"You must know I was waiting on them at the dinner table, when Mrs.
Harkaway expressed a wish that her fan, which she had forgotten, might be brought.
"I was going to call some of the female servants, but Harkaway himself went and before he had been gone a minute, we heard him scream out--
"Help! Murder!"
Away rushed Harvey and that long American fellow, Jefferson, while Mrs. Harkaway fainted.
But in a few minutes the three came back with the news that Mrs.
Harkaway"s maid--Marietta by name--had been killed.
"No fault of yours, madam, for the girl had been dressing herself in some of Mrs. Harkaway"s clothes, and no doubt she looked as much a lady as her mistress."
"What then?" demanded Diana.
"The police took the matter in hand, and are now searching everywhere for the murderer."
"Let them search," said Diana, with a scornful laugh.
There was silence for a time; then Diana asked--
"Did you hear anything of Tomaso?"
"Yes. He is condemned to die."
"When?" demanded Toro.
"The date is kept secret, so that you may have less chance of rescuing him."
Toro growled an oath and departed.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE RECRUIT WORKS BRAVELY--HARKAWAY"s VENGEANCE--"HE NEVER FORGETS A DEBT."
The brigands soon found that they had made an invaluable acquisition in their new recruit.
The day following his admission into their honorable fraternity, he brought in an addition to his already handsome booty.
This was in the shape of a lady"s reticule, containing a rich prize in money, and more jewels.
"I came across my late mistress," said Geoffery Martin in explanation; "she had ventured out of the town with her new maid, and so I fleeced them royally. I did not leave them a stiver; moreover I secured this."
So saying, he spread out before them a newly-printed placard, which, translated, ran as nearly as possible in this wise--
"FIVE THOUSAND FRANCS REWARD
"Will be paid to the police or to any private person, who will secure, or give such information as may lead to the capture of, one Geoffrey Martin, lately a valet in the service of Mr. John Harkaway."
Then followed a description of his person, walk, and mode of speech.
"The said Geoffrey Martin having absconded with a large sum of money, besides property of great value, it is the duty of every man to aid in bringing him to justice."
He chose a good moment for bringing this paper in. There was a large muster of the brigands in camp.
"Five thousand francs reward," he said to his newly-made comrades generally; "you have only to turn me over to the Harkaways, and you can make a small fortune."
"You"ll only find good men and true here," said Hunston.
Geoffrey Martin turned upon the latter.
"All?"
There was a hidden significance in his tone which thrilled Hunston.
"I am glad that they are all safe, friend; by the way, what is your name? I haven"t heard it yet."
"My name is Hunston, and I"m not ashamed of it."
"No, of course you wouldn"t be; so you are Hunston?" he added reflectively.
"Did you know my name?"
"Yes."
"Indeed. Heard your master speak of me, I suppose?"
"Yes; Harkaway and his friend Harvey."
"Harvey," cried Hunston contemptuously; "a paltry, frivolous fool."
"Yes; wasn"t he? You should hear him speak of you."
"There was never any love lost between us," said Hunston moodily; "we hated each other most cordially from boyhood."
"Known him so long?" said Martin.
"We were at school together, and at college together," said Hunston.
"College--phew! then you must have been a swell."
"Well," he said haughtily, "and what of that?"