The Mystery of Orleton Manor

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It L E T 0 N MANOR. THE MYSTEEY or ORLETON MANOR. BT ROBERT JEWELL. IN THREE VOLUMES. Vol. III. LONDON: JAMES BLACKWOOD & CO, LOVELL'S COURT, Paternoster Row. 1876. Alt rights renewed OELETON MANOE CHAPTEE I. When Tom arrived in Liverpool, Sam was at the railway station waiting to receive him. He was got up, as he himself observed, quite regardless of expense, and in the height of fashion. Not after the manner in which he had delighted to show him self some few months before, for then Sam was but a seedy buck after all, but in good taste. " I daresay you are surprised, old feller, to see me look so well," he said, while they were standing on the platform. " I do look well. I can't deny it. You can't deny it. Nobody can deny it. The fact is, having plenty of money now, for I'm getting thirty pound a month, I put myself unreservedly in the hands of the first tailor in town.

I think I do him credit. But to come to the point at once, Tom, I'm glad you are come. I was sure you would, and I've met every train by which you could arrive since yesterday morning, except when professionally engaged. And when I couldn't come myself, I sent' vol. in. B ORLETON MANOE. a man to look out for you. He wouldn't have missed you, for I fastened your photograph in the crown of his hat, and as he is always mopping his head, he was sure to have it continually before his eyes. Here he comes. Here, Ebby, you lazy old beggar," he continued, " take this gentleman's port manteau, and carry it to my lodgings, and don't stop on your way to look into the cook-shop windows." He was a large-made, elderly man, and ex tremely fat and unwieldy. His thin hair, which was always damp with the perspiration of his brow, as he informed them, hung in lank wisps to his largely developed back head, a few hairs being brought over each ear and pasted flat to his heavy, sallow, grease-exuding cheeks.

He lifted Tom's small amount of luggage, and placed it on his broad shoulder, with an effort which was worthy of a couple of hundredweights at least. " You are thinking he isn't a beauty, aren't you?" Sam said, seeing his companion watching the fellow. " Well, I must say he isn't. You're not a beauty, are you, Ebby ? " " I may not be now, sir, for I've had my trials," he replied, unctuously. " But there was a time, sir, when perhaps it was otherwise." " He's a great humbug, Tom," Sam informed his friend, aside. " But he's very useful. He runs errands for us at the theatre. His wife is employed there in selling the tickets. You wouldn't think it, perhaps, but he is a perfect gourmand. I say, Ebby," that facetious young gentleman continued, "if you make haste, I'll give you your supper. Not bread and cheese, but a regular blow-out, you know.

Chapter II

The evening on which Mr. Fuller made his cele brated confessions, Marion spent with some friends at their house at Alder Hey. Neither she nor Sam had had to attend at the theatre that night, there being a piece on the boards in which they were not cast. The manner in which she passed the evening with her friends, or what she said to them or they said to her, having nothing to do with this history, we shall confine ourselves strictly to what took place after she had left them. We have no doubt they enjoyed her society, as who could fail to enjoy the society of a young woman eminently beautiful and clever. We are also certain the evening was a pleasant one to her, or she would not have remained so late. Indeed, it was eleven o'clock when the hall door closed upon her. Marion had not yet arrived at that position in the theatrical world when she would be justified in driving her own brougham, and her friends kept a large and annually increasing family instead of a pair of horses, so that she would either have to walk home or engage a cab.

The young gentlemen of the family would have persuaded her to walk, for then they would have had the pleasure of accompanying her, and it's a favour of no small magnitude to be allowed to escort one of the most beautiful women in the world, to say nothing of that woman being a most accomplished actress. But it was late, and they had to be off to their offices and warehouses in the morning, and she declined. She would go in a cab. It would take her but little time then, and the fare was but twoand-sixpence. So a cab, which was slowly passing at the time, was called, and she slipped in, and fell into a pleasant little train of thought provoked by the hour, by slight fatigue, and by love. lam quite prepared to swear to this, although if she were asked, it is possible she might deny it. But I put it to any lady or gentleman who has suffered from the sporting propensities of the blind little archer, and as they need only answer the question to themselves, they will probably be truthful, whether they have not found a slight fatigue or lassitude at night, joined to the motion of a conveyance in which they were taking their solitary ride, the whole machine travelling as though it were asleep, provocative of a building of castles in the air !

We are certain it was the case with Marion, and that she went on piling stone upon stone, and brick upon brick, until the building toppled over, at the very moment the cab had come to a full stop. She rubbed the glass window and looked out. " 'Twas very extraordinary," she thought. " There were no lamps near. She was sure the whole of the distance from her lodgings to Alder Hey was properly lighted." She let the window down, and with the intention of questioning the cabman, put her head out. It would have been much wiser had she kept her head inside the cab, for then she might have screamed at the top of her voice, and probably have been heard a mile off ; for, if it be true, as I have heard some re mark, that a woman's voice carries no weight, I am, on the other hand, prepared to swear it carries a very long way.

Not only might she have screamed, but she might have used the pair of scissors attached to her chatelaine on that particular part of her as sailant's person which ladies always attack and which gentlemen of the lower orders objurgate, namely their eyes, with considerable effect. But it is possible these thoughts did not occur to her till too late, for she put her head through the window and had it immediately enveloped in the folds of a man's over coat. She tried to scream then but it was too late. She could not have been heard a yard off, and even if she could have been, there was no one there to lielp her. At the same moment the doors of the cab were opened and two men got in. One of them wore a pea-jacket, and looked like a sailor. He sat himself on the front seat of the cab, referring as he did so to his eyes in language, which, if not elegant, was forcible.

The other was muffled up in a long overcoat, the collar of which was turned up and con cealed his face. No one would have taken him for a seaman. He had not the gait, nor the hands — his were fine and white — in fact, there was no sign of tar or pitch about him. He seated himself by Marion's side, and held the wrapper round her shapely head. " Dont be alarmed," he said, quietly ; "no one will hurt you." " Then let me go, you villain," she replied, as dis tinctly as circumstances would admit of. " No ! no ! I can't do that, you dear girl ! " the man said, laughing. " Now I've got you, I must keep you. But you are perfectly safe with me. No one shall harm a hair of your beautiful head." " Unless you let me go this instant," she mur mured, beneath the wrappers, " I will alarm the neighbourhood.

Release me, you villain." And she made a fruitless struggle to regain her liberty. " It's no use, pretty one," he said, holding her by her arms. " I've endeavoured by fair means to win you, but you were too coy. Everything is fair in love, and I love you devotedly. I wiU make you a charming companion, my beautiful girl, and though to-night I must use violence, though sorely against my will, yet when once you are safe on board the Maria, I am your humble servant. We will, in another land, (D.V.) live a life of ease and love. I will be Paul, and you shall be my Virginia." " Unfortunately for the gentleman who was thus wooing, his legs extended across the bottom of the cab, reaching under the opposite seat. Unfortu nately too, Marion was strong in the ankles, and she had on a stout pair of walking boots.

She could not box his ears, nor make an assault upon his eyes, as he was holding her arms. But who would have thought of holding her legs ? I leave the reader to imagine the cause of the gentleman's sudden anathema, or why he regretted not having provided himself with sticking-plaster. He ceased talking of love, and confined himself during the remainder of the journey, which was not long, to observations made under his breath referring to furies and " brimstones." At length the cab stopped, and the wrapper was taken from her head. She knew she was near the river, for she heard the waters lashing against the walls. In a moment she was lifted out and carried speechless with terror to a boat, and placed in the stern, where her companions took their places. This was all done in silence. A short, stout, elderly man held the tiller.

" Have you done your business ? " inquired Marion's companion. " Have I done it, mate ? I rather think I have," replied the other. " Now, then, my lads," he con tinued, addressing the two seamen who held the oars, " push off and be hanged to you." We must now return to Tom and Sam. When they left the latter's rooms, they hurried away to the house where Marion lodged. If what Mr. Fuller had told them was untrue, she would most likely have returned by the time they got there. But when they inquired for her, they learned she was stiU absent. They were now certain that the attempt to abduct her had been made. The man Parkes was a notorious villain. Had not Sam seen him and watched him pressing his attentions on Marion ? Had not Captain Jack, in drunken confidence, im parted his trade secrets to Tom, or, at least, let fall such hints as could not fail to point out those secrets ?

Had not Ebenezer, the greasy servant of intrigue, betrayed his employer's confidence, in mortal dread ? The truth of his confession was patent enough. They felt certain that perhaps at that very moment she was subject to violence, and was per haps calling on them for protection. " I fear the worst, Sam ! " said Tom, as they stood outside the door of the house in which Marion lived. "lam afraid the villain has succeeded in his attempt on the poor girl. Luckily we know the name of his vessel, and by Heaven, if she is there, he shall have more company than he anticipated. Where can we get a boat ? " Sam was in great distress. His love was not only being stolen from him, but stolen by violence. Had this scoundrel Parkes won her fairly, it would have been hard to bear. But how much harder was it when she was being carried off against her will ?

He loved her very dearly ; so dearly that he forgot his own misfortunes in her present danger. He did not think so much of his having failed to win her as of her being at that moment subject to the forced caresses, and, perhaps, violence of a villain ; to the brutal admiration of a ship's crew. Perhaps her ripe lips had been defiled ; perhaps — but Sam could not venture to give the reins to his imagina tion any longer. He dashed his silk hat which he had only purchased the week before, on to the pavement, and, in the agony of the moment, kicked the crown in. He buried his hands in his stubby hair, and tugged viciously at it, as though he in tended to scalp himself, and take to wigs for the remainder of his life. " I can't stand it, Tom ! I shall go mad ! I know I shall," he said. " I know I aint a fighting man ; and perhaps my pluck isn't quite as much as it might be.

But I wish me and that damned villain were opposite each other for five minutes, with a knife apiece. I'd have mine in his black heart before I was two minutes older, if I swung for it." '-' Come, come! it's no use talking," Tom replied, placing his hand on Sam's shoulder. " While we are here talking about it, they may be carrying her off. Can we get a boat ? " " That's no use," Sam said, placing his crownless hat solemnly on his head. " I'm calm now, old feller. As you say, while I'm damaging my properties here, perhaps she is calling on us for help ; so I'll try to control myself. It's no use our thinking to get a boat. We could not tell where to find the schooner if we did. Our plan will be to go to the police office at once." So they hailed a cab that was passing and bid the driver take them to the police office.

Had they known it was the very conveyance which had taken Marion to the boat, it is probable that cabman would have been strangled. When they entered the office the night inspector was making entries in the charge-sheet. Most of them appeared to be charges of drunkenness. He was a smart, dapper man, with an eye like a knife. He looked the young fellows over, and seeing Sam's slightly disordered dress and the battered condition of his hat, made a mental observation that they had been probably in queer company. At length, having finished his entries, he placed his pen behind his ear, and said, looking them hard in the face all the while, " Now, young gentlemen, I don't want to know where you've been, or what you've been up to. You, sir," addressing Tom, " are probably from the country, and perhaps have got into queer company.

Now if you make a charge against any one, it will get in the papers, which I've no doubt you would regard as unpleasant. Mr. Beaufort, I know you, sir. Me and my wife have heard you more than once. Now, sir, I put it to you, would it look nice for Mr. Seymour Beaufort to figure in a police case ? 'Pon my word, gentlemen, if you'd take my advice, you'd go home." " But I say — " Sam began. " Now really, Mr. Beaufort," the inspector replied in a deprecatory manner. " Excuse me, Sam, this gentleman I beheve is under some misapprehension," Tom interrupted. " We have been nowhere to-night but in my friend's rooms," he continued, addressing the inspector. " We have been in no row, or at least nothing to speak of." Just then he recollected Sam's assault on Ebenezer's head. He regarded his own share in that gentleman's troubles as nothing.

We have no charge to make against any one for assault. But we want yomassistance. A lady has been forcibly carried off to-night, and taken on board a ship in the river." " That's a serious offence," the inspector replied. " Did you witness the outrage ? " Tom smiled grimly. " Do I look like it ? Is it here, do you think I should be, had I seen it ? " he inquired. The inspector looked at him, and his big limbs, his bold grey eyes, and square-cut jaw, and thought he shouldn't like to be the man to try to put the darbies on his wrists." After his examina tion, he assured Tom he didn't think he would. " How do you know this outrage has taken place, then ? " the inspector inquired. " Miss Zulmann — " Tom began. "What!" exclaimed the inspector, who was a great patron of the legitimate drama, " not Miss Zulmann of the Theatre Royal, I hope ?

" " Yes," Tom replied. " Miss Zulmann had been spending the evening with some friends, and had not returned a quarter of an hour ago." " But that's no evidence of her having been carried off, you know," the inspector remarked, drumming on his desk with his fingers. " But we have other evidence," Sam said. " I daresay you know that rascal Fuller, who runs on errands for us at the theatre. He can't have lived so many years in Liverpool without your becoming acquainted with him." " We know him very well," the inspector replied. " I have my eye on him, and that bad old wife of his." "Well, then, he disclosed the whole plot this evening," Tom said. " Miss Zulmann, who has been annoyed with this villain's proposals for some time, was to be forcibly carried off to the ship, which will sail at once."

"Humph ! How did you obtain this information from Fuller?" the inspector asked. " That man's oath is really worth nothing." " I fancy he made his disclosures in mortal fear," Tom replied grimly. " Just so," said Sam. " You see, Mr. Inspector, the rascal dropped some words respecting Miss Zulmann which excited my suspicion. You know he carries letters from all the old and young reprobates in town to the actresses, and some of these he had carried to her. I seized him by the throat ; I forced him on his knees. I said, confess or die. He confessed." Mr. Inspector smiled. "You must swear an information, and procure a warrant for the man's apprehension, I suppose," he said. " But, my good sir, what will be the use of that after the vessel has sailed?" Tom replied, impatiently. " Even now we are wasting precious time.

Can you assist me personally, or with a couple of your men?" " I'm afraid not without a warrant. You can't swear an outrage has been committed. It is only suspicion, as yet," replied the inspector. " Can you put me in communication with anyone who will place us on board the ship, then ? " said Tom. " I don't know. I'm almost afraid not, at this time of night," the inspector replied. " But what is the name of the ship? " " The Maria," Tom said. " And by Heaven, that scoundrel Parkes will escape yet, and poor Marion will be lost. Come, Sam, we must go else where, I suppose." " Excuse me, sir, but whom did you mention ? I think you said Parkes," the inspector observed. " That is the name of the scoundrel," Tom replied. " I wonder it' was not mentioned before." " I wish it had been. It would have saved us ten minutes," the Inspector said.

" If it is Mr. Parkes the merchant and shipowner, he is wanted." " That's the man," said Tom, excitedly. " Then he is wanted for forgery. I received the warrant for his apprehension, to-night. We intended taking him at his house in the morning, and should have been too late, it appears," replied the Inspector, placing the necessary document in the inside pocket of his coat. " 'Pon my word gentlemen, I'm obliged to you," he continued. " I'll just put the darbies in my pocket, and take a couple of men, and we'll be off." The Inspector and the two lads hurried from the station, and the officers followed them. They were hastening to the river police depot for the assistance of a boat and crew, and to get the warrant executed. When they were near the river, they suddenly heard a voice cry out in the darkness, " Oh !

I'm sped." They listened for a moment to hear from where the cry came. All was as silent as the grave. The only sound was that of the river lashing the walls of the docks. " Horrible, isn't it," whispered Sam. "A nice place for a quiet gentleman to live in, isn't it?" " Well ! it does seem lively to-night," Mr. Inspec tor remarked. " That's a case of robbery with violence, I should say. Let us go on ; we may drop on some one huddled up on the pavement directly." They ran as hard as they could in the direction they thought the cry proceeded from. Tom was a few paces in front of the others. Directly he turned the corner of the street, he suddenly stopped and sprang back, right into the Inspector's arms. " My God ! " he exclaimed. " Here's murder." Right across the pavement lay the figure of a man, with the bosom of his shirt torn open, and his face turned upwards to the black night.

VOL. III. d The Inspector was bending over the prostrate figure in a moment. " Here," he said to one of his men. " Throw your light on his face." The man did as he was bid, and they saw a dark, gipsy-looking face, with a scar extending from the brow to the jaw. The eyes were wide open, and the lips were slightly drawn back, disclosing the teeth. Tom thought he knew the face, but the events of the night gave him no time for thought. "Is he dead?" he asked. "I think not," the Inspector replied, placing his hand over the man's heart. " His heart beats, at all events. Let's see where he is damaged." They lifted him up into a sitting posture, and threw the lights of their lamps on to the pavement. They could see no trace of blood. The inspector again placed his hand over the man's heart. " He's only stunned," he said.

"Let me see if I can rouse him ; " and he shook the man by the shoulder, and shouted to him to get up. The man's consciousness began to return. His eyes lost their vacant look. He raised his right hand and placed it on his breast. For one moment he seemed like one making an effort to gather together his scattered senses. Then he rose on to his feet and shook himself, like a dog which had just come out of a river. " DevUs! " he muttered. " But that was a shrewd blow. Gabriel's head has stood harder knocks though." Then seeing the poUce officers by him, he continued, " Hullo ! I never thought I should be delighted at seeing your cloth. I am though ; I want you ! I've been robbed. I'll spoil as pretty a game as was ever planned." "Now my man," said the inspector, "you had better be off to your home.

We can't wait any longer." "Nay, master," Gabriel replied. "I'm not for home. The bit crack I got over my head is nothing to Gabriel. He's had hundreds worse, and never ached after. I'll see the game played out, and perhaps I'll win yet. They've carried off the girl by this time, but I can tell to a cable's length where the Maria lies." "Has Parkes had his hand in this too?" ex claimed Tom. " Ay ! master, that he has," Gabriel replied, as he examined Tom's face intently. " I know Parkes, and I know Captain Jack, and I ought to know you. If men did not grow older with time, I should say I've seen your face before, and stood up to you like a man and fought you fair. But that was seven teen year ago, and could hardly have been, though Gabriel seldom forgets a face. I was in the Joseph and Mary, master, when Captain Jack scuttled her off the Lizard."

" Now, my man, suppose we were inclined to take this Mr. Parkes into custody, would you, or could you lay us alongside his craft," asked the Inspector. " Would I lay you alongside his craft ?" replied Gabriel, raising his clenched fist above his head. " Ay, master, I would. I would steer you straight to Hell, if he was there, and I could get my knife between his ribs." " Then in Heaven's name, come along," said Tom. "We are losing time every minute we remain here." They all hastened to the river police depot, and produced the warrant for the apprehension of Richard Parkes on the charge of forgery. Two of the river police were immediately told off for the duty. There were now eight of them, " quite enough to overcome any resistance, if any should be attempted," the inspector said. They pushed off from the steps out into the tide.

"You know where the Maria lies!" said the inspector to Gabriel. "Ay! master! I do," Gabriel answered. " Then you had better take the tiUer. Drop us alongside quietly." Gabriel took the tiller, and the men bent to their oars. Aided by the tide, which was on the ebb, the boat passed rapidly down the river ; but to the lads, in their deep anxiety and excitement, her progress seemed slow. "Give me an oar. You have spare ones!" said Tom, pulling off his coat, and seating himself. " Five pounds among you if we reach her in time." Sam pulled out his purse and counted the con tents. " I haven't five pounds about me," he said, " but I'll stand three pound fifteen, and owe you the other one pound five if you reach her. That'll be ten pound altogether, my lads." "I'm inclined to stand in for that 'ere!" remarked one of the police officers, taking another spare oar.

They bent themselves to their oars in earnest. The ash blades rose and reached back, and feathered and bent, as if worked by machinery. The boat sprang, and leaped, and bounded, and raged down the black river like some fierce thing on its prey. Not a word was spoken. The rowers with com pressed lips, lowered brows, and clenched teeth, pulled until the veins in their throats and arms swelled like knotted whipeord, and their sinews cracked. In the stern, Gabriel stood erect guiding the boat, looking out over the rowers, grim and im placable as fate, while a fierce light burnt in his eyes. They all looked like men on an errand of life or death. They passed the vessels in the river with a fierce dash and a surge. The lights were in front of them, abreast of them, behind them, in a second. The dark waters bubbled, and leaped above the gunwale, and opened to them, and closed after them, while the spray was tossed from the oars in a cloud.

The boat raced with the tide, and beat it ; it raced with the wind, and beat it. It flew. It was manned by every passion which can urge men to action. Tugging at the oars in a whirlwind of fury, were love, desire of gain, hatred, duty; while revenge stood silent, watchful, impla cable, and fierce in the stern. Presently Gabriel held up his hand. The rowers ceased to pull. " She ought to be within a hundred yards," he said, under his breath. And placing his hands over his eyes he peered into the darkness. He could see nothing. " Pull quietly," he whispered. Again Gabriel peered out into the night. " She ought to be here," he said to the inspector, who was standing up by his side. "What is to be done then?" inquired the in spector. "Follow her, master!" replied Gabriel, grimly " They've got on board, and dropped quietly down with the tide.

She can't have got far though. They had barely time to get her under weigh. Give way," he said, turning to the rowers, " and make her fly." They made her fly. Down on the track of her prey she raged in fierce pursuit. At last a grim smile played round Gabriel's set mouth. He held up his hand. Far away on the left they saw the lights of New Brighton glimmer in the night. Away on their right — not two hundred yards away — they saw the dim outline of a small schooner drift ing out with the tide under easy saU. " There's the Maria. I'll swear to her," Gabriel said. Tom unshipped his oar, and fastened his hand kerchief round his waist. " Let us hail her," said the inspector. " Stop your patter ! " interrupted Gabriel, fiercely. "Now then, my lads, send her alongside with a dash." " Boat ahoy ! " called out a voice from the schooner.