"I don"t think cynicism is altogether a modern disease," remarked Sir Frank Hale. "Solomon had not much belief in human nature."
"What could you expect from a man who had so many wives?" put in Pratt, in a dry voice. The remark annoyed Mrs Bathurst. It augured ill for her scheme to marry Peggy. A man who talked thus of women could never be brought to respect his mother-in-law.
While this conversation was taking place Mrs Gabriel kept a vigilant eye on Leo. Whenever he tried to edge up to Sybil she contrived to get in the way, and, finally, by a dexterous move, she placed him "longside the baronet"s sister. Edith Hale was a tall, raw-boned, thin girl, with small pretensions to beauty or wit. She had a freckled skin and red hair, an awkward way of carrying herself and a silent tongue. She was so deeply in love with Leo that she followed his every movement with her eyes, until he found her regard most embarra.s.sing. However, Leo, to avert a storm when he returned home, was obliged to show her every attention, and strolled away with her into Mr Pratt"s new conservatory.
Sybil looked disappointed, but controlled herself sufficiently to play an accompaniment for Peggy. Raston turned over the leaves of the music, and Mrs Bathurst, with a glance at Pratt, settled herself to listen. As to Mr Tempest, he was moving round the room examining the objects of art in his usual near-sighted way. Seeing everyone thus occupied, Mrs Gabriel drew aside Sir Frank into a convenient corner.
The baronet was a pale-faced, hunchback, lame creature, with a shrewish expression and a pair of brilliant grey eyes. He had been an invalid all his life, and his temper had been spoilt thereby. The only person in the world for whom he cherished the least affection was his sister. In his eyes she was as beautiful as Helen and as clever as Madame de Stael. He knew that she was breaking her heart for Leo, and resented the young man"s indifference. And as Hale had the spite of a cripple, his resentment was not to be despised. But Leo did not know that.
"Frank," said Mrs Gabriel, addressing him thus familiarly, as she had known him from his cradle, "I want to speak to you about Leo. It is time he was married. Nothing but marriage will steady him."
"Sybil Tempest is ready enough to become his wife, Mrs Gabriel," snarled the little man. "Why don"t you speak to her?"
"Because she is not your sister," replied Mrs Gabriel, coldly. "I do not intend that Leo shall throw himself away on a penniless girl who has nothing but her face to recommend her. Edith has both brains and beauty."
"Leo does not see that," said Hale, who implicitly believed in his companion; "he is infatuated with Sybil. I don"t say a word against her," he added hastily; "I want to marry her myself."
Mrs Gabriel looked with secret contempt on the deformed man, and wondered how he could have the impertinence to think that any woman could take him for her husband. However, she was pleased to hear of this new complication. If Sybil could be induced to marry the baronet--and from a worldly point of view the match was a good one--she would be out of the way. In despair Leo might marry Edith, and thus all would be as Mrs Gabriel wanted. She wished to move human beings as puppets to suit her own ends, and never thought that she might be thwarted by the individual will of those with whom she played. However, she had an idea of how to entangle matters so as to carry out her schemes, and commenced her intrigue with the baronet. She knew he would help her, both for his own sake and for the sake of his sister. At the same time she moved warily, so as not to make a false step. It was no easy matter to deal with Hale, as she knew. Once or twice he had got the better of her in business.
"I don"t mind being candid with you," said Mrs Gabriel softly. "It is my wish that Leo should marry Edith, and I shall be delighted to help you to become Sybil"s husband."
"It"s easy saying, but harder doing," said Hale, snappishly. "Sybil is in love with Leo, and the woman who admires Apollo will not look upon Caliban. Oh, I am under no delusions respecting myself," he added, with a hoa.r.s.e laugh. "I am not agreeable to look upon, but I have money, a t.i.tle and a good position. Nine women out of ten would be content with these things."
"I am afraid Sybil is the tenth," said Mrs Gabriel, coldly. "However, neither she nor Leo know what is good for them. Help me to marry him to your sister, and then Sybil will fall into your arms."
"Do you think so?"
"I am certain of it."
"How are we to manage?" asked Hale, after a pause. "You have some scheme."
"It is in order to explain my scheme to you that I have brought about this conversation. Listen. I am not pleased with Leo. He has been leading a wild life in Town, and is in debt to the tune of three hundred pounds."
"Humph!" said Frank, under his breath. "These Apollos know how to waste money. I shall see that Edith"s dowry is settled on herself."
"And I shall tie up the Gabriel property so that Leo cannot waste it."
Hale looked at her from under his bushy eyebrows. "You intend that he shall be your heir, then?"
"a.s.suredly. If he does what I want him to do."
"What is that?"
"He must marry Edith and take up his residence in the castle. No more gadding about, no more wild living. Let Leo be a respectable country gentleman and his future is secure."
"Have you explained that to him?" asked the baronet, sharply.
"No. Leo is a fool, and infatuated with that girl. I must force him to do what I want. It is for his own good. You must help, both for the sake of Edith, and because it is your only chance of marrying Sybil."
"I"m quite ready to help you, Mrs Gabriel. Go on."
Mrs Gabriel glanced round, bent her head, and spoke lower. "I intend to refuse to pay this three hundred pounds for Leo. There is no chance of his earning it for himself, and he will soon be in serious difficulty.
Now if you come forward as his old friend and--"
"I don"t like lending money," said Hale, who was something of a miser.
"If you want to gain Sybil and make your sister happy, you must lend Leo three hundred pounds. When he is in your debt, well--the rest is easy."
Hale nodded. "I see what you mean," said he, ponderingly. "The idea is not a bad one. But Leo--humph! Three hundred pounds! A large sum!"
"Oh, I will be your surety for it," said Mrs Gabriel, impatiently. She did not want her plans upset by this miser. "But if you want to gain anything you must sacrifice something. You love Sybil?"
"With my whole soul," said the cripple, and flushed.
"And your sister?"
"I would give anything to secure her happiness."
"Three hundred pounds will be enough," said Mrs Gabriel, coolly. "Make Leo your debtor, and then you can deal with him. He is so honourable that he will keep his word even at the cost of his happiness. Well?"
Hale reflected. "I will think of it," said he, cautiously.
"As you please. But remember that if I do not have this settled within the week, I shall allow Leo to marry Sybil."
Of course Mrs Gabriel had no such intention, but she determined outwardly on this course to frighten the baronet. It had the desired effect.
"I will see to the matter," he said hastily; "to-night I will ask Leo to come and see me. It will all be arranged. But three hundred pounds!" He winced and Mrs Gabriel smiled.
"I will be your surety," she said, rising. "Let me know when you have made Leo your debtor. Come, we must not talk any more. Here is Mr Pratt."
It was indeed the host who came to disturb them. He wished to take the whole party round his house. Leo and Edith returned from the conservatory, the former looking bored, the latter brilliantly happy.
Sybil did not like this, and glanced reproachfully at Leo, who immediately would have gone to her side, but he was antic.i.p.ated by Hale.
"Help me to get round the house, Miss Tempest," he said, pointing to his lame leg. "You must be my crutch."
Sybil could not but a.s.sent, and so Leo found himself out in the cold.
Peggy, who approved of his love for Sybil, took his arm. "Never mind,"
she said softly, "I will manage to take Sir Frank away," and Leo gave her hand a grateful squeeze.
"Come, all of you!" cried Pratt, cheerily. "The museum is open."
He led them through a series of rooms crammed with treasures. There were valuable pictures, pieces of rich tapestry, exquisite examples of goldsmith"s work, and many other things of value. Mr Pratt had a story for every object. This he picked up in the Great Bazaar at Stamboul; that was a bargain obtained in an Italian town; the silver crucifix came from Spain; the lacquer work from j.a.pan. Apparently he had been all over the world, and had made purchases in every part. Here was the evidence of his travels and his wealth before the longing eyes of Mrs Bathurst.
More than ever was she determined that Peggy should become Mrs Pratt.
While Pratt discoursed and the company exclaimed at the treasures displayed to their wondering eyes, Mrs Gabriel maintained her haughty silence. She surveyed all the beautiful things in a cold, unemotional manner, and kept an eye on the movements of Leo. He felt uncomfortable under her gaze, and once or twice looked angrily at her. But Mrs Gabriel met his indignant looks with a calm smile.
"You must have spent a fortune on all this," said Hale, inspecting a tray of antique coins. "What a collection!"
"I have been buying for years," explained Pratt, smiling. "Mine has been a varied life. I was born of poor parents and had to make my own way in the world. For years I worked in the States, in South America and elsewhere to make money. Finally I secured a fortune in South Africa, and for the last ten years I have devoted myself to collecting these things. They have been stored for years, and now that I have a house of my own, this is the first time I have been able to arrange them. I am glad you are pleased."