THE STRANGER.
A few weeks after Langhetti"s visit Potts had a new visitor at the bank.
The stranger entered the bank parlor noiselessly, and stood quietly waiting for Potts to be disengaged. That worthy was making some entries in a small memorandum-book. Turning his head, he saw the newcomer. Potts looked surprised, and the stranger said, in a peculiar voice, somewhat gruff and hesitating,
"Mr. Potts?"
"Yes," said Potts, looking hard at his visitor.
He was a man of singular aspect. His hair was long, parted in the middle, and straight. He wore dark colored spectacles. A thick, black beard ran under his chin. His linen was not over-clean, and he wore a long surtout coat.
"I belong to the firm of Bigelow, Higginson, & Co., Solicitors, London.--I am the Co."
"Well!"
"The business about which I have come is one of some importance. Are we secure from interruption?"
"Yes," said Potts, "as much as I care about being. I don"t know any thing in particular that I care about locking the doors for."
"Well, you know best," said the stranger. "The business upon which I have come concerns you somewhat, but your son princ.i.p.ally."
Potts started, and looked with eager inquiry at the stranger.
"It is such a serious case," said the latter, "that my seniors thought, before taking any steps in the matter, it would be best to consult you privately."
"Well," returned Potts, with a frown, "what is this wonderful case?"
"Forgery," said the stranger.
Potts started to his feet with a ghastly face, and stood speechless for some time.
"Do you know who you"re talking to?" said he, at last.
"John Potts, of Brandon Hall, I presume," said the stranger, coolly. "My business concerns him somewhat, but his son still more."
"What the devil do you mean?" growled Potts, in a savage tone.
"Forgery," said the stranger. "It is an English word, I believe.
Forgery, in which your son was chief agent. Have I made myself understood?"
Potts looked at him again, and then slowly went to the door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket.
"That"s right," said the stranger, quietly.
"You appear to take things easy," rejoined Potts, angrily; "but let me tell you, if you come to bully me you"ve got into the wrong shop."
"You appear somewhat heated. You must be calm, or else we can not get to business; and in that case I shall have to leave."
"I don"t see how that would be any affliction," said Potts, with a sneer.
"That"s because you don"t understand my position, or the state of the present business. For if I leave it will be the signal for a number of interested parties to make a combined attack on you."
"An attack?"
"Yes."
"Who is there?" said Potts, defiantly.
"Giovanni Cavallo, for one; my seniors, Messrs. Bigelow & Higginson, and several others.
"Never heard of any of them before."
"Perhaps not. But if you write to Smithers & Co. they will tell you that Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. are their solicitors, and do their confidential business."
"Smithers & Co.?" said Potts, aghast.
"Yes. It would not be for your interest for Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. to show Smithers & Co. the proofs which they have against you, would it?"
Potts was silent. An expression of consternation came over his face. He plunged his hands deep in his pockets and bowed his head frowningly.
"It is all bosh," said he, at last, raising his head. "Let them show and be d---d. What have they got to show?"
"I will answer your question regularly," said the stranger, "in accordance with my instructions"--and, drawing a pocket-book from his pocket, he began to read from some memoranda written there.
"1st. The notes to which the name of Ralph Brandon is attached, 150 in number, amounting to 93,500."
"Pooh!" said Potts.
"These forgeries were known to several besides your son and yourself, and one of these men will testify against you. Others who know Brandon"s signature swear that this lacks an important point of distinction common to all the Brandon signatures handed down from father to son. You were foolish to leave these notes afloat. They have all been bought up on a speculation by those who wished to make the Brandon property a little dearer."
"I don"t think they"ll make a fortune out of the speculation," said Potts, who was stifling with rage. "D--n them! who are they?"
"Well, there are several witnesses who are men of such character that if my seniors sent them to Smithers & Co. Smithers & Co. would believe that you were guilty. In a court of law you would have no better chance. One of these witnesses says he can prove that your true name is Briggs."
At this Potts bounded from his chair and stepped forward with a terrific oath.
"You see, your son"s neck is in very considerable danger."
"Yours is in greater," said Potts, with menacing eyes.
"Not at all. Even supposing that you were absurd enough to offer violence to an humble subordinate like me, it would not interfere with the policy of Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co., who are determined to make money out of this transaction. So you see it"s absurd to talk of violence."
The stranger took no further notice of Potts, but looked again at his memoranda; while the latter, whose face was now terrific from the furious pa.s.sions which it exhibited, stood like a wild beast in a cage, "willing to wound, but yet afraid to strike."
"The next case," said the stranger, "is the Thornton forgery."
"Thornton!" exclaimed Potts, with greater agitation.
"Yes," said the stranger. "In connection with the Despard murder there were two sets of forgeries; one being the Thornton correspondence, and the other your correspondence with the Bank of Good Hope."