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“The Company must not compound a felony,” the Chairman repeated.
“Even if we do not get back that two thousand pounds,” said the Secretary, “the Company will lose nothing. The surrender value must be considered.”
Then another of the Directors spoke. “We do not know where thus lady is to be found. She is probably passing under another name. It is not our business to hunt her down.”
“And if we found her we should have to prove the case, and her guilty knowledge of the conspiracy,” said another. “How would this precious letter be taken as evidence? Why, we do not even know that it is true. We might exhume the body: what would that prove after three months? We might open up the case, and spend a heap of money, and create a great scandal, and be none the better for it afterwards. My advice is, let the thing drop.”
“Well, but,” objected another, “suppose we admit that the man is still living. He may die, and then there would be another claim upon us.”
“Of that,” said the Chairman, “I think there need be no apprehension whatever. You have heard his letter. But, I repeat, we must not compound a felony!”
“I submit, Mr. Chairman,” said one who had not spoken—and he was a barrister—“that the Company knows nothing at all about Lady Harry Norland. We have had to deal with the firm of Erskine, Mansfield, Denham & Co., of Lincoln’s Inn Fields: and a most respectable firm too. On their representations we paid the money. If it can be ascertained that we have been defrauded we must look to them. If we have to prosecute anybody it must be that respectable firm.”
“Good,” said the Chairman.
“I propose, therefore, that the Secretary write to Lord Harry Norland, informing him that the Company have had nothing at all to do with his wife, and do not recognise her action in any way. We shall then see what happens, and can proceed in accordance.”
At this moment a card was brought in. It was that of Mr. Erskine himself, senior partner in the very firm.
He came in, old, eminently respectable, but shaken. He was greatly shaken. “Gentlemen,” he said nervously, “I hasten to bring you a communication, a most extraordinary communication, which I have just received. It is nothing less than a confession—a full confession—from a person whom I had every reason to believe was dead. It is from Lord Harry Norland.”
“We know already,” said the Chairman, superior, “the main facts which you are going to lay before us. We are met to-day in order to discuss our action in view of these facts. There has been a conspiracy of a very artful and ingenious character. It has been successful so far through the action of a woman. By the action of the same woman it is sought to make restitution. The hand of justice, however—”
“Perhaps,” said the lawyer, “you will oblige me by allowing me to read the letter.”
“Pray read it”—the Chairman bowed—“though I do not suppose it will add to the information we already possess.”
“Gentlemen”—the lawyer read—“You will be surprised and pained to learn that I am not—as you were given to understand—dead; but on the other hand, living and in the enjoyment of rude health. I see no reason why my life should not be prolonged to threescore years and ten.
“The claim, therefore, which you sent in to the Royal Unicorn Life Insurance Company was fraudulent. It was the result of a deep-laid conspiracy. You have been made the innocent accomplice of a great crime.
“My wife, who now knows the whole truth, is most anxious for restitution to be made. She is about to restore that portion of the money which lies in her name. Most of the rest will be sent back by myself, on certain conditions.
“In communicating the fact of my being still alive to the head of my family you will please also to inform him that I authorise the discontinuance of the premium. This will save the family 300 pounds a year. This will be a solatium to him for the fact that his brother still lives to disgrace the name. If I should die before the next premium is due I order my heirs not to claim the money.—I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
“HARRY NORLAND.”
“The premium which should have been paid under ordinary circumstances,” said the Secretary, “was due six weeks ago. The policy has therefore expired.”
“It is a characteristic letter,” said the lawyer. “Lord Harry was born to be a trouble to his family. There has never been a time, so far as I remember, when he was not a trouble and a disgrace. Hitherto, however, he has avoided actual crime—at least, actual detection. Now, I suppose, the game is up. Yet, gentlemen, the letter is not that of an utter villain.”
“He will not be caught,” observed the Chairman. “The letter is from too cool a hand. He has prepared a retreat. I dare say by this time he is in some safe and convenient disguise. We are only concerned—are we not?—for the moment with the lady. She has received the money from you. We paid it to you on your representations.”
“Observe,” said the lawyer, “that the moment she learns the truth she hastens to make restitution.”
“Humph!” said the Director, turning over Lord Harry’s letter so that the lawyer should not be able to read the contents. “Have you seen her?”
“I have not. I expect to do so before long. She will certainly call upon me.”
“She will be ill-advised,” said the Chairman, “if she calls upon anybody just at present. Well, sir, I confess that I should be sorry—every member of this Board would be sorry—to see that lady placed in the dock beside her husband.”
“In the interests of the noble family concerned, I hope that neither of them will be placed in the dock.”
“Do you know who is the other man—the second principal?”
“I can guess. I do not know, however, where he is. All I know is what I have communicated to you—the contents of this letter.”
“One would like to get hold of the other man,” said the Chairman. “Presumably he does not belong to a noble family. Well, sir, I don’t know what may be done; but this Company cannot, I repeat, compound a felony.”
“Certainly not. Most certainly not. At present, however, you have got very little to go upon. And unless evidence is forthcoming—”
“We will not discuss that part of the business,” said the Chairman. “A conspiracy has been undoubtedly entered into. We may be compelled to bring an action of some kind against your firm, Mr. Erskine. As regards the lady, if she is guilty—”
“No—no,” said the lawyer, “upon my life! Sinned against—not guilty.”
The Chairman folded up Lord Harry’s letter and gave it to the Secretary.
“We are much obliged to you, sir, for your prompt action. It is, of course, only what we should have expected of your firm. Meantime, remember that the claim was made by you, that you received the money, and—but we will communicate with you in a few days.”
The Secretary wrote such a letter as was suggested. By return of post a cheque was sent, signed by one William Linville, for the sum of eight thousand pounds. The Company had, therefore, recovered thirteen out of fifteen thousand pounds. The Secretary had another interview with Mr. Erskine, the result of which was that the Company recovered the remaining two thousand pounds.
Every firm of solicitors contains its own secrets and keeps them. Therefore, we need not inquire whether it was intended that this money should be paid by the firm or by the noble family to which Lord Harry Norland belonged. It is, however, certain that a few days afterwards Mr. Hugh Mountjoy called at the office and had a long conversation with the senior partner, and that he left behind him a very big cheque.
The subject has never been brought before the Directors again. It was, indeed, privately discussed, and that frequently. Perhaps the story was whispered about outside the Board-room. These things do get about. There has been, however, a feeling that the thing, which would have been perfectly successful but for the conscience of a woman concerned, might be repeated with less tender consciences, and so the Companies be defrauded. Now the wickedness of the world is already so great that it needs no more teaching to make it worse. On the whole, the less said the better.
Besides, the tragic event which happened a day or two later effectively prevented any further step. That in itself was sufficient to wipe out the whole business.
IT was all over. Iris had sent in her money. She was in a small lodging found for her by Fanny Mere, who called her cousin. She stayed indoors all day long, afraid of stirring abroad; afraid to read the papers; afraid that her husband was arrested on the charge of conspiracy and fraud; afraid that some kind of hue and cry might be out after her.
Therefore, when she heard a manly step on the stair, she started and turned pale, expecting nothing short of an armed messenger of the law. She never was in this danger for a single minute, but conscience made a coward of her.
The step was that of Hugh Mountjoy.
“I found you out,” he said, “by means of Fanny. The girl knew that she was safe in letting me know your secret. Why are you in concealment?”
“You cannot know all, or you would not ask me that.”
“I do know all; and again I ask, why are you in concealment?”
“Because—Oh, Hugh—spare me!”
“I know all, which is the reason why I cannot choose but come to see you. Come out of this poor place; resume your own name. There is no reason why you should not. You were not present at Passy when this conspiracy was hatched; you got there after the funeral. You, naturally, went to see the family solicitors. Iris, what has the conspiracy to do with you?” It will be observed that Hugh had not read the letter written to the Directors of the Company.
“Do you know about the money?”
“Certainly. You sent back all that you could—five thousand pounds. That showed your own innocence—”
“Hugh, you know that I am guilty.”
“The world will think that you are innocent. At any rate, you can come out and go about without fear. Tell me, what are your plans?”
“I have no plans. I only want to hide my head—somewhere.”
“Yes; we will talk about that presently. Meantime, I have some news for you.”
“News? What news?”
“Really good news. I have to tell you a thing which will surprise you.”
“Good news? What good news is there for me?”
“Your husband has sent back the whole of the money.”
“Sent back? To the Insurance Office?”
“All has been sent back. He wrote two letters—one to the solicitors and the other to the Insurance Company. It is not likely now that anything can be said, because the Directors have accepted the money. Moreover, it appears that they might have proceeded against the lawyers for the recovery of the money, but that they have nothing to do either with you or with Lord Harry Norland. That is a difficult point, however. Somebody, it seems, has compounded—or is going to compound—a felony. I do not understand exactly what this means, or what dreadful consequences might follow; but I am assured by the lawyers that we need apprehend nothing more. All is over.”
Iris heaved a profound sigh.
“Then
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