The Haute Noblesse Part 51

"Oh," said Aunt Marguerite, with a slight shrug of the shoulders.

"Well, it might have been worse. There, I am very tired. Take me up, child, to bed."

"Good night, Harry; you will go and lie down," whispered Louise. "Good night, dear."

She clung to him as if the trouble had drawn them closer, and then went into the hall to light a candle.

"Good night, Henri," said Aunt Marguerite, holding her cheek for the young man's mechanical kiss. "This is very sad, of course, but it seems to me like emanc.i.p.ation for you. If it is, I shall not look upon it as a calamity, but as a blessing for us all. Good night."

The door closed upon her, and Harry Vine sat alone in the dining-room with his hands clasped before him, gazing straight away into his future, and trying to see the road.

"If I had but thrown myself upon his mercy," he groaned; but he knew that it was impossible all through his regret.

What to do now? Where to go? Money? Yes; he had a little, thanks to his regular work as Van Heldre's clerk--his money that he had received, and he was about to use it to escape--where?

"G.o.d help me!" groaned the unhappy man at last; "what shall I do?"

He started up in horror for the door handle turned. Had they found out so soon? Was he to be arrested now?

"Harry--Harry!"

A quick husky whisper, but he could not speak.

"Harry, why don't you answer? What are you staring at?"

"What do you want?"

"Look here, old fellow; I've been waiting for you to come up--all these hours. What have you found out? Van Heldre was robbed to-night of five hundred pounds in notes, and you have that money."

"I haven't, I tell you again, not a s.h.i.+lling of it. Look here, what about the police? Have they put it in their hands?"

"The police are trying to trace the money and the man who struck Van Heldre down. Where is that money? It must be restored."

"Then you must restore it, for I swear I haven't a single note. Hang it, man, have I ever played you false?"

Harry was silent. His old companion's persistence staggered him.

"I tell you once more, I went to the office to see if you had got the loan, and was knocked down. Curse it all! is this true or is it not?"

He placed his head close to the light, and Harry shuddered.

"Don't believe me unless you like. I wish I had never come near the place."

"I wish so too," said Harry, coldly.

"There, don't talk like that, man. It has turned out a failure, unless you have got the coin--have you?"

"Have I?" said Harry with utter loathing in his voice, "No!"

"You can believe me or not, as you like, but I always was your friend, and always will be, come what may. Now, look here; we are safe to get the credit of this. If you didn't fell me, some one else did. Van Heldre, I suppose; and now some one must have knocked him down. Of course you'll say it wasn't you."

"No," said Harry coldly. "I shall not say it. I was by the safe, and he caught hold of me. In my horror I hit at him. I wish he had struck me dead instead."

"Don't talk like a fool. Now look here; the game's up and the world's wide. We can start at once, and get to Saint Dree's station in time to catch the up train; let's go, and start afresh somewhere. You and I are safe to get on. Come."

Harry made no reply.

"I've packed up my bag, and I'm ready. Get a few things together, and let's go at once."

"Go--with you?"

"Yes. Look sharp. Every minute now is worth an hour."

Go with Pradelle! the man who had been his evil genius ever since they had first met. A feeling of revulsion, such as he had never felt before, came over Harry Vine, and with a voice full of repressed rage he cried:--

"I'd sooner give myself up to the police."

"Don't be a fool. I tell you to come at once. It's now half-past two.

Plenty of time."

"Then in heaven's name go!" said Harry; "and never let me see your face again."

"You'll talk differently to-morrow. Will you; once more?"

"No."

"Then I'm off. What do you mean to do?"

"Wait."

"Wait?"

"Yes. I shall not try to escape. If they suspect me, let them take me.

I shall face it all."

"You'll soon alter your tune. Look here; I've been true to you; now you be true to me. Don't set the police on to me. No, you will not do that. You'll come after me; and mind this, you will always hear of me at the old lodgings. Great Ormond Street."

Harry stood gazing straight at him, believing, in spite of his doubts, that Pradelle had not taken the money.

The idea was strengthened.

"Look here; I've only three half-crowns. I can't go with that. How much have you?"

"Thirty s.h.i.+llings."

"Then come, and we'll share."

"No."