this case is alarge fortune."
"And you will not tell me the name of Adams's associate in the matter?"
"No. I--I cannot do that. Please do not ask me," she answeredhurriedly.
Rolfe was again silent for a few moments. At last he asked:
"Cannot you tell me something of the past relations between Adams andStatham? You seem to know all the details of the strange affair."
"Adams makes certain serious allegations which he can substantiate.There is a certain witness whom Mr Statham believes to be dead, but whois still alive, and is now in England."
"A witness--of what?" asked Rolfe quickly.
"Of the crime which Adams alleges."
"Crime--what crime?" ejaculated the young man in surprise, staring athis pretty companion.
"Some serious offence, but of what nature I am not permitted to explainto you."
"Why not, Miss Lorena? You must! Remember that Mr Statham is inignorance of this--I mean that Adams intends to charge him with a crime.Surely the position is most serious! I imagined that Adams's chargeswere criticism of Mr Statham's methods of finance."
"Finance does not enter into it at all," said the girl. "The delegationis a secret crime by which the millionaire laid the foundation of hisfortune; a crime committed abroad, and of which there are two witnessesstill living, men who were, until a few weeks ago, believed to be dead.
"But you tell me that Adams's associate will, if Mr Statham commitssuicide, profit to an enormous amount. Will you not explain? If thisis so, why have they not attempted to levy blackmail? If the charge hasfoundation--which I do not for one moment believe--then surely MrStatham would be prepared to make payment and hush up the affair? Hewould not be human if he refused."
"The pair are fully alive to the danger of any attempt to procure moneyby promise of secrecy," she replied. "They have already fullyconsidered the matter, and arrived at the conclusion that to compel MrStatham to take his own life is the wiser and easier course."
"You seem to be in their confidence, Miss Lorena?" he said, gazing atthe pretty girl at his side.
"Yes, I am. That is why I am unable to reveal to you the name ofAdams's companion," she replied. "All I can tell you is that theintention is to make against him a terrible charge of which they possessevidence which is, apparently, overwhelming."
"Then you know the charge it is intended to bring against him--eh?"
"Yes," was her prompt answer. "To me it seems outrageous,incomprehensible--and yet--"
"Well?"
"And yet, if it is really true, it would account to a very great degreefor Mr Statham's eccentricity of which I've so often read in thepapers. No one enters his house in Park Lane. Is not that so?"
"He is shy, and does not care for strangers," was Rolfe's response.
"But it said in the paper only a week ago that nobody has ever beenupstairs in that house except himself. There is a door on the stairs,they say, which is always kept locked and bolted."
"And if that is so?"
"Well--have you ever been upstairs, Mr Rolfe. Tell me; I'm veryanxious to know."
"I make no secret of it," was his reply, smiling the while. "I havenever been upstairs. Entrance there is forbidden."
"Even to you--his confidential secretary?"
"Yes, even to me."
"And yet there are signs of the upstairs' rooms being occupied," sheremarked. "I have seen lights there myself, as I've passed the house.I was along Park Lane late one evening last week."
"So you have been recently in London?"
"London is my home. I am only here on a visit," was her reply. "Andascertaining you were coming here, I resolved to see you."
"And has this serious allegation which Adams intends to bring anyconnection with the mystery concerning the mansion?"
"Yes. It has."
"In what way?"
She paused, as though uncertain whether or not to tell the truth.
"Because," she said at last, "because I firmly believe, from facts knownto me, that confirmation of the truth of Adams's charge will bediscovered beyond that locked door!"
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
MAX BARCLAY IS INQUISITIVE.
"Miss Rolfe has left the firm's employ, sir."
"Left--left Cunnington's?" gasped Max Barclay, staring open-mouthed atMr Warner, the buyer.
"Yes, sir. She left suddenly yesterday morning," repeated the dapperlittle man with the pen behind his ear.
"But this is most extraordinary--to leave at a moment's notice! Ithought she was so very comfortable here. She always spoke so kindly ofyou, and for the consideration with which you always treated her."
"It was very kind of her, I'm sure," replied the buyer; "but it is therule here--a moment's notice on either side."
"But why? Why has she left?"
Warner hesitated. He, of course, knew the truth, but he was not anxiousto speak it.
"Some little misunderstanding, I think."
"With you?"
"Oh, dear no. She was called down to the counting-house yesterdaymorning, and she did not return."
"Then she's been discharged--eh?" asked Max in a hard voice.
"I believe so, sir. At least, it would appear so."
"And are they in the habit of discharging assistants in this manner--throwing them out of a home and out of employment at a moment's notice?Is Mr Cunnington himself aware of it?"
"It would be Mr Cunnington himself who discharged her," was the buyer'sanswer. "No other person has authority either to engage or discharge."
"But there must be a reason for her dismissal!" exclaimed Max.
"Certainly. But only Mr Cunnington knows that."
"Can I see him?"
"Well, at this hour he's generally very busy indeed; but if you go downto the counting-house in the next building, and ask for him, he may giveyou a moment."
"Thank you, Mr Warner," Barclay said, a little abruptly, and, turningon his heel, left the department.
"She hasn't told him evidently," remarked one girl-assistant to theother. "I'm sorry Rolfie's gone. She wasn't half a bad sort. She wasold Warner's favourite, too, or her young gentleman would never havebeen allowed to talk to her in the shop. If you or I had had a youngman to come and see us as she had, we'd have been fired out long ago."
"I wonder who her young man really is," remarked the second girl,watching him as he strode out, a lithe figure in a well-cut suit of greytweeds.
"Well, he's a thorough gentleman, just like her brother," remarked hercompanion. "I saw him in his motor-boat up at Hampton the Sunday beforelast. He's completely gone on her. I wonder what'll happen now. Idon't think much of the new girl; do you? Does her hair awfully badly."Unconscious of the criticism he had evoked, Max Barclay descended thestairs, passed through the long shops--crowded as they always were inthe afternoon--into the adjoining building, and sought audience of thetitular head of the great firm.
After waiting for some time in an outer office he was shown in. Themoment he asked his question Mr Cunnington grasped the situation.
"I very much regret, sir, that it is not my habit to give information toa second party concerning the dismissal of any of my assistants. If theyoung lady applies for her character, she is perfectly entitled to haveit."
"But I apply for her character," said Max promptly.
"You are not an employer, sir. She has not applied to you for asituation."
"No; but I may surely know the reason she has left your service?" Maxpointed out. "Her brother, who is abroad just now, is my most intimatefriend."
Mr Cunnington stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, but shook his head,saying:
"I much regret, Mr Barclay, that I am unable to give you theinformation you seek. Would it not be better to ask the young ladyherself?"
"But she has left, and I have no idea of her address!" exclaimedBarclay. "Can you furnish me with it?"
The head of Cunnington's, Limited, took up the telephone receiver andaske
d for a certain Mr Hughes, of whom he made inquiry if Miss Rolfehad left her address.
There was a wait of a few moments, then Mr Cunnington turned and said:
"The young lady left no address. She was asked, but refused to giveone."
Max's heart sank within him. She had been dismissed at an instant'snotice, and was lost to him. He turned upon Mr Cunnington in quickanger and said:
"So I am to understand that you refuse me all
The Pauper of Park Lane Page 46