King of the Castle Part 80

He went home musing deeply, and, punctual to time, joined Glyddyr at the hotel, to find him looking flushed and excited.

"Hallo! That's not the tonic," he said.

"Eh! Tonic? No, it's the weather. Storm always affects me a little.

I was obliged to have a pint of champagne to pull me up."

The doctor laughed as he shook his head, for he saw in the half-wrecked man before him, a life annuity, if the cards were rightly played, and during the dinner he once or twice told himself that his game was to hurry on the engagement between Claude and Glyddyr.

"If he is wise," the doctor said to himself, "Glyddyr will play the trump card. It would take the trick. Your father's wish, my dear.

Poor old gentleman."

They parted almost sworn friends, for the real cards had been kindly to both, and neither had lost or won.

"It's rather rough for going on board to-night," said the doctor.

"Pis.h.!.+ Not a bit I'm not afraid of a few waves."

"Well, don't get drowned."

"Those who are bound to be hanged will never be drowned," came into Glyddyr's head as the doctor departed, and the old saw sent quite a chill through him.

"Confound it. What a coward I am," he muttered angrily. "I felt so much better all the evening. Here," he said roughly to the waiter, who had come in accidentally, as waiters do when the guests begin to stir.

"My bill."

That doc.u.ment was quite ready; and after glancing at it, Glyddyr took a bank-note from his pocket-book, and laid it upon the tray.

The waiter bowed, went out, and returned with the note, crossed to a side table where there was a blotting case and inkstand, both of which he brought to where Glyddyr was smoking.

"What's the matter? Not a bad one, is it?"

"Oh dear no, sir," said the waiter, with a deprecatory cough, "only master said would you mind putting your name on the back?"

"d.a.m.n your master," cried Glyddyr, s.n.a.t.c.hing the pen and scribbling down his name. "There: you ought to know me by this time."

"Yes, sir; of course, sir; but we always do that with notes, sir."

"Get out, and bring me my change."

"Yes, sir; directly sir."

"It was your father's wish, Claude--your father's latest wish. You will not refuse me. I can wait."

Glyddyr was muttering this as the waiter brought his change, and the words kept on running in his head as he walked down to the pier, to find his men waiting for him. The words haunted him, too, as he rode over the rough waves in the little harbour.

"Bah!" he thought, as he reached his cabin and threw himself down, flushed and in high spirits now, "it was an accident, and I am a fool to shrink with a prize like that waiting for me. I will go on, and she can't refuse me if I only have plenty of pluck. I've been a bit out of order, and weak. It's all right now. That cad hasn't a chance. My wife before six months are gone, and then, Master Gellow, if I don't send you to the right about I'll--"

He stopped, for he remembered Denise.

"No," he muttered uneasily, "one's obliged to keep a cad to do one's dirty work, and Gellow can be useful when he likes."

Volume Three, Chapter VIII.

MRS SARSON'S APPEAL.

"Sit down, Mr Wimble, and how's all Danmouth? I was coming over in a day or two perhaps, to stay at the Fort, and if I do, I dare say I shall have to make a call on you."

"Glad to see you at any time, sir," said Wimble, looking uneasily at the portly figure of the lawyer as he sat back in his chair, after a long study over Gartram's papers.

For, in spite of Claude's decision, that missing sum of money troubled Trevithick.

"It's a reflection on me, as his business-man," he said to himself.

"Forty thousand in notes gone and n.o.body knows where. I'll trace that money. I shall not rest till I do."

He had some thought, too, that if he did triumphantly trace that missing sum, Claude would be pleased, and Mary Dillon more than satisfied. So he worked on in secret, and he was busy when his clerk announced the Danmouth barber.

"And now, what can I do for you?" said Trevithick.

The barber hesitated, looked round, and then back at the calm, thoughtful man before him.

"You need not be afraid to speak, Mr Wimble," said Trevithick looking very serious but feeling amused, "no one can hear."

"Sure, sir?"

"Quite."

"Because it's horribly private, sir."

"Indeed! What is it? Want to borrow a little cash?"

"Me, sir?" cried the barber jumping up indignantly. "No, sir; I've got my little bit saved up and safely invested at five per cent."

"I beg your pardon, and congratulate you. Then what is it?"

Wimble went on tiptoe to the entrance, opened the door, peeped out, and, after closing it, came stealthily back close to the table, upon which he rested his hand, bent forward till his face came within a foot of the lawyer's, and gazed at him wildly.

"Well, Mr Wimble, what is it?" said Trevithick at last, for his visitor was silent.

"It's murder, sir," whispered the barber.

"What?"

"Murder, sir."

"Well, then, you had better go to the police, man, for that's not in my way."

"If you'll excuse me, sir, it is. You are Mr Gartram's lawyer, and have to do with his affairs."

"Good heavens, man, what do you mean?"