The Stowmarket Mystery Part 28

"A friend of Mrs. Capella's."

"H'm! I'm glad to hear it. I thought you could not be that beastly Italian."

"You are candour itself; but you have not answered me?"

"About seeing my cousin? No. I will call when she is less engaged."

He turned to go, but Brett caught him by the shoulder.

"Will you come quietly," he said, "or by the scruff of the neck?"

The other man wheeled round again. That he feared no personal violence was evident. Indeed, it was possible Brett had over-estimated his own strength in suggesting the alternative.

The Argentine cousin laughed boisterously.

"By the Lord Harry," he cried, "I like your style! I will come in, if only to have a good look at you."

They approached the two frightened women. Margaret had recognised his voice, and now advanced with outstretched hand.

"I am glad to see you, Robert," she said in tones that vibrated somewhat.

"Why did you not let me know you were coming?"

"Because I did not know myself until an hour before I left London.

Moreover, you might have wired and told me to stop away, so I sailed without orders."

The position was awkward. The new-comer had evidently walked from Stowmarket. He had the appearance of a gentleman, soiled and a trifle truculent, perhaps, but a man of birth and good breeding.

Helen was gazing at him in sheer wonderment He was so extremely like David that, at a distance, it was easy to confuse the one with the other.

Brett, too, examined him curiously. He recalled "Rabbit Jack's"

p.r.o.nouncement--"either the chap hisself or his dead spit."

But it behoved him to rescue the ladies from an _impa.s.se_.

"When you reached Stowmarket did the stationmaster exhibit any marked interest in you?" he inquired.

"Well, now, that beats the band," cried Robert. "He looked at me as though I had seven heads and horns to match. But how did you know that?"

"Merely on account of your marked resemblance to David Hume-Frazer. It puzzled the stationmaster some time ago. By the way, you appear to like the shade of the yew trees outside. Do you always approach Beechcroft Hall in the same way?"

The ex-sailor's bold eyes did not fall before the barrister's penetrating glance.

"What the deuce has it got to do with you?" he replied fiercely. "Who has appointed you grand inquisitor to the family, I should like to know?

Margaret, I beg your pardon, but this chap--"

"Is my friend, Mr. Reginald Brett. He is engaged in unravelling the manner and cause of poor Alan's death. He has my full sanction, Robert, and was brought here, in the first instance, by David. I hope, therefore, you will treat him more civilly."

"I will treat him as he treats me. I owe him nothing, at any rate."

They were talking in the ill-fated library, having entered the house through the centre window. The unbidden guest faced the others, and although the cloud of suspicion hung heavily upon him, the barrister was far too shrewd an observer of human nature to attribute his present defiant att.i.tude to other than its true origin--a feeling of humiliated pride.

Brett understood that to question him further was to risk a scene--a thing to be avoided at all costs.

"No doubt," he said, "you wish to speak privately to Mrs. Capella. I was on the point of escorting Miss Layton to her house. Shall I return and drive you back to Stowmarket? I will be here in fifteen minutes."

"It would be better than walking," replied Robert wearily, settling into a chair with the air of a man physically tired and mentally perturbed.

Again there was a dramatic pause. Helen, more alarmed than she wished to admit, gave Margaret a questioning look, and received a strained but rea.s.suring smile.

"Then I will go now--" she began, but instantly stopped. Like the others, she heard the quick trot of a horse, and the sound of rapid wheels approaching from the lodge.

"Who on earth can this be?" cried Margaret, blanching visibly,

The vehicle, a dog-cart, drew nearer. They all went to the window. Even the indifferent Robert rose and joined them.

Helen startled them by running out to the side of the drive.

"This time I am not mistaken," she cried hysterically. "It is Davie!"

The proceedings of the gentleman who jumped from the dog-cart left no doubt on the point. He brazenly kissed her, and in her excitement she seemed to like it.

She evidently whispered something to him, for his first words to Brett were:

"How did you find out--"

But the barrister was not anxious to let the cousin from Argentina into the secret of the search for him.

"I have found out nothing," he interrupted. "I have been at Beechcroft all the afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, you must be surprised to meet Mr.

Robert Hume-Frazer here so unexpectedly."

David luckily grasped his friend's intention. Such information as he possessed must wait until they were alone. "How d'ye do, Bob?" he said, frankly holding out his hand. "Why have you left us alone all those years, to turn up at last in this queer way?"

The young man's kind greeting, his manly att.i.tude, had an unlooked-for effect.

Robert ignored the proffered hand. He reached for his hat.

"I feel like a beastly interloper," he growled huskily. "Accept my apologies, Margaret, and you, Miss Layton. I will call in the morning. Mr.

Brett, if you still hold to your offer, I will await you at the lodge, or any other place you care to name."

With blazing eyes, and mouth firmly set, he endeavoured to reach the open window. Brett barred his way.

"Sit down, man," he said sternly. "Why are you such a fool as to resist the kindness offered to you? I tried to make matters easy for you. Now I must speak plainly. You are weak with hunger."

He had seen what the others had missed. The colour in Robert's face was due to exposure, but he was otherwise drawn and haggard. His clothes were shabby. He had walked from Stowmarket because he could not afford to hire any means of conveyance.

The abject confession compelled by Brett's words was too much for him. He again collapsed into a chair and covered his face with his hands.