Warren Knowles: a novel

Chapter I

Peter Ward sat in his private room, he wrote long and carefully, he hesitated one moment, and then, only half-satisfied, Avrote down : — ' So trust not woman, she is all disguise, But ne'er her cunning will deceive the wise.' ' Ah ! Avell, is she " all disguise ? " passed through his brain ; and then there came a knock outside his windoAv. He arose, and having opened a small shutter, peered out VOL. Ill A into the night. He could merely distinguish two figures, but who or what they Avere, was beyond his power of vision. He opened the window. ' Who are you ? and what do you want ? ' ' We are gipsies,' ansAvered the old woman. ' We come to seek your help.' ' Come round to the side-door, and I will let you in.' As they entered the lighted room, Peter Ward scarcely looked at them ; he, again ere he put away his papers, passed his eyes over the line, ' so trust not Avoman, she is all disguise ! ' He then left his papers, and turning towards the women, said, half-aloud, ' So trust not woman, she is all disguise ! ' and stood before them lost in thought.

To the old woman he appeared wrapt in some hidden conjuration, and she remembered, how at night storms came ; how men perished by unknown causes : Iioav woman moaned over the absence of those she loved ; how at night cattle died, and trees were felled ; and how all the evils seemed to cease at the morning light. To Kathleen his Avords appeared to come from the Avonderful prescience of a magician ; even as she had entered, Avithout a look toAvards her, he had penetrated her secret, for she had heard his words, ' so trust not woman, she is all disguise.' In patience they, much impressed by his manner and Avords, remained standing, silently side by side ; uiiAvittingly he acted his part to per fection. At last rousing himself, and ad dressing the old gipsy, he said, ' Now woman, your request ? ' Nan,' ansAvered the old gipsy ; ' has an enmity to avenge ; can you help her ? she has gold.' ' Vengeance is mine ! ' muttered Peter Ward. ' Yes,' continued she ; vengeance is in your poAver, I know, help us now, and we will pay.' Peter Ward was again lost in thought ; this time he meditated how to avert from their enemy the Avickedness resolved on by the two dark-haired women noAv before him. ' Give me the name of your enemy and his dwelling.

Deceive me not, for unless to me you speak truth, this vengeance will miss your object. Make me mistake the name and another will suffer.' The gipsy looked at Kathleen, who on her side deeply felt the truth of all he had said, ' mistake the name, and another will suffer.' AVARREN KNOAA7LES 4 She Avas convinced that the real name must be spoken, not John Smith, but John Hilton. She remembered, hoAV a name mistaken, and John Gaunt even now7 perhaps was dead. Most willingly she answered, ' His name is John Hilton, and he dAvells at the head-keeper's lodge ; include his dog, " Slip," and let them both die the death.' ' So be it,' answered Peter Ward. ' The dog, " Slip," and his master, John Hilton,' and then there flashed across his memory that ' Slip ' was the faithful follower of John Smith, the keeper, to whom, and through whom, much gratitude from him Avas due ; and he felt convinced that their John Hilton was none other but his friend, John Smith.

That night Avas Warren KnoAvles' kindness twenty -fold repaid. ' I must seek power from the king of dark ness ere I can Avork a curse on John Hilton and Slip. Come again to me on the first new moon.' ' What ! Avait a fortnight ! ' exclaimed Kathleen, ' never ! A bullet or poison shall at once do the Avork ! I say at once ! and so it shall be ! ' ' Even as you wish,' continued Peter Ward. ' If I give you poison, can you find means of AA'ARREN KNOAVLES 5 using it ? It is a precious herb and leaves no trace behind ; but once fully prepared, all its virtue will depart unless quickly utilised.' Kathleen looked at the old gipsy, Avho immediately answered, ' Old Brooks' maid-of-all-AVork is easily bought. She would, with good pay, under take to put it into the milk. She milks the two coavs, so there is no difficulty.' ' Wait ! ' uttered Peter Ward, and left the room.

In his pantry he folded a piece of Avhite paper into an oblong shape, and placed therein a small quantity of flour, sprinkled a little white sugar on it, and, having returned to his own room, he Avrote on it three Greek letters, and gave it to Kathleen. She held out a handful of gold ; he looked at it ; the temptation Avas great. He had knoAvn poverty, and the agony of helplessly gazing on a hungry son ; but he dreAV back and said, ' Nay, Avhen the work is done then pay me. I love to help a gipsy ! ' ' You do,' answered the old woman ; ' the gipsies owe you much.' The two women silently Avent out into the dark night, and trod their Avay toAvards KnoAvle Manor. A strong wind blew, and WARREN KNOAVLES 6 the rain came doAvn ; no word Avas spoken until their ways separated ; then Kathleen said, ' I Avill keep your red cloak, it may be of use ; and mine is good pay for it.

How can I find you when needful ? ' ' Come to our tents, and fear not. The way is open to you, although open to few. Let me have Avhat the cunning man gave you ; at early morn I Avill see the milk maid ; and John Smith shall have his first taste of death before you again open your pretty eyes.' They separated, and the gipsy woman hastened to her tent ; and a tent also has its luxuries ; no better food than the supper she indulged in ; no warmer lair than the comfortable mattress and blankets, overlaid by a fur rug, sadly missed by the bagman, from whose carriage it had been purloined. There she slept, until the sun had for many hours warmed the gipsy glen. She knew that ' the pretty lady ' at the Manor Avould not be seen early, and was satisfied that she would not come that Avay until to-morrow, if even then.

They separated, and little did either the wealthy Avife or the poor widow suspect that their path had been dogged ; AVARREN KNOAVLES 7 but Avind and rain had drowned all noise, Avhile Peter Ward followed on their track. As soon as they had left his house, he had at first used great caution, but when the storm burst he dreAV nearer to them : at their separation he was close, and heard their last Avords. He let the gipsy go her way un followed, while he carefully trod in Kathleen's steps. He had not suspected her until now ; iioav the whole truth flashed on him, and ere she entered the Manor, he had guessed her rank and Avealth, and knew the power that endangered his benefactor, John Smith. Much he felt pleased at the deceit he had used at this opportunity of repaying in some degree the keeper's kindness.

At a slow pace and most needfully, he returned to the cover of the woods, and although not well acquainted with the way, he still in due course came to Daddy Brooks' lodge. No light came from any watcher ; all Avithin Avas dark and still. He sat doAvn under shelter of the large oak and waited. The wind slacked and the rain ceased, Avhile a slight streak of light announced the coming day. Pickard was now dimly seen as he emerged from the morning mist ; he tajjped at a Avin doAV, and half-an-hour later all was life and AVARREN KN0AA7LES movement. The ' maid-of-all-work ' — even as the gipsy woman had said — came out pail in hand, and after a short delay passed in call ing the two coavs from the Avoods, she duly milked them. Men came and went, the clogs rushed out, capering and rolling on the cool grass, but no gipsy woman appeared.

Still Peter Ward sat quietly under the large oak tree, biding his time, until John Smith should come out, but fate determined otherAvise, for one dog taking a longer turn than was usually allowed Avinded him. Its bark and desire to run up to the oak tree brought Brooks forward. Peter Ward met the head-keeper half-way, and stated his wish to see John Smith. When shown in, he Avas at once recognised by the man he sought, avIio had just finished breakfast, but nevertheless in sisted that the neAV-comer should refresh himself; and looked on with pleasure, while the other satisfied his appetite, which a night out of bed and a long morning Avalk had fully developed. Peter Ward interested his host by his account of his interview, all his doings and deceits with the apparently gipsy Avonien, but when he came to their separation, and Iioav one took the road toAvards the mansion then KnoAvles' attention increased.

The WARREN KNOAVLES 9 description given and the whole affair proved to Knowles that his enemy and would-be murderess Avas his old acquaintance, Kath leen — Mrs Greville. In his heart he beAvailed her Avickedness ; to Peter Ward he said, ' And such being the case, Avhat do you propose to do ? ' ' I Avait your wishes ; if you wish to prose cute the lady, I am a most willing witness ; I am at your command.' KnoAvles leant back in his chair, and for a short time thought over the wdiole story. His decision was soon made. ' No, Mr Peter Ward, Ave must take the business easily ; I shall stay here ; after a couple of days I will contrive to look ill, and be thought to be so by all those with Avhom I associate ; I will even, one morning lie in bed, in order that those about the place may report the situation to the gipsy, Avho will of course tell the lady at the Manor House.

In a few days I will let the maid hear me complain how sick I feel ; and after that, I will act in the right Avay, in order to confirm the idea that I am very ill, and sick even unto death, or dead. Peter Ward bade him to be very careful to avoid all appearance of illness until he was assured that the pretended poison had been used, and this either by the knowledge that the old gipsy had spoken to the maid-of-all work, or by the taste and sediment of the milk. He rose and went his way. KnoAvles accompanied him through the estate until they came to the highroad, and thus all difficulty about the right way to the lodge Avas at end. Knowles, with still more care again, mentally reArolved his position. What a strange predicament he was in ! hunted to death by a woman Avho, by her talent, acuteness, and beauty, had risen, from being a barmaid of a backwood store, to the enviable rank of an English lady — a Avoman Avho had certainly liked him from the beginning, but Avhom it Avas utterly impossible that he could eATer love ; and thus natu rally his thoughts reATerted to Ethel ; then quickly came the conviction, that if once his love for her was known to his enemy, all danger would encompass her, whom he so truly loved.

He thoroughly saw and under stood the danger, and from this time forward, all his efforts were to watch Kathleen and circunwent her evil designs. He began by instructing Brooks, that he and his Avife should Avatch over their maid-serA7ant, and, if possible report to him Avhen the gipsy had been at, or near the lodge. He never Avent out Avithout seeing well to his dog Slip ; for although he had been bought of the gipsies, he nevertheless bore great dislike to them, and so much so, that, with one exception, he never met, or even came on the track of a gipsy Avithout shoAving signs of anger, and KnoAvles at once kneAv by the peculiarity of the groAvl, that it Avas caused by an indAveller of the tents, and by nothing else. He also at daAvn, even before he undid the shutter, ordered his dog ' To watch,' and as the windoAV was open outside the closed shutter, the dog could mark anything strange, or unusual.

The first morning passed by quietly ; but on the second, even before the peep of day, Slip uttered his peculiar groAvl, and Knowles guessed that the old gipsy Avas at hand. He opened the shutter, dropped out, and quickly began to make a circuit round the lodge ; but no gipsy was there. 'Well, Slip, what is it?' The dog sat down, and looked wistfully at his master ; his whole attitude and expression implied a wish to obey. ' Well, old felloAV, find for me a gipsy ; but no noise. Quiet ! quiet ! ' The dog, in a slow trot, returned to the window, and thence slowly folloAved a scent doAvn a bye-path. KnoAvles went Avith him, and just as the path passed into the opening (where, a &av nights before, Kathleen and the old Avoman had sat clown to rest), the hair on the clog's back rose, and his master, laying his hand on the animal's back, stopped all further progress.

There, in the open glade, he plainly espied the old hag occupied in driving the tAVO cows towards the lodge. She let them take their own way and time ; and so he loitered back Avithout ever letting the cows pass from his sight. They were still some distance from the lodge when the maid began her call to the cattle, and he Avas enabled to witness their meeting. He could not hear a Avord ; but the action and interest shown on both sides confirmed him in the belief that one AAras instructing the other Iioav to serve Kathleen, and his doubts, if he even had aiiy, Avould have been removed by seeing a small packet placed in the maid servant's hands. He and his dog Avaited patiently, and when all was clear, returned to his room. At the usual hour the breakfast Avas brought ; ere he used the milk, he carefully examined it, and the tokens of some admixture Avere palpable.

Even after Peter Ward's explanation that the poAvder supposed to be poison was merely flour Avith a little sugar, he would not trust it, but poured the whole of it on to the grass, and Avould not alloAV Slip to touch it. He threAV some loose mould on it ; he knew Kathleen's cunning, and felt assured that Peter Ward's false poison might have been exchanged for something more deadly and more sure gipsies can manufacture most killing draughts, and Kathleen might have suspected the cunning man. He let the day go by in his usual avocations ; and even employed him self for two pleasant hours in fly-fishing for trout, and sent up to the Manor, hy Pickard, a basket of speckled beauties. As night fell he returned home, and complained of sick ness to both Brooks and his wife, in the presence of the serA7ant-maid.

Nevertheless having done full justice, and perhaps even more than usual, to his evening meal, he gave Slip credit -for the quantity consumed. Next morning he spoke of headache, and Avalked out at a slow melancholy pace, Avhich quickened the further he got from the lodge. He called at Pickard's cottage, and merely saying that he Avas hungry after a long Avalk, gave the requisite money to the AvidoAved mother ; so that on returning, some hours afterwards, he found and en joyed a good but plain dinner. At the lodge that evening his meal was untouched, and he read, as was his Avont, far into the night ; Avhen as he laid himself on the bed, and felt the sleepiness of health and exercise steal over him, then he returned thanks, that not only had he shown pity and kindness to Peter Ward and his family, but that also the Wards had fully appreciated his deeds, and had shown active gratitude.

During a day or so more he remained with Brooks, taking his usual walks, and keeping up the appearance of illness and all other precautions, although always looking forAvard Avith pleasure to his daily dinner and conversation Avith the widow Pickard. Once he secretly visited Peter Ward, Avho had neither seen nor heard anything more from either gipsy or lady. ' But, Mr Smith,' he said ; ' it is high time that you should be dead. According to the lady's Avishes and expectations, yesterday should have seen the lastof you. Take my advice, die to-morroAV, or be assured that more active means will be taken in order to bring that pleasing catastrophe to pass. Can you not manage it to-morroAv ? ' ' Thank you, Mr Peter Ward, for the kind interest you take in getting me safely killed. To-morrow shall be my last day ; I have already made arrangements.

If you should have anything to tell me send me a letter through the hands of Daddy Brooks.' ' Good-day, Mr Smith ; do it carefully, and do it well. That lady will not sit doAvn in contented ignorance of your whereabouts. She means murder, and will have it.' Again, on his return home, Knowles com plained how ill he felt, Avhile the maid was actually arranging hot water in . his room, in order to bathe his feet, gave a detailed account to old Brooks of his visit to a medical man, and how he had been re commended to go to an hospital. The evening was again passed in reading. As the clock struck twelve he closed his book, and quickly passing his -small portmanteau out of the AvindoAV into Brooks' hands, he himself dropped down, pulled-to the shutter, and from the outside -fastened the windoAV.

He and the keeper> together with his faithful dog Slip, walked for about an hour, until they came to a small lane. There they found John Gaunt with a cart and donkey ; the portmanteau was put in ; and, leaving Gaunt to look after the game, KnoAvles followed by Brooks and the donkey cart, walked up the hills at the back of KnoAvle Manor. These hills Avere Avild and poor of soil ; catching the mist and clouds, they greAV little else but heather. After some miles they ceased, and then came a district which, although within a long walk of Knowle Manor, was altogether utterly different and separated ; there was no direct intercourse betAveen the inhabitants of this sparsely-peopled district and the country he was just leaving ; there removed from all highroads, and invasion of tra\rellers, they felt assured that all was safe ; and as had previously been arranged, Brooks left the portmanteau at a small farm, in order to return home.

Knowles had already given full instructions to the keeper, and more particularly to let him know every thing that happened at the Manor, and any thing else that might occur, but most especially (mind that, most especially ! ) all about Mr and Miss Beal. Brooks received the message Avith judicious seriousness ; in his heart KnoAAdes suspected that Brooks knew more on this subject than he choose to AVARREN KNOWLES 17 express, but no confidence had ever passed between them, and he left all to the truth and known honesty of the old keeper. They parted, Knowles to his rest, the keeper to his journey back over the hills. Old Brooks cheerfully performed his Avalk homeward ; much he enjoyed the sight of the grouse, and the rich hues of the heather. He meditated deeply on all the young squire had done ; and his experience of life told him that it was almost time that this hiding as a gamekeeper should cease ; and resolved to lay this before Knowles on the first favourable ojiportunity.

In meantime he bethought him of a small plan, which Avould conrpletely mystify any one Avho sought to harm his young master. At the appointed time John Gaunt met him in the lane, and took over the care of cart and donkey, and received a message for John Pickard to come up to the lodge in the afternoon, at an hour when the servant-maid Avould be out, and this her absence Brooks secured by sending her to purchase necessaries in the village. At the right time Pickard came, and according to the keeper's pre-conceived plan, went straightAvay into Knowles' room, and into his bed ; and long ere the maid came back, all Avas ready. vol. in b Pickard's clothes were placed out of sight, and Mrs Brooks informed the woman that John Smith Avas dangerously ill, and had again seen the doctor, who said his illness was most serious.

Dinner Avas not even prepared for the invalid, and a small basin of gruel, made ready, was not touched. Next morning, while the maid Avas at the milking. Pickard, Avrapped in blankets — but under neath dressed in his usual clothes — was placed in a cart, and as on her return she exclaimed, ' Dear me ! Mrs Brooks, Avhat's the matter ? ' that worthy dame answ7ered, ' It is poor John Smith going to the hospital. I do not think Ave shall see him again.' The maid hastened her Avork, and immediately that it was done, ran to the gipsy encampment, and in hurried accents told all to the old woman who had bribed her to gi\7e the poison, and instructed her in all she should do. The old hag dissipated the maid's fears, sent her aAvay satisfied that all was right, and that even an hospital doctor could not detect the poison.

This done, she herself took the way to Knowle Manor, and had an interview wdth Kathleen. In answer to the inquiries, she could only say that the hospital usual for the sick of the district was at Evenchurch ; and so having again received a reAvard for her zeal, went away. As before said, gold stimulates the brain and electrifies the understanding, the gipsy hag therefore, instead of going to her home, sought the keeper's lodge, and as she passed close to the door noted the cartwheels, and particularly remarked that only one pair had been there that morning. She thus learnt that the supposed John Smith had been removed in a vehicle Avith tAVO wheels and one horse, and that Brooks and another man were the only attendants. She easily followed the tracks on the soft grass, and in the rough and almost unused lanes ; but Avhen she reached the highroad the task became more difficult.

For some distance she slowly traced the cart, but every moment it be came more puzzling ; at last she gave up the hope of following the mere track, and AA7alked forAvard for a &av miles at a brisk pace, until she arrived at Evenmill turnpike o-ate. Here, to her inquiries, the gatekeeper could not say much. He could not say positively, but thought, that one cart was accompanied by tAVO men, and if that was the cart she sought, it could not be more than a short distance ahead. Again she AA7ARREN KNOWLES 20 Avalked on. She met a vehicle, and inquired about the cart she wished to overtake. The dm^er said, ' Yes, he had seen a cart with tAvo men, but that happened some Avay ahead, if she stuck to the right road she might overtake it,' and bid her ' Good-day.' Now this man Avas the very fellow, who not only owned the cart in Avhich Pickard had been removed, but had also driven, and in fact was still driving it.

About a couple of hours now passed, he and Brooks had stopped at the ' Blue Nose,' public house, and having put the horse and cart, sick man and all, under a shed, they entered, and Brooks treated himself and this carter to bread and cheese, and a good alloAvance of ale. There they enjoyed an hour's rest when the keeper paid the score, and they returned to the shed. Safe enough were the horse and cart, but the sick man and the two blankets \vere gone, not a trace left behind. No one at the ' Blue Nose,' kneAV aught about it. Brooks, feigning astonishment, stood bye, and scratched his head, Avhile his companion stared at the cart, as if he felt confident that his eyes were deceiving him. ' I tell you what it is, carter,' at length said Brooks, ' the less Ave say about this the better. Perhaps some kind farmer or other has taken him on in his gig ?

But the tAvo blankets, d'ye see, are also gone ! I tell you Avhat it is ; you go home and keep your tongue quiet ; and to all inquiries not a word about all this shall ever pass my lips.' ' Yes, master, that is Avhat Ave must do — go home and say naught.' Then get up and let us be moving.' Yes, master ; will you not get up also ? ' ' No, thank ye,' answered the keeper, ' you go quietly and by yourself; and if anyone asks you about a cart Avith two men or a sick man in it ; say you did see it, and some way on ; and mind you, that is the truth.' The carter turned his cart towards home ; and when he met the gipsy hag, he folloAved out Brooks' advice. MeanAvhile the head keeper had overtaken Pickard in a bye lane, and they trudged on together by an unfrequented route. In due time they rejoiced Mrs Brooks Avith their cheerful voices and most welcome presence.

The gipsy woman was still striving to do good Avork, and earn some further recompense, when the noise of wheels told her the soundness of her conclusion that Mrs Greville Avould also try AVARREN KNOAA7LES 22 to overtake the cart and sick man. She dreAv aside, but so that Mrs Greville could not Avell have passed without perceiving her. Kathleen ordered the carriage to stop, and having beckoned the hag to her, began by asking after a sick man, and ' Poor fellow ! ' she continued, ' how is he noAv ? ' ' Not well at all, ma'am,' ansAvered the gipsy ; ' he is iioav on his way to the hospital ; in a short time you are sure to overtake him ; he is in a one-horse cart, and two men are with him ; he is Avrapped in blankets, so you cannot well miss him.' ' Then he is bound for Evenchurch Hospi tal, I suppose ? ' ' Well, I think so too, but I cannot say positively.' ' If you will come to see me to-morroAV, I Avill tell you all about him,' finished Kathleen, and she drove on.

No cart, no sick man, no sign of Hilton. She even droA7e to the hospital, but AA7as there assured that only two patients had on that day been admitted, and they were both women. During her Avay home she meditated and wondered ; with all her cunning and ready Avit, she could not solve the mystery. She inquired where the other nearest hospital was situated. It was dis tant tAventy miles, and in another direction. The only solution she could arrive at Avas, that the two men had found out that Hilton had money, and so perhaps had robbed and murdered him. ' Let us wait,' had Kathleen thought ; ' time Avill solve the secret ; John Smith must be either dead or alive. If dead, he has had the punishment I wished ; and it is pleasing to know that unless I had adminis tered to him the cunning man's dose, he never would have been thus happily robbed and murdered.

If alive, he must seek the means of living ; and where could he earn better Avages than as a gamekeeper on this estate ? We shall hear, in all pro bability, either of the finding of his body, or see him again in his old employment. She asked the gipsy Avonian, but she knew noth ing more, and although she had questioned each man and woman of her tribe, none could add a word of information. John Smith, alias Hilton, had disappeared, and left not a trace behind. She pronounced in favour 01 his murder, and assured her rich friend that the very mystery inclined her to the idea, that gipsies had a hand in it. Day followed day, and nothing was heard about John Smith. Kathleen Avas unwilling to lose her still sick husband yet ; she had her own schemes for developing herself into a rich Avidow, and then Avith the help of beauty, wealth, and position, to rise considerably higher in the scale of rank ; but the time had not yet come to shake off the encumbrance of a first hus band.