down a well, or been shot by a poacher." " Uncle ! " " Or been burked because he is so rich." " Uncle ! " " Or quarreled with some Yankee, and they've been settling it with revolvers and bowie-knives."

" Uncle ! " " And Arthur Range has been lying somewhere in the woods shouting doctor all night, when there was no doctor to come." " Uncle, dear, do you wish to send me to my room to cry all the morning ? " " Ah ! I'd better send to the police." " You are determined to make me cry, uncle, and I will not," said Judith, with a stamp of the foot. " That's it ! " he cried ; " that's it ! The cat's out of the bag. I can see it all now." " I don't know what you mean, uncle." " Then I'll tell you. It's temper, or coquettish ob stinacy. You've been behaving badly to the poor fellow and driven him away." Judith's lips parted. " Ah ! don't deny it, miss ! I know." Poor Judith was not going to deny it. Her lips had parted, but no words would come ; and she sat there looking blankly at her uncle, with the tears standing thickly in her eyes.

" And you are not sorry for it, miss ? " No answer. " Now, come here. I've done court-martialling, my dear. I'm going to play dad now. Come and kneel down." Judith rose and threw herself upon her knees before the old man, who took her to his heart, laid her cheek upon his shoulder, and began patting her cheek and stroking her soft hair. " Bless you ! " he said, softly, " how like you are to sister Judy ! There, tell your old uncle all about it." There was a bit of a sob here, and Judith nestled closer to him. " Now, then, cross-examination by the judge," said Sir Robert. " I thought the court-martial was over," said Judith, with a faint smile. " Begun again," said Sir Robert, " with judge feeling a fatherly yearning towards the pretty little prisoner, who's going to tell him all about it."

There was a halt here to enable Judith to kiss the old man and nestle down again. " Silence in the court for the confession," said Sir Robert, with playful solemnity. " Now, my darling, out with it. You'll feel better then. Range made love to you yesterday, didn't he ? " " Yes, uncle," in a whisper. " What a wicked scoundrel ! Has he ever done so before ? " " No, uncle." " What a fool ! — I mean that's right," said Sir Robert, hastily. " Well, did he ask you — you know — did he pop ? " " Yes, uncle." " Downright popped the question ? " " Yes, uncle." " And what did you say ? " " That a poor girl with only a few hundreds was not a match for a millionnaire." " You said that ? " " Yes, uncle." " Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You're a match for an emperor." " Yes, uncle," said Judith, archly ; " and I'm waiting for an emperor to propose.

" No, you're not. Don't be a little humbug. But, look here, did you refuse him ? " " Yes, uncle." " Out and out ? " " Yes, uncle." " Phew ! " — a long-drawn whistle. " I thought as much. I suppose you laughed it off, girl-like." " Yes, uncle." " Look here " — pettishly — " how many more times are you going to say ' Yes, uncle ? ' Nod your head : that will do." " Yes, uncle. I mean " A series of nods. " Then you regularly made light of his proposal — chaffed him like, and wouldn't have him ? " Judith nodded. "Well, you are a girl, Judy! You want George Carleigh, then ? Say ' Yes, uncle? " " No, uncle ! No, no, no ! " " But you pitched Range over ? " A nod. " Was he nice and respectful like — gentlemanly ? " " Very ! " emphatically. " And you refused him ? " A nod. " That's it, then. I thought so ; but I wanted the evidence of the prisoner — confession, I mean.

Well, there you are, Judy. Rich fellow like that can't put up with such a slight from the pretty girl he likes ; and he does like you, Judy." " I'm afraid so, uncle." " Afraid, eh ! Well, there it is. Nice fellow, too. You ought to have said ' yes.' " " Think so, uncle ? " " Sure of it, Judy. He's enormously rich, and not spoiled by it. Simple-hearted, true, manly fellow, I call him. Wish he'd been a soldier." " Oh, uncle ! " cried Judith, piteously. " Made a fine one. He's got obstinate pluck, though he hasn't shown it here. You've seen it, girl. I'm horribly indignant with him for sneaking off like this ; but when there's a snub like that ! Hang it all, Judy, when a good-looking young fellow knows that he has only to throw the handkerchief and as many pretty girls as he likes will run to him, he feels the slight horridly !

Hang it, Judy, it was too bad ! " " Are you very angry with me, uncle ? " " Yes, horribly — savagely. No, I'm not. Perhaps you were right. It was very plucky and spirited of you. Teach him that there are English girls who look down on money, and can be independent. But, hang it all, Judy, my dear, you should have had him. It was a chance in a hundred thousand." " But you don't wish me to marry a man I dislike for the sake of his money, uncle, dear ? " " Of course not, my darling. I thought it was different, for there was something taking about the fellow. And so you disliked him ? " " N-no, uncle." " Hang it, girl, you're a riddle ! Then why did you refuse him ? " " I don't know, uncle," said Judith, looking up with a face full of perplexed dimples and creases. " Why, hang it, Judy ! " cried the old man, taking her face between his hands, and gazing in her eyes, " you don't mean to say that you love the fellow ?

" " I'm — I'm afraid I do, uncle." " 'Pon my soul, you women are puzzles ! You're a strange girl, Judy." " Yes, uncle." " I don't want you to marry, but it's natural when the right man comes, and I thought this was the right one." Judith sighed. "I liked Range. He suited me. He was not what we English — as I said before to you — call a gentleman ; but I wish men such as we English call gentlemen were like him, without the American twang." " I don't mind the twang, uncle," said Judith, demurely. " Oh, you don't," said the old man, " eh ? " " No, uncle, I don't think I do. I was used to it." " Humph ! I wasn't. Perhaps I should have be come used to it. Well, I shan't brain him now for taking you away, I suppose ; but you've done wrong, Judy ; you've done wrong." " Do you think so, uncle ? " " Yes, my dear, for the boy was thoroughly sincere and unspoiled, and those are good qualities in a young fellow now-a-days."

"Don't — don't you think he'll come back, uncle, dear ? " " No ; 1 don't." " You don't," cried Judith, in dismay ; and the tears gathered thickly now. " You said once before that we should see him again, and we did." " Yes, but you had not snubbed him then, and sent him packing. No, my dear, it's all over ; he will not come back unless you write and ask him." " And that I would never stoop to do," cried Judith, proudly. " Well, perhaps you're right about that, my dear," said Sir Robert, tugging at his moustache in a fidgety, vexed manner. " It has set my mind at rest about the fellow. Seemed like one's own guest, and it was not pleasant to think anything had happened to him." There was an awkward silence here for a few minutes, and then Judith spoke. "I did not mean to hurt Mr. Range's feelings, uncle."

" Oh, no ! of course not. That's what you women always say when you are cutting a poor fellow to the heart. I remember years ago, when I proposed to Lady Lorrington — I was twenty-five then — she said to me There, never mind that. It settled me. I never married. I made up my mind then that I never would. I said to myself, ' If a woman can take delight in giving you pain before marriage, what will she do afterwards ? ' Hah ! you're a cruel set, you women, Judy, you are, 'pon my soul ! " " Oh, uncle ! " " You are, my dear. There's no doubt about that. There, don't worry any more." "But — but do you think Mr. Range will' take what I said as final ? " "Yes." " Uncle ! " " Well, there ! No, then — perhaps not. He made his attack, and you cut up his light cavalry. Perhaps he'll rally and wait his time, and then deliver such a charge as will scatter your defence and bring you to your knees to sue for mercy."

" Oh, uncle, I'm sure that I never should." "Many a woman has said that before, my dear, but has ended by striking her colours." " Did — did Lady Lorrington strike her colours, uncle ? " said Judith, archly. " What's that to you, madam ? Mind your own love affair, and don't ask questions. Well, there ! I don't care ! Yes, she did." " But you did not marry her ! " " No, I never did, thank goodness ! The hollow hearted jade ! Judy, my dear, take my advice : don't play with an honest young fellow's feelings. I think Range cared for you very much ; don't you ? " " Yes, uncle." " Then how dare you play with him, miss ? " Judith shook her head, for no words would come. " Then you are really sorry for what you have done ? " Judith nodded, with her face working. " And you do like Range ? " Another nod.

" And you didn't know your own mind, and hardly meant it when you refused him, eh ?" Judith nodded again. " Humph ! " said the old gentleman, playing with her hair and looking thoughtfully down at the troubled face before him. " I seem to know you pretty well, my dear, with all your pretty little wilful, girlish ways. You want something to steady you — to make you more of a woman." " Oh, uncle dear ! " "Yes, my child, some big sorrow or another to make you think more deeply. I should like you to have one, and then if it came I should feel that I would rather bear it myself than see a line of care come into that pretty face." " Oh, uncle darling, you spoil me ! " " Yes, I do," he said. " But I'm not going to have you made miserable." " Dear uncle ! " " I shall write to Range to come back." " No, no, uncle !

" cried Judith. " It is impossible ; I could not bear it !" "Why not?" " It would lower me so in his eyes. It would make me seem so despicable, so " " Here ! Tut ! tut ! That will do, young lady. Halte la ! I did not say that I was going to write on your account. I only want to set a gentleman at rest for whom I feel some slight esteem." " Oh ! But, uncle, you must not ! Indeed, you must not ! " cried Judith, imploringly. " Look here, madam ! " said Sir Robert; " am I to sit still and see two people made miserable on account of a little misunderstanding ? " " But, uncle " " Hold your tongue ! You've made a mistake, miss. I'll take care that you are not lowered in Arthur Range's eyes. The poor fellow will only be too glad to come back. In fact, if he has any stuff in him he'll come without ; but it's no use to be miserable for days if it can be stopped.

You see how mad he was, as he'd call it. Couldn't face you again. Packed off at once. There, never you mind. It isn't your doing. You'v DISLOfAL PLANS. got to behave as an English lady should under the cir cumstances. Be straightforward and natural. There, there, Judy, be as maidenly and delicate as a girl should ; but don't let's all be made miserable when a few words from your old uncle to a honest young fellow will set us right." " All made miserable, uncle dear ! " " Yes, all of us, Judy my pet ; for your happiness is a great deal to me. It seems ridiculous to you perhaps, my child, for a grey-headed, battered old fellow like me to talk about his love-affairs ; but that little matter about Clara Lorrington made a trouble for me that has lasted all these years, and if I know anything about my Judy I don't think she'll forget Arthur Range in a hurry."

The little face was buried in his breast, and the sobs and tears came freely now. " It has all been a mistake, my darling : hasn't it ? And you said ' No' too hastily." There was no answer, only a closer pressure of two soft little arms. " And I don't want the trouble to come and steady you — at least, not all at once." " I — I can't bear trouble," sobbed Judith VOL. II. C " Yes, you can; but we don't want you to bear it, my dear. You will have a deal to bear, but you may as well have it homœopathically, and not in one big dose.' There was another little pressure here. " I shall write to Range." " No, no, uncle ! " The opposition sounded feeble now. " I shall do it delicately." A heavy sigh. " Now give me a kiss, and go and bathe those pretty eyes, and look severe and draw a few lines round your quarters.

Throw up some defences; and when he comes back let him have a hard fight for it. Keep him off as long as you like, only let him take your colours at last." Judith looked up with a pretty mischievous light of fun shining through her tears. " I've forbidden you to write, mind," she said, flush ing scarlet the while. "Yes; all right, my dear." " But Uncle Harry won't like it.' " Uncle Harry will welcome any friend of mine, Judy And now, budge. I say what a disloyalist am I ! " " I don't understand you, uncle." DISLOYAL PLANS. " Why, planning for the Union Jack to go down before the Stars and Stripes. Ha ! ha ! ha ! There, be off now ; I've had enough of this." Exit Judith ; and Sir Robert sat down and wrote a quiet, manly letter to Range, asking him to come back and see the writer ; and, till that letter was safe in the leather post-bag, Sir Robert did not touch his pipe. c2

Chapter II. Sam Borton Uses His Eyes

It was like some strange fascination drawing George Carleigh on and on after Sir Harry, as, with his hands behind him and head erect, the General walked slowly down the grounds, now deliciously fresh with the heavy rain, till he reached the rustic gate, and followed the path, whose short turf was so elastic, to the seat facing the principal fall. Carleigh followed at a distance, not daring to lose sight of him for a moment — hesitating about goino closer. Sir Harry stopped in a contemplative manner in front of the seat, gazing at it, and then slowly all about the little valley of running waters; and Carleigh's heart throbbed, there was a strange pricking in his temples, and his face twitched. For he seemed to see once more, as vividly as if it had been reproduced by another's brain, every event of the past night ; and as he stared fixedly before him the fancy was strong in his mind that Sir Harry must be seeing it as clearly as himself.

For what other reason could the General be gazing so • intently at that garden-seat and about the path before crossing the bridge and entering the wood ? " I must go to him," panted Carleigh ; but he stamped his foot directly, as if crushing beneath it his feelings of dread, and, taking out his case, forced him self to maintain an attitude of calm as he lit a cigar and then slowly followed his guardian. Sir Harry walked slowly and thoughtfully on till he reached the little landslip, and then he paused, in pro found ignorance of the fact that a livid face was peering out from among the rhododendrons on the other side. But some one else was present who did not quite share Sir Harry's ignorance, but stood against the trunk of a great oak, noting everything, his gun resting upon one foot, his crossed arms upon the barrels, and Bess, the dog, crouching at his feet.

Carleigh was not more motionless than the keeper, as the latter stood there with all the patience of his profession. It was his duty to watch and keep ward, and this he was doing now, though his mind was somewhat misty as to the reason why. Sir Harry gazed at the slip of earth for some time from one side. Then he stepped over the newly-made stream and crossed to the other side. After this he climbed up and looked at the clean-cut portion of the bank from which the rock had fallen, before studying the appearance of the little dam of thick water that had been made, and in which the sullied stream that came from the hills above raced and eddied and foamed before dashing away on one side and down the little gorge. For the sharp storm had brought down abundance of water, which ran of a tawny hue, and formed a thick foam at the foot of each tiny fall.

The sweat gathered in a thick dew upon Carleigh's livid face, upon which the sun shone full, and the keeper's clear eyes noted how it glistened as Sir Harry turned at last, caught sight of him, and beckoned him to come. For a moment Carleigh's limbs trembled; he was so unnerved by the exertion as well as by the events of the night. But he had a will of iron, and, mastering his emotion, he went slowly towards Sir Harry. " It is impossible," he muttered. " He can know nothing. Am I going to turn coward at last ? " He drew a breath of relief as Sir Harry turned to him smilingly, and unwittingly tortured the miserable wretch, stabbing him wdth his words, and, as it were, turning the knife again and again in the wound. " Come up here, George," he said, as he stood holding on by the tall bough that had been Carleigh's lever in the night ; " see what a landslip we have had."

"Landslip ?" said Carleigh, speaking quite calmlynow. " Yes ; all this mass came down in the storm." " Ah, yes ; I see ! " said Carleigh, with a look of interest. " The stream has been undermining the bank here for years. This tall bough has acted as a lever, and the first strong puff of wind has started it, and down it has come." " Quite a misfortune ! " " Oh no ! " said Sir Harry ; " not at all. We'll have Virginia creepers planted to droop down over that blank patch, and this, you see, has come down, so that the bushes are uninjured. That which is beneath them will fertilise their roots." It was as though a hand had suddenly grasped Carleigh's throat, and his eyes dilated. Sir Harry continued — " The roots will revel in moisture, and the alluvial matter the stream brings down. 1 thmk it has im proved the spot.