Thereby Hangs a Tale Part 65

"I have been three times," said Richard, "and you were always out."

"How provoking! But you might have written. The fact is, d.i.c.k, I'm busy. All that work that was held back from me for so long is coming now. I was a bit lucky with my first case."

Which was a fact, for he had carried it through in triumph, and solicitors were sending in briefs.

"I have been busy, too--making up my mind what to do."

"Then look here, d.i.c.k, old fellow. I'm getting a banking account--do you hear? a banking account--and if you don't come to me whenever you want funds, we are friends no more."

"Franky," said Richard, huskily, "I knew you were a friend, or I should not have come to your chambers for the fourth time. But what did you mean about Vanleigh's affairs concerning us?"

"Well, only that they may. You know they are in town, of course?"

"Why, yes; I met Van the other day. Flick is sure to be near him."

"Yes, as long as Flicky has any money to spare--afterwards Van will be out. But I mean them."

"Whom?" said Richard, starting. "Our Tolcarne friends--Russell Square, you know," said Pratt, reddening slightly.

"No," said Richard, hoa.r.s.ely, "I did not know it."

"Yes, they have been up a week."

"How did you know it?"

"Well," said Pratt, reddening a little more, "I--that is--well, there, I walked past the house, and saw them at the window."

"You've watched it, then, Franky?" said Richard, quietly.

"Well, yes, if you like to call it so; and I've seen Van and Flick go there twice. How did they know that you had--well, come to grief?"

Richard shook his head.

"I'll tell you. Depend upon it, that amiable spinster aunt, who loved you like poison, sent them word, and also of their return to town."

"Possibly," said Richard, in the same low, husky voice.

"d.i.c.k, old fellow, I don't think you've done quite right in giving up all," said Pratt. "You had some one else to think of besides yourself."

"For Heaven's sake, don't talk to me now," said Richard, hoa.r.s.ely. "The task is getting harder than I thought; but if that fellow dares--Oh, it's absurd!"

He stood for a few moments with his fists clenched, and the thoughts of Vanleigh's dark, handsome face, and his visit to the little Pentonville street, seemed to run in a confused way through his brain, till he forced them aside, and, with a.s.sumed composure, filled his gla.s.s, and tossed it off at a draught.

He was proceeding to repeat it, when Pratt laid a hand upon his arm.

"Don't do that, old fellow," he said, quietly. "If there's work to be done, it's the cool head that does it; drink's only the spur, and the spurred beast soonest flags. Let you and me talk it over. Two heads are better than one, and that one only Van's. d.i.c.k, old fellow, what are you going to do?"

Volume 3, Chapter VI.

LADY REA'S STATE OF MIND.

Frank Pratt was quite right, the Rea family were in town; and thanks to Aunt Matilda, who had sent to Captain Vanleigh a notification of all that had taken place, that gentleman and his companion had resumed their visits; and had, in the course of a few days, become quite at home.

Lady Rea had felt disposed to rebel at first, but Vanleigh completely disarmed the little lady by his frank behaviour.

"You see, Lady Rea," he said to her one day, in private, "I cannot help feeling that you look upon me rather as an intruder."

"Really, Captain Van--"

"Pray hear me out, dear Lady Rea," he said, in protestation. "You prefer poor Trevor as your son-in-law--I must call him Trevor still."

"He was as good and gentlemanly a--"

"He was, Lady Rea--he was indeed," said Vanleigh, warmly, "and no one lamented his fall more than I did."

"It was very, very sad," said Lady Rea.

"And you must own, dear Lady Rea that as soon as I heard of the attachment between Trevor--I must still call him Trevor, you see--and your daughter, I immediately withdrew all pretensions."

"Yes, you did do that," said Lady Rea.

"Exactly," said Vanleigh. "Well, then, now the coast is once more clear, and the engagement at an end--"

"But it isn't," said Lady Rea.

"Excuse me, my dear Lady Rea--I have Sir Hampton's a.s.surance that it is so. He tells me that Trevor--poor old Trevor--resigned his pretensions in the most gentlemanly way."

"Yes, he did," said Lady Rea; "and it was very foolish of him, too."

"Doubtless," said Vanleigh, with a smile; "but still, under the circ.u.mstances, how could he have done otherwise? Ah, Lady Rea, it was a very sad blow to his friends."

"It's very kind of you to say so, Captain Vanleigh," said Lady Rea.

"Don't say that," replied Vanleigh. "But now, Lady Rea, let me try and set myself in a better position with you. Of course you must know that I love Miss Rea?"

"Well, yes--I suppose so," said the little lady.

"Then let us be friends," said Vanleigh. "I am coming merely as a visitor--a friend of the family; and what I have to ask of you is this, that I may be treated with consideration."

"Oh, of course, Captain Vanleigh."

"If in the future Miss Rea can bring herself to look upon my pretensions with favour, I shall be the happiest man alive. If she cannot--well, I will be patient, and blame no one."

"He was very nice, my dear," said Lady Rea to her daughter. "No one could have been more so; but I told him I didn't think there was any hope."

"Of course there isn't, ma, dear," said Fin; "and it's very indecent of him to come as he does, and so soon after Richard's misfortune; but I know how it all was--Aunt Matty did it."

"Aunt Matty did it, my dear?"