Elster's Folly by Mrs. Henry Wood (most important books to read TXT) 📖

Go There," Said Mr. Carr,  "And You Can See Him In This Room."

 

"No; Keep To Your Wine,  Carr. Take Him Up There,  Hedges."

 

The Butler Retired,  And Lord Hartledon Turned To His Guest. "Carr,  Can

You Give A Guess At The Fellow's Business?"

 

"It's Nothing To Trouble You. If You Have Overlooked Any Old Debt,  You

Are Able To Give A Cheque For It. But I Should Rather Suspect Your

Persevering Friend To Be Some Clergyman Or Missionary,  Bent On Drawing

A Good Subscription From You."

 

Val Did Not Raise His Eyes. He Was Playing Again With His Empty

Wine-Glass,  His Face Grave And Perplexed.

 

"Do They Serve Writs In These Cases?" He Suddenly Asked.

 

Mr. Carr Laughed. "Is The Time So Long Gone By That You Have Forgotten

Yours? You Have Had Some In Your Day."

 

"I Am Not Thinking Of Debt,  Carr: That Is Over For Me. But There's No

Denying That I Behaved Disgracefully To--You Know--And Dr. Ashton Has

Good Reason To Be Incensed. Can He Be Bringing An Action Against Me,  And

Is This Visit In Any Way Connected With It?"

 

"Nonsense," Said Mr. Carr.

 

"Is It Nonsense! I'm Sure I've Heard Of Their Dressing-Up These

Serving-Officers As Clergymen,  To Entrap The Unwary. Well,  Call It

Nonsense,  If You Like. What Of My Suggestion In Regard To Dr. Ashton?"

 

Thomas Carr Paused To Consider. That It Was Most Improbable In All

Respects,  He Felt Sure; Next Door To Impossible.

 

"The Doctor Is Too Respectable A Man To Do Anything Of The Sort," He

Answered. "He Is High-Minded,  Honourable,  Wealthy: There's No Inducement

Whatever. _No._"

 

"Yes,  There May Be One: That Of Punishing Me By Bringing My Disgrace

Before The World."

 

"You Forget That He Would Bring His Daughter's Name Before It At The Same

Time. It Is Quite Out Of The Range Of Possibility. The Ashtons Are Not

People To Seek Legal Reparation For Injury Of This Sort. But That Your

Fears Are Blinding You,  You Would Never Suspect Them Of Being Capable Of

It."

 

"The Stranger Is Upstairs,  My Lord," Interrupted Hedges,  Coming Back To

The Room. "I Asked Him What Name,  And He Said Your Lordship Would Know

Him When You Saw Him,  And There Was No Need To Give It."

 

Lord Hartledon Went Upstairs,  Marshalled By The Butler. Hedges Was

Resenting The Mystery; Very Much On His Master's Account,  A Little On His

Own,  For It Cannot Be Denied That He Was Given To Curiosity. He Threw

Open The Door Of The Little Smoking-Den,  And In His Loftiest,  Loudest,

Most Uncompromising Voice,  Announced:

 

"The Gentleman,  My Lord."

 

Then Retired,  And Shut Them In.

 

Thomas Carr Remained Alone. He Was Not Fond Of Wine,  And Did Not

Help Himself During His Host's Absence. Five Minutes,  Ten Minutes,

Half-An-Hour,  An Hour; And Still He Was Alone. At The End Of The First

Half-Hour He Began To Think Val A Long Time; At The End Of The Hour He

Feared Something Must Have Happened. Could He Be Quarrelling With The

Mysterious Stranger? Could He Have Forgotten Him And Gone Out? Could

He--

 

The Door Softly Opened,  And Lord Hartledon Came In. Was It Lord

Hartledon? Thomas Carr Rose From His Chair In Amazement And Dread. It Was

Like Him,  But With Some Awful Terror Upon Him. His Face Was Of An Ashy

Whiteness; The Veins Of His Brow Stood Out; His Dry Lips Were Drawn.

 

"Good Heavens,  Hartledon!" Uttered Thomas Carr. "What Is It? You Look As

If You Had Been Accused Of Murder."

 

"I Have Been Accused Of It," Gasped The Unhappy Man,  "Of Worse Than

Murder. Ay,  And I Have Done It."

 

The Words Called Up A Strange Confusion Of Ideas In The Mind Of Thomas

Carr. Worse Than Murder!

 

"What Is It?" Cried He,  Aloud. "I Am Beginning To Dream."

 

"Will You Stand By Me?" Rejoined Hartledon,  His Voice Seeming To Have

Changed Into Something Curiously Hollow. "I Have Asked You Before For

Trifles; I Ask You Now In The Extremity Of Need. Will You Stand By Me,

And Aid Me With Your Advice?"

 

"Y--Es," Answered Mr. Carr,  His Excessive Astonishment Causing A

Hesitation. "Where Is Your Visitor?"

 

"Upstairs. He Holds A Fearful Secret,  And Has Me In His Power. Do You

Come Back With Me,  And Combat With Him Against Its Betrayal."

 

"A Fearful Secret!" Was Thomas Carr's Exclamation. "What Brings You With

One?"

 

Lord Hartledon Only Groaned. "You Will Stand By Me,  Carr? Will You Come

Upstairs And Do What You Can For Me?"

 

"I Am Quite Ready," Replied Thomas Carr,  Quickly. "I Will Stand By You

Now,  As Ever. But--I Seem To Be In A Maze. Is It A True Charge?"

 

"Yes,  In So Far As That--But I Had Better Tell You The Story," He Broke

Off,  Wiping His Brow. "I Must Tell It You Before You Go Upstairs."

 

He Linked His Arm Within His Friend's,  And Drew Him To The Window. It

Was Broad Daylight Still,  But Gloomy There: The Window Had The Pleasure

Of Reposing Under The Leads,  And Was Gloomy At Noon. Lord Hartledon

Hesitated Still. "Elster's Folly!" Were The Words Mechanically Floating

In The Mind Of Thomas Carr.

 

"It Is An Awful Story,  Carr; Bad And Wicked."

 

"Let Me Hear It At Once," Replied Thomas Carr.

 

"I Am In Danger Of--Of--In Short,  That Person Upstairs Could Have Me

Apprehended To-Night. I Would Not Tell You But That I Must Do So. I Must

Have Advice,  Assistance; But You'll Start From Me When You Hear It."

 

"I Will Stand By You,  Whatever It May Be. If A Man Has Ever Need Of A

Friend,  It Must Be In His Extremity."

 

Lord Hartledon Stood,  And Whispered A Strange Tale. It Was Anything But

Coherent To The Clear-Minded Barrister; Nevertheless,  As He Gathered One

Or Two Of Its Points He Did Start Back,  As Hartledon Had Foretold,  And An

Exclamation Of Dismay Burst From His Lips.

 

"And You Could _Marry_--With This Hanging Over Your Head!"

 

"Carr--"

 

The Butler Came In With An Interruption.

 

"My Lady Wishes To Know Whether Your Lordship Is Going Out With Her

To-Night."

 

"Not To-Night," Answered Lord Hartledon,  Pointing To The Door For The Man

To Make His Exit. "It Is Of Her I Think,  Not Of Myself," He Murmured To

Mr. Carr.

 

"And He"--The Barrister Pointed Above To Indicate The

Stranger--"Threatens To Have You Apprehended On The Charge?"

 

"I Hardly Know What He Threatens. _You_ Must Deal With Him,  Carr;

I Cannot. Let Us Go; We Are Wasting Time."

 

As They Left The Room To Go Upstairs Lady Hartledon Came Out Of The

Dining-Room And Crossed Their Path. She Was Deeply Mortified At Her

Husband's Bringing Mr. Carr To The House After What She Had Said; And

Most Probably Came Out At The Moment To Confront Them With Her Haughty

And Disapproving Face. However That Might Have Been,  All Other Emotions

Gave Place To Surprise,  When She Saw _Their_ Faces,  Each Bearing A Livid

Look Of Fear.

 

"I Hope You Are Well,  Lady Hartledon," Said Mr. Carr.

 

She Would Not See The Offered Hand,  But Swept Onwards With A Cold

Curtsey,  Stopping Just A Moment To Speak To Her Husband.

 

"You Are Not Going Out With Me,  Lord Hartledon?"

 

"I Cannot To-Night,  Maude. Business Detains Me."

 

She Passed Up The Stairs,  Vouchsafing No Other Word. They Lingered A

Minute To Let Her Get Into The Drawing-Room.

 

"Poor Maude! What Will Become Of Her If This Is Brought Home To Me?"

 

"And If It Is Not Brought Home To You--The Fact Remains The Same," Said

Mr. Carr,  In His Merciless Truth.

 

"And Our Children,  Our Children!" Groaned Hartledon,  A Hot Flush Of Dread

Arising In His White Face.

 

They Shut Themselves In With The Stranger,  And The Conference Was

Renewed. Presently Lights Were Rung For; Hedges Brought Them Himself,

But Gained Nothing By The Movement; For Mr. Carr Heard Him Coming,  Rose

Unbidden,  And Took Them From Him At The Door.

 

Lady Hartledon's Curiosity Was Excited. It Had Been Aroused A Little By

The Stranger Himself; Secondly By Their Scared Faces; Thirdly By This

Close Conference.

 

"Who Is That Strange Gentleman,  Hedges?" She Asked,  From The

Drawing-Room,  As The Butler Descended.

 

"I Don't Know,  My Lady."

 

"What Is His Name?"

 

"I Have Not Heard It,  My Lady."

 

"He Looks Like A Clergyman."

 

"He Does,  My Lady."

 

Apparently Hedges Was Impenetrable,  And She Allowed Him To Go Down. Her

Curiosity Was Very Much Excited; It May Be Said,  Uneasily Excited; There

Is No Accounting For These Instincts That Come Over Us,  Shadowing Forth

A Vague Sense Of Dread. Although Engaged Out That Night To More Than One

Place,  Lady Hartledon Lingered On In The Drawing-Room.

 

They Came Out Of The Room At Last And Passed The Drawing-Room Door. She

Pushed It To,  Only Peeping Out When They Had Gone By. There Was Nothing

To Hear; They Were Talking Of Ordinary Matters. The Stranger,  In His

Strong Scotch Accent,  Remarked What A Hot Day It Had Been. In Travelling,

No Doubt Very,  Responded Mr. Carr. Lady Hartledon Condescended To

Cautiously Put Her Head Over The Balustrades. There Was No Bell Rung;

Lord Hartledon Showed His Visitor Out Himself.

 

"And Now For These Criminal Law Books,  Carr,  That Bear Upon The Case," He

Said,  Returning From The Front-Door.

 

"I Must Go Down To My Chambers For Them."

 

"I Know They Can't Bring It Home To Me; I Know They Can't!" He Exclaimed,

In Tones So Painfully Eager As To Prove To Lady Hartledon's Ears That He

Thought They Could,  Whatever The Matter Might Be. "I'll Go With You,

Carr; This Uncertainty Is Killing Me."

 

"There's Little Uncertainty About It,  I Fear," Was The Grave Reply. "You

Had Better Look The Worst In The Face."

 

They Went Out,  Intending To Hail The First Cab. Very Much To Lord

Hartledon's Surprise He Saw His Wife's Carriage Waiting At The Door,  The

Impatient Horses Chafing At Their Delay. What Could Have Detained Her?

"Wait For Me One Moment,  Carr," He Said. "Stop A Cab If You See One."

 

He Dashed Up To The Drawing-Room; His Wife Was Coming Forth Then,  Her

Cloak And Gloves On,  Her Fan In Her Hand. "Maude,  My Darling," He

Exclaimed,  "What Has Kept You? Surely You Have Not Waited For Me?--You

Did Not Misunderstand Me?"

 

"I Hardly Know What Has Kept Me," She Evasively Answered. "It Is Late,

But I'm Going Now."

 

It Never Occurred To Lord Hartledon That She Had Been Watching Or

Listening. Incapable Of Any Meanness Of The Sort,  He Could Not Suspect It

In Another. Lady Hartledon's Fertile Brain Had Been Suggesting A Solution

Of This Mystery. It Was Rather Curious,  Perhaps,  That Her Suspicions

Should Take The Same Bent That Her Husband's Did At First--That Of

Instituting Law Proceedings By Dr. Ashton.

 

She Said Nothing. Her Husband Led Her Out,  Placed Her In The Carriage,

And Saw It Drive Away. Then He And The Barrister Got Into A Cab And Went

To The Temple.

 

"We'll Take The Books Home With Us,  Carr," He Said,  Feverishly. "You

Often Have Fellows Dropping In To Your Chambers At Night; At My House We

Shall Be Secure From Interruption."

 

It Was Midnight When Lady Hartledon Returned Home. She Asked After Her

Husband,  And Heard That He Was In The Breakfast-Room With Mr. Carr.

 

She Went Towards It With A Stealthy Step,  And Opened The Door Very

Softly. Had Lord Hartledon Not Been Talking,  They Might,  However,  Have

Heard Her. The Table Was Strewed With Thick Musty Folios; But They

Appeared To Be Done With,  And Mr. Carr Was Leaning Back In His Chair With

Folded Arms.

 

"I Have Had Nothing But Worry All My Life," Val Was Saying; "But Compared

With This,  Whatever Has Gone Before Was As Nothing. When I Think Of

Maude,  I Feel As If I Should Go Mad."

 

"You Must Quietly Separate From Her," Said Mr. Carr.

 

A Slight Movement. Mr. Carr Stopped,  And Lord Hartledon Looked Round.

Lady Hartledon Was Close Behind Him.

 

"Percival,  What Is The Matter?" She Asked,  Turning Her Back On Mr. Carr,

As If Ignoring His Presence. "What Bad News Did That Parson Bring You?--A

Friend,  I Presume,  Of Dr. Ashton's."

 

They Had Both Risen. Lord Hartledon Glanced At Mr. Carr,  The Perspiration

Breaking Out On His Brow. "It--It Was Not A Parson," He Said,  In His

Innate Adherence To Truth.

 

"I Ask _You_,  Lord Hartledon," She Resumed,  Having Noted The Silent

Appeal To Mr. Carr. "It Requires No Third Person To Step Between Man And

Wife. Will You Come Upstairs With Me?"

 

Words And Manner Were Too Pointed,  And Mr. Carr Hastily Stacked The

Books,  And Carried Them To A Side-Table.

 

"Allow These To Remain Here Until To-Morrow," He Said To Lord Hartledon;

"I'll Send My Clerk For Them. I'm Off Now; It's Later Than I Thought.

Good-Night,  Lady Hartledon."

 

He Went Out Unmolested; Lady Hartledon Did Not Answer Him; Val Nodded His

Good-Night.

 

"Are You Not Ashamed To Face Me,  Lord Hartledon?" She Then Demanded.

"I Overheard What You Were Saying."

 

"Overheard What We Were Saying?" He Repeated,  Gazing At Her With A Scared

Look.

 

"I Heard That Insidious Man Give You Strange Advice--'_You Must Quietly

Separate From Her_,' He Said; Meaning From Me. And You Listened

Patiently,  And