An Electric Spark

Front matter

a BY G. MANVILLE FENN A AUTHOR OF ' WITNESS TO THE DEED,' ' ELl's CHILDREN,' * MAHME NOUSIE,' ETC. METHUEN & CO. 36 ESSEX STREET, W.C LONDON 1S95 TO C R. F., with thanks CONTENTS CHAr. PAGE I. At Full Tide i II. One Cloud cleared, ..... 13 III. A Vile Bargain, . . .20 IY. Uncle and Nephew, . . . -37 V. The Light that would not Burn, . .47 VI. A Poor Consoler, ..... 66 VII. The Black Shadow, .... 72 VIII. The Shadow darkens, . . .87 IX. Opposite Poles, . . .99 X. Two Pulses, ..... 103 XI. Black Darkness, . . . . .117 XII. Too Late ! Too Late ! . 129 XIII. A Sudden Blow, ..... 141 XIV. Foreign Policy, . . . . 155 XV. A Discovery, 166 XVI. In Temptation, . . . .172 XVII. The Reward of Menu . . .178 XVIII. The Spreading of a Net, .... 191 XIX. An Ice, . ..... 200 XX. Humble Pie, . . .211 XXI. Miss Bryne verge., ..... 227 XXII.

Edge against Edge, . . 233 XXIII. Brant strikes First Blow, . .246 XXIV. A Defender in Despair, . . 257 XXV. Two Pairs of Foul Hands, .... vili CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE XXVI. Mr Hamber has Company, . 274 XXVII. The Hour of Success, .286 XXVIII. Tempter and Temptress, . . 299 XXIX. The Rendezvous, . . 3' 3 XXX. Mental Dust, . .321 XXXI. Brant's Mad Joys, . . . ■ 332 XXXII. A Hair of the Dog that bit, . -340 XXXIII. In the Lion's Mouth, . -353 XXXIV. Full Light, .360

Chapter I At Full Tide

' IV T O ; there can be no mistake now. I have it ±_ \ safe — safe as anything upon this changing earth can be. Not a doubt about it.' The sun shone brightly upon the green turf, but Paul Wynyan was brooding upon his own affairs, so that he did not see how it lit up the brilliant cups of yellow and scarlet where the tulips stood up rigidly, and ranked, like brigades from Flora's army, massed in the opening by the Abbey ; but though the earnest-looking thinker paused by one of the carefully-tended beds, as if to examine them, he still did not note the gay early summer flowers, for his mind was occupied with other matters, and he saw there before him the result of long months of arduous labour in the form of success — of fortune. A This to him took the shape, not of a heavy balance at his bank, but of a pair of soft grey eyes set in a face that had for two years been to him that of his guardian angel, the decider of his course, and for whose sake he worked as few men of eight-and-twenty care to work, giving up every form of pleasure and social engagement, burning the midnight oil till he had, as he told himself, won, and with the winning gained the right to say to the keen, stern man he served, ' I love her ; give her me to wife.' Paul Wynyan could not see the tulips through Rdnee Dalton's face ; but in a few seconds he awoke from his dream, walked on quickly, and did see the tawdry drinking fountain whose orna mentation glittered in the sunshine. ' Gimcrack ! ' he muttered, and strode along Great George Street, erect, proud, and as if he were walking on air.

Then he checked his pace, and one strong hand clutched his dark brown beard. Carriages ? Two, at the office door, forty yards away across the street. Paul Wynyan felt startled, for the first was the doctor's brougham. Was his chief worse? Then his pulses began to beat with a heavy acceler ated throb, for he knew the second brougham, a quiet-looking but perfect equipage with magnificent horses, and coachman and footman in quiet liveries. He knew that carriage well in the Park, at a distance, in square and fashionable street, where there were dinner-parties, and where, late at night, from knowledge previously gained, he had — accidentally, of course — been strolling along, smoking a cigar, about half-past ten, till, unnoticed, he could see a stiff-built, big-headed, elderly man lead out a graceful figure in light wrapper and lace veil to the carriage waiting.

And at such times the young engineer would perhaps catch the flash of a diamond or the soft gleam of pearls in the lamplight. Then there was the clatter of hoofs, the whir of wheels, and he went back to his chambers, to dream of the future and of the great work in hand. But it was broad daylight now, as he walked up to the open doorway of Robert Dalton & Com pany's offices, stepped into the well-worn, dingy, marble-paved hall, and stopped short, facing a sandy and grey-haired, middle-aged man in black and shepherd's plaid. ' Hullo, young fireworks ! ' ' You, doctor ? There's nothing wrong ? ' ' Who said there was ? ' was the rather acid answer. ' How are you ? Needn't ask. My word, I'd give something for your physique, Wynyan. Strong as a horse— and young. Hah ! But don't overdo it, my boy, don't overdo it ! ' ' But Mr Dalton !

You've been to see him ? ' ' Yes ; 'bliged to. He won't come to me. Oh, he's pretty well. But, look here, Wynyan ; you'll oblige me if you'll put the drag on him all you can. He's a good fellow, and we can't spare him. He really has overdone it. Stop him all you can.' ' I do ; but you know what he is.' ' Oh yes, I know what he is. Talk about burn ing the candle at both ends — he does that, and melts it in the middle too.' ' But, doctor, surely there's nothing serious ? ' 'Eh? Humph! Well, I must be off— half a dozen important patients to see who have nothing serious the matter.

The ladies are there.' The doctor was off without answering the im portant question asked ; and Paul Wynyan, with his heart still beating heavily, hurried upstairs to the principal offices on the first floor, where, in the outer room, four draughtsmen were busily at work with scale, compasses and ruling pen, and a grey, plump little man of about seventy, with a quill pen behind his ear and a small boxwood ruler across his mouth, rose from a green baize-covered table at which he had been busy writing in figures upon a plan held flat against a board with drawing-pins. ' Mr Dalton has asked for you twice, Mr Wynyan,' said the old man. 'You were to go to him as soon as you returned.' ' But he has company.' ' He wouldn't like you to study that, sir. Better go in at once.' Wynyan drew a deep breath, steadied himself successfully, though the colour in his face was slightly heightened, hung his coat upon a peg, and, crossing the office, he drew back a baize door, and then tapped sharply upon an inner one of oak, opened it, and stepped into a substantially furnished room whose walls and tables were covered with coloured plans ; and the thick Turkey carpet littered like the wall and stands with papers — flat, rolled, and pinned out on boards.

Familiar objects these, but it was at the unfamiliar that Paul Wynyan gazed as he was greeted by a waft of fragrance, and faced the features which haunted his sleeping and waking moments. He was conscious of the brightness of flowers and fashionable attire, and then of the presence of someone beside the three ladies, for a sharp, rather bullying voice exclaimed loudly, ' Oh, hang it all, Mr Wynyan, don't you see that the room is engaged ? ' ' I beg pardon,' began the intruder ; but he was interrupted by one of the visitors, whose voice thrilled Wynyan as she exclaimed reproachfully, ' Oh, Brant, how can you ! We ought to beg pardon, Mr Wynyan,' she continued, holding out her delicately-gloved hand, ' for intruding here. But I am so anxious about papa. You know Miss Endoza?' ' I have had the pleasure,' said Wynyan, bowing as the lady named — a black-eyed, black-haired, waxen-complexioned girl of about seventeen — rose and returned his bow, gazing at him dreamily for a moment before the heavily-fringed lids of her great eyes drooped slowly. ' And Mr Wynyan knows me too,' said the third visitor, a well-featured, rather faded lady of any age between forty and fifty, and once more a delicately-gloved hand was extended to the engineer ; ' but really, Mr Wynyan, you are not at all polite.

You never call upon us, and we are always at home to you.' The gentleman addressed as Brant turned impatiently away, made his teeth grate together, and said something known across Palace Yard as unparliamentary — but to himself. 'Miss Bryne forgets that I am not a society man.' 'Oh no ! I do not,' said the lady. ' It is always this dreadful business.' Just then a door behind the lady opened sharply, and the thick-set, massively-headed man of Paul Wynyan's dreams entered with a cheque in his hand. ' Here you are, Renee. I sha'n't Ah, Wynyan, back at last. Come in here. There, my dear ; that's the last donation I'll give them. I believe it's humbug. Take it, and be off for your drive. Eh ? Don't look shocked, Isabel, my dear.' ' But you quite frighten me, Mr Dalton,' said the foreign-looking girl, wrinkling her forehead and pouting. 'Do I, my dear?

Then you shouldn't come and stir me up in my den when I'm busy.' He smiled pleasantly as he took and patted the lady's hand, retaining it for a moment or two. Then turning to her elderly companion, ' There, Mary,' he said ; ' now do rid me of these tiresome girls. — Well, Brant what are you waiting for?' ' Oh, all right, uncle,' said the young man, glancing at Renee and biting his lip. ' By the way, Miss Endoza — ' continued the head of the firm, quickly; but as he turned to the lady, he saw his nephew looking hard at his daughter. ' Did you hear what I said, Brant?' he cried. ' Yes,' said the young man, sulkily. ' Then why don't you go ? ' A sharp retort was on Brant Dalton's lips, but he checked it, made an impatient gesture, and went out, closing the first door gently, the baize with a bang.

Robert Dalton's head turned with an angry jerk, but it was brought back by his foreign-looking visitor. ' You really do frighten me, Mr Dalton,' she said, with a pretty little show of fear. ' No, no ; I don't believe that,' he said. ' Thank you both for the flowers, my dears. Now, good bye.' ' But, papa dear,' said his child, laying her hands upon his breast as he bent down to kiss her tenderly, ' you haven't told me what Doctor Kil patrick said.' 'Eh? No. Oh, nothing. That I was quite well. To take a holiday or some nonsense or another, and Here — I say,' he cried, in his quick, sharp, imperious manner, as he grasped Renee's shoulders and peered sharply in her face, turning then to look searchingly at Miss Bryne. ' This is a plot — an imposition — flowers forme from Covent Garden — cheque wanted for the Decayed Ladies' Asylum — Kilpatrick dropping in as he passed.

Mary — Ren6e — you witch — you told him to come.' ' Yes, papa dear,' said the girl, with the tears gathering in her eyes : ' we were so very, very anxious about you.' ' Tut, tut, tut ! ' he ejaculated, impatiently. ' I'm quite well, only a little overdone with work. There,' he said, changing his tone and once more bending down to kiss the sweet, earnest face looking up so lovingly ; ' I shall soon be more at liberty, and we'll have a run on the Continent. Mr Wynyan here will give me a holiday. There ; run away now ; I have urgent business with him.' ' Yes, papa dear,' said R6n6e, smiling once more. ' Good-bye, Spanish gypsy,' continued the old man, ' Are you very much afraid of me now ? ' ' No ; not a bit,' said the lady addressed, as she offered her lips to his salute. ' That's right. I shall see you on Friday of course.' ' Good-day,' Mr Wynyan, said R6n£e, offering her hand. ' Do take care of papa. ' Yes, do, Mr Wynyan,' cried Miss Bryne, smiling quite maternally upon the young man.

By this time Robert Dalton had opened the inner door and then the baize. ' Here Brant,' he cried, in his sharp, imperious way, ' show the ladies to their carriage.' The next minute the baize door fell to, the great engineer's face turned ashy as he closed and slipped the bolt of the inner door; and as Paul Wynyan looked at him anxiously, he walked hurriedly to the great office table, took up the superb bouquet his child had left for him, raised it to his face in a dazed way, dropped it suddenly, and had just time to stagger to a great morocco-covered chair, Wynyan springing forward and guiding him as he sank back heavily. ' Water,' he panted — ' drink ; ' and Wynyan caught a table filter from where it stood and filled a glass. ' Half,' said the old man, in a hoarse whisper, and a portion of the glass's contents was sent flying over the carpet. 'Shall I call for help, sir?' 'No — that drawer — bottle,' and a trembling hand was pointed at the table.

Wynyan snatched open the drawer, caught up a small-stoppered phial, read upon it the direc tions — ' Dose : twenty minims.' Then removing the stopper, he carefully let the required number of drops fall into the glass, held it to the fainting man's lips, and watched him as he drank it off quickly, and then sighed and closed his eyes as he lay back. Wynyan took the glass from his hand, placed it on the table, and moved towards the door to seek for help. ' Don't go,' came from behind him. ' Better now. Hah ! Thank God ! ' was breathed in a loud sigh. ' I shall be all right directly, Wynyan. Weak heart, Kilpatrick says. I don't look the sort of man, do I ? ' he added, with a feeble smile. ' Hah,' he sighed. ' That's better.' ' Will you lie down, sir ? ' said Wynyan, earnestly. ' No, no. It's passing off.

A kind of spasm. Those drops work wonders. Must talk to you directly.' ' I would not worry about business to-day, sir,' said Wynyan in a tone of remonstrance. ' What ! ' cried the engineer, with fierce energy now. ' Why, it is life tome. There! I'm myself again. Now then, Wynyan, sit down. Look here, boy. I've been half mad. Then they came — she came — God bless her ! and I was obliged to keep it down. Look here, boy, I'll tell you now. It has been a terribly anxious time, but the negotiations have all been carried through. We've sold the motor.' ' To some company, sir ? ' ' Company ? No, boy, at Whitehall — to the Government. They've paid me a heavy sum down — a big sum, Wynyan.' 'My dear Mr Dalton,' cried the young man, excitedly, ' I congratulate you. Then now you must rest and grow strong.' ' Rest, boy ?

Congratulate me. It is ruin and destruction.' Wynyan looked at him curiously. ' Ruin, sir?' ' Yes, ruin. I thought — you thought — that we were perfect — that the cursed thing could not fail ; and now it is like ruin to me and my bondsmen too ; for, as usual in an invention, there was one little point we had forgotten, one little hole through which all our hopes escape. I only saw it last night, and doubted. This morning I have made sure. Two years of anxiety and labour cast away. In spite of all we have done, the motor as we have designed it is bound to fail, and even the greatest heads the Government called in were as blind as I.' 'Yes, sir,' said Wynyan, bowing his head; 'it was bound to fail.'

Chapter II One Cloud Cleared Robert Dalton

gazed wildly at the man whom during the past year or so he had grown to trust more and more, looking at him as his alter ego, only, as it now seemed, to find that he had leaned upon a bruised reed. ' You knew this,' he cried, fiercely, ' and did not speak ? ' ' Yes, sir.' ' And let me go so far as to make that tremend ous engagement ? Why, it will be the ruin of a reputation I have spent my life in building up ! ' ' The thought must have come to us simultane ously,' said Wynyan, smiling. ' I had not a doubt until last night ; but I have always been seeking for that flaw. Last night I found it. It came like a flash.' ' Yes, the thunderbolt to destroy the work of a life. How could we be such idiots ! ' '3 Wynyan was silent ; but he took out a large, thin, flat leather case from his pocket, and opened from it a fine sheet of transparent tracing-linen folded like a map.

This he spread upon the table, and the old engineer shrank from it as if it filled him with disgust. ' Don't,' he cried. ' Keep the accursed thing out of sight.' ' Why ? ' replied Wynyan, with a faint smile of satisfaction upon his lip. 'Why?' cried Dalton, fiercely. 'I'll tell you. Because you are almost a boy. To you it means trying to grapple with difficulties during the long years of life you have stretching out in sunshine. To me it means hopelessness and despair. You are healthy and strong. I am old and broken in health. For Heaven's sake, burn the miserable delusion — the snare with its tempting bait.' ' That is not the spirit in which we have always worked,' said Wynyan, quietly. ' You taught me differently from that, Mr Dalton.' He took up a pencil and drew his chair closer to the table. ' It is as you say, sir, certain to fail as it stands.

Our model worked beautifully, but, as you have seen, the constant pressure must after some hours mean collapse.' ' Yes, yes, I know,' said Dalton, bitterly ; but he was impressed by his junior's manner. There was ONE CLOUD CLEARED 15 something suggestive of the holding out a straw to one who drowned, and his fingers twitched as if to grasp that straw in his great despair. ' Now,' said Wynyan, in a low voice, as if to himself, and he kept on touching portions of the coloured sections carefully drawn to scale, ' I spent last night going through this from point to point, calculating it, working the stress and strain at easy pressure.' ' Yes,' sighed Dalton, sadly, ' and it means utter destruction after some hours' use. Ship or building would go, and it would be more dangerous to its friends than to its enemies.' 'So would a steam-engine be if there were no safety-valve,' replied Wynyan, quietly. ' Then you propose to put a safety-valve in there, I suppose ? ' replied Dalton, mockingly. ' That which would occupy its place and purpose,' replied Wynyan. ' Suppose I introduce a small shaft here bearing an eccentric, and break or modify the current at stated intervals — half minutes or minutes as we pleased, or experi ence taught us was necessary to relieve the strain.' He pointed with his pencil as he spoke, and the old engineer sprang from his chair, clapped his trembling hands down upon the drawing, and gazed at the portion indicated by the pencil. ' Say that again,' he cried, in a husky voice, and Wynyan quietly repeated his words, while the great drops gathered on the old man's broad fore head ran together, and there was a faint pat and a gathering stain upon the weak spot of the drawing — a spot which made the colour run as if marked out upon blotting-paper.

Then with a cry the hands resting upon the plans were shifted to Wynyan's shoulder, and he was pressed back in his chair. 1 Not — not another word,' panted Dalton, ' unless you cry " Eureka." But there — I must be calm — for Rdnee's sake. Paul — Paul Wynyan,' he gasped out, as he sank back in his chair, ' God bless you, boy ! You have saved my life.' ' You think, then, that I am right ? ' 'You are right, boy. A simple thing threatened ruin ; a simple thing has given me back my life. I couldn't have borne it, Wynyan. I must have gone.' ' Come, come ; you are excited, sir, and you magnify the evil and relief.' ' No, boy : neither — I know.' He spoke in a subdued voice now, with his hands laid upon his breast. ' I did not want more money ; but when you suggested the production of this motor, I saw its enormous value, and for your sake, as well as my ONE CLOUD CLEARED 17 own, I went into it heart and soul.

As we went on, it grew upon us till I felt that if we perfected our work a nation which possessed it might laugh at her rivals.' ' Yes, sir,' said Wynyan, quietly, ' it must give a country gigantic power.' ' And we have won, then, after all. Wynyan, my dear boy, I promised you that if you suc ceeded I would be fair.' ' Yes ; but you need not have promised,' said the young man, quietly. ' You always are.' ' My enemies do not say so,' said Dalton. ' Even Brant considers me unjust ' ' Don't let us discuss that or anything else now, sir,' said Wynyan, doubling up his drawing, and replacing it in his pocket. ' You have had anxiety enough. Only tell me this — you feel full con fidence in the invention now ? ' ' Perfect.' And I have the same, Mr Dalton, in you, ' I know that, my boy,' said the old man, leaning forward to lay his hand upon his lieutenant's knee. ' But I will say this — you must join me as my partner.' ' Mr Dalton, this is too much,' cried the young man, flushing. ' Let me be the judge of that.

There ; I must rest now ; I have gone through too much during B the past twenty-four hours. Tell Hamber not to let me be disturbed.' 'Would it not be better to have some advice, sir?' said Wynyan, anxiously. 'Send for Kilpatrick again?' replied Dalton, with a smile. ' My dear boy, you have prescribed that this afternoon which will give me years of life. By the way, we are at home on Wednesdays. Come in for an hour or two.' Wynyan hesitated. Yes,' continued Dalton, ' come in now and then. You must meet people more. There will not be many, but Villar Endoza said he would come ; I want you to know a little of him. He has some thing on the way again, and we may as well have the contract. They pay — or the British public does. The electric lighting has given great satis faction, he says. — For the present, then. — You will come in sometimes ? ' Come !

When it was like opening to him the door of happiness and joy. The old man turned to the table filter to replenish his glass of water, and Wynyan's hand closed upon a white rose which had half escaped from the bouquet on the table. He hesitated for a moment, and then resisted the temptation. The next moment Dalton was back and took up the bunch to hold them to his face. ' Hah ! ' he ONE CLOUD CLEARED ■9 said, with a smile, ' the links that hold us back to childhood. Take one for your bottonhole, Wynyan. They are very fine. But you don't do that sort of thing.' ' Oh yes,' he cried, eagerly, ' sometimes ; ' and he took the creamy bud with feverish haste, placed it in his coat, and then went out from the principal's room with the feeling upon him that flowers linked us with something more than childhood.

To him then it was as if he were a step nearer Renee. The next moment he felt a chill, for Brant Dalton came up as if to enter the private room. ' Mr Dalton asked me to say that he wished not to be disturbed.' ' What ? ' said Brant, sharply ; but he did not look at the man he addressed. Wynyan saw that his eyes were fixed upon the rose he was wearing at his breast.

Chapter III

A VILE BARGAIN CAN anyone explain why it is that West End money-lenders usually affect streets in which wine merchants have their offices and cellars ? Mr Marcus Morrison, who always reached his offices in that particularly neat brougham, so well known at the principal theatre doors on first night performances, would have been insulted if anyone had spoken of him as a money-lender — his profession being finance, and his place of business in a particularly aristocratic-looking house in St James's, of which the whole basement, extending half under the street, was extensively cellared. So much was this the case, that when Brant Dalton stepped out of a cab and entered the door, there was a fine, strong, ether-like odour, strangely suggestive of pale dinner sherry chemic ally matured. A clerk in a well-furnished office gave him a look of recognition, half-way toward a smile, and thought that Mr Morrison would see him, placed a chair, and went out into the hall, leaving Brant soiling the cushion of the chair by planting one foot thereon, and scowling round the place, biting his under lip and occasionally uttering an angry ejaculation. 'How long's he going to keep me here?' he said, at the end of about a minute ; and he walked to the mirror over the fireplace, examined the flower in his buttonhole, curled up the ends of his carefully-tended moustache, took up his well-brushed hat and put it on again with the slightest suggestion of a cock, and then saw that the clerk had re-entered the room. 'Well?' ' Mr Morrison will see you, sir.' ' All right.

You needn't come ; I know the way.' ' Yes, sir, of course ; but Mr Morrison prefers his clients to be shown up.' ' Clients ? Slaves ! ' thought Brant, as he followed the man up the thickly-carpeted stone staircase to the first floor. 'Only let me once get clear of the brute ! ' Mr Morrison's business was so private and confidential, that he conducted it in no back-rooms communicating with others, but in the handsome drawing-room provided with double doors, double windows, the surroundings of pictures, sculpture, and bric-a-brac, such as would have formed the nucleus of a museum, while the rich hangings, pieces of valuable tapestry, and thick carpets and Eastern rugs, acted as mufflers to voices, even if raised in anger or dispute. Into this room Brant was ushered, and, as the doors closed behind him with a peculiar click, which indicated that the clerk had passed through, a keen, dark, slightly grey personage, with the look of one who had been sharpened by long contact with hard men, rose from an easy-chair and held out his hand — a well-shaped, thin, and particularly white hand. ' Ah, my dear Dalton ! ' he said, ' what a lovely morning.

So sorry to bring you here. What is the latest good thing on the turf?' 'Morning! How should I know?' said Brant, sulkily, and without removing his hat. ' I got your letter ; what is it ? ' ' Bile, I should say, my dear fellow,' came the reply, with a smile which showed some very white teeth. ' Try one of these ? ' The speaker took a cigarette box from the table and held it out to his visitor, who made an angry gesture. 'No? Well, I will; I've not had my morning whiff yet. Hah ! ' he continued, as he lit the cigarette at a taper burning on a filigree silver stand. ' These are some choice tobacco sent me from Alexandria. Better try one.' ' I've no time to stop here smoking,' said Brant, snatching one of the little rolls from the box and lighting it impatiently. ' Now then, Morrison, what is it?

If you've dragged me here to tell me my paper's overdue, I knew it. I haven't any money, and I don't know when I shall have, so there ! ' ' Dear me ! ' said the keen-looking man, watching his visitor with half-closed eyes, as he stood see-sawing heel and toe upon a thick rug. ' Now, don't you think, my dear boy, you could have said that just as easily, and far more comfortably, if you had taken a chair?' As he spoke, he let himself subside into the one from which he had risen, and looked mockingly at Brant. ' Hooked, and of course you'll play me as long as you like,' said Brant, with quite a sneer ; and taking off his hat he banged it down upon a buhl table, laid his ivory-handled cane across it, and, hitching up the knees of his trousers, threw himself back in the nearest chair. ' Now, then, say it out, and get it over.' 'My dear Dalton, you would never do for a financier,' said Morrison, with a meaning smile. ' The suaviter in modo is wanted there.