Although the contents of the letter were easy enough to master, Colonel Faversham must needs fix his monocle, in order to read it again. "That infernal Jimmy!" he muttered, then folded the sheet of paper and bestowed it in his breast pocket.
"The parcel, colonel," suggested Miller, as he turned towards the door.
For a moment Colonel Faversham stood scowling at the butler and what he held in his hand. His first impulse was to refuse to have anything to do with it; but, after all, its contents were of considerable value.
He might, perhaps, leave it at his club, although it could not remain there for ever, and perhaps it would be better to take it at once to Grandison Square and lock it up in the smoking-room cupboard.
At last he put out his hand, and came forth to the doorstep holding the crocodile-hide bag.
"Good-morning, colonel!" said Miller, but although his tone was even more suave and respectful than usual, Colonel Faversham fancied he detected in it something ironic. No doubt the man had formed his own opinion as to what was going on; but, thank goodness, n.o.body outside Number 5, Golfney Place had the faintest suspicion of his engagement!
He quite understood that this was broken beyond repair. Colonel Faversham knew when he was beaten. He had been treated in the most abominable manner, and he never desired to see Bridget"s face again.
Unaccustomed to carry a parcel through the streets, he was annoyed inasmuch as he could not see any kind of cab until he drew near to his own house, and unfortunately Carrissima happened to be looking out at the dining-room window.
She could not, however, see his face, and as he had left home in such ebullient spirits a little while ago, she went to meet him in the hall, where her eyes at once fell upon the bag.
"What is that?" she asked brightly. "A present for little Victor?"
"No," exclaimed the colonel, mimicking her voice, "it isn"t a present for little Victor! What in the world should I be doing with a present for little Victor at this hour of the day?"
She naturally perceived that something must have occurred seriously to ruffle him, even if he had not slammed the door of the smoking-room so violently behind him. It did not take Carrissima long to draw her own conclusions. It is true she was ignorant of her father"s engagement to Bridget, but she had antic.i.p.ated his deposition by Jimmy Clynesworth, until Mark"s conduct had complicated the outlook. On the whole, Carrissima was inclined to think that the climax had been reached this morning; that Colonel Faversham, having gone to Golfney Place, had quarrelled with Bridget, who had insisted on returning such presents as he had from time to time given to her.
While Colonel Faversham remained hidden in his smoking-room, Carrissima"s mind was busy with his affairs, until about three-quarters of an hour later she happened to be crossing the hall, and saw Jimmy on the doorstep in conversation with Knight.
"Oh, Jimmy!" she exclaimed, "do come in!"
Without any hesitation he entered the hall, accompanying her up-stairs to the drawing-room.
"I don"t know whether you have heard the news," he said, as he shut the door.
"Not a word!" was the answer. "I am positively dying to hear it."
A smile broke over Jimmy"s face.
"Bridget has left Golfney Place!" he cried.
"When did she go?" asked Carrissima.
"At half-past three yesterday afternoon."
"Has she sought refuge where she ought to have sought it long ago?"
"Where is that?" demanded Jimmy.
"With her aunts at Sandbay!"
"By the bye," he said, "can you tell me their name?"
"Now--let me see!" answered Carrissima, reflecting for an instant. "Oh yes--Dobson. I feel certain that is right. It sounds quite ordinary, doesn"t it?"
Jimmy Clynesworth had gone to bed the previous night, but not to sleep very early, with the fixed determination to stand clear of Bridget for the future. He felt, indeed, too distrustful of himself to re-approach her and yet remain loyal to his old friend Colonel Faversham.
When, however, he went into his own den to smoke an after-breakfast pipe, the first thing his eyes rested upon was a copy of one of David Rosser"s novels. It obviously ought to be returned! He knew that Bridget valued her complete collection of her father"s works. Of course nothing would have been easier than to send it by his man, or, for that matter, by the parcel post.
But Jimmy determined to take back the book in person; he would not enter the house, he would leave it at the door and just ask Miller how Bridget was this morning! At the back of his mind probably was some subconscious, unrecognized desire to seize any chance of seeing her once more if only for a moment, but on reaching the house he heard a repet.i.tion of the story with which Miller had overwhelmed Colonel Faversham.
For the instant Jimmy also was almost overwhelmed, but by vastly different sensations. He had no suspicion that Bridget intended to break off her engagement until the moment when Miller told him of the colonel"s recent visit. Then Jimmy reached the truth by a leap.
Bridget had gone away to escape from her elderly _fiance_! At the time Jimmy believed that her announcement yesterday morning was prompted by a sense of duty--a little belated, no doubt.
She saw how it was with him, but having already plighted her troth she felt compelled to issue that unexpected warning. Now, however, Jimmy saw her conduct in another light. She had made up her mind to have done with Colonel Faversham at all costs! Lacking the courage to tell him so to his face, she had opened her heart to the man whom she loved and on whose love she counted.
From Bridget"s point of view, Jimmy saw that he had failed her at the pinch. Still, she had acted for herself, not, perhaps, in the most desirable manner! Still, she must have made her bid for freedom, and now it came to the point, this seemed to be all that Jimmy cared about.
It is true he had spoken to Bridget of his high regard for candour, but even that by no means equalled his regard for herself.
Whatever she had done, and Jimmy perceived that she must have treated Colonel Faversham less than well, this was not the time for criticism.
The salient fact was that she had shaken herself free! Such a desirable end appeared to excuse almost any means. Bridget"s disappearance did not in the least alarm him. There would be little difficulty in finding her again; the point was that he had become justified in undertaking the search.
Having thanked and tipped Miller, Jimmy set about the quest at once, and determined to take the bull by the horns. He would go to Grandison Square in the first place, see Colonel Faversham, and ascertain beyond a doubt that the coast was clear. Colonel Faversham, too, or Carrissima might perchance be able to suggest some clue to Bridget"s hiding-place.
CHAPTER XXI
JIMMY SETS TO WORK
"Is Colonel Faversham at home?" asked Jimmy.
"Do you wish to see him!" said Carrissima.
"Well, yes," was the answer, "I do--rather particularly."
"Because he is not in the very best mood for a visitor," said Carrissima. "At the present moment he is shut up in his smoking-room.
I give you a fair warning, Jimmy!"
"I think I shall have to risk it," he returned.
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Carrissima. "How tremendously curious you make me! Although I"m entirely in the dark, I feel certain that important events are happening. You see, Jimmy, my father is constantly at Golfney Place--so are you! This morning he came home unusually early--actually with a large parcel in his hand. He had a face like ever so many thunder-clouds. Do you think there has been any sort of--of disagreement between Bridget and the colonel?"
"Why, yes," said Jimmy, "I fancy you"ve hit the mark!"
"I wish you wouldn"t be so dreadfully mysterious," she answered. "Now, why can"t you tell me what it is all about?"
He could not see his way to gratify her. Bridget had insisted that the engagement had remained a secret at Colonel Faversham"s wish, and Jimmy had no wish to make things unpleasant for him at home. He had told Sybil, it was true, but probably he would not even have enlightened his sister if he had taken time for reflection.
"Do you think," asked Jimmy, instead of replying to Carrissima"s question, "that Bridget would be likely to go abroad again?"
"Jimmy," she answered seriously, "wherever she may have gone, you will be wise to take my advice."