"Why is Mr. Corbett coming to London?"
"Because it is only in London that capital can be obtained for large undertakings, and if the Wyoming Goldfield is really a valuable one we may be able to realize some portion of our interests for a considerable sum. Anyhow, he wants to consult me."
"Do you both own the ranch?"
"Yes; it was a joint transaction, but I found the money."
"And why did you come away?"
"Well, we made very little out of it, Phil. As Corbett has two sisters, I thought it best to leave what there was for him. He was absurdly grateful about what he called my generosity in the matter, but now that the land has proved valuable, of course all that nonsense is at an end, and we go half-shares in the deal."
"Two sisters! They pretty?"
"What! Jealous already! They are very nice, but much older than their brother, and he is my senior by two years."
Miss Browne was graciously pleased to accept this explanation. She knitted her smooth brow into a reflective frown as she said:
"Mr. Corbett arrives on the 4th. It is now January 30th. You really ought to go home, Bertie."
"Now my dear, sensible little woman is talking like her own self."
"I see I must give you permission. But I did hope we would see Florence together."
"So we shall. I"ll tell you what I can do. I shall write to Corbett to-day, care of the steamer at Liverpool, tell him to go to my flat, and stay there a few days until I arrive, and go home myself at the end of next week. He is sure to spend some time seeing the sights before tackling business, and he can do that as well without me as if I were there. A line to my old housekeeper, who has a spare key, will make the place habitable for him. Happy thought, I"ll do it."
"And another happy thought! I"ll come and watch you do it."
She did not notice that Mensmore"s face clouded at this otherwise pleasant intimation. Nevertheless, he raced off with her to the saloon and seated himself at the writing-table. But before he placed pen to paper, Phyllis bending over him meanwhile, he suddenly exclaimed, in a tone of annoyance:
"Now, what a bore this is. I don"t know how to address the letter to make sure of reaching him at once, and it is very important that it should not miss him."
"Father will know. Let us ask him."
"No," said Mensmore judicially, "I will row across the harbor to the Florio-Rubattino office, find out the exact thing, and send off the letter. Back in half-an-hour. Be good!"
And before Phyllis could argue the matter he was at the gangway shouting for a boat.
She blew a kiss to him as he shot over the narrow strip of water inside the mole, and little realized that Mensmore was saying to himself:
"That was a narrow squeak. Never again, as long as I live, will I take another man"s name. It causes no end of bother, and at the most unexpected moments."
He did not trouble the Florio-Rubattino people, as he well knew that a letter addressed to the White Star offices would insure any communication reaching his friend.
The context of the missive, as finally indited at the post-office, explains his hesitancy to write it in the presence of his _fiancee_.
"_My dear Sydney_,--Your good news is more than surprising.
Although I believe you, I cannot yet grasp its full significance. However, let us leave explanations until we meet.
I am fixed here for a few days more, as I have just become engaged to the sweetest girl in the world, but will return home at the end of next week. Meanwhile I want you to take up your residence at my flat, No. 12 Raleigh Mansions, Sloane Square, where my housekeeper has instructions to receive you. Do not be surprised if you find the name of Corbett familiar there.
Indeed, I took the place in your name in August last. However, all explanations when we meet.
"Yours ever, "BERTIE MENSMORE."
This, with a note to the housekeeper, Mrs. Robinson, and another to the hall-porter of the Universities Club, lest by any chance the Liverpool letter missed his friend, completed his task.
He laughed as he hurried from the post-office to the harbor.
"By Jove!" he said to himself, "won"t old Robinson be surprised when she gets my letter telling her that another Mr. Corbett is coming from America, and that my name, concealed for family reasons, is Mensmore. I guess that Sydney will feel a bit mixed up, too, until I tell him the whole yarn."
No wonder his housekeeper would fail to understand him.
Others, whose influence on his fortunes he little suspected, were already puzzled by the circ.u.mstances. Bruce, for instance, and White would be very glad if some occult power enabled them to read the seemingly trivial letters posted that day in Genoa.
Every person known to the reader, and not the least the visitor from the United States, was on the eve of a mad whirl of events, the outcome of which no man could prophesy. As yet, one man only, Claude Bruce, had the slightest suspicion that affairs were approaching a crisis.
When Mensmore reached the _White Heather_ he found Lady Browne and Phyllis dressed for a drive before dinner. Sir William seized the opportunity to cross-examine his daughter"s suitor as to his means.
Phyllis was an only child, and her father did not propose that she should live in penury, whatever the financial position of her husband might be. He liked Mensmore, and had ascertained by private inquiries that his social position was good.
"His father was a Major-General," said his informant, "who lost his savings by speculation, and was unable to maintain his son in a crack cavalry corps, so the youngster resigned and went to America to try to better himself. There was a daughter, too, by the first wife, a very charming woman, who, when the crash came, was supposed to have gone on the stage. But I have never heard of her since."
So far, the credentials were not bad; but Sir William thought it his duty to ascertain definite particulars.
Mensmore was quite candid with him.
"I have been somewhat of a rolling stone," he said, "but I am glad to believe that people have never had cause to think ill of me. At times, my affairs have been at a desperate stage, but I hope such periods have pa.s.sed forever. I have already spoken to you about the Springbok Mine--"
The old gentleman nodded.
"Well, this morning I have received very satisfactory news from America," and he handed over Corbett"s letter for perusal.
"Yes," agreed Sir William, "these things promise well. We will look into them when we reach England. Meanwhile, I give my provisional sanction to my daughter"s engagement. She is a good girl, Mensmore. She will be a true and excellent wife. I think you are worthy of her, and I hope that whatever clouds may have darkened your life will now pa.s.s away. You two ought to be happy."
"We will, sir," said Mensmore fervently.
"By the way, where is your sister? Is she in England or abroad?"
Mensmore had been expecting this question. He was prepared for it.
"Mrs. Hillmer is my half-sister," he explained. "I have not seen much of her since--since an unhappy marriage she contracted some years ago."
"Indeed. Is her husband alive?"
"I can hardly tell you. I believe so. But she does not live with him.
She is well provided for, but it was partly on account of this matter that I came to the Riviera for the winter. To tell the truth, I quarrelled with her about it."
"Ah, well. Her troubles need not affect Phyllis and you, except to give you warning. And take my advice. Never interfere between husband and wife. However good your motive, ill is sure to come of it."
In the growing dusk Sir William Browne did not note his companion"s embarra.s.sment in discussing this topic. Mensmore was essentially an honorable man, and he detested the necessity which forced him to permit false inferences to be drawn from his words. Yet there was no help for it. He was compelled to suffer for the faults of another.