A REVELATION AND ITS PRICE.
No word was exchanged between Jack and myself regarding the interview with Markwick. It was a subject we both avoided, and, as he was happy with Dora, I hesitated to inquire into the antecedents of the mysterious individual who had repudiated all knowledge of me with such consummate impudence. Among my letters one morning a week later, however, I found a note from Mabel dated from her town house, asking me to run up and call upon her at once, and requesting me to keep the fact a strict secret. "I want to consult you," she wrote, "about a matter that closely concerns yourself, therefore do not fail to come. I shall be at home to you at any time. Do not mention the matter to either Jack or Dora."
During my ride with our two visitors I pondered over this summons, which was rather extraordinary in view of our last interview, and at length resolved to take the mid-day train to town.
Soon after five o"clock that evening I was ushered into the Fyneshade drawing-room, a great handsome apartment resplendent with gilt furniture and hangings of peac.o.c.k-blue silk, where I found Mabel alone, seated on a low chair before the fire reading a novel.
"Ah! I received your wire," she exclaimed, casting her book aside, and rising quickly to meet me. "It is awfully good of you to come."
She looked very handsome in a wondrous tea-gown of silk and chiffon, and as I sat down opposite her and she handed me a cup, I reflected that the journalistic chroniclers were not far wrong in designating her "one of the prettiest women in London."
"On the last occasion we met, on the night of the ball at Blatherwycke, you uttered some rather bitter personalities, Stuart," she commenced, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin upon her palms as she crouched by the fire. The evening was chilly, and when I had shaken her hand I noticed how icy it seemed. "I"ve been thinking over your words,"
she added after a short pause.
"Well, I only said what I thought," I answered. "I"m often accused of abruptness."
"Yes, but it was not to scold you that I asked you to call," she went on. "The fact is I"m in a terrible difficulty," and she hesitated as if half fearing to admit the truth.
"Of what nature?" I asked.
"Fyneshade has left me!" she answered suddenly, in a strange half-whisper.
"Left you!" I cried. "Why, whatever do you mean?"
"I mean that I have acted foolishly, and that he has left this house with a declaration upon his lips that while I inhabit it he will never again cross its threshold. Today, I have had a letter from his solicitors suggesting that I should have an interview with them for the purpose of coming to some financial arrangement. He offers me Fyneshade Hall for the remainder of my life."
"Where is he?"
"In Paris, I believe."
"And the cause of this disagreement? Tell me."
"No. For the present I must say nothing. It will get into the papers soon enough, I expect, for the public gaze is as acute upon a fashionable woman as upon a prime minister in these days of scurrilous journalism and irresponsible personal paragraphs," she answered rather sadly.
I felt sorry for her, but I knew that the open manner in which she had carried on flirtation had been a public scandal, and after all I was not really surprised that at last Fyneshade should resolve to end it.
"When did he leave?" I inquired.
"Four days ago. I have not been out since, and am at my wits" ends how to act so as to allay any suspicions of the servants. He took his valet with him."
"But why make me your confidant?"
"Because I want you, if you will, to render me one small service," she answered with deep earnestness. Then after a pause, during which time she took down a feather hand-screen and held it between her face and the fire, she said: "I have already heard that Jack and Dora are together again, and--"
"And you desire to part them," I hazarded seriously. "No, I think you misjudge me," she answered with a winning smile. "I am merely anxious that my sister should not make a disastrous marriage."
"Then you think marriage with Bethune would prove disastrous?"
"Unfortunately, yes," she answered, sighing. "Already I know what transpired at the interview between Jack and Francis Markwick on the day of the former"s arrival at Wadenhoe."
"You have again seen your mysterious friend, I suppose, and he has told you everything, eh?"
"Yes, and further, let me confess that it was owing to this interview that Fyneshade, who has suddenly become outrageously jealous, took umbrage, and went away in a pa.s.sion."
"I should have thought," I said, "that the narrow escape you had of detection in the shrubbery at Blatherwycke ought to have already served as warning."
"Ah! That is the matter upon which I want especially to consult you,"
she said suddenly. "Markwick has related to me how you told him of your presence in the shrubbery on that night. It is evident also that Fyneshade suspected that I met someone there clandestinely, and if the truth comes out and our conversation repeated, you must recognise how very seriously I may be compromised."
I nodded, and slowly sipped my tea.
"Now," she continued in an earnest, appealing tone. "You, Stuart, have always been my friend; if you choose you can shield me. Before long you may be cross-examined upon that very incident, but what is there to prevent you from saying that it was you yourself and not Markwick who was sitting with me?"
"You ask me to lie in order to save you?" I exclaimed severely.
"Well, to put it very plainly, it amounts to that."
"But who will cross-examine me? In what form do you dread exposure?"
"I only dread the scandal that must arise when it becomes known that I am acquainted with this man," she answered quickly. "As I have before told you, there is no thought of affection or regard between us. While hating him, I have been compelled to seek his a.s.sistance by untoward circ.u.mstances."
"When do you antic.i.p.ate these attempted revelations?" I asked calmly.
She was silent. The flames shot high in the grate, illuminating the great handsome apartment and were reflected in the many mirrors, while outside a neighbouring clock slowly struck six. The mansion seemed strangely quiet and dismal, now that its master, the Earl, had parted from his smart wife.
"Bethune will be tried for murder. Some awkward questions will then be asked," she answered at last. "Markwick is quite resolved, then," I cried, starting up. "Quite. I, too, have every reason to believe that Gilbert fell by Bethune"s hand."
"Yet you have no proofs," I observed.
"I did not say that Certain proofs will be forthcoming at the trial."
"But I presume you are aware that Jack strenuously denies the allegation?"
"Of course. It is but natural. He fancies himself secure and is confident we dare not cause his arrest for fear he should make a revelation regarding a strange and startling incident that occurred recently. But he is quite mistaken. I intend to establish the fact that Gilbert was murdered, and further, that he fell by the hand of your friend."
"And the reason for this, Mabel," I exclaimed, bitterly; "the reason for this is because you have received information that the foolish youth executed a will under which, in the event of his death, you inherit three millions. This fact is already common gossip, although your name has not yet transpired in the newspapers. It is but natural that you should wish to prove his death, even though you may have loved him."
"He was a foolish boy, and pretended to admire me, but I swear, on my honour, that I gave him no encouragement. I treated him kindly, as the married woman usually treats a love-sick youth."
"And he has left you three millions because you were kind to him," I said. "Well, of course you are anxious to prove that he is not merely ill or abroad and likely to turn up again; in fact, it is to your own interest to show that he was murdered."
"I will prove it, even if I have to face a cross-examination in the witness-box," she exclaimed with firm determination. "All I ask you is, for the sake of our long friendship, not to reveal the conversation you overheard in the shrubbery."
"You wish me to a.s.sist you against my friend?" I said. "No, Mabel, I cannot give you my promise. What I overheard was suspiciously like a conspiracy formed to convict Jack of murder, and if I am asked I shall speak the truth."
Her lips quivered. With a pretty woman"s wilful egotism she had antic.i.p.ated that I would perjure myself to shield her, and her disappointment and chagrin were apparent. Her face was turned toward the fire, and for a long time neither of us uttered a word.
"Because my husband has gone and I am defenceless," she said at last with much bitterness, "all my whilom friends will, I suppose, now unite in maligning me. You, of all men, know the tragedy of my marriage," she continued appealingly. "I married for money and a coronet, but ere my honeymoon was over, I discovered that to love my husband was impossible, and further that his reputed wealth existed entirely in the imagination; for truth to tell he has been on the verge of bankruptcy ever since our marriage. No, my life during these past three years has been a wretchedly hollow sham; but because I am Countess of Fyneshade, and am considered smart, I have been flattered and courted. Put yourself for a moment in my place, and see whether you would prefer the misery of your husband"s great, empty, comfortless home to the many happy, well-filled, and brilliant houses always open to you, houses where you are deemed the centre of attraction, and where admiration and flattery greet you on every hand. Think, think deeply for a moment, and I feel a.s.sured you will not condemn me so unmercifully as you have."