by J. J. Bell
CHAPTER XXV
The inquest was over. A suggestion for an adjournment, half-heartedlyexpressed by one juryman, had been briefly discussed and withdrawn.Bullard had come through his ordeal without a spot of discredit. Helooked pale and fagged, but what was more natural in the circumstances? Ahorrid experience it must have been, those present agreed, to behold aface and clutching hands fall away from a fourth-story window! And he wasgoing to pay for a decent funeral for the abandoned wretch who might havemurdered him! There was a gentleman for you!
Nevertheless, more than once Bullard's nerve had been at breaking point.What was young France doing at the inquest? He was to know soon enough.
Teddy was waiting for him just outside the door.
"I have a taxi here, Mr. Bullard," he said, "so we can go to your officetogether. I have a little business to discuss--financial, I should say."
"I'm afraid it must keep, Mr. France," Bullard managed to reply fairlycoolly. "This is Saturday, you know, and after business hours."
"You will see for yourself presently, Mr. Bullard, that it won't keep. Infact, if you don't step into that cab at once--"
Bullard got in, Teddy followed, and the cab started.
"Wow," began Bullard, "what the--"
"Hope you don't mind my smoking," said Teddy, lighting a cigarette."Rather an uncomfy corner you've just come out of, Mr. Bullard."
"Kindly choose your words more carefully--'corner' does not apply to myrecent unpleasant experience--and name your business."
"We shall be in your office in a very few minutes, and I prefer to nameit there."
"Very well." Bullard restrained himself and fell to thinking hard. Whathad brought France to the inquest? The question repeated itselfmaddeningly. The tragedy had not been mentioned in the morningpapers--their early editions, at any rate.
Teddy gave him a minute's grace, then casually remarked--
"You heard from my friend, Alan Craig, this morning, I believe.Miraculous escape, wasn't it?"
"Very.... Yes, I have a letter from Mr. Craig--to which I shallreply--direct."
"Alan is an odd chap," Teddy pursued. "No sooner is he home and in safetythan he makes his will. Did it at his lawyer's in Glasgow, the day beforeyesterday."
After an almost imperceptible pause--"Indeed!" said Bullard, a littlethickly. "Only I'm afraid I don't happen to be interested in Mr. AlanCraig's affairs."
"Sorry," Teddy murmured, and gave him another minute's grace. Then--
"Awful end that for poor old Flitch, Mr. Bullard."
The man's face, nay, his whole body, contracted for an instant; yet hewas still master of himself.
"Who?"
"Flitch--the dead man, you know."
"The man's name was Dunning, as you must have heard, and as the policediscovered for themselves."
"Really, I must go to an aurist! I've got it into my head as Flitch."
"Confound you!" said Bullard, on the verge of a furious, crazy outbreak,"will you hold your tongue? I've business to think of. Lost a wholemorning with that cursed inquest."
"All right, Mr. Bullard. Don't apologise."
There was no more talk till they reached the office. The clerks had gone.
Bullard led the way, not to his own private room, but to Lancaster's.
"Say what you've got to say quickly," he snapped.
"This," said Teddy, looking leisurely about him, "is surely not the roomwhere it happened.--What's the matter, Mr. Bullard?"
Again Bullard caught and held himself on the verge. "I can give youfive minutes, if you will talk sense," he said, taking the chair atLancaster's desk, which had been left open. "Either you are drunk oryou fondly imagine you have got hold of something. Now, go on! Come tothe point!"
"I will," said Teddy. "How much exactly does Mr. Lancaster owe theSyndicate?"
Bullard started, but not without relief. The relief would have beenfuller, however, but for the questioner's presence at the inquest.
"What business is that of yours, Mr. France?"
"Simply that I'm going to see it paid."
"May I ask when?"
"Within the next few minutes."
Bullard saw light. Alan Craig's money!
"Really?" he said. "But would it not be better if Mr. Lancaster were tomake the payment personally?"
"Does it matter to the Syndicate who pays the money?"
"Of course not."
"Thanks." Teddy brought forth a couple of bundles of bonds and sharecertificates. "How much is the debt?"
"Twenty-four thousand and seventy-five pounds."
"Wish I had that much," said Teddy, "but I can only give what I've got."He rose, placed the bundles on the desk, and sat down again. "There's atrifle over five thousand pounds in my little lot," he went on, "and witheach certificate you'll find a signed transfer in your favour, Mr.Bullard. To save time"--he glanced at his watch--"I'll ask you to take myword for that."
Bullard put out his hand and touched the bundles. "Your securities, yousay, are worth a little over five thousand pounds?"
"Right!"
"Well?"
"Well, Mr. Bullard?"
"What about the balance of twenty--or say nineteen--thousand?"
Teddy smiled. "That's your affair, Mr. Bullard."
"I should be obliged," said Bullard slowly, "if you would talk sense."
"I've written it down," Teddy said, and passed him a sheet of paperbearing these words:
"I, Francis Bullard, London Managing Director of the Aasvogel Syndicate,hereby acknowledge that I have this day received the sum of ... being thefull amount due to the Syndicate by Mr. Robert Lancaster, whose debt ishereby discharged."
"What the devil is this?"
"Now don't frown and crumple it up and throw it away, as if you were onthe stage, Mr. Bullard," said Teddy. "You were never more in real lifethan you are now. Take your pen, fill in the blank, sign at foot, andreturn to me. And listen! The man you lied so well about at the inquest,entered your office by the door, at ten-seventeen last night."
Bullard's countenance took on a curious shade. Almost in his heart theyoung man pitied him.
"If the man entered by the door, you know more about his movements than Ido," came the retort. "Why didn't you say so at the inquest?"
"Mr. Bullard, I give you two minutes by my watch to complete and signthat receipt."
"You cursed young fool, do you think to blackmail me?"
"If you like to call it that--well, I'm afraid I must accept the word,"said Teddy, watch in hand. "But somehow one doesn't mind so muchblackmailing a blackguard.--Sit still! You can't afford two inquests in aweek-end."
"What do you imagine it proves if the man did enter by the door, youprying, sneaking puppy?"
"Thirty seconds gone."
"Oh, get out of this! I'm not afraid of you. I've a good mind--"
"There was no light in your window when the man fell. At the inquest yousaid you had just switched on the lights."
Bullard's clenched fists relaxed; his face became moist and shiny.
"Do you want to hear any more?" said Teddy. "One minute left."
Bullard writhed. "Suppose I haven't got the money," he said at last.
"You can find it."
"And what guarantees do you give in return?"
"I promise silence so long as you keep clear of crime and make no attemptto communicate, by word or letter, with Mr. Lancaster or his daughter--"
"Hah! I see! ... But, by God, I'll destroy the lot of you yet!"
"Thirty seconds left, Mr. Bullard.... Twenty.... Ten...." Teddy stood up.
Two minutes later he stepped, almost jauntily, from the room. His littleprivate income had disappeared, but he had a document worth all the worldto him in his pocket. As he opened the door Bullard's face was that of afiend; his hand went back to a drawer ere he remembered that he was notat his own desk.
* * * * *
Teddy was a little behind time in reaching Kensington Ga
rdens, and helooked so haggard that the girl's heart failed her.
"Everything's all right, Doris," he said, rather huskily. "Let's sit downhere for a minute."
"Teddy, you're ill!"
He shook his head, and gave her the paper, saying, "Take care of it. Idon't think Bullard will trouble you or Mr. Lancaster again, Doris."
She read and began to tremble. With a sob she whispered, "Teddy, Teddy,_is_ it true?"
He did not answer. He had a queer sleepy, ghastly look.
"Teddy dear! What is it?"
He appeared to pull himself up. "Upon my word," he said, with a feeblelaugh, "I was nearly off that time. I wonder where I could find somebreakfast."
* * * * *
In the nearest tea-room he revived considerably.
"Perhaps I may tell you all about it years hence, Doris," he said. "Notnow. Just make your father happy and be happy yourself. And rememberthat, so far as your father is concerned, it was Alan's money. So thatmakes everything nice and tidy, doesn't it?"
"But father ought to know that it was you who--"
"Now, don't go and spoil everything! I assure you that I did nothingworth mentioning except miss my breakfast--which is, perhaps, a good dealfor an Englishman to do."
"But, Teddy, what am I to say to you?"
"Nothing. Just smile, and say I made you."
She smiled.
"Ah!" he said softly, "you haven't smiled like that, Doris, for months!I'm a great man, after all! Now, what about moving along to Earl'sGate? I mustn't keep you longer from giving him the good news. Have yougot it safe?"
She touched her breast. "Oh, Teddy, you wonderful, wonderful man!--toalter the world in a few hours!"
"Pretty smart, wasn't it? By the way, I may not see you for a while. Ithink Alan wants me to go back with him to-morrow night."
"We are all going to Grey House on Tuesday."
"Oh!" said Teddy of the torn heart. "Do you happen to remember how manybuns I've eaten?"
* * * * *
On reaching home Doris learned that her mother had gone out. She was notsorry. She was not to know that the hour in which she gave her father hisfreedom witnessed a consultation between her mother and Mr. Bullard. ForBullard was not yet beaten, and Mrs. Lancaster had still to learn thather husband was safe.